Swensen's - Super Nasi Lemak Sundae

Yeah I know some of you have been waiting to see this one come up.
Ever since we posted the discovery of a Nasi Lemak Sundae at Swensen's about a month ago, we've heard some pretty mixed reviews about the whole thing.

Quite a few of you must be having second (or maybe even third) thoughts about ordering this at Swensen's when you just as well order something you know you'll enjoy like a Sticky Chewy Chocolate for example.

So, as always, The Halal Food Blog is ready and willing to test it first.
LOL like mana punya hero ajer...

Super Nasi Lemak Sundae ($10.90)

Lo and behold! THE SUPER NASI LEMAK SUNDAE!!

Yeah I know. Doesn't tickle your fancy right away does it? Maybe it'll taste super nice who knows.

Let us dissect what this unique local sundae is made up of.

The main part of this sundae has of course got to be the ice-cream right?
It's a Spicy Coconut ice-cream which really does taste like coconut for the most part of it. Quite a rich and creamy flavour which is actually not bad on its own.

A reader commented on our Instagram about a "tajam2" feeling in the throat after awhile.
Well, I know what you mean now!! I think it's the 'spicy' aspect of the ice-cream! Swensen's has cleverly incorporated some chilli or something into the ice-cream. And I say clever because it's very very subtle and only hits you later. It's not like 'my mouth is on fire' kinda spicy but just a hint.

The toppings is what makes this sundae really... errrr... special.

You've got some peanuts which I guess is not that bad. After all, we do have peanuts on sundaes right? But the Ikan Bilis is definitely the kicker here.

Yeah I love Ikan Bilis especially crispy fried Ikan Bilis.
But I don't think they have any place in a dessert.

I know nowadays the line is very thin and we have savoury desserts and salty this and sweet that.
But this somehow doesn't quite go together very well...

And in case you were wondering, that's a Keropol Belinjau stuck in some whipped cream on top.

Adam's Verdict:
Super Nasi Lemak Sundae 1.5/5

I can really appreciate that Swensen's is trying to come up with new and exciting local flavours.
And I have no doubt that their other Local Infusions like Salted Gula Melaka Heaven, Chendol Delight and Durian Supreme are pretty okay since they are flavours we would be able to associate with desserts and sundaes.

But the Nasi Lemak Sundae idea.... well.... full marks for thinking out of the box that's for sure.

Swensen's (ION Orchard)

ION Orchard
B1-31

www.swensens.com.sg
Tel: 68845967

Operating Hours:
10.30am til 10.30pm Mondays to Fridays
8.30am til 10.30pm Weekends and PHs

Swensen's - Lobster Roll & Slipper Lobster Roll

So we were browsing through our Instagram account earlier in the week and we saw on the @ieatandeat Instagram account that they had tried a Lobster Roll at Swensen's.

WAIT! THEY HAVE A LOBSTER ROLL AT SWENSEN'S???

Well, apparently they have a 'Rolling In The Deep' promotion going on now. We of course had to visit ASAP because it was a limited promotion. We asked the staff at Swensen's and they said it'll be until the end of the month only. But apparently, the promo will last til the end of November!!
Still got time!!!

Lobster Roll ($21.80)

We kinda have thing for Lobster Rolls since started watching Food Network Asia on cable. It really bugged us that it was so difficult to get Lobster Rolls in Singapore. Growing popularity in Singapore meant quite a lot of places now offer Lobster Rolls on their menus but so difficult to find a Halal one!

We were lucky enough to taste one at Catch 'N Bite recently but now (at least til end of next month) we can head down to Swensen's to try their version!

The first thing you will notice is that they are VERY generous with their serving!
The succulent lobster meat is mixed in with a honey lime dressing which is actually very tasty because it has a zesty but quite mild flavour which doesn't overpower the lobster. Finished off with some butter oil!! Ooooh!

I'm guessing I don't have to tell you that the lobster meat itself was excellent! A nice firm texture with a great bite.

I guess the one issue I had with the Lobster Roll (and even the Slipper Lobster Roll) was the bread.
But a little more on that later okay.

By the way, this thing is huge! I had a problem picking it up let alone taking a bite of of it. Look at that and tell me how lah to put in your mouth to take a bite??

I ended up eating it with a fork and knife LOL :/

Slipper Lobster Roll ($16.80)

 

The 2nd offering for this promotion is the cousin of the lobster - The Slipper Lobster Roll!

The slipper lobster meat is mixed in with some creamy mustard dressing which I honestly did not think went as well with the slipper lobster compared to the honey lime dressing in the Lobster Roll.
It was a nice dressing no doubt and I love mustard but just a bit too over to be honest.

Again, comparing to the Lobster Roll, I didn't quite enjoy the Slipper Lobster meatas much as its cousin. It's because I'm uppity or anything like that lah okay.

The Losbter Meat I would compare the texture to crab. Firm and with a distinct flavour.
Slipper Lobster Meat is closer to prawn meat. A little more bouncy in texture. And I'm  not really a prawn guy so I guess that influences my decision a lot.

The roll is the same for both Lobster and Slipper Lobster Rolls by the way.
And speaking of the bread...

The bun they used is definitely a plus because it was perfect for a Lobster Roll.
I'm sure it started out pretty soft but they do toast it a little or at least put it on the grill to get some butter into it. Unfortunately, that's where they fall short.

The underside of the bun was toasted great with some butter in there to give it some flavour and a great bite when you chomp down on that sucker. But.... we wish the inside was the same... Or least with a little butter and on the grill for awhile to give it a little toast.... Found it a bit weird to be clean and dry on the inside...

But in the end, this is still the better Lobster Roll we've had so far!!

Adam's Verdict:
Lobster Roll 4/5 -- Slipper Lobster Roll 2/5

Maryah's Verdict:
Lobster Roll 4/5 -- Slipper Lobster Roll 3/5

Even though the Swensen's staff told me it's til end of October, I'm gonna trust the Swensen's website and say this promo will run til the end of November. So get your Lobster Roll fix and head down to Swensen's ASAP!!

PS OCBC Cardholders enjoy 15% off the Rolling in the Deep promo!

Say it with me kiddies...

I'M SO GOING TO SWENSEN'S!

Swensen's (ION Orchard)

ION Orchard
B1-31

www.swensens.com.sg
Tel: 68845967

Operating Hours:
10.30am til 10.30pm Mondays to Fridays
8.30am til 10.30pm Weekends and PHs

Swensen's - Sides Part I

Swensen's is a pretty popular brand in Singapore and quite a favourite choice sometimes.
And I know most of us go like "Oh I prefer somewhere more unique" or "Swensen's? No better place meh?" but the truth is - Swensen's is actually not that bad to be honest.

We've already covered a few of their breakfast dishes and also the soups and salads.
Luckily for us, they also have an extensive Sides menu. So extensive that we need to split it up!!
Anyways, if you're gonna eat there, maybe this might help you choose on some side dishes to go along with your main course!

Meatballs in Pepper Sauce ($9.40)

In what was probably the biggest surprise food-wise in quite awhile, these are actually the bomb!
I really was expecting just another generic dish and it was probably not going to be anything special but oh boy was I completely wrong on this one!

The mashed potatoes were an absolute dream.
I can't be sure if they're instant or if they're made scratch from actual potatoes but whatever the case, they were definitely put through the ricer again which results in an absolutely creamy texture and enriched with a nice hearty buttery taste.

The meatballs themselves were absolutely divine.
A combination of chicken and beef, these were cooked to perfection and were not overdone at all. The meat remained juicy and soft and the pepper sauce went together perfectly.

I know you think I'm probably exaggerating but I seriously enjoyed every last bite of this dish.

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks ($8.40)

Something pretty basic like this can still be easy to mess up.
(Trust me I've had some bad fried cheese sticks in the past. That's right I'm looking at YOU Pastamania!)
But at Swensen's, they pleasantly surprise.

One of the main plus points - it's not oily despite being deep fried.
I literally ate these with my fingers and had little or no oil residue on my fingers at all. And I know it was fried because I got the oil when I bit into the cheese.

The outer-coating remained crispy and managed to maintain its integrity by not falling apart or going soggy. The cheese melted a little bit but you still get a bit of the chewy texture you'd expect from some mozza. And the salty flavour of the cheese is definitely evident here. Minimal seasoning lets you enjoy the cheese!

I'm certain that all you cheese lovers out there will enjoy this!
But cheese is always heavy on the palate so maybe this one might be best to share.

Adam's Verdict:
Meatballs in Pepper Sauce 5/5 -- Mozzarella Cheese Sticks 4/5

If the sides are this good, then I might just have these without ordering any mains!
Let's see what else they have on the Sides menu... Will report back soon!

Swensen's (Bedok Mall)

Bedok Mall
311 New Upper Changi Road
#1-77

Operating Hours:
10.30am til 10.30pm Weekdays
8.00am til 10.30pm Weekends
(Last Order at 10.15pm)

Swensen's - Soups & Salad

Don't ask us why but this post is all about soup and salad at Swensen's

Caesar Salad with Smoked Salmon ($12.50)

I guess it all started when I felt like having, of all things, a Caesar Salad.
It's not that I don't like salad or veggies. I guess that for a meat eater like me, salad is normally on the side and not really the main dish.

Well the Caesar Salad at Swensen's can definitely be the main dish on its own.
The dish it comes in is enormous with extra large utensils for tossing too!

The lettuce was extra crisp and the egg, cheese and croutons really go well together. Plus we all know what a sucker I am for smoked salmon so that was definitely a winner.

And the Caesar Salad dressing comes separately so you can choose how much you want to add. Awwww... Swensen's is so considerate!
By the way, the sauce was delicious so you'll probably end up using all of it anyways.


You can also have the version with Breaded Chicken or Fish ($12.00) or if you're feeling like a rabbit that day, you can always have the plain Caesar Salad ($10.00). No prizes for guessing which one I strongly recommend (Pssst it's the ssssmoked ssssalmon...)

Clam Chowder ($9.40)

Something I order often (more often than the salad) at Swensen's is the Clam Chowder.

I just find it so hearty and warm plus I really like Clam Chowder. Just so happens that they make a pretty good one at Swensen's! Doesn't that look so inviting or is it just me??

The chowder is nice and thick and creamy. The clam flavour is just right and it's not too overwhelming but if you'd like you can always add a nice big dash of pepper no problem. I've a feeling that once you take your first spoon, you're going to keep going until it's all gone.

The Clam Chowder is served in a Sourdough bread bowl. This means that you have some bread to dip into your chowder and you can even EAT THE BOWL too!

SERIOUSLY!! NO JOKE!!!

Well, I'm gonna stop talking about the Clam Chowder because it's making me feel like having one right now.
Let's move along shall we?

Creamy Mushroom Soup ($9.40)

Looking for something a little bit more classic?
Well, you can't get more classic than a creamy mushroom soup am I right?

This isn't exactly the stuff you get out of a Campbell's can I confirm that for you first of all.
This is a really good tasting soup which is nice and rich and has a very strong mushroom flavour.
It's served in a Sourdough bread bowl just like the Clam Chowder so you're all set to get filled up!

My Sister-In-Law even goes as far as to say this is the "best mushroom soup" she's ever had!

Adam's Verdict:
Caesar Salad with Smoked Salmon 4.5/5 -- Clam Chowder 4/5

Azlan's Verdict:
Creamy Mushroom Soup 3/5

Eriyana's Verdict:
Creamy Mushroom Soup 5/5

So this post is only about a salad and some soups but you can see that even without the main dish, it could very well be more than enough to fill you up!

Swensen's

Changi Airport Terminal 2
Mezzanine Level, Arrival Hall North,

Tel: 6542 8219
http://www.swensens.com.sg

Operating Hours: 24 Hours Daily

Swensen's - Spaghetti Aglio Olio

Spaghetti Aglio Olio ($12.50)

Okay so Swensen's is not the first name that comes to mind when you think of pasta.
But since the revamped their menu a few years back, they have quite a few pasta dishes to offer.

Favourites include their Crayfish Pasta, Black Pepper Seafood Pasta and Baked Rice choices.
But one pasta dish that most people seem to enjoy is Aglio Olio.

The Spaghetti Aglio Olio at Swensen's is quite a generous serving actually.
The pasta was okay and the mushroom and garlic flavour really do come through very well. A little bit on the salty side though...

One thing to note is that it is quite spicy! If you look closely, you can see the cut chili padi!

Maryah's Verdict:
Spaghetti Aglio Olio 2/5

I guess there may be other places for you to have a better dish of pasta but if "you're SO going Swensen's" then you know that have a pretty decent one to offer if you really want some pasta.

Swensen's

Changi Airport Terminal 2
Mezzanine Level, Arrival Hall North,

Tel: 6542 8219
http://www.swensens.com.sg

Operating Hours: 24 Hours Daily