Khun Mee Thai Noodle Bar: Bedok Trippin'
Labels:
bedok,
bedok point,
beer,
braised pork,
desserts,
durian,
family friendly,
food tasting,
no frills,
no GST,
no service charge,
thai food,
upper changi
·
'Are we there yet?', those words kept ringing in my head as we made our way to Bedok on the crowded train from the west. Located on the second floor of Bedok Point, it's impossible to miss the signage as you look up upon entering the building.
Khun Mee Thai is a new Thai noodle bar and casual dining concept serving high quality and authentic Thai-Chinese street food. Khum Aum (or just Ahm as she prefers) is the founder and is proud of the fact that all Thai ingredients used are sourced directly from Thailand.
We started out with Thai Style Garden Roll (Guey Teow Lui Suan) [$5.80]. Rice paper rolls filled with Thai sausage, pan roasted peanuts, Thai sweet basil and Thai long-leafed coriander. Definitely a good dish to start with as our table all nodded in agreement on how the contrast of tastes and textures went down well. The chilli sauce on the side wasn't needed but added a nice tangy kick.
After what felt like eternity, the second dish finally arrived. The Egg noodles with dumpling, charshu and lava egg (Ba Mee Kiao, Moo Dang & Tai Tom) [ $5.80 - $8.80] is their signature dish. It comes with a variety of toppings and can be ordered as a soup or dry dish. We were served the dry version which was tossed with charshu sauce and oil that was infused with lard and garlic. The noodles were nice and springy bit was a tad dry. The dumplings were plump and juicy and you could tell they were definitely made in-house. With all parts combined, this dish actually went down really well. If you do find it a bit too bland or dry, there are condiments on the tables and a side serving of soup as well.
The Ba Mee Tom Yam with Milk ($8.80) was probably the most disappointing of all the dishes being served. It was spicy, but it lacked the sourness and was way too sweet. I would avoid this.
Ba Mee Kang Keaw Wan Gai ( Ba Mee with Thai Green curry and chicken) [ $9.80] - Aum told us the spices used in this dish was blended instead of suing those quick mixes readily available. I found her version way too sweet and lacking depth and felt like this dish was added to the menu as an afterthought. At least the vegetables were cooked well...
The Braised Pork leg in traditional Thai-Chinese Style (Kha Moo) [$7.80] is Aum's grandmother's traditional recipe. The pork leg is marinated for at least 2 hours before being braised for 4-6hours. You would be disappointed if you're looking for a total melt-in-your-mouth experience as the meat does still have some bite, which I really enjoyed. This dish really packs a punch in terms of flavor and richness and the blanched Thai Kai-Lan helped cut through it all. A clear winner of a dish as our table ordered seconds.
The Moo Yor Salad ($5.80) is a mix of Thai sausages with glass noodles in spicy dressing. The pork sausage is specked with crushed black peppercorns which helped lift the fragrance of the dish. Also in the mix were Thai celery, carrot and cucumber strips, sliced onion, shallots, mint, crushed chilli and pan roasted peanuts. Caution, the chilli and lime dressing really is spicy but addictive.
A popular bar snack in Bangkok, the Fried Chicken Joints (Khor Kai Tod) [ $4.80] or cartilages are deep fried to a crisp and lightly seasoned, and boy are they amazing. That crunch you get first from the batter, then the cartilage, shows they ain't mucking about. Best paired with beer. Thankfully they're having a July promotion of 4 bottles of Singha for $20, so get on it!
The Fried Rice with Shrimp Paste (Khao Clook Ga-Pi)[$8.80] is served with Thai sweet pork stew, sliced green mango, omelet strips, Chinese sausage, sliced cucumber, shallots and chilli padi. Aum came by as the dish was being served and told us to just mix everything up before eating. The sweet pork stew came in really small chunks hence they do fall apart pretty easily which made mixing things up easier. I felt my taste buds were getting a sensory overload from this simple yet stellar dish.
It was past 9pm as we reached out last dish for the day. The restaurant was still buzzing with a crowd and we were feeling a bit lethargic from all that eating. Out came the Durian with Sticky Rice (Khao Neow Tu-Rean) [ $5.80] and holy smokes, this one blew us away. Granted the pandan sticky rice wasn't too good, the durian puree was so light and airy, it wouldn't be out of place if you served it at Goodwood Park's Durian fiesta. The sweet yet supple chunks of durian helped give an extra burst of flavor and variance in textures as well. Enough said, just get it already.
Fundamentally flawed and S. dined as guests of Khun Mee Thai, but opinions are purely personal. Thank you Velda from Komars Management for the invite.
Khun Mee Thai Noodle Bar
799 New Upper Changi Road
Bedok Point #02-32/34
Singapore 467351
Tel: 6445 9932
Website: www.khunmeethai.com
This article is written by S (my better half). S is currently taking creative writing lessons to tackle his horrendous lack of verbal diarrhea. Also, S likes hats.
&Made: Once upon a Blue Moon
I'm meant to be impartial about my research judgement for the title of 'Best Burgers in Singpore' and yet, &Made breaks those rules with its previous stellar performance. (Read about it here)
That being said, some major roadblocks have been thrown their way and Chef Bruno Menard who had been working with Deliciae Hospitality Management to set up both &Made and La Cantine has decided to venture out for his ideals and thus stepped down as chef. When a restaurant is founded by a chef whose kitchen acrobatics and knack for flavor profiling makes us sit up and notice, it can be confusing for most when that chef has moved on. The questions arises on whether the replacement will be a caretaker cook mimicking the style that made the place exciting or a creative genius who can make the menu jump through a new set of hoops.
Upon hearing about 3 new gourmet burgers being introduced into the menu, it wasn't long before I was dragging my boyfriend by the heels to this joint.
&Made's service standards had obviously taken an understated turn for the worse since its glory days of hyped-up reviews and ridiculously long queues. However, being a casual burger joint, my main concerns were shifted to the food. How did that fare?
The 3 Little Pigs ($23) had a brawny, rustic quality to it. The wonderfully diverse patty composed of pork fillet, chorizo and bacon, each bringing the best of itself to the table. The other components, the spicy koshu mayonnaise, shibazuke, shitake and white cabbage speaking volumes of Chef Bruno's strong Asian influences. This turned out to be as good as I remembered it to be.
Now on to the newbies, The Blue Moon ($23), dry aged beef patty, topped with french blue cheese, grilled bacon, lettuce and pickles. This had a little more nuance than the enlistees from the staple menu, featuring a dry aged beef patty for the lack of better and more unique sauces and accompaniments. No complaints though as I do love a good blue cheese burger every now and then. The fried egg was a silly addition (+$2.00), an unworthy investment that yielded an overdone moulded fried egg with no runny yolks. devastation. That aside, there was an echo of Chef Bruno's silky way with burgers, the compelling amount of french blue cheese scattered over the top highlighted by the surprise smudge of more stinky delight over the bottom bun as well; the dry aged beef patty bringing finesse to it's towering construction and the thick cut bacon cooked just the way I like it. I was sold on this elegant dish; the unique sambal belachan served with fries sealing the deal.
And while previous helming chefs had moved on, the food at &Made remains remarkable and original. Still with that pop and sizzle element in tact.
&Made
9 Scotts Road
#01-04/06 Pacific Plaza
Singapore (228210)
Tel: 6690 7566
Website: andmade.sg/
Sin Lee Foods: these are my obsessions
Labels:
all-day-breakfast,
brunch,
bukit ho swee,
cafe,
coffee,
fried chicken,
tiong bahru,
waffles
·
Lately, I've got chicken and waffles on my mind.
Hence the debauchery as recently seen from my instagram feed (@fundamentally_flawed). It's disgusting, I know.
Sin Lee foods is one of the many cafes opened up in the past month or less that has inherited the name and nostalgic flavor of its original shop occupant. Converting the famous lor mee and prawn noodle shop in Jalan Bukit Ho Swee into a cafe space; I scouted around for traces or details in the fabric worth reminiscing over, but there were none. The purposefully stark innards leaving little impression in a sea of mimics spotting the island.
Leaving that aside, I reached out for Latte ($5.50). Papa Palheta's full bodied and popular Throwback blend is the main brew here, slightly nutty with just the right amount of acidity, the shot sat well amidst the mildly sweet frothy milk. Then, my brain begins percolating with pleas for a double shot... next time maybe.
For a pint sized cafe, Sin Lee's food menu is rather extensive. Descriptions and the inspired food imagery it paints are one thing, how the real deal measures in the flavor department is ultimately the more important of the two, especially given the somewhat heftier cafe prices.
I surprised myself with a retreat back to the Croissant Royale ($16.90); a play on the classic eggs benedict which I swore never to order in a cafe ever again. What sets Sin Lee's version apart from the usual are firstly it's generous portion sizes and that excellent hollandaise sauce. The croissant, toasted till golden brown provided that bit of crunch, whilst the other half left to wilt and take it all the goodness of the blanket of velvety hollandaise sauce and soft centered egg. Punctuated by the refreshing acidity of lemon, the sauce was a wonderful accompaniment to the heavy combination of smoked salmon and runny yolks; this dish further enjoyed with the contrast of the bitter arugula leaves showered with a light dancing of parmesan cheese.
An honest dish with good intentions.
The A.B.C grilled cheese sandwich ($14.90) sounded much more inspired on the menu then it did in person. Grilled apple, bacon and soft cheddar sits between slices of toasted bread with a side of spam fries. The dish literally providing the ingredients listed on the menu with minimal creativity in execution. Word of advice to the kitchen staff, lower the heat on that fryer please; the spam fries were overcooked to an inch of its life. I would also have put a little of that grilled apple sauce or perhaps maple syrup over the gooey cheddar for that contrast and definitely look into a more matured cheddar for a tinge of saltiness. But that's just me... oh yes, a little less rendering of fats on the bacon too please...
Equally lackluster is the Shashuka ($17.90), Moroccan baked eggs, house spicy tomato sauce, thick sausage, white cheddar cheese and french country toast; the dish screams against it's proclaimed nationality, the absence of related spices in this homey dish betraying its identity. The tomato sauce could have used a bit of blitzing as well, the clumsy chunks of stewed tomatoes in there together with the unsliced thick sausage (that looked like it was just thrown in some hot water to blanch) missing the mark on the hospitality and unique heartiness of Middle Eastern cuisine. Skip this dish.
One of the most adventurous dishes is the one and only Sin Lee's Fried Chicken and Waffles ($21.90). The juicy boneless chicken leg working well on its own, but sings when bestowed with a drizzle of that melted maple butter... dayum. I'm lost for words. The cheddar iron waffles are slightly on the heavier side, with a crisp edge and moist innards (some parts of it drawing references to min jiang kui) but makes a redonkulous party in the mouth with the sinful maple butter sauce. I relished in the coleslaw as well, the overall creaminess enlivened with a tinge of citrus in there. Definitely a dish worth visiting Sin Lee for.
For a new kid on the block, Sin Lee Foods has a lot of pressure to keep up with the current food trends. A slight detour off the Tiong Bahru stretch, there is a lot of room for improvement before it's capable of getting the crowds moving over. Despite it's many hits and misses, I believe in a couple of weeks with its issues smoothened out, a dining experience at Sin Lee will be as deeply gratifying as that stellar chicken & waffles dish that I would have happily spooned with on a languid Sunday afternoon. Kudos to the team.
Sin Lee Foods
Blk 4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee #01-164
Singapore 162004
T: 6377 3170
Tues-Sunday 10am-9pm
Necessary Provisions: You're hot then you'll cold
Labels:
brunch,
cafe,
cakes,
chiffoncake,
coffee,
eng kong park,
lunch,
sandwich,
west
·
Necessary provisions has been my go to for coffee in the west side of Singapore for a good long time now. It's offering of a quiet respite surrounded by a sleepy neighbourhood appealing very much to the introvert in me. I would often come here, plop myself on the communal table and proceed to flip myself silly through the monocle magazines expertly placed in a tight ring.(read about my previous experiences here).
My last visit however raising a red flag.
The coffee, a bunch of nerves, with it's overwhelmingly bitter edges and sour personality. This was a character I had never come to know before. The frisky cookie on the side making apologies for her boss's misdemeanour.
To steer away from the common misconception that Necessary Provisions is just a 'coffee place that happens to also do food', this establishment has resorted to a simple showing of sandwiches for lunch but boasts a more versatile selection at night. A quick lunch sees myself agreeing with the Rosemary Chicken with Watercress and Parmigiano ($9) sandwich, sawing my way thru the thick schiacciata loaf, I found the overwhelming ratio of bread to poached chicken a little overpowering for my liking. The marinade on the chicken not quite holding its own against the chewy carbs.
Thank goodness for the Pandan Chiffon Cake ($4) that I cannot recommend highly enough - the chef's penchant for this finicky dessert highly evident in every light and aromatic bite.
For a better choice of sandwiches, turn to the Beef Pastrami, Brie and whole grain mustard ($9); this golden brown crossed thatched monstrosity features a generous serve of salty beef pastrami offset with some piquant whole grain mustard spread. Definitely a value-for-money satisfactory treat.
Apart from the fluctuating standards of coffee at this joint, Necessary Provisions has got everything covered, from the quirky location to the comfy interiors. Sit back, relax and take it all in.
Necessary Provisions
21 Eng Kong Terrace
Singapore
9231 7920
The Lokal: What's New, Pussycat?
I have an inexhaustible list of cafes to visit and it annoys me.
As much I would love to let it go and gather just a few regulars haunts under my belt, the search ensues relentlessly, the humming of instagram as it spits out the names of the newest, the hottest and most hipster-ish cafes bugging me in my sleep.
Such an extensive selection of choices does of course bring about some benefits. For example, the crowds disperse, and there is less chance of a ridiculous wait for seats on a weekend morning. A surprising revelation for me as I stepped into a rather quiet establishment on a Saturday morning at the new cafe The Lokal located on Neil Road.
Describe by most as 'very aussie', the Lokal will have you ogling at its guyish minimalist interiors highlighted by a few industrial steel textural touches and then offset by softer symmetrical patterns. Certainly a delightful space that compels its diners to stay and linger over chatter.
Coffee is from Sarnies and hails from a customised V3 slayer espresso machine. State of the art technology combined with the likes of a masterful hand and some nutty robust roasts, the end result, a faultless latte ($5.50).
The Lokal boasts the most serious culinary muscle, with ex-Tetsuya chef Darren Farr helming the kitchen and offering his chimer of culinary influences picked up from the various kitchens he had worked in. The menu appears gutsy with an intriguing mix of old school desserts and hearty comfort pub grub given a contemporaray cafe spin.
I dive straight for the Breakfast Burger ($23), jazzed up with breaded and fried pork belly, broken omelette, spinach and chilli jam. It's less successful in the sesame bun which carried a slight plastic aftertaste possibly from the use of shortening or margarine.The tender pork belly works well on its own but seems to be a bit disjointed with the rest of the dish. Definitely a dish that fares better foretold on the menu than in the mouth.
The Roast Beef on Rye ($19) is a fairly good dish, not too adventurous but it delivers; plain and simple watercress sits on a bed of sweet caramelised onions dredged over thin slices of roast beef sandwiched between two pieces of rye bread glazed with a gutsy wholegrain mustard creme fraiche. Still, a little overpriced in my humble opinion.
Positioning itself as a social hangout, the lokal has garnered lots of attention to itself in its short span of opening till present. Though the food can be better, come for the sublime coffee and the eye candies in the open kitchen.
and if you're in search of dessert afterwards, give the banana bread (served with vanilla yogurt, toasted macademias and caramelised bananas) a go or visit Department of Caffeine (just a slight stroll away) for their signature waffles.
Valrhona Chocolate waffles with butter rum bananas, vanilla ice cream and royaltine ($20) comes to the table with the swagger of a generous dapper. Slightly stodgey in the center, possibly from the inclusion of chocolate, I enjoyed the faultless combination of rum, warm bananas and chocolate completely, fully blaming my gluttony for the tummy aches that ensued soon after. Well worth it though.
The Lokal
136 Neil Road
Singapore 088865
Tel: 6423 9918
{The Entertainer App} Third and Sixth: Burger Flop
Labels:
beer,
burgers,
raffles place,
seah street,
the entertainer app
·
"Smashing burgers", that phrase alone was enough to send me on a wild goose chase to Third and Sixth with that one intention in mind: to eat some burgers.
Capitalising on the hungry and the thirsty crowds that populates the raffles city area, Third and Sixth pairs a stripped out decor and a laid back atmosphere with bang-for-buck food and drinks. A winning combination as proven by the steady stream of diners that poured into the restaurant on a balmy Wednesday night.
The deals change daily and you can probably score some savings depending on your preferences; take for example the Tuesday Beer+Burger combo for $20 nett or the 1-for-1 martinis on Wednesdays.
But the real question is, how do the burgers measure up?
Using our Entertainer App, the S and I scored a 1-for-1 main course deal at Third and Sixth (more information on a special promotion on the One-Month entertainer app to be found at the end of this post.)
The Clockwork ($15) is a 150g homemade Australian grain-fed beef patty with sauteed mushrooms and melted Swiss cheese in between two buns. This doesn't impress, declaring itself to be more ellipsis than an exclamation point. The patty itself, a sad, overly tough affair that needed for texture and flavor whereas the cheese could have used a little more time under the grill, it's charred top revealing the hand of an impatient chef.
Equally lackluster is the Ram-Lee burger ($15), a play on the classic Malaysian street food, Third and Sixth's rendition comes nowhere close to the versions I got to sample during my last visit to KL. The same under seasoned patty with a dollop of cheese sauce (masquerading as a specially concocted sauce), then wrapped in a huge omelette is placed between two sesame buns. While the dish sounds good in theory, the patty offers little flavor while the sauce turned out to be a gloppy mess.
Dining at Third and Sixth was unexceptional and not particularly memorable, but with such reasonable prices and Macs Great White on tap, you can't complain.
Moving on to some good news, for the month of July, I've been given the opportunity by the good folks of The Entertainer App SPORE to promote the app to my readers for a special price of SGD 15 (U.P. $19) for The Entertainer Singapore One-Month Mobile Product. Please note that this discount code will expire on the 31st July.
To find out how to use this app, watch this useful video below.
With the Singapore App, get access to all 770+ buy one get one free offers at some of the hottest restaurants, nightspots, spas and activities. Especially useful if you're a foodie too, since each merchant provides more than 3 vouchers; meaning that you can visit participating restaurants more than once!
To unlock this special promotional rate of SGD$15 (U.P. S$19), simply visit http://www.theentertainerme.com/trysgfor19/ and be sure to enter the unique promo code 'fundamentallyflawed' when you purchase. Alternatively, you can download and install the FREE app from the app store and enter the promo code 'fundamentallyflawed' at the shopping cart before checking out.
Saving money couldn't be easier with that many merchants around the island extending their 1-for-1 deals to the purchasers of The Entertainer App. Some of my favourite places include Bedrock Bar & Grill, Cocotte, Fat Cow, Fern & Kiwi and The Pelican Seafood Bar and Grill; just to name a few, the list is honestly quite extensive. With that in mind, chalking up savings of more than that initial $15 investment is too easy a task.
To sweeten the deal, after one months' membership, you can simply choose to upgrade to the full product for a further S$76 (U.P. $80), allowing you to keep redeeming your offers until 30th Dec 2014.
So what are you waiting for?
Stay tuned to more foodie adventures as I attempt to brave through the Entertainer list.
Third and Sixth
36 Seah Street
T: 6336 1248
Website: https://www.facebook.com/3rdand6th
Newton Roast: Pork belly galore
Labels:
hawker,
newton,
no frills,
pork belly
·
This, my friends is the answer to all Roast Pork cravings. Though not as good as Mr Crackles back in Sydney. It comes fairly close.
Housed in Newton Circus Food Centre, Newton Roasts is a no-frills joint, my new go-to destination for those pesky pork crackling cravings, with the luxury of having your beers at no additional service charge! Committed to producing fresh roast, upon demand, a quick glance into their display case (almost empty) shows clear proof that they have stuck to that mantra. Their state of the art combi oven reveals another hidden stash of meat, it's skin blistering in the dry heat. Our order of The Loose Ones ($15 for a large plate) is a feast for two, decadent moist flesh studded with frisky bits of crackling all over. Dayum.
Things to note, Newton Roasts actually has an online ordering system which ensures fresh and crispy pork just in time for pick-up. NO more soggy skin and cold unrendered white fats! Check them out here.
Newton Roast
#01-51
Newton Circus Food Centre
500 Clemenceau Avenue,
S( 229495)
Open daily.
L'espresso @ Goodwood Park Hotel: a living legacies
Labels:
coffee,
desserts,
food tasting,
goodwood park hotel,
high tea,
orchard,
tea
·
High tea has never ever been on my agenda despite it's retained popularity among my countrymen these days. It's subliminal links to gluttony and unnecessary luxury (both of time and material in the form of expensive silverware) has more often than not impeded me from indulging in such a meal format. However this time around, with an invitation extended, I proceeded to cross my legs and prep for some tea sipping, pinkie sticking out action.
L'Espresso has been churning out some of the best high tea experience in Singapore since the late 1960s. With such long historical references to boot and a dining room packed full of hungry patrons to feed. I was certain that I had stumbled upon 'a real deal'.
From petite finger sandwiches to the more hearty stews for the famished; L'Espresso's spread has it all covered. I started off with a plateful of delectable sandwiches and wraps. Word of advice: avoid the croissant which may be a tad bit dry and dive straight for the Slow Cooked Farm chicken in Crepe. Tender, supple pieces of poached chicken wrapped in a thin savoury crepe. Right up my alley. Also, give the Nicoise Tartlet with Tuna Tataki a go; a moreish bite of palatable food.
And as you move along the counter top, you'll have a face-off with the fried food station. For those planning to give this a miss, I implore you not too as L'Espresso does an excellent job of this station. It's Mini Fish Goujons and Mini Karaage fried to perfection with supple innards and beautifully seasoned outer coatings; the goma sauce on the side providing a magnificent pairing.
Not to be missed are the scones from Goodwood Park Hotel. At L'Espresso, it's the details that elevate this humble tea time treat; the freshly muddle raspberry compote for example. We picked an assortment of jams and fresh fruits to accompany the Blueberry Scone; and with that, I still remain convinced that this reigns supremacy as one of the best scones I've had in Singapore thus far. Truth.
For something a little more substantial, L'Espresso has newly introduced the Black Forest Ham and Rosette Salami. It's good but nothing spectacular. Relish instead in the deliciously rich and salty Braised Kurobuta Pork with Hungarian Sweet Paprika, served with brioche on the side to wipe up the 'chap', it didn't take much persuasion for me to return back for second servings. The Smoked Salmon with herbs and breadcrumbs on the other hand disappoints with it's flaky and dried out state, exhausted from its long hours under the sunbathing lamps overhead.
Desserts are aplenty at L'Espresso; but like any buffet spread there are severe hits and misses. The downfall of it's sweet offerings probably attributed to the incorrect storage temperatures that lead to a strange translation of flavors in the mousse-like desserts and a weird mish-mash of textures. Some of my favourites include the Tiramisu Cake, Creme brulee and the Bread and Butter Pudding.
Ice Cream anybody?
High tea at L'Espresso comes with 2 servings of coffee or tea (from my beloved ex-company TWG teas). If sitting all straight backed and indulging in petite fare is your thing, then dining here may prove irresistible with charges only set at $45 per adult and $22.50 per child.
L'Espresso
Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singpore 228221
Tel: +65 67301743
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