Author: Verine Ling

At This New Tempura Restaurant, Building Your Own Tendon Bowl Is As Easy As Ebi-C

Love tempura bowls but cannot bear the long queues at certain eateries?

Here to feed your love of tempura – minus the crazy waiting time – is Kogane Yama!

Kogana Yama is the brainchild of the folks behind the popular Korean fried chicken chain, Chir Chir Fusion Chicken Factory, as well as Korean meat stew eatery, Masizzim. This 44-seater eatery pays homage to the humble yet satisfying tendon bowl.

Loosely translated to mean “Golden Mountain”, you can expect a lavish mountain of mouth-watering tempura pieces fried to golden-brown perfection.

What sets this new kid on the block apart from others like it is that it gives you the option to customise your very own tendon bowl!

Tendon Bowls The Way You Like Them

Start your journey into tendon heaven by picking your preferred bowl. Although there are only four options available, be warned that you will need to do some serious decision-making!

Chicken Bowl ($13.80)  – Love chicken? If so, this tendon bowl is the one for you! It comes with not one, but TWO tender fillets battered and fried to perfection, paired with vegetable tempura that includes shiitake mushrooms and carrots.

Prawn Bowl ($13.80) – What is tempura without seafood? The generous pieces of juicy prawn tempura accompanied by vegetable tempura will certainly leave you craving for more. That said, the star of this tendon bowl is indisputably the prawn head tempura!

Vegetable Bowl ($11.80) – Loaded with an assortment of perfectly battered veggies, veggie lovers, this is the bowl for you! It includes long beans, carrot, sweet potato, shiitake and enoki mushrooms, and more.

Mixed Bowl ($15.80) – For those who absolutely must have EVERYTHING in their tendon bowl, this is the obvious choice! It features crispy tempura prawns (prawn heads included), chicken fillet, and an assortment of vegetables. In this bowl, the mountain of tempura pieces is topped with a dollop of ebiko (prawn roe).

Thereafter, you can choose to have your tempura with one of three types of bases: Japanese short-grain rice, Soba, or thin Udon. Both the Soba and Udon are steeped in a clear and fragrant dashi broth, and will cost you will cost you $1 more.

Finally, complete your tendon bowl by choosing one of four levels of spiciness for the tentsuyu sauce – a sweet-savoury homemade blend of garlic, sesame oil, and premium Japanese shoyu.

The non-spicy version is ideal for young kids. However, if you are a true Singaporean who loves all things spicy, choose from the other three levels!

Add The Add-Ons

Indulging in a tendon bowl is simply not enough.

You can complement your delicious tendon bowl with two additional items for just another $2!

Options include Chawanmushi, Miso Soup and Green Tea (free flow).

Cool Off With Matcha

If the heat from their tentsuyu sauces is too much for you to handle, cool off with their wide selection of ice-cold beverages. These include their signature Matcha Latte concoctions, available in Original ($4.80), Chocolate ($5.80) and Azuki red beans ($6.80).

For something more refreshing to beat the heat in Singapore, go for their Honey Yuja ($5.80) or Honey Ume Soda ($5.80) instead!

Let’s face it – no one can pass up delicious, crispy tempura. If you’re on the hunt for another tendon place to add to your list, Kogane Yama is definitely worth the trip!

Kogane Yama
Address: Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street, #02-50, Singapore 188021
Opening Hours: Sun – Thu: 11am – 10pm; Fri, Sat: 11am – 11pm
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Also read, Soup Curry Is A Thing, And You Can Now Get A Taste Of This Hokkaido Specialty In S’pore

(Header Image Source: Verine Ling)

Get A Taste Of French Living At This Quaint Restaurant, Which Serves Up Authentic French Grub

Did you know batignolles is actually a neighbourhood in romantic Paris?

That is the inspiration behind O Batignolles, a French diner opened by a–you guessed it–French couple along the hipster Club Street.

With an artfully decorated interior with a dark wood and red colour scheme, O Batignolles transports you to the trendy district of Paris. Its outdoor seating includes marble-top tables and rattan chairs, and are perfect for some people watching.

Wine and dine like the French

The French love their wine, so it comes as no surprise that this restaurant has an extensive wine selection. O Batignolles imports a stellar range of wines that is curated from small batch independent winemakers throughout France.

Their wine menu includes little nuggets of information such as the region the winery is located, the acidity of the wine, level of dryness, and so on.

Where there is wine, there is cheese. Here at O Batignolles, be dazzled by the large selection of cheese available!

All their cheeses are air-flown from France weekly. Whether you are looking for a mild cheese such as cheddar or stronger ones like blue cheese, you will definitely be able to get it here.

With so many types of cheese available, simply order the cheese platter, where you can choose to sample 3, 5 or 7 types. Alternatively, pair your cheese platter with cold cuts such as ham or rosette under their Mix Cold & Cheese Assortment ($34).

Savour delicious iconic French dishes

Although O Batignolles specialises in wine and cheese/cold cut platters, they also offer tapas-style dining as well. Think tantalising French dishes, downsized to bite-sized portions on sharing plates.

Their French Fries (drizzled with truffle oil) and Smoked Salmon and Avocado are great for sharing!

Alternatively, dine like a true French with their cheesy Croque-Monsieur Bites, the French equivalent of ham and cheese bread.

If you are feeling peckish, simply order their Mini Burger. The real star of this dish is the slice of melted Morbier cheese sandwiched between the burger buns!

The French love all things sweet

The French love their sweets, there is certainly no disputing that! After all, macarons, eclairs and Crème Brûlée all hail from France.

Naturally, you can expect classic French desserts such as Crème Brûlée and Lemon Tart in their dessert selection. Likewise, their Chocolate Truffon promises a sinful indulgence like no other!

If you can’t afford the pricey airfares to Paris, get a taste of French living right here at O Batignolles–just remember to grab an outdoor seat for that perfect Parisian alfresco setting!

O Batignolles
Address: 2 Gemmill Lane, Singapore 069247
Opening Hours: Mon to Tue 11am – 12pm; Wed to Fri 11am – 1am; Sat 10am – 1am; Sun 10am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6438 3913
Website

(Header Image Source: These 10 Places Serve Waffles That Are Sweet, Savoury, And Batter Than The Rest

Sample Some Of The Most Unusual Cocktails In Singapore At This Top Secret Bar Crawl

Think you know where Singapore’s best cocktail bars are? Think again!

In fact, did you know that 5 of the top 150 cocktail bars in the world are actually in Singapore? Thanks to BonAppetour’s Secret Bars of Singapore Bar Crawl, we’ll give you the lowdown on 3 of these top secret bars located right here on our little red dot!

You’ll get to drink some top-rated and exotic drinks at these secret bars. And when we say exotic, we’re talking cocktails with egg yolk and even ants…

Tiger’s Milk

Located at the top of The Club Hotel, Tiger’s Milk is Singapore’s first ever Peruvian bar.

Together with the colourful overhanging cut-out sheets, this rooftop bar provides a gorgeous panoramic view of the surrounding shophouses and Chinatown. Here, you’ll find a wide selection of piscos (a white brandy made in Peru from muscat grapes) and infused piscos in their selection of cocktails.

Kick start the evening with a spicy shot of Sex With The Bartender. Be warned, this harmless-looking shot has just a smidge of tabasco in it!

For something refreshing and light, go for the Chilcano, which comes with of snap of lime and pisco. With a fizz of gingerella, it’s basically the alcoholic cousin of the familiar ginger ale. If you are simply looking for a Peruvian classic, it would definitely be the Pisco Sour.

As the saying goes, it is bad to drink on an empty stomach. Fill those empty stomachs with their signature Waygu Beef Rib Fingers or nibble on some Sweet Potato & Yam Chips!

Native

Native has risen among the ranks of established cocktail bars with its focus on using regional products and bespoke ingredients.

Tucked above WANTON Seng’s Noodle Bar, this dimly-lit cocktail bar is perfect for a cosy catch up with friends. Featuring unusual ingredients in their cocktails, we highly recommend getting a seat at the bar to catch the bartenders in action!

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What draws many, if not most of the patrons here is their bizarre signature cocktail, ANTZ.

The name of the cocktail gives it away–this cocktail contains actual ants! This Fear Factor-esque creation features a basil leaf frozen with liquid nitrogen, which serves as a base for the basil meringue and garnishing of crunchy ants. This is all set atop an anthill-like ceramic vessel that is filled with a concoction of exotic regional ingredients such as  homemade coconut yogurt, aged sugarcane juice and agricole-style Chalong Bay rum.

Did we mention that these ants are carefully picked from Ann Siang Hill? Talk about a NATIVE cocktail!

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Image Credit: Verine Ling[/caption]

If you like your drinks less strong, you will certainly enjoy the Ikura. This fancy cocktail is only made up of three ingredients: sparkling sake, yuzu acid and salmon fish eggs.

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Pair your cocktail with some of their delicious homemade papadums, which comes with sweet potato and a gula melaka dip. While there, make sure to ask the bartenders about the stories behind these exotic drinks–the friendly bartenders there will be more than happy to share!

Native
Address: 52a Amoy St, Singapore 069878
Opening hours: Mon – Fri: 6pm – 12am; Fri: 6.30pm – 12am; Closed on Sundays
Image Credit: Verine Ling[/caption]

Check out the Dangerous Drinking Water section on their menu–their descriptions are sure to pique your interest. What makes these “drinking waters” so dangerous is that only the ingredients used for each drink are indicated. Essentially, you’re choosing your drink based on your preferred ingredients – the rest is entirely up to the bartender!

If you fancy a sweet and fruity cocktail, order their Peaches+Cream, which is topped with a thick layer of foamy bubbles. Alternatively, their Dirty Martini is a classic favourite among regulars.

[caption id="attachment_26667" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] Peaches+Cream (Image Credit: Verine Ling)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_26666" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] Dirty Martini (Image Credit: Verine Ling)[/caption]

Love toffee apple? Then you cannot miss trying the Toffee Apple, the grown-up twist on the classic treat. Similarly, their Inaki will have you intrigued with their savoury-sweet combination of egg yolk, white chocolate, Hokkaido pumpkin and nutmeg.

[caption id="attachment_26664" align="alignnone" width="4032"] Toffee Apple (Image Credit: Verine Ling)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_26665" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] Image Credit: Verine Ling[/caption]

Finding the exact location of Operation Dagger is like going on a treasure hunt. Operation Dagger is strategically located in one of the most secretive places in Singapore. Here are some subtle clues to look out for to find your way there!

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Gather your friends or take your other half on the unique “Secret Bars of Singapore” exploratory trail with BonAppetour.

Visit 3 of 5 top bars in the world, have 1 personalised signature cocktail and complimentary shots at each bar (worth $75 and $60 respectively), have some yummy bites to eat, and meet like-minded people along the way! With a slew of unconventional cocktails made with even less conventional ingredients, it will definitely be one of those drunken adventures you’ll never forget!

Secret Bars of Singapore by BonAppetour
When: Every Friday, 7.30pm – 10.30pm
Price: SGD89 per pax (Advanced booking required)
Website

Also read, Get High (Literally) At This Party – 1-Altitude Is Throwing A Beach Party 68 Floors Above The CBD

(Top Image Credit:

WANTON, Seng’s Noodle Bar Will Redefine The Way You Eat Wanton Mee With Its Hipster Set-Up

Running overtime tonight? Not a problem! At Singapore After Nine, we bring you the scoop on tried-and-tested, confirm shiok spots to rest your work-weary self!

This time, we’re featuring WANTON, Seng’s Noodle Bar, the hipster joint that serves up our all-time hawker favourite: wanton noodles, and more.

Starting out as a small wanton stall at Dunman Food Centre, Seng’s has since expanded and given the humble noodle dish a modern twist. With that, WANTON–a whole new contemporary concept–was born.

Located in the busy, happening district of Tanjong Pagar, this cosy 28-seater still serves Seng’s famous noodles, alongside an array of hearty and addictive dishes!

What to savour?

Their signature bowl of wanton noodles is not to be missed! That, of course, goes without saying.

Priced at just $1 per bowl, you will not be able to resist ordering second or even third helpings!

What is wanton noodles without pork?

Complement your bowl of wanton noodles with their signature Aburi Drunken Pork Belly. Featuring a plate of torched pork belly char siu chunks, you will definitely get “drunk” on this melt-in-your-mouth goodness!

Not forgetting the wantons as well!

Set in a huge clay bowl, the Boiled Wantons come in a plate of 9 pieces, generously topped with spring onions. You can also pair your wantons with their tantalising Seng’s Chili Fried Dumplings.

Complement your wanton mee with these tantalising premium sides!

If you can’t go a meal without your greens, you definitely have to order their Gangster Baby Kailan! Crunchy baby kai lan, stir-fried with braised mushrooms and scallop sauce generously topped with fried scallops, it could very well win the hearts of even those who hate veggies!

With salted egg being the latest food craze, ordering their Salted Egg Chicken Wings is an absolute must.

Using their very own house-made salted egg duck sauce, you will not be able to find another salted egg chicken wing elsewhere THIS good!

Oh, and did we mention that their chicken wings are deep fried and boneless? Yum!

If you cannot get enough of their pork meat, you cannot miss ordering their mouth-watering Stir Fried Bah Kut Teh.

Think massive pork loin ribs, stir-fried with that all-familiar peppery bah kut teh flavour. Coupled with crunchy fried tau pok, crispy cuttlefish and sauteed baby leeks, this dish is simply irresistible!

Single by day, couple by night

Do note that the lunch and dinner menus at WANTON are slightly different. Their lunch menu caters to the busy office workers in the CBD, with individual wanton noodle bowls with your choice of pork meat.

Their dinner menu, on the other hand, offers dish portions that are more suitable for sharing. However, if that is not filling enough, there is always their popular $1 wanton noodle bowl and free flow of delicious broth to fall back on!

Serving noodles for the people, WANTON, Seng’s Noodle Bar is the perfect respite to end a long day of hard work!

To many more happy hours,

Singapore After Nine

WANTON, Seng’s Noodle Bar
Address: 52 Amoy Street, Singapore 069878
Opening hours: Mon – Fri, 11.30am – 2.30pm & 6pm – 10pm; Sat 6pm – 10pm (Closed on Sun)
Contact no.: 6221 1336

10 Things Your Man Does That Shows He Is A Keeper

He is nice, loving and remembers all the little things about you – right down to which zichar dishes are your favourite.

You have good feeling about this guy, but he is the ONE?

Here are some signs to help you recognise if your man is a keeper.

1. He is observant and puts your needs before his

Perhaps you are having your period and down with really bad cramps. He immediately heads to the nearest 7/11 and picks up some essentials for you. At the same time, he makes you a cup of milo and sits by you to make sure you are okay.

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A Singaporean man who is not embarrassed to pick up tampons or pads is a man who is willing to put aside his ego for you.

2. He constantly surprises you with small random acts of affection

You’ve had a bad day at school or work. When you head home, the first thing you see is a little note and your favourite treats – whether they’re cheese tarts or takeaway bingsu. He spent money and time queuing to surprise you and make you day.

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This shows that he takes responsibility for both his and your health and is a supportive partner as well.

7. He remembers all the little things

Any guy who remembers the little things, such as how you hate having spring onions on your soup, is worth hanging on to.

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It goes to show that he sees a long-term relationship with you and is not just having fun for the moment.

10. He respects your personal space

He gives you alone time when you need it and lets you pursue your interests. Even if it is something quirky like pole dancing, he will be a hundred percent supportive.

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