Month: November 2025

Herb-Roasted Rack of Lamb with Couscous and Creamy Tzatziki

Herb-Roasted Rack of Lamb with Couscous and Creamy Tzatziki

This beautifully plated dish is known as Herb-Roasted Rack of Lamb with Couscous and Creamy Tzatziki – a Mediterranean-inspired plate that balances richness, freshness, and aromatic herbs. The lamb, cooked to a juicy medium-rare, carries deep savory notes highlighted by rosemary and roasted garlic, while 

A Comforting Classic: The Story Behind Beef Lasagna with Basil Pesto

A Comforting Classic: The Story Behind Beef Lasagna with Basil Pesto

This dish is best described as Classic Beef Lasagna served with a vibrant Basil Pesto, a modern twist on the well-loved Italian baked pasta. The golden, cheesy top paired with a rich meat layer and bright green pesto sauce creates a visually appealing and flavour-packed 

Beef Bourguignon Medallion: A French Classic in Modern Elegance

Beef Bourguignon Medallion: A French Classic in Modern Elegance


The dish is Beef Bourguignon Medallion — a refined, modern presentation of the legendary French Boeuf Bourguignon, traditionally known as a rustic Burgundy beef stew. In this contemporary plated form, the beef is shaped into a compact medallion and served with a glossy, deeply flavoured red-wine jus, giving it an elegant restaurant-style finish.


How It Tastes

Beef Bourguignon is celebrated for its deep, earthy, wine-forward flavour. The dish combines slow-braised beef, aromatic vegetables, herbs, and red wine to produce a sauce that is rich, silky, and intensely savoury.
In this refined version, the medallion holds a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture, while the sauce delivers notes of caramelisation, mushrooms, thyme, and a hint of smokiness from the reduction.


A Short Story: Where This Dish Comes From

Boeuf Bourguignon originated in the Burgundy region of France, famously known for its wine culture. Historically, it was a peasant-style dish, created as a way to transform tougher cuts of beef into tender, slow-cooked stews. As winemaking grew, Burgundy red wine became the natural braising liquid for local cuisine.

Over time, chefs elevated the dish from humble farmhouse kitchens to fine dining restaurants, showcasing how slow-cooked comfort food could become an icon of French gastronomy.


How the Dish Has Changed Over Time

Originally cooked in large pots and served as a hearty stew, Boeuf Bourguignon today appears in many modern interpretations:

  • Deconstructed plates with the sauce separated
  • Medallions or roulades formed from braised beef
  • Reduced, glossy jus replacing thick rustic gravy
  • Fine-dining garnishes such as microherbs or whipped potato

The version in the image follows this modern evolution — minimalist, elegant, focused on texture and sauce intensity.


How It Is Served Today

In contemporary dining, Beef Bourguignon is often offered as:

  • A signature dish in bistros, French restaurants, and modern European kitchens
  • A plated entrée with precise portions
  • A luxurious comfort food in weekend brunches
  • A favourite in culinary schools as a foundation of braising technique

Its timeless appeal remains unchanged — hearty, soulful, but now presented with sophistication.


Average Price Today

Depending on the venue:

  • Casual French bistro: SGD $18 – $28
  • Mid-range restaurant: SGD $28 – $45
  • Fine dining setting: SGD $45 – $70

A plated medallion like the one shown typically falls into the SGD $35 – $55 range.


Recipe: Beef Bourguignon Medallion (Modern Plated Version)

Ingredients (4 portions)

For the Beef:

  • 800g beef chuck, brisket, or blade
  • Salt & black pepper
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 cups red wine (Burgundy preferred)
  • 2 cups beef stock
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 150g mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 tbsp butter (for finishing)

For Plating:

  • Fresh parsley or micro herbs
  • Optional: mashed potato or creamed cauliflower base

Instructions

1. Prepare the Beef

  1. Cut the beef into large chunks.
  2. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Sear in oil until the surface is browned and caramelised. Remove and set aside.

2. Develop the Base

  1. In the same pot, sauté onions, carrots, celery, and garlic until softened.
  2. Add tomato paste and cook until slightly caramelised.
  3. Add mushrooms and cook until lightly browned.

3. Deglaze & Braise

  1. Pour in the red wine and reduce by half.
  2. Add beef stock, bay leaf, and thyme.
  3. Return the beef to the pot.
  4. Cover and braise for 2.5–3 hours until fork-tender.

4. Form Medallions

  1. Shred the braised beef lightly or press it into a mould while warm.
  2. Chill to set the shape (optional for clean medallions).

5. Make the Sauce

  1. Strain the braising liquid.
  2. Reduce until thick, glossy, and rich.
  3. Whisk in a tablespoon of butter.

6. Plate

  1. Place the beef medallion in the centre of a plate.
  2. Spoon the reduced jus around it.
  3. Garnish with a small sprig of parsley.

The Fiery and Tangy Delight: A Deep Dive into Hot and Sour Soup (Suan La Tang)

The Fiery and Tangy Delight: A Deep Dive into Hot and Sour Soup (Suan La Tang)

Hot and Sour Soup, known in Mandarin as Suan La Tang (酸辣汤), is one of the most iconic comfort dishes in Chinese cuisine. The bowl in the image reflects its classic form – rich brown broth, silky strands of egg, earthy mushrooms, tofu, bamboo shoots, 

Laab Gai (Thai Spicy Chicken Herb Salad)

Laab Gai (Thai Spicy Chicken Herb Salad)

Laab Gai is a classic Thai chicken salad celebrated for its bold, vibrant, and refreshing profile. The dish is typically made with chopped or shredded chicken tossed in a lively mixture of lime juice, fish sauce, chili flakes, toasted rice powder, onions, herbs, and sometimes 

Teochew – Style Fish Soup

Teochew – Style Fish Soup


This comforting bowl appears to be Teochew-Style Fish Soup, a beloved staple in Singapore and Malaysia. The soup is typically light, milky, and savory, featuring sliced white fish, prawns, tofu, seaweed, and chopped spring onions—very similar to what is shown in the image.


What This Dish Is

Teochew Fish Soup (also known as Teochew Fish Slice Soup) is a clear or lightly milky broth made with fish bones, fresh sliced fish, vegetables, and sometimes seafood extras such as prawns or squid. The version in your photo includes prawns, seaweed, and spring onions—common modern additions that make the dish heartier.


How It Tastes

The soup is known for its clean, delicate, and naturally sweet flavor, achieved from simmering fish bones with ginger and aromatics.
The broth has a light umami brininess, with subtle hints of ginger heat, while the fresh fish slices remain tender and flaky. Adding prawns brings mild sweetness, and the chives add freshness. Overall, it is soothing, warm, and nourishing, perfect as a comfort meal.


Short Story: Where This Dish Comes From

The dish originates from the Teochew Chinese community, many of whom migrated from Guangdong to Southeast Asia in the 1800s. Fish was abundant and affordable, so a light broth made from fish bones became a staple.
Unlike other Chinese soups that can be heavy or herbal, Teochew soups traditionally lean toward purity and natural flavors, allowing the freshness of the ingredients to shine.

This minimalist cooking philosophy shaped the dish into what it is today: simple but incredibly soulful.


Changes from the Original to Today

Historically, Teochew fish soup was made with

  • only fish slices,
  • salted vegetables,
  • tofu, and
  • a clear broth.

Over time, particularly in Singapore, hawkers adapted it to suit modern tastes by adding:

  • prawns,
  • squid,
  • seaweed,
  • evaporated milk (to make the broth richer),
  • fried shallots,
  • rice noodles or mee sua.

The soup evolved from a humble fisherman’s dish into a well-loved hawker favourite across ages.


How It Is Today

Today, Teochew-style fish soup is a popular lunch dish in Singapore, known for being healthy, light, and comforting. You can find it in hawker centres, food courts, and even modern eateries that use premium fish like batang, red snapper, or grouper.

It remains one of the go-to choices for people looking for something hearty but not oily or heavy.


Average Price

In Singapore, the typical price ranges from:

  • SGD $5 – $8 for a standard bowl with sliced fish
  • SGD $7 – $10 for mixed seafood (fish + prawns + squid)
  • SGD $10 – $14 for premium fish varieties

Recipe: Teochew-Style Fish Soup (With Prawns)

Ingredients (2–3 servings)

  • 250 g white fish fillet (batang, snapper, or seabass), sliced
  • 6–8 prawns, peeled and deveined
  • 1 small piece seaweed (optional)
  • 1 tofu block, cubed
  • 1–2 tomatoes, cut into wedges (optional but common)
  • 1 stalk spring onion, chopped
  • 3 slices ginger
  • 1.2 litres water or light stock
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine (optional)
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp light soy sauce
  • A few drops sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp cooking oil
  • Optional: 50 ml evaporated milk (for a richer broth)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the fish
    • Season fish slices lightly with salt and white pepper. Set aside.
  2. Make the broth
    • Heat oil in a pot and fry ginger slices until aromatic.
    • Add prawn shells (if any) and fry to release flavor.
    • Pour in water or stock and bring to a boil.
    • Add tofu and tomatoes, simmer for 8–10 minutes.
  3. Add seafood
    • Add the prawns and fish slices gently so they don’t break.
    • Add seaweed if using.
    • Season with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, salt, and pepper.
  4. Enrich the broth (optional)
    • Add evaporated milk for a milky finish.
  5. Finish & serve
    • Taste and adjust seasoning.
    • Ladle into bowls and garnish with spring onions and a few drops of sesame oil.