Every year for my parents birthday, our family will brainstorm for a restaurant to bring the old folks to celebrate their birthday. My mother's birthday falls in May this month and my youngest sister suggested going for dim sum since the 2 old folks have not been to one. Instantly I suggested Royal China as I have always wanted to try after reading good reviews of their dim sum.

The Steamed Chicken Claws ($3.50) or some called it phoenix claws is a must order for me whenever I go for dim sum. Some people are disgust with the sight but for me this is the such a delicacy. The spicy sauce gave the chicken claws another lift in flavours which I thought was just right and suit the local taste buds.

This is probably the BEST Steamed Prawn Dumpling ($4.80) or Har Gaos, I ever had. The freshness and crunchiness of the prawn just simply blown me away. I felt like I was just eating the prawn itself without the thin translucent skin wrapped around it. You can see how thin the skin was, it looked like the prawn is trying to break free from it.I have known of friends who don't eat Siew Mai or Steam Minced Pork Dumpling ($4.80) because of the portion of minced meat in it and that porky taste. Interestingly the siew mai was constructed with minced meat sandwiched in between 2 fresh prawns. The minced meat portion was lesser and I enjoyed their version as it has more flavours and contrasting textures.

The smooth and silky Seafood Congee ($8.50) will definitely warm your stomach for more of the delicious dim sum. I really think that Royal China is very generous with the used of prawns. Look at the huge prawn I fish out from my bowl.

The Steamed Glutinous Rice in Lotus Leaf ($4.80) came in small portion of 2. The glutinuous rice was infused with the lovely lotus leaf fragrant. The savoury filling with its well marinated ingredients beautifully complements the glutinous rice.

The waitress has been trying very hard recommending me dishes in the ala carte menu and I just have to give in after her persistent effort. The Roast Pork ($12) with its crisp crackling skin and tender moist meat was so beautiful that I have to resist ordering another plate.

The Barbecued Pork Bun ($3.60) or Cha Siu Bao with its slightly dense but fine soft bread gets my thumb up. Encased in the bun was tender and sweet barbecued pork fillings. In typical Yum Cha style, the best way to enjoy the bun is 一口包子一口茶 (a bite of the bun and a sip of tea).The pillow like soft dough texture of the Steamed Custard Bun ($4) was like eating marshmallow. This is a modern dim sum dish that is a popular with the younger generation. The excitement of tearing the dough apart and seeing the flowing custard lava. I personally was a bit disappointed with the custard as it lacked the dense salted egg yolk taste.

If you love salted egg yolk stuff, the Steamed Layer Cake with Salted Egg Yolk ($4) is something uniquely Royal China. I have not seen it elsewhere. It felt like eating bread with kaya. It was light and fluffy. A very interesting and enjoyable dish.

The MUST TRY at Royal China will be their Cheung Fun. The freshly made, soft, smooth and silky rice roll melted in the mouth. With the generous fillings and light soy sauce, you just can't stop having more. The table really enjoyed them that we ordered another round for all. We tried the Barbecued Pork Cheung Fun ($4.80), Fresh Prawn Cheung Fun ($4.80) and Fried Prawn Cheung Fun ($4.80).

The Fried Carrot Cake ($4) was nicely done with charred crisp on the outside and retaining the moist in the inside.

Another version of the steamed barbecued pork bun is the Baked Barbecued Pork Puff ($4). The light and flaky pastry has a sweet tingling taste and topped with the fragrant sesame seeds, every bite into it was fully packed with flavours.

I am not lying when I said Royal China is very generous in the used of prawns. Look at how huge the Deep Fried Prawn Dumpling ($4.80) were. The huge prawn was bursting with natural sweetness and freshness.

Located at the newly renovated Rendezvous Gallery beside Rendezvous Hotel. Seki Japanese Restaurant aims to bring to its customers a unique dining affair unlike any other in Singapore. With an extensive menu, it hopes to cater for a vast profile of patrons to feast at Seki.

Besides the main dining area, like any other Japanese restaurant there is a bar area for you to enjoy the culinary skill of the Japanese chef preparing your food using the freshest ingredients.

For group and family, if you need some privacy. There is also a private dining room to cater for your needs.

When I knew the restaurant is going to serve me Fugu which is puffer fish, I was anticipating this dish with anxiety because I have never eaten puffer fish and it can be deadly if not being prepared properly. Actually Fugu Mirin Boshi ($12++) is very different from what I have imagined. It is dried puffer fish seasoned with sweet sake. It is a traditional snack eaten while drinking sake. While some of us debated that it tasted like Bak Kwa. I thought it tasted more like dried Cuttlefish.

The SEKI Kamo Salad or Black Pepper Smoked Duck Salad ($8++) makes a wonder appetizer. It is topped with thin strips of deep fried spring roll skin, sesame seed and special homemade dressing. The homemade dressing which has a vinegary taste married the dish perfectly. I am only confused with the idea of smoked duck in Japanese cuisine.

Diners can expect the freshest ingredients at Seki Japanese Restaurant. They are imported directly from Tsukiji Market, Tokyo, Japan on every Tuesday and Thursday. The 3 Kind Sashimi Moriawase ($42++) came with freshness swimming in the mouth.

Opening the lid, I was surprised to see the Foie Gras Chawanmushi ($7++) is dark in colour. Upon tasting, I realised it had a layer of soy sauce. Initially the dish tasted salty but when it is eaten with the right portion of the smooth egg custard, the taste was actually quite delectable and light and yet refreshing.

The Gyu Shioyaki is charcoal grilled beef in black pepper and salt. The beef was grilled to perfection and it was very tender. It also comes with a special mayonnaise mustard sauce. The beef itself was already heavenly and the sauce simply give it a new level of enjoyment.Moriawase in Japanese restaurant basically means "off the menu chef's special items" or simply means chef's selection of whatever is fresh on the day. The 3 Kind Sushi Moriawase and Califrnia Roll ($35++) gives one a suspend of unknown what the chef going to serve but also ensure you get to taste the freshest ingredients on the day.

Located at the newly opened Bay Hotel at Telok Blangah near Vivo City is Rumah Rasa, a pan-Indonesian restaurant specialising in bringing together the best flavours of the Indonesian archipelago.

Called House of Taste, Rumah Rasa is helmed by Chef Sharifah Zaharah who is armed with years of experience at the likes of SATS, Raffles Hotel and ST Regis. Her philosophy is to use fresh seasonal produce to sincerely share the beautiful flavours of Indonesian with the dining public.

The Soda Gembira ($6) is a freshing drink mixture of Rose Syrup, Evaporated Milk and Soda. I call this the modern version of Bandung drink. The traditional version usually turns out to be way too sweet but the soda gembira has a nice refreshing balance of sweetness.

While we waited for the food, we were served Buah Belinjau Chips. Belinjau is a fruit that has medical value. Accordingly to what I read on the web, it helps to reduce sugar level in the blood and helps protect the kidney. Compare to other chips, it is a rather healthy snack as no flour, preservatives or colouring is added. The buah belinjau chips has a subtle bitter taste which surprisingly was very enjoyable.

The Soto Ayam Madura ($6) is a hearty chicken broth with shredded chicken, beansprouts and topped with a Potato Croquette. For me, the highlight was the potato croquette. The potato croquette was crisp on the outer crust and fluffy inside. The soup was tasty but I find it awkard to be served Soto Ayam as a soup on the menu. It felt like someone has stolen my noodles.

I love all sorts of innards but I have not tried Beef Lungs before. I was looking forward to the exotic Paru Goreng ($8). The thinly sliced beef lungs were fried until crispy and served with sambal petai. I am probably the only one that kept going back for more. I could have finished them with a mug of beer.

The Redang Sumatra ($14) which was simmered in spicy coconut gravy for hours. The rich and thick gravy was a perfect camflourage for the melt in the mouth tender beef.

The Ayam Korma ($14) which was simmered in mild yellow curry was palatable. The chicken meat was moist and tender. I am not sure whether the gravy should be that watery but I would prefer it to be thicker.

The Tahu Telur Surabaya ($8) definitely stands tall among the rest of the dishes. The tower of fried beancurd and egg combo drizzled with a sweet and spicy dark sauce disappeared within minutes. The smooth and silky beancurd definitely was the main cast of the dish. One of our blogger friends, Nat who just returned from a trip in Bali, told the chef that the Tahu Telur was as good as the one he had in Bali.

The almost melt in the mouth tender Aceh style Mutton Stew, Gulai Kambing Aceh ($10) simmered with coconut milk and a medley of spices was indeed very good. Drenched with the gravy on the rice, it was just simply sedap.Unlike the Chinese version of mixed curry vegetables where the gravy uses more coconut milk and thicker, the Sayur Lodeh ($8) is on the mild side. I actually preferred Rumah Rasa's version as it is healthier. The vegetables were also not over cooked still retaining that crunch.The Udang Petai Belado ($12) uses big, succulent and fresh prawns stir-fried in chilli gravy with petai beads. Surprisingly the bitter petai beads complements the chilli gravy demonstrating the chef's vast knowlegde of flavours.

The Ayam Panggang Berkakak Jakarta ($14), probably is the BEST grilled chicken I ever eaten. The chicken was grilled to perfection with Rumah Rasa's homemade spicy sauce. The crisp skin had a lingering sweet taste and the chicken was tenderly yummy.

The Gado Gado ($8) is a light melange of mixed vegetables, tofu and crispy emping cracker drizzled with Rumah Rasa's very own homemade spicy peanut sauce. Unlike other Gado Gado I have tried, there is a refined approach to the dish at Rumah Rasa. The plate of vegetables are delicately presented and not flooded with sauce.

If you have been to Indonesian, grilled fish along the street is a common sight. At Rumah Rasa, the Ikan Baka ($28) was marinated in turmeric, topped with homemade spicy sauce and charcoal grilled to perfection.

The Chendol ($6) served in tall glass does look elegant but I ever blogged before that I disliked Chendol to be served in glass. It is very hard to mix everything together and eat the ingredients at the bottom. Nevertheless, the chendol with its fresh coconut milk stands out for me.

I was sceptical about the Deep Fried Banana Fritters ($8) served with Vanilla Ice Cream. I never think savoury and sweet can married together to be a dessert. I have tried deep fried banana fritters with peanut sauce and was very disappointed. Chef Sharifad's definitely has changed my opinion.

After Macpherson hawker centre has been torn down, I have not been back to Sennett Estate. Little did I know that along the stretch of Tai Thong Crescent, there are quite a number of hidden gems. Among them is Gu Ma Jia (姑妈家) Restaurant near the entry of Tai Thong Crescent. This gem was nominated in Food Fest 2010 Top 10 Favourite Restaurant.

A lot of people do not like to eat brinjal but the Crispy Bean-Jal ($12, $18, $24) will probably change their mind. The brinjal was thinly sliced and fried to crisp. It was coated with a special made sweet sauce with a tab of spiciness. Even not blind folded, I could tell that I am eating brinjal.

The Kyoto Pork Ribs ($20) was served wrapped in aluminum foil. The aluminum foil was drenched with rose wine and ignited with fire upon servicing allowing the aroma to infuse into the sauteed pork. The mixed of soury and sweetness made the dish very delectable.The signature Assam Fish Head ($25) definitely packed a punch. According to the owner, the red snapper fish head is hand picked from the market daily. She also told us that they already mild the spiciness after feedback from customers. The perfect balance of flavours of the assam fish head definitely is the best I have eaten and it is a must try.

Serving a deep fried Seabass on a hot plate is a bit weird to me. I would preferred it to be steamed rather than deep fried. Nevertheless, the Hot Plate Sambal Seabass ($25) was lovely with the sambal sauce. If only it was a bit spicer would be nice.

This is the most generous Oyster Omelette ($12) I have ever eaten. The oyster was big and fresh. Interestingly, it came with sambal sauce which married very well with the omelette.

The huge self made Prawn Roll ($8 for 8pc, $16 for 16pc) was crisp on the outside and meaty in the inside with a hint of crunchy texture from the chestnuts.

The Special Made Tofu with Lingzhi Mushroom ($12) is made by the chef using egg and soya bean. The Tofu was silky smooth and with the savoury sauce, the simple tofu dish was simply delish!

Compared to the Special Made Tofu, the Thai Style Beancurd ($6 for 6pc) was firmer and less silky as the beancurd was bought from the market and not self made. Nevertheless, the sweet thai sauce gave the bland beancurd a lovely dimension.

The Cereal Sotong with Curry Flavour ($20, $30, $40) was rather unique. The curry leaves lifted the flavour to another level. However I thought the cereal was a bit bitter not sure whether it was over done. I preferred the cereal to be sweeter with a buttery taste.

The big and succulent Butter Baked Salted Egg Sri Lanka Crabs (seasonal price) was simply finger licking good. I like the dry version of the butter baked salted egg crabs as it was not messy to eat with. The crab meat was also sweet, firm and juicy.

I enjoyed the Herbal Chicken Soup ($8.80) a lot. Although the bowl of soup was packed with herbs, it didn't taste bitter. The soup was light and refreshing.

Wrapping up the beautiful dinner was the Black Glutinuos with Ice Cream ($4) dessert. Black Glutinuos is one of my favourite desserts. Instead of coconut milk, the vanilla ice cream was a good alternative and also act as a sort of sweetner to complete the dish.

Meat your greens at The Lawn. The Lawn is a Grill & Salad Cafe launched in November 2011 at Biopolis, just a 5 minutes walk from Buona Vista MRT station.

Ordering at The Lawn is very simple. Go to the ORDER station and follow the 3 simple steps. Don't worry the friendly staff will guide you too. It is as simple as ABC.

1) Choose your servicing SIZE. (Pot or Bowl).
2) Choose your GRILL.(Classic or Premium)
3) Choose your Greens, Toppings and Dressings. (Classic or Premium)

For premium items, there will be additional charge of $1/$2.

Besides the indoor dining area, The Lawn has an alfresco area too. I preferred the alfresco area as I can enjoy the beauty of the surrounding greeneryI like the concept at The Lawn because eating salad is never boring again. I can have my choice of grills that satisfied the carnivore in me. The whole serving is as good as a full meal that guaranteed to leave you filling full and satisfied.

If you choose the Bowl servicing ($8.90+), it comes with a Grill and 4 toppings. For the grill, I went for the Char-grilled Prawns. Toppings wise I had pasta, broccoli, hard boiled egg and I couldn't remember the fourth item, probably it was tomato or baby potato. Last but not least I went for the red island dressing. I enjoyed the fresh and crunchy prawns which were not over cooked and had a tad of smokey flavour. The creammy and vibrant homemade Red Island dressing married the the whole dish together.

The Lawn has also just introduced a couple of new items in the menu. Now they have Duck and Pacific Dory! I got to sample their new Wasahonie dressing too! It had the Wasabi kick which is not too powering , smoothen with honey and mayo.

I have to warn you, the Pot serving ($10.90+) is huge! I tried having it alone once and I was so bloated after that. It comes with choice of 2 grills and 6 toppings. Anyway, I got to try the new menu and ordered the Grilled Salsa Duck and Buttered Seared Pacific Dory. I was quite surprised how flavourful and tender the duck meat was. It definitely won me over. The buttered seared pacific dory was as good too. The buttery flavour over the soft and moist fish with a hint of herby parsley flavour was simply heavenly.

Is the grill and salad really that good? Well, it definitely has a place in my heart and I actually went back for the third time within a month.