Edition Rooftop Bar & Restaurant @ Citadines Connect City Centre Hotel - Chic New Gastro Bar Serving Asian-Western Dishes At Newly Opened Hotel

Crowning the newly opened Citadines Connect City Centre Hotel located in the heart of Orchard Road is Edition Rooftop Bar & Restaurant, which spans over 3,000 sq ft and boasts an al fresco garden seating in addition to its indoor setting. A full-fledged restaurant by day, and contemporary, über chic gastrobar from sundown, patrons of Edition can enjoy a delightful brunch, savour updated local and international culinary creations or revel in a wide curation of signature and popular cocktails, fine wines and spirits of exceptional quality from the Breakfast Edition and Daily Edition (lunch and dinner) menus.

Edition's Cioppino 4/5

Kickstart the meal with the Edition's starter - the Edition's Cioppino ($18) is made with white wine, tomato seafood broth, clams, prawns, basil and parsley. The hearty seafood broth was packed with rich flavours and natural fresh sweetness from the seafood.

Charred Broccoli 4/5

The Charred Broccoli ($12) may look like a simple dish, but it was executed perfectly with crunchy yet soft broccoli, garlic aioli, and kailan puree, complete with parmesan and shredded seaweed to elevate its flavours.

Not Your Ordinary Ham & Cheese 4/5

The Not Your Ordinary Ham & Cheese ($22) was indeed not so ordinary, with crispy grilled sourdough, miso mustard, country-style ham, serrano ham, and melted brie. It is an intensified rendition of the classic ham & cheese sandwich. We enjoyed the cheesy goodness a lot.

Catalonian's Pick 3.8/5

The Catalonian's Pick ($18) comes with grilled tiger prawns, romesco sauce, pickled red chilli, fried shallots and sesame seaweed. The prawns leaned towards the bland side, which is tasteless. I will advise diners to thoroughly coat them in the romesco sauce for a lift in flavours.

Senor Pork 4.2/5

The Edition's mains consist of dishes such as the Senor Pork ($42), which features perfectly grilled Spanish Iberico pork shoulder paired with rhubarb chutney, roasted pumpkin puree, burnt butter cream, and a side of crispy grilled baby cabbage. The pork shoulder was superbly tender and succulent, and I liked that the pumpkin puree and burnt butter cream lent a nice sweetness to the savoury dish.

Words and photos 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.


Edition Rooftop Bar and Restaurant
Citadines Connect City Centre Hotel
182 Clemenceau Avenue
Rooftop Level
Singapore 239923
Tel: +65 80301224
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Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaunt (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 7am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Penang Road. Cross the road. Turn right and walk down Penang Road. Turn left onto Penang Lane. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Racines @ Sofitel Singapore City Centre - New Semi-dinner Buffet Showcasing Newly Minted Executive Chef Eric Seow's Culinary Creations

Racines at Sofitel Singapore City Centre has recently introduced a new dining concept to present a weekday semi-buffet dinner. This refreshed dining concept is also Chef Eric Seow's debut as the hotel's newly minted Executive Chef, allowing you to have a taste of his culinary creations. You can enjoy a choice of main course along with a well-considered spread of salads, soups, appetisers, and desserts.

Whole Salmon Confit

Starting from the Starters station, you will find a gorgeous Whole Salmon Confit with caviar, served with crème fraîche, chives, eggs and shallots.

Honey-smoked Duck Breast

Another of my favourite starters is these plump slices of Honey-smoked Duck Breast. The zesty sweet caramelised pineapple and tomato salsa cut through the meat's richness and livened the dish with vibrant flavours.

French Cheese and Charcuterie

Country Pate

Another highlight of this semi-buffet spread is the range of fine French Cheeses and Charcuterie available for selection. Apart from the beautiful cheeses, the housemade Country Pate with cognac, dried fruits and pistachios wrapped in bacon should be on your cheese board. It's perfect with a glass of wine or rose if you are in for more indulgence.

Sushi

Sahimi

Assorted Sushi and Sashimi are also available, beautifully arranged in Japanese-style boxes. Replacing the regular tuna sashimi with Tataki Tuna definitely sets itself apart from the usual buffet sashimi fare.

Chilled Seafood

There is also a small but well-curated seafood station.

Arborio Risotto 3.8/5

The Main courses feature a balance of western and Asian delights that showcase Chef Eric's strength in both cooking styles. If you wish to skip the meats, the lusciously creamy Arborio Risotto is toothsome with a chewy texture put together by short-grained rice and sauteed morel mushrooms. It comes with a finishing shaving of truffle to excite your senses.

Wagyu Flank Steak 4/5

Wagyu Flank Steak wows not just with its rich beefy flavour and tenderness, but I also appreciate how Chef Eric has given it a touch of Asian flair by giving it an umami dashi soy glaze.

Sambal Seafood Rice 4/5

Under the Asian selection, the humble sweet, and spicy Sambal Seafood Rice shines with a morish citrusy sambal paste that complements the fresh seafood and turmeric rice.

The buffet offers one of the best dessert selections. From mini caneles, rum babas, and chocolate tarts to dainty Fraisier Cake, a vanilla mascarpone with strawberries, sable breton and mixed berry sauce, they are each exquisitely made by the pastry chef. Also available are Belgian Waffles served a la minute with chantilly cream and berry compote from the live station.

Semi-Buffet Dinner at Racines is available Monday to Thursday, 6pm to 10pm.
- $88++ per adult
- $44++ per child (6 to 11 years old)

For dining reservations, please visit https://bit.ly/racines-weekday-buffet. For enquiries, please call +65 6428 5000 or email HA152@sofitel.com.

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.


Racines
Sofitel City Centre
9 Wallich Street
5th floor
Singapore 078885
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT Station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Basilico @ Regent Singapore - Basilico's Epic Buffet Brunches are Back

Located on the second floor of Regent Singapore, Basilico is known for offering one of the best Italian buffets in town, emphasising fresh ingredients and classic Italian elements such as a rotisserie, antipasti, and pasta, wood-fired pizzas, and a walk-in cheese cellar. Following the loosening of local restrictions of the Covid pandemic, Basilico has also returned with their epic brunch buffets, where diners can walk around and enjoy the spread at their leisure.

The brunch menu features an indulgent selection of antipasti such as the aged Parma ham and sweet cantaloupe, Putignano Burrata and toasted Ciabatta. We also tried the Pancetta Steccata, Mortadella, Prosciutoo di Parma, and Salame Rosette.

Not to be missed is their famed cheese cellar which housed an impressive selection of 40 artisanal kinds of cheese, such as the Ciambella di Bufala (buffalo's milk cheese), Ricotta, and Burrata with truffles or caviar.

The Seafood on Ice features fresh selections such as the king scallop in lemon and herbs, poached tiger prawns, clams, Boston lobsters, and mussels.

Make your way to the grilled meats sections for the Grilled Beef, Chicken or Seabass.

If you're hankering for some carbs, the Spaghetti with briny seafood squid ink sauce and Penne with tomato sauce will satisfy your tastebuds.

The Pancetta di maiale (crispy pork belly) and Foie Gras were my absolute favourite. Tender and juicy with an extremely crackling crispy skin, I had heaps of the former, while the latter was prepped a la minute for freshness and just melts in the mouth like butter.

End the feast on a sweet note with desserts such as the Mousse al Cioccolato (white chocolate berry mousse), Torta al Caramello (caramel cake), Finanzitore di Mirtilli (blueberry financer) and Torta di Mele (apple tart). The Torta di Riccota e Tartufo (Truffle Burnt Cheesecake) was an interesting dessert. Infused with truffle and topped with black truffle, the burnt cheesecake was deliciously creamy, and the addition of the truffle aroma elevates the entire experience.

If cakes are not enough for your sweettooth, opt for the Vanilla Pana Cotta, Traditional Tiramisu, Chocolate Mousse, and Mango Mousse, or head for more desserts over at the gelato counter with flavours including vanilla, chocolate, coconut, raspberry sorbet, lemon sorbet, and figs sorbet.

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.


Basilico
Regent Hotel Singapore
Level 2
1 Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249715
Tel: +65 67253232
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Nearest MRT: Orchard Boulevard (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch:
Mon-Fri: 12 - 3pm
Brunch:
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 330pm
Dinner:
Daily: 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard Boulevard MRT station. Take Exit 1. Turn right and walk down Cuscaden Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 mintues. [Map]

Sol & Luna @ CapitaSpring - A New Latin-European Bistro Nestled In Lush Greenery

Sol & Luna is the latest concept by 1-Group perched 100 metres up on Singapore's latest 51-storey skyscraper CapitaSpring. It is a Latin-European bistro nestled in the building's green oasis, a unique sanctuary-in-the-sky of lush greenery.

Fried Soft Shell Prawn 4.2/5

We began our dinner at Sol & Luna with the Fried Soft Shell Prawn ($16) served with lime aioli and parsley. There is no need to de-shell the prawns. It can be eaten together with the crispy shell. An addictive snack to kick start the dinner, especially with a few glasses of drinks.

Grilled Tomino Cheese 3.5/5

You may like the Grilled Tomino Cheese ($22) wrapped with parma ham if you are a cheese lover. You can also taste a hint of sweetness from the acacia honey, coupled with a peppery kick from the black pepper. To enjoy the gooey grilled tomino cheese, you can spread it on the crostini.

Prawn & Octopus Nicoise Salad 4/5

The Prawn & Octopus Nicoise Salad ($25) will delight the carnivores as the meats are more than the greens. You can find prawn, octopus, quail eggs, haricot beans, Rescoldo potatoes, olive and Spanish anchovy on the plate.

White Gazpacho 3.5/5

Next, we have the White Gazpacho ($19) with grape segments, marcona almonds, grilled half avocado and mixed seeds, drizzled with a few drops of basil oil. I find it quite bare with just half an avocado floating in the middle of the white gazpacho in terms of presentation. While the cold soup is tasty, complemented by the various textural bites of the ingredients, I thought the cold soup was not chill enough.

Grilled Australian Shark Bay 4/5

This is our third prawn dish for the night, Grilled Australian Shark Bay ($25). There is nothing fancy, just simple cooking to appreciate the sweetness of the tiger prawns, topped with corn and tomato salsa.

Truffle Risotto 4.2/5

One of the crowd's favourites is the Truffle Risotto ($25), cooked to a delightful creaminess packed with beautiful flavours from the grana padano truffle and mushroom paste. Customers have the option to add fresh seasonal truffles, subject to market price.

Wood-Fired Sardine 4.2/5

The dish that surprised me was the Wood-fired Sardine ($19). Shaped like a sausage, it is actually a concoction of sardine, mussel, herb and pine nuts wrapped with parma ham, paired with butternut puree. There is something familiar with the wood-fired sardine that I can't pinpoint. It just grows on me to go back for more.

Baked Veal Shank Pie 3.5/5

Good for sharing is the Baked Veal Shank Pie ($28). Tearing the puff pastry apart reveals a bowl of chunky veal, carrot, onion, and potato in delicious veal jus. Though I find the veal shank was a bit tough for my liking, the rest are well executed.

Escalivada 3/5

As for the Escalivada ($14), I do not know how to appreciate the mushy texture of the ragout of eggplant paired with capsicum, pearl onions, Spanish anchovies and hazelnut oil. However, the taste profile is indeed delicious.

12 Hours Slow Cooked Welsh Lamb 3.5/5

The 12 Hours Slow Cooked Welsh Lamb ($28) is cooked to fork tender, paired excellently with the bordelaise sauce, broccolini and garlic crumbs. 

Sol & Luna Tiramisu 3/5

For dessert, we tried the Sol & Luna Tiramisu ($16) and Tarte Tatin with Creme Anglaise Sauce ($13). The tiramisu is light-handed compared to other versions I have.

Tarte Tatin with Creme Anglaise Sauce 4/5

My preference goes for the Tarte Tatin with Creme Anglaise Sauce. Pour the creme anglaise sauce over the caramelised apple layer resting on the puffy pastry for a sweet ending to a satisfying dinner.

Overall, Sol & Luna is a beautiful restaurant on top of CapitaSpring. It brings together dishes from the Latin-European region - Italy, France, Portugal and Spain, reinvented with a twist and finesse. While there are hits and misses for the dishes, it is still worthy of a visit to immerse yourself in the green oasis.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Sol & Luna
CapitaSpring
88 Market Street
#17-01
Singapore 048948
Tel: +65 80314316
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Nearest MRT: Raffles MRT (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Breakfast
Daily: 7am - 1045am
Weekend Brunch
Sat & Sun: 10am - 230pm
High Tea
Daily: 230pm - 5pm
Lunch
Mon-Fri: 11am - 230pm
Dinner
Daily: 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Malacca Street. Walk down Malacca Street to Market Street. Cross the street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

La Belle Epoque @ Boat Quay - New European Restaurant Along The Singapore River

La Belle Epoque (which means 'the golden age' in French) is a European restaurant and bar concept that has recently opened its doors at Boat Quay. It offers contemporary European cuisine using fresh ingredients seasoned with natural herbs. Most of the herbs are sourced from Head Chef Firdauz's very own herb garden.

Oyster & Iberico 4/5

Starting off the evening was Oyster & Iberico ($26), an interesting combination of fresh oyster and crispy iberico ham, tomato salsa and Avruga caviar. Other than the delightful crunch lent by the crispy iberico ham, I love how the different elements within the tiny shell played out when I consumed it as a whole. The crispy iberico ham and caviar seasoned the fresh oyster with their savoury notes, while the sweet and acidic tomato salsa balanced the overall flavours.

Hummus Taco 3.5/5

Next, we had Hummus Taco ($10). The hummus is made with smoked chickpea. The elusive smoky accent of the hummus made it even more moreish and delicious. However, it might be better to serve the corn taco shell as a side as it turned soggy after a while.

Cauliflower Steak 2.5/5

The Cauliflower Steak ($12) is a vegetarian-friendly dish featuring a smoked and cured cauliflower with vegetable butter herbs, served with purple sweet potato. Unlike the hummus taco, smoking the ingredients didn't work in the dish. The presence of that smokey flavour was somewhat overwhelming and got unpleasant after a while. The cauliflower was not very well cooked through either.

Smoked Pork Belly 4/5

We had two meat dishes, of which I would highly recommend the Smoked Pork Belly ($16) marinated with spices. It is served with crispy pork crackers, grilled peach salad and pork veloute. The taste of the pork cracker needs to be improved for sure, but otherwise, the pork belly itself was scrumptious. Instead of the usual apple sauce, the chef used the sweetness of grilled peach to complement the meat.

Beef Short Ribs 2.8/5

However, the Beef Short Ribs ($28) was rather disappointing. Marinated with local spices and sous vide for 48 hours, the meat was relatively dry.

Cheese and Cold Cuts Board 2.5/5

We also had a sample of their Cheeses and Cold Cuts Board, but I find it rather lacklustre.

Lemon Tart 3/5

Tiramisu 4/5, Guerre Stellari 4.5/5

The desserts were good. We had Lemon Tart ($10), Tiramisu ($10) and Guerre Stellari ($10). The Guerre Stellari was my favourite. Encased within dark chocolate crust was rum chocolate mousse, and it was a perfect marriage with the tart raspberry sorbet.

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.


La Belle Epoque
63 Boat Quay
Singapore 049851
Tel: +65 67321687
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Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 3pm - 1130pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road walk to Upper Circular Road. Walk down Upper Circular Road to North Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to the riverfront. Turn left and walk down Boat Quay. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]