We are seeing a rapid growth in F&B establishments that are experimenting with mod-sin cuisine. Known as ‘Modern Singaporean’ cuisine, this cooking style takes on an innovative approach with local dishes and it requires plenty of time for research and development in order to get the recipes right.

Jiakpalang Eating House is an up-and-coming casual restaurant along Alexandra Road that offers local Zi Char dishes with a twist. Driven by his passion for food and cooking, the restaurant’s executive chef Nixon Low gained some experience assisting in the kitchen before starting his own business.

Some of the interesting dishes you can expect at Jiakpalang Eating House are Charcoal Katarosu Pork Collar slathered with Kopi “C” sauce, Cereal Pan Seared Foie Gras and “Assam” Pulau Ubin Sea Bass. If you are getting tired of the usual Zi Char dishes, why not give this place a try?

Jiakpalang Easting House is a great lunch spot for executives who are working nearby. During lunch, the restaurant serves up delicious rice bowls set at affordable prices that would not burn a hole in your wallet.

Some of the flavours you can look forward to indulging include Sesame Soy Chicken Rice Bowl (S$6.90) and Cereal Prawn Rice Bowl (S$13.90).

Photos Credit: Jiakpalang Easting House

If not, pop by for dinner with your family—the restaurant’s dinner menu features an unconventional take on Singaporean delicacies such as Yuzu Lala Clams (S$12), “Ang Ji Kao” Stout-Braised Beef Cheek ($17) and Har Cheong ($13).

Jiakpalang Easting House
456 Alexandra Road
#01-04/06, Fragrance Empire Building
Singapore 119962
Tel: +65 6266 8511
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 10pm
Sat: 6pm – 10pm
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Labrador Park

Violet Herbs is what we call an alternative dating spot if you want to do away with the crowd and pretentious vibes at posh establishments.

Conveniently located at Tanjong Pagar, this modern semi-fine dining restaurant is within walking distance from the train station. The restaurant occupies the entire three stories of the shophouse unit along Tras Street – with the first two floors for dining, and a rooftop herb garden where fresh produce are used for the cooking.

Helmed by Chef Edward Hoe, Violet Herbs is one of the most underrated restaurants in Singapore that offers splendid 3-course set lunches (S$33+/pax) and 4-course set dinners (S$58+/pax) at very decent prices that feature high quality and intricate plating.

The main courses are also nothing short of impressive. Mark Violet Herbs down – it should be your next romantic lunch/ dinner spot.

Chef Edward Hoe runs the show in Violet Herbs’ kitchen. He who was part of the pioneer team that spearheaded Restaurant Ember has 20 years of culinary experience, and at Violet Herbs, traces of familiarity are evident from the restaurant’s star dishes. Chef Edward was the head chef in The 2nd Floor-The American Club, as well as Greenwood Fish Market & Bistro.

SOUPS & APPETISERS

The menu boasts a good range of appetisers that include both hearty and light options. Lighter options include the Basil Pesto Salad (S$18) and one that we thoroughly enjoyed – Pistachio & Herb Crusted Scallops (S$18).

The scallops were wonderfully plump and we liked the textural distinction between the soft juicy scallop flesh and the crunchy outer layer of pistachio and herbs. The dish is complete with tasty butternut pumpkin puree, bisque gel, parma potato chip and chocolate soil. This dish deserves a star for its presentation too!

Guess what we love most about Violet Herbs’ appetisers? The variety of foie gras options from Roasted & Poached Foie Gras (S$24) and Truffle Foie Gras (S$26).

We are usually unimpressed with lobster bisques because they are more often than not fishy or artificially flavoured. But the Lobster Cappuccino & Brandy (S$16) at Violet Herbs is easily the best we’ve tasted in recent times.

The bisque was so intensely flavoured – the sheer sweetness of fresh lobster coupled with brandy is a feat in itself. With every scoop, we became more and more addicted. This is one stellar soup.

ALL THE MAINS TO LOVE

With so many interesting mains to choose from, it will be one of those I-can’t-decide-because-I-want-everything-from-the-menu moments. We started with Violet Herbs’ bestseller – the Marinated Red Miso Cod (S$39). It is an a la carte main, but can be a top-up option in the dinner menu.

The cod cooked to a glistening glory with a miso marinate was spot-on. With a side of roasted pumpkin puree, almond eggplant and some dehydrated parsnip chips, this stunning dish is a combination of healthy veggie goodness and fresh white fish presented in varying textures and colours.

Even if you are not the biggest fan of lamb, we still urge you to try the Colorado Lamb Rack (S$48). Of course, besides the fantastic medium-rare cook on the lamb, it was the simple marination itself that made it so tasty with every bite.

It also comes with mini pistachio foie gras roulades that you can choose to eat with the meat to cut the richness.

Duck Confit is something we have to try if we see it on a menu, and of course, we tried the one at Violet Herbs. The Sous Vide Duck Confit (S$36) has a crackling outer crust and the most tender duck meat inside.

The duck jus reduction that accompanied the duck was just right. We also liked how the duck confit is placed atop a bed of rustic vegetables of herb potatoes and sautéed baby spinach.

Feeling really hungry or looking for something hearty? The Sous Vide 48 Hours Wagyu Beef Cheek is for those who are after something more robust.

The beef is fork tender, has a sweet red wine glaze, and is jazzed up with Sardinian fregola sarda and zucchini spheres.

In the pasta menu, you can find dishes such as Homemade Butternut Squash Gnocchi (S$42) and Lobster Risotto & Fregola Sarda (S$44).

These aside, you should go for the Ebi Angel Hair Pasta (S$38) if it is your first trip to Violet Herbs. The pasta is cooked to a beautiful al dente, then tossed in lobster essence, rayu oil and bird eye chilli (or as we call it, chilli padi). Using only premium air-flown Japanese sakura ebi, the pinkish-red dried shrimps are sweet and crispy. That’s all we need for our pasta, really.

SWEET TREATS

Some desserts to expect here include Yam Strudel (S$12), Chef’s Special Tiramisu (S$16) and Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake (S$16).

However, our heart was stolen by the Frozen Nougat (S$14). The dessert comes with little bits of lychee sorbet all around that complements the nougat with varying sweetness.

Also, being huge fans of chocolate-anything mean we couldn’t miss the Valrhona Chocolate Fondant (S$16).

The surprise of this dessert lies in the fact that it comes with truffle oil – an unexpected ingredient that actually makes the dessert even more fragrant.

VALUE-FOR-MONEY SET MENUS

Violet Herbs has superb set menus for lunch that is priced at S$33 per person, and that includes a total of three courses.

To sample Chef Edward’s signature foie gras dishes, you have the option to upgrade your set menu appetiser to a foie gras (+S$7) of choice. It is little wonder Violet Herbs is such a popular lunch spot, especially for business luncheons. Such value for money; we can all do away with the lunch hour rush and noise everywhere else, and embrace the cosiness of Violet Herbs with an intimate lunch.

Dinner degustation menus begin from S$58 per person. Now, that is practically impossible if you want some fine dining. A typical main at fine dining establishments would usually start from S$40 already! But at Violet Herbs, the degustation menus begin from S$58 for a 4-course meal.

EVENTS AND PARTIES

If you are looking to host your events and/or plan your company gatherings here, you can also have a menu personalised for you. Private rooms are also available, else if all else fails, we say book the entire second level – which is the prettiest spot at Violet Herbs that is more than befitting for events of all sorts.

For more information and reservations, call +65 6221 3988.

Violet Herbs
81 Tras Street
Tanjong Pagar Conservation Area
Singapore 079020
Tel: +65 6221 3988
Mon to Sat: 11:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

This post is brought to you by Violet Herbs.

Sunday brunch just got kicked up a notch with Hilton Singapore’s newly revamped Champagne buffet brunch special. We are telling you that this is easily among the best champagne brunches in Singapore, for the spread features only the most premium of ingredients at reasonable prices.

You bet we were awed by the array of fresh seafood, premium Australian meat cuts, gourmet European delicatessen and more. To say we were enticed by the sheer spread is an understatement. Very often, champagne brunches come with an exorbitant price tag, and for those who do not drink, paying the premium just does not make sense.

And it does not happen here at Hilton Singapore. There is an option for those who prefer to indulge in only the food at S$88++/pax, and there are two options for those who want to luxuriate further with sparkling wine, red and white wines, and champagne.

Readers of ladyironchef will be entitled to S$50 off Hilton Singapore’s Sunday brunch with a minimum of two paying adults. More details at the end of this post. Meanwhile, here are the highlights of Hilton Singapore’s Sunday Champagne Brunch.

WELCOME DRINK, SERVED TABLE-SIDE

But of course, a warm welcome first!

Alright, not really warm, but hey, we are talking about a complimentary Bloody Mary that is served table-side as a welcome drink. This pleasantly savoury drink is the perfect way to kick-start your meal here at Hilton Singapore. Think about how much a cocktail would typically cost, and you would know that you are beginning your meal with value already.

GREAT APPETISERS TO START THE BUFFET

Appetisers range from a fantastic Smorgasbord station to adorably plated small dishes. The latter really impressed us with the intricate plating, coupled with the use of premium ingredients.

Our picks are Alaskan Crab Meat with Mango Jelly, Tiger Prawn with Green Mango, Tuna Tartare with Avocado Mousse, Seafood Ceviche with Spicy Dressing and more. These spherical beauties sure whet our appetites with the freshness and clean tastes.

Not photographed here but another one you would enjoy is the gazpacho. We love our soups hot, but for gazpachos, anything goes. That refreshing, chilled tomato soup by Hilton Singapore tastes so close to the ones we’ve had in Spain.

The Smorgasbord section here is a little different – in a very good way, of course. The charcuterie will be thinly-sliced for you at the station itself, with care and precision. The meats that are included in this section range from imported whole leg of Iberico ham to Saucisson sec cured meat.

A good range of olives and pates are also available to complement the cured meats. We don’t know about you, but olives always get us all excited. There are pitted and stuffed ones here, and the chefs will gladly explain their region and preservation methods.

THE FRESHEST SEAFOOD – OYSTERS, MAINE LOBSTERS, SCALLOPS

Now, we have arrived at the truly good part and everyone’s favourite – seafood! What’s not to love about fresh premium seafood, especially when you can have them free flow? Get ready, because the spread will make your eyes pop!

Think freshly shucked oysters (3 varieties), fleshy Maine lobsters, yabbies (a type of crayfish), half-shell scallops and more.

Can we just say how much we love the oysters in particular? Most brunches or buffet spreads only serve one type of oysters, but Hilton Singapore will offer you three – the ever popular Fine de Claire, succulent Irish oysters and Pacific Oysters.

The seafood is also served alongside fresh sashimi and a sushi selection.

A LA MINUTE SELECTION

One of the reasons why we were immensely impressed by the selections here at Hilton Singapore is the a la minute selection.

The residential dish is Scotch Egg with Truffle Hollandaise Sauce. Scotch Eggs are extremely hard make, even more so to perfect it. Here at the champagne brunch, have it unlimited – all you want. The perfect runny yolk is encased in tasty and well-seasoned meat, then drizzled with fragrant black truffle hollandaise sauce.

Another a la minute dish that is also included in the brunch line-up is the egg cocotte. So hearty, so warm and the addition of savoury meats made the dish a lot more dimensional.

Well, foie gras lovers would be elated to know that pan-seared foie gras is also part of the a la minute selection – unlimited. Hilton Singapore’s version is served with an apple and passion fruit compote, and the sweet-and-sour mixture cuts through the creaminess of the piece of liver so beautifully.

INTERNATIONAL COOKED DISHES

Pizzas, Asian dishes and even beef pho? They will have you covered in this section. Grab either a Seafood or Mushrooms & Anchovies pizza. And if you want something creamy and comforting, go for the Seafood Fricasse with Bisque & Parmesan. The Pan-Fried Chilean Sea Bass with Orange & Fennel Compote sounds boring, but the sweet compote brought out the freshness of the sea bass so well, you’ll love the combination.

For the Asian dishes, dim sum is a must and Hilton Singapore offers both Custard Bun and Braised Pork Ribs, alongside wok-fried dishes such as Stir-Fried Garlic Prawns with Cilantro and Kam Heong Style Crab; bursting with flavours and wok hei, this might be where your grandparents would camp at if they prefer only Asian food.

MEATS, MEATS AND MORE MEATS

If you love  quality meat selection, you will be glad to know that Hilton Singapore’s brunch includes popular meats such as Premium Flank Steak, Lamb Chop and even Tenderloin. All cooked on an open flame charcoal grill, to your preferred doneness with a much loved smoky flavour.

ROAST MEATS 

If you like your meat roasted, fret not; like we said, there is something for everybody.

Think Herb-Roasted Baby Chicken, US Prime Rib and Roasted Pork Rack. Despite being pre-cooked roasts, the meats were not dry and we enjoyed the seasoning of herbs, salt and pepper.

AMAZING SELECTION OF CHEESES

We have never experienced a fuller cheese spread than the one here at Hilton Singapore. A selection of more than 20 cheeses are available on the cheese board, and boy were we spoilt for choice.

Any cheese lover will go gaga over this spread that includes premium selections – Parmigiano Reggano, Fromage Du Maquis, Lavort, Comte, Bleu D’Auvergene and even Persille Du Beaujolais.

… AND A BIGGER RANGE OF DECADENT DESSERTS

Our eyes lit up and our jaws dropped. Nothing screams a good dessert spread like the one at Hilton Singapore. It is literally a dessert shrine! They have even incorporated cool molecular gastronomy techniques into a blueberry meringue dessert that tasted nothing short of amazing.

Cakes are in abundance too – Chocolate Passion, Ivory Coffee, Cassis Caramel, Rainbow Cake and Red Velvet Mascarpone; quite basically a cake for any preference.

Individually-plated desserts include crème brûlée, Orange Chocolate Hazelnut, Red Wine Poached Pear with Chantilly and our favourite one – a glass cup of Sake, Cassis and Butter Sponge that had all the right flavours and textures.

FREE-FLOW CHAMPAGNE!!!

Well, of course, drink to your heart’s content if you get the champagne option. Prep yourselves; you will be treated to free flow of house pours, sparkling wine and beers. That’s some massive weekend there, huh?

Prices:
S$88++ – brunch buffet only.
S$108++ – brunch buffet and free-flow sparkling wine, selected white and red wines and beer.
S$138++ – brunch buffet and free-flow of Louis Roederer champagne, selected white and red wines and beer.
S$39++ – child below 12 years old (toddlers below 4 years of age dine for free)

Readers of Ladyironchef will be entitled to S$50 OFF Hilton Singapore’s Sunday Brunch

- Quote “LIC50” to redeem S$50 Off with a minimum of 2 full paying adults
– One redemption per table
– Valid only on 22, 29 Nov and 6, 13 Dec 2015
– Cannot be combined with other offers/ discount benefits
– 1-day prior reservation required (to mention promo code upon reservation to enjoy offer).
Reservation Tel: +65 6730 3390, or email sinhi_F&B@hilton.com
– Subject to availability

Hilton Singapore Sunday Champagne Brunch is available at Opus, lobby level, from noon until 3pm.

Hilton Singapore
581 Orchard Road Hilton
Singapore
Tel: +65 6730 3390
Nearest Station: Orchard Road
sinhi_F&B@hilton.com
http://bit.ly/hiltonsgsundaybrunch

This post is brought to you by Hilton Singapore.

Il Cielo is located on the 24th floor of Hilton Singapore, right beside the pool. Upon arriving at the restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it is very small, cosy and intimate. I also like the fact that the Italian restaurant is very focused. They only have a few dishes under each category of the menu – because they pride themselves on the quality and standard of every item.

We started our meal with a fantastic Homemade Buffalo Milk Burrata ($38) with heirloom tomatoes and Pan Seared Foie Gras ($32). If you are a fan of this dish, you must order it at Il Cielo. The foie gras, served with white polenta and vin santo reduction, also got a thumbs up from us.

For main courses, we had the Homemade Carbonara Tagliatelle ($48) with fresh shaved truffle – a special dish on the white Alba truffle seasonal menu – and a Porcini and Blueberry Risotto ($28).

The pasta while good, was unremarkable. But what made it special, was the use of freshly shaved white Alba truffle which gave it flavour and depth.

The Risotto Porcini and Blueberry Risotto was very good. Every bite was better than the previous one, and before we knew it, we had pretty much scraped the plate clean.

Before having the second main course, we were served a Raspberry Sorbet – with a drop of vodka and ginger – as a palate cleanser. After which, we proceeded with the main courses: a beautiful Oven-baked Whole Seabass ($75) and Grilled Veal Chop ($55). I am usually a meat person, but the Seabass won me over completely. It was so good that I did not pay much attention to the veal chop. We could not get over how fresh and sweet the fish was.

To end the meal, we had Tiramisu ($18) and Dark Chocolate Souffle ($18) served with spicy vanilla ice cream.

We were there a few months ago, so they might have changed some of the items on the menu. A meal at Il Cielo is without a doubt, expensive. It is not a place where everyone can come on a regular basis. But it is worth splurging for a special occasion because you will be satisfied with the exceptional food and service.

Il Cielo
581 Orchard Road
Level 24 Hilton Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6730 3395
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 7pm – 10.30pm
Note: This was an invited media tasting

For more recommendations, read my list of best Italian restaurants in Singapore

Daniel Boulud’s name is synonymous with fine dining in New York, and his signature Manhattan restaurant DB Bistro Moderne at Marina Bay Sands needs no introduction.

While the general taste is not fantastically out of the world, the food is always consistently good. These days, sadly, even the better restaurants have neglected this point. There is nothing more disappointing than to return to a restaurant only to find that your favourite dish is not as good as before. And it is especially not acceptable at fine dining restaurants where we have to pay so much for a meal.

However, this is not the case at DB Bistro Moderne. we have dined there on many occasions and we are glad to say that they have always maintained a high standard.

The Wild Mushroom Soup ($15) came first. It was decent, but nothing much to speak about. This was followed by the Seared Foie Gras ($39) with a brioche toast and spiced apple marmalade. The foie gras was a mouthful of delicious richness bite after bite. I would be hard-pressed to find a better one in town.

The Lobster Salad ($36) – with avocado, tomatoes, green beans, artichoke and basil aioli – while good, was nothing fantastic. DB Bistro also features other salads such as the Frisee Salad Lyonnaise ($24), Roasted Beetroot Salad ($25), Iceberg & Blue Cheese ($23).

For appetisers, we would recommend the Ratatouille ($20). The classic vegetable stew was hearty and very comforting. It was the perfect start to the meal and whetted my appetite for the main courses.

Rested on a bed of greens – tomatoes, artichokes, carrots and salsa verde – the Line Caught Tuna ($39( was meaty and very fresh.

The Saffron Tagliolini ($24 appetiser, $36 main course), on the other hand, did not leave a strong impression. It was not mindbogglingly good, but it was decent with the delicious spanner crab. The other pasta option on the menu is the Tagliatelle Nero ($24 appetiser, $36 main course), but if I was you, I would skip the pastas and go for the main courses.

Coq au Vin ($34), a traditional French dish, is one of the highlights of the menu. DB Bistro’s rendition was very good. I would strongly recommend to go for this.

Our favourite dish was DB Bistro’s Duck Confit ($36), cooked so that the skin was crisp, but the meat tender and flavourful, and served with savoy cabbage and olive oil crushed potatoes.

The DB Burger ($42), pictured in the first photo, also lived up to its name. A juicy and superb burger with seared foie gras in the middle. This was heaven on a plate. Definitely one of the best burgers around. That said, I am not sure if I would pay so much for a burger.

We had the Australian Flank ($45) and USDA Prime Ribeye ($80). The former was pretty decent, but in no way comparable to the latter. The ribeye was tender and full of flavour, with a good proportion of fat to lean meat. If I close my eyes, I can still imagine the tender steak. The fries were excellent, too.

For their winter menu, DB Bistro had a Chestnut Souffle ($15). It was nicely paired with a blackcurrant sorbet, which provided a good counterbalance to the hot chocolate sauce. However, on a recent visit, we found out that it was replaced by a Durian Royal Souffle ($15) with mangosteen sorbet.

We also sampled the Chocolate Passionfruit Fondant – a luscious mix of the rich and sweet dark chocolate with a slightly sourish passionfruit.

The de-constructed Apple Mille-Feuille ($15) — apple confit, phyllo dough, mascarpone mousse, green apple sorbet — was also delightful with its contrast of textures and flavours.

If you are too full for desserts, you must at least order the Madeleine ($8) for the table to share.

A meal at DB Bistro Moderne, I must say, is not cheap. But it offers an excellent value considering that it is all delivered well on the plates in a sexy venue. For those who are on a budget, go for their pre-theatre dinner (5.30pm – 7pm) at $68++/pax for a three course prix fixe menu.

DB Bistro Moderne
10 Bayfront Avenue
#B1-48 Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Tel: +65 6688 8525

Mon to Fri (Lunch): 12pm – 5pm
Sat & Sun (Brunch): 11am – 5pm
Sun & Mon (Dinner): 5.30pm – 10pm
Tue to Sat (Dinner): 5.30pm – 11pm

From a stall in a coffee shop to a full-fledged restaurant at Purvis Street, Saveur Restaurant has done a good job serving inexpensive French food. The long line of hungry patrons during meal times is a testament to its popularity. But does Saveur live up to the hype? Is it worth queuing up?

People love Saveur because it offers cheap and decent French food. There’s a trade-off, though. Portions are very small, so you have to order more dishes to share.

The main courses are averagely priced at $10, with a few special items at $24.90. Yes, so affordable, but because of its puny portion, you end up ordering more – which leaves you spending more than you normally would for a meal.

I wasn’t particularly impressed by the offerings, and while I appreciate that they offer decent French food at pocket-friendly prices, I am not in a hurry to come back.

Having said that, it is probably impossible to find another place that serves a good duck confit at $10. So, if you are on a budget, check out Saveurs. Remember to go early, or be prepared to queue.

Saveur Restaurant
5 Purvis Street #01-04
Tel: +65 6100 1788
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm

For more recommendations, read my list of Singapore’s Top 20 Inexpensive Restaurants

Wooloomooloo steakhouse, a popular steakhouse chain in Hong Kong, has started their first restaurant at Swissotel the Stamford. When we talk about F&B outlets in a shopping mall, they are always predictable, mainstream or boring. Wooloomooloo, on the other hand, has a sleek and sexy interior, and most importantly, it offers top-quality Aussie beef. Moreover, it has a fantastic view of the F1 racetrack from the third level of Raffles City.

If you are looking for a nice restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, and your partner likes steak, this is the place to go.

On the menu, there are the classic starters such as tuna & spanner crab tartare ($29), lobster bisque ($20), beef carpaccio ($24) and colossal crab lumps ($30).

We started our meal with the steak tartare ($28). Wooloomooloo does an Australian inspired steak tartare – with a hard boiled egg, cavier, sourcream – so it’s not your typical French version. It looked very appealing, but the taste did not really pack a punch; it somewhat lacked a certain flavour.

Following that, we had a pan seared foie gras and jumbo crabcake. Paired with apple chutney, the pan seared foie gras is very well executed. If you like foie gras, you must order it here.

Next, we had the jumbo crabcake. The use of simple everyday ingredients such as parsley, egg, bread crumb, garlic, shallot brings out the natural taste of the crabcake. After tasting it, I could feel the flavours mingling in my mouth: the tanginess of the tartar sauce, the bite of the crab cake, and the crunch of the coleslaw.

For main courses, we shared two steaks. The 12 ounce USDA Ribeye ($74) was good, but we preferred the Australian cut, which Wooloomooloo steakhouse is known for.

There are so many adjectives that one can use to describe steak: tender, succulent, juicy and flavourful – all of which can be used to describe Wooloomooloo’s 12 ounce Australian Ribeye ($62). This is a very fine piece of meat, and at the price, I think it is excellent value.

If you are in a big group, I’d suggest getting the monster 1.3kg tomahawk ($125) with a few sides – like the hash brown ($12), creamy spinach ($12), and sauteed onions ($12) – to share.

There are no lack of options when it comes to desserts. We were torn between the bread and butter pudding ($16), lemon & lime pie ($16) and creme brulee ($16). But there was no way I could resist my favourite hot chocolate cake ($25) and souffle ($20).

For the souffle, Wooloomooloo does four different flavours – chocolate, raspberry, passionfruit and Grand Marnier – and since we were having the hot chocolate cake, we decided to go for something different.

The Grand Marnier souffle that we had was very good – in fact, one of the better ones that I’ve had lately – but it did not get as much attention as the chocolate lava cake.

I call this the sore throat inducing dessert. Definitely one of the top five chocolate lava cakes in Singapore.

Wooloomooloo, for me, is one of the top mid-range steak houses in Singapore. I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes one of your favourite places too.

Wooloomooloo Steakhouse
2 Stamford Road
Level 3 Swissotel the Stamford
Tel: +65 6338 0261
Daily: 12:00 – 15:00
Daily: 15:00 – 23:00
Nearest Station: City Hall
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

At Hide Yamamoto, diners can enjoy four different menus – namely: sushi, robatayaki, ramen and teppanyaki. The Japanese Restaurant is located on the second floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino, and it is the brainchild of renowned Chef Hide Yamaamoto.

We dropped by for teppanyaki during dinner on a weekend, and it was a splendid experience.

During dinner, Hide Yamamoto has several teppanyaki sets ranging from $180 to $380. For a more affordable option, they serve a teppanyaki lunch set at $80.

We had four sets of ‘A’ course ($180), and also ordered several items from the ala carte menu to share. The ‘A’ course set dinner includes an amuse bouche, mixed green salad, chawanmushi, tiger prawn, scallop, Japanese wagyu, assorted vegetable, garlic rice, miso soup and a dessert.

First up we had a silver cod ($30) and salmon ($20). Both dishes (from the ala carte menu) were good, but nothing to shout about.

After which, the chef served us scallop ($20) and tiger prawn ($18). The scallop was plump, meaty and flavourful; while the prawn was sweet and very juicy. Also good: chawanmushi with a strong coating of truffle oil.

Next, we had the kurobuta collar ($38) from the ala carte menu, and while the meat was nicely done, it was not enough to send me into food coma. The crab leg, on the other hand, was excellent.

The highlight of our meal was the wagyu beef ($98) which was superbly prepared. Also worth mentioning are the accompanying grilled vegetables – asparagus, capsium, and mushrooms.

“Foie gras is as good asa sex,” I told my partner after taking a bite at the luscious and fat slab of goose liver. If you love foie gras ($38), you must order it when you are at Hide Yamamoto.

We were almost full after having the delicious garlic rice, but we got greedy and made a last minute order of lobster ($80) and abalone ($70/130g). What a brilliant ending to a good dinner.

There’s only one word to describe our meal, and overall experience at Hide Yamamoto: exquisite. While prices are steep, I’d recommend Hide Yamamoto restaurant at Marina Bay Sands if you like teppanyaki.

Hide Yamamoto
8 Bayfront Avenue
02-05 Casino Side Level 2, Marina Bay Sands
Tel: +65 6688 7098
Daily: 12.00 – 15.00
Mon to Wed: 18.00 – 23.00
Thu to Sun: 18.00 – 03.00

For more recommendations, please read my list of Best Japanese Restaurants in Singapore

HAN Restaurant at Odeon Towers is a kushikatsu speciality restaurant that serves Japanese skewers kaiseki-style. During lunch, they have a lunch set of seven sticks for $75, while omakase at dinner starts from $120.

I know you cannot really go wrong with deep-fried stuff, but trust me, the offerings at HAN restaurant are not your typical greasy and sinful food. How should I put it? Every stick that we had was fresh, flavourful, and most importantly, not oily to the extent that you will feel sick after eating it. In fact, we still wanted more after we had seven to eight sticks.

HAN has good sushi and sashimi, but what you should focus on is its Osaka speciality kushikatsu.

After having hamachi with truffle salt, olive oil and roe, the main event began. First up, the  soft crab claw. Then, we had a stick of delightful scallop.

Following that, we had a lotus root – stuffed with chicken, and Japanese curry – paired with a Worcestershire sauce. Next up, a pike eel which went very well with a delicate plum sauce. The angel prawn was served, and all it needed was a sprinkle of salt.

The mushroom was succulent and sweet, but it paled in comparison with HAN’s signature Ohmi beef. I took the first bite with truffle salt, and the second with mustard sauce. But really, the beef was so good on its own that there was no need for any condiments. It’s not ohmi beef, it’s oh-my-beef! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist).

Also awesome . . . A cherry tomato filled with cream cheese and tomato puree. It tasted like a bite of heaven.

We slowly hit the height of the menu’s crescendo. Just when we thought that things could not get any better, the chef served us foie gras. The pairing of Kansei egg plant and foie gras was sensational. My dining companions described it as ‘sin plus sin’.

After which, we had a deep-fried onion. I thought it was amazing that onions could actually taste so good.

By now, I’ve lost count of the number of dishes that we had. The parma ham with king oyster mushroom and cream cheese was brought before us. Again, delicious and one bite was not enough. Not long after, we had a simple but delicious white corn, and Japanese tomato.

A sushi platter will ensure that, if you were not already feeling full by this course, you will be stuffed by the time you are done. And for desserts, we had a plate of Japanese peach and grapes.

A meal at HAN Restaurant is not cheap, but if you like Japanese food (deep-fried stuff in particular) and want something different from the usual kaiseki restaurants, here’s the place to go.

HAN Restaurant
331 North Bridge Road
#01-04 Odeon Towers
Tel: +65 6336 2466
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

For more recommendations, read my list of Best Japanese Restaurants in Singapore

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Words and photos by Sarah Lim.

You know the food has to be good when a restaurant gets booked well in advance despite being housed in a location away from the bustling office crowd. The tranquillity is lost once inside the restaurant. A waitress piles her arms with several dishes, hastily serving them up before disappearing behind the kitchen doors.

Restaurant Ember at Hotel 1929 serves modern European cuisine, and it is not a secret that they have one of the best set lunches in Singapore.

The restaurant has a minimalist interior design; no white tablecloth, no ostentatious cutlery, even the lunch menu came in the form of a piece of card, simply printed in black-and-white and folded in half.

It took some time for the complimentary bread to arrive, but more than redeemed itself up for the wait. Two loaves of sun-dried tomato focaccia, specked with herbs and each haphazardly divided in six unequal pieces, were served to us piping hot. Crusty on the outside yet chewy inside, we struggled to decline our waitress’ offer to replenish it in anticipation of our meal.

A generous slab perched atop cubes of syrup-soaked fruits, the pan-seared foie gras with caramelized apples and clove, port and raspberry glaze was prepared with expertise, resulting in a dish of wobbly, fatty goodness encased in a delicate crisp exterior. We savoured each forkful of the delicacy and it was gone all too soon.

We were equally amazed by how the roasted and poached foie gras (pictured at the start of the post) with mirin, shoyu and shiitake managed to retain its shape on the plate when it simply disintegrated once in our mouths. The tangy, mild-tasting sauce cut through the richness of the foie gras perfectly. Of the two, we preferred the pan-seared version simply for the striking contrast in texture.

The pan-roasted scallops with parma ham, citrus and tarragon vinaigrette was a feast for the eyes. Two plump, juicy scallops wrapped in savoury bacon served with a heaping mound of salad. The dish was competent on its own, but simply paled in comparison to the stellar foie gras appetisers.

We were once again blown away by the faultless preparation of the crispy duck leg confit with new potatoes, caramelized onion – thyme jus, one of the best renditions of the dish we have tried. It was just unfortunate that the sauce was a tad one-dimensional in flavour.

The marinated cod with black miso, sweet peas and herbed potatoes would please those with a sweet tooth. A fillet of oily cod coated with a generous layer of sticky, caramelized miso, this proved to be a safe choice – too safe, perhaps, as the presentation left us slightly underwhelmed.

Among the mains, the pan-seared Chilean seabass with mushroom and smoked bacon ragout, truffle yuzu butter sauce was a clear winner. A thick slab of fatty, flaky fish served atop juicy mushrooms in a pool of luscious golden-yellow sauce. We refused to have the plate cleared until we managed to mop up the last of it. If we were to nitpick, we didn’t particularly like how searing dried up the fish. We’d have gladly forsaken the pretty golden-browned hue it added.

Meant for sharing between two, we slightly regretted our order of the apple tart tartin with vanilla bean ice cream since this meant that we could only order one other dessert. Tasting it did not convince us otherwise – the cloyingly sweet apples atop the soggy tart simply failed to impress.

The crispy caramelized pear tart with homemade baileys ice cream, on the other hand, fulfilled all the requirements of a perfect tart – crispy, buttery and crumbly. We just wished that the baileys ice cream had a more alcoholic edge to it.

Service while not top-notch, is attentive and earnest. At $39.50++ (or $45.50++ if you pick a foie gras appetiser), Ember is more than what we can ask for. This is the kind of place that will leave you yearning for a return, simply for the delicious food in an unpretentious setting.

Restaurant Ember
50 Keong Saik Road
Hotel 1929
Tel: +65 6347 1928
Nearest Station: Outram

Words by Jolene Koh of Cupcake Weekend, Photos by ladyironchef

When I say I’m not a huge fan of Italian food it’s not because I don’t like the cuisine per se, but more so the feeling you get after having an overly hearty pasta meal where you’d go “that’s it I’m having Chinese for the next few weeks”.

Thankfully, I think I’ve found the perfect place for when I’m craving Italian without having to go through that unpleasant aftermath in my gut.

Helmed by Chef Michele Pavanello and housed at the corner of the Red Dot Traffic Building sits OTTO Ristorante. This classy, unpretentious establishment serves amazing Italian fare with a new-age influence. It’s a great place to have a business lunch, bond with the family over a good meal or even for a romantic night out.

Chef Pavanello takes what he does in the kitchen very seriously. Props for his constant drive to create new dishes and fine-tuning his style of cooking to suit our Asian taste-buds. When you meet someone who’s innovative and cares so much about what he prepares, you just know that what’s presented to you will taste good because at the end of the day, real dedication and passion for food is something you cannot fake.

We started with the Cocoa bean crusted foie gras with port wine reduction ($28). A decadent piece of foie gras coated in a crunchy cocoa bean crust on a bed of crisp salad leaves accompanied with home-made crostini.

By far one of the better foie gras dishes I’ve tasted, a palate tickler starter as I would call it. I liked that it had a myriad of textures and flavours from crunchy to soft, slight bitterness (from the cocoa), to sweet and salty.

Next we had the Slow cooked slipper lobster with leek veloute and morel mushroom ($28). I really enjoyed this other starter. The lobster was fresh, sweet and tasted of the sea. The leek veloute was flavourful & rich without being overly indulgent and complimented the perfectly cooked crustacean.

The Homemade squid ink tagliolini with lemon and chilli marinated prawn ($28) was pretty interesting for me because it’s the first time I’ve had squid ink pasta without a cream/squid ink based sauce.

I was pleasantly surprised that I actually prefer this to the former two alternatives. Homemade noodles (cooked al dente, no less) tossed very generously with prawns. I loved how the lemon zest and the chilli gave the dish some lightness and heat without over-powering the sweetness of the prawns. This one of those pastas where you’d finish, not get sick of and want more.

Homemade potato agnolotti with chicken jus and crispy bacon ($28). From plain sight this dish doesn’t look like much but it’s a whole different story when it enters your mouth. Although there’s no physical trace of chicken in the agnolotti, the flavour that bursts through was akin to a hearty roasted chicken meal complete with mash, peas and the works. The crispy bacon added a nice contrast of texture and a kick of saltiness.

The European seabass fillet with sauteed mushrooms and potato ($42) followed after. Wasn’t exactly a big fan of this main but the fish was well executed and I liked that the sauteed mushrooms and potato had strong hints of basil.

Lastly, the Pièce de résistance; Crispy “suckling pig” lacquered with acacia honey & balsamic vinegar ($48) that was accompanied with braised endives. I’m usually not a pork person but wow, this bought me over. Think sinking your teeth through perfectly crisped skin and into the juiciest, most succuluent piece of meat. All I can say is yes, yes & yes. A must-have!

Our meal at Otto Restaurant ended with Creme Brulee ($14). One thing I particularly love about this dessert (besides eating it) is the part where I get to use a spoon to tap on that thin glass of torched sugar and hear the sound of it crackle.

So I did, revealing a silky, smooth vanilla cream infused with kaffir lime leaves and citrus notes, paired nicely with marinated strawberries.

If you’re looking to try an Italian restaurant that’s authentic and classic with a modern twist, Otto Ristorante is a great place to head to (if you haven’t already). I assure you it most likely won’t be your only visit.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Otto Ristorante
28 Maxwell Road, #01-02
Red Dot Traffic Building
Tel : +65 6227 6819
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm
Mon to Sat: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
(Closed on Sun)

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Jolene Koh is the owner of Cupcake Weekend, which provides artisan cupcakes for every occasion. From media events, product launches, birthday parties, to weddings, baby showers, as personalized favours or just because you feel like having a cupcake.

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I’m a simple person, with a simple taste bud, however nobody ever believe me. Even though the food at fine dining restaurant is good, but it’s not me, I prefer going to small, unpretentious, and cozy places instead.

Escargot, escargot, you really need to hand it to the French. They cook anything that can crawl, and make everything taste so good! The escargot that I’ve tried before, have a very strong garlic and buttery smell from afar, but La Petite’s rendition did not involve the use of these, instead the sweetness of the snail was deeply captivated within the croissant. The bread was so good; it absorbed the essence of the juice from the escargot (6 pieces for $12) – it was heavenly!

Foie gras, has long been one of the sacred food that I promise myself I’ll try in this life. Up till now, I’ve not exactly eaten it before, not unless you count the one which hardly had any foie gras. Let me describe more about the encounter: she tasted familiar, hold on, it seems to be like pig liver. Oh no, it’s even better than that! With the gamy taste, it’s bound to be an acquired taste, but to everyone out there, go on, try it! And you can proudly declared: I’ve sample foie gras before!

We were contemplating between the foie gras pan fried w/orange confit ($17), or the ravioli of prawns and foie gras in light lemon creme ($14.5). And we went for the latter. The uncanny similarity with the Chinese dumplings, but this one had foie gras and a big prawn instead. Initially, we thought that there would be hardly any foie gras inside, but we were wrong. The foie gras fillings were substantial, enough to experience the goose liver taste!

In my eyes mouth, duck will always be better than chicken. But most places doesn’t serve duck, and even if they do, its usually duck confit or pan seared duck breast. There’s nothing better for a duck drumstick than a duck confit! I enjoyed slowly peeling off her clothes, admiring everything there’s for us to see, before bringing my nose to smell her fragrance. Oh my, she smells so good! I closed my eyes for a second, and imagine the unimaginable. In my excitement, I brought up the fork again, and poke it into her. Slowly, we teased each other playfully, until to the point where we couldn’t take it no longer. Then, I tucked in. It’s good! Confit de canard w/gratin ($15)

For more recommendations, read my list of the Best French Restaurants in Singapore

La Petite Cusine
10 Jalan Serene
#01-05 Serene centre
Tel: 6314 3173

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