We have come to the end of the year and it is another delicious year with lots of food. Year 2018 has been a year where we saw the boom of bubble tea and the emerge of private home dining scene. I will take this opportunity to do a wrap up for 2018, recapping the top ten places I have dined in 2018.
Tinoq Private Dining
I have the privileged to have a group of like-minded foodies who have been my greatest companions to check out a number of private home dinning places that have sprung up in recent time. One of them is Tinoq Private Dining by celebrity make-up artist, Tinoq Russell Goh. Tinoq is my opinion is my best private dining experience offering the full package. He i a good cook, preparing everything very scratch, as well as a entertaining host.
Mustard Seed Pop Up
Another private dining spot that make into my best eat for 2018 is Mustard Seed Pop Up. It is a Kaiseki style private home dining by Chef Ming Kiat. The food at most private home dining places are more homely style while Mustard Seed offers a more refine and restaurant style. I also like the chef's take of incorporating local ingredients into his kaiseki style dining.
Lucky House Cantonese Private Kitchen
Lucky House Cantonese Private Kitchen is probably the hottest private home dining spot in Singapore now. I heard that it is fully booked until October 2019. That is 10 months waiting list, probably longer than any other Michelin starred restaurants. I am lucky to score two seating in 2018 at Chef Sam Wong's home before he gets some popular that it is impossible to get a reservation. What I enjoyed here it is rustic cooking using natural seasoning, charcoal cooking, allowing the fresh ingredients to shine.
The Spot
One of the newest restaurant in 2018, The Spot at Marina One impresses me with the creative and mastery in fusing modern European cuisine with Southeast Asian ingredients by Chef Lee Boon Seng. And what makes me look forward to in each dish, is the unique sauce that is paired with the food. It's like embarking a discovery tour on the different type of sauces he will be using to pair with the mains.
Origin Grill
It has been a while since I have a good piece of steak, I am lucky enough to be able to check out Origin Grill at Shangri La Singapore, another new restaurant in 2018. Over here, I was able to indulge in the priced meat such as the John Stone Grass-fed Dry-aged for 35 days, Snow-aged Full Blood Wagyu A4 and Shiro Kin Full Blood Wagyu.
The Chinese Kitchen (厨神私房菜)
Probably under the radar is The Chinese Kitchen (厨神私房菜) in Lavender. It is opened by 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. The food here is reasonable priced, comfort traditional dishes with a touch of fineness.
Chui Huay Lim Teochew Restaurant
Being a Teochew, I always have a soft spot for good Teochew Cuisine. Chui Huay Lim Teochew Restaurant makes it into the list because it is a new discovery for 2018. I have not known of its existence until I visited back in September 2018. It is located inside the historical 170-year-old Chui Huay Lim Club at Keng Lee Road, in the Newton area. The restaurant under Jumbo Group has been around for 7 years.
Folklore
I have lost count the number of times I have visited Folklore at Destination Singapore. I never get tired of the food here. There is always something new on the menu. Chef Damian seems to have a magic hat where he will consistently put on the menu heritage dishes that is lost or rarely served in restaurant anymore.
L32 Geylang Handmade Noodles
There are also a couple of hawker stalls that make it into my best eat in 2018. One of them is L32 Geylang Handmade Noodles at Geylang Road. In 2018, I managed to visit a number of ban mian stalls but this stall stood out for me as it gets the ticks for the noodle, soup and chilli. It has everything that I am looking for in a bowl of good ban mian.
Charlie's Peranakan Food
My last spot in the list is reserved for Charlie's Peranakan Food at Golden Mile Food Centre. Charlie is a baba chef who comes out of retirement after 8 years to open the stall selling Peranakan food. I am glad that I have the chance to try his cooking and dishes. Who says we can't find cheap and delicious Peranakan cuisine in the hawker centre.
With this I present to you my Best Eat In 2018. I am also like to take this opportunity to thank all my readers and followers for the supports all this years. Last but at least, wishing everyone a wonderful 2019.
