California Republic @ Amoy Street - Bold, Bright and Fresh Approach To Italian-inspired Cuisine

Taking over the space of now-defunct Carne is California Republic, the latest concept by The Dandy Collection. Stepping into the restaurant, it felt like entering a time capsule of California living in the summer of 1960, a time of woodie surf wagons and sunken living rooms.

Grilled Oysters 4/5

WWe start our meal with the Grilled Oysters ($18), grilled with chipotle chilli, bourbon and garlic compound butter. It is inspired by Micahel Goodman's (Co-founder & CVO) fond memory of his time at the Hog Island Oyster Company.

Faux Artichokes 3/5

Next, we had the Faux Artichokes ($18), which is jackfruit barigoule dressed in green herbs aioli. The flavours were beautiful, but I am not a fan of its texture. If I am not wrong, it uses the tasteless core of the jackfruit.

Meatballs al Angeleno 4.5/5

One of my favourite dishes at California Republic is the Meatballs al Angeleno ($28). The meatballs are made from pork and veal, drenched in a sweet and tangy tomato sauce. They were huge and juicy. Best to wipe up the sauce with the accompanying toasted bread. I only wish for more bread to go with the delicious tomato sauce.

Smoked Bucatini 4.8/5

What is an Italian restaurant with pasta on its menu, right? You will not be disappointed with the pasta offered at California Republic. I find them much better than their mains. One of their pasta highlights is the Smoked Bucatini ($34), made from smoked flour and tossed in pork ragu in bianco with classic soffritto. It is then finished with Parmigiano shavings and a touch of bone marrow.

Celery Root Cappelacci 4.2/5

Similar to tortellini is the Celery Root Cappellacci ($29) stuffed with celery and root puree and cooked in a roasted mushroom sauce. Due to the folded shape of the pasta, which resembles a hat, it is thicker at the edges for a more delectable bite.

Lazy Man's Cioppino 4.2/5

West Coast Garlic Mop 4.2/5

The Lazy Man's Cioppino ($48), a classic San-Francisco tomato-based seafood stew comprising roasted seabass, clams, mussels, calamari and prawns, is excellent for sharing. Best to order the West Coast Garlic Mops ($18) to mop up the tomato sauce or have it together with some Charred Broccolini ($14) if you need your greens.

Charred Broccolini 3.5/5

Espresso Budino 4/5

Wrapping up our dinner, we had the Espresso Budino ($16). A sweet and creamy dessert comprising of cream, milk, espresso and espresso cream to wake one up from the food coma. Though heavy on the cream, it is light on sugar.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


California Republic
88 Amoy Street
Singapore 069907
Tel: +65 97849487
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Website
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 530pm - 12 midnight

Direction: 
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Amoy Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Telok Ayer Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Five Star Hong Kong Style Handmade Dim Sum @ Shun Li Industrial Complex (Sims Drive) - Hidden Dim Sum Place In An Industrial Complex

There have been many media coverages of Five Star Hong Kong Style Handmade Dim Sum located in a coffeeshop at Mei Ling Street. It is known for its freshly handmade dim sum by Chef Yiu Wah Tai, who has 30 years of experience working at Shang Palace, Shangri La and Jiang Nan Chun, Four Seasons Hotel.

Chef Yiu has opened several Five Star Dim Sum around the island. However, not many people know that they have an outlet hidden on the seventh floor of an industrial building at Sims Drive. Furthermore, the place is air-conditioned!

Siew Mai 4.2/5, Har Gao 4.2/5

Whenever I have Dim Sum, I will order Siew Mai ($4.50) and Har Gao ($4.50). I find that this is the primary entry to judge whether the dim sum at the restaurant is good or not. The Siew Mai and Har Gao here did meet my expectation. The Siew Mai is plump and juicy, while the Har Gao comes with huge prawn wrapped in thin translucent skin.

Char Siew Cheong Fan 3/5, Prawn Cheong Fan 3.5/5

We also tried the Char Siew Cheong Fan ($4) and Prawn Cheong Fan ($4.50). I find these average, and the sauce is a bit too salty. However, it is value for money for the price and the amount of ingredients wrapped in the rice sheet.

Xiao Long Pau 3.5/5

While the Xiao Long Pau ($3.50) is plump and filled with delightful marinated pork filling, the skin was a bit thick for me. However, maybe they need to make the skin thicker to hold the generous filling.

Mala Dumpling 3/5

Though the Mala Dumpling ($4) sauce lacked the punch and fragrant, the dumpling itself is huge and stuffed with delectable filling.

The menu at the Sim Drive outlet is quite limited. There are only 18 items on the menu. We also tried Salted Egg Custard Buns, Char Siew Pau, Congees and Carrot Cake. There is nothing fancy with the dim sum items here, do not have high expectations. Instead, you get a taste of tradition with a generous portion at an affordable price. Unlike the other Five Star Dim Sum outlets, the outlet here also offers zichar dishes, herbal soup and claypot dishes.


Five Star Hong Kong Style Handmade Dim Sum
Shun Li Industrial Complex
705 Sims Drive
#07-01
Singapore 387384
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Nearest MRT: Aljunied (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 830pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Cross the road and walk to bus stop opposite Aljunied MRT station (Stop ID 81081). Take bus number 137. Alight 2 stops later. Walk along Sims Drive to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Shi Wei Xian HongKong Tim Sum @ Aljunied Avenue 2 - Cheap And Good Handmade Dim Sum

Nowadays it is quite hard to find handmade dim sum and that it is reasonable priced. At Shi Wei Xian HongKong Tim Sum, located inside a coffeeshop along Aljunied Avenue 2, a basket of dim sum starts from $3 here. Apparently the stall still handmade their dim sum and they are only open on weekends.

Carrot Cake 3.8/5

The Carrot Cake ($3) is pan fried with a slight brown crisp on the exterior but inside is soft and moist. What I enjoy is the bits of lup cheong in the carrot cake, it gives it an additional boost in aroma for a rounder finish.

Fried Yam Puff 4.5/5

What I enjoyed most is their Fried Yam Puff ($3) or also known as Wu Kok. This is as good as any restaurant standard. Wearing a coat of light crispy batter, biting into it will reveal the char siew filling. Together with the fragrant yam, the combination is unbeatable.

Bean Sauce Chicken Feet 4/5

I love my chicken feet and I have to say the Bean Sauce Chicken Feet ($3.20) is really well done. I enjoyed sucking off the chicken skin off the bone which has absorbed the delicious bean sauce.

Beancurd Sheet Roll 4/5

Another delectable item on the menu is the Beancurd Sheet Roll ($3.20). Wrapping in thin beancurd roll, it is stuffed with lavish fish paste for a delightful enjoyment.

Char Siew Chee Cheong Fun 3/5

I didn't quite like the Char Siew Chee Cheong Fun ($3.30). I find the rice roll is a bit on the thick side. As for the sauce, it is the sweet type instead of those Hong Kong style soy sauce type.

Quail Egg Dumpling 3.5/5

Besides the regular items on the menu, the staff recommended me to try to some of the specials for the day. One of them is the Quail Egg Dumpling. It is like having a siew mai stuffed with a quail egg. Pretty interesting for a coffeeshop stall to create something from the norm.

Spinach Siew Mai 4/5

The other special I tried is the Spinach Siew Mai. I was a bit surprise to see that the stall is willing to adapt with time and step out from their comfort zone. I really applauded the effort to keep themselves in time and hopefully renew their customer base, injecting a bit of hipster into their food.


Shi Wei Xian HongKong Tim Sum
Blk 119 Aljunied Avenue 2
#01-06
Singapore 380119
Tel: +65 81114950
Nearest MRT: Aljunied (EW Line), Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Sat-Sun: 7am - 5pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk towards Aljunied Road. Take the overhead bridge. Cross the road and walk to bus stop opposite Aljunied MRT station (Stop ID 81081). Take bus number 80. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to Aljunied Crescent. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

 2) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn right and walk to Geylang East Ave 1. On Geylang East Ave 1, turn left and continue to the end of the road. Cross the road and continue on Aljunied Crescent. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop at Paya Lebar MRT station (Stop ID 81119). Take bus number 134 or 155. Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to Aljunied Crescent. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Roastmania @ Aljunied Ave 2 - The Roasted Chicken's Skin Is Crispy

I have been to Aljunied almost every weekends and sometime I will settle lunch at the nearby Geylang East Centre Food Centre. One of the stalls I tried is Roastmania Authentic Traditional Roast Delights & Chicken Rice. I understand it has recently moved and re-located down the road. It is now at Shiyun Food Junction, opposite McDonald's.

Roasted Chicken 4.2/5

I ordered both the Roasted Chicken and Sio Bak to try. The platter even comes with some sliced cucumber and salted vegetables. The special thing I like about the roasted chicken is the crispy skin. You can see from the picture, a layer of crispiness sits on top of the tender chicken.

Sio Bak 3.5/5

The Sio Bak has a delightful biscuit-like skin with juicy and fatty meat. While the skin is crispy, I thought the meat is not roasted enough and it is a bit too fat.

Overall the stall sells pretty good roasted meat, this probably can be justified by the constant long queues at the stall. My review only based on the roasted chicken and sio bak which I tried. I probably need another re-visit to check out the other roasted items on the menu.


Roastmania
Blk 119 Aljunied Ave 2
#01-06
Singapore 380119
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Nearest MRT: Aljunied (EW Line), Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 6pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk towards Aljunied Road. Take the overhead bridge. Cross the road and walk to bus stop opposite Aljunied MRT station (Stop ID 81081). Take bus number 80. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

 2) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn right and walk to Geylang East Ave 1. On Geylang East Ave 1, turn left and continue to the end of the road. Cross the road and continue on Aljunied Crescent. Walk down Aljunied Crescent and turn right onto Aljunied Ave 2. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop at Paya Lebar MRT station (Stop ID 81119). Take bus number 134 or 155. Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]