Always on the hunt for new dining spots? We bring you sound bites on where to eat, including new restaurant and eatery openings, the best places for your after-work tipple, and what’s new in the food scene.
New eats to check out: A new Kopitiam food hall has opened at Jem, authentic Korean seafood dishes at Jinju Modern Korean Bar, Japanese omakase restaurant Kakushin, and more.
Kopitiam Food Hall @ Jem has opened with 26 stalls, taking over what was formerly the Koufu food court.
Where to start? Spot familiar stalls like Royal Rojak, Sedap Wok, What The Fish and Blanco Beef Noodles. Well-known names like TogiKorean Kitchen, Yu Zhong Bu Tong Fish Soup, Haven Teppanyaki, Aone Super Porridge, Ma La Fu MalaHotpot have also joined the mix. You can look forward to sampling dishes from new kids on the block too – there are freshly shucked oysters and Japanese rice bowls from DOB (Donburi . Oyster . Beer), freshly made toast from Toasties & Cream by Kopi Kiosk, and tempting roast meats from Henessy Duck.
For those with kiddos in tow, there’s a dedicated family area with direct access to the mall’s outdoor playground. Diners can also enjoy more convenience and greater rewards with the use of the Fairprice App in the food hall. Features include a cashless payment mode, with which you can earn Linkpoints with each transaction, as well as the Click & Collect feature that allows you to skip the queue by ordering, paying and collecting your meals via the app.
Kopitiam @ Jem is at #05-01 Jem, 50 Jurong Gateway Rd, Singapore 608549. 10am to 10pm daily.
A contemporary space, live bands, and a parade of authentic seafood-focused Korean dishes with an inventive take is what you can expect at the month-old Jinju Modern Korean Bar at Clarke Quay, which opened in August this year.
There are banchan (side dishes) like kimchi ($6++)and fermented octopus ($8++) to start off with, or you can go with fresh sashimi like the Salmon ($16++) or the Hamachi Carpaccio in a punchy wine and soy sauce. Or slurp up freshly shucked oysters topped with kimchi granita ($26++). Those with adventurous palates can try the Marinated Crab ($68); you’ll get two raw flower crabs with fresh gelatinous flesh and roe sitting in a pool of sweet-savoury soy marinate laced with garlic and fresh chilli.
Warm plates include a Chunky Crabmeat Eggroll ($28++) that has a creamy centre stuffed with succulent crab meat and a dab of wasabi tobiko that adds a bit of kick. There’s also grilled baby abalone ($30++ for six) — the accompanying garlic butter is fragrant but also competes with the delicate shellfish flavour. If pasta’s your thing, the Crabmeat Rose Pasta of spaghetti smothered in a thick luscious gojuchang and cream sauce as well as succulent crab flesh is worth ordering. Pizzas are available, and the crisp thin-crusted pies offer options like beef bulgogi as well as kimchi bacon (both at $28++).
Wash it down with its house brand Chorong Chorong Soju ($18++ per bottle), which comes in five flavours like Grape, Lychee and Green Apple, or other alcoholic options that range from soju-based cocktails to draught beers, Japanese whiskey and wines.
Jinju Korean Bar is at 3C River Valley Rd, Block C #01-09A, Singapore 179022. Book via Chope and quote “ABALONEJINJU” for a complimentary plate of Grilled Abalone (six pieces).
Joining Singapore’s burgeoning omakase scene is Kakushin, a new restaurant helmed by chef Daniel Chan that’s located within Scotts Square. He draws on his decades of experience in various Japanese restaurants like Tatsu Sushi at Chijmes and Akashi, to bring to the table imaginative dishes starring fresh seasonal produce flown directly from well-known Japanese markets like Toyosu Market.
For the Autumn menu, you’ll be dining on the likes of Awabi (abalone) with liver sauce, a salad made with Mozuku seaweed from Okinawa, Junsai and Nagaimo, a
Then move on to yakimono and mushimono (grilled and steamed dishes), including a luxurious Snow Crab with Uni Chawanmushi. You can also expect to sample enticing signatures — the Chargrilled A5 Kagoshima Wagyu with truffle balsamic sauce, or the Kagoshima Pork Belly with buta kakuni (braised pork belly) sauce.
A selection of nigiri sushi follows, with the rice given extra umami flavour thanks to house-made brown vinegar. A signature Kakushin Omakase Soup, and premium fruits, as well as house-made Japanese ice cream, complete your meal.
Prices start from $228++ for a seven-course omakase lunch, and $328++ for an eight-course omakase dinner. An ala-carte menu is also available for lunch and dinner.
Kakushin is at #02-03, Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, Singapore 228209. Opens Tues to Sun, from 11.30am to 3pm, and 6pm to 10pm. Click here for reservations.
Osteria Mozza by Nancy Silverton has stirred quite a buzz since it opened earlier this year at Hilton Singapore Orchard, and its famous pizzas have finally made their comeback recently, available exclusively on the lunch menu.
Fans who have tried the woodfired pizzas at its former Marina Bay Sands outlet (which shuttered four years ago) can expect a new recipe, created from Silverton’s years of perfecting the recipe. Using a special blend of bread, rice and spelt flours, it yields a thin crisp base and a puffy cornicione that has a lovely chewy texture and airy open crumb.
There are 10 pizzas (from $34++) on the menu, and we tried two of them. My favourite’s the Fennel Sausage which delivers robust herbaceous flavours with hearty housemade sausage, along with mozzarella, red onion and scallions. The Burrata, Silverton’s favourite and a crowd pleaser, stars creamy dollops of fresh burrata served with slow-roasted tomatoes and Sicilian oregano.
Other options include Funghi Misti, crowned with a mix of portobello, oyster, shiitake and button mushrooms, the classic Margherita, and Pizza Alla Benno, an elevated on her son’s favourite Hawaiian pizza, that has speck, thinly shaved honey pineapple, jalapeno, tomato and mozzarella.
Also available exclusively for lunch are antipasti like the moist juicy Meatballs al Forno ($24++) with sesame toast and herb butter, as well as the Shrimp Caesar ($30++) that has pan-fried shrimp, briny house-baked anchovy croutons, and Parmigiano Reggiano drizzled with aioli. And from the mozzarella bar, there’s the creamy Mozza Caprese ($28++) topped with juicy tomatoes, EVOO and basil.
If there’s still room, go for the ice creams. The savoury Olive Oil gelato and Coconut Stracciatella sorbetto (both $16++) get our thumbs up.
Osteria Mozza is at L5, Hilton Singapore Orchard, 333 Orchard Road, Singapore 238867. Lunch is available from Mon to Sat, 12pm to 2.30pm. Closed on Sunday.
If you’re looking for healthier options to add to the bread bin, Swissbake has introduced two new options to its stable – the Spelt & Durum Loaf ($6.50) and Spelt & Nouri Grains Loaf ($6.50).
The first is made with a mix of spelt, durum wheat, barley and millet, for extra fibre, vitamins and whole grains. And in case you think the kids might not take to it, it offers a mild taste and light, moist texture that’s great with a variety of toppings.
The Spelt & Nouri Grains Loaf uses a variety of grains and seeds alongside spelt, such as include red split lentils, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds and quinoa. You’ll get a full-bodied fragrance and flavour, as well as crunch from the seeds, that’s also lovely as toast.
Both loaves are made with whole grain spelt flour, without any eggs, dairy products or additional table sugar. They are low in saturated fats, and completely free from cholesterol and trans fats.
10 lucky people will stand a chance to win over $1,000 worth of classes at Breathe Pilates each for themselves and a friend simply by purchasing one of the spelt loaves. Simply purchase the new Spelt & Durum Loaf or the Spelt & Nouri Grains Loaf, then submit the receipt online.
Available from Sep 15 to Nov 30, 2022 online at Portopantry and Redmart and at all leading supermarkets.