From The Straits Times    |
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Wheat and Gemmils

Photo: Wheat, Gemmils

For the days when deadlines are looming and reports are due, perhaps a tasty takeaway lunch can cheer you up. Here is a selection of new dishes from 9 different food outlets that might pique your interest, some healthy, some hearty, some comforting and all relatively un-messy to eat (read: no splattering gravy, well except for the laksa and the Japanese curry, but some risks are worth taking, don’t you think).

 

1. Stamford Brasserie

Stamford Brasserie

Photo: Stamford Brasserie

The Stamford Brasserie is the latest addition to the dining offerings at Swissôtel The Stamford. It’s a multi-concept restaurant and bar that features Bistro Dining Restaurant, a Beer Bar and a convenient Grab & Go counter. A range of sandwiches, salads, pastries and confectioneries are available.

Offerings include homemade bread with asparagus, Brie and garlic aioli, butter croissant with turkey ham, cheddar cheese and grain mustard. The traditional shepherd’s lamb pie has a filling of flavorful minced lamb and green peas topped with mashed potatoes (you can request for it to be heated up). The Grab & Go Menu is available all the way from 6:30am to 8:00pm so if you in the area and have a really early day, you know where to go.

Level 1 Swissotel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Road, Singapore 189560, 6431 6156

 

ALSO READ: CHECK OUT THESE DELICIOUSLY VIRTUOUS SALAD BARS FOR YOUR NEXT TAKEAWAY MEAL

 

2. Gemmills 

Gemmills

Photo: Xie Huiqun

Gemmills, a charming café cum eatery cum wine bar opened by the same good people behind Mediterranean restaurant Maggie Joan’s, has launched a new takeaway menu that includes three hearty sandwiches (from $12). There is the classic ham and Comte cheese baguette, the tempting mortadella, salami and parma ham on baguette and the glorious chicken schnitzel sandwich with tomato, rocket & aioli.

We loved how every mouthful is a kaleidoscope of textures and flavours with toasted crusty homemade sourdough bread, crispy crumbed chicken, a kick of spice from the jalapeños, the crunch of coleslaw and topped with shaved Parmesan cheese, and a touch of citrus from the burnt lime (do remember to squeeze that lime!). If you are a dainty eater, you can possibly share the sandwich with another. 

#01-02, 110 Amoy Street, Singapore 069930, 9390 3825

 

3. Tampopo Deli

Tampopo Deli

Photo: Xie Huiqun

Tampopo Deli, located at the basement of Liang Court and not to be confused with sister restaurant Tampopo the casual dining concept located on level one, is a popular spot for lunch for the office crowd in the Clarke Quay vicinity. They have a wide selection of sumptuous bentos (lunch boxes), such as tonkatsu, unagi and salmon, dons (rice bowls), such as kimchi don, teriyaki chicken don, and also noodles such as cold soba.

The latest seasonal menu includes an interesting Japanese Nasi Lemak bento series (yes, you heard right). The plump (and pale green) grains of Japanese rice were wonderfully fragrant with the aroma of pandan and each bento comes with a dollop of slightly sweet sambal chilli, sliced cucumbers, shredded cabbage, and also miso soup. Take your pick from grilled chicken with hard-boiled egg ($10.80) and crispy deep-fried chicken and prawn ($15) to grilled fish ($12) and teriyaki cuttlefish ($15). This is a seasonal menu so do go try it before it is gone (it will still be available for month of June). 

#01-23/24 Liang court shopping Centre, 177 River Valley Road, Singapore 179030, 6338 3186

 

4. Starbucks

Starbucks

Photo: Starbucks

Starbucks (yes, we too are pleasantly surprised) has launched a new lineup of three healthy bowls priced at $7.90 each. There is the Cajun Prawns & Barley Bowl with prawns, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potato, cheery tomatoes and a tangy and midly spicy Cajun dressing; the Roast Chicken & Soba Bowl with cheery tomatoes, zucchini and fragrant sesame dressing,; and the Roast Chicken & Quinoa Bowl with carrot, zucchini, raisin, corn, sundried tomato and a refreshing lemon dressing.

So for the folks on the move looking to grab something healthy, the next time you get your cuppa from Starbucks, you can also pick up a salad bowl too.

 

5. Express by Chatterbox 

Express by Chatterbox

Photo: Express by Chatterbox

Located in Downtown Gallery, Express by Chatterbox brings signature flavours of the iconic Chatterbox by Mandarin Orchard Singapore to the CBD with some new lunchtime items. The casual eatery is fuss-free and features a lite but equally yummy version of their famous Madarin Chicken Rice ($9) and Chatterbox Laksa ($12) sans lobster.

There are also satisfying rice bowls, such as the Braised Pork Rice with Onsen Egg ($10) that uses Hokkaido rice topped with yellow bean paste sauce, tofu and minced pork, and modern takes on classic, such as the newly added Laksa Pasta ($14) which sees al dente spaghetti tossed in a lemak laksa paste and served with crispy deep-fried pork chop and sliced braised mushrooms. Orders for dine-in and takeaway go through the same queue, which can take a while during peak hours, but service is rather prompt once orders are placed. Weekly specials (main dish with a drink from $13) are also available.

#01-04 Downtown Gallery, 6A Shenton Way, Singapore 068815, 6220 0758

 

6. Teppei Syokudo 

Teppei Syokudo

Photo: Teppei Syokudo

Teppei Syokudo by chef owner Teppei Yamashita has long been popular for its affordable Japanese takeaway. While the signature kaisen-don (assorted cubed sashimi tossed in chef Teppei’s secret sauce and scattered over sushi rice) remains a best-seller, other dishes, such as the Japanese pork katsu curry, teriyaki chicken bento and tori karaage (deep-fried chicken) bento are also a hit with customers.

They have recently introduced a “Say Cheese” menu (available for a limited time only) with dishes such as hamburger stuffed with cheese served with pasta tossed in a tomato-based sauce ($14.80) mentaiko cheese pasta ($13.80) and cheese katsu curry ($15.80). While it is always best to enjoy cheesy dishes hot, you can still do takeaway and reheat it in a microwave briefly to get the cheese back to its melty glory (at least that worked well with the cheese katsu curry we packed from the Plaza Singapura outlet).

 

7. Super Simple

Super Simple

Photo: Xie Huiqun

This fuss-free food kiosk concept by chef-owner Jasper Jek dishes up healthy and wholesome food with a focus on lean proteins and complex carbs. Almost everything is made in-house and there is no added sugar, no MSG and no colourings are used. Super Simple also does not do deep-frying. Chef Jek prefers healthier methods of cooking: namely baking, blanching, pan-frying and sautéing. Diners can choose from their No Fuss Sets (from $8.90 for the Veg Lover set), where the combinations are fixed. Think: slow-cooked chicken breast with whole wheat pasta, sous-vide egg, corn, and broccoli ($8.90).

Or they can customize their own boxes (from $8.90). Perhaps sliced New Zealand rib-eye steak done medium and combined with pumpkin, cherry tomatoes, slow-baked onions. Then take your pick of six homemade dressing, which includes parsley pesto, ponzu, miso ginger and honey mustard, and you are good to go. Cold-pressed juices, which they source from Squeezed!, are also available at their newly opened second outlet at International Plaza, Tanjong Pagar. 

#01-39 International Plaza, 10 Anson Rd , Singapore 079903

 

8. The Sandwich Shop 

The Sandwich Shop

Photo: The Sandwich Shop

For a seriously good sandwich, among other things, do check out new outlet of The Sandwich Shop. Owner David Cheung, who has been running the business since 2003, shares that the food is still prepared from scratch daily at the outlets (they have 8 outlets to date, the latest one opened at Marina One on Feb 2018) to ensure freshness. We love the variety of offerings here (there is easily over 50 different items on display at any one time). They have everything from their gourmet sandwiches, baguettes, salads and wraps to grilled sandwiches, soups and hot pots (the latter two are thoughtfully kept warm at the hot cabinet section).

Highlights from the sizeable selection include the Massive All Day Breakfast sandwich ($8.50), which tempts with the goodness of streaky bacon, sausage, egg mayo, mushroom, mesclun mix and ketchup; the vegetarian-friendly Veggie Bean Grilled Wrap ($7) that is filled with avocado, sweet corn, red capsicum, chick peas, kidney beans and pesto mayo, and a refreshing Wakame Salad ($5) which consists of mesclun mix, shredded carrot, sautéed mushroom, boiled egg, cherry tomatoes and wakame (seaweed). Definitely try the Warm Cous Cous Hot Pot (think: a stew of sorts in a cup), which has cous cous, roast chicken, spinach and boiled egg submerged in a homemade tomato soup ($6.50). Each mouthful is a savoury tangy symphony. Delicious.

#B2-05 Marina One, The Heart, 5 Straits View, Singapore 018935, 6281 0712

 

9. Wheat

Wheat

Photo: Wheat

Wheat Baumkuchen (now Wheat) first opened in Toa Payoh seven years ago, but has since moved into the CBD area with a new outlet. They currently have 7 outlets, with Marina One being the latest addition since early 2018. Wheat specializes in healthy soba bowls and also had brown rice on the menu, which has since been switched to organically farmed red rice imported from Bhutan as it is a healthier option.

This nutty and fluffy rice can be incorporated into dishes such as the Salmon Poke bowl with cubed raw salmon, avocados, sous vide egg, cucumbers (from $9.90). There is also the no carb char-grilled Teriyaki Chicken Broccoli and Cauliflower bowl (available at Marina One and Republic Plaza only) complete with avocado and sous vide egg that is great for takeaway. Design your own bowl options are also available from $12.

#B2-33 Marina One, the Heart, 5 Straits View, Singapore 018935

 

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