Relish in a breakfast for champions at Sinpopo Brand Katong
I insist that nasi lemak is the Singaporean ‘Breakfast of Champions’. My default mental image of it would be a plate of fragrant rice permeated with coconut milk and pandan, adorned with a crispy fried chicken, savoury ikan bilis, and peanuts. Of course, complete with a mound of sambal for that fiery kick. So, imagine my bafflement when I first heard of a nasi lemak set for two, because, why does one need to share?
Yet when I spotted saucers of marinated pork belly, ma ling (luncheon meat) crisps and rojak in the set, which formed a cohesive combination with the nasi, I was satiated and content. Behind this ingenious rendition of our local favourite, is Sinpopo Brand Katong, an eatery that treads on the fine line between tradition and gourmet. I am usually a sceptic when the local grub we enjoy in hawker centres are converted into some sort of gourmet or fusion dish speckled with an unfamiliar garnish, so colour me impressed when Sinpopo Brand injects a breath of fresh air into the homely tastes of local and Peranakan fare.
They have introduced their new breakfast menu with nine dishes and handmade pastries, available from 8.30am – 11.30am daily, giving fans of this quaint neighbourhood another reason to visit. Of course, its Breakfast Nasi Lemak (S$18) is top on the list.
A ceramic plate houses a serving of butterfly pea rice (of course, somehow the evolvement of nasi lemak involves this blue ingredient), cuts of a har cheong kai (prawn paste chicken) cutlet, and a smattering of hae bee hiam (spicy dried shrimp sambal) cashews. Visible effort has gone into slicing and rolling of thin cucumber slices into cylindrical shapes, so you can expect layers of subtle crunch, instead of a chunky one. You also get half an onsen egg peppered with coriander, onion relish, and a scoop of sambal.
The other eight dishes are pretty much standard café far—nothing new to the average café goer. Its Avocado and Egg White (S$18) comprises of smashed avocado and egg white scramble on a slice of sourdough toast each, topped with a tomato slice and its innards. Fuel on their Full On Breakfast (S$22), plated with eggs your way, pork fennel sausage, thick-cut bacon, wild mushrooms, roasted tomato, and a sourdough slice. Not a fan of certain ingredients? You can customise your own brunch plate by mixing and matching them.
If you’re a bread person in the morning, their new line of pastries got you covered. Instead of forcing a choice of bread out of you, their Bread Basket With Whipped Butter (S$8) sends their power trio—sourdough, brioche, and ciabatta, fresh out of the oven. Fancy local sweets on your viennoiserie? The Gula Melaka (S$5) and Kaya Danish (S$5) are both great choices, rich without being cloying on your palate. Pair your treats with what seems like the middle ground of our local kopi and a latte, their Sinpopo Fresh Pressed Roasted Kopi-O (S$5) With Sweet Milk Foam (S$6). For our kopi peng lovers, their Sinpopo Kopi Peng (S$7) is brewed with local butter-roasted beans, with crushed ice and vanilla bean cream added into the mix.
When you’re neither craving for kaya toast nor eggs benedict, but want something that has notes of both, Sinpopo Brand Katong’s new breakfast menu may just hit the spot.
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