Dinner @ Le Bistrot du Sommelier

A mouthful to pronounce the name.  I had not meet Phil for a while, so we arranged for dinner to catch up, as well as to celebrate his birthday (Belated)

We chose an outdoor table as the indoor looked a bit cramped.  Weather was cool, and it did feel like in some European countries.  Most of the dishes here were beef, so if you are not a beef eater, you may feel limited by the choice.

Complimentary Bread Basket

Salmon Salad

Baked Escargots.  I like the way it was cooked, and the gravy went well with the bread, and i need not de-shelled it myself, sutiable for lazy people.

Baked Figs with cheese.  This was special.  Never realised that baking figs with cheese can be so tasty.  The figs were very sweet, and the cheese gave them some salty taste, adding punch to your taste buds.

French chicken.  I could not remember the correct name of this dish, but i remembered i asked the waitress "What do you mean by French Chicken?  Do you mean that they come from France?"  In the end, I ordered this to find out what was French Chicken.    It was a surprise as it came it a claypot, which was typically used in Chinese cuisine.  Claypot in french food, hmm..weird.  But it taste good.  And i figured that it was qutie a popular dish as many tables order this claypot chicken.

The baked potato that came with the chicken.

Dessert:  Creme Brulee.

Food was generally ok, but the service was lacklustre.  You need a few times to get the attention of the waitress, and when they served the dessert, there was only one spoo.  Maybe they do not allow sharing?!  We meant to stay longer, but it started to drizzle, and getting heavy.  However, tables around us did not seems to be bothered.

Overall: 7/10

Address: 46 Prinsep Street #01-01 Prinsep Place Singapore

Tel: +65 6333 1982

Dinner with my Favourite Pastor

This is a yearly event.  I would meet my favourite Pastor for dinner, to celebrate her birthday.  Since is a big event, I usually would think of some where with good food.  This year, I have decided to bring her to Gordon Grill, highly recommended by Polo.  Fixing the common date was as usual the challenge, as Pastor is very popular, lots of lunch and dinner invitation.  Thank God we fixed one, and not too far from her birthday.

I was the first to arrive at the restaurant at 5 mins to 1900Hr.  Decor looks a bit dated, and smell of some air freshner stuff.  But overall dimly lited, good enough for dates.
We went for the UOB $128++ for 2 menu, and added the wine pairing at $50++, with 2 glasses of wine for each person, so total of 4 glasses.

They start with complimentary bread basket with 3 different kinds of bread.  Warm and soft.

Starter:  Cold Pasta with Caviar!  Very tasty, and the lime gave the sour twist, great way to warm up your taste buds. 

Starter 2:  Pan Fried Foie Gras with Quail.

I was wondering what's the animal that I was eating, til Pastor told me that it was quail.  Well, as usual, I asked the waitress to verify :-)

Soup.  Don't be deceived by this innocent looking soup.  There were lots of goodies in it, such as truffles, abalone, and a yoke!!  We decided to skip the yoke as it was a bit too rich.

The legendary beef cheeks with tenderloin, highly recommended by Polo.  She even told me to call to check if they have it on the menu! haha  But she was not wrong!! The beef cheek was soft and tender, absorbed all the gravy, it melts in yoru mouth.  The beef tenderloin was juicy, and even at medium well, it was still soft.

Close up:

The sweets:  Hazelnut chocolate waffle biscuit with ice cream.  Taste good, but too sweet for us

Other than the dessert that was too sweet, the rest of the food were simply fantabulous!!! It was a great night catching up with my Pastor.  Really glad that she enjoyed the food and the night as much as I did.  I pray that God's blessings will be upon her, everyday of her life.  Amen.

Capricci Italian Food

Girls night out with Polo & ibanker.  Finally get to meet ibanker after she stood us up for few times.  I chose Capricci after my colleague recommended their Tiramisu.  Capricci is located at Tanjong Pagar road, amist the wedding gowns boutique. 

We were the 3rd table to arrive at 5mins to 1900Hr.  Polo asked" No one, would they close shop soon?!?!"
We were shown to a table next to their wine cellar, and were served promptly by the waiter.  The restaurant manager came over to serve us too, and upon seeing my camera, he said he wanted to take photo.  Shortly he disappeared, and came back with the chef- Luca!  He wanted a photo with Luca haha

Me & Luca.  The manager took the photo, and the girls were complaining that I did not trust them to take.  But then again, they were well known for taking blur photo, so i better outsourced to an outsider.

We chose the $39+++ set dinner promotion, that comes with a starter, main course and a dessert..No coffee! :-(  They should throw in the coffee, how much can a coffee cost?!

Complimentary bread basket.  You can taste lump of salt in the bread, too salty for our liking.  The texture of bread was nice and soft though, and still a bit warm (Even after i finished taking photo of it)

I chose the Parma ham and Rock melon as my starter. 

Breaded Scallop.  They mixed the scallop with something, and you could not really taste the whole scallop.

Beef Tenderloin.  Not bad, quite juicy.  Very tiny though haha

Grilled Seafood.  I could only try the fish, the rest are forbidden food.

Lamb Cutlet.  My choice of main.  Tender and no strong taste of lamb.  Portion a bit small, but great tatste.

Molten Lava Cake. Ibanker's choice of dessert.  Much better than Forlino as it was not that sweet.

Here it is:  STAR of the night.  Tiramisu!!!

It was really good, can taste the liquor in the cake.  Now, i need to think if it is better than Ristorante de Parma in Serangoon Garden.  Maybe I should try Ristorante de Parma again..heehee

side view:

They had Sassicaia Wine, but only by bottle..alas..no chance to try Franco's best wine in the world.

The restaurant got really busy, and by 1930Hr, it was packed!! So Polo's fear was unfounded.  Overall i will rate it 8/10 for the Tiramisu, main courses were above average, but no WOW factor.  Ambience wise, a bit small and busy for a romantic dinner, but nice enough for group outing.  Attentive servers and manager, and a cute chef too :-)  I think I will be back for the Tiramisu. 

Capricci

Address: 27 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore

Tel: +65 6221 6761

Promotion:

In-house promotion

Say "HungryGoWhere" and enjoy a 3-course set dinner at $39++ per pax
1st Course
Choice of starter, soup or salad from our Ala-Carte Menu (additional $10 for Caprese di burrata)
2nd Course
Choice of Pasta or Main Course from our Ala-Carte Menu (additional $10 for Risotto with Black Truffle, Oven baked suckling pig, Pan seared veal chop)
3rd Course
Choice of Dessert from our Dessert Menu (additional $10 for Lava cake)
Valid till 30 Sep 2010

Forlino - One for One promotion

Getting to Forlino is a challenge.  We can see it when we are at the ground level of Fullerton One, next to the mini merlion, but we could not find the stairs or lift to up.  Once you took the lift to 2nd level, you still would not be able to see the entrance.  You followed a walk way, and finally after a few turns, you would see some black and white tiles, and a few overly enthusatics waiters whom none can pronounce my name...dar dar, you found Forlino!

At 1845Hr, there were only 2 tables.  I tried to ask for a table next to the window, but was rejected as they were "reserved" Hmm..i thought i reserved too!?! 
We went for the One for One gourmet menu, at $98+++.  It was a 5 courses dinner, that started with a appertiser, which we had change to scallop instead of Pan Seared Goose Liver with Amaretto and Pumpkin Cream.

Scallop.  Taste like normal scallop.  Not too bad, but nothing great.

Homemade Spaghetti with Black Cod and Peppermint Artichokes.  This was my favourite.  The mint sauce (The green thing around the sapgehtti) gave it a very refreshing taste.

Wagyu Beef Cheek Braised with Marsala Wine and Herb Mashed Potatoes.  Beef cheek was soft and tender.

Halibut Filet with Orange, Green Asparagus and Martini Vermouth Sauce.  Sad to say, this fish filet is very normal.  It had no fishy taste, but nothing special, a bit too plain.  Beef cheek would be a better choice.

Molten Lava Chocolate Cake with Banana Gelato and Rum Sauce.  Very very sweet.  Sugar overload!

The courses ended with Coffee & Petit Fours, which i did not manage to take photo of, as the captain came to hint that my flash was too strong. 

On the whole, food was okay at at one for one rate.  Wine list was extensive, but expensive too. Forlino is more suitable for dates with the nice ambience and dim lights.  Definitely not for family.  Ask for window seats so that you can see dine with the Esplande in front of you.

Rating:  7/10 (If one for one)

Forlino Pte Ltd

#02-06 One Fullerton
One Fullerton Road Singapore 049213
Tel: 6877 6995

Wine Connection @ Robertson Quay

Wine Connection, one of the cheapest place in Singapore to have wine.  They have a good selection wine, cheese platters, and also a bistro that serve main course.  GT and I had wanted to check out the new Altitude bar at OUB centre, but due to the weather, they closed the roof top bar, so we changed our plans instead, and we ended up in Wine Connection.

I love the wine glasses :-)

They sell a lot of pasta, jams, sauce at the bistro, including Foie Gras

Duck Confitt.  I always ended up choosing duck confiit when i saw it in the menu.  The duck confiit here was a bit too salty for my liking.  Skin was alright, but not as crispy as it should be.  The potatoes on the side were very good though, and the beans took the saltiness away.

Cheese Platter.  You can also make your own platter.

Wine for the night.  NZ White.  Very nice, must remember the name Momo.

Wine Connection

11 Unity Street

#01-05/06 Robertson Walk
Singapore237995
http://www.wineconnection.com.sg/

TJ in town - Vanilla Pod

TJ is a regular visitor to Singapore, and he is also the personal shopper for the girls, and the God father of Yee Mei's children.  He is usually here twice a day, and this time he was here alone, gf at home.  We went to Vanilla Pod for dinner, and planned to go to the night safari after dinner.  I was down with flu, but thank God that after medicine, I was better to make it for the dinner, though I had to skip the safari as I was really tired.

Yee Mei and Family

Vanilla Pod was tucked at far away in Mandai, near the Mandai Orchid Garden.  Yee Mei and her hubby had an argument which was the best way to take from Parkway Parade..haha

Finally we reached the place, after bringing TJ to visit most of the highway in Singapore...ECP, CTE, AYE, KPE and PIE.  Before we got into the restaurant, we "protected" ourselves with insect repellent!  Well prepared :-)

It was quite a far from the carpark, and we finally reached the restaurant, which i thought was not as grand as I have imagined it to be.  It was really very crowded at 1915Hr, and mostly were family or large group gathering.  Well, we had a big group too.  4 children and 5 adults :-)

Starter:  Looks good but i could not eat...Paul the Octopus, sorry, it should be squid.

 Caesar Salad.  Normal.

This was my choice of my main course, and I thought was the best among the mains that we have ordered.  Grilled Haked Fish.  The seasoning that they have used was special, and it gave the fish a very nice fragance.  The meat had its texture and not too soggy, and no fishy taste at all!

Beef Tenderlion.  Cooking style was good, but the beef was not of top quality.

Sea bass with Caviar.  I thought it was too plain.  Nothing special.

Lamb Racks.  We asked for medium, which turned out a bit too bloody for my liking.

Pizzas.  Well, better than your normal pizzas, with crispy base and fresh ingredient, but i still prefer those from Spizza.

Service was friendly, but a bit too slow.  We had to wait quite a while for the mains to be serve.  Thank God that they served the children's meal first to keep them quiet.  Price was reasonable.  Recommended for family and children are welcome. 


Vanilla Pod by Chef Peter
Address: 200 Mandai Lake Road Mandai Orchid Garden Singapore
Tel: +65 6368 0672

Mount Kinabau, Sabah August 2010 (part 3)

Last day in KK.  Were on the 1330Hr flight, so we still have the morning for some local breakfast and walk around.  I wanted to buy Old Town white coffee, but it was not open til 1000Hr, alas..

We went to Jalan Kaya for breakfast as Anson claimed that it sells the best Laksa in KK.

The fanous Ba Gu Teh which was only open at night.

Barber store:

the "Best" Laksa.  Taste normal to me, and more like a curry noodle.

This trip will always be remembered for the most difficult trip i have ever made to date.  It was a once a life time experience.  At the peak, you can experience and be awed at God's creation. 
Maybe i will try again next time, with more practice.

Some asked me "Why i paid money to torture myself?"  Well, i did have a thought of regret when I woke up at 0130HR with headache.  But as I think back about the trip, I have learnt and experienced a lot of things, some of them were:

• Been in the rain for 8 hours consecutive, total 14 hours.
• Eating the most horrible food, yet i finished everything.  So means when one is hungry, taste is not that important anymore.  As a self proclaimed foodie, I nenevr know that I can eat horrible food too, and I ate a lot!
• Yours legs can go totally out of control
• How it felt for not bathing for 2 days
• Praying and climbing.  At one point, I was at the verge of giving up, so all i could do was to pray, ask Jesus to help me to complete it.  And He did!