Chang Korean BBQ Restaurant, Dempsey

What do you do when a pregnant friend has a Korean food craving that needs to be satisfied? We go for Korean! 

After our favourite Korean place on Telok Ayer closed down/ changed management (basically became really bad), we have been trying to find a new place where we could enjoy good Korean cuisine at an affordable price. We had initially wanted to try one of the restaurants along Tanjong Pagar's infamous Korean food street but as the dark and heavy clouds loomed overhead, we wanted to go somewhere where parking wasn't an issue. 

We decided on Chang @Dempsey as she had visited before. She had warned me that it may be a little bit more pricey than our regular joint but we were women on a mission for Korean soup on a rainy day so I was willing to give it a shot. I have a policy about food- I'd rather pay a bit more and be sure it tastes good rather than skimp and end up being disappointed.

As soon as we reached the entrance of the restaurant, I realized I was grossly under dressed in a paid of shorts and singlet. I should have known better, after all it was Dempsey. Sucking it in, we were promptly seated and handed menus.

I really appreciate that the waiter we had was patient enough to be address before he came for our orders. I think ladies catch up was a common sight in the restaurant as there was another larger group of just ladies who were also dining that night. As usual, we over ordered, but with no husbands to put the breaks on the ordering...we just ordered ALL our favorites. I'm really proud that we managed to hold off on ordering the Jap Chae. However, I would love to come back and try it sometime soon.

Five minutes after the orders were taken, a trolley gets pushed out beside our table and we are promptly served a selection of Korean banchan. WAHHH...I have never been served so many dishes at any restaurant before. 8 yummy side dishes among which was the kimchi, seasoned seaweed, grated carrot, seasoned squid, pickled cucumber, beansprouts with sesame oil, Korean potato salad and cold tofu. 

We were also served the bean dipping sauce, sesame oil and basket of lettuce to accompany the charcoal BBQ meat. Finally, a bowl of rice for each of us.

OMG...what have we done!

Soon after, they set up the charcoal and first to go on was the pork belly. Three generous slices of Pork Belly cost us $12.50 which is actually reasonable compared to what I was expecting. You should note though that a minimum order of 2 BBQ dishes is required for the charcoal BBQ. We had a lovely waiter which cooked everything to perfection for us and plated it, all ready for eating!

Pork Belly on the grill ($12.50)

We were served the Seafood and Spring Onion Pancake to our plates. I liked that there was a generous amount of seafood and spring onion on each slice. Most places I had tried before was more pancake-y than filling, so this was quite a nice surprise for me. Even though the pancake was served with a sauce, I felt that the dish was nice enough to eat on its own. The portion would have been nice enough for 4 people to have a slice each.

Seafood and Spring Onion Pancake ($10)

Next, came the Short Rib Soup and the Spicy Beef Soup. It has always been our thing where Mary would order the Spicy Beef Stew and I always prefer the Short Rib...I love meat attached to bones and she prefers meat without the bones. So it all works out. 

Short Rib Soup ($11)

My short ribs were falling off the bone and super duper tender. In some places, the ribs tend to have too much fat or tendon on the meat but my dish was mostly meat and easy (tender) to eat. I also liked that they were generous with the Konjac noodles. The dish was nicely garnished with a shredded egg which added flavor and color to the dish.

Spicy Beef Soup ($10)

The flavors for the Spicy Beef Soup were good but a mild. We usually prefer the soup to be more flavorful and a little more spicier. Their version was neither and could do with a bit more punch. Also, the soup that we normally have is traditionally made with shredded beef and not beef strips so the meat in this version was slightly more chewy than what we are used to.

I really appreciate that the waiter was kind enough to allow us to eat some of the food on the table before putting our Marinated Pork Rib on the charcoal grill. Despite being nearly full at that time, we managed to put away half of the marinated ribs. This was a sweet marinade that was quite a contrast to the pork belly. Again, everything was done for us and plated. 

Marinated Pork Rib ($13.50)

Once they were done with the charcoal BBQ, they would quickly and efficiently clear the BBQ area, providing you with more place to put your dishes on. And in our case, we really needed the space. I feel the need to elaborate and say that we did end up taking away some of the food.

Our attentive waiter came around once he noticed we had slowed down on eating and were doing more talking, to ask if he could clear the table for dessert. Dessert came with the meal and was a slice of watermelon each and sweet pumpkin soup (chilled). I liked the pumpkin dessert but Mary said it was too sweet for her. Ooops :)

In the end, we called for the bill and waited for the damage. The meal cost us $145.95 for 2 persons, each of us paid about $73. While this wasn't the kind of meal we had set out to have, I feel that the price was justified and the service that came along with the meal was worth it. 

Having being on the receiving end of bad service recently, it was such a refreshing change that our waiter was just the right amount of attentive and pleasant. He wasn't intrusive in anyway at all and I liked that he was perceptive enough to notice when we were done eating. He was also nice enough to help us with taking some pictures with our FULL table!

Overall, I would definitely come here again whether as a couple or with friends. While the price tag on the meal is traditionally something saved for special outings and not "on a whim" dinners, it's definitely worth every cent. The menu is more extensive than the few dishes that us two ladies were able to order and you will definitely be spoiled for choice. For those who love Korean food, give this place a shot- you won't be disappointed.  I would love to link the website here but unfortunately it isn't very informative. 

Jal Mug Get Sum Ni Da! 

Chang Korean Charcoal BBQ Restaurant 
18C Dempsey Road
Singapore 249677

Tel: +65 64739005

Antoinette, Mandarin Gallery Orchard

Last weekend, work required us to hang around Orchard Road, so we decided to visit Antoinette at Mandarin Gallery for dinner on Saturday. Looking forward to having my favorite pasta and quiet time with the hubs, I'm very disappointed to say that none of the above happened (I think they changed the menu) and the lack of attention to service was appalling. I think we ended up being more amused by the service provided than enjoying our couple time together. 

It was very obvious that the 2 more experienced gentlemen working there did not get along with the one girl. And while she was hard working, she definitely needs to receive some sort of service training. Having said that, I've noticed that the service standards in Singapore are dropping like crazy and i'm curious to know what is causing this. Some friends have contributed with one simple sentence and said, "Pay peanuts, get monkeys". Is this really a main contributing factor or just simply the lack of training?

Upon entering, we were seated near the entrance and as we were about to look at the menu, she asked if we were having dinner or desserts. After we said dinner, she told her supervisor and somehow they decided that it would be best to change our seats and try to seat us next to another couple because "the table was bigger". Ummm firstly, why would I want to sit 2 inches away from another couple and secondly what kind of excuse is that considering the tables look exactly the same size?

So we decided to stay put. We ordered 2 mains and an appetizer to share. Guess what came out first? My main! Ermmmm HELLO??? Anyone in the right mind would assume that a couple that orders 2 mains and an appetizer would want to start with the appetizer. And she could have asked if she wasn't clear. A simple, "Would you be having the appetizer first or should I bring out the food as its ready?" would have sufficed.

Seafood Aglio Olio ($26)

The aglio olio was nice and the scallops and mussels that it was served with was extremely succulent and yummy. I loved the garlicky richness and despite being an aglio olio, it wasn't too heavy on the oil.

Second to arrive, the other main... At this point we are starting to think that maybe she has forgotten our appetizer.

Boeuf Bourguignon ($36)

What can I say about the beef bourguignon? A classic recipe that is so simple yet satisfying. The richness of the red wine sauce, the long hours of slow cooking, the tenderness of the beef...all comes together in this dish. This is the second time we are ordering this and it is a favorite of the hubs.

We were about to ask about the missing appetizer, when et voila the waitress appears with it! 

Le Petit Jardin d'Antoinette ($20.50)

As the waitress clears my hubby's dish (he had left his cutlery on the plate for clearing), she asked the bonus question, "Would you like to just reuse the cutlery?". I'm SHOCKED! We are in Mandarin Gallery, at a fairly nice patisserie and salon du the and we are asked if we can reuse the cutlery? Funny enough, if you visit their website, their tagline "L'elegance a la Francaise at it's best!" So basically, it's too posh to serve sauces (ketchup/cheese or chilli flakes)  or Coke but reusing the cutlery is acceptable. 

Literally, translated as the small garden of Antoinette, this dish was described as and I quote "Foie gras on Levain toast, pickled pears, poached egg, roasted asparagus, baby carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, cresses, flowers, mixed greens, sunflower seeds, button mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, lotus root chips and caramel orange dressing". WOW!!! Sounds like a lot of vege! What we got was foie gras scantily spread on the toast and a dish that tried so hard to have everything and yet has nothing. Honestly, if this is supposed to be a signature salad and the main ingredient the Foie gras, shouldn't there be a bit more foie gras and a little less of everything else?

A few minutes later, when I was clearly still eating, she came to ask if we would like our appetizer plate cleared- there is still food on the plate which I hadn't finished. So basically our dear waitress was overzealous when she need not be and lacks initiative where it's required.

Thankfully, this is kind of where everything ended. We moved on to dessert- sharing the Strawberry Shortcake and coffee for him. 

Strawberry Shortcake and coffee

Finally! There is just something about Strawberries and cream in layers of sponge cake that makes me salivate. The Chantilly cream was so light and perfectly sweetened. The strawberries were fresh, plump and juicy, making every perfect morsel of cake a pleasure to devour. Desserts are truly Chef Pang's forte. 

Another waiter finished up with serving us and settling the bill so no more waitress from hell (ok, I exaggerate).

In the end, this was supposed to be a food post but such bad service kind of over shadowed the good food. It is naturally human nature to pick up on the horrible things first before remembering the good. I was so looking forward to the nice meal and I walked out saying I would never come back for dinner. Perhaps I need to give the other outlets a shot before I strike Antoinette off my list but for now, investing in service training might be a good idea for them.

Antoinette (Mandarin Gallery)
333A Orchard Road
#02-33/34 Mandarin Gallery
Tel: +65 6836 9527
* No reservations allowed

Antoinette (Palais Renaissance)
390 Orchard Road,
B1- 08/09/10C Palais Renaissance
Tel: +65 67356392

Antoinette Patisserie Tea Salon
30 Penhas Road
Tel: +65 6293 3121

Life is Beautiful, Duxton

Double date night! Something I always look forward to. Good company good food. 2 adventurous couples with a love for food! 

This week we decided to try Life is Beautiful after reading a review on City Nomads. To my knowledge, I know they received an average review (unimpressed writer) from TimeOut Singapore. So 2 opinions from 2 trusted Singapore reviewers...where does the average joe stand? 

Now I've been here before but for a quick nibble and more drinks than anything else. So I was happy to be able to sit down and have a proper dinner without the drinks agenda waiting to happen. 

I was however quite put off by the reservation system. The number on the Facebook page so a mobile number that rings but seems to remain unanswered (I later found the landline! Noob!) So I ended up making a reservation on Chope but for the wrong time. In the end, I had to call a friend and see if he could help out with the reservations. Geez, the things I had to do to get a dinner booking. While there is an email address, I usually prefer not to email. So it would be nice if they could upgrade the reservation system.

We started with the Pot of Pulled Pork, Crackling and Duck Fat Toasts (super sinful!). The sweet and savoury taste of the pulled pork balanced by the crisp duck fat cracker thins its served with make make smile every time. However, it is the ultimate minute on your lips forever on your hips sort of sinfulness.

Also ordered were the crab cakes and we all agreed that the helping was generous for an appetizer. More importantly, we appreciate that the crab meat wasn't the processed sort. These were real crab cakes and not crab cakes of a lazy chef. The presentation was lovely and the lemon remoulade that accompanied it was light.

This was where things started to get iffy. The next two dishes to arrive were the Tuna Ceviche, fried padrons & stone fruit salad ($33) and the Dirty rice stuffed baby peppers with smoked pea puree ($28). The prices were equivalent to that of a main however the portions were small and unimpressive. I was only able to take a picture of the Dirty rice as the tuna ceviche was inhaled as soon as it arrived. 

The full portion of Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Hot Sauce arrived next. I really can't fault this signature dish of theirs. Its was nice to learn that they used free range chicken. However, the portion came with too much dusting that before you could get to the moist meat, you had to get past the dry dusting. I do however really love the Hot Sauce that it came with and started putting the sauce on everything! We ended up sharing the chicken with the poor guy (my hubby) who thought that the Ceviche and Dirty rice would be a sufficient dinner.

Last to arrive was the Braised Beef brisket with Pickled slaw. The meat was nicely done however the last of colour on the dish made it somewhat unimpressive. 

Feeling a bit peckish, I decided to order the Fried Oyster po'boys with apple slaw. What I got was two mini buns with a Fried Oyster on top of each. A little bit of sauce of some kind would have tied up the dish quite nicely as the apple slaw wasn't nearly enough to balance the bun out.

2 in each serving...

That said, there seems to be a lack of carbs on most of the dishes. Quite happy to order extra bread or a basket of fries or some Creole style rice on the side, we were surprised to find that there wasn't even a selection of sides to choose from. 

Then came desserts, oh wait, there were no desserts! We nicely asked the waitress if they had a dessert menu but was told that there wasn't one but they did have Dessert Cocktails...um, we shall pass. We ended up getting our sweet fix somewhere else. Its such a pity though for diners who would like to close their meal with something sweet. (We were informed that Fat Tuesdays does have some desserts).

The bill came up to about $260 for 4 people, 3 drinks included. My conclusion is that, Life is Beautiful has yet to establish itself as neither a dinner place or a nightspot. It seems to be stuck somewhere in between trying to cater to as much of the market as possible. Unable to distinguish what Life is Beautiful is all about, it comes across as seemingly pretentious to the dinner group and caters more to the social nightlife scene.

While, I don't mind returning in the future, it will be more for after dinner drinks. All the opinions above are shared opinions by myself and my fellow diners. 

Life is Beautiful

99 Duxton Road

Singapore 089543

Tel: 6423 0939

Email: hello@lifeisbeautiful.sg

Open:

Mon CLOSED

Tues 6pm-Midnight

Wed-Sat 6pm-3am

Blu Kouzina...As Greek as it Gets!

Lucky me I get to claim date nights from the hubby! And our latest visit to Greek restaurant Blu Kouzina was chosen because of our shared love for Dolmades/Dolma (rice wrapped in grape leaves). Also, when he told me he had been enjoying Greek cuisine in Hong Kong, the usual "What about me?" transpired and that's how we found Blu Kouzina.

I had initially tried to get a reservation on Saturday night but they were fully booked! So Sunday it was and damn but how did I not know about this place sooner! And I thought the place was small but it was 4 floors of lovely food and ambiance. I appreciate the fact that they re-created what you would imagine a Greek cafe in Athens or the Greek Islands to be like. 

Fresh flowers too!

When we arrived, a nice fella shook our hands, welcomed us and introduced himself (but because I am so bad, I can't remember). It was nice to be welcomed so personally and with a real handshake rather than the hustle to show you your seat! Nice fella also showed us to our seats and after the orders, poured my husband a hearty glass of Ouzo which made his day.

We started off with the Taramosalata (Cod Roe Dip) served with bread. O-My-Lightness! It's like a nice fluffy cloud of roe. I liked that it wasn't overwhelmingly fishy or salty and didn't leave you with an after taste long after the meal was done. It was a perfect balance!

We then had the Dolmades...my husband ate 4/6 Dolmades which left me nibbling on my 2 to savor it. Well, I should have listened when he said he DIDN'T want to share the dish. Need I say more? His gluttony is a testament to how good it was! Just the right amount of tart and the rice was nicely done too.

Our next dish was actually recommended by Nice Fella, the Saganaki with Figs (kefalotyri cheese with figs) sounds kinda Japanese but actually looks like Haloumi? Either way I loved how it was served on a hot plate, making the outer crust crispy and the inside melt in your mouth! Pair with the fig...flavor explosion! Yums!

For the mains, we were actually told that Blu Kouzina was popular for their seafood and fish dishes. However, with us both being meat lovers, we each had the Souvlaki me Pita - beef wrapped in pita (his) and Paidakia stin Sxara - lamb chops and fries (hers). 

Both dishes were good and I had a slight lamb-gasm after my first bite. To top it off I nearly smacked my husbands hands when he tried to touch my chop bones (which disgustingly enough I was saving for the last). 

The Souvlaki meat was a bit dry but the combination of everything was good- sauce, vege, pita and beef. It was a bit pricey for the size and there were a little too much fries. The presentation was cute tho- in a dim sum basket. 

Overall, I would have been happy to order every single appetizer and call it a meal. Also, definitely go in a bigger group so we can share all the appetizers. I barely made a dent in the menu! But I look forward to my next visit when I shall try more appetizers and the moussaka! 

I should also mention that we didn't have to wait long at all for the food. Despite having a full house, you could hear the kitchen manager/head waiter yelling out ready orders to serve. Kudos to the kitchen team for keeping up! 

The bill for 2 came up to $180 but it was well worth the money and I truly enjoyed the food and I would do it again in a heartbeat! I also bought a jar of grape leaves to attempt the Dolmades at home (my lovely husband has such faith in my talents!). The whole experience has made me miss my travelling days and Greece again- the place that made me fall in love with tomatoes.

You can find out more by visiting their bright and cheerful website here.

All in all, when the owners decided to share their love and passion for Greek cuisine with us, they did us a favor by painting lovely pictures of a faraway Mediterranean island through the flavors of the food. Ah, the lyrical side of me...must be the food talking! Either that or I need a nice Greek holiday!

OPA!

Blu Kouzina

893 Bukit Timah Road

Singapore 589615

Tel: 6875 0872

blukouzina@singnet.com.sg

Lunch: 

Fri- Sun 12pm-2.30pm

Dinner

Mon- Sun 6pm-10pm

Kardashian Backlash!

So Kim Kardashian has done it again! Making headlines and inspiring heaps of backlash from social media. I couldn't miss not jumping on the band wagon. Afterall, Kim Kardashian is just one of those people we all love to hate. I myself can't help but roll my eyes every time I watch an episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" but I still buy tabloids when either one of the family members are on the front page. Lets face it, it's addictive! But really when I think back, HOW DID SHE GET FAMOUS?

Tracing back, yes she had a famous dad and step dad, but I really think that her claim to fame came when her sex tape with Ray J was leaked (Read this article from 2013) And then it was like "Who is Kim Kardashian?" I don't even think that her Playboy shoot prior to that got her too many places. And when you look at all the photo shoots and magazine interviews she has done, there is always a scandalous essence to it. 

So perhaps the saying that "There is no such thing as bad publicity" is true. She has after all made millions of dollars from all of the publicity she has received, in terms of endorsements and fashion related sponsorship, etc. Even as we speak, "Kim Kardashian" and "Paper Mag" are probably the most Googled words of the week. However, what I am really curious to know is- at what point does the spirit break after seeing so much negativity?

The article in Paper Mag (and you can read it here along with viewing the Oh So Scandalous pics) truly explains it all, its as if she has resigned herself to accept that her life is going to be a constant circus of paparazzi and press and she just learns to live with it. And not only that, she and Kanye truly milk it for what its worth making them larger than life couple that really are worth A LOT!

That expression is exactly the same as everyone else who saw the picture!

But at the end of the day, as a woman who is just as curvy, I love the fact that she has the guts to bear herself like that for the world to see even after one child and being the butt of everyone's joke during her pregnancy and all eyes on her post pregnancy. The one thing that would have made these pictures so much better is if she had asked the magazine not to Photoshop or edit the photos and publish them as they are. While she may claim that she doesn't use filters for her photos, any person in the right mind can see that the opposite of that is true. Unedited photos may have instead garnered some form of respect for a woman of real shape and size as opposed to just posing in her birthday suit without a cause.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors with the exception of the links to the articles attached.

What does happen after 30?

Nothing and everything...at least that's how I felt. I kissed goodbye to the last of my 20's by tying the knot, changing my fitness goals and my priorities in life. It didn't all happen because I got married, it just happened with the realization that I hit the big 30 and that my responsibilities are no longer to myself.

Most people, myself included, lived their 20's in a reckless, carefree and somewhat arrogant way. I was always known as the fun crazy one, always up for anything. But as you get older, you realize, your group of friends get tighter, some fall off the wagon, some you lose touch with and some you get back in touch with and sometimes we make new friends. All of these changes aren't bad- they all happened naturally and so gradually that one doesn't even realize it until they actually take a minute and stop to think about it.

Currently embracing the big 30, the biggest change is how my weekends are spent. My weekends used to be spent sleeping off a hangover, trying to catch up with laundry and beach time...my weekends now are spent going to the gym, cooking for my man and catching up with friends. Nights out are such a chore now unless its a fancy new restaurant I've been meaning to try. UGH! Am i becoming boring?

But you know what? I'm ok with becoming "boring". I've been there, done that and like I said. My priorities are different. 

Happy 30th!