http://sparklette.net/food/tung-lok-signatures/ http://sparklette.net/food/tung-lok-signatures/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:00:01 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1265 The concept behind the Tung Lok Signatures restaurants is promising; at one place you can enjoy signature dishes from the various Tung Lok restaurants. The appealing prospect of enjoying the “best of” dishes all under one roof has drawn a large clientèle of families and working professionals, as evident by a full-house capacity on a weekday evening.

With most dishes priced above S$30, budget at least S$40-50 a person. And if you pick any of the shark’s fin or abalone dishes, be prepared to reach deeper into your pocket. As part of the American Express SELECTS programme, cardholders get a 10% discount with the minimum spending of S$200. On top of that, if you make payment with your AmEx card before 29 January 2012, you may also qualify for the weekly Volkswagen car giveaway.

And so, on to the food…

Rice

As with all Chinese meals, rice is a staple.

Baked fried rice with seafood served on lotus leaf
S$22++

If you have to pick just one rice dish from the menu, definitely go for the baked fried rice with seafood. Presented on lotus leaf, the rice is chock-full of delicious ingredients like prawns, egg and other assorted seafood. Even when eaten by itself, the rice is robust with flavour and very satisfying.

Poached crispy rice with fresh crab meat in superior broth
S$32++

The poached crispy rice is one that looks really tantalising on paper. In fact, you would find two types of rice in it — crispy rice and regular white rice — soaked in a claypot of broth with crab meat. You get to see the waitress pour the crispy rice into the broth before serving it in individual bowls.

As it turns out, the dish is disappointingly dull and nondescript in comparison to its counterpart.

Seafood

Deep-fried cod fillet coated with salted egg yolk served with organic vegetables
S$32++

From the fish section, the deep-fried cod fillet is a safe bet. The cod is of good quality — tender white flesh sequestered beneath the perfectly browned and crispy salted egg yolk coating. Paired with organic vegetables and tangy fruit cubes, this dish is a delight to savour without the need for any additional dip or sauce.

Sautéed scallops topped with crab meat and roe
S$44++

The sautéed scallops don’t fare as well. Topped with crab meat and roe, the dish is lacklustre and eminently forgettable.

Poultry

Beijing-style crispy duck
S$32++

The Beijing-style crispy duck initially stumps us by arriving in pulled shreds rather than the usual slices with roasted skin a la Peking duck. All is well though, as it is undoubtedly the best dish of the night.

Eating this can be a rather fun activity in its own right. There’s just… something about eating with your fingers that makes the food that much more enjoyable. You wrap in a wafer thin pancake the duck meat, shreds of scallion and cucumber sticks. Don’t forget the superb sweet bean paste — oh I can’t get enough of that; it’s the catalyst that propels this dish out of the realm of the ordinary.

Despite offering the “best of” items from various restaurants, I do notice that some popular items, such as the intriguing coffee pork ribs from Zhou’s Kitchen aren’t on the menu here.

Desserts

The desserts section offers some wondrous possibilities at very reasonable prices. Here are some of our picks.

Chilled durian purée with purple rice purée served with ice cream in young coconut
S$10++

Durian lovers would have the easy choice of the chilled durian purée, paired with purple rice purée and ice cream in a young coconut. You get a sizable amount of durian in this that should be enough to temper any craving.

Chilled mango cream with pomelo, diced mango and sago served with ice cream in young coconut
S$8++

Another dessert that is equally up to the mark is the chilled mango cream with pomelo, diced mango and sago which is similarly served with ice cream in a small coconut.

Chilled taro pumpkin (off the menu)
S$6++

From off the menu, the excellent chilled taro pumpkin is the chef’s special for the day. With ice cream, pumpkin mousse and yam paste in a gorgeous shade, this is one triple-layered treat for both the eye and the palate. The pumpkin mousse in particular beguiles the taste buds with its feathery richness.

Service can be a bit on the tentative side, especially the waitresses who seem particularly befuddled with the available credit card privileges. There are some hits and misses with the meal, but for the most part, the kitchen hits the ground running.

Have Your Say!

What is your favourite restaurant under the Tung Lok Group? Share with us in the comments!

Tung Lok Signatures
Website

Opening hours:
Lunch 11:30am – 3pm (Mon to Sat), 11am – 3:30pm (Sun & PHs)
Dinner 6pm – 10:30pm daily

Tung Lok Signatures VivoCity

VivoCity
1 HarbourFront Walk #01-57
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6376 9555
Service:

Tung Lok Signatures The Central (Clarke Quay)

The Central
6 Eu Tong Sen Street #02-88
Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 6336 6022

Tung Lok Signatures Changi

Changi City Point
5 Changi Business Park Centre 1, #01-26/27
Singapore 486038
Tel: +65 6636 0606

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You can create your own virtual tree by adding photos and messages and tagging your friends using the Facebook app. Your customised greetings will then be broadcast to the public on the Heineken Social Christmas Tree. Pretty futuristic isn’t it?

Check out the Heineken Social Christmas Tree at Clarke Quay Central Fountain from 17 – 26 December 2011.

Have you seen any gorgeous Christmas trees this festive season? Share pictures with us in the comments!

For more Christmas trees, check out the Sparklette Christmas Tree of the Day series.

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Credit

Credit

If you head to The Central (Clarke Quay) this Christmas, you would be welcomed by several blue trees at the mall’s entrances, flanked by large glittering golden baubles.

Credit

I really dig the shade of turquoise on these trees, with the golden stars at their tips as the icing on the cake.

Credit

For those of you who have been following our Christmas Tree of the Day series in recent years, you would have noticed that The Central has displayed several unusual and sci-fi looking trees during past Christmases. In fact, they had a blue Christmas tree in 2010, too.

Credit

While we’re on the subject, here’s another amazing blue Christmas tree at West Coast Plaza from 2008.

All photos here are taken by Mr. Choo Yut Shing and used with permission on Sparklette.

Have you seen any gorgeous Christmas trees this festive season? Share pictures with us in the comments!

For more Christmas trees, check out the Sparklette Christmas Tree of the Day series.

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]]> 2 http://sparklette.net/food/ellenborough-market-cafe-crab-buffet/ http://sparklette.net/food/ellenborough-market-cafe-crab-buffet/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:00:05 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1226 The highly anticipated crab buffet of Ellenborough Market Café at Swissôtel Merchant Court is finally made its return! Buffet fans will be spoilt for choice with the wide spread of crustacean delights such as Indian curry crab, Alaskan crab legs with ponzu and salt baked crab.

Up for Crabs Buffet
7 – 22 October 2011, 6:30 – 10:30pm daily
Adult S$64++/ Child S$32++

Crabs

Bakwan kepiting (crabmeat and pork ball soup)

For an extremely authentic and traditional experience, go for the bakwan kepiting (crabmeat and pork ball soup). The meatballs in the light, clear soup will stimulate the palate and prep your appetite for the meal ahead.

Sri Lankan chilli crab

Traditionalists will not be disappointed with the popular Sri Lankan chilli crab. The fiery sauce makes the crabs even more scrumptious, and pairs perfectly with the fluffy fried mantou buns.

Claypot crab bee hoon (rice vermicelli)

Served in a rich, crab-seafood broth, the claypot crab bee hoon (rice vermicelli) is divine with just the right balance of spices and flavour. Infused with soup, the crab meat is absolutely delectable!

Marmite crab

If you are up for a fusion fix, do try the marmite crab. Even for someone who’s not big on Marmite, this creamy dish can very well make me a convert.

Wasabi crab

As a wasabi fan, I immediately go for the wasabi crabs. I especially like that the crabs have been lightly fried, lending added texture that complements the fish roe topping and piquant taste of wasabi. A must-try!

Peranakan food

Apart from the crab highlights, you will be delighted by the local and international cuisines available, including the restaurant’s famed Peranakan section.

Ikan chilli garam

Ayam buah keluak

Not to be missed is the quintessential Peranakan dish, ayam buah keluak. A plus point is that the filling of the keluak nut has already been scraped out into a bowl, so you can pile on as much of the savoury paste as you like.

Kueh pie tee

Also available is a DIY kueh pie tee station where you can have some hands-on fun at making your own kueh pie tee.

Seafood

The oysters are extremely popular here — I only manage to grab two during my meal — so do make a beeline for the seafood section once the staff refills it.

Sashimi

While the choices for sashimi are quite limited, the fish is all really fresh and of good quality.

Crispy fried tilapia with soya sauce

Wok fried slipper lobster in black pepper sauce

A highlight of hot dish selection, I particularly enjoy the pairing of the fleshy slipper lobsters with black pepper sauce. It’s no surprise that this is another popular item alongside the fresh oysters.

Salad

Those who like their greens will be happy to know there is a wide variety to choose from at the salad corner. Can’t make up your mind? Go for the mushroom salad, which is my pick from the selection.

Chin Kiang spare ribs

The Chin Kiang spare ribs are really delicious! The marinated meat is tender and full of flavour.

Desserts

After the indulgence, kick back and relax with sweet treats from a variety of local and western desserts, including raisin pear tarts, almond cream, pulut hitam and many more.

Nonya kueh

These colourful Nonya kueh are not only a treat for your eyes, but fun to eat as well!

Bread and butter pudding

White chocolate mousse

The white chocolate mousse is light and not overly sweet.

Peanut roll

The peanut roll — a cross between a peanut waffle and a Swiss roll — makes a fragrant and interesting dessert.

Durian pengat

The signature durian pengat — a thick, luscious durian mix — is extremely smooth and yummy. I enjoyed it so much that I went back for thirds!

If your friends or family are looking for a great place to enjoy a tasty meal of crabs, then this buffet is the one to book right now.

Where can you enjoy the best seafood in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

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Snowskin salted caramel with dark crunchy chocolate pearls
S$52 for a box of 4
Rating:

New for 2011 is the chocolaty snowskin salted caramel with dark crunchy chocolate pearls, with the overall sweetness balanced by a tinge of salt. The chocolate pearls sure make this a fun treat!

Alphonso honey mango sago pomelo
S$52 for a box of 4
Rating:

The Alphonso honey mango sago pomelo turns out to be a bitter disappointment, or shall we say sour. The word “honey” is rather misleading, as the mooncake turns out to a morsel of fruity sourness, a flavour we don’t usually associate with mooncakes.

Mao Shan Wang durian in organic pandan snowskin
S$68 for a box of 4
Rating:

But when it comes to impressing, the Mao Shan Wang durian in organic pandan snowskin definitely delivers. Eating this is akin to enjoying the actual King of fruits itself — mouthful after mouthful of nothing but fresh pulpy goodness, with the light fragrance of pandan.

The mooncakes are available at Peony Jade until September 12, 2011.

What mooncakes are you buying this year? Share with us in the comments!

Peony Jade Clarke Quay

Peony Jade Keppel Club

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]]> 1 http://sparklette.net/food/fishermans-market/ http://sparklette.net/food/fishermans-market/#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2011 03:00:42 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1194 Fisherman’s Market, the first restaurant by Japanese company Create Restaurants to open outside of Japan, is the latest all-you-can-eat seafood buffet to hit Singapore shores.

Fisherman’s Market buffet
Lunch: S$29.90++ (weekdays), S$39.90 (weekends)
Dinner: S$39.90++ (weekdays), S$44.90 (weekends)

Not to be confused with The Manhattan Fish Market, Fisherman’s Market features a full bar and 60-seater diner — perfect for chilling with friends over drinks or a la carte orders. Sprawling over two floors at The Central, the spacious 300-seater buffet dining area on the second floor boasts a selection of over 90 food dishes prepared in Japanese, Chinese and Western styles.

Apart from the large array of food, you can also enjoy a great view overlooking the Singapore River and the surrounding vibrant nightlife at Clarke Quay.

At the buffet area, there lies a myriad of the usual offerings including the likes of sushi, sashimi, pizzas, pastas, cakes and desserts. I would suggest starting with the chilled dishes, where there are some tasty and interesting choices.

Maguro (tuna)

The tuna slices are firm, fresh and of a good thickness. Sashimi lovers can also go for the platters of neatly-sliced salmon and swordfish.

Chicken and apricot with mustard dressing

While the chicken and apricot with mustard dressing is light and refreshing, it can definitely do with more fruits to sweeten up the mix.

Blue crab cocktail

Go for the chilled blue crab cocktail — the crabs are sweet and fresh!

Head over to the sushi area for a colourful display of assorted rolls, ranging from spicy tuna rolls to delectable rainbow rolls.

The chef stationed at the fresh seafood counter — probably the most popular station here — is ever ready to replenish the items as they fly off the ice. Do try the large, juicy fresh oysters, perfect with a dash of Tabasco and lemon juice.

The hot dish section offers a wide selection, featuring dishes like fried rice, barbecued ribs, seafood bouillabaisse and baby octopus tomato stew.

Chilli crabs

Both black pepper and chilli crabs are available, a pleasant surprise as these are not a common sight at restaurant buffets. While the gravies are tasty and quite authentic, the crabs hold little meat — a pity.

Provence-style mussels

If you’re not a fan of fresh mussels, go for the Provence-style mussels. The flavourful sauce makes a good pairing with the cooked mussels.

Fried mackerel Tatsuya-style

Nicely fried with flavours locked in, the fried mackerel is one of my favourites from the cooked food section.

Curry fish

The curry fish does not disappoint with its taste and richness.

Assorted tempura

Each table is equipped with a few number clips. You can drop these off at the tempura or teppanyaki stations, where the chefs would whip up your piping hot orders and have them served right to your table. Do order the assorted tempura or tempura soft-shell crab, both of which are nicely battered and very delicious.

Cheese fondue set

Cheese lovers are in for a treat with the ultra cheesy cheese fondue set.

The dessert section has plenty of pickings, from cakes and soft-serve ice cream, to a chocolate fondue fountain and a selection of desserts. The most outstanding dessert has to be the crème brûlée with its sinfully sweet and thick layer of caramel atop the custard base.

Though Fisherman’s Market offers a good range and variety of dishes and fresh seafood for the buffet dinner, it is slightly pricey compared to similar buffet restaurants. Perhaps this is the price to pay to enjoy a beautiful river view while tucking into scrumptious seafood.

Where can you indulge in the best seafood buffet in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> 8 http://sparklette.net/food/marble-slab-creamery/ http://sparklette.net/food/marble-slab-creamery/#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 06:57:27 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1185

Fancy slurping a milkshake named after your favourite celebrity?

American ice cream maker Marble Slab Creamery has rolled out the Star Creation series of 16 milkshakes, inspired by famous female celebrities like Beyonce, Angelina Jolie, Serena Gomez and Mariah Carey. Of course, since Lady Gaga is like the hottest thing now, there’s also the Fun Pack song Gaga shake, a concoction of cheesecake, strawberries, blueberries and granola.

Star Creation milkshake (Kit)
S$4.50 / 6.50 / 8.50

If you prefer to support local artists, then go for the Island Songbird shakes that take on the names of Singapore singers like Stefanie Sun and Kit Chan. The “Kit” shake is a delicious vanilla flavour, speckled with crushed Oreos and cookie dough, like cookies and cream.

Here are the names of all 16 shakes: Angelina, Nicole, Cameron, Anne, Mariah, Gaga, Taylor, Beyonce, Bella, Blair, Serena, Hermione, Stefanie, Tanya, Olivia and Kit. Have fun figuring out who the celebrities are!

Willy Wonka

Other than milkshakes, you can also fall back on the usual Marble Slab ice cream. Chocolate lovers would dig the ever-popular Willy Wonka double dark chocolate with chocolate chips and fudge.

It’s easy to draw comparison between this and fellow American ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s, as the two share the same richness in ice cream with generous chunky bits tucked within. As for who would win the ice cream wars, we’ll leave it up to you to decide.

Who should win the ice cream war? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Many of you have been following the AsiaMalls Food on Parade activities at six shopping malls across Singapore. One of the key events that have got foodies and non-foodies alike excited is the thrilling Cooking up a Storm competition.

The winning teams from the preliminary round held at each of the six malls must now pit their culinary skills against one another in the grand final held at Liang Court. The grand prize? A cool S$2,000 worth of AsiaMalls shopping vouchers.

Winning it would not be an easy ride. The teams would need to impress the panel of judges, namely Miss Stephanie Ho, General Manager of AsiaMalls, Celebrity Chef Eric Teo and Chef Chang of Shin Yeh Restaurant.

In the preliminary round, all teams had to use one common ingredient to create a dish in an hour, with a S$20 budget. For the grand final, the difficulty is upped a notch. The teams now have to cook two dishes in 1.5 hours with a S$50 budget, including 3 of the following ingredients:

• Sambal prawn chilli
• X.O. sauce
• Hsin Chu rice vermicelli
• Rice cake slices
• Miso paste
• Tamarind paste

Team 1 from Hougang Mall turns up the heat with Mapo tofu, a spicy Szechuan dish.

Their second dish is a daring attempt of braised pork ribs with bitter gourd, with the ribs stuffed into the bitter fruit.

Personally, I am rooting for the all-male Team 2 from Tiong Bahru Plaza. One, because this is the mall I frequent most. Two, because the two men in the team simply look like pros and know exactly what they are doing.

As artful plating is one of the judging criteria, the team decides to carve a pineapple bowl on the spot and fill it with spicy pork, boiled rice cakes and colourful garnish. The beautiful presentation appears to be inspired from Thai-style pineapple rice. In fact the long-time friends profess that they are fans of Thai cuisine and like to decorate their dishes in a similar way. Will the judges be impressed with their effort?

The Team 3 ladies from Century Square put their creative juices to good use, concocting an ensemble of prawns, mixed fruits and rice vermicelli for their main dish.

Their balsamic infused strawberry dessert also makes use of rice vermicelli. Would this unusual pairing work?

Team 4, the husband and wife team from Tampines 1 cooks up the “Mushroomlicious” mushroom soup, and the “Fantastic Trail” main dish that has chicken done three ways — wrapped miso chicken, sambal chicken with pork and XO chicken.

Mother-in-law and son-in-law from Team 5, Liang Court, work hand in hand to simmer up a nutritious lotus root pork ribs soup.

Their spicy fried vermicelli features sambal chilli cuttlefish and rice vermicelli seasoned with XO sauce.

The mother and daughter team from Team 6, White Sands, comes up with a healthful combination of prawns and vegetables on a bed of rice vermicelli.

After one and a half hours, the time is up. The teams take turns to present their dishes in front of the three judges. Who will be the winning team? Drum roll, please.

Performers entertain the crowd with the Taiko (Japanese drum) as the judges deliberate.

Congratulations to the husband and wife team for winning the S$2,000 shopping vouchers!

The other teams each receive the consolation prize of S$500 AsiaMalls shopping vouchers, still a great prize in our opinion! Is it just me or does this make you want to take part in the next cooking competition too?

Until the next AsiaMalls event then!

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With close to 30 years of culinary experience, Chef Tsuzuki Naoki is currently the head chef and general manager of Kuriya Dining at Great World City. For the workshop, he would be demonstrating the cooking of two savoury dishes: Amberjack claypot rice and salt-baked salmon.

The class fills up quickly with dozens of participants, some armed with iPads and notepads, eager to learn some useful tips for the kitchen.

The claypot rice that we are cooking here is a very different rendition from the one we learned from Chef Mervyn Phan at Tiong Bahru Plaza.

For one, this is the Japanese version that uses amberjack cheek and Japanese eel rather than the oriental version with salted fish and Chinese sausage. The tasty fragrance permeates through the mall. As part of the audience, the tempting aroma sure is making us hungry!

One tip for claypot rice is that the amount of water used should be less than when cooking regular rice, as the moisture from the various ingredients would seep into the rice.

The final dish comprises baked salmon, shiitake mushrooms with the claypot rice, accompanied by a miso sauce.

And the best part? Everyone in the audience gets a plate of it for lunch! Not bad for a free hour-long class where you not only get to learn some useful tips, but you also receive S$100 worth of goodies at the end.

Download recipe (in PDF)

If you would like to try these at home, download the recipe for the two Japanese dishes.

Throughout this month, this series of MasterClass culinary workshops is happening at the six AsiaMalls: Hougang Mall, Tampines 1, Tiong Bahru Plaza, Century Square, White Sands and Liang Court. The first 30 participants at each mall to spend S$200 (maximum of 2 same-day combined receipts; S$400 for supermarket receipts) can sign up for the workshops.

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Enjoy your girls’ night out at Clarke Quay Ladies Night Out every Wednesday. Instead of hanging out at just one bar, make full use of the ladies-only privileges offered at over 30 restaurants and clubs. The tempting treats include one-for-one specials, complimentary menu dishes, free admission to clubs and free flowing drinks!

Here’s a sampling:

• Dining promotions at Borgata Trattoria Osteria, Coffee Club, Fremantle Seafood Market, Haagen Dazs and more
• One-for-one drinks at Alegro, Bar CoCoon, Verve Pizzeria, Senor Santos, Senor Taco and more
• Free admission at The Arena, Grand Hollywood, Lunar and Zirca Mega Club / Groove
• Free ticket with every two purchased at G-Max Reverse Bungy or Extreme Swing

Check out the full listing of ladies-only privileges at Clarke Quay.

Ladies Night Out Launch Party

During the launch party held on June 8, Ladies Night Out at Clarke Quay was kicked off in style at the Central Fountain Square. Some Sparklette readers got their free passes to this invites-only event via our Facebook Page and got a sneak preview (with extras!) of what Ladies Night Out has to offer.

There were free-flowing Cointreau cocktails for everyone. The drinks were given a tropical twist by renowned mixologist The Flow Boys.

We also got a taste of the Mexican SOL beer that comes with its own tag, tied to the bottle with a lovely ribbon. This is one beer that is made for ladies!

The staff from various Clarke Quay restaurants and bars pampered the crowd with delicious finger food, canapés and quick bites, such as the much talked-about chicken wings from Hooters and mini ice cream tubs from Haagen Dazs.

We also treated ourselves to complimentary hair styling by Aveda and quick beauty makeovers at the Benefit makeup counters, sharing the same cosmetics that the leggy models used for the runway show coming up later that night. I found a great shade of red lipstick, too — the Benefit Flirt Alert.

A surprise find is the Britney Spears fragrance counter, where ladies can get a whiff of the entire range of Britney’s fragrances, from Fantasy launched in 2005 to the newest Radiance.

Personally I am a huge fan of Britney’s fragrances and own a few of my own. With its sweet fruity notes, Fantasy is my favourite, housed in a pretty in pink jewel-crusted bottle.

The party was topped off with a glamorous runway show, where models paraded the latest collection from BEBE.

Eye candy, in the form of these good-looking male models, were a huge hit at the party! It helps that they were there to give out free hugs to fans of the Clarke Quay Facebook Page.

Well, fret not if you missed the launch party. Clarke Quay Ladies Night Out is here to stay. You can take advantage of the myriad of ladies-only privileges and freebies at Clarke Quay every Wednesday night.

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Sushi-making workshop

Check out the eager kids readying to get their hands dirty with sushi-making. Each group is given a stack of seaweed, sushi rice, strips of cucumber, and plastic gloves, although the emcee helpfully reminds the audience that the sushi should not be eaten.

We zone in on this group of Japanese children hard at work. They’re doing such a terrific job making their native food.

If you’re wondering how easy it is for the children to make sushi, the answer is: very! Here’s the little plastic contraption they use to mould and shape the rolls.

Within minutes, everyone has a very professional-looking sushi roll proudly displayed in front of them! The children had fun. Mission accomplished.

Sandwich-making workshop

For the second workshop of the day, the children get to make sandwiches this time round. Perfect for a picnic, don’t you think?

At this Japan-themed mall, the sandwiches have to be kawaii. With the help of special bread stencils, sandwiches in the shapes of adorable piglets and lovely hearts slowly form.

The activity looks so fun, we see many parents lending a hand to shape the bread. Mission accomplished.

AsiaMalls Food On Parade 2011

Check out the events calendar to see what culinary activities you and your young ones can take part in at the six AsiaMalls. We would continue to bring you some of the action here on Sparklette in the upcoming weeks, including a workshop with Master Chef Tsuzuki Naoki and cooking competition. You can vote for your favourite restaurants in the Best Food Awards on Facebook to win shopping vouchers.

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tcc High Tea

The tcc high tea for March 2011 is a treat for both eyes and palate.

High tea set
S$12.90++

Available from 2-6pm daily until March 31, 2011

The new high tea set includes items that range from the bruschetta with chopped tomatoes, scones accompanied by jam and cream, to the mini oreo cheesecake topped with whipped cream.

Also included in the price is a drink, which you can choose between the tcc premium blend or the tea of the day.

What is your favourite tcc high tea set? Share with us in the comments!

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Shareable for two, the popular tcc high tea made its début this time last year with a galore of sweet treats such as chocolate-dipped strawberries and rose-scented macarons. Since then, the set of snacks and pastries would be changed every few months — and they are always a joy to look at.

tcc High Tea

For the month of February 2011, the high tea set includes a variety of goodies with a running theme to celebrate both Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.

High tea set
S$18.80++

Available from 2-6pm daily until February 28, 2011 at all outlets except Marina at Keppel Bay

Presented on a long white platter are pink heart-shaped raspberry macaron tarts, tiramisu topped with a heart-shaped chocolate crisp, chopped abalone on toasted bread, heart-shaped chicken sandwich, and a duo of scones with strawberry jam and cream. You may notice that the price is higher than that of tea sets from other months, likely due to the inclusion of abalone that brings a touch of luxury.

To wash down these bite-sized delights, the set also comes with a choice of tcc premium blend or tea of the day.

Drink of the Month

Sweet Sensation
S$7.20++

Available until February 28, 2011 at all outlets

Looking for a little romance? Sweet Sensation may just do the trick. This cold beverage is a lovely blend of rose syrup and chocolate, topped with a crown of milk froth. Do these spell romance? I think they do!

What is your favourite food and drink at Valentine’s Day? Share with us in the comments!

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On special occasions like Valentine’s Day and Halloween, you can enjoy creative drinks concoctions. And at Christmas, these festive-themed drinks become extra pretty.

Nutte Winter
S$7++
Rating:

Try the Nutte Winter, one of the two festive drinks offered for Christmas 2010. This is coffee latte with a tasty tinge of hazelnut. With a dash of red and green, the decorative Christmas colours sure evoke a festive feel! Mostly, I find the chocolate smiling gingerbread man most intriguing; he seemingly dissolves into the coffee within the first minute.

At 7 bucks, this is a rather pricey cup of latte. But if you’re in the mood for a holiday drink that would warm your heart, this drink is perfection.

Have a look at their pretty festive beverages like Berry Oreo and eggnog over the past Christmases.

Have you indulged in any Christmas-themed food and drinks this holiday season? Share with us in the comments!

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This time round, the Christmas tree is an electrifying blue, and hence the title of this post. Guess what song the line “blue inside and outside” comes from! It also happens to be the second blue tree in the Christmas Tree of the Day 2010 series.

I can’t help but find that this tree at the Clarke Quay mall looks strangely familiar. After some sleuthing around, I realise that it looks strikingly similar to the tree from last year, except that it was in yellow then!

Photo by blackparatiisi

What do you think of the design for this Christmas tree? Do you love it or hate it? Tell us in the comments!

For more Christmas trees, check out the Sparklette Christmas Tree of the Day series.

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]]> 3 http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-mooncakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-mooncakes/#comments Fri, 17 Sep 2010 03:00:43 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1009 Boutique café chain tcc, which quietly changed its name from “the coffee connoisseur” to “the connoisseur concerto” recently, has launched their first ever mooncakes this Mid-Autumn Festival. The selection includes the classic mooncake, mango mooncake and yes, a coffee-themed treat. Colour me excited!

Unboxing the mooncakes

The mooncakes are encased in a long gift box decorated with colourful blossoms, then packed in a reusable shopping bag with a matching design.

The packaging is frills-free but stylish. The inner cover is printed with some information on the three types of mooncakes.

Swirly patterns adorn each mooncake, surrounding the familiar logo at the centre.

Classic mooncakes

White lotus paste with egg yolk
S$38+ for a box of 4
Rating:

Let’s start with the old favourite. The Mid-Autumn Festival just isn’t the same without the traditional mooncake, which makes an appearance here as the white lotus paste with egg yolk mooncake.

For a maiden attempt, tcc’s classic mooncake is extremely well-executed. I am impressed! The brown outer skin is thin and moist, enveloping a velvety lotus paste filling that is delightfully soft and of just the right level of sweetness. The salted yolk provides a nice contrast in taste and texture, and has been thoughtfully flattened across to ensure that every slice gets an even share. Have you had any other mooncake that has the egg yolk spread out this way too?

Mini snowskin mooncakes

Royal Mango mini snowskin mooncake
S$36+ for a box of 8
Rating:

Mango is a popular flavour this mooncake season, with Crystal Jade, Emicakes, Goodwood Park and Mandarin Orchard offering their own renditions of the zesty delicacy.

For tcc’s Royal Mango mini mooncake, the smell and taste of the fruit is very faint until you get to the truffle core, which oozes out mango puree in a burst of flavour. It would certainly be a more complete experience if the snowskin had a refreshing mango scent to hint at what is on the inside.

Cappuccino Concerto mini snowskin mooncake
S$36+ for a box of 8
Rating:

To please coffee fans, the Cappuccino Concerto would do the trick. Bite into a slice of this caffeinated treat and you would taste the coffee-flavoured lotus paste and a coffee cream truffle. While the coffee taste is quite robust, it would fare even better if it was slightly less sweet, with a hint of bitterness even.

What better to wash down these mooncakes than with a piping hot drink? When dining in at any of the cafés, you can pair a snowskin mooncake with a coffee or tea at S$8.50++. Speaking of which, what is your favourite drink at tcc?

For a first attempt at mooncake making, tcc has done a marvellous job especially with the traditional mooncake. The snowskin ones are commendable, and would do even better with refinement. This underdog sure has turned out to be the biggest surprise this season!

What do you think of pairing mooncakes with coffee? Have you had any other coffee mooncakes this year? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> 8 http://sparklette.net/food/borgata/ http://sparklette.net/food/borgata/#comments Mon, 26 Jul 2010 03:00:50 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=992 Clarke Quay is one of the first choices for party animals when it comes to a night out in Singapore. But let’s face it, when you want good food at affordable prices, the place is nobody’s first choice. Or so I thought.

The Italian restaurant, Borgata Trattoria Osteria, at The Cannery, offers decent food at decent prices. Take your pick from the menu which offers familiar Italian favourites such as pizzas and pastas, as well as a selection of main courses.

Alfresco seating allows for people-watching along the river, or you can sink into the cushy indoor seats, too.

Portobello
S$16++
Rating:

Our choice for the starter is the Portobello which, as an ingredient, never seems to go wrong. Stuffed with vegetables and ladled over with cheese sauce, juices ooze out as you bite into the succulent mushroom. And that’s not even the best part. The sauce is a winner — rich, creamy and delicious with mushroom bits. Oh, Mama Mia!

Borgata
S$22++
Rating:

As for the pizzas, there are classics like the Margherita (tomatoes, mozzarella and basil) and the namesake pizza that comes with a United Colours of Benetton mix of toppings (mozzarella, ham, capsicum, Porcini and Parmesan cheese). The pizza is excellent, with a thin crust so crispy that you will have no problem finishing everything up — all 8 slices of them!

You may wanna go easy on the red chilli pepper flakes though. They are flaming hot! Just a few specks are sufficient to make you wanna reach for that sparkling San Pellegrino. I kid you not!

Fusilli Porcini Gamberi Con Salsa Alla Zucca (sampling portion)
S$20++
Rating:

The fusilli with prawns and Porcini mushroom usually comes in pumpkin sauce, but the chef would be happy to switch it to tomato sauce if you prefer. The sauce is a tad tangy for me, although the sweetness of the plump prawns (neatly sliced along the sides so that the shells come off easily) helps to alleviate the tartness.

Tiramisu and profiterole (sampling portions)
S$9++ for each
Rating:

Do save some room for desserts. What kind of an Italian meal would this be without Tiramisu? The cake here is so light and airy, it practically melts in the mouth!

The profiterole is a delightful pastry puff, with chocolate coating on top and creamy milk chocolate at the centre.

Lava cake
S$9++
Rating:

The chocolate lava cake arrives in dramatic fashion. It is served in a ramekin, one of those porcelain cups used for baking. The staff would pour rum on top of it, then set it on fire. How’s that for a wow factor? Apart from the flaming drinks like Lamborghini and Waterfall, and the seafood platter at the Manhattan Fish Market, can you think of any more flaming drinks and dishes?

Unlike the regular chocolate fondant where only the core is filled with molten chocolate, the entire top half of the cake is gooey chocolate goodness! The portion is really ample, too. Throw in a cappuccino and I’m done!

What are the other restaurants worth checking out at Clarke Quay? Share with us in the comments!

Borgata Trattoria Osteria
Clarke Quay
Blk 3C River Valley Road, The Cannery #01-02
Singapore 179022
Tel: +65 6305 6723
Service:

Opening hours:
Mon, Tue & Thu: 6pm – 11pm
Wed, Fri & Sat: 6pm – 1am
(Closed on Sun)

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That’s the name of a Japanese restaurant we checked out recently. Truth be told, it is the unforgettable name that enticed us to pay it a visit in the first place. There’s a Japanese movie that goes by the exact same name, and cheekily calls itself a “Noodle Western” movie (you know, like Spaghetti Westerns?). Aside from that we have no inkling beforehand on what the food would be like.

Stone grilled beef curry rice
S$16.80++
Rating:

One of the dishes that we have tried and liked is the beef curry. It is served in a rather dramatic fashion, with the stone bowl elevated upon a wooden holder. There’s ample cheese, egg and beef slices in this, and the thick curry lending much flavour. As with most Japanese curries, it is not that spicy, too.

Baked scallop with cheese
S$12.30++
Rating:

The cheese baked scallop is commendable. Served piping hot from the oven, you would find loads of onion slices and mushroom underneath that cheese surface layer. Yum, that is a great combination! The real deal here is, of course, the half dozen scallops, which do not disappoint.

Check out the Japanese Engrish on the colourful menu. The noodle is “thick & chewie“! Who wouldn’t want that, right?

Pork bone & seafood soup ramen
S$14.30++
Rating:

Amidst all the dozens of options available for ramen, we go for the chef’s recommendation of pork bone and seafood soup. They really pile on the shoyu (Japanese soy sauce) in this one so the broth is extremely salty. The pork bone has been stewed in it and you can see that the broth is a little milky, but mostly translucent and runny. What baffles is that there is no hint of any seafood flavour in it, except for a few of this tiny shrimp.

I have seen packets of the shrimp sold in Japanese supermarkets, meant to be eaten as a snack like potato chips. I do enjoy the crunchy shrimp, but aside from that the whole bowl of ramen is a fiasco. Just not my cup of tea, I suppose!

As I was doing some research on Tampopo, I came upon their website that I find really adorable. I don’t usually fancy websites that are made in flash or has music that plays with no warning. But this colourful website is made in the distinctively eclectic Japanese style that I find very interesting.

What is your favourite Japanese food? Where do you usually go for a Japanese meal? Share with us in the comments!

Tampopo Restaurant
2 outlets:
- Liang Court Shopping Centre #01-23/24 – Tel: +65 6338 3186
- Takashimaya Shopping Centre #B2-33 – Tel: +65 6235 2318
Website
Service:

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The Manhattan Fish Market is running a 1-for-1 deal for its Lob-Xi Fatt Cai seafood meal. Who doesn’t like 1-for-1 dealies right? Each platter includes a half lobster and fried calamari rings amongst other goodies. Don’t they look tantalising?

This promotion runs from now all the way ’til March 7, 2010 at their 8 restaurants. Check it out (click to enlarge):

You can also fish out 4 lucky numbers (Uh, where from?) and claim a sure-win prize! What fun!

Oh yes, they will be open on the first two days of Chinese New Year, too! Here’s our earlier review of The Manhattan Fish Market.

For those of you who might prefer something more traditional, we have just the right place for you to indulge in Chinese New Year food.

The Manhattan Fish Market ( Halal certified)
- Bedok Point
- The Central
- City Square Mall
- Iluma
- Junction 8
- Marina Square
- Northpoint
- Plaza Singapura
- White Sands
Website

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]]> 8 http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-high-tea/ http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-high-tea/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:18:24 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=928 Local café chain, tcc the connoisseur concerto, has rolled out a special Perfect Ten high tea set to celebrate Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. This comes with 10 bite-sized desserts and treats that are guaranteed to please, plus a tea or coffee to warm the heart.

Perfect Ten high tea set
S$13.80++
Rating:

What really impresses is how beautifully everything is presented. From the sandwich with bak kwa (chicken instead of pork jerky) to the chocolate-dipped strawberries (sprinkled with chocolate rice), every morsel simply looks so dainty! As a chocolate fan, my favourite is easily the little chocolate mousse cake. Rich and velvety smooth chocolate. Yum!

Have you seen the flyer for this promotion? What you see is really what you’ll get. Heck, even the placement of the individual items is accurate to the T!

The canapé comprises a plump juicy prawn, a slice of sweet mango, tomato and lettuce. Very colourful and totally yummy!

The prettiest of them all has to be pink rose-scented macaron, with strawberry slices doused in whipped cream. Ooh la la!

If you love desserts, you definitely want to check this out. Better still, bring along a friend or a partner. Everything in the set, except for the drink, comes in twos. Perfect for sharing!

Valid from 2-6pm daily. Promotion ends February 28, 2010.

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