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9 HOTEL BUFFETS UNDER $50
2016 111/03/
, d r a h k r o W Eat harder! E R N O V E M B
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Download WIN A FREE the issue DINNER! here ON MAKAN
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inside NEW EATS p2
Korean fusion and next-gen hawkers
HOT SEAT p3
HolyCrab! Elton Seah leaves private dining and opens a restaurant
DESTINATION DINING p10
Tasty pickings for the hungry CBD crowd at Tanjong Pagar Centre
SUPERMARKET SLEUTH p12
Cook a week’s worth of delish office lunches for under $18
Unwind with dinner and drinks at these office hubs turned food havens p4
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Each month, we’ll feature a fresh makan place for you to guess what/where it is. Correct answers will be entered in a draw to win a dining experience with us! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram/Facebook!
5 READERS STAND TO WIN A DINNER FOR 2
Located within PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road, this all-day dining restaurant is famed for its seemingly endless spread of seafood dishes. Authentic Singapore chilli crab aside, the hotel chefs are always whipping up indulgent renditions of our favourite hawker dishes a la minute. The Nyonya laksa with Boston lobster and wok-fried bee hoon with lala are not to be missed. In addition to the seafood feast, there is also a rotating selection of Peranakan and zi char dishes. Diners can also help themselves to the Japanese sushi bar, salad bar and a variety of desserts. Give us your best guess of the restaurant and its address from 1 to 21 November to dine on 18 December, 7pm! For full details and to enter, visit bites.com.sg/makanonbites.
B i T E S reserves the right to publicise winners’ names and pictures. By entering the contest, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to publish publicity photos and video in any format without limitation. Participants to ensure they can dine on 18 December at 7pm. More on www.bites.com.sg/makanonbites
Makan on BiTES Where: HARARU IZAKAYA When: 5 October
WHAT WE Ate: • Salmon Avocado Salad • Gyuniku Nitsuke (Stewed Beef Ribs) • Ninniku Fried Rice (Garlic Fried Rice)
• 8 Skewers – Chicken Thigh, Thigh & Leek, Chicken Hearts, Quail Eggs, Chicken Meatballs, Chicken Butt and Chicken Gizzards
Our five winners and their partners smiling with satisfaction after a pampering meal
A delectable 8-skewer platter featuring juicy chicken thighs and wings
The restaurant’s second floor is perfect for cosy gatherings
The best way to enjoy the skewers is with a bowl of Ninniku Fried Rice
Last month, five happy winners and their plus ones were treated to a delectable platters of charcoal-grilled skewers and other toothsome delights at one of Singapore’s Halal-certified Japanese restaurants, Hararu Izakaya. Our readers also enjoyed gyuniku nitsuke, a hearty bowl of tender beef ribs and a great accompaniment to the aromatic ninniku fried rice.
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NEW MENUS Machida Shoten has been drawing crowds with its hearty shoyu tonkotsu ramen ($14), but it is the new tsukemen ($15) that has us throwing our diet plans out the window. Made from their own blend of dashi and dried chashu, the creamy broth is a match made in heaven with the thick Yokohama-style MACHIDA SHOTEN wheat noodles. Complete your meal with soft-boiled egg and chashu ($4) or add on the Ibérico spare ribs ($14)—a treat that’s marinated in a sweet soya sauce and excellent for dipping into the broth. #04-40 Japan Food Town, Wisma Atria Shopping Centre. Tel: 6262 3214 FLO (Food Lovers Only) recently launched a Koreaninspired menu with creative fusion dishes such as kimchi pancake ($14.90), beef bulgogi spaghetti ($16.90) and rosti with scrambled eggs ($16.90), which comes with marinated chicken slices, sour cream dip and a side salad. End your meal on a sweet note with their crispy waffle with ice cream ($10.90), topped with fresh berries, maple syrup and chocolate sauce. All prices are nett. #02-15A IMM, 2 Jurong East Street. Tel: 6896 1396
SLUVICHE
new openings Sluviche combines two South American classics—pisco and ceviche—for a slamming good time. Sip on slushie versions ($15) of pisco sour and pisco punch (the two most popular cocktails using the Peruvian brandy) while scarfing down the scrumptious ceviches—raw seafood “cooked” in lemon and lime juice. Scallops ($25) are spiked with chilli padi, slicked with chive oil and topped with ikura, while swordfish ($20) is given a creamy treatment of coconut milk and leeks. All ceviches come with a side of sourdough, but you can further bulk up your meal with sides of corn ($3) or the tender baked potato ($6). Level 2, 17A Keong Saik Road. Tel: 6224 0212 To promote nextHAWKER HEROES generation hawkers, Pezzo Group has introduced Hawker Heroes. The first outlet at Northpoint features two well-known food stalls. Ru Ji Fishball Noodles (established 2003 at Holland Drive) is led by husband-and-wife team Joanne Ng and Daniel Lee, who learnt their craft from Joanne’s dad. Go for the famous mee pok dry ($4.50) with 100% yellowtail fishballs and special sambal, or their new bak chor mee ($5.50) with handmade meatballs. At Hong Seng Curry Rice (established 1995 in Redhill), Alex Lim carries on the family tradition with his grandma’s recipes for Hainanese curry (sets from $4.50)—cooked with chicken, squid and potatoes—and pork chop with an old-school cream cracker crust. #01-07 Northpoint, 930 Yishun Avenue 2.
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FLO
Gearing Up for Christmas Christmas starts early at Jamie’s Italian. Available at both VivoCity and Forum outlets from 21 Nov, mouth-watering dishes such as Jamie’s Porchetta—a slowcooked free-range pork belly stuffed with cranberries, apricots and sage, and served with a herby apple sauce—will be presented alongside the Festive Dark Chocolate Tart in either of their two Christmas menus (Festive Lunch $49.90, Ultimate Dinner Feast $65.90). Those planning a get-together can go for the festivethemed pizza and Prosecco party ($48 two glasses or $68 freeflow), where guests can craft their very own sourdough pizza while downing celebratory glasses of bubblies. #01-01 Forum, 583 Orchard Road. Tel: 6655 7676. #1-165 VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk. Tel: 6733 5500
JAMIE'S ITALIAN
H t Seat openings We go behind the scenes to find out the highlights and challenges of the latest F&B openings. By Fred Voon
Who: Elton Seah, 40 What: HolyCrab, previously a private dining enterprise, now a restaurant on Tan Quee Lan Street
How did your love for cooking begin? When I was 13 and sent to a boarding school in California, getting used to American food was really painful. The section for Asian food was steamed rice and a bottle of soya sauce. So on weekends, we Asian students would cook hotpot, have Korean BBQ, and experiment with ramen. How did HolyCrab go from private dining to becoming a restaurant? I started off cooking for friends and family, who invited others. Eventually they offered to pay for the ingredients, and suggested that I do private dining. Then I decided to specialise in crabs. That's how HolyCrab was born. It was just a hobby and I did two bookings a week, but I finally decided to pursue this fulltime with a restaurant. I had the confidence because of my pool of customers from the past seven to eight years. How do you compete with other crab restaurants? I don’t think much about the competition. I offer different crab dishes, like my green chilli crab, which I created because the good old Singapore chilli crab to me is a bit old. Most restaurants cook salted egg yolk crab dry, but we add the gravy element that can be soaked up with mantou. For my white pepper crab, I chose to add pink peppercorns for a different flavour profile.
What has been your biggest challenge? Managing the supply of crabs. A customer can order no crab dishes; a walk-in can take away five crabs. We once had three bookings cancelled in a day, and just last night, we ran out of crabs and I had to rush to Mustafa to find crabs. What makes a good crab dish? The core element is the freshness of the crab. On a scale of flavour intensity, you can have a level 1 steamed crab with Shaoxing wine or a level 10 tom yum crab. But if flavours are balanced, both would taste equally awesome. Also, the sauce has to complement and not mask the crab flavour. Which crab dish represents your personality? I would say the balsamic crab, because it speaks of my courage to do something different and being a trendsetter in the market. I had my fears about the dish because not everybody likes vinegar. It is a very acquired taste. We just have to tell them what to expect, and see if they want to try it. Tell us about your vibrant chef jackets. Initially my chef’s uniform was black, but it didn’t work for me. I’m a very loud and flamboyant guy. So I made jackets in bright pink, yellow, red, green and orange. Customers started taking photos with me and getting to know me. I sort of present myself as the third or fourth dish—although I’m not edible!
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, d r a h k r o W Eat harder! With office hubs burgeoning into foodie hubs, there’s no need to travel far to enjoy post-work drinks or a sumptuous dinner. We visit two buzzing commercial centres to check out their latest F&B offerings. By Fred Voon and Rachel Lee
IN THE WEST one-north Besides housing the high tech and media industries, this sprawling complex with quirky building names (like Nanos, Centros, Innovis and Solaris) is also home to diverse cuisines and a surprising number of bars.
COALESCE
Credit: Kuang Jing Kai
IKKI
THE HERBAL BAR
Coalesce Launched in mid-August, Coalesce is a bar and restaurant tucked away on the third floor of the NTU Alumni Club with a menu that reflects the cosmopolitan character and melting pot of cultures in Singapore. The pork tsukune ($13) marries Japanese meatballs with French white wine-glazed asparagus and kaffir lime hollandaise, while the Alaskan Thai
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milk tea coco gelato ($9) puts an Asian twist on the American dessert with mango puree and toasted rice puffs. During happy hour (4 to 8pm), enjoy 30% off cocktails and discounts on draught beer. Cocktails are one for one for ladies on Thu nights. #03-01 NTU Alumni Club, 11 Slim Barracks Rise. Tel: 9186 0685
Co-owned by actorrestaurateur Adam Chen (who is also behind Five Bar), this izakaya just across the road from Buona Vista MRT station satisfies any hankering for sake and donburi. Bar snack options include kawahagi (dried filefish, $6) and ume kurage (plum jellyfish, $6). #01-06 The Metropolis, 9 North Buona Vista Drive. Tel: 8138 8578
The Herbal Bar The third outlet of The Herbal Bar, barely a month old, is the first outside the CBD. Health nuts and gym rats will rejoice at its wide range of filling and nutritious meals. Owner Waye Tan developed
the Chinese herbal soup recipes with his mother, who has been a TCM practitioner for over 40 years and takes trips to China to source for ingredients. Bestsellers include Chinese cabbage and fish maw ($9.80) and Mini Buddha Jumps Over the Wall ($11.80), a rich stew of abalone, scallops and shiitake mushrooms. #01-18 The Metropolis, 9 North Buona Vista Drive. Tel: 6694 1127
Bodacious This bistro and bar in the heart of Biopolis is a popular evening hangout with hearty bites like Wagyu burger ($19.80) and cheese platter ($17.80). But its greatest appeal may be the fantastic happy hour, which lasts from 4pm till late, during which you can get $7 wines or spirits and $11 pints of beer (Stella and Hoegaarden). Don’t miss their $2 oysters between 5 and 8pm daily (while stocks last), and live music on Wed and Fri evenings. 70 Biopolis Street. Tel: 6778 9585
Manchurian Club After the success of its Changi Business Park branch, Manchurian Club opened a second outlet in one-north four months ago. Diners will be intrigued by its “Indianised Chinese” cuisine, which was developed by early 1900s Hakka immigrants to India fleeing the political turmoil in China. Relish in the explosive Manchurian Club
flavours of devil’s prawns ($15), crispy five-spice chicken ($8), lamb in Chu Hou sauce ($9) and Manchow soup ($7)—a dark and spicy broth that’s an Indian Chinese classic. #01-05 Nucleos, 21 Biopolis Road. Tel: 6266 6920
The RED Sitting atop one-north MRT station is Galaxis, a building with numerous food options, from grain bowls to coconut steamboat. Come sunset, though, you’ll find scores of workers flocking to The
THE RED
RED, a dimly lit bar where you can play darts and listen to live music. Evening nosh includes Hokkien mee with lala ($8), along with less substantial bites like gyoza ($7) and smoked duck with fruit salsa ($10). Before 9pm, Asahi and Kronenbourg beers are on discount (e.g. 2 pints for $20, 2 towers for $120). #01-12 Galaxis, 1 Fusionopolis Place. Tel: 6253 6184
Arkadaş Cafe Surrounded by a profusion of greenery, Arkadaş Cafe is a lush retreat where
you can find Turkish favourites such as hummus with pita bread ($7.90), lamb and beef adana kebab ($18) and kenefe ($12)—nicknamed “a slice of heaven”—a decadent pastry of enriched with cheese and syrup. Chef Mustafa Gungor has an impressive pedigree to boot: He used to be personal chef to eight of Turkey’s ambassadors to Singapore. #01-02 Sandcrawler, 1 Fusionopolis View. Tel: 6466 9918
Pietrasanta Perfect for a special occasion, this Italian restaurant lies in a secluded corner of one-north and will win you over with its warm ambience and homey cooking. For mains, try the pappardelle with Chianti ragù ($20.90) or get the black truffle pizza ($24.90) to share, and conclude your meal with the Tuscan dark chocolate cake ($14.90) or panna cotta with Amarene cherries ($14.90). Alcohol options include Menabrea beer ($10), Prosecco ($14.90), grappa ($16.90) and various wines (from $11.90). #01-03, 5B Portsdown Road. Tel: 6479 9521
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garÇons
This year-old gastropark offers unbeatable variety. Built from shipping containers, one half showcases traditional hawker stalls that close by 6pm (Rong Ma Curry Rice is pretty fantastic) while the other half features slightly upscale stalls (think food truck fare) open till 10pm or so. Smack in the middle of it all is Bottle Shop, which offers over 200 rotating craft beers (from $10). 73A Ayer Rajah Crescent.
IN THE EAST Kallang Hub
Right on the fringe of the café cluster in Jalan Besar lies this young commercial hub. Along with the office towers that have sprung up, a foodie haven has developed across the lower levels of CT Hub, CT Hub 2 and Aperia Mall.
CHAR Express (#01-32) At CHAR Express, you get to savour the quality roast meats of the Jalan Besar restaurant in smaller portions and at more affordable prices. Get the signature char siew or roast pork belly ($6.50), which comes with rice and vegetables. Other noteworthy dishes include kung pao chicken ($5.50) and salted egg pork ($6.50).
Offerings range from sous vide chicken breast ($9.90) to 12-hour crispy pork belly ($16.90) and Carnivore Platter ($39.90), a meat feast that includes crispy pork belly, roast chicken, chorizo and bratwurst.
The World Is Flat (#01-04)
KUSH (#01-36)
Bestsellers at this modern pizza and sandwich joint by Tanuki Raw include Fat Samurai ($9), a charcoal-crust deep dish pizza piled with ten toppings such as duck confit and smashed US beef, and Mama Says ($14), a vegetarian sandwich loaded with Portobello, baby spinach, sweet potato, brie and mozzarella.
Founded by self-taught chef Chung Deming, KUSH serves skewers by the stick (e.g. chicken $2, enoki bacon $2.80) and on top of rice bowls (from $8.80) with onsen egg and sambal kang kong. Also check out the mod-Sin creations like salted egg and chilli crab fries ($14) and durian crème brûlée ($8).
Garçons (#01-37) Garçons is a social enterprise that serves French cuisine and hires and trains ex-offenders and youths-at-risk.
Brenda, 36, doctor What brings you here? I’m here on a Fridate with my husband. We recently discovered Timbre+. I told my husband that we should bring our visitors here. It’s a nice place where they can have drinks and a taste of local cuisine. What did you order? Salted egg chicken wings from Two Wings and BBQ pulled pork tacos from Vatos Express.
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Fisher’s Tavern Seafood Looking for something hearty and comforting after work? Fisher’s Tavern Seafood serves up their own rendition of the classic white bee hoon ($20) with heaps of ingredients including crayfish, prawns and THE BENTO PEOPLE clams. Be sure to try their salted egg crab ($60), seafood claypot ($25) and cereal prawns ($20). They’ve recently been Halal-certified, and accept only cash. #01-68 CT Hub 2, 114 Lavender Street. Tel: 9786 7796
Fairyfloss For a sweet afternoon snack, Fairyfloss offers a make-your-own candyfloss burrito ($15/2 coloured floss and 10 pandan-flavoured crepes). Pick a few of their hand-pulled cotton candy with colours ranging from orange, purple, yellow or pink and pair it with their homemade crepes. Simply roll it up for
a perfect pick-me-up. #01-07 CT Hub 2, 114 Lavender Street. Tel: 9180 3914
The Bento People Eating healthy has never been easier with The Bento People, where you can make your own bento ($9.80 onwards) with their interesting mod fusion toppings. We recommend the bulgogi beef tofu for a Korean inspired bento, the tom yum mushrooms and cauliflower for those who like a kick and the classic sous vide chicken. #02-17 CT Hub, 2 Kallang Avenue. Tel: 6443 2006
Juan Dong Ji Juan Dong Ji is the place to visit when you and your colleagues need a hotpot fix. With a time limit of two hours, you get to enjoy their hotpot buffet (adult: $21.80++, child: $11.80++) with free-flow drinks. Each diner gets a personal pot with six different soup bases to choose from—chicken, tom yum, seafood, tomato, mala and old cucumber pork ribs (our favourite). Throw in some meatballs, fresh beef slices, various fresh vegetables and their special handmade dumplings to create a filling and satisfying dinner. #01-25 Aperia Mall, 12 Kallang Avenue. Tel: 6702 1528
NatureCafé For a vegetarian feast after work, NatureCafé offers a wide range of Asian dishes without the use of MSG, garlic, onion or wine. They have even created meatless versions of local favourites such as veggie fish noodles with milk ($5.90), green curry ($5.90), spicy fried kuay teow ($5.90) and chicken and char siew rice ($5.90). For dessert, be sure to try their grass jelly ($4.30) or red
KOON BAK KUT TEH
Bryan Tay, 26, designer
dates with white fungus ($4.30). #01-28 Aperia Mall, 12 Kallang Avenue. Tel: 6702 3962
Koon Bak Kut Teh On cold and rainy days, you can never go wrong with Koon Bak Kut Teh. Their bak kut teh boasts a flavourful peppery soup and comes in options such as spare ribs and pork ribs ($6.50) and premium spare ribs ($9.50) which boasts tender flesh that tears off the bone easily. Their Koon seafood white beehoon ($9.90) is also worth trying. 119 Lavender Street. Tel: 6299 0119
The Coffee Shot At this bright and spacious cafe, enjoy a hot cuppa after work or a meet-up with your friends before heading home. The Coffee Shot serves up amazing lunch and dinner options such as their signature baked herb crusted salmon ($16.50) made with fresh Norwegian salmon, mesclun and tomato coulis. They also have all-day breakfast options like eggs Benedict ($14.90) and Scramb It! ($17.90)—a platter of scrambled eggs, bratwurst, ham, toast, tomato and mesclun salad. 103 Lavender Street. Tel: 6299 5909
What’s your favourite place for dinner at CT Hub 2? Without question, it’s Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak. They close early, but the food is worth packing and putting aside to enjoy later. The brothers who run the stall make a really fragrant nasi lemak using their grandma’s recipe. People always come here for the butterfly pea rice, but it is the rendang chicken that I always look forward to.
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b o u n t y options range from warm chocolate pudding to Asian sweet treats. Birthday party packages with semi-private dining spaces are available. Level 2, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, 75 Airport Boulevard. Tel: 6823 5354 SPICE BRASSERIE For unrivalled variety and unlimited portions of hawker fare without breaking a sweat (read: air-con), head to Spice Brasserie. Their Authentic Zi Char Dinner (Mon-Wed $36++) features live stations where chefs imbue your chosen ingredients with wok hei. Dig into spicy Indonesian prawns in claypot, assorted stir-fried vegetables, BBQ stingray, KL Hokkien mee, and more. On weekends, the Local Seafood Delights buffet (Thu-Sun $65++, $200++ for four pax) presents an indulgent spread of lobster laksa, salted egg crab and asam pedas stingray. Level 1, PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road, 181 Kitchener Road. Tel: 6428 3160
You’ve had a tough day at work and can’t wait to pamper your palate. Feast like a king at these value-for-money hotel restaurants—minus a royal budget. By Fred Voon
9 Hotel Dinner Buffets UNDER $50 nett THE FERNTREE CAFE
SPICE BRASSERIE
THE LANDMARK We love the abundance of Indian and Mediterranean flavours of the Halal buffet at The Landmark (Mon-Thu $30++, Fri-Sun $35++). Even though there are no live stations on weekdays, you’ll still be able to enjoy other highlights like assorted naan, tandoori chicken and vegetable dalcha. Love salads? At least 12 types are served every day, including Greek, Persian shirazi, and Thai seafood. At the goreng goreng station, deep-fried items such as vada and epok epok are accompanied by various dips, while the dessert section offers tempting treats like gulab jamun and pulut hitam. Level 5, Village Hotel Bugis, 390 Victoria Street. Tel: 6299 7786 THE FERNTREE CAFE Only during dinner (1 for 1: Mon-Thu $63.80++, Fri-Sun $73.80++) will you get to enjoy unlimited servings of U.S. oysters and free-flow Chang beer at The FernTree Cafe. The cosy coffeehouse also offers seafood on ice such as mussels, scallops and tiger prawns; live stations
serving noodles, sashimi and carved meats; dim sum and freshly made pastries. Level 1, Hotel Miramar Singapore, 401 Havelock Road. Tel: 6631 3021 AZUR This restaurant in Crowne Plaza Changi Airport boasts a chic interior and open kitchen (1 for 1 with any credit card: Mon-Thu $65++) where you can catch the chefs at work. There are meat dishes such as braised pork belly, Peking duck and chicken malai kebab; fresh seafood includes flower crabs and Boston lobsters; and dessert ATRIUM RESTAURANT
AZUR
Bites guide: Price guide (nett) $ wallet-friendly (below $50) $$ just can’t resist a splurge ($50-100) $$$ a special occasion ($100-150) $$$$ indulgence galore (above $150)
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ATRIUM RESTAURANT For the month of November, Atrium Restaurant goes full-on Peranakan (Sun-Thu $78++ for two, Fri-Sat $88 for two). Tuck into classics like ayam buah keluak, beef rendang, chilli crayfish and Nyonya laksa. Needless to say, your meal will end with a sweet smorsgasbord
Certified halal Does not serve pork or lard Kid-friendly facilities Veg-friendly
21 ON RAJAH
of Nyonya kueh, durian mousse and DIY chendol. Kids under 12 eat for free. Level 4, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, 317 Outram Road. Tel: 6731 7172 SALTWATER Set amid the lush greenery of Changi Village, Saltwater has an al fresco dining area that overlooks Changi Golf Club. Its buffet spread (Mon-Thu $39++, Fri-Sun $48++) offers freshly picked garden greens and snow crabs, along with local favourites like ayam masak merah, cereal prawns and Nyonya sea bass. Till end November, enjoy a selection of Thai delights such as gai yang (grilled chicken) and gang phed (red curry). Level 1, Village Hotel Changi, 1 Netheravon Road. Tel: 6379 7018
21 ON RAJAH The Mediterr-Asian ‘Pasar’ dinner buffet (Mon-Thu $40++, Fri-Sun $45++) at 21 on Rajah transports you to the street markets of North Africa and the Middle East with fattoush salad, Arabic mezze and tajine dishes. Other offerings include New Zealand prime ribeye, seafood paella and an impressive dessert table with churros, waffles and French pastries. Level 1, Days Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park, 1 Jalan Rajah. Tel: 6808 6847 FLAVOURS AT ZHONGSHAN PARK Hawkerlicious pleasures await at Flavours at Zhongshan Park (Mon-Thu $40++, Fri-Sun $45++). Expect double-boiled Chinese soups and roast meats such as char siew and pork belly. At the dinner-only seafood wok station, take your pick of fresh catch like clams, snapper and mud crabs, then have the chef cook them in signature sauces such as black pepper and asam curry. Level 1, Ramada Singapore at Zhongshan Park. Tel: 6808 6846
BLUE JASMINE Available three days a week (Thu-Sat $42++), Blue Jasmine’s newly launched Anchan Thai buffet (anchan is Thai for blue pea flower) showcases the cuisines of various regions of Thailand—the roast chicken with smoked chilli sauce is an Esarn (Northeastern) dish, while the yellow curry with tiger prawns and betel leaves comes from the South. There are also various live stations serving Thai noodle soup, Thai “teh tarik” and durian sticky rice. Level 5, Park Hotel Farrer Park,10 Farrer Park Station Road. Tel: 6824 8851
BLUE JASMINE
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Downtime detour at Tanjong Pagar Centre
aFTER A LONG DAY AT WORK, CHILL OUT AND REcharge AT tanjong pAGAR’S NEWEST FOOD HAVEN. Whether you’re in the mood for delicious mexican cuisine or healthy poke bowls, the vast range of options is sure to satisfy. Tanjong Pagar Centre, 1 Wallich Street. By Rachel Lee, Photography by Nazurah Rahim
LEVEL B1 Azuma Sushi (#B1-04/05) For a casual Japanese dinner, head to the homey and spacious diner Azuma Sushi. Expect a variety of comforting dishes such as crab meat and octopus salad ($7.80), salmon mentai island roll ($13.80) and a filling Hokkaido don ($31.80). Fans of sea urchin will love their uni chawanmushi ($10.80), a luxurious rendition of the humble steamed egg dish. Tel: 6702 7866 IndoChili (#B1-03) IndoChili specialises in traditional Indonesian fare, doling out classics like tahu telor ($8.80), oxtail soup ($14.80) and sop buntut ($14.80). Dessert lovers will not want to miss their es cendol ($6.80) which boasts a fragrant gula melaka sauce drizzled over ice. Tel: 6396 6427 SBCD KOREAN TOFU HOUSE
Makai Poke (#B1-08) Besides its affordable price point of $9.90, the poke bowls at Makai Poke are great for those who want a filling meal that doesn’t pile on the calories. The Makai shoyu salmon on a bed of trio mix greens has our stamp of approval. Diners can also customise their own bowls. Tel: 6386 9313 SBCD Korean Tofu House (#B1-01) There is nothing more comforting than a piping hot bowl of soup after work. SBCD Korean Tofu House is famous for their homemade tofu and spicy soup base, with spice levels from mild to crazy hot. The new flower crab soontofu ($23.90) is perfect with claypot rice and their signature spicy grilled chicken combo ($28.90). Tel: 6386 6441 SBCD KOREAN TOFU HOUSE
LEVEL B2 Babuxiaomi (#B2-30) Introduce yourself to the world of Yunnan-style vermicelli dishes with noodles that are specially imported from China and boast a bouncy yet smooth texture. On your first visit, try the beef mixian ($9.80) or Sichuan mala beef tender mixian ($9.80). Another item we recommend is the highly addictive braised pork rice ($9.80). Guzman Y Gomez (#B2-14) Their famously large burritos aside, Guzman Y Gomez’s spicy grilled steak ($11.40) and spicy slow-roasted pork ($10.90) are must-haves that sport tender meat marinated with tons of herbs and spices for an explosion of flavours.
SbCD Korean Tofu House
Those wanting a snack can go for their roasted tomato salsa and corn chips ($8) or their range of healthy salads. Tel: 6386 7431 Seattle Pike Chowder (#B2-27) Rainy days will have you craving for Seattle Pike Chowder’s New England clam chowder and smoked salmon chowder ($8.90/small, $11.90/medium, $14.90/large). There is also an indulgent truffle lobster roll ($31.90) which features a generous mound of succulent lobster flesh tossed in an addictive spicy sauce. Tel: 6910 4388
Seattle pike Chowder
makai poke
Kuro maguro azuma Sushi japaN RaIL CaFE
SEATTLE PIKE CHOWDER
GUZMAN Y GOMEZ
Choo Guan Street
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LEVEL 1 Blue Lotus Chinese Grill House & Bar (#01-13) East meets West at Blue Lotus Chinese Grill House & Bar, which dishes out interesting creations like Ibérico suckling pig drizzled with spicy citrus dressing ($38) and 48-hour slow-cooked ‘dong po’ Kurobuta pork belly with a side of crispy mantou ($24). Their cosy and brightly lit ambience also creates a wonderful space for after-work meetings and dinner gatherings. Tel: 6996 0880
Pura Brasa (#01-16) Pura Brasa is a warm and inviting bar and diner that delivers authentic Spanish cuisine without breaking the bank. (You can’t miss the big red cow at the entrance.) They have a wide selection of tapas, including grilled chicken wings with straw potatoes ($15) and charcoal seafood paella ($28). Perfect for sharing are the half-metrelong Spanish pork ribs ($35) marinated in a sweet spice rub. Tel: 6386 9678 Japan Rail Café (#01-19/20) If you order only one dish off JAPAN RAIL CAFE’s menu, make it the Watashino curry rice ($18). The meaty, black pepper-based curry is served with a juicy fried chicken cutlet and a bed of Japanese short-grain rice. It also
Hattendo Café (#01-05) Hattendo Café produces a terrific version of Japanese cream puffs or choux à la crème. These handmade buns ($2.50/1 piece, $12.50/5 pieces) come in five flavours— custard, fresh cream, azuki (sweet red bean paste), matcha and chocolate. The melon buns ($3) are a must-try.
houses a JTB booth, where you can purchase rail passes for travelling across Japan’s many prefectures. Kuro Maguro (#01-04) Popular among the office crowd is Kuro Maguro, as their seafood is flown in daily from Japan. They’re famed for a wide variety of Japanese dishes ranging from sushi to donburi, plus their not-to-be-missed signature dish of kaisen meshi ($24.80++), which features an assortment of fresh and premium cut seafood atop Japanese long-grain rice. Tel: 6386 8561 PURA BRASA
PURA BRASA
HATTENDO CAFÉ
Hattendo Café JAPAN RAIL CAFÉ
Wallich Street
babuxiaomi
IndoChili
pura brasa
Cecil S t
Guzman Y Gomez blue Lotus Chinese Grill H ouse & bar
Tanjong pagar
EW15
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s u p e r m a r k e t
s l e u t h
$18 AND UNDER MONDAY TO FRIDAY MEAL PREP If braving the cbd crowd and chope-ing seats with tissue packets gives you a headache, here’s an alternative: make your own lunch! These FIVE EASY RECIPES will GET YOU FEELING LEAN and green ALL WEEK. plus your wallet will thank you for it. By Rachel Lee, Photography by Nazurah Rahim
Monday
Tomato Chicken with Pasta Directions: Preheat oven to 200C. Cook linguine in salted water till al dente, drain and set aside. Spread sliced onions and 100g chicken strips on baking tray and drizzle with olive oil. Blend tomatoes, garlic, salt and pepper into a paste and pour over chicken. Bake for 30 minutes. Serve baked chicken over linguine.
TIP: Throw in a stalk of rosemary during baking for more flavour.
Wednesday
Tuesday
Aglio Olio with Chicken Directions: Cook linguine in salted water till al dente, drain and set aside. Heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté peeled garlic cloves and chopped red chillis. Cook till garlic turns golden and remove from heat. Pan-fry 100g chicken strips and chopped French beans. Stir linguine into sauce and top with French beans and chicken strips.
TIP: Top the pasta with chopped red chiliis for an extra kick.
Thursday
Vegetable Stir-Fry with Rice
Directions: Heat wok to medium heat and add oil. Add broccoli and water, stir-fry till bright green. Add French beans, capsicum and enoki mushrooms with garlic and ginger and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Mix oyster sauce and water in small bowl. Add mixture to wok and stir-fry for 1 minute. Serve over rice.
TIP:
Tom yum paste makes for a sour and spicy
Friday
Tomato and Chicken Fritata
Directions: Whisk 2-3 eggs and season with salt and pepper. Add chopped vegetables and 50g boiled chicken shreds into mixture. Blend well. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat and pour in egg mixture. Cover and cook over low to medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes.
TIP:
Add cheddar cheese for that ooey-gooey goodness.
Tofu and Chicken Fresh Noodle Salad Directions: Cook rice noodles in salted water, drain and set aside. Season sliced tofu and 50g chicken with salt and pepper, and panfry till golden brown. Assemble ingredients as you see fit in bowl, and top with your favourite dressing.
TIP: Mix white miso with rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger and garlic to make a sweet and salty dressing. 12
Ingredients 300g chicken ($2.50) half-dozen eggs ($2.40) tofu ($0.95) rice ($2.95) rice noodles ($1.15) linguine ($1.95) tomatoes ($1.50) French beans ($1) broccoli ($0.49) capsicum ($0.59) lettuce ($1.20) enoki mushrooms ($0.80) From the kitchen: red onions garlic gingers olive oil red chillis salt pepper
Total: $17.48
Great food • Great drinks • Great music
The place to dine and celebrate in Singapore No. 1 HarbourFront Walk #01-98/99 VivoCity Singapore 098585 Tel: 6376 8185