Simply Lambchops: Food

[Review]: Delicious durian cakes and patisseries from The Durian Bakery

Food Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Are you a durian lover? I'm glad my family shares the same love as me in this aspect. Even L and K, who didn't particularly favour the fruit initially, have grown to love it after they tasted the Mao Shan Wang durians we get from our favourite durian vendor.

When the durian season is out, the next best thing for me to satisfy my durian craving would be a good durian pastry or dessert. But it is a challenge to find one that has the right balance of great quality durian puree filling while retaining the overall taste of the dessert or cakes. Some are too sweet, while some make you wonder why you should waste your calories on them.

I chanced upon The Durian Bakery while looking for a cake to pamper myself for my birthday. The website info looks promising and has many positive feedback from customers. They have also been featured in popular media sites like theAsianparent, The Smart Local and Best in Singapore.

The Durian Bakery website

Unique features of The Durian Bakery

The Signature durian puree is made with Grade A Pahang durians and no preservative or additives are added so you can taste the freshness and fragrance of the fruit.
They offer same day delivery and the cakes and pastries will be delivered within 2 to 4 hours from the time your order is placed online. If you need an express delivery, it can also be arranged at an additional fee.
The cakes and patisseries are freshly baked daily!

What I ordered for my birthday treat

So for my hatch day family celebration, The Durian Bakery suggested these signature bakes:

Signature Durian Mille Crepe Cake

Can you imagine the durian fragrance that permeated through my kitchen as I brought out this cake from the fridge? With 20 layers of thin handmade crepe skin and fresh Hokkaido whipping cream in between the layers, this cake is generously filled with 5 layers of their signature Mao Shan Wang SilkyGold durian puree (made with 100% pure durian pure). It's a heavenly treat especially when you get to the chunky durian flesh in the centre!

We had more than enough to eat with this 6" cake and shared the love with our neighbours who are also durian fans. Oh yes, K loves this cake and kept asking for more, so you can be sure that this signature MSW Durian Mille Crepe Cake is a winner!

(Update: The Durian Bakery has recently revamped their durian crepe cake. Instead of having 5 layers of durian puree in the centre, the cake is now layered with pure durian puree! No cream!)

Signature Durian Dessert Box

The highly recommended Signature Durian Dessert Box consists of 3 of their popular patisseries - a box of 8 Super Burst MSW Giant Puff, a box of D24 Snowy Mochi (6 pieces) and one Dark Choco MSW Mousse.

Super Burst MSW Giant Puff (photo credit: The Durian Bakery)

You must try the Super Burst MSW Giant Puff! This is a great dessert to bring along for your next potluck gathering. The filing is made with 100% Mao Shan Wang durian in a light, airy choux puff pastry and comes in a good size (8cm diameter). Though the choux pastry is a little dry to me, the generous filing definitely compensated for it!

Dark Choco MSW Mousse (photo credit: The Durian Bakery)

The Dark Choco MSW Mousse is an excellent dessert for any dark chocolate lover. The cacao beans are specially imported from Ivory Coast which is famous for their cocoa and coffee productions.

Again, you will expect the creamy, delicious Signature SilkyGold durian puree chilled with a dome cast of dark chocolate in this dessert. I wish I had tasted this. Son ate the whole piece and didn't leave any for me!

D24 Snowy Mochi (photo credit: The Durian Bakery)

I cannot resist any good mochi and these bite-sized, squishy and chewy mochi, paired with the pure, thick D24 core, left a deep impression for me. The mochigome (glutinous rice) is steamed, mashed and pounded with a wooden kine, carefully handmade with love and six pieces is definitely not enough!

They have a limited number of bakes for each item and are only available till sold out. So do place your order early to avoid any disappointment.

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Disclosure: We were sponsored the cakes and patisseries for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was given and all opinions and photos are ours unless specified.

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[Review] Hassle-free steamboat experience with Steamboat King Singapore

Food Monday, December 28, 2020

When the day is rainy and cool, which is the best kind of food you will crave for?

a pot of delicious steamboat ingredients

Is this what you are thinking about?

I have found that my comfort food is a piping-hot steamboat meal or anything hot and soupy!

Preparing steamboat for a family of 5 or for just 2 people can be quite tedious and time-consuming. Going to the market/supermart to get the freshest ingredients (but very often, ends up buying excess cos most ingredients come in a certain portion), washing and slicing the meat and veg. Some of the more hardworking ones even boil the soup stock themselves while I usually just throw in a pack of Japanese soup base or some instant hotpot soup stock to add flavour.

Then I was introduced to the world of steamboat delivery services! Such pampering and convenience!

First impression

I ordered the bundle set suitable for 3-4 pax which was more than sufficient for my family of 3 adults and 2 teens. The food came on time and was nicely packed. The soups and sauces were tightly sealed without any spillage.

Steamboat King Bundle B (suitable for 3-4 pax)

Ingredients and Soup base

The meat and vegetables are fresh as promised too! That is because Steamboat King receives its ingredients in small batches every second day, hence retaining the freshness of their ingredients.

Now, on top of fresh ingredients, the soup bases are the next important feature of every good steamboat experience right? Steamboat King emphasises on the slow simmering of each of the superior broths for a minimum of 8 hours daily to bring out the ultimate flavour of all its premium herbs and ingredients to enhance to umami tastes.

There are 5 soup bases to choose from: Premium collagen soup, Kimchi soup, Sichuan Mala soup, Pork Tonkotsu soup and Tomato soup.

While the Premium collagen soup was rich tasting and brings warmth to my heart, I find the Tomato soup rather monotonous and lacking in depth. Will definitely order the collagen soup again to pamper me!

Signature Sauces

A good dipping sauce accentuates the flavour and freshness of good ingredients. There are 3 signature handmade sauces - Goma Soyu (which is sesame and soy sauce), Homemade Sambal and Thai Chilli. The spicy tangy taste of the sambal sauce is my favourite!

Homemade Sambal, Goma Shoyu and Thai Chilli

Overall, I'm happy with the service and quality of food!

Steamboat King Singapore has 30 years of culinary experience, they provide quality steamboat ingredients at affordable rates with a wide menu selection. You can also add on a portable steamboat stove or cute pots for that hassle-free experience at a small cost. The ordering platform is friendly to use too.

Free delivery is available with an order above $100 and you can get your food as fast as within an hour from your order timing!

For that hassle-free gathering (remember to limit your guest size to not more than 8 pax for now!), Steamboat King Singapore is a good choice to consider!

Thank you, Best in Singapore, for your recommendation! For more recommendations on the best steamboat delivery services in Singapore, check out this article!

For more info on Steamboat King Singapore:

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For more recommendations from Best in Singapore:

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Disclaimer: This review is a collaboration between Steamboat King Singapore, Best in Singapore and Liquid Gateway. No monetary compensation was given and all opinions and photos are ours unless specified.

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From Boy to Man at Dried Foods SG

Food Monday, November 07, 2016

I laughed out when I saw that Facebook post. Indeed, that's the Thomas (or more fondly known as Xiu Long back in the old days) I knew - fun-seeking, average in my Biology and Chemistry class, but definitely not "good for nothing". To be honest, I felt he was more of a bashful boy - earnest in learning - than a fun-seeking one during the two years I taught him. Now I wonder if he had shared any witty comments about my lessons with his classmates.

So, when Thomas sent me a Facebook invite to like his FB page, I got very interested in his nutty business and found out more from him. It is not every day you get to hear a young man leave behind his cushy job at a renowned bank to help his family in their wholesale business at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre.

Photo credit

Can you describe your typical day at work?

Thomas: 7 am is when we begin the arduous task of displaying our goods, the traditional way. Wooden crates, cartons are laid out to form the base, before baskets of dried food products are heaved atop. This process takes about an hour, and then we begin preparation for customers or phone orders to roll in.

From being a son helping out in the shop to running it with your parents now, what are some changes you notice about yourself?

Thomas: Well, this is interesting. From having zero interest in the business - which means dragging myself reluctantly to work when needed, now I wake up every day excited and raring to make a difference. Be it just being an additional pair of hands to my parents, learning more about the business (which was started by my grandfather since 1967), or finding ways to improve the business in line with today's modern world. I would say the biggest change is realising the painstaking efforts my parents and grandparents poured into this business to make it tick. It’s not easy, and a lot of sacrifices are required. Doing the same now, I feel myself “growing up” and being more conscious of my every actions.

What would you like people to know most about your products?

Thomas: We feed your dried food needs! Be it spices, beans, mushroom, dried seafood, condiments or any dried food products you may require for your cooking, we are here for you. Then we have our range of nuts, dried fruits and health food, which are a great addition to your daily diet for a healthier lifestyle. We are also constantly on the lookout for more dried food products to bring in according to what our customers want.

What are the bestsellers at your shop?

Thomas: I won't exactly describe us as having a specific bestseller, as customers’ demands are seasonal. For example, during Chinese New Year, snacks like our Iran pistachios, shrimp rolls and roasted cashew nuts fly off like hotcakes. Come Dumpling Festival, bamboo leaves, dried shrimps and dried chestnut - just to name a few - disappear quickly. In the summer, when the weather turns unbearably hot, Chinese barley, chrysanthemum flower, Luo Han fruit are snapped up. And then there's your housewives purchasing daily necessities like onions, potatoes and garlic. It all comes down to what customers want most, and we serve as a convenient outlet to meet their dried goods needs.

Can you tell us 3 things that differentiate your products from the many brands out there?

Thomas: Instead of looking at differentiating our products, we prefer to differentiate ourselves via shopping experience. The first would be the "human touch". Customers who purchase from us are treated like friends and family. Unlike in a supermarket where you grab what you need and go, we do more. Such as exchanging cooking advice or recommendations, trade personal stories or even just lending a listening ear to customers who need it. Which is why we have customers bringing their generations of family where we interact and simply "hang out" by the shopfront, whilst the wives gather what they need for the households.

Secondly, we abide strictly to the value instilled since my grandfather's times – honesty, integrity and commitment to our customers. In addition, my grandfather used to say "We want our customers to come back to find us, not come back to complain about us." That means insisting on bringing in only the best quality goods, and rejecting any that fails our standards, even if we are out of stock. This allows our customers to have faith and trust in our products, knowing they will never buy anything that will fail their taste bud, and that's how we achieve customer loyalty.

Last of all, our products are kept fresh and pristine via proper cold storage. Which translate to no spoilt, rancid or pungent goods. This might sound simple, but really, you will be surprised how we hear of many cases where customers bought home nuts from other places that have turned rancid. Or anchovies that give off a strong pungent smell despite being bought recently. Here, we offer safe assurance and satisfaction in giving our customers only the best they should deserve.

***

Thomas kindly sent me a few packs of their dried fruits and nuts snack mixes for sampling. Snack mixes like these always come in handy to fill a rumbling tummy in between meals. Or simply add a dollop of yoghurt to these dried fruits and nuts to make a healthy and appetising breakfast. The kids love these snack mixes as much as I do, especially the ones with dried fruits added. The sweetness from the fruits complements the nutty flavour and crunch from the nuts, and the combination makes the snack so addictive!

Dried nuts and fruits to the rescue after a swim! - Fling In Everything from DriedFoodSG

Assortment of dried fruits and nuts

Delicious nuts to give you a boost at work

One reason why these dried fruits and nuts pre-mixes stand out from the usual brands I have bought is the freshness of the premium nuts in every bite. Although they might be a little pricier than what you get at local supermarts, these good quality nuts leave a little sweetness in the aftertaste. Dried Food SG also carries a good selection of raw nuts which are a healthier option to roasted ones.

Thomas also patiently educated me about their dried apricots and explained why they look darker brown than the usual orange ones I have eaten. Dark brown apricots are dried naturally, hence no sulfite compounds have been added to preserve the fruits. People with asthma history are said to have a higher risk of developing sulfite allergy. So, if you do not belong to this category, sulfite compounds probably won't cause much harm to your body. But then again, why add more chemicals to your body when you can avoid them?

Dried Food SG

Since Christmas and the Chinese New Year are approaching, why not drop by Dried Food SG to get some quality dried snacks to entertain your guests? If you are thinking of trying out their products but have no idea what to get, Thomas has a list of Top 10 Popular Products that you can start with. Aunty Me is also eager to visit the Pasir Panjang shop to check out their dried food products for cooking. I heard they have dried shrimps, dried mushrooms, and all other quality stuff!

Note: All their products come in 3 weights - 250g, 500g or 1kg. If you are ordering through the website, ~~orders below $200 to a single location will incur a $10 delivery fee.~~ there is FREE DELIVERY for orders above $100. Orders below $100 will incur a $5 delivery fee. Cash on delivery, unless otherwise stated. Read here for other delivery info. Alternatively, you are welcomed to visit their shop.

More about Dried Food SG by Buan Seng Boon Kee

Address: 15, Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre, #01-60/61, Singapore 110015

Phone: 9817 9951 (Thomas Tay)

Opening hours: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Email: driedfoodsg@gmail.com

Website | Facebook

We pledge to give you the best, because you deserve to eat only the best. - Dried Food SG

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Sandbank International Lunch Buffet

Food Monday, August 01, 2016

Dining with a sea view in the distance, away from the city crowd, is especially relaxing on a weekday afternoon. And you can do that now at Sandbank with their new All-You-Can-Eat International Lunch Buffet.

Like their weekend Breakfast Buffet, there is always something for everyone. The buffet spread includes roast meat platter, freshly cooked pasta, thin-crusted pizza, an assortment of finger food, herbal prawns, and a selection of desserts to name a few.

And for a limited time only, Sandbank is having a promotion for their All-You-Can-Eat International Lunch Buffet where 1 person dines free (inclusive of kids) with every 3 paying adults.

And, and .. You only need to half the price for children between 4 to 12 years old!

Here's a sneak preview of Sandbank's International Lunch Buffet. The pictures might cause hunger pangs and an irresistible urge to eat.

Be warned.

Sandbank Lunch Buffet: grilled beef, roast chicken, sausages, sweet corn and roasted vegetables

Roast platter

Sandbank Lunch Buffet: Pasta & Salad bar

Pasta and Salad section

The pasta can be customised to suit your taste and it is freshly prepared upon request. You can choose between Aglio Olio, carbonara, bolognaise or penne and cheese. The creamy cauliflower soup is flavorful and not to be missed.

The salad section has a good variety of greens, green mango salad (yummy!), chicken mushroom with pesto and an assortment of salad dressing.

My friends and I love the pizza with artichokes toppings! The crust is thin with a crunchy perfection.

Sandbank Lunch Buffet: Thin-crust pizza and finger food

Their fried chicken wings are worth the extra calories. Grab them quickly else they will be gone too soon. The spring rolls and rings are just so-so though.

Other Asian dishes include Steamed Pork in Black Bean Sauce, Teriyaki Chicken, Nasi Lemak, and Tandoori Fish Fillet.

Stir Fried Nai Bai & Teriyaki Chicken

This is the other one of my favorites. Succulent prawns that are cooked just right in a delicious herbal broth. Even my friend, who is allergic to seafood, couldn't resist taking a sip of the broth and she gave a thumbs-up. Just look at all the herbs that go into the broth!

Herbal prawns

I usually try to control myself at buffets but with good food and company, it was difficult to stop. I took more than one helping for the clams in wine, and the herbal prawns... and the pizza... and the pasta... I think you get my point.

Clams in Wine

The dessert and fruits selection is small but of good quality. There wasn't anything I didn't like on my plate. The lunch buffet also comes with free flow hot tea and coffee, as well as apple juice and orange juice.

Cakes, tarts, and pudding

Of all my three visits to Sandbank, I observe that the staff is very attentive to their customers. Their service is prompt - plates are cleared off the table quickly, a utensil that a child accidentally drops is replaced even before the mommy notices it. Color pencils are available upon request, and they are very helpful with any special request you have for your coffee or tea.

So, if you would like a place to be near the sea but still enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned dining area on a weekday afternoon, Sandbank is a good choice!

More information about Sandbank

Address: 920 East Coast Parkway, #01-28/32 Parkland Green, Singapore 449875 (opposite Parkway Parade when looking across from East Coast Park)

Telephone: +65 6247 7988

Opening hours:
Tue/Wed/Thu opens from 4pm - 11pm
Fri/ eve of PH opens from 4pm - 12 midnight
Sat/ PH opens from 8:30am - 12 midnight
Sun opens from 8:30am - 11pm

Sandbank Website | Facebook page | Instagram

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Healthy Carob Cookies recipe

Food Friday, April 29, 2016

Carob.
Have you heard of this health food?

Carob is often promoted as a chocolate substitute, but I'll tell you why that is so wrong.

Carob is the fruit of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua), a leguminous plant, and grows as long, slightly curved, thick, dark brown pods that are from 10-25 cm long. This plant is native to the Mediterranean regions. Historically, the carob tree has been around for a very long time with one of the early records of its use dating back to ancient Egyptian times.

~~The pods are rarely eaten raw, but the seeds are roasted and ground into powder and other products such as syrup, bars and chips.~~ The pods are broken into pieces and ground to make the raw carob powder or roasted to make the roasted carob powder. Other products such as carob syrup, bars and chips are also derived from the powders. Carob has been very popular in USA and Australia as a substitute for chocolate in baking and beverages.

Photo credit

Carob, however, does not taste like chocolate, much to my dismay when I first tasted it. The only thing that carob and cocoa have in common is that both are brown. So if you are a chocolate lover, you might probably think that carob is junk. That is also why I don't agree that it should be promoted as an alternative to chocolate. It's a health food, with a unique taste of its own. Period.

But carob's taste is not unpleasant at all. It just has a different taste from cocoa - slightly "earthy" with a natural caramel-ish sweet taste. On its own, the taste needs some getting used to, just as with many health foods, but adding the powder in drinks or cakes gives additional goodness in taste and nutrition. So do manage your expectations if you are interested in trying this health food.

Nutrition
Carob is rich in a number of vitamins and minerals but is more known to be particularly high in calcium. It is a source of protein and contains a substantial amount of dietary fibre. A 100g of carob powder contains less than 0.5g of fat, it's virtually fat-free! Carob contains some antioxidants, mostly in the form of polyphenols which help to prevent health dangers such as cancer, high blood pressure, heart diseases and diabetes. It has alkalizing effects on the body pH, is gluten-free, theobromine-free (so you can even feed your cats and dogs with carob!) and caffeine-free. In some cultures, carob is considered to be an aphrodisiac. Interesting food, isn't it?

Photo credit

There are many ways to use carob powder and syrup. Check out Forever Young Enterprise for more carob recipes and suggestions. They have a Carob Teriyaki Chicken recipe which looks really good and I wanna try that soon!

[update on 2 May 2016]

Homemade teriyaki chicken chop for dinner tonight. The chicken chop is a bit 'chao da', and the broccoli a little overcooked. But mmm, the chicken tastes so good. Teriyaki sauce is made from scratch using healthy carob syrup. No sugar added cos carob is a natural sweetener! Recipe is a keeper! #simplylambchops #homecooked #carob

A photo posted by Mary (@simplylambchops) on May 1, 2016 at 7:19am PDT

Healthy Carob Cookies
These healthy carob cookies are friendly on your hips and very easy to prepare. It can be given as a snack to your hungry kids at any time of the day, or as dessert after a meal.

Since baking is such an educational and sensorial experience, I got all the 3 kids to help. Children learn to be precise through measuring and weighing the ingredients and work as a team to complete a difficult task like holding the hand-blender down. Scooping the mixture and rolling into balls also improve their fine motor skills.

Hmm ... what smell is this?

Helping out and learning at the same time

Yummy Carob cookies to share with our church friends!

Healthy Carob Cookies Recipe
Ingredients

30g Raw Carob Powder (could substitute with roasted carob powder for more intense taste)
20g Carob Syrup
220g unsalted butter (soften)
1/4 tsp salt (or 2g)
60g caster sugar
300g self-raising flour
dried fruit and nuts (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven at 170ºC.
2. Cream butter, sugar and Carob syrup until pale, put the butter mixture aside.
3. Sift flour and Carob powder, add salt and mix well. Add 1/3 of flour at a time to butter mixture until well combined. *If you are using dried fruit and nuts, they can be added in when the mixture is well-combined.
4. Roll into small balls and place balls on a baking tray.
5. Bake at 170ºC for 5 minutes, then turn down to 150ºC and bake for a further 10 minutes until firm (not hard).
6. Transfer to cooling rack.

Notes
Note that every oven is different - I had to increase the baking time to a total of 20 minutes to get a firm texture.

The Australian Carob Co.
Forever Young Enterprise is the distributor of the range of high-quality certified organic carob products from The Australian Carob Co. The carob products are produced using state-of-the-art machinery to retain the high nutritional value. Non-GMO, nut-free and allergy-free, their products have no additives, colours, preservatives or added sweeteners. They are also halal-certified.