Monday, October 10, 2022

People Table Tales @ Tiong Bahru - New Private Dining Serving Crocodile Rib Rendang

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People Table Tales is a new private dining place that recently opened in the quaint Tiong Bahru neighbourhood. It caught my attention for serving whole-roasted crocodile rib rendang on its menu. The 8-course meal is priced at $198 with alcohol pairing.

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Our dinner started with the Mouth Pleasers, a selection of small bites to kickstart the dinner. The Croc Fin Crackling intrigued us, which can be enjoyed with the accompanying Green Sambal and Lacto Pumpkin Sambal.

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Other mouth pleasers included Toasted Coconut, Sourdough-so Butter and Toasted Koji.

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Natsuki's Dream 4.2/5

Next is Natsuki's Dream, a speciality of vegetables from Natsuki's Garden, a local organic farm. The highlight on the plate is the sweet corn paired with lacto mango.

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Mushroom Buddies 4.2/5

The Mushroom Buddies is inspired by Vietnamese pho covered by a sheet of rice paper. It showcased the earthy tone of the mushrooms excellently in a robust broth lifted by kaffir lime. I felt the soaked rice paper somehow substituted the noodle for the pho.

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Black 4/5

Looking like a piece of charcoal is Black, chicken pieces in coffee shoyu, blackened garlic and pineapple, resting atop a pulut hitam cracker. The succulent chicken pieces are from a breed known as Silkie Chicken, whereby their bone and skin are black.

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Pineapple Gazpacho 3.5/5

The chilled Pineapple Gazpacho is a welcome break from the meal to freshen up the palate for more to come.

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Nasi Ulam 4.2/5

Next, we had Nasi Ulam, which is served at the tableside. The service staff will mix all the different ingredients, such as toasted rice, herbs from Corridor Farmers, and lime dressing, in a big bowl. The bowl of rice is packed with beautiful aroma from the herbs, enhanced by a zesty finish from the lime dressing.

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Whole-roasted Croc Rib Rendang 4.5/5

The one dish everyone was anticipating throughout the night was the Whole-roasted Croc Rib Rendang. I am not new to eating crocodile meat, but it is my first for the rib and the cooking style. For those that have not eaten crocodile meat, it is clean tasting without any gamey taste, almost like chicken.

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The rib meat is very tender and falls off the bone with ease. It is also served with achar, coconut serundeng, roti and smoked coconut rice.

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For me, the highlight is the spiced coconut jus. Not only did it complement the croc rib, but it also went so well with the roti and smoked coconut rice.

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Moju Granita 4/5

Before moving to the dessert, we had the Moju Granita for palate cleanser that consists of seasonal fruits, candied winter melon and cranberry hibiscus.

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Everything Makgeolli 4/5

Wrapping up our dinner is Everything Makegeolli comprising of black rice makgeolli cremeux and tuile paired with white rice makgeolli ice cream.

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Note: This is an invited tasting.


People Table Tales
Blk 79 Chay Yan Street
#02-20
Singapore 160079
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line), Havelock (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 630pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon-Tue)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru MRT station. (Stop ID 10169). Take bus 121. Alight at the next stop. Walk to Yong Siak street. Turn right onto Yong Siak Street and walk to Chay Yan Street. Turn left onto Chay Yan Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Havelock MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk down Zion Road to Seng Poh Road. Turn right onto Seng Poh Road. Walk to end of Seng Poh Road. Turn left onto Guan Chuan Street, and then right onto Chay Yan Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Sunday, October 9, 2022

Shanghai Fried Xiao Long Bao (上海生煎小笼包) @ Chinatown Complex Food Centre - Juicy & Crisp Sheng Jian Bao By Ex-Restaurant Dim Sim Chef

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Newly opened earlier this year at Chinatown Complex Food Centre is Shanghai Fried Xiao Long Bao (上海生煎小笼包). The stall is opened by Chef Jiang, who has 25 years of experience working as a dim sum chef at Crystal Jade and Paradise Group.

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Xiao Long Bao 3.8/5

The stall sells several items, such as noodles, wantons and dumplings. We ordered the chef's recommendation starting with Xiao Long Bao ($4.80/6pc). Compared to others, I find the skin is thicker, and I wished the filling had more broth.

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Sheng Jian Bao 4.8/5

The highlight has to be the Sheng Jian Bao. There are two versions, Original Pork Sheng Jian Bao ($3/3pc) and Prawn Sheng Jian Bao ($4/3pc). We had the original version, which is handmade at the stall, and cooked in a huge flat pan that steamed the bun while giving it a crispy exterior at the bottom. It is so good, soft and fluffy, with a delightful crisp at the bottom. The filling was well-flavoured and juicy. I love how the broth gets soaked up by the fluffy dough that gives you a mouthful of flavours in each bite.

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Beef Vermicelli Soup 2.5/5

Besides the Xiao Long Bao and Sheng Jian Bao, we also had the Beef Vermicelli Soup ($4.5). The noodles are smooth and silky. However, the broth is very light, almost bland, which is not my cup of tea.

The star dish is the Sheng Jian Bao here. I would highly recommend ordering them. As for the Xiao Long Bao and Beef Vermicelli Soup, you can give it a miss.


Shanghai Fried Xiao Long Bao
(上海生煎小笼包)
Chinatown Complex Food Centre
Blk 335 Smith Street
#02-104
Singapore 050336
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT Line, NE Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Tue: 1030am - 330pm, 530pm - 830pm
Thu-Sun: 1030am - 330pm, 530pm - 830pm
(Closed on Wed)

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Pagoda Street. Turn right onto Trengganu Street and walk to the end of the street. Cross Smith Street and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk to Sago Lane. Turn left and walk down Sago Lane. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]