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Showing posts from September, 2016

Korat Thai Cafe

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Korat Thai rounds off the trio of Thai eateries scattered in Orchard Towers, the other two being Cafe Sapunsa and Thai Tantric . We rotate between the 3, depending on whichever is the least busy. The Muslim-friendly Korat Thai doesn't do pork, but that lacuna is offset by the excellent finesse of the fresh and sweet seafood. Straightforward and rustic, the food at Korat Thai boasts big bold flavours. The Hubs says this is like the best of Thai street food that you could possibly find in Singapore, but in air-conditioned comfort and at prices reflective of an Orchard Road tenant. That said, Korat Thai's "premium prices" are cheaper than at fine-dining Patara , Tamarind Hill or Sabai . Like Cafe Supunsa and Thai Tantric, the tiny stall gets crazy-mobbed and service consequently choppy and dour, but who cares about good service when the fantastic food's all the draw you need. The Deep Fried Chicken with Garlic & Pepper ($10.90), fried to a crisp and

Dak Dori-Tang

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A lot of people associate dak dori-tang with that angry red-hued chicken stew dish commonly served in many Korean restaurants. That's a fallacy. Traditional styled dak dori-tang is supposed to be black in colour, spiked with green chillis only for heat, instead of the Korean red pepper paste gochujang or Korean red pepper powder gochugaru. A simple homecooked dish eaten in many households, and one of several Korean dishes the Hubs grew up with, dak doritang is the easiest thing to make. It has its roots in Chinese cooking, and to be honest, it's really just the Korean version of soy braised chicken. Only a little sweeter and a little spicier. This is great for a weeknight dinner, being low-fuss and quick to make. Serve with steaming hot white rice for maximum pleasure. Ingredients (serves 4): 4-6 chicken thighs, skin-on, bone-in (substitute with 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces) 1 medium yellow onion, diced 1 head garlic, minced 9 small potatoes, skin-on and cut half

Overeasy, Orchard

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When I was the in the U.S., diners were my favourite guilty pleasure. The food isn't the greatest, but they're unabashedly, and sinfully, comforting in that greasy, indulgent way. Plus, diners are mostly open through the night, and can be counted on for a most satisfying supper. Singapore has its 24-hour mamak stalls, which are awesome in their own right; but sometimes, in the dead of night, all I want is a milkshake and burger and fries, American diner-style. And Overeasy 's second outlet in the heart of Orchard, fills that niche pretty nicely. As with all diner fare, Overeasy 's food isn't the most polished or refined, but it is hearty, decadent, and appealing, albeit in the most unhealthy way, and thoroughly enjoyable. It's classic diner cuisine, done commendably. Service is chirpy and cheerful, courtesy of our pretty waitress, whose wide smile and tonal lilt helped shake off a tough day at work. A must-try, the Good 'ol Fashioned Mac & Cheese

Chijmes Lei Garden Restaurant

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We haven't been to Lei Garden in some time, not since Chijmes unveiled its refreshed facade and revamped dining options. It's still as awesome as ever: an old reliable that churns out consistently exquisite Cantonese cuisine, and graciously serviced by knowledgeable efficient personable waitresses. The Sauteed French Beans with Preserved Vegetables ($22) seasoned with jalepeno, and studded with mushrooms and barbecued pork dice, redolent with a smoky char, was wonderfully crunchy. In contrast, the Steamed Egg White with Crabmeat & Shrimp ($22) was smooth like the airest, fairiest cloud. Incredibly delicate, this bore a hint of shellfish essence for sweetness. The XO Braised Tofu ($26) dotted with minced pork was robust and punchy, and it's amazing how they manage to fry such delicate silky beancurd. That takes real skill and finesse! And because we love tofu so much, we also ordered the 'Lo Han' Vegetable Braise ($28). The assortment of firm be

Saveur Art

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We like Saveur a lot. It's consistently good and easy on the wallet; a reliable go-to for French homecooking. Suffice it to say, we had somewhat high expectations of its luxed-up sister concept, Saveur Art . Located at the 4th floor of ION Orchard, Saveur Art is notably more fancy. The restaurant would still be considered relatively casual, but stacked up against Saveur, Art 's decked out with frills - a basic cheese cart, pretty chandeliers, and plush couches which lend to its lush appeal. Correspondingly, the menu at Saveur Art is ritzier, where haute cuisine is served alongside traditionally peasant fare, with the use of premium ingredients. But that's where the Saveur group loses its edge. As a cheap and modest option catering to the mass market, their value-for-money-ness makes for a winning formula like no other. But as an affordable upstart in a landscape saturated with French fine-dining options, Saveur Art just can't compete. Prices may be cheaper than,

Saveur, Far East Plaza

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Saveur is another one of those places I'd never have visited on my own volition. I was under the impression that it was the French version of the dreadfully middling Pastamania . If not for the Hubs being unfamiliar with the local restaurant scene, who fortuitously ordered Saveur through a food delivery app, we wouldn't have discovered this treasure of a find. A wildly successful chain that grew from a little coffeeshop off Purvis Street, Saveur now has 4 establishments scattered around the central region. The food is unabashedly rustic, unpretentious, and for some reason, reminds me of really delicious canteen food, which may be partly attributed to the breezy, casual vibe of the eatery. Actually, it's more like heartwarmingly comforting French homecooking. At its finest. We're bemused by how Saveur keeps its prices so affordable, because the food is just so damn good. The Hubs has proferred a rationale: Saveur may be keeping costs low by employing less wait s

Wanton, Seng's Noodle Bar

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Wanton Seng's may just be the fanciest place we've ever been to for the humble wanton mee, a local dish ubiquitous to hawker centers but never featured as the highlighted draw of a restaurant. To be honest, but for a foodie friend's rave review, I'd have never thought to visit the CBD bistro bar. I mean, why would anyone go to a hipster upscale restaurant to eat wantan noodles, right?! It'll probably be worse than the Orchard Road food courts, severely overpriced and bitterly underwhelming. Or so I judgmentally thought. I'm glad I dumped my preconceived notions and heeded Ivano's recommendation, Wanton Seng's Noodle Bar is so much more than just an upmarket wanton mee outfit that also hawks alcohol. Wanton Seng's deconstructs the humble hawker fare and elevates, reinvents, and refines the local favourite into a modern artform. It's everything that you're familiar with wanton mee: the traditional, comforting, and hearty flavours, but mad