Latest news with #&Chips
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
THIS CAFE @ 326: Simple family-style HDB eatery with $5.50+ Western mains like aglio olio & crispy fish & chips
Coming across THIS CAFE @ 326 in Jurong West during my 'hidden gem' eatery hunt was amusing, to say the least. 'I'm gonna bring you to this cafe for lunch,' I told my foodie partner-in-crime brother. 'Uh, which cafe?' 'THIS CAFE!' The quaint neighbourhood eatery is the exact definition of nondescript, but it certainly caught my attention. Its industrial white aesthetic was like its name; clean, simple and straightforward. Hidden under Block 326 (hence the name), it was a short walk from the nearby bus stop at Opp Jurong Polyclinic but still required some searching due to our unfamiliarity with the area. THIS CAFE @ 326 was empty during our visit except for two young boys occupying the tables at the back. One of the 2 gentlemen running the place appeared to be their father or guardian; he approached them now and then to help them with their homework. We were instantly captivated by the range of dishes on the menu. Most of the mains were under S$18, including pasta from S$5.50, pizza from S$8.90 and grilled meat dishes. We started with the Aglio Olio (S$5.50) for our choice of pasta. The first thing that greeted us was the strong smell of garlic and the warmth radiating from the plate. I initially thought the pasta would be too soft but it was nicely bouncy! It did feel a little softer than al dente, but the fact that it still retained a slight chew and wasn't soggy was a plus. Even with the presence of chilli padi, the spaghetti wasn't too spicy. It had a rich savoury flavour which thankfully didn't come from it being overly salty. Despite the strong garlicky smell, I felt it could use more garlic. The aroma didn't translate into the dish's flavour as well as I thought it would, though I could detect it alongside the olive oil and herbs. To my fungi-hating brother's dismay, brown mushroom slices peeked out from under the strands of the Aglio Olio. It's a good thing yours truly is the exact opposite. Earthy and chewy, the mushrooms were yummy and I found no difficulty in clearing the plate of them. For our protein, we selected the All Time Favourite Fish & Chips (S$8). This dish was our clear favourite. The dory fish was smooth, tender and flaky. In usual Bri'ish fashion, it was seasoned with mostly just salt and pepper but still succeeded in winning us over. I enjoyed the crispy breaded crust, although I still prefer battered fish. Our dory had a golden, heavenly crunch on the top though the bottom where it was in contact with the plate had softened from the steam. Swirled: Fancy hawker pasta from $5.90 like laksa prawn, tonkotsu linguine & smoked duck aglio olio While I am a vegetable lover, coleslaw isn't my favourite side dish. Something about the large amount of dressing usually puts me off. Tangy yet creamy, the shredded cabbage and carrot salad had a light crunch from the raw veggies to add a refreshing touch to the savoury dish. While it wasn't my cup of tea, I'm sure it might be someone else's! The fries were just average. Thick-cut style, the potato pieces were crispy outside and soft and crumbly inside. However, we could easily tell from the taste that these were your typical frozen then deep-fried grocery store fries. They were not the best quality, but were reasonable given that THIS CAFE @ 326 isn't a fancy establishment. Even as an appetiser, the price of the Crispy (S$7) was almost on par with those of the mains like the S$8 Fish & Chips. Seafood things, I guess. This was the kind of texture I wished the fish's crust had come with. Coated in crunchy batter, the squid rings were decently sized and thick and weren't fishy. Sure, they were slightly tough, but nothing too hard to chew or rubbery. I'd demolish another basket of these if I could because they were so addictive! As mint lovers, we caved and ordered a Frost Green Mint Milkshake (S$7.50). Of everything we tried, this was one we could've done without. The price of the drink did not match its size. Served in a petite disposable plastic cup, the milkshake was a pale green from the peppermint syrup and vanilla ice cream. Luckily, no one lost a leg that day – it wasn't as sweet as we were worried it might be. It was definitely minty, but I would've liked a stronger flavour. THIS CAFE @ 326 was non-fancy but still satisfying, although probably not for people with astronomical standards. Even so, I wouldn't mind returning to try other dishes like the BBQ Pork Ribs (S$8) or the Pizza (S$8.90), though I'd pass on the Milkshake. If you're looking for cosy and quiet vibes with inexpensive food and don't mind travelling to the West, THIS CAFE might be the place for you! It's a well-hidden spot that is worth searching out for a try for simple yet wholesome Western food. Expected Damage: S$5.50 – S$13 per pax Order Delivery: foodpanda Panda Bee: XL $7.90 hawker fish & chips — so big, you'll wonder how they profit The post THIS CAFE @ 326: Simple family-style HDB eatery with $5.50+ Western mains like aglio olio & crispy fish & chips appeared first on
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I visited UK seaside resort snubbed by Brits and quickly fell in love'
There is no greater fall from grace than the UK's abandoned coastline. Once dripping in opulence and grandeur, seaside resorts up and down the nation were thriving for decades - ditching their fishing and shipbuilding status to become an insatiable tourist magnet. However, in the 70s, the Benidorm boom kicked in. With cheap flights and promises of guaranteed sun infiltrating the travel market, more and more Brits started flocking over to the likes of Spain and Greece - draining the money from these tourist-reliant spots. This, combined with water firms dumping swathes of sewage in our waters, and inflation tripling the price of the 99 ice cream - meant many coastal destinations had started to crumble. Weston-super-Mare, located in Somerset, is one of many towns stung by the collapse of seaside prestige. Back in 2023, the destination was cruelly crowned one of the 'worst' UK seaside towns by the Telegraph - with judges ranking it a meagre 18 out of 100. In 2015, Weston-super-Mare also hosted Banky's Dismaland exhibition - a temporary pop-up that transformed the town's former Lido site, The Tropicana, into a 'family theme park unsuitable for children'. While seemingly poking at the town's plummeting image, the 'bemusement park' went on to generate an estimated £20 million in tourist revenues. 'I visited tiny village dubbed Italy of UK and one thing surprised me' Keen to find out whether the town's notoriety was justified - or simply a result of British snobbery - I headed down to the hotspot last month. It was a sunny Sunday, and the temperature had climbed to a (scorching) 13C - meaning I wasn't the only one desperate for Fish & Chips on the sand. Now, I've spoken before about what actually makes a good beach. If you think a town some 23 miles from Bristol is going to boast sugar-like sand and Caribbean-esque waters - you need to lower your delusional expectations. The sea at Weston-super-Mare is often brown as it carries high levels of suspended sediment and organic matter in the Severn Estuary. Does it stop kids from building sandcastles? No. Does it mean you can't bask in the sun with an ice cream, walk your dog, or have a sunset stroll with your partner? No, no, and no. Weston-super-Mare's beach may not be great for your Instagram feed, but that doesn't mean it isn't filled with joy. After devouring a portion of chips drowned in vinegar on the beach, I headed onto the Grand Pier - which now charges a £2 entry. You get a pretty fabulous view of the beach from up here, and can easily spend a few hours in the arcade. After that - an ice cream is essential. Want the latest travel news and cheapest holiday deals sent straight to your inbox? Sign up to our Travel Newsletter Weston-super-Mare may not have a strip of trendy coffee shops serving up Matcha-flavoured pastries, or a huge amount of culinary choice for those not so keen on beige food, but its roaring spirit is undeniable. I had felt like I'd gone back in time, back when trinket shops selling rock and silly cardboard cutouts were enough to make a holiday worthwhile. For me, Weston-super-Mare ticked all of the seaside essentials. It was lively and jam-packed with tourists, the toys weren't pushed too far back on the 2p slots, and the beach was big enough to practice cartwheels without whacking anyone in the face. It wasn't pretending to be anything it's not, and for that alone - I fell in love. In the words of Weston-super-Mare's MP Dan Aldridge: "The town has so much to offer. Sure, it might not have the white sands of Barbados, but I've never seen an arcade this good - or had Fish & Chips as tasty - in the Caribbean. The Ultraviolet Crazy Gold and Dr Fox Tea Room are unmatched. I don't care what five-star resorts you might stay in, nothing beats the charm of Weston. It'll always be my favourite." If that isn't enough, Weston-super-Mare has revealed bold plans to improve the area even more. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council, said: "The town has seen multi-million-pound investment in recent years, including the £20m award by the UK government which is enabling a programme of significant projects to improve the town. The Grade II Listed Birnbeck Pier now has a bright future and the Tropicana event venue is set to undergo major investment, subject to planning permission... "The housing market is booming, with supply outstripping demand and house price increases exceeding the national average. All of this is attracting growing inward investment in the area including US tech giant Epic. There's so much going on, it's impossible to list it all!"
