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

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

Lime Restaurant at PARKROYAL on Pickering : Celebrate SG50 with LOBSTERFEST

SG50 is probably the most important holiday on our national calendar this year. And as befitting for such an important festival, it's time to go "loco" over lobsters with Singapore's FIRST local Lobsterfest at Lime at PARKROYAL on Pickering. From now to 17th June and every Wednesday thereafter, you can tuck into mouthwatering Maine Lobsters in various styles ranging from lobster gratin to Peranakan Nyonya LOBSTER laksa!
 

Led by Executive Chef Vijay, the team will whip up more than 8 different kinds of lobsters starting from the Maine Lobster Tower on Ice, a magnificent ice building loaded with fresh steamed lobsters, stealing the limelight away from the oysters and sashimi.

If the natural sweetness of this delicacy is what you are hankering for, you may like to park yourself next to this station. In fact, this is my favourite way of enjoying lobster, with just a bit of horseradish and red wine sauce. If Lady Luck is with you, you might even pick one with a bonus lobster roe! 

Moving on to the hot food section, the unanimous crowd favourite was the Singapore Chilli Crab Maine Lobster, judging at how frequent the giant serving wok was emptied every time a new batch is furiously cooked and served. The sauce is luxuriously rich and not too sweet.

But something more outstanding was the Wok-fried Black Pepper Maine Lobster that boasted good wok-hei and excellent aroma imparted by the use of curry leaves. One dish that might ring in some nostalgia is the Maine Lobster Kam Heong style. Meaning "golden fragrance" in Cantonese, this is said to be a Malaysian stir fry dish whose sauce base is a magical concoction of fiery bird eye's chilli, curry powder, curry leaves and soy bean paste. However, the gravy was short of the necessary fragrance that would imbue this dish with a sharper character. 

Nonetheless, there are still plenty of solid, comforting treats such as the Maine Lobster au Gratin with Tarragon Hollandaise sauce and the Grilled Maine Lobster with Garlic and Thyme. I love the unique pairing of hollandaise sauce instead of the usual cheese for the case of gratin as the savouriness balanced out the sweetness of the lobster without killing it with too much salt. 

Noodles and rice tend to fill one up easily during buffets but it would be grave mistake NOT to try the Spanish Paella with Maine Lobster. The grains are cooked to perfection to yield a pleasant chewy bite that bind together with very well with the flavours imparted from the mussels. The tart acidity of the tomatoes also introduced another level of invigorating brightness that prevent one from feeling jaded with the starch.

There is also a much anticipated Peranakan Nyonya Lobster but this missed the bull's eye a little as it was not as piquant as I thought and the heat from the spice seemed to be concealed somewhere. Fortunately, a spoonful or two of the potent Sambal Chilli managed to lift the gravy in a good way. In fact, the portion is so big that it is highly advisable to share, though I noticed many people still empty the entire bowl by themselves!

Baby lobsters might be small as they surely packed a punch with sweetness compacted into their petite shell. The Maine Lobster Pasta with Squid Ink Tagliatelle and Parmigiano-Reggiano is one such dish that proved that one should never underestimated the power of baby lobsters. The flesh is utterly tender and easy to chew. 

Cooked ala minute at the LIVE pasta station, you can be guaranteed a plate of piping hot pasta that might get you salivating as you stand in front of the chef watching it being prepared.

Despite the fact that it was the first day of this lobsterfest, the place was fully booked and the chefs were doing their best to cope with the huge demand for lobsters. I highly recommend you to place your reservation early as I was told that the response has been very good and seats are running out fast! While lobster takes the centerstage, there is plenty of food for you to explore and even a matcha fondue that I wish I can dive into. Click HERE to read more about my previous visit.

As part of this unique Lobsterfest, diners can also enjoy unlimited servings of local drinks such as ‘Bandung’ (Rose Syrup with Condensed Milk), 'Cincau' (Grass Jelly), 'Ma Ti Shui' (Water Chestnut), 'Tau Huay Shui' (Soya Milk), Lemongrass Tea, chilled juices, soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea, as well as free-flow of Tiger beer. 

Also, do keep a lookout for special lobster dishes such as lobster pizza and lobster bisque with cognac as you claw your way through the extravagant buffet spread! Who knows? Maybe you will be luckier than me and catch a lobster dessert on your visit! 

 

Lobsterfest is available at $98++ during dinner now till 17th June and EVERY WED thereafter!
 

Lime Restaurant at PARKROYAL on Pickering

 Daily Dinner 18:30 – 22:30
 Tel: +65 6809 8899 
e-mail: lime.prsps@parkroyalhotels.com 

PARKROYAL on Pickering 
a PARKROYAL Collection Hotel

3 Upper Pickering Street, Singapore 058289

Nearest MRT:  Clarke Quay, Raffles Place, Chinatown

Facebook : www.facebook.com/parkroyal.pickering

Instagram @parkroyalpickering

Gobuylah : Shop Online for Food and More!

A new wave of online groceries ranging from Japanese ingredients, halal food to gourmet meats and organic vegetables has swept the local market scene in recent years. But where should one go when you need to get an assorted items from local snacks to overseas gourmet produce?

Much to my delight, I learnt about this one-stop online supermarket gobuylah.com where I can look for daily essentials or some exotic gourmet ingredients without stepping out of my house!

 

After a quick browse through the site, I realize that it actually collaborates with such a wide variety of brands ranging from mother/baby products to IT/electronics and even Fashion!  

As a food shopaholic, I immediately jumped to the food section and discovered hundreds of items there, some of which are not even easily found in local supermarkets. 

There is even a hot deals section where you find items at a discounted price. Navigating around the website is very easy as there is a search bar at the top for you to look directly for the item you want.

At the check out counter, I can also choose to pay via cash on delivery, apart from the usual virtual methods. 

Items that I bought include Eden Natural Black Beans; Eden Spiced Pumpkin Seeds and Barley  Malt; Natural Glory Organic Red Wild Rice and Organic Honeydew Honey; Whittard Chocolate Chai Tea; Verace Wild Honey; Papitto's Ice Cream and even kitchen appliances like Waffle Maker and Stylux Fruit Dessert Ice Cream Maker! 

What I like best about gobuylah is the free delivery service regardless of the amount spent. Unless some of your products are out of stock, the goods are delivered quickly within 5-6 days. Some of the goods are even delivered in a very nice packaging with recipes, just like the products I received from VERACE.

That said, it would definitely benefit customers more if they can update the inventory stock online so that it eliminates the hassle of searching for timely substitutes. Also do note that your order might not arrive on the same day/time as gobuylah arranges directly with the different supplier of the goods for the delivery. 

 

First time members get to enjoy $5 OFF and key in "Dairy05" to enjoy additional $5 discount!  (= $10 OFF at no minimum spending!)

Valid from 28th May~28th June 2015 on www.gobuylah.com

Celebrate SG50 @ Artisan Boulangerie Co: WIN $250 vouchers and EXCLUSIVE invite to launch party!

What is your idea of a uniquely SG50 pastry?

 

 A Durian Croissant?

 A Chilli Crab baguette?

If you are have any ideas of pastry inspired by Singapore local ingredients, simply submit them on the facebook contest page from NOW to 31st May and stand a chance to develop your idea into reality with celebrity chef Eran Mayer and Artisan Boulangerie Co. ! Be it sweet or savoury, the pastry can be a fusion of popular SG ingredients or even your grandma or grandpa's heritage recipe!

How about a Kaya Butter Eclair?

The winners will not only get to WIN $250 worth of ABC vouchers, but also WORK with Chef Eran in the concept kitchen for a pre-launch tasting before attending the exclusive launch party to be held in July!! Remember to SHARE your ideas with your friends to increase your chances of winning!! Enter your idea now on http://on.fb.me/1H9WYM7 before 31st May now!*

*Terms and Conditions Apply 

For more details, visit here for more details.
This post is brought to you by Artisan Boulangerie Co.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artisanboulangerie 

Rookery Singapore : Comfort Food and Skillet Desserts

A Friday night couldn't be better with great company, food and beer at Rookery, a cafe . bar. restaurant whose name actually refers to the dense and sleazy slums in 19th centuries London. It doesn't really matter that their brunch/lunch seemed more popular and delicious than the  dinner selection because the section that I am most interested in is available all day.

Yes, let's start talking about the desserts. The Beautiful Mess ($12) is indeed, a gorgeous mess that surpassed the glory of a classic Eton Mess, with colorful mix of dried berries, nuts and chocolate ice cream. However, the meek taste of chocolate could not pull the other components together, even in the presence of the crushed cinnamon caramel cookies.

For the real indulgence treat, I suggest going neither for this nor the overly priced plate of Fried Snickers and Mars Bars ($13) that comes with 4 puny pops.

Instead, get the Cookie Monster ($12) , that isn't ferocious as it sounds, but definitely works as the true comfort food that you want to dig your spoon in.

Dig? Yes! The giant cookie is a soft-baked dough that comes right out from the oven when the chocolate chips are still in molten gooey state. Stupendous!

As with the desserts, never judge their savoury dishes by their looks as well because the Asahi Beer Batter Fish Bites ($12) looked stodgy but turned out the exact opposite. The interior was fresh, meaty and succulent. Never mind that the batter did not belonged to the super crunchy camp for this nasty golden pops kept our bellies happy throughout the night. 

Perhaps I've had a too fantastic pulled pork pasta at Holqa Cafe and so this plate of Pulled Pork Ragu Linguine ($18) did not quite meet the mark. It tasted like a dry plate of canned sardines pasta. The Jerk and Rum Chicken ($24) shone with its tangy jerk bbq sauce that barely coated the boneless thighs but my friend found it rather dry. 

 

Just like most cafes, this isn't the most wallet friendly place to satisfy hunger but if it is the buzz/ ambience you are after, this is a right place. Otherwise, there is always a convenient Lau Pa Sat directly across the road for supper.

Rookery

16 Raffles Quay, #01-02A Hong Leong Building
Singapore 048581
 Mon - Fri 8am - 11pm

Sat Drinking Night  5pm - 11pm

Tel: 62210968

http://www.rookery.com.sg

https://www.facebook.com/rookerysg

Win Win Snacks: 100% Halal and Vegetarian

I never thought much about potato chips until I chanced upon these wafer-thin Potato Crisps produced by Win Win Food. Baked with real potato, they actually tasted a little like cookies but so crisp and light, without any trace grease or heavy seasonings. Out of the four flavours--sour cream, tomato, vegetable and BBQ, I tried the latter two and was instantly attached to them. 

In fact, these potato crisps are only one of the many brands under Win Win Food, an established manufacturing company that produced snacks that are 100% halal and vegetarian. These products with a touch of Asian flavors are made in their main factory in Johor Bahru and distributed to various countries including Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, etc.

Some of their brands like Happy Moo biscuits (chocolate/plain) are packed in small bags like those mini snacks meant for kids--a good thing as it helps in portion control.

I love cream filled biscuits and these flaky Mini Pockets (vanilla/chocolate) are also good, though too generous on the sugar level. 

I am always partial towards any chocolate crunchies and thus I was delighted to discover that Win Win Food has introduced the Nutri Cereal Crisp. The original flavored bar has a milky fragrance with lingering the notes of salt that teases the palate and encourages one to keep eating bar by bar. Same goes for the chocolate, which are cheaper alternatives to Royce's Potecrunch without compromising on the quality. 

The Crisp Maker Puffed Corns is also another new item that I highly recommend to anyone, especially to those who loved popcorns. But don't get be wrong. These are not popcorns, but something even better and won't require any effort to chew.

They are like light crunchy air sacs that disappear in seconds. I can't decide between caramel and sweet corn but if you fancy sweet-savoury treats like me, then sweet corn would be an arduous challenge for you to stop devouring. 

Win Win Snacks are available at all major supermarkets

and online at www.gobuylah.com

More info : www.win2food.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/win2food

Rive Gauche Singapore : The Royal Guanaja

Way before Cake Glacé, Flor and Chef Yamashita opened in Singapore, I think Rive Gauche is one of the few that established itself as patisserie that sells French-Japanese fusion cakes. There are many chocolate royaltine or crunch cakes around but I think the signature Guanaja qualifies as the cream of the crop in Singapore.

With a deep mellow chocolate ganache over a crisp and sharp feuilletine, this is the only cake here in which the chocolate components are blessed with the premium Valrhona genes. 

The Strawberry Shortcake reined in on the excess of sugar  but I thought the texture of the sponge could be more exquisite.There was no major flaw with the Cheesecake, but neither did it arouse any huge excitement in me. This was a typical baked cheesecake which I thought could be tweaked for greater complexity. 

The milk chocolate mousse might override the earl grey components with its sweetness as the tea flavour was rather elusive. Nonetheless, this Earl Grey Tea Cake is still pretty arresting when it comes to the textural contrasts in the crunchy caramel biscuits, even though it might not be the most eye-catching item on the shelf. 

The banana omelette is a large crepe wrap filled with lusciously light and fresh cream around banana but I wished there were some sponge cake elements ambush within to relief the creamy uniformity. Likewise for the giant cream puff whose custard filling was rather clumpy.

That said, the Matcha Swiss roll was quite a beauty, not because I am partial towards green tea, but simply due to the discernible tea fragrance and the right amount of sweetness. Both the raspberry and almond cookies are shatteringly crisp and good but the raspberry cookies surpassed the latter with its the extra buttery-ness and tartness.

Prices go quite friendly on the wallet at an average of $6. Most of the cakes here belong to the classics but to fight a pie in the competitive cake scene, I think the range of creations can be further explored to spark fresh interests.

Rive Gauche

Takashimaya Outlet

391 Orchard Road

#B207-9-2 Food Department

For details of other outlets, visit: http://www.sapporolionsg.com.sg/rive-gauche/