Ellenborough Market Café @ Swissôtel Merchant Court - Return Of The Matriarch

Stepping into the dining halls of Ellenborough Market Café at Swissôtel Merchant Court, and you know you are in for something slightly different - Not the usual warm lights, solid wooden furnishing against generic tiles and neutral walls of a typical international buffet restaurant in a hotel. Instead, pretty turquoise walls made bold with sparkling diamond-cut glass wall features, backs contemporary furnishings that stand elegantly on vintage-style Peranakan floor. What a chemistry between heritage and modernity.

Stir Fried Slipper Lobster in Black Bean Sauce 3/5

In a new look, but old fond flavours stay. Led by Executive Chef Louis Tay, not only the team continues to whip up signature dishes, they now expanded the international hot dish selection.

Roast Beef 3.8/5

Well roasted with a pink core, drizzled with the sauce made with its own juice and fats, my salad could not be more sumptuous than this!

La Mian with Lion Head Meatball 4/5

I don't usually take 狮子头 or Chinese Meatballs as they are always just a compact ball of meat like siew mai but theirs turned out to be exceptionally tasty - juicy, tender and sweet, like a exquisite xiao long bao that falls apart easily in my mouth. The broth was sweet and the La Mian, hand-pulled by their La Mian Master was light and springy.

Kuey Pie Tee 4/5

One key ingredient to a delicious Kuey Pie Tee is of course the little golden shells. Though left out in the open, each thin shell remained airy and crispy. Being my own chef adds to the experience - scooping heaps of tunips and vegetables into the golden shell right up to its brim, topping it with succulent shrimps and mash eggs, dressing it with sweet sauce, and down to the sprinkling of ground peanuts and chopped parsley for the final touch. Not forgetting a dash of chilli!

Salads - Nonya Wing Bean Prawn, Chicken Feet Kerabu, Prawn & Mango Kerabu 3.5/5

At the Peranakan station, one of my favourite items are their peranakan appetisers. Tangy with a hint of spiciness, they did get my appetite going. I love the combination of the different ingredients to create that crunchiness, even the deboned chicken feet got my jaw moving quite abit. My favourite is the Prawn & Mango for that extra fruity sweetness. They go really well with the traditional signatures such as signature Ayam Buah Keluak and Babi Pongteh, which are more robust and heavier in taste.

Chilli Crab with Fied Man Tou

Herbal Pork Loin 4/5

Pretty good line-up at their hot station. Their Chilli Crab even comes with fried man tou. The star for me though, its their Herbal Pork Loin. I love the broth. It was light but extremely flavourful with herbs. The chef certainly didn't scrimp on the ingredients. The pork loin was fork tender. If only, there was some dark soy sauce with chilli padi and a bowl of white rice. It will felt like a comforting, nutritious home cooked meal.

Traditional Muah Chee 3/5

While they have a huge chiller full of dainty western patisseries, the star is really their traditional kueys and hot desserts. They have our childhood favourite - Homemade Muah Chee, which was soft and chewy, and if you ain't fast enough, expect to queue for the hot favourite Nyonya Kueh Dadar, which is made fresh in front of your eyes.

Peanut Paste with Ah Balling 4/5

I didn't expect to see such a wide variety of traditional desserts. Do try their homemade Ah Balling. A gentle bite on the delicate skin and out oozes warm black sesame lava.

Durian Pengat 3.5/5

Enjoy Durian Pengat at its place of 'origin'.

Assorted Kueh

Great selection of food but i wish the selection of their Peranakan dishes could be more. That perhaps allow me more space for their comforting desserts.

Price
Lunch Buffet
Mon-Sun: $52 per adult
Dinner Buffet
Mon-Thu: $62 per adult
Fri-Sun, Eve of PH & PH: $68 per adult
High Tea
Sat-Sun & PH: $42

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. Note: This is an invited tasting.

Ellenborough Market Café
Swissôtel Merchant Court
20 Merchant Court
Singapore 058281
Tel: +65 62391848
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clark Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Buffet Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
Buffet Dinner: 630pm - 10pm
Buffet High Tea: 330pm - 530pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clark Quay MRT station: Take Exit E. Walk straight to Tew Chew Street. Cross the road and turn right. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Yakitori & Teppan Azmaya @ Lau Pa Sat - Generous Serving But Disappointing In Taste

Located in Lau Pa Sat is a Japanese stall, Yakitori & Teppan Azmaya which seems to be popular with the Japanese community working in the area. The huge portion and value for money pricing probably is the reason that it is drawing some crowd to its stall.

Pork Katsu Toji Set 3/5

Check out the huge portion of the Pork Katsu Toji Set ($8.50). Now I understand the attraction. The huge slab of deep fried pork sitting in a pool of cooked egg, looked so appetizing, Unfortunately look can be deceiving. the pork katsu was decent but not the greatest. I also did not like how the egg got overcooked in the sizzling hot plate.

Buta Don 2.5/5

The Buta Don ($9.90) turned out even worst. It comes with 250g for grilled pork and an onsen egg. It takes about 5 minutes of waiting time. The onsen egg was overcooked and the pork slices was dry. It was really disappointing even though the portion is huge.

Besides its generous serving portion that is below $10, I cannot find a reason for my revisit. I would recommend giving this a miss.


Yakitori & Teppan Azmaya
Lau Pa Sat
Stall 55
18 Raffles Quay
Singapore
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) 1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit I. Walk to Robinson Road. Turn left onto Robinson Road and walk towards Lau Pa Sat. Continue walking down Robinson Road to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk down Cross Street. At the junction of Cross Street and Robinson Street, cross the road and turn right onto Robinson Street. Walk towards Lau Pa Sat and continue to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

What to Expect at Singapore Food Festival 2016

Singapore is a bustling and dynamic city - in fact, there is a major event taking place every month in Singapore!

For the month of July, we have the Singapore Food Festival running from 15 to 31 July 2016. During the festival, you can experience 18 different dining events all over Singapore.

1. STREAT

Kick-starting the Singapore Food Festival is STREAT 2016 which took place from 15 to 16 July 2016 at Clifford Square. STREAT 2016 is curated by international celebrity chef Susur Lee, Tunglok Heen's Senior Executive Chef Ken Ling and Restaurant Labyrinth's chef-owner Han Liguang. The three chefs joined hands in helming a pop-up restaurant featuring an exclusive, five-course, six hands dinner menu that aims to elevate Singapore's iconic street food.

A stellar selection of hawkers and chefs also joined the trio, setting up stalls alongside the pop-up restaurant at Clifford Square in celebration of our dining scene.

Some of the food items I tried at STREAT 2016 are Tequila Chendol from Propaganda Bar, Braised Veal Cheeks with Asian Spices & Fried Mantou from The Disgruntled Chef, Blue Swimmer Crab, Rice Noodles & Yellow Turmeric Coconut Curry from Candlenut and Kueh Dadar Waffle from Stellar at 1-Altitude.onon

2. East Coast Lagoon Food Village, Hawker Spotlight

After checking out the modern interpretation of Singapore's iconic street food at STREAT 2016, I headed down to East Coast Lagoon Food Village, Hawker Spotlight on 17 July to learn more about the rich history behind our local heritage food through a guided tour led by celebrity host Moses Lim.

Besides getting to know more about the heritage hawkers at East Coast Lagoon Food Village, we got to watch live cooking demonstrations of the hawkers working in the confined area of their stall. Some of the participants even got to learn how to roll popiah.

After the tour, we get to savour some of the delicious local dishes that can be found at East Coast Lagoon Village such as Popiah from Lagoon Carrot Cake, Curry Fish Head from East Red Seafood, Satay from Haron's Satay, Bak Kut Teh from Han Jia Bak Kut Teh and Char Kway Teow from Choon Hiang.

3. Singapore Favourite Food Village

One of my favourite events at this year's Singapore Food Festival is the Singapore Favourite Food Village which is taking place from 22 to 31 July 2016, 5pm - 11pm at Rochor Event Space (Bugis MRT Exit A). There are a total of 25 stalls at the food village, offering a mix of traditional favourite dishes and modern interpretations of these dishes. There is even an alfresco area with food trucks and pop-up cafes.

The Singapore Favourite Food Village is an ideal venue to gather with like-minded foodie friends and families to savour an eclectic selection of local favourites as well as some modern interpretation and Instagram-worthy food.

A special mention goes out to one of the vendors - Hoo Kee Bak Chang - who has just been awarded Michelin Bib Gourmand in the first edition of Michelin Guide Singapore 2016.

SNAP & WIN
Take your best flatlay image of your favourite SFF dishes and share it on instagram with the hashtags #SFFflatlay & #SingaporeFoodFestival and tag @Visit_Singapore to win delicious prizes! Full T&Cs here: http://bit.ly/29MRBLw

These are only 3 of the events that I have attended, but there are still many events that are taking place during the Singapore Food Festival, until end of the month. You can find out more of these events at http://www.singaporefoodfestival.com or check out the individual event websites.

One Farrer's Food Street
Venue: One Farrer Hotel & Spa
Date: 30-31 July 2016
Website: http://www.onefarrer.com/Promotions/Pages/FoodstreetJuly2016.aspx

One Farrer’s Food Street will recreate the great food stalls that once lined the roads of the Farrer Park district. While this is a recurring event, July’s edition will be a SFF special, with a focus on local heritage cuisine with unique fusion creations. Pop-up food stalls will feature local food that was originally from Farrer Park Area such as Hokkien Prawn Noodles and Rojak, as well as innovative dishes like chilli crab pie. Executive Chef Kong Kok Kiang will also be serving snacks using recipes from his family, such as Png Kueh Ball and Turnip and Peanut Fritters.

The 50 Cents Fest
Venue: Chinatown Food Street, Smith Street
Date: 30-31 July 2016
Website: http://www.chinatownfoodstreet.sg/the-50-cents-fest/

Relive the nostalgia of dining along the shophouse-lined streets of Singapore! Chinatown Food Street will be transformed with street hawkers, lively music from a bygone era, buskers and costumed entertainers. Dishes include Kok Kok Mee, Ice Ball and Trishaw Noodles.

Dining in the Garden City
Venue: Gardens by the Bay along Dragonfly Lake
Date: Now-31 July 2016
Website: www.facebook.com/dininginthegardencity/

Part of this year’s Singapore Garden Festival. The Indian Chefs and Culinary Association, Singapore Halal Culinary Federation and Food Gen 2 hawkers are coming together to serve up various ethnic dishes at the Gardens by the Bay. Two of the 24 stalls will also feature rotating guest chefs.

Chatterbox Food Truck
Venue: Follow Mandarin Orchard Singapore Instagram or Facbeook for its whereabout
Date: Now-31 July
Website: www.chatterbox.com.sg

Taste the legendary Chatterbox Chicken Rice, often listed as among the best in Singapore, at a location near you, as the Chatterbox Pop-Up truck rolls up to several locations around Singapore during SFF 2016! In celebration of the restaurant’s 45th anniversary, the chefs from Chatterbox will also whip up special versions of the Mandarin Chicken Rice, such as chicken rice maki.

The Dining Room @ Sheraton Tower Singapore - An Indonesian Gastronomic Experience

For a limited period from 15 to 21 August 2016, The Dining Room at Sheraton Tower Singapore will be collaborating with Guest Chef John Sawarto, bringing the flavours of Indonesia to the little red dot. Chef John Sawarto will be presenting a menu of contemporary Indonesia dishes harmonized with refined French techniques to commemorate Indonesia's Independence Day.

Grilled Lobster Gado Gado 4.2/5

Our first dish of the night started with the Grlled Lobster Gado Gado. This is an interesting pairing of grilled lobster with tropical fruit, salsa, kaffir & kencur infused peanut dressing, microgreens and kalamansi vinaigrette. I enjoyed the interaction of the zest and sweetness, working in harmony with the lobster. A good first course to whet up the appetite.

Seared Foie Gras 4/5

Moving to the next course, we had the Pan Seared Foie Gras. The foie gras is dressed in a rojak sauce and paired with apple & starfruit slaw. The used of an Asian sauce to pair with a French delicacy may seems weird but it works for me, lending a balance to the creaminess.

Wagyu Beef Cheek Rendang 4.2/5

The Wagyu Beef Cheek Rendang is next, served with saffron & lemongrass infused jasmine rice and vanilla poached petit brastagi potatoes. My favourite has to be the melted in the mouth wagyu beef cheek that is cooked for hours and dressed in a coat of aromatic rendang spices.

Crispy Spiced Duck Confit 3.5/5

The last main on the menu is the Crispy Spiced Duck Confit. The pan seared Balinese spiced duck leg served with natural reduction and puree of sambal terasi. While I enjoyed the fork tender texture of the duck, I thought the skin lacked the crispiness I was expecting.

Homemade Chendol Panna Cotta 3/5

I like the idea of the modern re-interpretation of the classic chendol. The Chendol Panna Cotta ia a refined execution that brought out the characteristics of the traditional dessert but lacked the sweetness and icy shiokness of it.

Banana Tempura 4/5

Lastly, the Banana Tempura served with sri kaya sauce and coconut ice cream. The warm banana fritter and cold coconut ice cream make a novel combination of sensory delights.

An Indonesian Gastronomic Experience
A la carte creations from $10++
Set lunch menu from $48++
Set dinner menu from $68++

Citi Cardmembers and SPG members enjoy 15% off the above menus.
To make reservation, please call +65 68395621 or email thediningroom@sherationsingapore.com

Diners can even stand a chance to win a trip to Indonesia and other attract prizes when you dine at The Dining Room from 15 to 21 August 2016.


The Dining Room
Sheraton Towers Singapore
39 Scotts Road
Singapore 228230
Tel: +65 67376888
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Newton (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 12midnight

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

Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle @ Smith Street Food Centre - Cheapest Michelin 1 Star

The result of the first edition Michelin Guide Singapore 2016 was announced on 21 July 2016. Two hawkers are awarded 1 star rating in the Michelin guide which comes as a surprise amidst the tough competition. It has brought Singapore's local food to the world. Not forgetting that the cheapest Michelin 1 Star establishment is in Singapore, as for now.

One of the two hawkers that won a Michelin star is Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle at Smith Street Food Centre. Actually there is one thing that I don't quite understand. Clearly the signboard has the logo Liao Fan (了凡) written on it but everyone just conveniently called the stall, Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle all these years. Why so?

Soya Sauce Chicken Rice 4.5/5

So how cheap is our cheapest Michelin 1 Star establishment? The Soya Sauce Chicken Rice is only $2! That is about US$1.47 or Euro $1.34. That is how cheap you can get for a plate of rice drizzled with a sweet and savoury sauce and chunky pieces of tender soya sauce chicken. What I like most is the chicken skin, which has that distinct soya sauce aroma infused into it. If you think the chicken is already good on its own, wait till u dip it into the tangy chilli sauce. It further elevates the whole appreciation of the juicy chicken. My own complain is the peanut was not crunchy at all.

Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle 4.2/5

Since I was already in the queue for an hour, I might as well order a few more dishes to try. I ordered both the Soya Sauce Chicken Noodle ($2.50) and Char Siew Noodle ($2.50). The noodle is cooked to a springy bite and dressed in sauce which is on the sweet side for me. The sweetness of the sauce and the savoury chicken kind of balanced off, for an enjoyable plate of noodle.

Char Siew Noodle 4/5

The Char Siew Noodle was good but not perfect. Unlike the soya chicken, the sweetness of the char siew and sauce when come together was a bit too sweet for me. Putting that aside, I have to say the char siew is definitely one of the best I have eaten. The caramelized sweetness, aromatic char on the exterior, the layers of lean and fat textures, simply melted my heart.

I am glad that I went to queue the very next day after it was awarded Michelin 1 Star. Now I can proudly proclaim that I have eaten at a Michelin 1 star establishment.


Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle
Chinatown Complex
Smith Street Food Centre
Blk 335 Smith Street
#02-166
Singapore 050335
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Tue, Thu-Sun: 10am - 8pm
(Closed on Wed)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Pagoda Street. Turn right onto Trengganu Street and walk to the end of the street. Cross Smith Street and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Barashi-Tei @ Middle Road - Homely Japanese Restaurant, Reasonable Priced Food

Barely a few months old, Barashi-Tei at Middle Road is already making friends with their regulars.  Its setup is very simple and homely, similar to those along Mohammad Sultan Road.

 Sashimi Salad 3/5

Avocado Salmon Salad 3.5/5

For starters, we had 2 salads.  Sashimi salad ($13.80) is always a refreshing start but the combination of smoky aburi salmon and buttery avocado of the Avocado Salmon Salad ($13.80) makes the latter more satisfying.

Wasabi Ebi and Kuruma Ebi 3/5

For some small bites, we had Wasabi Ebi ($7.80) which is deep fried and Kuruma Ebi ($7.80) which is pan fried. The Ebi were fresh and bouncy, which were quite tasty even on their own. The dressings were a little too thick and saucy for me. 

Sake Jyu 3/5

Chirashi 3.8/5

We had 2 dons - Salmon and Chirashi ($23.00). The Sake Jyu ($16.80) left me dissatisfied with its thin salmon slices. On the other hand, the Chirashi saved the day with its chunkier sashimi and I enjoyed every bit of the melt-in-your-mouth sensation and buttery texture of the fresh sashimi.

Dragon Maki 3/5

Spicy Salmon Maki 2.8/5

Rice Paper Ebi Maki 2.5/5

We tried 3 of their maki which don't differ much in taste. All 3 of them used fried ebi as the key ingredient and same sauce for dressing. Between Dragon ($8.80) and Spicy Salmon ($12.80), you may just opt for one, depending whether you prefer avocado or salmon. The fried ebi was well done with succulent shrimp centre and paired well with both avocado and aburi salmon. The spicy dressing makes the dishes interesting but can be a little overwhelming when there is too much of it. As for Rice Paper Ebi Maki ($12.80) which is created for customers who are afraid of carbs, didn't work for me at all. The thin rice paper fails to hold the dry ingredients together and one might be better off eating each ingredient separately. 

Sirloin Steak Foie Gras 3.8/5

Their Sirloin Steak Foie Gras ($19.80) is quite notable. I thought the presentation could be improved, as it certainly tastes better than it looks.

Sanma Shioyaki 3.8/5

Ika Teriyaki 3/5

Some dishes great for sharing over beers and sakaes would be Sanma Shioyaki ($6.80) and Ika Teriyaki ($13.80). From my understanding, sanma is one of the most well-known seasonal fish representing autumn in Japanese cuisine. Perhaps it is the novelty of eating it, I enjoyed savouring it bit by bit. The Ika was kind of tough, I was expecting to be softer and chewier.

Gindara Nabe 4/5

I can imagine having their Gindara Nabe ($24.00) on a cold rainy evening. The broth, together with all the wholesome ingredients offer the comfort that I need after a long day. It definitely helps to clear my palate for the dessert.



Strawberry Mousse 2.8/5

We ended the evening with their strawberry mousse.  Not anything fancy but good enough to sweeten my evening.

The quality of Barashi-Tei is really quite impressive and definitely wins those chain Japanese restaurants in malls that charge exorbitant prices for pathetic amounts. What are being offered seem authentic too, which is not a surprise given that the chef was trained under a veteran Japanese chef for 10 years. For a fuss-free dining experience and affordable Japanese cuisine, Barashi-Tei is a good option if you are in the vicinity. 

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.


Barashi-Tei
Elias Building
266 Middle Road
Singapore 188991
Tel: +65 84215228
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Rochor (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Rochor MRT staton. Take Exit A. Walk down Prinsep Street towards Middle Road. Turn right onto Middle Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]