Ramadhan Special 2013: AquaMarine Part 2

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Did you know that our post on our first visit to AquaMarine is the most viewed post on the blog?
An average of almost a thousand views a month in 8 months!

The popularity of Halal buffet spreads in Singapore is undisputed and there may still not be that many around but there are still more around today than let's say 3 years ago. People love buffets! And AquaMarine is steadily becoming one of the most popular Halal buffet venues in Singapore.

For the holy month of Ramadhan, AquaMarine has invited a special team all the way from Hotel Borobudur in Jakarta led by Chef Sahroni to present a lovely and special Indonesia spread for us this fasting month!

We were lucky enough to have the chance to visit AquaMarine to sample all the goodies!

Me & Chef Sahroni

There's the mastermind behind the delicious dishes being served at AquaMarine this Ramadhan.
Quiet guy in person but I guess that's because he lets his food do the talking.

I'll run down everything for you in the usual style we have for buffet posts. Lots of pictures!
Let me start by explaining how to identify the special dishes on display.

If you a dish displayed with the Indonesian flag on top, that means that the dish was prepared by Chef Sahroni and his team.

You'll still be able to enjoy the normal AquaMarine fare that you love but they'll be displayed with the usual all-white tags okay.

Whole Roasted Lamb

If you're dropping by on the weekends, something extra special awaits you!

They have a whole roasted lamb prepared for the weekends and there'll be a chef there to carve out some meat for you based on your preference. Yes that's right. A WHOLE ROASTED LAMB!

The Expert

Chili Kicap or Sambal Belachan

I don't know if you see what I see... but I see a whole roasted lamb just laying there.. relaxing and waiting for you to take a nice big bite! Hahaha!

The chef tells me they marinate the lamb overnight and they roast it for at least 3 hours til they get the meat to the desired tender state. Enjoy it with a selection of condiments such as Chili Kicap, Sambal Belachan or some cucumbers and onions.

The lamb itself was really tender and tasty and went well with the Chili Kicap I had on the side.
But remember - it's only gonna be there on the weekends!

Assorted Salads & Starters

Jelantas Sayuran (Potatoes & Vegetables with Egg Yolk)

Selada Soun dengan Udang Kecil (Glass Noodle Salad with Shrimp)

Asianan Jakarta (Vegetables with Chili and Peanut Sauce)

They offered a number of salads and starters to get your tastebuds going.
Dishes such as Balinese Tuna Salad, Glass Noodle Salad with Shrimp and Jelantas Sayuran were obviously big favourites.

If you're a fan of egg yolks like me, then go for the Jelantas Sayuran it's the bomb!
But for the real Indonesian-style salad - try the Asianan Jakarta which is topped with kerupuk!!
And for those looking for a nice hearty start - they have Gado-Gado!

Gado-Gado station

Nasi Goreng Borobudur

Ayam Panggang Bumbu Bali

Daging Rendang

Cumi Cabai Hijau

For the rice and noodle lovers out there, they have Nasi Goreng Borobudur and also Mee Goreng for you.
Great to pair with the many dishes they have on offer too!

Try the Ayam Panggang Bumbu Bali if you love the flavour of Indonesian spices.
The meat in the Daging Rendang is SUPER TENDER so that's definitely a must-try!

I actually really enjoyed the Cumi Cabai Hijau. The squid was cooked just nice and the gravy had just the right level of spiciness. Enough to heat your mouth up but leave you wanting more!

Bakar Station

Cumi and Buntut Bakar (Squid and Oxtail)

Woo hoo this was one of my favourite stations!
The squid and the oxtail were really really grilled perfectly!

The Oxtail simply fell apart from the bone and had a great sweet-savoury flavour.
The squid was not only well-grilled but also had squid eggs hidden within! Extra flavour!

Penyet Station

They also had a Penyet Station which serves rice with a choice of Ayam Penyet or Bebek (Duck) Penyet!

Oxtail Soup

And saving one of the best for the last...
I have actually never had Oxtail soup previously but this July 2013 I have had the chance to try a few different versions and I can safely say that I'm a lover of it!

The Oxtail Soup is apparently one of the signature dishes served by Chef Sahroni at Hotel Borobudur in Jakarta where he is based and I we can definitely see why.

The beef broth was brimming with a nice hearty beef flavour and the meat itself was tender.
If you love beef and/or oxtail then this is definitely a must must have.

Done with the special mains? How about some dessert specials?

Beautiful Decor

Pudding Serikaya

Pudding Pandan

Klepon (Onde-Onde)

Dadar Gulung

Well they definitely get top marks for presentation!! Check out the Klepon!

They not only look good but taste good too!
That top white layer on the Pudding Pandan is actually coconut cream... Yummy!
The Kelpon was a one-bite wonder!

The Dadar Gulung was obviously a hot favourite with the crowd.
It kept flying off the serving tray and all gone within a few minutes!

Centek Manis (Sago Pearls with Coconut Milk)

One of my favourites was the Centek Manis.
Not only do they look pretty, they taste excellent. Nice and smooth texture and you can taste the coconut milk flavour as soon as you chomp down.

Lapis Legit

Lapis Surabaya

Another two special creations are the Lapis Legit and the Lapis Surabaya.

I cannot begin to tell you how soft and fluffy the Lapis Surabaya was. Simply delicious.
And for the traditional Kueh Lapis, go for the Lapis Legit or the Sarang Semut!

Wow what a spread! And that's just the special offerings for Ramadhan!
You can still get the usual favourites too!

Smoked Salmon and Cold Cuts

Oysters

Snails (for the more adventurous!)

Crab Claws

Assorted Sushi and Sashimi

Chawanmushi

Indian Food Spread

Ikan Bakar

Chilli Crab

Lamb Chop

Durian Spring Roll

Chocolate Butter Pudding with Vanilla Sauce

Let me just say this about the Chocolate Butter Pudding....
OH MY GOD!!

If you are lovers of Bread and Butter Pudding, you simply MUST try this!
Chocolate + Butter = THE BOMB!
And when you bathe that combination in Vanilla Sauce, you're in for a sinful treat!!

Tell me honestly that the pictures above are not making your mouth water...

Durian Pengat

And if you want something equally as sinful but a little more local...

Go for the Durian Pengat!

It looks like ice cream but it's pure durian.

My darling wife wants to make enquiry if she can buy one whole tub of it!

Not to worry, they do serve dates for us breaking fast.
And there is also a prayer room reserved on one of the upper levels for Solat before you begin on the big feast breaking fast with your family and loved ones.

Aquamarine has been on the up and up since our last visit and it's quite clear why.
Good food and special seasonal promotions make for a great place to makan and one of the best Halal buffet spreads in town!

Prices for the buffet are as follows;

Sunday to Thursday - $68++ per adult / $34++ per child
Friday and Sturday - $78++ per adult / $39++ per child

Special thanks to Chermaine and Cheryl for the invitation.
Great experience thanks to a great team effort!

 

Aquamarine

Marina Mandarin Singapore
6 Raffles Boulevard
Marina Square

http://www.meritushotels.com/en/hotelinformation/marina-mandarin-singapore/dining-entertainment/aquamarine
Tel: 6845 1111

Operating Hours (Iftar):
Dinner: 6.30pm - 10.30pm

Jus! Episode 9 featuring The Halal Food Blog & Royal Kublai Khan

The 2nd episode which featured The Halal Food Blog Team aired on Suria on 1 July!

The team visited Royal Kublai Khan Steamboat Buffet and Seafood Restaurant for some steamboat and crabs. You can read our original review here!

In the mean time, enjoy the clip!

KL Sedap Part 7: Krispy Kreme

Okay so we have come to the end of our KL Sedap Series.
My darling wife and our guest reviewers, Razali & Azim, have joined me in exploring just a tiny fraction of the makan paradise we know as Kuala Lumpur.

And although this it the last post in the series for now, I have a strong feeling that it might be the most popular in the series.

Oh come now. There's no need to be shy.
Everyone I know has a soft spot for doughnuts. Specifically - Krispy Kreme.

I remember a time when Dunkin' Donuts completely dominated the doughnut market.
When my family used to travel into Malaysia, there would surely be a few boxes of Dunkin' Donuts in the car with us on the way back.

But it appears the times have changed.

Since Krispy Kreme appeared in KL, it seems that it has completely dominated the doughnut scene not only there but everywhere else.

Is a superior product? Better variety? Great location?
Well when Krispy Kreme opened in the US, their Original Glazed® Doughnut quickly gained legendary status. When it spread closer to us (in HK), we started seeing people bring back these white boxes with green dots when they returned from their travels. Litttle did we know the treasures within...

In KL alone, they have 3 outlets. Two are located at Sunway and one more at Mid Valley Megamall.
The 3rd (and most convenient) is located at Berjaya Times Square. Why convenient? Well, quite a number of travellers who take the coach in and out of KL have the chance to take a coach operator who stops and picks-up at Berjaya Times Square.

This means lots of doughnuts for loved ones at home!
And as you can see from the picture above, you're gonna have quite a time choosing your doughnuts.

Original Glazed®

Without a doubt, the most popular doughnut at Krispy Kreme is the Original Glazed®.
The beauty in their doughnuts is not only in the toppings but the doughnut itself. It's really really soft and gives you such a heavenly feeling when you take a nice big bite.

And the best thing - it remains soft even after a few hours.
If you have to keep your Krispy Kreme doughnuts in the fridge, just pop em in the microwave for about 15 seconds before you serve and it'll be as soft as when you first bought them.

In the mood for something a little more decadent?
Well I'm a sucker for Orange Chocolate so I was helpless when I saw these beauties staring back at me.

At first, I though it was gonna be just the orange stripes which would give me the orange flavour but I was pleasantly surprised! The chocolate that covered the doughnut was a dark orange chocolate that was FULL of flavour! Quality is never a question and Krispy Kreme passes that with flying colours!

Not an orange chocolate fan?
Well then you might consider the Chocolate Dream - chocolate within chocolate!

But hey, I can't go through every single doughnut they have right?
Well I'll just lay them out for you and you can take a look for yourselves if anything tickles your fancy.

See anything you like?
I'm guessing some of you might be drooling like Homer Simpson right about now.
I know I am!

A single Original Glazed® doughnut costs RM2.50.
A half-dozen Original Glazed® sets you back RM12.00.
A whole dozen Original Glazed® is RM19.00.

Flavoured doughnuts are RM2.80, RM15.00 and RM23.90 respectively.

I didn't do very well for my maths but I reckon the best deal is the box of dozen.

And for the kids (or even yourself if you're looking to cut down on your sugar), they also have Mini doughnuts that promise to pack the same delicious taste as their bigger counterparts.

EAT ME!

Looks like I could fit one in my whole mouth. 
Really like Homer Simpson!

Adam's Verdict:
Krispy Kreme 5/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Krispy Kreme 5/5

I think it's quite safe to say that Krispy Kreme is tops.

The big question is - when is Krispy Kreme coming to Singapore?
I've heard several rumours (as far back as 3 years ago) and read several online articles that say the brand franchise has already been bought for Singapore but so far no news on any outlets opening.

Some online forums claims that it's supposed to open in "March 2013".
Well it's already June anyways. Looks like I need to go to KL for my Krispy Kreme fix.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Berjaya Times Square
Level 1
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: 60 3 21440790

www.krispykreme.com.my/doughnuts.html

Operating Hours:
Sundays to Thursdays - 8.00 am til Midnight
Fridays, Saturdays and PH Eve - 8.00am til 1.00am