Kai Garden - On par with Hotel's Chinese Restaurants

Usually, for good food plus great service and wonderful ambience, I will recommend the Chinese restaurants under hotels' management because of their need to providing a flawless experience to the patrons. I notice that most of the other Chinese restaurants are very profit-driven, thus neglecting the standard of service. With that said, Kai Garden surprises me in every way. The service is excellent, in Chinese restaurant context, and the food is very good.

After trying the food in many Chinese restaurants, I have to admit that I get bored with typical Cantonese fare. Thus I will only be impressed if creative twists are incorporated into the food without compromising on the authenticity. And Kai Garden's repertoire of dishes and dim sum manages to do just that.

The mushroom bun is an absolute delight to tuck into due to the slightly crispy sweet pineapple bun top pairing with the creamy, very flavourful mushroom filling.

I am also bowled over by the glutinous rice because it is so moist in texture and packed with wholesome ingredients such as dried scallops to impart the taste of unami into the sticky rice.

Fried prawns with specialty sauce is a treat for those with acquired taste—I happen to be one of them. I can say that the prawns are fresh since no allergic reaction gotten from them. The spices-and-curry sauce drizzled on the soft yet pretty crispy fried batter gives that extra kick to the dish. But rest assured that it is not hot at all.

The unique fried skin, peppered with crispy breadcrumbs, of the scallop mango roll is what makes this dim sum worthy to check it out. However, while I like the creamy texture of filling, complementing the wrapping excellently, I could hardly find any seafood in there. It is more like mango roll than anything else. The lobster dumpling soup is quite a let-down as compared to other dishes. The dumpling arrived broken, with all the contents spilled into soup. And the bland taste did not help either.

The ambience is minimalist chic, with hints of grandeur. I like how the tables were decently spaced frim each other, unlike lots of Chinese restaurants.

Service is attentive, prompt and meticulous. The staffs even provide bag holders for our bags. Lots of restaurants don't provide these, so this extra touch of thoughtfulness is highly appreciated.

While this restaurant does not feature all varieties of tea, I am impressed with their Da Hong Pao—smooth and fragrant.

I can say Kai Garden is one of my favourite Chinese restaurants. So of course I will go back to enjoy authentic yet unique Chinese food, with good service and great ambience.

My Thoughts: Very Nice!

Note: But the experience there on CNY eve is far less than stellar. It is overcrowded, with dirty plates piled up on a platform right behind me. And we only start eating at 9pm for a 8pm slot! Not recommended for CNY reunion dinner.

Nearest car park: Marina Square's car park

Nearest MRT: Raffles City

6 Raffles Boulevard

#03-128A/128B, Marina Square

Singapore

Contact No: 6250 4826

Paradise Dynasty - Interesting Xiao Long Bao

I had tried xiao long bao, those little dumplings packed with pork and broth, in lots of places. So far, Ding Tai Feng's ones are one of the better ones because this place specializes in making xiao long bao. Paradise Group tries to challenge Ding Tai Feng with Paradise Dynasty, whose focus is on xiao long bao, to top it off, features a variety of this well-lived dim sum. Well, I was sceptical but ended up leaving the place feeling somewhat impressed.

Unlike the disappointing xiao long bao—the meat is not fresh—I had in Canton Paradise, the ones in Paradise Dynasty have thin silky dough skin wrapped around the fresh meat. Yes, they are comparable to the ones in Ding Tai Feng. What gives the dumplings here an extra edge is the array of flavours available. My favourite got to be the ginseng one. The slightly bitterness and herbal flavour goes very well with the meat. Kind of reminds me of those nourishing herbal soups. By the way, do not mix in the shredded ginger and vinegar as these will eclipsed the delicate flavour of ginseng. Another one of my favourite is the foie gras one, which surprises me on how this Western and Chinese combination works. The taste is unique yet not over the top, thus able to please my palates. The truffle xiao long bao is not bad, but this is not exactly match made in heaven. I feel the full potential of the oh-so-delightful woody aroma of truffle is not realized in the makeup of xiao long bao.

Cheese xiao bao long hits the wrong notes for me. The minced meat is too strong in flavour and too mashed in texture to complement the cheese well. The crab roe one tastes too fishy to my liking. Garlic xiao long bao is not bad, but does not offer anything unique like the ginseng and foie gras ones. The szechuan dumpling has very strong flavours. This resembles the wanton in chili oil. I like it but I can only stomach one piece because it is fiery hot.

The radish pastry has excellent crispy skin, and the filling is not too salty, which is good. Though it is not exactly noteworthy in terms of overall taste.

The service is a notch better than the other Paradise outlets, not counting in Paradise Pavilion, the crown jewel of Paradise group.

I sure do not mind going back for the ginseng xiao long bao if in the mood for a casual dining experience.

My Thoughts: Pretty Good

Nearest car park: Vivocity's car park

Nearest MRT: Habourfront

1 Harbourfront Walk, #03-08A

Vivocity

Singapore
Contact No: 6376 8103

Buzz Honey

Once I had tried raw honey, I found that all other honey cannot match up to it in terms of taste and the effectiveness of the healing properties. Besides the divine alce nero raw honey, I have just discovered another new brand in stock in NTUC. Presenting ... Buzz Honey!

I was tempted to buy a jar because of my love for raw honey. In addition, I am always up for trying new tastes. The chuck of honeycomb submerged into the golden liquid cemented my decision to buy one. I mean ... how often do one find honey that comes with honeycomb in Singapore supermarkets? Of course, I must try it.

The honey itself is very delicate in flavour. I like the lingering fragrance of blossoms inherent in honey. This is seriously good stuff. Though there is a slight sour aftertaste. It is still way better than lots of other types or brands of honey.

Filter out the bits of honeycomb before enjoying the drink because while the comb is nice to bit into savour the honey, its waxy texture is not what I appreciate when gulping down the smooth, refreshing honey drink.

All in all, I sure do not mind showing people that I have a jar of honey with honeycomb enclosed.

Meadow Honey at Limestone Coast is great stuff also. One thing is for sure, it is like magic potion curing my sore throat and ulcers.

Country of Origin: Australia

Where to get this: NTUC Xtra

Rainbow Cottage - The Selection is exactly as the Namesake suggests

Closed

Actually, I just happened to pass by Blk 452, Ang Mo Kio and immediately took note of this cafe due to the quaint wooden settings, which sets the place apart from the surrounding neighbourhood shops. I guess I can say that the ambience seems tranquil and inviting enough for me to just step in to try out a cake.

The rainbow cake looks very brightly coloured, which will win the hearts of many. However, for me, who is more into natural ingredients, the colours seem too garish to my liking. So I was pleasantly taken aback that the taste of the cake exceeds my expectations, considering that I do not have very high expectations in the first place.

The texture is not as moist as I would rave over, but it is good enough to please most people. The consistency and taste of the cake seems like a cross between butter cake and sponge cake—not bad at all. I like the buttery flavour of the cake and the exceedingly light, airy cream slathered on top and in between the layers of different coloured sponge cakes. In fact, I feel like I am eating sweetened creamy clouds when eating the cream off the top of the cake. And I appreciate that there is no chemical-like taste atypical of colour additives.

The rainbow cake here will delight the kids and make pretty nice centrepiece of parties. Maybe next time, I will try the Thai Milk Tea ice-cream.

My Thoughts: Nice!

Note: This cafe is no longer in operation.

Burlamacco Ristorante - Delightful, Rustic Italian Cuisine

No longer in operation

Thanks to Restaurant Week, I was able to snag a chance to dine at Burlamacco since this place does not normally offer set menus on weekend afternoons, the only time I am free to check out the new restaurants. It is always exciting to suss out the gems and write about them.

The fresh bread signifies a good start since it is served warm, thus accentuating the fragrance of the dough. The balsamic vinegar has this subtle aroma and flavour that go so well with the dense yet fluffy texture of the bread.

I took a sip of my guy's pea soup, and I find that it is creamily good—the light, airy, quality cream, to be precise—and the taste of pea is enough to impart the unique, pleasant taste without being overwhelming.

However, I love my Tuna Tartare more. The texture is good in the sense that the very fresh tuna meat is well-cut so that there is no tough sinew or harder-to-chew spot. The exciting blend of tangy flavours, generous sprinkling of seasonings, creaminess of the avocado and subtlety of the olive oil, which also makes the tuna chucks smoother in texture, yields a delightful appetizer that wakes up my senses. One of my company was gushing over her truffle beef carparccio, but since I do not eat beef, I cannot delve more into the description of this dish.

The same goes for the slow-cooked beef ribs, which was hailed as excellent by another company of mine. He said that this is worth more than the price tag of the set lunch.

Oh well, I still have the Crab Meat Angel Hair Pasta to enjoy anyway. The tomato sauce of the pasta is unique and light, meaning it is slightly sour and sweet, yet it is packed with the robust and wholesome flavours of the tomatoes. And the crab meat adds the taste of unami into the sauce. Every strand of the pasta is well-coated with the sauce—in fact, the flavours soak into them already. So no surprise that I could actually finish the whole plate of pasta easily. The only complaint I have is that I wish there is more crab meat added.

The Panna Cotta is delightful to tuck into due to the smooth, slightly gelatinous texture—different from the usual Panna Cotta that is more custard-like—and the fresh creamy goodness incorporated into the dessert. And the sea salt caramel goes so well with the sweet pudding, adding variation and dimension to the overall taste. One of the best Panna Cotta I have? Most Probably, for now.

The service crew is friendly and responsive, minus the airs I had encountered in some restaurants. The chef even came up to us to ask for our opinions on the food. And given that the place is chic and rustic with a vibrant vibe, this is a good spot to enjoy good, well-crafted food in a let-your-hair-down environment. Though one thing to note: if you are like a dhampir—this means half-vampire, lol, who prefer to stay in the shade, for lunch, reserve a table that is not under the glass ceiling.

I do want to come back again to enjoy authentic, rustic Italian fare. If the timing is right, and I am free to do so. At least, I can add one more restaurant to my list of restaurants that I like and most likely patronize again.

My Thoughts: Delightful!

This restaurant is no longer in operation.

Llao Llao - Novelty (sort of) is the Key

Ah, the long queues. Seems like every big establishments coming to set up branches will be welcomed with these. Well, llao llao is no exception. Okay, so is it worth the hype and the queue? Well, the frozen yoghurt does not disappoint, but it does not make me a fan either.

The yoghurt itself is good as in the taste is not overly sour, tending more towards that of the superb Greek yoghurt. The frozen texture gives more kick than the traditional one. Other than these, it is not exactly exceptional as compared to Greek yoghurt.

The white chocolate sauce does go very well with the frozen yoghurt—I figure that this topping will not do well when added to a cup of normal yoghurt as they will mix together. The intense sweetness of the sauce absolutely complements the sourness of the yoghurt. And the aroma of Cocoa butter helps a lot too.

Rafaello sauce is basically white chocolate with coconut, wafer squares and nuts. Actually, I prefer this topping since it is not as cloying sweet and the wafer squares and nuts add crunchy bite to the texture. The taste of coconut is not pronounced though. Still I recommend this over all other generic toppings, like chocolate cookies, chocolate sauce, smarties, chopped nuts, etc.

I don't mind getting a cup of this yoghurt once in a while if there is no queue.

My Thoughts: Good for occasional indulgence.

Coconut Water Taste Comparison

I always love to drink coconut water because it really induces that ahh feeling of refreshment. Unlike those sweetened drinks, the mildly sweet coconut water quenches the thirst efficiently. I used to get my coconut water kicks by buying lots of Thailand young coconuts from NTUC. You know, those that have the tough thick husk at the top cut already, but the flesh and a thin layer of shell are left intact to preserve the freshness. However, after an incident of getting a taste of soured coconut water from a coconut that is still within expiry date. I stayed off coconuts for a while.

So this is where the packaged coconut water comes into the picture. My guy got packets of UFC coconut water as part of his special diet. When I saw those packs, I was not a bit interested because I had the mindset that nothing can beat fresh coconut water from fresh coconut. Not to mention that the name "UFC" reminds me of Ultimate Fighting Championship!

Well, I eventually tried it since I was very thirsty on one particular day. I was impressed. For the convenience and the assurance that I will not get a fermenting coconut, this coconut water is a very good alternative. In fact, I brought a dozen of packets after trying it.

What I like about UFC coconut water is that the distinctive nutty, milky aroma is well-preserved in this drink and there is no sugar added. So I can enjoy this drink's crisp clear and refreshing taste without the guilt. And I like the fact that the coconuts used are non-GMO, meaning they are not Genetic Modified Organisms. I also have a thing against GMO crops, despite the advocates from Nat Geo. The fact that the best ingredients and crops come from countries that are against GMO crops kind of says a lot, isn't it?

Cocomax is an unexpected good find. Packaging wise, it is not as impressive due to the use of plastic bottle. But the taste can rival that of UFC. The taste of Cocomax coconut water is more nuanced with slightly milder flavour. This is the one with the weakest aftertaste, which is how I like it.

After trying Cocomax, I was more eager to try the ones in bottles instead of limiting my choices to those packaged in tetra pax. If coconut water is the sweetest of the lot, which is amazing since it is 100% coconut water with no sugar is added. As someone with sweet tooth, I do like this brand a lot.

I do have somewhat high expectations of Vita Coco when my guy brought back two packets since this brand is more expensive. Though I had a bad feeling when I saw that sugar and vitamin C are added. The bad feeling was proven valid when I had my first sip of Vita Coco. The nutty flavour is there, and this drink is surprisingly not sweeter than UFC one. However, there is another weird, almost medicine-like taste incorporated in there. I guess this comes from the vitamin C. As for the more expensive price tag, should be due to various celebrities' endorsements.

Coco Life also has sugar and vitamin C added, so I was not expecting too much when trying it. But the first taste is a lot better than Vita Coco's since the aroma of nuts in Coco Life's coconut water is pretty strong, sufficient to cover up the taste of vitamin C. The bad part is that after few sips, there is a sour aftertaste, most probably due to the sugar and vitamin C. And this sour aftertaste gets worse with each subsequent sip.

Nudie coconut water looks more promising than the previous two brands since there is no additive. But this drink tastes pretty plain. The aroma of brown sugar is strong, maybe due to young coconuts being used, but the flavours are pretty muted. In fact, this is the least flavourful of all I had tried. The good part is that there is no weird or sour taste in it.

Ice Cool coconut water is similar to Nudie in taste, just a tad bit stronger in milky flavour. This has the aroma of sugar cane instead.

Zico's one is between Nudie and UFC in terms of how strong the nutty flavour is and has pure and clear taste. No aftertaste reported.

Just Picked CoCo Water is very comparable to UFC in terms of taste. Probably due to the fact that the coconuts are from Thailand and there is no additive. The main difference is that Just Picked CoCo Water has a more pronounced milky flavour while UFC has a stronger nutty aroma. And oh yes, the price range is very different, with UFC being more value for money.

The taste of Yeo's Coconut Water is very similar to that of Just Picked Coco Water. The main difference between these two brands is the stronger aroma in Just Picked, not flavour, take note.

So it is pretty obvious which one is my favourite.