For those who worship everything Korean or have been to South Korea should have heard of Yoogane. They are one of the most popular and best Chicken Galbi restaurants in Korea, owning more than 130 outlets located over the region. The Singapore folks were lucky enough to obtain a franchise license from them in order to bring the joy of eating chicken galbi to our shores!
After opening for more than a month, there is still quite a hype about the place and we would suggest visiting during non peak hours or before 6pm on weekdays to beat the massive queue!Once the receptionist ushered us to our table, we saw two nicely folded aprons sitting on the table. The aprons were specially prepared for diners to avoid having the sauces staining our clothes while the staffs prepare and cook the dish in front of us. Very thoughtful indeed!Probably the staffs were too busy with the crowd, no one had informed us that there was a freeflow salad bar at the back of the restaurant. Unfortunately, we only realised this on our way out to pay the bill. So if you are intending to visit, be sure to look out for the salad bar and grab some peppers, kimchi or radish with their pink dressing to complement your mains.We faced some issues when it came to ordering as there were only two of us. The signature chicken galbi dish needed a minimum of 2 persons to order, so we requested if we could have a single portion in order to try other mains for variety but were turned down. The owner who stepped forward to serve us then explained that this is the Korean culture where they usually share the same food and eat together. With much reluctance and disappointment, we ordered Seafood with Chicken Galbi (S$48.90 for 2 pax).About five minutes after placing our orders, the server came to our table with this pan of ingredients (including their signature marinated chicken, prawn, mussel, rice cake and cabbage) and put it on the hob in front of us. The serving size might look tiny, but trust me after adding the mouth-watering mozerella cheese or the carbohydrates such as fried rice, noodle and rice cake, it would be more than enough to feed two!The squid was set aside on a plate as to add in later in the cooking process due to the shorter cooking time needed.The high cylinder kind of wall was placed outside of the pan, to prevent the hot sauce flying all over the table in the process of cooking.We further requested if we could get hands on the cooking process, the staff nicely told us again that it is the Korean culture that we should be happily served and waited just like how Koreans can't pour drinks for themselves.About 15 minutes or so, the dish was almost done as you can see the juices of the seafood oozing out!Thereafter, you could add in your preferred carbohydrates be it rice, rice cake or the recommended Korean instant noodles which came with a complementary homemade sauce specially imported from Korea.Dadah! Couldn't wait to start digging in!A very nice pan of goodies indeed, the limelight was the unique sauce and seasoning that has been imported from the main restaurant in Korea. Also, the seafood was fresher than expected and chicken was well marinated as well. However, we felt that the chicken galbi was slightly overcooked but still it was juicy and decent. We loved the balance in spiciness and flavours of the sauce that was infused into the ingredients, making the dish highly enjoyable and addictive.

The restaurant should notice that staff is another key player to maintain the quality apart from the original ingredients. Therefore, proper training is needed especially in the control of cooking time. The staffs were friendly and approachable though everyone seemed to be perpetually busy. I would definitely come back for their Marinated Chicken Galbi Fried Rice on a bed of cheese, how could a cheese lover skip it yeah?
Spotting a casual dining ambience, Yoogane surely found the right fit among the younger generation in the heart of Bugis Junction.

District 10 opens its fourth branch at The Star Vista with the concept of a bar with different themes at each outlet, we came to this one which allows diners to chill out and enjoy tapas at the bar table. However,we are here today in anticipation of their newly introduced brunch menu available only on weekends!When it comes to daytime on weekends, it becomes so family-oriented unlike the usual perception we've had prior to this visit. There are inflatable bouncer at the outdoor dining area, tiny chairs and tables for children to have some fun themselves in the midst of the chitchat sessions of mummies and daddies. Attentively, there is also a kid's menu with animals on it provided with colour pencils for them to play!

Spanish Omelette with Bell Peppers, Mushrooms & Chorizo | $14++

We appreciated the generous amount of food they served here, with a big patch of omelette as main and together with sides of half a grilled tomato, hash brown and plenty of rocket salad. The crunchy bell peppers mixed in the omelette complemented well with the soft mushroom, flavoursome chorizo and eggs. A simple dish well executed.

District 10 Eggs Benedict | $16++
Poached Eggs on Toasted Muffin with Sautéed Spinach, Smoked Salmon & Hollandaise SauceWhile the serving was similarly generous for this dish, the major drawback was the hollandaise sauce on the poached eggs was not thick and creamy enough, perhaps due to the imbalanced proportion of egg yolk and butter. The muffin was toasted to perfection together with smoked salmon and sautéed spinach that sat on top, which completed the dish.

Pandan-Coconut Pancake with Gula Melaka Syrup | $9++

We thought that this dish had the best mixture of ingredients out of others, it was a fusion of Southeast Asian and Western cuisine. We loved the fact that the pancake was actually made from pandan and coconut, as well as drizzled with gula melaka syrup replacing maple syrup or honey on top made the dish addictive! The drawback of it would be texture of the pancake tasted like 'kueh' which lacked fluffiness, though some might like the way they did.

Pizza Margarita with Tomato and Buffalo Mozzarella | $19++
This was not part of the brunch menu but you could order from their main menu. We loved this simple yet delicious thin crust pizza as it was the highlight of the whole tasting. A harmonious combination of tomato sauce and cheese spread was nicely complemented by the soft and chewy buffalo mozzarella that was evenly placed on top of each slice of the pizza. We unknowingly finished the pizza slice by slice!

Antioxidant (Peach, Green Apple, Mango and Strawberry) | $13++

 

We find that there are always different types of juices out there which try too hard to blend many different types of fruits which may not always turn out tasting pleasant. This particular rendition with peach, green apple, mango and strawberry turned out surprisingly smooth and good! After drinking this antioxidant-rich juice, it certainly made our calories count!Apart from their tapas, now diners could enjoy their new affordable brunch mains at a relaxed ambience surrounded by laughter!

For the original review, please visit http://www.makeyourcaloriescount.com/2014/05/sg-vanilla-bar-cafe-satisfying-mains.html

A cosy dining space with the minimalist approach, it was packed by the time we arrived at about 7pm, left with only the door seat that was pretty cramped.
Nonetheless, service was prompt and we didn't have to wait long for our dishes to arrive.

Pulled Pork Sandwich ($11.90)

A classic done well, the sandwich was toasted perfectly with tender pork shreds tossed in BBQ sauce. We'd enjoyed the savouriness of the dish, and this was simple, comfort food.

Aburi Boston Lobster Linguine ($23.90)

 

 

Wow-ed by its presentation as we weren't quite expecting a half-sized lobster with shell, the crustacean came fresh, topped with mentaiko sauce. What could be improved would be the linguine though, as it was pretty bland and dry.

Ribeye Steak with Shiraz Reduction ($18.90)

I'm usually skeptical about steaks, especially when this paled in comparison when the Boston Lobster was first served. Slicing it up changed my impression though, with medium done-ness despite it being pretty thin. What managed to impress was the accompanying Shiraz reduction, that came with a slight tang and right salinity to complement the steak perfectly.

Spam Fries ($10.90)

A tad too thick, this seemed more like the home-made luncheon meat cut into strips then pan-fried instead of the thinly sliced fries we were expecting. And certainly overpriced for such a dish!

Mentaiko Baked Crab ($10.90)

 

I'm a fan of mentaiko and this could do with a more generous serving of that. It had too much of a 'fishy' taste to it, putting us off at the first mouthful.

Durian Creme Brûlée ($8.80)
With such a small plate it was placed in, torching it meant warming the entire dish and I wasn't exactly a fan of warm creme brûlées. Durian taste in it was just nice though, not too overwhelming for a dessert, though its portion didn't quite justify for its price.
Word of caution, don't try their milkshakes as it's absolutely sugar-loaded and the strawberry milkshake simply reminded us of meiji strawberry.
Hits and misses, it's quite a good spot for some casual chat over dinner and convenient enough to hop off somewhere else for drinks.

For original review, please refer to http://www.makeyourcaloriescount.com/2014/05/sg-nara-thai-dismal-attempt-at-thai.html

Post-hype period of Nara Thai, we were quite surprised to find ourselves getting comfy seats right upon reaching. It was only about 60% occupied when we reached at about 8.30pm.
While we've heard good reviews, we decided not to set our expectations high especially with an average visit to their BKK flagship store.
To prevent customers like me asking for recommendations all the time, they've placed all their chef's recommended dishes onto the first page and this caught our eye for a refreshing appetiser.

Pomelo Salad (S$13.90)

 

This was an explosion of sour, savoury and sweetness combined. We didn't quite like the combination of fried onions coating the pomelo. The cashew nuts helped add a dimension of texture to it, though all these, tasted better while separated.

Thai Herbs Fried Rice ($10.90)While captivated by its unique colour making it photogenic, its taste was a huge letdown. Lacking the herbs infusion, it seemed like just coloured steam plain rice we were having.

Green Curry Chicken ($13.90)

 

Finally a decent one, this was flavourful enough with tender soft chicken cubes. I would have personally preferred it to be less milky, though it's a good one for those who's unable to take very spicy food.

Pad Thai with Soft Shell Crab ($15.90)A classic for any thai meal, this was quite a disappointing one. Lacking the spice and flavours, and with the noodles too wet, we ended up asking for chilli flakes and mixing it in ourselves to adjust to the right taste.
Overall taste was quite a disappointment, making us crave for Ah Loy Thai instead for some cheaper and better alternative. Service was lacking as well, with several blind spots with its enclosed seating area, and while they'd forgotten our order of Tom Yum Soup, we'd decided to give it a miss given our dining experience.

For full review, please visit http://www.makeyourcaloriescount.com/2014/09/sg-jbm-coffee-dining-birth-of-new-star.html

For those working at the Raffles Place area, the newly launched One Raffles Place Mall would be a familiar spot for foodies with its abundant offering of eateries at the basement level. What many failed to identify, including us, is that good food at the building stretches beyond shoppers haven of H&M and Uniqlo to the third level where JBM Coffee & Dining resides.

The open concept restaurant reflecting touches of rustic French and Italian cuisines is quite an overlooked gem in the heart of the CBD area. Led by Chef Chamara Fonseka, who previously honed his culinary skills at Au Petit Salut and Covelli, he ingeniously combined the essence of the two European fares. What set this restaurant apart however is not just the food but also its coffee creations. Helmed by head barista, Shawn, who recently came in first runner up at Singapore's National Latte Art Championship 2014, expect your caffeine kicks to be treated in good hands.Serving up different types of coffee brews with various methods, do not be shy to check with Shawn or any of the other well-trained friendly baristas to make sure that you enjoy your coffee the way it was meant to be. With the owner, Evangeline Wong being a trained barista herself, she sources for the best Jamaican coffee beans and does her own roasts. Testified by the success of her first coffee hideout, Blue Mahoe Estate Caffee at the Esplanade, can JBM Coffee & Dining equally impress with its food offerings?

The Green Knight | S$8/++

 

With a variety of soups to choose from, we were well-greeted by this light zucchini soup topped with crispy seaweed, croutons and cream. The delicate summer squash carried a tinge of natural sweetness and the richness of the soup was enhanced by the cream drizzled in, piquing our appetite for a sumptuous meal ahead!

The Pork Terrine | S$15/++Flavoured with herbs and spices, the thickly sliced pork terrine accompanied a side walnut salad. This not only added texture to the dish with the crunch but allows the savouriness of the freshly prepared terrine to shine.What made this simple dish a star was the freshly baked brioche with a smear of the gorgeous grape juice blended mustard sauce. This not only added a different dimension to the dish in terms of flavours but the crispness of the brioche added a desired layer of texture. The slight acidity from the vines paired with the pungency of mustard provided complexity and cuts through the savouriness of the pork terrine beautifully.

Lil' Froggy | S$24/++An undisputed French-inspired dish, the frog legs were lightly seasoned with salt and pepper before being seared in the pan together with some chopped onions to add extra fragrance to the dish. What made this dish complete however was the veal jus which elevated the oomph factor for the dish. Paired with the mushroom-filled ravioli, it was an attempt by the chef to marry Italian culinary fare with the classic French. Personally, I would have preferred a slightly thinner egg pasta dough to avoid the slightly starchy after-taste.

A Big Bowl O'Mussels | S$14/++

 

 

Looking to share? How about a brimming bowl of plump and succulent New Zealand Blue Lip mussels cooked in a gorgeous white wine, garlic and seafood broth flavoured by saffron. Served with some sliced baguette, I could not resist soaking up all that goodness in that creamy broth!

Beef Outside the Cubes | S$24/++

 

 

The grain-fed tenderloin, cut into cubes, were grilled medium-rare by default, allowing the red meat to flaunt its quality and freshness. Tossed in a mushroom sauce and a choice of mash or fries, the natural option was the former where the chef's skills was put to test. Full marks for the consistency and creaminess of the velvety mash, making it pure decadence to scoop it all up!

The Sassy Cassoulet | S$32/++Tracing the origins of the dish, this rich and slow-cooked casserole originated in Southern France which typically contains meat, pork skin and white beans. Taking a more sassy twist, this rendition was seafood-centric, offering nothing shy of the freshest lobster, scallops, mussels, prawns and squids over a pot full of home-made white beans.
A hearty dish perfect for sharing, what made this stew spectacular was the seafood broth with crab meat shreds that added a strong punch in flavours. Recommended for the seafood-lovers.

The Golden Hen | S$23/++

 

 

Half a spring chicken, expect to be greeted by an abundance of fragrance from the roasted garlic cloves. A hearty dish perfect for the wet and cold days, the chicken was treated delicately by the chef. It was first roasted to derive that slightly crisp chicken skin and the nice golden brown tan on the bird. Finished with a braise, the chicken retained absolute moisture in its flesh, defining succulence at its best. If you are a garlic lover, embrace that beautiful aroma and because the cloves were cooked through till soft, tuck away your mints even if you are having a meeting post-meal.

Orange Blossom | S$12/++

 

If you have a picky palate for desserts like me, I highly recommend the layered dessert of fresh orange wedges, orange jelly, Grand Marnier foam and the assuring caramel crisp to score the dish a home-run. The flavours were robust, complex and I was highly intrigued at the various dimensions the chef managed to introduce to the dessert building upon a base ingredient, orange. Textures were plentiful, starting from the crisp crunch to the melt-in-your-mouth foam before a pleasant tang from the orange jelly to make all guests award a thumbs-up. Recommended for those with a sweet tooth but might come across as slightly too sweet for some.

JBM Espresso Crème Brulee | S$8/++

 

 

Obscenely good is how I define this dessert. Served innocent with that classic caramelised crust, it turned into a messy affair as soon as you crack it open and the shot of espresso oozes upwards like a geyser. While some might find the dessert too satiating with the richness of the rich custard, expect to be in heaven if you enjoy bold flavours. The bitterness of the caffeine shot cuts through the richness beautifully. If you are having quite a heavy meal, I would recommend sharing this as it might be too heavy for just one pax.

Salted Caramel Freeze | S$7/++While most close friends would know that I only enjoy my black coffee plain in the form of Americano or Espresso, I could not resist the highly recommended java-inspired drink. Freshly made Chantilly cream together with home-made salted caramel, I was impressed by the consistency that made this a must-order by anyone's standards. Depending on your tolerance for sweetness, some might find this a tad too sweet though it was okay by our standards!

Americano | S$5/++

 

Just the desired way to conclude an evening of good food with a balanced cup of black coffee with just the right amount of acidity, robustness of the beans and aroma of the roast.Right in the middle of the restaurant is this two-metre tall state-of-the-art Probat Roaster specially imported from Germany which defines who the owners are and where they started the business. Soon, this machine will be where JBM Coffee & Dining does its daily roast which will bring a divine aroma to the area!Tastefully decorated with plush brown leather chairs, banquet seats, there are even two private booths which can seat up to eight diners. While restaurants and eateries in general within the Raffles Place area are swarmed during lunch-hour, it would also be a great time to visit in the evenings if you are looking for some quiet moments with a date or even a meal with a business associate.
Service at tastings are usually good but I noticed how the service crew was equally attentive to the surrounding diners at nearby tables. A place that serves quality food at reasonable prices, I am looking forward to my return visit already.