Monday, August 12, 2019

This year's musings at Lawry's

Lawry's bone in prime rib creamed corn

Ever since I found out about their creamed corn last year, I've forgone the creamed spinach. Think it might be that way for a while. 

Looking back, we've mostly come here for their prime rib. It was the one good thing they did well consistently. The other items on their menu were pretty forgettable. Maybe they represented classics from another place and another time, but we wouldn't be here for those.

Sunday, August 11, 2019

Srirach in cinnamon raisin bagel from Two Men Bagel House

Two Men Bagel House, srirach cinnamon raisin bagel

If you're wondering what a Srirach is, the description is available on the menu on their site. I could taste pretty much most of what they described of the ingredients though. The meaty marinated chicken thighs bolstered by smoky bacon with some light Sriracha mayo heat, punctuated by a bit of sharpness in some bites by those sliced red onions. Whew! And hippie greens which consisted of mostly rockets. 

It might sound a little unusual to have fillings that were so savoury and spicy in a cinnamon raisin bagel but it didn't taste weird at all. Not for me it didn't. Flavour bomb breakfast from Two Men Bagel House

Two Men Bagel House, Icon Village

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Tsukemen with hot plum dip from Nirai Kanai

Nirai Kanai, pink guava beer

But first some frosty mugged cold pink guava beer. to wash the dust off my parched throat

Nirai Kanai, tsukemen hot plum

This noodle had escaped my attention all the times I had been to Nirai Kanai and a hot plum broth did sound like something I didn't mind today. What worked for me was that the dipping broth tasted like how I imagined it; plus some smokiness from bonito. Noodles were chewy the way I had expected and liked but I wasn't so enthusiastic about those sliced pork on the side. I wonder if there's a way of keep these tsukemen dips hot after all the cold noodle dipping.

Nirai Kanai

Friday, August 09, 2019

Binomio Spanish Restaurante, Craig Road

Binomio, Craig Road

Binomio (20 Craig Road, #01-02 Craig Place, tel : +65 6557 0547) has been in operations for a number of years. We never noticed them until we started visiting PerBacco's old location. They were just next door to each other. Even then it took a long time for us to finally visit.

In their earlier days, I noticed people talking about their old executive chef Jose Alonso and his Michelin studded past. About two years back, not so much fanfare was accorded to the current EC Gonzalo Landin who looked like he was a touch and go kind of guy. Touched and went at places like Dinner by Heston Blumenthal or even a 4 month staging gig at El Celler de Can Roca. Locals tend to call this job hopping.

Binomio, amuse bouche

I guess this was amuse bouche. Manchego with jelly. Quince maybe? 

Binomio, sangria tinta

A sangria tinta while waiting for the food. This one had quite a lot of fruits. Nice enough that I followed up with another.

Binomio, blue cheese croquette

We ordered their blue cheese croquettes with very low expectations. Because curiosity and things are always an assumption until we know. It turned out enjoyable. Crisp breading exterior with enough of the pungent blue cheese flavouring in a piping hot creamy...erm...insides. Good for returns.

Binomio, jamon iberico pata negra
Binomio, bread

Got a half portion of their Jamón Ibérico pata negra. Yup, pata negra here and no less. Nutty, sweet and savoury like all nice Jamón Ibérico are.

Binomio, cheese terrine

The menu described this as a cheese terrine. The texture was light with an almost mousse like creaminess. Flavour was mild - almost relatable to mascarpone. I thought it was paired nicely with the honey olive oil thingy. 

Binomio, lamb chops sweetbread goat's cheese

We ordered lamb chops because *Joey Jordison drumroll* - lamb sweetbreads! So hard to find these things. And figs. And goat's cheese.

Binomio, sweetbread

Lamb was competently done. The meat had a healthy amount of fat which translated to flavour. I thought those sweetbread were a little too little because they were delicious. 

Binomio, paella snails artichoke

We hadn't had paella in a while so why not one from a restaurant that's pretty well received. Artichokes and snails. Those artichokes were delicious and the snails were snails. What was outstanding was also the flavour in the rice. Deep savoury flavour with soccarat that was so good. And I am usually not a soccarat kind of person.

Binomio, cold whiskey cake

Not impressed by their cold whiskey cake. The middle layer is cream, the yellows are egg yolk and toasted almonds. That's all the texture. Whiskey was poured over when it was served and well, it's just creamy and sweet.

Binomio Spanish Restaurante, Craig Road

Wednesday, August 07, 2019

Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig's Organ Soup (正正文志記豬什湯大王), Jalan Besar

Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig's Organ Soup (正正文志記豬什湯大王), lu rou fan 卤肉饭

Finally gotten round to trying this shop (207 Jalan Besar) after hearing about them for years. People come here for their pig's organ soup amongst other things.

Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig's Organ Soup (正正文志記豬什湯大王), pig's organ soup

To be honest, their pig's organ soup is probably the first of its flavour profile I've had. There was definitely that porcine quality and it was as much savoury as it was sweet. Not garlic-ky, kiam chye-ish nor peppery. The bowl was loaded with sliced pig livers, lean pork, strips of fatty pork, stinky meatballs and tender slices of pig's stomach. Both the meat and offal were tender. Delicious bowl there.

Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig's Organ Soup (正正文志記豬什湯大王), braised egg

The stewing liquid for their boiled egg had a nice cinnamon aroma.

Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig's Organ Soup (正正文志記豬什湯大王), braised pig's intestines

Pig's intestines were tender and chewy.

Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig's Organ Soup (正正文志記豬什湯大王), mei cai 梅菜

What caught me by surprise about their mei cai (梅菜) was the sweetness. While it wasn't bad, I prefer the savoury renditions of this dish.

Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig's Organ Soup (正正文志記豬什湯大王), lu rou fan 卤肉饭

What these guys are also known for are their lu rou fan (卤肉饭). Minced braised fatty pork belly with gravy on rice. It's good on it's own or with their chilli sauce. 


Chilled calamansi drink for the sweltering heat.

Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig's Organ Soup (正正文志記豬什湯大王), Jalan Besar

Tuesday, August 06, 2019

Prata breakfast

from the prata stall at Blk 34 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee

Two telur and one kosong with assam fish curry. Usually no fish in the curry but I got some bits today. And bones too.