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Traditional food with a twist could go one of two ways: it could make the dish better or turn it into a total disaster — don’t we all get a little too critical when it comes to our beloved food?
I had the opportunity to try Mr Wholly at FOMO, famous for their elevated Nasi Lemak and Laksa, served with fresh seafood.
It was a 10-minute walk from Bugis MRT and by the time I’ve arrived, I was drenched in sweat. Thankfully, Mr Wholly is air-conditioned, so you’ll be eating in comfort.
For my Muslim friends, they serve halal food specialising in seafood and lobster. The portions are huge, so it’s best to come with a friend or two to get the best value for your food.
We had the Love Laksa (S$25.90), a dish recommended to be shared by two people. The aromatic smell hit us both and we couldn’t wait to dig in.
The broth was infused with the sweet seafood juices and had the right balance of spices and coconut milk. I couldn’t stop slurping up the broth until it got dangerously low before even trying the rest of the ingredients in it.
A few spoonfuls of sambal chilli was added in after and it caused the broth to be richer and sweeter, something I preferred. If only they were generous with the soup.
The Love Laksa came with half a Boston lobster, scallops, mussels, New Zealand and Korean clams. So if you are wondering why it is expensive, it’s because they use premium seafood.
The tau pok were plentiful and it soaked up the broth, making it thoroughly enjoyable to bite into. The clams were fresh and sweet, making me nod in approval with every bite. Half a lobster was more than enough for the two of us, and we did not mind getting our hands dirty to pull out the sweet and fleshy meat of the lobster.
Next, we tried the Love Mee Goreng (S$35) that came with crayfish, salmon, baby squid, tiger prawns, mussels and clams.
This dish isn’t on the menu yet at the time of our tasting, so we were thrilled to be the first to try it. The salmon skin was crispy and the meat retained its moisture, providing a nice contrast to the skin.
The mee goreng is spicy and has that basah (wet) consistency; I loved how the noodles soak up all the delicious juices.
The tiger prawns were sweet with a hint of smokiness and the crunchy texture make this a delight to eat. Given that there were three prawns, I had an intense stare down with my friend over who’s going to have the last piece.
Another sharing dish, The Love Nasi Lemak (S$35) comes with exactly the same seafood as the Love Mee Goreng. If you’re a rice queen, go ahead and order this fragrant dish. I have to say, the rice was fluffy and good to have it on its own!
The sambal chilli wasn’t spicy but sweet and surprisingly addictive, I paired it with every seafood and spread it on everything like it was butter on a toast.
The crayfish was fresh and came apart easily from the shell. Nasi lemak with seafood is a strangely good combination and I couldn’t be happier leaving the venue with a big smile on my face and a full stomach.
I was initially sceptical when I saw the price, who would pay S$35 for Nasi Lemak when you can get one easily at a fraction of the price?
Only after trying out the dishes with the premium ingredients, and seeing the effort and love that goes into making each dish did I realise that you get what you paid for: good food, lovely setting and fun times with friends — now, that is priceless.
Expected Damage: S$25.90 – S$35 per pax
