Husband and wife duo Keith and Xue Wei started the food blog An Affair With Food to share their love of food and travel. What began as a humble project to share the couple’s love for dining in Singapore has now evolved into a lifestyle site that includes travel and hotel recommendations, food news, home recipes and content related to home and living. They’ve also grown their Instagram platform, which now reaches out to 25.1k followers.
As leisure travel is still on hold due to the pandemic, the pair have started an IGTV series, Cook With Us, where you can find some of their favourite recipes for local hawker fare, various Asian cuisines and international dishes that can be easily recreated at home.
While whipping up their own meals is a newfound hobby, the pair are foodies at heart and still make time for regular romantic and memorable couple’s night out. Below are some of their recommendations on the best places in Singapore to have a satisfying and delicious meal with your partner.
1. For fusion Chinese cuisine: Cicada
“One of the most recent places we visited and instantly fell in love with was Cicada, a modern Chinese restaurant located in the heart of Clarke Quay serving up Asian-inspired dishes using Western culinary techniques,” shares Xue Wei. “The lush greenery and foliage that also doubles up as a picture-perfect backdrop, makes it a great place for date night or for anyone looking to escape into a tropical abode.”
Two must-try mains are the grilled miso cod capellini and char-grilled pork belly. “The capellini pasta is topped with shredded kombu and ebiko, and has a very delicate and light texture that will leave you wanting more. The cod fish is superbly done too, with a silky texture that flakes off easily. As for the char-grilled pork belly, every bite is incredibly rich and packed with that perfect balance of umami.” For those looking for light bites, it also serves modern Asian tapas (think salmon belly cubes and pan-seared foie gras) that you can pair with its signature cocktails.
Address: 3C River Valley Road, #01-10, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179022
2. For steak and burgers: Dallas Restaurant and Bar
“Whenever we’re in the CBD area and looking for a cosy spot to chill, you’d almost always find us at Dallas Restaurant and Bar filling up on hearty Italian fare such as pizzas, sharing platters, bar snacks and boozy drinks,” she says. The restaurant often switches up its menus according to the seasonal offerings, but a standout is its signature prime rib steak which comes with a side of salad or thick cut fries. “It’s basically a huge slab of meat (250g), slow cooked to retain its juiciness and finished on the grill to your desired doneness. For the sauces, you have a choice of red wine jus, black pepper, smokey barbecue or wild mushroom – all of which goes well with the smokiness of the steak.”
You can also opt for the snapper fish tacos with slaw, chipotle and pineapple salsa or if chicken is more your thing, go for its hearty avocado chicken Parmigiana of pan-fried panko crusted chicken breast topped with avocado, Napolitana sauce and mozzarella cheese, served with salad and fries.
Address: 31 Boat Quay, Singapore 049820
3. For dessert: DurianBB
“As unabashed durian lovers and aficionados, we always return to DurianBB for its fresh and quality durians which are harvested from its very own farm in Raub, Pahang – known to be the land of where the best Mao Shan Wang (MSW) durians come from,” she says.
Besides offering the actual creamy fruit in sealed packets ready for easy consumption, it also offers a range of desserts and beverages that are Insta-worthy. These include the adorable Mousetrap – a no-bake MSW cheesecake shaped like a block of cheese. “Those who prefer sweeter desserts can try this as the yellow shell is made of white chocolate and stuffed with a creamy durian filling.” Not satisfied still? You can take home a tub or two of its homemade Musang King Gelato, or go big with the decadent Musang King Burnt Cheesecake that perfectly blends the flavours of durian and cheese. It’s topped with 250g of MSW fruit.
Address: 462 Crawford Lane, #01-65, Singapore 190462
4. For Indonesian cuisine: Gado & Grill
For a taste of comforting authentic Indonesian cuisine, the pair usually turn to the casual Gado & Grill to satisfy their cravings. “They’re a no-frills halal Indonesian restaurant that is affordable and has several outlets islandwide. Our usual order is the NasiGO Set which comes with Indonesian fried rice, fried chicken wings, egg, cucumber and a savoury belachan chilli. What keeps us coming back is the sauce and chilli, which is fragrant and packs just the right punch,” she says.
Also recommended is the grilled fish set that comes with seawater fish marinated with sweet and savoury traditional spices and Indo sweet soya sauce and charred to perfection, served with fried tauhu.
Address: Several locations islandwide, such as One Raffles Place, Our Tampines Hub and Paya Lebar Square.
5. For Mexican cuisine: Lucha Loco
“Lucha Loco is on the very top of our list when it comes to delicious Mexican food. [They also offer] great ambience, service and drinks,” says Xue Wei. The restaurant’s vibrant and colourful vibes make for a cheerful and fun place to dine with your partner.
“[The] Baja Fish Tacos are served in a soft corn 6” tortilla and stuffed with a crispy fried barramundi, chipotle mango salsa, slaw and lime to tie up all that zesty flavour. If you prefer something more punchy and bold, the De Res Quesadillas are piled with pulled beef, then topped with onion jam, chipotle, orange, ranchero salsa and watercress. Every bite is unbelievably melt-in-your-mouth tender and bursting with flavour.” Don’t forget to pair your dishes with one of their delightful cocktails.
Address: 15 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089598
6. For Korean cuisine: O.BBa Jjajang & BBQ
O.BBa Jjajang & BBQ at Cheong Chin Nam Road is the couple’s go-to place whenever they are craving Korean food. “For first-timers who want a good idea of what a good bowl of Jajangmyeon should taste like, this is a great place to start. You’re served a generous portion of handmade noodles that are smooth and chewy, topped with diced pork and vegetables, and coated with a thick sauce that brings together heady aromas of sweet and savoury with hints of spice,” she shares.
“For sharing platters, the Set B (Grilled Pork) is a value-for-money deal that comes with pork belly, marinated pork rib, and thinly-sliced pork belly pieces,” she adds. Lightly grilled, wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves and paired with a sweet sauce, the meats are deliciously tender, smoky and filled with robust flavours.
Address: 19 Cheong Chin Nam Road, Singapore 599743
All photos courtesy of An Affair With Food.
Please check the establishments’ respective websites for opening hours before visiting, and remember to adhere to safe-distancing measures while out and about.
SEE ALSO: 4 hidden, lesser-known hawker gems in Singapore you have to visit
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