Showing posts with label .Area: Boat Quay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label .Area: Boat Quay. Show all posts

Friday, November 3, 2023

ilmiri @ Circular Road - Bringing Its Signature Jjimdak to Singapore

IMG_8826

IMG_8860

ilmiri, a renowned F&B brand in Korea, opened its first outlet in Singapore on Circular Road. Established in 2011, ilmiri is known as the leading chicken cuisine brand in Korea, with more than 200 franchise stores in the country.

IMG_8841
Cloud Cheese Jjimdak 4.5/5

The dish that Ilmiri is known for is its Jjimdak - a hearty braised chicken dish that is well-loved by many Koreans and seen in many popular K-dramas. They are available in Soy Sauce, Red Chilli, BBQ and Truffle Jjiajang sauce. We tried the best-selling Cloud Cheese Jjimdak ($41.90), available in Soy Sauce or Red Chilli.

IMG_8856

This modern rendition comes loaded with braised chicken, accompanied by a medley of rice cakes, potatoes, and glass noodles, along with Korean dumplings, which are hidden like bundles of treasures, all covered with melted Mozzarella cheese. There's a lot to like about this hearty dish, from the tender chicken to the juicy Korean dumplings, chewy rice cakes, and the well-caramelised leeks and onions. The melted cheese added to the fun of having it with friends and family.

IMG_8848
Seaweed Sunny Side-up Bibim Rice

It can be a tad saltish to have it on its own. Hence, it is recommended that you pair it with Seaweed Sunny Side-up Bibim Rice.

IMG_8833
Tofu Stew 3/5

To complement our Jjimdak, we had a simple Soybean Paste Tofu Stew with beef. While the portion was relatively small, it was generously loaded with onions and zucchini, which added a delightful touch of sweetness to the stew.

Photos and words 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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


ilmiri
25/26 Circular Road
Singapore 049381
Tel: +65 8468 8566
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk straight to Circular Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Monday, August 28, 2023

Town Restaurant @ The Fullerton Hotel Singapore - Straits from the Heart: An Ode to Peranakan Cuisine

IMG_7472

IMG_7459

In collaboration with Chef Philip Chia, a local culinary master and best-selling cookbook author known for his Peranakan cuisine, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore presents "Straits from the Heart: An Ode to Peranakan Cuisine" at Town Restaurant alongside their signature spread of local and international fare. From 14 August to 14 September 2023, you can taste Chef Philip's prowess as a purveyor of Peranakan cuisine in the dishes created in the lunch and dinner buffet menus from Monday to Saturday.

IMG_7462
Egg Prawn Salad with Khong Th’ng

IMG_7463
Cucumber Pineapple Prawn Salad

We started with some cold salads that whetted our appetites with zesty and piquant dressings - the Egg Prawn Salad with Khong Th'ng (Peanut Candy) Dressing and the Cucumber Pineapple Prawn Salad. Both salads were ultra-refreshing, featuring crunchy cucumbers, juicy pineapples, and prawns and eggs that added delightful textures. I found them rather addictive - the fiery dressings had a good amount of heat and acidity yet were well balanced by the sweetness of the tomatoes and pineapples.

IMG_7431
Otah Otah

IMG_7433
Ngoh Hiang

Familiar and well-loved appetisers Ngoh Hiang and Otah Otah are also available.

IMG_7465
Kueh Pie Tee

One of the highlights is the DIY Kueh Pie Tee station, complete with crispy, thin tart shells and well-stewed turnips.

IMG_7435
Babi Pontay

The Mains were superb. The Babi Pontay (braised pork belly in fermented soybean sauce) was truly memorable, featuring fork-tender and unctuous thick-cut pork belly, along with generous chunks of mushrooms and bamboo shoots that had absorbed the flavoursome sauce, softening and enhancing their taste.

IMG_7441
Ayam Buah Keluak

IMG_7446
Beef Rendang

Other meat dishes featured include tantalising Ayam Buah Keluak (chicken and black nuts in tamarind gravy) and Beef Rendang (slow-cooked beef curry). Both delivered flavoursome and tender meats, and it was even more satisfying when I had them together with the warm and fragrant Jasmine rice served alongside.

IMG_7438
Assam Pedas

IMG_7457
Udang Goreng Assam

Seafood dishes provided a delightful addition to the line-up. The Assam Pedas was a highlight for me; the sour and spicy gravy was irresistible, accentuated by substantial chunks of pineapple that had been simmered to release bursts of sweet and tangy juice with every bite. The fish was cooked to perfection, boasting a tender and flaky texture. The Udang Goreng Assam (fried prawns with tamarind) were finger-licking good.

IMG_7469
Nyonya Chap Chye

And my favourite, Nyonya Chap Chye, didn't disappoint either! The vegetables had been braised until tender, absorbing the delectable umami broth.

IMG_7489

IMG_7490

The dessert counter showcases a live station serving Chendol, along with an array of bite-sized kueh such as Kueh Salat, Bengka Ubi, Kueh Kosui, and more. My personal favorite is the Rainbow Lapis, which in my opinion was the best Rainbow Lapis I have had to date. They were so good that you had to be quick, as they were snapped up shortly after being replenished.

IMG_7484

Straits from the Heart: An Ode to Peranakan Flavours
- Executive Lunch Buffet Monday to Friday S$48* per adult, S$24* per child
- Seafood Symphony Dinner Buffet Wednesday and Thursday S$128* per adult, S$64* per child
- Dinner Buffet with Barbecued Selection Friday and Saturday S$118* per adult, S$59* per child
- International Lunch Buffet Saturday S$68* per adult, S$34* per child

Photos and words 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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Town Restaurant
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
1 Fullerton Square
Singapore 049178
Tel: +65 68778188
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 630pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT Station. Take Exit H. Turn right and walk towards the river. At the river, turn right again and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Monday, October 24, 2022

59 Hutong Yakiniku @ Boat Quay - Taipei's Top Yakiniku Chain For Exclusive Cuts Of Meats And Seafood, Together With Friendly Taiwanese Service

59HuTong35

Newly opened in Boat Quay is 59 Hutong Yakinku, a new yakiniku restaurant serving premium and exclusive cuts of meats and seafood from Japan, US and Australia, and friendly Taiwanese service. The restaurant is a collaboration between Taipei's top yakiniku chain, Hutong and Singapore's 59 Restaurant Pte Ltd.

59HuTong11
AUS Wagyu Thin Cut Tongue

We started with the AUS Wagyu Thin Cut Tongue ($32), which has a delectable crunch after grilling.

59HuTong6

59HuTong37

59HuTong15

There is a good variety of beef cuts, such as the US Prime Boneless Short Rib ($32), AUS Black Cow Chuck Flat ($30), US Prime Dallas Cube ($38) and many more.

59HuTong26

59HuTong44
Japanese A5 Wagyu Ribeye Roll.

Of course, the highlight has to be the Japanese A5 Wagyu Ribeye Roll (215g - 225g) with its beautiful marbling that melted in the mouth. Other A5 wagyu cuts from Japan and AUS are available too.

59HuTong21

59HuTong38
Spanish Pork Belly

59HuTong30
Iberico Pork Shoulder Blade

For the non-beef eaters, you can go for Spanish Pork Belly ($18) or Iberico Pork Shoulder Blade ($26). Alternatively, another option is the tender Boneless Chicken Thigh ($14) paired with garlic butter.

59HuTong33
Boneless Chicken Thigh

59HuTong18
Raw Crab Roe in Crab Shell

There are also seafood selections such as Neritic Squid ($18), Cuttlefish ($18), Scallops ($10) and many more on the menu. We tried the Raw Crab Roe in Crab Shell ($18), which can take a while to cook. The flavour is a bit too rich and intense for me.

59HuTong9
Cuttlefish Sausage

A must-have under the seafood section is the Cuttlefish Sausage ($14). During the grilling, it emits a beautiful aroma that makes you drool while waiting for it to be cooked. In addition, the stuffed cuttlefish gives it a lovely crunchy finish.

59HuTong16
Zucchini and King Oyster Mushroom

While the focus is on the meats and seafood, the vegetables are good too. We had the Zucchini ($9) and King Oyster Mushroom ($9), which is an excellent refreshing break.

59HuTong24
Wagyu Beef Japanese Rice

A good selection is the Wagyu Beef Japanese Rice ($12) to fill up the stomach. While I enjoyed the soft and fluffy rice, I hoped the wagyu beef could be fatter.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


59 Hutong Yakiniku
35 Boat Quay
Singapore 049824
Tel: +65 62353818
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 330pm, 530pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk towards the river. Turn left at the river. Walk along the river. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Thursday, February 24, 2022

La Belle Epoque @ Boat Quay - New European Restaurant Along The Singapore River

LaBelleEpoque1

La Belle Epoque (which means 'the golden age' in French) is a European restaurant and bar concept that has recently opened its doors at Boat Quay. It offers contemporary European cuisine using fresh ingredients seasoned with natural herbs. Most of the herbs are sourced from Head Chef Firdauz's very own herb garden.

LaBelleEpoque6
Oyster & Iberico 4/5

Starting off the evening was Oyster & Iberico ($26), an interesting combination of fresh oyster and crispy iberico ham, tomato salsa and Avruga caviar. Other than the delightful crunch lent by the crispy iberico ham, I love how the different elements within the tiny shell played out when I consumed it as a whole. The crispy iberico ham and caviar seasoned the fresh oyster with their savoury notes, while the sweet and acidic tomato salsa balanced the overall flavours.

LaBelleEpoque10
Hummus Taco 3.5/5

Next, we had Hummus Taco ($10). The hummus is made with smoked chickpea. The elusive smoky accent of the hummus made it even more moreish and delicious. However, it might be better to serve the corn taco shell as a side as it turned soggy after a while.

LaBelleEpoque16
Cauliflower Steak 2.5/5

The Cauliflower Steak ($12) is a vegetarian-friendly dish featuring a smoked and cured cauliflower with vegetable butter herbs, served with purple sweet potato. Unlike the hummus taco, smoking the ingredients didn't work in the dish. The presence of that smokey flavour was somewhat overwhelming and got unpleasant after a while. The cauliflower was not very well cooked through either.

LaBelleEpoque23
Smoked Pork Belly 4/5

We had two meat dishes, of which I would highly recommend the Smoked Pork Belly ($16) marinated with spices. It is served with crispy pork crackers, grilled peach salad and pork veloute. The taste of the pork cracker needs to be improved for sure, but otherwise, the pork belly itself was scrumptious. Instead of the usual apple sauce, the chef used the sweetness of grilled peach to complement the meat.

LaBelleEpoque27
Beef Short Ribs 2.8/5

However, the Beef Short Ribs ($28) was rather disappointing. Marinated with local spices and sous vide for 48 hours, the meat was relatively dry.

LaBelleEpoque19
Cheese and Cold Cuts Board 2.5/5

We also had a sample of their Cheeses and Cold Cuts Board, but I find it rather lacklustre.

LaBelleEpoque31
Lemon Tart 3/5

LaBelleEpoque32
Tiramisu 4/5, Guerre Stellari 4.5/5

The desserts were good. We had Lemon Tart ($10), Tiramisu ($10) and Guerre Stellari ($10). The Guerre Stellari was my favourite. Encased within dark chocolate crust was rum chocolate mousse, and it was a perfect marriage with the tart raspberry sorbet.

Photos and words 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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


La Belle Epoque
63 Boat Quay
Singapore 049851
Tel: +65 67321687
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 3pm - 1130pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road walk to Upper Circular Road. Walk down Upper Circular Road to North Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to the riverfront. Turn left and walk down Boat Quay. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

JU95 @ Boat Quay - A Modern Izakaya Restaurant By A Talented Young Chef

Ju95_19

JU95 is a modern izakaya restaurant located at Boat Quay opened for about 3 months. From what I understand, the kitchen is helmed by Chef Louis who supposed to follow a 2 Michelin starred chef to Belgium which was put off due to the pandemic.

Ju95_2
Parfait Ju 4.2/5

The Parfait Ju ($15) gives me a glimpse of what the restaurant meant by modern izakaya. The finesse of how the chef beautifully laid the fermented mushroom on a bed of chicken liver paste on top of the koji sable cookies is both stunning in taste and sight.

Ju95_7
Stuffed Chicken Wing 4.2/5

The next dish is Stuffed Chicken Wing ($18). It is a lavish take stuffed with foie gras paired with mala dip, unlike the usual.

Ju95_12
Hay Smoked Hamachi 4.5/5

Another impressive dish is the Hay Smoked Hamachi ($25). The fresh hamachi is infused with a hint of smokiness paired with padron peppers and leek. The accompanying sweet and sour berry sauce brightens up the enjoyment.

Ju95_17
Cold Angel Hair 4.2/5

For some carbo intake, diners can go for the Cold Angel Hair ($24) topped with scallop tartare, truffle, ikura and avruga caviar. Served chilli, the refreshing goodness can be further complemented with the creaminess of Hokkaido uni for an additional $18.

Ju95_21
Grilled Baby Squid Donabe 4.8/5

The highlight for the night has to be the Grilled Baby Squid Donabe ($45). The treasure pot comprises seaweed schmaltz, mushroom and ikura. Give it a good toss, and the aroma will hit your senses, followed by complex yet flavoursome flavours from the different ingredients.

Ju95_24
Ice Cream Sandwich 4.5/5

I do not have a sweet tooth, but I highly recommend saving space for the Ice Cream Sandwich ($10). Sandwiched between the biscuity shells are sweetened sour cream instead of ice cream, sake soaked cherry and garnished with rose petals. The play of flavours and textures is a unique take of the traditional ice cream sandwich.

Ju95Interior-2

I am impressed with the food at Ju95. The dishes I tried are creative and tasty with touches of finesse, giving a modern take of traditional izakaya. Ju95 is one of the best restaurants I have eaten this year, and I recommend you check it out.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Ju95
41 Boat Quay
Singapore 049830
Facebook
Website
Tel: +65 82012737
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Thu-Fri, Sun: 12pm - 2pm (lunch)
Tue-Sun: 6pm - 1030pm (dinner)

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk towards the river. Turn left and walk along the river bank. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]