SMOR @ One Raffles Place

Smor located at the basement of One Raffles Place is Singapore's first Scandinavian Deli to specialise in Scandinavian open-faced sandwiches. I guess partly due to their humble fit out, this place has been overshadowed by its neighbours which are much bigger and popular brands such as Paris Baguette, Umi Sushi, Swiss Bake etc. I would have missed out this superb place if not for kind invitation from Traveen and Tarun, founders of Smor.

The menu is rather straight forward, consisting of three sections, Cold, Hot and Vegetarian. The bread for each option varies from freshly baked rye, multigrain, chai seed to brioche bread. I really like the organic look and feel of their sandwiches, simple and clean.

Customer has a choice of Light ($6.90) for a choice of one sandwich, Regular ($12.90) for 2 sandwiches and Viking ($17.90) for 3 sandwiches respectively. All come with a side salad. A special Scandinavian breakfast set ($4.90) is also available that comes with dark rye topped with  ham & cheese, potato and bananas, served with coffee/tea. There are also set meals that come with stew/soup, all diary free.

Shrimp Sandwich 4.2/5

I particularly like the Shrimp Sandwich a lot. A heap of hand peeled Norwegian shrimps, lightly coated with lemon mayonnaise was piled on a thin crispy Chai Toast. Although garnished with just a sprinkle of chives and a slice of lemon wedge, it was somehow aesthetically pleasing to me. I was amazed at how these shrimps can remain so crunchy and succulent. Every bite of the tiny shrimps releases a burst of sweetness with a tinge of savoriness to tease my taste buds. The tangy lemon mayonnaise lends its creaminess, like butter on a crispy toast, which make this simple sandwich extremely palatable. I don't think I could get this from anywhere else.

Salmon Sandiwch 3.8/5

The Salmon Sandwich is made using Smoked Norwegian Salmon. You can indeed feel the difference in its texture. It is still moist with a level of translucency.

Beef Sandwich 4.5/5

I can't wait to introduce you their Beef Sandwich, consisting of Swedish herb roasted sirloin layered with caramalized and cheesy onions with crisp beetroot chips. The taste is amazing! I love how the caramelised onions pairs perfectly with the sirloin and the beetroot chips which simply adds another layer to the taste. Who would think of using beetroot chips as part of a beef sandwich? Best of all, they ain't pre-packed chips but sliced and toasted out from a fresh beetroot. You can ask for the sirloin to be medium rare if you want to. Though mine was well done, it was still as tender. One look and you know that the meat is fresh unlike those frozen beef offered by those typical chain sandwich places. This is so value for money.

Kale & Mushroom Sandwich 4/5

Kale & Mushroom Sandwich comes with button mushroom. kale, roasted almonds dressed with spicy olive oil and melted provolone. Not the usual lettuce you get but Kale, one of the healthiest vegetables around, yet not easily found in regular supermarkets. I'm surprised that such a small setup can offer such a premium sandwich. To keep the recipe authentic, only a bit of spice has been added to cater to the local love for spicy food. Brioche is used for this sandwich. Its buttery taste goes very well with the greens.

For beverages, they have a selection of tea, coffee as well as Scandinavian Specialties. Do give their Scandinavian beverage a try. I had their Scandinavian Nektar. Made with real crushed berries and sparkling lemonade, I felt it freshened up my senses the natural way.

What I adore about independent setup is that they usually have great stories to share. Similar to farm-to-tables setup, Traveen hopes that customers can benefit from the goodness of eating wholesome and organic food like how he does. Other than that, one of Traveen's motivations behind Smor is also to contribute his part to the society. Smor gives chances to ex-convicts and senior citizens to work in its kitchen. He is not into making huge profit but simply to breakeven. Hearing this from a former Sales Director, APAC in Bloomberg for 12 years, it is something quite remarkable. I'm sure every cent doesn't come easy when all the ingredients are imported from the Scandinavian regions and delivered to their doorsteps weekly. It is also heart-warming to know that setting up this business brought him and his mum closer as his mum sat him through all the recipes to ensure the authenticity of his offerings.

I will definitely be back with more friends to try the rest of the sandwiches on the menu. Do drop by and support them as well. F&B is a tough business, especially for such a niche concept like Smor. To survive, they really need customers who appreciate their food and concept.

Photography and Written 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.


SMOR
One Raffles Place
1 Raffles Place
#B1-23
Singapore 048616
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smor.sg
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8am - 8pm
Sat: 9am - 4pm
(Closed on Sun)

Directions: 
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Man Fu Yuan Chinese New Year 2015

Man Fu Yuan at Intercontinental Hotel Singapore, is one of Singapore's top Chinese sestaurants. Diners are drawn not just to its classic Cantonese cuisine but also to their impeccable service and welcoming dining environment. And tonight, I'm here to experience a Chinese New Year Lo Hei dinner at Man Fu Yuan, ushering in the Year of the Goat with a lavish spread.

Introducing the Man Fu Yuan's Salmon & Japanese Hokkigai Yu Sheng with Ponzu Shoyu ($98++ small, $148++ Large), perhaps one of the biggest or even the biggest Yu Sheng that you may ever encounter. No more wasteful spillage of Yu Sheng as the revolving "plate" itself is now big enough to hold them all. The usual crispy Golden Pillows have been replaced by the 'gold plated' cereal flakes resulting in shimmering Yu Sheng. I thought that was beautiful. I was so glad that the Yu Sheng was not inundated with the ponzu shoyu sauce which happen often but just faintly coated by it. Every bite was refreshing with extra crunchiness lent by the Japanese Hokkigai. It was so moreish that I had it throughout the evening, an add-on to the subsequent dishes.

Man Fu Yuan's Deluxe Treasures Pot ($428 ++ for 5 paxs) is filled to the brim with 23 premium ingredients such as whole baby abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, goose web, scallops, and preserved meat sausage, all braised in a flavourful broth. It comes in an exclusively designed claypot as a collectible for the diners.

Double Boiled "Fu Zhou" Buddha Jumps over the Wall ($98++ per pax) is another delicacy carrying ingredients like whole abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, dried scallops, deer tendon and panax ginseng. Cooked over low heat for 48 hours, you can imagine how flavourful and nutritious the broth can be. Talking about collagen, you must drink up every single drop of the broth!

The luxurious Chinese New Year feast also including the following dishes that I have tried,

Double Boiled Fish Maw, Bamboo Shoot, Chinese Cabbage with Dumpling in Superior Stock ($365++ for 5 pax) The huge dumpling was packed with prawns, with a relatively light tasting broth. I thought this is quite a nice change after the dishes with a much heavier taste.

Braised Australian Green Lip Abalone and Chinese Mushroom with Seasonal Vegetables ($128++ per pax). The abalone was braised in abalone sauce for 48 hours, resulting in a rather rich and dense texture. I particularly like the sea cucumber that comes with it, it was so soft and tender that it almost melted in my mouth.

Braised Beef Brisket with Radish. The brisket cubes were extremely tender, every bite was almost effortless.

Steamed Red Garoupa in Homemade Black Bean Sauce. Fish has always been my favourite and this did not disappoint. It was light and tender with a subtle sweetness that was being teased out by the homemade black bean sauce. What I like about homemade sauce is that I can taste the robustness of it without the unpleasant aftertaste of an artificial flavouring.

French Lobster Salad on Rock Melon with Sautéed Wagyu Beef, African Abalone and Sake Crab Meat. This cold midway appetiser came at the right time. Like a wisp of fresh, cool air in Summer. It cleared my palate, giving it another round of stimulation in preparation of what's going to come next, Barbecued Whole Suckling Pig with Wok-fried Glutinous Rice ($488++). The golden brown caramelised skin was almost fat free, and a gentle thug released it from its meat. Ever bite sent off a satisfying 'crack'. I couldn't believe that I could still stomach the entire thing after all the dishes above. I was told that the team just makes it better and better as the years go by, as they slowly master the essence of it. The Wok-fried Glutinous Rice which was loaded with cubes of preserved meat was equally yummy and pair very well with the suckling pig.

Lastly the finale, Double Boiled Bird's Nest in Whole Coconut. I inhaled deeply, allowing my senses to take in the sweet smelling, milky scent of the warm coconut that perfumed the room. This is the perfect dessert to end this cold evening. It is light and soothing to my filled appetite. Along side the Bird's Nest were some samples of their Golden Egg Custard Pastry ($38+ per jar), and their new Koi Fish Nian Gao ($56+) of mango and pineapple flavours. Something new and interesting to add on to your CNY stocks for home visits.

If you prefer to stay in to celebrate with your family, you may want to check out Man Fu Yuan's Dine-at-home takeaway delicacies, meant for you to have a taste of their creations at the comfort of your own home. Find out more at their website.

Written 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. 
Photo Credit: InterContinental Singapore


Man Fu Yuan
InterContinental Hotel Singapore
Level 2
80 Middle Road
Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 68251008
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ICSingapore
Website: http://www.intercontinental.com/singapore
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station: Take Exit C. Cut through Bugis Junction. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]