Siri House x Veuve Clicquot presents a stunning new outdoor dining experience on the terrace of SIRI HOUSE. Whether you’re planning a boozy brunch, dinner party or a romantic dinner for 2, dine amidst the lush greenery of Dempsey Hill, complete with garden views, florals for the table and Veuve Clicquot Champagne.

We enjoyed a 4-course individually plated 'Dine at Dusk' dinner ($98/pax, 6-course available at $128/pax) on the idyllic and surprisingly cool outdoor terrace. A trellis is specially designed for the occasion and huge fans are on site to provide you with a cooling dining environment. In fact it felt air-conditioned at night. The 4-course consists of an amuse bouche, appetizer, entrée and dessert, and all menus are complemented by the sparkling effervescence of Veuve Clicquot Champagne.

The amuse bouche is a chef's choice and we had a refreshing kohlrabi snack to start. There are 4 appetizers to choose from (2 hot and 2 cold- you get one of each for the 6-course). 

One thing about pregnancy is that i can't have my soft cheeses and it really kills me. I stole a bite of the Stracciatella with aburi Amaebi and it was heavenly. Chef Leo was kind enough to fully cook my prawn and it was so good with the crispy deep-fried head and creamy cheese. Sansho pepper, thai basil oil and crab fat croutons provided further umami notes to this dish. 

Xi Yan Culinary Group has recently launched a new concept Zing by Xi Yan, a conscious-dining concept which collaborates with The Social Kitchen to provide employment for disadvantaged communities. This casual concept caters to everyone in the family as they do not only serve Xi Yan's contemporary Chinese cuisine but also salads, grain bowls, steaks and pastas, and even croffles!

I must admit that i was skeptical when browsing through the menu which seemed schizophrenic. But after tasting the dishes, i can see the charm and appeal of having such a varied menu. Most importantly, i enjoyed every dish i tried and that says something.

We started with Yum Som O Kung Salad ($15) which is a refreshing mix of pomelo, prawns, and sakura ebi. You wouldn't be faulted for thinking it's a Thai salad as fish sauce was definitely at play here, along with the perk-me-up calamansi and yuzu. We hear that this sauce based is also used on one of the fish dishes. 

Do not miss The Squid Game ($14), which is as popular as the Netflix series. Octopus tentacles are used here actually and we loved the light tempura batter which is tossed in chilli, celery and parsley and lemon and a bit of peppercorns for that light numbing sensation. This was perfect with Xi Yan's blend of shrimp sambal, which they also bottle and retail.

At French Fold by Merci Mercel, you can have authentic French crepes and galettes all day, every day and as early as 8am at their Telok Ayer outlet. Being an early riser and gym bunny, i greatly appreciate cafes and restaurants that open early and i love how i could still enjoy a wide selection of savory buckwheat and sweet wheat flour pancakes (more than half of their full menu) at French Fold early in the day.

For breakfast, you could dine on small pastries, egg sandwiches, Eggs Benedict, other than galettes and crepes (of course). Come lunch and dinner, a fuller selection of crepes and galettes are available, together with appetizers, salads, cold cuts, and burgers too. 

For a savory start, we went with the crowd favorite, the No. 04. This has practically all the perfect breakfast toppings of savory Chiffonade of ham, organic egg sunny side up, over sautéed mushrooms, and  Comté cheese ($17). We enjoyed the thin crispiness of the galette, which goes well with the running yolk. 

The crepe comes topped with ribbons of ham, tender sauteed mushrooms, Comté, and an organic sunny-side-up egg. The galettes are also much bigger than their sweet crepes so it was perfect for sharing between me and my gf. 

We then went with the No.18 ($10), a chewy wheat flour crepe topped with artisanal Manuka honey, roasted buckwheat seeds, and Hojicha sea salt gelato from Birds of Paradise($10). The ice cream and roasted buckwheat definitely gave this crepe a more savory twist, which we weren't expecting, since we wanted something sweeter. On hindsight, we should have chosen the traditional Classic Butter ($9) but add on our choice of ice cream. 

French Fold is perfect for catching up with your girlfriend over breakfast, or if you could convince your date to have galettes for dinner (i know Jr wouldn't be that excited about it). We found the Telok Ayer outlet to be cozy and chic and very welcoming and it's definitely going to be my regular post-gym refueling stop from now. 

French Fold has also opened a second outlet in Palais Renaissance on Orchard Road.

French Fold

204 Telok Ayer Street

SINGAPORE 068640

Daily: 8am - 10.30pm

#01-02, Palais Renaissance

390 Orchard Road, Singapore 238871

Daily: 11am - 10.30pm

If there's one good thing that came out of COVID-19 for me, it's the appreciation of Korean cuisine, thanks to Netflix and K-drama. I've always prefered Japanese food over Korean, as it is more delicate  and refined, as compared to the one pot, mix-it-all with lotsa sauce, and eat out of a huge metal bowl kinda way of eating. Well consider me a convert. Korean food is best for social bonding over hearty dishes and alcohol. For those who want the best of both worlds, i highly recommend ANJU for a more elegant modern Korean dining and bar experience in a chic and tasteful setting right in little Korea that is Tanjong Pagar. I promise you would not leave smelling like a BBQ post-dinner.

Dinner reservations are hard to come by and i was lucky that a friend made a reservation more than 2 months ago! Forget the regular green or blue bottles of soju. At Anju, they have a curated list of Koreans alcohol and Makgeolli is a special. 

If you are here with more friends, definitely go for their special Champagne Makgeolli ($75, 940ml), which is naturally carbonated. Since there were only 2 of us, we went with the White Lotus Makgeolli ($28, 375ml). The grain liquor was infused with white lotus, which provided hints of floral undertones and a refreshing nutty finish. 

For appetizers, it's a toss between the umami crunchy bomb that is the Bori Prawns ($8) simply seasoned with green baby garlic shoots and salt; or the Black Bean Mascarpone ($16) with sourdough crackers that is my one true love. The latter could be a snack or a dessert due to its delicate sweetness from the sweet Suritae beans. Mix it with Chef’s special chive oil and it provides a savoury headiness. 

Revolver has to be one of the best new restaurants that have opened this year, in the midst of the pandemic no less. You have to admit that they are bold, just like their fiery wood-fired, grill and tandoori offerings made with fresh seasonal ingredients and based on Indian cooking sensibilities. But the boldness works and it's already one of the hardest restaurants to get a booking at.

I was lucky to score a weekend lunch table and had a taste of Chef Saurabh’s revolving menu. While grill houses are commonplace these days, it's rare to find an Indian one like Revolver. 

To complement our 6-course affair ($99), we added a 3-glass wine pairing ($65) for a not too indulgent day-drinking experience.

First, the stuffed courgette flower, filled with a creamy spicy potato mash is first kissed by the fire, and then painted with lemon pickles. The flower maintained its delicate nature and eased us into the meal.

The fresh paneer with coriander pesto has to be the best paneer i've had. The cottage cheese is flown fresh from New Delhi daily and boy that firm tofu texture was kept even though it's finished in the tandoori. I'm not a coriander fan but i mopped up that pesto.

We couldn't help ourselves but to order the Kurobuta pork belly Vindaloo (+$20). Marinated in 5 spices and then grilled and glazed with tamarind pickles, the meat leaned on the sweet side with char siew flavors to it. We expected some heat in the Vindaloo curry sauce to balance the dish but it wasn't spicy at all. Nevertheless, this was very enjoyable.

We enjoyed it more than the Red Snapper with Gunpowder salsa (mix of Indian spices), which was a tad too blackened. Someone needs to watch the fire more closely here.

We thought the Chicken Scotch eggs were a tad out of place on the menu but it was tasty nonetheless. The soft egg was wrapped in a juicy chicken mince and nestled on a crispy nest of fried thin potato strips. The aioli and chili oil definitely helped to spice things up a notch.

Another of our favorite was the Spiced chickpeas with Parmesan Kulchette. Surprisingly, this was the spiciest dish on the menu and the heat was very manageable. Loved the texture and the umami cheesy note to this dish.

To end, the Kulfi Gelato with cardamom spices. It's not as cloying as the traditional dessert but I guess you either like it or you don't.

Come dinner, there are 3 tasting menus to pick from- Discovery Menu ($139), Experience Menu ($199) and Vegetarian Menu ($129). I can't imagine eating more though. Is Revolver worth the hype? It definitely warrants a repeat visit, if i could get a table.

Revolver

56 Tras Street, Singapore 078997

Tue-Sun : 12 - 2.30pm, 6 - 11pm

Tel: +65 6223 2812

I gave up on any form of private dining since the scene started gaining popularity. Why? It is not because i turn my nose at fads and trends, it's just impossible to get a table at any decent ones, so i wait, until they become big enough to go commercial LOL. Mustard Seed is one of the private dining turned restaurant type and it is still hard to get a table- reservations are snapped up within a minute of their release on the first day of the month at 10am. I only managed to dine here 2 years after Mustard Seed set up shop in the sleepy Brighton estate in Serangoon Gardens, all thanks to my lucky friend and his extremely fast fingers. 

Mustard Seed is helmed by Chef Gan Ming Kiat, who serves his personal interpretation of Singapore's food, inspired by Japanese cuisine and technique. The fine dining, omakase style menu marries his prior experiences at Candlenut and Goto- Mod-Sin with Japanese. The menu changes every 2 months and starts at $140+ per pax for lunch and $168+ for dinner.

Jiu Hu Eng Chye is usually made with cuttlefish but at Mustard Seed, fresh squid is used, scored and seared quickly into tender scallop shapes. Instead of the usual kang kong, cucumber and kale were used instead, topped with a housemade sweet sauce which is a mix of sambal with red miso and hoisin. I don't typically enjoy the cuttlefish kangkong dish and i definitely prefer this version which is more elegant. 

Prawn Tortellini with Ipoh style broth eased us into the hot dishes and boy does it comfort the soul. The inspiration of the dish comes from Ipoh chicken hor fun and the broth is made with kampung chicken, and infused with prawn heads and prawn shell for more umami. The tortellini wanton provided a little more chew due to the pasta skin and it was quite a textural delight.

MoboMoga welcomes all you modern boys and modern girls (the name actually means that) at its dark and eclectic sake-bar/izakaya with a speakeasy vibe. Located along the main Mohamed Sultan road side of UE square, you would probably miss this sake bar if you do not spot the red lantern hanging outside. Duck in through the door within a door (note it's the smaller one) and scoot onto a seat around the bar counter for your Japan experience in Singapore (since we can't travel). 

You may feel a little out of place, just like you would at a local Japanese bar where no one speaks English. We were told by friends that we should ask the pretty Japanese service staff for recommendations for food and sake and we dutifully heeded the advice. It would otherwise be daunting to pick something from the vast collection of sakes here.   

Not fans of innards, we skipped the recommended sweet shrimp shiokara ($12) and low temperature cooked chicken liver ($14) and went straight for the izakaya defining tsukune ($12), which sadly lacked the crunch of the cartilage. Instead, you get some nutty bites (probably from some form of nuts like gingko or peanut). The grilled chicken meatball is doused with a sweet tare and topped with a whole creamy egg yolk.

You already know that SIRI HOUSE is my favorite restaurant in Dempsey (read my earlier review here) and i must have sampled most of the items off the menu. This time, Jr and i headed back for their not-quite-new weekend brunch menu (our earlier plans were thwarted by COVID-19).

A recap on the food SIRI House serves- it says Modern Asian family table, which actually meant a medley of flavors and dishes that a modern well-traveled and savvy family would be accustomed too. The international influences draw from Japanese, Korean, Thai, Italian and Spanish cuisine.

But of course, brunch is not run-of-the-mill here. A simple Lobster Scramble ($21) blew our minds with the refreshing mix of a Middle Eastern Za’taar sour cream flavoring the delectably soft scrambled eggs with Boston lobster. The sour cream was a burst of mint, flower, wood, and nut, which cut through the richness of the eggs. While the suggest is to share this small plate, i advise that you add on some sourdough, a long with another other sides, and keep it for yourself.

SIRI HOUSE's Arancini ($21) changed my mind on fried rice balls. Theirs is served like a takoyaki, with the familiar presentation of mayonnaise, furikake and bonito flakes. Looks aside, each bite was greeted with a big crusty crunch, which breaks away to reveal a creamy mozzarella ooze. I enjoyed the starchy rice in place of flour, peppered with bits of octopus and chorizo. There's a twist on the typical Kewpie too, with Chef Leo giving it a spicy Thai chili upgrade. 

We also had one of the weekly specials which is perfect for this scorching summer. Summer Tings ($18) is a garden on a plate, created with Hierloom tomatoes, apricot, a slightly sweet corn mousse, starchy chewy heritage corn kernel for texture and lacto-fermented calamansi peel.

The Cheeseburger ($29) has the longest list of ingredients on the menu with each element layering on a distinct dimension to the overall bite. Here goes- juicy beef patty, salty crunch from fried Parma ham, oozy Cheddar, nutty Gouda, acidic bread and butter pickles, piquant shishito relish, jammy caramelized onions, sharp Dijon mustard, smoky harissa mayo, all sandwiched between a slightly springy milk bun. This is not your usual cheeseburger and is one that i'll remember from time to time. The double-fried fries were perfection too; they were crunchy all around and fluffy within.

After such a heavy meal, you simply have to go with the pretty terrarium inspired Cherry Sundae ($18) to bring you out of slumber. I loved the tanginess of the yogurt ice cream adorned with a balanced cherry compote (it's not as sweet as i imagined it to be) with really nice juicy cherry halves. The fruits used in this sundae are seasonal and we had apricot in ours. Crushed dark chocolate feuilletine provided a contrasting crunch. 

Given that we ate some much, the Bomboloni ($16), Italian style fried bready doughnuts filled with cashew chocolate ganache and mixed berry jam, was too much for us. I thought they were a bit oily and dense and the sugar granules coating didn't help with the greasy bite. 

What's brunch without some cocktails right and we know SIRI HOUSE makes some mean ones. While they claimed that their Brunch cocktails ($12) are low ABV and focuses more on flavors than alcohol, i was flushed after my first glass of Jasmine Sake Bellini. No complains though! Jr's Mary Nagano is a spicy wasabi and chili twist on Bloody Mary which would go very well with burger and fries. For those wanting a caffeinated kick, the Caffeinated Martini with dark rum, kopi O and espresso will provide that high. 

If you require some sobering up, check out the retail space at the front of house or pick up some toys curated by multidisciplinary creative studio, FLABSLAB- they are currently doing a Fifty Shades of Black collection.

SIRI HOUSE
Block 8D #01-02, Dempsey Road,
Dempsey Hill, Singapore 249672
Tel: +65 9487 1552
Tue - Thu: 11.30am - 10pm 

Fri - Sat: 11.30am - 11pm
Sun: 11.30am - 9pm 

We're closing on 3/4 of a year since the Singapore-Hong Kong Air Travel Bubble Corridor has been announced. Well if i were to satisfy my dimsum fix in Hong Kong, i would have starved to death already. Thankfully Singapore has decent dimsum and we even have some really good bolo buns now. Champion Bolo Bun at Tanjong Pagar is a specialty bun store which pivoted from an online business to its current 3 storey shophouse space serving only bolo buns and Hong Kong style milk tea and coffee to go accompany the snack.  

Yes only these pineapple looking buns are sold here and basically they only have 2 variants of it, the regular type, and a filled one. Go on a weekend and be prepared to be faced with a snaking queue even though the Muji-esque space is huge for dining in. Why? Because Champion doesn't differentiate their dine-in customers from the takeaway ones. So yes, everyone gotta wait in line for the precious buns. The buns are baked fresh every 15 mins and it's recommended to eat within 20 mins. You could even replace your buns if you don't eat it within that time but WHY WOULD ANYONE DO THAT?

For the regular variant, you could have the Classic ($4.50), the Classic with Butter ($5) featuring an added slab of chilled New Zealand butter, or the Mini of 4 ($4.50) if you wish to split (over my dead body). For a sweet-savory one, there's also a curry potato filled bolo ($6). Unfortunately, it was one me so i can only stomach one bun and of course it had to be the one with butter. 

Firstly, the bun is gorgeous. A brown streusel crust tops the soft pillowy bun below and a butter tongue peeks from between the fluffy bread. As you take a bite into the huge square, you get the crunch of the cookie shell, which gives way to the pillowy soft bun and moist center. I loved the mix of sweetness and savoriness in each bite. And boy it is a big bun. 

The Champion Milk Tea ($5.50) is a perfect accompaniment to the bun. How could you not have the Hong Kong style milk tea with a bolo bun? That's the quintessential pairing. I went with the hot milk tea as the sweetness could be adjusted. While I typically have mine unsweetened, which could be a wild card depending on where you have it, I went with slightly sweetened this time and it was just the right mix. Rich smooth tea with a lovely fragrance with just a tinge of tannins. I'd probably go with unsweetened next time to lessen the guilt from the sweet bun. The cold drinks come sweetened so you don't really have an option. HK style coffee and lemon tea are available, and they also serve espresso-based drinks.

Champion Bolo Bun serves the best bolo bun i've eaten in Singapore, and also Hong Kong. The craving is kicking in as i'm writing the review. Damn i need to go now. 

Champion Bolo Bun

92 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088513

Tues- Sun: 11am - 5pm

You’ll not go hungry at Tanjong Katong- the entire street is practically a stretch of eateries ranging from roast meat to Wanton mee and Nasi Lemak. Little Rogue Coffee is a welcomed addition to the mix, bringing an end to the dearth of brunch offerings (though i heard the 6 Letter Coffee is pretty decent) in this enclave.

An impromptu breakfast calling had me call my trusty early bird friend B who was already out cycling since god knows what time. Just as well, Little Rogue Coffee has a bike rack within the cafe where B's expensive bike could be parked (i guess there is really a growing bike community in the East). For families, there’s even a little playground to occupy the kiddos while the adults eat.

The newly opened cafe is already drawing a crowd but thanks to the spacious interior, the queue moved rather quickly (the wait is of a diff sort). Breakfast is served all day with more substantive mains like Beef Cheek Linguine ($24), K-pop Chicken Burger ($23), Steak and Eggs ($30) dished out from 11am.

Breakfast is more Australian-cafe style with various egg options. The dish which has made its grand tour on social media is the Soft Scrambled Eggs & Ikura ($14), featuring wet creamy eggs with small curds, with a scoop of uber umami truffle cream and pops of ikura and chives. I wouldn’t recommend stirring all the cream into the eggs as i felt that it overpowers the dish but feel free if you're a fan. The sourdough was flawless on its own, lightly chewy and perfectly buttered and toasted. The dish speaks for itself and the bonus is its IG-worthy appearance.

BBQ on sticks, all the convenience, none of the hassle. Yakitori Yatagarasu obviously is doing things right by their skewers, having expanded their business during these strange times. Both outlets are situated along Circular Road, just a few stores apart, offering a selection of yakitori and pork belly-wrapped sticks, alongside some appetizers, fried food, and some carbs. I loved the cosy interior and we sat at the counter where we could see chef work his magic.

It was brainless to go with the starter set ($29/pax), which includes chef's choice of 4 chicken skewers, 2 pork skewers, with a salad (cabbage, onion, or coriander), plus an alcoholic drink (except sake). 

Glad to have this refreshing cabbage salad to go with the savory sticks. Jr went for coriander which IMO is one of the most disgusting veg to eat on its own. Like isn't it a garnish? As much as he liked coriander, i guess his love for it isn't sufficient for him to finish the plate of salad. 

Yakitori are priced at $2.50 with the exception of tsukune ($4). We were served the tender fillet which was flavored by teeny drops of yuzu kosho. 

Of course the chicken thigh was better due to its higher fat content.  

Now something i've never tried in my life is the chicken tail (aka chicken backside). What have i been missing out my whole life?! This part is perfect for grilling because the fat makes it crispy and there's a tender knob of meat hidden as well. I happily gave the gizzard away because i'm not a fan of such chewy textures. As for the soft bone, well i ate whatever meat there's on it. Unfortunately, all diners have to order the set together, so i'm stuck with these parts. I'd probably order my choice of items in the future but i'm also glad i got to try the chicken butt because of this. 

We enjoyed the juicy crunch of the lettuce wrapped in pork belly. The pork belly items are priced from $3.50.

The long beans wrapped in pork belly also exploded when we bit into them. 

Of course we had to order more. Sitting in front of the grill was of no help when it comes to restraining calories. Loved the mix of king oyster mushrooms with pork belly. Asparagus works too. If we had more space, i'd have gone for the more interesting items like pork belly wrapped curry rice or okonomiyaki.

The shiso leaf pork belly was another of my favorites due to the refreshing flavor.

We also had an order of the fried oysters, which were plump and juicy. 

Yakitori Yatagarasu is worth a repeat visit for a casual dinner. Good food, good prices, and attentive service. Also, frozen towels are a thing, perfect for refreshing your fingers while dining. 

Yatagarasu

66 and 72 Circular Road Singapore 049426

Tel: +65 6221 7785

Mon - Sat: 6 – 10.30pm