http://thechosenglutton.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/drowned-in-the-sea-of-swensens-sugar/

To be honest, I was already drooling for quite some time, at the Swensen’s Ice Cream Buffet, before I actually patronized it. Ice Cream Buffet, and it’s not just any, street-sold Ice Cream, it’s Swensen’s – Chocolate Malt Ice Cream, Sticky Chewy Chocolate – those sundae flavors you always order (so much so that you don’t even have to look at the menu of ice cream sundaes available, lol). After what seemed like ages, I finally got down to Orchard Ion (the only outlet with the Ice Cream Buffet) to meet and greet the awesome line up of ice creams.

There’re over 50 different flavors of ice cream and some 40 odd toppings. The flavors include the classics, some gelato (eg. peach and mango gelato, bitter chocolate gelato, cookies cheesecake gelato), and other favorites (eg. sticky chewy chocolate, cookies chocolate), and the toppings surprised me. I wasn’t expecting the wide yet tasty spread of toppings (which includes nestle crunch chocolate chunks, malt balls, lightly salted biscuits, hazelnut chocolate wafers, smarties etc.). I wouldn’t be surprised if any one of you spammed the toppings upon seeing them. lol. Just don’t, overdo it, or you’ll get some serious overdose of chocolates. lol.

One particular thing I like about this buffet is the ability to re-create the Frosted Chocolate Malt (my most sought-after sundae). Because they have the Chocolate Malt Ice Cream, they have the Malt Balls, and they have the Cold Chocolate Fudge and Liquefied Marshmallow. Awesomeness.

Besides ice cream and their toppings, you can expect a small range of cakes and pies. I personally didn’t want to take the cakes and pies, because they have it in a really generous portion (I’d rather fill my stomach up with more ice cream).

Lined up on the same side (as the cakes and pies) of the four-sided counter is the Chocolate Fondue side. Profiterole (cream puffs), vegetable sticks (and that’s how Pocky is made – vegetable sticks + chocolate fondue dumped three quarter into the stick), sweet red strawberries and marshmallow can be found by the fondue set. Good thing the chocolate fondue isn’t as bitter as some that I’ve tried.

One last thing to touch on – they have quartered-up waffles. It’s recommendable to just try it (you can walk over to the ice cream section and ask for a scoop or two on the waffle) once, nothing more.

—-> NOTE #1: Each bowl can only go up to a maximum of 5 scoops of ice cream. Don’t be humiliated like I was when I asked for the sixth scoop. What’s funny is, I don’t get the reason why we can’t go more than 5 scoops per bowl – it’s not like the bowl will crumble with the weight of the sixth.

—-> NOTE #2: You can stay there for as long as your stomach can withstand the sugar. If it means staying there from the time they open till they finish stacking the plates and wiping the tables, so be it.

Price :: $18.90++ / $12.90++ with a food order (not inclusive of soup and sides)

https://thechosenglutton.wordpress.com/2011/04/16/kowtow-to-ippudo-tao-now/

Recommended by blog reader Val, I’ve managed to drop by Ippudo Tao @ UE Square just before I go for a good dessert at Laurent’s. Even though the interior design can’t be compared to that of Ippudo @ Mandarin Gallery, it still, has some high standards and attention to detail. Just look at the signboard planted just outside of the outlet. So striking yet sleek. I love it when the ambience, decor and overall comfort level is there when I dine in a restaurant. Point is, it’s for your best interest if you do a good research on the location (and how to get there) before you head there. I did mine, but still took some time to reach the restaurant. It’s stated that it’s at UE Square, but it’s not in the main building of the mall, but across, behind this private apartments or something, up to Muhammad Sultan Road, then turn left (easiest would be to walk along River Valley Road and then turn into Muhammad Sultan Road).Chashu Menma with Leek ($5.00++) :: It’s pork belly chunks and Japanese bamboo with leek. I’m a huge fan of pork belly, in any forms. lol. So I was automatically swayed to checking that on the menu. No worries on the leek. For me, I’m not a fan of vegetables in general, but the leek doesn’t really have too much of a foul taste in this dish, so it was all good. The combination of the three ingredients, on top of the ponzu dressing (basically some soy sauce + lemon or the likes) goes well for me.Ebi & Avocado Wasabi Mayo ($5.00++) :: Unlike the previous dish, the name of this speaks for itself. I thought it was a rather interesting mixture of ingredients, and reminds me a lot of Salmon Avocado Sushi @ Ichiban. How do I put this – it’s easy to eat, it’s all mayo-filled and soft. Not very satisfying kind of a dish, although it isn’t that it isn’t nice, maybe because there isn’t any tough meat involved. Everything in this translucent plate is soft and you just eat and chew and swallow, nothing special nor memorable.Buffalo Chicken ($14.00++) :: This gold-made (hah, exaggerating) buffalo chicken is a little on the pricey side. If I didn’t remember wrongly, the small one only has 3 pieces, and the large one 6 pieces, like the one we ordered -points up-. It has both the winglets and the drumlets, probably why they didn’t call it, like commonly named, Buffalo Wings. lol. It’s both mildly peppery spicy and sweet, both of which I enjoy much. Although so, I’m unsure of if I’ll be ordering that again on my next visit as I don’t think that it’s worth the money, as much as it tastes good.Enoki Maki ($3.80++) :: Hands down, this is the champion of the night. Pork belly wrapped with enoki mushroom (also known as golden needle mushroom – the ones you throw into steamboats / boiling hot soups). Oh- my god. It’s orgasmic when you eat it while it’s warm. Especially so if you’re a fan of pork belly. AND enoki mushroom. There is no doubt that the next time I’m there, I’ll order this and have the whole plate to myself (1 sticks of 3 pieces – we ordered 2 of it, so the picture shows twice the quantity). Yes, I’m going to turn selfish with the dish (:Nikumiso Tofu Salad ($7.00++) :: The tofu is as soft as, tofu. Uncooked tofu, ultra tender. It’s supposed to be topped with spicy miso paste, but it really isn’t spicy, or at least for me. But then again, when are Japanese food spicy Except with the presence of wasabi, lol. Then it becomes choking. It was a so-so average bowl of salad for me, nothing special. A memorable salad (presentation + taste) would be the one at 15 Minutes @ LASALLE College of the Arts.Tao Kuro Chashu ($18.00++) :: Wanting to experience the ‘spirited dynamism of TAO’, or in actual fact, because of Val’s recommendation to give Tao Kuro a shot, I went for it, with Chashu (pork belly – see I tell you, it’s attracted to me) as the topping. It actually comes with thick chewy noodles, but again, I changed it to the thin ones thanks to Val. Note the word thanks, because I saw a bowl my friend ordered with the thick noodles and I knew at first sight that the thick ones aren’t for me. I was grateful I changed mine and thus moving on to enjoy slurping through it. One thing though, I really have no idea if ramen is meant to be that salty. It supposedly is, because a close friend of mine said that the ones in Japan are far worse. I guess they’ve already toned it down for Singaporeans’ palate. I can’t imagine getting anything saltier down my throat. But other than that, I quite enjoyed the ramen!Teriyaki Salmon with Leek ($10.00++) :: I want to put it across first – I didn’t actually try this dish. But my friend almost went crazy with the small portion that was presented in front of her eyes. This is actually one of the Chef’s Recommendation. It didn’t state if it’s a main course or a side, but she ordered it with the thought that it’s the former, thus wasn’t really pleased. Just in case you intend to order this when you get there – at least now you get to see the portion of it. But I thought, 10 bucks for salmon is not as bad if it actually tastes good.

Definitely a spot-on recommendation by Val – thank you once again! You’re right, if you like Ippudo @ Mandarin Gallery, you’d like Ippudo Tao @ UE Square. The service staff was way too polite (or at least the ones we encountered) it’d be bad not mentioning it here. Very attentive to detail – topping up of iced water on a regular basis, and even asking to top it up after we’ve footed our bill and ready to move off. And that time, I was actually appreciative because I really didn’t mind having that another half a cup of water to quench my thirst from the chats. That’s some extra value for you. Certainly worth a re-visit.

—> Note #1: If you want indoor seating – be sure to make a reservation beforehand to have it nailed first.

https://thechosenglutton.wordpress.com/2011/01/29/103s-bistro-one-zero-three/

Smartly named after the road name, 103 Pasir Panjang, Bistro One Zero Three is located by the roadside. Be warned though, the store front looks like one that has been there through rain and storm, and hasn’t got enough to do a full scale renovation. But looks are almost always deceiving, aren’t they

The menu’s considerably large for a relatively small / medium-sized cafe located in this area. Pasta and main dishes are what fills up the page of main courses for the dining place. And yes, allow me to touch on the feel upon entering the cafe / restaurant. Allow me, to share with you how homely I felt with their service. We were immediately greeted and led to a table upon entering the then-quarter filled cafe. When issuing the menu, the waitperson asked if we’d like some iced water – I simply, love how honest she is. I mean, people would go asking, ‘any drinks to start first’, but no, she asked if we’d like to have some water first. It’s a very, ‘you read my mind and didn’t make us feel bad / awkward / guilty for not ordering drinks’ kind of feeling, and it’s just the start of the good service.

It might not have the nicest ambience, it might not have the nicest decor, but it sure make you feel cozy, comfy and secured. With the whole set up and the service, it gives me a very strong ‘bed & breakfast’ feeling, where food is served, and you are well taken care of, like how you are dead sure that whatever happens, someone will be there to take care of you. Like said earlier, they have quite a wide selection of food (including salad / appetizers / main courses). We decided to get our taste buds going with some Mushroom Soup, the aromatic Garlic Bread and some Escargots as appetizers.Soup of the Day (Mushroom Soup) ($4.50++) :: Even though it might seem like it’s very worthwhile, what with it being served in a big bowl accompanied with garlic bread, it actually, isn’t really. The mushroom soup, in my opinion, didn’t really have much of the mushroom taste / smell. It’s very average-tasting.Escargots in White Wine Sauce ($8.90++) :: I’ve always been a fan of escargots, and well, shells in general. Even though the escargots may not be as chewy as some I’ve tasted (I personally like it chewy), the cheesy sauce made it up. Cheese is good. Escargot’s good. So all is good. The garlic bread goes well with the sauce too (we thought it’s better than the mushroom soup).We kind of had a garlic bread overload, because we didn’t know that the escargots and mushroom soup each comes with garlic bread too. Hah. Fortunately, the bread’s really ‘balmy’ and tasty.Bacon & Ham Pasta ($16.90++) :: First try and I blurted out, ‘PastaMania can do better’. Do keep in mind though, I’m one who has always been alright with PastaMania – I know a lot of people out there who are quite anti-PastaMania, so. But really, it isn’t creamy / cheesy enough for me, and the taste is somewhere in between bland and distinctive.Salmon & Crab Meat Pasta ($16.90++) :: When we first saw the menu, we were questioning internally if the crab meat is the real crab, crab meat or the crabstick crab meat. In the end, we decided to check it out with the approachable staff and to our relief, it’s the real crab meat. I thought the portion of the salmon is pretty generous, considering it was given as a whole piece or not shreds like what one would usually get in pastas. The red pesto sauce made the pasta doesn’t taste like the normal, organic pasta – which may or may not be a bad thing. For me, it’s alright, but I got bored with it real quick.Crispy Duck Leg ($24.90++) :: At first glance, it might look unworthy putting the portion and the cost of the dish side by side and comparing, but after the dinner, I’d safely say that I’ll choose this over the pastas any day. We agreed in unison that the crispy duck skin is really really good, plus, the duck meat isn’t those that will get stuck between your teeth, and it’s soft. Matched with a reasonable portion of mashed potato, this dish is quite a balanced one.Chocolate Walnut Brownie with French Vanilla Ice Cream ($6.00++) :: Even though we were already filled up to our throat, we still went ahead with the dessert. Like they always say, ‘there is always space for desserts’. Couldn’t agree more, hah. We decided on this because we’ve read quite some raving reviews on this particular dessert of theirs. The brownie didn’t look appealing when it’s presented to us – it looked rather dry and hard. This is when ‘looks are deceiving’ comes into play – it’s actually soft and tasty – just right. This is up to your liking, but the vanilla ice cream isn’t your ordinary vanilla ice cream – it’s french’s, thus some custard flavor.

Essentially, this is quite a find in my opinion. To reiterate the earlier point – this place is very homely, with excellent excellent warm service. Thus it gets 3 stars (✰✰✰).

—> Note #1: It’s very hard to get to, so if you’re not driving, maybe not.

—> Note #2: Lunch’s from 1130 – 1500 and dinner’s from 1800 – 2130, so don’t go in between and get locked out.

—> Note #3: There -is- a (clean) restroom in the restaurant itself, even though it looks like this deserted place most probably won’t.

https://thechosenglutton.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/almost-deprived-of-prive/

When I finally got to the destination – Privé Bakery Café. Well, why do I say so. For me for Privé, it was ‘the 4th time is a charm’. First time I decided to come here (due to the excellent reviews and undeniable positive ambience), my plan was canceled the night before. Second time, it was canceled on the morning itself (I was nearly crashed xD). And the third time, it rained (so we had to cancel it because we planned on going there by foot, and no we don’t have the habit of carrying an umbrella with us). So this time round – it wasn’t canceled, thankfully, and the weather was more than fine. So after what seemed like forever, I finally got the chance to go back to Marina @ Keppel Bay – probably the prettiest and most picturesque place in Singapore.

We reached this blessed place and came to a decision to occupy the air-conditioned seats, just because, Singapore is nearly always so hot and humid. It was rather cozy inside, although it was frustrating how the table we got was shaky (maybe they could have done something about it already before any more guests get to it). However, we started throwing the food items off our lips to the waitperson, as if we’re having a buffet or some sort.Mini Danishes ($1.20++) :: If you want me to describe it in just a word, it’d be, hands down, ‘ordinary’. It’d actually be more enjoyable if there were to take the initiative to heat it up (I’m not sure if they do when requested). The next time I’m there, I’ll try asking, because I’m imagining it to taste much better when warmed. For me, the Chocolate Roll > Hazelnut Swirl. The latter tasted a little weird, but it wasn’t bad.Croissant ($2.00++) :: The croissant was relatively big. And croissant + butter = love. lol. Again, though, all was just averagely tasting. Nothing special, just something else to fill your stomach up.Eggs Royale ($16.00++) :: Just in case you were looking at the online menu, don’t be fooled by the outdated food items, and prices. An example would be the flavors for the mini danishes, they’ve been changed. So have the prices attached to the breakfast list. Anyhow, I’m unaffected by it, just giving you a heads up to not expect what is shown entirely. Right, back to the Eggs Royale – I thought the smoked salmon at the base of the poached eggs was good, when tasted alone, but when you have a big bite as a whole of the dish, you can’t really taste the salmon on your tongue. Besides that, the english muffin (which is, not the muffin muffin, but kind of a burger bun) was a little burnt on the sides. Same goes for the Eggs Benedict ($16.00++) we had – the ham and bacon wasn’t very flavorful, I was expecting something more in an award-winning brunch venue, thus, I was disappointed. I’d go for Wild Honey’s Eggs Benedict over this any day.Fluffy Pancakes ($13.00++) :: Topped with banana, strawberries and walnut (which were all pretty fresh and palatable), the pancakes that we shared among two was just nice. Again, somehow, pancakes just can’t be consumed by one person – you’d get sick of it very quickly. Nothing spectacular, and not as pleasant smelling as the ones I had in Jones the Grocer (that one is by far, the best pancakes I’ve had).

To sum up, the food here was mediocre. But the environment and surrounding (ie. Marina @ Keppel Bay) would make me return for a second chance, maybe next time on the lunch/dinner menu. The setting’s good. Service’s not too bad either. So, if you are looking for some excellent food, not here you can find, but some average food while enjoying some scenic views, then yes, this is for you.

—> Note #1: Walking there from HarborFront MRT takes about 15 minutes or so, if you’re planning on reaching there by foot.

—> Note #2: Toilet’s not within the restaurant, but just outside of it at the lobby area.

—> Note #3: I was there on a weekday morning, so it was rather empty. If you intend to go on a weekend morning, I’d suggest you go as soon as it opens (9AM – 9.30AM), because if I remember correctly, the other time when I tried making a reservation for a weekend morning, they said that they don’t take reservations for weekend mornings. So.

—> Note #4: All-day breakfast is from 9AM till 5pm daily.

Believe it or not, Cake Spade is actually not a spin-off from the luxury brand, Kate Spade. Cake Spade actually refers to the tool you use to slice and pick the cake up. Located along Tanjong Pagar Road at the back of Orchid Hotel, this relatively new dessert boutique joins the well-patronized precinct. Inside and outside, it can only sit up to approximately 20. So really, don't be getting your hopes high on getting seats + staying for long as the seats aren't really that comfortable either.

All those, however, are compensated with their affordable and well-baked cakes. I especially like its Strawberry Tofu Cheesecake, where all parts of the cake just complemented each other perfectly. It's soft, smooth and easy to slice through with a fork. Even though its Salted Caramel Tart can be slightly too salty, I still like it. I mean, if you want to order something that distinctive, you should be prepared for it!

If you can get a seat indoors, take it. The fragrance fills the entire small shop, and I'm sure it'll enhance your dessert-dining experience.