Brussels Sprouts is is a classic Belgian mussels and frites (moules frites) concept. There are two sizes of mussels – 18.50 for the small and 38.50 for the large. The large is really large and since there’s a free-flow of frites we didn’t see the value in a big pot for individual consumption (it would be great though if sharing drinks with friends to all chip in and grab a large bucket of mussels).

I went with the classic of black pepper, butter, celery, onion, parsley. The black pepper gave a nice finish to the mussels. Nico ordered the white wine, butter, celery, onion, parsley… equally good. Joanna however ordered up the table favorite - Thai style with coconut cream, coriander, lime, and sweet chili. It was probably the best “Thom Ka Gai” I’ve tasted in Singapore… only as a broth for some delicious mussels instead of the classic (if slightly over ordered by westerners) soup. The chilis, lime and coconut milk worked perfectly with the fruity Belgian beers and warm weather on the riverside. It might not be haute cuisine, but it’s yummy comfort food… and sometimes you just need that more.

The location next to the river is great for people watching and enjoying the night air…though it can get a bit crowded after work so I’d recommend making a reservation. If you’re not in the mood for mussels there are other items on the menu (but why go to a pizza place and order pasta?) and an epic beer menu featuring some great Belgian beers. Next time I’ll have to try the Hoegaarden Grand Cru .

There’s really not much more to say. If you like beer (who doesn’t) and mussels this is a no brainer. I love restaurants that do one thing, and do it well. If you’re searching out a great after work spot for drinks with friends check out Brussels Sprouts on the Quay. Get there before 8 for happy hour or check out their mussels madness promo – 2 starter sized pots for 25 or 2 big ones for 50.

Brussels Sprouts
80 Mohamed Sultan Road
#01-12 The Pier @ Robertson
6887 4344

PS – It also seems they’re running a weekend all you can eat and drink mussel festival for 70 SGD. If you drink 3 Hoegaardens it’s pretty much paid for itself

In celebration of our 100th post we’re going to do something a bit different this time around…first post to feature video content! A word of caution for vegetarians and those who are easily offended, overly squeamish or just fussy…don’t watch the video, you’ve been warned.

Growing up in Texas, it’s safe to say that I’m no stranger to the concept of charcoal grilling. Seated on a one foot high stool in the Hakano area of Tokyo, Japan, watching abalone writhe and wriggle as it cooked in front of our eyes… I realized just how limited my concept of charcoal grilling really is.

I received a text message from an old friend of mine asking us to meet up with him near the Nakano station in Tokyo Japan. Our experiences the weekend before taught us that we were in for a treat and that it would most likely be a place not found in a guide book.

We exited the station to find a thriving night scene. There was an open air (but covered) mall similar to the massive multi-street mall found in downtown Kyoto. Troy found us near the opening of the mall and we enjoyed a performance by a street jazz trio featuring guitar, bass, and tap dancer for percussionist! After a couple songs we headed off into a web of narrow side streets in search of our dinner location.

We arrived at Uroko, a…well let’s call it a seafood restaurant. Troy informed us that this style of restaurant is known as Amiyaki – charcoal restaurant. To me Amiyaki seems to be the love-child of Tepinyaki and Sukiyaki. You charcoal grill your own food at your table. The better restaurants have the best and freshest ingredients. Simple concept and one that if done right (in our extremely limited experience) can lead to an amazing and inexpensive meal.

The restaurant, built out of old boxes, was packed. There is absolutely no English anywhere…on any menu, sign, etc. Troy and his wife ordered up various dishes, occasionally letting us know what we were in store for.

We started the meal with a Okinawa area “chinmi” called Umibudo or sea grapes. A great start to a meal. Definitely try to get these if in Japan. Some refer to this little delicacy as “green caviar”

Next out was a lovely, fresh scallop salad.

Then came the sake boiled clams…mmmm, I’m on the fence with clams. I think normally they’re not used correctly in dishes, or aren’t as fresh as they need to be. These were great.

Then came a cabbage with spicy miso (known as Kara Miso). This dish sounds simple and easy…and it is, but man is flavorful. I’d eat this gladly over chips and salsa as a pre-meal snack any day.

Finally, the main show…live Abalone. It’s a little hard to watch. The little guy struggles in vain to wiggle out of it’s shell and find water and relief. But the payoff is worth it…so tasty.

Abalone in Tokyo, Japan from accidentalepicurean on Vimeo.

And then came probably one of the best things I’ve eaten in my life…the Tuna Jaw. They just dropped off this Flinstones looking hunk of Jaw meat for us to grill ourselves at the table. Grilled with a bit of char on the skin… mmm this meat should be on the dinner tables of every meat loving person regardless of country. I congratulate the Japanese for keeping this wonderful dish a secret… but they’re hogging of all the best tuna parts should come to an end. We need tuna jaw in the rest of the world

To finish off the meal we ordered up some Conch (as one does ) Oysters and Clams. They were all nice, but the tuna jaw and abalone were still distinctly in our minds.

So how much did this epic feast run us? I mean we’ve all heard the horror stories about how expensive Japan is, right? All in all, about 25 USD a person for all of this food and a couple pitchers of Yebisu beer! When I get back to Tokyo again, this place is on my short list.

Uroko
Take the North exit off the Nakano Metro Station.
Walk around till you see the shop pictured above

Inventive seafood in an intimate rooftop setting overlooking Chinatown

From Breeze’s perch atop Ann Siang Hill, one can see Singapore’s low-lying Chinatown area full of conservation shop houses, pagodas and mosques. The view was why we first came, but every time we have been to Breeze, we have been equally impressed by both the view and the food.

And our latest visit was no different. A couple of friends were visiting from London and we wanted to show them a bit of our neighbourhood and enjoy a nice dinner. And since Shane and Nicole had gotten a babysitter (for the first time in a very long time) we thought they might enjoy the kind of chic sophistication that is not always accessible with a toddler in tow.

Starting with a couple of beers and cocktails….we perused the menu. It is a testament to the appeal of the dishes that we had difficulty deciding what to order. We ended up starting with the Breeze Platter ($38 SGD) – which consisted of a sampler of the chef’s recommendations including portabella pizzettes, tuna bruschetta, blue mussels in a spicy coconut lemongrass broth and ‘fruits from the garden’ salad (a surprisingly odd yet tasty combination of salad greens, orange sections, strawberries and apples). The mussels were stunning – they were so good we started fighting over the last ones! “I had 2, how many have you had? Oh 3 you say, well then I guess this one is mine”

I opted for the Morroccan Beef Skewers ($36 SGD) which was a single skewer marinated in lemongrass, garam masala and seared with a Madeira sauce. They were in a word – perfection. Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, perfectly delicious.

Paul got his perennial favourite, the Spring Chicken ($26 SGD), grilled sumac spiced boneless spring chicken served with thyme jus. This is a simple but truly special dish in that the simplicity allows the individual flavours to shine.

Shane got the Seafood Casserole ($30 SGD) which maybe doesn’t sound so special but was in fact a rather exotic mix of braised seafood with paw paw and jalapeno, roasted in a scampi broth. An abundant presentation of seafood, Shane had a little trouble finishing, so we all pitched in to help…maybe he was sorry he offered after we picked every last shell clean of seafood.

Nicole had what also sounded like a simple dish, the Seafood and Avocado salad ($22 SGD). A medley of seafood, avocado, pomegranate and crabmeat tossed in prawn roe mayo on a bed of lettuce. As Shane pointed out…it was a combination of perfect bites due to the irresistible combination of ingredients …for example, there was the succulence of a clam combined with the pop of pomegranate seeds. Yum!

As much as we love the Beef Skewers and Spring Chicken, Paul and I both agree, the thing to do here is take advantage of the seafood and the inventive combinations the chef creates – both bold and delicate flavours that somehow enhance the seafood while still letting its own fresh taste shine through.

Living about 2 blocks from the Scarlet Hotel, we like to take advantage of it whenever we can. But even if you are not close by, it is a real destination dining experience – whether you are a long-time resident who wants to venture out and try something new or if you are a first time Singapore visitor, you will have a wonderful meal that stimulates both the palate and the eyes at Breeze at the Scarlet Hotel.

Breeze at the Scarlet Hotel
33 Erskine Road
Singapore 069333
Telephone: +65 6511 3333