Laifaba @ Prestige Centre - New Location, Expanded Menu With Even Tastier Wanton Mee

Laifaba first opened its door at Scarlet hotel and has made a name for itself in offering superb Wanton Mee. It has now relocated to Prestige Centre at Bukit Batok with an expanded menu that comprises rice and other roast meats.

Though located in an industrial area, the interior was made very charming, adorned with retro homewares, posters, a table fan and a radio that work!

Signature Char Siew Wanton Mee 4.5/5

When I first tried Laifaba last year, its Char Siew and Crispy Pork left a deep impression. I have a newfound liking for its Signature Char Siew Wanton Mee ($5.00 Small) this time round. Working closely with suppliers, both the wanton skin and noodle are made with improved recipes. One very noticeable difference is the reduction in alkaline, and I very much prefer this lighter and tastier version. Even the wanton seemed much juicer. I recommend topping up $2 to upgrade the regular char siew to its signature Bu Jian Tian Char Siew. Given the amount of fats in there, I felt the meat had been roasted with much precision to attain the beautiful caramelisation on the exterior and rendering just enough fats for flavours while keeping the meat portion tender.

Meat Platter 4/5

Adding two more roast meats into their menu, we had a platter of Soy Sauce Chicken, Roast Duck and Crispy Roasted Pork ($16 Small). The Soy Sauce Chicken was commendable. The meat was very tender, and the skin was flavourful without being too sweet. The pork was still as good as I remember how it was to be with its succulent meat and crackling skin. The Roast Duck paled a little in comparison but was decent. This portion is good for two people as rice or noodles are available as add-ons.

Shrimp Dumpling Soup (tasting portion) 4.5/5

I like the soup as well. The dry wanton mee does come with a small bowl of soup but try the Shrimp Dumpling Soup ($8) that comes with four large and juicy shrimp dumplings. The soup had a good depth of sweetness and umami flavour, which surpassed most that I had tried so far. I had a go at its Fried Shrimp Dumplings ($8) too, but they weren't as impressive. The skin turned quite soggy and greasy after a while.

Other elements that might draw you back to Laifaba are perhaps the various chilli concoction for the different dishes. There is a special orangey chilli sauce that is very fiery, a red sauce for a regular spicy dry noodle dish, and a refreshing and tangy chilli paste for the roast meats.

Photos and words 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.


Laifaba
Prestige Centre
71 Bukit Batok Crescent
#02-02
Singapore 658071
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Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon- Sun: 8am - 330pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17171). Take bus number 106. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Bukit Batok Crescent. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Atico Lounge @ ION Orchard - Soar To New Height & Take Flight Into Singapore's Newest Sky-High Lifestyle Landmark

The opening of Atico Lounge marks the completion of 1-ATICO. This luxe multi-concept destination sits on level 56 of ION Orchard. The third and final instalment, Atico Lounge, complements its sister concepts of contemporary "fire-in-the-sky" Argentinian restaurant FIRE and Japanese-Peruvian influenced sumiyaki bar and grill FLNT.

With the golden age of air travel and fine drinking as the backdrop, you will find here an extensively curated list of champagnes and wine labels from across the globe and a bar stocked with craft spirits and liqueurs. But what makes the lists far more intriguing is the collection of cocktails inspired by key getaway destinations around the world. Crafted from artisanal spirits and house-made ingredients, every iconic cocktail tells a story about its place of origin - Japan, United Kingdom, Italy and France, with a series of five cocktail options available from each destination.

Mirukuūron

From Japan, cocktails bind the essence of the Japanese spirit of tradition and ritual with innovative touches. For example, Mirukuūron combines shiso leaves with milk oolong gin and garnished with a representative stalk of hanahao flowers. It's an easy yet intriguing drink to start any conversation of the evening.

Boulevardier

For something much bolder and darker, it would be going back to the classics in the1920s Paris - the Boulevardier, a spirit-forward drink composed of bourbon, Campari and vermouth.

Apollonia

My favourite of the evening was the tiki-style Apollonia, belonging to the destination Italy. Concocted with Spiced Rum, Fernet Branca and fresh pineapple, it was tangy, herbaceous, warm and rich with nuances of sweet spices.

Aviation

We also had another classic Aviation cocktail derived from the United Kingdom. A gin-based cocktail imbued with Crème De Violette. Pretty and mild-looking in pink, but it's pretty potent!

Fleur Du Ciel

The rooftop lounge bar also launches this month with a "travelling" cocktail program inspired by key getaway destinations around the world and monthly guest shifts with local bartenders, such as its upcoming collaboration with The Bar at 15 Stamford on 20 May 2021. That also gives us one of the most delightful drinks of the evening - Fleur Du Ciel, which sets itself apart with a layer of elusive floral notes and flavour. It may look very much like a lady's drink, but it has a good level of strength, allowing one to sip and savour it slowly.

Deep-fried Crumbed Ebi

Edamame

Crispy Chicken Winglets

The gourmet bar bites are from FIRE's culinary team. The simple plate of Edamame with an umami seasoning was extremely moreish. Our Deep-Fried Crumbed Ebi was well done with a succulent ebi wrapped within a crispy crust, and the Crispy Chicken Winglets didn't disappoint with their golden-browned crispy skin and juicy meat.

Hand-cut Shoestring Fries

Another crowd-pleasing bite is the 1-ATICO’s Hand-Cut Shoestring Fries that comes served with truffle mayo and a chilli lime leaf dipping sauce. You can choose from a few Japanese spices such as wasabi-lime, chilli-furikake, Japanese curry and truffle kombu.

Argentinian Beef Burger 4/5, Chicken Karaage Burger 3.5/5

For heartier items, the signature 1-ATICO burgers with a choice of Argentinian Beef, Chicken Karaage and a Smoked Salmon ($24 each) bagel burger. I like the Argentinian Beef Burger. Although some parts of the patty was on the dry side, the flavours lent from the caramelised onions and the fruity Piquillo sauce worked were on point. They worked well with the beef patty.

Smoked Salmon Bagel Burger 3/5

As for the Smoked Salmon Bagel Burger, as much as the flavours were there, it fared better as a simple breakfast sandwich.

Each month starting from April, ATICO Lounge will organise pop-ups where collaborators will present handcrafted cocktails intended to transport guests to far-flung destinations. All cocktails are at $20++ each. Bookings can be made online via www.1-atico.sg/atico-lounge.

Photos and words 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.


Atico Lounge
1-Atico ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
Level 56
Singapore 238801
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]