The Beef Tartare from So France Claymore

I was near the Claymore outlet of So France this morning (1 Claymore Drive #01-01, 6980-7768), so I stopped in for breakfast. They were happy to serve steak tartare despite the early hour, and I was happy to gobble it down, especially since it wasn't too sweet. Now, I'd rather go to Boeuf for their version instead, and I didn't really care for my coffee and croissant here either. But they also have an attached market where I was eager to pick up some cheese and other provisions.

Salai M'an at Berseh Food Centre in Singapore

This guy is a bit hard to find, as the stall numbers jump around a bit at Berseh Food Centre. But it's at the southeast end of the bottom floor if helps (166 Jalan Besar #01-18). Anyway, this is from a former Three Buns and Lime House chef. Despite him having a smoker in this tiny stall, I skipped all of his smoked meats and went straight for this cheeseburger, which turned out better than I thought it would be given the quality of both the meat and the bun. I would still prefer a burger to be dressed with veggies rather than sauces, but if I get this again, then I need to remember to ask for a double patty given that the pillowy bun smothered it quite a bit.

Xin Yuan Ji near Bugis Junction in Singapore

Pretty much every time that I've walked by this place, there is a huuuuuge crowd of people out on the street waiting to get in (31 Tan Quee Lan Street #01-01, 6334-4086). And yet, I couldn't figure out why. The menu just seemed like your everyday cze cha fare, with an emphasis on fish soup. Well, there was no wait when I went by today, so I figured that I'd see what the fuss was about.

That fish soup above was pretty good, with the high quality of ingredients in particular driving that. Not only was the fish very solid and fresh, but the broth was lifted by some ground fish powder and even a bit of huangjiu if I tasted it correctly. The rice noodles were also firmer than most other places.

Apparently the har cheong gai here is supposed to be good too, but I didn't get a chance to try it. Either way, I assume that the draw here is also the location and air conditioning. Prices were higher than what one would normally pay for such dishes, but hey, that bowl above was still cheaper than what I paid at The Ship.

Noodle Star K in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore

When I first heard of this place, I didn't think much of it (58 Tanjong Pagar Road, 6224-6061). But then it was pointed out to me that they specialize in naengmyeon, and indeed, the walls inside are adorned with explanatory diagrams of everything that goes into a bowl. Yes, I liked the mul-naengmyeon that I got above. Even if the meat was jerky-like tough, there were savory parts of the broth that came though, and they gave a warm cup of peppery broth on the side that was a nice touch too. The proprietor was a bit grouchy though; she yelled at me multiple times, but I'd still be happy to go back.

The Ikebukuro Beef Stroganoff from Japan Rail Cafe

I still needed a bit of food after those pizzas from L'Arte. And that's when I noticed a sign in front of Japan Rail Cafe: it seems that a chef from a JR-East hotel in Ikebukuro made this Japanese-style stroganoff. It featured thin shabu shabu meat inside, which was nice. But I don't think I'll get it again, as it was a little sweet. If anything, it made me reminisce a little about Soup Stock Tokyo.

L'Arte Pizza & Foccacia at Tanjong Pagar's Guoco Tower

I went down to this stall for lunch today because it's from some award-winning pizza chef from Bulgaria (5 Wallich Street #01-14). He does Roman-style pizzas, which are apparently quite different from chewy Neapolitan ones. I was thus a bit worried that it would end up dry, but it wasn't; it was crisp yet airy, and good enough to eat quickly...at least, it was if it came straight out of the oven. My second slice in the background had sat around for a few minutes and wasn't as crisp as a result. I still ate it with ease though.

Le Matin Patisserie in Singapore

Nope, that's not my yellow car in the background; it just happened to pull up right when I took this shot of my fermented mushroom quiche from Le Matin Pattisserie (77 Robinson Road #01-03, 8030-7303). Anyway, this shop is from an Andre and Noma alum, and the pasrty selection was indeed rather upscale, including the double-digit prices for the savory ones at least. I was happy with that delicate yet rich quiche above, as well as the flaky ox tongue and cheese croissant panini that I added. There were quite a few other items from the savory menu that I'd like to try, and I suppose that I should give the sweet side of the menu a try too.

Wang Dae Bak Grill at Holland Piazza, SIngapore

I've passed by Wang Dae Bak's outlets in the city many times, and yet never stepped foot inside. Well, they recently opened a more upscale outlet in Holland Village (3 Lorong Liput #02-01, 6235-6151). It's a nicely decorated place featuring gas-powered grills, and the quality of the food wasn't bad either, including not just that giant kimchijeon above, but also the steak-like quality of the beef that we ordered. Still, it's precisely those thick cuts of meat that I regretted ordering, as it was just not the cut that I was craving. I don't think I saw chadolbagi nor woosamgyup on the menu.

Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao at Chinatown Complex

I still wanted another beer tonight, so I hopped on over to Smith Street Taps for a quick one when I saw someone pairing his suds with some amazing-looking guotie and xiaolongbao. I asked him where he got it from, and he directed me to this (previously) Michelin-listed stall with the long queue (335 Smith Street #02-135).

Yeah, they were pretty good, as those crispy guotie were filled with a fragrant chive-accented stuffing, while the xiaolongbao were thankfully small and thin-skinned. The filling was a touch sweet, but only slightly, and fortunately it was tender. More importantly though, be sure to ask for the chili oil rather than that sauce in the tub in front.

Lion Brewery's Thirty Six Brewlab & Smokehouse

I've been wanting to check out this local brewery for a while now (36 Club Street, 9366-5815). That was in part because they had a sour on tap, but also for that roasted cauliflower above. I was a little disappointed in both, particularly the watered-down former, while the latter was a little sweet. It definitely wasn't worth the S$30 (US$22), but I kinda liked the kale underneath it, as well as the cashew nut butter and miso leek puree.

Greenview Cafe at Far East Plaza, Singapore

This shop (14 Scotts Road #04-96, 6734-2312) is a tiny sliver of a place that specializes in mee hoon kueh. It turned out to be pleasantly chewy, done up in a slightly earthy sauce and topped with some crispy ikan bilis. Now, it wasn't so exciting that I'd come back just for that, but it was pretty cool to sit at those flimsy foldable tables jutting out into the walkway.

Johor Bahru’s Meng Meng Roasted Duck in Singapore

Actually, I didn't even realize that this place was from JB until after I had ordered (721 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 #01-2823). But they serve a Chinese herb-laced duck like what one gets at Dian Xiao Er. It was good in that it wasn't excessively sweet nor herbal, and yet they made the noodles pleasantly spicy while also providing a bit of fat together with the meat. Next time I should try the char siew, especially if it's Malaysian style.