Xi Man @ Penang Road - A New Unagi Speciality Restaurant Helmed by Chef Ryosuke Deguchi

At Penang Road, Xi Man is a new unagi speciality restaurant that uses fresh eels imported from Miyazaki. In addition, Xi Man uses artisanal all-natural Marunaka Shoyu as the base of the accompanying sauces and superior quality rice from Niigata prefecture to complement these premium eels.

Grilled Eel and Rice 4/5

Instead of the usual kanto method, the eels are cooked using kansai method. The method involves first grilling the unagi on its own before brushing on the tare and grilling it again for a crispier finish. Kanto involves a steaming step, which results in a more unctuous texture. I enjoyed the slightly crisp exterior for sure, especially the charred bits with well-caramelised tare sauce.

Tare

Your Grilled Eel and Rice (half $40/whole $78) will be served with three tares: Original, Sweet, and Spicy, which use Marunaka Shoyu as the base. This shoyu maker has a rich history of two centuries, and to date, each batch is still handcrafted and takes three years to produce. Its clean taste and subtle flavours are apt for both the unagi and the pearly Niigata rice. A drizzle of the tare over the unagi and rice bring both elements together in harmony.

Obanzai 4.8/5

Opt for the 3-Course Set Menu ($58/$95) for a complete experience. You will get an additional platter of 3 seasonal obanzai and eel liver soup. We had a radish with yuzu miso served warm, simmered pumpkin and pickled lotus roots. The obanzai was treated with finesse to bring out most of their flavours. I appreciate how each obanzai carried a different flavour profile - savoury, sweet and spicy.

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.


Xi Man
9 Penang Rd
#01-02
2 Singapore 238459
Tel:+65 88282280
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight to Penang Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tamoya Udon @ Plaza Singapura - Relocates to Its New Location

Bidding goodbye to its first outlet at Liang Court, Tamoya Udon celebrates the opening of its new outlet at Plaza Singapura with the introduction of Truffle Tonkotsu Udon and Sukiyaki Udon.

Tamoya's Truffle Tonkotsu Udon easily outshines many tonkotsu ramens out there with its rich and creamy pork bone broth, tender and well-marinated chashu slice, and a really good ajitama egg. Although infusing truffle oil and truffle paste into the udon elevates its X-factor, it is just as satisfying with these condiments.

Fans of its sukiyaki udon, fret not. They are here to stay. The Beef Sukiyaki Udon ($12.80) and Pork Sukiyaki Udon ($11.80), both comes with a soft boiled egg. Like Shabu Shabu, beat the egg and dip your meat and vegetables into the beaten egg mixture for a complete sukiyaki experience.

Written and photography 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.


Tamoya Udon
Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road
#06-11/12
Singapore 238839
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit D or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Gyoza-Ya @ Plaza Singapura - Exclusive Set Meals With Free Flow Of Japanese Salad

Known for their affordable gyozas, Gyoza-Ya has recently launched a new set menu which is exclusive to both Plaza Singapura and Northpoint outlets only. From $14.80 onwards, there are 23 variations of the set meal to choose from, alongside with free flow of Japanaese salad.

Saba Tonkatsu Donburi 3/5

For Donburi Set Meals, each donburi comes with 2 types of meat, a radish stew, 3 original gyozas, a soup and a free flow Japanese salad which is shredded cabbage with plum sauce. Crunchy and refreshing with acidity from the plum sauce, the salad went really well with my Saba Tonkatsu Donburi which is quite a classic pairing to begin with. However, my tonkatsu was tad too dry. The fattier saba fish fared better and the radish stew was surprisingly a highlight of the rice bowl.

Gyu Kakuni Donburi 4/5

Compared to the above, you will probably get a lot more bang on your bucks and satisfaction with this Gyu Kakuni Donburi ($20.80). Both the gyu and kakuni were very well braised, hence they were tender and packed with umami. The gyu was in large slices with a balanced portion of fats and the pork belly were juicy without any porky taste. A scoop of tempura bits was served for some extra crunch.

Tendon Set 3.5/5

The Tendon Set ($18.80) may not be the most affordable one but the 3 juicy prawn tempuras make up for it. Other than the prawns, I also like the use of Shimeji mushroom tempura instead of the commonly used Enoki mushroom. Its texture is meatier and when fried, in this case it seemed even juicier against the crisp batter.

Mentaiko Gyoza

If that 3 original gyozas within the set doesn't fill you up, feel free to order other variations from the menu, such as the crowd pleasing Mentaiko Gyoza ($9.80) or the outlet exclusive Takoyaki Gyoza ($9.80).

Words and photos 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.


Gyoza-Ya
Plaza Singapura
#B2-50/51
68 Orchard Rd
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 62668311
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 1130am - 10pm

Directions:
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit D or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Eggs 'n Things @ Plaza Singapura - Usher In The Lunar New Year With Limited Edition Festive Specials

Making its debut outside of Haiwaii and Japan, Eggs 'n Things launches its flagship outlet at Plaza Singapura early last year. For this Lunar New Year, they have collaborated with Bee Cheng Hiang to roll out a series of delectable limited edition festive specials.

Bee Cheng Hiang Bak Kwa Garlic Fried Rice 4/5

The first dish we had was the Bee Cheng Hiang Bak Kwa Garlic Fried Rice ($15.88) which comes in a plate of fragrant roasted garlic fried rice, mixed with generous bits of eggs and Bee Cheng Hiang bak kwa, before being topped with a sunny side up. Though I felt that the dish lacked the smoky wok hei, the copious amounts of egg and sweet bak kwa complemented the garlicky fried rice well.

Eggs Benedict with Crackling Roasted Pork Belly 3.5/5

The Eggs Benedict with Crackling Roasted Pork Belly ($18.88) comes with a twist, substituting the usual brunch ingredient with roasted pork belly. Perfectly poached eggs with their oozy molten cores, drenched in a creamy tangy mustard hollandaise sauce, my only gripe was the pork belly which was crispy yet tougher to chew with a slightly rubbery center. The tater tots cooked to a perfect crisp was a welcoming side.

Azuki Mochi Pancakes with White Chocolate Ganache 3.8/5

End the meal on a sweet note with the Azuki Mochi Pancakes with White Chocolate Ganache ($18.88) which features Eggs 'n Things signature pancakes with fresh chewy mochi. Extremely soft and fluffy, the crunchy nuts added to the pancakes contributed a nice textural contrast to the dish. It comes doused in a sweet white chocolate ganache before being topped with delicately sweet red beans and mandarin-shaped red bean paste mochi. However, it might get overwhelming after a while, so the dish is best shared among friends.

Honey Mint Grapefruit Green Tea 4/5

The Honey Mint Grapefruit Green Tea ($6.88) is a refreshing and sweet green tea blend of tropical citrus, herbs and natural honey.

These limited edition specials are available from 26 Jan – 28 Feb 2019, from Monday to Sunday (10am to 10pm). Prices listed above are exclusive of GST and service charge.

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.


Eggs n’ Things
Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road
#03-79/83
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 68359988
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 10am - 10pm

Directions:
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit D or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

L’eclair by Sarah Michelle @ Singapore Shopping Centre - Introduces High Tea Degustation Set

An affinity with eclairs spurred Sarah and Michelle to open L’eclair, with a vision to bring eclairs to and beyond its realm of plain pastry cream. Located at Singapore Shopping Centre, L’eclair by Sarah Michelle then became Singapore’s first eclair specialty store and cafe. One year into its opening, High Tea Degustation Set is now available, showcasing not just their signature e'clairs but also tantalising savouries that are all crafted with their own hands.

This degustation set will be strictly for reservations only with limited slots per day. What distinguishes it from other high tea set is that the sweets comes in the form of mini eclairs in various flavours, hence you get to try 5 different flavours in one go! For the savoury, you get an assortment of homemade canapes. Each high tea set comes with two complimentary drinks.

Truffle Egg Mayo Choux Puff, Tomato & Basil Bruschetta. Foie Gras Pate & Tomato Relish Crostini 3.8/5

We started off with the cold canapes sitting on the top tier - Truffle Egg Mayo Choux Puff, Foie Gras Pate & Tomato Relish Crostini and Tomato & Basil Bruschetta. My personal favourite would be the crostini. The piquant homemade tomato relish has deep, sweet notes edged with a bit of tang which balances the creamy pate that carries a slight gaminess. The textural contrast of the creamy topping and the crunchy crostini is excellent.The choux puff delivers a satisfying creamy mouthfill with its egg mayo and spongy choux puff, while the bruschetta brightens up my palate with simple, fresh ingredients.

Smoked Salmon & Dill Mousse Tartlet 3.8/5, Roasted Mushrooms Vol au Vent 3.8/5

Moving on to the warm canapes, the Smoked Salmon & Dill Mousse Tartlet is light on the taste buds but is packed with the wonderful flavour of smoked salmon. The Roasted Mushrooms Vol au Vent fares just as well. It is thin with flaky crust that is just right for the strong earthy mushrooms.

Signature Chicken & Bacon Pie 3.5/5

Trained at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, the pies here are notable too. Along with the warm canapes, you got to try their signature Signature Chicken & Bacon Pie. Baked to a gorgeous brown, the crust was flaky, leaving a warm, buttery aroma on my fingertips. The filling is not too heavily peppered and is on the sweeter side but there are bacon within to lend a savoury note. If this mini version has proven its worth, you could get it at its original size.

Done with their savouries, the pretty eclairs beckons. You will be treated with 2 seasonal editions - Lime Basil & Coconut and Lemon Meringue, and 3 classic flavours - Salted Caramel, Ispahan and Dark Chocolate.

Lime Basil & Coconut 2.5/5, Lemon Meringue 3/5

While I have tasted really good desserts that have a herbaceous profile such as Shiso leaf sherbet, the addition of basil to the Lime Basil and Coconut doesn't quite work here for me. The Lemon Meringue fares much better in importing the flavours of a classic Lemon Tart.

Salted Caramel 3/5, Isphan 3.8/5, Dark Chocolate 3/5

Out of the 3 classics, my favourite would be the Ispha, perfumed with rose and sweetened with lychees with tartness lent from raspberry. The filling seems less dense compared to the rest. Salted Caramel and Dark Chocolate cater to you if you are craving for warm and rich flavours. Overall, the sweetness level of their eclairs is acceptable but a lighter and fluffier filling is much preferred. The pastry is airy and would have been more so should the pastry carries that delicate crisp which I was anticipating as I suck my teeth into it.

Mushroom Soup 3.5/5

Somehow, I favour the savoury items here a lot more. Even their Mushroom Soup ($8.50), one of their latest savoury items, hits the notes.  Rich with mushrooms bits that are bond together with cream, the partnering toast comes in the form of bite-size crunches that allows you to just tuck into the wholesome goodness with a spoon.

Tuck away from the hustling streets of Orchard Road, High Tea at L’éclair by Sarah Michelle is a welcoming respite. High tea degustation set is available from Tuesdays to Sundays, 11am to 5pm (with 3 fixed seatings a day).

Words and photos 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.


L’eclair by Sarah Michelle
Singapore Shopping Centre
190 Clemenceau Avenue
#01-28
Singapore 239924
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (EW Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 11am - 8pm
Sat: 11am - 9pm
Sun: 11am - 6pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit B. Cross the road. Turn right and walk towards Clemenceau Avenue. Turn left onto Clemenceau Avenue. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Patbingsoo Korean Dining House @ Plaza Singapura - More Than Just Bingsoo

Patbingsoo Korean Dining House at basement two of Plaza Singapura is brought to you by the same folk behind the popular Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ Restaurant. Don't be mistaken by the name of the restaurant. Besides the diverse variety of bingsoo, Patbingsoo Korean Dining House brings the latest street food trends of South Korea to Singapore.

Fried Samgyeopsal 3.5/5

An addictive snack is the Fried Samgyeopsal ($6.90). Have you guess what is it? It is actually deep fried pork belly paired with honey mustard sauce. It was like having bacon.

House Special Ramyeon 4/5

A favoruite among the crowd at Patbingsoo Korean Dining House is the House Special Ramyeon ($11.90). The warm and hearty pot comes with noodles, spam, kimchi, and nori in special spicy soup. I felt that the soup can be spicier or maybe an option to select the different spicy levels. For an additional cost, diner has the option to add extra topping of kimchi french fries, french fries, cheese, ramyeon and steamed rice.

Cheese Kimchi Fried Rice 3.5/5

The Cheese Kimchi Fried Rice ($9.90) is infused with kimchi and top with lots of mozzarella. It even comes with a fried egg and nori. While the rice was delectable and fragrant, I felt it lacked the robustness of the kimchi flavour. Even the cheese was hardly traceable.

Tteok Carbonara 3/5

How about going Italian with the Tteok Carbonara ($12.90). The sauteed tteok together with bacon and corn kernel is buried in a thick creamy cheese sauce. Unfortunately the sauce was a bit on the salty side and the tteok did not really go well with the creamy sauce.

Dynamite Spam 4.2/5

A very unpleasant looking dish is the Dynamite Spam ($11.90) which surprisingly tasted really good. The server will torch on the special dynamite sauce made up of gochujang and mayonnaise sauce at table side, and then sliced into pieces to pair with the nori riceballs.

Rolling Cheese Pork Ribs 4.2/5

The highlight at Patbingsoo Korean Dining House is the Rolling Cheese Pork Ribs ($38.90) which comes with 4 huge tender pork ribs, cheddar and mozzarella cheese, fries, chips, corn, pineapple and mayo sauce. The server will melt the cheese at table side and then rolled it around the pork ribs for a lifted enjoyment. The rest of the cheese is then tossed with the french fries for a cheesy finish.

Gimpo Bingsoo 3/5

After all the savoury stuff, do save some space for dessert, especially their different bingsoo. The Gimpo Bingsoo ($11.90) is a tiramisu inspired bingsoo infused with green tea. It comes with rum and green tea ice cream. I did not quite enjoy it, the combination and balance was a bit weird.

Sinsa Patbingsoo 4/5

The Sinsa Patbingsoo ($14.90) comes with a whole rock melon that is cut out with a special equipment to maintain the dome shape of the entire fruit. Inside the dome, it comes vanilla ice cream topped with red bean, nata de coco and cornflakes for the extra crunch.

Apgujeong Bingsoo 4.2/5

Among the three bingsoo desserts, the Apgujeong Bingsoo ($13.90) is my favourite. The vanilla ice cream is excellently complemented by the cheese, cheese sauce, cheese cake and cheese wafer. To sweetened the whole experience, drizzled the condensed milk over the bingsoo.

Noted: This is an invited tasting.


Patbingsoo Korean Dining House
Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road
#B2-47
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 91813038
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 1130am - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 1130am - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit C or D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Nanjing Impressions (南京大牌档) @ Plaza Singapura - Transporting One Back To The Old Nanjing Dining Scene

Stepping into Nanjing Impressions at Plaza Singapura is like walking into a filming studio set in the olden days of China - Luminous lanterns hanging from the rafters, lacquered tables and wooden furnishings, servers in traditional Chinese costumes. Also known as the Heavenly Kitchen of China, Nanjing Impressions sets to preserve and expand the culinary heritage of Nanjing. Till date, it has about 40 outlets across China, with Singapore being their first outpost.

Honey Glazed Stuffed Lotus Root 4.5/5

I have really fond memories of Chinese fine dining which I have had the privilege to experience a few years ago during my business trips to China. One dish that really sticks was their sweet stuffed lotus root. You could have it as a cold dish or as a dessert. Their Honey-glazed Stuffed Lotus Root ($12.80 per portion) is one of the best I ever had. Stuffed with glutinous rice and slow-cooked in pear-honey syrup, it attains a stickier and chewier texture than any other I have tried. For those that is curious, it tastes like of our Nian Gao. It's no wonder that their version has been recognised with a Chinese Heritage Traditional Snacks award.

Sesame-scented Beancurd Julienne 4.5/5

Many may mistaken Sesame-scented Beancurd Julienne ($11.80 per portion) as a noodles dish, when the strips of 'noodles' are actually dried beancurd skilfully shredded by the chef, dressed with special sauce. It's amazing how I could pick the strands of beancurd up with my chopsticks.

Nanjing Chilled Vegetarian Delights 3.5/5

Another must try refreshing cold dish is their Nanjing Chilled Vegetarian Delights. Traditionally served during Chinese New Year for every Nanjinger, it consists of 10 assorted shredded vegetables, symbolising 十全十美. Crunchy texture, lightly salted and seasoned yet appetising.

Jinling Signature Salted Duck 4.2/5

Jinling Signature Salted Duck ($16.80/small; $32/medium; $62/big) is a dish that dates as far back as 1400 years ago during the Southern Dynasty which the ancients named Nanjing as Jinling. There were many recipes developed among the Nanjing Chefs who cooked ducks, of which the uniquely seasoned and brined duck has been nominated to be the best representation of the 'flavors of Six Dynasties'. Before the dish arrives on your table, it has undergone a 10-step process of seasoning, a spiced brine, hanging, drying and back seasoning in the brine pot. The best way to savour this delicacy is pairing it with the mellow sweetness of their brewed Chinese wines.

Summer Yellow Wine with Red Dates ($18.80 per 250ml pot) and Winter Rice Wine ($18.80 per 250ml pot). Perhaps, for the first time, you could drink like a ancient swordsman!

Celestial Roast Duck Dumplings 4/5

Take a break from Xiao Long Bao and switch to their Celestial Roast Duck Dumplings ($6.80/ 3pcs). They weren't gamey at all and were pretty juicy. Though we weren't served the vinegar and ginger, I believe you could ask for it.

Poached "Lion's Head" Meatball 4/5

Another popular Jinling Snack is the Poached “Lion’s Head” Meatball ($13.80 per portion). The soup is light with meaty sweetness. Diced by hand to distribute the fat and lean meat evenly, the giant meatball was then steamed for six hours. It was so tender that it fell apart easily and readily in my mouth. A delicate texture and flavour that I didn't expect from a Chinese meatball.

Baby Rooster Stew with Special Sauce 3.5/5

For mains, we tried Baby Rooster Stew with Special Sauce served with Crispy Sesame Bun ($23.80 per portion). It tastes similar to our local Chinese 3-cup chicken, a safe choice for first time diners.

Osmanthus-scented Steamed Sponge 4/5

Osmanthus-scented Steamed Sponge ($4.80/3pc) is a lady's favourite. It has a texture of nian gao, slightly sweeten and beautifully scented with osmanthus. I would love to have it with a pot of good Chinese Tea.

Madam Chiang's Nutritious Beauty Porridge 3.5/5

One thing I learn about authentic Chinese cuisine is that I cannot walk into a restaurant and expect the usual taste of our local Chinese food. One good example is their sweet stuffed lotus, another would be the Madam Chiang’s Nutritious Beauty Porridge ($6.80 per portion) which is sweet. Cooked with sweet soy milk, lily bulbs and Chinese yam, it was kind of disconcerting at first but it completed my meal as a dessert.

With Nanjing Impressions, I get to once again enjoy Chinese fine dining style and delicate cuisine at a pretty affordable prices, without having to travel all the way to China. Come here with an open mind and appreciate the dishes prepared with masterful knife works and culinary skills.

Written 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.



Nanjing Impressions (南京大牌档)
Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road
#04-46/51
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 63527877
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 

1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]