Alaturka – Authentic Mediterranean and Turkish Cuisine

We were looking for a place to celebrate LD’s & our Godson’s birthday. Surprisingly, our Godson choose Mediterranean cuisine and his mum made a booking at Alaturka Mediterranean & Turkish Restaurant.

Located in Bussorah Street, nearby the iconic Arab Street, Alaturka fits right at home. Helmed by the most experienced Turkish chefs, Alaturka served authentic and marvellous Mediterranean cuisine. They are also awarded the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand in 2016.

Alaturka Mediterranean & Turkish Restaurant

We started the meal with Hummus ($12.50) and Havuc Salata ($12.50). Whenever LD see a Hummus on the menu, it is a must-order item for her. The version here is smooth, creamy and packs with chickpea flavour. It is served with Ekmek bread that is soft and fluffy.

Hummus

Havuc Salata is a Turkish carrot salad. The peeled carrots are cooked with olive oil and then mixed with yoghurt and garlic. If you don’t like the raw carrot taste, don’t worry, the garlic and yoghurt remove most of the raw carrot taste.

Havuc Salata

When we were ordering, we notice the next table ordered this balloon type of bread. After we find it on the menu, we decided to add Lavas ($6) to our order. Served piping hot and in a balloon shape, we were in awe and took lots of photos of it. It is aromatic and tasted light and clean, yet addictive. You can just eat that on its own and try to finish it while it’s hot.

Lavas

Calamari ($18). Deep-fried breaded calamari, served with spiced mayonnaise. It was not a special dish, but everyone just enjoys it. Crispy exterior, followed by tender yet springy calamari rings.

Calamari

Etli Pide ($24). Pide is like the Turkish version of boat shape pizza with a different selection of toppings. We choose the seasoned coarse-ground lamb and cheese. The base is crisp with a soft chewy texture, while the ground lamb is meaty, well-seasoned and absent of the gamy taste. The cheese binds all the ingredients together, giving it the deserving umami flavour and the delicate chewy texture.

Etli Pide

Next up are the meat platter. Karisik Kebab ($59 for 2) and Alaturka Platter ($79 for 2). Both the platter has similar grilled meat such as Kuzu Pirzolla (Lamb Chop), Tavuk Sis (Boneless Grilled Chicken Thigh) and Kanat (Chicken Wings). The Karisik kebab has Köfte (3 lambs and beef meatballs), while the Alaturka Platter has Adana Chicken / Lamb (Marinated minced meat, hand-formed skewer) and Patlican Lamb Kebab (Ground lamb and eggplant skewers). We also ordered extra Kuzu Pirzolla.

Alaturka Platter

Let me not bored you with the details, because at that time, I also did not know the specifics of it. Let’s make it simple, the chickens are juicy, succulent, super tender and well marinated. While most of the kebabs that I tried previously were dried, Alaturka version beat them hands down. They are moist, juicy and the seasoning is spot on. You can still taste the flavour of the meat, instead of being drowned by spices. The Lamb Chop is overcooked, but it was very forgiving as still remains juicy.

Karisik Kebab with extra Kuzu Pirzolla

Each platter is served with buttered rice, greens and house sauce. The rice is fragrant, aromatic and tasty. While the vegetables are tossed with a balsamic vinegar dressing. The house sauce is the must-try here. Instead of dunking your meat into it, I suggest you mixed it with the rice. It is just delicious!!

Karisik Kebab with extra Kuzu Pirzolla

For desserts, we settle on Kunefe ($15) A Turkish dessert made from shredded phyllo dough, butter, cheese, ground pistachios and milk. Absolutely love this dessert. The combination of the crispy texture, savoury and sweet as well. We described the taste like Chao Da Bee Hoon with Cream (in a delicious way). It is claimed to be Turkey’s finest dessert, I totally agree with them.

Kunefe

Alaturka has two dining sections, indoor and outdoor. The indoor dining room is a bit small, but it is decorated in traditional Turkish lights, carpet and plates. The outdoor area feels like you are dining in a Mediterranean restaurant near the beach. Although the place is packed, the service remains friendly and attentive. We brought a cake to celebrate our Godson’s birthday and they even plated nicely for us. Plus they took our photos with those fun placards and print a hardcopy for our memento.

Overall, it was our first time dining at Alaturka and we can’t wait to make a return visit there. The food is authentic and delicious, accompanied by friendly service. For those who never tried the Mediterranean or Turkish food, this is a good place for your first experience. For those who like it, you must visit Alaturka. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 8.5/10

Value: 8/10

Service: 8.5/10

Ambiance: 7/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50; $51 - $80.

Alaturka Mediterranean & Turkish Restaurant

15 Bussorah Street

Singapore 199436

T: +65 9434 6026 / 6294 0304

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

F: https://www.facebook.com/alaturkarestaurantsingapore

IG: @Alaturkarestaurantsingapore

OH: Daily 11.30 – 22.30 (LO 22.00)

Shabestan – Persian Green Month [MEDIA INVITE]

Sabzi Kebab @ Shabestan 

Shabestan is an authentic Persian restaurant located in Singapore riverfront district, Robertson Quay. Helmed by Executive Chef Hamid Hosseini, Shabestan served authentic Persian cuisine that combines premium halal lamb, beef, chicken, fish with Persian’s finest ingredients like saffron, olive oil, pomegranates, prunes, raisins and nuts.

Shabestan

To celebrate World Vegan Month, Shabestan launched a new vegetarian and vegan menu as part of its Persian Green Month. This special menu offers healthy, plant-based dishes for vegetarians and health-conscious diners. It is available until 15 December 2018.  

We started the tasting with Appetiser Platter ($35). Consist of Hummus, Homemade Cheese, Muhammara, Kashk-E-Bademjan, and Borani Esfanaaj; Served with Persian Bread ($3).

Appetiser Platter. From Left: Borani Esfanaaj, Kashk-E-Bademjan, Muhammara, Homemade Cheese and Hummus

The Persian Bread is just awesome. It is crisp, light, fragrant with a slight chewiness in it bodes well with all the appetizer. I like the homemade cheese (creamy with a touch of twang), Muhammara (bursting with flavour from roasted bell peppers and crunchy pomegranate) and Borani Esfanaaj (an aromatic mixture of fried onions and spinach) as they suit my palate.

Persian Bread

Shirazi Salad ($12), a combination of freshly chopped cucumber, tomatoes, onion and house dressing. It is crunchy, juicy and refreshing. The acidity in the house dressing is very strong, and it helps to open up your appetite. It is also good to consume with your main meal, as the acidity helps to balance any overwhelming flavour from the main meals.

Shirazi Salad

Dolma ($9), a stuffed mixture of rice, split yellow peas, savoury herbs used as a filling, wrapped with grapevine layers. Persian version of rice dumpling tasted like rice and peas wrapped in cassava leaves. Good for small bites, a prelude to the main meal.

Dolma

Dolma

Mirza Ghasemi With Egg ($25) - Northern Iranian grilled eggplant with garlic, tomatoes and spices. It also comes without Egg for Vegan. The eggplant is grilled and cooked until soft, infused with garlic, tomato and spices. The garlic flavour is very strong here, however, the sweetness from the fried onion and tomatoes really perk up this dish. I personally like to have it with Persian bread.

Mirza Ghasemi With Egg

Ghormeh Sabzi Vegetarian ($29) - A savoury medley of fresh herbs, cottage cheese cooked with red beans, sun-dried lime and fresh vegetables in Persian spices. It reminds me of Palak Paneer, the spinach and feta cheese in Indian cuisine. However, the version here is different, it is cooked for close to 4 hours, allowing it to extract the essence of the herbs. The cheese added a chewy texture and umami flavour to the dish. For me, it is definitely a “rice thief” dish.

Ghormeh Sabzi Vegetarian

Assorted Rice ($10 each), Baghala Polo (rice, lima beans & fresh dill); Zereshk Polo (wild barberries, fresh pomegranate and saffron flavoured basmati rice); Javaher Polo (basmati rice mixed with Persian nuts, berries & sun-dried orange peel).

Javaher Polo (Left); Zereshk Polo (Top); Baghala Polo (Right).

I like the Bagholo Polo as suitable to go with the savoury or main dishes, while the Zereshk Polo and Javaher Polo are more like a rice salad, due to the sweetness and nutty ingredients in the rice.

Sabzi Kebab ($25), served with Basmati Rice and Bagholo Polo. Chef's recipe charcoal grilled vegetarian kebab with seasonal fresh vegetables & homemade cottage cheese. The grilled vegetables are aromatic and nicely charred. The homemade cottage cheese is springy and delicious.

Sabzi Kebab

Dessert is Persian Saffron Ice Cream ($8). It is homemade with pistachio, cream and saffron. Not a straightforward pistachio ice cream, I feel the combination of cream and saffron are too strong for my liking.

Persian Saffron Ice Cream

Persian is known for their tea. I manage to try Persian Tea, served with saffron sugar. Fruity and aromatic tea, infused with mint leaves. The saffron sugar adds a touch of class in the tea.

Persian Tea with Saffron Sugar

True to its identity, Shabestan restaurant décor exudes Persian characters in each corner. You can be forgiven if you think you are dining in Persia instead of Singapore.

Part of Dining Area

Overall, the dishes in Shabestan have its own unique characteristic. Although some dishes might look similar to other Mediterranean restaurants, it definitely has a distinct taste. Don’t miss out on Persian Green Month at Shabestan. Cheers!!

Thank you very much to Shabestan’s Team and Catherine Ong’s Team for the tasting invitation.

For Shabestan Persian Green Month Menu, click here.

Food & Drink: 7.75/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: N/A (Media Invite)

Ambiance: 8.5 / 10

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

Shabestan

80 Mohamed Sultan Road

The Pier @ Robertson

#01-13. Singapore 239013

T: +65 6836 1270

W: https://www.shabestan.sg/

F: https://www.facebook.com/Shabestan.SG/

IG: @Shabestan.sg

OH:

Sun – Thu: 12.00 – Midnight (LO 23.00)

Fri, Sat and Eve PH: 12.00 – Midnight (LO 23.30)

The Bird – Authentic Southern Cuisine in Marina Bay Sands [MEDIA INVITE]

The Bird Southern Table and Bar

The first international location for James Beard nominated and award-winning Yardbird Southern Table & Bar in Miami, Florida open its door in Marina Bay Sands ('MBS') Singapore. The collaboration between MBS and 50 Eggs, showcasing Southern hospitality and farm fresh ingredients.

Part of the dining area

The Bird Private Dining Room
Image Credit: The Bird Southern Table and Bar

Founder / CEO of 50 Eggs, John Kunkel is a renowned restaurateur that operates many popular restaurants in US feels that Singapore is an incredibly exciting destination and honoured to showcase his family recipes at The Bird Southern Table & Bar ('The Bird').

Seating at the Bay Level (Level 1)

The signature dish for The Bird is the famous 100 -year-old recipe Lewellyn's Fine Fried Chicken. The all natural chicken is brined for 27 hours, dredged in secret spices and flour before fried to perfection. The exterior is crisp, while the meat is juicy, succulent and fall of the bones. Not to sound degrading, but imagine a fine dining version of the Original recipe of Kentucky Fried Chicken. You can splash some honey hot sauce with the chicken, but I like mine without the sauce.

Chicken 'N' Watermelon 'N' Waffles

Oscar's – A Taste of Italy [MEDIA INVITE]

Mark you calendar food lovers, from 27 April to 16 May 2015, Oscar's will bring you gastronomic journey to around Italy. Be prepared to be bring your palate to travel around Italy with flavours by Executive Chef Michele Mingozzi. This born and bred Italian who discovered his passion for cooking from the kitchen of his beloved grandmother and mother in Ferrara, Northern Italy.

 Assorted salami and parma hams (from Ferrara region)

From watching the food and travel channels and visiting lots of Italian restaurants during my study time down under, I can conclude the following sequences of Italian dinner procession. Start with Appetizers / Antipasti, followed by pasta dishes, then proteins (meat or fish) and desserts. Of course the wine with the meal and afterwards is a must.

Mozzarella / Burrata Bar (from Campania region)

So Pho – So Good Halal Vietnamese Food

So Pho - NEX

In the past few years, more and more Vietnamese restaurants seems to open up in Singapore. Although the growth was not as exponential as the upper class Ramen invasion in SG, Vietnamese PHO follow the slow yet steady path to win the stomach of Singaporeans. Although it is no very obvious, to get a Halal Vietnamese food can be a challenge for our muslim friends, especially when pork feature prominently in Vietnamese cuisine. Fortunately, Katrina Holdings see the opportunity in the market and introduce So Pho.

The Table Setting

Little Devil has a bit of Vietnamese Food cravings when we were in NEX, so we decided on So Pho.

[CLOSED] Sunday Market – Probably the Best Cafe for 2014!!

I got to know about Sunday Market from Rubbish Eat Rubbish Grow review when I was looking for a brunch place. Since our first visit, Little Devil and I went back there three times in the past two months and we just can't get enough of the place and it is so near our place.

The Fortune Cat

Located at Lim Tua Tow Road, this area can be consider one of the foodie cluster, especially those shop houses facing Upper Serangoon Road. Luckily Sunday Market is located in the next block, where it is easier to get car park and there is valet available during certain nights.

Moc Quan – Flavours of Ho Chi Minh City in Singapore [MEDIA INVITE]

Moc Quan

Thank you very much to Jeff Koh the Owner / Chef of Moc Quan for the invitation.

Jeff is a self-taught Chef who believe that the best way to experience Vietnam is through their street food. Each of the dedicated Street Food Chefs, spend their whole life mastering / perfecting their craft in delivering their own version of their dish. Over the past three years Jeff has explore Vietnam and learnt from these Chefs their secret recipe and found love and passion for Vietnamese street food along the way. After several years of learning, he finally feels that he is ready to bring back the flavours of Ho Chi Minh for us to savour in Singapore.

[CLOSED] Madame Patisserie: The Story of Sweet & Savoury

The first thing that come to your mind when you mention Madam Patisserie is of course Pastry. Burger, Shepherd's Pie or Teriyaki Salmon will hardly come across your mind. This time around I receive an invitation from HungryGoWhere on behalf of Madam Patisserie to sample their new bistro menu.

Baker & Cook – Getting to know Artisan Bread

Baker & Cook is an European style Artisan bakery, brainchild of Kiwi origin Global Baker Dean Brettschneider. Born in New Zealand, Celebrity Global Baker Dean is citizen of the world, with working experience spanning from his native New Zealand, Europe, USA, Britain and Asia. Baker & Cook in Hillcrest Road is his first outpost in Singapore with the vision to expand a couple more bakeries in Singapore heartland should the opportunity arises.

When you step into Baker & Cook, you can see the bright, warm, modern but with slightly rugged finishing. Designed by top architecture firm in Singapore, Ong & Ong, the design drew inspiration from the breads texture, grains and crumbs. The products such as bread, cake, tarts, cookies, quiches, sandwiches or salads are proudly displayed on the counters and shelf in the restaurant. There is a humongous wooden dining table inside the restaurant for indoor dining and lots more table and chair for the alfresco section.

Counter - 01

Counter - 02

Counter - 03

Coffee Counter + Pie & Salads Counter

Eggs Benedict ($19) this is the main reason that I came here for. Two poached eggs, laid on two slices of Pain au Levin (White sourdough) bread, topped with hollandaise sauce with generous glaze of balsamic vinegar and chilli oil. You can choose bacon or salmon as the topping. The eggs are cooked to perfection, with the yolk ooze out when you break the eggs. The sourdough is firm but light with crispy edge, managed to absorb the egg yolks and hollandaise sauce. The balsamic vinegar and chilli oil act as the counter balance against the richness of the sauce. Yummyyy!!

Eggs Benedict

Next come the Pancake Stack ($17) served with compote of caramelized apples, Greek yoghurt and lashing of homemade toffee sauce. The pancake is quite generous in size. Although the pancake is moisty, the natural apple compote with cinnamon powder and greek yoghurt made the dish slightly sour and dry. Personally, it is not to my liking, but the Little Devil's ('LD') liked it.

Pancake Stack

LD also ordered sausage rolls with salad for her main dish. It was reheated, with a nice crispy texture on the outside and moist filling on the inside. Again, I am a meat pie person rather than a sausage roll, so I just endorse her opinion that it is good.

Sausage Roll

As a little greed sips into our marrow, we also ordered Baker & Cook Freshly Baked Bread & Viennoiserie Selection ($10). They are served with butter and three type of homemade jams (marmalade, mixed berries and blackberries). The jams are natural and not too sweet, as I used them to help me finished my share of the slightly dry pancakes. The whole bread basket basically went to a paper bag and brought home for the satisfaction of family members at home.

 Baker & Cook Freshly Baked Bread
& Viennoiserie Selection

The service staff here is friendly, good and efficient. However, just like the common practice in may café or food establishment in Singapore, you actually have to place your order in the counter and make payment first before you can enjoy your food.

Overall, we are glad that Baker & Cook brought European Atrisan Bakery to Singapore to satisfy the well-travelled food lover Singaporeans. They have some many delicious, yummy looking products, we just find one visit to this place is just not enough. We want to try the cake, croissants, bombolini doughnuts, cakes and many more. “We'll BE BACK!!!” Bon appetite !!!

Things on our hit list for the next visit:

Meringue 

Bombolini Doughnuts

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: 7.5/10

Ambiance: 8.5/10.

Baker & Cook

77 Hillcrest Road

Singapore 288951

Tel: 6469 8834

Website: http://www.bakerandcook.biz/

Op Hours:

Sun - Thu: 07:00 - 20:00

Fri - Sat: 07:00 - 22:00

Eve of PH: 07:00 - 22:00

Menu available on the website and pdf format.

PS: Oh, how I wish I have a wide angle lens to capture the inside this shop!!

Other Branch:

38A Martin Road

Singapore 239703

Tel: 6636 5865
Op Hours:

Sun to Thurs: 8am - 6pm
Fri to Sat: 8am - 6pm