A Travesty

I was recently researching the best places for local breakfasts in Singapore for a magazine article when I discovered Casuarina Curry just a stone’s throw from where I live. I walk past this place almost every day but hadn’t once stepped through its doors until now. The original Casuarina Curry is on Casuarina Road and has quite an avid following from the Roti Prata-loving Singapore public, and judging by this off-shoot on Killiney Road – I can see why.

Roti Prata, for those who have yet to become acquainted, is a pancake-like Indian flatbread, which is skilfully made by kneading, oiling, folding and flattening freshly made dough, then frying it on an iron skillet. A good Prata place will perform all of this in front of you, before dishing it up with an accompanying curry sauce – usually chicken or mutton.



Roti Prata is traditionally served plain, or mixed with egg, although Casuarina Curry also appeals to the more adventurous, offering up fillings such as mushroom, cheese – or even durian and pineapple.

I lamely opted for the plain and egg, which was beautifully crispy and flaky, yet satisfyingly chewy with a slightly greasy finish. Just perfect for dipping into the accompanying generous serving of chicken curry.



Delighted with my discovery, I wasted no time in dragging Mr Greedy Glutton back with me a few days later, and we vowed to return again soon.

Well, you can imagine my dismay then when I walked past a few days later to see that the shophouse had been gutted! Several days followed when I watched with anticipation as the builders and decorators transformed the space, wondering what new culinary delight would be joining local legendary neighbours such as Killiney Koptiam, Warung M Nasir, Chicken Rice Express and Killiney Curry Puff.

And then finally it opened, and I found myself open-mouthed in the middle of the street gaping towards… a Domino’s Pizza.



Is there nothing sacred in this world today?

What a travesty.

Casuarina Curry - http://www.casuarinacurry.com/

Cold Cuts & Cheese

There’s a new Jones the Grocer in town… I’ve never really been a fan of the one at Dempsey- I find the whole feel of sitting in the middle of a deli having lunch decidedly odd. Plus their service has never been much cop.

However, Mr Greedy Glutton was having cold cuts and cheese cravings, so we thought we’d go check out the new Jones and the new Mandarin Gallery while we were at it. Firstly – I have to say, the Mandarin Gallery is a welcome addition to the Orchard shopping scene. I know, I know, there is really no need for yet another shopping mall on Orchard Road, but at least this one sets itself apart from the others, opting for at least half occupancy of small independent boutiques rather than the usual spectrum of high street fashion stores.

But we weren’t there to shop, we were there to eat. The interior of Jones is a vast improvement on its Dempsey space – more restaurant than deli, with sleek brown wood and subdued lighting.



The cheese counter also got a big thumbs up from us – not tucked away in a little room a la Dempsey, but proudly displayed in the window for all to see – and a very impressive selection they have too.



As we were there to fulfil a craving, we opted for one of the platters – the customers’ choice from a selection of cold meats, cheeses and antipasti. We went for the choice of 5 – very reasonably priced at $39.00++, choosing the French Salami, Italian Parma Ham



and three cheeses: the Delice – a beautifully decadent triple-cream soft cheese, the Morbier – a semi-soft cows' milk cheese, best known for the layer of ash through its centre, and everyone’s favourite blue – the Roquefort. These were all chosen with the help of a most informative Jones’ employee who was happy to talk us through all the different cheeses, complete with descriptions and historical background – very impressive.





I’m happy to report that Jones didn’t scrimp on their portions – we even had left over cheese to take home with us, and combined with a bread basket and a pumpkin and feta salad (not on their usual weekend lunch menu, but they were happy to oblige) we had a fine feast of a lunch.





Unfortunately our January ‘detox’ meant that we didn’t enjoy a glass of red to go with it – what a waste…. But there we go, there’s my excuse to go back.

Jones the Grocer, Mandarin Gallery, Orchard Road - http://www.jonesthegrocer.com/

Tanglin Japanese

You’d think after all that food we sampled in Japan (more from Kyoto later) that I’d be looking for a break from Japanese food for a while – well, that’s what I thought until those kind folk down at Tetsu invited me down for a tasting of their menu.

Tetsu is easily overlooked, even if you find yourself in Tanglin Mall, tucked away as it is in the corner of the 3rd floor (I myself have been in this mall several times over the last few months and never really known there was a gem of a Japanese restaurant lurking above my head). Once you find your way up there though, you will find a stylish modern restaurant offering fantastic cuisine, attentive service and a welcome respite from all those screaming children that litter the floor of Café Beviamo on the 1st floor (sorry yummy mummies….)

We were given free reign of the menu for our tasting, and we certainly made the most of it – although the restaurant specialises in tempura and tonkatsu, there are pages and pages of other tempting goodies, and we dedicatedly ordered several items from each page – here are some of the highlights.

We kicked off with some Fugu Mirin Boshi (Dried Puffer Fish) – we all know that Fugu can be lethally poisonous if prepared incorrectly, but thankfully we survived this dish, and enjoyed it to boot – although it was a slightly strange taste: like bakkwa with a fishy aftertaste.



The Sashimi Moriawase (Assorted Sashimi) provided a generous serving of large slices of the melt-in-your-mouth fresh fish – and we even picked up a top tip from Tetsu which I will happily share with you now: for the freshest sushi and sashimi in Singapore, opt for a Tuesday, Friday or Saturday as these are the days most restaurants fly in their fresh fish stocks. Good to know.



The Sushi Anago was an unusual entry on the menu, and a first for me – this being salt-water eel, as opposed to Unagi, their more common freshwater cousins. I was pleasantly surprised how tasty this was – sweet, sticky and tender and definitely recommended.



The Yaki Niku was probably the top of the pick for us – to-die-for succulent prime beef tenderloin grilled and seasoned to perfection, definitely a crowd-pleaser.



Obviously we couldn’t ignore the Tempura and Tonkatsu, these being Tetsu’s specialities. Both were fantastic – the tempura batter light and crisp as it should be, whilst the Rosu Katsu (pork loin cutlet), juicy and tender on the inside, crunchy on the outside. They also do a Katsu burger which is on my list of things to try when I return.



As with most Japanese restaurants, the food doesn’t come cheap, especially if you are planning on sampling a large selection of dishes as we did (although perhaps you won’t be quite as greedy as we were!). That being said, I shall certainly be returning as a paying customer and would recommend others to do so – and if you’re counting your pennies as well as your calories after all that festive indulgence then you could always opt for their great value lunchtime bento boxes, which give you an assortment of goodies for around $20.00.

Tetsu, Tanglin Mall - http://www.tetsu.com.sg

Japanese Cravings

We’re heading to Tokyo and Kyoto in a couple of weeks and so I have been busy reading all the guide books recently. Predictably, the pages I have been concentrating on most are the Food & Drink ones, and as a consequence I have been craving Japanese food like you wouldn’t believe. Thankfully this afternoon, my craving was finally fulfilled during a very satisfying lunch with the girls at Sun with Moon at Wheelock.

One of the girls was running late, so the three of us who were there decided to order a few nibbles while we were waiting. Being a greedy bunch, the nibbles turned out to be rather larger than necessary, but they were all so fantastic, we were glad that we did.

We kicked off with some sushi rolls: Salmon Pink Dragon Rolls (crab and avocado topped with salmon),



and some California Rolls.



And then dug into some Yakiniku – sautéed sliced beef with raw egg, on a bowl of rice. As a secret fan of Yoshinoya’s beef bowls, I was delighted with this – a posher, more flavoursome version and completely delicious.



Once our friend joined us we then ordered some main courses – a Sushi Mori Combo, comprising Tuna, Salmon, Yellow Tail, Cooked Prawn, Grilled Eel, California Rolla and Japanese Omelette; and a Sushi Roll Combo, comprising Soft Shell Crab rolls, California rolls, Diced Grilled Eel rolls and Japanese Omelette.



As sets, these were served with a beautiful Miso Soup, Chawanmushi (a kind of savoury egg custard with chicken) and a choice of side dishes – we opted for the Hokkaido Miso Mini Ramen, which was so delicious we were fighting over the last few mouthfuls.



As if this weren’t enough we also added on a couple more side dishes, justifying this with the fact that we had just shared two main courses between three (and ignoring that we has already shared a few extras beforehand) – some Pork Gyoza



and a Satsuma Age (fish cake).



I’m sure you must be thinking what a completely gluttonous group of girls we are – and you’d be right! But we were also a completely satisfied group of girls when we left Sun with Moon, and will be looking forward to coming back again soon.


Sun with Moon, #03-15 Wheelock Place - http://www.sfbi.com.sg/index_e.html

Gastronomic Anniversary

It was our wedding anniversary – yes, four years of Greedy Gluttonous living, and what better way to commemorate the occasion than a gastronomic feast at one of Singapore’s finest restaurants?

Iggy’s has a truly enviable reputation amongst the city’s restaurants – it was recently voted Asia’s Number One Restaurant by the Miele Guide and is also named in UK magazine The Restaurant’s S. Pellegrino World’s Best 100 restaurants. It is worth noting that not a single restaurant in Asia makes it into the top 50 of this list, nor do any restaurants in Japan make the cut at all – quite amazing considering that Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world (more than London and Paris combined). So whilst the judges of this list are clearly somewhat blinkered (or not very well travelled), the fact that Iggy’s is recognized makes the achievement all the more remarkable.

What immediately sets Iggy’s apart from most other restaurants is its ambience. No cosy tables à deux in here. There were 12 diners on the night we went, and we were all seated around an L-shaped counter, facing towards the semi-open kitchen (the windows were blacked top and bottom, meaning we could observe the chefs busy at work, without being privy to the intricacies of their endeavours). So whilst the evening is not set up for a romantic and intimate dinner, the atmosphere is relaxed and informal, and encourages interaction with the other diners, in addition to the waiter/sommelier who serves all the guests from behind the counter. As you are all facing one another, there is also the chance to get a sneak preview of what is coming your way in the 10 course Gastronomic Menu – and this is what we were treated to:

Uni
Cauliflower mousse, sea urchin, shiso jelly

Jabugo Iberico Bellota
Jamon Iberico, autumn salad, parmesan croutons, warm figs, fresh herbs and datterini tomato

Foie Gras
Foie gras crème brulee, cinnamon sugared pear, pan-fried foie gras on toast

Spanner Crab
Spanner crab meat soufflé, shellfish bisque, rocket sprouts

Cappellini
Cappellini with zucchini, smoked mullet roe and shallot

Halibut
Pan-roasted halibut fillet, red curry-scented pumpkin puree, green mango salsa, roasted shallot oil, glacier lily and balsamic reduction

Welsh Lamb
Herb crusted Welsh lamb saddle, French beans, baby aubergine, seito tomato, garlic confit and thyme jus

Pre-Dessert (a fruit cup)

Chocolate
Caraibe chocolate bar, mascarpone ice-cream, green lime zest

Iggy’s Lemon Tart

Suffice to say – the food was exquisite, and each course just got better and better. The ingredients were undeniably fresh, cooked to perfection and the flavours paired impeccably.

The capellini was truly to-die-for, I could’ve eaten an entire pasta bowl full, and I didn’t think I even liked smoked mullet roe!

The halibut was cooked to perfection and the delicate red curry-scented pumpkin was a worthy accompaniment, with the glacier lily an unusual addition that provided some scrumptious crunch to the dish.

‘Melt-in-the-mouth’ is a phrase far too often applied to food, but there is no other way to describe the herb crusted Welsh lamb saddle – and the memory of the marscapone ice cream which accompanied the sticky fudgy gooey chocolate bar remains with me to this day.

So does it deserve all the accreditations? Well it was certainly one of the best restaurants I’ve had the pleasure to feast in, and the relaxed ambience, impeccable service, interesting menu and of course, the exquisite food all combined to make this a very special and memorable anniversary meal indeed.

Iggy’s - http://www.iggys.com.sg/

Over-priced Chicken Rice

Chatterbox at the Meritus Mandarin hotel always gets mentioned in magazines, blogs, travel books etc etc, and yet despite being up on Orchard Road several times a week, I have never ventured in there. Recently, however, its well-publicized move to the 38th Floor finally tempted me over the threshold.

First things first – the view is impressive. We can quite often be found making use of the New Asia Bar’s happy hour, especially when we have visitors in town, and Chatterbox’s view certainly gives it a run for its money. Granted it’s not as high as the New Asia Bar, but this actually gives you a better sense of perspective over the buildings, and it also has a better outlook.

Now back to the food – Chatterbox has made its name serving up an array of hawker favourites in a modern and comfortable atmosphere. Its reputation, however, seems to have been gleaned from one dish and one dish alone – its Mandarin Chicken Rice. Obviously I had to try it – despite the outrageous price tag ($24.00++ for chicken rice anyone?!)…

but not before my ever-present Satay cravings got the better of me:



The Satays were okay, but no better than I’ve had from any hawker centre, and hugely more expensive (perhaps you pay for extra for the presentation of the cucumber and onion kebab and the pandan wrapped rice cakes).



So, on to the famous Chicken Rice – well it was a huge portion, no way I was going to finish it, and rather nicely presented (although that felt wrong somehow!)



and yes it was tasty – the chicken was succulent, the rice well flavoured, the soup tasty although rather overly peppered.



So probably one of the best chicken rices I’ve tasted… although I’m still not sure about that price tag!



And while I’m having a moan about the price tag – guess how much they charge for a cup of Jasmine Tea? I'll tell you - $8.00++! And it came in a mug with a Twinings tea bag….

I’m glad I waited to come here until the move to the 38th Floor. Somehow the view made up for the outrageous prices. I’m not sure I will return here in a rush… although if we have visitors in town, it would certainly be an option for lunch… but mainly because of the view…

Chatterbox - http://www.meritus-hotels.com/hotelresort/meritus_mandarin/dining/chatterbox.htm

Meritus Mandarin Hotel, 38th Floor

A New Lunch Option

It was girly lunch time again and this time we made our way to the recently-opened, much anticipated PS Café at Palais Renaissance. First impressions of this place are very favourable – the high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, tiled floor and Parisian café-style seating gave the restaurant a breezy, classy, European feel.

Unfortunately having been seated there for a few minutes, you would have been forgiven for thinking you were actually in Europe (outside, in the winter), it was so cold in there. In their defence they did offer pashminas to wrap around our goose-pimpled limbs, but I can’t for the life of me understand why it’s necessary for the room to be quite so arctic.

Anyway, back to more important things than climate control… the food. We kicked off with a shared starter – the crudités:

These were really fantastic, fresh, crunchy vegetables with two different dips – a curried lentil one, and I have to confess to forgetting what the other one was…

The main courses we chose were a bit of a mixed bag really. I opted for the King Prawn Caeser, which was one of the better options – a large bowl of crispy leaves, smothered in a rich dressing with plenty of bacon, a soft sticky egg and generous sized prawns.

Other options, whilst tasty, were rather miserly in the portions and I dread to think what some of our other halves would have done with the tiny morsels of food provided for the Poached Salmon:

And the Lamb Kebabs:

I’m afraid I have another criticism of this new venture – there wasn’t a single vegetarian option on the menu, leaving my vegan friend in a bit of a sticky situation. They did eventually rustle her up a salad, but I can’t help thinking this is a bit of an oversight.

Girls being girls, and this being the P.S Café (and their portion sizes being what we have already discussed), we of course continued to enjoy coffee and cake and I wolfed down a rather delicious Lemon Tart.

Unfortunately I have now discovered another restaurant with an annoying ‘No photographs’ rule… and so the camera had been banished to my handbag under the table by this stage… so you’ll just have to trust me when I say it was good…

P.S Café, Palais Renaissance - http://www.pscafe.sg/palais.html

Special Indian

It was Mr Greedy Glutton’s birthday eve, so being the loving and doting wife that I am, I booked us a table at Song of India, somewhere he has been dying to try for a while.

Set within a colonial black and white bungalow, with its pillars and chandeliers and modern art-clad walls, this is certainly a notch above the rest when it comes to class and style. Unfortunately though, it was one of those atmospheres where I felt the need to lean across the table and whisper to my other half, as there wasn’t much of a buzz about the place.

The menu too was certainly a notch above the rest, particularly the Starter section. After much deliberation, we decided on the Lahsooni Jhinga – Jumbo prawns stuffed with spiced crayfish and shrimps in a garlic enhanced tandoor marinade, and the Til Ke Aloo – Tandoori potato buckets stuffed with peppers, cheese, sesame and pine nuts.

These were beautifully presented – shared up between us and elegantly served on long plates, complete with decorative swirls. And they were completely delicious. Not only this, but they also bought us an amuse bouche – an upmarket version of a chaat in its own crispy little basket.

Moving onwards to the main courses, the menu wasn’t quite as inspiring, featuring all the usual favourites – Chicken Tikka Masala, Rogan Josh, Goan Fish Curry etc etc. We opted for their Chicken Tikka Masala

and the Kashmiri Rogan Josh.

Both of these were exceptionally good examples of these famous dishes, and you could really taste the distinctive flavours of the various spices within. However, at the end of the day – it was just a Tikka Masala and a Rogan Josh…

We did however team these with the Kuttu with Appam – mixed vegetables in coconut curry with fluffy rice hoppers, which was slightly more unusual, truly delicious and a great accompaniment to the richer meat dishes.

Washed down with a bottle of Kanonkop Pinotage

(we visited the vineyard whilst on honeymoon in South Africa and therefore become very excited when we spot one of these on the menu), this was a really fantastic meal.

However, for the prices they charge, I’m not sure I would justify returning for a ‘curry’. Instead I would be tempted to come back and make up my meal from their imaginative starter menu… and then I feel you might be in for something rather more special…

Song of India - http://www.thesongofindia.com/