Sweet Deal?

I got these at the BHG fair which was organised by the student union, since spending is a way to relief stress to some people. They some rather cheap. Only costing $2.90 for 3 boxes which contain roughly 15 piece of chocolate each. Why so cheap, as you may ask. Well they expire in a months time.

Here we have two flavours of dark chocolate and strawberry. The dark is slightly bitter and can be tough on the throat as it is rather thick. The strawberry in the other hand is more creamy and pleasant. Most prefer the strawberry, but depending on whether one prefers bitter or sweet this opinion may change.

Palette Addiction

I cant seem to get bored with Palette's menu, since they offer so many difference choices. Regardless. Their prices though affordable are getting a toll on my depleting wallet.

Double Deck Egg Mayo Sandwich

I was expecting something more when I ordered this. It turn out to be a regular egg mayo sandwich which has gone through a sun tanned and serve up with fries at the side. Though the toasted bread is buttered up and toasted till golden brown, indeed adds another dimension to taste. It doesn't really justify the addition $2.10 for the addition fries and slightly bigger helping of egg mayo.

Black Pepper Chicken Burger

In contrast to the Lamington Burger, Platte also offer a Black Pepper Chicken for those who don't take beef. Its rather normal. Just a chicken cutlet in a bum. Comes with fries as usual.

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Shanghai Delights

I got tried of the some canteen food which I can recite from the back of my head with no difficulty. Therefore, I went to the Canteen B (located in the South Spine) and tried some different food. Usually I don't eat from this stall as there is always a way too long queue. Flooded with all the Chinaaaa people. You should see the food on their plate. Huge pile of rice (and i mean a mountain literally), a whole fish, meat, vegetables and to top it off, Bee Hoon. Yes. I heard it right. Not enough carbohydrate for them.

Shanghai Meat Dumpling

Its is plain nasty. Maybe I'm not use to this as its the first time I'm having one. These dumpling are steamed and to add to it, the meat has this sourish taste. Not appealing in one bit. To farther worsen my ordeal the skin is thick and taste like gluten. Just horrible. Not even eating this again.

Vegetable Bun

Careful of the oil within that may seep out.

This Vegetable Bun is nice. Its stuffed with lots of vegetables, which has been fried with eggs. The bun is then placed on a grill and press down. Think waffler machine. The skin resembles the texture of bread, really nice. Do note that toward the end, it may get a bit oily. However the oil is really tasty with the fusing of the vegetables oil in it.

Executive Cafe @ NTU

Executive Cafe isn't really a cafe in NTU, instead its a Chinese restaurant that offers rather responsible prices for the budget of the students within NTU. They have a range of dim sum, noodles, buffet and 8 course set meals all to cater to the different dinning experience.

Shredded Chicken and Century Egg Porridge

This porridge is the thick type, not the watery and runny kind. If you prefer the runny type this isn't the one for you. Even myself find this a bit too thick for my liking, if it were a bit more watered down, it would have been better. Flavour wise it's rather tasty. Though my taste bud could tell that the chef had cooked the chicken separated from the porridge and later added it in. I suspect that they just add the ingredients into the porridge as the order arrives, thus resulting in blend chicken not "absorbing" the nice stock in the porridge. I minus for that.

Prawn Dumplings

I must say these Prawn Dumpling are better then I expected. They're indeed better then the average Har Gao. However, I find them a bit dry and lacking the "juice" that gets trap in the translucent skins when you steam these previous gems. Still its worth to get these. One bamboo basket is not enough.

Char Siew Noodles

Roasted Duck Noodles
Roasted Chicken Noodles

Though they may score well in terms of dim sum, but according to my friends whom order the noodles, feel that their noodles were rather disappointed. They say that the noodles were oily and lack taste. Roast meats were too tough and not tender enough.

If you wanna save some money, you can politely tell the waitress that the peanuts, wet towers and refreshments would be unnecessary to you.

Maybe I would try the buffet (which is prices at $12.90 nett) next time.

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Outback Steakhouse

Where is your Outback post? People are getting tried of waiting.

Outback is guarded by its Giant Kangaroo bouncer.

Much to the annoyance to my dining buddies, I've been taking my own sweet time writing this post. Just that I didn't really had the time and I just keep creating excuses not to write this and instead focus on my other stuff. Well. I finally gave in and its time to read about the Outback experience.

Complementary bread.

We started the meal with a complimentary bread by Outback. I believe its their Bushman Bread, but I have yet to confirm this. Comes warm, but well rested from the oven. Unlike the hard crusted french loaf, this bread is soft and slices easily. Upon breaking it open, it has this distinctive unique aroma (in a good way). Spread a bit of butter and eat. Not bad. Really one of the better breads I've eaten. Too bad the portion is small and it was gobbled up quickly. Though the bread was warm, it wasn't hot enough to melt the butter, else I'm sure it would have tasted much much better. Two's anyone?

Bushman 'Shrooms (a die die must try)

Firstly, I would like to say. Order this. Yes. You wouldn't regret this at all. Inside these battered capsules are button mushrooms with every drip of their nature juiciness locked inside. Just awaiting someone to break them open and let the juice to flow into your mouth. Although, you may want to be cautious about this. They can be quite hot, especially when just arrived on the table. It also comes with a ranch sauce for dripping and it goes really well with the mushrooms. I believe it contains sour cream in it. Rather flavorful. This is highly recommended. The top dish of this dinning experience.

Bloomin' Onion

Another appetizer, we had was the Bloomin' Onion. This is basically a humongous onion craved up, battered then deep fried till it opens up nicely, resembling a flower. Rather novelty I must say. Just imagine fries. Yup. Fries. This is really what it is when you break them from the exploded bunch. Putting the normal onion rings to shame. In the center sits the sauce with seems to be some spiced up thousand island sauce (though I would prefer more of the ranch sauce). Though it looks rather dry, its moist in the inside. Though I would complain that the crust is rather brittle and we all agreed that it was a bit too salty. Although this is Outback's signature dish (heck they even copyrighted it), compared with the Bushman 'Shrooms I would like the latter. (Btw. The picture is rather deceiving. It isn't as big as it looks.)

Outback Sirloin w/ Jacket Potato & Aussie Chips

It would be called a steakhouse, without being specialised on their steaks. Since the price difference between the 8 and 11 ounce sirloin steak was only $2. All 4 eating the Outback Sirloin opted this option. The steak varies between us. Mine was prefect and came with the doneness of medium well done. Whereas one of my friends, ordered the same as me. However, towards the thicker portion of his steak it turn out to be medium rare.

Medium rare and looking gorgeous.

As for the texture and taste wise. Its rather pleasant given that it was a sirloin steak. One thing I don't understand is why would a piece of steak in Astons seem more tendered than this in Outback. Maybe Aston tenderness their meat? Or it could be that Outback sirloin is that mush thicker, thus explaining the denser meat. I didn't feel any tendons in the presents of my steak, could be I got a good cut. Lucky me. There wasn't any bleeding too. Seems like they rest their steak well enough before serving them.

New York Striploin w/ Grilled Onion & Aussie Chips

The evil me manages to psyched one of my friends to try this more pricey New York Striploin. This big daddy weights 12 ounces and only cost $6 more. Not bad. Since you are getting 2 ounce more and a much better cut. He was kind enough to offer me a bit of his steak. Its really tender and much succulent. Well worth the money spend.


All steaks come with a choice of two sides. There are some we have tried.

• Jacket Potato
  Baked potato that is cracked opened and topped with sour cream, chives and bacon bits. Rather fluffy. Only if they would be more generous on the sour cream.
  
  
• Garlic Mashed Potato
  Really good. They smash their own potatoes and infuse them with garlic bits. There isn't any bitter bits of garlic. The mash isn't too smooth and you can still taste bits of potatoes, just the way I like it.
  
  
• Aussie Chips
  Chips are also known as fries in Singapore. Normal. Taste like regular fries.
  
  
• Rice Pilaf
  Buttered rice with spice. Rather disappointing, not fragrant and flavourful enough.
  
  
• Grilled Onions
  Normal sauteed onions.

Jackeroo Chop

This isn't kangaroo meat as one may perceive from its name. Instead, its just grilled pork chops. Served with Aussie Fries.

Ambience is cozy with its dark and warm lit diner. Service also prompt and waiters are always as the side to answer your request at a snap of a finger. However, the dishes coming out of the kitchen can be said otherwise. They took about 15-20 minutes for our appetizers to arrive and the mains a lot longer. Thank goodness we ordered the appetizers or we could have stared to death before our steaks arrive.

To end it all. Outback is a good experience with great appetizers and above average steaks, but with that much of a heavy price tag that comes with it. I would seriously reconsider before coming back.

Outback Steakhouse (Singapore)
9 Raffles Boulevard
#01-99 Millenia Walk
Tel: 6837 3242
Website: http://www.outback-sea.com/sg/

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