George Town – Exciting New Signature Dishes 2023 [MEDIA INVITE]

George Town Tze Char & Craft Beer (“George Town”) recently appointed Chef Michael Khor Choon Keat, a renowned maestro in Malaysia’s world of gastronomy to helm their kitchen. His CV includes Executive Chef at Grand Imperial Group Malaysia, The Oriental Group, vGarden and Number Seven Private Kitchen. In was 2018, he also awarded the prestigious Gold Award in the “Creative Perfect Fish Art Competition”.

Combining Chef Michael Khor creativity, wealth of experience and fresh ingredients available, George Town has introduced new signature dishes.

Lobster Mixed Platter

Lobster Mixed Platter and 3-Litres Amber Lager Tower ($88, served 4, limited to 1 set per table). Includes Lobster Meat, Prawn Rolls, Tako Balls, Pork Belly and Gobo Stick. George Town version of tapas (small plates) to accompany the 3-litres of Amber Lager Tower. On that evening, our platter includes Tako Balls x2, Prawn Rolls, Lobster Meat x2, Gobo Stick and Fried Octopus. It is value for money, cause some places already charge $88 for the 3L of beer tower.

Prawn Roll

Tako Balls

Gobo Stick

Fried Octopus

Lobster

Lobster

Black Truffle Sauce Lobster ($68). The flesh of the lobster is de-shell. stir-fried and finished with Black Truffle Sauce. The lobster meat is juicy and bouncy, nicely complemented with creamy sauce and infused with black truffle flavour. The flavour of the black truffle is not overpowering, instead, it elevates the flavour of this dish nicely.

Black Truffle Sauce Lobster 

Abalone, Sea Cucumber and Mushroom (至尊三宝, $38). One of my favourite dishes in Chinese restaurants. The abalone is juicy and bouncy, while the sea cucumber is crunchy. The robust and intense flavour of the sauce is the key to this dish and binds all the ingredients together. The mushroom soaks up this delicious gravy and adds the umami component to this dish. I can easily polish up a bowl of white rice just with the sauce in this dish. Yum Yum.

Abalone, Sea Cucumber and Mushroom (至尊三宝)

Lemon Butter Prawns in Yam Ring ($38). Crunchy prawns coated in lemon butter sauce plated on deep-fried yam ring. The texture of the prawn and the flavour of the sauce are spot on. However, the crispy yam ring is a bit dry in the middle, instead of smooth and creamy.

Lemon Butter Prawns in Yam 

Black Pepper A5 Wagyu 120g ($48). Black pepper is the most popular style of cooking beef in tze char. However, I don’t think it is a respectful way to cook A5 Wagyu beef. The beef texture is very tender, juicy and packed with umami flavour. However, the signature wagyu flavour is covered up by the salty black pepper sauce. They need to tweak the black pepper sauce to allow the premium ingredients to shine or they can use a lower grade of beef and upsize the portion to 250g to provide value for this dish.

Black Pepper A5 Wagyu

$1 Chilli Crab (500g with min order of $50 on food menu). The main stayer of George Town menu. The crab is fresh and the chilli sauce is smooth and silky with a nice spicy kick. For that price, it is super value for money. A MUST ORDER here!!

$1 Chili Crab

Foie Gras with Caviar ($38). Nice fine dining plating. The foie gras has a crisp exterior, followed by creamy and velvety interior. The crispy duck breast on top with tobiko complemented the foie gras nicely. The cube duck salad on the side is refreshing and crunchy. A very nice dish.

Foie Gras with Caviar

Supreme Lobster Paofan ($68). WOW!! Impressive!! The broth is robust and packed with umami flavour. Super generous with the seafood ingredients, including the lobster, scallops, and sliced fish. Together with the combination of crispy rice and boiled rice, each spoonful of the pao fan is a party in my mouth. A comforting dish and Super Yummy!!

Supreme Lobster Paofan 

While we were waiting for the first meal to arrive, the boss of George Town also arranged for us to try the Chinese skewers from @SGBBQBAR . We tried the lamb, beef and pork belly. The Yang Rou Chuan / lamb is the best, not gamy and the seasoning is just spot on for our taste.

Skewers

Overall, I enjoy the new signature dishes at George Town. I recommend the Black Truffle Sauce Lobster, $1 Chilli Crab, Foie Gras with Caviar, Abalone, Sea Cucumber and Mushroom (至尊三宝)and Supreme Lobster Paofan. If you are a beer lover, don’t forget to try the Lobster Mixed Platter and 3-Litres Amber Lager Tower package. Cheers!!

Thank you very much Jennifer Yeo Consultancy and George Town Tze Char & Craft Beer Team for hosting us.

Food & Drinks: 7.75/10

Value: 7.75/10

Service: N/A (Media Tasting)

Ambiance: 8.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50; $51 - $80

George Town Tze Char & Craft Beer

81 Boat Quay

Singapore 049869

T: +65 6535 6277 / 9682 3826

F: https://www.facebook.com/georgetowntzechar

IG: @Georgetowntzechar

OH: Daily 12.00 – 03.00

Unique Cake Flavours That You Should Try in Singapore

Image Source: Pexels

When it comes to dessert delights, cakes grab all the limelight! Is it the birthday of your loved one? Cake! Did you and your significant other achieve a milestone? Cake! Nowadays, every celebration is considered incomplete without the presence of this treat. But are you tired of the same old vanilla and chocolate? Well, you are in luck as Singapore has a plethora of distinctive cake flavours that are bound to tantalise your taste buds. Take a look at some of the mouthwatering options you will find in the Lion City -

Honey Sweet Potato Latte Cake

Nobody has been able to resist the creamy goodness of sweet potato blended with the richness of honey, all layered between moist cake slices. This unique cake flavour combines earthy sweetness with a subtle hint of nuttiness. The best part? Many bakeries offer order cake online in Singapore to deliver at your doorsteps, ensuring you can savour this delightful creation in the comfort of your home.

Pistachio Chocolate Cake

For those who crave a perfect balance between nutty and chocolaty, the pistachio chocolate cake is a match made in dessert heaven. The crunchy texture of pistachios complements the smoothness of chocolate, creating a symphony of flavours that will leave you craving more. For some time now, it has been a popular pick as a birthday cake, making everyone drool over it.

Ondeh Ondeh Cake

A tribute to a beloved local dessert, the ondeh ondeh cake reinvents the traditional pandan and coconut treat. With layers of pandan sponge, gula melaka (palm sugar) filling, and desiccated coconut, this cake is a burst of flavours and textures. Some bakeries offer customisable delivery options, allowing you to surprise your loved ones with this unique delight on special occasions.

Hazelnut Praline Cake

Indulge in the luxurious hazelnut praline cake that marries the intense flavour of roasted hazelnuts with the sweetness of praline. Each bite is a delightful combination of crunch and creaminess, making it a favourite among cake enthusiasts. So, next time you have an event coming up, don’t forget to order hazelnut praline cake.

MSW Durian Cake

A daring choice for the adventurous foodie, the MSW durian cake features the infamous Musang King durian, celebrated for its rich and distinctive taste. This cake offers a unique blend of sweet and savoury, giving the person an unforgettable dessert experience. The cake is a popular delicacy at most of the bakeries in Singapore. Thus, you can easily relish this exotic treat, no matter in what part of the country you are in.

Tiramisu Cheesecake

Indulge in the best of both worlds with tiramisu cheesecake, a fusion of classic Italian tiramisu and creamy New York-style cheesecake. This cake features layers of coffee-soaked ladyfingers wrapped between velvety cheesecake, creating a dessert that is decadent, creamy and irresistibly flavourful.

Thai Milk Tea Cake

Inspired by the famous Thai beverage, Thai milk tea cake captures the essence of spiced black tea and condensed milk. The layers of cake are wrapped with the aromatic tea blend, creating a treat that is rich, creamy and pleasantly aromatic. It’s the perfect delight for tea enthusiasts and dessert lovers alike.

Yuzu Lemon Cake

Want to experience a burst of citrusy freshness? Fulfil it with yuzu lemon cake! Yuzu is a known Japanese citrus fruit that plays a major role in offering a unique tangy and aromatic flavour. The presence of lemon zest adds a zesty kick. The result is a cake that is lovable by those who prefer desserts with a hint of tartness.

Pandan Kaya Cake

Known for its vibrant green colour and distinctive aroma, Pandan leaves are a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine. The treat combines the fragrant pandan essence with kaya, a sweet coconut and egg jam. Its layers are infused with pandan flavour, and the kaya filling adds a luscious, caramel-like sweetness, baking a droolsome cake.

The aforementioned cake flavours promise an unbeatable experience for anyone with a sweet tooth. Besides, given the presence of online cake delivery services, dessert aficionados can have these unique cake flavours delivered to their doorstep with just a few clicks. Try them out today!

The article is contributed by Sandra

Bulgogi Syo – The Art of Grilling [MEDIA INVITE]

Bulgogi Syo is the brainchild of Chef Chul Park, the founder of SEORAE. Bulgogi Syo introduces the art of Korean hot stone grilling to Singapore. The concept uses an unprecedented 3-step Hot Stone grilling process that fuses Perfect Fire (Bul) with Perfect Meat (Gogi) to create the Perfect Experience (Syo/Show).

Bulgogi Syo @ Bugis

The 3-step processes are Sear, Torch and Flambé. First, prime cuts of meat are seared to perfection on hotstone pans especially custom-made in Korea, to lock in the natural juice and flavours. Second, the powerful Fire Blaster can reach a temperature of 1,400 degrees, to deliver delicious char and smokiness to the meat exterior. Third, the selected meat is served on individual hotstone, doused with Special Essence and flambé on the table.

Second Process - Torch with Fire Blaster
Image Credit: Ivan Teh RunningMan

After you complete your order, you can proceed to the banchan station. They have kimchi, pickled radish, potato pasta mayonnaise and tomato with balsamic vinegar. My pick is the potato pasta mayo, it is sweet, creamy and offers dual texture of al-dente pasta texture and crunchy potato. LD says the aged Kimchi tasted good. The pickled radish is usually served in a Korean Chinese restaurant, it is good to offset the “jelakness” from all the meat.

Banchan Station

First dish to arrive is LA Galbi ($39.90). It uses USDA Choice Grade Short-ribs and it goes through A 3-step process. Once it reached our table, the service staff prepared for the third step and set it on fire. The flambé lasted around 6 seconds. The result is juicy and fork-tender beef ribs. It is well marinated, sweet with packed with umami flavour plus you can taste the nice charred flavour in the ribs.

3rd Process - flambé

The LA Galbi is served with kimchi, zucchini, sliced pumpkin and chopped onion on a hotstone. While the kimchi and zucchini suit the dish, I find the sliced pumpkins kind of out of place in the plating.

LA Galbi

Oyster Blade Bulgogi ($27.90). The USDA Choice Oyster Blade beef is marinated in bulgogi sauce. Instead of going through a 3-step process, it only went through the a 2-step process, sear and torch. The beef is then topped with raw pasteurised egg yolk. The meat is juicy, well marinated and I can even taste the charred parts. The marinate is a bit sweet and I can taste the fruity flavour of the apple and pear. When we try to mix the egg with the meat, like in a donburi, we find the yolk becomes harden instead of oozing.

Oyster Blade Bulgogi

Seaweed rice is served with the main dishes. Bulgogi Syo got the ratio of the seaweed and rice perfectly. The rice is super tasty, bursting with umami flavour from the seaweed. Though it is super tasty, it still goes well with other dishes. Yummy.

Seaweed Rice

Spicy Baby Octopus (Nakji Bokeum, $25.90). The baby octopus is fresh, bouncy and easy to chew. The sauce is on the sweeter side and the spiciness level is manageable. I usually can’t eat spicy baby octopus in some Korean restaurant, luckily, I can enjoy this dish at Bulgogi Syo.

Oyster Blade Bulgogi & Spicy Baby Octopus

Baby Octopus

Cheesy Tteokbokki with Kimari ($17.90). Korean rice cake with Korean fishcake and Kimari (glass noodles rolled into seaweed sheet and deep fried). When the dish was brought to our table, it was covered with shredded cheese. The service staff then torched the cheese to melt it. The chewiness of the rice cake is on point and the kimari added a crisp texture to the overall dish. The sauce is on the sweeter side and the spiciness level is manageable.

Cheesy Tteokbokki with Kimari 

Cheesy Gyeran Jjim ($10.90) - Korean steamed egg with cheese. The steamed egg is fluffy and tasty. The taste of the cheese is very mild and can easily be overlooked, however, it makes the texture of the steamed egg firmer compared to the version without cheese. In some parts of the steamed egg, we also get to see the pulled cheese effect, but it was very short.

Cheesy Gyeran Jjim 

Bacon Kongnamul Pancake ($15.90) – Bacon and beansprouts Pancake. Crispy and crunchy is the theme here. The flavour from the bacon seeps into the pancake though making it tasty enough without dipping sauce.

Bacon Kongnamul Pancake 

Seafood Sundubu Jjigae ($18.90) – Spicy soft tofu stew with tiger prawns, clams, mussels and squid. They are not shy with their ingredients here. The bowl is packed to the brim with ingredients and the broth is just a flavour bomb.

Seafood Sundubu Jjigae 

If you are into Korean Beer, Bulgogi Syo is having a promotion on their Terra Beer. It is 1 for 1.

Terra Beer

The décor of the restaurant is a modern casual open concept. When you walk towards the second floor of the restaurant area in Bugis junction, you will be able to see it straight away. The open concept allows everyone to see each other from outside through to the cooking area. You can even see the kitchen crew holding the Fire Blaster, torching the meat through the glass window. This can be considered entertainment on its own.

Bulgogi Syo 

Kitchen

Overall, I like the concept of Bulgogi Syo. The food is good, tasty and the spiciness level is kids friendly. I recommend their LA Galbi, Cheesy Tteokbokki with Kimari, Seafood Sundubu and not forgetting the super yummy seaweed rice. Definitely a good place to dine with your friends and family. Geonbae!! Cheers!!

Thank you very much Protegie and Bulgogi Syo Team for the invitation.

Food & Drink: 7.25/10

Value: 7/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Bulgogi Syo @Bugis Junction

200 Victoria Street

#02-49, Bugis Junction

Singapore 188021

T: +65 9880 9719

W: https://www.bulgogisyo.com/

F: https://www.facebook.com/bulgogisyo

IG: @bulgogisyo

OH: Daily 11.30 – 22.00 (LO 21.00)

Other Location

Bulgogi Syo @Woodleigh Mall

11 Bidadari Park Drive

#01-33/34, The Woodleigh Mall

Singapore 367803

T: +65 9880 9729

Menu available online