Obento lunch at Nanbantei

Previously I have had a similar yakitori obento lunch set from Kushigin. Now that I'm having it at Nanbantei (Far East Plaza #05-132, 14 Scotts Road, S228213), I realised that they are exactly the same thing and cost the same amount. A $12.50 bento box with 5 sticks of grills, pickles, rice topped with minced chicken, sauteed mushrooms and seaweed. The difference between the two bento boxes are probably just the rice that is being used and as I recall, the former didn't use the short grained Japanese rice. Otherwise, lunch at both places (same management if you didn't know) are pretty much the same deal. Now I'm not too sure why I was expecting any differences at all.

A second take at Prego

The last time I was here was my first time with an ossobuco wannabe with a very cheesy saffron risotto. This time round, it's pasta. I thought it might be interesting to see what they have up their sleeves. Apparently, there was just a very recent change in the menu.

The one thing I liked about Prego was their wheel of complimentary bread that they served. It has always been the same bread that Prego has been putting on the table ever since I could recall. 

bread

calamari fritti

These calamari from were probably the most expensive ones I've ever had. For $28, it was unremarkable with an almost tasteless batter. The saving graces of this starter came from the squid which had a enjoyable bite and the "spicy tartare dressing" which livened up the fried squid. I didn't think they were worth how much was charged.

spinach gnocchi stuffed with prawn topped with minced crab meat on a crustacean bisque

The gnocchi's tasted Asian. Maybe it's just me, but it had consistency like Chinese yam cake and the pasta looked slip shod. The gnocchi looked like it had meat rolled into them in tubes before they were cut. There weren't scored after they were cut. Was reminded of the fallopian tubes from kuey chup stalls. The taste of the crustacean bisque reminded me spicy dried shrimps (hay bee!). The minced crab meat definitely didn't taste sweet like fresh ones did. Even for pasta made in house, these were the most un-gnocchi like gnocchi I've ever had. Not impressed.

pappardelle della befana
saffron pappardelle tossed with sauteed pancetta and eggplant aglio with provolone piccante cheese

The pappardelle was the better of the two pastas that we picked. This one was something that was from the festive selections on their menu. Didn't know what was so festive about it. In fact, the kitchen could come up with something like this anytime for a change of menu, but I'm not going there. There was just the barest hint of saffron in the pappardelle. Most of the rest of the flavour came from the tangy tomato based sauce and the Provolone piccante.

Zucotto

To demystify, this was just a Kahlua flavored ice cream with a cookie crumble shell. Was actually not too bad.

I don't think I'll be returning for at least for a long while.

La Petite Cuisine, Serene Centre

Le Petit Cuisine (#01-05 Serene Centre, 10 Jalan Serene) has been on and off my radar for a while now. The place is known to do bistro styled French cuisine with no frills and at an affordable price. The place is not fancy at all at the slightest. The food's rather simple with no frills. If you're expecting ambience that accompanies the romantic imagery of dining in a French restaurant, you can burst that bubble. There is none of that there. Think plastic table sheets and laminated card menus. This was about affordable French food which could probably make a good introduction to anyone who is curious about what one can expect of bistro styled food.

foie gras panfried with orange confit and salad ($15)

For a $15 foie gras, I cannot complain much. But if I had to say it, I would have liked a more crispy surface. The ones here aren't well caramelised. The insides of the liver do melt in your mouth and for what they charged, was definitely a better deal than a pseudo fancy rendition that featured a bigger price tag and noticeably smaller portions. The one gripe that I had with the foie gras was that the supposed orange confit tasted a lot like a Worcester sauce reduction.

ravioli of prawn and foie gras in lemon creme ($12)

This ravioli would have scored better if the skin was better made. In each one of them was a single shrimp and a small but identifiable piece of foie gras. The accompanying lemon creme sauce was actually pretty decent. Instead of stuffed squares of pasta, these were shaped much like wanton or other Chinese styled dumplings. There were only three pieces.

confit de canard with gratin ($14)

Not much complains about the confit de canard apart from really small portions. It's might not be the best out there but it's a decent rendition served with a tasty gratinated potatoes on the side.

Of fast food, chilli fries and Carl's Jr

Just wondering out loud if there is another place that does and equivalent or better chilli fries than Carl's Jr. The ones from KFC aren't really to my liking. I understand that Botak Jones does something similar, but I'm pretty much against the over fried crinkle cut fries which really makes them no fun to eat and it makes me feel that I'm killing myself with something that doesn't taste as good. Though I'm essentially not big at all on fast food, these usually chained outlets are definitely ubiquitous enough to the point that they are probably on most people's consideration list when one does not have time to spare and really need a quick meal. And apart from this place that still serves the best (and most expensive) fast food burgers since they've opened up here, there doesn't seem to be any better player in the horizon. The portabello burger definitely beats the mushroom swiss at BK. Speaking of burgers in this place, the chilli cheese burger could definitely do with more sauces. The mix is pretty decent, it's the quantity that could improve. That being said, it'll probably make eating them a messier affair.

So, good chilli fries anywhere anyone?

Teh Tarik ice cream from Island Creamery and tigers

I dropped by Island Creamery (Serene Centre, 10 Jln Serene #01-05) recently and tried a couple of their flavours. That teh tarik ice cream was pretty good that I bought 2 tubs home. I thought it wasn't excessively sweet and had enough of the tea flavour to be enjoyable.

If you happen to be the owner and reading this, the Tiger Sorbet was mildly interesting too. However, the tigeresses that you employ behave as if they peaked with PMS and badly need a dosage of discipline. Since when has selling nice ice cream become an excuse for bad attitude and obvious display of lackadasical behaviour. One of them informed me that the dry ice packing that could keep the ice cream cold for an hour and a half while another that did the actual packing said 45 minutes and insisted that she was correct about the duration. I had to ask the first other lady again to confirm and both of them looked like they weren't in agreement. Seriously, I needed the ice and what's with not wanting to ask and not providing ice and still arguing with the customer about the duration of the cold packing?

Marché, VivoCity

It's been quite some time since I've walked into Marché. I had the idea that they had departed the local food scene with Vila'ge being more visible in town but apparently, they still are around. In Vivocity (VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, #03-14). Things have changed a little on the menu. The old favourites like the rosti and the savoury crepes are apparently still around. Food didn't seem to be as tasty as I remembered them except for the greasy rosti with thee greasy sausages. The banana crepe had rubbery skin thicker than prata. For something that was made on order, the bananas were cold. Wtf?! The pasta drenched in some weak cream sauce was not to my liking. Hence it's smothered in cheese flakes and chilli powder.

The pleasant surprise was that Marché actually has König Ludwig at pretty inexpensive pint; which I thought was a good substitute for Hoegaarden during the shortage period some months back where everywhere was serving them with extra thick foam and some other places charging more for them while at that. But that's for another day.

rosti with garlic sausage

pan fried mushrooms and potatoes

creamy mushroom soup

some curly carrot pasta

banana crepe with maple walnut ice cream