Saturday, January 6, 2018

The Chinese Kitchen (厨神私房菜) @ Cavan Road (Lavender) - Comfort Traditional Chinese Dishes With A Touch Of Fineness

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Newly opened in Lavender is The Chinese Kitchen (厨神私房菜), opened by local renowned Chef Austen Ong, the former president of society of Chinese cuisine Chef (Singapore). He is also dubbed the 厨神 (God of the Kitchen) by the culinary industry, probably from his numerous achievement such as winning the Gold medalist of Asian Cuisine in the 8th FHA International Salon Culinaire, Most Creative award in the 4th World Championship of Chinese Cuisine and Champion of Taipei's World Culinary Contest in both 2005 and 2007.

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Organic Okra with Pickle Chilli 4.5/5

We started with some light bites for our dinner. First, we tried the Organic Okra with Pickle Chilli ($6). The okra or ladyfinger has a nice crunchy texture without that slimy texture. The star of the dish is actually the pickle chilli, it complemented the okra excellently. The pickle chilli is so good that I could not resist pairing it with other ingredients.

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Pork Trotter Jelly, Passion Fruit Infused Cucumber 4/5

Given a touch of exquisite to a traditional dish is the Pork Trotter Jelly with Passion Fruit Infused Cucumber ($8). A Teochew delicacy which is not commonly available on the restaurant's menu due to the painstaking process of making it. The pork trotter jelly encased in a soft gelatine cubes with savoury pork shreds is accompanied with crisp chilled cucumber slice.

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"Ma La" Baby Squids and Eryngii Mushroom 3.8/5

From the description of the dish, I thought the "Ma La" Baby Squids and Eryngii Mushroom ($9) would be very spicy but it turned out rather sweet. Putting that aside, the deep fried baby squid is very crispy and the eryngii mushroom provides the additional crunch for a multi-textural enjoyment.

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Signature Old Fifty Collagen Broth, Ocean Catch 4.5/5

I was wondering why the next dish is named Signature Old Fifty Collagen Broth with Ocean Catch ($38 for 2-3pax/ $55 for 4-6pax)? It was explained that the broth is using the cooking style of the 50s, in which the pot of soup is simmered over charcoal for 10 hours. The collagen rich broth is a result of cooking the soup base with chicken, duck, pork and fish skin. Diners can choice from 3 different types of fishes - Ocean Catch, Wild Caught and Snapper. Not only that, you can have the soup in its original flavour, miso or spicy. This is definitely one of the best order dish here.

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Charcoal Grilled Orange Sea Perch, Sea Salt & Spices 4.2/5

Not commonly used in modern Chinese cuisine is charcoal grilling. One of such dishes on the menu is the Charcoal Grilled Orange Sea Perch with Sea Salt & Spices ($58). I like how the grilling manages to locked in the moisture and succulent meat. The fish meat is best pair with the unique blend of sauces that brings out its freshness.

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Braised La La "Ying Yang" Noodle 3.5/5

The Braised La La "Ying Yang" Noodle ($14) is another interesting item on the menu whereby Chef Austen uses two different type of noodles - beehoon and dangmyeon, giving the dish a contrasting textures, soaking up the sweet broth from the seafood. However, the kitchen was a bit heavy with the salt during my visit.

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Charcoal Grilled Banana, Sea Salt, Caramel, Ice Cream 4/5

For dessert, is another item from the charcoal grill, Charcoal Grilled Banana, Sea Salt, Caramel, Ice Cream ($4.50). The different components on the plate seems rather isolated but when you have them together, a pleasant harmony sings in the mouth.

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After trying the food by Chef Austen, my takeaway is that he has given a touch of fineness to dishes tat is close to our heart, without losing its roots of traditional Chinese cuisine. More importantly, the pricing is very reasonable.

Note: This is an invited tasting. 


The Chinese Kitchen (厨神私房菜)
20 Cavan Road
Singapore 209861
Tel: +65 66126024
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Lavender (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Tue, Thu-Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
(Closed on Wed)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Horne Road. Turn left and walk down Horne Road. Turn right onto Cavan Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Friday, January 5, 2018

Foxhole Cafe @ The Midtown Hougang – Cozy Hideout With Quality All-Day Brunch fare And Coffee From The Pourover Bar

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Nestled within the Hougang residences at The Midtown, previously known as Hougang Plaza, The Foxhole Cafe occupies a double storey unit, greeting customers with the smell of coffee from the espresso bar and a dessert display counter filled with freshly baked goods on the first storey. Decor is kept simple for the main seating area tucked away on the second storey that can accommodate up to 30 people, with minimalistic furnishings, an eye-catching hand-painted galaxy unicorn mural on one side of the wall, and a huge floor-to-ceiling window that allows ample lighting into the space for those instagrammable shots.

In collaboration with The Pourover Bar, The Foxhole Cafe serves a selection of quality filtered coffees brewed to perfection with specialty beans from Melbourne, Australia. Known for its wide selection of internationally championed single origin Ninety Plus specialty coffee beans, there is little wonder why The Pourover Bar has garnered a loyal following since its establishment in 2016. Furthermore, The Foxhole Cafe has also expanded its menu over the year, from a limited selection of light bites and cakes, to a larger variety of more substantial mains, such as burgers, pastas and udon bowls. Now you can satisfy your caffeine fix with quality coffee, teas from The 1872 Clipper Tea Co., as well as a wider selection of delectable yet instagrammable food offerings all under one roof.

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Croissant Egg Benedict and Black Pepper Smoked Salmon 4/5

The Croissant Egg Benedict and Black Pepper Smoked Salmon ($15.90) features a large croissant that boasts a flaky crispy exterior and buttery softer insides, with a generous serving of smoked salmon slices sandwiched in between, garnished with specks of black pepper that present a balance of saltiness and peppery taste. Slice into the egg benedict and let the creamy yellow soak up the rest of the ingredients, imparting a subtle sweetness to the dish and giving the fillings more textural contrast against the silky smoked salmon and flaky croissant.

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Signature Foxhole Hawaiian Beef Burger with Truffle Chips 4/5

The Signature Foxhole Hawaiian Beef Burger with Truffle Chips ($15.90) comes in a huge beef patty, pineapple slice, melted cheese and lettuce sandwiched in between soft burger buns. The beef done medium rare, boasts a soft texture and is well seasoned with salt and pepper, while the addition of the pineapple slice imparts a burst of refreshing juiciness and sweetness to the burger. The side of truffle chips boasts a subtle hint of truffle, while contributing an additional crunch to the dish.

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Honey Garlic Prawn Udon Bowl 4.2/5

The Honey Garlic Prawn Udon Bowl ($16.90) features a bowl of thick udon noodles done al dente, and a colourful array of different ingredients carefully arranged on top, comprising of sweet corn, carrots, mushrooms, tofu and green peas. The highlight of the dish - honey glazed garlic prawns boast a perfect sweet-savoury balance as you bite into those juicy prawns. Slice into the onsen egg and let the runny yellow coat the rest of the ingredients.

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Yakult Lover 3.8/5

Relive your childhood dreams with the Yakult Lover ($6.90) which is the signature drink of the cafe that seems to have been created for the social media. It comes in an instagrammable upsized Yakult bottle filled with yakult flavoured soda and a small mason jar served on a wooden tray. Although the familiar taste of the probiotic yoghurt drink is a refreshingly unique combination with the soda, the fizzy bubbly taste of the latter might be too overwhelming at some points. The drink further eased to a more welcoming balance as the ice melted towards the ends.

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The Foxhole Cafe is the perfect cozy spot to provide a calming respite and chill over pastries and good coffee while people watching through the tall windows overlooking the grass field outside. With an established fan base of coffee lovers for the quality coffee from The Pourover Bar and introduction of a wider variety of quality food pegged at affordable prices, it is a noteworthy place that continuously set expectations and is definitely one not to be missed, especially if you're staying near the Hougang area.

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.


Foxhole Cafe
The Midtown at Hougang
1189 Upper Serangoon Road
#01-18
Singapore 534785
Tel: +65 63855587
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Hougang (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Thu: 11am - 9pm
Sat: 9am - 10pm
Sun: 9am - 9pm
(Closed on Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Hougang MRT Station. Take Exit B. Walk towards Hougang Central road. Continue to block 805. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]