Showing posts with label CBD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CBD. Show all posts

Knicker + Bockers: $12.90 customisable pizzas in the heart of the CBD

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CBD warriors can now rejoice in having another tasty and reasonably priced option to satisfy their hunger pangs during the workday. Located at the basement of Ocean Financial Centre. Knicker+Bockers is an New York inspired pizzeria offering handcrafted pizza with unlimited toppings. Yes, you heard that right. Unlimited toppings! At only $12.90 for a 10-inch pizza, this is a really good deal.

First off, the menu reads more like a checklist of your heart's desire - 8 kinds of cheese, check; 20 different options for healthy veggies, check; 16 varieties of gourmet meat toppings and 6 choices of seafood garnishes, check and check!

MEDZS: taking you over the rainbow this Christmas

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With Christmas sneaking up fast and furiously upon us, I find myself stumped, for the very first time, by the question "where should we have Christmas dinner this year?", seeing their our yearly affair had always been held in the comforts of my Auntie's place. Her retirement from the tireless role of Christmas dinner host has left the family pretty much stranded; and I'm left to figure out our venue options. Only with such an opportunity do I realize the vast amount of choices we have for Christmas cakes and venues. 

Take for example MEDZS Rainbow Log Cake ($46.90 for 1.2kg), a limited edition offering that takes their signature rainbow cake, puts some magic into its step and viola, a bedazzling logcake that would be the pride and joy of any dinner feast. Unlike any rainbow cakes that I've come across before, MEDZS's version shines from the extra efforts that have gone into the thought process. The cake comes with seven layers of flavoured cream sandwiched in between the light and cottony sponge cake. There's cream cheese, orange cream, caramel, blueberry, peppermint, chocolate chip and almond; a revelation in intense flavor matching that strangely works in cohesion with every forkful. 

Overeasy: What's your Burgernality?

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All hope is not lost in the world, and contrary to popular belief,  there is still such a thing as a free meal and you're looking right at it!

Complete the quiz over at this address , do a quick share on your facebook page and claim your free burger at Overeasy!

{Wordless Wednesdays} at the Royal Mail

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Hearing news of the $10 Burger and Beer promotion that ran through the month of July at the Royal Mail at the Ascott Raffles Place, we decided to make a quick trip down.

That was a mistake.

This got a freezing cold reception from both S and I (pun intended)

Everything but the patty was frigid. I kid you not.



Sometimes we all try to bite off more than we can chew. Don't do that.

Listen to your guts and stick to doing your roast prime ribs right people.

The Royal Mail Restaurant and Bar
Ascott Raffles Place
Singapore
2 Finlayson Green
Tel: 6509 3589
Website: http://www.theroyalmail.sg/

Paradise Pavillion: Dim Sum for the restless

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It's no mean feat what the folks at Paradise Group have achieved, poised as an expert in Oriental cuisine and offering it at various levels of comfort, style and price point values to it's wide spread fan base. Some of it's more exceptional outlets includes the much beloved Paradise Dynasty and Taste Paradise in ION shopping mall, both of which I have patronized back in the days. (read more about it in the links). 

Uniquely housed within the silent halls of Marina Bay Financial Center, the weekend mornings see a fluster of people streaming in through the non-ventilated lift servicing solely the restaurant with only one aim in mind. To have their way with dim sum, and to have it good.

As much as the large dining rooms may seem a little intimidating for a party of two, the resounding noise that echos from the growing crowds finds its place between the nooks and voids, reaching a crescendo as the clock strucks 12. While dinner appears to be a moneyed, haute cuisine affair dominated by top notch produce, we're happy to see a bit more flexibility at lunch time, with a reasonably priced dim sum menu that still managed to display the culinary skills of the team.


We ordered the Baked Snow Bun with BBQ Pork ($5.60), a crisp flaky dome enveloping a slightly yeasty fragrant bun encasing sweet red BBQ pork. The right amount of lard thrown in the center bringing that bit of decadence to this anaemic beauty. A tad on the sweet side but it definitely highlights the skill sets of the chefs with pastry.




Paradise Pavillion shines in this next dish, the Fried Carrot Cake in XO sauce ($8.80).  A quick stir fry in a mighty wok emblazoned by gargantuan flames gives the unanimously uniform chunks of carrot cake a bit of a crisp edge. The savoury pieces of egg helping to tie the dish together with a generous helping of chilli sauce stirred into the mix. Light-hearted without the heavy intention of lard, the result was a stunning reflection of the chef's dedication to clean and precise techniques.

Scallop and Chive dumplings ($5.00) featured delicate paper-thin skinned dumplings with a piping hot filling of rough minced scallops and finely diced chives. This didn't need the help of any dipping sauce to enliven it and I happily devoured the nifty creature, skin and all.


One of  Paradise group's pride and joy is their Crackling Pork Belly ($12.80), overall a very subtle rendition of the classic Cantonese roasts with that unctuous flavor of fats all round, capped with an intoxicating roof of crackling; this was best enjoyed with a definitive swipe of English mustard off the side of the dish. I craved for a bigger portion but winding up convincing myself that better things should be enjoyed in tidier portions. 


Another standout is the deceptively common Siew Mai Skewers ($5.80), this dish veering into mod-Chinese territory. The filling of plump prawns and juicy mince accented by a seductively smoky sweet glaze, almost like the skewers had a final bathe in a terriyaki sauce before being finished off on the grill. The admirable caramelisation that resulted on the smooth skin of the dumpling giving the pedestrian Dim Sum dish a slant.


Rounding up our meal, we departed on a sweet note with the Steamed Custard Bun ($5.50 for 3). This was definitive food porn, not to be missed. The volcano eruption of sweet salty custard taking center stage with a gentle prying of its steamed outer casing. A must order!

In terms of the ambience, Paradise Pavilion is as majestic as any Chinese restaurant can get, with the glass panels facing out to the Marina bay, blue velvet cushioned high chairs and ornate gold trimmings. Service is non-intrusive and extremely professional, sans the usual Chinese jargon that gets thrown around in a manic room that one would normally associate Cantonese fare with. Here, its a surreal and dreamy experience, and the Paradise group takes full advantage of this with fine cuisine with even higher and mightier pricing. Take heed. Dim Sum would be a better option for those who tread lightly. 


Paradise Pavillion
8A Marina Boulevard
#02-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre
(ground plaza)
Singapore 018984
Tel: 6509 9308

Buttero @ Tras Street: Once bitten, twice shy

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Tras Street, on the periphery of Spore's wheeling and dealing financial district has developed into some sort of food mecca for the office workers in need of some after work pampering. Stationed right smack in the middle of this hot mess is newly opened Buttero, rebel-child Italian bistro.

This review may reveal an overload of gastronomical porn images, but do bear with me. On hindsight, this restaurant was reviewed twice on two very different occasions to get a grasp of its consistency with regards to food and service. My first visit was a walk-in in the middle of afternoon service on a Tuesday. Despite the odd day of the week, business was brisk and the diner was filled with corporate clients in search for a quick lunch. Except that.. the food didn't arrive all too swiftly. Faults with the minuscule hole in the wall kitchen I might say, or perhaps the fresh team trying to work out some their SOPs.

We started off our lunch with the Chopped Pork and Zucchini Fritters with charred lime and ricotta cheese ($20), a stellar dish in the kitchen's repertoire. The chopped pork, a fatty and soft affair that added pops of joy to the fragrant zucchini fritters. The torn basil elevating the dish with its herbaceous characteristics.


This was followed closely with the lunch special, a Triple Cheese and Truffle Toastie ($15),  that's where things starting heading south. As much as I appreciate the efforts behind the chef sourcing the traditional jaffle irons, this UFO dish like sandwich came across a little lacklustre in flavor. The cheeses not yielding to the heat sufficiently to attain that dreamy stretchy texture and the promised aroma of truffle threatening to disappear after a single waft.

I turned to our main course for a miraculous resurrection.

The Porchetta ($32) from the rotisserie served with braised beans reminded me of a dish I had in Sydney a while back. http://snapeatlove.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/chica-linda-timely-facelift.html . The similarities are uncanny, yet the results are staggeringly different, with Buttero's version paling in comparison; it's crisp crackling brimming with refined salt that bites harshly at the tongue when savoured. A tinge more sauce could have made it to the plate to balance out the overall fattiness of the dish.


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On my second visit (invited this time), I was blown away with the Chef's credentials. Previously hailing from Lucio's in Paddington, Sydney, Executive Chef Logan Campbell not only looks suave while flailing his knife in the air, he has the work experience in this long standing Italian joint to back him up. 

Clouds began to lift.

Expectations set in.

House Special, Jesus Juice helps to set the mood. A granita of pinot noir and coke, this basically tasted like a frozen sangria slushie. Delicious, and I might say, quite potent.


For the peckish, go for the Pulled pork, Waffle fries & Mozzarella ($15),  moreish and perfect for sharing over a bottle of wine. The texture of the pulled pork was winsome, the generous slew of triple cheese sauce over the piping hot waffle fries making it an absolute delight to munch on.


One of my favourite dishes of the night was the Torn Buffalo Mozzerella & Fried Cornbread ($21) with heirloom tomato, sabu and Ligurian Olive oil. This was a fail proof, simple formulation of ingredients, but the entirety of it given a little snap, crackle and pop resulting with an end product that is more satisfying than some high end salad landscape. Chef Logan really paid homage to his Italian heritage with this offering.

Once again, the Chopped Pork and Zucchini fritters with charred lime and ricotta cheese ($20) delivered. I griped a little about the dwindling portion of ricotta cheese on the plate, but overall still an outstanding plate.


We stretched our waistbands a little bit more for the arrival of the mains. First, the Handmade Gnocchi, sauteed brussel sprouts with honey, lemon and sage ($21). A generous inclusion of cheese within the knobs of potato and flour creating soft springy pillows of goodness with a slight browned crust, a result of being sauteed in the pan at the very last minute. Flavors were delicate in this dish, highlighting the simplicity of eating clean.


Baked Barley with New Zealand Clams and Belly Bacon: a brilliant dish with a twist of old school mindsets where barley rice is used to replace the traditional arborio in this risotto dish. The barley was cooked to perfection with its turgidity resembling the hardy grains of normal arborio rice.


The two meats that followed was a repeat act of my previous experience and another much more stellar performance.

Once again, the Porchetta ($32) resulted in me drowning in an ocean of salt water. The raw grains of salt on the crackling dulling the taste buds to the robustness of the flesh.

However, the Dirty Steak ($34) was a showstopper, the Carolina dry rubbed wagyu flank steak cooked on hot coals, topped with verde, onion rings and shallots was one word, mesmerising. Put at the mercy of the grills, the meat attains a heady, smoky, a thoracic warmth and cumulates in a smack down with the spice rub so generously massaged in before hand. The verde helps to tone the spiciness down with its piquancy of flavors. The only downfall of the dish were the onion rings, the batter, a stodgy affair that denies its recent get-together with the deep-fryer. I tossed those aside in favor of the conjugal bliss of meat and spices. Definitely a MUST-ORDER in Buttero.


Following up with a rather non-conventional dessert menu, I was keen to sample the goodies. Starting off with the Cannoli filled with whipped ricotta, lemon and strawberry salad ($12), these could have been the perfect dessert to end off an Italian feast, the amalgamation of textures from crisp to dreamy cream putting a smile on my face. I just wish that cannoli was a little more fresh. The Milk Chocolate Rosemary pot with orange blossom air ($12) encountered some storage facility mishaps before arriving at our tables, the orange blossom fluff looking more like orange creme anglaise above the warmish milk chocolate cream at the bottom of the jars. Those who are impartial towards the orange chocolate combination should avoid this dessert at all cause. The best dessert of the lot has to be the Vanilla bean Panna Cotta with crushed peanut butter meringue and passionfruit ($12), a traditional dessert executed with finesse and a little magic dust thrown in with that crisp shard of peanut butter meringue.



Buttero sells itself uniquely amongst the hodgepodge of chi-chi restaurants in the vicinity by offering good food with earnest intent at reasonable prices. The packed dining rooms at both lunch and dinner times bearing testament to this mantra. Give it a couple more weeks to iron out its issues and I'm sure you'll be in for a guaranteed treat with every visit.

Buttero
54 Tras Street
Singapore 078993
Tel: 6438 7737

Black Swan: Warm Welcome

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Touching down after my flight back from Sydney, I was famished. The journey was a irritable few hours of cramped up spaces and furiously coughing neighbors; i earnestly needed to get my spirits lifted.

First on the agenda, Black Swan, to get that stomach filled.

Having been here before, I decided to explore the menu a little with the intention of uncovering some weak lines in the kitchen's repertoire. Cruel, I know.


We ordered the Half dozen escargots ($21) and it turned out to be an instance where luxury of the ingredients backfire on the simplistic charm of the original dish. Escargots with garlic butter and parsley is an old school delight that brings me back to my hay days spent feeling pish-posh over a hot plate of sizzling escargots at Jacks Place. This new rendition pushes the boundaries by incorporating not one but two more  belly busting ingredients, bone marrow and Parmesan into the mix. The result, a massive overkill of fat overload that drowned out the skimpy little morsel of earthiness. Disappointing.



Our main redeemed the establishments streamlined perfection of American cuisine with it’s Stockyard Australian Wagyu Ribeye steak for 2 ($96) well rested before being sliced, the innards were a shade of shy pink with a liberal coating of spices, salt and pepper on it’s browned sides. The creeping streaks of fats dances across the tongue with a teasing melt-in-your-mouth texture and the béarnaise sauce perfumed with tarragon and peppercorn was the perfect accompaniment to soft and subtle flavors of the wagyu. 

Service however was a bit shoddy as our side plates took more than 15 minutes to reach the table. Apart from that fiasco, dining in the Black Swan, surrounded by the grand statements of the 1930s decor and the fashionably dressed crowds certainly makes for a delicious experience.

The Black Swan
19 Cecil Street, The Quadrant
Singapore 049704
Tel: +65 81813305

The Pelican: More than just waterfront views.

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The Pelican situated along the waterfront that is One Fullerton boosts some amazing views of the harbour and the ever-changing skyline of Singapore. Step into it's cool vicinity and be greeted by inner city cool vibes enhanced by its' fire engine red upholstery and chic booth seatings.

Our choice for the hen's night dinner, we were all set for a full fledged gluttony experience.


Choosing to skip the starters, the ravenous group dove straight into the complimentary Sourdough bread which by my standards was a pretty darn good loaf, crisp crust with chewy moist innards. The unlikely  scattering of seaweed throughout the dough reinforcing the "under-the-sea" theme of the dining experience.


Our food quickly arrives at the table. The Pelican platter ($128) catching delightful stares all around, its' huge selection of raw oysters, Alaskan crab, clams, steamed whole lobster, prawns and mussels indulging most of our whims and fancies. As a main, this could feed 2, however if savoured as a starter dish, there's enough to go around for at least 5. Showcasing ingredients that don't appear to have been tampered with, the depth of flavors combined with the ethereally cold serving temperatures made for a luxurious experience; albeit the occasional flying crab and lobster head experiences.

For mains, we settled for the Skate Wing Chop ($36) and the Ribeye Cap Steak ($58). Skate, as I found out is the indigenous name for the Stingray which we locals have grown to love with it being smothered under a blanket of aromatically spiced sambal. In this case, it is served with a burnt lemon butter sauce and fresh herbs, a lighter take on the "classic", helping to accentuate the sweet flesh of the fish. I was sceptical at first, but grew to enjoy the firm, meaty texture of the stingray. Definitely a dish highly recommended. For a restaurant that explicitly focuses on seafood, I found the ribeye cap steak to be exemplary. Heavily marbled, this cut of meat had the flavor and juicy fat of a ribeye, with the tenderness of a tenderloin. The gorgeous plump slice of meat lying seductively on a bed of mashed baked potatoes that entailed another love story on its own. All in all, a fabulous meal for a tidy price and fantastic ambiance to boot. What's there not to like?

The Pelican
1 Fullerton Road, #01-01, One-Fullerton,
Singapore049213
Phone: +65 6438 0400

The Lawn: Greener Pastures

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As some of you have come to hear, The Lawn; which I have visited on many occasions and come to love has opened up a second brunch to cater to the office crowds of a different nature, other than the sciency-geeky bunch (haha). Located along Shenton Way, on the periphery of Singapore’s wheeling and dealing financial district; the Lawn has plans to take the salad diet fads to a whole new level by incorporating a selection of wholesome grilled meats into the picture.


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For starters, I stuck with my usual suspects. Grilled prawns, boiled egg, cashews (boy are they generous with these), cherry tomatoes and finally sprinkled with a healthy dose of parmesan cheese. Sitting over a bed of fresh mesclun salad in a ginormous bowl; one can be sure to execute the tossing maneuver without making a mess.

We were presented a foray of grilled meats as well to be put to the taste test. Some of my favourites include the Teriyaki Chicken, pan seared ducked breast and the chicken breast with maple infusion. Vegetarians fret now as the café offers up various options for meat adverse. Take for example the char grilled mixed mushrooms, garlic galore! I couldn’t stop grazing on this one.

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The Lawn prides itself on the variety of dressings that are available to choice. So even if you were to dine in everyday, the countless permutations and combinations on the meats, add ons and dressings alone would surely allow a tickling of the taste buds each and every time. And taking that in mind, eating salads daily combined with the visit to the gym could help immensely in working down the size charts. Personally, I take to the Red Island, Wasa-honey, Wafu and MisoSpicy; but should you be bewildered by the choices, stick to the recommended pairings done in-house.

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My friend, Li Tian from dairycream.blogspot had her customized bowl of salad; the butter-seared Pacific dory, celery, olives, Beetroot, corn and crunchy granola. Boy did she prove that you don’t have to big to have a voracious appetite. You can read more about her experience here.

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End off your meal on a sweet note with the desserts offerings put forth by the Lawn. Tiramisu Hero is available for sale here too.

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Be sure to check out the Oreo Cheesecake (Jonathan’s recommendations) from Gobi Desserts .

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But better yet. Get a stiff one from the coffee counters; the barista does a pretty mean cappuccino with the coffee blends from Smitten Coffee.

The Lawn
Shenton Outlet:
8 Shenton Way, #B1-11, AXA Tower
Mon-Fri 10.30am-9pm

Online Order available here


The Black Swan: Mary Mary quite Contrary

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The good folks at Lo & Behold (responsible for the Loof, The White Rabbit, Tanjong Beach Club) have done it again... this time, launching a 1930s-style joint in the heart of the CBD. Hardly strangers with fact that the conceptual designs to these projects would be stellar, I was blown away by the decor at The Black Swan. Cool spherical lights draped from the ceilings, frosty and muted, creating a tone of nonchalance in the room. The fabulously narrow U-shaped bar staged in the middle, with its entirely granite counter tops and high shelves of old-fashioned liquors evoke a strong representation of the period.

Barely a month old, the Black Swan has garnered a lot of media attention to itself; seemingly so since the dining room was packed with reserved tables on a normally lackadaisical Tuesday evening. That being said, service was top notch, directions were provided to a rather flustered me over the phone; and a special mention goes out to a kind lady Mary who stood by the table patiently engaging in relevant conversation as I took on the mammoth task of waiting an hour for my companion to arrive sans the 'drinking myself silly' part. "So, this is the guy who's going to pay for the entire meal?", she teases as my friend finally made his way to the table. Hilarious.

For a whole hour, I nursed this drink. The Golden Parachute ($19), a smooth 15 year old single malt whisky stirred with fragrant vanilla bean,  pure maple syrup and livened with mandarin zest. This potent potion a perfect example of the cohesiveness of the cocktails list with the style of the establishment.

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The menu features mostly American classics with a contemporary twist, a concept fortified by the consultation of Chef Sebastian Ng of Restaurant Ember. We started of with the Char-Grilled Beef Tartare ($26), perfectly comforting stack of freshly chopped USDA 365 days grain fed beef seasoned to perfection resting on a bed of sweet sauteed nashi pears. The balance in the dish impeccable. moreish.

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The Black Swan Burger ($26) features a patty made of seasoned chuck with a slender slice of melted mature cheddar plastered overhead. The sunny side up egg was a tad overcooked for my liking, my hopes for a natural yolk sauce, dashed. The buns made in-house were rather good; could have used a tad more wrist work to develop a bit more elasticity in the dough, but then again, butter works its magic. What really stupefies me on this dish are the streaky bacon slices that are served on the side. WHY? as if totally redundant. On the whole, a pretty good burger based on the doneness and juiciness of the patty alone. The fries... meh... they should consider adopting the Parmesan and rosemary haystack fries from Overeasy.

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My partner's Duck Leg Confit ($36)- 36 hour sous-vide, bacon potatoes, fresh thyme,mustard sauce

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Nothing goes better with a burger than a beer, shy away from the chi-chi cocktail and wine driven crowds with a cool Poleeko Californian Pale Ale ($14), a dry medium bodied ale with a hint of grapefruit and citrus notes.

The Black Swan is definitely pulling out all the stops with its recent launch of its set lunch menu ($28++ for 2 courses and $34++ for 3 courses). I reckon with the sensibilities of the company at helm, the new chapter for the Black Swan is looking to be a very long and exciting one.

The Black Swan
19 Cecil Street, The Quadrant
Singapore 049704
Reservations: (SMS) +65 8181 3305

A declaration of hazy love: Two Blur Guys

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Yes, it's apparent that the the Two Blur Guys will appear a little 'blurer' in light of the recent haze problem which has seen my Facebook feed come to life with up-to-date reports of the current PSI Index. With record high levels that spiked high above the hazardous level 300, it's a cause for major resentment among many disgruntled workers, who on the hindsight get the enjoy the comforts of air-conditioning most of the time. So if you aren't a blue collared worker or a construction worker of sorts, please keep your complaints to yourself. Let's deal with this in a more matured way.

So back to the story of the Two Blur Guys, basically it is what it is. A collaborative act between Anthony, blur guy #1 and Chef Jimmy Chok (from Bistro Soori), blur guy #2. Within the cosy innards of their well packed New York concept cafe comes the likes of good food, beer and pastries. A strange combination that has somewhat garnered lots of attention to its humble abode. After you place your order at the counter, reserve a bit of humility, do not gawk and DO NOT underestimate the power of multi-tasking, this would probably take place as the friendly service staff smiles at you, returns you back your change, and turns his back to cook your burger to a perfect medium rare state.

Here at Two Blur Guys, the Prime Beef Burger($12.50) is kept simple, with just smears of truffle mayonnaise on the pillowy soft buns toasted to a crisp, they don't crowd the palate, allowing the true flavors of the beef patty to shine through. The prime beef grounds mixed with a special blend of spices could have used a little more work as the result was a slightly chewier patty. But the sweet relish and the pungency of the gruyere cheese really helped to pull its weight.

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I had the Pulled Pork Burger ($11.50) which came with potato salad and mesclun salad on the side. For those who are super gung-ho about their crunchy truffle fries or thick cut chips... just let it go, this gangster creamy concoction of boiled potatoes, chives and sour cream (may have been a bit too heavy handed with pepper in this instance) may just be hit you in all the right spots.

The pulled pork was soft, tantalising and renders a burst of savoury juices with every bite. Topped off with gruyere cheese and sweet mustard mayonnaise sauce, these worked hand in hand to create some sort of a burgasm in my mouth. I felt... pleasantly dirty. Licking my chops and wiping the grease off the corners of my mouth with an impending weakness at the end of the deal.

Take my word for it and head down to this humble joint for your burger fix right in the heart of town now.

Two Blur Guys
Orchid Hotel
1 Tras Link #01-13
Tel: 6636-4183
Mondays to Saturdays: 11am to 9.30pm