Ba Guo Grilled Fish (巴国烤鱼) @ West Coast Plaza - New Outlet In The West Offering Grilled Fish & Sichuan Cuisine

It was with great delight to know that Ba Guo Grilled Fish (巴国烤鱼) has opened a new outlet near my home at West Coast Plaza. It prides itself on offering authentic Sichuan cuisine suitable for the Singaporean palate.

Fragrant Grilled Fish 4.5/5

Eight different types of grilled fish are available on the menu. I had the chance to try three of them - Fragrant Grilled Fish ($38.80), Fei Cui Yang Sheng Fish ($38.80) and Green Pepper Grilled Fish ($32.80). In addition, diners have the option of adding extra ingredients cooked in the broth.

Fei Cui Yang Sheng Fish 4/5

My favourite among the three grilled fishes is the Fragrant Grilled Fish. It has the right balance of mala and spicy for an aromatic finish. It even comes with clams and prawns in a delicious and drinkable broth. The fish itself is crispy on the exterior while moist and soft inside. If you can't take spicy food, you can go for the Fei Cui Yang Sheng Fish, the non-spicy version of the fragrant grilled fish.

Green Pepper Grilled Fish 3.8/5

I have tried Green Pepper Grilled Fish ($32.80) from another grilled fish restaurant, and the version here lacks the piquant from the peppercorn. In addition, it is too mild for my liking.

Hot & Spicy Crab 4/5

Besides the grilled fish, the restaurant also offers several Sichuan dishes on the menu. We tried a couple beginning with the Hot & Spicy Crab ($68). Besides the crab, there are potatoes, lotus roots and green pepper. It may look spicy, but I find it more aromatic than spicy, coming from the various Chinese spices used in the cooking.

Fragrant Pot Bullfrog 4.2/5

Another lovely dish is the Fragrant Pot Bullfrog ($42.80). It's pretty similar to the hot & spicy crab, except that the crab is replaced with the bullfrog. I enjoyed this more, and it was cheaper.

Handmade Tofu 4/5

There are also non-spicy dishes on the menu, such as Homemade Tofu ($16), which is so soft and silky smooth. It is blanked in a pool of delicious sauce comprising minced pork and greens.

Brown Sugar Ice Jelly 3.8/5

The Brown Sugar Ice Jelly ($3.50) is the perfect ending to the dinner. The cold and refreshing dessert helps to wash down all the richness.

Note: This is an invited tasting session.


Ba Guo Grilled Fish (巴国烤鱼)
West Coast Plaza
154 West Coast Road
#02-25
Singapore 127371
Tel: +65 89381288
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Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

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 10 minutes. [Map]

Chengdu (成都) Restaurant @ Amoy Street - Authentic Sichuan Restaurant Opened By Young Bankers

A new kid on the block at Amoy Street is Chengdu Restaurant taking over the now defunct K-Tower. The kitchen at the Sichuan restaurant offers a wide repertoire of fiery and authentic Sichuan cuisine.

Chilli Beef with Sweet Corn Base 2.8/5

I don't really get the idea behind the Chilli Beef with Sweet Corn Base ($24.80). The Sichuan-style spicy marinated and air dried is spicy but dry. The fried honeycomb corn pastry at the base although crunchy but it is dry. When you have two dry items put together, it is a bit hard to eat and swallow. In addition, the spicy beef cubes are too little to go with the huge corn pastry.

Pork Belly in Garlic 4.5/5

An interesting way of presenting the Pork Belly in Garlic ($12.80) with the pork belly and cucumber slices hanging on a rack. The way to eat it is to pick up the pork belly and cucumber slices, dip it into the aromatic red chilli and garlic sauce. This is actually very appetising and I enjoy how the cucumber lends a refreshing touch to it.

Spicy Grilled Frog Skewer 4/5

Making a dramatic entry is the Spicy Grilled Frog Skewer ($29.80). The dish is presented on a straw boat with dry ice. The bullfrogs are first marinated, flash fried over high tea and then brushed with some traditional Sichuan sauce. What I like about the dish is the aromatic spices that complements the tender and juicy meat.

Beef with Pickles in Sour Soup 4.5/5

If you like the kick of mala and spiciness, then you will like the Beef with Pickles in Sour Soup ($25.80). The depth of the broth, is made from 12 different types of vegetables. The amount of peppercorn and chilli in the sour soup will set you on fire as you enjoy the thinly slices of tender beef. This is really shiok.

Chengdu 12 Flavours Chicken (Beggar Chicken) 4.2/5

The Chengdu 12 Flavour Chicken or Beggar Chicken ($36.80) is actually covered in clay and baked over charcoal fire in a special earthernware jar. This allows the flavours of the marination to permeate the tender chicken. It is then served with 12 kinds of sauces. I thought the chicken itself is already very flavourful, it didn't really need the sauces. Limited quantities are available each day and it needs to be pre-order one day in advance.

Fish with Green Pepper Soup 4.2/5

Quite similar to having hot pot, the Fish with Green Pepper Soup ($26.80/$35.80) comes in a piping hot rectangular pot in which the soup is consists of green pepper, millet, garlic, fermented black beans that has been stir fried until fragrant before adding into the superior soup stock. Fish slices from the daily live stock that is delivered daily is added into the soup to cook, ensuring freshness and tenderness of the fish meat.

Pumpkin Pancake 4/5

Brown Sugar Glutinous Rice Stick 4/5

For desserts, we tried the Pumpkin Pancake ($6.80) and Brown Sugar Glutinous Rice Stick ($6.80). For the pumpkin pancake, it has a delightful chewy texture that comes with sweet pumpkin paste. As for the glutinous rice stick, it reminds me of the "Kee Chang" whereby the alkaline rice dumpling is dip with sugar. Over here you dip the glutinous rice with the brown sugar sauce.

Giant Sesame Ball 3.5/5

Needing great skill to crisp fried it to the gigantic sphere shape is the Giant Sesame Ball ($16.80). While I enjoyed its crispiness, I felt its a bit too airy for a substantial bite to complete the whole enjoyment.

Chengdu Restaurant is opened by 2 younger bankers Stella Wang and Ma Jie, quitting the finance sector to pursue their passion in the F&B industry. It is a very tough industry and Sichuan cuisine is not as popular compared to the other cuisine in Singapore. Hopefully they have the perseverance to see it through. I wish them all the best.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Chengdu Restaurant
74 Amoy Street
Singapore 09893
Tel: +65 62219928
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Turn left and walk down Telok Ayer Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left onto Telok Ayer Street. Walk down Telok Ayer Road. Turn right onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes.  [Map]

Yan Restauant (宴) @ National Gallery Singapore - Introduces Prosperity Soup Feast

Yan Restaurant at National Gallery Singapore is introducing the Prosperity Soup Feast for a limited period from 19 September 2016 to 31 October 2016. A total of 25 double boiled soups are prepared using time-honoured recipes. Every week the menu will feature 5 of the soups and rotating them weekly during the promotion period.

Double Boiled Frog with Conpoy and Winter Melon 4.5/5

If you have been under the weather and feeling heaty, the Doubled Boiled Frog with Conpoy and Winter Melon will be the perfect soup to clear the body heatiness. The light and refreshing was not only comforting, it comes with a homely flavour that felt like mother's cooking.

Doubled Boiled Hashima with Huang Qi and Dang Shen 3.8/5

For those ladies that want a nice complexion, the Doubled Boiled Hashima with Huang Qi and Dang Shen will help to improves the skin complexion for a radiant glow.

Doubled Boiled Sea Whelk and Black Garlic 4/5

With the outbreak of Zika in Singapore, you probably want to strengthen your immune system and Yan Restaurant has the right soup in the Doubled Boiled Sea Whelk and Black Garlic, using the medical properties of the black garlic and wolfberries.

Doubled Boiled Duck with Parsley and Dried Orange Peel 4.2/5

Having a cold? The Doubled Boiled Duck with Parsley and Dried Orange Peel is supposed to help prevent cold. Besides the medical benefit and robust soup, what I enjoyed most is tender roasted duck that comes with the soup.

Double Boiled Chinese Cabbage with Yunnan Ham 3.8/5

When I knew that the Double Boiled Chinese Cabbage with Yunnan Ham can help to nourishes the lungs and boosts energy, I thought this is the right soup me as I have asthma and Singapore is starting to experience the haze from the forest fire in Indonesia. I thought the bitterness of the Chinese cabbage threw the balance of the soup a little off or it will be an even better dish.

The soups are priced at $13.80 each, and they all comes with a bowl of rice. It is not a bowl of ordinary rice. The fragrant bowl of rice is cooked in an imperial stock and comes with crispy rice.  It has both flavour and texture.

Signature Roasted Crispy Suckling Pig Served 3 Ways

Not to be missed at Yan Restaurant is some of the mainstay dishes such as the Signature Roasted Crispy Suckling Pig ($124 for half, $248 for whole) served in 3 ways. First is to enjoy the crispiness of the crackling skin paired with the steamed pancake, cucumber and scallion.

Carved Shoulder 4.5/5

The second way of enjoying the suckling pig is the Carved Shoulder. If you have enjoyed the crispy skin, this is like 2 in 1. You get to have both the succulent meat as well as the crispy skin.

Oven Baked Fillet with Lemongrass 4/5

Last but not least, we have the Oven Baked Fillet with Lemongrass. I wasn't expecting that little fellow has so much meat. It felt like have Japanese yakitori.

Steamed Thousand Layer Beancurd 4.2/5

We were all so impressed with the knife skill when the Steamed Thousand Layer Beancurd with Dice Honey Glazed Pork, Conpoy, Mushroom and Ginko Nuts. The silky smooth beancurd was complemented by the beautiful sauce and I enjoyed the contrast of textures from the diced pork, conpoy, mushroom and ginko nuts.

Chilled Mango Cream Topped with Vanilla Ice Cream and Oats 4.5/5

Wrapping up our dinner is the Chilled Mango Cream. It is served in a coconut husk and topped with vanilla ice cream and oats for the extra crunch. The bonus is that you can even have the coconut flesh after cleaning up the chilled mango cream and ice cream.

Kindly be reminder that the Prosperity Soup Feast is run on a rotational basis, with a minimum of 5 different soups available daily. If you want to try any specific soup out of the 25 soups, guests is welcome to pre-order at least a day in advance. Besides the limited period of the prosperity soup feast, Yan Restauant also offers a omakasa-style dining experience when Chef Chan and his team will design a customized menu using the best seasonal produce.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yan Restauant (宴)
National Gallery Singapore
1 St Andrew's Road
#05-02
Singapore 178957
Tel: +65 63845585
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Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit D. Turn left and walk down North Bridge Road. Turn left onto Coleman Street. Walk down Coleman Street. Walk to destination. Journey time around 5 minutes. [Map]