Privé Grill is part of Privé Group multi-concept F&B lifestyle venue located on the only Singapore private island – Keppel Island. This venue consist of Privé Cafe, Privé Waterfront Bar and Privé Grill. Each of the establishment cater for different dining and entertainment experience.

For the followers of Chubbybotakkoala.com, you might know that it has been a tradition for us to celebrate our special occasion in a restaurant renowned for their steak. This time around, Privé Grill gets our pick.

Driving in to Keppel Island created a unique experience by itself, especially when you pass Keppel Bay Vista, with a stunning view of Singapore waterfront. The Privé F&B venue is located in the Marina at Keppel Bay main drop off point. Just let the service staff beside the Privé cafe know that you are going to the Privé Grill, they will lead the way. The dining area is set in a modern fine dining setting. White table clothes, clean setting, dimmed lights with romantic candle on the tables. A excellent environment to dine for those special or romantic occasions.At the beginning, we were served sweet potato chips, followed by bread basket after the service staff took our order. A plus point about this place, they have our favourite drinks, Lemon Lime and Bitters ($8) which really liven up our mood.

Prior our appetizer, we were served Amuse-bouche of Ricotta Cheese Moose bruschetta. This single bit size appetizer really opens up our palate before the actual appetizer came. No wonder, Amuse-bouche is also known as mouth amuser. Next come the Oxtail Turmeric Soup ($14). Cooked with celery and coriander, the taste is slightly subtle, clean infused with the oxtail flavour. Maybe we are used to the Indonesian version, also known as Sup Buntut, which have strong presence of spices we find this version a little bland. For the steak, we have NZ Savannah Angus Ribeye 340g($58) and U.S. Creekstone Angus Eye of the Ribeye ($58). Both cuts suppose to be renowned for its tenderness, marbling and rich texture. Both cooked to medium rare. We both share half of each steak equally and our verdict, the NZ Savannah Angus Ribeye gets our vote. The NZ steak is more tender, juicy and succulent compare to its US counterpart. The consistency across the steak is just amazing, it almost melts in your mouth. Yummyyyy!!!! We were not sure what sauce to choose from, luckily Privé Grill is generous enough to let us try all the four sauces. Our vote goes to Privé signature steak sauce. We find that it is best sauce to accompanied the steak, according to our taste buds.

For the sides, we had Duck Fat Fries ($12) served Truffle Mayonnaise and Grilled asparagus ($8) with Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The fries is thick but has a nice crispiness into it. Rich in flavour and goes well with truffle mayonnaise. It will be better if they coated the fries with truffle oil though. The asparagus is fresh, crunchy with smoky flavour from the grill. Trying something different for desserts, Basil Crepes with bananas ($12) got our pick. Served with honeycomb, caramel sauce and vanilla Bean Ice Cream. The dessert is very creative and well thought off, all ingredients combined well together and has a nice sweetness to it. Unfortunately we find the basil crepe is too thick and we are unable to taste any basil in the crepe. So we end up finishing the rest except for the crepes. The service here is excellent. The service staff is friendly and very accommodating. Worthy of a fine dining experience. Another plus point, after you settle your bill, they even send you home with a slice of fruit cake FOC for your snack at home.

Overall, we are truly impressed with the overall dining experience in this restaurant. Beautiful atmosphere and service, without filling much pinch on your pocket. We really look forward for our next visit. Cheers!

For full review and more photos, please visit
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2013/08/prive-grill-waterfront-dining-at.html

It has been a while since I noticed Arbite, located in Serangoon Garden-a place that I visit at least twice a week either for food or banking matters. To be exact, it is located on the second floor of Guardian pharmacy, beside Sushi Tei. Recently posting of positive food review online, make me decide to visit this bistro. This review is based on our observations (Little Devil and Chubby Botak Koala) from a few visits there.

Some simple facts about Arbite, “It all began with a simple belief shared by three secondary school buddies, that good food should be affordable and accessible. And so good food is at the heart of it all because the best reward for an honest day's work is a hearty meal.” (Quoted from Arbite.com.sg)

Our first visit was for a quick brunch during our wedding anniversary. We had Foie Gras ($14.90), Gardener French Toast ($13.90) and Squid Ink Seafood Spaghettini ($24.90). When the Spaghettini arrived, it looks so appetizing. The giant-size seafood cover the top part of the plates. The squid ink pasta was handmade, cooked to al dente, springy and soak up the fresh seafood flavour with tomato base. This dish get our two thumbs up, super Yummyyy!! And we were saying to ourself, we need to come back more often. Gardener French Toast & Foie Gras, shared a same basic ingredient, Brioche. The brioche has the perfect texture to pair with both dishes. For the French Toast, it is lightly coated with eggs and you can choose your dips of chocolate pot de crème, vanilla bean cream, berry compote and maple syrup. We like the cream berry compote and maple syrup. However the chocolate has a dense texture similar to nutella, I will like this dip if it is on melted chocolate form but LD being a nutella fan, simply loves the texture. The Foie Gras is pan fried to perfection, slightly crispy but melts in your mouth. It is a wonderful dish, although the generous apple & raisin compote can be a little to sweet for some people. Our Second visit was for a quick desserts. Specials for the day. Sago Watermelon Creme Brulee ($8) and Chendol Panacotta ($8). These are the interpretations of modern desserts with Asian flavour. The brulee has a nice layer of crusted sugar on the top, the combination of sago, watermelon and crème, created a nice balance with the right sweetness and texture in this desserts. Chendol Panacotta is a creative invention, but a little more difficult to palate. The panacotta is thick and has a good sweetness level in it. Texture is slightly condense but did not manage to hold the red bean and chendol in place. We have slight problem in accepting chendol flavour with cream and orange syrup, however have to give them brownie points for coming out with this desserts.Third visit, Truffle Fries (S12.90), Pancakes ($14.90); and soup, salad, Braised Beef and Pork and Veal Sausage ($30 – UOB 1 for 1 promo). Truffle fries is house fries tossed with truffle sea salt, truffle oil and serve with truffle dip. The fries are nicely fried, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The truffle oil is fragrant but subtle, while the truffle dip accentuate the flavour in the fries. For the pancakes, the presentation is amazing however the sweetness is a little overwhelming. Although the pancake is fluffy, the caramelised banana actually make the texture quite dense and hard to swallow. For UOB 1 for 1 promo, it come with mushroom soup is thick and flavourful. The salad with vinaigrette dressing, is simple yet refreshing. The braised beef is tender and well cook. Paired with their popular brioche to soak up the gravy from the beef is a nice comfort food. Meanwhile, Pork and Veal sausages dish quite disappointing. The pepper in the pork is to overpowering, the veal sausages are dry and the additional ingredients in the mash potatoes made it taste weird.

So far, we find the ice lemon tea ($4) and ice passion fruit tea ($5) are quite refreshing. Service has always been good. The service staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Decoration is simple. The wall on the staircase are decorated with lego bricks. The dining area is open and filled with natural lights during the day.

Overall, Arbite provide a good quality food using fresh ingredients. They refresh their menu quite regularly. For example, the squid ink pasta was off the menu on our recent visit, and replace with a Tagliatelle with prawns. However, based on the dishes served, we can be sure it will be top notch. Looking forward to our next visit there. Cheers!!

For the more photos and complete Chubby Botak Koala dining experience at Arbite, click / copy the following link to your browser: http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2013/08/arbite-fresh-simple-and-creative.html

Nakhon Kitchen is simple non air-conditioned café that serve simple authentic Thai food. Nakhon Kitchen has built up their reputation when they opened in Bedok. The second branch are opened in the North-east area. Located in the inner part of Kovan, at the junction of Hougang St 21 and Hougang Ave 1, this small eatery has build up quite a big followers. On the weekends, expect a long queue of customers waiting for their turns to have a fix of traditional Thai food. For Little Devil ('LD') and I, it is more like a game of cat and mouse game. If we passed by Nakhon and don't see any people queuing, we will quickly turn to the car park and grab a quick bite there. However if we see a long queue, then we just keep going. All along, we find all the food here is delicious and authentic. The reason is simple, they bring the same basic ingredients, sauces and condiments direct from Thailand. Majority of their cooks and service staff are also Thai, therefore you can not only taste but also feel their authenticity.

Our favourite dishes here are: Pad Thai ($5), Green Curry Chicken ($8), Stir-fried mince pork w/hot basil leaves ($6) and Pandan Leaves Chicken ($6).

Nakhon Kitchen Pad Thai has a nice balance of sweet and sour. The rice noodle has a springy texture and combine all the ingredients and texture such as bean spout, chives, eggs and crushed peanuts beautifully. Every time I have green curry chicken here, I will more likely end up with extra serving of rice. It has subtle spiciness, fragrant green curry, and richness of the coconut milk are just too inviting. Although the carnivores will feel that the meat in the curry is lacking, I will add the meat from Pandan Leaves Chicken to satisfy my cravings as a carnivore. The Pandan Leaves Chicken is well marinated and fried to perfection with the wrapped pandan leaves. The chicken remain juicy and succulent, with a lovely pandan flavour. The Stir-fried mince pork is very spicy combined with fragrant basil leaves, this dish really open up your appetite. The saltiness of the dish is just right with a little tingling of sweetness, entice you to keep scooping for more even though the chilli is numbing your tongue. The Thai Ice Milk Tea here is the same as the one you get in Thailand. The upside of it, it has less ice than what you normally get in Thailand. The downside, it is almost triple the price you pay in Thailand.

The service here is friendly, efficient and fuss-free. Your first dish will normally be served within 10 minutes after they take your order. If you just want to order take away, you just need to approach the service staff. Decoration is minimum and please be considerate of the other people waiting for your seat

Overall, for those who never been to Nakhon Kitchen, consider this as a hidden find. One of the cheapest and most authentic Thai food you can find in Singapore. Cheers!!!

For full review and more photos, please visit
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2013/08/nakhon-kitchen-authentic-thai-food.html

Sky on 57 is gastronomic dining experience opened by Singaporean French trained Chef Justin Quek. Located on the 57th floor of Tower 1 Marina Bay Sands ('MBS'), this restaurant provide the awesome view of Singapore skyline to accompany your dining experience. According to the MBS website written by those tongue twisting PR people, Sky on 57 showcase a modern interpretation of Franco Asian Cuisine. Chubby Botak Koala's simple interpretation, fusion between Asian & French cuisine. So it is normal to see Chicken Rice, Laksa or Xiao Long Bao serve side by side with Foie Gras, Wild Mushroom Risotto and Champagne on the same table.

Before we proceed further, let us be clear that this review is based on our visit to the Sky on 57 Terrance Bar, not the main restaurant. We visited the sky bar for drinks on one Wednesday night. Luckily without reservation, we manage to get a seat. As we were then ushered to our seat, I can feel my jaw dropped. The Terrance Bar has a first class view of Singapore CBD skyline, including the Fullerton Hotel and Esplanade. The view can be only described as breathtaking and magnificent! Amazing!

This section is open air, with luxurious outdoor lazy sofas and cushioned stools. Basically the environment persuade you to sit down, chill out, enjoy the comfortable background music, have a little nibble and drinks & at the same time soaking up the beautiful atmosphere. Definitely a good place to bring someone special or clients from overseas. A place to proposed to your loved ones, is also not out of the question.The menu has a good selection of alcoholic beverages, however as we were on non alcohol diet at this moment, we ended up with mocktails. Our mocktails are mixed with strawberry, mango & pineapples and lime & mint; priced around $10.For finger foods, we had Fried “Sakura” Chicken ($18) and Wok fried Australian beef short ribs in salt and pepper ($25). Fried “Sakura” Chicken is crispy on the outside but juicy and succulent on the inside. The marinate is quite subtle, and it is served with lemon mayonnaise and chilli sauce. The beef short ribs is tender and juicy, covered with fragrant fried garlic and chilli. Unlike the Korean sweet version of short beef marinated, JQ's (Justin Quek) style of marination is more on the salty side. It was well marinated, but expect to get your fingers dirty as you need to deal with the bones of the short ribs. The service here was first class. The service staff are friendly, well trained and very accommodating. They are always on their toes but you won't feel their presence intruding your evening. We totally enjoy our visit here.

Overall, Sky on 57 Terrance Bar is a must place to visit. The beautiful Singapore skyline at night is just magnificent. The food and beverages are priced reasonably and it is value for money considering the location. Cheers!

For full review and more photos, please visit
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2013/07/sky-on-57-terrance-bar-perfect-view.html

Baker & Cook is an European style Artisan bakery, brainchild of Kiwi origin Global Baker Dean Brettschneider. Born in New Zealand, Celebrity Global Baker Dean is citizen of the world, with working experience spanning from his native New Zealand, Europe, USA, Britain and Asia. Baker & Cook in Hillcrest Road is his first outpost in Singapore with the vision to expand a couple more bakeries in Singapore heartland should the opportunity arises.

When you step into Baker & Cook, you can see the bright, warm, modern but with slightly rugged finishings. Designed by top architecture firm in Singapore, Ong & Ong, the design drew inspiration from the breads texture, grains and crumbs. The products such as bread, cake, tarts, cookies, quiches, sandwiches or salads are proudly displayed on the counters and shelf in the restaurant. There is a humongous wooden dining table inside the restaurant for indoor dining and lots more table and chair for the alfresco section. Eggs Benedict ($19) this is the main reason that I came here for. Two poached eggs, laid on two slices of Pain au Levin (White sourdough) bread, topped with hollandaise sauce with generous glaze of balsamic vinegar and chilli oil. You can choose bacon or salmon as the topping. The eggs are cooked to perfection, with the yolk ooze out when you break the eggs. The sourdough is firm but light with crispy edge, managed to absorb the egg yolks and hollandaise sauce. The balsamic vinegar and chilli oil act as the counter balance against the richness of the sauce. Yummyyy!!Next come the Pancake Stack ($17) served with compote of caramelized apples, Greek yoghurt and lashing of homemade toffee sauce. The pancake is quite generous in size. Although the pancake is moisty, the natural apple compote with cinnamon powder and greek yoghurt made the dish slightly sour and dry. Personally, it is not to my liking, but the Little Devil's ('LD') liked it. LD also ordered sausage rolls with salad for her main dish. It was reheated, with a nice crispy texture on the outside and moist filling on the inside. Again, I am a meat pie person rather than a sausage roll, so I just endorse her opinion that it is good. As a little greed sips into our marrow, we also ordered Baker & Cook Freshly Baked Bread & Viennoiserie Selection ($10). They are served with butter and three type of homemade jams (marmalade, mixed berries and blackberries). The jams are natural and not too sweet, as I used them to help me finished my share of the slightly dry pancakes. The whole bread basket basically went to a paper bag and brought home for the satisfaction of family members at home. The service staff here is friendly, good and efficient. However, just like the common practice in may café or food establishment in Singapore, you actually have to place your order in the counter and make payment first before you can enjoy your food.

Overall, we are glad that Baker & Cook brought European Atrisan Bakery to Singapore to satisfy the well-travelled food lover Singaporeans. They have some many delicious, yummy looking products, we just find one visit to this place is just not enough. We want to try the cake, croissants, bombolini doughnuts, cakes and many more. “We'll BE BACK!!!” Bon appetite!For the full review and phots of Baker & Cook, click or copy the link below to your brower:
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2013/07/baker-cook-getting-to-know-artisan-bread.html