Bugis Junction Food Trail 2013: Siam Kitchen

Siam Kitchen is located at Level 2 of Bugis Junction and is halal-certified.

Started off with a small bowl of Tom Yum Talay (Tom Yum Seafood Soup). The soup has a tolerable spiciness level that was quite shiok to drink. It's sourness was just right to give it a tangy edge.

Tom Yum Talay

Besides tom yum soup, there were also the salads as appetisers; green papaya salad and mixed salad with beef.

green papaya salad with shrimp flakes (@$7.50++)

Thai mixed salad with NZ beef fillet (Yum Neau Song Kreung) @$8.50++

Both salads are strongly flavoured and I favoured the green papaya salad more for its appetite whetting abilities, while the beef fillets in the Thai mixed salad were tender with a beefy taste.

Also sampled the Deep Fried Whole Garoupa Fish (Pla Gao Tod Sam Road). The fish meat has been filleted out into smaller chunks, so that was quite convenient to eat, and the remaining whole fish bone (including head and tail) was also deep fried to a crisp and presented together on the same plate. Nice. It's quite addictive, popping those fish chunks into the mouth...

Deep Fried Whole Garoupa with chili dip (@$23.90++)

The Siam Siam Grilled Combo Platter comes with four types of meat; chicken, beef, squid and prawns, and grilled to a smokey flavour. Liked the tender chicken, while the beef was slightly dryer.

Siam Siam Grilled Combo Platter (@$22.90++)

Siam Kitchen

Location: #02-46, Bugis Junction
Tel: 6337 3777
Website: www.siamkitchen.com.sg

Bugis Junction Food Trail 2013: Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant （南翔饅頭店）

Located at Level 2 Bugis Junction, right infront of the escalator. Maiden visit! Not sure why, but when I think of Nanxiang, the brain will conjure up a picture of a humongous xiaolong bun, complete with straw to sip up the soup...

Actually, Nanxiang is a town near Shanghai, and is considered the birthplace of xiaolong bao.

restaurant's logo (like a thumbs up~)

table setting

Without further ado, pictures of appetisers:

Nanxiang Drunken Chicken (@$8.50++)

Shanghai Spicy and Sour Soup (@$8.50++)

The drunken chicken was tender and tasted yummy. Not much of wine taste though.

First impression of spicy and sour soup? It was sharply sour! Was informed that the version served here has been tweaked to suit local tastebuds. Meaning that it's less spicy and less oily. Added some black vinegar (available on each table), and the soup's taste became much more agreeable~

Next, was xiaolong mantous or xiao long bao (小笼包).

hot hot hot! Nanxiang Signature Steamed Bun

eat it with vinegar and ginger shreds

Served piping hot, so do eat it with care.

The Nanxiang brand xiao long bao has been around for more than a 100 years, and we're tasting the latest version, so to speak.

鲜肉小笼 (fresh pork dumpling) @$8.80++ for 6 pieces

Dainty little pockets of pork and soup. The soup tasted light with pork meat flavour. The dumpling skin was rather chewy.

Next, was the supersized (comparitively lah..) King Sized Nanxiang Crab Roe Steamed Soup Bun.

King Sized Nanxiang Crab Roe Steamed Soup Bun (蟹黄汤包) @$7.80++

Braving tongue scalding temperatures, we sipped the soup using the straw. Verdict? "鲜"! Which means fresh. Not just any fresh, but sea-fresh. Makes sense? Not the usual strong umami taste of seafood but a lighter sweet kind. Liked this very much!

simply good soup

Next, we sampled the braised lion head (狮子头). Actually thought "狮子头" as a mushroom dish but turned out to be a pork meatballs dish.

braised lion's head

cut section reveals soft, tender meat

Enjoyed the lion's head meatballs, immensely. Tender, bouncy and tasted chestnut bits as well. Sweet,  fresh, and lightly flavoured.

If you need carbs, why not try the "粉皮" (fen pi) dish. It is kway-teow like, but a little firmer and more translucent. Probably tasteless on its own, these starch sheets allowed the crab roe broth to shine through. Eat it with black vinegar for extra oomph. There's a mee sua (rice vermicelli) version of this as well.

fen pi in crab roe broth

almost translucent starch sheets

Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant （南翔饅頭店）

Location: #02-53, Bugis Junction
Website: http://www.nanxiang.com.sg/

Bugis Junction Food Trail 2013: Platypus Kitchen

The good people behind Platypus Kitchen believes that gourmet food should be affordable. Think fresh handmade pasta, quality ingredients, beautifully plated and value-for-money, with all dishes priced below $20. It's also stated in their menu that the food contains no added preservatives, no MSG and made from scratch. Inexpensive, good food made with heart. How's that for your next meal?

One might then wonder if the ambiance is sacrificed? Non. The restaurant is spacious and comfortable with padded seats, and nicely decorated too.

interior

Sampled some dishes from the current Autumn/Winter menu. Plenty of choices for pasta and risotto.

menu

Here are the starters:

Crab Cake and Truffle Fries

Truffle Fries, with generous amount of shaved truffles ($6.90++)

Risotto Balls (@$8.90++)

The Risotto Balls were not much of a looker, but it has quite a nice flavour. Slather on a good amount of pumpkin puree, and you'll get sweet, crunchy, chewy cheesy all in one bite.

mozarella stuffed balls of risotto, breaded in panko and deep fried, with pumpkin puree

Thirsty? Because regular beer is said to be kind of boring, so they've got alcoholic creations such as Momo-Lychee Ale (peach and lychee flavoured) and Smith's Ale (apple and lemon infused). Current beer used is a Mexican beer, Sol.

Momo-Lychee Ale (@$9.90++ ala-carte / $6.90++ as part of a set) 2.9% ABV

Enjoyed the ale. Refreshing on a hot day. Yums. Though pretty low on alcoholic content, do still drink responsibly!

Now, let's take a look at the mains:

Carbonara (egg taglietelle with double smoked bacon in egg-yolk cream sauce @$14.50++)

Squid-ink Scallops Ragout (squid ink taglioni served with seared bay scallops in light garlic-dashi sauce @$16.50++)

Saffron & Caviar Risotto (saffron infused risotto with char-grilled prawns and scallops @$19.90++)

Spicy 'Diablo' Crab & Prawn (egg taglioni with prawns and crab claws tossed in spicy egg sauce @$18.50++)

All the pasta dishes and risotto looked so pretty. The taglietelle was done al-dente and perfect for those who likes chewy, thicker noodles. The carbonara didn't have an overly heavy taste despite the egg-yolk sauce. No worries about teeth stains when having the squid-ink ragout, as the ink has already been incorporated into the dough. In fact, this was a rather light tasting dish. I think I had the risotto a tad too late, as it had turned cold. Sorry chef, next time should eat as soon as it's brought to the table!

Personally, I'd prefer the Spicy 'Diablo' for its less chewy, stronger and more intense flavour (spicy!) and loads of ingredients like that pile of crab claw meat! Lip-smacking good.

For non-pasta main dish, we sampled the Pressed Pork Belly. Tender piece of meat. Belly good! It has a sweet well-rounded flavour from the glaze. Tasty.

Pressed Pork Belly (served with braised apples, carrots, tomatoes in honey & clove apple glaze @19.90++)

Had dessert, the Iced Sea Salt Caramel to round up the meal. Sweet, and crunchy.

Iced Sea Salt Caramel (@$8.90++)

popping candy ontop, and bottom chocolate peanut butter brittle

Platypus Kitchen offers monthly set promotions for both lunch (from $10.90++) and dinner (from $16.90++). Ontop of that, you may want to check-out their facebook page for other claimable offers.

And, continuing the spread of good news...how would you like to get your hands on "Bachelor's Banquet", a cookbook by Nicholas Lin (chef and owner of Platypus restaurants) and Adhika Maxi. Containing 80 elegant recipes and some tips, perfect to recreate an intimate dinner for two.

Just drop me an email to purplerain@gmail.com stating some basic information about yourself (at least tell me your name) and why this cookbook should belong to you. Or, leave your comments here, also can.

Be quick, as there is only one copy to giveaway! (This giveaway is only for people who are residing in Singapore.)

The giveaway is now closed. Thank you for your participation!

Bachelor's Banquet Cookbook

Platypus Kitchen

Location: #03-29, Bugis Junction
Tel: +65 6333 4434
Website: http://www.platypuskitchen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlatypusKitchen
Twitter: @platypuskitchen