Chicken & Waffles and other miraculous hangover cures at HOUSE Dempsey

Sassy Mama fave HOUSE Dempsey has got a new lunch menu, mama, and we are SMITTEN. Check out our top picks!

Are chicken and waffles officially a food trend in Singapore? You won’t hear this American complaining about that! I’ve recently sampled the goods at breakfast stalwart Clinton Street Baking Company and The Fabulous Baker Boy, while my colleagues tell me OG café Sin Lee Foods has been serving ‘em up for years. I’m happy to report a new iteration that’s shot to the top of the list: the crispy “har cheong gai” (prawn paste) version at HOUSE Dempsey, which is just one among seven new additions to their already-extensive lunch menu.

Maybe it’s the tangy scent of the shrimp paste (I know it sounds weird mamas but trust me, it totally works in boosting the chicken’s flavor to 11), or the sambal maple syrup that you drizzle over the crispy rice flour waffles. Whatever it is, it works equally well at breakfast or lunch (easily my favorite kind of dish).

Along the same lines is the Bacon and Egg in a Naan Jam, which just might be the world’s most perfect hangover cure (as I recently raved on Instagram), or at the very least a sinfully satisfying lunch treat. House has once again put a local twist on a Western classic, pairing Bak Kwa-like candied bacon and tomato jam with an oozing fried (organic!) egg, and tucking it all nicely into a fluffy piece of naan bread. Ditch the fork and knife, mama, this cousin of the breakfast burrito was meant to be eaten with your hands!

So while I apparently have a heart attack death wish, rest assured that there are plenty of healthy options available, too. House has always been a go-to for yummy fresh-squeezed juices, and they also offer some of the most creative and satisfying salads we’ve seen in Singapore, including the newly-added Broccoli, Quinoa & Pom-Pom Salad, a crunchy symphony of super-foods rife with nuts and sprouts (not to mention the delectable pomegranate raita dressing).

While the restaurant is renowned for its varied fries menu (everything from Truffle Taro to Smokey Lime), you can stay on the healthier side with the moreish Pumpkin Hazelnut Fries, which have just a hint of sweet spiciness (thanks to paprika and chili powder) and taste much lighter than your average potato variety. I must say they pair quite well with the new Bone Marrow and Steak Burger with Bacon Jam!

Other new additions run the gamut from the vegetarian-friendly Portobello Schnitzel Bun (a crisp breaded mushroom patty stuffed with yummy Provolone), to succulent Baked Hokkaido Scallops on the Shell, to yet another traditional fave with a local twist, the BBQ Local Jackfruit Sliders, which have the texture and vinegary goodness of pulled pork!

Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the excellent Baked Pumpkin and Goat’s Cheese Rigatoni, a confection of a lunch dish highlighted by crunchy crumbs from an amaretto cookie and deliciously smooth goat’s cheese.

Throw in House’s beautiful setting on the edge of the jungle and you’ve got the perfect lunch or brunch spot, mama!

House, 8D Dempsey Rd, Singapore 249672, Tel: (+65) 6475 7787

www.dempseyhouse.com