Tag Archives: vegetarian

Cantonese, Media Invite, Singapore, Vegetarian

[FOOD TASTING] Samsara Gourmet – Novena, Singapore

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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.
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 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. I didn’t even put any vinegar and white pepper which I usually do.
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 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!
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

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*** 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!

Taipei, Taiwan

浣花草堂素食餐厅 – Taipei, Taiwan

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Took a MRT to Banqiao station to meet up with friends over lunch while I was in Taipei. The train station is connected to a pretty big mall and loads of shops and food court at the basement. Huge selection for food. But friends are vegetarian hence I was brought to this place which I thought price is reasonable and quite tasty for vegetarians visiting Taipei. Sorry for the poor pics cos lighting in the restaurant was really dim…

Front
Some award for good restaurant
View from inside…
Menu Sample 2
Menu sample 1
Salad that comes with the set meal
Some tofu set meal friend ordered
My mushroom hotplate set meal
Quite nice
Dessert with my set meal
Milk Tea is so-so
Bill… quite affordable actually
Locations

Rating: 4/5.

Taste: Quite good and every set is prepared on the spot. A little oily though. But they offer a lot of variety in their menu for the vegetarians!

Portion: Average

Service: Very good.

Ambience: Wooden seats are not comfortable and place is a little dim…

RTE: Probably not cos I’m not a vegetarian 🙂

Location: See last pic.

Taipei

SO FREE WOOD FIRED PIZZA (柴烧比萨) – Taipei, Taiwan

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Ok I know this has been dragging for some time and finally I’m getting to write about the food I tried when I was in Taipei.

This So Free Wood Fired Pizza place came to me as a surprise actually. I was walking around Ximending looking around for a place to have something light, then this little restaurant caught my eye. Not because of the custom built big stone oven that is right at the counter in front of the shop, but also the crowd that is patronizing the restaurant at a weird timing of 3 to 4pm… So I decided to check out what they offer on their menu.

According to the manager in charge of that Ximen outlet, he told me the restaurant serves only organic vegetarian pizzas and only pizzas in one standard 8″ size. Best thing is, all the pizza bases and sauces are made in house.! With that I chose the Pesto Mushroom Pizza, and documented the following:

Rating: 5/5. For its freshness, originality and great taste!

Portion: Average

Taste: Really nice and fresh! Love it!

Price: Damn I really can’t remember but price is definitely very affordable (below SGD$10)

RTE: Definitely! Hope to be back in Taipei soon!

Location: 台北市万华区西宁南路50巷1号 Tel: (02) 2314-6225 Opens daily from 1200-2200hrs.

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Vegetarian

He Xi Vegetarian Restaurant @ Blk 4 Upp Aljunied Lane

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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.

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