The Hits and Misses of 2010

I started this blog in Sept 2009. There was no way to round up whatever little content at the end of last year.  This year things are a little different :P Just a caveat before I begin.  The hits are limited to places I found in 2010.  There are all-time faves like Ember and the likes which just fall into very special places in my heart.



Top row (starting from big photo on the left, clockwise): Pamplemousse, Ippudo, La Verticale, Restaurant 88, Chinatown Sichuan Restaurant. Bottom row (starting from big photo on right, clockwise): Jin Zhen Yang, TripleThree, Soprano, Manji, K-Ki



At home in Singapore, I fell for three discoveries and went back countless times since.



1. Pamplemousse may not be the best in town yet but is good enough for me to want try almost everything in its menu.  Their carbonara, uni tagliolini, lamb shank and citrus cured salmon are so good. Their classy yet somehow whimsical decor just appeal to me tremendously.  I brought almost everyone I know back.  The fact that it is kinda located near my life is really bad for my waistline.



2. Time really flies, I actually did not touch a piece of sushi this year.  All thanks to Ippudo, whenever I want Japanese, it's always Ippudo.  Ippudo changed my perspective on ramen.  I never like soupy noodles of any kind, find them plain and boring.  But the broth of Ippudo is so rich and addictive. With or without quene, Ippudo has my support no matter what people say.



3. Mala ?? wasn't in my dictionary till Chinatown Sichuan. I went passionately in search of mala ?? both in Singapore and Beijing! Chinatown Sichuan is probably my most patronised restaurant in 2010.  2010 will always be remembered for the exposure of my tastebuds to ??.



The most memorable overseas meals I had. 



1. Restaurant 88 (Wellington) for that modern Vietnamese fusion. I can still remember the richness of coconut-infused vermicelli in my mouth.



2. La Verticale (Hanoi) for that unforgettable Halong curry ice-cream and artichoke. Ice-cream palours in Singapore try to create that please!



3. Jin Zheng Yang ??? (Bejing) for the oiliest, fattiest, melt-in-thy-mouth duck and pork belly. I so want to be in Beijing right NOW!



Okay, pardon me for playing cheat for the 2010 gift to my cake universe. K-ki! I ate their cakes many many times this year and seldom can I find a place that I like almost everything. Best cakeshop in 2010 for me is K-ki!



Finally, I shall just collapse and list out my 3 worst places.



1. Honeymoon Dessert ?? (Hong Kong).  Disappointing, diluted mango puree and not so fresh mangoes there. I keep my distance from the outlets in Singapore too.

2. Soprano (Singapore). For all the weak pastas and inconsistencies. 

3. Triple Three (Singapore). Sad quality and unjustified hype/pricing.



And that's it for 2010. Thanks for staying tune all this while. Happy New Year! Have a great year ahead!