YUN NANS Stonepot Fish @ Northpoint City - Pressure Steam Cooked Live Fish In Collagen-rich Fish Soup

YUN NANS (云海肴), which has four restaurants in Singapore, has recently opened a new stonepot fish concept in Northpoint, Yishun. YUN NANS Stonepot Fish is Singapore's first concept specialising in cooking live fish using high-pressure steam in a stone pot made of natural granite.

Stonepot Fish Soup 4/5

The granite stone pot is imported from Yunnan that is specially handcrafted for the restaurant. It is supposed to heat the food evenly and retains heat well. Covered with a handcrafted straw hat that doubles as the pot's lid, subjecting the fish and broth to be cooked in a high-pressure steaming method, extracting the natural flavours.

The fish used at the restaurant are sustainably sourced from local farms. Customers have choices of live fish such as seabass, patin or soon hock. Fresh seabass is also available starting from $28. Upon picking the fish, the culled and cleaned fish is placed into the stone pot, followed by pouring the nourishing fish broth that has been simmered for more than six hours into the stone pot.

Alongside the fish, diners can also add a variety of other hotpot ingredients, such as premium meats, handmade beef balls, seafood, and vegetables, to sweeten the soup for a hearty meal.

Some of the rare ingredients I enjoyed were the golden fungus, chayote leaves, and Lijiang purple heart potatoes, which are a Yunnan speciality.

While I enjoyed the light yet flavourful fish soup, the local palate might prefer a richer flavour.

Grilled Clams with Spicy Garlic Sauce 3.8/5

Apart from the signature stoneput fish, the restaurant offers cooked hot items too. We tried the Grilled Clams with Spicy Garlic Sauce ($12.90++) and Crispy Barramundi Collar ($9.80++). The clams are placed over a bed of vermicelli in an aluminium foil box and grilled over charcoal fire, paying homage to the quintessential Yunnan cooking style.

Crispy Barramundi Collar 4.5/5

For the lightly marinated barramundi collar, deep-fried to crispy on the exterior and yet moist inside. Served with salt and pepper dip, this is simple yet so addictive and delicious.

Baked Rose Petals Pastry 3.5/5

We wrapped up our dinner with the Baked Rose Petals Pastry and Crispy Rice Cake with Brown Sugar for dessert. The baked rose petals pastry has a beautiful floral scent encased in flaky pastry skin. As for the rice cake, it is mochi-soft with a delightful crisp on the exterior.

Crispy Rice Cake with Brown Sugar 4.2/5

Note: This is an invited tasting.


YUN NANS Stonepot Fish
Northpoint Fish
South Wing
1 Northpoint Drive
#01-103
Singapore 768019
Tel: +65 65131381
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Nearest MRT: Yishun (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

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

Yu Zhong Bu Tong (鱼众不同) @ Wisma Atria Food Republic - Fresh Daily Live Harvest From Coastal Fish Farm to Food Court Concept

Yu Zhong Bu Tong (鱼众不同) brings the freshest daily live harvest from local Singapore-based coastal fish farm directly to the public at Wisma Atria, Food Republic at a value for money price. To ensure uncompromised freshness, live fresh marine fish from its farm, located less than an hour’s drive away, is delivered daily to the kitchen. Fish at Yu Zhong Bu Tong is hence always fresh.

Collagen Fish Soup 3.5/5

The Collagen Fish Soup ($9.80) comes with tofu, enoki mushroom, romaine lettuce and a bowl of rice. I like the idea that for under $10, I get to settle a meal in Orchard Road. Though it is labelled as collagen fish soup, you don't get that rich gelatin mouth fill.

Spicy Poached Fish Soup 3.5/5

The Spicy Poached Fish Soup ($9.80) comes with two choices of sides and a bowl of rice. Side choices include enoki mushroom, big beansprouts, black fungus, tofu skin, lettuce, tomatoes, tapioca noodles and more. More add-ons are also available at a top-up for those with bigger appetites. I felt the mala is not fiery enough, though.

Sauerkraut Fish Soup 3.5/5

Like the spicy poached fish soup, the Sauerkraut Fish Soup ($9.80) comes with 2 choices of sides and and a bowl of rice. The 6-month-old naturally fermented pickled mustard sauerkraut lends an appetising acidity. However, it lacks the bold and punchy kick from the peppercorn.

Tomato Fish Soup 4/5

The surprise among the four styles of fish soup has to be the Tomato Fish Soup ($9.80), and it's one of my favourites out of the four I tried. The sweet broth is made from fresh tomatoes, sweetened with generous servings of live fresh fish slices.

Zesty Winter Melon 3/5

There are a number of sides to complement the various fish soup flavours, such as the Zesty Winter Melon ($3.80). The zesty came from the orange flavoured sauce drenched over the winter melon.

Fried Fresh Fish Bites with Mustard Dip 4/5

The Fried Fresh Fish Bites with Mustard Dip ($7.80) is crispy on the exterior and moist inside. It is a delectable bite fragrant by the sprinkles of sesame seeds.

Fresh Green Mussels with Spicy Sauce 4/5

Last but not least, I had the plump and juicy Fresh Green Mussels with Spicy Sauce ($7.80) that is harvested and delivered live daily to the stall. The live mussels are simply poached and served alongside Chef's special spicy sauce. I prefer to enjoy the briny and sweet mussel on its own, to enjoy its natural flavour.

I applaud the farm to table concept of bringing freshly harvested seafood at an affordable price to the masses in a food court setting. The concept will work, but I feel Yu Zhong Bu Tong still needs to improve its cooking. While the concept is good, you still need to win over the customer's love for the food for it to work.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yu Zhong Bu Tong (鱼众不同)
Wisma Atrium
Food Republic
435 Orchard Road
#04-21
Singapore 238877
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1115am - till sold out

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 3. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Milkfish @ Millenia Walk - Scrumptious Grilled Whole Milkfish Belly And Wholesome Seafood Soup

Milkfish at Millenia Walk is the brand's second outlet, serving up slow-cooked seafood soup brewed in collaboration with Áo Broth. The soup has no MSG, dairy and preservatives. While its dairy-free yet milky broth is the main offering of Milkfish, what you shouldn't be missing out on is its Grilled Whole Milkfish Belly.

Grilled Whole Milkfish Belly 4.2/5

Milkfish is adored by many for its generous belly fat, especially so in Taiwan and the Philippines. Over at Milkfish, its Grilled Whole Milkfish Belly ($19 a la carte/$23.80 set) gets you an unctuous piece of grilled milkfish belly imported from Taiwan, served deboned. You may be more familiar with grilled salmon belly, and this is equally delicious with a dash of lemon juice and the sweet-savoury dipping sauce. Ideally, for my plate of milkfish, I would prefer it to be charred further to render the fats slightly more. A bowl of hearty Multigrain Rice will be an apt complement to its fatty goodness.

Signature Soup 4/5

The milkfish also forms the base of its signature soup with pork bones and fresh clams, attaining a milky emulsion and sweet taste. It eliminates the need to add any milk. The Signature Soup ($12.80) features sliced red snapper fish, chosen for its relatively sweeter taste and firmer texture than the usual Batang fish, a whole prawn and clams alongside tofu, vegetables and a housemade minced pork patty. You can also upgrade the red snapper to grouper for a more premium selection. Though it wasn't as rich as expected, the depth of flavour was undoubtedly there, and I love the elusive aroma of the Hua Diao Wine, which elevated the enjoyment of the soup.

Brown Rice Vermicelli

I had mine with Brown Rice Vermicelli, which brought out the sweetness of the soup. The entire bowl was pretty wholesome, just that the portion of the soup was a tad too small an amount for the lot.

Premium Soup Set 3/5

The Premium Soup Set ($32.80) uses the same soup base with additional seafood items, including half lobster, whole abalone and scallop. With such a price point, I expected the lobster's quality could be better. If you are in the mood for paofan, there's also an option for crispy rice on the menu.

Chilled Tofu with Century Egg 3.8/5

Oriental Salad in Special Vinegar Dressing 3.8/5

The Small Plates ($3 each) and Sharing Plates offered are worth a go, such as the Marinated Chilled Tomatoes, Oriental Salad in Special Vinegar Dressing, and the Chilled Tofu with Century Egg. A set meal includes two sides and a drink.

Deep Fried Prawn Rolls 4/5

For Sharing Plate, we tried the housemade Deep Fried Prawn Rolls ($6 for 4pc), which are very good with well-seasoned and juicy filling.

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.


Milkfish
Millenia Walk
9 Raffles Boulevard
#01-106
Singapore 039596
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Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thur: 11am - 9pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Happiness Healthy Fish Meat Soup @ West Coast Market Square - New Fish Soup Stall Worth Going Back Again And Again

Happiness Healthy Fish Meat Soup is a new stall at West Coast Market Square that opened earlier in the year. I enjoyed their fish soup and have packet a few times for lunch and dinner. I didn't eat at the stall until now as I fractured my foot, followed by phrase two heightened alert that does not allow dine-in.

Fried Fish Thick Beehoon Soup 4.5/5

The menu is quite extensive, with more than ten different options. I decided to have the Fried Fish Thick Beehoon Soup ($5). 

The bowl of piping hot fish soup comes with chunky fried fish. For five dollars, there are five pieces of it. The fried fish is seasoned with a hint of pepper. 

You will discover other ingredients in the soup such as egg floss, beancurd roll and bitter gourd. I applauded the addition of these ingredients, giving the fish soup a multifaceted enjoyment.

I even found clams in the soup. It is probably the reason behind the sweetness of the soup. I opted to add milk to it hence the milky colour. 


Happiness Healthy Fish Meat Soup
West Coast Market Square Food Centre
Blk 726 Clementi West Street 2
Stall 01-150
Singapore 120726
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 8pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station. (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 201. Alight 2 stops later. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Min Jiang @ Goodwood Park Hotel - A New Chapter In Its Decades-long History Following A Refurbishment

Min Jiang at Goodwood Park Hotel has reopened after undergoing refurbishment with a rejuvenated interior, refreshed menus and revitalised dining experience. Fans of Min Jiang will be glad to know that the restaurant has brought back the dim sum pushcart service during lunch.

Two types of dim sum pushcarts will be pushed around the restaurant. One for the steamed items while the other for the fried stuff. From the steamed dim sum pushcart, we had the Siew Mai, Steamed Dumpling and Chicken Feet. Old school classic delicately executed.

From the other dim sum pushcart which offers fried items, we had the Pan-fried Carrot Cake and Egg Tart. While we have gone for the more classic items, a new range of handmade dim sum has also been introduced to the new menu such as Steamed Pumpkin Ball, Deep-fried Homemade Squid Tofu with XO Sauce, Deep-fried Bacon Roll with Enoki Mushrooms and Prawns that will be popular with diners of all ages.

Min Jiang Land and Sea Quartet

The creativity of Master Chef Chan Hwan Kee sees the new Min Jiang Land And Sea Quartet ($16.80 per order). From the land, we have the rabbit-shaped Steamed Prawn and Carrot Dumpling, and Deep-fried Pork Char Siew and Pine Nuts in Glutinous Pastry fashioned like a carrot. Moving to the sea, we have the Steamed Squid and Sea Cucumber Dumpling, and Steamed Prawn and Chinese Stem Lettuce with Tobiko Dumpling formed like a sea cucumber and starfish respectively.

Crispy Fried Pumpkin with Salted Egg Yolk and Pork Floss

The Crispy Fried Pumpkin with Salted Egg Yolk and Pork Floss ($13.80 per order) is dangerously addictive. I have a similar dish before, using eggplant instead of pumpkin. I feel the sweetness of the pumpkin is a better interpretation of the dish, complementing the savoury salted egg yolk and pork floss.

Spicy Sliced Red Garoupa Soup with Preserved Cabbage

A rather underrated soup in the menu is the Spicy Sliced Red Garoupa Soup with Preserved Cabbage ($18). In the bowl of milk soup, you get slices of red garoupa fillet, preserved cabbage, semi-dried tomato and soft tofu. Each sip of the soup, you get a combination of sweet, sour and peppery kick from the dried Sichuan peppers.

Roasted Chicken Skin with Prawn Paste in Sesame Pockets

One of the new dishes in the new menu is the Roasted Chicken Skin with Prawn Paste in Sesame Pockets ($36 half/ $72 whole). It is a remake of a traditional sesame encrusted baked flatbread or Shao Bing that envelopes a variety of fillings. At Ming Jiang, the chef stuffed the sesame pocket with deep-fried chicken skin with prawn paste, rock melon, Japanese cucumber and sesame beancurd skin. All these components are held together by a hoisin and fermented red beancurd sauce mix. Personally, I like the idea, but I find it a bit hollow and airy for a substantial bite. The rock melon is a great idea, though, it freshened up the whole enjoyment since most of the components are deep-fried.

Slow-braised Beef Brisket, Tendon and Radish

A very hearty dish in the new menu is the Slow-braised Beef Brisket, Tendon and Radish ($36/ $72). The beef brisket and tendon are cooked to tender, absorbing the delicious, savoury brown sauce. What I look most is the radish that best absorbed the essence of the sauce.

Braised Noodle with Spring Onions, Ginger and Yabbies 

Wrapping up on the hot dishes, we had the Braised Noodle with Spring Onions, Ginger and Yabbies ($16 per person). A delightful noodle dish with springy noodle tossed in the delicious braising sauce.

Deep-fried Purple Sweet Potato Crispy Milk

Even the dessert gets a transformation. The Deep-fried Purple Sweet Potato Crispy Milk ($20 per portion) is made by simmering condensed milk and coconut milk till gelatinous. Sweet potato paste is rolled into a ball-shaped and stuffed with the gelatine simmered milk into the centre and deep-fried. The result is a crispy exterior with a soft interior. Do be careful as the milk filling may burn your tongue if you are not careful.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Min Jiang
Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 67301704
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Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Scotts Road to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]