[Singapore July2010] TWG tea

TWG Tea Salon & Boutique
ION Shopping Mall
2 Orchard Turn, #02 - 21
Singapore 238801





We ordered English Breakfast tea and Darjeeling tea. Both were very good. A pot of English Breakfast is SG10.50.

Apple and blackcurrant gateau

Apple mousse with some tea flavoured sponge and a layer of blackcurrant and some tea gelee. We had this in a tea set for SGD17.

I saw a lot of patron being put off by this cake. Their face grimaced when they saw the colour of the cake at the counter/patisserie trolley in the dining section. Some waiter was clueless and told patron it's pistachio mousse.

It was a good choice by me, the apple mousse was tangy and refreshing, soft sponge and well flavoured tea infused blackcurrent gelee.

Those grimaced missed out.


Chocolate fondant with ice-cream and butterscotch sauce SGD10

This a chocolate fondant? More like a chocolate cake. Very chocolatey, very more-ish.


Tea flavoured macarons @SGD2

These are tasty, flavours are good but I think the shell ought to be lighter.

The waiter who took my order was rude by telling me IMMEDIATELY when I finish my order and put down my menu,"We have a minimum order of a pot of tea each."

Eh hello, I already ordered A POT of English breakfast tea and straightaway tell him,"You HAVE to take this gentleman's order too (eyeing Big King who's still reading the menu), he hasn't even started!!"

Do we look like three paupers? He didn't even apologized. I was so mad, it's the first time I felt offended/mistreated in a dining estabishment. That include hawker/foodcourt/family restaurants/fine dining all over the world I have dined. I should refuse to pay service charge. Ah well, it's hard to be mean.......

And next 2 person table only had ONE POT of TEA on their table. Discriminate much, I feel like drafting my complain letter/e-mail now 哼,等着.

[Singapore July 2010] Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck

Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck Restaurant (Paragon)
290 Orchard Road
#05-42/45 Paragon
Tel: 6732 7838

As the tacky restaurant name suggests, they specialise in peking duck.


Duck (SGD68, whole) is roasted in lychee wood, thus the beautiful colour and juicy meat.

Normally I like my duck to at least have some marinades/aromatics, but in this case, it is superb just like the chef doing it au naturale.

We were first served the skin, advised to be eaten dipped in granulated sugar. It was a bit odd, but the skin was superbly crispy.

Rest of the sliced duck meat with skin were served in a duck plate, just like Quanjude.

The meat is moist and not too fatty, delicious eaten with cucumber and spring onions wrapped in soft and fluffy pancake with a smear of hoisin sauce. Sheer heaven!

Beancurd in crab roe and crab meat (SGD28)

Forgettable. My bad, it was not crab-by season. But I hanker after this exquisite dish as nobody does it in Brisbane.

Fried noodle with duck meat (SGD10)

This is second course of peking duck. Leftover duck meat on the bone was used in fried noodles.


Spinach beancurd (SGD14)

Homemade beancurd with spinach sitting on a bed of more spinach with a mushroom sauce. Default order in most Singapore restaurants. Imperial Treasure version never fail to please.

Another of my default order in Imperial Treasure chain of restaurant is deep fried yellow fish (SGD8.50 not pictured).

It is a small fish with sweet succulent meat and little bones. Doesn't look good on a plate but one taste, you'll be hooked forever.

[Sydney Jun2010] Adriano Zumbo

Adriano Zumbo needs no introduction. He is Australia's answer to the world's famous Pierre Hermes.

I almost didn't go to his patisserie in Balmain due to rain and illness. But on the last day in Sydney, there was only a drizzle since morning and I felt better so Princes and me hopped on the bus outside QVB heading to Balmain.

I was so excited when I first saw the pink sign and the oh so tiny shop, so cute.

Everything looked so good behind the cabinet. Oh, calamity, what to choose??!

But I made my choice quickly as I excluded the chocolatey and caramely. I was not too happy when a Korean girl dragging her just-met skinhead european boyfriend squeezed past me, went straight up to the counter, cut everyone else's queue. Nobody chastised her but I gave her a dirty look. And she later returned some at the Adriano's chocolate cafe three doors up. Shot some murderous glances at Princess when she started singing loudly because she's happy.

Eh hello, she was the rude one in the first place, so I stared hard at the big pockmark on her face and fake some mock laughs. To be honest, I don't really think much of it in the first place. I don't judge a person by his or her looks.

Coincidentally, one of Adriano's girl staff also has a mark on her face which cover the bridge of her nose all the way across the eye and to the temple. But I find her pretty. Chinese has a saying "相由心生" which roughly means your inside will reflect on your looks.

The mean pockmark girl may think it's just queue cutting what's the big deal? Well, it's a matter of principle. If you are in a hurry or have some valid reasons and tell me in the first place, I wouldn't mind to let anyone go first. But if you do it purposely, it's a no-no in my book.


What a great pear of...........:Almond creme, pear vanilla creme patisserie, pate a choux sable, pear gel, almond crunch & almond struesel

You might recognise this if you follow Australia's Junior Masterchef. Glorious beauty, pear-fection.

This was set as the final pressure test for the two finalists, Jack and Isabella (last night) to determine who's the winner. Both the kids' versions looked really good. So talented and so young!

I think people should stop laughing at Queenlanders being the bogan in everything especially in the gourmet food/fine dining scene. The rest of the country was outrage when best fish & chips is won by Fishmonger's Wife in East Brisbane, best coffee a close tie between Merlo and Campos.

With recent major competitions on TV like Junior Masterchef, My Kitchen Rules and Australian Idol etc won by Queenlanders, I think people should really come to terms with the fact that Queenlanders are a force to be reckoned with.

Cross section pic of pear custard and pear jelly filled profiteroles sitting on a praline crunch base and separated by marzipan and white chocolate.

Roses are red, mandies are orange: Biscuit macaron, rose creme brulee, mandarin curd, mandarin creme legere

I also bought some macarons but they were wolfed down so quick, I forgot to take photos. To be honest, looking at the macarons rustic shells (top not smooth), I didn't have high hopes. But when you bit in, the shells are so light and slightly chewy and the ganache filling packed some serious flavour, it's one of the best if not the best I have tasted so far. For the first time, I fight with Princess for every bite. Safe to say, Big King never get to see even the crumbs hehe.

Words can't begin to decribe how good, great these work of arts are. You have got to make the PILGRIM yourself to his unassuming shop in Balmain to go on a gastronomic journey.

I can't wait for his book, out 2011!!

[Brisbane] God food and wine show 2010

Good food and wine show, a foodie's heaven.


Celebrity theatre. I got tickets (free) to see Matt Moran and of course, George and Gary. I am so excited!


George's and Gary's shows were extremely popular. I was kind of shocked when there were some audiences who admitted they never watch Masterchef or that much interested in food. I mean hello! what are they doing there?? or at a food and wine show for that matter???!! Oh well, I guess all the free wine-tasting was already well-worth the ticket price. Not to mention free tasting of ice-cream, smoked salmon, ducks, all kinds of delicious dips (I am liking aged balsamic vinegar) and regional produce, all very exciting. A great day out!!


Matt Moran was very funny. He made lots of sarcastics jokes (in a good way) about George, Gary, Manu and vegetarians. He gave out a bottle of wine to a vegetarian, reason being,"they best get drunk when they go to a restaurant because there is nothing for them to look forward too." He might have offended some vegetarians along the way but I think he was spot on and I thought his cynical jokes were really humorous.


Matt Moran making some jokes on George. He had the whole theatre roaring.


Jacob's Creek's stand was just outside the celebrity theatre, I had several tastings there, hehehe.


There was a celebrity cupcake decorating war and Matt Moran won. I was disappointed Manu's cupcakes didn't look half as good as the man himself!

For a video link, click here.






Gourmet Garden cooking class.

I am seriously loving Outback Spirits stuff. They sell chutney's, sauces and jams with an indigenous food theme. My picks are pickled wild lime and green tomatoes chutneys. I tried the jams and they were delicious too.

They are based in Victoria and hadn't really done much show in the past. We are so lucky to have them at the Brisbane expo this year.


I heard lots of women discussing 'the rice cube guy'. Looker, dish, hot were some of the words used. Personally, I reckon the 'Chilean Food' guy gave him a run for his money. Smokey dark Latino, mmmmm.... Er, I should be talking about food and er....wine.


Only a housewife like me and the pensioners were interested, hahaha. They are doing a fantastic deal and I think this is one of the best household invention in many years.




Never-ending queue at Ben & Jerry's stand but it moved quickly.


Full generous scoop for free!! How generous! I can't say much for Movenpick nearby as they only offer a miserable teeny tiny taste on a teeny tiny spoon and they didn't acknowledge me or offer me a taste when I went to check out the flavours they offer(I was alone in front of their chiller). Later when I pass by again, I saw the Movenpick lady frantically serving a group of LV clad, high hair and expensive scarve draping across body, ladies. And I pass by again (the place is small!), they are serving Birkin clad lady and suit-up gentlemen. Oh man, I shouldn't have left my bubblequilt flap bag with double C logo at home, pffft.


Some very serious liquer.......served neat on the rock in tasting cup, wowowo....I knocked back a tiny sip and was light headed instantly. I think the alcohol content was some 46%. I am not used to such strong alcohol, I should carefully check on the bottle before knocking back, er I mean, tasting the stuff on offer.




Granite Belt, I have heard so much about it but when I went to try some relish and wine, I .......

I had tasted so much wine till I can't really remember which is which but there were some which stood out like the Finnish vodka, some strawberry wines I couldn't remember the name and Jacob's Creeks 2010 moscato both blanc and rose. They are so good, I did three tastings before I decided to bring them home.

I only concentrated on tasting sparkling wines and liquer at the show (sigh, there is only so much I can drink because I had to drive and I had a Nespresso to 'sober-up' before heading home kakaka). JC's 2010 moscato were only released two weeks ago, how lucky are we!! I got a free Pete Evan's cookbook for getting the moscato for only $30!

Mayfiels chocolates also had a stand and the chocolates were only $1.60 each! There were lots more stuff I wanted to buy but I was running out of time. I had so much food tasting that I had to forego lunch. What a pity. The exhibitors were really generous with the tasting portion except, you know who.

Nespresso was doing such a good deal at the show, selling Le Cube with the aeroccino for only $299!! Including the rrp$4xx bronze patina model! However, I had a taste of their coffee and wasn't too impressed, I was sooo close to bringing home one. Oh well.

The other exciting exhibitor was Thermomix, as seen on Masterchef and Iron Chef (Australia) but they retail for $1939.............

I am so there GFWS 2011!

[Sydney Jun2010] Mosaic, The Westin Sydney

It was late when we arrived in Sydney. Raining. That went on for the next 3 days we were there.

At Westin, Big King did his checking in at the counter, Princess running around the lobby. "This place is beautiful, mummy," she kept yeling at me as she ran past me everytime -_-". Arrrrggghhhh, we were like a bunch of country bumpkin. I went straight to check out Calleija's window but the place was shut. I walked across to the GPO heritage wing and try to bath in the history. Eh.... no feel.

There were lots of after work crowds drinking at the bar downstairs. Lots of suits walked around the place especially after 5pm.

Mosaic's advertisement was everywhere, posters, flyers (a whole rack of it!) stating exactly the same thing. The restaurant was promoting their 2 courses for $58 and 3 corses for $68 and a sunday brunch at $65 per person.

We decided to give it a go on our last night there.


Mosaic seafood trilogy

Trilogy is made up of mulloway, mashed beans, potatoes; kingfish with vegetables; and deep-fried yabbies with vegetables.

The fish was well-cooked (kingfish a bit fishy though) and subtly flavoured with clean-tasting consomme style sauce. Vegetables were lightly cooked, nice and fresh. Yabbies were lovely and sweet. I enjoyed this though I can't say they are fantastic or to die-for. It's just well, a nice dinner.


Duck leg, sausages & speck, white beans

I had a nibble on the various items on the plate. Let's just say, the plate was too busy. There were way too many different things around (lots of other things in the beans) and the flavours were all over. I can't even remember what I ate and tasted some 2 minutes after tasting.


Fish and chips

This is Princess' order from the kid's menu. The serving is huge! It could easily feed two adults!!

However, the fish was cooked to death. Fish was hard and grainy, quite difficult to swallow. The batter and the fries were good and crisp though.


Mosaic trilogy

Since this dessert bear the restaurant's name, it's content must be the restaurant's signatures. The trilogy is made up of orange creme brulee, strawberry waffle and lime and white pepper ice-cream.

Creme brulee was nice and smooth, however, the orange flavour was so subtle, it was a little hard to detect. Waffles hard and chewy, strawberries quite tart, very forgettable. Ice-cream texture was good and smooth, lime is tangy and refreshing however, just a tad heavy-handed on the white pepper.


Raspberry tartlet

This was the biggest let-down. Tartlet case was extremely hard, there's no hope of even cutting it with a knife. Fillings was just melted chocolate and fresh raspberries with some nut pieces on top. Lucy from Junior masterchef could beat this with her creations anyday. Blah.

Enough with my rantings, I still think it is good value as we went for the $58 for two course selection deal.

Now the duck leg and the raspberry tartlet are no longer on their menu which is a good riddance, I would say.

[Brisbane] Nudo's on Mary

Nudo's on Mary
62 Mary St
Brisbane CBD

Once in a while, I have cravings for oily fried kway teow (now, that's never gonna happen in my kitchen) and the place that comes to mind is always Nudo's on Mary.

Not that their version is the oiliest that you can find around. I just like eating their kway teow, plain and simple.


Fried kway teow

Prawn noodle soup

Noodles an vermicelli in spicy prawn broth served with prawns, fish cake, boiled egg and roast pork (char siew).

Lobak

Deep fried pork roll, kind of like spring roll.

[Sydney June 2010] Le Grand Cafe

Le Grand Cafe
Grd Fl Alliance Française
257 Clarence St
Sydney NSW 2000

After an unfruitful rummaging through $1/$2 Japanese knick-knack shop on Clarence St, we decided to have lunch nearby. I wanted to go to Plan B initially but it is really just a takeaway joint beside Becasse and I didn't want to sit on the street, much too cold and it was drizzling.

So we went across the road and into Le Grand Cafe.


Croque-monsieur - $8.00

Although the cafe wasn't packed and only one other table waiting, the croque monsieur did not arrive some twenty minutes after ordering.

It's just a friggin toasted cheese and ham sandwich, how long can it be?? Sigh, by the time it arrived, my hot chocolate was half gone (I struggled not to finish it) and became cold chocolate. Worse still, the appetite was gone because the chocolate came in a big tall mug. I was full and sick from the chocolate. Grrrr....

Lucky I was sharing with Princess.

Though not hungry, we finished the sandwich quickly. The hot and toasted sandwich with melty cheese was very comfoting on a cold rainy day.

The much awaited desserts quickly arrived after the bread board was cleared.


Petit pot au chocolat - $8.00

Normally I shun chocolatey desserts, chocolate cake, chocolate ice-cream, chocolate whatever, I reject them all. I like to eat just plain chocolate and sometimes with fancy fillings.

But other choices look less appealing so I went for the chocolate pot. Looks plain and boring but the nut praline topping looked and smell delicious.

Digging in, the chocolate was extremely smooth and not too sweet. I understand why when I digged my spoon further in, there is chocolate truffle hidden inside and at the bottom sit a pool of caramel sauce. Surprise much. I quietly squealed inside my head as I revealed the treasure underneath.

Out of this world.


Tarte du jour, strawberry tart - $8.00

Even withough the glace, the strawberries were sweet. Custard a bit hard and too set for my liking. Tart bottom looked hard and heavy. Sure enough, I can't even cut through it with a knife. You will have to really force your knife through and then the pieces will fly away when you succeeded.

In the end I just eat it with my hands and fed Princess. The tart was too big a piece for princess to handle. Strangely, the pastry melted in my mouth and actually quite light on the palette. It was good.

The tart was less memorable, still, it was tasty with nice custard and delicious strawberries.

The chocolate pot is da BOMB!

It's a nice place to chill and away from the hustle and bustle of main street and busy shopping centres and food court nearby.

It you were lucky, you might catch Justin North coming in to check on his crew!

[Shopping] Skinstore Autumn Sale

Get shopping and fantastic deals on the internet with the strong Australian currency now.

Skinstore from the USA is having a 20% promo on all its products. Its massive savings!

Get your much hyped Clarisonic here, it will be way cheaper than getting it from Myer.

I bought a pink Clarisonic Mia (USD149, before discount) with extra brush heads (2 for USD40 before discount) for only USD151.20. Shipping is only USD14.95 using USPS or if you are desperate to have it within a week use Fedex at USD34.95, ouch! personally I think it's not worth it.

There are also lots of other cult brands but sadly some can't be shipped outside the US like Skinmedica :-(.

Regarding the charger, it can be used in Australia with an adapter, you do not need a step down transformer. Yay, beauty!

Note: this is not a sponsored post nor do I work for Skinstore.

I trawled the net each day for bargains, kakakaka.

[Brisbane] Banneton Bakery, Woolloongabba

Banneton Bakery
25 Balaclava St
Woolloongabba
Website: http://www.banneton.com.au/


There is also another shop at Ashgrove.

If you have been to Pennisi Cuisine, the Woolloongabba bakery is just two doors away.

If you haven't been to Pennisi, get there NOW!! It's a foodie treasure cove! There are products from all over the world including a chiller cabinet of wonderful cheese, smallgoods and pickled olives, Sugo Mi pizza base, pastizzis, Dutch caramel stroopwaffle (YUM!), nuts and pulses and a whole hoardes of other continental goodies.

Wall of fantastic wood-fired sourdough bread behind the cashier/counter.

My faourite is definitely the New York deli rye. Also available are turkish bread, foccacia, kaiser rolls, baguettes and various sourdough loaves.

They do simple breakfasts on weekends, the menu will be posted at the counter.

Bostok

Weird as the name may sound, this is actually a delicious combination of brioche bread topped with raspberry conserve and frangipane. Brioche is light and cake-like. Princess' favourite.

Blueberry friand

As easy as friand's recipe may look, it is actually quite a skill to get it right. Banneton's version is absolutely spot on. It may look and feel dense and undercooked when you cut into it but once you popped in your mouth, it straightaway crumble and melt away, extremely light on the palate. Now that's a well-made friand.

However..........there are bad friand days at the bakery........oh yes, do not buy if the top hasn't risen to a golden hue. I once bought a sticky undermixed friand with floppy sunken top, big mistake..........my bad, I should have known better.......

Apple nougatine

This is ordinary, I found the apple too cooked, mushed to nothingness almost like puree. Perhaps its the way it should be. just not my cup of tea. But the topping of nougatine is delicious. The pastry a bit wet and gluey, I prefer a light and crumbly tart case.

Nuts and grains sourdough loaf

The star of the bakery is definitely its range of bread. Like I mentioned before, I heart their New York deli rye. The smell was incredible and when I cut into it I realised it's the onions, delicious!