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Shashlik Restaurant
haven't been writing for awhile as the flu bug hit and was taken rather ill. however, a rare trip to Far East Shopping Centre prompted us to try an age-old Russian restaurant that we've heard plenty and seen many reviews of. Shashlik restaurant takes a very quiet corner of the 6th storey of the building. the decor is plain with a slightly olde European setting. it hence felt weird to hear the loop of Chinese New Year songs in the background..
a Russian looking menu at least with a fusion selection of dishes to choose from. there's some Russian fare, the popular Shashliks, Borsch soup, beef stroganoff and some desserts. then there's also a selection of local-influenced western dishes to add to the mix. it was a tad surprising that amid the simple interior and Chinese styled setting, the staff practiced very standard table-side service; replacing your cutlery between dishes, performing the final preparation of each dish in front of you etc. okay, so you don't only get this at Morton's.. 
this appetizer is called Eggs Millionaire. it might take a little skill to crack an egg shell in half, the rest of the dish though, is simply scambled eggs, mayo and bacon filling the egg-shells. i'm not sure if the Russian millionaires like Roman Abromovich eat this for breakfast, but this dish does cost us $12.. there is a complimentary serving of soft bread and butter spread for starters as well, and the bread is surprisingly enjoyable. 
this is an example of the western dishes that the restaurant serves. we ordered a grilled salmon steak and it comes with seared potatoes, veggie and hollandaise sauce. of course, we had to try some of their signature Shashliks while we were here, so we ordered the Shashlik of Lamb. we found out later on that Shashliks are typically eastern European skewered meats and highly popular in Russia. the lamb we ordered was marinated in spices and served with potato wedges. the meat was grilled medium rare but was tender enough. another traditional Russian dish worth trying would be the Chicken Pozharsky, which is a fried chicken cutlet marinated in Russian spices. 
then comes this must try Russian dessert. the preparation itself was fun to watch, having the staff serve this creamy pastry flaming through the cocktail that comes with it. Baked Alaska is somewhat like an ice-cream cake served with flaming Russian cocktail. a little too creamy but very nice. overall, Shashlik Restaurant can be an interesting experience. the unassuming interior is backed by good table-side service and quality food. some dishes may be a little on the pricey side but i guess they costed for the service and preparation that goes into each dish. in times when you just want a little different dining experience, do give this place a try.. 
Shashlik Restaurant 545 Orchard Road, #06-19 Far East Shopping Centre Singapore 238882 Opening Hours Tuesdays to Sundays: 12 pm to 2.15 pm Tuesdays to Sundays: 6.30 pm to 9.15 pm Closed on Mondays Baked Alaska is not available on Wednesdays.. Eighteen Chefs
kicking off the year with something very down-to-earth. there's nothing fancy about this western food chain that is expanding at quite a rapid pace. just like Astons were at one time, Eighteen Chefs brings fast, casual dining at a very affordable price point. it helps further that the creator of this concept carries an inspirational yellow-ribbon story.
Eighteen Chefs prides itself for being willing to give everyone a new lease of life. several of the kitchen staff at their outlets have previously been convicted or carry a difficult past, struggling to make ends meet. Previously convicted himself, owner Benny Teo believes in a philosophy of helping people back into society and picking up some life skills in the process. with the restaurant's fast serving, affordable pricing and no frills concept, Eighteen Chefs is reaching out to the youths of Singapore, and spreading the key messages to the right group. 
being no frills doesn't mean that the chain doesn't quite have its own unique creations and recipes. there are a couple of specialty dishes here and we tried them all. the first being this "Heart Attack" fried rice - it's so good you might just get a cardiac arrest. the flavourful fried rice is served either with spring chicken or beef strips (both in this case) and is a popular choice amongst diners here. 
the other unique thing that this place offers is the "be-you-own-chef" option, where you get to create your own dish from your choice of carbs, ingredients and toppings. we tried making a cheese-baked pasta with chicken in spicy tomato sauce. there can be many variations of these with the double-cheese baked rice base as their signature. there's also a wide variety of toppings you can choose from, allowing you to make one very hearty dish at under $15. 
Eighteen Chefs offers desserts as well, from ice-cream to cakes. this peach-in-a-jar is actually fresh peach served with lotsa ice-cream and raspberry sauce. nothing really fancy, just a couple of ice-cream dishes served in jars or with waffles. most people however, go for their black-beauty, which is a brownie dish served with ice-cream and chocolate sauce. the brownie is actually not bad! we came into Eighteen Chefs without any expectations (just like how you'd walk into a regular western food chain) and were pleasantly surprised by the offerings. of course, they are growing very rapidly now and many of the chefs/kitchen hands are still trying to master their craft. i'd say the rice dishes are much better than the pasta ones for now, but i believe they're improving and increasingly making themselves familiar to the heartlands. the next time you decide to eat-out, you might just wanna give 1 of their 6 outlets a try.. 
Eighteen Chefs 23 Serangoon Central, NEX #01-57 Singapore 556083 Opening Hours 11 am to 10 pm (daily) They are also located at Bukit Panjang Plaza.. |
..ThE lEgEnD..
Last Movie: Ad Astra
Golden Village, Singpost Centre 
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