Oscar's Restaurant at Conrad Hotel, Singapore

This is a pretty typical hotel buffet, it does not offer a huge spread but what it lacks in quantity it makes up in quality.

Oysters were freshly shucked and was oh so fresh and sweet. Initially you would have to stand there and wait while the person is shucking the number of oysters you've asked for. It could take a while if you ask for 6. I'm no oyster expert but I thought that the oyster shucker is supposed to detach the oyster from the muscle so that the diner just needs to tip the shell into their mouth and the oyster is supposed to glide down smoothly from the shell into your mouth? I did hear an elderly diner saying to the shucker that he wasn't doing it right so maybe I wasn't alone. Because the oysters were shucked on order it created a slight bottle neck. Eventually they had some ready opened ones on the bed of ice.

Aside from the oysters there were other seafood on ice. The lobster halves were pretty good,  not rubbery at all. Same for the prawns and the flower crab had a nice meaty texture.

There were other cooked foods which were a hit and miss. A whole section dedicated to fried prawn crackers, poppadoms, etc and cheese (my favourite). Dessert quality was excellent and will be a big hit for chocolate lovers. 

At the end of dinner we discovered there was a noodle station outside the restaurant at the Al fresco side. Odd location. The wanton noodle was given a two thumbs up by my 7yo, noodles were springy and soup was light.

Plates were cleared promptly and drinks were refilled without asking. It's not the best buffet in town but good to try for the first time.   

The food is not really spread out over a big space.

This was very impressive, the Caesar Salad is mixed in a big Parmesan Cheese wheel. 

Prawn Crackers and more!

Cheese, cheese and more cheese

Seafood on ice

Sushi and Sashimi

Smoked Salmon

Oyster Bar only had lemon wedges and tobasco, no other sauces or dressings.

Lamb

various chocolate biscuits

artisan chocolates

waffles and a warm fudge pudding

Candy with ice cream!

Creme brulee, chocolate tart, etc....

chocolate tart and creme brulee

Kiseki Japanese Restaurant at Orchard Central

"Kiseki, the MEGA Japanese Buffet at Mini Prices".

So some parts of this statement is true, the price is kinda 'mini' for a buffet, but not sure if the MEGA part stands up to itself. We went with friends on a weekday lunch and the price is quite reasonable, Adults at $19.80++ and Kids at $12.80++, so if you're bringing kids along this place doesn't burn a big hole in your pocket considering if you're going to a Japanese restaurant say Sakae Sushi or Sushi Tei, it would cost you about the same. 

Variety wise, there was enough to justify the price. Just don't expect it to be super great or have the best quality food. If I had to rate it, I would put this one above Sakura buffet and below Kuishinbo. 

It's a very popular restaurant it seems, unless you come extra early you'll be faced with a snaking que and a wait time of maybe of over an hour. So do try to make a reservation if you can. 

I've also tried it for dinner, the range is slightly better with the addition of Alaskan Crab Legs (which were a bit tasteless). Sushi range is very disappointing considering it's a Japanese Restaurant...What I do like about these kinds of restaurants is you can have a long leisurely meal with a group of friends and not be concerned about being chased out of the restaurant by waiters who watch you like a hawk!

Since food is subjective, I'll just leave you with the pictures for you to decide yourself whether you want to try it. 

Sashimi and some marinated/pickled salmon which I thought was quite nice - Lunch

Various side dishes, like clams and jellyfish - Lunch

Salad Bar - Lunch

Soba, Prawns and Mussels - Lunch

Freeflow Drinks

Baked fish - lunch 

Fried Stuff

Mountains of Tempura, very appealing - Lunch

Kids tried the pasta salad

Prawns were alright

white one is Japanese Tofu cheesecake, which you should get in the beginning because if you wait till the end you won't get it as they don't top up. Green one is green tea cake which was plenty.

Unusual Black Curry - not too bad.

Below are pics from Dinner with their Festive Menu which went on from 20th Dec- till early January. The price is $5 more but honestly it wasn't worth paying the extra 5 bucks, the festive menu wasn't that 'festive' or special.

This was part of the Christmas dinner menu - Pork Knuckles

Part of the Dinner Christmas Menu - Beef Short Ribs

Yakitori - a bit dry

various Nabe/Hotpots

Prawns and Gong Gong (sea snails? I dunno what they're called in English), Dinner

Crab Legs at Dinner

Slipper Lobster, which after it was finished was topped up with flower crab 

Fried Stuff

More Fried Stuff at Dinner

Sushi....very sad choices

Best way to end dinner is with ice cream. 

Disney Parks Annual Christmas Day Parade 2013

I consider myself a die hard Disney parks fan, having visited most of the Disney parks scattered around the world. To me, there is something just magical about the place and there are special memories I remembered from my very first trip when I was 11 years old to the parks in Orlando. Do you know I still have the Minnie Mouse that my parents bought for me when i was 11? So it's over 20 years old....vintage no?

As I grew up and got married, I've even indoctrinated my hubby and now my little girl to the magic of Disney or is it the obsession of Disney :)

If you didn't know it before, every year Disney puts together a pretty awesome Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade televised on US tv on Christmas day. The show is put together and filmed at both Disneyland Anaheim and Disney World Orlando. Ok, so there's a lot of self promoting within the show itself, like from time to time they'll cut to scenes of someone talking about the Disney Cruise, or talking about the new Disney resort in Hawaii, and we all know it's pretty much a huge advertisement for Disney, but it is an entertaining show none the less and one that must be watched if you consider yourself a true Disney fan. And of course by the end of it you'll feel like going to their website and booking your next holiday there (subliminal messages perhaps?).

If you're not in the US, here is the youtube video of the parade.

Here's something extra if you're planning a trip to WDW Orlando in the near future.