Espanol: Sabio by the Sea

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Was invited to the Sabio by the Sea by the lovely Belinda who is always so generous with us friends, inviting us to great places, events and all. A sunny Saturday was bookmarked for a long lazy brunch by the marina at Sentosa Cove. Sangria was at the top of our minds following our previous cider tasting at Betel Box (read it here).

Sabio by the Sea, like its sister Sabio in the city, echoes the same painted traditional Catalan tiles and hand carving inspired by a 200 years old bar in Seville. Yet, the vibe is contemporary with bright red metal stools lining the length of the space and CMYK Dada inspired artwork. There is also the fluidity in space with the al fresco areas spilling onto the quayside.

I went to Sabio by the Sea expecting to be feasting on tapas but was delighted to know that they do a Weekend Brunch. For $35, diners get to enjoy the “El Sabio basket”, a choice of main dish and a hot

drink. 

The El Sabio Basket was a delectable tray of wonderfully baked pastries. I absolutely adored the Mini Croissants (both plain and chocolate). The perfect marriage of moist buttery center and crispy browned flakes blew me over. The mini baguette was almost too perfect to be eaten as well. Excellent quality butter and strawberry jam in little jars accompanied the bread basket and i happily buttered away.

Included in the basket is also a glass of fresh orange juice and home made plain yogurt served with berries. This is the perfect start to a great 3h brunch. ;)

Choose from 8 main dishes, all of which would have gone through the TLC of the Josper Grill to give it the smoky flavor. One of our favorites was the Chachouka With Chorizo Sausage, Two Fried Eggs, Toasted Brioche And Green Salad. The Chachouka is a hearty stew of peppers, zucchinis and tomatoes and i loved how the porous bread readily soaks up the earthy stew flavored with the saltiness of cured sausage.

The Grilled Olive Bread stuffed with Manchego Cheese and Serrano Ham with a side of baby Spinach salad would be great if we had eaten it once it was served but lukewarm food is usually the case when you are dining with a huge group of bloggers. Nevertheless, you can't go wrong with Serrano ham and Manchego cheese though it tends to be on the dry side.

Want something meatier? The Grilled Ribeye (120g) with Chachouka, Fried Egg And Grilled Mushrooms is a great option as well.

As compared to the dishes that we had, the Fluffy Omelette was easier on the flavors. Loved the juicy asparagus in the omelette which was topped with roasted potatoes, Manchego cheese, Serano ham, basil and grilled cherry tomatoes.

Apart from the extensive hot and cold tapas dishes available on the menu, I highly recommend the  El Cerdo ($21) from the Josper grill. Herbs Marinated pig shoulder pieces that appeared like the Chinese braised pork belly turned out to be more substantial in bite and taste. The chunks of meat wore the caramelized crisp  like a badge of honor, having survived the ferocious oven. You may want to skip this if you are afraid of clogging your arteries though.

The El Pulpo ($19)- Grilled Octopus leg, “Viola” Mash Potato, Sauce Paprika, is a favorite of many. I can understand their liking of the crispy tentacles and chewy bite of the sea creature, but i'm not a fan of food that is kinda bland and rubbery and takes forever to swallow. Everyone at the table enjoyed it though.

Now, save some space for desserts because you can't miss the best Churros ($11) in Singapore. The crispy dough sticks, evenly and perfectly coated with the golden ratio of sugar and cinnamon, were divine with the viscous and rich dark chocolate. It's even better than the ones i had in Spain! The Spanish Nougat Mousse was interesting but too sweet for my liking.

And you gotta have the Signature Salty Butter Caramel Lava Cake that Chef Bruno Menard created which i raved about in my &made review (read it here). Bruno was so sweet to come down to join us for brunch and he promised to make the dessert for me personally next time i visit his restaurant. Such a charming man.

Chef Bruno Menard, the sweet Helene and Chef Damien Le Bihan executive chef of Sabio by the Sea.

The meal preparation was overseen by Chef Damien Le Bihan, Group Executive Chef, who earned his ranks in several Parisian Michelin restaurants. A man of few words but there's no doubt he's passionate about his food. 

Need a getaway but don't have the time to hop on a plane? Head on down for brunch at Sabio by the Sea. It sure felt like i was in a different place. Wanderlust. Brunch is served on Sat from 12 to 3.30pm and Sun from 10.30 to 3.30pm.

Thanks once again to Deliciae for hosting us. Looking forward to trying the other restaurants under the group.

Sabio by the Sea
31 Ocean Way, #01-02
Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove (Next to W Hotel Singapore)
Monday to Thursday: 12 - 10pm
Fri: 12pm - 12am
Sat: 10am - 12am
Sun: 10am - 10pm

Majestic Bay Seafood Restaurant

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The Majestic Group is pretty well known in the Singapore food scene. Following the success of Majestic Restaurant and Jing, Chef Yong Bing Ngen, best known for his contemporary Chinese cuisine, has ventured into the seafood restaurant market with his latest Majestic Bay Seafood Restaurant. Expect some innovative seafood creations at this family friendly restaurant, which is quite a depart from the fine dining experience at the sister establishments.

Located below the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, the spacious 110-seater restaurant is brightly lit by the natural light that streams in through the glass panels.  

Tanks after tanks of lively sea creatures swam around happily, unbeknownst of their fate. Diners would be glad to know their meal would be very fresh. 

Live Dungeness Crabs are available here as well. Most of the time we only get frozen ones in Singapore so you should check them out if you like this variety. 

Expensive fishes are quite the staple here and we were introduced to the 4 heavenly kings of freshwater/river fishes. The Empurau, as its name suggests, is the crown jewel of the lot. For a taste of that sweet tasting meat which comes from all the fruits that the Empurau eats, expect to pay $700-800/kg. 

To kick off dinner, we had the Duo Seafood Combo, 海鲜双拼 ($28 for 4 person portion). Crispy lychee, crab meat, mushrooms; soft shell crabs, lemon butter milk sauce. I much preferred the former, which was an interesting savory and sweet combination. The lychee is also a great tenderizer and i loved how the moist center complemented the airy and buttery crust. The crabs were missing a little of that crustacean taste, probably due to the over seasoning with the sauce and thick batter.

A good gauge of a Cantonese restaurant is by the quality of its soups and Majestic is fabulous that way. The Braised, Ocean Sunfish maw, crab meat, luffa, thicken yellow soup ($18/portion), 金汤翠玉蟹肉太阳鱼唇, was very flavorful. The golden superior broth is made from a duck and chicken stock, blended with carrot and pumpkin and boiled for 6 hours! High quality strips of fresh fish maw and chunks of crab meat are used here. Flawless skin come to me now!

Highlight of the night and undoubtedly the favorite dish. The Steamed Bamboo Clam, 金银蒜蒸竹蚌, (Market Price) was simply divine. The seasoning was really quite simple, leaving the focus on the succulent and crunchy bamboo clams. I love how the glass noodles (tang hoon) soaks up the garlic sauce that was flavored with the essence of the shellfish. Give me seconds anytime.

This is the signature "Kopi" Crab, 冠华咖啡焗肉蟹, that has tourists making a beeline to Gardens by the Bay. The Sri Lankan crab is cooked with a special sauce made from a blend of 3 different varieties of coffee beans. Marmalade and orange juice is also used in the sauce.

The crab was flambéed at the table with a mixture of rice wine, coffee liqueur and coffee beans to give it that caramel crust. And truth be told, it tasted more like caramel popcorn than coffee. If you like sweet stuff, you may like this crab. As for me, i still prefer the savory ones.

The Seafood Baked Rice, 海鲜大烩焗饭, ($68 for 4-6 persons, $88 for 7-12 persons) was spectacular when presented. This is one massive pan of rice piled generously with baby abalones, scallops, mussels and prawns, as well as mushrooms (not the chinese sort). The flavor of the sauce is a mix of Portuguese and Japanese Curry, lightly spiced and savory.

The baby abalones were morsels of seafood that lent a sweet briny flavor with each bite and the pan was filled with so many of them. This is the perfect dish for sharing and we hardly finished half the pot. 

Save a little space for desserts. If you like variety, the Sweet’s temptation, 甜品诱惑, ($20 for 4 persons) is the way to go. The dessert platter includes 4 different desserts which i felt was very reasonably priced. Start with the lightest tasting Mochi on the top right. Stuffed with fresh cream, chopped mangoes and strawberries, each bite is like biting into a cloud, all fluffy and dreamy. Definitely another favorite of mine.

On the left is the Glutinous Rice Dumpling with Yam Paste Stuffing, Shredded Coconut, a nutty blend of solid black glutinous rice with an Or Nee center. Interesting presentation of 2 typically Chinese dessert.

While i love salted egg yolk steamed buns, the ones at Majestic failed to impress me. Too little filling and it was lacking in the salted egg yolk richness and taste. The Chinese Red Bean Paste Pancake was so cloyingly sweet that it masks the taste of any other dessert should you make the mistake of eating that first.

Overall, it was a pleasing meal at Majestic Bay Restaurant. While i may not be back for the signature dishes like the Kopi Crab, i'd certainly make an effort to check out their lunch time dim sum. For $28/pax on weekdays and $33/pax on weekends (min 4 pax), it's value for money for a 6 course meal inclusive of a selection of 5 Dim Sum, a soup of the day, 3 main dishes and a dessert. The a la carte prices are also reasonabe. Time to make a booking for dim sum brunch with the fams!

Majestic Bay Seafood Restaurant

18 Marina Gardens Drive, #01-10

Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay

Tel: +6604 6604

Daily: 11.30-2.30pm; 5.45- 9.30pm

  

Japanese: Tsukada Nojo Bijin Nabe

I've heard about Tsukada Nojo Bijin Nabe Japanese restaurant sometime back. I think it appeared under the beauty section of the magazine rather than the food. With Singaporean women so crazy about skin elasticity and botox, is it any wonder why the collagen based soups are so popular? 

This skinnyfat girl here is not yet concerned about wrinkles on her face and gelatinous animal parts kinda scare me a little; hence i've only recently tried Tsukada Nojo. For $25 per pax, you'll get to enjoy the Bijin Nabe a.k.a. Beauty Pot with a variety of ingredients. These beancurd looking pudding are actually solidified collagen, which would melt to reveal chunky pieces of chicken, and also disintegrate into the tasty chicken broth. We didn't know that the Bijin Nabe was only served during dinner so we were left with only the ramen option. 

The Japanese outlets uses free range chickens that are raised in a safe and controlled environment on the Miyazaki farms. Chickens are highly prized and known as Miyazaki Jitokko. Happy chickens make for rich milky and savory stock. Sadly, we don't get poultry imports from Japan so these birds are from Malaysia. 

Nevertheless, chicken bones are stewed for over 8 hours to give it that golden broth that is rich in collagen aptly named the Golden Jidori Soup. Can you believe this soup base is only prepared with water, salt and bones.

We haven't tried the one in Japan so there isn't a baseline for comparison, but i must say that the soup was really tasty with a tinge of stickiness (probably the collagen). S had the thin springy noodles with his chicken ramen and I must say that this is waaaaay better than Marutama's. 

I really enjoyed my Curry Ramen with the thick Mochi noodles. It's the slightly curly and yellow Sapporo kinda ramen but with more chewiness. I love that the curry is really thick and flavorful and more savory than the usual sweet and mild Japanese curry. If you like rich flavors, this comes highly recommended. The dry looking roast chicken slices served on the side surprised me with the light honey flavor and the tenderness of it. Eat it alone or warm it up in the sauce before you devour them.

Our supposed starter Nikumaki Onigiri, each the size of my fist, were served when we were halfway into our ramen. There's no way we would be able to finish the 2 huge bacon wrapped baked rice balls/rolls after our ramen and had no choice but to bring one home. This is more of a sweet dish than a savory one so it may not appeal to all. 

The original flavored one is $3 while the others with toppings such as cheese, yuzu pepper & mayo and red chili oil costs $3.50. There was too little of the yuzu pepper mayo to make a distinction between the 2 onigiris. A bite of this is ok, not the entire bolus of rice. 

I heard that the chicken wings are pretty swell. Shall try that with meal when my curry ramen craving kicks in. 

Tsukada Nojo Restaurant
60A Orchard Road
The Atrium@Orchard
Tel: +65 6336 5003

Daily: 11:30am-4pm; 5-10pm

Reserve a table at the Chinatown Point Outlet here

Japanese: Mitsuba by Yurine

Every time someone asks me for Japanese food recommendations, i'll always direct them to Chikuwa Tei for their affordable bentos and high quality and chunky slices of sashimi. Chef Peter, the grumpy chef who first started Wasabi Tei at Far East Plaza, helms the restaurant at Mohamed Sultan. Just a couple of months back, Chef Peter opened his third restaurant, Mitsuba By Yurine Japanese Restaurant, at The Central, Clarke Quay.

There is absolutely nothing to shout out about the ugly signboard and unwelcoming entrance. This is not a restaurant that I would step into if i randomly walked by. The emptiness of the restaurant on a Saturday night reflects the same sentiments of other diners. Lucky us because people don't know of this hidden gem. Heh.

There is quite a good view of the Singapore river from the inside of the restaurant. Do remember to reserve those seats if you want to chill out with your friends (not a date). We started with the Ebi Tempura (5pcs for $12). The prawn is fresh but the batter was a little too thick. The batter was thicker the second time i had this. Maybe i'll try the soft shell crab next time.  

Bentos are very affordable, just like Chikuwa Tei. Pick a main dish and add $6 for a set that includes rice, Miso Soup, Otoshi, pickles and fruits. Grilled hot dishes like Cod fish ($20), Unagi ($22), Gyuniku (Beef, $20), Ika (Squid, $10) are available. The Sushi Udon Teishoku is amazingly priced at $24 and that gives you 7 pieces of sushi, 6 maki and a hot bowl of comforting udon. 

I had the Natsu Bento ($40) with Mackajiki (Swordfish) Sashimi, Gindara Teriyaki, Chawanmushi and Miso Soup. I could not finish the thick juicy slabs of swordfish sashimi which was crunchy as well. Very good fish i must say. The teriyaki cod fish was fatty and oily in a really tummy satisfying way. Love the charred and sweetened bits that coat the fish.

Chef Peter is well known for his generous Chirashi and you just gotta have this. The staple at Chikuwa Tei is sold here at $28 but there are 4 differently priced dons and it goes up to $68. We had the Natsu Chirashi Sushi ($38) which has fatty salmon belly, scallops, swordfish, a little stuffed squid with roe and more. The higher priced sets include toro belly, Botan Shrimps and scallops.

Just look at that all that fish! I tried eating a set on my own and i could not finish the sashimi. The reason being that i was happily eating the sushi rice. Love that sweet and savory flavors from the vinegar, salt and probably mirin in the short grained pearl rice.

Absolutely another of my favorite Japanese restaurant. Love the food but the service is pretty bad. The female wait staff reluctantly gave us a chair to put all our bags but reminded us that she'd have to take it back if there are customers. And the restaurant was half full. Meh. Well, for good sashimi and fuss free eating, i'll put up with it. Filling the tummy is more important. Just a little amazed at how un-princessy i am these days. Hur.

Mitsuba by Yurine Japanese Restaurant
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#03-88 The Central
Tel: +65 6227 0388

Daily: 11.30am - 3pm; 6 - 10pm

Travel: 4 days in Kyoto, Japan

2012 was a crazy year of traveling for me. I've pinned 13 countries and many more cities on my trips. Friends often wondered how S and i. It all boils down to good planning and maximizing all available leave and holidays. Long weekends or weekend trips are good enough for nearby Asian cities that are less than 8h of flight away.

Most people would think that 4 days is too little time to spend in Japan considering the air fares and all. Well, this would work if you have been to Japan a couple of times and you don't mind spending all 4 days in 1 or 2 cities. While i wouldn't say we knew Kyoto inside out after the trip, or that we've covered the gazillion UNESCO World Heritage sites and soaked up all the past glory of the old capital, it was sufficient to know if you love/hate a place. And of course, what's not to love about Kyoto?

Getting Around

Kyoto is known for the rich culture and heritage and of course their countless temples, shrines, palaces, pavilions etc. that could not be missed. I had a hard time deciding which to visit because there are simply too many. Due to time constraints and foresight of our probable boredom from viewing too many temples, I picked a few must-sees and dropped by other sights in the same area. The tip is to cover 1 to 2 areas each day instead of going back and forth unnecessarily.

Bus travel is the most convenient as major sights are mostly within walking distance from the stops. What's helpful is that attractions are labelled on the bus map. Each trip costs 220Y within the city zone so it makes perfect sense to get the daily bus pass for 500Y/day which gives you unlimited rides. To get to Arashiyama, you'll need to top up a little more.

So here is how i sectioned Kyoto for my 4 day Autumn trip (sadly we were a little early for the koyo season.)

Places of Interest

1. Kinkaku and Ryoan-ji

One of the top attractions, Kinkaku, Golden Pavilion is a Zen temple whose top two floors are completely plastered with gold leaves. I found it hard to enjoy the zen with tourists scrambling to get their perfect shot.

I very much prefer Ryoan-Ji, which is the finest dry rock garden in Kyoto. This is the epitome of Zen landscaping apparently. There is something really therapeutic about staring at little rocks and man made ripples. 

2. Ginkaku-ji, Tetsugaku-no-michi, Nanzen-ji

Ginkaku, the Silver Pavilion does not have a trace of silver on it. Word is that the shogun ran out of money before they could cover it with silver leaves. Though it's less glamorous than Kinkaku, i love the coziness of it. Take a little climb up the hillside and you'll be able to enjoy the picturesque scenery from the top. Here is where i scored a wish-in-a-stone-bowl and did a little dance with people cheering in the background.

Tetsugaku-no-michi- Philosopher's Path

Follow the directions from Ginkaku to the Tetsugaku-no-michi, the Philosopher's Path. It's possible to walk all the way back to Higayashima or Sanjo but it'd take a long while (we tried). It's really soothing sitting down on the stone benches, listening to the flow of the stream. It would be perfect in spring with all the cherry blossoms or later in autumn with the red leaves.

Pack a bento and have lunch by the stream or attempt to fish for food yourself. There is a little cafe somewhere down the path to rest your feet. And a really cute shop that sells merchandise with cat prints. 

If you are ok with walking, continue down to Nanzen-ji, one of the most important Zen temples in Kyoto. The grounds are massive with several sub temples in it. The central grounds are free and open to public and here is where you'll see the towering Sanmon entrance gate.

3. Shijo and Gion

Shijo is where you do all the shopping. Shopping centers that house levels after levels of cosmetics, fashion, and food are lined along the Shijo-dori. Daimaru, Takashimaya, Marui and Isetan are among those brands. Start walking from Shijo Station and head east towards Gion and Maruyama Park (do this at night) and Yasaka Shrine.

Worthy of visiting is the Teramachi and Shin Kyogoku Covered Shopping Arcades. Restaurants and shops are aplenty under the sheltered walkway and these are more popular with the younger crowd. Drop by the Nishiki Market for some fresh seafood, it's the Tsukiji of Kyoto though not in the same scale.

Gion is where you will head to for some Geisha spotting but they are very elusive. I've only spotted 2, one hurrying down Pontocho and another in a bar. Nevertheless, spend an hour or so wandering along the streets lined by wooden buildings, tea houses and restaurants only known to people in the know. You may just get a glimpse of one.  

4. Fushimi Inari Taisha

 

Fushimi Inari Taishois my favorite place of interest in Kyoto. I guess it has something to do with Memoirs of a Geisha and Zhang Zi Yi running under the vermilion torii gates into the wooded forests of Mount Inari. Do you know that you can buy/donate one of these gates for a price? Well if you can't afford 400000Y for a small gate, you could get a mini one for 500Y at the souvenir counter. ;)

5. Arashiyama

I would highly recommend spending half a day at Arashiyama. Drop off at the the Togetsukyo Bridge and then wander down the shopping street. Have the green tea ice cream with cake which is just next to the train station. More on where i ate in Arashiyama soon.

Tenryuji Temple is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and considered as Kyoto's top 5 Zen Temples but really i didn't find anything spectacular about it. The must see however is the Sagano Bamboo forest that is behind the Temple. I love the wind chime quality of the rattling of the bamboo and the light rustle of the leaves.

There are 101 temples in the area so just pick whatever you feel like visiting or just wander around in the nature. Hop on to the Sagano Scenic Train which runs 7km to Kameoka, along the Hozu River, at a leisurely ride at 25km/h. That's what holidays are about ain't it? To complete the experience, take the Hozu River Boat Tour from the JR Kameoka Station back to the Togetsukyo Bridge. Very interesting and entertaining guides they have.

Remember to do a Tofu Ryori in Arashiyama for they are famed for that. I'll introduce an affordable one to you soon. Best Japanese jelly i've had as part of my meal and i totally regretted not buying it back.
There are so many ways to visit Kyoto and here are merely some options based on my experience. It really depends what sort of traveler you are. Remember, whatever you do, don't rush it. The journey is more important than the destination. Hope you've enjoyed this post!