Fusion Good

Five Ten Squid - grilled to a smoky, asian style flavour. Every chopstick-ful was chewy springy and not cloying at all. Cost? Only $10. As with all the small plates on the menu which are either $5/$10. Taiwanese-inspired menu in a hipster bar setting and food that's fun, delicious and great with the drinks from the in-house bar. Review of Five Ten at Chinatown on the blog herpenandfork.blogspot.sg

Szwechuan, not Sichuan, because this has a Japanese twist. Which explains why we found the zing of Sichuan peppercorn not as stinging as usual here, and the spiciness could be amped up more for our Sichuan-exposed tastebuds. If you ignore this, the mapo tofu, with its silky softness and flavourful braised gravy is a more than satisfying meal for day to day.
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Those who want best of both worlds can take this half-half set of Dan Dan noodles (soup/dry - my pref was for the dry with more concentrated flavours) and Mapo Tofu Donburi with a drink ($10.80). CBD folks be warned, there's usually a lunch queue (not least because of the ordering system). Created by Michelin-starred chef Jap chef Chen Kentaro. Wouldn't mind returning actually. But oh skip the sheng mian if any thoughts are entertained around it.

Sous-vide chicken breast that is tender in every shred, with a side of garlic soy, spicy bean sprouts and salt baked sweet potato (though I couldn't taste the salt). Zen after a hectic day. The stall also offers a truffle beef bowl with onsen egg. It isn't cheap ($13 at least for a full piece of meat and 2 sides) and in a food court setting. Alternatively picking half meat and 2 sides should make a satiating light meal without a big hole

42 deg poached salmon till every forkful comes as whole, supple flakes that stay together. Exquisite texture, coupled with a well-balanced ponzu-goma seasoned soba.
This was quietly simple, light, but all flavours on point to create that harmonised zen. Their lunch sets ($15 onwards) for a main, a starter of (yums) chicken rice crackers is well worth.