New Ubin Zhongshan Park @ Ramanda By Wyndham Singapore - Truly Singaporean Tze-Char In A Hotel Restaurant

New Ubin has opened its third outlet at Ramanda by Wyndham Singapore at Zhongshan Park. It is their first restaurant in a hotel and an interesting collaboration to bring a truly Singaporean Tze-Char experience into a hotel restaurant.

Foie Gras Egg Special 4/5

A decadent spin to our traditional Singaporean soft-boiled eggs breakfast is the Foie Gras Egg Special ($10.50). The soft-boiled eggs come with pan-seared foie gras with a sprinkle of truffle salt. It is a hearty and comforting atas breakfast to start the day.

Double-Fried Eggplant 4.5/5

The Double-Fried Eggplant will be enjoyed by both young and old. They are thinly sliced and double fried to a delightful crisp coated in a savoury sweet sauce. Its really addictive and you probably won't know that you are eating eggplant.

Pork Jowl 4/5

While I enjoyed the tender Crispy Pork Jowl ($14 for 125g), I thought it lacked the char and crispiness to make it tastier. Applaud to the special concocted sauce consists of miso and gula melaka, that matched the pork excellently. This dish is only at Chijmes and Zhongshan Park outlet.

Prawn Paste Chicken 3.5/5

The Prawn Paste Chicken ($18 for 6pc) is deep fried to a delightful crispy exterior. However it lacked the distinct prawn paste flavour which is slightly disappointing.

Chicken and Pork Satay 4.2/5

Chicken and Pork Satay ($6 for 5 sticks) is not your typical tze-char dish but it gives diner a taste of the local street food. From the uneven char on the surface of the grilled meat, it suggested that they are charcoal grilled with a hint of smokiness. Having it together with the accompanying peanut sauce for a full enjoyment. If pineapple is added to the peanut sauce, that will be even better.

Fish Roe with Petai & ambal Chinchalok 4.8/5 

I am glad that New Ubin offers the Fish Roe with Petal & Sambal Chinchalok on their menu. I have not seen it being served in other restaurants before. I simply adore the grainy deep fried fish roes with petai cooked in sambal and chinalok. It just blown me away how delicious it is. I am definitely ordering this when I return.

Hong Kong Kai Lan 2 Ways 3.5/5

Not really a new dish but he Hong Kong Kai Lan 2 ways ($15/$20/$25) provided the need greens for a balance diet.

Boss Bee Hoon 4.2/5

The Boss Bee Hoon ($12) may look unassuming but it is packed with robust flavours on top of that smokey wok-hei, demonstrating the chef's wok skill while not burning the beehoon.

Hokkien Mee 4.5/5

I was rather surprised New Ubin serves an awesome plate of Hokkien Mee ($15/$30). Their version is the wet type. The noodles are cooked until it absorbed the robust broth. Most important, it even comes with pork lard! That itself is a winner.

New Ubin is probably the very first Tze-char restaurant to bring the concept of premium beef to the table. It was a hit and it soon became their signature. We tried both the USDA Black Angus Rib-Eye ($16 per 100g) and "Zabuton" Cut Mishima Reserve "Ultra" US Full Blood Wagyu ($66 for 300g). It is served together with caramelised onions, potato wedges, house-smoked sea salt flakes and heart attack fried rice. The beef itself is already beautiful on its own, hence it didn't need any sauce for me. I prefer to have it in its nature flavour.

Double Heart AttacK Fried Rice 4.2/5

Not to forget the Heart Attack Fried Rice that comes with the USDA Black Angus Rib-Eye. Unfortunately you can't order the heart attack fried rice on the ala carte menu, it only comes with the beef. This is because the fried rice if fried using the beef's fats. It is also served with a sunny-side up egg. The regulars will know of the off menu Double Heart Attack Fried Rice which comes with 2 sunny-side up eggs instead.

Classic Chilli Crab 4.2/5

Singaporean loves their crabs, especially the Classic Chilli Crab ($48/500g, $68/800g, $98/1kg). Remember to order some Deep Fried Mantou ($4 for 3pc) to wipe up the chilli crab sauce. I like the fact that the sauce is not too sweet and it still has that fiery spicy kick.

Garlic Baked Crab 4.2/5

Besides the classic chilli crab, the crab is available in black pepper, white pepper, salted egg and garlic baked. All the different cooking method are commonly available in Singapore but the Garlic Baked Crab is something new to me. Unlike the rest which are saucy, this is like a dry version for the diners that like the aroma of garlic.

Banana Gula Melaka 4/5

Dessert wise, we tried the Banana Gula Melaka ($10). The banana slices caramelised in gula melaka and served with house-made coconut ice cream. Simple it may be but it is an enjoyable dessert to end the dinner on a sweet note.

Kaya on Toast Baguette 4.5/5

I was a bit sceptical to know that the Kaya on Toast Baguette ($8 for 5pc) is on the dessert menu. Isn't kaya and toast a local favourite breakfast but why is it on the dessert menu? Putting that aside, I strongly recommend you to order this even when you are already full. Do save some space for the fragrant homemade kaya and French butter. I promise you, you won’t regret it.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


New Ubin Zhongshan Park
Ramanda By Wyndham Singapore
16 Ah Hood Road
Singapore 329982
Tel: +65 97406870
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Website
Nearest MRT: Novena (NS Line),Toa Payoh (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Fri-Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 530pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Irrawaddy Road. Walk towards Ren Ci Community Hospital direction along Irrawaddy Road. Turn onto Shan Road and walk to the end. At the end of the Shan Road, cross Balestier Road to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Toa Payoh bus interchange (Stop ID 52009). Take bus number 139 and 145. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop at Toa Payoh MRT station along Toa Payoh Lorong 2 (Stop ID 52189). Take bus 56, 105 or 153. Alight 1 stop later. Cross the canal. Cut through the cluster of HDB flats and carpark towards block 103 onto Ah Hood Road. Continue on Ah Hood Road to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Stranger's Reunion @ Kampong Bahru - Redefining Cafe Dining With New All-Day Brunch Menu

Known for its all-day brunches and some of the best coffee in town since 2012, Stranger's Reunion has recently rolled out a new all-day brunch menu featuring delicious and thoughtfully-crafted creations with quality and upcycled ingredients, alongside brunch classics to cater to diners' discerning palates.

This laid back chic cafe helmed by award-winning barista champions is also a top pick for a great dining experience coupled with a well-made cuppa. While the perennial favourites remain on the menu, the Stranger's team put more thought into the ingredients used and experimented with more inventive cooking methods to bring more conscious and refined dishes to the table, different from the usual brunch fare. Most dishes reveal skill, inventiveness and sophistication more often showcased in fine dining establishments. We had the opportunity to try some of their exciting new offerings.

Snapper Ceviche 4/5

Kick off the brunch date with a light and refreshing Snapper Ceviche ($13.90) which features a combination of firm and juicy chunks of snapper cured in lime juice, creamy avocado, aromatic cilantro, as well as red onions and shaved fennel for sweetness and bite.

Salmon Skin Chips 3.8/5

Utilising salmon cutoffs and trimmings from the cafe's homemade coffee smoked salmon, the Salmon Skin Chips ($11.90) is a moreish appetiser with its crispy deep fried salmon skin studded with sesame aioli, avocado coulis and coffee-smoked salmon puree to add a delightful combination of nutty, salty, sweet and sour flavours to the chips.

Roasted Cauliflower Salad 4.2/5

One of my favourite is the Roasted Cauliflower Salad ($14.50). With cauliflower prepared in two ways - expertly charred to yield caramelised florets with deep hazelnut notes, and pickled in rice wine vinegar infused with black pepper and bay leaves. Both renditions are tossed in a luscious and rich home-made pine nut labneh, topped with pickled sweet and sour grapes, juicy promegranate, toasted pine nuts, mint leaves and finished off in a homemade honey mustard. Taking inspiration from the middle-eastern cuisine, this unique dish presents a well-balanced mix of flavours and textures.

Pan Roasted Chicken Breast 4.2/5

The Pan Roasted Chicken Breast ($21.90) boasts a tender and succulent slab of chicken breast doused in house-made jerk sauce paired with sweet corn, red peppers and baked sweet potatoes accentuated with fresh mint and thyme. While chicken breast meat can be tough and dry due to less fats within, this version was executed well, with the complimenting sauce and toppings to add flavour to the meat.

Pork and Broccoli 4.5/5

The Pork and Broccoli ($21.90) is also favourite pick for its extremely tender meat. The typically under-used pork collar ends are sous-vide till tender then roasted. It is complimented with a broccoli puree and burnt onion jus which adds a subtle sweetness to the dish.

Strangers Coffee Smoked Salmon on Toast 3.8/5

The Strangers Coffee Smoked Salmon on Toast ($18.90) is a brunch classic with a special twist. The house-cured salmon is cold smoked with spent coffee grounds and hickory wood to render the cafe's savoury and aromtic coffee-smoked salmon. An espresso infused creme fraiche is also slathered on toasted sourdough bread which amps up the coffee element of the dish.

Buttermilk Waffles wtih Hazelnut Praline & Almond Crumble 4.2/5

Round off the meal with their signature buttermilk waffles - The Buttermilk Waffles wtih Hazelnut Praline & Almond Crumble ($14.50) which is the latest addition to the cafe's menu of signature best-selling buttermilk waffles. Boasting crisp edges with fluffy insides, the waffle is crowned with hazelnut sauce, vanilla ice cream and a sprinkling of almond crumble and chocolate shavings. No doubt a great ending to the meal.

Photos and words 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.


Strangers' Reunion
33/35 Kampong Bahru Road
Singapore 169355
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Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 6pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Outram MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk towards Kampong Bahru Road. Walk down Kampong Bahru Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]