[Personal] Celebrating Jessie's Birthday at DongQu 東區 Bar and Restaurant

 It's the Lucky 7's first meet-up for 2025 and it's a double celebration - Jessie's birthday and an early Chinese New Year gathering. For the venue, I searched on TikTok and IG, prioritizing a place that could accommodate a large group, young kids, and somewhere we hadn't tried before. After shortlisting a few options, we all agreed on DongQu Bar and Restaurant, a Taiwanese bar and restaurant located at Telok Ayer. I think we were quite excited to check out the cool cocktails featured and shared in the videos.  

It was raining heavily and the venue was still quite empty since we arrived early. We followed the staff to level 2 via the lift and when the lift door opened, we were greeted by numerous vintage television sets, one of which displayed footage of a live CCTV in operation. Each floor has a different unique theme, and the one on this floor where we would be seated, was designed in a Hong Kong 80s retro style.

Since we all arrived early, we had the chance to explore the various floors. On level 3, we discovered the Chill Lounge, a dreamy cloud space that is filled with a warm and soothing ambience.

Level 4 is the VIP area, boasting a European Victorian setting which is perfect for intimate private gatherings. I didn't explore level 1 as it was the bar area and was already quite packed by the time we finished touring the other levels.

We received a complimentary Yu Sheng to kick-start the dinner. It was my first Lo Hei of the year! Together, we tossed to a year filled with good health, happiness and prosperity! 

We ordered a variety of dishes for sharing, including Taiwan Skewers, Claypot River Prawn Vermicelli, Oysters, Wagyu Steak and a Braised Pork Rice for my girl. The food was good, but one plate of the skewers were served cold, so they replaced it with a new plate for us.

Flipping through the cocktails menu. 

Now it was time for some cocktails! I loved how creative and fancy their cocktails were, right down to the names. Kelvin had the 'Boss's Tears' (老板的眼泪  )。

Our birthday girl ordered the 'Far Away' (千里之外), which had a very pretty presentation, complete with a dramatic smoky effect.

Another surprise awaited our birthday girl. When I arrived early, I informed the staff about the birthday celebration that we will be having,  they took note of who the birthday girl was and served the two complimentary birthday shots for the lovely couple.  

The celebration turned out wonderfully and I felt grateful for the great food and companionship. I guess I will come back again to this place.  

📍DongQu 東區

176 Telok Ayer St 

Singapore 068624

XOXO

[CNY] Reunion Dinner at Hey Kee HK Seafood at Guillemard Road

We visited Hey Kee HK Seafood at Guillemard Road for our Chinese New Year reunion dinner. This restaurant which opened in January this year mimics the Hong Kong style concept of Da Pai Dong (大牌档).

We got there early and took a few photos at the various photo spots outside. 

Checking out the live fishes, lobsters and crabs. Some of the fishes are so unique that I've never even seen before.

We love the atmosphere here, the bright jade green tables and red chairs with the neon signage and posters of famous celebrities, this place really transported us to Hong Kong. 

There's a little barber shop at the corner that was set up just for photo purposes although the appliances there are real. 

The menu is in the form of a newsletter.

We ordered this big pitcher of Homemade Sugar Cane Chestnut Drink ($8.80), where you can still make out the mini sugar canes, water chestnuts, carrots and imperatae. This is a traditional Chinese drink that cools the body and reduce heatiness. The drink's natural sweetness makes it perfect. 

We began the feasting with this Prosperity Abalone Yusheng ($68) which was my first Lo-Hei for 2024. In this Dragon year, let's all Huat together! 

Sweet and Sour Pork with Pineapple ($22.80), good thing we ordered this dish in Large portion. It was yummy. 

Fried Chicken Wings with Garlic ($12.80) was nice too but the garlic was a little bit spicy and my girl was very sensitive to spicy so she did not eat more. We had wanted to order their famous Temple Street Crispy Roast Chicken but was told that it was sold out for the day. 

Pan Fried Beef Tenderloin Cubes with Potatoes ($36.80) was nice too, cooked with black pepper, the beef cube is tender well marinated. Even for a non-beef lover like me, I can accept it. 

Sizzling Kangkong with Shrimp Sauce in Claypot ($15.80), this dish is quite average for me. Probably because I prefer Kangkong in Sambal chilli. 

Finally the 1.2KG Red Grouper in soy sauce ($144). The most expansive dish of the whole meal must be the highlight right. Feeling like eating at a wedding banquet now. Fish is definitely fresh and good however, I felt that the meat is still slightly rough. 

Overall, I enjoyed this wonderful dinner with my group of friends, we now form the Lucky 7 group and we had this dinner on the 7th Feb at 7.30pm, so it's triple 7 for us. Many thanks to Jessie for planning and organizing this gathering. The food was on the higher end and the total bill was $380+ including GST and excluding service charge. 

 

Hey Kee HongKong Seafood

102 Guillemard Road

#01-01

Singapore 399719

XOXO

[Food Tasting] Best of East Meats West with Seafood Lo Hei and Roast Delights at Jack's Place

 To usher in the year of the Rabbit, the JP Pepperdine Group of restaurants brings in a fusion between Jack's Place favourites and Eatzi Gourmet's traditional delights. Diners can enjoy a fusion Western dining with Lunar New Year ingredients and seasonings at Jack's Place, order some Lunar New Year bento meals and roasts with Eatzi Gourmet Catering and New Year baked goodies with Eatzi Gourmet Bakery for the festive season. 

Official Photo credit to JP Pepperdine Group

Western Set Meals with a Lunar New Year Touch for dine in at Jack's Place 

Official Photo: Dine In at Jack's Place - Abundance Set Lunch

The festive set lunch and dinner menu for the Lunar New Year at Jack's Place includes interesting add-ons with a twist to their usual Western dishes. For the Main Course of their set lunch menu, choose between N.Z. Ribeye Steak with Abalone Sauce and Sliced Abalone, Barramundi Fillet with Ginger Plum Sauce and Golden Money Bag Dumpling or Chicken with Pineapple Marmalade and Yam Basket with Scallop. Set Lunch menu is priced at $24.80 per pax and comes with soup, dessert and coffee/tea to complete the meal. Their set dinner menu is priced at $78.80 for sharing between two pax and comprises of a different menu from the Set Lunch.  

Official Photo: Harvest Toss Seafood Salad and Fortune Toss Abalone Salad

Diners may also do the traditional Lo Hei with a twist with Jack's Place's unique Harvest Toss Seafood Salad (made up of a medley of seafood) or the Fortune Toss Abalone Salad as part of the festive celebration! 

Food Tasting at Jack's Place (Bras Basah Complex) outlet

Together with some of the media and influencers friends, we were invited to do a food tasting at Jack's Place, Bras Basah Complex outlet. As it was during lunch time, I went down to the venue from my office which is just two bus stops away. 

We went over to the long table to start off the session with the traditional tossing of the Lo Hei for prosperity and abundance. The Harvest Toss Seafood Salad was really refreshing and I could taste fruits like Mango, Pomelo and Pineapple. Roasted Sesame Dressing was used instead of the usual Plum Sauce. The flavour blends well overall. 

After the tossing of Lo Hei, we went back to our individual table for the Abundance Set Lunch starting off with the Fish Maw & White Fungus Chicken Broth. It feels kind of interesting to be having this super Chinese style soup instead of the usual mushroom soup at Jack's Place. The soup is really tasty and good.

For my main course, I had the Chicken with Pineapple Marmalade and Yam Basket with Scallop. The Chicken Meat was tender and well seasoned with the sauce. The concept of 'East meets West' is well displayed in this dish with the yam and scallop at the sides. 

 We ended the meal with a slice of osmanthus sponge cake which was nicely decorated with a firecracker imaged on an edible chocolate. Super festive! 

Jack's Place Jewel Outlet Opens Throughout the Lunar New Year

Good news for those who have no idea of a dine-in place during the Lunar New Year. Jack's Place at Jewel Changi Airport will be open throughout the whole Lunar New Year period and all other outlets will be open from 5pm on the second day of the New Year onwards. 

Halal Festive Takeaway Delights, Roasts and Favourites by Eatzi Gourmet Catering and Lunar New Year Cookies and Cakes by Eatzi Gourmet Bakery to Enjoy at Home

Official Photo: Dine at Home - Roasted N.Z. Ribeye

For those who are staying at home, the group is offering their popular Roasts and Favourites for Takeaway at a special price of S$18.80 for 1kg of their Mushroom Soup, S$118.80 for their Roasted N.Z. Ribeye (1.5kg) and a fusion twist with the Fortune Smoked Salmon Yusheng at only S$58.80 (serves 10 persons). 

Official Photo: Dine at Home - LNY Cookies and Cakes

Not to be missed during the festive seasons are the Lunar New Year Cookies and Cakes. Traditional ingredients are used for their Hainanese Kaya Roll, Nanyang Kopi Roll, Rainbow Kueh Lapis and the Lychee Pineapple Tarts.  

We got to try some of the Lunar New Year Cookies and Cakes too. I quite like the Lychee Pineapple Tarts which is also their popular items. It's more to the sweet side as the Lychee taste is quite strong. For the cookies, they are the melt-in-your mouth kind. We also tried the Rainbow Kueh Lapis which taste like the normal Kueh Lapis but I find it very unique and makes a great gift. Would have got a box but it was not available at the outlet on the day we went. 

All orders may be placed at any Jack's Place or Eatzi Gourmet restaurant or online from www.jppepperdine.com/gourmetstore or www.eatzigourmet.com.sg/bakery. The last order have to be placed by 31 January 2023.Self-collection and delivery options are available from 9 January to 5 February 2023 and there will be no collection and delivery on 22 and 23 January 2023. 

Lunar New Year Bento Sets and Lo Hei by Eatzi Gourmet Catering to Dine in the Office or Home

The Prosperity Buffet Sets or Bento Sets from Eatzi Gourmet Catering is suitable for office or home celebration. There is even a personal Lo Hei Rice Bowl which has all the ingredients needed in a Lo Hei. Huat to a personal prosperity toss! 

From 16 January 2023 to 5 February 2023, 3 lucky diners who order a Fortune Toss Abalone Salad (S$23.80) or Harvest Toss Seafood Salad (S$18.80) at any restaurant will stand to win a Bountiful Rabbit Year Catering Voucher Worth S$338! 

Thank you Jack's Place for the warm hosting. For more information, do check out their official website. 

Website: www.jppepperdine.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jp.pepperdine

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jppepperdine

XOXO

[Food Tasting] Hop In 兔 The Year Of The Rabbit With Din Tai Fung Lunar New Year Exclusive

The well known internationally acclaimed Taiwanese restaurant Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 is all ready to usher in the Year of the rabbit with their Lunar New Year Exclusive - the highly anticipated classic Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng  发财鱼生. 

I went down to the flagship outlet of Din Tai Fung at Paragon with some other foodies for a media tasting. The two hours casual session started off with a little crafty activity as we get to paint our own mini bamboo steamers. The good thing is the staff had already outlined the pictures for us in pencil so all we had to do is to paint it over with the colours. It was quite fun and I managed to finish painting the whole artwork before we went in to the VIP room for our tasting.

Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng served with: 

- Auspicious Plum Dressing 

- Fried Salmon Skin

The quintessential starter to an auspicious Lunar New Year celebration is none other than the Yu Sheng, that comes with an assemblage of ingredients symbolising good health, happiness, wealth and luck. Din Tai Fung Yu Sheng is available in two types, the Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng 发财鱼生 at S$53.80 per serving and the Vegetarian Prosperity Yu Sheng 富贵素鱼生 at S$45.80 per serving. For the purpose of this tasting, we were served the Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng.  

The prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng comprises of smoked salmon slices, sprinkled with crunchy ingredients such as the toasted white sesame seeds, roasted peanuts and all-time favourite crispy yam strips served along with a medley of freshly prepared colourful twirls of carrots, green and white radish. Generous amount of Din Tai Fung's in-house signature plum dressing is then drizzled on to unify all the ingredients together perfectly. 

Instead of the traditional golden crackers that were usually added, Din Tai Fung takes an unconventional twist by offering unique ingredients to sprinkle on top like the Fried Salmon Skin 炸鱼皮 (S$5.00 per serving) and Crispy Yam Strips 酥脆芋头丝 (S$3.80 per serving) for that added blessings of fortune. Sweeten it up with an additional Auspicious Plum Dressing (S$2 per serving) and an extra serving of Sliced Smoked Salmon 熏三文鱼片 (60g, S$12.80 per serving). Akin to the original rendition (without the smoked salmon) is for the vegetarians to also partake in the festivities should they opt for the Vegetarian Prosperity Yu Sheng 富贵素鱼生.

 EARLY BIRD PRE ORDER PROMOTION

With the Rabbit Year fast approaching, skip the queues and had a stress free Lunar New Year reunion by pre-ordering your Yu Sheng online via the Din Tai Fung e-store. Enjoy early birds special for the Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng 发财鱼生 and the Vegetarian Prosperity Yu Sheng 富贵素鱼生 when your pre-order is between 16 December 2022 to 5 January 2023. Get to receive 2 complimentary set of Din Tai Fung's Limited Edition 2023 Red Packets and a Premium Insulated Bag 鼎级保温包 (worth S$5.80). 

UOB CARDHOLDERS EXCLUSIVE

Enjoy 10% off every order of your Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng 发财鱼生 and the Vegetarian Prosperity Yu Sheng 富贵素鱼生 exclusively for UOB Cardholder. Valid for dine in and takeaway purchase from 6 January to 5 February 2023 only. Not applicable for online pre-orders and top-ups. Terms and conditions apply.

Beside the tossing of Yu Sheng, we were also served with some of Din Tai Fung's delectable offerings and signature classic dishes such as the Oriental Salad in Special Vinegar Dressing, Steamed Pork Xiao Long Bao, Fried Rice with Shrimps and Eggs, Steamed Custard Buns, the Chocolate Lava Buns (Limited for Christmas) and much more. I really enjoyed all the delicious dishes. From 6 January to 5 February 2023, these celebratory classics will be available for takeaway and across all dine-in outlets which will be in time for the reunion gatherings. Do note to plan your festivities with Din Tai Fung's early bird promotions that comes with exciting freebies. 

Did Some-bunny say Limited-edition Ang Pao?

Received complimentary Din Tai Fung's Limited Edition Red Packets (8pcs/packet) 鼎泰豐限量版红包 with a minimum spend of S$68, valid for dine-in customers only, while stocks last. Not applicable with other promotions except for UOB 10% Yu Sheng promotion. Decked out in nodes of orange with intricated gold edges, Ding Tai Fung's Limited Edition Red Packets sought inspiration from the dragon-shaped jade pendant which symobolises good luck, strength and health, with hints of the brand's signature Xiao Long Bao carefully weaved in along the dragon-shaped pendant. Perfectly apt for the Lunar New Year celebrations and reunions.

Huat in the Rabbit Year with Din Tai Fung's Lunar New Year Exclusive Animated Sticker Pack

Fans of Din Tai Fung can even download this exclusive festive sticker pack on WhatsApp and send out adorable Lunar New Year greetings with Baozai and friends. Available for download from 9 January 2023 at Sticker.ly. So cute I'm gonna download them and used them to add an animated flair to my digital Lunar New Year greetings!   

Big thanks to Kenny @_boyz86 for sharing the invite, @thewanderingshe for helping me take this photo and Din Tai Fung for the great hospitality and hosting us.

Disclaimers: Images without watermark are official photos. All prices & amounts stated are before GST and service charge unless otherwise stated and may vary across restaurants. Terms & conditions apply, check in-store for details or visit www.dintaifung.com.sg for more information. 

DIN TAI FUNG ONLINE & SOCIALS

Online: https://dintaifung.com.sg/

Facebook: facebook.com/dintaifungsg

Instagram: @dintaifungsg

Hashtags: #DinTaiFungSG #CNYwithDTF

XOXO