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more things to eat

(before you die)

The Fabulous Fifty

Jalean Wong picks (another) 50 things you absolutely need to put in your mouthat least once.

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nother years gone by, and weve taken it upon ourselves to find an entirely new list of 50 eats that are simply die, die, must try. Weve taste-tested everything from hawker fare to fine dining grub, deep-fried to oven-roasted dishes, and come up with our top eats for 2011. Here they are, in no particular order. So no excuses, get cracking folks.

BERKSHIRE PORK BELLY AT NOVUS

Its no secret that we have a real weakness for all things porcine, and this offering from chef Stephan Zoisl is stunning. With just the right ratio of fat to meat in our book (1:1), and after being cooked sous-vide for 48 hours, its hard not to inhale these thin slices of incredibly succulent American Berkshire pork belly in one go. They sit pretty atop a fragrant and creamy saffron-scented risotto, accompanied by Joselito ibrico, crisp pork crackers, parmesan and chargrilled capsicum which make for a winning combination. $38. #01-02 National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd., 6336-8770.

The crunchy yet tender chicken is a winner, and pairs superbly with the fluffy rice (cooked with chicken stock). Dont forget to pile on the sweet and sour chili. $4.50. Stall 007 Bedok Corner Food Centre, 1 Bedok Rd., 9389-4301.

NASI AYAM PENYET AT NUR INDAH KITCHEN

We arent big fans of cold noodles, but for this rendition well make an exceptionchewy translucent threads in a chilled chicken broth, topped with half a hardboiled egg, slivers of chicken, sesame seeds and accented with aromatic garlic oil. Yummers. $18. #01-01 Robertson Walk, 11 Unity St., 6235-2941.

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TOKUSEI REIMEN AT JAPANESE BBQ YAKINIKU YAZAWA

Lip-smackingly good, yet so simple. A combination of grilled tiger prawns and al dente linguine coated with a spicy prawn-scented butter sauce that youll find hard to share. $22. 54/56 Club St., 6223-3868.

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GRILLED PRAWN PASTA AT NZT BISTRO LOUNGE

WHOOPIE FRIES AT PIQUE NIQUE

FOIE GRAS DUO AT BISTRO SOORI

Hella hard to say no these babies, despite the fact that were well aware of how bad they are for our waistline. Deep-fried, thick-cut golden fingers of crisp potato, tossed in a blend of seasoning that tastes like a very successful marriage between Cajun spices and curry powder. Enjoy with tons of mayo. $8. #B1-01 Ngee Ann City Tower A, 391A Orchard Rd., 6238-6705.

Youre going to love us for this one, unless youre a doctor. Texan chef Ben McBride has our vote with this truly decadent number: Pan-seared foie gras coupled with a pink peppercorn-studded wine-poached pear filled with a very pleasant surpriserich foie gras mousse. To tie it all together and save it from being overly cloying, a mildly sweet yet tart pink peppercorn gastrique. $21. 2 Teck Lim Rd., 6438-3802.

BLACK TRUFFLE AND ARTICHOKE SOUP AT GUY SAVOY

All it takes is one mouthful of celeb chef Guy Savoys signature black truffle and artichoke soup to convert even the most cynical of critics. $90. #02-01 Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8513.

Unfortunate name choice of this little gem aside, the jiaozi in hot and sour soup here is terrific. The broth is spicy, sour and flavorful, and serves as the ideal complement to these juicy homemade pork-filled dumplings. You almost dont need any vinegar on the side. $7. 18 Smith St., 6100-0629.

JIAOZI AT YANG GUI FEI

Hawaiian food doesnt really exist in Singapore, but it does make a fleeting appearance here in the form of poke: Marinated thinsliced salmon sashimi with a sprinkling of white and black sesame seeds. $16. #B1-08/09/10C Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Rd., 6737-2148.

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SASHIMI POKE AT HEART BISTRO

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SUP TULANG AT AL KADER RESTAURANT

ENTRE-NOUS CRPE AT ENTRE-NOUS CREPERIE

The signature Entre-nous crpe makes us weak in the knees. A paper-thin treat crisped to perfection, made with organic wheat flour, is dressed with housemade salted butter caramel. Weve been known to lick our plates clean. $9.30. #01-01, 27 Seah St., 6333-4671.

The deep red gravy might be off-putting to some, but we can guarantee that its really delicious with a strong tomato flavor and loads of marrow in the bone just waiting to be slurped up. $6-12. #01-534, 820 Tampines St. 81, 9004-7030.

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Chef and owner Tim Ross-Watsons unusual interpretation of a childhood favorite (his and ours): Jelly and ice cream. We have fond memories of jice, but it was never quite as fancy as 66% Valrhona chocolate ice cream, raspberry jelly and gel, coconut cream and mouth-tingling pop rocks. $15. 148 Neil Rd., 6222-2119.

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JELLY N ICE CREAM AT THE GARDEN OF EDEN

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TARTE TATIN AT RESTAURANT EMBER

After all this time, still one of the best damn apple tarte tatins in the city. $16. G/F Hotel 1929, 50 Keong Saik Rd., 6347-1928.

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PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE AT HUMMERSTONS

FILET MIGNON AT KEYSTONE RESTAURANT

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CONFIT SAKURA AYAM TUTURAGA AT THE MOLUCCAS ROOM

We adore Indonesian-born chef Alicia Tiveys confit Sakura ayam tuturaga, a tangy Sakura chicken confit curry with roasted new potatoes that showcases her classical French cooking techniques. $33. #01-81 Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Ave., 6688-7367.

Chef de cuisine Mark Richards makes several noteworthy creations so its hard to pick just one, but our carnivorous predisposition votes for the Rangers Valley filet mignon cooked to your specifications (medium-rare please folks), accompanied by brown butter barnaise and miso yaki eggplant. $58. 11/12 Stanley St., 6221-0046.

We wont bore you with all the details about what goes into making this baby, although we will tell you it has something to do with slow-roasted pumpkins and a crisp, homemade rosemaryscented base. The result is an incredibly dense and satisfying slice of nirvana (its incredibly dense and satisfying). $10.90. #02-14 Robertson Walk, 11 Unity St., 6737-8863.

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HERBAL MUTTON SOUP AT NEW WORLD MUTTON SOUP

A fourth generation family business specializing in mutton soup. The broth is hearty and comforting, and the meat tender. $4-10. #01-55 Bedok Interchange Food Centre, 207 New Upper Changi Rd., 9181-8037.

APPLE OATMEAL PANCAKES AT BOATHOUSE

CURRY-RUBBED WAGYU AT KHA

Brunch is one of our favorite meals, and the apple oatmeal pancakes here are what we crave most weekends. Light, fluffy, and healthy to boot, apple compote and honeycomb are a particularly nice touch. $18. #03-01 The Waterboat House, 3 Fullerton Rd., 6538-9038.

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XO CHEONG FUN AT YAN TING

Wok-fried cheong fun with XO sauce and eggs might not sound like anything special, but sometimes its the simple things that do it for us. This one certainly does. $10. 2/F The St Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Rd., 6506-6887.

This restaurant may have moved, but its food is still as good as we remember. Do try the grilled red curry-rubbed Wagyu beef with papaya salad, yogurt and chili jam. $29. Martin No. 38, 38 Martin Rd., 6476-9000.

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CARBONARA PASTA AT LA STRADA

PEKING DUCK SKIN, FOIE GRAS AND PRAWN COMBO AT MAJESTIC RESTAURANT

SCALLOPS AT FIFTYTHREE

Props to chef-owner Yong Bing Ngen for making Chinese cuisine contemporary with dishes like this stellar combination of Peking duck skin, pan-seared foie gras and crispy prawns with wasabi dressing. $18. G/F New Majestic Hotel, 31-37 Bukit Pasoh Rd., 6511-4718.

Instead of the usual pan-seared ones that are de rigueur in most fine dining establishments, this entre crafted by chef-owner Michael Han is restrained yet it still packs a culinary punch. Start with sashimi-style scallops, add in balls of compressed watermelon, then an Earl Grey and lavender granita, and finally, crisp chicken feet and passion fruit coulis to finish it off. Stunning. $53 upwards for three courses. 53 Armenian St., 6334-5535.

This is completely different from the usual bastardized white cream sauces you might be used to, in a good way. Our tip: Gently break the coddled egg nestled on the bed of fresh pasta strands and toss lightly, while crisp prosciutto and sharp parmesan provide flavor and texture. $26. #02-10 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd., 6737-2622.

MANADO-STYLE KUROBUTA PORK AT TABLE AT 7

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SUCKLING PIG AT OTTO RISTORANTE
Proof that not only the Chinese do crispy suckling pig well. This scrumptious rendition is lacquered with black locust tree honey and accented with aged balsamic vinegar. $48. #01-02 Red Dot Traffic Building, 28 Maxwell Rd., 6227-6819.

BEEF RENDANG PIZZA AT WOK & BARREL

Served with fragrant shallot-scented rice, the super tender Manado-style twice-cooked Kurobuta pork is marvelous. $28. 7 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6836-6362.

Of all the dishes at this modern Singaporean newbie by chef-owner Shen Tan, this is the one we just couldnt get enough of, with all the goodness of tender and tasty beef rendang surfing on a house-made thin-crust base. $11.90. 13 Duxton Hill, 6220-0595.

LEMON TART AT LATELIER DE JOL ROBUCHON

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BAN MIAN AT L.32 SHOU GONG MIAN

BLACK CARROT CAKE AT LE YI SHI FRIED CARROT CAKE

Chunky cuts of carrot cake thats fried until slightly caramelized and evenly coated with thick, dark soy sauce. We suggest ordering it with chili. $2-3. #01-38, 93 Toa Payoh Lorong 4 Hawker Centre.

These soft and supple homemade noodles have just the right thickness, floating in a light and flavorful soup with fresh prawns and extremely crispy fried anchovies. $3-5.50. Stall 32, Lorong 32 Geylang, 558 Geylang Rd.

Michelin star-studded Jol Robuchon is known for all kinds of elaborate creations, but we were blown away by one of the simplest: A slice of lemon tart. A delicate pastry houses the softest set lemon curd that is both tangy and subtly sweet. $25 for 5 slices. G/F Hotel Michael, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 6577-7888.

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HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE AT HAINANESE BONELESS CHICKEN RICE

If youre a lazy bugger, youll be thrilled with this find: Fluffy, fragrant rice with moist and juicy chicken flesh. The soup is also slurpalicious, with a slight herbal taste. $3. #01-15 Alexandra Village Food Centre, 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1.

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MILLE CRPE AT CLASSIC CAKES

Pastry chef and owner Charles Quek painstakingly makes and stacks layer upon layer of crpes, in flavors like chocolate chip, apple and durian. Our pick hands down is the original, filled with a subtle vanilla bean cream thats a real treat. $7 upwards. 41 Sunset Way, 6762-8019.

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OOZE AT PAV CHOCOLATES & CONFECTIONS

A dark and handsome chocolate bar hiding sea saltedcaramel; built for those cocoa cravings. $14.90. 93 East Coast Rd., 6342-0677.

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SALT-CURED FOIE GRAS AT THE DINING ROOM AT TANJONG BEACH CLUB

BEEF FLAUTAS AT PIEDRA NEGRA

Expect three handsome deep-fried tortilla flutes laid out in a row on a bed of refried beans. Each crunchy brown tortilla roll is filled with meat so well-seasoned, you might be tempted to ignore the beans. Dont. $11.90. 241 Beach Rd., 6291-1297.

PATATAS AIOLI AT SABIO TAPAS BAR & RESTAURANT

The house-made salt-cured foie gras paired with kaya and toasted brioche, conceived by chef Craig Schantz, is outstanding; we love the contrast of savory, rich foie gras against sweet, coconutty kaya jam. $27. 120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa, 6270-1355.

Delish wedges of fried potatoes smothered in aioli (garlicspiked mayonnaise). $8. 5 Duxton Hill, 6223-4645.

STUFFED TOFU CRESPELLE AT KRISH

CHICKEN KIEV AT BUYAN RUSSIAN HAUTE CUISINE & CAVIAR BAR

Its surprisingly light and tender, despite being breaded then fried to a golden crisp. $18. 9/10 Duxton Hill, 6223-7008.

This Indian-inspired dish was a real surprise, since were not big on veggies. Tofu crespelle stuffed with garam masala-infused vegetables and mascarpone, finished with pickled lemon tomato sauce. We almost didnt notice the lack of meat. $16. 9 Rochester Park, 6779-4644.

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EEL TIDE AT LES AMIS

CHINESE ROJAK AT STALL 11 ECONOMIC BEE HOON NASI LEMAK ROJAK

HOR FUN AT SHI HUI YUAN HOR FUN SPECIALTY

Large chunks of fruit and veg, crunchy you tiao and fragrant tau pok tossed in a zesty rojak sauce thats most delicious. That and portions are liberal to boot. $3-4. Stall 11 Sembawang Hill Food Centre, 590 Upper Thomson Rd.

Chicken hor fun done just right. The gravy has just the right amount of salt to be flavorsome yet isnt too thick, while chicken slices are tender. But what makes this a real winner are the mushroomslarge, sweet and juicy. $3-5. #02-33 Mei Ling Food Centre, 159 Mei Chin Rd.

Lightly-smoked eel tide, with crispy pork croton, horseradish and Dijon mustard emulsion, and Hungarian goose foie gras parfait, Gewrztraminer jelly, brioche and black Prigord truffles. In a word: Divine. $55. #02-16 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd., 6733-2225.

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VEGEMITE SOLDIERS AT JIMMY MONKEY

BOEUF BOURGUIGNON AT BRASSERIE WOLF

Traditional? Without a doubt. But that doesnt make head chef Claudio Sandris rendition of boeuf bourguignon any less appealing. Expect mouthwateringly tender chunks of meat (you wont even need a knife) and gravy so flavorful youll be tempted to drink it straight from the dish. $29. #01-13 The Pier @ Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6835-7818.

Since his recent arrival, executive chef Shannon Binnie has introduced several new items to the menu. We like the poached cherries with yogurt mousse and honeycomb semifreddo extremely satisfying yet not overly sweet. $16. 55/F ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, 6592-5118.

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POACHED CHERRIES AT SALT GRILL

We cant claim to be crazy about Vegemite; well leave that to the true-blue Aussies, but we are keen on these Vegemite-slathered toast soldiers covered with melted cheese and served with a soft-boiled egg. Wash it down with a nice flat white. $8. #01-51 one-north residences, 9 one-north Gateway, 6777-8470.

TANDOORI FOIE GRAS AT PUNJAB GRILL BY JIGGS KALRA

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COQ AU VIN AT DB BISTRO MODERNE

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JQ XIAO LONG BAO AT SKY ON 57

Who doesnt love xiao long baos? But local celeb chef Justin Queks rendition filled with foie gras elevates the ordinary to the sublime. $25 for 5 pieces. 57/F SkyPark, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8857.

A classic executed brilliantly. Rich and hearty with bacon, wild mushrooms and pearl onions. $34. #B1-48 Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8525.

Not ones to say no to indulgent food, weve enjoyed more than our fair share of tandoori foie gras. What makes it especially delectable is the sweet mango chutney that comes with it. $45. #B1-01A The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Ave., 6688-7395.

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BACK & BELLY AT LEVEL33

UNI TAGLIOLINI AT PAMPLEMOUSSE BISTRO + BAR

CHAR SIU AT OVERSEA RESTAURANT

Loyal patrons of the original in KL might complain that its not quite the same (in all honesty, we reckon its not quite as fatty or sweet), but its still some very nicely charred roasted pork with a sticky sweet glaze that oozes fatty goodness. $20 upwards. #01-27/37 Shaw Leisure Gallery, 100 Beach Rd., 6294-2638.

He might be young, but hes not pulling any punches. Chef Jimi Tegerdine does a mean Back & Belly char-grilled 200-daysaged Stockyard sirloin and braised blackened brisket thats a truly satisfying eat. $43.50. #33-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, 8 Marina Blvd., 6834-3133.

A great spot for modern European fare helmed by chef-owner Adran Ling, we simply cant get enough of their signature uni (sea urchin) tagliolini. The strands of pasta come coated in a rich crustacean cream sauce topped with pork gratons and fresh uni thats both rich and gratifying. $28. #01-04, 7 Dempsey Rd., 6475-0080.

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BRITTANY MACARON AT ANTOINETTE

Pastry king and restaurateur Pang Kok Keong crafts these ambrosial fleur de selkissed caramel-filled macarons, which are simply sublime. Were guilty of devouring at least five in one sitting. $2.50. 30 Penhas Rd., 6293-3121 and #02-33/34 Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Rd., 6836-9527. n

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