Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Cafe Regalade French Bistro - Brunch



I'm always on the look out for good brunch places and had heard that Cafe Regalade served up a wicked brunch.  When my friend, A, who had just moved to Vancouver suggested meeting in Kits,  I was - oh cool, let's try Cafe Regalade.  It was a weekday and past 130pm - past the lunch rush when we met and the bistro had only a couple tables filled.
Quiche Lorraine
A had the quiche lorraine while I went for the Toulouse breakfast.  I just couldn't pass up having eggs, sausage, bacon AND salami at one go.  The presentation on a wooden chopping board is quaint.  I love that they served up my breakfast in a cast iron pan that kept it warm well after it was served.  They also had a decent sized salad as a side to my brekkie - a well balanced meal.   Haha, makes me less guilty having the sausage, bacon and salami. The bread was good - as can be expected and save it to mop up all that tasty sauce. 
Toulouse Breakfast
2 poached eggs, white beans, sausage, bacon, salami, salad.
After our mains, I really wanted to have dessert given the yummy desserts at Le Regalade but I was rather full and was trying to keep my weight in check given that I was taking off on my Europe and Singapore trip in a couple of days.  A decided to go for dessert and I can't remember what it was but it was good and I wished that I had ordered some.  No worries, I'll have other opportunities when I come back for more.

Cafe Regalade
2836 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
British Columbia, Canada, V6K 1R2
Tel: 1.604.733.2213

http://www.caferegalade.com/
Café Régalade on Urbanspoon

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Hide Yamamoto - Singapore

We passed by Hide Yamamoto when we went to Imperial Treasures and checked out their menu.  I hadn't had any Japanese food in Singapore yet and was craving for some.  On the last day before I flew back to Vancouver, we decided to check out Hide Yamamoto for lunch.   Yes - I have lots of cravings when I come back to Singapore and have to cram as much food as possible in.  6 weeks just isn't enough time to eat everything on my list.  

Hide Yamamoto has different concepts in the restaurant, a sushi counter, a teppanyaki counter and a few private rooms which are great for entertaining.   It looked rather small on the outside but once you walk in, it is quite a large area.  Anyways,  it wasn't very crowded and we got a quiet corner - perfect.  After looking at their menu, we decided to try their set lunches.  


Set Lunch 1 
The grilled mackerel was super fresh and it was a good sized portion.  It's not easy to cook fish just so.  The mackerel was nicely grilled, crisp skin and tender flesh.  A touch of lemon and a bit of daikon - simple yet so tasty.


Chirashi
Grilled Mackerel

Set Lunch 2 
The beef was unexpectedly tender and very flavourful.  It was almost buttery and melted in your mouth.  The rich main was well matched with the light dessert of sorbet - such a refreshing way to end the meal.

Beef
Green Apple Sorbet and Plum Sorbet
Set Lunch 3 
The sushi set was very fresh and I enjoyed it very much.  The chocolate ice-cream, whipped cream and mouse topped with crunchy chocolate balls and delicate wafer and jelly on the bottom - yum, a perfect end to the meal.  

Chocolate Ice Cream
We enjoyed the meal and will be back again when I need a Japanese food fix.


Hide Yamamoto
Marina Bay Sands
Level 2
http://www.hideyamamoto.com/

Friday, November 25, 2011

Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese - Singapore

My whole family has put on weight since I got back and I'd like to think that there is little correlation.   Oh well,  I can wish.   Anyways, we always tend to over order when we go to Chinese restaurants because everything looks good so we made a conscious effort to order light when we went to Imperial Treasure.  

We wanted to start with the daily soup which was lotus root soup - our favourite but they were out already and it wasn't even 730pm yet.  Oh well,  we'll start with fatty roast pork then followed by some jelly fish, peking duck and fried chicken.  Not quite so healthy or light -  we tried.

In general the food was very good and enjoyable.  The Peking Duck came and they expertly cut it up crispy skin and all.  The flour skin was thin and a bit chewy, coupled with the sauce and the skin and some sugar.  Delicious...even the meat was super tender.  I've not seen Peking Duck served with sugar before but it gives the Peking Duck roll a nice sweet crunch. This is the best Peking Duck that I've eaten in years.  I'll be happy just coming back to eat the Peking Duck :)
Roast Pork
Jelly Fish
Expert Cutting of Peking Duck


Crispy Peking Duck Skin
Peking Duck Skin and Meat


Lemon Chicken
Spinach with Salted Egg, Century Egg and Egg 
Mango Sago with Pomelo
Yam Paste with Pumpkin
Hashima
Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese
Marina Bay Sands
Level 2
http://www.marinabaysands.com/Singapore-Restaurants/Fine-Dining/Imperial-Treasure-Fine-Chinese-Cuisine/

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Todai - Singapore

My parents watched a TV program that featured Todai and wanted to try it out after looking at the mouthwatering spread.  From chilled Alaskan crab legs, sashimi and sushi to BBQ foods and cooked foods, chilli crabs and chilli crayfish.  I could go on and on but go check it out once for yourself.  Although, it was a big place, it was fully booked on a weekday.  Make sure you make reservations as there were quite a few people hoping for a table but got turned away.  Private rooms are available for a price too.

Though Todai seats a lot of people, the buffet spread was well laid out and it wasn't overcrowded with huge queues.  I liked the wide variety of food but not everything was super super fresh.   In general though, the food was pretty good.   I thought it was good value for money since the spread is so huge. I liked the sushi rolls, the grilled prawns, chilli crab/crayfish and the oysters.  By the way, the oysters are only served on certain nights so make sure you go on the right night if you like oysters.  I had an enjoyable meal nonetheless.  

Below is a small sampling of their huge huge spread.







Todai 
#B2-01 The Shoppes @ Marina Bay Sands
2 Bayfront Ave 
Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 6688 7771
http://www.todaisingapore.com/

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

DB Bistro Moderne - Singapore

DB Bistro serves up set lunches on weekdays.  They offer a 2 course or a 3 course set lunch and are flexible so that you can either have an appetizer and a main or a main and a dessert for the 2 course meal - sweet.   My parents chose to have a starter and a main each while I chose a main and a dessert - you know me, I can't bear to pass up on dessert.  Forget the balanced meal of vegetables and protein, just give me my sugar fix at the end and I'll be happy.   
We had settled into our booth, happily munching on the bread when we heard a sudden loud crash.   It really was quite startling and being typical "kay poh" (nosy) Singaporeans, a couple of people from the restaurant, me included, went out to take a look.  There was glass all over the place, look closely at the top section of the photo and you can see the shattered glass had fallen one storey down.  Luckily there was no one walking under.  The glass is very thick , almonst an inch thick and I really wondered how it had shattered.   MBS is super efficient, by the time I was walking back into DB Bistro, there was already someone sweeping the glass up.   Makes you think twice while walking under these barriers huh?
Anyways, curiosity satisfied, I settled back into the meal, my parents Ceasar salads had arrived - they said it was very tasty and I took their word for it as I don't really eat cheese.
Cesar Salad
My main of pan seared sea bass arrived shortly after,  nice and crisp skin and the fish was perfectly done.  
Pan Seared SeaBass
Corn Fricassee, Mushrooms, Watercress, Sauce Diable
The minute steak was very tasty too and I think their portions are good for lunch. 
Steak Minute
Savoy Cabbage, Speck, Pomme Puree, Bordelaise Sauce
To finish off the meal, I had the chocolate tart with cocoa nib ice cream.  As usual, the dessert at DB Bistro sure didn't disappoint.  Check out the other desserts I tried at Saturday brunch here.
Tarte Au Chocolat
Dark Chocolate Ganache, Milk Chocolate Mousse, Cocoa Nib Ice Cream
DB Bistro Moderne 
B1-48, Galleria Level
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands 
http://www.marinabaysands.com/Singapore-Restaurants/Fine-Dining/DB-Bistro-Moderne/

Monday, November 21, 2011

Sinar Pagi Nasi Padang - Singapore


From the time I got back to Singapore,  I had a craving for nasi padang - especially the one on Circular Road.   You can't miss it as there is always a queue during lunch time.  I heard that the chef is from Hotel Rendezvous which is famous for the nasi padang.  Anyone can confirm that?  Anyways, every time I made it down to Raffles Place,  it was pouring and we couldn't get to Sinar Pagi without getting soaked.   Finally, after the third try, even though it was overcast, we made it there.  

We chose to order small dishes and shared - that way we could have more variety.   You can also order individually where you just choose your own dishes and they serve it on your own plate of rice.  

They serve chicken cooked in a variety of ways - all of them are good, especially the ones with sauce but the fried chicken tends to be hit and miss, sometimes, super juicy and tender, sometimes a tad dry.  I always order the tahu telor too.  A couple of my other favourites are the beef lung, squid ink sotong, begedil and the brinjal.  Sinar Pagi has an extensive spread, just go take a look for yourself and pick what you like, everything looks very appetizing. 
Chicken Rendang
Chicken Curry
Tahu Telor
Squid Ink Sotong
Brinjal
Long Beans
Assam Fish
Sinar Pagi Nasi Padang
13 Circular Road

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