I’m not one to stand for bad food without doing something about it. I like to think I’m not so much a food snob as I am a discerning eater. Bad food is toxic. It kills my taste buds, my day, my general outlook towards life; it makes me inexplicably depressed, so I always have the psychological excuse to avoid it.
A few days ago I was made to consume bad food as part of the school’s compulsory dining etiquette (more rants on this later, but NUSS Guild Hall’s food sucks sucks sucks). My only way to get better is to detox, i.e. to eat at really great places. I was so overwhelmed and depressed that I spent a few days detoxing. And I’m glad to announce that I’m somewhat better now, and that this has been part I of the detox program.
*Mag’s Wine Kitchen*
(“website”:http://www.magswinekitchen.com/index.asp)
6 Circular Road
Singapore 049438
telephone: (65) 64383836
I hate pretentious places where superficial measures compensate for the (lack of) food quality. Mag’s place is exactly the opposite of these places. If you like great food and love wine; this is the place to be, and I’m not just saying that because I’ve made Mag my adopted godmother (I’m getting her to sign the papers when she’s a bit tipsy).
The most accurate pretentious-O-meter at any eating establishment is usually the menu. In this case, there is no menu at all. The waiter comes to inform you of what they have, and you simply choose — crab, veal, lamb, beef, and leave the rest up to the chef. I wouldn’t worry at all about what I’d get, because it’s all good.
And “it’s all good” is the best compliment I can think of for any restaurant! We had crab, foie gras, and scallops for starters; veal and fish for mains, creme caramel, chocolate fondant, and sticky date pudding for desserts. I was stuffed beyond belief, but happily so.
(Prices, I’m not sure — there was no menu and I never saw the bill, though I’ll leave it for one of my favourite readers to fill you in on that.)
*Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh*
Kedai Makanan Ah Soon
Sri Tebrau, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
_Bak kut teh_ doesn’t necessarily need to be black and salty � I never knew this until a year ago. And when I found out, I was hooked, to the extent of carrying my passport around with me such that when I felt like eating it (which was, pretty often), I’d just hop on a train to Kranji and take a bus into JB for lunch.
To be honest, this is not a comfortable place to eat in. Eating at these _establishments_ never is, but if foodies like us will brave the Causeway to get there, what can a little heat and brusque service do to deter us? As you enter, you are greeted by _many_ claypots, heated over an open fire, herbs and the smell of soup permeating your skin as you walk by.
Sitting down to eat makes you forget about that soon enough. A set for two, with a pot of _bak kut teh_, rice, salted vegetables and tofu, tea, can be had for very little money.
possibly related
Confessions /
The Miele Guide /
Epicurious /
Bar Italia Needs To Get Its Act Together /
Barcelona, Barri by Barri /
This entry was posted in food and music. Bookmark the
permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.
Detox
I’m not one to stand for bad food without doing something about it. I like to think I’m not so much a food snob as I am a discerning eater. Bad food is toxic. It kills my taste buds, my day, my general outlook towards life; it makes me inexplicably depressed, so I always have the psychological excuse to avoid it.
A few days ago I was made to consume bad food as part of the school’s compulsory dining etiquette (more rants on this later, but NUSS Guild Hall’s food sucks sucks sucks). My only way to get better is to detox, i.e. to eat at really great places. I was so overwhelmed and depressed that I spent a few days detoxing. And I’m glad to announce that I’m somewhat better now, and that this has been part I of the detox program.
*Mag’s Wine Kitchen*
(“website”:http://www.magswinekitchen.com/index.asp)
6 Circular Road
Singapore 049438
telephone: (65) 64383836
I hate pretentious places where superficial measures compensate for the (lack of) food quality. Mag’s place is exactly the opposite of these places. If you like great food and love wine; this is the place to be, and I’m not just saying that because I’ve made Mag my adopted godmother (I’m getting her to sign the papers when she’s a bit tipsy).
The most accurate pretentious-O-meter at any eating establishment is usually the menu. In this case, there is no menu at all. The waiter comes to inform you of what they have, and you simply choose — crab, veal, lamb, beef, and leave the rest up to the chef. I wouldn’t worry at all about what I’d get, because it’s all good.
And “it’s all good” is the best compliment I can think of for any restaurant! We had crab, foie gras, and scallops for starters; veal and fish for mains, creme caramel, chocolate fondant, and sticky date pudding for desserts. I was stuffed beyond belief, but happily so.
(Prices, I’m not sure — there was no menu and I never saw the bill, though I’ll leave it for one of my favourite readers to fill you in on that.)
*Ah Soon Bak Kut Teh*
Kedai Makanan Ah Soon
Sri Tebrau, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
_Bak kut teh_ doesn’t necessarily need to be black and salty � I never knew this until a year ago. And when I found out, I was hooked, to the extent of carrying my passport around with me such that when I felt like eating it (which was, pretty often), I’d just hop on a train to Kranji and take a bus into JB for lunch.
To be honest, this is not a comfortable place to eat in. Eating at these _establishments_ never is, but if foodies like us will brave the Causeway to get there, what can a little heat and brusque service do to deter us? As you enter, you are greeted by _many_ claypots, heated over an open fire, herbs and the smell of soup permeating your skin as you walk by.
Sitting down to eat makes you forget about that soon enough. A set for two, with a pot of _bak kut teh_, rice, salted vegetables and tofu, tea, can be had for very little money.
possibly related
Confessions / The Miele Guide / Epicurious / Bar Italia Needs To Get Its Act Together / Barcelona, Barri by Barri /