Eat: International Buffet at Colony, Ritz Carlton Hotel (Singapore)

September school holiday has started and I brought the kids around Singapore to sight see the local attractions. They have recently learn about the Merlion, Singapore River and Esplanade as a part of getting to know Singapore syllabus during National Day (couple of weeks ago) so I thought it would be quite nice to bring them to these places while it is still fresh in their mind.

After visiting the Esplanade, we walked over to Ritz Carlton Hotel for a lunch treat. The review online is good and kids below 6 years old eat for free so we have decided to dine here. 

The selection is wide and the quality of food is good. 

For the appetiser, there is really lots of choices....

Appetizer...

Their cheese is very nice and yummy. My son kept refilling the camerbet cheese.

Selection of cheese

There is also a selection of cured meat for the Italian lovers...

Selection of cured meat..

Huge selection of bread...

My favourite is the Alaskan Crab, it is really very fresh, succulent and sweet..I had to have a second serving.

Cold selection..

The staff who is taking care of our section is very attentive. Once she sees that we took the Alaskan Crab, she came over and place the crab cracker on our table. She also gives us some lemon water to wash our hand.

Salad selection is quite wide for those who loves salad. I only tried the duck meat, didnt manage to try the rest.

Wide variety of mix and match salad

There is also some sashimi and sushi section which I did not manage to take the photos. 

For the hot food,

there is also a huge selection (chinese stir fry, western, indian, noodle soup, pasta, roasted chicken rice, malay satay etc)- definitely you will have something that you like...

I did not manage to take photo of each and every dishes... these are some of the one that I took

Cereal prawn is HUGE!

Pineapple rice

Kung Pao Chicken

Popadom and Nan Bread

Curry and Biriyani 

Sauces for Indian cuisine

Fish infused with curry sauce- love the presentation of this dish

Satay.. I did not try but the kids love it!

Lamb stew, roasted chicken

Brocollini, pumpkin

Roast beef

My favourite is the desserts.....they are all so pretty looking and a couple of them is really very very good!

The only downside is there is no sign for the desserts so I am not sure what is what.. have to take and try....

Selection of desserts...

So nice and colourful

Chocolate tart, yum!

Pretty swiss roll, i didnt try but my daughter likes it!

These are amazing. Hazelnut praline in chocolate, super yummy. I had a couple...

I didnt try this...

I didnt try this too but looks pretty

Tiramisu, Oh.. this is super good!

Pretty cake with tonnes of raspberry

Some custard cake...

Chocolate mousse , this is so so only..

Fruits in jelly

Selection of truffles, chocolates and sweets (the truffle and chocolate is nice!)

Local kueh selection.

Fruits

Ice cream

Some of the things we ate...

Cold platter.. love the alaskan crab and the camembert cheese

Drinks are inclusive in the buffet. You can get the cappuccino , coffee or tea and the staff will serve it to you. Warm and cold water on request, served on the table as well. Fruit juices can be obtain from the station (apple, orange, mango, grapefruit, cin cao, blueberry ice tea- so many choices for the fruit juices)

Capuccino 

Lobster ball from the noodle booth...

Crepe suzette (made on site when requested- very very yummy)

Tiramisu which I adore... 

Ice cream and chocolate...

Overall, I think this buffet is really nice. Prices for weekday lunch is pretty reasonable and there is a couple of credit card discount (DBS, UOB and Citibank). Selection is really good and the spread is very fresh, dessert is very tasty and the hot food selection is good too! Lots of variety to suits everyone's need. There is not much lunch buffet that serves Alaskan Crab so I think that is a steal. Kids below 6 eats for free which is good (as most buffet have the age limit of 4 or 5).

Staff is very attentive and they clear the plates fast. Thumbs up for that!

Cook: Kid's Friendly Simple Stir Fry Portobello

The two kids at my house loves mushroom. From button mushroom, to dried mushroom to Japanese mushroom, they love all kind of the "shroom".

A simple stir fry portobello as filling to their bun will make them very happy and it is very easy to make! Plus, they get their portion of onions too!

INGREDIENTS:

1. Portobello mushroom (cut into small pieces)

2. Onions (cut into small pieces)

Two simple ingredients

METHOD:

1. Heat up a small teaspoon of olive oil.

2. Stir fry onion until it turns transparent.

3. Add portobello mushroom, stir fry until soft.

4. Add a pinch of salt/black pepper (optional)

5. Serve as a side dish or as a filling to burger/hotdog bun etc.

I serve with a ikea hotdog and a bun!

They are super happy with this as lunch.

Eat: Hai Di Lao Steamboat at IMM, Jurong, Singapore.

This was quite a late post. I went for this Hai Di Lao a while after this outlet is opened in IMM providing a branch of Hai Di Lao in the West area.

I fall in love with their steamboat after sampling it while visiting Beijing. Love the combination steamboat whereby guest can choose two flavours for the steamboat soup base (we usually choose one spicy and one non-spicy for the kids)

Double flavour steamboat

We usually order thin slice beef, fish fillet, some of the balls (cuttlefish, prawn, etc), vegetables etc.The beef, meat, seafood ball cooked in spicy ma la sauce goes so well with the white rice. I just can't get enough of it!

If you order noodle, you get it handmade right in front of you!

Chef making noodle right in front of you

One could choose to add on the buffet to get a selection of cold side dishes, fruits, and sauces (free flow)

Many sauces available to goes with the meat etc.

Cold side dish (tofu skin in ma la sauce)

Honeydew

Lychee (yes, lychee is free flow too!)

Peanuts (free flow)

Service is very attentive, customers will get a ziplock bag to put their handphone so that it won't get stain which having the steamboat. Apron is provided to protect your clothes. A cloth is provided to cover your bag and wet tissue is given as well for your hand as well as your spectacles. 

For the kids, a selection of toys will be provided so that they can be entertained while the adults continue eating and chatting.

Toys!

Assembling the toys!

It is usually very busy and packed during meal time (lunch, and especially dinner). It is best to make reservations beforehand if you are planning to visit. 

If you did not reserve and just plan to come spontaneously , they provide a seating area and some snacks for you to chill while waiting for your turn.

Seats for customers to sit while waiting for their turn

Some snacks outside if the Q is long!

Ladies get their manicure done as well. The Q for manicure is generally quite long so do take your number first. If you did not have a chance to do it during your visit, you can get a card and do it the next time you are in the mall. 

There is also a play area for the kids so that you can keep them entertained while the mummy get their nails done!

Manicure is provided as well.

Generally , the food is good (although I have to admit I like the one in Beijing a little bit more, they have better selection of seafood ball and their soup is a little tastier as well) , the service is excellent and they even provide a place to sit while waiting. Thumbs up for their excellent service.

And what else is different with this branch! They are open all the way up to 6am, so if you are craving for this in the middle of the night, why not? Just come down and get your craving fixed!

Hai Di Lao

IMM

#03-01, 2 Jurong East Street 21,

Singapore 609601.

Phone: 65 6896 4111

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday- 10.30am to 6am

                           Sunday - 10.30am to 12am

Eat: Toby's The Dessert Asylum @ Trade Hub 21, Singapore

Toby's The Dessert Asylum was one of the recommended hidden gem in the east. Previously located at Marine Parade, now it has found a new home at Trade Hub 21.

I went with expectations but was slightly disappointed.

I ordered Aglio Olio with mushroom. I have to say I had better Aglio Olio elsewhere.

Aglio Olio, $11.95

One might say that I did not try their signature dish but we did. Hubby went for their recommended BBQ Pork Rib but he did not quite like it as well. The pork is not well marinated and the sauce is not flavourful enough. 

BBQ Pork Rib, $19.90

Price are medium ranged and possibly considered good price for American Style Restaurant serving western food. DBS/POSB card holder get 10% off as well.

Desserts fare better than the main courses I must say. I ordered a strawberry cheesecake mud pie and I quite like the combination of it. Sweet strawberry ice cream goes pretty well with the cheesy cheese cake. Thumbs up for their desserts.

Strawberry cheesecake mud pie

There are some promotion for weekday. Example: 50% off main courses on Friday, 1 for 1 pizza on Monday and weekday tea time and lunch promotion.

I guess I would not mind going for the promotional deal and probably sample some of their other dessert choice but they could definitely do better with the quality of their main courses and their service as well. We had to keep requesting for the staff to top up our water on a non-packed non busy day.. Staff definitely need to be more attentive.

TOBY'S THE DESSERT ASYLUM

TradeHub 21

#01-35, 8 Boon Lay Way

Singapore 609964

Opening Hours: 11am to 10pm DAILY

Cook: One pot meal-easy and delicious!

One of my recent newly invented easy one pot meal.

Baked salmon with potatoes, broccoli and oyster mushroom

INGREDIENTS

These are the ingredients I used, can be switch to other vegetable as you wish. Amount also depends on your liking, no right or wrong, just preference :)

1. Potatoes

2. Broccoli

3. Slice cheese

4. Oyster Mushroom

5. Salmon

6. Mozzarella cheese

METHODS

1. Cut the potatoes and broccoli into bite sized.

2. Steam until soft

3. Place the potatoes and broccoli on aluminium foil.
4. Add a pinch of salt, black pepper to taste. Mix well.

5. Mix in some slice cheese / or any cheese of your liking or none

6. Top with oyster mushroom

Place oyster mushroom

7. Lastly place the slices of salmon on top.

8. Cover with mozzarella cheese

9. Bake for 20-30 mins until the cheese melted. Salmon should be cooked by then.
10. Serve hot and enjoy!

Done

Serve nicely on a plate

May add some cherry tomatoes or fruits at the side..

Kid's portion

Eat: Penang Hokkien Lor at Jurong West

I haven't been updating my blog for ages ...but recently I have found this gem and I felt compelled to introduce this to everyone. 

If you love Prawn Noodle and Lor Mee, you would fall in love with this as this is the combination of both. You definitely get the best from both world.

Very very tasty soup base, you can taste the yummy prawn noodle soup in a slightly thicken lor mee broth. Top with prawn, meat and fish cake, I have absolutely fall in love with this.

Hokkien Lor

Located at Block 493, Jurong West Street 41 Hawker Centre. This stall also sell prawn noodle, lor mee etc. But my thoughts are, nothing beat the Penang Hokkien Lor. 

If u stay nearby, give it a try. If u don't, drop by and give it a try. Must not  be missed!

Price: $3 for normal size, $4 for big bowl :)

Updated April 2017- There is a fire at the hawker centre and I have not found out where they moved to after the fire.

November 2017- There is a new hawker centre just a couple of blocks away housing some hawker stalls from Block 493 but this stall is not there.. *sob* anyone know where they move to, Kindly PM me