Welcome to Da Bao Diaries, a daily column dedicated to what Time Out Singapore's editors are eating and drinking while Singapore's 'circuit breaker' measures are in place till May 4. Da bao is a Singaporean colloquialism derived from Mandarin that refers to having a meal to go instead of dining in at an establishment.
I had a particularly bad day yesterday – I didn't expect the effects of holing up at home to hit me this bad, this fast. I was blowing off some steam, venting to a friend, when it occurred to me how much she's done for me over the years. Having read about MyTreat, a community-driven movement inspiring people to share a meal and support a restaurant at the same time, I decided to give it a whirl and buy her lunch to say thanks.
I got for her a bowl of Bomba rice from The Spot, a contemporary European restaurant that seamlessly incorporates Asian flavours into its dishes. But she surprised me with a meal of my own from Morsels – so I guess I still owe her one. Like most Singaporeans, I love Sichuan food so anything mala is a winner in my books. Morsels' Ma Ra Men delivers with Hakata ramen noodles coated in a dry, Lao Gan Ma-style mala sauce packed with fermented sakura ebi, crispy soybeans and shallots. It's then topped with tiger prawns, braised beancurd strips, pickled kelp, lotus root and a three-pepper crispy cake. Spicy, savoury, sour and sweet all come together in each satisfying bite. I also had an additional treat from chef Petrina Loh, who included one of her new tacos with the order. I would have never imagined a combination of green mango som tum, kaffir lime grilled chicken and glutinous rice to work in a taco but this does. The tacos are only available on Thursdays ($15 for two) and the noodles change every week so keep an eye out for what's available.
Make someone's day by buying them a treat – or spread some cheer by getting a meal for the medical staff at Singapore General Hospital who are working in the isolation wards and emergency departments. OurTreat has raised $3,268 to date and plans on distributing food to 50 front-liners on Monday. Each meal costs $15 and brings a smile and some encouragement to those who need them during these tough times. We'll all get through this with a little help from our friends.
How to order Morsels has an extensive takeout and delivery menu that you can view here. Place an order by calling 6266 3822, sending a text via Whatsapp to 9657 0585 or ordering online. Delivery is a flat fee of $15 to most places in Singapore.
Read on for more restaurants offering takeaway and delivery
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