Our Big Fat Greek Dinner @ Blu Kouzina
Our first experience of having a taste of authentic Hummus was in Melbourne. Since then on, Ann has been bugging me to find a place that has a similar standard. So she started googling various restaurants in Singapore, read reviews and finally decided to head to a Greek restaurant called Blu Kouzina situated at Dempsey Road.
We went on a Monday evening and surprisingly it was quite full for a weekday. After we settled down, the manager recommended a few items on the menu.
But first…..
Bottom to the top: Hummus, White Cod Roe Dip & The Eggplant Dip
Without batting an eyelid, Ann ordered the Hummus while I added the White Cod Roe Dip (Taramosalata) as well as the Eggplant Dip (Melitzanosalata) paired with a side of pita bread.
On the menu, the 3 dips are sold separately but you can request for the combo versions like we did above. The Hummus has a nice smooth texture and together with the Tahini, oregano and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) it was downright delicious. Ann keeps on trawling the Hummus dip with the pita bread till it was all gone. She even wanted to order takeaway!
- Fun Fact: The cold pressed EVOO is sourced from the Tsakiris family’s (the restaurant owner) 500-year-old olive estate in Greece!
It seems Ann did her homework. 😛
The White Cod Roe Dip, however, has an acquired taste. It is made of salted and cured cod roe mixed with lemon juice with a starchy base. It has a slight fishy taste but I really enjoyed the thick creamy texture and taste of the sea from the roe.
The Melitzanosalata Dip is made from smoked eggplant with feta, herbs and drizzled with EVOO. The eggplants were in chunks and its texture was like mushrooms, not gooey as I expected it to be. I am not a fan of vegetables but this dip is surprisingly quite tasty with the balance of herbs.
Out of the 3 dips, Ann like the Hummus the best while I loved the White Cod Roe Dip.
Next, we ordered the Grilled Octopus (Xtapodi Shara) served with a side of arugula salad vinegar and EVOO to share. The smoky-charred octopus was grilled to perfection.
It was fresh, chewy and with a little sprinkle of sea salt, both of us could not get enough of the octopus.
For her main course, Ann ordered the Lamb Chops (Paidakia Stin Shara). 3 pieces of juicy, succulent, tender lamb chops served with vegetables and potatoes cooked to medium rare perfectness.
Blu Kouzina is probably the few rare restaurants that we came across that pulled the grilled Lamb Chops off perfectly. It was so good that Ann made me promise to bring her back again! Highly recommended.
As for myself, I ordered the Kalamaki Souvlaki. Grilled pieces of skewered Beef served with fresh onion, sliced tomato, in-house bread with a side of tzatziki sauce.
The Beef was very tender, juicy and cut into bite-sized pieces for easy enjoyment. I really liked the combination of the in-house bread wrapped together with the beef and onions to give your palate a nice burst of flavours. The crunch from the onions, tender beef cuts and soft pita bread, was truly memorable.
To end our great Monday night dinner date, Ann ordered a serving of Baklava and their special blend of mint tea. The filo pastry crumbles as we bite its crunchy goodness. We were too busy indulging in the dessert that we didn’t even take a photo of it!
We really enjoyed our Mediterranean dinner night. It was truly our Big Fat Greek Dinner and we look forward to dining here again.
Do check this place out if you are craving for some Greek or Mediterranean food just like Ann did. 🙂
Featured photo: Blu Kouzina
