California Dining - TW, 2008

California Dining - TW

文章日期：02/26/2008 09:32 am

This is another restuarant that we have visited when we were in TW during our Chinese New Year Holiday.. I really cant remember its name, but we only knew it is a California dining place (as the sign board is big), and it located in a Sincere Dept Store next to Nanjing East MRT station.
We spotted this place when we are shopping in the dept store, and out of a sudden our stomach start to growl for food.. so we approach the menu stand to see what they have, price are reasonable, selection is of wide range.. and guess what... we move in..
It has a "tunnel" that brings you into other restaurant as though you are on your way to a portal.. I think it is.. remember what I have mentioned, it is a deparmental store.. so this tunnel is bringing you into a restaurant.. nice setting.. the decor is kind of a European setting rather than California

The menu is colourful, and whatever you see on it, you can actuall upsize to any set you..
you can choose your own soup, your own salad, and your own drink... and no fix set meal.. cool!

nice table setting.. but the only setback is that it is not as cosy as you look at it..
but it is quite ok though...

Tea serving..

And this sunshine plate is sitting there on the table waiting for you to eat with them

ahhh.. forget to mention.. they serve different bread to you too...:P

my wife choose the mushroom chowder soup and as for me, tomato cream soup as below

To tell you the truth, I cant remember the name on every dish for this one...
but all I can tell you.. they are not too bad after all.. value for money, nice presentation.
a few set back is that they are under manpower, dim light and noisy..:(

Japanese Dining - Shintori TW, 2008

Japanese Dining - Shintori TW

文章日期：02/21/2008 03:30 pm

I am really impressed by the presentation when you walk into the restaurant.. The surrounding is huge and with the Zen design decoration, it really makes you feel really peaceful and you can eat their dishes with calm... The only thing that they need to improve is the lighting.. and of course with too much light it will spoiled the Zen feel setting...:)
and if you would like to know more abt how Shintori comes abt.. this link is great http://www.shintori.com.tw/flash/index.htm

huge space... and this angle was taken in one of the room.. an you can imagine how big the premises is

Nice table presentation, very neatly arrange, and look at how they arrange the board, chop stick, hand towel, tea cup

first dish appetiser... well.. not really appetising though... but the presentation really makes it worth alot..

steam egg white on sea bass... this very unique.. tasty and the fish doesnt have a fishy smell... good!

ahhhh.. the beef on hot plate... it still has that hot gushing sound when it arrives.. it is really tender and juicy...

Tempura... well nothing fantastic...

here is my favourite sushi.. you know something.. 70% of it was consumed by me :P hahaha

Fried rice with salmon roe on top.. I hope they can give me more in the future

Melon are sweet and juicy , so is the jumbu...

Red bean soup for dessert,, it is a little starchy.. one bowl is enough for me
If you are asking me to rank this.. it is still worth going there to try it.. and for those who like frilling.. Shintori has many selection on it... go for it and let me know how good it is !
here is the detail
新都里(瀧四店)

02-25017000

104台北市中山區建國北路1段80號B1樓

Italian Dining - Taipei 101, 2008

Italian Dining - Taipei 101

文章日期：02/21/2008 08:03 am

While touring the talk of the town building 101.. I find nothing great to talk about as most of the shops carries branded goods.. but nonetheless there is this one level that are mainly meant for diners to dine in or lunch in too..
They have shanghai restaurant, Jap restaurant, Italian restaurant. I tot I saw a Viet if not a Thai restaurant...
Any way, we spotted this Italian Restaurant - Diamond Tony's.. I think I have been to this restaurant before but not in 101.. so we decided to walk in...
Found ourself in a nice corner.. great ambience, and waiter and waiteress are very attentive and polite.. there is this one thing that I dont really quite like, which is the people are very noisy..well.. maybe it is the festive season that get them into happy mood and make them talk talk talk,, hahaha
There are a few shots that I did not use the flash light... so that you can tell how "dark" it is in there. :P

The ambience is quite cosy,, if the crowd is quieter, this is actually a good place for couple and maybe for guys to propose to their future wife...

The Menu... it will be great to have some pictures in it...

Great table setting ..

garlic pancake bread

Minestrone soup..very light, with slight tomato flavour.. and tasty

Clam chowder soup.. not creamy, and not rich.. very nice...

Ceasar salad,, I think different italian restaurant has different way of presenting this salad..as for Diamond Tony's,  they have use a very big piece of lettuce which is quite unique.. and have a great taste.. I dont mind to have a second serving of it.

This is a vegetarian salad, what u see on the plates are fruits and vege.. you can see cut grape fruit, dried dates, shredded cabbage, green and red pepper, olive, kiwi, and for the sauce.. it has a strong lemon and grapefruit juice.. very refreshing.

here comes the main course, my wife has ordered a squid ink fettucine, with salmon slice... sauce is not creamy, very smooth .. and it is GOOD!

As for me, I always like anything with tomatoe paste or sauce.. (that is why my wife has given me a nice Tomato Devil (番茄怪魔).. I am having a Seafood spaghetti with rich spicy tomato "sauce".. portion is quite huge, and I manage to finish half of it... anyone who likes spicy stuff... Maybe you can try this...

here comes the finale .. the desert.. cheesecake.. I can only manage 1/4 of it, as the cheese flavour is too rich .. but nonetheless, I have devour that huge chocolate decor and hmmm yummy yummy
well.. here is the address,, please take note.. worth it!

Diamond Tony's
4F, No 45, Shihfu Road, Sinyi District, Taipei City 110, Taipei 101 building
tel: (02)8101-8268