Festive seasons are always the best excuse to go for an indulgent treat with your loved ones because that is when restaurants curate seasonal menus to celebrate the best of the season’s offering.

Featuring a multitude of expert culinary offerings and feasts fit for all kinds of celebrations, Marina Bay Sands is ushering in this festive season with a diverse spread of cuisines from more than 10 signature restaurants. Now when it comes to gourmet dining at Marina Bay Sands, you can be sure of fine food, excellent wine and without a doubt, plenty of festive cheer!

This Christmas, look forward to a host of exciting gastronomic experiences at these award-winning dining establishments.

#1 ADRIFT BY DAVID MYERS

Helmed by Celebrity Chef David Myers and his team of master chefs, Adrift takes on a modern approach of an izakaya, using Californian ingredients to whip up Asian-inspired recipes.

From now till 30 Dec, indulge in the share plate (S$198++) of Dry Aged Australian OP Rib On The Bone which is cooked over Binchotan charcoal and topped with red miso. The sharing platter also features other seasonal accompaniments such as Japanese potato salad, house tsukemono pickles, gem lettuce and fragrant seaweed rice. Perfect for a group of four!

Otherwise, celebrate New Year’s Eve with the six-course Adrift Tasting menu (S$288++) paired with special cocktails, champagne and wines. Highlights on the menu include Charred Octopus and Kagoshima Wagyu A4. Party your way into 2018 with 3 hours of free-flow champagne, wines, beers and spirits at S$128++.

Marina Bay Sands
Hotel Lobby Tower 2
Tel: +65 6688 5657

#2 BREAD STREET KITCHEN BY GORDON RAMSAY

Have a classic English Christmas from 5 Dec to 25 Dec with a weekend two-course ‘Breakfast & Brunch’ menu (S$49++) or a festive three-course dinner menu (S$95++), with favourites including traditional roasted turkey, pigs in blanket and cranberry relish.

Come New Year’s Eve, Bread Street Kitchen will be unveiling a four-course dinner menu that will showcase its signature Beef Wellington with black truffle mash, glazed carrots, seasonal greens and red wine jus (S$150++ for first seating; S$215++ for second seating).

Opt for the second seating and be treated with the hourly fireworks on the bay and also enjoy a glass of wine with your dinner!

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
L1-81, Bay Level
Tel: +65 6688 5665

#3 CLUB55

Located on the 55th floor of Marina Bay Sands, Club55 boasts panoramic views of the skyline and sea from 55 stories up.

Just for this Christmas Eve, Club55 has a special buffet spread (S$168++ for adults, S$68++ for children) that will please all palates—there is a seafood bar on ice and a spread of mains in the likes of Roasted Lamb Rack with mustard jus and Black Angus Beef 150-200 days Tomahawk with Shallot Jus.

Club55 is a vantage point for fireworks display and it is one of the best places to usher in the New Year. Delight in Club55’s New Year’s Eve buffet dinner (S$248++ per pax) and have a taste of the Honey-Balsamico Glazed Spanish Pork Leg and Poached William Pear with Champagne Sabayon among others. Guests can top up S$48++ for free-flow champagne the entire night!

Marina Bay Sands
Level 55, Hotel Tower 2
Tel: +65 6688 8858

#4 CUT BY WOLFGANG PUCK

For Christmas, partake in CUT’s Christmas Eve menu (S$500++ for four) featuring notable dishes such as U.S.D.A. Prime, Illinois Corn Fed Bone-in Rib Eye Steak aged for 21 days and Mini Kobe Sliders.

New Year’s Eve at CUT will see you indulging in prime cuts in the form of Red Poll Ribeye dry aged for 45 days and Big Eye Tuna Tartare with Wasabi aioli and Togarashi crisps with tosa soy.

For the first time ever, the steak restaurant is serving a New Year’s Day Brunch (S$175++) and you can bet that it is spectacular, and the perfect cure for any hangover!. Feast on premium American Wagyu Sirloin Steak and Eggs with roasted Fingerling potato and watercress salad. There will also be a dessert trolley with a curated selection of house-made pastries and free-flow alcohol.

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
B1-71, Galleria Level
Tel: +65 6688 8517

#5 DB BISTRO & OYSTER BAR BY DANIEL BOULUD

Ring in Christmas with this contemporary French bistro’s four-course Christmas Eve menu (S$165++ per pax) that comes with top-quality seafood—Oscietra Caviar, King Crab Salad, Chilean Seabass “Black & White” with black truffles and more.

From now to 25 Dec, pamper your family and loved ones with the classic Bûche de Noël (S$50+) log cake which is available for takeaway. Available in both Chocolate Praline and Coconut Mango flavours, these handcrafted French roulades make great gifts to bring along to a festive gathering.

Have a taste of Celebrity Chef Daniel Boulud’s signature “Black Tie” Scallops and Champagne Rose Floating Garden, which are part of the five-course New Year’s Eve menu at S$198++. Guests can choose to go for sommelier wine-pairing for both festive menus (S$75++).

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
B1-48, Galleria Level
Tel: +65 6688 8525

#6 OSTERIA MOZZA BY NANCY SILVERTON

Osteria Mozza is a reflection of Chef Nancy Silverton’s love for Italian cuisine and the restaurant is best known for its largest variety of fresh handmade pastas daily and its free standing mozzarella bar.

Go Italian this Christmas with their two-day only six-course tasting menu (S$188++). You must try the Tortellini in Brodo with white truffle and Cavatelli with winter squash and sage.

Treat your palate to a hearty five-course dinner (S$188++) as you welcome the New Year by savouring authentic Italian dishes such as the Shrimp Ravioli with Vermouth and fine herbs, and the Lobster ‘Fra Diavolo’ with white wine, garlic, chili, tomato and fresh herbs.

Pair your meal with full-bodied Riserva wine to make it all the better (S$120++).

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
B1-42-46, Galleria Level
Tel: +65 6688 8522

#7 RISE

Enjoy a spread of holiday fare at RISE Restaurant, an all-day dining restaurant with an impressive international buffet known for its sustainable seafood and adjacent herb garden.

On Christmas Eve and Christmas, the live stations will be cooking up a storm with Christmas classics such as the Ravioli with black truffle shavings, Honey glazed ham with pineapple sauce and Traditional roasted turkey.

The celebrations continue on to New Year’s Eve, where you will be treated to a mouthwatering array of dishes including Spanish baby pig Balinese style and Salmon coulibiac with champagne sauce.

Rise Festive Pricing
15-17 & 22-23 Dec S$68 (Lunch) S$88 (Dinner)
CHILD S$25 (Lunch) S$38 (Dinner)

24 Dec S$72 (Lunch) S$128 (Dinner)
CHILD S$25 (Lunch) S$58 (Dinner)

25 Dec BRUNCH S$158
S$198 (free-flow champagne, craft beer, sommelier’s selection wines, juices & soft drinks)
S$368 (premium free-flow Piper Rare champagne, speciality cocktails, craft beer, sommelier’s selection wines, juices & soft drinks)
DINNER S$118
CHILD S$58

29-30 Dec S$68 (Lunch) S$88 (Dinner)
CHILD S$25 (Lunch) S$38 (Dinner)

31 Dec S$72 (Lunch) S$148 (Dinner)
CHILD S$25 (Lunch) S$58 (Dinner)

1 Jan BRUNCH S$158
$198 (free-flow champagne, craft beer, sommelier’s selection wines, juices & soft drinks)
S$368 (premium free-flow Piper Rare champagne, speciality cocktails, craft beer, sommelier’s selection wines, juices & soft drinks)
DINNER S$98
CHILD S$48

Marina Bay Sands
Hotel Lobby, Tower 1
Tel: +65 6688 5525

#8 SPAGO BY WOLFGANG PUCK

Perched on Sands SkyPark, Spago is Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck’s second restaurant at Marina Bay Sands showcasing Californian cuisine.

If you are looking for something extra special to spice up the festive season, start your night at the Spago Dining Room with a four-course Christmas menu (S$195++) and three or four-course New Year’s Eve menu (from S$250++) which will exceed your expectations. Some creations to take note of are the Black Truffle Veal Filet Mignon Tartare and the signature Pan Seared Red Snapper “Laksa”.

Then head next door to Spago’s Bar and Lounge for their Royal Countdown New Year’s Eve Party (S$99++ cover charge inclusive of a glass of Champagne) where guests can have bar bites and cocktails at the al fresco bar while enjoying the mesmerising fireworks display.

Minimum spend applies for table reservations.

Marina Bay Sands
Sands SkyPark, Tower 2 Level 57
Tel: +65 6688 9955

#9 THE BIRD SOUTHERN TABLE & BAR

On 24 and 25 Dec, the festive season is in full swing and you get to enjoy a delicious platter of Chicken Fried Turkey, Green Bean Casserole, Pumpkin Tiramisu with Almond Biscotti (S$48++).

Usher in 2018 with the New Year’s Eve three-course menu (S$98++) which includes a glass of prosecco with festive specials such as Uni Baked King Crab, a choice of Fried Chicken and Caviar or Bone-in Short Rib, and Red Velvet Trifle. The restaurant’s bar is by the waterfront so you can head up after for more tipple as you enjoy the hourly fireworks!

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
B1-07, Galleria Level
Tel: +65 6688 9959

#10 THE BAR AT WAKU GHIN BY TETSUYA WAKUDA

Dedicated to the art of Japanese cocktail, The Bar at Waku Ghin welcomes you as you enter Celebrity Chef Tetsuya Wakuda’s two Michelin-starred restaurant.

Their festive bar bites menu (S$200++ per person) caters to two pax and it features six premium dishes with star dishes such as Aburi Tasmanian Ocean Trout with a hint of chilli and Japanese Ohmi Wagyu from Shiga prefecture with wasabi and citrus soy.

Available on Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year’s Eve and Day from 5pm to 10pm, this is the ideal dining destination for couples or those looking for an intimate setting for dinner.

The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
L2-01, Level 2 Dining
Tel: +65 6688 8507

This post is brought to you by Marina Bay Sands.

Doubled boiled soups are an important part of the Cantonese dining culture. A good bowl of traditional double-boiled Cantonese soup is gratifying and flavoursome, using simple yet nutritious ingredients that are often very beneficial for one’s health. It’s said that the mark of a good Cantonese restaurant also comes down to the taste of its double-boiled soups.

From now to 31 October 2016, Yàn at National Gallery Singapore will be introducing a ‘Prosperity Soup Feast’ which consists of 25 double boiled soups! Each soup order (S$13.80++) comes with a bowl of fragrant crispy rice, lightly poached in superior stock,to complete your meal.

With over two decades of Cantonese culinary experience under his belt, you can be assured that Yàn’s Master Chef Chan Kung Lai serves up authentic and delicious Cantonese-style double boiled soups with health benefits that can help cure common ailments.

Only natural ingredients are carefully selected and used in the preparation; think black garlic, a fermented garlic considered a health ‘superfood’ known to be a potent antioxidant, as well as a variety of Chinese herbs such as Huang Qi and Cordyceps.

The double-boiling method of cooking ensures that the nutrients in these ingredients are gently released and seeped into the soup, resulting in a clear broth that is intensely rich and flavourful.

Looking to strengthen the immunity system? Go for the Double Boiled Sea Whelk and Black Garlic. If you are down with a cold, try Double Boiled Duck with Parsely and Dried Orange Peel. A bowl of Double Boiled Pig Stomach with Pepper and Gingko dispels heat from the body.

Ladies, the Double Boiled Chinese Cabbage with Yunnan Ham is prepared specially for you and it nourishes ‘yin’ and lung functions. Then, there is the Double Boiled Baby Clam with Pepper that will help calm and warm your stomach.

The 25 soup options will be on rotational basis, and there will be a minimum of five different soups available daily. Guests are able to pre-order with the restaurant one day in advance if there is a particular one that interests you!

Give your body a dose of TLC with a warm and nutritious bowl of Yàn’s double-boiled soup today!

Yàn
1 St. Andrew’s Road, #05-02
National Gallery Singapore
Singapore 178957
Reservations: +65 63845585 / reserve@yan.com.sg
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat and Sun: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
www.yan.com.sg | www.facebook.com/yancantonesecuisine
Nearest Station: City Hall

This post was brought to you by Yàn.

Golden Peony is an award-winning upscale Chinese restaurant located on the third level of Conrad Centennial Singapore Hotel. The fancy establishment is helmed by celebrated Hong Kong native Chef Ku Keung. He who possesses a wealth of culinary experience will impress with his selection of Cantonese delicacies executed with adroitness.

Despite receiving numerous accolades, Golden Peony’s menus remain surprisingly reasonable.

This month, the restaurant is launching three new exciting value-for-money set menus that is sure to pique your interest – the most popular is Chef Ku Keung’s Tasting Menu (S$100++ per pax), the Golden Peony Dim Sum Weekend Experience (S$59++ per pax) and Golden Peony Weekend Dinner Family Set Menu (S$180++ for four pax).

And that’s not all. We have partnered with Golden Peony to reward you with exclusive and very rewarding offers. From now till 31 October 2016, look forward to complimentary FREE-FLOW house red or white wine, one dines free with every three paying adults and a complimentary roast London duck upgrade when dining at Golden Peony! Read on to find out what these awesome perks are.

EXECUTIVE CHINESE CHEF KU KEUNG’S TASTING MENU

WHAT TO EXPECT: Golden Peony Executive Chinese Chef Ku Keung’s Tasting Menu showcases a carefully curated five-course meal that is available daily during lunch and dinner.

Indulge in five gourmet creations put together by celebrity Chef Ku Keung and think of the feast like a degustation at a very reasonable price of S$100++ per pax. The menu changes every 3 months, featuring Chef’s signature and newly launched dishes.

The current menu will have you beginning with an appetiser platter, which consists of a Fresh Prawn and Sea Jelly with Minced Garlic, Preserved Asparagus and Steamed Beancurd filled with Prawn Mousse topped with Scallop and Crab Roe. Eat these bite-size savouries with their homemade XO chilli sauce.

Golden Peony’s specialty dish – lobster meat wrapped with sliced fish and fish roe, served with baby spinach in a rich seafood broth – is a decadent highlight featuring a palm-size seafood plated beautifully on a crystal-like glassware dish atop a black ceramic plate.

But what we absolutely dig is the popular Roast London Duck served two ways. We have previously fallen in love with the hotel’s rendition of London Duck from its Sunday Brunch, and this star dish will be part of the tasting menu too!

Eat the poultry as it is or like how you would eat a Peking duck by wrapping the succulent flesh in delicate crepe. The thin wrap – handcrafted from scratch with three types of flour – is unbelievably soft and actually does not harden even when left in the open for long.

The fourth item on the tasting menu is the Pan-fried King Prawn with Superior Soy Sauce served with Fish Noodle and Baby Cabbage. These noodles are no ordinary noodles – they are actually made from fish, and they are springy and slightly sweet.

The 5-course meal will be concluded with Golden Peony’s divine avocado-coconut dessert. Chilled Avocado Cream with Vanilla Ice-Cream served in a Whole Young Coconut alongside a Baked Sweet Potato Filo Pastry – the former is a creamy addiction that is subtly sweet with nuances of coconut fragrance, while the latter is a signature dessert that is made in the shape of a swan. This dessert alone is well worth the experience of the Tasting Menu.

PRICE: S$100++ per pax

PROMOTION FOR READERS OF LADYIRONCHEF*: Enjoy complimentary free-flow red or white house wine by simply quoting ‘LIC_Tasting’ upon making reservations.

WEEKEND DIM SUM EXPERIENCE

WHAT TO EXPECT: Celebrate the end of a work week with Golden Peony’s Weekend Dim Sum Experience during lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Diners get to select four choices of dim sums and four specialty dishes per table and a choice of soup from the extensive menu. End on a sweet note with your favourite dessert choice.

From classic Cantonese Steamed Prawn Dumplings (aka Har Gow) and Steamed Barbecued Pork Buns to modern contemporary Crispy Sea Perch and Avocado Roll topped with Mild Spicy Lime Sauce, expect a mouthwatering plethora of artisanal dim sums. The sea perch is the best thing we’ve tried at Golden Peony – fresh white fish deep-fried with avocado, then coated with a tangy sauce; it was addictive beyond comprehension.

There are three types of nourishing broths to choose from; think double-boiled chicken soup and double-boiled striped snakehead. Also make sure to try the Wasabi Mayo Prawns.

PRICE: S$59++ per pax

PROMOTION FOR READERS OF LADYIRONCHEF*: One dines free with every three paying adults for the Weekend Dim Sum Experience menu. This gives you more reasons to dine out with friends, yes? Simply do so by quoting ‘LIC_DimSum’ upon making reservations.

WEEKEND DINNER FAMILY SET MENU

WHAT TO EXPECT: We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw that the price of Golden Peony Weekend Dinner Family Set Menu – S$180++ for four pax. This is certainly one of the best dining deals in town.

The family set menu is made up of five premium dishes – a half portion of Roast London Duck, Double-boiled Superior Fish Soup with Fish Maw, Bamboo Pith and Wolf Berries, a choice of either Stewed Prawn Glass Noodle or Steamed ‘Soon Hock’ Fish, Traditional Claypot Rice with Chinese Sausage, Live Sausage, Wax Duck and Wax Meat and Chilled Lemongrass Jelly with Aloe Vera and Lychee.

This is the same London duck, except that you will get a full duck instead of a half portion if you quote ‘LIC_Family’. That’s right – no other terms and conditions.

And the steamed fish dish is what we all affectionately know as the ‘wedding fish’, except that Golden Peony’s rendition is way better and fresher. And the premium soya sauce used is also less salty.

Do note that this Family Set is only available during dinner on Saturdays and Sundays.

PRICE: S$180++ for four persons

PROMOTION FOR READERS OF LADYIRONCHEF*: You are entitled to a complimentary upgrade from the usual half duck portion to a whole London duck by quoting ‘LIC_Family’ upon making reservations.

*These promotions are only valid till Monday, 31 October 2016. Black-out dates do apply and these offers cannot be combined with other discount benefits. The hotel reserves the right to amend the above terms and conditions without prior notice.

Golden Peony
2 Temasek Blvd, Level 3
Conrad Centennial Singapore Hotel
Singapore 038983
Reservations: +65 6432 7482/88 or sinci.goldenpeony@conradhotels.com
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Website: www.connoisseur.sg
Nearest Station: Promenade

This post is brought to you by Conrad Centennial Singapore Hotel.

The recent launch of the Singapore Michelin Guide has seen 27 restaurants being bestowed the honourable star(s).

Sure, we are extremely happy for the chosen ones, but there are still a couple of dining establishments that are no less deserving of the Michelin star and we only wished they were given the recognition too. These places are equally reputable and definitely regarded as Singapore’s best restaurants, and we are sure many share our sentiments on this.

While the Michelin star(s) is a testimony to a restaurant’s success, it does not necessarily mean that any restaurants without it actually pales in comparison. From modern Australian barbecue restaurant Burnt Ends, Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine to award-winning Tippling Club, here are 11 Best Restaurants in Singapore That Do Not Have Michelin Stars.

Source: Asia Bars

#1 BURNT ENDS

Burnt Ends is ranked as the World’s 70th Best Restaurant and Asia’s 14th Best Restaurant. Needless to say, scoring a reservation requires tremendous patience but the divine Australian barbecue food is well worth the approximate two-month wait!

The menu changes every day but customers can expect consistently superb dishes that have been prepared with finesse.

20 Teck Lim Road
Singapore 088391
Tel: +65 6224 3933
Closed on Sundays and Mondays
Tue: 6pm – 12am
Wed to Sat: 11.45am – 2pm, 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Outram Park

#2 DB BISTRO MODERNE SINGAPORE

Located in Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay Sands, DB Bistro Moderne Singapore is the brainchild of internationally-acclaimed restaurateur Daniel Boulud. The restaurant is renowned for their Original db Burger (S$42++) – a juicy beef patty stuffed with foie gras and sandwiched between two fluffy Parmesan buns.

Other noteworthy dishes include the Duck Confit and Ribeye. The service at DB Bistro Moderne Singapore is also impeccable!

2 Bayfront Avenue
Marina Bay Sands
Singapore 018956
Tel: +65 6688 8525
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 10pm
Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront

#3 GARIBALDI

Garibaldi is one of Singapore’s most popular Italian restaurants. Set lunch starts from S$39++ per person and Chef’s Degustation Dinner starts from S$188++ per person.

Fresh ingredients – imported directly from Italy – are used to prepare Garibaldi’s authentic Italian delicacies. The restaurant is perfect for business luncheons, romantic date nights and private functions.

36 Purvis Street
Singapore 188613
Tel: +65 6837 1468
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

Source: The World’s 50 Best

#4 IGGY’S

Located in Hilton Singapore, Iggy’s is a fine dining international restaurant that has successfully merged the flavours and culinary techniques of Australian, European and Japanese cuisines.

The fancy establishment has been ranked as number 18 in Asia and has also gained the approval of Gourmet & Travel Magazine, Forbes Travel Guide and Singapore Tatler.

581 Orchard Road
The Hilton Hotel, Level 3
Singapore 238883
Tel: +65 6732 2234
Closed on Sundays and Wednesdays
Mon, Tue, Thu to Sat: 12pm – 1.30pm, 7pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#5 IMPERIAL TREASURE FINE CHINESE CUISINE

The Imperial Treasure name is synonymous with top-notch and impressive Chinese food. The prices might be relatively steep, but the stellar dining experience at Imperial Treasure’s flagship outlet in Marina Bay Sands is well worth your hard-earned money.

Our favourite dishes here include the Steamed Bamboo Clams, Peking Duck, and its range of Chinese boiled soups. The Sweet & Sour Pork is also one of the best we have had in Singapore.

10 Bayfront Avenue
Marina Bay Sands
The Shoppes Atrium 2
L2-04, The Shoppes
Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 6688 7788
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront

#6 PIZZERIA MOZZA

Originating from Los Angeles, specialty pizza restaurant Pizzeria Mozza – owned and operated by Mario Batali, Joe Bastianich and Nancy Silverton - has defied all traditional notions of a pizzeria.

The prices of the pizza range from S$20 for a Tomato & Sicilian oregano, to S$38 for the Egg, bacon with Yukon Potato. The Cauliflower fritti (S$16) is also a must-order.

2 Bayfront Avenue
Marina Bay Sands
#B1-42/46, The Shoppes
Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 6688 8522
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront

#7 TASTE PARADISE

Taste Paradise has been one of our favourite Chinese restaurants in Singapore since its inaugural opening. The dim sum here – especially the liu sha bao and baked char siew pastry – never disappoint, and we have been returning religiously since day one.

Taste Paradise’s dinner menu is one that is refined and elegant, with the signature Shark’s Fin in Supreme Broth and different variety of foie gras prepared with an oriental take. Taste Paradise is the kind of place that you would bring esteemed guests and friends to.

2 Orchard Turn
ION Orchard #04-07
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6509 9660
Mon to Fri 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat and Sun: 11am – 4.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#8 TATSUYA

Sitting inside five-star Goodwood Park Hotel is Tatsuya, a famous Japanese restaurant helmed by respected Chef Ronnie Chia who has more than 30 years of culinary experience. They serve up some of the best chirashi-don in Singapore, and lunch sets are actually very affordable.

The menu changes every fortnight and comprises fresh seasonal produce directly imported from Japan. Reservations are definitely required for it has a huge army of loyal patrons who dine there regularly.

22 Scotts Road
Goodwood Park Hotel
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 6737 7411
Daily: 12pm – 3am
Nearest Station: Orchard

Source: Tippling Club

#9 TIPPLING CLUB

Bar-cum-restaurant Tippling Club was ranked as the 45th Best Bar in the World in 2013. Helmed by celebrated chef Ryan Clift, the gastro-bar is the go-to place for gourmet food and impressive cocktails.

Do order the Juniper Sling (S$21++) – a cocktail concoction of cassis, cinnamon syrup, gin, cherry bitters, grand marnier and junipher – which is interestingly served in a Penhaligon’s perfume bottle.

38 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088461
Tel: +65 6475 2217
Closed on Sundays
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 12am
Sat: 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

#10 TUNGLOK SIGNATURES

Tunglok Signatures at Orchard Parade Hotel is one of Singapore’s leading Chinese restaurants. The reputable dining establishment – with numerous accolades under its name – boasts a splendid array of tantalising Cantonese, Sichuan and Shanghainese dishes.

Must-order dishes include the Crisp-fried Prime Pork with Sze Chuan Chilli and the Pan-fried Lobster Steak.

Orchard Parade Hotel #02-18
1 Tanglin Road
Singapore 247905
Tel : +65 6834 0660
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#11 WILD ROCKET

Wild Rocket is one of the very first pioneers in promoting mod-sin cuisine. Former lawyer Willin is the man behind this restaurant and he was even named by New York Times as Singapore’s up-and-coming tastemaker who is “reinventing the city’s traditional food culture”.

The cosy restaurant is perched atop Mount Emily and provides a great respite from the hustle and bustle in the city.

10A Upper Wilkie Road
Singapore 228119
Tel: +65 6339 9448
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Rochor

Xperience sits within the luxurious Sofitel So Singapore which is strategically located in the Central Business District (CBD) of Singapore.

The modern European restaurant is helmed by one of Singapore’s youngest and most charming executive chef, Trevor Paulo, who has a flair for recreating western classics with interesting local twists that has surely captured our hearts.

Chef Trevor Paulo’s unique culinary creations have successfully pushed the boundaries of traditional French cuisine, where his dishes have impressed even reputable 3-Michelin Starred Chefs such as Chef Christophe Muller and Chef Hideaki Matsuo. Despite all the glorious achievements, Chef Trevor remains down-to-earth and enjoys interacting with all his guests.

The next time you are in the CBD or need some surprises in your life, head down to Sofitel So Singapore’s Xperience Restaurant to experience Chef Trevor’s new menu. You will be in for a great time, we promise.

With its open-kitchen concept, it allows diners to catch the gastronomic team in action. Of course, Chef Trevor will be there to chat with you about his dishes, or about anything at all!

Xperience Restaurant is also an ideal venue for business luncheons and romantic date nights. We’ve been there on numerous occasions, and our favourite mood has to be dinner time, where the CBD crowd is non-existent, and the whole restaurant transforms into a sexy and intimate space for you to kick off your shoes, and simply relish the night with your date.

Every starter at Xperience Restaurant is truly a showstopper and the Spanner Crab (S$24++) is our favourite one among them all.

The fresh crustacean – integrated with wasabi mayonnaise – is garnished with edible flower petals, green herbs and seaweed crackers. The different textures of flavours had us devouring the entire entrée within seconds.

Poached Sweet Prawns (S$26++) is yet another stunning creation by Chef Trevor. The refreshing layers consist of fresh Granny Smith apple slices alternating with poached sweet prawns that are marinated with homemade ponzu.

Every mouthful packs a satisfying punch and we love how gorgeous it is plated with bonito flakes and pink edible floral petals. The precise ingredients vary according to season, so do expect a few tweaks here and there!

The Home Cured Salmon (S$24++) looks simple, but what do you know! Much effort has been channeled into attaining the fish’s overall superb taste and texture profile. Served with dollops of whipped yoghurt infused crème fraîche, fried capers, tobiko roe coated with gold powder, mirin pickled onions and almond truffle soil-looking earthy crumble, this dish is in fact a complicated one with varying flavours.

Just like that, Chef Trevor has redefined cured salmon. Impressive.

The Grilled Pork Pressa (S$36++) stole all the limelight with its delicious well-marbled meat. The prime pork cut has been marinated in duck fat and roasted over chargrill to medium rare doneness; the meat was so creamy and flavourful that everyone on the table did a double take and thought it was beef instead.

The smoky pork is complemented with asparagus, capsicum honey purée, pumpkin tuile, shallot confit and vanilla pumpkin purée. Such a colourful dish that reflects elements of winter and rusticness of all sorts.

We have two other mains to love and share.

The ‘Curried’ Lamb Shoulder confit (S$35++) utilizes the cut that extends to the neck. Marinated in a myriad of spices, the meat is sous-vide for 36 hours to achieve a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

The lamb main is then complemented with carrot purée, fresh peas and goat cheese crumble. Love the play of flavours and colours using vegetables to tone down the gaminess of the meat.

The Braised Short Rib (S$35++) is another stellar highlight of Xperience Restaurant’s new menu. The fork-tender braised beef short rib is robust in flavour, and is further enhanced with Bordelaise sauce, green tea purée, roasted baby beetroot and three knob celery cubes.

Fun fact about the celeriac in case you are brushing it off already – each celeriac is cooked and presented in a different flavour – namely grilled salt, smoked salt and Vadouvan – so that every bite is a surprise.

Just when you think the show is only on the entrées and mains, wait till you see the desserts. Chef Trevor and his pastry chef will make you rethink Xperience Restaurant’s already popular desserts with his innovation and brilliance; they are works of art to say the least.

The Araguani Chocolate Dome (S$22++) is a theatrical crowd pleaser, where lukewarm pistachio and vanilla bean crémeux is poured over the sphere, and voila! The 72% dark chocolate sphere opens in a dramatic manner, revealing the Madagascar vanilla and hazelnut praline ice-cream inside.

For an exotic tropical dessert, we highly recommend the ‘Flexi’ Coconut Ganache (S$19++).

This visually stunning deconstructed treat features flexible coconut agar-infused gelatine, and is accompanied with chilli-marinated pineapple slices, noisette butter chip and artisanal goreng pisang ice-cream. The ice-cream is made from scratch with local pisang barangan bananas, a local twist done with European flair.

The Tasmanian Pepper Meringue Spike (S$20++) is the prettiest of the lot, and is definitely Vogue-worthy. The dome comprises basil cream, greek yogurt, olive oil sponge, roasted persimmon ice-cream and tomato jam.

Dressed in attention-grabbing blue and white meringue spikes, this dessert stole our hearts and we will totally return to Xperience Restaurant just for it.

These 9 dishes executed with masterly finesse are a great representation of what diners can anticipate at Sofitel So Singapore’s Xperience Restaurant.

Each dish is a photogenic masterpiece that Chef Trevor proudly presents, and if you have the chance to grab Chef Trevor, speak to him. He always has stories about his food and inspirations to share, and his passion for culinary is burning through every word. We are nothing short of impressed by him.

For the latest updates, go to Sofitel So Singapore’s website and like them on Facebook and Instagram.

Xperience Restaurant
35 Robinson Road
Sofitel So Singapore, Level 1
Singapore 068876
Tel: +65 6701 6800
Daily: 6.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place/Telok Ayer

This post is brought to you by Sofitel So Singapore.

After all the Christmas feasting, how about a break from European meats and turning to an elegant Japanese meal to welcome the New Year instead? Located on the 4th level of luxurious hotel Pan Pacific Singapore is award-winning Keyaki Japanese Restaurant; indulge in a sumptuous selection of sukiyaki, sashimi and signature teppanyaki.

Keyaki is defying traditions and sticking to what they do best – authentic Japanese food without a premium price tag.

And readers of ladyironchef will enjoy a generous discount of 25% off lunch on 31 Dec 2015 as well as 15% off lunch on 01 Jan 2016 to 10 Jan 2016 when you quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making a reservation or when you flash this post upon payment.

Surrounded by a tranquil Japanese garden and koi pond, Keyaki is a befitting location for a quiet celebration. At this 146-seater establishment, choose from private Tatami rooms, Western dining rooms or watch the chef in action upfront at the teppanyaki counter seats; those are our favourite!

Just for our readers, enjoy 25% off your total bill for lunch at Keyaki on Thursday, 31 Dec 2015. This means you can savour the Kaze Teppanyaki Prix Fixe – which comprises an amuse bouche, salad, steamed egg custard, beef sirloin/fillet, prawns, scallop, salmon, white fish, sautéed vegetables, fried rice, miso soup, pickles and dessert – at S$105++ instead of the standard price S$140++.

Isn’t that a pretty neat deal, especially when it is New Year’s Eve?

And if you already have lunch plans on New Year’s Eve, you still have reasons to dine at Keyaki. An exclusive generous 15%* discount is applicable for lunch from 01 Jan 2016 to 10 Jan 2016.

Similarly, all you have to do is to quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making a reservation or flash this post upon payment.

Keyaki’s tranquil location within a Japanese garden and authentic cuisine sure reminded us of great times in Japan when we had nothing but good Japanese food.

* Excludes Weekend Bubbly Brunch, New Year’s Day set lunch and a la carte items.

Keyaki Japanese Restaurant
Pan Pacific Singapore
Level 4, 7 Raffles Blvd
Singapore 039595
Reservations: +65 6826 8240 / celebrate.sin@panpacific.com
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Promenade

This post is brought to you by Pan Pacific Singapore.

Mitzo, one of our all-time favourite Chinese restaurants in town, introduces a Weekend Brunch of Sexy Chinese Fare, and we are gonna get you excited.

It is hard to come by such sexy-looking and intricately-plated authentic Cantonese dishes like the ones at Mitzo Restaurant & Bar, and this recently introduced Weekend Brunch option (also available on public holidays) will have you enjoy as many of their best-selling signature items and other exclusive dishes as you want – yes, free-flow! Yipe, this includes their heavenly Char Siew Pork. For S$68++, this a la carte buffet includes over 40 dishes. And trust us when we say they are most photogenic.

For the month of November and December 2015, readers of Ladyironchef can get 15% discount when you dine at Mitzo for the Weekend Brunch. Simply flash this advertorial upon payment, and 15% will be deducted from the cover charge.

If you are tired of typical buffet fare, then it is high time you pay Mitzo a visit and allow yourself to be surprised. Here is what you can expect from Mitzo’s Weekend Brunch.

GREAT DIM SUM OPTIONS

Big fan of dim sum here, and with 13 varieties to choose from in the weekend brunch menu, it is some serious pigging out here. Just the dumplings selection alone got us excited, and we love the Crystal Vegetable Dumplings, Poached Dumpling in Sichuan Sauce and the Deep-Fried Shrimp Dumpling.

The Poached Dumpling that is drizzled over with Sichuan sauce (or better known as chao shou) was a surprise favourite and we loved the intensity of the flavours in the sauce and the added kick from the red-cut chilli. Also, don’t be fooled by the lacklustre name – Crystal Vegetable Dumplings – because it is actually one of the dim sum options that we would gladly have second helpings of! That strong truffle taste is unforgettable.

THE MUST-TRY DIM SUM AT MITZO – BLACK CUSTARD BUN

The photo says it all. This stunner of a charcoal custard bun is decorated luxuriously with edible gold lychee liqueur on top; sure is an immediate eye-catcher. It is hard to beat this dim sum dish and we don’t want to call favourites, but the subtle taste of smoky charcoal blended well with the creamy, flowy salted egg yolk goodness that we were temporarily distracted and ignoring other dishes on the table.

PREMIUM ‘MAIN COURSE’ ITEMS

Do not overlook the main courses because some of them really exceeded our expectations. You have to dive right for the Wasabi-infused Baked Fish. The wasabi taste was not overwhelming, which we appreciate. Also, the fish itself is so perfectly cooked with a glistening centre.

Some other dishes that really won our hearts include the Stir-Fried Beef Cubes with Onion. So tender, it fell apart as we bit into it. More beef? Mitzo’s take on a steak with the Pan-fried Ribeye in Wasabi and Korean Chilli Sauce is worth trying too. Did we mention that this ribeye was extremely tender too? As avid meat-lovers, we were sold.

FREE-FLOW MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH CHAR SIEW

Usually S$18 a pop, this plate of char siew at Mitzo is a crowd-favourite and has been dubbed by some as the best char siew in the universe. Not even kidding here, because we could eat them every day! For Sunday Brunch, this bad boy is free-flow.

Melt-in-the-mouth center, tender meat with the right amount of fats, and an impeccably caramelised exterior, the balance of flavours and textures of this sweet meat makes this the best representative of Mitzo, and one that we will always return for.

Well, well. There are few times in life when we got excited about the word ‘free flow’, and this is one of them. We are not ashamed to say that we can eat (at least) two plates each.

TABLE-SIDE SERVICE – CRACKLING PORK BELLY BAO

You might already be distracted by the many dishes to try, but have a go at the weekend brunch’s signature Crackling Roasted Pork Belly Bao. Because braised meat buns might be too mainstream for you, so the chef will go to your table and prep a new-age bun for you.

But they aren’t too far away from what we know of Cantonese food, really. Think amazingly crispy roasted pork belly stuffed in pillowy steamed buns. There you have it.

NOT TO BE MISSED RICE & NOODLES SECTION

Don’t be quick to write this section off. We know your dining partners might scoff that you’re piling up on carbs at a buffet, but the Braised Truffle Udon was so good, we wanted to have another serving! The truffle aroma and taste was extremely distinct and it really elevated a seemingly one-dimensional dish.

Also, the Fried Rice with egg, char siew (yes, the same glorious one) and vegetable had us glowing with happiness at how tasty and homely it felt, bringing us back to the warmth of mom’s home-cooked food. And if you must, yes, there is ‘wok hei’ and that sealed the deal for us.

ALL YOUR FAVOURITE CHINESE DESSERTS

The Chilled Mango Cream with Sago and Pomelo Topping was a huge hit with everyone at the table with its thick consistency glided down our throats so smoothly, leaving hints of tartness from the mango.

And you see those adorable and bite-sized Pandan & Egg Tarts? You bet the custard was smooth and sweet. You can also find Double-boiled Almond Cream with Glutinous Rice Ball, and Aloe Vera with Osmanthus Jelly on the menu.

TOP-UP FOR FREE-FLOW TEA-INFUSED COCKTAILS, WINES & BEER AND A FUTURISTIC DIY COCKTAIL BAR

Yum cha at Mitzo is made even better with their curated tea-infused cocktails, in place of your traditional tea. Just top up a reasonable amount of S$50++, and you enjoy free-flow selected tea-infused cocktails, wines and beer  throughout your weekend brunch. Now that is absolutely a splendid deal! Two cocktails at a regular bar will easily cost you that amount already!

Just free flow, right? No. You get to go all hands on and DIY your own cocktails at the bar – according to whatever you like, and however much alcohol you want. Or have the   mixologist  guide you and pick up some bartending skills along the way. Or if you’re afraid you’ll make a bad drink, trust us and order the Mitzo’s classic cocktails – Shiso Mojito, from the menu

Whatever it is, party!

We have never seen a Chinese restaurant with such a kick-ass looking bar. The jellyfish tank, coupled with futuristic looking bar-top items, we were truly impressed. The bar itself is a very popular hang-out for many because of the sleekness and intimacy.

EXCLUSIVE 15% PROMOTION FOR LADYIRONCHEF’S READERS

For the month of November and December 2015, you lovely readers of Ladyironchef are entitled to a 15% discount when you dine at Mitzo for the Weekend Brunch. Simply flash this advertorial upon payment, and 15% will be deducted from the cover charge.

Do note that this discount is not applicable for alcohol add-ons, and not applicable on Christmas Day.  

Prices:
$68++ (Adult)
Add on $50++ for free flow cocktails, wines and beer
(11.30am to 2.30pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays)
Reservations are highly recommended.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

Mitzo
Level 4 Grand Park Orchard
270 Orchard Road
Singapore 238857
Tel: +65 6603 8855
Sun to Wed, PH: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm last order
Thu to Sat,and Eve of PH: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 1am last order
Nearest Station: Orchard/Somerset

This post is brought to you by Mitzo.

Helmed by Chef de Cuisine Douglas Tay and under the guidance of Celebrity Chef Scott Webster, Osia’s food philosophy is all about cooking the freshest Australian produce with Western culinary techniques and Asian influences. Osia at Resorts World Sentosa occasionally arranges its “Cooking With Friends” guest chef program, where Chef Scott Webster invites his friends – famous chefs from all over the world – to cook at Osia.

Here’s a fabulous reason to dine at Osia if you haven’t been. From 13 to 16 May 2015, Andrew Turner – one of London’s top chefs who has appeared on top-rated TV programmes such as BBC MasterChef and Saturday Kitchen – will be at Osia as guest chef.

Chef Andrew Turner’s resume is impressive to say the least. Besides working at several well-known five star hotels in London such as The Berkley, The Raffles, The Bentley Kempinski and The Langham; he has also won a number of awards including the Time Out restaurant of the Year at 1827 at Browns Hotel, Voyager restaurant of the year and 4 Rosette AA rating.

There are two options for lunch: a 3-course lunch at S$50++ or a 4-course lunch at S$60++. For dinner, choose between the 3-course (S$85++), 4-course (S$110++), and 5-course (S$135++). Dishes from the ala carte menu start from S$22++.

Chef Andrew Turner will be whipping out a few special dishes which include Maine Lobster Asparagus Salad, Hokkaido Scallops and Bryon Bay Pork Belly (S$62), the Graine Black Angus Beef Fillet MS 2 with an asian twist, and a Vanilla Creme Brulee with Packham Pear and Blackberry Sorbet.

Chef Douglas Tay will also be coming up with several creations such as Pan Fried Foie Gras with Madagascar Vanilla, and Jamaican Rum, as well as Perch with Sesame Ratte Potato, and Soy Milk Curd.

Osia’s Cooking With Friends promotion runs for only 4 days from 13 to 16 May – prior reservations are required. To make a booking, call +65 6577 6688 or email dining@rwsentosa.com

For more details on the latest promotions, head over to RWSentosa.com/dining. Also, like Resorts World Sentosa on Facebook, and Instagram.

Osia
Festive Walk, Resorts World Sentosa
8 Sentosa Gateway
Tel: +65 6577 6688
Thu to Tue (Closed on Wed): 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

This post is brought to you by Resorts World Sentosa.

If you were patient enough to learn about the history of The White Rabbit at Harding Road, you’d probably have had a pretty intense lesson on Singapore’s history. Occupying the space of what used to be a chapel, this one-of-its-kind restaurant impresses the moment we step foot in. It is whimsical, classy and charming all at the same time.

We were excited to find out Chef Benjamin Tan is back, assuming the role of Head Chef after a hiatus, and has made a radical overhaul of the menu. It seems we weren’t the only one pleased; our waiter gushed over the good news, and reassures us that the meal was going to be nothing short of spectacular.

We began with the Classic Lobster Bisque, which assaults our senses the moment the lid was uncovered. This was unabashedly bold and intense as if a whole lobster had been grounded and concentrated to produce a velvety liquid. The half Maine Lobster ($38) served was exceedingly fresh, succulent and bouncy.

We’d never encountered beef so delicate and tender as that served in our next appetizer of Wagyu Carpaccio ($26). Chef Ben’s flair for marrying flavours shines through in this flawless dish; each mouthful a burst of flavors from the beef, balsamic pearls and aroma from the shaved truffles.

The Risotto ($21 as appetiser, $32 as main) was predictable, though we cannot find any fault about it. It was cheesy and pungent, and once again enlivened by generous shavings of truffle. Each grain barely retained its form in the creamy concoction, yet was perfectly al dente to give retain a satisfying bite.

We’ve been tormented by our obsession with the Char-Grilled Mangalica Pork Collar ($46) ever since we have had it. And so are many of their regular customers, we were told, who would return time and time again just for this dish. Step aside Kurobuta, for the Mangalica Pig puts every other porcine dish we’ve had to shame. We have never had pork this way, and can no longer have pork any other way now that we’ve tasted this. The well-marbled pork was almost surreal in flavor and texture; almost like beef except with flavours more sublime and delicate. We could not care less for the extraneous calvados cream and the odd-tasting celery root puree, and would even have this slab of pink, decadent pork steak by itself.

The White Chocolate Soufflé ($18) was light and fluffy, though curiously without a trace of white chocolate. We’d be lying if we said it was the best we’ve had but we liked that it didn’t suffer the common pitfall of being overly sweet, which meant that it paired beautifully with the dense chocolate ice cream. This is a dessert that would concur with those looking for a light way to end the meal.

We would recommend the 24-Hour Poached Pear ($16) instead, which was a stellar work of art. Two halves of a crimson red poached pear encasing a scoop of vanilla ice cream, perched atop a concoction of spiced crumble and burnt butter cake. This was an extremely satisfying end to a wonderful meal.

We cannot help raving about The White Rabbit. Every dish was delicate, well-balanced, and something that only a very talented chef could have achieved. Chef Ben’s return definitely marks a new beginning for The White Rabbit. Service does get a little slow, though we are unsure if this was with the intention for customers to enjoy a long evening. We can’t wait to make a revisit, and with tempting offerings on their brunch menu (think truffle mac and cheese), we’re sure we’ll be back pretty soon.

The White Rabbit
39C Harding Road
Dempsey Singapore
Tel: +65 6473 9965
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Words and photographs by Sarah Lim.

Chef Sam Leong needs no introduction. He is one of the most famous local chefs in Singapore, and he has an impressive list of accolades which includes being named the Chef of the Year at the Hospitality Asia Platinum Award in 2006 and 2007, and Asian Cuisine Chef of the Year (2009) by the World Gourmet Summit. After leaving Tung Lok Group, he has joined Resorts World Sentosa to open Forest Restaurant, which serves Chinese cuisine with a Western approach (in terms of food presentation).

The restaurant’s interior design is inspired by the lush tropical rain forests, and it is definitely one of the most stunning Chinese restaurants in Singapore.

At Forest, Chef Leong acts as a consultant, and besides providing guidance for the cuisine and menu planning of the restaurant, he also conducts cooking classes with his wife, Forest. He has launched a special culinary class combined with a four-course set lunch. This means to say you can have a nice lunch at the restaurant, and then move on to the culinary class in the beautiful state-of-the-art show kitchen to learn some tips from Chef Leong.

If you just want to enjoy a leisure lunch, Forest’s four course Winter Set Lunch Menu is $48++. For those who are keen to have the full experience, the cooking class with four course lunch is $160 nett per person.

Our luncheon started with a simple, but delicious Steamed Egg Chawanmushi with Hokkaido Scallop.

Next, we had the Deep-fried Seabass with Nyonya chilli sauce. The fish is steamed, then deep-fried in 360 degree Celsius hot oil. The seabass had the perfect crisp, and it was paired flawlessly with the spicy and flavourful Nyonya chilli sauce.

Following which, we had the Wok-fried Pearl Rice with Minced Beef. The wok-hei of the fried pearl rice and the aroma of the homemade XO chilli sauce combine effortlessly. Our only grouse was the excessive use of rice crisp.

The four course menu ends with a simple and refreshing Chilled Lemon Grass Jello with Thai sweet mango, young coconut and wolfberries.

After finishing lunch, head over to the beautiful kitchen showroom and learn culinary tips from Chef Leong and his wife, who will be demonstrating some of their signature dishes.

The cooking Class (capped to maximum of ten guests) with four-course set lunch at Forest costs S$160 nett per person and is available every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (depending on demand, please call the restaurant to check the schedule). Lunch will be served from 1pm-2pm and the culinary masterclass is conducted between 2pm to 4pm.

Forest Restaurant
8 Sentosa Gateway
Level 1 Equarius Hotel
Resorts World Sentosa
Tel: +65 6577 7788
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sunday Brunch: 11.30am – 4pm
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

One of the best meals that I had last year was at JAAN Restaurant Swissotel, and I’ve been suggesting it whenever someone asks me for recommendations.

I was thrilled when Chef Julien Royer extended an invitation to try his summer menu. But at the same time, I was a little afraid. What if it wasn’t as good as before? I had a fantastic experience at JAAN previously and I did not want to tarnish that memory.

I went back and I had a spectacular meal. Chef Julien has done it again. I dare say you will find it very hard to find a restaurant which can offer a better dining experience.

He has been helming the kitchen for a year, and given that he has managed to settle down, I have no doubt that the upcoming year will be good times for the restaurant and we can definitely expect greater things to come. JAAN is still one of the best, if not the best restaurant in Singapore.

We started the meal with the amuse bouche platter: croquette, crispy chicken skin with Indian spices, smoked eel with pickled apple and jelly.

Amuse bouches, for the uninitiated, are different from appetizers in that you do not order them from the menu. Instead, they are served free, and it is up to the chef’s creativity. They are little surprises meant to prepare the guest for the meal; to tease the palate so as to speak.

The tiny bites were excellent; they did what they were supposed to do – to “wake up” the palate.

The second amuse-bouche, mushroom soup – a mainstay on JAAN’s menu – was also very good. In fact, I am going out on a limb to say that it is one of the best mushroom soups that I’ve had.

Then, we had a selection of bread – walnut raisin, mini baguette, truffle brioche, and sourdough – with wonderful butter from Brittany, France.

After we were done, we had our first appetiser – cannelloni of new caledonian obsiblue prawn & avocado ($58). It was a medley of flavours: the smoothness of the avocado melting in your mouth; the sweetness of the obsiblue prawn; the slight tinge of saltiness from the chorizo iberico; and the oscietra caviar, tiny bubbles of oceanic pleasure popping in your mouth. So delicate, so fresh, so light, so delicious.

“This is too beautiful to be eaten,” I said to my dining companion as the server brought the tomate ‘coeur de boeuf’ to our table. Drizzled with a sauce made of fresh almond and truffle, the appetiser tasted as good as it looked.

The use of almond provided texture to the burrata, which had a tofu-like consistency; it was smooth and crumbly at the same time. The intensity of the two different types of tomatoes, sun-dried and coeur de boeuf, also added wonderful layers to the dish.

To use the word ‘good’ for describing it, is an understatement.

Next, the 55′ rosemary smoked organic egg ($44) with garden peas, fairy rings, and bellota. Among all the dishes, it stood out with its dramatic entrance. The eggs – delicately poached at 64 degrees for 55 minutes, presented in its original shell on a typical egg tray – were accompanied with dry ice on the side, making it a feast for the eyes.

To sum it up; the perfect poached eggs. I want to have this for breakfast every morning.

This was followed by the escalope of landes foie gras ($53), which was paired with a slightly fruity Brut Rose champagne. It was a very well-balanced dish, with a myriad of different flavours and textures – the foie gras was cooked to a taut consistency; the crunchiness of the hazelnut; the acidic undertone from the rhubarb drop; the freshness of the strawberry topped with fresh coriander and ginger; and accompanied by the toasted brioche.

As the meal progressed, I found it hard to continue describing the food because every dish was exceptional. I wanted to drop everything (taking photos and jotting down notes) and just eat.

This probably explains why I can’t tell you much about the next dish – Chef Julien’s pigeon from bresse ($115) – except that the pigeon breast was so soft and tender that it’s a kind of texture (for a lack of a better word) that you would not usually associate with breast meat. The pigeon leg confit, without going too much into details, was excellent. We saveured the pigeon with a glass of Gevrey-chambertin (2009).

Before heading into desserts, the manager offered us a chef’s special cheese plate, and since I wanted to save room for sweets, I requested to have a portion for sharing. How I regretted it after taking the first bite!

The cheese was good, but it was the truffle ice cream that blew us away. Forget about truffle fries, all you want is truffle ice cream. My life will never be the same again.

To wrap up the meal, we had a fraicheur d’ete – a crème brûlée with lemon, basil, and thyme; and the choconuts 3.0 ($28). During my previous visit, I had the first version of the choconuts which consisted of jivara mousse, peanuts, with macadamia nut ice cream. Chef Julien has since came up with two improved version, and for the latest edition, you have the sable breton, tanariva chocolate, tonka bean ice cream, macadamia & pecan nuts, and walnut snow.

This was again, a good built-up of flavours and textures – the intensity of the different chocolates; the saltiness of the sable, and nuts; the effortless blend of tonka bean ice cream – made it a very interesting and delicious dessert.

And finally, petit four with a cup of coffee.

I am sure you have noticed that I’ve repeatedly used the words ‘texture’ and ‘flavour’ in this post. Yet, this is truly what the food at JAAN is about – making use of the freshest produce, respecting ingredients in it’s natural form and combining it with simple everyday spices, to create multi-dimensional dishes.

Sometimes when you eat at fine dining restaurants where they serve multi-courses, it gets a little draggy and often the waiting time in-between is too long. This is, however, not the case at JAAN. The four hour lunch that we had did not seem long. A good meal is about having fun, and I think they managed to accomplish that.

I think I’ve said enough. For a special occasion, you should definitely go to JAAN – it is a restaurant that you will not want to miss out trying.

For lunch, JAAN has a 3 course set menu at $55, but I’d suggest the 5 course degustation lunch, which is a steal at $88. And for dinner, the 5 course degustation menu is available at $198, while there is also a more elaborate 7 course degustation menu at $238.

JAAN Restaurant
2 Stamford Road
70F Swissotel The Stamford
Tel: +65 6431 5670
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 7pm – 10pm
Note: This was an invited media tasting

It’s always nice to visit new restaurants run by young and talented chefs who are truly passionate about their food.

I first learned about Keystone Restaurant at Stanley Street a few months ago through my journalist friends. They told me about the excellent work Chef Mark Richards is doing at the restaurant, and it is one of the few places that use sous-vide cooking for most of the dishes on the menu.

I went there a while back, and ever since my visit, I’ve been recommending it to my friends. I’ll cut to the chase. If you like hearty meals with big portions, Keystone Restaurant is probably not suitable for you. But if you enjoy dining in a classy restaurant that serves refined and sophisticated food, this is the place to go.

Keystone has a small menu with just several items under each category. Prices range from $29-34 for appetisers, $40-125 for main courses, and $20-23 for desserts.

We started with the Georges bank sea scallop ($31) which came with confit of cherry tomato and Hummus puree. It was good, but not life-changing. This was followed by the delightful Les Landes foie gras ($34) – a combination of ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ goose liver. I particularly loved the yuzu concentrate which gave the dish a good balance.

I was eyeing the confit of duck ($30) under the appetisers menu, but I decided not to be greedy, so we proceeded with the main courses.

The highlight of the meal was the Snake River Farms pork belly ($58). It came highly recommended, and it was indeed very good. The sous-vide pork belly was perfectly cooked. Easily one of the best I’ve ever tasted. My only complain is that the chef could have given more of the delicious yukon chips.

Next up, the Chilean seabass confit ($46). While good, I liked the pork belly a lot more. We also tried the beautiful 58 degrees rangers tournedos ($61) which you see in the first photo of this post. It was well-executed; good but nothing to write home about.

Desserts at Keystone, were equally impressive. I almost wanted to order all five desserts on the menu, but my dining companion managed to convince me to stick with three. We had the nutella bar ($20), acquerello pudding ($21), and Valrhona genoise ($23). My favourite was the nutella Bar – it managed to hit all the sweet notes when it came to taste.

Then, we had the Valrhona genoise, which was nicely paired with a yuzu sorbet.

While I wasn’t a fan of the corn used in the acquerello pudding, the tarragon meringue caught me totally off guard. The foam literally vanished into thin air the moment it came into contact with my tongue. It was like magic.

A meal at Keystone Restaurant is not cheap (Palate card with its 50% discount will come in very handy here). But for the quality of the food, and the wonderful dining experience, I dare say it is worth saving up for that special occasion. The talented Chef Mark Richards and the restaurant definitely deserve your support.

Keystone Restaurant
11 Stanley Street
Tel: +65 6221 0046
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
(Closed on Sun)

Note: This was an invited media tasting, arranged by the good people at Palate. Visit their website to find out more about the membership where you can enjoy up to 50% discount.

Tanjong Beach Club (TBC) by the Lo & Behold Group is the perfect place to escape from the city and enjoy a day of sun, sand and sea. It has a restaurant (The Dining Room), a bar and a pool facing the beach.

The Dining Room at Tanjong Beach Club offers a unique beach dining experience, and after dinner, you can laze by the pool and enjoy a Tanjong Martini with truffle fries. The beach house at Sentosa is modern, sexy and definitely the place to see and be seen.

The crowd at Tanjong Beach Club is quite diverse. From the beach goers in cargo shorts, bikinis and flip flops, lazing by the pool side during the weekends; to young working executives on a romantic dinner date; to well-heeled cliente with an appreciation for the finer things in life – there is a good mix of crowd.

Since it was a Friday night, we had a glass of champagne each. Actually, even if it wasn’t a Friday night, I’d still have a glass of champagne.

As usual, we had a hard time trying to decide on the dishes. So we took the easy way out and asked for recommendations. On my own, I probably would not order a salad, but the Bean Salad ($19) came highly recommended so we started with that.

We followed up with the Salt-cured Foie Gras ($27), which I thought was pretty cool. The goose liver was served with toasted brioche, kaya and house-made jam. Eaten together, the cold foie gras combination was quite amazing. But I would very much prefer to have pan seared foie gras.

The best, however, had yet to come – we had the freaking awesome truffle fries. Having heard so much about Tanjong Beach Club’s popular bar snack – which my friend proclaimed as the best truffle fries in Singapore – I wasn’t prepared to leave the place without trying it.

The bar menu isn’t available in the dining room, and vice versa. Still, we managed to convince the waitress to serve us the truffle fries while waiting for the rest of the appetisers to be served.

The dining room at Tanjong Beach Club has a good mix for its main course menu. We were tempted by the Crispy Atlantic Cod ($42) and the Spicy Crab Spaghetti ($32); while the Roasted Kurobuta Pork ($43) and Asparagus Risotto ($26) also called out to us. We eventually settled for the Maine Lobster Pot Pie ($58) and USDA Prime New York Strip Steak ($58).

Encased by flaky pastry crust, the lobster pot pie was quite a visual treat for the senses. We watched as the waitress poked a hole into the crust and unearthed the lobster from within. It was like digging for treasure!

The USDA Prime New York Strip Steak ($58) came with potato puree, roasted mushroom, and smoked eggplant. It was a gorgeous piece of meat, but unfortunately, it was way too salty.

We used the elimination method to choose our desserts. Since we weren’t keen on the Mixed Berry Bowl and ice cream, it was down to the Coconut Panna Cotta ($14), Chocolate Ganache Tart ($16) and Tea & Honey Parfeit ($14). We decided to leave the Panna Cotta for another day and had the other two desserts to end off the meal.

I thought that the Chocolate Ganache Tart – which was accompanied by salted candied hazelnuts, butterscotch sauce and vanilla bean ice cream – was pretty fabulous.

The Tea & Honey Parfeit ($14) came in a pretty glass of earl grey crémeux, honey ice cream, house-made honeycomb and chocolate crisp.

The Dining Room at Tanjong Beach Club (TBC) is a great option if you want a nice romantic dinner away from the city. The food is not out-of-this-world good, so don’t come here expecting a life-changing experience. Instead, come here if you want a unique beach-dining experience. The TBC, is after all, one of the few Beach restaurants in Singapore.

I will definitely go back for brunch during weekends.

Singapore Food Blog Review
The Dining Room at Tanjong Beach Club
120 Tanjong Beach Walk
Tanjong Beach Club Sentosa
Tel: 6270 1355
Lunch: 12noon – 2.30pm (Tue – Fri)
Dinner: 6.30pm – 10pm (Tue – Sat)
Brunch: 10am – 4.30pm (Weekend)

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

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I first went to 1-TwentySix restaurant at Playground @ Big Splash, East Coast Park a year ago. It was a romantic restaurant to dine in, but I thought that the food was unremarkable for the price point, so I didn’t blog about it. Two months back, I went back again for dinner as a group of friends wanted to go there.

1 Twenty Six is a large sea-fronting beach restaurant & bar. While they have a nice indoor dining room, most of the customers prefer to eat at the al fresco area where you can enjoy the sea breeze and chill out with a group of friends over dinner and drinks.

We had a lot of food, but I only took a few shots as I didn’t want to scare off some of the new friends. 1 Twenty Six’s Coast menu is divided into two parts: the ala carte menu where you can get the usual appetiser ($6.5-22), salad ($12-20), platters ($22-32), main course ($28-48) and dessert ($14); and the Communal menu where you pay $70++/pax (min of 2 pax) for a nibble platter, choice of 1 main course/pax with sides, and a dessert platter.

With the exception of a few new additions, the menu has remained largely unchanged since my last visit. The nibble platter (pictured above) comes with the familiar Potato Skin with sour cream, Steamed Vongole Clams, and Crispy Soft Shell Crab with chilli mayo.

For the main course selections from the Communal menu, gone were the Seared King Scallops, Penne with Zucchini, and Fish Pie. In place were the Butternut Pumpkin Risotto, Shellfish Carbonara and Fish & Chips.

During my first visit to One Twenty Six, we had the 150 day grain fed tenderloin ($48), and braised short rib of beef ($38). The tenderloin was not bad, but I could have gotten a better steak elsewhere.

This time round, we also had the Communal menu. For the main courses, we shared the Fish & Chips, Roasted Baby Chicken, Seared Tuna Loin, and Grilled Cod Fillet.

Our British friend wasn’t impressed with the Baby Snapper Fillet in crispy beer batter, but the French Fries that came along with the ‘Fish & Chips’ were excellent – all of us couldn’t stop eating it.

Some of my friends thought that the Grilled Cod fillet with blood orange salad was good, but I felt that it was just decent, so was the Seared Tuna Loin (pictured below) with bell pepper marmalade. For me, the standout dish for the night was the Baby Chicken served with rosemary potatoes.

If you choose to have the Communal menu ($70++/pax), you get to pick either the Grande Assiette – a selection of five petite sized desserts consisting of Creme Brulee, Panna Cotta, Chocolate Cake, Pavlova, and Souffle; or a selection of artisan cheese.

1 Twenty Six by One Rochester Group is a hip and trendy place to see and be seen. Being one of the few fine dining restaurants in the East, it is a good option for people if they do not want to travel all the way to town. As for me, I would probably just come back for drinks.

Singapore Food Blog Review
1 TwentySix Restaurant
902 East Coast Parkway
Blk E #01-26 Playground @ Big Splash
Tel: +65 6348 2126

Sun to Thu: 6.30pm – 1am
Fri & PH Eve: 6.30pm – 3am
Sat: 3pm – 3am
Sun Brunch: 11am – 3pm

When it comes to Sunday Brunch, there’s nothing better than the Pink Champagne Brunch Buffet at Equinox Restaurant. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that this is definitely one of the best brunch in Singapore.

On the last Sunday of each month, the fine dining restaurant at Swissotel the Stamford has a special Pink Champagne Brunch.

From free flow of Moet & Chandon Rose Brut and pink cocktails, to pink chocolate fountain and staff dressed in hot pink, the Pink Themed Brunch will most definitely lift your mood. Trust me, it almost feels like heaven when you are sipping champagne on the 70th level.

Anyone who has been to Equinox knows how beautiful it is. At 70th level of the Equinox Complex, it is one of the restaurants with the best view in Singapore.

I have a love-hate relationship with buffet as I tend to overeat. But it is impossible to say no to a luxurious Sunday brunch. There is an appetiser section where you can start with parma ham & rock melon, as well as an assortment of salads.

There is also a corner with shooters like cured smoked duck and chilled gazpacho.

Moving on, the Salmon showcase will definitely wow you with the varieties of gravlax, cured, smoked salmon tartar and salmon rillette. But I was distracted by the Seafood Counter on the rather magnificent ice sculpture.

All you can eat seafood: tiger prawns, mud crabs, green lip mussels, fine de clair oysters, white pearl oysters, gillardeau oysters, and slipper lobsters.

The Japanese Station is conveniently located beside the seafood area. With Sashimi (Kingfish, Tasmanian Salmon, Yellowfin Tuna, Japanese Scallops, Surf Clam and Octopus) and a selection of Sushi and Maki to choose from, it felt like a mini Japanese buffet.

Oh my god. There goes my diet plan.

Carnivore alert! The Carving & Live station offers roasted USDA beef rib eye (too dry), roasted turkey (it’s Christmas already?) and leg of lamb (excellent).

The highlight of the dessert buffet was definitely the pink chocolate fountain. The nitrogen sorbet that came with the crepes, was equally impressive.

Opera cake, raspberry chocolate gateau, maple tree financier, panna cotta, macaron, cream brulee — how did desserts steal all the lovely words?

Looking for a birthday venue to throw a pink themed party? Equinox Restaurant is definitely the perfect place!

The $148++ Pink Brunch is not cheap, but I think it is worth splurging for that special occasion. Besides the fantastic view of Singapore’s skyline and waterfront, there’s also free flow of champagne with lots of yummy food. The Pink Brunch at Equinox is very popular, please make a reservation before going.

Equinox Restaurant
2 Stamford Road
70F Swissotel The Stamford Singapore
Tel: +65 6431 5669

Weekday Semi Buffet Lunch $59++
Afternoon high tea international buffet $43++
Sunday Brunch Buffet $128++
Pink Champagne Brunch Buffet $148++

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

It has been two years since my last visit to Royal China Restaurant at Raffles Hotel, and I was glad to finally make a trip there for dim sum during lunch recently.

I’ve said it before and I am happy to say it again. Royal China Chinese Restaurant is definitely one of the best dim sum places in Singapore.

Much has been said about Royal China’s gorgeous interior – it is impossible not to like the Tiffany blue themed restaurant. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of the dim sum, they range from $3.6 to $4.8 for a basket.

We took a quick look at the menu and made our orders: “please give us siew mai, har gau, char siew bao, custard bun, cheong fun, char siew soh, egg tart, and carrot cake.”

Everyone was very excited when the waitress brought the dim sum to our table.

After having the Cheong Fun and Siew Mai, we proceeded with the Baked Pork Bun ($3.6), and it was good enough to make me order it again next time. But if you do not want too many pork items, skip the Char Siew Bao and get the delicious Baked BBQ Pork Puff ($4) instead.

When it comes to Char Siew Sou, I’d rank Royal China’s rendition as my top 3 in Singapore, with the other two being Yan Ting and Taste Paradise.

Having tried the best pan-fried carrot cake from Si Chuan Dou Hua, I felt that the one from Royal China was mediocre.

The few of us were debating on where to find the best custard buns (liu sha bao) in Singapore. Names like Taste Paradise, Si Chuan Dou Hua, Mandarin Court and Peach Garden were mentioned, and after trying Royal China’s version, it is definitely in the same league.

I poked a hole into the liu sha bao to take a peep at the magnificent custard fillings. The bun was too hot to eat, but I put it into my mouth anyway. The golden liquid burnt my tongue, but it felt so good. It was hard to resist ordering a second portion.

Royal China’s Baked Egg Tarts ($3.60) were also very good. Delicious little devils.

If you are planning a visit to Royal China after reading this post, make sure you order their Steamed Prawn Dumplings ($4.8).

They were amongst the best I ever had: the skin of the har gau had the right consistency and thickness, and each dumpling came with a big shrimp which was fresh and crunchy.

Like the other dim sum places in Singapore, Royal China at Raffles Hotel only has dim sum during lunch, and it is a must to make reservations in advance. The must-try dim sum items are custard bun, har gau, char siew sou and egg tart.

For more recommendations, please read my list of dim sum restaurants in Singapore

Royal China Restaurant
1 Beach Road
#03-09 Raffles Hotel
Tel: +65 6338 3363
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun & PH: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

Rang Mahal is definitely top of the list when it comes to fine dining Indian Restaurants in Singapore. Besides the flagship outlet at Pan Pacific, the Rang Mahal Group comprises Vansh at Stadium Waterfront, and Rang Mahal Pavilion at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).

Located at the lobby level of Hard Rock Hotel in RWS, Rang Mahal Pavilion is a stylish Indian restaurant where tradition meets modern. A stunning wall feature of brass drums fronts the restaurant. Inside, traditional Indian musical instruments are suspended from the ceilings of the main dining hall. The posh interior sets the tone for an exquisite dining experience.

For starters, we had the Aromatic Cheesy Mushroom ($14), which was light and tasty. We continued with a simple Paneer salad that came with homemade tandoori cottage cheese.

The Tandoor Sampler ($18 half, $32 full) was chosen to showcase the combination of chicken and fish tikka, with garlic prawns served on a sizzler. The platter is great for sharing, and it allows you to try the best of what Rang Mahal Indian Restaurant has to offer.

Out of the three items, my favourite was definitely the tender and succulent chicken tikka. The fish, on the other hand, was slightly too dry.

If you are fond of a particular dish, you can always order them separately. A full portion of the Chicken Tikka goes for $22, whilst their signature Tandoori Garlic Prawn is available for $30.

A basket of naan (plain, garlic and butter) quickly came our way with the curries, and they were the perfect vehicle to soak up the curry gravy.

Amongst the vegetarian curries available on Rang Mahal’s menu, we had the Patiala Aubergine ($18) which was excellent. I’m not a big fan of egg plant, but I thought that the curry had a good combination of flavours. If you don’t fancy having egg plants, they have seven different curries on the vegetarian selection, with prices ranging from $15 to $20.

The non vegetarian curries are generally more exciting (at least to me). You can choose from either the signature Murgh Tikka Masala – tandoori chicken tikka in a full bodied bell pepper and tomato masala, or the Gosht Masala – with tender cuts of lamb simmered in smooth house tomato gravy. Otherwise,  there are prawn curry with a saffron kick, or fresh fish fillet curry in aromatic coconut gravy.

Although Nasi Briyani is a fairly common dish, Rang Mahal’s version was very delicious. Extremely tender lamb with fine Indian basmati rice. I’m not sure if I’d pay $25 for it, though.

We were already very full by then, but it was impossible to say no to desserts. The two popular desserts on the menu are Rasmalai ($10) – cottage cheese dumplings in reduced milk, and Grape Kulfi ($10) – homemade grape flavoured frosty.

Even though my previous encounter with Kulfi was not an enjoyable one, we eventually opted for the Indian ice cream as the hosts convinced me to give it a try. I must say the kulfi here was much better than the one that I’ve had before.

Whilst the prices at Rang Mahal Pavilion in RWS are higher than the typical Indian restaurants in Singapore, the food is generally quite good and the 6,300 square feet restaurant is gorgeous.

The main dining room can seat 130 people. It is a fantastic birthday party venue if you want to invite a big group of friends. It’s also good for an intimate group dinner – the fine dining Indian restaurant has two separate private dining rooms that are perfect for business luncheons or small parties. For a slightly more affordable option, you can choose to try out the $28++ set lunch which consists of a soup, main course and dessert.

So tell me, which restaurants in Resorts World Sentosa have you been to?

Singapore Food Blog Review
Rang Mahal Pavilion
8 Sentosa Gateway
Level 2 Hard Rock Hotel
Resorts World Sentosa Singapore
Tel: +65 6238 7013
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm

7 Raffles Boulevard
3F Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6333 1788
Lunch: 12pm – 2.30 pm (Sun – Fri)
Dinner: 6.30 pm – 10.30 pm (Daily)

Note: This was a media tasting dinner.

Updated: The restaurant is no longer in operation.

Located at Robertson Quay, Brasserie WOLF is a casual French bistro under the management of the Esmirada Group of Restaurants. With the appointment of new Head Chef Claudio Sandri, Brasserie Wolf had recently launched a new ala carte menu.

It consists of classic French dishes like the Beef Bourguignon, and Traditional Bouillabaisse Soup. Prices range from $15-$26 for appetisers/soup, $26-$48 for main courses and $10-$15 for desserts.

With dim orange lighting, vintage overhanging lamps and plush leather seats, the interior of Brasserie Wolf is cosy and spacious. The restaurant can easily accommodate 90 people indoor and I like the fact that it is not too pretentious.

For starters, I had the Traditional French Onion Soup ($14). It was rich and cheesy, just the thing you need to start the meal on a bright note. My dining companion had a Tomato Gazpacho which was not from the menu.

I’d have gone for the Pan Seared Foie Gras ($26) if not for the fact that my dining companion was not a fan of goose liver. Since it was impossible to finish half a dozen of Burgundy Snails ($15) on my own, I gave that a miss too.

To make up for it, Chef Claudio served us his signature Fresh Artichoke Heart ($18.50). Composed of Smoked Salmon Mousse, Poached Egg, Caviar, and Mustard Vinaigrette, the appetiser was so pretty that we did not know how to start eating it.

Next up on the menu, I had the Crispy Duck Leg Confit ($32) with Braised Puy Lentils. Brasserie Wolf’s rendition of the French dish was decent, but it was not the best I’ve had.

For the record, I love Duck Leg Confit. But if I must choose between Brasserie Wolf’s Duck Leg Confit and Beef Bourguignon, I’d go for the latter.

The fork-tender Beef Bourguignon ($28) was braised to perfection. Together with the sides of Bacon, Mushroom, Baby Onions, and Carrots, the beef was so good.

The Seared Cod ($35) was excellent in my opinion. The simple preparation of the dish highlighted the freshness of the Cod. So much so that my dining companion was actually reluctant to share the fish.

It was a shame that we were too full to continue eating. Otherwise I’d definitely order the Traditional Bouillabaisse Soup ($36).

For desserts, we skipped the ubiquitous Valrhona Warm Chocolate Cake ($15) and had the Chocolate & Coffee Liegeois ($13). The cold dessert was visually appealing, and the presence of Valrhona Chocolate Sauce added bonus points too. But I felt that it was nothing impressive, and did not justify the price tag. We also had a selection of macarons which were run-of-the-mill. On hindsight, we should have gone for the Creme Brulee Vanilla ($10) instead.

Chef Claudio had just arrived in Singapore from London to helm Brasserie Wolf. I’m certain he will slowly find his way to satisfy everyone with his straightforward French cooking.

Personally, I feel that prices are slightly steep for a causal French Bistro. But having said that, Brasserie Wolf serves simple and good French food. Amongst the dishes that we tried, the Traditional French Onion Soup and Beef Bourguignon are definitely worth ordering. Dessert is probably Brasserie Wolf’s weakest link. I’d suggest skipping it and go to Laurent Bernard or Canele Patisserie to have your sweets.

If you are looking for French food in the Robertson Quay area, check out Brasserie Wolf and say hi to Chef Claudio.

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

Singapore Food Blog Review
Brasserie Wolf
80 Mohamed Sultan Road #01-13
The Pier @ Robertson Singapore
Tel: +65 6835 7818
Note: This is an invited Media Tasting.

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Housed within the stunning Fort Canning Hotel, Gattopardo Italian Grill & Pizza Bar serves contemporary Italian and Mediterranean cuisine with a charcoal grill and wood-fired oven for baking gourmet pizzas. The Italian restaurant is under the Garibaldi Group of restaurants, who is also behind Gunther’s, Ricciotti Italian restaurant and Brotzeit.

Having heard so much about the good Italian food from my friends who ate at Gattopardo before, misstamchiak and I went there for lunch during Restaurant Week.

Restaurant Week is a good way to try out the fine dining restaurants that you always want to go. If it is a positive dining experience, you can visit the restaurant again to try their usual offerings.

Considering the fact that such fine dining restaurants usually charge $30-$50 for a main course, it is quite a steal to pay just $25++ (lunch) and $35++ (dinner) for the restaurant week’s menu.

For restaurant week, Gattopardo Italian Restaurant had two main course options: the Pan Seared Chicken Breast and Home-made Tagliatelle.

Filled with Scamorza cheese and mushrooms, the Pan Seared chicken breast was pretty decent; it was nice to find that the meat was not too dry, with the sauce a good compliment to it.

The Tagliatelle al Pesto di Trapani was slightly overcooked, but somehow managed to retain the flavour from cherry tomato, basil, Pecorino cheese and almond Pesto.

The whole point of having desserts is to end the meal on a sweet note. Unfortunately, the Creme Brulee was very disappointing and we did not finish it.

Overall, Gattopardo Italian restaurant’s restaurant week menu was not impressive, but I am still keen to come back again to check out their dinner offerings.

I took a look at their normal ala carte menu (note: they do not have a set lunch menu), and I thought that the prices are pretty reasonable for good Italian restaurants. Expect to pay around $15-$25 for antipasti, $20-$30 for pasta, $16-$30 for pizza, $30-$40 for main course and $14 for dessert.

The location at Fort Canning Hotel is rather inaccessible if you are not driving. It is probably a good idea to cab in, have a good dinner and take a romantic stroll to Orchard road to burn off the calories.

// Read my list of Italian restaurants in Singapore for more options.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Gattopardo Italian Grill & Pizza Bar
11 Canning Walk Fort Canning Park
Fort Canning Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6338 5498

Operating Hours:
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm

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Amongst the Crystal Jade Fine Dining restaurants, there are Crystal Jade Golden Palace at Paragon (contemporary Cantonese & Teochew cuisine), Crystal Jade Dining In at Vivocity (modern Cantonese cuisine) and the flagship Crystal Jade Palace at Ngee Ann City.

There are 35 items on Crystal Jade Palace’s dim sum menu, with the usual suspects like rice roll cheong fun, deep-fried shrimp dumpling, baked egg tart, siew mai, har gau, and steamed pork ribs. The prices are very reasonable for a Chinese fine dining restaurant, with most of the dim sum ranging from $3.60 to $5 per basket.

The Char Siew Sou ($4) had buttery and flaky pastry, and I love the sweet yet savoury char siew fillings. I’d think that Crystal Jade Palace’s char siew sou is on par with the ones that I’ve had at Taste Paradise and Yanting restaurant.

There were so many different types of steamed dumplings on the dim sum menu and we were spoilt for choices. Since it was our first time to Crystal Jade Palace, we took the safe option and went for the ubiquitous Steamed Prawn Dumplings ($5). It was fairly decent, the translucent skin was not too thick, and came with fresh crunchy shrimp.

Similarly, the Steamed Pork Dumplings with mushroom ($4.8) were not out-of-this-world good, but they were tasty and that was enough.

And what’s dim sum lunch without Steamed Rice Roll cheong fun ($4.8)? We easily finished it and only decided against ordering another portion as we had other dim sum coming.

When broken with a pair of chopsticks, the Xiaolongbao ($3.9) released the tasty stock into the spoon. Paired with vinegar and ginger, it was satisfying to swallow the whole pork dumpling.

My friend was feeling a little health conscious that day so we went for the Steamed Carrot Cake instead of the pan-fried one. It would not win a food photography competition, but the steamed carrot cake definitely tastes good.

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With the fairly good dim sum at reasonable prices and its convenient location at Orchard road, Crystal Jade Palace has joined my ranks of my favourite dim sum restaurants in Singapore. If you don’t feel like having dim sum, there’s always Crystal Jade Korean Restaurant as well as the more affordable Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao at level four of Takashimaya.

The fine dining restaurant was packed when we went there on a weekend, reservations are highly recommended.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant
391 Orchard Road #04-19
Ngee Ann City Singapore
Tel: +65 6735 2388

Operating Hours: Daily 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm

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