The Carvery Premium Meat Buffet at Park Hotel Alexandra

ABBEY: This year The Carvery (Park Hotel Alexandra) is offering Spanish-themed dishes from 4th December until 1st January the following year. 

It boasts of their US Black Angus Prime Rib, spit-roasted chicken wih orange and rosemary and pork belly porchetta. December 9 came and we tried it. Oh yes. The meats are succulent. I got a chat with the chef and told me that the chicken is the hardest one to make. But definitely the best in flavor. I ate them without any sauce. The fats and the juices will make you go for more. Partner it with red wine and it’s a feast. 

They also have salads, soups, mushrooms, beef stew, pork chorizos, and salmon. Four of us dined in but we paid for 3 pax only :)

WILL: The best way to catch up with friends is through food and to break the usual buffet dinner, we went for The Carvery at Park Hotel Alexandra. 

What's the difference with others? By its name, they specialiazed with grilled meat. Yey! They have lamb, chicken, and the crispy pork? Wowoweee! The crispy skin and melts-in-your-mouth fats.. Oh my body, please forgive me as I have committed a sin for that night. Haha. The grilled meat is perfect to be partnered with a wine so we ordered a bottle and it helped to push the meat in our tummies. Haha. 

Next on my fave list is their salmon. The white sauce is thick enough to amplify the taste of natural oils of salmon. Next, pork chorizo. Do you know how expensive the chorizo in Singapore? I indulged on it haha! They have variety of cheese too. 

Pizza was cooked with old-fashioned fire oven. It gives a natural scent of burn. Yum! 

For desserts, sad to say there is no ice cream. Log cakes are there to fill-up your sugar needs. 

The place is quite private and romantic. The lighting creates a romantic feel too. I am not surprised many couples are dining at The Carvery. 

One more thing. Citibank have a promotion: 50% off on second guest. We were all shocked to know that we saved a lot that time. 

Thanks The Carvery. Thanks Citibank. 

***

The Carvery

(W) https://www.parkhotelgroup.com/en/alexandra/the-carvery

(H) Breakfast: 6:30am to 10:30am

    Lunch: 12:00pm to 2:30pm (buffet)

           12:00pm to 3:00pm (a la carte)

    Dinner: 6:00pm to 10:00pm

(A) 323 Alexandra Road Park Hotel Alexandra 

(T) 6828 8880

(E) thecarvery.phal@parkhotelgroup.com

Turi Beach Resort at Nongsa-Batam Indonesia Luxury Resort in Batam‎

ABBEY: We went for a quick getaway, a 45-minute ride from Singapore, to Turi Beach (Batam) with our Papa Boy. This is for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Tirta Room:

Before we can get into our room, we need to “hike” and it is good for our hearts to get pumped up :) The outside is like a kampung (bahay kubo) but with the usual amenities of hotel room inside (air conditioner, bathroom tile floor, comfy bed). It also has a veranda but the sea view is being blocked by trees. The phone was not working at first but got replaced. And we called several times for the coffee, tea and cups to be replenished. I hope they can provide it with the same number of guests in the room. Maybe the room was not used for quite sometime as I can still see dust in the head lamp, table and chair. Make sure to lock the doors as mosquitoes can enter the room. They also provide mosquito spray and lotion.

Tamang Sari

This is where we had our buffet lunch when we arrived and breakfast the next day.

200 INR per person for lunch and it was a Japanese and Chinese cuisine that day. I indulged myself with fried calamari, roasted chicken and sweet and sour fish fillets.

The breakfast is complimentary and I had sunny side up, toast, egg salad, cold cuts, congee and laksa.

Nogusaya

We had teppanyaki for dinner at Nogusaya. I got chicken breast and the chef really showcased his art of cooking. While waiting for the main course, we were served with appetizer and soup. Cooking the food in front of you is really entertaining. The chef lit my chicken on fire :)

With a splash of soy sauce and a little chunk of butter, my chicken along with the veggies were full of flavor.

T Spa

This is where we planned our Papa to have relaxation; with a couple of spa treatments.

Our tour package includes a 45-minute full body massage but we upgraded to an hour and then we coupled it with foot reflexology. I slept for both :) 

WILL: Our goal for Papa's visit is to bore him. Haha! This is for him to take sleep as many as he can. Well, our schedule is perfect as Abbey will take care of morning galas, he will take a rest on afternoon, then on evenings I am in-charge for him to walk around the city. But what about the weekend? This is his third time in Singapore and we decided to go to one of the nearest foreign island, Batam, Indonesia. 

The staff of Turi Beach Resort took an extra mile to open up (even they are full) on our urgent booking. Their 'chat' button on their website works wonderfully as our communication was instantaneous and our booking was confirmed on that same hour. 

We bought a Fave voucher for only $99.00 2D1N each. It includes the buffet breakfast, hotel transfer, 2-way ferry, 20% discount on food and services and 45-minute massage. Great deal right? 

When we arrived at the hotel at 8, the conceirge informed us that our room will be ready at 10. We didn’t waste time waiting, we took advantage that there are not so many people at their famous boardwalk. Papa Ros took a 'lover's photo'. Haha! 

When we got to our room, we booked for 11am maasage, we topped up S$10 to be 60min whole body massage. The massage is not that good. It missed the spots of my aching back. Then, we gave another try for foot reflexology. Oh my! 3/10. I will suggest thay you go for another spa. 

We have our buffet lunch and breakfast at Tamang Sari  The food is delicious and I love their fried squid! Totally! But the choices is not that much. 

After lunch we were back to our room to catch a nap. Two hours nap and we were back on our feet to take dinner. 

For dinner, we entertained ourselves and fill up our tummy at Nogusaya. Our first time to have this kind of dining 'show'. Haha. I am thinking why we were served with a meagre amount? Omg! Haha! When the chef was serving the second plate I am already full. (Ang bigat sa tyan, shocks!)

After dinner, we enjoyed the ocean breeze, there's couch available at the shore and marvel the huge amount of water in front of us with live music at the background. People are dancing, clapping and merrymaking! What a delightful thing to see. 

After breakfast, with bare feet, we caught waves. Hehe. Papa Ros enjoyed the water zumba too! 

Eat, sleep and laugh. That is what we did at Turi Beach Resort.  

Oh! Forgot to describe our room. It has two twin bed and a veranda. I love the wooden flooring and wooden walls, so oldie! It seems dusty and not used for a long time but the sheets are clean. No unnecessary smells or feel. We ordered extra water and gave it to us without extra charge. The staffs our warm and welcoming. 

This is a trip I can't erase in my memory. Thanks Papa Ros for spending your precious time with us. :) 

***

Turi Beach Resort (4-star hotel)

(W) http://www.turibeach.com/

(A) Jalan Hang Lekiu, Nongsa, Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29465, Indonesia

(T) +62 778 761080

Quick and Easy Kimchi Noodle Soup

ABBEY: Wilma’s colleague told her that she should try to eat kimchi instant noodle soup. She was told it was delicious. We bought it and then cooked. It didn’t satisfy her cravings for spicy noodles.

I got leftover over kimchi so I decided to check how to cook kimchi noodle soup. Here it is:

5 shiitake mushrooms (thin slices)

1 cup chopped kimchi (save the juice)

1 cup kimchi juice

chicken stock or cubes

red pepper flakes

sesame oil

sugar

cooked noodles

chopped green onions

Stir fry shiitake mushrooms then add the kimchi.

Put in kimchi juice, chicken stock, red pepper flakes, sugar and sesame oil.

The amount of each ingredients depends on your preference.

We like it spicy, sweet and sour.

Rinse the noodles and put in a bowl.

Pour broth over the noodles, top with green onions and serve.

Quick and Easy Kimchi Noodle Soup

VERDICT
WILL: One of my colleagues suggested that I should try the Kimchi Instant Noodle. On that cue, we bought a set and cooked one pack. Excitement fades when I never really tasted he kimchi. Not a hint of kimchi taste and you can have some sightings of small portion of fermented cabbages. 

Ok enough on that. Haha. 

Abbey, again, surprised me. Another list for him to make. Haha. He served that to me when I was sick and oh my! I'll tell you... KIMCHI SOUP IT IS! Creamy, sour and a kick of real kimchi. I can live eating this for a week! Bet?! Imagine a nutritious kimchi, fresh mushrooms, gyoza and bouncy noodles on your bowl?! Bye diet. Give me another bowl! Haha! 

Thanks Maangchi for teaching billions of people cooking Korean Dishes! My husband and I adores you a lot!

Magnolia Bakery's Famous Banana Pudding Easy Recipe

Abbey: Wilma told me one day that she wanted to have banana pudding. I looked for restaurants or cafe offering this but sadly the only restaurant who sells it is already closed. And the Magnolia Bakery in US is too far. So I made it.

For best results, do this 3 days before the occasion or event.

Here’s how.

Ingredients:

1 can of condensed milk

1 1/2 cup of ice cold water

3 cups of heavy cream (thickened cream)

1 packet of Jell-O instant vanilla pudding

1 box Nilla wafers

4 cups or 4 large ripe banana.

Combine water and condensed milk and mix for 1 minute.

Add the instant vanilla pudding and mix for 2 minutes.

Put the mixture in a container and have it settled in fridge for 30 minutes.

While waiting slice the bananas to small pieces.

Whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks are formed.

Fold the pudding into the cream.

Do the layers in a pan: wafers, banana, cream-pudding mixture then repeat.

Put in fridge and serve after.

VERDICT
WILL: I have a problem with food. I have this behaviour to crave and be addicted for some type of food in a certain time. Haha. 

Abbey solved my latest issue in life. How to get the Magnolia Bakery's Famous Banana Pudding. 

On the day he made the it, it taste 'meh'. But when we let to sit the pudding for 2 days. Gosh! The banana and wafer sinked-in together in a rhythm that my tastebuds shouts for joy. Haha! Nice description right? 

Creamy, not that sweet, tasty and adorably perfect. 

Colleagues got to tried it too! And they loved Abbey even more. Haha 

Thanks Abbey for making us happy! Continue to distressing yourself by creating this kind of delicious food.