Pho Hoa Noodle Soup @ Holland Village

Pho Hoa has been in Holland Village for the longest time but I have never stepped into it. I wondered why I have never gone in, perhaps I had this impression that it's not the same?

That was until the other day, Sis and mum were having their 'nails done' at Holland Village. KopiKosongGirl and I buzzed them to ask if they wanted dinner. Sis said they want Vietnamese and ask us to meet them at Pho Hoa. Mum and Sis was talking about their Vietnam holidays they had and wanted to eat Vietnamese food.




The Gỏi Cuốn / Summer Rolls. ($7.95)
We thought these were really nice. It has julienned cucumber and carrots and prawns inside with lettuce. I think it was a little cold, so it tasted rather good.



The sauce was somehow tempting. It's tasted like hoisin, plum and peanut butter mixed in.
Not sure what's really inside, but dipping it with the rolls was nice.



Mum and sis both had the Pho Soups. I can't remember if they had the Beginners, Regular or Adventurer's Choice. I think this was the Steak Pho ($11).



Looking at this always reminds me of having Vietnamese food in Richmond and Russell / Swanston St Vietnamese shops in Melbourne during my student days. Sis and KopiKosongGirl will talk about their Springvale versions.

We used to have it once or twice a week, yeah, they were the cheaper food for students. Long ago, it was AUD3 for small and AUD5 for large bowls. Now looking at the prices here in Singapore, we have to console ourselves it's cheaper than flying over.



Sis' Pho, Steak and Brisket Pho ($11).

Do you like your sprouts pre scaled or have it all raw?
The soup here was served very hot, so the sprouts were cooked.




KopiKosongGirl has the Bún Gà Nướng / Grilled Chicken on Rice Vermicelli.
She seemed to have enjoyed it, finishing up everything except the bean sprouts!

As she works in the Suntec area, she said there's Pho Hoa and another Vietnamese place, Pho House that is more popular and the broth there is nicer. We should go there and try and compare she said.




I had the Grilled Beef with Rice plate. ($12.25)
The grilled beef was nice, but if only there was more. For a guy, you will still feel a little hungry after having this portion. ;-)

The total bill was $63.20 after taxes. Vietnamese Food in Singapore are usually expensive.
The food here is lighter in taste. I find it priced a bit higher.

Note:
KopiKosongGirl says Pho House might be another good choice for people who prefer more intense flavour broth.

I know of a very cheap and quite nice Vietnamese food at the NUS School of Computing / Business School canteen. The Cold Rice Vermicelli bowl costs only $3.30 and it is really good. They are generous too.

Pho Hoa Noodle Soup 18 Lorong Mambong Holland Villlage Singapore 277678 Tel: +65 6467 3662 Hours: Daily, 11 am to 10 pm

Scan QR Code for Address Details

1 Caramel Dessert Boutique @ 1 Rochester Park

This was an interesting visit to an eatery!

The address says Level 2, 1 Rochester Park. It's located at one of the conserved 'black and white houses' or colonial building that some prefer to call it.

For your first time there, you might probably be like me, walk around the building trying to figure how to get to the 2nd level. You won't find any and soon realize that there's a staircase in the middle of the 1st floor restaurant called One Rochester. You would gingerly walk right in and see if that's the right place. It looks about right and walk upstairs.

When you are on the upper floor, you are further confused! You see a glass door and it says 'kitchen'. There's no entrance or any other doors that seems to lead you to 1 Caramel.



You get curious and sort of frustrated and decide to peep in the kitchen, and it's really a kitchen!

You see the fridges like the one above and below. Beautiful cakes, tempting delights, a place that negates all your work out! How do I get in? Should I just walk into the kitchen?



Just push the glass door that says 'kitchen' and walk in! It's the only entrance in!
They operate a truly open kitchen concept! You see how the food's being prepared! Walk in and beside these fridges is another glass door that leads you to the balcony of this black and white house! That's where the seating area is.

It's a very nice and cosy place whether day or night! Trees slightly covering your view of the Ministry of Education building opposite. It's like a nice hideaway and it's air-conditioned too!

I walked in the 'kitchen' and saw Yuen and Fen from SgDessert! Always a comfort to see some familiar faces. They told me to walk towards the glass door to the balcony and that was where I was greeted by two lovely ladies from the 1 Rochester PR Team. Nice folks and I was asked if I wanted any drinks.

It was after work and a day before my birthday. I look at the menu (which is available online with prices listed too) the Specialty Tea range. They have a tea called Happy Birthday Tea! It's as if the menu was printed for me! I ordered it! A mild black tea which with red berries and hint of vanilla. Perfect!

All day breakfast!

It was dinner time at nearly 7pm, but I am having Brunch!

This was the Traditional Eggs Benedict. Very delicious poached eggs on toasted English muffin with hollandaise sauce. This version I had included the Smoked Salmon.

Note: It's one place that you can come for ALL DAY BRUNCH! Brunch hours are from 11:30 am till 10:30 pm on weekdays and 11:30 till 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.



I like how they prepared the potatoes that was part of the egg. It was soft inside and there's a slight crispy feel to it.



This photo is to tempt you! If you like runny egg yolks, drool!
The fish roe was a nice touch! Love it when it pops in your mouth while you have the egg, salmon and muffin.

The Posh Platter

If you are here with your date or friends, try the platters.They have a few, refer to the menu.

This was the Posh Platter, which has smoked salmon tart with creme fraiche and ocean trout caviar, asparagus wrapped in basil and proscuitto, truffled brie and cherry tomatoes on a toasted brioche.



It was all beautifully plated and each piece seemed so delicately crafted. They all tasted very delicate and had unique flavors. The asparagus wrapped in basil and prosciutto was probably the one I liked the most.

Souffle

Love souffles? The few of us were tempted by them!

Souffles are meant to be eaten straight away! See what happens when food bloggers take more than the required time to take photos! The ice cream melts and the souffles flattens!




There have very unique flavors here. They have:
- Hazelnut souffle with chocolate ice cream
- Chocolate souffle with vanilla ice cream
- Miso souffle with yuzu ice cream
- Vanilla souffle with strawberry ice cream
- Passionfruit souffle with banana-passion sorbet



We tried 3 different ones and the Miso souffle was something really different and hey, it's worth a try if you are adventurous! Very Japanese influence in it. The yuzu ice cream was just so ideal!

A nice shot at last. This last souffle arrived in front of me and I got to take first shot of it! Look how tall and handsome it is!

Desserts

With a name like 1 Caramel, you know this place is a definite Desserts Heaven!

If you are alone, take a pick by looking at the menu or simply walking to the fridge and pick the one that calls out to you.

If you are here as a group, order the 1 Caramel Assiette to share! Probably the best way to try out everything! You get to choose from the menu 3, 4 or 5 desserts of your pick!
 



Presenting the 1 Caramel Baked Alaska!
Just oogle at this gorgeous little thing! A work of art don't you think?

The menu describes it as: "Combination of homemade chunky strawberry and vanilla Madagascar ice cream coated with rhum Italian meringue on top of a nutty chocolate brownie."

Are you tempted? It's for the sweet tooth!




Death by Chocolate.
We did not die, but this valrhona sofiato molten cake with dark chocolate sorbet was really fabulous. I especially liked the dark chocolate sorbet! That was something I could not resist. I finished it all off after 2 other diners sharing with me said they had enough!



The name's already a mouthful and it describes it all!
Raspberry lychee rose pannacotta, lychee-lemon compote.

It's something of a contrast to the other desserts. It's to me a very feminine dessert. Rose scented pudding, lychee. Ladies, tell me what you think after trying it.

In my mind, I thought of Crabtree and Evelyn or Laura Ashley! haha...




Tropical Vodka Trifle.
It's Pineapple gazpacho jelly, pineapple sponge cubes with crystallized baked almonds topped with coconut sorbet.





Earl Grey creme brulee
An unique creme brulee. Earl Grey infused custard dessert.
Earl or Lady Grey to me is an acquired taste. Either you like it or not. Probably my youngest sis kind of dessert, she's an Earl/Lady Grey tea person. I am sure if she's here, she would have enjoyed this.

To some of you, you remember this place as the cool dessert place at Handy Road. That was sometime back. They are now at Rochester area. I was told it is like a home coming as they started off here! They are located just minutes away from the Buona Vista MRT.

They also have customized cakes that you see on the first photo. Check out their website at http://www.1-caramel.com for more details.

I realized that the organization I work with is part of their Corporate Boast Program. That means when I show my staff pass, I get 10% off. A few organization around this area like the Biopolis are part of the program. If you work for A*Star or NUS, just present your staff pass for the discount! Ask your HR if your company is part of it.



1-Caramel Dessert Boutique
1 Rochester Park,
Level 2,
Singapore 139212

Tel: +65 67741302
Hours:
For cake collection: 11.30am -9.00pm
For dine in: Mon-Fri:1130am – 1030pm / Sat & Sun:10am -1030pm (Brunch is available till 4pm)

Michaelangelo's @ Chip Bee Gardens

This was a birthday dinner Momo and I had with the in-laws. This place was chosen because it was near to our home and also our in-law's home. It was also a place that we know have consistently had decent meals.

The ambiance was nice and we sat at the in-door section of the restaurant. We realised the MIL was also dressed up for dinner. The lights were really romantic (in other words dim) and as not to disturb other diners, the photos were taken without flash.



The aubergine dip, balsamic vinegar and olive oil that goes with the bread.


The roll. OK roll. I thought they had some sun dried tomato ones previously?




The Caesar Salad that we shared. Their version here has no croutons, they had Grissini Italian breadsticks instead. The egg was poached with a runny yolk. The menu says it's their secret dressing.




We also shared a Mozzarella Di Bufala con Prosciutto.
It's a simple dish, but Momo and I order this whenever we have a chance anywhere. Their version looks pretty like a flower!




Momo had the Capellini Citron - slipper lobster in butter, shallots, white wine, lemon juice with creme fraiche. It was quite nice.



MIL had the Rosticciana. A slab of pork ribs. Yummy!
It was too soft but still slipped off the bones easily.




The ribs came with roast corn and baked potatoes.



FIL had the Frutti di Mare. Momo guessed her dad will order this because he likes to have all in one! Slipper lobster tail, scallops, prawns, calamari, barramundi and mussels. There was a choice of sauces and Dad had it with white wine and liked it!



For me, I had the Pesce Fritto e Patate - Fish and Chips!
Fillet of silver jacket deep fried served with shoe string fries sprinkled with truffle oil. The fish was nice but a little too salty. I wish they were more generous with the truffle oil sprinkled on the fries.

It was a nice birthday dinner, both the people and the food.

Michaelangelo's
Blk 44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-60 Chip Bee Gardens Holland Village
Singapore 278116

Tel: 6475 9069
Website: www.michelangelos.com.sg

Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Mooncakes

How can you resist anything ice cream? You all should know I am a sucker for all things ice cream! It's the time of the year where you can get Häagen-Dazs ice cream in the form of mooncakes again.

I remember my first Häagen-Daz ice cream mooncake was eaten about 10 years ago! The very first time I wanted to buy it, it was sold out! So I got it the next year!

On Tuesday night, sis and I did something 'naughty', we met up after work to enjoy two ice cream mooncakes before going home for mum's home cooked dinner! Shh, we did not tell mum about it! We still ate dinner as usual after we got home. Someone told me, it's good to be adults eh? Having ice cream before dinner!

You most probably have been tempted by the brochures of these mooncakes. We have tasted it and taken real photos of it. Here's how it looks, the real deal. We had it at the Holland Village branch.

You can either bring it home or dine-in. We chose to dine-in.
There are 4 flavours: Chocolate & Vanilla, Cookies & Cream, Strawberry and Coffee & Macadamia Nut.



This was the Strawberry Ice Cream Mooncake. We chose it because it's pink! Bright and cheerful.




Pardon my cutting poor cutting. It was really hard frozen!

The outer layer is white chocolate with strawberry paste. Inside, there's strawberry ice cream with bits of strawberries in it. It's a little sweetish and sourish at the same time, how real strawberries ice cream should taste. The yolk centre was a ball of mango sorbet. There was also biscuit like base that's slighty salty. A nice combi of taste in your mouth.

Sis preferred this to the chocolate. She thinks the mango and strawberry is both fruity so it goes better than the chocolate one we had.




This was the Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream Mooncake.
It's rock hard frozen as you can see. Ice particles were forming!




Here's how it looks inside. The outer was a coating of dark chocolate. Inside it was mostly chocolate ice cream, with the bottom layer vanilla ice cream. The centre was a ball of mango sorbet.

I like the sweetish mix of vanilla and chocolate ice cream. The slightly sweetish and sourish mango sorbet gives it a slightly different taste just like how salted eggs in usual baked mooncakes gives it a different taste.

Sis thinks other wise. She said it's ice cream, and she would have preferred something more similar. I think it's nice. I might be bias because I like all things ice cream and chocolate!

Well, what do you think? Which camp are you on?
Head down to the nearest Häagen-Dazs outlet near you from now till 12 September 2011 to try it.


The prices:

• Each of the above costs $18.


• There are also gift sets on sale. A set of 4 pieces costs $58+ (Classic Gift Set). A set of 2 pieces costs $32+ (Petite Gift Set).


• There are also Dine-In Creations that are nicely plated mooncakes with fruits or other scoops of ice cream. Those costs either $18++ or $20++

The above that we had was the Petite Gift Set that we chose to dine in.
The ice cream was courtesy of a voucher that we redeemed.

Penang Place Restaurant @ Connexis, Fusionopolis

Colleagues and I were discussing about what to have for lunch and someone mentioned Penang Place. A colleague who passed Fusionopolis on the way home daily said it has opened. I also remember seeing a flyer at my in laws place a few days before saying it has moved there.

We all decided to go and hop into colleague's MPV. We went on a Tuesday and realise it's their 2nd day of operations at Fusionopolis! There was so many people there! I guess it's because there's an opening special at $20.90++



First glance when we walked down Basement 1. It looked like their former branch at International Business Park! The familiar green neon lights!




Get to Connexis and head down to the basement 1 beside the Food Court. That's where it's now located.

We were particularly hungry that day and the food here looked so good. So here's a bombardment of photos for today's post!




The dish that they are famous for! No pork or lard in their Penang CKT, but it still taste fabulous!
They cook in moderate portions / batches and load it on the buffet serving tray. It keeps running out. You know how typical Singapore eaters are. They replenish it quite quickly though. When folks see the person carrying the fresh CKT out, they all make their way to the buffet table!

I love it because there's so much cockles! Everyone on our table of 6 enjoyed it!  All of us took more than 1 serving I think! I had 3! It had the wonderful wok hei smell and it's still hot! A must try here!





Their beef rendang is also a must try. The piece that I took thankfully was not hard, but rather tender. A tad salty though, but it tasted wonderful. I would have taken more pieces but I know there's so much things to eat, so I better save my stomach to try other stuff!




Their curry chicken here is another favourite. Another item that seems to run out very fast at the buffet table! (But quickly replenished) Dip the thick curry in the sliced baguette and it's heavenly!




I think this was sweet and sour prawns. Nice unique sweetish and a tad sour taste and it's quite appetizing. It's with black sauce, so it's a bit more on the sweet side.




The fried spring rolls were only so so, but we later found out why everyone of us took it! It's because there's a scissors by the side!

Why? When we were queuing up, we noticed the person in front of us cutting the spring roles with the scissors. All of us wanted to play 'masak masak'. We all wanted to act like hawkers selling the fried popiah! We all wanted to cut the popiah with the scissors! We all had a good laugh talking about it. That's one fun part of buffet lines right? We can role play!




The Hokkien noodles! The taste was OK to most of us. Again, on the sweetish side. I guess it's the Penang style.



I don't really like yellow noodles, so I requested for only bee hoon.  We did notice, we thought it was only OK, but after a few mouths, our tongue seem to like it and most of us finished up the soup although we said it was sweet!




The fruit rojak is still there. It has been a popular DIY at Penang Place since their International Business Park days!

Another dish that we can all pretend to play 'masak masak'. If you are observant, you notice people actually enjoy mixing things up! Some look so 'pro', while others looked really silly!




The crispy fried chicken was another hot item! Another item that disappears rather quickly!
So keep a look out if you are a fried chicken fan. For the fried chicken I think previously when it was at International Business Park, it was nicer.




Fried Ngo Hiong. Since they don't serve pork here, these are made from chicken meat chunks.
Quite nice!




One colleague's plate. Looks like he is going the healthy path!




This is a must try when you are here. The Penang Laksa!

I realise many people skip the 'hae kor' when they ask for Penang Laksa at the manned noodles counter. The hae kor is what makes it Penang Laksa!

There's not as much shredded mackerel, but the gravy was great! I wonder if it was because when I queued for it, the gravy container was running out and about to be replenished.




The soup really has a good 'kick'! It was sourish and yet spicy and sweet. I literally felt light headed after drinking the laksa gravy! It's very addictive. I almost finish up all the gravy! I love the smell of bunga kantan (torch ginger bud / ginger flower) that's inside. It made the dish so fragrant!

But it's not for everyone, one colleague saw some of us take it and we were saying it was so spicy etc. She got scared! Another colleague had a wet dripping sweaty head right after the first mouth! It's one of those who take spicy food and break into sweat!

One really shiok food here!




The bubor chacha here's colourful!
The perfect dessert to cool down after a fiery penang laksa dish!




Here's something that caught our eyes! No, they are not chicken nuggets!



It's Cempedak Goreng! Fried Cempedak. For those who can take the smell, eat it, it's so yummy!
After deep frying, the flesh was so soft and smooth inside. The outer crust was so crunchy and crispy. It was delicious! I have not had this for ages!

Don't eat too much of it! It's supposedly very heaty!



I always like their 'kuih muih' here. It's so colourful and taste great! I got this habit of eating everything with the delicious kaya that they have!




We realise now at Fusionopolis, their desserts selection seems to have expanded!
They have a fridge that you can self service and it's full of cut fruits, Guilin Gao and Mango Pudding!




One of my favourite and I always make myself a bowl when I am here. Chendol!

It was such a full meal. Most of us did not managed to try every item. Eg, the 'Kiam Hoo" soup. We were hungry, but our stomach can't fill everything in! We were bursting! Sigh age has caught up, we used to be able to eat much more and still feel hungry!



Penang Place Restaurant
1 Fusionopolis Way,
Connexis #B1-20/24
Singapore 138632

Tel: 6467 7003 / 6467 7008
Web: www.penangplace.com