The Hungry Bunny

Our regular run-to-dinner sessions usually means that we are unglamourously sweaty and in our very casual exercise gear. The good thing about Prego is that they do not have a strict dress code so we're still able to dine there while drenched in prespiration (okay, we're not that bad). There was a waiting time of 15 minutes for a table but we were happy to cool down while walking around the shopping mall. Okay, we also used the 15 minutes to go to Marks & Spencer and load up on junk food. Prego's just revamped its menu on 22 February 2010. Only the pasta selection has changed a fair bit, the rest are about the same. Best of all, prices have mostly stayed the same. They probably changed the menu in accordance with the seasonal pickings. We ordered 2 soups, the Minestrone di Verdure e Legumi ($15), rustic and hearty mixed vegetable tomato-based soup. Today's version was extra chunky, probably because we were dining really late so we got the bottom of the barrel

The last time I stepped into Tony Roma's was 4 years ago. So when we couldn't decide where to have dinner one evening after our run, we let a poster advertisement for "America's Best Ribs" make the decision for us. The restaurant was fairly emptied out by the time we stepped in for dinner at about 9pm. We got the Half Onion Loaf ($8.90), a towering concoction of battered and deep-fried onion rings, served with a BBQ-mayo sauce. This was so aromatic and it tasted as good as it smelled. I didn't really take to the BBQ-mayo sauce though, I'm so not a fan of mayo. We got 2 mains to share. First up was the BBQ Half Chicken ($20.90), served with a corn on the cob and mashed potatoes. The chicken was juicy enough, but the glazing BBQ sauce was a tad too sweet. The mashed potatoes was also way too dry, even the bacon and shredded cheese topping couldn't cure the dry potatoes. This dish wasn't value for money, but at least the chicken was huge.

Uncle Sam's Claypots used to have one of the best claypots around, back in the 90s. Sadly, the standard has dropped quite a fair bit. The ingredients have shrunk, the prices have risen and the claypots are not as yummy as they used to be. I used to love the tom yum noodle soup, but I don't eat it anymore. Also, I always come of the air-conditioned restaurant smelling like the food I just ingested. And, my hair will end up smelling like that the rest of the day. The only dish I feel worth eating here is the Claypot Chicken ($6), the rice has a nice charred smoky flavour, the chicken is succulent and well-marinated, and the preserved Chinese sausages ( lup cheong ) add flavour. A colleague wanted something lighter for lunch, so he got the Claypot Ipoh Kway Teow ($6), which was a little disappointing. The kway teow wasn't very smooth and the soup was a little MSG-ish. He didn't finish this. The good thing is that they have a 15% discount if you pay by Citiban

The BF and I happened to be in the Somerset area when the hunger pangs struck. We ditched the original plan to go running and decided to have dinner instead. We haven't really checked out the new shopping malls along Orchard Road. Mostly because they are all overflowing with shoppers. We've noticed this phenomenon amongst the locals here, whenever a new mall opens, the crowds will throng it because it's novel and new. It takes about half a year to a year, or when another new mall opens, whichever is the earlier, for the crowds to disperse. Since both of us hate crowds, we figured that we'll wait till the IRs open to visit the new malls along Orchard Road. Since we were at 313 Somerset, we trailed the Discovery Walk in search of a dinner location. We saw Oriole Cafe & Bar across the Walk at the Pan Pacific Serviced Suites and decided to check it out. We started off with a Spicy Calamari ($13), battered squid rings with pickled chili peppers. This was surprisi

I was back here for our February L.A. Lunch. This time, I decided to focus, in order to give my digestive system a little break from all that Chinese New Year feasting. I headed straight to the western mains, the Braised Beef with Carrots and Truffle . Oh I really like this, the beef is tender, the carrots are crunchy and sweet, and the sauce is divine, laced with the unmistakable fragrance and distinctive flavour of truffle oil. I paired the beef with the Roasted Baby Carrots, Parsnips & Squash . These were roasted very well, lightly salted and sprinkled with aromatic herbs. I also liked the Black Pepper Encrusted Duck . I loved how the smoky flavours of the pepper crust infused the duck. The Aglio Olio Spaghetti was cooked upon order and perfectly al dente. Simple and delicious. It was then time for dessert, I shared some ice-cream with my colleagues. We got the classic trio of Vanilla, Strawberry and Chocolate Ice-Cream . Smooth, creamy and refreshing.

Our regular after-work running sessions were halted when the BF underwent lasik. Doing away with the hassle of using contact lens and/or wearing spectacles is such a liberating experience. I'm all for lasik. It may seem scary at first, because erm, there is a very very very slim chance that you may go blind. More so after the ophthalmologist explains every single risk and complication arising from the operation (I've noticed that doctors in general will explain the risks of any procedure in more detail after they find out that you're a lawyer). But having done it myself, and having known many who have undergone it, I'm of the opinion that it's the best 4,000 bucks I've ever spent on myself. It's been a week since his op, and since the doc gave the go-ahead for exercise, we ran to Suntec after work today for dinner. The BF wanted to eat dim sum, so we popped into Imperial Treasure. Unfortunately, they only had the Shanghainese dim sum by the time we got t

It is said that the quality of food is inversely proportional to the hygiene standards of a hawker. Which may explain why the best foods are always found at the dingiest of locations. The most memorable meals I've had overseas are along dark alleyways, cooked up by the most sweaty and scruffy-looking chefs. This may also explain why every time a hawker centre undergoes a renovation and spruces up, the food seems to lose its luster just as the hawker centre acquires a brand new sheen. So when the Albert Street Food Centre reopened a couple of months ago , I went to check it out and see if the standard of the food has dropped. I made a beeline for Yuan Ji Zhen Zhong Fried Carrot Cake after seeing that the dinner queue had yet to form. I noticed that the chef has acquired an extra wok, so it now takes him half the time to fry up his popular carrot cake. Yippee! No more horrendous queues. The Black Carrot Cake ($2.50) was still wonderfully fragrant and aromatic. The hot wok

We finished late at the gym today and headed for Chili's for a (really) late dinner. We're really loving this whole "own-time-own-target", "free-and-easy" lifestyle. I mean, if we had kids, we would have to stick to a strict regimented timetable. Plus, it's kind of difficult to drag your kids along for a dinner at 10pm. And we wouldn't be able to enjoy our favourite activity, vegging out in front of the telly for weekend-long marathons of past seasons of 24. Ahh, the joys of non-parenthood. The BF is a huge lover of red meat and since he needed the post-workout protein, he got the Big Mouth Bites ($17.90), four mini USDA ground beef burgers with apple-wood smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, sauteed onions and ranch dressing on toasted sesame seed buns. This was served with black pepper mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were chunky, with silvers of potato skins added for extra texture and vitamins. The black pepper topping was also delicious, it was

We wanted some Italian food at Prego's but it had an incredulous waiting time of 30 to 40 minutes. Friends will know that the BF and I are not fans of queues and/or crowds, so we headed straight to Seah Street Deli instead, which was just across the road at Raffles Hotel. It was fairly empty when we entered the retro New York Diner-styled restaurant. Perfect. The BF ordered the Texas Burger ($22.50), a whopping 250g beef patty (medium done) with Hickory Bbq sauce, smoked bacon, sauteed peppers, sweet onions and melted cheese. This was hearty, robust and absolutely delish, the way real burgers should be. I love eating breakfast food for dinner, so I got an Omelette ($14) with Swiss Cheese ($2.50) and Portobello Mushrooms ($5). This came served with baked beans and 2 pieces of toasted bread. Simple and classic, but otherwise unspectacular. We also got the Mac and Cheese ($17.50) to share. Today's version was sadly lacking in the cheese sauce, so other than the

The BF and I were on our way to City Square Mall along Kitchener Road for some Japanese food when we spotted this unassuming coffeeshop selling curry rice. I'm a fan of curry rice, so we ditched the plan to eat at Sushi Tei and decided to give our wallets a break and go cheap instead. This is called "scissor-cut curry rice" because the dishes are cut up into bite-sized pieces with guess what, a large pair of scissors! Everything looks a gooey mess but trust me, it's lip-smackingly delicious. And ridiculously cheap. Our entire meal, including a large bowl of soup, cost only 16 bucks. We got the must-try, Curry Chicken ($1.20 for a one person portion). This is done nonya-style, creamy, spicy and rich. Absolutely yummy. I also loved the Stewed Cabbage ($0.60 for a one person portion), braised till soft but not soggy. The cabbage was slimy and soft, yet sweet and flavourful. This was plated together with Fried Eggs ($0.50 for each), which were drizzled with

Ever since Ernie embarked on a fitness regime with a personal trainer, he's been trying to eat healthily. This was no mean feat, as Ernie would, in the normal course of events, buy 600 grams of Famous Amos cookies and eat the whole packet in one sitting. So, for lunch one day, we went to Subway for some waistline-friendly sandwiches. The Tuna Sub ($5.90) is one of their classic range of subs. Creamy mayonnaise-blended tuna (dolphin-friendly so no need to feel guilty for aiding and abetting the killing of those adorable creatures), loaded with crisp shredded lettuce, plump tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers and spicy green peppers set on a bed of toasted parmesan oregano bread. The bread was incredibly fragrant, with the smell of the aromatic herbs wafting through the air. A light but satisfying classic sub.   Update 21 Jan 2011: This Subway outlet has closed down, due to The Ogilvy Centre being refurbished into a hotel. Subway #01-01 The Ogilvy Centre 35 Robinson Road Tel: 6254

The BF was craving red meat that day, and there were really only a few options, Mortons for American steaks, Aburiya for Japanese bbq meats or Hyang-To-Gol for Korean bbq meats. We decided that a dinner tribute to his Korean heritage was in order. I've previously said that there's a dearth of authentic, affordable and quality Korean food in Singapore. The only place I'd recommend to any Korean expat in Singapore is Hyang-To-Gol , perhaps the most authentic Korean restaurant in Singapore. A quick warning for those watching their spending, it comes with a hefty price tag (budget at least 80 bucks per person without alcohol, and 100 bucks per person with alcohol), but it's well worth every dollar. Almost everyone that stepped into the restaurant was Korean, which says volumes about the authenticity of the food served here. We barely sat down before steaming hot cups of Korean rice teas were served. After we placed our orders, the obligatory side dishes were immedia