For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2015/02/21/nuvo/

Tucked in a corner of Marina Square Shopping Centre’s The Dining Edition, NUVO is a little difficult (but worth the effort) to find. Executive Chef Mark Richard (formerly from Keystone), helms the kitchen and marries Italian and Japanese cuisine to create unexpectedly exciting and creative hybrid fare.

The restaurant itself is spacious, decorated in muted tones and furnished with warm woods. It also has a lounge with an extensive wine list, specially crafted cocktails, spirits, rums and liquors, plus bar snacks for those who like to graze.

Our dinner started with warm herb bread basked with seaweed butter.

Oh, the velvety Vanilla Mushroom Soup was so lovely! The first thing that hit us was the aroma of the White Truffle essence, drizzled onto a flowy Onsen Egg.

The Salmon Crudo was dressed with Furikake Tobiko, Yuzu Pon and adorn with green apple. I was lukewarm towards this entree, but M enjoyed it.

The classic North Italian Eggplant Parmigiana with mozzarella and tomato fondue is given a Japanese twist with the addition of sweet miso. Nothing too fancy, just simple and genuine.

Made from roasted bone marrow, the Agnus Osso Buco Stew had an unusual partnership with Tsukii Oyster Fritter. The starter was spruced up with shimeiji mushrooms and pickled cucumber for bursts of acidity. I personally felt the combination too heavy, and would have preferred something lighter to highlight the rich flavors of the stew.

One of NUVO’s signature dishes, each strand of the al dente Angel Hair Wakame is coated with Lobster essence and Rayu oil (chilli oil), providing just the right amount of mellow flavour and heat. The simple but delicious pasta was adorned with Tamago Furikake, which added another dimension to it.

M’s Pepperoni and Ricotta Niku Dango was wholesome and gratifying. Tossed in spiced tomato sauce and sweet peas, each ribbon of pasta had a nice, firm bite and was not too thick, thus inheriting the flavors from the sauce beautifully. More Italian influence is observed in the tender Japanese meatballs, which had Ricotta Cheese embedded within.

Sweets included in the set meal were really dainty, but the Fuji Apple and Parmigiano Reggiano Torta dessert was so captivating I wished it was full-sized. The elegant pastry had a mild savory flavour imparted from the cheese, harmoniously complemented with Fig and Honey Ice Cream.

Less stellar was the Japanese Kinako Delight, with espresso and honeycomb giving the western touch. While the mochi’s texture was beautifully soft and chewy, the combination of flavors didn’t make quite make an impression.

Thanks to Amex’s 30licious promotion, the bill came up to $35 per head,. Despite some misses, we felt NUVO offerings are appealing enough to warrant a repeat visit. On weekdays, the restaurant serves 3-course set lunches for $15++ and 4-course set dinners for $35++. On weekends, diners can look forward to Nuvo’s Bottomless Prosecco Brunch a la carte Buffet ($40++)

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2015/02/20/wan-he-lou/

I’ve always wanted to visit Wan He Lou to try their famous Lobster Porridge so when Amex had its 30licious promotion last November, I made a reservation right away. On a side note, I do hope that Amex 30licious promo will continue, so we foodies will have something else to look forward to apart from Restaurant Week.

Located in the heart of Jalan Besar, Wan He Lou’s surroundings is rather run down. Thankfully the restaurant itself is presentable and clean. Service was sometimes non-existent (as all the staff went to the kitchen) but their friendly demeanor made up for this.
Wan He Lou was well-prepared for the promotion; our dishes arrived shortly after we finished munching on the addictive Wasabi Macadamia Nuts.
Chef Style Smoked Duck did a good job of whetting our appetite with its engaging balance of sweet and savory. This could have been better of the meat was more tender.

Wan He Lou Golden Seafood “Pot Sticker” was nicely pan-fried, with crisp skin encasing juicy seafood and vegetable dumpling.

Honey Tangy Pork Choplets were too tough for our liking.

The Green Dragon Vegetables were caught us by surprise. The greens were sweet, succulent and crunchy. We certainly didn’t expect this humble vegetable dish to so enticing!

The Signature Lobster Porridge is prepared Teochew style. There’s no doubt the delectable broth was the star; the robust umami soup warmed our tummies and souls. The rice was cooked till comfortingly soft, infused with the broth’s flavors. Unfortunately, the crustacean itself was bland and boring.

We ended our meal on a sweet note with Black Glutinous Rice with Yam Ice Cream.

Overall, we felt the food was alright and the standard was average. Wan He Lou also offers wide variety of Asian classics and favorites at reasonable prices, making it a suitable venue for family gatherings.

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2015/02/10/taiwan-porridge-buffet-coffee-lounge/
Since its inception in 1984, Goodwood Park Hotel’s Coffee Lounge has been well-known for its scrumptious Taiwan Porridge. For those who love variety, do check out the a la carte buffet, which offers 31 traditional favorites to accompany the piping hot bowls of watery rice porridge or sweet potato porridge. Small eaters may wish to opt for the a la carte menu (46 selections) instead.
Gluttony us went for the a la carte buffet ($39++ per adult, $19.50++ per child), which also includes a dessert buffet. I’ll start with the must-try savory dishes….
The first wave of food arrived- Taiwan Sausage, Shredded Bamboo Shoots andWok-fried Beef with Black Pepper. The sausages were juicy and chewy, but a tad too salty for my preference. My favorite savory plate that night was the Bamboo Shoots, coated with chilli oil which added an interesting dimension to mellow vegetable. We enjoyed the tender black pepper beef very much too.
Salted fish with Salted Egg, Muy Choy with Pork, Fried Omelette with Chye Poh and Braised Pork Belly with Dark Soy Sauce should never be absent when having porridge! Mention-worthy is the omelette, which stole our hearts with its light, fluffy texture and intense bursts of flavor from the chye poh.
Like popping popcorns, I just can’t stop myself from having more Fried Chicken with Prawn Paste. Bite into the crispy skin and savour the well-marinated meat!
Everyone knows that humans have another stomach for desserts! Although the offerings are limited and some cakes not particularly thrilling, my sweet tooth was nonetheless satisfied by a couple of exceptional desserts.
Elegant and captivating, the Lychee Charlotte consist of subtly sweet moist sponge layers. The creamy and dense Cheesecake was another highlight; I couldn’t help myself from having seconds.

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2015/01/23/hai-tien-lo-weekday-dim-sum-buffet/
Why wait till the weekends for Dim Sum feast when you can indulge in Hai Tien Lo’s weekday Dim Sum Buffet? Award-winning Hai Tien Lo serves classic Cantonese cuisine, in a regal Oriental setting. What we liked-quality morsels, awesome setting and professional service for only $48++. However we weren’t fond of several restrictions on the menu. Diners can have unlimited orders for 15 dim sum selections, but only one serving for each Chef’s Signatures, one serving of soup and 2 servings of dessert. For Hai Tien Lo Specialty (12 in total), each table is limited to only 3 choices.
It’s such a pity that I could only choose one selection out of the 2 soups on the menu. Of course, I went for the more atas Fish Maw with Shredded Abalone and Crab Meat Soup. The sweet crab meat complimented the tasty broth while the generous portion of ingredients gave the thick broth a nice bite. Wished for a couple more bowls but oh well! The other choice was traditional double-boiled soup by the way.
There’re 4 Chef’s Signatures and each person is allowed one serving each. For something decadent, go for the Steamed Pastry Tart with Whole Abalone and Seafood.
Baked Chicken tart with Mushrooms and Mango. The mango adds a touch of sweetness to the savory ingredients encased in the buttery tart.
Steamed Dumpling with Swiftlet Nest, White Fungus and Prawn Paste. Lovely presentation, but this didn’t leave much of an impression.
Stir-fried Carrot Cake with Dried Scallops in Chef’s Signature Homemade Chilli Sauce. It’s alright; I’ve tried better XO carrot cake elsewhere.
We had the following from the Hai Tien Lo Specialty… Juicy and tender Barbecued Duck

Deep-fried Prawns with Oat Flakes. Hugh, fresh and succulent prawns paired with fragrant oats was simply a match made in heaven.
Fresh and delicate Steamed Fillet of Grouper Fish with Vermicelli in Minced Chilli.
The dim sum we ordered from the All-You-Can-Eat section were all competently executed, with some outstanding morsels. Steamed Dumpling Soup with Crab Meat, Fish Maw, Scallops and Prawns in Superior stock.
Steamed Xiao Long Bao
Steamed Dumplings with Scallops, Prawns, Asparagus and Carrots.
Creative and intriguing, the Deep-fried Purple Potato Balls with Minced Chicken and assorted mushrooms should not be missed.
Pan fried Rice Flour Rolls with Chef’s Signature Homemade XO Chilli sauce. Pillowy Steamed Barbecued Honey Pork Bun Buns
Deep-fried Prawns and Salted Egg Dumplings with Bread Crumbs. Rave alert!
To sum up, $48++ per adult is fantastic value for the variety, taste and quality offered at Hai Tien Lo. There’ll always be something new to look forward to, as the menu refreshes every 3 months.

For drool-worthy pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2015/01/25/eight-rhapsodies-of-spring-peony-jade/

To usher in the Year of the Goat, Peony Jade celebrates with its “Eight Rhapsodies of Spring” delights, featuring 8 new and signature dishes and takeaways, plus 2 new dessert creations. These festive treats are available from now till 5th March 2015.

‘Instant Enormous Windfall, Good Health and Longevity” Bonsai-shaped Monies Tree Yu Sheng ($198.88). Making a statement upon arrival, Peony Jade’s artistically shaped Bonsai Yu Sheng is truly sight to behold. What’s even more impressive is the generous portion of premium seafood such as lobster, Alaskan crab claws, tuna belly, urchin and sweet shrimp. Homemade deep-fried thin lotus root chips, crispy fried vermicelli, roasted pine nuts and toasted sesame seeds are added for that delightful crunch. Drizzled with Peony Jade’s unique sweet sauce, citrusy yuzu juice and truffle oil. This Yu Sheng serves up to 15 diners and is only available for dine-in at Keppel Club.

“Flourishing Fortune” Steamed Black-eyed Pea Cake with golden pumpkin ($38.88 for 1kg). A mixture of savoury and sweet, the handmade taro cake is ethereally soft and immensely comforting. Peony Jade adds a refreshing twist to this traditional Cantonese favourite with the inclusion of golden pumpkin and Jin Hua Ham.

“Prosperity & Smooth Sailing” Hand-crafted Goat-shaped Deep-fried Hum-Soi-Kuok ($9.88 for 3 pieces). Intricately hand-crafted by the pastry team, these little rams are undeniably cute (but nothing is cute enough not to eaten, wuhaha!). Encased in crisp shell with a chewy mochi-like texture, these fried dumplings are stuffed with glutinous rice, minced pork and shiitake mushroom.

“Reaping Abundance Wealth” Australian Premium Whole Abalone Poon Choi ” What’s Chinese New Year without Poon Choi? While most Chinese restaurants have 12 ingredients, Peony Jade’s decadent Poon Choi presents 18! Diners and look forward to premium ingredients like 10-head Australian abalones, whole Sakura chicken, whole pork knuckle, golden oysters, roast pork, South African spikes sea cucumber, fresh whole scallops, pork tendons, fatt choy, fish maw, king prawns, whole shiitake mushrooms, homemade sea-grouper mousse cake, whole golden dried conpoy, taro, beancurd skin, radish and broccoli. I totally blissed out on this dish!

This takeaway Poon Choi Pot is priced at $468.88 for Mini Premium Pot Package (6 guests), and $598.88 for Premium Pot Package (8-10 guests). The takeaway Poon Chooi comes with 3 complimentary festive dishes:
1) ‘Harmonious, Wealth and Great Health’ Atlantic Salmon Yu Sheng,
2) Peony Jade’s Signature Cherry Wood Charcoal Roasted ‘Prosperity’ Golden Duck and
3) Peony Jade’s popular “Longevity” Glutinous Rice with lup cheong, liver lup cheong, preserved meats and mushrooms.
“A Wealth of Prosperity and Longevity” Hong Kong Roast USA Goose sealed with Chef’s Special ‘Fa Cai’ Broth ($188.88) Once again, Peony Jade sets itself apart from other Chinese restaurants by serving the first and only roasted goosed with “fa cai’ broth in Singapore. The highlight is the robust broth, prepared with Chinese herbs such as Angelica root, Radix Astragali and spices like star anise. The grain-fed goose is infused with the flavoursome broth and roasted for 2 hours to juicy tenderness. Serves up to 12 diners.

‘Abundance Fortune’ Slow-Fire Stewed Lamb with Bamboo Shoots, fresh Whole Garlic, and Beancurd Skin. A hearty stew is always welcomed during a family gathering. Peony Jade warms the soul with a pot of velvety grass-fed lamb cutlets, wok-braised with star anise, garlic, shallots, sliced fried ginger, fresh bamboo shoots and beancurd skin for 1.5 hours. Some dining companions at my table found this slightly gamey and a little too salty but I was fine with it.

Reunion Steamed “Abundance Wealth” Claypot Jasmine Rice with Chinese Sausages, Liver Sausages and Homemade Air Dry Duck Drumstick. Slow cooked in a claypot for 30 minutes with top-grade preserved meats, the jasmine rice only not exude smoky fragrance but also the aroma of the scrumptious waxed meats.

Peony Jade continues to amaze with their creative desserts. Instagram-worthy “Huat Ah!” Prosperity Goats Gift Set ($88) consist of 8 meticulously hand crafted goat-shaped snowskin pastries filled with salted egg custard.

A thoughtful choice for health-conscious loved ones, the “Triumphant Harvest and Joyous Contentment” Gift Set ($78.88) features 8 exquisite blooming peonies (how apt!) made with flaky pastry, encasing premium low sugar white lotus paste, salted egg yolk and macadamia nuts.

“Overflowing Wealth” Glazed Kumquat with “Fa-Cai” Vanilla Beans ($18.88 per jar). Kumquat lovers rejoice! Peony Jade adds a touch of luxe to the humble fruit by soaking them in sugar syrup for 7 days, then infusing them with vanilla pods. Each mouthful is a engaging combination of citrusy, sweet and tangy notes.

Captivating dishes, quality ingredients, skillful execution and enticing sweets in a classy oriental setting- Chinese New Year at Peony Jade is indeed a splendid affair! On a side note, do note that many of the items in this review require 1-day advance order. If you’re planning to dine at home, Peony Jade offers a 6-course takeaway lunch and dinner set menu priced at $368 for 6 persons and $568 for 10 persons.