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

Thai Village Restaurant @ Leisure Park Kallang

We were at the Singapore Indoor Stadium for an event and after the event was over, we were all famished and needed some food. Like any event held there, it was a mad rush out. There were probably over 10 thousand people rushing out of the stadium, and half would probably eat nearby.

We headed to Leisure Park Kallang, next to the stadium and saw that Thai Village had empty seats. We asked for a table and quickly got ourselves seated. We knew we had to quickly place our order before everyone else did. If not, it will be a super long wait!



While waiting for our food, we were chatting and tried this green chilli concoction on the table!
It was super spicy!! But it was rather addictive at the same time.




We ordered the Braised Fish Maw ($27). The dish was in a claypot and it came with a golden bottom container which looked rather posh.

Anyway, the fish maw (nice and soft/tender), sea cucumber (soft and yet still has a crunch), mushroom and scallops were quite good. It went well with the rice. If you don't restrain yourself, you would probably finished up your whole bowl of rice with the first dish.




The next dish we had was something not many places serve. Braised Duck Web ($20).
It looked a bit similar to the previous dish! But the sauce tasted different and the ingredients were definitely different.

Duck webs. Our seniors (parents, uncle and aunty) on the table loved it. The juniors like us also loved it. Braised till it was really soft, yet still retained the shape of a feet. But as you put it in your mouth, you kind of suck the skin out and all that was left was bones. I find joy in eating stuff like that!


But comparing duck and chicken feet, I think I prefer chicken though. Think chicken skin has a nicer texture. The seniors think duck webs are nicer than chicken though!




We had a venison stir fry as well. ($30). This dish was very popular with our table when it was served.

The way it was prepared, it reminded us of pork liver stir fry! The whole family loves pork liver except me, but I like the deer meat done this way. Quite tender and flavourful. You will keep picking up piece after piece with your chopsticks!




The Spinach and egg soup. ($18).
Decently done, not super special for this dish that's served almost everywhere ;-)




After the vegetable dish, we were all quite full, probably because the first two dishes were starchy.
Yet as the last dish came, we walloped it as well.  It's called Baked Chicken Drumsticks ($24).

From the photo, it probably does not look very appetizing, but it did taste very good. It was salted baked chicken which I think was a recommended dish on the menu. Chicken was tender and I particularly like the sauce. Had that to eat up the last two mouths of rice in my bowl. ;-)



Food's here quite decent, but a little pricy. Total bill was $160.65. Service we experienced that day was good despite a mad rush of people. They are probably used to it. We did not order their sharkfin that they are famous for. No sharksfin for us unnecessarily. (We had a teenager with us who is in the save the sharks movement too. haha) Momo and I would want to return to try the crab beehoon though one day.


Thai Village Restaurant
5 Stadium Walk
#01-50, Leisure Park Kallang
Singapore 397693


Tel: 6440 2292

Ga-Hock Seafood @ Upper Bukit Timah Road

This is one of the many places our family will go for dinner on weekends.
It happens to be the first the 'new wife' would be eating here with us after we got married.

It's just the usual weekend zhi-char food outdoors sitting under a tent that's below a big huge tree! Super kampung!

As usual, the food here is nice, cheap but totally un-presentable! This place is about cheap good food and not presentation. :-)



The veggie dish. It's a little oily, but taste wise it's good.
Slight crunch to the veg, but ugly looking dish!




Their tofu dish was nice. Try the tofu if you are here. They deep fried the tofu which has a nice charred smell and taste, but the inside of the tofu was still very soft.

The sauce looks clear, but it's very flavourful. Great with the plain rice.




This is the fried egg with little oysters dish. Partially covered with sweetish chilli sauce that's very addictive!

If you like your fried eggs and you like sauce, this is for you.
If you are on a diet, flee! It's sinful!




The herbal chicken that's only available on weekends and only a few are prepared.
We managed to get it because we were there early.

Their herbal chicken was yummy. The viscosity of the soup is about right. Not too light or thick.
Lots of the herbs that gives it a messy look below, but the taste was good!

Side note:
I used to like to order herbal chicken in many places, but whenever I think of plastic at high temperature and I give it a second thought and don't order it. Since I have not had it for a long time, it is someone else who ordered it, and I missed it, just makan lah!




This crab dish was the highlight of the night! We all think it's super nice! It's their Salt Baked Crabs!
If you are getting tired of black pepper or chilli crabs, try their salt baked crabs!

The shell is salty (but of course!), but the flesh of the crabs are not that salty. It had the baked fragrance to it. You  know the smell of the crab shell that has been heated at high temperature. It smells quite good!

Who can resist fresh crabs?



For lovers of crab roe, (ie the wife and the many ladies at home), it's heaven!
See the bright orange colour of the roe!



The shell is what the wife goes for usually! This one made her smile with the roe there.
Good thing I am not one who likes it a lot! There's no fighting for crab roe!

The crabs are about $100 for two of it. (sold by weight and market prices)
They are quite huge and we were really satisfied!


Ga-Hock Seafood
794 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 678133

Tel: 6314 5725

Paradise Seafood @ Senja-Cashew Community Centre

This was a family dinner in celebration of a member's birthday.

Our relatives invited us for dinner and it was quite a nice dinner at the newly opened Paradise Seafood @ Senja-Cashew Community Centre.

We were just there to enjoy the food and company. ;-) So I did not take notes of the name of the dishes, pardon me.



This sambal-ish sotong dish was quite delicious. It was done just nice, it was not rubbery but just nice and the sauce and the okra, brinjals and tomato with it makes it quite addictive especially with fragrant white rice.




Since it's a birthday, we had some birthday noodles. The dish was nicely executed, noodles were nice, not overcooked.

Due to some logistical issue, instead of the noodles, we remembered something else. The noodles were taken to the side to be portioned and served to us. Somehow, someone miscounted the people on the table and 1 person did not get served. Hmmm... It was then a mess when they wanted to collect back a few bowls to re-portion it. Oh well... But everyone on the table volunteered to share theirs anyway, so it was kind of solved.




This was the black chicken soup. The soup had this nice colour and it was tasty. It must had been boiled long enough too.



The soup was portioned at the side for us as well and the ingredients served to us on a plate.

Oh, another service lapse. We knew they just opened probably a week or so when we went there, so teething problems was expected. What happened? They got our orders wrong. We ordered black chicken soup, but we were served watercress soup. As the soup was served without ingredients, we only knew it was wrong when we tasted it. We told them and they were apologetic and took back the soup.

A few minutes later, a lady came to tell us the black chicken soup was sold out and if we would like watercress soup.  Our aunt sense something fishy. You know aunties have this sixth sense. She said are you sure? We placed our orders quite early. We all probably knew it can't be the kitchen's fault, this chain has been quite organise. We knew it's probably the person who took the order, which is you know who, the lady talking to us. Since it's sold out, we said no, we won't have the soup.

Guess what? Another lady came out from the kitchen and said they have our black chicken soup ready. Oh man, the lady was pawned by her colleague. LOL. We wanted to laugh, but held our laughter. See, aunties sixth sense is accurate right?

Anyway, the delicious and fragrant black chicken soup saved the day, we tried to forget about the incident and continue to enjoy our food.




These prawn balls were very good too. Deep fried whole prawns coated with (I think it was) delicious salted yolk sauce. Really good, it was really good.




This was an interesting dish. It's one of their tofu creation, but all of us nicknamed it the chinese tofu goreng. Fried tofu, with fried crispy 'you tiao' over tangy thai salad and sauce.




This was our only vegetable dish. Claypot xiao bai cai with inoki mushrooms and other mushrooms. Our family are veggies people, so we loved the taste of it.




We had a fish dish too. It's braised in soy sauce and it was quite OK.




Oh, they serve live oyster here too. We remember it being reasonably priced and the birthday girl wanted to have it. So it was ordered. Oyster anyone? ;-)



I think everyone in the restaurant ordered this dish. Creamy butter crabs. It's on the big banner outside the restaurant, advertising their signature dish. Nice! The sauce was creamy and buttery. It was a change to the usual black pepper or chilli crabs. We all think they used quite of mayo in the sauce. It's kinda addictive.

Overall, we had a good meal, except for the service staff that was still quite new having served up some boo boos. They would have brushed up their service now since it's 2 or 3 weeks after.

Another reason we tried the place is because we got a flyer in our mailbox a few times before we visited and when you present the flyer, you get a discount. 



Paradise Seafood
Senja-Cashew Community Centre 
101 Bukit Panjang Road
Singapore 679910

Crabs @ Mellben Seafood : Toa Payoh

Last night, a group of friends went to Toa Payoh to have dinner. The sms that came a few days ago was "anyone for crabs?". Thanks to the organisers, we all got there and ate crabs.

(pssst the reason I am so 'gian' on going was that I heard that people says Mellben is good, aha! that means can take photos! haha...)

Mellben Seafood, Block 211 Lor 8 Toa Payoh.

We actually called up to book earlier, but was told it's fully booked, but if you try walking in, you might get a seat.



So, some people went there earlier, they got a seat. And very quickly too. We sms them in the car, quick order, so when we reach, we can start eating! LOL... So many people...



While waiting for food, walk around and take photos lor.
These are all the crabs in the glass container.



This sign is hilarious, just outside the "crab tank".



Then after a while, a whole new consignment of crabs came.
No, we did not order the whole crate of crabs for ourselves, the lady is just checking the weight so that she can sign off the invoice from the supplier.



Vain pot crab, posing at the camera!



After chatting.... and waiting.... the food arrived.
This is steamed crabs.






This is the Shimmering Sand Crab. Their "zhao pai" dish.






The leftover.... What a workout!
Did not post pictures of other things we ate lah....



So so lah. Pssst, a few of us were expecting hot and spicy chilli and pepper crabs. haha..
But our organisers, prefer lighter tastings one. :-p