Where to eat in Tiong Bahru, Singapore: Open Door Policy

Mencoba berbagai tempat makan yang berbeda selalu menyenangkan, termasuk di Tiong Bahru, Singapura. Tujuan pertama kami meluncur ke area Tiong Bahru adalah untuk mengunjungi Books Actually, toko buku unik dengan ragam buku yang berbeda. Namun rupanya Open Door Policy menjadi penutup yang menyenangkan pada "jalan-jalan singkat" kami di Tiong Bahru.

Having culinary experience in different places is always fun, also in Tiong Bahru, Singapura. At first, our main destination in Tiong Bahru was to visit Books Actually, a unique bookstore with unusual books. But apparently, Open Door Policy became a perfect closure for our “short trip” in Tiong Bahru.

 

Area Tiong Bahru merupakan kawasan pemukiman lama yang telah dibangun sejak tahun 1930-an. Kini berbagai café, restoran dan toko-toko menarik bermunculan di Tiong Bahru dan dengan atmosfir yang lebih tenang, area ini menawarkan rasa yang berbeda dari riuhnya Orchard.

Tiong Bahru is an old residential area that has been built since the 1930s. Nowadays, with all various café, restaurants, and attractive shops that bring out the comfort, Tiong Bahru was such a refreshing getaway from the Orchard crowd.

 

Open Door Policy berukuran seperti toko-toko dan restoran lain di Tiong Bahru, dengan areal dari luasan ruko sehingga dining area memanjang ke belakang, namun tetap tertata cantik.

Open Door Policy had a similar size with others shop and restaurant in Tiong Bahru. Dining area heads to the back side of the restaurant and all set prettily.

Harga di ODP cukup pricey jika dihitung dengan kurs rupiah terhadap dolar Singapura, namun semua makanan di Open Door Policy sangat memuaskan dari segi rasa dan tampilan. Menu favorit saya di sini yaitu Roast Akaroa Salmon dengan tumis bayam, babaganoush dan cucumber raita. Pilihan lain Seafood Risotto, Plin Ravioli atau Roast Barramundi.

The price at ODP was quite pricey if we converted into IDR, but all foods in Open Door Policy could satisfy you tastefully and visually. My favorite was Roast Akaroa Salmon with a sautéed spinach, babaganoush and cucumber raita. Another option was Seafood Risotto, Plin Ravioli, or Roast Barramundi.

So, let's eat, shall we?

@marischkaprue - eat, sleep and travel

NOTES:

• Open Door Policy terletak di 19 Yong Siak Street, Singapura 168650. Telp: +65 6221 9307, email: enquiries@odpsingapore.com
• Open Door Policy is located on 19 Yong Siak Street, Singapore 16865. Phone: +65 62219307, email: enquiries@odpsingapore.com  
• Harga menu starters mulai dari 20 SGD (Singapore Dollar), main course mulai dari 26 SGD (Roast Akaroa Salmon 29 SGD, Roast Barramundi 26 SGD, Seafood Risotto 28 SGD), dessert 18 SGD, cocktails start from 17 SGD
• Starters menu starts from 20 SGD (Singapore Dollar), main course starts from 26 SGD (Roast Akaroa Salmon 29 SGD, Roast barramundi 26 SGD,. Seafood Risotto 28 SGD), dessert 18 SGD, cocktails start from 17 SGD  

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Skirt Singapore: Ultimate Meat Experience

This is the most delicious meat I've ever tasted (see below)

Yes these are super yummy!

Okay, saya tidak melebih-lebihkan di kalimat di atas. Skirt restaurant memang punya menu kebanggaan dan salah satunya adalah daging yang saya coba, Blackmore 100% full blood Japanese wagyu.

Okay, I am not exaggerating in the sentence above. Skirt does have an ultimate menu and one of them is the meat that I tasted, Blackmore 100% full blood Japanese Wagyu. 

"If you're a meat lover, this is heaven"

Proses pengolahan daging di Skirt cukup berbeda. Sebagian menu di sini menggunakan daging yang telah melalui proses penuaan yang diatur sedemikian rupa, disebut aging process. Sejak awal masuk ke restoran ini anda dapat melihat daging di dalam kotak kaca yang digantung, dengan label jenis dan proses serta tanggal.

The way they process meat in Skirt is quite different. Some menu here using the meat that through aging process in certain way. From when you arrived here, you'll see meats hanging in the glass case with labels showing types, date and process.

Proses grill juga dapat kita lihat di dalam area restoran, menarik melihat langsung chef mengolah makanan. Meski sebagian proses persiapan dilakukan di area terbuka di dalam restoran, sama sekali tidak mengganggu detail interior. Tanduk kaca yang dipasang menjadi instalasi di langit-langit adalah detail favorit saya di Skirt, it just so pretty.

We can even see the grilling process at the inside area. Its interesting to see the chef do their thing inside the dining area. Although some dine preparation is done in this area, it doesn't make the interior seems weird. What I love about the interior are the glass horns mounted into the ceilings like an art installation, it just so pretty.

chocolate, chocolate, chocolate yum!

Mixed Berry Pavlova uh-la-la

Tasting plate

Menu daging milk-fed lamb dan venison menjadi andalan dan ciri khas Skirt yang langsung dijaga kualitasnya oleh Chef Andrew Nocente. Saya sangat menikmati meat tasting plate dengan 5 jenis daging yang berbeda.

The milk-fed lamb and venison are some of the pride menu of Skirt which taken care directly by Chef Andrew Nocente. I really enjoyed the meat tasting plate with 5 different types of meat.

Jika anda bukan pecinta daging. Well, here you'll miss the fun in your tongue.

If you're not a meat lovers, Well, here you'll miss the fun in your tongue.

@marischkaprue - meatlovers

Photos by Ferry Rusli

NOTES:

• Skirt terletak di W Singapore, Sentosa Cove, 21 Ocean Way. Phone +65 68087278, email: skirt.singapore@whotels.com
• Skirt located at W Singapore, Sentosa Cove, 21 Ocean Way. Phone +65 68087278, email: skirt.singapore@whotels.com
• Jam buka: Setiap hari pukul 6 sore hingga 12 malam
• Opening hours: Everyday from 6 pm to 12 pm
• Harga: Menu pembuka dari 8 SGD (Dolar Singapura), Main course mulai dari 28 SGD, Tasting plate of 5 breed 250 SGD. Cek harga selengkapnya disini  
• Price: Starter menu from 8 SGD (Singapore dollar), Main course start from 28 SGD, Tasting plate of 5 breed 250 SGD. You can see the detail price and menu here 
• Jika hendak mencoba tasting plate sebaiknya datang bertiga atau lebih, kebanyakan orang tidak sanggup menghabiskan sendirian atau berdua
• If you want to try tasting plate you better come with your friends or family, three or four person would be ideal since most people cannot finish it all alone.

RELATED STORIES:

• W Singapore, the pretty hotel in Sentosa

What you can find at Sentosa:

• Sea Aquarium, how to handle
• Sea Aquarium, more sea creatures 
• Ocean Restaurant, Romantic dinner
• Sea Trek Adventure
• Rainbow Reef
• Ray Bay

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Auckland Where To Go: Face Pie

Tidak ada hal yang spesial dengan kue pie ini. Hanya saja sebagian pie tersenyum, sebagian mengerenyit, serta beragam ekspresi lainnya seperti emoticon.

Nothing special from this pie. Some are "smiling", some showing different expressions, just like emoticons.

Pie Face adalah franchise yang berawal dari Manhattan, US. Kini, di Auckland sudah terdapat tiga toko kue pie yang membuat anda tersenyum saat melihatnya.

Pie Face is a pie franchise started from its first shop in Manhattan, US. Now Face Pie is already have three chains in Auckland.

Tidak ada yang spesial dengan toko pie ini. Hanya saja saya senang duduk di dalamnya, menikmati kue pie yang tersenyum pada saya, sambil melihat lalu lalang manusia yang melintas di pusat kota Auckland, New Zealand ini.

Nothing special with this pie shop. I just having myself sitting there, enjoying the pie which is smiling to me, while seeing people passing by in downtown Auckland, New Zealand.

Strolling Auckland

The smiling pie

Terkadang, tidak perlu hal spesial untuk menyukai sesuatu, termasuk face pie di central Auckland ini. See the smiling pie? There's nothing special about it ;)

Sometimes, it doesn't have to be something special that caught your eyes or to like something. Just like this face pie in central Auckland. See the smiling pie? There's nothing special about it ;)

@marischkaprue - wake up with the smile on her face

NOTES:

• Pie Face terletak di: 18 Shortland St, Auckland, New Zealand atau di 350 Queen St, Auckland CBD, New Zealand. Phone +64 09 377 6963.
• Pie Face located at 18 Shortland St, Auckland, New Zealand or at 350 Queen St, Auckland CBD, New Zealand. Phone +64 09 377 6963.
• Opening hours: 6.30 am hingga 9 pm (Minggu hingga Selasa), 24 jam pada hari Rabu hingga Sabtu.
• Opening hours: 6.30 am to 9 pm (Sunday to Tuesday), 24 hours on Wednesday to Saturday.
• Harga pie mulai dari 3,5 NZD (New Zealand Dollar) 
• Price started from 3,5 NZD (New Zealand Dollar)

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Steal Recipe: How to Make Maki Sushi 巻き寿司

So during my last visit to New Zealand, I got a chance to learn a bit how to cook in Sachie's Kitchen. Sachie Nomura is a Japanese who's been living in NZ since the mid 90's. She accompanies us during our visit, making our trip remarkable and yummy.

feels like Masterchef! :D

Last but not least, when you're in Auckland with Sachie, one thing you should steal is her recipe! She has a cooking school that makes us feels like we're in the Masterchef! Few things about Sachie, she's talks a lot, laugh a lot, a bit crazy ha! But one thing for sure we can't stop enjoying her presence on our trip.

very serious listening to our 'sensei' haha

I'm not a chef, nor a cooking expert. I can only cook rice, instant noodle and water (yes, that's also why I'm a travel blogger, not a food blogger). Despite my very low skill in making food, I joined Sachie's Kitchen as a "one day student."

Sachie showing her Maki Sushi 巻き寿司 wohoo!

One most interesting menu is the Maki Sushi. I always think making sushi is extravagantly hard (for me). But I managed to make a bucket full of nice looking and yummy sushi. So we steal Sachie's recipe (she gave us actually, but 'stealing' sound more appealing for this blog, psst!).

And here are her words and details of making Maki Sushi, taken from Sachie Nomura:

"Making a sushi roll is just like riding a bicycle. Once you know how to do it, then the skill is yours forever. If the first one doesn’t come out right, don’t worry! Try again, practice makes perfect!" - Sachie

Makes: Preparation Time: Cooking Time:

Ingredients

16 pieces (2 rolls) 10 minutes
10 minutes

400-420g of white cooked rice (short / medium) 3 Tbsp sushi vinegar
2 Nori sheets (seaweed)

Salmon & Avocado roll:

150g Salmon, raw sashimi-grade, cut into strips 1/4 Avocado, sliced
Tuna roll:
1 small tin of tuna

2 Tbsp Japanese mayonnaise 1/8 Cucumber, cut into strips 1/8 Capsicums, cut into strips

Garnish: Sushi ginger Wasabi
Soy Sauce

Method:

1.Put warm / hot cooked rice in a large non-stainless steel bowl. Pour the sushi vinegar over and mix well (Tip: when mixing, use a cutting rather than a stirring motion, otherwise the rice becomes very mushy. Try to coat each rice grain with the sushi vinegar).

2.Cover with wet cloth and set aside

Step 1, put two handfuls of sushi rice on the seaweed

To roll sushi:


1. Place a Nori sheet on top of sushi rolling mat. Wet your hands (this is to avoid having rice

sticking to your fingures!) put two handfuls(160g) of sushi rice on the seaweed.


2. Spread the rice evenly but leave a 1cm gap at the top of the seaweed


Step 2: put vegetables, salmon and avocado on top of the rice

3.Place Salmon and avocado on top of the rice, near the bottom end of the seaweed.

Roll

and cut!

 
4.Lift the bottom edge of the mat upwards and over the filling, using your fingers to keep the

ingredients in the centre of the roll. As the rice meets the nori, squeeze the roll to make it firm and lift the top edge of the mat out to stop it getting caught in the roll. Continue until the roll is complete.

5.Wet your knife with water and cut each roll into 8 pieces and serve with soy sauce and wasabi.

Tadaa! My sushi! I managed to make these! :)

Voila!

How it looks? Mine looks good though. I have a right to brag a bit about it :)

@marischkaprue - consider cooking is still not her thing, but eating is.

Photo by Ferry Rusli

 NOTES:

• Sachie's Kitchen Located at Suite 1.4, Axis Building, 91 St Georges Bay Road, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand
• Contact Sachie's Kitchen via phone number: +64 (0) 9 302 7680, or email admin@sachieskitchen.com

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Great Food Experience at Pasar Bella, Singapore

Bayangkan kios makanan yang beragam di dalam satu area bangunan besar, semua kios ditata dengan cantik dan anda bebas mencicipi tester makanan yang disediakan di setiap kios.

Imagine variety of food stalls inside large building, all the stalls laid out beautifully and you are free to try to taste any food, since the food stalls provide tester and encourage people to try.

Yummy cheese

Satu hal yang paling menyenangkan dari Pasar Bella adalah anda bisa berkeliling mencoba tester makanan sebelum akhirnya memilih makanan yang disuka dan bebas duduk di kios manapun. Tidak perlu sungkan mencoba karena itulah yang menjadi konsep Pasar Bella.

One fun thing about this market is you can stroll around Pasar Bella and try a lot of tester food before finally choosing what you like and also you are free to sit at any kiosk. No need to hesitate to try because that is the concept of Pasar Bella.

Terletak di Grandstand, Turf Club Road, kawasan ini dahulu merupakan lokasi perlombaan pacu kuda. Grandstand dahulu bernama Turf Club dan sejak tahun 1933 lokasi ini adalah area balap kuda yang terkenal di Singapura. Kemudian perjalanan sejarah merubah fungsi tempat ini beberapa kali. Pendudukan Jepang di tahun 1940 membuat semua balap kuda dihentikan dan bangunan di Turf Club menjadi rumah sakit.

Located in the Grandstand, Turf Club Road, this area used to be a horse race location. Grandstand formerly named Turf Club and since 1933 this location is a famous horse race area in Singapore. History makes a lot of changing in this place, a lot of function from time to time. During Japanese occupation in the 1940s ​​all horse racing and buildings were suspended and the Turf Club became a hospital.

Di tahun 1981 Turf Club dihidupkan lagi dan kemudian pindah ke area Ranji di tahun 1999. Lokasi ini kemudian menjadi Grandstand, pusat perbelanjaan yang sebagian besar berupa area restoran.

In 1981 Turf Club activated again but then moved to Ranji in 1999. This place later became Grandstand which is a shopping center with the area mainly are restaurants.

for you beer lovers!

Pasar Bella belum lama ada di Grandstand, bulan Mei 2013 Pasar Bella dibuka dengan 38 kios makanan di dalamnya, ditambah berbagai toko perlengkapan sehari hari yang ditata unik.

Pasar Bella is actually new. Open in May 2013, 38 food stalls is what this place is mainly offers, plus variety of housewares store and uniquely shops beautifully decorated.

Masuk ke Pasar Bella adalah sensasi mencicipi. Beragam makanan mulai dari seafood, beragam bakery dan makanan khas berbagai negara ada disini. Nama Pasar Bella berasal dari nama lokal pasar yaitu sama dengan artian dalam bahasa Indonesia, sementara bella berarti cantik dalam bahasa Italia. Semua tatanan kios disini mencerminkan nama tersebut, membuat lokasi ini menyenangkan untuk menghabiskan waktu dan memanjakan perut.

Getting into Pasar Bella is a tasting sensation. Variety of foods ranging from seafood, bakery and different unique food from various countries. The Pasar Bella name means from two meaning, Pasar in local means market and Bella means beautiful in Italian. All the orderly kiosk and food stalls reflects the name, make this place a nice option to enjoy your time and spoil your stomach.

Seafood area in the front

You can pick and taste!

Beberapa makanan unik yang patut dicoba adalah paella seafood yang berasal dari Spanyol di Le Patio, saya sangat tertarik sejak melihat wajan yang sangat besar berisi nasi dan seafood. Selain itu cobalah juga keju yang beragam di toko persis di sebelahnya, bermacam keju mulai dari young schloss yang dibuat dari susu sapi, hingga pecorino berumur 4 bulan dari susu domba. Bagi anda yang dapat memakan masakan non halal, cobalah suckling pig dan yaroa di Seasalt.

Some of the unique foods which I suggest to try are the paella seafood from Spain in Le Patio, the very large skillet containing rice and seafood catch my eyes since the beginning. Also, try a variety of cheese which located beside You can try variety of cheeses ranging from young schloss made ​​from cow's milk, until 4 months age pecorino made from sheep's milk. For those of you who can eat the non-kosher cuisine, try the suckling pig and yaroa at Seasalt.

Beragam makanan di Pasar Bella memanjakan lidah, apapun selera anda. Just try and choose, and enjoy!

Variety of foods in Pasar Bella spoil our stomach, whatever your taste. Just try and choose, and enjoy!

@marischkaprue - loves to eat eat eat!

NOTES:

• Pasar Bella terletak di Grandstand, 200 Turf Club Road, Singapura 287994, contact: +6568870077
• Pasar Bella located at Grandstand, 200 Turf Club Road, Singapore 287994, contact: +6568870077
• Jam operasi Pasar Bella: Toko dari pukul 9.30 - 19.00,  Kios makanan dan restoran dari pukul 10.00 - 22.00.
• Pasar Bella operating hours: Kiosk from 9.30 am to 7 pm, Food stalls and restaurants from 10 am to 10 pm.

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