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lizhen13
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Categories : Malay

I was invited to a food tasting event organised by Open Rice last thursday. I was there early so had some time to admire the decor. I like the entire feel of the place: Warm and cosy, nice place for a gathering. There is even a live band.
Nice warm ambience, but lighting could be challenging for food photography

Nice warm ambience, but lighting could be challenging for food photography

 
This place was originally (and now still is) used for event to host weddings and the restaurant also does food catering.

I will go into the food since this is the main aim of the review. The serving given for the food tasting was pretty generous and by the end of the event, I was really full! The only thing, the lighting for food photography was challenging due to the blue and red lightings, which was to create a romantic mood.

First served were the drinks. We were given three to sample: Nojito ($5.50) (non-alcoholic version), Iced Thai Milk Tea ($4) and Charisma Lemon Tea ($3.80), the recommended drinks in the eatery. I only managed to sample the Iced Thai Milk Tea and Lemon Tea, which were both refreshing and not too sweet. But felt the brew a bit on the weak side, again, I am an avid caffeine consumer.

 
The Portobello was a nice starter as I loved mushrooms. The side salad with strawberry dressing (which is common for all the dishes with side salad) was refreshing. The accompanying spicy soya sauce looks harmless, but is pretty spicy. Which is great for me as I love spicy food.
Portobello

Portobello

 
The Fried Calamari was a tad bit too blend and dry, if not for the Arrablatta sauce.
Fried Calamari

Fried Calamari

 
We got to sample two distinctly different pasta dishes, the Bandung and Tom Yum Pasta. I like how both were flavoured to suit the local taste. I preferredthe Bandung pasta I normally prefer tomato based pasta sauce and I super love the poached egg in it. The Tom Yum pasta tasted not bad too.
Bandung Pasta

Bandung Pasta

 
Tom Yum Pasta

Tom Yum Pasta

 
The other main that was served, Ocean D'Venue (Fish and chips) paled in comparison to the pasta, though I liked the garlic rice. It was not bad, but not fantastic either.
Ocean D'Venue

Ocean D'Venue

 
My favourite dish for the evening was the Flaming Wings, similar to the Korean fried chicken wings, but more shiok version. It was really spicy, but I really like spicy food, so it was really great for me. The chicken wing is well-seasoned and nicely fried too. Warning: Have to gulp down lots of the lemon tea and for those who do not take spicy food should avoid this.
Flaming Wings

Flaming Wings

 
Last but not least, the desserts were served, Charisma Chocolate Fondue, Waffles and Chocolate Overload (chocolate milkshake). Frankly, I felt the winning point of this place is not the desserts, though I felt the waffles was really pretty and a lot of effort done for the deco. The Chocolate Overload, well, think more suitable for the kids with the coloured rice and biscuits. The milkshake, after mixing with the whipped cream, was a bit too sweet, "overload" as the name implies.
Charisma Chocolate Fondue

Charisma Chocolate Fondue

 
Waffles

Waffles

 
Chocolate Overload

Chocolate Overload

 
The only dish I didn't sample fully was the Briyani Lamb Shank, another Chef's recommendation, so it is not fair for me to review it, but the briyani was nice with the curry.
Briyani Lamb Shank

Briyani Lamb Shank

 
The winning point of this place is the price which I felt was quite reasonable and portions were generous. Great care and effort was done for the menu and most of the sides and mains were not bad. Nice place to gather with friends as the ambience is nice. smile

 
Recommended Dish(es):  Portobello,Bandung Pasta,Flaming Wings
 
Table Wait Time: 15 minute(s)


Date of Visit: Mar 17, 2016 

Spending per head: Approximately $25(Dinner)

Dining Offers: 試食活動


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

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Food Tasting Event  OK Dec 25, 2015   
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Categories : Korean | Korean Fried Chicken


The review is very much delayed due to some problems with my OpenRice account, apologies (and thanks) to the organiser. Although I have been to other food tasting events, this is the first event I managed to get an invite from OpenRice. Grateful to Chicken Up and OpenRice, as I loved Japanese and Korean cuisine. yummy

I admit I have some limitations to my diet (no Soju, no beef), so did not sample all the dishes, but in a way that could be good as I will not have "diminishing satisfaction", which happens to the last dish, so hopefully can give a more accurate review (although we all know food reviews

are also subjective to personal tastes, ha ha!).

Chicken Up is a Korean casual dining concept first opened in Singapore in 2010 with the first outlet at Tanjong Pagar. Parkway Parade is its newly opened outlet in the East. This outlet has a cosy ca

sual feel, nice place for an after work gathering with friends, with a good mix of mains and finger foods on its menu.

The first and last dishes served are the Pineapple Soju and Watermelon Soju, which I do not take as I do not take alcoholic drinks (first dietary restrictions). Looks refreshing and aesthetically pleasing start and end to the event
Refreshing and eye pleasing starter

Refreshing and eye pleasing starter

 
Refreshing and pretty last dish

Refreshing and pretty last dish

 
Next up, Makguksu, cold buckwheat noodle salad, topped with sesame seeds (I love sesame seeds!), seaweed and egg. Dressing was made of yellow mustard, chilli and vinegar, a mix of spiciness and sourness. Nice appetiser to whet up your appetite, though do not particularly take to the dressing, which is subjective as I am not particularly fond of the wasabi type of spiciness as well.
Refreshing appetiser

Refreshing appetiser

 
Another appetiser which I did not take is the Topokki with Korean rice cake, glass noodle, seafood and cheese. Looks spicy and I love seafood and Korean rice cake, but contains beef seasoning,

which I wasn't exactly sure if it is just normal seasoning or uses any beef stock in its seasoning, so I wasn't comfortable tasting this (as I can't consume beef). I could have clarified.

 
Next up, the signature dishes of the eatery: Ganjang Chicken Wings and Yangnyum Chicken Wings, both deep fried chicken wings. The first is dipped in soya sauce and the second is dipped in Korean sweet chilli sauce. Both are nicely fried and crisp, but I do find the Ganjang Chicken Wings a bit drier and a tad bit too salty (for me). I preferred the Yangnyum Chicken Wings (my favourite of the event!), but I loved spicy food and yes, sesame, so this chicken wing suits my taste. Not bad. yummy
Nicely crisp and savoury

Nicely crisp and savoury

 
Nice blend of crisp, spiciness and fragrance of sesame

Nice blend of crisp, spiciness and fragrance of sesame

 

 
Next up, the Bulgogi Fries (which I can't take as absolutely contains beef) and Kimchi Fries. The Kimchi fries could have been stronger in the Kimchi (which I felt can't taste the Kimchi) and cut down on the mayonnaise which is too overpowering and caused them to be soggy. But partly also due to us spending too much time taking pictures and we should have eaten them hot.

 
Best eaten hot!

Best eaten hot!

 
Haemul Pajeon is a seafood pancake, which I didn't take as it contains beef seasoning (so again not sure, if I can eat it). Looks good and seems quite popular with the food tasting group.

 
Lastly, the long awaited Ugly Tang Stew, or in other words, Korean Army Stew. I loved the Army Stew and was looking forward to that. The presentation is very pretty and cute! Quite spicy and piping hot, but could be more generous with the meat serving. Nice ending dish for me.
The famous Korean Army Stew

The famous Korean Army Stew

 
Overall, there are some hits and misses and to be fair, I didn't sample some of the dishes, which could be good. The manager was very helpful and tried his best to answer our queries. And the serving was generous (except for the Ugly Tang Stew, not enough meat) for a food tasting event. Kudos to the Open Rice and Chicken Up for a well-organised and enjoyable event. Hope to have more opportunities to improve on my food review writings, food photography and yes, meet like-minded food enthusiasts like me. smile

Refreshing and eye pleasing starter

Refreshing and eye pleasing starter

 
 
Recommended Dish(es):  Ganjang Chicken Wings,Yangnyum Chicken Wings
 
Date of Visit: Dec 08, 2015 

Dining Offers: 試食活動


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

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