Urgh, we are finally entering week 12 of school. Just ask any SMU student how they are coping, chances are you will get a semi-comatose dazed look on their face. With four reports and three presentations due in the following couple of weeks, my mind feels like a pothole of deadlines. You know when you are entering the whelm of no return when blogging, you feel the need to add appendices and footnotes. Yesterday, my mum and elder sister flew off to Taiwan for a holiday and though I am stuck in Singapore -desk bound and chained to my laptop-, I managed to get a little travelling done- gastronomically-speaking, that is.
I once heard someone comment that the German language always makes her feel like soneone is being interrogated. While I agree with her that it isn't the most romantic of languages, well-prepared German food can be arrestingly good.
It was near impossible to get a table around town without a reservation on a Saturday night. Totally uninspired by the crowds, bright acrylic decor and gimmicky fare in Marina Square, we decided to walk over to Millenia Walk, which though only a short five minutes walk away, was a complete different picture of civilisation. When Jimmy suggested Paulaner Bräuhaus, my curiosisty was piqued.
Level 1 is the bar, where they proudly showcase "handicraft beer made by their resident brewmaster". By the time we left, there was a live band playing, which added to the festivities. One level above the bar, the dining area was decorated like a beer hall- a Maibaum (16th century Bavarian architectural feature) dominates centerstage; indigenous decorative iron frames and pendant lamps exude an out-of-singapore (exactly what I needed!) atmoshpere; numerous pictures of scenes in Germany and German folks spot the interior walls. It reminded me of a German Hard Rock Cafe, but still it was more fun than touche. Funny enough, this gobal brewery chain has more outlets in China than Germany
Old timers would find the menu at Paulaner Brauhaus comfortingly familar and probably zoom in on their favourites. As first time diners (read: Must Taste it All), we went with the Chef Jody Yu Platter- a combination of grilled roast meat specialties & sausages. What I love about this platter, is that there is ALMOST something for every meat lover (for those of you who prefer beef or fish, Morton's and Long John's Silver are situated nearby).
The works: Frankfurter, Debreziner, Garlic sausage, Cheese knacker, Nuremberg sausages, roast duckling, spit roasted chicken, roast caraway pork, grilled pork knuckle. Served on bed of sauerkraut, braised cabbage and German dumplings
May Day May Day! M-O-D, M-O-D
Meat Over Dose? Of course, it is Meat Overload.. this is, after all, German food... were you expecting tofu and legumes? HAHA.. My ill-disciplined tastebuds couldn't tell the difference between the sausages as they were all tasty, though not exactly unique. Paulaner Bräuhaus does a surprisingly good job with their roasts. To me, duck and german food has always been mutually exclusive but with results this satifying, I no longer see a reason to separate the two. No longer just boring chicken, the spit roasted chicken shone with herby flavour. I was little disappointed with the pork knuckle as while slicing, my index finger actually grew sore from the tough texture, but the sound of the skin cackling in between bites was awfully gratifying. Coated in sauce, the tender slabs of roast caraway pork were my pick of the lot.
Never been a fan of german dumplings and after this experience, the satisfaction quotient of this floury mass (mess) remains a mystery to me. Luckily, the cheese knacker stepped up to the challenge. Providing a life float from all that meat and flour was the palatable cabbage patch pair- braised red cabbage and sauerkraut (which by right deserves more than a sentence but I have REPORT DEADLINES to meet).
We were stuffed all right but against our conscience and better judgement, we ordered their recommended Grandma's Warm Apple Strudel. Now what can't MY grandma make such strudels? Unlike the flaky creamy Australian strudel, this German strudel had a crusty attention-grabbing top shell that bore undertones of caramelized sweetness, and the apples, raisins and nuts stuffing received praise from my dad- someone had never been a fan of desserts. Served with bourbon-vanilla sauce and vanilla ice cream, it was a decadant way to end off our meal.
Paulaner Bräuhaus Singapore
9 Raffles Boulevard,
Time² @ Millenia Walk,
Singapore 039596
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