Where Diets Don't Count And The Calories Don't Matter

Was super curious when I saw this at a new Vietnamese store; Bep Hue (same coffeeshop as Ipoh Tuck Lee), and I do love my bun thit nuong. What looks like minced meat are actually little baby clams, and it’s accompanied with a medley of shredded starfruit, green mango, herbs, peanuts, chilli and crispy pork rinds. Instead of the sweet, salty fish sauce mixture that comes with BTN, this however comes with a funky shrimp paste sauce, which I’ll be honest, will definitely take some getting used to.

That said, it was an exciting experience trying something like that, like ordering an unknown local dish while traveling, which I’m missing dearly. Will definitely be back to try their other tamer offerings hahaha.

Really got the travel blues but this visit to @warmupcafe.sg managed to take me away, even if just for a couple of hours. Featuring a comprehensive Thai menu, we went for the set menu for two and added on Namtok Grilled Pork Neck ($15). Everything was yummeh; crisp and fluffy Thai omelette, tasty red curry with a good hit of basil, cabbage with fish sauce infused with wok hei, and it even comes with dessert for two!

The main draw however is the setting; choose to sit outdoors and you’ll be sitting surrounded by fairy lights, astroturf and plenty of fans for comfort. Really had the feel of a Thai night market.

Also highly recommended was the Baby Octopus in Soy Sauce ($8) which frankly stole the limelight from their signature dish! Blanched to the perfect doneness; tender and ‘crunchy’ with the perfect bounce to it. And that sauce... Mildly salty and super fragrant with a ton of fried garlic oil a d spring onions. Simply a must-order.

Famous for the Moonlight Horfun, Ipoh Tuck Kee Son has been bringing in the queues for these silky ribbons coated in a slick, umami sauce that gets its richness from that beautiful egg once it’s mixed in. The highlight was definitely the noodles itself as the ingredients took a backseat (small prawns and not so crispy lard), something I’d happily have but probably not queue too long for.

Been following @chocolatetbasil’s recommendations pretty closely recently and lucky me, @fangkocoffee is just a stone’s throw away from the office. Was expecting great things from this and boy did this plate deliver an EXPLOSION of flavours! The shredded smashed chicken is tender and coated in a spicy mix of crazy tasty chilli paste and little crispy bits (which might be the chicken skin?). You can also choose the heat level; called Spicy Smash Level, ranging from 0-12. I kinda overestimated myself and went for 5, which had me profusely sweating between gulps of their creamy cold brew and spicy chimken. But hey, if suffering is this yummeh, then sign me right back up. 🥵

Last couple of days to pick up this pho-nomenal sub at @parkbenchdeli’s pop-up at @sugarfin.sg! A crazy thiccc layer of shaved roast beef with the signature flavours of Vietnamese cuisine in that crunchy herb salad in a crusty French roll; all to be dunked into this slick, rich pho dip. Now, better hold on to your buns a little tighter than us, or you’ll end up in the pho splash zone, but that didn’t detract from how dam tasty this whole ensemble is.

The introduction of 满粥了 at the previously deserted Arc 380 along Jalan Besar seems to have brought in some life into the area! Their rice rolls are made in-house, ensuring a chewy and light texture that you can only get with these that made-to-order fresh. Wrapped around crisp youtiao and then drizzled in a light, savory soy sauce, it certainly makes for a dam satisfying breakfast.

Besides a wide variety of rice rolls (I’ll be back to try the Minced Meat Pickled Veg one), there’s also very comforting congees available. There’s a constant flow of people though the queue seemed quite manageable when we visited, so now still seems like a good time to visit!

Definitely get the Roasted Brussel Sprouts ($16). The surface of the Sprouts have been grilled to a toasty crisp, while the inside remains tender and moist. Could totally clean a whole bowl out myself.

This eclectic Izakaya shares a space with Bar Stories, so you’ll be able to get a tipple or two customized to your preference. Other notable dishes include the Mentaiko Taramasalata ($13), while a very savoury and strong flavoured start to the meal, was quite addictive with the funky fishiness and perfectly toasted pita.

@habibisansg marries the unusual combination of Middle Eastern and Japanese cuisines and the result is as exotic and exciting as it sounds. You can opt for the FEEEED ME (Omakase at $62/pax), a popular option judging from reviews online to try a range of items, but we felt like going ala carte that night.

A common denominator between the dishes were the grilled items were done to perfection. Our iberico pork was charred, tender and juicy; all hallmarks of a great dish. Honestly could have passed off as a good steak! The broccoli tabbouleh helped cut through the richness of it all with some spice and acidity thanks the dressing and generous amount of pickled ginger.

Newly opened along North Bridge Road, @labocasg is a Cuban fusion bistro bar with comforting food and well-priced drinks. I’m no expert at Cuban food, so it’s pretty much a blind foray into the cuisine, but I generally enjoyed the strong flavours that were put on the table.

This rich seafood stew came with squid, prawns and mussels, and a crisp soft shelled crab right on top. Root vegetables like carrots and taro stewed till soft also have this hearty dish more character. While a little salty, the flavours were nicely rounded out by the addition of dill and made for a great dip for the crisp focaccia.

We also tried @lemakboys’s Premium Nasi Lemak ($18.80) which comes with an array of ingredients and a super tender fried drumstick. Did feel their sambal was sweeter than I normally like, but still a pretty good plate.