August 2015

[SG] Kuishin Bo | Quintessential Japanese buffet with seasonal highlights

Kuishin Bo has been around the Suntec area for as long as I recall. For 15 years, the Japanese buffet brand that translates to food connoisseur has recently seen a revamp to its previous facade, opening up at Suntec City's new North Wing.

Let the journey to mini-Japan begins!

Most Singaporeans love buffets and so do we. The regular buffet spread comprises a fanfare of over 100 favourites across seven sections starting from Salads & Appetisers, Sushi, Sashimi, Seafood, Teppanyaki, Paper Hot Pot, Fried Food, Soups to our favourite Desserts!

On a quarterly basis, there will be a food fair where gastronomic highlights from various regions in Japan will be featured. The ongoing fare features delicacies from Kyushu and Okinawa and runs till 27 Sep 2015. To allow diners to fully appreciate the food, there are even educational cards for each of these special dishes which elaborate on the history and inspiration behind the dish.

Given the closer proximity of Kyushu and Okinawa to China, one would realise that some of the items carry a close resemblance to the usual Chinese cuisine that we are used to. Think braised pork belly though the Okinawan twist introduces a stew of soy sauce and their famous brown sugar.

A worthy shout-out is the hourly specials of limited quantities. Do keep an ear out for the iconic "dong dong dong dong" bell which alerts guests to a surprise treat and I got myself lucky with one of these 25 abalones!

No buffet is complete without a seafood and sashimi corner and Kuishin Bo certainly fits the bill.

Fresh seafood including crayfish, scallops and prawns are always diners' faves but nobody resists free flow Zuwaigan (snow crabs) which is one of the key highlights at the buffet!

For those who love their grills, Kuishin Bo serves some premium ingredients such as Australian Angus Sirloin Beef and barbecued Lamb Garlic Miso which uses quality shoulder blade chop from New Zealand. The best part is that the grills are cooked and replenished in small batches to ensure maximum freshness to diners.

Quality seafood does not end here as early bird catches the worm! Do gather some of your friends (adults only) and make reservations early to dine at Kuishin Bo as everyone at the table will enjoy half a baked lobster!

No meal is complete without desserts so expect an assortment of cakes and some fresh mochi made daily! There is also the seasonal special Sata Andagi, doughnuts made from Okinawan brown sugar.

With a sprawling interior that is fitted with wooden beams, do look out for the quirky sake barrel-shaped booth seats and vintage beer posters modelled after the retro izakayas (casual bars) and alleyways of Japan during the Showa period from 1926 to 1989. The much larger outfit of the restaurant not only welcomes a casual dining experience for adults, it also has a dedicated kids corner! Definitely worth a check-out with the thoughtfully-designed low counters laden with kids-friendly dishes and snacks such as popcorn and DIY ice kachang station!

While we are used to enjoying chocolate fondue, how about a kids version to lift a smile on your children's faces?

Not only does the restaurant provide a quality buffet meal at an affordable price, it is a perfect spot for families as kids can have fun and an equal position as their parents in making calories count! There is even a mini stage at the back of the restaurant that will host special events such as doughnut-making demonstrations every Saturday and Sunday for diners to have a hands-on experience!

Lunch (1130 - 1500hrs; last round at 1430hrs)

Mon-Fri (Adult: S$36.90/++; Child: S$18.90/++)

Sat, Sun & PH (Adult: S$38.90/++; Child: S$18.90/++)

Dinner (1730 - 2200hrs; last round at 2130hrs)

Mon-Thu (Adult: S$54.90/++; Child: S$18.90/++)

Fri, Sat, Sun, PH Eve & PH (S$58.90/++; Child: S$18.90/++)

Family package (2 Adults + 1 Child; 1130 - 1500hrs)

Sat & Sun (S$84/++ with 2nd child at S$12/++)

Afternoon Delight (1530 - 1700hrs)

Sat, Sun & PH (Adult: S$18.90/++; Child: S$9.90/++)

Overall Verdict: 7.5/10

Kuishin Bo

#03-334 Suntec City (North Wing, Tower 2)

Singapore 038983

Tel: (65) 6341 9200

Website: www.kuishinbo.com.sg

P.S: Special thanks to Rachel for the invitation and Kuishin Bo for hosting.

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, by cy

Bakery

[SG] The Artisan's Apron | discovering heartfelt quality desserts online

mycc would like to introduce our new guest writer Geraldine!

Geraldine firmly believes that desserts make a perfect breakfast, lunch or dinner. A lawyer by profession who has had almost a year of journalistic experience with an established food magazine in Singapore, she can usually be found hanging out with friends over a glass of champagne and a platter of cold cuts and cheeses.

The Artisan's Apron was founded in May 2015 by two sisters, Nat and Val. Having earned a reputation from baking cakes, cookies and tarts for dessert tables and special occasions, Nat has accumulated several years of baking experience under her belt. Val on the other hand, with her background in Life Sciences, contributes her knowledge in food and health sciences to creating healthy yet still mouthwatering desserts.

Before you brush them off as just another start-up bakery with an online presence, credit should be given where it's due: the birth of The Artisan's Apron stemmed from their well-meaning desire that the joy of gifting heartfelt quality treats that are homemade and beautifully decorated should be made available to all those who care. And we definitely do.

We had the privilege of giving our taste buds a treat with the Earl Grey Chiffon Cupcakes and the Citrus Mint Chiffon Cupcakes (S$4.50 each).

The term "chiffon" never fails to bring to mind the textural qualities of softness and an ethereal cloudlike fluffiness. And we are happy to report that the cake bases we have tried are indeed, extremely worthy of its namesake. When we first bit into the cupcakes, we were surprised at how light and tender they were. Mind you, we were having these cupcakes after a heavy dinner of meats and cheeses, but we managed to polish off four between the two of us.

First up is the Earl Grey Chiffon Cupcakes. The Earl Grey flavour was distinct in every bite but was nowhere near overpowering. Topped with a Swiss meringue buttercream – known for being light and smooth, sans the clobbering sweetness of its other frosting counterparts – this had a well-balanced overall taste profile only experienced by us with Plain Vanilla's cupcakes.

The Citrus Mint version is refreshing with an underlying tanginess from the zest, but we felt that the flavours could be more assertive. We were told that these are "healthier" versions as the cupcakes are crowned by less frosting and thus, sport a lesser icing to cake ratio. But after tasting the buttercream, we think that a dollop or two more would likely be welcomed by us!

For other flavours available for order, do check out The Artisan's Apron's website, Facebook page and Instagram accounts. They are also open to taking customized orders and business to business orders.

W: http://theartisansapron.com/

F: https://www.facebook.com/theartisansapron/timeline?ref=page_internal

I: https://instagram.com/theartisansapron