Blu Kouzina
Block 10 Dempsey Road, #01-21 6875 0872 | blukouzina.com
The scene: We used to live in the condo next to Blu Kouzina when it was on Bukit Timah Road. In fact, my wife claims I moved the family to that condo specifically to be close to Blu. (She may be onto something...) Now, the restaurant is in much bigger digs in Dempsey – a huge yet inviting space, with stunning black-and-white tiling, floor-to-ceiling windows, and some striking vintage pieces offset by bowls of fresh lemons.
The food: “I’m ready; I’m pumped!” says my 12-year-old daughter after we’ve chosen from the menu. Excited much? Our favourites soon start arriving: saganaki and figs ($19.80), oozy cheese sizzling on a hot pan and topped with a jammy fig sauce; moreish pita triangles served with a variety of dips, my pick being the sublime taramasalata (white cod roe, capers, lemon, $16.80); and xtapodi ($39.80), grilled octopus, simple but delicious, drizzled liberally with extra virgin olive oil.
That oil, by the way, is special stuff. The family behind Blu brings in their own cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil from their cultivation in Greece. You can just feel it doing all those good things that have made the Mediterranean diet a revered one.
There’s more to come; paidakia – grilled lamb chops ($36.80), perhaps my personal highlight. They are massive and succulent – perfection, in fact – and they put the stringy, overcooked chops of my childhood to shame.
Pastitsio is another favourite of ours; it’s a baked dish of macaroni, beef, tomato and béchamel ($30.80) that represents wholesome, home-style goodness on a plate.
Finally, the galaktoboureko ($14.80) takes the humble custard pie and lifts it to Mount Olympus, with semolina cream pudding inside a crisp filo shell, topped with house-made syrup. (Imbert, our knowledgeable, attentive and funny waiter, hears my sigh of appreciation as the spoon hits my mouth and he nods knowingly.)
Is there a condo apartment we can move to near here?