Showing posts with label Cuttlefish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cuttlefish. Show all posts

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Hey Kee (嘻記) @ Former Singapore Badminton Hall - Hong Kong Style Dai Pai Dang

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Step into the alluring realm of HEY KEE, a culinary haven that transports you back to the authentic vibes of 80s Hong Kong Dai Pai Dong (大排档) right here in Singapore. The restaurant offers delectable dishes and a visual feast with photo-worthy interiors, capturing the essence of classic Hong Kong streets.

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The restaurant's interiors are a vibrant homage to Hong Kong's past, with lively red chairs, green banquet tables, and vintage posters of iconic personalities adorning the walls. Transport yourself to yesteryears with a nostalgic barber’s spiral lamp and a recreated Hong Kong bus stop at the entrance.

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To enhance the experience, HEY KEE offers private rooms for up to 20 guests, complete with karaoke systems for an exclusive dining affair. Mosaic floor and wall tiles further complete the setting, ensuring a timeless charm and authenticity.

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Deep Fried Cuttlefish with Salt & Pepper 椒盐鲜鱿 3.5/5

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Crispy Golden Silver Fish 黄金白饭鱼 3/5

We kicked off with a delightful array of deep-fried starters. The Deep Fried Cuttlefish with Salt & Pepper ($20.80) stood out, capturing my taste buds with its robust seasoning. The crispy batter, expertly coated on tender cuttlefish, carried the perfect blend of salt and pepper, creating a flavour explosion.

On the other hand, the Crispy Golden Silver Fish ($8.80) presented a different experience. Although the dish promised a treat of silver fish, I found it challenging to detect the fish amidst the crispy batter. It felt more like indulging in a delightful crunch of batter rather than savouring the distinct flavour of the fish. In this delightful showdown, the deep-fried cuttlefish emerged as the preferred choice for its more pronounced and satisfying taste.

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Sizzling Kai Lan with Dried Prawns in Claypot 蝦乾嘟嘟芥蓝苗 4.2/5

The Sizzling Kai Lan with Dried Prawns in Claypot ($23.80) boasts a delightful crunch in every bite, elevating the humble kai lan to new heights. Infused with rich flavours from minced meat, pork lard, and premium dried shrimp, it presented a symphony of tastes that delighted the palate. What set this dish apart was the use of high-quality dried shrimp carefully imported from Hong Kong. These shrimp, known for their meatier texture and more fragrant profile, added a layer of complexity to the dish, enhancing the overall dining experience.

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Pan Fried Beef Tenderloin Cubes with Potatoes 鐵板黑椒薯仔牛肉粒 4.2/5

The Pan-Fried Beef Tenderloin Cubes with Potatoes ($36.80) is a classic Hong Kong dish that captivated our taste buds. Succulent Angus beef tenderloin cubes were expertly pan-fried to golden perfection, creating a delightful contrast in textures. Presented on a hot plate, the sizzling presentation added to the anticipation. As the fragrance wafted through the air, we couldn't help salving to dig into the dish. The magic happened as the potatoes soaked up the flavourful sauce, creating a harmonious marriage of taste and texture. With its piquant, fragrant, and shiok qualities, the pepper sauce provided the perfect accompaniment, making each bite a symphony of flavours.

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Temple Street' Crispy Roast Chicken 廟街风沙鸡 4.2/5

The 'Temple Street' Crispy Roast Chicken (Half $22.80/ Whole $39.80) features a French poulet rooster, air-dried for six hours, resulting in tender, juicy meat with a crispy, flavourful skin. Accompanied by a unique yellow chilli powder, it's a taste sensation.

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Steamed Soon Hock with Chopped Yellow Chilli 黄剁椒蒸笋壳鱼 4.2/5

The Steamed Soon Hock with Chopped Yellow Chilli (market price) offers a unique twist, with yellow chopped chilli enhancing the inherent sweetness of the fish.

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Signature Claypot Seafood Porridge - Live Tiger Prawn 東街生滚砂鍋粥 4.5/5

A homage to the traditional supper options found on the vibrant streets of Hong Kong, HEY KEE presents its Signature Claypot Seafood Porridge with Live Tiger Prawn (Small - $28 per 300g). Diners are granted the delightful opportunity to curate their experience by directly selecting their preferred live seafood from tanks. The chosen seafood is then entrusted to the skilled hands of the chefs, who expertly cook the ensemble in a large claypot, marrying the distinct flavours of the sea with fragrant jasmine pearl rice. The porridge exhibits a consistently creamy texture that blankets the palate with each spoonful.

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'Typhoon Shelter' Style Stir Fried Crab 避风塘螃蟹 4.2/5

The 'Typhoon Shelter' Style Stir Fried Crab ($98 per kg) is a popular and cherished creation that traces its origins to the vibrant streets of Hong Kong, capturing the essence of the Cantonese culinary heritage. The star of the show is a whole live crab, expertly cooked to perfection in a unique blend of spices and aromatic ingredients, with garlic taking a prominent role in this flavourful symphony. The tantalising blend of aromatics filled the air, creating an anticipation that is nothing short of mouthwatering.

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Note: This is an invited tasting.


Hey Kee (嘻記)
102 Guillemard Road
#01-01
Singapore 399719
(Former Singapore Badminton Hall)
Tel: +65 65141588
Facebook
Instagram
Nearest MRT: Kallang (EW Line), Paya Lebar (CC, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Paya Lebar MRT station (Stop ID 81111). Take bus number 70. Alight 4 stops later. Walk straight down Guillemard Road. Walk t destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Kallang MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Kallang MRT station (Stop ID 80031). Take bus number 70 or 197. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to traffic junction Geylang Lorong 20 and Guillemard Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Saturday, October 21, 2023

SHAO Tapas (烧) @ Holland Village - A New Modern Teochew Tapas-style Restaurant By SHAO (烧)

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SHAO Restaurant, renowned for its Teochew cuisine at Frankel Avenue, has expanded with SHAO Tapas (烧), a new Teochew tapas-style restaurant located in the bustling district of Holland Village. The atmosphere at SHAO Tapas exudes contemporary style and vibrancy, offering diners a modern setting to savour bold and flavorful Teochew dishes. To elevate the dining experience, they also feature a well-crafted bar menu, serving creative cocktails that perfectly complement the diverse flavours of their cuisine.

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Pan Seared Black Ink Cuttlefish Sausage 4.5/5

Pan Seared Black Ink Cuttlefish Sausage ($18) kicks off the meal, presenting an unusual but delicious creation. The use of squid ink elevates its savoury profile, while the texture is slightly crunchier than a typical sausage. The pan-searing process enhances the aroma, making this cuttlefish sausage highly addictive.

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Raw Roe Crab Marinated with Shao Xsing Wine in Teochew Style (500g) 4.2/5

Raw Roe Crab Marinated with Shao Xsing Wine in Teochew Style ($78) is a must-try for those with adventurous palates. Unlike typical raw crab dishes, it's surprisingly devoid of any fishy taste. This dish is a palate-pleasing blend of aromatics that complements the crab's natural sweetness.

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Baby Pomfret 3/5

Previously savoured at the Frankel outlet, the Baby Pomfret ($9 for 5pc, $16 for 10pc) is a cute dish deep-fried to a satisfying crispiness, allowing diners to enjoy the entire fish. However, the appreciation of this dish largely depends on personal preferences, as there is little beyond its crispy texture to make it a standout fish dish. So, diners should consider their expectations and preferences when ordering this dish.

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Braised Combination Platter 4/5

An essential element of Teochew cuisine lies in its mastery of braised dishes. We opted for the Braised Combination Platter ($28), which included Pork Belly, Pig's Skin, Pig's Intestine, and Tofu. To enhance the dining experience, it was accompanied by a traditional Teochew white vinegar dip, which perfectly complemented the braised items. The only drawback is that the pork belly was excessively fatty for my taste. It might reflect a shift towards healthier eating choices as we age.

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Grilled Pork Jowl 4/5

Although not a traditional Teochew dish, the Grilled Pork Jowl ($18) is well-executed, with a tender texture and a delightful sweet sauce.

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Poached Crispy Rice in Seafood Stocks 4.8/5

The Poached Crispy Rice in Seafood Stocks ($34) was undoubtedly one of our favourite dishes, providing a hearty and comforting experience. This dish featured a rich seafood broth accompanied by grouper fillets, scallops, and prawns. What set it apart was the rice, which retained its grainy texture, offering that distinct Teochew preference for a delightful bite.

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Yam Paste 4.2/5

To end on a sweet note, the Yam Paste ($10) includes a surprise addition of osmanthus to the creamy yam paste, enhancing its fragrance and sweetness.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


SHAO Tapas (烧)
Holland Village
44 Lorong Mambong
Singapore 277697
Tel: +65 6993 9333
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 430pm - 1130pm
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 1130pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk to Lorong Liput. Turn right onto Lorong Liput. Walk down Lorong Liput and turn right onto Lorong Mambong. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes.[Map]

Monday, October 24, 2022

59 Hutong Yakiniku @ Boat Quay - Taipei's Top Yakiniku Chain For Exclusive Cuts Of Meats And Seafood, Together With Friendly Taiwanese Service

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Newly opened in Boat Quay is 59 Hutong Yakinku, a new yakiniku restaurant serving premium and exclusive cuts of meats and seafood from Japan, US and Australia, and friendly Taiwanese service. The restaurant is a collaboration between Taipei's top yakiniku chain, Hutong and Singapore's 59 Restaurant Pte Ltd.

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AUS Wagyu Thin Cut Tongue

We started with the AUS Wagyu Thin Cut Tongue ($32), which has a delectable crunch after grilling.

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There is a good variety of beef cuts, such as the US Prime Boneless Short Rib ($32), AUS Black Cow Chuck Flat ($30), US Prime Dallas Cube ($38) and many more.

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Japanese A5 Wagyu Ribeye Roll.

Of course, the highlight has to be the Japanese A5 Wagyu Ribeye Roll (215g - 225g) with its beautiful marbling that melted in the mouth. Other A5 wagyu cuts from Japan and AUS are available too.

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Spanish Pork Belly

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Iberico Pork Shoulder Blade

For the non-beef eaters, you can go for Spanish Pork Belly ($18) or Iberico Pork Shoulder Blade ($26). Alternatively, another option is the tender Boneless Chicken Thigh ($14) paired with garlic butter.

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Boneless Chicken Thigh

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Raw Crab Roe in Crab Shell

There are also seafood selections such as Neritic Squid ($18), Cuttlefish ($18), Scallops ($10) and many more on the menu. We tried the Raw Crab Roe in Crab Shell ($18), which can take a while to cook. The flavour is a bit too rich and intense for me.

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Cuttlefish Sausage

A must-have under the seafood section is the Cuttlefish Sausage ($14). During the grilling, it emits a beautiful aroma that makes you drool while waiting for it to be cooked. In addition, the stuffed cuttlefish gives it a lovely crunchy finish.

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Zucchini and King Oyster Mushroom

While the focus is on the meats and seafood, the vegetables are good too. We had the Zucchini ($9) and King Oyster Mushroom ($9), which is an excellent refreshing break.

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Wagyu Beef Japanese Rice

A good selection is the Wagyu Beef Japanese Rice ($12) to fill up the stomach. While I enjoyed the soft and fluffy rice, I hoped the wagyu beef could be fatter.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


59 Hutong Yakiniku
35 Boat Quay
Singapore 049824
Tel: +65 62353818
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Instagram
Website
Nearest: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 330pm, 530pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk towards the river. Turn left at the river. Walk along the river. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Friday, October 14, 2022

Small Tables @ Pacific Plaza - New Sidewalk Cafe Bringing Ipoh Food To Singapore' Trendy Cafe Scene

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Small Tables recently opened at Pacific Plaza on 3 September 2022. It is a sidewalk cafe serving signature Ipoh dishes, white coffee and other scrumptious Asian flavours. The menu at Small Tables is designed by Executive Chef Sandra Lim, better known to many as the chef behind Lady Boss Dining Club and Lady Boss Chicken.

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Ipoh Curry Mee 3/5

I noticed many people at the restaurant ordered the Ipoh Curry Mee ($20). You can have it either soup or dry. We decide to go for the soup version. The bowl of noodles is brimming with ingredients such as poached chicken, char siu, sio bak, braised pig's ears, pig's skin, poached prawns, bean sprouts and mint leaves. However, the Ipoh version is not the lemak type. Hence, the local palate may not be so receptive.

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Cuttlefish & Water Spinach 4.5/5

Surprisingly I enjoyed the Cuttlefish & Water Spinach ($12). I can't pinpoint the sauce used, but it is much more delicious than the traditional cuttlefish kang kong with Hei Ko (prawn paste).

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Ipoh Chee Cheong Fun 4/5

How can we not try the Ipoh Chee Cheong Fun ($12) when we are at an Ipoh cafe. The cheong fun is thicker than the Hong Kong style and is served with fried beancurd skin, special chilli sauce, Ipoh curry and green chilli. I enjoyed having them soaking in curry sauce, paired with the green chilli and shiok chilli sauce, different from the usual local and Hong Kong style.

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Whole Fish Otah 4.5/5

It is a fish, no it is otah. It is both. The otah fish paste is stuffed inside the whole yellow croaker and baked in banana leaf. The Whole Fish Otah ($28) is probably my favourite dish for my dinner.

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Note: This is an invited tasting.


Small Tables
Pacific Plaza
9 Scotts Road
#01-09/10/11/12
Singapore 228210
Tel: +65 64529688
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 1130am - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 1130am - 11pm
Sun: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 1. Follow the underpass to Shaw House. On the ground level, walk to Scotts Road. Turn left and walk to down Scotts Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

藝 yì by Jereme Leung @ Raffles Hotel Singapore - Refreshed Menu By MasterChef Jereme Leung with New Specialities

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藝 yì by Jereme Leung at Raffles Hotel Singapore has recently launched a refreshed menu. Put together by MasterChef Jereme Leung and Executive Chef Yap Poh Weng, 藝 yì continues to bring to you Chinese provincial dishes with a touch of modern artistic flair whilst retaining traditional flavours and classic styles.

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Deep-fried Marinated Pork Belly with Black Garlic 3.5/5

The evening started with a couple of Chef Jereme's drinking snacks. First was a bowl of moreish Deep-fried Marinated Pork Belly with Black Garlic. These golden morsels had a thin, puffed-up crisp exterior that remained crunchy even after sitting out for a while. The pork belly still retained that expected tenderness despite being thinly sliced.

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Pan-fried Cuttlefish Cake on Quinoa 3.5/5

Pan-fried Cuttlefish Cake on Quinoa had an enjoyable bouncy texture. I love the accompanying Spicy Tangy Salsa had all the zest of a green Nam Jim.

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Hokkaido Scallops 4.5/5, Deep-fried Shrimp Balls 4.5/5
Sliced South African Abalone & Vegetarian Abalone 4/5, Crispy Pork Belly 4/5

We had an appetiser sampler platter. Hokkaido Scallops on Cordyceps Flower & Spinach Rolls in spicy sesame sauce epitomise the chef's artistic approach to the cuisine. A cold dish from the Zhejiang coastal province, the Hokkaido scallop sits on a 'ying-yang' handmade rolls of cordyceps flowers and spinach. The same goes for the Sliced South African Abalone & Vegetarian Abalone. A combination of freshly sliced South African and vegetarian abalone presented elegantly in a cocktail glass, Chef's Sichuan green pepper dressing laced the dish with a fragrant and citrusy note.

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Deep-fried Shrimp Balls

The Deep-fried Shrimp Ball surprised me with its lightness- its crisped exterior had an airy-like texture, with a delightfully juicy and well-seasoned shrimp mixture that paired well with cheddar cheese. The Crispy Pork Belly didn't disappoint with crackling skin and tender meat.

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Iberico Pork Roll wrapped with Crispy Seaweed 4.5/5

Iberico Pork Roll wrapped with Crispy Seaweed with Pickled Sliced Green Mango & Homemade Specialty Sauce is prepared with a 10-hours of careful slow-cooking of the pork in Chef's homemade brine. Next, it is wrapped with a layer of seaweed and then fried. The savoury, crispy seaweed gave the juicy, tender meat a nice contrasting crunch, while the sweet Specialty Sauce that carried a bit of sourness cut the meat's richness.

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Double Boiled Chicken Soup 4.5/5

The Double Boiled Chicken Soup was nourishing with Fish Maw, Bamboo Fungus and Matsutake Mushroom, and the warmed coconut elevated the soup with a comforting coconut aroma. The softened coconut made this light soup pretty hearty too.

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Poached Rice 4.8/5

The Poached Rice with Assorted Seafood in Shrimp Broth was wholesome and delicious with succulent seafood, singing with umami-ness from flavours imparted by the rich shrimp broth.

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Double-boiled Hokkaido Milk and Ginger Pudding 5/5

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Steamed Red Dates & Coconut Cake 5/5

The desserts are the highlights for me, especially the Double-boiled Hokkaido Milk and Ginger Pudding with Butterfly Pea Bird's Nest. It was mellow sweet, soft and soul comforting. The Steamed Red Dates & Coconut Cake was just as marvellous with its chewy texture and well-balanced sweetness.

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.


藝 Yi By Jereme Leung
Raffles Arcade
328 North Bridge Road
Singapore 188719
Tel: +65 63371886
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 2pm, 6pm - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Junction of North Bridge Road and Bras Basah Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]