Everything with Fries, Holland Village

Date night with the boyfriend a long while back. He picked me up from Civil Service College and we decided to drop by Holland Village for dinner. Weather was perfect on that Friday evening and clouds dotted the clear blue skies like cotton balls against a blue canvas. We strolled around a bit to find something to eat before the crowd gathered. I enjoyed the stroll with a warm breeze against my face and my foot steps getting lighter as we traced the winding path between the shop houses in search of good food. 

We wanted to have Crystal Jade Steamboat Xiao Long Bao buffet but they were full so we left in search of something else. We found Everything with Fries among a cluster of bars and restaurants and decided to go in because the waitress mentioned something about happy hour. It's been a very long while since I last ate at Everything with Fries and I honestly cannot remember how my last visit went. 

We came for the happy hour so that was what we started off with. Nothing says weekend better than a Erdinger each.

We asked for recommendations and the waitress said the Pork Chop and NZ King Salmon were popular items so those were what we went with. We could choose between straight cut fries (fat fries) or shoestring fries (skinny fries). I opted for the straight cut while the boyfriend chose shoestring.

My pork chop was decent, but nothing fantastic. It was not tough but neither was it tender. It just tasted like ordinary grilled pork. I am a great fan of crispy fat fries but was rather disappointed with my fries at Everything with Fries (what an irony). My straight cut fries were a bit limp and way too soft. I would definitely recommend the shoestring fries if you are intending to drop by Everything with Fries. 

My boyfriend's NZ King Salmon was good! The salmon fillet was extremely well-grilled, crispy on the outside yet soft and juicy within. The shoestring fries were also crispy and tasty. I helped myself to my boyfriend's fries because mine were just too sad. 

Nutella Tart. This was a good dessert although I did not taste any Nutella in it. In fact, it tasted very much like a chocolate tart! It was pure happiness to end the meal with a beer in hand and chocolate dripping all over the place.

Holland Village became steadily more crowded as night fell. We left Everything with Fries just as a queue started to form at the door.  

40 Lorong Mambong

64633741

Tue - Thu: 12:00 - 23:00

Fri  - Sat: 12:00 - 01:00

Sun: 12:00 - 23:00

The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera

I admit that I have been slightly too busy (and lazy) to write more book reviews. Book reviews require more thought and effort than food reviews. I mean there is only that many ways I could describe food. Food is either good or bad. There is no depth, and if I were to make a meek attempt to instill depth into my food reviews, that would be simply superficial. 

Book reviews, on the other hand, are completely different. They require thought and analysis. If I were to rush through a book review or give a fleeting statement about a book, I know I am not doing justice to the book and I am simply wasting my time. Seriously, I would be better off curling up in bed with another book or reflecting on the day.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being was recommended by my brother. I finished All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr and was searching for another book to read. By the way, before I forget, do read All The Light We Cannot See. It is an incredible book. 

Anyway I doubt I can do a book review for The Unbearable Lightness of Being because there are just so many themes in the book and so many ideas that hit me while reading it. I'm just going to talk about the part that struck a chord in me. Franz was a lecturer at the peak of his scholarly career but he viewed his time in the lecture hall in front of his students as unreal. He enjoyed participating in demonstrations because he felt that these were real. He did not realize that being part of the demonstrations was just theater, drama, carnival, and not reality. His reality was actually the time spent in the lecture hall before his students.  

I could not help but think of all the people who have similar traits. People who crave for dramatic events in their lives, people who feel alive when they are part of something theatrical. They enjoy being in the center of attention, on a stage, with a hundred pairs of eyes on them, and this to them is reality. Some are able to separate the real and unreal, but like Franz, mistake the unreal as real. Others conflate the real and unreal and mix them up into a pot of misery. People in the latter group do not separate the real and unreal (i.e. they do not lecture students in one part of their lives and participate in demonstrations in the other). Instead, they perceive reality through warped lens to create their own reality (which they do not realize is unreal). For such people, a simple word of thanks could mean a million other things. A nod in their direction could be affirmation of something bigger. They build a world in their minds which is significantly different from reality. 

And when you point it out to them, call them bluff, they buckle under the pressure of reality. 

Boracay, Philippines Day 1 - Punta Rosa Boutique Hotel, Nigi Nigi Nu Noos, Manana Mexican Cuisine

It took us forever to reach Boracay but the next five days proved that the long arduous journey was totally worth it. The flight departed Singapore at 11 am and we reached Kalibo Airport at about 3 pm. It took us one hour to clear immigration and by the time we stumbled out onto the hot asphalt outside the airport, all but one bus providers were shut for the day. So we went with South West Tours and were packed into a large uncomfortable bus for a two hour journey to Caticlan Jetty. We paid 525P for a package that included the bus ride, the boat ride, and all the necessary environmental fees. We stopped at a rest area where we finally had some food before we continued on our journey. The Caticlan Jetty was a mess and there were just people everywhere. We were herded like sheep from the bus through the gantries in the jetty and somehow onto a boat. We were completely unsure about what happened and frankly we did not care. We were way too exhausted and hungry to bother much. When we finally reached the Boracay Jetty, we were packed onto various vans that took us through the darkness and dropped us off at our respective hotels. By the time we reached Punta Rosa Boutique Hotel at the far flung corner of Station 1, it was 7 pm and we were famished.

We booked a Superior Room at Punta Rosa which was a large room for two people. Punta Rosa was rustic and homely. There was no lift so you have to be prepared to climb the stairs. We returned one night to a swamp of flies in the room and another night to a large moth at the door. If you mind being around flies and such, then Punta Rosa is not suitable for you.

If you are staying at Punta Rosa, I would also suggest that you try not to arrange your activities through the hotel. I tried to book a paraw sunset cruise through the receptionist who promptly referred me to her colleague. Her colleague then led me out of the resort to the narrow strip outside to meet his "friend" who quoted me an exorbitant rate of 2500P for an hour on the paraw. I told him I did not require the entire paraw to myself and would be glad to share with others so that the cost could be reduced but he refused. The resort staff then urged me to join his "friend" for the sunset cruise because I would not know whether the paraws on the beach would be safe. I declined politely and decided to search for our paraw sunset cruise along the beach. I ended up with a very good bargain at one-fifth of the price by sharing the paraw with a few Koreans. 

Fast forward to breakfast on Day 2 which was served on the rooftop. Unlike the usual buffet style breakfast that we are accustomed to in hotels, Punta Rosa served individual breakfast from a menu. I ordered the same thing everyday for 6 days - omelette with cheese, mushrooms, bacon and tomatoes, and a Twining Green Tea. The view from the rooftop was marvelous and I just loved having breakfast looking at the clear blue sea in the distance.

Back to the night on Day 1. We left Punta Rosa in search of dinner and walked along the beach in the darkness. As Punta Rosa was situated on the furthest end of Station 1, almost at Diniwid Beach, we had to walk a long way before we reached any sign of civilization. As it was the first time we walked that stretch of beach in the darkness, we were basically groping around unknowingly. The walk was much more comforting on the subsequent nights when we knew where we were going.

We found Nigi Nigi and settled down for dinner. We ordered seafood, baked potatoes, and the first of what would be daily doses of San Miguel. The food was pretty disappointing and the fish was exceptionally bad. But we finished the prawns and baked potatoes because we were just so hungry and washed everything down with San Miguel. There was free wifi too so that was a perk.

We reached Manana Mexican Cuisine which is famous for their frozen margaritas. Manana Mexican Cuisine faces the beach and is somewhere between Station 1 and 2. We ordered two frozen margaritas and guacamole. The frozen mango margarita was really delicious and went very well with the guacamole and nachos. While we were enjoying the brain freeze which came with the frozen margarita, fireworks exploded in the night sky behind us. The fireworks lasted really long and sparks lit up the sky continuously while everybody watched.

We reached Station 2 and walked around for a bit before we were too tired to carry on anymore. We took a trike back to Punta Rosa for 100P. Prices tend to be pricier at night and we termed it the "midnight surcharge". Bargaining in the day worked sometimes but was completely useless at night. We showered and jumped into bed the minute our hair was somewhat dry. The generator failed twice that night and our electricity was cut for a few minutes each time. Was quite alarming when it first happened but we got used to it subsequently. A local told us that electrical outages were common during the peak months because the generators could not sustain the influx of tourists.

Read about Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5!

Royal China, Raffles Hotel

I celebrated my birthday at Royal China last year with Stef and that was the very first time I set foot into this posh restaurant with blue walls the shade of Tiffany & Co boxes. I thought I wrote a review for that dimsum lunch celebration but search results showed that I did not. Ah my bad! 

One year later, I returned to Royal China for lunch with Van before her next posting! Thank you Van for the treat! We made some effort to order conservatively so that we would not indulge in excessive eating that would eventually accumulate in our hips. Despite our best efforts, there was still considerable food left after the meal oops. We should definitely exercise more caution in future!

Lynda is the guest writer for this blog post! Let me share a picture of her having an awesome time with her Liu Sha Bao and Taylor Swift red lips before we start. 

Stewed Pork Ribs. Save the calories. This was very pedestrian.

The Fried Carrot Cake. Soft chunks of carrot cake with a crispy crust. The egg was fluffy with a touch of chilli.

The yam filling overwhelmed the delicate scallop in the yam puff. This left a very greasy aftertaste. I should also add that the minced meat had an overpowering curry taste which was very heavy.

The char siew sou. Flaky and tender pastry with just the right amount of pork filling.

Liu Sha Bao. Smooth and thin skin, as if it was touched by SKII. The lava-like texture was just right. But strangely, the overall taste was unremarkable.

The Peking Duck. The duck skin was too fatty to be crispy and like the yam puff, it was very greasy. The caviar which was served on a separate saucer failed to make up for the mediocre duck.

The har kow (shrimp dumpling) was divine. It was like a xiao long bao with prawn filling - firm with a skin which melts in your mouth, succulent prawns, and a bit of broth.

Prawn in Bean curd skin - like the stewed pork, save it. It was fried to apathy. The prawn filling was almost floss-like.

To reach Royal China, just head to the third level of Raffles Hotel.

#03-09 Raffles Hotel
1 Beach Road
Mon - Sat: 12:00 - 15:00
Sun & PH: 11:00 - 15:00
Mon - Sun: 18:00 - 22:30
63383363

Sarnies Cafe

Most people rave about Sarnies' brunch but I have too many brunch places I want to check out and too little time, so we decided to drop by Sarnies for dinner instead. Stef and I took a bus from the bus stop in front of the Supreme Court and alighted two stops later opposite Hong Lim. We reached Telok Ayer after a short 5 minutes walk. 

Sarnies was small and narrow with a couple of small tables lined up against the wall. It was not too crowded during dinner time and we picked the table opposite the counter. The people who run Sarnies were young and bubbly, all speaking an accent that I could not quite put my finger on. 

The waitress handed us some cards each and we realised they were menus. So interesting!

We wanted Belgian Mussels but a young guy came by to inform us that mussels were out of stock. He advised that we should come by on Friday for mussels because that was usually when the mussels arrived. We were unsure what to order so we asked for some recommendations. The waitress recommended the Cajun Spiced Kampong Chicken in Brown Paper Bag ($13), Pulled Pork Taco ($8.50), and Fish Taco ($8.50). We decided to go with her recommendations and were pretty glad that we did.

The Pulled Pork Taco was quite yummy with a slightly spicy and sour sauce. The only downside was that the pork was kind of tough and really chewy. On the other hand, the Fish Taco was good. Fresh dory fish with a light dill sauce. I would recommend the Fish Taco if you wanted taco for dinner. 

The Cajun Spiced Kampong Chicken in a Brown Bag was the bomb. The chicken was extremely tender and juicy, fully absorbing the sauce which it was marinated in. I would tell everybody to go for the Cajun Spiced Chicken if you are in Sarnies for dinner!

We ended the night with some white wine. It was the perfect end to a delicious dinner and a great catch up session. To make the night better, Sarnies plays one of the best soundtracks ever with a good mix of pop, R&B, and oldies. This is a good place to be if you want to kick back, relax, listen to some good music and catch up over good food and wine.

136 Telok Ayer Street

6246091

Mon - Fri: 7:30 - 10:00 pm

Sat - Sun: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Yoogane, Bugis Junction

I heard about Yoogane from friends and really wanted to try it so I told the folks one Sunday evening that we should head over for dinner. We reached Bugis at about 6 pm and joined the queue at about 6:10 pm. There were roughly 15 people in the queue ahead of us and the line snaked around the side of Yoogane. My dad stood in line while my mum and I shopped for toiletries at Watsons. The queue moved along pretty fast and we secured a table at about 6:45 pm. We were given the menu and had our orders taken before we entered.

We ordered Chicken Galbi with Octopus and were told that two portions would suffice for the four of us ($39.80). We also had the Combination Fixings ($10.90), additional fried rice ($3.90), mozarella cheese ($3.90), Seafood Pancake ($16.90), Royal Court rice cake.

A large pan was brought to our table with a heap of raw food arranged on it. We were handed mini red bibs so that our clothes will not be stained by the inevitable splatter when stirring the galbi. What a thoughtful little gesture. It certainly protected my light pink blouse from any stains.

The large pan was filled with chicken and octopus marinated in chilli sauce, vegetables, rice cake, and bunches of golden mushroom. The waiter mixed and stirred the contents in the pan and brought some sort of shield which enclosed the pan.

While the chicken and octopus galbi was cooking in the pan, our Royal Court rice cake was served. This was really different from the usual spicy rice cake that I am used to. The Royal Court rice cake was fried in a light sweet sauce with bits of vegetables and golden mushrooms. It was a unique dish but truth be told, I would prefer the traditional spicy rice cake any day.

The Seafood Pancake arrived shortly after and was pretty good! It was nicely pan-fried and extremely crispy on the outside, yet still moist within. Not much seafood in the pancake though, and I spotted more spring onions than anything else.

When the chicken and octopus galbi was ready, the waiter removed the shield and announced that we could proceed to dig in. We did so joyfully. The chicken and octopus galbi was delicious. The sauce was fantastic, the chicken chunks were juicy and well-marinated, and the octopus slices were just right. I was also really fond of the instant noodle and rice cakes in the galbi.

When we were almost done with the chicken and octopus galbi, the waiter started to prepare our fried rice with mozarella cheese in the same pan. The fried rice was awesome. I never knew cheese would go so well with fried rice but it did. Ahhhh and together with the chilli sauce and bits of chicken and vegetables left from the chicken and octopus galbi, this was absolutely divine. 

I would definitely return for the galbi at Yoogane. While the chicken galbi at Yoogane rivals that of Big Mama, I would say that Yoogane is far more accessible and comfortable as compared to Big Mama. You could reach Yoogane easily by alighting at Bugis MRT station and going up to the 2nd level of Bugis Junction. Furthermore, the ventilation at Yoogane is definitely better than Big Mama.

#02-47/48 Bugis Junction (where NYDC used to be)
63377337
Daily 11:00 - 22:00

Dreams

I dug out a stack of writing paper from my university days and found some random writing on one page. I probably wrote it in university, recounting my days in junior college. Reading this now almost 7 years after I first wrote it, I am struck by a sense of reduced possibilities. It feels like the older I grow, the less possibilities I feel I have. Anyway here goes.

It was a day of the beige. They were 18, young, and full of life. They took the short walk to the beach behind their school. Stretching out their legs and basking in the sun, they began to speak about their future. They were animated, bursting with excitement, and each wore a smile brighter than sunshine. They had plans, many plans, and all sounded like stars within reach. They could do anything they wanted. They could run, fly, jump, disappear. They could pull the trigger and ignite a burst of confetti around their world. There was nothing that sounded impossible, there was nothing stopping them. They could charge on with an endless stream of energy. They could because they wanted to.

They were 18 and dreams were still possible. 

Dancing Crab, Grandstand, Turf Club Road

Heard lots of good things about Dancing Crab and I was dying to try this. I was especially curious as to whether Dancing Crab was better than Cajun King which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a tough week and I really wanted to feast over some good seafood and truffle fries so I came by one night after work. 

Dancing Crab was pretty empty when we dropped by on a weekday night. But to be fair, Grandstand as a whole was like a dead city on weekday nights so it was not a surprise that the restaurants and eating establishments were similarly deserted. I mean, who would drive all the way to such an inaccessible location and brave the horrifying traffic at the Newton roundabout on a weekday night after work? 

The concept at Dancing Crab was similar to that in Cajun Kings. The tables were covered with white paper and we were eating with our hands. I should mention that I love eating with my hands even though I know it is not the most convenient nor hygienic way to put food into my mouth. 

My friend did the homework and researched about the must tries in Dancing Crab. We ordered the Garlic Noodles ($6), Crab Cakes ($13), Truffle Fries ($7), and Flaming Moonshine Tiger Prawns ($8 per 100g). 

Garlic Noodles was a bit meh. It was fragrant and tasty but definitely not al dente. We were kind of disappointed by the Garlic Noodles which could certainly be better.

Crab Cakes were pretty awesome! Crispy on the outside yet creamy and juicy inside. Crab Cakes at Dancing Crab were the soft kind and fell apart if you squeezed it harder. I made the wrong mistake of squeezing my Crab Cake unknowingly when I was chatting and it disintegrated into pieces onto the white paper. I promptly picked the pieces up and threw them into my mouth. 

This was the highlight and I apologise for the lousy quality of the picture. My fingers were kind of oily and dirty by the time our Flaming Moonshine Tiger Prawns arrived and I was in a hurry to use as little fingers as possible to take this picture before resuming our feast. The Flaming Moonshine Tiger Prawns were prepared beside your table in a small pot set over a stove. The flames shot up excitedly and our prawns were tossed in the pot for a couple of minutes before they were served. The prawns were very very fresh and sweet. The prawns were not cooked in any overpowering sauce so you could enjoy the sweetness of the prawns. 

The Truffle Fries were super awesome too. Crispy thin fries fried to perfection. Fragrant with the taste of truffle oil and just perfect!

Another exciting addition to Grandstand. I would definitely return!

200 Turf Club Road
The Grandstand
#01-20/21 Singapore 287994
64663303
Tue - Fri 17:00 - 22:30
Sat and Sun 11:30 - 15:00, 17:00 - 22:30
Closed on Mondays

Wine Mansion, Keong Saik Road

This post is long overdue and I can't believe I missed blogging about Wine Mansion. It was probably one of the best discoveries for someone who loves to eat and drink. 

Situated along the happening Keong Saik Road, Wine Mansion is a quiet little wine place tucked along the busy street. We called to make a reservation and were thankful that we did because the place was crowded through the night. It was a Wednesday so we indulged in Ladies Night with free flow red, white and sparking wines at $25++. Best deal ever. The Wine Mansion was dim and quaint, very suitable for a nice romantic date with your other half. 

The menu was extensive and we were so spoiled for choice because everything sounded good. We eventually settled for Hummus ($8), Sauteed Mushrooms ($5) and Crispy Pork Knuckle ($28).

Hummus was all right but sadly not one of the best I've tried before. Even though the hummus was smooth and creamy, there was a weird aftertaste in it. The sauteed mushrooms were awesome! Tossed in garlic and herbs, the mushrooms were fragrant and juicy. Perfect. 

The Crispy Pork Knuckle was good but too big for two ladies with dwindling appetites. It was indeed crispy and tasty but we had trouble trying to saw through the entire big knuckle. 

After all the food and several glasses of wine each, we decided we should have something sweet and chose the Molten Lava Cake with vanilla ice cream. Pretty good end to the meal and the chocolate did flow out steadily like lava in the cake.

I would recommend this place for those who love their wines. It is a good place for a nice date because it is quiet and you can have a decent conversation with your partner. Service was a bit patchy as there was only one guy running around the whole night trying to serve all the tables in Wine Mansion. He did try his best though and was attentive when there were less people later in the night.

Update: I went back to Wine Mansion for drinks and snacks because I had dinner at Muchachos next door. We ordered the truffle fries, sauteed mushrooms (because I am dead in love with their sauteed mushrooms), and a bottle of Muscato. Truffle fries were good, crispy and thick, and the sauteed mushrooms were awesome as usual. I have to say the service was fantastic that night. The guy who was running around alone previously was now assisted by a young lady. Evidently, two serving staff was much better than one and service was very good that night!

20 Keong Saik Road

62254468
Monday to Friday: 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm
Monday to Thursday: 4:00 pm to 12:00 am
Friday, Saturday, Eve of PH: 4:00 pm to 1:00 am