| FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2019 | THE STRAITS TIMES | happenings life D5

Hedy Khoo STFood Online Editor recommends Food Picks

SLICED RED GAROUPA SOUP AT TEOCHEW FISH PORRIDGE I suffered a bout of insomnia after eating this sliced garoupa soup at Kaki Bukit Market & Food Centre. It is hard to fall asleep when thoughts of slippery smooth slices of garoupa and tasty soup begging to be slurped up keep replaying in my mind. The Sliced Red Garoupa Soup (above foreground) is priced from $6. For $6, you get 72g of garoupa, and for $12, you get 148g of garoupa. I usually go for a $10 bowl (125g of fish), with add-ons of $2 of fish milt, $2 of fish egg and one side order of egg floss at $0.50. My $14.50 bowl is a fish soup odyssey of textures. Never mind that the stall has a generic name – Teochew Fish Porridge. Owner Lee Jim Lee, 59, obviously spends more time focusing on delivering exceptional fish soup than superficial things like (Clockwise from top) Fresh Oysters, Otsumami Pizza, Sumire Signature Bone-In Karaage, Yodare Dori, Gyutan Curry Rice and Butabara Stamina Steak. naming her stall. ST PHOTOS: HEDY KHOO The stock, made from chicken bones, is freshly simmered every morning, while the fresh batang and garoupa are delivered daily. NEW MENU AT SUMIRE Japanese rendition of a Sichuan dish, The oysters are from Hyogo the Gyutan Curry Rice ($10.80++), Head cook Cai Xian Li, 39, does an excellent job of YAKITORI HOUSE mouthwatering chicken. Much milder prefecture’s Sakoshi Bay, a protected which is made using beef tongue deboning the fish and each slice is generously thick. than the original, the sweet spicy oyster farming area where swimmers instead of beef cubes. The beef The fish slices are marinated in cornflour and salt for a Step into this izakaya-style Japanese sauce does pack a punch, but not to or boats are not allowed. The amount tongue is tender and has none of that specific number of minutes – which Madam Cai eatery and it is easy to forget it is the point of numbing your tastebuds. of ponzu sauce added to the oysters meaty odour that one may expect declined to reveal as the timing is critical to achieving located in a shopping mall. The The piece de resistance is the is perfect and does not overwhelm with offal. that mouthwatering texture of the fish, which is firm yet 104-seat restaurant situated at the Sumire Signature Bone-In Karaage the fresh briny taste of the plump Overall, this is one venue to add to tender and has a bouncy bite. side of Bugis Junction facing Victoria ($16.80++ for half chicken, $29.80++ creamy molluscs. your list of places to catch up with I do not usually like batang fish in soup, having eaten Street is part of a chain which has for whole chicken). The level of For a light bite, try the Otsumami friends over a meal. enough flaccid and fishy-tasting batang floating in 93 outlets in Japan. seasoning is spot-on and the Pizza ($9.80++), a thin-crust pizza WHERE: 01-88/89 Bugis Junction, bland stock to put me off for life. The Bugis Junction outlet, opened chicken, which is marinated in sake with mentaiko sauce and mozzarella 80 Middle Road MRT: Bugis But the quality of the batang at this stall surprised in 2013, is the chain’s only Singapore overnight, is savoury inside-out. The cheese. The Butabara Stamina Steak OPEN: 11.30am to 3pm and 5pm to me. Prices for the standard Sliced Fish Soup, which outlet. It released a new menu on crispy batter holds up well, even ($13.80++), which is grilled pork belly 10.30pm (Mondays to Thursdays); features batang, start at $3, but I suggest you go Monday which showcases the when the chicken is not eaten right glazed with soya and mirin, was 11.30am to 11pm (Fridays and straight for the $5 bowl (above background). capability of its chefs beyond yakitori after it is served. overcooked. The toughness of the Saturdays); 11.30am to 10.30pm WHERE: 01-30, Block 511 Kaki Bukit Market & Food which Sumire is known for. The Fresh Oysters ($12.80++ for texture marred the well-marinated (Sundays) TEL: 6338-9963 Centre, Bedok North Street 3 MRT: Bedok Try a dish popular in izakayas, the two pieces, $18.80 for three pieces) is meat. INFO: www.sumire.com.sg or e-mail OPEN: 11am to 11pm daily Yodare Dori ($9.80++) which is a a must-order item for oyster lovers. Save space to finish your meal with [email protected]

CHAOSHAN-STYLE BEEF HOT clean-tasting, yet flavourful. is beautifully tender. The Beancurd POT AT CHAONIU HOT POT The Spicy Nourishing Broth is a Ring Rolls ($3+) is a perfect hot pot The broths at this restaurant are Sichuan-style mala broth to cater to dish to soak up the broth. Cook it for made from scratch and so flavourful consumer demand here. The broth three minutes at most. The crunchy that they are tasty even before you made from beef bones and mature bamboo shoots ($3+) help to keep begin cooking any of the hot pot hens (which hold up better than the meatiness from becoming overly ingredients in it. young chickens when boiled) is cloying. Opened on March 6, the restaurant robust and hearty. The chilli oil is I didn’t have the stamina nor room specialises in Chaoshan-style beef prepared in-house and more than 10 to try the beef balls ($9) and beef hot pot. The main choices of broths types of herbs and spices go into the wantons ($5), which I am told, are are Chaoshan Beef Broth ($15+), mala broth. handmade in-house, but I will try Beauty Collagen Broth ($15+), and the The restaurant uses chilled beef them on my next visit. Spicy Nourishing Broth ($15+). It has a from the United States. The cuts are You get a selection of condiments premium broth called the Tangkak served with a tab indicating the cut including pork lard oil, soya sauce Beef Broth ($20+). If you cannot and recommended cooking time. The and chilli oil, but I would recommend make up your mind, opt for a best and priciest cut is the the house dipping sauce. It is a lovely “yuan-yang” split-pot (right) with a well-marbled neck ($20+). The flank mix of pork lard oil, shallot oil, chilli oil choice of two broths priced at $17+. ($12+) is surprisingly tender and and spring onion that complements The Chaoshan Beef Broth, made well-suited to quick cooking in the the beef very well. from beef bones, sweet corn, white broth. WHERE: 195 East Coast Road radish and Japanese cucumber, Unless you like chewy meat, skip MRT: Eunos OPEN: 11am to midnight which are simmered for six hours, is the sirloin ($18+). The beef tripe ($7+) daily TEL: 6909-8783

FOOD $68++ a person; six-course dinner Pimm’s lemonade special. Pair the MRT: Chinatown WHEN: May 24 - June chestnut, salted egg, conpoy and Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013 (6.30 - 10pm): $168++ a person, add iconic British dish ($29++) – which 30, 6.30 - 10.30pm PRICE: Adult dried shrimp; and Abalone and and Pomino Vinsanto DOC 2008. PROMOTIONS $120++ for wine-pairing features a moist fish fillet coated in $99++ - $108++, child $49++ - $58++; pumpkin rice dumpling ($48+). WHERE: 33 Hong Kong Street TEL: 6866-1977 INFO: E-mail light and crispy batter and served 15 per cent off for four or more paying WHERE: Sheraton Towers Singapore, MRT: Clarke Quay WHEN: May 30, 7pm [email protected] with hand-cut potato chips, crushed adults TEL: 6809-8899 INFO: E-mail 39 Scotts Road MRT: Newton PRICE: $100++ a person Singapore-Macau Jade-Jade English peas and tartar sauce – with a [email protected] WHEN: Mon - June 7, 11.30am - TEL: 6723-7733 INFO: E-mail Dragon Chefs Collaboration Daily Sunset Specials glass of Pimm’s lemonade. 2.30pm, 6.30 - 10.30pm PRICE: $28 - [email protected] Chef Leong Chee Yeng of Jade At Kilo Kitchen WHERE: 01-81 The Shoppes at Marina $48 + GST (takeaway), additional DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL restaurant and chef Kelvin Au Yeung Make an early dinner reservation at Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue 10 per cent service charge for dine-in The Cuisine Of Chef Sasaki of three-Michelin-starred Jade Kilo Kitchen between 5.30 and MRT: Bayfront WHEN: June 1 (11.30am TEL: 6839-5623 INFO: E-mail With Masciarelli Wines Dragon of Macau join hands to create Cantonese Delicacies In 6.45pm and enjoy a special - 10pm), June 2 & 3 (11.30am - 11pm) Hai Tien Lo’s Dumplings [email protected] The signature dishes of il Cielo’s chef a five-course lunch menu, with PRICE: Fish & Chips $29++, Pimm’s Yohhei Sasaki are paired with the three-course menu at $38++ a Hai Tien Lo’s executive chef Ben Zeng highlights such as Double-Boiled Fish lemonade $10++ (usual price $17++) wines of Masciarelli. Menu highlights person, inclusive of a snack, a small has adapted Cantonese delicacies Chilli Sauce Chicken Rice Maw Soup with Chicken and Sarcodon TEL: 6688-5665 INFO: E-mail are Traditional Viareggio Style Mantis plate and one salad, side or dessert. into two special dumpling varieties – Dumpling At Man Fu Yuan Imbricatus and Crispy Crabmeat Roll BreadStreetKitchen.Reservations@ Shrimps Spaghetti with smoked The restaurant is also offering classic pork belly and salted fish Among Man Fu Yuan’s six handcrafted with Abalone and Slow-Cooked MarinaBaySands.com caviar, Pan Fried Italian Dover Sole one-for-one drinks from 5.30 to 7pm dumpling ($18.80+), and crystal bamboo leaf-wrapped Chinese rice Garoupa Fillet; and a dinner with and Premium Japanese Wagyu for cocktails priced up to $20, wines dumpling with red bean and sago dumplings is the new Lao Gan Ma signature dishes, including steamed Shorthorn Beef Tartar. Featured by the glass, house-pour spirits and Durian High Tea Buffet ($8.80+). Also available are the chilli sauce chicken rice dumpling Brittany lobster on egg white custard wines include Marina Cvetic draught beer. At Marriot Cafe signature traditional jumbo rice ($13.80 nett) with shrimps in with Chinese aged huatiao wine WHERE: 97 Duxton Road MRT: Outram Marriott Cafe’s Durian High Tea Buffet blue-marbled glutinous rice dyed Chardonnay Colline Teatine 2016, dumpling ($33.80+), classic rice Marina Cvetic Montepulciano sauce and sauteed diced Kagoshima Park/Tanjong Pagar WHEN: Tue - Sat, is back with Mao Shan Wang creations using butterfly pea flower. Other new dumpling gift set ($68.90+) and the D’Abruzzo Riserva DOC 2015 and wagyu beef in wasabi premium soy from 5.30pm PRICE: $38++ a person such as durian red bean pudding, varieties are the Hakka preserved premium rice dumpling gift set Marina Cvetic Merlot IGT 2013. sauce. Both meals will be paired with TEL: 6467-3987 INFO: E-mail coconut custard, tarts and gateau. vegetables rice dumpling ($13.80) ($88.90+), comprising three flavours WHERE: il Cielo, Level 24 Hilton Old World wines rated 90 points or [email protected] Other items include , seafood and black sesame rice dumpling packaged with a bottle of Hai Tien Singapore, 581 Orchard Road more by Robert Parker. on ice, , , oyster ($8.80). Among the favourites are the Lo’s signature housemade XO chilli MRT: Orchard WHEN: May 29, 7pm WHERE: Jade Restaurant, Weekday Dim Sum Set omelette, and bak kut signature XO sauce Nyonya rice sauce or fragrant spicy dried shrimp PRICE: $185++ a person ($148++ for The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, At Min Jiang teh. dumpling ($9.80) and Cantonese sauce. HSBC card-holders) TEL: 6319-4038 1 Fullerton Square MRT: Raffles Place Min Jiang’s Weekday Dim Sum Set WHERE: Singapore Marriott Tang five-spice rice dumpling ($9.80). WHERE: Level 3 Pan Pacific INFO: E-mail gustoitaliano@ WHEN/PRICE: Today, lunch (noon - Lunch Menu includes items such as Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard WHERE: InterContinental Singapore, sph.com.sg 2pm) $195 nett, dinner (6.30 - Steamed Spare Ribs with black bean MRT: Orchard WHEN: June 3 - July 31, MRT: Promenade WHEN: Till June 7, 80 Middle Road MRT: Bugis 10.30pm) $395 nett INFO: Online sauce, steamed conpoy and scallop 3 - 5.30pm PRICE: Adult $45++ - 11.30am - 2.30pm, 6.30 - 10.30pm WHEN: Mon - June 7 PRICE: $8.80 - reservations at bit.ly/2VBeAnt An Evening At Summer Pavilion dumplings, crispy vegetable spring $48++, child (five - 12 years old) $27++ PRICE: $8.80 - $33.80 + GST; gift sets: $13.80, 15 per cent discount for With Glenglassaugh Whisky rolls, pan-fried carrot cake, pork and - $30++; add $5++ for durian orders by May 27 TEL: 6825-1062 $68.90+ - $88.90 + GST (additional Executive chef Cheung Siu Kong Aura’s Italian Gastronomy century egg congee and chilled smoothie TEL: 6831-4605 INFO: E-mail [email protected] or 10 per cent service charge for dine-in) helms the kitchen of one-Michelin- With Michelin-Starred Chefs mango sago with pomelo. Diners can INFO: singaporemarriott.com/dining TEL: 6826-8240 go to InterContinentalShoppe.sg starred restaurant Summer Pavilion Chef-restaurateur Beppe De Vito and add on soups ($8++ a person), noodles INFO: E-mail at The Ritz-Carlton. His dishes for this ($10++) and wok-fried seasonal chef Luigi Taglienti of one-Michelin- Lobsterfest At Lime [email protected] event include black truffle abalone, vegetables ($16++ a portion). WINE/WHISKY EVENTS starred Lume from Milan have The live stations at Parkroyal on Alaskan crab meat with Hokkaido brought the best of their Italian WHERE: Goodwood Park Hotel, Pickering’s Lime will serve lobster Kurobuta With Black Truffle scallop and sea urchin, steamed cuisines to Aura this week. Squid In 22 Scotts Road MRT: Orchard/Newton dishes such as lobster with golden And Quinoa Rice Dumpling Frescobaldi Wine Dinner At Amo Dong Xing grouper and pan-fried Black & White, Lobster Tortelli, WHEN: Till May 31 (Mon - Fri): 11.30am - egg yolk butter cream, lobster with At Li Bai Hosted by Frescobaldi’s Stefano Japanese wagyu beef paired with Seabass & Celeriac and Kagoshima 2.30pm PRICE: $36++ for two; five peppers sauce, lobster with Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant is Benini and presented by Amo, the Glenglassaugh – Highland Single Malt Wagyu with kale and wasabi oil are on add-ons $8++ - $16++) Singapore chilli sauce, baby lobster introducing the kurobuta with black dinner will feature wines from its Scotch Whisky. the lunch menu, while dinner has TEL: 6730-1704 INFO: E-mail laksa noodles, roti john with minced truffle and quinoa rice dumpling, 700-year-old winery in Tuscany. WHERE: The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Coho Salmon with white asparagus [email protected] lobster meat and grilled lobster, as which comes in regular (600g, $48+) Dishes include Chickpea Ravioli with Singapore, 7 Raffles Avenue and wild garlic. well as seafood on ice like Boston and small (350g, $56+ for two) sizes. Prawn Cacciucco & Rosemary Oil, and MRT: Promenade WHEN: May 28, 7pm WHERE: 05-03 National Gallery, Fish & Chips Day At lobsters, live prawns, black mussels The restaurant at Sheraton Towers Wagyu Cheek & Mushroom Peposo, PRICE: $198 a person ($158.40++ for 1 St Andrews Road MRT: City Hall Bread Street Kitchen and golden clams. also offers its signature traditional Tuscan Kale and Pecorino Fondue. payment with Citi Cards) WHEN/PRICE: Today & tomorrow; Bread Street Kitchen celebrates Fish WHERE: Lobby level Parkroyal on rice dumpling ($42+) filled with pork Featured wines include Pomino TEL: 6319-4038 INFO: E-mail five-course lunch (noon - 2pm): & Chips Day with a classic English Pickering, 3 Upper Pickering Street belly, roast duck, Chinese mushroom, Bianco DOC 2017, CastelGiocondo [email protected]