Oasis Taiwan Porridge - Superb shiok comfort food that leaves you wanting more!

It was a night when I felt like having porridge, where it also turned out that we were meeting L &  A for a dinner-turned-supper. And L, the suggestor of good food, recommended Oasis for its delicious sweet potato porridge. 

Me: "SWEET POTATO PORRIDGE?? ON."

Just check that beautiful piece of tuber out:

I love this kind of porridge, where the texture was soft and mashed yet still slightly grainy with a good amount of broth. A plus was the fact that the potato retained a tinge of sweetness, making it a perfect combination with the fermented beancurd ($1.50 per serving) available.

And did I mention the porridge only costs $1.50 for unlimited servings? Really eat until shiok.

Next up, one of the best Braised Pork Intestines I've had for only $8: 

Tender yet firm and very fragrant, with zilch "porky" aftertaste. You know how some intestines leave a bad taste in your mouth after you swallow it right? Be assured, this has none of that and oh dear lords, you just cannot popping them one after another. They were all gone halfway into the meal :'( haha and the pickled vegetables on the side also served as a nice palette cleanser after each bite.

But... the star of the day was definitely the Stewed Pork Belly ($10):

We've always been fans of fatty pork belly and it was truly an orgasmic moment to have this version in our mouths. The meat was wonderfully stewed, as the gelatinious fats complemented the soft pork. Every bite was delightful and we did not get gelat. 

Not even..... o.n.c.e.

Next dish up: Dou Miao ($12):

This was refreshing, crisp and a good change to our "sins" previously haha! But frankly, one does not need vegetables with Porridge though it was nicely done.

Chai poh egg ($8):

Fried to crisp perfection, with a juicy centre and fragrant chai poh. There are some things you just fall in Love with, and this dish was one of them. 

Cockles in sweet & sour sauce  ($9):

I was expecting a drier version with the shells still intact and did not really fancy this though the crustaceans were fresh and plump. I guess it probably goes better with rice!

And viola! 

Our five course supper of the night:

Oasis is definitely recommended and we've been back a 2nd time now! I bet you will enjoy stuffing your faces with the comfort food like we did.

Out, WLF.

Oasis Taiwan Porridge Restaurant:

Toa Payoh Town Park

303 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh

Opening hours:

Daily (yay!) 0700-1500, 1730-0600

Kraze Burger - Fresh ingredients on doughy goodness

It was a lazy weekend evening and we were in Plaza Singapura, scouring the area for a good dinner location when the name Kraze Burger came up. Since there were already plans to head to MBS for it, we thought, why not here instead? 

So we trooped there in a trio, and got ourselves promptly seated despite quite a crowd. Good job on the spacious seating area KB. The Korean brand specialises in hand made burgers and they were served fast and hot; I like. Luckily we were near the kitchen too, so the waiters got to us in under about ten steps :p

Items ordered to share were:

1) The  Semi Nude ($16)

It was basically a burger served without the top patty, with an egg sitting atop instead. At first I was skeptical, as it looked like any other normal burger but at an inflated price. 

Like...: "Take away one side of my bun and still charge limbeh sixteen dollars, seriously??" 

Ok.. That was the masculine side of me taking over. Anyway. My first bite into the patty got me a mouthful of fresh tasting meat that was easy on the palette. Couple that with the crisped edges of the sunny side up and the special Kraze sauce; it became a symphony on my lips. 

Pretty sauce swirls that cleverly fill up the half empty plate HAHA.

Side view of the semi nude: onions, bacon and egg layered over fresh beef.

2. Idaho Garlic Fries ($8):  

Was expecting thin fries but wuuu weet, in came fat sexy wedges drizzled with a kickass spicy and sweet sauce. The latter had a garlicky aftertaste which didn't overwhelm and   it went surprisingly well with the whipped cream that was served together. Shioknesssss. 

3. The Matiz ($13)

We were intrigued by the name of this as it sounded like "mati" (die) in Malay. Not very auspicious but we forgot about it after a while as we got too greedy eating heh. 

Also forgot to take more pics of it :/ but it was basically a semi- nude with a top bun without the egg. Not very creative here.... but I guess the name comes from the generous servings of sweet potato fries and salad. Full until "mati". Figuratively of course. My say? Go for this as it is definitely more value for money since they use the same patty. Got free fries somemore. WIN.

4. Chili Beef Dip ($5.80)

Sorry for the sore lack of pictures but this is a good dip to try, with it full of big meat chunks in an appetising hot sauce.

Ended off with some sweets from Nana's Green Tea as well: 

Imma sucker for all things green tea and Nana has never failed me thus far ♡

Kraze Burger

Plaza Singapura Atrium 

(aka New wing)

#04-63/67

Opening hours:

Not stated :/

Call for reservations:

656333538

Enjoy!

WLF signing out.

The Big Sheila's: a twist to the usual brunch!

We were introduced to this lovely cafe by a good friend, L. The moment we stepped out of the car, I went, " Eh b, are we in Jalan Riang?" Really, this place on Swan Lake Avenue was reminiscent of the Jalan Riang stretch, which houses good restaurants like Wimbly Lu and La Pizzaiola. Go read my posts on them if you haven't!! )

Whenever the word "brunch" is mentioned, he standard motley of eggs benny, toast and sausages comes to mind yes? Mine, at least. Haha! Just imagine our foodie faces lighting up when we learned that TBS has a menu that is a far cry from the norm.

Here goes....

1) Chicken Salt Fries with Chicken gravy & Aioli ($14): This was definitely a favourite... what can you not adore about fluffy, crispy fries that were soaked with fragrant chicken flavours? Je t'aime chicken salt fries. Plus, the generous serving made sure we got more than enough to go around. Happyyyy like bird. 

2) My Big Balls in a Threesome ($24): 

The cheeky name caught our eye and we decided to give it a shot. The three balls consisted of quail egg, mushroom risotto and beetroot respectively. The balls were visually interesting and flavourful.. the flavours didn't leave a big impression though their sizes definitely did ;) 

3) The Big Bacon Baguette ($20):

This was a truly enjoyable item for us, where six strips of equally crispy and fragrant Fat meat were decadently served with butter and Italian salt for us to kiap with a toasty baguette on the side. Sigh; if only life was always this good. Haha! 

Just look at this striped prize: 

Too bad we didn't have time to try out the desserts as we had to leave the restaurant due to their sitting timings at 10am, 1130am and 1pm on Sunday. TBS seems very popular, so do make ur reservations and take note of the timings! We had some misunderstandings with the service staff because of them pesky timings but luckily Fleur Glover (the woman behind TBS, which is her moniker since childhood) salvaged everything.  老板就是老板, 会做生意!  Literally translated: A boss will always be a boss, as he knows how to do business. No details, but you bet we will definitely return for more of the generous servings and service ;)

And... what's brunch without some coffee eh?

 Penny University was just round the corner, and this establishment has its name from 18th century coffeehouses in London, England. Coffee was sold for a penny and people from all walks of life could come together In the same place, just enjoying some good drips.

But.... Penny Uni, why is your coffee so much more than a penny? Haha! No complaints about the food or place as it was vibrant, noisy and energetic with decent coffee and good cakes. We had the Peppermint and Banana Toffee ones, which were recommended by the waitress. Good job lady! I just felt that the name was a mismatch, as our bill came to $40 for 5 coffees and 2 cakes sniff sniff.  

  

We were all feeling satisfactorily stuffed by mid noon and it could only mean t'was a glorious foodie Sunday well spent. Now, time for you folks to go check these places out and let WLF know if you found it good as well! ;)

The Big Sheila: 

15 Swan Lake Avenue 

S455711

Opening hours:

Lunch: Tuesday - Friday: 11am - 3.30pm

Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday: 5pm - 1pm

Sunday: 6pm - 10pm

Brunch:  Saturday & Sunday: 11am - 4pm

Closed on Monday

Penny University:

402 East Coast Rd

S428997

Opening hours:

Tueday - Thursday: 8.30am - 6pm

Friday: 8.30am - 9pm

Saturday, Sunday & Ph: 8.30am - 10.30pm

Madam Kwan's @ Vivo, Malaysia famous nasi lemak

We were looking for a good place for dinner last weekend, and walked past Madam Kwan's. 

Boy, what a blessing! 

The restaurant hails from Malaysia (heard the queues can get very crazy, not sure if they can fight with the Hello Kitty ones though ..) 

Spritly Madam Kwan helms the kitchen, but we didn't get to meet her that day.

In we went, and I daresay every item we ordered was delicious.

Must tries are: Otak otak, Fried Chicken, Ikan Bilis Sambal

1. Otak otak ( $15.90)

The serving looked deceivingly small, but we realised each bite was packed densely with fish, spices and juice, so we were very satisfied.

2. Sambal Belachan Kangkong ($10.90)

Fresh, tasty, sweet but there was a tad too much belachan. In fact, the vegetable was almost drowning in it, making it too salty and wet. Alas, this dish would have been perfect if not for belachan overload.

3. Crispy fried chicken drumstick ($7.90)

This was a favourite at the table, with a juicy meat underneath well marinated crispy skin, each bite savoury and deliciously crunchy. It is a tad salty though, so be sure to eat it with lots of rice.

4. Curry chicken ($8.00)

A thick looking sauce covered two fat pieces of breast meat, and I was fooled into thinking that this might be a gelat dish. Upon spooning the gravy into my mouth, I realised it was a rather thin but very tasty sauce, with a fragrant coconut aftertaste that was not overpowering. Good for those who like subtle flavours, I'd say.

5. Curry Laksa ($11.90)

A bit too much curry on the table eh? Greedy us decided to have this soupy dish that was already decadent on its own, as it was filled with chicken meat, taupok and beansprouts. It was a good laksa, with a flavourful milky soup, but best to order it as a main dish though!

6. Sambal ikan bilis ($3.90)

Spicy, tangy, savoury and simply... good on its own. A great accompaniment to the coconut rice! 

7. Coconut rice ($1.00)

It looked plain, but I could smell its fragrance when it was nearing the table, and the rice was grainy and fluffy. Won me over with its lightness as I thought it might overpower the dishes, but it complemented them instead. 

8. Chendol with gula melaka ($4.90)

This was the final act of greed. We were very stuffed by the end of the meal, but when the next table finished this chendol and the WHOLE pot of gula melaka, we had to try it for ourselves. But it turned out so-so, with a pretty normal combination of shaved ice, red beans and green jelly noodles. The gula melaka was very aromatic I must say, and that was the saving grace for the dessert. 

How ouir meal looked like:

Overall, we all left belly happy, although wallet empty. 

Head down soon if you like nasi lemak and want to stuff your face :p

Madam Kwan's

Vivocity

#01-152/154

Tel: 62719989

Opening hours: Daily 1000hrs - 2200hrs

World Street Food Congress

So we headed down to the F1 Pit again, several Sundays ago, this time for the WSFC. (Previously Savour, which we much prefer!)

Food was pretty decent with stalls mainly frm Mexico, Vietnam, Europe, USA, Bangkok and we spent about $60 on everything in total (",)"

This was a more chill type of food festival organised by KC Seetoh, aka the guy behind Makansutra. Sadly, ambience was lacking and there was not much crowd nor activities to do.

No choice.

J.u.s.t.f.o.c.u.s.o.n.fo.o.d.

We had:

1) A Vietnamese dessert of banana wrapped in grilled glutinious rice, coated with a milky sauce. I thought it might be too gelat.. it turned out to be one of my fave dish! The grilled texture of the rice formed a great juxtaposition with the softness of banana, with a very fragrant milky coconut sauce.

2) A Mexican seafood appetiser which cost a bomb... imagine a $10 pile of mushy looking things piled on top of a tortilla chip, but it turned out pretty awesome as the ingredients were superbly fresh and flavourful with food like squid, prawns and avocado.

3) Bangkok orh jian. A must have for both of us, and it did not disappoint! (We stuffed our face with 2 servings as we wanted to try the seafood version as well, no self control at all. Sigh.)

4) Bangkok mixed grill of sticky rice, pork & chix, with spicy salted egg salad. The meat were nicely marinated and frankly, oh so yum. This was most value for money, as it was more than enough for 2 persons, and the tantalising salad sure made me very happy. 

5) Tandoori Chicken from India, well marinated with fragrant spices.. but it didn't impress me much. $8 for 3 pieces somemore. A was happy so ok la, I close one eye.

6) Malacca Assam Laksa and chendol, and I preferred the former as it was refreshing with bits of sardine fish and mango strips, combined with a tangy sauce. Chendol was pretty meh, and I thought the calories were used in vain :'( 

But we had a good time at the event, despite leaving with bursting bellies and empty wallets, so no regrets!

Kimly Seafood at Tradehub 21

This place's been a favourite for a while now, given its consistency, efficient service and awesome signature dishes.
It was Mothers' Day so we splurged and there were no regrets.

1) Salted Egg Crab with Yam:

This dish.... m.u.s.t. o.r.d.e.r. I am a huge crab lover and this offers a mean dish by far (but I just found a new place that serves better crab - next post!) so my tummy is happy. Imagine fragrant, savoury and fluffy salted egg yolk covered crab stir-fried with chili padi and curry leaves, and served up with crispy yam sticks...  the explosion of flavours and textures is simply amazing. You gotta try it to believe me. My only gripe was that the crab wasn't the sweetest that day. Otherwise it would be perfect-o.

2) Black Pepper Butter Prawns

This was my first time trying the dish and mm hmmm.. who knew prawns could be so sweet? The aromatic and spicy pepper heightened our taste buds;  the savoury butter brought out the prawns' natural sweetness ; we were contented.

3) XO Scallops, Asparagus and Broccoli platter

What a wonderful plate of colours, wok-hei and sweetness this was! I noticed that the ingredients were slightly charred and thought it was chao ta (and thought of complaining but decided to hold my horses first.) Thank goodness I did because the dish had a fragrant aftertaste, with the ingredients cooked perfectly. Chef, you got skill.

4) Crispy Fish skin with Brinjal

Another favourite dish that is well loved. You simply cannot go wrong with marinated crispy fish skin, drenched in a sweet sauce, and lightly battered brinjal.. so this was snapped up within minutes of it being served. That shiokkkk.

5) Crispy Thai style Sweet & Sour Chicken 

Simple and delicious, and the magic was in the sauce. It was sweet, tantalising and mildly spicy all at once. Pour that on top of a chicken fried well and slightly green mango strips... life's goooood.

Kimly has not disappointed so far, and has done a great job of keeping standards up so check it out if you are in the Jurong area!

18 Boon Lay Way
#01- 98 Tradehub 21
Tel: 66864665

Mon - Sun: 4pm - 1130pm