Seafood Paradise @ VivoCity - The Very First Dining Concept Of Paradise Group Reopens At VivoCity

Seafood Paradise has reopened at VivoCity. You can enjoy some of their signature creations at 50% off from 12 April to 9 May!

Creamy Butter Crab topped with Coconut Crumbs 4/5

Some of the innovative dishes unique to Seafood Paradise and have remained ever popular include this Creamy Butter Crab topped with Coconut Crumbs ($9.50 per 100g). Heavily rich in butter and cream, the sauce is made fresh daily using aromatics such as curry leaves, white pepper, lemongrass and chilli padi. I feel it can outshine its counterpart Chilli Crab, but only if there was a depth of savouriness to balance the sweetness of the sauce.

Singapore Style Chilli Crab 4.5/5

Hence, Seafood Paradise’s rendition of the Singapore Style Chilli Crab ($9.50 per 100g) works better for my taste buds. The sauce was robust with a fiery kick, balanced with a slight sweetness.

Poached Live Tiger Prawn with Chinese Herb 4.5/5

My favourite dish of the evening was this Poached Live Tiger Prawn with Chinese Herb in Superior Stock ($29/300g, $41/450g, $53/600g). The superior stock is simmered with various Chinese herbs, rice wine and Hua Diao wine for more than three hours. Every sip of the broth was comforting for the drunken prawn dish.

Crispy Kang Kong topped with Cuttlefish 4.5/5

Another innovative creation that is evergreen is the Crispy Kang Kong topped with Cuttlefish in Homemade Seafood Sauce ($15.80 S, $22.80 M, $30.80 L). The fried kang kong leaf was amazingly light and crisp, and the slices of cuttlefish were pleasingly tender. To bind the ingredients together, served alongside is a special sauce made with hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, sweet Thai chilli sauce and sesame oil.

Steamed Dragon Tiger Grouper with Preserved Turnip 4.5/5

Another family favourite is the Steamed Dragon Tiger Grouper with Preserved Turnip ($9 per 100g). What makes this dish so memorable is the moreish bits of deep-fried preserved turnip that provides crunch and a depth of flavour to the grouper's sweet flesh. Akin to bacon bits on potatoes, it just turns every other thing delicious!

Baked Pork Belly Rib 3/5

To complement your seafood dishes, you can also try their Baked Pork Belly Rib with Honey Pepper Sauce ($8.90/pc). I would recommend having at least 2 to share this humongous piece of rib.

Deep-fried Cheese Bacon Roll 3/5

Some contemporary dishes such as this Deep-fried Cheese Bacon Roll ($12.80 for 4pc) are ideal dishes to have if you have beers to start the meal.

A dessert to end off a heavy meal would be the mildly sweet and sour Chilled Lemongrass Jelly in Lemonade and Sour Plum Juice ($5.80).

To celebrate its reopening, the restaurant is holding a month-long promotion: 50% Off Nostalgic dishes.

-Week 1, 12 April to 18 April: Signature Creamy Butter Sri Lankan Crab topped with Coconut Crumbs* (Limited to two crab redemptions per table per bill)

-Week 2, 19 April to 25 April: Boston Lobster tossed with Salted Egg Yolk* (Limited to two lobster redemptions per table per bill)

-Week 3, 26 April to 2 May: Steamed Dragon Tiger Grouper with Preserved Turnip* (Limited to one fish redemption per table per bill)

-Week 4, 3 May to 9 May: Poached Tiger Prawn in Superior Stock with Chinese Herbs* (Limited to one order redemption per table per bill)

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.


Seafood Paradise
VivoCity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#01-53
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 62210159
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: HarbourFront (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sat-Sun & PH: 1030am - 330pm, 6pm - 1030pm

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

Barossa Bar & Grill @ Vivocity - New Outlet Offering Dazzling Array Of Josper Oven-grilled Dishes

Barossa Bar & Grill latest outlet at Vivocity offers an entirely different experience from its Esplanade branch. The new Vivocity outlet focuses on dry-aged Australian beef and Josper oven-grilled lamb, poultry and seafood dishes. It serves only the highest quality and carefully sourced meats from Australian farms.

Ah Hua Kelong's Tiger Prawn 4.5/5

Our dinner started with the locally farmed Ah Hua Kelong's Tiger Prawn ($26). Three huge and meaty charcoal-grilled prawns rest atop a bed of charred kale, shio kombu garlic beurre noisette and pickled onion.

Barossa Steak Tartare 4/5

After the hot appetiser, we moved on to the cold appetiser featuring Barossa Steak Tartare ($26) consisting of smoked oyster aioli, ponzu jelly, pickled red onion, wasabi zuke, egg yolk and crisp bread.

Australia Full Blood Wagyu Ribeye MS7/8 (300g) 4.2/5

Not to be missed is the steak at Barossa that has been dry-aged for around 25 days to 50 days subjecting to the type of cuts. Grilled using the Josper charcoal oven, the Australia Full Blood Wagyu Ribeye MS7/8 ($98) is tender and juicy with a golden-brown crust. It has a deep buttery, caramelised flavour developed through the dry-ageing process.

Australia Premium 50-day Dry Aged Porterhouse (600g) 4/5

Great for sharing is the Australia Premium 50-day Dry Aged Porterhouse ($138). Though the porterhouse is not intensely flavoured compare to the Australia Full Blood Wagyu Ribeye, it has its own character with a more meaty texture bite that has its own fans. Each beef dish at Barossa is served with garlic confit and a choice of sauce. The sauces include Whisky Double Mustard, Chimichurri, Tarragon Bearnaise, Red Wine Bordelaise and Truffle Brown Jus.

Grilled U.S. Asparagus with Bearnaise 4/5

Sauteed Rosemary Field Mushroom 4.2/5

Barossa Macaroni & Cheese with Smoked Bacon 4.2/5

You can also order some sides to go along with the steaks. We tried the Grilled U.S. Asparagus with Bearnaise ($12), Sauteed Rosemary Field Mushroom ($12) and Barossa Macaroni & Cheese with Smoked Bacon ($8). I could not really pinpoint, which is my favourite as they are all excellent sides to go with the beautiful steaks.

Ora King Salmon "The Wagyu of Salmon"

Iberico Pork T-Bone Chop $32

For the non-beef eater, not to worry there are other Josper oven-grilled dishes such as the Ora King Salmon "The Wagyu of Salmon" ($35) and Iberico Pork T-Bone Chop ($32). The New Zealand king salmon is cooked to a beautiful pink, succulent and richly flavoured with a crispy skin. The pork chop fares as well too. With its lovely marbling, diners will get to appreciate the tenderness as well as the nutty-sweet flavour.

Jasmine Infused Smoked Fig Mochi Cake

Moving to the desserts, we had the Jasmine Infused Smoked Fig Mochi Cake ($18) and Frozen Dark Chocolate Whiskey Souffle ($18). The Jasmine Infused Smoked Fig Mochi Cake has a delectable chewy texture accompanied by jasmine white chocolate ganache and passion fruit gel.

Frozen Dark Chocolate Whiskey Souffle

As for the Frozen Dark Chocolate Whiskey Souffle, it comes with a wonderful medley of fresh berries, chocolate pearls and spiced crumble.

Diners seeking value for money meal will not be disappointed with the 3-course weekday set lunch starting from $28. To celebrate its opening, Barossa Vivocity has 50% off its second mains from 20 November to 6 December 2020. On top of that, it has free corkage on Mondays and Tuesdays till 31 December 2020.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Barossa Bar & Grill
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#01-161/162
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 62551855
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 11pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbourfront MRT Station. Take Exit C & E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Brotzeit @ Vivocity - Celebrating Oktoberfest In Singapore

While Oktoberfest has been cancelled in the hometown of Munich, and we can't travel to Germany to celebrate one of the largest folk festivals in the world, let Brotzeit brings the celebration to Singapore from 15 September to 25 October 2020.

What is Oktoberfest without beer, right? In Munich, only six breweries have the honour of serving Oktoberfest beer. For this year Oktoberfest, Brotzeit has specially imported the Oktoberfest brew from one of the six: Hofbrau, founded by William V, Duke of Bavaria in 1589 which is still a traditional Bavarian-run brewery today.

Crispy Pork Cracklings 4.2/5

Crispy Fried Pig Ears 3.5/5

We had some snack bites to go with the beer. We tried the Crispy Pork Cracklings ($6) and Crispy Fried Pig Ears ($12). I enjoyed the pork skin for its crispiness and seasoning. As for the pig ears, I felt the seasoning was a bit lacking. It would be more enjoyable if the batter is more heavily seasoned though it is accompanied with mustard chilli dip at the side.

Preserved and Smoked Spreads 4.2/5

The Preserved and Smoked Spreads is an interesting platter that is to be eaten like a Korean bbq. You take a piece of romaine lettuce, spread it with the choice of duck confit, chicken truffle or smoked trout, and finally add some salt pretzel, wrap and eat it. It is quite a new and interesting way to appreciate German cuisine in this way.

Cold Roast Pork 4.5/5

Moving on we have the Cold Roast Pork ($16) which comes with pork collar marinated overnight in Brotzeit's 12-spice pork knuckle mix, pickled beer radish, mustard chilli sauce and crispy pork skin. This is a dish that reminds Chef Lorenz of his grandma, who always prepared cold roast meats with apricots for him after school. It seems like a start dish but its really substantial. I enjoyed everything on the plate, which is very appetising.

Giant Pretzel with Farmer Sausage 4.5/5

I have eaten pretzel, but not a Giant Pretzel ($28) sandwiched with red cabbage, pickles, mustard and farmer sausage. This is good for 2-3 people. It is really hearty and comforting. I would highly recommend ordering this.

Crispy Roasted Pork Shoulder 4.2/5

Value for money dish on the Oktoberfest menu is the Crispy Roasted Pork Shoulder ($45) which comes with Autumn vegetables and potato dumplings. The fork-tender pork shoulder comes with a layer of extremely crispy skin, that echoes a thundering crackle with every bite. The accompanying fluffy potato dumplings and vegetables provide a delightful textural and flavour contrast.

Roasted Pig Liver 4.8/5

An acquire dish on the menu is the Roasted Pig Liver ($26). Either you love it or hate it. I didn't know German cuisine has this dish on the menu. Though it is cooked using the Western technique with a blend of mustard and paired with poached apples, it tastes similar to the Asian way of cooking pig liver. I am really surprised and excited that pig liver can be prepared this way. If you are adventurous enough, you should really try it.

Battered Fried Apple Wheels 4/5

Wrapping up the meal is the Battered Fried Apple Wheels ($11). The Fiji apple is coated in a light beer batter and dusted with sugar and cinnamon. It has a delightful crunch complemented by a scoop of rich vanilla ice cream.

I really enjoyed the new Oktoberfest menu created by recently joined Group Executive Chef Lorenz Raich. He brings with him a wealth of culinary experience in highly lauded boutique venues, famous Michelin-starred restaurants as well as five-star hotels. For the new menu, he has brought a touch of finesse to the traditional dishes.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Brotzeit
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#01-149/151
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 62728815
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 1030pm

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

Sushi Goshin @ Vivocity - Japanese Dining With Value-For-Money Set Meals And Free-Flow Japanese Salad Bar

Nestled within the basement of Vivocity is Sushi Goshin - a casual Japanese dining concept which offers a variety of charcoal-grilled dishes, sushi, sashimi and other ala carte items. They have recently launched a new menu with affordable set meals (which include rice or other options like cauliflower rice, garlic fried rice, or tonkotsu ramen) from $15.80 onwards, and comes with free-flow Japanese salad bar as well.

Be prepared to be spoilt for choice at their salad bar, which has 25 different items served daily. Not just limited to plain ol' lettuce and greens when it comes to 'salad', expect a variety of appetisers such as the Tuna Pasta Salad, Sweet Potato Salad and Soba Salad to satisfy your carb cravings.

Opt for the Kimchi Salad for a kick of spice. For something lighter, go for the Braised Raddish & Carrot Salad or the Harusame Salad. We loved the Kani Coleslaw, drenched in a light creamy mayo dressing that gives a subtle sweetness to the mix of crunchy fine-shredded raw cabbage and crab meat.

Yaki Tonbara 4/5

One of our favourite dishes is the Yaki Tonbara ($16.80). The grilled Irish pork belly has a tender, melt-in-your-mouth consistency with an excellent meat to fats ratio. Braised in a signature rich sweet and savoury sauce, the flavourful chashu is perfect to go with your bowl of rice or ramen.

Goshi Torin 4/5

We had the Goshi Torin ($15.80) which features tender, juicy pieces of grilled chicken marinated with signature seasoning.

Salmon Mentai 3/5

The only gripe I would have is the Salmon Mentai ($22.80) as the salmon trout served was slightly dry, lathered with an equally dry homemade mentaiko sauce that did little to enhance its flavours.

Soft Shell Crab Nadare 3.8/5

The Soft Shell Crab Nadare (16.80) consists of a soft shell crab avalanche which yielded commendable crispiness on the exterior while being soft and juicy within.

Unagi Tamago 4/5, Ebi Mentai 3.8/5, Aburi Salmon Cheese 4/5, Aburi Wagyu 4.2/5

For the sushi selection, we had the Unagi Tamago ($4.20), Ebi Mentai ($4.20), Aburi Salmon Cheese ($2.40), and Aburi Wagyu ($12). The well-conceived combo of the soft tender unagi, fluffy tamago and crunchy cucumber slices gave a multi-dimensional mouthfeel to the Unagi Tamago sushi. While the Aburi Wagyu had a decadent mouthfeel, as the thinly-sliced wagyu meat wrapped around the rice boasts a smoky, tender and slightly chewy texture, which just melts in your mouth.

With affordable lunch sets starting from $15.80, which comes with a side of rice/ramen and free-flow salad bar, Sushi Goshin is definitely the go-to-spot for a fulfilling Japanese meal on a budget.

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.


Sushi Goshin
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#B2-28
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 63769972
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (NE Line, CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am -10pm

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

HANS IM GLUCK @ Vivocity - Get Thrice As Lucky With Their Brand New Menu Of Grill-ty Pleasures

German Burgergill originating from Munich, HANS IM GLUCK is known for its gourmet burger concept and creating burgers that are unique, healthy and delicious. Together with German draft beers and cocktail mixology, diners get to enjoy a mystical "dining in the woods" experience sitting amongst birch trees and oak furniture.

Entering into its third year in Singapore, the restaurant launches a completely refreshed menu in October, featuring 10 new burgers across the different patty categories, including two new vegan burgers with a plant-based patty, and vegan cheese, a first in Singapore. Following the introduction of its new burgers, HANS IM GLUCK now has the most extensive vegan and vegetarian burger selection in town boasting over 16 different options to choose from.

KRAFTPAKET 4/5

Bite into the juicy beef patty of the KRAFTPAKET ($17++), which comes enveloped in a beautiful black pepper crust to complement the beef flavours, and wonderfully blends the two complementary tastes. Round it off with strips of crispy bacon and a sunny side-up egg.

LANDGOCKEL 3.8/5

Another new addition is their LANDGOCKEL ($17++) which marries a perfectly grilled tender and juicy chicken breast with mushrooms, giving the burger a woody, earthy flavour. Topped it off with a sunny side up egg with a runny yolk to meld all the elements together.

From the thirst quencher selection, we had their Original Raspberry Basil which mixes the sweet-sour flavour of the raspberry with the peppery notes of basil for a refreshing drink. The Eistee Forest Berry & Cucumber is a different take on the classic ice lemon tea, featuring sweet forest berries infused with refreshing cucumber.

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.


HANS IM GLUCK
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#01-57
Singapore 098585
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu, PH: 11am - 12midnight
Fri-Sat, Eve of PH: 11am - 1am

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbourfront MRT Station. Take Exit C & E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Gram Cafe & Pancakes @ Vivocity - Iconic Souffle Pancake From Osaka Set To Puff Up A Storm In Singapore

Highly raved for its insta-worthy, wobbly, and impossibly fluffy pancakes, the famed Gram Cafe & Pancakes, hailing from Osaka, Japan is official opened in Vivocity on 16 June 2019, 1pm!

Premium Pancakes 4.5/5

Treat yourself to the Premium Pancakes ($17.90). Soft, airy and oh-so-fluffy, it comes in a towering wobbly stack of three 4cm thick souffle pancakes, complete with butter, house-made whipped cream, and a drizzle of maple syrup. Made with the same recipe used in Japan and only on premium ingredients, the souffle pancakes are slow-cooked on low heat and whipped full of air, resulting in a fluffy texture befitting of a cloud or cotton candy. A pancake connoisseur’s dream come true as the pillowy, light-as-air discs are deliciously milky and has a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

However, you may want to gear yourself up for the wait as the Premium Pancakes are professionally prepared upon receipt of order, and sales are limited to 3 times a day with 30 servings each time at 11am, 3pm and 6pm due to Gram Japan’s strict quality control rule. Each customer is limited to one Premium Pancakes order per pax, and will be given a token to collect it.

Rich Tiramisu Pancakes 3.5/5

If you're not quick enough to be in time for the limited servings of Premium Pancakes at the assigned time slots, you can console yourself with tons of other noteworthy items at Gram Cafe as well such as the Rich Tiramisu Pancakes ($15.90). However, these are not souffle pancakes, but rather, classic thin pancakes with a less fluffy and more chewy texture, inspired by the traditional Japanese dorayaki pancake. Infused with espresso, layered with rich mascarpone tiramisu cream, and dusted with cocoa powder, the Tiramisu Pancakes has a nice coffee aroma, although taste-wise, it still fares lower than its hyped-up souffle sister.

Other sweets selection include the Mixed Fruits & Chocolate Pancakes ($15.90), Caramelized Banana Pancakes ($13.90), and Coconut Custard Pancakes ($13.90).

Chilli Beans Pancakes 3.8/5

If you're not a fan of sweets, go for their savoury options such as the Chilli Beans Pancakes ($18.90), which features the same classic thin pancakes, topped with generous amounts of chilli beans sauce atop minced beef and melted cheddar cheese, and served with a side of sausage, potato and luscious salad greens.

Other savoury options include the Turkey Bacon and Scrambled Egg Pancakes ($18.90), and the Salmon and Avocado Pancakes ($19.90).

French Toast of Chocolate Banana 4/5

Not a fan of pancakes? Cram Cafe also serves the French Toast of Chocolate Banana ($15.90). Spotting a soft and fluffy texture, and a golden-brown caramelized crust, the Danish French toast is topped with fresh bananas, creamy vanilla ice cream and rich chocolate sauce. Decent but nothing extraordinary, it is quite a safe option for the less adventurous.

Other french toast options include the BLT Sandwich ($14.90++), Gram French Toast ($12.90), and Mixed Berry French Toast ($15.90).

Set to launch at a later date, fans in Singapore will get first and exclusive dibs on a special Japanese Curry pancakes creation, designed to satisfy Singaporean palates. Other upcoming creations include their convenient takeout options, such as the Strawberry Crepe Pancakes ($8.90), Premium Parfait ($10.90), Premium Tiramisu ($9.90) in a cup, and Premium to Go takeout set for dessert on the go.

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.


Gram Café & Pancakes
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#02-110
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 86666277
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

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