singapore: paradise dynasty - legend of xiao long bao

tommy gleefully eats xiao long bao at paradise dynasty...

dynasty 8 flavours: (clockwise starting with green) ginseng, foie gras, black truffle, cheese, crab roe, garlic, szechuan, original (in the middle)

original xiao long bao

tommy says:  the noodle soups were good, the beef soup was very rich and hearty, but the reason to come is for the xiao long bao (soup dumplings).  the different flavors are interesting, but they don't all necessarily work.  call me a fuddy duddy, but original is the way to go.  the original is really, really delicious and so full of soup!  

paradise dynasty: legend of xiao long bao
ion orchard
2 orchard turn #4-12A
singapore
http://www.paradisegroup.com.sg/

singapore: tian tian hainanese chicken rice at maxwell road food centre

tommy digs the chicken rice at tian tian hainanese chicken rice and other dishes from the hawker stands at maxwell road food centre...

chicken rice

variety of dishes from several of the hawker stands

tommy says: fantastic and cheap eats (a plate of noodles went for one dollar!)!  the most popular stall is definitely tian tian, and for good reason - the chicken rice is tender and tasty. lines for tian tian get quite long so be prepared to wait.  this is food court seating so divide and conquer responsibilities: someone to wait at tian tian, someone to grab a table, and the rest to pick up other random goodies.  enjoy!

tian tian hainanese chicken rice
stall 10, maxwell food centre
singapore
http://www.tiantianchickenrice.com/

singapore: ya kun kaya toast

tommy falls in love with kaya toast at ya kun in singapore...

kaya toast set: kaya toast with soft boiled eggs

tommy says:  a simple, yet decadent way to start the day. toasted bread is slathered with sweet kaya spread (coconut jam) and very thick slabs of butter and served with two soft-boiled eggs which are drizzled with a sweet soy sauce.  the combination of the sweetness from the kaya spread with and salty buttery goodness dipped into the creamy egg was absolutely delicious!  good morning indeed!

ya kun kaya toast
various locations: http://www.yakun.com/singapore.aspx

cambodia - siem reap: chanrey tree

tommy has his first encounter with cambodian/khmer food at chanrey tree in siem reap, cambodia...

fresh spring rolls: minced pork, chicken, river shrimp, pineapple, cucumber, rice noodle, lettuce, chive, khmer herbs served with peanut dressing

crispy stick rice with natang sauce: minced pork, shrimp, coconut milk, peanut served with crispy sticky rice

chicken salad

beef lok lak: local free-range thinly sliced beef tenderloin, garlic, pepper lime sauce and wilted green leaf

fish amok: traditional cambodian curry with steamed bar fish and green gno leaf

roasted khmer chicken: free-range khmer chicken roasted with honey and rice brandy, young jack fruit and lemongrass served with prahok dipping sauce and fresh crudite

khmer delecacy

mango and sticky rice

tommy says: not sure how "authentic" the dishes were (some of the dish names are the same as dishes from other nearby countries, and in this day in age with everyone's food evolving/modernizing, who knows what "authentic" even mean anymore), but no matter because this was a great meal!  very flavorful dishes.  fish amok was the favorite - very nice curry flavor.  

chanrey tree
pokombo ave
siem reap, cambodia
(855) 63 76 79 97
http://www.chanreytree.com/

los angeles: troi mec

tommy manages to get a ticket to troi mec...

buckwheat popcorn

sunchoke chip

garlic bread

avocado, citrus, crab ceviche, buckwheat popcorn

nantucket bay scallops, tandoori, sesame, cauliflower

grilled cabbage, smoked almond milk anglaise, miso flan, fennel pollen

potato pulp, brown butter, bonito, onion soubise, salers

beef, charred broccoli, smoked peanut butter, crispy shallots

apple butter, creme de brie, toasted barley, hay

mignardises, marshmallow, sunchoke sorbet

tommy says:  the garlic bread and crab ceviche were both really tasty.  the grilled cabbage was also inventive and the miso flan that came with it was silky smooth.  scallops and the apple butter dessert were not really my cup of tea.  the potato pulp was good, but felt like it should've been a side or something else should've been served with it.  the beef with smoked peanut butter was reminiscent of beef satay with thai peanut sauce. the mignardises were a funky tasting. with the exception of the mignardises, nothing was truly bad, but troi mec left me a bit unsatisfied. there was no wow factor, and the fiasco of the reservation process (hitting refresh on my computer for over an hour only to keep getting an error message, and then dates that are available one second disappearing the next, and that is just the tip of the iceberg) would lead one to think they were in store for something amazing.  all the positive press given to troi mec perhaps also led to very high expectations, and perhaps the disappointment is the result of the over hype. 

trois mec

716 n highland ave

los angeles, ca 90038

https://www.troismec.com