Thursday, December 21, 2006

Buffet-a-plenty

chilli slipper lobster

I scored this seductive chilli sauce slipper lobster during my virgin visit to Kuishinbo, a Japanese buffet restaurant. They usually have 'specials' like these which make the entire buffet experience all the more fun and exciting. This is how it works - everyone is entitled to the buffet spread but ever so often, there will be an announcment for these limited specials and the trick is to get there first. So you gotta be quick on your feet! I was lucky this time because I happened to be right in front of the seafood section when they announced about the slipper lobsters!

Speaking of buffets, I want to highlight the fact that in Singapore, buffets are pretty common. There's at least one buffet offered at every hotel and it's a cinch to find one at almost every shopping mall. Truth be told, I'm still baffled by buffets. I mean, I love buffets, yes I do but I'm also fearful of them! Especially since I'm such a food lover... If you put THAT MUCH food in front of me, I'm afraid I'd lose self-control and try to gobble everything up. PLENTY of discipline is needed when I attend buffets. As much as I'm afraid of buffets, I'll admit that I find it hard to stay away from them.

So, I want to ask all of you to tell me which is your favourite buffet/buffet restaurant and what foods I absolutely mustn't miss! You know, it's really easier when you know what's good at which buffets, so you know which ones to try first. Usually, by the time you find out what's good, you'd already be full from trying out the other dishes. So right now, I'm going to save everyone the trouble and compile a list! So please email me or leave a comment and I will compile it and post it up when I have enough information :) Pictures are welcomed as well!

That said, I have some photos from the Kuishinbo buffet and I'll let you in on what's my favourite and what I think is so special about this place. So enjoy!

my pics

Raw is good. I love raw fish and let me tell you, Kushinbo has a good selection of sashimi. Dig the fresh tuna and salmon. Check out their colour! Beautiful...


soup in paper

Soup in paper. This is very innovative. Fun to eat as well. Though the soup is a bit too salty, I would give points for their creativity. I know this isn't the only place that serves soup in a paper bowl but heck, it's my first time drinking soup like that.


chawanmushi

Their chawanmushi (steamed egg) is really silky smooth. I love this one.


coronets

There's also an excellent selection of desserts and you got to try the coronets. I love the cream and the fine pastry.


seafood section

Here's the seafood section. There's prawns, slipper lobsters, crabs and edamame.


array of sashimi and sushi

This is their sushi and sashimi selection. When I was there, they had this really cute X'mas tree sushi. That particular sushi was shaped like a christmas tree and was topped with different raw fish and seaweed, making it really colourful.


dessert section

Last but not least, their dessert section. I love Japanese desserts including the mochi... Mmmm... there's also a mini chocolate fountain - but that's really common at most buffets now...

Ahhh... buffets, you gotta love them and hate them at the same time. I'm sure you understand what I mean. *Nudge*

The anticipation that leads up to the actual partaking of the food. You try to eat less the entire day; I know of people who don't eat anything the whole day, so as to leave their stomachs empty for the buffet in the evening.

Then there's the icky feeling after you've stuffed yourself silly. Sometimes, you even feel like puking because your stomach's close to bursting! Haha... I have been guilty of that. For me, I usually get through the main food pretty fast because I always love combing through the dessert selection. Gosh... and then after I'm done with everything, I'll make a mental note not to eat so much the next day, and go RUNNING! :P

Haha... anyway, I'll stop here and please keep the buffet feedback coming. I'll be waiting!

__________________________________

Kuishinbo
#03-002, Suntec City Tower 1
3 Temasek Boulevard
Tel: 6238-7088

P.S. They have different prices for different days and times. Check out their site for more details.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

i know Marriott has cake-buffets..but the buffet is an on-off affair..each person pay less than $10 (before the subcharges) and will get to taste all the yummy cakes from Mariott

Anonymous said...

hmm..I tried Vienna seafood and int'l buffet at Novena Square.It is ard 28 bucks for lunch.There is quite a selection of food.they have soup with puff pastry which has a lovely buttery aroma, the seafood are fresh and taste quite good! I liked the pepper crab!u gotta try the desserts with ice cream,slices of cakes and types of"tian tang". always crowded!

Anonymous said...

Buffets are....... SINFUL! Good thing that we don't have really good ones around town. HAHA As far as buffet goes, I think Asia has the best selections, especially those in hotels. I guess Las Vegas has some great ones too. But in any case, I always feel guilty after eating at a buffet!

Kalyn Denny said...

This food looks just wonderful. Very dangerous if you're on a diet, but I would join you for the sashimi!

superfinefeline said...

I love your pics! they make me hungry!!!

I used to love buffets but now that I'm getting older, my appetite is nowhere close to where it was. I'm happier ordering a la carte these days.

Anonymous said...

creativity my ass. your paper bowl thing is a paper hotpot called kaminabe.

and kuishin bo is the down there with sakae as places serving pseudo japanese shit.

tigerfish said...

Kuishinbo has improved since the last time I visited.

Oscars Int' Buffet@Conrad used to have buffet (hot and cold appetizers, dessert) and entree is ordered from the menu ala-carte, but as many times as you like it!

:: Pastry Girl :: said...

You managed to get the lobsters! Great for ya..haha. The other time when I went there with my cousins, they were pretty swift and we got 2-3 at a go. Haha. And the 6 of us finished them.

Their desserts and esp the green tea ice cream is iresistible ar. Must try! Perhaps becos i am a tea lover, u are too right?

Been there twice and both experiences are entirely different and the food just can't get the enough of u. But its certainly feast ppl! Definitely not for dieters.

the baker said...

thanks all for your suggestions! Yes, I totally agree that dieters should steer away from buffets lest they be tempted by the goodies :p

anyway to kage, i would like to say that i'm perfectly satisfied with what you term as "pseudo Japanese shit". Just too bad that I don't have that much cash to splurge on expensive Japanese places that would serve superb Japanese cuisine. This buffet was a treat from my aunt. Yes, I still think it's creative because I've only seen people eating soup this way but have never tried it for myself. But thanks for telling me its proper name. Am well aware that it's nothing new. Just like how molten chocolate cake is not new but I did gush about it when I tried it at Bakerzin for the first time.

Anonymous said...

Actually, Kage is wrong. Kuishinbo, unlike other "Japanese" restaurants, is owned and managed by a group of Japanese, which includes Kuriya and Fiesta.

While you should not expect Inagiku, it's pretty authentic and good for the price you pay.

Kage, in his comments, did not justify why he thinks it's "pseudo japanese" as for the excremental comment, I can only say that you are what you eat.

Also, the paper bowl soup is not "Kani Nabe". "Kani" means "Crab" and "Nabe", short for "Nabemono" is "Hotpot" or "All in one pot".

So you can see that Kage has a very superficial inkling of what consists of Japanese cuisine and hence should not be taken seriously at all.

A mere attention-seeking poseur.

Phoebe said...

How much did you pay for that buffet? Looks like a good spread :)

Anonymous said...

Isn't Oscar's buffet still there? I went there two months ago for the dinner and I must say, the desserts and appetizers are fantastic.

Been to Meritus Negara's Vibe restaurant recently, it's touted for it's grill, but I say don't even consider it, just focus on the salads, all 8 selections of them! And if you love potatoes, the baked potatoes with cheese is excellent.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Merry Christmas!

Unknown said...

Hanabi Restaurant's not bad for a Jap buffet. Not that expensive as well.

Most of us find it quite good for the price we pay. For pictures of food, it's archived in the October blogs ;-) http://singapuradailyphoto.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html

But my sis who visited from UK said err, they get better ones in UK. sigh.. haha...

Lianne! said...

cheryl friend, Lianne here! anyway i went to goodwood park's min jiang for the dim sum buffet today, thought you might like to have a look haha. its 21.80++, or bout 26 nett. here it is: http://greenapplenorange.blogspot.com/search?q=Dim+sum+high+tea+buffet+at+Goodwood+Park

i take very very very bad pictures of food though! (as you will probably find out when u read my blog. haha.)

also went to shangri-la's rose veranda here: http://greenapplenorange.blogspot.com/search?q=rose+veranda+shangri+la

have fun at retreat! ah too bad i cant go :p

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