Fans of oysters would probably have heard of Tanuki Raw before, with its value-for-money $2 huge oysters during happy hour with orders of their drinks. Spotting a plate of half dozen oysters on every table, we were probably the exception being there, as both of us don't eat raw stuffs.

Rockstar ($10)
Seared salmon draped over mozzarella and covered with mentaiko sauceThis was the highlight of our meal, and I was left captivated by this rock star. This has got to be the most amazing combination here, and I loved the slight burnt taste from the seared top, making it flavorful, pairing perfectly with the mentaiko sauce. The sauce was a nice complement, unlike the usual which would overwhelm the taste of it. In fact, it helped accentuated the seared portions and the otherwise dull mozzarella in the combination. This is the rockstar indeed. At the end of our meal, we regretted almost immediately as we walked out, for not ordering another plate of this!

Tanuki Balls ($12)
Truffled beef carpaccio draped over deep-fried cheese potato ballsLooking like a glorified Tako ball nicely presented, this probably wasn't very justified for its price tag of $4 per piece. Apart from the truffled beef slice lain on top for that tapas pretty presentation, the potato balls itself was just ordinary, pretty much just mashed potato with cheese. I liked how it was loose and not too heavy on the inside, with the cheese surprisingly complementing the beef slices well and not overpowering. The combination was good, yet the simplicity of it didn't seem to garner a $12 worth of dish served.

Shrimptastic ($10)
Ebi fry roll sprinkled with sakura ebi and drizzled with spicy sauce We thought this was quite your typical kind of ebi tempura, well complemented with the crunchy fried ebi bits sprinkled on top. The spicy sauce was a tad too overwhelming that it masked the taste of the roll itself. I didn't quite fancy the strong and creamy sauce, perhaps having it served on the side for dips would have been better without overwhelming the dish!

Trio of Fries ($8)
spam, lotus root and truffle friesHow can anyone resist fries? We loved this basket with abit of everything to try out more variety! The spam sticks were too thin that it was just like having those Indian sticks snacks with a distinct fried taste to it, making it quite jelat after a few sticks. It lacked the texture of spam I was looking for, and the fried/burnt taste of it didn't quite sit well with me.

Thinly sliced lotus root, it tasted just like chips, though we found it just wayyyy too salty and lacked the fresh crisp crunch to it. This wasn't exactly an impressive one and we still loved our classic truffle fries. Subtly infused with the truffle taste, it was surprisingly good for such thick version. As the truffle taste was subtle and smooth, it got quite addictive without the jelat/overwhelming taste. The truffle still won the battle at the end!

Tanuki Aburi ($11)
Trio of the following:Yuzu SalmonMentaiko ScallopSpicy crab meat torched on a scallop shellOut of the trio, we found the spicy crab meat the most disappointing of all. Expecting real crabmeat in the dish, it tasted simply like the surimi sticks cut up into cubes then drizzled with spicy sauce to mask partially the fishy taste.

I loved the yuzu sauce accompanying the salmon aburi, though I'm never a fan of raw food so I was just dipping into the sauce! With a sweet base, there was a slight refreshing citrus touch to it, making the cream base taste light and addictive.

The scallop was our favorite of the trio, with slightly torched surface and mentaiko sauce. I guess you can't really go wrong with mentaiko! The fresh scallop cubes with a bounce went perfect with the creamy sauce and got us addicted!

Bacon Shishamo Wrap ($10)
Pregnant smelt fish, streaky bacon, shredded radish and wasabi mayo served burrito-styleThis was quite a major disappointment. A combination of ingredients that sounded sinfully good, it failed to bring out the best in both, and drew our attention instead to the heaps of lettuce, vermicelli and thick burrito skin. The proportion of the main highlights were simply too little, and it took us quite a while before being able to taste the shishamo. The wasabi mayo didn't quite go with the bacon and shishamo too, and we thought it tasted better on its own, without the sauce.

ASC ($10)
Rich asparagus with raw norwegian salmon and melted cheeseThis didn't seemed like its description and we had to verify with them before digging in. Topped with perhaps their universal sauces used in almost all the dishes, the asparagus was hidden inside, wrapped with salmon and a dap of the cheese on the inside. I found the salmon a little too dry for my liking, while the asparagus was too soft and mushy. It lacked the varying textures and it was all too mushy for my liking.

Little Pig ($10)
Juicy bacon and sake-poached green apple in a reverse roll with pomodoro sauceThis sounded great from the description, and perhaps with high expectations come high disappointments. We couldn't really taste much of the sake apple and the bacon was a tad too tough, with an aftertaste that didn't sit well with me. I loved the different textures you can find in a mouthful with chewy seaweed and the crunchy fried exterior. A pretty decent one if you weren't having such high expectations!

Alice in Wonderland ($18) and Brothers Toffee Apple Cider ($14)Under their signature cocktails list, Alice sounded like an adventure to take on, on a whimsical night. I loved the smoothness of it, and what seemed like mango to us as the base. Refreshing and light, it was perfect for some light alcohol night. Take note that these two aren't covered in the list of happy hour happy prices though!

A rather small space and cramped sitting area, it isn't exactly the place to go for chilling nor for spending long dinners. The food was decent, though slightly pricey and some not exactly worth the price tag. They do have some lunch specials which we thought were pretty worthwhile, with a don rendition of rockstar at just slightly more than $10. Good to visit if you're working around the area! Oh, they do have a live band performance too, on every Tuesday and Friday nights, though we couldn't see it when we visited, and it sounded like just some background music they'd played. Probably good for those who're planning to head for alfresco dining to enjoy it! They don't take it reservations, probably due to the popular demand of their happy hour oysters, hence be there early to get seats!

For full review, please visit http://www.makeyourcaloriescount.com/2013/10/sg-tanuki-raw-great-for-oyster-lovers.html

Oktoberfest is the world's largest fair held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. A 16-day festival which runs from late September to the first weekend in October, it is estimated that 6 million people attend the event yearly and celebrations include the excessive consumption of beer, Hendl (chicken), Schweinebraten (roast pork), Schweinshaxe (grilled ham hock), Wurstl (sausages) and Brezen (pretzel).

So...how did the event come about? It was said that Crown Prince Ludwig, which later became King Ludwig I was married to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on 12 October 1810. The joyous royal event was therefore marked for celebrations even till today but the festivities were advanced to September to allow for celebrations in better weather conditions.

While we searched for the best Oktoberfest parties in Singapore, we settled for Brotzeit which had over the years developed to be brand where common folks like us could easily associate with German cuisine and the bier (beer) of course. Serving freshly brewed draught beer from Paulaner, it is no wonder this F&B chain had been so successful since its inception to the local scene in 2006 with regional footprints in Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China (Shanghai and Shenzhen), Philippines and Thailand.

Let us start the evening to a toast with our 1-litre tall mugs! Prost!We were largely tempted to go for the Oktoberfest platter which came to S$168++ for a feast fit for a King! Designed for party-goers of 4 - 6 pax, we had to give it a miss due to the sheer amount of food served, such as ribs, pork knuckle, grilled sausages, etc. Considered lightweight by the standards of the Germans, we went for individual portions of our preferred choices!

Schweinshaxn (Pork Knuckle) - S$36/++With limited portions served each day, there was surely no missing this crispy hind shank of grain fed pork served with potato salad, sauerkraut and homemade sauce on the side. There was simply nothing to fault about this pork knuckle with its tender soft meat on the inside complemented by the crispy skin coating it. Expect to hear the crackling as we gorged ourselves silly with the pork and the beer!While the homemade sauce was supposed to enhance the flavours of the pork knuckle, we felt that it was rather pedestrian and nothing too impressive. The viscous brown sauce enriched the juiciness of the meat underneath that crispy skin but standalone, the flavours were rather muted and dull.The ladies loved the potato salad! The potatoes were cut to bite-sized portions and generously coated with its own house dressing which was based on mayonnaise and similar to the US counterpart rather than the classic 'Kartoffelsalat', which is a popular variation prepared with vinegar and oil. There was a good balance of sweetness and just a touch of tang in the dressing which made it surprisingly addictive!

Nurnberger (Grilled pork sausages) - S$16/++A German meal can never be complete without sausages so these pork bratwurst sausages were a must-try. It was served with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut but the highlight was none other than the savoury sausages oozing with juices as one takes the first bite.The sauerkraut translates to sour cabbage, which is essentially finely cut cabbage that has been fermented by various lactic acid bacteria. Apart from having a long shelf-life, it has a distinctive sour flavour which is a result of the lactic acid that forms when the bacteria ferment the sugars in the cabbage. Did that gross you out yet? If not, then stay with me - because this was surprisingly good and helps neutralize the flavours and tastes from the sausages and the pork knuckle. While it could not be regarded as a healthier side dish, it enhanced the sausages and pork knuckle and I soon found myself drawing the last strings of the finely cut cabbage!

Mashed potato - S$5/++The mashed potato was impeccably smooth and had a rich creaminess to it that the ladies could not resist and had to order a separate serving to satisfy their craving. Served with finely sliced, deep fried shallots, it added an additional layer of crispy texture to the fine mash.

Fladen Speck (Bacon Pizza) - S$16/++Served on a squarish plate, every inch of this looked just like a normal pizza and we unanimously concluded that we ordered a bacon pizza. While it sounded boring and nothing too fanciful, it was pleasant to the palate and definitely went very well with the beer. Some might find the chilli a touch too spicy but hey, that is what the beer is for! Generous amounts of mozzarella cheese, bacon, onions, vine ripened tomatoes and tomato sauce, this bacon pizza was well received. We especially loved the rye bread base that was considerably thick of about 3mm which I felt gave enough 'dough' to each bite.We managed to be seated by 8pm and the draught beers were considerably cheaper where the 1-litre came at S$21/++. It would have been S$26.5/++ after 8pm, which make a considerable amount of savings! We had the Hefe - Weissbier, which is the typical beer from Munich; top fermented, unfiltered and made with wheat malt. It is naturally cloudy with vitamins and hints of banana.

While there was the usual manly bitter after taste in the beer and especially German lager, it was smooth and suited even the ladies. My only complaint was that while it was naturally frothy, the beer came rather short of its full 1-litre serving.

It was cash on delivery for the drinks and meals, so have your cash or cards handy to pick the tab as soon as the orders were served. The ladies serving our table were friendly and approachable though the loud music and partying in the background made talking quite a chore and at times we were shouting our orders across!

Good beer, gorgeous food, lovely ambiance and great customer service, it certainly left us trio impressed! Looking forward to the next German meal already!

We've walked past the new Dining Edition at Marina Square several times, not knowing exactly what to eat with the variety of choices available now. Finally settling on Hamanoya, an atas-looking restaurant that looked pretty intimidating with the golden mirrors and a dark interior, we decided to give it a shot since cy was feeling generous to splurge and treat us!

Warmly welcomed and served by their polite and courteous service crew, we were impressed with the strong understanding of their menu, knowing what to recommend and introducing their seasonal fresh catch with such fervour. With an appetite for adventure, cy happily told the service staff 'I'll leave it to you to choose our dishes'.

Specialising in robatayaki, or robata in short, it's a trending style of cooking in restaurants, where traditionally seafood and vegetables are slow-grilled over hot charcoal. Subsequently, most dishes that are suitable are also placed on the grill. Slightly different from the usual where diners would seat round the grilling area (like teppanyaki style), this had comfy seats where food was served to you fresh from the grill.

Grilled Squid and Scallop on StickFirst served with hot towels and complimentary amuse-bouche for a taste of their warm hospitality, we were pleasantly surprised with the charcoal-grilled squid and scallop on sticks. Fresh and tender, it was grilled just nice with a slight bounce in the flesh and a light taste of seafood lingering in your mouth. Simple yet nicely done to start off our meal with great anticipation!

Robata Catch-of-the-day ($20.99/$18.99)These two were their seasonal catch, painstakingly introduced at each table for every diner by their service staff holding a tray of their specials going around. Sparking off a photo-taking frenzy when served, the presentation of it won us over already, impressed by the amount of effort they put into display given the price tag of it. Extremely fresh with its meat coming off the bones easily, it was very fine and tender, without any of the fishy taste that I'm always afraid of for fish dishes. Cooked just nice so that it didn't get too tough, it was served without any sauces and covered only in salt, it gave the natural taste of the fish, with its freshness shining through. Cy is usually picky about his fish, but this managed to satisfy his picky palates!

Chawanmushi ($4.99)Smooth silken steamed egg, this is one that's pretty hard to go wrong, yet difficult to impress as well. Instead of the usual minced meat for that added texture, this was served with crab meat, topped with yuzu slices. I was expecting the surimi kinda crabmeat stick to go as that's typically what's served with chawanmushi but this gave quality fresh crab shreds, adding a dash of seafood sweetness and the bounce in each mouthful. The citrus twist was also refreshing, adding a subtle fragrance to the dish with a tad of bitter aftertaste. Satisfying cup of warmth indeed!

Okonomiyaki ($7.99)A classic Japanese dish, a first bite into it got us all nodding with satisfaction. Japanese pancake with mainly cabbage, eggs, Japanese mayonnaise, topped with bonito flakes. The vegetables were cooked soft enough for my liking so that you don't taste the raw juices of it flowing as you bite into it, yet retaining a slight crunch to it.

We loved the generous serving of bonito flakes for that added savouriness and it had just enough mayonnaise to make it sweet and creamy, yet not jelat. A classic dish done well!

Tonkotsu Hotpot ($16.99)Craving for some hot soup to go with our meal, we decided to go with the Tonkotsu base, another of their all-time favourite hotpot selection. First mouthful got us cringing at the taste of it and exclamations of 'whoa this is super salty!' came along. For ramen lovers, this would taste pretty similar to the tonkotsu ramen soup base. Though good to go with ramen or some rice, it was too salty for it to be taken on its own. The base was rich and flavourful, and blended very well as we dipped rice into little bowls of soup (somewhat like porridge). We expected the flesh of the pork ribs to come off the bones easily, however they were a tad too stiff.

Steamed Clams in Sake ($6.99)This caught our eye immediately when we were told of the sake in it. First tasting the clams on its own, it was fresh and juicy, without the fishy seafood taste. It wasn't washed very thoroughly though, tasting crunchy sand bits with every mouthful. The broth, however, more than made up for it! Served warm, it was lightly sweet with a tinge of sake taste to it, warming your stomach with comfort soup, yet not overpowering the taste of the fresh clams. Would have been perfect if the clams weren't that sandy!

Assorted Skewer ($12.99)Fickle and spoilt for choice, we decided to go with the mixed platter with beef, chicken, wings and minced meat skewers. Well marinated, it was grilled to a tender soft perfection and I especially loved the grilled wings with just slightly charred skin for that added fragrance! The accompanying sauce was just right, savoury enough for our liking!

Shishamo ($6.99)Grilled instead of the usual fried version, it helped retain more juices within and a taste of how fresh it was. I liked the contrast of the softer insides with a slight crisp skin, grilled to perfection. Cy is a big fan of shishamos but he preferred a much crispier skin. For a slightly healthier version, this definitely did not lose out to its fried counterparts!Comfortable seating with excellent service, this was quite a bonus on top of its quality dishes. We loved the quiet and private ambience for a relaxing evening while savouring our table full of delectable dishes. Affordable and all managing to meet our expectations, we thought this is quite a hidden gem and would definitely return for some comfort Japanese food again!

For more pictures and full review, please visit http://www.makeyourcaloriescount.com/2013/09/sg-hamanoya-dining-editions-hidden-gem.html

Strolling down the streets of Holland Village on a lazy weekday afternoon, it seemed like the perfect spot to hide from the afternoon sun overhead. Quiet space in the day, it was a comfortable spot to be chilling with brunch and desserts, over some reading material or a quiet space for off-site working.

Unfortunately they didn’t seem to have any brunch menu, so forget about the eggs and sausages like what you’d expect at the usual cafes. Instead, their menu is mostly on sandwiches, coffee, and since they were the same people behind Three Inch Sin, you get to see the classic chocolate molten cakes as well.

Finally deciding upon the waffle sandwich, named ‘The Craft’, I thought it surely had to be one of their signatures, naming the dish after the shop itself!

The Craft Sandwich ($11.50)Well, tbh, I was kinda taken aback upon my first sight. I surely didn’t recall seeing so much vegetables on its description! Then again, I could have been clouded by the maple candied bacon that caught my stomach’s attention already.

Crispy and light waffles, it went well with the green apple salad with loads of other shredded vegetables laden with a sweet salad sauce. Plain and crispy, it didn’t overwhelm the flavours of the salad with candied bacon if you were to have it together. However, as I tend to separate these out while eating, I thought the waffles were a tad too plain and would have preferred a stronger tinge of butter flavour in the waffles for that added fragrance when served. I loved the crunchy and refreshing burst of green apple, and well, it did help me with finishing the other vegetables!

The bacon was my treat for managing to finish all the vegetables! Coated with maple syrup and well-toasted bacon, it was bound to steal the limelight in this dish, at least for me! The inherent savouriness of the bacon paired with the slight sweetness of maple, and the fattening portions of bacon, that’s definitely a rewarding piece. Bacon lovers with a sweet-tooth, this will be a satisfying one!

Sandwich on the sweeter side, this is one that’s not for the health-conscious (with the sauce-laden salad and bacon). Quite a fresh way of serving up sandwiches, this was one that managed to make me finish my dose of greens for the day!

Red Velvet Cake ($7.50)If you’re looking for a dense and moist version, this might probably meet your mark. I loved the generous amount of cream cheese to go, and the deep reddish brown didn’t taste like artificial flavouring. The coconut shavings on top was a refreshing touch with a subtle fragrance and helped in preventing you from feeling jelat. This was quite an above-average piece of red velvet in my opinion, and managed to satisfy my cravings!

Simple and cosy space for the minimalist, it’s good for a decent meal especially if you’re craving for some 3-inch sinful chocolate molten cakes in the area.

Specializing in Thai cuisine, Folks Collective is located along Nankin Row at China Square Central. I have a particular liking for this area for despite the renovations and modern touches, it managed to retain the heritage aspect of the vicinity and rather than outshining Chinatown, which is a stone's throw away, this area of eateries plays a complementing effect.Folks Collective is a place which allows all the good folks to gather over shared meals and shared memories. Stepping in for the first time, we were not quite sure what to expect with a bar at the front and heritage memorabilia and decorations lining the walls and the most part of the restaurant.When we were shown to our table and finally presented with the menu did I realize that this is a Thai restaurant. You might have noticed that the setting had a mix of vintage touch yet jazzed up with strokes of contemporary fashion which resulted in a fusion cross-over.

They have a happy hour till 9pm where selected beers (Heineken and Tiger) were offered at one-for-one but moving on, the food was crucial for we were starving by now! We were divided on what to choose so we figured the best bet was to leave it to the experts to advise us and we based our orders on their recommendations.

Tom Yam Poteak (Seafood, Kaffir Lime, Sweet Basil and Lemon Grass) (S$8.90/++)You usually do not leave a Thai restaurant without trying their tom yum soup and on this occasion, it was a no brainer appetizer to tease our tastebuds. Innocent looking it might seem, but the soup packed a great deal of flavours, albeit strong too. The last bowl of good tom yam tried was at Ah Loy Thai and while this rendition was not as spicy, it sure was savoury. While the flavours were bold, it was also subdued in a pleasant fashion, making it enjoyable as a whole.

Do not be fooled by this petite bowl for it packed a great deal of seafood in there, with prawns, fish fillet and squid, topped with sliced red onions, dried chilli and coriander to enhance its flavours. The amount of seafood in there sure was generous and while we waited for our mains, this tom yam did its trick in titillating our senses!Before you mistaken these cups to be some Royalty decorations, these were actually cups for our plain iced water. Instead of serving them in the usual glasses, we were given these petite cups and the iced water was refillable too.

Grilled Pork Neck (with dried chili dip) (S$7.90/++)With limited stomach space, we had to strike out one of the recommended dishes and between the two, the lady recommended the grilled pork neck. While we loved the marinade of the protein, it however seemed to have spent a little too much time on the grill, leaving it slightly over-cooked. The meat was unfortunately considerably stiff.

That being said, the dried chilli dip was a winner and coupled with the marinade of the pork, it won us over easily. We would have enjoyed the dish a lot better if the protein was cooked perfectly. The dip was spicy yet not to the extent of having you scurrying for water to wash it down.

While we enjoyed a more value-for-money dish and did not mind the generous serving portion, the elongated plate seemed unable to keep the sliced pork neck on the plate and had pieces of it protruding outwards and almost touching the table. Perhaps an improvement to the cutlery would do the trick?

Overall, I thought that it was a good dish in terms of flavours and taste but let down by the technique and to a certain extent, the presentation.

Pad Thai Goong (flat noodle, banana prawns and tamarind dressing) (S$8.90/++)Surprisingly, the best plate of pad thai tried so far was in UK in a humble little city at Leicestershire. Unfortunately it closed down a few years ago and since then, I had been on the search for a good enough pad thai for me to return to consistently.

I loved everything about this rendition. The various ingredients and elements were checked, top down from the crushed roasted peanuts, dried chilli flakes, crunchy fresh bean sprouts, stir-fried noodles and that wedge of lime to sum it up neatly with a subtle touch of acidity.

The flavours were spot-on and there were elements of sweetness, sourness, savouriness and a hint of spiciness and the soft noodles were complemented with the crunchy bean sprouts and gritty crushed nuts. It was good enough for me to consider ordering another plate!

Ice Cream Kati (coconut ice cream, traditional toppings and glutinous rice) (S$4.90/++)If there is one reason I need to return to Folks Collective, it would have to be for this. The dessert menu looked simple but any foodies would know this undying need and desire to end off a savoury meal with a sweet offering, so we asked for recommendations for just one MUST-TRY dessert.

This was a homemade ice cream and no, it is nowhere close to your commercial ones. The coconut ice cream had a strong scent and taste and it was fresh and gave a clean and refreshing slate. There was a harmonious balance in terms of textures with the sticky glutinous rice as the base, then the smooth ice cream and all the crunchy toppings. The sweetness was enough to please one's palate and not overly done and overall the combination with the slushy coconut ice cream won both us over completely.Different parts of the restaurant had different themes and sets of furniture so throughout our dinner, we seemed to always keep finding some new aspects and elements to learn about. There was the vintage perspective, the modern takeaway and even an old-school gramophone to give the setting a spiced up shuffle.

The hospitality offered by the waiting staffs was immaculate and they were attentive to our requests though at times it seemed a little hard to catch their attention with the briskness of their business. We were greeted upon arrival and thanked with wide smiles on our departure. I also noticed that when a table of diners had left, they would clean the table almost immediately with antiseptic spray and cleaning fluid.

It was in general an enjoyable dinner with a nice ambiance for a reunion with friends matched by good customer service and quality Thai food. If anything, I would surely return one of these days for their Pad Thai and the memorable coconut ice cream dessert!

For full review and more photos, please visit http://www.makeyourcaloriescount.com/2013/09/sg-folks-collective-let-all-good-folks.html