Photo Credit: Ottoman Kebab & Grill

Ottoman Kebab & Grill, the first of its kind Turkish Bistro in Singapore, located at the new Bedok Mall. First Gourmet Pte Ltd is the company behind Ottoman Kebab & Grill; together with the award winning Indian restaurant Zaffron Kitchen, and the chain of Prata Wala casual restaurants. 

Ottoman Kebab & Grill, is a halal-certified restaurant serving the best of Turkish food made only with the finest ingredients. This new 40-seater eatery offers a concise menu of Turkish favourites such as Homous, Borek, Falafel, Doner, Kebab, and Kunefe dessert. The restaurant also serves traditional Turkish Coffee to stratify the coffee lovers.

Apple Tea (Iced / Hot $3)

Apple Tea is not really a tea, but is a sweet fruity flavoured drink. This Apple tea is excellent when consumed hot as a winter warmer, or thirst quenchingly delicious when served cold and iced in summer.

Photo Credit: Ottoman Kebab & Grill

Turkish Coffee (with/without Milk $4)

A cup of Turkish coffee is rather small; as compared to an Italian espresso. The trick to drink a Turkish coffee is "Not To Rush". First is to allow the foamy cup of Turkish to cool down just a bit, as you wouldn't want to burn your tongue. That little pause will also help the grounds settle. Then take tiny sips of the coffee and sit back to relax; while engaging with friends or family in a good conversation.

After you have drinking the coffee, invert the cup and place it on the saucer (like the above photo), let it cool down and the coffee grounds would slide onto the saucer with the remains forming patterns that is believed to be used for fortune telling.

Fortune telling through Turkish coffee reading is another aspect of coffee usage. What can you translate from the patterns formed; and not only predicts the future but also advises how to proceed in solving any kind of problems. Turkish coffee reading is not scientific proven, but due to the fact that there are people willingly to pay money to have their problems solved; it has become a flourishing business in some countries. 

Homous (Chicken Pea Dip $6) and Pide (Homemade Flat Bread $2)

Homous is a Midden Eastern food dip or spread, made from cooked, mashed chickpeas and blended with tahini (sesame paste), lime juice and garlic. Homous is useful for vegetarian diets; and is best eaten with bread as a protein meal. The homemade Pide Flat Bread at Ottoman Kebab & Grill is cooked over lava stones for that char-grilled aroma, which is uncommonly seen in Middle-Eastern and other Turkish restaurants in Singapore. 

Photo Credit: Ottoman Kebab & Grill

Falafel (Fried Chicken Pea Balls $5 for 3 pcs)

You can order more starters to share; Falafel, which are deep fried patties made from ground chickpeas and fava beans. Falafel is a common dish in Middle East, that can be eaten alone as a snack, or served as part of an appetiser course. 

One bite and I was like WOW! These falafels are awesome; crispy on the outside, moist on the inside and packed with flavor. You will definitely get HOOKED eating these crusty balls. 

Cheese Borek (Spring Roll with Cheese $6 for 6 pcs)

Another starter to recommend is the Cheese Borek, which is commonly known as Spring Roll or "Popiah" in our dialect. Borek is a fried pastry made of a thin flaky dough, and filled with cheese. This most probably is a modern Turkish invention, as the typical homemade borek would be filled with meat, or vegetables. 

Between the Falafel and Cheese Borek, my favourite starter was actually the Falafel; and you probably would agree with me too. 

Iskender Kebab (Mutton, homemade pide croutons, tomato sauce, yoghurt $18.50)

Moving on to the mains; Iskender Kebab, which is one of the most popular meat dish in Turkey. It is prepared from cut grilled lambs into minced patties and slathered with rich tomato sauce, then arranged atop a bed of crispy pide croutons. Tangy yogurt are sometimes poured over the dish; at Ottoman Kebab & Grill it is placed at the side of the plate, so you can spoon over the dollop of yoghurt before tucking into this savoury dish. 

Photo Credit: Ottoman Kebab & Grill

Ottoman Shish Platter (Beef, chicken, seafood, homemade pide $29)

Shish Kebab, another Turkish classic dish made up of pieces of meats, seafood and vegetables grilled on metal skewers. You can order them as individual skewers priced at $7.50 to $12.50; or served with bread and pilav rice at $13.50 to $18.50. 

Alternatively, you can opt for the Ottoman Shish Platter which can be shared between two to four diners, and comes in a meat combination of chicken, beef, mutton and seafood (fish fillets and prawns), served alongside pide bread and pilav rice.

Photo Credit: Ottoman Kebab & Grill

Kunefe (Shredded pastry, turkish cheese, crushed pistachios $8.50)

Kunefe is considered to be one of the most delicious Turkish desserts, but mostly unknown to the outside world. This delightful treat takes at least 20 preparation time and efforts to craft. 

This traditional dessert was crafted in a small metal tray which a piece of Nabulsi goat cheese is placed, within some shredded kadayif phyllo pastry, and sugar syrup; then pan-fried with butter and crisp into perfection, at which time ground pistachios were sprinkled on top.

What distinguishes Ottoman Kebab & Grill’s kunefe from others, is that the kunefe is freshly prepared upon order. The chef has even imported the traditional kunefe cooking pan with an unique aluminium base that allows the heat to be distributed evenly during cooking. 

Good Things Are Always Worth The Wait! 

This elegant looking and delicious dessert should be consumed hot, right after the kadayıf absorbs the syrup for the best taste. The cheese will be very stringy, so a knife will be needed when eating this luscious dessert.

Tinted glass-blown hanging lights (Reminiscent of the iconic Turkish tea cups) 

Ottoman Kebab & Grill also offers affordable weekday sets for lunch (11am to 2.30pm) and dinner (5.30pm to 9.30pm), which include a daily soup and drink. Prices start from as low as $8.50 for the Doner Wrap Lunch Set to just $20 for the Shish, Pilav, Bread and Borek Dinner Set. 

For a gastronomic focus on culinary delights from Turkey, Ottoman Kebab & Grill is definitely the one to look out for!

Ottoman Kebab & Grill

Address: 311 New Upper Changi Road, #01-75, Bedok Mall, Singapore 467360. 

Tel: +65 6702 4031

Operating Hours: Daily, 11am to 10pm

Wallet Friendly Omakase Meals at Sushi Kuo

SUSHI KOU, a casual Japanese restaurant helmed by Tokyo-native Chef-Owner Koda Naokatsu; not only presents quality Japanese cuisine at affordable prices, but also value for money Omakase meals that is priced from as low as $50 onwards. 

I shall be introducing one of the Omakase meal ($50 / $80 / $100) I had for dinner, a 7-course affair that span appetisers, sashimi platter, grilled item, fried dish, braise, sushi, and dessert. Diners opting for the $100 menu can enjoy an eight-course set that comes with more premium sashimi, sushi, and the tempting grilled Kagoshima Wagyu Ribeye.

Photo Credit: Sushi Kou 

Interiors of the restaurant

Photo Credit: Sushi Kou

Omakase meal at Sushi Kou (Photo for Illustration purpose only)

SUSHI KOU uses exquisite seafood and seasonal vegetables flown in twice a week from Japan; and the kitchen team will then plan the menus with the bounty of fresh ingredients. 

Apart from the delightful menu of offerings, diners can enjoy the complimentary jars of homemade pickles, while waiting for their food to arrive.

Pickles (Radish and Cherry Tomatoes)

To start off my dinner, I was presented with a plate of two appetisers - Braised radishes with Bonito flakes and seasoned tofu with slats of snow crab and roe toppings. 

This simple, flavorful braise yields a luscious, tender and delightful start.

Appetiser (Inari Tanoki | Kabu Ni)

I wasn’t expecting much, until the Sashimi platter was served. The 5 kinds of fish were all gloriously thick and fresh slices, nicely plated with scallops on ice. An $80 Omakase meal with all my perennial favourites; you must be kidding me. And it was truly unbelievable. 

Sashimi (Otoro | Hamachi | Tai | Hotate | Akami | Shimaji)

Following the Sashimi platter, comes the grilled item. Simple, yet flavourful the grilled Scallops and Lady Fingers skewers were a real treat. There was a light seasoning to enable the sweet taste of the scallops to come through. 

Grill Yaki (Hotate Buta Kushiyaki)

Japanese fried dish at it's best; tasty, tender and crispy slices of fish with bones so soft and fine that it is quite safe to consume. 

Fry Age (Nishin Tatsuta Age)

Tender, juicy cuts of Wagyu beef that have been braised until tender and glazed in a braising liquid made from Chef Koda's recipe. 

Nimono is the backbone of Japanese cooking; this Wagyu Nitsuke was moist, tender, and packed with flavour, I enjoyed this dish the most among the others. 

Braise Nimono (Wagyu Nitsuke)

The Omakase set comes a good dose of sushi fix; an assortment of six handmade sushi to get on with. The sushi rice was not of great quality, but I am not complaining as the array of oceanic catch on the sushi were fresh and comforting enough. 

Sushi (Otoro | Hobo | Saba | Anago | Toro Salmon | Ikura)

Ending the meal on a sweet note, we had a handful of Japanese ice cream that comes in a variety of flavours. Matcha green tea ice cream is a perfect dessert to serve after a Japanese meal; but my top pick was actually the Salt ice cream. The flavour was unique and different from something you can find in other stores.

Dessert Ice Cream (Green Tea | Sesame | Chocolate Bar | Yuzu | Salt)

The Omakase meal presented above is available at lunch and dinner, but the menu is NEVER the same each time; as the dishes will always vary to showcase the best seasonal produce available that vary day. 

SUSHI KOU's wallet friendly prices also extends to their set lunches from $16 for a Chicken Teriyaki Set to a Special Kaisen Don Set ($26) with an array of pristine sashimi. 

Diners can also pick up the "Today's Special" offer at prices as low as $12 for the Salmon Don Set. Or opt for the substantial a la carte menu ranging from sushi, sashimi, rice and noodles staples, to tempura, grilled seafood and meats. 

SUSHI KOU, located at Orchid Hotel, just two doors away from it's neighbour Teppei; offers a jaw-droppingly good value, where you can get your Omakase and sushi fix without the need to wait for a month; or possibly even longer to fight for a table.

SUSHI KOU

Address: 1 Tras Link, #01-16, Orchid Hotel, Singapore 078867.

Tel: +65 6444 8433

Opening Hours: Daily 11.30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10:30pm

Red House Seafood (since 1976) is one of the oldest seafood restaurants in Singapore that offers delicious local seafood fare. Celebrating its 38th anniversary this year, I was invited for a tasting at its flagship Prinsep Street outlet, indulging their latest creations from one of the two celebratory set dinner.

I started my meal with this refreshing Chilled Spicy Whelks, lightly tossed in sweet and spicy dressing, and topped with slivers of mango and onions which made this creation tasted like some Thai appetiser. 

Chilled Spicy Whelks ($35)

One of my favourite for the night, was the Chili Crab Baos which were specially prepared out of the set dinner menu.

The buns were stuffed with semi-thick chilli crab sauce; who can resist slurping the sauce down. You can choose to have the buns steamed or pan fried for a toasty bite.

Chili Crab Bun (3 for $8) Available at Lunch only

Another favourite of the night, was the Scottish Blue Lobster coated with sweet mayonnaise.   The flesh was flavoursome and delicate in taste. A simple creation, which is actually great on its own. 

Scottish Blue Lobster Coated with Sweet Mayonnaise ($148/kg)

Megrim, hardly a popular fish as compared to its cousin the revered Dover; this flat fish was refined in texture, and holds flavour when it was steamed with garlic, quality soy sauce and spring onions. 

Garlic Steamed Megrim Fish ($100/kg)

This crab had undertaken extensive seasonal migrations, before it gets landed on our plates. Red House Seafood specially sourced brown crabs from the pristine waters of Scotland, and flown in three times a week. The Scottish Brown Crab I had contains plenty of sweet, succulent flesh. I highly recommend this new dish, as it was fragrant and spicy with every bite of the firm flaky flesh. You can choose to have it steamed, or cooked in white pepper.

Scottish Brown Crabs in White Pepper ($58/kg)

The Spicy Seafood Combination in 3 sizes; is a Thai inspired creation of fresh prawns, scallops, cuttlefish and Garoupa fish slices in an enticing kaffir-laced curry sauce.

Photo Credit: Red House Seafood

Spicy Seafood Combination ($28/$42/$56)

Instead of the usual fried rice or noodle dishes, Red House Seafood is bold enough to present this interesting creation. A bed of Scottish oysters sitting on the fried omelette; with deep fried swirls of hor fun and wok fried fragrant noodles in homestyle gravy. 

Here's a closer shot of the yuan yang horfun inside. 

Oyster "Yuan Yang" Hor Fun ($20)

End the meal on a sweet note with a delicately soft and tender Durian Mochi.

For those who do not consume durian, there are other desserts choices. 

(Dessert menu may subject to change)

Chilled Lime Sherbet with Lemongrass Jelly ($6.80/bowl) 

Chilled Mango Pomelo with Sago - ($4.80/bowl)

The above featured dishes are available as ala carte orders, or can be enjoyed in the Red House's "Modern" Anniversary Set Dinner, that offers 7 courses at S$388++ for six persons.

The "Signature" Anniversary Set Dinner is also available, for diners who enjoy the house specialities such as the Sri Lankan Chilli Crab, and the Scottish Garlic Steamed Bamboo Clams.

Both Anniversary Set Dinner Menus include a bottle of premium champagne (Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut) or white wine (Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze 2010) or two jugs of Tiger Beer.

Red House Seafood also introduced a new five-course set lunch at only S$38++ for two persons. Available daily, the affordable set lunch comes with a Dim Sum basket of skew mai, mixed mushroom dumpling, scallop and chives dumpling, and oven-baked char siew bun (dim sum choices may vary). This is followed by the signature Creamy Custard Prawns, Fried Daily Greens, and Oyster Yuan Yang Hor Fun, and lastly dessert - Durian Mochi.

There are now three Red House Seafood outlets - flagship Prinsep Street, East Coast Seafood Centre, and The Quayside. 

The new Set Lunch and 38th Anniversary Set Dinners are valid till 30 June 2014 at Prinsep Street outlet. 

There is no 'blackout' dates for public holidays and special occasions such as Mother's Day and Father's Day. Perfect venue for a celebration with family and friends at the local best!

Red House Seafood
68 Prinsep Street, Singapore 188661
+65 6336 6080
Mondays to Fridays: 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm; 

Sat/Sun/PH: 11am-10:30pm (last order 10pm)

Website: www.redhouseseafood.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RedHouseSeafood