Pigsty pigs

T (June '23) SCORE: Suck it and see. Definitely worth trying, but may not be quite as good as the hype suggests. Embrace butter. A lot of the magic is in the team. Acoustics can be tricky ORDER: smoked quail egg is a signature and no one does it as well | grissini is excellent | duck hearts 100% the best dish | garlic shoots | the leeks if the crockery changes back | crab leg | turbot | butterhead with the steaks | berry tart | marshmallow | pineapple upside down cake | sausage roll from the bakery | negronis VALUE: If you are easy on the booze, it is better than you would expect for the brand, quality and demand. Assume $350/head with a couple of glasses of wine, though if omakase and pairing this gets to around $700 There aren't many places I consciously visit more than twice a year in Singapore. My aversion to price insanity and preference for interesting dishes unlike what I've had before means I get bored pretty quickly unless there are regular menu refreshe...

T (June '23) SCORE: Tell 'yo friends, bring yo' friends ORDER: Lunch - pig ears, twice | Dirty Burger (fathers day special) VALUE: CBD restaurant lunch prices - $50 with a glass of wine Previous visit (standard menu) here I am only moderately ashamed that despite my best efforts, my children are fake foodies. They obsess over steak preparation videos on youtube, but one son doesn't like steak and the other only likes it well done (the shame...). They are hideously lazy eaters and dislike having to chew their food, such an impractical reality as far as they are concerned. Still, they resent that I don't often (ie never) take them to dinners with me, resulting in cuddle-less bedtimes for them. I tell them constantly that they wouldn't enjoy the food, but the youtube food porn convinces them otherwise, so when S and Y suggested we try the /Meadesmoore Dirty Burger, I thought I would let them give it a shot. Having spent an age circling for parking, we...

T (June '23) SCORE: Tell yo' friends - worth a visit in a group ORDER: Chilli poppers | Cheese balls | Maekgeolli free flow | Crispy Chicken VALUE: ~$65/head with drinks Sometimes, a girl's gotta live like she is 20 again (even if closer to 45). I channel this often post a Barry's workout when I limp into NTUC Finest for wine and cheese, but have a new contender for the vibe now with Tanglin Mall's /MarketBlue. It was a little surprising when the food court was converted into an odd hours Korean concept, but now that it is open in the evenings, it is brilliant! First off... Makgeolli!! Free flow!! For $25! I mean, that is first, second, third... all bets are off. Especially when coupled by deep fried (autocorrect opted for friend, which is apt, since fried foods and free flow are best friends 4eva) goodness... The chilli poppers were a delight. Moist, succulent and spicy enough to raise a sheen. I overindulged and had to skip the gyoza (also the corndo...

Y (May '23) SCORE: Suck it and See ORDER: Woodfired meats, Taramasalata, Muhamarra, Burger VALUE: so so, ~ 250 SGD / person including alcohol Another one that I have to preface with a bit of context. This restaurant is set up by Colin Buchan, a cycling buddy of mine. So I may find it a bit difficult to publicly be unbiased. That honest opinion was shared with him over a ride and a morning kopi. Colin's food, as he describes it is more like an upmarket british pub style of food. It therefore draws influence and inspiration from a whole host of cuisines, and so some none brit flavors also come into the mix, and make a very interesting and relaxed dining experience. This is the same about the ambience of the restaurant itself, with a nice welcome area with a couple of bar seats, that I guess if one were inclined to, one could dine at as well... After that you are showed to the dining area that has a host of tables that are spaced quite close to one another (depending...

T (May '23) SCORE: Tell yo' friends - worth a visit in a group ORDER: Lamb meatballs | Fava bean dip | Cornes cookie dessert VALUE: ~$150/head with drinks I'm a big fan of Mediterranean food and was super excited when Alati, Fotia and Bakalaki opened their doors. The Greek end of the spectrum seemed to be covered, and I was left with a hole in my life for the more Arab inspired flavours. As you might imagine, I was very excited to hear about /Tajine opening from SlickShash , and started looking for an excuse to try it. It took awhile but I finally managed it with a girlfriend who makes the BEST lamb meatballs I have ever had. Hers come with a mint and date sauce, and I have been known to do ten in a sitting. With this in mind, I ordered the lamb meatballs while I was waiting for her to arrive... I liked how Tajine served their dishes with salt and pepper, and cumin/cardamom. The meatballs were excellent, with a crust reminiscent of falafel. I resolved to save ...

Y (May '23) SCORE: Suck it and see HIGHLIGHTS: 100 Layer Paneer, kanyakumari crab VALUE: meh, 470 S$ including a stingy wine pairing Since Mandala unfortunately removed the delightful restaurant Kin from their premises, they have gone down the route of cycling through famous restaurants as "pop-up"s. Thus far, that has included: Mirazur, Central, Narisawa and Gaggan to name a few. My thoughts have been that it's an excuse for the chefs to overcharge and underserve the diners because they're not working with the produce and the environment that they're ordinarily accustomed to. Nonetheless, I do try to go to see what certain chefs are able to offer while "on a holiday" as it were. With that background in mind, I went to Indian accent's pop up at mandala expecting to leave hungry, but being given a nice introduction to what the restaurant ordinarily does. This was a good idea for me anyway, as even though I go to India quite often (once a m...