While a seafood feast is usually thought of as a gourmet experience, we prefer to get our hands down and dirty by having it the messy way.

You can do just that at Cajun on Wheels, a Halal-certified seafood diner on wheels that serves outrageously sumptuous and fresh Louisiana-style seafood at very reasonable prices. Living up to its name, the majority of Cajun on Wheels dishes pack a mean, spicy punch that will undoubtedly leave you reeling in satisfaction.

To add on to their already extensive menu, they will be introducing a whole new range of Asian Charcoal-Grilled dishes that are marinated with Kicap Manis, an iconic Indonesian sauce that is sweet, savoury and mildly spicy all at once. The new range of Charcoal-Grilled dishes is exclusively available at Cajun on Wheels at Plaza Singapura only.

So, say goodbye to your utensils and don your plastic bibs because this bold and unpretentious feast is best enjoyed with your hands!

OLYMPIAN BUCKET 

Unleash your inner beast with Cajun on Wheels’ classic Olympian Bucket (S$177) that features a smorgasbord of various fresh seafood and ingredients such as Scottish Dungeon Crab, Sri Lankan crab, prawns, white clams, mussels, sweet corn, potatoes and chicken spam.

All these goodies are drenched in a sauce of your choice which includes options such as Cajun Cheese, Herb & Butter, Spicy Cheese Soil (available in a non-spicy version), Singapore Chilli Crab, Sambal Chilli Egg and Salted Egg Yolk.

We highly recommend the Spicy Cheesy Soil, a decadent, full-bodied sauce that is sweet, creamy and ridiculously addictive.

CHARCOAL-GRILLED SEAFOOD BUCKET 

Be sure to also try Cajun on Wheel’s Charcoal-Grilled Seafood Bucket (S$89) which can serve 2 to 3 people. The bucket comes brimming with ingredients such as charcoal-grilled Sri Lankan crab, crayfish, squid, baby potatoes and corn. To complete this hearty feast, everything is doused in a spicy and sweet kicap manis sauce which pulls all the various components together perfectly.

NAUGHTY PLATTER 

Whether you’re naughty or nice, the Naughty Platter (S$36) was made for ravenous seafood fanatics who like to have a little taste of everything. It isn’t an unfamiliar dish and has been a constant menu item, but they’ve revamped it to make it even naughtier and better.

Served on a massive wooden platter, the dish features charcoal-grilled seabass and tiger prawns lusciously coated in kicap manis sauce, a fried whole squid, sambal matah and your choice of aglio olio, rice pilaf or white rice.

Despite the squid being fried to a perfect golden-brown crisp, its flesh still remained satisfyingly chewy and sweet without being too rubbery. We also love how once again, the kicap manis sauce managed to add an additional layer of flavour to the dish that elevated the sweetness of its various seafood components perfectly.

CHARCOAL-GRILLED SRI LANKAN CRAB 

There are few things as satisfying as cracking open gargantuan crustacean pincers and claws to reveal the sweet, tender meat beneath the hard exterior.

The Charcoal-Grilled Sri Lankan Crab (S$56) is a treat for crab fanatics. Each dish comes with a generous serving of 600 grams of charcoal-grilled Sri Lankan crab drenched in that addictive kicap manis sauce and paired with a side of grilled cauliflower and corn.

CHARCOAL-GRILLED FLOWER GROUPER

The Charcoal-Grilled Flower Grouper (S$28) features a whole flower grouper that has been cooked in kicap manis sauce, garnished with a tangy, fiery sambal matah and complemented with a side of cauliflower and corn.

Don’t be fooled by the fish’s boney-like structure; dig in deeper to discover its impeccably tender flesh that pairs amazingly well with the kicap manis sauce. We also like how the generous slathering of sambal matah added a piquant, spicy touch to the overall dish.

CHARCOAL-GRILLED GIANT SQUID 

Rarely do we come across squid that isn’t cooked to the point where it is rubbery, so tucking into Cajun on Wheel’s Charcoal-Grilled Giant Squid (S$19) certainly was a real treat.

Here, two colossal-sized squids are grilled to perfection and doused in kicap manis sauce. Each squid was absurdly succulent and of just the right amount of chewiness. The kicap manis sauce also managed to bring out the sweetness of the squid phenomenally and we savoured each and every blissfully good mouthful of it.

CHARCOAL-GRILLED TIGER PRAWNS

Prawn enthusiasts will adore the Charcoal-Grilled Tiger Prawns (S$19) which has 6 mammoth-sized tiger prawns that are grilled to perfection, coated in kicap manis sauce and paired with a side of cauliflower, corn and sambal matah.

Tear off the head and shells of each prawn to reveal the sweet, white flesh that lies beneath which is further enhanced by the kicap manis sauce.

OCEAN VALUE MEALS

If you want to have a taste of what Cajun on Wheels has to offer but you don’t have a voracious appetite, you can instead opt to have one of their Ocean Value Meals. Each meal comes with an individual seafood platter just for one as well as your choice of sauces, sides, carbs and drinks.

CHARCOAL-GRILLED SEABASS PLATTER 

Tuck into the Charcoal-Grilled Seabass Platter (S$18) which consists of a massive slab of grilled seabass slathered in kicap manis sauce and served with a sunny-side-up, sambal matah and your choice of carbs, drinks and side dishes.

The beautiful white fish was delightfully buttery and succulent and the sweetness of its plump flesh complemented the rich kicap manis sauce. For added texture and flavour, we recommend breaking open the yolk of the sunny-side-up over the fish for a creamier finish.

CHARCOAL-GRILLED TIGER PRAWNS PLATTER 

The Ocean Value Meal version of the Charcoal-grilled Tiger Prawns Platter (S$16) offers 4 fat fleshy pieces of tiger prawns in kicap manis sauce that are served with a sunny-side-up, sambal matah and your choice of carbs, drinks and side dishes.

CHARCOAL-GRILLED GIANT SQUID PLATTER 

Likewise, if you find the Charcoal-Grilled Giant Squid dish too much, you can have the Charcoal-Grilled Giant Squid Platter for just S$14. Each set comes with a charcoal-grilled squid in kicap manis sauce that is served with a sunny-side-up, kickass sambal matah and your choice of carbs, drinks and a side dish.

Cajun On Wheels
68 Orchard Road, #03-92 Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

This post was brought to you by Cajun On Wheels.

Japanese eateries are common in Singapore; there are a plethora of them scattered all over our sunny island and their prices can range from wallet-friendly to ‘I may have to eat soya sauce and rice for the next 2 weeks’.

Joining the ranks of the wallet-friendly list is Sora Boru, a brand-new Japanese dining concept in Somerset that dishes out a wide range of Japanese casual one-dish meals at incredibly affordable prices. Sora Boru is conveniently located in the heart of town at 313@Somerset and it is little wonder how it is already so well-received among executives who work in the area as well as students and shoppers.

Playfully named after the way the Japanese pronounce ‘bowl’, Sora Boru’s menu includes customisable chirashi-don, curry rice bowls, soba and their signature Volcano Beef Don and Snow Beef Don. All the mains here come in regular and mini sizes—great for different people with varying appetites.

And from 17 to 30 April 2019, quote “ladyironchef” or flash this advertorial when you order any Regular main and get any Mini of your choice at Sora Boru!

As of August 2019, Sora Boru is officially halal-certified. You can bring your Muslim friends to enjoy Sora Boru’s affordable Japanese meals.

VOLCANO BEEF DON

Aptly named after its appearance, Sora Boru’s Volcano Beef Don (S$11.90) is a glorified beef bowl of Japanese rice topped with your choice of stewed cabbage or seasoned bean sprouts and a massive pile of incredibly tender flame-grilled slices of beef.

The cherry on top is the rivulets of ‘lava’ that run down the sides of the volcano, which is essentially Sora Boru’s special in-house concocted spicy sauce. Coating the heap of beef evenly and generously, the sauce adds that much needed fiery kick that makes this dish deserving of its volcanic title.

SNOW BEEF DON 

On the other end of the spectrum is their Snow Beef Don (S$11.90) where instead of spicy gochujang sauce, the beef is doused in a unique homemade sweet and savoury sauce that is made from whipping cream. This is further enhanced by a generous sprinkling of grated parmesan which gives the dish its snow effect.

In comparison to its spicy counterpart, the Snow Beef Don has a creamier texture as well as a much sweeter flavour that stems from the whipping cream. The contrast of the sweetness from the sauce with the savouriness from the parmesan cheese created a medley of varying flavours that definitely got us hooked!

If we had to choose between the two, we admit that it won’t be an easy decision because we are equally obsessed with both of them. But if you really can’t make up your mind, then get both! We recommend getting the mini versions of both don (S$7.50 each) so that you can have the best of both worlds!

CUSTOMISABLE CHIRASHIBORU 

Fans of chirashi-don would know that a decent bowl of this goodness does not come cheap. Here at Sora Boru, fill your bowl to the brim with juicy cubes of sashimi. Mini bowls are super affordable and are priced at S$6.50, while regular bowls are at S$11.90 and large bowls at S$16.90.

What we also love about their chirashi-don is its customisability. Through a six-step process, diners can pick and choose their preferred bowl size, base, raw fish, add-ons, sauces and garnishes.

Examples of some of the raw fish that you can choose to add into your ChirashiBoru are salmon, scallop, tuna, octopus and swordfish.

BARA CHIRASHI EBIMAYO ABURI DON 

If you want to up your chirashi don game, you can opt for their Bara Chirashi Ebimayo Aburi Don (Mini S$9.50, Regular S$16.90) instead. This bowl of goodness features cubes of assorted half-grilled seafood such as salmon and baby scallops, tamagoyaki, tempura bits and cucumber that are blanketed in an incredibly aromatic blow-torched shrimp roe mayonnaise.

The savoury umami of the shrimp roe mayonnaise was reminiscent of the flavours of mentaiko. Blow-torching the decadent sauce also created a lovely char and an irresistible smoky flavour. Texture wise, the tempura bits added a lovely crunch to the entire dish and provided a nice contrast to the chewy sashimi cubes.

If chirashi and beef do aren’t your thing, you can always try the other dons available which include their Salmon Teriyaki Toji Don (Mini S$7.50, Regular S$13.90), Chicken Teriyaki Toji Don (Mini S$4.90, Regular S$8.50) and Ebi Vegetable Tendon (Mini S$4.90, Regular S$9.50).

CURRYBORU 

Japanese curry has always been regarded as one of Japan’s most well-loved comfort foods, which is why Sora Boru has an entire section of their menu dedicated to this perennial favourite.

Every bowl of CurryBoru here is drenched in a gratifyingly rich curry sauce that is cooked with a secret recipe that has been fine-tuned and perfected for months. Mildly spicy with subtle hints of fruity acidity, this robust concoction packs on a lot of flavours without being too cloying. Based on how much heat you can take, you can also choose between two levels of spiciness.

Each bowl of curry rice is paired with one type of deep-fried meat or seafood. Some options available are the Chicken Katsu CurryBoru (Mini S$6.50, Regular S$10.90), Shabu Beef CurryBoru (Mini S$6.50, Regular S$10.90) and Breaded Ebi CurryBoru (Mini S$6.50, Regular S$10.90).

If you’re feeling more peckish than usual, you can opt for one of their curry combo sets which are the Breaded Ebi with Shabu Beef CurryBoru (Regular S$12.90) and the Breaded Salmon with Shabu Beef CurryBoru (Regular S$11.90).

CHA SOBA SETS 

Sora Boru also has a selection of noodle options for you to tuck into. The cha soba here is springy and cooked to a nice al dente which goes perfectly with the chilled, savoury dipping sauce or warm soup.

The cha soba can also be enjoyed with your choice of accompaniments such as Ebi Vegetable Tempura (Mini S$7.50, Regular S$12.90), Chicken Karaage (Mini S$6.50, Regular S$10.90) and Chicken Katsu (Mini S$6.50, Regular S$10.90).

SCRUMMY SIDES

If you’d like more food for sharing (or if you’re simply ravenous), get some sides to go along with your mains. The recommended picks are Chicken Gyoza (S$8.50 for 6 pieces), Chawanmushi (S$1.90) and Yasai Corn Tempura with Tartar Sauce (S$5.50).

Our favourite of the lot is the Crispy Salmon Skin with Egg Mayo Dip (S$8.50) which features insanely crispy slivers of fish skin fried to a lovely golden brown. The egg mayo dip adds an addictively sweet and savoury touch to the salmon skin and we couldn’t stop ourselves from slathering everything on sight with it.

From 17 to 30 April 2019, quote “ladyironchef” or flash this advertorial when you order any Regular main and get any Mini of your choice at Sora Boru!

Terms & Conditions
- Valid for dine-in only
- Orders and redemptions must be made at the cashier
- Promotion is valid for any Regular and any Mini ChirashiBoru / DonBoru / CurryBoru / Noodles
- This offer cannot be stacked with any other promotions or discounts
- Flash Ladyironchef’s corresponding Facebook / Instagram / blog post to redeem

Sora Boru
313@Somerset #B3-19/20
313 Orchard Road
Singapore 238895
Sun to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

This post is brought to you by Sora Boru. 

The foodie community wept when The Marmalade Pantry announced back in mid-2018 that it was closing it’s outlet at ION Orchard. A beloved high-tea spot in the heart of town, we fell in love with everything there from their charming ambience, innovative brunch dishes and a wide selection of artisanal teas and cakes.

Well, surprise, surprise, the home-grown bistro is set to return to its former premise on the 4th level of ION Orchard once again. This time, armed with a tasty arsenal of new dishes in addition to signature favourites such as their Spicy Crabmeat pasta and Sticky Date & Toffee Pudding. Looking forward to other new and exclusive to this outlet dishes like the stellar high-tea set and a trio of decadent desserts specially crafted by Masterchef Singapore’s runner-up, Chef Genevieve Lee as part of a collaboration that pays humble tribute local dishes and in support of local talent.

With a whopping total of more than 10 new and exclusive menu items and more, be wowed by the likes of their new Asian section, featuring the Kimchi Fried Rice, served with a gorgeously pink medium-rare strip loin and the Singapore Laksa, a homage to our beloved local dish but with the addition of slipper lobster. Looking to pamper yourself as you catch up with friends? Their Decadent Afternoon Tea Set comes with a variety of sweet and savoury confectionery delights and freshly brewed pots of tea by Monogram.

MARYLAND CRAB CAKES

The key to any good crab cake is using fresh lump crabmeat, leaving them slightly chunky and not overly shredded and to go light on the filler. Safe to say, the folks here nailed it perfectly. Their Maryland Crab Cakes (S$26++) focuses squarely on the crab, allowing each bite to be crispy and packed full of sweetness and natural flavours of crab.

The homemade tartar sauce served on the side was also spot on, not overly rich with a good amount of diced gherkins added to give the sauce a sufficient citrus kick to complement the crab cakes.

SPICY SRIRACHA CHICKEN BURGER

Delightful in both its flavour and texture, the Spicy Sriracha Chicken Burger (S$24++) assaults the several fronts. First, you get the crunch from the perfectly deep-fried spiced chicken patty before succulent juices come oozing out, followed by the tangy kick from the Sriracha mayo which nicely complements the rich notes of the blue cheese.

SINGAPORE LAKSA

Unlike many restaurants out there that try to tweak and reinvent local dishes to the point that it’s unrecognisable, the good folks here do well to retain the essence of what they aim to recreate. The broth of their Singapore Laksa (S$32++) is rich, spicy and exudes a bold seafood aroma and also features the likes of slipper lobster, quail eggs, tiger prawns for that luxe appeal.

KIMCHI FRIED RICE

A homage to the classic after-tipple comfort food, we were most thrilled to tuck into their new Kimchi Fried Rice (S$26++). On a bed of fried rice cooked with fresh kimchi, sits a nicely seared striploin steak, perfectly pink in the middle and golden brown from edge to edge. For umami, nori is garnished over the top and sous vide egg, served on the side for added richness.

Served flat on a griddle pan—similar to how a Spanish paella would be served—the bottom layer of the rice achieves an even crust, giving the dish a toasted flavour and a crunch as well.

SPICY CRABMEAT PASTA

Perhaps one of the best pasta dishes we’ve tried here to date, the Spicy Crabmeat Pasta (S$26++) impresses with its generosity with good quality crabmeat, perfectly cooked pasta and a flavourful, umami-dense sauce that binds everything together nicely.

The addition of pine nuts into the mix gives the dish a nutty, somewhat buttery flavour which does well to complement the sharp taste of the spicy tomato sauce.

BRICK-PRESSED CHICKEN

The method of cooking a chicken, skin-side down with a weighted object (in this case a brick) pressed down on it allows the skin to crisp up evenly. It also forces the meat to remain flat, ensuring that every morsel of meat cooks at the same pace.

We were beyond sold the moment we tasted their Brick Pressed Chicken (S$30++). Well-seasoned and crispy with a buttery herb flavour to underscore it, every bite was a joy. The dish comes served with roasted celeriac, potatoes and topped with truffle herb butter.

CURRY BARRAMUNDI

Beautifully robust with a heady aroma of warm spices which seemed to lean toward a tangier note—much like the classic South Indian fish head curry—, we couldn’t keep our forks to ourselves when it came down to their Curry Barramundi (S$28++).

Nestled atop a bed of Japanese rice and vegetables is a perfectly cooked barramundi fillet and served alongside the dish is the aromatic curry. An interesting choice of rice given that the dish is essentially Indian, the starchier Japanese short grain rice did well to hold on to the fish curry, providing an interesting texture along with a flavourful bite.

STICKY DATE & TOFFEE PUDDING

Whether you’re a sucker for sweets or not, one does not simply leave The Marmalade Pantry without ordering up their Sticky Date & Toffee Pudding (S$14++). The epitome of luxury, this dessert for champions features a steamed pudding studded with ripe dates and is surrounded by a generous pour of toffee sauce and a large scoop of Cold Stone Creamery’s vanilla ice cream.

Sweet, sticky and indulgent from start to finish, this is one dessert that begs to be enjoyed after your meal regardless of how stuffed you are.

A SPECIAL COLLABORATION WITH MASTERCHEF SINGAPORE’S RUNNER-UP GENEVIEVE LEE

Exclusive to The Marmalade Pantry’s flagship at ION Orchard, be treated to a trio of decadence prepared by none other than Masterchef Singapore’s runner-up, Genevieve (Gen) Lee. Trained in culinary arts, the edge that Gen has is in her expansive knowledge of ingredients such as herbs and spices, of which she uses in her various cakes and desserts.

“Herbs are rarely used in desserts which is a shame because there is so much untapped potential there. I used thyme in my cake because it lends freshness to further lift the dessert.”, she explains.

A taste of home, her Reimagined Kaya Toast Dessert is a deconstructed kaya toast with varying elements such as a meringue that comprises toast from Ya Kun Kaya Toast, a custardy, slightly salty coconut sauce to resemble the butter element and a pistachio sponge that accurately replicates the toasted, nutty flavours of charred toast.

If you’re a sucker for anything containing blueberries, her The Blue Rhapsody Cake will surely impress. Infused with lemon and thyme, the cake takes on an aromatic and bright-tasting appeal, which is further elevated with a layer of blueberries followed by a lovely hazelnut crumble on top. Wrapped around the cake is a layer of cream cheese that she sweetens using honey instead of sugar.

A specialty and one that warrants a try if you’re a fan of the iconic Thai pushcart dessert is her Mango Sticky Rice named Sunset in a glass. Intricately prepared, the dessert features components such as a sorbet made using Thai mangoes, an assortment of crushed toasted nuts, a toasted meringue, sticky rice infused with coconut and diced cubes of super ripe Thai mangoes.

AFTERNOON TEA SET

Since the day it opened its doors, The Marmalade Pantry has impressed many with its stellar array of afternoon tea delights. Luxurious in both its food and tea offerings as well as its luxe interior, stopping by for high tea between 3pm to 6pm daily is highly recommended.

Treat yourselves to their High Tea Set (S$60++) that comfortably serves two. What you get is a double-tiered platter comprising a variety of sweet and savouries followed by 2 pots of freshly brewed tea by Mongram Tea (Available from 4 March 2019 onwards).

Enjoy these new creations at the flagship outlet and enjoy 15% off when you pay with Mastercard!

The Marmalade Pantry
#04-11a, ION Orchard,
2 Orchard Turn,
Singapore 238801
Nearest Station: Orchard

This post was brought to you by The Marmalade Pantry.

One of the newer additions to Sunshine Plaza’s slew of hidden food gems is Steakville, a humble hole-in-a-wall that serves up some seriously good steak as well as a myriad of other enticing mains.

Striving to bring the “farm to table” dining experience, Steakville sources their beef from specific farms, ensuring that only the best quality beef is chosen. Costing only S$15 for a hanger steak, we were beyond impressed given the quality of it. On top of their food, they also serve solid artisanal cuppas as well as an array of cocktails.

Located within walking distance from NAFA and Kaplan, this new steak joint is definitely a great hangout spot for students as well given its location and affordable prices.

With only 6 curated mains to choose from, Steakville keeps its menu offerings limited to ensure that quality is prioritised above all.

This small, 25-seater restaurant is decorated with wooden furnishings and gentle lighting, making it a cosy space for an intimate meal.

Starting our meal off proper with something to snack on, we opted for Steakville’s Italian’s Truffle Fries (S$12++) that features a bowl filled to the brim with truffle-infused shoestring fries, accompanied by a side of their house-made truffle mayonnaise dip.

Salted just right and topped with a generous topping of shaved parmesan, it was pretty decent by our standards although we wouldn’t necessarily it was the best we’ve tried.

Coming to a place with a name like Steakville and trying anything but steak would be pretty silly, which was why it didn’t take long before we settled on their Signature Hanger Steak (S$15++) and it was hands down one of the better steaks we have tried.

Served with a House Leaf Salad, beetroot purée, truffle mustard and Maldon sea salt and costing only S$15++, you get a decent portion of steak that is pan-seared to perfection.

The steak was perfectly charred and incredibly juicy and tender on the inside. Even though the beef tastes excellent on its own, the combination of the subtly sweet beetroot purée and umami-packed truffle mustard really enhances the flavour of the meat tenfold.

We also got the Seared Norwegian Salmon (S$15++) that comes with a generous piece of pan-seared salmon, salad, beetroot purée and herb-infused honey mustard dip.

The seared salmon was cooked decently but our only gripe would be the fact that the skin was not as crispy as we had liked.

However, the salmon was really soft and flaky just the way we like it. A tad salty at first, but soon balanced out when dipped into their special, sweet and tangy herb-infused honey mustard dip.

Steakville
91 Bencoolen Street,
Sunshine Plaza #01-56
Singapore 189652
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Closed on Sundays
Nearest Station: Bencoolen

While there are many things about Japanese cuisine that we love, few are able to satisfy our cravings for crispy, greasy delight as well as a hearty tonkatsu. Be it in the form of meat, poultry or seafood—anything coated in egg and panko breadcrumbs and fried to golden perfection warrants our attention.

Anzu—a popular tonkatsu restaurant from Japan—at Wisma Atria’s Japan Food Town specialises in tonkatsu and it features a remarkable range of katsu offerings on their menu.

Tonkatsu joints may be in abundance in Singapore, but if you are someone who values great service on top of delicious food, then Anzu is a place you have to pay a visit to.

THICK PORK LOIN KATSU SET

Fat is flavour as far as meat is concerned and more importantly, it keeps the tonkatsu itself incredibly moist. We loved every bit of Thick Pork Loin Katsu (S$25++) from the crunch of the breaded exterior to the pork juices that come spilling out all over our tongue with each bite.

Every katsu set comes with free-flow portions of rice and salad, chawanmushi as well as your choice of either seaweed or clam soup.

PORK LOIN KATSU SET

Considerably easier to manage given that it is not as huge as its thicker counterpart, we enjoyed this version in the sense that we could really taste the porky goodness erupt the moment we bit into it.

Our only issue was that, due to the lack of delicious fat, this tonkatsu option (S$20++) was quite dry—to the extent that we had to rely heavily on the sauce and soup to balance it out.

We must say that we were impressed by how every component was executed properly from the pork katsu to even the accompanying side dishes right down to the house-pickled carrot and cucumber served on the side.

Anzu
435 Orchard Road
4F Wisma Atria
Singapore 238877
Tel: +65 6262 3408
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard