Molly Malone's: Beer Batter Fish n Chips!

With Damien

Fish and Chips $16 (6 pieces)

It always fascinates me when I think about how far apart the cuisines of France and Britain are. One one side you have Foie Gras, Truffles and Pressed Duck and on the other side of the channel the national dish is Fish n Chips and Meat Pies.

Many would not think of Fish and Chips as fine dining, but it is the kind of food that you sometimes just crave to eat. Nowadays you can find Fish n Chips in almost every corner of Singapore and there are many different variations of it. The fish can be coated with bread crumbs, thin and crisp batter, tempura or even Hainanese pounded cream cracker batter.

Personally, I still like it with the original beer batter and you can find this over at the Cricket Club, but the problem is that it is only available to members and their guests only. Thankfully, Molly Malone's also makes quite a mean Beer Batter Fish n Chips which is available to plebians like myself.



What I like about the batter is that it is crispy on the outside but it has that nice layer of moist and tasty batter on the inside that gives the fish that extra bit of moisture and tastiness. Fishwise they use a very good grade White Basa (Dory) here. I might get lamblasted by the fish fanatics for saying this, but I actually think that you don't really need an expensive fish to make a good Fish n Chips. Any good quality white fish would do. I have tasted Fish n Chips made with John Dory, Atlantic Cod, Haddock and Sablefish and I would admit with a degree of abashment, that I found White Dory to be as good, if not better than the premium alternative. 4.5/5

Conclusion

One of the best Fish n Chips I have eaten. The beer batter is very good and they serve it with malt vinegar and tartare sauce. Funny that you would find such great Fish n Chips in a pub rather than a fish restaurant! Then again, you always find great food in Pubs.

Molly Malone's Irish Pub
56 Circular Road (Boat Quay)
Telephone: 6536 2029

Botak Jones: Unquarantinable Botak Fever

Actually Botak Jones started expanding just as I started this blog back in Aug 2006. But at that time I did not get around to blogging them. They would have made an interesting Ang Moh in the heartlands story. Now, just over a year and many other reviews later, Mr Jones has well and truly invaded the heartlands, taking major town centres one at a time. First it was Jurong, then Clementi, then Ang Moh Kio. Then they invaded Dempsey road and most recently they invaded the heartland of Bedok in the East. Seems like nothing is going to stop Botak fever!
So instead of being a discovery blog, now it seems that the blog is not complete without my review of the widely publicized triple burger ("Crazy or what!" Burger). Yes, it will not be complete without a picture of the ultimate male fantasy. (OK guys I know what you all are thinking but this is a G rated blog OK?)

There is really no reason for the existence of a triple patty burger except that it really does attract attention. Practically, there is no one in the world who would be able to actually eat the three patties and the bun all with one bite. (If there were, he would be in the annals of Ripley's Believe it or Not!)

So how is the Triple Burger? Well, those who love to eat lots of meat will not be disappointed. The patties were chunky, hand moulded and cooked medium. I had initially thought that the cheese was the common "Singles" type, but was pleasantly surprised that it was actually quite a nice and thick cheddar. Tastewise, it wasn't as beefy or as tasty as I would like, but at $14.50 (Plus $1 extra for each slice of cheese) I guess you can't be expecting them to use US Prime Chuck. Good texture, lots of meat but lacking the beefy ooomph! 3.75/5


Fish and Chips $6.50

Fish n Chips can be found in almost every coffeeshop and food centre nowadays and most can do a good job at deep frying. The only differentiating factor for most sub $10 fish n chips is whether they use the cheaper Cream Dory or the superior Pacific Dory. Both are catfish btw, but the Cream Dory is reared in ponds and tend to taste a little muddy. The other differentiating factor is whether they have a proper Tartare sauce and vinegar to go with the fish n chips. I am glad to report that Botak Jones uses Pacific Dory which is a good thing. But if you want to have a nice juicy fish, you will need to upgrade to the $10 portion as the $6.50 portion is a little on the thin side. They also serve it with a sort of Tartare sauce. I say "sort of" because the pickles were not really all that chunky, but it was still better than your standard mayonnaise. 4/5


Australian 200gm Ribeye Steak $14.50

I had a Botak Jones steak before last year and I felt at that time that it had too much herb seasoning on it. Good steak should not require anything more than salt and pepper. But then again, you don't expect a sub $20 steak to be prime quality do you? That aside, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with the Australian Ribeye that day. Though the ribeye did fall apart, the doneness was just right and the flavour of the seasoning was not overpowering. So it was a juicy, enjoyable piece of meat that would please you if you are going for the sub $20 steak. 4/5

Conclusion

The Botak fever looks like it is going to spread to all parts of the island. The steak is reasonably priced but the fish n chips and some of the other items are not exactly that cheap. Foodwise, the flavors are distinctly un-Singaporean so you are not going to get Hainanese style western food. Botak Jones has already inspired other Ang Mohs to follow suit (Crazy Ang Moh) and I think we are going to see more Ang Mohs doing the same thing this coming year.

Botak Jones
325 Clementi Ave 5 #01-129
67741225
www.botakjones.com

Greenwood Fish Market: Ultimate Fish n Chips?

With iwatch_ueat and liverpool


My quest to find the best Fish and Chips in Singapore brought me to Greenwood Fish Market. This place was reputed to sell really nice cold water fish, so this should be the place to find Singapore's greatest Fish and Chips.

But before I get to the Fish and Chips, I think you might be salivating over the picture of the pan-fried sole fillet in Bechamel Sauce above. Yes it was very good. This is part of the $19.90 set lunch which comes with Salmon Salad and Coffee or Tea. But the fish I wanted was not on the set meal menu so I ended up with the ala carte meal instead.

I chose to have the John Dory which is an excellent white fish from the southern waters. The John Dory is a real Dory unlike the commonly used Cream Dory and Pacific Dory which are really catfish. I suspect they call them Dory because of more expensive and sought after fish like the John Dory.

I used to enjoy pan fried John Dory in Australia. The flesh is delicate and it has a nice flavour almost akin to the Turbot. The John Dory is a deep sea fish, so its pretty ugly to look at and its distinction is a dark spot on its body which is sometimes referred to as St Peter's thumbprint. I have never had John Dory deep fried in batter before, but since it is such a nice (and expensive) fish, I thought it might make the ultimate Fish and Chips.



Ok to the verdict. How does this $24.90++ Fish and Chips compare to a $7.50 Fish and Chips?

The fish is fresh and delicate although I don't think the John Dory has a taste as distinct as something like Black Cod. It tastes like a good white fish but the flesh is more delicate than Sea Bass or Red Snapper. The batter is crispy and thin and done quite nicely. But the problem is that you don't get 5 times more satisfaction even though you pay almost 5 times the price. 4/5

Conclusion

Great place for fresh seafood and certainly reminds me of the fish and chips shops in Australia where you get to choose the type of fish you would like for your fish and chips. I think the John Dory would have tasted better grilled and should have settled for the house fish and chips ($17.50) instead which uses a New Zealand white fish.

Greenwood Fish Market & Bistro 34 Greenwood Avenue
Singapore 289236
Tel: 6467.4950
Hours:
Fish Market 11am - 10pm
Lunch 12pm - 2.30pm
Dinner 6.30pm - 10pm
Closed on Mondays and PH

Wow Wow West: Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree!

Chicken Chop $4

Whoa, tie a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree
It's been three long years
Do ya still want me (still want me)
If I don't see a ribbon 'round the old oak tree
I'll stay on the bus
Forget about us
Put the blame on me
If I don't see a yellow ribbon 'round the old oak tree

This song was based on an actual incident in 1973 where a recently released convict was on the bus home after serving a prison term. He wasn't quite sure if his wife still wanted him back after three long years. He said in his letter that if she had chosen to move on with her life, he would understand. But if she wanted him back, she should tie a yellow ribbon round the Old Oak Tree as a sign that he should get off the bus and come home.

As, the bus approached his home town, he was so afraid of disappointment that he asked the bus driver to look out for the yellow ribbon for him instead. When they finally saw the Oak Tree, it didn't just have a single ribbon, the tree was full of yellow ribbons! His wife wanted him to know, without the shadow of a doubt that he had been forgiven and he had a family to come home to!

We all know about the power of forgiveness. How many times have we done something wrong and needed to seek forgiveness from someone? Remember the sense of relief when the person you wronged eventually smiles and accepts your apology?

But here we are talking about a bigger wrong. Someone who has committed a crime against society and has been put in Prison for a period of time. Having paid the price for his transgressions, is he now accepted back into society?

So what does all this have to do with a Wow Wow West? Well, quite a lot really.

Eric Ng (that's his car on the right), the owner of Wow Wow West wasn't an quite an ex-convict himself, but he did spend some time at Boys Town when he was younger. He started attending Church after Boy's Town and began his career in the food and beverage industry working at places like the Raffles Hotel. He still does catering for the Istana (I was told that his honey baked ham was a favourite dish amongst the big wigs there). But he recalls that there was a time in his life when he was not serious about his faith and his family life was not exactly smooth sailing.


Pork Chop $5

Things came to a head one day when his eldest daughter ran away from home. It was at this time of trouble that he realized he really needed to get right with God. He made a deal with God that if his daughter would return home, he would dedicate his life to serving him as a counselor with the halfway house.

Well, you can guess what happened. His daughter did come home, so Eric made good his promise to God.

Now he employs ex-offenders (fully salaried) who work daily at his Western Food Shop up till 11pm. He then sits down with them and counsels them, sometimes till 2am in the morning. Although most of these men have already turned their backs on their previous lives, it still takes time to work out some of the issues which still haunt them.

It was such a joy to talk to Eric who tells me that though it can be very trying at times to work with the ex-offenders, he feels that his rewards have been bountiful. His whole family now helps out at the stall whenever possible and the business is brisk. His stall is easily one of the busiest at the Food Center, a testament to God's Blessings, says Eric.


Fish and Chips $5

I realise that there are really two styles of Hawker "Western" Food nowadays. The traditional ones have that local flavour as most of them would incorporate Asian ingredients like MSG and soy sauce in their marinade. However, there are those like Wow Wow West whose food taste more "Western" as they use mostly herbs like basil and tarragon and avoid the use of MSG.

The thing that struck me most about the food was the generous amount you get for the price. The first dish we were served was the Fish n Chips which was HUGE for only $5. Seriously, it was the size of a Ping Pong bat and it was thick! The bread crumb crust was also executed well so it was crisp but not oily. Now the only thing is that they use Cream Dory which can sometimes taste a bit muddy. I was impressed with the homemade coleslaw here which is cold and crisp and easily better than KFC's. The tartare sauce could be a little more tangy and have more pickles, but hey at $5, one should not complain too much. 4/5

The other best selling items here are the Chicken Chop and Pork Chops. Both are seasoned with western herbs which was alright for me. But you know, sometimes I still like the more traditional marinade with the MSG oomph. Again the portions are generous. For $5, you get 2 thick slices of pork loin the size of your hand (lady's) and a whole Chicken Maryland only costs $4. I like the way the meat is pan fried till there is a nice crust on the outside. 4/5

Conclusion

Value for money, "Western" Style western food with a great story to boot! Their foot long Pork Cheese sausage is just $3 and $5 if you get the set. They sell Beef Steaks here for $5 (did not try). The food is well executed and pretty decent. Definitely one for those looking to satisfy a big appetite for a few bucks!

Update: May 2008

The owner Eric has moved over to ABC brickworks food centre and given the ownership of the original stall at Bukit Merah View to the former inmate that he helped to train. I haven't got the number of the stall but it is just a few stalls away from the Pao store that I recommended.

Wow Wow West
#01-301 Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre,
Block 115 Bukit Merah View
Open 10am to 11pm
Catering available: Call 93808571
Link to Breakthrough Missions Website

Tuckshop: Steak Sandwich that you can enjoy even with Dentures!

With Damien and iwatch_ueat

Steak Sandwich $12.50

I have been searching for a good steak sandwich for ages and when Damien raved about this one at the newly opened Tuckshop, I thought I should check it out.

Now most of the time the problem with Steak Sandwiches is that you really need good teeth to eat it because most places use a cheap cut of beef which could pull out your dentures if you are not careful. (No I don't wear dentures.....yet)

Not here! I was amazed at how tender and delicious the generous cut of NZ tenderloin steak was. And it had a nice beefy flavour which was quite hard to get in tenderloin. Of course the beefiness still cannot beat a nicely char grilled USDA Prime Ribeye, but for $12.50, this is very pleasantly acceptable. The other really great thing is the whole Portabello mushroom and the caramelised sauteed onions that accompanies the steak. It just goes to show that sometimes you just need great ingredients rather than fancy recipes to make a great meal. 4.5/5


Halloumi Sandwich: $7.50

But the pleasant surprises don't stop there. Vegetarians will be glad to know that they have a very tasty Halloumi Sandwich which is made from a seared slice of Halloumi and topped with Hommus and lettuce. The combination worked wonders. The Halloumi is a cheese originating from Cyprus and is made from goat's milk. It does not melt when grilled and so it is an excellent substitute for a meat patty. I really won't mind going veg for a week if I had this for a substitute! 4.25/5


Fish and Chips $7.50

One more dish to recommend on this Pub Grub Roundub sic and that is the good old Fish and Chips! Actually Pub Grub is quite simple straightforward food since people usually go to a Pub for a drink and the food is just there in case you are hungry. But simple does not mean it is not satisfying and simple also does not mean that everyone gets it right. For Fish and Chips, there are really only three factors involved: Good Fish, Good Batter and a Good Cook. Get it all three right and you have a fantastically simple yet satisfying meal. Fortunately the Tuckshop gets it right on the three counts!

If you are starting to mumble about $7.50 being more expensive than the $4.50 fish and chips you get at the hawker centre, let me just say that you are paying for what you get. The most commonly used fish for fish and chips nowadays is the Cream Dory which is essentially the Catfish (pangasius hypopthalamus) farmed in Vietnam. The Cream Dory is farmed in ponds and grow very fast. Their cousin, the Pacific Dory (pangasius bocourti) has a cleaner taste and the flesh is more delicate but is more difficult to cultivate as they are farmed in cages along the Mekong River where there is a continual stream of fresh water. Cream Dory can sometimes taste a bit muddy depending on the farming conditions.

Needless to say, the Tuckshop uses Pacific Dory which justifies its higher price. The batter is light and crisp and thick cut fries are done very well. Well executed fish and chips! 4.25/5

Conclusion

Great place for some satisfying Pub Grub! For $12.50, this is the best Steak Sandwich I have come across in Singapore so far.

Tuckshop
21 Tanjong Pagar Road
#01-05
www.tuckshop.com.sg
Lunch till 2.30pm
Dinner last order 11pm

Fishermen's Wharf: Plenty of Fish in the Ocean!

Atlantic Cod $16.50

The French have Foie Gras, the British have Fish n Chips. I always find it strange how two countries situated so close to each other can have such a difference in food culture. The British seem to lack imagination when it comes to food and Fish n Chips is just such an example of unimaginative food.

But as they say, the simplest things in life are often the best and I admit that at times, I just crave to have a nice piping hot, crispy battered fish with a squeeze of lemon and tartare sauce. When I was living in Australia, there was all sorts of fish used for Fish n Chips. But here in Singapore, most places use Cream Dory (Sutchi). The Cream Dory is really the Vietnamese Catfish (Patin) and should not be confused with the John Dory which is a very different (and much more expensive and delicious) fish altogether. The Cream Dory is cheap and does not have a strong flavour so most local Fish n Chips stalls marinade it and fry either in batter or bread crumbs. It's cheap and good but if you want to try authentic Fish n Chips its got to be Fish from up in the North Atlantic, near the British Isles where Fish n Chips originated from.

I have been looking for a nice Cod Fish n Chips for a while and heard about this restaurant which actually sells a variety of fish. This is one of the few places that you can get Atlantic Cod. Now "Cod" is quite a generic term applied to many different species of fish. Atlantic Cod can be considered THE Cod. It's the one that the English use for their Fish n Chips and its also the same fish used to make the dreaded Cod Liver Oil. Yukk.

We sometimes confuse Atlantic Cod with Canadian Black Cod which is also known in Japan as Gindara. We sometimes call it Snow Fish (Pic Right). This should be rightly called the Sablefish which is now being farmed in the US and Canada in the arctic region. In contrast, the Atlantic Cod is now on the endangered species list. The Snow Fish has got a delicate, oily flesh (rich in omega 3 fatty acids --good for lowering cholesterol) which is quite different to the Atlantic Cod which has a dry and flaky texture.



If you are used to the local version of Fish n Chips, you might find the Fish n Chips here a bit bland. Mr Morten, the Danish owner cum chef is determined to keep the Fish n Chips as authentic as possible. That means that the fish only get a dash of salt and pepper before being dipped into a light batter. That way you get to savour the real taste of the fish. 4.25/5

Conclusion

I was really pleased to be able to find Cod Fish n Chips! It was a great change from the usual Cream Dory. The fish here is very fresh as Mr Morten gets directly from a Singapore based Norwegian Fish trader. Prices are pretty reasonable as well. I remember that Harry Ramsden's used to sell Cod Fish for $26-$30! So, don't just restrict yourself to Cream Dory, get some Cod for a change!


Fishermen's Wharf
27/29 New Bridge Road
Opposite Central Shopping Centre
97876018
Open 11.30am to 10pm daily