Tag Archives: Lunch
Wok & Barrel @ Duxton Hill
Serving local favorites with a contemporary twist is Duxton Hill’s quaint little bistro- Wok & Barrel, opened by Chef Shen Tan- previous owner of the popular Madam Tan’s Nasi Lemak stall at Maxwell Food Centre. Chef Tan has certainly done well for herself, moving from a small stall to a whole unit space of her own and opening her own cafe.
Having heard many good things about their local delicacies offered in their menu such as the Beef Rendang Pizza, Bak Chok Mee Pasta and Bak Kwa Pork Ribs, I was definitely excited and keen to make a visit down to try it out. Unfortunately, when we reached the Wok & Barrel at lunch time, we realised that those items were only available after 5pm. The lunch menu was mostly nasi lemak sets, sandwiches and wraps.
It was disappointing having traveled all the way down, only to realise that we could not sample those dishes but we were much too hungry to leave for another place so we decided to give their Nasi Lemak Sets a shot.
There were 6 different types of sets varying from Mutton Curry, Crispy Pork and Beef Rendang but all served with coconut rice, omelette slices, ikan billis, sambal belachan and Asian Coleslaw.
The Crispy Pork $7.90 which was actually deep fried marinated thin pork belly slices reminded us a tad of bacon streaks when we first saw it. It was crisp and sinfully tasteful- the sort of guilty pleasure you feel biting into meat that has been submerged in hot oil. Pleasing to the tastebuds but not so on the waistline.
Special mention goes out to their Asian Coleslaw which I loved. The cabbage and carrots were neatly shredded into thin slices and the lime dressing was not your typical coleslaw dressing. It offered a refreshing twist which worked extremely well as a contrast to the usual heaviness that mayonnaise gives in regular dressings.
The Crispy Chicken $7.90 was another deep fried item we ordered. Yes, we were on an artery clogging streak. Nonetheless, the boneless chicken thigh was succulent, juicy and crispy and was a nice match with the soft fluffy coconut rice. The sambal belachan definitely hit the right notes with its colour and presentation yet the spiciness did not quite match. This is one for the non spicy fans and a miss for those who appreciate a spicy kick.
Selfish Gene Cafe
Barely a year old, Selfish Gene Cafe has already made quite a name for itself in the Duxton area. Opened by Le Cordon Bleu graduate Gene Mok, this cafe prides itself at serving unpretentious, affordable and definitely tasty food accompanied with a good brew of coffee or tea. After all, as his tagline goes.. ‘Gene is selfish because he will not serve food he would not eat!’
We wandered to this cafe quite by accident because Group Therapy Cafe was closed for the day and my were we glad we made that ‘accident’.
The Smoked Salmon Sandwich was a good portion and size. The focaccia had a well kneaded tough exterior but a complimentary moist and holey middle after biting into it. Though we did away with the cream cheese for this one, the sandwich was still not too dry and definitely refreshing for an afternoon bite! The accompanying mesclun salad with the homemade dressing was delicious. It was tangy, sweet and perfect for those green leaves. This is one homemade recipe I would really like to get my hands on!
The Mushroom Toast was great mix of chopped mushrooms sautéed in a little butter, olive oil, garlic and thyme and topped on a crisp slice of toasted bread. This tasted as pretty as it looked and it definitely left us wanting more after we cleaned this plate up.
Restaurant Week @ Bistro Du Vin (Shaw Centre)
One of the more popular little French bistros in Singapore, Bistro Du Vin by the Les Amis Group is not only widely known for their authentic French cuisine but also for maintaining the true charm of a real bistro in France with their setting and furnishing. This place has been on my radar for quite some time given the much raved reviews from many friends. Needless to say, we were psyched when we managed to snag two places which had been freed up at the last minute for Restaurant Week 2012.
As one of the restaurants along the stretch of Scotts Road, just opposite Pacific Plaza, the maroon-red painted doors were hard to miss. Stepping inside the bistro makes one feel like he/she has indeed travelled to France. Bistro Du Vin had done a great job in recreating a true French experience with the marbled table tops, quaint paintings lining the walls, a mini ‘cellar’ at the corner with a wide selection of wines to offer for accompaniment of the food and of course not forgetting the iconic striped red, blue and white French flag hanging from the ceiling. The vibe was casual and jovial, nothing too fancy.
Though the place was small, the mezzanine arrangement meant that more tables could be added without patrons feeling too cramped and I was amazed at how many people the bistro could hold at its full capacity though of course I was not too pleased at being able to reach across the next table. But who is complaining about the squeeze if the food is as charming as its setting?
Since this was my first experience with Restaurant Week, I was very fascinated with the A5 sized menus they had nicely printed on thick paper for us to choose from. The flip side of the page had a very French looking chef with his chicken who were both wearing a toque. It reminded me a tad of the Ratatouille movie back in ’07 and I was definitely feeling all ‘Frenchy’ after that and ready to order!
Before our food arrived, we were served with complimentary bread and my do the French definitely know how to make their bread. This baguette loaf was warm and oh so comforting to eat with a large slab of butter spread on it. Crisp on the outside but the holey and uneven center was soft and delightful. We were so happy with our bread, we decided to ask for seconds which the waiters kindly obliged.
Yan Ting 宴庭 @ St. Regis
Primed as one of the more authentic Cantonese restaurants, Yan Ting provides a top notch dining experience in one of Singapore’s luxury 5 star hotels on Orchard Road at the St Regis.
The restaurant located at the corner of the second level of the posh and luxurious hotel has a hardly noticeable entrance but walking through the doors gives one a totally different experience. Greeted by a beautiful chandelier hanging from the middle of the ceiling, the main dining area is not too big but cosy and comfortable. The tables are adequately spaced apart with plush arm chairs for the extra comfort while dining. It’s obvious that Yan Ting strives for quality experience instead of quantity where restaurants try to squeeze as many tables as possible into a given space. Booth seats are also available for couples for that extra privacy which is a nice touch. This is also precisely why reservations are a must given the limited number of seats available.
While Yan Ting is well known for their weekend dim sum brunch buffet at $98++ per person, I personally wanted to spend a little less first and decided to try out their ala-carte dim sum menu on the weekdays instead.
The Steamed Shrimp and Scallop Dumplings $6 were the first to arrive at our table and it was a great first impression to the remaining dishes to come. Both the scallops and prawns were fresh and the portion generous. The translucent starch skin on the outside did a perfect job at holding the ingredients of the dumpling together without being too heavy and thick. With the added parsley leaf and orange roe atop the dumpling as garnishing, this was definitely both an aesthetically and taste pleasing choice.
Next was my dim sum staple- Steamed Crystal Shrimp Dumpling $6 and this was good! Perfect prawn to skin ratio and the dumplings were beautifully wrapped with obvious skill given how fragile thin the skin was. One of my favourite Har Kao places to date. It pleases me when dim sum places get their staples right.
The Tea Party Cafe @ Sixth Ave
The Tea Party Cafe used to be my favourite go-to place for pasta and pizza back in my NJ days because of 1) its proximity and location 2) their affordable lunch specials 3) unlimited magazines and boardgames to borrow 4) but last and most importantly, as I had already not so subtly mentioned…their pasta and pizza!
Located at the corner of the row of shops just off 6th ave, this unassuming 2 storey cafe certainly does not stand out. But enter through the doors and you are greeted by a picture of comfort. Low rise sofa benches and a low lit atmosphere gives the cafe a comforting and relaxing feeling. Definitely catered for a lazy afternoon or a chilled out session with the girls. Climb up the stairs to the upper level for a lot more seating with proper tables and chairs.
We came here for lunch one afternoon. Correction- we have been coming here for the last few afternoons just to chill and wait for my little brother to take the bus from school to meet us since the bus stop is conveniently located just outside the cafe. Each pasta/pizza is served as a set with iced tea and the soup of the day. We ordered an extra brew of Green Sencha for $5.50 and that is possibly the most adorable tea pot ever!
