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

Kazu Sumiyaki, Cuppage Plaza

It was Lynda's birthday and she recommended Kazu Sumiyaki for awesome yakitori so that was where Lynda, Van and I went one evening after work. There were numerous japanese restaurants and bars under Cuppage Plaza's roof and I spotted many Japanese men drifting in and out of restaurants for their meals. Always a good sign when locals are checking out the same restaurant as I am. Kazu Sumiyaki was crowded when I reached and I was thankful I made a reservation. If you intend to drop by for yakitori, I would suggest that you make a reservation before doing so.

The seating area was small and cozy. Our table was one of three squeezed into a tiny room at the back. It provided some privacy but we were seated so close to the other two tables that I could hear everybody's conversation even though I did not mean to eavesdrop. It was quite a tight fit but I have to say that it was still pretty comfortable. 

We ordered a whole bunch of yakitori. We started off the night with Scallop and Bacon which was divine. The scallop was fresh and juicy which went superbly well with the salty crispy bacon. The Pork Belly with Enoki Mushroom (my personal favourite) was good too. Juicy fatty pork with crunchy enoki mushrooms is the best combination ever. 

Chicken wings and chicken yakitori next. They were nice and yummy, but not mind-blowing since everything else was just so fantastic.

Chicken skin. Now, I absolutely love crispy oily chicken skin but I am also acutely aware that one piece of chicken skin is going to put my gym routine to waste. I devoured the chicken skin anyway and am now trying to work off the extra calories.

Lynda's oily lips brushing against a particularly delicious yakitori. This sums up the whole night actually. Putting deliciously oily food into our mouths and washing them down with sake in dainty blue cups. 

Home made fish cake. It was yummy although I have to confess that I cannot tell the difference between this and the usual fish cake at the store downstairs. 

We had Pork Belly with Asparagus which was fantastic with tasty pork belly and fresh asparagus. The stick of grilled leek was pretty good too. However, the best was definitely the onigiri (grilled rice). Who could have guessed that rice would be so delicious! It is so amazing how a stick of grilled rice could be so crispy and yummy.

The Chicken and Ginger Bar was very unique. It was the first time I tasted something so interesting. Minced chicken and chopped ginger grilled with sweet sauce. I would definitely order this again if I return. 

You should place your order early if you wish to have baked sweet potatoes because they take a while to prepare these little babies. The sweet potatoes were served when we were done with the yakitori. I smeared a thin layer of butter on my sweet potato and it was so yummy! I'm not a fan of sweet potatoes usually but this was really good. 

Black Sesame Ice Cream with Red Bean and Mochi with Ice Cream for dessert. The former was good but not anything spectacular. The latter was mind blowing. I have not tasted any sweet treat that made me as happy as this did. Cold runny ice cream wrapped around chewy mochi. Ahhhh perfect dessert that melts deliciously in your mouth. 

This is definitely the best place to be for awesome yakitori. I would return if I want to indulge in some fantastic yakitori.

#04-05 Cuppage Plaza

5 Koek Road

67342492

Daily 18:00 - 22:00

Kimchi Korean Restaurant, Suntec City

The only reason I stepped into this place was because of the glorious reviews floating around online. And the only reason I am spending precious time talking about this place is because I do not wish for anyone else to waste money and calories here. I do not know why people would post such awesome reviews about this place and I can only conclude that they were either sponsored or very kind in their words. I hope to believe in the latter. 

Situated in Suntec City, Kimchi Korean Restaurant is easily accessible. The perk ends there. Sure, if you happen to find yourself in Suntec City and you are just dying to eat Korean food, then please go ahead. Do not let this review stop you. 

The pancake was bland and rather tasteless.

I ordered the Seafood Soup which was really watery and yes, you guessed it, bland. The soup really tasted like the chef simply poured water into the pot, chucked some seafood in, and allowed it to simmer for five minutes before serving it on my table. I wish I could say that this was a healthy option, or perhaps, this was good for me, but unfortunately I am a terrible liar. 

We ordered some pork belly and mushrooms for the grill. The pork belly was hardly marinated. I wondered if they took the pork belly slices from the fridge and brought it directly to us.

My family ordered a bunch of other main dishes but I was so appalled by the standard of the food that I gave up. I was also extremely angry and upset that I suggested this place after reading all the wonderful reviews and I could not bear the disappointment that was crushing down on all of us. 

What a major bummer.

#02-387 Suntec City

63377811

Daily 11:30 - 22:00