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2015-04-18
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Before we begin, please remember that it is extremely excruciating for me to contain my extraordinary exuberance, especially in face of the expansive extent of excellent egg puns available whenever brunch is served. Therefore, do not be shell-shocked at the lack of pre-embryonic yolks (oops, I really meant jokes) as this review progresses. Let’s get crackin’, baby!Thanks to the lovely folks at OpenRice who invited me to this food-tasting session, I got a glimpse of what the CBD looks like on a s
Thanks to the lovely folks at OpenRice who invited me to this food-tasting session, I got a glimpse of what the CBD looks like on a sleepy scorching Saturday morning. Just to clarify, it’s not as though I’m persona non grata in the CBD (I always get invited to partays, okay), but it’s just that I never had a compelling reason to travel down on weekends. In fact, I’m probably not alone in thinking that nothing much is open around the Raffles Place area on weekend mornings. Weekend nights are a different story though, what with the number of bars lining Boat Quay, you’d be hard-pressed to find a reason to leave.
Notwithstanding my contact lenses mishap early in the day, this morning spent at Harry’s Boat Quay really opened my eyes in more ways than one. It’s genius really, when you think about it. Bars are great, Brunches are great, so why not both? It should always be BARunch I say, any time of the day! Ever walked into a brunch place and lamented their measly offerings of weak bubbly and watered-down mimosas, wishing instead for a pint of the good stuff?At Harry’s Boat Quay, the good stuff is always there, but now you get brunch to wash it down, too. That’s the type of washing that even feminists can enjoy.
Moreover, you don’t get your SBO (Standard Battle Order) line-up of Brunch favourites over at Harry’s. Instead, they are going for the whole European comfort food vibe, but with a twist. And before anyone’s knickers get in a similar state, let’s take a look at some of their main offerings.1. Soft Boiled Eggs & Marmite Soldiers ($7)
This con-COCOTTE-tion, of soft boiled eggs with fingerling toasties smeared with a generous amount of marmite and topped with cheese, is absolute heaven. Hell, I’d march into war with them Marmite Soldiers any day, YUMS. Needless to say, this Brit-Aussie take on brunch really packs a punch, at least for me.2. Croissant Croque Monsieur ($12)
Ah, mon ami. Let’s French it up a notch, and replace our bread with the quintessential Croissant. While it retains only a slight crunch (possibly to the point of being blasphemous to its namesake), the result is a juicier, more scrumptious version of good old Mister Crunch. Actually, I’d probably nickname this my Mister Munch instead, or Le Croix Monsieur perhaps? :/ While I enjoyed this very much, the béchamel sauce probably seeped into the porous croissant, which is really sad. Béchamel over Chanel, baby. I’m crazy over the side salad by the way – it’s dressed in a simple balsamic reduction, which the lovely Nataline at Harry’s describes as a light accompaniment to an otherwise heavy meal. Oui, oui!3. Chicken Pot Pie ($12)
What would Sweeny Todd do, when faced with pastry draped over stew? This is in reference to a May 2014 petition originating from London, appropriately urging folks to “Make wrongly describing a casserole with a pastry lid as a pie a criminal offence”. I kid you not. Alas, it’s but a rose by any other name, my friends. I’d still lap up this deliciously creamy Chicken Pot Pie and be content. The best part of this dish is the satisfying bite – even the mushrooms are quartered and not sliced!4. Fry Up Galore – Ham, Bacon and Mushroom Fry Up ($13); Vegetables Fry Up ($12)
To be honest, while I loved the way the eggs and ingredients are presented, I was pretty underwhelmed by both Fry Ups, to be honest. The Vegetables Fry Up was marginally better, with its slightly sweet overall taste and the crunchy fresh beans. However, I felt the Ham, Bacon and Mushroom Fry Up could go easier on the seasoning – plus, I couldn’t taste the Bacon too. Everyone knows Bacon can make or break a dish, unless it’s Kevin Bacon (haha, sorry I had to say it).The Fry Ups I know and love are usually Irish, and served with their nation’s best spud hash. Luck of the leprechauns, indeed.
5. Assorted Muffins ($2.90 each, takeaway encouraged)
The staggering array of muffins was presented to us early in the meal, and I’d have to admit I’m not a big fan of muffins. I usually found the texture too dry and mealy, but this rendition is surprising good, especially the Banana and Peanut Butter Muffin! Another one I really liked is the Granny Smith Muffin, for the juicy tartness that binds the muffin and cuts through the gelat-ness. The Raspberry and Cheese didn’t stand out in my opinion, and I didn’t touch the Raisins and Walnuts, seeing as I’m averse to raisins. If I were to judge solely on the base, dough (haha geddit?), I’d say these muffins are definitely batter than expected!
A word for the purists – I had the Cranberry Juice ($6), and like most bars, it’s not freshly squeezed or anything. My bad though, who does juices in a bar, amirite? Kronenbourg Blanc FTW.
I'll end with a sneak peek behind the scenes of a typical foodie's tasting session! All in all, a lovely day spent in lovely company. I definitely found a new hideout for when I’m decidedly sick of hipster-style food, and craving post-hungover style pub grub. Which probably is most of the time. Seriously, try Harry’s Boat Quay out, and bring your big boy pants. x
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