Bonchon Chicken, Ion (Singapore)

Wow. I take a lot of spicy stuff but these things really got my tongue burning. I got a 6pc meal, half and half. So I got 3 pieces of soy garlic chicken (okay-ish, more salty), 3 pieces of spicy chicken (looks like its covered in hot sauce made for kids, but trust me, its not), fries and a drink.

The chicken was amazingly crispy. My first impression was that since they were covered in sauce, they'd be soggy, but hell no! Crispiest chicken, hands down! Fries were the same way and on top of that, they were sprinkled with herb-chili-salt flakes- magnificent stuff!

Verdict? At $10 a pop for the 6 piece set, these babies don't come cheap but its definitely worth the money and I'm coming back to try the rest of the menu (tofu salad looked awesome)! You can also get some Hite (Korean beer) here to put out the fire in your mouth. They also sell the chicken by the hundreds- fantastic for parties! YOM!

Soup Restaurant (Singapore)

One of my favorite restaurants to go to for comfort food is the Soup Restaurant. Its like going to Granny's for dinner.

I usually have a set list of dishes I order, but this 'beggar bowl' is one of their relatively new items and mighty inexpensive at $5+ a pop. Its a great lunch-sized portion and comes in 4 or 5 different variations. This is my favorite- their famous samsui chicken and vegetables.

Verdict? Great homestyle cooking! Gotta love their ginger sauce!

Nutella

Nothing I love more than my hazelnut chocolate. And yes, here I'm eating it with a fork at work.

Verdict? I'd use my hands if I have to!

Hole-in-the-wall, Golden Mile Complex (Singapore)

Since I haven't been to Thailand since age 9, coming here to the Golden Mile Complex, the famed little Thailand in Singapore, is probably the closest I'm getting to authentic Thai (street) food.

This plate of mango salad turned out fantastically spicy and refreshing. I really like those dried shrimp on top too. It came on a pool of liquid which was really yum- wanted to drink it up with a spoon.

We also got what they called 'thai laksa'. It really was some thin white noodle in a clear spicy broth and 3 frozen fishballs. I was lamenting how overpriced it was at $4, until I got done with mine and saw people eating theirs by helping themselves to random herbs and vegetables on the table and topping up their noodle dish with it. Pfft. You'd think they'd tell us.

Verdict? I'd still brave the dodgy mall and come back for the mango salad if I'm in the area. Adventurous people should attempt their raw crab mango salad. Those salted, black (raw, remember?) bad boys were clobbered up and mixed right into the salad. (Yuckk.)

District 10 (Singapore)

Finally made it out to this much talked about hotspot, unfortunately, I defied my usual food logic and ordered the steak at a non-steakhouse. I guess that's really my fault. It did come out very beautifully plated and generous with the wedges and vegetable though. The mushroom sauce could be a tad more flavorful.

They do have extremely reasonably priced wines and champagnes, which is a plus. That and their food is relatively inexpensive.

Verdict? I wasn't impressed with any of the food so I have to say I'm disappointed because there's really been so much hype. However, I'm loving the laid-back vibe of this restaurant cum drinking spot, so I'd be willing to give it another shot and maybe order something safe next time like their signature fish and chips?

Room Service Breakfast, Marriott (Sydney)

The full Australian breakfast was just way too much food even for me. Nothing particularly outstanding but they got my bacon and hashbrowns well done just like I asked and those went down easy.

Verdict? Pricey but generous breakfast (you should see Japanese in-room breakfasts).

Sushi E, Establishment Hotel (Sydney)

On a crazy 24 jaunt to Sydney, so much good food around but just can't bear to miss my favorite sushi place. The others will just have to wait.

Started with a bowl of miso soup. I like that theirs is real light and chockful of greens and some fried tofu.

Beef tataki is a staple. I love the chilled grain fed angus tenderloin slices. I had to ask for more garlic-ginger dressing this time though. Loved the fried onions on top; shall ask for more in future. And if I had to change anything, I'd really appreciate more greens!

Dynamite roll packed a decent level of spice, but other than that it was fairly normal. Will definitely pass on this next time.

Decided to be adventurous today and got the ocean trout in sesame dressing, drizzled with hot olive oil. The fish was cooked on one side and raw on the other- loved the tangy dressing! Looked a tad dull though...

Finally... I LOVE their complimentary dessert! Never knew it was complimentary till this evening but free or not- YOM! I'm gonna try make this for parties!

Verdict? Bye Sushi E! Till next time!

T3 Krisflyer Gold Lounge

I was pleased to see these chwee kweh this morning together with some jap chae. Something different for a change! Pity the chwee kweh were cold... They wouldve been decent if not. Jap chae was of course nothing like the real deal, but I'd give them a point or two for changing things up a bit.

What was good was the seafood congee that came chockful of fat shrimp and bits of dried scallop. And yes, I happen to love my condiments very much, thank you.

Good to know the lounge pre-6am is not maddeningly crowded. Even free food cannot see me jostling with men in business wear for that last piece of pancake or scrambled egg. Eesh.

Red Lobster, Various (USA)

Sometimes I get these random cravings for chain (normally not fantastic) restaurants and Red Lobster somehow always makes that list. Its good old hearty portions of seafood, accompanied by the best, I repeat, the BEST cheese biscuits ever!. I tried to make replicate them with my cheese biscuit pre-mix + more cheese + some chili flakes + random herbs and they were good but took too much effort (yes, even with a pre-mix).

So those cravings got me driving out to find a Red Lobster while on vacation here recently and mmm. Cravings satiated for a few months more. Apologies for the rather sparse cheese biscuit basket (these things are complimentary by the way- as a poor student, I used to ask for more just to take them home!!), I had already polished off two before I had any will power to stop and take a picture. Could've been my main but I also ordered a shrimp platter which was probably concocted for greedy people like me who wanted not just the shrimp linguini alfredo but also the crunchy popcorn shrimp and the garlic shrimp scampi! That was probably enough shrimp for the month but all soo good, especially that garlic parmesan cream sauce.

Verdict? Definitely a must-try!!!!!!!! (Yes, multiple exclaimation marks!)

PS. Cannot for the life of me figure out how to rotate the biscuit picture- it is the right way up in my folder, but for some reason Blogger keeps uploading it the wrong way!? Help!

Flutes at the Fort, Fort Canning (Singapore)

Flutes was a pleasant surprise this time around. Perhaps the roasted lamb rack we had over the company's Christmas party was just a poor choice because it really wasn't all that it should have been. This time, I opted for the barramundi filet and wow, it was amazing.

It came with a grilled shrimp atop a nicely grilled fish (crispy always does it for me!), accompanied by what was quite simply the best potato ball (yes- crispy!). I had a fleeting want to make a special side order of these balls until I remembered that I was at a dinner invitation to celebrate a wedding, and you don't really do these things at weddings. :P

Verdict? Would come back anytime! Love the old black and white bungalow setting as well. Definitely a great place for a romantic dinner. I also like that it is right smack in the city and so easy to get to!