King George @ Daikanyama : King of Gourmet Sandwiches

 Opened in 2013, King George is synonymous with voluminous sandwiches with fresh, quality fillings. It is one of the early pioneers of the giant sandwich food trend and the colorful instagramable cross sections make this a popular place amongst youngsters.  

The place is surprisingly housed in narrow spaced 3-storey unit which one can easily overlook if not for the cat sign. You have to ascend a very narrow staircase before reaching the cafe located on the 2F and 3F. 

Like that also can sell food ah? Yes, it's another common example of how the Japanese maximizes limited space to makes business out of it.

With prices starting from 1400 yen, I felt that the sandwiches were really too expensive even though the ingredients were fresh. The King George (1400 yen) comprised of oven baked turkey and polverone cheese in rye bread while the Vegetarian (1600 yen) was a healthy delight loaded with fresh vegi, avocado, marble cheese in sesame bread.

The cheese was not layered like a subway sandwich but melted and solidified on the inner walls of the bread. So you've got to chow the entire monster to get the flavors revolving around your tongue.
Not conducive for sharing, I say, because it was difficult for us to slice and it spilled into a mess. We preferred the King George to the Vegetarian because turkey meat itself was tasty compared to the fresh vegetables which was bland on its own. It made me feel like a rabbit crunching on raw greens after a while.

Don't get me wrong, I love my greens. But I think it can be jazzed up with more sauce or some cooking to make the entire thing more delicious.

This may be the king of sandwiches for size and price. But there's plenty of alternatives out there which I would more happily seek out.

King George キングジョージ
東京都渋谷区代官山町11-13 2F
Shibuya ku Daikanyama cho 11-13 2F
Mon-Fri 11am-9pm
Sat 11am-10pm
Sun 11am-6pm
http://crownedcat.com/

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Goldleaf Taiwan Porridge @ Katong : Nostalgic Chinese Flavors from the 1970s

Just like Teochew Porridge, there's nothing better than Taiwan sweet potato porridge with an array of familiar home-style dishes to bring family and friends on the same table. There aren't many Taiwan porridges restaurants in Singapore so I was happy to learn that Goldleaf Taiwan Porridge has opened a second outlet at Katong Square, a newly established commercial mall that took over the former Joo Chiat Police Station.

In fact, Goldleaf has been established in Singapore since 1971 and it relocated from Orchard to Amoy street.  I visited the Katong outlet with my family on a Sunday evening and our overall experience was a pleasant and satisfying one with more hits than misses. 

Chye Poh Omelette ($10)  is always an obligatory dish for any Taiwan porridge visit and the version here is fluffy and not greasy. However, we wished more sweet preserved radish was used rather than the salty kind. Meanwhile, the Three-Cup Chicken ($10)  with Basil went off the tangent because there was hardly any accents of basil and made this seemed more like dark soy chicken. 

Items like the Seafood Beancurd ($8) and French Beans with minced meat ($10) are decent but not particularly outstanding. Nonetheless, the Goldleaf Prawn Balls ($12) impressed everyone with a crispy-thin batter and meaty filling. The Braised Pork Belly with Preserved Vegetables ($16) stood out as the best dish during our visit as the meat was rich, fatty yet flavorful. The Mei Cai was braised thoroughly without being overly salty not mushy. 

In fact, the menu also has many other dishes such as Salted Egg Yolk Prawns that are commonly found in Zi Char restaurants. With that, I think my family can return and try different items each time. 

Gold Leaf Taiwan Porridge
86 East Coast Road
Unit 01-02 Katong Square
Singapore 428788

Mon - Thurs: 11.30am - 2.30pm, 6pm - 10pm

Fri - Sat: 11.00am - 2.30pm, 5.30pm - 2.30am

https://www.goldleaf.com.sg/

Sun: 11.00am - 2.30pm, 5.30pm - 10pm

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裏参道 GARDEN : My Secret Garden in Tokyo

After Omotesando Koffee, Urasando Garden is probably the next best kept secret in Omotesando hills. Camouflaged into one of the residential units, Urasando Garden is a 2-storey traditional Japanese house that has been converted to a co-sharing space that celebrates traditional Japanese arts and sweets.

The name also aptly describes the place because "Ura" means "at the back" or "behind" while "Omote" means "front". As such, you can literally interpret the name as a garden in the back streets. This is a space where people gather for cultural experience and taste of Japan, with a tweak of creativity reflecting the uniqueness of the Omotesando area.

There are 5 different "stalls" under one roof; tea & tea sweets "Ujien", Japanese sweets teahouse " Migan Club", sake & bistro "gokaque", specialty coffee roaster "Coffee Diary", wine & shochu "Margaux".

The most sought after item is "Tenshi no Namida" also translated as tears of angels. Available from the 甘味 Club, this is simply seaweed jelly made without adding any sugar or artificial ingredients. Like a pure and innocent magical ball, this is not only Instagram-worthy but also taste-worthy. The texture is neither chewy like a warabi mochi nor as firm as an agar-agar or kanten-jelly in anmitsu desserts. 

Close to the rainbow drop cake but a thousand times prettier and stable because it doesn't melt (at least we weren't told to eat it within a certain time). It's tasteless so you would naturally dabble it with the aromatic Hokkaido kinako powder (roasted soybean) and kuromitsu (black sugar syrup).

And that's the point when you feel as if an angel has just descended from heaven.

No wonder this has been the talk of the media recently. 

Next to the 甘味 Club is Uji-en which is based in Osaka. It serves the typical beverages and desserts which one would expect to see from a tea house. I highly recommend the chilled green tea (600 yen) because the consistency is almost close to the traditional whisk matcha--thick and potent--but serving is as generous like a normal green tea beverage. Both the Matcha Soft Serve and the Houjicha Parfait did not disappoint as well. 

My visit on a weekday was an ethereal experience because we sat in the garden and everything was so calm and peaceful. It's a totally different world from the jammed, raucous streets in the Harajuku-Omotesando area.

Being newly opened in March 2016, it doesn't feel commodified by tourists as Omotesando Koffee yet and I wish it remain as such. 

Urasando Garden
Shibuya ku, Jingu-mae 4-15-2
http://www.urasando-garden.jp/
甘味 Club 
1200-1800 (Closed on Mondays)
Ujien
Mon-Fri 1200-1900
Sat/Sun/PH 1100-1900

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Countdown 2017 : New Year's Eve Buffet @ Grand Hyatt Singapore

Don't fuss over what to cook at home on 31st December. 

There's only one more day left to 2016 so treat yourself to an A-grade dinner at any of five restaurants at Grand Hyatt. Be spoilt with all kinds of choices from Indian to Italian cuisine or a scrumptious platter of fresh sashimi served using sustainable seafood. But after your dinner, don't be too kanchiong to head home! Toast to a "Beautiful Age" at the Belle Époque countdown party where free-flow beverages and a dessert extravaganza awaits you alongside live music and entertainment. 

Here's a sneak preview of some of the dishes offered at Grand Hyatt for New Year's Eve dinner and of course, the dessert extravaganza!  

Straits Kitchen Indian section Lobster masala 

Assorted Bouchons

Macarons & Champagne Truffles

Chocolate Caviar Tiramisu

mezza9 spit roasted over yarrah hard wood, british red poll prime rib, garlic, black pepper 

StraitsKitchen Chinese Section : Double boiled superior seafood herbal soup in whole coconut” (Scallop, prawn, mushroom, chinese herbs, whole coconut)

Artisan Gelato (Must Try!)

For more information, click here  to view the detailed menus for 10 Scotts, mezza9, StraitsKitchen, Pete's Place, Oasis.

Prices start at SGD138++ for New Year's Eve dinners that include one complimentary ticket to the Belle Époque countdown party.

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Colony @ Ritz-Carlton Singapore : 5-Tier Tingkat Afternoon Tea + Free Flow Desserts from The Patisserie

Mini Lobster Quiche

Yam Puff with Baby Abalone

Relish a taste of Singapore's culinary heritage with Colony's latest revamped afternoon tea featuring a 5 savoury dishes served in an exquisite ceramic tingkat. They are inspired by local Chinese and Western cuisine and are larger than the average cocktail canapés. Delicious highlights include the mini lobster quiche--savoury egg custard with chunky lobsters encrusted in a buttery flaky shell, as well as the Pumpkin Cake with Chilli crab sauce.

Just as you find yourself about half or three-quarters full, take a break and sip on the glass of Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne before you continue The Journey with free-flow desserts at The Patisserie. This is a section where you can discover some of the top-notched desserts in Singapore.

Most certainly not every dessert here is born equal but one cannot afford to miss the rich and decadent Chocolate Caramel Hazelnut Tart which crumbles into a gooey caramel as you fork your through. It's petit but successfully ambitious in congregating multiple textures and building depths in flavors.

Another hot favourite is the Taiwan Ice Cream Peanut Wrap which is made by wrapping freshly shaved peanut candy, taro ice cream and coriander all in thin yet fragrant crepe. Savoury, sweet, nutty and crunchy, there's a wonderful medley of textures and flavors here. Don't be surprise if your brain asks you to go for a second serving immediately after you take a bite. Any rational human being will do that. 

The ice cream section is yet another cave worthy of some exploration. The Chendol, Matcha and Strawberry which I've tried were not shy of their distinctive flavors, though some parts were slightly icy. Count in all the other signature scones, assorted miniatures, chocolate pralines, etc. and you know you have to save up your lunch calories for this. 

Priced at $49 per person, Colony's afternoon tea includes the Colony Tea, a custom blend of black and white Sumatran tea leaves from that comes with your choice of tea syrup enhancement such as French Rose or Lavender. 

Colony @ The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

7 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039799

Tel 6434-5288

Available Mon-Sat 3.30pm-5.30pm 

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/singapore/dining/colony

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Salon Bake & Tea @ Shinjuku NEWoman : 30-cm jumbo parfait and other quality French desserts

I am usually very skeptical about desserts from cafe restaurants in commercial shopping complexes because they tend to be of very mediocre quality. However, I was totally proved wrong at Salon Bake & Tea, a restaurant that serves all-day French food and desserts in the newly opened NEWoMAN mall. 

This is part of the Salon adam et Rope group whose main business line is fashion. I couldn't think of another better place than Salon Bake & Tea for late night desserts in Shinjuku because other options are franchised cafes in department store or fruit tart cafes. Not anything attractive to me to be honest.

 Tartelette Au Poitron タルト・ポティロン

One can order the specialty plated desserts or pick and choose any petit entremets showcased on stylish plates at a corner of the restaurant. I was shocked to learn that each petit entremet cost a hefty \400 but the quality was worth the splurge. 

cassolette カスレッツ 

カスタードクリームと柚子ベリーコンフィチュールが入ったシュー生地のお菓子

My favourite was the Cassolette and Tartelette Au Poitron as the sable base is excellently crunchy and buttery. Especially the cassolette whose gold crackly sugary skin shattered into a pool of custard and yuzu berry confiture cusped within the choux pastry. 

Saint Honore au Chocolat サントノーレショコラ 

If I had known earlier that they've got an Order Buffet promotion from 2500 yen for tea + a buffet of these petit entremets based on order from 11am-4pm, I would have grabbed this chance 

The 30-cm tall seasonal Sweet Potato parfait stood out not only in height but flavors. This isn't just the usual whipped cream and cakes stacked over a pile of cornflakes. Right at the base is an ultralight raspberry jelly layered with vanilla custard mousse and fresh cream before being generously buried in homemade cocoa sables and granola. 

Above all these decadent goodness is luscious pumpkin cream, raspberry confiture, marron paste and a sweet potato burger choux that's encased with vanilla ice cream suspended at the top. 

The composition was flawless and the golden ratio contributed to a perfect harmony of all the characters in this seemingly chaotic work. Truly one of the best parfaits in 2016 besides the Purple Sweet Potato Apple Yoghurt parfait from Kissho Karyo. 

Salon Bake & Tea

Shinjuku-Ku 4-1-6 NEWoMAN 3F 

東京都新宿区新宿四丁目1番6号 NEWoMan 3F

Daily 11:00-22:00（L.O.21:00）

TEL : 03-6380-1790

http://salon.adametrope.com/bake/#bland-store-info

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立食い寿司 根室花まる :Hokkaido's Nemuro Hanamaru Opens 1st Standing Bar Sushi in Tokyo

 I always prefer standing bar sushi to fine-dining restaurants because of the wallet friendly prices and faster turnover rates. Also, I can order as little or as much as I want without worrying about overeating. 

With the recent opening of Tokyu Plaza Ginza, I decided to check out the standing sushi bar by Hokkaido sushi-ya Nemuro Hanamaru because I've had good experience at its Kitte Tokyo outlet and wanted to satisfy quick sushi cravings. 


In fact, this is the group's first standing sushi bar, which means you can't find this even in Hokkaido. Prices start from 100 yen for an Aburi Saba to 330 yen for Uni or Unagi sushi; slightly higher than those hole-in-the-wall standing sushi bars near train stations but the seafood is fresh and the quality is consistently excellent across the board. The brightly lit spaces may also provide a greater sense of assurance especially for first-timers or foreigners. 

Written on the wall are some of the seasonal or daily specials such as Crab Miso Soup. On my visit, I had the daily special of 厚切りうなぎ寿司, a thick and fatty piece of unagi glazed in sweet kabayaki sauce.

I'm not a professional gourmand when it comes to sushi so I'm pretty satisfied with my meal here. At least I don't have to brave the long queues at its seating restaurant on 10F of Tokyu Plaza Ginza or the Kitte outlet. I highly recommend you to order as you go but do note that the menu is all in Japanese. 

Click here to read my visit at Nemuro Hanamaru Sushi Restaurant @KITTE Tokyo

Nemuro Hanamaru Standing Sushi Bar 立食い寿司 根室花まる
Tokyu Plaza Ginza B2F 
Chuo-Ku Ginza 5-2-1, Tokyo 104-0061 
11am-11pm daily (L.O. 10pm)
http://ginza.tokyu-plaza.com/shop/detail_514.html

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