Following Plaza Singapura's expansion, Hoshino Coffee has been boasting snaking long queues during meal-times, serving authentic Japanese cuisine, which includes their signature hand-dripped coffee and pancake souffles. Having recently been to Miam Miam, I would have to admit that there was an uncanny resemblance between the two, in terms of their offerings etc. I haven't had the former's main courses, so I shouldn't judge as much.
Nevertheless, if you had a chance to pass by Hoshino Coffee, I wouldn't be surprised if you got seduced by their eye-captivating artificial food display. Pancake Souffles, like I said, are one of their best-sellers - boasting a light, fluffy texture that it's sure to get any dessert-lover hooked on first bite. Prices are S$9.80 for one, and S$12.00 for the double (and, of course.. if you're in the right mind, you should get the latter for sharing). The pancake souffles are served with a dollop of cream and maple syrup. Preparation time takes 20 minutes, but as they always say.. Good things are worth the wait.
Compared to Miam Miam's rendition, Hoshino won hands-down.
Yet another venture by CreativEATeries, Bangkok Jam serves a wide array of contemporary dishes in a modern bistro-styled restaurant, completed with interesting props, such as wires and cables, road signs scribbled in Thai and even a signal head of a traffic light.
Their dishes are inspired from none other than Thailand (otherwise known as the "city of angels") itself, combining the usage of Thai classic spices and herbs with a Western twist, take for example the unique creation of Prawn Spaghetti with Coconut Base and of course not leaving out Thailand's famous street food, like Deep Fried Spring Rolls and their speciality - Fried Chicken Wing marinated with fish sauce.
Hey guys, haven't been updating for a week or so as I was having a much needed getaway at Redang island the past weekend. Chilling out with my besties at the beautiful beaches, snorkelling with fishes, kayaking and enjoying buffet meals are just a portion of fun things that we did (definitely not including the gruelling bus rides). Like always, do expect a travelogue on my trip soon and OH, just found out that Openrice posted up the food vlog on the tasting session at Ambush (Plaza Singapura), so check it out here:
Awkwarddd.. Nah I'm just camera-shy. Anyway! If you haven't, check out my food review on Ambush here.
It was indeed an honour to be invited by online dining guide, Openrice.com for a food tasting session at Ambush, Plaza Singapura. Perhaps you might have seen the grafitti-styled logo, paired with a couple of tomatoes elsewhere, it is because they have offered diners a convenient and casual European fix at other major shopping malls - Junction8, Jurong Point, Ngee Ann City and Jurong's new Jem (Opening in April 2013) as well.
What's on the food tasting menu?
Negra paella (S$14.50) rises up as one of my Ambush favourites, the reason for my love towards this Valencian classic is simple - the rice was sticky enough, flavours were robust and I liked how the bright orange roes contributed an additional crunch to the overall texture. Just like any squid ink dishes, make sure you have checked your teeth before grinning!
Roasted Pork Knuckle (S$28.00 for whole) impressed me with its perfect crispy skin, yet the juicy tenderness of the meat was sufficiently retained. You could have seen how good this was when it disappeared off the table after a few minutes. The sauerkraut and mashed potato that comes along with the pork knuckle was nothing to rave about, but I do strongly recommend to savour the pieces of meat by pairing it with the gravy sauce.
Huge? Definitely. Juicy? Yup. Flavorful? Checked. Mussel Pot Large (S$17.60) is something not to be missed. We had them doned in Aglio Olio style - semi-sweet, which is so full on sauteed onions and garlicky flavour, and classic Vin Blanc - aromatic with white wine. Both, which proved to be too good to compare against each other.
Decorated with home-made tomato and orange sauce, while the Duck confit (S$18.00) sits comfortabley on a bed of mashed potatoes. It actually looks better than it tasted. It was well-seasoned and marinated, but a tad dry for my liking.
Crispy Chicken and Seaweed Pasta (S$13.00) was what I have chosen for my main course. The pasta itself was cooked slightly less than the al-dente standard, while the crispy chicken reminds me of KFC's popcorn chicken. Although this dish was an interesting fusion of Asian and Western, it was not exactly a winner for my palate.
All in all, I thought that the starters/appetizers fared better than the main courses. But hey, guess what, "everyone gets a little taste of Europe", Ambush is a great option for a simple gathering over a wide variety of European dishes.
Once again, thank you to Openrice and Ambush for organizing this food tasting session. Well, if you haven't realized, Openrice actually meant - 开饭 lo! Here's a group picture of fellow food enthuiasts along with the organizer!
A big thank you to this pretty lady - Estelle, who invited me for this food tasting session!
Here's the talented author/ food blogger from 365days2play with me! Do drop by her site (link under Bloroll) as well!
Check out my (awkward) appearance on OpenRice TV here:
Inspired by the French phrase - C'est Bon which means "it's good", Saybons started with an objective to make authentic French classics fuss-free, yet affordable and accessible. Bromance ZR, Brother Tim and I were deciding on our makan place after church service, when I suggested having a cup of hot classic French soup and some savoury crepes at Saybons.
Talking about those mouth-watering crepes, Saybons probably serves one of the best (and yet wallet-friendly) in Singapore. These waffle-thin pancakes (prices range between S$3 - $5) are made using a French-style secret recipe, consisting of just the right amount of batter and, tasted light and buttery, paired with their wide range of sweet or savoury ingredients - one huge YUM.
I also love how they make it chewy but with a slight crisp on the edges. And for convenience sake, these crepes are served in a paper pocket.. Better to enjoy it while it's piping hot!
Smoked Salmon, Onions and Cheddar Cheese
Sauteed Portobello and Button Mushrooms, with Cheddar Cheese
We also had a variety of classic French soups (from right) Potato & Leek, Wild Mushroom and Fresh Tomato. Using only the freshest food ingredients, these delectable soups are a healthy alternative to your usual artificial drinks or "as a delicious complement to your regular meal." They also take pride in their traditional French cooking techniques, resulting in a refined, smooth texture with no irregular bits or chunks in the soups.
One can even (or rather, the proper technique is to) drink the 8oz soup without any soup spoon, instead sip it as if you are drinking coffee or tea.
Still filling hungry? They also serve other affordable French dishes, such as breads, salads and a variety of escargots as well. You can even design your own crepe, with more than 10 toppings to choose from.
