The Ultimate Eunoian Foodie’s E-A Guide

Written by: Jace Bong (20-E1), Leia Ong (20-U1), Soh Iwin (20-E5)

Designed by: Kothandam Anusha (20-I1)

Welcome, one and all, to the maiden publication of the Ultimate Eunoian Foodie’s E-A Guide! As Singaporeans, we know how important food is in our lives – hence, our intrepid journalists have (most willingly) travelled, tasted and laboured to assemble this unique compendium of international cuisine across the island. With each letter of ‘Eunoia’ as your guide, perhaps try one new food each day of the week!

From breakfast to supper, restaurant to cafe, here are six diverse entries that are sure to satisfy even the most avid Eunoian foodie.

E: Entre-Nous Creperie (Leia)

I stumbled across this quaint little shop after a visit to the MINT Museum of Toys, and being an enthusiast in all things crepe, I had no other option but to investigate. 

For the uninitiated, a crepe is a very thin French pancake, served either as a dessert or savoury meal – think the polar opposite of mountainous Japanese souffle pancakes.  

During my visit, I tried one of each: a Ham and Emmental Cheese crepe ($15.90) and a sweet one with chocolate and vanilla ice cream ($9.90). The savoury crepe came folded in a square, which I learnt is called a galette. 

Although the prices were rather steep, the quality of ingredients was apparent, which the menu proclaimed were imported from Brittany. Both crepes were thin, mildly flavoured yet very satisfying when paired with their respective toppings, whether it was the sweet banana or salty ham, the latter of which I unexpectedly enjoyed. Due to the mildness of the crepes balancing the strongly-flavoured toppings, the dishes were not jelak, or overly rich. 

If you’re ever in the Civic District and peckish after museum-hopping, then I recommend checking this little restaurant out – bring friends to share!

Location: 27 Seah St, #01-01

U: (Tamoya) Udon Singapore (Jace)

After being crowned the “Sanuki Udon Champion” on a reality cooking show in Japan, bonafide celebrity chef Tamotsu Kurokawa came to Singapore two decades ago and established Tamoya! Now, Singaporeans from all walks of life including students such as ourselves seeking gastronomical deals get to enjoy a bowl of his signature chewy udon, handmade in-stores daily.

As you take a whiff of the savoury smell of udon while walking into the store, do order these recommended picks. The Truffle Tonkotsu Don is a top dish for anyone craving a traditional udon broth with a tinge of truffle, but do consider the Beef and Pork Tonkotsu Dons as well! For around $10, this homely don store is a must-try for all udon-lovers.

Location: Plaza Singapura #06-11/12, 68 Orchard Rd

N: NY Night Market (Iwin) 

NY Night Market sells an array of atypical modern Korean-style dishes that’s different from the usual jajangmyeon or bibimbap we would eat, such as Korean Macaroni and Cheese and 50cm long bulgogi baguettes. Of course, they still sell common dishes like Army Stews.

During my trip, I tried out their Macaroni and Cheese, which was pleasantly fulfilling. Priced at $11.50, the macaroni was flavourful. Although a little pricey, the macaroni and cheese was worth the price. This is because the cheese was not dry nor salty – an ideal complement to the well cooked macaroni. The cheese was also creamy and plentiful like those which can be pulled a lot, leaving you craving for more of it.    

Location: #01-29, 313@Somerset 

O: O.BBa Jjajang and BBQ (Leia)

What’s a food guide without at least one Korean barbeque restaurant? This restaurant, located at Beauty World, isn’t the cheapest, but the quality of food they offer makes it very worth it. O.BBa serves both K-BBQ and other Korean-Chinese cuisine, and I tried both with my family, ordering a BBQ set meal consisting of a spread of red meats and a kimchi stew. 

Photo credit: Rachel Dawn, Burpple

Needless to say, both did not disappoint. The meats were generously marinated with the signature salty and sweet sauce characteristic of K-BBQ, and were not too fatty; the kimchi stew with soft tofu was fragrant, spicy, sour and overall very authentic to versions I’d tried in Seoul. Many side dishes (a.k.a. banchan) were also included, which also tasted good and more than completed the meal. 

For a value-for-money Korean dining experience, bring fellow foodies to visit this establishment.

Location: 19 Cheong Chin Nam Rd

I: Island Creamery (Jace)

When you think of ice cream, chocolate and vanilla are staple flavours that come to mind. However, this cosy ice cream cafe, established in 2003, took the dessert we love one step further and infused local flavours into it. Now, you get to order flavours such as Teh Tarik, Horlicks ice cream and even Mao Shan Wang – except this isn’t a 1990s roadside kopitiam anymore.

If you have a sweet tooth like me, you will be delighted to find out that Island Creamery also serves waffles and cakes! Even with these conventional confectionaries, the shop does not fail to disappoint and surprises its customers with treats such as the Mudpie, a decadent affair with three sinful layers of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, sitting atop an Oreo cookie base with yet more crushed Oreos garnishing the top. The price range of below $10 should delight many Eunoians as well!

Location: #01-01, 559 Bukit Timah Rd, King’s Arcade

A: (The) Açai Craft (Iwin) 

If you’re looking for açai that’s cheap and near EJC, The Açai Craft’s the place to go! With a wallet-friendly student deal of $10 for two cups, you can bring your friends in together for an açai indulgence. For those who dislike having fruits on their açai, the good news is that unlike other açai shops, The Açai Craft allows you to choose the toppings that you want to add to your açai! This includes special toppings such as Fruity Pebbles cereal and Oreos. 

The Açai Craft’s açai base was a good match with toppings such as cookie butter sauce and fruity cereal. However, given that the topping quantity was too low to properly supplement the less sugary nature of their açai, this made my experience there slightly disappointing.

Location: #01-02, Jubilee Square Shopping Mall

That’s all from us for now! We hope that you have learnt of some new interesting places to satisfy your voracious appetite. May this review serve as a guide to help you find more delectable dishes in Singapore! 

Not All Heroes Wear Crepes

Written by: Chong Tien Ee (19-E3), Zhao Keyang (19-I1), Wong Siew Yee (19-O3)

Designed by: Athena Lim (19-A4)

These writers have risked their waistlines and NAPFA Test Scores (they’re J2s taking the dreaded A-Levels this year) – by reviewing food establishments located near the Bishan Campus. From cheap-and-good to the atas, you’ll find something in here for you! Reviewing these eateries using a strict set of criteria, you’ll be expecting a useful compilation of food options to help you survive your two (or one) years in the wonderful vicinity of Bishan.

Dino Cake House and Cafe

Address: 257 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574384

Distance : 18 min (walk), 5 min (car), 11 min (130 bus and walk 4 min)

This cafe is not located too far away from the bus stop. Cozily tucked away in a hidden alley, one should try to master Google maps before attempting to find this place. Be prepared to frantically run across a street with no traffic lights or zebra crossings to get to your destination. Stepping foot into the cafe, the lack of cafe vibes became uncomfortably apparent. The walls were beautifully (read: plainly) painted in pure white, and the standard tables and chairs did their jobs well enough in holding my weight. Nevertheless, the cafe’s air conditioner provided our hunger enzymes with the optimal temperature to function. With a constant and neverending chatter in the background, it is almost impossible to enjoy a moment of silence with our cake. 

We decided to order a block of walnut crepe ($2.80) which did not bear resemblance to a traditional crepe. It reminded us more of cookies stacked together after extracting all available moisture. However, the texture is surprisingly satisfying and we can taste a hint of walnut. We also ordered their bestseller, a sugar roll ($0.90). This was a welcomed surprise. Although it looks simple, it is moist, light and fluffy, basically all you can expect from a roll. There was no overbearing sweetness and will definitely not induce diabetes. The waiting time is negligible, though the short waiting time can be attributed to the fact that there was almost no one in the cafe at that time.  

Rating:  3/5 

Sembawang Hills Food Centre

Address: 590 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574419

Distance from School: 26 min (walk), 8 min (car), 17 min (162, 410, 52, 163, 167, 855 bus and walk 3 min)

We arrived on a ghostly Monday and lucky for us, this location was easily accessible as it was just opposite the bus stop. However, arriving at our destination proved to be a harrowing experience and this brings me to an important tip for our readers to look out for traffic when traveling there. The food centre was generally clean, with very little people but this was probably because we were not in the food centre during its peak hour. Some of the more popular stalls include Jing Ji Fishball Noodles, Fried Carrot Cake, Ping Kee Popiah and Grill and Pasta. Other upsides would be the short waiting times for the many stalls as well as the fact that WiFi is available (wireless@sg).

Rating:  3/5

S-11

Address: 504 Bishan Street 11, Singapore 570504

Distance from School: 28 min (walk), 10 min (car), 17 min (bus 52 and walk 3 min)

After traveling between the locations in this review, going to S-11 served as a respite for our tired feet as it was conveniently located right next to Bishan MRT station, with a covered footpath connecting the two locations. The waiting time for most of the stalls were pretty prompt, as expected of a food court and we got our meals quite quickly. Some of the best sellers in S-11 would be the BBQ Seafood and Penang Prawn Mee. However, the sweltering conditions of the food court proved to be trying for all of us. Not to mention the dinner crowd who were a noisy bunch. 

Rating:  4/5

Sky Bubble Tea

Address: 282 Bishan Street 22, Singapore 570282

Distance from School: 10 min (walk), 10 min (car)

 

Lies . . .  This bubble tea shop was just disappointing. Although this shop prices its items reasonably ($2 for their best selling cup of original milk tea with pearls), it is a clear example of you get what you pay for. It is a simple combination of bubble and milk tea and that’s it. The pearls have a weirdly artificial taste to it, compared to the chewy texture that one would expect. The tea, although not as bad as the pearls, tasted like a very diluted caffeinated drink. Nevertheless, if you just want to have a cold drink, there’s no harm buying bubble tea here. Location wise, Sky Bubble Tea is a reasonable distance away from the campus. 

Rating: 1/5

Menage Cafe

Address: 6 Sin Ming Rd, #01-01/02, Singapore 575585

Distance: 16 min( walk), 4 min (car), 8 min (bus 130 and walk 3 min)

This cafe is easily the most unique location in this list. Patrons are encouraged to bring their pets to the cafe and patrons without pets are welcomed too. This is a good place to interact with animals and have a meal (they offer food for pets as well). This cafe is a little on the pricey side so should you go there, we recommend bringing more cash. The interior of the cafe is very attractive to youths as it gives a warm and homely vibe. However, we do think that the food and atmosphere at the cafe justify the price tag. Do take note that Menage Cafe is closed on Mondays. The signature Fish & Chips ($17.90), Duck Confit ($18.90) and Spicy Crabmeat Linguine ($17.90) are a few of their recommended dishes.

Rating:  4/5 

 

It’s On the House: Uzuri Edition

Written by: Jo Yeoul (EJC Press, 19-A2), Beverly Tan (EJC Press, 19-E3), Zhao Keyang (EJC Press, 19-I1)

Designed by: Jo Yeoul (EJC Press, 19-A2), Athena Lim (EJC Press, 19-A4)

Photographs taken by: Jo Yeoul (EJC Press, 19-A2), Beverly Tan (EJC Press, 19-E3), Clare Lam (EJC Media, 19-I1)

 

Small Potato Party

Small Potatoes Ice Creamery, 313 Orchard Rd, #B3 – 48, Singapore 238895

Photograph by: Clare Lam (EJC Media, 19-I1)

Allergens: Dairy

Cost: $10 (no service charge)

Small Potato Party, offered by Small Potatoes Ice Creamery, consists of matcha warabi mochi, puff rice, sweet potato chips, mini sweet potatoes, mashed Japanese purple sweet potato, azuki bean paste, mochi balls and sweet potato ice cream. The dessert certainly provides an accessible escape to those who crave the long chain of sweet-salty-sweet-salty combination (Mobius Strip much?). It’s design is very pretty too, and is very “Instagrammable”.

Although the name certainly sounded promising, the sweet potato ice cream was lacking in flavour. The dessert unfortunately did not live up to its hype and was rather overpriced, considering that the cup was small enough to fit in a child’s palm. Even the spoon was small; maybe the name of the dessert was truly an apt one.   

Rating: B, would eat if in the area.  

Taro Milk Tea with black pearls (100%)

Liho, The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green, #B1-39, Singapore 138617 

Photograph by: Beverly Tan (EJC Press, 19-E3)

Cost: $4.40 (no service charge) 

Allergens: Dairy

 

When we got the cup, we received a poor imitation of the vibrant shade of purple as seen on the Liho menu. Is mass manufacturing a trade off for high quality bubble tea? Maybe. The drink tasted worse than expected – bland and with too much milk. For the love of bubble tea, we drank it anyway. Although the pearls were fairly chewy (the only great point about the Taro Milk Tea), they were excessively tiny and we quickly found out that swallowing too many of them is a potential choking hazard. Nevertheless, it was at least edible.  

 

Rating: E, would consume if offered for free

 

Taro Ang Ku Kueh

The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green

Photograph by: Beverly Tan (EJC Press, 19-E3)

Cost: $2.60 for 2

Allergens: None

 

The Taro Ang Ku Kueh has a nice pastel purple colour (rather unnatural looking, actually), with regular Ang Ku Kueh skin and taro filling. The chunks of taro bits in the filling add another dimension of texture to this food item, albeit marginally. However, the greasy skin of the Ang Ku Kueh does leave a fair bit of oil on one’s finger if one attempts to eat it with their hands. It does tend to stick to human teeth but the pieces are generally easy to remove (we have not tested this on any other species yet). The Taro Ang Ku Kueh has no strong flavours but is still palatable and reminded one of us of a Peranakan grandma’s cooking (the other two did not grow up in this land).      

 

Rating: C, mayhaps a chance

 

Sweet Potato Macarons by Clare Lam

Photograph by: Clare Lam (EJC Media, 19-I1)

Cost: Priceless

Allergens: Nuts

 

Clare Lam of EJC Media kindly offered to make sweet potato macarons for our food review. The macarons we tasted were slightly soggy because they were out of the fridge for many hours. Nevertheless, they were delicious. The macaron cookie was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. The filling had a nice consistency and added to the strong sweet potato flavour. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the macaron. Some of us are even willing to eat Clare’s macarons despite having severe allergies to some of the ingredients, and might trade our first born child for more of these. Thank you Clare!

 

Rating: A, would do anything to eat it again 

 

P.S. scroll down for Clare’s macarons recipe. 

 

Yam Bao 

Hot Drinks Stall , EJ school canteen

Photograph by: Jo Yeoul (EJC Press, 19-A2)

Cost: $0.80

Allergens: none

 

Piping hot, the yam bao’s encased yam filling is unexpectedly flavourful.  Despite its diminutive size, the yam bao is probably able to satiate your hunger, easily consumed in the interval between lessons and CCA. To savour the yam bao, we found that it is best to eat it on the spot. The yam bao is truly an enjoyable and underrated gem in the school canteen. 

 

Rating: B, would eat if we’re in the area

 

Recipe for Clare’s Sweet Potato Macarons

 

Ingredients:

Almond Meal – 70g

Icing Sugar – 70g

Castor Sugar – 84g

Egg whites – 84g (about two egg whites)

Purple gel food coloring 

 

Macaron Shells: 

 

Separate your egg whites from your yolks, leave whites in a dry and clean bowl (whites to be whipped later) until it’s at room temperature.

 

Sift your almond meal and icing sugar together twice to ensure that your macarons will be smooth and not grainy.

 

Whip your egg whites with an electric mixer, gradually adding the castor sugar as you go along. Whip until whites are at soft peaks stage and add desired food coloring.

Keep whipping until whites are at stiff peaks stage (if you flip the bowl over, whites should not fall down).

 

Pour half of your dry ingredient mixture (almond meal and icing sugar) into egg white mixture and gently fold in.

 

Once other half is folded in, purposely deflate the mixture by using your spatula to flatten the mixture against the sides of your mixing bowl. You would have deflated your mixture enough when you scoop some of the mixture up with your spatula, and the mixture just pours down in thick ribbons.

 

Scoop mixture into a piping bag and pipe 1.5 inch circles onto a baking paper lined tray.

 

Let shells dry (when you touch the surface of the shell, it should not stick onto your fingers).

 

Bake in an oven at 150 degrees for 12-14 min and let it cool.

 

Sweet Potato Cream:

Ingredients

5-6 sweet potatoes (700g)

100ml heavy cream

100ml milk

35g sugar

35g butter

 

Steam sweet potatoes until soften, peel and cut/mash them.

 

Add sugar, butter, milk and cream into a pot and boil until the sugar and butter dissolves.

 

Use a blender to blend the sweet potatoes while adding milk butter mixture until everything is combined.

 

Refrigerate, and it’s ready to pipe.

 

Under $10 at Star Vista: Saizeriya

Written By Ernest Tan (19-E6) and Wong Sean Yew (19-U4)

Designed by: Athena Lim (19-A4)

 

 

The Star Vista is a popular haunt for Eunoians, considering its relative proximity to the Mount Sinai campus (it’s located adjacent to Buona Vista MRT Station). The overwhelmingly optimistic comments and effusive praise led two Press members to Saizeriya’s outlet at The Star Vista. 

 

A Japanese-owned Italian casual dining restaurant chain, Saizeriya seems to be a popular choice amongst patrons at The Star Vista, with snaking queues of students and working adults alike at dinnertime. Featuring over fifty dishes, Saizeriya’s menu is diverse, with options ranging from pizzas, desserts, pasta to grilled hotplate dishes. It is also relatively affordable as many dishes are under $10.

 

Salmon Cream Pasta

A relatively new addition to the menu, Salmon Cream Pasta ($7.90) consisted of al dente pasta slathered in a seasoned cream sauce and accompanied with a generous serving of smoked salmon. The salmon, in our opinion, was perfectly cooked, with a taste that is slightly reminiscent of sashimi. While we felt that the smoked salmon would be pretty plain on its own, this was negated when paired with the saltiness of the grated cheese and the rich cream sauce. However, we felt that the cream sauce could have been thicker to suit taste buds with an affinity for stronger flavours.

Rating: 4/5

 

Spinach Chicken Gratin

At $5.90, we felt that Spinach Chicken Gratin was value-for-money, considering its relatively copious servings of penne, well-complemented with grilled chicken, cheese, spinach and white sauce. The cheese and white sauce made the dish extremely creamy, which might be favourable for some. However, we found this to be quite surfeiting. 

 

Rating: 3/5

 

Seafood Pasta

Seafood Pasta ($7.90) featured a tomato sauce with a diverse and hearty portion of seafood – including squid, shrimp, mussels and clams. With a hint of saltiness, the clams were palatable but the mussels were grossly overcooked. The spaghetti was also slightly overcooked as evident by the soft texture of the noodles. 

 

Rating: 2.5/5

 

Curry Chicken Creamy Baked Rice

The Curry Chicken Creamy Baked Rice ($5.90) seems to be a good attempt on Saizeriya’s part to ingratiate itself with local tastes but falls short in some aspects. This dish struck us as aromatic and spicy, owing to its combination of turmeric-infused rice and curry. However, due to it being served on a hot plate, some grains of rice were overcooked. The melted cheese used was also quite little, resulting in it being somewhat underwhelming.

 

Rating: 3/5

 

Pepper Chicken Grill

Served with a portion of black pepper sauce and a side of corn and potato wedges, Pepper Chicken Grill ($6.90) was a dish that certainly defied our expectations of a conventional hot plate dish. We initially thought that the chicken would be too salty and dry – hence we ordered a side of steamed rice ($1.00). However, our concerns were unfounded as the chicken was well-seasoned and moist throughout. The black pepper flavour was evident, but without covering the taste of the natural juices of the chicken. 

 

Rating: 4/5

 

Bacon and Pineapple Pizza

To share, we had the Bacon and Pineapple Pizza ($6.90; Original Price: $7.90), a modified version of the classic Hawaiian pizza. Despite being avid fans of Hawaiian pizza (yes, we like pineapples on pizza), this iteration fell squarely short of our expectations. The crust was chewy instead of the crispy expected of a thin crust pizza, and only had a small amount of melted cheese. There was also a poor bacon-to-pineapple ratio, with a disproportionate amount of pineapple compared to the meagre slices of bacon. Also note that with the thin crust, this pizza is not exactly as filling as it looks. Not a ‘Must Try’.

 

Rating: 2/5

 

Iced Tiramisu

For our final entry, we tried the Iced Tiramisu ($4.90), which tasted pleasant, but had a poor presentation – it was still wrapped with baking paper and had several cosmetic blemishes. The tiramisu, however, turned out to be like good ice cream, with a silky and melt-in-your-mouth texture. It produced a beautiful medley of chocolate, coffee and cream. It also featured a subtle taste of alcohol and a strong but not overpowering coffee fragrance – characteristic of a good tiramisu. 

 

Rating: 4/5

 

In conclusion, Saizeriya is a place that offers value-for-money Italian-Japanese dishes under $10 – if you know where to look. Use this review to be better informed about your choices when dining there!

 

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

 

Opening Hours

Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

(except Wednesdays, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

 

Location

1 Vista Exchange Green, #01-44/45, Singapore 138617

 

The reviewers paid for all dishes reviewed at this food establishment. Views expressed belong only to the authors, and may not represent the views of College or The Origin*. 

Food Review #3 Affordable Atas Places near EJ

Are you a broke student looking to treat yourself with some atas food? Look no further as we review some affordable yet quality food near EJ.

Watami

Star Vista #02-16 (Just take the escalator nearest to the MRT!)

Though it may seem like an atas restaurant, Watami actually serves really affordable meals for students! With 9 different mains to choose from, ranging from deep fried tendon to raw salmon sashimi, there will definitely be food for everybody. We tried the ‘Pepper Beef Rice in Stone Pot Set’ ($8.90) and the ‘Chicken Cutlet with Scrambled Egg Sauce Set’. All sets come with a drink and some come with either miso soup, rice or a salad.

For the pepper beef rice, it consisted of japanese rice, beef, corn and black pepper. The stone pot gave the rice a nice crunchy texture and distinctive char while the beef was also well-marbled. However, since the stone pot takes awhile to cool down, it continued to char the rice. This means that you’ll have to keep mixing the rice unless you want burnt rice. Also, the meat-to-rice ratio was not good as the portion of meat was considerably smaller than the rice served. (6/10)

The meat-to-rice ratio was better for the chicken cutlet, which we were thankful for because the chicken cutlet’s scrambled egg sauce was too salty to be eaten on its own. The japanese rice was able to cut through the saltiness of the sauce well. The hot plate was able to keep the meat warm without burning it. (7.5/10)

The miso soup that came with our sets can be described in one word: salty. We know that miso soup is supposed to be salty but the one they served was unbearable, leaving our mouths salty and our throats thirsty for water.

 

TL;DR: The set meals were really value-for-money and the affordability of the meals actually made up for its shortcomings. The place is really crowded during lunchtime so coming as a whole OG/CG is not advisable.

 

Ikea (Take bus 14 or 100!)

317 Alexandra Rd, Singapore 159965

Fries($2.50): Thick and crispy, the fries Ikea had to offer had a lot of potential. It was nice and lightly salted but unfortunately fell short since they were served cold. (4.5/10)

Mushroom soup($3.50): Honestly the soup they gave just tasted like regular campbell’s mushroom soup but it went surprisingly well with everything. You get quite a lot of soup since it is self-serve, so you should fill your bowl with as much soup as you possibly can get for your money’s worth. It’s delicious and I highly recommend it (6.5/10)

12pcs meatballs($8.50) Undeniably one of ikea’s classics and must-trys, the meatballs were delicious. The cranberry sauce and gravy really complemented the dish well and the broccoli is refreshing to the palate. (7.5/10)

Almond cake($3.50) : I highly recommend this cake since it really ties together with your meal, no matter what you get, and tastes amazing. It’s totally worth it and you can actually get a whole box of this at the mart located in Ikea, so you can bring it home to enjoy it as well. (7.5/10)

 

Nun Song Yee

Rochester Mall #01-03

Nun Song Yee offers a range of bingsus that will surely satisfy your dessert cravings. Though on the pricier side, one bingsu is enough for a group of people and is perfect for sharing.

The oreo bingsu ($12.90) can be compared to an oreo milkshake, the milkiness of the shaved ice complements the crushed oreos really well. The bingsu was also served with a scoop of ice cream, providing the dish a thick and creamy texture that may cure the ‘jelat-ness’ that the bingsu brings along. (7.5/10)

The mango cheesecake bingsu ($18.90) is one of the premium bingsus and for good reason: it comes with chunks of cheesecake aesthetically placed alongside slices of mango. The mango adds a refreshing touch to the bingsu while the almonds lent it a nice texture. However, we found that the mangos were not very sweet and overall, the bingsu’s quality does not match its price tag. (6/10)

If bingsu isn’t your thing, Nun Song Yee also offers injeolmi toasts.

 

TL;DR If you have bingsu cravings, Nun Song Yee is your one-stop destination. One bowl is too much for a normal human being, so bring along your friends!

The Dim Sum Hunt

by Shania Sukamto

 

点心 (dim sum), a small intricate delicacy in a humble bamboo basket that will “点” (touch) your “心” (heart). Dim sum has always been a kind of comfort food for many, myself included. The wide variety of bite-sized delicacies draws many to the restaurant doors in the afternoon, eager to enjoy some delectable dim sum with tea.

 

For me, eating together is quite the family affair, especially when it comes to Dim Sum. There’s something about the cacophony of loud chattering and the audacious clattering of cutlery that entices me. Besides the food, it’s also about the tradition of going to “yum cha” (drink tea and socialize) with friends & family in a garishly ornate banquet hall. Most of us today are guilty of rushing through meals, preferring to eat from a takeaway box instead of taking the time to dine out with our loved ones. Yet through stacks of sweet and savory, Dim Sum promotes communal feasting. It proves that we still can appreciate each other’s company and it instills a sense of tradition through generations.

 

This weekend I tried the Dim Sum at Swatow Seafood for the first time, famous for its traditional Teochew cuisine.

Instead of an order sheet, Swatow sticks to traditional pushcarts. As soon as we sat down, an array of dim sum was presented to us. The staff members were incredibly friendly and attentive.

To start off, we ordered 糯米饭 savory sticky rice. They did not stinge on the dried shrimp and chinese sausage that gave the rice it’s enticing fragrance.

Next we had the 豆腐卷 tofu skin roll which was honestly quite disappointing. It was rather dry on the inside and too densely packed with meat, lacking the texture I expected.

Siew mai was mediocre, slightly mushy even.

I was most impressed with a hybrid between the shanghainese 豆沙锅饼 red bean pancake and a goreng pisang. The smooth red bean paste was complemented by swirls of banana and together they were encased in a crispy crepe. This spin on the traditional Dim Sum was a highlight.

 

Another dish I thoroughly enjoyed was the 纸包鸡 chicken wrapped in paper and fried all together. The wings & drumlets were incredibly tender and marinated evenly. (Picture not available as was ferociously devoured)
Moving on to deserts, the 蛋挞 egg tarts are definitely something you must order! I appreciate the structural integrity of the buttery shell instead of the flaky starchy type of some egg tarts. It instantaneously melts in your mouth and it’s egg pudding is to. die. for. This is exactly like the ones at Tim Ho Wan but at a bargain!

All in all, Swatow was satisfying and I’ll name it as an affordable Dim Sum restaurant but not my go-to. While it was a pity that they did not nail the fundamentals, I would recommend coming here for the Old School vibes and the highlighted dishes.

 

 

Parting the Yellow Egg

by Shania Sukamto

 

OMU Japanese Omurice Restaurant

It was midnight. I was hungry. Do I leave the comfort of my bed to cook up a storm in the kitchen? Nope. Will I turn in and await dawn? Can’t. So obviously, I resort to the most logical and mature solution — binge-watching food videos!

 

representation of self; hunger pangs do incite late night delirium

 

That night, I chanced upon a video of the whimsical Chef Motokichi making his internet famous Omurice. Like a true artist, he dons an iconic red beret as he carefully assembles the elements of his masterpiece. First, he deftly flicks the omelet in a pan, then carefully transfers the fuwarto parcel to the bed of tomato rice. In one swift motion, he slices (wait since when could an omelette even be sliced?!) it. Being a huge fan of Japanese food, eggs and all things photo-worthy, I was undoubtedly captivated!

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu5zGHjRaMo

 

To my pleasant surprise, OMU had just opened its first outlet in Singapore at Suntec City Mall. Here you can choose either a curry, cream, classic tomato, demi glace or Hayashi sauce base and add toppings like hamburger steak, eggplant, katsu etc.

 

I ordered the Curry Sauce Omurice with Pork Cutlet (usually $12.80++ but there is an ongoing lunch set for $13.80++$2 that includes a drink).

 

I have to say that the items looked way more sumptuous on the menu, I was expecting Monster Curry-sized dishes… Also note that the standard Omurice on the menu does not include the insta-worthy “lava egg”. For that, there is a $2 premium.

 

Here is a video of my Omurice minus the stylish flick of wrist action. Perfectly glossy on the outside, almost like a Japanese plastic display but bursting with silky eggy-ness in the inside. The extra $2 is indeed worth the experience/ boomerang content/texture. However, the curry was not as rich as I expected and the cutlet had a hint of staleness… I also wished that they more generous with the curry sauce. To sum it up, the elements were individually rather lackluster. There are other places that could offer Omurice of the higher standards like Ma Maison or Watanabe Coffee. Yet, when assembled with the Lava Egg it beckons a visit.

 

We also ordered the Cream Sauce with Bacon & Mushrooms and Hayashi Sauce Omurice (also under the set lunch menu). I loved how you could have two contrasting options within a plate. Its thinly sliced beef was especially tender and gave the Hayashi sauce a kick of umami. The tomato fried rice tucked inside the Omu was a bonus! This dish definitely made up for its curry counterpart.

 

 

Overall, I had quite a toothsome adventure would recommend it for the splitting Lava Egg experience. With plethora of toppings (just don’t expect too much from the Katsu) and sauce options, there’s no other place in Singapore that specializes in this Japanese staple like OMU.