Teppei and its Japanese Omakase experience is taking Singapore by storm. If you think that the rumored 2-4 weeks wait for a table is long, you would be in for a shock because they are actually full for the rest of the year. That was when i called in... May? Well... the trick to getting a table is to just put your name on the wait list first, and call them a couple of days before to check if people have canceled their reservation. Well, at least that's how i managed to sample the 13-15 course meal for a steal at 60 bucks! There is also a $50 omakase option that excludes the Wagyu beef and Toro. Needless to say we chose the more expensive option.

Love the coziness of the bar setting at Teppei. I love watching my food being prepared. It's great entertainment and there's always this anticipation of the next dish.

Chef Yamashita Teppei hails from Fukuoka, which also happens to be my next travel destination! ;) Now get ready for some serious food porn!

Refreshing salad in goma sauce to kick start the meal. I was really glad to know that all dishes come in small portions. Pacing myself for the 15 course!

Who doesn't love stewed daikon? These were stewed with the fatty yellowtail.

Freshly prepared tamago is my favorite. Those packaged ones are always too sweet for my liking. Add some freshly grated daikon and you have a refreshing dish.

Grilled edamame.

Super silky and smooth chawanmushi but i didn't like the fishy gravy.

Rice roll with a minced fish paste that was mixed with tempura batter to give it that light crunch. I'm not sure what paste this is (probably minced tuna belly) but it sure was yummy, especially with the light spicy spring onions. We noticed that people came in to take away some awesome don made with similar ingredients, which i suspect to be the Negitoro Kaisen Don ($14.95). Now that looked really mouthwatering with the generous chunks of marinated sashimi, minced tuna belly, salmon roe and tempura batter. ZOMG. Definitely coming back for this.

If a fish is good enough for me to pick off all the meat from the bone, it is good enough for anyone. Hur. The charred soy bits on the exterior of the slice was so good with the fatty collagen from the cheek! I'm dreaming of fish tonight..

The sashimi was fresh, sweet and buttery. What more can i ask for! Absolutely worth my 60 bucks.

Some other dishes that were quite average. A beancurd skin with slimy veg and a beansprout dish that i immediately passed over to S. The flavors are kinda reminiscent of the tofu dishes in Kyoto.

 

I've lost count of the courses but by this time i think i developed an understanding that Fukuoka cuisine is largely seafood based.

A zesty and lightly spiced oyster that glided down my throat easily. 

Barnacles. I've seen plenty of them during my dives and they always look really gross. But after Teppei, i'm seeing them in a different light.

It tasted like any other crustacean but i think it's most similar to the tail part of the crab claw (which i love). It's soft, briny and has a slightly roe-ish texture.

I've never had unagi tempura before and i guess there is a reason for that. The moisture in the unagi softens the batter quickly so it kinda spoiled the crunch. But if you love unagi, this 10x4cm parcel is gonna make you very happy. The tempura course changes so you may not get this.

Some grilled gingko nut for the birthday boy who is a regular at Teppei. Chef kept teasing him throughout dinner.

A rather substantial portion of stir-fried Wagyu cubes which i found to be on the powdery side. Hmm..

Some light Kani soup to warm us up after the rain. Spend some time getting to the meat, it's worth it.

For the main course, you should only order 1 thing, and that is the Sashimi rice. Trust me you won't regret it.

Fresh seafood was paired with Japanese Koshihikaru sushi rice from Toyama. The uni was to die for.

It's so good i need to show you another picture of it! :P

I know this is an excrutiatingly painful post for all you hungry people out there but they are too delicious not to share with you guys! ;) So yes, hurry make a booking! Special thanks to W who made this meal possible. If you are not on the wait list, then you better pray your friends have better luck. :)

Teppei Japanese Restaurant
1 Tras Link #01-18 Orchid Hotel
Tel: +65 6222 7363
Open daily: 12 - 2.30pm, 6.30 - 10.30 pm

I'm always kinda lost when it comes to getting supper food, especially when it's at 3am in the morning. Thankfully there's Swee Choon Dim Sum at Jalan Besar, which serves up some cheap and good steamed Cantonese bites till early morning.

Swee Choon is kinda famous for the Mee Suah Kueh (2 for $2), which is a deep fried rice cake that is wrapped in a salty rice vermicelli. But that has never been my favorite. I wasn't all too impressed with the food the first time i went and i was glad that i returned with my food kakis after a long hiatus. Since every dish was pretty small, that allowed us to order up a storm even at 3 in the morning. Oh and this was after i had my Peanut Butter French toast and Hazelnut latte at midnight. 

We had the Salted Egg Yolk Custard Bun (3 for $3.60) which wasn't all too bad. I liked the Sichuan Chili Oil Wanton (4 for $4) which had the right amount of spice and vinegar. The Steamed Pork Ribs ($2.50) were also tender and well marinated. 

I rather liked the pan fried carrot cake (2 pieces for $2) that had the right chunks of radish and dried shrimps. No Chee Cheong Fun for me because it is the regular kind and not the steamed Cantonese sort. Yes i'm picky that way.

The layered pancake with egg and meat floss ($4.30) is pretty good as well. Essentially it's a 葱油饼, a scallion pancake. Savory and very fragrant.

The boys needed their carbohydrates and hence the BBQ Pork Rice ($2.50). Thankfully it's not the packet sort. The rice was fluffy and had the sesame oil fragrance and the meat wasn't too artificially colored or seasoned. 

You MUST order the Fried Golden Tofu ($3.50) that is lightly crusted on the outside and seasoned with pepper and salt. The silky texture is simply amazing. The steamed beancurd roll in oyster sauce ($3.20) is also very good. 

I'll definitely be heading back if hunger pangs strike in the middle of the night! Do share the other supper dim sum places if you know any!

Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant

185/185/189/191 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208882

Tel: +65 6225 7788

Daily: 6pm - 6am (Shanghai baos only available till 4am)

I don't know about you girls but one of the things that i love about visiting the hair salon is the hair wash, head massage, blow dry and the perfectly coiffed hair that i can never attained on my own. It is a headache when there are events and weddings to attend and it just doesn't quite make sense to go to a regular salon because they aren't too fancy with the styling as well. 

Well, thankfully we have PREP, a fun hair salon at Mandarin Gallery, which specializes in hair grooming! I found an opportunity to try their services as i had to attend G's wedding and i simply had no time to curl my hair into shape because.. well i'm a busy girl! So i squeezed 45mins out and headed to Prep to get my hair ready for G's big night. This funky salon specializes in the good ol wash, blow dry and styling for us busy ladies. 

Took a sit and was promptly served a tea of my choice. Bright colored candies are also available. :)
At PREP, there is one price, $39 across 6 distinct styles which are clearly described in a pictorial menu, with no hidden costs. They are straight, natural waves, tousled waves, voluminous curls, tousled bob and sleek bob. I decided to go with 'The Great Gats-Beach' to tease out the curls in my soft curls.

It started with a nice wash and massage. You could also add on hair treatments if you wish. 

The end result.

The curls didn't turn out like the picture as you can tell. They were more the big curls of my already permed hair. As I did my hair 5 hours before dinner, the curls had to be tighter so that it'll loosen perfectly for dinner. I was mildly disturbed by the Indonesian rich lady look. :P

This was the hair a couple of hours later. I only scrunched the ends a little with styling milk so that it would loosen some more during the night.

Overall, i was rather satisfied with the service at PREP though my ends were a little frayed/burnt when they curled it with the curling tongs. :/ 

I would probably pay PREP another visit to try their other hairdos. Customization could be done i.e. braids, up-dos and stuff. Hair grooming for guys, as well as kiddos, are also available ($29).   

PREP

Mandarin Gallery #03-34, 

333A Orchard Road, Singapore 238897

Tel: +65 6732 6123

Mon-Sat: 10am - 8pm

Sun: 11.30am - 7.30pm

When we talk about Italian cuisine, the first that comes to mind would probably be pasta or pizza. But there is more to Italian food than just that. I think that as we travel more and become more refined in our palate, we are now ready to explore the lesser known regional flavors. Sopra Cucina & Bar is where you can be educated on the lesser known Sardinian cuisine, which is influenced by many cultures such as the Arabs, Spaniard, Romans and Phoenicians.

Hidden just off the main stretch of Orchard Road, Sopra Cucina & Bar is Singapore’s first Sardinian restaurant. The exterior reminded me of old school Hollywood and the decor an ode to the glamorous days of post-war Italy. The menu features dishes unique to the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, together with great thin-crust pizzas, wines and cocktails.

Inside, an eclectic treasure trove of antiques and vintage finds sourced from Italy allude to a bygone era. In the main dining area, intricate hand-painted tiles cover the floors and luxurious leather banquettes line the walls. If the environment sounds intimidating to you, i can assure you that it is most certainly not, especially if you hang out at the alfresco bar area.

There are many dishes to try here and the best way to sample the Sardinian classics would be to go for the Menu Sardo, a set meal which allows you to try many traditional dishes. The 4 course meal is priced at $98 with a minimum of 2 pax. The dishes that i'd be highlighting are also available in the a la carte menu should you feel not up to it for a full meal.

First Course

Bicscotto Di Pecorino ($22)- Seard roll of fresh Pecorino cheese in "Carasau" bread (a thin crust sheet), served with a touch of honey. Pecorino cheese is a staple in Sardinian cuisine and we saw a repeat of that in many dishes to follow.
Even though Sardinia is an island and many would expect seafood to be a staple but lamb plays a huge role in the food scene due to its mountainous region.The Zuppa Gallurese ($26) is a traditional Sardinian bread soup with lamb stock and Pecorino cheese. There is only 2 tablespoons of rich lamb stock and it was soaked up by the bread and cheese. It smelled pretty gamey but i thought the taste wasn't that bad. Then again i think my tolerance for gaminess is pretty high. W thought otherwise but the Zuppa was still acceptable for her.

Second Course

CW: Ravioli Dumpling, Seafood Semolina Pasta and Sardinian Gnocchi with pork (tasting portions)

A native Sardinian, Head Chef Simone Depalmas is the one behind the specialty pastas and dishes from the idyllic island. The pastas are all made fresh on site, like the Culurgiones Ogliastrini ($28), a variation on ravioli filled with potatoes, pecorino cheese and a surprising hint of uplifting mint, served with butter and sage. It was a little bland but i enjoyed the fluffiness of the potato dumpling.

Malloreddus alla Campidanese, Sardinian gnocchi covered in a beautiful pork and rosemary sauce. These gnocchi weren't that heavy on the stomach and had a chewy density. The tart sauce was appetizing but could be rather sour.

Fregola ($29), a couscous-like roast semolina pasta with seafood. These grains are bigger than cous cous with a starchy texture. There is a little spice in this one but generally it tasted rather light. I would liken it to a risotto.

Third Course

Other highlights include Agnello alla Sassarese ($35), a slow-cooked lamb and olive stew. The lamb was very tender and the gravy salty and flavored by the olives. W thought this to be gamey but again i was good. I wished that there were crusty bread to mop up the sauce though.

The Porcheddu Sardo ($48/pax) is a traditional Sardinian roasted suckling pig with roasted potato. (Additional $15 to set menu). I didn't enjoy this at all. There was too much fat that weren't rendered enough to melt in the mouth. The skin wasn't crispy enough and the meat was bland. Honestly i would rather have my Chinese sio bak over this anytime.

We have the Salted Crusted Sea Bass for our Pesce (MP) Fish of the day. The fish was so good on its own then we didn't even bother with the tomato basil sauce. 

We also tried the Sopra pizza (not on the set menu) ($26 for personal 9"). The pizzas are made by  co-founder and award-winning Pizza Master Chef Luigi Gianni. These traditional pizzas have a thinner, crispier crust than Neapolitan pizzas. The light fluffy dough with savory Parma Ham was addictive enough for me to come back with a bunch of friends to have this again. Oh yums.

Dessert

For desserts, we had the Seadas ($15), a traditional Sardinian ancient fritters with cheese and honey. This had a fried epok epok texture. Interesting but not something that i'd order again.

We also tried their blood orange sorbet and pistachio ice cream ($6 each). The sorbet was very refreshing after our heavy meal blood orange but the pistachio ice cream was way too sweet despite its intense nutty flavor. But do try their Pistachio Crumble and the Tiramisu!

Equally impressive is Sopra’s extensive wine list put together by restaurant manager and former World Gourmet Summit “Sommelier of the Year”, Mauro Serrajotto. Mauro is a fantastic host and he kept us entertained and taught us many new things about food. 

The refreshing Amaro Smash ($16), Amaro Montenegro with smashed pineapples

And the Strega-Tini ($16), the Cursed martini with grape fruit.

I absolutely adored the vibe of the place and the incredible service! Sopra is certainly a place that i would hang out with my friends. Oh i already did and certainly will do again.

Thanks to Sopra Cucina & Bar for hosting me for the wonderful meal!

Sopra Cucina & Bar
#01-02, 10 Claymore Road
Tel: +65 6737 3253
Mon - Wed: 11.30 - 12am
Thu- Sun: 11.30 - 2am

Still hunting for mooncakes for the upcoming Mid Autumn Festival? Here is another one for your consideration. Grand Hyatt Singapore presents a selection of artisanal mooncakes, handmade by their team of gourmet pastry chefs.

It is true that happiness comes in a baby blue box and these dainty mini mooncakes come encased in one too! Be rest assured that the delicate delights would be safely transported, each enveloped by a conical plastic dome within.

This year, three new snowskin flavours are added to the collection; Green Tea with Sake Truffle, Yam with Coconut Truffle and the White Lotus with XO Truffle. Adding a touch of luxury to this celestial occasion is the Black Sesame Yuzu Truffle topped with a delicate sprinkling of gold dust. And it glitters! In addition, popular snowskin mooncakes including the Champagne Truffle, Lychee Martini Truffle and Durian flavour, will also be available.

I didn't managed to try all the flavors because they were quickly devoured by the family! Mama loved the Durian flavor one. Rich flavors no doubt but i thought the skin was dry. The consistency of the snowskin varies from mooncake to mooncake but generally they were drier than others that i've tasted.

If you like the density and flavor of the traditional mooncake paste, then Grand Hyatt's snowskin mooncakes would be your cup of tea. I could taste more of the lotus paste than the matcha in the Green Tea mooncake. Other flavors like Lychee Martini and Custard with Salted egg yolk were more new age snowskin in terms of texture and flavors. I enjoyed the Lychee Martini one (i'm such a alchy) but the Custard was really like the custard puffs in the traditional bakeries (certainly not my cup of tea).

For those who prefer the baked varieties, classic flavours such as Red Lotus Single Yolk with Roasted Melon Seed; White Lotus Double Yolk with Roasted Melon Seed; White Lotus with Roasted Melon Seed; and Sesame Lotus Single Yolk with Bamboo Ash are also available till 19 Sep. You could get them at the shop at mezza9 of Grand Hyatt Singapore.

Prices 

8 miniature snowskin mooncakes (indiv flavors or mixed): $62

4 large traditional mooncakes: $60-$62

Grand Hyatt Singapore
10 Scotts Road
Tel: +65 6887 5492
Daily: 11am - 11pm