Balinese BBQ and Seafood Buffet @ Spice Brasserie | Parkroyal on Kitchener Road

Think of Bali, and vivid imagery of an island surrounded by beautiful beaches, luxurious villas with private pool, or cafe overlooking paddy fields might come to mind. And when one talks about Balinese food, it is usually about seafood BBQ by the beach, or the Babi Guling at the warungs. Yes, not forgetting the urap and the spicy sambals too.

For the few that have yet to set foot to Bali, or if you are simply missing the deliciousness of Bali, read on further. The chance to savour Balinese food is here! The good folks at Spice Brasserie at Parkroyal on Kitchener Road are running its Balinese BBQ and Seafood Dinner buffet from now till 12 September 2015. Savour delicacies such as Grilled Lobster in Coconut, Clam Satay, Cumi Cumi Lsi (stuffed squid), Ikan Bakar, Crab Bakar and Babi Guling amongst the many offerings at its dinner buffet every Thursdays till Saturdays. Priced at $50++ per adult, or in conjunction with SG50 promotion, pay just $78++ for two adults.

BBQ and sambals go hand-in-hand

grill stations

Let's start with some BBQ seafood. Diners get to pick their live seafood and have the chefs grill it. Not often do we get that chance at buffets, right?

mussels and lalas

gong gong (clam/conch)

First time having BBQ'ed mussels, and it was downright delicious! Smokey flavour, and fresh sweet salty flesh.

grilled brown mussels

smokey briny clam

lala

 
The gonggongs texture were firmer, clean tasting and with an enjoyable chew. Chef divulged that these babies were not salted, so we could enjoy eating it at natures best. Quite fun to pick its flesh with a satay stick.

gonggong

conch meat

Lovely start to our Balinese feast. The shellfish were all enjoyable and good to be eaten on its own. If you prefer to have it spicy, there are about 16 types of sambal dips for you to choose from. Talk about spoilt for choice!

If shellfish is not your thing, there are still plenty of options at the buffet spread.

cold seafood

sashimi

salads

Indian food spread

Balinese food spread

crackers

I think I have sort of attained some 'enlightment' of buffet styled feasting. Ate my way rather conservatively with some sampling from cold seafood section (by the way, the cold prawns were big, firm and sweet~), then proceeded to try the grilled fish and chicken (ikan bakar, ayam bakar) and cumi cumi. Oh my, the marinade on the grilled chicken was so delicious! Combination of sweet, savoury with that charred smokey flavour was so good. Chef said kampung chickens are used as it is more flavourful.

ikan bakar and ayam bakar

cumi cumi (grilled squid)

The BBQ squid was cooked just right. One could taste the freshness of this seafood. The glaze was sweet savoury. Good to be eaten as it is.

ketam bakar (grilled crab)

udang bakar (grilled prawns)

Found another gem amongst the buffet items. Braised intestines in dark soy sauce and sambal petai goreng. WooO! Took these and ate it with nasi kuning. Such a good meal.

loving it

Of course, was holding out for the highlight of the night. The Babi Guling. The man, whom made all these happen, Chef Low Hoe Kiat was on-hand to share with us his stories (and also some recipes). He chose to use piglets that are around 6 to 7 months old for its meat would be tender. The pig is then rubbed and stuffed with a concoction of spices and left to marinate for two days. After which, it is then spit-roasted under his watchful eyes to tender perfection.

slow roast

Think this is the only place where one could eat as much suckling pig as one would like to without having to break the bank.

babi guling (suckling pig) served with cooked nangka lemak

The suckling pig was seriously tender. Seasoned just right and no gamey porky aftertaste. The crackling is not those super crispy type but it has a good smokey flavour to it.  First time having cooked nangka and it tasted very sweet, very rich. Chef says it is typically eaten with nasi kuning (yellow rice), with sambal and some vegetables.

Was in meat heaven for that moment.

For drinks, have a try of Spice Brasserie's version of non-alcoholic mojito. Tasted like a glass of refreshing ginger ale.

non-alcoholic mojito (ala-carte order)

For those who likes desserts, here are some pictures. Only managed to try the durian pengat and muah chee. Was too stuffed with food to eat anymore!

assortment of cakes

all time favourite and must eat - durian pengat

the 'roll-it-yourself' muah chee

One could have the durian pengat as it is, or make it into a durian chendol!

durian chendol - shaved ice with sweetened corn, coconut milk, gula melaka and generous scoop of pengat

For the month of June and July, Spice Brasserie would be donating 0.5% of their total sales proceeds to four local charities: AWWA Community Home for Senior Citizens, Bright Hill Evergreen Home, Melrose Home and Singapore Cheshire Home, under the Pan Pacific Hotel Groups' "Eat Well with Us" initiative.

for a good cause

Special thanks to Cleo for the invite and Chef Low for spending time with us. The man has over 20 years of experience in the industry and he is passionate about bringing fresh quality produce to the buffet table.

Spice Brasserie @ Parkroyal On Kitchener Road

Address: 181 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208533
Contact: +65 6428 3000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PRSKT

Pho Street Vietnamese Street Delight @ Westgate

Pho Street has been around since December 2013, and since then it has grown to two outlets. One at Bedok Mall and the other at Westgate, conveniently serving diners at both ends of Singapore. If you had visited Pho Street before June 2015, it is now time for a revisit! Since 2 June onwards, Pho Street proudly presents its revamped menu that is more visual and with more items.

Pho Street revamped menu

Was invited to its Westgate branch to try some of the items. Vietnamese food to me, has always been synonymous with pho and coffee. Well, there are more things out there, if one cared to try.
 
Singapore has been experiencing a spell of hot weather lately, and it makes one crave for iced cold drinks. Got myself a glass of Passionfruit & Basil Mojito.

Passionfruit & Basil Mojito @$3.50

The drink was refreshing and a good thirst quencher. Not too sweet and not overloaded with greens.

If you're in a party of two or more, I'd recommend getting the Vietnamese Snack Platter to munch on. A sampler of sorts, with the slightly spicy chicken skewers that tasted pretty much like a non-oily variation of satay, the well fried delectable pork rolls and a slightly salty crabcake with minced pork. Tasty on its own, hence there wasn't any need for the side dips.

Vietnamese Snack Platter - Vietnamese Crabcakes, Crispy Fried Pork Rolls, Roasted Chicken Skewers @$8.90

If you had ever wondered how does Vietnamese deep fried wings would taste like, well..wonder no more. A plate of Crispy Fried Chicken Mid-wings served with Caramelised Sweet Dip would cure any curiousity.

Crispy Fried Chicken mid-wings with caramelised sweet dip @$4.90

The wings were fried upon order, and its seasoned batter was light and very crispy. Bits of pepper can be seen in the batter. Served piping hot, with still-juicy meat intact. The sauce was slightly on the salty side so a light dip will do.

If deep fried is not your thing, then how about the evergreen Summer Rolls? A visit to a Vietnamese food place will likely feel incomplete if one does not order the rolls. Its rice wrap was slightly on the chewy side and so tightly packed. The prawns are seen through the translucent wrap, and it looked pretty attractive.

Fresh Summer Rolls with Prawn, Pork Belly & Fresh Herbs @$4.90

One bite into the rolls, and one would be transported to a garden of greens. One mouthful yields quite a bit of herbs and vermicelli. The oil from the pork belly gave it a good meaty aroma.

light healthy meal

Just when you thought we're done with snacks, there's one new item that may soon prove to be quite addictive. Crispy sesame rice crackers eaten with fragrant minced meat and spices dip. Yums. Those crunchy crackers were all imported from Vietnam.

put as much or as little

Sesame Rice Crackers with Fragrant Minced Meat and Spices Dip @$6.90

The man behind the menu revamp, is Chef Kenny Hà. A quiet unassuming boyish-looking chef, from Ho Chi Minh, whom had no qualms about infusing his own personal preferences into his recipes.

What's the bestseller at Pho Street, you may ask. The Pho Beef Combination has received much love and so, we just had to try one.

Pho Beef Combination - beef balls, beef slices, beef shank, beef tendons and beef tripe @$9.90

delicious comfort

The beef broth was tasty and slurp worthy. Liked the beef shank for its texture and taste. The tripe was good too as it was cooked down just nicely. Could do with more herbs though, so if you like a stronger herb taste, do request from the service staff so that they could add more into the bowl. Oh, don't forget to try the sweet peanut dip with the chili. For those that likes the heat, this dip is not to be missed.

If you don't eat beef, fret not. There are other non-beef options available. For example, the Dry Rice Vermicelli with Roasted Pork Chop & Spring Roll that's said to be a favourite amongst ladies. Or, the Roasted Pork Chop with Fragrant Rice for those that need rice as their primary carb.

Roasted Pork Chop with rice @$7.90

The pork chop rice didn't work for me though. Found it a tad too salty.

Haven't tried any banh mi before, so when opportunity presented itself, decided to grab it!

Banh Mi Combination - 3 meats of Pork Belly, Grilled Beef and Chicken Ham @$6.90

cross section

Pho Street worked with its bread maker to supply the banh mi bread based on its recipe. Freshly baked and delivered on on a daily basis and toasted upon order. The sauce represented the elements of salty, sourish, sweet, and spicy. The most dominant meat taste was from the pork belly. Paired well with the pickled vegetables that cuts through the fats from the belly.

Pho Street has an unusual dessert of Cream of Mung Bean with Coconut Sauce & Crushed Peanuts.

dessert - Cream of Mung Bean with Coconut Sauce & Crushed Peanuts @$3.50

My brother thinks it tasted like 白云糕. I do agree. The taste is very similar! The mung bean was very sweet, with some waterchestnut bits. An acquired taste this one.

The Westgate outlet has an open space concept where everyone could see what you're eating, while the one at Bedok Mall is said to be more like a restaurant space with better ambience.

tables and chairs

Westgate outlet

Overall, the prices are reasonable and the food has hits and misses. Go for the snack platter, summer rolls for the health conscious, the beef pho for those who can and banh mi for days that you want to eat bread.

Thanks to Mei Ping for the invite and Chef Kenny for preparing our food. Not forgetting the friendly crew of Pho Street.

Pho Street @ Westgate

Address: 3 Gateway Drive, #B2-K6/K7 Singapore 608532
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhoStreet
Instagram: @pho_street

天晴 Appare Udon & Tempura Japanese Restaurant @ Novena Square 2

Yes, again. This has become my regular lunch place now. New item spotted on the menu. The local staff calls it, Japanese bak chor mee. And, this name had stuck so much so that I've forgotten what was its original name in the menu. -_-'''

Japanese bak chor mee

Basically, its a regular sized bowl of udon, served with generous toppings of minced pork cooked in spicy sauce. Similar to dandan noodles (擔擔麵), minus the oil. If you're having this for lunch, one gets a complimentary bowl of miso soup and a soft-boiled egg. Quite a good deal for $8+.

mix it up

The udon was chewy and firm, while the pork was nicely cooked in a savoury spicy sauce. The spice level will suit local palate (meaning, quite spicy).

Also tried the teriyaki chicken roll, and its pleasantly mild. Preferred the california roll for its colour and stronger taste.

teriyaki chicken maki

For something comforting, I'd go for the chicken nanban udon. Tender boiled chicken that managed to retain its mild chicken taste, and some good tasty chicken soup. A very simple dish that's good during rainy days.

chicken nanban udon @$9.90+

Travel | Hokkaido mid-May 2015 | Hakodate - Lucky Pierrot ラッキーピエロ

Lucky Pierrot, or locals may affectionately call it as "LaPi", is a fast food burger joint that is overflowing with kitsch. Exclusive to Hakodate area, this surely warrants a visit!

However, Hakodate was raining from the moment I arrived. Locating the hotel was an  in adventure in itself, and 'Grand' is surely a misnomer! But, that story can wait.

Sky was gloomy, weather was cold and the pavements wet. Thankfully, rain had reduced to a slight drizzle so it was time to hunt for food.

@6.49pm

Most buildings and the streets were dark, so I headed towards that one nearest location where bright lights shone. Hey, turned out there's a Lucky Pierrot just minutes away from my block. Nice.

Lucky Pierrot - where everyday is Christmas

more Santa figurines at the upper floors balcony

Walking into the shop felt a tad like entering into those creepy amusement park that you'd likely see in a B-grade American movie.

ordering counter

Its menu is pretty extensive with over many types of burgers, and curry rice. Liked how they'll tag the bestsellers so I had an easy time choosing one. Naturally, went for their #1 item. After ordering, you'll be issued with a ticket. Then, wait.

collect with this ticket

Was quite a long wait for a fast food joint but that's because food was made upon order. Service was polite, as usual.

Lucky Pierrot 人气No.1  - Chinese Chicken Burger @¥385

Got a can of Sapporo Classic from the vending machine outside the hotel room. How convenient! About SGD3 for one can.

huge chunks of juicy chicken thigh meat, deep fried and coated with sweet sauce

so good

That was one good burger. Value for money. All chicken burgers should look like this.

wash it down with good old beer

Lucky Pierrot

Website: http://www.luckypierrot.jp

Travel | Hokkaido mid-May 2015 | Hakodate - 函館朝市食堂 馬子とやすべ Mako to Yusube and Kikuyo Shokudo Honten きくよ食堂

Everyone knows that when one is in Hakodate, head on to Donburi Yokocho どんぶり横丁市場 for delicious kaisen don 海鮮丼. There's about 19 shops to choose from, so where do I begin? Since my time in Hakodate is limited, with probably just enough time for two meals at the market or this donburi alley, I need to choose wisely. I'd probably walked back and forth a couple of times outside the shops, scrutinizing its display and probably earned some glances from the people whom may be watching.


Finally, decided on this shop called Mako to Yusube 馬子とやすべ. Simply because they have five toppings that I liked for the Asaichi Rice Bowl.

shop front

The shop is smaller than I expected but the people inside are very friendly. I was the lone customer then, because it was rather late for lunch, at around 1.40pm.

small and cosy

inner section

closed on Wednesday

Green tea is complimentary and the food arrived after seven minutes of waiting time. The bowl looked impressive for its price.

Asaichi goshoku-don 朝市五色丼

For just ¥1500 (~SGD16) nett, one gets a regular bowl of rice topped with five kinds of fresh seafood - ikura, hotate, salmon, uni and 3 pieces of botan ebi, served with a bowl of seaweed soup and some pickles. Yummilicious and definitely value for money. Totally loved the sweet scallop, the generous amount of ikura that added umaminess to the bowl and creamy uni. Not one, not two but three pieces of mid-sized botan ebi? Nice.

Good choice indeed and totally recommended. Wanted to eat it for the next day lunch too but it was closed.

list of shops at Donburi Yokocho

So, found another shop to lunch at on Wednesday before the train back to Sapporo. It is not within the Donburi Yokocho but somewhere near the market. It's called Kikuyo Shokudo Honten きくよ食堂. Was just walking past it when a man called out and asked if I wanted to lunch there. I told him that I wasn't that hungry, so he said they do mini-dons as well. Not knowing what to eat, made it easier to decide. Ok, I said.

image credit: http://hakodate-kikuyo.com

It feels rather retro inside the shop and yes, it was like eating in a canteen. Apparently, this shop was founded in 1957 and there were a few locals having their lunch while I was there. The menu is in Japanese so am not able to read it. Fortunately for set meals, there are pictures. Chose the mini don with 3 toppings, served with a side of hokke fish (Okhotsk atka mackerel) and seaweed soup.

self serve tea

sanshoku-don 三色丼 set with hokke fish @¥1966 (~SGD21)

The bowl was only slightly bigger than the seaweed soup. Diners are free to choose their choice toppings. I chose crab meat, scallop and sea urchin. Should have chosen ikura instead. The crab meat didn't have much taste in them. Was advised to drizzle a bit of soy sauce onto the scallops prior to eating.

The side dishes were boiled squid with some kind of savoury sauce and the red one beside it, I have no idea what it was. Tasted a bit spicy and definitely gooey. Think it was some kind of root vegetable with ika? Not too sure but it was delicious.

closer view

The seafood bowl was not much of a looker, but the sea urchin has a very nice fragrance to it. Almost flowery, and a tad surreal. Hard to imagine, I know. But truly, it has a very nice fragrance to the uni. As usual, scallops were sweet. My favourite in Hokkaido, ほたてだいすきです！