Tuesday, 15 February 2022

87 Just Thai – Simply Delicious

We visited Just Thai for dinner during our staycation at Lloyd’s Inn. As on of the highest rating restaurant around the area on Google, we decided to give it a try. We came in around 8PM, just after the dinner rush, so we can easily find a seat.

87 Just Thai @Killiney
Claypot Tang Hoon with Prawns ($14). Silky smooth tang hoon, coated with sweet umami sauce with a good whack of the black pepper. The prawns are of good size and I like the smokey aroma in the dish. Though the dish is good, it was missing the OMPH from the pork fats usually used in this dish.

Claypot Tang Hoon with Prawns
Claypot Tang Hoon with Prawns
Seabass with Thai Spicy Lime Sauce ($25). A must-order dish here. LD ask them to tone down on the spiciness for me. The lime sauce is overflowing when the dish was served. The fish is fresh, the flesh is smooth. The lime sauce was not only tangy and refreshing, but it also brought out the sweetness in the fish. Yummy.

Seabass with Thai Spicy Lime Sauce 
Green Curry Chicken ($10). This green monster is robust, creamy and packed with green curry flavour. They are not stingy on the meat as I get thick chunks of succulent chicken thigh that soaks up the curry flavour in every scoop of the curry. Definitely, a rice thief dish here.

Green Curry Chicken
Stir-fried kang kong Thai Style ($7). A simple dish, yet perfectly executed. The kang kong is crunchy and infused with the flavour of Thai fish sauce.

Stir-fried kang kong Thai Style
The décor is simple and functional, while the service is friendly and efficient. Before I pay the bill, the service staff also check if I am satisfied with the food. I replied to them with two thumbs up.

CBK Verdict: A must try restaurant in Killiney Road. Delicious Thai food and pocket friendly as well. We will return if we are in the area. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 7.75/10
Value: 8.5/10
Service: 7/10
Ambiance: 6/10
Budget per Person: $11 - $25

87 Just Thai
57 Killiney Road
Singapore 239520

T: +65 6269 8810
IG: @87justthaikilliney
OH:
Thu – Tue: 11.30 – 14.00; 17.00 – 21.00
Closed on Wednesday

Friday, 11 February 2022

Lloyd’s Inn Singapore - Business Room Review


Lloyd’s Inn Singapore ★★★(3 Stars Hotel)
2 Llyod Road
Singapore 239091

T: +65 6737 7309
IG: @Llodsinn

Room Type: Business Room
Stayed: December 2021
Booking: Klook using SRV Exclusive Voucher

The Lloyd’s Inn is a boutique hotel in Singapore, located within the walking distance of the famous Orchard Road shopping belt in Singapore. Lloyd’s Inn offers travellers or Singapore residents a minimalist open concept accommodation that bring the outdoors to indoors in the privacy of your room. The open concept and white colour theme allow the properties and the bedroom to be filled with natural lights as much as possible and deliver a holistic resort feel through your stay.

Lloyd's Inn (Image Credit: Lloyd's Inn)
Location (8/10)
Lloyd’s Inn is located at the beginning of Lloyd road, which is the opposite end of the bustling Killiney Road. Meaning, it is just a short walk away to enjoy the gastronomic delights available at Killiney Road and you can reach Somerset MRT, 313 Somerset, Orchard gateway in less than 10 minutes.

Surrounded among the enclave of exclusive condominiums and high-end landed properties in Llyod Road and Oxley Road, the property is naturally secluded with a tranquil environment and exudes class all around.

Room (7.6/10)
Cleanliness (9/10). Space (7.5/10). Room Amenities (7/10). Ambience (7/10), Bed & Pillow (6/10), WiFi (9/10)

Lloyd’s Inn lobby is located on the second floor, which parallels to the street level. The rooms guest rooms are located on the 1st and 2nd floors. Our room is located on the 1st floor.

The View when Entering The Room
The Business Room is a Loft type, with the space around 24 sqm. On the first floor, you get a mini living room with a 32” Smart TV, working table, mini pantry / basin and the outdoor toilet / shower / garden. On the second floor, we have a queen-size bed and another 32” TV as well.

Working Table with Open Concept Wardrobe
On the first sighting, the queen size bed looks sturdy; however, the look can be deceiving. The mattress turns out to be a softie. I feel a certain part of the bed is sinking once we sat in. When I was seating on the bed and enjoying my Netflix, I need to readjust my posture and the pillows every 15 minutes. Definitely not a Posturepedic approved mattress. The pillow is also on the soft side, so it took me a while to catch my beauty nap.

Queen Size Bed
The View from The Bed
The Staircase to the 2nd floor is very sturdy, just be careful when you are coming down. Due to limited space, the bottom steps are built in a sharp illogical angle. I almost tumble a few times.

Back to the 1st floor, the first thing that capture our attention when we enter the room is the outdoor garden, where the shower and toilet are located. If you are worried about outsiders looking in, you don’t need to worry as the garden is well covered and there are curtains to protect your privacy. I feel this is the best place in the room. Feels like you are in a villa. (*That was until I smell second-hand smoke from the inconsiderate neighbours!)

The Outdoor Garden (Outdoor in the Indoor)
The Shower Area
Toilet
The living room is comfortable for 2 pax. Although the 32” TV is small for the current standard, it offers a good range of cable channels, including the English Premier League, a plus for football fans like me. To maximise the space, there is no built-in wardrobe. Instead, the hangers are placed beside the working chair plus a full-length mirror is also placed at the wall beside the TV cabinet.

Living Room
EPL Channel
Pantry is small and limited. It offers instant coffee and tea range from The 1872 Clipper Tea. It is also double up as your sink area, where you wash your hands, shave and brush your teeth.

Pantry / Basin
Hot Drinks
Dining (6/10)
There is no restaurant or food on offer on the premises. Our booking comes with breakfast which you have to walk down Artisan Boulangerie Co at Killiney Road. Luckily the weather was clear. Each redemption entitled you to a simple pastry and coffee / tea. For us, it basically means 2 croissants with coffee and tea.

Outdoor Pantry
For simple reheating needs, Lloyd’s have an outdoor pantry and seating area located on the 2nd floor. Here, you can use the microwave, ice machine, drink vending machine and also coffee and tea.

Outdoor Pantry Area
Outdoor Pantry Area
For dinner, we went to 87 Just Thai at Killiney Road for great Thai Food. We wanted to try Fook Kin, but can’t fit any more food in the tummy. Of course, if you are lazy to walk, you can always order in through your trusted food delivery service.

Hotel Facilities (7/10)
The swimming pool is a must-visit here. Not your serious type of swimming pool, instead it is more for kids to play, or adult dipping and chilling type. We enjoy the ambience here.

Swimming Pool (Image Credit: Llyod's Inn)
If you don’t like swimming, take a stroll on the 1st floor and look out for the outdoor seating area around the 1st floor. The is a small garden opposite the pool if you are looking for some private and tranquil moments.

Seating Area at The Swimming Pool
Seating Area - Mini Garden
There is also a roof terrace, however, we did not visit it.

For drivers, please note that there is no parking on the premises. You need to find your parking along Lloyd road or at Killiney Road.

Service (7.5/10)
The service is friendly and attentive. There is no concierge service. Most of the stuff is DIY (Do It Yourself). We also receive a bar of chocolate and candy cane as a welcome Christmas gift.

Lloyd's Inn Lobby (Image Credit: Lloyd's Inn)
When I tried to get a nap in the late afternoon, the cleaner is using water jet spray to clean the walls. The noise just penetrates through the room, I called the reception to get them to do something about it and they did by postponing the cleaning for an hour and I manage to get my nap.

Christmas Decoration at Lobby
To Improve
The soundproofing for the room door super needs to improve. I notice the sound disruption comes within the premises instead of from outside the property. In the wee hours, we were woken up by drunken girls screaming and laughing as they went in and out of their rooms.

Overall
It was a unique experience staying at Lloyd’s Inn. Overall facilities and experience are good; I don’t think we will return for another stay. For the rest of the readers, if you are looking for an exciting and unique experience, I encourage you to try Lloyd’s Inn. Cheers!

Thursday, 27 January 2022

Songane – Yummy Korean Food

We were looking for a place to dine and catch up with our friend YP. YP suggested a few places before we finally settle on Songane. A quick check on Google, it seems that this place rack up a substantial positive review on google, plus it is one of the few places in Singapore that serve Oritang (Korean Braised Duck Soup).

Songane
Oritang ($18) duck stew Korean version. Alas, we were too busy eating, we forgot to take a photo of the duck stew. It looks closer to our Singapore version of curry, except it does not have the spices and aroma. The duck meat is succulent, while the broth is spicy (base on LD & YP standard) but super spicy base on my standard. LD says that it is good and will return for more duck.

Banchans
For the BBQ plate, Songane uses a cast iron grill with a gas burner. No charcoal is used to enhance the flavour of the meat. The grill also comes with mini compartments on one side where they grill the kimchi, corn cheese and garlic. We ordered Beef Set ($83.70) – Short Ribs, LA Galbi, Soybean stew and Seafood Pancake.

The BBQ Plate
First to go on the grill is the Short Ribs. It is one of the best cuts for Korean BBQ, usually about the size of two fingers. It has a high marbling content, is juicy, succulent and almost melts in your mouth. It is cooked perfectly here and I usually enjoy it with a bit of salt.

Short Ribs
Songane Pork ($22) – additional order. Songane uses DUROC pork / chestnut pork, known to be more flavourful and fattier compared to regular pork. The chef made a very deep incision every 1 cm along the pork belly, allowing the fats to render when it is bbq. When both sides of the pork belly turn golden brown, the cook cuts through each piece of the pork belly following the incision. Afterwards, each cut of the meat will be grilled to golden brown on all sides. When you bite into the pork belly, it has a crispy exterior, followed by a burst of juicy pork fats and meat. #Porkgasm

Songane Pork
Songane Pork
Songane Pork - Ready to Eat
Hangjeongsal ($21) / Pork Jowl – additional order. This is not for the faint-hearted. It has a higher fat content compared to pork belly, but it delivers a crispier exterior and more burst porky juice internally. The fats can overwhelm you, therefore it is good to balance it with the kimchi or grilled onion.

Pork Jowl and Songane Pork
Pork Jowl
Pork Jowl - Ready to Eat
The last protein that goes on the grill is the LA Galbi. Since it is marinated with sweet sauce, it is cooked with low fire. The sweet marinate absorbs into the ribs, resulting in sweet and juicy flesh. The fun part of eating LA Galbi is chewing on the elastic, the connective tissue between the meat and bone. All I can say is the crew cook it just right, resulting in a pleasantly chewy texture, instead of hard and rubbery. Yumz!.

LA Galbi
Seafood Pancake. The version here is crispy and crispy. I am not a fan of Korean pancake, but for the version here, I did not hesitate to have more than my share.

Seafood Pancake
Since the Oritang already spicy, LD ordered Soybean stew for me. Korean version of Miso soup, earthy and packs with fermented soybean flavour. It also helps to neutralise the fats from the pork belly and pork jowl.

Soybean Stew
Soybean Stew
The décor of the restaurant is a mix of classic and modern. The floor to ceiling glass windows allows the natural lights to shine in the restaurant. The tables and chairs are made from wood, while each table is equipped with a built-in stove in the middle. The service is very good. The service staff grilled the meat for us, while serving 5 tables at the same time. Surprisingly, our bbq meat still turn out well, WOW!

I notice that their weekday lunch set is priced at $9.90++, for One Main, Rice, Banchans and Barley tea. Awesome value!

Lunch Set Menu + BBQ Set
CBK verdict, Songane serve delicious Korean food. The Oritang, grilled meat and crispy seafood pancake are good. We definitely looking forward to our next visit here to try their ginseng chicken and Naeng-myun. Great recommendation YP. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 7.5/10
Value: 7.5/10
Service: 8/10
Ambiance: 7/10
Budget per Person: $26 - $50; $51 - $80

Songane
380 Jalan Besar
#01-02 ARC 380
Singapore 209000

T: +65 6980 3474
IG: @Songanesg
OH: Daily, 11.30 – 14.30; 17.30 – 22.00

Thursday, 20 January 2022

ONEº15 Marina – Festive Bites [MEDIA DROP]

ONEº15 Marina at Sentosa Cove is the prime leisure district of Singapore and it is Asia’s most desired waterfront leisure destination. My first visit to ONEº15 Marina was in 2016 for a media tasting event at WOKº15 Kitchen. Since then, we have returned a few more times to dine there, especially when we are having our staycation in Sentosa.

Festive Bites @ ONEº15 Marina 
This year, the culinary team at ONEº15 Marina has prepared three Festive Bites to complete your celebration this Chinese New Year.

The Cookies
Organic Pineapple Rolls made with Organic Pineapple, Himalayan Pink Salt and Elle & Vire Butter. This mini roll is an absolute joy to eat. Once you pop it in your mouth, the buttery crust slowly melts in your mouth, followed by sweet and juicy organic pineapple fillings and finished off with subtle Himalayan pink salt that balance the richness and sweetness of pineapple tart perfectly.

Orange Pineapple Rolls
Hei Bee Hiam Pineapple Tarts (limited edition). A unique creation, blending the sweetness of the organic pineapple paste with spicy umami hei bee hiam. Although they use bird’s eye chilli for the hei bee hiam, I find the spiciness manageable.

Hei Bee Hiam Pineapple Tarts 
Parmigiano Reggiano Cookies. A European take on Chinese New Year snacks. This reminds me of Kastengel tart / Dutch – Indonesian Cheese Tarts, one of my favourite snacks during Christmas and CNY. Of course, ONEº15 Marina uses 24-month aged Italian parmigiano Reggiano, delivering a super umami flavour in addition to the crunchy texture of the cookies. A must-have for cheese cookie lovers.

Parmigiano Reggiano Cookies
Each of the Festive Bites is packed in a solid glass jar with a gold colour cap. A very luxurious presentation. The festive bite can be ordered individually or in a bundle of all three, known as The Auspicious Trio at $78+

The Auspicious Trio
Hurry Up and Place Your Order
Together with the festive bites, ONEº15 Marina also has a lineup of Lunar New Year celebratory dishes such as Smoked Salmon Yu-Sheng, Treasure Abalone Pot and Dry-aged Barbecued Duck that you can order for takeaway.

Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng
Image Credit: ONEº15 Marina 
Treasure Abalone Pot
Image Credit: ONEº15 Marina 
Festive Bites & Joyous Reunion
When to Order: 3rd January to 15th February 2022 and must be made 3 days in advance.

Self-collection is available from 10th January to 15th February 2022.

Delivery is available from 10th January to 15th February 2022, except on 31st January and 1st – 2nd February 2022. Enjoy free delivery island-wide with a minimum order of $60.


For more information, email wok15.sc@one15marina.com or call +65 6305 6998.

48-hour Dry-Aged Barbecued Duck
Image Credit: ONEº15 Marina 
Thank you very much ONEº15 Marina team for the Media Drop.

ONEº15 Marina
11 Cove Drive
Level 1 ONEº15 Marina Sentosa Cove
Singapore 098497

T: +65 6305 6998.
IG: @One15marina

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