Brother Cheng's Chicken Rice @ Wisma Atria - Recreating The Nostalgia Taste

If you are craving for chicken rice in Orchard Road, you may like to check out Brother Cheng's Chicken Rice at Picnic Food Park, located inside Wisma Atria. The owner of Picnic Food Park, Mr Cheng Hsin Yao, feels that chicken rice doesn't taste as good as before. Hence he decided to open a chicken rice stall to recreate the nostalgia taste, using his family recipe that involves both Hainanese and Cantonese techniques.

The key components for Brother Cheng's Chicken Rice have to be the specially sourced corn-fed kampong chicken. Each bird has to be between 1.7kg and 1.9kg. If you have noticed, the 21-day corn-fed chicken has distinctly yellow skin. Probably due to the feed, it has a subtle sweetness, juicy and tender.

The chicken is cooked using a mix of Hainanese and Cantonese techniques. The chicken is poached in boiling water until cooked and then immersed in an ice bath to get the characteristic layer of collagen underneath the skin. It is then hung to dry. Before serving, it is chopped and drizzle in a sauce comprising of premium soy sauce and sesame oil.

The chicken rice is available in a la carte portions as well as in a set. Each set comes with a side of Oyster Sauce Vegetables or Bean Sprouts and a bowl of Chicken Soup. A set for one person costs $14.90, set for three person costs $42.90 and $84.90 for 6 person set.

Besides the chicken, Brother Cheng also uses the king of ginger, Bentong ginger for their rice and chilli sauce. To prepare the rice, it is first fried in chicken fat and Bentong ginger before steaming the rice with fresh pandan leaves and chicken stock. Unlike other chicken rice stalls, the chilli sauce comes in a paste form, hand-pounded daily with bird's eye chillies, red chillies, fresh garlic and Bentong ginger.

As you have read, a lot of efforts and dedication have been put into the plate of chicken rice. The chicken rice here is indeed good, but for the price, I probably can have 2-3 plates elsewhere. Hence it really depends on the individual whether you are willing to splurge on a plate of chicken rice.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Brother Cheng's Chicken Rice 
Picnic Food Park
Wisma Atria
435 Orchard Road
#03-15-49
Singapore 238877
Tel: +65 67348352
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

So France @ Duo Galleria - Experience The Taste of True Bistro Of Living

So France at Duo Galleria unveils a new look, introducing all-new menus, crafted to deliver an authentic contemporary French bistro experience. Classic, yet vibrant and modern, from the existing space that houses both a bistro and an epicurean grocer, So France now extends with a new alfresco terrasse for nights of drinks, tapas and sharing platters.

Salade Landaise 4.5/5

The new menu at So France embodies their philosophy of "innovative tradition", fusing classic French flavours into the current palate. And what caught my attention was the section on the menu that is devoted to duck. Starting with a salad that is native to the coastal Landes region of France, the Salade Landaise ($24) was hearty with cured duck gizzards (confit in duck fat and roasted to order) and cured duck breast. With crispy croutons tossed in, this salad was all about luscious mouthfill, meaty texture and crunch. The magic touch to this salad was the shaved foie gras terrine, that buttered every mouthful, but just very lightly, as they melt in my mouth. The ingredients sounded rather rich, but nothing was assertive, especially when the greens were simply dressed with Balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Duck Rillette 4.5/5

Also available in their Tapas menu, Duck Rillettes ($15) is a must-order if you are in a group, especially when you are in the mood for a long night. What a pleasure to see and enjoy the rillettes with an entire bottle of cornichons! The duck leg meat is marinated with orange skin, star anise and thyme for 4 hours, rinsed and sous vide for 18 hours, then rested for about 26 hours. Shredded and not pulverised, a right amount of cold duck fat binds the shredded meats together, creating a luxurious spread for the accompanying croutons. The seasoning is on the lighter side, so one could really appreciate the very clean flavours of the duck and its fats.

Duck Confit 4.2/5

Mash Potatoes 4.5/5

You may have come across many versions ever since you get acquainted with French cuisine, but do try their highly raved Duck Confit ($34). Glistening, evenly roasted with smooth-running edges, the duck skin was crisp, and the meat was tender with a good ratio of fats. I could do with a bit more sauce, which helped to bring out the flavours of the duck confit. Although roasted Grenaille potatoes are served alongside, what really completes the dish is their Puree / Mash Potatoes ($8). A full-on, creamy confection of butter, cream and potatoes, this mash potatoes of theirs will have you coming back for more.

Oeufs Meurette 4.5/5

Oeufs Meurette ($22) is your eggs and bacon dish but done in a traditional Burgundian way. What gives this unassuming dish its characters is the complex homemade red wine sauce made with beef and chicken stocks, veal jus, shallots, vinegar, red wine and butter. It flavoured the subtlety of the poached eggs while the more assertive flavours of the meaty, thick-cut bacon mellowed out its sweetness and acidity.

Sea Bass Filet 4/5

For lighter fare, on the menu, they have Filet de Bar / Sea Bass Filet ($28). I loved how crispy the skin was, juxtaposed with creamy broccoli puree and broccolini mash.

So France Beef Burger 3.5/5

Catering to our undying love for burgers, there is So France Beef Burger ($24), with a patty made with a combination of brisket and chuck, layered with sundried tomatoes, raclette cheese, rocket and caramelised onion. Served medium rare, I reckon the patty needs more fats to up its beefy flavour. But overall, it was still quite a pleasure to bite into the fat burger, especially when the custom made sourdough bun was so light and chewy. You will appreciate the fries too, which is made with potatoes from France.

Creme Brulee 3.8/5

For desserts, the Creme Brulee ($12) was simple but comforting with it's warm, vanilla aroma and mellow sweetness.

Floating Island 3.8/5

The first time I tried a Floating Island was in Hungary at a sidewalk bistro, that was served in a cup. The Floating Island ($12) here is a much more elaborated version, and I do suggest you try this classic dessert, which is rather rare in Singapore.

Words and photos 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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


So France
Duo Galleria
7 Fraser Street
#01-51/56
Singapore 189356
Tel: +65 6909 6449
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bugis (DT Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8am - 9pm
Sat: 9am - 9pm
Sun: 9am - 6pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit E or F. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]