Charcoal Thai - Mookata Steamboat Dinner Buffet (VivoCity Branch)

ABBEY: We had a visitor and we wanted to spend quality time over dinner. Ate Olga is one of Wilma's "caretake/ate" on her childhood. We dined at Charcoal Thai and ordered a Mookata BBQ for 11SGD. We got confused as we thought that our order is for a buffet. Anyways, a top up of 10sgd and we're good to go; unlimited food. 

The grill is having a mini "trench" where you can create a mini steamboat. Just be cautious of the soup level. We were given a plate of marinated chicken, pork and fat. They also have rojak, fried chicken, spring rolls and chips. 

I really love their fried rice. It has a lot of eggs and very tasty. Their light soy sauce, vinegar with minced onion and garlic really went well with the barbecue and fried chicken; add to it slices of cucumber. We washed down the food with a pitcher of iced-lemon tea. 

From 6pm to 8:30pm, non-stop talking and eating.

WILL: One of the closest neighbor when I was child flew in Singapore. Abbey and I were too excited to meet her but the new working schedule of hubby blocked an "immediate meet-up" idea. Anyways, its better to be late than never and we scheduled a dinner date with Ate Olga at Charcoal Thai VivoCity Branch. 

This is something new for me. A Thailand version of bbq/steamboat. We top-up $10 each person to avail the full buffet menu. 

They have the cracklings, curried chicken, the ever yummy fried-rice and variety of fresh meats like chicken, beef, pork, fish, and seafood for us to cook on our desire. Vegetables are also present. Their chilies and marinated chicken deserves a praise, those two are very suitable to my liking. 

Of course, while eating a dinner a non-stop catching up was done. Childhood memory flashing back...rushing back. 

iMob really rocking the world of vouchers here in Singapore! Good job iMob! Thanks for a huge discount on this meal. 

Charcoal Thai we will definitely comeback not because of food alone but also to your kind and all smile waitresses. 

Chicken and Asparagus Recipe

Ingredients
Chicken breast (cut into 1-inch bite-size)
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp honey
bunch of asparagus (1-inch in length)
garlic (thinly sliced)
onion (thinly sliced)
1-2 tbsp oil

Marinate the chicken with soy sauce and honey and set aside for minimum of an hour.

Heat the oil in a pan on medium-high heat. Sauté the asparagus for a couple of minutes. Remove it on the pan and set aside. Put in the chicken but reserve the marinade and let it cook for a couple of minutes. Mix the garlic and onion and sauté until fragrant.
Put the marinade and let it simmer. Put back the asparagus.

Serve with hot rice and Sriracha sauce (optional).

VERDICT
WILL: We are changing our diet since last year. And if we are eating meat we always see to it to incorporate it with more vegetables. Abbey last week told me that he will do a viand with asparagus so I make Sunday clear for that. 

After our power nap after Bukit Timah hiking, Abbey prepared this meal to relinquish all the energy burn up. The scent of stir fried asparagus made me smile. Abbey holler that the dinner is ready. After saying grace, I munched and I proved I am not wrong, that night’s meal is awesome. 

The sweetness of the honey plus the crunchiness of asparagus and tenderness of the chicken sends a quick bliss!

I am so lucky to have a husband and chef in one!

Old Street - Bak Kut Teh at Westgate Branch

ABBEY: After the hike to Bukit Timah Summit, we became really hungry and decided to eat on Jurong East. We arrived there too early and most of the shops are still close. Good thing Old Street restaurant (Basement 1 near Food Republic) is open and they are serving Bak Kut Teh. 

A couple of minutes in the queue and we were given a table. They are called "Old" Street, but they ordering process is "new". There is a tablet in which the menu is listed and you will submit your order using that. I got their Set A menu which includes, a bowl of Bak Kut Teh, rice, dough fritters and soy beancurd for 11sgd. 

The soup has a good peppery taste. I dipped the dough fritters on thick soy sauce with freshly minced garlic and chili. The fritters is not that oily and I liked that. The beancurd is not too sweet and I even finished the share of my wife :) Local drinks like kopi and teh is also available but I stick with the good old soda. It was tummy-filling lunch.

WILL: Accomplished something? Reward yourself! And that’s the reason we rushed to Old Street Bak Kuh Teh Westgate Branch. The place is almost packed and luckily around 5 more set of tables are free. Heaven conspires for us to occupy that! High Five! We perspired a lot due to our Bukit Timah hike but a hot soup will surely refresh our body. 

We ordered 6 Sets of “A”. We are famished but all we can do is wait for the food to be served. When the food is in front of us, that is the start when we stopped opening our mouth for words to come out. We open our mouth just to eat! Haha! After few chomp, then we started to praise how tender the pork is. We also asked the waiter to refill our bowls of their steaming bak kuh teh soup. After finishing our rice, we ordered for our drinks. Then they hand out the bean curd for the dessert. We are full and sleepy. Ha! 

This is very recommendable for only $11.00 you can get a Bak Kuh Teh, You Taio, Beancurd and Rice. 

Singapore's Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

ABBEY: I thought the slope I trekked on the way to the Treetop Walk of Mac Ritchie is steep. But I was wrong. Going to the summit of Bukit Timah is challenging but fulfilling. 

You will be welcomed by few steps on wood planks, then dirt then concrete. Here come the first challenge. I didn't got the time to measure the steepness of the slope as I'm already busy to climb the hill and see to it that I don't faint. Haha. The slope decreased so we got time to catch our breath. I can feel my heart pounding so hard. 

By the time that I felt I'm all ok, then the next challenge came before our very eyes; stairs with a LOT of steps. After completing maybe 50 steps I got on the first landing. I immediately get the drink on my bag as I feel that I'm losing electrolytes. It was very refreshing. A couple of more steps then I reached the summit. A landmark and a hut was waiting for us. 

It was a fun experience and encouraging as well. People of all ages, young and old are climbing it. Just take your time and your own pace and surely you will reach the top.

WILL: I scheduled a trek last April but unfortunately it was still closed for renovation. When the Bukit Timah officials announced that they will open some parts, Abbey and I scheduled it instantly after our Pulau Ubin adventure.

I heard a lot of things about this place. And on that cue I muster myself mentally and physically. I am mumbling to myself that I must be brave and don’t mind if I will see snakes, lizards or any reptiles. I am well prepared mentally then I saw the steep slope and started to trek, I am wishing to reach the end fast. But it seems no end. My heart started to pump faster! It is a success until I saw the stairs! Never ending steps and I think I heard my heart stop pumping! Bwahaha! I rest for a while and few more steps I reached the summit.. Me and April reached last!

Abbey and I will absolutely go back here for us to try the side tracks! :) A lovely experience!

Tteokbokki - Hot and Spicy Rice Cake Recipe (Korean Cuisine)

Ingredients:

Rice cakes

1/3 cup pepper paste

1 tbsp pepper flakes

1 tbsp sugar

Fish cake/balls (cut into bite size)

Kikiam

Hard-boiled eggs

4 cups water

Spring onions (cut into strips and small chunks for garnish)

Stock:

7-10 pcs of anchovies (without the head and guts)

A good amount of kelp or seaweed.

On a casserole, put the kelp, anchovies and water. Bring them to a boil. 

While waiting for the it, mix pepper paste, pepper flakes and sugar in a bowl until well incorporated. Once the water is boiling, remove the anchovies and seaweed and put in the rice cakes and the pepper-sugar mixture. Mix it gently and simmer for a couple of minutes. Next, put the fish cakes, kikiam, and eggs.

Put in more water if sauce is too thick as the rice cakes will absorb some of it. Adjust the spiciness as well to your desire.

Garnish with spring onion and serve hot with or without rice.

VERDICT:
WILL: "There is a reward to the one who waits."

I waited not days, not weeks, but months for my husband to cook this for me. Well, you can't force a chef to cook something, why? It will reflect to the food. When he decided to make schedule for spicy rice cake, I immediately affirmed on it. Haha!

The aroma of spiciness makes my tummy grumbles even more. He announced for lunchtime and my cravings was satisfied. Tsk! The sauce clicked really well to the rice cake and fishballs. 

Because the sauce is really delicious, I asked Abbey if I can have a bowl of rice. He explained that the rice cake is my carbo for that food but I insisted to have a separate rice for the spicy sauce. Yummmmy to the max! 

Fort Siloso Singapore

ABBEY: This is the part of Sentosa where we haven't set our foot in, but the ground must be covered. 

By 12:30PM at Beach Station, an "old bus" will take you to the fort. An entrance free of 12SGD should be paid. Fort Siloso served as the primary stronghold against the war enemy that comes from the south sea.

We were glad that our tour guide is charming and always smiling. Her name is Annabelle, but we wondered why her nameplate shows Baxter. Anyways, she led us to the first stop of the tour, the recreation area of POW during Japanese Occupation. In here was a diorama of Pulau Blakang Mati which is now known as Sentosa and its different zones. Next is the tunnel under a war gun where the ammunitions were kept. Being a soldier is tough specially in war; poor ventilations, small spaces and large chance of being killed. The third stop is all about the life under Japanese regimen. Foods were rationed, people will be jailed, tortured and killed without any reason and a lot of propaganda for brainwashing specially the little ones.

The tour ended on what they called as Surrender Chambers. It relives the scene of Singapore surrendering to Japanese forces led by Gen. Yamashita. And on the next room was the scene where Allied Forces led by Lord Mountbatten liberated Singapore from Japan. Those are touching scenes and a lot to learn from the history.

WILL: We need to know the past and learn from it or history will just repeat itself. 

That is why Singapore gives a big effort to let locals and tourist know how it was to be on their  "dark ages". The time, World War II, when they were conquered by Japanese with the leadership of General Yamashita. It was a big trick or I should say Yamashita knew the "art and power of making a deal" that time. 

Here in Fort Siloso, you will see the real cannons. You can check-out the bankers, undergrounds tunnels and the famous signing of Japanese surrendering to the Allied Forces. 

This is an informative day for us. You can join a tour if you do not have an idea where to start. The entrance fee for locals is $10 and for tourist is $12. If you're already at Sentosa why not check this out. 

Kiseki Japanese Buffet Restaurant - Orchard Central

ABBEY: It's been a very late celebration, but only 22nd of April is the best time for us to dine at Kiseki Japanese Buffet Restaurant.

We did reserve a week before and at last.. the time came. The restaurant is in the eighth storey of Orchard Central. Once we were led to the table, I put my bag down and started to roam around checking what they have to offer. They have fried delights like crispy chicken, ebi tempura, and salmon head. I don't know how long they have been on the serving station but I find them too oily and not that crispy anymore. 

They also have grilled foods; baby potatoes, sweet corn, pork, squid, and chicken yakitori. Beef and chicken tepanyaki were also available. Mussels and shrimps were there but they're off limits to me. So I feasted on salmon meat and belly. Every bite is heaven once the salmon is dipped the soy sauce and wasabi. I washed them all with lemonade, soda and hot green tea. 

The dinner costs almost 75sgd for both of us.

WILL: Do you know the song “Everything is Awesome” from the 2014 Lego Movie? Sing with me using the below lyrics...

Everything is Oily... When you eat at Kiseki..
Evertyhing is Oilyyyyy!

Why I said that? Read more.

The cashier in front told us that Salmon Head is their house recommendation. When I saw the salmon head, right away picked one of it. I giggled loudly when I saw the mountain of ebi tempura. I got a plateful instantly.

I went to our table and agonizingly waiting for my husband to take his food. After a prayer of thanks, I attacked the tempura relentlessly. Haha! But on every bite I notice that it is oily. I took the Salmon head, and its oily too. I used tissue to the crab claw to squeeze out the unnecessary oil. 

This is not-all-rant-blog, I want to commend their hotpot, the perfectly grilled corn and the bean sprout! 

Thanks Kiseki for being part of our April celebration. Hope you check on “too oily” issue.

Eighteen Chefs - Bugis Junction Branch

ABBEY: For the farewell dinner of our friend VA, we chose the place closest to his home in Bugis. We went to Eighteen Chefs on the fourth storey of Bugis Junction near Shaw Cinema. 

I got their Heart Attack fried rice with half spring chicken at less than 14sgd. Don't worry about their warning: May cause sudden cardiac arrest. Just eat moderately. The fried rice taste good and the chicken is flavorful and moist. But after sometime you will find that there's too much oil in your meal. Maybe that will cause the heart attack :) 

Anyways I finished the meal without calling for emergency. I also had a couple of spoonful of their curry baked rice from Wilma where the cheese is overflowing.

WILL: I know that this is not the goodbye for our friend Vincent Anthony but a hello to another place. At Eighteen Chefs at Bugis Junction where we celebrated his send-off.

When I open the menu, Chat is correct, its either you order the all time favourites for a no brainer or you will be your own chef to choose the dish that you really craves for. Well, I like the unordinary so I use my head and think hard what food I really like to have. So I picked Cheese-Baked Rice for my base, Japanese Curry for my sauce and Chicken Slices for my main ingredient.

Curry and Cheese? I am quite hesitant but when I tasted it... It is terrific! It satisfied my longing on the baked rice plus my favourite chicken curry. It costs only $8.80+GST. Hey they do not bill service charge in here.

Any suggestions? Hmmm.. Dear Eighteen Chefs, why you offer a lot of promotions for students? How about us? We are human too! Haha! Anyway, have promotion or do not have I will come back for more to savour again to my Chicken Curry Baked Rice. Next time I will ask for Double Cheese Baked Rice!

The Original Little Hiro Singapore - Hawaiian-Japanese BBQ & Grill

ABBEY: So before we go north of Singapore, we decided to visit our friend's workplace and dine there. She works in Little Hiro. It is a Hawaiian-Japanese restaurant at King's Arcade; a 15-minute walk from Botanic Gardens MRT station.

I got one of their recommended items which is Waikiki burger; burger plus ring of pineapple, and bacon. It comes with fries and drink. I really like the taste of fries as it is "garlicky". To top of it all, I also ordered Spam fries. Beware not too eat too much, it'll be too salty. Maybe they can include other flavor of Spam and make fries out of it.

WILL: Innovation is not just for technologies but also for our daily food. After trying a pancake used as a bun for a burger now we tried noodles instead of bread on our burger. 

Welcome to Little Hiro! A chic place and maybe the reason why the students happily spend their meal time in here. Just a few steps from Botanic Gardens. 

We were there to celebrate our move out from Mt Sinai Rise. We want it to be memorable for all of us. So we decided to dine in here with our housemate's father. 

After 15 minutes of waiting Chicken Karaage Ramen Burger ($10.20) is in my table. When I have the first bite of the the noodle it seemed that my tastebuds transported me to Japan. The taste of ramen blends well with chicken. Abbey ordered Spam Fries ($4.80). That is too oily and salty for me. 

Would I go back for more? Of course! With no hesitation! I Love Ramen Burger! FTW! 

Applebee's Singapore - Bar & Grill · American Restaurant

ABBEY: When I saw my brother's post of their dinner at Applebees in UAE, I want also to eat the baby back ribs. By that time, Applebee Singapore closed their business. Good thing they opened a branch at Chjimes. We went there with our highschool friends. And we were amazed at the prices. It is affordable. I thought it will be too high but it is not. 

I ordered their Quesadilla burger 13.90sgd along with fries. Cheesy in every bite and the pattie is moist. We also got their sampler. For 20sgd, we picked fried calamari, chicken nuggets and tacos. I also took a bite on what's on Wilmas plate; baby back ribs. I think it could have been more delicious if it has more sauce.

WILL: Are you looking for a cheap and yet cozy place to date your loved ones and it took you many clicks on your mouse and your efforts are still futile? Rant no more! Applebee's is there to rescue you. 

All their prices is below $20. Yes below $20! Man, you read it right! Head down to newly renovated Chijmes.

We were there not for one-to-one date but a group date with two of our friends. So delighted to see that their full baby back ribs is only $17.90, with no hesitation I asked Abbey to get it for me. Applebees's baby back ribs are not their star of the menu but they taste awesome. The aroma enticed my appetite and the meat is tender. 

I got to go back to this restaurant. Good food, all-smile crews, good ambiance! :)