Category: Vegetarian

[FOOD TASTING] Samsara Gourmet – Novena, Singapore

Cantonese, Media Invite, Singapore, Vegetarian

I apologise for not writing much lately as I was pretty swarmed with work as I do not have any part-timers helping me since school reopened. At the same time, I was planning for my upcoming coffee pilgrimage and food trail in Medan and Sumatra. Updates will be more frequent on my Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/eatwithroy/) so if you guys like, can follow me there.

Recently I was invited for a hosted dinner at Samsara Gourmet, a hidden gem serving excellent authentic Canton cuisine at reasonable prices, with a head chef formerly from Tunglok Group. This humble 50-seater restaurant with a private room is owned by Ms Violet Lee, who was Miss Singapore in the 1980s, came back to Singapore after spending more than 2 decades in China building an empire.

After much checking out online, Samsara Gourmet is seriously out of the radar in the social media circle although fellow bloggers like Maureen (www.misstamchiak.com) and Derrick (www.sgfoodonfoot.com) have written on them some time ago. Location could be a factor and also lack of publicity, which is why I am writing this blog entry. The food here is so awesome that I really need to share it here.

Frontage. Simple reno.
Frontage. Simple reno.
Vegetarian Abalone Lou Hei. As mentioned in my instagram post, the veg are cut daily and really fresh and refreshing. An alternative to the regular sugar coated ones. The sauce is also made in house, a very nice rendition to the Lou Hei.
Vegetarian Abalone Lou Hei. As mentioned in my instagram post, the veg are cut daily and really fresh and refreshing. An alternative to the regular sugar coated ones. The sauce is also made in house, a very nice rendition to the Lou Hei.
Vegetarian Platter. The mock char siew in front is really good, the middle mock goose with shrooms fillings is delicious and the top mock kidney is really crunchy and tasty. Great starter dish!
Vegetarian Platter. The mock char siew in front was really good, the middle mock goose with shrooms fillings was delicious and the top mock kidney was really crunchy and tasty. Great starter dish!
Fish Maw Soup. Served in individual bowls of $8 if I am not wrong. Full of ingredients, fish maw and chinese mushrooms sourced from HK and hand carried back.
Fish Maw Soup. Served in individual bowls of $8 if I am not wrong. Full of ingredients, fish maw and chinese mushrooms sourced from HK and hand carried back. I didn’t even put any vinegar and white pepper which I usually do.
Samsara Gui Fei Chicken. Meat is very tender and skin is so smooth, it was pretty hard to kiap with my chopsticks. A must-order!
Samsara Gui Fei Chicken. Meat was very tender and skin was so smooth, it was pretty hard to kiap with my chopsticks. A must-order!
Pumpkin Prawn Ball is also another winning dish. Love how the sweetness of the pumpkin covers the large de-shelled prawns. Lovely!
Pumpkin Prawn Ball is also another winning dish. Love how the sweetness of the pumpkin coated the large de-shelled prawns. Lovely!
Pork Knuckle Mee Sua was so good, I wish there were more. The mee sua is not clumpy and really delicious. Pork knuckle was really tender with the skin jellyfying in your mouth! Another must-order!
Pork Knuckle Mee Sua was so good, I wish there were more. The mee sua is not clumpy and really delicious. Pork knuckle was really tender with the skin jellyfying in your mouth! Another must-order!
Claypot Chicken Rice. Wow this really wraps up the night. Rice was cooked to al dente, chicken was boneless thigh meat and very tender. Chinese sausage (Wing Wah) and mushroom were hand carried back from Hong Kong. Missing this quite a bit!
Claypot Chicken Rice. Wow this really wraps up the night. Rice was cooked to al dente, chicken was boneless thigh meat and very tender. Chinese sausage (Wing Wah) and mushroom were hand carried back from Hong Kong. Missing this quite a bit!

Rating: 5/5.

Taste: Truly authentic Canton food. They can also cater for vegetarian options. Really good.

Portion: Good.

Service: Very attentive. I hope it’s not because the boss was there.

Ambience: Nice and pretty chill.

Price: Considering the quality, very reasonable. At least much better than my reunion dinner at another restaurant.

RTE: Definitely!

Location & Hours:

Add: 38 Irrawaddy Road, #01-05, Singapore 329563 (On the right side of the lobby of Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre @ Novena)
Tel: +65 67343138
Hours: Mon-Fri: 9am – 9pm, Sat: 9am – 6pm, Closed on Sun & PH

Map: https://goo.gl/maps/cDvZw1JtNRS2

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Samsara-Gourmet-1519293228391002/info?tab=overview

————————————————————————————-

*** CNY PROMOTION ***

Show this blogpost to enjoy a 30% discount off all a la carte dishes with min $50 spending for dinner only from 6-9pm. Valid till 29th Feb 2016!

Advertisements

Hong Nian Vegetarian Food – Hougang, Singapore

Singapore, Vegetarian

This vegetarian stall within a coffee shop has been there for ages near where I live. I’m sorry for not writing about them sooner as think all of you know, I’ve just moved back to home Singapore. My mother and myself enjoy their food there and here I am now, writing about them.

Stall front
Stall front
Long queue in the mornings!
Long queue in the mornings!
Choose your side dishes!
Choose your side dishes!
Vegetarian Chicken Rice - Hot favourite there. Very fragrant rice and the chilli is nice. Mock chicken is basically bean base.
Vegetarian Chicken Rice – Hot favourite there. Very fragrant rice and the chilli is nice. Mock chicken is basically bean base.
Vegetarian Beehoon - This plate is not the standard set but I just love the variety of the sides.
Vegetarian Beehoon – This plate is not the standard set but I just love the variety of the sides.
The standard vegetarian beehoon... except the mock pork on the top right.
The standard vegetarian beehoon… except the mock pork on the top right.

Rating: 4/5.

Taste: Very tasty. Makes you forget you’re eating vegetarian! They have tse char also!

Portion: Average.

Service: Uncle cooks, aunty serves. Very friendly aunty.

Ambience: N.A. Coffee shop.

Price: A little on the pricey side unless you take the standard set.

RTE: Yes, a few times already ever since I came back in May!

Location: Block 327 Hougang Avenue 5 coffee shop.

Loving Hut Singapore – Joo Chiat, Singapore

Singapore, Vegetarian

I had a dinner meeting cum CNY reunion with my charity group at this place sometime in Feb and it was my first time in a pure vegan restaurant in Singapore! I dunno if their other outlets are still around but this one definitely has a very nice feel to it, despite the sleazy neighbours. Check out the food we ate below:

Outside
Outside

008 (1) 009 (1) 010 (1) 011 (1) 012 (1) 013 (1)

Done by designers from Indonesia
Done by designers from Indonesia
3 cup chicken with rice - Quite good and very tasty.
3 cup chicken with rice – Quite good and very tasty.
Crispy Oyster Mushroom - So good we ordered two portions!
Crispy Oyster Mushroom – So good we ordered two portions!
Sweet Potato Fries - Also ordered 2 portions!
Sweet Potato Fries – Also ordered 2 portions!
Teochew Dry Noodles - This one not bad and big portion!
Teochew Dry Noodles – This one not bad and big portion!
Napoletana Penne - Didn't try this but looks good.
Napoletana Penne – Didn’t try this but looks good.
Forgot what is this drink but refreshing!
Forgot what is this drink but refreshing!
Grilled Burger - So so only.
Grilled Burger – So so only.
Burger comes with salad and fries
Burger comes with salad and fries
Special order of Vegan Raw Fish for Lou Hei!
Special order of Vegan Raw Fish for Lou Hei!

Overall Rating: 4/5. I’m not a vegetarian and definitely not a vegan but I do understand what the Loving Hut Worldwide is trying to achieve. Nevertheless, they have come a long way and are present in many countries so far. So if you’re thinking of having some organic healthy food, pop in to this place and enjoy a change in the regular oily and meaty food! A great place for gatherings too!

Location: 229 Joo Chiat Road #-01-01 Singapore 427489. Tel: 6348 6318 for reservations.

He Xi Vegetarian Restaurant @ Blk 4 Upp Aljunied Lane

Vegetarian

This is my first vegetarian stall review. Not exactly a restaurant but more of a coffeeshop. Came across this place while looking for breakfast one of the mornings when I was back in Singapore recently. Quietly tucked in between very old HDB blocks of Upper Aljunied Road, I don’t think anyone would have spotted this place if they don’t live or work around there. So I parked my car in front of the place and checked out the place with my mummy.

The Restaurant

Vegetarian Yong Tau Foo, anyone?
Daily Specials - Vegetarian Duck Noodles. Taste of the braised sauce is very nicely done. $3.00 only.
Yang Chow Fried Bee Hoon - $3.00. Loads of veg inside and got the burnt wok taste. 🙂
Yam Cake @ $1 a piece. Not very nice maybe because the lack of dried shrimps.

Rating: 4/5

Taste: Quite good considering the fact that it’s non meat. Don’t order the coffee though… quite bad.

Portion: Average

Price: As stated.

RTE: Maybe.

Location: Blk 4 Upper Aljunied Lane #01-22, Singapore 360004. Opens from Mon-Sat 7.30am to 8.30pm. Close on Sundays, except 1st & 15th day of the Lunar Month.

IKEA Tampines

American Breakfast, Vegetarian

With a title like that, I reckon some of you must be wondering… WTH… IKEA? Like we don’t know! Yeah I believe most of you don’t know yet, but IKEA serves one of the best breakfasts around and it’s super duper affordable!

Met up with my business associates this morning for breakfast and I was amazed by my discovery!

Nice ambience & not too crowded like lunch time or weekends
Nice ambience & not too crowded like lunch time or weekends
Scrambled Eggs Set. Croissant is big! Only $3.00... yes $3.00...
Scrambled Eggs Set. Croissant is big! Only $3.00... yes $3.00...
Vegetarian Beehoon... Only $1.80... yes, $1.80 only... Very nice.
Vegetarian Beehoon... Only $1.80... yes, $1.80 only... Very nice.

 

yum yum
yum yum
The sauce looks bland but it's very tasty!
The sauce looks bland but it's very tasty!
Free 2 cups of coffees if you're a member! Remember to remove the stick after stirring. Cos it'll change the taste of the coffee.
Free 2 cups of coffees if you're a member! Remember to remove the stick after stirring. Cos it'll change the taste of the coffee.

Rating: 4.5/5 (Would be perfect if the scrambled eggs set is a little warmer. But, it’s alright with me, I eat cold food!)

Taste: Scrambled eggs set is nice and value for money. Vegetarian Beehoon is really nice. But if you’re a strict Vegan, the beehoon is not good for you cos they use garlic to fry it. Something you may wanna take note. 🙂

Portion: Scrambled Eggs Set is good and the croissant is bigger than most places. Vegetarian Beehoon is portioned reasonably as well and has a lot of ingredients.

Price: Scrambled Eggs Set ($3.00), Vegetarian Beehoon ($1.80), Coffee (Free & Refillable if you’re an IKEA member), Water (Free)

RTE: Yes definitely whenever I’m around that area… now we’re considering holding our meetings there already… haha…

P/S: RTE = Return To Eat