88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist @ Bukit Batok East Ave 2

Great news to fans of Cross Way Bay Hong Kong Roasted Meat which used to be at Tampines Street 43 before moving to Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The stall owner, Martin has moved back to Singapore and doing what he knows best, roasted meat. He has opened a new stall and called it, 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist at Bukit Batok East Ave 2.

What made Martin popular is his biscuit like Sio Bak. Even KF Seetoh wrote an article in Makansutra recommending Martin's Sio Bak.

Sio Bak 4/5 and Char Siew 4.2/5

Unfortunately when we reached the stall at around 4pm, he told us that the good cut has been sold out and can only give us what is left. Someone ever told me that a good Sio Bak should have seven different layers and martin has retained that consistency. While the skin is still crispy and brittle but somehow lacks the standard it used to be. Later did I realize that he is still waiting to install his charcoal roasting oven as he is currently using what is left behind from the previous owner.

On the other hand, it seems like he has improved on his Char Siew. The char siew was not too sweet, tender and with hints of charred aroma.

Roasted Duck 4/5

It seems like when Martin moves to Johor Bahru, he has improved in his roasting skill. His Roasted Duck turned out to be pretty good too. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender. I even packet some back for my family to eat.

Roasted Chicken 4.2/5

The Roasted Chicken was the other surprise with its tender and moist meat. The sesame sauce that is drizzled over the chicken provided the extra lift in flavour.

I am glad to know that Martin has moved back to Singapore. I can't wait for him to get his charcoal oven installed and go back to try his sio bak again, maybe the rest of the roasted meat too.


[MOVED]
88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist
Blk 265 Bukit Batok East Ave 4
Singapore 650265
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 7pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus number 177. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Raven Restaurant & Bar @ Chijmes

Flown into the courtyard in Chijmes is Raven the new restaurant and bar featuring new Americas cuisine by the same folks behind House of Dandy (H.O.D). What exactly is new Americas cuisine? Accordingly to what I am told, it supposes to mean Northern and Southern American comfort food with an Asian flair.

Burratina & Heirloom Tomatoes 4/5

Kicking starting our dinner at Raven is the Burratina & Heirloom Tomatoes ($18). This is a classic combination of buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes that will not go wrong. However the classic dish is given a further lift with the addition of gula melaka balsamic, oregano, basil oil and dehydrated olives.

Tuna Tartare 4/5

The Tuna Tartare ($17) is a beautiful dish with the tuna cubes being tossed in yuzu and soy vinaigrette for a pleasant flavour complemented by the avocado wasabi puree. The frozen Nan Shui pear shavings provides the refreshing finishing to the dish.

Roasted Corn Niblets 4/5

Using Malaysian corn known as Candy corn for its sweetest, the Roasted Corn Niblets ($12) with smoked sour cream (chilli, paprika, cayenne) gave the burnt looking corn a tasteful coating that hits the perfect note with each bite of the kernels.

Fried Chorizo Croquettes 4/5

Fried to a nice golden brown is the Chorizo Croquettes ($13) that has been triple fried. Consists of chorizo, bechamel and mozzarella, the golden balls are served in a tangy jalapeno vinaigrette, housemade creme fraiche and pico de gallo. A delightful bite to go with a few drinks.

Seafood Salad 4/5

For a light and healthy eat, the Seafood Salad ($23) has braised octopus, grilled squid and prawns. The lime gives the salad the lift in acidity while the chilli vinaigrette provides the additional kick with the corn chips giving it the extra crunch.

Raven Burger 3.5/5

There was a bit of raving about the Raven Burger ($22) and I touching story behind it. While the 180g beef chuck patty sandwiched with chipotle, avocado, chorizo cream, red onions and corn chips is moist and juicy, it still lacked the oomph factor to excite me.

Handmade Open Beef Ravioli 3.8/5

To be frank I rather called this a lasagna then Handmade Open Beef Ravioli ($24). The melted in the mouth pulled beef is braised in red wine for a good 16 hours, and sandwiched between layers of pasta sheets. The flavours and textures are on the note. However like a foreign song, I moved with the music but did not understand the lyrics.

Crispy Nori Wrapped Salmon 4.5/5

The star dish at Raven has to be the Crispy Nori Wrapped Salmon ($29). The salmon is first wrapped around with nori and fried in low temperature. It is then breaded and double fried at high temperature for the extra exterior crisp. I thought the ponzu sago was very clever as a substitute of the dipping soy sauce, accentuating the enjoyment of the salmon. The fennel salad tossed in a tangy sauce cut through the greasiness of the deep frying.

Green Tea Opera 3.5/5

I personally think the Green Tea Opera ($13) is a beautiful dessert which will be enjoyed by many. However the adzuki bean ice cream was pale in flavour. I was also not sure what is the purpose of the sake gel. A point was brought up that opera is a French cake, raising some discussion what exactly is the so called new Americas cuisine.

Chocolate Overdose 4.5/5

There is one dessert that I adore very much on Raven's menu. The Chocolate Overdoes ($13) consists of a platter of various textures of Belgian chocolate. This is chocolate haven on a plate.

Raven is definitely a new and exciting addition to the F&B scene with great food and drinks. While I did enjoy my experience at Raven, I am still very puzzled what exactly is new Americas cuisine. I leave it to the diners to judge themselves.


Raven Restaurant & Bar
Chijmes
30 Victoria Street
#B1--01/02
Singapore 187996
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line), Bras Basah (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Tue: 5pm - 1am
Wed-Sat: 5pm - 2am

Direction
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Cut across Raffles City Shopping Centre to Bras Basah Road. At the junction of Bras Basah Road and North Bridge Road, cross the road to Chijmes. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bras Basah MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk southwards towards Victoria Road. At the junction of Bras Basah Road and Victoria Road, cross the junction to Chijmes. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Humpback @ Bukit Pasoh Road

The folks that brings you Jigger & Pony and Sugarhall has launched a new concept, Humpback at Bukit Pasoh taking over the space previously occupied by The Clan. The Seattle style seafood restaurant comes with its own craft cocktail bar offering white spirits based cocktails, wine and craft beer.

The highlight at Humpback is the oysters from the pacific northwest. During my visit, I got to try three different types of oysters, in the Kumamoto, Shigoku Fat Bastard and Rocky Bar.

Kumamoto - Peale, Washington USA ($6 each / Happy Hour $3) Petite in size despite taking an average of 3 years to grow in suspended trays. Deep cup, fluted shells and prized for its sweet fruity flavour.

Shigoku Fat Bastard - Samish Bay, Washington USA ($6 each / Happy Hour $2) Grown in bags that rise up and down with the tides, tumbling the oysters twice daily. Firm flesh, deep cup and clean taste of cucumber

Rocky Bar - South Puget Sound, Washington USA ($6 each / Happy Hour $2) Beach-grown, flute-shaped beautiful oysters. Mild subtle flavours with burst-in-your-mouth brine texture.

Jasmine & Pear Gin Tonic 4/5

There are 13 different signature cocktails on the menu. I had the Jasmine & Pear Gin Tonic ($22) which is a light and refreshing alcohol to go with the delicious oysters.

The menu at Humpback is categorized into Pantry, Garden, Seafood, Meat and Desserts.

Carrots 4/5

We started with the Carrots ($8) from the Pantry. The pickled carrots are served on a bed of yogurt with cumin salt at the side. Simple, nothing fancy but the crunchy pickled carrots were quite addictive that I could not help going back for more.

Clam Dip 4.2/5

The other item from the Pantry we tried is the Clam Dip ($10) in cream cheese, served with ritz crackers. The clam dip goes very well with the ritz crackers. The clam dip was so rich and good that someone in the group actually suggested diluting it to make into clam chowder.

Kale 3/5

Moving on to the Garden menu, we started with the Kale ($14) which comes with buttermilk, pear, kale chips and pecan nuts. Although I am not a big fan of kale but the buttermilk sauce gives it a very palatable dimension.

Cabbage 4.2/5

While the kale is not my preferred greens, I would definitely go for the Cabbage ($10) which is topped with herb cheese, crispy quinoa and chilli oil. The sweetness and crunchiness of the cabbage, plus the charred aroma, elevated a simple ingredients to a new level of appreciation with hint of spiciness from the chilli oil.

Calamari 4.2/5

The seafood menu at Humpback stood out for me, starting with the Calamari ($14). The lightly battered calamari comes in a bed of mashed potatoes with fried capers, in a tangy sauce that warrants another round of drinks to go with it.

Rainbow Trout 4.5/5

The Rainbow Trout ($16) delighted me with its unique combination of egg yolk sauce, almond milk and pickled mustard seeds. The beautiful presentation is translated to a beautiful ocean bed swimming on my palate.

Hamachi Ceviche 4.5/5

The Hamachi Ceviche ($22) is another clean and beautiful dish, lifted by a zest of yuzu with the almond and radish providing the extra crunch. I felt that the avocado is unnecessary, it is there for the seek of being a ceviche than complementing the dish.

Cod 4.2/5

If you enjoy the firm and buttery taste of the Cod ($20) than you will like the execution at Humpback, paired with leek, vinaigrette and chestnut puree which works harmoniously.

Beef Short Rib 4/5

Moving on to the meat, the melted in the mouth grain fed 120 days Beef Short Rib ($23) is a good alternative from the seafood. The carrot puree was an excellent choice, creating a balance to the whole dish.

Pork Collar 4/5

The Pork Collar ($16) is another great cut for the carnivorous with pear, frisee and orange glaze. To be frank, I find the pear a bit over used in their menu and I did not see any purposes of it in this dish.

Fernet Panna Cotta 3.5/5

When the Fernet Panna Cotta ($8) was served to the table, my first thought was who lost his handphone case. Anyway, the flavour came across some what foreign to me while the wobbly texture holds up well. Have it without the bitter cocoa and orange first and then with them to appreciation the different flavours it brings out.

Valrhona Chocolate Mousse 4.5/5

The Valrhona Chocolate Mousse ($8) paired with berries compote and fresh cream is deadly. Not deadly sinful but deadly addictive for the richness in chocolate. So good that we ordered a second servicing.

Humpback is a great casual and relax place to chill out with friends coupled with great selections of oysters and small plates. The seafood dishes on the menu stood out for me . Food at Humpback is served as small plates, and it is recommended to order around 6-8 dishes to be shared between 2 people.


Humpback
18/20 Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore 089834
Tel: +65 67504461
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 5pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Turn left onto Teo Hong Road. At the end of Teo Hong Road turn left and continue on Bukit Pasoh Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Oriole Coffee + Bar @ Capitol Piazza Neue

Oriole Coffee + Bar has chosen Capitol Piazza to house their second outlet. Located at Level 2, it is tucked in a rather cosy corner, which is great for diners who are looking for some serenity. Over here, not only you can continue to enjoy their gourmet coffees, you get something extra - their Capitol Exclusives and All Day Breakfast.

Warm Spinach Salad 3.5/5

Warm Spinach Salad ($18) and Portobello Confit ($17) are two dishes that showcase the versatility of Portobello mushroom. Both items may look quite ordinary but they are in fact packed with real wonderful ingredients.

With the poached egg oozing over the mushroom and down to the bed of spinach, it was almost picture perfect. Tossed in truffle balsamic vinaigrette, the overall taste is earthy and tangy at the same time. The shaved black truffles and crispy serrano jamon make every mouthful of it even more exciting. Some say salads are boring, but definitely not this salad.

Portobello Confit 3/5

The latter is a delectable sandwich which comprises Portobello mushroom confit, sun-dried tomato compote, buffalo mozzarella with basil pesto and baby spinach. The intense flavour of the basil pesto pairs really well with light tasting buffalo mozzarella. If a stronger kind of cheese has been used, such balanced taste wouldn't have been achieved.

Avocado and Toast 3/5

Unlike their first outlet, the breakfast items here are made available all day. Avocado and Toast ($14) is a fairly simple dish - crushed avocado and smoked tomatoes on focaccia bread, topped with basil leaves. Nothing exceptional, at the same time, I feel this dish is too light and clean for me. If I'm gonna make my way here for an all day breakfast, I would look for something heartier and more indulgent.

Reuben 2.5/5

Reuben ($17) - housemade coffee-cured salt beef and sauerkraut clasped between grilled rye bread with melted swiss cheese and mustard mayo. It looks really mouth-watering but sadly the overall taste doesn't quite work for me. I was expecting the coffee-cured beef to taste different from the regular cured ones. However, with the cheese, sauerkraut & mustard mayo, all I could taste is the saltiness of the meat.

Hotcakes 2.8/5

One of the quintessential breakfast items is of course, hotcakes. Their Hotcakes ($12) is served with Oriole’s expresso mascarpone butter and maple syrup served on the side. For diners who didn't read the description, some may mistaken this as Espresso infused hotcakes, which I thought may be more unique. Nonetheless, the pancakes are fluffy and the expresso mascarpone butter also has enough caffeine to give you that bitter sweet taste.

Oriole's Angel Cake 4/5

Coming to their deserts, I realised using coffee as one of the ingredients is almost their trademark. Their Oriole’s Angel Cake ($14) is a coffee-textured cake infused with signature house blends, topped with chocolate crunch sprinkles, chocolate jelly, crushed meringue and an espresso crème anglaise core. The texture is like a harden cotton candy, that melts in my mouth with just a slight munch. The espresso crème anglaise core I feel is an ideal combination with the cake, which may otherwise be a bit too dry. With its coffee color, it may not be one of those photogenic desserts, but it's definitely one of the most interesting I have come across.

Waffles, Ice Cream & Caramelised Banana 4.2/5

Their Waffles, Ice Cream & Caramelised Banana ($14) may seem conventional, but with the bananas so skilfully caramelised, it definitely surpasses many others. Of course, not to forget using real ice cream made with vanilla beans, and warm crisp waffles. The addition of coffee mascarpone makes this item uniquely Oriole's.

Cold Brew - Black 3.8/5, White 4/5, MAD Milk 4.2/5

Oriole is well known for its award winning coffee, this I knew that all along. What surprises me is their cold brew, the Taisho series -This signature in-house cold-brewed coffee comes in Black ($6), White ($7) or with M.A.D. Milk ($8). When I find most bottled chilled white coffee syrupy and artificial, theirs is really smooth and silky. It is  done by steeping ground coffee in cold filtered water for hours to bring out their delicate flavours. My favourite is the one made with M.A.D. Milk, a cold-pressed non-dairy nut concoction of macadamias, almonds and dates. It is also available on its own ($10). Even if you are a coffee drinker, I would recommend having it on its own. That's when you can really appreciate its nuttiness and sweetness that is so so comforting. I can imagine myself waking to it every morning!

When there are so many new and exciting concepts over here in Capitol piazza, Oriole may be slightly overshadowed. However, I believe their reputation in coffee making and quality of their food will win regulars over. Their lusciously delicious Taisho series, or even the M.A.D. Milk per se, is enough reason for you to come for it. Order their M.A.D. Milk Taisho, or M.A.D. Milk, then think of what food do you want to go with it. That would be the way which I'm gonna do the next time I visit Oriole.

Photograph and Written by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


[CLOSED]
Oriole Coffee + Bar
Capitol Piazza Neue
13 Stamford Road
#02-20/21
Singapore 178905
Tel: +65 63846495
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1030am - 1030pm

Direction: 
Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Top 1 Home Made Noodle @ Beauty World Food Centre

Moving to the West has given me the opportunity to discover many delicious food in the area. My friend, Amanda Tan has recommended me Top 1 Home Made Noodle at Beauty World Food Centre for the longest time but I only manage to find time recently to visit the stall. The stall is extremely busy during my visit, I have to wait for a good half an hour for my order. The stall has adopted the use of a queuing system, just like in the hospital or clinic.

Homemade Yu Mian Soup with Big Prawn 4/5

Homemade Yu Mian Soup with Big Prawn 4/5

First I had the Homemade Yu Mian Soup with Big Prawns ($6). I took a sip of the soup first and was hit by a rich and intense bowl of flavourful soup base. The home made noodle was also cooked to a nice bite. It is really a bowl of slurping goodness. Besides the big prawns, the bowl of noodles also comes with minced pork, mushroom, ikan bilis and vegetables.

Spicy Mala Ban Mian with Big Prawn 4.5/5

Highly recommend by my friend is the Spicy Mala Ban Mian with Big Prawn ($6). I am not sure what is the concoction of the chilli sauce, but it definitely packs a punch and made me break into a sweat. If you are up to the spicy challenge, this is a best try. Compared to the you main, I like the ban main more for its wider base of textural enjoyment. It also seems to hold itself better in the soup base, soft but still retain a bite to it.

Spicy Mala Ban Mian with Big Prawn 4.5/5

I am glad that there is a good bowl of ban mian near my place. During my visit, I noticed a lot of people ordering the dry version tossed in a black sauce. It really seems quite delicious. I definitely will be back to check that out.


Top 1 Home Made Noodle
Beauty World Food Centre
144 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Level 4, #04-44
Singapore 588177
Tel: +65 84488450
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Beauty World (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Thu-Mon: 9am - 830pm
(Closed on Tue and Wed)

Direction:
1) Alight at Beauty World MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Lai Huat Signatures @ China Street

When I was told that there is a new Lai Huat Signatures restaurant near the central business district (CBD) at China Street, I could not hold my joy to know that their signature Sambal Promfret since 1951 will be easily available to diners now with the restaurant conveniently located near Telok Ayer MRT station.

The signature sambal belachan was created by the late Mr Lim Song Lai in his humble coffeeshop along Ophir Road back in the 1950s. Now there are five different restaurants around the island at Jalan Besar, Guillemard, Upper East Coast, Rangoon Road and China Street. Each of them bears slightly a different name but retained the Lai Huat brand name. All of them seem to inherit the recipe of the late Mr Lai. While the five restaurants are owned by different members in the family trees, they are all run individually which seems to suggest that there are different views and directions for the business. Anyway, let us focus on the food.

Crab Beehoon 3/5

At Lai Huat Signatures, besides the signature Sambal Promfret the restaurant also woks up a eclectic selection of cooked dishes on the menu. One of them is the Crab Beehoon ($58/kg) which we tried. There will hits and misses in their execution. The beehoon was cooked to a good slurping bite complemented by the freshness and sweetness of the crustacean. However the beehoon failed to absorb the essence of the crab, lacking the oomph  factor.

Fish Maw Soup 3.5/5

The Fish Maw Soup ($18/$35/$48) with dried Scallop and crabmeat came across has hearty and comforting, flavourful but yet not too starchy.

Roasted Chicken Two Ways 3.5/5

The Roasted Chicken Two Ways ($30) actually comes in the form of roasted chicken and strips of chicken meat tossed in a Thai chilli sauce. The exterior of the roasted chicken is crispy while the interior is still tender and juicy. Pair with strips of cucumber and carrot in a sweet Thai chilli sauce, the other version is more light and refreshing as if having a salad dish.

Sambal Promfret 4.2/5

Lastly the signature item on the menu, The Sambal Promfret  (Market Price) which comes with a generous topping of the sambal. I am told that there is a slight difference in how Lai Huat Signatures prepared the sambal compared to the other restaurants. Traditionally the sambal is wok fried until fragrant but risk of getting burnt. Over here, it is oven roasted for consistency. If you like spicy food, the sambal promfret is not to be missed. The sambal is so good that you can just have it with a bowl of rice.


Lai Huat Signatures
23 China Street
Singapore 049565
Tel: +65 66363828
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction: 
Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Cross Street towards Far East Square. Turn right onto China Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]