LUCE by Davide Giacomelli @ InterContinental Singapore - launches new Italian Bistronomic Champagne Brunch

LUCE by Davide Giacomelli at InterContinental Singapore recently launched a new Italian Bistronomic Champagne Brunch, featuring an extensive buffet line of Cold Starters, Hot Specialities, Pinsas, desserts and live stations, jazzed up with the accompaniment of live music.

Charcuterie Room

One may start off from the Charcuterie Room, located right beside the main entrance of Luce. It impresses with a wide selection of imported cheese and cold cuts from Italy such as Grana Padano, Mozzarella, Taleggio, Mortadella and Cured Ham, all lined up with a slab of honeycomb as a centerpiece. Alongside the cheeses and cold cuts you will also find Bread and Condiments such as Focaccia, Baguettes, as well as interesting spreads Grissini Sundried Tomato Butter and Basil Pesto Butter.

Aged Parma Ham Wrapped Rock Melon

One of my favourite Cold starters is this Aged Parma Ham Wrapped Rock Melon - The parma ham had such a luscious bite to it, and its savouriness was well paired with the sweetness of the juicy rock melon.

One of the main drawn of the Champagne Brunch is the Seafood and Sashimi on Ice. Perfect with champagne, you will have your freshly- shucked oysters, Boston lobster, snow crab leg, tiger prawns, and sashimi.

Cheese Wheel Pasta Cacio e Pepe

Moving on to the Live Stations, Cheese Wheel Pasta Cacio e Pepe is also one of the highlights - made ala minute, you will have your freshly-prepared Mafaldine Pasta tossed inside a Parmesan Cheese Wheel. Best enjoy when its hot from the wheel!

And no brunch buffet is complete without a good roasted meat. At the Meat Carving station, enjoy Slow Oven Roasted Angus Beef Striploin, served with condiments such as caramelised onions and Dijon Mustard.

Orecchia di Elefante

Hot stations give you a taste of Italy, such as this specialty of Lombardy, the Orecchia di Elefante– a bone-in, thinly sliced tender veal meat that is breaded and fried. Known as the “elephant ear”, Chef Davide has his fried in clarified butter for richer flavours.

One of my favourites is the Eggs a l’ Amatriciana. Lovers of baked eggs dishes and runny yolk will definitely be awed by this brunch item. The golden yolks of the Cage Free Eggs were satisfyingly unctuous, and the tomato sauce which is loaded with with pancetta and perfectly cooked-down red onions was vibrant with flavours.

Spezzatino di Manzo is another hearty hot dish - Italian Beef Stew with Mediterranean Vegetables such as capsicums and mushrooms. Both the softened beef and vegetables were beautifully flavoured.

Hand-tossed Italian Pinsas

Pinsas station is a hot favourite with its variety of hand-tossed Italian Pinsas freshly made once each flavour runs out. There are classic flavours such as the Margherita and Four Cheese, but I quite fancy the fancier creation Rustica Pinsa, topped with Scamorza – an Italian cow’s milk cheese layered with Bacon, Zucchini and Potato.

Salad Bar

Club Salmon Norwegian

The Salad Bar is wholesome and vibrant with organic Vegetable from local farms. There is also a selection of finger food such as Club Sandwich Smoked Turkey, Club Salmon Norwegian and Chilled Marinated Heirloom Tomato Soup.

Bread & Butter Pudding

Crostata Pistachio Strawberry Frangipane

Crunchy Choux Pastries

The Dessert station allures you with a plethora of desserts handcrafted by Executive Pastry Chef Desmond Lee - The Crostata Pistachio Strawberry Frangipane is stunning with green pistachio hues and gorgeous red strawberries, Bread & Butter Pudding with Baileys Vanilla Sauce beckons with its beautiful golden crust and the petite Crunchy Choux Pastries look simply irresistible. And many more awaits.

Italian Bistronomic Champagne Brunch is available every Sunday 12 to 3pm. For a complete experience, get free flow Taittinger Champagne or Italian Franciacorta, Aperol Spritz and selected Cocktails and Wines at $158 or with free flow Prosecco, Peroni Beer, Aperol Spritz and soft drinks at $138.

Photos and words 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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


LUCE by Davide Giacomelli
InterContinental Singapore
Level 1
80 Middle Road
Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 68251008
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Mon-Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Burger & Lobster @ Jewel Changi Airport - London's Famous Lobster Roll And Festive Limited Edition Menu Items

Opening its doors at Jewel Changi Airport over a year ago, Burger & Lobster is nestled on the topmost floor of Jewel, Canopy Park. Diners are treated to the spectacular views of the HSBC Rain Vortex and lush Shiseido Forest Valley while indulging in luxurious Atlantic lobsters, outlet's exclusive sambal glazed lobster, and prime beef burgers.

B&L Sling 4/5, PG-13 3.8/5

For drinks, we had the refreshing B&L Sling ($16) one of their signature cocktails, as well as the PG-13 mocktail ($9), a non-alcoholic option but no less satisfying with grapefruit, lime, grenadine and tonic.

Pan-Fried King Prawns 4/5

To start off the meal, we had their Pan-Fried King Prawns (3pcs/$13). Served in a smoked paprika and garlic butter sauce, the prawns were tender and juicy.

Original Lobster Roll 4.5/5

We had their signature Original Lobster Roll ($34) paired with crispy fries and salad, which comes with generous chunks of fresh lobster meat dressed in Japanese mayo and lemon, sandwiched in between a soft and buttery toasted brioche roll. Drizzle the accompanying lemon and garlic butter sauce to amp up the fresh lobster flavours.

Lobster Laksa 4.2/5

Locally inspired dish, the Lobster Laksa ($67 for whole lobster) features wild-caught fresh lobsters cooked in an aromatic coconut sauce. The broth was fragrant, with a mild spicy kick, while the lobster meat was fresh and tender. Served with rice noodles bean sprouts and tofu.

The Venison Burger 4/5

The Venison Burger ($25) is the limited-edition festive burger introduced for this year's coming Christmas. It comes with a thick and succulent venison mushroom patty served on sesame brioche bun with brie, balsamic mayo, a sweet cranberry balsamic compote and crispy bacon for a mix of textures and flavours that complement one another well.

Bread Pudding 3.5/5

To round off the meal, we also had their festive dessert, Bread Pudding which features soft and fluffy bread drizzled with chocolate sauce.

Photos and words 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.


Burger & Lobster
Jewel Changi Airport
78 Airport Boulevard
#05-203
Singapore 819663
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 10am - 12midnight
Sat-Sun, PH: 9am - 1am

Direction:
Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to the link bridge to Jewel. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Frieda Restaurant @ The Capitol Kempinski - New Bavarian Weekend Brunch

Frieda Restaurant at The Capitol Kempinski has recently launched Früehschoppen, a weekend Bavarian Brunch experience similar to the concept of brunch, where men gather over the weekend in the late morning in pubs, inns or taverns over drinks and light bites before lunch.

Beer Flight

And of course, the beers. Früehschoppen Beer Specials are available to complete the experience. Beer Flight with four beers in tasting portion at $15nett and two pints of German Weissbier or Weissbier Dunkel at $19++. You may be happy to know that the beer flight is available on weekdays as well.

Bavarian Sausage Salad 3.8/5

We started off with Bavarian Sausage Salad, served with sourdough bread. It was hard at first to imagine having a salad with beer, but this was different. Consists of beer sausage, gruyere cheese and pickles, it was saltish, piquant and has a meaty bite.

Frieda Fruhchoppen Vesper Platter 3.8/5

From the Brunch menu, Frieda Fruhchoppen Vesper Platter ($19) truly reflects the vibe of Früehschoppen, where the table gathers around the platter, reaching out for the various German cold cuts and cheese, complemented with mixed pickles and pretzel.

Oktoberfest Meat Platter 4.2/5

Since Oktoberfest is approaching, Frieda Restaurant has also prepared something special to celebrate this greatest beer festival in the world. At $55 per person, you get to enjoy a welcome pint of beer and a free-flow butter of German grub. We tried the Oktoberfest Meat Platter, comprising Grilled Nuremberger Sausage, Meatloaf, Weisswurst with Mashed potato and Sauerkraut. One of the highlights of this platter is the Weisswurst, a traditional boiled white sausage, very lightly flavoured with some herbs and spices. Not so commonly offered elsewhere, this is a breakfast sausage, best eaten with sweet mustard and the soft pretzel dumplings.

Apple Bread Pudding 3.5/5

Ending the meal, we have something sweet to balance out all the savoury grub. The Apple Bread Pudding is served with vanilla ice cream. The vanilla ice cream was really good. It was light and almost refreshing to the palate. As for apple bread pudding, I wish there were more apple slices to lighten it up.

Topping up $50 will give you four hours of free-flowing beer. There's Early Bird Discount of 20% off for booking made before 30 September 2020.

Photos and words 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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Frieda
Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski
13 Stamford Road
#01-87 and #01-K1, K2
Singapore 178905
Tel +6567156873
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 8pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A or D. Walk to traffic junction North Bridge Road and Stamford Road. Cross the road. Walk down Stamford Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

WAKANUI Grill Dining @ Marina One - Mutunga Wiki Sunday Brunch

WAKANUI Grill Dining Singapore at Marina One is a New Zealand steak and lamb restaurant, featuring Ocean Beef and WAKANUI Spring Lamb from the Canterbury region in the South Island of New Zealand. When WAKANUI started in Tokyo in 2011, it successfully became one of the leading steak and lamb dining experiences in Tokyo in a short period of time. Experience this fusion of flavours of New Zealand meat and Japanese cuisine at an unhurried pace with its newly launched Mutunga Wiki Brunch & Bubbly.

Kagoshima A5 Wagyu Fillet 100g

Mutunga Wiki is "weekend" in Maori and this leisure brunch is available only on Sunday 11am to 3pm. There will be a buffet spread of cold seafood selection, appetiser, dessert and cheese with any main course order. From $89 onwards, the main course menu features its signatures such as the Wakanui Spring Lamb Half Rack, which is highly raved about, Ocean Beef Ribeye 350gm ($118) to highly prized Kagoshima A5 Wagyu Fillet 100g ($118). My choice of main was Kagoshima A5 Wagyu Fillet. Aptly cut into cubes, each cube was evenly seared, breaking down the fats and releasing the flavours. The rest of the mains were definitely a lot more sizeable, but the full-bodied flavour and texture of this Wagyu were deeply satisfying.

Besides, there is no lack of food from the buffet spread. It was a simple lineup of brunch items, but each dish was done extremely well. I adored the creamy eggs, crispy slices of bacon, and everything you need to create a hearty bistro brunch is right there.

Scallop and Salmon Sashimi

Clams, Oysters, Prawns

These cold seafood selections will be good accompaniments to your wines and champagne, free flow at $39. The sweet and plump scallop sashimi was superb.

Cheese Platter

Do not miss out the Kapiti Smoked Havarti from the Cheese Platter! This creamy havarti cheese will whet your appetite with its buttery flavours, imbued with a smoky taste.

Beef & Potato Casserole

Since Wakanui specialises in high quality beef and lamb, you can imagine how yummy this Beef & Potato Casserole is.

Bread Pudding

For dessert, the rich Bread Pudding was decadent with a creamy base reminiscent of rum-and-raisin flavour and a golden crust. I love the flaky crust atop; it felt like I was having a croissant dessert. That summed up my Sunday brunch with a blissful sweet note.

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.


WAKANUI Grill Dining
Marina One The Heart
5 Straits View
#04-02
Singapore 018935
Tel: +65 63842665
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Downtown (DT Line), Marina Bay (CC Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 11pm
Sat: 530pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Downtown MRT station. Take Exit D. What to Straits View road. Turn right on Straits View road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Marina Bay MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Marina Way road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Marriott Cafe @ Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel - A Decadent Durian High Tea Buffet For All Durian Lovers

Durian lovers rejoice, for the king of the fruit season is back again! Known for its freshest International buffet spread, Marriott Cafe unveils its much anticipated Durian High Tea Buffet to delight those with a penchant for durians and desserts alike. Available from 1 June to 31 July 2018, prepare to relish in an extensive selection of this local favourite with a variety of durian pastries and desserts, meticulously handcrafted to perfection with premium Mao Shan Wang and D24 durians. The premium durians are innovatively incorporated into different types of desserts, such as the Glutinous Rice, Puff, Mochi and more.

An interesting take would be the Baked Durian Strudel. Best eaten piping hot, Marriott Cafe’s Baked Durian Strudel features rich creamy durian mousse wrapped in thick layers of glazed golden-brown flaky pastry.

The Glutinous Rice with Durian and Coconut Cream was also an unique dessert, as this sweet treat infuses coconut cream into moist sticky rice and pairs it with durian puree. The combination works surprisingly well together. The Durian Cream Puff comes in an airy choux pastry puff stuffed with durian mousse, whipped cream and custard, resulting in a compelling combination that makes it hard to just stop at one.

Another of their winning durian creation is the Durian Bread and Butter pudding. Featuring luscious D24 durian puree sandwiched in between sheets of durian custard and buttery brioche slices, it makes a doughy type of pudding filled with a rich durian flavour, which goes pretty well with a generous drizzle of the fragrant coconut sauce.

The Durian Crème Brulee Tartlet comes in a small buttery tart encasing smooth, melt-in-the-mouth durian custard. While the compelling combination presents rich flavours, I find the tartlet a tad too sweet due to the caramelised layer atop.

Among the platter of durian delights, one of my favourite is the Durian Mousse Cake, filled with robust D24 durian pulps, layers of velvety, light mousse and whipping cream complemented with soft sponge cake. The airy fluffiness of the cake is a good complement to the creaminess of the rich durian mousse. Another cake option is the Durian Swiss Roll which features soft fluffy cake roll sheets encasing a thin layer of smooth and rich durian cream. The Durian Mochi is also a favourite with its chewy soft mochi skin encasing thick durian puree.

In addition to the existing line of delish durian pastries and desserts, the buffet also boosts other tasty local delicacies. Do remember to save some space for the fresh seafood and sushi, including freshly shucked oysters, prawns and more.

Here, you can also savour in local favourites such as Dim Sum, Char Kway Teow, Oyster Omelette, Otah Otah, Chilli Crab with Mantou and more. There are also live station where you can get your choice of noodles prepared on the spot.

Indulge in the quintessential high tea experience with an assortment of fluffy scones, sandwiches and muffins. Apart from their durian specials, the buffet also presents an extensive array of nonya desserts and kuehs, as well as a selection of ice cream flavours.

Durian High Tea buffet
Date: 1 Jun to 31 Jul 2018
Time: 3pm to 5.30pm
Mon-Fri: Adult $45++ per pax / Child (5 to 12 years old) $27++ per child
Sat-Sun: Adult $48++ per pax / Child (5 to 12 years old) $30++ per child

Photos and words 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.


Marriott Cafe
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Road
Singapore 238865
Tel: +65 68314605
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]