This has got all the 4Cs—Creamy, crunchy, corny, and highly comforting. Just be careful when biting into it because the piping hot lava erupts!
Jimoto Ya has got all you #ladieswholunch covered with its new Ladies Set Lunch ($20 nett/pax), including a petit portion of ebi ramen (choose from 4 flavours), 2 petit sides plus dessert.
Jimoto Ya specialises in Hakodate-style ramen, characterised by their thinner and lighter style broths, and what sets theirs apart is the addition of amaebi (sweet shrimp), which adds a delicate sweetness to the umami tonkotsu (pork bone broth). Shio was my favourite of the 4 flavours (others are Shoyu, Miso, Curry) because the crustacean flavour was the most apparent there, reminiscent of a more complex and refined prawn mee. My side of Renkon Age was a delight—the crunchy lotus root slices were coated in an addictive, savoury batter.
Complement your ramen experience with the well-curated range of sakes from @interriceasia— the junmai ginjo adds depth to the broth and draws out its complex flavours.
Thank you @jimotoyasg, @interriceasia, and @justinfoodprints for organising this lovely ramen & sake experience!
De rigueur when in Melbourne. Ditto for the queue as well. We were there at 10-ish in the morning and got a table within 20 mins.
The famed Lobster Benedict sure didn't disappoint. Viscous yolk lava and citrus hollandaise creamed the sweet chunks of lobster, which were mixed with dill to give an uplifting effect. The crispy-edged, puffy black bun made an excellent base for scooping up all that goodness.
High west rye whiskey, averna coffee, smoked maple, black walnut – smooth and oaky with a spicy finish. A spirit-forward drink, for times when we need a drink and we need it strong.
A twist on the classic Negroni, Crackerjack's riff replaces gin with Mina Real mezcal, and pairs it with mancino chinato (vermouth) and cacao bitters. The end result is a smooth, smoky, and well balanced drink that's good for anytime of the night. I think I like this even more than the classic, which I happen to like a lot 🙊
Pro-tip: If you're looking for something bespoke, you can ask the lovely bartender, Lucinda (aka Luc) to customise one according to your preferred flavour profile and/or base spirit. She fixed us a Mezcal (yes, can't get enough of it) Old Fashioned with grapefruit bitters as well, and it has since captured my heart. I need to go back, pronto.
This was surprisingly flavourful and suitably moist, despite the lack of marbling in this lean cut. However, it started to get monotonous after a while – perhaps leaner cuts aren't quite my thing. The roasted grape salsa was delicious, though. Grapes were plump and in equal parts sweet and tart – great for balancing out the steak's rich, buttery flavours.
Some may baulk at shelling out $20 for a vegetable dish, but this Cauliflower Steak is worth every penny. The Middle-Eastern touches – saffron-tinged yoghurt and aromatic dukkah – delivered bold, punchy flavours that accentuated the vegetable's inherent sweetness. Paired with Moroccan millet "cous cous" and tangy marinated zucchini, it more than held its own as a main course; and even outshone its meaty counterpart, the bavette steak, in my opinion 🙊
Like the Lebanese Fried Chicken, which stole hearts with its heady blend of za'atar spice and honey lemon; Sticky Curly Fries – a crisp, comforting mass of maple soy, sriracha, kewpie mayo – need I say more; and Crawfish Mac & Cheese (oh, the chunky, smoked bacon ❤️). What a glorious spread we had, but these are my top picks of the lot.
When it came to the sweet stuff, my spoon turned savage when it met the Durian and Mudslide Softie Pies – essentially soft serves perched on a crunchy tart base, festooned with all sorts of yummyness. In true #BurppleTastemaker style, despite bursting at the seams, we also made room for @fionatingx's soon-to-be-launched Ugnuts (portmanteau for ugly donuts), which are really, anything but. Fried chicken skin, hot sauce, honey buttercream – 'nuff said. More lyrical waxing to come in subsequent posts.
Thank you @birdbirdsg for feeding us, and @burpple for the invitation!
Not a fan of cheese? Atmastel still has you covered with its pure San Marzano tomato sauce and seafood (clams, squid, and prawn) option. The omission of cheese allowed the pie to hold up well, giving it added crispiness at the same time.
Word of caution: The chilli spice is potent here, despite its luscious and deceivingly harmless appearance.
Poke bowls are one of the best things that have happened to Singapore, methinks. And Poke Doke sure nailed the concept. There were 10 choices of poke (including an vegetarian option), of which I picked the Original Salmon and Hamachi with Oriental sauce, the latter a seasonal topping. Both were well-marinated and were silky-smooth in texture.
Apart from your base (rice/salad/soba) and 4 regular add-ons, there are also premium toppings available, such as avocado and onsen egg at $1.50 each ('course I had to get both!). Not cheap, but I'll gladly pay for it when the craving strikes.
Looks familiar? That's because TKB is opened by the folks behind the famed Top Paddock. Both have pretty similar brunch menus, with only slight variations. The Instagram darling—2-inch worth of fluffiness stuffed with creamy ricotta and topped with blueberries, maple, double cream plus seeds & nuts—are available at both cafes and are worth every bit of the hype.
Tip: Do share because this comes in a generous portion. It's good for 3-4 pax, plus orders of other hearty plates.
This is one dish you wouldn't wanna miss here. Drool is forming in my mouth as I type.. Lamb shank, served on the bone (suck up the marrow!), is cooked overnight till fork-tender. Served with fluffy, aromatic garlic naan, the perfect vehicle for lapping up the flavourful yoghurt curry.
