Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles – A Solid Beef Noodle

We have been wanting to try Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles (‘TTLBN’) since we saw the opening of the Chinatown Point outlet. However, we were only able to visit their outlet in Century Square recently. According to S our friend, who is from Lanzhou, beef noodle is a daily staple there.

Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodles - Century Square

The stars of TTLBN are the clear beef broth, made from more than 15 kinds of herbs and spices and simmered daily, delivering an explosion of flavour; And the hand-pulled noodles. The Master noodles chefs at TTLBN can pull 8 different styles precisely according to our order.

Menu P1

Menu P2

I ordered their Signature Beef Noodles Large ($10.90 for small / $13.90 for large), with the choice of thick noodle. If you order the large version, you can also get a free top-up of the noodle if needed for free.

Signature Beef Noodles Large

Since it was our first time here, the service staff help us with the ordering. Do take note that the default soup here is spicy even when the picture shows plain or no chilli. I was surprised when I received my order at first, luckily the offer to exchange mine for the non-spicy version.

The thick noodle is bouncy with a good chewiness in it. The broth looks clear; however, I can taste the solid robust clean beef flavour from the first slurp. While you are enjoying your meal, the broth will continue to infuse itself into the noodle. The beef shank is boiled to tender and the thick slices allow you a solid taste of the meat, yet it is easily dissipated in your mouth. The sliced radish is sweet and the spring onion just enhanced the flavour of the broth. Yummy!!

The Thick Noodles

Sliced Beef Shank

Since we came for a late dinner, I did not take up the offer of extra noodle. If I am having this for lunch, I will go for the extra noodles.

LD ordered Sauerkraut Beef Noodle Small ($11.90 for small / $14.90 for large), with thicker noodle. Her noodle is thicker than mine, and she enjoys the chewy texture of it. Her broth has a spicy and sour mixture of TTLBN signature chilli and sauerkraut.

Sauerkraut Beef Noodle Small

She makes her order into a set meal (+ $5), which comes with a side dish, braised egg and drink. She chooses Beancurd Suji for the side dish which is sliced mushrooms marinated in chilli oil.

Beancurd Suji & Braised Egg

Coke Zero

We also ordered Handmade Prawn Dumplings ($5 for 5 pcs, $9.50 for 10 pcs). The prawn dumpling is a must-order here. The skin is thicker than the usual jiaozi, but I like the tender chewiness in the skin like the noodle. The prawns filling is crunchy and packs with umami flavour. These dumplings are tasty on their own, I did not even dip them into the black vinegar.

Prawn Dumplings

Prawn Dumplings Filling

The décor of the restaurant is inspired by modern oriental design, using light colour wood. Service is friendly and helpful. TTLBN is also Halal Certified, so our Muslim friends can enjoy it as well.

Chilli, Vinegar & Cutleries

CBK verdict: A great beef noodle soup. I like the clean taste of the broth and the lovely chewiness of the handmade noodle. The prawn dumplings are great as well. We’ll be back for more. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Ambiance: 7/10

Budget per Person: $11 - $25

Tongue Tip Lanzhou Beef Noodle

2 Tampines Central 5

#01-42, Century Square

Singapore 529509

W: https://order.galafood.sg/

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

IG: @tonguetipbeefnoodles

OH: Daily 11.00 – 22.00 (LO 21.30)

Check out their Facebook Page for other locations

Golden Peony – Dragon Boat Festival 2021 [MEDIA DROP]

Luxurious Rice Dumplings by Golden Peony

Celebrate the 2021 Dragon Boat Festival with luxurious Rice Dumplings created by Chinese Executive Chef Ku Keung and his team at Golden Peony.

This year, we received a media drop from Golden Peony’s Luxury Rice Dumplings Package consists of:

- Traditional ‘Hong Kong’ Style Rice Dumpling

- Singapore Black Pepper Chili Crab, Prawn and Bedford Scallops Rice Dumpling

- Crispy Smoked Duck, Chestnut Rice Dumpling

- Dried Velvet Mushroom 5-Grain Rice Dumpling

- Egg Custard Sweeties Rice Dumpling

The Dumpling Bag

The Golden Peony’s Luxury Rice Dumplings package represents the whole Golden Peony rice dumpling menu this year. The dumplings are packed in peony flowers motif bag and each of the dumplings also come with a special dipping sauce.

Luxurious Rice Dumplings by Golden Peony

The Sauces

Our favourite dumpling this year is Singapore Black Pepper Chili Crab, Prawn and Bedford Scallops Rice Dumpling, served with Chili crab sauce. The seafood combination in the dumpling stands out plus the chili crab sauce is just superb and enhances the flavour further.

Dried Velvet Mushroom 5-Grain Rice Dumpling get the thumbs up from everyone. The combination of the 5 grains and chestnut fillings are very tasty and showcase different textures in each bite. On top of that, the mushroom truffle sauce paired well with the vegetarian dumpling.

Dried Velvet Mushroom 5-Grain Rice Dumpling

The traditional Hong Kong style rice dumpling might look pale; however, it is packed with an abundance of ingredients. When I bit into the pork belly, it just melts in my mouth. Yum Yum.

Traditional ‘Hong Kong’ Style Rice Dumpling

Traditional ‘Hong Kong’ Style Rice Dumpling

For the sweet version of the rice dumpling, Egg Custard Sweeties Rice Dumpling is not to be missed. Golden Peony upgraded version of kee chang, filled with egg custard and dip in Gula Melaka. I find the gula melaka this year is thicker and more solid, adding to the shiokness when I liberally drizzle it on the dumplings.

Egg Custard Sweeties Rice Dumpling

Overall, let’s put this challenging period behind us and have a mini celebration with these luxurious and delicious rice dumplings for this year Dragon Boat Festival. Cheers!!

Golden Peony Rice Dumpling 2021

When: Available till 13th June 2021.

Where: Golden Peony, Conrad Centennial Singapore

For more information and order, visit: 

https://www.connoisseur.sg/gp-rice-dumplings/

For more information or for reservations, please call +65 6432 7482 / 88 or email Sinci.GoldenPeony@conradhotels.com

Thank you very much Conrad Centennial Singapore for the Media Drop.

Food & Drink: 9/10

Golden Peony

2 Temasek Boulevard

3F, Conrad Centennial Singapore

Singapore 038982

T: +65 6432 7482/88

W: http://bit.ly/cbk-GoldenPeony

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

OH:

Mon – Sat: 11.30 – 14.30; 18.30 – 22.30

Sun: 10.30 – 14.30; 18.30 – 22.30

Dumplings.ru – Flavour of Russia [MEDIA INVITE]

Dumplings 12pcs Combo Platter 

Dumplings.ru is an authentic family-owned Russian restaurant, brainchild of Russian Owners Vadim Zoubovski and his wife, Alena Zubovska. Dumplings.ru serves dishes from Vadim and Alena family-owned recipes that have been passed down over 100 years. In short, you can expect to taste authentic home-cooked Russian food, Russian drinks together with Russian hospitality.

Dumplings.RU

LD and I were there on Friday afternoon and the place are buzzing with lunch crowd. The restaurant is cosy, with industrial design flair and without a doubt, the bar is the centrepiece of the restaurant. It can also fall under the classification of Gastropub.

The Bar

We started our tasting with Kholodets (Chicken Jelly Terrine, $8.90). Our first-time trying this and we just loved it. These mini jelly chicken cups are light and wobbly. The initial taste is very neutral almost bland like it is not seasoned at all. However, once you eat it with the mustard and spring onion, the flavour of the chicken, egg and dill just burst. Awesome.

Kholodets

Kholodets is served with slices of Rye Bread, also known as Black Bread in Russia. The Rye bread is a staple of the Russian household and always available on every dinner table. Rye bread is normally made with sourdough, but this version served by Dumplings.ru is soft, moist and neutral in flavour, slightly different from the rye bread we tried before.

Kholodets

Shuba (Salted Herring Salad, $9.90). Nicely plated salad filled with chopped potatoes, carrots, onion, hard-boiled egg, salted herring, chopped beetroot and topped with mayo and spring onions. We like the medley of flavours in the salad as it works well together, in between you get the surprising salty flavour from the salted herring that perk up the salad. A refreshing salad indeed.

Shuba

Pork Chebureki 2pcs ($12). I called this the giant fried wanton. It has a crispy exterior (like Malay curry puff) filled slightly with pork fillings. The fillings are a bit salty, however, they can be offset with mayonnaise dip. Suitable for bar bites during drinking.

Pork Chebureki

Pork Chebureki - The Fillings

Okroshka Cold Summer Soup ($8.50). A quick sip of the soup tasted like watery yoghurt soup. Ingredients consist of potato, cucumber, egg, dill, sour cream, vinegar and served cold. It is refreshing, suitable for summer and also helps to balance the carbo-loaded dishes.

Okroshka Cold Summer Soup

We finally reach the star dish of the restaurant, Pelmeni (Russian Dumpling). We ordered the Dumplings 12pcs Combo Platter ($19.90). It comes in multi-colour; each colour represents one type of fillings. Black for beef, green for lamb, orange for hog (pork), yellow for chicken, white & pink for salmon. For the complete guide, see Dumpling 101 photo below.

Dumplings 12pcs Combo Platter 

Unlike the Chinese version of the dumpling, Pelmeni skin is thick, dense and chewy. The colouring does not influence the flavour of the skin, instead the flavour come from the fillings.

Dumpling 101 - Your Dumpling Guide

We like the black (beef) and orange (hog / pork) flavour most. They are moist and tasty. Surprisingly, the dumplings with potato fillings are moist and delicious, like mashed potatoes fillings.

Dumplings 12pcs Combo Platter

The lamb fillings are very gamy and best eaten with the sour cream that serves with every order of the Pelmeni. If you don’t like strong gamy flavour, you might want to give the lamb a miss.

To end the meal, we choose Medovik (Honey Cake) and Napoleon Cake ($7.90 each) as desserts. Medovik is a traditional honey layer cake, well-loved by the Russian. It is fragrant, sweet and just melts in your mouth. The unique flavour comes from honey and browned butter and sugar. Think of it as Russia’s version of Mille Crepe. As the Medovik came out straight from the fridge, it is best to let it thawed for about 5 to 10 minutes. Once it’s thawed, you can enjoy the dessert melts in your mouth with each bite.

Medovik

Meanwhile, Napoleon cake is another multi-layer traditional Russian cake. It is made from filo pastry and cream. It is light, fluffy and easily melts in your mouth. For Napoleon, you can eat this straight away, no need to let it thawed.

Napoleon

Dining in a Russian restaurant will not be complete without the alcohols. I shall not mention their world-famous vodka, instead let me cast the light on their beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks.

Kompot & Khvanchkara

LD tried their red wine Khvanchkara ($17 per glass), also known as ‘Joseph Stalin’s favourite Georgian red wine. The schuchmann is semi-sweet, smooth and easy to drink. I tried Kompot, a non-alcoholic fruit punch made from cooking fruits such as strawberries, apples, rhubarb with sugar or raisins. It tasted like cranberry juice with reduced acidity and sweetness.

Khvanchkara - The schuchmann 

Dumpling.ru also serve bottled Russian Beer ($16 per bottle). From the size, it will give the German beer a run for their money.

Russian Beer

Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience at Dumpling.ru. The food is tasty, hearty, delicious and homely. The kholodets, schuba, pork chebureki and dumplings are a must-try. Not forgetting sweets offering or Napoleon cake and Medovik. Cheers!

Thank you very much Protegie Consultancy and Dumpling.ru team for hosting us.

Food & Drinks: 7.5/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.25/10

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

Dumplings.ru

32 Maxwell Road

#01-05 Maxwell Chambers

(Tanjong Pagar MRT Exit B)

S069115

T: +65 8875 7033

W: https://www.angmohdumplings.com/

F: https://www.facebook.com/dumplings.ru

IG: @dumplings.ru

OH:

Mon: 17.30 – 20.30

Tue – Sun: 12.00 – 14.30; 17.30 – 22.30

Huay Kwang – Thai Wanton Mee and Fresh Prawn Dumpling

Wanton Mee - Large

I was introduced to Huay Kwang Wanton Mee (“Huay Kwang”) during the circuit breaker period by our friend C. At that time C was posting about the frozen wanton and prawn dumplings that he bought from Huay Kwang.

When Phase 2 started, LD and I decided to visit Huay Kwang and dabao the wanton noodles.

Huay Kwang Wanton Mee - The Stall

Huay Kwang served Thai style wanton mee with a signature twist on its own. There are two sizes of Thai Wanton Mee, $3.50 for small and $5 for large.

Wanton Mee - Large

Wanton Mee - Small

The egg noodle is thin, silky and al-dente. Each strand of the noodle is coated evenly with pork oil.  Patrick (the owner) cooked the noodle himself, then mixed the noodle with pork lard evenly using a scissor. Yes, instead of using chopsticks or tongs, he used a pair of scissors to mix the noodles and also to cut and distribute the noodles into individual bowl or container.

The Noodle

Toppings on each wanton mee include boiled wanton, char siew, pork lard, and boiled kai lan. The wanton is solid and well packed with minced pork. The char siew is sweet, with a crispy exterior and the meat is quite juicy, but it is definitely those fatty type of char siew. Through the pork oil enhance the flavour of the noodle, I find it is missing that extra umami flavour.

Boiled Wanton

For those who like it spicy, Huay Kwang offers their signature super spicy chilli flakes and pickled green chilli. According to LD, the spiciness rating is about 7.5/10.

The Char Siew

Not to be missed here is their Cantonese style Special Prawn Dumplings Soup ($5). Each of the prawn dumplings is filled with minced pork, a whole piece of fresh prawn and black fungus. It is crunchy, juicy and packs with flavours. The soup based is boiled with pork and radish, therefore the soup is naturally sweetened. If you ordered the dumpling soup, Huay Kwang will normally include a few slices of the radish as well.

Dumpling Soup

Fresh Prawn Dumpling

The Fillings

On my last visit, they run out of the prawn dumpling, so I ordered the fried wanton instead. It is very enjoyable, as the wanton skin is crispy and the fillings packs more punch compare to the boiled version. In the boiled wanton, the fillings are very dense. Meanwhile, the deep-frying process seems to loosen up the dense fillings and allowing the juiciness of the meat to shine. Yummy

The Menu
Image Credit: Huay Kwang Wanton Mee

One of the best things about Huay Kwang is their minimum usage of MSG. I tasted a few Thai Wanton Mee in Singapore usually I get MSG attack after the meal and need to neutralise it with coke zero. With Huay Kwang, LD and I did not encounter this. Kudos to them.

Overall, Huay Kwang served a delicious Thai wanton mee. On top of that, I highly recommend their dumpling soup and fried wanton, which is also available in the uncooked version. Cheers!!

The Wanton and Dumpling uncooked
Image Credit: Huay Kwang Wanton Mee

Food & Drinks: 7.5/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: 7/10

Ambiance: N/A (Coffee shop)

Budget per Person: $0 -$10

Huay Kwang Wanton Mee

Blk 3021 Ubi Avenue 2

#01-159

Singapore 408897

T: +65 9383 1597

F: https://www.facebook.com/huaykwang.wantonmee

OH: Mon – Sat, 07.30 – 15.00

Closed on Sunday