Beer Basket @Kovan

 SINGAPORE - Just a short walk from Yaowarat is a beer garden called Beer Basket that serves unique beers.

Clifford, Willy and myself

Our unique beers

The left beer is Tai Wai brand 'Rose and Zhongshan Puer' beer - The dark lager is inventively brewed with Rose & Zhengshan Pu'er with light bodied yet malty flavour. Characterised with long-lasting tea bitterness after taste, it is such a fine craft work that perfectly combines the unique flavour of tea and beer.   

The center beer is Gwei Lo 'Hazy Ipa' beer.  Gweilo Hazy IPA has a wheat forward base with the use of NEIPA yeast to give this beer a juicy mouthfeel.

The right beer is Tai Wai brand 'Amber Ale Earl Grey beer.  This beer has the English ale with flavorful roasted malts and aromatic hops. Well-balanced of bergamot and malt flavors with a delicate bitterness from our selected earl grey loose tea.

Truffle French fries

Yaowarat Thai Kway Chap

 SINGAPORE - Prior to New Year eve, I met up with Clifford and Willy for dinner at Yaowarat Thai Kway Chai along Upper Serangoon Road at Kovan estate.   Yaowarat is a town in Bangkok city famous as Bangkok Chinatown.   This restaurant has 4 branches in Singapore and is a famous Thai Teochew restaurant here.

Thai Kway Chap

The Thai kway chap is very different from Singapore style kway chap and it is composed of curled up rolls of kway with braised meats and veggies, kway chap is typically served clear pepper based soup.

Deep fried Pork belly and braised Tau Pok

The deep fried pork belly is thinly cut and cruchy and it is served with a dark sweet sauce with garlic and a bit spicy.   Just perfect for my taste buds. 

Braised cabbage

Fried Large intestines

It was so delicious and it was from the pig’s large intestines with the crispy outer layer and inner soft texture that is so savoury.

 

Thai iced tea and iced lemon grass drink

I enjoyed the food very much and it was not crowded today.  

My first time to Haidilao hotpot

SINGAPORE - I went on this day with a group of ex-colleagues to Haidilao at Bugis+ for a Haidilao hotpot.   I heard so much about this restaurant and what's so great with this hotpot restaurant.   The hotpot culture has been in Singapore for decades; and what's striking is the Haidilao service culture that stood out and it can be a bit overwhelming as the waiter is always hawking over you - refilling your drink, cleaning  your plates.  

Zhang Yong founded Haidilao, in March 1994 because he wanted to serve his guests excellent service which was lacking in China.   Haidilao is not based on the flavor and excellence of the food, but rather, the competitive advantage that the chain holds is based on their customer service

Clifford, Anthony, Lydia and myself

I think we ordered quite a lot for our dinner and it was a very satisfying meal.   It was really good to catch up on the good old days and hear interesting stories.   

The hot pot soup is divided into 2 and we chose one side to be spicy and the other without hot spices and started placing the meat and vegetables to get them cooked.

Thank you for the company and the meal - great fun and great time.