Samurai craze

Every year macs never fails to launch a samurai burger promotion. This year is no exception.

The samurai burger (basically just a beef burger smothered with a special umami sauce) does not quite attract as big a queue as the ubiquitous hello kitty but nonetheless boasts a loyal following of is own.

Me? I'm not a fan of burgers but I simply adore Mac Donald French fries. To complement the samurai burger (as well as milk the pockets of  consumers like me) macs has concurrently launched a flavoured French fry pairing called seaweed shaker fries. Basically its a satchet of seaweed and msg laced powder that u liberally shake over the fries, resulting in macs' version of "mamee". This flavored French fry is arguably the best loved flavoured french fry macs has introduced to date. 

Royce has been dethroned!

I'm no chocolate connoisseur. However, there are days when Cadbury chocolate just doesn't make the cut. For days when I crave something more, I usually reach for a box of Royce nama chocolate.

Over the Chinese New Year celebrations, we played host to some friends. After dinner, a guest furtively shoved a packet of these into my hands and urged me to try them asap. She then proceeded to explain how she had magically chanced upon these delish creations at an obscure sweet shop tucked in Parco Bugis. After some egging from the cute Japanese boss, she bought a packet to try.

The rest is history.

I apprehensively unwrapped the packet and helped myself to a piece. Appearance wise, the cocoa dusted sphere looked small and unassuming. After popping it into my mouth and biting into the chocolate, I was impressed by its smooth finish, which left a pleasant nutty bittersweet aftertaste on my tongue. As I ventured on to make out the remaining flavors, I was surprised to discover the addition of cheese! The resulting blend of bittersweet and savory was bizarre yet so orgasmic-ally good. I couldn't resist taking a second and third helping. Soon the whole packet was empty.

And the rest is history.

I wonder why I don't get this "shiok" factor from high end ang moh chocolates like Hediard, Godiva and Laurent Bernard. Perhaps my tastebuds are still not sophisticated enough.

Jacob's Cafe

In my earlier post, I blogged about comfort food in the West. Today's post incidentally broaches on comfort food in the East.

I visited Bistro One Zero Three and Jacob's Cafe for dinner within one day of each other. Both seem to sport similar decor, although Jacob's Cafe seems to exude a more homely feel. The dinner crowd is also substantially larger at Jacob's, thanks to its better placed location and more extensive menu. Reservations are highly recommended.

Our ravenous party of 4 started off by ordering a mixed seafood platter, (SGD23.90) comprising battered calamari, fries, fish fillet and scallops. It was an instant crowd pleaser - sinfully satisfying in a cheap greasy kind of way.

Those curly things are especially addictive

Word of caution: Skip the cheese nachos. They cost a bomb and simply comprise of supermarket nachos drizzled with melted cheese. An overpriced no brainer that you can easily whip up at home.

Hubby's borscht soup (SGD4.90) arrived next. It didn't look like soup to me, with a deep red paste-like consistency. Nonetheless, it must have been good as he slurped the whole bowl up.

For main courses, we ordered baked macaroni (SGD14.90), mutton stew (SGD10.20), beef stew (SGD10.20) and steak kidney pie (SGD18.90). First to arrive was the mutton stew, which the server mistakenly identified as beef stew. It was prepared Chinese style, braised in a herbal soup with bits of diced chilli and black fungus. We were a little befuddled by its appearance but enjoyed the tenderness of the meat and the richness of the broth.


My order of baked macaroni was greeted with oohs and aahs. It was stacked like a lasagne and a sight to behold, brimming with the aroma of melted cheese and smothered with a generous serving of minced beef drenched in tangy tomato paste. Every bite left us craving for more. This is definitely one of the best versions of baked macaroni I have eaten.


Since I'm not much of a pie person, I wasn't harboring very high expectations of the steak kidney pie. This pie however looked like it was baked with love, sporting a lovely golden brown crust and piping hot creamy interior. I couldn't resist taking a nibble and immediately felt a sense of contentment wash over me. The cubed mushroom and chicken pieces were one with the creamy sauce and blended perfectly with the buttery goodness of the crisp pastry crust. My only (personal) grouse was the addition of kidney in this dish- I absolutely cannot stand the taste of innards.


And then we waited for our final dish- the purported "mutton stew" to arrive.

After 15 mins, we sensed something was amiss and quickly caught the attention of our server. It was only then that we realized that the "beef stew" earlier served to us was actually "mutton stew". If we wanted beef stew, we would have to wait another 5 mins for them to prepare the dish.

As we were not hard pressed for time, we decided to oblige. 5 mins later, we were duly rewarded with a steaming bowl of the real Mc Coy, complete with yummy stewed carrots, potatoes and fork tender beef. Eaten with a crusty baguette, this definitely felt like the ultimate comfort food. However, as everyone was feeling a little too full by then, we struggled a little to finish this dish.

The menu also features an extensive range of juices, drinks (alcoholic and non alcoholic) as well as desserts (cheesecakes, ice cream sundaes etc). Unfortunately, they tend to border on the pricey side (a can of bitter lemon soda cost me SGD4.40!) The upside however is that the restaurant does not charge for service and GST.

In terms of "soul" factor, Jacob's definitely trumps Bistro One Zero Three. Food is hearty, servers are sincere and the vibe feels right. Just remember to come with the same laid back casual attitude and you've got yourself a great night out!

Further update:
In a subsequent visit, Hubby and I ordered the Chinese style roasted pork knuckle to share. It was delicious and a steal at just until 30 bucks for a set (even comes with complimentary soup and soft drink). Hubby and I were practically fighting over the rinds of crackly skin. The pork slices were infused with a slight herbal flavor (somewhat like five spice powder), which might be an acquired taste for some. We also thoroughly enjoyed the generous side servings of thick crisp fries and steamed vegetables.

Jacob's Cafe
Blk 5, Changi Village Road
#01-2049

Tel: 6542 7500

Bistro One Zero Three

We weren't feeling particularly hungry that day. All we wanted to do was to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Since our car was veering towards the West, a colleague's recommendation of Bistro One Zero Three suddenly came to mind.

The restaurant's address (103 Pasir Panjang Rd) runs synonymous with its name. Given the restaurant's unassuming exterior, we would have zoomed past it without batting an eyelid if not for GPS. Parking is a breeze since there is a huge public carpark just behind the restaurant.

I was a little apprehensive upon stepping into the restaurant. It felt like a flashback into the 80s. The chairs were old and the furnishings felt a little dated. Even the air smelt a tad musty. After scanning the restaurant, I was slightly relieved to find 2 families tucking into their main courses with much gusto- a very good sign indeed.

Since I already had in mind what I wanted to order, I quickly caught the attention of our very smiley waiter and impatiently rattled off my orders. While waiting for the food to arrive, I suddenly felt some stares coming from the counter and realized I was being "sized up" by a group of aunties (one of which probably comprised of the towkay neo, this being a family run restaurant).

Our dishes arrived in quick succession.

Bruschetta- Well toasted garlic bread topped with chopped tomatoes, onions and a drizzle of olive oil. Flavors were simple and clean but nothing to shout about.


Mushroom soup- Couldn't help but detect a hint of Campbell's canned soup in this dish. Surely the cook could have done better?


Rack of pork ribs- This dish came highly recommended in the various food reviews and it didn't take long for us to realize why. The BBQ sauce boasted sufficient kick and it only took a gentle nudge from the fork for the meat to fall off the bone. The accompanying sides were equally impressive. I really enjoyed the piping hot potato wedges which were crisp on the outside and fluffy soft on the inside. They tasted so good on their own that I didn't even have to baptize them in chili sauce (which is my usual practice). Even the portion was generous- Hubby and I shared this as our main course.


Dessert- Brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream- Again, Hubby and I ordered this to share. The brownie came slightly warm and tinged with nuts. Eating it brought back fond memories of our dating days, when brownies with vanilla ice cream were vogue (that was before chocolate fondant came along). Even the scoop of vanilla ice cream that came with it boasted a smooth creamy texture that is far superior to the icicle speckled ones you find in supermarkets.


All in all, this was a wholesome dining experience with no frills. Prices are also pretty reasonable (SGD50 for the whole meal).

Whilst it is unlikely that we lazy Eastlanders will be making a return visit anytime soon, we would definitely drop by this unpretentious hole-in-the-wall eatery if we find ourselves in need for some good ol soul food in the West.