Jack the Ripper : Atas Burgers in Kopitiam

Emma, Martha, Annie, Elizabeth. What do they have in common? 

Well, these are the names of the "Juicy Lucy" style burgers of Jack the Ripper. Located in the same food court as many other non-conventional stalls such as Immanuel French Kitchen, Two Wings and In the Brickyard, this burger joint is run by the same team behind another same-location German sausage house Stew Kuche. In addition, being are the brainchild of Absinthe's Executive chef Nicolas Reynard, you know that these dangerously delicious burgers possess something different already.  

The 7 choices of burgers (6 beef and 1 chicken) might not seem many, but each man-sized is specially crafted to appease even the most finnicky palates. All the beef options share the same fundamental "Juicy Lucy" recipe for the patties, only to be distinguished from each other with variated toppings ranging from Crispy Bacon to Spicy Guacamole. 

Pardon the mess of this close up shot as the it is simply too juicy and flavourful. 

Let me introduce Ms Elizabeth, a combination of 150g "Juicy Lucy Style" Aussie WAGYU BEEF Pattie oozing with CHEESE on romaine lettuce, tomatoes and Sweet ONION Relish in between two freshly toasted Golden Brioches, which are thick enough to absorb the juices underneath the fragrant crust. 

The beef patties are served rosy pink on the insides and just perfectly seasoned, making them easy to conquer without triggering any fatigue.  

For non-beef eaters, try Catherine, the same burger buns sandwiches with Teriyaki Chicken on Lemon Mayonnaise, Romaine Lettuce and Red Onion. The chicken is grilled to slightly charred brown perfection without sacrificing the juices. I would prefer to have more of the tangy mayonnaise since it would help to add a refreshing vibe to the burger. 

At an average price of $18, all burgers come with french fries and dipping sauce. These might not be the cheapest option around but honestly very value-for-money considering quality and portion. Good to know that GST is not charged here.

Jack the Ripper 

Salut Coffeeshop 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-40 Singapore 151119 

(Next to Alexandra Food Village, opposite Ikea)

Daily except Monday: 11:30am – 3pm; 5:30pm – 10pm 

https://www.facebook.com/JackTheRipperBurger

Chef Yamashita Revisited : NEW Summer Cakes 2015

Within six months after the last time I tried Chef Yamashita's cakes in December 2014, I was delighted to find some new creations on display during a meetup with my matcha comrade Shirley @ littlemissbento. His strive for innovation is truly a move to applause as most pastry shops in Singapore do not change the items since day one. Not that it is a bad thing but it is always a wise strategy to have a mixture of new and classics items in order to stay competitive. 

For instance, two new items (probably not so new by the time you read this) that were the Yonashi Tart ($6.30) and Framboise ($6.80) . Unlike the classic pear tart that is layered with slices, the pears are cut into chunks and baked together with the custard. I suspect some juices might have seeped into the custard during the baking process which made it more flavourful. 

The Framboise was definitely a big surprise because I never thought that Nama chocolate could be placed in the centre, enrobed in white chocolate mousse and subsequently a raspberry mousse. Yet the nama chocolate was not texturally awkward, instilling another layer of dark romantic mood to this pretty spring dessert.   

On the other hand, it is relief to see that good classics stay on the shelf. For instance, the Ichigo Soufflé ($6.50) has a livid cheese character without being too dry. It also has a more substantial layer of whipped cream and a cottony texture than the one from Chateraise. 

The Mount Fuji ($6.80) defied the rules of a classic Mont Blanc but in a good way. Beneath the luscious chestnut cream is a layer of light ️fresh cream, intense chocolate sponge and a  slice of puff pastry that succumbed to moisture unfortunately. Yet this is not a big sugar hit and way better than Okada's version.

Tricky ingredients such as yuzu are articulated deftly in this Yuzu Matcha ($7.20) , a latest item that did not witness any strong fight between the citrus fruit and green tea. There is certain depth to this cake, yet it is cloud-like and clean; an unspeakable feel of déjà vu as if you were trekking in the bamboo shoots of Arashiyama. 

In an attempt to create something more American, Chef Yamashita has also launched this new "Handburger", a spongy almond Bouchee filled with assorted fruits and Chantily cream. Having the sponge by itself can be a little too sweet but not so when it is enjoyed with the fresh fruits and cream. 

That said, it might be still too early to summon a judgment as the final version will include a Kuromitsu (black sugar) mousse patty. I guessed this does not really matter as I would visit again for more and this is for sure;) 

Chef Yamashita 

1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza

#02-44 Singapore 082001

Mon-Sat 10am-6.30pm

Public Holiday 10am-4pm

Closed on Sundays

https://www.chefyamashita.com

https://www.facebook.com/chefyamashita?fref=ts

881 XO Fish Head Bee Hoon

We thought we went to the wrong place as we could not spot any signboard that says 881 XO Fish Head Bee Hoon. Instead we saw XO crab bee hoon. Nonetheless, we did a double check with the menu and unit number. Yes, this is the correct eatery located besides the Original Gui Ling Gao Shop diagonally opposite Boon Tong Kee Chicken Rice. 

A hot 36 degrees late Sunday afternoon see more empty tables than customers but it means quick service. A super quick one. Our sambal potato leaves ($8) arrived in less than 6-8 min after ordering. A dark plate of green that looked potentially "young" (not those old and chewy) turned out only mildly spiced. 

Next up the Signature XO fish head bee Hoon ($10 for small/ $18 for medium/ forgot the price for large) which did not seem to arouse any hungry appetite. The milky broth was light, I meant very light, thus those with an inclination towards heavy seasoning will not bat an eyelid on this. But I think the charm of this unassuming plain dish is that the more you eat, the more you enjoy it. 

Strangely, I noticed the liquor fragrance emerging gradually and I found myself slurping up spoonfuls after another, something which I rarely do. My family agreed that it might not be as tasty as Hong Kong Street Zhen Ji but this was still a pretty good bowl especially with the fresh fish head. I can imagine how delicious it would be if the peppery kick was stronger. 

Maybe because I hadn't had Char Kway Teow for ages. The Moonlight Horfun ($5.50), which I changed last minute from San Lao Horfun, were more robust than the fish head bee hoon and not overly sweet nor salty. Not outstanding but a decent plate to go with their minced Chilli sauce.

I had expected the least from the deep fried hei zor but it turned out to be the star dish that night. Filled with generous amount of chunky chestnuts and prawn bits, the golden rolls were crisp without any trace of grease. But the rolls seemed to be quite a poor conductor of heat as the innards remained piping hot even towards the end of the meal, so do be warned in case of a scalded tongue. 

881 XO Fish Head Bee Hoon 

412 Balestier Road

Singapore 329805

Tel: 62545768 

Cafe Iguana: Authentic Mexican Grills & Margaritas

Roti prata with Marsala prawns? Nope, this is Camerones al Diablo ($23), a classic Mexican appetizer of sauteed prawns in bright red sauce made of chilli, capsicum, ginger and lime served at Cafe Iguana. Located along the idyllic Clarke Quay River since 2000, this restaurant (not any hipster cafe) is opened by an American and a Chilean who felt that there was a lack of good authentic Mexican food at happy hour prices. 

With a good selection of Mexican special cocktails and Margaritas, it is not surprising to see that business is booming even on a Tuesday night. 

Red Snapper Burritos ($25) made a stunning entrance like a curvy oblong-shaped parcel, only to reveal a luscious interior of fish, borraco beans, Mexican rice and strands of Mozzarella-cheddar melting mid-way. This could be a potentially great dish if the snapper was not too dry. 

Puerco en Chile Verde ($14) sounded exotic but it striked a nostalgic chord even if you had not experience any Mexican life before. There isn't so much firepower in this spicy pork stew. But being thick and warm, it goes ideally with the toasted tortillas or simply a direct fast track into your mouth. 

How does having some tequila in your seafood sounds? The Prawn Brochette ($35) is a skewer of roughly 5-6 lime marinated prawns with smoky tequila glaze, served with grilled vegetables on a stick. It has a heady aroma, though the glaze was short of the wild character of liquor. Nonetheless, the Tequila glaze was an instant hit with the 1/2 Chicken ($28) as the toasty caramelized taste emerged from the skin which retained the moisture of the meat. 

 The standout dish was the Shredded Steak Chimchangas ($25), a golden crispy flour tortilla that is deep-fried to perfection such that it kept the juicy strands of beef warm and comfortable while displaying resilience any sogginess. Drenched in generous amount of sour cream and guacamole, this giant plate of meaty "Popiah" roll is messy but speaks right to your soul. 

I don't fancy banana desserts but I may have to take back my statement on the Banana Chimichangas ($14) here. Just like the earlier savoury chimichanga, the filling is substituted with bananas, deep fried till the shell turned into a crunchy fritter. Wallop a huge scoop of fragrant and buttery avocado ice cream and you'll get something that is ten times better than any chocolate lava cake or any hot-cold dessert. 

There is also theSauteed Kahlua-glazed Bananas ($14) for those who are less keen on deep-fried food. This ain't no flouncy haute style ala minute flambé bananas but a rustic tropical dessert that sits on a rich and decadent sauce. Other selections include a gluten-free Ancho Chile Chocolate Cake ($14) and Churros ($12) but the former two banana desserts are more satisfying for the bucks and calories.

Spice-wise, the dishes are tuned to a temperate palette, yet there were moments during the feast when I thought I was eating Indian briyani. No wonder they say that Indian and Mexican cuisine are actually quite similar! In fact, I was told that about 50% of the customers are Indians. 

Well, there are three different kinds of authentic Mexican hot sauces aplenty of the table for you to adjust the heat to your preference. Both indoors and outdoors seating are non-air-conditioned but I highly recommend the indoors seating if you want to enjoy the food heartily away from any outdoor smoking.

Cafe Iguana

30 Merchant Road, #01-03 Riverside Point, Singapore 058282

Mon - Thurs 4pm-12am

Fri & Eve of PH 4pm - 3am

Saturday 12pm-3am

Sunday 12pm - 12am

Make your online reservations with hungrygowhere

http://www.cafeiguana.com/

Facebook --> https://www.facebook.com/CafeIguanaSg

Garden Picks SG : Tasty Soy Crisps and Gourmet Nuts

Snacking can be a healthy affair if we picked the right type of snack at the right amount. Instead of grabbing for potato chips, why not try the all-new soy crisps from Garden Picks? 

Available in four assorted flavours, I first tried the lighter coloured Honey Mustard, which had a smoky allure, though a tad salty for me. The Sweet Lime Chilli takes on a bright red coating but it is not too fiery, with a refreshing acidity from the lime juice powder. But I knew straightaway both soy crisps are good when I could not stop eating it. So I am glad they come in friendly zip-lock bags to prolong its freshness for other days.  

But there is more than just soy crisps at Garden Picks, the leading online retailer for good quality dried fruits and nuts. Its clients include corporate customers, government ministries, schools and hotels in Singapore. 

You can find assorted dried fruits and nuts ranging from wolfberries, dried cranberries, dried kiwis and natural USA walnuts. They work great as your granola ingredients or simply on its own as healthy snacks that will fuel your busy working days. 

Though I understand a need to be health-conscious, sometimes plain nuts can be a little too boring and thus I was delighted to find a good range of Gourmet Nuts including French Vanilla Almond and Wasabi Green Peas. 

The Salted Caramel Nuts and Manuka Honey Cashews tick all the right boxes for me as they are crunchy and hold the perfect sweetness in the thin sugary coating. I plated them using the colourful RICE kitchenware which is also available at Motherworks Singapore

In fact, there is no limit to how you want to enjoy the nuts and dried fruits. You can use the dried blueberries to make some Blueberry and Cream Cookies or nutty Florentine bars like what I did! 

But one fact remained unchanged--they are dangerously moreish no matter what form they take! 

Standard packs are sold at 3 for $10

Shop online for your healthy snacks from Garden Picks 
@ http://www.gardenpicks.com.sg/

For latest updates, check out their facebook @ https://m.facebook.com/gardenpicks