#Stewed Ee-Fu Noodle

[buffetlicious]

The restaurant had a 50% off signature specialties with every spending of S$30 so we also had the Stewed Ee-Fu Noodle (干烧伊面) while my brother’s table had the Wok-Fried Traditional Hometown Vermicelli (家乡炒面线). I love my ee-fu noodles as it had soaked up the flavourful gravy even though it doesn’t comes with much ingredients other than mushrooms and beansprouts.

Sis recommended this Crispy Eggplant with Pork Floss (肉松炸茄子) which was a delight eat. If you are the type that do not like the mushy texture of the aubergine when cooked, you will enjoy this dish. In fact, you might never know that you are eating brinjal as this one is fried crispy and sprinkled liberally with savoury pork floss.

To end the luncheon, we had Double-Boiled Peach Resin with American Ginseng (泡参银耳炖桃胶) and Mango Puree with Sago and Pomelo (杨枝甘露). My table only took the chilled mango puree with sago pearls and pomelo pulps which is refreshing and not too sweet.

PS - The Canton Paradise at Junction 8 had closed this branch.

[40sandfabulousaf]

大家好! I caught up with my parents over the long weekend. We revisited the restaurant that serves delicious lobster noodles and ordered a feast. Mummy doesn't take wheat noodles because they cause inflammation in her joints, so instead of yi mian (ee fu noodles), we had bee hoon (thin rice vermicelli). Besides lobster noodles, we also ordered asparagus stirfried with garlic, siew mai, hum sui gok (glutinous rice dumplings filled with meat) and dan tat (egg tarts). The noodles, siew mai and dan tat were divine as usual, and the hum sui gok was surprisingly good! We chatted nonstop and had a truly wonderful time.

Pa and I met again on Sunday. I decided to try the ban mian (board noodles) from a new stall. Whilst ordering, I noticed that they also sell cai fan. Some of the dishes looked pretty good, so I may try them in future. After breaking the egg yolk and mixing it into the soup (egg porn?), I took my first bite. This wasn't the best ban mian I've tasted, but it was decent. It's hard for stalls to mess up ban mian anyway. What I liked was that the soup and minced pork weren't too salty. After finishing the meal, Pa and I had local tea (for him) and coffee (for me) and spent the afternoon chatting about current affairs and the Olympics.

On Monday, I decided to walk over to the newly renovated coffee shop near my place to try their Japanese stews. Getting there took 5 minutes. The stall offered several options which came with rice. I decided on the miso salmon stew with carrot, radish and potato. Because I was ambitious and wanted to be full, I added a side of tofu, brinjal and mushroom stew, which is another option that comes with rice. OMG big mistake, this was so filling, I was so stuffed that I had to skip dinner. Aside from that, the meal was downright delicious. The salmon was very flakey and tender and the tofu and mushroom stew was incredible. Definitely heading back to try their other menu items!

Tuesday afternoon was scorching by lunch time so off it was to the local supermarket cum food hall. They had a new sushi combo so I chose it and picked up salmon sashimi. Besides their California roll with no mayo (yum), their new maki had salmon, avocado, crabstick, cooked prawn, lettuce and rice. It was quite nice. They had panfried saba and rice as well as just saba today. I may try 1 of them next time if they're available. After my quick meal and local coffee, it was time to head home and continue working. To me, this is better than fastfood. Not only could I have something nutritious, delicious and filling, I made it home in time.

The official death toll in Gaza is nearing 40,000, with over 92,000 wounded. Don't understand the forever ceasefire negotiations when Hamas had previously already agreed to them? It was Israel that reneged and continued its genocide in Gaza. Dunno about you but it isn't a good look for the US. It kinda makes them look a tad incompetent when they've boasted about their exceptionalism? My prayers continue for the Palestinians. 下次见!

[yahoosg-holidayhandbook]

Book these bountiful feasts for your CNY reunion dinner now

By Samantha Francis for Weekender Singapore

With the Year of the Rooster just around the corner, there’s no better time than now to make plans for an abundant and hearty reunion dinner.

Gather your loved ones and celebrate springtime with one of these ten feasts!

Photo: Gu Ma Jia

1. Gu Ma Jia

For a heartwarming taste of home away from home, Gu Ma Jia is your best bet. The time-honoured restaurant uses less oil and MSG for sumptuous yet healthy dishes like Crab Meat and Fish Maw, Steamed Fish Red Grouper with Soya Sauce and more.

CNY eight-course sets start from $599.

45 Tai Thong Crescent, Sennett Estate

Photo: Man Fu Yuan

2. Man Fu Yuan

Man Fu Yuan’s decadent feasts look set to impress, with perennial favourites like the Whole Suckling Pig stuffed with Glutinous Rice. Their Prosperity Set Menus feature masterfully created dishes, which include the nourishing Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Korean Ginseng, Conch and Spiky Cucumber and Double-boiled Hashima with Shredded Coconut and Egg Custard Pastry.

Prosperity Set Menus are priced at $128++ per person for a minimum of two persons.

InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road

Photo: Jiang Nan Chun

3. Jiang Nan Chun

At Jiang Nan Chun, diners can expect a feast for the eyes and appetite with Chef Alan Chan’s exquisite dishes and Florist Linus Loh’s flower arrangements. Highlights from the set menus include Suckling Pig with Crispy Beancurd Skin and Avruga caviar, Braised Six-head Abalone with Black Moss and more.

Six-course set menu starts from $128 per person.

Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, 190 Orchard Boulevard

Photo: FORT by Maison Ikkoku

4. FORT by Maison Ikkoku

For a unique way to usher in the year of the Rooster, celebrate with FORT by Maison Ikkoku’s twelve course CNY omakase. The multi-sensory feast is a modern take on a traditional reunion dinner feast, featuring soups, hand-rolled makis and more. We’re a fan of the Unagi Don and Lobster Udon.

Twelve Course CNY Omakase menu starts from $88 per person.

#01- 02/03, Fort Canning Arts Centre,  5 Cox Terrace

Photo: Silk Road

5. Silk Road

Whether you’re entertaining esteemed business associates or your loved ones, Silk Road’s CNY feast won’t disappoint. Known for their authentic provincial Chinese cuisines, the restaurant will be serving a Prosperity 8-treasure Yu Sheng with cured salmon, jellyfish, whitebait and more, alongside perennial favourites like the Pen Cai.

CNY Eve Reunion Dinner is priced at $68 per person (minimum 2 diners).

Amara Hotel, 165 Tanjong Pagar Road

Photo: Baba Chews

6. Baba Chews

A Peranakan-inspired feast of Straits Chinese favourites await you at Baba Chews, where you can toss to prosperity with their Salmon Yusheng and enjoy dishes like Pork Knuckle Pongteh. For something a little more luxurious, go for their premium menus, which come with the Udang BBC Tiga Rasa — a Nonya-inspired stir-fried prawn dish.

Exclusive set lunch and dinner menus are priced from $188/$228 (serves three to four persons).

#01-01 Katong Square, 86 East Coast Road

Photo: Min Jiang

7. Min Jiang & Min Jiang At One-North

Both Min Jiang and Min Jiang At One-North will be offering lavish feasts to usher in the Lunar New Year. Tuck into classic favourites like the Claypot Reunion Rice, which features preserved Chinese pork sausages, liver, waxed duck leg and succulent pork belly. Another must-try is the Prosperity ‘Fa Cai’ 8 Treasures Duck, comprising boneless duck stuffed with ‘eight treasures’.

Min Jiang’s Dine-in Menu is priced from $98 per person (minimum two persons).

Min Jiang At One-North’s A Bountiful Harvest menu is price from $888++ for six persons.

Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road; 5 Rochester Park

Photo: Peach Blossoms

8. Peach Blossoms

Welcome spring with Peach Blossoms’ line-up of CNY set menus, which will please the whole family. If you’re feeling extravagant, pick the Glorious Set, comprising Whole Suckling Pig and Peach Blossoms Buddha Jumps over the Wall. Equally indulgent is the Fortune Set, which comes with Baked Boston Lobster with Creamy Salted Egg Yolk and Cheese.

Lunar New Year sets are priced from $148 per person (minimum two persons).

Marina Mandarin Singapore, 6 Raffles Boulevard

Photo: The Carvery

9. The Carvery

Known for their premium roasts, The Carvery is upping the ante for the Lunar New Year with a hearty spread. Diners can expect three festive roasts, including Crispy Pork Belly with Apricot Ginger Sauce, Honey-Roasted Leg Of Ham and Salt Baked Chicken. Other note-worthy dishes include Flower Crab Stew, Golden Pumpkin Rice and more.

 The festive buffet is priced at $45 for lunch and $55 for dinner.

Park Hotel Alexandra, 323 Alexandra Road

Photo: Li Bai

10. Li Bai

Whether you’re an intimate party of two or a group of ten, there’s something for you at Li Bai. Their reunion dinner sets include auspicious favourites such as Steamed Live Red Garoupa with Yunnan Ham, Deep-fried Chicken stuffed with Prawn Paste and served with Mango and Ee-fu Noodles with Crabmeat and Crab Roe Soup.

Prices start from $148 per person (minimum 2 persons).

Sheraton Towers, 39 Scotts Road

[buffetlicious]

The next dish was the Steamed Red Grouper Hong Kong style with superior soy sauce, spring onions and red chilli but all we saw was a small chunk of fish flesh in a bowl. I was telling the others that we don’t know if the fish was actually a red grouper until the wait staff placed the fish head on the lazy susan. At least I enjoyed the fresh succulent and sweet fish dressed in soya sauce.

The chickens must be lamenting that they died in vain as we diners never gotten to see the crispy Bi Feng Tang (避风塘) style Roasted Chicken gloriously spread out (展翅高飞) in front of us with spiced almond flakes and crunchy prawn crackers for garnish. Both my colleague and I were served mostly breast meat which was dry as we never gotten the chance to choose the part of the chicken we would like to eat plus my plate came with just half an almond flake. :(

Next up, the Conrad Duo of deep-fried prawn ball wrapped with breadcrumb and sautéed scallop with asparagus in home-made XO sauce. The fried prawn ball is crispy on the outside with crunchy prawn inside. A single lonely scallop sat beside the old and fibrous asparagus as the skin wasn’t peeled. The savoury spicy sauce however brightened up the flavours of this tough vegetable.

The Abalone and Spinach I have nothing much to comment on other than the slice of paper-thin sea snail. Love the thick mushroom among the blanched leaves of spinach drenched in oyster sauce though.

The Ee-fu Noodles or yi mein (伊面) got to be my favourite dish of the night. This noodle is typically present on wedding menu due to the fact it is also referred to as longevity noodles (寿面). Stewed with shimeji mushroom, lumps of crabmeats and chives, where it had soaked up the wholesome flavours. So good that I finished two bowls of it.

The Chilled Cream of Avocado with Coral Weed was a big disappointment for all of us due to the avocado soup coming with pieces of hard, almost crunchy coral weed, akin to eating chicken soft bone. I would prefer something less exotic like cubed honeydew melon or even jellies.

Overall, the food was pretty delicious though the service is kind of lacking as the wait staffs were busy portioning the food to notice our empty glasses. My colleague was commenting that he had only this one cup of passionfruit drink from start till end of the banquet and no one came to ask if he would like a refill. I am also sure the chefs would have preferred to let the diners see their beautiful, crafted creations even if for only a few short seconds rather than the hastily assembled carved-out portions.