Showing posts with label Radish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Radish. Show all posts

Saturday, November 20, 2021

Open Farm Community @ Minden Road - New Farm To Feast, Reinvigorate The Different Relationships Found On The Dining Table

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Open Farm Community (OFC), Singapore's pioneering urban farm and restaurant concept, launches Farm Feast. It is a new family-style tasting menu designed to reinvigorate the different relationships on the dining table - between friends and families, as well as diners and their food. Each feast serves an array of snacks, starters, mains, house-made accompaniments, and desserts that can be adjusted to any group size. It is priced at $88 per pax for dinner, with a minimum company of two.

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SG Grown Radishes 4.2/5

We started with the SG Grown Radishes that is freshly plucked and served from farm to table. It is paired with cultured cream and sourdough crumble. It is my first time having raw radish. It has an enjoyable sweetness similar to a guava couple with a delightful crunchy texture.

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Cauliflower Wings 4/5

Interestingly the Cauliflower Wings are shaped to look like chicken drumettes. It is coated in an addictive tamarind miso sauce, finished with sprinkles of sesame and green onions. It works for me, and I think children that dislike eating vegetables will enjoy this too.

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OFC Farm Sweet Corn 4.2/5

One of my favourite starters is the OFC Farm Sweet Corn from the restaurant's farm. The grilled corn is very sweet. It surprises me that our local farm can produce such top-quality ingredients.

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Hokkaido Scallop 4.2/5

The Hokkaido Scallop was plump, sweet and beautifully seared. However, what caught my attention is the sweet, smooth and creamy corn puree that complement the scallop excellently.

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Grassfed NZ Short Ribs 3.8/5

For the mains, we had the Grassfed NZ Short Ribs. The bone-in meat is roasted to tender and doused in a Mexican mole sauce, giving it a spicy, smoky and sweet note. It is further enhanced with the topping of caramelised, pickled and deep-fried onions.

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Accompanying the mains, we have a couple of house-made accompaniments such as Ancient Grains & Seeds, Smashin' Pumpkin, SG Green Salad and QJ's Kimchi. Unfortunately, I didn't quite get my head around the concept of the accompaniments as they did not complement the short ribs.

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Before moving to the dessert, we had the refreshing Cucumber Sorbet for pre-dessert. 

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Wrapping up the Farm Feast is the decadent Chocolate Dessert made from Single Origin beans from neighbouring countries. Chocolate lovers will adore the dessert for its delicate sweetness.

Wine lovers can also opt for wine pairing with the Farm Feast for an extra $40 per guest. Guest will get 3 glasses of natural wine to pair with the sumptuous meal.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Open Farm Community
130E Minden Road
Singapore 248819
Tel: +65 64710306
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 9pm
Sat-Sun: 11am - 330pm, 6pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT. Take Exit B. Cross the road and walk to bus stop at Boulevard Orchard opposite Orchard MRT (Stop ID 09022). Take bus no. 7, 77, 106, 123 or 174. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Minden Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Nosignboard Sheng Jian @ Northpoint City - New Flagship Shanghai Sheng Jian Bao Specialty Shop By No Signboard Group

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No Signboard, known as the original creators of Singapore's White Pepper Crab with over 40 years of heritage, has launched the group's latest casual dining concept - Nosignboard Sheng Jian at Northpoint City. It specialises in the popular Shanghai Sheng Jiao Bao and a whole lineup of Northern Chinese dim sum and dishes.

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Tricolour Sheng Jian Bao 4.2/5

The highlight definitely has to be the Sheng Jian Bao here which boosts a delightfully chewy texture. There are four flavours here. They are the Signature Popping Juices ($5.50 for 3pc), Chilli Crab and Pork ($6.30 for 3pc), Spicy Dried Shrimp ($5.80 for 3pc) and Vegan Sheng Jian Bao ($5.30 for 3pc). Are you spoilt of choices? Then go for the Tricolour Sheng Jian Bao ($10.80 for 6pc) to get a taste of a variety of the Sheng Jian Bao. My favourite has to be the signature popping juices pan-fried bun for its savoury and juicy pork filling.

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Spicy Chicken in Sichuan Style 3.5/5

Besides the Sheng Jian Bao, the restaurant also offers a selection of other tasty dishes, rice and noodles. We had the Spicy Chicken in Sichuan Style ($7.80) served chilled. It comes in fiery-looking Sichuan Mala spicy sauce prepared in a blend of Sichuan peppercorns, spices and chillies. I find the sauce lacks the aroma of a good Kou Shui Ji, though.

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Famous Wu Xi Braised Pork Cube 4/5

The Famous Wu Xi Braised Pork Cube ($14.80) fares much better. The braised pork belly cubes are fork-tender and coated in a deliciously thick, luscious red sauce with sweet vinegar.

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Fried Noodle with Scallion & Dried Shrimps 3.8/5

The Fried Noodle with Scallion & Dried Shrimps ($6.80) looks plain without any accompanying ingredients. Still, it is packed with exquisite flavours from scallion oil and dried shrimps.

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Crispy Rice with Chill Crab Meat Sauce 3.8/5

Crispy rice is well enjoyed in Northern China, traditionally eaten on its own or with a rich dip or gravy. At Nosignboard Sheng Jian, the Crispy Rice with Chill Crab Meat Sauce ($14.80) is given a local touch by pairing the Chinese rice crisps with Singapore chilli crab dip.

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Deep Fried Radish Pastry 4.2/5

Besides the sheng jian bao, the other item on the menu that I enjoyed a lot is the traditional Shanghainese pastry - Deep Fried Radish Pastry ($5.80 for 3pc). Inside the light and buttery, flaky pastry is a savoury filling of flavourful white radish.

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Chilled Coconut Papaya Pudding 3.5/5

The Chilled Coconut Papaya Pudding ($4.80 for 3pc) stands like the Marina Bay Sands towers. I enjoyed this simple dessert because it has two of my favourite fruits: coconut and papaya.

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Crispy Purple Sweet Potato Balls 4.2/5

A delightful dessert is the Crispy Purple Sweet Potato Balls ($4.80 for 3pc) served warm. Inside the crispy sphere's skin is soft custard filling to end the meal on a sweet note.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Nosignboard Sheng Jian
Northpoint City
South Wing
#01-137/138
1 Northpoint Drive
Singapore 768019
Tel: +65 66659959
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Yishun (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 930pm

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

Saturday, October 29, 2016

FORT by Maison Ikkoku @ Fort Canning Arts Centre - 12 Course Omakase For Only $68

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Sitting on top of Fort Canning Hill there is literally a Fort but this is not a fortified place occupied by troops. Instead it housed a omakase gastro-bar concept, FORT by Maison Ikkoku which is led by commander-in-chef, Executive Chef and Senior Master Mixologist, Ethan Leslie Leong.

Together with my dining partner, we sat through a 12 course omakase set dinner at only $68. The gastro-bar dining concept is set up in such a way that there are only bar counter seats. Diners sit around the bar counter enjoying their meal while at the same time you can watch the skillful mixologist prepares your bespoke cocktails.

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Cold Braised Radish with Cuttlefish 3.5/5

Our 12 omakase menu started with the Cold Braised Radish with Cuttlefish. A refreshing start to dinner. It helped to freshen up the palate for the upcoming courses. I like the addition of the cuttlefish which provided an additional texture and oomph to the dish.

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Chef's Salad with Dehydrated Cauliflower and Yuzu Wasabi 3/5

The Chef's Salad with Dehydrated Cauliflower felt rather boring for an omakase item. The saving grace has to be the Yuzu Wasabi, that gives life to the fresh and crunchy shredded vegetables.

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Pan Seared Scallop with Japanese Purple Sweet Potato and Bonito Broth 4/5

Dinner got more exciting at the 3 course. The Pan Seared Scallop sits in a pool of Japanese Purple Sweet Potato and Bonito Broth. Besides the beautifully cooked scallop, what arouse me is the purple broth. The use of the Japanese purple sweet potato and bonito is a deliciously new experience for me. I can see it working well with other seafood dishes too.

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Swordfish Carpaccio with Asian Dressing 4.2/5

The Swordfish Carpaccio with Asian Dressing caught me off guard in a good way. Beside appreciating the freshness of the swordfish, I was drawn to the Asian dressing. It gives the dish an oriental dimension which felt like having Cantonese style steamed fish.

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Onsen Egg with Garlic Oil and Seaweed 3/5

The dinner experience got a little bit confusing with the Onsen Egg with Garlic Oil and Seaweed. The whole presentation made me felt that I was having breakfast. The dinner flow kind of took a detour but I am not saying it is a bad dish. It is more in terms of the whole dining experience. Maybe the presentation can be more elegant with a bit more components to change the perspective.

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Signature Spicy Fort Roll 3.8/5

The Signature Spicy Fort Roll comes with spiced maguro tuna and cucumber rolled up in sushi rice and sprinkled with sesame seeds. Pop the parcel into the mouth to get a a fiery burst of flavours. Be warned if you have a low tolerant of spicy food.

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Green Peas Soup with Homemade Wasabi Oil 4/5

Like a runner in a marathon, the Green Peas Soup with Homemade Wasabi Oil is served timely on the half way point at the seventh course. The hearty soup is further lifted with a few drop of the wasabi oil for a comforting finish.

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Foie Gras Sushi and Charcoal Salt 4.2/5

An interesting substitution of the sashimi is the used of Foie Gras with Sushi Rice. The rich and buttery foie gras literally melted in the mouth. Dip it with a bit of the charcoal salt to get a fuller enjoyment of the sushi.

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Truffle Mushroom, Mac & Cheese 3.5/5

Replacing the macaroni with shell-like pasta (conchiglie) it gives the Truffle Mushroom, Mac & Cheese a delectable al dente bite. Using only simple ingredients, the chef has managed to turn it into a beautiful dish, coating the pasta in a pool of cheese and perfumed by the earthy scent of truffle.

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Lamb Burger 4/5

The mini Lamb Burger comes with a juicy lamb patty that is sandwiched in between 2 crispy buns. If you are worried of gamy taste, you would not get that in the burger. In fact you probably would not be able to tell its made of lamb. It is a lovely burger but if it can be more cheesy, I would have love it more.

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Salmon Aburi Don with Ikura

The last dish before dessert is the Salmon Aburi Don with Ikura. Each mouthful of the bowl comes with the sweet and smokey torched salmon complemented by the popping saltiness of the ikura and fluffy Japanese rice.

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French Vanilla Ice Cream with Japanese Red Beans

Wrapping up the 12 course omakase, we had the French Vanilla Ice Cream with Japanese Red Beans. Matcha and red bean is the usual combination so this is rather unique. I also like the fact that it is not overly sweet but nicely balanced for a smoothing finishing to the dinner experience.

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At FORT by Maison Ikkoku, besides the affordable 12 course omakase menu, one should not missed out having a drink or two of their bespoke cocktails. Let the mixologist knows what you like and they will work their wonders to make your night even more magical.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


FORT by Maison Ikkoku
Fort Canning Arts Centre
5 Cox Terrace
#01-02/03
Singapore 179620
Tel: +65 63360507
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 4pm - 1am
Fri-Sat: 4pm - 2am

Direction: 
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghuat MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Penang Road. Cross the road and turn left. Walk to the end of the building. Take the stairs up the hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Pyxiemoss @ North Canal Road - Inventive Small Plates In Adventurous Ways

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Pyxiemoss is a new modern European cuisine restaurant spearheaded by Chef Tim Ross-Watson that has taken over the defunct D'Bell at North Canal Road. Pyxiemoss is derived from Pixie Moss, the only flowering moss over 12,000 species. It alludes the restaurant's aspiration to blossom and flourish in the competitive F&B industry. The cuisine here offers a flair of British with Asian influenced, using both traditional and modern cooking techniques to transform simple daily ingredients into novel dishes.

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Pigaroon 3/5

The restaurant is kind enough to give a glimpse of the bar snacks offering which are only available after 10pm. We tried both the Pigaroon ($3) and Carrot Dog ($5/pc). The pigaroon is interestingly presented in a flower pot. What is on the plate is actually ethereal beetroot macaron swirl paired with pickledpig skin with cream cheese encased in pork belly and smoked bacon on a stick.

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Carrot Dog 4/5

Carrot Dog sounds like a weird dish but the vegetarian interpretation of the hot dog actually works. The char grilled baby carrot is sandwiched between the soft and pillowy focaccia, and topped with achar and curry leaves. The whole combination of sweet and sour worked harmoniously for a delightful bite.

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Seaviche 3.5/5

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The Seaviche ($8) is an interesting twist substituting raw seafood with fresh sea coconut. Give the dish a good toss and have it together with the hickory-smoked corn chips. Even with the squeeze of the lime, I still find it lacked the punch that you get from the traditional ceviche, missing that strong tangy and spicy burst of flavours.

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The Tribbiani 4.5/5

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One of my favourite dish at the new Pyxiemoss is The Tribbiani ($15). The yellow dome shape thing on the plate is actually duck liver mousse. The silky and creamy duck liver mousse is paired with crunchy focaccia chips and pedro ximenez soaked medjool date jam. A luscious dish which is truly an indulgent.

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Cofflee Lox 4.2/5

A light and refreshing dish on the menu is the Cofflee Lox ($18). The thinly sliced Norwegian salmon is cured using upcycled coffee grinds. This is perfectly matched with fresh chervil, cucumber, refreshing green apple sorbet and freeze dried grapefruit for acidity. A well thought and balanced dish.

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Rad-ish 4/5

This may sounds simple but the Rad-ish ($8) is actually braised thrice before serving to the table. It is first braised in salt water, then miso water and lastly onion broth to expel its bitterness. A robust onion consomme is pour over the radish wheel at table which is topped with yuzu miso and pickled red radish. You can choose to have chopped wagyu beef for an additional $4.

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Not Just The Tip 4.8/5

A dish that I never thought I would enjoy is Not Just The Tip ($14). A smart dish which makes use every part of the celery, not just the tip. A rift on the Waldorf salad, the dish uses the root, leaves, stem and the tip of the celery for different textural enjoyment of the whole celery. It is further paried with barley risotto, green apple, candied walnuts and stilton cheese to bring the dish together.

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Mother's Lamb 4.2/5

The Mother's Lamb ($18) demonstrates Chef Tim's bold approach to food, upcycling usually-discarded parts of select produce. On the plate, is tandoor oven cooked lamb hearts and neck, with two sinful slabs of lamb bacon. The touch of having carbonated green and purple champagne grapes is very thoughtful, which helps to cut through the richness perfectly.

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Pina Colada 4.2/5

Ending the meal on a sweet note, we have the Pina Colada ($10) and Snickerz ($10). The Pina Colada is a deconstructed rendition of the popular cocoktail's key ingredients. In the bowl, the components consider of fermented young coconut cake, coconut granola, salted coconut cream, compressed pineapples in extra virgin olive and a creamy caramelised pineapple ice cream. A light and refreshing dessert that suit my palate.

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Snickerz 3/5

The other dessert, Snickerz ($10) is a rich and heavy glutinous rice brownie which comes with pavlova-like salted gula melaka cream . It is both chocolatey and chewy. I did not quite like the texture of the brownie. However the nuggets of caramelised peanuts rolled in homemade Snickers-inspired powder got my attention.

Overall, I have enjoyed my dining experience at Pyxiemoss. I find Chef Tim has brought something fresh to the table. You never know, the pixie moss may actually blossom and flourish into one of the best new restaurants this year.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Pyxiemoss 
43 North Canal Road
Singapore 059299
Tel: +65 65322171
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 5pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards the traffic junction of North Bridge Road and North Canal Road. Cross the road and turn right onto North Canal Road. Walk along the shophouses to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]