Dinner at Changi Beach Seafood Paradise @ Changi Beach Club

2 Andover Road, Changi Beach Club, Singapore 509984

Tel: 9113 5215 / 6344 5216

Website: None supplied

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Changibeachseafoodparadise/

We used to enjoy the food and ambience at Changi Beach Club's Golden Seafood Restaurant (review here); now it has become Changi Beach Seafood Paradise. We decided to give it a try, when celebrating the MIL and SIL's birthdays earlier this year.

Service was very warm upon entry, but later became quite non-existent when more diners joined, so maybe they had manpower issues.

Decor was a little different now too. You're surrounded by seas, and catch magnificent views of the sunset, but the alfresco seating areas have been altered so the restaurant's interior spaces were longer now.  Big round tables filled the restaurant; the menu consisted of mainly seafood and Chinese dishes.

We started with Prawn Paste Chicken Wings (SGD$12 / $18 / $22 for S / M / L). Quite crispy, and evident prawn paste marinated flavour, but not one of the  better ones I have tried.

We also had the Sweet and Sour Pork (SGD$12 / $18 / $22 for S / M / L). Crispy cubes of fried pork covered in a blanket of appetite-whetting zesty sauce; pretty palatable.

There was also the Wok-fried Beef with Black Pepper (SGD$18 / $24 / $32 for S / M / L). Delicious slices of tender beef inmersed in black pepper sauce, complemented well by crunchy bell peppers and onion slices.

The Chilli Crabs (seasonal price) were pretty fresh and delectable; the gravy was a little too sweet for us though. More piquant would have been ideal.

The above dish must of course be accompanied by Fried Buns (SGD$1.00 per piece); you could have the option of fried or steamed bun.

Then the must-have vegetables dish; we chose Hong Kong Kai Lan (SGD$12 / $18 / $24 for S / M / L). Fresh greens stir-fried with garlic.

Lastly, from their seasonal promotion menu - Fried Hokkien Mee, KL-style. With thick noodles, fried and immersed in dark sauce. Quite nice; would have been great if there was a dash of "wok hey".

Overall, quite enjoyable dining here, but sadly, do not foresee ourselves returning anytime soon.

Japanese Candy from Tokyo Treat

Many of us love Japanese Candy and snacks for their uniqueness and tasty flavours- fun to eat and look at. Which is why shops like Don Don Donki and Daiso, etc, are perpetually lined with shoppers purchasing interesting Japanese food and stuff.

I was honoured to receive a #tokyotreat Monthly Box (worth SGD$35.00) filled with  17 types of Sakura-themed Japanese goodies, from Kit Kat to Pocky to Coca Cola to Colon to popcorn, etc. This box of treats hail all the way from Japan.

If you would also like your own Monthly Box of curated Japanese Candy and treats, or to send it as a gift, you can do so here. Click and select, input details - easy peasy, and you get to enjoy this box of 17 marvellous sweet snacks delivered right to your doorstep.

TokyoTreat delivers the most premium Japanese snacks and candies to your door monthly. From the salty, sour to the sweet, discover limited edition Japanese treats that you won't find anywhere else. They currently serve subscribers from 93 countries with FREE worldwide shipping!

Lunch at Elemen (元素) Restaurant @ Millenia Walk

9 Raffles Boulevard #01-75 / 76 Millenia Walk, Singapore 039596

Tel: 6238 0511

Website: https://www.elemen.com.sg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elemensg

Elemen Vegetarian Restaurant introduces creative and elegant meat-less cuisine and currently has 4 outlets - Millenia Walk, Great World City, Harbourfront Centre and Paya Lebar Quarter.

The outlet at Millenia Walk has a lovely, elegant and clean design, earthly tones of green and beige, that make one very comfortable.

Their set menus are very wallet friendly, for instance, 5-course set lunch for SGD$26.80, and 8-course set lunch for SGD$32.80.

The Elemen Appetiser (SGD$4.80 if ordered as a la carte item) - a trio of salty, sweet and sour dishes. Diners should begin from the right to the left as they are meant to sample the three different flavours that varies from light to heavy that are meant to effectively whet one’s appetite for the other courses to come.

The salad of choice for me was the Grilled Holloumi Tomato with Watermelon Salad (SGD$5.80 if ordered as à la carte), utterly refreshing and simple, despite its deceptively simple ingredients.

The Mushroom Risotto with Black Truffles (SGD$16.80, if ordered on à la carte basis) exuded an earthly aroma, and looked pleasing to the eyes. However, contact with the mouth was disappointing - bland flavours despite its smell, and the rice grains were coarse and undercooked.

The Tempura Tofu with Avocado Roll (SGD$15.80) was more palatable, with crispy golden-fried cubes of beancurd and tasty rice rolls topped with creamy avocado.

For dessert,  I had Chocolate Mousse Cake, which was tasty and enjoyable, a sweet finish to a wholesome meal.

Lunch at Dian Xiao Er Restaurant @ Bedok Mall

311 New Upper Changi Road, #01-73/74, Bedok Mall, Singapore 467360

Tel: 6844 9266

Website: http://www.dianxiaoer.com.sg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dxesg/

Dian Xiao Er is a Chinese restaurant chain in Singapore with 13 outlets spanning Singapore,  from East to West. It has been my favorite Chinese restaurant for a long time because of its aromatic and palatable Herbal Roast Duck.

"Xiao Er" was the traditional way of addressing a waiter in olden Chinese food inn, a place for long-distanced travellers to get some rest and a good meal before continuing on their journeys. I love how their restaurants are designed to look like those rustic, ancient Chinese food inn - complete with stone brick walls and wooden chairs, etc.

We went to the outlet at Bedok Mall for lunch, birthday treat courtesy of my dearie, thank you!

They had the Set Lunch which was very attractive - SGD$32.80, for a Meat dish, a Vegetable dish, starters of Deep Fried Fish Skin, rice and tea.

One could choose between white rice or brown rice at no extra charges.

For meat dish, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out we'd choose the Signature Herbal Roasted Duck- crispy skin, tender flesh with fragrance of herbs. One could choose from two types of herbs - Angelica (dang gui), or Ten Wonders (shi quan). We chose the former.

For vege, we had Homemade Wheatgrass Tofu with Vegetables,  which was tasty and nutritious definitely.

Enjoyed my lunch here very much, and hope to enjoy their food more often. Service was friendly and warm as well, thank you Dian Xiao Er for upholding years of excellency.

Dinner at Wine Mansion @ Keong Saik Road

26 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089133

Tel: 6225 4468

Website: https://www.winemansion.com.sg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WineMansion

Another one of our Wine Friday evenings - sipping wine and gorging on good food, sharing laughters over various topics in life.

Wine Mansion was picked for its wide selection of wine, cozy rustic ambience and eclectic mix of cuisine featuring Eastern, European and Western dishes. Prices of food and wine are reasonable as well, making for an enjoyable hangout venue.

Started with Fresh Oysters (SGD$24.00 for a dozen); tasty, briny and juicy, good sized oysters paired with lemon wedges. Very addictive, and we were tempted to order more.

Then we had the Spam Fries (SGD$8.00) -thick cut luncheon meat deep-fried so they were crispy on the inside; meaty within - very enjoyable, especially paired with honey mustard dip.

Next, Pork Belly (SGD$8.00) - roasted with crackling skin and tender flesh, served with mustard dip and picked vegetables; flavours burst when paired together. Interesting and appetite-whetting.

Following that, Seared Scallops (SGD$19.00) that were bouncing with freshness, and bathed in a delicious creamy herbal sauce. Loved the crunchy asparagus served with them, lending their pure sweet flavour.

We had the Crispy White Bait (SGD$9.00) that were fried to a beautiful golden brown. They crackled on the exterior but melted like dreams inside; were very addictive on their own even if we did not dive into the aioli lemon dip that was served with them.

Final tapas for sharing was the Beef Poutine (SGD$10.00); a little disappointing because the fries were limp and beef bits or fried egg atop failed to value add in terms of taste or texture.

Moving on to mains, the Spicy Mala Lamb Linguine (SGD$18.00 was a refreshing, tangy delight for spicy lovers like me. Every bite was packed with peppercorn punch,  flavoursome,  and a dish I would order again if I come back.

Finally, Carbonara Linguine with Ikura (SGD$18.00) that was egg-based and creamy; the explosive umami flavour of ikura (salmon roe) added an interesting tinge to the creaminess; palatable.

The night also seen us polishing off 2 bottles of wine over our meal. Overall, we enjoyed dining at The Wine Mansion very much,  and hope to be back again soon.

Afternoon Tea at Artisanal Boulangerie Co. Cafe

312 Balestier Road, #01-01, Singapore 329743

Tel: 6250 5047

Website: https://artisanbakery.com.sg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artisanboulangerie/

Recently, I find myself visiting more Artisanal Boulangerie Co. Cafes (ABC), from Balestier to Katong 112. I love their beverages and pastries, and the quiet ambiance with which work can be effectively done. Read previous reviews here.

Unfortunately the Katong 112 outlet is not available right now because the mall is undergoing a major revamp.

The Pistachio Yogurt Tart has a healthy sounding name that was immensely appealing. The nutty ring crowning the sourish yogurt flavour made for a lovely combination that was unstoppable from the first bite onwards.

Their Lemon Tart is also a personal favorite; that crunchy buttery tart walls welling a smooth, zesty curd that was cool to my lips.

Afternoon Tea at Maison Kayser Cafe @ Scotts Square

6 Scotts  Road, #B1-25, Scotts Square, Singapore 228209

Tel: 6636 3672

Website: http://maison-kayser.com.sg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaisonKayser/

By the renowned Eric Kayser, Maison Kayser is a renowned French artisan bakery in Singapore, currently they have 6 outlets in Singapore - China Square, Raffles Place (OCBC Center), Scotts Square, Serangoon MyVillage, Suntec City and TripleOne Somerset.

I patronised the Raffles Place outlet before, but frequent the Scotts Square one. Love their pastries and quiet ambience where I could also get some work done over afternoon tea.

"Traditional and creative breads, flaky croissants, delicious pastries, savoury sandwichs, and every biscuits and brioches in between" is their recommendation for their baked goods; I have friends who simply love their croissants.

I love their Pistachio Apricot Tart, a beautiful creation of juicy sweetness with nutty notes, wafting down creamy custard fillings that line the walls of buttery, crunchy crust.

The Chocolate Eclair has a nice chewy texture topped with rich and creamy chocolate, and is filled with cold chocolate mousse within. Every bite oozed the latter, sweetening the tongue with chocolatey cream dream.

I know I will be back again and again, as long as you are around. Love the good selection of artisanal desserts and quality that Maison Kayser is all about, over the years.

Lunch at Sufood Vegetarian Restaurant @ City Hall

252 North Bridge Road, #02-19, Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore 179103

Tel: 6333 5338

Website: https://www.sufood.com.sg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufood.singapore/

Lunch with another client, this time a vegetarian, who strongly recommended Sufood Restaurant to me.

The restaurant is nestled in a corner of Raffles City Shopping Centre, near the escalators and spa services. Simple in design, with friendly service crew, they specialise in curated vegetarian dining with an emphasis on wholesome food.

They have various 4-course set meals (SGD$25.80), 6-course set meals (SGD$31.80) and 8-course set meals ($36.80).

We started with the Wholesome Trio (SGD$4.90, if ordered as an a la carte item).
Pleasing to the eyes and utterly palatable, this trio consists of Cherry Tomato Jelly, White Water Snowflake with Red. Pepper, Japanese Yuca Root with Blueberry Sauce.

Then we had Energized Salad with Avocado and Macadamia, a simple but tasty salad of fresh ingredients and crunch.

We also enjoyed a nutritious Miso-Kombu Soup with Shimeiji Mushrooms and Lotus Seed, and Sufood's signature Rosemary Breadsticks.

The chosen mains was Chickpea Rice Burger with Sweet Potato Fries (SGD$13.80 if ordered as a la carte).

Finally, dessert of Earl Grey Ice-cream Cookie Sandwich, which was creamy and decadent, the perfect ending to our meal.

Happy to have discovered this lovely place with healthy, tasty meatless meals, I will definitely come back to Sufood again.