Food Picks: Butchery-grocer Meatkrafters, Granny Q Penang Lemak Laksa pop-up, Willow’s spring menu
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Butchery Grocer Meatkrafters
(From left) Meatkrafters' co-founders Kris Tan and Jessie Toh with their head butcher Chris Tay.
PHOTO: MEATKRAFTERS
Off the bustling Holland Village area lies a hidden gourmet gem in Ghim Moh.
I wish I had known about Meatkrafters earlier – a one-stop premium butchery grocer that offers a wide range of meat, seafood, cheese and wine.
It even has refrigerators outside the shop that run 24/7 via cashless self-checkout to cater for last-minute late-night grocery shopping.
Highlights from the meat selection include the miso-aged wagyu picanha ($48.75 for 250g) that is dry-aged in-house, as well as the Australian angus beef short rib ($35 for 500g).
The ready-to-roast sio pork belly (from $43 for 1kg, order four days in advance) is another must-try.
The meat comes pre-marinated, and its skin is already pricked and air-dried to achieve that perfect crackle in the air-fryer.
Meatkrafters' hotpot bundle.
PHOTO: MEATKRAFTERS
For big parties, go for the barbecue and burger bundle ($175, good for eight people) or the hotpot bundle ($188, good for 10 people).
To complement the meals, the grocer has its own range of house-brand soup and bread.
Meatkrafters' barbecue and burger bundle.
PHOTO: MEATKRAFTERS
Look out for its month-long promotions in May to mark its first anniversary.
One of them features a special $100 meat bundle, which includes Cajun chicken boneless leg, Australian grass-fed wagyu striploin MB4+ and the miso-aged picanha.
Where: 01-247, 19 Ghim Moh Road meatkrafters.sg
MRT: Buona Vista
Open: Weekdays, 9am to 7pm; Saturdays, 8am to 7pm; Sundays, 9am to 5pm
Info:
Granny Q Penang Lemak Laksa Pop-up
Granny Q Penang Lemak Laksa's signature laksa.
PHOTO: THE PROPER CONCEPTS COLLECTIVE
I’m a big fan of Penang’s assam laksa, but, sadly, we don’t get enough of it here.
So before I’m able to get my fix in Penang, I’ll head to Granny Q Penang Lemak Laksa’s pop-up – which runs from April 29 at Rappu Handroll Bar in Duxton.
Instead of the usual tangy Penang assam laksa, Granny Q’s version features a rich, spicy, coconut milk broth that is infused with fresh aromatics such as mint, torch ginger, red onions, cucumber and pineapple.
While Granny Q may have set up shop in Penang’s George Town only in 2022, the family-run business has been quick to gain fans for its gravy.
Its Singapore pop-up is by hospitality group The Proper Concepts Collective, which runs Rappu, along with other restaurants such as Mrs Maria & Mr Singh and The Feather Blade.
The signature GQ Laksa ($8.80) comes with two prawns and either poached or fried rempah-spiced tilapia nuggets.
Granny Q Penang Lemak Laksa's Supreme Laksa.
PHOTO: THE PROPER CONCEPTS COLLECTIVE
Stir in the quintessential Penang hei ko (prawn paste) – served alongside the bowl – for that full-on flavour explosion.
For a more luxe version, the Supreme GQ Laksa ($21) comes with scallop and crayfish too.
During the pop-up, Rappu will feature a GQ Laksa Ebi Roll ($14) with sashimi-grade Japanese botan ebi seasoned with Granny’s rempah.
The pop-up will run for the next few months and, if response is good, Granny Q may set up shop here permanently.
Where: Rappu Handroll Bar, 52 Duxton Road gqlaksa.sg
MRT: Tanjong Pagar/Maxwell
When: From April 29; Fridays to Sundays, noon to 2.30pm
Info:
Willow’s Spring Menu
Willow's charcoal-grilled firefly squid with housemade caramelised chilli jam.
PHOTO: WILLOW
A year after making a strong debut in Singapore’s dining scene, contemporary Asian restaurant Willow continues to dish out the hits with chef Nicolas Tam’s new spring menu (from $158++ for lunch, from $228++ for dinner).
The format remains largely the same, with a trio of snacks to start, followed by the signature pain au lait bread course.
The bread is flavoured with kombu, fresh and roasted nori, and served alongside a light katsuobushi (bonito flakes) sabayon to dip into.
My two favourite courses are the firefly squid and dry-aged duck.
Willow's dry-aged duck with white asparagus, mashed potatoes and black and white garlic paste.
PHOTO: WILLOW
The charcoal-grilled squid has a lovely smoky aroma, elevated with housemade caramelised chilli jam – the chef’s take on local sambal sotong.
The juicy duck comes with a perfectly roasted crisp skin, and it is served with white asparagus, buttery mashed potatoes, and black and white garlic paste.
Finish with a dessert of sweet strawberries with warabi mochi, meringue sticks and sake lees sorbet.
Where: 39 Hongkong Street willowrestaurant.sg
MRT: Clarke Quay
Open: Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 4pm; Tuesdays to Saturdays, 6 to 11pm
Info: Call 8843-4066 or go to
