Showing posts with label .Station: Botanic Gardens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label .Station: Botanic Gardens. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Let’s Kinn BRO @ Crown Centre - Be Transported to Thailand with Signature Spicy Seafood Mama Tom Yum Hot Pot

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Let's Kinn THAI started in Tanjong Pagar and quickly gained popularity for their signature Seafood Mama Tom Yum Hot Pots. The team opened their newest outlet in the West, in Crown Centre at Bukit Timah. Crown Centre is the mall which houses Crown Bakery, just down the road from Atlas Coffeehouse. This new outlet goes with the name of Let's Kinn BRO.

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Similarly, the team hopes to serve authentic Thai dishes alongside their highly raved hotpots. You can find classic options, such as Moo Ping, Green Curry Chicken, Basil Pork with Rice & Egg, and more.

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Thai Ice Milk Tea 4.2/5

What's a Thai meal without Thai Ice Milk Tea ($2.50)? Although it was a tad too sweet for my liking, it tasted authentic. The tea base was fragrant, and as a whole, it was sufficiently thick without being cloying.

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Fresh River Prawn Seafood Lover Mama Hot Pot 4.2/5

The main highlight of our meal here was definitely the Fresh River Prawn Seafood Lover Mama Hot Pot ($42.90). The portion feeds 3 pax well, with a layer of cabbage topped with mama instant noodles, mushrooms, clams, mussels, squid, eggs, prawns and a bigger river prawn, all brimming in a hearty tom yum broth. While the seafood could be fresher, the star for us was the flavourful broth that boasted tangy and spicy notes.

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Thai Steamed Seabass with Lemon 4/5

We also had the Thai Steamed Seabass with Lemon ($29.90). The seabass was fresh and meaty, and I appreciated how cleanly the flaky meat fell off its bones. The spicy lime base sauce was appetising and garlicky, and I imagine it would pair well with white rice. However, it was a pity that our seabass was served lukewarm, and the base flame provided could not heat it up better.

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Mango Sticky Rice 3.5/5

We had the Mango Sticky Rice ($8.90) to end our meal. While I enjoyed the coconut cream giving it a clever savoury addition, the glutinous rice was a little too hard. The mango was more sour than sweet as well.

Let's Kinn BRO is a decent spot for an authentic Thai meal. Skip the dessert and go for their tom yum hot pot. The restaurant also offers a range of alcoholic beverages for you to wash down the spice!

If you are heading down, I recommend making a reservation by calling them at +65 8851 2138 or saving a table online via Quandoo.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


LET’S KINN BRO
Crown Centre
557 Bukit Timah Road
#01-14
Singapore 269694
Tel: +65 8851 2138
Facebook
Instagram
Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens (CC, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Botanic Gardens MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Bukit Timah Road. Continue walking down Bukit Timah Road and walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes.[Map]

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Botanico @ The Garage (Singapore Botanic Gardens) - 2019 World Gourmet Summit Rising Female Chef Of The Year Brings new Maturity And Confidence In Her Creations

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My last visit to Botanico at The Garage was 3 years ago when Chef Sue takes the helm introducing her interpretation of Asian flavours in her dishes. Since then, she has grown from strength to strength, winning the 2019 Rising Female Chef of the Year and spent time in the kitchens of Michelin-starred Mugaritz polishing her culinary skills.

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Beef Tongue Tacos 3.5/5

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I guess no one has ever seen or tried taco presented in such a matter. The Beef Tongue Tacos ($18) is served jicama slaw, toasted rice, ginger flower, baby bokchoy and cashew cream. To enjoy it, simply piece everything together and have it in one mouthful to get the different textures and flavours all at play in one go.

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Corn Pani Puri 4/5

The Corn Pani Puri ($10) is a playful touch by Chef Sue where puffed little pillows of Indian-inspired puri pastry acted as a cup, holding within it, spiced baby corn and a rich espuma of curried Japanese corn. Pop this in the mouth for a burst of aromatic flavours dancing in the mouth.

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Rojak 3.5/5

The Rojak ($15) may look plain, but it is actually packed with the lovely savoury shrimp paste flavour. Give the heiko foam a good mix, coating the pile of kohlrabi and seasonal Southeast Asian fruits salad. It reminds me of the Penang-style rojak, giving the refreshing salad a delightful combo of sweet, savoury, and sour with each bite.

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Wing Bean Salad 4.2/5

Chef Sue took inspiration from a staff meal that one of her Malaysian chefs created. Together with her team, they took the dish apart and created the new elevated Wing Bean Salad ($15) using European techniques with Southeast Asian flavours. The wing beans are paired with cubes of housemade chickpea tofu, chopped hard-boiled egg, bird's eye chilli, dressed in a bright, punchy dressing of lime juice, lemongrass, fish sauce, belachan and Thai palm sugar. It even comes with a generous topping of Asian anchovies or better known as ikan bilis in Southeast Asia.

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Assam Pedas Snapper 4.2/5

Fish lover will adore Chef Sue's modern take of the traditional assam pedas - Assam Pedas Snapper ($32). The red snapper fillet is grilled over banana leaf, complemented with saffron risotto, okra 2-ways, assam pedas and ginger flower.

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Herbal Chicken 4.5/5

I love both Hainanese chicken rice and herbal chicken; hence I really enjoyed the Herbal Chicken ($29) at Botanico. The chicken breast is slow-cooked to tender and dressed in angelica sauce. The sauce is definitely the star which brightens the dish. Not forgetting the chicken rice couscous, which is a flavourful substitution of the usual rice to pair with the herbal chicken. What I feel missing is the chilli sauce to complete the whole enjoyment.

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65 Degree Kurobuta Pork Belly 4.2/5

I am sure not many can resist the gorgeous piece of 65 Degree Kurobuta Pork Belly ($30) slow-cooked to fork-tender. It is served with textures of sunchoke, leek flowers and housemade soy-vinegar infused with Szechuan peppercorns.

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Crab Rissoni 4.8/5

The crowd favourite definitely goes to the Crab Rissoni ($32). The outer circle is a ring of Japanese deep-sea red crab and blue swimmer crab. The internal circle is Japanese nori rissoni and a comte custard right in the middle. The beautiful dish is sprinkled with octopus bottarga made in house with octopus egg. Give everything a good mix, to get the lovely crustacean's sweetness swimming in each mouth fill. 

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BGR (Black Glutinous Rice) 4/5

Even the desserts at Botanico are inspired by flavours in Southeast Asia. First up is the BGR ($12), a playful name for the black glutinous rice dessert recreated with a modern look. It came in the form of black glutinous rice mochi cake topped with toasted rice ice cream and compressed coconut resting on a bed black glutinous rice foam.

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Ondeh Ondeh 3.5/5

Familiar yet not is the Ondeh Ondeh ($12). The beloved nonya kueh is transformed into a bowl of pandan glutinous rice cake with coconut foam, kaya ice cream and gula melaka. It is definitely interesting and yummy, but I still miss the oozing gula melaka moment whenever one bites into the traditional ondeh ondeh.

Having dined at Botanico when Chef Sue first took over the helm, I can really taste the improvement in her culinary skill. Her creations now reflect a greater nuance and finesse with a new focus on South East Asian flavours. 

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Botanico 
The Garage (Singapore Botanic Gardens)
via Cluny Park Gate
50 Cluny Park Road
Singapore 257488
Tel: +65 98311106
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Thu: 6pm - 10pm
Fri-Sun: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Botanic Gardens MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to Cluny Park Road. Turn left onto Cluny Park Road and continue walking down the road. At Cluny Park Gate, walk in and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. {Map]

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Elixir Boutique Roasters @ Serene Centre - Reintroducing The Good Old Full-bodied, Bold And Straight-forward Espresso Roasts, While Bringing In The New

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Elixir Boutique Roasters at Serene Centre is all about bold and straight-forward espresso roasts. Beans are chosen from the South America region for the finest quality espresso blends and the ability to handle dark roasts without turning overly bitter. Black or White, you get to choose the beans from the variety of single origins and blends available. But beyond just Black and White, the coffee beans are also roasted specifically to harmonise with spirits for their range of Crafted Coffee-Centric Cocktails. To accompany your coffee and cocktails is a selection of brunch dishes and mains, available from 8.30am till 4pm daily, except Wednesday.

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Killer Queen

Elixir's take on Italian aperitif cocktails, Killer Queen is made with homemade cascara syrup and Disaronno Italian Liqueur. Cascara, the coffee cherries which is usually discarded, is apparently a flavorful and antioxidant-packed ingredient that can be used in ways such as this. Pairing it with the amaretto-tasting liqueur, and there you have a sweet, refreshing pre-meal drink.

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Same Ole’ Situation

Inspired by Old Fashioned, Same Ole’ Situation is made combining Homemade bitters with Costa Rica Las Trojas single origin. If you like it simple, this would be your drink.

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Stormbringer

Stormbringer is intense - a double shot of Guatemala Antigua Santo Domingo espresso with Ron Zacapa 23 Solera Whisky.

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Brulee French Toast 3/5

For a sweet start, Brûlée French Toast ($18) with seasonal fresh fruits and chantilly cream will delight you with its brulee brioche toast. The brioche itself was yummy - very crusty, with very light and airy body. I really like that it was not soggy with custard. The burned sugar taste of the caramelised surface imparts a smoky flavour, which harmonises with the berries and cream.

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Truffle Eggs and Prosciutto 3.5/5

For something heartier, after all, it's a Brunch, Truffle Eggs and Prosciutto ($22) is preferred. I like the combination of textures and flavours of the different elements in this dish. The prosciutto was soft and had a rich mouthfeel, and its saltiness flavoured the creamy, buttery eggs well. The peppery arugula complements these rich elements, while the sweet brioche binds them all together.

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Wagyu Beef Cheek Rendang 3/5

Mains are available from 11am onwards. Wagyu Beef Cheek Rendang ($22) is a laborious dish made with Chef's special rempah, served with free-flow butterfly pea coconut rice. Although the beef cheek was not exactly fork-tender, I quite like its gelatinous texture and glad that its flavours were not lost during the sous vide process.

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Grilled Halloumi 4/5

Grilled Halloumi ($18) is probably one of the best Halloumi dishes I ever had. The sweet and creamy tahini aioli works well with the savoury notes of the halloumi, and the sprinkle of dukka enhances the nutty flavour of the dressing. One of the key components of the dish is actually the flecks of Lemon preserve, which punctuates the dish with sweet, salty and bitter notes.

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Carbonara with Onsen Egg 3.5/5

Carbonara with Onsen Egg ($18) will not disappoint with its sauce made using only Parmigiano-Reggiano and eggs. The dehydrated pancetta adds the right amount of salty notes and texture to the creamy pasta.

Written By Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Elixir Boutique Roasters
Serene Centre
10 Jln Serene
#01-03A/4
Singapore 258748
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours
Mon-Tue, Thu-Sun: 830am - 4pm
(Closed on Wed)

Direction:
1) Alight at Botanic Gardens. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Bukit Timah Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Fat Belly x Sugarhaus @ Serene Centre – Casual Speakeasy Steakhouse For Quality Steak And Delectable Desserts

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A hidden gem situated within Serene Centre is Fat Belly, the new casual speakeasy steakhouse that opened months ago, co-sharing the same space with its sister brand and ice cream parlour, Sugarhaus. Helmed by banker-turned-food entrepreneur Stanley Seow, Sugarhaus runs the daytime business with its extensive brunch and desserts menu, while Fat Belly takes over for dinner from 6 to 10pm every night with its 10-seater countertop dining area at the back of Sugarhaus.

Although both eateries possess separate menu, we had the opportunity to try the dishes from both Fat Belly and Sugarhaus that night. The former focuses on specialty rather than variety with its straightforward and simple menu that offers only three alternative cuts of steak - Flat Iron, Short Rib and Denver Steak that boast stronger and more robust flavours, as well as a few sides and plated desserts to choose from.

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Wagyu Marble Score 7-9 Denver Steak 4.5/5

The latest menu addition at Fat Belly – The Wagyu Marble Score 7-9 Denver Steak ($48) features a lesser-known premium cut from underneath the shoulder blade bone. Done medium rare, the slices are slightly charred on the outside while the meat is tender, juicy, well-marbled and packed full of rich, beefy goodness. Served with a house salad, chimichurri sauce and Himalayan pink salt to further enhance its flavours, yet the well-seasoned denver steak has already sufficed as an enjoyment on its own.

Creamed Kale
Creamed Kale 4/5

Add on an additional $5 for a side dish to complement your steak. Of the four available, we went for the Creamed Kale ($5) which comes in a bowl of vegetables doused in a pool of rich and luscious white cream and shredded cheese atop. Despite the generous amount of cream used, the dish is non-cloying and the kale retains a nice crunch, while the cream elevated its flavour and makes the vegetable rather satisfying to chew on.

Sauteed Thyme Mushroom
Sauteed Thyme Mushroom 4/5

Another side dish available - the Sauteed Thyme Mushroom ($5) features a bowl of creamy and juicy mushrooms, slightly salted with a subtle thyme fragrance.

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Foie Gras Chocolate Bar 3.8/5

Fat Belly also features a small selection of plated desserts. We had the Foie Gras Chocolate Bar ($12). Upon breaking the thin chocolate shell, the foie gras filling within comes in the form of ice cream. Taste-wise it reminds me more of a caramel-chocolate dessert, due to the lacking foie gras flavour which is too mild to detect.

Corn & Zucchini Fritters
Corn & Zucchini Fritters 4/5

From the Sugarhaus menu, we had the Corn & Zucchini Fritters ($15) which comes in golden brown fritters, crispy on the outside with a soft and mushy filling, sunny side up egg, bacon, a generous drizzle of okonomiyaki sauce, kewpie mayo and garnished with bonito flakes. Similar to a Japanese okonomiyaki but this rendition fares notches higher with its medley of ingredients contributing to a pleasant interplay of flavours and textures.

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Melted Cheese Toastie 4/5

The Melted Cheese Toastie ($12) features a sandwich perfectly toasted and crisp on the outside, and stuffed full with Gruyere, cheddar and mozzarella cheese in between. Dip into the accompanying bowl of tomato soup for guaranteed satisfaction as it further accentuates the flavour of the melted cheese toastie.

Crab Linguine
Crab Linguine 4.5/5

The Crab Linguine ($22) features al dente linguine noodles with a subtle sweetness due to the generous amounts of soft shredded blue swimmer crab claw meat embedded within. It is further tossed in their house blended spices, supplementing a strong spice fragrance to the crab linguine that just elevated the entire taste of the dish.

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The Galaxy 4.2/5

Round off the meal with desserts from the Sugarhaus's menu, such as The Galaxy ($8) which comes in a gorgeous galaxy-glazed dome. Breaking it apart reveals a rich chocolate mousse tart with crunchy bits within the ganache and a raspberry jelly center. The pastry boasts a rich, sweet chocolatey flavour with a hint of sourness from the raspberry that I really enjoyed.

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Lemon Popsicle Tart 4.2/5

The Lemon Popsicle Tart ($8) comes beautifully plated with a lemon sable, parfait and meringue. Tastewise, it is not overwhelmingly sourish and boasts a subtle lemon fragrance. A truly unique dessert that fares well in terms of visual and taste.

Waffles with ice cream
Waffle with ice cream 4/5

The classic waffle-ice cream pairing never goes wrong, and the ones at Sugarhaus hold out its own even against the uniquely plated desserts. Waffle with single scoop ($9.50) and extra scoop at $2.50 each. We had the waffles with Dutch Chocolate, Strawberry Cheesecake and Sea Salt Toffee. The waffle boasts an airy light crispiness on the outside with a fluffy interior, while the ice cream is rich and creamy, with each faring strong in its distinct flavour profile.

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Strategically housed within the same space, Fat Belly x Sugarhaus provide for a convenient one-stop to satisfy both your steak and desserts cravings. With such indulgent quality and affordable steak, we recommend coming in between 6 to 10pm to taste the menu from both eateries and get the best of both worlds while you're there.

Words and photos by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Fat Belly x Sugarhaus
Serene Centre
10 Jalan Serene
#01-03A/04
Singapore 258748
Tel: +65 63142247
Facebook
Nearest MRT:

Opening Hours:
Fat Belly
Sun-Thu: 6pm - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 6pm - 11pm

Sugarhaus
Sun-Thu: 11am - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Botanic Gardens MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Timah Road. Turn left and walk down Bukit Timah Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Botanico @ The Garage (Singapore Botanic Gardens) - New Dinner Menu With Grilled/Smoked Highlights

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Botanico at The Garage (Singapore Botanic Gardens) has introduced a new dinner menu that is more casual and communal. The seasonality driven cuisine focuses more on grilled and smoked items from the wood-fired Inka oven for its new menu.

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Cauliflower 4.5/5

Our dinner started with the Cauliflower ($10) which was very addictive. We could not stop going back for more of it. The cauliflower is deep fried and smoked in the Inka wood-fried oven and then tossed in a canarejal cheese cream mixture. Almonds which have been sauteed with butter and cumin is sprinkled on top of the dish and finished with kaffir lime zest.

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Seabass Ceviche 4.2/5

The Seabass Ceviche ($18) is an unique dish with an Asian interpretation inspired from assam laksa. The diced seabass is dressed in the characteristic spicy sweet and sour relish of a classic ceviche. What elevated the dish is the addition of tamarind laksa sauce and shrimp paste ice cream. It excites my palate because it somewhat tastes familiar but yet foreign.

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Charred Sucrine Lettuce 3/5

If you like something like and crunchy, then you will enjoy the Charred Sucrine Lettuce ($14). The Spanish sucrine lettuce is grilled in the Inka wood-fired oven and drizzled with arbequina olive oil and salt. It is paired with sunchoke puree, Kyoho grapes and pine nuts.

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Foie Gras "Latte" 3/5

Why am I having a cup of latte in the middle of my meal? Well it is actually a Foei Gras "Latte" Soup ($15). Foie gras is blended together with chicken stock and cream to make the delicious broth. It is then topped with milk foam and finished with some black pepper. It is a comforting and flavourful soup but I could not really detect the foie gras in te rendition. Saying that I like the idea of the accompanying churro to dip into the soup, to soak up the delicious broth. It reminds me on how I would have my coffee with youtiao.

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Pork Belly 4.5/5

Moving to the meats, we started with the Pork Belly ($12). The succulent Spanish pork belly is brined, sous vide and then grilled. The flavour is enhanced with the sherry glaze and this is complemented by the charred Sarawak pineapple. Lastly the dish is garnished with red vein sorrel for some acidity.

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Iberico Char Siew 4.2/5

The Iberico Char Siew ($35) is what I called the premium bak kwa. The Spanish top loin marinated with housemade char siu sauce is smoked and chargrilled to perfection. Something barbecue pork can come across too sweet but this is well balanced. It is paired with carrot noodles and roasted carrot puree. While it is a very good dish, I find it not substantial for a meal, more like a bar snack.

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Wagyu Beef Cheek 4.5/5

The Wagyu Beef Cheek ($32) literally melted by heart with its melted in the mouth texture. It is braised in red wine for 4.5 hours and paired with delectable picada. Parsnip crisp provided the extra texture to the whole enjoyment.

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Beef Tongue 4/5

The Beef Tongue ($20) may sounds rather exotic but it is actually not as bad as what you may imagine. Putting aside the barrier, it is actually a very enjoyable dish with different textures and flavours at play. The thinly sliced beef tongue is dressed with chipotle mayonnaise and topped with mustard caviar and thinly sliced pickled celeriac.

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Lamb T-Bone 4.5/5

Not many people enjoy the gamey taste of lamb but you will not find it with the Lamb T-Bone ($32) here. Rendered until tender, the meat is then marinated with hatcho miso for 48 hours before grilling in the Inka wood-fried oven. It is paired with smoked eggplant puree and complemented by the soy pickled tomatoes for acidity.

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Jalapeno Ice Cream 4.2/5

Jalapeno Ice Cream ($14). This is really interesting. You get both savour and sweet which is inspired from the local rojak. Every scoop is a playful composition of flavours from the charred pineapple, dehydrated bacon financier crumble, fresh micro coriander and Jalapeno cream cheese ice cream.

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Malt Ice Cream 4.2/5

The other dessert, Malt Ice Cream ($16) has a richer and bolder flavours. Guinness Stout is incorporated into 70% dark chocolate cake and gel with a scoop of horlicks ice cream. The dessert is then sprinkled with dehydrated sugar coated thyme and bits of chocolate meringue

Overall I have enjoyed the new menu at Botanico which is more casual and has incorporated a lot of Asian influence into the dishes. There is also a 5-course set dinner menu ($72) to celebrate a special occasion. Saying that I kind of missed the more refined menu when it first opened.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Botanico 
The Garage (Singapore Botanic Gardens)
via Cluny Park Gate
50 Cluny Park Road
Singapore 257488
Tel: +65 98311106
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Botanic Gardens MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to Cluny Park Road. Turn left onto Cluny Park Road and continue walking down the road. At Cluny Park Gate, walk in and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. {Map]