Craving a Cheese Risotto but don't want to pay for a high price for a good one ?

I've found a pretty good solution to this!

So - while my boyfriend and I love pastas and pizzas, we love our risottos as much! His love for cheese risotto is definitely stronger than mine - I'm happy to skip having those because I'm more of a "tomato base" sort of person.

Anyway, we've found the perfect product that allows you to have cheese risotto in 12 minutes that tastes as good as what you can get in some restaurants!

One day after we bought the first pack to try - i was back at Jason's supermarket the next day, buying another 6 packs that will last us a long time!

Name of product : Riso Gallo - Risotto Pronto ( 4 cheese risotto)

Cut out instructions that you can save for future use! Follow the instructions carefully because it does make a difference! you're either gonna be eating hard dry risotto, or one that's overcooked if you don't!

So as the boyfriend has been fantastic at keeping up with his diet - he is only having half a pack each time with some chicken breast which is what he did last night! BTW - he also skips the butter needed and apparently it still tastes amazing!

this was the final look! he had half the packet of risotto and chicken breast! Satisfying and really delicious!

You can find this in Jason's supermarket - although paragon doesn't carry the product and I've managed to find it in Cold storage in orchard! Retailing between 5.45 to 6.50 SGD at various supermarkets!

Hidden gem for Prime Rib in Singapore

Lawry's is always going to be number 1 for prime ribs..... but what happens when you are craving prime ribs and want something similar to Lawry's?

After researching, i recently chanced on the fact that Black Angus Steakhouse by Orchard Parade hotel offered prime rib on their menu. Of course there are other places like the royal mail and hog's breath cafe that has it but it's JUST TOO different, I'll put my reviews on royal mail soon .... however let's get back to Black Angus.


We started the night ordering the "wild wild west onion" - it was of an insane size... we couldn't get through half of it but boy was it good!

And the boyfriend ordered the prime rib and me a salmon ... unfortunately due to greed and hunger, we started eating immediately after the food arrived and totally forgot any photos.

honestly though - a big WOW! how come black Angus isn't crazy crowded with us prime rib lovers.... Texture is fantastic ... taste was similar to that of lawry's and of course price was lower.

I couldn't end the post without a photo because it was THAT great.... so photo taken from foodspotting.com ... although it wasn't my meal, the dish did look similar and it was just fabulous.

this isn't the last time I'll be at black angus! 

In terms of service, they served one main first and the second after apparently due to a screw up in the kitchen. the waiter was very apologetic and offered us free deserts to make up for it. also took one main back to keep it warm before the other was served. 

other than that- another perfect night with my boyfriend. 

More information on the prime rib ... 

The Prime Rib

There's a common misconception that a "prime rib" roast can only be cut from beef graded as USDA prime, but that's incorrect. Instead, the term refers to the roast's position along the ribcage. The steer's first five ribs enclose tougher muscles from the shoulder, which work best as a pot roast. The prime rib is cut from the "prime," or superior, portion that includes the sixth through 12th ribs. They're usually trimmed of the fatty cap section, which leaves the ends of the rib bones cleaned and visible. Prime rib is sometimes called a "standing rib" roast, because the bones enable it to stand upright for roasting. (http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/difference-between-prime-rib-roast-ribeye-roast-22139.html)

Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken - Recipe - first time trial

As we embark on the whole trying to eat healthy lifestyle, we try to make it fun by finding recipes that can change the way we cook chicken breasts. This weekend, i found the baked garlic parmesan chicken recipe. You can find the recipe here at this link: 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-garlic-parmesan-chicken/ ( photo below taken from the link..) 

So the recipe gives the portions for 6 chicken breasts, but we were only cooking for 2 - so we just sorta divided everything into 3 and just played it by ear. 

The taste was great - the bread crumbs give it a great texture while the parmesan flavour is strong and tasty. However, the chicken breast didnt have a nice beautiful brown when it came out of the oven, and unfortunately we overcooked the chicken which rarely happens but it did on this one occasion. 

that's how the chicken breast looked like ...... and i had mushrooms to accompany the chicken breast... definitely a healthy meal overall. 

Ajisen Ramen Singapore - Take home packs

Ajisen Ramen servces affordable ramen in my opinion. Their noodles are chewy and thin and is usually accompanied by the Tonkotsu soup base - best described as white in colour, and I recently found out that their soup helps to slow down signs of ageing! I say bring it on - except we can't have it too often because of the calories I would image. 

I recently visited Ajisen and actually tried their dried teriyaki chicken noodles and loved it! However I wanted to review the take home pack that I bought. 

Each packet has 2 servings and I honestly cannot remember what we paid - but i suspect it was $11. 

The overall taste was pretty good - noodles came out to be as chewy as you would have while dining in at Ajisen. They recommended boiling the noodles for 2 mins - and it came out perfect, so i would definitely recommend sticking to that. 

packaging after noodles were removed.

the instructions say to add the soup base to water in a separate bowl before adding in the noddles instead of cooking the noodles with the soup base

and this was how it looked after a good stir of the broth and adding in of noodles.

Honestly, I would have these noodles again. While the broth is definitely tastier in the stores, these were pretty tasty and a good thing to have around the house when you're feeling lazy. The texture of the noodles were definitely impressive - exactly like you would have in the restaurant. 

Overall a tasty meal! 

Dr. McDougall's Asian Entree Cups - Pad Thai Noodle

http://www.iherb.com/Dr-McDougall-s-Asian-Entree-Pad-Thai-Noodle-2-oz-56-g/32598

So i thought i would review these noodles - seeing that there aren't many reviews online on them. the boyfriend and I have been having the pad thai noodles for lunch and I recently did a big order from iherb for Dr. McDougall's range of noodles - i'll review the rest as I eat them.

The Pad thai has only 200 calories - and that's great for lunch EXCEPT that it's definitely not going to leave you full. There's not much in there and is probably better off as a snack when you're very hungry.

Good thing is that it's vegan and gluten free. I have to say - the taste didn't disappoint me. I've done many trips to Thailand and have certainly tasted the best in pad thai (the oily, fried amazing kind!) so I can't compare it to something this healthy, however the taste is there. It doesn't taste horrible, you do get a sense you're having pad thai and I just wish there was more in a cup!

Here's some photos of what's inside this cup of goodness .....

As you can see - there's really not much in a cup!

And this is how it looks like cooked! 

Cooking Instructions: Microwave for best results.

Microwave Cooking Directions

1.Remove the lid
2.Remove the flavor packet and pour contents into cup.
3.Add room temperature water to fill line inside cup (about 2" above bottom of cup). Stir well.
4.Microwave on high for 2 minutes. - Caution: Microwave oven power may vary. If yours heats faster than most, adjust by starting with cooler water or by reducing cooking time or power level. Stop microwave if product is overcooking.
5.Remove from microwave, stir, and cover.
6.Let stand covered for 4 minutes or until noodles are tender and sauce thickens. Stir again and enjoy.
Boiling Water Directions

Follow instructions above except add boiling water to fill line and do not microwave. Let stand covered for 4 minutes or until noodles are tender and sauce thickens. Stir again and enjoy.

This is definitely a good, healthy snack to have - I'll update the other flavors as soon as I've tried them!

You can purchase it off the iherb website - that's where i am getting my stock from and shipping is very affordable : http://www.iherb.com/Dr-McDougall-s-Asian-Entree-Pad-Thai-Noodle-2-oz-56-g/32598

Steak Frites (with unlimited servings of fries) - Les Bouchons

Unlimited FRIESSSSS makes me one happy girl :)

 You're first served a nice simple salad with a simple dressing  ( I can't remember what the dressing was ).

For the boyfriend and I, there was no complexity and we didn't feel torn about what to order (with a one page menu ) - steak and frites it was! Apparently the fries are fried in duck fat, but I don't really care because it tasted great! The steak was cooked well, honestly there's nothing particularly fancy, but it's a great experience for anyone craving for a good quality steak. And not to forget, you receive a good selection of Dijon mustard, grain mustard, bernaise sauce, mayonnaise and creamy horseradish

Each main comes with a side salad and the famous free-flow of their fries.

Service was fine,l - we made reservations, got an outside seat which was fine because it wasn't a hot day. It was a little on the dark side outside, however it added a nice ambiance to the evening.

No hassle, no complexity, and you don't ever feel torn about what to order! The steak is cooked to perfection, and you get your steak frites in two portions. There's nothing particularly fancy, but it's a fun experience for good quality steak.





Some photos of our night at Les Bouchons at Ann Siang hill

For us meat lovers - there's definitely a lot of options in Singapore, but if you're looking for a fuss free simple steak and frites meal, les bouchon might by the way to go.




To end our night, we walked over to a few different bars to have drinks - one at Ying Yang - that's the view you can expect from that roof top bar

for those curious about the difference between frites and fries -

Wikipedia says:

"In France and French speaking Canada, fried potatoes are called "pommes de terres frites" , "pommes frites" or more simply (and commonly) "frites". Pomme frites are somewhat different than American French fries in that they are often fried twice, use different oils to fry them, and also different types of potatoes are used."

Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill - Caesars Palace Vegas

I was lucky enough to get a chance to dine at the Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill during my recent holiday in Vegas! Well the restaurant sure lives up to its' name - in my opinion looks absolutely like an English pub, with British telephone booths behind the bar and the servers provided absolutely amazing service. 

The food was simple but SO great!

small portion of the drink menu captured when i wanted to take a photo of the logo of the restaurant!

i ordered the fish and chips - and it was delicious. I couldn't ask for more - it was fluffy, not too oily, not over fried, chips were done to the right crisp and those peas you see in the photo - I finished them - even though I am not a big fan of peas.

Just something interesting I copied off their website that I wasn't aware of :

AWARDED “BEST CONDIMENT” FOR ITS DISTINCT STYLE OF KETCHUP

Vegas Seven's Best of the City acclaims the ketchup at Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill as “better than the ordinary stuff.” The house-made sauce made of horseradish and spices is prepared in batches, making it the condiment of condiments for fries and several other dishes at this Las Vegas restaurant.

Anyways back to food... my boyfriend ordered the Pub Beef Burger that was served with the rosemary brioche bun and he added some applewood smoked bacon.... in his opinion, perfection. Beef patty wasn't dry - cooked right and just all the ingredients worked out well. 

Oh Gordon Ramsay  - you've made us very happy diners! 

A tiny photo of the boyfriend and I against a giant wall of kegs. 

Just so you get a better idea of how the restaurant looked like - taken from this link: 

http://www.reviewjournal.com/sites/default/files/field/image/8543690-0-150007.jpg

For a full look at the menu - visit - http://www.caesarspalace.com/content/dam/clv/Dining/Upscale/Gordon%20Ramsay%20Pub%20&%20Grill/Caesars-Palace-Lunch-Menu-2.pdf

I hope Gordon Ramsay chooses to open a new restaurant here in Singapore! 

Sarang Orchard Central - Definitely a miss

Sarang at orchard central serves Korean Food - Whether it's authentic is questionable ?

This is going to be a short review because I just wasn't impressed with the food.

In the past, they used to provide small BBQ grills where you get to do your meat however it's now changed - tables are too close to one another and BBQ food you pick on the menu gets cooked and served to you. If you don't like cooking, then perhaps this place is for you.


back to food, we ordered the Korean Fried Chicken, pork belly and beef dish..... the dishes taste like something you would get from our local Kopitiam's Korean stall honestly, the best dish would have been the Korean Fried Chicken.....

I don't think I would ever be keen on going back to Sarang.... 

City space singapore

I am obsessed with roof top bars or any bars with a great view for that matter

This weekend, we checked out City Space - 70th floor of the Swissotel. The day started off beautiful - it was sunny and we were enjoying clear skies - and of course when we got to city space, it started pouring mad, but as we know, in singapore - sometimes the rain goes away in 5 mins! So lucky us, we managed to enjoy a little view

City Space doesn't have a huge space, it's a very elegant yet cosy bar and they do have a live band during the week. We got there during Happy hour and enjoyed drinks at about $7-$10 off the original price of the drinks. I ordered a whisky sour and he enjoyed a Manhattan.

The service was great, drinks were ok - nothing special, however with a gorgeous view like that, the boyfriend and I were saying we will be back during the week to enjoy the band and the views!

Photos taken on Saturday at City Space. 

for City Space's drink menu - visit: http://www.swissotel.com/workarea/downloadasset.aspx?id=38443&LangType=1033

Pasta Brava - I love you!!!!

the boyfriend and I are pasta freaks. When we have splurge days while on our diet, the one dish that comes to mind is pasta! If there were no calories to pasta, I would totally have it everyday and not get sick of it... anyway i digress!

While researching for good pasta places, I came across pasta brava, and read both positive and negative reviews on the place. When i read their pastas were freshly made, I knew i definitely had to give this restaurant a chance.

Pasta Brava is very easy to get to via public transport - take a train to tanjong pagar and a quick 5 min walk will get you there. I made reservations was was promptly seated. Pasta Brava's menu has plenty of choices, definitely a larger menu than most places in Singapore!

You can view the menu here : http://www.pastabrava.com.sg/menu/Pasta_Brava_Menu.pdf

It definitely was tough trying to figure out what i wanted because I was spoilt for choice. Do note that not all pastas are home made, they've specifically pointed out what pastas were available.

Anyways, the boyfriend decided to try the Pappardelle with Bolognese ($22.50) - there's an option on the menu where you get to pick the pasta of your choice and the sauce, and that's what he went with. And i chose Linguine with prawns, clams, scallops, squid, crayfish and garlic in tomato sauce.

To share - we had Ravioli filled with mined beef and changed the base to a tomato and cream sauce.

When the dishes came, we knew there was no way we could finish all three pastas, but Boy, were we wrong! The pastas were cooked to a great texture, not too soft and sauces were great. I really have to talk about the Ravioli with minced beef, just talking about it now makes me want to make a reservation just for that particular dish. It was an absolute winner.

Top dish : seafood linguine, middle dish: Ravioli filled with mined beef , bottom dish: Pappardelle with Bolognese

We were also given crayons, so the boyfriend and I started having fun - made the entire dinner more enjoyable!

We ended the dish with a lava cake - the boyfriend isn't into deserts, and i hate to admit that I finished 80% of the dish after all that pasta, but I did!

This place is a must visit - we will definitely be back!

Phuket - 3 day trip

so I went off for a weekend trip with the boyfriend to Phuket. We chose somewhere more remote - the Westin Siray Bay Resort and Spa. I absolutely enjoyed the hotel and the surroundings, but if it's your first time to Phuket and if you want to get a feel of Phuket and its' nightlife, this might not be the best option.

Also you will probably have to dine within the restaurant, or arrange for transport with the hotel that might be costly. The resort is big, and alot of walking has to be done, and it's hilly so might be tough for anyone with knee problems or older folks. They do offer buggy services, but it takes time to call them and wait around for them to get to you. 

We'll start off with a nice photo from their website: http://www.westinsiraybay.com/?PS=LGEN_AA_DAPI_CGGL_TPRP

There are 3 pools within the resort so it doesn't get crazy crowded - and they are overlooking the beautiful sea, so it's hard to ask for more! Although we did get lost trying to look for one of the pools. 

Gloomy day

So as it was my  boyfriend's birthday, the hotel was kind enough to arrange to have a cake ready so when we checked in, we saw it. 

I booked the Superior Sea View Pool access rooms. We didn't use much of the pool to be honest, as it was a little cold, however it was a nice touch to the room to know we had access to it, also, it wasn't big, you probably couldn't swim in it, but would be nice to sit around and have beers and chill. 

This is how our room looked - that's the boyfriend taking a dip in the afternoon. As we were there for only 3 days, and we spent a good part of one of the days on the island tours where you move around to different beaches with a speedboat. 

Here are some photos from our island tours - we definitely had a fun day out. 

the boyfriend made a new friend on the trip!  

If you're looking for a quiet getaway, I would definitely recommend this resort. It definitely gives you time to relax, and chill without too many people around. 

Asian Turkey Meatballs With Lime Sesame Dipping Sauce

My boyfriend introduced (and cooked) this dish and I'm in love with it. !

Recipe was from this link: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/01/asian-turkey-meatballs-with-lime-sesame.html ( image from this link )

Ingredients you need:

• 1/4 cup panko crumbs
• 1-1/4 lbs 93% lean ground turkey
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp ginger, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
• 2 tsp sesame oil

Dipping Sauce

• 4 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh scallion

Preheat oven to 500°F.

Mix ground turkey, panko, egg, salt, scallions, ginger, cilantro, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 2 tsp oil and mix with your hands until combined well. Shape 1/4 cup meat mixture into a ball and transfer to a baking dish. Repeat with remaining mixture. Bake until cooked through, about 15 minutes.

For the dipping sauce mix together lime juice, water, soy sauce, and remaining 2 teaspoons of oil in a bowl. Add scallions.

Transfer meatballs to a serving dish. Stir sauce, then drizzle meatballs with 1 tablespoon sauce.

Serve meatballs with remaining sauce, about 1 tbsp per person. Chances are you won't use all the dipping sauce.

Makes 12 meatballs.

here you go - these were how our final meat balls looked like! Doesn't it look delicious? 

It's a very healthy meal and we paired it with some brown rice. And do follow the recipe and try out the dipping sauce - it works very well with the dish. 

Enjoy the recipe! 

Random Rant  : Being in Singapore, trying to find turkey meat is really hard! But for those of you keen, look for it at the butcher in chip bee gardens. 

VERY delayed post - Sky High Dining - at Salt Bar & Grill Singapore

Salt grill & Sky bar by Luke Mangan brings Modern Australian cuisine to Singapore (taken off the website) 

I love dining in places with a view, it brings the whole dining experience to another level for me. So when I heard Salt was open, and while I've read some negative reviews online, I figured I would check it out and decide for myself if I would like it. 

I wasn't sure what to expect but I liked the idea of being escorted to a separate elevator and going so high up. 

I had made reservations prior and was promptly served when I arrived and brought to my table by the windows. 

I was honestly blown away by the view and allowing us to walk around the restaurants with Lil notes on the window panels was definitely impressive 

Now for the important part of my night - the food.

it's been awhile and this is a very delayed post and the menu has changed, however I'm still putting this up to give you an idea of what's served and my opinions of the food


Roasted cherry tomatoes, burrata cheese, chorizos
This was probably the best dish of the night, it was very good and a small portion but was a satisfying start to the meal.

I wouldn't say the food was great - it did OK, I just wasn't blown away. I would go in-depth into what I ordered but it's no longer on the menu. photo below was the tuna main and my boyfriend ordered a steak.

I've seen the new menu - I might go back someday, but not in an absolute rush to get back there.

However if you want to impress a date - this would certainly be a perfect choice, the views are phenomenal.