It was not too long ago when PizzaExpress opened its first outlet in Singapore at Scotts Square just about a year ago and already this colossal pizza restaurant chain—with 600 outlets in the UK, Asia, the Middle East and in several parts of Europe—has opened its second outlet at Duo Galleria with a third one at Marina One on its way.

Founded in London more than 50 years ago, PizzaExpress specialises in gourmet, hand-made Italian pizza that even Italian palates will agree with. Quite contrary to its name, it really isn’t an “express” fast food chain. With so many years of expertise to its name, diners can expect nothing less than top-notch pizzas, pasta, salads and desserts.

There are so many items to love at PizzaExpress and one trip is simply not enough! Read on to find out more about our favourites and must-tries. And you’d have to take a look at its new outlet at Duo Galleria. There are cosy al fresco seating, too!

Staying true to its signature layout across its restaurants around the world, their new outlet features a cosy, intimate interior with marble counters and tables. The kitchen adopts an open concept where diners can watch the masters at work. Witness how your pizzas are flipped and prepped!

All the food at PizzaExpress are made from scratch in-house using only fresh ingredients. Besides pizzas, the menu also features a diverse range of Italian-style salads, pasta and desserts. What’s more, most of the items here are priced around S$20 or less which is incredibly reasonable considering their portion sizes and quality.

STARTERS – ITALIAN ANTIPASTO, DOUGH BALLS & BURRATA

If you are not dining alone, then get some starters to share. The Classic Italian Antipasto (S$26++) is a grand platter that includes Italian mozzarella, Italian sausages, strips of prosciutto that will literally melt-in-your-mouth and more.

The Dough Balls Doppio (S$11++) is another ideal appetiser for sharing. Consisting of sixteen dough balls along with three types of dip—garlic butter, pesto siciliano and pesto genovese—this simple snack is truly a tasty treat that even kids will love!

If you adore Italian squeaky cheese, then the Burrata with Roasted Peppers (S$19++) is highly recommended. This may not be the most visually appealing item but you can bet that it is pretty darn satisfying—milky, smooth cheese that tears so smoothly; it is one of the better Burratas we’ve had in Singapore.

SALADS FOR CHAMPIONS

Hardly anyone goes to a pizza joint to get a salad, but over at PizzaExpress, you just might. Consider the Beetroot & Goat’s Cheese Salad (S$11++ small, S$18++ large) that is packed full of wild rocket, beetroot, avocado, goat’s cheese, walnuts, dried cranberries and drizzled with a decadent honey balsamic dressing.

Never mind the judgemental stares, this salad is legit! And it is really pretty filling!

A TASTE OF CALABRIA

For fans of heat, the Calabrese (S$26++) will not disappoint. This iconic rectangular pizza inspired by the food of Calabria—a region in South-West Italy—comprises Calabria-style sausage, spicy Italian sausage, fresh mozzarella, jalapeño peppers and more.

Do be cautioned that this is not for kids and for the faint-hearted because it can get really spicy.

CLASSIC PIZZAS – SIMPLE AND SO SATISFYING

Staying true to their original recipes which have not changed since 1965, go for PizzaExpress’ Classic Lava (S$22++) that comprises simply olives, burrata cheese, chilli oil, cherry tomatoes and finished with basil for that added herbaceous note that goes perfectly well with tomatoes; or the La Reine (S$16++) that is topped with mushrooms, olives, ham, mozzarella and passata.

ROMANA PIZZAS – BIGGER, THINNER & CRISPIER

The Romana pizzas are inspired by the pizzas from Rome—thinner and crispier. Out of all their quirky concoctions, we particularly enjoyed the Carbonara (S$25++).

Consisting of crispy smoked bacon, mozzarella, a creamy béchamel sauce and finished with garlic oil and a soft egg in the middle, this instantly won our hearts. All in all, the runny egg yolk, the sauce and the rendered bacon fat makes each mouthful a rich yet flavourful experience.

LEGIT ITALIAN PASTAS – CRABMEAT LINGUINE AND LOBSTER & CRABMEAT RAVIOLI

If you love yourself a good lasagne, then the Lasagna Classica (S$18++) should be right up your alley. Layers of rich beef bolognese and a mixture of béchamel and parmesan cheese are enveloped in thin sheets of pasta that is then topped with more cheese and heated in a broiler to give you a nice charred surface.

We also highly recommend the Linguine Granchio Con Pana (S$23++)—one of the best crabmeat pastas in Singapore. It is essentially a crabmeat pasta that includes steamed crab meat, onion, garlic and coriander in a spicy cream sauce finished with caviar and a wedge of lime.

With such a heavy cream based sauce accented with distinct notes of seafood, the wedge of lime does really well to cut through all that.

The Lobster and Crabmeat Ravioli (S$26++) is also worth a try. The classic ravioli is pimped up with fresh and generous amounts lobster and crab meat with a mushroom pomodoro sauce to bind it all together.

This dish has everything we love about a good ravioli—pasta has a nice bite, tender lobster and crab meat and a luscious sauce that is decadent yet not overpowering.

DESSERTS TO END THE MEAL

After a heavy meal filled with so much richness, it is never a bad idea to end it off with some sweet treats. The Mango Panna Cotta (S$8++) here is a must-try for pudding lovers. We liked that the mango was slightly tart, which did well to cut through the creaminess of the panna cotta which is pretty dense.

The Chocolate Fudge Cake (S$9++) is flavoured with a touch of salt, giving the dessert a nice savoury touch to combat the overall sweetness.

And this is a little tip—enjoy all your PizzaExpress dishes with a glass of the signature Lemonade (S$6), featuring freshly squeezed lemon and lime, soda, and mint. Italian food can be pretty rich and heavy so this drink definitely helps in balancing the flavours and keeping you refreshed throughout your meal!

It is also good to note that if you plan on driving, park at Park View Suites instead of Duo Galleria to minimise on the walking distance!

PizzaExpress
7 Fraser Street, #01-01/02
Duo Galleria
Singapore 189356
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

This post is brought to you by PizzaExpress Singapore.

Brothers In Fine Food, a new cafe open in Tampines West Community Centre, is opened by the good folks behind Penny University.

The space sits in the heart of the Tampines West residential cluster and it is definitely one of the new cafés in Singapore that you should not miss out on.

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Brothers In Fine Food mixes quality, creative interpretations of dishes with amazingly affordable prices, making it the perfect recipe for a tantalising yet comforting meal in neighbourhood spaces.

Opened just a few weeks ago in November 2016, Brothers In Fine Food is the perfect place to be at for a peaceful solo lunch, or a casual get-together with friends after work.

Do not be fooled by Brothers In Fine Food’s seemingly small interiors. Their creative menu innovations give the saying ‘tiny but mighty’ new meaning. Case in point: the Beef Steak.

The beef sits in a pool of bright pink beetroot purée, which adds an unexpected yet welcome sweetness to the otherwise regular beef steak. The meat is succulent, juicy, and cooked to the perfect tenderness, while the beetroot purée is both creamy and tangy.

We found ourselves wiping the purée off the plate even after we were long done with the steak. The best part about this dish: it is available at just S$13.50. What is there not to love?

For desserts, the Greek Yoghurt Panna Cotta (S$8) is a good shout. The homemade honeycomb crunch, fruits and lavender honey lends the dish a balanced mix of soft, milky, crispy and fragrant all at once. It was a treat for the senses to say the least.

The poached pears that came with the panna cotta was also cooked to just the right texture – crunchy and sweet to taste. It made a great pairing with the greek yoghurt panna cotta.

As is expected, Brothers In Fine Food also offers a range of coffee for your daily caffeine dosage. We got a regular latte which costs just S$5.50. It was just what the doctor ordered to complement the entire meal.

Brothers In Fine Food
5 Tampines Avenue 3
#02-07, Tampines West Community Club
Singapore 529705
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10.30pm
Closed on Mondays
Nearest Station: Tampines

Spizza Mercato at Capitol Piazza might just be our newfound favourite already! It is a slightly different concept from the ever popular casual dining pizzeria chain – Spizza by The Senso Group, and you will see why we love it so.

The huge and edgy outlet at Capitol Piazza boasts a large dining area by the fountain, and a “market” – where Spizza offers retail items such as authentic Italian ingredients and condiments and homemade pasta.

Spizza Mercato has a super affordable menu and a wide variety of pizzas (but of course), and what it is exceptionally popular during lunch for its amazing weekday lunch deals – S$12 for a dry pasta with classic sauce or a 10 inch pizza, anyone?

Pizzas are the limelight here at Spizza Mercato, but that ain’t all. Here, we share with you the highlights of our meal, and all that we love at and about Spizza Mercato.

Stepping in, we were impressed by the very sleek and vibrant interior. Passing by the retail area, we fell in love with the “mercato” and was so distracted by all the takeaway items such as paninis and salads, for the busy professionals or those who choose to takeaway their meal.

APPETISERS & ANTIPASTI

This show-stopping antipasti of burrata cheese and parma ham, in a dish called “Burratina” (S$22), started our meal with a bang. As cheesy as this may sound, we really cannot tell you how much we are deprived of good burrata in Singapore and how this one here totally made it to our list.

Smooth, creamy, milky goodness is every burrata lover’s dream, and there is an inexplicable sense of gratification from cutting the burrata apart and being rewarded by fine shreds of silky white cheese. Served with the classic pairing of aged parma ham and arugula, the Burratina had us all succumbed.

We settled for a second appetiser of freshly prepared Calamari (S$13.80) that comes with a spicy ‘pizzaiolo’ dip. The calamari itself boasted the right amount of crunch and was pretty addictive. The sauce was not as memorable for us, but we were just happy the rings itself tasted so wonderful on its own. This appetizer makes a great sharing plate for two or more.

FRESH PASTA

Fresh stuffed pasta are not commonly served as they take up a lot of time to prepare, and requires a certain level of culinary skill to perfect it. And when we spotted some of these on the menu, we knew we had to have a go with them.

So it was the Red Tomato Mezzelune (S$15) and Black Squid Ink Round Ravioli (S$14) for lunch.

The former is basically a smoked duck ravioli and it was more than awesome. The smoked duck flavour really took the whole pasta dish up a notch, and we were in love that we really couldn’t nitpick much even if we’d wanted to!

The latter features minced seafood stuffing, which garnered mixed reviews from our team. It might be a little fishy and rich, but if that is the way you love your seafood, go for it!

The Gnocchi (S$18) was a surprise find too. Even though they were just essentially potato dumplings, the gnocchi was cooked with gorgonzola and other cheeses, and it was an entirely flavourful dish that would make the perfect main for any cream pasta lovers.

SPECIALTY PIZZAS

Pizzas are, without a doubt, Spizza’s speciality and it is no different here in Spizza Mercato, where they offer the same selection of pizzas. For lunch, you can enjoy a 10-inch pizza (or a dry pasta with sauce) for just S$12++. We now realise why the lunch crowd is crazy here, because this is for sure an unbeatable deal.

We had two pizzas, both signatures – Quinta (S$19, 10″) and Tara (S$20, 10″). Quinta is a meatless pizza that features mozzarella, a full egg and black truffle paste. The paste was so generously spread out and the smell of black truffle was incredibly distinct the moment it was laid on our table. We knew we would love this, and we sure did.

Tara is one of the classics with a slight twist. This pizza features mozzarella, a full egg, bacon and button mushrooms. Think of all kinds of happiness all in one pizza; that was the exact thought that got us excited. Well, you bet the pizza tasted even better when soaked slightly in the runny egg yolk.

By the way, for the large pizzas (12″), you can customize them to be half-half. In other words, two flavours in one pizza. Yes, yes and yes.

CLASSIC ITALIAN DESSERTS

The great thing about the food at Spizza Mercato is that it will always leave you and your tummy ultra satisfied. We ended our meal off on a sweet note with two classic Italian desserts – Panna Cotta (S$8) and Tiramisu (S$9.50).

While the former was a good dish as a whole, it was nothing to shout about. Especially when compared to the star – the Tiramisu. The tiramisu was light, just the way we like it, with strong notes of fragrant coffee and light mascarpone cheese.

DELIVERY MADE EASY

This is a life saver! And it might just be your next favourite pizza delivery option. We’ve tried the delivery too, and were completely amazed by how our food arrived hot.

You would think it is “just hot”, and that’s that. But wait. Would you believe it if we told you our pasta was still moist and warm, our chicken wings were still crispy, and our pizza was ever fresh? God knows how they do it, but we are so done with soggy delivered food, and that’s why we are sticking to Spizza’s delivery already.

And our order arrived even earlier than the promised time. Yay to zero frustrations from long waiting times!

Spizza delivery can be made via www.spizza.sg, or through their mobile apps (iTunes and Google Play).

SPIZZA FOR FRIENDS REWARS

This rewards programme is put in place for all who celebrate their love for Spizza. Enjoy a 10% rebate with a minimum spend of S$50 at any Spizza outlet, as well as delivery orders. And these rebates can be utilized on your next visit to or delivery from Spizza.

Note that Spizza Mercato has the same menu as other Spizza outlets, with an added Light Bites & Snacks and Pasta Ripiena section.

Spizza Mercato
13 Stamford Road #B2-52
Capitol Piazza
Singapore 178905
Tel: +65 6702 1835
Daily: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

This post is brought to you by Spizza Mercato.

If you are looking to dine in Marina Bay Sands without burning a hole in your wallet, Beanstro by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf shall well be your answer. Offering a wide variety of mains, desserts and drinks, Beanstro is a lovely bistro that boasts a casual and laid-back vibe for shoppers and weekenders.

If you are craving for cafe fare, Beanstro also offers a variety of all-day breakfast mains. Expect a generous serving of the classic Eggs Benedict and other scrumptious choices such as Croque Madame and Crustaceans Omelette.

Let us not forget that Beanstro offers The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf’s signature drinks like coffee and ice blended drinks; perfect pair-ups with your hearty mains. Here, we share with you all the goodness about Beanstro at Marina Bay Sands that we love.

Salad lovers will fall in love with this California Shrimp Salad (S$19.50) and this makes a wonderful choice for those who are seeking something light. The fresh vegetables are tossed in together with crunchy walnuts, orange segments, grapes with a unique strawberry cream tea-infused vinaigrette.

The crunch and textural variety gives off a very light-hearted and fresh-tasting overall bite, and the serving of big and juicy poached prawns adds a nice touch. Beanstro also has other salad options to offer, such as the classic House Salad (S$10.50) and Caesar Salad (S$13).

Get your taste buds flowing with other interesting starters such as the Wild Mushroom Cappuccino (S$8.50) – a rich and earthy mushroom soup, topped off with fresh milk foam, just like a cup of actual warm cappuccino (which you can also get here!).

If you visit Beanstro in a group, that is the best excuse to order side dishes to share! We totally loved the Crispy Calamari (S$9) that comes with a side of tasty dill aioli. Both crispy and crunchy, the calamari slices are highly addictive when dipped into a side of dill aioli. You have been warned.

The Buffalo Wings (S$10.50) is also a treat for meat lovers. The spice rub on the drumlets is one-of-a-kind and is perfect on its own or with the accompanying cheese dip. To add a little crunch or to tone down the spice level, have a bite of a celery and carrot stick that are all served on the side.

You can never go wrong with a plate of Classic Eggs Benedict (S$18) served with a slather of homemade hollandaise, wilted spinach, choice of chicken ham (we recommend this) or smoked salmon. The serving is more than generous, the eggs are beautifully poached, and it is most photogenic for your Instagram feed!

Pasta fans should go right for the Chicken Pomodoro (S$17.50). Where do you find a delicious and good-looking plate of pasta in Marina Bay Sands for under S$20 but Beanstro? The spaghetti is coated evenly with the tomato cream sauce and adds just the right amount of tanginess and very slight acidity for a complex but flawless taste.

It is hard to fault a good tomato pasta, especially this one that is topped off with fresh parmesan cheese and tossed in with a liberal amount of chicken breast strips, making it a relatively healthy choice. You can feel our love for it, can you?

Look no further, seafood and risotto lovers; this dish of Seafood Risotto (S$26.50) will blow your mind. It showcases a plethora of fresh seafood, topping off a rich and creamy risotto.

In your risotto sits a pile of treasures from the sea – the scallops plump and beautifully seared, the mussels big and fresh, and the tiger prawns so sweet and juicy. And more importantly, we often gripe about the lack of good risotto in Singapore. With this dish now, we can satisfy our cravings without having our wallets take a beating. Absolute bang for your buck with the generous serving!

If you choose to skip past the risotto to go for some seriously good fish, the Oven-Baked Miso Barramundi & Prawn (S$21) it shall be. Nicely seared barramundi fish is paired up with juicy tiger prawns and is served over a bed of sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes and mesclun salad, which is also tossed in the same strawberry cream tea-infused vinaigrette.

Red meat lover? Fret not, there are steak and burger options for you too. If you are stuck in a difficult decision between these two, try the Classic Burger (S$21) as it can do no wrong. Juicy beef patty is served sandwiched between the burger buns, together with tomatoes, relish pickle, mushroom ragout, grated onion and the melty goodness of emmental cheese. All burger and sandwiches are also served with a side of shoestring fries.

Prime Sirloin and Lamb Cutlets are also available on the menu with other hearty European-style mains such as Fish & Chips (S$23) and Chicken Piccata (S$20.50).

Save some tummy space for desserts. The Vanilla Ceylon Panna Cotta (S$8) is a delighting treat for those who want something milky and fruity. The layer of berry jelly topping the panna cotta balances the sweetness of the panna cotta with a light tart taste. The bowl is finished off with some fresh strawberries and blueberries.

The Salted Caramel Bread & Butter Pudding (S$9) is done the traditional way and combining modern favourites with the addition of salted caramel sauce. Served warm, the bread pudding is a definite comfort food with the aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg.

There are not many restaurants with delicious mains that cost less than S$20-S$30, and Beanstro serves the purpose of bringing you unpretentious Western mains at an inexpensive price tag. And of course, you will probably pay a lot more to dine at its counterparts in Marina Bay Sands, so the next time you need an affordable option when at the integrated resort, you know where to head to, yes?

Beanstro
B2-20, Canal Level
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Singapore 018956
Tel: +65 6688 7001
Mon to Thu, Sun: 8am – 11pm
Fri & Sun: 8am – 2am
Nearest Station: Bayfront

This post is brought to you by Beanstro.

Tucked away in a little corner in Telok Blangah is what used to be a retreat bungalow owned by the Yemeni Alkaff family. Alkaff Mansion Ristorante provides a nice respite from the fast paced city areas in Singapore, perching on top of Telok Blangah Hill (used to be known as Washington Hill). This well-known location was once the centre of high society parties and other events, besides being a family home to the Alkaff family.

Since the mid 1990s, Alkaff Mansion Ristorante has been known to serve award-winning cuisine to patrons but ever since LHN Culinary Concepts took over the reigns in 2010, the restaurant finally restored its splendour and has become one of Singapore’s go-to dining spots and event venue for corporate, private events and weddings.

Here is what we enjoyed the most from Executive Chef Simone Depalmas’ intricately crafted menu, strongly influenced by his Italian roots.

To kick-start your gastronomic adventure here at Alkaff Mansion Ristorante, a popular antipasti to start with is the Fresh Octopus Carpaccio (S$24). This dish, according to Chef Depalmas, is one of the most frequently ordered starters at the restaurant.

Sliced thinly into delicate and translucent pieces, the octopus is enhanced with the added frisee salad and San Marzano cherry tomatoes on top, and dressed sparingly with balsamic reduction for a hint of tanginess to the dish. Chef imports his seafood fresh directly from his hometown of Sardinia, an island in Italy, so you are guaranteed only the freshest seafood will be served here.

If you are dining in a pair, pick the Seafood Platter (S$68) instead to try a variety of seafood dishes. Dig into plump tiger prawns, a generous serving of tuna tartare with croutons crowning it, thinly sliced sea bass carpaccio, chunky octopus salad and fresh lobster chunks dressed in a tart citrus sauce. The platter is exceptionally big so it can be shared up to four diners.

Moving on to the fresh pasta dishes, the Sardinian Fregola with Assorted Seafood (S$28) is a stunner. Fregola is essentially a ‘cous cous’-like pasta, imported all the way from Italy. The mussels that are tossed in with the pasta is exceptionally juicy as they are fresh from Sardinian waters, without being frozen when flown over. Cooked with other fresh seafood such as squid and clams, the rich flavours of the pasta shone through with the added use of herbs and dried tomatoes.

We were served this next dish wrapped up in a thin sheet of plastic. Yes, the Homemade Squid Ink Tagliatelle (S$32) is skillfully prepared in the hands of chef as he tosses this pasta dish into the oven for a couple of minutes before serving to bring out the robust flavours.

Adding an oomph to this marvellous pasta dish are the plump and juicy mussels and an assortment of other fresh Sardinian seafood.

It is hard to come by really good risotto in Singapore as many restaurants here do not use the correct grains to cook the dish, or simply fare poorly in execution. Thankfully, the Porcini Mushroom Risotto Superfino Acquerello (S$28) here at Alkaff Mansion Ristorante exceeded our expectations.

Chef uses the Superfino Acquerello grains in this risotto dish and it is a high quality grain prized for producing the best risotto dishes. The porcini mushrooms and thyme also enhanced the flavours of the dish.

Served flambéed, the Oven Baked Sea Bass in Salt (S$48/600g, S$56/700g, S$64/800g) produced the most tender and juicy flesh. As the fish was baked in salt, the inner ‘meat’ of the sea bass has absorbed a great part of it, making it good to eat even on its own.

We were served the sea bass with a tangy squeeze of lemon, some fresh vegetables and delicious dried tomatoes; they all make great companions to the fish.

If red meats are your go-to choice for a hearty (or romantic) dinner here at Alkaff Mansion Ristorante, the Oven-Baked Lamb Rack (S$45) or the Sliced Beef Tenderloin (S$45) should be your top picks.

Cooked to a perfect medium pink, the lamb rack is served with a smooth dollop of mashed potatoes, pearl onions and a rich prune sauce that has been reduced overnight to bring out the most intensive flavours to complement the meat.

For steak lovers, a guaranteed satisfying meal will be made better with the sliced tenderloin; cooked to your preferred doneness, of course. The steak is sliced up for easier consumption and served alongside roasted potatoes and fresh or grilled vegetables.

What makes a good suckling pig? A crisp skin outer layer with flavourful and tender meat inside. This is exactly what Chef Depalmas brought to the table with an Italian spin to this classic dish. And you bet we fell head over heels in love.

The Slow Cooked Sardinian Style Suckling Pig (S$46) is roasted for several hours at a specific temperature of 70 degree Celsius to produce fork-tender meat and a divine crisp to the skin. Served with a sweet berry compote to balance out the salty-rich flavours of the pork, we couldn’t help but believe that we must have done something so darn right in our past lives to be able to enjoy such a heavenly suckling pig.

Every good meal must end with an equally or even better tasting dessert. Chef puts in the same amount of love and care into his savoury dishes and sweet desserts, hence producing incredibly decadent desserts that you will polish off even if you were already ‘full’ from your mains.

Chef Depalmas’ Alkaff Mansion Tiramisu (S$14) is a simple dish but done the traditional and authentic way without any addition of cream – only light and premium mascarpone cheese. The added acidity of the fruits and berries adds dimensions to this otherwise light dessert.

The clear winner of the desserts is none other than the Fresh Mint Vanilla Panna Cotta with Mixed Berries and Raspberry Sauce (S$14). The Panna Cotta itself was as wobbly as a good Panna Cotta should be, and the fragrance of the mint was refreshing without being over-powering. This is a nice palate cleanser for your hearty meal.

It was a really splendid experience at Alkaff Mansion Ristorante, and one that we will not soon forget. It is little wonder this place is so popular among couples for wedding ceremonies and dinners, and yes, it is an ideal romantic dining location indeed.

For the latest updates, go to www.alkaff.com.sg, like Alkaff Mansion Ristorante on Facebook and Instagram.

Alkaff Mansion Ristorante
10 Telok Blangah Green
Singapore 109178
Reservations: +65 6510 3068
Events: +65 6510 1010
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3.00pm, 6pm – 11.00pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 3.00pm, 6pm – 11.00pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront or Telok Blangah

This post is brought to you by Alkaff Mansion Ristorante.

Eating out in Singapore is getting considerably expensive. Nowadays, it is increasingly difficult to find a restaurant that serves good food at reasonable prices.

When I was at The Clan Restaurant for dinner, I was surprised to find out that it not only dishes out an extensive menu – with offerings of cold dish, side dish, soup, main course and dessert – that you really cannot go wrong with, but it is also relatively inexpensive given the quality of the food.

Under the cold dish category, our party tasted most of the dishes, and everyone agreed that the Beef Carpaccio ($20) was a terrific choice. The pairing of well-marbled beef slices and truffle mustard salad with truffle teriyaki & horseradish sauce made for a winning combination.

The other favourite of the table was Alaskan King Crab ($22). It stood out with its light homemade Karashi dressing that allowed the freshness of the crab to shine through.

The Chef’s Starter ($18) – a trio of foie gras chawanmushi, seared scallops with truffle foam, and hamachi with ponzu – is also a good way to start the meal.

After sampling the cold dishes, we progressed to side dishes of Deep Fried Foie Gras ($18) with balsamic reduction and cheese focaccia, Kurobuta Pork Belly Confit ($15) with pork cracker and passion fruit sauce and Steamed Razar Clam ($15) drizzled with Japanese sauce, and Herb Crusted Mushroom Escargot ($15). Among them, the standout dish was the Kurobuta Pork Belly Confit, while the Foie Gras was disappointing as the deep-fried batter overwhelmed the foie gras.

The Clan has main courses like Spiced Braised Lamb Shank ($29), 48 Degree Poached Salmon with Japanese broth ($27) and Pan Seared Cod Fish ($29). But what you must order is the 48 Hours Beef Short Ribs served on hoba leaf and lava stone. Everyone was gushing when the waiter served the dish to the table. It was outstanding, and undoubtedly the highlight of our dinner. Another commendable dish from the menu is the Duck Confit ($26) with plum mustard, and truffle mashed potato.

Sweet treats include a Madeira Cheese Panna Cotta ($10), Chocolate Lava ($10) with homemade gelato, Triple Espresso Crème Brulee ($10) and the excellent and highly recommended Chan La Royaltine Chocolate Cake ($11).

The Clan Restaurant
1 Selegie Road, #02-01 PoMo
Singapore 188306
Tel: +65 6222 2084
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

* * * Now closed * * *

My fourth, her third, another’s second, and many others first. Our common love for food. That’s how it all began. At the heart of East-Meet-West. Persimmon.

Kopitiam, the symbolic of our local heartlands. The place where everybody grew up sipping their milo & coffee, where everybody settled their three meals when their mother was on strike, and the gateway to many delicious heritage hawker food.

Persimmon is quintessentially a swanky and upmarket kopitiam, retaining the traditional feel by using the classic kopitiam furnitures and floor tiles. The furnishings were a combination between comtemporary and rustic. And not to mention her location is right in the middle of Tiong Bahru, with the shophouses and kopitiam lining side by side.

Choices of desserts pick from a la carte buffet. Bread pudding, carrot cake, mango pudding, panna cotta, chocolate mousse. For the discerning us, perhaps only the carrot cake made the cut.

The kong ba bao (stewed pork belly) was way off my radar. The bun was hard and dry, the meat was not fatty enough, and lacked the delicious gravy. And oh ya, it wasn’t part of our menu, but was under the a la carte buffet offered.

Inspired by NoSignBoard white pepper crab, Persimmon white pepper Crabcake is all about that. Enjoyed the white pepper “crab”, no doubt in the form of crabcake, without any hassle. Under the sunny weather, the crab was toned prefectly brown, with a crisp-cross shell, and savoury meat within. Adiós

The crown of Persimmon. Hainanese Chicken Salad. Featured in almost all the media publications, there isn’t any excuse for you to miss this dish. The concept is simple, Singaporeans loved their chicken rice, but dreaded the calories. So what do you do? Remove the rice, throw in some greens, and voila! Singapore’s very own Hainanese chicken salad. Poach chicken, fresh local herbs & mesclun greens, rise crisps, and special dressing.

Tomato base pasta? Boring! How about our rich cream base instead? I hate cream! Right, why not try our Linguine laksa leaf Pesto? Specially created for your exquisite taste buds, the laksa infused linguine will definitely blow you away with its unique taste. Think laksa, but swop the thick rice noodles with pasta. Some felt that the laksa leaf was too heavy and overwhelm the whole dish. On the other hand, i thought the pasta was perfectly fine. Innovative with a big I.

Mixed blonds (fusion) are interesting in some ways, and the 8 treasures certainly roused my curiosity. Three mushrooms, two nuts, chinese sausage, parmesan cheese and risotto. What happens when Italian Risotto combine with the 8 treasures? You get the 8 treasure Risotto! The intial impression was Glutinous rice, but it was way better. I need to be honest, i couldn’t taste all of you. But in the end, it doesn’t really matter, you are all mine!

Staying true with the principle of fusion food, we have the European-style steak meeting heads on with our Asian carrot cake. The grilled ribeye with “chye tao kueh” carrot cake is bound to make your eyes popped out. The carrot cake was fried with XO and balsamic, with the latter providing a sour taste. A vast contrast with the steak. Not everyone could accepted sour carrot cake with steak though. Aspiring combination, but somehow failed to sizzle with the seemingly weird taste.

Eaten alone, the Slow poached salmon with zuchinni ribbons didn’t come as tender as we thought it will. But dipped in the green curry sauce, the fish went through a make-over in the taste department. There was cucumbers used in the green curry, which caught my attention. Like what one of our fellow friend say, when you don’t understand, just say “fusion!”

Our humble Otak is given a upmarket transformation by going créme brulée. With richly flavoured spicy kaffir lime & coconut used as the main ingredients, there was fish mousse hidden beneath the otak. The otak creme brulee is a very creative fusion dish indeed, but the experiement could perhaps be better. Some of us found the otak to be too watery, and maybe it’s meant to be this way. But is créme brulée ever so soggy?

There was a slight tweak to the menu compared to the one i previously shown. And the cost per person was 20 dollar nett, which everybody agreed was a reasonable price given we managed to try a variety of food. I hope everybody enjoyed their meal, and see you all at the next LIC food outing! We had 27 people for this outing, which was quite a healthy figure.

Well, like what some of you mentioned, it was a case of hits and misses, fusion food is pretty much an experiment between the Asian and Western cuisines, and it was certainly interesting to try some food which we’ll never get to try elsewhere.

And not to forget, LIC outing is all about the fun, joy and laughter during the event, and getting to know more friends. I’ll also like to take the opportunity to thank Helena and Sharon, the co-owners of Persimmon for having us there.

Do add me on facebook, if you missed the links earlier.

Read Jaime-la-nourriture chinese post on the outing here

For those who missed this Persimmon outing, you can get the best discounts when you mentioned ladyironchef while you are at Persimmon. So do go down and give the fusion food a try.

Here’s a sneak preview of what to expect for LIC food event @ O Cha Cha next tue!

A friend and I went down to O Cha Cha last week after i got my DSLR, we went to discuss the menu with Ochacha’s boss Miss Lee Yin Siau.

From left anticlockwise, is Mr.Ochacha Mondo, on its right is our friend Miss Matcha Panna Cotta, and followed by Ochacha Rocks, and the top is Gyokuro.

Gyokuro uses the same tea leave made into Matcha, just that the whole tea leave is being use for Gyokuro which is evident inside the tea.

Say hello to Ochacha Rocks! He rocks all righty! There’s also Matcha Azuki at the left background of the picture!

And Miss Matcha Panna Cotta! We will be seeing all of them next tue!

Just in case you do not know what’s going on, LIC is proud to organise a food event outing at Ochacha, raffles city basement next tue 13th May.

The Place: OChaCha

The Date: 13th May Tuesday

The Time: 730pm

The Price: $17.50 per person

The Menu:

Drinks: OChaCha Rocks, Azuki Freezzie, Passion Rocks, OChaCha Latte, Chado

Sandwiches: Sakura Egg, Wasabi Tuna, Furikake Salmon

Soups: Shiitake Mushroom

Desserts: Matcha Cotton, Matcha Azuki, Financier, Matcha Panna Cotta

All the cold drinks will be served in the shooters while the hot latte in individual cups.

Attendance:
1. LadyIronChef
2. Claudia
3. Jiaying
4. Sok Peng (2)
6. Qiu Gui
7. Caleb
8. Hisham (2)
10. Elisa
11. Christine
12. Peter Tan (2)
14. Jasmin (2)
16. Zheng Ni
17. Vicki (3)
20. Andy
21. Michelle (2)
23. Estelle (2)
25. Jon (2)
27. Anonymous (2)

Currently a total of 28 people have signed up for the event, the maximum capacity is 30, so RVSP now! Drop me a sms at 9623 2581 to confirm your place or should you have any enquiries. All are welcome, and feel free to bring along your friends too!

See you all at Ochacha next tue!

Bistro One Zero Three sounds quite interesting right? Being the inquisitive me, i was naturally attracted to the name, and hence the visit to the place. Located at Pasir Panjang, its not a place where you’ll imagine a restaurant like Bistro One Zero Three will be situated. Nevertheless, the ‘ulu’ place makes it fun to go to, as though like we are on a food-hunting trait.

Initially we thought it was near the Haw Par Villa area, so we started looking for it there, but then how wrong we were, Bistro One Zero Three is at the other end of Pasir Panjang Road, quite near to PSA Building. If you are going there by train, i suggest stopping at HarbourFront and take a bus there, its only a couple of bus-stops away from HarbourFront.

The cosy 52 seater bistro is into its tenth-month, and started by the owner Eric, together with his sister and his sister-in-law as the chef. Stepping into Bistro One Zero Three, we felt totally at home, the homely-wood furniture plays a part, but it is the friendly service of the owners who welcomed us enthusiastically, and serving us ice-water while we were going through the menu, that impressed us.

The Menu comprises of sandwiches, gourmet salads, some sides, spaghetti and the mains. They are actually in the midst of introducing more items to the menu, but meanwhile, this are the options available.

Besides dining, Bistro One Zero Three also provides services for birthday-party events, company functions. The previous night they just had a event where guests let their hairs down and party till late night at the bistro. The bistro is a draw for the working crowd during weekdays, and on fridays & saturdays there are people like you and me who specially visit the place.

Well, i like the early-bird feeling, when we got there for a early lunch, we had the whole place to ourselves, totally like what i experienced in Sweet Indulgence! Being hungry people, we went through the menu and didn’t have much problem ordering the food. My dining companion being a Salmon-lover, naturally she’ll order Pan-fried Salmon. My two other mates had Cajun chicken wrap and Salmon & crab meat spaghetti, while i had the bacon, ham, mushroom spaghetti.

Salmon & Crab Meat Spaghetti ($14.50)

We began our meal at Bistro One Zero Three with the Salmon & Crab meat Spaghetti. With two generous piece of salmon on the tomato-based spaghetti, it got our salivary gland working even before we started eating! While slurping down the pasta, we can also taste the crab meat which goes quite well together.

Bacon, Ham & Mushroom Spaghetti ($13.50)

There are tomato, carbonara style and aglio olio options to choose from, I chose carbonara style since the other spaghetti is tomato-based. The carbonara Bacon, Mushroom Spaghetti here at Bistro One Zero Three is slightly different from the usual one you’ll find in other restaurants.

Usually the egg in carbonara style will be mixed together and cook with the heat of the pasta itself, but in this case, the chef put on his thinking cap and played with his creativity by leaving the egg yolk on top of the pasta. This is a pleasant surprise for us knowing the chef actually put in his heart & soul into making something different from the norm.

Well, i’ll preferred the salmon spaghetti to this one, not that this is not good, but after trying both pasta, we come to a consensus that the tomato-based spaghetti here taste better!

Pan-fried Salmon ($16.50)

With Balsamic glaze & acompanied with seasonal vegetables, the Pan-fried salmon is a must-have for all the salmon-lovers out there. Balsamic dressing is a traditional flavoured vinegar commonly used in Italian cuisine, the Balsamic glaze here added a slight twist of Italiano to the salmon.

Cajun Chicken Wrap ($15.90)

Tomato herb Tortilla & Mesclun mix are found inside the Cajun Chicken Wrap. The chicken wrap does give me an oddly feeling of ‘popiah’. The two Cajun chicken wrap serving is rather small, and definitely not enough to serve a grown-up (well depending on the appetite also). My mate wasn’t full after he finished it.

Warm Brownie w/ French Vanilla ice cream ($5)

Who can resist the temptation of desserts after a meal? Not me, there is always room in my stomach for them! For the record, i love my desserts more than my main.

The warm brownie together with a scoop of the cold ice cream seems to match nicely together. The brownie is not too sweet also.

Panna cotta with Mocha ($5)

One thing about Bistro One Zero Three is that they currently have limited desserts selection, only two! So we ordered both the brownie and this one to share. The owners are looking for new additions to the desserts section, so we had to make do with this two for now.

At first glance, we thought that the dessert was a soup, but on second note, it was not! Panna Cotta is actually an Italian Dessert made by simmering together cream, milk and sugar, mixing this with gelatin, and letting it cool until set.

Panna Cotta is usually eaten plained or sweetened with vanilla, chocolate or fruits. But the one we had at Bistro One Zero Three gave a different twist by adding Mocha to flavour the dessert.

Total bill for 4 person (4 mains & 2 desserts) adds up to $82.86 (including GST & service charge). Overall the experience at Bistro One Zero Three is a positive one, and its a good place to chill out & dine with your friends. The place isn’t really inaccessible if you know where it is, just a few bus-stops away from Harbourfront. And the cozy environment and friendly service from the boss definitely makes it a plus for a revisit, but they need to work on their desserts selections if they are to satisfy my desserts-demand.

Bistro One Zero Three
103 Pasir Panjang 118531
Tel: 6476 6373

” Who say guys don’t like their desserts? I do! “