http://sparklette.net/food/tinge-of-blue/ http://sparklette.net/food/tinge-of-blue/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:00:32 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1287 Tinge of Blue is a café and bar that is not easily discovered, hidden away at SAFRA Mount Faber in Singapore. It strikes an appealingly casual chord with its location right by the club swimming pool. Comfortable and laid-back are two words that come to mind when you first visit this restaurant.

By day, full-length windows flood the premises with natural light, while evenings are transformed into a relaxed dining experience. I don’t have the luxury of living right by a pool, so being able to dine by one is the next best thing. The fact that not many people are aware of this place yet is perhaps a bonus as there isn’t really a crowd.

Prices are moderate, and there is also a nice drinks list to kick the evening up a notch.

The menu rounds up all the usual suspects — pastas, pizzas, steaks and burgers — of a western establishment. Hungry and feeling like pasta, that’s exactly what we go for.

Penne pasta with soft shell crab
S$18.90++

When it comes to pastas, if you’re a soft shell crab fan, this is definitely the place to indulge. The crispy crustacean is served whole with penne pasta and dressed in a zesty tomato sauce.

The crab is ample-sized and large enough to satiate any craving. But remember the Law of Diminishing Returns. The more you eat, the more it seems ordinary. By the last mouthfuls, my taste buds have become a little tired of the sauce.

Seafood spaghetti in tomato sauce
S$19.50++

Continuing in the seafood vein, since we’re dining by the sea, or pool, whatever, the seafood spaghetti in tomato sauce is a good choice. It is crowned with a pair of mussels, tucked with a few calamari rings and a prawn, and finished with a tangy tomato sauce. For the price, you will be expecting more ingredients. This we find somewhat lacking, though I do dig the pasta.

As part of the American Express SELECTS programme, cardholders get a 10% discount on the food bill. If you are dining here before 29 January 2012, you can make payment with your American Express card and have a chance of entering the weekly Volkswagen car giveaway! Just remember to remind the staff about your card privileges. I forgot about the 10% discount, and so did they.

Overall, I’m a big fan of the poolside ambience at Tinge of Blue and love the fact that it is tucked away from the city. Service is as relaxed as the ambience, professional but personable. The next time I’ll be back for the drinks!

Have Your Say!

Are there any hidden find in Singapore that you would like to share? Share all your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter or by leaving a comment!

Tinge of Blue
SAFRA Mount Faber
2 Telok Blangah Way #01-04
Singapore 098803
Tel: +65 6337 2088 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 11am – 10pm
Sunday: 9am – 9pm
Saturday & Sunday brunch till 3pm

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http://sparklette.net/food/wave-house-sentosa/ http://sparklette.net/food/wave-house-sentosa/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:00:20 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1238 Wave House Sentosa is the latest addition to the Wave House chain, allowing surfing enthusiasts to have fun in the formerly “wave-less” Singapore. Besides pumping up the local sports scene with hi-tech wave-producing installations, Wave House also excites diners with an in-house restaurant.

Located within walking distance from the Sentosa Beach Station, I recommend taking a leisurely stroll from the station to take in the sights and sounds of the beach clubs along the way. A buggy transportation service is also available.

You would find Wave House nicely tucked away in the eastern corner of Sentosa, housed at a standalone building. Upon entering the establishment, the warm lights and earthy colours lend a cosy ambiance to the premises.

Appetisers

Torchon of foie gras & smoked duck breast (sampling portion)
S$18++

While the foie gras served with sweet sugared toast is supposed to be the main attraction of the dish, it is the succulent duck breast pairing with pear vincotto that steals the limelight.

Black pepper sesame crust tuna tataki (sampling portion)
S$13++

Slices of lightly seared tuna tataki coated with a crust of black pepper and sesame, then drizzled with an enhancing fragrant mix of sesame and balsamic vinegar dressing makes this an extremely appetising dish!

Mains

Braised Australian beef cheek (sampling portion)
S$24.50++

Cooked to fork-tender, the braised Australian beef cheek marries well with the fresh mushroom ragout and flavourful gravy. You can also enjoy it with the side of edamame, which adds an extra dimension to both texture and taste.

Blackened fillet of salmon (sampling portion)
S$24.50++

The salmon fillet, seared over high temperatures to seal in flavour conceals a small portion of uncooked fresh meat within. It is not as noteworthy when compared with the other mains. Personally, I enjoy the varied textures the dish provides with a square of deep-fried salmon skin and smooth potato mash.

Pan roasted emperor snapper fillet (sampling portion)
S$26.50++

While the crab hash side and accompanying sausage are not impressive, the snapper fillet is scrumptious; it is delicate and fresh with a natural sweetness highlighted by the crab jus and pickled fennel.

Desserts

Chocolate lava cake
S$10.50++

I have always been a fan of chocolate lava cakes, so I immediately jump at this dessert. The lava cake may be of average size, it is full-bodied and filled with rich and thick chocolate.

Look at how the molten chocolate flows! Even though the thin chilli strips add a nice touch of colour and spiciness, they are a tad hard. The pairing with vanilla ice cream makes the overall dessert a bit too sweet for my liking.

Airy milk chocolate cloud
S$10.50++

The lovely airy milk chocolate cloud dessert is a definite highlight of the evening. It is topped with blended raspberry granite and praline nougatine that adds a crunchy texture to the milk chocolate base. This light and slightly sweet treat is extremely satisfying and a must-order!

With modern interiors, candlelight setting and prompt service, I foresee this quiet, secluded restaurant to become a popular dating spot. Wave House provides an opportunity to escape from our busy concrete jungle. There is also an outdoor beach bar area to kick back and chill after a meal if you have time.

What is your favourite beach bar/restaurant in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

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The Ang Mo Kio Hub outlet, for instance, is decorated to set you in the Halloween mood, complete with Jack-o’-lanterns, witch’s hats and staff donning Halloween costumes and make-up.

Celebrate this spooky yearly event with the Halloween-themed sandwich. You can choose between a chicken or beef patty.

Jack the Ripper beef sandwich
S$15.90++

In the mouth-watering Jack the Ripper sandwich, you will find buttered toast piled high with ten layers including onion rings, scrambled egg, beef patties, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce. You may dislocate your jaw in an attempt to fit the mighty big sandwich in your mouth; there are just so many layers!

Although cutting it with a knife and fork may create an unwieldy mess, the knife stabbed in the heart of the sandwich does help to keep the sandwich in place. I have to eat the various ingredients separately, and they’re all delicious!

The beef patty is juicy, moist and tender, with at least two layers in the sandwich. The scrambled egg isn’t overcooked or runny; it’s just right! The cherry on top of the cake will have to be the toothsome onion rings! All the ingredients combine harmoniously to form a delicious sandwich.

Bloody Eyeballs
S$8.90++

The perfect drink to have at Halloween will be the creepy Bloody Eyeballs. It is a fizzy drink composed of strawberry and raspberry syrup, with a pair of lychees stuffed with grass jelly to resemble eyeballs. The cheeky act of chewing on the eyeballs definitely fits the spirit of Halloween! This drink is available on the menu all year round.

As for the Jack the Ripper sandwich, it is only available till November 7, 2011. So hurry down to grab your spooky-licious meal before Halloween is over!

What is the best Halloween food you have seen? Share with us in the comments!

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Winners

• Tracy Oon
• Chin Oi Lin
• Jasper Aston Lim
• Wendy
• Soh Hong Wei

Congratulations to all 5 winners! You have been contacted at your email with instructions on how you can collect your prize.

Results of SQL query that selected the comments randomly (duplicate and late submissions have been removed):

About Oriole

Oriole Cafe & Bar has a flagship store at Pan Pacific Serviced Suites next to 313@Somerset. It recently opened a second outlet, Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar at Republic Plaza, serving espresso-based and single cup filtered or brewed coffee alongside sandwiches, salads and freshly baked items.

• Read the review of Oriole Cafe & Bar at Somerset.
• Read the review of Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar at Republic Plaza.

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Oriole Cafe & Bar has opened a second outlet at Republic Plaza. The new Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar offers espresso-based and single cup filtered or brewed coffee alongside sandwiches, salads and freshly baked items.

• Read the review of the new Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar.

Sandwich Giveaway!

This week, we’re giving away 5 sets of roast beef sandwich and daily brew from Oriole. Here’s how you can get your hands on one of these delicious sandwiches and coffee.

1. This contest is only open to members of the Sparklette and Oriole Facebook pages. So if you haven’t, “Like” both pages now. (Yes, just click the Like button!)

   
   

2. Leave a comment here using your Facebook name and a valid email address, along with the answer to this question:
   • Where is the second outlet of Oriole located?

Giveaway Details

• This giveaway ends on March 4, 2011 (2359 hours Singapore time).
• The 5 winners will be randomly selected by an SQL query.
• The winners will self-collect the sandwich and drink (either dine-in or take-out) at Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar, Republic Plaza.
• Please leave a valid email address when filling out the comment form so that we can contact you if you’ve won.
• Please only comment once.
• Please note that all comments are moderated. Hence your comment may not show up right away.
• Please also note that comments that do not follow the instructions on how to participate (mentioned above) may not be published, or may be removed later on.
• The winners will be announced in a separate post and you are advised to subscribe to Sparklette (Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter or iPhone) so that you can be quickly notified when the announcement post has been published.

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When things get so busy, you may wish to order take-outs at lunch. I like that I can simply grab a sandwich and coffee from Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar at the towering Republic Plaza. Located smack in the middle of the central business district, this is the second Oriole outlet after Oriole Cafe & Bar at Somerset.

Oriole at Republic Plaza offers espresso-based and single cup filtered or brewed coffee alongside sandwiches, salads and baked items. You can dine in at the cosy joint with some seats and high tables, accented by wood furnishings, or order your food to go.

In a way it does remind me of Pret a Manger, the British sandwich chain that enjoyed a short-lived existence before closing shop in Singapore.

Roast beef sandwich with Portobello mushrooms
S$14.9++
Rating:

10 different selections of roast beef sandwiches are available, served with freshly-carved meat and a variety of fillings. There’s something to be said for the simplicity of a sandwich one can throw together in five minutes. But let that not restrict the idea of what a sandwich is. The Roast beef sandwich with Portobello mushrooms is as satisfying as a wholesome meal, because essentially, it is one.

Sliced thinly, the roast beef is really tender, and the mushrooms slices and greens make a perfect accompaniment.

Café latte
S$5.3++
Rating:

A trip to Oriole would not be complete without their signature gourmet coffee, served with a dash of art. Even for take-outs, the baristas spare no effort in making sure the coffee looks pretty in the paper cup.

Sparklette Giveaway

Join my contest giveaway to win one of these wholesome sandwiches and coffee from Oriole!

What do you think of the new Oriole at Republic Plaza? Share with us in the comments!

Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar at Republic Plaza

Oriole Cafe & Bar at Pan Pacific Suites

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Overhead lighting structures, white-washed timber furniture and darkened mirrors spruce up the interiors at both restaurants. The long tables make for a communal dining atmosphere, so don’t be surprised if you wind up sharing the same table with strangers during the busy chow hours.

Starters

Pumpkin and crab bisque
S$5.50++
Rating:

Simple but sublime is the phrase that best describes the pumpkin and crab bisque, made more interesting with a hint of curry. The consistency is just right, the flavour sufficient to prep your taste buds for more food to come.

Calamari rings
S$7.80++
Rating:

When dining at a western restaurant, a side dish that I frequently order is the fried calamari rings. The one thing that usually kills this dish is the tough and chewy calamari, but thankfully these rings are just tender enough. Nothing groundbreaking like the ethereal, what I dub the “rings of gold” at Tony Roma’s, but clearly better than others.

Waffle vegetable crisps
S$4.80++
Rating:

Sounding totally tempting on paper are the waffle vegetable crisps, made from potato, sweet potato and taro. They turn out okay, although the crisps are cut too thickly to be fully enjoyable.

These handmade dips are lovely. The dark sauce is a hybrid of barbecue and tomato. Interesting stuff.

Burgers

This Christmas, four of the artisan burgers from the regular menu are available in healthy mini portions as well.

The Handburger Original, chicken caesar, battered dory and pulled pork are sold in the Sliders Party Pack, made up of 9 mini burgers. You can mix and match the flavours; plus, the mini sizes ensure you don’t have to overextend those jaw muscles.

The popular Handburger Original contains a fresh and juicy rib-eye patty wrapped in a caramelised onion bun along with the obligatory lettuce and tomato. This is my favourite amongst the four, and would have been rated all 5 drumsticks if the buns were better toasted.

For those with a penchant for the pleasures of the sea, the battered dory is a good option, with the fish coated by a batter that is light and not the least bit greasy. Don’t forget to lay on the spicy tartar sauce.

Desserts

Warm chocolate pot
S$5.50++

I must say that I am somewhat disappointed by the warm chocolate pot that appears to be masquerading as the chocolate lava cake. First, the good. Its presentation in the tall dessert glass rimmed with sugar crystals is pretty classy. The caramelised banana slices and the mint leaf add a nice dash of colours.

Now for the bad news. The dessert has been made to resemble the lava cake in every way. Except that it’s not. It is served warm with soft-serve vanilla ice cream on the side, but is dry throughout and sorely missing that molten chocolate centre. On hindsight, its low price point is a good indicator that this is no lava cake, but my love for the dessert must have blindsided that fact and I imagine many chocolate fondant lovers may share the same sentiments.

Beverages

As for the beverages, you have got to try the milkshakes. They cost less than the five-dollar shake that John Travolta drinks in Pulp Fiction, but I’m sure these taste as good, if not better.

Nutella and Naked Chocolate shakes
S$4.50++ and S$3.90++
Rating:

The Nutella and Naked Chocolate shakes are just the thing for the insatiable chocoholic. (Wow, I didn’t realise “chocoholic” is a word! The spell-checker did not place the annoying red zigzag line underneath.) These are extremely thick, creamy and, yes, totally sinful. But how can anyone say no to such rich and good chocolaty goodness?

Lychee mint crush
S$5.5++
Rating:

A perfect palate cleanser is the lychee mint crush, which is quite possibly one of the top 5 most refreshing beverages around. This comes with actual chunks of lychee and specks of peppermint.

There is little doubt that The Handburger can become a big player in the gourmet burger niche. With the tasty all-natural burgers sold at moderate prices, accompanied by a cast of palatable side dishes, this bistro is definitely worth your patronage if you are a burger fan.

What would your perfect burger be made of? Describe it in the comments!

Raffles City outlet

313@Somerset outlet

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Now, I am by no means a coffee connoisseur, although I do know a good coffee when I taste one. But it doesn’t take a true connoisseur to appreciate coffee art, does it? And that’s exactly what you will get at Oriole Cafe & Bar. This lifestyle café has a flagship store at Pan Pacific Serviced Suites next to 313@Somerset and a second outlet at Republic Plaza.

Cappuccino
S$5++
Rating:

You can get great tasting coffee at many places, but great looking coffee art? Not many. Over here, the coffee art here is done by award-winning baristas. One of them is Keith Low, the owner himself who also runs Whitebait & Kale and the European restaurant, Aerin’s at Raffles City.

If you do get the opportunity, do try to catch the baristas in action. I’m sure watching the way they transform milk into silky works of art would be an eye opening experience!

By itself, the cappuccino tastes pretty good. No need for extra sugar!

Philly steak & cheese
S$15++
Rating:

Of course, your stomach will not be filled by just drinking coffee alone. Grab quick bites like the Philly cheesesteak, which is interestingly served with a side of potato chips and greens.

The baguette is filled with pieces of succulent steak, onion, peppers…

… and loads of melted Swiss cheese! This sandwich is literally packed with flavour!

Spaghetti prawns
S$15++
Rating:

The prawn spaghetti comes with some sautéed prawns, rocket leaves and tomatoes. Unlike most aglio olio that tend to be milder in taste, this one is chock-full with flavour! Unfortunately, instead of being al dente, the spaghetti is too firm and undercooked.

Apart from Oriole, are there any other cafés that offer coffee art? Share with us in the comments!

Oriole Cafe & Bar at Pan Pacific Suites

Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar at Republic Plaza

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With a name like Chili’s, you can be sure that the food is sizzling hot and packed with flavour!

Chili’s Grill and Bar, the casual dining restaurant chain originating from Dallas opened in Singapore in 2009, its 200th restaurant worldwide. It brings to town an expansive and diverse menu so diners can chow down on their signature fajitas, American favourites such as ribs and burgers, and Tex-Mex cuisine, while sipping on one of their margaritas.

The decor is Southwestern-America style and the atmosphere is vibrant and lively, with ample booth seats, a bar and flat screen TVs showing sports. As part of its tradition, every Chili’s restaurant also sports a single upside down photo. We try to eye-hunt it down whilst waiting for our food, but once the piping hot dishes arrive, we dive in and give up on the photo hunting. If you do find it, let us know!

Margarita grilled chicken
S$14.90++
Rating:

I am particularly excited to try the margarita grilled chicken, because it looks every bit like one of those colourful Tex-Mex dishes with refried beans and Pico de gallo I fell in love with during my last trip to Dallas. I have been trying to locate decent Mexican or Tex-Mex food in Singapore ever since and haven’t found any. Swensen’s did try once but flopped.

The slab of chicken breast is seasoned with margarita mix and grilled. This is served atop rice with crispy tortilla strips on a bed of black beans, and topped with Pico de gallo. I think there is supposed to be tequila in it but I haven’t tasted any.

A Mexican expatriate once told me there is no such thing as good Mexican or Tex-Mex food in Singapore. For a long time I had to agree with him. Well, Chili’s does not disappoint and this is by far the best taste I’ve had of Tex-Mex cuisine in a long while.

Chicken Crispers
S$19.90++
Rating:

Right off the chicken menu comes the Crispers. These are chunky strips of hand-battered chicken, served with sweet corn on the cob, a large portion of fries, and honey-mustard dressing. The chicken is tender, but pretty plain on its own. So do make full use of the dip, which is delicious and adds a lot of flavour.

For extra crispy and spicy Crispers, go for the honey-chipotle variety that is tossed in a spicy sauce.

The chocolate molten cake is highly recommended. This is similar to my favourite dessert, the chocolate lava cake. It is warm chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream, with a core of warm chocolate fudge filling.

On a return visit, I am definitely having a fajita and a margarita!

Chili’s
Tanglin Mall
163 Tanglin Road #02-23
Singapore 247933
Tel: +65 6733 3317 | Website
Service:

Bus services: 7, 75, 77, 105, 106, 111, 123, 132, 174, NR8, 174E
Nearest MRT: Orchard

Opening hours:
11am – 10pm (Sun – Thurs)
11am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

View menu

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As we settle down, the waitress hands us each a thin newspaper with the same brightly-coloured jukebox proudly featured on its cover. This “newspaper” opens up to a menu. Pretty neat huh? It’s one design trend that other restaurants have adopted for their newsletter, too.

Radio City
S$14.50++
Rating:

Ready to start on our all-American meal, we go for the buffalo wings. The waitress obligingly offers to bring us chilli sauce or ketchup with a smile, a nice reminder of the fact that we’re dining at a posh hotel.

The food is actually rather ordinary. A half dozen fried wings served with sour cream and coleslaw. The wings are more like winglets, with a touch of spice in the marinating. Certainly nothing like Jerry’s huge fiery monsters that fill your stomach and help you work out a sweat at the same time.

Fish & chips
S$19.80++
Rating:

The fish and chips, thankfully, comprises a much more ample cheese crusted john dory fillet and French fries. The rich and creamy tartar sauce comes in what appears to be a muffin cup! Cute :)

Served piping hot and fresh with a nice taste, the fish manages to impress us. It may not necessarily be the best, but it is certainly one of the better ones we’ve had.

Broadway
S$22.55++
Rating:

While the fish is good, what I’m really craving for is more chicken after those tiny buffalo wings. So when I spot a set named “Broadway” that promises roasted chicken and baby pork ribs, I jump at it immediately.

For a quarter chicken, you sure get a lot of meat! I find myself enjoying the ribs in the magnificent barbecue sauce, too. How I wish there is more of it to go around!

Accompanying the meats are a pile of potato wedges and vegetables. This is a very satisfying and complete platter that can last two meals.

Is it just me or does the furniture remind you of a Singapore coffee shop in the 60s? There are those nostalgic marble-top tables and wooden chairs. Hehe :)

Click to enlarge: Menu page 1 | Menu page 2

Amongst the various restaurants at Raffles Hotel, Seah Street Deli is probably the most affordable one, relatively speaking. If you’re considering heading there, you may refer to the menu above for the pricing.

Seah Street Deli
Raffles Hotel
1 Beach Road
Singapore 189673
Tel: +65 6412 1816 | Website
Service:

Bus services: 7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 145, 175, 197, 851
Nearest MRT: City Hall

Opening hours:
11am – 10pm (Sun – Thur)
11am – 11pm (Fri, Sat, Eve of PH)

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It was at Tony Roma’s where I had my first rack of perfectly barbecued baby back ribs. Eventually Jerry’s, with their tender and meaty ribs that ooze flavour with every bite, became the first place I recommend for ribs.

Lately I have been hearing rave reviews about the ribs at Dallas and they got me curious enough to check it out. The name also reminds me fondly of my trip to the actual Dallas!

So, is the food as good as what people say?

Baby back pork ribs (full rack)
S$28++
Rating:

Ahh… The baby back pork ribs that everyone is raving about. We have ordered here a full rack of the fiery flavour. These ribs come in three flavours — fiery, berry and the new caribbean dry rub.

It is a little baffling that the ribs don’t seem spicy or even peppery, as the name “fiery” suggests. But that’s okay. No biggie. What’s more important is that they are sweet and flavourful, braised to melt-in-the-mouth tenderness.

Now tell me: are you the type that throw caution to the wind and eat the fatty bits in your meats because they taste so good? If you are, then you would so enjoy Dallas’ ribs. The fatty layer is thick and prominent beneath the charred skin!

I know many people actually love these fatty pieces. In fact, one Japanese restaurant deliberately serves a version of their pork katsu with the thick fatty layer intact. That dish has remained one of their bestsellers.

For me, I would go for Jerry’s seemingly fat-free ribs any day! At Jerry’s, they use a special preparation method to ensure the fats are all melted away in the grilling process. Plus, the ribs are meatier and saucier.

I like the fact that instead of the usual French fries, the ribs come with a big heap of thick fluffy potato wedges by default. Still, if you prefer, you can request for the Dallas fries instead.

Not every dish turns out to be a success, however.

Dallas Platter
S$14++
Rating:

To get a taste of their various appetisers, we order the Dallas platter that comprises of:

• chicken wings
• chicken and cheese quesadillas
• salt and pepper calamari
• guacamole, sour cream and chilli dips

Just the thing for people that like variety! However, our first sentiment on seeing the platter is dismay. What small portions!

Perhaps we have been too accustomed to the generous portions of appetisers offered at similar restaurants. After eating Jerry’s huge buffalo wings and Tony Roma’s huge calamari rings, the Dallas platter seems miserably small! I’m talking 4 skimpy winglets, a handful of rather tough chopped calamari and 2 skinny slices of quesadillas. They barely warm the stomach! Frankly, the two other restaurants offer much more, and at lower prices, too.

One consolation is that the winglets taste pretty good with the chilli sauce. Are they worth the price? You decide.

When you’re tucking into fiery ribs, you probably wanna do it in an air-conditioned setting. There’s the second-floor dining area for you, fully air-conditioned with tables set like a fine-dining restaurant. But if you don’t mind being seen tearing chicken wings apart with your bare hands, alfresco dining by the river is also available.

For now, we’re still sticking with jerry’s and Tony Roma’s for the tastier food, bigger portions, quicker service and lower prices. They have won our hearts long ago :)

But hey, it’s always good to have another alternative for ribs, right?

Dallas Restaurant & Bar
31 Boat Quay
Singapore 049820
Tel: +65 6532 2131
Service:
dallas.sg

Bus services: 1N, 2N, 3N, 4N, 51, 5N, 61, 63, 6N, 80, 124, 145, 166, 174, 197, 851, 961, NR1, NR2, NR3, NR5, NR6, NR7, NR8, 174E, 961C
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place

Opening hours: 11:30am – 2.30pm, 6 – 10:30pm (Closed on Sundays

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]]> 6 http://sparklette.net/food/popeyes/ http://sparklette.net/food/popeyes/#comments Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:50:43 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=864 Wanna feast on finger lickin’ good fried chicken? Well, you probably can’t get it at KFC these days. But I’ll tell you where you can. Popeyes!

No, not the spinach-eating cartoon character. Not exactly. I’m referring to Popeyes, the world’s second largest fast food chain specialising in chicken!

But hey, if we’re talking about food quality, Popeyes trumps its biggest competitor any day. Not only are the chicken and fries tastier and crispier, they are less oily, too.

3-piece chicken combo
S$9.80
Rating:

For the chicken flavours, you have the choice of New Orleans Spicy or Louisiana Mild. I haven’t had the chance to savour the buttermilk biscuits and mashed potatoes (they ran out), but I hear they are amazing!

Each time I eat the KFC fried or popcorn chicken, the breaded crispy skin is very thick and, frankly, not very crispy or appetising. After a while, I just feel like I am chewing on cardboard. Does anyone else feel the same way?

Popeyes’ chicken is different; the skin is light, crispy and simply a joy to eat. What’s more, it retains that amazing crispiness even long after I’ve taken a hundred photos of it!

Just as satisfying are the French fries. They remain surprisingly crunchy even towards the end of the meal, golden brown with the wonderful flavours of Cajun spices.

Seriously, nothing turns me off more than munching on soggy fries. There’s really no excuse when they’re already soggy when you’ve only *just* ordered them off the counter. That’s McDonald’s and KFC I’m talking about.

While the restaurant was originally named after the fictional detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle in the movie, the French connection, Popeye the sailor eventually became the main character fronting the marketing efforts.

That’s also why you get to watch old Popeye’s cartoons while digging in! Very classic :) after Disney Naturally closed down, this is one other cartoon-themed eatery where parents can bring their kids.

Interesting titbit: the late founder Al Copeland amusingly claimed that he named the restaurant “Popeyes” because he was “too poor” to afford an apostrophe. Haha :)

I wish there were more Popeyes restaurants in Singapore besides the ones at Changi Airport and Singapore Flyer. For many people that need a quick fix of fried chicken, they have no choice but to head to the more ubiquitous KFC.

Update: New outlets have opened! See below.

Better yet, throw in home delivery, too! I’m sure Popeye’s killer biceps can handle that.

Where do you go when you want to taste the best fried chicken in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Popeyes ( Halal certified)
- Ang Mo Kio Jubilee Entertainment Centre
- Bedok Point
- Century Square
- Downtown East
- ION Orchard
- Orchard Xchange
- Punggol East
- Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3
- Singapore Flyer
- Square 2
- The Cathay

Website

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]]> 64 http://sparklette.net/food/jerrys-bbq/ http://sparklette.net/food/jerrys-bbq/#comments Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:42:06 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=788 Wow I can’t believe it took me so long to blog about Jerry’s BBQ & Grill. The food there is awesome! You can feast on American-style goodies like hot, hot buffalo wings, meaty steaks and saucy ribs, then wash it down with a cold beer. It’s the kind of food that makes you wanna ignore your doctor’s advice, throw all health caution to the wind and just pig out!

A perfect starter to this belt-loosening meal is of course the most-talked about buffalo wings. What’s very interesting is that you can choose from three varying levels of spiciness — Smoking, Intensi-fire and Chef’s Challenge, which I hear is crazy-hot!

Buffalo Wings (Intensi-Fire)
S$12.95++
Rating:

As we love the shiok-ness of eating spicy food, but aren’t brave enough to venture to the far end of the hotness meter, we went for the level 2 Intensi-fire. The half-dozen buffalo wings arrived looking really hot anyway. You can still see the chilli flakes and seeds on them. Goodness! How very exciting!

The size of the wings are ample, nothing like those wee little hot n’ spicy drumlets you get at the Colonel. Each one is coated in a hot sauce that makes the skin of the chicken taste extremely good! It’s a little sweet and sour too, which is nice. The chicken flesh itself is flavourful even on the inside. It also retains a slight bit of moisture, because no one enjoys tucking into a dry and hard chicken!

Overall, the spice level is quite comfortable on my taste buds, getting a little fiery only on my third wing. With that said, I think I’m brave enough to take up the chef’s challenge next time!

Deep Fried Mushroom
S$10.95++
Rating:

As the meal is likely to be heavily meat-oriented, it’s a good idea to order a non-meat dish to mix it up a lil’. The deep fried mushroom is a highly-recommended item by the restaurant and moi. Firstly, the button mushrooms are dipped in a special batter. Then, they are lightly fried to a glorious golden brown. And finally, they are served piping hot with tartar sauce.

When I bite into each one, mushroom juices burst out! It’s really hard to describe how awesome it is. You can have it with or without the tartar sauce because both ways taste fantastic! I think this might just be the best mushroom dish I’ve ever had in my life. Nothing else even comes close.

After these flavoursome bites that totally woke our palates, we almost didn’t have room for the main course — a half slab of babyback pork ribs.

When it comes to pork ribs, very often it is more bone than meat. This is the case even for the highly popular, award-winning babyback ribs at Tony Roma’s.

As you can see from the photo above, it’s really just skin and bones at tony’s. (it still tastes pretty damn good though.) now compare that with Jerry’s.

Babyback Pork Ribs (Half slab)
S$21.95++
Rating:

For the ribs here you can visibly see a thick layer of tender meat on the bones that oozes flavour with every bite. I heard that they cook the ribs over special controlled hickory smoking ovens. The slow barbecuing process helps get rid of the fats, breaks down the tougher tissues, resulting in meat that falls off the bone easily!

And that’s not even the best part. The ribs are smothered in a thick, savoury tomato-based barbecue sauce that totally completes the dish. Seriously, this trumps Tony’s ribs by miles! When people ask me for a good place for ribs, I won’t mention Tony’s name anymore. Yup, Jerry is my new guy.

Let me now talk about the location. The flagship outlet is at Jalan Kayu, and the second outlet at Club Street near Chinatown. The latter is housed in a blue pre-war shophouse building with a small indoor dining area. I hear there are seats available on the second floor, although it wasn’t open when we went on a Saturday afternoon.

The interior is decorated with black and white photographs on aviation, and car license plates from various American states. There are also two separate washrooms at the back that customers can use after getting their hands dirty with the awesome buffalo wings.

Like I said, Jerry is my new guy. Check him out if you haven’t! For those who have, feel free to recommend your favourite dishes from there. I’m definitely dropping by again in the near future.

Jalan Kayu outlet

Club Street outlet

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At the Suntec City outlet, one of only two in Singapore, guests can opt for cozy booth seats or window seats, where they get to enjoy a view of the mall’s koi pond. With the colourful neon signboards, black and white photographs of classic America, plus the American flag being displayed proudly, you may be forgiven for forgetting that you’re still in Singapore.

Steak & Babyback Ribs Combo Grill
S$36.90++
Rating:

Tony roma’s award-winning baby back ribs are world famous and need no further introduction. But even the steaks and other grill will not pale in comparison!

Steak & Chicken Breast Combo Grill
S$29.90++
Rating:

It’s a good idea to go for the combo grill. You can have your ribs or steak with something lighter, such as chicken, shrimp or fish. There’s even a combo where you can have both the ribs AND the steak. Each combo comes with two choices of coleslaw, baked potato, mashed potatoes, French fries, ranch style beans, rice or corn on the cob.

The steak is a slab of perfection. ’nuff said. I’m no fan of steak, but even I can’t resist a few chunks of the tender and juicy meat. Ahh…

Chicken lovers can choose from BBQ chicken or chicken breast. I prefer the healthier choice of chicken breast (eating the former is too much trouble)! It even has the same checkered markings as the steak! The chicken is lightly marinated, so you can savour its natural flavours with little hindrance from heavy sauces. Still, I recommend having it with the garlic chilli sauce that you can request for separately.

Calamari Rings
S$10.90++
Rating:

The fried calamari rings is another dish of perfection. The calamari is covered in a golden coat of crispy batter and tastes great! It is a staple order for me at each Tony Roma’s meal.

The little bowl of garlic chilli dip simply explodes with flavour. It would make practically anything taste good! It’s probably a good thing that it’s not too spicy so you can have a lot of it without burning your tongue. The waitstaff don’t mind getting it for us from the kitchen. For our meal, we had three bowls of it!

Crispy Chicken Tenderloins
S$9.90++
Rating:

Maybe it’s something to do with the fact that there’s already so much meat on our table, the crispy chicken tenderloins didn’t fare that well with us. Each piece is a huge chunk of chicken meat that goes well with the honey mustard sauce. It would be a hit with the kids as it’s easy and fun to eat. The portion is rather huge too!

One nice touch is that besides serving guests a warm baguette while waiting for the food to arrive, wet towels are also given. These items are complimentary, a stark contrast to certain Chinese restaurants where you would be paying a dollar for the wet towels and three for the bread.

So tell me, is your mouth watering yet? Because mine is! Already, I’m looking forward to my next Tony Roma’s meal. (Note: if anyone has any spare receipts from the restaurant, please pass them to me! I’d like to become a member.)

Tony Roma’s
Suntec City Mall
3 Temasek Boulevard #B1-007
Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6337 9055
Service:
www.tonyromas-mms.com

Bus services: 10, 14, 16, 36, 70, 70X, 97, 106, 107X, 111, 133, 162X, 196, 857
Nearest MRT: City Hall

Opening hours:
11:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm (Mon-Thur)
11:30am – 10pm (Fri-Sun)

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]]> 6 http://sparklette.net/food/folgers-gourmet-selections-vanilla-biscotti-coffee/ http://sparklette.net/food/folgers-gourmet-selections-vanilla-biscotti-coffee/#comments Sun, 22 Oct 2006 15:49:15 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=478 To complete my three-parter review of Folgers Gourmet Selections, I had a cup of Vanilla Biscotti coffee over the past weekend.

Folgers Gourmet Selections — Vanilla Biscotti
Overall rating:
Aroma:
Acidity:
Body:
After-taste:

Being an avid fan of vanilla, I was naturally psyched to try out this vanilla-accented coffee. We got the coffee beans ground into powder at the neighbourhood coffee shop. The moment we opened the bag of freshly ground coffee, the entire room filled with the sweet, delectable notes of vanilla. The aroma was that rich!

I’m not too crazy about the taste however. It was a rather light-bodied coffee, with the vanilla flavour somewhat overpowering the coffee taste. In fact, I could hardly even tell that it’s coffee!

Sorry Folgers, I guess the coffee-lover part of me won the battle. I like it strong and pure. Flavoured coffees are really not my thing, I realised. For aroma, the Vanilla Biscotti gets full marks. But when it comes to taste, this wouldn’t be something I am raring to try again.

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]]> 1 http://sparklette.net/food/folgers-gourmet-selections-lively-colombian-coffee/ http://sparklette.net/food/folgers-gourmet-selections-lively-colombian-coffee/#comments Sun, 15 Oct 2006 12:37:27 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=475 This week, forming the middle of my three-parter review of Folgers Gourmet Selections, I would be introducing the Lively Colombian coffee.

Folgers Gourmet Selections: Lively Colombian
Overall rating:
Aroma:
Acidity:
Body:
After-taste:

In a stark contrast to Morning Café, Lively Colombian has a much fuller body and gives more “oomph” to seasoned coffee drinkers.

The first thing that hits you though, is its enveloping aroma. A very deep, intense and resonant aroma with a lovely sweet tone. There are suggestions of chocolate and cinnamon as well.

This coffee is rather mellow and I didn’t detect much of an acidic taste. The flavour and body overall suits me just fine. I like it especially in the afternoon. Best taken black.

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A couple of weeks ago I was asked to review Folgers gourmet coffee. Always keen to try out good coffee, I agreed! The three samples of coffee I would be reviewing are Morning Café, Vanilla Biscotti and Lively Colombian!

Folgers Gourmet Selections: Morning Cafe
Overall rating:
Aroma:
Acidity:
Body:
After-taste:
With milk:

This is a somewhat light-bodied coffee and would be suitable for most people, even the light coffee drinkers. But I am a heavy coffee drinker so I would have preferred it to be richer and more viscous. Its delicate aroma does enough to gently pep you up for the day.

The morning café has a bright taste and is rather acidic, and is especially good for a quick pick-me-up in the morning. A very aptly-named coffee! My family and I have been drinking it in the mornings and even in the afternoons over the weekend and absolutely loved it!

I’m not exactly a supermarket shopper so I wouldn’t know if Folgers coffee is available in Singapore. Perhaps my more informed blog readers can drop me a note?

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]]> 8 http://sparklette.net/food/botak-jones/ http://sparklette.net/food/botak-jones/#comments Thu, 24 Aug 2006 12:15:16 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/archives/botak-jones-damn-good-food/ “Damn good food at a damn good price!” the sign proclaims loudly. You can almost hear it scream! Now what the heck am I talking about? Botak Jones, of course.

Botak Jones is the brainchild of an American that promises to bring authentic American food to the heartland. The Ang Mo Kio branch is its second branch, after Tuas. Business here is so good, many customers actually wait around patiently until the stall opens at 12 noon. With all the hype, the food had better be damn good!

The menu was made up of sheets of photocopied yellow paper stapled together. And it sure was an extensive one! Every item had a descriptive paragraph that followed, written in a light-hearted and very informal style. They also had the menu on a chalkboard right in front of the stall.

The staff were all extremely energetic and friendly, taking care to recommend various dishes on hearing that I don’t eat beef. One of the dishes they recommended was the Swanky Franky hot dog. Lucky for me it was available in chicken too. So that was what I had!

Swanky Franky
S$9 for set meal (includes chips & coleslaw)
Rating:

It was wrapped in bacon and had melted cheddar cheese on top! Doesn’t that sound appetising? I did a double take when I saw the gargantuan serving size. That was easily the largest hot dog I have ever seen! Throw in the hot dog bun and the heap of chips at the side, I could finish just three quarters of the food. It was an American serving all right!

Taste-wise I didn’t actually think the hot dog was any special. But thanks to good customer service, we were given many bottles of mustard and varied sauces that helped a lot. I really liked the chips though — thick, crispy, fluffy on the inside, and lightly dusted with Botak Jones’ own spice mix. Yum!

The Double Botak, with Cheese & Whoopass Con Carne
S$9 for set meal (includes chips & coleslaw) + $1 for Cheese + $2.50 for Whoopass Con Carne

Check THAT out! My friend ordered his usual double Botak burger with add-ons of cheese and Whoopass con carne. Boy, it was huge! I sampled a little of the beef patty and found it to be delightfully tender.

Air Flown NZ Ribeye Steak (medium rare, served with chips & coleslaw)
S$13 for 200 grams
Rating:

Same goes for the steak. It was extremely tender. Chewy, but not tough. Marinaded nicely and seared carefully in such a way that the rich juices ooze out as you chew. This was one good quality steak! And don’t you just love those cross patterns?

Those daring slogans on their staff’s shirts and aprons are pretty cool too. Throughout our meal the staff were very friendly. They would ask us how the food was, etc. We actually spotted the boss himself at the coffee shop. But he may have been just a random botak (bald) dude.

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]]> 19 http://sparklette.net/food/the-blooies-roadhouse-bar-grill/ http://sparklette.net/food/the-blooies-roadhouse-bar-grill/#comments Tue, 13 Jun 2006 06:18:12 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=398 I have never actually been to Science Park before until a recent job assignment gave me the opportunity. When my client suggested lunch, I was expecting a café or a canteen. I did a double take when I found ourselves at The BLooiE’s Roadhouse Bar & Grill, tucked at the first level of the Aquarius in Science Park II.

The restaurant appears to cater primarily to the working crowd, as there was hardly any customer when we were there on Saturday afternoon. Sports games and world cup matches were shown on a number of television screens. Some of the staff were playing a few leisurely games of pool or chilling out at the bar counter. From the simple but tasteful design of the place, which includes a casual alfresco dining area, everything exudes a warm and upbeat atmosphere.

Stuffed Jalapeño Peppers
S$7+++
Rating:

For starters we had stuffed jalapeño peppers. The jalapeño was super hot and tangy and didn’t taste too good. Obviously jalapeño is something that doesn’t suit all tastebuds. That was my first time eating jalapeño and it would quite positively be my last; I didn’t like it one bit!

Fish & Chips
S$14.80+++
Rating:

Opting for a safer option for the main course, I ordered a fish & chips. It was a humongous serving of crusted fish fillet topped with lemon, served with an equally large portion of chips and a mound of salad and mayonnaise on the side. I couldn’t finish the whole thing on my own! A pity the fish didn’t taste as enticing as it looked; it was just all right for me. The chips had been cut pretty thick, and were less crunchy on the outside, fluffier on the inside. They were also less oily, and a healthier rendition of regular French fries. It’s a good thing, although I would have liked them crispier.

Crusted Salmon Fillet
S$20+++
Rating:

I must rave about the crusted salmon fillet. Once again it’s another huge serving of fish that occupied the plate. Served with creamy mashed potato and greens, the fish was nicely seared on the outside, and pink in the centre. There was no evidence of any fishy smell and the salmon tasted so juicy and sweet! It was sublime, and certainly the best salmon I have ever eaten.

Oh yeah this is also the second place (I have noticed) that charges an additional 1% CESS.

Although the place is a little remote, The BLooiE’s Roadhouse Bar & Grill would be a neat place to check out if you happen to be in the vicinity. There are three roadhouses spread across Singapore.

Science Park outlet

Science Park II
The Aquarius
21 Science Park Road #01-01
Singapore 117628
Tel: +65 6775 0446
Service:

Bus services: 10, 30, 51, 143, 183, 188, 200
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront

Opening hours:
11am – 12am (Mon-Fri)
11am – 1am (Sat, Sun & PH)

Siglap outlet

Rail Mall outlet

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