Nassim Hill: Where I go to for my Reubens
I shall expound the truth.
The story I tell people is that the only place where I've had a decent reuben sandwich here in Singapore is at Nassim Hill. Truth is, I've only had one locally, this one, and my heart was sold on the subject matter. Period.
My partner relished in the Nassim Hill Double Decker burger ($21), one that sought special attention with a gargantuan poster beckoning from the walls but mellowed in size in reality. With a swish of house made special sauce, 2 beef patties with grilled balsamic onions, lettuce and tomatoes squished between two lightly toasted buns; this was a lukewarm attempt at a burger. Save for the bread, the entire affair was at best, homely - pedestrian.
My Hot Reuben ($18) on the other hand, satisfied all of my wildest dreams. Corned beef made even sexier with a draping of melted emmental cheese, sauerkraut galore, onions and creamy Russian dressing on the signature Asahi Kuronama beef bread. I attacked the sandwich with a vengeance so hard, unhindered by lingering negative thoughts of carbohydrate control. We'll leave that to some other day, the beer bread is just too hard to pass up. *cheeky grin*
On a side note, check out their happy hour deal which run from 8am-8pm daily. Don't say I didn't let you in on this!
Nassim Hill Bakery.Bistro.Bar
56 Tanglin Road
Tanglin Post Office #01-03
t: 6835 1128
Opening Hours:
Tues-Sun: 8am - 11pm
Hakata Ikkousha Ramen: where the broth and boiled eggs runs freely
Hakata Ikkousha basically takes the heritage of Tonkotsu Ramen and combines it with the happiness that its' ramen is to bestow onto people. Chef Kousuke, after holding the reigns for Singapore's Ultimate Ramen Champion for two years has gone on to open his second Singapore-based restaurant in CHIJMES.
It's menu is easy to comprehend with range of variations that allows for a bit of personal flair. Feeling a bit flat-lined from work, I opted for the straightforward Ajitama Tonkotsu ($14) which is composed of ramen steeped in boiling water and served in a collagen rich pork bone broth and then some razzle dazzle injected in with the lava-centered Ajitama (seasoned egg). It was an undeniably intense dish, that showed the energy and skillfulness of the chef with a great respect of tradition along the lines of Japanese cuisine. The spoonfuls of creamy soup catapulted themselves into my mouth at the slightest encouragement and I appreciated the Chef's easier touch on salt as compared to many other local versions. I did not fancy the noodles however , finding that it's anorexic proportioning did not work well with the full-bodied flavors of the broth.
As much as I fancy the soup, the noodles for me was the weakest player in the team that would probably hinder me from a return visit. That's just me, I'll let you be the judge.
Hakata Ikkousha @ CHIJMES
30 Victoria Street
#01-07 CHIJMES
Operating Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11 30am - 10pm
Sunday: 11 30am - 9pm
Wordless Wednesdays: Burgers @ The Beast
Labels:
american,
arab street,
bugis,
burgers,
hidden finds,
jalan sultan,
kampong glam,
pubfood,
wordless wednesdays
·
The Farm Boy Burger ($22) at The Beast. 8oz patty, lettuce, tomato, pickle, pimento cheese,
tomato relish, candied bacon and side of paprika dusted fries. Imagine that.
The Pimento cheese, a relish of sorts made from sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnise, pimentos and seasoning was a delight to eat on its own, and better still when slathered onto toasted sesame buns. The patty, however , cried out for a bit more love and attention. Not the best but definitely not the worse. Order their #OutofThisWorld Fried Chicken and Waffles instead and you're guaranteed many future craving-led meetings with your new drug dealer. The Beast.
The Beast
17 Jalan Klapa
S(199329)
t: 6295 0017
w: www.thebeast.sg/
Opening Hours:
Mon-Thurs 5pm-midnight
Fri - Sat: 5pm-1am
Sun: 10am - 5pm
Opening H
FIX cafe: with a Halal Food Certificate to boot
Labels:
affordable,
alfresco,
balestier,
brunch,
cafe,
cakes,
desserts,
family friendly,
fusion,
hidden finds,
must go,
novena,
will return
·
Resting poolside, FIX cafe exudes an atmosphere that is breezy and relaxed, splicing beachy miami vice casual with inner city city cool. Hidden away in the peaceful enclaves of HomeTeamNS clubhouse is the newest cafe at the tip of the tongues of many Singapore foodies. Beside rousing the interest of the cafe hungry hipster crowds, Fix cafe ups the ante by attaining a halal food certification, increasing it's prospective audience massively.
Here the menu is kept snugly familiar with cafe favourites such as homemade quiche and fish & chips; then things are swayed a little with the novel introduction of naanwiches. To lay it all out, naan is baked in-house and used as a bread replacement in a typical sandwich. Before you decide that such a combination is bit too outlandish for you, hear me out; this works - the fluffy innards of the naan absorbing the defiant runaway juices from the fillings and the charred edges perfect to poke and prod at the runny yoke perched on top. The Beef and Kimchi Naanwich ($10) lends an explosion of flavors from the fillings, the slow cooked beef rendered down a fork tender consistency. Just be mindful to steer clear if you've an aversion towards fatty meats. The Chicken Tikka Naanwich ($10) in my opinion fared better with a the tender chicken slices being the perfect canvas for the melange of Indian spices. The side serving of achar imparting a sour note, helping to neutralise any greasiness. Note that a cup of nachos are served on the side with each naanwich, slightly 'lao-hong' tortilla chips drizzled lightly with melted cheese and chunky salsa. Great for the 'itchy-mouthed' companions or a single famished diner.
Putting that aside, a must try at FIX cafe is definitely its wide array of expertly executed desserts. The Strawberry Pistachio Rose Tart ($7) was my least favourite. A layer of pistachio financier sits above a uniform pate sucre base and all that topped with fresh strawberries, raspberry compote and a quenelle of rose chantilly cream . A tad too dry for my liking, the pistachio financier could have used a boost of flavor (soon to be fixed =) ) and the sable base, in disagreement with the overall parched conditions.
Moving on, we had the Passionfruit, Mango and Coconut chiffon cake ($7) , an addictive amalgamation of light tangy spring flavors with an interesting juxtaposition of Asian tradition flavors contrasted with a sparse artistic modernity. The coconut mousse pulling the weight of the other more acidic flavors in the entremet. Definitely well suited for the al-fresco dining conditions.
The piece de resistance came in the form of a hollow choux pastry capped with crunchy craquelin filled with coffee chantilly, salted caramel and a secret chocolate truffle center. The Butterscotch Arabica Choux ($6) stole my breathe and my heart.
Another heavyweight is the Chocolate Truffle Cake ($7) made using only Cacao Barry's OCOA chocolate taken from the 'Purity from Nature' range that has been created with pure cocoa beans using the Q-Fermentation method. This method basically involves extracting specific ferments on plant leaves and soil to hasten the fermentation process on the cocoa beans thus deriving the most intense and pure flavors. The Cocoa Barry Chocolate truffle cake comprises of sacher cake, OCOA chocolate cremeux, OCOA chocolate mousse and glacage and finally topped with a few shards of salted chocolate sable; a feast for the senses, the rich flavors and textural contrasts cumulating in a smackdown. This may pose a challenge to finish, even with the most serious of chocolate aficionados. Be a doll and share...
Fix cafe is a casual joint that is not to be missed despite it's rather non-descript location. In the grand scheme of things, the variety of dishes here and their near perfect execution makes it a diamond in the rough.
FIX cafe
Balestier
31 Ah Hood Road, HomeTeamNS-JOM Clubhouse
#01-06
S( 329979)
t: 6256 1484
w: http://fix-cafe.com.sg/
Opening Hours:
Daily 9 30am - 9 pm
Concetto by Saveur: Wallet Friendly Italian fare
Labels:
dhoby ghaut,
italian,
may return,
orchard,
pasta
·
Following my rather good first-time experience in Saveur at Far East Plaza. I decided to push the envelope with a second visit to the Italian version of the former. Or rather, an impromptu plan to head down to the movies at Grand Cathay sent us scuttling for nearby food options that would be easy on the wallet. Owned and operated by the same entrepreneurs in the Saveur group, Dylan Ong and Jason Khoo have decided to spill their culinary love into the art of Italian cooking. Hence, coming up with a derivant of Saveur, which is better known for it's affordable French fare.
I gamely ordered the Carbonara Fettucine ($12.90), after fine-tuning my options to the belly full of cravings. Fresh pasta is coated in 'flavored sauce', then pieces of crispy bacon showered down upon it's white pristine, this then bestowed with a sous vide egg. A shameless concubine of confit pork trails closely beside. Under an immense amount of food stress, I must confess that I indulged in a bit of mindless eating with this one. The sinful creaminess of the dish soaking up my miseries and disgruntles. Despite the sauce being on the verge of breaking and the pork confit being a little irrelevant; I kept mum and slurped up every drop. Hey.. my wallet didn't complain either.
His Cod ($22.90) was a tad of a let down with pan-seared cod in a clam stew of sorts, an assortment of roughly chopped vegetables attempts to lifts the mix whilst the absence of salt in the broth made the dish seem uninspired. It's saving grace was the golden brown top-hat of puff pastry that was beautifully crisp and cooked thoroughly.
We washed that down with 2 glasses of house Sauvignon Blanc ($8/glass), yet again a worthy investment for a rather dreary day at work.
Concetto by Saveur
2 Handy Rd, Singapore 229233
t: 6735 1141
w: http://www.concetto.sg/
Opening Hours
Daily 12pm - 9 30pm
Relish by Wild Rocket: Not your average joe of a Burger
Labels:
american,
beef,
beer,
botanic gardens,
burgers,
circle line,
cluny court,
cocktails,
family friendly,
milkshakes
·
We tip-toed every so carefully around the ticking time bomb, but as predicted earlier, his 'child-unfriendly' presence had become known in the room and the flood gates of persistent wailing from the infant opened wide, reigning painful cries between gurgles down upon us and the other diners. All this unfolded much to his annoyance, of course, so we requested a change of tables that the staff were very much happy to attend to.
A quick run thru the menu revealed a tight selection of burgers and other comfort foods. Never mind the background jargon, pass the lady a burger please!
Reflecting the simplicity of of its environment, the fare was quick and concise. My billboard special of b3 Mushroom Cheese Burger ($18.40) was all the works, sauteed and well seasoned mushrooms, greasy smoked bacon (+$3), melted emmental cheese, medium-rare juicy beef patty all lewdly forced between two sesame buns. The buns could have used a good lashing of butter and a good toasting; put that out of the picture and you've got results that show more finesse than your regular burger. What stole the limelight was the patty alone, deliciously scorched and still juicy on the inside.
The boy was silent as he chowed down on his Blue Cheese and Pear Burger ($21.90). Take a classic combination, transcribe that into burger formula and you've got a sure winner. The walnut peanut butter providing firm nutty notes for the singed sweetness of the poached pears and that grounding the outlandish flavors of the Auvergne bleu cheese. To be frank, I was grateful to even get one tiny bite of this baby.
Definitely one of more impressive burgers I've had in Singapore so far. The search continues...
Relish by Wild Rocket
501 Bukit Timah Road
#02-01, Cluny Court
S( 259760)
t: 6763 1547
Opening Hours:
Tues-Sun 9am-10pm
Azmaya: just the usual Wagyu Shabu-Shabu affair
Labels:
family friendly,
health,
healthy eating,
hidden finds,
japanese,
robertson quay,
shabu shabu,
steamboat,
will not return
·
I continue on a trend of Japanese Eats and shabu shabu tastings. Today we cover the Wagyu Shabu Shabu Buffet at Azmaya located along the picturesque Robertson Quay (just beside bella pizza).
With red hot competition from various other concepts dotting the island, Azmaya attempts to draw in the crowds with a wagyu buffet special promotion. Priced at just $50 now (U.P. $100), diners get to pick from a menu of proteins (wagyu beef, pork belly, collar, chicken leg, wagyu cut steak and tongue, etc...), side dishes of Kimchi, Namul and Rice as well as a tight selection of ala carte dishes such as Cold Tofu, Spicy Cucumber, Salted cabbage and fried pickles. Take heed that a 2 hours time limit is enforced at the point of ordering.
While the A5 Wagyu Sirloin from Japan ($95) gets a nod from me, the soup base I found to be too light and almost forgettable. Save for the nutty goma dipping sauce, the entire affair was albeit a bit underwhelming.
Try the craveable Wagyu Roast Beef ($15), a tantalising red centre with a piquant dressing for those ravenous carnivores.
Another modest dish for the peckish is the Korean Spicy Cucumber ($6), fresh crispy chunks of cucumber tossed in a spicy chili oil based dressing, the juxtaposition of juicy cooling innards versus the feisty exterior working up an appetite.
Going through a varied selection of ala carte dishes, the Salmon Caesar Salad with salmon roe with Caesar dressing ($13) tickled my fancy. The Salmon slices benefited from a generous squirt of decadent creamy dressing, the orange scatter of roe adding provocative bursts of savouriness and the chunks of avocado pulling in all the pieces. I could have easily gone through two bowls of these.
The Grilled Squid ($14) didn't fare too well as the flesh had gone a little rubbery, a little too familiar with the flames.
Steer clear of the Sashimi (3 types for $17). I question its freshness especially in a place better adept to handle its meats well.
The Gyoza and Assorted Tempura ($15) were your standard run-of-the-mill renditions of the fare found at most ordinary establishments. Shy of fillings in the former and lack of seasoning in the batter in the latter. I was less than impressed and refrained from seconds.
Azmaya with its spacious dining room and more family orientated seating patterns would be a wise choice for birthdays or intimate family gatherings. There's just something about fretting over a steamboat that pulls people together, fostering relationships; the relentless chatter and the mutual cooking favours. That aside, do not expect extraordinary events to unfold at Azmaya on the culinary front.
Azmaya
30 Robertson Quay
#01-12/13
t: 6737 6863
w: http://kthsg-shop.com/azmaya/
Opening Hours:
Tues-Sun 5pm - 1am
Carvers and Co. : Strictly Carnivores only.
Labels:
dinner,
East Coast/ Joo Chiat,
hidden finds,
pork belly,
roast
·
Just the name alone divulges all secrets of the nature of business of this infant joint. If it's a good roasts that you're after; then you're struck gold with this one.
At Carvers and Co., a family oriented laid back atmosphere is key, and the pride and joy is simply the hearty roasts and comfort food produced by chef/owner Sarah Lin. Staff are enthusiastic, endearing and friendly, generally doing the kitchen justice. We indulged in a languid affair of The Carvers Plate for 2 ($70) complete with a gratifying flow of Long Row Cabernet ($15/glass) to fill in the gaps. Featured roasts of the day included a gammon ham, roast pork belly, chicken leg and wagyu beef with roast potatoes. The bitter arugula salad accompaniment did much to cut out the rich meatiness of the dish's protein overloaded being. That being said, there were no complaints as we worked our way through the mouthwatering assortment of roasts, the succulence in the flesh attesting it's uncalled allegiance with gravy or any sorts.
If you're convinced to make a trip down soon, my word of advice would be to book a roast in advance for the meal to ensure that they don't run out. Done in small batches with love and meticulous care just as you would when eating in someone's home, don't expect to be served what you want at any given time of day.
Carvers & Co.
43 East Coast Road S(473500)
t: 9667 1096/ 63480448
Operating Hours
Mondays -Friday: 11am -10pm
Sat-Sun: 8.30am - 10.30pm
Closed on Tuesdays
NUVO Restaurant + Lounge @ Marina Square
Labels:
cityhall,
dinner,
fusion,
hidden finds,
italian,
japanese,
lunch,
marina square,
setlunch,
special occasion
·
NUVO sitauted at The Dining Edition in Marina Square has recently refreshed its menu, opening up its doors to a whole league of inquisitive diners looking for something a little out of the norm.
Due to space constraints and location, I cannot vouch to NUVO having a very attractive setup, deco-wise, they fail to get the chops. Brief touches of Japanese influences mar the naked walls and elaborate archways in the center of the darkened restaurant entrance intimidates; this opens up to an open dining area with booth seating that kisses the passageway, the absence of a partition resulting in a lack of privacy. Fortunately, for whatever NUVO lacks in the design savvy department, it makes up for ten-fold in terms of flavor.
Pulling its punches as a contemporary Italian & Japanese restaurant, Chef Mark Richards (previously of Keystone Restaurant) impresses with his starter of Warm Japanese Mushroom Salad ($18) featuring 2 types of mushrooms with a delicate mix of pine nuts, baby spinach, asparagus and tossed in a mouthwatering butter truffle oil shoyu dressing. The contrast in textures and flavors making this one of the most innovative salads I've had this year.
Equally impressive is the Angus Osso Buco Stew ($28), with a refined version of the passe 'surf & turf' combination. Here, a stew made from roasted bone marrow meets Tsukiji oyster fritters. To further accentuate the collaboration, oven roasted Hijiki and porcini mushrooms are pulled into the portrait along with a reduction of veal jus, parmiggiano-reggiano and that little nuggets of pickled crumbled to bring acidity to the dish.
The Crispy Calamari ($18) is another of Chef Mark's attempt to inject artfulness into the Japanese and Italian infusion. Freshly fried calamari is sprinkled with togarashi (a peppery Japanese condiment) and this is served alongside compressed watermelon, cooked sous vide with yuzu. Unfortunately this did not pan out for me as the calamari itself was a bit on the chewy side.
The next offering sees two dishes on a platter, the Kurobuta Pork Belly ($32) and Angel Hair Wakame ($18/$24) lying awkwardly beside each other. The former, is a slab of delicately sliced pork belly glazed with a sheen of honeyed fats; cooked kakuni style, braised in dashi and soy sauce; this bared resemblance to the Chinese style braised pork but with an air of sophistication. The Angel Hair Wakame is an expertly prepared dish highlighting the clean un-fussed approach of Japanese cooking methods using Italian ingredients. Al dente pasta is tossed in lobster essence, rayu oil and sprinkled with tamago fukikake.
When the Baked Olive Black Cod ($35) arrived at the table, we were fazed with a flurry of shots attempting to capture the life and vibrancy of the dish. Here, the supple black cod rest above a pool of bisque style gravy. Pepperoni, hon shimeiji, baby potatoes and leek in the sauce resonating a picturesque background for the oily baked cod peppered with a espresso bean paste for that slight unexpected edge of bitterness.
The Japones Australian Lamb Shank ($38) cooked sous vide in Limoncello had a subtle tang that was barely noticeable to most others, the crispy kale with yuzu salt providing a fresh coat of cheer in the dish. A blanket of fregola sarda rest below the hunk of meat, like pearls of barley, this Sardanian pasta had a strange texture that I did not care much for. .
The next dish was an fair example of a mundane dish that has been elevated by the use of extraordinary ingredients and meticulous attention to detail. Smoked Uni Carbonara ($38): the velvety creaminess of the sauce, the sweet onerous teasing of the crayfish, the earthy crunch of the truffle soil; all this relegates the usual versions to stepchild status; all if not for the accompanying price tag.
Desserts bend traditions a little more. The Wild Honey Panna Cotta ($16) had a soy pudding like texture that dissolved quickly due to the lack of setting agent, this allowed the robust flavors of the wild honey to be better translated. The crisp whole pieces of dehydrated mandarin and lychee bringing a touch of whimsical to the dish. The next sweet ending, the Fuji Apple and Parmigiano Reggiano Torta ($14) impresses with its more traditional approach to a classic Italian dessert with a warm apple tart served with ice cream. The thing about NUVO is that you never quite get what you expect; and indeed, this version has a mild case of weirdness with the use of the savoury parmigiano-reggiano cheese in the cake batter itself and that served alongside a sweet fig and honey ice cream. Truly a smack down of flavors.
For those seeking something a little more adventurous, NUVO may just provide the gateway to extraordinary dining without the spectacular price tags. Lunch sets are affordable and portion sizes navigable. Creative plates with a big emphases on quality of ingredients are the order of the day at NUVO, so do not hesitate to visit soon!
NUVO Restaurant and Lounge
6 Raffles Boulevard #02-100
Marina Square Shopping Mall, Singapore 039594
t: 6822 2098
w: https://www.facebook.com/nuvosingapore
Opening Hours:
Daily 11 30am - 3 00 pm
5pm - 11pm
Shin Sapporo @ Orchard Gateway: Seasonal Summer menu
Labels:
affordable,
family friendly,
japanese,
orchard,
ramen
·
Offering more than just Ramen, the new Shin Sapporo at Orchard Gateway gives the other ramen joints in the vicinity a good run for its money. Here, the options run wild and freely, spanning from the usual suspects of soup bases, miso, shoyu and tonkatsu to even the noodle types. bodaciously curvy to straight-edged; there's something to satisfy everyone's whims and fancies.
The thing about the practise of eating ramen here in Singapore is how everyone is so strongly opinionated, almost guru-like, often sticking to familiar territory when navigating a new menu. When at Shin Sapporo, ,my advice would be to remove all inhibitions and try something different. How about the new Seasonal Summer menu?
Acquaint your taste buds to the lighter flavor nuances of this newly introduced menu with the appetiser of Ebi Tofu ($6.80), a plump prawn sits on a pedestal of cold silky tofu and an aromatic homemade sesame sauce cascades down the sides. I wish the sauce was a little thicker but it may be wiser to appreciate the more subtle approach of this dish in the entirety of the meal ahead.
I soldier on...the Miso Tofu Steak ($6.80) picking up the pace with its racy entry. Here, tofu is a deep fried to golden brown in tempura batter and topped with a sauce that was redolent with miso paste and just sticky enough to moisten the dish perfectly.
For mains, the Tenchirashi Ramen ($15.80) comes highly recommended. If you're a carnivore like me and can't imagine tucking into a bowl of ramen sans the mandatory slice of char siu then you might want to heed my advice, clear you mind and give this dish a go. At the end of the day, you'll thank me for it.
Chilled ramen is served with a generous mixture of tempura prawns, shitake and shimeiji mushrooms. I appreciate the additional whisper of sweetness with each mouthful, from the light sauce that was expertly balanced. Before eating, give the poached egg a playful poke and enjoy the classic combination of poached egg with mushrooms done with a Japanese twist.
Having said that, I turned to my usual ramen order to weigh it against my benchmark. The Shin Sapporo Miso Ramen ($14.80) delivers on its promise for a lighter approach. The soup is translucent and only slightly salty, not so much that it sets you back with tingling lips at the end of the meal; topped with sweet corn, stir fried vegetables (just a tad queer with the boiled cabbage), bean spouts, tender yakibuta and RUNNY egg. This was a bowl of comfort, simply made, yet big on flavor. Authentic sapporo miso noodles are used in the dish, a tad thicker than the usual versions, this curly noodle feel fuller to the bite and allows the sublime flavor of the broth to adhere better to its surface when you handle them. To be honest, this isn't a bowl of ramen that would send me running up and down the corridors flailing my arms in the air; but IT IS a good dependable version that is unlikely to disappoint.
Desserts such as the Chocolate Lava cake trip up the traditional line up of mochi and matcha dominated finale menu choices. It's uncanny presence revealing a burlesque-girl type performance, with all the bells and whistles included. Piping hot chocolate dribbled from the molten centre, the sides reinforced by sinister walls of crusty chocolate cake batter. Trailing your spoon along the plate, get a bite of the vanilla ice cream with the unorthodox toasted peanut crumbs and that divine chocolate cake; then, you're pretty much in heaven.
Shin-Sapporo Ramen
Orchard Gateway
#B2-04A/05
t: 6702 4906
w: www.shin-sappororamen.com
Opening hours:
Daily 11am - 10pm
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