In our continuing series highlighting new places, unique culinary experiences, and recently refreshed, or revamped wine and dine options available to residents, and visitors to Singapore, Choice Media Reporter Rebecca Assice reviews a home delivered value feast from the BBQ experts at Smokehse by Esseplore
I have long been a fan of proper American BBQ where the meat is so tender it falls of the bone and the flavours are intense, smoky and succulent. Every time I visit the US it’s usually within 24 hours that I am enjoying my first slow cooked baby back pork rib – in the words of Tina Turner, they are quite simply the best!
If you’ve ever watched the engaging Netflix series Chef’s Table BBQ you will understand just what skill, time and dedication is required to perfect American BBQ. Well fortunately for us in Singapore, this is a challenge that chef Jimmy Cheang pictured above has wholeheartedly embraced. Unhappy with the way his own BBQs were turning out using the direct charcoal method, he passionately pursued American BBQ where a smoker is used to cook the meat over indirect heat, with lower temperatures and for a longer period of time.
The result?? After commencing his American pit master journey in 2009, Jimmy is now a home chef on the Esseplore platform consistently crafting BBQ that displays deeper flavours along with the three elements of the perfect barbecue: the Bark, Juice and Bite.
The Bark refers to the flavourful crust that forms on meat after hours of low and slow smoking, while Juice and Bite reflect the juiciness and tenderness of the meat.
So was Jimmy’s pursuit of the perfect BBQ all it promised to be? I invited a few friends over to find out…
Arriving promptly at the expected delivery time (with several messages along the way to confirm timing and delivery), the BBQ goodies were well packed and insulated. As we were not eating for a few hours I was easily able to keep the BBQ items warm on a low oven (100c) in the cardboard packaging.
Our six course Beef Ribs Feast commenced with a stunning smoked pumpkin soup where the sweetness of the pumpkin and subtle smokiness of the fruitwood elevate the recipe's robust flavours.
The main event, the Signature BBQ Smoked Beef Rib (weighing around 2.3kg) was an impressive sight to behold. As promised, the juicy beef back ribs braised in Chef's homemade spicy marinade easily fell off the bone and sported a flavourful crusty Bark. Served with soft buttery buns, a creamy rustic coleslaw, lightly charred corn on the cob and a refreshing mesclun salad this BBQ feast for $199 was more than sufficient to feed our hungry group of four.
Indulging now because they are my all time favourite BBQ item, the 1.2kg slab of Signature BBQ Spanish Iberico Pork Ribs had us eagerly coming back for more – infused with an incredibly flavourful dry rub overnight, smoked with American applewood and glazed with an addictive homemade Smoque BBQ sauce these are easily comparable to my best rib memories from the good ol’ US of A.
Next time you’re considering a BBQ at home, save yourself the hassle and indulge in one of the great value feasts from the BBQ experts at Smokehse by Esseplore – delivering a truly delicious all American BBQ to your door so all you need to do is sit back, relax and indulge.
About Esseplore
Esseplore is a food technology company that is orchestrating a vibrant food ecosystem enabled by digital technology. The talented chefs on our platform bring forth a unique experience with a plethora of different cuisines, designed to excite our customer’s taste buds in the comfort of homes or corporate settings.
Founded in 2017, Esseplore now has several gourmet brands under its belt, FeastBox, Gourmand, Umami Chefs and Smokehse. Esseplore chefs are carefully selected for their ability to present authentic cuisines and quality of their menus.
With the vision to expand this experience across Asia, Esseplore is disrupting the dining industry with cutting-edge software and operational concepts.
