[MEDIA INVITE - LIMITED TIME]
For the full review, click / copy the link below to your browser:
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2016/02/pool-grill-flavours-of-spain.htmlGet ready to be tantalise by Flavours Of Spain, brought to you by Pool Grill and Guest Chef Albert Ortiz. Chef Ortiz was born and bred in Barcelona, is a 3rd generation of restaurateur. For the last 3 years, Chef Ortiz has expand his horizon to Asia, and incorporate the colourful flavours of Asia in his cooking.From 15 February to 13 March 2016, you can taste the characteristic of Chef Albert cooking at Pool Grill. I was fortunate enough to be the first few to sample his gastronomic delight in 4 course dinner ($58++)

The bread, Onion Focaccia. The signature bread from Marriott bakery. The crust on top and bottom was just crispy, while the inner part of the bread is soft, moist with fragrance from the onion. Appetizer - Pan-seared scallop, “sofrito” puree, chorizo “migas”, caviar oil and dill. The scallop is nicely seared, sweet and brainy. The texture is so soft, like cutting through a butter with hot knife. The sofrito puree, made from capsicum and olive oil provided a subtle companion to the scallop. For crispy, crumbly texture, Chef Albert added aromatic chorizo migas, which is a traditional dish in Spain made from day old bread. The touch of caviar helps brings out the flavour of the sea in this dish. Starter - grilled octopus, crusty pork jowl, buttered mashed potato and smoked Spanish paprika oil. Chef Albert version of surf and turf. The octopus was sous-vide before it was grilled to add texture and flavour. It has a delicate springy texture and succulent as well. The pork jowl has the perfect ratio between fats and meat and basically melts in your mouth. Love the buttery flavour of the smooth mash potatoes, and the paprika oil add a subtle spicy kick to the dish. Main – braised beef cheek, olive oil crashed potato, baby carrots and passion fruit. A must try dish for a beef lover. The beef cheek was so soft, I only need my fork to peel each layer of this dish. Accompanied with sweet baby carrots and rustic feel of crushed potatoes. The intense sauce is beef stock reduction finished off with red wine and passion fruit for a twist tanginess. Dessert – dark chocolate ice cream, char-grilled banana, gorgonzola cheese and caramelised butter. It was not the ending that I expected. The heat from the grilled banana actually melted the ice cream. Instead of dark chocolate ice cream, it turn out to be dark chocolate cream. The pairing of intense pungent flavour of gorgonzola cheese with dark chocolate “cream” provided a unique yet pleasant finish to the dish. Dining at Pool Grill, you will have a great view of the swimming pool of Marriott Singapore Tang Plaza Hotel and the view of surrounding buildings in Orchard Road, such as Ion Orchard and Shaw House. We were seated in the huge Chinese style pavilion, where it can seat about 20 people. To keep everyone cool, an unique fan called “Big Ass Fan” is used. It control the temperature nicely without messing up your hair or blowing everything off the table. It was indeed a pleasant outdoor dining experience. According to our host, the gazebo is frequently used for wedding solemnisation. Overall, the menu of Flavours of Spain at Pool Grill is a reflection of Chef Albert new insight to Spanish Cuisine. His signature of fusion of Spanish food with Asian ingredients. So don't miss out on :

Flavours of Spain at Pool Grill
Spanish Set Lunch and Dinner
15 February – 13 March 2016
3-Course Lunch: $35++ per person
4-Course Dinner: $58++ per person

Thank you very much to the team at Marriott Singapore for the tasting invitation.

For the complete review, click here:
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2016/02/noodle-place-restaurant.htmlOne of the must-try food when you go to Hong Kong is Wanton Mee. Though we have our own version of wanton mee in Singapore, the one in that we normally eat in Hong Kong is different.

The Hong Kong version of wanton mee normally come in clear soupy version. The noodle is thin, springy almost feel like you are biting wires. Fresh, crunchy shrimp wanton which are filled with fragrant sesame oil topped with chopped yellow chives and a robust broth. Recently we found a pretty good place for Hong Kong style of wanton mee in Orchard Road, called Noodle Place. With a little digging, I found out that it was actually owned by PFS Pte Ltd, the food service arm of Prima Group. Apparently, they engaged Chef Chui Chuen Lai, former Executive Chef of Mak's Noodle in Hong Kong as Head Consultant to give Noodle Place the authentic Hong Kong dining experience. We ordered the Shrimp Wanton Noodle ($8.30 for soup & $9 for dry). The soup version come in a bigger bowl compare those we had in Hong Kong. The size of the congee bowl. The broth was golden in colour and from the first sip, you can actually taste the robustness of the broth infused with prawn and pork. The noodle was thin and springy (QQ), but it still has enough pores to absorb the beautiful broth. The four pieces of wanton were fresh, crunchy and cover with the fragrance of the sesame oil. Also watch out for the yellow chives that add the subtle flavour in the wanton mee. Definitely feels like we are eating the wanton mee in Hong Kong.

The wanton was so good, LD actually order another wanton soup. For the dry version, it is served in typical simple, no frills Hong Kong fashion. Dry noodle, 4 pcs of wanton, a few pieces of kai lan and a good dollop of superior oyster sauce. Though the noodle and wanton are the same, the superior oyster sauce can't compete with the superior broth. If you prefer the dry version, my suggestion is order the soup version, ask for extra plate and dry the noodle yourself. This is definitely the way to eat here. To accompany our noodles, we decided to try Twin Mixed Roast Meat – Crispy Roast Pork and Roast Duck ($19). The roast duck is juicy and succulent, while the skin was crispy and beautifully peel off from the meat. It's a bit fatty, but I just love how it melts in your mouth. Oh No... Now I am drooling for the roast duck. The roast pork is more on the fat side, flavourful, nicely marinated, however missing the crunchinesses from the crackling. It seems the skin was being soaked too much in its oil. The décor of the place is very simple, no much fuss about it. It is bright and although they try to maximise the seating area, there is sufficient space between tables.

Overall, Noodle Place is definitely one of the place I will go to satisfy my HongKong Wanton Mee cravings. Of course I don't mind a good plate of roast pork and roast duck as well. Cheers!!

[MEDIA INVITE] For the full review, click here:
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2016/01/golden-peony-cny2016.htmlChinese New Year is just around the corner, in welcoming the year of the Monkey, Chef Ku Keung, from Golden Peony ('GP') has prepared stunning spread to welcome the year of the Monkey.

We started with this year theme creation for Fortune Monkey Yu Sheng. Fortune Yu Sheng with Abalone, Hiramasa and Crispy Fish Skin. (风生水起; 嘻啦玛莎，鲍鱼, 金黄鱼皮金猴捞起). The one we had was the jumbo version, priced at the auspicious $888, which can feed between 30 to 40 pax. Something to consider if you are having a company CNY meal in Golden Peony.  Main ingredients include Harimasa, also known yellowtail amberjack, which have firm, silky texture and rich in flavour; Fresh and crunchy Abalone; Crispy fish skin coated with salted egg to add to the normal golden pillow. The sweet sauce was delicate to ensure that everyone can enjoy the Yu Sheng to the last bite without being overwhelmed.  

Of course, there is a smaller version of Yu Sheng available. Price starting from $68 for small (2 to 5 pax) and $128 for large (6 to 10 pax).

The elegance of dining in Golden Peony continued with Crispy Filo Swan filled with Foie Gras, Truffle and Minced Chicken. (天降横财 – 松露天鹅酥). An upgrade to the normal dim sum dish. Shaped in the form of the swan, it has a light buttery pastry that melts in your mouth. I personally like the rich velvety texture of the foie gras, which combine well with the minced chicken. The portion of the truffle slices are very generous as well. For me, one piece of this will not be enough. Canadian Sea Perch Roll with Lobster, Minced Shrimp and Fish Roe in Spinach Purée (财源滚滚 - 菠菜汁龙珠球). The lobster meat is wrapped by sea perch fillet, lightly seasoned which allow each of the ingredients to stand out. The fish roe provide a nice crunchy texture with a mini burst of explosion in your mouth. The subtle flavour Spinach puree provided a nice touch to this soup dish. Braised Abalone with ‘Monkey Head’ Mushroom, Fish Maw and Black Moss. (金猴献瑞 – 红焖发财鲍鱼猴头菇花胶). A superb robust gravy, thick and packs of flavour. The abalone was springy and crunchy, while the delicate fish maw nicely absorbs the gravy. The monkey head mushroom really soaked up the flavour, like a sponge transferring the gravy. It will be nice to have this dish with a bowl of steam rice. Roast Suckling Pig stuffed with Hainanese Chicken Rice (鸿运当头 – 沙皮海南鸡乳猪). The main attraction of this year CNY dinner at GP. The piggy is stuffed with one of Singapore iconic dish, Hainanese Chicken Rice. I like the crispy skin on the pig which has minimum amount of pig. The chicken rice is a little bit mushy, while the chicken thigh used to roll the rice is succulent. Each slices of the sucking pig is served with chilli sauce, sweet suckling pig sauce and mashed ginger. For desserts, Golden ‘Nian Gao’ with Sweet Potato and Yam Chilled Lemongrass Jelly with Aloe Vera and Jack Fruit in Sour Plum Juice. (阖家团圆 – 金薯芋头年糕拼菠萝蜜话梅芦荟冻). The chilled dessert is just refreshing, especially with the infusion of sour plum juice. Meanwhile the nian gao is sandwiched between sweet potato and yam provided a nostalgic feel of the CNY. Overall, it was a very good all round dining experience in Golden Peony. The Yu Sheng and dishes that uses traditional ingredients such as abalone and fish maw are nicely executed. Being innovative, Chef Ku Keung also pushes the boundary by stuffing the suckling pig dish with Singapore iconic dish. The use of Foie Gras, Truffle and Lobster provided the WOW factor in CNY dishes served in Golden Peony. Definitely a place to consider for this year CNY meal. Cheers!!

Thank you very much to Conrad Centennial Singapore for the tasting invitation.

For the compete review, click / copy the link below to your browser:
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2016/01/district-10-suntec-city.htmlDistrict 10 Bar and Grill, the new outlet by Bonta group that recently joined the line up of 3 other District 10 restaurants specialising in Best Dry Aged Meat. For those who are not familiar with Dry Aged Meat, it is the process used in ageing meat in a control temperature. Through the ageing process, the liquid from the meat will evaporate, connective tissue in the meat will slowly break down resulting a more intense and succulent a steak. We started the meal with our favourite burrata cheese. Puglia Burrata with Organic Cherry Tomato and Basil Bruschetta ($26). The burrata is creamy, think, subtle and melts in your mouth. It is nicely pair with the rocket salad and sweet cheery tomatoes. The balsamic vinaigrette does well to neutralise the richness of the burrata. A good start to the meal, it will be better with more tomatoes. Together with the salad, we were served complimentary sun-dried tomato homemade bread, to be dipped with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The bread has a crispy crust, soft, slightly dense centre part, infused with the sun-dried tomato. Our main meal was 600 gram of 45 days Home Dry Aged Corn Fed US Prime OP Rib ($20 per 100 gram). Cooked nicely to medium rare as per ordered finished off with sprinkle of rock salt. At first sight, you can see the meat has a dark bloody red colour due to the dry aged. We also notice that it looks slightly dry, absent of any excess meat jus. The outer part is slightly charred, however the meat is still tender and after a few bites it will slowly dissipate in your mouth. Yum Yum! But if you like you steak juicy, bouncy with beautiful marbling, dry aged steak might not be for you. For the sauce we choose red wine sauce and salt infused herb. We find the salt infused herb more suitable with the steak. Sides to go with the steak Rosemary and Garlic Fries ($10) and Sautéed Cream Baby Spinach ($10). Fries was crisp on the outside while moist in the inside. The fries are subtly infused with garlic and rosemary flavour. The baby spinach was nicely cooked, not soggy, creamy with a hint of bitterness. Finished off with a few shavings of parmesan cheese for flavour. Dessert was Crème Brulee ($16). The crème was solid, slightly dense with a good creaminess to it. The crisp top of the crème brulee at District 10 uses fine brown sugar instead of coarse brown sugar. Resulting the caramel part thinner, and you don't get that satisfying crack when you dig into the crème burlee. It is simply lack of the shiokness. As District 10 is also a bar, you definitely can get your type of drinks here. I ordered Virgin Mojito ($10) to end the meal. It provide a bitter refreshing taste to end the meal. Located outside Tower 2, District 10 has two seating area, indoor and outdoor. The indoor seating is very small and can only accommodate up to 35 pax only. The dining setting look a bit like a modern butchery with dark wooden furniture. Instead of using table cloth, it uses white paper to cover the table, with District 10 logo chopped on it. Overall, it was an unique experience dining at District 10 @ Suntect City. The Dry Aged Beef sure taste different compare to our normal steak. If you ask me to choose, I still prefer my bloody and juicy rib eye with lots of marbling. However, it is good to try something different from time to time. Cheers!!

[MEDIA INVITE] For the complete review, click here:
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2015/12/dc-comics-super-heroes-cafe.html DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe (“DCSH”) at Marina Bay Sands is one of the cafe that are licensed by Warner Bros. Unlike any normal cafe, this place is like a mini museum for DC Comics. Once you enter the cafe, every details of the cafe is basically screams DC comics characters. You have Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and The Flash leading the charge. The decorations, the menu, the food even the utensils, have DC Comic characters or their logo on it. So if you are a fan of DC Comics characters, this place definitely a must visit for you. During this Christmas period, DCSH offered a festive 3-Course Menu + Gifts @$88++ per person. For starters, you can choose between Arkham City's X'Mad Minestrone Soup or Star of Wonder (Woman) Salad. The soup is very subtle, slightly tangy from the tomatoes and you can clearly taste each ingredients such as celery, cabbage, carrot and potato. In line with the theme of the cafe, the sliced potatoes and carrots comes with the shape of Batman Logo. The parmesan cheese crackers, springs a slight surprise in the soup flavours. The salad serving looks generous. Instead of typical mini cube croutons, the salad came with toasted bread in the shape of star. You can find pomegranate arils, raisins, sliced almond and dried cranberries accompanied the mesclun salad. The combination of balsamic vinegar and red wine vinegar, gave the dressing the sweetness needed to lift up the salad. Little Devil and I personally feel that the salad is the crowd pleaser, especially with so much high antioxidant ingredients in it. For Mains, you can choose between Batman's Dark Knight Burger, Deluxe Edition or Aquaman “The Sea King of Atlantis” Lobster Tail. The half lobster is pretty huge in size, it is springy, tasty and goes well with the lobster bisque sauce. The vegetables are done just right, boiled then coated with lemon butter. A good choice for a seafood lover. Our pick are the deluxe edition of the burger. Served on black charcoal bun, mustard mayo with Wagyu Beef Patties, Foie Gras, Avocado and Chilli Jam. Ok, I am officially drooling again when I writing this review. The patties is thick and juicy, while the foie gras and avocado just melts in your mouth. Yum Yum Burgergasm!! The fries on the side was double fried, so it is crisp on the outside and moist inside for a longer period of time. Warning, the size of serving is pretty huge, so it will be enough to share with your loved ones. There is only one choice of dessert, which is Superman Winter Solstice-Tude. Mixed berries tartlet with icing sugar. You can find the combination of strawberries and blackberries on the tart and sliced kiwi fruit on the side. Though it looks aesthetically pleasing, it does not deliver in terms of taste. For each person ordering the Festive Season Special, you will each received Trexi Batman or Superman (Value at $29.90 each) and a Hero Cape of Batman or Superman (Value at $29.90 each). If you count this in, it is truly worth to visit DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe during this period. During our visit here, we also sampled their Flaming Firestorm's Wings ($10.90 for 6 pcs/ $18.90 for 12 pcs). A unique version of chicken wings, where it combines the prawn paste marinate with bbq sauce. It is crispy, juicy and succulent and well seasoned. Meanwhile the bbq sauce is not spicy at all and is suitable for all ages. When you order drinks here, such as their Strawberry Supergirl ($9.90) it come with a Super cup, which has a cape on its own. Pretty Cool right. We also tried some of their other desserts such as their Rainbow Chocolate cake ($9.90 per slice) and Lemon Meringue Pie ($7.90). Let just say that the Superheroes were to busy fighting crime, they did not pay attention to the desserts. Unless you really in a need to get your fix of cakes, we suggest you give it a pass.  Overall, dining at DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe will provide you with a sense of dining with your DC Comic Superheroes. The entrée, small bites and main menu are good and delivery on flavours. The drinks are creative and we totally loved the presentation. So DC Comics fans or those who want to get to know DC Comics Characters, give this place a try. Cheers and Merry Christmas. Thank you very much to DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe and H3(Cube) for the tasting invitation.