Showing posts with label duxton hill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label duxton hill. Show all posts
Yellow Pot: Six Senses Duxton's Modern Chinese Outpost
Labels:
boutique hotel,
chinese,
chinese food,
duxton hill,
hidden finds,
restaurants,
will return
·
Enter Yellow Pot, nestled in the lobby of the new boutique hotel Six Senses Duxton. The menu is straightforward Chinese, with no special emphasis on particular provincial cuisine - yet it's parroting of modish ingredients and ethical sustainability practises brings it into the 21st century. As you would expect of any Six Senses project, the decor is dynamic - an eclectic little enclave that's bedecked in lavish tones of black, gold and yellow; it's marbled table tops, the pedestal for 3 yellow pots of varied height - yes, you guessed it, the fountainhead. Soundtrack is techno vibe-d, and oddity for a six senses property, and much less a Chinese restaurant.
Let's do the LOCO-motion - Mexican food trail with the Loco Group
The Loco Group brought us on a mini food trail to all three of their outlets, Super loco Robertson Quay, Super Loco Customs house and last but not least Lucha Loco.
We commenced the trail at Robertson Quay. Set just beside the Singapore river, Super Loco adopted a Mexican diner look and feel, with the strange use of vibrant colours, creative graphics, festival lighting, handwritten typography and street posters. It wasn't hard to fall in love with the venue. They even have a retail cabinet showcasing an array of quirky Mexican merchandise to be purchased!
Xiao Ya Tou: New Brunch Menu
Labels:
affordable,
brunch,
cafe,
desserts,
duxton hill,
family friendly,
fusion,
mod sin,
sunday brunch,
will go
·
There are a thousand and one variations on the classic eggs Benedict, and as much I confess to being a nazi (most probably a condition derived from being fazed by exaggeratedly bastardised versions that are both messy in appearance and jarring on the palate); Xiao Ya Tou's new Unagi Benedict ($16) radiates with a warm glow. I'm guessing its the yuzukoshu hollandaise at work, but no. The star of the dish being the attack on the flank - prawn and potato kewpie mayo salad with tobiko on crispy potato croquettes. Needless to say, the combination of mushroom duxelles, fresh fried mantou, poached egg and unagi was exceptional. This one is worth wiggling out of your PJs early for.
Xiao Ya Tou has recently revamped their menu to include a larger repertoire of local influenced dishes at more affable pricing to encourage sharing. Henceforth the best if you're an indecisive (or greedy) diner like me who are easily enticed by key words like 'kewpie', 'ragu', 'confit' and 'mantou' amidst a galore of drool worthy food jargon featured on the menu.
13 Duxton Hill: BEST EVER Birthday meal by a long shot
One of the 9 or so courses (non-inclusive of the escapades on the drinks frontier) served to me the first time I ate at the new 13 Duxton Hill was a cathedral rock formation cluster of daikon rolled shavings and cured apple with a raw sunchoke creme filling ($10).. It looked pretty and almost pagan at the same time, I could have sworn it was sorcery when the first mouthful touched my lips and the vinegar lit a steady burn on my ulcered lips.
This plate was more than just a pretty picture. Wrapped inside its towering lengths was an earthly whirl of goodness, pulverised till it no longer resembled its usual crunchy state. In the following dish, there was baby corn, salted prawn head butter and dusted with meanders of burnt cocoa powder ($16) for that slight astringency amidst lashings of lavishness. The combination of prawn head butter and toasted croissant was a complete surprise, extraordinary in ways I'd never imagined before.
Xiao Ya Tou: Mod-Sin Brunch of epic proportions
Labels:
cocktails,
coffee,
duxton hill,
fusion,
hidden finds,
large groups,
modern,
must go,
sunday brunch,
will return
·
Tied of fighting the crazy queue situation at Symmetry on Sunday mornings? Fret not, as their baby sister outlet Xiao Ya Tou dishes out an equally epic Asian brunch on weekends from 9am to 4pm! Opened by Abby Lim, chef-owner of Symmetry; you can expect to find the same league of brunch nosh here, but served up with an ode to Asian and Mod-Sin fare.
Ninja Bowl: All the right moves
Labels:
cafe,
comfortfoods,
donburi,
duxton hill,
hidden finds,
special occasion,
will return
·
Sitting around awaiting news can be agonising sometimes. At times when I encounter predicaments like these, my mind instantly drifts to an encyclopedia reflection of comfort food types such as the one I'm about to mention.
Ninja bowls takes over Department of Caffeine's plush albeit smokin' hot pad along Duxton Road. Just over a month old, the minimalist cafe looks to woo the same target audience of trend chasers who, over the year have seen a graduation of palette from waffle-depraved souls to atas rice bowl hunters. The region, seemingly reaching a saturation of similar concepts such as May May and Grain Traders, still receiving a respectable traction with busy executives looking to squeeze in a bit of nutrition during short lunch hours.
Speaking for myself, I'm not usually such a go-getter for rice bowls. The mere fact that I've not tried neither of the two above-mentioned establishments proving that claim firmly. So my recent invitation to suss out Ninja bowl and their infamous donburis really cause me offguard (ninja pun).
Entertainer App 2016: Food Trail + Promo Code
I'm a huge advocate of The Entertainer App. After raking up $700 plus in savings in the past year whilst happily satisfying the tummy with yummy nosh, I can't help but laud praises for the handy app that promotes 1-1 deals at several establishments spotting the island. Aside from the mandatory F&B merchants (after all, we know Singaporeans can sniff out a good food bargain from a mile away), the entertainer app boosts several other premium lifestyle choices that will luxuriate your life.
Recently I've had the privilege of participating in a tour of some great merchants situated along the Duxton region along with the company of like-minded foodies.
Meat Liquor Sin: EATs, BEATs & TREATs aka F*#< Brunch
Labels:
affordable,
beer,
brunch,
burgers,
cocktails,
drinks,
duxton hill,
large groups,
special occasion
·
The moment these words 'free flow of legendary burgers' rolled off the screen, there was no way I was going to back out from a trip to Meat Liquor Sin's infamous Eats, Beats and Treats brunch. The lovely introduction - encompassing a holistic experience endorsed by the likes of free flow food and booze whilst being serenaded by DJ Oliver Osboune, followed by the final flourishing of a goodie bag packed with a handy visor, useful for playing the vampire role when faced with harsh sunlight after - was terribly enticing in its being. But, nothing prepared me for the actual sordid, grubby debuachery of an affair that was about to unfold itself, the moment you stepped into the shade; the thick smell of bacon fats hanging mid air.
Singapore Burger Chronicles: Wildfire, MeatLiquorSin, Montana Brew Bar, PTT head folk
Labels:
affordable,
bukit timah,
burgers,
date night,
duxton hill,
lists,
must go,
outram,
quick picks,
selegie
·
I've made it my life's mission to suss out perfection in a burger. Never once passing up an opportunity to lay claims on one, even if it means back to back meals of epic waist expanding proportions.
Lest we forget, a good burger is a thing of beauty; and likewise, a lacklustre rendition is one that spits at the iconic stature of this food item (it even has its own emoticon. So go figure). Moving on, I've brought 4 reputable local burger joints to court, putting them in front of a gruelling palate jury, conducted mainly by yours truly. You can take my views with a pinch of salt, hell, you can cuss under your breathe for all I care; but here I am just giving you my two cents worth.
Better yet, I implore you to be your own judge.
Saha Signature Indian Restaurant & Bar: Did someone say Currytini?
Modern Indian restaurant, Saha cuts somewhat of a posh figure among it's equally spiffy neighbours of Duxton Hill residents. The concept of regional Indian cuisine presented with global contemporary aesthetics pulls back on the usual ghee-rich dishes and gives diners a feel of traditional Indian flavors without the usual sickening feel of extreme gluttony at the end of the meal. Behind Saha's innovative menu is award-winning Chef Abhijit Saha who has fastidiously spread his modern Indian influenced notions across the board, from opulent dishes such as Kerala Vegetable Stew Espuma and Kasoor Methi Seared Foie Gras to his avant garde Indian inspired mixology; the 22 seater al fresco Terrace bar rolling out signature cocktails such as the Cryo Pomegranate Margarita; the man has got it all covered.
We kicked off the night of tastings at the classy and cool Terrace bar, cocktails leading to way, served to us by the fun and flamboyant staff who proudly stood behind the restaurant's offerings. For me, nothing speaks louder about a restaurant's quality than the vote of confidence from its staff. Period.
The Indian Mojito, a blend of Old Monk supreme rum, mint, lime, demerara sugar and soda, was quaffable but not exceptional; the insertion of the word 'Indian' raising expectations but the drink failed to authenticate its' ethnicity. The Cryo Pomegranate Margarita, on the other hand was a cocktail that I happily scoffed down, to the horror of my diminishing memory and friendly neighbours, who subsequently shyed away due to the exponential growth of my conversational volumes as the night rolled on. Here, Don Fulano bianco tequila meets cointreau, pomegranate juice and liquer; then fresh lime juice goes the extra mile in refreshing the mix while liquid nitrogen contributes to the theatrics. This stole my heart and cobbled my stomach the very next day.
Assorted nibbled such as assorted Papad, baked samosa triangles and Khasta Roti Tacos paraded the room whilst we were nursing our drinks; much to the delight of our alcohol induced munchies. The Baked Samosa Triangles ($14) were an excellent representation of vegetarian food in Indian cuisine. Here, thin flaky filo pastry holds a mound of boiled potatoes, cashew and green pea filling, seasoned to the T and the triangular parcels dangling precariously over a shallow pool of chutney foam. Extremely addictive and I probably indulged in one too many.
Other vegeterian options include the Khasta Roti Tacos ($16) a masterful canape showcasing some unique techniques. Here, Amritsari chickpeas tops a crisp toasted roti base, the avocado salsa adding color and creaminess to its entirety while the sour cream provides tart and tangy flavors to complement the heat of the one-bite snack. Equally note-worthy is the Pashmina Chicken Supreme Kebab ($28), perfectly succulent morsels of chicken teeming of the strong flavors of mace and cardamon, a dollop of pistachio saffron sauce further enhancing it's masculine flavors. We continued to pad our stomachs at the bar with Prawn Milagu Roast ($30), this dish comes highly recommended. it's traditional base notes of crushed black pepper, onion, tomato and curry leaves heightened by the meatiness of the cooked prawns. By far, the star player of the line-up that night.
Saha Signature Indian Restaurant & Bar is definitely on top of its' game with sultry Indian ethnic foods served up in non-traditional ways. With the success of it's speciality cocktail menu pulling its weight, Saha has the potential to become a drinking hole for fashionistas and office workers seeking to chow down on something a little different.
A major thanks to the lovely folks from the Entertainer for the invite.
Do note that for a limited time only (till the end of September!), The Entertainer members are entitled to 2-for-2 tapas deals when the voucher for Saha Bar is used. If you don't already have the Entertainer app, I implore you to please explore the wallet friendly option of first getting the Entertainer Singapore One Month Mobile product priced at just SGD $19 with my unique promo code @fundamentallyflawed . Visit https://www.theentertainerme.com/trysgfor19/ to download the application and start your savings now!
Saha Signature Indian Restaurant & Bar
9A Duxton Hill (2nd floor)
Singapore 089593
w: www.saha.sg
t: +65 6223 7321
Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat 12pm-3pm; 6pm-11pm
Sunday: Closed
Lucha Loco: Ready, Get Set, EAT!!!
Labels:
bar,
beer,
drinks,
duxton hill,
mexican,
quesadilla,
tacos,
tanjong pagar,
tequila
·
It's always a riot at Lucha Loco, groups congregating under colored flags and hanging bulbs in the garden patio chowing down on hearty Mexican fare. The atmosphere is laid-back, yet dripping with contemporary LA vibes all at once. With the kitchen headed by Executive Chef Mario Malvaez in collaboration with Chef Jason Jones, co-founder of Mamasita in Melbourne; food here is touted to be the real deal. Judging from the deliveries of wildly hued tacos careening past our noses, out of the kitchens and on to hungry diners; it didn't take much convincing to see that Lucha Loco must be doing something right.
This post maybe severely belated, reviewing my last visit on the 9th April in conjunction with a special "Taco Eating Challenge" that was held on the same day. With my partner competing in the 10 mins, 'stuff yourself silly with tacos challenge' in tow, I set out to explore the menu on my own.
Taco De Chorizo con Red ($10) was a chorizo and braised beef taco. The braised beef carrying a heady aroma of spice, it's melty mouth-feel mixing beautifully with the more robust flavored sausage for a devilish combination.
The Taco de Pescado ($11) starts off with a beautifully fried snapper, the red onion salsa and spicy orange chipotle mayonnaise building it up into a crescendo. Wonderfully balance in flavor, this attractive package works it magic amongst the rowdy diners.
My staple order of Chicken Quesadilla with Serrano Chili ($16) arrives at the table, a racy sight of feisty colors, the freshly made salsa on the side providing acidity that cuts through some of the heat derived from the inclusion of serrano chili in the mix. The chicken is cooked to perfection, still retaining that bit of moisture that ties the spicy, creamy concoction together under those pressed shells. All in all, one of the better quesadillas I've had in Singapore thus far.
The event was a smash, gregarious hosting from the MC and great energetic vibes from the contestants and their supporters. The winner might have consumed 18 tacos in 10mins (if my memory doesn't fail me), and still had a visible 6 pec after the whole affair. I assure you, life isn't fair.
That being said, Lucha Loco was definitely a great find, an unhurried space that is the perfect backdrop for creative Mexican dining and a very persuasive choice of libations to wash down the sublime food. Perfect for after work dinner and drinks with the colleagues. Just be mindful of the tequila if the boss is around.
Lucha Loco
15 Duxton Hill
Tanjong Pagar
P: 6226 3938
Website: http://www.luchaloco.com/
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