Skyve Wine Bistro @ Winstedt Road - A New Menu Showcasing Modern Bistro Fare

The last time I visited Skyve Wine Bistro was back in 2013. I am back again at Skyve Wine Bistro to welcome the home coming of Executive Chef Jachin Tan, joining her sister Celine Tan to relaunch Skyve. The new menu showcases modern bistro fare inspired by Chef Jachin's personal experiences with food from around the world.

Beef Tartare 3.5/5

Our dinner started with the Beef Tartare ($18) which is topped with a miso cured truffle yolk, paired with shallot dust, gherkin gelee and biscuit. Mixed everything together to get a combination of different flavours. I like the fact that the grass fed Australian beef remains the centre piece, not over shadowed by the different components on the plate.

Smoked Tomato 4.2/5

A light and refreshing starter is the Smoked Tomato ($12) garnished with buffalo snow. The Momotaro tomato which is sourced from Cameron Highlands is sweet and comes with a hint of smokiness. What caught my attention on the plate is actually the heart of palm, I didn't know it can be eaten. Best of all, what holds the whole dish together for me is the basil sorbet which complements the tomatoes and heart of palms excellently.

Mediterranean Octopus 4/5

The Mediterranean Octopus ($18) is char-grilled to a delightful firm but yet tender texture, paired with lemon pickled eggplant, vandouvan and cauliflower puree. The char is like icing on the cake, giving the subtle sweetness of the octopus a lift in flavour.

Smoked Tenderloin 4.2/5

When you come across a good piece of beef, you will just immersed in the beautiful flavour lingering in your mouth and that is what I got from the Smoked Tenderloin ($38) which is paired with gobo, pickled green pepper, braised shitake and truffle soil. The depth in flavour probably comes from the fact that the meat has been left to cure and tenderise overnight in a smoke chamber.

Cilantro Chilli Smoked Duck 4.2/5

It seems like smoking is Chef Jachin's forte. Another excellent dish is the Cilantro Chilli Smoked Duck ($24) served with quinoa, edamame, pink peppercorn and corn ricotta. The tender and flavourful duck meat has a lovely aroma from the dried cilanto and chilli that is used to smoke the duck. It also added a hint of heat to the duck meat.

Lobster Sang Mee 4.2/5

One of my favourite dishes for the night is Lobster Sang Mee ($32). Who would expect to find a Zi Char dish on the menu but given a modern twist with French techniques, using regional and local produce. The atas plate of sang mee even comes with abalone, mussels and half a lobster, in a egg drop soup. It is a familiar dish that is close to the heart and comforting, yet given a luscious interpretation.

Semifreddo of Lime 3.5/5

Wrapping up our dinner, we have the light and creamy Semifreddo of Lime ($10) topped with blue pea flower caviar. At the bottom is sable dust, giving the semifreddo another layer of texture.

Molten Chocolate 4/5

For something richer, there is the homemade Molten Chocolate ($12) paired with salted caramel ice. I enjoyed the candied zest that cut through the richness and also giving it a more dimensional enjoyment. Cut through the molten cake for the oozing lava moment.

For bigger group, you can check out communal options such as the Seafood Menage ($95) with whole live lobster, shoyu saba and chimichurri squid; Australian Angus Cote De Boeuf ($130) and 48-Hours Roasted Suckling Pig ($228). One can also look forward to the weekend brunch menu that showcases dishes with Asian flavours.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Skyve Wine Bistro
10 Winstedt Road
Block E #01-17
Singapore 227977
Tel: +65 62256690
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Nearest MRT: Newton (NS Line), Little India (DT Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 12pm - 11pm
Fri-Sat, Eve P.H: 10am - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Newton MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and follow the path way to the overhead bridge. Cross the overhead bridge to Newton Food Centre. Cut across the food centre to the car park. At the car park, turn left and continue walking to end of Monks Hill Terrace. At the end of the road, turn right onto Winstedt Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Little India MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop along Bukit Timah Road (Stop ID B40011). Take bus number 48, 66, 67, 170 and 960. Alight 2 stops later. Walk down Bukit Timah Road towards Shell petrol station. Turn left onto Winstedt Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Morganfield's @ Orchard Central - Launches Limited Time Ribs Specials to Celebrate Mother's and Father's Day

Known for its signature sticky bones - authentic, good ol’ fashioned, prime pork ribs slow-cooked and smoked to tender perfection, Morganfield’s is claimed to be the home of the best ribs in town. This time back with a new promotion, Morganfield's presents two new mouth-watering Sticky Bones sauces for a limited time only in May and June, namely the Candied Peach BBQ and Smokey Bacon Bourbon in conjunction with Mother's Day and Father's Day. Mark your calendar for you might take your parents out to Morganfield’s for a well-deserved treat.

Bacon Wrapped Meatballs 4/5

With a variety of appetizer to choose from, we started off with the Bacon Wrapped Meatballs ($11.90) which comes in deep fried pork meatballs wrapped with crispy bacon. The side of Garlic Aioli sauce dip is a great complement to the savoury pork and bacon.

Pop Corn Pork 3.8/5

The Pop Corn Pork ($9.90) features a basket full of pork cubes marinated with Morganfield's secret spice mix & deep fried till crisp. Dipping it into their homemade Garlic Aioli & BBQ Ranch Sauce adds a sweet tangy and smoky flavour to the savouriness of the meat.

Golden Fried Wings 4/5

We had the Golden Fried Wings ($12.90) as the third appetizer. Marinated with a secret recipe, its outer skin is fried till a golden brown crispiness, while its meat is tender and juicy. The appetizers are best paired with a glass of beer in hand.

Summer Peach Cooler 4/5 and SweetWater Blue 4/5

For drinks, we had the Summer Peach Cooler ($6.90) and SweetWater Blue ($10). The former is a refreshing blend of sweet peach & orange flavour with a splash of fizzy soda, while the latter is a fruit beer which has a refreshing and fruity taste, light with a hint of fresh blueberries. With an ABV of 4.8%, the craft beer is easy to drink and finishes extra clean.

Candied Peach BBQ Sticky Bones 4.2/5

The highlight of the meal is the limited-time Candied Peach BBQ Sticky Bones (Half Slab $29.90, Full Slab $46.90). Created specially for the ladies, it is made with slices of juicy peaches and rich honey, which constitutes the perfect blend of sweet and tangy over the generously-portioned and well-executed ribs.

Smokey Bacon Bourbon Sticky Bones 4.5/5

Another one of their highlights - The Smokey Bacon Bourbon Sticky Bones (Half Slab $29.90, Full Slab $46.90) features a slab of tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs, topped with a hearty, rich and smoky sauce infused with bourbon, hand-chopped bacon bits and strips of candied bacon. With a flavourous luscious coating atop the savoury meat, the dish displays the perfect balance of sweet and savoury.

Bread Pudding 4/5

End your meal on a sweet note with the Bread Pudding ($11.90). This comforting homemade bread pudding comes served with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream & whiskey sauce. A recommended dessert option for the alcoholics, as the whiskey sauce is very thick and rich in taste, that I feel might be a tad too overpowering for the dish.

Chocolate Brownie 4.2/5

For chocolate lovers, try the Chocolate Brownie ($13.90) which comes in a fudgey chocolate and walnut brownie, and served warm with vanilla ice cream & chocolate sauce.

These limited time offers are available all day, every day from 30th April to 24th June. Make a date with your Mum and Dad to enjoy this special treat at Morganfield’s.

Note: The Candied Peach BBQ and Smoky Bacon Bourbon Sticky Bones are also available as part of the weekday Top Value Set Lunch promotion ($29.90), that comes with a free soup and drink.

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.


Morganfield’s
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
#11-03/04
Singapore 238896
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Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am – 12midnight

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

Pastaria Abate @ Craig Road - No Frill Italian Restaurant with Handmade Pasta

If you are like me visiting Pastaria Abate at Craig Road for the first time, you would think that it is a full service restaurant. Apart from the beautiful decor of the restaurant, that make you feel that you are in Italy, this place is actually no frill. You have to order from the cashier, collect your own food, utensils and even serve your own drink. I am not complaining as long as the food is good and reasonable priced.

Fettucine Pasta Italian Meatballs 3.8/5

Pastaria Abate is known for its homemade pasta. They made 4 different types of pastas - Tagliatelle, Fettucine, Tagliarini and Pappardelle. Ordering here is pretty simple, choose the type of pasta and follow by the sauce. I decided to go for the Fettucine with Italian Meatballs ($12.80). It comes with 2 huge handformed meatballs that is soft and tender. The meatballs are first pan seared and then stewed. While I love the meatballs and the sauce, I felt that pasta was a bit too soft, kind of overcooked.

Spaghetti Italian Sausages 4/5

Not all the pasta at Pastaria Abate is homemade, such as the Spaghetti Italian Sausages ($12.80). It comes with hom homemade skinless Italian sausages in Marinara sauce. The kitchen has got the timing right for the spaghetti, it has a nice bite to it.  While the skinless italian sausages are lovely, I thought it is a bit little.

Besides the pasta, you can also find other appetisers, mains and desserts on the menu. I didn't try them but I think they are quite reasonable priced. Most of the appetisers are reasonable priced around $8.80 while the mains range between $12.80 and $15.80.

While the pasta dishes here are good, do not expect top notch service here. Even the plate used are those canteen, metal type. Its basically a no frill Italian restaurant.


Pastaria Abate
43 Craig Road
Singapore 089681
Tel: +65 69090672
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 1130pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Orchid Hotel. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road and walk to Craig Road. Continue on Craig Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Element @ Amara Hotel - Blue Tuna Night

When buffets may at times seem unexciting after a while, Element at Amara Singapore set to ignite that anticipation with occasional one-day specials. For regulars who follow closely on Element's news and promotion, they were in for a treat on 20 April 2018 evening, when the Bluefin Tuna Night took place. Diners got to witness the live carving of a 56kg bluefin tuna imported from Okinawa, and enjoy unlimited portions throughout the evening.

For those who prefer to savour this delicacy with sake and taste the beauty of the various parts of the pirzed fish, Bluefin Tuna Kaiseki Set was available with a choice of a glass of sake, beer or wine at SGD68++ per set. The set started off with Mosaic of Freshly Smoked Bluefin Tuna with Caviar. The blanket of smokiness that wraps around the meat adds a very intriguing dimension to the taste and the umami packed caviar gives a balance to the fatty nature of the meat.

The Bluefin Tuna Carpaccio that followed was again tender and delicate, with Japanese Shoyu dressing giving an edge to the flavour as it melts in my mouth.

How the tuna is being presented in various forms amazes me. As the nature of the meat is pretty rich, I appreciate how the chef used the different dressing and sauces to balance and complement it. In the case of Bluefin Tuna with 63 Degrees Poached Egg, given all that creamy and yolky goodness, it could have been rather overwhelming if not for the spicy Jon Jing Zhang Sauce marinating the tuna.

And of course, Bluefin Tuna Sashimi and Sushi will be the simplest yet essential way to appreciate a good piece of fish. The fish was so fresh, even the sweetness of the sushi rice exuded out in every bite.

Rounding up the Kaiseki meal is a soul comforting Bluefin Tuna Belly Soup with Leek and Tofu. The soup was extremely light yet flavourful and the humble looking tuna belly cubes are nothing less satisfying than a beautifully marbled meat that melts readily in your mouth.

For those who had opt for the buffet, besides the endless servings of the exquisite meat, the selection of spread includes cold seafood such as Boston Lobster, Alaskan King Crab Legs, Sashimi & sushi, Hot dishes etc. One of my favourites was the live ramen station!

I heard something is coming up to celebrate Mother's Day hence do keep a lookout for it. International Buffet Dinner with Free-flow Bluefin Tuna Sushi and Sashimi $98++ per adult and $36++ per child (6 – 12 years old).

Photograph and 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.

Element
Amara Hotel
165 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088539
Tel: +65 68792555, +65 68792607
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Breakfast (Daily): 6am - 1030am
Lunch (Mon-Fri, except PH): 12pm - 230pm
Brunch (Sat-Sun, PH): 1130am - 330pm
Dinner (Daily): 630pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Gopeng Street and turn into Tras Street. Walk to Amara Hotel. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Kabe no Ana and Men-ichi Ramen @ Jurong Point Shopping Centre - Mentaiko Madness

RE&S, the team who bring you your popular Japanese cuisine concepts such as Ichiban Boshi, Kuisin Bo, Kuriya, celebrates their 30th anniversary with Mentaiko Madness! Men-ichi Japanese Ramen and Kabe No Ana are the two out of its four restaurants concepts that will be running this special promotion.

Hakata Mentaiko Tonkotsu Ramen 3.8/5

From now till 4 June at Men-ichi Japanese Ramen, enjoy a bowl of collagen rich tonkotsu soup with mentaiko served as a whole. The commonly known versions of menatiko dishes often present mentaiko in the form of cream sauce, mayo drizzle etc, it is really the traditional way of serving it that allows one to appreciate the deep umami taste of mentaiko which I have learnt during my trip to Fukuoka. At only $14.90, I thought this Hakata Mentaiko Tonkotsu Ramen is quite decently priced, considering the rest of the regular dishes are priced within the same range.

Mentai Mayo Gyoza 3.8/5

Don't miss out the Mentai Mayo Gyoza ($6.90) - chicken gyoza drizzled with mentai mayo. Though it is back to a mayo form, that deep umami flavour of mentaiko is still quite pronounced.

Mochi Mentaiko Pizza 3/5

Do you know that Kabe no Ana is the creator behind the origina mentaiko spaghetti? And for this occasion, out came another four new mentaiko creations, of which are Mochi Mentaiko Pizza ($16.90) and Mentaiko Gnocchi set ($22.90). What I like about the pizza is the use of toppings that really get your jaw going - Chewy Japanese mochi, squid and succulent prawns.

Mentaiko Gnocchi 3.8/5

The Gnocchi dish really surprises me, given the fact that it is not a true blue Italian place. The pillows of gnocchi are light and fluffy, with a very slight stretchy texture. The mentaiko spinach cream sauce isn't too creamy and the perilla leaves brightens up the dish and gives its flavour a lift with its sharp, minty nuances. A truly enjoyable dish as you get a bit of everything in one spoonful - the pillowy gnocchi coated with mentaiko sauce, the succulent salmon cubes, ikura.

Each set comes with 2 appetisers, Iberico Pork with Tomato Salsa & Rocket Arugla, and Smoked Duck & Grapefruit Salad, as well as a Ume Spakrling Soda, available from now till 2 July. As some of you may find the mentaiko in its original state an acquired taste, these Japanese-Italian creations will be suitable to have with friends and loved ones.

If you are a mentaiko fans, do check out Tokyo Eater Pop-Up Store at Nex or Ichiban Sushi for more Mentaiko Madness. My preference still goes to the ramen as it allows me to savour the entire hunk of mentaiko as such dishes ain't readily available elsewhere.

Photograph 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.


Kabe no Ana and Men-ichi Ramen
Jurong Point Shopping Centre
1 Jurong West Central 2
#B1-55
Singapore 648886
Tel: +65 63970435
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Nearest MRT: Boon Lay (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Boon Lay MRT station. Take Exit C, D, E. Walk to the new wing of the shopping centre. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Man Fu Yuan @ InterContinental Singapore - New SIgnature Dishes Inspired By Chef Eric Neo's Travel Experiences

Man Fu Yuan at InterContinental Singapore has been one of my favourite Chinese restaurant, and I was really excited to know that Chef Eric Neo has introduced 10 new dishes inspired by his travel experiences.

Appetisers 4/5

Our dinner started with a trio of Appetisers which consists of Deep Fried Pork Shoulder Dumpling,  Smoked Kagoshima Pork Belly Char Siew and Mango Passionfruit Prawns. The deep fried pork shoulder dumpling is sort of like a deep fried siew mai, with a crispy exterior and crunchy interior from the prawn. The smoked kagoshim pork belly char siew has a enjoyable balanced of fatness and sweetness. Lastly the mango prawn is coated with herring roes but I didn't get the popping effect on top of the fruity sweetness.

Double Boiled Chicken Soup, Fish Maw, Conpoy 4.5/5

The Double Boiled Chicken Soup is packed with richness and depth. The essence of the conpoy is well drawn into the soup through hours of boiling, for that umami flavour. It even comes with chicken pieces and premium fish maw.

Miso Shoyu Baked Cod, Scrambled Egg Whites 4.2/5

At first glance, I was wondering whether the scrambled egg whites is a good choice to pair with strong flavour of the Miso Shoyu Baked Cod. In fact, the sweetness of the moist cod fish goes very well with the lightly salted scrambled egg whites, giving the dish a contrast but yet harmony finishing.

Signature West Lake Longjin Tea Smoked Duck 4/5

Smoked to a beautiful aroma is the Signature West Lake Longjin Tea Smoked Duck. Diners can enjoy the tea smoked duck on its own or wrapped in it a then crepe.

Tiger Prawn Vermicelli, Chinese Wine, Superior Broth 4.8/5

Another favourite of mine is the Tiger Prawn Vermicelli. The highlight is the superior broth that is accentuated with a dash of Chinese wine. The thin vermicelli which acts like a sponge, absorbed the delish broth for a slurping goodness.

Chilled Coconut Jelly, Aloe Vera 4.5/5

Wrapping up the dinner, we had the Deep Fried Purple Sweet Potato Custard Ball and Chilled Coconut Jelly with Aloe Vera. I enjoy both desserts a lot. The deep fried purple sweet potato has a delightful chewy texture filled with oozing custard in it. On the other hand, the chilled coconut jelly with aloe vera is light and refreshing.

In addition to the new signatures, the restaurant has also elevate the culinary experience with a handpicked selection of quality wines from renowned regions, passionate growers and boutique wineries. On top of that, tea connoisseurs will also be pleased to be able to pair and appreciate their meal with nine different premium teas


Note: This is an invited tasting.


Man Fu Yuan
InterContinental Singapore
Level 2
80 Middle Road
Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 63387600
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Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1145am - 330pm, 630pm - 1030pm

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

Tokachi Tontaro @ OUE Downtown Gallery - Hearty Butadon Less Than $12 in The Heart Of CBD

Tokachi Tontaro at OUE Downtown Gallery specialises in Butadon, a well-loved pork rice bowl originated from Tokachi, Hokkaido, a place where pig farming started in the early 1900s. While each shop may use similar method of simply grilling the pork over charcoals, every shop owns its butadon by imprinting every bowl with their very own tare made with soy sauce and sugar. This special tare is used to steep the pork before grill, which also seeps deep into the rice in the bowl and flavouring each don, whetting the appetite of their customers.

At Tokachi Tontaro, the porks are from Kagoshima and US. As explained by the owner, as Kagoshima produces and exports a higher quantity of pork, there is a higher consistency compared to that of Hokkaido. Premium Butadon ($22.80R, $25.80L) features this better quality pork with the original tare. If you just want to experience what a Butadon is, you can just go for Regular Butadon ($11.80/$13.80/$16.80) which uses the US pork that will only cost half the price!

Premium Butadon 4.2/5

Looking forward to a bowl of Kagoshima pork that is lip smacking juicy and flavourful but ours seem to fall short of expectations.Perhaps due to the leaner type of pork that the owner has decided to use, mostly due to the feedback from the waistline of the conscious CBD crowd. The rice though, was yummy with the special tare and partly thanks to the state-of-the-art rice washing machine that was purchased to preserve the quality of the high grade Japanese rice right from the start.

Spicy Tomato 4/5

If you would like some heat, you can opt for the exclusive Spicy Tomato ($11.80/$13.80/$16.80) that comes with extra sauce should you need more of the kick. I would prefer it to be more tomatoey.  It uses the US Pork. While the US pork is tender, somehow the flavours that they exude lack the aroma and dimensions that I get from the Japanese counterpart.

Miso Butadon 3.8/5

Another variation is the Miso Butadon ($12.80/$14.80/$17.80) that uses the US Pork. Unfortunately the kitchen seems to be a bit heavy with he peppers, overwhelming the miso flavours. Nevertheless, the pork is still tender and juicy.

Salmon Don 2.5/5

Catering to the non-meat crowd is the Salmon Don ($17.80). I don't remember the last time when I had such a dry and overcooked salmon in a Japanese joint.

Hokkaido Imomochi Cheese 4/5

Hokkaido Crab Cream Croquette 4/5

We tried 2 sides - Hokkaido Imomochi Cheese ($6.50) and Hokkaido Crab Cream Croquette ($7). When they are all hot and oozy, you may derive greater pleasure from them than the mains.

All the dons can be upsize to include Onsen Egg, Tofu salad and drink. Adding the Onsen egg and mix it together with the rice, definitely up the satisfaction by a notch.

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.


Tokachi Tontaro 
OUE Downtown Gallery
6A Shenton Way
#03-20
Singapore 068815
Tel: +65 62241470
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11am - 930pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to traffic light junction. Cross the traffic light to Maxwell Road. Turn right and walk towards Shenton Way. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]