Ikoi, Frolick, District 9, Mei Heong Yuen (Ion)

Today we finally fulfilled our craving for a jap buffet (although I already indulged last week first!) at Ikoi (01-01, Miramir Hotel).

Since I just had a previous buffet last week, obviously my stamina would have deproved and I'd also no doubt make comparisons between the two. The winner: Irodori at Riverview Hotel - more of the stuff I like such as eel and soft shell crab is not available at Ikoi. Actually, the old Ginga restaurant at Riverview Hotel triumps everything, but I guess the existence of people like me put it to extinction -_-

We had lunch here at Ikoi and per pax it was $38, all in. I believe its the same price for both lunch and dinner. At Riverview Hotel, with the 3 for price of 2 lunch buffets (must present voucher), I believe its 27 bucks per pax all in. (or You can make use of the UOB 25% discount offer for lunch)

At Ikoi, they tend to give you alot of 'complimentary' stuff like the above appetiser of salmon (the only one which is not bad). At Riverview Hotel, the 2 complimentary dishes - green tea tofu (good) and jumbo prawns (excellent!!) I don't mind more, but I think Ikoi is a little nasty making you full with soupy stuff. And fibre (oh but I didnt mind the vegetable sticks cos the miso dip was so delicious)

Both serve excellent very fresh sashimi - my favourite's still salmon, yellowtail and swordfish. Since the hotels are just opposite from each other.......can conclude...same fish supplier???
California rolls... they've got a rather limited sushi menu.,

Agadeshi tofu

Ebi tempura which Marc ate +++++ (he can order 50 at one go) he says when he comes here with his brother they challenge each other to accumulate more tails on their plates...cute lar...

Mackeral and salmon - must say the fried salmon was really smooth and delicious.

So did this particular cut of salmon...Excellent.

This was so huge we couldnt figure out whether it was aubergine or was it wild yam...but it was really good and mushy with minced meat atop..

You can figure that this paper steamboat is complimentary..the salmon inside is most bony...

Japanese Porridge which Marc ordered....he forgot its the one at Raku which was excellent..

One more breath, Julie....

Missed out alot of photos cos many hungry boys = food disappears in a flash

Went to my house to chill before Dedrick returns with Marc's poker chips and obviously it was streetfighter/wii/massive $$$ at the dining table before Kelly and I adjourned to Holland V for yoghurt ice cream at Frolick.

Damn depressed when I couldnt find my Zouk card to get the 1-for-1!!!! Oh well I guess it makes up for the time the girl mistook the offer for Free icecream on presentation of card and gave it to me complimentary =P

When we got to Cineleisure it was way past 6 pm = no more student offer= ;(

but wait!!! I quickly ask for card offers and guess what..... Pay by nets and its $6 per pax Mon to thurs!

I say again, PAY BY NETTS TO WATCH AT CATHY FROM MON TO THURS ITS SIX BUCKS !!!!

Now no need to rush to watch before 6pm anymore.....and no need so sad to graduate with no more student pass...

Anyway, we went to watch District 9. I know its a sci-fi thriller full of gore but I actually fell asleep - its not boring at all but the previous night i had friggin insomnia and only slept 2 hours (before HPPS called!!!!!! tmd wake me up I cant sleep anymore) and the cine seats are just too comfortable.

Its one of the better sci fi I watched but it doesnt beat one that I watched years ago - about flesh eating creatures being quarantined into an island - and the children of an affected mother wanted to enter the island to rescue her. Affected creatures were screened by an iris test and the children turned out to be valuable genetic material because they were carriers of the affected gene, and could potentially be tapped to make vaccines. I cant friggin remember the title so tell me if you know ! (think my synopsis too lousy also)

Anyway, District 9 has a political analogy - it was inspired by historical events that took place in District Six, an inner-city residential area in Cape Town in South Africa under apartheid. In 1966, District 6 was declared a "whites only" area by the apartheid government and for the next several decades, 60,000 people were forcibly removed and relocated to Cape Flats, 25 kilometres away.

Anyway luckily my friend Kelly is a good storyteller so despite me taking a 10 min power nap (during the climax somemore, sigh) I managed to keep up with the series of events... Took a long stroll to Ion with her explaining everything from the Papa/mama (haha) to the baby.

Anyway, most of the stalls were closing already when we reached Ion. We got very excited when we spotted Mei Heong Yuen at Ion (B4). What a surprise ! Kelly's a little disappointed it has become commercialised, but I was pretty amused that Marc's cravings for dessert earlier during the buffet was fulfilled by us (albeit without him!). And somemore when I texted him on my way home he was actually on the way there to celebrate someone's birthday! Speak about coincidence.

I tried their durian ice before and i really liked it. I liked their sweet durian puree over their fine shaved ice. But this Yam ice ($5).....

On first glance, doesnt the lilac remind you of a Khong Guan Yam Pau? (which I used to be obsessed with during a particular sports camp - so much so that they suggest hanging a Yam Pau in front of me so I can chase it all around and be more proactive during the camp =P)

Oh it tastes alot like a diluted yam pau/paste....no puree leh!!

Anyway we came just before 10pm, very near their closing time. The owner was very friendly so we overlooked her overlooking our order. Our banter went something like this :

Q: Why the yam ice so purple ahh?? In your poster so pale leh.

A: Oh, different mah, the lighting. And we use real yam. (Isn't it the same case for both??)

Q: What happened to the raisins and cranberries in the poster?? can you add into our one?

A: Oh we no longer stock those cos customer feedback, say too hard and clashes with the yam taste.

Q: Anything else we can add to make it less bland?? really very bland leh....

A: Oh, its an acquired taste (But we like yam what !!!) , supposed to be very light. The ones in Taiwan taste very good cos the raw ingredients there very fresh, different from the ones we have here (and still dare to sell???)

Q: Yaahh Ma'am, we suggest adding in yam chunks, taro paste, or maybe even red bean??

A: Supposed to be a LIGHT acquired taste, cannot have contrasting flavours. Maybe can try our red bean green tea ice instead???

Then to appease us - not say we very agitated what... -_- she went to the kitchen then offered us this brown sugar conical jelly - gives this slightly spicy after taste (although she was taken aback when we reported our findings. She said that she was coming up with a new longan combination then I didn't quite catch - not particularly excited but Kelly was haha. So she's adding this new jelly to the new ice flavour.

The brown sugar jelly did add such a contrast to the yam ice, chewy bursting pearls and firm jelly tubes =)

We saw the last few pieces of Min jiang Kueh at Pinle (B4, Ion) and couldnt resist buying - Kels the peanut and cheese, I got the cheese one. I love the thin dough batter, just the right proportion and I love the melted cheese too! I like this cold one even better than the freshly made Mr Bean cheese pancake (thanks ah Kelly for spreading the addiction =P)

And today is the day we spotted 4 white Lambos !! Kelly has such as astute sense of hearing Lambos she could identify one auditarily I was rather amazed...They were zooming all over time one after another!! Eat dust man.