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 Tea

With the right sweetness, this drink was an addiction!Garlic Bread

Literally. 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 Egg

You'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 Rice

I 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 Beauty

Delicious 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 Cream

I 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 Jar

This 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 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 & Chips

It 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 & Chips

Topped 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 & Chips

Coated 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 & Chips

Stuffed with gruyere cheese, coupled with the same light crispy batter, this time round topped with garlic lemon butter sauce. Cheese fanatics, gogogo!

Japanese Fish & Chips

Stuffed 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 & Chips

This 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 & Chips

Stuffed 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 Cake

I 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 Pie

Bask 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 Colossal

This 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 Mousse

Layers 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!

For the full post, read: http://iisjong.blogspot.sg/2012/08/7adam-celebration-of-food-and-art.html ;)

Tucked away in Adam Park, I've wondered what this monochrome-themed place was every time my bus past it on my bus ride home from school. Initially, I thought that it was just another bungalow just like the others surrounding it just that it's on top of a hill.

7Adam is a Gallery-Restaurant that mix the worlds of art and food. It features the works of art by local and regional artists which the public can buy and bring home. At the same time, they also serve really yummy modern European cuisine that leave people begging for more.

Amuse Bouche

It's actually fried oysters! I like it because the gooey taste coming from the oyster was not very strong.

Black Truffle Broth

It has a very herbal taste. Truffle is actually a high grade mushroom. They took 2 days to soak it! For some miraculous reason, my sore throat that day seemed better because it's very soothing to the throat. I feel healthier!

House Cured Salmon

It's something like sashimi, just that it's not cooked. It's soft and very smooth; not too salty, just the way I like it! I have to add that the cream is lightly sweet and complements the salmon well.

Foie Gras

Now, to be honest I've never eaten foie gras before! This was pretty decent for a first timer like me. Pardon me if I sound very ignorant, but I was surprised that it's very, very soft! It looks like meat on the outside. Eat it with the biscuit and the sauce, and you have heaven in your mouth.

Unagi Pasta

When this dish was first laid on the table, my impression was: OMG IT SMELLS DAMN GOOD LAH! It's surprisingly really appetizing, the sauce was really good and unique. The unagi was soft and the noodles were very bouncy and "Q". I like how the chef added fish roe. It adds the fun side to the dish!

Beef Pasta

Like the Unagi Pasta, the noodles were bouncy and I love the addition of the fish roe. I like the meat because I am a meat eater, rawr!

Red Drum Popilotte

At first this dish wasn't cut in the middle, so for a minute I wondered: "What is this? Are we seriously going to eat paper?" until Adam cut open and revealed the fish inside. I learnt that the fish was wrapped up in paper so as to keep the taste of the fish after that. I am not really a big fan of fish, but it was quite flavourful!

Angus Tenderloin

I don't really eat beef like that, but this was not bad. According to the chef's theory, it is kept in boiling water of 55 degrees so that it won't be overcooked. It's not very hard because it's medium done. The vegetables you see there? It's a hybrid of broccoli and kai lan vegetable! Yes, definitely imported because it's hard to find these kind in Singapore.

Kurobuta Pork Belly

This is THE bomb! My favourite dish out of everything. It's the signature dish, and I can see why. The pork literally melts in your mouth! What sorcery is this! It is braised for 2 days, cooked in Japanese soy. You have to reserve in advance if you want to eat this. I LOVE THIS DISH TO BITS, ENOUGH SAID!

Chocolate Fondant

I have a sweet tooth, and I must have my desserts! I love all things chocolate and ice cream, so you can imagine my delight when this was served. The vanilla ice cream was really good, and the moment you cut the chocolate lava cake, out bursts out the chocolate!

Creme Brulee

The sweetness was just right, not overly sweet. It was very creamy and thick! It tasted a little bit like egg tarts I would say? There's this crispy layer on the top, I like!

Trio of Tiramisu

Lastly, we were served the tiramisu. This is definitely not your ordinary tiramisu! I'm not a fan of coffee, but I enjoyed eating this! Served in a martini glass, it was the chef's sudden creation. Very innovative, I must applaud! You have to dip the biscuit all the way down to taste the espresso.

For full review, read: http://iisjong.blogspot.sg/2012/08/food-review-canto-kitchen.html ;)

Braised Shark's Fins with Fish Maw

Yes people, the shark's fin is real! As we all know, this is a popular Cantonese delicacy. I found the portion very generous, and there's a variety of ingredients inside. I spotted prawns, carrot and fish maw, on top of many more.

Fried Prawns with Orange Sauce

I am a sucker for prawns, having eaten all sorts of them before. But this is the first time I'm trying it with orange sauce! Very innovative. When you first put it into your mouth, you first taste the orange, and then the taste of the prawn sets in. Surprisingly, the orange didn't taste sour at all.

Chinese Herbal Roasted Duck

Another favourite of mine is duck, so my "standard" for it is very high. We had 2 ducks combined together specially for us. I loved how the meat was tender, and the herbal taste from the duck wasn't overwhelming. Simply said, it was good!

Home Made Bean Curd with Conpoy

The tofu was smooth and soft, very suitable for all ages to eat! The broccoli and the mushroom were fresh and not too hard. Add more of the sauce, and they taste really good together.

Steamed Cod Fish with Chef' Sauce

This is the signature dish, and I'm sure there's no need to ask why! The first thing everyone said when the dish was laid on the table: "WOAH IT SMELLS DAMN GOOD!" because of all the chilli and garlic. Despite that, the taste was not too overwhelming and spicy. Fish wise, there's no fishy taste that lingers. Very soft!

Poached Spinach with Whole Garlic and 3 Eggs

I've always loved this dish, and I loved how Canto Kitchen prepared it too! I don't really like eating vegetables, but this dish always trick me in a way. I like eating the eggs and the spinach together to minimise the taste of the spinach in a way?

Spare Ribs with Yam in "Zhen Jiang" Style

This was everyone's favourite, it's damn good! The meat was soft and it goes well with it's sauce. Also, the yam was crispy, very unexpected!

Garlic Steamed Crab with Glutinous Rice

This is my first time seeing a dish like this. I never thought that food like that can be put in small steamer baskets meant for Dim Sum! Food wise, I never expected crab and glutinous rice to go well together. I don't like glutinous rice, but this was not the overly sticky kind that I'm not a fan of.

Chilled Mango with Pamelo

And we also had desserts! I love love love this dessert so much, I order it practically all the time. Honestly, this is one of the best out of all the others I've eaten! It was not sour or overly watery. Just... Nice!

Read the full review here: http://iisjong.blogspot.sg/2012/09/hard-rock-cafes-latest-menu-addition.html ;)

A lot of people have been asking "Why is there no seafood dishes in the menu?", so they've taken in the feedback and decided to come up with a few. I tried 4 of their new seafood dishes alongside with some of their Classic dishes.

Mango-Berry Cooler

First up was of course the drinks! This was a really yummy tropical blend of fresh mangos, strawberries, pineapple juice, orange juice and sweet & sour mix topped with lemon-lime soda. You can ask for it to be served in a Hurricane glass.

Groupie Grind

This drink is a housemade pina colada mix and pineapple juice blended with a strawberry swirl, served in a Martini glass. It was magnificent!

Crispy Sea Bass

I felt that this pan-fried sea bass fillet didn't have the fishy taste that lingers on a lot of fishes that I eat (and hate). It was soft and served with pesto sauce!

Seafood Platter

This was my favourite dish out of the 4! There's a variety of battered sea bass fillet, grilled prawns, seasoned fries WHICH WAS VERY ADDICTIVE, calamari rings and soft shell crab. It wasn't too overly greasy, as if I'm eating a platter of oil.
I like the prawns out of all because it was juicy and the meat was grilled well.

Chilli Crab Spaghetti

The garlic toast by the side sure made the dish looked angelic. I think. Oh well, it's an American thing!
This dish was very Singaporean style, with a little mix of Western! Everyone agreed that it looked and tasted very similar to another local dish - Mee Goreng. I felt that it didn't taste like pasta due to the sticky and dry taste. Also, normally I like to add cheese to my spaghetti, but there wasn't any for this dish. Not sure whether to classify this as spaghetti or not...

Do take note that this was a little bit too spicy for me. For spicy lovers, this would be heaven!

Crab Fried Rice

This was our last seafood dish. It was very unexpecting to find something so Asian style in this Western place. You can find crab meat, prawns and mushrooms hidden amongst the olive rice, all wrapped up in an egg omelette. Great for those who are looking for a healthy alternative and us Asians who need our daily carbs (rice)!

Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Que Ribs

Next up, we had their Classics. This was my favourite, and it's from their Smokehouse Menu! My eyes lighted up in glee as I tried this full rack of West Tennessee-style ribs, which is rubbed then basted with their authentic Hickory BBQ sauce. It was practically cooked to perfection, and the meat... It was meaty and easy to chew it off. It is served with seasoned fries, ranch beans & fresh coleslaw.

Twisted Mac, Chicken & Cheese

I posted a picture of this on Instagram (@iisjong), and I received a lot of comments telling me how this was their favourtie dish! From the Entrees Menu, this dish was served with garlic toast. Right on top of the macaroni is grilled chicken breast, topped off twisted cavatappi pasta. As for the macaroni itself, it is tossed in a lightly spiced 3-cheese sauce, with garlic roasted red peppers and Romano parsley bread crumbs. It's really yums, no wonder it got so many people salivating when they saw it!

Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae

Moving on to my favourite part of the night - the desserts!

This divine dessert we have right here is a combination of Haagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream and hot fudge on a fresh brownie, topped with chopped walnuts, chocolate sprinkles, fresh whipped cream and a cherry. It was sinful but worth it!

Mud Pie

You HAVE to try this when you're at Hard Rock Cafe! With a cookie crust filled with a heavenly concoction of coffee and chocolate ice cream topped with hot fudge and crunchy almond flakes, this was THE BOMB. Up till today, I cannot forget the yummilicious of this.

Overall, Hard Rock Cafe is definitely a good candidate as an oasis for hungry souls who are looking for heaven in their mouth and bellies, and at the same time, bask in a pretty damn good environment. Now with the newly launched seafood dishes, it's definitely THE place to be for food! *licks lips*