Western Bar - Closed
8 Jalan Gelenggang

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Western-Bar/200947393283133


Christmas Lunch At Western Bar

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 8
Value for Money: 7
Spent about SGD $45 per person.


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When I was looking for a place for Christmas lunch with her, I wanted 1) Somewhere quiet, and 2) A place that did Lamb well.
I found both at Western Bar.

Disclaimer: This is a review of their Christmas Menu, which is totally different from their Regular Menu. The difference is the food we had that day isn't on the regular menu, and the price is double or triple of their regular menu. So I'm actually reviewing the chef's skill in this entry.


Western Bar was totally quiet on Christmas day... We were they only ones in the place for nearly an hour, until a group of youths came in.

Western Bar is rather secluded in Sembawang Hills, so I guess not many know about the place.

I heard that the Lamb here was pretty good, and on regular days, their food is very value-for-money due to the lower than average prices. The Christmas Rack Of Lamb didn't disappoint.

It was nicely crusted all round with herbs and breadcrumbs, which gave a nice texture to the medium-rare, juicy and tender meat within. The herbs gave the meat a nice infusion of flavour. The portion was quite large too. It was served with black pepper sauce, but honestly, it was good enough on it's own.

The Duck Confit was rather small though, but it was cooked to perfection. The meat wasn't tough, and the skin was crispy.

Service was average... Can't really comment because we were the only ones in the place.

I quite like the ambience and decor, the place looks like an actual bar you'll see in those old western movies.

Will come back on a regular day to try their lamb...


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Update: Did come back on a regular day, and the food and service was great!

The staff just seem so happy all the time, and were friendly and polite. Now there's also a foosball (table soccer) table as well, to entertain kids, or those young-at-heart.

I like their White Truffle Mushroom Soup, it comes in a nice size portion, and there's actual wild mushrooms inside the soup.

Duck Confit

Herb Crusted Rack Of Lamb

Baked Mussels

Cheesy Quesadillas Chicken

Potato Skins

Red Snapper En Papillote 01

Red Snapper En Papillote 02

Ribena Lychee Freeze

WB Braised Lamb Shank

WB Pork Belly

Western Bar Wings

White Truffle Mushroom Soup

BBQ Pork Ribs

Chuck-Wagon Chicken Cutlet XXXL

Hot Honey Lemon

Seven Wonders Spaghetti Tartufata

Squid O Calamari

Pan-Seared Deglaze Salmon Fillet

Texas Pan-Grilled Striploin Steak

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Sofra Turkish Cafe And Restaurant
100 Beach Road
#02-42 Shaw Towers

http://www.sofra.com.sg/

Chef Plate (SGD $22.90)

Movie Review: What’s Up With Love? (Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?) 








Released on 8th February 2002, “What’s Up With Love? (Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?)” went on to become Indonesian cinema’s biggest box-office draw that year, with up to two million viewers. Set in Jakarta, this teen romance drama brought fame to director Rudy Soedjarwo, and kick-started the careers of main actress Dian Sastrowardoyo and main actor Nicholas Saputra. It also gained controversy among conservative Indonesians for being the first teen movie that featured a kissing scene.

A popular senior high school girl faces a difficult choice; should she admit her love for an unpopular boy and lose her friends, or keep her pride and live in misery?

Cinta (Dian Sastrowardoyo) along with her group of four best girlfriends, form the editorial team of the school’s bulletin board. She submits a poem to her school’s annual poetry competition, and is the favorite to win. However, the prize eventually goes to an unknown boy, Rangga (Nicholas Saputra).

Seeking to interview Rangga for the bulletin board, Cinta is shocked when he rudely turns her down, and takes an instant dislike to him. She complains about him to her friends.

It turns out that Rangga never submitted his poem for the competition; rather, the school janitor entered a poem Rangga once wrote on his behalf. As popular as Cinta is, Rangga is her polar opposite, keeping to himself most of the time, and has no other friends besides the school janitor. Cinta finds herself admiring Rangga’s poetry, and when they discover a shared interest in Indonesian literature, they begin to keep in touch regularly.

Their friendship, though often marred by arguments, starts to evolve into romance, but fear and pride prevent either of them from admitting their feelings. This secrecy starts to strain Cinta’s relationship with her clique, which leads to a crisis of trust among them. Cinta’s guilt causes her to blame Rangga, jeopardizing their budding romance. They break up, but unbeknownst to Cinta, she might not get to see Rangga ever again.

The plot of the movie "What’s Up With Love? (Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?)" unfolds in a chronological order, and the characters of Cinta and Rangga are well developed, as is the interaction between them. The cast of supporting characters, such as Cinta’s clique, Rangga’s family, and other school kids are less well developed, and often are there just to move the plot along, or provide emotional tension.

The main crux of the show hinges on the emotional struggle that Cinta faces, having to choose between a secret romance with Rangga, and her close emotional bonds with her clique of girlfriends. This is something many of us can identify with, and the emotional dilemma of choosing, not between right and wrong, but between two equally grey choices.

However, there are moments which require the viewer to have more than just a tad suspension of belief, such as when one of Cinta’s close friends is hospitalized due to abuse or a scene with a sympathetic airport security guard near the end. These moments break the illusion of reality that the show has otherwise carefully constructed.

Overall, the movie "What’s Up With Love? (Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?)" is heartwarming, and showcases well the hope that young love represents. It will appeal to teens and adults alike, through the believable and likable main characters, effective use of setting and sound, and the emotional appeal it makes.




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Leaders Makeover 2012


Because I need a place to link. 




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Wild Honey (Cafe)
333A Orchard Road
#03-02 Mandarin Gallery

6 Scotts Road
#03-01 Scotts Square

http://www.wildhoney.com.sg


Beautiful Breakfast, At A Price
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 7
Value For Money: 6
Spent about SGD $34 per person.


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First, the good stuff. Wild Honey (Cafe), founded by Stephanie Hancock and Guy Wachs in November 2009, proclaims they do "Beautiful Breakfast, All Day", and that they do. Food is presented beautifully, and tastes great.

Popular favorites at Wild Honey (Cafe) include the European, which is their version of Eggs Benedict. The poached egg yolk is nice and runny, and the prosciutto ham adds a nice salty flavour. They claim to make their own Brioche bread, and I like that it's toasted nicely on the outside, while still having a fluffy interior.

Another favourite is the Tunisian, which is served with spicy chorizo sausage. The spiciness of the dish is offset by the tomato stew and eggs it's served with.

Portions are generally large and quite filling, even for big eaters. Ambience at Wild Honey (Cafe) is homely, and the different types of furniture used, and small interior of Wild Honey (Cafe) add to the cottage feel.

I've tried many places for Brunch with her, and this is the place she likes best.

Now, the not-so-good stuff. Waiting times at Wild Honey (Cafe) can range from long, to the ridiculous. Due to the small outlet space, average waiting time is 15 to 20 minutes. During peak periods, like breakfast, lunch or dinner hours, waiting times can stretch up to 60 to 90 minutes.

While the food is good, in my opinion, it's not good enough to warrant waiting anything more than 40 minutes.

Tip: Go in pairs, couples generally have a shorter waiting time, as compared to groups of 4 or more.

Then, there's the much reviled 10% service charge. At Wild Honey (Cafe), you actually have to queue and order your own food at the cashier, so understandably, some may feel it's not justified. Personally, I feel the service charge is for them to bring your food, clear the tables, and to call you from the waiting list when a table is available, so I'm alright to pay a little extra.

Also, they don't serve water. Prices are also steep, as compared to other Brunch places.

I would personally visit again, (and have), but I suggest going at non-peak periods, to reduce your waiting time.

Update Apr-2012: The new Wild Honey (Cafe) outlet at Scotts Square, which opened in December 2011, is actually more spacious, so the waiting time is much shorter... Plus they accept reservations! Also, they actually have service here... As in the staff actually serve you and take orders. Plus, the overall ambience is much nicer. If possible, visit this outlet instead.

Update Jun-2015: Wild Honey (Cafe) is still going strong after all these years. Visited this time for my birthday celebration, am pleased to say the ambience, service, and food have remained consistently good. Thumbs up for their effort!


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European 01

European 02

Tunisian 01

Tunisian 02

Nature's Remedy

Wild Mocha Dolce

Wild Mocha Dolce Again

Honey For Money

English 01

English 02

English 03

English 04

Canadian

Banofee Brulee

Italian 01

Italian 02

Queen Bee

I Love New York 01

I Love New York 02

Caramel Latte

Corsican 01

Corsican 02

Almond Latte

Scandinavian 01

Scandinavian 02

Cheesecake With Berry Compote 01

Cheesecake With Berry Compote 02

Cheesecake With Berry Compote 03

Santa Fe 01

Santa Fe 02

Spanish Hash 01

Spanish Hash 02

Coconut Cake 01

Coconut Cake 02

Reserve a table now @ Wild Honey (Cafe) - Mandarin Gallery

Reserve a table now @ Wild Honey (Cafe) - Scotts Square

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Map Of The World Flags

The world map, with the countries' flags depicted as their boundaries...

Source: http://globworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/2000px-Flag-map_of_the_world-1024x512.jpg

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Flowchart For Choosing Your Religion


A humorous take for those deciding on a faith... A simple flowchart to choose your religion!












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Personal Life Story, Milestones, Highlights, Profile Pictures Till 2011


If Ivan Teh's life was told in pictures, this slideshow would be it. From my childhood, till the end of 2011... In total, 28 years of my life. 


There are 178 pictures in no particular order. Features major milestones and changing points in my life, highlights like travels and special events, and wacky pictures.







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