For the month of July, Chef Leung Kwok Sing- a man known for his creative passion, has specially created new dim sum delights cleverly inspired by everyday food and dishes that he has enjoyed. These new creations place a heavy emphasis on both presentation and freshness of ingredients with the intricate details of every individual item reflecting Chef Liu's culinary pedigree and skill of precision.

Available during lunch in the a-la-carte menu, these delicacies will suitably impress business executives here for a corporate lunch, the family celebrating a special occasion and even a group of friends who want an authentic Cantonese culinary experience.

We began with these delicate pouches of Steamed Lobster Dumplings sitting daintily in individual bamboo holders. Wrapped snugly with a spinach skin and topped with a single goji berry and caviar, the kaleidoscope of colors displayed through these dumplings were nothing short of a pretty picture. I particularly enjoyed the full-bodied flavor which had just the right juiciness and sweetness to it. Truly exquisite.Desserts were undeniably the most globalized and internationally-influenced. The Glutinous Rice Roll with Mango is actually an attempt by Chef Leung to recreate popular Thai dessert- Mango with sticky rice and I have to commend his successful attempt at innovating a delectably charming one-of-a-kind dessert. Granted that it did not taste exactly like the Thai classic, it had the right sticky consistency and a creamy sweet mango centre.Summer Palace will also be celebrating our nation's 48th birthday with an exclusive National Day Set Lunch available for only a limited period (1-14 August 2013) for $48++.

Enjoy well-loved local favorites with the National Day Dim Sum Combination Platter which features a Steamed Chilli Crab Pau, Satay Pork Dumpling and Sticky Glutinous Chicken Rice as well as outstanding Summer Palace signatures of Hot and Sour Soup with Lobster and Assorted Seafood, Deep-fried Ribs in Coffee Sauce with Broccoli, and a simple yet flavorful Stir-fried Rice Vermicelli with Shredded Duck and Seafood.Oh yes, and that Steamed Chilli Crab bun flows too! You heard me right, chilli crab! With the sweet, savory and spicy sauce and silvers of real crab meat all encased in a soft steamed bun. Delish!Do note that Chef Leung's new dim sum creations are only available from 1st-31st July 2013 and the National Day Set Lunch will be launched from 1st-14th August 2013 so make your reservations fast!

For full review and photos: http://gninethree.com/2013/07/16/dim-sum-delights-summer-palace-chinese-restaurant-regent-singapore

When the news first broke sometime last year that Jamie's Italian was setting up shop here in Singapore, it was greeted with much excitement and anticipation. Very naturally, its official opening two days ago on 17th July saw snaking long queues and crowds of enthusiastic fans eager to get a taste of Asia's first Jamie's Italian.

What's heartening to note is that this 250-seater restaurant is spacious so the turnover rate should be relatively fast and they do take in limited reservations. But we hear that the earliest available date for booking at the moment is late August so your best bet if you cannot wait, is probably to just do a walk-in. You might get lucky during off-peak hours!The menu at Jamie's Italian Singapore features a decent selection of Antipasti served on planks and plates, reasonably priced between $7.50 - $17.

We started with the Crispy Squid - $11.50 served with a dip of garlicky mayo & lemon- a crunchy snack with a particularly addictive dip. The portion was petite and is probably good for 2 to share if you are planning to order other items to try as well.One of the more enjoyable dishes that evening was Jool's fFavorite Sicilian Tuna Fusilli - $14/$21 - named after Jamie Oliver's wife. The corkscrew shaped pieces had a fresh homemade quality to it and springiness with each bite. Peppered with a spoonful of herby cinnamon breadcrumbs for an added twist, it was not hard to see why this is Jool's favorite.Dessert options were fairly concise with Ice-Creams, Sorbets, Brioche Con Gelato $9.50 and Tiramisu $11.50. We had a tough time choosing initially because our first decision of Honeycomb Ice-cream with crushed honeycomb topping was unfortunately sold out. Thankfully, the desserts we eventually decided on, proved to be the best part of our evening.

This Creamy Panna Cotta - $9 was undeniably one of the best panna cottas I have tried. Softly set with a silken-smooth texture that was deliciously light and creamy paired with the sharpness of the raspberry fruit compote, this was sublime. Must order!In short, Jamie's Italian fulfills its duty as a family friendly casual Italian restaurant with an upbeat and jovial atmosphere- the energy here especially from the service staff is infectious. It is a place for groups of friends to come together and enjoy homely Italian classics in a comfortable and laid back space. Don't come here expecting fine-dining and chichi posh food and you will have a great time.

For full review and photos: http://gninethree.com/2013/07/19/jamies-italian-opens-in-singapore/

Combining the best of both worlds, Checkers Brasserie has recently revamped their popular Sunday Brunch buffet style by adding on, an À La Carte element to it. Diners can then enjoy a selection of Gourmet Bites such as Wagyu Beef, Foie Gras Dumplings, Pan-Seared Scallops and Egg Specialties of Modern, French, Italian, Japanese influences prepared à la minute but still delight in a generous spread of antipasti, charcuterie, seafood on ice, cheeses and desserts as they wait for their orders to be served.Be greeted by a complimentary amuse-bouche platter that is served once you are seated. Munch on the little bites as you browse through the menu selections and decide what you wish to order. Freshly blended smoothies such as the Berry Berry, Spicy Banana, Raspberry Splash and Honey Chocolate are highly recommended and not to be missed.Fresh juices and yogurts are also free-flow with bottled options so you can simply take back a bottle or two to the table and share with your party. The Checkers Brasserie culinary team had specially added this alternative so that diners need not have to walk up and down for refills and hence have more time to spend mingling with their friends at the table.From the list of Egg Specialties, we chose two that sounded most scrumptious. But other offerings from around the globe include the American (sizzling eggs on a hot plate with double apple-wood smoked bacon), English (eggs with wagyu corned beef hash) and Italian (poached eggs in devil tomato sauce).The Gourmet Bites section of the menu offers a concise variety of seven dishes to choose from.

Adding on to the list of dishes to impress, the Wagyu Beef definitely did not disappoint. Seared to a perfect Medium-rare shade of pink and dressed with a red wine sauce... need we say more?Desserts on the a la carte menu include Pancakes with blueberries & maple syrup, Belgian Waffles with a choice of strawberries, panna cotta gelato, chocolate, banana or pecans and Crepes with fruits, mascarpone, nuts or chocolate.

And if your sweet tooth is still not satisfied, do not forget about the dessert buffet spread of ice-creams, macarons, cakes, eclairs and chocolate pots on display for you to enjoy till your heart is content!

For full review and photos: http://gninethree.com/2013/07/21/new-a-la-carte-sunday-brunch-checkers-brasserie-hilton-singapore/

For full review and photos: http://gninethree.com/2013/07/10/jewel-cafe-bar-on-rangoon-road

Riding on the success of its flagship artisanal coffee house in Shenton Way- Jewel Coffee, owner Adrian Khong has since opened his second outlet- Jewel Cafe + Bar in the heart of Little India, along Rangoon Road. Unlike its predecessor, this cafe+bar concept boasts of a full-fledged menu featuring all day comfort foods of unique appetizers, tantalizing pastas, scrumptious burgers and original cocktail concoctions from the bar.

Pop by between 3-7pm for 20% off alcoholic drinks during happy hour!

Coffee aficionados will also be pleased to know that Jewel now roasts their coffee beans in a specially imported roaster, at the cafe's very own backyard. These freshly roasted coffee beans are then supplied to both Jewel outlets (Shenton Way and Rangoon Road), as well as other cafes and establishments. Word has it that barista workshops conducted for the public are also in the works so keep your ears peeled for the enthusiast in you.

Headlining our appetizers, was a warm bowl cup of French Onion Soup - $8 with a brimming cap of three different types of cheeses- Swiss, Parmesan and Gruyere melted cohesively together to compliment the soothingly sweet broth beneath. Effortlessly comforting and surprisingly well done for a non-French establishment. Two thumbs up!Next was the Shio-Koji Octopoke - $12, so elegantly plated with details, it could almost pass off as fine-dining. Made up of pan-seared octopus cubes tossed in shio-koji, creamy avocado and shredded ginger flower, this appetizer sure left a piquant impression on the taste buds. That ring of wasabi-extra virgin olive oil concoction that bordered the plate especially, added balance and a concentration of flavor that intensed without overwhelming the dish overall.These unassuming Fat Soldiers - $9 were essentially slices of freshly toasted baguette served with a dip of homemade bacon jam which took owner-Adrian one month to perfect! Somewhat like a relish consistency, you would not be blamed for thinking that it tasted a tad like blitzed bak kwa (honeyed dried- pork). And I have to admit, the ease of eating the jam with a spoon, made the experience all the more gratifying.

The OMG! $20 burger will not leave you unsatisfied. Tuck into the layers of crisp bacon, luncheon meat, USDA beef patty, cheddar, caramelized onions and lettuce and embrace the decadence. Not forgetting the sunny-side up with its runny yolk, which lends a hand at sealing the deal. Indeed OMG!For the coffee connoisseurs, do not leave without trying Jewel's espresso-based coffee specialties that are lovingly pulled with their Italian state-of-the-art La Marzocco Strada machine from single origin imported coffee beans from Brazil, Ethiopia and Sumatra. It will be a caffeine-rush you do not want to miss!

For full review and photos: http://gninethree.com/2013/06/21/tamashii-robataya-a-unique-robatayaki-experience/

Located at level 2 of The Offshore building along North Canal Road, the restaurant may only be 2 months old, but the chef and owner of this dining establishment is no lightweight. With 14 years of culinary experience in Japanese cuisine under his belt, working previously at Tatsuya and M Hotel, Chef Patrick Tan is sincere and passionate about his craft, desiring nothing more than to share his love for food by serving every individual customer with soul.For the uninitiated, the Robata style of dining sees diners seated around a U-shaped counter that partitions off the working space of the chefs by a mere foot long distance of counter space. This space is used to display a selection of gourmet vegetables, seafood and meats or more accurately put, the season's finest produce shipped in that day.

Somewhat like an upscale seafood village/market place, customers need simply pick out the food they want and Patrick with his team of chefs will work their magic on the grill.We started with the Shiromi Truffle, which had exquisite plating of thinly sliced Amber Jack Mackerel, topped with black truffle shavings and garnished so prettily with purple edible flowers. Yes you heard me right, flowers.Next up was a rustic-looking Sazae Tsuboyaki. The flesh of the Horned Turban Clam was first hoiked out of its shell together with the guts, before being chopped up and tucked back into the now clean-ed shell with fishcake and mushrooms. All the ingredients are then cooked in a concoction of Dashi, Mirin and Sake, forming a little clear broth brewing in the Clam Shell.If you feel that your meal is incomplete without meat, then embrace this Hitsuji Niku, a grilled rack lamb dressed in salt, pepper and homemade apple sauce. Chef Patrick explains that a young lamb is used so that the gamey odor and flavor is toned down. I had to agree after taking a bite as I am usually quite sensitive to the smell. The meat too was tender and this rack was cleaned to its bone in no time.We also tried two rice bowls that evening.

The first was the Saga Gyu Donburi, a Tamashii Robataya signature. Not hard to see why when this bowl reaches you though. Grilled Japanese Saga Beef with black summer truffle shavings and onsen egg atop fluffy Japanese rice, this was pure comfort food. Three gorgeous ingredients in a single bowl with a runny yolk to boot, this is one yummy bowl of goodness you do not want to miss.And for the complete ultimate Robata experience, one cannot leave without some alcohol in their system. Tamashii offers an extensive list of alcoholic beverages which includes Beers, Shochu, Whiskey and more than 10 different types of Sakae. So gather your friends down for one-of-a-kind experience here at Tamashii Robataya. It is one that you will be talking about for weeks to come.