Quentin’s – Eurasian food in Singapore

Quentin’s serves up amazing Eurasian food.

Formerly at East Coast Road, it has moved to the Eurasian Community House at Ceylon Road. While the previous restaurant had a certain elegance (yah lah, I took photos of the place for my book – “Eat, Drink, Be Merry: Singapore” [shameless plug]), it’s new premise is spacious, laidback and unassuming. The best spots are on the balcony at night where you can see police convoys escort SR Nathan from home to work and back again.

Oh yes, the food.

Eurasian food isn’t common in Singapore (despite the number of notable Singaporean Eurasians). Like the Peranakans, Eurasians are the offsprings of two races. In this case, western colonists and locals (read more about them at wiki), in particular Indians.

This explains why there’s a large number of curries on the menu such as Vindaloo, Devil’s Curry and Babi Assam. And why the dishes are tempered with western cooking sensibilities – the meaty croquette and Smore are examples of western food adapted to Asian palates.

GET TO THE FOOD, ALREADY!!!

At Quentin’s, the food’s amazing (am I allowed to repeat myself?), you won’t go broke, and it’s much better than the Portuguese settlement at Malacca.

The Chicken Curry Devil ($14) was spicy with a pleasantly undefinable aftertaste. The chicken’s chewy but smooth. Oddly enough, there’s cabbage and some sausages floating in the red mix. This is a must-go-for when you’re at Quentin’s. They also have an Oxtail version (haven’t tried that one yet though).

My other favourite is the Patchri ($6) – fried eggplants with sweet and sour sauce. Black on the outside; soft and creamy on the inside. My only gripe: As it’s on the mild side, the Patchri can get lost in other stronger flavours on your plate.

Also go for the Prawn Bostador ($13). Juicy, fresh prawns smothered in a creamy, tumeric sauce with lots of green chillies. It feels a clam chowder and can get quite jelat after a few rounds. But until it does, it’s orgasmic! ET’s tip: Ladle these curries onto a mound of white fluffy rice and mix them up ala Nasi Padang style.

Personally, I’d give the Meaty Croquette (two big fried balls by the way), Singgan Serani, and Babi Assam a miss. They’re not as interesting as the other Eurasian dishes on the menu. If I’d go back again, I’d try the Smore, Sugee Cake, Curry Seku, and Curry Permanta.

My three recommended dishes (about $40 with rice) are enough to feed four fair hungry people. Also, they’ve got a Sunday Brunch ($16) where everything’s done up buffet style for big-eaters and late-risers.

Where: 139 Ceylon Road, Eurasian Community House, Singapore 429744
Tel: 6348-0327 / 6254-4556 or 9147-0146
Website: http://www.quentins.com.sg

YouTube – The Promotion

Brilliantly animated, filmed and oh-so-creepy.

Cocktails and Asian Food (ET’s outtakes)

Did a story on Asian food and cocktails a couple of weeks ago where I got bartenders from Dbl O to create new cocktails for Asian snacks like Hee Bee Hiam (sambal prawn rolls), Soft-boiled peanuts, Bak Kwa (bbq pork jerky) etc… 

Here are my outtakes on the great Asian food & cocktail pairing!

Lester, the photographer, setting up and at work

Fizzy cocktail to go with Bak Kwa

 

Cocktails for Asian snacks

half-drunk [er…hmmph] tasted…

Zedy’s New Toy: A Robot from Japan

It’s not a fashionista robot. But a mini, scurrying thing that pushes a faceted ball around on its controller’s commands. Mr Roboto is a smart fella who knows how to avoid thieving robots and dock at his recharging station while looking insufferably cute at the same time.

Imagine a swarm of mini Mr Robotos as they tackle, track and steal the ball enroute to goal.