Dempsey Hill is a veritable playground for the well-heeled Singaporean and Ex-pat, housing numerous restaurants and bars and a calvacade of European cars. Jim Thompson is housed in what used to be the old Central Manpower Base ... and mere mention of this should call up a vomitous riot of panic nervousness amongst male Singaporeans of a certain age, unless of course you're a little wierd!
Aah but what a difference an interior design house makes. Gone are the harrowed halls of military bureaucracy replaced by iconic modern lighting and antique friezes and gut-wrenching prices. But I must say that the food loses none of its authenticity in such opulent surroundings.
We began the night with Verve and Mieng Kham, which is a Thai snack of peanuts and assorted vegetables wraped in Betel Leaves. Jim Thompson's version does not include the small dried prawns but has this heavenly dipping sauce that is apparently not such an easy thing to make.
We also had some Satays which were served with a divine Green Papaya salad ... hands down the best I have ever tasted.
And also these delightful Prawn cakes ... not rubbery at all, but soft and succulent and terribly moreish.
The inevitable tom yam followed which could have been a little spicier.
We also had a Duck Massaman (I think ... it was definitely Duck in some kind of Thai Curry sauce), some grilled Wagyo sirloin with a piquant dipping sauce (TDF peops TDF!) and spicy basil fish.
The vegetable component comprised of stir fry kangkong and to soak all this goodness up, we had a serve of Pineapple rice, which people were a little trepidatious of because apparently the hollowed out pineapples are re-used ... and to that I say Eeww!! But I enjoyed it nonetheless.
I had no room for sweets but the others indulged while I watched snap happy punters taking pictures of the lone Thai dancer providing light entertainment between courses.
Thoroughly sated, we headed a little further down the road towards the White Rabbit, and had a couple of cocktails to see the night out in their outdoor garden bar called the Rabbit Hole.
The restaurant itself is well worth a visit. G recommends the grilled sirloin to share. Its housed in this beautifully restored chapel and the interiors are stunning, although I am told the acoustics leave alot to be desired. Plus it has the coolest website!
On my last weekend in Singapore, the bro and co took me to PS Cafe on Ann Siang Hill (locally referred to as ASH). Ann Siang Hill in the Chinatown area along with Haji Lane in the Arab Street (Malay) area are 2 of Singapore's hottest hipster enclaves. PS Cafe itself is located in an old gay sauna with killer views at the top floors and lush tropical surroundings in the smokers area out the front.
It is surprisingly inexpensive, well comparatively so. Mains are more or less around the $30 mark. I didn't take any photos as we were in an area that was relatively dark, but I dined on a beautiful Cod and Caper Rillette (S$18) as a starter and a sumptously rich Crab Tart (S$29) for a main.
G knows the owners, well one of them anyways from his Boom Boom (might have to probe you for some old tales from the heyday G) days. They started with the Project Shop Blood Brothers clothing chain, which used to be my favourite haunt back in the days when one was skinny and everything fitted!! They are the quintessential Urbane Singaporean males, well educated, expensively (but not showily) dressed and most of all, able to indulge in witty repartee. And so welcoming!! It is a definite recommendation from me, you have to go even if its just for drinks. And if you're lucky to have a cool night its bliss!
Coming up next - a round up of some fashion purchases and the generosity of a well off brother-in-law.
Ahh how nice to go back to your old stomping grounds. Dempsey Rd has really developed into a very fashionable place for food and drinks! My fave curry fishhead place, Samy's, is also there, haha!
ReplyDeleteYah love Samy's!!! Haven't had fish head curry in so long. I think a return trip needs to be organised soon.
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