Prego Restaurant & Deli @ Fairmont Hotel

I interrupt our usual Melaka Series with a 'broadcast' on a local restaurant.

As much as I have lots to say about the food in Malaysia, I am a Singaporean and I do eat, so I do have opinions about the food here. I guess the usual staple here in this website will eventually shift more to a local theme instead. Meanwhile, I still have some reviews of Kuala Lumpur before I consider the Malaysia series done.

Back to the topic, Prego is an established Italian restaurant since the days of long long ago. Prego is located at the Fairmont Singapore Ground Level, which is part of Swissotel and Raffles City. It is located in a little corner connected to the Fairmont Hotel. IMHO, it is still one of the better Italian restaurants in Singapore.

When I was still a student almost 18 years ago, we used to visit the restaurant when they had 1 for 1 deals. Then it was an awesome experience - the decor was classy and top notch. People literally dressed to the nines when they come for a meal here, and the waiters address you by name, fuss over you like a personal butler. It was true luxury.

However, fast forward to now, Prego has undergone an uplift/modernization a few years ago. The decor and ambiance feels more accessible, having a bistro and lively feel, the colours are brighter, wooden and lighter furniture.

(Taken from http://www.smugourmetclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Prego-entrance.png)

The interior as taken from my Ipad:

Unfortunately, since the renovation, they don't pay attention to your name anymore. However, the servers still try to fuss around your needs. Our server, a nice lady named Erjoy, came to our table and welcomed us to holler her anytime we need something. She was very polite and it was a real joy to be served by her. Unfortunately, initiative was a bit lacking, and I had to ask her to top my water several times. I'm being picky here but I'm a thirsty guy and I really hope my water could be topped up without asking. As you know, I'm particular about water (see bit about being charged for water). :)

Melaka Series: Secret Recipe

I've always wanted to keep my reviews short, but in the end, I end up writing much more than I desired. I'm not sure whether you like the reviews so far? Too long? Too short? Let me know how it is.

For now, I promise to keep this review short...

Anyway, whilst my brother and I were in Malaysia, we wondered about lunch, and was having trouble deciding between Chicken Rice Balls or a simple fare at a cafe. We were wandering about Dataran Pahlawan mall and we didn't want to backstep all the way to Jonker for the Balls, so he decided on Secret Recipe for a simple lunch.

We stepped into the restaurant in Dataran Pahlawan, just facing Hotel Equatorial. It wasn't crowded and there were many empty tables. Being usual polite Singaporeans, we stood at the host's stand, waiting for someone to seat us.

However, after standing idly for a minute, it looks like no one is going to come and greet us. That's when I decided to just grab a seat ourselves at a table we liked. Strangely, a waiter immediately popped out and came to greet us, handing us the menus.

Remember my Nancy's Kitchen review? Apparently that seems to be the restaurant seating system in Melaka -> when the place is not crowded, please go and seat yourself.. unless it's crowded, the waiters aren't going to shuffle the customers around for your seat.

Melaka Series: Nadeje Mille Crepe (Thousand Layer Crepe Cake)

After taking a break for nearly, a week, here's another post on one of my favourite haunts in Melaka: Nadeje  Cake House! For every trip to Melaka, I will never fail to stop by this cake house for a slice of cake, no matter how stuffed I am. In fact, actually, I will protect my tea time just for this cake.

The reason why I'm excited over this cake is that it used to be novel in Melaka - you can't find it in Singapore! Now the concept is more widespread and you can indeed enjoy a slice of this cake in Singapore, or even Kuala Lumpur. However, it's rather expensive in Singapore (the last I heard, a cafe in Sunset Way is selling it for SGD7.00 per slice, and for a small slice); the Kuala Lumpur version wasn't that tasty either.

What is about this Mille Crepe cake that I'm so excited about?

A picture speaks louder than words:

What! It's just a cake right? Nothing special...

Melaka Series: San Shu Gong Lao Qian Ice Cafe Durian Cendol

Hey guys, I promise this is a short update; partly because this is not a big meal, just some dessert that I have tried at San Shu Gong Lao Qian Ice Cafe.

For a visitor to Melaka, it's hard to miss the San Shu Gong Provision (?) Shop just outside of the Jonker Street Entrance facing the Melaka Fountain Landmark.

You really can't miss this shop. It's usually crowded with lots of tourists. It's just opposite Chung Wah  Chicken Rice Ball shop, another famous landmark for foodies.

Anyway, to continue with my story, I had previously tried the also-famous Durian Cendol at Jonker88 before last year. Due to strong recommendations by many reviewers, I made it a point to have the Cendol there every time I visit Melaka. If you do not know, Cendol is very fattening, due to the high sugar content of the Gula Melaka, and the high-fat content of the coconut, so after having a bowl, I won't have another for the day. So, I've never tried San Shu Gong Durian Cendol before.

After a long walk along Jonker Street on a Friday evening, my brother and I were sweaty, hot and tired, and we wanted a cold dessert to cool down. Our first choice was Jonker88, for reasons above - due to strong recommendations by foodies, however, Jonker88 was terribly crowded. There was a long line outside the shop, and we decided to give up looking for a seat inside. Just as we thought we will never have a cendol for this Melaka trip, I overheard a young girl mentioning that 'San Shu Gong closes around 10 pm'.

Aha! Why not take the opportunity to troop down to San Shu Gong Lao Qian Cafe? In the past, we never liked this cafe because the Cendol there seemed mass-produced and too commercialized, lacking the homely and impromptu feeling from Jonker88.

In order to get that fix, San Shu Gong seemed liked the best answer. We were there around 9 pm, and the crowd had subsided from the shop (I think San Shu Gong closes late on weekend, so don't try going there on a usual weekday that late). We were served immediately - however the seats downstairs were full and we proceeded upstairs.

This was the view upstairs. Were we crowd pullers? After our purchase, another group of tourists came by and bought more cendols!

Melaka: Nancy's Kitchen

Update June 2016: Apparently Nancy has moved to a new location. Do visit the restaurant website to check the new address - I doubt they will be as popular with the change in location.... please post comments and update me. ;)

Have you heard of Nancy's Kitchen?

I'm sure anyone who is going to Melaka, or who has been to Melaka would have heard of it. When I was preparing for my maiden trip to Melaka last year, I see it mentioned all the time as a thumbs-up place for authentic Nonya food. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to visit it my last 2 trips, so I was kindof resolved to visit it this time.

Location:

It's located at 7 Jalan Hang Lekir. It's this street that connect Jalan Hang Jebat and Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock. Hard to visualise on the map, but if you get your landmarks straight, turn left out from Hotel Puri and its the first turn left.

If you are coming from San Shu Gong, you'll pass by the famous Jonker88 stall - it's on your right. You can't miss Geographer Cafe; it's on the same street after turning left from Jalan Hang Jebat.

As you walk along Jalan Hang Lekir, look for this to know that you're outside Nancy's Kitchen. It's rather inconspicuous so you'll likely miss it. I missed it many times in my previous 2 visits and I walked passed this road many times!

This is the most obvious sign you will see as you walk pass the restaurant. It's not really striking and most people will miss it. Look for this sign for the restaurant!

As you step in, you shall see the main sign:

Imperial Treasures Super Peking Duck @ Paragon

Taking a break from Melaka for a while to introduce some local food.

Right now, I'm pondering how to make my blog different.... it's like every other food critique thingy that everyone has already written tons of years ago. And my blog isn't even funny like mrbrown, or sexy like xiaxue, or polished like (other food blogs); I'm not even using a DSLR!

Anyway, give me any ideas you have. Right now, what I think I'll do is just to provide very honest and down-to-earth thoughts.

Today (Saturday), our family decided to go to Imperial Treasures Super Peking Duck at Paragon for dinner. We have been here a number of times and have even gotten to be good acquaintances with the servers, such that we can get a table even at the last minute. In fact, we just called in the afternoon for the 7.30 pm table - under usual circumstances, it's fully booked.

Imperial Treasures is quite established in Singapore already, with quite a number of branches around here, some famous for Xiao Long Bao; an equivalent to them would be Crystal Jade. This branch that we patronised in Paragon is supposedly famous for Peking Duck, and almost every table would serve that. I guess it would be very weird if you go there and NOT order the duck.

My attempts at some facade shots... it's quite a classy restaurant, though don't get the wrong view, it's not classy to the point of Joel Bucheron-type. It's busy and noisy with porcelain-ware clanking and mindless chatter, normal Chinese-restaurant feel.

Melaka Series: Portuguese Settlement Part Two: Christmas Time

Did you expect a Part 2?

Well, the Settlement is too big to be covered in 1 post. So far, I talked about the sunset and the food, but I missed out the experience of the Settlement in Christmas, and here is it:

A Christmas tree spotted near one of the bungalows in the Settlement.

A short history about the Portuguese Settlement; apparently, the people who settled here are descendants of the Portuguese who came to Melaka in the 1600s and the locals. Hence, they have some European ancestry in them, and most of the people here are Catholics. Even the food has some Portuguese influence - that's why the best stuff here are baked - which is an European type of cooking! The Portuguese settlement is unusually festive during Christmas and some Saint Feasts celebration during June/July.

After the feast we have had near the sea, we took a walk along the houses in the Settlement.

The streets were all lighted up. These lights are actually outside the residences. I'm not sure whether it belongs to the private residences or they were set up by the government, but it's really nice to see all these lights - much more original and creative than Orchard Road.