Siam Kitchen, Bugis Junction

What I love about Singapore is the vast variety of food - be it Asian, Western, Mediterranean, etc. In Manila, most of the grub is either Italian, American or Japanese. Eversince I got here, I learned to love thai, indonesian and malay food.

Siam was actually the old name of the Kingdom of Thailand until 1949 (thanks to wikipedia, hehe). I've actually tried Siam Kitchen in Marine Parade last year and I fondly remember it as a good eat, so I think they deserve a slot in my food blog (haha).

While browsing through the menu, we were given complimentary "keropok". In filipino, kropek. I love munchies! hehe.

For starters, we ordered "Woonsen Pad Thai Talay" ($8.90) - An alternative version of the ever popular pad thai but stir-fried with glass noodles and seafood. This is actually under the main courses but to us its a starter, hehehe. This was YUMMY. The glass noodle variety was suitably very good. There were generous portions of shrimp, fish fillet and squid. Very "Arroy"! (delicious/tasty in thai).

Zach ordered "Kuey Teow Look Chin" ($7.90) - Clear noodle soup with fish balls, "full of hearty goodness, great for kids and adults who want a break from all the spiciness" - as what the menu claims. Also quite good. There was a lot of beef and it was very tender. Zach says it was flavorful yet subtle. I actually thought the balls were beef but the menu says its fish. Nevertheless, it was good.

I ordered "Gang Keaw Wan Gai" ($8.90) - Green curry with chicken, baby eggplant and sweet basil leaves. Regrettably, this dish fares poorly with the other 2 dishes. The portions of chicken were so small I don't think it would add up to a chicken breast. There was too much sauce instead of meat or veggies. Eggplant is fairly cheap so I don't know why they scrimped on it.

Overall, not too bad. The pad thai swept me to cloud nine. The more I got excited that in a few days I will taste authentic thai food in phuket. So watch out for that.

Here is my rating for Siam:

Ambiance - 3

Service - 3.5

Food- 3.5

Presentation - 2

Value for Money - 3.5

OVERALL - 3.1

Parco Bugis Junction

#02-46

Telephone: (65) 6337-3777

Website: http://www.siamkitchen.com.sg

"Live, Love & Eat"

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Fisherio's Fish 'N' Chips, Bugis Junction

I noticed here in Singapore, there are throves of stores selling fish 'n' chips. From restos to hawker stalls, they are everywhere. Which I actually like. Ironically, in Manila, there are only a few select places where you can buy quality fish n chips. To think that the Philippines harvests a lot of seafood all year round.


Fisherios at Bugis Junction looked inviting so we tried it. We wanted to order regular fish n chips but the proactive service crew offered us the chicken and fish combo ($9.90) since we were going to share.


Utterly disappointing. First of all, I don't know why they had to wrap it in paper when we were going to eat it there. Second, the serving was so freaking small for its price. You can buy bigger and better fish and chips at the hawkers for half the price. Heck, even Astons' crispy chicken had 2 sidings for half the price. More so, you could count the number of fries with your fingers. The only consolation was the unlimited tartar, chili and ketchup.

Here is my dismal rating for Fisherios:

Ambiance - NA
Service - NA
Food - 2
Presentation - 1.5
Value for Money - 1.5
OVERALL - 1.67

Address:200 Victoria Street

#B1-K15 Bugis Junction

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Astons Express, Foodgle NUS Prince George's Residence

I work in the faraway land of Science park. A place oblivious from the hustle and bustle of the city. I told a friend once that instead of seeing skyscrapers everyday, I see treescrapers (if there is such a word) - as in soaring, tall trees. It is a welcome change though, having worked mostly in the metropolis way back in Manila.

Every once in a while, we would troop to the dining hall (Foodgle) at the NUS hostel (Prince George). And when I say troop that actually means hiking and walking in stride. The park is really a park with hills, bends, slopes and lakes.

One of the many stalls in foodgle is Astons Express. I wasn't really expecting a regular hostel foodcourt to be selling steak & seafood. So whenever we'd like to indulge for lunch we would eat at Astons. And today, like many days, I'd like to indulge :)

For lunch, I had the "Crispy Fried Chicken" ($5.30) - Breaded boneless chicken with your choice of 2 side dishes - I chose potato salad & garden veggies. For the price I had to pay, I would say it was the best value for money. If not for the really slow service (20 min. wait time), it would have been a great lunch. The chicken was tender & crisp and the baked potato was really savory. I have a feeling they add mashed boiled egg in the mayo. Garden veggies were brocolli and baby carrots - not the typical cheap corn, peas and carrots.

I did a little bit more research and found out Astons Express is actually a spin-off from Astons Specialties in East Coast Rd & Astons Prime in Joo Chiat Rd. Quite surprising that a real steak restaurant would bother putting a small stall in isolated NSU. But thank god they did!

Here is my rating for Astons Express:

Ambiance - NA

Service - 1.5

Food - 4

Presentation - 3

Value for Money - 5

OVERALL - 3.38

"Live, Love & Eat"

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NYDC Cafe & Restaurant, Bugis Junction

So finally I was able to go back to the gym tonight. As a reward, I decided to go to NYDC for dessert hehehe. Since we already had fish soup for dinner, might as well have something sinful for dessert (remember the food exchange? hehehe). We actually wanted to go to TCC but the place was packed. While looking for Coffee Bean, we stumbled at NYDC . So off we went.



Immediately as you enter the cafe, the glorious-looking cakes are displayed. For some reason, the server made us sit at a blind corner of the cafe. Then when we were ready to order, they couldn't see us so we had to wait till someone actually passed by. Very bad service. To think the place was half-full since it was past 10pm.


We ordered their combo dessert. I had "Bugs fav" ($9.80) - Warm pineapple carrot cake and macadamia nut ice cream topped with pistachio nuts and almond flakes. I think what they meant by "fav" was fave - as in favorite. It says their ice cream is home-made. Nothing special. It was nutty but bland. The cake was not bad but not outstanding. Quite moist though. I only ate half coz I didn't want to waste my exercise for a not-so-good dessert.


Zach had the "Jazzy Brownie" ($8.95) - French vanilla ice cream built on a warm ultimate chocolate brownie. Tertiary students "fav" as they claim. Defintely, not my "fav". The brownie was moist indeed but not fudgy nor "ultimately chocolate-y".

In the end, we had to get up and pay at the cashier because no one of the 8 servers (yes i counted) could see us from where we were seated. So that was it. I had high hopes for NYDC but it ended on a sour note, rather than a sweet one. The place was nicely decorated though, it looked like a typical american diner.

Here is my rating for NYDC:

Ambiance - 3
Service - 1
Food - 2.5
Presentation - 2
Value for money - 2
OVERALL - 2.1

ADDRESS
#02-47/48, 200 Victoria Street, Bugis Junction

Singapore 188021

RESERVATIONS
63333161

"Live, Love & Eat!"

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Fitness Blog #3 - Update

So I finally went for the finger prick today to check my blood sugar level....

YEEYYYY!!! I passed with flying colors! My blood sugar level is 5.3mmol/l

I did some research on the net and I found out that Blood Glucose (sugar) Levels should be within these limits:

Before Breakfast (or after overnight fast of 10 hours - water only) : lower than 7mmol/l
2 hours after meals : lower than 11 mmol/l
Randomly, at any time : below 11 mmol/l

Thank God! I was really relieved. Like I said, I was quite confident I'm not diabetic but of course the fear still kicked in while I was waiting at the clinic.

Chocopologie by Knipschildt
Cost: $2,600 per pound

The doctor also said it's good that I started going to the gym and watching my diet. She even shared with me a diet plan she calls "Food Exchange". Whereby you could exchange certain foods for others. For instance, if you'd like a small bar of chocolate, then you can trade it with your starch or carbohydrates. She even said Chocolate (especially, Dark) is relatively healthier than Rice because chocolates have flavonoids (which is good for the heart) while rice is just calories & empty carbs. But of course, it depends. If you have a lot of physical activity, carbs are ok because they give you the energy. But if you eat a lot of carbs and remain sedentary, your sugar level will spike and the excess calories, as we all know, will make you fat.

She also advised me not to get into the diet fad bandwagon. You can always eat anything - the key is moderation.

And there goes another $30.. thank god for medical claims.. the perks of having a job, no matter how much you can hate it. Now where can I get a hold of that chocopologie?? :P Read more on "Fitness Blog #3 - Update"!

Fitness Blog #3

I have had the flu for 5 days now so I haven't had the strength to go to the gym. Over the weekend, (after I whipped that uber-delicious lasagna) I had fever, sore throat & body ache (can you imagine?!) for 2 days. Because I had a deadline, I still went to work on Monday & Tuesday. But I took leave today because I really need some rest. More so, I don't think its a good idea to spread the flu at work.

Yesterday, I saw the doctor to get an MC chit (here in singapore, you have to get a medical certificate even if you're just 1 day sick - sorry but i think that's crap. In Manila, you only need an MC if you're sick for more than 3 days). So while I was at the doctor, I might as well ask her why my flu is taking so long and it doesn't seem to get any better. Well, of course I had to exaggerate so she would give me my pass from work. It did get better coz I didn't have fever anymore but my nose was still really clogged. So she said flu normally lasts 7-10 days (whew!). Then she started asking me questions (in a funny accent, not the normal singapohlean accent, I think she grew up in the US) about my medical history. Then she gave me this scary thought that, just to be on the safe side, I go through a blood sugar test just to make sure I'm not having symptoms for diabetes. WTF!!!!???

Since I just had my lunch that time, I asked if I could come back tomorrow to have that prick on my finger to test my sugar. Honestly, I'm not scared that I'm diabetic. Because for the past 3 or 4 weeks I have stoppped eating rice, snacks & what have you. I eat a lot of veggies, wheat and multi grain. My blood sugar MAY be elevated but I don't think Im diabetic (Of course, I have to convince myself).

So wish me luck guys. Hope this turns out well. And I hope it's just a really terrible flu.

Oh and by the way, despite my lack of attendance at the gym, I still lost weight hehe.. Just a few grams though. But weight loss is still weight loss.


Starting Weight as of June 30 - 121 kg
Weight as of July 9 - 119.2 kg
Weight as of July 16 - 118.5 kg

"No Pain, No Gain" Read more on "Fitness Blog #3"!

Home-Cooked Lasagna

It's a saturday night and I'm feeling sick with sinus and sore throat so I just decided to cook lasagna with Aileen. The last time I cooked lasagna was in Manila and I remember I used to cook and bake a lot especially during special occasions.

The lasagna was pretty goob to be honest. Haha so biased. Though I really prefer regular lasagna noodles than instant ones. Bon Apetit! :)

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Wanted

25-year-old Wes is portrayed as the most nonchalant & boring guy whose boss chews him out hourly, whose girlfriend ignores him routinely and whose life is headed nowhere. Everyone was certain this disengaged slacker would amount to nothing. Until he met a woman named Fox. After his estranged father is murdered, the "foxy" Fox recruits Wes into the Fraternity, a secret society that trains Wes to avenge his dad's death by unlocking his "assassin" talents. As Fox, the leader Sloan and the rest of the assassins teach him how to develop lightning-quick reflexes and phenomenal agility, Wes discovers they live by an ancient, unbreakable code: carry out the death orders given by fate itself. But, slowly, he begins to realize there is more to his dangerous associates than meets the eye. And as he wavers between newfound heroism and vengeance, Wes will come to learn what no one could ever teach him: he alone controls his destiny.

This movie was action-packed all the way! I usually wouldn't go for action movies but this really kept me on my toes throughout most of it. Angelina Jolie is the perfect actress for dominant female roles. Her fierce yet stunning looks and famous pouty lips are enough to get the message across. What I liked about the movie is the fact that the "matrix-like" action sequences came with a story. Whenever I watch a movie, I'm always after the story. I'm not sure though if the morale of the movie is to my preference.

I have always believed in the saying that "the end does not justify the means". It would be great though, to have real life assassins to wipe out the evil souls on the planet. My ex-boss would be the first on the list. That sonovabitch. hehe. But in my opinion, you can't take the law in your hands. No matter how cruel and unfair life is, I leave it up to karma and to God upstairs. Then again, this is a movie. And that's why movies are amazing because they put fantasy to life.

When you watch this movie make sure to keep your ears open. There are several twists and turns that will make you understand the plot of the movie. I admit I got a bit confused towards the end. I was probably too mesmerized with the action or I was just dazed because we caught the midnight showing.

Overall, this is a great movie to boost your adrenaline and keep you in awe. It's been a while since I've seen a movie worth my 10 bucks. For my rating, I give " Wanted" a 4.5/5.

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Fitness Blog #2

So it's been 10 days since I started this fitness blog. Last week, I was able to visit the gym 4 times. This week, I've already gone once. There's this fat burner pill that I took called Lipo 6X advanced formula. It was so advanced that it gave me insomnia. I don't think I'll ever take it again. I was seriously pissed the next day going to work tired and lethargic. I've always had problems with these pills, there was a time before I took Hydroxycut and I had the same insomnia problems. I think there's too much caffeine in these pills. If I'm not mistaken, around 1000mg per pop.


Starting Weight as of June 30 - 121 kg
Weight as of July 9 - 119.2 kg

1.8 kilos (3.96 lbs) is not so bad but not good. Maybe because I ate so much when mom was around hehe.. but its better than not losing any at all. Slowly but surely. My target is to lose at least 13.6 kg (30lbs) by December. Just in time for the holiday feast hehehe.

"No Pain, No Gain" Read more on "Fitness Blog #2"!

Carousel, Royal Plaza on Scotts

Last Sunday, Zach treated my Mom, Aileen & I to lunch at Carousel. I have been hearing good reviews about their buffet and since Mom was in town we figured might as well try it out. Making reservations was a breeze but you had to book a day before as tables can get booked really fast.

Brunch on a sunday morning was $48++. So damn pricey! Good thing they had 15% discount for DBS Visa credit card so more or less it would come up to $47. Still damn pricey! hehe.

I must say the selection of food was veerryyy wide. Literally and Figuratively. The buffet line was spread from end-to-end of the restaurant. Choices range from japanese station, crustacean & seafood station, hot & cold appetizer, breakfast, chinese station (dimsum, roast duck, etc), malay food, dessert, and the list goes on..

I was more than excited to get the gustatory revolution started and here is what I dug into.. (DISCLAIMER: diet off for today since my mom is around hehehe :P)

For starters, I had tuna & salmon sashimi, Pita bread with Eggplant mousse & Olive tapenade dip, and Smoked duck & Roast beef with blue cheese dressing. The sashimi tasted really fresh. The only disappointment is that they serve the salmon sashimi upon request. Unlike other buffets where you can freely get as much as you want. The dips were really scrumptous but the pita bread was very tough. So on to the next plate...

For pre-main course (hahaha), I had Turkey bacon, Pepper Sausage, Oven-roasted ribeye with mushroom sauce, Onion, mushroom, cheese & turkey bacon omelette, and bread with St. Pauline & Camembert cheese. The turkey bacon tasted & felt like cardboard. No kidding. Nothing beats real, fat-laden pork bacon. Ribeye was very tender and cooked medium-rare. Not bad but not thrilling. Omelette was, well, omelette. The cheeses were very cheesy. hahaha kidding. I'm not into cheese that much but they were good. Not very salty and melts in your mouth.

For main course, I had Chicken and mushroom ragout with crepe gratin, Ana potatoes with fresh thyme and pepper, Baked saffron pilaf with assorted sausage & seafood, Thai beef with garlic & pepper, Navarin of lamb with roasted parsnip and Seafood thermidor.

Has anyone heard of Ana potatoes? Oh well, they were potatoes just the same. My favorite was the Seafood thermidor. There were generous portions of shrimp & squid. The shrimp were quite big and tasted really fresh. The kind that pops in your mouth after you bite into it. The Navarin of lamb was also very tasty. It didn't have that after-taste that lamb would give if you cook it improperly.

At this point in time, believe it or not, I was really stuffed. But not too stuffed for dessert. No way will I let go of dessert. They even had a chocolate fondue fountain, but Aileen used to have a choco fondue business so I passed on that.

To cap off the meal, I had RP Choco mousse, Green tea choco mousse with azuki beans, Pineapple & peach crumble and Chocolate fondant. I don't know what in the world RP stands for but it was so-so. The ultimate winner was the Chocolate fondant. Even better than the chocolate cake at PS cafe. This really made me very happy. Amongst other things hahaha.

For an all-halal buffet, I would say Carousel was very good. The choices were endless and it was easy to get overwhelmed by the selection. I don't think theres any way for anyone to taste all of the food in the spread. Even for a big guy like me, it was just impossible. I regret not having the roast duck and the lobster in the crustacean section.

The service was great, as well. The staff were more than happy to take your pics and they even engage in small talk. Free coffee was an added bonus. Though I suggest they spruce up the dining area near the front window because from outside it didn't look as classy as the price commands. Nevertheless, the inner dining area was well decorated and spacious. So for a very delightful brunch, here is my rating for Carousel-

Ambiance - 4

Service - 5

Food - 5

Presentation - 4.5

Value for Money - 4.5

OVERALL - 4.6

Royal Plaza on Scotts Hotel

Carousel is at Lobby Level

Tel: 6589 7799

25 Scotts Road, Singapore 228220

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