[dropcap size=small]D[/dropcap]eadlines looming or reports due? It’s going to be the desk some days – with nary but lunch to cheer you up. Here is a selection of new joints and/or new offerings that might pique your interest, particularly relevant if you’re a CBD-dwelling denizen.
Swipe or click left/right to scroll through the scrumptious options.
01: Gemmills
Gemmills, a charming café cum eatery and wine bar – opened by the same good people behind Mediterranean restaurant Maggie Joan’s – has launched a new takeaway menu that includes three hearty sandwiches (from $12). There’s the classic ham and Comte cheese baguette, the tempting mortadella, salami and parma ham on baguette and the glorious chicken schnitzel sandwich with tomato, rocket & aioli.
You’ll love how every mouthful is a kaleidoscope of textures and flavours with toasted crusty homemade sourdough bread, crispy crumbed chicken, a kick of spice from the jalapeños, the crunch of coleslaw and topped with shaved Parmesan cheese, and a touch of citrus from the burnt lime (do remember to squeeze that lime). If you’re a small eater, you can share the sandwich with one other.Image: Xie Huiqun
#01-02, 110 Amoy Street, T: 9390-3825, www.facebook.com/gemmillssingapore/
02: Wheat
Wheat Baumkuchen (now Wheat) first opened in Toa Payoh seven years ago, but has since moved into the CBD area with a new outlet. They currently have seven outlets; the Marina One branch being the latest addition since early 2018. Wheat specializes in healthy soba bowls and once had brown rice on the menu. This has since been switched to organically-farmed red rice imported from Bhutan, as it is an even healthier option.
This nutty and fluffy rice can be incorporated into dishes such as the Salmon Poke bowl with cubed raw salmon, avocados, sous vide egg, cucumbers (from $9.90). There is also the no-carb char-grilled Teriyaki Chicken Broccoli and Cauliflower bowl (available at Marina One and Republic Plaza only) complete with avocado and sous vide egg that makes for a great takeaway. Design-your-own-bowl options are also available from $12.
#B2-33 Marina One, the Heart, 5 Straits View, T: 6282-1534, www.facebook.com/wheatbaum
03: Express by Chatterbox
Located in Downtown Gallery, Express by Chatterbox brings signature flavours of the iconic Chatterbox by Mandarin Orchard Singapore to the CBD with some new lunchtime items. The casual eatery is fuss-free and features a ‘lite’ but equally yummy version of their famous Mandarin Chicken Rice ($9) and Chatterbox Laksa ($12) – sans the lobster.
There are also satisfying rice bowls, such as the Braised Pork Rice with Onsen Egg ($10) that employs Hokkaido rice and is topped with yellow bean paste sauce, tofu and minced pork. There’s also modern takes on classics, such as the newly added Laksa Pasta ($14) comprises al dente spaghetti tossed in a lemak laksa paste and served with crispy deep-fried pork chop and sliced braised mushrooms. Orders for dine-in and takeaway are served by the same counter, which means peak-hour purchases can take a while, but service is rather prompt once orders are placed. Weekly specials (main dish with a drink from $13) are also available.
#01-04 Downtown Gallery, 6A Shenton Way, T: 6220-0758, https://www.facebook.com/ExpressByChatterbox
04: Stamford Brasserie
The Stamford Brasserie is the latest addition to the dining offerings at Swissôtel The Stamford. It’s a multi-concept restaurant and bar that features Bistro Dining Restaurant, a Beer Bar and a convenient Grab & Go counter. A range of sandwiches, salads, pastries and confectioneries are available.
Offerings include homemade bread with asparagus, Brie and garlic aioli, butter croissant with turkey ham, cheddar cheese and grain mustard. The traditional shepherd’s lamb pie is filled with flavorful minced lamb and green peas, and topped with mashed potatoes (get it heated up). The Grab & Go Menu is available all day from 6:30am to 8:00pm so if you are in the area early in the mornings, you know where to go.
Level 1 Swissotel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Road, T: 6431-6156, https://www.swissotel.com/hotels/singapore-stamford/bars/the-stamford-brasserie
05: The Sandwich Shop
For a seriously good sandwich, among other things, do check out the new Sandwich Shop outlet. Owner David Cheung, who has been running the business since 2003, shares that the food is still prepared from scratch daily at the outlets (they have eight to date, the latest opened at Marina One in February this year) to ensure freshness. We love the variety of offerings here (there are easily over 50 different items on display at any one time). They have everything from gourmet sandwiches, baguettes, salads and wraps to grilled sandwiches, soups and hot pots (the latter two are thoughtfully kept warm at the hot cabinet section).
Highlights from the sizeable selection include the Massive All Day Breakfast sandwich ($8.50), which tempts with the goodness of streaky bacon, sausage, egg mayo, mushroom, mesclun mix and ketchup; the vegetarian-friendly Veggie Bean Grilled Wrap ($7), filled with avocado, sweet corn, red capsicum, chick peas, kidney beans and pesto mayo, and a refreshing Wakame Salad ($5) which consists of mesclun mix, shredded carrot, sautéed mushroom, boiled egg, cherry tomatoes and wakame (seaweed). Definitely try the Warm Cous Cous Hot Pot (think: a stew of sorts in a cup), which has cous cous, roast chicken, spinach and boiled egg submerged in a homemade tomato soup ($6.50). Each mouthful is a savoury tangy symphony. Delicious.
#B2-05 Marina One, The Heart, 5 Straits View, T: 6281-0712, http://thesandwichshop.com.sg/locations
06: Super Simple
This fuss-free food kiosk concept by chef-owner Jasper Jek dishes up healthy and wholesome food with a focus on lean proteins and complex carbs. Almost everything is made in-house and there is no added sugar, no MSG and no colourings. You won’t find any deep-fried here, either. Chef Jek favours healthier methods of cooking: baking, blanching, pan-frying and sautéing.
Diners can choose from their No Fuss Sets (from $8.90 for the Veg Lover set), where the combinations are fixed. Think: slow-cooked chicken breast with whole wheat pasta, sous-vide egg, corn, and broccoli ($8.90). Or they can customize their own boxes (from $8.90). To consider, too: sliced New Zealand rib-eye steak done medium and combined with pumpkin, cherry tomatoes, slow-baked onions. Take your pick of six homemade dressings, which include parsley pesto, ponzu, miso ginger and honey mustard. Cold-pressed juices, which they source from Squeezed!, are also available at their newly-opened second outlet at International Plaza, Tanjong Pagar. Image: Xie Huiqun
#01-39 International Plaza, 10 Anson Rd, T: 6222-0163, https://www.facebook.com/supersimple.sg
07: Tampopo Deli
Tampopo Deli – not to be confused with sister restaurant Tampopo on level one – is located at the basement of Liang Court and a popular spot for lunch for Clarke Quay office crowd. There’s a wide selection of sumptuous bentos (lunch boxes) spotlighting tonkatsu, unagi and salmon; dons (rice bowls) like kimchi or teriyaki chicken; and noodles such as cold soba.
The latest seasonal menu includes an interesting Japanese Nasi Lemak bento series (yes, you heard that right). The plump (and pale green) grains of Japanese rice are wonderfully fragrant with the aroma of pandan and each bento comes with a dollop of slightly sweet sambal chilli, sliced cucumbers, shredded cabbage, and miso soup. Take your pick from grilled chicken with hard-boiled egg ($10.80) and crispy deep-fried chicken and prawn ($15) to grilled fish ($12) and teriyaki cuttlefish ($15). The menus are seasonal so do try them before they’re gone. Image: Xie Huiqun
#01-23/24 Liang Court Shopping Centre, 177 River Valley Road, T: 6338-3186, https://www.facebook.com/tppdeli/
08: Teppei Syokudo
Teppei Syokudo by chef-owner Teppei Yamashita has long been popular for affordable Japanese takeaway. While the signature kaisen-don (assorted cubed sashimi tossed in chef Teppei’s secret sauce and scattered over sushi rice) remains a best-seller, other dishes, such as the Japanese pork katsu curry, teriyaki chicken bento and tori karaage (deep-fried chicken) bento are also a hit with customers.
They have recently introduced a “Say Cheese” menu (limited time only) with dishes such as hamburger stuffed with cheese served with pasta tossed in a tomato-based sauce ($14.80), mentaiko cheese pasta ($13.80) and cheese katsu curry ($15.80). While it is always best to enjoy cheesy dishes hot, you simply have to reheat takeaways in a microwave to restore the cheese back to its melted glory (worked for us with the cheese katsu curry).
Millenia Walk #01-105, 9 Raffles Blvd, T: 6238-1945, https://www.facebook.com/teppeigroup
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