It’s the current state of the world we live in, Franco Jazz hip hop LP spinning on a German ‘table, driven by a cult Japanese amp (with NOS Russian tubes), played through British made- Japanese origin speakers. It’s more than a mouthful but that’s the point, it’s a great time to be..
And the Hibiki 17 just adds a nice touch to the whole experience.
Tucked between the lanes ( Lorong) of 24 and 24a in Geylang lies what the regulars go for a tasty bowl of noodles. This description alone downplays what I consider excellence in simplicity. You get a bowl of prawn noodles, in a rich delicate broth or get a dry version where the shop’s deft skills at balancing umami, chili, soy, shallots and lardons shines!
There’s really not much to wax lyrical here unless you drop by and taste it for yourself. All I know, even if I don’t get enough sleep the night before, I will still rise early enough and make the half hour car ride for this taste of authenticity.
The bowls are plainly dressed with the spicy-porky-umami goodness hiding underneath the noodles. I did arrive late and paid for the consequences with the missing poached pork tail and the unctuous gelatinous skins tossed with the noodles.
Perhaps the locality adds its charm to the whole experience. Crusty order takers and servers adds character to a gritty and colourful neighbourhood.
One thing’s for sure, don’t show up after 9:30 of you expect a bowl of perfection.
The humblest ingredients combined well can produce a satisfying family lunch.
Store bought beef and cheddar pie, Dutch Cream Potatoes, dried porcini in Knorr brown gravy (Swiss made)
September 6, 2015
“Papa, have you ever had a taco before?”
Sure! Why do you ask?
“I’d like to try it!”
..So excited to introduce a new cuisine to my lil diner…
Turns out Crazy Dave loves tacos. Google that!
There’s no taco trucks in Asia so the default of choices for a taco in this town is either a painfully overrated hipster joint or a Mexican fine dining one.
I chose the latter thru El Mero Mero
Located at the newly refurbished and tenanted CHiJMeS.
I was surprised how posh and upmarket this place was. Even more surprising was the presence of Mexican servers and cooks! Asia doesn’t necessarily have a wide representation of Mexican nor Latino visitors, much less residents.
The kitchen was utterly modern with sous vide machines, vacuum chambers and dehydrators sitting alongside a dozen active mortar and pestle’s. Apparently all guacamole and salsa’s are hand pounded.
The decor is a mixture of Día de Muertos souvenirs and rustic kitchen. Lines are clean and the lighting considerably sets the upmarket tone of the place. What seems to be mod-mex-Latino mood music gives that final edgy cool touch.
As there were only two of us this time, the menu choices were limited. For lil diner, a classic two taco carne asada with picked onion. It was gone before the camera could come to life. I can say with great confidence, it was a much loved dish.
For the accompanying adult, a Mexican soda before the El Mero Mero ceviche and followed by the roasted suckling pig.
The ceviche was great with a tostada cover holding cilantro, a wedge of avocado and a grilled lime to dress the ceviche. Base flavours are predominantly tomato, onions and cilantro with a hint of Chili that slowly creeps up on you. The seafood was a nice medley of octopus, shrimp, bay scallops and white fish. The creamy avocado adds a nice creaminess to it while the smokiness of the grilled lime gives additional oomph!
The suckling pig came next. It was a surprising “sandwich” of crispy skin, one on the bottom and another on top. The meat was probably sous vide’d. Texture was a tad soft for pork and it fell apart too easily. The mole that came with it was bright, earthy and the Chili was beautifully smoky. The touch of grilled pineapple lifted the dish. Overall good but probably not very “Mexican”.
Dessert was the star of the show. Creative yet never straying from its roots. The roasted pineapple showed the perfect marry of maturity and sweetness accompanied by a condensed milk ice cream.
Lil diner had the Churros con chocolate. Without ruining the surprise, this is a must try dish as familiar tastes are elevated with a fresh reinterpretation.
What started out as a curiosity ends with more curiosities. I want to go back and try more dishes, including the lengua taco. Lil diner wants the carne asada again.
August 30, 2015
Our memories with food always starts at the end. Deserts to be exact or maybe the fortune cookie. The latter was a nice touch, taking me back to my first adopted city by the Bay. The ginger pudding was more reminiscent of Brit-SE Asian sweet ending than something from a chopsuey shop in America though.
Dinner at Chopsuey was a surprise. The food was elevated and refined yet carried enough nostalgic touches that many who have lived overseas so fondly remembers (or not!)
Dinner starts off with crispy squid and Hot & Sour soup. We ordered it with a hint of skepticism but it was probably the best Hot & Sour I’ve had in a while. It was punchy, bright, with just enough black vinegar and savouriness to keep you going for more.
We made an effort to order the greatest hits from our past, crispy chicken with prawn crackers, sweet and sour pork, broccoli, and fried rice.
A slight letdown was the prawn toast. Too much sesame seeds, it just overwhelmed the prawns. I think the “guai-Lo” set will love it though.
Every single one was a hit. The lil monkeys were fighting over the fried rice. One would say it’s natural to do so but this one was made from fried eggs, mint and spinach. One of those things that tasted better than it read. My personal favourite is the sweet and sour pork. It was super tender pork neck that were perfectly fried and dressed in that nearly incandescent sauce. It was topped with shredded pineapple which added some natural sweetness and helped cut the richness of the dish.
So who would eat at such a place?
Perhaps bored mainland foreign exchange students ..
Just kidding. The first seating had a large presence of local asian families. There were an equally large number of foreign diners as well, choosing to sit al fresco as they normally opt to.
It’s a beautiful restaurant with an equally fun and tasty menu. I commented to my lil dining companions that this place would be a good reminder of what the Raffles Hotel could be, classy and updated (and kid friendly)
thebearandhiscigar 