SHAO @ Frankel Avenue - Discovery Of Some Unique Dishes Such Crispy Baby Pomfret, Sotong Sausage And More

After seeing some interesting food pictures on social media, I gathered my foodie friends to check out SHAO at Frankel Avenue on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. The restaurant is located at the very end of the row of shophouses along Frankel Avenue. Interestingly for a Chinese restaurant, there are only square tables. The 11 of us have to sit in 2 rows which is quite awkward for sharing Chinese communal dishes.

Crispy Baby Pomfret 3/5

An exciting dish on the menu is the Crispy Baby Pomfret ($16). Deep-fried until crispy, it can be eaten whole without the worry of fish bones. Of course, you can't expect a lot of meat from the tiny pomfret. This dish is simply executed to enjoy the crispiness.

Salted Egg Yolk Yam 4/5

The Salted Egg Yolk Yam ($12) is drenched in a delicious and addictive salted egg yolk sauce. The delightful bite has a slight crunch which I enjoyed, and I still can taste the yam flavour.

Sotong Sausage 4.5/5

Another unique dish that I don't get to see at Chinese restaurants is the Sotong Sausage ($22). Unlike the usual pork sausage, the sotong sausage has a more textural bite from its bouncy texture. It is almost like having a piece of fish cake.

Stir-Fried Luffa with Egg & Seafood 4/5

I am not sure you are a fan of luffa, but I like its softness that comes with a little crunch. The Stir-Fried Luffa with Egg & Seafood ($28) at Shao is well-executed absorbing the sweetness of the seafood. What I find it weird is the fried egg which seems out of place. I thought it would be more enjoyable if the egg is cooked with the stock into an eggy gravy.

Gai Choy with Roast Pork Belly Claypot 4.5/5

A dish that my dining friends have mix opinions is the Gai Choy with Roast Pork Belly Claypot ($38). Gai Choy is also known as Chinese mustard greens. It has a bitter taste or some called it mustardy that is not well received by many. However, I love this acquire taste which is a flavour I have grown up with. The pairing with roast pork belly further flavoured the mustardy greens.

Steamed Crab with Vermicelli 3.8/5

Another dish the dining group has mix opinions is the Steamed Crab with Vermicelli ($78). Due to the size of the crab used, there is very little crab meat. Hence some felt it is not worth the cost. Others thought that the sauce is too garlicky, overpowering the sweetness of the crustacean. I actually like the strong garlic flavour which gives the dish a beautiful aroma, with the vermicelli soaking up the richness.

Wok Fried Hor Fun 2.8/5

Among the dishes we tried, the Wok-Fried Hor Fun ($12) was probably the least favourite. It lacked the wok hei that gives life to the rice noodle.

Sliced Fish Claypot "Pao Fan" Porridge 3.8/5

Last but not least, we wrapped up our dinner with the Sliced Fish Claypot "Pao Fan" Porridge ($28/$48). The portion is good for 2-6 pax. The porridge consists of both fluffy and crispy rice bathing in a hot pipping, delicious chicken-based soup with fish slices. It is a comforting dish for a cold, raining day.


SHAO
117 Frankel Ave
Singapore 458232
Tel: +65 66109233
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Website
Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 3pm, 5 - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 10am - 3pm, 5pm - 12midnight
Sun: 10am - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bedok MRT. Take Exit B or C. Walk to Bedok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 84009). Take bus number 32. Alight 8 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes later. [Map]

Porta @ Park Hotel Clarke Quay - Plant-based Green Monday Menu

Porta at Park Hotel Clarke Quay goes green with a plant-based Green Monday menu in partnership with Green Monday, as part of its initiatives to support and raise awareness on sustainable future through inspiring diners on the benefits of green diets. A social enterprise group established in Hong Kong in 2012, Green Monday promotes and enables green, healthy and sustainable living to raise awareness and inspire public on the benefits of green diets, nurturing the love towards our planet, and the pursuit of harmony in life. On the Green Monday menu are 10 dishes ranging from vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and nut-free, including plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, featuring plant-based produce from Beyond Meat, Heura, as well as plant-based cheese and dairy from Daiya Foods.

Burratina 4/5

Going green also means allowing simple flavours to shine, and their subtleties always leave you wanting for more. Burratina ($22) is one such dishes, where the delicate, pillowy burrata is enlivened with savoury, peppery and sharp basil pesto shio kombu, balanced with sweet Roma tomatoes.

Beyond Burger 3/5

Beyond Burger ($29) features both the plant-based alternatives Beyond patty and Daiya cheese, bind together with housemade ketchup and mayonnaise, caramelised onions in a brioche bun. The smokey, rich ketchup and that savoury-sweet caramelised onions are to die for. However, I personally find a messy burger more fulfilling, and Beyond Burger falls short of that factor.

Orecchiette Pasta 3.8/5

Orecchiette Pasta ($24), on the other hand, is an ultimate comforting dish that will win you over by its warm and creamy aroma effusing from the housemade cream sauce. The sauce is made using cream, milk, garlic, onion, bay leaf, infused with the earthiness of wild mushrooms. Sliced and tossed in the Beyond sausage, passed off easily as the real thing with their garlicky flavour and meaty texture.

Parma Ham 3/5

Porta's all-day dining menu sees new creations as well, starting with Parma Ham ($16). Dressed with tangy balsamic vinegar and creamy Thai lime aioli, both elements cut the richness of the meat, and the latter also helped to harmonise the contrasting flavours of the savoury meat and the sweet compressed watermelon cubes.

Venus Clams Capellini 3.5/5

For the main course, a crowd-pleaser will be the Venus Clams Capellini ($24). It showcases Indonesian clams prepared in clam stock with shio kombu, spiked with heat from chilli padi and an accentuated umaminess from a handful crisp sakura ebi.

Black Cod 4/5

Adopting an earthy green-brown palette, I love the execution of the Black Cod ($29). An emerald green spinach dashi purée backdropped its ivory white self, which is further contrasted with a blanket of crushed pistachio and puffed wild rice that textured its buttery flesh.

Gourmet Pork Sausage Roll 2.8/5

Gourmet Pork Sausage Roll ($21) is the latest brunch item, featuring a gourmet pork sausage roll with jalapeno salsa. The sausage was juicy, but the salsa lacked both the fiery and kick. Similarly to Beyond Burger, it was a brunch item that left me feeling a little empty.

Kopi "O" 4/5

Coffee lovers will appreciate the bitter-sweetness in the new dessert creation - Kopi "O" ($12), a 'parfait' in a traditional coffee cup made with housemade dark chocolate coffee sponge, coffee crumbles, coffee jelly, milk sauce, and espresso ice cream, completed with butter sugar toast on the side.

Meyer Lemon Trifle 4/5

If you are a fan of lemon tart, this Meyer Lemon Trifle will be right up on your alley with a tangy concoction of Victorian sponge and housemade lemon curd. I actually like it even better with the thyme-infused whipped cream, which is lighter and less cloying than meringue.

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.


Porta Fine Food & Import Company
Park Hotel Clarke Quay
1 Unity Street
Singapore 237983
Tel: +65 65938888
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight At Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to junction of River Valley Road and Clemenceau Ave. Cross the road and turn left onto Clemenceau Ave. Walk down Clemenceau Ave. Turn right onto Unity Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to bus stop at Clark Quay Station (Stop ID 04222). Take bus number 54. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to the end UE Square Shopping Mall. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]