99 Old Trees @ Teo Hong Road - Launching Its first-ever ‘Durian Confidence Course’ With Free-flow Mao Shan Wang

Known for its quality durian (less than 12 hours after being harvested) delivered daily from Malaysia, 99 Old Trees at Teo Hong Road has launched its first-ever 'Durian Confidence Course' (DCC) from 19 June to 4 July 2023. Conceptualized and hosted by the durian veterans at 99 Old Trees, DCC hopes to inspire you to be the next batch of durian connoisseurs! And most importantly, it empowers you to choose your favourite durians confidently.

The Durian Confidence Course ($128 per ticket, $99 each for two tickets or more) is a yummilicious interactive 90-minute experience that seats up to eight persons. First, we began with a crash course to identify different durians from Malaysia. It teaches us the cheat code for choosing the best durians, the awareness of over-selling techniques to avoid falling prey to, and you will even get the chance to learn how to open a durian.

During Tasting Session

Free Flow Mao Shan Wang

Next, we went through the highly anticipated durian tasting session of six different cultivars, including free-flow Mao Shan Wang. You get to try varietals that are lesser in supply in our market, including Susu, Tekka, and S17. Drinks are included, with a choice of Coconut, Water, or Cooling Water C. It was quite an experience enjoying this stinky goodness in its alfresco area.

Included in this course, you get to bring home an exclusive goodie bag - a DCC manual, a 'CID' (Certified-in-Durian) T-Shirt (worth $29), A durian squishy (worth $5.90), as well as a Stinky Roll (worth $27), created by its sister brand Stinky. If you can't get enough of durian, drop in Stinky to try its whole range of desserts, such as the Stinky Bowl ($6.30) and traditional Teochew-style dessert Stinky Chendul ($5.90).

99 Old Trees will also set up an Anti-Durian Scam Hotline this season. The public can snap a picture of the durian they wish to purchase and WhatsApp it over to be verified by durian experts from 12pm to 9pm daily at 9822 2495.

DCC is priced at $128 per ticket, $99 each for two tickets or more. Pre-book your slots at https://www.99oldtrees.com/master-class.

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.


99 Old Trees
1 Teo Hong Road
Singapore 088321
Tel: +65 98222495
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW, NE, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 9pm

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

Tonkatsu ENbiton @ Vivocity - First Ever Yuzu Pork Tonkatsu Restaurant

EN Group has made a remarkable debut in Singapore's culinary scene with the launch of VivoCity's first-ever "yuzu pork" tonkatsu restaurant - Tonkatsu ENbiton. This 46-seater restaurant showcases the unique utilization of yuzu-infused pork sourced from Kagoshima. The pigs are thoughtfully fed with local yuzu as part of their regular diet, resulting in a nutritious pork rich in vitamin C, pectin and citric acid, which holds a higher melting point of fat.

Ume Shiso Hiyayakko

We started with the Ume Shiso Hiyayakko ($5), a delightful arrangement of silky-smooth cold tofu crowned with pickles. The combination provided a clean and invigorating taste, with the tangy zest from the pickles perfectly elevating the flavour profile.

Suntory The Premium Malt’s Pilsner Beer

Given the sweltering weather, we sought solace in a glass of Suntory The Premium Malt's Pilsner Beer to quench our thirst and complement the forthcoming deep-fried tonkatsu selections.

Oroshi Yuzu Rosu Katsu Set 3.8/5

Our attention then turned to the Oroshi Yuzu Rosu Katsu Set (S$24), which showcased the pinnacle of deep-fried excellence. The crispy and succulent yuzu-infused pork loin katsu was accompanied by grated yuzu ponzu daikon, Japanese white rice, cabbage and arugula, pickles, and tonjiru (pork miso soup). The refreshing touch of radish helped cleanse the palate after indulging in the rich, deep-fried delights. While the pork exhibited juiciness, we found it to be lacking in robust porky flavour. However, it's worth mentioning that the rice and cabbage offerings were delightfully free-flow.

Miyazaki Gyukatsu 3.8/5

For those seeking a touch of luxury, the A4/A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Katsu ($39) served with a hot stone grill captured our attention. Adorned with a light coat of crispy panko, this gyukatsu experience allowed diners to grill the wagyu to their desired doneness on the teppan hot stone. While Miyazaki is renowned for its high-quality wagyu, its premium quality didn't shine through in texture and flavour. While it may originate from Miyazaki, it likely wasn't from the top-tier cuts. Additionally, it's important to note that this option is limited to one order per person.

Miyazaki Wagyu Katsu Sando 3.5/5

Lastly, we encountered what could be described as one of the most visually unappealing sando. The chunky presentation made it challenging to bite into, even though it featured the same A4/A5 Miyazaki Wagyu ($37) as the previous gyukatsu dish. Nonetheless, the meat retained its succulence, potentially due to the utilization of a thicker cut.

Despite our observations regarding the premium quality of the cuts, it's undeniable that the dining experience offered excellent value for money.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Tonkatsu ENbiton
Vivocity
1 HarbourFront Walk
#B2-27/27A
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 62648633
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbourfront MRT station. Take Exit C or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]