If you were to think of three things that encapsulate Christmas, it would most probably be family, presents and of course, the most amazing festive food! Christmas is the last holiday of the year, so it’s the perfect time to let loose and indulge one last time before the year ends!

This holiday season, JW Marriott Singapore South Beach’s very own Beach Road Kitchen has prepared a wonderful festive buffet filled with traditional festive flair. This year-end affair has Beach Road Kitchen chefs sparing no effort to tickle your tastebuds with a luxurious spread of quintessential festive roasts, seafood and mouth-watering desserts.

Expect freshly-carved Slow Roasted Turkey with a Signature Gravy and Cranberry Sauce and a sumptuous Honey Glazed Gammon Bone-In Ham as their festive highlights. Luxuriate in Beach Road Kitchen’s temperature-controlled seafood haven where you can find Chilled Poached Prawns and freshly-shucked Oysters. You can also watch skilled chefs cook your food à la minute at several live stations.

With this festive buffet, you’re in for a jolly good time with friends and family. To make your gift of bountiful food and precious time this season even more meaningful, quote ‘ladyironchef’ for 50% off 2nd diner when you make a reservation at Beach Road Kitchen.

ANTIPASTI/SALADS

Kickstart your meal with Beach Road Kitchen’s extensive range of antipasti from varying cuisines and cultures. Located in a special temperature-controlled room alongside their fresh seafood, you can expect dishes such as Potato Salad, Grilled Pumpkin and Truffle Mushroom Pasta Salad.

If you were craving some fresh greens, Beach Road Kitchen also has a wonderful salad bar where you can customise the perfect salad to start off your culinary exploration at the buffet. You’ll be spoilt for choice by the variety of toppings and dressings they have available.

ASSORTED CAVIAR STATION

Get a taste of delectable hors d’oeuvres this season and expect a mouthwatering selection of caviar at their Caviar Station! This is the station to make a beeline for as it is only available on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

The caviar comes in a variety of flavours and toppings and is served atop a savoury pancake. We enjoyed a delicious pancake of caviar and pickled onions that really whet our appetites, preparing us for the seafood we planned to go for next!

THE SEAFOOD ROOM

One of the highlights at Beach Road Kitchen is definitely their seafood room. It’s a temperature-controlled room that allows for the seafood to be kept fresh until it gets to your plate! You can expect sweet Snow Crabs and succulent cooked Prawns – the freshest ocean catches you’ll taste.

Look forward to having oysters shucked before your very own eyes! It really doesn’t get any fresher than this. Skilled chefs will shuck these tender oysters for you so you can focus on eating only the best and the very freshest. These delicacies are best eaten with just a squeeze of lemon and a dash of tabasco!

Another live station within the seafood room is where chefs will make a seasoned Tuna Tartare à la minute! You can choose what you wish to add to the mix or just let the chef surprise and impress with his own custom blend.

In addition to the Tuna Tartare, enjoy some fresh Salmon Tartare and various kinds of smoked salmon from the seafood room. Accompanying the fresh slices are Duck Rilette, Mustard and Baby Pickles.

Seafood lovers will inevitably find this station the most satisfying! The fresh cold seafood is a perfect prelude to the rest of the hot items at the buffet.

FESTIVE ROAST MEATS

It really wouldn’t be a Christmas buffet without roasted meats to share at the dinner table! Beach Road Kitchen is bringing some quintessential holiday dishes to their lineup such as their Slow Roasted Turkey with Signature Gravy and Cranberry Sauce, as well as their Honey Glazed Gammon Bone-In Ham.

Each turkey is marinated with festive herbs and spices before it is slow-roasted for a minimum of 12 hours at a lower temperature. This meticulous method allows each turkey to remain as juicy, tender and succulent as possible. Pair it with the umami-filled Signature Gravy or the sweet and tangy Cranberry Sauce. Either way, it’s a festive favourite – not hard to see why once you’ve tasted it!

Another of Beach Road Kitchen’s festive roasts would be their Honey Glazed Gammon Bone-In Ham that is coated in the most luscious pure honey extract – straight from the honeycomb! The honey allows for the meat to caramelise beautifully, yet still gives the roast a natural, mildly sweet flavour.

Spiced with cloves, this ham is definitely a traditional staple at every table yet, you won’t tire of it. Accompany the ham with more tangy sweetness from the Pineapple Chutney. It really gives this festive ham a modern twist.

LIVE GRILL STATION

Alongside the carving meats, a plethora of seafood, meat and vegetables are flame-grilled at a live station just for you! Indulge in some freshly-grilled crayfish, tiger prawns, sweet corn and shell-on scallops! It feels just like a big family barbeque once you sink your teeth into the grilled meats – charred-to-perfection!

Our favourite from the grill was the Grilled Lamb Rack. Perfectly juicy with a good char, these tender slabs of meat were so satisfying to eat. Lightly seasoned with a simple mix of salt, pepper and a hint of rosemary, they were simple yet oh-so-delicious. Pair it with some grilled sweet corn to balance out the savoury flavour of the lamb!

LIVE PIZZA STATION

As a kid, we remember staring through the glass dividers as pizza chefs stretched out the dough, sprinkling toppings and sauce on them. Well, you can relive that experience as pizza chefs churn out some fresh classic pizzas in Beach Road Kitchen’s very own pizza oven.

We especially loved the Pepperoni Pizza as the savoury pepperoni complemented the generous helping of cheese baked onto the fluffy pizza dough. It was perfectly cooked in the oven and still piping hot as it reached our plates!

LIVE NOODLE STATION

The live noodle station allows you to pick and choose from a myriad of noodles, vegetables, mushrooms and toppings for your noodles! Choose your soup – Laksa or Beef Broth – and enjoy a piping-hot bowl of freshly cooked noodles.

We chose to have laksa broth with our noodles. This bowl is perfect for spice-lovers. It’s both spicy and creamy, proving to be a really heart-warming bowl of laksa. You can add some fishballs, fishcakes, lobster balls, beansprouts and eggs to your bowl, customizing it to your liking!

CHINESE DELIGHTS

Savour some dishes from Chinese cuisine, showing how diverse Beach Road Kitchen’s buffet line up really is. You can expect iconic zi char favourites such as Sweet & Sour Pork, Black Pepper Stir-Fried Pork and Trio Egg Spinach.

Our favourite from this section had to be the Steamed Tofu with Minced Meat. Silky beancurd is drenched in a savoury soy-based gravy and topped with minced meat to create this Chinese classic. It goes well with a little bit of rice but it’s perfect by itself too!

INDIAN CUISINE SPECIALS

Adding that splash of spice on your plate, Beach Road Kitchen’s Indian cuisine specials will tantalize your tastebuds, tingling them with fragrant spices and sauces. Our favourites from the selection include the Chicken Tikka and crispy Prata.

The Chicken Tikka was super juicy and tender, yet packed amazing flavour with every bite. We paired it with some yoghurt to mellow out the spice and give it a tangy, creamy edge. It went perfectly with the fried Prata!

FESTIVE DESSERT SPREAD

The dessert was probably the biggest highlight of our meal at Beach Road Kitchen. The sweets spread was so luxurious and extensive it was as if we had won a Golden Ticket to a candy factory! This holiday season, Beach Road Kitchen chefs have prepared some familiar festive classics and some more modern Christmas treats.

One of these new-age festive desserts includes their handcrafted Sesame Green Tea Log Cake. Made with green tea mousse, sesame praline and a crunchy feuilletine base, this cake is a definite must-try.

Traditional treats such as Christmas butter cookies, cinnamon cookies and Stollen are also available! Our favourite of the bunch was the star-shaped cinnamon cookies because of how soft they were and surprisingly not all that sweet or cloying.

Something the kids can enjoy and take home would be the cutely-decorated Gingerbread Man cookies. Soft, chewy and with a nice hint of that classic gingerbread spice, it’s definitely a Christmas classic all can appreciate. Keep a lookout for the Gingerbread House that’s specially crafted for the holiday season!

Not to be forgotten at any Christmas meal are Mini Mince Pies and Traditional Mini Granny Smith Apple Crumble Pies. The apple crumble pie was buttery and flaky with a sweet gooey filling of sweet granny smith apples while the mince pie was a spiced mix of meat and dried fruits. Both have their own unique charms – you have to try these!

CLASSIC DESSERTS

One of our favourite features that Beach Road Kitchen has is their Sweets Wall. Displayed in big jars are old-day Singaporean snacks such as iced gems, haw flakes and chocolate wafers.

If you have a thing for crepes, you’ll definitely enjoy this live station. Skilled chefs will prepare some banana custard crepes to order, topping them with a generous dusting of icing sugar. It’s perfectly sweet from the banana and made even creamier with the vanilla bean custard.

Other than festive desserts and old-school sweets, be enthralled by the super extensive range of cakes and pastries Beach Road Kitchen has to offer. End of your meal with some Kueh Lapis and Banana Cake or Matcha, Opera and Black Forest Petit Cakes. Whether they’re local delights or french pastry, they’re the perfect conclusion to your time at Beach Road Kitchen!

As an accompaniment to your meal, enjoy some festive refreshments! Choose from the traditional Mulled Wine with an assortment of fresh fruits or some Strawberry Sparkling Cider. They are all available at the live bar where you can request the bartenders to whip up these festive drinks for you.

Quote ladyironchef upon making your reservation to enjoy 50% OFF every second diner for the festive buffet at Beach Road Kitchen.

The prices for JW Marriott Singapore South Beach’s Beach Road Kitchen Buffets are as follows:

Jolly Festive Buffet (1 to 23 Dec & 26 to 30 December 2019):

• Lunch (Mon to Sat, 12pm – 2.30pm): Adult S$68++, Child S$34++
• Sunday Brunch (12pm – 3pm): Adult S$118++, Child S$59++
• Dinner (Mon to Thurs, 6pm – 10pm): Adult S$88++, Child S$44++
• Dinner (Fri to Sun, 6pm – 10pm): Adult S$98++, Child S$49++

Christmas Eve (24 Dec 2019):

• Lunch (12pm – 2.30pm): Adult S$78++, Child S$39++
• Dinner (6pm – 10pm): Adult S$148++, Child S$74++

Christmas Day (25 Dec 2019):

• Brunch (12pm – 3pm): Adult S$148++, Child S$74++
• Dinner (6pm – 10pm): Adult S$98++, Child S$49++

New Year’s Eve (31 Dec 2019):

• Lunch (12pm – 2:30pm): Adult S$68++, Child S$34++
• Dinner (6pm – 10pm): Adult S$148++, Child S$74++

New Year’s Day (1 January 2020): 

• Brunch (12pm – 3pm): Adult S$148++, Child S$74++
• Dinner (6pm – 10pm): Adult S$80++, Child S$40++

Terms & Conditions
– Offers not applicable on eve & day of Public Holidays, and all special occasions as determined by the Hotel
– Valid up to a maximum of 8 persons per bill only
– Not applicable with other loyalty programs discounts, credit card promotions and other privileges; cannot be combined for redemption with other vouchers
– Not applicable for Kids price
– Advance reservations required and subject to availability

30 Beach Road
JW Marriott Singapore South Beach
Singapore 189763
Tel: +65 6818 1913
Daily: 6am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

This post was brought to you by JW Marriott Singapore South Beach.

It’s finally TGIF after a really hard week and your crew is looking for a spot in town to unwind because it’s a central location for everyone. Or maybe it’s time for a celebration and it’s your turn to plan where to go. Perhaps, you’re just looking for a place where the food’s impressive, the ambience is cosy and the drinks are super affordable. In so many ways, Oriole Coffee + Bar has got you covered.

From 1 April to 31 May 2019, every dine-in party of five and more will receive a non-alcoholic welcome drink with every main ordered—as long as someone pays with a Mastercard. Mastercard holders are also entitled to 15% off on all a la carte items at Oriole Coffee + Bar.

On top of that, Oriole Coffee + Bar sweetens this deal from 1 April to 31 May 2019 by throwing in an all-day promotion for full pints of Kronenbourg Blanc going at S$10 nett all day long! Do note that both promotions perks are not valid with other promotions, vouchers, or discounts in the same transaction.

Whether you are a coffee connoisseur, an alcohol aficionado or just someone who appreciates a hearty brunch, Oriole Coffee + Bar has something for everyone. The cherry on top of the cake is their strategic location right in the heart of Somerset, making it an incredibly accessible and central spot that is perfect for gatherings with your friends and loved ones.

S$10 NETT PINTS OF KRONENBOURG BLANC

Nothing brings a group of people together like a round (or ten) of drinks. Whether it is a long-awaited gathering amongst a group of friends, a post-work unwinding session with your colleagues or just simply cracking a cold one with the boys (or girls), a little bit of booze to go with the bantering has always been the perfect way to bond.

Oriole Coffee + Bar recognises that and will be having an all-day promotion for Kronenbourg Blanc from 1 April to 31 May 2019, where each pint will be going for just S$10 nett, all day long. This gives you even more reason to destress and have a mid-day drink with some friends!

WELCOME DRINKS WITH EVERY MAIN COURSE WHEN YOU DINE IN A GROUP OF 5

If you’re planning to go in a large group, we have even better news for you! From 1 April to 31 May, if you dine in groups of 5 and above, you will receive a non-alcoholic welcome drink with every main ordered when you pay with Mastercard. Take this as a sign for you and your pals to finally have that much-needed meet-up session!

Do note that both promotions are not valid with any other discounts or promotions.

FINGER FOOD THAT’S TOO GOOD TO SHARE

One thing that we really love about Oriole Coffee + Bar is how they have a number of dishes that are great for sharing. That definitely includes their extensive range of finger foods that go incredibly well with a pint of ice cold beer!

Whether you’re looking for a fried-chicken-with-beer combo or just wanting one of Oriole’s signature light bites, Har Cheong Gai (S$16++) would be your best bet. Shrimp-paste marinated chicken wings are fried to a lovely golden-brown crisp and served with a saucer of sambal belacan that is very mildly spicy.

A staple finger food that can hardly go wrong is Truffle Fries (S$14++). Liberally sprinkled with salt, truffle oil and shaved parmesan cheese, it’s one addictive bowl of crispy shoestring fries that you’re going to have to share as much as you might hate to.

Aside from finger food, Oriole Coffee + Bar’s extensive menu has a plethora of other scrumptious dishes that are great for sharing among friends. With mouthwatering options such as Philly Cheese Tenderloin Sandwich (S$22++), Cubano Meatwich (S$18++) and Triple Cheese Pizza (S$18++), you will definitely be left spoilt for choice.

HEARTY MAINS

If you can’t make up your mind, we recommend getting the Pumpkin & Feta Cheese Pizza (S$20++) which features an assortment of delicious and fresh-tasting meatless toppings such as roasted pumpkin, arugula, feta cheese, tomatoes and caramelised onion that are scattered generously atop a hand-pulled dough base that has been stretched to delicate perfection.

For something that best encompasses sweet, savoury, soft and crunchy, you can opt to have their Chicken & Waffle (S$18++). The freshly made waffle is slathered with a savoury bacon jam and arranged neatly atop, is a massive slab of crispy fried chicken as well as a fried egg. The dish comes with a side of crème Fraiche which adds a subtle tartness and creamy indulgence when eaten together with the chicken and waffle.

The Oriole Truffle Burger (S$22++), which comes with a side of fries, has a mild truffle fragrance that immediately hits you as you take your first bite. Sandwiched between fluffy brioche buns is a stack of juicy grilled grain-fed beef patty, sautéed mushrooms, caramelised onions, melted cheese, truffle aioli, and tossed greens. Although the beef patty could have had a stronger meaty flavour, the rest of the ingredients made up for it.

If you prefer something from the ocean you can always opt for the Fish Tacos (S$22++) which are essentially battered red snapper fillets and red cabbage slaw encased in a lightly toasted taco shell. The fork-tender red snapper was encrusted in a crisp, golden brown exterior that let out a satisfying crunch when we bit into it.

For heavier meats, St. Louis Pork Ribs (S$30++) is a half-slab serving of BBQ ribs with sweet potato fries and crunchy purple cabbage slaw. The pork was tender soft and we easily pulled it off the bone. The coat of sticky kecap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce) wasn’t too sweet and didn’t overwhelm the pork. The saucer of chilli relish it came with was a tad citrusy, lifting the heavy flavours of the ribs.

END YOUR MEAL ON A SWEET NOTE

We sang nothing but praises for their ambrosial Sticky Date Pudding (S$12++) which was the perfect way to balance out the savouriness of the other dishes. The dense pudding that lay in a pool of saccharine toffee sauce was served warm and in contrast, it was finished off with a dollop of ice cold ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery®.

This ambrosial dessert sees a dense pudding sponge, placed in the middle of a plate and surrounding it is a moat of warm, velvety toffee sauce. Indulgent, and we dare say, sinful, this dessert is finished with a huge scoop of fresh vanilla ice cream over top. The ice cream sparks a lovely contrast with the warm pudding and toffee sauce, giving you an interesting burst of sensations and flavours with each spoonful. We highly suggest that you start on the dessert once it hits the table as the warmth from the pudding makes the ice cream melt fast.

With its inviting atmosphere, central location, fantastic food and wallet-friendly drinks, what is there not to love about Oriole Coffee + Bar? A one-stop cafe located smack in the heart of town where the qualities of great brunch-style nosh, good vibes and affordable drinks cohesively intertwine, Oriole Coffee + Bar is where it’s at if you’re looking for a memorable night out with your pals.

If you’re planning to head down anytime soon, remember to take full advantage of their S$10 nett per pint Kronenbourg Blanc promotion as well as bring along a big group of friends to get your hands on some of those welcome drinks!

Oriole Coffee + Bar
96 Somerset Road, #01-01
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites (next to 313@Somerset)
Singapore 238163
Tel: +65 6238 8348
Sun to Thu: 8am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 12am
Nearest Station: Somerset
G: @oriolecoffee
Website: www.oriole.com.sg

This post was brought to you by Oriole Coffee + Bar.

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/03/oriole-coffee-bar-singapore/feed/ 0 https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/02/the-marmalade-pantry-ion/ https://www.ladyironchef.com/2019/02/the-marmalade-pantry-ion/#comments Mon, 25 Feb 2019 10:13:14 +0000 ladyironchef https://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=175822 Continue reading →]]>

The foodie community wept when The Marmalade Pantry announced back in mid-2018 that it was closing it’s outlet at ION Orchard. A beloved high-tea spot in the heart of town, we fell in love with everything there from their charming ambience, innovative brunch dishes and a wide selection of artisanal teas and cakes.

Well, surprise, surprise, the home-grown bistro is set to return to its former premise on the 4th level of ION Orchard once again. This time, armed with a tasty arsenal of new dishes in addition to signature favourites such as their Spicy Crabmeat pasta and Sticky Date & Toffee Pudding. Looking forward to other new and exclusive to this outlet dishes like the stellar high-tea set and a trio of decadent desserts specially crafted by Masterchef Singapore’s runner-up, Chef Genevieve Lee as part of a collaboration that pays humble tribute local dishes and in support of local talent.

With a whopping total of more than 10 new and exclusive menu items and more, be wowed by the likes of their new Asian section, featuring the Kimchi Fried Rice, served with a gorgeously pink medium-rare strip loin and the Singapore Laksa, a homage to our beloved local dish but with the addition of slipper lobster. Looking to pamper yourself as you catch up with friends? Their Decadent Afternoon Tea Set comes with a variety of sweet and savoury confectionery delights and freshly brewed pots of tea by Monogram.

MARYLAND CRAB CAKES

The key to any good crab cake is using fresh lump crabmeat, leaving them slightly chunky and not overly shredded and to go light on the filler. Safe to say, the folks here nailed it perfectly. Their Maryland Crab Cakes (S$26++) focuses squarely on the crab, allowing each bite to be crispy and packed full of sweetness and natural flavours of crab.

The homemade tartar sauce served on the side was also spot on, not overly rich with a good amount of diced gherkins added to give the sauce a sufficient citrus kick to complement the crab cakes.

SPICY SRIRACHA CHICKEN BURGER

Delightful in both its flavour and texture, the Spicy Sriracha Chicken Burger (S$24++) assaults the several fronts. First, you get the crunch from the perfectly deep-fried spiced chicken patty before succulent juices come oozing out, followed by the tangy kick from the Sriracha mayo which nicely complements the rich notes of the blue cheese.

SINGAPORE LAKSA

Unlike many restaurants out there that try to tweak and reinvent local dishes to the point that it’s unrecognisable, the good folks here do well to retain the essence of what they aim to recreate. The broth of their Singapore Laksa (S$32++) is rich, spicy and exudes a bold seafood aroma and also features the likes of slipper lobster, quail eggs, tiger prawns for that luxe appeal.

KIMCHI FRIED RICE

A homage to the classic after-tipple comfort food, we were most thrilled to tuck into their new Kimchi Fried Rice (S$26++). On a bed of fried rice cooked with fresh kimchi, sits a nicely seared striploin steak, perfectly pink in the middle and golden brown from edge to edge. For umami, nori is garnished over the top and sous vide egg, served on the side for added richness.

Served flat on a griddle pan—similar to how a Spanish paella would be served—the bottom layer of the rice achieves an even crust, giving the dish a toasted flavour and a crunch as well.

SPICY CRABMEAT PASTA

Perhaps one of the best pasta dishes we’ve tried here to date, the Spicy Crabmeat Pasta (S$26++) impresses with its generosity with good quality crabmeat, perfectly cooked pasta and a flavourful, umami-dense sauce that binds everything together nicely.

The addition of pine nuts into the mix gives the dish a nutty, somewhat buttery flavour which does well to complement the sharp taste of the spicy tomato sauce.

BRICK-PRESSED CHICKEN

The method of cooking a chicken, skin-side down with a weighted object (in this case a brick) pressed down on it allows the skin to crisp up evenly. It also forces the meat to remain flat, ensuring that every morsel of meat cooks at the same pace.

We were beyond sold the moment we tasted their Brick Pressed Chicken (S$30++). Well-seasoned and crispy with a buttery herb flavour to underscore it, every bite was a joy. The dish comes served with roasted celeriac, potatoes and topped with truffle herb butter.

CURRY BARRAMUNDI

Beautifully robust with a heady aroma of warm spices which seemed to lean toward a tangier note—much like the classic South Indian fish head curry—, we couldn’t keep our forks to ourselves when it came down to their Curry Barramundi (S$28++).

Nestled atop a bed of Japanese rice and vegetables is a perfectly cooked barramundi fillet and served alongside the dish is the aromatic curry. An interesting choice of rice given that the dish is essentially Indian, the starchier Japanese short grain rice did well to hold on to the fish curry, providing an interesting texture along with a flavourful bite.

STICKY DATE & TOFFEE PUDDING

Whether you’re a sucker for sweets or not, one does not simply leave The Marmalade Pantry without ordering up their Sticky Date & Toffee Pudding (S$14++). The epitome of luxury, this dessert for champions features a steamed pudding studded with ripe dates and is surrounded by a generous pour of toffee sauce and a large scoop of Cold Stone Creamery’s vanilla ice cream.

Sweet, sticky and indulgent from start to finish, this is one dessert that begs to be enjoyed after your meal regardless of how stuffed you are.

A SPECIAL COLLABORATION WITH MASTERCHEF SINGAPORE’S RUNNER-UP GENEVIEVE LEE

Exclusive to The Marmalade Pantry’s flagship at ION Orchard, be treated to a trio of decadence prepared by none other than Masterchef Singapore’s runner-up, Genevieve (Gen) Lee. Trained in culinary arts, the edge that Gen has is in her expansive knowledge of ingredients such as herbs and spices, of which she uses in her various cakes and desserts.

“Herbs are rarely used in desserts which is a shame because there is so much untapped potential there. I used thyme in my cake because it lends freshness to further lift the dessert.”, she explains.

A taste of home, her Reimagined Kaya Toast Dessert is a deconstructed kaya toast with varying elements such as a meringue that comprises toast from Ya Kun Kaya Toast, a custardy, slightly salty coconut sauce to resemble the butter element and a pistachio sponge that accurately replicates the toasted, nutty flavours of charred toast.

If you’re a sucker for anything containing blueberries, her The Blue Rhapsody Cake will surely impress. Infused with lemon and thyme, the cake takes on an aromatic and bright-tasting appeal, which is further elevated with a layer of blueberries followed by a lovely hazelnut crumble on top. Wrapped around the cake is a layer of cream cheese that she sweetens using honey instead of sugar.

A specialty and one that warrants a try if you’re a fan of the iconic Thai pushcart dessert is her Mango Sticky Rice named Sunset in a glass. Intricately prepared, the dessert features components such as a sorbet made using Thai mangoes, an assortment of crushed toasted nuts, a toasted meringue, sticky rice infused with coconut and diced cubes of super ripe Thai mangoes.

AFTERNOON TEA SET

Since the day it opened its doors, The Marmalade Pantry has impressed many with its stellar array of afternoon tea delights. Luxurious in both its food and tea offerings as well as its luxe interior, stopping by for high tea between 3pm to 6pm daily is highly recommended.

Treat yourselves to their High Tea Set (S$60++) that comfortably serves two. What you get is a double-tiered platter comprising a variety of sweet and savouries followed by 2 pots of freshly brewed tea by Mongram Tea (Available from 4 March 2019 onwards).

Enjoy these new creations at the flagship outlet and enjoy 15% off when you pay with Mastercard!

The Marmalade Pantry
#04-11a, ION Orchard,
2 Orchard Turn,
Singapore 238801
Nearest Station: Orchard

This post was brought to you by The Marmalade Pantry.

Famed for its contemporary approaches to traditional Chinese food along with its unyielding commitment to theatrics and witty presentation, Lokkee, part of the TungLok Group, is one Chinese restaurant that impresses time and time again.

The restaurant reinterprets and elevates the traditional Chinese recipes with a dash of Western influence, celebrating the unique style of cuisine that is commonly found in Chinatowns dotted across major, non-Chinese cities around the world such as New York, London and Sydney.

Through marrying culinary prowess along with fresh, top quality ingredients, the chefs here continue to push boundaries to what many of us know and understand about Chinese cooking, creating a whole new genre of Chinese cuisine altogether. Our favourites include their Firecracker Chicken Nest that draws its inspiration from Sichuan’s cuisine as well as their ‘Bakkwa’ Bacon Salad—a starter that marries both the East and West perfectly.

‘BAKKWA’ BACON SALAD

A meaty snack that has risen in popularity over the years is bakkwa. Salty, sweet, smoky and everything one could ever want to munch on when feeling peckish, this barbecued beauty—similar to jerky—has won the hearts of many and even of those who live abroad.

Featuring bakkwa in one of its top-selling salad dishes, the ‘Bakkwa’ Bacon Salad (S$32++) arrives at the table surrounded by a moat of dry ice that aims to mystify the dish and excite the senses. In this dish, bacon strips are grilled bakkwa-style and coated with toasted sesame and hung over a bed of oriental greens and lotus root croutons. Hung immediately after the bacon strips are cooked, the fat is allowed to drip down onto the salad, giving the salad a buttery sheen and smoky flavour.

The bacon ‘bakkwa’ is on a whole different level in terms of taste and texture. Coated in a sweet glaze and a substantial amount of luscious liquid fat to tie it all off, every bite comes with the promise of sensorial pleasure.

FIRECRACKER CHICKEN NEST

A crowd-favourite and one that took us by surprise was the Firecracker Chicken Nest (S$28++).

Reinterpreting the iconic Chinese takeout dish, kung pao chicken, what you get is a vibrant mess of dried chilli, Sichuan peppercorns, chicken bits that have been coated in five-spice powder and deep-fried. Contrary to the heaping mound of dried chilli, the heat is actually pretty manageable and the chicken, extremely tasty.

But should you feel a need to cool off your palate, the mango purée—the bright-yellow blob cleverly designed to look like an egg yolk—instantly cools the tongue and delivers a sweet, fruity explosion.

AWESOME FLAMING PINEAPPLE BEEF

From appearance, right down to its gentle marriage of flavours, the Awesome Flaming Pineapple Beef (S$34++) dish truly epitomises the cuisine associated with fortune cookies and Chinese takeout boxes commonly seen in Hollywood movies.

Fruity and tangy rather than savoury and robust, the braised chunks of beef borrows flavour from its host, resulting in a lovely flavour that marries the best of both ingredients wonderfully. For theatrical purposes, the pineapple is set aflame upon serving so be sure to have your cameras at the ready.

DRAGON PHOENIX POT

A new addition to Lokkee’s menu is the Dragon Phoenix Pot (S$30++), a one-pot-wonder that seems strangely familiar to the classic drunken prawn dish. Neatly arranged at the base of the pot is chicken wings, prawns, wolfberries and enokitake mushrooms. However, the fun only begins the second an entire bottle of Gosnells London Mead is emptied into the pot.

Mead, an alcoholic beverage that’s made by fermenting honey and water, gives the dish a sweet, honey flavour and helps to bring out the sweetness of the other ingredients as well. As it reduces down, the flavour of the soup develops and becomes enriched with all its various components, giving you a concentrated soup with depth.

THE MERMAID WITH FRESH FISH MAW

A juggernaut of a dish and one that demands to be shared between more than two people at least, THE MERMAID with fresh fish maw (S$128++)—inspired by the recently-popular grilled fish from Sichuan—sees a massive fillet of grilled barramundi, topped with fish maw and accompanied by squares of tofu. The dish first arrives in dry form before the servers eventually spoon over two large blobs of collagen and a concentrated broth.

Healthy, fragrant and apparently great for your complexion as well, the broth is made simply using fish bones and fish skin. The result? A full-bodied broth that brims with clean, comforting flavours and some serious umami. The fish itself is grilled beautifully, boasting flaky, delicate flesh that pairs exceptionally well with the flavourful broth.

PUMPKIN BUTTER CREAM SHRIMP

Smelling, looking and tasting like salted egg yolk but devoid of it, the all-new Pumpkin Butter Cream Shrimp (S$26++) is truly a stunner. Served on skewers, it makes for easier consumption and also looks appealing when plated.

Savoury, buttery and adorned with a velvety sheen, the shrimps possessed a tender and succulent texture that made gobbling the entire dish up an easy a task.

WAGYU TRUFFLE ‘HOR FUN’

One of our ultimate favourites at Lokkee would have to be their Wagyu Truffle Hor Fun (S$60++). Served in a gigantic bowl, a serving of tender hor fun is topped with crispy shards of fried dough and topped neatly with thick slices of medium-rare Wagyu beef.

As if the bowl filled with top-quality beef wasn’t enough, a viscous truffle-infused sauce is drizzled over top, completing the dish and giving it a heightened richness. Delicious and decadent, this dish has stolen the hearts of many and continues to wow diners new and old.

KING PRAWN ‘CHAO TA’ NOODLES

Yet another new addition to the restaurant’s menu is the King Prawn ‘Chao Ta’ Noodles (S$38++).

Sitting on a bed of crispy fried egg noodles is a heaping mound of king prawns coated in a luscious tomato-based sauce. The prawns are soft and tender and came out of their shells with ease. The sauce is tangy, spicy and sweet, much like our iconic chilli crab but with a flavour that’s considerably more held-back.

Complementing the prawns beautifully, the ‘chao ta’ noodles—fried till its base achieves a blackened char—provided a smoky backbone and an enticing crispy texture that made the dish more addictive.

FRIED DURIAN

There’s an undeniable finesse and a great deal of skill and knowledge of gastronomy that guides each dish from the kitchen to table, and the chefs here really pull all the stops to make dining here an unforgettable experience for all.

A dish, or rather dessert, that best exemplifies this quality is their Fried Durian (S$16++), a sweet treat that introduces a symphony of sensations on the tongue. Scattered around the perfectly deep-fried durian fritters is a carefully organised mess comprising strawberry caviar, popping candy, flecks of flower petals and coconut flakes that do well to beautify as well as to tease.

Fried till perfectly golden, the initial crunchy bite reveals a molten durian centre that is both sweet, velvety and warm like a custard and while the pop rocks and sago do not contribute much to the overall taste of the dessert, it does provide interesting textures.

Lokkee Plaza Singapura, #03-01 68 Orchard Road Singapore 238839 Tel: +65 6884 4566 Daily: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

This post was brought to you by Lokkee.