1-for-1 with #burpplebeyond!

Featuring a homemade tagliolini tossed in a house-made seafood stock, the Gary’s signature seafood pasta had seafood that includes baby squid, lobster, mussels and clams flambéed with brandy. An abundance of the seafood was very much appreciated, along with the robust flavors of the seafood stock.

Thanks to #burpplebeyond, we enjoyed 2 appetisers and 2 pastas at the price of 1 each! Made my belated birthday celebration even sweeter!

1-for-1 with #burpplebeyond!

We also had the red prawn tartare, possibly the only tartare that I will ever try. Made with Botan ebi and Gambero Rosso prawns, I could taste the sweetness and melting texture of the shrimps. Definitely an umami bomb with the embellishment of uni, ikura and caviar, especially enjoyable with an extra creaminess from the uni. The crunchy watercress also lifted the overall freshness.

Thanks to #burpplebeyond, we enjoyed 2 appetisers and 2 pastas at the price of 1 each! Made my belated birthday celebration even sweeter!

1-for-1 with #burpplebeyond!

Nested in the picturesque area of Rochester Park, @gary’s offers contemporary Italian fine-dining cuisine with Japanese elements at an affordable price. Located in a 2-storey heritage bungalow, Gary’s an ideal choice no matter for a romantic date night or a casual dinner with alfresco seating.

Started dinner with some succulent pan seared Hokkaido scallops that were extremely mouthwatering since the exquisite sweetness and creamy texture were well delivered. Served with cress, lemon dressing and a saffron potato cream, which I thought, adds a flavor complexity in its pairing to the mollusks.

Thanks to #burpplebeyond, we enjoyed 2 appetisers and 2 pastas at the price of 1 each! Made my belated birthday celebration even sweeter!

Created specially for Christmas and will only be available for a limited period of time, the dark chocolate mint croissant is an indulgence for every dark chocolate mint lover. Extremely flaky, the twice baked croissant is filled with nothing but dark chocolate decadence and an infused mint syrup that you could choose to add based on your liking. It felt like a taste journey, as I first tasted the bitter but richness of the dark chocolate on top and from the filling, before the mint emerged and leaves a cooling sensation. Embellished with golden coco nibs and charming Christmas colors. Perfect for a Christmas pastry dream. 🎄

Highly recommending the all time favourites (Christmas edition) that consist of a Pistachio Chocolate Croissant, Mixed Berries & Coconut Croissant, Dark Chocolate Mint Croissant, and a Strawberry Cheese Croissant. All you need for a merry Christmas!

It was an early Christmas wish come true when I finally got my hands on @aliceboulangeriesg croissants. Famously known for their Bi-colored croissants, I must admit that they are extremely seductive for someone who has a soft spot for French pastries. The disappointment on a previous visit when the croissants were sold out early says it all.

The buttery croissants also came with savory options; egg or chicken Mayo, ham and cheese. While my mind was filled with the sweet selection, the hubs enjoyed the chicken mayo croissant. Stuffed with generous portions of chicken mayonnaise made with shredded chicken, the filling was creamy while exuding a hint of spice from the sprinkled paprika.

Seasoned with JU95 curry spice, the crispy battered baby squid crunchies is one snack that’s rather addictive and will probably be a good choice to pair with alcohol. The avocado and yogurt dip served by the side cuts the greasiness with its subtle sourness and fresh creaminess.

Surprisingly, the Gambas ajillo ($18.90) here was quite decent although they aren’t specialised in Spanish food. Served with de-shelled prawns cloaked in a garlic-infused olive oil with some smoky hints of paprika, as well as fried garlic pieces. Mop up the fragrant olive oil with the crusty bread for elevated indulgence!

Before ending off with the chilled lemongrass jelly dessert, we had the Stir-fried Ee-fu Noodles with Wild Mushroom and Shrimp Roe. The restaurant accommodated to our request to replace the original Fried rice with seafood and egg white in XO sauce. Nothing too extraordinary but I have to say the portion was,perhaps, larger.

Ya Ge also serves different lunch and dinner menus that are affordably priced.

This was followed by the 3rd course, braised Dong Po pork with broccoli. I have always been wary of this dish for its ultimate fattiness, and can safely say the best I have ever had was still the one in Shanghai. Fortunately, the braised pork here wasn’t extremely fatty, yet unfortunately, the lean meat wasn’t tender enough to melt in the mouth. Instead, it was actually a little tough.

The double-boiled chicken soup with cordyceps flower was light in flavour, nutritious, and just right on the overall basic taste. It was particularly homely, as it reminded me of the exact one cooked by mum at home.

Housed within Orchid Hotel, Ye Ge serves traditional Chinese taste with a modern twist. Individually portioned, the lunch set began with the Ya Ge Dim Sum selection that comprises a beautiful thyme butterfly pea infused shrimp dumpling, crispy mini pumpkin pastry with minced chicken resembling 南瓜饼 but with a savory touch while not being overly starchy, and crispy ugly duckling with chicken, yam and mushroom. It’s the commonly known yam ring shaped into an adorable duckling , just that I am not a fan of yam ring. This first course was already pretty heavy and filling.

Ended the dinner off with one of the recommended desserts, Ondeh ondeh cake with young coconut ice cream. Sandwiched in between layers of the cake, I felt that there could be a little more Gula Melaka for the cake to be more moist. The young coconut ice cream that wasn’t overly sweet was served on the side with a sprinkle of peanuts.