Ash & Elm @ InterContinental Singapore - Celebrate Hygge With New Nordic Sunday Champagne Brunch

Ash & Elm at Intercontinental Singapore launches a new Nordic-themed champagne brunch, inspired by the culinary philosophy from the wintery Northern Europe regions. Besides the classic Nordic dishes, the buffet also showcases a variety of the finest produce flown in exclusively from Iceland, Finland and Norway.

Products and dishes from the likes of Finland and Iceland were not commonly found in Singapore, which is why Chef Eric Neo, Singapore's first Nordic-Asia Culinary Ambassador, appointed in 2018, heads up this Nordic Sunday Champagne Brunch in order to bring awareness to this exquisite cuisine and enhance food diversity in Singapore at the same time.

Kickstart the feast with the dainty appetisers from the mini appetisers gallery. We loved how plump and juicy the shrimps were for the Shrimp Salad with Dill and Capers, while the Beetroot and Gin Cured Salmon with Pickled Cucumber was a refreshing combination.

Another refreshing appetiser is the new Potato Salad with hard-boiled egg. The addition of the apples added a subtle sweetness to the sourish pickles.

Indulge in a slew of crowd favourite dishes such as the Pan-seared Salmon with lemon herb and butter sauce, and tender Lamb and Cabbage Stew with Black Pepper from the Hot Food section.

For meat lovers, head over to the live station for their succulent Beef Wellington, and Parchment Roasted Cod with fennel, lemon and tomatoes.

Not to be missed is their premium seafood on ice presented on a long table, including the chilled tiger prawns, black mussels, Boston lobsters, clams, Finnish crayfish, and shucked oysters with condiments and sauce.

A selection of caviar and roe, such as Queen Kaluga Caviar, Ikura, Avruga, Wasabi Tobkio, Ebiko are displayed on the caviar counter with condiments and blinis.

End the meal on a sweet note with their dazzling array of desserts from the Rhubarb Cake, Summer Berries Pie to the Lingonberry Creme Brulee.

For something lighter, opt for some ice cream from their ice cream counter, with popular flavours such as the green tea and Thai milk tea. Don't forget to dip the condiments provided into their chocolate fountain too.

Elevate the brunch experience with a handcrafted gin cocktail, Aurora, inspired by the Northern lights. Concocted using Metsis Gin, specially imported from Estonia for brunch. It is available for top-up at $15 nett per glass.

The Nordic Sunday Champagne Brunch is available every Sunday from 6 October to 17 November 2019 from 12pm to 3pm, at $148++ (includes unlimited Taittinger Champagne, cocktails, house wines, beers, soft drinks and juices) or $98++ (includes unlimited cocktails, soft drinks and juices) per adult, and $48++ (includes unlimited soft drinks and juices) per child.

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.


Ash & Elm
InterContinental Singapore
Level 1
80 Middle Road
Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 68251008
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm

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

UNI Gallery By OosterBay @ The Plaza - Experience The New Multiple Foodgasm Kaiseki With Premium Sashimi And Uni

Nestled in the conspicuous basement level of The Plaza is UNI Gallery by OosterBay, known for one of the most treasured Japanese delicacy - sea urchin. Offering an extensive selection of uni specialities and premium sashimi which are scoured and air-flown from Japan, USA and Canada 4 times each week to ensure maximum freshness, this is a hidden gem not to be missed out by true uni connoisseurs!

The restaurant rolls out their latest Multiple Foodgasm Kaiseki menu featuring the restaurant's mainstays of different types of uni and seasonal sashimi, alongside exquisite ingredients such as caviar, truffle, and A5 graded Miyazaki wagyu. We got to try their new New 6-course Kaiseki Menu, which is priced at $118++.

Uni Oyster Shot 4.2/5

The Uni Oyster Shot features Shiro Uni & Salmon Roe on a freshly shucked oyster. Send it all down one shot for an intense flavour explosion in the mouth to kickstart the tantalising courses ahead.

Toro Squid Ink Sushi 4/5

The Toro Squid Ink Sushi features Australian Short Spine Uni, Ikura & Otoro on squid ink sushi rice. While the Otoro has an unforgettable fattiness, the Uni boasts an exquisite creamy butter-like consistency, which just melt in the mouth instantly. Even though the squid ink didn't provide any significant flavour difference to the sushi rice, the combination of each component from the briny Uni to the salty ikura was an exquisite indulgence.

Le Tetsuya 3.8/5

The Le Tetsuya sees Siberian Caviar on Shiro Uni atop crushed amaebi. Again, the Shiro Uni is creamy, with a little sweet, briny flavour. Dripped in white miso soup to give off this multi-layered umami experience. Trust us, this is any Uni lover’s dream come true.

Seasonal Sashimi 4/5

Diners get to sample different varieties of seafood with the Seasonal Sashimi which features a good mix of seafood like the Botan Ebi, Maguro Otoro, Bafun Uni, Ankimo, and Shirako. Harvested from the waters of Hokkaido, Bafun Uni has a much more vibrant and creamier texture to it which we really enjoyed.

Caviar Bone Marrow 4.2/5

One of our favourite dishes is the Caviar Bone Marrow. Spread the Oscietra Caviar, beef sprinkle bits on the grilled beef bone marrow and dig in. One of the most underrated foods, the grilled bone marrow is rich in flavour, and tastes almost like butter with a delicate, sweet flavour to it, albeit slightly oily.

Uni Tempura Truffle Chawanmushi 4.2/5

The Uni Tempura Truffle Chawanmushi features a crispy Uni Tempura with shaved winter truffle on a delicate and soft steamed egg custard. The chawanmushi has a pleasant subtle truffle aroma to it which we enjoyed, while the Uni tempura was a unique approach to the creamy uni form we usually have. The Uni is wrapped with seaweed before being fried to a light and crispy texture.

Priced competitively at $118++ for 6 courses and $188++ for 8 courses for the premium ingredients used, Uni Gallery by OosterBay promises an umami-laden Kaiseki experience – a must-try for the seafood and Uni lovers.

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.


UNI Gallery by OosterBay
The Plaza
7500A Beach Road
#B1-310
Singapore 199591
Tel: +65 98388209
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Nicoll Highway (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Nicoll Highway MRT station. Take Exit A. Follow the overhead walkway all the way to The Concourse building. Take the exit down to Nicoll Highway and walk towards Parkroyal Serviced Residences. Cut through towards The Plaza at Parkroyal Hotel. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Ash & Elm @ Intercontinental Singapore - Launches New Sunday Champagne Brunch

This April, Ash & Elm at Intercontinental Singapore launches a new Sunday Champagne Brunch, taking inspiration from the country synonymous with gastronomy, France. Helmed by newly appointed Chef de cuisine Adrian Chan, the brunch buffet features a medley of sophisticated flavours through the use of fresh ingredients and French cooking techniques from duck confit and braised beef brisket to ratatouille.

Using fresh produce from three different categories of land, sea and garden, the three iconic tasting platters of Ash & Elm’s Sunday Brunch comprise nine a la minute petite plates featuring the best of France’s rich culinary history.

From the Land menu, we have the Le Porc - this classic dish of pork belly is slow cooked in duck fat to achieve a tender consistency, crisp exterior, and its rich flavours are balanced with the tangy flavour of orange and piquant charred leeks.

The Le Boeuf - the beef brisket is braised in Bordeaux red wine for over 12 hours for that melt-in-the-mouth texture and is perfectly complemented with garlic infused pomme puree, and French beans to add a nice crunch to the beef brisket. The Le Canard features fork-tender pan-seared duck with spiced and vanilla infused carrots puree to bring out its luscious flavours.

One of my favourite from the Sea menu is the Le Flétan - the slow-poached halibut has a soft tender texture with crisp oat crust and topped with caviar beurre blanc and broccolini to enhance its flavours.

Some of the highlights from the Garden menu include the Le Champignon, where the mushroom takes centre stage in this dish with handmade tortellini generously filled with creamy porcini puree, adorned with lashings of truffle and wild mushroom duxelles.

While the La Tomate features a modern take on the common French vegetable stew. The ratatouille is colourfully presented in a stuffed oven-baked tomato paired with pesto.

Besides the petite plate selections, indulge in the array of brunch items from the counter such as the Poached Eggs doused in a creamy hollandaise sauce atop bacon, spinach and English muffin.

From the roasts section, the Slow Roasted Herb Crusted Beef Ribeye was well seasoned and perfectly executed.

Don't miss out on the caviar station, where diners can get to enjoy piles of Avruga (smoked herring roe), Wasabi Ebiko, Ikura, Tobiko, Queen Kaluga (sturgeon roe) on soft fluffy blinis.

Complementing the platters is a showcase of delicacies including a selection of French Cheese, as well as Fresh Premium Seafood on ice, such as the scallops, oysters, Boston lobsters, clams, prawns, mussels and more.

End your meal on a sweet note with their wide array of delectable desserts. The experience is further elevated with Taittinger Brut Champagne, house wines, soft drinks, juices, coffee and tea.

Some of the highlights include the Mint Mont Blanc, Rum Orange Baba, Citrus Meringue Tart, Lychee Rose Raspberry Macaron, Pistachio Cherry Eclair and more.

Ash & Elm’s Sunday Champagne Brunch is available every Sunday from 12pm to 3pm, and is priced at $148 per adult, inclusive of unlimited Taittinger Brut Champagne, house wines, beers, soft drinks, juices, coffee and tea; $98 per adult, inclusive of Bloody Mary cocktails, soft drinks, juices, coffee and tea; and $48 per child, inclusive of soft drinks and juices. Prices are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes.

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.


Ash & Elm
InterContinental Singapore
Level 1
80 Middle Road
Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 68251008
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm

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

Lawry's The Prime Rib @ Mandarin Gallery - Rekindle Your Romance This Valentine's Day

Lawry's The Prime Rib at Mandarin Gallery sets itself apart with an air of opulence that very few could emulate. This Valentine's Day, treat your partner to a lavish 6-course dinner at Lawry's which includes their authentic Signature Prime Rib of Beef.

Amuse Bouche 3.5/5

The Valentine's menu is crafted by Executive Chef Sherwin Sim, choosing ingredients based on their sensual qualities, texture, colour and libido enhancing compounds to get you in the mood for love on that very special night. Our Amuse Bouche for example, is made of petite yummy aphrodisiacs - Foie Gras Macaron, Grilled Spanish Octopus and Smoked Salmon with Avruga Caviar. My favourite is the smoked salmon bite which has a bed of sweet caramalised onions to complement the overall briny flavour. I love the idea behind the foie gras macaron that comes with savoury foie gras cream sandwiched between sweet meringue cookies but its sweetness was a little overwhelming.

Lobster Bisque 4/5

For Soup, on the menu is Lobster Bisque served with Hokkaido scallop, enhanced with a drizzle of Grand Marnier. Intense with umami roundness, it was perfect after a round of sweet-savoury amuse bouche and I appreciate that it wasn't overloaded with cream, which would have added a dimension of sweetness to it.

Crab Salad 3.8/5

Although the classic Spinning Bowl Salad is missing in action, what replaces does not disappoint. The Dungeness Crab Salad was scrumptious with lovely sweet bites from the crab meat, coupled with crunchy green apple slices and bursts of saltiness from ikura. What delighted us all was the egg yolk looking mango sphere, which oozes mango lava that dresses the salad with tangy sweetness.

Yuzu Sorbet 4/5

A refreshing Yuzu Sorbet with mint will be served in between as a palate cleanser.

Prime Ribs (tasting portion) 4.5/5

For mains, there is a choice between their Signature Prime Rib of Beef and a luxury Seafood Platter. For a complete Lawry's experience, the first is an obvious choice but the latter speaks volume too. What makes Lawry's Prime Ribs that superior is that each standing roast is aged for up to 28 days to heighten tenderness and slowly roasted on beds of rock salt, a method that forces the juices inward, resulting in an uniformly juicy and flavourful meat. Witness its grandeur as your portion gets carved from the famous silver carts right in front of you. The traditional Lawry’s Yorkshire Pudding served alongside is baked in individual copper skillet. Accompanying your USDA Prime Rib of Beef is US Idaho mashed potatoes, together with choice of creamed spinach, creamed orn or buttered peas.

Seafood Platter 4.2/5

The Seafood Platter consist of a Baked Cajun Lobster Tail with Tobiko, Miso Salmon Steak and Carabinero Prawn with Arbequina and a Corn Croquette. I thought both the prawn and lobster tail were beautifully done - just simple treatments to bring out their textures and flavours. That humble piece of corn croquette was unexpectedly a treat! The creamy corn within the crust was oozy and sweet which brought the savoury elements together as a whole.

Dessert 3.8/5

Before moving on perhaps more important programs of the night, your evening shall come to a satisfying sweet pause with Sweetheart Specials - Te Amo, a dessert platter made of Manjari Chocolate Praline Dome, Häagen-Dazs Tiramisu Mochi Ice-cream and Strawberry Mousse. It did seem to be quite a big platter to end the meal but it turned out to be manageable. The chocolate dome was bitter sweet and the ice cream was pretty light too.

Choices aplenty in Singapore but what is cool about dining at Lawry’s The Prime Rib on that day is the old-fashioned romance that builds around the evening. This 6-course Valentine's menu will only be served for dinner at Lawry’s The Prime Rib Singapore on 14 February for $188 per person. You and your partner will receive a bottle of sparkling wine (Ruffino Moscato d’Asti) as memento as well as a complimentary digital photo.

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.

Lawry’s The Prime Rib
Mandarin Gallery
333A Orchard Road
#04-01/31
Singapore 238897
Tel: +65 68363333
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 1130am - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 1130am - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to ground level. Turn left onto Orchard Road. Walk down Orchard Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

HIRYU @ Tras Street - Inventive Japanese Cuisine But I Failed To See The Innovation & Creativity

HIRYU at Tras Street positioned itself as one that specialises in inventive Japanese cuisine, through the blend of Eastern traditions and Western influences. Helmed by head chef Raymond Tan who is known for his exquisite and contemporary culinary techniques among his regulars. He led the acclaimed Japanese restaurant Sushi Jin by award-winning Les Amis Group as well as Sushi Murasaki and Kurama Robatayaki, which he opened in 2015 and 2016 respectively. Both omakase and ala carte menus are available, updated seasonally according to the availability of the Japanese ingredients.

Tai Carpaccio 2.8/5

Starting off our lunch was Tai Carpaccio (available ala carte). Thinly-sliced white fish (snapper) with Shio Konbu, chives, shaved truffles, drizzled with truffle soy sauce. Thinly cut, yet each slice was full and luscious in the mouth. However, none of its flavours managed to seep through that thick coating of truffle oil. Being one of the most prized fish in Japan, it was a mistake to suffocate this beautiful plate of fish with that grease.

Uni & Toro Truffle Bruschetta 3.5/5

Anointed with gold flakes, here we had Uni & Toro Truffle Bruschetta (available ala carte). I overheard one of his regulars asking for it and I could see why. The seasoned Japanese chopped tuna was really rich and fatty, lending a boost of texture to the accompanying sea urchin, whose custardy texture reinforced that decadent mouthfill. The housemade toast had been buttered for extra aroma which made it even more heavenly but what I didn't appreciate was the truffle oil that trickled down my fingers simply because there was just too much of it. Instantly, I reminisced my first encounter with a Uni Bruschetta which took place at Terra. The execution was relatively cleaner - with just a dash of citrusy from a 6-month old homemade preserved lemon to highlight the key ingredient.

Hiryu Wagyu Sando 3.5/5

A crowd pleaser is the Hiryu Wagyu Sando (available ala carte). Indulge in the extravagant toast featuring char-grilled Miyazaki A5 Wagyu and sea urchin jam. I like how the toast help to sop up the flavours, fats and juice from the wagyu. A lot less on the salt level would be good as those on my plate had sort of blanketed the flavours from coming through. The delicate Uni was completely overshadowed.

Uni Tempure 4/5

When all things seemed so opulent, the unassuming Uni Tempura (available ala carte) captivates with its simplicity. Deep-fried in seaweed, that gives the mushy ingredient a lovable crunch and the accompanying sweet house-made Anago sauce complements its oceany flavour well.

ToroToro Caviar 4.2/5

Botan Ebi 4/5

Lunch omakase includes sushi and we had the ToroToro Caviar and Botan Ebi. I was quite amazed by the level of satisfaction I got from these small bites. I love the former alot with just toro toro and rice, coupled with a touch of seasoning, that allows me to relish its flavours fully. An unusual partnership between Ebi and Foie Gras, the latter delivers another kind of pleasure. The ebi was so sweet and succulent, it was not at all weighed down by the slab of rich foie gras.

Chilled Truffle Angle Hair 3/5

There are two 'Signature Donburi' items found on the Omakase options as well as the ala-carte menu, one of which is Chilled Truffle Angle Hair. Served in an exquisite handmade wooden box, drawing it open reveals a beautiful display of Sakura shrimp, scallop, sea urchin and caviar in cold angel hair pasta, topped with shaved black truffle. The firm and sweet fresh scallop was ideal for the chilled pasta and the savoury crispy Sakura shrimps made it quite moreish. I don't think the truffle oil works as a right agent to pull the ingredients together, especially when the Uni was masked by it.

Wagyu Claypot Rice 3.8/5

The Miyazaki A5 Wagyu Claypot Rice was our grand finale. After numerous trials and errors, this special claypot is picked for its ability to deliver the desired result that Chef Raymond has in mind. Interesting, there was no burnt rice (although I was very much dying for some), there was this elusive wok hei fragrance lingering in my mouth after each bite.

Slow-cooking the Miyazaki A5 Wagyu in the heat of the claypot rice is meant to keep the meat tender, while the rice remains plump and grainy. But given that beautiful marbling, I can imagine how just a little sear will do to release that juice and flavour trapped within the fats, something that slow cooking can't achieve. For a more varied texture too. Good for 4 pax, each portion is quite substantial. Besides Wagyu, in the "Choose Your Style" menu section, you can choose from a variety of meats such as Lamb Rack, Iberico Pork or Seafood that can be prepared in various styles.

Shingen Yuzu Mochi 3/5

For dessert, we had Shingen Yuzu Mochi. I thought 'Japanese Raindrop Cake" is a thing of the past but Chef Raymond revives it with a refreshing Yuzu twist. Found on the omakase dessert option as well as the ala-carte menu.

Warabi Mochi 3.5/5

I would recommend the rustic Warabi Mochi instead, which is also made in-house, covered with a nutty soybean powder and drizzled in Kuromitsu syrup. I love the matcha powder which has a slight bitterness to balance the sweetness. When everything is all about hyper and new, this brings me back to presence.

I feel an inventive Japanese cuisine can be more than uni, truffles and piling premium ingredients on top of one another, which in some cases, one gets undermined. When most of these ingredients are so delicate, they deserve to a single spotlight on them. At Hiryu, perhaps, ala carte would be a more satisfying experience by choosing a few of its creative and bold dishes to wow your senses.

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.


HIRYU
39 Tras Street
Singapore 078978
Tel: +65 67889188
Facebook
Website 
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

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

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Tras Street. Turn right on Tras Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]