I’ve been here before, but this was my first time at No.5 Emerald Hill when the sun was still up π Sitting at the bar alone, my eyes wandered around & couldn’t help but notice the tank of vodka with lots of chillis in them.
Introducing…. No.5 Emerald Hill’s Grey Goose Chilli Vodka Infusion π€― The fiery red chillis sit in the vodka for 3-4 months, really lending their spicy flavour to the liquor. I had to have a shot of this or at least try at 1 of their cocktails.. But which one?
Chilli Vodka!? Sign me up.
The novelty was just too good to pass up! I had to get the 5pice Me Up ($12+) once I heard it’s reminiscent of an Old Fashioned. I don’t eat crazy spicy food (not a Mala lover), but this cocktail pushed all the right buttons for me.
I was impressed not only by the zing of the heat/spice from the chilli, but also how smoothly the drink goes down. It also helps that, like my favourite Old Fashioned, this isn’t saccharine sweet!
5pice Me Up, with a complimentary bowl of peanuts
Surprised at its affordable price, I was tempted to get a 2nd one, but I resisted π I’ll try some of the other options next time: the Hi-5 ($12+) highball with soda, Cherry Snap ($17+) a sweet treat, & Bangkok Martini (2 for $20+).
I have many fond memories after dark (9PM – 1AM, specifically) here, where their extensive Martini menu goes at a sweet 1-for-1. & practically all day before that (12 – 9PM), housepours start from $8 β & that’s a gentleman’s pour of 45ml, not the regular 30ml.
You truly get your money’s worth here. Just like I did with my Hennessy on the rocks π So if chilli vodka isn’t quite your kind of thing, don’t worry about it… You definitely have other options here.
Ps: Also love nibbling on the peanuts & throwing the shells on the floor…. Who’s with me?!
π³ Accepts credit cards π¬ Air-conditioned seats available β Al fresco seats available π₯ Accepts reservations on Quandoo ππ»ββ Service charge applicable π« No GST
I remember the days where Hopscotch was a cosy bar inside the Red Dot Traffic Building, whipping up a good variety novelty cocktails. They haven’t deviated from this specialty, but the vibes here now are quite different in the hipster/artsy enclave of Gillman Barracks.
Walking to Hopscotch (don’t park illegally like these cars!)
They still keep things interesting, changing their menu up once in a while. They’re on their 5th menu at the moment, with Singapore or Asian themed cocktails.
Bar seats available
My cocktail of choice: Kungfu Hustle (U.P. $22++/HH $15++), which has a base of Chrysanthemum infused scotch. It’s exactly what I look for in a cocktail: Strong, & not sweet. A harmonious balance of floral rose honey, fragrant Gunpowder Tea (η θΆ), with a hint of heat from young ginger. Also, check out the bottle it’s served in – soooo aesthetic.
Kungfu Hustle Cocktail
Happy Hour is 5:30 – 8:30PM daily, & yes I could get HH prices on my cocktail ($15++) despite redeeming a Burpple Beyond deal on the same bill. I always make sure I check, & never to assume. I appreciate it when restaurants are flexible like that, so thank you Hopscotch!
Shelves of games you can play – fun idea
The Ribeye Steak ($26++) is part of the Burpple Beyond 1-for-1 menu options. 220g of New Zealand Grass-fed Black Angus Ribeye. It’s a simple hunk of steak, with not much else to the dish. It lies on a light swoosh of Purple Potato Mash that wasn’t very carby, & has a small side of sauteed baby spinach for you to get your veggies & fibre in.
I opted for my usual medium rare, but was afraid that at this thickness it’d be a little tough. But it wasn’t! It was also seasoned pretty well; I didn’t need to dip it in the veal jus served on the side – though that was tasty too. (My dad lapped it up quite eagerly…)
Ribeye Steak, eligible for Burpple Beyond’s 1-for-1 deal
Hopscotch’s Chilli Lobster Tagliatelle ($28++) pays homage to local flavours with a chilli sauce of local spices & a lobster-based stock. The chewy homemade tagliatelle pasta was firm to the bite, & the half a Boston lobster it comes with is fairly meaty. The heat isn’t unbearable, in all quite pleasantly tingly on the tongue with a subtle sweetness.
Chilli Lobster Tagliatelle
Being a pasta & seafood lover, I would order this again. Exceptionally pleased that I got this at “half price” thanks to Burpple Beyond’s 1-for-1 main deals, too!
π³ Accepts credit cards π¬ Air-conditioned seats available β Al fresco seats available π₯ Accepts reservations on Chope & Quandoo π½ Burpple Beyond partner ππ» Shopback GO partner π¦ Water is not chargeable
Had some time to kill in the vicinity – chanced upon Caffe Fernet’s happy hour & decided why not. Predictably, the King Cole Old Fashioned ($15++) spoke to me. Bulleit Bourbon, Fernet Branca liqueur, Angostura Bitters. Totally up my alley!
Service is quick & by golly, this drink is a stiff one. I like that, because at the end of it all, I don’t find it too diluted & meh. Holds its weight throughout.
Caffe Fernet’s King Cole Old Fashioned Against the MBS Skyline
I happily sipped on it & thought about life as I took in the nice view of MBS, having been allocated an al fresco seat facing the waters. I was here in the evening, towards the later half of Happy Hour (3 – 7:30PM). I’d imagine that the sun would be quite in your face had I been here earlier in the day… So try to sit indoors during lunch time.
Quite a boisterous crowd on Thursday evening. I will be back & perhaps the next time I’ll order off their dinner menu. I have my eye on some pastas…
π³ Accepts credit cards π¬ Indoor seats available (not air-conditioned) β Al fresco seats available π₯ Accepts reservations – I used Chope πΆ Free WiFi available π¦ Water is not chargeable
I run the MBS loop once in a while, & I’ve noticed this black & orange food truck fairly often on my evening runs. Naturally, I was very excited when Burpple‘s invitation to taste their burgers came in!
You can’t miss this black & orange food truck
Fun Fact: Not all Impossibleβ’ burgers are the same. The “base” Impossibleβ’ meat is the same, but each eatery has control over what they mix in with it to create their dishes. Fortunately, the ones I’ve tried so far are delicious & had great texture, so I had high hopes for The Goodburger‘s burgers.
The Goodburger’s Menu
All burgers come with a side of shoestring fries, which are my favourite kind. They were served hot, crispy, & not too oily. I enjoyed them so much that I couldn’t stop. I even went to the next table to steal more fries (sorry not sorry).
An additional side of Truffle Fries cost $12 – while fragrant, I wasn’t a fan of the oilyness, so I’d stick to the regular bomb diggity fries.
The Goodburger’s Impossibleβ’ Burgers with Fries
Started off with The Classic ($16) burger – upon first bite, I noticed how fluffy & soft the burger buns were. Then my teeth sank into the juicy meat patty – great mouthfeel. As I chewed thoughtfully, I liked how the flavours came together in my mouth. The cheese, the special sauce, the tangy pickles.
The Classic with the Default Single Patty
Then we tried the same burger with an extra patty ($6). IT IS WORTH IT. Spend that money for a more balanced meat-to-bun ratio; you won’t regret it ππ»
The Classic Double Patty FTW
One Night in Bangkok ($20) honestly did not remind me much of Bangkok or Thai flavours, but it was still delicious & unique. The complexity of the flavours are quite mind-boggling. A little bit of heat from the chilli, & a powerful but not offensive combination of fragrant spices. We had a field day trying to pinpoint what “aromatic Thai-inspired flavours” they actually are. But their lips are sealed, so we’ll never know…
One Night in Bangkok
The Black Tie ($18) was my favourite burger of the night. It’s touted as kid-friendly with its more subtle flavours. I mean, think about the other 2 burgers: Classic has tangy pickles, & One Night in Bangkok has spices & chilli.
Subtle doesn’t mean boring, though. I love me some veggies in my burger. Rocket is one of my favourites so I loved that inclusion. The truffle aioli could’ve been a bit stronger but I’m not too bothered by it. It’s a winner in my books.
The Black Tie
I personally haven’t tried this, but the burgers apparently reheat well. They don’t get soggy even though they retain their moisture. Update when I dabao one home & reheat it π
You can find The Goodburger at these locations on regular days, but do check their Instagram/Facebook for the latest updates: β’ Lunch @ The Promontory (Tue – Fri, 12 – 3PM) β’ Dinner @ Bayfront Link (Tue – Sun, 5 – 9PM); that’s next to Marina Bay Sands, near where the light show/Black Tap is.
Thanks Ken & Sophia from The Goodburger for the hospitality, & Burpple for the invite! π
π³ Accepts credit cards β Al fresco standing spots only (I mean, it’s a food truck!)
I’ve read about this stall at Alexandra Village Food Centre for the longest time, & have always walked past it but never tried. My dad ordered a bowl of laksa ($4 small/$5 medium/$6 large – prices are nett) & wanted to share – I couldn’t say no.
I was surprised to find the soup not viscous at all; in fact, I was afraid with such thin soup, I’d be disappointed.
Depot Road Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa
My fears were alleviated as I slurped my first spoonful – the soup is on the lemak side, but overall good flavour. Without adding any extra chilli paste (i.e. this is the default), the spicyness really hits the back of your throat. Have a drink prepared if you, just like me, don’t eat spicy food much!
The thick bee hoon η²η±³η² noodles were a bit too soft for my liking, but absorbed the soup well. In terms of ingredients, they were alright in terms of variety, & fairly fresh. Plenty of shredded chicken, a dismal single prawn, several taupok pieces, cockles & beansprouts.
In all, this was a delicious bowl of laksa. I’m not head over heels in love with it, but I’d eat it again. Just not too often as it isn’t the most healthy dish!
The ba ku teh θιͺ¨θΆ (pork rib soup) here is of the herbal variant, & is served in a claypot with 2 options for sizes – $6 or $10 (prices are nett). The stall owner recommended the larger one for 2 pax, but I personally felt this wasn’t enough. Then again, I’m a fairly big eater π³
Large Ba Ku Teh with Preserved Vegetables & White Rice
So.. Herbal ba ku teh is my favourite kind, & this soup is definitely at the top of my list. I like how it’s not too soy saucey, & you can taste the herbs in it without them being overpoweringly bitter. A little sad that when I asked uncle for a refill (with compliment in tow), I was only given a scoop of soup without a smile… Oh well.
The meat was fall-off-the-bone, tender & flavourful. It is on the fatty side, but the fatty layers can be easily picked by to you & your l337 chopsticks skills.
I ordered a bowl of preserved vegetables ζ’ θ ($2 nett) to share, & a bowl of white rice ($0.50 nett). They were okay, nothing outstanding nor terrible. The real star, rightfully, is the soup with the pork ribs. I can see why this stall is popular.. Definitely coming back.
Tip: This stall is right next to the famous avocado milkshake stall at the corner of Alexandra Village, which is also a wildly popular stall!
Soupy meals are my comfort food, & I could honestly eat hotpot all day erriday.
Hereβs my latest gem of a find on Burpple Beyond: ζΊη City Hotpot Shabu Shabu at One Raffles Place. I made a reservation on Chope, & swiped the 1-for-1 Wagyu Ribeye Set ($49.99++) deal.
Wagyu Beef Set with Chicken Soup Base
It comes with your choice of soup, staple, & a “VegiCombo” basket of delicious vegetables & soy products. The beef wasnβt too fatty & it was fresh! Also, very importantly, I enjoyed the Chicken soup base (ι¦θιΈ‘ζ±€) that I chose.. Would very happily return here again.
Til 12 Feb 2020, I’m running a contest to give away a free Burpple Beyond Premium (Monthly) plan to 2 lucky winners!
The Hotpot Set for 1 with Handmade Noodles ($12.90 nett) was either a new addition to Greendot‘s menu, or perhaps something that I’ve glossed over/never noticed before. Wanting to try something different, I opted for this as opposed to my usual favourite.
Ordered at the cashier – chose the herbal soup base – & then sat down. Was pretty confused when my meal was served to me & it was a bowl of soup teeming full of ingredients, & another bowl with the handmade noodles inside… Where’s the hotpot?
Greendot’s “Hotpot” Set for 1
I was expecting something at least like the Minipot Noodles (ε°η’ι’) that you get at hawker centres.. With a little candle/fire below the pot. But this wasn’t the case. Were my expectations misplaced or unfounded?
I enjoyed my meal while it lasted, especially with the plethora of ingredients in my soup. My favourites are the shiitake mushrooms, white enoki mushrooms, tau pok, & konnyaku crab ball.
However, my general preference is to eat noodles in soup, as opposed to dry noodles with soup on the side. The noodles were served separately for good reason; they were tossed in a soy sauce (too salty for my liking) so I couldn’t dunk them in my soup for fear of making everything too salty.
With all that said & done, I’ll probably revert to my usual favourite – the Angelica Herbal Noodle with Cordyceps ($7.90 nett). The noodles are served in the soup, & it’s cheaper too.
Not a bad meal, just a confusing one & not to my preferences!
π΅ Cash/NETS only – no credit cards π¬ Air-conditioned seats available β Al fresco seats available πΆ Free WiFi available (Westgate is a Capitaland Mall) ππ»ββ No service charge π« No GST
An impressively extensive menu at Le Coq – from appetizers to yakitori skewers, main courses (1-for-1 with Burpple Beyond) & pastas, & a rockin’ happy hour too. Brace yourself for a lengthy reviewβ¦!
Hard to believe that their Fresh Oysters are only $2.50++ a pop. These New Zealand babies are creamy & decadent. Have them your way – with a squeeze of lemon or a dash of tabasco sauce. Or without anything at all; yes, they are that fresh. & at $16++ for a half dozen, $30++ for a dozen, that’s pretty dang affordable for the good stuff.
Fresh Oysters
Uni on Toast ($15++ for 3) got me all hot & bothered. Firstly, look at the size of that hunky sea urchin. Secondly, that bread is actually a bed I want to sleep on. Pillowy soft, yet slightly crispy on the outside so it doesn’t get soggy. Loved the textures & flavours of this one. I was left dreaming about this for days.
Uni (Sea Urchin) on Toast
Folks who want to take the heat up a notch will enjoy the Mala Chicken ($10++). It isn’t too wild, but it certainly has the numbness & spiciness that one seeks in Mala. I’m not a Mala expert, nor do I eat spicy food regularly. But I found myself picking slices from this silky smooth appetizer to pop into my mouth for that shiok feeling.
Mala Chicken Appetizer
The California Maki Dip with Crisps ($12++) was surprisingly popular; I attribute that to how refreshing & clean it is. It’s essentially a deconstructed California maki roll. Sounds simple, tastes great. The crabmeat used is fresh & flavourful, tossed together with avocado, mayonnaise & crunchy fish roe. IMHO, though, what makes this super addictive is the thin rice paper crisps on the side. Use them to scoop up the dip & comfortably crunch away. That’s pretty dang unique to me.
California Maki Dip with Crisps
Le Coq is a Burpple Beyond partner – so you can get 1-for-1 lunch or dinner mains here. However, they also have a fairly large menu that you can order from. Perfect for the office crowd, their drinks menu includes beer, wine, hard liquor & house cocktails. Swipe to see some of their cocktail concoctions that we sipped on through the night!
Their Happy Hour runs daily from 5 – 9PM, giving you a single glass of Grant’s Triple Wood Blended Scotch Whiskey or Hendrick’s Gin for $X at X PM, where X = 5, 6 or 7. At 8pm, it’s $10 a glass which is still okay, but the earlier the better fo’ sho. Also, Ladies Night is every Wednesday. #justsayin
Hello, G&T
& what better way to pair your evening drink with some skewers to munch on. Good variety of options here, with the Wagyu Beef ($6.80++) is my favourite. Soft & tender, you can taste the natural juices & flavours of the beef. The fattiness absolutely melts in your mouth⦠Very shiok.
Wagyu Beef Skewers
The Cartilage ($2.80++) was interesting – nice & crunchy, a texture that I was intrigued by & appreciated. Something I haven’t had before, actually. But it was unfortunately too heavily salted with the combination & heavy-handedness of both sea salt & togarashi. Gave feedback about this & they took it into account. I would hope they’ve fixed this since then. It’s always nice to speak to chefs/owners/staff that are open to feedback.
Cartilage Skewers
If the price of the Wagyu Beef is too premium for you, consider ordering the Chicken Thigh ($2.80++) or Sweetpork ($2.80++); they too are hella juicy π My preference of the two is the sweetpork as it has a sauce of Thai spices & honey, & is a pleasantly tender sweet one to indulge in.
Chicken Thigh & Sweetpork Skewers
The pastas here look simple, but are good. Both are very different, so take your pick based on your taste/preference/mood.
The Cold Truffle Somen with Hotate & Caviar ($16++) was such a delight to slurp at the end of our mealβ¦ Not just because it’s cold & smooth. The light truffle flavour proved to be sooo refreshing on the palate. Very welcomed after an evening of varied specialty cocktails, taste explosion appetizers & crazy flavourful skewers.
The cold slices of scallop were of a nice thickness to lovingly sandwich between your tongue & the roof of your mouthβ¦ Before comfortably sinking your teeth into them, thereafter letting out a breathy “ahhh.” π
Cold Truffle Somen with Hotate & Caviar
The Mushroom Aglio Olio ($14++), on the other hand, is strikingly different as it is a warm capellini dish. A good vegetarian-friendly option, I wasn’t too bothered that this dish doesn’t have meat or seafood in it.
Most importantly, dang that flavour. It punches you right in the face! Chilli padi BAM. Finely chopped garlic BOOM. Earthy mushrooms YAS.
Mushroom Aglio Olio
Thanks Le Coq for the hospitality & Burpple for the invite! π
π³ Accepts credit cards π¬ Air-conditioned seats available β Al fresco seats available π₯ Accepts reservations on Quandoo π½ Burpple Beyond partner
Rabbit Carrot Gun‘s Specialty Cocktails menu had me taking a second glance. They aren’t discounted during Happy Hour… But I still went for these 2. Yes, even without the discount.
Started off with a Smokey Bloody Mary ($21++), which sounds like a match made in heaven. I enjoyed the taste of health from the tomato (hahaha) & also the woody, peatyness from the Old Young’s Oak Smoked Vodka. The cheeky spice that hits you at the back of your throat is what I appreciate in a good Bloody Mary, too. In all, this was very enjoyable.
Smokey Bloody Mary
Felt like I couldn’t stop there, so I ordered another Specialty Cocktail: the Earl Grey Martini ($18++). I appreciated how the subtle flavours of the chilled Earl Grey Tea really came through, despite the strength of the vodka. A dash of sugar syrup sweetened this cocktail just nicely without making it too saccharine sweet.
Earl Grey Martini
Would be back, though probably just for drinks as the food is on the pricey side. Other Specialty Cocktails here include: β’ Mango & Pepper Gin & Tonic ($19++): House-infused Mango Gin, topped with cracked black pepper β’ Hugalibre ($18++): Angosutra 1919 Rum, Fresh Lime, Ginger Ale
π³ Accepts credit cards π¬ Air-conditioned seats available π₯ Accepts reservations on Chope β Al fresco seats available π¦ Water is not chargeable
Bui Bui Eats 