Celebrate The Lunar New Year With Baba Chews Bar & Eatery @ Hotel Indigo

With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, there is no better time than now to make plans for an abundant and hearty reunion dinner with your loved ones. Nestled in Katong and an occupant of the former Joo Chiat Police station, Baba Chews Bar & Eatery is an all-dining restaurant imbued with contemporary Peranakan elements, and plays a modern fusion to its selection of traditional cuisine from the Straits of Malacca, western favourites and local delights. This festive season, diners can relish in a scrumptious set menu specially curated for reunion dinner on 15 Feb 2018 to usher in the Year of the Dog.

Baba Salmon Yu Sheng 4.5/5

As with all Lunar New Year reunion dinners, we start off the meal with the classic Baba Salmon Yu Sheng ($48/$68) which comes in a platter of assorted vegetables and ingredients including the pickled radish, cucumber, pineapple, sweet turnip, corn flakes, and generous salmon slices. A tangy home-made kaffir lime plum sauce is poured over the Yu Sheng before tossing to good fortune and health.

Hee Piow Ting 4/5

Also known as the Paranakan-styled Fish Maw Soup, the Hee Piow Ting ($16 per bowl) comes with pork meatballs, fish maw and cabbage. While the minced meats in the meatballs boast a soft and tender texture, the pork-based soup has a rich but balanced flavour which makes for a comforting dish to have before the mains are served.

Red Garoupa Tempra Style 4.2/5

The Red Garoupa Tempra Style ($88) features a fried red garoupa fish with peranakan onion and chilli sauce. While the sauce adds a tinge of spice to the dish, it is not spicy and packs a rich savoury flavour to the fish, which retains a soft and moist texture beneath its crispy skin.

“Lobster” Carrot Cake 4.5/5

A local all-time favourite, the “Lobster” Carrot Cake features a stir-fried Singapore style carrot cake with a soft chewy texture and a taste familiar to many. The addition of lobster and silver fish brings a unique upgrade to the dish, elevating its entire taste with a subtle hint of crustacean sweetness from the lobster and saltiness from the silver fish.

“Ong Lai” Noodle 4/5

The “Ong Lai” Noodle comes in a bowl of sauteed tumeric noodle coated with generous amounts of curry cream sauce, and served with seafood and chopped abalone. The robust piquancy from the curry cream sauce is by no means an easy feat, while the addition of seafood and chopped abalone lends a refreshing zing to the edging spice flavour.

Pulut Hitam with Sesame Dumplings 4.2/5

One of the quintessential traditional desserts, the Pulut Hitam with Sesame Dumplings is a must-have to end off the meal on a sweet note. The black glutinous dessert soup is thick, gooey, and packed full of goodness. A gentle bite on the delicate skin of the dumpling oozes out a fragrant black sesame lava which is simply pure indulgence.

During Chinese New Year, most eateries and restaurants will be closed to celebrate the festive occasion. You will be glad to know that Baba Chews Bar and Eatery will be open throughout the Chinese New Year Holidays. From 16 to 18 February 2018, look forward to a sumptuous Chinese New Year a la carte buffet brunch ($42++ per adult) with a pantry laden with delights such as Seared Tuna Ahi, Prawn Shooters and Smoked Sea-Caught Fish from the chiller, a soup pot of Bakwan Kepiting, D.I.Y. Rojak and Kueh Pie Tee as well as desserts like the restaurant’s signature Nangka Cheesecake, Durian Mousse with Gula Melaka, Lychee Crème Brulee, Salted Egg Kaya Macaroons, assorted Chinese New Year cookies and many more.

Further complementing the spread in the pantry are the Baba Chew’s all-you-can-order menu of 12 mains, cooked a la minute. The season’s highlights include: Lobster Carrot Cake – stir-fried Singapore style carrot cake with lobster and silver fish; Conpoy Glutinous Rice – stir-fried glutinous rice with ‘lap mei’ (waxed meat), mushroom, dried shrimps and dried scallops; Chef Alvin’s special “Ong Lai” Noodles - sautéed turmeric noodles with curry cream sauce, served with seafood and chopped abalone; Tempura Niao Gow – fried glutinous rice cake drizzled with yuzu caramel sauce; just to list a few.
 
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.


Baba Chews Bar & Eatery
Hotel Indigo
86 East Coast Road
#01-01
Singapore 428788
Tel: +65 67232025
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
All Day Dining Menu: 11am - 1030pm
Dinner Menu: 630pm - 1030pm
Bar Bites Menu: 11am - 12am
Weekend Brunch: 1030am - 3pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 6 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Usher In The Lunar New Year With Prosperity Buffet At Ellenborough Market Cafe, Swissotel Merchant Court

Well known for their tantalising Asian and International delights, Ellenborough Market Cafe at Swissotel Merchant Court has launched a selection of Prosperity Set meals and buffet offerings featuring a variety of ambrosial festive creations to usher in the Lunar New Year. Available from 5 February to 2 March 2018, diners can choose from two different sets of menu at $788 per table of 10 or $988 per table of 10.

Salmon Yu Sheng 4.5/5

In all Lunar New Year reunion dinners, a must-have to start off the evening is the Salmon Yu Sheng to toss for abundance, prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead. Consisting of a vibrant medley of shredded vegetables and assorted toppings, the plating of the yusheng resemble that of a cute dog, specially created for the year of that particular Chinese zodiac. It is also served with generous servings of fresh salmon slices, sweet plum sauce and other condiments before the Lo Hei commences.

Double-Boiled Fish Maw with Dried Scallop and Cordycep Flower 4.2/5

The Double-Boiled Fish Maw with Dried Scallop and Cordycep Flower comes in a clear double boiled soup packed with a robust flavour of herbs essence, and a subtle hint of sweetness from the scallop.

Imperial Herbal Chicken 4.5/5

With a strong herbal aroma infused in the meat soaked in a rich herbal broth, the Imperial Herbal Chicken is a welcoming dish full of herbal goodness. While the meat boasts a tender texture that I really enjoyed, the infusion of the herbal essence makes it an even more comforting experience.

Hong Kong Style Fried Garoupa 4/5

The Hong Kong Style Fried Garoupa comes in a sizable whole portion, deep fried and doused in an appetising sweet-savoury sauce. Underneath is soft, tender meat with a melt-in-the-mouth consistency.

Wok-fried Asparagus with Pearl Scallop in XO Sauce 4.2/5

While I enjoyed the crunchy asparagus and capsicum cooked in XO sauce, the highlight of the Wok-fried Asparagus with Pearl Scallop in XO sauce is the fresh and juicy scallops executed excellently with a tinge of spice and sauce fragrance.

Braised Abalone and Sea Cucumber with Australian Broccoli 4.2/5

Thick slices of sea cucumber, juicy braised abalone and crunchy broccoli render the Braised Abalone and Sea Cucumber with Australian Broccoli an enjoyable dish, especially with the full-bodied savoury gravy that complement excellently with the rest of the ingredients.

Fried Glutinous Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf 4/5

For something more substantial, the Fried Glutinous Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf comes in a large portion of fragrant glutinous rice, with a mix of lup cheong or Chinese sausage with mushrooms.

Double-boiled “Hasma” with Red Dates 4.2/5

Bring the meal to a sweet finale with the Double-boiled “Hasma” with Red Dates, a nourishing bowl of double-boiled soup filled with nutrition value. The red dates lend a subtle sweetness to the double boiled soup, delivering a sweet touch to the dish.

With Lunar New Year just around the corner, diners can look forward to enojying a scrumptious dinner with loved ones at the Ellenborough Market Cafe, Swissotel Merchant Court Singapore which is a great choice for the reunion event. For enquiries and reservations, please call 62391847 / 1848 or email dining.merchantcourt@swissotel.com

Prosperity Buffet
Lunch (Mon – Sun, Eve of PH and PH): $68 per adult and $34 per child
Dinner (Mon – Sun, Eve of PH and PH): $80 per adult and $40 per child

Prosperity Set Menus
Menu A – $788 per table of 10
Menu B – $988 per table of 10

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.


Ellenborough Market Cafe
Swissotel Merchant Court
20 Merchant Court
Singapore 058281
Tel: +65 62391847/1848
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clark Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Buffet Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
Buffet Dinner: 630pm - 10pm
Buffet High Tea: 330pm - 530pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clark Quay MRT station: Take Exit E. Walk straight to Tew Chew Street. Cross the road and turn right. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Blanco Court Fried Fish Noodles @ Beach Road - It Has Moved To A New Place A Few Doors Away

The popular fried fish noodle soup, Blanco Court Fried Fish Noodles has moved a few doors down Beach Road from a small stall in a coffeeshop to its own space. The new place is more airy, cleaner and brighter now. It has also expanded its menu to over some cooked dishes such as prawn roll, fried chicken wing, prawn egg, fried spinach, deep fried batang fish and black bean fish head bitter gourd.

Fried Fish Soup 4.5/5

The signature here is their Fried Fish Soup ($5/$6) which comes in a cloudy soup base. Milk is probably added into the soup for the creamy texture but I am not complaining because of it has a good body and most important tasty. What makes it different from many other fish soup stall is the addition of Mani Cai or Ma Lee Cai (Sayur Manis) and fried egg in their soup.

We like the fried egg so much that we ordered extra serving for an addition of $2. The best way to enjoy it is to dunk them into the soup to soak up the delicious broth.

Fried Fish Soup with Yee Mee 4.2/5

Besides the Fried Fish Soup, it also offers steam fish soup, mixed fish soup, fish head soup on the menu. Customer has a choice of adding yee mee, thick noodle, thin noodle and mee sua with the fish soup too.

Blanco Court Fried Fish Noodles
325 Beach Road
Singapore 199559
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Nearest MRT: Nicoll Highway (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 930am - 8pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Nicoll Highway MRT station. Take Exit A. Take the overhead walkway to Beach Road. Turn left and walk down Beach Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hoon @ Dover Crescent - My Go To Place To Drink XO

If you are to ask around where to find the best XO Fish Head Bee Hoon, probably most of them will recommend you Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hoon at Dover Crescent. As the name suggested, it was originally at Holland Village before relocated to its current location.

From what I read, the story of how the XO Fish Head Bee Hoon comes about because a former XO salesman who enjoyed his brandy some much that he added a few dash into the creamy fish soup, accentuating the flavour. This is eventually adopted by the stall and become a popular dish with many others copying soon.

XO Fried Fish Meat Bee Hoon 4.2/5

The stall sells both the Fried Fish Meat Bee Hoon and Fried Fish Head Bee Hoon at $6 / $10 / $15 / $20 / $20-$25. For those prefer to have the XO added to the soup, it costs slightly more at $7 / $12 / $15 / $20 / $20-$25. While gourmand may prefer the fish head bee hoon, I actually prefer the fish meat for its meaty texture and ease of consumption. The highlight needless to say is the robust soup which was accentuated by adding brandy during the boiling stage to fragrant the flavour of the soup. With the addition of ginger that removes any fishy taste.

Frankly many people have said that the standard has dropped over the years. Even so, I think it is still a decent bowl of fish bee hoon soup. It is still my to go place if I am craving for a bowl of the warm and comforting fish soup.


Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hoon
Blk 19A Dover Crescent
#01-05
Singapore 131019
Tel: +65 67783691
Nearest MRT: Buona Vista (CC Line, EW Line), Dover (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 2pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Buona Vista MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Commonwealth Avenue West (Stop ID 11191). Take bus number 105, 106, 147 or 185. Alight 1 stop later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Dover MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Dover MRT staion (Stop ID 19039). Take bus 105, 106, 147 or 185. Alight 2 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

You Yi (友谊) Fish Soup @ Havelock Road Food Centre - Great Seafood Soup and Fried Fish That Tastes Like Fish & Chips

During a recent project, I went down to Havelock Road Food Centre to have lunch and I noticed a queue at You Yi (友谊) food stall that sells Seafood Soup, Fried Fish Soup, Mian Fen Guo and Ban Mian.

Seafood Soup 4/5

As I was alone,  I could not order everything to try. After browsing what is popular among the patrons around the tables in the hawker centre, I decided to order the Seafood Soup ($3.50) and a separate side of Fried Fish ($2). The seafood soup is the clear and sweet type, without the rich crustaceans flavour.  In the bowl of seafood soup, you can find tofu, fish ball, crab meat ball, prawn, fish, minced meat and tomato.

Fried Fish 3.5/5

The Fried Fish which I added on as a side dish is really chunky and it felt like having a mini version of fish and chip. Unfortunately this was pre-fried and it did not have that enjoyable crispiness. Even so, I could still bite in bits of crispy batter and I could only imagine how good this is when they were just out of the hot boiling oil.

If you are in the vicinity, I would recommend trying its seafood soup and fried fish. During my visit, I noticed many patrons were having their Tom Yam Ban Mian Soup. In my next visit, I shall give the tom yam ban mian soup a try.


You Yi (友谊) Fish Soup
Havelock Road Food Centre
Blk 22A/B Havelock Road
#01-30
Singapore 162022
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Bukit Ho Swee Link. At Bukut Ho Swee Link, turn left and walk to Jalan Bukit Ho Swee. At Jalan Bukit Ho Swee turn right and walk to Jalan Klink. Walk down Jalan Klink and look out for a staircase that goes down the slope. Take the staircase to the bottom. Turn right and follow the covered walkway to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]