http://sparklette.net/food/goodwood-park-chinese-new-year/ http://sparklette.net/food/goodwood-park-chinese-new-year/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:00:27 +0000 Melissa Koh http://sparklette.net/?p=1279

This Chinese New Year, the culinary team at Goodwood Park Hotel has put together a whole range of festive delights. For reunion meals, dine-in ala carte and set menus are available at the two Min Jiang restaurants located at the hotel and Rochester Park.

Meticulously crafted cakes and goodies are available at the Deli. If you are looking for a western experience, the festive afternoon tea at L’Espresso is one buffet you must not miss.

Min Jiang

Hamachi yusheng (available for dine-in only)
S$118++ (large)

The signature hamachi (yellowtail) yusheng (raw fish salad) possesses traditional flavours with a touch of unconventional ingredients. To name some, they include flying fish roe, wasabi ebiko (prawn roe), seaweed and French chives, amidst mesclun greens, shredded red and white carrots, Buddha’s hand citron, jellyfish, onions and pomelo.

The pine nuts and sesame seeds provide delightful coarse textures while the house-made taro and sweet potato crisps add an enjoyable crunch.

For additional flavour, drizzle on the chef’s secret sweet sauce with a squeeze of lime. Now you’re all set to toss to a prosperous new year!

Golden Fortune chicken (available for dine-in and takeaway)
S$198 for 6 persons

The visually appealing Golden Fortune chicken makes a memorable show-stopper of a dish. It symbolises an abundance of wealth, and is accompanied by 8 gold-wrapped hard-boiled eggs. Get into some hammering action and watch the chicken-shaped salt crust slowly crack to reveal the lotus leaves-wrapped filling.

The delectable ingredients include chicken, whole Australian abalone, dried scallops, black moss, flower mushrooms and dang gui. These are oven-baked for 4 hours, sealing in the rich flavours. The result is chicken meat that is flavoursome and moist throughout; even the leanest parts are melt-in-your-mouth tender!

Stewed pork belly roll with Sichuan pickle sauce (available for dine-in and takeaway)
S$218 for 6 persons

With a minimum of 6 hours’ cooking required, the stewed pork belly roll is clearly a labour of love. An ample slice of pork belly is hand-rolled and braised with garlic and chilli for 5 hours. The ensuing rich stock and pork belly roll are then removed and stewed with Sichuan pickled vegetables and chillies for an additional hour, forming a remarkably robust and intensely flavourful pickle sauce base.

Notable co-stars in this pot of deliciousness are premium Australian abalones, dried oysters, black moss and Tientsin cabbage.

If you prefer to dine in the comfort of your own home, a 6-course Festive Treasures takeaway set menu that includes ikan parang yusheng, Prosperity Sea Treasures in Wooden Pot (poon choy) and dessert is available for take-out at both Min Jiang restaurants. (S$468 for 6 persons)

English Afternoon Tea Buffet

For rebels seeking an alternative to the traditional Chinese fares, try the English afternoon tea buffet at L’Espresso.

English afternoon tea buffet
S$58++ per adult / S$29++ per child

Available from 21-24 January 2012
12noon – 2:30pm, 3pm – 5:30pm

The usual Chinese New Year treats are done up with surprising western twists. We’re talking yusheng with smoked salmon, quail eggs coated with pork floss, nian gao beignet and bak kwa finger sandwiches.

Nian gao beignet
S$8.90++

The nian gao beignet in particular will leave you wanting more; these bite-sized pieces of the sticky cake are wrapped in savoury crispy spring roll skin and deep fried whilst maintaining a soft, sweet interior.

Chinese New Year Goodies at The Deli

Traditional New Year cookies and chips are available at The Deli, with all-time favourite snacks such as cashew nut cookies, almond cookies, chiku chips and yam chips. (S$18.80 to S$20.80 for a jar)

A Chinese New Year must-have, bak kwa is sold in small neat slices. (S$48 for 600g, S$72 for 1kg)

Macadamia and kumquat tart (available for takeaway at the Deli)
S$$48 for 1kg

The macadamia and kumquat tart is one unique creation you will remember. It is filled with crunchy nuts and refreshing kumquat, and adorned with almond flakes, whole macadamia nuts and marzipan firecrackers. The centrepiece is the auspicious Chinese character for prosperity that will add much colour to your festive celebration.

Fortune mandarin orange pound cake
S$72 for 1kg

Just as eye-catching is the Fortune mandarin orange pound cake, shaped like a giant mahjong tile with the Chinese word for fortune. Lightly perfumed with citrus scents and encased in icing that isn’t cloyingly sweet, this eye-catching dessert will make a perfect gift for mahjong players!

Duo of Prosperity Fish (available for takeaway at the Deli)
S$98 for 10 persons

Another highlight would be the Duo of Prosperity Fish, consisting of a mango with pomelo and sago pudding and durian pudding. Durian fans can opt for both fish-shaped puddings to be of durian flavour for the price of S$108.

Available from 9 January to 6 February 2012. All takeaway items require an advance order of one working day.

Have Your Say!

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

Where would you be dining this festive season? Share with us in the comments!

Goodwood Park Hotel

Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 6730 1867 / +65 6730 1868 | Website

Min Jiang at One-North

Min Jiang at One-North
5 Rochester Park
Singapore 139216
Tel: +65 6774 0122

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http://sparklette.net/food/b-rochester/ http://sparklette.net/food/b-rochester/#comments Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:00:44 +0000 Melissa Koh http://sparklette.net/?p=1236

B@Rochester is a contemporary restaurant and bar featuring state-of-the-art cocktails and modern Japanese cuisine. Set amidst the lush foliage of Rochester Park, the picturesque bungalow provides a wonderful getaway from the bustling city.

There are two levels of dining space. The first level is the main dining area where the ambience is intimate and cosy, complete with candlelit tables — perfect for a romantic date.

The variety of seating options include a private room as well as an open concept sashimi bar counter.

The second level emits a warm homely feel, replete with a balcony and bar.

5-course dinner

Momotaro salad

In the 5-course dinner (S$78 ++, drinks are excluded), the aesthetically pleasing Momotaro salad is composed of fresh Japanese tomatoes, mesclun lettuce, crispy anchovies and bacon infused with shoyu and mirin, then artistically drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette and mayonnaise. The bacon adds a smoky flavour and saltiness to the salad, and the tasty dressing perks up the greens. The juicy tomatoes are soft but nowhere near the state of mush, while the anchovies add a nice crunchy texture.

Unusual Mixology
S$24++

The salad can be paired with the Unusual Mixology cocktail, a refreshing mix of dragonfruit, kiwi liquier, lime and pineapple, jazzed up with tequila. Rich in vitamins with a tropical note, this concoction is worth a shot.

Bonito broth with seafood and Shimeji mushroom

To warm your tummy, the Bonito broth with seafood and Shimeji mushroom is an exemplary option. It comes with seafood swimming in a house-made dashi of kombu (kelp) and katsuobushi (dried skipjack tuna). The prawns are crunchy and scallops delicately tender.

You can squeeze the calamasi into the broth to balance out the natural seafood sweetness. Personally, I prefer the broth as it is, without the acidity. I would gladly have a second serving!

The next course is a trio of Saikyo miso codfish, baked diver scallop with fish roe and mozzarella cheese and French duck breast au jus accompanied with Chinese snow pear.

Saikyo miso codfish

The luscious codfish is sweetened with teriyaki and further accented with a saltish miso. The fish is sensually tender sans the fishy stench.

Baked diver scallop with fish roe and mozzarella cheese

The scallop is absolutely divine; it is tender and delicate, with a mozzarella cheese topping that is baked to perfection. The saltiness of the cheese elevates the natural sweetness of the scallop and harmonises well with the fish roe.

French duck breast au jus accompanied with Chinese snow pear

Mildest in taste amongst the three components, the duck pales in comparison to the other two. Personally, I’m no fan of duck due to its leanness and I find this too chewy for my liking. It lacks a sauce, and is underwhelming compared to its impressive counterparts.

Black tea martini
S$22++

The entrée can be paired with the black tea martini. Fabricated with Earl Grey black tea, lime, orange zest and rose syrup with a gin infusion, this concoction is sufficiently inebriating.

Scampi sōmen

Soaked in delicious lobster broth are stewed sōmen (Japanese rice noodles), cooked al dente. The large prawns come off the shells easily and the langoustine chives add an enlivening touch to a dish that is bursting with lobster richness.

Healthy Indulgence

To offset the richness of the main course, the dish can be coupled with the Healthy Indulgence drink, conjured up with pear vodka, fibre jelly, puréed rock melon and sour sop with an Earl Grey infusion. Loaded with ingredients and antioxidants, you can sip on this smoothie-like cocktail all night long without feeling too intoxicated.

Umeshu sorbet

To end the meal on a sweet note, the palate-cleansing Umeshu sorbet is served. It is topped with passionfruit purée and sprinkled with a dash of fresh blueberries, pomelo bits and pomegranate that add a crunchiness. This light and nutritious dessert is not too sweet and you should definitely leave room for it.

The up-scale and solicitous service is praise-worthy, with each dish being explained briefly as it is served. If the night is still young, you can proceed to the alfresco bar after dinner for more cocktails; the bar closes at 1am on weekdays and 2am on weekends.

Have Your Say!

What is your favourite dining establishment at Rochester Park? Tell us in the comments!

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/b-rochester/feed/ 1 http://sparklette.net/food/1-caramel/ http://sparklette.net/food/1-caramel/#comments Mon, 27 Jun 2011 03:00:12 +0000 Melissa Koh http://sparklette.net/?p=1178

Hidden away from the bustling city, 1-Caramel is a dessert boutique located on the second level of One Rochester.

Amidst the lush greenery of Rochester Park, you would totally feel like you’re on a mini getaway with the resort-like façade.

Upon entering 1 Caramel, you may get the impression that you are stepping into a pastry workshop rather than a bistro.

The open concept of the clean and organised pastry kitchen allows us curious diners to watch how our desserts are being meticulously prepared.

Be mesmerised by the array of exquisite cakes on display, showcasing different pastry techniques, skills and artistic creativity.

The wide range includes signature whole cakes (8 to 9 inches; S$45-85) and cupcakes (S$3-3.50). You can also opt for your cakes to be customised, whose prices would then be dependent on the complexity of design.

Other than desserts, set lunches (S$12-18++) and an all-day brunch menu (S$8-22++) are available. The drinks selection includes coffees and teas (S$5-8++) and ice blended beverages (S$8-8.90++).

To add to the classy and modern contemporary interior, the excellent view of nature allows you to escape from the busy urban life while indulging your senses in the cosy ambience.

Despite the limited seating capacity of 16 diners, there is still ample room for comfort. One side benefit is that you will receive undivided attention from the staff. A reservation should be made in advance to secure a seat during peak hours.

Brunch

From the brunch menu, you can go for the tastefully presented traditional eggs Benedict with smoked salmon.

Traditional eggs Benedict
S$14++

Doused in a wonderful lemony hollandaise sauce, the poached eggs boast a runny yolk. As you cut into the eggs, they bleed beautifully to lightly coat the salmon and muffin beneath. All the elements combine to make a wholesome and well-balanced dish that you will enjoy thoroughly.

For sharing, the posh platter (S$22++) consists of three items.

Truffled brie and cherry tomatoes

The truffled brie and cherry tomatoes on a toasted brioche make a healthful finger food. Fresh tomatoes and the light pastry crumbs are bound perfectly with the great-tasting truffled brie.

Asparagus wrapped in basil and prosciutto

Even though I am one who discards any greens I see on a plate, the asparagus is an exception. I love the teaming of salted prosciutto with the al denté asparagus.

Smoked salmon tart with crème fraiche and ocean trout caviar

My favourite component of the platter would be the smoked salmon tart with crème fraiche and ocean trout caviar. The tart is freshly baked, with smoked salmon mixed in a creamy centre, and finally sprinkled with caviar for a touch of luxury.

Desserts

Raspberry rum chocolate lollipop
Not available on menu

These tiny raspberry rum chocolate lollipops are certainly worthy of your attention. Dusted with raspberry powder, the rich dark chocolate melts in the mouth. The raspberry and chocolate form a sexy pairing that leaves you craving for more.

Then comes the crowd pleaser. The 1-Caramel Assiette is an assembly of elegant petite-sized desserts that look too pretty to be eaten. If you fancy any of the desserts, you can order the regular portion at S$14++ each.

Death by chocolate (bottom right) consists of a Valrhona soffiato molten cake followed by dark chocolate sorbet and a trail of chocolaty goodness. Mysteriously, the supposedly molten chocolate centre is missing, although the very rich dark chocolate sorbet that melts into a thick chocolate sauce makes up for it.

Raspberry lychee rose panna cotta

A charming light dessert, the raspberry lychee rose panna cotta with lychee-lemon compote is a natural choice for the health-conscious. The cold pudding has a comforting smooth texture that isn’t too sweet. The acidity will not satisfy any sweet tooth but it definitely will galvanise your taste buds for more desserts!

Earl Grey crème brulee

The Earl Grey crème brulee is an infusion of Earl Grey tea leaves in smooth custard. Less sweet than the classic crème brulee, it also lacks the contrasting layer of bruleed caramel on top; cracking into the dessert would have upped the excitement factor! The quaint grissini cheese straws, dusted with tea and icing powder are a delight to nibble and go very well with the crème brulee.

Baked Alaska

The Baked Alaska comprises of home-made strawberry and vanilla ice cream capped with rum-flavoured Italian meringue, resting on nutty chocolate brownie.

Cutting into the dessert is such a joy. Beautifully layered, the contrasting textures — ice cream, cake and baked meringue — are absolutely heavenly. I devour it in minutes!

Hazelnut soufflé
S$14++

The hazelnut soufflé is coupled with a scoop of chocolate ice cream. The soufflé arrives as a puffed up pillow with a golden crown over a soft yielding centre, which spells the perfect comfort food. It is full of hazelnut richness and has a nostalgic flavour that reminds me of my favourite childhood candy bar — Kinder Bueno.

I end up eating the two separately as I feel each one tastes better on its own.

Miso soufflé
S$14++

The miso soufflé slants toward the savoury side, and I enjoy the salty-sweet combination immensely. The yuzu (a citrus fruit) ice cream that comes with it is a tad sour, and complements the soufflé. This luscious dessert is a must-try for soufflé fans.

Midori macaron

Cutting into the eggshell-like crust of the midori macaron gives way to varying textures and flavours. Tiny as it is, it would leave you wanting more.

1-Caramel displays creativity and technique in fabricating these delicate desserts. No matter what your gastronomic preferences are, you will be spoilt for choice here.

Aside from Rochester Park, are there any other unique dining enclaves in Singapore? What is your most memorable dining experience? Share with us in the comments!

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For me, that would most certainly be Rochester Park. Whether it is the 1930s heritage colonial bungalows or the lush garden setting, the environment is one-of-a-kind. In terms of unique ambience, I would be hard-pressed to find another place that comes close.

The last time I visited One Rochester, one of the 8 tenants at Rochester Park, it was a wine bar where drinks were the main draw. With the introduction of Roast, a full-fledged restaurant, that is set to change. On invitation, we drop by to try out the food and the communal dining concept.

Dining Areas

Like the other restaurants at Rochester Park, Roast boasts several dining coves, both indoor and outdoor. If you go before sunset, you can watch the sky turn a deeper blue as the light recedes and the fairy lights amidst the foliage come on.

There’s alfresco dining by the candlelight, seating on sofas and lounges. Plus, check this out:

A tent canopy pavilion! In the words of Marilyn Monroe, “I think that’s just elegant!”

Then, there’s also the lounge area that features a bar within the colonial bungalow. It’s less fun but hey, there’s air conditioning! Still, I would definitely opt for the alfresco dining, weather permits. People don’t come to a place like Rochester Park and dine indoor like every other restaurant in Singapore.

Communal Dining

The communal set menu comes with entree platters, pastas, roasts, salads, desserts/cheeses all designed to be shared with good company.

First on the menu is the Nibble Platter, an assortment of quick bites to prep the tastebuds.

Nibble Platter
Rating:

Clockwise from top left: Crudites (raw fresh vegetables) with tapenade and yogurt dips, cured hams and pickles, herb crumbed stuffed olives, foie gras parfait, potato skins with sour cream and ocean trout caviar

The goose liver parfait is extremely rich and creamy with that distinctive, uh, liver taste. I always maintain that it’s a waste to serve foie gras to someone like me because I can neither appreciate the flavour nor the culinary value of this French delicacy. But I can imagine someone else would love it.

Out of the lot, we enjoy the baby potatoes with dots of ocean trout caviar the most.

Braised Wagyu beef brisket with creamy Paris mashed potato
Rating:

For our main courses, we opt for the braised Wagyu beef brisket and scallop risotto. Judging by appearance alone, the beef already looks like it’s gonna be good! Sure enough, the taste test comes back positive! The portion is huge, the flavour is amazing and texture is literally melt-in-your-mouth tender! The picture above so does not do it justice, but that’s all on me.

Friendly head chef Jeffrey Tan, even comes out to mingle with the guests. Because we are so impressed, we decide to ask him about the beef brisket. Turns out that it’s braised over a period of 24 hours and the total preparation time takes a day and a half!

This dish is also available on the ala carte menu, as are most of the other dishes on the communal menu. Highly recommended!

Seared King scallops with smoked sea urchin risotto
Rating:

Seafood fans can go for the seared King scallops risotto. The four scallops are ample-sized and seafood sweet, but the rest of this item is rather mild-flavoured and ordinary.

Cauliflower cheese gratin (rosemary potatoes in the background)
Rating:

Served along with the main courses are the trio of herb leaf salad, cauliflower cheese gratin and rosemary potatoes. Cauliflower is, by default, a no-no for me, so I surprised myself by actually loving the cheese gratin!

One thing I should highlight is that the serving for every dish here is HUGE. This is nothing like those restaurants that serve small portions of pretentious food on huge plates (no offense). Midway through the main courses, we are already feeling quite stuffed!

Petite sized desserts
Rating:

The meal ends with a choice between artisanal cheeses or Grande Assiette, a selection of petite-sized desserts. Having already had a chorus of dishes with cheese, we go for the latter.

As you can see, “petite-sized” may be a little misleading. The dessert portions are hardly petite!

Presentation-wise, we are most impressed with this. The slim slice of decorative candy on top appears to be malt sugar candy, better known in Chinese as Mai Ya Tang. As a matter of fact, the whole dessert looks to be made of sugar, thus giving a literal meaning to the term sugar high.

Our favourite dessert of the night is the flourless chocolate ripple cake, with alternating layers of mascarpone cheese and raspberries atop. The bits of gold are such a meticulous touch of detail!

Fancy a drink or two?

Looking at the drinks menu, we are surprised to find a nice selection of teas from renowned home-grown company TWG Tea. It is the first time we have seen any restaurant serving TWG Tea, aside from TWG itself. Are there any others?

TWG 1837 black tea
S$8++
Rating:

A pot of the signature 1837 black tea never disappoints. The sweet scent of flowers, berries, anise and caramel truly lingers! We like this so much that we order two pots of it to share, all in the spirit of communal dining.

For cocktails, we sip on the Winter Cake. This is a concoction of cognac, butterscotch schnapps, orange and cinnamon. Belying its sweet-sounding name, the drink is pretty stiff!

If one drink isn’t enough, One Rochester has an attractive Martini Mayhem promotion going on daily that promises 3 hours of free-flowing martinis at S$58++. I’m so there!

Note: From the same group, 1 Twenty Six at East Coast Park also offers a similar communal dining concept.

Aside from Rochester Park, are there any other unique dining enclaves in Singapore that you prefer? What is your most memorable dining experience? Share with us in the comments!

One Rochester
1 Rochester Park
Singapore 139212
Tel: +65 6773 0070 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
6pm – 1am (Mon – Fri and Sun)
6pm – 2am (Sat and Eve of Public Holidays)
9:30am – 3pm (Sunday brunch)

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Photo by zoovee108

This time round, I brought along two very important persons with me — james, the big boss of tomorrow.sg and U-Zyn, the big boss of ping.sg.

Besides the awesome food, ambience and service, I was thrilled that Matthew Lawdorn, the head chef, still remembers me. I spotted him from a mile away and we finally got to have an actual proper conversation!

And boy, does he really take extra care of his customers. Barely after we had placed orders for our food, we were served complimentary oyster shooters!

Photo by graze

Ginger Wine Oyster Shooter
S$8++
Rating:

These oysters were soaked in ginger wine and cucumber oil, with a hint of wasabi when you get to the bottom of it. Nice, small and very tasty. I had never been a fan of oysters (I’m the muscles, I’m sorry, mussels kind of girl). But after sampling these shooters, I was completely sold! All three of us loved it!

What a great way to start a meal. I went for the butter fish as my main course.

Prosciutto Wrapped Butter Fish
S$32++
Rating:

Look at those generous portions of the white fish! Matthew had personally recommended the dish, which I fell in love with immediately. Every part of it was excellent! Whether it was the tenderness of the fish, the salty ham, or the sweet and sour vanilla pear vinaigrette, the different flavours complemented each other perfectly.

There was black olive mash and shaved radish black sesame too. Now, how do chefs come up with these concoctions?

Seared Lamb Loin and Spring Vegetables
S$36++
Rating:

That’s the seared lamb loin served with spring vegetables. U-Zyn felt that the lamb didn’t exactly retain much of its original flavour. Too much seasoning, perhaps? It had parsley mash, tomato, black olive and fetta salad with a mango citrus vinaigrette.

Perhaps the most Asian dish on the menu, the tuna sashimi was another recommended dish. James tried this and said that it was good. But what struck me most was how pretty it looked! With that delicious multitude of colours, it’s practically art on a plate!

The best surprise of the night came when we were presented with a dessert platter after we were done with our main courses. “it has every item on the dessert menu,” said our favourite waiter. Wow!

What was impressive wasn’t just the huge spread of desserts in front of us, but the fact that our waiter knew his stuff so well. He could name and describe each and every single dessert on the platter in detail without faltering.

Every item on the platter was good. And I’m not just saying it because it was complimentary :)

This is my favourite dessert — chocolate lava cake (no surprises there). It forms one half of graze’s popular black and white pudding plate, a dessert that is highly raved about by people who have tried it. Love the dark chocolatey goodness oozing out of the rich chocolate cake. Ahhh…

Matthew said that they would be having special plans for Christmas and new year’s. Last year’s Christmas dinner at graze proved to be one heck of an experience; it made me fall in love with the place, and made Christmas really magical too.

They still amaze.

graze
4 Rochester Park
Singapore 139215
Tel: +65 6775 9000 | Website
Service:

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As you guys know, I decided to spice things up a little. I wanted a blog reader to be my date at the party and asked you guys to email me if you were interested.

It was fun noting the people who did drop me an email. Out of the 30 odd people, I selected DK!

I thought it might also be fun to rate this date out of 10. The idea came to me only as I was writing this post, and DK sportingly agreed to let me do it! I would start him off with 5 points by default, adding or deducting points throughout the date. Yay! This post is going to be so much fun!

For example, he offered to pick me up before the party [+1]. Unfortunately, he was also 15 minutes late [-1]. Bad start!

From the moment we arrived at graze, we had ushers and waiters serving us. I love the kind of treatment that graze diners get to enjoy! The great service was what made my Christmas dinner perfect last year. Can you tell that I’m totally infatuated with this place?

The event photographer took our picture and even wrote our names down. (That probably meant that we looked good together [+1]!) We’re gonna appear in some magazine!

Credit

Mint is the lounge bar at graze. It has that whole vibe of being very chic, with all the unusual art instalments and paintings. The lounge seats and ambient music make it extra relaxing, although the same dim lighting that makes it cosy also resulted in my lousy camera not taking any good shots.

Besides their first anniversary, the party also celebrated the fact that graze had been listed in the Condé Nast Traveler Hot Tables 2007. Only two Singapore restaurants made it to the list. Well done!

Head chef Matthew Lawdorn made use of this night to roll out the new graze menu. Guests had the rare opportunity to sample his new food items in the form of canapés.

There were crab, tuna, smoked salmon, Turkey satay, scallop, steak and chocolate tartines. For some reason, the chocolate tartines were not too popular, while the rest were pretty darn good! My favourites were the scallop canapés and the affigato!

I swear, the affigato is one of the best things I’ve had in a long time. The thick layer of creamy chocolate at the bottom was irresistible!

Credit

Okay, back to DK and the date! I was pretty impressed that his eyes didn’t wander around the room to check out other babes [+2] (I only caught him once). Other than that he was looking at me the whole time. Good eye contact, this is something that guys must, must, must master, even if there were 100 other beautiful people milling about.

Then there was the free-flowing champagne. I had many to drink, obviously. I’m not sure if he did, but it was good that he didn’t start talking nonsense or acting drunk (okay, it’s just champagne). Guys should know how to hold their liquor [+1]! And he was able to drive me home after that [+1].

So what’s the final score? I lost count! Anyway we were there for the good food and to have a good time celebrating the first year anniversary of my favourite restaurant. We accomplished both things! In fact, DK blurted out midway through the date that he was there simply for the food, not the girl [-10]!

Haha that was fun! Bear in mind that this whole rating thing is done tongue-in-cheek and should not be taken seriously!

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You have read my rave review, now here’s the chance to actually sample Matthew’s cooking! The party is this coming Tuesday (May 8) from 7:30pm onwards. I would be bringing one of you as a guest!

If you would like to be my date for an evening of great food (and hopefully great company), do drop me an email with your name and contact number. All guys and gals are welcome, but existing long time blog readers of mine would definitely stand a better chance!

I came to know of graze only in December last year. That’s where I had my Christmas dinner. The excellent food, service and overall ambience made it a particularly memorable evening which I can still vividly remember.

In fact, I was so charmed that in my list of best (& worst) restaurants in Singapore for 2006, graze snagged both the “best restaurant of the year” and “best service” awards!

Don’t forget to check out my review of graze for more details and pictures! I would select the lucky blog reader tomorrow!

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Comparing Rochester Park in daytime and night time, there is a stark contrast. In the day, this place seems almost lifeless with few customers even during lunch hours. The alfresco dining areas at graze and Da Paolo are not even open, with chairs flipped over and tables blanketed with canvas. My advice is to visit Rochester Park only at night, because that’s when it becomes much sexier and livelier.

But for now, let’s just take a look at Da Paolo Bistro Bar.

This isn’t the first Da Paolo restaurant. It has a few other branches including Club Street and Holland Village. But the Rochester Park branch definitely has the winning design. Like the other restaurants at Rochester Park, it is housed in a restored colonial bungalow. The courtyard has been converted into a charming alfresco dining area, and the old swimming pool is now an outdoor bar!

Besides the huge expanse of space dedicated to outdoor dining, the bungalow itself offers indoor dining with its own bar so that people may wine and dine in comfort.

Bruschetta con Melanzane e Acciughe
(Braised eggplant, garlic and anchovies on grilled bread)
S$10++
Rating:

We had a few appetisers, with this bruschetta con melanzane e acciughe being the most interesting one. The bread had been grilled just right and the eggplant, garlic and anchovies combined to form a nice topping.

Melanzane alla Parmigiano
(Eggplant layered with mozzarella, tomatoes, parmesan cheese and basil)
S$14++
Rating:

Okay I’m pretty sure I got the name of this dish wrong, but it looked and tasted pretty much like lasagna. It was very flavourful and rich in cheese.

Calamari
S$17++
Rating:

As for the fried calamari rings, I feel that it is a staple dish in all Western meals. This particular one was unfortunately too chewy and rubbery in texture. And to add salt to the wound, the miserly portion of calamari cost a hefty $17! It was more expensive than most of the main courses in the menu! What’s up with that, da paolo? Were those famous squids or something?

Lasagne alla Bolognese
S$15++
Rating:

The main course I ordered was the lasagna bolognese. This is one of those dishes that can’t go wrong. (no wonder it’s garfield’s favourite food!) but because of the generous amount of mozzarella cheese, I felt full pretty quickly. And yes, I know it’s minced beef and all and I’m no longer eating beef. But I couldn’t find any vegetarian, chicken or seafood dish that I liked on the menu. This is the first time I had eaten beef in a year, or perhaps even longer.

Tuna Spaghetti (fish of the day)
S$?++
Rating:

The fish dish of the day was tuna spaghetti. Now, I’m extremely picky when it comes to fish, and the only ones I eat are cod, salmon and dory. Tuna has never been a personal favourite. So it was rather surprising that I actually kind of liked the tuna spaghetti.

Cannelloni con Spinaci e Ricotta
(Home made pasta rolled with spinach and ricotta)
S$16++
Rating:

Okay this is another dish that I’m pretty sure I got the name wrong. I apologise but I really struggle with long dish names especially when they aren’t in a familiar language. Anyway when it was served we all commented that it looked like one huge tofu with gravy! Also, it kind of looked like my lasagna don’t you think?

The fusilli pasta turned out to be the most pricey dish of the day. Who would have thought?

Tiramisu
S$10++
Rating:

After an ensemble of starters and mains, it’s time for desserts! The tiramisu was a little on the bland side.

Torta al Cioccolato (Flourless chocolate cake)
S$10++
Rating:

But fortunately, the flourless chocolate cake fared way better! The flourless part sounded rather intriguing — great news for all the atkins and South beach dieters! As it turned out, this chocolate cake was marvellous and for me, it was the best part of the entire meal.

So the food at the bistro bar didn’t fare exceptionally well, which is understandable since it appears to be more of a bar than a restaurant. For those who want a reprieve from work, over some nice wine and candlelight, this would be the perfect place. But if you’re looking for a good and satisfying meal, any of the other da paolo restaurants would probably be a much better option.

Da Paolo Bistro Bar
3 Rochester Park
Singapore 139214
Tel: +65 6774 5537
Service:
Website

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Photo by graze

This place is awesome. The first thing you would notice is the greenery and water features that run through the place. Waiters dressed smartly in black usher guests right to their table. They have this way of making diners feel like royalty. I felt at home almost immediately.

Photo by graze

Alfresco dining is available at its outdoor pavilion, with candlelights and all. There’s also a long communal table tucked away in a more private area for families and group gatherings. (okay the nice photos were stolen from their website. My camera obviously can’t manage such beautiful pictures.)

We started the night with champagne and canapés. There were mussels, breaded prawns, cheese, etc.

Appetisers included salad, cold cuts, chilled prawns, scallops and more. The prawns were so juicy! Yum!

Seared black cod fillet was my main course. Served along with carrots, mashed peas and baby potatoes, the fish was the most tender and succulent thing! Loved it!

At this point I should probably pause to highlight that the service here is, without a doubt, five stars. All the waiters are so professional, prompt and dedicated. Never rude, never in a hurry, and never intrusive. Napkins are folded back neatly and placed on the armrest whenever a guest leaves the table. At one point a waiter walked past and moved my glass away to make sure I had enough room to eat. How thoughtful!

Desserts were served bar-style. Being a picky eater, I asked if they had chocolate mousse. Yum! Well they didn’t, but the chef gamely suggested chocolate pudding instead. Wow! Had an Australian trifle meanwhile, which was fruity and topped with cream. Very sinful but worth dying for.

And then there was the chocolate pudding that the chef specially made for me. Served with mustard, chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Nice!

Then, we heard the most beautiful and angelic singing. A choir had started singing Christmas carols. Ahhh… Graze really did everything to make this a wonderful and complete Christmas experience. I was at the peak of my Christmasy mood right there and then.

Photo by graze

One very unique concept that graze employs is its alfresco movie screenings. Black and white movies from the 50s can be enjoyed in the comfort of sofas. I asked if they had any Marilyn Monroe movie and according to the head chef they have a whole bunch of it! I am so going back!

Loved the Christmas tree too. It was towering right beside our table. The best part is that it’s a real tree, huge and rooted to the soil. It had been elegantly decorated for Christmas, complete with a star on top! I was so charmed!

This was a fabulous dining experience throughout, and certainly my best restaurant experience for the year 2006. It’s clearly a night to remember! Thanks mate!

graze
4 Rochester Park
Singapore 139215
Tel: +65 6775 9000 | Website
Service:

February 3, 2007: My list of Best (& Worst) Restaurants in Singapore for 2006
- Winner of “Best Restaurant of the Year”
- Winner of “Best Service”
- Nominated for “Best Ambience”

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View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/graze-at-rochester-park-christmas-dinner/ | 23 comments

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