The Hungry Bunny

Update September 2016: Jane Thai has moved east to 41 East Coast Road, at 6966 5187, open Mons to Sat from 11.30am to 2.30pm; 5.30pm to 10.30pm Every trip back from Seoul is chracterised by a bumpy turbulent flight, and this trip was no different. In fact, it was worse this time because of the numerous rain clouds. It actually got so bad it actually felt like we were plunging in the air, like being on the Viking Ship ride in the Lotte World theme park. Obviously the turbulent flight took longer than expected and we touched down in Singapore a full half an hour later than anticipated. One major gripe I had about our "world-class" Changi Airport was that the information on the restaurant opening times is inaccurate. Despite the information expressly given by the signboards stating that most of the restaurants were open till 11pm, they were, in fact, NOT. We relied on the inaccurate signboards and lugged our heavy bulky luggage around the airport, only to realise that resta...

We hate airplane food. There, I've uttered the words of almost every airplane traveller. This is why I always have a light meal before I board the plane. I also pop a couple of sleeping tablets and/or anti-nausea pills to counter the effects of turbulence. That's really the secret to having a better flight experience. This was our last Korean meal at one of the numerous food courts in Incheon Airport before boarding the 6-hour flight back to Singapore. The Spicy Seafood and Tofu Stew in Hotpot (8,000 Won) was really quite yummy. The steaming hot soup was rich and spicy, with the sea-fresh flavours of flower crabs, prawns and clams infused into the broth. Enoki mushrooms and zucchinis provide some sweetness to the soup. The Kimchi Casserole (7,000 Won) was also not bad, though not the best like the one at Myung-In Mandoo . Soup was rich and flavoursome. The Pork with Quail's Egg side dish was unusual, but easily the best side dish I've had. Mostly becau...

Despite my recommendation, the BF has resisted trying this braised duck rice stall along Upper Thomson Road, mostly because he totally thinks that Sia Kee has the best duck rice on the island. As we were house-sitting for Pops, I took the opportunity to drag a somewhat reluctant BF to try Soon Kee's braised duck for dinner one night as Longhouse is fairly near to Pops' home. As it turned out, the BF was pleasantly surprised and completely bowled over by the quality of the braised duck here. So much so he promptly ordered a 3-person portion to takeaway and eat in front of the telly. This stall probably ranks as high as Sia Kee for braised duck. We got a 2 person portion of Braised Duck, 2 Soy Eggs and Beancurd ($12). The duck is fresh, devoid of any gamey taste. We like that the gravy is more delicate than Sia Kee's. Luscious, rich, but definitely lighter, so you don't get that heady, "jelat" feeling. A closer look at the tender and moist duck. ...

We popped by for a meal here while shopping at Coex Mall, the largest underground shopping destination in Asia. There's a cineplex, kimchi museum and even an aquarium housed in the sprawling mall. It does feel a little claustrophobic at times, because the ceiling's a bit low and the entire place is lacking in windows. But hey, at least this place is gonna be standing if a nuke hits. This particular restaurant, which I have no idea what the name is because it's in Korean, is slightly off the food court, hidden amongst a row of Korean restaurants. I decided to get the Beef with Mushroom Stew (8,000 Won), something different from the usual spicy kimchi based soups. This was really quite yummy,  perfect for heating your insides in the cool autumn weather. The beef was sliced so thinly it remained tender despite being thoroughly cooked. An assortment of enoki, shimeiji and some other kind of exotic mushrooms grounded the dish with their distinctive earthiness. Clear glass noo...

We'd been eating Korean food non-stop since we arrived in Seoul and I badly needed a change of scenery. I've never really been a fan of Korean food to begin with. As the BF puts it, unlike Japanese or Italian food, Korean food isn't for everybody. It's true, I could eat Japanese or Italian food everyday for at least 2 weeks, but not Korean food. Luckily, Seoul is an extremely cosmopolitan city, even if there's a real language barrier. There's a Starbucks at every corner, French bakeries at every turn, and more international brand names than available in little ol' Singapore. I find it an oxymoron that although the country is so seeped in its own culture where everything is in Korean, the street names, building names, websites, you'll have difficulty getting around if you don't know the language, South Korea is surprisingly cosmopolitan. For example, for a country that has its menus entirely in Korean, there are cosy Italian eateries along almost e...

Paradise Inn recently opened yet another restaurant in Thomson Plaza. It seems that the ever-expanding Paradise Group just keeps opening a new restaurant every few months or so. We had dinner here one night after work because it's really near to Pops' home, which we're currently house-sitting. The BF got the Stir-fried Hor Fan with Beef ($12), which was really quite commendable. The flat rice noodles were fried with the requisite "wok hei" which left a delectable smoky fragrance to the dish, it wasn't too oily, and the noodles had just the right amount of seasoning, a controlled saltiness. The beef slices, though little in quantity and bordering on a slightly tough texture, didn't reek of artificial tenderiser after-taste. I got the Braised Crispy Noodle with Chicken and Mushroom ($10), which was very light, despite the starchy gooey oyster-sauce-based gravy. This was a lot more delicate in taste than I expected, which was nice. I love lighter, c...

House-sitting for Pops while he's away on holiday means we get to explore the Thomson area for new food places. Ritz Apple Strudel along Upper Thomson Road is one such place we tried while house-sitting for Pops. Apple strudel was one of those food fads that sprouted as quickly as it died out. Ritz is about the only apple strudel franchise left on our island. I think the reason why they've got staying power is because they diversified to incorporate local flavours into their strudels. Their durian strudels have apparently garnered quite a following. We were both craving something sweet and the Apple Strudel ($10.50 for half loaf) was a perfect hit on our sweet spot button. The buttery flaky shortcrust pastry, intertwined with perfectly softened apple cubes that provide a refreshingly tart counterfoil to the sweetness of the pastry and whipped cream, was absolutely delicious. We also got a Chocolate Eclair ($3) which was finished in ...