Chocolate Time

Warning: This is an extremely long post.

My family and I got a lot of chocolate during Christmas so I decided to share some of them. Here are some chocolate that I ate, skipping all those common ones like toblerone, mars and snickers.

Ritter sport - Yogurt Flavor

I usually eat chocolate that are pretty common and it's the first time I tasted a yogurt flavor chocolate. (Pardon my teeth mark) It is not as strong as real yogurt. This is pretty mild, slightly sour creamy yogurt with a layer of milk chocolate.

Trefin seashells.

Not only are they good looking, they are delicious as well. A outer layer of white and milk chocolate with soft gooey center of hazelnut chocolate. This is pretty sweet with slight hint of cocoa. One of my favorites.

Royce' Pure Chocolate.

One thing about japanese packaging is that they are so meticulous with the details and most offers creative packaging that is easy to open and looks amazing as well.

This is just plain milk chocolate. Surprisingly, it is not too sweet like the average milk chocolate. This one has a slight bitter taste of cocoa and is slightly sweet. Very smooth chocolate.

Time for some belgium chocolate. Belgium Mini Choc's Noir

I love dark chocolate. This one is bitter dark chocolate. I don't know why it tasted a little minty when there is no mint in it. My mind is playing tricks on me.

Meiji Meltykiss - Green Tea Flavor

Easy to open and cute packaging.

There is a very rich, milky and creamy green tea taste. My tongue feels it drank a cup of milk green tea. There is a thin layer of cocoa powder on the outside that gives a very slight hint of cocoa.

Meiji Meltykiss - Milk

Not really fond of this flavor. Taste like ordinary milk chocolate.

Meiji Meltykiss -Strawberry

If I were to choose among the flavors of Meiji's Meltykiss, it would be strawberry.  I love the sweet and sour strawberry, creamy and milky chocolate.

Delfi Chocolatier - Mousse Chocolate

The rectangles are pretty huge. I think I prefer those chocolate bars with smaller squares. This is pretty chunky and because it is so big, I find it a little too cloying, The outer chocolate is sweet, so is the smooth mousse in the center. Just too sweet to my liking.

Twix.  I think I seen this a lot but have never tried it before.

After eating all those chocolate above, I think Twix is no match for the chocolate brand. This taste like cheap biscuit with sugar. Caramel is plain sugary and the thin layer of chocolate taste like sugar as well.

That sums up my chocolate review.

Takoyaki

Few months back, I bought a Takoyaki maker from Groupon at $29.90 and I finally get to use it. Anyway, let me review the pros and cons of this machine.

Pros:

• Sturdy metal pans (Yes) The 20-holes pan is pretty heavy with a solid feel.
• Easy to clean. I really thought it would be a hassle to clean but surprisingly, the leftovers on the pan came off easily with a wet sponge.
• Easy to use: Only on and off switch
• Cheap!

Cons

• The is only a single temperature to it. Takoyaki took awhile to cook, around 10-15 minutes. (pretty slow for me) Wish there were a few temperature settings available.
• The white plastic gets really hot! 
• The first I cooked it, there was a plastic smell but the second and third time was fine.

I bought all of the ingredients from Meidi-Ya market in Liang Court (except for the spring onion). Meidi-Ya do deliveries too so you can check it out here

Address: 177 River Valley Road #B1-50 Liang Court Shopping Centre

I thought some readers might be interested in the prices so here is a price list:

Marutomo Katsuo (Bonito flakes) - $5.30
Nico Anori (Seaweed) - $1.90

Octopus - $6.10

Nissin Takoyaki flour - $7.10

Ikari Takoyaki Sauce - $5.30
Laughing Cow Belcubes Cheese- $3.95

Spring onion - $0.80

Takoyaki Ingredients ( 25-30 balls)

1) Octopus cubes - (depends on you)
2) Bonito flakes (Marutomo Katsuo)

3) Seaweed (Nico Anori)

4 Takoyaki flour - 150g
5) Takoyaki Sauce
6) Mayonnaise
7) Spring onions - 1 stalk
8) Water - 450cc
9) An egg
10) Oil  (to grease the pan.)

Prepare the ingredients.

Step 1) Cut the octopus into smaller cubes.

2) Sieve the flour to prevent lumps.

3) Mix the 150g of takoyaki flour, 1 egg  and 450cc water together. Stir the batter well to prevent lumpy texture. Add in spring onions. (Note: no need to add salt or other seasoning because the takoyaki flour already contains them)

4) Grease the pan with oil to prevent sticking (Makes it easier to flip.)

5) Pour the batter on to the metal pan. You should flood the pan with batter (unlike the picture shown here.) It takes a while to cook on these pan.

6) Add in the toppings (octopus, cheese) into batter.

7) When the underside of the batter brows, turn the ball 90 degrees.

8) The trick is just to fill the holes and keep turning until it becomes round!

9) Top it with Takoyaki sauce and mayonnaise.

10) Sprinkle on bonito flakes and seaweed.

Personally, I like my takoyaki balls to be crispy on the outside and a little moist and soft on the inside and I'm really glad it turned out well. Very delicious! The best part of making Takoyaki balls on your own is that you can have a generous amount of sauce, octopus and cheese. Yummylicious.


Check out how to make takoyaki by runnyrunny999 too.




Try it!

Magnum Mini

I found these new flavors in the supermarket today. Magnum mini (6's) - $8.90

Two flavors - Pistacchio and Gianduia Nougat (Chocolate and Hazelnut)

I don't whenever I see green ice-cream, I automatically associate it with being minty and fresh. It is nothing like that. Pistacchio! It taste like almond though.

One thing I like about magnum ice-cream is their thicky and sweet milk chocolate coating! Super sweet but I like it. The chocolate and hazel nut tasted a little like coffee. Yum. Premium ice-cream.


Rating: 4/5

NTU: Chinese Delight

I'm starting a NTU Foodhunt section on this blog. Hope this will help out

Location: Canteen 1


Craving for chinese cuisine today!

Beijing steamed dumplings - Fresh meat / Chives - $3.50 for 10

Fresh dumplings made daily and cooked on the spot. The downside is you might have to wait for 5-15mins when you're really starving. You can have half fresh meat and half chives. Juicy fillings and goes really well with vinegar and ginger.

These are pretty addictives. I would love to try eating 20 of them at one go one day.

Sushi Kanazawa @ International Building

Location: International Building, #02-13 360 Orchard Road

One of my friend's colleague mentioned that Sushi Kanazawa is quite a good place for sushi so we decided to check it out.

Sushi Kanazawa Tel: 6738 3833
It is best to make reservations because the shopfront is pretty small. Only 12 seats in front of the sushi counter.


How it works:
1) What is interesting about Sushi Kanazawa is that the chef decides what you eat. (Unless of course you request the chef to make some other sushi)

2) Each customer have a plate in front of them which the chefs will place on after making.


Two chefs were making the sushi when my friend and I visited. They are so skilful: the way they slice the sashimi and their technique of making the sushi with one or two presses.

Buffet Price (Weekday): $37 per person.

Piping hot green tea. These are served with tea leaves residues which sank to the bottom so I figure that don't use the tea bag ones. Quite to my liking. I dislike those that taste like plain water.

Edamame(peas) are on the table for munching while we wait for our sushi.

Sashimi Moriawase - Starter.  Tuna, Salmon, White Fish and Squid Sashimi. These are thick sashimi unlike those petty portions in umisushi. Freshness is guaranteed.  I love raw fish with wasabi. They are the perfect combination.

Nikujaga (Stewed Chicken & Vegetables) - A small bowl of soup with chicken bits, radish, fried tofu and a jelly cube which taste like sea cucumber (I have no idea what that is).

From left to right: Aji (Horse Mackerel), Shake Aburi (Seared Salmon)

Ika (Squid), Amaebi Mentai Aburi (Seared Sweet Prawn with Cod Roe)

Unagi Aburi

Chawanmushi

Kajiki (Swordfish), Maguro (Red Tuna)

Negitoro Temaki (Minced Belly of Tuna)

Fugu (pufferfish), Tobiko (flying fish roe)

Rating: 4.5/5

Give it a try. Yummylicious.

I suggest you starve yourself before going. I only managed to eat around 17 pieces of sushi because the rice is really filling. If you have a huge appetite and love sushi, I definitely recommend this.