Notes from Chef Willet: 

Tuesday, March 25th was Borrowed Goods' debut as a pop-up at Plume. The concept of Borrowed Goods is inspired by Singapore, with additional influences from Japanese and Chinese cultures.

Some have already pointed out that this menu doesn't scream Singaporean, and they are correct. The only thing really Singaporean is the kaya toast. This wasn't meant to trick people, and I apologize for any confusion!

Creating a menu for a pop-up is not as simple as cooking what one wants to cook. Each event has its own set of limitations. The equipment, size, and ventilation of the kitchen need to be taken into consideration as well.

The menu I created is meant to eat well if a group orders everything on the menu. I wanted two diners to be able to order one of everything for around $60, which I think is a fairly reasonable price. The menu was priced this way to allow customers to feel comfortable ordering from Plume’s drink menus too.

Here are the food items, and why I chose them:

GARLICKY CUCUMBERS: Easy to push out of the kitchen, refreshing, and can be enjoyed as a counterpoint to other dishes.

HAMACHI CRUDO: Since I'm doing a kitchen takeover, I want to ensure that if a regular bar customer happens to walk in, they’ll recognize familiar elements. Plume has a raw tuna dish on the menu, so I thought I'd execute a raw fish dish, too. Plus, my first kitchen job was at a sushi restaurant, so I have a fondness for raw fish.

CURRY PAN: I wanted something interesting but approachable at a cocktail bar. I figured a fried panko bread stuffed with curry beef and potatoes would fit the bill for elevated bar food.

SCALLION OIL NOODLES: This dish has been a hit from previous pop-ups, and fans regularly ask when I’ll be serving it again. I would be doing our regulars a disservice by not bringing it back. Each time I try and improve on it, and I think this iteration is pretty darn special!

KAYA TOAST: I love kaya toast, and knew I wanted it on the menu before anything else was planned. The caviar add-on is available since Plume is pretty fancy, and it definitely elevates the toast in a way that's worth the splurge!