One Night Only: Quique Dacosta in Singapore @ Sofitel So Singapore.

The wife and I were recently in Barcelona and Madrid in Spain for a holiday. This was the aerial photo that we took and we see lots of rectangular shape plots. We are missing Spain and all the Spanish food we had. Some of you probably ate virtually with us on Instagram too.



After we booked our flight tickets, we were browsing through the World's 50 Top Restaurant to see where we can go. It was a futile effort for us, the places required a few months of booking! It was also difficult to route the cities we wanted to visit to the restaurants as they are like 300 - 700 km apart from where we are.

Flying or taking a train to Valentia from either Barcelona or Madrid will means we will be travelling more than we get to eat and sight see.



105 km from Valencia is the coastal town of Dénia. It's also where Chef Quique Dacosta who is touted to be one to watch out for after El Bulli closed. The NYT says so!

Good News!

If you are into Spanish Avant-Garde cuisine, three-Michelin-star Chef Quique Dacosta will be in Singapore for a ONE DAY only dinner at Sofitel So Singapore. It's a specially crafted five-course menu priced at $538++ and every dish will be paired with fine wines from Spain’s Castell d’Encus winery. The dishes being presented will include:

The Haze – a dish that recreates the taste of humidity and warm of the earth after a storm – featuring pine nuts, raw peas, pig crackling crumble with mushrooms, black truffle and small flowers – paired with a Taleia 2012

Cuba Libre of Foie Gras – a Dacasta signature of melt-in-your-mouth foie gras with cream, veiled with coca-cola and rum and granita of lemon with brioche on the side – paired with Ekam 2012

The Hen of the Golden Eggs – a poached egg cooked at low temperature with a broth of chicken and vegetables, coffee and gold – served with Ascup 2011

Ashes Rice – soft senia rice with smoked black truffle, braised pigeon, chanterelle mushrooms, inspired by the rice of Valencia after harvesting and burning – paired with Quest 2011

Chocolate Sand – a signature delight of textures and tastes of chocolate – paired with Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Blanc 2006


(This is a sampling of what you will get when you order the tasting menu at his restaurant. )

There's only spaces for 100 diners though. If you are interested in this dinner, you can call  +65 6701 6800


Xperience Restaurant
Sofitel So Singapore
35 Robinson Road
Singapore 068876

Tel:  +65 6701 6800

The Sandwich Shop @ Robinson Centre

Today's the last day that I am spending my 9-5 at the Robinson Road area. So for lunch today, colleague and I decided that we should try sandwiches around this area. We have been tempted by the few sandwich shops around.

In the end we decided that we would stay on this side of the road. We saw one opposite the road and decided we are not chickens and we are not crossing the road. LOL

Ok ok... it is actually this is the poster outside their shop that was tempting me! Walking past it for the last few days, today our legs brought us in.
(Address is 61 Robinson Rd, Robinson Centre)



When you walk in, you can see the full view of the open concept kitchen. It's as if you can pretend you are still a kid and ask mummy to make one for you in her kitchen. *piak* wake up boy!



OK. Here's my crayfish and rockets sandwich. Comes in a neat box with a little cherry tomato too. You pick them from the big chillers, like those in the supermarket where milk or drinks are sold.

Oh ya, the serving tray had a mini crossword. It has a date on it, but the date seems to be a few days past.



Here's what went into my mouth. Lots of rockets below. I love the taste of rockets.



Colleague had a wrap instead. It's quite filling according to her.



Nice ya? Although its not my lunch, but looking at it, I can imagine the crispy lettuce, juicy tomato and delicious looking meat in my mouth now.

I was suddenly thinking of lunches during uni days in Melbourne.



We also ordered a potato and egg salad and shared. Topping of the sinful bacon bits is enough. We thought of another colleague who loved potato salad. She would love this.



No food's wasted according to their napkins.



Very thankful the 1 week's course is over. It has been attending course in the day time and working from home at night for a week.

Have a good weekend!

Men-Tei Ramen @ Robinson Center

This might sound rude. Yesterday, while we were walking along Robinson Road after lunch, we saw these few young ladies who dressed up in their expensive business suits that were talking so loudly in a very gossipy tone, you would think they were aunties if you did not turn around and see them. haha...

They were talking about the need to come early to Men-Tei Ramen. Overheard: "Ey, tell you ah, this place hor, must come early one. Wait till lunch crowd come ah, you 'bao zhong'. Sure no place one. That's why today we bring you here to early early."

That was heard yesterday, today our instructor let us out at 11.45AM as promised. Before that we were secretly salivating looking at Men-Tei's menu at www.men-tei.com :-) We already decided what we were going to have before even stepping in.




We were there five to twelve and there was still lots of seats. Our orders were taken promptly and the food came in a jiffy.

This is colleague's Tonkatsu Ramen. The whitish broth that has been boiled for hours. (yes, we read it from their website)



I had the Miso Ramen. Deliciously satisfying.



We enjoyed it. Both had the grilled pork (yakibuta) that was very very tender. We love the egg (tamago) too. The egg white is hard, yet the egg yoke is semi soft inside. Yummm... The noodles are freshly made too.

4 kinds of ramen. (6 if you include the spicy and non spicy version) One standard price - $13 per bowl. No GST and service charge. Comes with a drink. (water or green tea)

Another interesting discovery today. What shall we have tomorrow?

Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa @ Market St Carpark

For this whole week, a colleague and I, we are attending a course at Robinson Road. Being newbies in this area, lunch time is a fun time to look for food.

On Monday we had food at the more familiar Amoy St Food Centre. Tuesday we made a bad decision by going to China Sq Food Centre. It seems that this place is closing down, most stalls have closed and the food we had was horrible.

For the last few days, we were busy spotting places to eat. One that caught our eye was this long long queue at a laksa shop at the Market St Carpark building.

So, today we decided to try this laksa. We were let off for lunch at around 11.45 AM, quite a blessing at the lunch crowd has not invaded the city. No queue!




Colleague had the Prawn Mix Laksa. $6.90



I had the Chicken Mix Laksa instead. $6.90



All the ingredients are hidden inside. You get 2 chicken wings, lots of 'ham' / cockles, tao pok, fish cake etc... And the super thick calorie laden gravy.....



The gravy is thick and yummy. The sambal is spicy and fiery. Although you are sitting in an air con place, you will definitely break sweat eating this. The claypot keeps your laksa hot and that keeps a bowl of heat heating up your face. haha...

The chicken tasted like it is boiled separately and just added on top. You got to 'coat' it with the thick gravy to make it taste good.

Wondering what should we have for lunch tomorrow.