Hawker Walks is a new series of unofficial tours that I’m launching for Charlinary. In the first of this series, I brought a group of readers and friends on a tour of 3 hawker centres in the central parts of Singapore. While I provided them with an itinerary (pictured below) which included information about the hawker stalls we were visiting, I got the group to guess where we were headed at each stop. Here’s a pictorial update of our tour (sans food for now) & some of the stalls we visited:
The much-lauded Sha Tin Kitchen is helmed by Hong Kong chef, Tonny Chan, who impresses with his signature Cantonese dishes (Sha Tin has since changed chefs as of July ‘09). Don’t let this air-conditioned restaurant’s nondescript appearance fool you, for what it lacks of in ambience, it more than makes up for with deliciously authentic Cantonese fare.
Prior to our visit with the family, Mum and I prowled their website for signature dishes, and our lunch menu was decided even before we set foot in Sha Tin. We decided to try their famous 臥虎藏龙(Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), otherwise known as lobster & egg white mousse with scallop, Braised Abalone, Braised Crab with Ramen, and Double-boiled Shark Cartilage with Fish Maw Soup.
The Double-boiled Shark Cartilage with Fish Maw Soup ($38) [***.] was the first to arrive, and my hands shook a little as I eyed the shark cartilage suspiciously. One must understand that when it comes to sharks, I’ve not ventured beyond sharks’ fin. The clear broth was rather plain to me, but perhaps this unique soup is an acquired taste. Slightly crunchy and roughly-textured, the shark cartilage took a bit of chewing.
Next on the list is the much-anticipated 臥虎藏龙 (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) ($6/serving) [****.], pictured here in a crisp golden basket teeming with lobster meat and egg white mousse, and garnished with dried scallop and curry leaf. This is something you’ve absolutely got to try.
For abalone-lovers out there, Sha Tin serves 2 types of braised abalone – two-headed/six-headed. We ordered 2 portions of their Two-headed Braised Abalone [****], each costs $48. Their attentive staff promptly cut each portion into quarters for everyone to share. Each morsel of braised abalone was very delish and slid down the throat with ease.
Next up is the Braised Mixed Seafood Claypot ($18) [**.] which surprisingly failed to impress. Though chockful of ingredients, it lacked sapidity and even seemed slightly over-braised for ingredients like the sea cucumber and mushrooms. I’d suggest you skip this dish and make room for other recommendations on their menu.
Thankfully, Sha Tin’s signature Braised Crab with Ramen ($60 | serves 6) [****] fared much better, with ramen in a gravy steeped with the briny flavour of crab roe. The ramen is pictured here in its individual serving, but prior to this the dish is served in a pot with big red crab shells and pincers adorning a pile of ramen. I really liked the taste of braised crab (a Cantonese favourite it seems) which was also a staple for the now-defunct Canton Wok over at Joo Chiat. Chef Kang of Canton Wok used to serve his signature crab dish steamed with glutinous rice. However, his competitor Chef Tonny Chan’s version is typically Cantonese with lots of gravy which really is an egg-based soup all on its own.
Last but certainly not least, is Sha Tin’s Hashima with Red Dice ($6) [*****] which I dare say is the best hashima (a luxurious traditional Chinese dessert made with snow fungus & rock sugar amongst others) I’ve ever had. Their version is made with sweet red dice, rock sugar, snow fungus, and dates…and every mouthful practically melts in your mouth. More importantly, it wasn’t saccharine sweet so one can tell that sugar syrup and artificial flavourings weren’t used. All in all, it was a refreshing end to a scrumptious Cantonese meal.
/ prices stated are subject to 10% svc charge. No GST
The I-wanna-know[s]:
Taste – 8.5/10
Price – $$-$$$$
Service – 8/10
Ambience – 7/10
Accessibility – 6/10
Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes
Address:
8/10 Lorong 3 Geylang
Singapore 388861
Tel: +65 6747 2483 / 6744 7087
Website: http://www.sbestfood.com/shatinkitchen.htm
Opening hours:
Open daily from | 11.30am – 2.30pm & 6pm – 11pm
Dress code: Casual
Nearest MRT: Kallang
Buses: 26, 31, 13…
Tucked away at Cuppage Plaza in the side roads of Orchard Road, Gyoza no Ohsho appears to have affiliations with the Osaka Ohsho Co. who is known for their wildly popular gyoza and ramen chain in Japan. However, in Singapore they’re part of the Sential group who’s also behind the nearby Tamaya, Diamond Dust, and Cable Car. I’ve chanced upon Ohsho many a time, but my tummy somehow always led me to the nearby Ken Ramen House instead. Last night, K & I decided to walk over from Orchard Cineleisure to try out their ramen.
It turns out they’ve got dishes like Curry Udon ($11), Tom Yam Ramen ($13), and Mapo Tofu ($8) to cater to our spicy food inclinations. K ordered their Tom Yamen Ramen [***] pictured above, which had a very thick soup base enriched with lots of coconut milk, and was moderately spicy on the whole. But please don’t use my tastebuds for chilli as a gauge unless you’re a chilli lover yourself…I wouldn’t want any of you to be in dire need of milk or water to put out the flames. The downside to it was the prawns were rather overcooked, but the overall portion of ingredients was all right. Perhaps some things were overcooked at high temperatures (to cook faster) in order to accomodate the high turnover rate of tables at their tiny branch. In any case the soup was served piping hot, but the ramen itself was a tad too thin for my liking. I prefer my ramen noodle to be eggy, thick, smooth, and springy.
Therefore, I chose their Shio Ramen ($11) [***] which is ramen in a savoury soup base to get a real taste of the ramen noodle on its own. While I really liked the light and savoury broth, I didn’t quite fancy the ramen mostly because it was thin. Other than the ones mentioned above, they’ve also got the typical Miso Ramen ($11), Shoyu Ramen ($11), and Tamago Ramen ($13) amongst a number of others. It was a pity that we missed out on the gyoza and half-portions of Chahan [Japanese fried rice] that come in their sets (with their limited seating capacity and all we both felt compelled to leave earlier). For $15 or so one can get a selected bowl of ramen with a half portion of Japanese fried rice or a small portion of gyoza. It’s ideal for sharing if you’re not too hungry or if you don’t want to order their ala carte gyoza.
Perhaps next time I’ll return just for the gyoza. Simply because I’ve got a terrible craving for some right now.
/all prices are nett. No GST or Svc Charge
The I-wanna-know[s]:
Taste – 6/10
Price – $-$$
Service – 6/10
Ambience – 6/10
Accessibility – 7/10
Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes
Address:
5 Koek Road #01-10
Cuppage Plaza Singapore 228796
38 Circular Road Singapore 049394
Tel: +65 6735 7068
Website: http://www.sential.com.sg
Opening hours:
Mon – Sat: 11.30am to 2am | Sun & P.H. days: 12pm to 12am
Dress code: Casual
Nearest MRT: Somerset
Buses: 123, 143, 65, 162, 124, 77…
Forging ahead with a new identity after celebrating their 1st year anniversary, Serenity Restaurant & Bistro, previously known for their Mediterranean cuisine is now branded as Serenity Spanish Restaurant & Bar. Serenity’s owner and director, Rona, chose a Spanish identity for her restaurant because of its holistic appeal. Spanish culture encompasses a vibrant experience which marries dining, music, and festive dancing—one that suits their waterfront location at Vivo City perfectly. The restaurant boasts a seating capacity of 210 (including alfresco seating), open-concept dining, and provides a variety of latin, acoustic, and jazz music live every night from 7.30 pm. Everything down to Serenity’s staff uniforms (influenced by Ibiza’s laidback party lifestyle) reflect their new image. Most importantly, their Spanish menu offers an extensive array of Spanish cuisines from different regions, with chief offerings from Spain’s third largest city, Valencia.
Before Serenity’s Spanish menu was launched in February this year, Valencian Chef Andrea was specially invited in December 2008 to provide rigorous training for Serenity’s culinary team, as well as tasting sessions to ensure the authencity of all dishes.
Thereafter, Serenity’s Executive Chef, Alvin Tan, introduced his interpretations of selected dishes – tweaking them to suit local tastebuds without compromising their authenticity. A large number of ingredients are also sourced from Spanish food suppliers, such as their chorizo and especially bomba rice which is a staple for their signature Paella Valenciana, other paella dishes, and Arroz con Leche dessert because of its good absorbency (3x its volume). Taking things a step further, Serenity is on the look out for more wines (and possibly beer) from various Spanish suppliers to add to their collection of Spanish liquors (such as 14 flavours of schnapps), after-meal drink Patcharan Olave and even Spanish coffee which contains kahlua. Brandy aficionados will be thrilled to see the 100-year-old Brandy Casajuana ($32, $118, $700), of which only slightly over 1000 bottles are produced and in Singapore it’s sold exclusively at Serenity.
K and I started our lunch with a zesty Sangria ($15) [***.] done Valencian-style with orange peel and lemon slices, and Mama Mia ($8) [****] - a refreshingly light mocktail made of lychee fruit, mango juice and grenadine. Both drinks went very well with our recommended tapas because they were fruit-based and not too heavy on the brandy or gin for the Sangria. 
While Mama Mia is Serenity’s own concoction, the Sangria and another called Spanish Bullfrog ($15) are authentically Spanish.
Our first two tapas – Croqueta de Pollo ($9) [***] and Spanish Tuna Piquillo ($10) [***] were hot and cold respectively. The former is a spanish chicken croquet, while the latter consists of roasted and chilled piquillo peppers stuffed with tuna and prawn. For those who are worried that the peppers may be too hot to handle, fret not because they’ve been de-seeded and peeled beforehand. Another tapas, Empanadillas or Spanish Tuna Puff ($11) [***] is available on the late-night menu together with the two above. It is a Spanish take on our local curry puff, only this one is baked and filled with tuna, egg, a little red wine, and possibly a hint of potato.
The last 3 tapas are my personal favourites of the lot – the Gambas al Ajillo ($12) [****.], Pan con Alioli ($6) [****] , and Jamón Ibérico ($18 – 25 grams) [****]. Simply seasoned with garlic, olive oil, dried red chilli and parsley, the prawns were succulent and tasty. Pan con Alioli is actually freshly-baked herb bread with sundried tomatoes served with Serenity’s home-made alioli dip (garlic, salt, olive oil, milk) which melts smoothly on the palate. 
Last but certainly not least of the three, is jamón ibérico or Iberian ham, which is fast-becoming an attraction on Spanish restaurant menus. This special cerdo negro (black pig) is salted for days and cured for 24 months in a secluded mountain cave used exclusively for that purpose. Therefore, the price of this thinly-sliced cured ham whose salty flavour lingers on your tastebuds…is self-explanatory. Our friendly and attentive waitress, Ellen, is pictured carving those coveted slices here.
Next up, our main course was Serenity’s signature Paella Valenciana ($40 – 2 pax / $80 – 4 pax) [****.], which has notably won the Singapore Top 100 Signature Dish Award 2009. Every serving of this colourful assortment takes 30-40 min to prepare, so it’s advisable to order this first even if you’re undecided on the rest of your meal. Serenity’s version is traditionally Valencian, prepared with bomba rice, prawns, half shell mussels, squid, chorizo, chicken, and saffron. Don’t be alarmed by the amount of peas you see here if you’re not a fan of them, I assure you that they taste nothing like frozen/half-frozen peas. Due to the long preparation time, every grain of bomba rice soaks up the individual flavours of the ingredients cooked with it, and is bursting with savoury goodness.
Accompanying our paella, we had the Lubina a la Sal [****] from Serenity’s Chef’s menu. For this weekend only (10-12 July), it is offered as part of a special 1-for-1 promotion for dine in only. Like the Paella Valenciana, this baked whole-seabass requires 30 min preparation time. The fish is hidden beneath a pile of fine sea salt and fresh bay leaves and served with a potato and salad on the side. I’ll let the photos show you how it is served at your table…all you have to do is pick up your fork. While the Spanish prefer to eat the crisp baked skin, I think it’s a tad too salty for our tastebuds. However, the flesh was soft and smooth and very light in taste. A very healthy choice for a main course I must say.
Now moving on to our (for some of us) highly-anticipated desserts…we tried the Peras al Vino Tinto ($9) [****.] and Arroz con Leche ($9) [****]. Tasting the Arroz con Leche was an interesting experience for me. It was one that reminded me very much of Thai mango sticky rice, or traditional Chinese glutinous rice desserts, only this was a traditional Spanish favourite. It consists of bomba rice cooked in milk, cream, and cinnamon (maybe a hint of custard too), served with vanilla ice-cream and garnished with mint leaf. All in all, it was a hearty, wholesome dessert that was surprisingly light.
Peras al Vino Tinto is apparently a popular choice among Serenity’s patrons because of its fruity and thus healthy properties. Poached pear drenched in red wine with vanilla ice-cream on the side is a decadent match in dessert heaven.
Serenity has my thumbs up.
Credit Card Promotions: AMEX cardholders are entitled to 15% off the ala carte menu | Standard Chartered cardholders are also entitled to 15% off.
In-house Promotions:
Mon & Tue (11-3pm) | 2-for-1 ala carte: order 3 dishes & get 1 free
High Tea (2-6pm daily):
Set A | order 1 Tapas/1 Dessert + Free flow of drinks (Student $8.80 | Adult $10.80)
Set B | order 2 Tapas/2 Desserts OR 1 Tapas + 1 Dessert & free flow of drinks (Student $11.80 | Adult $13.80)
3-course set lunches are also available from 11-3pm daily: Pasta Set ($10.90) | Executive Set ($16.90)
/all prices are subject to 10% svc charge & 7% GST
The I-wanna-know[s]:
Taste – 8.5/10
Price – $$-$$$$
Service – 10/10
Ambience – 9/10
Accessibility – 9/10
Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes
Address:
No.1 Harbourfront Walk #01-98/99
VivoCity Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6376 8185
Website: http://www.serenity.com.sg
Opening hours:
Sun to Thu (11am – 11pm) Fri & Sat (11am -12am)
Dress code: Casual or Smart Casual
Nearest MRT: Harborfront (NEL)
Buses: 57, 145, 143, 65, 61, 855…
My latest whimsical obsession, Caramel Cafe, has certainly been well-publicised in various magazines and tv shows. But nevertheless, they are a worthy mention that I’d like to share with anyone who hasn’t heard of them yet. Started in January 2009, Caramel Cafe is a labour of love that is not only a cafe, but also a hair salon and retail venture. Hairloom (nice pun there) is located in the same premises, and they’ve recently started their retail arm, Oject d’Art, which means ‘work of art’. Expect nothing less than cosy yet quirky interiors for an afternoon tête-à-tête over tea and desserts. I really like the bright airy feel you get indoors because of their glass doors let the light stream in and all. They close at 8pm on weeknights and 10pm on weekends (closed Sun) so don’t get there too late!
My girlfriend A and I were mesmerised by their counter (pictured here) for a good 5 minutes or so. It looked so inviting and the dessert display had rows of cupcakes amongst others. Loved the decor which is rather reminiscent of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland don’t you think? The owners did a great job in transforming simple pieces of furniture into eclectic pieces by reupholstering them. But this place isn’t just for show…the good people at Caramel Cafe are very friendly and very very attentive. They also seem to bake a lot at regular intervals. Which can only mean that they freshly bake their fabulous desserts daily. I also like how their ovens are located just behind the high counter so that one can catch whiffs of what’s in the oven. Believe me that’s one great sales strategy!
After careful deliberation, A and I decided to have their Lemon Creme and Carrot Cream Cheese cupcakes ($3.50 each), Warm Chocolate Banana Cake ($6.90) and a pot of chamomile tea for two ($2.90). Each resting in delicate casings, our cupcakes looked simple and were served on a gorgeous plate. Well that would be an understatement. From furniture to cutlery, plates to tea pots, everything was meticulously handpicked. A and I were so intrigued by our tea cups that we turned them upside down to get a hint of their origins (answer: Japan & China). Oh yes do ask them for honey to add to your tea because their honey’s great…
Of the 2 cupcakes, I preferred the Carrot Cream Cheese [****] one. I was very surprised that it contained miniscule carrot bits in its centre, and the cream cheese was a great pairing. Personally, I would’ve liked it to be a little more moist. The Lemon Creme [***] one, however, could’ve had more lemony zest. The lemon creme was light and just the right amout of sweet, but it would’ve been to add more zest to it.
Not forgetting our chocolate staple, I found their Warm Chocolate Banana Cake [****] served with vanilla ice-cream on the side really, really good. Though it wasn’t oozing thick, hot chocolate the way some outrageously sinful chocolate cakes do, this one was sufficiently moist and not overly sweet. Warm chocolate still oozed from its centre, but blended with mushy banana slices…it was a wonderful match. And it’s topped with cocoa powder. How can we contend with that? What I loved about this cake was the fact that I didn’t feel too guilty afterwards…
Can’t wait to return for more delectable treats from Caramel. This time I’d like to try their lunch menu too!
The I-wanna-know[s]:
Taste – 8/10
Price – $-$$
Service – 10/10
Ambience – 9/10
Accessibility – 7/10
Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes
Address:
100 Beach Road
#01-50/52 Shaw Towers
Singapore 189702
Tel: +65 6295 2188
Website: http://hairloomandcaramel.blogspot.com
Opening hours:
Mondays – Thursdays
12pm – 8pm
Fridays & Saturdays
12pm – 10pm
Sundays & Public Holidays
Closed
Dress code: Casual
Nearest MRT: City Hall or Bugis
Buses: 57, 100, 107…
Today I discovered a different side to the quiet and laidback area of Jalan Jurong Kechil. Lorong Kilat runs a lane before Chun Tin Road (where the homely Sup Sip & Vis-a-Vis resides) and is slowly welcoming new F&B establishments like Don Quijote which I visited for lunch today. Don Quijote has been around since January 2009 and will soon have a new neighbour – U.d.d.e.r.s opening on 19 June 2009. The Spanish restaurant is tucked away behind Shell station and faces Poh Tai Kok Temple on Lorong Kilat. Enticed by rave reviews about their paella and sangrias, K and I made a trip to satisfy our long-overdue paella craving. And I must say, we were not disappointed. Don Quijote has branches in Singapore and Macao, and their menu boasts more than 25 tapas and traditional Spanish fare like Paella Valencia, and the rare Jamón Ibérico (Iberian ham).
While deliberating our already evident choice for lunch, we ordered red and white Sangrias ($12/gls) [****] to accompany our welcome bread which we promptly dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
After placing our order for Don Quijote’s Special Paella [****.] for 2-4 pax ($54), we were told that preparation and cooking will take 20-25 minutes…which is totally understandable because they use really fresh ingredients and paella is always made to order. For a moment I considered ordering some tapas to start us off, but recalled the waitress telling us their medium portion was pretty big. In any case, our waitresses for the day were very attentive and furnished us with another basket of bread the moment we were done. What they said was a 20-25 minute wait was really a lot shorter.
And to my delight, the rice was yellow. Not orange or red, but yellow. Which can only mean that they definitely used saffron. Hence the price tag. If it were tomato-based, the rice grains will be orangey-red which is typical of some of the many variations of this popular staple in the Spanish diet. Earlier on, we could choose to have our rice done al dente or soft, and we picked al dente. However, it turned out rather soft though it was still very good.
I loved the rice which was thoroughly infused with savoury flavours, light spices, and rich broth. Every grain oozed seafood goodness. The assortment of seafood comprised clams, mussels, king prawns, and squid rings. Beneath this pile of seafood you see here, the rice was mixed with small chunks of chicken and yet more prawns. A real hearty seafood meal. The best part for me was the bottom of the pan where the rice grains were slightly charred (not burnt) and the small prawns that absorbed the myriad of flavours. Every mouthful had the succulent taste of fresh seafood.
So despite the price, we were getting great quality paella in generous portions. By the end of the meal I was too stuffed for dessert or more tapas, and I believe I speak for K as well. Don Quijote has 3-course lunch sets and other promotions, so do check out their website for more details. Well, one thing’s for sure – I’ll definitely come back for more.
The I-wanna-know[s]:
Taste – 8/10
Price – $$$
Service – 9/10
Ambience – 8/10
Accessibility – 6/10
Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes
Address:
17 Lorong Kilat, #01-09 Singapore 598139
Tel: +65 6465 1811
Website: http://www.don-quijote-restaurants.com
Opening hours:
Open from Tuesdays to Sundays
Lunch: 11.30am to 2.30pm
Dinner: 6.00pm to 10.30pm
Sunday Brunch: 11.30am to 3.00pm
Dress code: Casual or Smart Casual
Nearest MRT: Clementi
Buses: 985, 157, 61…
Bakerzin is generously offering a student promotion at their Jurong Point & North Point outlets!
From Mondays to Fridays, 10.30 am to 5 pm.
After presenting your student/matric card, each student is entitled to 50% off a main course AND 50% off a dessert (not incl. of cakes at the counter).
Grab some sweet treats to sweeten your week!
Entre-Nous Creperie is a contemporary little place that serves up authentic French crepes over at Seah Street. Some of you will remember Crêperie des Arts, at the corner of Prinsep Place, and I kept this place in mind when I tried Entre-Nous’ crepes.
My friend B and I popped by around 4pm that day. Just in time for their Sweet Break, where you can order a crepe for $12 (selected varieties) and a hot drink. If you’d like to have their gourmand range of crepes, it’s $3 more. They do have an extensive range of galettes and crepes for you to choose from so take your time to browse the menu.
As for those who’d like to kick off a night of drinks early, or grab a beer after work…Entre-Nous’ Happy Hour will both feed you and quench your thirst. Grab a $10 French beer or a glass of French apple cider ($8/glass, $30/bottle) and get a complimentary crepe with it.
Personally, I veer towards the most basic item on the menu for the basis of comparison. Therefore, our choices for the day was a Salted Butter Caramel Crepe ($8.90) and Emmenthal Cheese Galette ($11.90). The salted butter caramel crepe was a soft crepe (much like a thin pancake) drizzled with thick caramel as picture here. Simple in taste, and rather good [***.]
The emmenthal cheese galette, on the other hand, had an interesting combination of taste sensations. Crisp in texture, with a thin carrot topping and oozing cheese from its centre, this galette wasn’t what I expected. I deduced that it tasted different because of the organic buckwheat used for their galettes. The overall taste was mildly bitter at times, and a little salty at others. Really good stuff [****].
Others on the menu: quiches, omelettes, more galettes and crepes, escargot, assorted blinis and lots more…
The I-wanna-know[s]:
Taste – 7/10
Price – $$-$$$
Service – 7/10
Ambience – 7/10
Accessibility – 7/10
Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes
Address:
27 Seah Street, #01-01 Singapore 188383
Tel: +65 6333 4671
Website: http://www.entrenous.sg
Opening hours:
11 am – 11 pm (weekdays)
11 am – 10.30 pm (weekends)
Dress code: Casual
Nearest MRT: City Hall
Buses: 7, 32, 61, 145, 197, 851, 80…
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