REVIEW: Ivy Restaurant - Halal French Cuisine!

Unfortunately this year, the husband's birthday fell on a weekday. Even more unfortunate was the fact that he was supposed to be involved in a long meeting that would only allow us to have a celebration at night. Already dampened by the fact that I could not carry out our annual go-out-the-whole-day kind of celebration, I was having problem finalizing dinner venue.

We both love to explore different places for food and I was wrecking my brains to decide which restaurant to go to have a simple dinner. 

Just in time, I got an invitation from a Ms Novell Goh for a food tasting session at Ivy Restaurant for that same night.....for authentic HALAL Southern French Cuisine!

Although many Halal food establishments have been set up in Singapore, I have NEVER been to a French restaurant before (deprived much ? :P ) . There was a Halal one in Haji Lane some time back but it has since closed down. Therefore without a second thought, I said 'Yes'!

[There are special benefits for you lucky readers at the end of this post so read on!]

This photo was taken right under the umbrella because the rain was just so so heavy! 

We did Maghrib prayers in the musollah located at the Beach Carpark (a small but very comfortable and well-lit room). We then walked in the heavy rain towards Siloso Beach till we reached Siloso Beach Resort. You can choose to take the tram from Beach Station but a little walking (less than 10 minutes) won't hurt, especially if your final destination is great food for the tum tum!

Warmly greeted by Ms Novell and Ms Hui Ping from their PR firm , we were taken on a tour around the place by the very friendly Mr Khamil Hyder, the Sales & Marketing Manager of Ivy Restaurant. 

It was evident that Ivy Restaurant was designed to give its customers a warm and relaxed feel. We were seated at the al fresco area that faces the popular Siloso Beach. With the lush greenery surrounding us ,dark wood finishings and warm lightings, it sure gives you a cosy and romantic feel, especially in the evening. 

Just perfect for any special occasion with your friends or loved ones!

According to Mr Khamil, when there isn't any need to set up tables, this area is used by Muslim patrons should they need to perform their obligatory prayers. 

What shall I call this? The verandah?  Anyway , this place is used when the first level is fully utilised or when there is any booking for event. I went to their Facebook page and saw the settings for a recent wedding...So sweet! You can either get them to find the decorators etc for you or you can just book the venue and do up the place yourself. That explains their  simple design; to allow diners to do up their own wedding / birthday  themes. Very practical, very smart move indeed.

We were eager to see what they were going to serve for the night.  As wine is an essential ingredient in French dishes, I was intrigued to know how they taste like without the use of wine (Not that I know what it is like with wine! Hahaha....).

For starters,we were served the CRAB SALAD. 

CRAB SALAD
With caramelised leeks, truffle honey, figs chutney and a hint of avocado puree

The more I look at this photo, the more I feel the compelling urge to taste this again....

The Crab Salad was soooooooooooooo good! I was a little skeptical as I am not much of a vege lover (read: leeks) but it was too delicious for me to bother about those veges. The mixture of the avocado puree and truffle honey made a unique combination - I can seriously remember how that tasted like! Oh, I love those orangey thingy at the top but I had no idea what it was. We later found out it was caviar. So that's how caviar tastes like.... slurrrrpppppp.....

Next starter ... Pan Fried King Scallops  

Pan Fried King Scallops
with parsnip puree and herbs

Both husby and I agree that this is drool-worthy and give it four thumbs up! I love scallops but sometimes the way they are cooked takes away the natural taste of the scallops. These scallops here were plump, tender and delectable and I really took my own sweet time chewing it. If we were to go back to Ivy (which we probably would), this is a must-order item. 

We were then served with two of their main courses. 

Pan Fried Seabass

With sauteed mushrooms, baked cherry tomatoes , flat beans. spinach and carrot puree.

Another favourite! So far, I have introduced 3 and all 3 are my favourites ?? :P  On a serious note, I was initially skeptical when I saw the mushrooms and the greens underneath the seabass but this is one example of how a good presentation does wonders to whet your appetite.

I totally dig it, veges and all! In fact , the sauteed mushrooms and spinach were so tasty that I feel they really added on to the taste of the crispy-on-the-outside-and-soft-on-the-inside seabass. I left out the flat beans though..that's not so bad, is it?

Sirloin Steak

with chunky chips and mixed salad

Their Sirloin Steak is one of their more popular items on the menu. Just like all the other dishes, the Chef only uses fresh and good quality ingredients and this includes beef dry-aged for 150 days. We were told that the sauce takes three days to make from scratch.

Perfect stage between medium and well-done. 

I am not too sure if the sauce is to my taste - I would have preferred it to be a little more peppery but that could just be me. The other blogger and her mum who were seated with us love the sauce! However, I was more than satisfied with the perfect texture of the steak. ... and I was secretly wishing for another set of the crunchy fries. Fat and served warm - great to munch on, on that cold and rainy night.

I was feeling quite full at that point (yes, I get full easily but will soon get hungry again....) but I couldn't wait for desserts. Desserts always make me happy!


                                 Vanilla Crème brûlée

For all those with a sweet tooth, this would be perfect for you! Husby likes this a lot and finished up my share.... hehe.. there is just so much sweetness I can take with my desserts. 

                             

Chocolate Fondant with Vanilla Ice-Cream

It was really sweet of them to surprise us with a birthday message for the hubby. 

Chocolate cake with vanilla ice-cream can never go wrong.  This was a perfect one to end the meal with..

That's us with another blogger and her mum, and the Chef who truly deserved our compliments that night.

I was impressed with how Chef Piotr described his journey in sourcing out for suitable ingredients that will not compromise on the taste of the restaurant's fusion Halal French cuisine, even with the absence of wine. And did you know that he trained / worked with Gordon Ramsay, that famous culinary Guru? 

That's Mr Khamil and Chef Piotr. Do look for Mr Khamil for any queries on venue booking etc.

You really should consider Ivy Restaurant for your next special occasion - birthday, anniversary or corporate event. In fact , if you are just hanging out at the beach or roaming around Sentosa, this would be an ideal place to chill and have a meal because they are perfectly fine with guests coming in casually dressed. Fuss free!

Now, here comes the best part for you readers!

From now till end of the year, you are entitled to 10% off ala carte items for each visit to Ivy Restaurant.

All you have to do is mention "I'm a reader of Haryani's blog!" when you are there and you get that 10% off. Super effortless! (ok...so now my real name is out :P . But I'd still very much liked to be known as 'Fairy Queen')

Wait....there's more!

I have FIVE 20% DISCOUNT VOUCHERS for 5 lucky readers! 

All you need to do is to give me your name and email address in the comment box below this post, and I'll get in touch with you to get your mailing address. First come, first served :)

So where?

Ivy Restaurant Pte Ltd

Siloso Beach Resort 

51 Imbiah Walk (opposite WAVEHOUSE)

For reservation , call : (65) 6271-7008

Opening hours: Tue 5:30 - 10pm, Wed-Sun (12:30 - 10pm), Mon (Closed)

Price range : $30 - $50 ++ per person . Set menus are available at $38 and $45 only.

For more information, visit  http://ivysingapore.com or their Facebook page. 

I hope I have managed to whet your appetite and evoked your curiosity because this is definitely a place worth going! 

Cheers.

Once Upon A Time......

We are all too familiar with the many 'Once Upon a Time'.... but have you heard of 

'Once Upon a Milkshake'?

I have not until last weekend. 

We were doing some quick shopping at Whitesands Shopping Centre when husby suggested a walk in the park nearby.With the recent erratic weather, who would have expected an extremely huge downpour the minute we stepped into the park?

Thank goodness for the barely-enough-for-two umbrella we had in hand, we managed to walk through the rain to reach the Pasir Ris Sports Recreation Centre.

While walking around, I sat this cute little shop with an equally cute name....

Once Upon A Milkshake 

They sell milkshakes obviously but they also have other things like waffles. The place is really small and cosy, and would make it a perfect venue for catching up with friends.

All their milkshake flavours have very cute and attention-grabbing names. That really made me read almost everything on their menu. 

I chose chocolate truffle castle 

Good enough for me to finish it up very quickly!

Love the choc bits ! Too few, in my opinion...more please!

I would probably wanna try the Agent Strawberry next - I miss the milkshakes from MacDonalds :(

-----------------------------
P/S: Just fyi, this place is not halal-certified as they do have rum in some of their products.

REVIEW : CAPRI RESIDENCE

You probably would have caught on (despite the few blog posts on it ) that my husband and I love to go for staycations. Whenever we feel we need a break away from our busy lifestyle or the usual routine at home, one of our version of an escapades is a holiday in our own sunny Singapore.

We were happy enough with our stay at Ritz Carlton for its luxurious deco and posh-ness. But if you are looking for somewhere away from town , Capri Residence is an excellent choice!

Where is Capri Residence? Right beside Changi City Point Mall. This also means that it is very near Singapore Expo (which has various exhibitions each weekend) and within 5 mins walk to the MRT station where you can easily take the train to Bedok Point, Tampines Mall, Whitesands, Changi Airport and to town.

How accessible!

We went for a 3D2N stay. Capri Residence works like a luxurious apartment - it has all the amenities of an apartment but the facilities of a good hotel. Plus it really looks good - simple yet classy!

The all-white lobby .... with pops of colours! I like! 

The designs lean towards modern retro - is there such a term? Haha....some of their furniture have that retro look , with a modern twist.

The cakes and macaroons sold at this cafe looked super drool-worthy but they are not Halal so all we could do was salivate. 

Cheap thrill - you get this parking label and we did get a little excited when we could enter the carpark through a separate gantry (from the mall) and had priority parking.

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As usual, husby asked for a high floor. But there wasn't much of a view, to be honest, since we were just surrounded by exhibition halls and office buildings.

I have to say that I love the room decor. Simple and clean furnishings but with orange as their main pop of colour. It makes everything look so chic and lively. I could seriously live in a room / home like that .

Pretty!

The mini walk-in wardrobe . On the right side are the shelves, iron + ironing board, full length mirror (very impt!) , safe etc. It also leads to the expansive bathroom. 

See that door? It is the second door that leads to the bathroom so one doesn't have to make a big turn to the bathroom in the middle of night . It was quite funny though when we had to warn each other not to open any of door while one of us was using the toilet. 

I don't know why but I love this sofa and TV area. I spent quite a bit of time here.

Details! I was lounging on the sofa when I noticed this on a corner of the ceiling. I love it when hotels pay attention to details.

And then we have the kitchenette. That , in my opinion, is another reason to beat Ritz Carlton. Ok, so Ritz Calrton has a luxurious bathroom but it does not have a kitchenette and vibrant colours - which , in my opinion, made my stay at Capri super comfortable.

We actually spent quite a long time in the room because we were....ahemmm....marking exam papers! Hahaha.... weird staycation , wasn't it? But I felt it was productive because I completed EVERYTHING that I brought over!

Everything is available, including an Espresso machine.

For the Muslim guests, do not forget your  'sabun sertu' when you use hotel utensils / cutlery.

As usual , we did a little exploration of the place.

The Spa was under some renovation while we were there though...

The lounge / HOT SPOT area looks soooooo cozy!

The pool and gymnasium. The pool is not that huge but it suffices , especially when it is not always packed with hotel guests. 

Another plus point is that Capri Residence is right next to Changi City Point. So, in between our work breaks, we did manage to do some shopping at the outlets there. Somehow, I seem to like the ESPRIT and G2000 stuff at the outlets here better than at their regular stores.

Those of you with kids will probably be glad to know that Changi City Point caters to the little ones. They have both indoor and outdoor playgrounds for young kids to entertain themselves. Also, there are quite a number of Halal eating places here so it was not a problem for the two of us to get food. 

In fact, I just kept thinking of what to have for my next meal throughout our stay . Geeezzz......

I feel it is a good place to unwind or just to steal a break from our usual routine. Plus, since the place is nowhere near town , the price is very affordable.

We have talked about doing another crazy marking-getaway here some time next year... meanwhile, we are hopefully gonna check out Katong V Hotel next!

Beanstro @ Ngee Ann City

2013 has been such a mad crazy year (especially Term 3) that I can count on ONE hand the number of times we went to town.

For 2 persons who love to shop and window-shop, this is rather pathetic.

Thus,that one super short trip to Orchard Road was a good relief and break from our busy routine. Furthermore we decided to take public transport... that made the whole Orchard experience even shorter as it takes us about an hour to get there by bus and train.

We had passed BEANSTRO (Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Bistro) a few times before but never really ventured in. Since we were only able to spend a few hours there that evening, we decided to have dinner there to avoid travelling to Far East plaza for our usual Halal food fix.

Beanstro is located at B1, Ngee Ann City .. near Sephora.

It has the typical CBTL setting, dark wood with mod orange lights. We sat outside as inside was pretty much a full-house.

Service was a little slow that day though . The place is quite small so I would not say that there was an overwhelming number of customers. We had to wave more than a few times to get the waiter's attention ....somehow all of them were swift at clearing tables but never seemed to look up and look out for any waving hands. A guy in a corner even had to stand up to make his presence felt after his frantic waving failed miserably.

But we are very patient people...hahahhaa.... food came about 15 minutes after we placed our order. Just enough time for me to convince him that I absolutely NEED that third pair of MELISSA heels  (which was gorgeous anyway. Another entry ok?) !

The menu was quite impressive, I should admit. Everything sounded so good and I told husby we must eat here again so that we can try out the rest. I was very hungry though so decision was snappy snap.

His earl grey tea. I got excited with the sugar cubes...hahahha. Cheap thrill but I find it really fascinating to watch the cube slowly dissolve into the tea.

With my hot chocolate and marshmallows :)

Beanstro's Steak Sandwich 

His order, from the Open-Faced Sandwiches menu.
It is Aussie sirloin with mesclun and gherkins, topped with caramelised onions, roasted pepper and horseradish mayonnaise. It was actually listed as the chef's recommendation. I guess he liked it since he finished it but it was just not to my liking. Or maybe the onions pissed me off . Haahaahaa..... I hate onions, even with caramel!

Salmon Skewer

Mine , mine! This was absolutely delicious! Another chef's recommendation : Salmon marinated with ginger and soya, skewered and grilled! Oh yum yum yum.... I was very sad when I reached the last of the salmon. I have always loved salmon but this takes it to the next level.

Deep Fried Calamari with Dill Honey Mustard

This was o-kay. I have tasted better calamari

I ended up dipping the calamari in this & chilli sauce. Just cannot live without chilli :P 

A meal is never complete without dessert . Since we did not want to over fill our stomachs and in our feeble attempt to save money, we decided to just share the  Warm Molten Cake .

I love it! This cost about $10 and in my opinion , had a  perfect sweet-but-not-too-sweet taste to it. I also like the peach sauce that came with it. My only complaint is that I wished the centre of the cake was more pudding-like and chocolatey. 

Our whole dinner cost approximately $80, with taxes. Maybe a little expensive for a dinner for two at a cafe but I will definitely want to try the other dishes so there will be a second (or third) time .

:)