Stepping into ParaThai is akin to walking into a modern art gallery, with pieces ranging from pottery to paintings to photography. This new restaurant concept debuted in early November, and the novelty factor is indeed evident. I was greeted with a resounding "Sawadee ka' (Thai for hello) before being ushered to my seat. A landscape photo of a Thai lady with her hands clasped together in a wai is displayed near the kitchen, and handicraft such as Thai pots are neatly shelved to enhance the Thai dining experience. Read till the end to find out how to receive a $20 dining voucher.Led by Chef Meaw, the team stays true to the rich Thai culinary culture and its ancient flavours. After previous media tastings with Paradise Inn, Paradise Dynasty and Canton Paradise, I was excited to try out Paradise Group Holding's new Thai food concept at One KM mall!Really excited to try out their new Thai concept!

The technology-savvy restaurant has an e-concierge at the entrance, featuring its Facebook page as well as membership enquiries.E-Concierge at ParaThai

The menu consists of a hard-cover purple booklet. I loved how they kept it simple with only one booklet, thus making the ordering process so much easier and smoother.Appetiser section of the menu

* denotes my recommendations

1. Hor Mok Pla (Thai Style Otak-otak)* — S$10.90Thai Style Otak-otak

The portion is huge enough to share amongst four people. I was there with my family and all of us thoroughly enjoyed this brightly-coloured dish. Each portion was warm, thick and mildly spicy. Furthermore, the mackerel was really fresh and juicy!

2. Tom Yum Goong (Tom Yum soup with Sea Prawns)* — S$7.90Super spicy Tom Yum soup with Sea Prawns

Tucking into this bowl of Tom Yum soup, I felt like a bomb went off in my throat. It was SUPER shiok (Singaporean slang for extremely delicious)! I have never been fond of sour foods, but this was somehow refreshingly tasty. An entire prawn was dunked in the soup (complete with head and shell) and the juices made the soup a wholesomely appetising one.Menacing-looking prawn

Brace yourself for each gulp! I would suggest you take small sips because I ended up coughing when I drank an entire spoonful. If you think you have a high threshold for spiciness, take up this challenge! Let me know if you are able to conquer it!

3. Suer Rong Hai (“Crying Tiger” BBQ Beef Steak served with Homemade Sauce)BBQ Beef Steak with Homemade Sauce

These thick cuts of beef had a softer texture at both ends, but were harder towards the centre. "Crying tiger" certainly calls for some stretch of the imagination to interpret; its name actually derives from the flame rising as the beef fat drips onto the charcoal (resembling a crying tiger). The meat was juicy and didn't require much sauce to pep it up. I felt the homemade sauce didn't do justice to the cow which sacrificed its life for this dish.

4. Phad Kha Na pla Kham (Stir-Fried Kailan with Salted Fish) — S$10.90Stir-Fried Kailan and the invisible salted fish

Without looking at the name of this dish, I wouldn't have known there was salted fish in it. Although the kailan (Chinese kale) was fresh and tasty, I was sorely disappointed by the extremely tiny pieces of salted fish. Furthermore, the portion was too small for the price.

5. Gai yang Para Thai (ParaThai style Grilled Chicken served with Green Papaya Salad)Gai yang Para Thai

This tasted like grilled chicken chop with nasi lemak. My family and I were quite disappointed with this dish as the rice was dry and the chicken was not served hot enough. The green papaya salad was very difficult to chew and a tad too sour.

6. Thai Green Curry Chicken — S$12.90 The Thai Green Curry Chicken was disappointing in terms of size and flavour. It came in a really small bowl and was only quarter-filled with curry. In fact, it didn't taste like green curry but seemed more like a gravy. The portion of chicken was really small as well, but the thick texture was comforting and satisfying!

7. Steamed Seabass with Lime* — S$29.90The gorgeous steamed seabass came in a food warmer tray. It was so huge that we attracted stares from other tables. I thought it looked like a submarine! Unfortunately, the fish looked pretty flat and I would prefer that the chefs prop up the head of the fish by placing some ingredients below. The gravy was uniquely Thai, with lots of lime and spices.The fish came with most of the bones removed, and was already cut into several slices for easy distribution. This is my personal favourite!

8. Thai Iced Tea — S$4.20

 

The Thai Iced Tea was pretty sweet. It seems as though a considerable amount of condensed milk (or sugar syrup) was used, while I prefer my tea to be more natural-tasting.Overly sweet Thai Iced Tea

Although I'm extremely sensitive to caffeine, I had no trouble falling asleep after having this at dinnertime. Interestingly, a mysterious brown substance was spotted at the bottom of the glass. It tasted like a chocolate-based syrup or malt-like liquid candy.

9. Thai Chendol* — S$5.80 Refreshing Thai Chendol

I have a sweet tooth and thoroughly enjoyed this! It had sufficiently large amounts of red beans and green starched noodles with pandan flavouring. The only drawback is that it was quite difficult to thoroughly mix the shaved ice and coconut milk.Prices are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing GST.

From now till 30 Jan 2015, receive a $20 dining voucher when you dine at ParaThai if you are a ANZ, OCBC or PGR Cardmember.

Han's is a much-loved household name in the Singapore dining scene, Its success dates back to 1977 when the popularity of the Han siblings' cakes amongst their friends inspired them to open a bakery along Upper Thomson Road. On my foodie parents' recommendations, I found myself at their largest cafe-cum-bakery restaurant (15,000 square feet), at Great Eastern Centre on Pickering Street. My mum used to work in the area and I thought visiting this outlet with my parents would fill them with a sense of heartwarming nostalgia. As Han's began its existence way before I was born, I thought paying them a visit with my parents would be a good way to contribute to the memory project.Left to right: Teh-Si, Mushroom Soup, Garlic bread

No meal at Han's is complete without Teh-Si or Tea with Evaporated milk (S$1.70). It tasted really pure and wholesome; I think it's one of the best teas I've ever had.

We also had some Mushroom Soup and garlic bread. Alas, the soup was really sour and tasted straight from a can.The garlic bread was (literally) hard to bite into, let alone chew. It felt more like biscotti than bread, though dipping it into the soup did soften it a little.

Chicken Chop (Set) — S$12.80I loved that the potatoes came in wedges rather than fries. Furthermore, the meat was lean and tender, giving rise to a commendable texture. However, the vegetables tasted really raw and were difficult to chew — my jaws got tired after a while.While I initially felt they were stingy with the sauce, I was later glad they went easy on it because it was excessively salty. Overall, I would recommend going for something else.

Grilled Dory (Set) — S$9.80Grilled Dory topped with garlic

Fresh dory fish is difficult to find these days. Liven up its flavours with a spritz of lemon (each serving generously comes with half a lemon rather than the usual slice!!) The fish had a soft and pillowy texture, and the portion was sufficiently satisfying. I couldn't help but notice that the vegetables took up 50% of the plate's surface area! This should appease workers in the area pursuing a healthier lifestyle.

Service at Han's was iffy — no major mistakes but don't expect a warm welcome. The Han's dining experience is built upon functionality rather than frills, and is probably best-suited for quick, casual gatherings with friends and colleagues. Certainly no intimate dates or formal gatherings as the atmosphere is nothing too fanciful and the food is, frankly, below average.

It's time to take your cafe-hopping experience to a whole new level. With the highly concentrated food scene in Singapore, a new breed of dining experience has just come on board — Bistros. The Rustic Bistro is not only wallet-friendly, but also provides the perfect ambience for large groups and families. 1. NETT Prices — NO GST, NO Service ChargeDining with your buddies is made exceptionally simple WITHOUT the hassle of calculating +10% service charge and +7% GST. Hooray!

2. Rustic floor plan that surpasses your expectation of a typical SG cafeTheir colourful furniture reflects their pride in creativity and going against convention. While the colours don't seem to complement each other, the contrasting effects appear to work. The ambience may not be as enchanting as that at Carpenter and Cook, but it has its own mystical character. I can't quite put my finger on what it is though.

3. Be inspired by their electrifying decorationsWires and lightbulbs hang loosely overhead as an additional decorative feature, setting the mood of the Bistro. The chefs are definitely the 'Thomas Edison(s)' of Modern-inspired Western cuisine, because any lightbulb moment could lead to Point #4.

4. Receive free appetisers from the Chefs*Occasionally, you may get FREE appetisers from the Rustic Bistro Chefs. This is sparked by their random innovation, according to which they 'make anything when it comes to their mind'. They then get feedback from their customers, and think about putting it on the next menu. Because Rustic Bistro is a totally new concept, they are open to changing their menu to suit the tastebuds of their customers. The appetiser I tried tasted like Cordon Bleu with grape juice extract and the flavours were harmonious.

5. They've got the BEST chefs specialising in ALL kinds of eggsOne of the MUST-TRY items on their menu is the Rustic 3-Way Eggs - S$14.90. I recall this as one of the challenges on MasterChef, in which the contestants had to create various versions of eggs. The Rustic 3-Way Eggs consist of Eggs Benedict with Bacon & Burnt Hollandaise, Scrambled egg on toast with smoked salmon and a sunny side-up on toast with tomatoes.Eggs Benedict with BaconSunny Side-up

6. CHEAPEST poached eggs in townFor only S$11.00, try their Eggs Benedict! It is definitely one of the cheapest in town (and the most delicious too). With bacon, burnt hollandaise and mixed mesclun, this protein-rich food would appeal to bodybuilders after a workout.Play the video and see how the egg yolk slowly oozes out. The texture was thick yet smooth and velvety, with the hollandaise sauce a great compliment to each bite. No editing software was used!7. All their eggs are cooked to perfection at 63°CI always love my eggs with slices of smoked salmon. For only S$13.00, the Eggs Florentine features poached eggs resting on top of smoked salmon, with pieces of spinach and a dollop of burnt hollandaise enveloping the dish. It may look small, but it's actually quite satisfying.

8. Their pasta is flavour-packedTry their Pesto Chicken for S$11.90! It was initially overwhelming with the strong, rich flavours engulfing my tongue. I always thought that this sort of pasta is mild-tasting. Don't feel shy making loud slurping noises with this spaghetti tossed with basil and chicken!

9. Cheapest Truffle Fries in townFor only S$5.00, you get a large bowl of truffle fries topped with powdered parmesan cheese. The fries are cooked fresh, so you don't have to worry about them turning soggy! The portion was large enough to be shared amongst four people, so it's a real steal from The Rustic Bistro. The only downside is that they tasted too salty for me, so do let the chefs know beforehand if you don't want too much salt in it.

10. Best comfort food ever: Fish & Chips Marination is extremely important for flavourful Fish & Chips, and Rustic Bistro offers a great-tasting version for only S$10.90. I would appreciate that they serve it on a plate instead of a chopping board though, as it's rather difficult to contain the crispy breadcrumbs within the wooden board.

11. They have servings for giant eatersThe Rustic Beef Burger - S$11.90 is for big eaters. The beef patty came in an odd-looking shape, as if it was rolled into a square. What I loved most about the burger is its juiciness, although the burger bun wasn't really well-toasted and the lettuce looked like it was hastily chucked in. The cheese used was definitely processed cheese, losing some points for the freshness of their signature beef burger. While the appearance did not stimulate my appetite, it was a really huge portion for one.

12. It is founded by Chef Eddy and award-winning Chef Stephen.Chef Stephen (left) and Chef Eddy (Right)

Both chefs have won accolades and cooked in hotels and other chain restaurants. Veteran chef Stephen Yong and chef Eddy Wan met at M.Y Golden Odyssey. With more than 10 years of culinary experience in various hotels and food establishments, the chefs now dish up modern-inspired Western cuisine that will surely surpass your expectations.

Read more at http://www.littletinysun.com/2014/08/the-rustic-bistro-food-review.html

Supplementary Information:

Read more at http://www.littletinysun.com/2014/08/the-rustic-bistro-food-review.html

The Rustic Bistro

21 China Street, Far East Square

Singapore 049563

Mon to Sat : 11am to 10pm

 

Recommended Dish(es):  Eggs Benedict

 

Table Wait Time: 15 minute(s)

Spending per head: Approximately $10(Dinner)

Other Ratings:

Taste

 4  |  

Environment

 5  |  

Service

 3  |  

Clean

 4  |  

Price

 5

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Here's an ice-breaker: Have you ever wondered what Christmas would taste like? I've always known how Christmas looks (think beautiful gems of lights twinkling across malls and streets of Singapore) and sounds (melodic hymns and carols permeating the air). It would be interesting to see how a chef encapsulates the wonders of Christmas in a dish. I was back at SYNC once more to try their ingenious Christmas selection of tapas and mains. In South Korea, Christmas is a real big deal — they even tried building a huge Christmas tree made of steel near the border with the North to spread the joy of the Gospel! (Festive menu will be served from 12 Dec 2014 to 2 Jan 2015)* denotes my recommendations.

1. Sweet Potato Croquettes* — S$10.90Have you heard of the unique Korean sweet potato diet? These fanciful little crusty bits are made with traditional Korean sweet potatoes and a European twist of cheese and chorizo. Topped with apple salsa, these delightful tapas are sure to perk up your festive season! It's that sort of addictive food you would subconsciously pop into your mouth one after the another, leaving you craving more.

2. Christmas Citrus Salad — S$9.90A colourful salad with pomegranate, orange and mesclun, topped with Citrus dressing

Do you like spicy salad? I was overwhelmed with surprise when I realized the salad dressing had a spicy kick to it. The orange slices and mesclun leaves were a little too chunky and I would have preferred a greater variety of ingredients such as nuts in this salad bowl. The pomegranate was a tasteful and visually pleasing addition. The flavour profile of this dish gears strongly towards spiciness and sweetness, while I prefer something more neutral (think Caesar salad).

3. Kimchi Cheese Fries — S$9.90I previously reviewed the Gamja Tuikim (Kimchi Cheese Fries) at SYNC Korean Fusion Bistro. Although not part of the original menu at the Tapas Bar, this dish has been introduced here due to its overwhelming popularity over at the Fusion Bistro. The differences in portion, price and taste are obvious though. Too sour for my liking, I would recommend that avid lovers of this particular dish stick to the Westgate outlet.

4. Clay Duck Ssam — S$10.90SYNC Korean Tapas Bar scores high on visual presentation — doesn't this look very zen? It's pretty easy to gobble each piece in one mouthful. I could make out the multitude of distinct tastes exploding in my mouth, such as the initial taste of the fresh and slightly minty Perilla leaf, followed by the savoury duck meat and a hint of sweetness and crunch from the Korean Daikon. Which tastes better — Sogogi Jowl or Clay Duck Ssam? If you are going for a more robust meaty taste, I would say go for the Sogogi Jowl.

5. Turkey Risotto* — S$26.90What is Christmas without turkey on the table? A unique twist to the traditional Italian risotto lies in the use of Korean pearl barley, which is topped with succulent turkey roulade, sautéed mushrooms and cranberries. It took me a while to get used to the unconventional combination before falling in love with it! The thick slices of turkey were indeed the star of the show, being exceptionally flavourful, tender and juicy.Turkey Risotto with its glistening appearance and tantalising aroma

6. Kalbi Jim* — S$26.90The Kalbi Jim (Korean-style braised short ribs) is another dish to be added to your must-try list. These beef short ribs are braised for 48 hours with special Korean sauce and served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes. Sprinklings of pickled daikon add a welcome crunch. Comparable to the standards at top hotel restaurants, the meat melts delicately in your mouth like snow in late winter. A larger portion of this would have been most welcome!

7. Chestnut Crunchy Bar — S$10.90Moist Chestnut Crunchy Bar

Hmm... is this a slice of cake in disguise? While the plating looks pretty awkward, the beauty is hidden within. The chestnut mousse is wrapped in a chocolate tart shell and topped with chocolate pearls and orange gel, making the texture both soft and crunchy at the same time. It has a slight citrus taste with an iconic slice of citron sprouting at the tip of the bar. De rigueur gingerbread men

Soju Mojito* — S$9.90The Soju Mojito is served in shot glasses.

These are the two separate festive menus available at the respective outlets. The ones reviewed above are available at SYNC Korean Tapas Bar (Serangoon Gardens outlet).Full review found here: http://www.littletinysun.com/2014/12/sync-korean-tapas-bar-christmas-menu.html

Have you tried the recently-transformed dining experience at Crystal Jade's Plaza Singapura outlet? Hailed as the all-new Crystal Jade Steamboat Kitchen, this new food establishment offers steamboat buffet at wallet-friendly prices. This new restaurant is an extension of Crystal Jade's current operations, so here are 10 Things about Crystal Jade Steamboat Kitchen you probably didn't know.1. It's homely and welcoming!Remember all those times you visited Crystal Jade with your family, loved ones and friends? The soft lighting of the 140-seater restaurant creates the ideal warm-and-fuzzy atmosphere for great conversations to be born. Crystal Jade Steamboat Kitchen enhances the experience with their knowledgeable and friendly employees. I asked several questions about the origins of the food and they KNOW them all!

2. Choose from six different soup bases These include Pork Bone soup, Tomato soup, Curry soup, Miso soup and Superior soup. Those who have fiery tastebuds and would prefer something more intense, challenge yourself with the Spicy Mala soup. Each steamboat pot comes with two compartments so you can choose to enjoy different soup bases.

3. All-you-can-eat steamboat with free flow of drinks and soft ice cream for lunch and dinnerCrystal Jade Steamboat Kitchen offers a wholesome spread of more than 35 ingredients including fresh chicken, pork and beef slices, mussels, mushrooms and vegetables. This is probably more than the average number of ingredients I usually have at reunion dinners at home!

4. The Minced Pork Paste and Chicken Paste are home-madeWhat's so special about home-made food? Well, the recipes ignite nostalgic memories in your subconscious. I really loved how Crystal Jade enables us to be creative in shaping our meat with these slabs of paste. You can simply dunk the entire slab into the soup in one flat squarish chunk, or attempt to make your own meatballs, and trust me, that takes a lot of skill. More importantly, the intense flavours and smooth texture of the meat pastes were well-received by my tongue.

5. Daily Special: Deep-fried items to snack on while you wait for the soup to boilMost of us simply want to tuck into our food without waiting. I was delighted to know that cooked items are offered daily at the buffet counter. I tried the Deep Fried Fish Skin, Deep Fried Chicken Skin and Deep Fried Mushroom Stems. They were flavoursome on their own, but you may choose to dip them into the soup for that extra richness. My personal favourite would be the Fish skin because it was really crunchy and chock full of briny deep-sea goodness!

6. Fine slices of fresh pork, chicken and beefYou don't like beef? Not to worry — there's pork. You don't like pork? Well, there's chicken. These meats are kept refrigerated and only served upon ordering. This ensures their freshness!

7. Missing the traditional Cantonese favourites? They didn't forget your roasted combination platter! The Roasted Combination Platter (S$25.80/per serving) is definitely great for carnivorous beings like myself. The Roast Duck is served with a golden proportion of meat and fat. These ducks are specially selected from Ipoh duck
farms, where newborn ducks are raised to 7 weeks of age. The ducks are seasoned with various Chinese herbs stuffed in their stomachs before being
roasted. The Quality pork belly is seasoned with salt and five-spice powder, before being roasted for 1.5 to 2 hours. The crispy skin and flavourful juicy meat is not to be missed! Last but not least, the Honey Barbecued pork is glazed with a mixture of honey and sauces and skewered with long forks
before being placed to roast.

8. The crispiest Deep-fried Yam Puff with Minced MeatAnother quintessential favourite at Cantonese dim sum restaurants, each piece is packed
with soft, fragrant yam with juicy minced meat and deep fried with delicate golden flakes. You can get this a-la-carte for only S$4 per serving (3 pcs).

9. They have one of the freshest Ha-Kau you can find!The fresh shrimps are wrapped
with a thin layer of dough skin and steamed in a traditional bamboo basket until the skin is
translucent. They're really juicy and fresh! Didn't understand why they were so slippery to pick up though. The Steamed Shrimp Dumplings are priced at S$4.60 per serving of 3 pieces.

10. Chewy and the colour of sunshine, this never fails to satisfy.You'd be surprised at how juicy the Steamed Pork & Shrimp with Crab Roe Dumplings (S$4.20 per serving of 3 pieces) are! They are really moist and matched the lofty standards of all the steamed dim sum. Addictive to the max!

Thanks to Crystal Jade Steamboat Kitchen for the media tasting session. Now I know where to go for my next gathering!

Weekday dinner buffet: S$20.90++ for adults and S$17.90++ for children (12 years and below)

Weekend and Public Holiday dinner buffet: S$26.90++ for adults and S$23.90++ for children (12 years and below)