Les Bouchons @ Rochester Park - New Hot Destination For Classic Steak Frites, French Classics & Wines In The West

Les Bouchons, well known for its classic and value-for-money steak frites and French cuisine, has opened its latest outlet in the west. The restaurant is located in a two-storey heritage black and white bungalow built in the 1940s, surrounded by the serene and lush greenery of Rochester Park.

French Heirloom Beetroot Salad 4.8/5

With the opening of its latest outlet at Rochester, it has introduced several exclusive new dishes, such as the French Heirloom Beetroot Salad ($17). These beetroots are deliciously fruity, not those earthy tasting beetroots that I have eaten. On top of that, it has a delectable crunchy texture that is very enjoyable.

Terrine de Foie Gras "Maison" 4/5

The Terrine de Foie Gras "Maison" ($26) is another exclusive dish at the new outlet. It is served with onion chutney and toast. I am not sure about the others on the table, but I find having the terrine with toast weird. I prefer pairing it with the complimentary bread.

French Ceps Soup with Truffle Oil 3.8/5

It was a rainy day when I visited Les Bouchons. Hence the French Ceps Soup with Truffle Oil ($16) is a timely entree warming the body in the cold weather. Each spoonful came with an intense mushroomy flavour, but I thought it was rather heavy on the salt. In addition, I didn't find the use of truffle oil is necessary.

Grilled Sirloin Wagyu 4.8/5

The highlight at Les Bouchons has to be their mains. Making a grand entrance with its beautiful marbling is the Grilled Sirloin Wagyu ($78) cooked perfectly to medium-rare. Just a touch of salt at the side to appreciate the flavoursome piece of meat. There is no need for any sauce to enjoy the quality Japanese Hokkaido Black Wagyu MB +6/7.

Extra Tender Angus Beef Filet 4.8/5

Next, we have the Extra Tender Angus Beef Filet ($50). It is leaner compared to the wagyu, bursting with beefy jus of its own. It is not interior to the wagyu but up to the individual's preference for their steak. Fans like me that prefer more bite in their steak would choose the Angus beef filet over the grilled sirloin wagyu.

Poulet aux 40 Gousses d'Ail 4.5/5

Besides the beef, Les Bouchons does a very good Poulet aux 40 Gousses d'Ail ($32). I was secretly happy to be served the traditional 40 garlic roasted chicken. A dish I have not eaten for a long time. I reminded the last time I had it was many years ago at a friend's gathering. The chicken flavoured by the lovely aroma of garlic and rosemary was tender and juicy. I would highly recommend wiping up the delicious sauce with the bread too.

Truffle Brie "Maison" 50g 4/5

Round up with some cheese and crackers to complete the meal and enjoy the selection of wines available at the restaurant. It has a list of approximately 100 labels, including old and new world, rare and vintage selections, with 80% from France, ensuring that there is something to imbibe at any time of the day.

Double Chocolate Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream 4/5

You will not get wrong with the Double Chocolate Lava Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream ($15) for desserts. Crusty on the exterior and molten inside, the chocolatey goodness is complemented by the creaminess of the vanilla ice cream, cutting through the richness.

Ile Flottante 4.2/5

Also known as the floating island is the Ile Flottante ($13). Floating in the tall glass is a meringue in creme anglaise. It was my first time having such an interesting dessert, and I enjoyed it. It felt like having ice cream in a creamy sauce.

Creme Brulee 4.2/5

Last but not least, we have the Creme Brulee ($13) that comes with a layer of crackling caramelised sugar atop a rich custard base infused with a hint of orange zest.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Les Bouchons Rochester
10 Rochester Park
Rochester Commons
Singapore 139221
Tel: +65 69048972
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Buona Vista (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Thu: 12pm - 2pm, 6pm - 10pm
Fri: 12pm - 2pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Buona Vista MRT station. Take Exit C. Take the sheltered walkway and walk towards Star Vista. Turn left onto Rochester Drive. Walk to junction of Rochester Drive and Vista Exchange Green. Turn right onto Vista Exchange Green. Walk to junction of Vista Exchange Green and Rochester Park. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Burger & Lobster @ Raffles Hotel Singapore - Rekindle Your Romance This Valentine's Day With Exclusive Course Menu

This Valentine's Day, treat you and your loved one with an exclusive three-course sharing menu at Burger & Lobster, their Raffles Hotel Singapore restaurant. Available from 11 to 15 February 2021, their Valentines Menu is available at $138 for two (excluding drinks).

Pan Seared Scallops 4/5

To start the meal, we had the Pan Seared Scallops, which features plump and juicy pan-seared scallops, served with grilled asparagus, pine nuts and salad. The dish is decorated with baby radish and edible flowers.

Smoked Beetroot Salad 3.8/5

The Smoked Beetroot Salad is a vegetarian alternative of the Pan Seared Scallops, replacing the scallops with slices of juicy smoked beetroot.

The Burger & Lobster Combo 4.5/5

For the main, we tried the Burger & Lobster Combo, which consists of the Signature Mayfair Burger and half a 1.5lbs lobster (available either steamed or grilled). Done medium rare, the thick Nebraskan beef patty is exceptionally tender and juicy with rich beefy goodness. The wild Atlantic lobster is also equally good with its fresh lobster meat.

The Lobster Combo 4.5/5

Our favourite is the Lobster Combo, which comes with an Original Lobster Roll and half a 1.5lbs lobster. The lobster roll comes in a toasted brioche bun that is incredibly soft and buttery and stuffed generously with chunks of chilled lobster meat dressed in creamy Japanese mayonnaise. Slather the side serving of B&L's Lemon Garlic Butter sauce all over the roll for the ultimate indulgence.

The Wholesome Combo 3.8/5

A vegetarian alternative to the burger & lobster combo is the Wholesome Combo, which comes in a chickpea patty burger and eggplant bacon for the vegan burger, and a side of baked quinoa cake which is made from mushrooms spinach, and peas.

Chocolate, Banana & Raspberry 4/5

Round off the course meal with an indulgent dessert. The Chocolate, Banana & Raspberry features a rich flowy chocolate lava cake, served with crispy banana fritters, and drizzled with salted caramel and raspberry puree.

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.


Burger & Lobster
Raffles Hotel Singapore
Raffles Arcade
328 North Bridge Road
#01-25
Singapore 188719
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

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

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to the junction of Bras Basah Road and North Bridge Road. Cross the road. Walk down North Bridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

COMO Cuisine @ Dempsey - A Collection Of Global Cuisines Across COMO Properties And COMO Shambala

Mentioned COMO Cuisine at Dempsey, many will think that the food here is about wellness. It is actually not that. The menu at COMO Cuisine comprises of signatures dishes handpicked from across the COMO properties and COMO Shambala. It is a unique culinary journey where you can experience a collection of global cuisines sans having to get on a plane, all in one place.

Bhutanese Momos 3.5/5

We started with some Bhutanese Momos ($12++). At a glance, it looks like Chinese dumpling, but the dough is thicker, made from a combination of buckwheat flour and wheat flour. It is quite substantial, filled with pork, garlic, coriander and Szechuan pepper. I was actually disappointed that the accompanying Ezay chilli sauce did not use Bhutanese sun-dried chilli powder but Korean chilli powder which lacks the spicy kick.

Mangrove Crab Salad 4.5/5

The Mangrove Crab Salad ($24++) may look a little dull in colour but don't be deceived by it. It is a colourful firework of flavours from the fish sauce, lime juice, garlic and palm sugar. This is COMO Cuisine's interpretation of Thai Som Tum with fresh-picked mud crabs tossed in a salad of green mango, starfruit, cherry tomatoes, beansprouts, mint, coriander, Thai basil, fresh coconut slices and cashew nuts.

Spicy Prawn Relish 4/5

The Spicy Prawn Relish ($12++) is not spicy at all. It is like a bowl of chilli soup with chopped local tiger prawns and grilled corns. What is more interesting is the accompanying starfruit, guava, cucumber crudites and house-made rice crackers for dipping into the relish.

Golden Beetroot 4/5

A clean and delicious tasting dish is the Golden Beetroot ($20++). The heirloom beetroot is roasted in oil and vinegar, and served with Australian goat's feta cheese and finished with poppy seed dressing.

Lobster Biryani 4.5/5

The Lobster Biryani ($48++) really comes as a surprise for me. I thought COMO cuisine is all about the western fare, but this really was unexpected. I like how it is cooked with a house-made naan covering the bowl of basmati rice, locking in all the flavours. On the side, we have raita and guava pomegranate salad, for a balanced diet.

Tandoor Cauliflower 4.2/5

I guess COMO Cuisine never failed to surprise me with the Tandoor Cauliflower ($22++). I mean who will skewered chunks of cauliflower and roasted them in tandoor oven. What brings the dish together is the lemon dressing, giving it the needed acidity on top of the smokiness.

Pappardelle 4.2/5

Freshly made daily is the Pappardelle ($30++) that is cooked to a beautiful al dente bite. I love my pasta saucy and hence the duck ragout was a match in heaven for me. This is further topped with radicchio, basil and shaved pecorino.

Lamb Shank Massaman 4.5/5

Another beautiful dish on the menu is the Lamb Shank Massaman ($45++) served with naan bread and lightly pickled pineapple and cucumber. The lamb shank is cooked to fork-tender, falling off the bone with ease. It is so good that I could not stop going back for more naan to mop up the sauce.

Rich Chocolate Cake 4.2/5

The Rich Chocolate Cake ($14++) is COMO Cuisine's take on the chocolate florentine. The tart base is made from digestive biscuits and then covered with Michel Cluizel 70% chocolate. It is then served with rum-marinated cherries, fresh berries, coffee caramel, mascarpone chantilly infused vanilla bean and edible gold leaf.

Mocha Soft Serve 4/5

Subject to daily flavour, we had the Mocha Soft Serve ($10++). Who can resist a soft, creamy and refreshing soft served to wrap up dinner? It actually tastes like milo soft serve.

Jackfruit Pudding 4.2/5

Another beautiful dessert on the menu is the Jackfruit Pudding ($14++). The soft and moist ginger jackfruit pudding is served warm and topped with fresh jackfruit, passionfruit and coconut slivers. This is complemented by a scoop of house-made jaggery ice cream

Note: This is an invited tasting.


COMO Cuisine
Dempsey Hill
Block 18A Dempsey Road
Singapore 249677
Tel: 1800 3046688
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Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Holland Village (CC Line), Farrer Road (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Breakfast
Mon-Fri: 8am - 12pm
Lunch
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 3pm
Afternoon Menu
Daily: 3pm - 6pm
Dinner
Sun-Thu: 6pm - 10pm
Fri-Sat, PH: 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop along Orchard Boulevard (Stop ID 09022). Take bus number 7, 77, 106, 123 or 174. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to Dempsey Road. Walk to the round about near block 17 and 18. Walk to destination. Journey time 30 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop at Block 12 (Stop ID 11401). Take bus 106. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to Dempsey Road. Walk to the round about near block 17 and 18. Walk to destination. Journey time 20 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Farrer Road MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Farrer Road MRT station (Stop ID 11119). Take bus number 174 or 564. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Dempsey Road. Walk to the round about near block 17 and 18. Walk to destination. Journey time 20 minutes. [Map]

Maggie Joan's Dining & Bar @ Amoy Street - From Mediterranean To Modern European Flair & Finesse

Maggie Joan's Dining & Bar celebrates its third anniversary with a new chef on board, revamped menus and refreshed interiors. Chef Seumas Smith is actually not new. He is the former head chef at Moosehead, sister restaurant of Maggie Joan's. Taken the role of Group Executive Chef, he now fronts the kitchen at Maggie Joan's.

House-baked Sourdough with Smoked Beef Fat Butter 4/5

Dinner started with some warm House-baked Sourdough ($4). Besides the fluffy bread and delightful crust, what I adore is the smoked beef fat butter that goes so well with it.

Shiso Tempura 3/5

Light and crispy is the Shiso Tempura ($3 each). The fresh shiso leaf is coated with a light tempura batter and deep fried. The dollops of taramasalata is a blend of mentaiko, sourdough bread, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice, that adds colours (flavours) to the dish.

Burrata 3.5/5

This is probably the most beautiful plated Burrata ($21) I have eaten. It comes with garden peas, sugar snap peas, preserved lemon, olive oil, breadcrumbs, pea shoots and garlic flowers. The combination works for me, brightening the enjoyment of the burrata. However I find the burrata not as creamy as those I have eaten.

Hamachi Crudo 4/5

Swimming in a pool of almond sauce is the Hamachi Crudo ($17). It is topped with pickled wakame, edamame, mint leaves and trout roe. Unfortunately I felt it lacked something zesty to liven up the dish, for the fish to come alive.

Beetroot 3.5/5

The Beetroot ($17) is done two ways - barbecued in charcoal oven and pickled in a solution of red wine vinegar. wine and sugar. The burnt honey dressing helps to balance the earthy taste of the beetroot while I like how the candied walnut provides the needed boost in texture and flavours.

Barramundi 4/5

The Barramundi ($34) is pan seared until the skin is crispy and paired with a creamy parsley nage sauce. You can also find mussels swimming in the pool of cream sauce. What interests me is the sauteed cavelo nero in olive oil, I seldom gets to eat this variety of kale in my dishes.

Spiced Lamb 4.5/5

My favourite dish for the dinner goes to the Spiced Lamb ($44). The lamb loin is rubbed with a spice mix of toasted and ground sumac, cumin and dried coriander. This really perfumed the tender piece of lamb is beautifully melded with the aroma of the spices, making me drool even before it reached my mouth.

Roasted Carrots 4.2/5

This is probably the most delicious carrot I have eaten. The carrots have been confit in butter before being grilled in charcoal oven. This results in the Roasted Carrots ($10) having a delightful texture with a hint of smokiness, on top of its sweetness.

Duroc Pork Chop 4.5/5

Sourced from a boutique farm in Spain, the Duroc Pork Chop ($42) comes from pigs that are fed on olives. The meat is tender with good fat marbling. The chef even added pork crackling for that extra textural enjoyment.

Blackberries, Yogurt, Sorbet & Shiso 4/5

Coconut Panna Cotta 4/5

The sight of the dessert - Blackberries, Yogurt, Sorbet & Shiso ($12) did not appeal to me. I thought the dish looks messy. You really can't judge a book by its cover, the dessert turns up surprisingly good with the different components coming together, striking a balance for a sweet finish. The Coconut Panna Cotta ($12) on the other hand is a light and refreshing dessert to end the dinner.

Petit Fours 4.2/5

Diners at Maggie Joan's will get a complimentary Petit Fours at the end of the meal. Comes its a metal tin, diners will find Salted Caramel Chocolate Sable in it. This is really yummy.

While the new savoury dishes at Maggie Joan's has been rejuvenated with  a new chef on board what caught my attention is the dessert menu. Having dine here a few times, I noticed the vast improvement in the dessert. I was right when I checked with the restaurant, they have a new pastry chef on board.

Note: This is an invited tasting.



Maggie Joan's Dining & Bar
110 Amoy Street
#01-01
Singapore 069930
(Entrance from Gemmill Lane)
Tel: +65 62215564
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 11pm
Sat: 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Cross Street towards Amoy Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Take the side lane beside the shop house and walk to the back. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2)  Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Follow the covered walkway to the junction of Mccallum Street, Telok Ayer and Amoy Street. Turn left at the junction onto Amoy Street. Continue on Amoy Street to the end of the road. Take the side lane beside lane at the end of Amoy Street to the back. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Moosehead Kitchen-Bar @ Telok Ayer Street - New Head Chef Seumas SmithTakes The Helm

One of my favourite restaurants, Mooseead Kitchen-Bar is into its third year and at the same time welcomes its new head chef, Chef Seumas Smith who is only 24 years old. He maybe young but under his belt, he has worked at 1-Michelin star Lords of the Manor and 2-Michelin star Dinner by Heston and Esquina in Singapore.

Beetroot 4.2/5

Some people may no t like the earthly flavour of the Beetroot ($14) but you would not get it here. The clever use of spicy ponzu, feta and sumac yoghurt help to balance and mask off the earthly taste. The addition of pomegranate and crushed almonds provided the extra crunch to the dish.

Fried Artichokes 3.5/5

The Fried Artichokes ($15) comes with house made ricotta, garlic aioli, almonds, radishio salad, water cress and pickled lemons. It is a good dish and I like the play of flavours coming together but I was just slightly confused which is the star, the artichokes or ricotta? Cause I remembered I was wiping clean the ricotta with the pickled lemons, enjoying how the chemistry of the two ingredients come together.

Cauliflower 4.2/5

The Grilled Cauliflower ($14) or what we called the vegetarian steak is charcoal grilled via Inka oven to a robust smokey flavour. What mae the dish even more enjoyable is the garlic miso dressing that elevated the whole dimension rounded of with some sesame seeds and spring onions.

Roasted Asparagus 4/5

Topped with shaved parmesan, the Roasted Asparagus ($20) is once again grilled in the Inka oven for a delectable crunchiness with the toasted buckwheat providing the extra texture, finished with a light mushroom dashi puree.

Chargrilled Broccolini 3.8/5

Another vegetable dish on the menu is the Chargrilled Broccolini ($9). What stole my heart on this dish is the delicious hoisin mayo. I could not really describe it but it is one of those thing that you know it will work well with almost any ingredients. I was secretly hoping that our Chinese cuisine could learnt a thing or two in the sauce and use it in our dishes. It will bring a new taste to the dining table.

Bone Marrow, Anchovy, Sourdough 4/5

Some people may find Bone Marrow a bit fatty and dislike the creamy texture. The version at Moosehead is spread over a piece of sourdough together with the savoury anchovy mixed with chopped capers, baby gherkins, diced shallot, pickled lemon and parsley. The combination worked beautifully together, customers will not be able to tell that they are having bone marrow.

Pork Belly 3.5/5

The slow cooked Pork Belly ($31) is brushed with spiced caramel (szechuan pepper, star anise, cinnamon) and chargrilled before being served with baby turnips and kale. While I don't have complain with the slab of pork belly, I felt the dish lack the multi senses experience as compared to the other dishes I have tried.

Beef Cheek 4.2/5

While the pork belly did not quite satisfy me, the Beef Cheek ($32) was the opposite. I was blown away by how flavourful and tender the braised beef cheek was, it literally melted in the mouth. The wild mushrooms and the mash, played the role of supporting actors excellently too.

Bone Marrow Mash Potato 4.5/5

You know you should not eat too much of it but I was not able to control myself to go back for more of it. The Bone Marrow Mash Potato ($9) was very addictive. Besides butter, bone marrow was added into the recipe for the unami result.

Almond Cake 4/5

The Almond Cake ($10) comes with yuzu creme fraiche. What I like about the cake is the nutty crunchy bits that comes with each bite of the moist cake.

Roasted White Pear 4.5/5

The Roasted White Pear ($12) is one of my favourite dessert in the new menu. The roasted nashi pears was poached in syrup, cinnamon, star anise and vanilla. The sweetness of the poached pear paired with the tangy citrus yoghurt harmoniously for a perfect ending to a lovely night.


Moosehead Kitchen - Bar
110 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068579
Tel: +65 66368055
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line)

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

Direction:
1) Aligh at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Telok Ayer Street. Journey time about 1 minutes. [Map]