The way you make an omelet reveals your character. – Anthony Bourdain

UPDATE JUL 2020: Pecori, along with the entire Liang Court, has closed. The mall is undergoing redevelopment.

Liang Court to many *cough* youths of my age used to be associated with the 24hrs MacDonald’s at the first floor (which has since been replaced with a food court instead) that you go to for cheap calories before a night of parties. But relatively unbeknownst to many, there is actually a Japanese enclave with a wide selection of F&B options. From premium nigiri sushi to croquettes and curries, there’s something for everyone and their wallets.

Natalie Wang

Poet. Debate specialist & coach. Makeup artist & beauty blogger. Natalie (@natwangthecat , and @natziwang) keeps herself busy with many activities. You should check out her adventures and short-lived love affairs with cats she encounters! But tonight, she brings me to her favourite spot to recharge with some of her comfort food: omu rice.

Pecori Japanese Egg Restaurant

Placed at a cosy corner of the cooked food section of Medi-Ya supermarket, Pecori specialises in, amongst other minor ones, Japanese omelette rice. While many are familiar (thanks to social media) the dramatic service style of Kyoto’s Kichi Kichi, they (Pecori) do it quietly and without much fanfare. Designed like a cutesy countryside cottage, the interior has very limited seating; most customers, including us) sit at the common tables in the area right in front.

With any purchase you get access to the all-you-can-eat salad and soup bar. Perfect for warming your poor soul, but why would you overeat and miss out on the star of the night? (edit: free access is only for dinner; a small top-up is applicable during lunch)

The mainstay of Pecori, the Japanese omu rice, is served with a variety of sauces and toppings (e.g. like a huge piece of tonkatsu, which I got). There’s no real favourite here, although the classic thing to order here is the demi-glace sauce with the beef stew. If you’re feeling for something a bit lighter, there’s the mushroom ankake sauce (kind of like a light clear soy sauced-based gravy). Underneath the fluffy omelettes lay an equally fluffy bed of stir-fried rice, and the generous portion will make sure you get your full $12++ worth of comfort! They also have other non-omu rice items on offer… but really?

Usually they also have a selection of dessert(s) to finish of the meal, such as this jiggly piece of Japanese pudding. According to Natalie, if you’re lucky you may even get their elusive chocolate cake!

Verdict

hole-in-the-wall-ness: [star rating=”3.5″]
It is pretty hidden from most mall visitors, but nonetheless it is a shopping mall. Natalie would disagree as virtually none of her friends even know this corner of the mall existed.

Price: [star rating=”3.5″]
Japanese food have always commanded a premium here. With prices starting from about $12, it is indeed quite dear. But in exchange you will get quality and freshness where it matters.

Quality: [star rating=”4.5″]
Portions are big and ingredients clearly look and taste fresh. Mmm those eggs…

Overall: [star rating=”4″]
Fancy some eggs, monsieur? Maybe come here before a long night ahead at Clarke Quay next time!

More Information

Pecori Japanese Egg Restaurant
177 River Valley Road
#B1-31
Liang Court
Singapore 179030
(Go down the ramp escalator to basement 1, and walk towards Medi-Ya supermarket and all the way across the cashier rows, not into the supermarket)
Tel: 8277 0959 (but you don’t really need it, they are open rain or shine)
Opening Hours: 11:00am to 10:00pm daily
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“Nothing is more difficult, and therefore more precious, than to be able to decide.” -Napoleon Bonaparte

Burgers. Originally just served as a meat patty in Germany (Hamburg, hence the name to hamburger and then burger), the modern burger was debatably developed by a few different sources in early USA history, but one thing in common was the mobility and ease of mass production it brought. Especially to a fast-paced metropolis like the big apple: New York City (cue nasal voice), the land of opportunity.

Jolie Hwee

When not learning how to scalp (literally, guys) people on surgical tables, Dr. Jolie turns to looking for new places to dine at. Check out her Instagram!

So when told of a burger joint that’s so obscure it literally doesn’t even have a front display and entrance, she had to come take a look.

Burger Joint Singapore

Of Le Parker Meridien down 56th St, NYC fame, Burger Joint opened their first outlet in Southeast Asia down in the Telok Ayer/Amoy Street area. Why am I being so vague? That’s because instead of a prominent front display, it is actually situated in what could have been a kitchen/pantry/worker’s quarters in the early 20th century. To access it, you would have to go round the back, along Gemill Lane before you spot the ubiquitous neon burger sign plastered next to a inconspicuous door… only to go in and be greeted by a dark corridor lined with curtains, and yet another neon burger sign.

Once you (finally) reach the restaurant, you’ll be greeted with a familiar sight (if you’ve ever been to the one in NYC; I haven’t though): the worn-looking wooden furniture and walls in a dimly lit room. If you come in a group you can try your luck at one of the booth seats, but most are happy at the standing tables or even to chill at the bar, where they serve a decent spread of cold beer and good ol’ American whiskies.

Ordering a burger here isn’t… too many layers of work. You are free to choose whether you want a plain hamburger or load it up with cheese, bacon, jalapeno peppers, or all of the above! For best results, go for ‘the works’ when asked for your vegetables. But of course in a capitalist free world, more will cost you.

The burgers come wrapped in paper bags and perfectly grilled to your liking (medium rare’s great), and piping hot. Now chomp on to that freedom and opportunity all the way from the East coast!

Yes, the burgers are quite expensive. Yes, the servings are not exactly very big. But does it matter? Not really, when you have the freedom of choice. If you like what you’re getting, feel free to scribble your words of praise or greetings on literally any surface you can find (most people choose the walls though) too! Verdict

hole-in-the-wall-ness: [star rating=”5″]
The only giveaway of any semblance of a restaurant is the neon sign in the door so yes, hole in the wall.

Price: [star rating=”3″]
For prices starting at $17 excluding taxes, it is definitely on the steep side when it comes to burgers. You do get quality meat that is grilled to your liking though. BUT I only found out after that they actually are on the entertainer app, so you can bring a friend along, or simply take two burgers!

Quality: [star rating=”4″]
I give credit that they make it up in quality, that their meat, vegetables and even buns are freshly made (buns are made in-house).

Overall: [star rating=”3.5″]
A good concept with no-nonsense and no-frills food, but I probably will only come here once in a while if I were on a budget. I mean, we’re free to choose right?

Wishing all readers from the USofA a happy 4th July!

More Information

Burger Joint Singapore
115 Amoy Street
#01-03
Singapore 069935
(Entrance at back on Gemmill Lane)
Tel: +65 6221 8648
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The post Let Freedom Ring! Burger Joint Singapore with Jolie (@joliehwee) appeared first on You Otter Go There.

“I am a coffee fanatic. Once you go to proper coffee, you can’t go back. You cannot go back.”

– Hugh Laurie

UPDATE: VXX has closed.

As recent as 2010, Singapore was hit by a wave of artisan coffee houses, stemming from the Melbourne café scene that has pretty much took over the whole world. It’s no doubt that Singaporeans will always crave for better quality, and will jump on the first available choice AND be more than willing to shell out a premium. However it still remains a cut-throat arena; out of the 391 cafes that opened in 2014, at least a quarter of them didn’t make the cut since. That’s a lot of coffee going both ways!

Also, I personally observe that a lot of these cafés popping up like rabbits aren’t really that serious about the literal meaning of a café; well, the coffee.

Stephanie Phua (Duo Studio)

Stephanie of Duo Studio sought out to disprove that by bringing me to a relatively new coffeehouse in the vicinity of her agency, in Jalan Besar. Speaking of the area, it’s a really under-the-radar and eclectic enclave of coffeehouses and small restaurants!

Creative & advertising agencies similarly have a tough life over here, and she’s glad that she can find such a place just round the corner that not only is a good place to tune out/do work in peace, but also has a satisfying dining experience.

VXX Cooperative

Started by coffee connoisseurs and professionals Joy and Aslam, VXX Cooperative takes pride in their coffee-centric nature, which is evident in the curation of available roasted brews. With a mix of local favourites Nylon Coffee Roasters, Cloud Catcher Roastery (Malaysia), Koppi (Sweden) and Tim Wendelboe (Norway), it’s a special kind of heaven for serious coffee enthusiasts. Coupled with the strong experience of both former baristas themselves, Joy and Aslam are able to bring out the best of what are already among the best roasts in town.

If you wanted to know, “VXX” is something of sentimental value to Aslam, as it is the area code (520) of the district.

I’m a relatively technical person myself, and I love it when being explained to the facts and technical aspects of just about anything, especially food. This was exactly the experience I got; Joy was really patient and enthusiastic to introduce the profiles of the special brews on sale that day and I made an informed choice to get the Nacimiento by Tim Wendelboe. Served in a metal flask, it’s meant to be enjoyed slowly to allow the aromatics time to vaporise and give you an olfactory treat.

If any, their logo is a good representation of their culture: sharp but multi-directional curation. Located at 20 Foch Road, the interior is nicely spaced, minimalistic yet comfortable. The flowery floor tiles were probably because it used to be a dispensary back in the days. It’s not somewhere you’d want to have a 50 seats birthday party at, but like Stephanie, it’s a pretty good place if you want some peace and quiet. When you enter the shop’s front hall you’ll be greeted with a really large flat wooden table, possible with some coffee drips running on it. Take your pick with the merchandise just next to it too, when I was there, I saw some really good chocolate!

In fact, she got so comfy with the place that her coffee choices are simply picked for her and she does not have to worry about not enjoying whatever is served! Joy does not disappoint.

The food menu is something that constantly evolves, but keeps to their principle of serving simple food to a T. I do agree to not over-complicating your food as a café owner as it will rob the attention from the beverages, and turn you into one of those red-velvet-cake-eggs-benedict-please hipster cafés.

Opting for something balanced and light I’ve opted for the banana-walnut french toast, topped up with mascarpone cheese, berries and coffee custard. Stephanie (aka stooffi) got basically what she always orders: a beef chorizo bowl with shaved potatos and tomatoes, topped with a perfectly wobbly *jiggle* onsen egg. According to her this is the third iteration of the same dish, and it is rather different in terms of presentation and preparation style from the predecessors.

There are also several other interesting creations from breakfast items to full lunch menus. I heard the dessert is also to die for, so get them before they change the menu (yet again)!

At the time of writing both Rudi and Joy are taking part in the Singapore National Brewers Cup 2017, happening at Cafe Asia 2017 over at MBS this weekend! All the best!

Verdict

hole-in-the-wall-ness: [star rating=”5″]
Nondescript shopfront, minimalistic furniture, artisan food and beverages? Check!

Price: [star rating=”4″]
While you have to be prepared for some premium in prices, care is taken to prepare the food and (especially) coffee. You won’t feel shortchanged at all!

Quality: [star rating=”4.5″]
See above. Portions are just right regardless if you want a midday snack, or a hearty lunch.

Overall: [star rating=”4.5″]
Definitely a good local effort to bring quality coffee to the scene (a refreshing change in my opinion). They change up every 3-4 months to keep things fresh too, so you won’t get bored.

More Information

VXX Cooperative
20 Foch Road
Singapore 209261
Tel: 8720 0093
Opens daily 9:00am to 6:00pm
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