The Bowl Stack
I donât know about you but I tend to stick to the tried and tested stalls at my go-to food courts. Such is the case every time I drop by Food Republic in the basement of Parkway Parade. But then the other day, spontaneity grabbed hold and I veered to something new, leading me to encounter simple comfort food done well.
I get why âSING HK Cafeâ is quite popular because even the basic âchar chan tangâ dish of luncheon meat and egg on rice at the stall is elevated. Cooked with care by a middle-aged China-born cook, the pieces of meat, cut into big cubes, were properly deepfried to achieve a crunchy coating first. Only then did he transfer the meat to the wok into which he poured beaten eggs that he swiftly stirred into the luscious form of a silky blanket.
Besides the default topping of fresh iceberg lettuce, I nodded when he offered to add the aromatic condiment of spring onions cooked in oil to my dish too. What an appetising quick lunch that turned out to be. The stall offers two kinds of chilli sauce but Iâd love to have had some fresh cut chilli padi. Yes, not the usual but the tastebuds want what the tastebuds want đ
T R E A T
Should you be gunning for a crazy jaw-dropper of a Japanese Wagyu meal, Fat Cowâs expanded menu should be your first stop to shop. Trust this popular local brand to push the envelope when planning how else to improve on their already tempting options.
Gourmands and aged beef aficionados, you must try the â21-Days Dry-aged A5 Nagasaki Wagyu Premium Donburiâ ($138) - it will have you quivering in ecstasy. Those thick slices of grilled beef have a decidedly complex and funkier flavour, coupled with a smoothness due to the breakdown of its fibre over time. Hand on my heart, I was swooning as I slowly ate each piece, wishing to have its taste burned into my memory forever.
On par in magnificence with the â21-Days Dry-aged Nagasaki Premium Donburiâ ($138) but of a different kind as this beef flavour is more straightforward, is the âA4 Miyazaki Premium Donburiâ ($128). As you can imagine, this flawlessly grilled fat-laced beef has the ability to melt in the mouth, triggering X-rated sounds of pleasure.
The rice bowl also contains cubes of Pan-fried Foie Gras (so smoky, creamy and tender!), as well as briny pops of Ikura (salmon roe) and Caviar. All of the above are arranged, together with an Onsen Egg, on a generous portion of deliciously-seasoned Japanese rice.
Served alongside are a bowl of Miso Soup and a Chawanmushi that practically explodes with prawn, chicken and mushroom.
To place an order, just tap on the link in their Instagram bio.
Because my brother-in-law picked up the food from Wheelerâs Yard himself, he got a 20% discount. And that translated to a tidy amount of savings since he settled the bill for our whole family at home.
The choice of the men was the bestselling âSuki Beef Rice Bowlâ ($19.90 before discount) and they very much enjoyed the sliced oyster blade steak in housemade sukiyaki sauce. Itâs served with an onsen egg and braised daikon (Japanese radish) on Japanese rice embellished in shio kombu and seasame seeds.
While my niece got the healthy â60 Degree Chicken Breastâ ($18.90 before discount), a large piece of very tenderly-cooked protein on housemade potato mash accompanied by grilled butter corn, roasted hazelnuts and shio konbu, I opted for my all-time favourite, the âVegetable Rice Bowlâ ($15.90 before discount). The fresh-tasting, Japanese-inspired creation has never failed to satisfy me with its base of Japanese rice drizzled in a sweetish sauce and the silken tofu, mushrooms and assorted vegetables heaped on top. The lovely flavours and textures from the juicy âbok choyâ, sweet and smoky roasted corn kernels, crisp haricots verts (theyâre the skinny French beans you find mostly served at fine dining restaurants) and the aforementioned braised daikon are what I love most about it.
My brother-in-law also added two side dishes for us to share: the very addictive beer-battered, crunchy-fried Furikake Cauliflower ($7.90 before discount) and a Glazed Sweet Potatoes that featured a housemade yuzu soy sauce ($5.90 before discount). We gobbled both of them up along with everything else in no time at all.
If you like well-executed tasty dishes that are superb value-for-money, please click on the link in @wheelersyard bio on Instagram to order.
They do FREE ISLANDWIDE DELIVERY too if you prefer to #stayhomesg.
G I F T E D
The crazy-value-for-money Gyudon ($14) with an add-on of Foie Gras ($11) is an excellent choice if you plan on ordering from their newly-launched Takeaway Menu.
I found the 100gms FeatherBlade cut of beef to be tasty from a sukiyaki marinate. It was arranged neatly with an onsen egg, crispy garlic chips, furikake and pickles on a base of Japanese rice thatâd been seasoned with kombu and dashi for flavour.
T R E A T
It is perfectly possible to have very tasty meals during this period where we must all do our part to #StayHome. Nearly every restaurant is offering takeaway/delivery at the moment, including those that were notoriously hard to get a reservation at. So choices are aplenty.
A few days ago, while I was debating where to order Wednesdayâs lunch from, my ex-JC mate Brian messaged to say he wanted to treat me and my fam to a meal. From @fatcowsg no less.
Awarded âRestaurant Of The Yearâ by @chopesg in 2018 and 2019, Fat Cow is particularly well-known for their Japanese Wagyu beef and rice bowls. I have always had a soft spot for the âFat Cow Donburiâ ($48) myself and I am happy to report, after factoring in the travel time, it still managed to taste good. Granted the charcoal-grilled Wagyu beef was not piping hot like it would be when you are having it in the restaurant, but it was as buttery-soft and flavourful as ever. Together with the onsen egg and truffle oil-dressed seasoned rice, it formed a soul-satisfying, indulgent one-dish meal that I could happily have anytime. My niece who ordered the same dish, was full of praises for it as well.
My hubby and his brother picked the âTokujou Donburiâ ($68), a ricebowl topped with tempura prawns, unagi, salmon mentai, Wagyu beef, foie gras, abalone and a housemade sauce. I reckon it is ideal for those who are after a bit of everything.
Each of our orders was actually a set meal as it came with a miso soup and a chawanmushi filled with mushrooms, chicken and prawn. All the items were neatly shrink-wrapped and arrived safe and sound.
If you are keen to try, do visit:
https://delivery.fatcow.com.sg/en_SG/
Singaporean Chef Pang Kok Keong of @antoinette_sg and @hakkapang has an assortment of Hakka specialties for takeaway and delivery now. This Thunder Tea Rice or ćčśéĽ included.
I have always been a fan of this healthy Hakka dish so itâs lovely to try Chef Pangâs version which features brown rice topped with more than just the usual. He also throws on unconventional ingredients such as crisp wing beans and soft-cooked kidney beans - the latter adds a hint of sweetness to the dish which works nicely.
The fresh herb paste which is more flavourful then others Iâve had, is packed separately so you just have to pour in hot water before eating.
At $7 per portion, I think this makes for a healthy, tasty and value-for-money meal. Ideal to send as a #mytreatsg to family or friends too.
To order this (minimum order is 5 portions), or his other delicacies like Traditional Abacus Seeds (this is very good as well!), Hakka Mee Tai Mak, Leek Kueh, Yam Cake and Muah Chee, please Whatsapp: 9021 7507.
Itâs amazing how dining establishments at all price points have jumped into action to promptly put in place the Singapore governmentâs guidelines to help keep those of us who choose to dine out in this unprecedentedly challenging time, safe.
Like when we visited @salmonsamurai a couple of days ago for lunch, there were clear markings everywhere to instruct customers where to stand and sit. The four of us had arrived late, around 2pm, so we got a table immediately. Each of us filled up a form, mixing and matching to create our own salmon bowls. While TH, my niece and her friend chose bases of Yuzu Ume Rice and Udon topped with their preferred preparation style of salmon, I zeroed in on the âSeared Mala Mentaiko Salmon with Chilled Citrus Ramenâ ($9.90) and added an extra protein topping of âSeared Mentaiko Salmonâ ($6.50). Loved it! The slices of salmon tasted fresh but it was the two mentaiko toppings that were the icing on the cake for me, the mala flavoured one especially đđ. It was a match made in heaven with the cold, springy and refreshingly fragrant strands of ramen.
Of course if you wish to enjoy their salmon bowls at home or anywhere else for that matter, you can order them to takeaway or to be delivered (they have an ongoing promotion for FREE islandwide delivery if you spend $50 and above). Just visit their website:
www.SalmonSamurai.com
His first cafe - âThe Hangarâ on Arab Street may not exist any more but the exuberant and very tasty flavours that I had loved about the food @pavskiiii served there, can now be found at @burnclubst, his brand new casual cafe-restaurant alongside Ufit on Club Street. That was where I suggested to my friend @aikbengchia we go for our lunch, which he readily agreed.
I ordered a few dishes for us to share, and this was one of them. If you have ever dined at #TheHangarSg, you might recognise it. Renamed most aptly as âRoasted Pork Noodlesâ ($17), it showcases slow-roasted, handpulled pieces of meat which are a major head-turner in tenderness and flavour. They meet their match in the eggless kolo noodles tossed in a fierce chilli oil dressing. A poached egg and sautĂŠed mushroom salad join them in the big bowl. Strewn across the top as a finishing touch are fresh parsley, spring onions and mint. So shiok!
Honestly, I am thrilled I get to savour this dish again.
H O S T E D
Inspired by âThe Flat Ironâ in Londonâ, @TheFeatherBlade is an âalternative steakhouseâ launched in Singapore earlier in May that is very shrewd about their offering and who they are targeting. Essentially they want to be top-of-mind when people think about where to go for #propersteaks at pocket-friendly prices.
This explains their concise menu which is focused on a 200gm piece of steak priced very attractively at $21. Naturally at this price, the Australian beef is not a prime cut but the meat which comes from the shoulder area, is lean and flavourful. And because they pay close attention to how it is cooked, results in a decent level of juicy tenderness.
The other way to enjoy the steak it is to order their off-the-menu Burger. Also priced at $21, the beef is minced and formed into a patty that is grilled, then placed between super-soft brioche buns and dressed in a truckload of house-made bearnaise sauce plus fried onions. I enjoyed this the most from all that I tried at the hosted lunch.
As for the side dishes, there are four, priced at $7 each. They are a Caesar Salad (it has a whole crispy nacho chip-coated soft-yolk egg!), sautĂŠed shimeji, shiitake and button mushrooms, hand-smashed potatoes deepfried in beef fat and spinach in parmigiano-reggiano cream with a pinch of nutmeg.
If you like a sauce with your steak, there are four as well to pick from: Szechuan peppercorn (I liked this a lot), bearnaise, horseradish cream and red wine jus ($2).
The newly-launched Gyudon is very good value for money at $14. Besides the 100gms of sliced steak, you also get very tastily-seasoned Japanese rice, an onsen egg, soft-cooked onions, garlic chips and pickles. And if you are a fan of foie gras or Hokkaido scallops, there is the option to add them on for another $11 per item.
Only one dessert, an ice-cream sundae, is listed in the menu but it did a great job in satisfying. I found plenty of happiness in the Madagascan vanilla ice-cream with Valhorna dark hazelnut chocolate sauce, salted caramel and crunchy flakes of feuilletine biscuit ($8).
The Feather Blade also offers special cuts and have garnered quite a following for their âPicanha Thursdaysâ and âUSDA Prime Sando Tuesdaysâ. Do follow their Instagram account for updates.
Thanks Sheen for hosting us for the lunch.
I love this modern take on the Korean bibimbap.
The hearty salad is built around a large piece of smoky bincho-grilled salmon thatâs done so beautifully the flesh falls smoothly away in thick moist flakes. It is planted on a mound of flavourful hijiki seaweed rice and is surrounded on all sides by as many Korean âbanchanâ (assorted pickled/marinated vegetables) as Jon Snow was by White Walkers (ok, that may be an exaggeration đ). Anyway, the bold punch of savoury-sweet âgochujangâ sauce, sesame seeds and chilli guarantees this is as far from meek and mild as a salad can possibly get.
If you are in the MBS area and fancy escaping for a solo or quick lunch at the breezy and relaxed Bar & Lounge area of @spagosingapore, I think this is a pretty darn perfect choice.
H O S T E D
Answer: You now get 3 types of Wagyu to choose from, namely Australian Wagyu MB8 ($98++), Kagoshima A4 Tenderloin ($148++) and Nagasaki A5 Striploin ($158++).
Whichever beef is chosen, it is grilled over charcoal then sliced into neat pieces that are then arranged on a bowl of Japanese rice. The other lavish toppings alongside the smoky beef are large cubes of pan-fried foie gras, uni, caviar, ikura and freshly shaved black truffle. An onsen egg and a drizzle of truffle oil add the finishing touch to this bowl of ultra decadence.
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