Dinner at Aust Wine @ Farm Mart

My colleague recommended this interesting chillout place, Aust Wine @ Farm Mart near the West / North-west area, so I decided to give it a shot this weekend. Farm Mart is, by the way, a rather huge area comprising of coffee shop stalls, tables for dining, and rows of pet shops, fresh eggs wholesalers and geomancers.

Located at 67 Sungei Tengah Road, Unit 42, Farm Centre @ Choa Chu Kang, Singapore 699008, the number to dial is 6219 9897. By the way, we were informed that this place would be closed permanently on 19 March 2014, so do drop by before the chance is lost forever.

Offering a relaxing ambience for both indoor dining and breezy alfresco dining, Aust Wine is frequented by families, couples and groups of young friends all enjoying drinks and good food on an unhurried Saturday evening. The service is rather good, and they don't even charge service charge for such efficiency and politeness!

We dined outdoors, letting the kiss of the winds and sounds of nature set the ambience for a fun dinner. The Cream of Mushroom soup came first -  looking deceptively plain but tasting rather redolent of button mushroom's flavor. A hot delight on a cool night as such.

Our Garden Salad with Thousand Island Dressing came next - a combination of green lettuce, purple lettuce, tomatoes, and onions tossed with sweet thousand island sauce - a crispy, refreshing starter to pace the gastro's way for more delicacy to come.

Next, the Popcorn Chicken was served. Note that we only ordered this item as a before-meal munchy because the main course we ordered would take 30 minutes to prepare, so I thought of having something to chew on while waiting. The popcorn chicken were served in bite sizes, and the outside was crispy while inside, rather tender. 

The main course was the Pork Knuckle - served with lots of sides such as potato wedges, carrot sticks, sweet corn, brocooli and fresh lettuce platter. The pork knuckle was very crispy on the outside (the skin) and the flesh was quite tender; it was very easy to cut, and was not too salty. 

 The potato wedges were scrumtiously crispy, and I enjoyed the sweet crisps of the fresh vegetables accompaniments.

Finally, I washed down the sort-of greasy and heaty but delicious food with a glass of Merlot. After all, the name of this place is Aust Wine, so it would defeat the purpose if one did not have wine, right?

For this rather enjoyable meal with such a leisurely ambience, we spent SGD$31.00 each, which was very reasonable. A pity this place had to go.

[Repost] My Future Happiness

Recently, the King of our small humble village came to ask for my hand in marriage. He brought with him lots of gifts and promises. I wanted to tell him that I am not a rabbit so I dont base my happiness on dangled carrots.

See, he is a powerful King. He made our tiny fishing village rather prosperous, and provided most of us a decent living. The roads were clean, the streets were safe, the people cared about each other even though religions, cultures, languages, dialects and races may differ.

He ruled with an iron hand and ran a tight ship. Respect was commanded Hitler-style - by imposing fear and penalties. We were a very fine village indeed, and we enjoyed the monarchy because, well, he did play his part and now instead of our house on stilts, we have houses on pillars.

His hobbies was wide and varied; and the personal favorite being games of chess. He won every chess game! The useless pawns were removed sooner than they could snap their fingers; the useful pawns were kept to dance his dance. I loved watching him play chess so brilliantly - his rulership was reflected in his chess style - the players moved so brilliantly across the black and white tiles that sometimes all I saw were gray swirls.

He encouraged freedom of speech and more participation from us, his people. He wanted our feedback and this freedom is named "democracy" on one of our folk songs. We sang it every morning in the village, believing every word of it - until we started seeing more and more villagers cast behind bars for expressing their views honestly. It is really brilliant - how could these villagers be so tactless and shoot off their mouths before they thought? Our King taught them how to be a better speaker by giving them time off work behind bars, and they had plenty of opportunities to reflect and think.

He was so brilliant that he kept all the villagers' diligent harvests and catches (most of us farmed, reared cattles or fished for a living) so that his panel of hard-working paper-pushers were very well fed and too contented with their rewards to think of changing jobs.

Our harvests and catches were also set aside for us so that when we grew old, we could still self-sustain without relying on anyone. He thought very highly of us, and wished us to live to ripe old ages, that was why he pushed back the retirement age. He had the foresight to predict that when we retire at close to 70 years old, we still had our meager ration (from they harvests and catches they set aside for us) to depend on.

He even managed to convert our transport system, telephone system, mail services into profits-generating outfits. This is something no one in the world should be able to do - especially when our transport (boats, in this case) are usually over-crowded, and comes once every half an hour. How brilliant is that!

Medical costs and school fees are on the rise because of this thing called inflation. Wages and all forms of earnings remain quite stagnant, which is why most of us now have a full time harvesting or fishing job and we moonlight or try to invest in barter trades. Haha, see how brilliant the King is? He pushes his people to work hard and start businesses of their own, moving us all out of our comfort zones.

Recently, he even takes integration one step further by giving free education to students from other islands. He makes us and our children very noble because many of us had to give up education in our prestigious Fishing college and Farming college so that these foreign students have the chance to learn not just Fishing and Farming, but also our local language. We in turn, either forget about prestigious education here, or travel overseas to explore academic opportunities - see isnt this brilliant yet again? Like an exchange program!

Sigh. This King has more than one wife and years of experience taking care of his family. Perhaps he is getting old and too rich, his eyesight seems to fail him. He allows fun fairs to be built, and when he  doesnt put on hearing aids, is unable to hear his people's protests. Security has been compromised on many fronts, and foreign farmers or fishermen are invited to join the competition for fishes and maize in our humble land.

I fear. This King may have been powerful, but his success has seemed to make him complacent and uncaring. If I marry him, and I say the wrong thing at dinnertime, will I be thrown behind bars or will my jewelry be confiscated?

But the other men asking for my hand in marriage - many of them have had no experience taking care of families. If I marry them, what kind of future will I have? What kind of lifestyle will I get to enjoy?

Oh well, I dont know. But, I guess, after being under the rulership of this King for so many years, having something different for the next five years may not really be that bad, right?

p.s. vote wisely, research extensively, do not be influenced by your peers or older generations :)

Disclaimer: No part of this may be republished without the writer's permission. Copyright  ©  Thearcticstar. All rights reserved.

Chilling out at Flying Hog Cafe & Bar

Looking for somewhere to have a good time, unwind and enjoy chillout atmosphere? Head to Flying Hog Cafe & Bar now. I heard about their relaxed ambience and good food, so decided to give it a go. Located at 32A Duxton Hill, Singapore 069496, the number to call is 6327 1518. 

                                  Photosource: http://www.streetdirectory.com/flying-hog-cafe-and-bar/#2

Flying Hog is very easy to spot, given its catchy signboard. The interior is very simple, complete with wood bar and seats, a very unpretentious and relaxing setting for the executives working nearby to enjoy a good lunch or after work drinks. 

                    Photo source: http://www.streetdirectory.com/stock_images/travel/show_resize_image.php?imageId=13230527480672&w=125&h=125

The barristers and servers are rather friendly and efficient as well. The pumping music adds on a touch of happiness to diners, but the plus point is that it is not so loud that you have to shout at your dinner compaion over the tabletops.

We started with a round of drinks, naturally- beer, white wine and my Mojito. The Mojito was rather delicious, and very refreshing.

Now, time for some munchies, since we heard reviews that the food was good here. Wanted to try the Chicken Chop or Otah Pizza as reviews raved about them, but it might be too filling, so we stuck with the Platter of Fried Calamari, Chicken Wings, Spring Rolls, Potato Wedges and Fries. Everything was crispy and tasty, indeed - and the amazing thing was that it was not nearly as greasy as most fried foodstuff are.

We spent about SGD$20 per head here for this delightful chillout session.

Escapism

           Photosource: http://www.lastwordonnothing.com/2011/12/20/absinthe-and-the-corpse-reviver/

Sometimes, we wish reality was how we want it to be - carefree, happy, and maybe, luxuriant for some. To quote my favorite author Oscar Wilde - "After the first glass of Absinthe you see things as you wish they were. After the second you see them as they are not. Finally you see things as they really are, and that is the most horrible thing in the world."

Not that life ain't good, but we always have the Ideal life in mind, especially after a stressful or awful day, such as losing a deal at work or a fight with the spouse.

Perhaps we wish we weren't born in this part of the world, or have a different set of family members, or work in a different profession. Perhaps it could be something as simple as wishing for an "escape" from the current tough situation on hand.

       Photosource: http://md-arts.deviantart.com/art/Dream-of-Escapism-146918637

We turn to Escapism - the avoidance of, or escape from reality / daily routine, by indulging in daydreaming or losing oneself in a entertainment or an imagined situation.

Some of us watch movies and let our minds be lost in the movie plot and characters, perhaps even indulging a little by imagining ourselves as the characters in the films.

Some of us read books and let our minds be absorped into the plot, imagining the scenes playing in our minds, forgetting about reality and the current pressing isuses on hand.

Others lose themselves in songs and dance, or activities such as sports, painting / drawing, photography, writing or baking / cooking etc.

We immerse ourselves in another world in our minds, and set the roles we want to be cast in. Reality or painful situations are tossed far away - in this fantasy world, they exist not.

This short blissful moment is not to be confused with being mentally unstable or alter egos, do take note. Sometimes, traumatic situations may drive one into states of instability, and one constantly goes around in a state of foggy-ness, often mixing up what is reality and what is not.

Or someone may have multiple alter egos / personas to them, that reside within them. These alters prevent the person from feeling the pain or remembering the traumatic experience that gave birth to the alters. They create and live in "worlds" deeply embedded in the patient's mind.

For Escapism, one is completely clear-headed and is able to differentiate between the fantasy world they got lost in briefly, and snap out of it when the movie / book / activity ends. They had their happy moments in their imagined realms, but eventually, escapism is short-lived.

Are you extremely stressed out or angry with life or company, a person, etc? Source for your preferred mode of entering into Escapism, and let your mind relax for a while.

                                 Photosource: http://youknowyoureadancerwhen.tumblr.com/post/8239942911/words-of-dancer-lesbellereves-escapism

No, losing one's sorrows in alcohol, drugs or binge-ing are not good forms of escapism. They detach us from reality too much, and may have dire consequences in their aftermaths. As Wentworth Miller said, "A good book provides escapism for me. The artistry and the creativity in a story are better than any drugs."

How about work, then? Some people work day and night, seemingly to invest themselves fully to their tasks on hand, or their company. Well, if it helps, then let these people do as they prefer. After all, many great works of art in the world today (and in the past) were created from the artists' fantasies.

Hence, when feeling bored or upset, escape a little. Go to your mental safe haven to recharge, and then return back to reality strong and ready to tackle whatever lies in wait.

I leave you with this quote by Lynda Barry herein, "We don't create a fantasy world to escape reality, we create it to be able to stay."     Good luck!


No part of this may be republished without the writer's permission. Copyright  ©  Thearcticstar. All rights reserved.

Chillout at Over Easy

Wanted a relaxing place with good food, reasonably-priced drinks and amazing views, so Over Easy came to mind once again. Located at 1 Fullerton Road #01-06 One Fullerton, Singapore 049213, the number to dial is 6423 0701.

Whether one chooses the air-conditioned interior with warm and comforting hues or the breezy outdoors offering breathtaking views of Marina Bay Sands, Over Easy exudes a unique charm of its own like no other. It is always bustling with after-work crowds and hearty music, allowing its patrons to unwind and totally relax. By night, especially, the laser shows opposite adds enchantment to Over Easy, hence it is good to chill alfresco.

We started with their Handcut Haystack Fries with Parmesan & Rosemary - seen many people ordering it. The golden-ness of the fries looked very enticing, and they were very crispy. Sprinkled with rosemary and parmesan cheese, the fries were rather delicious, and good for munching over drinks.

Then we also tried their other signature - Cheesesteak Sliders - mini little burgers that were delicious. The sweet bread were crispy and melted in the mouth, the melted cheese an added touch of deliciousness to the very tender, medium rare mini beef patties. It took me 4 to 6 bites to polish one off, nibbling slowly, but I believe there are those who could just pop these bite-size delicacies in one or two mouthfuls.

Finally, the Triple Decker Super Stacked Club Sandwich - another sumptuous combination of grilled chicken, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise on white bread, served with potato chips. The combination of ingredients was a burst of flavors - the succulence of meat paired with juicy freshness of the veggies - this was clearly another treat for the mouth. The crispy potato chips were a delight "side dish" to the flavorful sandwich.

I had two drinks - my favorite Blackforest Mojito to unwind and relax, and the cool Erdinger to wash down the tasty food consumed, while appreciating the tantalizing night views looming ahead in front of me. Sitting there from early evening to nightfall, watching the scene ahead unfold, this was truly an enjoyment. We spent SGD$50.00 each here, and there were three of us chilling out after work.

The service left much to be desired though, the waitresses were always bustling around, running in and out and it was kind of tough to get their attention at times. Often, one had to repeat their requests about twice before they remembered. Couldnt really blame them, though, this place is popular.

High Tea at Rose Verandah @ The Shangri-La

I have been wanting to visit The Rose Verandah for their high-tea, so when the day came for this indulgence, it was an event to look forward to. The Rose Verandah is located at 22 Orange Grove Road, Mezzanine Level, Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore 258350 and the number to dial is 6213 4486.

The name itself exudes old-fashioned class and elegance, and the setting of this place did not disappoint. Elaborate chandelier lamps hanging from high ceilings, lush carpeting and exotic colors fill out a glass, leather and marble dining area that combines vintage "homeliness" with class.

This rack of TWG teas greeted us upon entering the restaurant - a happy feeling knowing that The Rose Verandah was serving quality tea. I had the Morning Irish tea - something fragrant and befitting in this lazy Saturday late morning time.

The table was elegantly-furnished as well, and the attentive and efficient service crew came over to take our tea orders and serve us a welcome Iced Tea. They also brought over a Cream of Pumpkin soup that was very scrumptious, and also on the house - we were rather delighted with the service and quality freebies.

As any good buffet stations, The Rose Verandah has a good array of salads, greens and cold cuts to kickstart off a sumptuous high tea. We were spoilt for choice by the food selection segregated - salads and gado gado, Chinese food like dim-sum, homecook-style chicken etc, Japanese counter, bread counter and desserts station. I lingered for a while before decided to start off with some salads and light items.

The first plate I tried was some finger sandwiches, shrimp salads, sauteed mushrooms and smoked salmon with apricot.  The fresh and delicious tiny bites teased our appetites and we yearned for more at the end of these light starters.

Next, the fresh and very bouncy salmon and tuna sashimi cut in generously thick slices. The Lobster Salad Sushi was succulent as well, so this plate was a delight and satiated my all-time craving for good sashimi and sushi.

Here is another plate of fresh, fresh and springy sashimi and tofu-skin sushi. Also, some dimsum items such as prawn dumpling, siew mai, mini sandwich, quiche tartlet, prawns and avocado - everything was bite-sized (of course) and superbly flavored. 

Finally, I got to indulge in my nemisis of desserts. Think, cakes, tarts, fondue, creme brulee, pudding etc. How could one resist these ultra-tasty sweets? Yes, the motto is "No desserts, no departure"... and these sweetened the day for us for sure.

Each of us spent SGD$58.00 on our high-tea cum brunch. This is a lovely place for catching up, unwinding to smell the roses, and enjoy a serene afternoon of good food, excellent service and luxuriant lazing around.

Valentine's Dinner at Plate @ Carlton City Hotel (2014)

Excited about the new stylish, timeless, contemporary and green Carlton City Hotel that opened rather recently near my workplace, we decided to have our 2014's Valentine's Dinner at Plate @ Carlton City Hotel located at 1 Gopeng Street, Level 3, Singapore 078862. The number to dial is 6632 8888. 

Like the exterior of this grand, lavish hotel, the interior exudes elegance and a quiet serenity as well. Heightened by its Chinese New Year cum Valentine's Day decorations and soft romantic music, Plate @ Carlton City offered a soft, romantic and exquisite ambience for all the couples celebrating a special night together. 

Yes, a warm welcome with cool white wine (Chandon Brut) served by the efficient service crew upon being seated, and lovely red rose petals scattered around the tabletop - one couldnt help but bask in the almost sensual setting.

It was a four-course dinner named "Wine & Dine Me" planned out specially for this event. We were first served the starter platter of Crispy Scallop, Lobster Roll and Smoked Salmon with Spring Salad. I started with the Lobster Roll which was no doubt freshly-sweet and sumptuous - even the crispy biscuit "spoon" holding it was a delicacy in itself. The Smoked Salmon had a bouncy texture like sashimi, unlike the usual dry and salty type - so I enjoyed this chewy item very much as well. As for the Fried Scallop, it was absolutely crispy as well, but reminded me alot of Old Chang Kee-style fried seafood items.  Dipped in the chilli sauce it was served with, this fusion item was definitely scrumptious as well.

Next, the piping hot, nourishing soups - thoughtfully segregated into the "him" soup and the "her" soup. 

For the male diner - it was Cream Truffle with Smoked Oyster - a delicious, thick cream soup with tiny oysters within.

For the female diner - it was Double Boiled Superior Herbal Chicken Soup - a clear broth redolent of Chinese herbs, served in a hard coconut husk in which part of the coconut flesh became part of the soup as well. This was truly delectable and any female diner should enjoy this non-greasy tonic soup.

The mains were served after the soups were gaily consumed. 

There was the Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon with Rotisserie Sweet Potato, Tossed Spinach Salad and Madeira Wine Reduction - gently charred, tender beef steak resting atop sweet and crispy sweet potato, a treat for the tongue surely.

There was also the Herb-Crusted Garoupa Fish Fillet with Red Beet Risotto, Asparagus Spears and Mushroom Cream Foam. While the gently flavor of the fish was enhanced by the mild taste of the herb, the texture was a little too bouncy, like, undercooked.  I was all right with it and I did not detect blood or experience discomfort, but had wondered if the springy texture of the fish was due to it being somewhat raw / rare.  I loved the beet risotto though - subtly saltish, with wonderful sweetness of the beetroot and chewy texture of the rice.

Finally, we had tea  and desserts.  They actually let me choose the tea I wanted, so I opted for English Breakfast Tea in lieu of Rose Tea (which they did not have). 

The delectable dessert platter consisted of Baked Red Velvet Lava Cake, Lime Sherbet and Macaron with Strawberry. The tiny Red Velvet Cake in a cup was still wonderfully warm, and not too sweet in its sandy, fluffy texture. Paired with the sourish tinge of cold lime sherbet, the taste was divine. I found the macaron a little sweet, hence I popped half a strawberry into my mouth with each side of the macaron I ate.

To conclude, this was a lovely V-day celebration complete with good food, lovely ambience and excellent service. We spent a total of SGD$160.00 here, considerably reasonable for the location of this place and the thoughtful menu. 

The only drawback was the door leading to the balcony area. It was a windy night, hence it blew the wood-and-glass door inwards. At the first gust of extremely chilly wind, we had thought something was amiss, as did the couple dining beside us (the girl and I exchanged looks then looked at the opened door and exchanged looks again). Then we realized that the supposedly heavy doors could be swung inwards so easily, kind of disturbing. 

Happy Valentine's Day 2014

Happy St Valentine's Day to you....So what does Valentine's Day mean to you, candies, flowers and romantic candlelight dinners?

Well, a little history... St Valentine was a Roman Saint who was tortured and killed for his strong belief and encouragement in love - he wedded couples in nuptial bliss of monogamy. In an era where polygamy was more favored, especially when it was believed that male soldiers fought better in wars without the worries for their spouses / children. 

Hence, the day, 14th February is to commemorate the martyr of this brave saint who died in his belief of true love and commitment between a couple in love.

Today, it is widely celebrated as a day of showing love and affection through romantic meals, gestures and gifrs. Many couples choose to get married on this day as well, believing it to be a good omen of everlasting love.

It has also become a very widely commercialised day for retailers  as businesses at restaurants, gift shops and florists flourish on this special day.

Books have been written and movies have been made about Valentine's Day as well - one very awesome classic would be "Valentine" by Tom Savage, later made into a movie with the same title.

Then there are sappy love songs such as Sarah Vaughan's "My Funny Valentine" song that one tends to hear everywhere on this day of love and romance.

Remember that love does not necessarily have to be between a dating or married couple;. Friends, family members and neighbors may also express love for each other on this meaningful day.

Last but not least, don't love for just one day. As long as there is love in your heart, everyday is Valentine's Day.

Stay loved. And again, Jour De Valentine Heureux!

Dinner at The Greenhouse @ RItz Carlton

Having been to The Greenhouse @ Ritz Carlton for lunch before, I decided to revisit this place, this time for international buffet dinner. This elegant, luxurious restaurant is located at 7 Raffles Avenue #03-00 The Ritz Carlton Millenia, Singapore 039799 and the number to dial is 6434 5288.

The warm, lavishly-furnished interior was what greeted us when we first stepped into the lush carpeting and under the elegant lightings of this beautiful dinery. The efficient service crew came over to serve drinks and place the napkins on our laps, standard procedure. I like the spacious setting and quietly-elaborate ambience.

Amongst all the goodies loaded on the trays and tables, it took some time for me to get started, wondering which station to begin at. As such, I decided that cold food was the way to go - I liked the assortment of salads available. Ok, so they had the entire deck of greens (olives, lettuce, rocket salad etc), but they also have these cooked, delectable salads.

There is the Squid Salad - tasty and a rich contrast of textures between the chewy squid and the light crisp vegetables. There is the Smoked Duck Salad - not too salty smoked duck that is succulently decked in sweet-sour dressing. And appetizing Papaya Salad that preps the tastebuds for more good stuff to come.

I was ready to move on to the piping hot Indian fare. These spicy, mouthwatering items are Chicken Marsala, my favorite Pappadum Chips, the tasty Bryani rice and tantalizing Vegetable Curry redolent of chilli and coconut milk's flavors. The highlight at this station was the Duck Curry - the first time I tried - spicy, yes, but with a sourish tinge of tomatoes. 

Back to some Chinese-styled vegetables stewing in the hot pans next to the Curries station. There are mushrooms, cauliflower, white cabbage, giant cherry tomatoes and asparagus for one to choose from this healthy array of non-meat items. However, I feel that the fresh greens should not be kept boiling in warm temperature - they were either mushy or hard to chew. It was a pity.

Nonetheless, I decided to remedy the sad vegetables experience with some Cheese, Crackers and Fruits - here is where you take your pick of Mozarellas, Cheddars, Blue Cheese, Brie etc, along with accompaniments of dried prunes, figs and fresh grapes etc. I had my fair share along with a sumptuous Olive Bread. Is that a whole olive in the center of the delicious bread? You bet!

Next, I fluttered over to try their Laksa and Lor Mee (noodles in braised sauce). I know right - which idiot takes carbo for buffet meals? Actually I took one of them for my dinner buddy but he did not want any, so I had no choice but to gobble up the two bowls of delicacies by myself. 

The Laksa was scrumptious and filled with lots of ingredients despite the small serving - shrimp, cockle, quail egg, fishcake slice and deliciously thick gravy. The Lor Mee was a wonderment in itself - note that I am not a Lor Mee fan under most circumstances, but this one had a lovely gravy that even hinted of a herbal aroma.

Now, how could one not touch the Seafood and Sushi / Sashimi section of a buffet session? I was merely saving the goodies for the last (but not leaat). Now we are talking! 

Succulent and fresh slices of raw fish, or equally fresh raw oysters? How about a wide assortment of Sushi or Carpaccio? One is simply spoilt for choice here.

I had to have some fruits now, to neutralize the savoury food items I have been enjoying. The fuzzy, juicy sweet peach was a blessing - quenching my thirst instantly - it was, to quote my buddy, "melted in the mouth" good. I also took some guava, watermelon, jackfruit and pineapple cubes. 

Finally, to wrap up a perfect meal - who could resist dessert's temptations? I knew I couldnt. It was a sweets heaven of Chocolate Cakes, Strawberry Shortcakes, Chinese cakes (kueh) and some pudding items for me, washed down with hot tea.

Did we enjoy our dinner here? Yes, every morsel, despite the whopping SGD$84.00 we each spent. Though, in the past they used to serve Foie Gras but I guess its a good initiative that they no longer do so.