Chik's Crib

30 March 2016

Bornga (The Star Vista)

Star Vista March 30, 2016 0

I'm not sure whether my appetite is much smaller than the average person, because Miss XS and I shared an Executive Set from Bornga ($39.90, available Mon-Fri excl. P.H., 11.30am-3pm) and we couldn't even finish the meal.

One reason was the abundance of side dishes that they served. I never seen a table piled with so much side dishes before, and we only managed to fit in a couple of bites from each side dish. They were missing a sweet potato side dish that I loved, but the individual cold kimchi soup was surprisingly refreshing and pleasant.

We had the Mansinchang SamGyupSal (pork strips), which they cooked for us. It's just as well, for people (like me!) whose impatience outweighs common sense.

The cooked meat is dipped in bean sauce and wrapped in a selection of different vegetables. And there is plenty to choose from, with the tray stretching across the length of the table.

Miss XS opted for the Sundubu jjigae (spicy soft tofu soup). The flavour was a little lacking, with none of the scope of flavours that I was expecting.

The Verdict
With such generous portions, the Executive Set can comfortably feed two people. We like the helpful placemats that teach you how to enjoy BBQ the Korean way.

26 March 2016

Chocolate Prune Cake

Recipe March 26, 2016 0

Picture by R

Wow, this cake is ugly, was my first thought, as I pulled it out of the oven. But one sprinkle of powdered sugar after, and it's transformed. Plus, with the summer sunset filtering through the window, the cake looks almost better in the picture than it does in real life.

This flourless cake is lighter than the other ones that I usually churn out, which is a pleasant surprise. I tend to max out at half a slice of the other richer cakes if there's no sauce to serve alongside, but this cake by its lonesome was Goldilocks: not too rich, not too light.

Adding prunes is an interesting take on the classic flourless chocolate cake, which works well despite my initial misgivings. No one had any problem scoffing down this cake. Everybody grabbed seconds, and among the 6 of us, it disappeared in no time at all.

Platypus (Chinatown)

Western Food March 24, 2016 0

I've heard great things about Platypus's lobster rolls, so I was one happy clam when I spotted Platypus's sign dangling at a storefront in Chinatown. I dragged my sister from work to Platypus for teatime around 4 plus, but they were unfortunately not open for business until 6pm. We soothed our disappointment with some creamy coconut ice cream from Qoolco just down the street. And waited. And waited. We came back to Platypus at 6pm right on the dot. The waitress looked unimpressed.

Qoolco (Chinatown)

Thai food March 20, 2016 0

Qoolco sells Thai coconut ice cream, and I know this one is legitimate when we spotted the ladies from Cha Thai sitting outside on the tables along the pavement happily digging into their coconuts.

Chir Chir (Chinatown)

Singapore March 16, 2016 0

It's now becoming a tradition that whenever I come back to Singapore and meet my friend, the first meal we will have together will be Korean Fried Chicken. At least, it will be, if I have it my way (although she complains I make her dieting impossible). We had Chicken Up the last time around, and this time, we checked out the newly opened Chir Chir here in Chinatown.

I had difficulty finding the restaurant, and walked the mall from B2 to L3 without much success. I finally called my sister for help, and she pointed me towards the direction of Luk Yu, with Chir Chir just hidden in the corner opposite.

Despite my deep-held conviction that we shouldn't order roast chicken at a Korean Fried Chicken store, I relented and ordered the Garlic Roasted Chicken ($32.90). It comes with a salad, a baked potato and a hardboiled egg. I'm not sure if it's one entire chicken, because we seem to be missing a drumstick... Maybe the staff knows we are supposed to be on a diet?