Showing posts with label szechuan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label szechuan. Show all posts

Saturday night picks - Chikin for feisty Szechuan yakitori and Asian inspired tipples

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Spice devils! Step right up! Chikin, a new fusion joint to join the throngs of half-blood variants in the precinct offers something a little different. Western influences find no place here as the kitchen combines the founders' love for Japanese yakitori and Szechuan Shao Kao (BBQ meats). An extremely underrated marriage resulting from the co-founder's  Ms Tay Eu-Ten frequent visits to Chengdu.

Much to my amusement, there is no overt restaurant plagiarism here, the kooky result making me feel   at home instantly. Red and purple hues wash the surfaces of the shop-length bar counter. Barely a few steps in and I swiftly relegated myself to bar-fly status -  plopping myself down and perusing the cocktails list with enthusiasm.

Dining with a View [Part 3]: Shisen Hanten, 2-Michelin starred Szechwan restaurant. Sink or Swim?

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Lunch time at Shisen Hanten, and the crystal chandelier illuminated high ceiling room is bathed in natural light. The scene is as such: the gentle pad of well-shod waitresses' feet and clientele that looked fluent in the language of high net worth make the ambience a little intimidating.

The first of its kind to make a debut outside of Japan, Akasaka Szechwan Restaurant or Shisen Hanten as it is popularly known was founded by late Chef Chen Kenmin in 1958. Highly regarded as Japan's "Father of Szechwan Cuisine", his legacy lives on through his son, Chef Kentaro who diligently picked up the tools of his trade under his father's guidance. Awarded with 2-Michelin Stars in 2016; the establishment is highly recommended for propelling Chinese cuisine to a more glamorous vantage point. It's only uncanny that the restaurant is perched on the 35th floor of Mandarin Orchard which sports some sweet city views. Do request for a window table.

Birds of a Feather: Contemporary Szechuan cuisine in cafe settings || You should flock to this one.

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Birds of a Feather along Amoy Street is anything but unassuming. What really impresses me about the store is it's depth and differing vibes with every crook and cranny. The front section is seemingly formal, similar to Bochinche; traverse your way in the direction of the kitchen and you'll find a specific zone awashed with the warm glow flooding in from the skylight above head. The ginormous mounds of wood employed as table tops flanked by tufts of greenery and lush fern. Mesmerizing. Tucked away in the space behind is a large communal table equipped with power-points flushed into corners - perfect for impromptu meetings or long mulling sessions accompanied with a good cuppa joe or perhaps a cheeky afternoon cocktail. Befitting of that restorative settings is a food menu like non-other I've seen; contemporary Szechuan cuisine served cafe style. Now, you really ought to give it a go.

Si Wei Yan 思味筵: Fall on Deaf Ears

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The title will explain itself in awhile... but now let me proceed to mop off the beads of sweat that have gathered at my temples as I scroll through the feed of dishes carrying too much spiciness in its wake.

Si Wei Yan, the newest Szechuan cuisine restaurant to reside along wild child alley Club Street, may seem a tad out of place in the bar saturated zone - it's imposing outfit reminiscent of a Chinese spa rather than a racy szechuan restaurant. The pet project of the owners of Si Wei Mao Cai in Chinatown -  思味筵 oozes finesse; the blast of cold air within its facade preparing one for the flavor assault about to unfold.