Jimmy’s (not-so) underground dinner
Singapore, where even the memes are imported, is experiencing a proliferation of underground dining/secret supper clubs. A quick search for any of those word combinations results in enough quirky dining experiences to amuse the seen-it-all foodies for at least a few months. Looking for something “different” is easy as most of these events have websites, meetup groups or Facebook pages. Though some events are more “underground” (as in unlisted) and either being in the know or sheer happenstance are the only methods of invite. Which brings me to the topic du jour – an underground dinner ala Jimmy Chok.
For those unfamiliar with this chef, Jimmy Chok is considered one of Singapore’s first local celebrity chefs, who over the years has experienced the highs and lows as a restauranteur. One thing that remains constant however is his passion for cooking and exploring unique fusion combinations, which has gained him quite the following. So when he recently left Bistro Soori, many of his regulars enquired about when he’d be cooking again, thus prompting Chef Chok to put on his own version of an underground supper club.
The venue changes each month with invites broadcasted via sms. Seating is limited to the available space on hand, so booking is always quickly snatched up. Fortunately, G had an in last month so we both got to enjoy a special meal with free flow of champagne. Overall the food was quite good for the price paid and considering that it was a one person show (Chef Chok does all of the cooking and plating).
Our meal started with an amuse bouche of toro tartare followed by our first course of handmade crab meat ravioli and a savory tart that I completely forgotten what was in it. The only things I remembered were that they were all delicious.
This was followed by duck rilette covered in parma ham and a seafood stew that while a bit salty had a rich and not overly fishy flavor. The highlight of the meal however was the braised wagyu cheek which was amazingly tender and made that much better with truffle shavings.
Lastly came dessert, which while enjoyable was our least favorite dish when compared to the well-composed courses beforehand.
While Singapore is hardly short on dining experiences, it is nice every once in a while to sit down with a table of strangers, put our faith in the chef and see where the evening goes. 6 courses, an amuse bouche, champagne galore, and some new friends – we’ll certainly be looking forward to that next sms from Jimmy.
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Jimmy Chok’s Underground Dinner
Location ??
Tags: dining