Paradise Inn - Bedok Point

Having tried Seafood Paradise, Paradise Pavilion and Kungfu Paradise, I was pestering the boy to bring me to another restaurant under the Paradise Group. So we ended up in Bedok Point's Paradise Inn for lunch on a Sunday.

I think Paradise Inn is highly suitable for family as it offers simple and affordable (as compared to the other Paradise Group restaurants) chinese food in restaurant settings. Paradise Inn at Bedok Point has a contemporary oriental ambience with red cushions sofa and traditional Chinese lanterns.

The restaurant offers an extensive gourmet menu of traditional and popular Cantonese cuisine which includes 10 kinds of traditional and nourishing double-boiled soup.

I was having a very bad cold on that day, so we order a Double-boiled Black Chicken with Spare Ribs and Ginseng ($17.90 per pot). Flavoured with traditional Chinese herbs like wolfberries, ginseng, yuzhu etc, this soup is saiourishes "yang", restores "qi", stimulates physical vigour and strengthens internal organs. But well, I guess 2 bowls doesn't help much right?

I grew up watching my Grandfather make his own prawn roll, so I am rather picky about the ingredients. I like those with water chestnut added in, and the prawn rolls shouldn't be too oily. The Teochew Style Crisp-fried Prawn Roll ($8.90 per portion) is okay, but I felt it was a lil' salty.

Steamed Minced Pork with Water chestnut and Salted Egg Yolk ($8.90 per portion) is comfort food for me and I guess it can never go wrong. Now, just give me a bowl of rice.

Ok, this Sambal Kang Kong ($8.90 small) is way too expensive and too small portion. I don't know why I always love to complain when my plate of vegetables are costing so much yet the portion is so little. Vegetables shouldn't be costing that much, and the belachan is too oily.

Lastly, we shared a plate of Supreme Seafood Fried Rice ($12.90 small) which was just nice for two of us (yes I am tam chiak, but not big eater).

If you are a tea lover, try their aromatic chrysanthemum, jasmine, osmanthus or dried longan teas. Their fruit-infused teas like the eclectic lemongrass and passion fruit iced tea are refreshing too.

Paradise Inn @ Bedok Point

Address: 799 Upper Changi Road

#02-01/04 Bedok Point

Tel: +65 6447 8083

Website: http://www.paradisegroup.com.sg/inn/index.html

Absolute Thai (313@somerset)

I had a craving for Thai food and since I was going to meet Fiona at 313@somerset, I suggested to have lunch at Absolute Thai.

A simple but nice clean setting, we tried the Tom Yam Seafood Soup ($9.90 for individual bowl, $21.90 for 2-3 pax sharing). It has a distinct spicy and sour flavors, with fragrant herbs generously used.

Stir Fried Kang Kong with Shrimp Paste ($9.90) is considered small portion for that price. It has a fragrant belacan flavour but too watery.

Phad Thai Fried Noodle with Prawn ($12.90) was disappointing. The noodles were very dry and not chewy at all. There was no wok hei flavour.

Stir Fried Minced Chicken with Hot Basil Leaves served with Sunny Side Up ($12.90) was spicy but tasteless.

The Tom Yam soup was too spicy that we had to order cold drinks after the meal. Aiya, please don't remind me of the calories...

Overall, I think the price for the dishes here are too steep considering we can have cheaper yet better quality food at Nakhon Kitchen.

Absolute Thai

Address: 313 Orchard Road

#01-29/29A/30/30A 313@Somerset 

Tel: +65 6509 6623

Korea Part 3 - Gyeongbok Palace / Street Food

I hope everyone had a fabulous CNY break! Back to my final Korea post where I will share some of the street food I have tried in Korea. Before that, here are some pictures of Gyeongbok Palace which is said to be one of the most beautiful palaces in South Korea.

Gyeongbok Palace was built in 1395 and the premises were destroyed by fire at the time of Japanese occupation from 1592-1598. However, the palace was later restored under the leadership of Heungseondaewongun during the reign of King Gojong (1852~1919).

Korea has a lot of tasty street food. You can never get hungry while shopping! When we were in Myeongdong, we tried some of the yummy street food.

This was one of the most yummy street food for me. During winter where everywhere is so cold, the Fish Bread came right. It is a pancake-like mix with red bean paste.

And there is Ho Ddeok which is flour shells filled with cinnamon and sugar.

Corn dogs are very popular. They are deep fried and served on a stick. If you don't like hot dog, there is chicken, shrimps etc.

Mandu is the Korean word for dumpling. It comes in different shape and can be steamed or fried. The one we tasted is pan fried with turnip, similar to our local soon kueh, but too oily for me.

And there is Dak-kkochi which is Korean skewered chicken. Pieces of chicken are brushed with sweet sauce then grilled over the open flame.

If you prefer the Japanese style skewered chicken, there is also teriyaki chicken stick which the boy likes very much.

Myeongdong is a shopping paradise, I can spend whole day there going into every shop to look at accessories, handphone covers, clothings etc. The Evisu jeans there is also much cheaper than Singapore. So remember to buy a pair of jeans!

On our last day, we visited the Kimchi school and wrapped our own kimchi. Our products were packed in plastic bags and sent to the nearby orphanage to bless the children there.

Then we proceed to try out the hanbok and take some fun photos.

These are our tour friends which we became really close after the trip. Despite the not-so-convenient hotels, not-so-yummy food we had, their company made our trip memorable. We went around all the 7-11 stalls near our hotels every night, ate the super yummy "believable quality" fried chicken in ski resort, sat at a cafe and talked for hours... can't imagine how our trip will be like without them.

And lastly, here is a photo with our tour guide Vincent. He doesn't have the perfect English but I thank him for trying.

Alright, that concludes my Korea trip. If you missed any of the previous posts, you can click the links below to read more!

Korea Part 1: Jeju Island - Land of Mountain and Sea

Korea Part 2: Ski Resort / Everland

Happy New Year!

How's your reunion dinner?

Every year without fail, my grandfather will cook a delicious reunion dinner for all of us. These includes fish, prawns, sea cucumber, abalone, chicken, duck, prawn roll etc. All of us are so busy with work that we don't get to sit down and have a dinner together. And reunion dinner is the only time that we forget about our work for a while and enjoy the company of each other.

Dragon year is expected to be a very busy year for me. I hope everything will be smooth sailing and everyone is blessed with good health.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sentosa Flowers 2012

Celebrate the arrival of spring when you step into the world of "Enchanted Spring" at Sentosa Flowers 2012. This annual flower festival brings to you some of the rarest and most unique flowers of spring, coming in all colours of the rainbow.

Returning for the 7th time and bigger than ever, you can get a glimpse of what’s in store when you take a walk from Imbiah Station to Mount Faber. The adventure will begin with three playful kids who stumbled upon a beautifully decorated Dragon Gate and met the most powerful creature: Giant Floral Dragon. They were amazed by the ancient dinosaurs, took a peek into the deep Sea World and marvelled at the rest of their journey.

As we entered the Tea Journey, we get to learn more about Xi Hu Long Jing Green Tea (West Lake Dragon Well Tea) and how tea is made. Long Jing Green Tea is the most famous green tea in China, with more than a thousand years of recorded history. Prized for its aroma, flavour, and health benefits, it was even granted the status of Imperial Tea, during the Qing Dynasty by the Chinese emperor.

What's special about this year's event is the majestic sand sculpture of a dancing dragon just outside Images of Singapore by internationally-acclaimed sand sculptor JOOheng Tan. This sand sculpture took about 10 days to finish and is 10m long and 3m tall.

And everyone, Sentosa definitely has this flowers in full bloom line in this tunnel of love.

Sentosa Flowers is also making its debut at Mount Faber where guest who bought the cable car tickets can enjoy free tea in Jewel Box;s very own Dragon Gate Inn. You will also see a rainbow of interesting and intricate traditional kites in the sky.

If you are a flower lover and an avid photographer, this floral extravaganza is not to be missed!

Sentosa Flowers 2012

Date: 22 – 29 January 2012

Time: 10am to 10pm

Venue: Merlion Plaza, Imbiah Lookout, Beach Plaza, Resorts World Sentosa and The Jewel Box (Mount Faber)

Admission: Free entry (usual island admission charges apply)

Website: flowers.sentosa.com.sg