For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2014/06/30/pow-sing-restaurant/
I have always wanted to drop by Pow Sing for a hearty meal, but because it too far from home and parking is a nightmare, I refrained from asking Hubby to take me there. In my teens, my family often had our weekend dinners at this humble Hainanese chicken rice and Nonya cuisine restaurant.
The place looked almost the same as I remembered 11 years ago. But nobody cares much about the décor when the draw is delicious and reasonably priced food. Be warned, this place is not for you if you cannot stand crowd and noisy chatters. Service is efficient, albeit a little abrupt.
Hainanese Chicken ($5/serving) and Fragrant Rice ($1/serving) were fantastic, but not the best I had tried.
If you are craving for something for spicy, give the flavorsome Nonya Otak ($3/pc) a go. The tantalizing otak is thick and very substantial.
I wish we didn’t order the Sweet and Sour Fish ($12/$18/$24).
I have an unabashed love affair for Har Chiong Gai, and Pow Sing’s Crispy Fried Chicken Wing with Prawn Paste ($10/$15/$20) didn’t disappoint. Oh yes, it was C-R-I-S-P-Y, no doubt about that. The tender oily meat pulls out with ease.
Although not the most photogenic, Nonya Tauhu ($8/$12/$16) was another highlight. The delicately crisps exterior encases smooth egg tofu. Definitely a dish that will please most palates.
Kai Lan with Oyster Sauce ($8/$12/$16). Crunchy vegetables done just right, in a savory sauce.
There is no service charge and our total bill came up to $60.75 for 4 pax, which include 3 cups of Lime Juice ($2 each). This works out to be $15 per pax. Value for money, tasty dishes, I’d come here again and again if I could.
Valet service is available on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and PH after 6.30pm.
 

From a modest stall in a hawker centre to 2 restaurants, Saveur has certainly come a long way. The folks here pride themselves for bringing quality French cuisine to the masses at wallet-friendly prices.

Upon entering, I was impressed with the warm ambience as I expected monochrome, simple interiors, similar to the relatively unadorned branch at Purvis Street. It was already full house when we arrived at 12 noon. We left our name and contact details and left for some window-shopping. Approximately 10 minutes later, we received a call inform us that our table was ready. Its’ nice of them to provide this service instead of expecting diners to stand around waiting. Saveur does not accept reservations, so come early or be prepare to queue.

The menu is simple, with no French terms to confuse you. Prices are indeed very affordable, but portions are so small, so you will have to order quite a bit before your tummy is satisfied (I had 2 appetizers, a main course and a dessert plus shared a side with 2 friends).
Mushroom Cappuccino ($4.90) arrived in a cute coffee cup and frothy foam atop. Thick and creamy, bursting with earthy flavors, it warmed my digestive system for more to come.
The Instagram-worthy Saveur Pasta ($4.90) fell short of our expectations. Its essentially capellini tossed with chilli oil, fine chopped Konbu and minced pork sauce, glittered with Sakura Ebi. Sadly the pasta was overcooked, and the sakura ebi lacked crunch to give the starter its much-required texture.

W thoroughly enjoyed her pan-seared Foie Gras ($7.90) with creamy lentils and pickled pearl onion. The generous portion pleasantly surprised us.

As we heard good things about the Saveur’s duck, all of us ordered Duck Confit ($12.90). The leg sat on a bed of homemade mashed potatoes; on the side were sautéed shiitake mushrooms, orange segments and orange infused natural jus. The duck leg was well browned and crisp on the outside, while remaining tender inside. I like that the meat was not overly salty and the orange added a zesty kick that brightens the dish.

If you are not a fan of duck, other main course options include Pork belly ($10.90), Chicken roulade ($9.90), Sea bass ($14.90), Lamb shoulder ($16.90) and Beef Bourguignon ($16.90).
Potato Gratin side left a lingering garlicky flavor in the mouth. However, lacked a layer of golden crust characteristic of the culinary technique.

Cookies and Milk ($9.90) dessert arrived looking quite the enigma. Dig deeper and discover a patty of icy cold cookie dough ice cream, cherries kirsh, sparkling candy and peanut butter. Awesome combination of flavors and textures, accompanied with a fun popping sensation in the mouth.

Chocolate and Hazelnut ($8.90) was nothing to shout about. Chocolate mousse with crushed hazelnuts, broken raspberries, roasted rice puffs, chocolate tuile and praline. The mousse was pitifully normal and overwhelmed the hazelnut’s nutty aroma.

Overall, an OK place for a casual meal dates and catch-up with friends. I’s stop short of recommending Saveur for first dates or deep conversations, as the layout of the place is too cramped.

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2014/06/24/saveur/

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2014/06/19/maison-ikkoku/
When I first heard about Maison Ikkoku, the first thing that came to my mind was the manga and anime series of the same name. The lifestyle destination has nothing to do with the popular Japanese romantic comedy; it’s a cozy shop house with a café on the ground floor and bar on level 1. There used to be a menswear boutique stocking indie labels but unfortunately it ceased operations in February this year.
The café is quite small; reservations recommended to avoid disappointment. Décor is a mix of vintage industrial. We would have loved to sit around and chat, but there was a queue outside, hence we left as soon as we were done eating. Its self-service here (no service charge), you’ll have to fetch your own water but food will be brought to your table.
Maison Ikkoku is well known for their quality coffee. G was pleased with her fragrant and not overly sweet Caramel Latte ($7).
The café is also popular for brunch items. G’s Instagram-worthy French toast with Caramelized Bananas ($15), arrived quickly despite the crowd. Inch thick brioche French toast with cinnamon soaked up the mouth-watering home-made caramel with sea salt sauce, with a dollop of sour cream and toasted walnuts. I suspect sour cream was used in place of traditional whipped cream to balance out the sweetness; however, the combi didn’t sit quite well with us.
Twisted French Omelette ($16) with spinach, chives, bell peppers and mild cheddar was not spectacular, but nonetheless appealing. Tangy cherry tomatoes, breakfast potatoes, salad with roasted almonds and sourdough toast complete this hearty dish. My only gripe? Potatoes were cold.
My slice of summer! The sight of rainbow cake never fails to brighten my day. We struggled to finish this massive Rainbow Cake ($10) which was served on a chilled plate. At the first bite, the cake was a little rough, but the moistness came through as we chewed. Texture-wise, it’s dense and slightly doughy. Unfortunately, there was lingering artificial aftertaste. Wished I had ordered the salted caramel cake instead.

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2014/06/13/crystal-jade-jiang-nan/
Crystal Jade Jiang Nan brings you culinary delicacies from the south of China’s Yangtze River. At this polished restaurant, you can savor 4 Jiang Nan styles-Sichuan, Jiangsu, Hunan and Shanghai, all served up with Crystal Jade consistency. The heart-warming food is not fancy schmancy, but they resonate with everyone from young to old. Service standards varies, warm and efficient on weekdays but sometimes splotchy on weekends.
I love dramatic entrances. Hong Kong Ying Yang ($4.80) is gimmicky, but I like it! The fragrant beverage came in a tall flask with dry ice flowing from the centre of the flask.
Sliced Pork with Golden Mushroom, Loofah and Black Fungus Soup in Casserole ($16.80). Healthy, flavorful soup which was not overly salty. We order this every time we visit.
Multi-flavored Dumpling Family ($12.80) is essential assorted pork, chicken and vegetable dumplings. My favorite was the French bean and pork dumpling.
Sweet and Sour Pork with Pineapple sauce ($13.80) was a tad too sweet; I could hardly detect any sourness.
Sautéed Prawns and Sweet Potato with Salted Egg Yolk ($22). We were impressed with the huge, succulent prawns coated with insanely delicious salted egg yolk. Holding its own are the creamy sidekick sweet potatoes, which added a touch of comforting sweetness to the otherwise salty dish.
Deep-fried Scallops with Spicy Salt ($16.80). Fresh, savory scallops tossed with coco pops. Wished the scallops were plumper though….
Steamed Sliced Sea Bass with Cut Chilli ($14.80). Despite the copious amount of chilli, it’s only slightly spicy. Flavors were captivating, while fresh sea bass was tender and flaky.
Sautéed assorted mushroom with asparagus and bean curd ($12.50)
Deep-fried spinach bean curd with assorted mushrooms ($12.80). It’s hard to go wrong with a classic Chinese combination and silky tofu.
Sautéed French bean with minced pork and olive leaf ($12.80). The seasoning is spot on and I can see this pleasing most palates.
We wrapped up our meal with bite-sized Pumpkin cake and Japanese glutinous rice dumpling desserts ($5.60). The cute pumpkin rice cake has a salted egg yolk infused skin and red bean paste filling. While the skin had a nice chewy texture, it was too thick and I grew tired from all the chewing after awhile. We could not detect any salted egg yolk flavor.
The unassuming Japanese glutinous rice dumpling (mochi) fared much better; it caught us by surprise with its exquisite texture and delicate strawberry and mango fresh cream filling. It’s like eating pillow-y clouds!

For pictures and full review, pls visit:
http://madamechewy.com/2014/05/27/lolla/
Situated along Ann Siang Road is an unpretentious restaurant seeking to not merely to please, but excite your taste buds. Lolla’s small plates focus on fresh produce and fine ingredients. Their special menu updates often, reflecting seasonal produce.
Step inside and you’ll find an industrial chic setting, with a bar counter and open kitchen. The basement houses a long communal table. We were lucky to get seats at the bar counter, where we could watch the chefs work their magic.
Much-raved-about Sea Urchin Pudding (half portion $21, full portion $40) my friend dragged me there for. To be honest, I am not a fan of sea urchin. It tasted kind of strange to me at first, but I grew to like it. Served chilled, this decadent pudding has a strong creamy seafood punch, with a generous hunk of Hokkaido Sea Urchin perched atop. Take a bit of everything in one spoon and let it mingle in your mouth-UMAMI!
From the specials board, Chilean King Crab with Alio Cream ($30) highlights the exceptional quality of ingredients with its uncomplicated style of cooking. The leggy supermodel crustaceans are served conveniently opened, so that one will not have to waste precious time struggling with them, and instead, dive straight into the delicacy. The crab meat was juicy, succulent and sweet. Very delish and satisfying, you’ve got to try it yourself to know how good this is.
Whoever said vegetables are boring should check out this beautifully seasonedJerusalem Artichokes with Rosemary ($18). Love the crunchy texture and nutty flavour texture of this vegetable. Also from the special menu.
The bill was already $69, but our tummies were still rather empty (portions are tiny). We scanned for a dessert on the menu and Steamed Dark Chocolate Pudding ($15) caught my eye (chocolate is my weakness). Although chocolate pudding and ice cream isn’t particularly creative, its nevertheless a warm comforting sweet to wrap up a meal. Luxuriously rich, dense and moist (steaming makes it extra moist) pudding, sprinkled with cocoa nibs, served with Tahitian Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Best enjoyed with tangy fresh strawberries (with compliments of the chef) .
Although prices veer towards the higher and, the quality ingredients and cooking technique is worth the price. Follow their Facebook page to be kept updated on the special menu selections. I’m waiting for the Chilean King Crab to be featured again, which I plan to have it all to myself!