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Food

Our food posts are also syndicated with The Singapore Daily

Review: Peach Blossoms – What to Order in This Aesthetically Pleasing Cantonese Restaurant

February 28, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

Following the revamp of the former Marina Mandarin to PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, the inhouse Chinese restaurant – Peach Blossoms – has undergone its own facelift as well with a change not just in its interiors but also a deliberate focus in aesthetically pleasing dishes in the Cantonese dining repertoire.

While some of the previous signature dishes such as the Roast Tomahawk and Braised Fish Paste Noodles have been retained, the revamped menu also includes some unique new dishes which I was able to try during my staycation at the property. With this revamp, it can perhaps be said that Peach Blossoms is ready for the social media age. Many of the dishes are as pleasing to the eyes as they are to the tastebud. Here are the dishes to order when you visit the reopened Peach Blossoms.

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Filed Under: Food

Review: Rockon Tokyo – Kyoto Style Homecooked Meals in Tanjong Pagar

February 8, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

Rockon Tokyo at Tanjong Pagar is an intimate 22-seater Japanese restaurant that serves traditional Kyoto homecooked-style meals with an emphasis on fresh seasonal ingredients without using MSG or preservatives. The type of cuisine is called obanzai in which at least half of the ingredients are supposed to be sourced from the Kyoto area. The cuisine is also usually identified by the heavy usage of vegetables and seafood.

rockon tokyo

rockon tokyo

Entering the venue for the first time, the homecooked style becomes palpable. It’s a quaint eatery and bar – and reminded me immediately of those charming family-run restaurants that I encountered during my trips to Japan – the types that have their menus purely in Japanese and cater mostly to locals. In Rockon Tokyo, all staff members are Japanese – adding more to that overseas vibe.

Although Tokyo is part of the name, the cuisine here is decidedly more in keeping with the Kansai region. The name “Rockon” on the other hand, is derived from the Japanese word for 6 – roku. 

Rockon Tokyo has a number of dishes in its ala carte menu but for this particular visit, I tried their omakase menu which starts at S$88 and could go higher, depending on addons that one chooses.

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: japanese restaurant

Best Bak Kwa in Singapore Almost Complete Guide & How to Buy From Your Favorite Brands Without Queuing

January 21, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

Bak Kwa or 肉干 is a form of dried meat that originated in China. A popular snack in Singapore, especially during the Chinese New Year season, the manufacturing of bak kwa entails preservation and the infusion of ingredients such as salt, sugar, sauces and spices thrown into the mix. In more recent years, bak kwa manufacturers have become more creative as well, infusing herbs, honey, chili and even minerals into the bak kwa to differentiate themselves from other brands. There has also been increased preference for more authentic looking bak kwa – which means less on the redness and the sugar.

Bak Kwa is extremely popular in Singapore, with some brands even ingrained internationally as being iconic of the Lion City. As such, it can be said that Singapore is at the forefront of innovation as well when it comes to this snack. Bak Kwa is also commonly used as an ingredient in some everyday dishes such as fried rice, claypot rice, etc; thus allowing it to a stand as a year round item even outside of Lunar New Year.

Some of the common types of bak kwa include:

  • Sliced pork / beef / chicken / duck / lamb
  • Chili sliced pork / beef / chicken / duck / lamb
  • Coin-shaped slices using pork / beef/ chicken / duck / lamb
  • Pork belly (think: similar to bacon but undergoing the same preservation and cooking technique as the usual bak kwa)
  • Flavored bak kwa – can be infused with fruits, additional herbs, seaweed, minerals, etc

If you are wondering which is the best bak kwa to buy as an everyday snack or during Chinese New Year, I have tried to sum it up here for your convenience. You will find here the most comprehensive list of bak kwa in Singapore! Do note this list is not arranged in order. Most of these bak kwa brands also sell online and even deliver, giving an added convenience. For next Lunar New Year, you won’t need to waste a considerable amount of time queuing!

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Filed Under: Food

CNY Goodies 2021 Guide – Best Cookies, Pineapple Tarts, Nian Gao, Radish Cake and Other Snacks for Year of the Ox

January 21, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

Whether presented as gifts or left at home as snacks to offer guests, delectable goodies usually come to define CNY celebrations at home. These snacks are undoubtedly good to eat but there is actually a reason why people mainly have them during Chinese New Year. There are many popular CNY goodies and these are the major ones:

  • Pineapple tarts – In Hokkien, pineapples are called “ong lai” which also means “luck is coming.” Because of this, pineapples are frequently displayed in homes during the Lunar New Year period and pineapple tarts / balls are frequently eaten or given as gifts as a means of bringing in the luck.
  • BBQ pork – This is probably the most sought after goodie to try during CNY, especially in Singapore. Although available year round, strips of BBQ pork are most popular during Chinese New Year because of their red color, symbolizing luck. This tasty snack also originated as an expensive food item and as such, people consume them during this period to signify prosperity for the coming year. You can check out my separate guide on the best BBQ pork to try in Singapore.
  • Nian gao – Literally translated as the “year cake,” nian gao is usually eaten during Chinese New Year because its sticky and glutinous quality is traditionally believed in Chinese mythology to seal the Kitchen God’s mouth shut. Offering nian gao keeps him from badmouthing you to the Jade Emperor in his annual CNY report. 
  • Shrimp rolls – Cylindrical-shaped snacks such as shrimp rolls are also popular during Chinese New Year. Their golden color coupled with the cylindrical shape are akin to gold bars and as such, symbolize wealth.
  • Radish cake – This savory goodie is another popular food to eat during CNY because its Hokkien name (“chai tow”) sounds similar to the Hokkien word for prosperity and rising fortunes.

Here are some of the best and most popular places where you can grab these snacks – including some creative variations for the upcoming Year of the Ox:

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Filed Under: Food

CNY Takeaway, Delivery & Reunion Dinner 2021 – Best Yu Sheng, Pen Cai & Auspicious Dishes to Order

January 20, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

The upcoming Chinese New Year in 2021 which will be the Year of the Ox will fall on the 12th of February 2021. Despite the current situation, there will undoubtedly be an abundant selection from some of the top Chinese restaurants and hotels for yu sheng (lo hei), pen cai and other traditional delicacies for your reunion dinner. This year will be slightly different in the sense that more establishments will be offering takeaway or islandwide delivery services for Chinese New Year reunion dinners. If you choose to dine-in, do note that under current regulations, the maximum number of people in a table is 8. You will also be required to don your mask while tossing yu sheng.

Without further ado, I’ve tried my best to list them down here for your convenience. This list will be expanded over the next few days as new establishments come onboard with their Chinese New Year 2021 reunion dinner and takeaway offerings so do bookmark it for future reference.

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Filed Under: Food

Review: Restaurant Gaig – Authentic Catalan Cuisine in Singapore

December 22, 2020 by Bino Leave a Comment

Search for the keywords “Catalan restaurant Singapore” over the internet and you’d most likely be directed to Restaurant Gaig – a casual eatery in Singapore’s CBD. To the uninitiated, Restaurant Gaig is not a local invention but is actually the local outpost of a Michelin-starred restaurant in Barcelona. The Singapore outlet is owned by the same family that owns the original one. Up until the current situation, the owner – Carles Gaig – would fly to Singapore almost quarterly to even bring some fresh produce to our shores.  Perhaps, that partly explains why the eatery in quiet Stanley Street remains to be the most authentic Catalan restaurant in the country.

restaurant gaig

Restaurant Gaig has been in Singapore for more than three years now and despite the generally above-average reviews it has received since opening, the establishment has mostly been under the radar – perhaps reflecting the similar subdued qualities of the street it is located in. Stanley Street pales in comparison with neighboring Telok Ayer and Amoy in terms of buzz and foot traffic but recent dining outlets that have moved in such as Laut and Miznon is gradually changing that sleepy reputation.

Catalan cuisine is best described as surf and turf. In Spain, this is known as mar y montagna or mar i muntanya in Catalan. As the region occupies the eastern coast of the Iberian peninsula, one gets plenty of seafood (think: paella topped with plenty of squid and prawns) while the Pyrenees mountains to the north provide ideal grazing areas for livestock. Sometimes, one can find both meat and seafood – even in the same dish! In Restaurant Gaig, some recipes date back from the 19th century, with modifications done here and there to suit the local palate. As such, dishes are lighter and less salty as what one would find in Barcelona.

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Filed Under: Food

Review: Taste Paradise Reopening & New Menu at Ion Orchard

December 4, 2020 by Bino Leave a Comment

After closing for seven months, Taste Paradise at Ion Orchard has reopened with a new look as well as new menu. Their kitchen is now helmed by a pair of executive chefs –  Chan Chung Sing and Chan Wing Kwong, both hailing from Hong Kong.

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Filed Under: Food

Christmas Takeaways 2020 Singapore Nearly Complete Guide: Best Log Cake, Festive Ham & Turkey for the Yuletide Season

November 25, 2020 by Bino Leave a Comment

Perhaps more than ever, there will be a greater proportion of families and friends staying-in and celebrating Christmas at home with takeaways or food deliveries this year. Turkeys, ham and log cakes will once again grace dinner tables at home, as these items are practically a must when it comes to the Christmas dinner. For this year, dining establishments have been a bit slow in announcing their Christmas takeaway offerings, perhaps owing to the fluidity of the current situation. Nevertheless, I have tried to compile here what’s available at the moment, with a list of the must-have log cakes, ham and turkeys to order this season. This list of Christmas takeaways for 2020 will be expanded further, subject to new establishments coming live with their festive offerings so do check back regularly!

Since most establishments now allow for orders to be made online through their e-commerce sites, the use of certain credit cards may work to your favor, with up to 10x the points for online spend with cards like Citibank Rewards Card. Currently, you can get either S$300 as a cash reward or Sony Headphones worth S$349 if you sign up as a new Citibank cardholder. You can access the offer here.

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: christmas takeaways 2020

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Who Wanders Here?

BinoHi, I'm B, a part-time wanderer and a Singapore-based travel blogger. In this site, I share with you my top travel itineraries. Along the way, I also provide travel guides and tips, recommendations on awesome food to try and impressive hotels to stay! Read More…

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