JUMBO Seafood @ Riverside Point - Usher In An Abundant Chinese New Year With Sumptuous Seafood Feasts

JUMBO Seafood ushers in the most auspicious time of year with special set menus centred around its Award-Winning Chilli Crab. Its Reunion Sets are available on the eve of Chinese New Year (11 February) for those looking to enjoy one day-exclusive menu, with prices start from $298 for 4 pax.

We had their A8 Celebration Set Menu which is available from 25 January to 28 February (except 11 February), at $588 for 8 pax. (Prices start from $258 for 4 pax).

Prosperity Salmon 'Yu Sheng' 4/5

In all Lunar New Year reunion dinners, a must-have to start the evening is the Prosperity Salmon 'Yu Sheng' ($58/$88) to toss for abundance, prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead consisting of a vibrant medley of shredded vegetables and assorted toppings. It is also served with generous servings of fresh salmon slices, and other condiments before the Lo Hei commences.

Fried Baby Squids 3.5/5, Seafood Donut 3.8/5, Crispy Fried 'Otah' Beancurd 4.2/5

We started the meal with a trio of JUMBO Seafood Appetisers consisting of Fried Baby Squids, Seafood Donut Tossed in Salad Cream, and Crispy Fried 'Otah' Beancurd. My favourite is the Crispy Fried 'Otah' Beancurd, bringing an interesting twist to the traditional otah. This delicate treat is crispy on the outside and encases a flavourful and soft beancurd-like otah within.

Seafood Soup Braised with Crab Meat 3.8/5

Similar to the Shark's Fin Soup, but replaced with crab meat instead, the Seafood Soup Braised with Crab Meat is packed with a sweet crustacean freshness.

Boiled Live Prawns 4.2/5

To ensure utmost freshness, freshly caught live prawns are tossed into a boil with the head and shell still attached, and cooked till pink before serving. The Boiled Live Prawns have a sweet flavour and firm flesh, which tasted good enough on its own even without any chilli or sauces.

Live 'Long Hu' Garoupa Steamed with Preserved Radish 4/5

An auspicious tradition Lunar New Year dish, the Live 'Long Hu' Garoupa Steamed with Preserved Radish comes in a whole sizable portion. The fish is cooked to a perfectly soft and fork-tender texture, while the sauce packs a rich, savoury flavour to the dish.

Broccoli Braised with Shiitake Mushroom and Whole Conpoy 3.5/5

Another dish as part of the set menu is the Broccoli Braised with Shiitake Mushroom and Whole Conpoy. The juicy shiitake mushrooms, scallops and crunchy broccoli come in a full-bodied, savoury gravy that complements the rest of the ingredients.

Award-winning Chilli Crab with Deep Fried Mini Buns 4.5/5

The highlight is their Award-winning Chilli Crab that features live crabs drenched in a mouth-watering chilli crab sauce concocted with a myriad of over 10 different Southeast Asian spices. The flavourful blend of spiciness is tinged with a sweet sourness that complements the crab's freshness. The accompaniment of Golden Deep Fried Mini Buns is the best way to mop up all that finger-licking gravy.

Supreme Seafood Fried Rice 3.8/5

Light and fragrant, the Supreme Seafood Fried Rice showed a fair amount of egg, shredded cabbage and juicy prawns embedded in it, giving the dish a nice texture and flavour.

Chilled Mango Sago Pomelo 4/5

Bring the meal to a sweet finale with the Chilled Mango Sago Pomelo. The mango flavour has a refreshing fruity sweetness, paired with generous amounts of sago and pomelo, which adds a nice bite.

Photos and words 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.


JUMBO Seafood
Riverside Point
30 Merchant Road
#01-01/02
Singapore 058282
Tel: +65 65323435
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit C or G. Turn left and walk along the river. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Trattoria La Vita @ North Canal Road - Homely Italian Cuisine with Japanese Flair

Located just a simple short walk away from Clarke Quay MRT Station, Trattoria La Vita at North Canal Road is a homely Japanese-run Italian restaurant. I learnt that the kitchen is also helmed by a Japanese chef, who was trained in Italy for 3 years. On the menu, you will find not just Italian flavours, but also dishes imbued with a touch of Japanese flair.

Salmon Gazpacho with Cucumber & Grapefruit 4.2/5

Tagliatelle Carbonara with Button Mushroom 3.8/5

Assortment of Desserts 3/5

If you are looking for a good value and quality executive lunch, do try its 3-course Lunch Set, nett priced at $25. A top-up of $5 will get you a glass of house red or white wine. The selections of appetisers and mains are above average I would say. Instead of the usual soups or salads, one of the choices available for starters is Salmon Gazpacho with Cucumber & Grapefruit. Citrusy and extremely piquant, it wowed me with its textural variations given by the different ingredients. For Main, I had Tagliatelle Carbonara with Button Mushroom that was quite delectable as well. The set lunch comes with a serving of Assortment of Desserts, which I was served with a portion of Tiramisu and Cannoli.

Pear Salad with Parma Ham & Homemade Ricotta 4.5/5

Parma Prosciutto with Melon (tasting portion) 4.5/5

Coming down to its ala carte menu, for starters, we had Pear Salad with Parma Ham & Homemade Ricotta ($16.90) and Parma Prosciutto with Melon ($24.90). The Pear Salad is served with a Raspberry Vinaigrette. Its flavour paired really well with the milky sweet ricotta, almost like the combination of berry and cream, and its acidity along with the sweet pears cut the richness of the Parma Ham. Even though Parma Prosciutto with Melon is a classic pairing, but over here, it also shines in terms of its presentation and the quality of ingredients used.

Spaghetti Hokkaido Scallop with Myogo Tobiko Wasabi 3/5

Tagliollini Scampi with Cherry Tomatoes 3.8/5

Under Pasta, there are 3 different categories - Japanese Taste, Italian Classic and Special Seafood. Japanese Taste Spaghetti Hokkaido Scallop with Myoga Tobiko Wasabi ($27.90) is quite unique with the addition of Myoga, Japanese Ginger flower. Because of its distinct flavours, it gave the pasta much of its characters. There were julienned Oba leaves inside as well, which boosted that herbaceous flavour. However, the scallops didn't quite elevate the dish as much as we would like them to. As for Seafood pasta, we had Tagliollini Scampi with Cherry Tomatoes ($27.90), I love how succulent the scampi were, as well as the combination of fresh basil and tart-sweet Cherry Tomato.

Pizza Bismarck 4.5/5

The dish that won our hearts is this Pizza Bismarck ($13.90). Made with Italian flour, the crust, despite it being thin and crispy, was flavorful even on its own. Loaded with chunky pork bacon, asparagus, and sweet onion slices, there was satisfaction in every bite. The egg sitting in the middle had its white set, but its yolk spread and mingled with the cheese and tomato sauce, making the pizza extra scrumptious.

Tenderloin 4/5

La Vita also prides itself on its Josper Grill steaks, which includes John Stone dry-aged beef. We went for Tenderloin (200g $59.90), served with grilled vegetables and potatoes. Ribeye is available as well if you prefer a stronger beefy flavour.

Assorted Berries Tart with Pistachio Gelato 2.5/5

Creme Brulee 3/5

Great mains but the desserts here are all just alright. If you do need one, then go for Crème Brulee ($13.90). Mine was a little eggy, but it came with a nice tuile which went well with it. As for the Assorted Berries Tart with Pistachio Gelato ($16.90), the crust was underbaked, and the custard base was thick and cloying.

Trattoria La Vita has been rolling out quite a few promotions lately, including Ladies' Night every Wednesday from 6pm to 8pm. For any main dish purchased, there will be a complimentary free-flow sparkling wine and La Vito Keto Salad!

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.


Trattoria La Vita
35 North Canal Road
#01-01
Singapore 059291
Tel: +65 62261182
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards the junction of North Canal Road and South Bridge Road. Cross the junction and continue on North Canal Road. Walk along the shophouses along North Canal Road. Look out for an alley and turn left into it. Look for the entrance to the building and take lift to level 2. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk towards North Canal Road. Continue on North Canal Road. Walk along the shophouses along North Canal Road. Look out for an alley and turn right into it. Look for the entrance to the building and take lift to level 2. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Gabbar Bistro & Bar @ Clarke Quay - Spinning To A Mix Of Bollywood Music And Scrumptious North Indian Cuisine

Gabbar Bistro & Bar is a fairly new modern Indian bistro bar located at Clarke Quay. Its live Bollywood music performances often draws huge turnouts, where diners get to experience an international DJ spinning the latest Bollywood and Punjabi mixes over an extensive selection of drinks which includes wines, cocktails and Single Malts. However, customers return to Gabbar time and time again not just for its music, but to satisfy their cravings for a scrumptious North Indian cuisine.

Lamp Chops (tasting portion) 4/5 

The Lamb Chops here wins the hearts of the Indian diasporas and locals alike. Its mouthwatering aroma delivered my expectations. Marinated for 12 hours with hung curb and spices, the meat was succulent, tender, and flavourful with just the right amount of spices. For a drink and a quick bite, this serves equally good as a bar bite too.

Surkh Laal Chicken, Tikka Fish Amritsari and Hariyali Chicken (tasting portion) 4/5

From the tandoor, we tried Surkh Laal Chicken, Hariyali Chicken and Tikka Fish Amritsari. The reddish Surkh Laal chicken was punchy with spices with a tinge of heat. The Hariyali Chicken didn't lose out either with its well-seasoned, creamy spinach marination. I have had quite a few unpleasantly dry and bland Fish Tikka before, but the version here was moist and flaky.

Dal Makhani (tasting portion) 3.5/5

Dal Makhani is a comfort food, and also quite nutrient-dense with beans and black lentils. I would have liked it even more if it is slightly more tomatoey to have some tartness to balance the richness of it.

Assorted Naans (tasting portion) 4/5

Options aplenty for naans. We tried Roti, Tumeric, Olive and Cheese, Garlic, Butter and a Lachha Parantha. Each of them was soft and fluffy, but if you can only choose one, go for the Olive and Cheese naan for that full-bodied flavour.

Chicken Biryani 3.8/5

Chicken Biryani is a great option for a quick lunch. It seems like a basic dish, yet there is complexity in the use of spices and the way the rice is being cooked and put together with the meat. Mine was packed full of flavours but not too overwhelming with aromatics and spices. Hidden underneath the pile of fluffy basmati rice is load of tender chicken cubes.

Paan Ice Cream 4.8/5

If you visit Gabbar, do go for its Paan Ice Cream. Made with betel leaves, the sweetness and milkiness were at the right amount to mellow down the sharp herbaceous flavours of the betel leaves. The spiced and nutty topping intrigued my taste buds in every bite. It was such a unique and delicious ice cream, I strongly encourage you to give it a try.

 

Besides dining in, Gabbar Bistro & Bar also offers island-wide delivery for you to dine at the comfort of your home. You can order island-wide delivery at www.sgdelivery.online

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.


Gabbar Bistro & Bar
Clarke Quay
3B River Valley Road
#01-14
Singapore 179021
Tel: +65 87555597
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Fort Canning (DT Line), Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 1030pm

Direction:
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 river front. Turn left and walk down the river. Cross the bridge. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

LUMO Bar and Restaurant @ CMO Building - Transforms The Values And Symbolism Of Light Into A Social Spot

LUMO Bar and Restaurant at CMO building is a new cocktail bar and restaurant that is designed based on the concept of light. Where Light being one of the keys to life, the cocktail menu focuses on the principles of breakfast, which many considered a staple of life. And as light can both unify and contrast, LUMO's kitchen combines wood-fired cooking and modern methods kitchen to explore the nature of dichotomies.

Dr Brown

Corresponding to the 7 constituent colours of natural light, the cocktails are categorised based on a study of 7 ingredients – Brew, Milk, Fruit, ABC, Impossible™ Salad, Toast, Treat. With each ingredient distilled into its purest form, the cocktail menu progresses from low to high ABV akin to how our day shifts from brightness to darkness. From the 'darkest' category, I had Dr Brown ($20), concocted with Plantation Original Dark, Impossible Distillate, Tomato Vermouth, Verjus, Smoked Agave Cordial, Foamee. Although I didn't feel it embrace the idea of being a 'dark' drink, neither was it bold enough for me, I like the whole Impossible™ inspiration behind it. Impossible™ distillate is made from the re-distillation of seasoned Impossible™ patty and vodka. Even the foam atop is not egg white, but a Foamee, a natural food additive to create foam.

Shoestring Fries with Mentaiko Mayonnaise and Bonito Flakes 4/5

Food-wise, the menu here is quite evolved, with fine quality ingredients presented to you in ways that are inviting and ideal for sharing. There are many versions of mentaiko dishes out there, but LUMO's Shoestring Fries with Mentaiko Mayonnaise and Bonito Flakes ($12) is one of the few that left a lingering presence in my memory. It wasn't merely a task of drizzling mentaiko mayonnaise and piling a heap of bonito flakes over the fries, but the finishing touch of torching the fries that added a dimension of smokiness just brought it up to another level.

Tomatillos & Momotaro Tomatoes 2.8/5

I had mixed feelings towards the Tomatillos & Momotaro Tomatoes ($16) done tempura-style. Deep-fried in tempura batter, the juicy Tomatillos from Mexico and Momotaro Tomatoes from Japan are meant to create a tasty contrast with the crisp batter, but their juiciness was too much for the thin batter, turning them soggy.

Aged Chicken Mid-wings Aigre Doux 3.5/5

For small plates, Aged Chicken Mid-wings Aigre Doux ($17) piqued my curiosity with the word 'Aged'. Aged beef is norms, but I have yet come across aged chicken. The chicken wings are brined with saltwater and ginger for 1 day, then aged in the dry-ager for 3 days to allow the flavours to fully seep deep into the wings. To serve, they are hot smoked with applewood on the grill and then finished with a glaze made with housemade aigre doux, a sweet and tangy housemade BBQ sauce. Although I couldn't really differentiate them from an un-aged batch of marinated wings, the method of grilling them over a fire made a huge difference to their flavour.

Potato Hash, Duck Prosciutto, Homemade Sour Cream 4.5/5

This is a must-order - Potato Hash, Duck Prosciutto, Homemade Sour Cream ($15). It is blanched and deep-fried twice, every tiny potato cube was crisped with a fluffy core. What I love was the housemade duck prosciutto - cured and aged for at least 7 days, they were fatty and meaty with a luscious mouth fill.

Bone Marrow 4.2/5

Equally satisfying is the Bone Marrow ($18) with veal jus, yellow frisee and tuile. Nothing too fancy. It is cooked, torched and simply spiked with salt and pepper, it showed off the true flavour of it.

Westholme Wagyu Intercostal 4.2/5

Sakura Pork Chop, Whisky Raisin Jus 4/5

We had two excellent meat, thanks to the firewood grill - Westholme Wagyu Intercostal ($32) and Sakura Pork Chop ($34). Both were luscious with tasty, flavorful fats that had been rendered out on the firewood grill. I prefer the wagyu as the fats were more evenly distributed, which made each piece of it equally decadent. I like how the Sakura pork chop was being fanned out, showing off the beautiful layers of fats. My favourite was the fatty slices as the lean portion tend to be a tad dry.

Wood-fire Burnt Leek 4.5/5

On the menu, there is a section dedicated to vegetables. We consumed the Wood-fire Burnt Leek ($14) as we were savouring a bone marrow - served halved, within the completely charred exterior was a soft, creamy core of the leek. Slathered with savoury anchovy butter, it attained an even fuller mouth fill and texture.

Roasted Cauliflower Steak 2.5/5

On the other hand, the much anticipated Roasted Cauliflower Steak ($15) didn't quite live up to the standard of a good cauliflower steak. It was too crunchy, and the togarashi aioli was on the richer side.

Coco Maria, Hazelnut Mousse, Feuilletine 3.5/5

For dessert, we had Coco Maria, Hazelnut Mousse, Feuilletine ($16) served with apple mint celery sorbet. The chocolate and hazelnut components were delightful. The sphere consists of a few layers - Roasted hazelnut at the centre, encased with hazelnut praline ganache, followed by chocolate mousse. Covered with a chocolate glaze, having it was like enjoying a gigantic Rocher.

Classic Apple Pie 3/5

We also had a Classic Apple Pie ($16) served with vanilla gelato and rum raisins. The apple pie itself was really delicious with sweet-tangy apple filling. It could have been even more enjoyable if the gelato was a lot creamier.

During the circuit breaker measure period where food establishments are not allow to accept dine-in customers, LUMO has put together a menu for takeaway and self collection during this period. Call or WhatsApp at 8921 3818, 45 minutes in advance before collection.

Words and photos 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.


LUMO Bar and Restaurant
CMO Building
50 South Bridge Road
#01-00
Singapore 058682
Tel: +65 89213818
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 53pm - 2am
Fri-Sat: 530pm - 3am
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the street. Walk to Carpenter Street. Walk down the street and turn right onto South Bridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Cicada @ Clarke Quay - Modern Asian Cuisine With Cocktails On Tap

Cicada is a newly opened restaurant at Clarke Quay that offers cocktail on tap and Asian-inspired dishes using Western culinary techniques. Unlike the restaurants in the area, Cicada stood out with its lush and greenery interior with softwood furniture.

Cicada Sling

Iced Kopi

We started our dinner with a couple of cocktails from the tap to go along with the small bites. From the tap, we kickstarted the diner with Cicada Sling ($18) and Iced Kopi ($18). Both are light and easy drinks that will ease one into the night. The other cocktails available on the tap are Quayside Aperol Spritz, Fennicillin, Thai Collins, Chocolate Mojito and Farang. During happy hour, the cocktails are going at $15 per glass instead of $18.

Truffled Edamame 3.5/5

Beer Battered White Bait 4/5

For small bites, we had the Truffled Edamame ($9) and Beer Battered White Bait ($12). While the truffle gives the edamame a beautiful scent, it doesn't get infused with the beans inside. Hence I doubt it is necessary to add truffle to it unless one eats the skin. Or else lightly seasoned with salt is sufficient. As for the beer-battered whitebait, topped with wasabi snow is very addictive. I could not stop going back for me.

Smokin' Dumplin's Foie Gras 3.5/5

An interesting take of the Chinese dumpling is Cicada's version of Smokin' Dumplin's served in an encased jar filled with applewood smoke. It comes in 3 stuffing options, Truffle Foie Gras ($22), Truffled Mushroom ($14) and Pork and Mushroom ($14). The dumpling skin is replaced with a crepe skin to house the stuffing in it. I didn't enjoy the dumpling because the crepe skin becomes soggy from the filling inside. However, I feel that this will be acceptable for Westerners for the innovative take of the traditional Chinese dumpling.

Cicada's Nori Tacos 4/5

The Cicada's Nori Tacos ($14) comes in trio with a crispy nori shell. Available in three flavours, they are Salmon Belly Cubes with Japanese Pickles ($14), Korean Beef Bulgogi with Kimchi Slaw ($14) and Pan Seared Foie Gras with Peanut Sauce, Pickled Cucumbers ($18). This is not the first time I have eaten such interpretation, but I really enjoy the fusion of the vibrant flavours.

Cicada's BaoBao Trio 3.5/5

If you not into tacos, there is an oriental interpretation of the slider using steamed mantou. Cicada's BaoBao Trio comes in 3 delightful flavours. They are Crispy Prawn Kakiage with Wasabi Mayonnaise ($14), Chicken Katsu with Rojak Salad ($12) and Aubergine & Mushroom with Teriyaki Mayonnaise ($12). Once again, these dishes are not new, but I applauded the thoughtfulness behind the sauce pairing for each ingredient.

Char-Grilled Spatchcock 4/5

For the mains, we have the Char-Grilled Spatchcock ($42) which is suitable for up to 4 people. Weighing around 800g, the bird is marinated with a middle eastern spice rub. Nothing fancy in the cooking, allowing the full appreciation of the tender meat with a subtle aroma of the spices. It comes with cherry tomatoes, potato gratin, sauteed mushroom and rojak salad as accompanying sides.

Grilled Vegetables Platter 4/5

For the vegetarians or you still want some vegetables for your meal, there is the Grilled Vegetable Platter ($35) that comprises of Impossible Meatballs, Sweet Corn, US Jumbo Asparagus, Shiitake Mushrooms, Cherry Tomatoes, Baby Carrots, Baby Potatoes and Sundried Tomato Pesto.

Oriental Braised Duck Leg 4/5

Among the dishes, the Oriental Braised Duck Leg ($24) is one of my favourites. The duck leg is cooked to tender, absorbing the sweet, savoury five-spice duck jus. Though I find the sauce is on the sweet side, it may be my own preference. This is paired with crispy yam balls, the classic duck and yam pairing in Chinese cuisine.

Sakura Ebi Capellini 4.2/5

My favourite goes to the Sakura Ebi Capellini ($22). Each mouthful of the springy capellini is filled
with the strong crustacean flavour, complemented by the toppings of sakura ebi, bonito flakes and shredded nori.

Purple Sweet Potato Panna Cotta 3/5

Moving to the desert, we began with the colourful Purple Sweet Potato Panna Cotta ($12). Aside from the vibrant plating of mixed fresh fruits, the panna cotta was a letdown. Instead of being smooth and silky, it turned out to be a mousse-like texture.

Cicada's Chendol 4/5

I am actually quite surprised with Cicada's Chendol ($12) that comes with a scoop of coconut ice cream. It hits the spot with the fragrant coconut milk and gula melaka, which to me is the deciding factors of a good bowl of chendol. The grass jelly is rather weird for chendol, but I am not complaining as I thought it gives the dessert extra textural enjoyment.

Yam Mille Feuille 4.2/5

I find the Yam Mille Feuille ($12) a creative creation that reminds one of the Chinese Orh Nee dessert. In between the layers of crispy pastry are fragrant yam paste, paired with coconut ice cream on the side.

Sticky Date Pudding 3/5

The Sticky Date Pudding ($14) with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream, unfortunately, was too sweet for me. That aside, the sticky date pudding is moist and flavourful. I have to admit I don't have a sweet tooth. Hence this is hard for me to finish.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Cicada
Clarke Quay
Block 3C River Valley Road
#01-10
Singapore 179022
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Fort Canning (DT Line), Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Wed: 5pm - 11pm
Thu-Sat: 5pm - 1am

Direction:
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 river front. Turn left and walk down the river. Cross the bridge. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]