Chuan Hung @ Telok Ayer Street - History And Flavour In A Bowl

Chuan Hung which means Sichuan Alley is a new noodle bar in Telok Ayer offering Mian Yang rice noodles with a choice of different broths, and a variety of toppings such as braised beef and pig intestines. The thin slippery noodles here is specially sourced from a particular artisan who lives in a village deep in Sichuan. It took close to a year and dozen of personal trips to convince the artisan to supply the noodles. Fast forward, the noodles now served in Chuan Hung are found nowhere else in Singapore or South East Asia.

Braised Eggplant 4/5

Before moving to the noodles, they are some appetising small plates to complement the mains or making it a complete meal. The Braised Eggplant ($4.50) may look dangerously spicy but it is quite mild and delicious. The peeled steamed eggplant is topped with a blend of burnt and peeled bell pepper and green chillis, giving it a smoky and spicy finishing.

Liang Fen - Cold Bean Jelly 4/5

The Liang Fen ($3.50) itself is tasteless but this is packed with depth and flavours from the housemade sauce. The housemade sauce is made from two different types of sauces that is finely chopped and mixed together. The first is made from frying Dou Ban Jang and fermented black beans while the second is made from Dao Kou Jian and Sichuan peppers fried till fragrant.

Fried Crispy Pig Intestines 3.5/5

The Fried Crispy Pig Intestines ($5.50) is crispy on the outside and soft inside. It is even stuffed with Japanese leek in the middle for that extra crunch. While the pig intestines have been braised in a braising liquid that consists of soy sauce, star anise, Sichuan peppers, peppercorns, cinnamon, nutmeg and more for 4 hours, I felt that it still has a slight gamy taste.

Braised Beef in Red Broth 4.5/5

Moving to the signature noodles, I have the Braised Beef in Red Broth ($13.50) with the Mian Yang Rice Noodles. The specially sourced noodle made from rice, is smooth and silky, almost like mee sua. Perfect to soak up the delicious broth. The red broth which complements the rice noodle excellently which consists of a housemade spice blend that includes Sichuan peppers, pickled chillies, and dried chillies amongst other herbs and spices that are fried until fragrant.

King Prawns with Vine Pepper  4.5/5

The other noodle dish we tried is the King Prawns with Vine Pepper ($15.50). The broth made from combination of chicken bones, Sichuan vine peppers and chilli padi, has the right balance of souriness and spiciness which not only whetted up the appetite but complemented the noodles excellently.

I really enjoyed the rice noodle specially sourced form Sichuan, Mian Yang for its texture. Much effort is also put into the different broths to ensure it complement the rice noodle. Not only that, the bowl of noodle is also reasonable priced.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Chuan Hung
51 Telok Ayer Street
#01-01
Singapore
Tel: +65 97551058
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line). Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 10am - 3pm, 5pm - 9pm
Sat-Sun: 10am - 9pm

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

2) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit F. Walk to traffic light junction at Cecil Street. Cross the street to Prudential Tower. Cut through the building and walk to Telok Ayer street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Gram Cafe & Pancakes @ Vivocity - Iconic Souffle Pancake From Osaka Set To Puff Up A Storm In Singapore

Highly raved for its insta-worthy, wobbly, and impossibly fluffy pancakes, the famed Gram Cafe & Pancakes, hailing from Osaka, Japan is official opened in Vivocity on 16 June 2019, 1pm!

Premium Pancakes 4.5/5

Treat yourself to the Premium Pancakes ($17.90). Soft, airy and oh-so-fluffy, it comes in a towering wobbly stack of three 4cm thick souffle pancakes, complete with butter, house-made whipped cream, and a drizzle of maple syrup. Made with the same recipe used in Japan and only on premium ingredients, the souffle pancakes are slow-cooked on low heat and whipped full of air, resulting in a fluffy texture befitting of a cloud or cotton candy. A pancake connoisseur’s dream come true as the pillowy, light-as-air discs are deliciously milky and has a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

However, you may want to gear yourself up for the wait as the Premium Pancakes are professionally prepared upon receipt of order, and sales are limited to 3 times a day with 30 servings each time at 11am, 3pm and 6pm due to Gram Japan’s strict quality control rule. Each customer is limited to one Premium Pancakes order per pax, and will be given a token to collect it.

Rich Tiramisu Pancakes 3.5/5

If you're not quick enough to be in time for the limited servings of Premium Pancakes at the assigned time slots, you can console yourself with tons of other noteworthy items at Gram Cafe as well such as the Rich Tiramisu Pancakes ($15.90). However, these are not souffle pancakes, but rather, classic thin pancakes with a less fluffy and more chewy texture, inspired by the traditional Japanese dorayaki pancake. Infused with espresso, layered with rich mascarpone tiramisu cream, and dusted with cocoa powder, the Tiramisu Pancakes has a nice coffee aroma, although taste-wise, it still fares lower than its hyped-up souffle sister.

Other sweets selection include the Mixed Fruits & Chocolate Pancakes ($15.90), Caramelized Banana Pancakes ($13.90), and Coconut Custard Pancakes ($13.90).

Chilli Beans Pancakes 3.8/5

If you're not a fan of sweets, go for their savoury options such as the Chilli Beans Pancakes ($18.90), which features the same classic thin pancakes, topped with generous amounts of chilli beans sauce atop minced beef and melted cheddar cheese, and served with a side of sausage, potato and luscious salad greens.

Other savoury options include the Turkey Bacon and Scrambled Egg Pancakes ($18.90), and the Salmon and Avocado Pancakes ($19.90).

French Toast of Chocolate Banana 4/5

Not a fan of pancakes? Cram Cafe also serves the French Toast of Chocolate Banana ($15.90). Spotting a soft and fluffy texture, and a golden-brown caramelized crust, the Danish French toast is topped with fresh bananas, creamy vanilla ice cream and rich chocolate sauce. Decent but nothing extraordinary, it is quite a safe option for the less adventurous.

Other french toast options include the BLT Sandwich ($14.90++), Gram French Toast ($12.90), and Mixed Berry French Toast ($15.90).

Set to launch at a later date, fans in Singapore will get first and exclusive dibs on a special Japanese Curry pancakes creation, designed to satisfy Singaporean palates. Other upcoming creations include their convenient takeout options, such as the Strawberry Crepe Pancakes ($8.90), Premium Parfait ($10.90), Premium Tiramisu ($9.90) in a cup, and Premium to Go takeout set for dessert on the go.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Gram Café & Pancakes
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#02-110
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 86666277
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC Line, 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 3 minutes. [Map]