Jumpstarting My Singapore Food Crawl: Makansutra Gluttons Bay

It's been a while since my last blog post, having been busy adjusting to a new way of life and a vastly different culture here in Singapore.  Unlike our Filipino habits, majority of Singaporeans live a fast-paced, career-driven, achievement-hungry lifestyle.  Yet despite this seemingly hectic pace, one thing I noticed in my first two weeks here is that they will slow down, queue up, and wait patiently for really good food.  Be it a hawker stall or a high-end restaurant, long lines are the best clue for something good.

If you come to Singapore lacking any knowledge of the good foodie spots or their best-selling local delicacies, you will surely find yourself giddy searching for what to eat.  Often, for first-time tourists (and even for second timers who just miss the food, like me), one quick jump start for an authentic culinary experience is Makansutra Gluttons Bay.

This is one sutra that is unadulterated.

The brainchild of KF Seetoh, the street food photojournalist guru (I love this guy and his shows on AFC!), Makansutra seeks to replicate a real hawker experience - open-air, smokey, crowded, yet home to tasty treats.  Although the real gems of Singapore cuisine are tucked away in the vast array of hawkers and food courts all over the island, Makansutra is a pretty good place to sample the local food and grab an overview of what the fuss is all about - without getting lost in the heart of the city.

Composed of several stalls which offer their own unique dish, one should manage to try out the best from each.  Having been here for the second time, we wanted to sample a different dish.  In the mood for grilled skewers, our first stop was Alhambra Padang Satay.

Satay Set, SGD 7.00

Apparently famous for their grilled skewers, their stall is a hit among both local and foreign beer guzzlers.  Now I'm really missing the kanto barbecue stalls of the Philippines!  But the satay had a curious charm on its own.  The set consisted of 5 sticks of tender chicken meat and another 5 sticks of soft beef mutton, with a side dish of fresh sliced onions and a peculiar looking yam of some sort.

Basted in a secret marinade, the chicken satay was juicy and flavorful.  It was like our own inasal but zestier.  The beef was my wonderful surprise.  The meat was soft and smokey, grilled to perfection.  Both varieties paired perfectly with their peanut sauce dip.  My only complaint was the seemingly small serving size of the skewered meat per stick.  But hey, nothing comes cheap in Singapore (that is, if you always convert to peso!)

Crispy Baby Squid, SGD 5.00 (?)

One of the first few things we craved for upon setting our feet again in this country was this dish, the Crispy Baby Squid.  This time, I tried out another stall for a different version. (Sorry, I forgot the name of the stall, but it's the one nearest to the bay side).  

Sponge Bob's boss.

These babies were deep fried to a crunch, and then tossed in a sweet spicy red sauce, garnished with chopped onions, red chili, and green pepper.  The entire mix is laid on a bed of what appears to be desiccated rice noodles.  The squid was indeed crispy - not a single piece tasted old nor chewy.  The sauce was executed well, a right mix of sweetness and an ample amount of spicy kick.  The serving size was good enough for two people, although again the price may seem steep for others.

Thai Crab Fried Rice, SGD 7.00 (?)

There's no better way to enjoy both dishes than with a heaping serving of rice.  This stall, Thai Yummy Food, serves a variety of fried rice creations.  We picked the crab fried rice to complement our two dishes.  As expected, the rice was a bit too oily, yet was exploding with flavor - just the right amount of saltiness and zest.

Generously mixed with chopped crabmeat and all sorts of veggies, it was definitely heavy and filling.  Good enough for four persons (or two really hungry people), yet again the price appeared to be inappropriately high.  Nevertheless, it went well with both the grilled skewers and the deep fried squid.  

With this view, I won't complain about the price anymore.

Makansutra Gluttons Bay has gathered some of the best hawker stalls in Singapore into one place, relieving us of the hassle of journeying from place to place, searching for the stall that serves its own unique best-seller.  Even homesick Filipinos can grab a quick bite of good old pinoy food, with Gerry's Grill having their own nook (just don't convert the price to peso though, or you'll feel sorry).  

Recreating an authentic hawker experience with its open-air ambiance, humid atmosphere, and noisy sales-talking vendors, you can be sure the food is genuine and fresh - as you have to wait for each dish to be cooked, just like the real hawker courts.  Perhaps because of its prime location in Marina Bay, the prices are steeper compared to overcrowded food courts in the city.  But then again, with a captivating view of the Singapore skyline, who's thinking about the price?

Jones

Makansutra Gluttons Bay

8 Raffles Avenue #01-15

Singapore

http://www.makansutra.com

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The Thai Chic: Mango Tree Bistro

Along with Japanese and Chinese cuisines, Thai food remains as one of the longstanding foreign flavors that our country has learned to embrace in the past few decades.  I vaguely remember Oody's and Dusit Thani in Glorietta years ago, already blazing the trails for Thai cuisine.  Both remain in existence.  The typical Thai restaurant used to be a dimly lit shop adorned with statues of Buddha in his quiet repose.  Yet the new brand of Thai seeks to break the boring and traditional, to cater to a wider and hungrier crowd.

A mix of modern class and traditional virtues.

On the outside, Mango Tree Bistro looks more like a hip late-night bar.  On the inside, dimly-lit surroundings with walls highlighted by purple and white hues accentuate the modern vibe.  The fixtures are all in minimalist black, including the chairs and tables.  Low-set sofas and wooden-paneled tables are arranged neatly outside for al fresco dining.  True to its name, the bistro feel was pervasive.  Clearly, it was far from traditional.  Yet don't be surprised if you find a gem of a dish here instead of a cool drink.

It may appear intimidating at first for people who don't frequent bistros, bars, and the like (like me).  However, Mango Tree Bistro serves your traditional Thai food favorites with a more trendy take.  It was our first time to eat Thai food together, so Mango Tree Bistro was an interesting choice.

Taking it up a notch, Mango Tree Bistro was one of the first restaurants to upload its full menu on the Ipad.  A novel concept, and a brilliant one at that.  Not only do you get to peruse the delectable choices in full HD, it offers a different level of interaction.  With dishes that had tongue-twisting names longer than your own, it was helpful to provide crystal clear images of what you were to expect on your dining table.  With a few flips of the finger, we ordered our Thai favorites.

Popia Phad Thai, P180 (+10% service charge)

It's always appropriate to start off any Thai experience with spring rolls, fried or otherwise.  The Popia Phad Thai were deep-fried vegetable rolls, akin to our local lumpiang gulay.  But the comparisons end there.  These rolls had bolder flavor and more filling, consisting of rice noodles, mongo sprouts and bamboo shoots, with a hint of cilantro.  The sweet chili dipping sauce is the perfect partner for this starter.  In fact, I could eat this with rice rather than as an appetizer.

Gai Satay, P250 (+10% service charge)

Another all-time favorite is the chicken skewers, the Gai Satay.  These tender fillets of chicken are grilled and coated with a peanut sauce that adds nutty and sweet overtones to that distinct grilled flavor.  This was perfectly executed, with the meat remaining juicy and tender, and the flavor seeping through.  The side dip of additional peanut sauce adds further flavor, in case your palate yearns for more.  Although not wildly spectacular, their version hits all the right notes.

Talay Prik Thai Dum, P350

For the main dishes, we picked a mixed seafood specialty.  The Talay Prik Thai Dum consisted of strips of squid meat, fish fillet, and shrimps, stir-fried in a signature black pepper sauce, and then garnished with crispy bell peppers and onions to add a little zest.  The squid was tender and easy to chew, although the fish fillet was a little bland.  The shrimps were too few to number, and I would have preferred more shrimps than squid.  Nevertheless, the black pepper added enough zing to the mixture, lending a bold and unique taste. 

Panang Gai, P350 (+10% service charge)

Rounding up the main course was the ubiquitous curry dish, the Panang Gai.  This red curry infused stew consisted of tender slices of chunky chicken meat with the usual garnishing of bell peppers and mixed vegetables.  We had requested for a spicier version, and they even served us a separate bowl of chili powder.  Nevertheless, the sting level was enough on its own.  It was not overpowering, yet sufficiently cloying to keep me busy scooping up the wonderful curry sauce onto my eager jasmine rice.  Hands down, this was our favorite for the night.

Thai Iced Tea, P80 and Calamansi Juice, P100 (+10% service charge)

To dissipate the fiery flavors of the curry and the others, the Thai Iced Tea is the perfect compliment.  Unlike your corner milk tea cafe, this version is sleek and stronger in flavor.  The distinct taste of the tea leaves stands out, while the milk infuses a creamier texture.  The Calamansi Juice was not on the menu but a special request, and the wait staff willingly obliged to concoct an impromptu mix.  That was a definite plus for me, as they were flexible enough for any of the customer's requests.

Classy and chic, Mango Tree Bistro is pioneering a new age of Thai in the foodie scene.  No more of that shabby looking joints with Buddha as the centerpiece.  In here, the food takes the spotlight.  A bit on the pricey edge, yet the plating and presentation offers you a fine dining feel.  It can be argued that there are quite a number of Thai restaurants that serve way better-tasting dishes with knock-me-over flavors at a cheaper price.  But for a different ambiance and impeccable service, coughing up a few more bucks for Mango Tree Bistro appears worth it.  The aura of the restaurant is relaxing, yet at the same time lively and hip.  

A testament to their trail-blazing success is another branch in Greenbelt, and then a higher-end and more refined experience with Mango Tree in BHS Central.  Maybe on an ordinary day, for a quick Thai fix, I might pick the cheaper Thai hole-in-the-wall joints (like Dek-A, soon).  However, on a special night, when you want to impress without going overboard, Mango Tree Bistro is the unmistakable choice.

Jones

Mango Tree Bistro

Third Level, Trinoma Mall

EDSA corner North Avenue

Quezon City

http://mangotree.com.ph

https://www.facebook.com/MangoTreeBistroManila

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