Red House Seafood Nanyang @ Clarke Quay - Reopens with Chinese New Year Celebratory Set Menus

Red House Seafood Nanyang at Clarke Quay has reopened with a fresh new look, all set to usher in the Year of Dragon by introducing prosperous Chinese New Year menus for the 2024 Chinese New Year celebrations. The celebratory set menus showcase the best of Singapore Nanyang-style seafood, conceptualised by Executive Chef Chen Khay Boon (Chef Man) and his team. They will be available from 8 January to 25 February 2024 for lunch and dinner.

Prosperity Lobster, Salmon & Coral Seaweed Yu Sheng 5/5

Prosperity Salmon & Coral Seaweed Yu Sheng is a fruit-and-vegetable-forward version with ingredients such as strips of turnip, yam, carrots and Buddha's hand citron, and creatively enhanced with a crunchy purple-coloured coral seaweed. It is creatively enhanced with crunchy purple-coloured coral seaweed, resembling dragon feelers - symbolic of the zodiac year and adding a unique texture to the yu sheng. A relatively light dragonfruit-passionfruit sauce is used, allowing the yu sheng to retain the right amount of crunch and freshness after a toss. Aromatic kaffir lime leaves and ginger flowers accentuated the flavours. The luscious slices of salmon elevated the dish as well.

Double-Boiled Fish Broth 4.5/5

Red House Seafood Nanyang also offers an outlet-exclusive section of its menu devoted entirely to Giant Grouper. The fish is meant to be enjoyed from head to tail, with different cooking methods recommended for various parts – namely back, head, liver, tail, belly and body, highlighting each part's varied flavour and texture profiles. We tried Double-Boiled Fish Broth with Sliced and Fried Giant Grouper Fish Fillet ($18.80). The milky soup base is achieved by slow-cooking pork and grouper bones for eight hours. The soup had a good depth of flavours with a gelatinous mouthfeel, and the chunky sliced fillets made this soup extra wholesome.

Giant Grouper Stewed with Beancurd Skin and Garlic 4/5

Giant Grouper Stewed with Beancurd Skin and Garlic (Seasonal price) is a Cantonese-style claypot dish featuring the head, belly and body with a nostalgic flavour. The fish is deep-fried and then stewed in a house-made 'chu hou' paste made with ingredients such as soybean and oyster sauces. Mandarin peel and fried garlic are included as well for aromatic accents. This dish excelled in textures and flavours, and the accompanying ingredients - beancurd skin and shiitake mushrooms, were rich with the robust sauce.

Alaskan King Crab served Two Ways 2.8/5

Alaskan King Crab served Two Ways (Sautéed Crab Meat in Truffle Oil and Egg White & Baked Crab Legs with Miso), featuring freshly peeled crab meat sauteed with egg white and truffle oil. At the same time, the legs are sliced and topped with a miso-mayonnaise sauce, baked, garnished with tobiko, and then finished with a drizzle of truffle oil for a fragrant finishing touch. While the sauteed crab meat with egg white was expertly executed, achieving a fluffy mixture of crab meat and egg white, I found the truffle oil overpowering the entire dish. The salty miso-mayonnaise sauce equally dulled the baked crab legs.

Crispy Roasted Chicken with Flaxseed & Sesame 4.8/5

Crispy Roasted Chicken with Flaxseed & Sesame (From the Harmony Menu for 8-10 persons, $1088) is a labour-intensive dish that achieves exterior crispiness with flaxseed and sesame and tender meat within. In between steps, the chicken is air-dried twice on two different occasions before being roasted for 30 minutes. The skin was morish with the crisp flaxseed and sesame, imparting nutty flavours to the tender chicken.

Braised 8 Head Abalone, Sea Cucumber with Winter Melon Ring & Purple Cauliflower 4.5/5

Braised 8 Head Abalone, Sea Cucumber with Winter Melon Ring & Purple Cauliflower (From the Harmony Menu for 8-10 persons, $1088) is both aesthetically pleasing to the eyes as it is to the palate, with contrasting colors lent from pumpkin sauce, and purple cauliflower florets from Holland. It is a highly nutritious and luxurious dish with auspicious ingredients of abalone and sea cucumber. Like the crispy roasted chicken, this dish requires skills and much preparation work, requiring at least two days of preparation, such as soaking and braising the abalone and sea cucumber in a superior broth. The firmness of the melon is just right as well.

Chilli Crab 4/5

Red House Chilli Crab, one of Red House Seafood's signatures, delights with the crab and the fried mantou. Steamed before deep frying, the mantou had a fluffy interior with a crispy exterior without any greasy feel.

Purple Glutinous Rice Cake 4.8/5

Purple Glutinous Rice Cake (Available on all CNY set menus) is one of my favourite nian gao creations to date. Pulut Hitam and Nyonya Kueh – this layered dessert is made with traditional nian gao and purple glutinous rice. I love the addition of the purple glutinous rice, which gives the nian gao an additional texture and aroma. A little less sweet would be perfect.

The celebratory set menus are priced at $598 and $798 for 4 to 6 persons, and $1088, $1388 and $1888 for 8 to 10 persons. Dining reservations can be made via redhouseseafood.com/reservations/ while takeaways can be ordered via the outlets through phone or email.

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.


Red House Seafood Nanyang
3C River Valley Road
The Cannery, #02-02/03
Singapore 179022
+65 6442 3112
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Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit C or G. Walk to the river. Turn left and walk down the river towards the bridge. Cross the bridge. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right onto River Valley Road Walk down River Valley Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

SHUNSUI @ Hongkong Street - Merger of Kyuu by Shunsui and Kappo Shunsui Offering Affordable Kappo-style Japanese Cuisine

SHUNSUI, located at a secluded spot on Hongkong Street, is a new concept by the Shunsui Group, formed from the merger of Kyuu by Shunsui and 5-time Michelin Plate awardee Kappo Shunsui. It aims to offer authentic yet affordable Kappo-style Japanese cuisine with cutting-edge techniques coupled with a contemporary flair. In conjunction with its opening, Shunsui has launched a Grand Opening Dinner Special Course - the Kacho Course ($129++) consists of 10 seasonally-curated dishes made from fresh, premium ingredients from various parts of Japan (Ala Carte upgrade options available). Diners can also opt for the Shunsui Course ($179++) for additional premium delicacies.

Umeshu

We were offered a glass of Umeshu at the start to freshen up our senses.

Appetiser 4.5/5

The Appetiser teased my appetite with its sweet, savoury and creamy profile - In a martini glass, it contains aburi scallop, sweet persimmon and fig layered on top of mascarpone sauce.

Soup 4.5/5

For Soup, we had a comforting grounded long cabbage soup with deep fried kisu. The soup was sweet with a depth of savouriness. The deep-fried Kisu had a moist and tender flesh.

Sashimi Course (2 servings) 5/5

The Sashimi Course was rather spectacular, offering not just sashimi but also other elements of textures. Torched mackerel, seabream and chutoro are of different leanness and mouthfeel, and the touched mackerel stood out with its hint of smokiness. The Botan Ebi was creamy and succulent, and the Steamed Oyster with edamame and zingy apple vinegar puree provided another texture experience. I ended this course with a satisfying Pressed Anago sushi.

Uni Sashimi (2 servings)

The premium set allows you to enjoy Bafun Uni Sashimi.

Unagi and Eggplant tempura 4.8/5

For the Grill course, we were served a 'Japanese Burger', made with layering Unagi, Eggplant tempura and uni, finished with a douse of Japanese mountain pepper sauce to bind the elements together. The two crisp thin wafers were the right vehicle to deliver the rich flavours and mouthfilling texture all together in one bite.

Steamed Dish 4.5/5

Instead of Chawamushi with Snow Crab sauce, the Shunsui course offered an interesting dish made with Tiled Fish and Prawn steamed with turnip. The broth was light but flavorful, and both the fish and prawn were firm with a good bite, contrasted with steamed turnip, which had the consistency of a grated Chinese yam.

Negitoro, Shiro Ebi 4/5

The Sushi Course offers Hirame, Kinmedai, Nodoguro, Otoro and Negitoro. Shiro Ebi Sushi is offered instead of Negitoro for the Shunsui course. While the various ingredients delight with their freshness and flavours, I also appreciate the rice used for the sushi; it has a good bite, accompanied by a pleasant acidity that elevates the flavour of the sushi, balancing the richness of the fish and seafood.

Miyazaki A5 Sirloin Beef with Miso 4.5/5

The Main showcases Miyazaki A5 Sirloin Beef, with the right doneness to render the fats for its beautiful flavours. The miso is mixed with nuts and vegetables, hence it has a grainy texture that helps to spread over the sirloin, flavouring the meat evenly.

Rice 4/5

We had a bowl of overflowing Ikura Rice for the rice course, which the chef served with much gusto. There are 2 sizes to choose from - regular and small. I chose the regular bowl as the rice itself was really tasty!

Matcha, Sweet Bean Jelly with Chestnut 4.5/5

Desserts are of very different characters. On the one hand, we had a traditional Sweet Bean Jelly with Chestnut served with a cup of matcha brewed by the chef right before us. On the other hand, we had a homemade Mikan Sorbet crafted on the spot with liquid nitrogen, giving our meal a theatrical ending.

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.


SHUNSUI
17 Hong Kong Street
#01-01
Singapore 059660
Tel: +65 67237733
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Nearest MRT: Clark Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clark Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road using the overhead bridge. Turn left and walk down New Bridge Road. Turn left onto Hong Kong Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Seafood Paradise @ Clarke Quay - A Gastronomic Journey Along the River

Seafood Paradise has extended its culinary reign with a brand-new outlet nestled at the heart of Clarke Quay. The establishment promises more than just a feast; it offers a panoramic view of the iconic Singapore River, creating a picturesque dining experience that complements its delectable Singapore-style seafood offerings.

Scottish Bamboo Clam with Minced Garlic 4.8/5

Embarking on this seafood odyssey, I began with the Scottish Bamboo Clam with Minced Garlic. This dish was a harmonious interplay of flavours – the inherent sweetness of the bamboo clam beautifully danced with the robust pungency of minced garlic. The tender clam meat and the accompanying vermicelli soaked up the dish's essence, making every slurp a symphony of delectable flavours.

Steamed Dragon Grouper with Preserved Turnip 4/5

The Steamed Dragon Grouper with Preserved Turnip was a testament to culinary finesse. The grouper's flesh was tender, with a delicate texture that was a testament to perfect steaming. The fish's natural sweetness mingled effortlessly with the nuanced taste of the preserved turnip, offering a dish that delighted both the palate and the senses.

Singapore Style Chilli Crab 4.2/5

The iconic national dish, Singapore Style Chilli Crab cooked in a moreish sauce that has the right balance of sweet, spicy and tangy note. Using Sri Lankan mud crabs, the meat is sweet and meaty. Best to order some fried mantou to wipe up those delicious chilli crab sauce.

Australian Lobster with Minced Garlic 4/5

The parade of seafood delights continued with the Australian Lobster with Minced Garlic. Although sweet and tender, the lobster meat presented a distinctively firm and chewy texture, setting it apart from the Boston Lobster. The addition of minced garlic offered an aromatic punch, expertly complementing the lobster's natural sweetness.

Beyond the culinary prowess, Seafood Paradise offers a cosy ambience, making it ideal for business lunches or entertaining overseas guests. Their value-for-money Executive Lunches during weekdays cater to groups ranging from 3 to 6 pax, with prices ranging from $58 to $168. Whether for the stunning view, the impeccable seafood offerings, or the inviting atmosphere, Seafood Paradise at Clarke Quay promises a memorable journey through Singapore's maritime flavours.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Seafood Paradise
Clarke Quay
(facing Singapore River)
3A River Valley Road
Block A
#01-03
Sinapore 179020
Tel: +65 6378 9410
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Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm
Fri-Sun, Eve of PH & PH: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1130pm

Direction:
1) 1) Alight at Fort Canning MRT Station. Take Exit A. Turn right and down River Valley Road. Turn right onto Tan Tye Place. Walk to the end of the road. Turn left onto Clark Quay. Walk to destination. Journey time bout 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit C or G. Walk to the riverfront. Turn left and walk down the river. Cross the bridge. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Viet'Spice @ Circular Road (Boat Quay) - Authentic, Yummy Vietnamese Cuisine By SG-based Vietnamese

Viet'Spice, located along Circular Road, is an authentic Vietnamese restaurant founded by 35-year-old Helen Vy in 2021 against the backdrop of the pandemic. Viet'Spice strives to introduce and popularise Vietnamese dishes not commonly found in Singapore. Besides its flagship restaurant at Circular Road, Viet'Spice has another two outlets at Smith Street (takeaway kiosk) and Geylang (Kopifellas Coffee Shop).

Cha gio 4.2/5

Vietnamese cuisine is known for its fresh spring roll, but I prefer the Fried Spring Roll ($9.90) more. The spring roll is deep fried until the rice paper turns crispy and golden brown, stuffed with delicious minced pork.

Banh Bot Loc 4.2/5

The Vietnamese Rice Dumpling ($12.90), said to originate from Hue in Vietnam, is a small, transparent, chewy tapioca dumpling filled with shrimp and pork belly. It is topped with fried shallots and served with sweet chilli fish sauce for a lift in enjoyment. It resembles the Chinese crystal dumpling.

Banh Xeo 4/5

Banh Xeo ($14.90) is a traditional Vietnamese savoury pancake made from rice flour, coconut milk, turmeric powder and water. The yellow colouring of the thin and crispy pancake comes from the turmeric powder, filled with bean sprouts, sliced pork, shrimp and onions. The popular street food can be eaten like a roll using lettuce leaves and fresh herbs to wrap the crispy pancake along with the dipping sauce. The result is a delicious combination of textures and flavours, crunchiness, sweetness, and herbal aroma.

Grilled Pork Banh Mi 4.2/5

Banh Mi is another iconic dish in Vietnamese cuisine, a fusion of Vietnamese and French culinary influences, as Vietnam was once a French colony. We had the Grilled Pork Banh Mi ($9,90). The Vietnamese baguette is light and crispy, stuffed with flavoursome grilled pork and complemented by the freshness of herbs.

Bun Bo Hue 4/5

Instead of the usual Pho, we decided to go for the Spicy Beef Noodle Soup ($13.90) originating from Hue. The silky rice vermicelli comes in a bowl of complex and robust broth, served with sliced beef, pork rolls and fried pork. Actually, I don't have the bowl of slurping goodness spicy at all.

Caramel Flan 3/5

Lastly, we had the Caramel Flan ($4.90) for dessert. Unlike the usual flan, the Vietnamese Caramel Flan is steamed instead of baked, served with ice and poured over with coffee. It is my first time having Vietnamese flan, so I am unsure what to expect from its texture. I suspect the flan was slightly overcooked, as it did not have the creamy texture I expected.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Viet'Spice
14 Circular Road
Singapore 049370
Tel: +65 97341761
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Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Raffles Place (EW, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road. Walk to Upper Circular Road. Walk down the road to North Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to Circular Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to Circular Road. Walk down Circular Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 7 minutes. [Map]

JIDAI Restaurant @ Circular Road - Enjoy An Affordable 8 Course French Japanese Omakase

Located along Circular Road, the new 30-seater Izakaya restaurant JIDAI Restaurant specialises in Japanese-French Fusion dishes. Helmed by Chef Darwin Wong, JIDAI has recently launched an 8-Course Omakase dining experience at $88/pax.

Chile Uni 3.5/5

We began the omakase with a starter of Chile Uni with caviar and deep sea crab miso wrapped with crunchy green onions. However, we felt there was too much caviar on the uni, and together with the green onions, the uni taste was barely detectable in the wrap.

Botan Ebi and Sea Bream 4/5

Next, we had the fresh sashimi with Botan Ebi and Sea Bream.

Ponzu Sea Whelk 3.5/5

The Ponzu Sea Whelk, serrved on a bed of sea whelk shells, has a nice chewy texture. Best paired with the fermented mushroom sauce provided.

Engawa 3.8/5

The next poached dish is Engawa, with a thick cauliflower puree and red lumpfish caviar. We enjoyed the tender Engawa slice, though we felt that the cauliflower puree could be more flavourful.

Soup 3.8/5

A flavourful onion beef dashi is poured over the A5 Wagyu slices and mushrooms. We enjoyed the richness of the dashi used, though it was a tad salty for our liking.

Miso Atlantic Cod 4.2/5

As for the mains, you can take your pick of Miso Atlantic Cod or Lobster Charzuke at a supplement of $18. We had the former, which features Miso Atlantic Cod grilled and doused with an umami caviar creme, topped with ikura and paired with perfectly charred broccolini.

Mini Cones Chous Chous 4/5

For desserts, we had the Mini Cones Chous Chous. It is filled with crunchy chocolate ganache and was small enough to be eaten in a bite. It is a simple sweet treat towards the end of the meal.

Champagne Gelato 4/5

We ended the omakase on a sweet note with the Champagne Gelato, which comes with sake jello and crisps. It was sweet with a nice champagne flavour, a refreshing course after all the heavy-tasting dishes.

Diners can also elevate their dining experience with an alcohol pairing of Junmai Daiginjo at ($88/bottle). You can go even fancier with the 10-course omakase ($108++), but for something more affordable, they also serve ala carte dishes and set lunch menu.

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.


[CLOSED]
JIDAI Restaurant
9 Circular Rd
Singapore 049365
Tel: +65 81891849
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon: 5pm - 1030pm
Tue-Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road. Walk to Upper Circular Road. Walk down the road to North Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to Circular Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]