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[SG] Blanco Court Prawn Mee | 白蘭閣街蝦麵 @ Beach Road

Having moved from Xiamen to Singapore, this humble looking eatery had been serving its customers since 1928. This has been a place that I visit since young, probably due to the influence of my parents who are regular patrons and swear by the jumbo wild tiger prawns which seemingly nowhere else in Singapore seems to serve! My mum would even jokingly remarked 'dua chiak, ho chiak!' which in Hokkien meant big and tasty!

The traditional rendition of prawn noodles from Xiamen is the classic version that is soup-based. However due to the need to cater to the needs of their Tibetan customers back then, the dry version was created, which reminded them of home. The latter version where dry chilli powder was added to the noodles was improvised with demand from Penang customers. Apparently, adding on chilli powder atop the broth is the Penang-style and one where its legacy continues!

For some reason, ngor hiang (sausage-esque roll filled with minced pork and prawn seasoned with 5 spices powder) had been a partnering appetizer to the prawn noodles here and seemed almost like a tradition to order it together with some classic guang chiang (pink pork sausage), crispy prawn crackers and yam fritters while waiting for the prawn noodles to be served. On this occasion, cursed with a small appetite, we decided to give this a miss and go straight to the mains!

Jumbo tiger prawn noodles (S$8/-)

At S$8, this was the smallest portion for the jumbo prawns category. For the normal smaller prawns, they would come at half the price for S$4. The jumbo prawns mostly came with prawn roe in each of them, so for the cholesterol conscious - beware! We are not exactly fans of prawn roe but the prawns were fresh and distinctly wild caught. The main difference is that burst of freshness in sea prawns which would not have that slightly stale taste like its freshwater counterparts. The prawns were thoughtfully sliced into halves for the lazy diners who would not have to get their hands dirty and messy with the de-shelling. The flesh of the prawns was succulent and bouncy. Topped with fried shallot and lard pieces, it gave an added layer of crispy crunchy texture to the soft al dente thick mee hoon (rice vermicelli) and that beautiful fragrance. While the greens were lacking in the bowl, it was compensated by the unami flavours of the broth, which had an initial taste of savouriness but concluded with a tinge of sweetness at the back of throat upon savouring. It might disappoint some if you are looking for a really strong oomph of the prawn flavours in the broth but do not get me wrong, it was pleasing to our palate, but just a heads up if you were looking for a more intense flavour. While the flavours of the dish and the freshness of the ingredients were spot-on, we felt that it was slightly overpriced at S$8 because what you are really getting is just two jumbo prawns.

Verdict: 8.5/10

Prawn noodles with pork ribs (S$5/-)

The savoury brown broth was equally addictive in this version. Like the all-prawns-only noodles, they were sliced into half but that being said, you are essentially only getting 1 prawn and a few diced portions of the pork ribs. The ribs were beautifully chosen for their cut, with just the right amount of fat to complement the lean portions, giving it a succulent bite with its fresh meaty flavours exploding with juices inside your mouth. Likewise, the fried shallots gave the much desired texture and fragrance to the luscious bowl. Those who desire an extra punch of heat can pile on the chilli powder available at each table. On that note, if you are guilty of savouring the noodles with its broth in entirety, feel free to request for more broth at the counter and they would be more than happy to fill you up!

Verdict: 8.5/10

You will have to place your orders in person at the counter, but no cash will be taken then. Upon taking your orders (with or without drinks), you will be issued an order chit.

The ngor hiang stall adjacent to the main prawn noodle stall.

With the order chit, you will then need to come over to this drinks and payment counter (left hand side of the above picture). It is only here where only cash would be accepted. You could also order your drinks at the counter directly, but typically regular patrons would go for their homemade lime juice. A good quench for the constantly hot weather and a good refreshing tang to add to your savoury noodles! The ordered dishes however would be served to your table.

If you are planning a visit, do note that they only serve the morning and lunch crowd as they are closed at 4pm. It would be advisable to come slightly earlier but avoid the lunch crowd. It is open for business from 7.15am onwards and closes on Tuesdays. One thing which we would complain about is that it could do with some air-conditioning! Otherwise, this is an eatery which my family had been patrons for decades and would certainly continue to be, well unless its standards take a plunge of course!

Blanco Court Prawn Mee (白蘭閣街蝦麵)

243/245 Beach Road

#01-01

Singapore 189574

Tel: 6396 8464

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, by cy

Desserts

[SG] Arteastiq Boutique Tea House @ Mandarin Gallery

The hunt for a sanctuary to retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban city life brought us to the quiet corner of Arteastiq tucked away at the top floor of Mandarin Gallery. We found the name particularly intriguing where essentially it meant 'the art of teasing' or 'the art of tea that makes you tick'. This boutique tea house serves an interesting array of special, alcoholic, fruit tea sets and desserts in a luxurious relaxing setting lined with designer furniture and it certainly won our hearts over with this innovative concept almost immediately upon setting foot.

Spoilt for choice when browsing through the menu, we decided to go for their signatures and while our orders were being processed, the camera started snapping away!

Captain Buntan - Pomelo Tea with Yuzu Gelato (S$12/+)

The pomelo tea was very refreshing and offered a perfect lift for the lazy afternoon. While we struggled to taste the elements of pomelo in the drink, we favoured the tang from the citric yuzu slices. The gelato was quick to immerse itself into the tea and enjoyed on its own, it was creamy rich in a good sense but seemed to lack a strong refreshing burst of the sweet citrus flavours and tasted more like a good rendition of vanilla ice cream. We felt that the tea with saccharine yuzu slices was too sweet for our palate though it helped that a separate glass of iced water washed it down a little. However it was the exact immense flavours from the yuzu slices that carried its beautiful influence on the gelato. We allowed some of the gelato to melt in the cold tea and surprisingly we got ourselves a new concoction, yuzu milky tea! Like any classic afternoon tea set, this came complete with 2 slices of biscotti. These oblong-shaped almond biscuits were made dry and crunchy and complemented the cold beverage well with an added texture to the submerged gelato! Overall, it was a good combination but the elements standalone might not quite find a footing in our must-try list.

Verdict: 7.0/10

The Flying Carpet - Two scoops of premium gelato with Arteastiq probiotic crispy prata (S$12.9+)

We chose the two recommended gelato from the list and they were pear tea and Cointreau bitter chocolate. We thought that the name to the dessert was really innovative, especially with the 'Aladdin-like' saucers which had dried cranberries and cocoa powder to sprinkle over the gelato and prata. The pear tea gelato was rich and had an immensely refreshing burst which contrasted well with the bitter chocolate counterpart. While it tasted revitalizing, we felt that the balance in flavours was tipped towards fruity floral tea so if you were expecting a solid punch of fresh pear fruit taste like I did, you might be poised for disappointment.

I was also expecting a good kick from the orange flavoured liqeur in the chocolate gelato but even with repeated servings, we failed to taste the alcohol. It was a good rich chocolate gelato but it was not really dark nor bitter. That being said, the extra serving of cocoa powder when sprinkled atop the chocolate gelato did make a positive difference, giving an added layer of texture and bitterness. I was actually looking forward to trying this interesting fusion mix between Indian cuisine and western desserts, but regrettably the prata was not crispy enough. It tasted dense with flour, thick and pretty much tasted like frozen pre-mades that got pan-fried prior to serving. Definitely look elsewhere if you are in search for freshly made prata. Overall, I liked the creative combination of infusing Asian culinary elements into desserts and admittedly, it was my first time trying prata without the familiar curry sauces and sugar! If the respective elements to this dessert could be improved upon, then I am sure it would be a winner.

Verdict: 6.5/10

The various cocktails and fruit teas were prepared at this fully exposed part of the 'bar' or 'kitchen' depending on your definition, but we certainly enjoyed watching our beverages prepared before us! The gentleman in the above picture was very polite and attentive to our requests even though he was not part of the waiting staffs. He greeted us enthusiastically upon arrival and even thanked us for our patronage upon leaving. It took a while for our desserts to be served so it would help if you visited with a laid back attitude like we did, then you would enjoy the whole cosy chilled ambiance a whole lot better!

In addition to providing an unique dining experience, there were social events tied up with art events held at the adjacent art gallery cum social painting lounge. You may wish to visit their official website here on the exact prices and ongoing promotions. Looking for a bonding session with your partner, this could be your next activity here to get some art juices flowing!

While the desserts were not exceptional in their class, we enjoyed the getaway from the busy hustle of Orchard Road, tucking away to reading some of the provided magazines, a little chit chat over some nice fruity, floral teas. Apparently they have a beautiful Adam & Eve cakes, which are their famous apple and orange cakes respectively. I would recommend this place as a resting haven for the tired shoppers to get a good pick up from the refreshing cocktails and beverages!

Arteastiq

Mandarin Gallery, #04-14/15
333 Orchard Road, Singapore 238867

Opens: 11am - 10.30pm daily

Reservations for Boutique Tea House: 6235 8370

Reservations for Art Jam (Drawing and Art Gallery): 6235 8705

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, by cy

International Cuisine

[SG] World Street Food Congress 2013

The first of such to come to Singapore, how could any foodie resist the opportunity to taste the flavour of 10 different countries congregated at one venue? Hosted by Makansutra, the event hosts an interesting variety of street food that excites the adventurous foodies in us.

In view of the gloomy weather upon reaching, we were pretty hesitant initially whether to enter for the event. Thankfully we were told of the wet weather options, with a private dining area open for us to take shelter in. The curious foodie then got the better of us and we were pretty stoked by the lack of crowd (yet), as we were able to take our time looking around and speaking to the stall owners.

Starting our food hunt, we striked Singapore and Malaysia off our list of countries' food to check out immediately. In order of what we've tried, we went for the pretty famed Mexican stall, that has been nominated for Newsweek's 101 Best Places to Eat in the World.

1. La Guerrerense - Mexico

Seafood Tostada ($10)

With a mixture of seafood and their own special mix, it was served atop a crispy tortilla chip. When ordering, they would also ask on the level of spiciness preferred and we decided on a medium level to go with the dish. It was a thoughtfully concocted combination, with fresh seafood used in the mixture, consisting of squid, octopus, shrimp and crab, tossed in their own sauce, paired with a refreshing slice of avocado. I was quite surprised by the cold touch but after savouring the first bite, I grew to like it instead.

Perhaps an acquired taste, I like the creamy sauce used in the mixture comprised mainly of mayonnaise and fresh seafood which gave the extra crunch. Thinking that the tortilla chip would probably turn soggy after we took a long time with our photos, it still managed to hold up its solid crisp and we simply enjoyed the blend in textures it gave. The chilli added was basically the icing on the cake, it was just very slightly spicy with the chilli oil, and had small crunchy bits that tasted just slightly familiar to our local 'hei bi hiam'. An interesting dish that appealed to our palates! Eat with caution though, as the mountain of ingredients had been carefully placed and might just topple. We also felt that the serving portion could do with a bit more generosity.

Verdict: 8.5/10

2. Khun Pas - Thailand

Khao Knab Pak Moh ($4.50 as a set)

Dumplings wrapped in translucent purple/white skin, this was an immediate visual appeal. A savory dish with minced pork wrapped inside the 'Q' skin, I enjoyed the right chewiness of the wrap and it went really well with the tangy chilli sauce drizzled over it. The dumpling also had a bit of crunch to it, having added water chestnut for that refreshing touch. The chilli sauce was spicy yet refreshing, with a slight sour tinge to it, likened to that of thai sweet chilli sauce. It was a tad too spicy that got us fanning our tongues after that, but nonetheless shiok! Great pairing, in our opinion.

Verdict: 9.0/10

Thua Paep

We thought this was quite a special dish with sesame and mung beans wrapped in a very light chewy rice-based cake, coated with mung beans. It was very soft, making it easy to cut into bite sizes. Popping in, I liked the soft and chewy texture, coupled with the mung beans and the sugar bits on top which made it a very diverse combination. I'm not a fan of mung beans but cy enjoyed it as a healthy snack after meal. It was a great combination of sweet and savory sold as a set and the person at the stall had also advised us to have this only after the dumplings.

Verdict: 8.0/10

3. Abhisek - India

Chicken 65 ($3.50)

Named Chicken 65 with some rumours as to having it marinated for 65 days, this unassuming plate of drumsticks won our hearts after we've sunk our teeth into it. Fried to a dark reddish tinge due to its marinate with various spices, it brought back a familiar taste of what I've had while I was at India. It looked dry on the outside, but a bite revealed its tender flesh and juices retained inside. Pairing with the spices powdered on top, it added a stronger spice flavour, and perfect when paired with the lemon squeezed over it. I found the accompanying mint chutney a bit too sharp for me, but the adventurous cy had a try and thought it went well with the crispy drumsticks. We thought this was a simple dish done well indeed!

Verdict: 9.0/10

4. India Gate Bhel Puri

Batata Puri ($4.50)

I had the impression that this was somewhat like pani puri (another popular street snack, bite-sized crisp rounded crust filled with flavoured water, potatoes and spices) initially due to its name, but it turned out to be very different - a mixture of snacks mixed in their signature sauce before serving. It seemed a little like our kacang puteh, mixed in rojak style with their own concocted sauce. It was quite an exotic mix where you could find crackers, peanuts, potatoes and many other indian snacks in small pieces tossed together. Their sauce made it a distinctive dish with a sticky coat to it, made up of dates, mango and tamarind. It was strongly flavoured, just like how Indian dishes are typically done up, and had a refreshing tangy twist to it. It was appetising and got very addictive after a while. A great tea-time snack!

Verdict: 8.5/10

5. Lion City - Vietnam

Lion City reminded us of Singapore and indeed, this was a Singaporean-inspired cuisine in Vietnam, specialising in teppanyaki. We were pretty impressed by how they were able to cook up a dish of the signature Singaporean chilli crab in the teppanyaki manner and thought we had to give it a shot, with a set of the following 3 dishes for $14.

Squid in Pineapple Sauce

A refreshing way of doing up the squid, this left us with a good impression upon the first bite. The taste of pineapple was very controlled and done just right such that it captured the sweetness within the squid and had just a little sourish tinge to it for that little twist to its aftertaste. The squid we had was very fresh and crunchy, and you could still taste the natural sweetness of typical seafood. It was stir-fried for just the right time to retain its juices, remaining tender and chewy. A tad too much onions in this small servings though!

Verdict: 8.5/10

Mee Goreng

This was quite a below-average portion of mee goreng we had, perhaps as we're more familiar with the Singapore-styled dish that has got more gravy to it. There wasn't much flavour to it and the noodles were a little overcooked long that it was too soft. We couldn't really put a taste to it as it was just like a plate of noodles mixed with tomatoes and vegetables.

Verdict: 7.0/10

Chilli Crab

The highlight of our dish, wondering how the Vietnamese version would compare to the original Singapore chilli crab. The staff told us that they'd adapted our version to their tastes and they're the first and probably only one to do chilli crab in the teppanyaki manner. Seeing how teppanyaki is typically done, this was quite a feat to complete.

Digging into the gravy right away since that's the essence of chilli crab, this is a much milder and sweeter version. The gravy had eggs in it just like how most restaurants in Singapore do it, and is thick enough to give that fuller and richer flavour with every mouthful.

Cracking open the pincer, we were pleasantly surprised to find that even with teppanyaki, the flesh could be cooked just right, soft and tender the way we like it. Of course, the satisfaction of any crab meal - tip top freshness of the seafood! It would have been complete if they serve fried mantous or probably toasted the baguette before serving. We still preferred the spicier version we have in Singapore to have that 'kick', but this was also done very well and we loved the novel idea of preparing Chilli Crab in the teppanyaki manner.

For those who're up to finishing an entire crab, they're also selling a pure chilli crab dish for $30. Quite a deal!

Verdict: 8.5/10

Iron Chef!

The star of Lion City, he's the friendly Iron Chef who would stop occassionally to perform some stunts with his tools and also pose for your photos!

6. The People's Pig - USA

Porchetta Sandwich ($9)

We decided to go for something that we're more familiar with and decided upon this Italian style pulled pork sandwich. I thought it was just going to be another boring burger since you can pretty much imagine the taste of a pork sandwich, and I was thankfully surprised. Biting into the soft ciabatta bread, I was then received by a strong savory flavour in the slab of tender pork that felt vaguely familiar. Marinated in garlic, it brought upon a strong yet rounded aftertaste, with its crispy skin complementing the tender meat. It would have been a great one, except that it was too salty for us and subsequent tastes had the saltiness masking the star flavour of the dish. While the flavours were strong and there was a beautiful crackling on the crispy skin, this portion could do with some upsize in our humble opinion.

Verdict: 7.5/10

7. Nam Bo Sticky Rice Banana - Vietnam

Chuoi Nuong ($4)

A Vietnamese dessert, this is of bananas wrapped in glutinous rice then toasted to get a crisp outer layer and caramelised banana. It is then drizzled with coconut milk with a few other condiments mentioned by the person manning the stall, to give that sweet finishing touch. With a very fine and soft layer of glutinous rice, I like how it was chewy yet not overly sticky nor jelat. The sauce had a nice coconut and pandan fragrance to it, and it wasn't too sweet for us. Thoughtful addition of the toasted sesame seeds added a very nice crunch to the dish, it would have been perfect if the bananas were sweeter instead of having a sourish tinge to it.

Verdict: 8.0/10

8. Nomjit Kaiyang - Thailand

Grilled Chicken (Kai Yang)

It's not easy finding great grilled wings in Singapore and it was to our delight seeing these in the set - and best of all, the wings were grilled over charcoal! The skin was just heavenly with its juices exploding and had a light lemon refreshing taste to it. The meat was just tender and succulent, absolutely finger-licking good!

Verdict: 9.0/10

Grilled Pork (Moo Yang)

These thin little strips of pork had an uncanny resemblance to our bak kwa, except that this was more tender and had a slight crisp on its outer layer. It was a little too salty but a great dish to go with the plain sticky rice.

Verdict: 7.5/10

Som Tum & Kay/Moo Yang ($8.50)

Som Tum (green papaya salad), as explained at the stall description panel, is the four main tastes of the local Thai cuisine - being sour, sweet, savory and spicy. Apparently the secret of this street stall lies in its addition of salted egg to its Som Tum for an added flavour. A perfect appetiser with its plethora of flavour in a mouthful, it gets you addicted trying to figure out its taste. I liked the crunch of the thinly sliced green papaya, and its sauce that was slightly spicy and sourish. The salted egg was an interesting addition supposedly to have that richer flavour in the combination but we thought it wasn't very much different. Addictive dish even for me, the typical non-salad-eater!

Verdict: 8.5/10

And of course, just when we thought it was all food, there's the entertainment part as well! Great live music to go along with the lazy Saturday.

That basically sums up our experience with the World Street Food Congress 2013, having stuffed ourselves with so much food but leaving contented and satisfied. The quality of food had lived up to our standards in general and we were of course more than happy to be able to try out small portions of different cuisines from all over the world. We were looking forward to more European stalls that could bring us the slightly different fare from burgers but the Asian cities managed to impress us with the exotic offerings as well.

Private dining area for wet weather plans

For those who're planning on a visit, do check them out by 9 June! Some tips that we thought would be useful - Be prepared to get your hands dirty trying out the variety of cuisines! So come armed with tissues, wet tissues and an appetite for the not-so-conventional food you get!