My previous dining experience at PORN'S Liang Seah street wasn't a memorable one but one evening my friends insisted to have Thai food and since we were near Buona Vista, we headed over to PORN'S which is conveniently situated at The Star Vista for dinner. As it was my second visit to PORN'S, I realize that the interior of the restaurant looks very much different compared to their first outlet at Liang Seah Street. It has a very hip and young feel with striking pop art on the wall, keeping that casual feel of the place yet having a different look altogether.Kicking off the meal with a appetizing soup, ordered the Tom Yum Talay (Seafood Tom Yum) - Large $12.90 and the portion was just nice for the 3 of us to share. It was served in a traditional steamboat which were widely used in the olden days with charcoal. However, it is more for that design for a rustic feel of dining in Bangkok. The Tom Yum soup had a very generous amount of ingredients like fish slices, prawns and squid as well as a variety of vegetables. This Tom Yum isn't as spicy as I thought and it is definitely worth the value of what we are paying for as each of us had a good 2 serving bowls of it. Being guys, we ordered something to nibble on, the Flame Grilled Pork with Homemade Dip ($9.50). As delicious as it seems, the grilled pork was nicely sliced into bite size and it was succulent and tasty to every bite. When eaten with the Homemade Dip, it added a robust flavour with the sweet, spicy and tangy flavour which was very addictive and yummy. Perfect beer snack! Nothing beats a good douse of curry over our steamed rice and so I ordered my favourite Gang Kaew Gai (Green Curry Chicken) - $10.90 which gave off an alluring fragrance in the air when brought to our table. The curry wasn't too diluted or overly rich, perfect to my liking! I can't help but to drench every bit of rice with luscious mouth-watering green curry. Sadly, the tender chicken slices and eggplant were a tad little to go around the 3 of us. Maybe it is just me being my favourite dish and happened to be delicious I guess. Coming to veg, we had the Thai Sambal Kangkong ($7.50) which was nice and crunchy with a good stir-fry flavour of garlic, sambal and dried shrimps. However, some of the thicker parts of the kangkong stem was quite hard to the bite and tasted raw. Perhaps the thicker parts should be cooked a little longer and that would be perfect. Washing down the dinner, I had the popular Homemade Thai Longan Tea ($3.90) which the staff has recommended me. It is an absolute cooling drink to have to clear the spice from the dishes and some longans to chew on. It didn't taste artificially sweet and the logans were really generous, filling up half a glass.

My overall experience at PORN'S was better than my previous visit at Liang Seah street and I have to say the quality of food has improved. However, the service maybe a little slow for some during busy peak hours with the dinner crowd. I'll certainly return again soon to try other dishes on the menu such as their Fried Fish with special Thai sauce!

Eating Korean BBQ can be a pain sometimes when as I do not like ending up perspiring and leaving the place with a stench of unpleasant oil all over. Thank goodness for Kkongdon Barbeque, which is situated at the newly built SAFRA Toa Payoh, those who are craving for Korean BBQ can no longer suffer the fate of the oily stink and drenched clothes.Entering the restaurant was a complete different atmosphere compared to those Korean BBQ located at shophouses of Tanjong Pagar. The entire place was very well ventilated, cool air-conditioning and equipped with smoke suction pipes on every table to absorb every single bit of stench from the enclosed dining area. There are tables fitted to sit 4 paxs as well as tables to sit 8 paxs for couples, families and big groups to enjoy the BBQ together.Upon seated, I realize that the Korean BBQ hot plate was slightly slanted to an angle so to allow the grease from the meat to flow onto the plastic sheet. Equipped with a gas stove under, diners can easily control the temperature of the grill according to their preference. I thought these little details are very thoughtful as people these days are very health-conscious as to eat healthy. Over here, after ordering the raw food from the menu, patrons are free to help themselves to the free flow of Korean banchans (side dishes), at the buffet counter which has a good range of home-style vegetables ranging from kimchi, ikan bilis, bean sprouts and lotus root.Not to forget, crunchy pickled radish and a whole lot of fresh green lettuce to be eaten along with the BBQ meats, exactly the style I love eating Korean BBQ! My colleagues and I had the Short Rib with Black Pepper & Pork Belly Set ($20.80++) BBQ set (for 2 paxs)which comes with Bean Paste Stew with Tofu (choice of chicken/beef),Korean Rice Cake and individual portion of steamed rice. Although I didn't enjoy the Bean Paste Stew and Korean Rice Cafe, from the colour of the Short Ribs, it seems that they had spent a lot of effort to marinate it with black pepper, hence the dark colour.I couldn't wait to place it on the hot grill to savour the juicy succulent meat wrapped with crunchy fresh green lettuce. Indeed, smoke from the grilling was all absorbed by the pipe that's above which is a PLUS POINT because my eyes are easily irritated by grease and smoke. Thankfully I didn't have to tear while enjoying the decadent pork belly and flavoursome short ribs.

Since I kept on filling my table with vegetables and more vegetables, the staffs were very attentive to help me clear the dishes that were stacking up and also topping up on our hot tea. When we asked for more spicy fermented bean sauce which is a MUST to have it on the meat and eaten wrapped in lettuce, they were very quick to give us more of it too. *thumbs up for great service!* I enjoy my dinner very much and before leaving the restaurant, I saw this on the wall with fellow Singapore bloggers recommending Kkongdon Barbeque. After dining here, I can understand why were they raving about and I have to say that you should visit this place for clean, cooling and delicious Korean BBQ that is of good value!

***Korean BBQ Tip***
If you are feeling very "gelat" from the meat and you're not a big fan of spicy food, get some kimchi and grill it on the plate. Take a little of it and eat it along with the meat especially for fatty meat like pork belly. It will not only help to get rid of the "porky" flavour but also taste appetizing too with the pickled sour taste! After grilling, the kimchi won't be as spicy compared to eating it raw.

Last week, I was just discussing with my friend on where to find the best gelato around and he recommended me to a place near Kovan that is call Ice Edge Cafe. Located on the ground floor along the walkway of Simon Plaza with indoor and alfresco sitting, this is a popular place for students and families to unwind on a weekday evening.The interior is very welcoming with the warm, orange, cozy setting with setting with low-hanging lamps and contrasting dark flooring and chair. It give it a homely, classy feel yet keeping the tone of the atmosphere casual. The seating space is very spacious too with huge sitting capacity to accommodate from couples to big groups of 8 to 10 paxs.Over at the Gelato counter, the chiller display seems really attractive with bright and vibrant colours, showcasing their huge range of gelatos from classic vanilla ones to different variants of chocolate to fruity range and even alcohol infused ones. Looks great but I was turned off by the rude foreigner staff who gave me a cold look I asked to try a few flavours before making my order. After 2 times, she pretended not to hear me anymore and ignored me. Only when I am ready to make my order, she took my orders.I had 2 scoops of gelato, a Peach Yogurt (Normal - $3.20/scoop) and another Kiwi Lime (Premium - $4.80/scoop) which cost me not only $8 but it took me by surprise that they charge 7% GST to their gelato toos, so the total cost was a whopping $8.56 for that tiny cup! Having paid that much, I expected their gelato to be fantastic but to my disappointment, it melted quickly and for the Kiwi Lime flavour, the taste of kiwi was very mild as the sourness of lime has overwhelmed the nice sweet, tangy touch of kiwi. On the other hand, I find the Peach Yogurt flavour only average and the taste of peach was only decent and not fragrant enough. Having such low standard, it is very ridiculous that their gelato cost much more than other premium Italian gelato places like Alfreo Gelato which is cheaper and better. Not really enjoying what I had, my friend recommended that I try their signature Mao Shan Wang Lava Cake ($13.80) which is said to be their signature. Indeed, cutting the soft fluffing layer of the Lava Cake open, decadent hot durian paste oozed out. It was a sight to behold as it was my first time having such a dessert. Durian flavour was really awesome and delectable with a smooth, milky texture. A scoop of vanilla ice-cream was served next to it and when eaten together with the hot durian lava, it was simply so luscious and heavenly!

Although I came and was disappointed with the gelato and saddened by their poor service, their Mao Shan Wang Lava Cake won my heart and I left happy after that. I may visit this place again if my friend is driving me here because getting to Simon Plaza is not really convenient by public transport.

Being in town and suddenly, my friend suggested to have dim sum and so we headed to Victor's Kitchen as they are probably one of the better known ones among the younger crowd that serves dim sum at a more affordable price. In my previous visit, I didn't had a good experience at Victor's Kitchen due to the poor service (lady boss was cursing at customers in cantonese and orders were mixed up) but since my friend suggested it, I decided to give it another chance.Tucked at level 1 of Sunshine Plaza which is about 10-15mins walk from Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, Victor's Kitchen has been around for almost a decade here. Before going in, I realize not only the usual news paper coverage plastered on the front glass panel but also the interior looks much brighter and welcoming! Also, the grumpy lady boss was nowhere to be seen. I panicked for awhile hoping that the kitchen staffs are still the same. To my relief, I saw Victor in the kitchen who is the founder of this popular dim sum eatery. We ordered a few of their popular dishes to try and we definitely can't be missing out on the highly raved Golden Egg Yolk Lava Bun ($4.50 for 3pcs). Doing the "egg yolk porn", we can see that the piping hot lava flowing out smoothly. For those with a sweet tooth, this has lots of butter to give it that rich and creamy mouth-feel when bite open. It is recommended to make a small opening on the bun first before taking a bite into it as the hot lava will gush out, making a mess. I enjoyed this as they were very generous on the filling which gives it that irresistible "oomph" factor. Trust me, one is never enough! Their signature dish, the XO Sauce Steamed Carrot Cake ($4.50) is also my favourite dish over here. Although the serving is small, the moist carrot cake is filled with delectable ingredients like scallop and Chinese sausage. Topped with a nice layer of luscious brown sauce, I can't wait to dig in and have it all by myself. The XO sauce has a nice fragrance that is lightly spicy with the taste of dried shrimps. Delicious it might be, the downside of it is that you will have to top up a small fee of $0.50 for additional serving of the sauce which is so precious to every mouthful of carrot cake. Ending off our dim sum craving, we had the Rosey Wine Yummy Char Siew Bao ($4.50 for 2 pcs). On the first glance, the bun of the Char Siew Bao is handmade due to the irregular shape and the outer layer looks fluffy to the bite.Peeling it open, the filling of the bun reveals a generous amount of diced char siew droused in honey goodness! Taking a bite into the bun feels so good as the fluffy texture of the bun complements the nice filling as it isn't too overwhelming in flavour. The portion of it was just nice and the lingering sweetness of char siew in the mouth makes it delectable to the palate.

Overall, I felt the standard of the food is still as good and this round, a much pleasant dining experience with more friendly staffs that will go around checking on orders and serving up much quickly. Throughout my meal, we only took 20 minutes to eat and I would say this is a plus point for the office lunch crowd to settle their food quickly without waiting too long. With the brighter atmosphere, I felt that Victor's Kitchen has many more bright years ahead considering their undying popularity and consistency in food.

The food scene in Singapore is very competitive and fast-changing especially for tenants at Far East Plaza. Recently, I noticed this new F&B establishment "5 Little Bears 五只小熊" outside the walkway of Far East Plaza with Chinese wordings and eye-catching lanterns. From the feel of it, the design concept sure looks young and appealing and I decided to visit one of the days for lunch.Upon stepping into 5 Little Bears, the ambiance was very light-hearted, casual and cozy with flowers by the side of the stairs leading down to the dining area which reminds me so much of boutique cafes over in Korea. There is a counter where menus are placed and patrons can self-service and make their orders for food there. Good news is that they don't have service charge and the price of the food are inclusive of GST!! After ordering, the friendly Taiwanese staffs will ring a bell and place the food at the food collection counter so you can collect it and dine at the comfort of your table. My friend had the Taipei Oyster Vermicelli ($4.50) which they will add a little vinegar and chili in it to enhance the taste. According to your preference, you can choose to add more of it too with the condiments available at the food collection counter. In that bowl, there were generous amount of oysters although they ain't that huge compared to the ones in Taipei and I love the mushrooms which adds a sweet flavour to it. Best of all, the silky smooth vermicelli can be eaten with just a soup spoon as they have cut it into short bits so you need not worry about splattering all over your shirt. I had a yummy bowl of Taichung Braised Pork Rice ($4.80) and from the looks of the serving portion, it was simply irresistible of great value!! There was a nice portion of minced braised pork, half a braised egg together with salted veg and a large stalk of leafy green, all these sitting on a serving of sticky Japanese short grain rice. When eaten together, the moist texture of the braised pork was so succulent that it melts in the mouth and the droolicious gravy complements the soft and chewy rice perfect to the bite.Ending off our meal, we shared their signature dessert, Eight Treasures Ice ($6) . With a perfect combination of red bean, green bean, barley, taro jelly, sweet potato jelly, glass jelly, peanuts and pearls on finely shaved ice, it was sheer paradise as I could feel heaven on earth with the delectable mix of sweet and bouncy goodies on a humid and warm afternoon. The serving was huge and it is recommended to be shared with 2 to 3 persons. Good things like this is meant to be shared with anyway!

It was a satisfying and sumptuous meal as the food tasted very authentic like those I had in Taiwan. The lunch crowd was streaming in in groups continuously and that speaks volume for a new eatery such as this. My dining experience here of sitting on stools and slurping down a bowl of Oyster Vermicelli sure feels like dining at a roadside stall in Tapei night market. With so many other varieties of Taiwan street snacks to choose from like their Salted Crispy Chicken and Kaohsiung Beef Noodles, I am already planning what to have for my next visit!