Singapore Shui Kueh, Whampoa Food Centre

These chwee kueh were what we were trying to get the last time we were here though I must admit that today was actually the first time I had paid attention to the name of the stall (#01-25, Whampoa Drive Makan Place Block 91, 91 Whampoa Drive). Such ubiquity. But this was a taste of childhood - while it might not have been exactly the same, it was close. They're pretty generous with the chai por and the chilli was pretty good. Located right beside that delicious kuey chap stall.

The Butchers Club Burger, Clark Quay

So this was the same burger shop from Wan Chai in Hong Kong that has set themselves up here (3A River Valley Road, #01-01B Clarke Quay). This local joint in comparison, was much more spacious and the area behind the counter looked like a luxury considering the staff to working space ratio. The vibe was also different. This space felt contrived.

Nakasei Sushi Restaurant, Central Mall

I had never noticed that Nakasei (#01-06/07 Central Mall, 1 Magazine Road, tel : + 65 6836 5325) had existed until recently. But then again, it's been quite a while since I was last in the vicinity. While trying to google for an address, I found out that they had previously been located at Gallery Hotel.

The menu looked traditional. So no truffle what-have-yous to be found. This was their chirashi which costs more to be had in dinner over lunch. The rice was served on a separate lacquer bowl rather than with the raw fish.

The quality of the seafood was pretty good. And a decent selection there was of tai, kanpachi, chutoro, amaebi, tamago, hotategai, ikura and crab sticks. Nothing fancy or exotic. If I had to remark a noticeable quality, the chef had a very light hand with the vinegar on the rice. Their wasabi was probably half grated and half from the paste.

Pasta Brava without pasta

Pasta Brava. A seemingly unwavering custodian on our sunny island for Italian food. The menu hasn’t changed since the first time I visited a decade ago. There are seldom/no specials of the week/day, no frills. Just the menu. Steadfast and steadfastly moving into what could be construed as retro. But not yet a relic like Pete’s Place. 

Soto ayam from Rahim Muslim Food

There were a couple things that stood out. The first was the amount of chicken that they gave and the second was the begedil. That begedil was so dense that it couldn't absorb any of the broth. After a bite, I found that the interior was totally dry even though it had been soaking for a while. Neither were complains. Just observations.

If anyone is wondering about that broth, it was boosted with their dark soya sauce with chilli. A "rivulets of perspiration down the scalp into the face" kind of heat. Which was not unenjoyable but pretty much killed any of the more subtle flavours. But in retrospect, I'm pretty sure I'd pick their mee rebus over their mee soto if I had to eat at Rahim's again. 

Revisiting The Pelican

We came The Pelican Seafood Bar and Grill (#01-01 One Fullerton, One Fullerton Road, tel : + 65 6438 0400) for dinner once some time back. As it had turned out, I didn't say much and the only thing that I had mentioned was their seaweed sourdough loaf. So that became another wall of digital portraits frozen in their silence.