Imperial Treasure Steamboat Restaurant @ Triple One Somerset, Orchard Road

Really grateful to have awesome and understanding friends who patiently waited more than an hour for me to finish my work, so that we can go ahead with our plans to have dinner at Imperial Treasure Steamboat Restaurant. The venue was also partly chosen to accommodate 'swamp-with-work' me, it being situated at Triple One Somerset along Orchard Road which is just 3 minutes away from my office. I literally ran over to meet them. What can I say? I felt very 感动! What can we say? We were all totally famished!!! Let's get hot and steamy! Quick!

Arashi Yakiniku Charcoal Grill Restaurant @ Boat Quay ~ Enjoy Japanese Wagyu Beef By The Singapore River

I had absolutely no idea what's in for lunch except that we're going to have barbeque at a Japanese restaurant located somewhere along Boat Quay (I just follow Daniel! lol). Felt much gladness when it turned out to be a pleasant dining experience by the Singapore River with views of some landmark buildings. If it's lovely in the afternoon, it will be lovelier in the evening. Arashi Yakiniku Charcoal Grill Restaurant certainly knows how to choose their location.

Mean Bean & Wicked Grind @ Parkroyal on Beach Road

If you can have your own café, how would it be like? Fellow blogger Kimberly made hers focus on providing really good coffee and desserts with a takeaway concept, found a cozy corner place within The Plaza at Parkroyal hotel on Beach Road to house it, and named it Mean Bean & Wicked Grind (MBWG). I also want. But since I don't have, the next best thing is to visit and give her some support.

Burger VS Wings + Bar (B.W.B) ~ A New Vibrant Joint At Orchard Central

Woohoo there's a food fight going on at Burger VS Wings + Bar (B.W.B.) at the rooftop garden of Orchard Central! Who like burgers? Who like wings? Which will win over our hearts and palates? The competition heats up as the chefs at this new American-style restaurant attempts to tempt us with their creations!

HAN Japanese Restaurant @ Odeon Towers ~ A Kushikatsu Experience

In Hana Yori Dango (花より男子), it is said that "A pair of good shoes will bring you to good places". I don't wanna dispute that for it might very well hold true for some of you, but I can be very very sure to say this: "A craving for food will bring me to a lot of food places!"

I was missing the kushikatsu izakaya experience during my previous visit in Tokyo where I was served panko (breadcrumbs) coated deep-fried items on skewers 'omakase-style' non-stop until I told the chef to stop. We then pay for what we ate according to the number of our skewers. I wonder if there's a similar concept here in Singapore that serves kushikatsu or tempura. A quick asking on twitter and facebook throws up recommendations of Tenshin, Aoki and HAN. Arrangement was soon made to visit HAN Japanese Restaurant at Odeon Towers (near City Hall mrt) with Nat for lunch.

Gunther's Modern French Cuisine @ Purvis Street ~ The Cold Angel Hair Pasta With Oscietra Caviar Is a Must-Try!

Having been to Gunther's Modern French Cuisine at Purvis Street a couple of months earlier during Singapore Restaurant Week, I was totally smitten with Chef Gunther Hubrechsen's spectacular cold angel hair pasta and told myself I will definitely want to return again for another experience of that awesome deliciousness. It wasn't so much of a planned visit though, as we called the restaurant for a table just before going over, but thankfully, the courteous voice on the other side of the line said they are able to accommodate us. Tongue and tummy, you are blessed! LOL!

Whampoa Food Street (Keng) Fish Head Steamboat 黄埔庆 @ Balestier Road ~ Still One Of The Best After All These Years!

Compared to the previous few Makansutra dinners which I've attended, the session at Whampoa Food Street (Keng) Fish Head Steamboat 黄埔庆 was a lot simpler. The venue wasn't fancy, the food was unpretentiously presented and mostly what we would have ordered at a regular zhi char stall. So what's the draw? It's their signature fish head steamboat which magneted us over!! From its humble beginning in 1990 as a hawker stall to the current two restaurants at Balestier Road and Rangoon Road, as well as a chain of profitable food outlets with its own central kitchen and catering arm, Whampoa Keng has certainly come a long way under the leadership of Mr Keng. His first wife now manages the main branch at Balestier Road, while his second wife takes care of the Rangoon Road outlet. I believe Mr Keng not only has a talent for business, but in time management as well.

Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen 豚骨火山ラーメン @ Liang Court ~ A Japanese Volcano Ramen Experience!

A humble meal of soupy noodles takes on a fun note at Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen 豚骨火山ラーメン! Rather than the usual way of simply presenting a bowl of ramen, well, in just a bowl, a server brought to our table a preheated 300°C stone bowl with noodles and assorted ingredients already placed inside, before pouring tonkotsu broth over and covering it with a funnel lid. A great deal of steam is soon released through the top opening, like a volcano going to erupt! That's how Tonkotsu Kazen Ramen got its name ~ 'Volcano Ramen' (kazan means volcano). The origins of its creation can be traced back to Osaka, Japan. Now it can be enjoyed at its two branches at Novena Square 2 and Liang Court in Singapore.

SMOKE HOUSE Charcoal BBQ ~ A New Retail Cum Self-Service Dine-In Japanese BBQ Concept At Great World City

One of the favourite activities of BFF and myself is to go 'window-supermarketing'. BFF always say the basement of any shopping mall is the best because that's where the supermarkets and food outlets are usually located. The rows and rows of food products never fails to inspire and excite, especially when we see produce which are so fresh that we feel the urge to just purchase it, go home, cook and eat it. It seldom materialize as we lived too far apart and hunger can't survive the distance, but now with the opening of Smoke House Charcoal BBQ at Great World City, problem solved! It offers us the chance to shop and do our own barbequing, all under one roof!

Bochinche ~ Modern Argentinean Cuisine At Martin Road

My first encounter with Argentinean cuisine was quite sometime back at Salta, and the main impression was of the heartily portioned slabs and slabs of barbequed meat. But Argentinean food isn't just about that, as seen in Bochinche, an Argentinean restaurant opened since August last year. Located above the popular coffee joint Common Man Coffee Roasters at Martin Road, Bochinche's focus is on showcasing more on the diverse produce of Argentina and presenting a refined twist on traditional ingredients and cooking methods. Diners get to enjoy food that are mostly served tapas-style in small plates, perfect for sharing and fully enjoying the bouquet of variety it has to offer.

District 10 Bar & Restaurant (UE Square) Unveils New Look and Dining Menu

A quick walk passed the alfreso area of District 10 Bar & Restaurant at UE Square (located across Robertson walk) would have me dismissed it as just another after-work watering hole, if I did not venture deeper into their premises which also houses an indoor bar, dining hall and private dining room. Recently revamped, the new spruced up look of this District 10 flagship outlet (the other outlets are at Star Vista and Clarke Quay) is of absolute chic gorgeousness, reflecting a gastrobar concept which is contemporary yet suitably cosy for dinner and drinks in a relaxed ambience.

BlissHouse ~ A Pretty Garden Theme Restaurant at The Central, Clarke Quay

If what is written holds true, then be ready to be abounded in supreme happiness because "A spell has been cast in Blisshouse that allows anyone who steps into it to feel bliss." So fairy-tale-like! I was at Blisshouse, a garden theme restaurant situated in The Central, Clarke Quay for a dinner tasting of modern European cuisine, when this line from their printed menu caught my eye's attention.

Lawry's The Prime Ribs Singapore @ Mandarin Gallery, Orchard

I can't really remember but I supposed it was during one of my previous visits at Lawry's The Prime Ribs that I somehow got on their mailing list and has since been receiving a postcard nearing December each year, reminding me that my birthday is coming and I get to enjoy a 1-for-1 main course during my birthday month. It doesn't take a mathematics genius to figure that this is a good deal, so I thought might as well make use of it lol! Since I already had dinner at Lawry's a couple of times before for their famously known Roasted Beef Prime Ribs, I decided to make my reservation for lunch instead to experience a different feel. As I traveled the familiar route to Orchard Road's Somerset mrt station, before exiting and walking for another 5 minutes to Mandarin Gallery where Lawry's is located, it felt like I'm going back to work on my day off (my office is nearby), except that this is for something much more enjoyable of course :p

High Society ~ A Gorgeous Café & Restaurant At Pacific Plaza

The task of deciding a place for dinner landed on me once again as we started planning for an evening of fellowship with our dear sisters in Christ before two of the blessed ones leaves for their walk with Jesus in Israel - They will be spending Christmas in Bethlehem! Envy much hehee! I thought High Society at Pacific Plaza would be a suitable venue for all the girls as it's located along Scotts Road and easily accessible by a few minutes walk from Orchard mrt station. Besides, the Baroque-inspired décor of the restaurant is gorgeous! Perfect for camwhoring lol!

Teppei Japanese Restaurant, Orchid Hotel ~ An Awesome Omakase Experience!

2 hours! 22 dishes! I had my first ever Omakase experience at Teppei Japanese Restaurant! Much has been raved about Teppei which is nestled at Orchid Hotel near Tanjong Pagar mrt station. How marvelous their food is. How great value their omakase dinner is. So much so that its popularity had our reservation in waiting for 4 months before it was finally our turn to plonk our bums on one of the restaurant's 21-counter seats. 4 months! This is the first time I've to be held in anticipation for so long to have a meal lol. Much to my happiness, it was worth the wait :D

Goldleaf New Taiwan Porridge Restaurant @ Amoy Street ~ Best of Comforting, Endearing Classic Dishes!

"You came all the way here specially to eat Taiwan porridge? It must be good right?", the taxi uncle asked me as he dropped me off at my destination, Goldleaf New Taiwan Porridge Restaurant at Amoy Street. I couldn't answer him in certainty back then as it was my first visit to the restaurant. Now, as I write in retrospective, my answer would be a resounding "Yes!". My meal at this seemingly humble establishment is more than good! It's awesome!

Quan Lai Kway Chap 泉来粿汁 @ Macpherson Road ~ The Deep-Fried Pig Intestines Is Definitely A Must-Order!

It has been an on-and-off relationship. My affection for Kway Chap began innocently when I was very much younger. Emotions were simple and pure, without a deeper understanding of what kway chap really is. If the food taste good, I will eat it. I remember my mum will always bring us to the Toa Payoh Lorong 7 hawker centre near my school (Pei Chun Public School) on Saturday mornings after my ballet classes for a quick meal of kway chap. The steaming hot bowl of flat broad rice sheets (kway), together with some braised items were delicious and comforting. I adored it! Until I grew a little older and realized that the tasty braised items were..... Pig Offal!

The Song Of India ~ An Indian Fine Dining Restaurant Along Scotts Road

In my imaginative moments, I likened dining in Singapore to an emperor in ancient China where there is an harem of imperial ladies to chose from for his nightly pleasure - There is an abundant of choices. While some seems to be more favored and received repeated visits more often, there are also certain love we will indulge in once in awhile. Indian cuisine is not one which I feast upon on a frequent basis, but is undoubtedly one which I enjoy as well. So when the opportunity presents itself to dine at The Song of India, one of the best-known Indian fine dining restaurant in Singapore, of course there was no hesitation on my part to say "yes". Organized by Asian Masters, an evening of Glenlivet presented with Flavours of Kashmir awaits.

Bedrock Bar & Grill, 313@Somerset ~ One Of The Best Places In Town For A Delicious Meal!

Lunch time, time to eat! We were at Bedrock Bar & Grill to fuel up and enjoy a great offer by The Entertainer, a user-friendly smartphone app which provides us with substantial cash savings when we dine at any of the dining establishments under their list. Redemption of the offer was hassle-free and we benefited from what we thought was a very-worth-it deal at Bedrock: 'Buy 1 main course, get 1 free'! No kidding yo! Best of all, the food at Bedrock was delicious!

Nara Thai Cuisine ~ Best of Thai Street Food Is Now At Singapore's Ion Orchard!

Don't Singaporeans love Thailand and its food? I know some friends who would display no hesitation in buying a flight ticket and hop on a plane to Bangkok for a weekend getaway of indulgence in delicious food and inexpensive shopping which the city abundantly offers. The lure of food, especially Thai street food, is a big irresistible one. But if one is not prepared to sweat it out at the numerous food stalls along the sidewalks, that's where Nara Thai Cuisine comes in and fills the gap, as they bring the best of Thai street food into a restaurant for diners to enjoy in air-conditioned comfort.