GRUB Singapore Food Review

Tasting Invite

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Ever since I became a mum, I have learned to treasure pockets of free time for myself. Really grateful that both our parents are more than happy to help us take care of the little one so that we can have a quiet dinner together on weekdays after misterchewy comes back from work or a whole day out on weekends. Sometimes, it’s also very difficult to agree to invites because I need to factor in my pumping schedule and 1001 other things. Mehhhhh. And it’s no joke having to lug so many things around without hubby’s help!

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I was invited to try GRUB’s lunch menu on a Saturday and knowing that misterchewy had always wanted to sink his teeth into GRUB’s famous fish burger, I readily accepted and we left Chanelle at home! LOL 😛 We have been putting this aside for the longest time because of its location. However, I have come to realise that it’s actually quite nice to house a bistro at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park as it creates a very fun and family-friendly dining environment.

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GRUB is opened by the guys who founded Cookyn Inc and they place a strong emphasis on food that is responsible, inspired and delicious – basically, food that they serve their own families. I would also like to share that the food is reasonably priced and very friendly to the wallet. I didn’t find anything that costs more than $20 on the menu (subject to GST)!

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Both the Yuzu Mint Soda ($4.50) and Iced Honey Lime Juice ($3) are perfect thirst quenchers on a hot and sunny day. You can also find pure fruit juices and other canned drinks on the menu.

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Step aside, truffle fries! Mentaiko Fries ($9) are here to blow everyone away! Who would have thought that mentaiko aioli and fries could go so well together? The thinly shredded pieces of nori seaweed also made this yummy appetizer a whole lot more palatable and addictive. I just couldn’t stop munching on them!

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If you have always enjoyed your toast with half boiled egg, it’s time to give the Truffled Egg Cocotte ($7) at GRUB a try! The taste of truffle is a little overwhelming but hey, I’m certainly not complaining. However, I thought there could be a better option other than toasted focaccia as it kinda failed to soak up the egg cocotte.

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Only available for brunch, the French Toast ($12) is a delicious winning combination of sweet and savory. The garlic thyme pork sausage was big and juicy, and tasted wonderful with strawberries, sour cream and maple syrup. It is the perfect breakfast that I imagine myself having everyday.

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GRUB is famous for its Crispy Fish Burger ($14); everyone is singing praises for it! Only sustainable fish caught in waters free from contamination is used and it tastes fresh and moist under that beautiful golden brown crispy layer. GRUB pays a lot of attention in serving only the best. Even the burger buns are specially brought in from a local bakery which are fluffy and have a soft doughy texture.

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The hubs and I don’t eat beef but we do know that GRUB uses beef that is 100% grass fed and free-range so you can feast on your GRUB Double Cheeseburger ($18) in peace!

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We also tried two other dishes which are new on the menu. The Sakura Ebi Pasta ($17) is available for lunch and dinner only. Interestingly, it tastes like prawn mee dry with a twist. The tiny bits of fried Sakura ebi and mentaiko sauce gave this dish an extra fragrance and sweetness.

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I really love the Slow Cooked Pork Belly ($17)! Sous vide and seared, it’s so tender and succulent and does not have that overwhelming porky smell, probably because the pigs are being fed a local feed of barley, wheat and mountain mineral water. The pork belly is paired sauteed leeks and sweet potato mash which I found unique but proved to be a winner. This dish is only available during dinner.

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Finally, for something sweet, we had the Chocolate Kladkakka ($8) which I found impossible to fault. What could possibly go wrong with creamy vanilla gelato, moist and crumbly sticky chocolate cake, and strawberry sauce? It’s the kind of dessert that people of all ages will love!

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The Churros ($9) at GRUB are not bad and we all know that it’s so hard to find good ones in Singapore. Glad to know that the churros here are hand made, which explains why they come in various lengths. The churros are quite fluffy on the inside but a little stiff on the outside. On the overall, they still tasted quite good when dipped into the dark chocolate sauce.

UltimateGrubber

GRUB is running an #UltimateGrubber photo contest for the month of May. Diners just have to submit their favourite shot taken at GRUB (any photos taken at 2013 and 2014 are welcome) to take part in this contest. Simply upload your photo here: http://bit.ly/1nOmelS and win attractive prizes!

Weekly prize: $50 GRUB dining voucher with table reservation of up to 4 pax
Grand prize: $200 GRUB dining voucher with table reservation of up to 8 pax PLUS a newly launched Samsung NX mini camera.

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How I wish I stayed somewhere in the North, so that I can pop by GRUB on a more frequent basis! With delicious quality food sourced from sustainable sources, and priced so affordably, it’s really hard to say no to GRUB! 😛
Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

GRUB
510 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1
(Car park along Sin Ming Ave, opposite Blk 408)
Ang Mo Kio, Singapore 569983
Tel: 6459 5743

Opening Hours
Tue to Fri
11am – 3pm
5.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun
9am – 4pm
5.30pm – 10.30pm

The Ascot @ The Grandstand: Authentic English Gastrogrub

Tasting Invite

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Wotcha chewys! Sometime back, misterchewy and I dropped by The Ascot at The Grandstand, formally known as Turf City. It was our first time at The Grandstand but we had been to quite a few of the seafood restaurants with our families when this place was still called Turf City. The change is quite huge and the place is livened up with many eateries and large crowds. Really glad to see that! 🙂

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Owner Sylvester Fedor Thang chatted with us for a bit and asked if we know what The Ascot is all about. He previously spent two years studying in the UK and wanted to recreate the very best of the quintessential English pub experience right here in Singapore. Lovingly referred to as a British ‘gastrogrub’ by Sylvester, he wanted to serve authentic British cuisine and Singaporeans would be exposed to a whole lot more than just the usual Fish & Chips.

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The Ascot at The Grandstand is named after the Ascot Racecourse, which is located in Berkshire. It seems that Sylvester is determined to share a piece of what he had experienced in UK with his fellow Singaporeans. Not surprisingly, The Ascot is very popular among expats as the food reminds them of home.

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I had always wanted to try Toffee Apple Cider because I had such a hard time finding it at various supermarkets. It tasted really sweet and a little bitter. I think I still prefer beer 😛 The husband had a bottle of Pear Cider which was less sweet and more refreshing.

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I was initially kinda skeptical of the Strawberry spinach salad with crumbled blue cheese, pistachios, bacon & avocado ($18) but the crazy unusual combination worked surprisingly well! The blue cheese was undoubtedly pungent and had a sharp acidic flavor but the sweetness derived from the strawberry slices and raspberry vinaigrette countered this well.

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The husband and I were both surprised by how unique this bowl of Smoked tomato soup ($8) tasted, very full-bodied with a slightly smoked flavor to it. At the same time, it was rich, tangy, and a little sweet tasting. This certainly whetted our appetite for the remaining dishes to come!

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The Cold Cut Platter ($18), featuring 3 types of cold cuts served with silver onions, gherkins, scotch egg & homemade bread, is a must order at The Ascot. Obviously, the scotch egg stole the show. It is essentially hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated in bread crumbs and baked or deep-fried. Perhaps I should try this in my own kitchen next time!

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A bunch of bangers ($20) would definitely serve as a perfect pub grub, or gastro grub in this context. Have I ever told you that misterchewy and I loveeee sausages? I think we would have been on cloud nine if we had ordered beer instead of cider. Sausages + Beer = Heaven. We had two broiled sausages (instead of three because we don’t eat beef) on bubble and squeak drizzled with onion gravy. Bubble and squeak is a British dish made with shallow-fried leftover vegetables. Very interesting and we loved it.

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Since this The Ascot is a British gastrogrub, we did not expect the Chicken Tikka Masala ($18) to come into the picture. Tender pieces of chicken were marinated in yoghurt and spices. Bathed in creamy and spicy curry sauce, this dish was very addictive and we couldn’t help dipping pieces of naan into the gravy even though we were quite full by then.

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The Roasted chicken served with vegetables & potato lyonnais ($24) was even more tender than the chicken tikka masala. The first few bites were not bad but I soon found that the BBQ-like marination was too thick and sweet for my liking.

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The husband and I felt that the desserts wrapped things up really nicely and we were very satisfied. Served warm, the Classic Bread & Butter Pudding ($9) and the vanilla ice cream were a match made in heaven. Moist, fluffy and slightly spongy, we enjoyed this dessert thoroughly!

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We saved the best for last, and true enough, the Deep-fried Mars Bars in batter ($8) tasted as awesome as it sounds. Thick, gooey, caramelized goodness enveloped in a light, crispy and savory batter. This was a real sweet treat!

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If you have not popped by The Grandstand, The Ascot gives you every reason to do so now! The place is made accessible with free shuttle services from Newton, Botanical Gardens and Toa Payoh mrt stations.
Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

The Ascot @ The Grandstand
200 Turf Club Road
#01-16
Singapore 287994
Tel: 6462 0881

Opening Hours:
Tue
3pm – 11pm
Wed & Thu
12pm – 11pm
Fri
12pm – 1am
Sat
10.30am – 1am
Sun
10.30am – 11pm

Embark on an Auspicious Epicurean Journey with Park Hotel Group this Chinese New Year!

Tasting Invite

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Chinese New Year is just around the corner! Wish everyone Gong Xi Fa Cai in advance! 😛 I was invited by Park Hotel Group to usher in the year of the Snake with them at Grand Park City Hall and I asked my bff/bridesmaid, Bee along. We were treated to a Lunar New Year lunch feast at Park Palace, which is situated on level 2 of the hotel. I didn’t have much time to explore the hotel but the ground floor looked really grand and had a totally different feel from that of Grand Park Orchard. In case you missed my post, I was lucky enough to be invited for a staycation at Grand Park Orchard last year and I would recommend it to everybody! 🙂

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Soar to the pinnacle of success with prosperous Lunar New Year banquets at Park Palace. Lauded for the finest Cantonese gastronomy, this Oriental paradise beckons with a flourish of evergreen à la carte Lunar New Year cuisines, Set Menus and innovative Lunar New Year offerings created with a twist.

Early Bird Special: Book now and dine in from 21 January to 7 February and enjoy 20% off Lunar New Year Set Menus and a la carte at Park Palace.

Chinese New Year Set Menus

– $78++ per person (a maximum of two persons)
– $288++ per table (for four persons)
– $438++ per table (for six persons)
– $588++ per table (for eight persons)
– $788++ to $2388++* per table (for ten persons)

*Orders to be made at least one day in advance.
*Enjoy a complimentary bottle of house wine per table with booking of ten tables or more (ten pax per table).

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Some of the early blogger birds from my table – Lobster, me, Charleen, Ellena and Derrick.

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We waited patiently for everyone else to arrive before we started with our Lo Hei!

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I wouldn’t be surprised if someone’s new year resolution is to do a Prosperity Toss for a minimum of say, 10 times this Lunar New Year! Yusheng means an increase in abundance so let’s all start tossing away! At Park Hotel Group, almost nothing can be more glamorous and spectacular than tossing Golden Shunde Yu Sheng ($88++) with exquisite gold dust and gold flakes. This is available from 21 January to 24 February.

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A distinctly-prepared delicacy hailing from Shunde – a river town in China’s Guangdong province –
renowned for its freshwater fish and fresh produce, this luxurious gourmet treat uses fresh Yellowtail.

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I really must applaud the Chefs at Park Hotel Group for coming up with such an ingenious twist to the ordinary Yu Sheng. The base of crispy fried vermicelli is vibrantly adorned with slender slices of ginger, spring onions, crunchy capsicums and finely grounded peanuts; tossed in a special concoction of fragrant peanut oil and premium soya sauce. The Yu Sheng boasts a refreshing twist with none of the cloying sweetness that may overwhelm the palate. You will find yourself reaching for more servings.

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Do not miss out on the Imperial Suckling Pig ($238++) which is an absolute crowd pleaser. The whole process of air-drying and roasting the piglet which weighed about 5kg is done in-house so please remember to reserve at least one day in advance.

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The skin of the suckling pig was crisp yet retaining its tenderness underneath. Simply addictive!

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Another must-have during Lunar New Year is fish, which also represents abundance. Please your old folks with the Golden Happiness Crispy Garoupa!

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Out of all the dishes that we had, I felt that the Prosperity Flambé Pen Cai ($268++ for 6 pax, $428++ for 10 pax) stole the show. It boasts as many as 18 luxuriant ingredients including Sliced Abalone, Sea Cucumber, Whole Conpoy, Prawn Balls, Roasted Duck, Roasted Pork Belly, Duck Web, Soya Chicken, Fatt Choy, Black Mushroom, Lotus Root, Broccoli, Radish, Beancurd Skin, Gingko Nut and Black Fungus with quality stock in a casserole pot. At this point, I really want to shout “Huat ah!”

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Adding a twist to this year’s creation, the Prosperity Flambé Pen Cai is infused with Cognac, and flambéed to bring out the rich flavours and tastes of its ingredients, with a tang of alcohol.

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The suckling pig made its appearance once again, this time, it was the Imperial Suckling Pig Oven-baked with Lemongrass which was done really well while maintaining its juiciness and the taste of lemongrass was subtle yet discernible. Very refreshing and easy on the palate!

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The dishes and their presentation keep getting better and all of us were pretty much captivated by the Auspicious Glutinous Rice with Foie Gras and Preserved Meat!

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As sinful as it may be, but I really really really love foie gras. This was done expertly and I really appreciated the exquisite texture of the foie gras. I didn’t manage to finish the glutinous rice though, as it was way too sticky and chewy for me to stomach.

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I almost squealed in excitement when the Steamed Mini Pumpkin Dumplings with Green Bean Paste were being laid before our eyes. Much effort must have being put into kneading these delicate mini pumpkins! We couldn’t bear to eat them but of course we did in the end, after taking countless photographs. These reminded us of the Thai dessert Luk Chup but these were undeniably less sweet and made a perfect light dessert treat for all of us.

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If you are looking for auspicious epicurean reinventions this Chinese New Year to impress the young and the old in your family, take this opportunity to enjoy 20% off the Lunar New Year Set Menus or A’la Carte when you book now and dine-in from 21st Jan to 7th Feb! There is also Blog Promotion for all my readers! Simply quote “missuschewy” during reservations via email/phone and receive a complimentary bottle of house red wine per table of minimum 10 pax.

Don’t forget to connect with us at www.facebook.com/missuschewy and huat together! 😛 Thank you Park Hotel Group for the invitation and warm hospitality.

GRAND PARK CITY HALL
10 Coleman Street Singapore 179809
Tel: 6432 5888
For reservations: 6432 5543 or email parkpalace.gpch@parkhotelgroup.com

GRAND PARK ORCHARD
270 Orchard Road Singapore 238857
Tel: 6603 8855
For reservations: 6603 8855 or email fnb.gpor@parkhotelgroup.com

PARK HOTEL CLARKE QUAY
1 Unity Street Singapore 237983
Tel: 6593 8855
For reservations: 6593 8855 or email fnb.phcq@parkhotelgroup.com