MODERN IZAKAYA AT TANGLIN POST OFFICE
I went to Mo'Mor Izakaya at Tanglin Post Office on a weeknight last week and it was packed. The new restaurant, which takes over the space previously occupied by Maca, serves a variety of Japanese- and European-inspired tapas. Prices range from $5 to $28 for tapas, while main courses start at $22.
Items to try include the plum tomato ceviche ($12), chilled tomatoes tossed in a light, Japanese-style vinaigrette topped with crispy garlic chips; grilled Iberico pork jowl ($12, above), tender and flavourful pork with a lovely char; and the Australian Black Angus grain-fed ribeye ($38), which is cooked to perfection.
My only gripe is that the wine and sake list is not very extensive and that the air-conditioning and ventilation can be better.
WHERE: Mo'Mor Izakaya Tapas & Grill, Tanglin Post Office, 56 Tanglin Road, B1-01 MRT: Orchard OPEN: 11am to 11pm (Sunday to Thursday), 11 to 1am (Friday and Saturday) TEL: 6463-8080 INFO: momor.com.sg
BURRITOS IN BUKIT TIMAH
My favourite low-key neighbourhood watering hole, Bar Bar Black Sheep in Bukit Timah near Old Holland Road, has a new Mexican food stall.
King's Taco Shop, which sells Tex-Mex-style tacos, nachos, quesadillas and burritos, is now one of three stalls at the alfresco bar. The other two sell Indian and Thai food.
A serving of two tacos with a choice of red or green salsa, starts at $6, while burritos start at $11. Fillings include beef, chicken, pork and beef tongue. There's also a vegetarian option.
The fare here is tasty, simple and wholesome. The chicken burrito ($12, above) is stuffed with Mexican red tomato rice, beans, cheese, salsa and chunks of juicy char-grilled chicken. In fact, it's so filling I can eat only half - best to share it with a mate so you can order tacos and nachos too.
WHERE: King's Taco Shop, Bar Bar Black Sheep, 879 Bukti Timah Road MRT: Sixth Avenue OPEN: 4 to 10pm (Tuesday to Friday), 1 to 10pm (Saturday and Sunday), closed on Monday TEL: 6463-1645 INFO: Go to www.facebook.com/kingstacoshop or e-mail kingstachoshop@gmail.com
BINGKI BINGSU
The hot weather has been driving me nuts and, lately, all I can think of are ice-cold desserts to beat the heat.
Cafes serving Korean bingsu or Korean-style shaved ice have been popping up all over town, including in Tanjong Pagar. Bingki Korean Dessert, in Tanjong Pagar Plaza facing Craig Road, is open round the clock and serves some of the cutest bingsu in town.
Take the green tea bingsu ($14, above) I had last week. The green tea-flavoured shaved ice, which has the texture of soft, dry snow, came topped with a scoop of creamy matcha ice cream with the face of a bear, complete with beady eyes, a button nose and sliced almonds as ears. It also comes with green-tea Pocky and green-tea Kit Kat.
Other flavours include bingsu topped with mango, honeydew melon and Oreo cookies. The cafe also serves thick dessert toast, including Nutella bread served with banana ($9).
WHERE: Bingki Korean Dessert Cafe, Block 7 Tanjong Pagar Road, Tanjong Pagar Plaza, 01-106 MRT: Tanjong Pagar OPEN: 24 hours daily TEL: 6443-5435 INFO: E-mail bingkibingsu@gmail.com
SEASONAL WHITE ASPARAGUS
Dishes featuring seasonal white asparagus (above) from Germany's Rhine Valley are available at mezza9 until the middle of next month.
I like the sweetness and less herbaceous flavour of white asparagus compared with the green variety.
mezza9 has five white asparagus dishes ($18 to $38 each) such as a soup, a gratin and poached with a side of Hollandaise.
There's also a warm white asparagus salad with a grain mustard vinaigrette and chopped egg dressing.
I like how the acidity of the vinegar heightens the sweetness of the warm poached asparagus spears.
And the best thing about eating at mezza9 is that you also can have whatever else you are craving, from tom yum soup to lobster noodles.
WHERE: mezza9, Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Road MRT: Orchard OPEN: Noon to 2.30pm, 6 to 10.30pm, daily. Brunch on Sunday is served between 11.30am and 3pm WHEN: Till May 15 TEL: 6738-1234 INFO: www.singapore.grand.hyattrestaurants.com/mezza9
