Wandering Fel

Home Orchard Central

Showing posts with label Orchard Central. Show all posts

Singapore Food Log: Tanuki Raw, Orchard Central

Front side of Tanuki Raw Orchard Central

Bar seating area of Tanuki Raw Orchard Central

I have included Tanuki Raw in my to-eat-list for I don’t know how long but finally after a long wait (and partly due to my own laziness), I managed to make bae to bring me there. We reached Tanuki Raw after our movie date with Skyscraper (which is unbelievable and yet very entertaining movie, but then again which movie is believable nowadays) at 7PM on Saturday evening and there is a queue line forming in front of the restaurant. Oh no.

Thankfully, even though the restaurant looks pretty small from outside, there are many seats available inside the restaurant. We just needed to wait for around 15 minutes and the waiter assigned us two seats at the bar area. I enjoy sitting at the bar area because I can see how the bartender making cocktail and if you loves to enjoy your alcohol intake (SGD 10) with fresh oysters (SGD 2 for limited 6 pieces per drink order), you may want to grab the happy hours deal (5PM - 8PM daily).

A lot of people comes to Tanuki Raw to enjoy the happy hour only but I came with different mission: to eat the famous Truffle Yakiniku. Regular Truffle Yakiniku costs 18 SGD however, with just additional 5 SGD you will get a piece of pan-seared foie gras which literally just melts in your mouth. Fresh truffles will cost you additional 7 SGD so since my cheapskate standard has reached its limit, I gave this a pass.

It seems that Tanuki Raw loves to play around with its menu because they have the “New Kids on the Block” section on its menu featuring the latest creation that the restaurant chefs made. Bae opted for the yuzu pepper katsu don and Tanuki Raw was so generous on the katsu pieces. However, I personally feel that the star of the dish is the yuzu sauce. The problem is I love my truffle yakiniku bowl so much, my tastebud is overpowered by it so I could not taste the yuzu pepper katsu don properly. However, bae seems to enjoy it just fine so all is well I suppose.

Water is provided for free so if you don’t feel like ordering any drink, you’ll survive. The restaurant can be a bit too noisy to have a good chat though. We literally could hear the whole conversation that our neighbours were having (especially after their alcohol orders have been consumed). So Tanuki Raw is not a place where you can have a quiet conversation unless you manage to get the al fresco seats, maybe. But I kinda doubt it will be less noisy out there.

I would love to go to Tanuki Raw during lunch hours to enjoy their lunch deals starting from 12 SGD++. Should I go there tomorrow?

I seriously envy those people who keep going for staycation but at the same, don't feel like spending money on staycation in Singapore. Hahaha. Oh for you who don't know the concept of staycation, it's basically spending the night in the hotel which is located in the city where you are residing. A lot of people in Singapore loves this activity (especially those with small kids who are too small for travelling). This include my friend from high school who now has a one-year-old son. It happens that this week she's staycationing at the newest hip hotel on top of Orchard Gateway, Hotel Jen. No wonder, she can easily ask me out to meet her at Som Tam, which is located a stone away at the next-door Orchard Central (fyi, she seldom asks me out since giving birth, like ever!).

Som Tam, a Hidden Thai Restaurant at Orchard Central

As a good friend who is happened to be hungry, I met her demand to meet at Som Tam, which is located pretty hidden actually right at the corner where Kiseki is located. Som Tam is like the Thai version of Xin Wang HK Cafe. It sells a variety of food from burger to pasta to traditional Thai food. The taste of the food is dominated by favorite Thai flavor like tom yam and basil though.

When you are eating in a Thai restaurant, an order of Thai Milk Tea is deemed necessary. Even though I know this drink is gonna be so sweet.

Both of us are a fan of green curry and this shows up in our food order that night. I ordered Green Curry Pasta which looks like Green Curry Noodle but you substitute the noodle with spaghetti instead. The pasta comes with a lot of vegetables and chicken (thankfully).

While my friend ordered Green Curry Chicken which is served with a bowl of white rice. The portion of the green curry chicken is pretty big. The green curry taste is quite nice and we enjoyed Som Tam's rendition of the green curry in both the soup form and the pasta form.

Green Curry Chicken at Som Tam Orchard Central

Whenever two girls are meeting for dinner, a dessert is bound to happen. From the review that I read online about Som Tam, it seems that a lot of diners are raving about the dessert item called the "After You" toast. Apparently "After You" toast is very famous in Bangkok. I've never taste the real one in Bangkok but once the toast arrived at our table...err, to be honest with you, the dessert does not look pretty, presentation-wise. The interesting part about this dessert is that you can select the gelato with those fancy flavour such as green curry, Thai tea, sticky rice or Thai basil with choco chip. We were pretty adventurous and ordered Thai basil with choco chip. I don't know how to explain but the whole combination is just well...either you like it or you hate it or you are just confused. I am confused indeed. Hahaha.

After You Toast with Basil Gelato with Choco Chip Orchard

Tried to take an aerial shot for the toast but...nope, still not pretty. I guess Som Tam should improve the way they present this dessert seriously.

Originating from New York, Dean & Deluca has managed to capture the hearts of people in Singapore. The famous cafe has gained so much raving both online and offline for a few days when it is just came into Singapore's shore. Now, Dean & Deluca has a few branches in Singapore. However, our favourite branch is still the one located in Orchard Central.

Breakfast for Dinner at Dean & Deluca, Orchard Central

At one glance, it seems that Dean & Deluca kinda looks like a provision stores (albeit, not for your usual groceries). However, Dean & Deluca also sells food and beverages at its counter. The food ranging from salad, pastries, and sandwiches. Beverages include coffees, teas and juices. On top of that, Dean & Deluca also provides American breakfast all day. And just like that, we were having breakfast for dinner. My American breakfast-for-dinner menu that day consists of sausages, scrambled egg, mushroom, tomato served with rye bread.

All day American Breakfast in Dean & Deluca Singapore

While my friend's American breakfast-turn-dinner seems to be a combincation of cheesy jalapeno hotdog and a bit of greens at the side. Both the American breakfast dishes taste average.

Jalapeno Cheese Sausage at Dean & Deluca Orchard Central

Save up to 25% on your hotel in Singapore & see millions of reviews.

Once we are done with our breakfast/ dinner, it is time to try out the cakes at Dean & Deluca. The cakes here do not come cheap at the average price of SGD 9 per slice. But since we have made our way here, we could not bear to leave without eating some cakes. Okay, make it two slices of cake please. The first cake that we tried is the Strawberry Shortcake. The amount of strawberry used in the cake is a lot and I love it because I am such a strawberry lover.

Strawberry Shortcake at Dean & Deluca Orchard Central

Since I chose strawberry, my friend chose something to add to her cake instagram collection, the Rainbow cake. I don't really know how to appreciate a rainbow cake to be honest. While the cake is really awesome to post to Instagram, the taste itself...well...purely sugar and coloring? I just can't figure it out. But I think the rainbow cake served at Dean & Deluca is one of the better ones in Singapore.