El Mero Mero @ Chijmes - The Go-To-Place For Mexican Gastronomy

El Mero Mero at Chijmes has reopened after undergoing refurbishment. With the re-opening, it has also refreshed the menu. The new menu showcases the traditional flavour combinations, as well as demonstrating the current Mexican culinary trends.

Guacamole 4/5

The Guacamole ($12/$18) is made a la minute. The smashed avocados are paired with diced tomatoes, banana shallots, serrano chilli pepper and coriander. Mixed them all up and have it together with the charred tostadas, for that extra texture to appreciate the guacamole.

Corn Sampler 4.5/5

The Corn Sampler ($15) comes with char-grilled organic baby corns, smoked huitlacoche donuts and chilli mayo. This is my first time to come across Huitlacoche. It is a type of fungus that grows on organic corn, also known as corn mushroom. It is made into a mix with egg, flour and milk, and shaped into a dough. Deep-fried upon order. This goes so well with the chilli mayo dipping sauce.

Hamachi and Coconut Ceviche 4.5/5

I am a fan of ceviche for its firework of flavours, and the Hamachi and Coconut Ceviche ($21) here did not disappoint. The fresh sashimi-grade hamachi is cut into cubes and marinated in aguachile, and then tossed in lime juice, hibiscus flower milk and avocado puree. What you get is a clean tasting dish with the chemistry of sweetness, spiciness and tanginess, igniting beautiful combustion of flavours.

Tostadas De Atun 4/5

The Tostadas De Atun ($17) comes with tuna tartar, avocado puree, chipotle mayo, matchstick tempura banana shallots on a crispy corn tortilla. There are a lot of textures at play, which is a delightful joy to eat.

Avocado Taco 3.5/5

What is Mexican food without tacos, right? Hence we also tried a couple of the tacos on the menu. We started with the Avocado Taco ($11). Nothing fancy, just freshly sliced and smashed avocado on a soft burnt corn tortilla, sprinkled with some smoked sea salt. Maybe I am too used to Tex Mex cuisine for its rich flavours, I find this a bit plain for my liking.

Carnitas Taco 4/5

The Carnitas Taco ($13) comes with caramelised pork neck and belly, paired with homemade pineapple sauce, pickled shallots, and purple cabbage on a soft corn tortilla. Compare to the avocado taco, the flavours are more vibrant. However, I find the pork a bit too thinly sliced for me to fully enjoy it.

Baja Fish 4.2/5

Among the three tacos, my favourite is the Baja Fish Taco ($14). The wheat tortilla is wrapped with tempura toothfish paired with pico de gallo and pickled shallots and chipotle mayo. The toothfish gives the taco a satisfying substantial bite complemented by the chipotle mayo, while the pickled shallots provided the needed acidity to bring everything together.

Tortilla Soup 4.2/5

The Tortilla Soup ($14) is a classic Mexican dish whereby household will use leftover tortillas to make this soup instead of throwing them away. Over at El Mero Mero, to re-interpret the dish, fresh tortillas are dehydrated and flamed. It is then blended with roasted tomatoes, garlic, onion and guajillo chilli pepper. Lastly, it is served with deep-fried tortilla strips and diced avocado and garnished with crema. It is a very hearty and comforting pot of soup.

Gordita 4.2/5

The Gordita ($28) is another homely and comforting dish that I enjoyed, with a generous serving of butter sauteed heirloom vegetables. The gordita reminds me of the local alkaline dumpling brightened by the salsa roja.

El Mero Mero Fajita 4.2/5

The El Mero Mero Fajita ($38) uses the oyster blade cut of the beef. It is cooked beautifully to a delightful tender and dressed in a lovely poblano shishito crema, served with flour tortillas on the side. I actually prefer to have the beef like a taco together with the delicious sauce.

Tequila Pecan Pie 3/5

For dessert, we started with the Tequila Pecan ($14) served with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. Personally, I find the pie too sweet for my liking. I took a bite and stop there.

Red Velvet Churros 3.5/5

I am not a fan of churros, but it turned out I really enjoy the Red Velvet Churros ($14). Deep-fried, coated in sugar and cinnamon powder, the churros are slightly crisp on the exterior and soft inside.

Braised Pineapple 4.2/5

The Braised Pineapple ($14) is the simplest of all the desserts, turned out to be my favourite. The pineapple has been caramelised in cane sugar before being grilled in the Josper oven. The result is a delectable char on the edges on top of its sweetness.

After tasting the food at El Mero Mero, it gives a deeper insight into Mexican cuisine. Not only that, food evolves with time and this is reflected in the menu too, showing current culinary trends and the dynamic Mexican foodscape as it is now.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


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El Mero Mero
Chijimes
30 Victoria Street
#01-20
Singapore 187996
Tel: +65 97228171
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Website
Nearest MRT: Bras Basah (CC Line), City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 5pm - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 5pm - 1130pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Cut across Raffles City Shopping Centre to Bras Basah Road. At the junction of Bras Basah Road and North Bridge Road, cross the road to Chijmes. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bras Basah MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk southwards towards Victoria Road. At the junction of Bras Basah Road and Victoria Road, cross the junction to Chijmes. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Lobsters & Ice Cream @ Tanjong Pagar Plaza - More Than Just Lobster Roll With A Variety Of Complementing Sauces

Lobsters & Ice Cream at Tanjong Pagar Plaza serves up U.S style lobster rolls, alongside several variants of seafood rolls. It is not here to fight with the Lobster bars that have already gained much reputation but to fill the gap in the dining options where you can get your hands on the traditional east coast style rolls in a fast and casual manner. Aside from Maine style, you get to the style that you want your seafood roll to be served. Each sauce is created to highlight and complement the delicate flavours of seafood.

Premium Lobster roll Maine style 4/5

2 types of Lobster rolls are available - Premium ($16 half-roll/$29 full-roll) and Standard ($18/full-roll). Premium roll uses live lobsters air-flown from North America (Canada and US) and arrive at the bistro every morning, which they are par-cooked and deshelled before being finished off on the pan upon order. Maine style would be the most ideal way to enjoy the quality of the lobster. Sauteed and seasoned with celery salt, oregano, pepper, thyme and a dash of lemon. I appreciate the fact that the mayo is only being spread lightly on the bread roll instead of mixing it with the lobster, which some places overdo it. That allows me to enjoy even the very faint notes of herbs, which enhance the taste of the entire roll.

Standard Lobster with Truffle Sauce (tasting portion) 3/5

Standard Lobster uses lobsters that are more common for commercial use, in which they are precooked by suppliers in large quantities. I had mine with truffle sauce (+$4). It tasted all right, but I think it is more worthwhile to spend that extra bucks on a side dish.

Seafood roll with SG Chilli Crab Sauce (tasting portion) 3.8/5

The Seafood Roll ($23) with SG Chilli Crab Sauce is highly recommended. Using a half crab half lobster mix, you have the texture from the lobster, and punch of flavours from the chilli crab layered below the lobster. That allows the buttered toast to sop up the sauce, which replicates the classic experience of fried mantou dipped in chilli crab sauce. Made in-house by the chef-owner, the chilli crab sauce is impressive. It was robust, assertive and not overly sweet.

Prawn roll (tasting portion) 3.5/5

Reminiscent of a Mexican taco, my Prawn Roll ($18) was zesty with Mexican sauce. I love the bright flavours and crunch of this Mexican style roll, especially with the addition of the punchy jalapeno slices.

Scallop Roll 3.5/5

Scallop Roll ($18) is recommended to pair with Mentaiko sauce (+$2), for the extra briny and savoury flavours. The Mentaiko sauce is not your usual mentaiko flavoured mayonnaise but made with real spicy pollock/cod roe mixed with flying fish roe. The scallops were seared to a beautiful golden brown, which imparted a smoky flavour to the roll.

What can perhaps be better is the type of bread roll used. While the bread roll is quite light and able to hold the filling well without turning soggy, a fluffier and a more buttery version will make each roll more indulgent and satisfying.

Truffle Feta Garlic Fries 3/5 and Crispy Fried Whitebait 3/5

Seafood Soup 3.8/5 and Organic Potatochips 3/5

There are several sides available to complete your meal, and I highly recommend the Seafood Soup ($7). It is almost like a clam broth, which surprised me with its depth of flavours. An interesting item is the housemade Organic Potato Chips ($5).

Cherry Beer Ice Cream 4/5

Kriek Boon Beer

A wide range of craft beers is available here too, including beer on tap. And the best part is that the team managed to churn one of them into ice cream! The Cherry Beer flavour ($5) is one of my favourites, made using Kriek Boon. Expect its texture to be a tad grainy, due to the carbonation in the beer. An extensive list of flavours to entice you, including unique variants such as whisky which tastes like a classic Rum & Raisin and Pandan Gula Melaka. I would encourage you to try the Savoury range, which offers a refreshing Lime Mirin Tarragon, and a rather rare Truffle Ice Cream.

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.


Lobsters & Ice Cream
Blk 7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
#02-101
Singapore 081007
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 11am - 1045pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]