Throw out those misconceptions that going healthy equals endless bowls of cold, boring salads. Kitchen by Food Rebel is CBD’s guilt-free kitchen, serving up healthy doses of satisfaction all day long. They have been serving office-goers and early gym rats with their colourful acai berry bowls and chia seed puddings, along with their drool-worthy Rebel Chicken Burger and Buddha-Bowls for lunch. No doubt, they are an oasis amidst the fast food and famous hawker options in the area. This November, they expand their menu (almost like a Christmas present!) with a “late-lite” menu for some after-work munch that’s perfect with their organic wines.
Available only on Fridays, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM, the menu is short and sweet. Go-to options for warming the stomach up before night of TGIF celebrations is the Rendang Patatas Bravas (S$9). No, you didn’t read it wrong. It is indeed rendang, the spicy meat dish we are all familiar with. But, in this kitchen, it gets a rebellious makeover. The complex, unique taste is still there, but a nice punch of spice, minus all the calorie-loaded components. I much prefer the sweet potatoes without the sauce as they are so sweet and beautiful on their own, but the sauce was so lovely (not to mention, guilt-free) that I couldn’t help double-dipping.
Following on the topic of double-dipping, another dish I can’t help hoarding over is the House-made Hummus Dip (S$12). Forget those store-bought hummus, because this is the real deal right here. Owner Alika had the honour of getting this delicious middle-eastern recipe, and has kept true to its flavours. The beet-root version has an added sweetness to it, making it my favourite spread on those crisp olive toasts. Both of these hummus dips are available in their Rebel Budhha Bowls, Chicken Protein Bowl (shown above) (S$19) for the hummus and Vegan Sweet Potato & Chickpea Bowl (S$19) for the beetroot version.
Those wanting a little protein in their diet are going to love the Chicken Sliders (S$13 for 4). The patties are packed with onions and spring onions for that crazy burst of flavour, made even better with the caramalised onions and in-house chilli sauce. You’d think that a clean-eating establishment won’t have that kind of local spice, but food rebel, like the name suggests is here to prove you wrong. Whether its the rebel rendang or chili sauce, they have kept the aroma, taste and mouth-feel exactly the same – without the guilt.
And, if that’s still not enough, the Roast Pepper Frittata with Arugula (S$12.50) is sure to satisfy. It is a crispy omelette loaded with tons of sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and hand-plucked arugula leaves. Nothing is pre-packed in this kitchen. Every piece of ingredient is painstakingly prepared by the staff (with love, of course).
It’s no joke cutting up those cherry tomatoes one by one! But, it is this dedication that ensures every bite from there is carefully curated. “We are what we eat”. Food has a real impact on our bodies, so Kitchen by Food Rebel makes sure that the vegetables are organic and the meat are hormone- and antibiotics-free. Add on to how delicious everything was (especially that guilt-free rendang sauce, it is a great refresh to what Singaporeans think clean eating is. It doesn’t have to be boring, guys. It can be chicken burgers, beef pies and zucchini noodles in bolognese and so much more. The late-light menu is a great introduction, so why not head down one Friday night before the partying to fill up on some feel good eats?
