ChaoNiu Hot Pot @ East Coast Road - Chaoshan Style Beef Hot Pot

I was really excited when I heard there is a restaurant offering beef hot pot. To be more specific, Chao Niu Hot Pot offers Chaoshan style beef hot pot. I love beef and hot pot, so this is like a match in heaven for me. The restaurant is located at the row of shophouses along East Coast Road.

There is basically four soup base available on the menu. The soup bases are ChanShan Beef Broth ($15), Beauty Collagen Broth ($15), Spicy Nourishing Broth ($15) and Chaoniu Signature Broth ($20). You can have a yin yang pot for an additional $2. I decided to go for the ChanShan Beef Broth to taste the origin of the beef hot pot. The broth was light but packed with flavours, drawing from the beef bones that have been simmered overnight.

Being a beef speciality hot pot restaurant, you can order the different cuts of the beef. As we can't slaughter cow in Singapore, the different cuts of the beef are specially selected from around the world to go with the soup bases.

You may think that the beautiful slices of beef are machine cut, but they are actually not. They are all skilful cut into thin slices for the chef. What amazing knife skill.

Besides the different cuts of beef, the menu also offers many other ingredients for the hot pot such as vegetables, mushrooms, beancurd, tofu, luncheon meat and many more. A must-order is the beef balls that are painstakingly pound by hand.

To enjoy the beef, you cook them in a big net together we the other ingredients you have ordered, just like the way you would enjoy a steamboat dinner. The restaurant also has a sauce section whereby you can mix and match your dipping sauce. I would recommend their pre-mixed Chaoniu dipping sauce which complements the tender beef excellently.

ChaoNiu Hot Pot
195 East Coast Road
Singapore 428900
Tel: +65 69098783
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

Firebake @ East Coast Road - Launches New Item And A Refreshed Lunch Menu

Firebake at East Coast Road has launched a refreshed lunch menu and new items. It has also adjusted its opening hours. It now opens from 9am on the weekend to accommodate breakfast and brunch crowd. As for weekdays, it has added more variety for its lunch menu, giving diners more choices.

It can't be any better to start your morning with fresh, warm woodfire bakes at Firebake. A modern take of our traditional breakfast is the Milk Buns with Traditional Kaya ($3.50). For the price, this is a steal to kick start the day. There are also the Firebake Morning Buns with almond, lemon and cinnamon ($3.50), savoury Cheesymite of cheddar cheese and vegemite ($3.50) and Firebake Croissant Rolls ($3, $3.50 with chocolate).

Firebake Tartine 4/5

The Firebake Tartine ($18 full portion) is an open-faced sandwich featuring a slice of Seedy, topped with mortadella with sundried tomato pesto draped over a pool of cheese fondue. The toppings will vary from time to time. The full portion is definitely good for sharing.

Seafood Risotto 4.2/5

The Seafood Risotto ($26) is now available for brunch, lunch and dinner. The Arborio rice is well fragrant by the seafood stock and white wine. It also comes with succulent cubes of scallop, sweet prawn tails and tender bits of mussels. That is not it. It even comes with stalks of grilled green asparagus and a whole grilled Mediterranean seabass fillet.

Firebake Wagyu Cheese Burger 4.5/5

The sight of the melted cheddar flowing down the Firebake Wagyu Cheese Burger ($18) already got me drooling before sinking my teeth into the juicy medium-done Australian wagyu patty. The patty is sandwiched between house-baked wood-fired sourdough potato buns. What brings the burger together is the thick tomato-based beef sauce, inspired by the traditional pastitsada stew.

Grilled Argentinian Striploin 4/5

For something more substantial, there is the Grilled Argentinian Striploin ($28). The 220g steak is grilled to medium over Firebake's traditional wood stove and served over a slice of rye bread, topped with a vibrant salsa verde. The steak though lean, it is packed with intense flavour with a delightful smokey char.

During weekday lunch, guests can now have a pick of an appetiser, main and desserts to add a little more variety for lunch. They can also choose between the 2-course menu (from $22) and a full 3-course menu (from $25).

Note: this is an invited tasting.


Firebake
237 East Coast Road
Level 1
Singapore 428930
Tel: +65 64401228
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 1130am - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 9am - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

Comida Mexicana @ East Coast Road - New Casual & Convivial Dining Concept By Margarita's

Same same but different that is exactly how I would describe Comida Mexicana at East Coast Road. Managed by the same folk behind Margarita's, the team has revamped its outlet in East Coast Road and created a new casual and convivial dining concept offering Mexican food which in Spanish is the name of the restaurant - Comida Mexicana.

Tortilla Chips with Dip 3.5/5

We started with some freshly made tortilla chips before dinner is served. At Comida Mexicana, you order the prefer choice of dip to go with the tortilla chips. There are a total of 4 different dips on the menu and we tried the Red Salsa ($6), Green Tomatillo Salsa ($7) and Chile Con Queso ($16). Most in the group likes the chile con queso or chilli with melted cheese while I actually enjoyed the green tomatillo salsa for its spicy kick.

Enrollados 3.8/5

The Enrollados ($18) is the Mexican popiah. The tortilla is rolled up with chicken, jalapenos and cheese stuffing. It is then coated with egg and deep fried. This is topped with fresh salsa, sour cream and guacamole. The doughy bite of the enrollados was quite enjoyable with the different flavours working in harmony.

Mash Avocado Sopes 3.8/5

Next we tried the Mash Avocado Sopes ($20) which is known to be originated from central and southern parts Mexico. The crackling and light fried masa base held the pile of mash aovcado for a textural enjoyment. I only hope the flavour has more punch in it.

Crab & Avocado Quesadillas 4/5

The Crab & Aocado Quesadillas ($28) is an off the menu creation. What made it worked was actually the creamy sauce of the crab mixture. It was surprisingly very delectable, complemented by the thin and crispy tortilla.

Carnitas 4/5

Next we tried the Carnitas ($32) which is Mexican pulled pork. It comes with warm corn tortillas, salsa rojas, salsa verde and guacamole. We are supposed to eat it like a wrap with a bit of everything. However I felt the corn tortilla was too thick, masking the appreciation of the dish. Credit has to go to the beautifully cooked pulled pork which is tender and flavourful. I actually ended up having the pulled pork without the corn tortilla.

Mexican Yucantan Chicken 4.5/5

A favourite dish among the dining group is the Mexican Yucantan Chicken ($28). The chicken skewers are spiced with achiote and orange. The tender and juicy chicken was extremely delicious with the sweet marination.

Salted Caramel Pina Colada Bread Pudding 4/5

A pleasing dessert to wrap up the dinner is the Salted Caramel Pina Colada Bread Pudding ($15). The play of hot and cold, sweet and savoury together with the soft bread pudding provided a delightful finishing for a lovely dessert.

Kahbrita 4.5/5

For coffee lover, not to be missed is the Kahbrita ($14). Similar to affogato, the dessert glass consists of Kahlua and a scoop of ice cream coated with Mexican chocolate. A shot of espresso is then poured over the dessert for a bitter sweet enjoyment.

Overall I find the place and food at Comida Mexicana is family friendly which suits its neighbour. However I find the Mexican food here a bit light handed. I thought Mexican food should be more vibrant in flavours.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Comida Mexicana
404 East Coast Road
Singapore 428998
Tel: +65 64408030
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
Eve of PH & PH: 6pm - 10pm
(Closed on Mon exclude Eve of PH and PH)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 8 stops later. Cross the road. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]