Hotel buffets need not be the most extravagant and fancy; we are happy if the food is good and the price is reasonable. Royale at Mercure Singapore Bugis has constantly been on our list of affordable buffet spreads in Singapore since its opening and we are giving you another reason to love them.

For the next three months, Royale is going to pay tribute to Asia’s dynamic flavours. The new Rasa Sayang BBQ Buffet is the next buffet with local spread to try. It is super value-for-money and it is like enjoying all your favourites at Chomp Chomp Food Centre in a comfortable air-conditioned environment for just one price.

From 01 June to 26 August 2018, indulge in a huge array of local goodies which features an extravagant lineup of over 30 local and Asian delights. You may quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy 30% off the buffet upon making reservations from Sundays to Thursdays, and 20% off on Fridays and Saturdays. Do note that the discounts are not applicable on Father’s Day, Eve and Public Holidays and it is limited to a maximum of only 10 diners per booking.

DO IT YOURSELF STATION—ROJAK

Rojak is a dish that needs no further introduction. In Malay, ‘rojak’ is a word that means ‘mixture’. In Singapore, ‘rojak’ is a local “salad”. Essentially a salad tossed in sweet sauce, rojak compromises dough fritters, turnips, pineapples, cucumbers and jellyfish.

Look forward to the D.I.Y. rojak station at Royale where you can customise your rojak to your own liking. We like the sound of unlimited D.I.Y. rojak because it means we can add as many pineapple and dough fritters as we please!

OUTDOOR BBQ STATION

This time, Royale at Mercure Singapore Bugis has taken their buffet spread a notch up by featuring a live barbecue station outdoors. Think your favourite BBQ seafood stalls from Chomp Chomp, but even better because this is free flow!

You can indulge in a myriad of barbecued food items, which include ayam panggam, grilled squid, 3 different varieties of satays and everyone’s favourite grilled sambal stingray!

Just think about the value you are getting for the price you are paying—at your typical hawker centres, you pay an average of S$12 per sambal stingray; you pay S$26.60++ (on weekdays) here for endless servings. Isn’t it unbelievable?!

DO IT YOURSELF STATION—ASIAN BAO-WICH

Royale has decided to redefine ‘kong ba bao’. Choose from not 1, but 3 different types of meats.

Besides the classic Braised Five Spice Pork Belly, Royale also offers diners Nyonya Chicken and Black Pepper Beef fillings that sit in between soft, pillowy steamed mantou buns.

While the fatty and mildly sweet pork belly is surely a crowd-pleaser, we sang nothing but praises for the Nyonya Chicken, which had a really nice crispy skin. The Black Pepper Beef was well-marinated and came with a hint of spice, although the heat is not lip-smacking so children can enjoy this dish as can everyone else.

FRIED KWAY TEOW

Fried Kway Teow may not be what you’d expect to get at a hotel buffet but you would be thankful for this delight at Royale.

The Fried Kway Teow at Royale boasts smoky and robust flavours and every mouthful of this char kway teow is bursting with a complex charred aroma. This station will definitely be one that Singaporeans will be making multiple rounds to.

HAR CHEONG GAI

Trust us when we say that Royale’s version of Singaporeans’ favourite Har Cheong Gai is insanely addictive. The crispy and succulent prawn paste chicken is richly marinated in shrimp paste and just the aroma of this dish alone is enough to whet your appetite.

Royale has executed this dish so brilliantly such that die-hard fans of prawn paste chicken will definitely be pleased. 

WOK FRIED SALTED EGG YOLK PRAWNS 

Here in Singapore, we take our food trends seriously. The salted egg yolk trend is undisputedly one that will last for a long time and it is dishes such as the Wok Fried Salted Egg Yolk Prawns at Royale that keeps this food trend alive.

Royale’s rendition of salted egg yolk prawns definitely did not disappoint—the prawns were beautifully coated with a creamy, rich and piquant salted egg yolk coating which came with a hint of spiciness.

PAPER BAG OVEN-BAKED LAKSA CHICKEN

Having been marinated for 24 hours before being roasted in a paper bag, the tender meat of the chicken is a showstopper in its own right, especially when complemented with the luscious broth.

Royale’s version of the Singapore laksa broth differs slightly from the traditional ones—made with a blend of seven spices, the laksa broth which the chicken is doused in is rich and fragrant, bursting with a distinct spicy coconut flavour.

Every piece of chicken you have would have locked in the was creamy and full-flavoured laksa broth, making the tender chicken surprisingly flavourful.

SNAPPER FISH HEAD CURRY

The Fish Head Curry at Royale is a slightly tangier version and less spicy than what we had hoped for it to be, but it left an impression on us anyway. We were pleasantly surprised by the strong aroma and richness of the curry despite it being slightly watery.

Coupled with a variety of vegetables such as lady’s fingers and brinjal, this is one hearty dish that stood out in the line-up and is one that will make us return to the buffet for.

TRADITIONAL DESSERTS

Royale’s Rasa Sayang BBQ Buffet includes not just their usual sweet treats but also a repertoire of traditional local desserts which come with a modern twist.

Look forward to items such as Durian Crème Brûlée, Coconut Custard Tart and an assortment of Nonya Kueh—every one of their desserts is made fresh in-house. Don’t miss out on the classic Pandan Chiffon Cake sweetened with a layered of fluffy marshmallow, inspired by the nostalgic ice cream sandwich.

There is also a D.I.Y. Chendol station which will be part of the buffet spread—customise your dream chendol and end off your meal with this icy treat!

From 01 June to 26 August 2018, indulge in a huge array of local goodies which features an extravagant lineup of over 30 local and Asian delights. You may quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy 30% off the buffet upon making reservations from Sundays to Thursdays, and 20% off on Fridays and Saturdays. Do note that the discounts are not applicable on Father’s Day, Eve and Public Holidays and it is limited to a maximum of only 10 diners per booking.

Rasa Sayang BBQ Buffet Details
1 June – 26 August 2018
Daily Dinner: 6pm – 10pm
Price: Adults—S$38++, S$68++*, Children—S$19++

*Inclusive of free flow wines and beer

Royale
Level 3, Mercure Singapore Bugis
122 Middle Road
Singapore 188973
Tel: +65 6521 6030 / or email HA0D7-FB1@accor.com
Buffet Dinner: 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

This post is brought to you by Mercure Singapore Bugis.

Provisions is Singapore’s first claypot rice and skewers cocktail bar. Yes, you read that right. You can have the traditional claypot rice at this new gastropub in Dempsey Hill. Prices start from S$4 for skewers, S$9 for claypot rice and S$12 for drinks.

Owned by 27-year-old Singapore chef Justin Foo, Provisions serves claypot rice, skewers, Asian small plates as well as bespoke cocktail concoctions.

At Provisions, the humble claypot rice is given a modern twist and you can look forward to creations such as Mushroom Tea Rice (S$9), Seafood Rice (S$6), Oyster & Uni Rice (S$28). 

From the Skewers section, choose from charcoal-grilled skewers including Chicken Thigh (S$5), Prawns (S$9), Pork Jowl (S$7), Pork Belly (S$7) and Beef Sirloin (S$10).

Photos credit: Provisions

Provisions does not charge service charge and GST.

Provisions
7 Dempsey Road #01-04
Singapore
Tel: +65 9783 0792
Tue to Thu: 4pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 4pm – 2am
Sun: 10.30am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Nestled in between the shophouses on Joo Chiat Road is Sinpopo Brand, one of our favourite cafes with a strong touch of nostalgia. The cafe boasts a retro rustic ambience – think wooden tables, checkered floor tiles, antique light bulbs, Bruce Lee posters and songs from the 60′s.

Nothing spells comfort to a Singaporean more than Nasi Lemak and Hor Fun – which is exactly what Sinpopo Brand is known for. However, what distinguishes Sinpopo Brand from the usual hawker centre food besides the vintage interiors of the cafe, is how they deliver local food that comes with a twist.

On our previous visit, we shared several of our favourite bites from Sinpopo Brand. Since then, the concept cafe has introduced new additions. There is a Salted Vegetable Duck Soup that totally reminded us of grandma’s cooking, a Muah Chee Salad and an extremely photogenic Gula Melaka Chendol Parfait!

Readers of Ladyironchef can enjoy any dessert for just S$5 with any 2 main dishes or Nasi Lemak for Two ordered.

Here are our favourite Mod-Sin Dishes from Sinpopo Brand That Are Worth The Calories.

YUMMY APPETIZERS

Move aside, boring salads.

We initially mistook the Muah Chee Salad’s (S$12++) golden-brown chunks as croutons, but they are actually fried Muah Chees. Can you believe that these traditional glutinous rice balls are now incorporated in salads?

Instead of tossing them in ground peanut, these chewy delights are rolled in a batter and fried till its exteriors are crisp. The Muah Chees surprisingly go well with the myriad of fresh greens, parmesan cheese and sesame seeds. Kudos to Sinpopo Brand for such an ingenious invention!

Now you may find this rather odd, but the Wedges & Curry (S$6++) was another dish that won us all over. This humble-looking dish to be so damn addictive! There was a sense of familiarity, like the curry Mom makes at home. It’s true – sometimes the simplest of things brings the most gratification.

NONYA KIAM CHYE ARG!

Many locals enjoy salted vegetable duck soup and the hot peppery broth is said to dispel internal body heat. This Chinese delicacy is known for its strong salty and sour taste that is good for whetting one’s appetite before a meal.

What constitutes a good bowl of salted vegetable duck soup for us is the right blend of saltiness from the salted vegetables, sweetness from the duck meat and a tangy sourness that is not overbearing.

Happy to declare that Sinpopo Brand’s Nonya Kiam Chye Arg! (S$16++) ticks all the above boxes. The cherry on top? Or should we say the duck on top, my friends, is a whole duck leg confit that is wonderfully crisp and even better when eaten with the belachan chilli served on the side.

SLICED WAGYU HOR FUN

The Sinpopo Sliced Wagyu Hor Fun (S$18++) is one of the cafe’s bestsellers. The uniqueness lies in its drastically different texture. These hor fun noodles have been painstakingly soaked in a semi-salty beef broth before being cooked till it becomes fish maw-like.

Complemented with fork-tender wagyu slices, ground peanut, sliced onions, red chilli, coriander leaves and a lime wedge, this mind-blowing dish is indeed worthy of being one of Sinpopo Brand’s signatures.

SINPOPO CRAB BEE HOON

The Sinpopo Crab Bee Hoon (S$16++) is another hearty soup dish. Ultra-thin vermicelli dunked in a savoury broth, and completed with a huge dollop of delectable crabmeat. Everyone at the table was nodding their head in unison and singing praises about this stellar bowl.

LOCAL FLAVOURED DESSERTS

As Awfully Chocolate’s sister company, Sinpopo Brand places much pride in their desserts. We always love a good serving of sweets when at Sinpopo Brand, for they are really good at crafting delectable desserts with a local touch.

New desserts that are going up on the menu are Sinpopo’s Super Chendol Parfait, Durian Puff and Marshmallow Cheesecake.

The Sinpopo’s Super Chendol Parfait (S$10++) is an impressive elaborate dessert served in a martini glass. A scoop of gula melaka ice cream is placed atop a bed of chendol and finished with a jiggly konnyaku palm sugar jelly. Dig further in and you will find attap chees and red bean paste. Yum! What calories?

The Durian Puffs are going at S$5.90++ for one and S$20++ for four. Upon digging into it with a spoon, the crisp biscuity exterior broke apart to reveal rich creamy durian pengat encased inside.

The Marshmallow Cheesecake (S$7++) is a new dessert addition that deserves to be raved about. The sweet treat has successfully combined the contrasting textures of stickiness, softness and crumbliness into a divine creation. You can expect a dense New York-style Cheesecake – with a crumbly base – covered with torched marshmallow fluff. Sinful yet delicious.

From now till 31 October 2016, readers of Ladyironchef can enjoy an exclusive deal when dining at Sinpopo Brand! With any 2 main dishes or Nasi Lemak for Two ordered, enjoy any dessert for just S$5!

For the latest updates, go to www.sinpopo.com and like them on Facebook and Instagram.

Sinpopo Brand
458 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Tue to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Dakota

This post is brought to you by Sinpopo Brand.