Wednesday, February 21, 2018

London - To Eat (20Feb2018 The Mayfair Chippy Fish and Chips, The Ivy SOHO Brasserie, Milroy's)

London - To Stay
London - To Eat
London - To Do

London - To Eat
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The Mayfair Chippy
Fish and Chips
 

Came recommended by C.Poh
Won Fish and Chips awards and Michelin Guide Recommended

14 N Audley St, Mayfair, London W1K 6WE 
The Mayfair Chippy, Michelin Guide recommended and won some Fish and Chips awards. Conveniently located just around from Primark and Selfridges The Mayfair Chippy is a great location for an afternoon meal for some classic British fair for (Pre/post shopping eats)
Free Wifi Located on Site and the place does fill up very quickly. Opens at 12pm/11am on weekends but takeaways orders start at 11.30am.  
Ordered On:
20Feb2018
Crisp salmon crackling 3pounds

*A total waste of time. Its just really thin dried out salmon skins that are unseasoned. Add salt and pepper to taste.*
Mayfair Classic
Fried Haddock, chips, mushy peas, tartar and chip shop curry sauce or HP Gravy.
15.75pounds


*This was their classic order. I was recommended Haddock for its stronger, bold flavors.
The presentation was beautiful and I especially loved the pea tendrils and abundance of sauce selection that came with. The classic mushy peas are the best had thus far with varied texture and well seasoned. The batter isn't crispy but the fish is fresh and well prepared. The chips though fluffy on the inside lacked the crispy crunchy exterior which in other establishments hit it spot on. All in all it is a worth while place to have fish and chips, especially pre or post shopping. Where in its sauce, presentation and mushy peas it excelled, it may loose out to Hobson's Fish and Chips in other their Fries and Crisp exterior. Below are other excellent fish and chips shops that you maybe interested in.

Heston's Perfectionist Cafe Fish and Chips
Kerbisher and Malt*

Total Fed 1 at 18.75pounds
Ambience 4/5
Food 3.5/5
Service 3.5/5
Value 3.5/5

A good fish and chips joint that's located near to popular shopping haunts.
The Ivy SOHO Brasserie
(Recommended by others)
A real elegant looking place that serves up classic British foods.
Free Wifi is available on site.
26-28 Broadwick St, Soho, London W1F 8JB
Ordered On:
20Feb2018
Steak eggs and Chips 14.50Pounds


*Nothing special really and fries were honestly a little soggy.*
The Ivy Soho Shepard's Pie 13.50pounds
Slow Braised lamb shoulder with beef and Cheddar Potato mash

*Their signature dish that they've been preparing for years. The portion is a little bit small, however it is a slightly different take on a sheard's pie. Strong, rich flavors that was actually pretty good.
 Chocolate Bombe 8.50Euro
Melting Chocolate Bombe with a vanilla ice cream and honeycomb center with salted caramel sauce.

*Another signature that came recommended. Its worth it to come here just for this dessert. We didn't get a chance to record the sphere imploding under the hot salted caramel sauce, but the flavors worked beautifully together and the pop rocks surprise in the dessert was amazing! A must try!*Ambience 3.5/5
Food 3.5/5
Service  4/5
Value 3/5

Fed 2 Total about 20.10 Pounds per person. 
Its a nice fancy place with attentive staff waiting the tables. The mains were honestly quite average, however for the dessert, that was the star. Mains ordered by others in the restaurant looked really appetizing and maybe worth to come here in a larger group to try more options. The dessert ordered is not to be missed!
Milroy's
recommended by Z


Milroy's is a Whisky chill out joint with a very cool secret entrance that one often sees in the movies. Anything with a secret door is just pure epic in my books and worth the check it out if you're in the area. 

London - To Do (21Feb2018 Science Museum)

London - To Stay
London - To Eat
London - To Do

London - To Do
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Science Museum
Additional shows available onsite.
Exhibition Rd, Kensington, London SW7 2DDAt first I was a little reluctant to pop into the Science museum for a look see, but no regrets after having had a look inside. Some of their displays were beautifully done like the space exploration section and the audio presentation on the planets.
They have loads of interactive and educational pods which were entertaining both for the young and old. 
Largest Tyre
Other Museums located just beside the science museum that you maybe interested to visit.
- Natural History Museum
- Victoria and Albert Museum

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Singapore - To Eat (11Feb2018 Ikoi Japanese Buffett Mirama Hotel)

Singapore - To Stay
Singapore - To Eat
Singapore - To Do

Singapore - To Eat
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Ikoi
Japanese A la carte Buffet at Hotel Mirama

Located on the ground floor of Mirama hotel is Ikoi, one of the better Japanese A-la-carte buffets in tow.  401 Havelock Road, Singapore 169631
 *The sitting space isn't that large, so it is advisable to get a booking.*
 
Ordered On:11Feb2018
 *Their complementary samplers. The warm soups really helped warmed up the inside and complement the majority of cold dishes we were ordering.*
 *The Tempura was well fried and staff were still relatively attentive to give fresh tempura dipping for the next wave of tempura orders.*
*Good shashimi cuts of sword fish, yellow tail, tuna, octopus and salmon.* 
*The Karage Chicken were pretty good too. Fresh fry and a balanced seasoning.*
Fed 4 Total SGD38++/pax

Ambiance 3.5/5
Service 2.5/5
Food 3.5/5
Value 3/5

There are definitely much more options (some not pictured) to select from but there were the few that we stuck to. The shashimi(Raw fish) quality is better than most buffet spread places, but the probable downer is the long wait times especially when you're making a second/third order after the first. We waited a good 10-20mins for the next subsequent orders, especially so for the shashimi cuts.

All-be-it at the time of this review, they had a disclosure notice that due to changing labor laws, patrons were to be more understanding of the reduced service staff to keep up with demand. The restaurant was about 50% occupied as off 1330hrs on a Sunday and the reduced flow of food was a little disappointing.

If they could cut the wait times, the dining experience will be much more enjoyable.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Singapore - Airshow 2018

Singapore - To Stay
Singapore - To Eat
Singapore - To Do

ABBATips:
- Go Early to get your one-on-one time with the static displays.
- Keep yourself hydrated.
- Take the shuttle bus out or leave early. Reports of long wait time up to 2.5hrs, (No outside booking allowed) on opening trade day.

Check here for official ways to get in from Singapore Airshow 2018.
*Apparently this year they don’t allow for Grab or Uber to get in, hence its best to go via the standard cab services. 

There’s also a shuttle bus service at $16 two ways to bring you in from Changi exhibition center. Surcharge of $12 applies for taxis going out from the airshow.

Its best to arrive early, especially for the external displays which get incredibly crowded later in the day. Pre-registration starts at 9.30am but they opened about 15mins earlier and I was on-site at about 9.30am.

Past day exhibitors arriving after 9am have reported only getting in after 2hrs of wait at 11.30am and getting out is a whole nightmare altogether. Best to exit early or via the shuttle bus. (I left at 1330hrs and its was a bit of a wait to grab a taxi out).

The aerial display starts at 11.30am and lasts for about an hour. Lots of food and drinks are available on site at a price.
Simple Brewerkz hotdog with fries at SGD14.
 Arrive early and you get to really spend time with the crew to explain the systems and get your shot taken on the F-16.
 The Classic C130. Top speed of 280Kias.
 The new Livery for SAF50
 Apache
 A350-1000

 The F35s

 Beth is senior staff reporter from https://www.shephardmedia.com/
and gives the low down on the latest military hardware. Check out their other related videos at https://www.shephardmedia.com/
 Baltic Air
 With their lovely crew from Latvia. 
Which is righttttt there.
Explore the interior of Boeing 787/737/777 within a virtual space.
 Aerial display starts at 11.30am and ends in about an hour. Too bad this year there was no new commercial jet flyby.
 and its a great place to meet up old friends.
 Changi Airport Display and the innovations of Jewel Shopping Complex.
 Innovations from the left, seats that weight 50%less, delivery drones and a Russian Helicopter.
 Charity drive from ALPAs selling aircraft models, whose sale goes to two charity organizations. Located on the right on entering at F107.
 
2018 Swag from Singapore Airshow 2018