4Fingers

Absolutely yummy fried chicken! Completely blown away by the fried chicken because they were just so very tasty. This is my first time trying 4Fingers' chicken even though I've gone past the outlet at Ion's basement so many times before. When my colleague suggested ordering 4Fingers for lunch in the office, I was all for the idea of trying something new. And boy, was I glad we did!

Delivery is free of charge although they only deliver to certain areas around town. We half-expected delivery to be along the lines of Pizza Hut or Macs delivery whereby the deliveryman would arrive in a motorcycle with our food packed inside the back of the bike. I was mildly surprised to learn that the deliveryman actually had to take MRT from Ion to City Hall and walk all the way to our office under the hot afternoon sun carrying all our food by hand. Admirable. It's tough to get good staff, so do treasure yours 4Fingers!

I ordered the Chicken Rice Box (Soy Garlic). The fried chicken comes in two flavours, soy garlic and spicy. I personally prefer the soy garlic fried chicken as the spicy ones were a little too hot for me. The fried chicken was crispy outside and tender within and the soy garlic sauce was delicious. The rice was a little mushy though, since it was packed inside the takeaway box for awhile before reaching us. Perfectly understandable so I had no problems with that. The coleslaw tasted a bit like kimchi and was very unique! I loved the taste of this kimchi coleslaw even though I'm hardly a fan of coleslaw.

According to my colleague, the fried chicken taste better when you have it delivered to you as the time taken for the food to travel to you allows the sauce to be completely absorbed into the chicken. I personally have not tried the fried chicken at the store before so I would attempt to prove this hypothesis when I finally do get around to having my meal at the 4Fingers store at Ion. 

Kuala Lumpur: Rainforest Bed and Breakfast

Rainforest Bed and Breakfast is a small brick building at the corner of a quiet street, close enough to the main Bukit Bintang shopping district but far enough so you do not get the buzz of city life right at your door step. The entrance is shrouded in a couple of tall trees but you would not miss the distinct signboard or the large wooden doors.

The reception area is cool and rustic with a giant sofa for weary travelers to rest while the others checked in. Everything at Rainforest Bed and Breakfast is wooden with matching display pieces which give the place a nice vintage vibe. Checking in was quick enough and we were given our cards to the room upstairs. The staff was nice and friendly, always ready with advice and bits of information about getting around.

Climbing the stairs up to our room proved to be the biggest challenge. There was no railings to the side of the staircase and as you climbed up, you had this constant nagging fear that somehow you would just trip and tumble down below. Or at least that was what I felt. The entire stairway was a deep brick-red which felt a little stifling. 

It was completely different upon reaching the room. Our room was large and comfortable as we chose the biggest room with an ensuite bathroom, with a double bed and a wooden wardrobe at the side. The bathroom was spacious with the shower away from the toilet so the toilet would not get wet while you shower. There was a tv in the room too which was pretty decent but nothing to shout about. 

The main shopping and dining area at Bukit Bintang is within walking distance and we spent the day shopping around Pavilion and Sungei Wang. The main doors of Rainforest B&B were closed at 11pm every night for heightened security and we had to enter through a side door using our access cards. The area can be very quiet at night but it is still a safe walk back from the monorail station.

To get to Rainforest Bed and Breakfast, take the monorail to Raja Chulan. You can walk from Bukit Bintang monorail station too but that proved to be a longer distance. From Raja Chulan, cross the street to the Istana Hotel and continue walking along Istana Hotel to a small side road that slopes downhill on your left. Walk down this road and you will see Rainforest Bed and Breakfast on your right at the corner of the street.

Blu Jazz Cafe

It has been a long time since I dropped by to have a meal at Blu Jazz Cafe. I had the lunch set the previous time I came by which was really eons ago so I cannot remember much of it except that the food was good and the lunch set was of great value. 

Thus I was reasonably excited to swing by for dinner last week with my jc classmates. When we reached at about 8pm, all the customers were seated in the outdoor seating area so we chose the sofa seats inside instead. Blu Jazz is decorated to look more like a bar than anything but the place still feels nice and laid back all the same.

I ordered the Grilled Creole Chicken and when it was served, my friend commented immediately that the dish looked oily. True enough, the grilled vegetables, potato wedges and grilled chicken were all sitting in a pool of oil. For that much calories and potential artery blockage, the food had better be good and thankfully, it did not disappoint. The grilled vegetables and potato wedges were great and tasty. The grilled chicken was done pretty well, with herbs and spices sprinkled on top. However, only the top portion of the chicken drizzled with the sauce was delicious. The bottom half did not absorb the essence of the sauce and tasted kind of bland.

Blu Jazz is a great place for dinner with friends, where you can sit back and have a nice catch up session. It is not too noisy on a weekday night and you can sit around comfortably in the sofa seats and chat away happily. 

To get to Blu Jazz, you can take the MRT to Bugis MRT station. Exit from the exit leading to Raffles Hospital and cross the road from Raffles Hospital to Golden Landmark. Turn right and walk straight down towards Bali Lane. Continue walking along the road and you will reach Blu Jazz at the end after all the touts for shisha. 

11 Bali Lane

BK Eating House

My office is really well-situated with so many yummy food options around if you are willing to brave the harmful UV rays and walk! Not a problem for me since I equip myself with heels that are fat and comfy and I always love a walk. 

BK Eating House is along Circular Road, right by the main road and it is always super crowded during lunch. I came by one afternoon and managed to snag a seat quickly enough before ordering a bowl of Bak Chor Mee Sua Dry. I had to wait about 30 minutes though and was starting to get really worried that my order had somehow disappeared in the crowd when the bowl was finally served.

The dry mee sua was a bit too soggy for my liking, lacking the chewy texture that dry mee sua is supposed to have. The combination of chili, vinegar and minced pork was good though and very tasty. I would not recommend drinking the soup because it was full of MSG and hardly any flavour of pork bone within. 

The bak chor mee sua at BK Eating House pales in comparison to Tai Hwa Bak Chor Mee but it still makes a good hearty lunch during work. I was quite thankful that I ate fast and was done with my bowl in about 15 minutes so I was back to the office in good time ;)

To get to BK Eating House, you can take a bus from City Hall and alight two stops later and walk back. Or you can simply take a nice stroll from City Hall, cross the bridge to Boat Quay and continue walking down to Circular Road. The walk should not take you more than 15 minutes. 

 

Smokey's BBQ

I made another trip to Joo Chiat last week for dinner at Smokey's BBQ! After Long Phung, I was keen to try out more cafes in the area and search for more well-hidden gems. 

I tried to get there by taking bus 33 from Kallang Mrt but failed miserably. I was busy poking around on my phone and did not so much as glance up at the bus number properly before hopping up in excitement. Then I settled into a seat and dozed off. The next thing I knew, the bus was turning into Tanjong Katong instead of heading straight for Joo Chiat. Yes I took bus 32 instead which landed me somewhere close to Katong Shopping Centre in the end. There was no convenient way to get to Joo Chiat and I was running late. So ugh, I took a cab instead.

Taking a cab had its perks though because I was driven right to the front of Smokey's Bbq. The seats are all outdoor with small little wooden tables dotting the dimly lit area outside the restaurant. There are a couple of large television screens and a rugby match was on them the night we were at Smokey's. We settled in quickly and ordered a full slab of baby pork ribs and some fried mushrooms to share.

The ribs were awesome. Period. I should just end this post here because the ribs were really so good, I do not think any description would do it justice. But let me try. The meat was very tender, slipping off the bone easily and the bbq sauce was sweet and tangy. I took the sauce in moderation though since I am not particularly fond of bbq sauce and usually find bbq sauce a tad too sweet for my liking. But I like the ribs well enough and the full slab was a really big serving, comfortably feeding two girls at once. The fries were good too but the coleslaw was disappointing and we did not finish the bowl of coleslaw.

The fried mushrooms were average though. They were breaded and fried, with a crispy exterior and juicy button mushrooms within. I found the breaded layer a little too thick. Might have been slightly over fried, I think.

If I were to nit-pick, the al fresco seating area was a bit too warm. I mean, Singapore does not get much cooler in the evening and without any fans around, I was getting sticky halfway through the meal and it was not a comfortable place to sit back and chat over dinner. Oh and if you are the sort who does not like walking down a road lined with scantily clad girls who work in the area, maybe you would not like the location that much. But I personally don't see a problem with it, so I guess it is up to each individual.

To get there, you can take 33 from Kallang MRT station and ensure that you check the bus number before boarding since there is 32 at that bus stop too. I had learnt my lesson the hard way.

73 Joo Chiat Place

Guangzhou and Hong Kong

This is going to be a post filled with words and no pictures because my pictures were in my Iphone which was unfortunately stolen during the trip. And no prizes for guessing which part of the trip it was stolen.

We stayed at Sunshine Hostel in Guangzhou and it was as good as any hostel can be. The family running the hostel was kind, friendly and very amiable, always ready with advice and tips about getting around. The view from the apartment was great too with an unobstructed view of Liwan Hu below and the city beyond. There were male dorms, female dorms and mixed dorms with two shared bathrooms. The place was clean and comfortable and very windy throughout the day.

The city itself was another matter altogether. Guangzhou was a massive factory enlarged into a city and frankly speaking, I enjoyed my time in Beijing way more than I did in Guangzhou. There was not much to do in Guangzhou other than shopping for cheap clothes but the city sorely lacked vibrancy. I took a cable car and explored Baiyun Mountain which boasted a breathtaking view of the city's skyline and the bustling streets below. But any excitement I had being at the top of Baiyun Mountain was doused by my stolen Iphone which mysteriously disappeared from my zipped backpack on my way to the foot of Baiyun Mountain. After that I had the honour of scrambling around town trying to lodge a police report for my stolen Iphone and it was no easy feat. Nobody wanted to lodge the report for me, with each police station referring me to the next and when I finally reached the one which could no longer refer me anywhere, the officers were so reluctant to lodge the police report, I was afraid they were going to chase me out the door. 

The reason why I loved Beijing as much as I do is because the place oozes history and that charmed me in ways that I cannot describe. But Guangzhou was like a mercenary cousin with all the signs of rapid industrialization yet nothing remained of what it once was. That certainly is a pity but I guess going forward means sometimes you have to forget what you once were. 

The train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong was swift and I reached Hong Kong in the sweltering afternoon. When I finally got to Yesinn Fortress Hill, I was led to a room which remained dirty and uncleaned after the last occupant. The staff got around to cleaning it quick enough but the place was still filthy. I would not recommend staying there if you can help it. The location was good though within walking distance to Fortress Hill station.

I made a trip to Ocean Park the last time I was in HK so this time I decided that Disneyland would make a good visit. The heat was close to unbearable at Disneyland and it was madly crowded. There were more souvenir shops than rides with all the shops hawking the same wares but still, Disneyland is Disneyland and it makes you feel like everything is sweet and dreamy even for a short while.

Visited Tim Ho Wan for dinner and was mildly surprised that the queue was not as bad as I expected. I blogged about it here when I visited the quaint little restaurant last year and one year later, this place is still a must-visit for good affordable dim sum in HK. The trick to beating the crazy queue in the late morning was to have your dim sum fix in the evening. Worked well for me!

Visited Temple Street Market to buy more card games. When I came by last year, the uncle gave me a great discount for the card games and I grabbed a box of Monopoly deal. The shop is still there this year and I grabbed a box of Saboteur instead.

It was a good trip and a worthy break after six long months of pupilage!

Potato Depot

Since it's Friday, we decided to take a longer walk to Raffles City for a good lunch and some shopping. The basement was crowded with everybody milling about during lunch hour and we zoomed in for Potato Depot since we had already made our decision while walking over. At first glance, it seemed pricey. A potato for $7.90 sounds a bit too steep for me! But the waitress came over and told us that the price includes a soup, salad and drink. Now, that's really worth it for a lunch set! So we settled down quickly and walked over to the cashier to place our order for 2 P.D. Original.

Our sets were served quickly and it was indeed a nice hearty meal. The bowls of salad and soup were perfect for a lunch serving, filling me up sufficiently. The tomato soup was thick and delicious, very fragrant and not the usual watery broth you get in some set lunches. The baked potato was huge, roughly the size of my palm and it was covered generously with sour cream and bacon bits. When I scooped into the potato, it was soft and broke away easily from the potato skin. Not overcooked like some of the others I had tasted before. It was very yummy and we washed the meal down with a cup of iced lemon tea each. 

It's definitely a good lunch and I would recommend it to all who work around the area like me. To get to Potato Depot, take the escalator beside Starbucks to the basement of Raffles City and walk straight past The CD Shop and a whole row of restaurants on both sides. Potato Depot is close to the end of the walkway, in front of The Soup Spoon.

#B1-78 Raffles City

Baikohken Ramen

Not my favourite, but definitely still good. Baikohken Ramen at North Canal Road is a short 10 minute walk from my office and serves as a convenient meeting point for me to meet friends working at Raffles Place. So it was here that I had lunch the other day with my friends over a bowl of hot delicious Ramen.

I've been here twice so far, once for the Shoyu Ramen and the second time for the Miso Ramen. My order has always been the half-sized bowl since it fills me up pretty well and I don't see a reason to pay a couple extra bucks for a slightly bigger bowl. Of the two, I personally prefer the Shoyu Ramen as the soup base was lighter and more easy on the stomach for a lunch. The soup base of the Miso Ramen was heavier and thicker and left me feeling very very stuffed. The Miso Ramen also came with more beansprouts than ramen and I felt deprived of my noodles. The char siew for both were nothing much to rave about but it was decent.

You can choose to sit in air-conditioned comfort inside the shop or outdoors but you usually end up having to sit outdoors if you are dropping by during lunch since this place proves to be a hot favourite in the area. There are seats on the second floor too but the staff might not be willing to take you up if they are trying to clear everyone and keep people downstairs.

All in all, it's good ramen in this area but definitely not the best around town. To get there, you can alight at Raffles Place and walk to Boat Quay's McDonald's. When you reach Macs, cross the small road behind the shophouse and walk straight down. You should see Baikohken on your right next to a beef noodle store. Alternatively, if you are alighting at City Hall, the walk is longer and you have to make your way past the Parliament House till you reach BK Eating House, turn left and walk all the way down to Molly Malone. Turn right and you would see Baikohken. 

7 North Canal Road

Trattoria L'Operetta

Trattoria L'Operetta is the perfect place for a laid back dinner in a cozy environment with no crowd, attentive service and great food. I came by for dinner on a weekday night and the small restaurant was relatively empty which made chatting over dinner very comfortable.

I love the dim lighting and wooden furniture which gave the restaurant a vintage and cozy vibe. The only downside was the higher temperature inside the restaurant due to the indoor oven placed close to the entrance. We were seated directly under the air-conditioning but still, I was thankful I was wearing something sleeveless that day. 

The service was fantastic. Recommendations by the manager (or at least I think he is the manager) were very  satisfactory and it felt as though he can read your mind sometimes! We ordered the Prosciutto Rucola Pizza with additional mushrooms and barramundi carpaccio recommended by the cheerful manager.

The raw barramundi slices with olive oil drizzled on top and diced tomatoes and onions proved to be an amazing appetizer. The fish slices were very fresh and sweet and the diced tomatoes and onions gave the taste of the fish slices a great boost.

The Prosciutto Rucola Pizza was fantastic. The only other place that serves such tasty and authentic Italian pizzas is Pepperoni and Pepperoni is always so crowded. Our pizza was piled high with ingredients and I love the slices of parma ham stacked on top. And look at the mozzarella cheese! Perfect.

L'Operetta is in the Tanjong Katong area which means it is pretty much out of the way from all nearby MRT stations and probably only people living in the east will be familiar with the shops around here. I took Bus 10 from Esplanade Drive and reached here speedily. 

244 Tanjong Katong Road

Cycling at Pasir Ris and Gallop Stable

These two weeks I've decided that I needed some outdoor fun and the cooling weather is more suitable for my eczema too so I've opted out of gymming and chose to go cycling in the morning instead. Waking up at 7am on a weekend was terribly hard and it took so much discipline to get myself up and going, but when I finally reached Pasir Ris Park, I did not regret the choice.

Cycling along the beach with wind in my face, fresh air filling my lungs, it's a good way to exercise and to relax after a week at work. Pasir Ris Park is definitely way less crowded than East Coast Park (where I was rudely scolded by a Caucasian because he was riding parallel with his friend who was in my way and I swerved to give way. So much for kindness. Obviously I should have just continued riding since I had the right of way and wait for his friend to collide into me). It's also smaller though so you cannot cycle for a long stretch at a time and can only go in circles around the park. 

While cycling around car park C, i spotted Gallop Stable with their horses and ponies. You can have riding lessons there too, though frankly, the small ring did not seem all that fun to ride in. But still, I'm sure it would have been an experience for us city kids who have lived our lives in automobiles. 

Haramiya Japanese BBQ Restaurant

This place is more fusion than Japanese and the food tilts more towards Korean than Japanese too. Came by during lunch hour for a "good lunch" with my colleagues and we had the lunch sets. The last time we came around I had a good satisfying meal but somehow the standard was inconsistent. 

The lunch set I had this time was similar to the one I ate previously which was the Pork Kimchi Cheese Soup. At $8.90, it was an acceptable price for the soup which came with a bowl of rice, some side dishes and a bowl of salad. The Pork Kimchi Cheese Soup however was oily and tasted heavily of lard. The last time I had this set, the soup was light, tangy and refreshing and I loved the melted cheese with the spicy soup. But sadly, it was disappointing this time round and I could hardly stomach the bowl of soup as the oil made me very queasy.

So if you intend to try the Pork Kimchi Cheese Soup Set, cross your fingers and hope that the chef who is cooking it for you is the better one!

#03-87 The Central

Ju Shin Jung Express

I've blogged about Ju Shin Jung East Coast here and I was suitably impressed by the food. So it was with great expectations that I approached Ju Shin Jung's first express counter at Katong 112's Food Republic. Set in the food court of the spanking new Katong 112, Ju Shin Jung Express turned out to be one of the best food court korean food I have ever tasted.

I've tried both their Tofu Soup Set and Kimchi Soup Set. Both sets come with small plates of well-marinated kimchi and ikan bilis. They are very generous with their side dishes unlike the usual korean food you have in food courts whereby the the side dishes are a pitiful portion. You also have a choice between white rice and brown rice to go with your soup.

Of the two soup sets, I would say the better choice is the Tofu Soup Set. The soup is sweet and light, not too spicy, and there is a comfortable serving of tofu and seafood inside the soup. I had it with white rice and it was a nice satisfying meal.

The next time I visited Ju Shin Jung Express, I ordered the Kimchi Soup Set with brown rice. The Kimchi Soup was too heavy for my liking. The soup was so thick that it had a strange bitter aftertaste. There was also more kimchi than pork and my soup was filled to the brim with many pieces of kimchi.

At $6.80, both soup sets and the generous servings of side dishes are value for money. Certainly not the cheapest korean food found in food courts, but for the quality of the Tofu Soup Set, I think it's money well spent. 

Food Republic

#04-01 112 Katong 

112 East Coast Road