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]

Dolce Vita @ Mandarin Oriental Singapore - New Sunday Italian Brunch For A Leisurely Weekend Experience

Chef de Cuisine Giorgio Maggioni of Dolce Vita at Mandarin Oriental Singapore has recently launched a new Sunday Brunch concept for a leisurely weekend experience.

You will be presented with three options, which you can choose to indulge in their Affettati Buffet that offers a selection of cold cuts and cheeses, an assortment of pickles preserved vegetables, and homemade marmalades. I would recommend you to just go for it, which is what this weekend experience is all about.

Couple that with an add-on three hours free flow Nino Franco Prosecco ($48) to complete the experience.

Seared Hokkaido scallops 4.5/5

Dessert is a must in all options, so it is a choice of one dish or two dishes from Antipasti, Primo and Secondo. Dishes from Antipasti stood out the most. You wouldn't want to miss the plump and meaty Seared Hokkaido Scallops in citrus dressing. Every element that comes with it has a role to elevate the taste and texture of the scallop.

Cured Wagyu Beef Carpaccio 4.5/5

The same goes to the luscious Cured Wagyu Beef Carpaccio. The sweet, buttery cracker balances the richness of the dish, along with the acidity from the pickles.

Tagliolini 2.8/5

From Primo and Secondo, we had a Tagliolini, Risotto and a main. The Tagliolini was underwhelming with its rather dense pasta. The morsels of cured pork were yummy but that was pretty much about it.

Risotto 3.5/5

Personally, I like the Artichoke Risotto, although some found it too plain. I appreciate the subtlety of the artichoke, and if your brunch includes the Affettati Buffet, this dish would complement the entire experience.

Manzo 3.5/5

Manzo, a Tajima wagyu beef oyster blade slow-roasted, is a crowd pleaser with its fork-tender meat. The red cabbage served along with it was interesting, as its sweetness seems to be able to bring out the flavour of the beef.

Warm Berries Compote 3.5/5

For dessert, I chose the Warm Berries Compote. With all the meats and carbs, this sweet and tangy dessert is the best bet. If you are really stuffed, then perhaps you can go for the sorbet.

All options include a dainty selection of Petit Fours served with a spritz of edible scent exclusive to Mandarin Oriental, Singapore. It comprises mellow notes of cinnamon, star anise and nuts that evoke a trip to a true Italian pastry shop.

Pricing
Choice of one dish and one dessert $58
Affettati buffet, choice of one dish and one dessert $68
Affettati buffet, choice of two dishes and one dessert $78
Add-on three hours free flow Nino Franco Prosecco $48

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.


Dolce Vita
Mandarin Oriental Singapore
5 Raffles Avenue
Singapore 039797
Tel: +65 68853500
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line, DT Line), Esplanade (CC Line)


Opening Hours:
Weekday Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
Weekend Brunch: 12pm - 3pm
Daily Dinner: 630pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk to Marina Square. Follow the signage to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit B or D. Walk to Marina Square. Follow the signage to destination. 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]

The New Ultimate Sunday Champagne Brunch @ Hilton Singapore

This April, Hilton Singapore launches their new Ultimate Hilton Sunday Champagne Brunch. Diners can look forward to a glorious food retreat with elevated brunch essentials and free flow premium Taittinger Champagne. Priced from $98++ per pax, the champagne brunch buffet features new gourmet and seasonal ingredients with 8 live stations including the fresh seafood bar, grilled carvings, gourmet specialties such as foie gras, a dedicated seasonal cheese room with over 30 types of imported European cheese, as well as artisanal desserts from the 6-metre long D9 dessert showcase.

One of the special highlights of the buffet includes the Ocean-fresh Seafood & Oyster Bar such as the fresh Alaskan king crabs, Maine lobsters, freshly shucked oysters.

Hop over to the six gastronomy stations, where the chef prepares dishes a la minute such as the enticing Foie Gras Brulee with toasted brioche and pineapple lemon jam.

My favourite at one of the a la minute stations is the homemade Waffles with Crispy Duck, topped with fried duck egg and mustard maple syrup. The waffles has a crispy, slightly caramelised exterior from the maple syrup drizzled over and packs a bite. It is paired with crispy, tender duck meat to contribute a savoury taste to the dish.

The homemade Venison Scotch Egg and Black Truffle Hollandaise was an interesting dish, with a soft flavoured egg wrapped in sausage meat, breaded and deep-fried. The addition of black truffle hollandaise elevates the flavour of the dish with a strong truffle fragrance.

Don't miss out on the King Crab Homemade Ravioli with shellfish espuma, giant ikura and chive oil as well. The ravioli boasts a perfect al dente texture, encasing tender shreds of sweet king crab meat, while the richly flavoured shellfish espuma compliments the gourmet pasta dish well.

The savouries at the Prime Meat Carvings section includes the 14-hour Slow Roasted Wagyu Beef Leg is carved out and served by the chef upon request.

Some of the highlights from the savoury selections include the Sticky Spicy South Australian Dorper Lamb Ribs, as well as the Crispy Pork Belly with macaroni cheese and braised red cabbage.

Indulge in the New Zealand Rockling Fish Fillet with braised olive and fennet, which boasts soft, fork-tender fish fillet meat.

Next is the Stone-hearth oven baked pizza with Black Truffle and Fontina Cheese Pizza, and Artichoke and Tellegio Pizza with Prosciutto.

Lastly, relish in the dazzling array of artisanal D9 Cakery handcrafted pastries to end the meal on sweet note. Some of the must-tries are the Belle, matcha azuki cake, Hazelnut chocolate cake, citron tart, and selection of deconstructed desserts such as the King's cake, Japon a la Fraise, and Noisette du Caramel.

The delectable spread also includes homemade macarons, dark chocolate pralines, tarts, classic loafs, cupcakes, cheesecakes, freshly baked scones, and creme brulee.

Sunday Champagne Brunch
Adult:
$98 per person (free flow of coffee, tea and selected soft drinks)
$128 per person (free flow of prosecco, selected white & red wines and beer)
$168 per person (free flow of Taittinger Champagne, selected white & red wines and beer)
Child:
$49 per child (aged five to 12 years old) / Child below the age of five dines for free.

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.


Opus Restaurant
Hilton Singapore
581 Orchard Road
Singapore 238883
Tel: +65 67303390
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Sunday Champagne Brunch
Sunday: 12pm - 3pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Continue walking along Orchard Road. Journey time is about 8 minutes. [Map]