New York New York Food Review at Parkway Parade (Marine Parade)

Yesterday, Darius and I visited New York New York at Parkway Parade for dinner. At the point of visiting, there are not much crowded. The waitress was friendly to welcome us to patron to their restaurant.


We find our own seat and sat down to see the menu. After we decided what to eat, Darius waves his hand and within one minute, one lady in black served us. (if I am not wrong, she might be store supervisor or assistant manager.)


We ordered Breaded Mushroom SGD$9.90, Hot Plate Chicken SGD$13.90 and Hawaii Chicken Chop SGD$14.90. The lady in black was extremely friendly and smiled. She also repeated our order. After awhile, she smiled and served us 2 ice water.


About 10 minutes, Breaded Mushroom was served by waitress in blue color. She seemed to be nervous and the sauce was drooling off and has slight pour into the Breaded Mushroom. But nevertheless, the Breaded Mushroom smell quite tempted.


I took one piece and use a knife to cut it, the juice of the Breaded Mushroom came off and it was hot!! When I ate it with the sauce, it was so heavenly! Very juicy, crispy and yummy!!


About 15 minutes later, I was served by Black shirt lady again. When I saw my Hawaii Chicken Chop, I am very disappointed. Firstly, the food/dish arrangement looked very messy. Secondly, the vegetable was not fresh and in-fact turned slightly yellowish! Thirdly, the chicken looked very small piece.


After awhile, waitress served Darius one plate of vegetable first. After that, Hot Plate Chicken was served by a waiter.


I tasted the Chicken, it was scorched and had a hard time finish it. The Potato Wedges was fine but the vegetable really could not make it!


Now, let's talk about Darius food. His one plate of vegetable extremely not fresh at all! It's very yellowish. According to Darius, he told me that his food is very dry! They put too much of black peppers.


The Spaghetti was scorched. The chicken was not tender enough and too dry to be consumed! The eggs too scorched and dry! And both of us keep on drinking ice water due to scorched food!


Soon, the crowds started coming in and the restaurant was crowded and I guess they are lacked of staffs. We are trying to refill our ice-water but it seem like they are not free to pour it for us! Or perhaps, they are not expecting any crowds that why they did not deploy many staffs.


Then, we asked for our bill and it took about 5 minutes before someone approached us. The lady in black served us again. She's friendly and smiled. Very well manned service.


Locational: 3/5 (You need to alight at Paya Lebar MRT station and transfer to bus to reach Parkway Parade)


Ambience: 4/5 (Near to the company sign logo full of carton boxes of drinks and messy. Bad for company image)


Customer Service: 5/5 (They are friendly, polite and courtesy. Bonus, they smiled to every single customers)


Waiting Time: 4/5 (Acceptable Waiting Time but during lunch/dinner crowds should be improved)


Food Serving: 2/5 (Need to give fresh food and try to improve on food as either it's too dry or too scorch)


Pricing: 4/5 (Pricing are reasonable)Overall: I would likely recommend my friend to visit it!


Visit New York New York Parkway Parade outlet at:
80, Marine Parade Road, Parkway Parade
#01-10,Singapore 449269
Tel: 63448976
Fax: 63448754



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Prices are included 7% of Government Tax (GST) and 10% Service Charge.

Formula 1 is Back!

Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix night race is back! This weekends 24 to 26 September 2010 (Friday-Sunday) , everyone is looking forward to catch Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix race! As this is the only night race in the world!!

During the night races itself, there are many great exciting performances held and there will be awesome party going on right here in Singapore!! 

What's more, when you show your Formula F1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix pass/ticket, you will get privileges like discounts in certain retail outlets, free complimentary on Singapore Museums, Clubbing & Pub and 1 for 1 drink!

You can try your luck to get your Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix pass/ticket if you yet to get one. You can visit to the official website at, http://www.singaporegp.sg/ticket/ticket_map.php

If you have the pass/ticket and want to know about privileges you can get, you can visit to this website at, http://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/browse/apps/offerpromolistinggpssuniqueofferings.1024.191.html

During this weekends, Orchard Road (Singapore well known shopping district) line up many exciting show for you! Orchard Road transforms into fun, entertaining, fashion show, Arts exhibitions and 3D technology show case at Paragon, TANGS and ION Orchard. There will be also street performer by those license approved performer.

If you are hungry or thirsty, you can buy outdoor ice cream vendors  (Maybe only in Singapore you can see this!) from them. My recommendation that, you can try ice cream with bread or ice cream with waffler which cost you about SGD$1!!

For more information, you can log on to this website at, http://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/browse/whats-on/festivals-and-events/grand-prix-season-singapore-2010/gpss-events.html

Post Moon Cake Festival

Yesterday was Mid-Autumn Festival and all the Chinese in the whole world are celebrating it. To most Chinese, Mid-Autumn Festival is whole families member will reunion together and celebrates it by eating the moon cake and see the full-moon. For the children, they will be holding the beautiful and colorful lantern.

In Singapore, although Mid-Autumn Festival was not a public holiday but still most of the people here are celebrating it. On the Eve of Mid-Autumn Festival, you will see everyone buying and queue for Moon cake in last minute. 


Not only the Chinese, difference races will buy the moon cake as well. As nowadays, moon cake comes with difference flavors like Almond, Apple, Chocolate, Durian, Tiramisu, Vodka Orange and other flavors. Most people will goes for Snow Skin Moon cake, as it is very soft and easy to consume.

But some people will go for traditional moon cake flavor. Especially the elders one. At the same time, people will purchase with Tea as normally consume the moon cake will feel greasy!

As for me, I got myself Apple and D24 Durian snow skin moon cake from Good Wood Hotel Singapore and Chocolate snow skin moon cake from TWG Tea.

They(Good Wood Hotel Singapore) actually put more ingredients into snow skin moon cake! It quite worth of money and do you know that Good Wood Hotel are famous for their Durian?

Although I tried the D24 Durian snow skin Moon cake, it's very greasy and strong smell but it is delicious!

And for the first time, Good Wood are selling Apple Flavor snow skin moon cake! Their Apple snow skin moon cake is green apple flavor! Very sour and yet yummy!!

I yet to try the Chocolate snow skin moon cake from TWG Tea. After I taste it, I'll update it through here.

The packaging from the Good Wood Hotel Singapore look very grand!

D24 Durian snow skin Moon Cake from Good Wood Hotel Singapore!

D24 Durian snow skin Moon Cake from Good Wood Hotel Singapore!

D24 Durian filling into snow skin moon cake!


Apple snow skin Moon Cake from Good Wood Hotel Singapore!

They stuff more Apple filling into the snow skin Moon Cake!

Chocolate moon cake from TWG Tea!

Free Salonpas Samples

Do you ever had Stiff Neck, Sore Shoulder, Backache or Joint Pain? Or, do you feel muscle ache after hardcore exercise in the gym or sport?

Do you know that Salonpas can relief all the pain? Salonpas is a product made in Japan. Salonpas Patch contains the active ingredient Mehyl Salicylate which penetrates quickly and targets all your pain for fast acting and long lasting relief for your aches and sores.

Salonpas pain relief patch is thin, stretchable and flexible. It's measuring at 7cm X 10 cm. It's also skin colored, if you scare people can see you pasting it. The patch sticks on firmly and easy to peel off. It is not sticky and leave no greasy.

Salonpas pain relief is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of America. So, you do not need to worry that Salonpas is not safe for human!

Do you know that not even in Singapore, Salonpas can be found in Taiwan? The packing is almost the same but it is slightly smaller by 0.5cm! After long traveling, you need Salonpas patch to paste on your stiff neck to relief the pain!

Do you know that in Singapore sport events like SAFRA Singapore Bay Run and Army Half Marathon (AHM) 2010, most of the runners are using Salonpas to relief their pain while they goes for run?

Now, you have the chance to get Free 5 Salonpas Samples simply by commenting on the official website at http://bit.ly/9QtyVs. You also can read other bloggers have to say about Salonpas and how great it is!

Singapore packing on the Left,

Taiwan packing on the Right.

Singapore packing on the Left,

Taiwan packing on the Right.

中秋節

祝愿大家中秋節快樂!
Happy Mid- Autumn Festival!

All You Want To Know About Taiwan

Have you thought of traveling to Taiwan and you are not sure of Taiwan culture, food and where to visit? You come to the right channel as I will write down most of the information, which may interest you to visit to Taiwan!

Languages

Majority of Taiwanese speak Chinese ethnic languages like Mandarin 普通話/華語, Tai Yu 台話 (Min Nan Yu 閩南語or also known as Hokieen福建語) and Hakka 客家語. English is not commonly used in Taiwan as most of them could not understand or could not speak fluently. Although English is taught once the students enter elementary school.

Most of the signboard and menu are written in Traditional Chinese Character but English are written in Public Transport, Restaurants, most shopping mall and places of interest.

Cultural in Taiwan

When you reach Taiwan, you will be cultural shock! You are not allowed to throw tissue paper, toilet paper or anything into the toilet bowl. You need to throw it into the waste paper basket or thrash bin.

Most of the Taiwanese are courtesy and friendly. They queue for train at the platform and letting passengers to alight first before boarding the train. They stand at the right side of the escalator so that passengers who are rushing can walk on the left side.

When you are boarding the train at night, please note that you are not allowed to step into Women night zone cabin area as there are protection zone for women. You might be charge or sue for sexual disturbing from the local law.

Taiwanese are environment free. When you visited most of the shop in Taiwan, the shop keeper (7-Eleven, Shopping mall and others) will not issue you plastic bag. You cannot find thrash bin within 100m away. You need to carry your rubbish till you can find one thrash bin, which is perhaps 500m- 1000m away.

If you are throwing your rubbish into thrash bin, please note that you need to throw it to the correct bin. As their thrash bin will catalogue into difference types of rubbish.

Please note that certain hand sign are offences to the local and you might be charge from the local law. For example showing middle finger.

Touting

Most of the popular places or crowded areas in Taiwan, you are often been approached from aggressive touting services (This is bad). I advice you that not to offer their services as it will cost much compare to the government public transport. Or maybe you can ignore them or tell them you do not need the services. (They will keep on pressuring and following you)

Food

For Muslim friends, please note that most of the Taiwan Provinces food here are not Halah Certified. Even the fast food chain like McDonald's, KFC and many others fast food outlets are not Halah Certified.

If you see this sign written in Chinese Character (清真), which mean this food chain are selling Halah Food. You can visit to this website to see all the food chains which is 清真 (Halah Certified).

http://www.cmainroc.org.tw/cetacean/front/bin/ptlist.phtml?Category=140873 or through this website,

http://www.taipeimosque.org.tw/index.php?categoryid=10

Praying

Majority of Taiwanese are Buddhist and Taoist. You can find temples everywhere. But, there are people who are Catholic, Christian and Islam as well.

For Catholic friends, please visit to this website (which is written in Chinese) to find out the locational of the churches in Taiwan. http://www.catholic.org.tw/catholic/index.php

For Christian friends, please visit to this website (which is written in Chinese and English) to find out the locational of the churches in Taiwan. http://across.co.nz/TawainChurch.html and,

http://www.ccea.org.tw/missionworld//functioncode/publish/articleshow.asp?sn=799&type=0#W_Taiwan%27s%20Expatriat%20Ministries

For Muslim friends, please note that not all the Taiwan Provinces have mosque. Please check this website to see if there is a mosque which you intend to visit/travel.

http://www.taipeimosque.org.tw/index.php?categoryid=12

Health


Before traveling to Taiwan, please consult with your doctor if you are suitable to travel if you are unwell. Please consult your doctor for flu injection before traveling as you might not want to get sick while you are in Taiwan! (Strongly recommend you to have flu jab!! For your own good!)

Travel

To travel to Taiwan from Singapore in budget and yet Free and Easy, JETSTAR Asia and TIGER AIRWAYS (Coming soon) are offering their flights to Taipei directly. About 4 hours and 40 minutes flight. The cost for 2 ways flight from SIN-TPE is about SGD$520 for 2 ways (As of September 2010) includes taxes and fuel.

Or, you can choose Airasia where you need to get flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and transit to Taipei. The cost for 1 way flight from SIN-KUL is about SGD$59 (As of September 2010) includes taxes and fuel.

When you reach Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You need to transit the flight to Taipei. The cost for 2 ways flight from KUL-TPE is about MYR914 (SGD$406) for 2 ways (As of September 2010) includes taxes and fuel.

After you departing back to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, you need to transit the flight back to Singapore. The cost for 1 way flight from KUL-SIN is about MYR85 (SGD$38) (As of September 2010) includes taxes and fuel.

Total cost would be SGD$59 + SGD$406 + SGD$38 = SGD$503.

Before you are reaching Taiwan, please fill out the arrival card (consists 2 pages) and pass it to the custom officer and remember to get it back the other page as you need it when you are departure from Taiwan!

Exchange Rate

As of September, the currency exchange rate is SGD$1= NTD$23 and for Malaysian, the currency exchange rate is MYR1 = NTD$10.20

Dining at Trattoria Italian Kitchen, 313 Somerset

I visited to Trattoria Italian Kitchen (Trattoria Cucina Italian) which is located at 313 Somerset, Singapore. The decoration of the restaurant is very well- designed. Well Italian style and yet classic. The ambience is relaxing!

The Restaurant was not crowded at the point of visiting. The waitress at Trattoria Italian Kitchen are not friendly when you are browsing the menu. I cannot recalled if they are wearing name tag as I could not manage to see their name on it.

The service standard at Trattoria Cucina Italian are extremely terrible and horrified! The female waitress are really rude and it seem like they are unwilling to serve you and they used monotone to serve you.

One of the Chinese waitress says, "Where do you want to sit? In or Out?" I was like thinking, what is this? And I could not really understand what she mean. After some thought, I finally understand. She mean inside or outside of the restaurant premise.

I decided to sit outside of the restaurant as I could snap more photos. She passed me the menu and walked away. After decided what to eat, I ordered Classic Carbonara (Pasta) SGD$15.90 and Cotoletta Di Pesce (Fish & Chip) SGD$14.90. But, it took me quite awhile before someone could noticed me. It seem like they do not even bothered to serve me.

After awhile, another waitress served me complimentary Tomato Bruchetta. And a Chinese waiter put with a smile served me ice water and very friendly. I loved Tomato Bruchetta! The bread was crispy and yummy!

After some time of waiting, the food was served. Firstly, Cotoletta Di Pesce seem to be okay. But after eating it, I can tasted the fish and the fries are oily and not fresh, the vegetable are not fresh and overall, it's tasteless! I need to drink ice- water as it was oily!! I could not able to finish the food as it really oily!!

For the price of Cotoletta Di Pesce, I could visit to Fish & Co to have fish & Chip. The taste are better and the serving is just right and importantly it is not oily!

Secondly, Classic Carbonara looked very simple and plain. It's very cheesy and blended. It tastes like watery and the Bacon filling was Pathetic.

Rating for Trattoria Italian Kitchen (Trattoria Cucina Italian)

Locational: 5/5 (Above Somerset MRT station)

Ambience: 5/5 (Very well designed and relaxing)

Customer Service: 2/5 (Waitress are rude and unwilling to serve)

Waiting Time: 3/5 (Waited quite awhile to be ordered and food served can be improved)

Food Serving: 2/5 (Food tasted oily and tasteless)

Pricing: 4/5 (Pricing are reasonable)

Overall: I would likely not recommend my friend to visit it!

You can visit to Trattoria Italian Kitchen (Trattoria Cucina Italian) official website at: http://www.trattoriaasia.com/

You also can visit to Food Review on how consumers feedback on Trattoria Italian Kitchen (Trattoria Cucina Italian) at this website:

http://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore/trattoria_cucina_italiana_313_somerset/reviews/

Visit Trattoria Italian Kitchen (Trattoria Cucina Italian) outlet at:

313 Orchard Road, 313 @ Somerset

#01-16/17/18,

Singapore 238895

Tel: +65 6834 4833

Fax: +65 6834 4822

Prices are included 7% of Government Tax (GST) and 10% Service Charge.