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2016-09-07
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Relatives were in town, so we had a family dinner with them and for some reason or other, my cousins always eat here for dinner. I was bored senseless with the chatter (as family get togethers usually are) so I decided to take some photos and write about the food.Sportful Garden Restaurant is a fairly popular chain of Chinese restaurants where the focus is the almighty abalone. There are several locations but we always eat at the iSquare location as it's easier for my aunt to go to. Honestly, t
Sportful Garden Restaurant is a fairly popular chain of Chinese restaurants where the focus is the almighty abalone. There are several locations but we always eat at the iSquare location as it's easier for my aunt to go to. Honestly, the first time I ever saw a live abalone was at this place a few years ago during dim sum. I'm from Canada. I don't live near an ocean so seeing this live suction cup looking thing in a tank, I asked my father what it was and he said "it's an abalone." WOW!
As my aunt was paying, I just went with whatever they ordered. They had a menu that was in both English and Chinese. They also had a few promotional items on the table in a the form of a place card. This was in English only.
The first was something called a black gold abalone. It cost $688 for one abalone, you have the choice of how you want to have it prepared as it was fresh. Personally, I don't understand the allure of abalone and why it's so expensive. So, when they offered a black version, I was even more confused as why this was even more treasured. I wiki'd this later and apparently, it gets its black color from absorbing volcanic ashes. Hmm...ok. Nothing like eating a little charcoal, huh?
Black Gold Abalone ($688). My cousin ordered the black abalone and the staff brought it out for us to see that yes ... it's alive! They won't be giving us a dead shellfish.
It was decided that the abalone should be sliced and stir fried with vegetables. The vegetables were fantastic. Well done and not oily at all. The abalone? Well ... I honestly couldn't tell the difference between a regular abalone and the black version. As it was fresh, it had a much more smoother texture than a dried version. But tastewise, I think dried version was a lot more intense in flavor.
Double Boiled Soup ($388). The soup was served in the containers it was cooked in. We ordered three so we could share among each other as some didn't want it and I couldn't finish one on my own. The soup contained Chinese mushroom, quail egg, abalone, sea cucumber and shark fin. Yes ... sorry about eating shark fin but dinner with elderly relatives must include this. The soup was incredible. It was so sweet from all the ingredients used. The broth was clear and not one drop of oil was found.
Roast Pork Belly ($128). A favorite item of my relatives at this place. No matter if it's dim sum or dinner, this is always on the table. Served in small little cubed bites, the skin was crispy. The meat was moist and tender. Literally melt in your mouth.
Chilled Okra ($38). I couldn't get enough of this. I love okra so this served cold was really good. It was topped with a savory minced garlic sauce that was a touch spicy but not too much. The okra was crisp and refreshing.
Baked Abalone and Chicken with Ginger in Casserole ($268). Possibly the most fragrant dish of the night. The chicken was moist and tender. The sauce was layered in flavors of salty and sweet. There were also slices of abalone in it that was tender and soaked up all the flavors of the sauce. Definitely eat the onions, Those were incredible.
abalone with chicken casserole
$268
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Chef Special Fried Rice ($128). The fried rice was light and fluffy. Not oily at all. It wasn't too salty but still flavorful from all the bits of nori, egg and cucumber slices found in it. A decent end to the dinner.
Always solid food from this restaurant. I have yet to be disappointed. One should really come here for dim sum. I think they serve one of the best dim sum in town.
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