I have never had anything but a truly wonderful time at @anjusingapore. And when my friends and I had our little Thanksgiving dinner there, it was no different.
The lovely Serena (@raquizzi) took very good care of us, lubricating our lips with a complimentary bottle of their newest and most exclusive Korean Makgeolli - the Ellyeop Pyunjoo (ABV: 12%). Authentic and rare, it’s produced over generations by a single family in Korea and only made available to the public recently. Knowing it’s the same kind of tipple a scholar living in the country’s Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) would enjoy, only added to our appreciation of its tangy taste which we also found paired enjoyably with food. By the way, it will only be served on Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. So if you’re lucky enough to get a booking at @anju_singapore on those dates, you should not miss out on ordering it.
Besides the dishes we wanted, Korean Head Chef @k_marco.oo sent over a few of his new creations for us to try as well. Thus, these were what we ended up tucking into:
1. Bori Prawns ($9++) - Calvina had a craving for this snack of light and crunchy prawns, so of course, we had to order it. They were even better than I remembered them to be.
4. 4. 4. Lime zest-speckled Tofu Purée with Kimchi Chutney and Sourdough ($16++) - We gave this clever creation two thumbs-up.
6. Yuk Hoe ($28++) - Although I’d had the Korean-style beef tartare at Anju before, the recipe had since been tweaked. Served with crispy seaweed crackers, the raw minced beef was dressed in Korean gochujang sauce which gave it a little heat. While an egg yolk purée contributed silky richness, cubes of Korean pear added a pleasant crunch and sweetness to the spicy meat.
7. Hogam Jeon - Crunchy and cheesy, Anju’s modern take on a classic Korean pancake has been a bestseller since they opened. I would definitely recommend ordering this crowd-pleaser when you visit.
8. Abalone Gim Pasta ($34++) - Served chilled, this new creation by Head Chef @k_marco.oo proved a big hit with the three of us as well Topped with a butter-poached Korean abalone, the mouthwatering angel hair pasta was dressed in a light oil with lots of perilla leaves, seaweed and pickled shallots.
10. Galbi Jjim ($38++ per pax , minimum order of 2 pax) - Ever since I first stepped into this cosy and stylish restaurant and bar, the beef short rib dish has been a favourite of mine. It was still as delicious albeit a tad less sweet than before. Those large chunks of meat were enticing in texture - tender yet retaining a nice bite.
11. Sweet Potato ($18++) - We had two desserts by Pastry Chef Doreen (@doreeeeeeeenting) and although both were nice, this appealed more to us. Balanced in sweetness, it felt like we were eating an aromatic cloud filled with sweet potato ice-cream, salted caramel creme and charcoal curd foam dusted in roasted sweet potato skin powder and studded with little crunchy, buttery bits. Yums!
12. Dessert number 2 - Launching in December (thank you for the privilege of a preview), it was the more adventurous of the two with opposing flavour and textural elements of little balls of Korean mochi bread, black sesame cream, Doenjang (Korean miso) ice-cream and airy-light crispy sheets of yuzu meringue. Chef Doreen recommended mixing and matching the elements together for each bite.