Thalappakkattu Dum Biryani

The nice restaurant named after "Thalappakkattu Biryani", a popular rice preparation in Tamilnadu state of India. House proud owner helpfully explained their traditional cooking of Jira Samba rice, aromatic spices, cashew nuts and meat ingrediants cooked on Dum over slow heat.

You should notice the smaller grain size of their premium Jira rice that's approximately 1/3 size of Basmati. When cooked it is less fluffy and thus absorb very much less Ghee, making it a really healthier meal.

You know, we pay just $8 for this set!
It's on a 1 for 1 Chicken Dum Biryani promotion with Outlet voucher.

I always loves to have these chilled creamy yoghurt sauce! It comes with shredded onions, carrots instead of the usual cucumbers. Then there's another 2 daal recipes that taste delightfully of coconuts and chicken with lentil beans!

Chicken Dum Biryani, Drumstick ($7.90), Mutton Dum Biryani ($8.50)

We topped up just $0.50 for a change from a chicken biryani to mutton, each comes with an hard boiled egg. And we like the mutton bowl that's a more flavorsome one.

I wished i had bought 2 vouchers for this superb-value promotion.

Burger King Breakfast Platter

Burger King Breakfast Platter ($6.95)

All these raining, don't you wish to stuff yourself on rich food and hot drinks in the freezing morning?

Having one of the best deal from Gobbler, i gobbled up 6 vouchers of their joint promotion with Burger King - just $3 for their new breakfast platter set with includes a smoked chicken frankfurter, grilled tomato, turkey ham and cheese omelet, hash browns, croissant bun and cup of Seattle's Best Coffee!

Quite unlike its poster showing an omelet that's oozes melted cheese, it was suffering from serious cheese deficiency, else having a quiet weekday breakfast out with Ric is priceless!

We've got 2 more vouchers to go :)

Samsung Galaxy Note - my BEST smartphone so far!

Samsung Galaxy Note, 16GB ($1188, premium charge for white tone)

Barely 2 months old, my Galaxy S2 is making way for the new Galaxy Note; shipment for the Note White just in to Singapore last weekend, exclusively for the Singtel shop! Thus the Singtel charges a premium price for the set.

Having owned Samsung's Galaxy Tab & its Galaxy SII, i conclude having found my ideal smart phone in Note - it is most adept in its larger screen size than SII yet less of the awkward mobility bother of the 7" inch Tablet.

Battery life performance? The Galaxy Tab champs positively, followed by Note then the SII; Note is significantly more lasting than SII. The screen light-out during talk time is a proven energy efficient feature while the phone stays perfectly cool against the cheek during long chats.

Samsung Leather Flip Cover (replaced my white cover for the dark blue)

As an introductory promotion, the Note comes with an original Samsung leather flip case which i finds it hard to put down - the leather cover fits the phone snugly without adding any extra bulk and has a really good feel in the palm; liken the touch to the tight skin of luxury Vertu phone ;)

Tomato Onion Salsa

Making this pretty salad is as easy as 1,2,3!

What's more, it has a perfect color hue for Christmas - all the reds and greens; might do this for our X'mas dinner.

STEPS:

1. Remove the ingredients chilled up in the refrigerator. Wash and dry.

2. Chop up Tomatoes, Onions, Green Chili and Coriander leaves (In any ratios that you like, giving heed that more Onions and Chili make the salad REALLY spicy. In such cases, just add in more Tomatoes).

2. If someone loves Cucumber, cut and add it in too (optional).

3. Mix well and serve immediately.

Superb healthy.

This is a moist but NO sauce salad!

Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Bordeaux 1998

Bordeaux 1998, Reserve Speciale

Sometimes a good wine is wasted; our bottle had been removed of its metal capping and placed in the fridge, uncork, but the taste of the wine seems to have escaped... how do i post a review on it? Still it is smoothly mellow.

Just a record for the wine, from Pauillac France, the Barons de Rothschild.

On TV and movies, don't we always heard the affluent ordering, "Give me a 82 years, Lafite?" Haha... our 98 years quite close lah ;)

Honjin Japanese Buffet

California Salad. Jelly fish, Chawanmushi, Baby Octopus, Kimichi (Appetizers, anti-clockwise)

Seafood Salad

Honjin Japanese at Chow House Robinson Rd is getting quite well known for their Ala-carte buffet which serve big plates of sashimi, free flow. Many years back we were here on a credit card 1-for-1; today's were on Groupon deal.

I love Japanese salad and all its appetizers. Without hesitant i made a full order for the listing and thoroughly enjoyed the crunchy greens and savory sides!!

Tuna Maguro, Hamachi, Salmon Shake, Tako (Sashimi)

Yes, this the place to be if you were so craving for a good serving of all-you-can-eat Sashimi; each slices thickly cut for a satisfying chew. We made a repeat order for the firm textured Hamachi and sweet Tako.

Yellow tail Hamachi, Tako Octopus

Grilled Salmon & Grilled Chicken with sweet sauce, Edamane (salted green soy bean)

And you must have their grilled salmon! Even Ric who hates fish, obediently gobble one. It is oishii.

Soft Shell Crab, Salmon Skin (Mini Handroll)

Up till this junction, everything had been almost perfect - well cooked food served warm from the stove, chilled food fresh from the chiller, all's fine and crisp in ideal portion.

Food standard starts going downhill as we begin ordering from the 2nd section of the ala-carte buffet menu - fried pork Tonkatsu, Gyoza, Kakiage, assorted Tempura, with boring Maki roll, Buckweat noodles, Udon and Ramen left a bad taste in the mouth. Only the Ebi Prawn Tempura was worth saving some appetite for.

Quite disappointingly, 6 slices of orange were served as dessert to end the meal; being fruit-of-the-day.

Hot Buckweat noodles, Garlic Fried Rice

Gyoza, Ebi Tempura, Shitake Mushroom, Eggplant & Sweet potato (Age-Mono, clockwise)