Stuck In a Jam: Bangkok Jam

For those who regularly check out my blog (are there?), it is quite easy to notice that my favorite food can be summed up into three cuisines: the artful Japanese cooking, good old American comfort food, and finally, spicy and exciting Thai.

Yet, among those three, whenever I want a quick satisfying meal, Thai food is usually the default choice.  It is simple, inexpensive, yet utterly delicious.  Thus, it comes as no surprise that Thai restaurants are nearly ubiquitous in shopping malls and food districts.  Although, it is quite difficult to find the authentic shops that preserve the orthodox Thai flavor. 

Street side cafe vibe.

Beyond the food it offers, Bangkok Jam strives to recreate the vibe of street side joints in Bangkok.  I have never been to Bangkok itself, thus I couldn't judge on their effort.  Yet, the cleverly thought out layout and decors, including mock voltage lines, electric posts, and sign boards written in Thai, all contributes to a near authentic aura. 

Take out the air-conditioning and bright lighting of the mall, and one would feel instantly transported to the streets of Bangkok.  The place is Instagram-worthy, but I was hoping the food would also stand out.  All too often in Singapore, the taste of Thai is mellowed down in an effort to suit the less tolerant palate.

The menu was straightforward, staying true to what a typical Thai restaurant offers.  We therefore opted to stick to our favorite choices.  I was particularly craving for spring rolls on that day, so we kick-started our meal as such.

Porpiah Tod (Deep Fried Spring Rolls, SGD 8.50, approx. PHP 290, +7% GST and 10% service charge)

The spring rolls were perfectly executed with crisp outer skin and warm filling.  Packed inside with a hodge-podge of carrots, greens, and bean sprouts, it was reminiscent of our own lumpia toge which I was already sorely missing.  The sweet chili dip was too tame though, as it would have paired well with a slightly spicier sauce.  Nonetheless, it was a good way to whet the appetite.

My only complaint was that the rolls were quite small compared to what I was used to back home.  Although there were 8 pieces served, I would have preferred larger rolls.  The main courses arrived soon as I gushed with expectant delight.

Soft Shell Crab in Mellow Yellow Curry (SGD 16.50, approx. PHP 570, +7% GST and 10% service charge)

I wanted to compare Bangkok Jam's version with that of Thai Express, so we ordered the Soft Shell Crab again.  When the plate arrived, it was a bit disconcerting as it looked like a sorry mess.  The curry sauce was haphazardly poured onto the deep-fried crab, whose form you could hardly make out.

This is one crusty crab.

We modified our order but asking for a spicier kick, hence the abundant green and red finger chilies above.  The yellow curry sauce itself had a tangy taste on its own, and it was zestier than what we had in Thai Express.  The scrambled egg though was a bit distracting as it stood out wallowing in the sauce instead of blending in smoothly.  The crab, though, was a heavenly treat.  Perfectly deep fried to a crunch, it took no effort to crack the shell and consume everything thoroughly.  The meat was succulent and sweet, and the curry sauce complemented it well.  The portion was quite adequate enough to satiate our hunger.

Massaman Neua (Thai Massaman Curry with New Zealand Beef, SGD 14.50, approx. PHP 500, +7% GST and 10% service charge)

I had a growing fondness for Massaman Curry, so it was an easy pick for me.  When my plate arrived, it was a bit deflating.  The serving size seemed puny, with a small metal bowl and a few sad portions of pickled cauliflower.

Beefy goodness.

But the dish more than made up for its sorry appearance.  The sauce was thick and nutty, leaning more to the sweeter side that I really preferred.  Despite the small container, they managed to pack large chunks of beef within.  The meat was tender and easy to pry away.  What I loved where the sinewy and fatty streaks that boosted the flavor further.  Extra rice please!

My only rant was that the sauce was too little.  I don't usually drench my rice in sauce, but this was one exception.  It was highly addicting, pregnant with flavor, and paired well with a cup of rice.  

In fact, my general complaint with Bangkok Jam was the smaller serving size compared to Thai Express.  Also, service was quite slow despite dining at an off-peak hour.  I even had to get a pitcher of water myself from the nearby table after waving my hand helplessly for a few times at the waiter.

Still, taste-wise, Bangkok Jam mostly hits the right spots and is comparable to the more popular Thai Express.  Further, they offer fried spring rolls which aren't available with the latter.  That alone gave it the upper edge for me, since I really like pairing spring rolls with almost anything.  In essence, this was one jam I didn't mind getting stuck in.

Jones

Bangkok Jam

Plaza Singapura

68 Orchard Road

#03-85

Singapore

www.bangkokjam.com.sg

Steak Night at Hog's Breath Cafe

Finding a good but cheap steakhouse in Singapore is like searching for a needle in a haystack.  Most of the places that offer the tastiest steaks are either hotel restaurants or night spots frequented by foreigners.  These prime locations often dictate the prices of their food.  Thus, looking for the cheaper alternatives will usually lead you to your neighborhood Western hawker stall, although there are a few that are quite good (such as Tasty Barbecue in Maxwell FC).

Pig-out is putting it mildly.

Therefore, it was quite unusual to find a steakhouse with a rather filthy sounding name in such a pure and holy location.  Located at CHIJMES, Hog's Breath Cafe is right next door to a beautiful Gothic style church.  Don't be put off by their quirky name, because there's nothing foul about the good steaks they offer.

Originating from the land down under, one can expect the look and feel of the restaurant to be authentic.  And it does succeed in doing so, with rustic wooden tables and fixtures, wood-paneled floors akin to an outhouse. The walls are replete with posters from diners from an age long gone. 

Since it was a premeditated steak night out, both of us picked their specialty - the prime rib steak.  All steaks can be picked according to weight, the regular clocking in at 200 grams, the Aussie size at 300, the mega cut pegged at 400, and the super mega cut at a whopping half kilogram.  Being average-sized Asians, we obviously picked the smallest size.

Natural Prime Rib Steak, Regular (SGD 31.95, approx. PHP 1100, +7% GST and 10% service charge)

The cut was more than a centimeter thick, sized about an average adult palm.  Weighing in at 200 grams, it appeared adequate.  All their prime rib steaks come with two sides.  She picked the Hog Tail fries, curiously shaped as its namesake.  The fries were okay, reminiscent of McDonald's twister fries back home.  The mashed potatoes tasted bland without gravy, so we ordered steak sauce which cost another 2 dollars more.  What a bummer.

Having ordered the steak well-done, I expected the meat to be tough.  On the contrary, it retained just the right firmness.  Nevertheless, the natural juices dried up too much, rendering the steak lacking in flavor, or even too much of the smokey and char grilled taste.  It was bordering on overcooked, and as expected, we didn't finish it.

Hickory Smoked Prime Rib Steak, Regular (SGD 32.95, approx. PHP 1140, +7% GST and 10% service charge)

On the other hand, I picked a more Americanized version of the prime rib - lathered in that good ole' Hickory barbecue sauce. I also had mine medium, to retain the succulence of the meat.  The fries that came with it were again okay, as well as the greens.

Pink - the color of a real man's steak.

I always like my steak either medium or medium well, with just a hint of the pinkish succulent freshness of the meat.  And they nailed it with my order - the exteriors charred beautifully while the meat within was firm but not chewy.  The flavor burst forth with each slice, the natural juices seeping out.  The Hickory sauce was not overpowering, but complemented the char grilled and smokey taste.  Needless to say, I finished my portion in a jiffy.  Quite a good value for the price, especially around these places.

Although they failed a bit with our first order, we might be at fault for ordering it well done.  Still, the steak sauce was another blunder, with the garlic mushroom sauce tasting too bitter.  Or maybe us Filipinos are so used to the buttery flavor of our mushroom gravy back home.  I wonder if we had the Snackaroo sauce instead of Hog's Breath own sauce, if it would make any difference.

Nevertheless, this was indeed good value for the price tag, a sure bang for your back.  Not cheap tasting, but neither too expensive.  All things considered, this is the prime rib cut, one of the more pricier portions.  Yet they manage to serve a hefty slice for this price.  And at a pristine and quiet location within the city.

I would most certainly come back to try out their other meat offerings, but as of this blog posting, Hog's Breath Cafe has closed down until further notice, due to the CHIJMES renovation.  I do hope they return.  So why did I still write about it?

Because Hog's Breath has a branch in the Philippines!  Although the first branch is in Davao, I recently found out they will be opening a branch in Alabang (hooray!).  Check out the latest news on their Philippines Facebook page here.  I sincerely hope they keep prices at a reasonable level while maintaining the quality of their meat.  Definitely one of the better finds for good value for good steak.

Jones

Hog's Breath Cafe

30 Victoria Street, Block A

#01-27/27 CHIJMES

Singapore

(closed until further notice)

www.hogsbreath.com.sg

https://www.facebook.com/HogsBreathSingapore

Hog's Breath Cafe

Unit 147-149, Ground Floor

SM Lanang Premiere, 

Lanang, Davao

Philippines

https://www.facebook.com/HogsBreathCafeDavao