http://sparklette.net/food/friends-jelita-christmas/ http://sparklette.net/food/friends-jelita-christmas/#comments Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:00:50 +0000 Melissa Koh http://sparklette.net/?p=1245

Beer lovers can rejoice this Christmas! Friends Restaurant & Catering is collaborating with Kronenbourg 1664 to produce an inventive menu of beer-infused festive specialities for both dining in and take-outs.

At Friends@Jelita, the roomy interior makes it an ideal venue for parties, celebrations or a simple gathering with friends and family. Illuminated by orange lighting that creates a cosy and inviting ambience, the décor is kept simple and uncluttered without having to be pretentiously ornate.

Kronenbourg 1664 is a modern brand with a rich heritage originating from France; it has been the best-selling beer in France for years. Only the purest waters from the Vosges Mountains are used to brew Kronenbourg 1664 and Blanc 1664, thus giving a clean, smooth taste. This can be the beer of choice for sophisticated urbanites who enjoy the civilised pleasure of a premium beer.

The Kronenbourg 1664 is a smooth, slightly bitter lager with a dense, creamy froth and fine small bubbles with touches of yeast.

Personally, I prefer the Blanc 1664 that is lighter and less bitter with a refreshing taste; it is a specialty white beer with light malty aroma and citrus notes. Crisply carbonated and easy to drink, this beer will be popular amongst the ladies.

If you feel weird about having beer in your food, rest assured that the premium French beer has tenderising qualities and a sophisticated taste that help enhances without overpowering the natural flavours of meats.

Warm Kronenbourg 1664 foccacia bread

To pull off good bread that will tempt even the staunchest carbo-avoiding health junkie isn’t an easy feat, but the warm foccacia bread infused with Kronenbourg 1664 will win many hearts. Possessing a crisp crumbly texture without being dry, this bread is so delicious that many diners were seen asking for seconds! The fine pairing of balsamic vinaigrette makes a perfect dip.

Chilled angel hair pasta & Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 fish roe
S$13.90++

An award-winning dish, the chilled angel hair pasta is perfectly seasoned, tossed with konbu, chives and topped with luxurious fish roe. The distinctive white truffle essence is what makes the dish so memorable, with slight nuances of Blanc.

As an appetiser, the portion is a good size; it isn’t heavy and makes a good precedence to the main course.

Turducken with Kronenbourg 1664
S$49 for 1kg
S$23.90++ for dine-in

The turducken with Kronenbourg 1664 is an obvious crowd favourite; you will hear raves across the table, with carnivores especially thrilled. This festive must-have comprises layers of pork sausage, chicken leg, smoked duck breast and turkey breast, all of which have been lined with sautéed onions, garlic and mixed herbs in Kronenbourg 1664 lager, and finally rolled in a bacon-wrap. The beer keeps the meats succulent and flavourful, while the blend of textures of the various meats makes an extremely satisfying carnivorous feast.

Ultra slow-cooked pork collar with Kronenbourg 1664
S$$29++ per kg

The lager-infused pork collar is tender and moist with a pleasant firm bite, a testament to Chef Thomas’ ingenuity in marrying the tenderising characteristics of Kronenbourg 1664 with patient slow-cooking process. The pork is neither fatty nor tough, and pairs perfectly with a special sauce.

For takeaway, reheating is as simple as immersing the vacuum-sealed packs in hot water or popping them into the oven for ten minutes at 180-200 degrees Celsius.

Ultra slow-roast beef ribeye roast in fresh herb rub with Kronenbourg 1664
S$49 for 1kg

The premium ribeye cut is rubbed thoroughly with a secret blend of fresh herbs and marinated with Kronenbourg 1664. If you’re thinking of hosting a party of red meat aficionados, this slow-cooked roast will impress your guests. Briefly pan-sear or grill this takeaway item to desired doneness and it is ready to be served.

Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 chilled poached pear
S$8.90++

As for dessert, the chef has created chilled poached pear with the infusion of beer to match the theme. The fruits’ natural sweetness is enhanced by light syrup mixed with Kronenbourg Blanc 1664, with the hints of beer giving a pleasant after-taste. It is overall a light dessert, although I would have preferred something more ample, such as a beer-infused cake pudding.

These unique offerings are available from now till 31 December 2011 at:
- Friends Restaurant & Catering for takeaway, catering and dine-in
- FairPrice Finest @ Scotts for takeaway and catering only

All takeaway dishes are pre-cooked and can be kept for a week in the chiller or up to 6 months in the freezer.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Beer in your food — yay or nay? Tell us in the comments!

Friends Restaurant

Friends@Jelita
293 Holland Road
Singapore 278628
Tel: +65 6463 1011 | Website

FairPrice Finest @ Scotts

FairPrice Finest
Scotts Square
6 Scotts Road #B1-03 to 07 & #B1-10
Singapore 228209

Opening hours: 8am – 11pm daily

---

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/friends-jelita-christmas/ | 3 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

]]> 3

Although Hippopotamus specialises in beef, they do have a small selection of French classics like escargots, foie gras, bone marrow and other main courses like chicken ($14.90-$16.90), lamb ($18.90), fish ($18.90) and seafood platters (S$13.90-S$15.90).

And thankfully, nothing of hippopotamuses.

The interior setting emits a warm, cosy ambience that makes Hippopotamus an ideal choice for dates, gatherings or simply an after-work chill-out session by the bar.

To escape from the indoor crowd, you can opt for alfresco seating.

Once settled down, you are served complimentary home-made chips. The chips are so crispy and addictive that you would want to get second and third helpings.

Drinks

The selection of drinks includes cocktails (S$6.90), fruit juices (S$3.50), sodas (S$3.30) and alcoholic beverages (S$6.90-S$9.90).

Hippo smoothie
S$6.90++

The Hippo smoothie is a blend of exotic nectar, lime nectar, strawberry, pineapple and banana. It is the only smoothie on the menu so you aren’t exactly spoiled for choices. I would like to see more smoothie concoctions as these would make great accompaniments to the Hippo burgers.

Starters

French onion soup
S$8.90++

A must-try is the French onion soup. Crowned with melted cheese, the soup is extremely satisfying to sip on.

The chef must have kept it simmered for hours with an abundance of onions to achieve the aromatic strong flavour.

Shrimp potato twists
S$4.90 / 8.90 / 12.90 for 2 / 4 / 6 pieces

For starters, the shrimp potato twists is a good choice. The fresh shrimp is wrapped in a crispy potato exterior and teamed with a sweet and spicy dip.

The combination is so appetising it will leave you wanting more!

Steaks

You can pick from any of the 5 sauces — barbecue, Béarnaise, stewed shallot, pepper and Roquefort cheese — for your main course and have it served with 3 side dishes — fries, potato gratin, green beans, baked potato, ratatouille or basmati rice.

Heart of Sirloin
S$79.90++ (serves 2 to 4)

The Heart of Sirloin is presented as a generous cut of beef served with various sauces to suit your palate. While the meat is a tad under seasoned for my liking, it also allows you to taste the meat’s freshness without the overpowering flavour. And that leaves room for pairing the beef with the specially concocted sauces. My top picks are the rich and flavourful Béarnaise and black pepper sauces.

For those who have the stomach for raw meat, by all means go for the tartare (S$17.90), comprising raw minced beef, egg, onions, parsley, chives, capers and tartar sauce. For me, I would prefer it with a little more seasoning. Even though I am not a huge fan of raw beef, I do appreciate the freshness of the beef, which is skilfully prepared.

Hippo cheese burger
S$14.90++

The Hippo cheese burger boasts a moist juicy patty which carnivores would thoroughly enjoy. The thick layer of melted cheddar cheese provides additional flavour and texture.

My choice of sauce for the cheeseburger, the stewed shallot sauce, is fragrant and complements the burger very well.

Among the three sides of crispy golden fries, potato gratin and baked potato, my favourite is the potato gratin. It’s the perfect comfort food that is delectable enough to be eaten as a main dish!

Desserts

For desserts, you don’t get a huge variety to choose from. That being said, the available options are very appealing.

Floating Island
S$6.90++

The Floating Island is a soufflé with vanilla custard sprinkled with almonds and drizzled in caramel sauce. It is so light and fluffy that you would definitely have room for it even if you just had a heavy meal.

Warm chocolate cake
S$10.90++

The warm chocolate cake, a hot favourite amongst lava cake lovers, is topped with a scoop of vanilla. It may not be the best rendition I have had, the cake is nonetheless baked to perfection with a molten gooey chocolaty centre that is pure gratification. The only disappointment is the ice cream, which is too hard to dig into.

Crème brulee
S$8.90++

Among the desserts, my personal pick would be the crème brulee, a classic beauty with silky smooth cream underneath the thin top layer of caramelised brown sugar. Cracking through the torched golden caramel crust is extremely satisfying. No wonder this is one of the lead character’s favourite things to do in the movie Amélie.

By the end of the meal, I am so satisfied that I have to refrain from licking the plate!

For quality steaks at a reasonable price, you should definitely check out Hippopotamus Restaurant Grill to try its premium cuts.

Where do you go for a good quality steak in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/hippopotamus-restaurant-grill/ | 3 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

At Oso, you can dive into a range of creatively presented Italian cuisine, from pastas and risottos to seafood and meat dishes.

Spider crab meat with mixed vegetables

You enter Oso through Baretto and head up to the second floor where you are greeted by immaculately dressed waiters. The dining room exudes a classy elegance, courtesy of candlelit tables and use of brown and grey tones in the décor.

An interesting sight: Look out for someone cutting cheeses and cured meats in a little standalone room made of glass!

Bread

The complimentary bread comes in three types: French baguette, thin bread sticks and sun-dried tomato bread, accompanied by olive oil dotted with balsamic vinegar. Don’t get too carried away with the breads though; the antipasti are going to be good.

Starters

Spider crab meat
S$20++

For appetisers, seafood lovers must not miss the excellent spider crab meat. Paired with crunchy mixed vegetables, it arrives in dramatic fashion in a crab shell, sitting within a woven basket. The presentation is certainly memorable, a prelude to the beautiful plating of the dishes to come.

I love how easy it is to eat this thing. No pincers to wrestle with a la chilli crab. The crab meat is conveniently de-shelled so you can enjoy it with maximum pleasure. And what pleasure it is. Sweet, succulent and amazingly fresh, every bite brings on raptures of delight. Totally transporting.

Pan fried foie gras
S$26++

The foie gras arrives on a large white plate kissed by Marsala wine sauce and a smattering of pepper. The lavishly decadent liver is slightly crisp on the surface, velvety on the inside. You get a rather generous slab too!

Mains

Braised veal shank
S$34++

If your preferences run more to meat, the braised veal shank is a good bet. Drenched in a hearty and savoury sauce, the milk-fed veal is so melt-in-your-mouth tender that it falls off the bone easily.

Roasted cod fillet
S$34++

Not all dishes are aces though. The lightly roasted cod fillet in Balsamico sauce is teamed with rosemary potato resting on a thin layer of olive oil. For its price, the portion is minute for an overall forgettable dish.

Dessert

70% hot dark chocolate tart with milk ice cream
S$14++

A perfect closure to an evening at Oso is the sensuous and satisfying dark chocolate tart. Once you break the outer ring of tart shell, molten chocolate oozes out. Fans of lava cake would find this totally familiar. The brush stroke-like embellishment of chocolate sauce on the side adds a very nice touch of detail too.

I hear the tiramisu here is one of the lightest versions out there. If you get to try it, do let me know if it’s that good.

If you are planning to take someone out for an Italian meal, do place OSO Ristorante on your short list. The food is oh, so good, and the service is professional, somewhat formal, but not overbearing. Do make reservations in advance though; this is a hotspot amongst expatriates, and for good reason too.

What is your favourite Italian restaurant in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

OSO Ristorante
46 Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore 089858
Tel: +65 6327 8378 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Lunch: 12noon – 2:30pm (Mon – Fri)
Dinner: 6:30pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Sat)

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/oso-ristorante/ | 4 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

I first visited Boathouse during the months when it just opened. Then, it struck me with its appealing location while the cooking was good but not exceptional. This time round, with a different chef at helm, I decide to try the restaurant’s new French-style Sunday brunch.

Sunday brunch

The brunch offers traditional country breakfast fares that you can order à la carte. On the other hand if you have time for a long leisurely brunch, then I suggest you go for the S$48++ Sunday brunch set (minimum 2 to order) that includes:

- Bread and pastry basket
- Salad or soup
- Eggs or pancakes
- Dessert or cheese trolley
- Fresh juice, coffee or tea

Bread basket

Usually, I am not one that would pay much attention to the bread served at a restaurant, preferring to dive straight into the starters or mains and save room for desserts. But in this case, it is hard to resist the soft, warm, yielding breads — served in four different kinds, no less.

Soup

Cream of cauliflower
S$19++
Rating:

The velvety cream of cauliflower is a fabulous opener, although the real winner here is the duo of plump grilled scallops at its epicentre, crowned with a tiara of smoked black caviar.

Salad

Grilled asparagus
S$25++
Rating:

The salad of grilled asparagus, cherry tomatoes, bacon, croutons and cheese is an attractive myriad of colours and textures. The greens are pristinely fresh and the tomatoes succulent. Bacon adds a contrast in flavour, and the splash of truffle vinaigrette proves the perfect culinary catalyst.

Eggs

Egg Benedict
S$18++
Rating:

As for the eggs, you can have them in any way you fancy. Poached, scrambled, baked, sunny side up, you name it. For the eggs Benedict, the poached eggs are teamed with cured Petuna ocean trout and dressed with truffle hollandaise sauce on a bed of toasted brioche bread. Accompanied by a salad of greens and tomatoes on the side, I feel like I’ve had enough vitamin C for a week!

Pancakes

Pancakes with spicy sausages
S$19++
Rating:

The savoury pancakes are served with either spicy sausages, bacon or ibérico de bellota, a certain type of cured ham. The spicy sausages are, strangely, not spicy at all, at least in not the way that we Asians know it. For a main course, the portion is also rather small.

If you like your pancakes sweet, those are available as well, paired with blueberries, apple or banana.

Cheese

Selection of cheeses of the day
S$23++
Rating:

The assorted cheeses arrive along with toasted nuts, dried fruits, crackers and a certain type of salad that goes well with cheese.

Dessert

The desserts are made in-house and should be ordered at the start of the meal. Go for the gold by treating yourself to the Grand Marnier soufflé.

Grand Marnier soufflé
S$18++
Rating:

Soufflés often deflate the moment they hit the table and reach flat-as-a-pancake status within the minute. That’s a nightmare for snap-happy bloggers like myself who frequently show off our gastronomic conquests. Thankfully, there are no such worries here. The kitchen turns out an ethereally light soufflé that is benchmark in every respect. The cake is a uniform blonde colour, with a rich eggy flavour that has been invigorated with a generous splash of Grand Marnier. I would happily eat this again any time.

Other dessert possibilities include crème brûlée, pear tarte tatin and dark and white chocolate that is served with toasted bananas and cocoa ice cream.

Cocktails

Cocktails are available at the restaurant as well as the rooftop bar, Prelude, that opens in the evening. Some of these sport interesting Singapore-inspired names such as the Merlion Punch, a refreshing mix of passion fruit, white peach and pineapple jazzed up by vodka. The Orchard is a concoction of apricot, apple, cinnamon, lemon and vodka.

Credit

Tucked away at the picturesque Fullerton Square, Boathouse attracts a clientèle that ranges from locals, expatriates and tourists that have the common passion for lovingly prepared and well presented European cuisine.

Where would you go for Sunday brunch in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Boathouse
The Fullerton Waterboat House
3 Fullerton Road #03-01
Singapore 049215
Tel: +65 6538 9038 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Lunch – Monday to Friday, 12noon – 2pm
Dinner – Monday to Saturday, 6:30pm – 11pm
Brunch – Sunday, 11am – 3pm

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/boathouse-brunch/ | 2 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

Located on the ground level of Wanderlust boutique hotel, COCOTTE serves up unpretentious, rustic French cuisine in an eclectic setting. Just for Mother’s Day, the French restaurant would be open for brunch, dishing up items like egg cocotte with foie gras, escargot gougeres and hormone-free roast chicken.

Available from 11am – 3pm on May 8.

Oriole Cafe & Bar

Full English breakfast at Oriole Cafe & Bar

Wake up and smell the coffee at Oriole Cafe — a not-so-secret brunch option. The “lazy Sunday brunch” promotion offers choices like the full English breakfast (S$17++), featuring pork sausage, bacon, mushroom, fried sunny egg and toast, Moroccan lamb merguez sausages (S$17++), served with braised chickpeas, spinach, feta and sunny egg, and a classic Brioche French toast (S$12++) paired with crispy bacon and pure maple syrup.

• Check out our review of Oriole Cafe.

Available from 10:30am – 3pm on May 8.

Aerin’s

Open-face omelette at Aerin’s

Aerin’s at Raffles City Shopping Centre has a buy 3 get 1 free promotion for Mother’s Day, i.e., mothers get a free main course with every three accompanying main courses ordered. You can pick from Sunday brunch options such as full English breakfast and open-face omelette, or the lunch menu such as fish and chips, Aerin’s burger and seafood casserole.

• Check out our review of Aerin’s.

Available from 11:30am – 3pm on May 8.

Hotel Re!

Muslim friends need not feel left out. Partake in the halal international buffet at Hotel Re! during the Mother’s Day weekend. The hearty spread includes favourites like laksa and roti prata (made live), grilled lamb chop, roast chicken, salmon sashimi, Caesar salad and more. If you like, go for the dinner buffet on Saturday, or alternatively the brunch buffet on Sunday. (S$32.80++ per adult, S$19.80++ per child aged 4-12)

Tip: Hotel Re! Facebook fans are rewarded with attractive discounts!

Available from 6 – 10pm on May 7; 11am – 3pm on May 8.

Kinki Restaurant + Bar

Enjoy brunch with an impressive view at Kinki Restaurant + Bar. Located on the second floor of Customs House at Collyer Quay, the restaurant boasts a breathtaking view of the Marina Bay waterfront and skyline that Mom will absolutely love.

The très chic restaurant is introducing a special Mother’s Day brunch promotion. Kick off the meal with appetisers such as pan-seared tuna salad with Gobo and wasabi cream dressing (S$18++). Tantalising mains comprise pulled Kurobuta pork belly sandwich (S$25++) and slow roasted US prime short rib with wasabi potatoes (S$28++). As for desserts, take your pick from crepe with green tea Ice Cream, candied red bean, chocolate and whipped cream (S$10++), and vanilla ice cream cake (S$13++).

Mother’s Day Lunch/Dinner

Dian Xiao Er

Duck roasted with Ten Wonder herbs at Dian Xiao Er

With restaurants decked out like ancient Chinese inns, it’s almost as though you have gone back in time at Dian Xiao Er. Apart from the unique décor, the dishes are also consistently good. My Mom personally approves! The Mother’s Day sets include the popular herbal roast duck, stewed Ee-Fu noodles and braised shark’s fin broth with crab meat. Our favourite dish? Definitely the roast duck with Ten Wonder herbs.

• Check out our review of Dian Xiao Er.

Putien

Steamed lobster with minced garlic at Putien

Putien is celebrating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day with seven specially prepared dishes dedicated to moms and dads. With ingredients such as cordyceps, red date and bird’s nest, these dishes are mostly braised, baked or steamed. Not only do they taste good, they’re good for you — just like home-cooked food. Prices range from S$9.90++ for an individual portion of baked scallop in egg white to S$93.90++ for a large serving of braised shark’s fin with crab meat and cordyceps.

Available throughout May and June.

Red House Seafood Restaurant

Chilli crab with man tou (steamed bun) at Red House Seafood Restaurant

For a scenic waterfront view, pamper Mom with a luxurious feast of seafood treats at Red House Seafood Restaurant. Some highlights are the seafood platter, steamed fresh razor clam, pan-fried Canadian cod fish, braised Boston lobster and the must-have signature chilli crab or black pepper crab. I am not sure if the delicious chrysanthemum tea jelly from their Chinese New Year specials has been retained, but if it’s still available, I recommend it for your dessert. (S$398 – 888++ for 10 persons)

Available from May 6-8.

Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant

Hungry for more exotic flavours? Take Mom to Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant. The exquisite lunch buffet features an assortment of Indian delicacies complete with freshly prepared chaats (Indian street food), sizzling kebabs, mouthwatering curries and spiced desserts. Mothers get a free door gift, and also dine for free when they are accompanied by a paying adult son or daughter. (S$42++ per adult, S$32++ per child aged 4-10)

Zhou’s Kitchen

Braised pork shank at Zhou’s Kitchen

One of my family’s favourites is the Tung Lok-run Zhou’s Kitchen. Some dishes are a marriage between tradition and innovation, such as the creative coffee pork ribs with almond flakes. Other house specialties include the braised pork shank, dumplings and steamed crab with glutinous rice.

• Check out our review of Zhou’s Kitchen.

Bedrock Bar & Grill

Bedrock Bar & Grill celebrates Mother’s Day a day earlier on Saturday, May 7, which all Singaporeans now know as Polling Day. With every purchase of the S$32++ set lunch, Mom gets the set free!

The three-course set comes with a soup, followed by a choice of enticing main courses such as US rib-eye fillet with Diane sauce, or smoked aged cheddar chopped steak with Gorgonzola sauce. Sides feature a choice of creamed spinach, mac and cheese, sautéed mushrooms or rocket and parmesan salad. Dessert is the Bedrock signature apple crumble.

Available on May 7.

Heart Bistro

Steamed chicken in Chinese wine and chicken essence at Heart Bistro

Heart Bistro at Palais Renaissance has created an extravagant multi-course meal promotion for Mother’s Day. The menu includes the all-time favourite steamed chicken in Chinese wine and chicken essence, braised beef cheeks and strawberry trifle. Every party of at least two would receive complimentary home-made cookies. (S$98 / 188 / 288 / 388 / 488++ for 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 persons)

Available on May 8.

Mother’s Day High Tea

Goodwood Park Hotel

Durian mousse cake at Goodwood Park Hotel

If Mom is a durian fan, why not use this opportunity to pamper her with an array of durian pastries at the Goodwood Park Durian Fiesta? The perennial favourite durian mousse cake is available at the Deli (S$9 per slice) along with other sweet treats like durian puffs, ice cream cakes and éclairs. For a more intimate celebration at home, these items are available for take-out.

• Check out our review of Goodwood Park Durian Fiesta.

Novus Café

Mother’s Day high tea at Novus Café

Housed at the charming National Museum of Singapore, Novus Café is offering a high tea set (S$40++) this Mother’s Day. Arranged on an elegant tiered tray is a smorgasbord of tasty canapés such as crab meat toast and salmon and white radish, and delicious nibbles like pink macaron, chocolate and Baileys truffles, and mini strawberry and cream scones. The set serves two, and can be washed down with the free flowing coffee and tea. If it’s nice out, you can even choose to dine out in the courtyard.

That’s not all; every order of the high tea set gets you a complimentary pair of museum tickets. There are 50 tickets up for grabs, so hurry!

Available from 3-6pm on May 8.

• Check out our review of Novus Restaurant & Bar.

Concorde Hotel

Afternoon tea at Concorde Hotel

For an indulgent afternoon tea session, bring your family to Spices Cafe at Concorde Hotel. The afternoon tea buffet features a diverse selection including mango prawn rolls, Thai salad, cream of asparagus with scallops, mee siam, Manzo Brasato beef, octopus fritters, chocolate fountain, mango purée, crème brûlée, and more. Book a table for 3 or more paying adults, and Mom dines for free! (S$42++ per adult, S$20++ per child aged 3-12)

Available from 12-5pm on May 7 & 8.

The hotel is also offering an international buffet dinner where you can indulge in avocado and crab meat cocktail, lobster bisque, marinated crocodile ribs with Chinese herbs, drunken prawns, soft shell crab with chicken floss, durian puff, and much more. (S$55++ per adult, S$25++ per child aged 3-12)

Available from 6:30 – 10pm on May 7 & 8.

Where do you plan to take your Mom this Mother’s Day? Do you follow any special family traditions? If you decided to follow our suggestions, let us know in the comments!

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/mothers-day-singapore-restaurant-promotions/ | 4 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

Such is the case of Novus Restaurant & Bar, ensconced in the colonial building of National Museum of Singapore. I remember my first visit to the museum when it reopened in 2006. The architecture is breathtaking with glass ceilings and façades, ghostly moving chandeliers and one particular spiral staircase that is rumoured to be haunted. In the opening weeks I caught Kurt Wenner the master street artist here and was totally in awe of his work.

And Novus has been here from day one, quietly accumulating culinary accolades ever since. The New York Times endorsed Novus as a recommended stop in Singapore, while Forbes Traveller listed it as one of the best museum restaurants in the world.

The 48-seat contemporary European restaurant lures diners with its innovative fine food, stylish ambience and plush interiors. Feel free to gaze at framed art pieces on the walls whilst tucking into a carefully prepared meal. I did not notice it before, but there is a neat museum within a restaurant within a museum thing going on here.

Starters

Austrian head chef Stephan Zoisl describes his cuisine as “innovative French-based cooking with influences of modern techniques using the best and freshest available products”.

You begin with an amuse-bouche, which changes daily, and then move on to the starters.

Shellfish bisque
S$24++
Rating:

The soup course is quite ample. The shellfish bisque, swimming with whole scallops, plump prawns and crab meat, exhibits a fabulously funky shellfish flavour.

Duck tea
S$16++
Rating:

Seeing duck tea on the menu left me kinda baffled. Doesn’t it sound like an herbal dish from a Chinese restaurant? But once the waiter breaks out the teapot, it all makes sense. Nestled in the centre of the soup plate is a quail egg, trumpet and brown enoki mushrooms, smoked duck breast and slivers of precious black truffle. Then, from the teapot, the crystal clear duck consommé flows into the mix. It is hard to pinpoint what I like about this soup; I guess I can only chalk it down to its comforting home-cooked taste.

Foie Gras parfait
S$24++
Rating:

The cold Foie Gras parfait is a bold composition of flavours and textures with pear cubes, sour cream and a dusting of crushed pistachios juxtaposing with the rich foie gras flavour.

Apart from the artful plating, Novus also demonstrates their attention to detail through the use of placards. Each time a course is brought to the table, it is paired with little placards that are printed with nuggets of interesting information on the ingredients. On the back is the map and useful details of the restaurant. Guests are free to take these wallet-sized cards with them.

Mains

Crisp duck
S$32++
Rating:

The crisp duck is served with potato purée with pommery mustard. The moisture and flavour of the duck leg confit is enhanced through hours of slow-cooking in fat, resulting in a meaty and juicy texture.

Snow cod & olive
S$38++
Rating:

Among the mains, the olive-coated snow cod is rather pedestrian in taste and in need of dressing up. The low fat content and mild flavour would appeal to those with lighter palates.

Desserts

Desserts boast creative options as the deconstructed mango, a visual feast of mango purée, white nougat ice cream, yogurt wafers and a bed of black Oreo dust. With that gorgeous plating, I can only imagine the amount of meticulous work that the chef has put in in the kitchen.

Tell me, can you spot the twist here?

Deconstructed mango
S$16++
Rating:

The usually hard nougat and the usually soft yogurt now have their textures reversed!

Chocolate Test
S$16++
Rating:

For you chocolate fans, the chocolate test is pure delight with its chorus of Valrhona soufflé, Lindt crème brûlée, Barry Callebaut espuma (foam) and vanilla sorbet. The espuma is almost as light as air, instantly collapsing in the mouth leaving a hint of chocolaty sweetness. Like mousse, only way, way airier. What a wonderful finale.

As I leave the restaurant, I am surprised with a little farewell gift — a cupcake in a box! That’s just icing on the cake for an evening of great service. Whether dining for business or pleasure, or if you happen to swing by the museum, a visit to Novus Restaurant & Bar is highly recommended.

Aside from Novus Restaurant & Bar, are there any other museum restaurant that you recommend? Share with us in the comments!

Novus Restaurant & Bar
National Museum of Singapore
93 Stamford Road #01-02
Singapore 178897
Tel: +65 6336 8770 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
11:30am – 2:30pm; 6:30 – 10:30pm (Closed on Sundays)

Complimentary museum parking coupons are provided for diners.

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/novus-restaurant/ | Leave a comment

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

]]> 0 http://sparklette.net/food/table-66/ http://sparklette.net/food/table-66/#comments Thu, 06 Jan 2011 07:24:19 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1054 Just what is sous-vide exactly? French for “under vacuum”, sous-vide is a cooking technique that has ingredients sealed in an airtight plastic bag followed by gentle cooking in a heated water bath. This maintains the integrity of the food and prevents the loss of moisture, resulting in juicer textures and more intense colours and flavours.

At Table 66, the sous-vide technique is used in preparing many of the dishes. The casual restaurant ensconced at a refurbished shophouse building along Tras Street (near Tanjong Pagar MRT Station) charms diners with a menu of modern European cuisine with a tinge of Japanese flavour.

Seared beef tartare (sampling portion depicted)
S$18++
Rating:

The seared beef tartare — a popular item amongst patrons — offers a first taste of the unique cooking method. Not a fan of raw meat? You would be pleased to know that the finely minced beef is lightly seared on the sides. It is arranged cylindrically on the plate, topped with a truffle miso infused egg yolk. The latter is done sous-vide style, with a semi-solid, almost jelly-like consistency. Chopped green onions and artistic squiggles of light wasabi mayonnaise add the final dash of detail.

Confit of Momotaro tomatoes (sampling portion depicted)
S$14++
Rating:

The Confit of Momotaro tomatoes puts a contemporary spin on the classic Insalata Caprese Italian salad. This refreshing starter features sweet and luscious basil-infused Momotaro tomatoes paired with buffalo mozzarella and baby arugula dressed with white sesame vinaigrette.

Petuna ocean trout (sampling portion depicted)
S$30++
Rating:

For main courses, fish lovers can hook up with the Petuna ocean trout. The fish is poached in citrus oil — sous-vide style, of course — then finished in a pan to give it a crispy skin. Served on a bed of grilled vegetables, the accompanying chive sauce lends flavour. But if I were you, I would enjoy the taste of the ocean trout by itself in all its sous-vide tenderness.

Pork belly (sampling portion depicted)
S$28++
Rating:

Infused with osmanthus and sous-vided before being pan fried, the pork belly boasts a crispy skin that cracks and breaks. The tangy pineapple salsa and mashed sweet potato provide a balance to the pork’s rich fatty flavours. Despite the sous-vide process, the meat itself is somewhat tough and chewy to my disappointment.

Lamb loin
S$34++
Rating:

Also from the meat department, the lamb loin arrives with cabbage and baby carrots on the side. Moist and very succulent, the herb crusted meat reclines on a Japanese curry jus that provides an interesting twist.

Peanut butter & banana mousse praline
S$12++
Rating:

The desserts are uniformly excellent. You can’t go wrong with the peanut butter and banana mousse cake, served with chocolate feuilletine crust, caramelised banana, crème anglaise (a sweet cream). It is simply made of all things good!

Coconut parfait
S$10++
Rating:

If you fancy more tropical flavours, sink your teeth in the coconut parfait, crowned with flambé mangoes.

The private dining room seats ten people, with no table charge or minimum order required.

Earthy hues, modern paintings and cushy chairs with transparent acrylic legs are part of the casual elegance about Table 66. The ambience here is highly dependent on the time of the day. Come here at lunchtime, the large skylight keeps the dining area bathed in natural light. In the evening, the soft, subdued lighting makes for a relaxed and intimate dining experience.

Sous-vide Cooking at Home

If you would like to try out sous-vide cooking at home, check out this video on how my favourite Youtube chef, Chef John of foodwishes.com, does it. No special equipment needed.

Other than sous-vide cooking, what other unique food preparation techniques have you encountered? Share with us in the comments!

Table 66
66 Tras Street
Singapore 079005
Tel: +65 6225 6690 | Website | Menu
Service:

Operating hours:
Mon – Fri: 12noon – 3pm, 6:30 – 10:30pm
Sat: 6:30 – 10:30pm

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/table-66/ | 3 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

]]> 3 http://sparklette.net/food/cafe-le-chateau/ http://sparklette.net/food/cafe-le-chateau/#comments Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:07:34 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=962 It is one of the best kept secrets of the Singapore food scene, but a restaurant at Valley Point has been quietly dishing out some excellent cooking.

Cafe Le Chateau has kept well below the foodie radar since it opened in 2009, offering a myriad of French and European dishes. While the restaurant itself is pretty new, a seasoned hand helms the kitchen, none other than Head Chef Foo who hails from the now defunct Marco Polo Hotel and a certain restaurant at Funan.

You would find classic favourites like the French onion soup, which is served steaming hot and tastes wonderfully satisfying. Then there are the mandatory escargots if you like that sort of thing. Personally, the sight of escargots gives me the willies, but I have always wondered what they taste like. Anyone?

Baked Florentine
S$15.50++ for half dozen
Rating:

Hands-down, the best oysters I’ve ever had.

A must-try is the baked oyster Florentine. It comes in a half dozen, covered in cheese and mornay sauce, and sits on top of a bed of poached spinach. Creamy, rich and tasty, this is something I enjoy tremendously. I believe the right word to use here is “Shiok!”

Prime French cut lamb rack
S$28.50++
Rating:

The lamb rack is well seared and juicy. On its own it’s rather bland, so you would need to pile on the sweet and sour mint sauce.

Traditional classic oxtail stew
S$20.50++
Rating:

For something more novel, beef eaters can go for the house specialty braised oxtail stew. We don’t readily get oxtail in restaurants, but it is gaining popularity. I read that back in the day, people did not want to waste any part of the animal, and would thus cook the tail as well. Eventually, the oxtail fell out of favour, and butchers would throw it away without a second thought. But in recent years, the oxtail has returned to fashion, emerging at dinner tables in posh restaurants as an exotic-sounding dish.

Over here, preparing and slow cooking the oxtail is truly a labour of love that can take half a day. The end result is a hearty red wine stew and tender meat that falls off the bone easily. Taste wise, it comes close to brisket.

Apple pie
S$9++
Rating:

For a sweet finishing, the Chef’s Special apple pie is a clear winner. This is served hot from the oven, with a soft and fluffy pastry texture. Upon hearing my comment that the vanilla ice cream goes perfectly with the apple pie, restaurateur Desmond Lai revealed that he had painstakingly sought out pairings with various ice cream brands before deciding on this one.

So the next time you are craving for a nice European meal, do give Cafe Le Chateau a try. This new kid on the block should impress you. Don’t forget to take advantage of the S$9.90 daily set lunch that comes with a soup and main course!

Have you ever eaten oxtail before? How do you find it? Share with us in the comments!

Cafe Le Chateau
Valley Point Shopping Centre
491 River Valley Road #01-16
Singapore 248371
Tel: +65 6737 7897
Service:

Bus services: 14, 32, 65, 139, 970
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru

Opening hours: 11:30am – 2:45pm, 6-10pm (Closed on Mondays)

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/cafe-le-chateau/ | 7 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

Boulangerie at Festive Hotel is a patisserie located at the lobby. It is instantly recognisable by the distinct colourful lanterns hanging from the tall ceiling.

Over here, you can get quick bites and small desserts including French pastries such as macarons, sandwiches and gelati. The range is small, but fortunately we have already had a bellyful of food and desserts (with bird’s nest!) from The Dining Room at Crockfords Tower Hotel.

Satin
S$6.40++
Rating:

We sample the pretty pastry with an equally pretty name, Satin. This is some sort of a coconut crumble, heaped with freshly shredded pineapple and flavoured with lime. The sour tang from the fruit complements the coconuty sweetness nicely.

Choco-Nut-Tarte
S$4.80++
Rating:

Chocolate fans can indulge in the Choco-Nut-Tarte, a simple milk chocolate tart with a crunchy hazelnut base. The chocolate is rich, creamy and smooth. Although, our favourite when it comes to chocolate is still Nama chocolate.

Gelato
S$2.20++
Rating:

The scoop of gelato comes in a small bowl. Not much to the presentation here. We try the tiramisu flavour which is nice but not particularly memorable.

When it comes to paying the bill, something bizarre happens here…

Bizarre Incident #1: Instead of the waitress bringing us the check, everyone has to queue at the counter to make payment. That’s despite the fact that there’s a 10% service charge here.

Bizarre Incident #2: The waitress at the counter amusingly gets us to recite to her what we have ordered, while she keys it into the cash register at the same time. Suppose someone were to “accidentally” miss an item, he basically gets it for free!

Bizarre Incident #3: Their one-price-for-all-beverages policy. Our regular black coffee costs $6++. The guy before us in the line pays $6++ for his tall glass of chocolate cookie iced latte and cappucino, too. Needless to say, we feel kinda ripped off, especially since there isn’t any kind of menu with prices that we can peruse before ordering.

This is also a good example of when the 10% service charge should not be mandatory. What do you think?

Now, the Resorts World at Sentosa is still new and I’m pretty sure all the Bizarre Incidents won’t be here to stay. If you have visited Boulangerie, please drop a note below. We’re curious to know if things have changed!

Boulangerie
Resorts World Sentosa
Festive Hotel, Level 2
Service:
Website

Opening hours:
10:00am – 6:00pm (Mon – Fri)
8:30am – 6:00pm (Sat, Sun, PH)
8:30am – 10:00am (Continental Breakfast – Sat, Sun, PH)

Resorts World at Sentosa

Check out what you can expect at the rest of Resorts World at Sentosa. Plus, a review of The Dining Room at Crockfords Tower Hotel.

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/resorts-world-sentosa-boulangerie-cafe/ | 14 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

If macaron is the first thing that pops in your mind, my, you must have a sweet tooth!

When I first laid my eyes on the macarons at Bakerzin, I fell in love with these sweet pastries. Just toss in a cup of joe and you’re all set for a delightful teatime snack!

Macarons (not to be confused with macaroon or macaroni) are made with egg white, almond powder and icing sugar, with creamy butter cream and ganache.

Macarons (assorted flavours)
$1.60 $1 each for February ’09
Rating:

On first impression, I would have thought that the green one is matcha (green tea), but it’s actually pistachio with white chocolate! The pretty one with speckles of pink is “scarlet”, a mixture of vanilla and strawberry. It’s heavenly! But my favourites are, hands down, the chocolate ones.

The bakers here really know their chocolate. You get your chocolate macarons with a touch of lemon, brandied cherry, whiskey, coffee butter cream and even banana! The chocolate ones are really the best of the lot.

After whetting your appetite, I feel it’s only right to share with you this: Bakerzin has slashed the price of these babies from $1.60 to a dollar each. The promotion is valid only in the month of February. So hurry!

(last month, they slashed the price of their phenomenal warm chocolate cake to $4.80. I’m looking forward to another great promotion next month!)

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/bakerzin-macaron/ | 20 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

The conventional degustation meal consists of multiple courses, with each course fixed by the chef. But in Dozo’s case, with the exception of the chef’s platter for starters, diners can select from a few dishes for each course. The menu is chiefly Japanese with a deep infusion of French and European influences, similar to the design of the restaurant.

The restaurant is elegantly designed with a luxurious ambience and soft lighting. In some ways, it’s almost like a club, complete with a bar area! Upon entering, you would be led through a dark corridor to the communal dining area, or the private rooms if you have a bigger party (no additional charges!).

One of the segregated private rooms is a ladies’ room with floral motifs on the walls and chairs in plum and purple.

Once you’re ready to start your six or seven-course meal, waiters would take your order for all the courses. No worries if you’re feeling lost as to which dish to pick. The waitstaff who are well-acquainted with the menu would be most eager to help.

Chef’s Seasonal Assorted Platter
Course: Starter
Rating:

The meal kicks off with the chef’s seasonal assorted platter. It serves three canapés on a long dish. The canapés change from time to time and in this case, it was foie gras with bread, scallop with cream sauce and greens, and smoked salmon wrapped in avocado.

The waiters informed us that there’s a specific order to eat the three which, if I remember correctly, would be the scallop first, foie gras second and salmon finally. My favourites are the scallop, which is plump and fresh and goes well with the light miso cream sauce, and the salmon, which comes with a little tuft of cream with a sweetness that complements the fish nicely.

Side dishes follow next, for which I had the tempura soft shell crab and my partner had the steamed egg custard.

Tempura Battered Soft Shell Crab on Galette of Mash
Course: Side dish
Rating:

The soft shell crab was deep-fried to a light, perfect crispness. Eat it alone or dip it into the delicious dark sauce of a sweet, sour and spicy combination. I didn’t exactly care for the accompanying mash and other tempura and only focused on enjoying the crispy crab bit by bit.

Steamed Egg Custard with Scallop and Foie Gras topped with Caviar
Course: Side dish
Rating:

The egg custard with scallop and foie gras was really nothing to shout about. The plating was excellent though, a testament of the importance that the restaurant pays to aesthetics and presentation of food. I always appreciate such attention to detail, and thought the little yellow chrysanthemum flower too pretty to be thrown away.

Seafood Bisque
Course: Soup
Rating:

For soup, the seafood bisque is clearly a winner, and easily the best seafood bisque I’ve ever had. It has the most robust flavours of the ocean, with bits of seafood in it such as crab meat and scallop. I finished every last bit of it.

Notice the little chrysanthemum flower and real crab claw by the side? Whether it’s the taste or the presentation, this dish is just perfect. I simply can’t find any fault with it. With each slurp, I just want more!

Infusion of Cepes Mushroom and Truffle
Course: Soup
Rating:

While enjoying the wholesome seafood bisque, I felt guilty that my partner had to go for the cepes mushroom cream soup. A little slice of truffle is served on a spoon by the side with a brilliant purple orchid. The layout looked beautiful, but the soup itself was pretty much forgettable.

Beef Tenderloin on "Pu Ye" & Granite Hot Stone
Course: Main
Rating:

The restaurant is particularly proud of its beef tenderloin main course. I can see why. It certainly has that wow factor. Slabs of raw beef are served over a sizzling hot granite stone. The idea is that you can decide how well-done you want your meat.

Notice that the meat is laid out on a “pu ye” leaf to prevent overcooking. The aroma of the leaf also seeps into the meat. It comes with a tasty dark sauce dip and pebbles by the side as decor. The whole shebang.

This leaf-shaped thingy in light yellow comes with each main course. I missed out the part where the waiter explained what it was as I was busy digging into my food. Does anyone have an idea?

Gratinated King Prawn completed with Risotto
Course: Main
Rating:

Yet another winner is the king prawn with risotto. The prawn is baked in au gratin style with browned breadcrumbs and butter, giving it a nice crunch.

I really loved the fragrant and fresh prawn, with its loads of precious sweet flesh.

Even though the food portions are designed to be small and go easy on the stomach, I was surprised to find that at this point, I was already feeling full. It was just as well anyway; there’s only a drink and a dessert to go!

Iced Grapefruit Glory
Course: Drink
Rating:

Iced fruity drinks are served in cute glass teapots and dainty cups. The grapefruit drink is a strong citrus drink that’s great for digestion, despite tasting a little weird. Then we looked into the pot and saw these:

Pretty little flowers! I’m not a tea drinker. Are those tea flowers or something? It was a little unexpected to see them floating around in a fruity drink.

Iced Fruity Refresher
Course: Drink
Rating:

The iced fruity refresher fares much better. It’s an assorted blend of honey and various fruits such as lime, peach and apple. In fact, chunks of fruit can still be seen in the drink. It was refreshing alright.

Japanese Mochi Ice Cream with Red Bean
Course: Dessert
Rating:

Desserts are served last. The red bean mochi ice cream is wonderfully arranged and practically art on a plate. It has a wonderful texture and tastes good and delightful with a slice of strawberry on top. Certainly something that girls would enjoy.

Freshly Baked Warm Chocolate Cake served with Ice Cream
Course: Dessert
Rating:

But my all-time favourite dessert has to be the warm chocolate cake with the gooey molten chocolate centre. It’s been god-knows-how-long since I last had this dessert (I’ve been keeping myself from all the calories). But once it’s presented to me on the menu, I just can’t resist!

The cake is freshly baked and warm throughout. It warms my heart just to eat it! This particular one even comes with white chocolate melted and hardened onto the plate. So you can scrape it off with a spoon and eat it with the vanilla ice cream and chocolate. Marvelous combo!

Well, I was almost sad to see the meal come to an end. It had been extremely satisfying and I felt as though I had tasted and loved every flavour of the dishes. Plus, the ambience and service were both excellent. If the menu changes frequently enough, I wouldn’t rule out returning for another degustation meal!

Dozo
Valley Point Shopping Centre
491 River Valley Road #02-02/03
Singapore 248371
Tel: +65 6838 6966 | Website
Service:

Bus services: 14, 32, 65, 139, 970
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/dozo/ | 12 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

]]> 12 http://sparklette.net/food/tanglin-club-tavern/ http://sparklette.net/food/tanglin-club-tavern/#comments Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:14:09 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/archives/the-tavern-at-the-tanglin-club-the-tavern-of-yummies/ Most of you faithful blog readers already know what my favourite dessert is. It’s either chocolate mousse or the dessert that I most frequently blog about — chocolate lava cake. A friend offered to take me some place nice that serves a wonderful rendition of this dessert.

And boy, did he over-deliver! The “nice” place he had in mind? The prestigious members-only Tanglin Club!

Of the three restaurants at the club, we visited The Tavern, a restaurant designed to resemble a traditional English tavern (hence the name). I love the signboard hanging outside the place. It reminds me very much of the Prancing Pony inn (where Frodo first met Aragorn) in the Lord of the Rings.

Obviously, the restaurant isn’t really an old tavern with a shabby look and a dingy setup. On the contrary, it feels charming and cosy with its vintage English décor, much like the rest of the clubhouse. After all, this is a British club that was founded more than a century ago, back in 1865!

My friend who’s a regular club visitor has already tried every item on the menu. He claims that everything there is good, and recommended the lobster thermidor.

Lobster thermidor baked in the shell
S$37.50
Rating:

Wow! When it comes to shellfish, most of the time you don’t really get to eat that much of its flesh. But in this case, there was really a whole lot of lobster flesh on my plate! I had never had so much lobster to myself before. It made me so happy :)

I could taste the naturally sweet seafood flavour of the lobster that was, fortunately, not masked by the rich pommery mustard sauce and cream sauce. The gruyere cheese melted atop the lobster gave it an extra nice finishing! If that’s not enough to fill the stomach, the lobster was also served with potato, gratin tomato and a stack of greens.

By the way, would someone please recommend a delicious and similar lobster dish elsewhere? I’m hungering for some lobster already!

Beef lasagna
S$16.80

For something more filling, diners can always opt for the beef lasagna, which is good too. Every item on the menu is good, remember?

Apple pie a la Mode
S$5.90
Rating:

Dessert time! That’s what we came for! The apple pie is an excellent choice, especially for those of you who love having some fruit in your dessert. The apple pie here is served a la mode, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Nice!

Sticky fondant chocolate lava
S$8.50
Rating:

For me personally, I prefer desserts that aren’t fruity, and all the better if it’s chocolate! The chocolate lava cake here is served with cute peach balls and a scoop of ice cream. It’s my first time having this dessert with cookies and cream ice cream; most of the time, it would be vanilla. In any case, cookies and cream ice cream pairs perfectly with the chocolate fondant!

Another unusual thing about this particular lava cake is that instead of having hot molten chocolate oozing out of the cake, it is drizzled all over the cake. It works too. Everything I found on the plate was good, from the round hard biscuit to the white chocolate stick to the very moist and very chocolatey cake! Yum!

Over here, there is no service charge despite the top-notch service. In fact, the prices on the menu are extremely reasonable considering the quality of food delivered. It seems that the club’s priority is to allow its members to enjoy the food and facilities rather than being out to make every penny possible. What a wonderful outlook!

The Tavern
Tanglin Club
5 Stevens Road
Singapore 257814
Tel: +65 6739 4129 / +65 6739 4139 / +65 6739 4140 | Website
Service:

Members only

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/tanglin-club-tavern/ | 14 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

]]> 14 http://sparklette.net/food/ma-maison/ http://sparklette.net/food/ma-maison/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2007 17:09:42 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/archives/ma-maison-traditional-english-cottage-dining/ Each time I am looking for a nice dining place at Bugis Junction, I would take one look at Ma Maison and give it a miss. Why? The exterior of this restaurant looks rundown. Its tiny entrance leading into a dark place doesn’t exactly look inviting either.

But some weeks back, out of exasperation that I had run out of restaurants at the mall, I decided to take a quick tour around ma maison. Very unexpectedly, I found myself loving the place! Within seconds I was so entranced by the decor, I took their card so that I could save it for one of those special occasions!

The special occasion came when I gave my friend a farewell dinner. Out of sheer coincidence, he suggested ma maison too. Man, it must be really good!

The thing I love about Ma Maison is its charming English cottage theme. The floor, tables and chairs are all wooden. Ornaments, old clocks and posters can be found on the walls. Windows are fringed with curtains. You can even see racks on which plates and crockery are arranged neatly, as though it were a real kitchen in someone’s home!

With dim lighting in the form of candles and vintage table lamps, the restaurant feels extremely homely, perhaps even romantic. Throw in some cushions and sofa seats, ma maison would be almost too cosy to resist.

(of course, the dim lighting also means that I couldn’t take any good pictures of the place with my lousy camera. You guys should really see it for yourselves.)

French food with a Japanese twist is served here. The chef and some of the wait-staff are Japanese. In fact, when I called up the restaurant to make a reservation, a Japanese person answered in Japanese. For a moment there I thought I had somehow dialled up the Ma Maison restaurant in Japan!

Oh, just in case you’re into snails, they serve escargots too.

Spring Rolls
S$7.80++
Rating:

We started with spring rolls, rather unusual looking ones I might add. I couldn’t quite tell what went into the spring rolls, but I do remember this being my favourite dish of the night. The following main courses we had didn’t quite make the cut.

Scotch Egg
S$16++
Rating:

Scotch eggs are basically hard-boiled eggs with their shells removed. They are then coated with a layer of meat and a layer of breadcrumbs before being deep-fried. I think the meat used here was beef. I got a taste of it and didn’t like it one bit. Well I don’t eat any meat other than chicken and seafood. Beef makes me kind of queasy. Maybe that’s why I didn’t like the scotch egg.

Chicken Steak with Garlic
S$15.95++
Rating:

As for the chicken steak, it looked really yummy on the plate with that juicy looking slab of chicken and the thick sauce. The potatoes that came alongside were pretty good. Unfortunately that was it. I didn’t like the sauce at all. It tasted all salty and was essentially monotonous.

An interesting bit about ma maison: what appears to be a large and heavy brass key is placed on every table. This key is labeled with the corresponding table number so that when diners are done, they would bring this key over to the counter to make payment.

We were also charged for two bowls of clam chowder that we never had. It was then refunded to us without much hassle.

So am I the only one who doesn’t like the food here? My dinner partner was certainly raving about it. Business appeared to be really good too. I really like the cottage look of the place and its overall concept but boy, am I disappointed by the dishes. I guess I won’t be saving it for any special occasion after all.

Ma Maison
Bugis Junction
200 Victoria Street
#02-51 Singapore 188021
Tel: +65 6338 4819
Service:

---

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/ma-maison/ | 15 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net

Located right next to the fountain, with part of the place lying beneath the skylight, out of the pan offers casual dining pseudo-alfresco style. I’m not too crazy about crêpes, nor do I get what the big deal with crêpes is, but I decided to make a meal out of seafood crêpe anyway.

Seafood Jungle
S$15+++
Rating:

I probably should have gone for a dessert crêpe as that would have been a safer option. The seafood crêpe I had was on the boring and bland side. The taste was monotonous and certainly didn’t excite for a dish that’s named “seafood jungle”. But I guess all healthful food tend to taste boring!

One thing noteworthy about the dish was the generous number of shrimps that had been stuffed within the crêpe layers. But that was it.

Coffee Oreo
S$5+++
Rating:

Anyhow, the number of calories that I saved by eating that healthy dish instead of a regular high-fat meal was undone when I washed it down with a tall glass of coffee Oreo. Well I had no idea when I placed my order that it would be two feet tall. It also didn’t help that it was mostly milk and Oreo chocolate rather than coffee.

All in all, Out of the Pan is a place for casual dining or a late afternoon tea session with friends. The service and food is nothing to shout about. And with such stiff competition going on at Raffles marketplace, I would likely give this place a miss in future.

Out of the Pan
Raffles City Shopping Centre
252 North Bridge Road #B1-45
Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 6431 6103
Service:

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/out-of-the-pan/ | 6 comments

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Download free iPhone app

© 2011 Sparklette.net