Ootoya (大戸屋) @ Orchard Central

This was my second visit to Ootoya and this time, with my beloved mother and "forever young" elder sister (ironically, the younger sister looks older)!

My first visit was memorable and i really enjoyed the food for its simplicity (even the menu was simple and to the point)!

No doubt, this restaurant is highly popular with natives (Japanese) and that's always an accurate gauge of its authenticity!

Before i start on what we had eaten, kindly keep in mind that most main dishes have an option for set meal that includes plain rice, miso soup and an appetiser.

Rice is refillable for free and various toppings are available on the rice for an additional cost!

Savoury, with more ingredients than the common miso soup.

Eh....... They should omit this item and give us something really appetising!

Charbroiled Alaskan Red Salmon

Usually, i would not order any fish dishes when i am dining out! The conviction would however be broken whenever the mother is out with us.

Reddish alright, the meat was too dry that screamed of overcooking by the kitchen. Nothing much i can comment since salmon has always tasted delicious when it's fresh and cook within an optimal duration.

Fried Chicken with Sweet and Sour Sauce

(Torikurozu )

Tasted suspiciously like the Chinese Gu Lu Rou (sweet and sour pork), the crispy exterior was a marvel to have while the fresh vegetables balanced an otherwise pretty unhealthy meal. 

Did i mention that the meat was so soft, so so tender and so so so fresh?!

Rice with Charcoal Grilled Chicken

(Sumitoridon)

Topped with green leafy vegetables, this was almost like the usual teriyaki chicken don but the taste was more than ordinary.

Most of the times, it's the teriyaki sauce that gives the flavour but in this case, the fresh chicken thigh meat played an equally important role. 

Ootoya is secretive on what sauce was used (termed nicely as special sauce) though.

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Location

181 Orchard Road #08-12

Orchard Central

Price

Sumitoridon - S$11.00

Salmon (Set) - S$17.00

Torikurozu (Set) - S$16.00

Subject to 10% Service Charge and 7% GST

Additional Information

Health conscious people will definitely enjoy reading the calories listed on the menu for each dish and make their choice wisely!

For me, life is short and we should enjoy the utmost in everything we do and eat.

Ah Hock Fried Oyster (阿福蠔煎后港) @ Whampoa Makan Place

Looking at the accolades plastered on the menu bar and its proud declaration of an origin since 1927, i knew it's a must to try the oyster omelette!  

We did not have to wait long and the plate placed on our table looked really delicious!

Contrary to Dr Tay's review here, i was not as convinced on its shiokness!

Although more eggs were used in the frying, the overall orh luak was too oily. The oyster flavour was also not obvious enough, downgrading this dish to a normal omelette standard.

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Price

S$5.00 for small

Location

#01-54, Whampoa Makan Place

My Time Schedule

The above picture correctly depicts my usual schedule at night.

Not exactly healthy (i do know that) but coupled with an increasing stressful workload in the daytime, i would have to work really hard to keep my mentality (cheerfulness inclusive) in place.

As i get older and older, dreams are nonetheless just dreams.

What's most important is surviving (and hopefully, enjoying) your life.

Mang Jia Jiao Satay (芒加腳沙爹) @ Whampoa Makan Place

I thought i read somewhere that there's a famous satay stall in Whampoa by the name of Mang something.

Imagine my excitement when i chanced upon this stall called Mang Jia Jiao Satay!

The lack of any notable mention by famous foodies (Green Book, ieatishootipost, makansutra) aside, i have to follow my heart on what i thought i read!

"Uncle, 10 sticks of pork, 10 sticks of chicken, no rice!"

Looking at the plate of meat sticks (satay), my mom commented that the satays were pretty "white". By "white", she meant the lack of burnt marks (chao ta) that are the standard for most famous satays.

A healthier version with lesser carbon content but the bane is getting a plate of satays that was deprived of the much loved smokiness directly connected with the chaota-ness!

Furthermore, the marination was not as sweet and to a sweet-tooth person, this was pratically a failed satay!

While we were trying to finish the satay (agonising no doubt), i noticed a pile of meat (above) on the table, where Alex was sitting.

That bloody bitch was tearing away the fatty parts and parts that were blackish. Kaoz!! The amount he plucked was tantamount to three sticks of satay!!!

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Location

#01-42, Whampo Makan Place

Price
S$0.40 per stick

Additional Information
Non-Halal

Ninja Warriors (Urban Attack 2010) @ Velocity, Novena Square

Okay lah, not the original Ninja Warrior we watched on television. But at least this is something similar with physically draining obstacles for the competitors!!

Titled Urban Attack, it was exciting to see the competitors pushing their limits to clear each stage (six obstacles in total)!

Let's take a look at all six of them!

The rolling pin! Cheat one lah!

If not for the safety gadget, most would not have passed the first stage! Look at how this lady was using her body weight to lift herself!

Looked pretty easy right? Most have no problem with this but the balls were really bouncy!

The first few competitors did what they thought was normal; jumped and grabbed the net.

Wrong move!

Pull yourself up, back facing the water and slowly make yourself to the other end!

This must be the easiest! Such bloody big holes!!! And the running track was moving too slow!

Most difficult of them all! By this time, the competitors would be really exhausted (remember, they are racing against time).

Shorter people (like me) are greatly disadvantaged! Our arms are not long enough to grab the poles leh!!

Failed! Not her fault lah... The poles were too far apart...

I am not sure where the sixth obstacle was. Was the stopping of the timer it? Update me if you know!

Watching this from the 3rd level at Kopitiam, all the diners by the side window were so excited whenever a person dropped into the water. Hahaha.

(Supposed to place a picture of my biceps here)
Not big enough.

It was tempting to try out and test my physical capability but registration has closed leh.

:(

Ah Biao Wanton Noodle (阿標雲吞面) @ Pahang Street

Yes, Ah Biao has moved from its last location at Upper Thomson to Beach Road (Pahang Street to be exact).

Lucky southerners (like Ms Stella Tan)!!

You can imagine how disappointed i was a month ago when i happily drove to Upper Thomson Road to satisfy my never-ending cravings and found only the signboard in the coffee shop!

Anyway, this new downtown location is pretty disadvantageous to me; I will need at least 30 minutes instead of a mere 15 minutes to reach!

The good thing, however, is that the place is not as hot as the old outlet!

Damn the weather!

It should only be hot when i am either drying my laundry or suntanning!

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Location

12 Pahang Street.

Housed within this building!

Additional Information

Catering more for the office crowd, the operating hours have changed! It's rest day on Sunday (and Public Holidays) and open till 3pm on Saturday!

Usual operating hours (Mon-Fri) are from 6am to 6pm!

For my full review on Ah Biao Wanton Mee, please click HERE .

Strike Off Wide Screen LCD Monitor

Once again, it's the annual Singapore PC Show!!

I am still confused by the different designated titles for the technology fairs in Singapore; PC show, IT show, Comex etc etc etc.

To me, they are purely events where i can get some really great deals (lower price, more freebies or both) to satisfy my wants!

Due to a better price (S$20 cheaper with a free DVI cable), i managed to strike another item off my wish list!

A widescreen LCD monitor (21.5 inches)!!

Gosh, computer monitors have really evolved in the past twenty-thirty years!

Remember the old box-like CRT monitors that were a drag to carry?!

For those loyalists who are still holding on to the CRT monitors, you want to buy my old LCD monitor? :P

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The show will end tomorrow! If you need to buy some badly wanted gadgets (be it DSLR camera, printers, netbooks), don't wait any further!

Be mindful of the crowds though!
It can be so frustrating!

*picture taken a year ago*

Question - What's This Soil Like Stuff?

Question?

What do you think this is?

*Please excuse me the camera for the blur picture*

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Rubee's dry food from Science Diet?

Guess again!

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Stewed Minced Pork (albeit dry version) cooked by my mom?

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Answer!

A failed chocolate fondue by Alex using Calbury Chocolate!

It was perfectly alright in the beginning but i guess the heat was not as strong towards the end, resulting in a slower melting but rapid solidification of the chocolate.

Psssstttt

We finally know where Famous Amos got its recipe!!

After some tidying up using Alex's outrageous dirty hands, this failed chocolate fondue smelled (heavenly) and tasted so much like the ultra sinful yet super delicious chocolate cookies!~!

Hm......

After writing this blog, i wonder if the hands had anything to do with it.

Down (Moody)

I am human and it is inevitable that i will feel down at times. Due to a pretty mischievous face, it's not often that a companion can read what goes on in my heart.

That said, i am usually quite hardy in difficult times and i always believe that only i can conquer the unhappiness (and devil) within myself!

One example is my resignation from a job that i enjoyed on one hand yet detested on another.

Certain things can lighten my mood though; like the following pictures. 

Isn't he adorable?!

Hahaha!