[Singapore Restaurant] Dim Sum @ Bosses Restaurant (黑社会), Vivocity

What's your favourite dim sum?  For me, it has to be liushabao (流沙饱 aka Lava Bun or salted egg yolk custard bun).  And we typically can judge the standard of the restaurant's dim sum from the quality of liushabao because this is one difficult recipe to master - in order to achieve the right consistency and flow of the filling.  The liushabao has certainly created a deep impression on me.  It is far better than those from other renown chinese restaurants serving dim sum.

If you're looking for a place for afternoon tea / dim sum, consider going to Bosses.  There are close to 50 items on their menu and they offer 30% off for their dim for orders between 2.30pm and 5pm.  Here's a list of what I like in order of my preference.

 

Signature Custard Lava Bun - soft bun skin filling with warm salted egg yolk custard

 

Fish Skin - Fresh and Crispy (Highly Recommended)

 

Ace Durian Mochi -  Filled with D24 durian.  It is beat eaten when chilled (Highly Recommended)

 

Famous Chilli Crab Tart - Bite-size crab meat that's fresh and springy.

 

Har Gow (Prawn Dumpling) - Fresh prawn dumpling in 3 different coloured skin.

 

Pan-fried Carrot Cake with XO Sauce - Not bad, not bad.

 Crispy Sesame Mango Prawn Salad Roll

 Shanghai Xiao Long Bao - Minced pork steamed bun.  There are better ones than these.

 

Premium Fish Maw steamed dumpling - I am not a fan of fish maw, that explains why it is on my low priority list.

Here's the full menu for the dim sum.  Prices range from $4.50 to $9.50 before taxes.  I will be back for more!

Bosses Restaurant
1 HarbourFront Walk, Vivocity #02-156/157, Singapore 098585
Tel: 6376 9740
Website: www.bosses.sg
Operating Hours:  11am to 9.30pm

Getting there:  Walk to Vivocity from HarbourFront Station



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30% Dining Rebates with Bank of China UnionPay Card [until 30 Sep 2013]

Having a 30% rebate is a very rare and very good deal.  What's really good is that no minimum spend is needed and the list of restaurant are affordable.  Promotion is valid for the first 1500 who register via sms.  Refer to this link for registration details.

That includes:

1.  Ah Yat Abalone / Kitchen / Seafood Restaurant
2.  Imperial Treasure Bakery & Café / Grand Ballroom / Nan Bei / Steamboat / Super Peking Duck / Fine Chinese Cuisine / Cantonese Cuisine / Windows of Hong Kong / Noodle & Congee House / La Mian Xiao Long Bao / Teochew Cuisine
3.  Tung Lok Seafood / Classics / Signature / Tong Le Private Dining
4.  Zhou's Kitchen
5.  My Humble House
6.  No Signboard
7.  Lao Beijing
8.  Red House
9.  Spring Court Restaurant
10.  Asia Grand Restaurant
11.  Chen Fu Ji
12.  Fragrance Food Stuff
13.  Hai Di Lao
14.  Jumbo Seafood
15.  Forum Seafood
16.  Chong Qing Grilled Fish
17.  Chui Huay Lim Teochew Cuisine
18.  De Grand Restaurant
19.  Ruyi

20.  Cedele
21.  818 Durian & Pastries
22.  Gelateria Italia
23. Canele Patisserie Chocolaterie

24.  House of Sundanese Food
25.  Ku De Ta

(Note: The list above is not exhaustive)

Eastern (Dong Yuan) Rice Dumpling

It's the Dragon Boat Festival or Dumpling Festival tomorrow.  It typically falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month.  Chinese celebrate this legendary festival by eating steamed rice dumplings, or locally known as bak zang. 

The dumplings come in several traditional recipes namely in Cantonese style, Hokkien style or Nonya style.  My favourite is the traditional is the savoury Hokkien dumpling, made using glutinous rice seasoned with dark soy sauce and 5 spices, dried mushrooms and pork belly.  Some come with the salted egg yolks too.  I have just bought mine from the famous Eastern Rice Dumplings (东园肉粽).  Not only is it reasonably priced and they are really really yummy.  To savour the traditional taste, this is one shop you should not miss.

Due to the festive season, the price has increased a little and be prepared to queue... so, be there early if you want to get hold of your favourite rice dumplings!

Eastern (Dong Yuan) Rice Dumpling
Cold Storage at Compass Point, Basement 1

Lunar New Year Lo-Hei Auspicious Phrases (Huat Ah!)

Lo-Hei is a tradition during lunar new year, where family and friends gather and toss the ingredients before they are eaten. The ingredients, typically raw salmon, shredded carrots, radish and crackers, have special auspicious meanings, including the condiments. While adding condiments to the platter, the person would need to say auspicious phrases. Check out what these phrases are.

Ah Poh Kitchen at Clementi

Great lunch place which serves chinese halal food.  Food quality is good and best part is the portion isn't that big - reduce wastage for small group gatherings.  Because it is local delights zi-char that is halal, the shop is very popular with both Muslim and non-Muslim friends.  Reservations is recommended especially if you are planning for gatherings.

They are famous for their fishhead curry, the "lemak" (local terminology for the coconut milk taste) level is just nice.  The fish is fresh and tender.  Level of spiciness is quite mild.  My personal favourite is the cereal prawn.  Love the cereal so much that I am always happy to "bao" all the cereal!  The cereal portion is generous and they are crispy.  Their dishes are generally quite delicious.  You may also want to try the hotplate tofu and sambal kangkong.

 

 

Ah Poh Kitchen

Blk 354 Clementi Ave. 2 #01-223 Singapore 120354

Tel: 67745534

Opening Hour: 11.30am to 9.30am.

 

 

Nearest MRT: Clementi Station

By Bus from Clementi Station:
Bus 52, 105, 106, 154, 183, 185 (alight at Blk 365, Commonwealth Avenue West)
184 (alight at Blk 334, Clementi Avenue 2)
282 (alight at Blk 355, Clementi Avenue 2)

 

It is also possible to walk from Clementi Station and it takes about 11 minutes.  Walk along Commonwealth Ave West towards the direction of Clementi Ave. 3.  At the cross junction, turn left into Clementi Ave. 2.  At the first junction, turn right and walk for about 250m.

 

 



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Claypot Sausage Rice

My first attempt in cooking Claypot Sausage Rice.  This is a relatively easy dish to prepare.  However, just like preparing many other dishes, the most amount of time is spent in cutting the ingredients =P

Ingredients:

-  Cooked Rice (portion for 2 persons)
- 1 piece of chinese sausage (lup cheong)
- 150g of chicken breast meat
- 1 piece of chinese dried mushroom
- 1/3 piece of carrot

Marinade:
- 1/2 tablespoon Sweet Sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon Oyster Sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon of Light Soy Sauce
- A few drops of Sesame Oil
- A dash of Pepper

Preparation:

1.  Cut the chicken breast meat into cubes.  Season it with marinade for 1 hour.
2.  Soak the mushroom in hot water for 10mins to soften it.  When it is soft, cut into cubes.
3.  Slice the chinese sausage into thin slices.
4.  Slice the carrots and steam it for 1 minute in microwave oven.

Cooking:
1.  Heat up cooked rice in claypot.  Add some water to give it moisture
2.  When it is heated up, add in chicken and sauage and continue cooking until chicken is thoroughly cooked.
3.  Add in carrots. 
4.  Simmer the rice until carrots turn soft.

During the cooking process, stir the rice often so that it doesn't get burnt.

Dian Xiao Er (店小二)

#B2-02 Ang Mo Kio Hub
Tel: (65)6484 2268
Mon - Fri:  11.30am - 4.30 pm, 5.30pm - 10.00pm;
Weekend and Public Holiday 11.30am - 10.00pm

Where do you go if you have craving for steamed chicken with garlic dip?  - The Soup Restaurant?  Where do you go if you have craving for roasted duck in herbs? - Dian Xiao Er has to be among your choice of restaurants.

Check out this Duck Roasted in Ten Wonder Herbs (十全烤鸭).  The crispy roasted skin with its tender meat infused in the 10 herbs sauce.  If you're health concious, you can remove the thin layer of fats beneath the skin.  Otherwise, the duck is quite good.  Apparently, the duck has been marinated in the shop's special 10 herbs before being roasted.  The herbs are supposed to help revitalize one's body.

If you love hotpot tofu with generous amount of egg sizzling in the scorchy hot pan, you gotta check this out.  I am guessing... perhaps 3 or 4 eggs have been used?  The layer of egg is just so thick and delicious.  Of cos, the highlight of this dish is still the tofu, which was smooth and silky.  Garnished with minced pork and spring onion, it was a flavourable dish to go with plain white rice.

For under S$40, you get the above 2 dishes with 2 bowls of rice + chinese tea and tidbits (roasted peanuts).

Special Shanghai Tim-Sum

Special Shanghai Tim-Sum

Margaret Drive Food Centre

Block 40A Commonwealth Avenue #02-480

Tel: 6474-4803, 9662 3501

12.30pm to 8pm (Close on Mondays)

Located at the 2nd floor of this old hawker centre tugged in the old housing estate.  You can see that this stall is really old from the signage.

The reason why I was there - Shanghainese Dumplings aka Guo Tie.  10 pieces for $4!!  This is very reasonable because each dumpling is quite huge on its own.  The skin is really crispy with fillings such as pork, chives and ham.  Good food being good food, be prepared to wait for 30 to 45 mins.  Otherwise, you can call to order your dumplings before heading down.  Despite the reservation, be prepared to wait for another 15 to 20 mins.

I love this Sour and Spicy soup.  $4 for a serving which can be shared between 2 persons.  Ingredients found in the soup includes seafood, tofu, cabbage and eggs...

The Shanghai fried noodles was a little disappointing.  Give it a miss unless you can't live without noodles.  =P

The stall was featured on Bryan Wong's food programme! Check it out!!

126 Eating House (揾到食 Wen Dao Shi)

126 Eating House (揾到食)

No. 126 Sims Avenue, Singapore 387449 (between Geylang Lor 15 and 17)

Tel: 67464757, 67454869

This is a real hidden gem in the "bustling" Geylang area.  From the outside, it looks run-down and probably a Grade "C" type of place.  But this old school Hong Kong dim sum cafe serves really quality dim sum with a very good selection of more than 70 dishes!  I think it you name it, you can find it.  From the fried stuff to steam stuff to baked stuff to congee and even crab bee hoon!! 

There is so much variety that it is worth more than 1 visit.  And for dim sum, nohing beats it when eaten fresh and hot.

The cafe has an outdoor section without aircon and an indoor section with aircon.  Seats are limited inside so be prepared to wait if it is "full-house".  One good thing is that the cafe is open 24 hours!!

Deep fried shrimp wrapped with potato shreds.  Must try!

Onion pancake.  Quite different from what you find elsewhere. Other than the fragrant onion taste, the juicy and tender minced pork brings out the uniqueness of this pancake.

Fried beacurd skin with shrimp.  Loves the springy shrimp filling.

Pan-fried carrot cake in cubes.  This is quite different from what we find in HK because of the battered layer.

The xiaolongbao was just average and a little disappointing. You can find better ones at Dingtaifeng or Crystal Jade Kitchen.

Har Kow is highly recommended. Must try!!

Love this char siew cheong fun because of the sweet sauce.  The sauce has a very unique taste.

This was the reason we were there - shredded duck porridge.  The porridge, cooked in claypot, was thick and flavourful.  Another must try!!

Lotus Leaf Rice - see how the braised meat has blended into the rice nicely?  Love its huge peanuts found in each rice ball.

Cold drinks are served in the take-away containers.  The lime juice which I ordered was really thirst-quenching.  The juice is made from lime and you can find pulps in your drink.  The lime and sour plum combi has been one of my fav drinks and this one qualifies to be on my top list.

The total damage was about $50 for 5 of us and I thought it was quite reasonable, esp for quality food.

This was my take-away dessert - coconut tart!  Can I say it is one of the best I have tried so far - thick crispy crust filled with undiluted dessicated coconut filling.  I think it only costs me $0.70!!  What a steal!!

 

 

You may like to check out other Dim Sum postings:

- Leong Sang Hong Kong Pastries (click)

- East Ocean Teochew Restaurant (click)

 



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Pin Si (Hong Kong Style Cafe) [Closed]

This is an excellent discovery. Simply love the food from this Hong Kong style cafe located at the AMK Hub basement 1, diagonally oppposite New York, New York.

AMK Hub

53, Ang Mo Kio Ave 3

#B1-22

Singapore 569933

Tel: 6481 2271

11am to 10.30pm

My favourite is the Sweet & Sour Fish - $7.90.

The fish fillets are very fresh. The outer layer is crispy (and not too oily) and the meat is smooth and springy. The standard is probably even better than what you get from some expensive restaurants.

Next recommendation is the Hotplate Beancurd ($7.90). What I like about the dish if the beanpaste gravy used to cook the tofu and minced pork & prawn.

One of the best places to go for a simple home-cook meal. Wash it down with a cup of HK style milk tea and that might make your day.

Two thumbs and two big toes up for this cafe!

Imperial Treasure Nan Bei Restaurant

IMPERIAL TREASURE NAN BEI RESTAURANT

391 Orchard Road

#05-12/13 Ngee Ann City

Tel: 6738-1238

Decided to have a reunion dinner with friends at the Imperial Treasure Nan Bei Restaurant. Because of the peak season, we were given 2 options on the time slot, either 7pm or 8.30pm. If we had chosen the 7pm, we had to finish our dinner by 8.30pm! So... we opted for 8.30pm... so that we would not be rushed to finish our dinner.

The food quality is really quite good...and that explains why the restaurant is so packed. Making reservation is a must!

Must try - This spinach tofu dish is so so so good.

The beancurd skin is slightly crispy while the beancurd is very soft and fragrant. The bottom layer is spinach.

Souffle Egg White Ball - If you frequent CJ restaurant enough, you might be surprised to find the same dish at Nan Bei... Frankly, I would not have been able to tell if the souffle balls were from CJ or Imperial Treasure if they were placed side by side. Overall, the souffle balls tasted good.
 

Definitely an ideal casual dinner place for cantonese cuisine, on not-so-crowded evenings.

Food Republic (Vivocity) - Fried Hokkien Mee

Food Republic

1 HarbourFront Walk,

#03-01 VivoCity

Singapore 098585

I always wonder why there are long queues at the fried hokkien mee stalls, especially those with crews dressing up with straw hats. Can anyone tell me what is the relation between straw hats and fried hokkien mee and... banana leaves? Does banana leaves really enhance the fragrance of the fried noodles?

For $4.50 (not cheap!), the portion was rather huge. However, I must say that I am quite disappointed with the food quality. The "essence from the prawn stock" hasn't been fully absorbed into the noodles...What I could taste was ordinary yellow noodles and thick rice noodles garnished with a couple of big prawns. Even the sambal chilli, which I asked for extra portion, was a let down.

Space @ My Humble House

Space @ My Humble House

8 Raffles Avenue #02-25 Esplanade Mall

Telephone: 6423-1881

Space @ My Humble House is a restaurant under the Tung Lok Group. Atas restaurant @ atas location with atas price. But I should also qualify that the food quality is also atas.

I ordered the Rice Noodle with Fish Fillet when I was there for dinner one evening ($12). This is one of the house specialities alonside Mama Leong Chicken Rice, Claypot Rice in Consomme, Rack of Lamb 'Bak Kut Teh', Fried Raddish Cake, Seafood Laksa and Wok-fried Wagyu Beef Hor Fun.

The rice noodle are those thick noodles commonly used in laksa dishes. The fish soup is especially tasty while the fish slices were a little tough.

The other house specialities from Space @ My Humble House.

A cosy restaurant for a quiet dinner and if you'd like to pamper yourself with yummy food.

Din Tai Feng @ Junction 8

Din Tai Feng is one of my favourite dining place for family. Not only that their food quality has been consistent, their service quality is also prompt and efficient.

Here's what we have shortlisted and included in our frequently-ordered list.....

Vegetarian appetizer comprising seaweed, vegetables, bean curd and glass noodles.

Hot and Sour Soup - small portion which is good for 3 to 4 pax.

Pork Dumplings in red chilli oil.

Garlic Dou-miao...

Fried Rice with prawn - this is our all-time favourite. Their prawns are usually big, fresh and crunchy. And love it cos there is also lots of eggs in the fried rice. The rice grains aren't like the normal rice imported from Thailand... suspect they might be using Japanese rice.

Another all-time favourite - Din Tai Feng's signature Xiao Long Bao.

And a close-up of the xiao long bao, with minced pork filling + gravy. We normally dip in vinegar and eat it with some ginger strips.

Will be back for many many more times...