Tag: Hidden Gems

Southeast Asian Cuisines You Haven’t Tried Yet

Post author By Rachel Ho
Post date July 20, 2018
No Comments on Southeast Asian Cuisines You Haven’t Tried Yet

We’re too busy fighting over whether Singapore or Malaysia has the best nasi lemak or checking out the latest pho offerings to see what other yummy dishes our neighbours boast. Ready to expand your geopolitical consciousness a little bit? Here are some of the best spots for where you can get lesser known Southeast Asian delicacies.

1. Filipino: Iskina Cebu

Cr: eatbook.sg

Sink your teeth into the crispiest and juiciest national dish at Iskina Cebu. Here the lechon is spit-roasted for five hours over a charcoal fire — as close as you can get to authentic without flying over. The marinade packs a punch and makes the wait worthwhile. If pork’s not your thing, then check out the inasal na manok, or roasted chicken. Iskina Cebu does not offer a huge menu, but what they do, they do well.

Find it at 73 Ayer Rajah Crescent, #01-27, Singapore 139957.
Click here for more information on Iskinda Cebu.

2. Burmese: Inle Myanmar

Cr: misstamchiak.com

Make sure you go with friends to this basement joint, because you’ll want to try everything. We love the flavourful Mohinga, a fish-based noodle soup filled with what seems like a thousand other flavours — assam, onion, banana blossom, ginger — that come together to do one thing: get you hooked. Then there’s the Pickled Tea Leaf Salad, which gives you that added punch you need for the day with its crisp peanuts, toasted sesame seeds and fried garlic. Check out the rest of the chef’s recommendations, and don’t forget to leave room for dessert.

Find it at 111 North Bridge Road, #B1-07, Peninsula Plaza, Singapore 179098.
Click here for more information on Inle Myanmar.

3. Cambodian: 51 F&B Cambodia Steamboat & Mookata

Cr: facebook.com

We still haven’t found a place that serves our favourite Cambodian dish, fish amok, just yet, but if you don’t have the time for a weekend trip, why not try this standalone stall in the east? Run by a Cambodian lady, 51 serves up Khmer food with a Singaporean spin. Try their Loc Lak Khmer — wok-fried beef paired with a zesty, cilantro dipping sauce — or their fried white-spotted rabbitfish for a healthy(ish) but hearty family meal.

Find it at 51 Guillemard Road, Singapore 399705.
Click here for more information on 51 F&B Cambodia Steamboat & Mookata.

4. Laotian: IndoChine Chijmes

Cr: indochine-group.com

While Singapore does not have many Laotian restaurants just yet, IndoChine can be counted on to bring some of the best dishes to our shores. Its founder, Michael Ma, does hail from the “Land of a Million Elephants” after all. At this gorgeous outlet in Chijmes, order the Ping Xinh Nam Tok, or marinated beef rump, which also comes with a wagyu option. And while this landlocked country may not have much seafood naturally, you can still savour the Beer Battered Sea Bass Fillet with a Laotian-inspired tomato salsa. Delish.

Find it at 30 Victoria Street, #01-21/22, Singapore 187996.
Click here for more information on IndoChine Chijmes.

5. All in one stop: Colony

Why do you have to choose which Southeast Asian dish you want to explore? Pick a top-notch buffet like the Ritz’ Colony, and you can go around Southeast Asia, and the rest of the world — if your stomach allows. With its seven kitchens and live cooking stations, you’ll indulge in Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Malaysian and Western dishes — and other cuisines during special occasions.

Find it at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia, Level 3, 7 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039799.
Earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG.

Tags Buffet, Hidden Gems, mookata, Singapore, Southeast Asian

Lifestyle Singapore Singapore

Need a Go-To Date Night Spot? Say Hello to The Palmary.

Post author By Michelle Tan
Post date June 15, 2018
No Comments on Need a Go-To Date Night Spot? Say Hello to The Palmary.

So, #bae has been hinting for another date night. Instead of going to another popular restaurant that’s likely to be crowded, you’re looking to impress. You want a discreet venue that sets the mood and dishes out amazing cuisine.

We’ll let you in on a little secret: suss out The Palmary, a quaint little eatery situated along Owen Road, for a tranquil getaway that you and your partner deserve. Choose from the selection of course-meals available and prepare yourselves for a night to remember!

The Palmary’s known for Head Bartender Moses’ inventive tipples but if there’s one drink that they’re known for, it’s their Matcha Sour. For those who don’t like alcohol, this may just be the drink to start you off proper.

It’s an extremely smooth cocktail, despite containing matcha which is known to be extremely earthy. The description beneath the drink on the menu aptly says: “We got creative one drunken night and created this smooth and tangy baby”. And what a creation they have made! It’s light, it’s easy, it’s everything you never thought you needed – until you take your first sip, that is.

Searching for something a little stronger before your meal? Enter the Lavender Negroni. This is probably what we’d imagine a femme fatale would be sipping on at the bar after hours. A Gin, Aperol, and Rosso concoction that’s laced with lavender bitters, this floral tipple packs quite an alcoholic punch. If you love your drinks with a little kick, you can’t go wrong with this one.

Ease yourself into the courses with a Soup of the Day, in which case we had the privilege to sample the luxurious Lobster Bisque. And trust us, The Palmary doesn’t just do an average lobster soup – it’s all about flavour, flavour, flavour.

Chef Timothy transforms good lobster into a creamy bowl of comfort. Your first mouthful (and all others that follow) conjures up the essence of the sea. Meanwhile, flavours from the garden – onions, celery, and carrots – help to round off the palate. Creamy and pleasant, it’s a great way to start the meal.

Forget about everything you know about laksa because The Palmary will have you rethink your allegiance for the local favourite. Again, Chef Timothy does justice to the fresh Boston Lobster, cooking it to perfection and plated with a creamy laksa sauce, topped with crisp laksa leaves. The Palmary’s Boston Lobster Tail Laksa has all the flavours that it’s meant to have, but the fresh sweetness of the lobster still shines through.

Once you’re done with the lobster, return to land and tuck into the Westholme Wagyu Beef Rump Cap. With a marbling score between 6 and 7+, you know you’re getting the good stuff without breaking the bank.

Utmost care has gone into the grilling that ensures a beautiful charring on the beef, lending a deeper flavour to the meat. A dashi reduction is cooked with burnt shallots and a medley of mushrooms, amping up the earthiness.

Everyone knows that after the mains, it’s on to sweeter indulgences – and might we interest you in the Grapefruit Crémeux, Lavender Jelly, Berry Granita? Cleanse your palate with a refreshing berry granita nestled in a light grapefruit pudding, finished with berries and lavender jelly. Inviting, soothing, and overall revitalising, this little treat will brighten up your taste buds. Essentially, it’s the ultimate balance of goodness in a dessert.

If you’d rather have something warm, look no further than the Black & Red Jujube Pudding Gelato. Give your heart a little hug with a pudding consisting of the perfect blend of smokey black and sweet red dates, accompanied with a light salted wolfberry toffee. That’s how you end a smokey hot date on a sweet note.

Here’s a pro tip to give your plus one a meal they deserve without burning a hole in your wallet: plan your date night between Tuesdays and Thursdays and purchase a time-based discounted voucher to score 30% off your bill!

Find it at 142 Owen Road, Singapore 218941.
Earn 2X Chope-Dollars with the code TASTYBLOG.

Tags Cocktails, Dates, Hidden Gems, Romantic, Singapore, The Palmary

Destination Others Singapore

Scrumptious Hidden Gems in Singapore

Post author By Cheryl Koo
Post date November 8, 2017
No Comments on Scrumptious Hidden Gems in Singapore

With Singapore’s diverse variety of cuisines, classic or fusion, we’re a must-stop for culinary connoisseurs. As many famous restaurants as there are in Singapore, there will often be hidden gems. Some are simply local secrets, while others have taken a step beyond to actively hide with innocuous storefronts and clever camouflaging. Here are some of the more secluded spots that your even your Singaporean friend may not know of!

Source

Chin Lee Restaurant

Founded in 1973, this family-run restaurant for families is located in the heartland of Singapore, Bedok. A considerably “ulu” (rural) area, the restaurant is mostly known to only locals living nearby. Chin Lee has been serving humble Teochew fare to Singaporeans for years, adhering to their promise of comfort, scrumptious food, and excellent service. Visitors and fellow Singaporeans alike, don’t miss out!

Find it at Blk 115 Bedok North Road #01-285, Singapore (460115)
Click here for more information on Chin Lee.

Source

Cafe Colbar

Trek through the bushes for a taste of Colonial Singapore. Cafe Colbar was established by a Mr and Mrs Lim in 1953, making it 64 years old this year. A former military canteen, this colonial bar was originally located on Jalan Hang Jebat. It was, however, moved to its current location due to the construction of a flyover, and hence is no longer the original bar but a recreation by both owners and fans. The rustic eatery hasn’t changed its menu much since establishment, with local eats and Hainanese-styled British food. So take a walk down Singapore’s heritage lane and check them out!

Find it at 9A Whitchurch Rd, Singapore (138839)
Click here for more information on Cafe Colbar.

Source

ENAQ Restaurant

What’s that? You have a craving for ab-so-lute-ly awesome Prata? Well, hold onto that hunger just a little longer to make the drive all the way to Jurong West for some Enaq Prata! As a self-proclaimed Prata Connoisseur, I profess to favour crispy prata over the softer prata. There’s just no comparison between the two. Between the regular chewy version and the crunchy one, crispy prata wins hands down. And this is one of the rare places to get said crispy prata! There’s another outlet in Ghim Moh now, which caters to the hipster crowd unlike the original mamak stall style, so if you want to get your #Instastories, hop on over there instead.

Find it at 303 Jurong East Street 32, Singapore (600303) or 21 Ghim Moh Rd, Singapore (270021)
Click here for more information on ENAQ.

Source

Chong Wen Ge Cafe

Have I come to the wrong place? This is a temple…or is it? Chong Wen Ge is a Peranakan cafe hidden in plain sight! Sharing the same tiling as Thian Hock Keng Temple (just next door), it definitely blends in well with the traditional look. Blink, and you’ll miss it. Serving up piping hot local favourites like Nyonya laksa and Nyonya Mee Siam (Nyonya also referring to Peranakan), this camouflaged spot is certainly worth squinting for!

Find it at 168 Telok Ayer St, Singapore (068619)
Click here for more information on Chong Wen Ge.

Bincho

Despite its disguise as a heritage shop in Tiong Bahru, this classy gastrobar is no kopitiam stall. You’ll have to creep through the back lanes of Moh Guan Terrace alley, spot the entirely metallic door with the tiny Bincho lettering, and then watch as the world transforms around you as you walk through. Do try the custom cocktails and specialty yakitori, for they are sure to blow your mind.

Find it at 78 Moh Guan Terrace #01-19, Singapore (162078)
Book a table at Bincho and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with code TASTYBLOG.

The Dragon Chamber

While speakeasies are not uncommon in Singapore, they’re not usually Chinese. A large group of them are admittedly Japanese or Western concoctions, so I have to say that there was a little me squealing in excitement when I learned of this secret “speakeasy dining experience” by Tunglok. Head to Lokkee, a restaurant also under the Tunglok group, and ask to enter the Dragon Chamber. You’ll be lead to a red door through which you’ll enter this secret bar. There’s a secret menu that boasts exotic dishes. I won’t ruin the surprise, but do check out the Dragon Claw dish there—it’s proof that Chinese do eat everything!

In keeping with the speakeasy style, The Dragon Chamber does not have an official page, so you’ll only be able to access its front restaurant, Lokkee’s, website.

Find it at #03-02, 68 Orchard Road, Plaza Singapura, Singapore (238839)
Book a table at Lokkee and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with code TASTYBLOG.

Source

Guac & Go

This trendily named restaurant doles out healthy and yummy salad/grain bowls in generous helpings. Started by two avocado lovers, it claims to serve the “best guacamole bowls in the CBD” and seems to be living up to this promise. Be sure to look hard for them, as they’re hidden behind Maxwell Chambers. This hipsterific place has seasonal menus that keep customers on their toes and absolutely instagrammable desserts. Check out their Supergreens Chai Parfaits!

Find it at 32 Maxwell Road #01-08, Singapore (069115)
Click here for more information on Guac & Go.

Source

Lau Wang Claypot Delights

I navigated the narrow streets of Serangoon to this back-end alley corner coffee shop just to satiate my desire for clay pot. Perhaps we should remove “just”, for a craving is certainly no small deal! And I definitely got my wish at Lau Wang Claypot Delights, for a very reasonable price. This humble family-style kopitiam has been around since 1985, which only goes to show that they’ve been doing things right. So if you ever crave clay pot dishes, do take a short trip to Serangoon!

Find it at 263 Serangoon Central Drive, #01-43, Singapore (550263)
Click here for more information on Lau Wang Claypot.

Maggie Joan’s

As a popular spot for irresistible Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, this hidden gem isn’t exactly ‘hidden’ for those in the know. Go through the unassuming metal door entrance and you’ll find yourself emerging into the underground edgy atmosphere; thereafter, your taste buds are in for a treat! From the juicy, perfectly marinated Braised Beef Cheeks, Bacon & Cabbage to the irresistible Egg fried in Dukkha with Saffron Mayo, you simply cannot fault any of the dishes that fly out of the kitchens here.

Find it at 110 Amoy Street, #01-01, Singapore 069930
Book a table at Maggie Joan’s and earn 2X Chope-Dollars with code TASTYBLOG.

Tags Bars, Chinese, Cocktails, Drinks, Healthy, Hidden Gems, Japanese