Paradise Inn @ Suntec City

Located at Basement 1 of Suntec City Mall, Fountain of Wealth, that area. At about 640pm on a Saturday evening, we could still do a walk-in to this place. Noticed that queue started to form at about 7pm.

The soups at Paradise Inn is not bad, so we got ourselves one. Then we ordered my friend's son's must-have dish, the fried eggs with chai-po. And for the adults, a plate of vege and steamed chicken. I need meat. There were only the three of us, so the food that we had, can actually feed one more adult.

Peanuts and towels are chargeable at $1.50++ (per plate) and $0.30++ (per pax).

soup being served

lean meat (pork) with cordycep flowers soup (@$18.90++ per pot)

The pot of soup could easily serve out about 5 small bowls of soup. Plenty of lean meat inside too. The cordyceps flower has a very nice texture. Liked it so much, that I ate 'em all. Hahaa!

Service staff would gladly drop by to help us serve out the soup.

chinese spinach with egg trio and minced meat (@$13.90++)

Main gripe about vegetable dishes in Chinese restaurants like this, is that they sure are expensive.

Grandma's Pan-fried Egg with chai-po (@$8++)

Kids and adults liked the egg. Not overly salty, the chai-po has a certain sweetness and fragrance to it. Eggs were abit too thin though.

steamed chicken with diced mushrooms and black fungus (@$10.90++)

The steamed chicken pieces were rather small, and need to watch out for the small bones. It has an added sweetness courtesy of the red dates. A very mild chicken dish.

This meal costs $66.

Liang Court Mall New Year Activities and Goodies

Was at Liang Court and boy, its supermarket Meidi-ya was bustling with shoppers! Japanese and local, everyone seemed to be stocking up for the new year. Liang Court Mall is hosting a series of activities for Japanese New Year (お正月), celebrated on 1st of Jan.

From now till 5th Jan 2014, shoppers can redeem a gift box (from Customer Service at L2) wrapped in furoshiki if the spending is above a certain value. Terms and conditions apply. Read more here.

Other dates for activities to look out for is 1st Jan 2014, 4th Jan 2014 and 5th Jan 2014. No worries, there are standees, banners all over the Atrium to remind shoppers of the upcoming activities for Japanese New Year.

Shishimai workshop

Shishimai (front), Daruma (back)

Shishi-mai  is similar to 舞狮(Lion Dance during CNY). Wanting to keep goals and need some help to stay focused? Daruma, also known as Japanese wish doll may assist.

Daruma

Fancy a mask, or a sugar biscuit?

sugar biscuit look interesting

cute and scary masks

Years ago, was in Tokyo during the New Year period, and the hotel had this bamboo decoration at its main entrance. Think it was the kadomatsu.

somehow, this reminds me of kadomatsu

daruma on mochi?

Interestingly, Meidi-ya is selling cherry blossoms. Yup, cherry blossoms!

Cherry Blossoms in the living room?

stalkful of buds

close-up view

How about some confectionary for the new year?

had tasted these few years back by a friend who went to Kyoto

In Meidi-ya, one might find alot of people buying fish cakes (kamaboko), kelp (konbu), sweetened black soybean (kuromame) as these items  are typically eaten during the new year celebration.

There's a bit of authenticity in the basement of Meidi-ya, where one can find a Taiyaki stall manned by a native chef.

Taiyaki stall

scooping up hot mochi-mochi taiyaki

making red bean regular taiyaki

white mochi-mochi taiyaki

The fillings are actually quite sweet, and it was almost bursting out of the pancake! Custard has a nice vanilla scent to it, while the mochi dough was that bit more chewy.

taiyaki (fish-shaped pancake) @$2 per piece

After you're done with shopping, don't forget to redeem your new year goodies box from Customer Service at Level 2 (if qualifies).

pink auspicious furoshiki wrapped gift

daruma everywhere

rice crackers

Pecori Japanese Egg Restaurant @ Liang Court

Was at the basement of Liang Court, and was scouting for food. Sushi would've been fine, but had tried that restaurant before. Wondered if I could get a non fast-food meal, non deep fried for less than $10...

Decided to go ahead with Pecori, and if you're wondering what $9.80 could nett you..tadah!

beef in brown sauce rice, mugicha and (salty) cabbage soup

Actually, for $9.80 one gets the plate of rice with the beef in brown sauce. Cabbage soup and tea are free-of-charge, at the self-serve area.

soup cup cuteness

Unfortunately, the cabbage soup was way too salty. Gave the feedback to their male staff (that looked Japanese) but it seemed like feedback wasn't appreciated. There was only a chuckle, and am not sure what that meant. Hmm.

tender beef

Was expecting hayashi beef rice kind of flavour but was sorely dissappointed. It was like a muted beef stew. The redeeming factor? Those chunky yet tender (but isn't falling apart) beef.

tables and seats