Ramen Champion at Changi T3

I've got posts about Ramen Champion in Singapore and Ramen Champion at Changi Airport but just got a chance to prove it myself last week while transiting at this one of best airports in the world.

As you would expect, you can try tasty ramen from four different region in Japan at the comfort of Changi Airport, it's located in basement are (public area) at B2-58 Terminal 3. Gantetsu from Sapporo, Riki ramen from Tokyo, Taka no Tsume Chiba, and Ikkousha from Hakata. I didn't waste my (only) 18 hours transit and managed to try three different ramen, corn and butter ramen from Sapporo, one small bowl from Riki ramen, and a big bowl of Tonkotsu ramen from Ikkousha, and this last one is my favorite as I love tonkotsu based soup. For those who love ramen, better prepare an empty stomach to try all different kind of ramen you can't resist in one place!

(Tonkotsu ramen from Ikkousha)

Ramen Championship Singapore

I got one night stop over in Singapore last month and I was hoping to have a chance to try the ramen at Iluma Building in Bugis, but unfortunately I was too early, the shops open at 11:30am and I didn't have time to wait since I need to run for my connecting flight. The Ramen Championship has been run since last year till July this year (as long as I know), didn't get the chance to take proper photos either, but I managed to go to Liang Court in Clarke Quay to try Marutama Ramen.

The good news is that the Ramen championship has new outlet at T3 Changi Airport, so next time I can try the ramen without leaving the comfort of Changi Airport.

(Ramen championship at Iluma building, Bugis)

Marutama ramen in Singapore is quite famous but frankly speaking, it was a little disappointment, for me there are two most important things from a good ramen, first is the broth and second is the noodle's texture, in this case the broth didn't taste as I expected, too light I would say and the noodle was a bit overcooked. 

(Marutama ramen in Singapore)

Singapore stop over

Stopping over in Singapore has been part of my holidays for years, despite the heat and muggy weather, the convenience of Changi airport and their airline have been my favorites for traveling. In Changi you can shop and pay by major currencies and not to mention the comfort of its facilities. As far as I remember, the first time I visited my Singapore 10 years ago, I didn't find many Japanese eateries nor shops around but now you'll come across Japanese eateries and shops in every shopping mall, some maid cafes around Bugis and the Japanese related events such as cosplay, all of those showing the influence of Japanese culture in this city. Talking about Japanese food stuffs, my favorite place is Meidi-ya supermarket in Liang Court shopping centre around Clarke Quay area.

Some of my shoppings..

(Chocolates from Royce)

(Blue Mountain coffee from Meidi-ya)

(Choya umeshu extra years bought at Changi)

Ippudo Sg

A quick post from Singapore, stopping over for 2 nights before flying to my hometown for a-three-week holiday visiting families and friends. 

Ippudo Singapore is quite famous for ramen lovers in Singapore and decided to try the one in Mandarin Gallery Orchard (they have another shop in UE square), got there around 12 noon and I had to queue for about 20 minutes before finally got the seat. It might be the best ramen in Singapore but still you can't compare to the ones in Sydney such as Ryo's or Ramen Genki, but if you happen to be in this city and craving for some yummy ramen to slurp then this Ippudo is worth a shot.

(Shirotama ramen from Ippudo sg)

(cucumber with sesame)

(Ippudo Mandarin Gallery, Orchard Singapore)

The shirotama ramen I ordered wasn't a disappointment but nothing special though, while the cucumber with sesame side dish is quite refreshing and gives a pleasant after taste for my taste buds after slurping  the rich tonkotsu broth of Shirotama ramen.

Elite Silver Krisflyer

Since I joined the Krisflyer program, never expected I would be able to get a Silver membership since it requires 25,000 miles point in one year to be eligible for the Elite Silver membership and normally I didn't fly that often, but yesterday I got mail from Singapore airline confirming that my membership has been upgraded to Elite Silver member and off course with the new Krisflyer member card.

Pasta de Waraku

My second day in Singapore.

I have been to this city a few times and I have been to most of the tourist spots and landmarks in this tiny country yet beautiful, so this time I had no desire to visit those tourist spots like Merlion and Sentosa island instead I'd like to relax and indulge myself with some yummy food and feel the Christmas season along the famous Orchard road at night. So... the next lunch was Japanese Pasta at Pasta de Waraku in Central Shopping Centre just off the famous riverside of Clarke Quay.

This Italian food comes with a Japanese touch like the Pasta which topped with a raw egg, the salad comes with the mayu sauce (sesame oil) and even a seaweed pasta!
My pasta set comprises salad, corn soup, small pizza, carbonara pasta, and a prawn gratin.

This yummy pasta topped with raw egg

My prawn gratin was soo cheesy...

Crispy tiny pizza

The Corn soup was creamy but light

The pasta set menu

This cafe has a nice display of every items on their menu

Kushin-Bo Japanese Restaurant

My first day in Singapore.

Arrived at T-3 Changi airport at 5.30 pm, 10 minutes earlier than scheduled and got the airport transfer to my hotel around City Hall area by a very comfortable coach. It's really a convenient location with the MRT station only 3 minutes walk from the hotel. I walked down the tunnel through the City Link mall all the way to Suntec City Shopping Mall to have dinner. I had decided to have a buffet Japanese food for dinner as it was a recommendation from my Singaporean fella, she said it's the best Japanese Resto in town so I'd like to give it a try. It's quite easy to find this Kuishin-Bo Japanese Restaurant on the third floor, it was quite full but I got my seats straight away without queuing.

The $42 (SGD) buffet dinner worth the price for a full range of sushi, sashimi, yakiniku, soup, seafood, tempura, noodle, and the special menu was Lobster Mornay which was cooked by order. I ordered this Lobster twice :) I also grabbed some Crab and Prawn from my favorite seafood section and got salmon, chicken and wagyu beef from the yakiniku ones.

They were my first round only :)

My prawns and crabs

Seafood corner

Ginseng and Scallop soup

Seafood soup

The deserts

If you are a seafood lover and a 'big eater', you will get what you pay from this restaurant.

Singapore Sling

It was a long flight, 7 hours from Sydney to Singapore but I did enjoy the flight though, watching some Japanese and Korean movies on board while sipping my Singapore Sling and Baileys Irish Cream with ice.

It's a Singapore Sling Premix sold on board

Singapore Sling is a red, sweet and fruity cocktail. It was created at The Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel in Singapore around 1915, it was known as Straits Sling and then officially renamed as Singapore Sling some time around 1930.The Singapore Sling was meant to be a woman's drink, hence it has pink color, but some recipes turn out red. The recipe varies from one source to another since the hotel admitted not having the original recipe.

Here is the recipe claimed by Dale DeGroff as an original recipe based on what he was told by Raffles Hotel:

· 35 ml Gin
· 1 shot of Cheery brandy
· 8 ml Cointreau
· 8 ml Benedictine
· 75 ml pineapple juice
· 1 dash of Angostura bitters
· 10 ml Grenadine
· 10 ml lime juice
· 1 slice of Orange
· 1 cheery

Shake well all the ingredients and garnish with orange slice and cherry.

My Singapore Sling on board