Fast (sometimes not really fast) Food

Having Singapore exclusive Pandan Shake ($7.80), I appreciated the thicc consistency and the textures from the gula melaka crumbles layered atop. The floral taste of pandan was strong which I enjoyed and in terms of sweetness was alright for me as I have a slightly higher tolerance for sweet but may be cloying for most.

Here’s a throwback to just a couple weeks ago, where I finally visited Shake Shack at their Neil Road outlet for the very first time. Having heard some mixed reviews on the fries, I decided to save some calories and went straight for a classic combination - burger and shake.

Crispy, juicy and wonderfully savoury; the ‘Shroom Burger ($10.80) was pretty satisfying. A great meat-free option served with soft potato bun, greens and their signature ShackSauce. Love the oozy muenster and cheddar cheeses encased within the fried portobello mushroom as well as the thin crunchy exterior. The battered mushroom also had a nice meaty bite and imparted a lovely earthy, smoky flavour that complemented the subtle sharpness of the melted cheeses.

*On Foodpanda now, though not islandwide delivery!

Next best thing to or if not better than any Christmas turkey in my opinion, is Arnolds Fried Chicken’s Spring Chicken Meal! Having the 1/2 Spring Chicken Meal ($8.30) all to myself, Christmas weight gain is indeed a real thing but there is just no resisting the crispy well-marinated skin and tender flavourful meat~

Gypsy Ham ($10) Breakfast Bagelwich - An already winning combination of Blackforest Ham, crispy Bacon, Egg and Hashbrown made better with creamy Avocado (add-on $2) and hearty Cheddar Bagel.

Priced at a reasonable $29.90 for 2 to 3 pax, the fuss-free set-up comes with a deal of ingredients - sliced rice cakes, tofu, sausage, cabbage luncheon meat, vermicelli, kimchi, mushroom, cheese, instant noodles and specially imported Korean baked bean. A steal really, their Army Stew also offers free refills of their chicken stock. Though flavours lean towards the salty, you do get a good balance of spiciness from the gochujang and lucky for me (and those like me who can’t handle spice) the heat of the chilli paste was surprisingly manageable. Hence, hearty and not all that spicy or rich, I could really enjoy the other elements like the springy cheesy noodles as well as thickly cut luncheon meat - tender and savoury.

So why wait, grab your family and friends to share a comforting spicy hotpot stew. Available at selected outlets; Hougang Mall, Bukit Panjang Plaza and starting 22 Feb, tomorrow, Junction 9.

Thank you Burpple for extending the invite and Nene Chicken Singapore for feeding us!

Better than a generic mushroom-and-Swiss burger, the chunky mushroom ragout peppered with parsley provided a simple addition to the hearty beef burger. Ideal for mushroom lovers. Topped with cheese and sitting on a layer of arugula, the generous 180g house-made beef patty was thick and juicy, though it could use a little more seasoning. And like the hunk of the patty itself, the pillowy-soft toasted sesame buns seemed perfectly sized, not tipping over too much on the meat-to-bread ratio. To complete the set, each burger and sandwich also comes served with a choice of thick cut fries or Mesclun salad.
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Not forgetting it's the last few days to participate in Burpple's Burger Month by simply posting a review of a burger on @Burpple, reposting it on your public insta account, hashtag #BurppleBurgerMonth and tag 9 of your friends for a chance to win a burger party for 10!

Unfortunately my phone's camera didn't do @innout's hearty Double Double Animal-Style Beef Burger any justice, as the hunk of a burger was totally droolworthy.

At $5 a pop, I was super glad to get my hands on one at this one-day only popup (limited to 250 burgers) even with the 1 hour wait under the sweltering heat. Polished off within minutes, it was better than most fast food chain burgers with two juicy and well-executed mustard cooked patties. Mmmmm.... Get in my belly.

And just on theme, win yourself a burger party for 10 at Three Buns! Simply post a review on Burpple of your favourite burger and share it on Instagram with hashtag #BurppleBurgerMonth and tag 9 other friends!! (Ending 31st May)

Thank you for sharing the good lobang with us, Justin!

Treat yourself after a good workout and immerse in their lively alfresco dining with a plate of Citrus Bistro’s creamy Turkey Bacon and Ham Carbonara ($10.80). Aside from their signature Tom Yum Seafood Pasta, the al dente linguine served in a rich cream-based sauce was easily a crowd pleaser. A basic sauce made decadent, it didn’t taste flat or overly jelat as you get the flavours of the meat and a light cheesy note. The amount of chicken ham and turkey bacon bits was also really generous.

This was a hosted meal; all thanks to Ericia and Noran of @thecitrusbistro for the invite!

*Only for dine-ins, valid till 30 April and is not applicable for promotional items.

📍57 Anchorvale Road Sengkang Sports Centre #01-01 Singapore 544964

Why not snuggle up with a burger from McDonald’s refreshed Signature Collection as the new Buttermilk Crispy Chicken was two thumbs-up. Featuring a large chicken thigh stacked with New Zealand Colby cheese, romaine lettuce, sweet grilled pineapple rings, purple cabbage and black pepper mayonnaise between a beautiful glazed bun; the premium burger was also really hearty. With the focus being on the crispy fist-sized buttermilk flavoured chicken, I was impressed by the sheer size of it and loving how the exterior remained nice and crunchy for the whole of the meal. The pineapple slices were however a little too sweet and the spice from the sauce was a bit much for me.

Since everyday is cheat day, ditch the usual BK burgers and get their your hands around their latest range - The Ultimate Selection. [And because my dad wanted Burger King so Burger King he shall have.] All (slightly) bigger and better, the Ultimate Angus Classic BBQ is my pick for sure as it features a classic BLT with a thick Angus beef patty topped with smoky BBQ sauce between Corn Dusted Sourdough buns. The Ultimate Angus Mushroom Swiss also comes with a thicker patty but not as satisfying as the former.

Spilling generously out over the Sourdough Bread Bowl ($12.90), Seattle Pike Chowder’s Seafood Bisque was somewhat lighter as compared to the other crafted chowder flavours they offer in my opinion.

Still rich, hearty and filled with ingredients, I would have personally preferred a higher viscosity - much like the creamy, buttery and velvety Smoked Salmon Chowder which my lunch companion had. However, aside from that, the warm bowl was indeed a seafood extravaganza with salmon, cod, crab and bay shrimp in the mix. A nice balance of tanginess from the tomato basil cream-based broth and sweetness from the shellfish stock, the soup was pretty good and had no need for additional seasoning.

As always the golden arches are opened during the festivities, so got myself a refreshing Waffle Cone with Lychee Softserve ($1.70, extra 40 cents for cone) to power through between visiting. A hint of rose and delicate sweetness of lychee, the creamy swirls didn’t taste all that artificial but certainly didn’t survive long in the heat. The waffle cone was nice and crisp too, if you are willing to part with the extra 40 cents for it.

*Available at selected outlets