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Ericandblueboy

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Posts posted by Ericandblueboy

  1. Singapore

    Somewhat delirious after flying 18 hrs and driving almost 4 hrs home from Newark.

    Singapore classics that aren't really that exciting: Hainan Chicken (Tian Tian), Soya Chicken (Hawker Chan in their store and at their stall in Chinatown complex), Pork Noodle (i.e., current 1 star holder Hill St. Tai Hwa), Fish Head Curry (Banana Leaf), Nasi Lemak fried chicken.  I tried the most acclaimed places and just don't get the hype.

    Singapore classics that I think are tasty:  Tulang Merah (Deen Tiga Rasa at Golden Mile, choose the beef bones), Bah ku Teh (Song Fa), Murtabak (Zam Zam), Chili Crab (Long Beach)

    Lol....my favorite laksa is still in Urban Hawker in NYC (but I tried 2 in Singapore, the real Sungei Rd and a place in Hong Lim called  Trishaw Sungei Rd, which had a Bib Gourmand designation). 

    I will not dissuade anyone from trying out the classics so I suggest you sign up for Monster Day Tour's food tour.  $70 Singaporean with visits to 3 hawker centers in Chinatown, tasting some of the most acclaimed foods.  Alternatively, download the Michelin app and just hit up all the ones in hawker centers.  We stayed around Robertson Quay (not the most exciting neighborhood for food).  I prefer Chinatown to Little India or Kampong Gelam in terms of hawker centers and proximity to other sights.

     

     

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  2. For some reason I thought this is some small operation but it's not.  Same owner as the Izakaya next door, basically catering to the well-to-doers in Arlington.  Potstickers are teeny tiny......generally overpriced but some of the dumplings were decent (lamb with carrot was heavy on cumin, soup dumplings were juicy).  The best part is they have good dumpling wrappers but the fillings weren't plentiful.  I wouldn't go back.  There are better dumplings elsewhere.  We spent $200 for 2 adults and 2 kids (with a bottle of pinot grigio for just under $40) - shocking amount of money for half decent Chinese food.

     

  3. Took the kids to London - their first trip to Europe - for pre-Christmas break.  I shall recount our adventure over the next few days.

    For 6 nights we stayed at The Resident Hotel in Soho.  We had a superior room but it was just one large bed and a cot.   There's a Brita filter on the faucet, a small fridge, a tea kettle and a Nespresso coffee maker.  Pretty quiet even in Soho....you can hear the occasional drunk howl but it's pretty muted.  I really liked the location but I always stay around Leicester Sq.  We walked alot....and Leicester Sq is very central.

    So the big thing about getting in the city from Heathrow is the fairly new Elizabeth Line.  It goes to Tottenham Court Rd station, which is a a few blocks from our hotel.  It's faster than the tube but slower than Heathrow Express.  Also, you can just tap with your contactless credit card instead of getting an Oyster card (on the tube as well).

     

  4. We were going to Duck Chang but I spotted a new place on Google Map that looks interesting.  Chung Dam does not have an official website but it has an Instagram account.  You can see the current menu on Instagram.  After viewing the Instagram and Google Map photos, the place seems to cater to groups of people who want to drink and eat (and then belt out tunes)?  For example, the Jokbal (braised pigs trotter) by itself was probably enough to fill up Steve and me.  But we also ordered some stir fired kimchi and pork belly.  Everyone seems to order the Jokbal so we had to try that but we were at a loss as to what else to order and had consulted our waiter for advice.  We rejected his first suggestion of fried chicken gizzard but did accept the kimchi and pork belly because Steve loves pork belly and I just wanted some veggies.  As it turned out, the pork belly was overcooked and dry.  But the Jokbal was nice (but maybe under seasoned?)  The Jokbal came with dipping sauces so the under seasoning maybe intentional?  I happen to carry a bottle of finishing salt so that came in handy.  Maybe we can organize a group dinner here?!  Need someone who can guide us though.

    IMG_7688.jpg

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  5. I don't usually order take-out but I would tip 10-15%.  Someone has to pack your take-out order and that's a service and it's more or less related to how much you spent.

    I too deduct any service fee from the 20% tip that I would otherwise leave.  

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  6. I went to Truong Tien awhile back.  Knew nothing about it except that it was new, having replaced a Bolivian restaurant that replaced a long time Cantonese restaurant.  

    I tried the Banh Khoai, which looks like banh xeo.  They did make it very to easy to eat by wrapping it in lettuce and putting it on a taco stand.  It was pretty good.

    I also had some banh beo with shrimp that were delicious.  

    WhatsApp Image 2023-08-26 at 17.49.48_3b1736ed.jpg

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  7. NUE was recently reviewed by Wapo.  We had both the raw and grilled oysters.  We also had the seafood cha gio (springroll) and the whole fried fish (flounder I think, some kind of flat fish).  Our only complaint is the oysters come in orders of 3 - hard to split btwn 2 people.  The cha gio was fantastic - served with lots of lettuce and herbs (as they should be).  They also have fish in 1.5 lbs or 3 lbs.  1.5 lbs was plenty for 2 people, and they debone it for you.  When they first opened, I didn't fancy their menu but the current menu looks great.  More detail in the Wapo review.  At this point, they're better than Moon Rabbit at Bryant Market.

     

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  8. https://www.dokidokihospitality.com/concepts/moonrabbitdc

    Moon Rabbit is currently in the Bryant Street Market.  The menu is smaller but delicious.  We tried all 9 dishes - the mussels are musselly (so don't go for for it unless you like them pungent), the salmon was overcooked, and the carbonara's sauce is a bit weird.  Other dishes were smashing.  When I asked if they have wine, the answer is no but you can bring your own right now with no corkage.  So we brought 3 bottles and then ordered some after dinner cocktails.  I think few people know this place exists right now so it's not very busy yet.    

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