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l3ernarcl
This is l3ernarcl living in Hougang/Kovan. I am a Account Manager, work in Orchard. I like to hang out in Bugis, Clarke Quay, Orchard. Italian, Japanese, Chinese are my favorite cuisines. I also love Restaurant, Café and Ice Cream and Gelato, Steaks and Grills, Sushi/Sashimi.
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Showing 1 to 5 of 6 Recommended Reviews in Singapore
kaeting
1 Review(s)
Level 1
Truly Authentic Spanish Food Smile Mar 18, 2015   
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Categories : Spanish | Bars/Lounges

My Little Tapas Bar is actually a sister outlet of My Little Spanish Place, a spanish restaurant at bukit timah area.  Their philosophy is based on the Spanish saying, "Mi Casa es Su Casa", which means "My House is Your House". The first Spanish restaurant to be helmed by two chefs with strong Spanish heritage – Maria Sevillano from Salamanca, Spain and Edward Esmero from Philippines.

Unlike My Little Spanish Place which serves heavier spanish signature dishes, such as a variety of spanish paellas and spanish suckling pig, the menu for MLTB is a selection of both deli favourites from "La Despensa" and Jamon Bar, unique home-style tapas creations, and a wide selection of some of the World's best Spanish wines.

 

 

 
Ambience

The moment I stepped into MLTP, it feels like I'm entering a little hideout. Once inside the restaurant, it doesn't feel like I'm in Singapore. The interior is cosy and warmly lit. The brick walls and wooden furniture adds a very rustic feel. Beautifully decorated window at the back, overlooking the alley behind the shophouses. Hidden from the Club Street crowd, it really feels like I'm in an italian backyard. So quaint!

This was my first time in an authentic spanish restaurant, was instantly intrigued by the 5 legs I saw on the counter. Then I was told it was for the Jamon, dry-cured ham from Spain, which were freshly sliced on the spot and carefully weighed for every serving. This brings us to the appetizer...

 
Jamon Ham Platter
Fermin / La Alberca / Serrano $7
10 Vetas / Jabugo / Iberico Bellota $16
(Prices per serving of 25g)

A typical platter of spanish appetiser. It's got two types of ham on it: Serrano from Fermin (lighter pink) and Jabugo from 10Vetas (dark brown). The cheese we had with our jamon was the munchego cheese. The almonds provided a nice crunch, roasted and unflavored, but the fragrance somes out while you chew. I usually don't eat olives but these ones were very fresh.

 
Sardinas en Escabeche
$14

Homemade sardines in cooked in vinegar, olive oil and garlic, on toasted bread, and pepper puree. The sardines goes well with the pepper puree, which balances the strong sardine taste. Not my favorite dish as I'm not fond of sardines, but if you do, I must say the sardine has been cooked well and you should try this. 

 
Gambas Picantes
$14

Fresh shrimp cooked in a dish of boiling olive oil with garlic, chili and smoked paprika. I loved this one! And to be honest I very seldom relish prawn dishes. The meat is soft and fragrant, because it has absorbed all the flavor of the garlic and paprika-infused oil. The oil can be intimidating but bear in mind that it's all olive oil, which is very healthy, so I had no issue dipping the bread in the sauce as well. This is one of my favourite dish.

 
Croquetas de Jamon
$10

Lightly fried jamon-stuffed creamy croquettes with alioli. When this dish was presented, I was expecting a crispy outer layer and a chewy center (because of the Jamon). To my surprise, the crust was so light and fluffy, and my teeth sank in because the crust is so soft. The filling is also fluffy, because the potatoes were mashed to a fine paste. Tastes very light and it was not at all salty. This was the most favourable tapas at our table that night.

 
Coca de Cebolla con Pimientos
$16

Thin crispy flatbread topped with caramelized onions, roasted peppers, anchovies and manchego cheese. I loved how the rocket leaves add a slighty bitter tanginess to the anchovies taste. The flatbread wasn't dry at all the layer of bread just under the cheese was full of flavor.

 
Pulpo a la Gallega
$18

Sliced tender octopus with paprika and olive oil and served with potato puree. This dish does not taste like octopus at all, because the octopus meat was sooo tender! Unlike typical octopus dishes where the meat is usually quite chewy, this meat is really soft.

 
Chuletillas de Cordero
$32

Pan seared baby lamb cutlets, sauteed chickpeas and spinach. Baby lamb's meat tend to be softer and less gamey than more mature lambs, and this one did not disappoint. The tender meat, seared to a beautiful medium rare comes right off, and in no time I had finished the dish and still wanting more. The sides complement the dishes really well with the texture of the crispy potato wedges, cut to small bite-sized pieces. The spinach and chickpeas are a beautiful side dish as well, ate it with the vinegar drizzled over the dish.

 
Tarta de Chocolate
$14

A triple layer of crumbly crust, a truffle-like interior, and a shiny glaze make this tartlet irresistible to chocolate lovers. Served with homemade strawberry ice cream and salted caramel almond bits. This dish isn't too sweet which is what I like. The tart crust is a hard, a contrast to the centre, chewy and truffly. This is an award-winning dish that the chef submitted for a competition and won back in Philipines. I can tell why it was the winner, this dessert may look simple but don't be fooled, have a taste and you might be pleasantly surprised at it's depth of texture and flavour.

For my first experience with Spanish food, I really loved the food, and it opened my eyes to the Spanish culture a little more. All the ingredients and wine in MLTB, except for the water, are imported straight from Spanish, so you can really experience Spain's finest flavors. If you are looking for some straight-edge authentic tapas to go with your alcohol, you have got to try this bar at least once.
 
Recommended Dish(es):  Tarta de Chocolate,Gambas Picantes,Croquetas de Jamon,Chuletillas de Cordero
 
Date of Visit: Feb 23, 2015 

Other Ratings:
Taste
 5  |  
Environment
 5  |  
Service
 4  |  
Clean
 5  |  
Price
 3

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cherylchong
7 Review(s)
Level 2
Japanese Comfort Food Smile Dec 03, 2014   
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Categories : European | Japanese | Fusion | Sushi/Sashimi | Omakase

 
My favourite part about this was the Maguro, the deep red colour was beautiful and it was amazingly fresh. 

 
Tasted like the usual Salmon Aburi Maki but with added crunch from the lettuce.

 
My favourite was the Shiro Maguro (pictured above). White albacore tuna is now my favourite fish to have raw. Tasted like heaven with every bite.

 
I'm a big foie gras fan so this was superb for me.

 
The Wagyu beef skewer has to be the standout. Not the best cut but decent for yakitori. Thorougly enjoyed these simple skewers. 

 
This was nothing to shout about for me. Rice had a nice wok hei but the pork did not stand out.

 
Omakase at Chotto Matte goes for $100++ onwards, pretty worth it. Nice place to chill after work with friends
 
Recommended Dish(es):  Chef's Recommended Sashimi Platter,Foa Gura Unagi Maki
 
Table Wait Time: 10 minute(s)


Date of Visit: Nov 25, 2014 

Spending per head: Approximately $50

Dining Offers: 試食活動


Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 4  |  
Service
 4  |  
Clean
 4  |  
Price
 3

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dairycream
240 Review(s)
Level 4
The Beast : Sunday Brunch Smile Sep 25, 2014   
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Categories : American | Bars/Lounges | Burgers and Sandwiches

 

 
What comes to your mind when you think of Southern American food? Humongous portions, heavy flavours, deep fried food, bourbon and maybe Paula Deen. Full review and pics: http://dairycream.blogspot.sg/2014/09/the-beast-sunday-brunch.html

 
It seems like a battle half-won for the Chicken & Waffles ($20), a monstrous hunk of deep-fried thigh on waffles. The chicken is excellently crunchy and tender, but the golden batter was too salty and thus one can't help but chomp it down with the partially deflated waffles for a balanced flavour. As a hard truth, the chicken tasted best when doused with the bourbon maple butter sauce.

 
The Pulled Pork Hash $18 may very well typify the savage character of a beast. Imagine strands of meat ferociously teared apart and tossed with cubed potatoes, red peppers and BBQ sauce. But this Beast seems timid at heart for the taste was uninspiring and dry. A little more simmering of the pork with apple cider vinegar and chilli pepper may awake the soul of the Beast.

 
Like most authentic Southern sweets , the desserts here do not go easy on sugar. I appreciate the thick Oreo crust of the Mississippi Mudpie ($14) but this strength also became its weakest link when the pie layer is as stubborn as a rock.

 
The Bacon Waffle Sundae ($12) could be misleading for it is NOT a SUNDAE. But this can be forgiven because it delivered more than just a usual ice cream-waffle dessert. Accompanied by gooey butterscotch sauce, crunchy pecan brittles and a monstrous ball of Honey & Fig Ice Cream, the waffle itself has already surpassed the pallid version we've had earlier due to its sturdier structure and a distinct buttery notes. The crispy candied bacon was a bonus.

 
But what I liked best was the bacon maple glazed donut ($5) which reminded me of a sticky sweet Bak Kwa bun that BreadTalk introduced years before or the "Sweet Mother of Bacon" from Artichoke. And it's actually a SIDE, not a DESSERT. Yes, petite in size but it may just be the wildest creature at the Beast.

 
Recommended Dish(es):  Bacon waffles sundae
 
Dining Offers: 試食活動


Other Ratings:
Taste
 3  |  
Environment
 2  |  
Service
 1  |  
Clean
 2  |  
Price
 2

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rachelays
1063 Review(s)
Level 4
(Y) Smile Jun 26, 2013   
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Categories : Italian | Ice Cream and Gelato

 

Gelatissimo sells awesome ice-cream and one taste and you know that their ice-cream is of a high quality unlike those cheap ice-cream. You pay for what you get! The ice-cream here tends to be a little sweet but still bearable. They have a variety of flavours to choose from and I am always spoilt for choice! their cookie dough is not bad too. My favourite still has got to be the chocolate!
 
Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 3  |  
Service
 3  |  
Clean
 3  |  
Price
 3

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tanyachloe
163 Review(s)
Level 4
"Irashaimase!" Smile Jun 13, 2013   
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Categories : Japanese | Restaurant | Ramen

Lunch at Nantsuttei leaves me with mixed feelings primarily because it reminds me so much of Japan -it's a temporary escape but also leaves a slightly bittersweet aftertaste when you realise that nothing can totally replicate the authentic Nippon experience. Japanese ramen shops always have this alluring charm, especially when its nondescript, tucked away in secret corners -yet the queues always seem to be long, and the eatery, packed. Nantsuttei is definitely popular with the local crowd here as the queue was snaking! Their menu offers black mayu in their ramen broth, which is quite honestly one of their hugest selling points. That thin film of roasted garlic oil looks horrifyingly greasy and gross at first sight, but after the first spoonful, I can fully understand why there is a queue that forms during lunchtime without fail.

Greeted with noisy, lively greetings of "irashaimase!" and a string of other Japanese words that i frankly do not recognise but find quite heartwarming, I find myself liking this eatery instantly. The shopfront is just cloth drapes with calligraphy, and a large signboard that presumably reads 'nantsuttei' in Japanese wording.

 

 
Everything about this place reeks Japanese (well, if not for the Singaporean staff i would have thought I was magically transported to a small Tokyo ramen shop in a subway!) -the calligraphy plastered all over the walls in the shop. The wooden seats, especially by the bar counter, are reminiscent of Japan's ramen bars.

 
The ramen ($12) was served within 10 minutes. A generous serving of noodles, beansprouts and spring onion, with soup filled nearly to the brim, made me a very happy girl. I'd advise that you give the garlic oil a good mix-in, if not that thin film of oil will forever be surfacing at the top of your soup which gives the whole ramen a very different (overwhelming) flavour. At first taste, the soup is light compared to many other ramen places, given its deep blackish colour. The tonkotsu stock is distinct and aromatic, heightened by the garlic oil. I say it's light in comparison because this version of ramen broth does not have fatty bits like in Ippudo and the flavours don't hit you as strongly. The noodles are still springy and even til the end of my meal it didn't overcook -which was a pleasant addition. smile

The charsiew however, was slightly disappointing. It wasn't tender and the gravy it was braised in did not fully permeate the meat, resulting in a slightly dry and unflavoursome charsiew. Nevertheless, the meat was fresh and it complemented the strong taste of the spring onions. The crunch of the beansprouts were also a welcome contrast to texture.

The ramen choices also include dragon ramen ($15), which is spicy, and spicy miso ramen ($16) which is a miso based ramen with varying levels of spiciness. You also have the option to add on items, such as their spring onion (air flown in from japan!!) -although we don't exactly recommend it because it's $3 additional for just spring onion with mileage.... Other add ons include an egg ($1) as well as side dishes such as Gyoza ($6).

Nantsuttei is nothing fanciful, but there are bits of this place that really won my heart -the decor and the whole ambience was heartwarmingly Japanese and it had an air of familiarity. The menu includes a section that provides the nutritional facts/value of their ingredients used in the ramen (complete with adorable illustrations -but I didnt get an opportunity to snap a photo!sad), and the walls have interesting calligraphy on it. There are quaint touches and the service is warm yet brisk. I would recommend their ordinary ramen, but for those who are meat lovers, please consider the Charsiew ramen ($16). That comes with extra servings of charsiew. If you're here for lunch, go early or risk having to queue while watching other diners slurp up delicious ramen as you peer into the glass walls along the queue line!

 
Recommended Dish(es):  Ramen (Original)
 
Date of Visit: Jun 13, 2013 

Spending per head: Approximately $14(Lunch)

Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 4  |  
Service
 4  |  
Clean
 4  |  
Price
 4

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