Maison Ikkoku @ 20 Kandahar Street, Kampung Glam

There's a new coffee place called Maison Ikkoku and it's at Kandahar Street, in the Kampung Glam conservation area.

This whole place is quite big at 4000 sq ft. What they have done is to have 3 different concepts on the same venue. On Level 1 - an artisanal coffee place, Level 2 - a multi-label menswear boutique and Level 3 - a soon to be opened (mid Nov) semi-alfresco cocktail bar.



I should bring KopiKosongGirl to try this coffee out and see what she thinks.
I am not very much a coffee person.



I was told the baristas here had been trained by Japanese celebrity barista and latte art specialist, Hiroshi Sawada.




The menu here is presented on an iPad too.
It's opened by 2 couples, Thomas Ho and Janice Ong with Franz Chua and Shanie Teoh.



This is Level 1, the artisanal cafe.
It has white walls and copper pipes as lighting. It's chic-retro I would say.

Notice the bottom half of a cupboard hanging on the wall?




This is the MI Pork Bun or what we usually call the Kong Bak Pau ($3.90). I had a chat with Janice Ong and she said it's a recipe passed down to her from her grandmother. She makes it daily.




Another interesting food, is the MI Musubi. It's sticky Japanese rice with seasoning and a slice of SPAM luncheon meat.

A chat with Franz Chua said this was actually his packed lunch when he was studying overseas. His wife (then girlfriend to be) would be making this and it's a convenient to bring to classes! So this food brings back memories for him!




This made me laugh. A carrot cake with a carrot  on top!



The sample sized carrot cake that we tried was delicious. I asked Franz if they made it as well. The carrot cake is made by one of their friends. They love this friend's carrot cake, so they are ordering from them to have it sold here.




I was quite fascinated by all these old furniture!
I remember our home had similar ones when I was young!

See more cut off or topless furniture on Level 1?
You will find out why on Level 2!



Level 2 is the menswear section. The labels here are from Japan, UK, France and USA.

They get mostly Japanese label and Janice says she goes to Japan regular to source for the latest fashion and bring them back to their shop.

Notice where the bags and shoes are placed?
It's the "top part" of the cut off cupboards on Level 1! How clever!



I am not the usual fashion catch up guy, but it was interesting to browse around.
I got kind of tempted. Hmm...

The brands they carry:
    Japan: Deluxe, Discovered, Hobo, Kuro, Lad Musician
    USA : Industry of All Nations, MIANSAI by Michel Andrew Saiger, Publish
    France: Lucien, Teddyfish, Twins for Peace
    UK: Orlebar Brown

Chatting with Janice, she said her husband Thomas was a total fashion nerd when they were younger. Janice has slowly but surely transform him.  If you are at this place and see a clean shaven guy, that's Thomas. Janice showed a photo of Thomas on his iPhone when he was younger and it was really a transformation!



This is probably the only place where the husband or boyfriend can shop while the other half can sit at the cafe downstairs. If you need their opinions you can call or text them to walk up!



This raw canvas bag by Parisian brand Teddyfish bag caught my attention. 
Ahem my friends, get the hint? ;-)

Maison Ikkoku 20 Kandahar Street Singapore 198885 Tel: +65 6294 0078 Hours: Mon-Thu, Sun: 9 am - 7 pm / Fri-Sat: 9 am to 11 pm  http://www.maison-ikkoku.net/

Plaza Brasserie @ Parkroyal Beach Road

If you like Asian Buffets, you should check out the Plaza Brasserie @ Parkroyal Beach Road. They have quite a good selection of Asian food and for this month (I know it's ending soon that's why I have to quickly rush out this post) they have a "Treasures of the Sea" promotion.

Quoting from their website:
"Indulge in a variety of fresh seafood, including flower crabs, queen scallops, tiger prawns, oysters, mussels, clams and much more! Enjoy rounds of sake oyster shots, chilli crab, bamboo clams and drunken prawns in herbal soup, all on the buffet spread.

From Mondays to Fridays, pick your favourite fish from our ‘Catch of the Day’ section and our chefs will prepare it in your preferred sauce and style."

Thanks to the folks at the hotel's PR department who hosted a few of us, we really enjoyed what we saw and ate.

Here are some of the samples of the food that you got to try. You pick the seafood you want from the counter and the way you want it cooked. The chefs will prepare it fresh for you and deliver it to your table.



Soft shell crabs with 5 spice powder.These were super duper crispy crabs, slightly on the salty side, but it was really delicious! I had one bite and loved it so much, I quickly had a second piece. My mum loves to use 5 spice powder in her food, so grew up liking the smell and taste of it. This dish really makes me happy.

They also have soft shell crabs on the buffet tables, but this "prepare as you order" version has 5 spice powder and taste crispier.




Grey Prawns with spicy garlic sauce.
If you like prawns, this combination really makes you salivate. Prawns and garlic are a good combination and making it spicy is even better! By licking on the sweet, sourish and spicy sauce on the prawns, you know you would want more. The prawns were really fresh too.




White Clams with Spicy Onion Sauce
This was my favourite for that afternoon. It's probably because it's onions sauce! I think clams or shell fish that are smaller in size tastes better. Since the rest were busy snapping photos, trying to get their perfect shot, I was indulging in this. I probably finished quarter of this huge bowl of clams served.




Green Shell Mussels with black bean sauce.
These were nice, but I could only eat 2 and I have enough of it. I personally prefer smaller ones as bigger shell fish has this 'ocean taste' (not fishy, but this ocean smell or iodine aftertaste) that makes you control your intake to a few of it.




Fresh black mussels with sambal sauce.
I like this dish too, my personal bias to smaller shell fish. I can eat and eat and eat this stuff. Probably because it was small, you enjoy eating it without getting the stuffed feeling.




Bamboo Clams with Black Bean Sauce.
I personally find the bamboo clams chewy. The black bean sauce was nice though.
In my mind, I associate bamboo clams with lots and lots of garlic with light premium soy sauce. hehe. Like the ones here.




We were glad to meet Mr Jackson Goh the Executive Chef.
He's the guy who comes out and quality controls the food that comes out of his kitchen. He has done a pretty good job!




I went around the hot food buffet area and saw that they have sea cucumber too.
The way I like it done! Braised with Roast Pork! You should try this.




This was probably Miss Tam Chiak's or Hungrycow's bowl of laksa which I tasted a spoonful of.
Very nice!



I was told on certain days there will be chicken rice served.
I could not resist and helped myself to a small portion of it. Glistering rice and smooth tender chicken.




A portion of the roast pork, bbq pork and roast duck that I shared with fellow diners.
The BBQ pork has a taste of 'chinese wine', which I knew the wife would love if she comes here.




The buffet also has a dessert section which is quite good. The 'must try' I was told will be the Chocolate Truffle Cake. Was told it's to die for!


Guess what?
It was the wife's birthday this week, and the in-laws wanted to go for a buffet dinner and I said we should come here! I really think this place is worth the money spent so I recommended this place. Well, after the dinner, both parents-in-law thought it was really a good choice.

Well, they love fish and if you go on a week night, there's a "Catch of the Day" promotion. We were there last Friday and we had two fish.



The HK style steamed Seabream.



The HK style steamed Seabass.

Dad-in-law picked two fish and knowing mum-in-law loves fish steamed HK style, both fish were cooked the same way. We had 1 fish first and when we finished the first fish, we ordered another!




The food we ate last Friday night is exactly like the one prepared for the 'bloggers tasting'.
Well, just without the extra garnishing for photo taking. LOL

The wife finally got to taste the soft shell crab that I said was very crispy and nice.




Still did not really enjoy the bamboo clams.



But I loved the black mussels in onion sauce. Nice!



Also, the white clams with sambal sauce. We were full by eating seafood! Overeating!

Parents-in-law and the wife were indulging in the fresh oysters! It's scary how they can eat so many of it at one go. They did not believe I did not eat any at all! People always say I 'rugi' because I don't eat the oysters. I just say, eat more on my behalf! This was before our 'cooked to order' seafood arrived.

They only served 2 types of sashimi, but they were fresh. Momo thought the laksa as good too.
I don't know which brand of ice cream they served, but it was quite nice! Momo and I think it taste familiar, but can't put a 'brand' to it, I had like 4 scoops with those coloured rocks chocolate bits.

The parents-in-law enjoyed the Durian mousse that was on the dessert table too. The pulut hitam was nice too! You should try it!




We thought we would come for this self paid meal in 'stealth mode', so it was not under my name, but in dad-in-laws name for the reservation. The very observant PR director was quick to spot it and drop me a note on whatsapp. She knew it was the wife's birthday, but with so little time, she arranged for a little surprise! How cute right?

Parents in law paid for the meal with the UOB card and got 20% discount.


Treasures of the Sea buffet dinner
2 September - 30 October 2011

Mondays to Thursdays: Adult • S$45 | Child (3 to 12 years old) • S$27
Fridays to Sundays : Adult • S$48 | Child (3 to 12 years old) • S$29


Prices are subject to service charge and prevailing government taxes.





Plaza Brasserie @ Parkroyal on Beach Road
7500 Beach Road
Singapore 199591

Tel: 6505 5710

Ajisen @ Pargo Bugis

Last Sunday, we had lunch at Pargo Bugis. Instead of walking down the basement path where the food court and other restaurants are, we walk on ground level and at the other side.

It's been sometime since we had Ajisen, so we sat down.
We ordered the set meals, which comes with a side dish, a main dish and a drink.

The side dish that came was the Octopus. It has lots of sauce on it right? Is it a bit wrong? But I think I dip my other food in this sauce. (oii.. don't laugh!)




We also had Octopus Balls with benito flakes.



These are the soft shell crabs.



Sis and Aunt ordered the Pai Ku Mian. (Pork rib ramen).
I love the pork ribs, I 'tax' some from sis.



I had Tomato Chicken. I thought it was interesting and I think it is very delicious. I love tomato based stuff. The soup is whitish, but below, there's something like tomato salsa you have as dips.




Have a great day ahead.

Singapore's Tallest Wedding Cake @ Parco Bugis

Last Sunday, we were walking around at Parco Bugis and guess what we saw? Singapore's tallest wedding cake.

Can you guess how tall it is?



It's 3.8 metres tall and it weights 1.4 tonnes!



Zoom in at the bottom layer. How interesting to have water droplets deco yah..



It you can see on the right, is a banner that has the height of the cake.



The cake is made by Hotel Intercontinental.
Would you want to have a cake like this for your wedding?

Chicken Soup @ Bugis Foodcourt

Don't know why, whenever I eat at a particular food court, I go for the same food! haha..
So, I was at Pargo Bugis yesterday, and my legs just brought me to this stall selling Chicken Soup.





Chicken Soup - $5.00
Rice - $0.50