Sunday 25 February 2018

Quan Lai Kway Chap – Quality Kway Chap at a Price

Deep Fried Pork Intestines

This humble and unpretentious kway chap stall is the first stall in Singapore that I had my kway chap experience. My first office is located in Kaki Bukit, so it is really convenient for us to have lunch.

Quan Lai Kway Chap - The Set Up

One of the key components of their delicious kway chap here is the braising sauce. The combination of superior soya sauce used, with cinnamon, star anise and other spices penetrate well into the meat and innards. Resulting in fragrant, delicious and superb meat and innards. The texture of the braising liquid is not watery, instead, it is thick and gooey as it clutched to the meat and innards.

Part of The Selections 

Part of The Selections 

Large intestines are definitely our favourite innards. It has a crunchy bite, yet mushy at the same time. It is well cleaned and absent of any foul smell. The same can be said with the small intestines, which has more crunchy texture and absorbs the braising liquid nicely.

The Platter

The pork belly has a nice balance between meat and fats. The meat has a firm texture combine with the fats that melts in your mouth sensation when you bite into it. If you are a fan of pig skin, you must definitely give it a try. The springy and collagen texture work wonders from your beauty benefits. Not my favourite part of the pork.

The Pork Belly

Braised duck is definitely not to be missed here. They used a fatter duck, so the lean meat remain moist during the braising process. On top of that, the meat is succulent and the yummy skin just leave the gelatinous tingle on your lips.

Braised Duck


Fishcakes

Not to be missed here is their fried large intestines. It has crispy exterior, followed with tender and slightly chewy interior. As it is clean very well, the dish is just a delight to consume. Also don't missed out on their fishcake.

Deep Fried Pork Intestines

Side dishes available include braised beancurd skin, salted vegetables and braised mei cai (Chinese mustard leaf).

Side Dishes Selections

Braised mei cai, Salted Vegetables &  Braised beancurd skin

The kway teow (rice paper sheets) itself has a nice silky texture, which easily glide down your mouth when you slurp it.

The Kway

The service is efficient. Go to the stall to place your order, choose your ingredients and they will send it to your table. Don't expect much décor as it is located in a coffee shop. Price is on the high side, expect to pay $123 for 8 adults and 2 children. Expect to pay between $10 to $15 per pax (Double compare to other average kway chap shop)

Overall, it is definitely one of the better Kway Chap place in Singapore. We personally like the combination of the braised duck and innards. All the items looks good, it is easy to over indulge when ordering here. Cheers!!

Food & Drinks: 8.5/10
Value: 7/10
Service: 6.5/10
Ambiance: N/A (Coffee shop)
Budget per Person: $11 - $25

Quan Lai Kway Chap
558 Macpherson Road
Sin Fong Restaurant
Singapore 368232

T: +65 8609 6748
OH: Daily, 09.00 - 03.00


Tuesday 13 February 2018

King's Laksa Steamboat – Unique Laksa Steamboat [MEDIA INVITE]

King's Laksa Steamboat - Our Spread


King's Laksa Steamboat ('KLS') is a steamboat buffet restaurant renowned for its Signature Laksa soup base. Founded in 2010, KLS has been around for a while and has their own loyal patrons.

King's Laksa Steamboat

Buffet Price

Once seated, you can see a white laminated order sheet, where you can choose some of their specialities. Soup base, finger food, noodles, meat, seafood and dumpling.

The Menu

For the soup base, KLS also offer chicken, herbal and ma-la. We choose their signature dual soup Laksa and chicken. The Laksa soup base is rich, lemak and packs of flavour. You can even see the top grade of dried prawn they use on the bottom of their stock. Simply put, the Laksa soup base is top notch. The chicken soup base is milky, robust with a touch of soothing effect in contrast to the laksa soup base.

Signature Laksa Soup Base (Top) and Chicken

The Premium Dried Prawn in the Laksa soup base

KLS also offer triple soup base for those who want more options. You just have to top up $8.

The Sauces & Condiments

Other than the ingredients mention on the order paper, they have 35 more steamboat ingredients for you to choose from. Check out the pictures below. This part is self-service, including the sauces and garnishes.

Ingredients - Part 1

Ingredients - Part 2

Ingredients - Part 3

The meat is sliced thinly and the portion will depend on the number of people ordering. My personal pick is their pork and sliced mutton because of their fattiness. For healthy diners, they also have chicken breast, beef and lean pork.

Seafood: Cockles, Clams and Prawns
Meat: Lean Pork, Mutton, Chicken and Pork Belly

For the seafood, our personal pick is the prawns and crabs. The prawns are fresh, bouncy and crunchy, while the flower crabs tasted fresh and sweet. Of course, there are cockles that you can choose to have with the laksa soup base, however as it is served with its shell, it becomes messy when you want to scoop the meat out.

Flower Carb, Fish Dumpling and Beef

Ingredients from Self Service section

Another reason that you must visit KLS is their cooked food. Their prawn paste chicken wings really got standard. Well marinated with prawn paste, fried upon order, you sure will get piping hot chicken wings on the table. Taste-wise, it is crispy, aromatic and succulent internally. Even our fellow har cheong gai addict gave her two thumbs up for this. We actually order the har cheong gai a couple of times.


Prawn Paste Chicken - Check out the Size

Fried Tofu - Accidental Order - tasted like fried fermented tofu


The same applies to other cooked food such as Fried Fish Balls, Luncheon Meat, Fried Tofu and Mini Mantou. I enjoy the fried mantou with the solid laksa broth, something that you never try but you can't deny its deliciousness.

Fried Fishballs, Fried Prawn Paste Chicken & Fried Luncheon Meat

Fried Mantou

The rest of the ingredients are as enticing, with such extensive selections I am sure that everyone can find something that they like. Not in the picture are beancurd skin and Nissin instant noodles, that are must-have ingredients in steamboat.

On top of the mention above, the buffet price included free flow of drinks, dessert and ice cream as well.

Free Flow of Drinks

Free Flow of Ice Cream

Ice Cream

Chubby Botak Koala's Creation - Mantou Ice Cream

Dessert - Beancurd Pudding

The décor of this place is bright and spacious. However, as you are eating steamboat in the air-conditioned room, expect to come out a bit smelly.

Part of the dining area

Overall, King's Laksa Steamboat buffet is definitely value for money. Their signature laksa soup base is definitely unique, while most of their ingredients have a certain standard. So if you are looking for a yummy steamboat place, consider King's Laksa Steamboat. Cheers!!

Thank you very much, Ivan Teh @The Running Man and King's Laksa Steamboat Team for the tasting invitation.

Food & Drinks: 7.25/10
Value: 8.5/10
Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)
Ambiance: 7.25/10
Budget per Person: $26 - $50

King's Laksa Steamboat
17 Teck Chye Terrace
Singapore 545724

T: +65 6287 8010
IG:
OH: Daily 11.00 – 23.00
Price:
Lunch (11.00 – 14.59), Mon – Fri: Adult $21.80++, Child $16.80++
Lunch (11.00 – 14.59), Sat, Sun, Eve PH & PH: Adult $26.80++, Child $16.80++
Dinner (15.00 – 23.00), Daily: Adult $26.80++, Child $16.80++
Dining Duration 120 mins
*Child 6 – 11 years old.



Monday 5 February 2018

[CLOSED] Restaurant HOME- Usher Into A Bountiful Year of DOG at Restaurant HOME [MEDIA INVITE]


Fragrant Rice with Dried Scallop and Preserved Meat wrapped in Lotus Leaf
Restaurant HOME has finally found a new home in Upper Changi North. To be exact, at 27 Cosford Road. The secluded location is also known as Johore Battery, where it still showcases the last artillery battery in the east of Singapore. The vast natural land area provides a unique background for Restaurant HOME to bring back the good old times like it was in the 19th century.

Restaurant HOME and Bar

Johore Battery - Still a tourist attraction

Restaurant HOME is proudly owned and run by celebrity Chef Tan Yong Hua, who strive to bring simple home-cooked inspired dishes to his diners. The Previous review of Restaurant HOME can be found here.

Part of the entrance to the restaurant

This time around, we are here to sample the offerings for Chinese New Year Menu. Our tasting is based on Prosperous Menu E, priced at $558+ for 8 person and $688+ for 10 person.

Yu Sheng with Norwegian Salmon (遍地黄金 (三文鱼捞生)). Simple and uncomplicated Yu Sheng with refreshing ingredients. The shaved vegetables and pickled ingredients are crunchy and you get a nice kick from the pickled ginger. All of the ingredients are evenly coated with the combination of oil and sweet and sourness from the plum sauce. Not only you get Abundance of blessing this Yu Sheng will definitely wake up your appetite.

Yu Sheng with Norwegian Salmon

Double-boiled Amidori Abalone with Chicken and Night Blooming Cereus soup (万事胜意(霸王花鲍鱼炖鸡汤)). Clear and robust double boiled soup. The chicken-based broth boiled together dragon fruit flower which has the detox and cooling effect on the body. Together with the abalone, the dragon fruit flower adds sweetness to the broth.

Double-boiled Amidori Abalone with Chicken
 and Night Blooming Cereus soup

Barbecued Duck with Lychee Wood (富甲天下 (炭烧荔枝木烤鸭)). Instead of the popular Peking Duck, Restaurant HOME will serve the Barbecued duck during the CNY period. The duck is juicy and succulent, while you can still enjoy the crisp and crunchy duck skin. I like the duck here as it has a good fats content under the skin which also helps in keeping the moisture in the flesh during roasting. Yummy.

Barbecued Duck with Lychee Wood 

Braised Green Wrasse with Roast Pork, Leek and Flower Mushrooms 年年有余 ((红烧蒜子火腩扒海青衣)). The fish is steam just right. The flesh is firm and smooth, topped with the dark robust looking gravy infused with roast pork and flower mushrooms. Not to worry, instead of overpowering the natural flavour of the fish, the gravy enhanced its natural flavour nicely.

Braised Green Wrasse with Roast Pork, Leek and Flower Mushrooms

Duet of Pork Ribs with Barbecued sauce and Stir-fried Kai Lan with Preserved Meat (心想事成(烧汁排骨 拼 腊肠炒芥兰)). The ribs have a right balance of meat and fats. It is crispy externally, while the meat is just succulent. The barbecued sauces added a nice zip of flavour to the ribs.

Duet of Pork Ribs with Barbecued sauce and Stir-fried Kai Lan with Preserved Meat

Stir-Fried Kai lan with Lap Cheong is another an old school way to add flavour to the vegetables. The vegetables are fresh and crunchy, while most of us just like the tasty, meaty and delicious lap cheong.

Pan-fried King Prawn with Superior Soy Sauce (喜哈大笑(干煎明蝦皇)). The King Prawns are fried first to create crispy skin and seal in all the juice. The salty, rich, buttery and umami sauce is just so delicious, you just want to lick it from the shell. The superior soy sauce really shone here and will definitely go nicely with a bowl of white rice. A “rice thief” dish indeed.

Pan-fried King Prawn with Superior Soy Sauce 

Fragrant Rice with Dried Scallop and Preserved Meat wrapped in Lotus Leaf (五谷丰收(瑶柱腊味荷叶饭)). The finale of the savoury dish. The rice is cooked in lotus leaf with dried scallops and lap cheong. The rice is moist and slightly on the softer side. It absorbs the aroma and flavour from the lap cheong and dried scallops. I will like it better if the rice has more bite to it (al-dente texture).

Fragrant Rice with Dried Scallop
and Preserved Meat wrapped in Lotus Leaf

Black Sesame Glutinous Rice Ball in Longan Red Dates Tea (阖家团圆(龙眼红枣雪耳芝麻汤圆)). This is the finale of the CNY Menu to give the patrons the sweet ending for their dining experience at Restaurant HOME.

Black Sesame Glutinous Rice Ball in Longan Red Dates Tea

Overall, the Chinese New Year dishes in Restaurant HOME are the combination of Cantonese cuisine together with old school home-cooked inspired dishes. My personal pick is the double boiled soup, roast duck, pan-fried king prawns. Definitely, a place to consider for your Chinese New Year Celebration this year.

Restaurant HOME – Chinese New Year 2018
When: 1st February - 2nd March 2018
There are 7 different Chinese New Year Menu to choose from.
The full details of the menu is available here: http://www.restauranthome.com.sg/promotions
(Click on the photo of CNY 2018 Menu to go to the next page)
For Reservation: Call 6465 1698

Thank you very much Restaurant HOME for the tasting invitation.

Food & Drinks: 8/10
Value: 7.5/10
Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)
Ambiance: 7.5/10
Budget per Person: $26 - $50, $51 - $80

Restaurant HOME & Bar
27 Cosford Road
Singapore 499549

T: +65 6465 1698
IG: @restauranthomesg
OH:
Tue – Sun: 11.30 – 14.30, 17.30 – 23.00

Closed on Mon, except if it is a Public Holiday. 

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