The Quay Boutique Hotel Phnom Penh - Chow Restaurant

As a frequent visitor to the Riverside in Phnom Penh, I always walk past a really chic boutique hotel with a very nice restaurant setting at the ground floor. Most of the time I would be heading somewhere else, either the FCC or Deja Vu along the riverside, or on my way to Pop Cafe, depending on which direction I was coming from.

So this Sunday afternoon, I decided to finally make The Quay as my destination for lunch.

The moment I entered the restaurant, I somehow felt that I was back in Sydney. It gave me some Sydneyish vibes, but I couldn't really point a finger as to where and why - maybe its the spacious set ups or the clever use of lights and colour. We chose a table along the left walls of the restaurant and I must say I like their fancy chairs, not too much of their table, as I thought they were quite small for a dining table, was more of a coffee table size.

They have a special lunch set menu which is US$7 with a free beer or a glass of wine. I ordered a Fish & Chips (might be due to me missing Sydney), whilst Cassie ordered the seafood pasta. I opted for a glass of white wine too.



Rating: 1.5/5

The moment I set eyes on this Fish & Chips, I could say I was literally at the gates at Kingsford Smith waiting to board the plane back to Phnom Penh. I think the above were more like Fish Fingers instead of Fish & Chips lol. Then I tasted it and the plane did an immediate landing in Phnom Penh Airport lolol. Hate to say it, but the batter was dry on the outside (you can''t see it, but it was served carefully because the top bit was normal but the bottom of the fish was dark), and was mushy (still in its flour+water state). The fish was slightly undercooked too. Only 1 out of 3 Fish Fingers was actually marginally edible. The chips were alright, almost nice.

Then my wine came. It was off. Now I might not be a wine connoisseur, but I definitely know how to spot a wine that is off. I asked for a change as it was off, so the waitress brought down the bottle which she poured my wine from and it was empty - guess I took the last pour, and no one knows when the first pour was made prior to me. Eventually, they did change it for me, newly opened this time. Was nice of them really.

Rating: 3.5/5

The Chow Restaurant at The Quay was redeemed by this seafood pasta. It was cooked just right on the whole, although about 45 seconds over the al dente stage. Nicely seasoned, wonderfully presented, and most importantly, the squid isn't over cooked.

I had expected more from the Fish & Chips since it was Fish & Chips, how difficult can it be to get it right... right? Apparently not in this case.

Would I return for the above dishes? Probably not anytime soon. They serve better Fish & Chips at Deja Vu, and if I wanted pasta I would be headed for Pop Cafe for the Mantis Shrimp Linguine.

I might just return to check out their other dishes, but that's only when I can't think of anywhere else to go or anything else to eat.

The Quay Hotel
Chow Restaurant
Preah Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
+855 23 224 894

Saveur Singapore - Affordable Fuss-free French Food

I was first introduced to this inexpensive restaurant serving fuss-free French food at Far East Plaza by Emily as she was posting heaps of pictures of her Saveur Singapore dinner dates with her hubby, and thus made her bring me there.

She was telling me how popular this place was because there was always a queue during dinner times and how affordable it is comparing to other pretentious settlements.

So I decided to see (and eat) for myself. Met emily at 5:30pm at Far East Plaza to successfully beat the dinner crowd. The restaurant had descending steps and the motherly side of me urged Emily to be extra careful (she is carrying Calyse in her womb). 

I was hungry. We sat down at a small little table meant for 2, but to be honest, I don't feel quite comfortable with small tables, especially when we all know french food is served on big plates, and I was hungry. So I began studying the menu, and shortlisted a few dishes which I thought I might wanna try, since I was, you know, hungry. 

And I was disappointed - alright, I was actually only superficially disappointed. The portions were tiny, and my eyes disapprove because I had expected more.

Mushroom Cappucino, S$4.90

Rating: 4.5/5

Not till I tried the Mushroom Cappucino (S$4.90), a creamy mushroom soup served in a coffee cup. I think I know why it's called a cappucino, as there was froth on top of the soup. For folks who love mushrooms like I do, just order this already - I regret having to share. So Emily assured me that after we are through with all our dishes, we'd be stuffed. She was right.

Saveur Pasta, S$4.90

Rating: 2/5

This was just a waste of my tummy space, it was under-seasoned, and let's just be brutally honest - when something looks so good, you'd expect it to taste as good as it looks. And when it doesn't, you'd be shamefully disappointed. That's what this dish did to me.

Foie Gras - Duck Liver in Portwine sauce, S$9.90

Rating: 3.5/5

For a S$9.90 Foie Gras, I would say it has done its job. This actually tastes better than it looks, although I'm not a fan of the mixed fruits portwine sauce.

Mains - Chicken roulade with basmati rice and parmesan sauce, S$9.90

Rating: 4.5/5

My favourite dish thus far, a well-made chicken thigh roulade and wonderfully seasoned basmati rice. This actually fills you up quite easily so I'd recommend not going overboard with stuffing your face with this dish.

Pan-seared Seabass with Saute Potatoes and Crabmeat, S$14.90

Rating: 4/5

Skin was crispy, and the meat was tender. I like this dish, and almost forgotten to snap a shot and luckily did so after my fork marginally punctured the fish.

At this point in time into the dinner, I have to admit I was already quite full. We moved on to desserts nevertheless, and the chocolate mousse with hazelnut desserts just made my stomach surrender.

Chocolate Mousse with Crushed Hazelnut, S$7.90

Rating: 4/5

The bill was S$52.40 before GST and Service Charge, and the grand total turned out to be S$61.30. About S$30 each, which was quite affordable I would say, although I have expected it to be cheaper since the prices of the dishes were relatively low. I guess they just add up, since you have to order more to share as the servings are tiny.

Would head there again someday if I'm yearning for some hearty chicken roulade. 

Saveur Singapore

14 Scotts Road

Far East Plaza #01-07B

Singapore 228213

Weekend in Bangkok - International Children's Day in Phnom Penh

As Saturday, 1st of June, was the International Children's Day holiday in Phnom Penh, I had a proper weekend off and was headed for Bangkok. Booked my flights less than 2 weeks ago and was excited to see Tikky again!

Friday was a working day so I headed to the airport after work, and hung at my usual place, the FCC at the departure hall in Phnom Penh Airport. Ordered a Berry Freeze, one of my favourite before-boarding drinks, and sat there for a good while whilst waiting for boarding. Phnom Penh Airport is tiny so there wasn't anything interesting to do besides eating and drinking.

Berry freeze at the FCC, Phnom Penh International Airport

Flight took an hour from Phnom Penh to Bangkok, and I arrived at the BKK Don Mueang airport to realise that I HAVEN'T GOT ANY THAI BAHT WITH ME. Good job me.

Tried withdrawing cash with my Singapore POSB bank card, but the ATM machine kept telling me its unable to do so. And as I rang Tikky to tell her that I already arrived, she was waiting outside the airport for me and as usual, they do not allow you to stop your car for more than a split second, so she had to drive around and around for 30 minutes whilst I was getting myself sorted out. I'm so sorry Tikky. =[ Felt like an idiot later after I realised that I have not authorised overseas withdrawals with POSB bank. Even better job me. I ended up exchanging whatever currencies I have on me (fortunately I have a few hundreds of Singapore Dollars and American Dollars in my travel pouch) for an exorbitant exchange rate, and ran out to find Tikky driving into the pick up area again. I love you babe. I really do.

We headed back to her place and unloaded my stuffs, freshened up a little, and then headed out for my first meal in Bangkok - An awesome joint opened by a Liverpool fan. Huge liverpool fan I mean.

They were even covered by a Singaporean paper.

The restaurant walls were covered with Liverpool odds and ends, posters everywhere and Sherlock Holmes would not approve of anyone not noticing that the boss is a huge Liverpool fan. Football preferences aside, this restaurant serves up amazing dishes I swear.

This was what made me book my flights a couple of weeks ago.

We ordered a seafood Tom Yum Soup, an (GIANT) Asparagus with de-shelled Prawns stir-fried in Oyster Sauce, and a plate of Extracted Crabmeat wonderfully stir-fried in Garlic. Ok, I'm a major Tom Yum Soup fan and I can proudly say that this Tom Yum Soup was worth the 211USD flight from Phnom Penh. Many a time, seafood in a seafood TYS is not the freshest (since its cooked in spicy soup, most restaurants hope customers wouldn't be able to tell its freshness) and would either lose its flavour in the soup, or just simply over-cooked. Not this one. The fish is fresh, the shrimps are fresh, and they seem to multiply themselves in the soup and we can't finish all of it tried hard as we could.

Giant Asparagus with Tiger Prawns

As you would think giant asparagus would probably be too fibrous, this asparagus was surprisingly the opposite. Cooked just right and still retaining its green and crunch, this dish was tasty as hell. And of course the Prawns were yummy too, and most importantly, de-shelled. =]

Satisfying Crabmeat with Garlic

Alright, I'm a major fan of crabs and more crabs and whatever kinds of crabs. Black Pepper Crabs, Chili Crabs, Salted Egg Yolk Crabs, Ginger & Spring Onions Crabs, Steamed Crabs, Hairy Crabs, Crabcakes, Big Crabs, Small Crabs - I love them all. I love them all enough to be bothered to hassle through their shells. Now this, the above, is just great. Now I can have half a crab worth of meat in a mouthful, instead of having them in bits and pieces over a stretch of 20-30 minutes (the amount of time I use to eat 1 section of a 1kg crab's body). Definitely going back to this restaurant the next time I head to the land of smiles.

Liverpool Restaurant, Bangkok Thailand
Facebook Page (Click Here)
Tel: 086-970-0211

Location of Liverpool Food, photo from their facebook page.

We were absolutely stuffed when we left the restaurant, and we proceeded to pick Lana, Tikky's friend, up from somewhere nearby, and head to a club together.

Tuk-tuk in Thailand

The tuk-tuks in Thailand are so different from the ones in Cambodia. They look more sturdy and well-built than the ones I take in Phnom Penh, which always makes me feel like I'm about to drop out of the vehicle anytime.

So we reached a club called SLIM and it was very upbeat according to Tikky. Ah, the perks of having a local show you around.

Before entering the club

There was a promotion for entry with two drinks apparently, and much to my dismay when it got to our turn, we found out that the deal was only for locals. So I had to rejoin the queue after paying for my entrance fee. Met up with a few other friends of Tikky in that club, and was being introduced as her boyfriend's sister(thats me). They were all very friendly, as you would have expected with Thai people, and were all very shocked after finding out that I flew in from Phnom Penh to BKK for the weekend only and will be back to work on the following Monday. I'm not sure if they were more shocked that I was working in Phnom Penh, or more shocked that I could actually think 2 days is enough in Awesome Thailand. Anyway, a lot of a few Heinekens and Changs and dances later, we called it a night and decided to head for supper. Did anyone say 'supper'?

Self-shot with Lana just before leaving the club

Very disgusting Watery Green Curry

Alright, supper was a let down. So we went to this 24H joint near the club for supper, and everyone else ordered something safe and western, and the biggest idiot here thought "oh well, I'm in Thailand, so there is no way I would be ordering something that isn't Thai from the menu", and I was duly disappointed. The green curry was watery and flavourless. Let's not talk anymore about it.

The next morning, we left early at about 10am, early considering we only went to bed at about 5am in the morning hehe. Tikky's place was in the city so we could walk to the Platinum Mall for some awesome shopping for the day.

On the way to Platinum Mall

This is it!

To be honest, I was quite disappointed. I really didn't see many things I like in that mall, and they were either a little more costlier than I had expected, or they just weren't my style. Yea I'm a very fussy clothes shopper, I need things to be good and cheap and pretty and new and the list goes on. Clothes aside, I did manage to get some cool accessories and managed to fill my tummy up with worthy food. After that horrible supper, that's the least I could do to cheer my tastebuds up a little.

Kway Chap - Pork Anything with Rice Flour Noodles in Gravy. I'm in Thailand once again.

Snapping away whilst Tikky does the bargaining.

More Food. I actually don't know what this was, and just ordered it because the other table had it. =]

Okay. This. Is. Awesome. Mango with Glutinous Rice dessert.

After all that shopping and eating, I was so happy that I thought it was too good to be true. I was right. Right after all the hoohah and whatnots, we were on our way back to Tikky's place when I came to a DEVASTATING REALISATION -  I've unknowingly dropped one of my new favourite bangles that I bought in HK a week before! 

The white bangle in the middle, which I hereby name it Xiao Bai, which means 'Little White', is now officially lost in the Platinum Mall. Please let me know if you happen to stumble over it, and also let her know that Xiao Hei, her lover (the black bangle), misses her terribly too.

Greedy me was busy eating this road-side fishcakes with spicy sauce when I realised that Xiao Bai was gone.

Now you see it, now you don't. ='[

To deal with my heartbreaking loss, I had to do the following:

1. Have a lot of beer.

Not a fan of Heineken, but since bad beer is better than no beer, this was alright.

2. Have a lot of (good) food.

Salmon Sashimi, which was still frozen I swear. Couldn't be bothered to let it defrost, so I gulped it down chewing on bits of ice. The dip there is both minty and garlicky.

Spicy Shrimp Tom Yum Soup. Spicy is the keyword.

BBQ Squid with the same mint-garlic sauce

3. Take a train to some unknown places.

When will it be when Phnom Penh finally has public transport?

With my mood slightly better, albeit still longing for Xiao Bai, we headed for the Siam Paragon shopping center. I mean, we headed for the Siam Paragon shopping center's toilet. Yes, you heard that right. The toilet. Let me show you it:

Panoramic view of the Ladies in Siam Paragon Square

This is one of the changing rooms in the toilet. 

Before you think that I'm making too big a deal of a toilet, or probably haven't been to a nice toilet before, it's not. This toilet is the bomb. It could be my dream toilet wtf. So let me just excite myself with this amazing toilet lol. After all, toilets are where you unleash and refresh, what better way to unleash and refresh than be in a posh toilet like this. 

Update: I've since been to more amazing toilets and will blog about them soon.

Saturday came and went, and it was Sunday, the day I'll be heading back to work in the shithole Phnom Penh. So after packing my bags up, we headed out for a last BKK meal, and to get some souvenirs back to PP.

Tikky and I camwhoring in the cab

Green Papaya Salad

Pad Thai, which is Thai-style fried glass noodles with peanut shavings. 

On the way to the Don Mueang Airport

So I reached the airport early (it's a miracle that as I never reach airports early) because we were afraid there was gonna be a traffic jam. Apparently Thai people like jams more than peanut butter, but thats a story for another day. It turns out that the roads were perfectly empty and I have about half an hour extra to burn in the empty airport. 

At the gates. You'd think this is a dance studio. Or whatever studio.

Nowhere better to camwhore than an empty studio airport gate.

All the while I was thinking what I could have for dinner as I've already spoilt my tastebuds over the weekend and was not too sure what they could tolerate for dinner in Phnom Penh.

I didnt have to torture them as it turns out, as Kenneth and gang were rigging up a Part II Awesome Hotpot dinner at their place with the left over frozen food stuff from the previous weekend before my flight to HK. Lucky me to be part of both Part I and Part II Feasts with the Beasts.

Men at Work

Bring on the beers.

Burp.