Nestled in the heart of where most youths in Singapore come together is a new kid on the block. Actually, I should say...new 'bear' on the block. No, not the real bears but close enough! They call it Bear Bites! This brand is oh-so-famous to those who frequent night markets in Taiwan (It was even featured in Taiwan variety programs). I was honored to be part of the guests for the opening on 27 Jul 2013 at *Scape. It was a rainy day but the rain did not douse out the excitement of both Bear Bites crews as well as hungry people like me.Bear Bites started in Taiwan back in 2010. While on a holiday in Japan, the founder (Avery) chanced upon a unique fusion concept between Taiwanese steamed buns and Japanese cuisine. An East meets West concept was thus birthed when the idea of creative burger was created. With more than 10 branches across Taiwan within a short period of 3 years, it has not only proven itself to be a success story but a really delicious one too!Ordering of the burger comes in steps. Yes, you have to follow the rules here. First you choose the meat. There are 2 options to choose from: Karaage Crispy Chicken and Oishi Fish Fillet. I went for the chicken. Step 2, you choose the cute looking pastel colored bear paw buns (they looked like stuff toys...I wouldn't mind having a pink bear paw cushion ). Options include: Original Milk, Brown Sugar, Yam, Curry, Oat, Strawberry (seasonal) and Squid ink. I opted for milk. The last step was to choose the sauce namely: Mushroom, Sweet & Spicy Thai, Black Pepper, Tartar, Honey Mustard, Golden Cheese. I'm a big fan of mustard so you wouldn't have to guess twice for what I chose! As the burgers are prepared on the spot, mine came piping hot...which just fits right into the rainy weather. The picture above shows Joseph (one of the Singapore outlet owners) making my burger.I was told that the buns were flown in all the way from Taiwan. To me, this would mean that it is the original recipe. The bun basically taste like chinese man tou, except that it's much softer and slightly sweetened. The thick tomato and lettuce were very fresh and crunchy. The best part of course is the meat! It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Despite the fact that my honey mustard sauce was spread sparingly across the meat, it didn't soften the crispiness.My next try was the Chocolate Gelato. This time, I went for the brown sugar bun to compliment my chocolate ice cream. Comes served in little bear paws that is of smaller size than the chicken burger bun. It's a good size for kids. Maybe they should consider having Baby Bear Bites (aka. Happy meal!). Nonetheless, the chocolate was rich and very filling!

Do note that Bear Bites do not sell fizzy drinks, they only have Pokka bottled drinks for health reasons. And I also need to add that the buns are made of organic ingredients.

Please do not mistaken this with Bear Paw Burger in Malaysia. They might look the same but the taste is quite different. Bear Bites comes without the sogginess. Look for the red bear print lantern!One thing to add, they might want to consider printing 2 receipts. One for the crews to make the order and one for the customer to keep. Coz people with gold fish memory wouldn't really remember what they ordered. So when orders were ready, they didn't know it's theirs

And here's to many more bear paw prints in Singapore! Photo below showing the 2 owners (Left: Avery and Right: Joseph)

The word "Kazan" is known as volcano in Japanese. The numerous newpaper printouts had actually caught my attention as I walked past Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen. Initially I thought that Kazan is actually referring to its level of spiciness - as hot as volcano but as when I took a close look, I realised the "fun" in the meal and decided to give it a try.

"Irrashaimase" - a very loud and warm welcome greeted us upon stepping into the restaurant and gave a very good first impression. Secondly, the server came welcoming us with its menu. Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen was well decorated with the classic feel of a Japanese Ramen Stall similar to what I had visited in Japan. Not only was the utensils and cookery stuffs placed neatly, the ambience was well lited and rather quiet which served as a perfect place to dine over the weekends to keep away from the bustle of the city. Do help yourself with the freeflow of seasonings on the table ranging from vinegar to shoyu and they even provide garlic with the garlic press for their customers to enhance the taste of their dish.Proper instructions were pasted on the table to guide and share with customers how to cook a delicious kazan ramen. It had also advised customers customer to stay away from the hot stone bowl.We ordered the classic Shoyu Ramen to have a taste of its original Tonkotsu broth as it was mentioned on the menu that the broth was enhanced with a special blended soy sauce paste. Each strand of smooth and springy ramen is delectably coated with a flavourful broth. This aromatic broth somehow reminds me of a famous Ramen Stall located in Tanjong Pagar area! Yums!
Cost: S$12.00I had ordered one of its signature dish, Curry Kazan and the long awaited volcanic eruption performance is about to commenced. The dish was initially served in a hot stone pot and the server had pour half a pot of curry into it, covered it up with the hood and about one minute later, he poured the remaining curry into the stone pot again. Timing was all measured by the little hour glass device on the table as seen in the picture).
Cost: S$18.00The hood was then remove and "ta-da", take a look the end product and enjoy the sizzling sound in the video.


Not only we have to be caution on the pipping hot stone pot, we have to be additional careful and keep a distance from the curry as they may follow the "sizzling" sound and stain our clothing. Do also note that my meal comes with additional bowl of rice to goes along with the remaining curry as the portion is enormous for me, I suggest that the meal can be shared by 2 instead!
Last but not least, if you are thinking of having green tea in this Japanese restaurant, you can find alternatives as green tea is not available in its menu. The total bill for the night including 10% of Service Charge and 7% GST is well spent for the night as I really enjoyed every bit of the meal.

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.

I visited Jamie's Italian in Sydney and have fond memories. Finally it's here in Singapore.

The decor of the place is so pretty, cosy and comfortable. There is a hot kitchen and another antipasti and dessert kitchen. Both open concept. I ordered their exclusive beer specially brewed just for them by Archipelago. It was a very light beer that has a hint of sweetness and ends with bitter note. It was not as special as I think it will be, definitely not the best beer I had tasted. For starters, I ordered truffle oil fries and cheese. It was such a heavenly dish. Ok I am biased because I love the smell of truffle, anything with it is good and that they had cheese to top it off. It was really yummy! I also ordered baked mushrooms. The mushroom was crunchy and the sides of the round dish, it tasted something like crispy wanton skin. Pretty interesting, I thought. Very tasty dish of course. For main course, I tried the prawn pasta recommended by their GM. I loved it. It's tomato based but it has a bit of spice and salt. There is so much flavour in the pasta sauce. Linguine was a little hard but they said that's how Italians like their pasta to be. I have no issues Finally for dessert, I ordered vinsanto chocolate cake in a pot. There is vinsanto ice cream (with bit of liquer) on the top, fluffy light cake in the centre and rich chocolate cake at the bottom of the cup. I am a chocolate fan, I really like this dessert. It's very interesting again because there are so many kinds of texture in one mouth!