iisjong's Profile

Ever heard of ICON Village?Located in the Tanjong Pagar district, ICON Village offers an urban oasis with a touch of ''village'' ambiance for the corporate and residential population in the precinct. It's pretty much empty on the weekends, but most of the crowd you see here are working adults on weekdays. I was actually surprised to find many different choices of food hidden here!Tucked on the outside of the mall, is this cozy shop with an interesting decor that piqued my interest. It is located in the middle of 7-Eleven and Tom N Toms Coffee.Opened for 3 years already, The Muffet's Room Cafe is definitely what you would call a hidden treasure. The shop can only hold around 20 people at the most, but nothing too squeezy. Topped with the decorations and photographs (some taken by the young boss himself), I felt like I was at home!Almost everything served at The Muffet's Room Cafe are made from scratch, by the way. That's pretty damn amazing!Ice Lemon TeaYou could taste more of the tea, and it wasn't too sweet.Salsa Beef BurritoThe burrito is unique from the rest found in Singapore. It wasn't too salad-y. There's more taste to it and it reminds me of good Mexican burritos. The beef was a little spicy yet tasteful. It you want more salad, it is served beside it, with lettuce and sliced apples.The combination of meat and vegetables was perfect. This dish is good for people who want a healthier option and more taste of their burrito!Signature Beer Battered Fish & ChipsFish & Chips is one of my all-time favourite dish, so I'm pretty sure that I have eaten enough of them to vouch that this was THE BOMB! I went back another time after that just for it! First impression, I loved the smell. It took only 1 bite for me to fall in love with it! Topped my "Best Fish & Chips in Singapore" list at that second. Oiliness was just right; it does not drip so much oil unlike many of the other similar dishes that I've had before.The taste of the fish was so fresh, you could somehow taste the ocean.The sauces surprisingly complimented the fish and fries really well. You could choose from the chilli and tartar sauce, which was very different considering that other places only serve 1 sauce option for you. I loved the originality of the taste! I assure you that you can only find it here and no where else.The truffle fries were amazinggggg! Because they're handmade, you could taste how good and different it was compared to factory-made ones. The subtle sprinkle of Parmesan cheese over the fries brought the taste factor to a whole new level. In fact, they were so good that I ordered another basket of it, hahaha!To sum it all up - The Best!Brownie Ice CreamI love all things desserts, chocolates and ice cream! ;D Although I found it a little hard on the crust, the brownie was appetizing. Sweetness was acceptable, and the taste of the vanilla ice cream goes well with the brownie.For full review and more photos, please visit http://www.iisjong.com/2013/03/review-muffets-room-cafe.html…Read More

Ate at Bangkok Jam some time ago, at their Great World City branch! I also went to their Plaza Singapura branch the other day, hahaha. Anyway, my favourite was the Banana Tempura dessert! *.*Heard quite a bit of rave for these chicken wings. Not bad, but a tad too little meat I feel!Banana TempuraIt wasn't very soggy as it looks. Mix the warm Banana with the cold ice cream, and you'll get the perfect combination!For full review and more photos, please visit http://www.iisjong.com/2013/04/bangkok-jam.html…Read More

Finally caved in and visited the newly opened, cheapest Michelin Star restaurant, Tim Ho Wan, at Plaza Singapura with my parents on a Sunday.My parents queued 3.5 hours to get in! Madness! O.OBBQ Pork Bun was probably the only dish that made it worth it to eat at this place. I loved it piping hot and fresh out from the kitchen! The pork was rather juicy and the sauce was marvelous. It had this little bit of sweetness to it, a good balance between sweet and salty.Other than that, I felt that it was kind of over-rated.For full review and more photos, please visit http://www.iisjong.com/2013/04/tim-ho-wan.html…Read More

With so many flavours to choose from, who wouldn't be spoilt for choice!? Not only that, Smoulder has got different unique flavours for special seasons! Definitely getting me all excited.You can also customize The Real Chocolate Cake.The mouth-watering Smoulder Lava Cakes are made without any preservatives, and are carefully handmade using premium ingredients. Psst.... The chocolates they use are one of the best chocolates you can find! Don't say I never share, heh.The cakes stay molten at room temperature. There are almost no air pockets in them, so you definitely can taste the full flavour at it's best! The best part of eating the cakes is when the inside oozes out into your mouth. Yummy!Who says Lava Cakes can only be of 1 size and only eaten at restaurants? Smoulder is great if you're looking for something on-the-go, at an affordable price.I loved the pistachio one the most!For full review and more photos, please visit http://www.iisjong.com/2013/05/le-cnos2-picnic.html…Read More

I was walking around Marina Bay Sands the other day, and decided to try Au Chocolat out since I wanted to munch on something. Best decision ever!I see people having their dinner at the Au Chocolat restaurant area, but was too full for another round of meal despite how tempting it looked. Went to the Confiserie area since their desserts were luring me in...Asked for the best-seller, and was recommended this! It's the Kalamansi Meringue Tart!Although it was pretty expensive at $7 for a small little tart, the taste made it worth the price. It was a local riff of the lemon meringue pie. It tasted like ice cream tart for some reason, but trust me when I say it's really good though it was hard!I loved the balance of sour and sweet flavours. Will go back for it again! In fact, I'm missing it already!For full review and more photos, please visit: http://www.iisjong.com/2013/05/au-chocolat.html…Read More

For full review: http://www.iisjong.com/2013/05/soon-heng-rojak-toa-payoh.htmlI frequent Toa Payoh a lot since I have a bus home from there. I love exploring the place because there are many interesting finds! Soon Heng Rojak was one of them. Going down to Gourmet Paradise, the basement food court at Toa Payoh HDB Hub, the first thing anyone notices is probably the long queue.Being Singaporeans, my mum and I also queued to see what the fuss was about. We had to fill our tummies anyway! The queue at the stall is not to be reckoned with; it took us about 10-15 minutes queueing on a Saturday evening.Apparently they have been featured on many media publications and TV shows before. I suppose that was what lured people in!Almost every table had this plate of rojak. For $3, I found the serving very generous! There were lots of peanuts, sauce and my favourite youtiao ^_^ I found the sauce slightly too sweet to my liking though, but wasn't watery!I think what made them popular is other than the generous serving, you could taste that the ingredients are very fresh. The coarsely chopped ingredients bring out the flavours within each. The youtiao was crispy on the outside and oven-baked before it's served.This rojak is a great value for it's taste. Bring your foreigner friends here; it is definitely a true Singaporean food experience!This is probably one of the best rojak in Singapore. It is priced at $2.50 / $3.00 / $4.00 / $5.00.…Read More

Have you heard about the new "IT" cafe at Cathay Cineleisure Orchard? Eighteen Chefs is the latest addition to the youth hangout mall, with their posters plastered on the walls, escalators and even lifts of the mall!Eighteen Chefs was founded by Chef Benny Se Teo in 2007. It is a social enterprise which employs and trains delinquents and drug offenders, because Chef Benny himself was a former drug addict. He hopes to inspire youths-at-risk to find alternative and positive ways of integrating into society.Did you know? He was the FIRST Singaporean to be trained at Jamie Oliver's restaurant, Fifteen. Now, that's something huge and I am tremendously jealous!Homemade Ice Lemon TeaWith the right sweetness, this drink was an addiction!Garlic BreadLiterally. Not a fan of garlic, so I gave that a skip and had the bread only. What caught my eye in the first place was actually the plate. It definitely brought back some memories as my grandparents used to have them!This dish was pretty unique because it wasn't your usual type of Garlic Bread where you could spread the paste. The crunchy crisp taste was evident that this was served fresh out of the oven!64 Degrees EggYou're supposed to eat this by slurping it using a straw. I wasn't aware of that, so I just swallowed the entire egg =.= Even so, this egg is cooked at specifically 64 degrees, thus the name. It had a runny texture similar to hard boiled egg, but was slightly softer in terms of texture.Heart Attack Fried RiceI strongly recommend this! This one we had was the 400g of New York steak, meant for 2 person. There's also a 200g portion for 1! This dish is one of Eighteen Chef's signature dishes, dedicated to Chef Benny's late mum. No wonder these was a homely feel to it. I loved the meat, it was done just right for my taste. Also, the juice of the beef and black sauce is soaked into the rice, making it extra fragrant and irresistible!Black BeautyDelicious homemade brownie with 2 scoops of ice cream is one you should look out for when your sweet tooth is craving for a bite! The brownie was warm and moist. Drizzled with chocolate sauce, it was a good combination with the ice cream.Raspberries and Vanilla Ice CreamI didn't taste much of this, but just a spoonful of it made one thing for sure - I LOVED the raspberry sauce that goes well with the vanilla ice cream! This dessert was a good mix of something sweet, sour and plain. The waffle was soft yet still holds the crunchiness to it.Just Chocolate in a JarThis dessert was definitely a head-turner. It was colourful, and it comes in a cute jar. Definitely screams unique! Fans of chocolates would love this. Even though I am one, but I found the chocolatey taste too overpowering and sweet. It's worth a try though!Calling all students! At Eighteen Chefs, there's a $6.40 Student Privilege that anyone can afford! Choose between Pasta or Cheese Baked Rice and you'll get Lemon Tea + Ice Cream!For full review and more photos, please visit http://www.iisjong.com/2013/07/eighteen-chefs-opens-cineleisure.html…Read More

Was at Manhattan Fish Market earlier this month to try out what they had for their Independence Day offer.Fancy an accompaniment to your meals? I had the Cream of Mushroom soup. There were lots of mushrooms in it which I loved! I found it a bit watery though, but it wasn't too salty!Poached mussels in signature Garlic Herb sauce, served with baguette to soak up the delicious sauce. The Garlic Herb sauce was bitter sweet but tantalizing, lingers well on the tongue. However, I felt that there was too much sauce and too little bread!Hand battered fish fillets drizzled with garlic herb sauce, my tender dory fillets have improved in taste ever since the last time I had them. I found the garlic herb sauce pretty unique. My only concern is the fries that are rather salty to my liking.For full post and more photos, please visit http://www.iisjong.com/2013/07/the-best-deal-in-town.html…Read More

For full post, read it here: http://www.iisjong.com/2013/07/just-like-it-revolutionary-f.htmlI am always at Ang Mo Kio hub after school, because there's a bus home there (now y'all know where to stalk me, lol). A little over a month ago, the place started to change. There are new push cart shops beside the bus interchange area now!There's this shop with staff clad in scientist robes doing "experiments", similar to what you'll see in a scientist's lab. It caught my eye for a long time. Initially, everyone who walked past took a glance, walking away eventually.However, I noticed that it has been increasingly popular these days! Huge crowds gather as onlookers were curious what this mysterious shop was all about. I was one of them. Like they say, Singaporeans love to queue and be kaypoh, right?I completely didn't have a single clue what they were selling. Drinks? Food? There were no signs, until you push through the crowd and look at the menu.Turns out it's a new ice cream shop, and these were their claims. "How to make ice cream like that!?", were my first thoughts.What they do is make ice cream fresh from scratch, so you have to wait for quite a bit. No worries because there is a queue number system. They put the ingredients into the ice cream mixer machine first. Cold liquid nitrogen gas was then blasted over the liquid mixture to freeze it.Was pretty interesting to see the smoke mist coming out, which was what captured my attention and probably everyone else's in the first place.My Say:The ice cream had a velvety and smooth texture compared to normal ice cream. I feel that it was also "healthier" since there were no sugar added, bringing out the natural sweetness of the ingredient. This Durian Durian ice cream I had was made from pure D24 durian; you could taste some of the meat! It was pretty palatable.New PopCorn, one of their signatures.The balance in flavours was well-tipped and there were popcorn bits in the ice cream to give it a gritty texture to the smooth ice cream. There wasn't much of the popcorn taste though, it was pretty mild? You could also see that as compared to the Durian Durian, there was a huge difference in the amount of 1 scoop.Apart from the gimmick concept of seeing your order freshly made before you, did the liquid nitrogen ice cream taste better? Hmm.. I would say it's so-so. Moreover, I think they made the ice cream cup by cup, taking up a lot of time. But to each his own!…Read More

Located at Selegie Road, it is just a few minutes walk away from Little India MRT Station. Finding the place was pretty easy since it was located near a traffic junction. It was quite interesting to spot this Western cafe so near Little India! There's free Wi-Fi access in the cafe.Stepping in, the cafe felt comfortable with the warm lightings and good choice of music. I liked how the tables were arranged; there was this area for dining, another area for catch ups, and there's also tall chairs for customers to enjoy their drinks. I felt that the staff were really friendly! Also, I saw a lot of couples enjoying their meals during dinner time.Baby Back Ribs (Half)Meat wise, it was tasty, and the good taste lingers in your mouth. However, I felt that the portion was a little bit smaller than expected, and the meat was slightly harder for my liking.Fries wise, it's not very soggy although I'll prefer it to be fried till more crispy brown.Vegetables wise, they all tasted fresh and crunchy to me!Classic Colonial ChickenMeat wise, it was very juicy and roasted well! I'm not sure if they used the same sauce as the Baby Back Ribs, but the sauce was indeed addicting. I felt that it tasted better on the chicken. Personal preference!The vegetables and fries tasted the same as the one above.You should order beer when you're there because it complements most dishes really well!Overall, I felt that the meals were pretty burp-worthy!Colonial Bistro Cafe235 Selegie RoadSingapore 188347Opening Hours:Monday – Thursday : 11am to 1amFriday & Saturday : 11am to 3amSunday : 11am to 12am…Read More

For full review, read here: http://iisjong.blogspot.sg/2011/08/we-have-pepper-lunch-np-hor.html ;)Pepper Lunch Express is available at Ngee Ann Polytechnic Block 73's Munch!I got the salmon one with an additional egg, & it costed me $6.80! Price is quite alright as compared to normal Pepper Lunch stores I guess?At one point, it seemed like the only queue at Munch was for Pepper Lunch! Every time I'm there, there's like forever a looooong queue.Every table seemed to have this delicious Japanese DIY Teppan's iron hot plate.…Read More

Read the full review here: http://iisjong.blogspot.sg/2011/08/lets-get-cheesy-with-dominos.html ;)Crazy Chicken CrunchiesIt is basically fried chicken covered with curry powder. When eaten alone, it can be quite spicy and dry, but nevertheless is was.. Well fried? It was hot inside out, unlike some other fried chicken that are hot on the outside and cold on the inside. I felt that it was a nice mix when dipped into the cheese sauce.Garlic Cheese Onion RingsI really like onion rings. This Garlic Cheese Onion Rings gave it a special twist! It had no onions inside. I really dislike it when there're onions inside as I don't eat onions, so I usually take it out. This helped me save a lot of time, and it was really crunchy!Golden Roasted DrummletThis is very yummy and many loved this. The chicken was tender and easy to chew off.Chilli Chicken Pizza100% Mozzarella cheese with succulent smoked chicken breast, Onion, Red pepper and Chilli flakes. I thought that this would be reallyyyyy spicy, but surprisingly it wasn't.Chicken Temptation Pizza100% Mozzarella cheese with Succulent smoke chicken breast, Turkey ham, Green and Red pepper. This was quite creamy, which is really special! The chicken was really good. I don't really like green & red pepper because they taste weird, but this won't. I found it kind of oily though.Classified Chicken Pizza100% Mozzarella cheese with Succulent smoke chicken breast, Fresh onions and Mushrooms. I found this really simple & nice!Extravaganzza Pizza100% Mozzarella cheese with Beef pepperoni, Cabanossi, Ground beef, Fresh onions, Green pepper, Mushroom and Ripe olives. I really loved this! Call me weird, but I like to combine a lot of stuff & eat them together. This totally fit into the criteria + it's really soooo yummy!Hawaiian Paradise Pizza100% Mozzarella cheese with Succulent smoke chicken breast, Turkey ham and Juicy pineapples. The crust is very thin, and the pineapple was very fresh. Just one bite, & I went *.* This all-time favourite did not let me down! :)Chocolate Lava CakeLusciously melted soft chocolate centre, overflowing with chocolatey goodness. Mmmmmm... It was love at first bite! It was so nice, I felt like I was in heaven or something. Yes, it's that good. It's actually a brownie with chocolate sauce inside. The sweetness was just right. However, you'll get kind of bored of it after taking too many bites.…Read More

Read full review here: http://iisjong.blogspot.sg/2012/04/my-trip-to-jcube.html ;)Ate at Canton Paradise some time ago with my parents when it first opened.Here's what we ate:BBQ Pork BellyIt's roasted, not the usual crispy type.. It tasted alright, though it wasn't soft enough. You know, the "melt in your mouth when you put it in" feeling? Yup, I didn't taste it. The sauce was not bad though!Plain PorridgeIt was good, very soft and tasty. Definitely comparable to Crystal Jade's!Plain Wanton NoodlesIt was rather normal, a little bit hard to chew off.Har Gao (Shrimp Dumplings)I LOVE har gao, which is why I say this wasn't one of the best tasting ones for me. I love how juicy it was though!Custard BunsThis was rather good; the taste of egg yolk wasn't too overwhelming, and you can taste that it was well beaten because it was quite smooth, not the very "sandy" type. The moment you bite it, the egg yolk oozes out almost immediately!From their "Innovation Dishes", we had the Bacon Roll with Cheese.It was definitely innovative though it tasted a bit weird.. Good thing was that it wasn't very oily, and come on! Who doesn't love bacon, really!Osthamus Flower with Watercress KuehIt has a jelly texture. The osthamus taste was quite mild and the watercress was crispy. Both of them complimented each other quite well, and my parents loved it!Dough Fritter Chee Cheong FunThe you tiao (dough fritter) was quite hard to chew off... The Chee Cheong Fun skin was also quite thick :/ You must add the soya sauce that comes together with it as it helps in adding to the flavour of the dish.…Read More

Read my full review here: http://iisjong.blogspot.sg/2012/06/review-ming-jia-korean-food.html ;)Sick of eating the usual food in school, my classmates and I head over to Bukit Timah Plaza frequently as it's just a few minutes walk away from our school. Don't judge it's old and abandoned look from the outside; that place has a lot of fantastic food left hidden for people to find that will leave you craving for more.Tucked away in a little corner at Basement 1 was this rather normal looking stall selling Korean food that seems to be full all the time. Curious, I finally went to try it!The stall was rather small and cozy, with seats meant for about 20 people. It is run by a Korean lady and some local helpers from what I see so far (been there twice). They serve authentic home-cooked Korean food in huge portions at the cheapest price! I remember eating at other Korean stalls and the prices are around the same, but the portion was sooooooo little.Well, here's what I ate and my take on them! Kimchi Pancake ($8)This pancake tasted something like carrot cake mixed with a lot of vegetables. It's kind of sweet yet sour at the same time. It's very.. Starchy, so you might get bored eating it after awhile. Also, I couldn't really taste much of the kimchi.But maybe it's just me.For $8, I would say it's a little too pricey but worth a try.Set Meal {Pork (there's chicken & beef too)} ($6)This has got to be my favourite Korean dish EVER!The pork was good. It's easy to chew, very juicy and flavourful. The spiciness level was very mild, awesome for someone who likes a little bit of spice!The beansprout appealed as really weird to me at first because there's a seed at the end, so I'm not too used to that. But of course, this is the Korean bean sprout so I have to accept it right! It's really authentic and so big in size. It tasted rather normal (other than the crunchy seed).To tell you the truth, I'm not that big a fan of kimchi because all that I've eaten before were quite horrible and super spicy. This kimchi was different. It's cold and crunchy, with a mix of bitter, sour and spicy that complements well with each other. I am surprised that it is spicy, but not that spicy spicy kind, which is awesome! I can honestly tell you that this is probably the best I've eaten in Singapore (ok lah I don't eat a lot of kimchis, but still!)Oh by the way, the meal is super worth the price because it can be shared amongst 2 people. My friend and I shared this and the portion was just nice for both of us. It you want extra, you can always order one of the side dishes for just $1.Black Noodle {Jajang Mian} ($5)I've always liked Jajang Mian, but the Chinese version. Sometimes I eat the Korean ones that comes in a packet like maggie mee. So of course, I was excited to try this one made by a Korean person herself, it's like, authentic!There's a great balance between saltiness, bitterness and sweetnesss in this noodle, and surprisingly, you won't feel bored eating it after awhile as it comes with kimchi that makes it soooo much better to eat. I'm not sure whether this is made from the maggie mee packet, but it tastes almost nothing like it because it's really soft. The sesame seeds adds to the taste of the noodles. I had a sipping good time although the "soup" was quite thick. The taste will linger in your mouth!Overall, all of the food tasted really fresh and good. This is definitely a value-for-money and must-try place! Even as I'm typing this, I am salivating in front of my computer screen at the thought of the food! I know the Koreans in Singapore themselves frequent this because I've seen a lot of them having their lunch or packing back food home.A tip though, is not to come during crowded times like lunch and dinner. There might not be enough seats for everyone. Also, it is not a place for catch up but rather for a quick bite.…Read More

Read more at: http://iisjong.blogspot.sg/2012/07/after-school-specials-from-fish-co.html ;)This is definitely my favourite outlet; not only does it look good both inside and out, it is also very cosy and gave me a homely feel! The ambiance was nice~ I also must add that I love their choices of music there, updated with the latest songs! I had a good time singing and groovin' to them, and that's really important to me. By the way, THEY HAVE A PLAYSTATION VITA STATION FOR CUSTOMERS TO PLAY! HOW COOL IS THAT!? They have a After School Specials menu for students. Fish & Chips + drink from $8 NETT onwards! No GST, No Service Charge. I LIKE (Y) You know how it's soooo annoying sometimes when you can't get a waiter to serve you because the store is too busy? :( Awesome thing about this outlet is that you can order with the iPad. Talk about convenience!The Best Fish & Chips in Town!The most original one out of all. It is coated with a light and crispy batter topped with their signature lemon butter sauce. Om nom nom, definitely one of the must-try when you're there!One thing I didn't like though, was that it was a little bit too oily...Danish Fish & ChipsIt is stuffed with tringy mozzarella and spice in that lightly battered fish, and topped with lemon butter sauce. Not really the type that I would eat because I don't really eat cheese (fattening T^T). Great for those who are cheese fanatics though!Singapore Fish & ChipsTopped with homemade chilli crab sauce, it was quite spicy.. Do take note, those who don't take spicy food! I love chilli crab, and this was definitely a Uniquely Singapore flavour.Arctic Fish & ChipsCoated with their famed batter and topped with their signature lemon butter sauce, you can spot immediately how different this looks from the rest. That's because they use pollock fish!Not only does it look different, it also tasted different from the others. Not really my type of fish. It didn't taste as hard as it looks though.Swiss Fish & ChipsStuffed with gruyere cheese, coupled with the same light crispy batter, this time round topped with garlic lemon butter sauce. Cheese fanatics, gogogo!Japanese Fish & ChipsStuffed with furikake and mozzarella cheese for a crunchy twist, and topped with lemon butter sauce, dip your fillet into the soba-like sauce for a different twist! But remember not to put too much!I was quite upset at how little furikake there was though. Also, the soba sauce was a little watery. :(New York Fish & ChipsThis classic is an all-time favourite, with generous parmesan cheese stuffing topped with lemon butter sauce. Damn, do cheese lovers love the menu! SO MUCH CHEESEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~And when they say generous, they really mean generous. Trust me.Italian Fish & ChipsStuffed with chilli flakes, mozzarella cheese and topped with homemade tomato sauce, I like the combination! Very creative for them to use spaghetti sauce, though it tasted a little weird.Also had desserts that are out of the After School menu!Hot Fudge Chocolate CakeI am a sucker for chocolate and ice cream, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw this dessert! It's a chocolate cake served warm with hot fudge and vanilla ice cream. Definitely very sublime!Key Lime PieBask in the tropical goodness of this refreshing lime custard nestled in their classic graham crust and topped with lime juice flavored whipped cream. Wheeeeeeeee~Strawberry Daiquiri ColossalThis indulgingly-creamy New York-styled cheesecake is swirled with pureed fresh strawberries and a hint of lime. Not forgetting to add that it is nestled within their graham cracker crust. I am very picky when it comes to cake crusts, and this didn't let me down!Chocolate Layer MousseLayers of moist chocolate cake studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips and paired with smooth caramel mousse, this cake is enrobed in rich chocolate ganache and more chocolate chips. Tastingly finished with a looping caramel drizzle.As mentioned above, I LOVE CHOCOLATE SO THIS IS AWESOME, ENOUGH SAID!…Read More