CANTONi - Singapore

New spot alert! It was my first time to eat at Canton-i in Singapore. Since we stayed walking distance from Ion, mom and I found ourselves eating there on more than one occasion. Dim sum is quite popular in the Grandidge family, so mom shared with me a place that she knew I'd enjoy. Canton-i specializes in Hong Kong style cuisine and everything we ordered (which wasn't so much in fact) tasted yummeh! While waiting for our dim sum to arrive, I explored the back end of the restaurant where they had bigger tables -that were still empty- and took a few pictures. Isn't the flowered wall precious?! Our section of the restaurant was full, you can see in the pictures that every table along the wall is taken. I'll take that as a good sign :)

Chinese @ CHANGI

MNL > > > SG

We started our day quite early, catching the 8am flight from Manila to Singapore. We slept on the plane and skipped breakfast. Three and a half hours later we landed in Singapore, our stop over city on the way to Bali. If there's any airport to have a 3 hour layover at, Changi is the place to be! By the time we deplaned, grabbed lunch [below], quickly browsed the shops and found free wifi, it was time to board our next plane. So convenient!

Din Tai Fung | SINGAPORE

Dim sum, dumplings, or even yum cha... Whatever you wanna call it -though I'm sure there are slight differences between those three- you can't deny how amazing these little pockets of goodness are. Din Tai Fung is something I miss, I wish they had it here in Manila. It's a no-fuss, affordable chain of restos that churn out *hand-made* dumplings like a friggin' machine. I was SO excited to eat here in Singapore; Jon and I went for a mid-morning 11am meal at the Paragon branch. As usual, there was a line - since we expected it, we weren't bugged. They're very efficient though, you write down your order as you wait (which also builds up your appetite!). As soon as your number is called, you hand in your order and wait for the food - how easy is that :)

Throwback :: Din Tai Fung in LA

Imperial House Dim Sum | MACAU

My Dad hosted a little getaway trip to Macau -or Macoozy as we called it- last week... He was there for biz and decided it would be nice for the fambam to come along as well. (Thanks, Dad!) Gambling and clubbing is synonymous with the city, but we kind of steered in the opposite direction - we enjoyed the hotel's facilities and of course did our fair share of food exploration :) We stayed at the Venetian Hotel and all our meals were either there, The Grand Canal Shoppes or The Shoppes at The Four Seasons. Oh we fancy huh! Not really ;)

Jon and I arrived a day after everyone else. Our first meal was at the Chinese restaurant, Imperial House Dim Sum. We had been traveling since 5am Manila time; flight to HK and then ferry ride to Macau - so when we saw the dimsum... ATTACK!

Oh 'dem dumplings

[Hong Kong]

Philippe Chow

When I asked my mom where she wanted to go for dinner on her last night, she replied, "I want Chinese food, but I also wouldn't mind going somewhere new." She probably thought I would suggest Mr. Chow's... Wrong! She underestimated my restaurant selection skills ;) I responded quickly, "Well let's go to Philippe Chow. It's Chinese food and we haven't been before." Chinese? Check! Somewhere new? Check!

Time for the Chow Down. Location: Philippe Chow in West Hollywood [formerly Dolce]. After having worked at Mr. Chow's for 25 years, Philippe Chow definitely brought over his culinary expertise to his own establishment. Already all the rave in New York, venturing out to California would be a first for Philippe. Haute Chinese cuisine really seems to be a hit on both coasts. Philippe's red/black/white restaurant is definitely more spacious and roomy, compared to Mr. Chow's in Beverly Hills. I really can't decide whose food I like better... I can tell you, though, that my favorite dish from this meal was the Nine Season's Spicy Prawns. The spicy sweet and sour sauce was DEE-lish. I guess I don't yet have a winner for the Chow Down; sorry... All in all, I think this town is big enough for the two of them!

Corn and Crab Meat Soup

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Nine Season's Spicy Prawns

Chicken Jo Lau

Filet Mignon w/ Broccoli

Pork and Shrimp Fried Rice