Big Easy @ Resort World Sentosa

I love Southern Cajun food and it was always a treat when I traveled down south in USA as I could have all the gumbo and corn bread I want there. Looking back, I kind of regretted not making the side trip to New Orleans (before Katrina struck) when I had the opportunity. Somehow you always think you have all the time in the world and that it will always be there for you. So I was pretty excited and keen to try the food at Big Easy when I passed by it the other day.

We were there early so it was pretty quiet. Service was average. When you do not need them, they would always come over but when you need them, they are not to be seen. Murphy's Law, I guess.

SC ordered the shrimp and sausage jambalaya which came with a piece of cornbread. The portion was huge and was best shared. It was very nicely done. The prawns were fresh and sweet and the pork sausage was very tasty.

I ordered the creole gumbo which was not totally what I expected. Even though the server warned me that it came with rice (I knew there was rice in there), I didn't expect it to be more stew-like and dry-type and poured over the rice. I expected something a bit more watery. I guessed there are many versions of gumbo after all. It was still good with the scallops and prawns and sliced okras. Under the soup section, this could easily pass off as a main dish.

As I was expecting a more soupy gumbo, I also ordered sides of mashed potatoes. This was not too bad, but not brillant.

The corn bread was quite alright too. It was still better than Kenny Rogers' version which was sweeter.

I would not mind going back to Big Easy again to try the other dishes as they do have so many other things to try.

Kitoko Kalani Face Sheet Masks

I am just so lazy to mask my face (as I find it a hassle to do it at home when I am always in glasses) that it is quite a marvel I actually bought these face sheet masks from Kitoko Kalani at one of the numerous beauty shops in Toa Payoh when I was in the area. I guessed I was partially sold on the products by the sales assistant. She was good enough not to use the usual tactic. Instead she was not pushy and when she saw me paused and took a look at the rows of sheet masks again, she just casually recommended the "Coenzyme 10" to me, saying that my skin is already pretty good, just a bit dehydrated around the mouth area, so that would be better for me.

I decided to try them as I was thinking they would be nice gifts to get for my girlfriends (who are more into skincare products and face sheet masks than I am) if they are good. The nice SA just selected the masks for me to try.

~ Coenzyme 10 (rejuvenating)

~ Collagen (firming)

~ Lingzhi (regenerate and radiant)

~ Sake Yeast (renewal and replenish)

~ Pearl (smoothing and radiant)

There were about 10 or more types of masks available but what I have are meant for hydration and better for sensitive skin.

I decided to try the Coenzyme 10 when I got home. The sheet mask was soaked with the serum and felt thick and gooey though it was not watery enough to drip all over my face. Ok, you could probably tell I hardly use sheet mask that it seemed like a big production for me. The fit of the mask was good, all the cut outs were where they were supposed to be.

After 15mins or so, I massaged in the liquid on my face and used the remainder on my neck area as recommended by the SA. It felt a bit sticky. After another 5-10 mins, the liquid was absorbed into the skin and had dried.

Wow! I was pretty much amazed by it after that. My skin was extremely smooth, similar to the skin texture after cleansing. The only difference was the smoothness remained. The fine lines around the mouth area were visibly reduced.

So I am pretty happy with the mask at the moment. I was told to mask 2x a week. Let's see if I will be that diligent :p

Kitoko Kalani is from Japan though the sheet masks were made in Taiwan. I do like the packaging. The brown paper attracted me more than the usual plastic packaging of the typical sheet masks.

Prima Taste Laksa Fried Rice

I went to the Esplanade Theatre over the weekend to watch Fried Rice Paradise. To my surprise, we were given a pack of Prima Taste Laksa Fried Rice on our way out of the theatre. That was a very nice touch and great marketing tie-up for Prima Taste. What could be more local than Prima Taste? In addition, you could also get a 20% discount when you order the pastes online.

This was the Laksa Fried Rice. It did have a mild laksa taste which was not overpowering. It was pretty nice. I added chopped up prawns, veggies, bean sprouts and eggs to the rice and sprinkled with chopped green onions.

Roast Pig on Spitfire

I was invited to a party where the highlight was a pig roasted whole on a spitfire. It was quite a sight to see the small or medium size hog being trussed up and being rotated manually over the hot coals.

The pig had been roasted for about 4-5 hours when this was taken. It took about 6 hours before it was done. Inside the pig, they stuffed 3 whole chickens inside. There were apples and onions and garlics in there too.

Not a big fan of pork, I only tried a bite or so. I did not really like it as it was too "porky" for my taste. Plus it was dark and I did not know what I ate. Some bits were very fatty tasting, probably I got the fatty bits :p

The chicken was tender and normal. What I liked best was the garlic bread which was toasted over the coals and spread with home-made garlic butter. Utterly sinfully delicious. The potato salad was mixed with hardboiled eggs and gerkins which gave a refreshing crunch.

Awesome house party with simple fare and great company and music and alcohol.

Rose Veranda @ Shangri-La Hotel, Peranakan Fare

I have been wanting to take a day off so that I can head to Rose Veranda at Shangri-La to just chill. It is one of my favorite places for an afternoon tea as it is a bit far out and the place is not too stark or noisy (though at times it can be when there are lots of children or big groups).

We got a table by the window with view of the greenery surrounding the hotel. The burgundy velvet deep armchair was quite perfect to relax in with a book and some nibbles.

Rose Veranda has changed its menu and now serves tea by TWG. The downside of it is that we don't get to keep changing the type of drinks (hot tea, iced tea, different types of coffee) unless we pay an additional $10++ for that option. The additional cost is not that much of an issue (though $48++ for tea?) but just that it is different from expectation. Usually I like to start with a glass of iced tea (usually some berry flavored), then a pot of hot tea before ending with the Viennese coffee which I love so much.

I decided on the Emperor's White Garden Tea which was under the White Tea selection. I typically prefer white tea as it is milder and not as acidic as black tea which has a sharp taste to it. The Emperor's White Garden Tea was a bit bitter but still mild enough to enjoy it without any sugar or milk. I am not sure if it is the teacup, but the tea gets cold very quickly so it is best to drink it fast if you do not like cold tea.

There was a Peranakan promotion on the day we were there, so the food was geared towards that. It was still good. I liked the char siew bun a lot. The bun was slightly sweet and soft and the char siew was tender and covered with just enough sauce. The siew mai and shrimp dumpling were equally good. Maybe I was lucky to get them when they were still fresh and had not been sitting in the steamer for ages.

The salmon sashimi was fresh and I could just eat this the whole day. The sushi was not as good as the seaweed wrap was a bit hard and dry by then.

There was the duck soup with kiam chye (salted vegetables) and straw mushrooms which was delightfully tasty. I did not really care for the straw mushrooms which tasted like they were out of a can. I guessed I am used to fresh mushrooms that I really dislike canned mushrooms.

The fried mee tai mak (short or mouse tail noodles) was a bit too oily for my liking and the prawns seemed overcooked. The assam fish was average and the prawns were not too bad. What I really liked was the beef dish. It was slightly sweet and reminded me so much of Indonesia. I could not remember the name but it was a bit dry with coconut shavings? Not beef rendang but something else. It was not a common dish that was usually found in Peranakan restaurants.

At the carving station, there were roast duck which was really good with the plum sauce. I also tried the otak which was not too bad. I do liked the quiche with its flaky crust and eggy filling.

I still loved the chocolate truffle cake and creme brulee. The creme brulee was rich but I liked it that way. The Parisian Beard was interesting with a light peanut filling.

The macaroon which was sticky chewy sweet. I guessed it could be airier and lighter but it was not too bad.

All too soon it was time to go. If you are in a hurry, ask for the bill with at least 30 minutes to spare as they do take a long time to get back to you.

Brunch at Canele, Shaw Centre

Isn't that a lovely sight for sore eyes? Somehow when I want to have brunch, there simply needs to have an egg dish, even better when it is poached or sunny side up so that I can taste the burst of runny gooey egg yolk oozing in my mouth.

I decided to order the crepe with Paris ham, emmental cheese and egg. This was the first time I tried the crepe at Canele and it did not disappoint. The crepe was lightly browned and the leafy veggies made a perfect foil against the savory egg, ham and cheese. Really nice!

I also ordered the corn and crab chowder which came with a basket of toast and butter. The creamy soup was tasty and filled with lots of crab meat and corn.

It was the perfect way to start the day. It was still so quiet at 11am that we were the only patrons sitting at the outdoor area. A treat to enjoy the peace and quiet before the streets come alive again.

EwF @ Orchard Central

I have read about EwF (Everything with Fries) in the papers and passed by it a few times, and only got to try the food today. I was amazed by the burger. It sure exceeded my expectation.

I chose the meal ~ super burger + curry fries + diet coke. Then I added a nutella slice. I liked that they offered chili sauce, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise as condiments. It was pretty cute to have the food served on a small tray, almost like a bento box. The curry fries were cooked after I ordered and was hot but it cooled down really fast. I did not particularly like the curry fries (curry powder). Maybe I should just ordered the salt and vinegar version which was the other popular choice.

The container for the burger which looked like a take-out box. I guessed this is quite in line with Awfully Chocolate's container for their ice cream. EwF is opened by the people who own Awfully Chocolate.

Voila! The sweet bun with a glossy buttery shine. It was also only cooked after I placed my order. I was not sure if that was the norm or it was because I went there around 1.20pm and it was not very crowded.

A simple burger with cheese, sweet onions, ketchup and mustard over the 130 grams of beef patty.
I so loved the burger. The bun was soft and fluffy. The beef patty was warm and juicy. You could see the thickness of the patty and how the beef was not overly packed together and hard like the usual patty from the various fast food.

My dessert ~ nutella slice. It was warmed up in the microwave so that chocolate would melt into a gooey mess.

As with Awfully Chocolate, the nutella slice was not overly sweet at all. In fact I wondered if there was any sugar. The crust was nice and crunchy. The body of the slice tasted like a non-sweet pudding or flourless cake and topped with chocolate sauce which had a hint of bittersweet to it. In fact, I could hardly taste the nutella hazelnut.

I would love to go back again and try the milkshake and have the burger again. This is so much better than the sliders served at so many other places.

Jumbo Chili Crab @ Dempsey

It seemed like everyone loved a good seafood meal. It was full house at Jumbo Dempsey over the weekend. We were seated at the terrace which was still in the building but without the air conditioner. Instead ceiling fans rotated lazily, cooling the place. Blinds were also pulled down to block out the setting sun when we were there at 6pm.

The star of the meal was the chili crab with the deep fried and steamed mantous (buns). To feel healthier, we also ordered vegetables and tofu and juices (coconut for me, watermelon for F).

I loved this specialty at Jumbo. Tofu topped with spinach and mushrooms with a side of broccoli.

The spinach was closely packed on top of the lightly fried tofu with some spinach stuffed in the centre. The tofu was silky soft and smooth and could just slid down the throat. The mushrooms were nicely cooked with a slight crunch and bite to them.

The sambal kang kong was good though I felt it was a bit too spicy. It would be better if there was rice to neutralize the spice.
The highlight of the evening ~ chili crab. The gravy was spicy and sweet with a thick consistency which did not turn watery towards the end. I felt it was such a waste of gravy as there was too much for just 2 persons to mop up the gravy with the buns.

We ordered the medium sized crab which was around 1kg-1.2kg which was enough for 2 persons. The crabmeat was sweet and firm. It was quite a mess eating this and I had to request for extra wet tissues and napkins just to clean my hands. The finger bowl didn't quite cut it.

The service was good. The server was helpful in making recommendations and attentive in changing plates and making sure everything was in order.

Lovely meal and location. Our timing was pretty good as the sky turned pink from the setting sun when we left at 7+pm. The weather was also cool, so we actually walked out from Dempsey since we were too stuffed and needed to walk a bit. Being 7ish pm meant that there were plenty of taxis as they ferried people in for their dinner.

Texas Chicken, United Square

Do you remember Texas Chicken (or Church's Chicken as known in North America)? Frankly I could not remember Texas Chicken when it used to be in Singapore, unless it was the one at Wisma Atria many years ago.

I finally got to try Texas Chicken when it opened its second outlet at United Square (not UE Square ~ I don't know why but many people mixed these up). I ordered the 2 piece meal with mashed potatoes as my side. It also came with a biscuit. I chose the original chicken, instead of spicy.

The original chicken had a crispy batter over the skin and was slightly spicy. Friends who tried the spicy version said it was super spicy and "shiok". The chicken was not fatty and the meat was tender. Hmmm....I would prefer it if the skin was not covered with the batter. In this aspect, I preferred KFC original skin.

The mashed potato was very average and seemed to be out of a mix. It was thick and gooey, I would think more milk/liquid was needed to smoothen it out. Popeye's has better mashed potato. The highlight was the biscuit. It was warm and soft and buttery. It was so good I could eat a few of that. It was not dry like Popeye's where you had the jam to smother it.

Skinny Pizza, Wheelock Place

After so many months of walking past the Skinny Pizza over at Wheelock Place, I finally made it there for a super late lunch. We decided to try the truffle mushroom pizza. The crust is so skinny that I felt I was eating a very thin piece of cracker. It was spread with truffle and topped with rings of onion, rocket leaves and mushrooms. Wonderfully yummy with the juicy mushrooms and crispy leaves and crunchy onions.

We also ordered a plate of sliders to share. Two mini beef burgers with choice of toppings and sides of sweet potato and potato fries.
The order was wrong. We ordered blue cheese and bacon, but the server heard it as regular cheese and bacon. We sent the burgers back.
Now the beef burger with bacon and blue cheese. Unfortunately the beef was overdone. We requested for medium well. I wondered if they had to re-heat the patty when they changed the cheese. The bacon was a disappointment, not crispy at all.

The other highlight was the chips. The fries were doused with truffle oil. Very nice. Crispy hot and filled with soft potatoes. The sweet potato was dusted with sugar which was a bit redundant as it made the chips a bit too sweet. Maybe not all the sweet potato was naturally sweet?

This was surprisingly filling as I was not hungry for the rest of the night after this meal at 2.30pm. To be fair, I did have a cup of coffee at 5pm and then a piece of small beef rendang at 630pm.

STACCATO Shoes

I found a new brand for shoes shopping over the weekend. Ever since Arturo Chiang has been pulled out of Singapore (or until a new distributor is found), my choices for comfortable shoes has been reduced. I was looking for a pair of wedges when I stumbled upon STACCATO at Isetan Scotts. Apparently it has only hit our shores in late July and already many pairs have flown off the shelves (or at least my size is either sold out or left with the last pair).

According to the salesperson, STACCATO is from Hong Kong and it is very popular and can be found everywhere over there.

The wedges I tried were surprisingly soft and comfortable. The leather was not stiff and did not cut into the feet. The soles were not hard and had some cushioning for the feet. Even though the wedges seemed high, somehow I felt like I was wearing flats. I did not feel that the arch of my feet had been overly "tortured".

I love this shade of blue. The shiny glitter bits at the sides gave some "oomph" to the ordinary pumps. I did not try the regular shoes or flats, so I could not tell if they are equally comfortable. I am just glad to know I have another option when I want to go shoes shopping. So yes, I finally have a new pair of T-strap sandal wedge which could be worn for work or play.

Images from www.staccato.com/en/

Updates

I know I have been slacking in keeping this blog current. Somehow time is a rare commodity now. Or rather, even when I have some free time, I would be doing something else instead.

I also do not carry my camera out all the time now, so there is less opportunity to snap pictures of food or everyday sights.

August seems to be a busy month. National Day is upon us. Then it will be the first ever Youth Olympics Games for the 14 to 18 years old athletes from August 14 to 26, 2010. Before we know it, it will be the 3rd Formula One Grand Prix in September. We sure have been busy bees, making sure Singapore will known to the rest of the world.

Hopefully we will get less of the usual "Oh Singapore, where is it in China?" from foreigners.

On a side note, I cannot believe USPS (United States Postal Service) actually delivered a parcel to Malaysia when it has a Singapore address. That is quite a shocker. Now I can only hope the parcel can be recovered and be re-directed to Singapore. Thank goodness it is registered, otherwise I could wait forever and be lost in the dark about why the parcel has not arrived.