LUCE by Davide Giacomelli @ InterContinental Singapore - launches new Italian Bistronomic Champagne Brunch

LUCE by Davide Giacomelli at InterContinental Singapore recently launched a new Italian Bistronomic Champagne Brunch, featuring an extensive buffet line of Cold Starters, Hot Specialities, Pinsas, desserts and live stations, jazzed up with the accompaniment of live music.

Charcuterie Room

One may start off from the Charcuterie Room, located right beside the main entrance of Luce. It impresses with a wide selection of imported cheese and cold cuts from Italy such as Grana Padano, Mozzarella, Taleggio, Mortadella and Cured Ham, all lined up with a slab of honeycomb as a centerpiece. Alongside the cheeses and cold cuts you will also find Bread and Condiments such as Focaccia, Baguettes, as well as interesting spreads Grissini Sundried Tomato Butter and Basil Pesto Butter.

Aged Parma Ham Wrapped Rock Melon

One of my favourite Cold starters is this Aged Parma Ham Wrapped Rock Melon - The parma ham had such a luscious bite to it, and its savouriness was well paired with the sweetness of the juicy rock melon.

One of the main drawn of the Champagne Brunch is the Seafood and Sashimi on Ice. Perfect with champagne, you will have your freshly- shucked oysters, Boston lobster, snow crab leg, tiger prawns, and sashimi.

Cheese Wheel Pasta Cacio e Pepe

Moving on to the Live Stations, Cheese Wheel Pasta Cacio e Pepe is also one of the highlights - made ala minute, you will have your freshly-prepared Mafaldine Pasta tossed inside a Parmesan Cheese Wheel. Best enjoy when its hot from the wheel!

And no brunch buffet is complete without a good roasted meat. At the Meat Carving station, enjoy Slow Oven Roasted Angus Beef Striploin, served with condiments such as caramelised onions and Dijon Mustard.

Orecchia di Elefante

Hot stations give you a taste of Italy, such as this specialty of Lombardy, the Orecchia di Elefante– a bone-in, thinly sliced tender veal meat that is breaded and fried. Known as the “elephant ear”, Chef Davide has his fried in clarified butter for richer flavours.

One of my favourites is the Eggs a l’ Amatriciana. Lovers of baked eggs dishes and runny yolk will definitely be awed by this brunch item. The golden yolks of the Cage Free Eggs were satisfyingly unctuous, and the tomato sauce which is loaded with with pancetta and perfectly cooked-down red onions was vibrant with flavours.

Spezzatino di Manzo is another hearty hot dish - Italian Beef Stew with Mediterranean Vegetables such as capsicums and mushrooms. Both the softened beef and vegetables were beautifully flavoured.

Hand-tossed Italian Pinsas

Pinsas station is a hot favourite with its variety of hand-tossed Italian Pinsas freshly made once each flavour runs out. There are classic flavours such as the Margherita and Four Cheese, but I quite fancy the fancier creation Rustica Pinsa, topped with Scamorza – an Italian cow’s milk cheese layered with Bacon, Zucchini and Potato.

Salad Bar

Club Salmon Norwegian

The Salad Bar is wholesome and vibrant with organic Vegetable from local farms. There is also a selection of finger food such as Club Sandwich Smoked Turkey, Club Salmon Norwegian and Chilled Marinated Heirloom Tomato Soup.

Bread & Butter Pudding

Crostata Pistachio Strawberry Frangipane

Crunchy Choux Pastries

The Dessert station allures you with a plethora of desserts handcrafted by Executive Pastry Chef Desmond Lee - The Crostata Pistachio Strawberry Frangipane is stunning with green pistachio hues and gorgeous red strawberries, Bread & Butter Pudding with Baileys Vanilla Sauce beckons with its beautiful golden crust and the petite Crunchy Choux Pastries look simply irresistible. And many more awaits.

Italian Bistronomic Champagne Brunch is available every Sunday 12 to 3pm. For a complete experience, get free flow Taittinger Champagne or Italian Franciacorta, Aperol Spritz and selected Cocktails and Wines at $158 or with free flow Prosecco, Peroni Beer, Aperol Spritz and soft drinks at $138.

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.


LUCE by Davide Giacomelli
InterContinental Singapore
Level 1
80 Middle Road
Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 68251008
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Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

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

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

Firangi Superstar @ Craig Road - New Modern-Indian Champagne Brunch

Firangi Superstar at Craig Road has launched the Champagne Superstar experience, a new modern-Indian weekend champagne brunch. In the two and half hour long brunch, diners get to enjoy free-flow champagne together with a delicious selection of modern Indian dishes.

Diners can indulge in limitless Moet & Chandon Brut or Rose, or if it tickles your fancy, step up to Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame.

The Champagne Superstar has three pricing categories:
- Marvelous: $88++ (Food only)
- Magnificent: $158++ (Food and free flow of selected beverages including Moet & Chandon Brut or Rose)
- Massmajestica: $328 (Food and free flow of selected beverages including Veuve Clicquot La Grand Dame)

To kick start the brunch, you need to choose to find either a Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian Box. We decided to go for the Non-Vegetarian treasure box. Present in a wooden box, opening it unveils a collection of bite-sized morsels with a gentle Indian touch that is designed to excite.

Look forward to a selection of delicious morsels such as caviar puri, truffle puri, Mangalore banana buns, Seekh sausage roll, Semolina cake, Mushroom tart, Masala donut and Pepper fry croissant.

Served alongside the wooden box of bite size morsels are Avocado Kulcha and Kale Kachumber. 

If you think that is all, you are wrong! The treasure box of bite-size morsels is just only the starters. Next is the Mains, whereby you are given four options - Akuri, Prata Waffle, Fish & Chips and Baked Eggs.

The Akuri is a hearty breakfast platter of masala scrambled eggs, tomatoes and pav. The Prata Waffle is a modern take on the chicken waffle with Madras Fried Chicken and prata. Lastly, the Fish & Chips comes with Amritsari snapper with gunpowder fries.

Complete your brunch with a sweet ending with an array of desserts. Among the spread are several cake selections such as Carrot Cake, Red Velvet Peanut Cake, Oreo Cheese Cake, Honey Rum Chocolate Cake and Swiss Roll.

For something lighter, you can go for the Cinnamon Ginger Cookie or Masala Chai Eclair.

Overall, I enjoyed the Champagne Superstar experience a lot. It brings a new and unique modern Indian champagne brunch experience which sets it apart from the rest.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Firangi Superstar
20 Craig Road
#01-03
Singapore 089692
Tel: +65 63043022
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm
Sat: 530pm - 103pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road. Walk to Craig Road. Turn left and walk down Craig Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Turn righ and walk to Neil Road. Cross Neil Road. Walk to Duxton Road. Turn right onto Duxton Hill. Walk to Craig Place. Cut through Craig Place to Craig Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Caviar @ Palais Renaissance - Showcasing Caviars From Around The World

New at the basement of Palais Renaissance is Caviar, Singapore's first caviar-based restaurant showcasing a wide variety of caviars around the globe, incorporating them into the menu by a team of young chefs with bags of fine-tuning experience from various Michelin-starred restaurants.

Amuse Bouche

I visited Caviar for their 4-course Lunch ($128++), starting with a glass of champagne and amuse bouche. The bite-size amuse bouche is topped with caviar from China.

Next, complimentary bread with caviar butter is served to kickstart the meal.

Swordfish 4/5

Starting our 4-course menu proper is the Swordfish served with abalone slices. It comes in a thin blanket of kohlrabi laid over the swordfish and abalone, topped with arctic char roe. A light and refreshing ginger vinegar holds everything together for a complex yet harmonious finishing.

Organic Egg 4.2/5

The Organic Egg is a beautiful dish in which the smooth and silky steamed egg custard is paired with chorizo and caviar from Giaveri White Sturgeon. However, being a caviar theme restaurant, I thought the chorizo sold the limelight of the dish. Saying so, it is a dish that everyone at my table enjoyed.

Wagyu 4.5/5

For the mains, we had the Wagyu paired with broccolini, smoked mash and topped with Royal Oscietra's caviar. The excellent cut is cooked to perfection. It is tender and juicy, not too fatty, with a fantastic bite to appreciate its natural beefy flavour. Once again, I was distracted from the caviar by the beautiful wagyu.

Coconut 3.8/5

Got to say, not everything on the menu has caviar. The Coconut dessert is a welcoming freshness from the fruity strawberries and lime to wrap up the meal on a refreshing note..

Petit Four 4/5

Lastly, the 4-course lunch ends on a high with the Petite Four. I have enjoyed my lunch at Caviar, which enriched my knowledge of caviar. I always think caviar comes from Russia, but you can source it globally. As for the food, they are well-executed and delicious. However, I felt some dishes could be better by turning the caviar into the leading actor instead of being a calafare.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Caviar
Palais Renaissance
390 Orchard Road
B1-07
Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 98881217
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sat: 12pm - 130pm, 6pm - 830pm
Sun: 1130am - 415pm
(Closed on Mon-Tue)

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]

SIRI HOUSE @ Dempsey - Breathtaking Garden Dining Experience In Partnership with Veuve Clicquot

In partnership with Veuve Clicquot, Siri House at Dempsey presents a stunning new outdoor dining experience at their outdoor terrace. The new open-air garden trellis comes with a ceiling of greenery and light bulbs complemented by dreamy hanging glass baubles filled with candles and florals. It is a romantic setting for the night. During the day, fabrics are draped over the structure, providing shelter from the heat and excessive light.

We visited Siri House for dinner to experience the Dining at Dusk - An Outdoor Dinner Experience. Diners can indulge in an exquisite 4 or 6 course menu complemented by Veuve Clicquot Champagne. The 4 course menu is priced at $98++ per pax, and 6 course menu is $128++ per pax. Each menu includes a complimentary glass of Veuve Clicquot Champagne per person.

Amuse Bouche

The 4 or 6 Course Menu starts with an Amuse Bouche that will be changed daily. Pop the bite-size morsel for a burst of flavours.

Doenjiang Glazed Beef Short Rib 4.5/5

For the Appetiser course, diners have the choice of Doenjiang Glazed Beef Short Rib and Stracciatella. The Doenjang Glazed Beef Short Rib is cooked to tender to a beautiful pink, marinated in soy, nashi pear, apples, garlic and onions. It is paired with pickled napa cabbage and pickled daikon for a refreshing touch to cut through the richness. On top of that, it is served with celeriac and parsnip puree to go with the 36 hours sous vide beef short rib.

Stracciatella

The Stracciatella is light yet flavourful appetiser with a sweet aburi amebi. The prawn head is deep-fried to crispy, which can be eaten.

Crumbled Pork Ribeye 4.5/5

Moving to the mains, diners can choose from the Crumbled Pork Ribeye, Lobster Miso Carbonara and Chilean Seabass with Sauce Vierge. Starting with the Crumbled Pork Ribeye that uses Iberico pork ribeye, it is served with a house blend of smoked chillies mixed with honey and Dijon. It also comes with shredded pickled cabbage, drizzled with an umami-rich nori mayo. Usually, tonkatsu can be pretty dry if not done correctly, but I have to admit this is one of the best I have eaten. It is succulent and yet not greasy.

Lobster Miso Carbonara 4.8/5

If you have been following me, you will know that I like my pasta to come with a lot of sauce. So though the Lobster Miso Carbonara is not that saucy, flavours come with depth and robustness made with egg yolks, 3 kinds of cheese and white miso. Noteworthy is the housemade pappardelle with a delectable textural bite paired with a whole maine lobster tail that has been bincho grilled and glazed in chicken fat.

Chilean Seabass with Sauce Vierge 4.2/5

The Chilean Seabass with Sauce Vierge is paler in flavour than the other two mains. Though so, it allows the fresh and buttery flavour of the Chilean seabass to shine through.

Orange Chocolate 4/5

From savoury, we moved on to the sweets, starting with the Orange Chocolate infused with preserved orange peel. It even comes with a scoop of hazelnut ice cream, shaved candlenut, and dehydrated chocolate mousse for added texture.

Jasmine 4.2/5

The Jasmine is a pretty dessert in which a scoop of Jasmine tea ice cream sits atop layers of puff pastry sandwiched with jasmine chantilly cream, further sweetened with a drizzle of chamomile syrup. Toasted buckwheat is scattered for extra texture.

Sicilian Pistachio 4.8/5

A must-have is the Sicilian Pistachio. The whole block of pistachio ice cream is served with brown butter crumble base, topped with shavings of cured egg yolk.

Outdoor Private Dinner bookings are available, Tuesday to Sunday Evenings, 6.00pm to 8.00pm. To complement the dinner, guests can order bottles of Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label, Rosé or La Grande Dame at special promotional prices, starting at $120 per bottle.

Outdoor Brunch Private Dining is available to book for 5 to 10pax, Saturday and Sunday Afternoons, 11.30 am to 1.30pm. Priced at $70++ per pax with a minimum of 5 pax to book, SIRI HOUSE outdoor brunch feast includes a list of 13 brunch plates to share, a bread and pastry platter and a selection of seasoned butters and jams.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Siri House
Dempsey Hill
8D Dempsey Road
#01-02
Singapore 249672
Tel: +65 96670533
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Nearest MRT: Napier (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sat: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sun: 1130am - 4pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Napier MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk to bus stop opposite Singapore Botanic Gardens (Stop ID 13011). Take bus number 7, 75, 77, 105, 106, 123 or 174. Alight 2 stops later. Walk up to Dempsey Hill. Walk right to the back of the cluster. Walk to destination. Journey time 12 minutes. [Map]