Finding a place to eat at Marina Bay Sands can some times be of a challenge. Either you are stuck with the fine dining establishments or choices at the two generic food courts. Mid-tier restaurants with a more accessible price range is still pretty much missing in the integrated resort. I thought the recent opening of the latest Canton Paradise was timely and filled a much needed void. The Paradise Group, as one of Singapore’s most famous F&B exports need no introduction, and as with the group’s style the MBS outlet will offer some items unique and exclusive to the branch here to differentiate itself from the other five members.
On a recent visit, I checked out some of them. The Stocking Milk Tea ($4) at Canton Paradise was I dare say, one of the best in the country. So if you want a place to rest and quench your thirst the next time you are at MBS, this might be a good option.
One of the new items which I really enjoyed was the Steamed Rice Rolls with Preserved Turnip Filling ($5.20). Made upon order, this is essentially a reinterpretation of our local Chwee Kueh except the rice cakes were replaced by smooth silky rice rolls with the Chye Poh nicely encased in it. Every bite felt wholesome and I wished there was more.
Canton Paradise’s Handmade Meatball Congee ($9.80) was a great testament to the dedication put forth by their culinary team. First the congee was itself a carefully blended mixture of Japanese pearl and Thai jasmine rice before they were cooked with a rich stock over high pressure. Constant stirring is required to prevent the porridge from getting burnt and to make sure the ingredients are well mixed. Handcrafted meatballs are then later added to the congee prior to serving. The result is a soulful hearty bowl of goodness that makes me a little resistant to share. At less than $10, I thought this was way underpriced.
The Dried Sakura Shrimps with Scallion Oil Tofu ($13.80) is one you should never miss. Adopting Japanese techniques with the Chinese ingredient scallion oil, you get one dish that is familiar yet foreign. Scallion oil is often used in Shanghai-Zhejiang cuisine, so it was a beautiful marriage of the neighbours. Notably, the tofu was made from specially sourced mineral water so the texture of the tofu was more than excellent. The icing on the tofu are the piquant Sakura shrimps. In Japan they are used to symbolise the cherry blossoms during spring.
Prominent dim sums are key features at Paradise Dynasty ever since the Group popularised their multi coloured Xiao Long Baos which has since remain a classic item.
Bag lovers might take to the Sweet Red Bean Pastry in a Bag ($6.80/3). It was conceptualised probably as a teaser to the number of high end boutiques since it is the cheapest bag anyone can get their hands on. Both men and women, young and old would not feel any pinch. Affordability aside the red bean was fragrant without being overtly sweet while the pastry was baked to a golden crisp alongside the white sesame coasted on both fronts.
The Steamed White Chocolate with Walnut Charcoal Bun ($2.90/ piece) was a very creative piece since I was initially sceptical of how molten white chocolate can go along with a steamed Chinese mantou. The contrast was striking when you brought this two ingredients together, one in white, the other in black. They say opposites attract- they do here.
Another item that would capture the hearts of many are the Steamed Molten Salted Egg Yolk Custard Piggy Bun ($6.80/3 pieces). I thought it was a little too cute to eat them. The salted egg custard has a round finish, with a nice sweet-savoury balance which was absent in many other Liu Sha Baos. So I asked and found out why. Apparently the secret ingredient, the vanilla essence was injected to each bun to give it a more complex taste.
With the durian season taking place now, you might want to end off with the potent Durian Pudding ($5.60) which all the durian-loving people on my table adored. I do not eat durian so I cannot tell you how good it tastes except it is definitely much more economical than the $28 per kg Mao Shan Wang we get at the market.
If you visit any Canton Paradise Outlets from 3pm-5pm on weekdays, enjoy 50% off all Dim Sums and selected Congees and Noodles. Terms and Conditions Apply.
The above article is written by @ramenking2017. You can find him on instagram where he shares his love for food and travel.
Canton Paradise Marina Bay Sands
2 Bayfront Avenue #01-02 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 6688 7052
Operating Hours: 10.30am-10.30pm (Monday-Thursday) 10.30am-11pm (Friday-Sunday, Eve of PH and PH)
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