For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2014/01/17/platters-wine-and-bistro-bar/

At Platters, the owners believe the spirit of sharing makes meals more enjoyable. Food are served on wooden platters; diners can choose half or full boards. There are already quite a number of restaurants with communal dining concept, so in this aspect, Platters is not THAT unique. So what sets Platters apart?

Unlike their competitors, the menu changes every 3-4 months. For every season, a different chef will design and create new platters, which reflect their style. For season 6, Chef Jeremy Nguee, chef-owner or Preparazzi, presents modern Singaporean cuisine, in an indulgent fashion.
Attention wine-lovers! Huge selection here!

Both the ambiance and service here are great . If you are unsure how much to order, fret not! Staff are experienced in assisting you to order just the right quantity.

Thunder Thighs and Crackpot Rice aka The Siao Seafood Starter (Half board $38, Full board $68). Picture features half-board serving. Forget about dieting! Feast on French frog legs and soft shell crabs adorned with Tobiko and hollandaise. Carb lovers will love the savory Crab Roe Rice, which we felt was the star of this platter.

Satisfy your inner carnivore with The Maniac Meat Main Course aka Never Die Before (half board $48, Full board $88). There’s lot going on in this dish; intriguing flavors with many different textures. Picture features half-board serving

Tender and chewy Grilled Angus Sirloin lies on a bed of charcoal crumbs, while Truffle Roast Spring Chicken sits atop tasty fat potatoes. Chicken was a wee bit dry and we struggled to detect truffle flavor, which was overwhelmed by rosemary herbs. We were told to enjoy the chicken with nutty Buah Keluak Butter. Superb combination, I must say!
The homemade Foie Gras Terrine added a touch of luxe and went well with the sweet Grape Jelly while fried lotus roots added a delightful, crispy crunch.

We rounded off the meal with pure decadence.

Coffee Caramel Delight aka Fat Die You #1 ($16) consisted of Caramel Fondant, Coffee Jelly, Vanilla Ice Cream, Chili Chocolate Crumble and Peanut Brittle. While the presentation was beautiful, the dessert wasn’t stellar. It was not in line with what we expected. We looked forward to warm caramel oozing out from the caramel fondant, but Chef Jeremy’s version consisted of a pudding-like core.

A satisfying lunch, but we agreed that prices are on the steep side. Bill came up to $120 for 3 of us, and that’s just for food only. Chef Jeremy’s menu will be available till Feb 2014.

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2013/12/28/thai-accent/

Mom was in town and since she loved Thai Cuisine, Hubby treated us to Thai Accent. I too love Thai fare because of the strong aromatic components, complex flavors and spiciness.

Thai Accent is quiet and comfortable, with window seating overlooking the waterfront and Sentosa Island. It was a week night and the restaurant was fairly empty. Service was attentive without being intrusive.

The menu is relatively idiot-proof, in plain English without confusing Thai names. Prices are on the high side.

Mango salad with dried shrimp ($9.90) was ok, nothing remarkable.

I was disappointed with the Tom Yam Seafood in Fire Pot ($23.90). Although the seafood was fresh and the serving generous, it sorely lacked the characteristic spiciness that Tom Yam soup should possess. Something must have gone wrong that day because I had the same soup on 2 other occasions and it was nothing like this.

Pad Thai Fried Noodles with Prawns ($13.90) was competently executed, with a decent amount of peanut toppings on the side. Absolutely satisfying!

Stirred fried minced pork with hot basil leaf ($15.90)-let your tongues revel in this spicy and flavorful dish!

Stirred fried Kway Teow with Pork Ribs ($13.90) was not bad. Beautifully marinated, tender ribs and smooth kway teow with a smoky flavor; mix in the chilli flakes and nuts for an extra kick. What more can I ask for?

We ended our dinner with a very average Pandan Leaf Chicken ($14.90)

MIL and I visited L’Espresso after our haircuts at Georgina’s which is also located within Goodwood Park. It was about 5pm; we just wanted to have a snack to fill our tummies a little before dinner. MIL was also craving for the Goodwood Park’s legendary durian mousse cake.

Upon arrival, we were promptly lead to comfy leather seats in the middle of the long lobby. Alfresco seating is also available at the breezy poolside terrace.

My Hot Chocolate ($8) came in a pretty pot with lovely pastel flowers. The drink itself however, was the worst hot chocolate I had till date. Diluted and bland, it tasted more like Milo. It’s shocking how such a pristine hotel can serve something of this standard.

Fortunately for MIL, her beautifully presented Cafe Vienna ($9) was decent.

In addition to our drinks, we also ordered cakes from The Deli. Red Velvet Cake ($6.80) was another let-down because it was too dry.

Durian mousse ($11) was superb. This is pure pleasure to any durian fan. Every bite was is filled with thick durian pulp and velvety mousse. Three thumbs up!

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2013/12/26/cafe-lespresso-and-the-deli/#more-6666

For pictures and full review, pls visit
http://madamechewy.com/2013/12/22/symmetry/#more-6647

Bestie M was in town on Monday, and wanted to try Symmetry’s brunch which she has read so much about. I was tasked to make reservations and find out how to get there. Located at Jalan Kubor, Symmetry is quite easy to get to via public transport as its one bus-stop away from Bugis MRT station.

I received an automated phone call 1 hour prior to my reservation. Very organized indeed! On arrival, I realized why… the place is very small, seats are limited and it was packed, even though it was a weekday.

Café by day, restaurant bar at night, Symmetry’s offerings are inspired by both Australian casual dining culture and French cuisine. This indie joint has quirky décor as you can see from their Gothic Christmas display…

Inside, it’s cozy and relaxed, with quaint ornaments scattered around. Service was friendly, but the coffee didn’t arrive until the end of the meal because the staff forgot all about it.

Monday’s lunch menu is a simple one-pager, consisting of starters/snacks, mains and a dessert. We were glad there some egg dishes available as they were what we came for.

Beverage list is extensive though, consisting of several pages. M ordered a Latte ($5.50) which was good, but could have been better with more foam.

Piping hot Baby Squid with Black Pepper Aioli ($15) was irresistible. The crispy, light batter was well-seasoned, while the squid was springy. Do eat it while it’s hot because once it cools down, the batter loses it crispiness and becomes less appetizing. Squid ink was added to the black pepper aioli, which explains the color.

Truffle Parmesan Fries with White Truffle Oil Drizzle ($13). These fragrant shoestring fries are so tasty that you can eat them independently. Comes with mayonnaise if you like to enjoy your fries with dips.

Smoked Salmon Cabonara Spaghetti ($18) had a generous portion of homemade smoked salmon. A single poached egg completed the dish. Look at the egg, so round and silky, plus it was very wobbly before W decided to “burst” it. However, the smoked salmon was wayyyy too salty while the cabonara sauce was too bland. It could have been better if the flavors were balanced out a bit more evenly. Sadly, the pasta was overcooked which made us frown even more.

Fortunately, my Portobello and Cheese ($17) was enjoyable. A layer of cheese blankets a single poached egg, cushioned by a huge Portobello mushroom, followed by toast. Loved how the cheese and poached eggs complemented the aromatic, earthy Portobello mushrooms. Noticed I wrote eggS and mushroomS? Yes, you get 2 of these! It’s not very clear in my picture, but the other one is beneath the mesclun leaves.

M was disappointed with her Eggs and Bacon ($15) which the menu described as Truffle scrambled eggs, maple glazed bacon and toast. All of us struggled to detect truffle flavor in the eggs and sad to say it was non-existent. Bacon had excessive amounts of fat too

I was happy with the meal and wanted to stay for desserts. But M and W were so upset by their poorly executed mains, we adjourn to Lady M for desserts.

Brought mummy for a gourmet Chinese meal at Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant because there was a Groupon deal. In the set meal, there was abalone, soft shell crab and lobster soup- all are mummy’s favorites. The price is reasonable at $56.80++ (2pax) for a seafood meal, so why not?

The first Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant in Shanghai dates back more than a century ago. Its famed for its gigantic King Size Nanxiang Crab Roe Steamed Bun Soup, where diners slurp up the savoury broth with a straw.

Most people would associate Groupon food deals with “meh”. But I have to admit I was very contented with the dished we tried. Everything was competently executed, except for the Lobster soup which was way too salty.

Ambiance is cheery and service is politely brisk. I can see why this place is packed with families on weekends.

We had:
Chilled Poached Sliced Abalone on Cucumber Salad
Spicy Lobster Steamed Bun Soup
Soft Shell Crab served with wasabi vinegar sauce and a spicy cream made of chardonnay(grape)
“Lion Head” with Crab Roe contains water chestnuts and carrots, which adds a crunch and otherwise dull lump of meat.
Golden Fried Rice
Chilled Double Boiled White Fungus with Red Dates

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2013/10/27/nanxiang-steamed-bun-restaurant/