Savour gourmet Mexican meals that are also halal in the comfort of your home.
Story by Aida Yasmin | Photos by Aida Yasmin & Afterwit
Started by the people behind The Mad Sailors, Tipo Pasta Bar, and Working Title Burger Bar, The Black Hole Group is famous for introducing European dishes to the local palate. Afterwit was inspired by an afterthought – giving a Mexican twist to their original plan of opening up yet another cookie-cutter cafe.
Afterwit has constantly appeared on my Instagram feed, but I’ve never gotten the chance to check it out especially with the uncertainty of the pandemic. Thankfully, Afterwit provides food delivery and pick-up from their outlet. Here’s what I got!
Elote
Kicking off lunch break with popular Mexican street food, Elote ($9.90), it comes as a whole cob of corn, lightly charred and topped with crumbly feta cheese, mayo relish, and chilli flakes. The corn was simple, sweet and juicy. Though I wished that the topping was more evenly spread across the corn, it was a delight to try this side dish.
Classy (Nachos)
Afterwit’s Classy ($15.90) nachos come with a choice of pulled beef, lamb, or chicken, and I picked the third option. Afterwit also provided plenty of toppings such as melted cheddar, corn, and Pico de Gallo — a type of salsa traditionally made from chopped tomato, onions, peppers, salt, lime juice, and cilantro.
I immediately fell in love with the melted cheddar, which Afterwit was not stingy with. The Pico de Gallo was refreshing and light on the palate, which I could tell from the freshness of the ingredients. The pulled chicken was also generously spiced, bringing me back to the kebabs I used to get at the ‘pasar malam’ (night market).
Cheeky Git (Tacos)
Cheeky Git ($15.90) is one of Afterwit’s taco dishes. The soft shell tacos are made of flour tortillas, lined with coffee-braised beef cheeks, truffle mayo, pickled red onions, and fresh jalapeno slices.
The beef cheeks were deliciously tender and melted in my mouth. There was a tinge of bitterness from the coffee, but it surprisingly complemented the fattiness of the meat well. The truffle mayo can be overwhelming at certain bites as it pools at the bottom of the taco. Still, it was an interesting combination to add to the coffee flavour. To top it off, the jalapenos and pickled red onions gave a tangy kick to the dish.
It was one of my top picks when I first browsed their online menu, and I definitely recommend it to those who are more adventurous with their food.
Muvuca (Burrito)
Afterwit was very generous with their servings. The Muvuca ($14.90) burrito is packed with beef chorizo, beef bacon, braised black beans, sweet potatoes, rice, cheddar cheese, Pico De Gallo, corn, and a choice of beef, lamb, or chicken filling.
There were so many elements to this dish, I didn’t know where to start! Every ingredient was cut into small pieces, so you get a taste of everything in each bite especially the meat that added a kick of spice.
If you’re looking for a quick bite, choose this, but don’t be afraid to get messy!
Cold Brew Tea & Sunrise In Tulum
Cold Brew Tea (left, $5.50) carries a strong aroma from the twig of rosemary, accompanied by Earl Grey tea with a slice of lemon. I didn’t expect the pairing of Earl Grey and rosemary would complement each other well — giving a sophisticated touch to this simple iced tea.
On the other hand, Sunrise In Tulum (right, $8.90) immediately reminded me of a sweet scented candle. A medley of Pina Coco, Sun Orange, wildberry, lime juice, soda, and mint, the bubbly pink beverage tastes like ‘long summer days and tropical vibes’ that Afterwit tries to mimic. Both drinks would definitely taste better freshly-made, but they were still enjoyable thirst-quenchers to accompany such a hearty meal.
Final Verdict
I can’t get enough of the Cheeky Git tacos and the Cold Brew Tea, so I can say they’re one of my top recommendations. Afterwit has brought me into a whole new world of Mexican food and culture.
Check out their website http://www.afterwit.sg/ for more information!