KM Bagel & Waffle @ Tanjong Pagar - A Fun Bagel & Waffle Omakase Concept With Cocktail Pairing

Located on the second floor of the Tanjong Pagar Plaza is KM Bagel & Waffle, Singapore's first bagel and waffle bar. It is a small restaurant with a 15 seater round bar. As per its name, the restaurant's menu focuses on bagels, waffles and bespoke cocktail pairing. We had the 5 Course Chef's Curation Menu ($118). If you go for the cocktail pairing, it comes with an additional $108.

Canapes 4/5

Our first course is a selection of Canapes. The plate consists of Crab Rillette on Bagel, Foie Gras on Bagel, Tuna Tartare with Oscietra Caviar on Waffle and Dill Egg White Foam with Oscietra on Waffle. These are all delectable canapes to kickstart the meal with a few cocktails.

With the round bar seating, you can fully view the bartender shaking up your cocktails. For our dinner, we left it to the bartender to do the pairing, which was excellent.

Salad 3.5/5

Next is the Salad item comprising mesclun, burrata, plum infused cherry tomatoes, dates, blood orange and yellow frisee, dressed in basil oil and citrus shallot vinaigrette. It is a pleasing starter to ease into the main course.

Duck & Waffles 3.8/5

There are two mains for the five-course menu. The first main is Duck & Waffles. The duck breast is sous vide to fork-tender, paired with duck crackling, charred sweet corn, wakame and potato bacon waffle. I like the addition of bacon in the waffle, accentuating the flavour of the soft, fluffy waffle.

Lobster & Clams 4.2/5

From the land, we moved to the sea for our next main. The Lobster & Clams is served in a miso and chrysanthemum infused broth packed with umami, brightening the enjoyment of the boston lobster and diamond shell clams. The toasted bagel is perfect for wiping up the delicious broth.

Mochiko Waffles 3.5/5

Wrapping up our five-course menu, we have the Mochiko Waffles for dessert. The soft and spongy mochiko waffles come with a scoop of salted lavender caramel ice cream, paired with assorted berries, citrus chantilly, berry compote, and cinnamon crumble.

I observed the kitchen serve different desserts for each group. I guess it gives an element of surprise and variety to the customer. The other dessert is ice cream in a sugar dome with assorted berries.

KM Bagel & Waffle is an interesting and fun concept, pairing bagel and waffles with bespoke cocktails. I enjoyed the food and cocktails. The idea is pretty new to the local scene, but with the food and cocktail on the spot, I hope more people will get to discover it and enjoy it.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


KM Bagel & Waffle
7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
#02-101
Singapore 081007
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Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Fri: 5pm - 11pm
Sat: 12pm - 12 midnight
Sun: 12pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Crystal Jade Celebrates Parents Day Showcasing Specially-crafted Dishes and Sumptuous Set Menus

With the two month long Parents Day, Crystal Jade Group's restaurants have put together specially-crafted dishes and sumptuous set menus for the occasions, available from 27 April to 30 June 2022. I was given a glimpse of the dishes served during this period.

Deep-fried Monkey Head Mushroom and Honey Roasted Iberico Pork Char Siew 4.2/5

We started with Deep-fried Monkey Head Mushroom with Honey Vinaigrette Sauce ($12.80 per portion) and Honey Roasted Iberico Pork Char Siew with Crispy Roots ($32 per portion). My favourite is the crispy monkey head mushroom slicked in an appetising and tangy coat. The sweet and juicy roasted iberico pork char siew, with its layer of fat, is lip-smacking goodness. The dishes are available at Crystal Jade Palace and Golden Palace.

Braised Sliced Sea Cucumber, Crab Meat, Fish Maw and Scallop in Golden Thick Broth 4.8/5

A hearty and comforting bowl of soup is the Braised Sliced Sea Cucumber, Crab Meat, Fish Maw and Scallop in Golden Thick Broth with Chinese Hua Diao Wine in Hot Stone Pot ($46.80 per portion) paired with Crispy Spring Roll. Top-notch quality in a bowl of collagen-rich broth. The dish is served at Crystal Jade Dining IN.

Steamed Chilean Cod Fish 4.5/5

Another beautiful dish from Crystal Jade Dining IN is the Steamed Chilean Cod Fish ($24.80 per person) paired with Japanese Shiso Leaf and Black Fungus in superior soya sauce, topped with bonito flakes. I love the touch of Japanese influence from the bonito flakes and the additional texture bites from the black fungus.

Sauteed Sea Prawn with Black Bean Garlic Sauce 4.2/5

There are many ways of cooking prawns, but the pairing with black bean garlic sauce is a first for me. The black bean paste is specially imported from Taiwan for the Sauteed Sea Prawn with Black Bean Garlic Sauce ($38.80 per portion) that imparts a smokiness and punchy flavour.

Crispy Braised Duck Leg with Chef's Special Sauce 4/5

From Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen, we had the Crispy Braised Duck Leg with Chef's Special Sauce ($16.80 per piece). I can't tell what the special sauce is, but it brings a sweet harmony to the crispy and tender duck.

Sizzling Celtuce with Fresh Lily Bulb and Sakura Shrimp 4.5/5

One of my favourite items is from Crystal Jade Palace, the Sizzling Celture with Fresh Lily Bulb and Sakura Shrimp ($26 per portion) served in claypot. It is a textural enjoyment from the crunchy celture, purple cauliflower and lily bulb, fragrant by the aromatic sakura shrimp.

Fried Rice with Beetroot, Diced Chicken, Corn and Egg White 4/5

Fried rice is commonly served in Chinese restaurants; hence I applauded what Crystal Jade has done, injecting new creativity into a common dish in the Fried Rice with Beetroot, Diced Chicken, Corn and Egg White ($18.80 per portion). The incorporation of beetroot juice into the fragrant fried rice turns the fragrant fried rice into a festive-looking dish.

Almond Cream and Chilled White Fungus and Snow Pear Sago 4.5/5

Wrapping up the meal, we had the Almond Cream with Fresh Water Chestnut, Gingko and Egg White ($12 per person) and Chilled White Fungus and Snow Pear Sago ($5.80 per person). A light and refreshing dessert that comes with delectable ingredients such as water chestnut, white fungus and snow pear sago in each scoop.

Crystal Jade's Parents' Day promotional dishes and set menus are available for dine-in from 27 April to 30 June, and reservations can be made via Inline or at the various outlets. Orders for the Special Take-Home Set can be placed in-store and online at estore.crystaljade.com from 18 April to 30 June.

sen-ryo @ ION Orchard - Celebrates First Anniversary With Special Dishes And New Lunch Offerings

sen-ryo, which originates from Tochigi, Japan, celebrates its first anniversary in Singapore. Open on 01 April 2021, the restaurant is known for its well priced, top-notch offerings. It is hard to get a seat at the Japanese restaurant with reservations 2-3 months in advance. To commemorate this momentous occasion, Sen-ryo presents special dishes and new set lunch offerings to add to its already popular ones. There is even an exclusive gift for dine-in customers.

Tai Carpaccio with Truffle Soy and Shio Konbu 4.5/5

We start with the Chef's special of the day - Tai Carpaccio with Truffle Soy and Shio Kombu ($19.80). The addition of truffle soy and shio kombu accentuated the enjoyment of the clean tasting sea bream.

Otoro with Shio Koji Negitoro 4.8/5 & Abalone Sushi 3.8/5

Next, for the sushi dish, we had the Otoro with Shio Koji Negitoro ($11.80) and Abalone Sushi ($6.80). I love the otoro with shio koji negitoro for its multi-textural melted in the mouth enjoyment.

Kaki Soy Nabe 4.8/5

The restaurant has levelled up the popular Kaisen Soy Nabe with the introduction of the new Kaki Soy Nabe ($38.80), whereby freshly shucked Hyogo Oysters are added to the hotpot. The Japanese soy milk-dashi soup base is super good. So good that I have gone back for a few extra bowls. Besides the plump and sweet oysters, diners can also find chewy Kuzukiri noodles, tofu, vegetables and shiitake in the hotpot.

Sen-ryo Premium Sushi Set 5/5

Not to be missed at Sen-ryo is their lunch sets. One of the popular lunch sets is the sen-ryo Premium Sushi Set ($32.80) which comes with an assortment of sushi with premium seafood. On the plate, customers can look forwardto a beautiful plate of chutoro, maguro with spicy sauce, salmon, hamachi, hotate, akaebi, unagi, ikura gunkan and ebi fry maki. Completing the sets are chawanmushi, miso soup and tomato salad.

Sen-ryo Special Bento 4.2/5

Another popular lunch set is the sen-ryo Special Bento ($29.80) which comprises nine of the chef's recommended side dishes, including assorted sashimi flown in fresh from Japan, signature sen-ryo tamagoyaki, tofu in goma sauce, ebi tempura and tako karaage. The set also comes with rice, miso soup and warabi mochi. Some items may change.

Sen-ryo Kushiyaki Set 4.2/5

It has also launched three new lunch sets in conjunction with the restaurant's first anniversary. One of the three new lunch sets is the sen-ryo Kushiyaki Set ($20.80), which will delight skewer-fan with five sticks of ebi, hotate, tsukune, shiitake and onion, complete with rice, chawanmushi, miso soup, salad and pickles.

Peach Sorbet 4.5/5

Lemon Sorbet 4.5/5

Be in for a cute and sweet ending surprise in the range of fruit desserts specially brought in from Toyama, Japan. We tried the Peach Sorbet ($11.80) and Lemon Ice Cream ($6.80), which tasted and came in the shape of the real fruit.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


sen-ryo
ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
#03-14
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 69746782
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am to 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Le Matin Patisserie @ Robinson Road - Expanded With Two New Outlets

Fans of Le Matin will be great that they have opened two more outlets at Paragon and Robinson Road. I visited their new outlet at Robinson Road. Now Le Matin has a bigger space and more importantly a proper dine-in space.

With the dine-in space, now we can enjoy the pastries in comfort over a cup of coffee. We tried a few of their pastries that was available during our visit.

Avo On Toast - grilled pecan financier "toast" stacked with avocado mousse and sourdough creameux finished with a shaving of brown cheese and vegemite dust.

Granola Bowl - granola tart bowl filled with a yogurt and elderflower panna cotta, topped with cloudberry jam and a green strawberry tartar.

Cashew Tart - crisp pate sucree filled with a cashew and saffron frangipane and orange blossom scented mulberries. It is topped with a touch of cashew custard, cashew nougatine and caramelised cashew nut.

Escargot - traditional croissant pastry shaped like a snail and stuffed with juicy escargots from France, and a mushroom ricotta custard. It’s then coated with a garlic crumb and doused with garlic butter, then finished with a swirl of parsley chimichurri.

Ox Tongue & Cheese Croissant Panini - classic croissant layered with beef tongue and wagyu bresaola, a mix of 4 different cheeses, as well as pickled rose petals, butternut and horseradish. It is then flattened in a grill like a panini sando.

Of the pastries I tried, I prefer the savouries over the sweets. One of my all time favourites is the Ox Tongue & Cheese Croissant Panini. Saying that, the Avo on Toast is an interesting take of the traditional avocado toast.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Le Matin Patisserie
77 Robinson Road
#01-03
Singapore 068896
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Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 9am - 5pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit F. Walk to Robinson Road and Maxwell Road traffic junction. Cross the road and turn left onto Robinson Road. Walk down Robinsion Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Ah Ma Chi Mian (阿嬤吃麵) @ Clementi - A Bowl Of Satisfying Bak Chor Mee From The Founder’s Grandmother Recipe

Starting with their first stall at Hougang, Ah Ma Chi Mian (阿嬤吃麵) has expanded aggressively with 11 stalls around the island now. I visited their stall at Clementi Ave 3, located inside a coffeeshop near Clementi MRT station. 

Ah Ma Specialty Noodle 4/5

I had the Ah Ma Specialty Noodle ($5.50) with al dente noodles, abalone slices and ikan bilis. It is served together with a bowl of soup with pork slices and pig's liver. Though I find the chilli lacking the spicy kick, I enjoyed the noodle texture. The addition of crunchy ikan bilis accentuated the enjoyment.

As for the bowl of soup, it was tasty, but the pig's liver texture is no way near the best I have eaten. My best for pig's liver is still reserved for Mui Song Minced Meat Noodles.

Signature Scallop Dry Mee Sua 4/5

My partner, on the other hand, had the Signature Scallop Dry Mee Sua ($6.80) that comes with scallop, abalone slices and meatball. It also comes in a bowl of soup with pig's liver and pork slices.

Overall, I find it a decent bowl of hearty and comforting noodles. I can't say it is the best, but it is satisfying.


Ah Ma Chi Mian (阿嬤吃麵)
Blk 450 Clementi Ave 3
#01-271
Singapore 120450
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Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 730am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit D. Turn right at block 450. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map].

Basdban @ Telok Ayer - Rock & Roll Sichuanese Food

Basdban is the latest concept by the folks behind contemporary Sichuan-influenced restaurant Birds of a Feather. Taking over the space previously occupied by 51 Soho, Basdban is under the new stewardship of Chef Pang Kok Keong. Basdban strides to introduce the authentic and bold flavours of Sichuan cuisine with a touch of fun.

Roasted Eggplant 4.5/5

This is not an ordinary Roasted Eggplant ($14). Instead, the creative pairing of garlic sauce, smoked bacon, mixed cheeses and funky popcorn with the ordinary eggplant turns it into a unique and delicious dish. Now I understand what the restaurant meant by introducing Sichuan flavours with a touch of fun.

Whampoa Omelette 4.5/5

The dish's name - Whampoa Omelette ($20), caught my attention when browsing the menu. I was pleasantly surprised by the egg omelette's fluffiness, paired with spicy, tangy crab meat sauce and finished with nori dust. It is a beautiful dish both in taste and presentation.

Fried Crispy Pork Trotter 3.5/5

The Fried Crispy Pork Trotter ($14) is served in a paper bag of gentle spice mix. Give it a good shake to give the bite-sized chunks of braised trotter fried to crisp a delight coat of the spice mix. There is also a non-spicy option.

Lalalalalala Fried Chicken 4.8/5

Another interestingly named dish is the Lalalalalala Fried Chicken ($26 | $34). The plate of juicy chunks of fried chicken and tender clams are tossed in a gleaming heap of fragrant Er Jing Tiao green chilli chunks. It is addictive combination of meaty succulence and refreshing crunch in each bite.

B-52 4/5

For those who prefer the spicy version of fried chicken, you can go for the B-52 ($20 | $28). it is indeed packed with fiery spiciness, but I thought it lacked the dumbness from the mala.

Basdban Donabe 4.5/5

Great for sharing is the Basdban Donabe ($35 | $48). Lifting the claypot lid reveals an aroma pot of rice brimming with Sichuan waxed meat, spicy sausage, dried sole, morel mushrooms, special shoyu, edamame sakura ebi, crab and most importantly, pork lard. Infused with the ingredients' essences, each mouthful of the rice is filled with complex yet lovely flavours that will make you go back for more.

Cheesecake Ice Cream 4/5

We tried two different ice creams on the menu for dessert - Cheesecake Ice Cream ($14) and Fermented Rice Ice Cream ($12). The cheesecake ice cream with vanilla tuile and strawberry compote is light and refreshing. However, I prefer the fermented rice ice cream paired with osmanthus poached pear and charcoal coral. It has unique yet distinct rice fragrant, giving it a sweet and savoury finishing.

Fermented Rice Ice Cream 4.2/5

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Basdban
51 Telok Ayer Street
#01-01
Singapore 048441
Tel: +65 97551058
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Hoy Yong Seafood Restaurant (开洋海鲜菜馆) @ Clementi Ave 2 - Zichar Stall By Disciple Of One Of The Four Heavenly Kings

For those staying in Clementi, we are blessed to have one of the best zichar stalls in Singapore. Hoy Yong Seafood Restaurant (开洋海鲜菜馆) is located inside a coffeeshop at Clementi Ave 2. The man behind the wok is non-other than Chef Hoy Yong, the disciple of one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Singapore.

Fried Hor Fun with Egg 4.5/5

One of their popular items, which you probably get to see on every table, is their Fried Hor Fun with Egg. We have the medium portion priced at $11. For the price, the portion is very generous with prawns, vegetables, fish slices, pork slices, and squids, topped with pork lards. The sight of the runny egg, coupled with the breath of the wok, already made me drool before digging in. It is definitely one of the best hor fun I have eaten.

Pig's Stomach Soup 4.5/5

A must-try if it is your first time visiting Hoy Yong is their Three Treasures - Pig's Stomach Soup, Braised Pork Ribs and Deep Fried Duck Roll. I had two out of the three dishes, starting with the Pig's Stomach Soup ($14). You can taste the soup that has been boiled for hours from its creaminess with a piquant peppery kick. What astonished me was the amount of ingredients in the bowl of soup. You get chicken pieces, fish maw and pig's stomach. It is restaurant quality serving!

Deep Fried Duck Roll 4.5/5

The other Three Treasure item we tried is the Deep Fried Duck Roll ($14). It is a unique and tasty creation. It is like a tempura Ngoh Hiang in the crispy crumb, stuffed with roasted duck, pork and prawn. Best to have it together with the mayonnaise.

Garlic Kai Lan 4/5

When you have a master behind the wok, even the Garlick Kai Lan ($12) tasted great. The greens still retain a delectable crunchy texture, simply stir-fried with garlic, ginger, and some pork lards.

Claypot Egg Plant 4.5/5

The other vegetable dish we ordered is the Claypot Egg Plant ($18). Not shown in the picture is the fried egg hidden inside the claypot, soaking up the delicious sauce. Instead of the usual minced meat, it uses crunchy shrimp coated in batter for extra textural enjoyment.

Herbal Kampong Chicken 4.2/5

To round up our meal with a meat dish, we decided to go for the Herbal Kampong Chicken ($18 Half). It was sauna-bath in aluminium foil wrap, cooked to fork-tender in a flavoursome herbal broth.

Hoy Yong is indeed a gem in the West. Its restaurant-quality dishes make it a notch above many zichar stalls in Singapore.


Hoy Yong Seafood Restaurant
Blk 352 Clementi Ave 2
#01-153
Singapore 120352
Tel: +65 67782223
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 52 and 154. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Dover MRT station. Take Exit A Walk to bus stop at Dover MRT station. (Stop ID 19031).  Take bus number 74. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]