Tucked away in a cosy shophouse along Joo Chiat Place, 食唯天 Shi We Tian is one of the many restaurants you will find along that lively street. But one of the distinct features that sets it apart from the rest is an alfresco dining area that transforms into a cool hangout place for you and your soccer buddies to kick back and watch a match over some beer. The crowd that you will find here are mainly residents who live around the area and regular customers who frequent the restaurant for family gatherings.As you step into 食唯天 the first thing that catches your attention is the huge collection of antiques - an old sewing machine that my grandmother used to have sits beside a 19th-century vintage gramaphone. And as you venture deeper into the restaurant you'll find lots of old posters, paintings and even more antique items used to decorate the interior. Like taking a stroll through time, the decor of the place is very reminiscent of colonial Singapore.As you would imagine, the food served here is based on the heritage recipes that were passed down from the owner's grandmother, giving it a very homely and unique flavour. The Drunken Chicken Ginseng Soup was one of the dishes we had and the soup base was sweet with a rather strong ginseng taste to it. I rather enjoyed the soup since I had not eaten ginseng chicken in a long time, but it pales in comparison to the ginseng chicken soup that you get in Korea.

One of the more unique dishes that they served, and also a favourite of mine, is their Golden Pumpkin which is basically slices of pumpkin coated with salted egg yolk and fried in a light batter. The combination of the salted egg yolk and pumpkin leaves a very refreshing taste, and you can't help but want to eat more of it.To end off the feast was a magnificent Salted Egg Crab! You can tell just by looking at the size of that pincer that the crab is full of juicy, succulent meat. I'm not much of a crab lover, mainly because most of the crab dishes are spicy (Chilli Crabs, Black Pepper Crabs, etc.) and I'm one of the few Singaporeans who don't take spicy foods. Anyway, I took a smaller piece of the crab and while I had a difficult time prying open the shell (another reason I don't like eating crabs), the salted egg sauce was fantastic and probably very sinful. The thick yellow sauce was glistening under the light and its texture was velvety smooth probably because of the butter base. I completed my meal with a piping hot mun-tou (fried bun) dipped into that thick, creamy sauce.They even have a candy floss machine and will make one for you on request. It's one of those childhood snacks that you used to buy from the "pasar malam" (flea market) and you don't see many of these around very often nowadays. Having candy floss definitely adds to the whole nostalgic feel of the restaurant and the kids definitely love it too! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my meal at 食唯天 and will drop by again if I'm ever in the area.

Chef D'Table - The last time my girlfriends and I came here was in Dec'12 for my birthday celebration and we were thoroughly impressed with their service and good food. Thus, we're back here again for another birthday celebration!

2 of us had the 4-course Chef's Menu which includes an entree, a soup served in cappuccino cup, a main course & a dessert. What we like about this menu is that the dessert is a surprise. You won't know what dessert you'll be having till it's being served! The other 2 girls had a la carte as they did not want the dinner to be too heavy. The dinner started off with a serving of freshly baked Bread with Olive Dip: The bread is superbly soft and served warm. You may ask for extra serving if you like.Entree for the set meal - Mushroom Tofu: Crispy & soft homemade beancurd with truffle sauce.Foie Gras with Lobster Omelette: The aroma of the herb butter fills the room when the waiter brings the plate in and it simply melts in your mouth.Soup for the set meal - Lobster BisquePink Dory with Sweet Potato: - The fish is very fresh and complements the lemon butter sauce very well.Main dish for set Meal - Angus Beef/ Seabass or Chicken: Again, I chose to have beef and it's nicely done as per my request. The beef is very soft & tenderSeabass is very fresh & soft. Desserts came as surprise as like I mentioned, you won't know what you'll be having till it's being served to you. Last night, we had Coconut Pudding, Orange Creme Brulee & Valrhona Chocolate Fondant with Vanilla Ice Cream. We also have a nicely decorated complimentary birthday cake from the restaurant! Desserts were so good I decide I shall not speak on their behalf. I shall let the video do the talking!



Here are the desserts of the night. Check out the last part of the short clip to see how good is the Valrhona Chocolate Fondant. Does it taste as good as it is, you have to try it yourself! But I can tell you, it's probably the best I've had!

Jamie's Italian opened its doors for business in Singapore earlier today at 11.30am and what made it especially remarkable was the fact that it is a milestone first in Asia. With more than 30 restaurants worldwide, this Italian-cuisine focused restaurant was founded in Oxford 4 years ago. The birth of Jamie's Italian was an inspiration by celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver and his trusted friend and mentor, Gennaro Contaldo. Their paths first crossed in the kitchen of London's Neal Street restaurant in the 90s and following an extensive period of time touring Italy, Jamie wanted to share his knowledge of the Italian cuisine with the rest of the world. Self declaring that he 'should have been Italian', this restaurant aimed to reflect the passionate, humble and sociable attitude of Italians towards food. There was no better way to deliver than in the traditional Jamie's style through fresh, locally sourced ingredients, bold and simple flavours in a relaxed setting.

When we learnt that Jamie's Italian was opening in Singapore, it was almost a dream come true! It was one of our favourite restaurants when we were in UK and now that it is here, it is surely a MUST-TRY. Can it live up to its name now that it is going international? Let us check it out!

Antipasti - Fish plank (S$17++/person)The serving in the picture was for 1 person and there were two other planks to choose from, meat and vegetables at S$15.50++ and S$13.50++ respectively. The portion size for 1 person was more than enough to share among two persons if you were simply after tasting. I recommend having the beetroot-cured salmon first as it was served in a bowl with ice underneath to preserve freshness. It was served raw, sashimi style and had a slightly creamy after-taste which I thought was a brilliant combination. The crunchy salad was also a favourite of mine with consistently shaved root vegetables such as beetroot and carrots evenly tossed in chilli, lemon and mint. It gave a refreshing burst of flavours with the heat from chilli yet pleasantly soothed by the fresh mint and further augmented by the crunchiness of the raw vegetables.

Fans of olives and pickles would be swooned by the quality choice of ingredients, which served as toppings to the smoked mackerel pate. The pate was surprisingly fresh with no fishy smell to appal and it was considerably smooth and soft which complemented the crisp toast harmoniously in terms of texture.

Moving on to the Italian cheeses, aged pecorino cheese was served. It belonged to a family of hard Italian cheeses made from ewe's (female sheep) milk. It was very strong and bold in flavour so while it might appeal to those who love the strong taste of cheese made from sheep, the faint-hearted foodies like myself should stay on the sidelines. It was nicely complemented with a sweet chilli jam that gave an interesting twist to that strong creamy cheese. It was served with a crisp 'music bread', which is a thin and crisp flat bread made of durum wheat, flour, salt and water. This yeast free version is called di musica in Italian which meant sheet music. It was rolled to paper-thin, to the extent that a sheet of music could be read through it!

The roasted shellfish and mussels were also joyful appetizers with the freshness packed in each and every though I felt that the seasoning to it was a touch too savoury and salty for my palate.Still on that plank of antipasti, this cured & crispy fish tasted really fresh with a crisp batter deep-fried to a beautiful looking golden brown yet not tasting excessively greasy. It tasted clean and crisp though the protein was slightly overcooked tasting just a little stiff. It however managed to retain moisture to keep it delectable and the yuzu mayo was a nice touch. It reminded me somewhat of a classic fish & chips that I would enjoy on a windy afternoon by the sea. The mayo was light and fluffy in the sense that it was not too overwhelming in richness but I struggled to taste any elements of yuzu in it. The fritto misto (savoury deep-fried food) had a drizzle of a mildly spicy powder, possibly paprika powder which gave a hint of heat.

Apple Slaw (S$8++)Al fresco dining on a windy afternoon in tropical Singapore was brought to the next level when this side was served. Tastefully decorated and presented with an array of summer colours, this dish won me over in terms of presentation, tastes and flavours.

It tasted clean and fresh and would be perfect for ladies and gents alike in need of detoxification. The red (purple) cabbage was finely diced while the radishes, candied beetroots, apples and poached pears were consistently sliced. The flavours were beautiful with an earthy taste from the beets, sweetness from the fruits balanced with plain yoghurt before a tantalizing tang from lemon and mint. There was honestly quite a lot going on in this simple plate of goodness, especially the crunchy texture from the cabbage and walnuts and a soft marshiness from the fruits. Easily one of my top dishes on the menu!

The gentleman serving our table was attentive and dedicated in his efforts to explain and recommend the dishes on the menu. While taking our orders, he took extra attention in checking if we wanted our mains to be served together or after the starters. I truly appreciate the attentiveness to minute details and that spelled all the difference in a good dining experience in my humble opinion.

While waiting for the mains to arrive, the server came over to our table to check if we liked our food so far and it was then did I realize that Jamie's Italian used fresh herbs grown on the premises!

Fans of Jamie should know that he loves his herbs fresh and he literally plucks rosemary, mint, anything basically from his garden whenever he goes on a show to demonstrate his cooking. Having learnt this and understanding a little more about the restaurant, I could not help but add on his signature drink.

Jamie's Italian Mojito (S$15.50++)It was a refreshing drink for the summer afternoon. With Bacardi Superior rum, Martini Bianco, fresh mint, lime & sugar, topped with Prosecco, it was a brilliant thirst-quencher. The proportion of each element added into this signature cocktail was spot-on and the taste was consistent. The concoction was not overly strong in terms of alcohol strength and came across as a soothing beverage while we waited for our mains.

Rump steak salad (S$25.50++)You know instantly that you are in one of Jamie's restaurants when a main like this gets served before you. It was presented in a uniquely classic Jamie's fashion, clean and crisp with a hint of messiness with the salad tossed around and a generous amount of olive oil drizzled across. It was a 180g aged grain-fed Angus steak with crunchy fennel, watercress, mint, chilli, garlic, horseradish and lemon. I would highly recommend a big mouthful containing a little of each ingredient to experience that beautiful combination of flavours that would guarantee satisfaction.

It was beautifully cooked to perfection and to my request of medium rare. The outer area of the fine beef was elegantly charred with evident grill-lines yet leaving a nice pinkish colour on the inside of that protein. It was succulent and almost melt in your mouth good. Coupled with the crunchy fennel and watercress, the texture was sublime and there was no shortage of flavours from the refreshing mint and heat from chilli harmoniously infused into the salad. The zesty lemon juices just elevated my dining senses with a tang that left me double thumbs up for this simple yet beautifully cooked dish.

All pasta were made in house and fresh and you could see the chefs at work before you at the front of the restaurant.Jool's favourite Sicilian tuna fusilli (S$14++)There was no escaping an Italian meal without a good pasta. Spoilt with the choices on the menu, we left it to the server's recommendation which was a recipe belonging to that of Jamie's wife! It was no surprise that Albacore tuna was used since Jamie had always been an ambassador of sustainable seafood. Slow-cooked with tomatoes, garlic, herbs and cinnamon with crunchy, herby breadcrumbs separately portioned with a spoon, this pasta was a winner in terms of flavour and texture.

The pasta was cooked al dente so expect it to be chewy and bouncy. The flavours of the tomatoes were beautifully infused and the richness of that simple key ingredient was given justice in this bowl. The breadcrumbs gave an important layer of texture and it seemed like a marriage of flavours between the herbs in it and that bold tomato based sauce. My only concern was that it was a little too greasy for our palate even though olive oil was used. The pasta was offered in 2 sizes with the larger rendition at S$21++ but I thought that the smaller serving size (which we ordered) was largely sufficient to feed even a grown man.

We were pretty stuffed full by the time we finished our mains but it felt like an incomplete food journey without some desserts to sum up a sumptuous lunch. With an extensive desserts menu, each looked equally appetizing but between the two of us, we felt that we could only stomach just one dessert so we went for the signature Tiramisu.

Tiramisu (S$11.50++) with Long Black (S$4.50++)Elegantly served in a ceramic flat-pot, we thought that the presentation was lacklustre. In fact, it toppled over and resulted in the top which was usually characterised by the cocoa powder coating to be at the bottom of the dessert instead.

The flavours were however beautifully synchronized with the coffee-flavoured trifle topped with a generous amount of orange mascarpone and chocolate. The caffeine in the dessert tasted was well-balanced with the liquor but I felt that it lacked strength and depth in terms of the taste. While the balance was good, it came across as a rather mild rendition. It was actually my first time tasting tiramisu paired with orange mascarpone and it was a rather bold and interesting twist to the otherwise dull dessert. I was informed by the server that this was a recipe belonging to Jamie's mentor, Gennaro and I believe there is no better way to qualify authenticity than an Italian man himself. When it came to texture, the dessert was moist and perhaps too soft though arguably it was melt in your mouth. Personally, I thought that it might be a little too moist for my palate's comfort as slicing through the alternate layers of cheese and ladyfingers left the alcohol and caffeine oozing out.

I had a cup of long black to go along with the dessert and it was definitely one of the best cup of coffee I have had. The Italian coffee served was from the award-winning Musetti family, which had been coffee makers for 3 generations! It was strong, bold and the intensity of that dark roast was beyond what words could possibly describe. I understand that this might sound a little far-fetched and exaggerated but if you love your long black coffee, trust me when I say this is a MUST-TRY.

We felt that the customer service was immaculate and it was one of those rare occasions where we felt that they deserved to be tipped in addition to the 10% service charge imposed. The server attending to our table was knowledgeable about the items on the menu and were able to accurately depict what to expect of the dishes which I felt was crucial to new customers especially.

While it was stated on Jamie's Italian FB page that online booking is full, we were able to get ourselves a table without much hassle as walk-in customers. Given the choice of indoor air-conditioning dining or al-fresco, I would highly recommend the latter with a view facing Sentosa Island, you would also get the occasional breeze that sweeps by. The prices were affordable and proportionate to the quality received in the food served. We left with a memorable dining experience and we would certainly return to try the other signatures on the menu!

Due to limitations in photo uploads, please visit us at http://www.makeyourcaloriescount.com/2013/07/sg-jamies-italian-singapore-first-here.html for complete set of pictures.

More delectable food reviews on my blog here: www.jerjerjer.com

Italian cuisine is my second favourite type of cuisine, next to Japanese food that is. And I was really glad that I had the chance to participate in a Food Tasting by OpenRice at Ristorante Pietrasanta (along Portsdown Road at Wessex Village and just next to Temasek Club). This restaurant is truly a hidden gem located in that area. You’ll need to do a bit of searching to find the place – exit AYE after North Bouna Vista, go past Temasek Club and you’ll see a forested area with low lying tin-roofed buildings. Here you’ll find a cluster of rather unique and interesting restaurants, similar to those you find at Dempsey Hill enclave.

The food tasting session began with a demonstration by Chef Alfredo Colle on how to make some Homemade Mozzarella Cheese.Apparently, this is the only Italian restaurant in Singapore that makes their own fresh Mozzarella cheese by hand. Look at just how stretchy that cheese can go. Mozzarella cheese is usually semi-soft and has high moisture content which makes it stringy and great for pizzas.The final product that comes from all that stretching, spinning and cutting is a ball of perfectly round cheese which is chewy and slightly rubbery in texture. Since the Mozzarella on its own does not have much of a taste, it was served with some Burrata – another type of Italian cheese made from a combination of Mozzarella and fresh cream to achieve a more flavourful and rich, creamy taste.We also had a basket of freshly baked Focaccia Bread to eat with the cheese. The bread also goes really well with some extra virgin olive oil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.These Parma Ham Mozzarella Rolls are wrapped in more Mozzarella cheese and also has rocket leaves rolled up within it. The pungent taste of the rocket does not overpower the salty parma ham and I thought the combination went really well together. Both equally strong flavours rolled up into one and wrapped up in a rather tasteless cheese. Mmmmmm.. mamma mia~! How refreshing..After all that cheese, it’s time to dig into the main course! First we had some Fettuccine al Tartufo ($24.90) which is basically Fettuccini pasta cooked in a mushroom truffle sauce. It also had minced sausage meat in it which gives it a rather interesting texture. The truffle taste was quite strong too and since I love mushrooms, I really enjoyed this pasta! =DNext we had some Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli ($17.90) served with a butter and sage sauce. The thing I love about Italian cuisine is that it is very rich and flavourful but that also means that it can be rather fattening, especially when almost everything contains butter, cream and cheese. Well, I say eat first and worry about the calories later! =PThis is one of my favourites here – the Risotto Porcini ($23.90) with saffron and bone marrow. You’ll probably notice a few red strands in the sauce – those are the saffron which is one of the most costly spices available in the world. A few strands of saffron also has a coloring effect which turns the sauce into a deep orange colour. This dish is creamy, rich, and oh-so-very satisfying.We also got to sample some Mixed Sausages which turned out to be quite average end when compared to the many delectably rich pastas we just had.Doesn’t this piece of meat on a bone look impressive? Well, it’s a Lamb Shank ($28.90) with Chianti wine that has been braised for over 4 hours, such that its meat is tender enough to just fall off the bone. However, I felt that the tomato-based sauce was a little bit on the bland side for me. I would have preferred it to take on a stronger, saltier and richer flavour.I seldom associate fish with Italian cuisine, but here’s one on the menu – Grilled Lemon Sole. Fish, to me, is mainly about how fresh it is more than how it is cooked. The meat for this was fresh enough and also flavourful enough, but it’s not exactly the kind of dish you would think of ordering at an Italian Restaurant.

Finally, for my absolute favourite part of every meal; it’s dessert time!The Lemon Tart here is sour and refreshing enough to invigorate your senses, but at the same time the sourness is not too overpowering and well balanced out with the sweet meringue on top and tart pastry. Plus, it comes with a little bit of jam on the side too, if you’re not good with sour foods.And finally, the main star of the show is… Tiramisu! One of my all time favourite desserts. This Tiramisu reminds me of the one I used to get at Paragon (though the restaurant that sold it closed down a long time ago). It has really light mascarpone cheese and a rich, strong espresso coffee flavour to it. Though I would have liked my Tiramisu with a bit more Tia Maira liqueur in it to give it that extra kick! =P Still, this is one of the best Tiramisu I’ve tasted in a long time.

Overall, I really enjoyed the good Italian food and with the great company of other food bloggers as well. Here’s a big THANK YOU to Chef Alfredo Colle and Ristorante Pietrasanta for hosting us!

I was initially deterred by the remote location, but found out that it is only a short ride from Novena MRT by taking either bus 24 or 131. The whitewashed interior and sofa seating gives it a very laidback and intimate vibe.However,the seating is rather limited,but the excellent service more than makes up for it.I had the $10 set meal which was on offer on streetdeal.sg. This comes with a main,a soup and a drink.I chose a pot of lemon tea for my drink,which turned out to be very fragrant and soothing. A good palate cleanser.The server recommended me the beef lasagna($11.90,ala-carte), and it was pure comfort food-fresh minced beef with chunky tomato sauce amidst pasta sheets slathered in cheese.The rosemary chicken($11.90,ala-carte) was also memorable and came in a sizeable portion.Tender chicken with salad and garden vegetables (awesome grilled potato chunks) as sides.They ran out of mushroom soup($3.90,ala-carte), but the waitress was nice enough to offer a tasty replacement- a row of 8 winglets with the special Wombats (tomato herb) sauce($7.90,ala-carte). A healthier option than fried chicken wings because this version is lightly grilled,retaining its juicy texture.The Wombats sauce was rather addictive,with a tart tomato taste.The cafe's exterior was very warm and welcoming, with a hipster charm and quirky decor.