at the newly open @revolver_sg where Indian spices meet fire and finesse. (Invited) As word about the food prepared either in a Tandoor, over a Sigri (Hindi for “wood fire”) or on a Tawa (hot plate) by Executive @chefsaurabhudinia, Head Chef @farizfarizz, @zellvie, @amaritkaur and @zahidah_angullia has spread rapidly, the restaurant is already fully booked several weeks ahead. However, thanks to co-owners @sameer.sain and @kashmab, @huatkaliao and I had a wonderful dinner there earlier this week where our tastebuds were led on an elegant adventure. Revolver offers 3 tasting menu options - the “Discovery” ($139++), the “Experience” ($179++) and “Vegetarian” ($129++) but Sameer had curated us a special menu. So we began with stuffed courgette flowers like no other. The charcoal and Yarra wood-grilled blooms, stuffed with mashed, spiced and cooked paneer that’s flown in twice a week from New Delhi, were a mind-expanding explosion of aroma, texture and tastiness. Chef Saura’s second course of nasu (Chef Fariz explained to me they chose this more expensive Japanese eggplant for its consistent high quality) could convert any die-hard meat-lover. To the delight of our palate, the smoky soft vegetable cavorted merrily with Pico de Gallo, pine nuts, tamarind chutney and a sauce concocted from cashew nut, white sesame seeds and coconut. The air-flown #Paneer made another appearance. This time, slit open, stuffed with ground cashew nut and khoya (a milk fudge enjoyed widely across the Indian subcontinent) and charred. The accompanying vegetarian Goan sambal concocted from black pepper, curry leaves and malt vinegar provided mouthwatering contrast. Chef Fariz served us barramundi from @kuhlbarra after. Cooked in the tandoor and finished over coals, the twice-marinated (first with turmeric, chilli, herbs, salt and pepper, the second round with yogurt) fish was truly moist and crisped-of-skin. I enjoyed it most with lots of juice from the burnt lemon. By the way, here’s a fun fact: all the colourful ceramic ware at Revolver was designed by Head Chef Saura and made-to-order in India. It was egg on egg “egg-tion” next. The runny-yolked scotch egg was fantastic solo. But…

Tairroir @tairroir currently serves a special menu featuring Chef Kai Ho’s off menu dishes, which I think is a nice example of applying French aesthetics to Chinese and Taiwanese cuisines. Chef Kai had solid Chinese cuisine training and is capable of making proper classic dishes such as red oil wontons, beef noodles and pork and onion rolls. No need MSG, his passion for our everyday food is well grounded in top quality produce, accurate technique, aesthetic finesse, and lots of love. ⁡ ⁡ #食況轉播 #何順凱的隱藏菜單 ⁡ 現在是去吃「Tairroir 態芮」的好時候。 ⁡ 何順凱主廚 @kaiho1011 把他平常招待熟客與親友的隱藏菜色，紅油抄手、雞捲、牛肉麵等等，大大方方擺在菜單上了！ ⁡ 期間限定，即日起至9月30日止，逾期則回歸法式基本設定。 ⁡ 若你還是期待奶油與松露，龍蝦與魚子醬，那確實，這餐不是你的菜。但若你當過態芮的客人，知曉何順凱主廚在學生時代奠定的中餐台菜基礎，感應到他在法餐形式裡注入的台灣精神，那麼這一餐，你會覺得非常有趣。 ⁡ 你會嚐到細皮嫩肉的「紅油抄手」，滑溜鮮香，口齒抖擻。飽滿的肉餡細緻無顆粒，乾淨不腥，薑味隱隱，給甜口的紅醬油襯托得甘美，自煉紅油與自製麻醬攪和出辛氣與醇厚，調味均衡優雅。 ⁡ 你會嚐到豐香軟脆的「古早味雞捲」，豆皮經過油炸的火氣令人熟悉，一咬才知玄機：蔬菜清脆至極！何順凱不用魚漿，只用地瓜漿拌豬肉與蔬菜，豬是以自製紅麴醃製的豬里肌，蔬菜含高麗菜、紅蘿蔔、洋蔥、荸薺，嚐得出每一樣素材經過細心處理，肉嫩味鮮甜，菜青口感好，愈嚼愈開胃。 ⁡ 你會嚐到鑊氣裹身的「凱何牛肉麵」，是牛肉炒麵來著，搭配一碗牛舌澄清湯。蠔油、生抽、糖、鹽等基本調味，是炒牛肉的起手式，為了適應西式廚房的設備，何順凱用小鍋，分別炒牛肉與麵條，就能製造真實的鑊氣。麵條也是自製，00麵粉、嘉禾牌中筋麵粉、杜蘭小麥粉的混合，韌中有彈，爽中帶柔，十分適口。 ⁡ 你會嚐到輕盈曼妙的「木瓜牛奶與烤土司」，由甫獲亞洲最佳甜點主廚的賴思瑩 @angela_sy 操刀，木瓜牛奶冰糕清甜鬆化，另以木瓜糖紙增強風味，烤蛋白霜餅散發絲絲焦香，真有點烤土司的調調。 ⁡ 這一份唱反調的菜單，錯過便難再有。我的意思是，這樣的餐廳概念在目前台灣的餐飲市場難以誕生，定價、座位數、人才招募、目標客群都有需要克服的問題。然而，這一餐展示了用fine dining精神做質高量小的中餐與台菜，可以呈現的新風格與新內涵。 ⁡ 希望最終會從這裡長出些什麼。 ⁡ #tairroir #kaiho #angelalai #michelin #asias50best #taipei #taipeieats #eeeeeats #selftaughtgourmet #selftaughtgourmet_taipei

@tiffinroomsg is rounding off a series of successful collaborations with an enchanting showcase of specially curated dishes and well-crafted cocktails from @elephantroomsg (4 courses + 4 cocktails - $118/guest). We definitely are no stranger to wine pairings but Indian cuisine paired with Indian-influenced cocktails? That might just be a first! The first course sees a Crispy Fried Prawn with a sweet and spicy guava chutney and masala peanuts paired with “Buffalo Road” - a cocktail with Juniper spirit and pink guava. The cocktail was really good(my fave) and I absolutely enjoyed the textural contrast and explosion of flavours in the dish The second course highlights an interesting ingredient - betel leaf. Expect the softest melt-in-your-mouth lamb kebab which has been minced 8 times over a span of 8-9 hours, on a delightfully crisp fried betel leaf, complemented by “Race Course Plantation” - a rum-based cocktail with sugar cane juice, coconut, and betel leaf. I’ve never been a fan of lamb but this was breathtakingly delicious! I don’t think I’ll ever find a lamb kebab this good! Third course : Achari Murgh Curry, Madras Fish Curry, Dalcha Chop Masala, Paneer Pulao (in signature tiffin box) with plain, garlic and cheese naan. I’m a little sad that the Achari Murgh and Madras Fish Curry will not be available after this collaboration ends because they are insanely yummy. I rarely eat Indian food but I would kill for these two curries and the fragrant naan anyday! Will strongly urge you to give them a try before this menu runs its course (16 September). The accompanying cocktail “Mr Desker” (made with 2 Indian whiskies) was pretty strong when I first tried it but when I took sips of it in between bites of naan, rice, and curry, I realised that the cocktail actually tasted perfect. I was really surprised but I Guess that’s the beauty of food and alcohol pairing ! So much art and finesse! And finally, a unique dessert of rice and milk dumplings cooked with Jaggery, paired with Sippin @ 78(Bru coffee rum, coconut kombucha & caramelised onions) I don’t think you can get such an exclusive meal with 4 cocktails at just $118 anywhere else so make a reservation now!