July: Foodscapade & Friendships

I've neglected this space for far too long (almost one month!) and I feel incredibly guilty, cos my dearest friends have been regularly checking in to read my new posts. 

Anyway, I'm one month into my new job working in a French bank (no points for guessing which), and so far it has been pretty hectic - learning new things while trying to survive the heavy workload. Thankfully, I've met some pretty cool people whom I feel I can click with. Yet, there's a nagging feeling at the back of my mind that there's gotta more that awaits in my future, and now that I'm still youthful, I gotta really push my limits and see what I can accomplish!

Okay, so back to my monthly foodscapade and friendships post for the month of July! (So delayed I know! :/)

The MJC peeps gathered at The Sushi Bar again for Syllie's belated birthday just cos the birthday girl was craving jap food!

This time I got to try more dishes:  

Very awesome scallop mentaiyaki that I could easily polish off on my own, cos my favorite seafood choice after crabs are scallops!

Sirloin Steak - was really tender and melt-in-your-mouth, but the portion we ordered was way too small!

Outfit of the night shot at FEP's scary carpark before we headed to Tanjong Katong for drinks. Romper from The Tinsel Rack! Was afraid it would be too short for my 1.65m height but the length was just nice (:

L'Entrecôte

36 Duxton Hill  089614

6238 5700

Situated along the stretch of restaurants at Duxton Hill, this place is probably no stranger to steak lovers. I say that because this restaurant only serves one main course - steak & fries. My friends and I headed there for Jenny's birthday, and no reservations are allowed, so be sure to head there early!

Escargots de Bourgogne

Oven-Baked Beef Marrow

Didn't fancy the above appetizers so I was glad when my main course came. Fries are refillable, while two portions of steak will be served, half first and half later, so it is definitely filling! (We forgot to take a group picture afterwards.T.T)

Side-tracking a little, Ger came back from her solo trip to Japan and she brought back Tokyo Banana for me! It is my second time trying it, but first time savoring this particular caramel flavor. Despite the naysayers, I find it really yummy and can't wait to go to Japan so that I can try the one in chocolate flavor which I was told can only be found at the Sky Tree.

Symmetry Cafe

9 Jalan Kubor 

Shiyun and I decided to go cafe-hopping one day, at least attempting to cover three cafes, mainly to take her new car out for a spin! However, the wet weather and last minute un-forseen circumstances (her brother took the car without permission), we settled for Symmetry Cafe and Penny University.

The truffle fries are probably the best I've ever tried and I'm not kidding! Will definitely want to go back just for it.

Ordered the crab pesto as well, which doesn't look at all appetizing but it was pretty alright. We didn't read up on the reviews beforehand so we just ordered randomly.

My pretty date for the day!

Sharing our mains to leave room for desserts!

Penny University

402 East Coast Road

This cafe is located along the busy main road of East Coast Road (near Beach Road prawn mee).

Came here specially for the Grasshopper Mint pie. The mint-chocolate combination in a pastry is something I wouldn't normally pick as my first choice, but it was pretty good! It was the right combi of both taste and texture.

Casual OOTD for that day.

Bangkok Jam @ Plaza Singapura

The food there isn't worth mentioning much about, and don't even get me started on the service! Thank goodness the company made up for everything negative about that place. ):

Brin and Yvette! (:

Chilled at KOI afterwards cos we are all bubble tea fanatics. We'll always end up at some bbt cafe.

Okay it's 1130pm now and I usually get ready for bed around this timing. Becoming such a boring person ever since work started! Toodles! xx

June: Foodscapade and Friendships

Still unable to blog about NYC because I don't have my pictures yet. >.< 

But I've been meaning to compile a post of most of the outings in June! I still have no job (yet), so I have been spending my time meeting up with people I hold dearly to my heart. (: Hopefully I'll hear some response from potential employers in the next week or so! (:

The Connoisseur Concerto (TCC)

I would definitely list TCC as one of my favorite restaurants. They have a wide range of food in their menu and I especially return for their pasta! When I was in JC I would often go the the outlet at Changi Airport to study so I would say I'm a frequent patron. 

Pretty Brinda as my date that day! She is flying with SQ so she always tell me stories about her travels (and always shares good shopping buys). I find myself living vicariously through her!

The Sushi Bar

I bet a lot of people are starting to know about this sushi place recently, judging by the long queues that have built up slowly every time I visit. My first visit was made during lunch time, and we had to wait about 10 minutes to get a seat. The place is pretty small, if I were to estimate, I'll probably say that it sits about 20 people.

Shiyun - my part-time bf, pageant mate (for two pageants) and course mate!

Janice - my roommate in NTU for three years! They got to know each other through me and we have been inseparable ever since (:

Grilled salmon - I forgot what sauce it came with but I thought it was quite a good match to the salmon meat. But then again, everything goes well with salmon! Overall, I would order it again just because I love salmon but I think this dish was not the best in the menu.

I had the chawamushi and I loved it alot! Very silky and soft, and just the right amount of sweetness to make it so damn yummy!

The sashimi came in thick slices and melts in your mouth (I don't eat sashimi but this is the feedback I got from my friends).

Salmon Aburi Roll - this is the star of the day. The salmon was seared  (not too raw) so I enjoyed it. The rice was sweet and the whole roll was overall very tasty. (: I can't decide if I like this or the Shiok Maki at Koh Grill more. I think that Shiok Maki would find favor with cheese lovers while the Salmon Aburi Roll is for people who prefer something not so overpowering. There were other rolls worth ordering but by the time we wanted to do so, they closed their kitchen ):

So instead we settled for some stuffed chicken wings, which I felt were not so memorable. 

Would definitely patronize The Sushi Bar again for the food. But I think it's becoming more and more popular, such that I may think twice about visiting just cos I hate the long queue!

A random picture of Shiyun and I in Topshop's dressing room after Jan left to meet her family. Love these pieces we tried on but there's simply no occasion to wear them to. ): Plus the fact that they come with hefty price tags. :/ 

Dinner Buffet @ Brio's, Grand Copthorne Hotel

One of my best friends had vouchers for this buffet, so we took the chance to gather and bond over yummy food!

Seafood selection - I only took the prawns cos they were sweet and juicy. As for my favorite scallops, the raw ones weren't fantastic.

Stuck to the cooked scallop instead. They were grilled and topped with cheese! So good (:

Another dish that I liked with the beef.

My favorite Laksa. Definitely still prefer Katong Laksa over any other ones I've tried though.

Prata station where a prata man will make one on the spot!

The durian station is outside (cos they don't wanna turn off people with the smell) so we moved outside. This is probably the only picture I have of us lol

I love durian but theirs was simply not a joy to eat cos it was not fresh ): 

Durian lovers should head on over to Swissotel Merchant Court's buffet at Ellenborough Market Cafe, cos their durian dessert is simply the bomb!

Ippudo @ Mandarin Gallery

Ippudo is no stranger to anyone, and despite the long queues and over-ratedness, I feel that they haven't compromised on quality. Still ranks the top of my list of ramen places!

Xinlei! Haven't seen this girl in ages (: Always love to hang out with her cos she gives valuable advice. She is so cute and humble especially when I bring up the subject of her appearing in print ads that are displayed at the MRT stations. lol

After lunch we headed to Paul's for some coffee, tea and snacks. (: Didn't do our research beforehand so we didn't order Paul's popular pastries.

Xinlei left to do her hair (taitai life) while I went to meet Shiyun & Jan. Squeezed in one more meetup with them cos Jan was leaving for her grad trip to the States!

OOTD that day. I think white is my color cos it makes me look fairer somehow (:

Koh Grill and Sushi Bar

Beef Sukiyaki - Yummy! Must order.

Crappy Maki - Swordfish belly on top, soft shell crab wrapped in the rice. Was not a fan of this but it is one of Shiyun's recommendation. 

Fried Salmon Skin - who doesn't love crunchy things right? lol

And the famous Shiok Maki! It looks as good as it tastes. The one-hour queue was worth it!

Plain Vanilla Bakery

 I stay in Tampines and hardly go to the Bukit Timah/Holland V area. PV Bakery has been around for so long and I have yet to try their cupcakes. But I found myself doing an event at Biopolis (one MRT stop away) so I told myself this was the perfect opportunity to go buy some!

Was hoping to try White Chocolate Strawberry but there weren't any that day.

Love how they just use string and not plastic bags! (:

My pick would be - Salted Caramel (which is why I bought two) and Chocolate Hazelnut. (:

6 cupcakes for $19. A bit pricey compared to their competitors, but so worth every cent! I'm looking forward to heading down to one of their branches soon if I can!

Roger & Emmeline's Wedding @ Goodwood Park Hotel

First wedding of a peer that I have ever attended! Roger was my orientation group senior in University

Good to catch up with old pals (:

OOTD shot through the mirrored doors at the lobby. My photographer Shiyun is getting better and better at helping me take pictures. lol :D

Kabe No Ana @ Nex

Before Joel became super busy with his internship, we sat down to have a proper dinner together (and not the usual dapao go home watch TV and eat kind)

Was craving for mentaiko sauce so we headed down to Kabe No Ana for Japanese pasta! My favorite pick is the Mentaiko Shrimp Pasta (pictured in the foreground)! (: Will definitely crave for it from time to time.

Will be back with July's Foodscapade post as well as NYC.

Sleep tight kitties! xxx