Categories
Asian Chinese

Tan Yu Grilled Fish (探鱼)

Tan Yu specialises in grilled fish and can be found in over 70 major cities in China. It opened its first overseas flagship store in Singapore on 8 Dec 2017. In order to cater to the diverse tastes of local Singaporeans, Tan Yu makes use of a variety of cooking methods and offers 8 kinds of flavours for its grilled fish, such as mixed chilies, garlic, cumin, Thai style, spicy and pumpkin soup.

We have tried the restaurants at 313 Somerset (Basement 3) and at Bugis Junction (02-45). The décor is completely different in the two restaurants. The 313 Somerset one is dark, industrial, cute and quirky, and the Bugis Junction one is white, modern and airy.  They obviously didn’t go for a standard look!

Mala Limbo Fish Fillet ($40.90)

Grilled Fish

We ordered two grilled fish dishes: one with Green Pepper Flavour (which came with tofu), and the other with Mala flavour. We also chose the “golden combination” for one of them. For an extra $12.90, you can have golden enoki mushroom, crab stick, potato and lotus root added to the dish so it is a complete meal. 

Green Pepper Limbo Fish (with Tofu) ($45.90)

There is a choice of fish: we ordered the ‘Limbo’ fish (a Basa fish) at $45.90. You can also choose sea bass which costs slightly less ($42.90) or Qingjiang fish which costs slightly more ($48.90). We chose to have the Limbo fish filleted for one of our dishes. Limbo fish fillet is $40.90 and is well worth ordering if you don’t like fiddling around with fish bones as it is still substantial. Both dishes were really tasty, hot and spicy.  The fish was fresh and surrounded with chilis and peppers which was satisfying as we were craving hot and spicy food!  

Side dishes and Drinks

We also ordered two side dishes: the hand-made spring roll ($6.80) and the grilled double taste rice cakes ($7.80).   The spring roll is often sold out – it is long and pencil like and tasty. The rice cakes are made to look like fish skin, but are mochi-like with a crisp exterior and gooey interior. They are topped with a sweet jaggery-like sauce which makes them taste like a dessert though we were happy to have it with our meal as it took away some of the heat from the main dishes.

Hand-made Spring Roll
Grilled Double Taste Rice Cake ($7.80)

A range of beers are served (from $9.80 for a Tsingtao, Asahi or Tiger Beer). There are also some great homemade drinks.  We had the lemon and lime drink which comes in a carafe ($4.80).  You do need a lot to drink with this meal if you go for the hot and spicy options!

Overall: Very tasty fish and a great meal to share among friends. One fish is probably enough for 2-4 persons, depending on whether you have rice and side dishes.

Price: $$

Favourite dish: Mala fish!

Categories
American Burger

Eggslut – Scotts Square

Eggslut is an egg sandwich restaurant at Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, #01-12/15, Singapore 228209. It has a ground floor frontage to Scotts Road and a sleek, modern interior. Eggslut originated in Los Angeles and also has restaurants in Las Vegas, Tokyo, Seoul, Kuwait and London. 

Eggslut’s Origins

Eggslut was launched by Alvin Cailan, a Filipino-American chef, in a food truck in Los Angeles. The food truck quickly became very popular and often had long waits of up to two hours. The term “eggslut” basically means a chef who adds an egg to every dish to improve them. The signature dish in Eggslut is called “The Slut”, a poached egg on top of smooth potato puree, served in a glass jar, topped with gray salt and chives, served with slices of baguette which you dip into the egg mix.

There are usually long queues in front of the Eggslut at Scotts Square at peak hours. Umbrellas are provided in case it rains.  We chose to go in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday, when we didn’t have to queue.

Our order

We ordered the Fairfax ($12): cage-free soft scrambled eggs and chives, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and sriracha mayo in a warm brioche bun. It was delicious. The large portion of eggs were scrambled to perfection and tasted wonderful with the caramelized onions. We also ordered a Fairfax with bacon added on for $3. That, too, was delicious with good quality bacon. The brioche bun is sweetish, indulgent and tasty.

We had a side of truffle hashbrowns (S$4.50) which were crispy and tasted fantastic as they are fried in duck fat.  

The Fairfax scrambled egg burger
Truffle hashbrowns

A cheeseburger is available for meat lovers with ground angus beef, medium egg (of course), caramelized onions, bread and butter pickles, cheddar cheese, and dijonnaise in a warm brioche bun.

The total bill for two Fairfaxes (one with bacon added), one hashbrown, and 2 bottled waters (at $3.50 each) was $38.50.  The water was served in stylish containers – shame that they had to be thrown away!

Other drinks available: Orange juice, coke, coffee (but no tea!)

Overall: Delicious and a must for egg lovers

Price: $$

Favourite ‘must haves’: Fairfax and “The Slut” (+ the hashbrowns on the side!)

Categories
Indian Tapas

Fennel by Komala Vilas

Fennel by Komala Vilas, at 413 River Valley Road, is described as a modern Indian eatery offering a tantalizing twist on traditional Indian cuisine.  It is the sister restaurant of the well-known Komala Vilas of Little India. Komala Vilas is a no-frills eatery serving traditional South Indian food including excellent Dosa which we often recommend to friends who want to try very good South Indian food.

Fennel by Komala Vilas entrance

Fennel has an Indian tapas menu as well as traditional menu. It is vegetarian with some vegan and gluten free options so all the meat is plant based. It sounded promising so we decided to give it a try.

When we visited it around 2pm on a weekday, it was quiet and we were the only table of diners.

Tapas Menu at Fennel by Komala Vilas

We ordered the following dishes from the Tapas Menu:

Mini Dosa with Tangy Gravy
Tomato Rasam Pani Puri

Tapioca Rasam Pani Puri ($8). Crispy balls called puri are served with a tomato broth which you fill into the balls and pop into your mouth. These were quite tasty and a nice appetiser.

Mini Dosa Served with Tangy Gravy ($4). This is what Komala Vilas excels in. These are crispy crepes made with rice and lentil batter. There is a choice of peanut podi, coriander chutney, curry leaf, gunpowder and garlic cheese. We chose the coriander chutney dosa and this was the highlight of our meal.

Chilli Prata with Raita
Chilli Prata with Raita

Chilli Prata with Raita ($6). Flaky pratas was tossed in spiced flour, sautéed with capsicum and onions, then fried till crisp. This was quite carb heavy though tasty.

Paneer Chappathi Roll ($7).  The Chappathi was stuffed with paneer (cubed cottage cheese), onion, sautéed capsicum, freshly diced tomatoes with a dash of cumin powder. This was probably the healthiest option that we ordered.  

Vadai Curry with Coriander Beehoon
Kefir-Curry Vegetarian Chicken Satay

Vadai Curry with Coriander Beehoon ($6.50). This was Komala Vilas’ famous Vadai Curry combination served with a coriander beehoon. This was a bit on the heavy side, but the curry was good and spicy.

Kefir-Curry Vegetarian Chicken Satay ($6). This was made from plant-based Tindle Chicken with a peanut sauce.

Traditional Menu & Drinks

From the traditional menu, we ordered Uttapam ($4.40), a thick pancake. The array of sambar and chutneys served with this were all very tasty.

Uttapam
Craft beers ($11 each)

There are milkshakes, lassis, craft beers ($11 each) and tea. We ordered a masala tea ($4.40). When we noticed a small insect in it, we pointed this out to the waitress, who promptly took it to the kitchen and returned with the cup, sans insect, 10 seconds later. I think we could have fished it out ourselves.  

Overall: Not a bad attempt at presenting tapas-style dishes, though we prefer the food at the original Komala Vilas

Price: $

Favourite Dish: Mini Dosa with Tangy Gravy

@everyfiveseconds

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♬ Pitbull Terrier – Die Antwoord
Categories
Local Malaysian

Chilli Pan Mee (Batu Rd) Review

Chilli Pan Mee, which hails from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has a shop on 22 China Street, #01-01, Far East Square, Singapore 049564. The shop is old fashioned, with cute banquette seating on one side of the wall.

Aptly numbered item A1 on the menu is its signature dish – the original dry Chili Pan Mee ($7.80) and I’d give it an A1! 

Original dry Chili Pan Mee

Chili Pan Mee

The thick yellow noodles are topped with crispy fried ikan bilis, a tasty mince meat concoction, fried onion, ‘la pok’ (fried lard) and an egg with a soft yolk.  As the noodles are dry, they are served with a clear plain soup cooked with green leaves. The soup stock tastes slightly of ikan bilis.

On the side, you get a dry chili paste which you add to the noodles.  The noodles have a good ‘al dente’ texture. They are wonderful when you mix in all the toppings, plus one or two spoonfuls of the dried chili paste.

Plain soup with green leaves
Chilli Paste

For those who are unaccustomed to the dish and are confused as to what to do, there are some diagrams and instructions on the wall on how to eat Chili Pan Mee. Basically, (1) add chilli, and (2) mix together.

How to eat chilli pan mee

A word of warning: Do not attempt to emulate the colour of the Chili Pan Mee on the posters by adding too much chili paste. The chili is tasty but hot!

Other dishes

We also had Deep Fried Wantan ($4.80) and Deep Fried Fuchuk (like a bean curd skin) ($4.80) which were good accompaniments to the noodles and gave it an extra crispy dimension.

Deep-Fried Beancurd Skin
Deep-Fried Wantan

There were some really nice drinks to go with it, including ‘umbra’ ( a Malaysian drink made from the kedondong fruit and sour plum), ice lemon tea and, of course, Teh Tarik.

One bowl of noodles is really substantial – we had difficulty finishing a bowl, delicious though it was.

Overall: Superb bowl of noodles. Will definitely return for more of A1!

Price: $

There are other options (with soup, pork chop, curry, mee hoon kueh)

Categories
Japanese

Jinjo Restaurant Review

Jinjo is a modern Sumiyaki restaurant by Les Amis helmed by chef Makoto Saito. It specialises in traditional Japanese charcoal-grilled fare using prime seasonal ingredients. 

Cold Bites

The menu has a selection of hot and cold starters. From the “Hot bites” section, we chose Kotsuzui (bone marrow) ($12), Yaki Goma Tofu ($7.50), and Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard with truffle) ($12). There was a generous serving of soft, rich, creamy bone marrow which, though delicious, was slightly on the fatty side – definitely for sharing. The chawanmushi was also very tasty. Our favourite dish was the tofu, which had an interesting creamy interior under a crisp surface. It was so good, we ordered a second helping.  

Yaki Goma Tofu
Kotsuzhui Bone Marrow
Chawanmushi

We also had Sakana Harumaki (fish fritters) ($8) which was fresh and tasty, delicious Nasu (eggplant with bonito) ($12) and Umaki (Unagi omelette) ($12) – tamagoyaki with eel rolled inside ($12). This too was tasty, but eel can be a bit bony.

Sakana Harumaki
Nasu (eggplant with bonito)
Unagi Omelette

From the cold starters, we ordered the sweet and juicy momotaro tomato ($10) and Wagyu Yuba (Wagyu beef, beancurd skin) ($13).  The latter was bite sized with little pieces of wagyu in it, not a dish for sharing.

Wagyu Yuba
Momotaro Tomato

Charcoal Grill

From the charcoal grill, we ordered hotate (Hokkaido scallops) which were sweet and fresh ($14 for a plate of four scallops), chicken skin ($5), chicken wing ($6), tsukune (chicken meatballs) ($5), negima (chicken and leek) ($5), chicken heart ($5) and wagyu sirloin ($24). We also had zucchini ($5), sweet potato ($8), aomori garlic ($14), aichi onion ($7). The grilled food was simple, tasty and very satisfying.

Hokkaido Scallops
Negima
Chicken wing and Chicken Heart
Aichi onion
Wagyu Sirloin

Donabe

To end our main meal, we shared a Donabe (a Japanese rice pot) with spicy beef ($48). This takes 35 minutes to prepare.  There is also a truffle Donabe ($55) and an unagi (eel) Donabe ($35). The beef Donabe had the taste of a rich corn beef hash or stew in rice.  It was tasty but really filling and should be shared between at least two people if you’ve had a lot of starters and grilled food.

Spicy Beef Donabe

We had excellent Yuzu sorbet ($6) and black sesame ice cream ($6) for dessert.

Jinjo Ice Cream and Yuzu Sorbet
Yuzu Sorbet and Black Sesame Ice Cream

There is an extensive sake selection at Jinjo including a premium Sake flight of four sakes. 

Flight of four seasonal sakes

Jinjo also has three set lunch menus on Monday to Friday:

  • Gyu Set $42 (100grams Kagoshima yakiniku beef, onsen egg, japanese rice)
  • Tori Set $27 (Grilled chicken, chicken meatball, onsen egg, japanese rice)
  • Unagi Set $34 (Grilled unagi, japanese rice)

Each set is served with salad, pickles and soup and we will definitely be back to try it!

Overall: Simple tasting, but food is beautifully grilled and of a high quality. Would definitely return.

Favourite Dish: Donabe with Beef and the Chawanmushi!

Overall: $$$

Categories
Spanish Tapas

Binomio Spanish Tapas Restaurant Review

Binomio is one of our favourite Spanish Tapas restaurants in Singapore. There is consistent good food, friendly service and a lively, contemporary atmosphere. The tables are also nicely spaced out.

There is both a casual tapas bar area as well as a restaurant area. The menu includes popular, all-time Spanish favourites as well as more modern versions of dishes prepared by chef Gonzalo Landin.

Starters

We order Seleccion de ibericos ($39) to start. This is a cold cuts platter, featuring “lomo”, “salchichon”, “chorizo”, “jamon” and cheese, served with toasted bread and tomato puree.  We had glasses of sherry to go with this. This was a simple and delicious – a perfect start to our meal.

Binomio Jamon
Seleccion de ibericos – “a perfect start to our meal”

We then had tasty Croquetas de queso azul ($14) and Croquetas de setas ($14) – blue cheese croquettes and mushroom croquettes. Croquettes are a staple on Spanish tapas menus, and are quite difficult to prepare. There is no potato in them: a soft, creamy bechamel-like mix is coated in breadcrumbs and fried.

Croquetas – “a staple on Spanish tapas menus”

Seafood Tapas

The chef continued to wow us with the dishes from the seafood section: The first was Tallarines de sepia ($29), an unusual dish with grilled cuttlefish strips served with “sofrito” and veal vinaigrette.

Tallarines de sepia

We also had Gambas al ajillo ($27) – Tiger prawns confit in olive oil and garlic, “ajillo” style and Navajas al pil pil ($29) – Grilled fresh razor clams with “pil pil” sauce. Each dish was unique and flavourful and the seafood was really sweet and fresh.

Navajas al pil pil
Gambas al ajillo

“Earth” Dishes Tapas

From the “Earth” section, we had Terrina de queso fresco ($24), a fresh cheese terrine with black truffles, chives, honey olive oil & toasted olive bread. This was unusual, lighter than expected and really good. We were not as keen on Chuletas de cerdo iberico ($32) – grilled Iberian pork chops with cider and honey gel and roasted cabbage as the pork is served pink and we asked for it to be cooked a bit more as we are a bit squeamish about undercooked pork, but apparently that is how it is done.

Terrina de queso fresco
Chuletas de cerdo iberico

We also had Nido de huevos rotos ($28) a crispy fried potato nest, topped with soft egg, jamon & chorizo. This was well done and tasty, but very rich.

Nido de huevos rotos

Paella

A range of paellas requiring 30 minutes preparation time are also available:  

  • A classic chicken and seafood paella – Arroz mar y montaña ($69)
  • Squid ink rice with clam and calamari – Arroz negro ($70)
  • Lobster and clam paella – Arroz de Bogavante ($86)
  • Chorizo, fava beans, chick peas and pork paella – Arroz empedrado de Almeria ($70)

Dessert

To end our meal, we had a selection of mini Magnums (including prickly pear and olive oil!) on a bed of popping candy to share.

Overall: Binomio is a consistently good restaurant with a menu that changes at least four times a year depending on available seasonal ingredients, so it is somewhere you could go back to frequently to taste new inventive and delicious dishes.

Price: $$$

Favourite Dishes: Gambas al ajillo (tiger prawns) and Navajas al pil pil (razor clams)

It has an extensive wine and sherry menu which complements the dishes well.

Categories
Japanese

Kuro Maguro Restaurant Review

Kuro Maguro is at Guoco Tower, 7 Wallich Street #01-04, Singapore 078884. It was recommended to us by a Japanese friend living in Singapore who is very particular about sashimi. It claims to serve sashimi, including premium cuts of maguro, that’s fresher than that found in Tsukiji Market in Japan.  The fish is selected, prepared and then flown in 3 times a week from Miura Misaki Kou.

Kuro Maguro Lunch menu

We decided to try the lunch at Kuro Maguro. It is only a small restaurant and you will probably need to queue to get in at lunch hour, but it is well worth queueing for.  However, you have to like raw fish to eat here – the smell of it hits you as you enter! The lunch menu includes a selection of donburi (rice bowl) sets starting from about $18. The sets include miso soup, chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), hot tea and fruit. There is also a list of specials for the day. We tried that day’s special, barbequed sting ray fin, which was warm and tasty and a good appetiser accompanied by an ice cold Kirin beer.

Loads of rice bowls!

Rice bowls

Subsequently, we ordered Toro and Salmon Ikura Meshi which comprised minced maguro, premium salmon and ikura in a rice bowl. It was a perfect combination of really fresh fish on beautiful Japanese rice. You can order additional toppings of Uni (sea urchin) ($10), Ikura (Salmon roe) ($12), as well as more maguro and salmon if you don’t have enough of it. However, we felt that there was more than sufficient on each of our rice bowls and, with the chawanmushi, miso soup and fruit, we felt very full by the end of the meal. 

Toro and Salmon Ikura Meshi

Other donburi sets which caught our eye were O-toro meshi (with premium maguro) ($29.80), Barachirashi with sashimi cubes assortment ($18.80) and Maguro yukke meshi – minced tuna topped with soft boiled egg ($21.80).

Kuro Maguro Premium Seafood Don
Premium Sashimi Don
3 kinds of Maguro Don

Other recommendations

There are also sushi sets and roll sets starting from $15.80, including aburi teriyaki salmon roll – avocado wrapped with rice and seared salmon ($15.80), and Kisaragi Sushi set ($19.80) with 3 pieces of salmon, 2 pieces of aburi (torched) salmon, and 2 pieces of maguro. There is also a more extensive menu available at dinner.

Moreover, a range of alcoholic drinks are available, including Kirin beer ($7 a bottle), shochu and white and red wine (from $14 a glass).

Overall: Kuro Maguro serves very fresh fish on great rice – an affordable and high quality donburi.  Will definitely return.

Favourite dish: Any donburi with toro and ikura!

Price: $$

Categories
Japanese Ramen

Sanpoutei Ramen Tsukemen Review

The 1985 film, Tampopo, with its wonderful celebration of ramen, and a particularly memorable scene involving a raw egg (please watch it  – and watch the scene with the oyster too), brought ramen to the world’s attention. In Tampopo, ramen is regarded as a delicacy to be admired and caressed with chopsticks. Now, ramen restaurants (like Sanpoutei Ramen) are a dime a dozen in Singapore – some good and some not so good.  

Tsukemen: A History

Tsukemen is served in many ramen restaurants in Japan, but has only more recently arrived on the ramen food scene in Singapore. Our first taste of tsukemen was at Tokyo Ramen Street in Tokyo Station. 

While ramen has noodles in a hot soup, tsukemen is a dish where noodles are cooked, chilled and served separately from a rich, thick dipping broth which varies from restaurant to restaurant. The Japanese verb “tsukeru,” means “to dip,” and the Japanese noun “men” means “noodle.” Often, the broth is made with pork bones or chicken. The dish originated in ramen shops in Tokyo in the 1950s, where staff would dip leftover noodles in thickened soup stock for a quick meal.

Sanpoutei Ramen

Sanpoutei Ramen, from Niigata Japan, at #B1-04, Shaw House, Singapore 238868, is our favourite tsukemen in Singapore so far, with a rich broth made from dried sardine and bonito. The tsukemen is also served with bamboo shoot and boiled egg with soft yolk.  

Sanpoutei Ramen - Tsukemen
Sanpoutei’s dried sardine tsukemen

The noodles have a firm, chewy texture and are tasty on their own.  Each mouthful of noodles is picked up with your chopsticks, dipped into the broth and then eaten. 

After eating the noodles, you would be served with some plain hot soup (“soup wari”) which you add to the remaining broth and which makes a delicious soup. This is a highlight of our tsukemen experience. The Tokyo station restaurant even had some yuzu powder which you could add to the broth to give it a delicious tangy dimension.

Sanpoutei Ramen provides the soup wari at the end of the meal. In some restaurants, you have to ask for the soup to add to the remaining broth so we suggest you practice your “soupuu wari kudasai” in the event no soup wari appears.

The tsukemen at Sanpoutei Ramen is so outstanding, we have returned several times to eat it, and have not had a chance to try any of the ramen dishes. Note that it gets very busy, and you will have to queue at peak hours.

Overall: So far, my favourite tsukemen in Singapore! Good ambience, but may need to queue at peak times.

Price: $$ (around $16 for ramen or tsukemen)

To watch: Tampopo, 1985, by director Juzo Itami

Categories
Greek

Bakalaki Greek Taverna Review Singapore

Bakalaki is a lovely Greek restaurant and taverna (though it is more a restaurant than a taverna really) at 3 Seng Poh Road in Tiong Bahru, with a spacious room and comfortable seating.  There is a convivial, bustly, atmosphere in the restaurant and a good selection of wonderful Greek wines available by the carafe (from $38.90 for 0.5 litres).

Ambience

We have been several times and have sat inside in their lovely, brightly decorated spacious room. During the busy Christmas season, we also sat outside on the verandah, which has a more rustic, taverna-like atmosphere. There is something decidedly cheering about being at Bakalaki, probably a combination of the décor, hospitable service and Greek food and wine.  If you remove Seng Poh Road from view and imagine the blue Mediterranean sea in its place, you could quite easily transport yourself to one of the Greek islands. Picture gently lapping waves and imagine the sound of a lightly strummed bouzouki in the distant hills.

The Starters

We always have our favourite dips to start. First, Tzatziki ($14.90), a refreshing Greek yogurt mixed with cucumber, garlic and olive oil. Secondly, Melitzanos alata Agioritiki ($14.90), a smoky eggplant spread with red peppers. Lastly, my personal favourite, Taramosalata ($15.90), a typical Greek spread made with cod roe and lemon juice. These were large, tasty portions and very refreshing, served with grilled bread and pita. If you don’t want to be too full, which we often are, due to over-enthusiasm (euphemism for sheer greed), it is also possible to order a trio of dips (which come in smaller portions).

Tzatziki (L) and Taramosalata (R)
Bakalaki Pita Bread
Grilled bread and pita bread

Other starters that we would recommend include: firstly, Dolmades ($16.90) which are vine leaves stuffed with rice, dill and mint. Secondly, Kolo Kithakia Tiganita Skordalia ($15.90) –  zucchini sticks with garlic dip. Thirdly, Feta Saganaki ($16.90) – pan-fried feta cheese dressed with honey. Last but not least, Spanakopita ($15.90) –  a Greek filo pastry with spinach, feta cheese, leeks and dill. The Zucchini sticks are very well done – crispy and sweet, and very more-ish, and you don’t have to feel guilty as you are eating vegetables and not French fries. The stuffed vine leaves don’t, however, appeal to some in our party as they can be quite sour, but the rest of us love them, so we ignore the Dolmades haters, and order them nonetheless.

Zucchini Sticks

Salads

In addition, we tried and would recommend two delicious salads:  The first is Horiatiki ($20.90), a traditional Greek salad of tomato, cucumber, green pepper, onion, oregano, Kalamata olives, a large delicious block of feta cheese and olive oil. It was one of the best Greek salads we have had outside Greece.  We also tried a salad by the name of Dakos ($20.90) made with Kytherian type wheat rusks (like croutons), topped with feta cheese, tomatoes, capers, olives, oregano and olive oil.   

Dakos
Greek Salad

We had a few grilled skewers to accompany these (Chicken – $23.90 and Kebab – $25.90). The skewers were deliciously grilled and served with tomato onion, tzatziki and superb French fries (yes, we do eventually eat French fries and no, we do not regret it).   

Chicken Kebab
Lamb Kebab

Additionally, Bakalaki also does grilled seafood like sea bream, prawn and squid, which are really fresh and beautifully chargrilled and go well with the salads.

Dessert

If you still have room for dessert, which you probably don’t, we would recommend the Baklava ($14.90). This is a filo pastry stuffed with walnuts, cinnamon, cloves and Greek honey. We also recommend the Rizogalo ($11.90) – a creamy rice pudding with a sprinkling of cinnamon on top. Finally, the Giaourti ($12.90) – a Greek Yoghurt accompanied with fruit salad, honey and walnuts.

Overall: Authentic and sophisticated Greek food, in a convivial atmosphere.  Good variety of reasonably priced Greek wines.  Would return again and again….

Favourite Dish: the Dips!

Price: $$$

Categories
Indian Pan-Asian Thai

Coriander Leaf

We have been fans of Coriander Leaf since its early days at Clarke Quay. Since then, its dishes have evolved at Chijmes to include Chef Samia’s modern and innovative take on classic Asian dishes from India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam dishes.

The dishes are small sharing plates presented under five distinct flavours: fresh, spicy, familiar, umami and sweet. What distinguishes it from many other Pan-Asian restaurants, is that there is not too much compromise on original authentic flavours. There is still a piquant “kick” to many of the dishes.

Ambience

The restaurant, on the second floor of Chijmes, has several dining areas. Sadly, we walked through the attractive main dining room which has an open kitchen concept and an attractive bar area and counter dining, to our table in the cooking studios at the back. The latter was a bit lacking in atmosphere. It was reminiscent of an airport business class lounge complete with TV screen showing our departure timings (if only!).

The Food

We were provided with a complimentary starter of the ultimate Thai finger food: Miang Kham. A traditional snack from Thailand, introduced to the Siamese court of King Rama V by Princess Dara Rasmi of Chiang Mai (thank you Princess Dara Rasmi of Chiangmai!).

“Miang Kham” translates into a “one bite wrap” where a wild betel leaf is filled with an array of hot, sour, salty and sweet ingredients. This includes shallots, hot bird’s eye chilli, ginger, lime, roasted coconut, peanuts, dried shrimp and tamarind. These are then wrapped in a little parcel and popped into your mouth in a refreshing, hot, piquant bite. Historically, Miang Kham was part of a Thai welcome ritual, offered as a gesture of hospitality to visitors. Coriander Leaf’s Miang Kham was delicious and we were delighted to receive such an exotic starter.

Miang Kham - Coriander Leaf
Miang Kham

From the ‘Fresh’ menu we ordered three vegetarian dishes: Muhamarra, labne and pita chips ($16), Watermelon, mint, pomegranate and Turkish white cheese ($14) and Pomelo, watercress, roasted shallot chilli dressing, fresh herbs, peanuts ($15). The Labne (a thick and creamy yogurt dip), and the Muhamarra (a walnut and roasted red pepper dip) went very well with the crispy pita chips. The watermelon dish was tasty and extremely refreshing and the pomelo dish had good strong, appetising, Thai flavours.

Watermelon Feta Salad
Muhamarra, Labne and Pita Chips
Pomelo Salad

From the ‘Familiar’ menu we ordered an old familiar favourite of ours, Samia’s “signature frontier chicken” cooked with coriander seeds, chilli, yoghurt cream, arugula and lemon ($22). Alas, it appeared to have been cooked differently to a new, non-familiar, recipe. Not sure what happened there but we definitely preferred the previous version. It was accompanied by delicious garlic naan ($6 each).

Signature frontier chicken

From the Umami menu, we ordered crispy duck mandarin pancake with hoisin sauce ($18) and roast duck red curry with lychee, tamarind, fresh green peppercorn and coconut milk ($26). Both duck dishes were very well cooked and the duck was tasty and of good quality. The Thai curry was a bit on the sweet side for our taste, often the case even in Thailand, but was delicious nonetheless. We also ordered crispy whitebait which was very well cooked in a light salt and pepper batter.

Crispy duck mandarin pancake with hoisin sauce
Crispy whitebait
Roast duck red curry

There were many other dishes we would have loved to try but we were getting full at this point and decided instead to order a dessert sampler platter of three desserts:

Ice cream sandwiches, rose pavlova with alphonso mango sorbet and avocado ice cream with fried banana fritters. All were amazing and disappeared within seconds (though we were complaining of being too full minutes earlier).

Ice cream sandwiches, rose pavlova with alphonso mango sorbet and avocado ice cream with fried banana fritters

Drinks: The restaurant also has a good bar with an extensive range of wines and interesting Asian cocktails to complement the food.

Wine by the glass from $15; bottles from $78 and Cocktails from $18

Overall: The best thing about Coriander Leaf is the variety of dishes and its strong, non-compromising interpretation of ingredients and flavours. There are also lots of vegetarian options available. Would recommend sitting in the main dining room for the best ambience

Favourite Dish: I loved the watermelon feta salad!

Price: $$$