OK Dishes @ Tai Lou on 3Jan2020

my OPS bro HC bought 4pax OPS bros lunch @ dai lou punggol marina on 3.1.2020.^^

food was ok, quite mediocre zichar. 🙂

har jeon gai aka prawn paste chicken was ok but heavy batter

nowhere c/w the excellent prawn paste chicken at hk street new chun kee at commonwealth crescent.

we ordered salted egg sotong, forgot that HC doesn’t take sotong. anyway this dish not great. salted egg sotong taste & powdery salted egg texture ok..came like calamari again heavy batter. i prefer it w/o batter..didn’t like the onion ring type batter be better w/o batter..

surprisingly the minced pork tofu was good, best dish la…tofu nicely done, soft inside & tasty.

chaotar beehoon (三楼米粉) good standard. i have taken better ones though…

sambal mixed veg non-descript like any heavily sambal dish..ok not great

won’t come back just average food to fill the tummy

after that we had durians D13 WT bought..

then WM drove to seletar club & we had ice kachang

ate too much lol!

c.h.e.f andy

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Awesome, Sumptuous 9pax Family Dinner @ 8picure on 31Dec2020

miyazaki wagyu A5

A5 Omi Ribeye Steak (1/2 portion)

we had 9pax family + aunty bes dinner @ 8picure to celebrate new year eve on 31.12.2019.^^

food was truly awesome, delicious!! really lovely dinner thanks to chef Gabriel Lee & his partner Connie 👍

wife ordered 4 lobster/ohmi wagyu sets for 8 of us to share, and 1 set (pea soup, alio olio, french poulette & tiramisu) for aunty bes.

and we had lots of appetisers,

additional pastas…

galician octopus

galician octopus with smoked cauliflower & squidink coral

main courses and galician octopus…

desserts to share.

every dish was great! including the excellent dessert!

& the ohmi wagyu was a good serving especially split into 1/2 portions.

really most enjoyable and memorable dinner, fit for a family new year eve celebrations. 🙂

c.h.e.f andy

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8picure

New Year Resolution 1Jan2020

trying to see when i last wrote down a new year resolution.

& that was 6 years back on 1.1.2014..:-)

 if today were your last day on earth. When you live everyday as if it is your last, your life will take on a magical quality….

we always say this…carpe diem, sieze the moment…joie de vivre…ikigai…

just in that the hustle & bustle of daily living, even if those words come to mind, they are just floating around at the peripheral of our being, and even if one focus on them it is not easy to experience them in the same degree always as c/w when there is major event, sometimes life changing event.

anywhere i am not good at trying too hard on this.

recently i had a rather bad accident but relatively good outcome. and just prior to that, losing a very close friend and brother …

so i just want to do the things i can do, and can do more, that others may enjoy…

one is cooking –

  • i am doing one weekly friday 140pax breakfast dish for teban gardens PPH community service centre.
  • & cooking a fortnightly tuesday 40pax lunch for HCA Hospice Care day hospice patients.

the other is to continue some of the work of my close friend and brother Matthias..we have set up a fund and have a committee of friends and relatives together on this…

六十耳顺,七十随心所欲…

so my convictions are 尽力不强求…when i say not try too hard…actually it is try hard but not to desire any outcome too hard or be so bothered, not to take oneself too seriously…and think too much about the things we do..just do it..if i run i run, i exercise i exercise, i cook i cook…there is nothing to it..just be happy i can do what i do and it is useful to others…

c.h.e.f andy

 

Worst Laksa Poor Food @ Toastbox 6th Ave on 1Jan2020

my OPS pals WT & M came to visit on 1.1.2020. 🙂

wonderful day to see friends! ^^

WT bought D13 durians $10/kg ..good!👍

I had to go get something at 6th ave. there was a promo at breadtalk – 20 items for S$20..

WT decided to have some makan at neighbour toastbox. he bought 2 laksa plus a mee siam set for M..

sorry to say this the worst laksa i had… not savoury, not much lemak, used bee tai mak instead laksa noodles or yellow noodles, no cockles, no semblance of laksa….

seriously my chicken pong’s laksa 10 times better lol!

S$3 laksa at coffeeshop across the street would be much better..M said her mee siama bit dilute & the barley drink totally dilute!

I ok with toastbox coffee..like never had food at toastbox. .. me think only coffee drinkable here..

c.h.e.f andy

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Excellent Roast Duck @ Long Yuan (龍源) plus Very OK Zichar on 30Dec2019

5 of us had lunch on 30.12.2019. ^^

my RI rbos CCG & NCL joined lunch with my OPS bros WM & WT. 🙂

the 1/2 roast duck was excellent today! very flavourful, nice crisp skin, tasty, not dry & tough..surprise really!

today WT decided to buy 1/2duck plus char siew S$25 char siew also good..roast duck better.. interestingly, they served curry with the roast duck..curry was excellent very tasty..can eat separately..didn’t contribute to roast suck tastewise.

we usually eat at ok zichar, the next stall neighbour..

today WM bought the always very ok zichar, great meen si song fish head, excellent salted fish minced prok, and good omelette and sambal potato leaves.

had a great lunch with good freinds and bros. 🙂

c.h.e.f andy

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Long Yuan (龍源)

 

Good Tasty Prata @ Sin Min Roti Prata on 24Dec2019

7 of us came for breakfast after walk at macritchie on 24.12.2019. ^^

long queue 15mins..

CCG bought breakfast. 🙂

prata gosong were good not crispy type but tasty doughs..not better than springleaf at rail mall.

we had 2 chicken, 2 mysore mutton cubes and 3 plates curry. ..guys didn’t take dhal..i like dhal too, but the chicken curry was very good, excellent taste..

chicken was excellent, tasty and quite moist not dry..

mutton had strong taste..some friends didn’t like much..i took almost 1 whole plate..i had much better mysore mutton at mr prata at evans road..

overall an enjoyable breakfast with close buddies

c.h.e.f andy

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My RI Bro CL bought lunch @ Sinfona on 22Dec2019

3 appetizers

3 appetizers=smoked duck breast, blue pressed foie gras, mozarella

Chong Lee bought 3pax S$58pax 12-course omakase lunch unlimited orders @ sinfona ristorante on 22.12.2019.^^

it’s meant for wife and my much belated birthdays. 🙂

sinfona omakase lunch menu

sinfona S$58pax omakase lunch menu

after the first serving of the menu dishes, one can make unlimited orders, then dessert. 🙂

chef simone from sardonia italy and hailed from alkaff mansion, lived in singapore for 8yrs & with sinfona from the start 3yrs ago..

3 appetizers were pretty good. we are liked the smoked duck breast best so we all reordered..smoked flavour was excellent & the fragrant crispy & thick layer of fat did not feel oily..

the blue foie gras tasted like pate..ok light & sweet..

the mozzarella cheese so so.

pumpkin soup competent not my favourite soup chong lee reordered..the anchovies added a salty flavourful twist so i should say better than usual pumpkin soup..

the sardinia uni fregola was tasty..i took the small uni to enjoy separately ..the mango, fregola itself & whole combination was tasty..not sure if cashew did anything..did add some texture..

the mains, however, were not great here..the beef cheek quite below par, texture ok sinewy not best taste was poor so chunky & beefy not tasty..turkey breast ok non descript..

best was the salmon..chong lee reordered ..commented it was chunky but it was pink & moist..the fregola & salmon something i can reordered but too full la for me.

ambience was victoria concert hall so many reservations for wedding & celebrations lunch dinner functions

owner jean foo a lawyer & niece of our 72yr old server who started working at 13.

it was a great lunch with a good friend.

c.h.e.f andy

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sinfona Ristaronte

OPS Bro WT bought 3pax Wanton Mee lunch @ Foong Kee & Ah Ma Chendol on 20Dec2019

my OPS bro WT bought 3pax wanton mee & roast duck rice @ foong kee at keong saik street on 20.12.2019.^^

very good wanton noodles, qq noodles and excellent chilli & sauce.

& roast duck one of the best,very fragrant & flavourful, excellent roast duck.

only thing is when i came back with my wife a few days later, the duck was not as nice…so it’s kind of not so consistent.

after foong kee, we walked to corner coffeeshop & took S$3 ah ma chendol..

HC thinks it was better thicker than four seasons chendol..anyway it was as good. ^^

c.h.e.f andy

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Foon Kee

Excellent Miyazaki A5 Wagyu Lunch Omakase just too expensive! @ Hachi on 18Dec2019

2pax jap wagyu omakase lunch with wife @ hachi on 18.12.2019.^^

excellent jap wagyu omakase as before just lots more expensive, like 50% more!

uni seaweed kakiage becomes hotate….cheaper ingredient still excellent preparation and nice dish.

large oyster sashimi

oyster with ponzu jelly

oyster with ponzu jelly good as before, fabulous for the eyes and delicious!

miyazaki A5 sukiyaki konabe still very good. tasty marbled wagyu, very nice!

sashimi is REALLY quite poor standard for this price of omakase! and c/w what was served previously…

we had a complimentary dish, i think it was hotaruika firely squid which was in season.

chargrilled miyazaki A5 wagyu was superb!

wagyu sushi best, just incredible!

overall standard still very very good. will come back some time..

we did go back a month back, but it was not as good and really expensive, oyster had shrunk, though the wagyu beef dishes were still excellent.

not so motivated to go back now…

c.h.e.f andy

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hachi Restaurant

Opening Hours:

My OPS Bro WT bought 4pax Curry Chicken Noodles @ Ah Heng Queen Street on 16Dec2019

curry chicken noodles

ah heng queen street S$6 curry chicken noodles

my RI bro fetched me 8.50am to mt e orchard.

afterwards we went to ah heng curry chicken noodles at queen street bugis..CL & my OPS bro WT joined us 11am. WT bought lunch.

1st time trying this stall..chicken today one of the best very sweet & tender even better than hong lim..gravy & chilli also good like hong lim.

i tried a subsequent time same time at about 11am…was ok but more like hong lim…the bowl for S$6 was much smaller though, so on balance i will still go to hong lim

we had coffee at waterloo side killiney road kopitiam & walking back about 12.30pm there was a snaking long queue.

c.h.e.f andy

 

 

No Good Fried Beehoon @ Hollandv Fried Beehoon on 12Dec2019

1pax unhealthy brunch indulgence.

went to eat hollandv fried bee hoon on 12.12.2019.

..didn’t frequent this stall like 20yrs maybe, or maybe once or twice in between, too long to remember.

chicken wing ngoh hiang ok passable chilli so so

worst thing is noodles nua nua 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼

best thing about this long time stall was noodles now the worse item!!

only thing is cheap S$2.70 but cheap & not good 😂

won’t come back.

c.h.e.f andy

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Hollandv Fried Bee Hoon

My RI Bro CCG bought 5pax lunch @ Hua Ting Steamboat on 10Dec2019

sharksbone and black chicken soup base

sharksbone and black chicken soup base

my RI bro CCG bought 5pax lunch @ huating steamboat on 10dec2019…very shiok!!!

the sharksbone and black chicken soup base were marvellous!

we also had kidney, fish paste noodles, fish balls and meatballs.

S$129nett after eatigo 50% discounts 👍

everyone loved it!

had four seasons chendol tpy lor 8 afterwards.

c.h.e.f andy

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

OPS Bro WM bought 3pax lunch @ Sabar Japan Food Town Wisma Level 4 on 2Dec2019

S$18.80 chirashi don3

S$18.80 chirashi don

S$18.80 chirashi don

S$18.80 chirashi don

OPS bros WM, WT fetched me to mt e orchard…

afterwards walked over to wisma level 4 japan food town.

WM bought 3pax lunch at sabar.

S$18.80 chirashi don…huge serving of good fresh sashimi ..

basically 2 tiered = bottom tier bara chirashi cheaper square cuts, and upper tier chirashi normal cut. of course not premium sashimi but as good quality as sun with moon and any normal/bara chirashi don in town and twice the serving..lol!

grilled sabar 50% off about S$11 very good too, large saba, fresh and oily very flavourful..

of course can get 1 large saba from sheng shiong at S$3.90, grilled myself, truly just as good.

had kopi afterwards with bros.

c.h.e.f andy

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Sabar

Contact:
Opening Hours:

 

Good Authentic Vietnamese Food @ Mrs Pho on 26Nov2019

returned singapore on 24.11.2019.

had operation upon arrival on 24.11.2019, and discharged 26.11.2019.

went to make new spectacles. old one was broken.

after that walked over to mrs pho for early dinner.

real authentic bun thit nuong just like hcmc

lemon grass beef skewers excellent too. crab soup a bit like bun rieu so so for me.

c.h.e.f andy

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Mrs Pho @ Beach Road

Wife’s Birthday Bash for Friends and Family @ Buona Terra on 9Nov2019

wife’s birthday bash organised by her friend SS & HLF wine sommelier @ buona terra on 9.11.2019.^^

24 guests inc family & aunty bes.

my RI bro CL came as official paparazzi though he had to leave for airport 5.30am the next day.

degustation dinner menu

wife ordered a specially curated individual degustation menu, plus chef’s charcoal grilled OP ribs to share.

food was excellent. dishes were exquisite and delicious!

Service left much to be desired…sign!

the amuse bouche were all good and delightful –

  1. prawn tartare with caviar cone
  2. gazpacho balls
  3. parma ham on fig and ikura on squidink crackers
  4. melted cheese & escargot

1st course – alaskan crab, tomato gelatine, cucumber sorbet was exquisite,

2nd course = mozambique scampi basically lobster size, with seafood bisque. simply delicious.

3rd course = linguine with baby squid & squidink sauce very good standard, al dente pasta and very tasty.

4th course = choice of pan seared cod OR lamb loin, herb crust, egg plant. lamb was great as before. cod the usual good standard.

for this dinner, wife specially added an order of chef’s charcoal grilled OP ribs additional to the degustation menu.

it was delightful, nice bbq flavours and very tender steak.

6th course = cigaro, their signature OR chocolate mousse, both good standard.

boey wah keong vegetarian dish

delicious vegetarian course dish

one guest BWK is vegetarian so there was a special vegetarian degustation course for him. the dishes all looked exquisite, he was very happy man!

i only took one photo, lol!

a very fun evening with family and good friends and excellent food!

c.h.e.f andy

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Buona Terra

Good Food, Expensive, Small Portions, Inconvenient Parking @ Esquina on 8Nov2019

 

had nice 6pax dinner @ esquina

wife bought son birthday dinner..PT organised it…

food mostly good.

oysters good ..at S$35 for 6..i think just so so value wise.

chorizo croquette tasty and good standard..

spanish omelette was a joke though tasty..good size for 3yr old…

cheese with eggplant was excellent

cauliflower good.

suckling pig was ok. lamb loin was so so.

ribeye steak, bresse pigeon and galician octopus excellent..

uni lobster paella also excellent taste

uni lobster paella also excellent taste

uni lobster paella also excellent just don’t know where the lobster?

pork neck was good.

wine like S$120

overall more expensive than la taperia & foc..

later 2 have much better dining experience, ambience, seating, size of serving, traffic & parking etc

c.h.e.f andy

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107th Teban Gardens Community Breakfast on 8nov2019 – Braised Pork Belly & Loin with Vegetables

braised pork belly & pork loin with veg4

braised pork belly & loin with carrots and potatoes

made braised pork belly & loin with carrots and potatoes for teban gardens friday community breakfast this morning on 8.11.2019.^^

i cook a dish for teban gardens every friday unless i am traveling or otherwise indisposed.

this my 107th friday breakfast community meal dish at teban gardens community service centre.

i first started doing a community meal dish for teban gardens CSC on 8.1.2016.

the centre was started in 2002 after much effort & challenge by our RI friend who is a pastor of pasir panjang hill brethren church (pphbc) which owns & runs the CSC.

for today, i cooked braised belly pork and loin (about 2.5kg).

my usual preparation of fish sauce, oyster sauce, huatiao chinese wine and cornflour, and cooked/reduced till tender, about 1 hour. remove. cook carrots add potatoes and cook 10mins. then add back braised prok.

simple and delightful tasting dish for teban gardens residents.

c.h.e.f andy