No Burn No Taste (NBNT) Private Dining By Chef Sam Chablani

No Burn No Taste by Chef Sam Chablani is one of the most sought-after private dining destinations. Unfortunately, getting a booking at No Burn No Taste (NBNT) is not easy. The last I checked, the waitlist was already full for 2023/2024. I have followed Sam's cooking philosophy of marrying fire-driven barbecue with a distinctly Asian perspective, combining premium produce with traditional, time-honoured techniques since his days at the now-defunct Fat Lulu.

Steamed Clams

Our dinner started with sweet Steamed Clams in an umami cream. I love the accompanying burnt garlic toast that is not only delicious but also allows me to soak up the delicious broth.

Tomatoes and Burrata

Not everything on the menu is barbecue items such as the light and refreshing Tomatos and Burrata Salad helps freshen the palate and whet the appetite.

Burnt Wings, Spicy Iberico Pork Satay

How can we not have chicken wings and satay when having a barbecue? It is torture to be seated just before the barbecue pit while the Burnt Wings and Spicy Iberico Pork Satay got kissed by the charcoal's heat.

"Porn" Corn

Corn may be a common ingredient, but I remembered how Chef Sam had transformed it into a delicacy at Fat Fuku. The "Porn" Corn grilled to a nice charred on its external was extremely sweet.

Charred Wagyu Skirt Steak MBS9

Moving to the mains, we had the Charred Wagyu Skirt MBS9 paired with Burnt Potatoes. Perfectly grilled to medium with beautiful pink tenderness and crispy charred edges, showcasing the intense marbling and rich beefy flavour.

Lychee-smoked Umami Crab, Lemon Garlic Butter

Besides the grilled chicken wings, pork satay and wagyu, our dinner includes seafood. The crowd's favourite for the night goes to the Crab, smoked with lychee wood paired with lemon garlic butter. The grilling and smoking enhanced the natural sweetness and brininess of the crustaceans while adding a hint of charred savoury notes.

Spencer Gulf King Prawns

As delicious as the crab was the Spencer Gulf King Prawns in an intoxicating burnt sambal cream sauce, topped with coriander. I was screaming for some toasted bread to dredge them in that splendour sauce.

We paid $185 per person for the 10-course Umami BBQ Omakase. It is one of the more expensive private dining I have visited. However, it differs from your usual barbecue as every dish is thoughtfully executed to elevate the appreciation of the premium ingredients as good as any restaurant's standard.


No Burn No Taste (NBNT) Private Dining
Facebook
Instagram
Website

RUBATO Restaurant @ Greenwood Avenue - A Taste Of Italy In The Neighbourhood Since 2009

Nestled in the quaint Greenwood Avenue neighbourhood is RUBATO, an Italian restaurant that has found its place since 2009. It prides itself on offering its selection of Italian food in small batches, only roasting and baking upon order. The selection is extensive, from All Day Breakfast to classic Italian starters and mains, various grilled meats, and homemade desserts.

Their Greenwood outlet has both indoor and outdoor seating, exuding a more casual, family-friendly vibe. Other establishments under them are RUBATO STEAKHOUSE @ Teck Lim Road, FESTIVO @ Mr Gallop and the soon-to-open RUBATO ITALIAN & ASIAN @ SAF Yacht Club.

Michelin Quality Burrata 4.2/5

For our first starter, we had the Michelin Quality Burrata ($62), which had a huge ball of fresh burrata sitting in the middle of the plate on rocket leaves. It was dressed in olive oil and paired with aged parma ham, fresh and semi-sundried tomatoes.

There were only 2 of us, but we polished this off. The lightly savoury burrata was incredibly creamy and perfectly matched the sweet semi-sundried tomatoes. I A dish that is good for sharing. I recommend getting some warm toasted bread to go with this!

A Gift from the Angels 4.5/5

A Gift from the Angels (from $68) was a starter we noticed every table ordered. It features chilled angel hair pasta tossed in premium white truffle oil, topped with Hokkaido scallop sashimi, kombu, and 5g of Hokkaido Bafun Uni hidden under a generous shave of truffles.

We could see the reason for its popularity, as the pasta was al dente with a lingering truffle fragrance that didn't overpower. You can opt to add another 80g portion of uni for $80. The dish is on the pricier end, but the portion was quite substantial for group sharing.

RUBATO Mixed Grilled Platter 3.8/5

We had the RUBATO Mixed Grilled Platter ($288) served to sizzling hot for mains. Alongside shaved truffles and a medley of colourful vegetables, there was a grilled rack of lamb, chicken and pork chop. The vegetables were fresh and sweet. Our favourite was the lamb which was done tender and without any gameness. The chicken and pork chop, however, were a little too tough for our liking.

Cherry Flambé 3.8/5

Our warm and friendly servers enthusiastically introduced us to one of their new boozy desserts, the Cherry Flambé. It was quite an experience watching our servers prepare this right next to our table, lighting the cherries on fire with a pour of brandy into the pan before plating it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. While we enjoyed the mix of sweet and alcoholic notes here, I wish more texture had been added, and a better quality vanilla ice cream was used.

Apart from the a la carte menu, there are a few special events to look out for at RUBATO @ Greenwood. Ladies Night runs every Wednesday from 5pm to 10.30pm, and offers diners 1-for-1 house pour wines and prosecco.

The exciting Everyday Brunch Buffet costs $68 (up to $108) per pax from 11am to 4pm daily. The menu looks exciting with fresh Canadian oysters, a range of hand-stretched pizzas and pasta, charcoal-grilled Iberico pork and a rack of lamb, and many more. You can even opt for free-flow champagne for 1.5 hours at an additional $78.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


RUBATO Restaurant
12 Greenwood Ave
Singapore 289204
Tel: +65 94248258
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Tan Kah Kee (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 2am

Direction:
1) Alight at Tan Kah Kee MRT station. Take Exit A. Use the overhead bridge to Exit B. Walk straight to Hillcrest Road. Turn right onto Hillcrest Road. Walk down Hillcrest Road and make a left into Greenwood Avenue. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Binary @ Palais Renaissance - Celebrating One Year Milestone With A Revamped Menu

Binary at Palais Renaissance is a gastro-bar that conceptualises its menu based on the concept of Binary. Presenting a single produce in both Asian and Western versions, you can choose either one flavour or even both if one intrigues you just as much as the other. One year on, Binary has recently refreshed its menu to incorporate new creations in a more considered format that better reflects its binary approach towards cuisine.

Signature Kubaneh Bread 5/5

Kubaneh is a Jewish Yemeni pull-apart bread, and what we had was done using the chef's very own winning formula. Apparently, this Signature Kubaneh Bread ($14) has made itself quite a name for the past year. And indeed, it was on every occupied table. Its beautiful gold crust illuminated in the light, and pulling it apart revealed the soft and fluffy interior. While some like it slathered with the accompanying garlic butter and kombu butter, I enjoyed it equally with the small plates and mains that were served after.

Octopus/Lao Gan Ma Chilli Crisp 4.5/5

From Small Plates Section ($18 each), we were first served with Octopus tossed with Lao Gan Ma Chilli Crisp (+$14) was moreish and definitely the most innovative way of presenting a grilled octopus. Using the household Lao Gan Ma Chilli, the crisp itself was piquant with a desired amount of heat. The grilled octopus is served thoughtfully sliced up instead of whole, allowing each slice to be enjoyed easily with the crisp without having to slice it up with utensils.

Sesame Prawn Toast 2/5

The following Small Plate, however, paled in comparison. The Asian approach of the Tiger Prawns is presented through a Hong Kong-style sesame prawn toast. A housemade tiger prawn paste is spread onto white bread, deep-fried and finished with a drizzle of kecap manis sauce. The idea is appealing, but not our greasy toast and the salty prawn paste.

Fresh Burrata 4.5/5

Coming to the single produce Cheese, we had a vegan-friendly Western style - Fresh Burrata, served with homemade impossible meat sauce and basil. The meat sauce was impossibly delicious! Like a good bolognese sauce, it was well seasoned with herbs, spices and sweetness from plumb tomatoes, and the minced impossible had a nice bite to it, unlike some other vegan versions, which turned out somewhat mushy. It was indeed a fitting match with the divine pillowy soft burrata.

Wagyu Petit Tender 3/5

The Asian-style Wagyu Petit Tender is new, glazed with savoury char siew sauce. My favourite parts were the tail and front, fully caramelized on one side. Unfortunately, the larger slices in between were a tad underseasoned.

King Prawn 2.5/5

We had King Prawn (tasting portion) oven baked with cajun herb butter for the Mains. The flavours were good, but the prawns lacked the desired firmness.

Oven-Roasted Whole Spatchcock Chicken 4/5

We also had Asian-style Oven-Roasted Whole Spatchcock Chicken (tasting portion). It has the flavours of an Asian soy chicken but is even tastier with a savoury-sweet, slightly charred skin. The meat was tender, and even the lean breast meat portion was delectable.

Grilled Asparagus 3.5/5

New highlights under Sides ($14) include a Grilled Asparagus flavoured with housemade egg aioli, grated Parmigiano and salt-cured egg yolk. I couldn't taste the latter as it was being grated, but overall, it was an excellent complement to the mains.

Hongkong Egglet 4/5

The Dessert section surprised us with an unexpected offering - Hongkong Egglet with blue sea salt ice cream, yuzu jam and chocolate balls. I enjoyed it far more than any egglet I have tried in Singapore. You get an abundance of textures. Some egg pockets were fluffy, some were crisp on one side and doughy on the other, just like a typical egglet. I was impressed! The accompaniments are odd though. Perhaps they should just serve in Hongkong style, with condensed milk, sugar and peanut butter.

Alongside Binary also debuts a cocktail menu that adopts the same binary presentation, where you get a list of Classic offerings synergised with another list with an Asian style.

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.


Binary
Palais Renaissance
390 Orchard Road
#01-01A
Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 93630101
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS, TE Line)

Opening Hours
Sun-Tue: 1130am - 1030pm
Wed–Sat: 1130am to 12midnight

Direction:
Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk to Wheelock Place. Walk to traffic junction of Orchard Road and Angullia Park. Cross the road to Royal Thai Embassy. Turn left and continue down Orchard Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

True Cost @ Suntec City - A Rooftop Restaurant And Wine Bar In Suntec City’s Sky Garden

If you have yet to hear of True Cost, it is a restaurant in the Sky Garden of Suntec City dedicated to providing a dining experience for its guest with quality food and drinks without high markups in cost.

Seafood Lucky Tower 4/5

True Cost kept in mind the universal lucky number '8' while putting this Seafood Lucky Tower ($88) together. In each of these towers, you will enjoy 8 slices of scallop sashimi, 8 slices of salmon sashimi, 8 slices of unagi, 8 pieces of Japanese oysters, 8 prawns and 8 baby lobsters, accompanied with tobiko caviar. Though we were not big fans of the texture of the baby lobsters, freshness was there for the sashimi items and prawns.

Hummus with Kimchi Cucumbers 4.2/5

The Hummus with Kimchi Cucumbers ($7.50) was a pleasant surprise. In this unlikely combination, the tangy kimchi cucumbers gave an extra brightness and a slight kick of spice in contrast to the creaminess of the hummus. I recommend topping up more of the fluffy soft pita, as the default portion comes with only a piece. We heard that they fly in their pita bread from Greece!

Burrata with Dried Grapes and Mint Leaves 4/5

If you are a fan of burrata, the Burrata with Dried Grapes and Mint Leaves ($14.50) is one to look out for. We preferred it to be less sweet, but it was an interesting take, with juicy grapes and chopped mint leaves paired with the creamy burrata.

Bone Marrow with Mushrooms and Bulgogi Sauce 4/5

My dining companions enjoyed the Bone Marrow with Mushrooms and Bulgogi Sauce ($18.95). They described the bone marrow and bulgogi sauce pairing as unexpected but something they'd have again. From all the dishes we have tried, unique flavour combinations are something True Cost emphasises.

Pork Belly with Sweet Potato Purée and Tomato Jam 4/5

Lastly, we had the Pork Belly with Sweet Potato Puree and Tomato Jam ($14.95). We found this a bit oily, but the fatty pork belly was tender. The sweetness from the sweet potato purée and slight tartness from the tomato jam complemented nicely.

Do note that there is a moderate entrance fee applied to all guests visiting True Cost, depending on the time of day. It is $5 per pax for lunch between 12 to 3pm, and $10 per pax for dinner between 5pm to 9pm. Entrance fee is complimentary daily between 3pm to 5pm and 9pm to 10pm. If you opt for bar seatings, there is a 50% discount off for entrance fees. Table reservations can be made via https://reserve.oddle.me/en_SG/truecost/.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


True Cost
Suntec City, SkyGarden
#03-302/303
3 Temasek Boulevard 
Tel: +65 88940615
Website
Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line), Promenade (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 11pm

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

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Da Paolo Pizza Bar @ Holland Village - Toss To An Auspicious Lunar New Year With The Unique Lo Hei Pizza

In conjunction with the Lunar New Year, Da Paolo Pizza Bar at Holland Village has launched a unique Lo Hei Pizza. Available all day, from now till 31 January 2023, for dine-in only. The Lo Hei Pizza combines both the spirit of their pizza and the celebratory dish, featuring a colourful medley of julienned vegetables and seafood atop a freshly baked mozzarella cheese pizza base.

Lo Hei Pizza

The base of the artisanal thin-crust pizza is made with Da Paolo's proprietary pizza dough recipe, where the dough is leavened for 48 hours, hand-stretched, and then stone-baked in the oven. Lo Hei Pizza ($58) is a pizza bianca in which a white base is chosen to pair with the yu sheng topping. Atop the mozzarella cheese pizza base is a combination of crunchy vegetables such as carrot, daikon, and celery, as well as piquant house-pickled red cabbage for some acidity. The seafood topping includes succulent raw Hokkaido scallops and citrusy house-cured Atlantic salmon slices. Binding the ingredients and the pizza dough together is a homemade plum sauce with some extra crunch and nuttiness from white sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, and crispy rice paper.

Lobster Bisque Fried Croquettes 4/5

After tossing to an auspicious new year, we had a couple of starters from the menu - Lobster Bisque Fried Croquettes ($18) and Buratta & Prosciutto ($30). The croquettes were very robust in flavour and not too creamy despite the addition of bechamel cream. I like how the piquillo sauce gave it a touch of peppery and fruity sweetness to balance its flavours.

Burrata & Prosciutto 4/5

Burrata & Prosciutto ($30) is an evergreen item here. With the burrata so plump, fresh and creamy, I can see why.

Spicy Lobster Tagliolini 4.5/5

We also had the Spicy Lobster Tagliolini ($36), a lip-smacking delicious pasta dish on the menu with a full-bodied tomato sauce spiced up with garlic and chilli, accented with occasional bust of sweetness from blistered tomatoes. I love the chunky slipper lobster too!

Tiramisu 4/5

For dessert, we had the signature Da Paolo's Tiramisu. It is good for two, but one can easily polish it clean.

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.


Da Paolo Pizza Bar
44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-46
Singapore 278116
Tel: +65 64796059
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm
Sat-SuN & PH: 11am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Turn left and cut through the open air carpark. Walk to Jalan Merah Saga Road. Turn left at Jalan Merah Saga Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Monte Risaia @ Duxton - A Contemporary Italian-Japanese Omakase Experience

Monte Risaia is a contemporary Italian-Japanese Omakase restaurant located on Duxton Road, helmed by Chef Taizo Yamada, whose forte lies in Japanese-inspired Italian cuisine prepared using premium and seasonal ingredients from Japan. We had a $98 Omakase Course consisting of 2 antipasti, 1 pasta, 1 meat and a dessert.

Wagyu Ham with Burrata Cheese 5/5

The first appetiser was Wagyu Ham with Burrata Cheese, whose rich mouthfeel and luscious texture bowled me over. The fats of the wagyu ham bind the ham and the cheese together as it melts away, with shredded parmesan cheese lending some sharp saltiness to the dish. I'm genuinely surprised by how well these ingredients harmonise with one another.

Lobster Bisque Cartoccio Style 4.8/5

The 2nd appetiser did not disappoint as well. The Lobster Bisque Cartoccio Style was rich and intensely flavoured, but it wasn't overly creamy or buttery.

Japanese Chiayu Confit 3/5

The 3rd appetiser is a seasonal dish - Japanese Chiayu Confit. I didn't quite know how to approach this dish as there wasn't any side dish I could use with the flavoured oil. The Chiayu had a hint of bitterness, but it wasn't unpleasant. Interestingly, that bitter nuance brought out the sweetness of the corn and tomatoes.

Signature Triple Dashi with Shiso Leaves Pasta 4/5

Chef Taizo's pasta left an impression when I had it a couple of years back. I love the addition of shiso leaves that permeates the pasta with this distinctive herbaceous scent and the intensity of the tomato pasta sauce. The Signature Triple Dashi with Shiso Leaves Pasta (hamaguri dashi, Kani dashi, konbu dashi) was just as delicious this time round.

Roasted Beef Tenderloin 4/5

For main, we had Roasted Beef Tenderloin. The meat was simply prepared, but Chef Taizo layered it with small touches of ingredients such as horseradish, parmesan cheese, balsamic and tomato sauce, seasoning the meat with tiny bursts of acidity, sweetness and some sharp saltiness. Even bits of chicken soft bones were added to give it a textural crunch.

Genmaicha Gelato 4/5

Dessert was a refreshing Genmaicha Gelato, which I thought was a deviation from the usual Matcha ice cream. There were even bits of roasted brown rice that had become chewy in its current form, giving an additional texture to the ice cream.

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.


Monte Risaia
59 Duxton Road
Singapore 089523
Tel: +65 69700067
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm – 230pm, 5pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Orchid Hotel. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road, cross the road. Walk to Craig Road. Turn left onto Craig Road. Walk down Craig Road. Turn right onto Duxton Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Turn left and walk to Neil Road. Cross the road. Walk to Duxton Road. Walk down Duxton Road. WAlk to destinaton. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tanglin Cookhouse @ Tanglin Mall - Modern Colonial-style Restaurant Offering Western and Asian Inspired Dishes

Tanglin Cookhouse at Tanglin Mall is a modern colonial-style restaurant serving Western and Asian-inspired dishes that best represent the dynamics between British culture and local flavours.

Here in the evening, you get to start with some tippers from the bar. We had Gin and Tonic - Berries Wonders with Widges London Dry Gin ($20) and a Moonshot Martini with Boutique-y Gin Company Moonshot Gin ($20) under the Special Gin Cocktails list. I recommend the latter, which allures with floral notes.

Vine Tomato Salad with Fresh Burrata Cheese 3/5

We started the dinner with Vine Tomato Salad with Fresh Burrata Cheese ($25.90). The salad was covered with an abundance of puffed kombu quinoa and a generous handful of pine nuts. The pairing of pillowy burrata with crunchy elements set this salad apart from the usual.

Tanglin Scotch Egg 2.8/5

Next, we had the much loved Tanglin Scotch Egg ($16.90), served with Purple cabbage slaw and pickled mustard seeds. Both the slaw and tangy mustard seeds cut the richness of the meat, but I find its gaminess a tad too much.

Salmon Wellington 4.5/5

We had Salmon Wellington ($26.90) and Grandmother's Roasted Chicken ($25.90) for the main. My favourite was the former. I loved the warm smell of the dill when it was served, and slicing the buttery puff into half unveiled an incredibly moist slab of salmon fillet. It was plain delicious with the side of lemon dill beurre blanc.

Grandmother's Roasted Chicken 3.8/5

The latter features a 1/2 spatchcock chicken with onion gravy and Yorkshire pudding. The chicken was tender with very nicely roasted skin, adding to its flavour. The onion gravy was superb, complementing the meat exceptionally well. However, the Yorkshire pudding was slightly burnt, and the green peas were somehow cloyingly sweet.

Sticky Date Pudding 3/5

For a sweet ending, the warm Sticky Date Pudding ($14) was comforting with English toffee sauce, with added nutella soil for texture. What's different about Tanglin Cookhouse's pudding is that it is served with papadam and coconut ice cream to give a savoury, tropical vibe. I enjoy the sweet-savoury play on this classic typical dessert. However, the pudding itself can be 'stickier', and the papadam was a bit limp when we had it, which affected the overall experience of this dish.

Eton Mess Trifle 3/5

We also had Eton Mess Trifle, a rather romantic dessert made by layering basil macerated strawberries, meringue and vanilla chantilly cream. The tangy strawberries brought the trifle a refreshing and herbaceous burst of acidity. However, less sweet would have been better.

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.


Tanglin Cookhouse
Tanglin Mall
163 Tanglin Road
#01-106
Singapore 247933
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard Boulevard (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am – 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard Boulevard MRT station. Take Exit 1. Walk straight down Grange Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]