>> > & till forever, you said;

Friday, October 10, 2008

Food Blog: The Magic of Chongqing Hotpot

It was yet another perfect day for food and because the friend was craving for some spicy-kick food, we decided on steamboat. We concluded to try The Magic of Chongqing Steamboat that another friend of mine had been raving bout.

We almost missed the buffet as we headed to the wrong venue. Located on the fourth floor of the musty Tanglin Shopping Centre, the restaurant adopts a Chinese concept which somewhat looks like a Chinese inn. Nevermind the outlook, it's still as attractive.

The manager was very amiable and friendly; briefly explained their history while serving us. Apparently, these guys were the first to bring in Szechuan mala hotpot to Singapore bout 10+ years ago. They claimed they were the authentic ones.

Nonetheless, what sets them apart from the rest of the mala competitiors was their most special and unique emphasis on the three holistic-sounding steps to enjoying spicy hotpot.

Firstly, the manager helped us to prepare a four-flavoured sauce which includes chili sauce, ground sesame sauce, chili and garlic in oil and sesame oil. This combination of chilli-sesame dip is to enchance the flavour of food cooked in the hotpot which I think was quite tasty and exceptional. It's best if the cooked beef was dipped into the sauce. Sugoooi!

Secondly, both sweet and savoury tibits (dim sum and desserts) were served in-between to refresh and cleanse your palate. These are complimentary and included in the buffet but only one serving is available per pax. The first course was the savoury dim sums which included dumplings (xiao long bao) and the pan-fried dumplings. The manager kept asking us to eat while it's hot. I tried the gyoza look alike which I think was quite nice, just that the skin was kinda thick for my liking.

The second course was the sweet desserts which was made up of a trio of water chestnut jelly, fried mantou and egg-coated glutinous square. I like the water chestnut jelly as it was yummy and cooling, great help in aleviating the effects caused by the mala soup. The glutinous square was too sticky though and I heart the fried mantou. It was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and it goes reasonably delicious with the condensed milk! Sweet tooth!

Thirdly, they will recommend their Eight Treasures Tea to help restore the yin yang balance in your body after consuming the spicy broth. It's served either hot or cold. It is highly recommended and I think it's worth the $4, refillable. The friend even suggested that making a trip down only to drink the tea instead of the hotpot. So the whole time while we were eating, we were thinking of ways to refilling the drinks into our bottles. lol. However, the more we drink, the more we were filled up!

Furthermore, they still use the antique and classy kettle with hyper long spouts. A pity that I din have a photo of it.

The steamboat has three choices of soup bases. Namely, the mala base, the chicken broth base, and a szechuan base. The chicken soup base is extremely delicious (thumbs up) and for those who are more adventurous, the mala soup base provides a very spicy challenge. However, I think the mala soup has been toned down to suit local tastebuds. It doesnt have the tongue-maiming and lip-numbing sensation and not oily.

The lunch buffet came with an appetiser of Edamame (S$2) too. The manager gave us a starter set which we could decline any ingredients we dun like to begin while we peruse the menu for further orders.

Serving us again

Starter set

The ingredients were all prepared meticulously such that each ingredient took the shortest time to be cooked, which means that the meat were served in thin slices. But as it's a buffet, it doesnt matter if you order for example, 50 plates of sliced beef.

I'm glad I've tried this on such a beautiful day. lol. Super-filling from the appetisers to the hotpot to the beverage to the desserts, so much so that I skipped dinner and ended up having prata for supper =/ I wouldnt mind going back again for the lunch buffet and the staffs were pretty polite and efficient in topping up the drinks and orders.

Labels: Food - Chinese, Orchard, Steamboat, Tanglin Shopping Centre

11:31 PM

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Peektures: Over the Weekends

Because I wanted to get something, I asked Miss Lee to accompany me. In return, she asked me to bring her to eat ramen. I suggested Noodle House Ken as it was more convenient for me to get my stuffs

We reached there bout 1340 hours as I thought they will close at 1400 hours. Little did I know that, it was only on weekdays. I think I'm blind or something when I searched for it online. lol. Furthermore, the stewed boiled egg was sold out. So we settled for Shoyu Ramen and Gyoza

It was the first time I tried on their Shoyu Ramen as I would go for the Stewed Boiled Egg Ramen usually. It was yummylicious despite the disappointment of the charsu. They were tough, not tender enough and diffcult to bite. The soup broth was superior (Double boiled for 8 hours and no MSG added) and the noodles was tasty! It was al dente! Very springy and bouncy! But they look like those yellow noodles found in hawkers =/

Shoyu Ramen

The gyoza tasted mediocre even though appearance wise, it was nicely done. It was neither crispy nor juicy but I still like it as it doesnt have much garlic. hahah. I think I need to speak to Ken (the chef), his standard kinda dropping. tsktsk

After filling our tummies, we walked to Paragon to check out on the Crumpler before heading to Far East to find Miss Lam who was looking in pain when the hairdresser was shampoo-ing her hair. hahaa. Crapped with her for awhile before heading to our next destination. My ulterior motive for today's outing. heh

Deli

Signature Durian Puffs

Woaaaah! The durian!

This one has two eyes and looks like a mutated dog durian puff =/

My parents love it, especially my dad. I think he's addicted to it cos I think he's the culprit to finish almost everything. tsktsk. Din he told me not to eat so much heaty stuffs and now he's swallowing the entire box. And goodness, before he went to sleep he told he want to drive me there to get more next week. tsktsk

Anyway, Goodwood Park Hotel is having a Durian Fiesta now till end of July. Click here for more info

And by the way, I re-visted Miss Lam because I wanted to pass her the puffs. She din manage to eat it but I got a shock lah. She was so brave! She chopped off her hair. But the end result was pretty good. heh

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Manu raped WHU 4-1 at Old Trafford. Two goals from Ronaldo, a goal each from Tevez and Carrick moved them closer to retaining the title. Tevez goal was a blast. It rocketed into the top of the net from 30 yards. At the end of the match, Fergie thanks the fans and the players paid tribute to the fans by doing the lap of honours (walking around the field). The atmosphere was great. How I wish I was theeeeeeeeeeeere in person

Somehow. Someday. Nevertheless, one more week, seven more days =)

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Har Gaos from Vietnam

My muuuder asked me to try it. Okay lah, it was edible but to me it was kinda bad. lol. Besides complaining that the skin was sooooooo thick and dry and the best of all is, I couldnt taste prawns! Even the best of the best was, there's carrot in the fillings. I almost wanted to pull my hair. But since it was her effort to buy and steam it for me, I had two of it out of the many many before heading out! LOL

And I felt very accomplished for giving tuition today. I'm quite happy with myself and the kids. heheheh. You guys should be lidat every week and then I will be very pleased loh

hahah. Like very free hor. I think my first paper is next week. daaaaaaaaang. Big big exclaimation mark

Lastly, I think I shall go sleep now laaaaaah. I need to cook for the boy later in the afternoon, means waking up early. I know this is disbelieving but PLEASE trust me can =D

Labels: Food - Durian Puffs, Food - Japanese, Home, Orchard, Soccer

11:14 PM

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Peektures: Cineleisure - Catastrophe

Milk Tea

Black Pepper Chicken Egg Rice - Look so not appetising. That goes without saying the food

Har Gao - Sensitive tastebuds suggested a high probability is those frozen ones from supermarkets

Chicken Chop Cheese Baked Rice - So ketchup-ish

The food ordered were a total disaster. It was horrible plus terrible. That was my second visit there and I swear I wont patronise it again. However, the service did improve. The food, seriously need much much more improvements. Raaaaaaaah

With a least than satisfying lunch, caught Step Up 2 - The Streets. The theatre's seats are kinda uncomfortable and with those irritating asses seated behind keep kicking my seat, it was a horrid experience and superb annoying. On a lighter note, as the name suggested, the movie was all bout streets but I still prefer the first one. So much so, I din suffer from any dissonances from the movie

Apart from those crazy dissonances, to end the day with a mad headache and to stand all the way back home were a continuity of disasters

P/S: If the har gaos are really those frozen ones, the cafe is not acting socially and by blogging it down, this is an example of contagion effect. heh

Labels: Food - Chinese, Hong Kong Cafe, Movies, Orchard

8:03 PM

Friday, February 29, 2008

Photo Galore: Meetups - Welcoming and Farewell

Get to meet up with Gen after one year because she decided not to come back for holidays during her break. As quoted from Grace, Gen is one degree holder now while we're still mugging. Hmm. I think the word 'mugging' doesnt describe me at all. hahah. Since when I mug. Sigh

While waiting for her to end her interview, Grace and I were starving and we headed to Sushi Tei to fill our tummies. hahah

Salmon Sashimi

Potato Salad

Golden Roll - Mango and Prawns

Unagi Sushi Roll

Then, headed to Canele Cafe, Paragon for desserts. Cant hide the fact that we keep eating whenever we are out, just that it's only a small group of us instead of the whole class. hahah

Finally had the chance to indugle in this relaxing ambience of the shop as I've been walking past a few times and never had an opportunity. What's attracting is the chic design of this small cosy cafe with the shop's classic look and delectable pastries

Caraibe

Strawberry Shortcake

Chocolate Classique

I like the Strawberry Shortcake the most. Dun really like both the chocolate chocolate thingy as it was too sweet and dense especially the Caraibe. Really taste like eating a piece of chocolate. I find it average, overall

Ambience was pretty good. Just that they may want to do something to the insane temperatures. It was practically an igloo inside the cafe. I do understand that the cakes on display have to be chilled. But hey! Do i look in any ways like a cake? Besides having the same amount of fat contents as one =/ So please, do turn up the heat a little so that your customers have a suitable environment to enjoy their desserts in!

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After bidding them goodbyes, rushed off to Bugis to meet the girls. It was a farewell dinner for Lynette as she's returning to Aussie. Our inital Steamboat plan was changed because one dodo was quite full after her Dim Sum Buffet. We decided on Korean Crusine at Liang Seah's - Mario Kitchen

We ordered the combo sets. One large BBQ (choice of meat) with soup and one Dak Gal Bi with steamboat. The waiter commented that the food we ordered are much much more than the headcounts. He never knows that we are such big eaters, especially with Aunty Aw around. lol

Writing her food diary under her course of sociology of food -_-

She's talking bout her upcoming trip to Redang to conserve turtles. lol

Appetizers. Apparently, only that dodo twinie likes. haha

Steamboat - Pork, Veg, Potatoes

Dak Gal Bi - Not enough for us. lol

Ginseng Chicken Soup

BBQ Chicken

Food was good. I think I've done a review on this restaurant. heh. We finished everything in a short while. haha. Afterthat, it was cam-whoring session

After footing the bill, we hunted for more food - Desserts. There's a couple of dessert shops there but since we haven try on this, we went over, literally opposite, for our cravings on desserts! heh