Showing posts with label Caesar Salad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caesar Salad. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Artichoke @ New Bahru - Recalibrates with a Bolder Middle Eastern Identity

ArtichokeMay2026-9

Artichoke Pizza Parlor at New Bahru is turning the dial back to where it all began — its Middle Eastern roots. Six months into its opening, the refreshed menu isn’t about reinvention but a confident recalibration. Chef Bjorn Shen’s irreverent style remains unmistakable, now sharpened with a more pronounced Middle Eastern DNA. The result? A menu that feels tighter, more intentional, yet still brimming with playful surprises.

ArtichokeMay2026-2
Hummus 4.2/5

We started with the Hummus ($16), a returning staple that continues to hold its ground as a dependable opener. Made in-house from dried chickpeas soaked overnight, the hummus is smooth, nutty and deeply satisfying. It comes crowned with housemade chilli oil and chilli crunch, almond dukkah, and a medley of roasted seasonal vegetables such as lotus root, broccolini, mushrooms and baby carrots. A squeeze of lemon lifts the richness, setting the stage for the bold flavours that follow.

ArtichokeMay2026-7
Garlic Bread 4/5

To complement it, the Garlic Bread ($10) is a must-order. Crafted from Artichoke’s pizza bianca — a focaccia-like dough — the bread is brushed with an aglio olio-style garlic relish before being toasted to a crisp. The relish itself is thoughtfully prepared, with garlic fried in oil and gently braised in water to mellow its sharpness while retaining its aromatic depth. The result is a crisp, flavourful base that serves as the perfect vehicle for scooping up every last bit of the hummus.

ArtichokeMay2026-10
Baked Camembert 4.2/5

For something indulgent, the Baked Camembert ($28) delivers in both richness and comfort. The whole wheel of Camembert is baked until molten and oozy, then drizzled with black truffle-infused honey — made by shaving real black truffles into honey — and finished with roasted mixed nuts tossed in brown butter. Served alongside Ritz crackers, it’s a decadent combination of sweet, savoury, creamy and crunchy elements that come together effortlessly.

ArtichokeMay2026-18
Arti-Casear 4.5/5

The Arti-Casear ($24) offers a lighter interlude. Featuring pistachio mortadella, soft egg, crisp greens and croutons, the salad is tossed in a well-balanced Caesar dressing. While straightforward in concept, the interplay of textures — from crunchy vegetables to the richness of the soft egg — keeps it satisfying without feeling heavy.

ArtichokeMay2026-20
Sunny Slice 4.5/5

The spotlight, however, firmly belongs to the pizzas. The refreshed menu places a stronger emphasis on Artichoke’s signature rectangular UnderCrunch pizzas — pillowy slabs with cheddar-crisped frico bases that deliver both crunch and chew.

The new Sunny Slice ($26) is a standout addition. Built on a pizza bianca base spread with toum (a punchy garlic sauce), it is layered with roasted fennel, haloumi cubes and fresh kumquat slices. Finished with housemade hot honey, arugula, mint and pistachio crumble, the pizza offers a vibrant balance of sweet, savoury and herbaceous notes. The kumquat lends a bright citrusy pop, while the haloumi adds a satisfying saltiness against the crisp, golden base.

ArtichokeMay2026-25
Crab-Onara 4.2/5

On the other end of the spectrum are the Stone Baked Rounds, which mark a return to a more traditional style. The Crab-Onara ($34) is a prime example of how Artichoke blends classic techniques with bold creativity. The dough, fermented for three days, yields a light and puffy crust. Topped with garlic cream sauce, fior di latte, zucchini and sautéed pancetta, it is then finished with generous chunks of crab claw meat. A unique “jellified” egg yolk sauce — made by cooking yolks sous vide before seasoning — adds a luscious, carbonara-like richness, rounded off with a dusting of pecorino and black pepper. It’s indulgent, complex, and undeniably satisfying.

ArtichokeMay2026-32
OG Date Pudding 4.8/5

Dessert brings us to the OG Date Pudding ($16), a nostalgic throwback made the original way in 2010. This warm steamed date cake is paired with a cold dulce de leche sauce, creating a pleasing temperature contrast. Accompaniments of black coffee jelly, crunchy cashew nougat and a touch of smoked salt add layers of bitterness, sweetness and texture, elevating the dish beyond a typical sticky date pudding.

Artichoke Pizza Parlor’s refreshed menu feels like a confident step forward by looking back. By leaning into its Middle Eastern roots while refining its offerings, the restaurant delivers a dining experience that is both focused and full of personality. It’s not about doing more, but doing what it does best — with even greater clarity and conviction.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Artichoke
New Bahru
46 Kim Yam Road
#01-02
Singapore 239351
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Nearest MRT: Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue: 5pm - 10pm
Wed-Sun: 11am - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to the traffic junction of River Valley Road and Clemenceau Ave. Cross the road and cut through UE Square to Unity Street. Turn right onto Unity Street and walk to Mohamed Sultan Road. Cross the road and walk to Kim Yam Road. Walk down Kim Yam Road. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 10 minutes. [Map]

Friday, June 5, 2026

Winestone @ Mercure Singapore on Stevens - Exploring The Longest Meating Ever Experience

Winestone38

Located within Mercure Singapore on Stevens, Winestone has recently refreshed its menu, doubling both variety and indulgence. Aimed at communal dining, its latest offering, “The Longest Meating Ever” ($88 for 2 pax, $118 for 3–4 pax), promises an expansive platter designed for sharing — a feast where hearty flavours meet convivial dining.

The centrepiece platter arrives generously loaded with an eclectic mix of dishes: Duck Rillette, Thai Beef Noodle Salad, Crispy Pork Belly, Gochujang Wings, Hamburger Steak with Sunny-Side-Up Egg, Mac & Cheese, Sauteed Mushrooms, Glazed Vegetables, and Caesar Salad, accompanied by smoky BBQ sauce, red wine jus, and béarnaise. It’s an ambitious spread that leans into variety, though the execution across the dishes is somewhat uneven.

Winestone4
Caesar Salad 4/5

A straightforward yet satisfying start, the Caesar Salad delivers on freshness and texture. Crisp greens, crunchy croutons, and savoury bacon bits come together in a well-balanced dressing that effectively whets the appetite.

Winestone1
Duck Rillette 2.8/5

The Duck Rillette fell short of expectations. While creamy and rich, it lacked the fibrous texture and depth that come from more pronounced strands of duck meat. The absence of bread at the time of serving was also puzzling and required a request to complete the dish.

Winestone8
Gochujang Wings 3.8/5

One of the more enjoyable items on the platter, the Gochujang Wings boast a crispy exterior coated in a bold, slightly sweet-spicy glaze. Beneath the crust, the meat remains tender and juicy, making this a crowd-pleasing bite.

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Crispy Pork Belly 3/5

The Crispy Pork Belly was rather underwhelming. Despite a promising cut, the execution felt overly simplistic, lacking the depth or finesse to elevate the dish beyond a basic deep-fried preparation.

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Hamburger Steak with Sunny-Side-Up Egg 3/5

The Hamburger Steak similarly missed the mark. While hearty in portion, it lacked the juiciness and flavour complexity expected of a well-executed version. Compared to stronger renditions elsewhere, this felt rather pedestrian and did little to anchor the platter as a meat-centric highlight.

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Sauteed Mushroom 4/5

A pleasant surprise, the Sauteed Mushrooms carried a rich buttery aroma with earthy undertones. Juicy and well-cooked, they complemented the heavier items on the platter nicely.

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Mac & Cheese 4/5

Comforting and indulgent, the Mac & Cheese delivered a creamy, cheesy richness that made it one of the meal’s more satisfying components.

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Thai Beef Noodle Salad 3.5/5

The Thai Beef Noodle Salad introduced a refreshing contrast with its tangy-sweet dressing and silky vermicelli. However, its distinct Thai flavour profile felt somewhat out of place within the otherwise Western-leaning platter, creating a slight disconnect in the overall composition.

“The Longest Meating Ever” is an ambitious concept that succeeds in variety and portion size, making it ideal for sharing and social dining. However, for a platter centred on meat, the quality and execution of key proteins — particularly the beef and pork — fall short of expectations. With refinement and a stronger focus on delivering well-executed meat dishes, the experience could better live up to its bold name.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Winestone
Mercure Singapore on Stevens
28 Stevens Road
#01-02
Singapore 257878
Tel: +65 64916100
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Nearest MRT: Steven (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
The Longest Meating Ever
Sat: 12pm - 230pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Stevens MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to the bus stop at Stevens Court (Stop ID 40229). Take bus number 105, 132, 190 or 972. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 8 minutes. [Map]