Tastemaker Eatups

While the latter makes #eatingclean cool, its alter ego is all about striking a balance by offering both "Eat Clean" and "Indulge Dirty" menus. What a genius way to satisfy everyone at the table.
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Here's the ultimate dirty dish, Fried Chicken Skin ($8), which, hands down, was my favourite of the 12 dishes we had. Rubbed and fried with a southern spice mix, the crisp chicken skin was light and crazily addictive, perfect with beer (do check out the interesting selection of craft beers & ciders here). Highly recommended.
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Thank you @alteregosg for the warm hospitality, @chocolatetbasil for inviting & hosting us, @burpple for organising this eatup, and @cassakating for being our hand model! 🙆

There are places that dish up comfort food, and then there are those that do it well. After Ego's rendition was set up for success right from the get-go—the aromatic white bread was specially sourced, then toasted to a crisp golden brown with a soft center, from which a luscious pool of cheese (your choice of Gruyere or Taleggio) oozes languidly.

I highly recommend the braised beef short rib add-on ($5) for a heightened experience. The fall-apart tender beef added delectable flavour, elevating the humble grilled cheese to cult grub status.

Tater tots are essentially fried potatoes, and who can say 'no' to these? Especially when they sound like cute potato babies gone rogue.

One of my top picks among those we've tried. As described on the menu, the crispy potato nuggets were "doused mercilessly in spicy jalapeño cheese sauce", studded with maple-glazed bacon, and topped with sour cream and a splash of hot sauce—comfort food at its best.

The name Pizza Fries ($14) got us all excited when we heard that it was coming our way. And my oh my, was it a sight to behold when it arrived at the table.

This is the stuff of dreams for cheese fries lovers—imagine freshly fried, crisp fries covered in a blanket of three cheeses: Mozzarella, gruyere, and parmesan, and topped with smoky pork pepperoni. Rest assured that every spud you pick will be coated with luscious, melty cheese, with which they are VERY generous. So good with the accompanying house-made bacon ketchup, that's savoury with bursts of tanginess.

Warning: These guys are super addictive. Lay off these if you're on a diet.

Brined, twice-baked and tossed in spicy & tangy buffalo marinade. The wings were really not that spicy, which was good for me because I weep at the slightest bit of spice. I enjoyed dunking them into the creamy homemade ranch sauce 👌

Spent a good part of the afternoon with the #BurppleTastemakers, checking out this hot new foodie joint at Esplanade Mall, aptly named 'Alter Ego'—the second outfit from the folks behind 'A Poke Theory'. While the latter makes #eatingclean cool, its alter ego is all about striking a balance by offering both "Eat Clean" and "Indulge Dirty" menus. What a genius way to satisfy everyone at the table.

Here's the ultimate dirty dish, Fried Chicken Skin ($8), which, hands down, was my favourite of the 12 dishes we had. Rubbed and fried with a southern spice mix, the crisp chicken skin was light and crazily addictive, perfect with beer (do check out the interesting selection of craft beers & ciders here). Highly recommended.

Thank you Nobelle for inviting & hosting us, @burpple for organising this eatup, and @cassakating for being our hand model! 🙆

Pretty good value at $16.90, given the generous amount of fresh crab meat chunks, succulent prawns & scallops. Taste-wise, it was flavourful and didn't feel too heavy, except there seemed to be inconsistency issues. Ours was a tad salty, while the other table's version had more of that creamy sweetness. I liked the latter a little more ☺️

Enjoyed the great company & delightful spread :) Thank you @burpple for the wonderful night of surprises, and @baomakers for the generosity & hospitality! #Burpple #TastemakersEatup #FoodiesUnite

Love the vibrant flavours of Thai food, and/or just feeling a lil adventurous? Venture beyond your usual Thai favorites into the realm of boundless gastronomic creativity and innovation with Som Tam, modern Thai fusion food in right in the heart of Orchard Road.

Clockwise from top left:

Deep Fried Koong; Crackling fried sweet prawns with Thai hot paste ($10.80)
Crispy and not too oily, these packed a punch with an intense crustacean flavour. Pair it with a glass of beer, or even their fragrant Thai Milk tea, which had the right amount of sweetness and nailed the tea-to-milk ratio perfectly.

Pasta X Chicken X Green Curry = ??; Thai green curry pasta ($14.80)
Yep, go figure. It's not too wacky a combination actually, given how well pastas partner creamy gravies like laksa and curry. Although this dish received mixed reviews across the table, I found it rather enjoyable. The aromatic green curry was distinct, the chicken chunks tender, and the spaghetti al dente; I wouldn't mind having this again.

Tom Yum Koong ($13.80)
A generous medley of fresh seafood swimming in a flavourful and well-balanced broth. For a spice wuss like me, this was pretty manageable, without compromising on flavour and that requisite "kick".

Tom Yum Truffle Fries ($6.80)
Taking the beloved truffle fries a notch higher with a piquant punch. This had turned cold by the time I'd gotten to it (the amount of dishes we had were overwhelming), but I can imagine how tasty these would be when enjoyed warm and crisp.

Oozy Chicken; Deep-fried chicken coated with salted egg ($10.80)
No oozy drama here, just good ol' crispy chicken that was faultlessly executed. Coated with an addictive sauce with actual salted egg bits, this was a unanimous favourite that night.

Thai Garlic Seafood Fried Rice ($13.80)
At first glance, this looked like the usual olive fried rice but that's not what it is. The simplicity of its appearance belied the generosity of ingredients and depth of flavour. For something more substantial, this hearty dish of prawns, mussels, greens, and egg tossed with garlic- and wok breath-infused grains proved an excellent choice.

Gai Satay; Flame-grilled chicken skewers with green nahm jim
Served in 6's, these smoky, succulent jumbo-sized chicken skewers were well-marinated and delicious even on their own.

Kapi Beef Burger; Grilled shrimp paste beef patties, egg, cheddar cheese, Thai hot sauce dressing ($14.80)
My excitement for this dish turned into confusion, puzzlement, which eventually led to an apathetic 'hmm'. Felt that the shrimp paste had marred the robust beefy flavours of the patty and even though it wasn't dry, it felt artificial and I didn't quite know what to make of it.

After You Toast ($8.80)
Inspired by the popular Shibuya toast by Bangkok dessert chain 'After You', Som Tam presents its rendition with a mountain of whipped cream plus a side of palm sugar syrup. Atop the buttery fortress toast sits a scoop of choice gelato, with flavours ranging from the ubiquitous - Vanilla, Chocolate, Matcha; interesting ones - Thai Tea, Thai Basil with Choco Chip, Sticky Rice; to adventurous ones like the punchy Green Curry which leaves a tingling sensation. A Before You Toast version (served with banana slices sans whipped cream) is also available at the same price.

Tasting courtesy of Som Tam. Thank you for having me!

Simmered with a medley of spices and tender lamb chunks, the Lamb Biryani is big on flavours and not at all greasy. Although the basmati grains yielded a softer (though not mushy) consistency than I'd have liked, it was still highly aromatic and the sweet caramelised onions and mint sprigs gave it an extra oomph.

Naan other spells comfort food than this - mopping up the delicious gravies with buttery, fluffy & slightly chewy flatbread.

Table's version of Butter Chicken seemed a tad mild at first, but as its layered, moreish flavours deepened, I found myself reaching for more and more, and more. Savoury palates might be more inclined towards the Curry Prawns, featuring jumbo-sized crustaceans swimming in an umami blend of spices, sweet peppercorns, coriander, and a splash of lemon.

Though not exactly light on the pocket, Table by Rang Mahal still makes for a great choice for refined Indian fare enjoyed in a sleek & comfortable setting.

Unacquainted and uninitiated, I thought these holed puffs were some chic mod-Indian creation, until #BurppleTastemaker Jayne shared that this classic savoury snack (albeit a grimier version) can be found everywhere on the streets of Mumbai. She even taught us how to eat it correctly and deftly (I fumbled quite a bit).

Step 1: Fill the puri (semolina puffs) to the brim with pani (the scarily-green-but-highly-tasty chilled spice water).
Step 2: Add the mint & sweet tamarind chutneys to your liking.
Step 3: Pop it in and enjoy the burst of sweet, savoury, and spicy in your mouth. That cool, tingling sensation is a brilliant salve on a hot & humid day, and a delightful pick-me-up any other day.

Meal hosted by #TablebyRangMahal (@RangMahalRestaurants). Thank you for the warm hospitality!