Being the coffee-addict that I am, I just had to order the Affogato ($9) at Marmalade Pantry. The beverage consists of a good shot of espresso coffee and vanilla ice cream on the side. The reason why these 2 are not mixed together when served is mainly due to the fact that the coffee would taste sour when cooled. So you're essentially supposed to drink it up the moment you pour it into the ice cream.This Pan-Roasted Red Snapper ($28) is made with a parsley herb crust and sits on top a bed of homemade ratatouille. I thought the fish was cooked really well, not at all overdone and the meat was very fresh too. Paired with the heart ratatouille, the red snapper makes for a very satisfying main dish! =D

Part of the Tung Lok Group of restaurants, and fronted by celebrity singer/songwriter Dick Lee, MAD: Modern Asian Diner is one of those restaurants you definitely would not want to miss out on. Cast in soft warm lighting, stepping into this restaurant at The Grandstand is like walking into an art gallery of sorts. Decked out in bold bright colours, the decor is definitely befitting of Dick Lee’s eclectic and flamboyant sense of style.

Marrying the best of both Asian and Western cuisine, MAD serves up a good variety of Chinese dim sum and also some Spanish tapas. And if you’re ever in need of a potent drink any time of the day just head on down to their bar counter, helmed by mixologist Kino Soh, for a cocktail or two. =DWell, I’m not exactly a teetotaler but I seldom drink alcoholic beverages in mid-day unless I’m on holiday lounging on the beaches of the Caribbean or something. So I decided to go for a kiddie mocktail instead – Pink Thyme Lemonade($4), which looks equally pretty but without the alcoholic kick. =P You can really taste the crushed up herbs in the drink and it makes for a refreshing beverage to chill down on a hot day.One of the interesting dim sum that caught my eye was the Black Angus Siew Mai 黑安格斯烧卖 ($6.20). Sadly, the novelty of putting black angus beef into a siew mai did not translate into a palate-pleasing dish. Its chewy and springy texture was quite an interesting take on a siew mai, but it was a little bit on the dry side.Is it just me being ignorant? But I seldom come across Deep-Fried Liu Sha Bao 炸流沙包 ($4.80). In fact, this was my first time trying a liu sha bao that has been deep fried instead of the usual steamed version. And I must say that it is OH-SO-GOOD! The fluffy insides encased in a crispy skin and oozing golden salted egg yolk lava was simply divine. Well, it was a little on the oily side, but there’s no harm in indulging in a sinful treat once in a while. =DEveryone has been raving about how good the Wagyu Beef Claypot Rice is, but I decided to try the Lobster Crispy Noodle 龙虾面 ($32) instead. The noodles were deep fried to a crisp and there is this distinct smokey and burnt flavour to it even though it doesn’t look burnt. Plus, the lobster meat was really fresh and prepared skillfully such that the meat is springy and just about right, not at all overcooked. My only gripe is that the gravy was way too salty and the noodles were a bit difficult to eat since it was displayed in a standing tower of sorts. They also threw in some seaweed on the side which adds a splendid “oceanic” tone to the dish.Overall my experience at MAD: Modern Asian Diner was a pretty good one. What’s not to like about a chic ambiance, fuss-free ordering via iPads and all that good booze? The service staff were also pretty friendly and showed us how to make our orders via the iPad step by step – he even brought over an additional iPad instead of having the 4 of us share just one single device. I would probably pop by again for happy hour if I get the chance!

For more food reviews, check out my blog at www.jerjerjer.com!

Rochor Thai is the only Thai restaurant located along the bustling Joo Chiat Road dining enclave, and serves up pretty good authentic Thai food with a modern twist.On my first visit there on a Friday night, I got the chance to try their Amuse Bouche specially prepared by the chef just for us. This dish is a combination of salty, sweet, spicy and sour making it a delightfully refreshing starter.We also ordered a plate of Pad Thai Talay ($14.80 for the large portion) to share. Although the restaurant does not use any MSG in their food, the pad thai was very flavourful. Plus the prawns used were very fresh as well. Overall, great food combined with a relaxed environment and friendly staff make this a restaurant you definitely should try! =D

The very first time I tried Kueh Pai Tee as a kid was at Goodwood Park hotel's high tea and I would keenly look forward to making my own Kueh Pai Tee every time I go there. I had the chance to try this Kueh Pai Tee stall at Singapore Food Festival. It comes in a disposable container of 3 and is topped up with a slightly spicy tomato-based sauce. The stewed turnips were also cooked just right and not too soggy, making for a great snack that I can easily finish up in one bite. =D

I couldn't resist my curiosity to find out what "The Green Goddess" pesto pasta ($26) would look like and so I decided to order it for lunch! As its name implies, it is truly the goddess of pesto pastas. Chock full of greens including broccoli, long beans and peas all tossed up in a bright green basil pesto sauce. Mmmm mmmm.. add on some slices of cheddar cheese and a generous serving of pine nuts, this pasta truly becomes a "goddess" for all vegetarians!

My only gripe would be the amount of olive oil they use for the sauce - especially when I reached the base of my plate, the pasta was literally soaking in a pool of olive oil. Sure, they say olive oil is good for you but even too much of a good thing ain't gonna cut it. Overall, this dish is perfect for vegetarians and I wouldn't have it be called by any other name - All hail "The Green Goddess"!