East Bistro at myVillage – Cantonese CNY Sets & Crab Pao Fan

Some things just don’t go out of style. Things like Flowers, Black & White, & traditional eats – don’t you agree? If you’re looking for a cosy, spacious and no-frills restaurant for your Chinese New Year reunion lunch/dinner, look no further – East Bistro at myVillage is bound to meet your expectations!

Helmed by acclaimed head Chef Tony Wong, who spearheaded well-known Michelin-starred Cantonese Restaurant Lei Garden, East Bistro has been serving the residents of Serangoon Gardens with exquisite Cantonese and Teochew cuisines. I really liked the modest interiors and set-up that gives off the vibes of a very traditional tea-house, which is extremely rare these days. The bright white lights indirectly brightened up my mood! For this festive season, Chef has specially curated four different set menus to cater to your varying budgets and preferences.

 

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One of their signature dishes in the Chinese New Year menu is the Steamed Garoupa Fish in HK Style. Cantonese and Teochews alike take their fish very seriously, and this is evident in East Bistro’s rendition.

The firm yet delicate and tender white flesh characteristic of Garoupas was well-accentuated by steaming, which also retains the freshness and natural sweetness. Dressed with julienned green onion and just a little ginger to remove any tinge of fishiness, hot oil is drizzled over to release their aroma instantaneously. With light soy sauce added on the sides, this is indeed a classic dish that would be a crowd-pleaser. 年年有余(鱼)！

Meat lovers would be pleased with their Smoked Chicken in Ginger. Based off a traditional Hong Kong recipe, their smoked chicken carries a unique flavour that others would not be able to replicate. The firm yet succulent texture of the Kampung Chicken is indeed delightful, with its natural sweetness and meaty juices locked in through steaming. This was so good on its own that it did not require any condiments to go with it. 吉(鸡)祥如意！

To end off your festive feast on a sweet note, their Chilled Double Boiled Snow Lotus Seed certainly made a refreshing dessert. Similar to Cheng Teng that we are familiar with, this one encompasses high-quality snow lotus seeds specially imported from Hong Kong. Its springy and chewy texture was extremely pleasing, going well with the sweet soup which inherits its sweetness from the abundance of dried longans and red dates used. 子孙满堂！

Who here is a fan of nonya kuehs just like me? You are bound to enjoy their Red Dates Cake, whose texture bears resemblance to that of rainbow kueh lapis kueh! This traditional delicacy is made using large red dates puree, which imparts its irresistible sweetness as well as its iconic wine red colour to the cake layer. Chef has ingeniously added in a coconut layer for an added coconutty fragrance and creamy flavour, which I felt really elevated the taste profile up a few notches. 早(枣)生贵子！

 

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Besides their festive menu, you would be equally delighted to indulge in their mouthwatering dishes in their ala carte menu. East Bistro prides themselves for their dim sum too, and their Rice Rolls with Dark Sauce would be a great starter to your meal.

When it was served, I almost mistook it for XO Carrot Cake as it bore an uncanny resemblance! Featuring silky smooth rice rolls stir-fried with dark sauce, topped with crunchy bean sprouts, this one carried a bit of wok-hei that got me wanting more.

It might be a sin to leave East Bistro without trying their signature Crispy Rice with Crab in Soup ($55, seasonal price).

More affectionately known as Pao Fan (泡饭), this dish engages all your five senses – see the meaty Sri Lankan crab swimming in the porridge, listen to the crackling of the golden fried rice crisps when tossed into the porridge, smell the aroma of the rich broth made with chicken and pork bones simmered for up to 5 hours, get your hands on those incredibly sweet crabs and finally, taste the umami of the soup, well-absorbed by the porridge and rice crisps.

Sweet and Sour Pork is a must-order at zichar stalls for my family and East Bistro just aced it with their rendition of Iced Sweet and Sour Pork ($18[S], $27[M], $36[L]). It is definitely something different from what you get elsewhere as the tomato-based sauce has been cleverly swapped up by hawthorn sauce. This dish leans towards the sweet side, which I personally felt would be better if it was more tangy for a balance.

The deep-fried pork, however, was well-executed – crispy skin and not overly tough. The ice lent a helping hand in secure the sauce onto the meats and retaining the crisp, while the pork remained warm inside. What an ingenious idea!

For desserts, you just can’t go wrong with their Chilled Mango Sago Cream with Pomelo ($5). A classic dessert featuring a generous amount of pomelo and sweet mangoes in mango puree with evaporated milk, this creamy sweet treat is certainly an enjoyable one.

However, if you only have room for 1 dessert, my recommendation would be their Jin Deul ($4.80 for 3 pieces). First of all, the presentation of these huge hollow sesame balls already impressed me – I really wonder how Chef managed to create these magical balls!

Despite having no fillings, the mochi-like texture of the glutinous rice flour that was mildly sweet when you chew on it, together with the coat of aromatic toasted sesame seeds, simply stole my heart.

Overall, you can definitely expect a scrumptious feast with a taste of home here at East Bistro. Presentation and cooking of dishes may not be fanciful, but taste and quality are certainly not compromised. Staying true to his three principles of creating quality dishes – Freshness, Fragrance and Flavour, you are in for a gastronomical treat!

 

Prices of their festive set menus are as such:

Set A (8 course): $448++ for 6pax, $598++ for 8pax, $748++ for 10pax

Set B (8 course): $528++ for 6pax, $698++ for 8pax, $888++ for 10pax

Set C (6 course with Pen Cai): $618++ for 6pax, $828++ for 8pax, $1,098++ for 10pax

Set D (6 course): $368++ for 4pax

 

East Bistro @ myVillage

1 Maju Avenue, #02-01, Singapore 556679

Mondays to Sundays: 11am-3pm, 5pm-10pm

Tel: +65 6634 2998

Website: https://www.facebook.com/eastbistromyvillage/

 

Words and images by @serenetomato

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