Hong Kong Trip - Tim Ho Wan, IFC Mall

When one mentions Tim Ho Wan in Singapore, other than the mouthwatering dim sum that comes to mind, the less exciting part has got to be the long queue & endless waiting time. So when we were in Hong Kong, other than savouring the authentic Tim Ho Wan, we also hoped for a shorter waiting time.

Secretly stowed in the basement of Hong Kong MTR station, the restaurant is not exactly easy to find but ask your way around, you will definitely get there. The dim sum is worth the walk!

We arrived at 11.30am & there was a crowd of customers around, fortunately we barely waited 10-15mins for the table, thank goodness! The food was excellent, price was acceptable too. After eating here I am a believer, thankfully Tim Ho Wan has outlets in Singapore, just a matter of whether we want to brave the queue :)

 

Hong Kong Trip - Hong Kong Disneyland Park

With a MTR conveniently located at Disneyland Resort Station, transportation was a breeze. We arrived on a Tuesday morning, bright & early at 9ish in the morning. There were already visitors in park who were already queueing at the entrance gate. We quickly got our tickets & joined the queue. Right before the gates open, Mickey & Minnie Mouse comes out to greet eager park visitors. There I was grinning ear to ear like a 5 year old.

Disneyland is truly a magical place where one relives all their childhood dreams. Getting to travel on the exciting & some kiddy rides brought out the kid in me. Meeting & snapping photographs with the characters such as Goofy & Tinker Bell was an unforgettable experience. I have not had such joy in a long time. The night ended off with fascinating fireworks, park visitors do stay on till 8.30pm for the show, I assure you it is worth the wait! Disneyland is definitely one of the happiest places on Earth

 

 

Hong Kong Trip - Birthday Celebration @ AVA Restaurant Slash Bar

Being my first proper meal in Hong Kong, I decided that it would be quite an experience to dine against the backdrop of the panoramic view of the city's skyline. As for choice of food, well since we are in Hong Kong, Cantonese cuisine has to be most authentic here! So it would be silly not to go for Cantonese. The other cuisine, my all-time favorite, has to be Western food. Going by that guideline, we short-listed a couple of restaurants -

1. Tin Lung Heen (Ritz-Carlton)

2. Grissini (Grand Hyatt)

3. AVA Restaurant Slash Bar (Hotel Panorama)

Though we called for reservations 3 weeks in advance, the window seats at Tin Lung Heen were already fully booked :( After looking at reviews & menus, we decided on AVA as prices seem reasonable & it was within walking distance from where we stayed. AVA is located on the 38th floor of Hotel Panorama by Rhombus in Tsim Sha Tsui. The fiancé requested for a seat with a good view when he placed the reservation. Hence we were pleased when the waitress showed us to a cosy corner seat, right behind the floor-to-ceiling window was the magnificent view of Victoria harbour!

As with all fine dining, portions are small but presentation is fantastic. 2 outstanding dishes worth mentioning are the Boston Lobster & their Signature Raspberry & Rose Ice-cream.

The Boston Lobster was served in a tear-drop shaped ice dome. The whole presentation of this dish was nothing short of WOW. The mango together with the juicy lobster meat was a delightful combination.

Their Signature Raspberry & Rose Ice-cream was a visual treat. First the chef rolls out his trolley, then right before your eyes, he will then put up his star performance. The chef expertly mixes the ingredients in a wooden bowl, before pouring liquid nitrogen. Immediately the liquid nitrogen boils off into gas, forming an impressive cloud of vapour around the chef's trolley, adding onto the mystery of what he is concocting. The ice cream slowly takes its solid form in the wooden tray.

Skillfully, the chef scoops the ice cream out & lays it in a shortbread tart crust. On the tray you can see a stalk of rose, where the chef will dip into liquid nitrogen, instantly the rose petals freezes off. The chef gently taps the petals & it shatters into tiny bits & pieces, serving as lovely garnish on the ice cream. This was my first time eating flowers & the raspberry together with rose petals turns out to be nothing short of amazing.

All in all, it was money well-spent & definitely an unforgettable birthday celebration :)

AVA Restaurant Slash Bar
8A Hart Avenue
Tsimshatsui
Kowloon, Hong Kong
For Reservations please contact us: + (852) 3550 0262

Links to other blog posts on my Hong Kong trip -
Hong Kong Trip - airfare & hotel 
Hong Kong Trip - Hong Kong Disneyland Park
Hong Kong Trip - Tim Ho Wan, IFC Mall

 

 

 

Birthday Celebration @ TungLok Signatures

Of all cuisines, I really cannot comprehend why Chinese food cost so much. Of course it is apparent to you from that earlier statement I am no fan of Chinese cuisine. So, not much comments from me regarding the food in this restaurant. Everything just comes across to me as overpriced.

Worthy of mention though is the boyfriend's attempt at surprising me with a birthday cake. Throughout dinner he kept excusing himself to use the washroom & he told me that he had a stomachache. I didn't give much thought to it & continued stuffing myself with food.

Towards the end of dinner, the floor manager suddenly walked up to our table with a cake in one hand & a lighter in the other. In my head, I was thinking "excuse me, wrong table lah!" because the restaurant was full house that night. As you may have guessed it, the boyfriend then appeared with a triumphant cheeky smile. Everything just fell in place & it dawned on me what those frequent visits to the washroom actually were!

Yes, you got me there Mr Fiance, thanks for the smash hit surprise!

Birthday Celebration @ Esmirada, Orchard Hotel

One day before I departed for Hong Kong, I celebrated my birthday with my girls at Esmirada. The grilled squid & paella was fantastic (seafood lover here)! Surprised to know the restaurant was pretty empty on a Saturday afternoon. And it was definitely a good location to sit down for a meal, just a stone throw away from the major shopping district of Singapore!

Thanks for the treat ladies!

Raspberry Field - pineapple, monin coconut, cream, raspberry puree
Tortilla Espanola (Spanish Omelette)
Chorizo (Pork Sausages)
Grilled Squid

Paella Valenciana

Paella Valenciana - do note that this dish requires a preparation time of approximately 15mins

Paella Valenciana    

Paella Valenciana

Birthday cake was a surprise, Tiramisu made with Kahlua, served with a fire sparkler!

Esmirada @ Orchard
442 Orchard Road #01-29
Orchard Hotel
Singapore 238879

Tel: 6735 3476
Monday – Saturday: 12noon – 1am, Sunday 12noon – 12am

Birthday Celebration @ The Black Swan

On a Thursday evening, I happily made my way down to this restaurant with my girlfriend, Angela. After reading many reviews about The Black Swan, I had high expectations & I wanted to see what the hype was all about with my own eyes.

The setting & ambience of the restaurant was classy & modern, very well done. The warm lightings were inviting & relaxing for the senses after a long day at work. With the bulk of the patrons being Caucasians, we felt like we were dining in some part of Europe despite the restaurant being right smack in the central business district of Singapore. The servers were well-dressed, ladies in classy flowy navy blue dresses & men in fitted shirts & vest, complete with tailor-cut pants. The level of service was impeccable, fantastic how their well-groomed looks pair off so perfectly with their excellent customer service.

The main courses we had however, was forgettable but the girlfriend & myself still loved this place, especially how attentive the waiter was, that really left an impression. And no doubt that such incredible service can command premium prices.

When I made the reservation I had also left a note that I was celebrating my girlfriend's belated birthday. The server surprised my girlfriend with a Dark Chocolate Dome, personalized with a birthday message. I was really glad that they had noted down my special request & they put up such a delightful surprise for my girlfriend. For myself, a Coconut Crème Caramel was served.

We were impressed with the desserts, the Chocolate Dome was rich & leaves a wonderful after-taste. I like how they had managed to create the right level of sweetness & not overly done. As for the Coconut Crème Caramel, this was my first time tasting such a dish. The brilliant mix of gula melaka with citrus was refreshing. The ginger bits came across as a surprise, nobody would have guessed that ginger which is usually used in flavoring or garnishing a savory dish, can actually go into a dessert!

The Black Swan is certainly the place to go for a romantic night out, or to impress that special someone, or for an intimate girls night out. I urge you to try this place out, definitely worth your buck!

$18 for a glass of champagne & a pair of freshly shucked oysters
$14 for a glass of white wine (Happy hour 30% off! 5-7.30pm)
$26 The Black Swan Burger - seasoned chuck, mature cheddar, sunny side up egg, streaky bacon, bibb lettuce, toasted bun, fries
$36 Duck Leg Confit - hour sous-vide, bacon potatoes, fresh thyme, mustard sauce
$14 Coconut Crème Caramel - gula melaka, candied citrus and ginger
$16 Dark Chocolate Dome - 70% varlhona chocolate, vanilla crème, seasonal berries

The Black Swan
19 Cecil Street
Singapore 049704

Tel: 8181 3305

Mon - Thu: 11:30 - 14:30, 17:00 - 01:00
Fri: 11:30 - 14:30, 17:00 - 02:00
Sat: 17:00 - 02:00