11 Hamilton @ Hamilton Road - Modern Chic Cafe That Offers A Contemporary Australian-Inspired Menu With A Fusion Twist

The folks behind cafe Hustle Co. has recently rebranded and officially opened a new all-day dining concept - 11 Hamilton. Moving out of its former premises at Craig Road, the cafe was relocated in the Lavender and Jalan Besar precinct, serving contemporary Australian inspired menu with a fusion twist. Gather your loved ones over hearty brunch dishes during the day, or enjoy a range of craft beer and dinner service from 5pm onwards.

Breakfast For Champs 3.8/5

The Breakfast For Champs ($22) comes in a huge heart portion of Huevos Estrellados made with crispy potato cubes, jamon slices, scrambled eggs and runny yolk sauce to bind everything together. The dish is initially obscured by the mass of wild rocket which provides a bitter, nutty taste to the dish.
 

Deconstructed Spanish Jamon Omelette 3.8/5

The Deconstructed Spanish Jamon Omelette ($22) is reminiscent of a huge pizza on a pan. It features jamon slices doused with piquillo mayo, a mass of wild rockets and grilled asparagus spears on a thin bed of omelette. Although I enjoyed the rich savouriness of the jamon slices, again, we felt that the bitter, nutty rocket leaves overwhelmed the primary flavours of the dish.

Blueberry Banana Cinnamon Pancake 4/5

The Blueberry Banana Cinnamon Pancake ($18) comes in a thick fluffy slab of pancakes, embellished with berries and caramelised banana slices, and sweetened with a slight drizzle of maple syrup. However, we felt that the sweetness of the pancake can be brought up a few more notches. Perhaps the maple syrup could be served on the side for diners to adjust the sweetness level themselves.

Sweet Potato Fries 4/5

The Sweet Potato Fries ($9) arrived in a pretty huge portion, perfect for sharing. The fries boast a crisp exterior, yet pack a solid bite filled with fragrant sweet potato filings. A simple, yet well-executed side to go along with the mains.

Ondeh Ondeh Cake 4.2/5

Round off your meal on a sweet note with an array of gorgeous bakes from a local partner, The Brickyard. We tried their bestseller, Ondeh Ondeh ($7), which boasts light and fluffy pandan chiffon, layered with gula melaka frosting and topped with crunchy coconut shreds. This delicate, locally inspired dessert is not too sweet or cloying and is totally worth the indulgence.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.

11 Hamilton
11 Hamilton Road
#01-00
Singapore 209182
Tel: +65 94510821
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Website
Nearest MRT: Bendemeer (DT Line), Lavender (EW Line)

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

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bendemeer MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to traffic junction of Hamilton Road and Lavender Street. Cross the road and walk to Hamilton Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Horne Road. Turn left and walk down Horne Road. Turn right onto Hamilton Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Claypot Delights (砂煲小吃) @ Kallang Basin Industrial Estate - Hidden Gem That Sells Claypot Dishes at Only $4

Located inside Kallang Basin Industrial Estate is Yew Yi Hup Kee Eating House which housed a number of food stalls providing cheap and comfort food for the workers in the area. With the opening of the downtown line 3, I made my way down to Claypot Delights (砂煲小吃), a hidden gem in the industrial estate offering a variety of claypot dishes for only $4. A bowl of rice comes at additional cost of $0.50.

Claypot Herbal Chicken Drumstick 4.2/5

First we tried the Claypot Herbal Chicken Drumstick. For $4, we get a whole drumstick. That is very generous. The broth was light with a subtle herbal taste, not overpowering the balance of the dish. The chicken drumstick remains tender and moist.

Assam Curry Chicken 3.8/5

The Claypot Assam Curry Chicken ($4) is not the usual lemak type. It comes with a sourish and tangy body. For a mere $4, it comes with two huge pieces of tender chicken. Once again for the price paid, this is a satisfying and substantial meal.

Claypot Assam Fish 4.2/5

My favourite goes to the Claypot Assam Fish ($4). Compared to the assam chicken, the fish goes better with the assam broth. I really enjoyed the sourish of the assam that I drowned my rice with it. I suspect the fish used is the frozen type but for the price, I am not complaining.

Besides the 3 claypot dishes I tried, the stall also sells Vinegar Pig's Trotter, Salted Egg Pork Belly, Bittergourd Pork Ribs and Sesame Oil Chicken all at only $4.


Claypot Delight (砂煲小吃)
Yew Yi Hup Kee Eating House
Kallang Basin Industrial Estate
23 Kallang Avenue
Singapore 399414
Nearest MRT: Bendemeer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 10am to 5pm
(Closed on Sat and Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bendemeer MRT station. Take Exit. Walk to Kallang Ave. Walk to Kallang Basin Industrial Estate. Cut through the carpark and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak @ CT Hub 2 - Nasi Lemak With Blue Coloured Rice

Have you heard of blue nasi lemak? To be exact, the blue colouring is from the butterfly pea flower. Two brothers, Kenneth and Shawn has inherited the recipe from their grandmother from Kedah, Malaysia and opened Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak. The stall was first opened at an industrial area in Tampines before re-locating to its current location at CT Hub 2.

Butterfly Pea Teh C with Gula Melaka 3/5

At Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak, not only the rice comes in blue colour but the drinks too. On the menu, it offers a variety of hot and cold beverages using the butterfly pea flower. One of these beverages, which is a new creation is the Butterfly Pea Teh C with Gula Melaka. It is quite an interesting drink using the natural sweetness of the gula melaka.

Blue Rice Rendang Chicken Set

It was a Saturday when I visited Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak and I decided to have their Blue Rice Rendang Chicken Set ($5). I understand that the rendang chicken is only available on every Tuesdays and Saturdays only. Unfortunately I visited the place after lunch hour and they have run out of sunny side up egg. Instead they replaced it with bitter gourd fried egg for me.

Unlike the usual nasi lemak rice, the butterfly pea flower rice is cooked using a concoction of natural pandan juice and coconut milk. The rice set comes with other items such as ikan bilis, eanuts, achar and of course the rendang chicken. Every components on the plate were well executed, playing their own roles for the set. Even the sweet and spicy chilli was so good too. It went very well with the rice. I can taste the effort by  he team, in ensuring every single items on the plate is well executed.

Worth mentioning is their weekly special Rendang Chicken. The tender chicken pieces are cooked in a rich and robust paste filled with aroma of spices and lemongrass.

Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak may not be any posh restaurant but the little eatery located in the aisle of CT Hub 2, hidden from the main road, serves some delicious nasi lemak that is good from the heart. You can taste the sincerity in their food.


[CLOSED]
Jia Xiang Nasi Lemak
CT Hub 2
114 Lavender Street
#01-08/09
Singapore 338729
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Nearest MRT: Bendemeer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 9am - 3pm
Sat: 11am - 4pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bendemeer MRT station. Take Exit. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist @ Tyrwhitt Road - Legendary Sio Bak Has Re-Located And Up His Game

My favourite sio bak stall has moved again. Since I was first introduced to Martin's roasted meat stall when he was in Tampines, I have been following his movement when he moved to Johor, Malaysia and back in Singapore at Bukit Batok and Foch Road. 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist has now moved down the road to Qinan Building at Tyrwhitt Road.

Sio Bak 4.8/5

With his new location, a group of us organised a trip down to support his new opening. Of course we have to order his famed Roasted Pork Belly or Sio Bak. The beautiful layers of meat with its biscuity crackling skin is still as good as afar. Only one word to describe it, this is shiok!

Roasted Duck 4.5/5

An item that Martin has been able to improve with time is the Roasted Duck. The glistering skin was has a slight crispiness on top of the fat and juicy duck meat. The group of us all agreed that the roasted duck today was top notch. Looks like Martin has mastered another dish using his Apollo oven.

Char Siew 4.2/5

I still remembered that when I first tried Martin's char siew I did not like it. Over time he has improved on the roasting. Now the char siew has a nice coat of sweetness that is complemented by the bitterness of the exterior charred. Martin has purposely roasted in darker for that balance and aroma.

Soya Sauce Chicken 3.8/5 and Chicken Rice 4.5/5

With the relocation, Martin has also hired a new chef who used to work in a popular chicken rice chain to offer Soya Sauce Chicken and Chicken Rice on the menu. The soya sauce chicken is cooked to an enjoyable texture but I did not like the gooey sauce that is drenched over the chopped chicken. I thought it masked the appreciation of the nature flavours.

By the way, I would highly recommend to ask for the Chicken Rice instead of white rice even if you are having other roasted meat. The new chef cooks a plate of delicious and aromatic chicken rice infused with the essence of chicken, garlic and ginger. Not forgetting the tangy chilli sauce made by the new chef. It goes very well with the rice, chicken and even the sio bak.


88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist
Qinan Building
153 Tyrwhitt Road
Singapore 207566
Nearest MRT: Lavender (EW Line), Bendemeer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 8pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Lavender MRT station (Stop ID 01311). Take bus number 133 or 145. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to Tyrwhitt Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Horne Road. Walk down Horne Road. Turn right onto Tyrwhitt Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Bendemeer MRT station. Take Exit. Walk to the junction of Lavender Street and Kallang Bahru. Cross the road. Turn right and walk down Lavender Street. Turn left onto Trwhitt Road. Walk to destination. Journe time about 10 minutes. [Map]