.Food.Tasting.at.Taste.Paradise.

Ola!
So, having been missing from this scene for quite awhile, I’m back now to bring you saliva-inducing snippets from my recent food tasting session at one of the establishments under the belt of Paradise Group.

Taste Paradise (味之楼) opened its doors in 2006 as a cozy and intimate restaurant in Chinatown. With good reviews and at the encouragement of many satisfied customers, the restaurant was relocated to ION Orchard in 2009 to serve diners in a grand and majestic ambience, at a more convenient location.

Marking 9 years of establishment with tens of thousands of satisfied diners, Taste Paradise embarks on a new journey of providing an exceptional dining experience that engages all senses with a new menu, refurbished restaurant interior and the usual excellence in service.
2015-08-09-14-45-26_deco[1]As Paradise Group’s Brand Ambassador, I was really elated to be invited to this food tasting session for its new menu launched recently, showcasing more Cantonese delicacies and refreshing takes on modern Chinese dishes.
2015-08-09-14-50-25_deco[1]Our sumptuous 7-course meal kicked off with Crisp-fried Soft Shell Crab (肉松软壳蟹) tossed with Pork Floss for our appetiser. (S$15.80 per serving)
2015-08-09-14-48-35_deco[1]As the name states, the soft shell crab was crisply fried well, and coupling with pork floss was a match-make in heaven.

Our starter was a Combination of Pan-seared Foie Gras, Wasabi Mayonnaise Prawn and Sliced Peking Duck. (味之楼经典三品 — 煎鹅肝,芥末奶滋虾,北京片皮鸭) (S$22 per serving)
2015-08-09-14-57-04_deco[1]We were advised by our friendly server Vincent Lee, who also happens to be the supervisor of this Taste Paradise outlet, on the sequence in tasting this dish for the utmost experience. So we had to start off with the foie gras, which literally melted in our mouths. I was never a foie gras person, but I finished this in record timing.
2015-08-09-14-52-55_deco[1]Next would be the peking duck skin, which was crispy and yet with some juicy fats to add to the taste.
2015-08-09-14-55-48_deco[1]Followed by the succulent prawn, in which matching with wasabi mayonnaise never goes wrong. Lastly, eating the chunky watermelon piece which helped to prep our palette for the dish to come.
2015-08-09-14-54-36_deco[1]For the soup, we decided to go for the Double-boiled Whole Yellow Melon Soup with Assorted Seafood and Diced Mushrooms (海鲜炖金盅), as I’m not a fan of shark’s fin. (S$18 per serving)
2015-08-09-14-58-55_deco[1]2015-08-09-14-59-44_deco[1]Having boiled the melon as a whole for hours with generous amount of ingredients (lots of dried and fresh scallops, fish maw, crab meat, diced mushrooms and duck meat), the soup tasted heavenly. And when we scooped the soup up the long melon ‘passageway’, some bits of soft melon flesh were scraped off onto our spoons too, adding even more melon taste to the whole experience.

Up next! Pan-seared Kurobuta Pork with “Dang Gui” Sauce (当归黑豚肉) for our meat option. (S$22 per serving)
2015-08-09-15-01-00_deco[1]2015-08-09-15-01-38_deco[1]This dish was SO. GOOD. The pork fillet was really tender with bits of fats in between, and the “dang gui” sauce was an interesting and refreshing twist. Something which I hadn’t tasted before elsewhere. *thumbs up*

Our 5th course was Crisp-fried Edamame Tofu with White Truffle and Mushroom Sauce (白松露翡翠碧玉), because I love truffle be it white or black. *cues Michael Jackson’s song “Black or White”* (S$8 per serving)
2015-08-09-15-02-54_deco[1]2015-08-09-15-03-24_deco[1]It didn’t disappoint me! The white truffle taste was strong enough yet not overpowering, and went really well with the crispy-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside edamame tofu. I can have 2 to 3 servings of this at one go.

Because I really love truffle, I chose for my main dish to be Stir-fried Angel Hair Pasta with Black Truffle Sauce with Assorted Seafood (黑松露海鲜天使面) (S$12 per serving)
2015-08-09-15-04-33_deco[1]Lovely truffle smell whiffed past my nose, and its taste filled up my whole mouth when I tasted the pasta. Plus I’m more of a seafood than meat person, hence I was happy to see chunks of fresh scallops and prawns in this dish as well (as with all the previous dishes with seafood too).

Sadly, we’ve come to the last course of this sumptuous meal for the day. To end on an sweeter note, we chose 2 different types of desserts to try out.
Warm Double-boiled Hashima with American Ginseng and Red Dates (温泡参红枣炖雪蛤). (S$12.80 per serving)
2015-08-09-15-05-57_deco[1]Coupled with a generous portion of hashima, I can already feel the collagen taking their spot under my face skin after consuming it.

Combination of Chilled Mango Puree, Black Glutinous Rice with Ice Cream and Pumpkin Pastry (甜品三品 — 杨枝甘露,黑糯米伴雪糕,南瓜饼). (S$10.80 per serving)
2015-08-09-15-08-29_deco[1]2015-08-09-15-10-54_deco[1]2015-08-09-15-09-35_deco[1]One scoop of the refreshing mango puree, one bite of the chewy pumpkin pastry, then one small spoonful of the black glutinous rice with coconut ice cream. More than perfect ending! So satisfying! *smack lips*

Next time when you are having a headache on where to bring your family and friends for celebrations and gatherings, why not go to Taste Paradise and check out their exciting new menu! I guarantee you will not be disappointed! *wide grin*

.days.of.ving’s.life.:.hongkong.episode.6.


Early rise and shine for Day 6!!!
Coz today we planned to go Macau!!!

First thing first, getting ferry tickets from Hong Kong Macau Ferry Terminal!
My first time going to Macau!!
There was still some time left before boarding the ferry, hence grabbed a bite first at Lan Fong Yuen!!
I didn’t know they opened an outlet here.
Was elated to find out about that as I like the food there!
Here are the details for its original outlet if any of you are interested!

Address: 2 Gage Street, G/F, Central
Station: Sheung Wan (Exit E2) / Central (Exit D2)
Hours: Mon-Sat 8am – 8pm / Closed on Sundays
Contact: (852) 2544-3895 / 2854-0731
I didn’t know what I was doing.
Maybe bit excited over the food.
Boarding time!
Throngs of people waiting to board…
Ok noted!!
I’ve motion sickness, hence didn’t take any pictures when on board the ferry and simply slept throughout to prevent myself from feeling too giddy.
An hour passed, and we reached Macau!
On a free shuttle bus, en route to a nice boutique hotel which we gonna do some filming at.
“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow………”
So we did some filming at 5FOOTWAY.INN’s PROJECT PONTE 16!!!!
We were honoured and excited to have the opportunity to feature this lovely boutique hotel in our travelogue!!!
It is set to become Macau’s favorite boutique hotel with its modern design, cleanliness, friendly staff as well as strategic location.
Do consider staying here when you visit Macau!!!
I’m sure you will like it as much as I did!!!
Thanks much to Manager Han Jae-hoon for showing us around, plus patiently feeding us with details about the place!!!
Kamsahamnida!!! ^_^

Website: http://www.5footwayinn.com/links/project-ponte-16.html

After we were done with filming, time to explore Macau!!!
Just around the corner from 5FOOTWAY.INN……..
LEE KUM KEE !!!
Tower of sauces!!!
*walking walk walk*
Kinda looks like Hong Kong actually…
Senado Square!
Managed to find the famous Pork Chop Bun and Portuguese Egg Tart!!!
Really yumsssss!!!!!!
*nom nom nom*
Hardworking Santa Durian!
Ended up at Lisboa to catch shuttle bus back to the ferry terminal!
The weather in Macau wasn’t exactly good when we were there, and getting around was bit tedious having to carry all our barang barang.
Kinda dampened my mood.
Plus I kena a long cut by the brolly when opening/closing it. -_____-”
Need. A. Good. Dinner. To. Make. Myself. Feel. Better.
Hence, back to one of my favorite Hong Kong cafes for comfort food.
Ittadakimasu !!!
Happily tucking into my dinner…..
So much better after putting them all into my tummy.
Strolling time!
Loveee the Christmas decor at Langham Place at Central!!
Sooo prettyyy…….
Must. Watch. Cantonese. Movie. When. In. Hong. Kong.
Heehee so we ended up at IFC for a late night movie!!
Movie of choice?

WHITE. STORM.  (扫。毒。)
刘青云。张家辉。 古天乐。
Enough. Said.
So.
So.
Good.
Was so thrilled I managed to catch this awesome show in its original language.
Beats voice-over anytime.

Love the popcorn box too in my favorite color!!
Though the popcorn itself wasn’t exactly fantastic. (I prefer Cathay’s.)
And I dropped my Bathing Ape Pocket Square in the theatre, which I only noticed after reaching back at the hotel. -_____-”
Tiring but fulfilling day!!
Plus a bonus that we still managed to catch train back to our hotel area after the movie!!
Thumbs uppp for that!!!

Episode 7 will be out real soon!! Do stay tuned and support us!!! *throws popcorn*