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My memory of a fulfilling bowl of Lor Mee is from Amoy Market I had when I was working during vacation more than 10 years ago. Interestingly, I found out that the Lor Mee stall's owners happened to be my ex-colleague's parents 10 years later. Anyway, her mum has rented out the stall (still selling the good old Lor Mee) ever since her dad passed away. :(
Anyway, I only discovered how satisfying this bowl of Shark Meat Lor Mee ($3.00) from Tiong Bahru Market was lately.
Be prepared to queue unless you plan to go during off-peak hours. The portion of noodles was really small but the shark meat was pretty generous. This is one rare occasion when I finished up the noodles before the ingredients. The shark meat was deep-fried to perfection, not too oily or dry. The extra bits and pieces of deep-fried crisps added more bite to the gooey noodles covered with thick and tasty gravy. Other ingredients include slices of fishcake, pork belly and bean sprouts. Importantly, add lots of garlic, chillies and vinegar for extra kick! Attack!
I used to work with a client marketing shark fin during my advertising days. He educated me that they, as responsible fishing partners, do not condone indiscriminate fishing practices by disposing the sharks back to the sea cruelly after removing their fins. But, they actively advocate purchasing the whole carcass of the shark for its bones and meat.
It makes me wonder if consuming shark's meat is as cruel as eating its fins. Nevertheless, I enjoyed both. :P Well, you can opt for the regular Lor Mee at $2.00 if you're a conservationist. ;)
These are mini croquettes ($3.00 for bag of 5) I bought from a Japanese food fair at Takashimaya basement level. There are many other interesting Japanese snacks and food. I think it ends in October so it's still not too late to pop by if you plan to head town the next few days.
What's so special about these croquettes is that they come with a pack of seasoning. Two flavours to choose from, black pepper or consommé. I thought black pepper was too expected so I bought the consommé. What you have to do before eating is like the steps you do with the seasoned fries from Mc Donalds or Mamee Noodles. Sprinkle the seasoning into the bag of croquettes, grab the opening and shake it. Tear open along the dotted line and enjoy! It was a tad too salty because greedy me added the whole pack of seasoning. :P
To me, Russia is the place of birth of countless classic cameras. To me, Russia is the largest country in the world. To me, Russia is a stranger. And that includes Russian food.
There are probably only a few Russian restaurants in Singapore, and Shashlik Restaurant being the most popular, is a must-try since I don't think I'll ever get to visit Russia in my lifetime. The name Shashlik or shashlyk comes from a popular skewered dish throughout the former Soviet Union and Mongolia.
Shashlik transports one back into the 70s with waiters and waitresses, mostly between their 50s and 60s, dressed in maroon vest, pushing wooden trolleys in a dimly lit restaurant tucked in a corner of Far East Shopping Center. Reservation is recommended regardless of its secluded location.
I shall start with the desserts because they are what made my heart melt. My favourite is the Cherry Jubilee ($16.00, serves 2). It was "cooked" and prepared before our eyes.
The warm cherries soaked in liquor blended perfectly with the melting ice-cream. Every mouthful was love at first bite.
The Baked Alaska ($16.00, serves 2) is ice-cream cake with meringue covered with mountain of whipped cream, drizzled with rum and heated to crisp. It was heaven on earth.
The desserts are so popular that they have to restrict diners from coming just for desserts because of the limited seats, especially during weekends.
The mains are mostly steaks and skewers. Shashlik Beef ($25.00) is Russian beef kebabs, tender, tasty and perfectly seasoned. Shashlik Pork ($22.00) is not too dry or tough but palatable even when I'm "semi-halal".
Steak a la Russe ($26.00) is good too but tasted like regular European food.
These mains were served with "Russian Salad".
This is some caviar-stuffed-eggs appetiser I had on my first visit. Can't remember the actual name, price or taste. So I guess it isn't worth trying. :P
Many complained about their poor service but I haven't experienced anything indigestive. Apart from the bad reviews on their service (and my bad pictures), Shashlik is definitely worth trying even when it usually totals up to $40-$50 per person for a full meal. Just remember to leave some room for desserts!
On a separate note, I got to taste some unique and interesting Russian food a couple of months ago at Russ'a Delights, Sim Lim Square foodcourt. Very excited to open my appetite and welcome new flavours as I'm always curious about Russian cuisines, I ordered the unfamiliar Kotlety ($7.90) and cabbage rolls ($4.90).
They were quite decent and flavourful. I wikipedia-ed and figured that they were Russia local delights. Unfortunately, before I can get to know Russian food a little better, the stall has wound up.
To date, Russia still remains as a strange but special place.
*Really sorry for the lousy pictures as the place was really dim and they were shot with my hp. :(
