Wild Sage Bistro, Spokane

"Why aren't they bringing the dessert menu?" asked fellow foodie, some what puzzled as we sat back in anticipation of more delights after a really superlative meal.

Well, now, we have to go back a few days to some scheming on my part and some really great service  on the part of Wild Sage. We had always wanted to have a meal here - a place that has "a menu that allows (us) to be creative on a daily basis, and work within the limits of what is in season and available" And isn't that just the best way to eat? eat locally and have ingredients at their best?

And so it was that for fellow foodie's birthday, she made a reservation for dinner. Unbeknownst to her, I had emailed Wild Sage and they were in the know of the birthday celebrations and together planned a birthday dessert!

On the day we arrived, hungry after a day of mountain biking in Riverside State Park, WA, the Bistro was bustling with happy diners. We were shown to our seats by Heather Ann and soon we had cold water for thirsty throats and quickly chose a glass of wine each.

Their famous popovers appeared, light as a cloud, accompanied by lavender butter... mmm! A taste of summer.

light as a cloud Popovers

Mellow with a few sips of wine (we had empty tummies!) we pondered over menu choices... As a nod to healthy dining, we chose Pea Vine Salad - a refreshing combination of English peas, pea vine tendrils, arugula...  topped with a parmesan vinaigrette. Sharing it - (and Wild Sage plated it into two beautiful plates for us) so that we had tummy room for full meal deal. The pea puree was cool and fresh, contrasting well with the peppery arugula and salty parmigiano. Good start it was.

Moving on to the meat of the matter, birthday girl splurged on Filet Mignon - tender, flavourful, melt in your mouth Double "R" signature northwest beef - on a bed of startlingly purple mash and playful crispy leeks on the side. The sauce was so good, we were glad for the mash so that could eat every drop of it.

Filet Mignon

I usually choose things that I don't cook and that Dry Aged Pork Loin Chop was just called my name. It's hard to get a well cooked (not well done) pork chop that is still juicy and doesn't have the texture of cardboard. Now, this Pork Chop was something else! First of all, it was HUGE. I have never eaten such a large chop, and it was well seasoned, juicy, resting on mashed purple potatoes... and topped with crispy pork belly! Oh my!

Dry Aged Pork Loin Chop

What amazing food! And contrary to our usual practice, we didn't swop plates - it was just too good, although we did sample bites of each other's entree. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sitting back after the plates were cleared away, we are back to the question we started this blog with...  "Why aren't they bringing the dessert menu?" The reason was soon clear, when Heather Ann astutelydeduced which diner was the birthday girl and brought a slice of their "Soon to be Famous Coconut Cream Layer Cake" complete with candle. No singing thankfully! Big Smile from Birthday girl. That cake should really be "Famous" - light, not too sweet, a great ending to a fabulous dinner.

Soon to be Famous Coconut Cream Layer Cake

Thank you Tom (my partner is crime) and Heather Ann and Wild Sage for a truly memorable meal. We'll definitely be back.

Campagnolo Roma

I have not been to Vancouver for a while.  So when I had to come to Vancouver for work, I was determined to eat good food!

I was watching Guy Fieri on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives the day before I flew to Vancouver.  He went to an Italian pizza place in Manhattan called Don Antonio by Starita.  The pizzas looked good.  I was inspired.  Well, I am sure Vancouver has a restaurant that serves good pizza.  I did some research and found Campagnolo Roma.

My foodie partner-in-crime and I arrived after 7.00pm.  There were two guys ahead of us.  I like the fact that Campagnolo Roma is a walk-in restaurant - no reservations unless it is a big group.  It was full.  There was a table outside with complimentary fleece blanket if we wanted it but we decided to wait for a table in the restaurant.  We left our names with one of the very enthusiastic and friendly female staff, and waited for slightly over 15 minutes before she sat us by the window.

We decided to share a Verdissima pizza - charred scallions, spinach, garlic, grano padano and basil, and  the Tagliatelle cooked with milk braised pork hock ragu, rapine, pecorino and rue.  The female staff said both of these were her favourite.  We invited her to pull a chair and come join us.  Alas, she had to work.

Delizioso they were!  I love the thin crust pizza, and the toppings were very unusual.  What was more unusual was the pizza spice that she brought in a small plate.  That pizza spice rocks!  We added it into our pizza and pasta.  The Tagliatelle was well seasoned and pork hock, tender.  I am sure it would have been better if the pasta arrived hot and not just warm.

Verdissima 

Tagliatelle

Pizza spice

The total bill came up to CAD90 including a carafe of Altesino, a Cappucino and 15% tip.  I would definitely come back for great food, great service & lively ambience.

Campagnolo Roma
2297 E Hastings St,
Vancouver, BC V5L 1V2

Tyler St. Garage

Over the weekend North Island, or should I say lower and mid North Island was hit by what the weathermen called a "weather bomb". High winds tore through Taranaki and my old hometown; Whanganui. Roofs were torn off, trees felled, power supply disrupted. Up here in Auckland we caught just the fringe of the system and escaped with relatively minor stuff.

Tyler St. Lager

Just as quickly as it turned horrible, the weather became absolutely perfect. If Saturday was a precipitous low pressure sweeping across Taranaki and Manawatu, Sunday brought a fabulous high.. clear blues skies not a cloud in sight. Winds were still moderate, sail boats out in force in Auckland harbour.


And so we found ourselves strolling down to the waterfront after church, looking for a spot of lunch. Wanderings brought us to the Britomart precinct. Happy people soaking in the sunshine, dogs sniffing about. Poked our noses into 3 Eateries: Mexico - closed on Sunday, Brew on Quay - menu did not appeal, and walking round to Quay Street, Tyler St Garage. I had read reviews of this place and was keen to try it out.

View looking out to Quay Street

One happy lunch party sitting out in the brilliant (hot) sunshine and bracing breeze. Inside, a cavernous space, cool, dim and inviting. Industrial look, black painted steel beams (I would'nt mind a house like this), exposed bricks, high tables (on wheels) with bar stools, strategically positioned so that we could perch and shoot the breeze and watch the traffic go by outside. Picked up a menu and a friendly wait staff engaged us and we decided to eat here. Not a big menu, small plates for sharing, tempting gourmet hot dogs and pizza. Drinks not exorbitant either. We settled for 2 glasses of Tyler St lager - it seemed the right drink for a bright sunny day.. and foodie friend ordered Wild Boar Hot Dog and I ordered hot smoked salmon, broad bean hummus with grilled flat bread. (I had some misgivings about ordering a "small plate" as they are often not quite enough).

Wild Boar Hot Dog

Their eponymous lager was refreshing, well chilled but not outstanding. Went down well though. The Wild Boar sausage came quickly, smelt mouthwatering-ly savoury, on a soft roll. Topped with a serving of "sweet & sour apple sauerkraut with chilli", french fries and 2 small ramekins of ketchup and home-made mayo. Sausage was smoky, juicy and more-ish. My small plate took quite a while longer and to their credit, staff came to apologise and assure us that it would be out soon. And it was well worth the wait.

Grilled Flatbread

It was nothing like what I had expected. It was way better. The flat bread had been quartered, brushed with olive oil and grilled lightly - light crust with warm chewy interior. The smoked salmon and broad beans were presented as giant quenelles - one light tan and the other brilliant jade green. Their flavours complemented each other too - the hot smoked salmon had been mixed with dill, finely minced shallots and topped with Ikura (salmon roe) - smoky, salty, slightly piquant. The broad bean hummus was light, fresh tasting, with a hint of mint. Each component was delicious on its own but together made a very yummy mouthful. Very satisfying.

Hot Smoked Salmon, Broad bean hummus

Yum. We'd love to come back again perhaps in the evening to experience live music and sample more of their food offerings.

Kopi Tiam, Panmure... sedap!

Hungry after a morning of vigorous climbing at Extreme Edge, Panmure, we drove to Queen's Road. It's a road in a slightly rough neighbourhood.. but gosh! the food to be had here is really really good. If you can look past the strip mall, discount stores and un-glamorous surrounds, you're in for a treat.

We knew that there were 3 Malaysian restaurants / cafes here and had already tried the famous Sri Puteri so we walked along in the blustery autumnal winds and found the other 2 side by side. Kopi Tiam (literally translated from Malay: coffee shop) with clear shop windows and a menu stuck on the door and Blossom Court - looking slightly more upmarket with tinted windows and no menu. Both looked like there were people inside.. hmm. How does one make a choice?

Kopi Tiam

After a moment's hesitation, Kopi Tiam won, as we quickly perused its menu and decided all the food offered sounded yum.

Once inside, you could be excused if you thought you were back in a typical little coffee shop in some backwater town in Malaysia. Small cafe, with 7 tables, all neatly covered with PVC over lacy tablecloth. On the walls, pictures Kuala Lumpur and a whiteboard with "today's specials". In the background, the radio chattering away in Cantonese (some talk show, as far as I could decipher). It was 1pm and there was a table tucking into curry chicken, fried kway teow (flat rice noodles) and other delicious smelling things I could not see without being impolite!

As we looked over the menu, a steady stream of regulars came in, ordered take-aways, exchanged banter and left. Service was quick, polite and efficient. Steaming pot of chinese tea arrived on the table with our menu. We ordered Assam Laksa and Marmite chicken with fried egg on steamed rice.

Marmite. Don't wrinkle up your nose! I know people either love it or hate it (especially if you have not grown up eating it). A sticky, savoury brown, nearly black paste made from yeast extract. I love it on buttery toast or with cheese... but we digress. Alone, the taste can be overpowering for some, but as an ingredient, it adds an extra dimension or "umami". Umami is a term derived from Japanese, which describes an added savoury taste, mouth-feel attributed to glutamate. My chicken came stirfried with onions, capsicums, (still nice and crunchy), all coated in a delicious black sweet, savoury sauce. Just the thing to eat with plain steamed jasmine rice. To top it off, a perfectly fried egg, whites slightly crunchy, but yolk still runny... ooooo.

Marmite chicken

The Assam Laksa (rice noodles in a sour, spicy fish soup) was a generous portion. The soup made from fish stock was very tasty, had plenty of flaked fish and enough assam (assam is also know as tamarind and the flesh of the fruit is often used in SE Asian cooking to impart a tangy sour dimension to dishes) to make it mouth-wateringly piquant. Just enough chilli to add heat, but not too much, and garnished with raw onion slices, julienned cucumber and fresh pineapple - it hit the spot. If only there was a spoonful of "hay ko" (fermented prawn paste) it would have been perfect!

We started with our respective dishes and swopped halfway in true greedy fashion - so that we had a chance to taste both. To add to our enjoyment, we asked for a little side plate of sambal belachan. Very well done it was, and this one had heat! Phew! Pedas! (hot).

Assam Laksa

Bill came to just over $22. Good food, unpretentious surroundings, friendly service. We'll definitely be back.

Kopi Tiam, 139 Queens Road, Panmure, Auckland.

Sal Rose - the real deal

Just before Christmas, we wanted to have dinner out, on a Saturday. Give the cook a break kind of dinner, tasty, but not expensive. Roamed the 'Net, wondering what category of food might fit the bill. Chinese? nah.. French?.. too complicated, too expensive.. Vietnamese? nice, but just had that last week. Difficult decisions. Finally fell back on old favourite - Italian food. Good neighbourhood restaurant sort of Italian food?.. decided to try Sal Rose, which is " Owner operated, Sal Rose is dedicated to bringing home-style Central and Southern Italian cuisine to the Auckland area. Sal Rose comes with a history of real Italian heritage and Grandma's recipes" Phoned them to make a reservation - just managed to squeeze ourselves in for 6.30pm table. (They are popular.)

Spaghetti con Polpette

Easy to get to, it's located in a residential neighbourhood, in a tiny strip mall next to a "4 Square" grocers store and a real estate agent. Plenty of free parking directly in front of the restaurant and in the adjacent car park.


By the time we arrived, plenty of tables were happily tucking into their food, mostly families.. mom, dad, grandparents, kids. Casual but not sloppy. Cosy diner style bench seats and tables to the right, halfwood panelling with white walls making it look less severe. Ceiling fans whirred lazily overhead, cooling the sultry evening air. On the left, and dividing the main dining area from an extension / covered patio, a well stocked bar running almost the entire length of the restaurant. The extension to which we were ushered by a very pleasant young man, had a more rustic feel - red brick wall on one side and quarry tiles underfoot. Might be a bit cold in winter, but I did note space heaters on one of the walls. Service was prompt, knowledgeable and friendly.


Once seated we looked eagerly over the menu (I confess we had already looked at it online before heading out) and decided on a pasta and a pizza. To assuage our growling stomachs, we ordered a portion of their home made bread which was fragrant, slightly dense and chewy...  proper bread. Not the airy sliced stuff. Served with roasted garlic and olive oil, it went well with a bottle of Italian red - which I can't remember the name of, we enjoyed it so much we didn't stop to take photos or notes!

Gorgonzola and Pear Pizza

In spite of a rather full house, food came quickly enough, my Spaghetti con Polpette lived up to the reputation of being "our famous meatballs and spaghetti in Rose's tomato sauce". The meatballs were juicy, exquisitely delicious (did they have a mix of pork and beef?), the tomato sauce was as red and luscious as you wanted it to be without being overly rich. Often the big test (IMHO) of a good Italian restaurant is how well they "do" staples. If they had had a Pomodoro e Basilico - and if I had 2 stomachs - I would have ordered that too. The pasta which was made on site (according to the website) was slightly softer than "al dente", but to me, that was perfect, as I have dental braces and tender teeth! My mouth is watering just thinking of this pasta.


Dining partner had a pizza, also very well made - a somewhat exotic Gorgonzola and Pear. Decadent was the best word to describe it. Tangy, salty blue cheese, sliced pear and toasted pine nuts on a pesto base. So very delicious. We ate. We ate for New Zealand. But the bread at the beginning did us in and we had to "take away" half the pizza. Unable to even think of dessert, we enjoyed the last drops of our vino rosso and pushing our stomachs ahead of us, waddled back to car and home.

Clare Inn, Auckland... what a find!

We went to the Clare Inn one Sunday evening, hungry for good Irish Pub food. Some pubs in NZ are very friendly and welcoming and others look real sleazy or are really a "guy's only" kind of watering hole. However, we had heard a lot of good things about the food here, so off we went.

Not quite sure of what it'd be like, we pushed open the doors and entered into a cool dark hallway Took a while for eyes to adjust after leaving the bright afternoon sun outside on Dominion road, we saw that the walls had dark wood panelling, lots of framed awards for food etc. Straight ahead as you entered was the bar (they had their priorities right) and to the right was a small room where happy people were having a few pints and on the left was what looked like the front room of an old country inn. We had not made any reservations, thinking that arriving at 6pm should find us quite a few empty tables. Wrong. Nearly full. Lots of regulars, having a drink or two and some tables well into their food. It looked as if we had wandered into the home of an extended Irish family.

We had a very friendly and warm welcome, and were seated at a little table for 2 by the fireplace (not lit, since it was summer). Service was quick, efficient, we got our menus and looked through the small but very enticing menu whilst enjoying our drinks from the bar (a Guinness and a lager). I think it's better for a restaurant to have a small menu and do it well, than to have zillions of items and all of them mediocre.

Beef and Guinness Spring Roll, Salad Greens

For starters we shared a beef and guinness spring roll. Very tender and tasty beef in a crispy skin, served with salad greens, followed by Slow Cooked Duck, Courgette fritter, pickled beetroot and Blood Orange marmalata. This has to be their star dish. The skin was crisp and light, meat tender and falling off the bone, full of flavour. Richness nicely balanced by the blood orange marmalade which was sweet but had a good amount of acidity.

Slow cooked Duck, Blood Orange Marmalata

Friend had Beef and Stout Wellington (which turned out to be a larger version of the Spring Roll). The green pea and smoked pork puree that came with it was to die for - just smooth enough, smoky, porky.. if you like mushy peas and smoky bacon, this one's for you!

Beef and Stout Wellington, Pea & Smoked Pork Puree, Whole grain Mustard

After such a feast, we could not manage dessert after that.

As we enjoyed our food, the place more and more crowded and it REALLY felt like some kind of family reunion that we had stumbled into. People seem to know each other, pulled up chairs and chatted. They did not mind us "strangers" and we did'nt feel out of place, and no one rushed us to finish our food and vacate our table.

What a find... we'll be back

The Clare Inn, 274-8 Dominion Road, Auckland, New Zealand. Tel: (09) 623-8233

A Tale of Two Chippies (apologies to Charles Dickens)

"IT WAS the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.... " Indeed. A hot summer evening.. a Sunday that had seen some weather change from grey and blustery to warm sunshine. What better than a walk down to the Waterfront for a bite and a drink or two? The Viaduct was teeming with people, locals, tourists, all wanting a bit of sun and sea-breeze. The more popular watering holes were already crowded with revellers who looked like they had been there enjoying themselves for a while. Flushed faces (or was it sun?), laughter, music. Lively guitar music emanated from O Hagen's Irish Pub which was bursting at its seams with a very happy crowd. As it looked like we could not get in, we decided on a neighbouring drink spot from which we could hear the music. Sky Sport Bar and Grill had been advertised on local TV as having an amazing range of beers on tap and the sister F&B Outlet of the famous Foodstore restaurant just round the corner. Menu looked decent, usual suspects for a Sports Bar and decent prices too.  Can't be too bad, might even be good.

SkySport Bar and Grill Beer Menu Part 1

Sat ourselves down, took a while to look over the extensive list of beers on tap and I ordered an Epic Armageddon IPA, and Foodie Friend (FF) had a Renaissance Perfection Pale Ale. Beers came quickly, nice and crisp and cold. The way they should be. The Epic IPA was wonderfully hoppy, flowery and bursting with zingy flavour in the mouth. Refreshing, thirst quenching. Made a mental note to look for it in local supermarket. Foodie friend's Perfection Pale Ale was good too. but paled (sorry) in comparison to mine. Was supposed to have toffee notes.. it was sort of caramel-ly, but mine was a better summer drink.

Thirst quenched, we decided on food. That was when trouble started. Sorry, we have run out of beef, lamb and pork. (This was 6pm) Hmm.. that's bad planning on the part of the management. It wasn't even dinner time yet. Never mind, I chose fish and chips ($19.00) and friend chose 3 sliders from the limited chicken or fish selection. Food took about 30min to arrive - which was rather long as there weren't many people eating. Most were still making the most of Happy Hour, amassing un-drunk pints on the table before 7pm. My fish and chips arrived in a newspaper cone, kitsch but acceptable presentation. The portion size was amazing. Amazingly small. I could count the number of chips, which turned out to be just barely cooked, dense and neither crunchy on the outside nor fluffy on the inside. The beer battered fish (what fish ?) tasted fishy and the batter was soggy. And it was smaller than an iPhone. The Worst.

SkySports Fish & Chips

Underwhelmed. FF's sliders - why are they called sliders? Some reference to baseball I'm sure. Sliders are like mini burgers with meat / veg / whatever in between and meant to be a tasty little morsel.

SkySports Sliders

Well, the sliders that we had, the buns - were stale, we could have played baseball with them. The chicken was ordinary as was the piece of beer battered fish. Hmm.. wait a minute, did they serve the portion of fish meant for the slider on my plate of fish and chips? Sad. Quickly ate up, paid and went out into the fresh air to enjoy the lively music from O Hagen's.

Still hungry as we drove home, we decided to stop by The Chip Shop at the Royal Oak Roundabout. This multi-award winning chip shop is consistently good and has been a favourite for many years.
Always busy, and when we arrived the wait was 20min, but that was fine. We strolled to Pak and Save to get us a pint or 2. 1 scoop of award winning chips, a breaded Tarakihi and (horrors!) a fried Mars Bar. All for $10. Cheerful efficient service. Walking back to the car with warm pack of fish and chips - and later enjoying it at home - affirmed our conviction that good food, cheerful service in unpretentious environs beats fancy stuff hands down. The portion of chips was generous, crunchy on the outside and fluffy within, they did not become soggy even after an hour of slow eating. The fish was fresh, with a delicious breadcrumb coating. The Best.

The Chip Shop's Fish & Chips

Fried Mars bar (we wont repeat that again soon) deliciously sinful.

So, as I said, it was the best (of fish & chips) and the worst (fish & chips).

New Zealand - Pub food

There are a lot of pubs in Wellington that serve good pub food and even better Kiwi beer. I went to the Tasting Room at Courtenay Place for dinner on the day I arrived. Unfortunately, the photos were not good. Maybe I was jet lagged. However, I do have photos of the General Practitioner at Willis Street, which belongs to the same group that owns the Tasting Room.

Welcome to the General Practitioner

The reason why this place is called the General Practitioner is because the house used to be owned by a general practitioner. I was told Willis Street is not the original location though. The whole house was transported to the current location. Talk about cut & paste.

The Platter
Top tier: Bread with several condiments
Bottom tier: Salt & pepper squid, beef balls(I think) & cold cuts

It was evening and I was feeling cold. So, I decided to sit inside the cozy, brand-new looking pub. Patrons who want to smoke and enjoy their beer can sit outside. No fear about the beer getting warm in winter.

Monteith's from the tap at the GP

Another place to get your dose of good New Zealand beer is at Mac's Brewery. The one I went to was Mac's Shed 22 Brewery, a brewery located at the waterfront of Wellington. There's outdoor and indoor sitting. Would have sat outside if that day wasn't so windy.

Mac's Shed 22 Brewery

8 beers on tap - heaven!

For those of you who love beers from the tap, you have a choice of 8 beers! Wonderful. There is a good selection of food to go with the beers.

Mac's Gold & Mac's Great White

Mac's Gold is a clean, crisp lager that is great for a hot day. The Great White is slightly heavier than the Gold. It's similar to Hoegaarden White Ale but not flowery. To go with the beers, I ordered a big bowl of chips served with aioli dip.

New Zealand - terrible food!

Visited the Wellington Trawling Seafood Market located at Cuba Street because Lonely Planet recommended this place. I imagined it to be like Pike's Place or a market where I could buy fresh fish and have it freshly grilled right there but I was wrong.

A long queue of customers waiting for fish & chips

This "market" occupies a small shop lot & there are two counters - one that sells fish & chips, & another that sells raw fish. The moment I opened the door, I could smell fish & chips being fried in oil. I felt ill & should have left the place.

Raw fish being sold next to the fish & chips counter

But since I always tell myself to try everything once, I decided to queue up for 15 minutes & order a set of fish & chips that came with 5 pieces of friend potato wedges.

1 piece of fish, 5 pieces of potato wedges & plenty of hard chips

I didn't enjoy this meal. It was really disgusting. After I separated the fish from its batter, the size of the fish shrank by 1/3. The chips were really hard instead of the soft, soggy chips one gets at any UK fish & chips shop. The potato wedges were delicious after I removed the batter. I felt really ill afterwards. The price may be relatively cheap but it's really unhealthy & disgusting. Don't waste your time nor money here.

New Zealand - Good food!

I did my research over the net and reading Lonely Planet's recommendations for Wellington eating places before deciding where to eat. Restaurant prices are comparable to Singapore's restaurants, same goes for the latte although the latte served in NZ is so much better than Starbucks and many cafes in Singapore. Food court takeaways, salads, wraps are more expensive in Wellington. I paid NZD10 for a bowl of thai beef noodle soup and NZD8 for a vegetarian wrap.

The popular Boulcott Street Bistro & Winebar

Went for dinner at the Boulcott Street Bistro & Winebar one evening, which was a 5 minute walk from the Novotel where I stayed during my visit. No reservations are taken for dinner time. So do arrive early. Dinner starts at 6.00pm. New Zealanders do eat dinner early, and so do I.

Complimentary amuse bouche - cream of asparagus drizzled with white truffle oil

Appetizer - Tripe Lyonnaise

Tripe Lyonnaise is basically stomach of a cow, sheep or pig cooked in butter with onions, salt and pepper.

Braised lamb shank, potato mash with lentil sauce and minted peas

For mains, my dinner companion had braised lamb shank. The meat was tasty, tender and literally falling off the bone, and the mash potato was wonderfully done - light, creamy and not mealy.

Roast pork loin with calvados apple puree and black pudding

I had roast pork with black pudding and I was slightly disappointed with the skin, which was not crispy but rather, tough and rubbery. I wonder if this is the western way of making roast pork because I have encountered skin like this many times. So, I continue to look for a western restaurant that can make roast pork with crispy skin just like the Hong Kong roast pork.

Overall, the service at the restaurant is good, the food is good value for money. Portions are reasonable but I would suggest sharing if you want to try an appetizer, main course and dessert. Sadly, we could not eat dessert as we were too full. I will definite go back there again when the opportunity arises.

The American Club - Good food, reasonable prices...but there's a catch

Fish & Chips-great with a beer!

The American Club in Singapore is a "members only" club. Members are allowed to bring guests for meals but the public just can't walk in. Security is high here. On-site parking is only for members. So guests would have to park along the road or any of the buildings located along Claymore Hill.

Cuban Mojo Sandwich

The food here is good - portion, price and quality. For casual dining, one has a choice of eating in the Eagle's Nest, which is similar to a hotel's coffee house, or the no-smoking Union Bar. In the Eagle's Nest, you may have the daily buffet or choose your meal from the ala-carte menu

Mission Taco Salad-It's as big as your face!

You may order food from the ala-carte menu, which will be served in the Union Bar. The waiters here know how to serve the beer - in iced cold glasses. Beers on draft include Tiger, Kilkenny and Erdinger. Of course, one can also find uncommon beers like this Old Scratch Amber Lager...

Old Scratch Amber Lager

So, what's the catch? The catch is if you want to eat at the club, you need to find someone who is a member and is willing to bring you in for a meal. If you like food like Botak Jones, you will like the food at the American Club.

Ah Orh Seafood-Hearty Teochew Food

There is another Ah Orh Seafood Restaurant along Jalan Bukit Merah, which I have tried a few times. However, I usually come to this branch at Block 22, Sin Ming Drive, since it is much nearer to home.

There is only one cook, assisted by 3 ladies. They are organized but when it is busy, you must be prepared to wait for at least 20-30 minutes. From observation, I think they prepare dishes for one table at a time so that all dishes are served piping hot. The food is certainly worth the wait!

Sauces and more sauces...

I do recommend bringing your family here, as I did in this occasion, so that you can order a variety of dishes. If there are only two of you, I recommend ordering, the most, 3 dishes as the portions are rather generous.

Clams stir-fried with bean paste

My favourite dish is always the steamed pomfret Teochew-style. Fresh pomfret simply steamed with pickled plum, tomatoes and garnished with "tang-oh" (crysanthemum leaf). Every time I come here with friends or family, I will definitely order this dish. This will usually be the last dish to be served as it takes time to steam it.

Pomfret steamed Teochew style

The other dish to order is the "Hea Zho" (prawn roll), which is minced prawn, minced pork and finely chopped water chestnut, wrapped in beancurd skin. Then it is steamed and before serving, cut into thick slices and deep fried. Eat it with the sweet sauce...and a small slice of bird's eye chilli for the extra fire.

Hea Cho is located above the steamed fish

No reservations are taken but there are plenty of tables in the coffee shop. Be prepared to wait for 30-45 minutes if the place is very crowded. There is only one chef and he cooks dishes one table at a time. Have a beer and wait. It is worth it.