The Guild @ Keong Saik - Celebrates The Craft Of Small Scale Producers With Independent Craft Beer And Homemade Comfort Food

The Guild at Keong Saik is a restaurant and bar put together by Hong Kong’s Young Master Brewery and Chef Vinny Lauria. Known to be currently the most acclaimed craft brewery in Hong Kong, the drinks menu features a total of 19 craft beers, alongside a rotating selection of independent craft beers from top-tier international breweries. With the drinks taken care of, Chef Vinny and Sous Chef Alton Huang concentrate on churning out dishes that are built on the works of small-scale, artisanal producers.

Young Master has two breweries in Hong Kong producing their signature range - Cha Chaan Teng Gose, Classic Pale Ale, and 1842 Island imperial IPA, which you get to try all three, together with their seasonal and limited releases.

Accompanying the brews are dishes that aim at delivering the taste of comfort, hence expect pretty highly flavoured food. Salt & Vinegar Fries ($8) is a very down-to-earth starter which was wiped out in minutes. It reminds me of my mum's Asian style soy sauce potato strips but done in a British manner.

Freshly Shucked Oysters 3.5/5

Sourced from Singapore’s only oyster farm off Pulau Ubin, I was surprised by the likable texture of the Freshly Shucked Oysters ($6/pc). Those big and voluptuous oysters may be appealing to some, I find these relatively smaller local breed much appetizing with a balance of firm meat and less brinier taste.

Fried Oysters 3.8/5

Inspired by egg benedict, these Fried Oysters with Hollandaise, Chilli, Pickled Shallots ($7/pc) are really delicious. When the dish is mostly fried items, a complementary dip is important. For these crusted oysters, the lemony hollandaise brilliantly took on that role.

Market Fish 3.8/5

From our local fish market, the market fish of the day was Pomfret with Smoked Eel Consomme ($9). Seeing our local pomfret given a French touch was impressive and the respect given to this fish translates to a deeper appreciation of its texture.

Brawn Terrine 3.5/5

To make pig's head palatable, it all boils down to chef's execution or at least based on my previous experience at Dehasa, where such dish was made memorable. As ravenous as that might sound, it can be quite an experience trying out this ingredient. Chef Vinny's Brawn Terrine ($12) is demure but assertive. The spicy pickled veg cuts away some of the greasiness while the charred bread soaks up all the juice and flavours within. The bread, however, was too harshly charred, causing the edges to be bitter and inedible.

Charred Sweet Corn 3.5/5 and Tang O 2.5/5

From the vegetables menu, we had Charred Sweet Corn ($12) and Tang O ($9) with fermented chilli. While I applaud their effort in westernizing many of our local ingredients, serving that few leaves of Tang O in a side plate is just stretching the concept a bit too much. The Charred Sweet Corn was good though, it was creamy with crunchy butter grits, and charring the sweet corn teases out its sweetness by a notch.

Grilled Sweet & Spicy Bacon 3/5

The Mains are even richer in taste, providing all the taste and grease for your beers. The thick-cut Grilled Sweet & Spicy Bacon ($28) were solid with flavours, exuding strong hues of smoky taste in every bite.

Mac n Cheese 3/5

For Chef Vinny's favourite Mac n Cheese ($18). It may appear similar with the rest but one could taste the subtle elevation brought about by the house-cured egg yolk.

BCM Tagiatelle "Bolo" 2.8/5

The BCM Tagiatelle "Bolo" ($22) is a good attempt but the delicate handmade pasta is tasked to handle too many ingredients. The pork ragu and pickled shitake with the chilli would have been enough. The liver simply overwhelms the rest.

Butter Roasted Chicken 3/5

I must say I love the presentation of this Butter Roasted Chicken ($25). It would have been too goody-goody, if not for that single chicken feet playfully tied to its body. Tender meat with just a touch of seasoning, this simple dish is a respite from all the rich dishes.

Buah Keluak Ice Cream 4/5

Despite a heavy meal, the nutty and chocolaty Buah Keluak Ice Cream leaves one craving for more with that elusive earthy and nuttiness.

Drinks are the drawn but the accompanying food match up equally to give that buzz. Be it the façade, interior design, drinks or food menu, I find each element of The Guild well thought out, giving it a strong identity amongst the establishments along Keong Siak Road.

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.


The Guild
55 Keong Saik Road
#01-01
Singapore 089158
Tel: +65 62241262
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 5pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Mon-Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram MRT station. Take Exit H. Walk to Keong Saik Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes.  [Map]

Pig N Whistle Bistro & Bar @ Hexacube (Changi Road) - Great British Fare And Quality British Craft Beers & Ciders In The Heartland

Pig N Whistle recently opened at Hexacube, which is just around 5 minutes walk from Eunos MRT. It is really a nice place for you to have a drink at the bar and indulge in some delicious food at the same time. Even though there is no service charge here, the customer service is prompt, warm and friendly.

First of, the drinks serve here are really unique as they aren’t the typical beers or ciders that bars in Singapore serve. We are recommended the bottle ciders which was purely made out of apple juice and alcohol, no sugar is added. Ciders like Somersby usually has sugar added, and here at Pig N Whistle, they want it to be all natural for health reasons.

As I’m a sweet person, I would recommend the Sheppy’s Cloudy Cider ($12) with ribena (only upon request at the bar) or even the Sheppy’s Raspberry Cider, in which they add real raspberry juice in the drink. Another drink you should give a go is their Caramel Vodka ($10) which they make in-house by mixing salted caramel and vodka for 10 days. You’ll never get something like this elsewhere.

Vegan Burger 4/5

For burgers, they had a vegan option called the Vegan Burger ($16.90) which uses yellow beans, capsicum, spanish onions, swiss brown mushrooms, carrot and herbs in their patty. As you can tell, a lot of effort goes into making this burger an unforgettable experience for those who give it a go.

Fish & Chips 4/5

The Fish & Chips ($15.90) here has a really crispy and flavourful house made beer batter that has its own British twist. Something else that is really unique is the mushy peas at the side that is served in English cuisines. It is boiled till the skins fall out and then mashed to a certain consistency before being served.

Pork Chop 4.5/5

The star for me was the Pork Chop ($18.90) and I loved how they use free range pigs that have 10,000 acres to roam. It is well seasoned and served with a side of British gravy that I would die for. The British gravy also goes very well with the creamy mash potatoes.

Full Monty 4/5

If you’re planning to visit this place on weekends, you’ll love the Full Monty ($18.50) here which consisted of 2 eggs, 2 bacons, 2 sausages, 2 hash browns, black pudding, mushrooms, beans, and bread/toast. The fat and juicy sausages are made of 70% pork meat, 30% fat and 3 secret spices. It will have you wanting more of it with that robust flavours. You might also be wondering what is the black pudding? It’s actually an English name for blood sausage which had an acquired taste. If you think this portion is too much for you, they can have a Half Monty ($14.50).

Burrito 4/5

Under the snack section, there is the Burrito ($12.90). Honestly, it’s a full meal itself at 12-inch. It is stuffed with egg, bacon, potato, cheddar cheese, capsicum, lettuce, tomato, onion and a chili salsa, finished with a nicely grilled tortilla. The chili salsa was pretty spicy for me as I can’t really take spicy food but you might love this salsa as it is house-made too. Plus, for the size, it is super value for money.

If you come at Happy Hours, the House Wines & Spirits are 15% off and Snacks are 10% off. The Happy Hours are Saturday and Sunday,12pm to 7pm, and Monday to Friday, 5pm-8pm.

Photos and words by Vanessa Chia. A girl who has a passion for taking photos. Determined to always get better at what I am doing. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Pig N Whistle Bistro & Bar
Hexacube
160 Changi Road
#01-08
Singapore 419728
Tel: +65 67474367
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Eunos (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 5pm - 1am
Sat: 12pm - 1am
Sun: 10am - 1am

Direction:
1) Alight at Eunos MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to traffic light and across the road. Turn right and go around the estate to Changi Road. Cross Changi Road, turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Morganfield's @ Orchard Central - Launches Limited Time Ribs Specials to Celebrate Mother's and Father's Day

Known for its signature sticky bones - authentic, good ol’ fashioned, prime pork ribs slow-cooked and smoked to tender perfection, Morganfield’s is claimed to be the home of the best ribs in town. This time back with a new promotion, Morganfield's presents two new mouth-watering Sticky Bones sauces for a limited time only in May and June, namely the Candied Peach BBQ and Smokey Bacon Bourbon in conjunction with Mother's Day and Father's Day. Mark your calendar for you might take your parents out to Morganfield’s for a well-deserved treat.

Bacon Wrapped Meatballs 4/5

With a variety of appetizer to choose from, we started off with the Bacon Wrapped Meatballs ($11.90) which comes in deep fried pork meatballs wrapped with crispy bacon. The side of Garlic Aioli sauce dip is a great complement to the savoury pork and bacon.

Pop Corn Pork 3.8/5

The Pop Corn Pork ($9.90) features a basket full of pork cubes marinated with Morganfield's secret spice mix & deep fried till crisp. Dipping it into their homemade Garlic Aioli & BBQ Ranch Sauce adds a sweet tangy and smoky flavour to the savouriness of the meat.

Golden Fried Wings 4/5

We had the Golden Fried Wings ($12.90) as the third appetizer. Marinated with a secret recipe, its outer skin is fried till a golden brown crispiness, while its meat is tender and juicy. The appetizers are best paired with a glass of beer in hand.

Summer Peach Cooler 4/5 and SweetWater Blue 4/5

For drinks, we had the Summer Peach Cooler ($6.90) and SweetWater Blue ($10). The former is a refreshing blend of sweet peach & orange flavour with a splash of fizzy soda, while the latter is a fruit beer which has a refreshing and fruity taste, light with a hint of fresh blueberries. With an ABV of 4.8%, the craft beer is easy to drink and finishes extra clean.

Candied Peach BBQ Sticky Bones 4.2/5

The highlight of the meal is the limited-time Candied Peach BBQ Sticky Bones (Half Slab $29.90, Full Slab $46.90). Created specially for the ladies, it is made with slices of juicy peaches and rich honey, which constitutes the perfect blend of sweet and tangy over the generously-portioned and well-executed ribs.

Smokey Bacon Bourbon Sticky Bones 4.5/5

Another one of their highlights - The Smokey Bacon Bourbon Sticky Bones (Half Slab $29.90, Full Slab $46.90) features a slab of tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs, topped with a hearty, rich and smoky sauce infused with bourbon, hand-chopped bacon bits and strips of candied bacon. With a flavourous luscious coating atop the savoury meat, the dish displays the perfect balance of sweet and savoury.

Bread Pudding 4/5

End your meal on a sweet note with the Bread Pudding ($11.90). This comforting homemade bread pudding comes served with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream & whiskey sauce. A recommended dessert option for the alcoholics, as the whiskey sauce is very thick and rich in taste, that I feel might be a tad too overpowering for the dish.

Chocolate Brownie 4.2/5

For chocolate lovers, try the Chocolate Brownie ($13.90) which comes in a fudgey chocolate and walnut brownie, and served warm with vanilla ice cream & chocolate sauce.

These limited time offers are available all day, every day from 30th April to 24th June. Make a date with your Mum and Dad to enjoy this special treat at Morganfield’s.

Note: The Candied Peach BBQ and Smoky Bacon Bourbon Sticky Bones are also available as part of the weekday Top Value Set Lunch promotion ($29.90), that comes with a free soup and drink.

Words and photos 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.


Morganfield’s
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
#11-03/04
Singapore 238896
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am – 12midnight

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

Starker Signature @ Holland Village – For Authentic German-style Fresh Brews And Delicious Bar Grubs

Nestled within the heart of Holland Village is Starker Signature, a casual bar serving authentic German brew, and probably one of the best authentic hotspot known for their top notch friendly staff and laid-back vibes among the multiple Starker Group outlets across the island. Here, it offers a variety of incredible Starker Fresh Brews with a 7 days shelf policy, and an even wider selection of food items such as their signature roasts, mains and bar grubs to complement the ice-cold beer and further accentuate the fresh brew drinking experience for their diners.

The main highlight at Starker is undeniably their fresh beer - Adopting the traditional German-brewing techniques using the finest European ingredients from milling to fermentation, Starker aims to deliver unfiltered and unpasteurized quality German-style craft beer served icy cold straight from the barrel, and with a strict 7-days shelf life to guarantee absolute freshness. Starring their 5 unique brews: Lager, Dunkel, Charcoal, Aromatic and Lychee. All these award-winning beers, from the sweet Lychee to the smokier Charcoal, are freshly brewed in-house and served the traditional way for beer connoisseurs.

Starker Ale 4.2/5

Starker has recently launched a new beer - Ale. Brewed from specially selected caramelised malts using top fermentation, the Ale is lusciously vibrant-coloured and boasts a mild fruity aftertaste, constituting a refreshing beer with a nice crisp finish that will leave you wanting for more.

Great news! If you're looking to chill out with your loved ones this Friday, look no further as you can now settle your TGIF plans with Stärker - Starker will be giving away 600 half-pints of Ale every Friday from 6pm onwards at different Stärker outlets till 2 Feb 2018. Do note that each customer is limited to only one half-pint beer per day.

5 Jan 2018: Stärker Signature Holland Village
12 Jan 2018: Stärker Bistro Katong Square
19 Jan 2018: Stärker Music Zhongshan Park
26 Jan 2018: Stärker Bistro HillV2
2 Feb 2018: Stärker Signature Tanjong Pagar Centre

If you’re looking for some unique brews, Starker serves a pretty fancy range of fresh brew catering to the preferences of different customers.

Starker Lychee 4.2/5 and Starker Charcoal 4.2/5

What is a trip to Starker without having a round of their renowned beer? For something lighter, go for their Starker Lychee (half-pint $8.90/one-pint $16.90/2L barrel $63.90/5L barrel $148), a medium bodied beer with a distinctive Belgium lychee fragrance. Brewed with a unique mix of wheat malts and 100% lychee extract, it is refreshingly light with a subtle fruity aftertaste and a hint of tartness. Best paired with fresh succulent seafood, salad or pasta.

The Starker Charcoal (half-pint $8.90/one-pint $16.90/2L barrel $63.90/5L barrel $148) is a fuller bodied dark beer with a more intense and robust body. Brewed from crystal and dark roasted malt, it boasts an edging bitterness and leaves a distinctive aftertaste with a hint of coffee. Best paired with Starker's signature roasts or burger.

Even the best beers don't sit so well on empty stomachs, so be prepared to indulge in their extensive selection of unpretentious grubs with a beer or two in hand.

Traditional Pork Knuckle 4.5/5

The Traditional Pork Knuckle ($38.80) features a huge portion of pork knuckles (serve 3-4 pax) marinated with Starker secret spice recipe and roasted to a perfectly crisp exterior, with tender juicy meat within that boasts a decent firmness in each bite. Served with a side of creamy mash, Starker beer sauce and house salad, as well as crispy freshly cut onion strips, battered and golden-fried, each of these complements contribute to the flavour and textural interplay of the dish, yet not overshadowing the perfectly executed pork knuckles.

Roasted Pork Belly 4.5/5

The Roasted Pork Belly ($14.80) comes in a plate of generously portioned sliced pork belly, with a half-half ratio of tender meats and fats that boasts a melt-in-the-mouth consistency, and roasted to a perfect crackling texture for its thin golden crisp outer skin layer. Served with vinegary French mustard and sourish sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) for a more flavorous addition, though the pork belly has already shone on its own.

Muchos Nachos 4/5

One of their upcoming new items on the menu, the Muchos Nachos comes loaded with generous servings of home-made ground beef and cheese sauce to have your crunchy Nacho Chips with. The best kind of savoury pairing for your Nachos, and the perfect finger food to go with your Starker fresh beers.

Gamabas Spanish Style 4.2/5

The Gamabas Spanish Style is another upcoming new item on the menu. This classic Spanish tapas dish features succulent shrimps in a spicy garlicky sauce, served with toasts on the side. The shrimps, which boast a bouncy texture power packed with a great deal of juiciness in each piece stole the show. The mild spicy garlicky sauce is not too overwhelming, and provides just the right amount of flavour to the shrimps so as to not overshadow its freshness.

King Prawn Pasta 4/5

The King Prawn Pasta ($19.80) comes with a single large grilled king prawn on a bed of spaghetti. The king prawn meat is tender and succulent down to the last bite, while the spaghetti is executed excellently as well, cooked al dente and tossed in tomato sauce with a hint of crustacean sweetness due to the prawn stock used.

Seafood Pizza 4.2/5

The Seafood Pizza ($10.80) features a home-made crispy thin crust pizza topped with copious amounts of prawns, squids and crab meats marinated with garlic and herbs. The assortment of seafood toppings are juicy and fresh with a subtle herb aroma, while the blanket of generous mozzarella cheese on top balances the tangy tomato base.

Reviving the old world style of beer drinking with their authentic German-style fresh brews, and bringing to the table such quality food pegged at affordable prices, Stärker is fast becoming the hip joint to be in the neighbourhood. So before the place gets even buzzier, make your way down soon for a relaxing night over some beer and food with your loved ones. Make sure to enjoy their half-pint giveaways which will be happening every Fridays at stipulated outlets till 2 Feb 2018 too!

This post is brought to you by Starker Group


Starker Signature
25 Lorong Mambong
Singapore 277684
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Fri: 3pm - 1am
Sat, Eve of PH & PH: 3pm - 2am

Direction: 
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit B or C. Walk to Lorong Liput. Walk down Lorong Liput. Turn right onto Lorong Mambong. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Don Don Donki @ Orchard Central – Don Quijote Launches First Flagship Store In Singapore

Japanese discount store Don Quijote partnered with its holding company for overseas operations, Pan Pacific International Holdings Pte Ltd to launch its first ever Southeast Asian store outside of Japan, Don Don Donki store in Orchard Central which is opened to the public from 1st December 2017. Aimed to position itself as the "Japanese Brand Specialist" by offering products that are either made or designed in Japan, it also curates a unique retail experience with focuses on convenience, quality and price affordability through the store's refreshing concept and design.

Occupying a double-storey retail space that spans 1,397 sq m at basement B1 and B2 of the mall, it operates 24 hours, seven days a week, and features a wide array of authentic Japanese merchandise that define the Donki experience, yet carefully selected to suit local preferences. The broad diversity of products, estimated at a jaw-dropping 30,000 items ranges from daily household items, cosmetics, stationery, kitchen goods, novelty items to fresh foods and beverages amongst many others. One would be able to find almost anything at Don Don Donki. It's akin to the Japanese version of Singapore's Mustafa.

A Hokkaido themed retail experience is adopted, having a third of its specialty offerings curated from Hokkaido, including fresh meat, fish and produce such as the Tokachi Beef. The bottom basement level boasts a mega huge super mart filled with a wide variety of fresh meat produce, such as packages of fresh seafood and premium cuts of beef, Tokachi Hokkaido Wagyu (Kobe) beef at $20 per 100g which is imported directly from Japan. We tasted a sample of it during the media preview. With a texture so tender and succulent that just melts in the mouth with each bite, it is definitely more than enough to warrant return purchases for their fresh meats.

Don Don Donki also features a ready to eat section with bento boxes, onigiri and gelato made from Hokkaido milk, where customers can purchase and immediately tuck into these takeaways.

Fruits and vegetables are restocked daily to ensure its freshness. The myriad of colourful fresh produce on display showcases a very rare variety of Japanese such as the Mutsu and Kurenaino Yame. They come in mega sizes and are priced at $2.90 each. The sweetness, sourness and hardness levels of each apple variety are displayed on the signboards for customers to differentiate and make their most preferred choice.

A plethora of Japanese nibbles occupying rows and rows of shelves would definitely render shoppers spoilt for choices with the huge varieties of snack items available. It is akin to heaven for all kids and adults alike.

The drinks section features a variety of Japanese alcoholic drinks, as well as non alcoholic ones such as the juices and soy milk beverages. If you’re brave enough, do try their Natto Sodas and Salty Squid drinks, which are labelled as the most disgusting drinks in Japan.

The second storey of Don Don Donki features essentials, household items, cosmetics, luggage, stationery, as well as toy plushies, quirky accessories, costumes and party goods. The section which would most possibly trigger potential impulse buys, you might spend more time exploring the multitude of interesting items that they have there than you intended to.

With the festive season just around the corner, the shelves are piled high with Christmas goods, decorations and festive wear. This is the perfect place to do some of your Christmas shopping, and just in time too!

In partnership with Hokkaido Marche, a dine-in space will be rolled out in Jan 2018 to further enhance the true Hokkaido dining experience. The exact opening hours for Hokkaido Marche will be confirmed nearer to the opening date. Good new is that Don Don Donki is set to open a second outlet in Tanjong Pagar mid-June 2018. There are also plans for further expansion into Asia, with a store launching in Thailand next December.

Words and photos 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.


Don Don Donki
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
Singapore 238896
#B1-15 to #B1-29,
#B2-01 to #B2-10,
#B2-30 to #B2-43
Tel: +65 69283043
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours: 
Daily: 24 Hours

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