Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap @ Upper Serangoon Road - Thai Style Kwap Chap In Singapore

I have been wanting to try Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap along Upper Serangoon Road for the longest time whenever the bus passed by the place with the sight of crowd packing the restaurant. We have been eating the local braised type kway chap since young but Thai style is rather new in Singapore. The first time I tried it was back in Bangkok a couple of years back and I am glad to know that this is available in Singapore now.

Signature Thai Kway Chap 3.8/5

Unlike the dark coloured soup based type in Singapore, the Signature Thai Kway Chap ($5) comes in a white peppery soup base. The kway is also rolled up instead of being flat, which has a more delectable textural bite. In the bowl, one can find ingredients such pig stomach, roasted pork, pork slices and Thai sausage. However I find that it is not as peppery as the one I had in Bangkok.

I have not tried Thai Fish Sausage before but this is quite fragrant and it actually tasted like those Taiwan sausage.

The signature of Thai Kway Chap comes with crispy Roasted Pork, just the way it is done in Bangkok. One may think it is rather random to have them in the kway chap, but I find that it does did its part in providing the extra boost in flavour, just like how we like to add pork lard in our noodle dishes.

Braised Beancurd 3.5/5

The signature kway chap is a bit small in portion and you may need to have another bowl to be full. Otherwise you may want to complete your meal with some dishes to go along with the kwap chap. I tried the Braised Beancurd ($4) and Kailan with Crispy Pork ($8). The kailan is really well executed with the aroma for wok hei, fish sauce, garlic and of course the crispy pork.

Kailan with Crispy Pork 4/5

Other sides available on the menu are Thai Mid Wing, Thai Boiled Pork Belly, Deep Fried Thai Pork Belly, Thai Stir Fried Cabbage with Fish Sauce, Thai Fried Beancurd, Thai Fish Sausage, Braised Tau Pok, Braised Egg


Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap
945 Upper Serangoon Road
Singapore 534711
Tel: +65 88225637
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Nearest MRT: Kovan (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 130am

Direction:
1) Alight at Kovan MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to the traffic junction of Upper Serangoon Road and Simon Road. Cross the road. Walk down Upper Serangoon Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Gaston Burgundy Bistro & Wine Bar @ Keong Saik Road - Hearty Comfort French Fare With Delectable Wines

Within the bustling stretch of Keong Saik is a new all-day bistro and wine bar - Gaston Burgundy Bistro & Wine Bar, offering comfort French fare and delectable wines from Burgundy. The bistro is helmed by owner and general manager Geoffrey Daurelle from Burgundy, who is inspired to bring the taste and culture of Burgundy to Singapore. He has rooted in Head Chef Julius Soo Thoo, who has worked in the kitchen of L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon and Iggy's to bring the classic Burgundy cuisine to the table.

Croquettes Bourguignonnes 4/5

The Croquettes Bourguignonnes ($9 for 3pc / $18 for 6pc) is like our cheese and ham sandwich except it is in a croquette form. It uses Epoisses cheese which is is known as Burgundy's most pungent cheese. I didn't find it that smelly at all.

Oeufs en Meurette 4.2/5

The Oeufs en Meurette ($13/$21) is like our local soft boiled egg breakfast in dark sauce. It comes with a poached egg in red wine sauce paired with onions, bacon and mushrooms. I do recommend saving some bread to mop up the dish just like how we local have our egg and toast for breakfast.

Escargots de Bourgogne 3.5/5

Some diners can be deterred by the sight of the escargot in its shell but the Escargots de Bourgogne ($15 for 6pc / $28 for 12pc) here is de-shelled and served in a pastry shell paired with garlic, butter and parsley. Love the idea as it is really easy to just pick it up and pop it into the mouth.

Boeuf Bourguignon 4.2/5

Passed down to Geoffrey Daurelle is his mum's recipe for the Boeuf Bourguignon ($32). The beef stew in red wine sauce is cooked to tender with carrots and mushrooms. Noteworthy is the creamy and smooth mash potato, which consists of 50% potato and 50% butter, similar to what the now defunct L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon Singapore used to serve to their diner.

Truite a l'Aligote 4.2/5

The Truite a l'Aligote ($28) is a match in heaven with the white wine sauce made of Aligote (white grape from Burgundy) complementing the steamed trout fillet. The trout fillet is rested on pommes fondant and pair with asparagus. A clean, light and delicate dish.

Flan Patissier 4/5

The Flan Patissier ($12) comes in a light pastry crust filled with smooth and eggy vanilla crustard. It is served together with a scoop of vanilla artisan gelato.

Eclair au cassis 4.2/5

For something richer in taste, there is the Eclair au cassis ($14). The classic French choux dough shell are filled with purple cassis custard cream, instead of the usual chocolate or vanilla cream. The cassis berry which is an iconic fruit of Burgundy gives the eclair a sourish finish that is very appetising.

Contrary to popular belief that wines from Burgundy are expensive, the wine bar offers value for money gems, especially those from lesser-known sub regions in Burgundy such as Côtes Chalonnaise and Mâconnaise, as well as appellations like Macon. There is an extensive selection of quality, great value vinos of close to 350 labels from Burgundy and beyond held within the wine bar’s dedicated walk in cellar. Committed to ensuring that the wine programme is highly accessible, varied and exciting, the wines are sourced directly from the vintners themselves. With an extensive wine-by-the glass programme of close to fifteen wines (including premium Champagnes) as well as a rotating ‘Wine Flight of the Week’, there is something for everyone from novices to seasoned wine drinkers to tantalise the palate.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Gaston Burgundy Bistro & Wine Bar
25 Keong Saik Road
#01-01
Singapore 089132
Tel: +65 69098120
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Website
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW, NE, TE Line)

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

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk straight down New Bridge Road. Turn right onto Kreta Ayer Road. Turn right again onto Keong Saik Road. Walk down Keong Saik Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh (嘉宾 巴生肉骨茶) @ Rangoon Road - Family Restaurant From Seremban, Malaysia Opens Outlet In Singapore

Are you a fan of white or black bak kut teh? More accurately peppery or herbal style bak kut teh? If you are the latter, then you probably should check out Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh (嘉宾 巴生肉骨茶) at Rangoon Road. It originated from Seremban, Malaysia and now the family has brought the klang style bak kut teh to Singapore.

Jia Bin Bak Kut Teh 4/5

The signature here has to be the Jia Bin Bak Kut Teh ($8.80 small / $17.50 Large). The pot of dark coloured herbal soup comes with items such as pork belly, tau pok, pig stomach and pig intestine. The soup itself has a mild herbal taste while not too overpowering. I dislike those that has the strong "干甜 (Gan Tian)" taste, hence I find this has the right balance which will be more acceptable to most diners in Singapore/

You Tiao 4.2/5

Salted Vegetable 3/5

To complete the enjoyment of the bak kut teh, one can also order some sides like the You Tiao ($2.50) and Salted Vegetable ($3.50) to go along. I definitely recommend the you tiao to soak up the delicious soup.

Jia Bin Dry Bak Kut Teh 4/5

Besides the soup version, it also offers a dry version on the menu. The Jia Bin Dry Bak Kut Teh ($8.80) comes in a sweet reduced dark sauce. It is pretty good but we could help comparing it with Soon Huat's dry verson which is more flavourful because of the addition of chilli and dry cuttlefish.

Jia Bin Hua Diao Wine Chicken 4.2/5

Stepping into the restaurant, I could already smell the fragrant Hua Diao Wine in the air. It actually comes from the Jia Bin Hua Diao Wine Chicken ($8.80). It definitely allured us to order one to try. All of us enjoyed the tender chicken cooked in the sweet dark sauce, perfumed by the aromatic Chinese wine.

Jia Bin Spicy Pork Belly 3.5/5

After all the sweetness, maybe you want to try the Jia Bin Spicy Pork Belly ($8.80) to spice up the meal a little. It uses pork belly slices cooked in a spicy sweet sauce instead. I thought the cut was a bit thin which did not feel quite satisfying and substantial compared to the chunky pork belly cuts used in the bak kut teh.

Choy Sim With Oyster Sauce 3.5/5

With all the meats, the Choy Sim With Oyster Sauce ($5) is a good choice to complement the meal for a balanced diet.

Pig's Hock 4.2/5

Not to be missed is the Pig's Hock ($10). I simply could not resist the seduction of the wobbly gelatin skin and tender meat in braising sauce. It definitely hits the soft spot of me for the dish, done right. This is one dish I will go back for.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Jia Bin Klang Bak Kut Teh (嘉宾 巴生肉骨茶)
62 Rangoon Road
Singapore 218352
Tel: +65 69007708
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Website
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Fri: 10am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit B. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time 3 minutes. [Map]

You Kee XO Restaurant (有记XO烧腊之家) @ Joo Chiat Place - Lip Smacking Crystal BBQ Pork Belly Char Siu From Johor Bahru Opens First Outlet In Singapore

For foodie that frequent Johor Bahru, you will probably heard of You Kee XO Restaurant (有记XO烧腊之家) known for its tonic soup and roasted meats. I have visited You Kee XO twice during my trip across the causeway. I am glad to announce that they have recently opened a new outlet and their first outside Johor Bahru in Singapore, Joo Chiat Place.

The first thing you will notice when you step into the restaurant is the two giant earthen urns. This is their signature earthen urns that is used to boil the tonic soup under constant charcoal fire for more than 10 hours.

Tonic Soup 4.5/5

Everyday there is 1 to 2 type of Tonic Soup ($12) on the menu and limited to around 100 portions. One can taste the depth of the soup from the extraction of the ingredients through the long hours of slow cooking the soup. I can still remember the slogan of their tonic soup - 男人的加油站， 女人的美容院.

XO Signature Roasted Duck 3.8/5

Traditional Roasted Pork Belly 4/5

Crystal BBQ Pork Belly Char Siu 4.2/5

Another signature at You Kee XO is their roasted meats. We tried the XO Signature Roasted Duck ($8/$13.80/$15.80), Traditional Roasted Pork Belly ($6.80) and Crystal BBQ Pork Belly Char Siu ($9.80). My favourite is still their char siu for the glittering exterior sweetness and the crystal fatness. You can't hardly find this type of standard in Singapore. For the roasted duck and roasted pork belly, they are noteworthy but better ones elsewhere. Other roasted items available at the restaurant are suckling pig, roasted chicken, Pei Pa duck, as well as pork sausage Hong Kong style.

Ginger Onion with Slice Fish 3/5

Besides the tonic soup and roasted meat, You Kee XO also offers a selection of cooked dishes. We managed to try a couple of them such as the Ginger Onion with Slice Fish ($6.80) and Handmade Signature Bean Curd ($8.80).

Handmade Signature Bean Curd 4/5

I remembered having the Handmade Signature Bean Curd back in my trip across the causeway. Great to see that the dish is available on the menu. The dish is also known as volcano beancurd because it is served sizzling hot with the sauce bubbling like volcano eruption. The homemade beancurd is smooth and silky with additional textures from the greens and pork floss.

Steamed Fish Tail with Green Ginger Paste

You Kee XO also offers steamed fish on the menu. I didn't try it this time but I have a look at the menu and the same dish I tried last time, Steamed Fish Tail with Green Ginger Paste ($21.80) is available on the menu too. The remember the special green ginger paste together with the soy sauce complements the fish meat excellently.

In fact, the menu at the Singapore branch is exactly the same as in Malaysia. I secretly hope that they can sell their almond bak kwa next Chinese New Year. Finger crossed.


You Kee XO Restaurant (有记XO烧腊之家)
43 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427767
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Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1030am - 3pm, 5pm - 9pm
Sat-Sun & PH: 1030am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at block 99 (Stop ID 81181). Take bus number 33. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit B or C. Walk to Bedok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 84009). Take bus number 33. Alight 11 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Botany By Dazzling Cafe @ Robertson Quay - Signature Honey Toasts And Soulful Food

If you are a fan of Dazzling Cafe's honey toasts, you will be glad to know that you can still have them at the newly opened Botany by Dazzling Cafe at Robertson Quay. With the closing of Dazzling Cafe, the trio of Actress Julie Tan, her cousin Cassandra and childhood friend Serene have come together to create a relax space for bonding while enjoying a soulful meal, regardless if one is a meat-lover, vegetarian or vegan at Botany.

The Botanist Salad 3.5/5

For those that are looking for something light and healthy, there is the The Botanist Salad ($15). It comes in a blend of fresh greens dressed in homemade apple cider vinegar honey sauce. Add-ons such as almond flakes, smoked salmon, grilled chicken, pan seared salmon, pan seared steak and Impossible patty are available at an additional cost ranging from $3 to $7 for each topping.

Curried Cauliflower Soup 4/5

The Curried Cauliflower Soup ($10) is a vegan soup made with coconut milk and spiced with curry paste. The soup has a velvety and creamy texture, in which one can still bite into the blended cauliflower bits.

Homemade Hummus with Baked Nachos 3.5/5

A delightful snack on the menu is the Homemade Hummus with Baked Nachos ($12). Applauded to the homemade hummus doused with olive oil that goes well with the crispy baked nachos.

Otah Chips 3/5

It is quite common to see French fries or spam fries on the menu but Otah Chips ($13) is a first for me. I love my otah but the fried mackerel fish paste strips did not manage to wow me. I guess I still like the traditional otah more.

Signature Mentaiko Fries $15

Of course there is still fries on the menu. At Botany, they served an elevated version, Signature Mentaiko Fries ($15)  with mentaiko dressing topped with nori. Nothing unique but definitely an all time favourite to munch and share with a group of friends.

Taiwanese Chicken Bites 4/5

A more addictive starter is the Taiwanese Chicken Bites ($13). Love the used of marinated chicken thigh for the tender bite, complemented by the Taiwanese spice seasoning. This is great to go along with some beer and wine.

Mapo Tofu Rice Bowl 4/5

A very hearty and comforting rice bowl is the Mapo Tofu Rice Bowl ($18). The Japanese rice is paired with silken tofu cooked in Szechuan spices and minced chicken, topped with sous vide egg. I would prefer it to be more spicy but I can understand the need to cater for the wider group.

Signature Grilled Chicken with Balinese Salsa 4/5

Another rice dish on the menu is the Signature Grilled Chicken with Balinese Salsa ($18). A complete meal on a plate that comes with boneless chicken leg marinated with spices and a fried egg, paired with homemade balinese salsa. My advice don't miss out the delicious chicken skin, it was heavenly.

Uni Truffle Capellini 3.8/5

While I enjoyed the texture of the pasta for the Uni Truffle Cappelini ($28) topped with sea urchin and salmon roe, it was unfortunate the truffle was a tad overpowering, masking the appreciation of the sea urchin. Served chilled, this is actually quite refreshing.

Pan-Seared Barramundi 4.2/5

A dish that I would go back for is the Pan-Seared Barramundi ($26) with mash potato. The huge piece of pan seared barramundi is well cooked and justify for the pricing. It is paired with pesto sauce which highlighted the moist fish but not stealing the limelight.

Australian Grass Fed Ribeye 250g 4/5

For the meat-lovers, there is the Australian Grass Fed Ribeye 250g ($28). Nothing fancy but just allowing the succulent ribeye cut with black pepper sauce to shine . It also comes with butter mash and greens on the side.

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake 3.5/5

For dessert, we tried the Gluten Free Chocolate Cake ($9). A moist and soft interior with crusty edges for the chocolate indulgent.

Dazzling Cafe's Signature Honey Toasts 4.2/5

I have to admit that I have never tried the Dazzling Cafe's Signature Honey Toast ($18) and this is my first time having it. Not only is it pretty and instragrammable, it is actually very good. Definitely one of the better ones I have eaten. Other flavours available on the menu are dazzling classic, caramel macademia nuts, banana chocolate, strawberry lover and hazelnut chocolate.

I like the new space at Botany by Dazzling Cafe with its greenery and river facing. Food is pretty decent but in the competitive F&B stretch, I felt that it needed more character or theme to stand out.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Botany By Dazzling Cafe
Robertson Quay
86 Robertson Quay
#01-03
Singapore 238245
Tel: +65 69514861
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Website
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT Line, NE Line), Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 9am - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 9am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop along Upper Cross Street (Stop ID 06171). Take bus number 51 and 186. Alight 2 stop later. Cross the road and walk to Four Points by Sheraton. Walk to the river. Cross the bridge and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10169). Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Four Points by Sheraton. Walk to the river. Cross the bridge and walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]