Seeking a slice of paradise

After a whole day out at the shops, dinner was not simply for the hungry. 

It was for the weary.

Taste paradise seems always to have a ridiculously long queue and the fact that they close in between lunch and dinner service brings the rest of the crowds over to Paradise Dynasty.

And before you start to think this restaurant is nothing but a second best,

I'll have you think again by the end of this post.

I've tried the colorful xiao long baos once too many a time, 

I now only stick by the originals.

These little intricately wrapped parcels of minced meat and juicy soup goodness.

Goes perfectly with a dab of vinegar topped with fresh ginger slices.

There is a recommended way of enjoying this.

First, bite off the dumpling skin on top.

Let the steam escape.

Before you slurp up the soup.

And devour the rest.

At the risk of a burnt tongue,

I let the steamer sit for a bit before I attempt to take a delicate parcel

and pop the whole parcel in. 

Let the juices explode in my mouth.

That.

Is a slice of paradise reached :)

Spicy minced meat noodles is the Chinese answer to the bolognaise I'd like to think.

Firm pulled flour noodles boiled and drained before being topped with a generous amount of spicy minced meat sauce.

Does that not make a bolognaise?

I love them both. Chinese or Italian.

This bowl comes covered with generous greens of refreshing cucumber slices and freshly chopped spring onions.

This may get a little bit too oily for one.

Which is why I always opt to share.

So that I could add another item to the order list.

Now this.

The same firm pulled flour noodles.

With shabu thin slices of pork and chopped seaweed.

This time with a healthier and no less hearty soup base.

A signature milky pork bone broth.

I could never get enough.

Who said anything about second best?

And it just gets better with their weekday promotions. :)

WEEKDAY TREATS BY PARADISE DYNASTY

Enjoy $8 Signature Dynasty Xiao Long Bao with every order of 2 La Mian
*Valid Mon to Fri from 11am to 3pm, excluding eves of PH and PH. Other terms and conditions apply.

Signature Dynasty Xiao Long Bao + Choice of 1 Shanghai Dim Sum @ $15
*Valid Mon to Fri from 3pm to 5.30pm, excluding eves of PH and PH. Other terms and conditions apply.

To find out more, visit PARADISE DYNASTY at ION Orchard, #04-12A

http://ion.com.sg/en/ion-dining/758-paradise-dynasty

Taste Paradise Fortune Set Menu

Lunar New Year's come to an end. Till next year. :)

Go! Go! Curry!

It's been perfect curry weather this whole week! :)

What's the deal about a cheer on for gorillas and curry?

I stood around watching their promotional video (entirely in Japanese) and I will not pretend to have understood more than "Oiishi!" :p I did however, recognize Hideki Matsui who plays for the New York Yankees and his jersey number, 55 which was the reason for Go! Go! (the number 5 in Japanese) clearing my entirely reasonable idea of it being a cheer for the curry. And well, his Godzilla nickname influenced their eventual choice of a gorilla for a mascot. 

But just like an entirely serendipitious sort of phenomenon, that's probably brilliant though. The idea of a Go! Go! in your restaurant's name psychologically propels your body to respond to your subconscious mind. Go! Go! to the Curry! now! That was me anyway.

So next time you walk past, tell me if you feel a sudden compulsion to act on it! :)

Why go for less, when you can challenge the Grand Slam!

Actually, I just couldn't decide what I wanted with my curry. :D

This wasn't what I expected from a Japanese curry. It was a distinctive dark brown colour and a more pronounced peppery taste. Think: A thicker version of beef stew. I liked it! Whether curry or called by any other name because this was comfort-type soul food on a rainy day. They weren't generous enough with the curry sauce though, unlike cocoichi and no, I did not know that I could add on extra portions of curry until I read one of the reviews that suggested extra curry and extra cheese! Mmm.

So if you were going at it alone, remember that these curry rice sets have a larger than normal portion of rice even on the healthy version. Diners pick from a choice of Shrimp, Sausage, Pork or Chicken cutlet, accompanied by shredded cabbage. And unless you're with someone else, I don't know how one person's stomach can manage 650g of rice with curry and 4 sides.

It was a good post zumba dinner. I workout hard for my curry rewards. :)

As with all good meals, they should end with a dessert. 

Essentially a Snickers bar deconstructed and reconstructed into a stack with dense chocolate cake layers.

Rich. Peanut buttery. Dense. Caramelish. Definitely. Sweet. All too much for a post-curry late night dessert but I see it as most certainly an energy bar for that extra boost of sugar rush energy if taken at lunch time.

Girlfriend timeout in the midst of a mad week at Ion. :)