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WINE&DINE
198
April15
We scour the island’s bar scene to bring you the
new and the noteworthy – it’s a tough job but
somebody’s got to do it!
Bumbo Rum Club
83 Club Street
6690 7563 | facebook.com/bumborumclub.official
First impressions:
A light and airy bar, awash with faded
primary colours that wouldn’t look out of place on a white
Caribbean beach; 76 delicious-looking rums from over 20
countries line the walls, while Cuban music gives this bar a
party vibe.
The Chosen One:
The
Cable Car ($22)
, a simple blend of
spiced rum, orange curaçao and lemon. Served in a bottle
with a striped straw, this drink’s got a fun edge that’s perfectly
in line with the décor. All of the cocktails are lethal, tasting
like delectable fruit juices but packing a punch courtesy of
the rum.
The Cheapskate:
The cocktails are a little on the pricey side,
but rum-lovers won’t find a better selection elsewhere. Lucky
ladies can drink mojitos for free after 9pm on Wednesdays.
Bite on this:
Influenced by South America, the Caribbean
and the American South, the appetising menu offers a
variety of
tapas, ceviches, quesadillas
and more. The
mouth-watering
nachos
($14) were our favourite, smothered
in shredded pork, melted cheese and spicy guacamole – a
great accompaniment to rum.
Last but not least:
Club Street’s hottest new bar also features
live salsa dancing from time to time. If you need to escape
the urban jungle, this bar will transport you straight to the
Caribbean.
Natalie Whittell
Joo Bar
5 Tan Quee Lan Street
8138 1628 | joo-bar.com
First impressions:
Taking over a quaint shophouse near
Bugis Junction, the three-storey Korean bar feels like a
sleek, modern LA-style bistro, with edgy copper lamps
and playful wall illustrations.
The Chosen One:
The
makgeolli sampler
($35), a
tasting paddle of Joo Bar’s house-brewed milky rice wine
in five flavours – we had original, yuzu, lychee, peach and
strawberry. The traditional Korean drink has a pleasantly
sweet and yoghurt-like taste, and the tangy yuzu flavour
was an instant favourite.
The Cheapskate:
A refreshing, easily downed bottle of
Hite beer from Korea (where else?) for $10.
Bite on this:
Having good grub along with your drinks is
a must in Korea. For a light nibble, the
tofu chips with
guacamole and kimchi salsa
($14) is an addictive
East-meets-West alternative to nachos. We also loved
the greasy-good
slow-roasted Mangalitsa belly
($32):
bite-sized slabs of pork and sides of Dijon mustard and
spring onion salad intended to be layered together and
eaten all at once. For something heartier, try the
seafood
gochujang risotto
($24), a creamy delight with clams,
squid, shrimp and mussels in a spicy red pepper sauce.
Last but not least:
Each type of drink here – from
soju
(rice liquor) to beer – is meant to complement different
foods. Look out for helpful symbols on the stylish menu
to try suggested pairings, or experiment with random
combos to surprise your taste buds.
Cherylene Chan