Origin Grill @ Shangri-La Singapore - Redefining Sunday Brunch with Elevated Brunch Classics

Origin Grill at Shangri-La Singapore has recently launched a brand new Sunday brunch experience. The hearty brunch affair includes unlimited servings of small plates, featuring an array of exclusively crafted appetisers and elevated brunch classics alongside Josper Grill creations for the mains.

If you are in the mood for a boozy brunch, add on the free-flow beverage package ($88++ per person), which includes the curated Kir Royale with champagne and house-made liqueur infused with a variety of fruits and florals. There is also a choice of Veuve Clicquot champagne from Australia, Shaw & Smith Chardonnay, Mitoloa Jester Shiraz and a selection of spirits. We had a Chrysanthemum & Honey Royal and Raspberry & Grapefruit Royal.

Origin Healthy Bowl 4/5

Origin Healthy Bowl is one of my favourite dishes. Seasoned with salt and olive oil, I like the earthiness of the Organic Kale, which also offers a very pliable texture. The salad had a tasty blend of textures and flavours with creamy avocado cubes, crunchy broccolini and crisp baby radish alongside nutty Spice Seed crumbs. The slices of pickled onions complemented the overall flavour with a hint of acidity.

Seabass Ceviche 2.5/5

Seabass Ceviche has an Asian-inspired flair to its flavour profile - Coconut Cream, Chilli, Coriander, and Mango Salsa. The ceviche lacked a much-needed zest and acidity, especially when the Mango Salsa leaned towards the sweeter side.

Pork Rillette 4.8/5

Pork Rillette is a winner with unctuous and well-seasoned Pork Rillette, served with apple salad and grilled walnut bread. The bread itself had a nutty profile, which complemented the creamy spread.

Josper Grilled Butter Lettuce 3.5/5

Josper Grilled Butter Lettuce presents a luxurious take on caesar salad. Generously coated with caesar dressing, the butter lettuce was creamy with a subtle smokiness from the grill that lingered on my palate. Finished off with a lavish sprinkle of shaved parmesan, strips of crisp bacon and anchovy fillets, every bite into the lettuce was a morish experience.

Foie Gras Toast 3/5

Foie Gras Toast is a dainty bite offering Foie Gras on grilled brioche loaf, complemented with pear chutney.

Sweetcorn Soup 4/5

Sweetcorn Soup had a thick consistency, topped with spanner crabmeat and popcorn crumb. I immensely enjoyed its intense corn sweetness. A crack of black pepper would have been perfect.

Truffle Mac and Cheese Macaroni 4.5/5

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Waffle 4.5/5

Truffle Mac & Cheese Macaroni and Buttermilk Fried Chicken Waffle are decadent small plates that might tempt you to forsake your mains! The Truffle Mac & Cheese Macaroni featured just the right amount of Gruyere Bechamel, creating a desirable gooeyness that coated the macaroni. Topped with maple syrup and chipotle hollandaise, the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Waffle had a moreish combination of savoury-sweet flavours with a hint of heat. The waffle, fluffy with a crisp exterior, paired excellently with the crispy bacon and fried chicken. While the chicken could have been meatier and more tender, the crispy bacon in all the dishes was exceptionally tasty without being overly salty.

Avocado Benedict 3.5/5

Four Egg Benedict options are available, including Classic Egg Benedict. Avocado Benedict was wholesome and tasty, with a base made with avocado and edamame, topped with poached egg and a touch of lime zest. However, the consistency of the poached egg, like the other egg benedict we had, was an issue. They were more like soft-boiled eggs with watery egg whites, which dampened the dish.

Crab Cake Benedict 3/5

Crab Cake Benedict is a must-try with Origin Crab Cake with Bisque Hollandaise. The sauce complemented the crusty crab cake; it was a pity that the portion underneath the egg was slightly soggy due to the watery egg white.

Lobster Benedict 3.5/5

With an additional $22, you get a luxurious Lobster Benedict - Grilled Sourdough, ½ Butter Poached Boston Lobster Tail on grilled sourdough toast, alongside Sautéed Kale and Crispy Bacon, dressed with Bisque Hollandaise. The lobster tail was succulent, while the bacon gave the dish a delightful texture and savoury notes.

Confit Duck Leg 2.8/5

From the Big Plates, we ordered a Confit Duck Leg featuring Hudson Valley Duck Leg with Foie Gras Jus, served with Duck Fat Fries. While the flavour was all right, we found it a tad salty.

Yukimuro Snow-Aged Wagyu A4 Striploin 3.5/5

While the Big Plates also offers a classic Steak and Egg, we were recommended the Yukimuro Snow-Aged Wagyu A4 Striploin (100g Additional $86) from their Origin Signature Beef Cuts, served with Chimichurri. The Josper grilled steak had a rich flavour enhanced by the smokiness from the grill but was let down by the execution. The doneness of the steak could be more even.

Tarte Tatin 4.8/5

Tarte Tatin was aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable for desserts with a caramelised Sweet Apple Tuille paired with whipped mascarpone, Honey Croissant and Honeycomb for texture. The creamy and milky whipped mascarpone combined the elements into one decadent bite.

66% Chocolate Flan 4/5

For chocolate lovers, this 66% Chocolate Flan is a must. The Pecan Cacao Nib Praline gave it a nutty flavour, and the Vanilla Gelato added to the velvety texture of the flan.

Sunday Brunch at Origin Grill is available at $98++ per person every Sunday, from 11:30am to 2:30pm.

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.


Origin Grill & Bar
Shangri La Singapore Hotel
Lobby Level Tower Wing
22 Orange Grove Road
Singapore 258350
Tel:+65 62134595
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Mon)
Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Cross the road at the traffic light junction and turn left towards Royal Thai Embassy. Walk down to the end of Orchard Road. Turn right onto Orange Grove Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 23 minutes. [Map]

Allô @ Jalan Besar - Indulge In French Cuisine For A Chic Brunch Or Cosy Dinner In Modern Shophouse

The newly opened French restaurant Allô sits along one of the many lanes of shophouses in Jalan Besar. It may seem to be quite an unexpected location at first. Still, the restaurant has done its interior in a chic yet cosy fashion, which makes it suitable for various occasions. When we came by for dinner, there were several groups of diners celebrating Father's Day.

Dinner aside, Allô also offers both brunch and value-for-money lunch sets. The Brunch menu is available on weekdays from 11am to 3pm and all day on weekends, offering classic brunch options such as Eggs Benedict ($23) and elevated dishes like Rosti, Eggs & Minute Steak ($32).

The Lunch Sets, on the other hand, are priced affordably from $15.90 onwards. Available from Tuesdays to Fridays, 11am to 3pm, the three-course weekday set lunch includes a choice of starter, a pasta main and a dessert.

Beverages

The restaurant offers various alcohols: beers, house pours, reds, whites, dessert wines and champagnes. We opted for non-alcoholic beverages of Sparkling Apple ($6) and Citrus Blue Magic ($7.50). The former is made with sparkling water infused with 100% apple juice, while the latter has blue pea flower tea, yoghurt drink and citrus juice.

Salmon Rillette 3.5/5

Our starter of Salmon Rillette ($18) features a rillette made of cured salmon slow-cooked in butter, served with capers, a petit salad and a side of sweet potato chips. My dining companion and I were quite disappointed with this as the rillette was mostly overpowered with a sharp sourness and masked any flavour of the salmon. The sweet potato chips lacked crispness as well.

Lobster Bisque 4.5/5

Thankfully, the next dish fared much better. This Lobster Bisque ($18) was also one of our two favourites of the night. Made in-house from freshly caught lobsters, the bisque turned out luscious and creamy but not overly thick. It was bursting with seafood sweetness and had just the right amount of savoury notes.

My dining companion and I enjoyed this very much and mopped it up quickly with the bread from the complimentary bread basket. I did wish there were bits of lobster meat in it for extra texture, though!

Saucisson Croquettes 3.8/5

The homemade Saucisson Croquettes ($12) came in a portion of three, served with a tangy peanut butter dressing with a touch of heat. We appreciated the crunchy exterior and creamy filling; otherwise, it was average. We also hoped to have a better bite of the saucisson bits in it.

Duck Confit with Pomme Purée & Orange Balsamic Glaze 4/5

Next, we were served our first main, the Duck Confit with Pomme Puree & Orange Balsamic Glaze ($30). The dish uses a whole duck leg roasted in its own fat, served with a side of purée and asparagus.

While I enjoyed the tangy-sweet orange balsamic glaze and the slight crispiness on the duck skin, the duck meat was not as fork-tender as I expected. The meat could be better tenderised, and the mash could be more buttery.

Lobster Risotto 4.5/5

Then came our second favourite of the night, the Lobster Risotto ($32). It was hands down one of the best risotto we have had in a while. The rich lobster stock base had an impressive amount of crustacean sweetness brimming through and was nicely finished with cream to achieve that lip-smacking consistency. The arborio rice was perfectly cooked to a lovely creaminess and further topped with chunks of tender butter-poached lobster meat.

Valrhona Dark Chocolate Feuillantine Cake 4/5

We ended our dinner on a sweet note with the Valrhona Dark Chocolate Feuillantine Cake ($15). Made of dark chocolate covertures on a base of feuillantine and crumbles, the chocolate portion was rich without being cloying. The accompanying scoop of yoghurt gelato gave a refreshing and tangy touch.

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.


Allô
72 Desker Road
Singapore 209595
Tel: +65 88979230
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Nearest MRT: Jalan Besar (DT Line), Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Jalan Besar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight down Jalan Besar Road to Desker Road. Turn left onto Desker Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit F. Walk to Roberts Lane. Turn left onto Roberts Lane, walk to Serangoon Road. Cross the road and walk down Desker Road. Walk down Desker Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Angelina @ Marina Bay Sands Singapore - New Menu From The Iconic Parisian Tearoom And Patisserie

Iconic Parisian tearoom and patisserie, Angelina sits right above the Canal at The Shoppes in Marina Bay Sands. It offers diners a quaint dining atmosphere and a menu of savoury and sweets alongside its signature and world-famous L'Africain Hot Chocolate.

Diners can now expect a new menu of brunch (available from 11am to 2.30pm), starters, hot mains and desserts specially crafted in France. We sampled a number of their new dishes across the menu.

Oven-Baked Camembert 4/5

The Oven-Baked Camembert ($36.90) is well portioned to feed 2-3 pax. A whole camembert is oven-baked for 10 minutes to attain an oozy and molten texture. On the side, you will find a garden salad tossed with sliced apples, dried figs and roasted nuts, and toasted sourdough drizzled with balsamic dressing.

Oven-Baked Escargot 4/5

Another new starter that diners can look out for is the Oven-Baked Escargot ($23.50). A portion has six escargots, each coated with cream spinach, before being braided in parmesan garlic crumbs and baked to a golden brown top.

Club Sandwich 3.8/5

We enjoyed the fluffy and crisp toast used in the Club Sandwich ($27.80), which had a centre of chicken mayo and hard-boiled egg, topped with bacon and sun-dried tomato paste. You can opt for french fries or baby romaine lettuce salad as your side here. Our only gripe was that the chicken mayo portion could be much more substantial.

Fantasy of Grilled Seafood Aglio Olio 4.2/5

First of our mains was the Fantasy of Grilled Seafood Aglio Olio ($36.50). The al dente spaghetti is tossed in garlic, bird's eye chilli, parsley and extra virgin olive oil before being served with juicy Hokkaido scallops, a king prawn and mussel. The refreshing lemon cream foam adds a zesty touch and tempers the spice from the bird's eye chilli.

Smokey Atlantic Salmon Fillet 3.5/5

While it was beautifully presented by being unveiled from a glass dome of smoke, we found the Smokey Atlantic Salmon Fillet ($38.80) average tasting. The smokiness was nicely infused in the salmon, but considering the price tag, the overall dish with the accompanying shimeiji mushrooms, green pea puree, and raspberry coulis didn't surprise us as much.

French Duck Confit 4/5

On the other hand, the French Duck Confit ($32.90) impressed me. After being cured in fat and roasted for 5 hours in the oven at a low temperature, it resulted in flavourful fork-tender meat. The duck sat on mashed potato with caramelised onions and a bright honey orange reduction on the side.

Black Angus Sirloin Steak

My dining companions tried the Black Angus Sirloin Steak ($43.90), which uses 190g of US sirloin steak with sides of ratatouille, charcoal mashed potato and black pepper sauce. They found it decently flavourful and tender.

Passion Ananas 3/5

One of Angelina's new seasonal desserts is the Passion Ananas ($17). It has coconut, pineapple-passionfruit compote layered with coconut-pineapple-lime mousse on a soft lime biscuit. It was sweet with a distinct tangy kick of passionfruit notes.

Trocadero Pistachio 3/5

The second of its seasonal desserts, flown in directly from France, is the Trocadero Pistachio ($17). This piece features everything pistachio, with pistachio dacquoise and pistachio cream, solidified in pistachio paste and further coated with chopped pistachio. We appreciated how the elements were put together, but there was an almond-like aftertaste that I was not a fan of.

Paris Brest 3.5/5

The Paris Brest ($17) was our favourite dessert, though we still found it a tad pricey. If you are a fan of Ferrero Rocher, this may be up your alley. I prefer a crispier choux pastry for texture contrast, but otherwise, there's nothing to dislike about the nutty combination of praline mousseline cream, hazelnut crunch, caramelised hazelnut and hazelnut paste. It's rich without being cloying.

Mont Blanc 3/5

We ended our dinner with Angelina's signature dessert, the Mont Blanc ($18). It has a centre of meringue, chestnut puree and souffle whipped cream and a piped exterior of chestnut cream vermicelli. Unfortunately, my dining companions and I agreed that this was too sweet for our liking.

Overall, the ambience here at Angelina was lovely, but the prices were definitely steep. We enjoyed their savoury dishes significantly more than the sweets.

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.


Angelina
Marina Bay Sands The Shoppes
Canal Level
#B2-89A
2 Bayfront Avenue
Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 66887236
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Nearest MRT: Bayfront MRT (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 1030am to 11pm
Fri, Sat, PH Eve and PH: 1030am to 1130pm

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

Umami 10 @ Telok Ayer Street - Serves Japanese-European Inspired Tapas With Award-Winning Sake Pairing

Situated along Telok Ayer Street, Umami 10 offers a wide array of European-influenced Japanese tapas dishes, together with sake pairings recommended by the chef. Their menu comprises four categories – Bites, Cold Tapas, Hot Tapas and ‘Stressed’ (desserts spelt backwards).

We started with the Koh No Tsuki Karakuchi (320ml/$45, 1800ml/$157), a sharp and clean sake choice to pair with our appetisers.

Salmon Tartare 4/5

The Salmon Tartare ($26) features fresh Norweigan salmon tossed with yuzu and nama wasabi. It is a simple yet refreshing indulgence to start the meal.

Scallops Carpaccio 4.5/5

One of my favourite appetisers is the Scallops Carpaccio ($36), presented in a gorgeous layer of thinly sliced scallops, topped with a generous amount of truffle caviar, salmon roe and mango salsa. The mango salsa added a refreshing sweetness to the saltiness of the caviar and roe.

Truffle Somen with Uni & Ikura 4.2/5

Next is the Truffle Somen with Uni & Ikura ($48), artfully presented with truffle caviar and sakura ebi. A cold and refreshing dish, the somen was cooked perfectly with a prominent truffle taste that was not too overpowering, and the uni was so fresh and sweet.

Soft Shell Prawn Tempura 4.2/5

The Soft Shell Prawn Tempura ($29) uses air-flown glass prawns coated in their special seaweed-based batter. The prawns were fried to a delectable crisp texture while retaining their briny succulence.

Duck Confit 3.8/5

The Duck Confit ($32) consists of a duck leg home confit French-style which is nicely crisp on the outside. However, the meat was a tad dry. A bit more moistness and succulence would be preferred, but I liked how the addition of grapes provided a sweetness to balance its savoury flavours.

Rack of Lamb 4/5

The Rack of Lamb ($58) consists of Aussie Lamb roasted with rosemary and kalamata olive. The tenderness and juiciness of the lamb meat stood out for me. However, more seasonings could have been added to accentuate the meat's flavours.

Pick-me-up 4.5/5

We ended the meal on a sweet note by indulging in the Pick-me-up ($18), which features house-made three-liqueur tiramisu served in a chawanmushi bowl. Dive deep into the layers to uncover all the rich and creamy goodness, perfect for those who like their tiramisu with a boozy kick.

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.


Umami 10
163 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068616
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Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 11pm
Sat: 530pm - 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left onto Telok Ayer Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Turn left onto Telok Ayer Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes.  [Map]

MAM MAM @ NUHS - A Hidden Gem At National University Hospital

One of my most ordered delivery during these three years of Covid is MAM MAM. However, I only recently visited the casual eatery hidden in National University Health System (NUHS) Tower Block at National University Hospital. MAM MAM is the brainchild between Chef Sebastian Ng of VENUE by Sebastian, and Edmund Ang, the third-generation owner of Punggol Nasi Lemak. The casual eatery serves affordable Asian Rice Bowl and hearty local food.

100-hour Duck Confit Rice Bowl

One of my favourite dishes at MAM MAM is its 100-hour Duck Confit Rice Bowl ($11.50). The confit duck leg is marinated with Asian spices for two days and slow-cooked for 24 hours. The result is extremely tender with flavoursome crispy skin. The rice bowl is served with delectable sides - seasonal vegetables, salted veggies and egg roll. Not forgetting the piquant green sambal that accentuated the enjoyment of the duck confit.

Spice-crusted Chicken Leg

The signature at MAM MAM is its Spice-crusted Chicken Leg ($8.50). The huge chicken leg is marinated in a special concoction comprising 16 different types of herbs and spices for an aromatic finish. The chicken leg is deep-fried to a delightful crunch on the skin but tender and juicy inside. It is served with a side of pickled cucumber and egg roll.

Besides the two Asian rice bowls, the menu offers four other ones, all below $10. They are Golden Fried Chicken in Signature Spicy Tomato Sauce ($7.50), Slow-roasted Norwegian Salmon Specialty ($9.50), Signature Minced Chicken with Basil and Egg Tofu ($5.90) and Wok-fried Sliced Beef with Ginger and Scallion ($5.80).

MAM MAM also offers congee on its menu. The congee has a consistent creaminess. It is a hearty and comforting bowl of congee. However, it is not the style I like. Being a Teochew, I prefer it to be more grainy.

Another item I usually order at MAM MAM is the Green Bean and Sago. It is a local dessert I like, and at MAM MAM, I can have a satisfying meal from mains to dessert.


MAM MAM
NUHS Tower Block
Level One
1E Kent Ridge Road
Singapore 119228
Tel: +65 62524320
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Nearest MRT: Kent Ridge (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 7am - 5pm
(Closed on Sat-Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Kent Ridge MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down South Buona Vista Road. Turn right onto Kent Ridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 mintues. [Map]