Paradise Pizza – 48-Hour Fermented Sourdough Pizza [MEDIA INVITE]

Paradise Pizza is excited to announce its official debut, under the same roof as Elixir Coffee and Wine. Paradise Pizza will feature its revamped lineup of pizzas, using 48-hours fermented sourdough crust made daily in-house plus the diverse flavours of comfort food from around the world.

Paradise Pizza

The tasting started with Deep Fried Burrata (V) [$24] – Pomodoro, Arugula, Balsamic. Paradise Pizza (‘PP’) uses high-quality burrata from Puglia, Italy. It is breaded, deep-fried to golden and served on the bed of pomodoro sauce, topped with seaweed balls pickled with balsamic vinegar and arugula. A lovely combination of crispy and creamy burrata, with sweet and tangy pomodoro sauce. The crunchy and bitter arugula salad compliments the fried burrata nicely and the balsamic vinegar seaweed balls balance the richness of the burrata. An awesome start to the meal.

Deep Fried Burrata

Mentaiko Lemon Butter [$22]. The first thing that captures my eyes is the uneven size of the mafaldine pasta. The pasta is al-dente and cooked with super zesty lemon butter. The mentaiko and tobiko provided different textures and umami flavours. Unfortunately, those umami flavours are overpowered by the zesty lemon.

Mentaiko Lemon Butter

Bismark Blanc Pizza [$26]. The 48-hours fermented sourdough base has a crispy exterior, followed by a lovely pillowy and chewy interior. The topping of the pizza includes white sauce, Fior di latte (cow’s milk mozzarella), crispy Parma ham and sous-vide egg. The overall pizza is rich and creamy, with a surprise heat coming from the cracked pepper. A Must Order here!

Bismark Blanc Pizza

Burrata Pomodoro [$24]. Impressed with the combination of burrata and pomodoro, we decided to order this pasta. The rigatoni is cooked to al-dente. It is chewy and crunchy, complementing the pomodoro sauce and burrata nicely. Simplicity at its best. Yummy.

Burrata Pomodoro

Darn Good Tiramisu [$14]. Well true to its name, it is DARN GOOD!!. Solid espresso, light, creamy and I easily finish the whole serving on my own, as LD is allergic to coffee.

Darn Good Tiramisu

To accompany the meal, I had the Yuzu Cooler [$6], while LD had Sparkling Piccini 1882 Vino Spumante [$14].

Yuzu Cooler

Sparkling Piccini 1882 Vino Spumante

Sharing the same space as Elixir Coffee and Wine, the décor of Paradise Pizza is modern, industrial and edgy. From the outside, the glasses are lightly tinted, giving the place a cool vibe. Most of the seating areas cater to smaller diners such as 2 to 4 pax, while there is a huge sharing table in the middle that can seat up to 10 pax.

Espresso Bar & Kitchen

Part of Dining Area

Overall, we enjoy the food at Paradise Pizza. The sourdough base pizza is very good, as demonstrated in the Bismark Blanc pizza and not forgetting anything with burrata or pomodoro sauce is a must-order as well. Cheers!!

Menu

Thank you very much Protegie Consultancy and Team Paradise Pizza for the invitation.

Food & Drink: 8.5/10

Value: 8/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 8/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Paradise Pizza

24 Holland Grove

#01-18, Parksuites

Singapore 278803

T: +65 6908 5547

W: https://www.paradisepizza.com.sg/

IG: @Paradisepizza_sg

OH: Wed – Sun (11.00 – 21.00)

Niu Dian Holland Village – New Beef Rice Bowl Series [MEDIA INVITE]

Niu Dian, the 3 consecutive years Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee in Taiwan, has officially opened its second outlet in Holland Village. Spurred by the success of the first Singapore outlet in Balestier, Niu Dian’s Founder, Mr Lin Chun Ying will be introducing a brand-new beef rice bowl series to provide a delightful alternative to their beef noodles. (Full review of Niu Dian Balestier is available here).

Niu Dian Holland Village

We started our meal with the side dishes Cold Century Egg Tofu with Bonito Flakes ($5.90) and Braised Beancurd ($3.90). Served cold, the tofu is soft and silky, topped with century egg, covered with sweet brown gravy and loads of shaved bonito. The overall dish is just creamy, refreshing finished off with umami flavour from the gravy and bonito.

Cold Century Egg Tofu with Bonito Flakes 

Meanwhile, the braised beancurd is served warm and has a chewy texture filled with traditional smoky flavour. When I bit it, the beancurd was bursting with the braising liquid. A familiar taste of beancurd usually found in Taiwan.

Braised Beancurd

Niu Dian outlet at Holland Village has 3 new beef rice bowl dishes on the menu.

1. Combination Speciality Beef Pearl Rice Bowl (Boneless Rib Cut + Tendon + Tripe + Golden Coin) - $19.90

2. Trio Speciality Beef Pearl Rice Bowl (Boneless Rib Cut + Tendon + Golden Coin) - $19.90

3. Shredded Beef Pearl Rice Bowl - $15.90

Shredded Beef Pearl Rice Bowl 

LD chose the shredded beef pearl rice bowl because the meat is different compared to those in the noodle section. The pearl rice is topped with egg, cooked oyakodon style, also known as Tanidon. The egg is creamy, infused with the sweetness of the onion and beef broth. The shredded beef uses mini slices from the golden coin and boneless rib cut. The standard flavour of this dish is spicy, as the signature Niu Dian’s chilli is folded into the rice.

Shredded Beef Pearl Rice Bowl 

Shredded Beef Pearl Rice Bowl 

I choose the Combination Speciality Beef Noodles Set (Boneless Rib Cut + Tendon + Tripe + Golden Coin) - $19.90. The broth has a nice yellowy colour broth, infused with the essence of the beef. A nice-looking beef consommé. The rib cut and golden coin cut are amazingly tender. The tendon is soft with a delicate crunchy texture, while the tripe is springy yet soft. The cuts of the beef tasted clean and packed with delicious beef flavour and without any gamey beef taste. The chopped spring onions are imported from Taiwan, the aromatic aroma just complements this bowl of soup perfectly.

Combination Speciality Beef Noodles Set 

Golden Coin

Tripe

I realise there is a difference in the noodle compared to the initial version. The original noodle was hard and thick with a lovely chewiness on it. However, Mr Lin told us that due to the feedback from Singapore customers, he adjusted the thickness of the noodle and made it silkier. We both prefer the original version as it is just like what we taste in Taiwan.

Boneless Rib Cut

Tendon

Noodles

Accompanying our meal is the palace tea. We ordered the Lime & Sour Plum Green Tea with Aiyu ($5.70) and Osmanthus Oolong Jelly Tea ($5.70). Both type of tea is good to balance the beefiness in the meal.

Lime & Sour Plum Green Tea with Aiyu &
Osmanthus Oolong Jelly Tea

Other than the Media Tasting Menu, we also ordered other side dishes Pickled Radish ($4.90) and Cold King Oyster Mushroom ($4.90). We like the pickled radish as it is crunchy and sourish, which is good to cuts through the “jelakness” of the meat.

Pickled Radish

The King Oyster Mushroom has a delightful chewiness in it, marinated in spicy mala sauce. Meanwhile, the cubed pickled radish is crunchy, covered in sweet and sour marinate. It looks like the pickled radish you get when eating Korean Fried Chicken.

Cold King Oyster Mushroom

The Side Dishes

The décor of the restaurant is inspired by its Taiwanese roots. Combination of solid wooden tables and chairs that are classy and elegant. The twist in the décor is the display of Bearbricks Sculptures, which seems a bit out of place. The service is friendly, though on the minimum side as the ordering is done through the QR code on each table.

Part of Dining Area

Overall, Niu Dian not only has expanded its presence to Holland Village, but they also expand its menu to provide alternative to beef noodles. The beef rice bowl series has its own characteristics and comparable to their noodle series as well. Cheers!!

Thank you very much Protegie and Niu Dian Beef Noodles for the invitation.

Food & Drink: 8.5/10

Value: 8/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Niu Dian @Holland Village

15A Lor Liput

Singapore 277730

F: www.facebook.com/niudiansg/

IG: @niudiansg

OH:

Sun – Thu: 11.00– 21.30

Fri & Sat: 11.00 – 22.00 (LO 21.30)

Menu available here

88 Pocha – Korean Street Food in Pojangmacha Setting [Media Invite]

Pojangmacha or more popularly known as Pocha is a popular night spot in South Korea since the 1970s, where customers can enjoy Korean street food offerings with their alcohol at a reasonable price. I did not manage to see this during my last trip to Korea but seen this often enough in Korean dramas, where the characters eat and drink by themselves under the tent. Usually, they will sit on plastic chairs and dine on red plastic foldable tables.

88 Pocha

88 Pocha is a concept by Food Palace Group Pte Ltd, the company that brought Niu Dian to Singapore (Click here for the Niu Dian full review). The name 88 Pocha is inspired by the 1988 Olympic Games held in Seoul, South Korea, where the nation achieve 4th overall ranking, their best ranking till today. Helmed by a South Korean chef that has been a long-term resident in Singapore, he recreates his favourite and popular Korean street food with a twist.

Front Dining Area

It is easy to spot 88 Pocha in Holland Village, you can see the 88 Pocha inflatable balloon man waving at you. Just like the Pocha setting in Korea, the furniture used are plastic stools and foldable plastic tables in red and blue colour. In the outdoor dining area, you can see the 1988 Olympic Tiger mascot toasting the diners, while the indoor walls are decorated with the menu and soju posters. The dining experience is completed by K-pop music blasting from the speakers.

Indoor Dining Area

Part of Indoor Dining Area

We started the meal with Gimmari (4 pcs, $8.88) Korean deep-fried seaweed rolls. The version here is glass noodles wrapped in seaweed. It is crispy, tasty and has a nice chewy glass noodle texture in it. It can be easily mistaken for a mini version of Korean blood sausage. But based on the serving size and price, I will not consider to order it again.

Gimmari

Gimmari

Gimmari Fillings

Tteokbokki ($11.88). Plump and chewy rice cake. LD says the sauce is thick and it absorbs into rice cakes and fish cakes. The spiciness level is moderate, though it can be better if they amp up the spiciness level.

Tteokbokki

Truffle Jjajang Ramyeon ($11.80). A dish made famous by Hwasa, a member the KPOP group Mamamoo a few years ago. When this dish was served, the truffle aroma will be the first to reach your senses. I like the combination, served with cheese and fried egg. The noodle is springy (QQ), and completely coated with strong jjajang sauce. I had difficulties melting the cheese and mixing it evenly. The result, I have half the noodle with cheese, and the other without. It’s like having 2 noodle flavours in a bowl, which was nice.

Truffle Jjajang Ramyeon 

Truffle Jjajang Ramyeon with the Hidden Cheese

Truffle Jjajang Ramyeon

Tuna Cheese King Egg Roll ($15.88). A jumbo-size egg roll, filled with tuna. The egg is fluffy, perfectly cooked and the tuna sits in the centre nicely. I am not a fan of canned tuna due to the smell, however, the version here is almost absent of the fishy smell. I think the ketchup on top helps as well. This dish definitely worth the price and it will go well with alcohol. Yummy!!

Tuna Cheese King Egg Roll 

Tuna Cheese King Egg Roll

Half Fried Chicken ($15.88). It has a crispy exterior, followed by juicy and succulent flesh. Even the breast part is juicy as well. The chicken is well marinated, we ate most of it without the dipping sauce. For those who like a dipping sauce, it has a thick, sweet flavour but not spicy.

Half Fried Chicken

Half Fried Chicken

LA Galbi (8 pcs, $18.88). The beef ribs are well-marinated, juicy, easily come off the bone. While the meat is tender, it also has a slight chewiness in it. Definitely, a finger-licking good dish.

LA Galbi

LA Galbi

To end the meal, we have Red Bean Bingsu ($12.88). In all the previous bingsu that we tried previously; the shaved ice texture is always very smooth like snow. The version at 88 Pocha has a texture like crushed ice. The toppings are unique, you have red bean, fruit loops, mixed fruits, chocolate and strawberry ice cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce. The instruction from the service staff is to mix it vigorously, basically stab it. Hidden at the bottom of the crushed ice is the condensed milk. Surprisingly, all the topping works well together, creating a unique flavour on their own.

Red Bean Bingsu

Red Bean Bingsu

Red Bean Bingsu - After Mixing

To accompany our meal, I had diet coke ($2.88), while LD choose Earl Grey Highball ($18.88). LD says the highball have a hint of earl grey tea and they are very generous with the alcohol portions.

Earl Grey Highball

Diet Coke

Overall, we had a nice dining experience at 88 Pocha. Most of the main dishes are delicious and they incorporated the latest trend in Korea as well plus the atmosphere is just great. The Tuna Cheese King Egg Roll. Half Fried Chicken and LA Galbi are the must-try. We’ll definitely come back if we are in the area. Geonbae!! Cheers!!

Menu 1

Menu 2

Thank you very much Protegie and 88 Pocha Team for the invitation.

Food & Drink: 7.75/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 8/10

Budget per Person: $11 - $25; $26 - $50

88 Pocha

26A Lor Mambong

Singapore 277685

T: +65 6235 9950

F: https://www.facebook.com/88pochasg

IG: @88pochasg

OH:

Mon – Fri: 11.30 – 15.00; 17.30 – Midnight

Sat – Sun: 11.30 – Midnight