Grill Ninety Nine @ Arab Street - Halal Restaurant Offering Quality & Affordable Western Cuisine

Less than 5 minutes walk from Bugis MRT station will bring you to Grill Ninety Nine at Arab Street. Serving western cuisine that is prepared using halal-certified ingredients, Grill Ninety Nine prides itself on its meat offerings, featuring good quality beef and lamb from New Zealand.

Crispy Crab Cakes 4.5/5

Appetisers may not be the primary focus of your meal, but you must try its Crispy Crab Cakes ($12.90) which is also available as a burger variant. When so often crab cakes are loaded with fillers, crusts that are too thick or over-fried even, these were thin and crisp, with the inside moist and well-seasoned to bring out the delicate flavours of the crab leg meat.

Cream of Mushroom 3.5/5

Cream of Mushroom ($6) is made in-house too. I loved the peppery-ness of it, which elevated the aromatic and earthy flavours of the mushrooms. It is very creamy and heavy, hence do share if you are going for it.

Ribeye Steak 4/5

Grill Ninety Nine's signature items are undeniably its steaks, served with a choice of black pepper, mushroom or brown sauce. We tried Ribeye Steak ($29.90 for 200g/ $45 for 425g). Lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, it was skillfully grilled to the doneness we requested. What made it even tastier was the fresh medley of herbs, in particular rosemary, that accented its fats and juice. Steaks are served with either fries or mash potato. We had ours changed to their new side item, sweet potato fries, for tasting purposes. It is available as a side for $9.90.

A highlight on its menu is the offering of Raclette Cheese at $8.90, which you can add as a topping on your mains, be it steak, burger, pasta. Prepared a la minute after your main is served, get your phone ready to capture the wow moment as you see a huge dollop of warm, gooey raclette cheese being scraped and allow to fall onto your plate.

Oven Roasted Angus Beef Ribs 3/5

The much anticipated Oven-roasted Angus Beef Ribs ($49.90) didn't quite hit the mark. The portion definitely sells, which was a feast for the eyes when it was served to us, but the sticky glaze that coated the meat was too sweet, and the meat was not as tender as expected.

Jawbreaker 3.5/5

Moving on to burgers, Jawbreaker ($22) offers your ravenous soul with a triple handmade beef patty piled between freshly baked brioche buns. Each patty is about 150g and in between patties are pickles and inhouse sauces. I like the buns used here, they didn't go all soggy even then they had to hold what was being stuffed between them. The spices and herbs used in the patty flavoured the meat well, but the juiciness of the patties fell short from expectations. Without the natural fats and juice from the meat, it lacked the beefy flavour that I seek. Nacho cheese is used for the burgers here, and personally, I feel that hard cheeses that are sharper in flavours work better in burgers. That said, the whole visual entertainment and satisfaction derived from eating a three-tiered patty burger are still considered tummy and senses filling.

Nutella Brownie Milkshake 3.5/5

On the drinks menu, what stood out is the Nutella Brownie Milkshake ($10) that comes with a rich and moist brownie stick. I think this combination will also work should there be a hot version of it.

Waffle with Ondeh-Ondeh Ice Cream 3.8/5

Desserts are simple, such as cakes, scoops of ice cream or housemade soft-serve ice creams. We tried the combination of Waffle with Ondeh-Ondeh Ice Cream. The waffle was soft with a crispy exterior, and interestingly as they sopped up the ice cream, they attained a slightly chewy texture which accentuated the characteristics of Ondeh Ondeh experience. A handful more grated coconut would have made this dessert more complete.

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.


Grill Ninety Nine
142 Arab Street
Singapore 199828
Tel: +65 62927363
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily 12pm - 10pm

Direction:
Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Victoria Street towards Arab Street. Turn right onto Arab Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

AquaMarine @ Marina Mandarin Hotel Singapore - Old School Hong Kong Delights

For a limited period from 5 April to 30 April 2019, AquaMarine at Marina Mandarin Hotel Singapore will be offering Hong Kong cuisine of yesteryear to their Halal-certified buffet. The buffet spread will consists old school Hong Kong delights such as quail egg siew mai, braised beef rib with mui choy, claypot lamb brisket with bamboo shoot and more.

Chui Chow Oyster Porridge 4.2/5

Warm up the stomach with a bowl of comforting Chui Chow Oyster Porridge. The addition of fresh oyster provided the additional boost to the flavourful broth while the rice puff gives it a delightful finishing crisp.

Hong Kong Cart Noodle 4.2/5

A must try is the Hong Kong Cart Noodle, a popular street food originating in the 1950s. What stand out is the superb broth that is packed with depth and robustness. The beauty of cart noodle is that one can add anything into their bowl of noodle, and this comes with the choice of braised chicken wing, curry fishball, cuttlefish and braised beef. I love this so much that I gone back for a second helping.

Quail Egg Siew Mai 3.5/5

Pan Fried Abalone Cheong Fun with XO Sauce 4/5

Hong Kong cuisine is known for the dim sum and its inevitable that these needs to be on the buffet spread. The Quail Egg Siew Mai is a traditional dim sum that is hardly seen on the menu nowadays. My favourite goes to to the Pan Fried Abalone Cheong Fun with XO Sauce for its wok-hei, complemented by the excellent XO sauce.

Baby Lobster in "Bi Feng Tang" Style 3.8/5

Only available during dinner is the Baby Lobster in "Bi Feng Tang" Style. The bouncy flesh of the baby lobster is coated with lots of garlic, ginger, chilli and spring onion for an aromatic finish.

Braised Beef Rib with "Mui Choy" 3.8/5

While the Braised Beef Rib with "Mui Choy" is cooked until very tender, I feel that the braised beef rib shines on its own even without the accompanying Mui Choy.

Egg Waffle 3.5/5

For the dessert section, you can also find popular and traditional Hong Kong street snacks such as Egg Waffle, Hong Kong Red Bean Pudding, Bolo Bao, Egg Tart and Walnut Cookies. Let you into a secret, I like to have the egg waffle together with the durian pengat. It is just an heavenly combination.

Hong Kong Red Bean Rice Pudding, Bolo Bun, Egg Tart, Walnut Cookies

I would also recommend getting a cup of Hong Kong Milk Tea to go along with the desserts. It is a good chance of the usual kuehs and cakes on the dessert line.

Pricing
$60++ per adult and $30++ per child for lunch daily
$73++ per adult and $36.50++ per child for dinner Monday to Thursday
$83++ per adult and $41.50++ per child for dinner Friday to Sunday, Public Holidays and eves of Public Holidays

Note: This is an invited tasting.


AquaMarine
Marina Mandarin Singapore
6 Raffles Boulevard
Level 4
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 68451111
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 630pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit B or D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

The Lime Truck @ PasarBella Suntec City - Yahoo!'s "Top 10 Trucks in America" For 3 Years Running

Intrigued by the bustling American's street food scene? The Lime Truck, winner of Food Network's "The Great Food Truck Race", has driven its way from United States into PasarBella @ Suntec City. Founded by Celebrity Chef Daniel Shemtob, this is the brand's first overseas outpost.

There are 6 tacos to choose from, one of which is meat-friendly, as well as side dishes that are inspired by classic Latin American street food. What's notable here is that the tortillas are handmade daily. That rustic taste certainly stands out in the corn tortilla, in a good way, while the flour tortilla is soft and chewy.

Legendary Brussels Sprouts 4/5

Chef Daniel's signature Legendary Brussels Sprouts ($3.90) is a must-try here. The burnt roast brussels sprouts takes on a bittersweet caramelised flavour along with a hint of smokiness. The piquant dressing complements without overpowering such wonderful flavour. For an extra edge, Lap Cheong (Chinese sausage) replaces the original bacon bits, if that will piqué your interest even more. Chargrilled brussels sprouts hardly make into the menu of restaurants, not sure if it's just Singapore. Even if it exists, I reckon it's going to be real expensive.

Chips + Zesty Lime Guac 2.8/5

Fresh, crispy tortilla chips is always welcome, more so with homemade guacamole. Even if you don't intend to stay put at Pasarbella, Chips + Zesty Lime Guac ($3.90) makes a quick grab-and-go munchies. If only the dip can be much much more generous.

No. #1 Steak Taco 3.5/5

No. #1 Steak Taco ($4.60) is number one for a reason. The steak topping is compact with soy singer slaw atop to balance its meatiness and cilantro chimichurri, a traditional Argentinian condiment, to brighten up the taste.

The Gringo 4/5

I feel The Gringo ($4.50) surpasses my expectation of a steak taco. The shredded beef ribs is tender and the flavour of the beef remains pronounced. Juice trickled down my hands as I bit through the soft taco. With arugula and fried onion, it's almost like savouring a gourmet burger with a premium patty sandwiched in between a fluffy bun.

Slow Braised Pork Belly Taco 3/5

Slow Braised Pork Belly Taco ($4) was somehow disappointing. As I lift the diced pork belly into my mouth, half expecting the texture to be like my Asian style Kong Bak Pau, it just didn't go that way. A flour tortilla, with its softer texture could have been a better companion to this dried out pork belly than the firmer corn tortilla. The saving grace is the great salsa atop create a taste that's as vibrant as its colour.

Fried Chicky Taco 3.5/5

On the other hand, the Fried Chicky Taco ($4) receives a much better feedback with its buttermilk fried chicken, that is surprisingly quite juicy and tender in the inside, with a well seasoned crispy crust. The tangy lift given by the Dijon slaw and pickles completes the taco.

Grilled Barramundi Taco 2.8/5

The Grilled Barramundi Taco ($4.60) is forgettable but I will give credit to them for keeping the fish tender and not using deep-fried dory. The satisfaction just isn't there. Perhaps, a fatty fish may work, like salmon?

Churros 3.5/5

The Churros ($5.90/$6.90) is handmade here with Cinnamon and Green Tea variant. Judging from the consistency and colour of the green tea sauce, I reckon the green tea sauce is made in house too. The texture is really chewy with crispy edge. I feel it should be priced similar with the Tacos which would be more reasonable. Couple it with a cup of Sarnies' black coffee, that would sum up my meal really well.

Crowned in Yahoo!'s "Top 10 Trucks in America" for three years running, I do expect a little more from The Lime Truck. Perhaps it should be out running along the streets rather than being cooped up in the mall. Easier said than done but these tacos are indeed fun to have along with other dishes in Pasarbella, for a more complete street food experience in town.

#TacoTuesdays at The Lime Truck Singapore will be running for an indefinite time. As part of #TacoTuesdays, all tacos will be going for just S$3.50 a pop on Tuesdays.

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.


The Lime Truck
PasarBella Suntec City
3 Temasek Blvd
455-456 / 459-461
Singapore 038983
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line), Promenade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Rudimentary @ Footscray [Melbourne] - Container Cafe With Seasonal Menu Straight From Their Garden

Container concept is not new but seldom I see one that is as comfortable as Rudimentary, which is nested at Footscray,a suburb in Melbourne. This is one of my favourite suburb cafes in Melbourne which I visited during my trip. Huge breathing space with an impressive garden with greens, fruits and herbs which go into making our dishes. Do note that menu changes according to season, what we had was Autumn menu. Very simple interior and furnishing, the kind of everyday cafe, as seen from their basic 2 toasts with butter and homemade seasonal jam alongside with their cup of coffee.

Steak & Cheese Baguette

The Steak & Cheese Baguette (AUD$14) is a very basic sandwich but the taste of the steak went beyond your usual fast food kind of sandwich. It was quite juicy and tender with oozy cheese all over it. The baguette is closer to a ciabatta which I thought goes even better with the filling. Just look at the charred portion of the bread! That adds characters to an otherwise ordinary toast out from an oven.

Coconut & Lime Panna Cotta

Somehow or rather, the Coconut & Lime Panna Cotta (AUD$16) is a dish within the mains and not in the range of desserts, perhaps like your brunch waffles or pancakes. It was my very first experience having panna cotta as a main and theirs made it a memorable one too. The contrast of colours in a myriad of red and orange was sense awakening. Every bite comes with a nice coconut fragrant on top of the creamy texture without being overly cloying. The salad on the side which consists of tangy and citrusy fruits, tart berries and crispy dried fruits was perfect in creating complementing flavours and textural contrasts with the panna cotta.

Smoked Beef Ribs with Plum Puree, Cucumber Kimchi, Corn Bread

I rarely see a meat dish that is as neat as their Smoked Beef Ribs (AUD$19.50) with the different ingredients arranged side by side. Corn bread seems to be a common accompaniment for meats, as it appears a few times in other menus. The beef did look really smoked and almost to the degree of charred black but the inside was done right. The blood red plum puree was a sophisticated sauce to flavour the meat, along with an interesting spicy kick with the cucumber kimchi adding a crunchy touch. The portion of the ribs may seem much smaller than expected, not your regular american ribs with sauces all over the plates for sure, but I like the intimacy that a diner could have with this dish - savours every bite and appreciates every flavour that comes through.

I finally get to really appreciate what a seasonal menu is after seeing the garden, savouring the food using the ingredients straight from the garden etc.. Last but not least, the warm service and smile by the team. I wished I was really on a vacation and need not rush to my next destination. One day, I shall be back!

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.


Rudimentary
16-20 Leeds Street
Footscray, Melbourne
Victoria, Australia
[Map]
Tel: +61 497058173
Facebook
Website

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 730am - 330pm
Sat-Sun: 8am - 330pm

Masizzim @ 313 Somerset

A new Korean restaurant, Masizzim has sprout up in 313 Somerset basement 3 next to Chir Chir. In fact, Masizzim is brought to you by the same folks that opened Chir Chir. Masizzim focus is on Korean stew, complemented by a medley of traditional and modern Korean side dishes.

Pork Rib Stew 3/5

Guests at Masizzim have a choice of the Pork Rib Stew, Beef Rib Stew or Spicy Chicken. For the Pork Rib Stew (individual $16 / Double $29), we decided to go for the soy flavour which is non spicy. The Australian pork mixed ribs is slow cooked in a blend of soy sauce, pineapples and Korean pear resulting in a sweet base with fall of the bone meat. The stew also comes with a choice of Korean udon or glass noodles. We had the Korean udon for the pork rib stew. We even added on Toppoki ($2).

Beef Rib Stew 4/5

Many of the us preferred the Beef Rib Stew (Individual $18 / Double $32) among the three choices. The Australian beef short ribs is slow cooked in a spicy base made of gochujang (red pepper paste), offers a choice of level 1 to 4 for spiciness. The soup base is more robust and flavourful with the tender meat.

Spicy Chicken Stew 4/5

My personal favourite is actually the Spicy Chicken Stew (Individual $18 / Double $29). The soup base may not be as rich in flavour compared to the beef rib stew, the creamy chilli base is some what similar to our local curry chicken. It was the similarity that connected with my palate.

Masizzim's Rice Ball (Tuna or Anchovy) 4.2/5

The Masizzim's Rice Balls ($8) comes with the choice of Tuna or Anchovy. Diners actually get to get the hands dirty mixing the bowl of ingredients and shaped them into a ball shape for consumption. It actually quite hard to say which is better as each has its own goodness.

Anchovy Rice Ball 4.2/5

The Anchovy Rice Ball comes with crispy anchovies, seaweed crumbs and crushed chilli padi atop three mixed grains; medium-grain white rice stained purple from Korean black rice and barley. This has more textures compared to the Tuna Rice Ball.

Tuna Rice Ball 4.2/5

The Tuna Rice Ball is wetter and richer in flavour. It comes with flakes of tuna with mayonnaise and fried kimchi, seaweed crumbs and crushed chilli padi atop three mixed grains; medium-grain white rice stained purple from Korean black rice and barley.

Tomato Cheese Kimchi Pancake 3/5

A modern interpretation of the tradition Korean pancake is the Tomato Cheese Kimchi Pancake ($13) which has kimchi and stuffed beef, further topped with tomato paste, mozzarella and chopped basil. While it tasted reasonably good, I thought it tried too hard to be a fusion dish which I don't quite buy the idea.

Potato Pancake 3/5

The Potato Pancake ($12) is really an unique Korean pancake. I don't remember having this dish anywhere else before. The pancake itself can be very one dimensional in terms of taste. Very important to have it together with the house blended dipping sauce for a wholesome enjoyment.

Squid & Leek Pancake 4.2/5

One of the best pancake at Masizzim is the Squid & Leek Pancake ($14). The traditional pancake comes with tender silvers of squid and leek. The light batter allows one to appreciate the freshness of the seafood and leek with the slightly charred exterior that comes with each bite.

Overall, I would recommend trying the Beef Rib Stew, Masizzim Rice Balls and Squid & Leek Pancake in your next visit to Masizzim.


Masizzim
313 Somerset
313 Orchard Road
#B3-02
Singapore 238895
Tel: +65 65095808
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 11pm

Direction: 
Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to 313 Somerset. Take the escalator to basement 3. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]