NOT THE USUAL FARE

A deep fried dumpling encasing smoked bacon, truffle potato, caramelised onions and cheddar with a side of sriracha cream, the pierogi is a Polish dumpling and it is sure to be a big hit to your savoury palate and ideal if you have been searching for something different in Singapore's F&B scene!

I would say the ingredients, while unconventional in what Singaporeans might traditionally know as dumplings, are pretty safe coming together, thus I did not have any concerns that the combination might be odd. That said, I really enjoyed this as the truffle taste from the potato is prominent without overwhelming the other elements, while the bacon, onions and cheese play on textures while adding more bang to the overall taste of this. Sriracha cream is sooo good, though I initially mistook it for a cheese dip. 😅

Specifically for the Pierogi, sharing may or may not be recommended though, as I did find the flavours get a little heavy the more I ate them, otherwise ordering other dumplings along with this might help balance out the flavours. 👍🏻

😊

Went for the Asian 'Risotto' ($10) which is, as indicated by the inverted commas, not exactly *that* Italian dish you would expect, but rather a bowl of purple rice porridge with braised pork, runny egg, pork floss, fried shallots and garlic. The consistency is very much like 'jook' (Cantonese porridge), the texture thick and somewhat gritty. The braised pork, along with the rest of the ingredients, give the dish a fragrant and savoury flavour that's not too consumed by the wet staple, although I personally feel that the meat could be more tender. The egg, described as 'runny' was unfortunately not as it was described. Maybe it ~could~ be due to the time taken to take photos, but it ended up having a thick ajitama yolk-like texture. That said, the egg mixed in well with the porridge, so I managed to overlook that issue relatively quickly; just don't expect any of that yolkporn magic. 😅

Overall, I did find myself enjoying this dish which you'd otherwise unusually find in a cafe. It is especially suitable for people who are craving for something a little bit more Chinese, with elements of homeliness, heartiness and health-consciousness. 👍🏻

The Pan-seared Foie Gras ($14.90) at @themassessg is a rather uniquely done starter that is placed atop a crisp brioche and served with a side of condiments including chocolate crémeux and salted hazelnut, green apple compote and pickled celtuce.

The foie gras is soft and easy on the taste; did not encounter any off-putting gamey flavours while eating it and loved the rather melty texture it has. The side items are pretty unconventional to savoury dishes in general, but I attempted to eat every component at once and I was pleasantly surprised as to how the myriad of sweet and savoury flavours came together really well, following up with the celtuce that makes out to be a nice, slightly sourish but refreshing palette cleanser.

Tried the Chicken Roulade. The stuffing of the roulade, also known as the mushroom farce, is chicken thigh, bacon and mushroom all blended into a paste. The chicken itself is tender and pretty tasty, but the farce really adds on more flavour to it. However, what really deserves a mention on this plate is the smooth and delicious mashed potato! As plain as it looks, the taste of it is simply far from that! 😍 Served with a side of glazed vegetables, I think this firmly set a bar on my expectations of chicken roulade.

I rarely frequent Chinese restaurants or eateries so the Drunk Chick ($3) was pretty foreign to me, though I was told it's not uncommon to find drunken chicken in such places.

Wasn't a fan unfortunately, but I would say it's more of a preferential dislike for me; while the chicken is pretty tender and the skin gelatinous and smooth, I did not fancy the taste of rosewater and hints of alcohol coming together, and was rather confused of the flavours hitting my tastebuds.

The Ping Pong Wanton ($3, not pictured), on the other hand, I did like. It looks pretty regular in appearance but was crisp and firm - yet easy on the teeth - with a seemingly small amount of juicy meat filling that somehow doesn't hold back in savouriness. 😋

During lunch time, @misterwutea has a set lunch promo where you get a drink and side of your choice for just $4! Pretty good deal if you ask me. 😊

Let me just say that every piece of meat is grilled to tender savouriness, with my favourite being the super fresh lamb cuts that have no hint of bad gamey smell or taste! The rice - very similar to briyani - is really delicious as well.

Besides the Mixed Grill, the Lamb Chops ($29.90) is a MUST ORDER; one of the best lamb chops I've tasted so far, with 0 gamey taste or smell too, and cooked to perfection, making this the most memorable item of the meal. You simply can't leave the restaurant without having tried this! 😍 📣 @kenpgl from @singaporefoodlisting for having me and @byblosgrillsg for hosting! 👊😁

If you've not had Lebanese desserts, then you're in for a saporous treat!

Don't recall actually having had Rice Pudding before - especially not any that tasted like what I had here! For $7.50, this Lebanese rendition has a consistency that is thick and mushy in comparison to porridge. It is made with milk which I feel gives the dessert a gentle touch of sweetness along with rose water. It is complete with strawberries and mint leaves for texture and refreshingness. There's no doubt this concluded the meal pretty pleasantly. 😌

This is part of a hosted meal at @byblosgrillsg. 📣 @kenpgl from @singaporefoodlisting for having me~! 😁

The Mezza Platter ($27.50) consists of a variety of dips, namely hummus (pine nuts and olive oil), babaganoush (charcoal grilled eggplant), labneh (yoghurt with olive oil and mint), moussaka'a (cubed eggplant, chickpeas and green pepper), and Arabic salad in the centre. These dips go great with pita and lavash - a pillow-like bread topped with sesame seeds, and even meats! My personal favourite would be the labneh because the minty, olive oil-drizzled yoghurt just goes well with everything. 😂 Aside from that, the Moussaka'a came as a surprise to me because I was not aware that I was eating eggplant, and I quite liked this despite generally not liking the vegetable.

I am usually skeptical to try things that I'm clueless about, but this was really satisfying, and the different dips made the dish really intriguing to have, enjoyed without a dull moment over the course of the platter. Definitely a must-try during your Lebanese meal experience! 📣 @byblosgrillsg for hosting us in their rustic and beautiful restaurant and @kenpgl from @singaporefoodlisting for having me! 😁

@bochinchesg has the juiciest steaks ever I've ever had in Singapore; imagine juice flowing out with every cut you make! 😲

The steak I had is a 180g Argentinean Ribeye that is part of their daily lunch prix fixe ($29++ for 2-course and $35++ for 3-course; menu changes every week or so - check their Ig page to know what's available!). It is considered the specialty dish of the restaurant and I do say it's pretty impressive and is perhaps the nicest one I've had so far in my homeland. However, I can't make much fair judgement as I have not had much steaks here.

You get to choose chips or salad on the side and I went for the former. There's garlic on the chips and chimchurri mayo for dipping but each wedge is so darn flavourful on their own I personally feel the dip ruins it.

So be it the festive mood or just a mad craving, do check out boCHINche for a good steak and an overall pleasant meal. Indeed, it's pricey but for the quality you get I personally think it's worth the price!

Aaaand on that note, The Fussy Foodie wishes everyone a very blessed Merry Christmas! 🌟

Gyocos are a work of genius; essentially crisp and savoury gyoza skin sushi tacos generously stuffed with either Wasabi Butter Beef or Salmon and Tuna ($8.90 each) and other garnishes wrapped with seaweed.

The former has really tender and flavourful slices of beef, although the wasabi butter could be more apparent, but regardless, it's really tasty.

As y'all should know by now, I don't eat seafood but I was feeling daring enough to try the salmon and tuna so I gave it a go, and quite surprisingly the many layers helped to cover up any strong seafood tastes, which is a great thing for me. 😆

Every aspect of the Gyoco is important to make it work, especially the gyoza skin which really ups the wow factor overall, and I am so glad to say this is far from being a gimmick! 😎 No doubt this would be a nice alternative to rice bowls if you aren't in the mood for that.

Kyodai is a Japanese takeout joint reminiscent of the stalls you'd typically see along Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. It is situated right next to Hotel Bencoolen, opposite NAFA. There are limited seats available if you wish to dine there.

Shout out to @smithankyou and @darr3n0ng for the invite and @kyodaisg for hosting us for this tasting session! 👊

So this is the one, the only fantastic and exquisite Lamb Shakshouka ($26++).

As pricey as this might be, I can say in a heartbeat that this is by all means worth what you pay.

Essentially two eggs baked in a skillet with spiced tomato sauce, slow cooked lamb shoulder, green chilli harissa, kewpie yoghurt and with pita served on the side, this is one dish that is guaranteed to please you greatly with pretty intricate flavours in the tomato stew and none of that gamey nonsense from the amazingly tender braised lamb. Definitely worthy of being a huge game changer to any other baked eggs or equivalent dishes you've had before in Singapore. 💣