Ever see those ads about going vegan and all the benefits it brings you, but still not willing to give up meat? Well, what if I told you there’s a sustainable alternative that gives you the best of both worlds?
With Impossible Foods, meat-lovers who want to save the planet can now do so without having to give up on taste or nutrition.
To give you some background, with science and technology, Impossible Foods replicates the deliciousness people love in meat using plant-based ingredients. This significantly lowers the environmental impact as compared to when we consume meat from animals. To bring some statistics, a 113g serving of Impossible Beef uses 96% less land, 87% less water and 89% lesser greenhouse gases than ground beef from a cow!
Impossible Foods is encouraging consumers in Singapore to calculate the impact of their food choices and to do their part to turn back the clock on climate change. In lieu of Earth Month right now, Impossible Foods is rolling out an exciting line-up of activities to educate Singaporeans about the enormous sustainability impact of eating plant-based meat instead of meat from animals. With limited edition menu creations, countless promotions, and exciting prizes to be won, you’ll have a lot to look forward to!
The Goodburger
I tried a couple of items from The Goodburger, including their Classic burger and the Damn Shiok! Burger. The latter is their rendition of a Rendang burger, with a complex blend of earthy aromatic spices.
With a heavenly blend of spices and the familiar tastiness of beef (I really couldn’t tell the difference, even after I finished the burger!) the Damn Shiok! Burger is set to leave a memorable impression on your taste buds.
Although not immediately spicy, those who have lower spice tolerances may want to be forewarned though, because the spice adds up! Even so, it’s not to the point where it overwhelms the other flavours (I say this from the point-of-view of someone with a low spice tolerance as well — I cry at kimchi ramen), and I think all the flavours work together in perfect harmony!
As for the Classic burger, well, it’s a classic for a reason! The recommended go-to for those new to Goodburger, it doesn’t disappoint. With crispy bacon topping the juicy patty, it was a mouth-watering experience. For those who have a bigger stomach, you might want to consider getting their Double Classic. I mean, how could you go wrong with double the deliciousness, right?
I also tried a few of their sides! Their truffle fries were impeccable, but my absolute favourite was the mozzarella sticks! I’ve had a pretty bad experience with buying mozzarella sticks outside (you know, when it comes with a disappointing amount of cheese), but those worries were for nought because The Goodburger always comes through! Their mozzarella was really stretchy, and the batter was delicious. I couldn’t stop myself from taking more and more!
The Goodburger consistently exceeds expectations in terms of quality as well. They use high-quality ingredients (including truffle oil used only by 5-star restaurants), which becomes apparent when you taste their food.
When I asked them what made them want to choose such high-quality ingredients despite knowing how it would cost more, they told me that, knowing how Impossible Meat is a whole new concept, they wanted to put their best foot forward. This was to ensure that they only serve the best, and leave a good impression on customers to make them want to come back.
When I heard that, it did click — I mean, with The Goodburger being my first taste of Impossible Meat, it certainly left behind a favourable impression that made me want to go back for more. So what are you waiting for? Head on down to their food truck to try their burgers, and see for yourself what the hype is all about!
Rubato
Next up is a more unusual use of the Impossible Meat. You know how we usually see Impossible Meat being used as patties for burgers (as seen above) or slow-braised wild goose style? Well, Rubato offers a whole new take on Impossible, showing just how versatile the ingredient is.
In their Earth Month’s special, Heal the World 2021, Rubato creates a Hand-shaped Impossible beef globe seasoned with fresh Mediterranean herbs and filled with Michelin grade burrata and sweet bell peppers. A dish truly worthy of the dining elite, this beef globe itself requires three times of cooking!
Moreover, the blue and green colours that you see are all-natural, made from blueberry and matcha, and are hand-painted onto the beef itself. Sitting on a bed of artisanal hand-made tagliolini pasta tossed in Italian pesto, this dish itself is an edible art sculpture that lends itself very well to the Earth Month theme. I had trouble even cutting it open because it felt like a sin to ruin such a magnificent piece of art!
When you cut into the globe, you start to understand the dish a little more. There is a slight crispiness to the globe, representing the earth’s crust itself, and the more you dig in, the more treasures you find within. An intricate dish that has as many layers as there are cooking steps to it, it is something that will keep both your mind and taste buds occupied!
The pasta itself was a little more on the heavy side because of the sauce, but it maintained its balance with the meat well and wasn’t cloying at all! Of course, the beef globe itself was incredibly tender, and once I started eating, I couldn’t stop!
An arresting visual treat, Rubato works with Impossible to offer an incredibly tasty alternative. Eating this dish reminds one of the true goal of Impossible, and how it is not to get people to stop eating meat per se, but to provide an alternative that tastes exactly the same and yet is better for both the environment and for your own health.
At the moment, Heal the World 2021 is going for $48 per plate, but, considering the intricacy and complicated nature of the dish, I’d say it’s worth giving it a try!
Da Paolo Pizza Bar
Known for their artisanal Italian thin-crust pizza and a good selection of antipasti, salads and pasta, Da Paolo Pizza Bar boasts authentic Italian cuisine, a rarity in Singapore. I got to try their Impossible Olive Flatbread, made with Impossible Spiced Ragu, roasted eggplant and portobello mushroom topped with wild rockets, a balsamic reduction and garlic cashew salsa on an olive flatbread.
Now, that must’ve been a mouthful to read, right? Well, that’s what I thought too! At first bite, the taste was as layered and complicated as its description, and it’s no exaggeration to say I’ve never tried anything like it before. The dish has a unique taste, and though rather complicated, it is in a way that leaves you wanting more. It’s the kind of dish that whets your appetite as well, and the more I ate, the more I wanted to eat.
For those who prefer a more tropical, fresh taste, you’d be a fan of this dish! The Ragu wasn’t immediately prominent, what with the mushrooms and eggplants, but you can start to taste it more with more bites you take.
I also got to try their Spaghetti Bolognese, made with Impossible Meat. A classic for any pasta fan that is a safe, delicious option for those not feeling so adventurous.
Lastly, I tried their Meat Lover’s Pizza, topped with Impossible meatballs and stretchy cheese on every slice. It was truly a meat fan’s paradise, and the strong, aromatic meatball complemented the chewy dough and tomato sauce well. As a big fan of pizza, I have to say that this was my favourite item on the menu!
For those looking for authentic Italian cuisine, look no further! Come on down to Da Paolo Pizza Bar at Holland Village yourself for some good vibes and good food.
Swensen’s
Lastly, the cosy family restaurant we all know and love! As one of the first few restaurants people usually start their Impossible journey with, Swensen’s doesn’t disappoint when it comes to serving up delicious food that just reminds you of home.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve had many memories growing up with Swensen’s, so it seems fitting that I end my review with them! Their all-new Swensen’s Bagus burger lives up to the restaurant’s home-ly theme as their take on the beloved Ramly burger from pasar malams.
Sandwiched between buttery brioche buns is an omelette-wrapped Impossible patty and fried onion strings, drizzled with flavourful Bagus sauce and served with signature U.S. fries and coleslaw.
I think this dish itself was pretty innovative (I’ve personally never tried an omelette-wrapped patty in a burger before). Taste-wise, they definitely succeeded in their Ramly burger concept, and it was almost as though I was transported to a pasar malam, munching on a Ramly burger browsing the various stores. It brought back memories, especially in times of the pandemic where we can’t have pasar malams anymore.
For such a premium dish, Swensen’s still tries to keep their prices as affordable as possible. With a family-friendly atmosphere and menu, what reason would you have not to drop by for a meal?
Ending thoughts
I know I just went through quite a few menu items made for Earth month, but there’s still plenty more to look forward to! With dynamic, tasty takes on Impossible Meat, these dishes all elevate and promote the versatility of Impossible and how it is just like meat from animals.
Though now only the Impossible Beef option is available, there are plans to widen the selection to all other kinds of meat as well! I know another concern you might have is the higher prices of Impossible Meat. However, if you consider how this is still something new to us and how Impossible has better long-term impacts not just for the environment but on your own health as well, I’d urge you all just to give it a try!
And what better time to try than now, during Earth Month, with all the new menu items and promotions going on? If you don’t want to try it outside first, home chefs can find Impossible Beef in their nearest Cold Storage, Giant, NTUC Fairprice and Market Place stores in convenient 340g packs at just $9.90 till 30th April 2021.
On top of that, from 1st April to 30th April, Impossible has teamed up with brands committed to sustainability, including Coco & Eve, Happycall and Dyson, to reward those who live, eat and cook more sustainably. For all who purchase any Impossible products or dishes during this Earth month, you can enter a lucky draw with prizes of up to $15,000 – by registering your entry and your Impossible receipt here!
Photos by Darren Chiong of the DANAMIC Team.
