Birds of A Feather – Great To Eat and Good To Instagram

The moment I stepped into the relatively new Birds of A Feather, I immediately liked the vibe. These days, the total dining experience is not only about taste or smell, it is also about the ambience and how pretty the food looks in photos. At least, that’s the trend I have observed when dining in Singapore and even in Hong Kong. Distracting. But nevertheless, the whole experience enhances the whole visit.

Birds of a Feather opened in October last year at the end of Amoy Street closer to Far East Square. The food here is from Chengdu, China with a splash of western influence. We can understand why since the owners come from Chengdu where they also own Good Wood Coffee cafes there.

The owners have also thrown in hints of greenery into its interiors to recreate Sichuan province’s rich greenery, parks and fertile lands. By doing so, Birds of A Feather has become a calm and comfortable ‘nest’ that offers good and positive vibes.

My advice to you is to come and dine with a few friends so that you can share. Or come with a big appetite.

Starters

The attention to detail here has made the food look absolutely stunning. It was just a salad to start. The roasted chicken salad was served on avocado with green bell peppers and a seasoning of salt, Sichuan pepper and chicken jus. Yet it looked like a work of art meant to be displayed for all to admire. Perhaps it was the colours of the food and a beautiful plate.

Another starter to share is the Fortune Skewer. The Sichuan Pepper Broth is prepared with chicken stock, green chilli, Sichuan pepper and sesame oil. Absolutely tasty. Those skewers of broccoli, black fungus, cauliflower, prawn, lotus root, konnyaku and quail egg were soaked in the bowl of soup. It was like a bowl of luck. Just pick a stick and be surprised with what would be at the other end of it. Only one quail egg. That’s not enough. Almost fought with the others around the table over that all time favourite quail egg. This costs S$19 per bowl, and you can add another S$5 for a bowl of Japanese arrowroot noodles)

If you enjoy McDonald’s shaker fries and all that action in a paper bag, then you have to order the S$19 Crispy Pork Trotter in a Bag. The pork trotter is braised in Sichuan lu shui and deep fried. The fun part is throwing the pork trotters into the paper bag and shaking it so that the seasoning is well mixed. After that just sit back and enjoy the explosion of flavours when you pop the pieces of seasoned meat into your mouth.

Mains

Now come to the mains. I have a soft spot for rice. Anything with rice. And if it is soaked in soup or gravy, can I just say it is lagi shiok!

So when this Hot and Sour Chazuke with Niigata rice was served to us, my saliva glands became rather active. Priced at S$28 for dinner only, this dish is served with a broth that was boiled with fish broth, chilli padi, Hainanese yellow chilli and pickled mustard green. Perhaps not a very comparison, but just imagine mui fan.

Or if you are in the mood for noodles, there’s also the Spicy Oriental Angel Hair Bolognese with Onsen Tamago. Is it Italian, or is it Asian? You decide for yourself. This dish features Bolognese Cha Jiang Sauce with hand-chopped pork mince, cooked with a ginger leek, Sichuan salty vegetable and seasoned with soy sauce, sugar and Sichuan pepper. The spicy version costs S$22 while the non-spicy one is S$18.

Burgers

The burgers are huge. The S$30 Bird’s Signature Burger is a must for foie gras lovers. The burger comes with a charcoal-grilled beef patty, foie gras, cheddar, caramelised onion, lettuce, chilli, soy tapenade and fried potato.

Another option is the S$22 Organic MAPO Tofu Burger. This wholesome burger is made of MAPO pork ragout with tofu and Parmigiano patty, pickled cucumber, house-made bun and fried potato.

Desserts

The Poached Pear with Citrus, Ginger and Longan are so pretty with flower petals to brighten up an otherwise boring hue of yellowish-brown. Soaked in a mildly sweet and pleasantly aromatic citrus flavour, this dessert reminds me fondly of Cheng Tng, a typical dessert served iced or warm at hawker centres.

As if you haven’t had enough to eat already, order the S$12 Deep Fried Glutinous Rice Cake with Red Sugar Syrup. A double process in preparation of the glutinous cake involved steaming it first before deep frying it to a light pillow texture.

End of a hearty lunch with a cup of cappuccino. Or perhaps just come in during the afternoons and enjoy coffee with some desserts. Whichever works for you. Whip out your laptop, sit under the cloud-shaped lights amidst the indoor foliage and enter a different world as you get some me-time.