I Want My Noodle – Asian Fusion Bakmi

My Fried Duck Noodle @ I Want My Noodle

I will dedicate this post to my uni friend HK. A rice and noodle fanatic. I will probably never find or try I Want My Noodle if not because of his crazy cravings for Bak Chor Mee in Orchard Road at 8PM in between his shopping spree in Singapore.

I Want My Noodle

As per usual, I did my research before I wrote this review. I found out that the noodle here is made from scratch daily. The owner, Derrick Kuah left his cosy job, to pursue his love in F&B Business. He learns the noodle-making skills from his Mother-in-Law in Indonesia for a few years and perfected it in Singapore. The noodles are made daily using flour, egg and water, without using alkaline.

The Flour

Since we were very hungry, we ordered a few noodles to share. My Truffle Oil Noodle ($9.90). Dry noodle topped with braised mushroom, onsen tamago, bak choy and drizzled with truffle oil. The presentation is Instagram worthy, as the onsen tamago is cooked to perfection.

My Truffle Oil Noodle 

The noodle reminds me of Bakmi Keriting, popular Indonesian curly egg noodle. Also similar to the noodle used in Kolo Mee. The noodle is cooked to al-dente, bouncy, tasty and delicious on its own. Of course, it is absent of any alkaline taste. Once you break the egg and tossed it with the noodle, it adds to the silkiness of the noodle. The truffle oil is mild, yet it works in tandem with the braised shitake mushrooms.

My Fried Duck Noodle ($15.90). An interesting fusion noodle dish. The noodle is served “kosong”, only tossed in oil and flavoured oil. The fried duck is crispy externally and fork-tender internally. The special herbs are well infused till the flesh, showcase an excellent confit skill. Served together with the duck is fried tofu filled with vegetables. For chilli lovers, there is a special homemade chilli to go with the noodle and duck.

The Noodle "Kosong"

The Duck, Tofu and Chilli

My Aromatic Prawn Noodle ($14.50). A dry version of prawn noodle, complete with the crispy pork lard and chilli. It is also served with stick prawn crackers and a slice of lime. The prawns served are big tiger prawns and the chilli is powerful. On top of it, the sauce tossed in the noodle is fragrant and flavourful, even without the chilli.

My Aromatic Prawn Noodle 

The Prawn Noodle Chilli

From all the three noodle dishes, I find the noodle portion is very small. If you are a big eater like me, I suggest you add an extra serving of the noodle for $2.50.

Handmade Meatballs Soup ($6.90, 5 pcs). The pork ball is juicy, tasty with a bit of crunchiness externally. The broth is robust, sweet and you can taste the radish in the pork soup.

Handmade Meatballs Soup

The restaurant is décor industrial theme and it is very open. I like the antique bicycle at the front. The seating area is spacious, while the outside of the noodle house is filled standing posters showcasing the menu or the ingredients. Service is minimum. Once you get the menu, you place the order on the cashier and make payment first.

The Kitchen

Overall, the freshly made egg noodle here is definitely a winner. I will come back for their duck confit noodle and also try their famous double roast noodle, plus taking better photos. Taking into account the freshly made egg noodle daily, the pricing is reasonable. Just consider how much you will pay for freshly made ramen or pasta. Cheers!!

Menu - Page 1

Menu - Page 2

Food & Drinks: 7.5/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: 6/10 (Media Tasting)

Ambiance: 7/10

Budget per Person: $11 - $25

I Want My Noodle

1 Scotts Road

#03-14/15, Shaw Centre

Singapore 228208

T: +65 6235 2331 / 9758 3037

W: http://iwantmynoodle.com/

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

IG: @Iwantmynoodle

OH: Daily 11.00 – 22.00 (LO 21.00)

[CLOSED] Garçons – Awesome Lunch Menu

French Duck Leg Confit

Garçons is a culinary creation of Chef Enoch Teo and Chef Immanuel Tee. Garçons offers economical French fare first conceive when the two chefs combine their two business after being competitors in the Katong neighbourhood. The bonds build during the stint at Restaurant Andre made them realised that two creative culinary minds are better than one.

Garçons

This is not my first experience at Garçons. I have previously tried their food at Pinnacle. This time around, we visited their outlet in Tanjong Katong, opposite the Canadian International School.

We started with soup and entrée.

Cream of Mushrooms ($12). Solid mushroom flavour but not the creamy version of the soup. In each slurp, you taste each lump of the chopped mushrooms. It served with crispy garlic bread on the side.

Cream of Mushrooms

Homemade Duck Rillette ($14). Homemade duck rillette is rich, moist and bursting with duck flavours. The portion of sliced French baguette is very generous, more than sufficient to spread the rillette. It is best eaten with the mini gherkins to balance the richness of the rillette.

Homemade Duck Rillette

Pan Fried Foie Gras ($19). Velvety and creamy foie gras served on toasted brioche. The external part of the foie gras is crisp, while the fruit jam fused the brioche and foie gras nicely.

Pan Fried Foie Gras

Truffle French Camembert ($19). Pungent and gooey melted camembert cheese, topped with truffle paste. The camembert can be eaten with the baguette, crispy potato and walnut.

Truffle French Camembert

For mains, I order French Duck Leg Confit ($22). The skin of the duck is crispy, while the flesh is moist and melt in your mouth. The mashed potatoes are smooth and creamy and the mustard brown sauce just completes the dish nicely. If you want to know how good a French bistro standard is, this dish can enable to judge the standard. In this case, Garçons passed with flying colours.

French Duck Leg Confit

Crispy 12 Hour Pork Belly ($22). Another signature dish at Garçons. Tender and succulent meat, topped with crispy pork crackling. It served with a smooth and creamy mashed potato.  The double mustard and honey balsamic glaze help to balance the richness from in the meat.

Crispy 12 Hour Pork Belly 

Angus Steak and Fries (250g, $30). Nicely grilled sirloin steak, cooked to medium-rare. It is tender and juicy with a touch of crispness externally. In typical French fair, the steak is basking in the savoury mushroom sauce where you can soak your French Fries with it.

Angus Steak and Fries

Fries

We only order one dessert as we are too full. Warm Apple Crumble ($12). Soft and moist crumble, with tangy and sour apple fillings. Though the combination of hot apple crumble and vanilla ice cream is great, but the base feels a bit too hot. Probably spends too much time in the microwave.

Warm Apple Crumble

Service is good, considering only over service staff during lunchtime. The décor is simple with a lot of natural lights calming in from the glass door and wall. Garçons also offer lunch set and dinner set, where it offers greater value from items on the ala carte menu.

Set Lunch Menu

Overall, Garçons served hearty and unpretentious French Cuisine at great value for money. The food is well-executed and delicious as well. Don’t miss out on their Duck Confit and Crispy 12 Hour Pork Belly. Cheers!!

Menu 1

Menu 2

Menu 3

Food & Drinks: 7.75/10

Value: 7.75/10

Service: 6.75/10

Ambiance: 7/10

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

Garcons

340 Tanjong Katong Road

Singapore 437111

T: +65 6909 2350

F: https://www.facebook.com/garcons.sg/

IG: @Garcons.sg

OH:

Mon – Fri: 11.00 – 14.30; 17.30 – 21.30

Sat & Sun: 11.00 – 21.30

[CLOSED] Paddy Hills – Creatively Curated Cafe Menu

Berry Muffcake

Paddy Hills is a quaint cafe located at one of the shop houses along South Buona Vista Road. Our monthly food hopping kakis decided to do the “Journey to The West”, so we have even coverage around Singapore.

Paddy Hills

Paddy Hills

From the outside, Paddy Hills is set up in the minimalist industrial décor. Combination of steel and wooden furnitures together with the neon sign just reaffirm the funky look of this cafe. The furniture indoor slightly deviated from the outdoor, however focusing more on comfortable décor with a slight 80s theme. Since Paddy Hills occupied the corner shop house, the left side of the wall has huge windows, and it allows the natural light brighten up the cafe. Hint: best place to sit and take your IG Photos.

Interior - Paddy Hills

While waiting for other kakis to arrive, we started with Lotus Root Chips ($10). Paper thin sliced lotus root chips sprinkle with Pop Rocks and Sumac Powder. Definitely, have the look for a healthy appetizer followed with airy crispiness from the paper thin sliced lotus roots. The pop rocks and sumac powder is very subtle, it can be mistaken for lack of seasoning in this dish.

Lotus Root Chips 

The complete meal started with NZ Mussels ($20). NZ Mussels cooked with Guinness Stout, Bacon Crumbs and Italian Parsley. I like the flesh juicy mini NZ Mussels. However, the gravy is just too salty and bitter. It is possible that the saltiness derived from the jus of the mussels while the bitterness is due to the reduction of the stout. I think a serving of fries or bread will help to balanced the gravy.

NZ Mussels

Christmas Burger ($26). A creative dish by Paddy Hills. The turkey breast patty is juicy, sandwich between brioche bun, Gruyere cheese, bacon and cranberry mayo, it sure tastes like Christmas. The fries are seasoned with salt and vinegar gave this burger the acidity to offset the “Jelakness” feel to it. It is best to use your hands to eat the burger and don't try to slice it.

Christmas Burger

I actually dipped the fries from the burger to the broth of NZ mussels. It turns out nicely and offset the excessive bitterness and saltiness in the broth.

Crispy Pork Belly ($26). I almost flipped when this dish was served. At the first sight, the pork belly was skinless. It's like you are deprived the best part of the pork. Instead, it was sliced and roasted separately to create a healthy pork skin crackers. The pork itself is juicy on the lower part, while slightly dry on the top (fat) part. The roasted purple cabbage, confit garlic puree and apple jus definitely jazz up the plate for flavour. Not sure if the caramel popcorn makes any difference in this dish.

Crispy Pork Belly 

Uni Truffle Pasta ($35). This is a serious Fine Dining Standard. Al-dente homemade squid ink spaghetti cooked with tangy tomato cream. Finished off with generous servings of uni, serrano ham and Himalayan truffle is just a sight to behold. Yum Yum.

Uni Truffle Pasta

Duck & Waffles ($25). Crispy Coffee Waffle with Crispy Duck Confit topped with a fried egg. I was amazed by the red apple sheets. I am sure there is a machinery involved in making the red apple sheets, but it sure gives the WOW factor in the plating. Though the overall dish is delicious, the waffle seems tasted a bit burned, like it was left a bit too long in the waffle maker. Other than that, it was just delish.

Duck & Waffles

For dessert, Berry Muffcake ($23) is a must order. A cross between Muffin and Pancake desserts, topped with Berries, Compote, Yoghurt Balls, Vanilla Ice Cream. The muffcake have the exterior of the pancake followed with the interior of a muffin. They are moist, crumbly while each of the toppings has its own unique characters: sweet, savoury, tangy, fruity and awesome yoghurt burst of flavour. This is signature dessert at Paddy Hills and it is a must order.

Berry Muffcake

For Caffeine junky, the coffee is not to be missed. My iced Americano is well balanced, minimum acidity and easy on the palate. The beans are sourced from Tiong Hoe, which we are familiar with.

Iced Americano

Service is friendly and accommodating. We did not make a reservation for our visit, they manage to slot us right it. Also, if you can see from the photos, the portion of the servings is big.

Overall, I really enjoyed the visit to Paddy Hills. The dishes here are creatively curated, delightful and definitely a sensory treat. Although the execution is not perfect, it sets the standard for cafes in Singapore. Definitely a destination for a superb Cafe Hopping Experience. Cheers!!

Sharing the calories for this hopping trip are: Ivan Teh – Running Man, Purple Eats, The Artic Star, Jelly Loves Food, Msginginly, and Her Pen & Fork.

Food & Drinks: 7.5/10

Value: 7.25/10

Service: 7.5/10

Ambiance: 8/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50, $51 - $80

Paddy Hills

38 South Buona Vista Road

Singapore 118164

T: +65 6479 0800

F: https://www.facebook.com/paddyhills.sg/

IG: @Paddyhills.sg

OH:

Mon – Fri: 10.30 – 17.00, 18.00 – 21.30

Sat & Sun: 09.00 - 17.00, 18.00 – 21.30

[CLOSED] Quartier Singapore – Introducing Quartier Selection [Product Tasting]

Quartier @ Serangoon Garden

Quartier is a French grocery store in Singapore, stocking fundamental food products that all French households will normally have in their kitchen. The idea of one-stop shop that sells French necessities at reasonable price was conceived by six friends living in Singapore. This was after the closure of Carrefour Singapore, as they find it almost impossible to get French products at reasonable price.

In April 2013, Quartier open its first shop in the heart of Serangoon Gardens, nearby the French school. Although it was targeted to supply the French community in Singapore, Quartier is OPEN to GENERAL PUBLIC. Quartier also offer online ordering, home delivery service and store pick-up services as well. Check out my mini tour at Quartier below.

While you can find almost all the basic necessities imported directly from French at the Quartier, now you can also take home a French Chef with you. All right, not exactly a French Chef, instead it is ready French Traditional Dishes prepared by French Chef using high quality ingredients exclusively for Quartier. This is known as Quartier Selection. The Quartier Selection will include Fresh Soups, Pâté & Rillettes, and Frozen Main Dishes.

Some Quartier Selection Fresh Soups, Pâté & Rillettes 

[CLOSED] Thr3e Bistro : Drink, Dine and Chill [MEDIA INVITE]

Thr3e Bistro

Thr3e Bistro ('TB'), a unique F&B mashup concept between a bistro, a wine bar and a restaurant. Not sure what you will call it, but I categorised it as Gastropub. One thing about TB, it does not conform to a normal standard norm to one classification of F&B industries. Instead the passionate owners set their sight on what they want to see their place and transform it to suit their target customers.

Chill Out Area

In TB, you can have the option of seating in a comfortable chic sofa with luxurious coffee tables to sip your wine, beer and finger foods; or a proper dining tables to tuck in to selections of delectable food. On Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evening, there will be live band to set the atmosphere at TB. It also provide a nice environment to hold a private function and parties.

[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.