Sakunthalas – Indian and Chinese Restaurant [MEDIA INVITE]

Sakunthala's Food Palace

Sakunthala's Food Palace is a restaurant where you can enjoy Indian cuisine and Chinese cuisine in the same place other than food court or room service. It is definitely the first time I ever see Indian restaurant in Singapore that showcase their seafood live in the tank in the dining section.

Live Seafood Tank

To maintain the authenticity of Indian and Chinese cuisine, Sakunthala's have two separate kitchens. Each kitchen is commandeered by different Chefs specialising in their cuisine.

Live Crabs

Live Lobster

One of the staple dishes here is their Curry Fish Head ($26 for small, $30 for big). Instead of the common red snapper, Sakunthala's use Angoli fish head (Sea Bream), one of the better quality fish. The fish head is definitely fresh, cooked with curry spices and other vegetables such as lady fingers and eggplants. The curry is thick, rich (solid lemak) and creamy. It is not too spicy for a South Indian dish standard and it lacked the tanginess of the assam. I personally like it, but LD prefer more tanginess in the fish head.

Curry Fish Head - Angoli

Nalan – Indian Vegetarian Dining [MEDIA INVITE]

Nalan @ Capitol Piazza

Nalan, one of Singapore's leading Indian vegetarian restaurants that showcase authentic vegetarian recipes from North and South India. The team behind Nalan believes in the rejuvenating powers of this healthy lifestyle, where this meatless cuisine made from the freshest and finest ingredients.

Nalan - Part of the dining area

We started the dinner with Cream of Mushroom (S$7). It looks similar to the regular cream of mushroom soup, however the version here very peppery. It sure warms the throat and heats up your taste buds in anticipation what comes next.

Cream of Mushroom

Daaba Salad ($6). Looks like general Ahcar vegetable mix. However, they really crank up the heat on this salad. Further CSI-ing, I found chopped Bird's eye chilli inside. I actually gulp down a significant amount of my mango lassi ($5) to put out the fire. For those who likes fiery dishes, this is the one for you.

Daaba Salad

From Left: Mango Lassi, Badam Milk and Butter Milk.

Tandoori Platter ($25). Paneer Tikka, Vegetable Sheek Kebab, Hara Bara Kebab, Tandoori Cauliflower and Tandoori Mushrooms. Our version of the platter tonight. Interesting and my personal pick is the Paneer Tikka. The blocks of the cottage cheese are thick, creamy with a slight smokey flavour.

Tandoori Platter

[CLOSED] Five Marbles – Craft Beer and Crafted Food [MEDIA INVITE]

Five Marbles

Five Marbles, a new restaurant set up with the idea of building a community of people who love great food and great beers. At any day, there are 12 craft beers on tap sourced from this little red dot, Japan, Australia, USA, UK and New Zealand. The craft beer list will be refresh from time to time, to allow the customer to savour the exciting offerings.

The Craft Beer Menu

Following the theme of the restaurant, the food here is also infused with their craft beers. Don't worry, you won't get drunk from the food, but you can definitely get high from the beers.

Beer Price

We started with Craft Beer Mushroom Soup ($9). Made with four type of mushrooms: shiitake, portobello, white button and oyster. The brownish dark colour soup is robust, creamy and filled with complex mushrooms flavour. Watch out for the hint of beer flavour at the end of each slurp of the soup.

Craft Beer Mushroom Soup

Portobello Chicken Cheese Baked Beer Rice ($16). A flavourful mushroom and chicken rice, topped with cheddar cheese. It is then oven-baked, to melt the cheese and create a crisp texture of the cheese. The rice is al-dente, and you can taste the chicken and mushroom in each bite. A solid baked rice dish.

Portobello Chicken Cheese Baked Beer Rice 

Portobello Chicken Cheese Baked Beer Rice 

[CLOSED] Outback Steakhouse – New Menu 2017 [MEDIA INVITE]

Outback Steakhouse @Orchard Gateway

In August 2017, Outback Steakhouse Singapore launched a new menu that featured the 22 fresh and bold flavours that you will surely love, in addition to the perennial favourites.

Our last visit to Outback Steakhouse was at their Millenia Walk outlet. The full review is available here.

The View from the restaurant

Accroding to the tradition in Outback Steakhouse, Honey Wheat Bushman Bread is served at the start of the meal It has a crisp crust, a touch of sweetness with a hint of cocoa. Served with their signature mix of their butter, that will definitely wake up your appetite.

Honey Wheat Bushman Bread

Appetizer Platter ($19.90) - A combination of Kookaburra Wings, Lemon Butter Calamari and Crispy Volcano Shirmps. We asked for the mild vision of Kookaburra wings. The secret spices is on the strong side, salty and need to be balanced with the blue cheese dressing.

Appetizer Platter

[CLOSED] The Wicked Garlic – Wickedly Good Pizza Pasta and Risotto [MEDIA INVITE]

The Wicked Garlic @ Cineleisure

The Wicked Garlic ('Wicked') is a home-grown Italian inspired restaurant who recently opened their third outlet in Orchard Cathay Cineleisure. So far, its existence has been under the radar but their regulars customer has been growing steadily in their International Plaza and Clifford Center outlets.

Wicked made their name by serving three main items: Wicked Pizza, Wicked Pasta and Wicked Risotto. Their signature ingredients are their king prawns, which they used in the more than half of the dishes on their menu.

Granchio E Pepe / Crab Meat Pizza

Salmone Affumicato ($19) is their signature Wicked Pizza. Thin crispy homemade pizza dough, topped with homemade tomato sauce, eight smoked salmon slices rolled, mozzarella cheese and dill. Unlike regular smoked salmon pizza that skimps off the ingredients, the size of the rolled smoked salmon will make you drool. It combines the saltiness from the smoked salmon with the creaminess of the cheese, definitely a must try pizza here.

Salmone Affumicato

For the carnivore, Meat Lovers Pizza ($21) is something that you can look forward to. Slices of Spicy Italian Sausages, Bacon, Minced Beef topped with Mozzarella Cheese. The overflowing topping will definitely deliver a meatgasm experience you are looking for.

Meat Lovers Pizza

The Bird – Authentic Southern Cuisine in Marina Bay Sands [MEDIA INVITE]

The Bird Southern Table and Bar

The first international location for James Beard nominated and award-winning Yardbird Southern Table & Bar in Miami, Florida open its door in Marina Bay Sands ('MBS') Singapore. The collaboration between MBS and 50 Eggs, showcasing Southern hospitality and farm fresh ingredients.

Part of the dining area

The Bird Private Dining Room
Image Credit: The Bird Southern Table and Bar

Founder / CEO of 50 Eggs, John Kunkel is a renowned restaurateur that operates many popular restaurants in US feels that Singapore is an incredibly exciting destination and honoured to showcase his family recipes at The Bird Southern Table & Bar ('The Bird').

Seating at the Bay Level (Level 1)

The signature dish for The Bird is the famous 100 -year-old recipe Lewellyn's Fine Fried Chicken. The all natural chicken is brined for 27 hours, dredged in secret spices and flour before fried to perfection. The exterior is crisp, while the meat is juicy, succulent and fall of the bones. Not to sound degrading, but imagine a fine dining version of the Original recipe of Kentucky Fried Chicken. You can splash some honey hot sauce with the chicken, but I like mine without the sauce.

Chicken 'N' Watermelon 'N' Waffles

Hanoi - 4 Days 3 Night Adventure (Part 2)

You can check out our Hanoi adventure Part 1 here.

Day 3. Ha Long Bay Trip

Ha Long Bay

Halong Bay is another must visit place if you are near Hanoi. A bay with more than 3,000 islands and inslet, which time, wind and waves have sculpted into fantastic shapes. This scenery is best to be enjoy by cruising through the bay with boat.

Our Cruise Boat

It is located 3 hours away from Hanoi by bus. We took the tour bus and the bumpy road along the way sure give our butt some unexpected massage. Along the way, you can see rice paddy field, one of the main produce that Vietnam is well known for.

Rice Paddy Field on the way to Ha Long Bay

Once we reach the cruise centre, you can see the outstanding scenery of Ha Long Bay. Seafood Lunch is served once we step on the boat and the cruise begin about 20 minutes after. We were fortunate the weather is sunny, though it was a bit hot. The view of the bay is pretty awesome.

Small Boat at the 1st stop to visit the grotto

Journey to visit the 1st grotto