Bedrock Origin @ Oasis Resort Sentosa - All New Beef & Reef Series

Bedrock Origin at Oasis Resort Sentosa, which opened in September 2021, introduces an all-new Beef & Reef series. It is a quarterly showcase through the year that celebrates a bounty of seafood and premium meats prepared with primal culinary techniques such as curing, dry-ageing and grilling over an applewood fire.

The first edition, available until 31 March 2022, features an array of delectable seafood dishes and steak with a 6-Course Dinner Tasting Menu ($188** per person) or a 6-Course Dinner Tasting Menu with Caviar ($288** per person). In addition, diners can enhance the dining experience with an exquisite wine pairing for an additional $88 per person.

Kingfish Tartare, Salmon Pastrami Toast, King Crab Roll 4.2/5

The 6-Course Dinner Tasting Menu starts with a medley of petite bites comprising Kingfish Tartare, Salmon Pastrami Toast, and King Crab Roll. Among the three starters, my favourite is the king crab roll. It comes with sweet Japanese king crab meat in a tartare sauce is enrobed in thinly sliced green apples and crowned with mountain caviar.

Wine Pairing: A perfect accompaniment to the trio is the Cullen Amber, Sauvignon Blanc Semillon from Australia with beautiful tropical and citrusy notes.

Truffle Corn Custard 4/5

The second course is the Truffle Corn Custard. It is a sweet egg custard coming from the freshly juiced corn, complemented with brown butter red prawns, a drizzle of truffle oil, basil oil and tarragon leaves.

Wine Pairing: French Domaine Albert Mann, Riesling, flaunts notes of white flowers and citrus fruits amidst a zippy and mineral finish of delicious green apples and zesty limes.

Grilled Octopus Tentacles 4.2/5

Next is the Grilled Octopus Tentacles. The hearty dish features tender octopus tentacles that have been applewood-smoked and grilled. The hearty dish also comes with jamon iberico, fried cauliflower rice, and pickled radish on a bed of velvety cauliflower puree.

Wine Pairing: Terrazas Reserva, Malbec from Mendoza, revealing black fruit notes, soft tannins, and a smooth and oaky finish.

Aged Turbot 4.2/5

The Aged Turbot has been dry-aged in-house for three days giving it a firmer texture and concentration of flavours. It is elevated with a side of sweet and tart sun-dried cherry tomatoes, basil cress, and kombu compound butter.

Wine Pairing: Domaine Cazes, Alter, a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre, with ripe fruit notes of plum and cherries.

Kyoto Tamba A5 Wagyu (100g) 4.5/5

The highlight has to be the Kyoto Tamba A5 Wagyu (100g), grilled over applewood fire and glazed with a red wine veal jus reduction. Top-quality piece of richly marbled beef that melted in the mouth.

Wine Pairing: Roberto Voerzio, Nebbiolo Di Sanfrancesco from Italy. It is an ideal match with its red fruit notes of cherry, raspberry, and strawberry.

Flourless Chocolate Cake 4/5

Rounding off the 6-course meal is the Flourless Chocolate Cake. The 85% dark chocolate cake is adorned with brandy-infused cherries and grated toasted whole hazelnuts,

Wine Pairing: Jean Leon 3055, Merlot from Spain, boasts toasty notes and a profile of smooth tannins and forward notes of cherries for an exceptional closure.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Bedrock Origin
Oasia Resort Sentosa Hotel
23 Beach View Palawan Ridge
#01-02
Singapore 098679
Tel: +65 68183333
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 7am - 11am, 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbour Front MRT station. Exit station to Vivocity Shopping Mall. Go to Sentosa Express Station at Level 3 of Vivocity. Take Sentosa Express Train to Imbiah station. Alight at Imbiah station and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 mins. [Map]

Open Farm Community @ Minden Road - New Farm To Feast, Reinvigorate The Different Relationships Found On The Dining Table

Open Farm Community (OFC), Singapore's pioneering urban farm and restaurant concept, launches Farm Feast. It is a new family-style tasting menu designed to reinvigorate the different relationships on the dining table - between friends and families, as well as diners and their food. Each feast serves an array of snacks, starters, mains, house-made accompaniments, and desserts that can be adjusted to any group size. It is priced at $88 per pax for dinner, with a minimum company of two.

SG Grown Radishes 4.2/5

We started with the SG Grown Radishes that is freshly plucked and served from farm to table. It is paired with cultured cream and sourdough crumble. It is my first time having raw radish. It has an enjoyable sweetness similar to a guava couple with a delightful crunchy texture.

Cauliflower Wings 4/5

Interestingly the Cauliflower Wings are shaped to look like chicken drumettes. It is coated in an addictive tamarind miso sauce, finished with sprinkles of sesame and green onions. It works for me, and I think children that dislike eating vegetables will enjoy this too.

OFC Farm Sweet Corn 4.2/5

One of my favourite starters is the OFC Farm Sweet Corn from the restaurant's farm. The grilled corn is very sweet. It surprises me that our local farm can produce such top-quality ingredients.

Hokkaido Scallop 4.2/5

The Hokkaido Scallop was plump, sweet and beautifully seared. However, what caught my attention is the sweet, smooth and creamy corn puree that complement the scallop excellently.

Grassfed NZ Short Ribs 3.8/5

For the mains, we had the Grassfed NZ Short Ribs. The bone-in meat is roasted to tender and doused in a Mexican mole sauce, giving it a spicy, smoky and sweet note. It is further enhanced with the topping of caramelised, pickled and deep-fried onions.

Accompanying the mains, we have a couple of house-made accompaniments such as Ancient Grains & Seeds, Smashin' Pumpkin, SG Green Salad and QJ's Kimchi. Unfortunately, I didn't quite get my head around the concept of the accompaniments as they did not complement the short ribs.

Before moving to the dessert, we had the refreshing Cucumber Sorbet for pre-dessert. 

Wrapping up the Farm Feast is the decadent Chocolate Dessert made from Single Origin beans from neighbouring countries. Chocolate lovers will adore the dessert for its delicate sweetness.

Wine lovers can also opt for wine pairing with the Farm Feast for an extra $40 per guest. Guest will get 3 glasses of natural wine to pair with the sumptuous meal.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Open Farm Community
130E Minden Road
Singapore 248819
Tel: +65 64710306
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 9pm
Sat-Sun: 11am - 330pm, 6pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT. Take Exit B. Cross the road and walk to bus stop at Boulevard Orchard opposite Orchard MRT (Stop ID 09022). Take bus no. 7, 77, 106, 123 or 174. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Minden Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Dine At Home During Phrase 2 Heighten Alert - Kibar Japanese Grill + Bistro

Singapore is having another semi lockdown known as Phrase 2 Heighten Alert. One of the measures is that we are not allowed to dine in at all food establishments. Hence we are back to takeaway and delivery again, just like the circuit breaker period last year. One of the restaurants which impressed me with the yummy food is Kibar Japanese Grill + Bistro, located at Changi Civil Service Club. It is a restaurant under the radar, and I am glad to discover this hidden gem.

Miso Yuzu Corn 4.8/5

Kibar is an all-day bistro serving modern French and Japanese fusion in the day. It transforms into a bar for modern Japanese tapas-style dining in the evenings. The first item I tried is the Miso Yuzu Corn. Discounting that the food needs time to travel from the far East to my home in the West still impressed me. The grilled corn coated with Japanese seasoning is so good and sweet. I thought Mexican seasoning is the best to complement the corn, but this has changed my mind.

Truffle Portobello Katsu 4.5/5

The other fantastic starter we had is the Truffle Portobello Katsu. I love how the kitchen team elevated the enjoyment of the earthy and juicy mushroom, giving it a crusty coat.

Roasted Chicken stuffed with Truffle & Wild Mushroom Rice 4.2/5

AAnother beautiful item on the menu is the Roasted Chicken stuffed with Truffle & Wild Mushroom Rice. The roasted chicken is tender and juicy with golden-brown skin. It is also stuffed with fragrant Japanese rice, truffle and mushrooms. It can be a meal on its own

Iberico BBQ Spare Ribs 4.2/5

I am not sure I can fault any dish from Kibar. Cooked to fork-tender is the Iberico BBQ Spare Ribs. The ribs are marinated in Suntory black ale, grilled over binchotan for a smokey and malty finishing.

Snow Crab Leg Seafood Pao Fan 4.5/5

Last but not least, a must-try is the Snow Crab Leg Seafood Pao Fan. The broth is packed with depth and crustaceans robustness. Besides the snow crab leg, there are clams, prawns, cabbage and rice.

Kibar Japanese Grill + Bistro is availabe for both self-collection and islandwide delivery. To order, you can visit https://order.kibar.sg/


Kibar Japanese Grill + Bar
Changi Civil Service Club
Block B
2 Netheravon Road
Singapore 508503
Tel: +65 82282640
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Kinki Restaurant + Bar @ Customs House - A Bigger, Bolder, Badder Revamp

Time flies, and  Kinki Restaurant + Bar at Customs House has been around for more than 10 years since May 2010. On the cusp of a new decade, Kinki starts a new chapter with an audacious revamp. Gone is the sumo, passing his legacy to the Geisha for her epitome of Japanese femininity and hospitality.

Cassava Nachos 4.2/5

We started our dinner with some light bites. First up is the Cassava Nachos ($18) topped with tomato miso beef, guacamole, creme fraiche, Japanese cucumber and cherry tomatoes. Kinki substituted the usual tortilla chips with tapioca chips for a more delightful textural bite. At the same time, the Japanese cucumber gives it a refreshing finish.

Corn Duo 4.8/5

Next is the Corn Duo ($16), which comprises baby corn and corn puree. The addition of furikake elevated the enjoyment of the corn's sweetness.

AC/DC Dynamite 4.5/5

I would highly recommend the AC/DC Dynamite ($22) for an explosion of flavours. The tempura-fried mixed seafood roll is capped by a slice of Japanese cucumber with fresh raw seafood and avocado. The homemade Sriracha sweet soy provides the ignition to the explosion.

Cowabunga 4.2/5

Beef lover will enjoy the Cowabunga ($36) compromising Japanese rice rolled with cream cheese, cucumber, homemade spicy mayo, and melt-in-the-mouth seared A4 Wagyu beef slices. The parcel is topped with tobiko, potato floss and soy reduction for the different textural contrast.

Unagi Claypot 4.5/5

The off the menu Unagi Claypot ($35), which only served during special occasions, has now made it permanently to the menu. Besides the huge piece of unagi on top of the charred fried rice, chopped unagi is also tossed in it, doused in a homemade unagi sauce. Each mouthful is full of addictive charred flavour for a comforting enjoyment.

Kickass Chirashi Don 4.5/5

Being a Japanese restaurant, it can't do without fresh seafood. The Kickass Chirashi Don ($78) comes with the Chef's selection of premium seafood on sushi rice. During my visit, there is otoro, kinmedai, hirame, salmon, shima aji, hotate, botan ebi, tamago, ikura and Polanco Oscietra caviar.

Karaage Chicken Bao 4.2/5

A delightful Japanese-Chinese fusion is the Karaage Chicken Bao ($20) with juicy, deep-fried chicken thigh, momotaro tomato and pickled cucumber sandwiched in a soft, fluffy steamed bun. It is dressed in a sweet soy sauce for a multi flavour and textural finish.

Spicy Buffalo Katsu 3/5

The Spicy Buffalo Katsu ($30) was slightly disappointing for me compare to the rest. The breaded pork loin cutlet tossed in homemade Japanese buffalo sauce is slightly on the dry side for me. Furthermore, it is not spicy at all.

Grilled Squid Chimichurri 4.5/5

New on the menu is the Grilled Squid Chimichurri ($32). It is smokey and tender paired excellently with the sweet and sour sauce. Perfect to have this with a couple of drinks.

Ice Cream 3/5

We have Ice Cream ($8/ $12) to wrap up the dinner. There are flavours such as yuzu, momo, black sesame and more.

Diners can look forward to The Bottomless Brunch ($68) on Saturday, for unlimited a la carte servings of sushi, sashimi, maki, hot and cold Japanese favourites, and desserts. You can also top it up with free-flow beer, sake, prosecco or shochu for $35.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Kinki Restaurant + Bar
Customs House
70 Collyer Quay
#02-02
Singapore 049323
Tel: +65 83636697
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Restaurant
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 215pm, 6pm - 1015pm
Sat & PH: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1015pm

Bar
Mon-Sat: 5pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Clifford Centre. Cut across the building. Go to 2nd floor, take the overhead bridge link across the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Chico Loco @ Amoy Street - A New Concept By The Loco Group Focusing On Spit Roasted Chicken

Chico Loco at Amoy Street is the latest concept by The Loco Group - casual Mexican spit-roasted chicken joint that serves locally farmed chickens which are raised with an organic diet, plus probiotics! Healthy but dirty as what Chico Loco would like to describe their food, bringing the chickens a secret house blend of 11 herbs and spices including quintessentially Mexican ingredients like achiote, dried oregano and mustard powder before sending them off into the spit roaster. And the verdict?

Spit Roasted Chicken 3.8/5

Even against the exposed brick walls, terracotta tiles, the Spit Roasted Chicken (Quarter $9/Half $17/Whole $32) is not as 'dirty' as I thought it will be. Rustic perhaps. But if you add on the funky sides and incredible sauces, it is a different story. Homemade sauces are laborious tasks, so at $2 each is reasonable to me. Furthermore, each sauce is so punchy and full of kicks that you don't really need to soak your meat in it. Smokey Chipotle BBQ would be a safe bet, but what stood out for me is the Habanero & Mango, a fruity sauce with a fiery kick. The Chimichurri Yoghurt is superb with their lamb shoulder. All sauces and dressings are made with avocado oil if that is ever your concern.

Dry Rubbed Lamb Shoulder 3/5

Chico Loco also offers Dry Rubbed Lamb Shoulder (125g for $12/250g for $23) as well, which is less commonly offered elsewhere. What we had was excellent in terms of its flavours, but the texture was a tad mushy. I reckon it goes better in their Lamb Burrito ($16), which is a better option for a quick lunch.

Guacamole 4/5

Chicoslaw 4/5

Yes, you do need sides to accompany your meats, or is it the other way round? The sides intrigued me much more. I have no complaints with the creamy yet zesty Guacamole with Corn Chips ($7), or the Somtum inspired Chicoslaw ($6) which caught my attention the moment I set my eyes on the menu. Always up for one! Not to be missed it their mouthwatering Street Corn ($6), glazed with chipotle mayo, cheese and lime. Each corn kernel was plump and juicy. But I think the corn is prepared steamed rather than grilled, and charred edges would have elevated it up a notch.

Mexican Mixta 4.5/5

All the meats and hefty dishes such as the Huge Chicken Taco or Buttermilk Chicken Burger might just overshadow this humble green Mexican Mixta ($11). Overflowing with textures rendered from mouth filling avocado slices, crisp romaine lettuce, chunky cucumber, nutty activated pepitas and crunchy tortilla strips, the fat corn kernels made it even more pleasurable. Even the yoghurt - based ranch dressing, enlivened with dills and herbs, was yummy on its own.

Super Natural Coconut Soft Serve 3.5/5

Their dessert goes really well with the entire 'dirty health' concept. Unlike some coconut ice creams which are sickly sweet with a thin consistency, this Super Natural Coconut Soft Serve ($6) is dense with a sweet fragrance of coconut. All the toppings seem really interesting ($1), so to complete the tropical feel, we had fresh pineapple and agave. I would advise against adding the agave as it tends to overpower the ice cream.

For Snacks, we also had a Mexican Prawn Toast ($13). I ever had one in Melbourne that comes with tamarind sauce which pairs reasonably well with the prawn mousse, but Chico uses chilli, salsa macha and a slightly acidic pickled cucumber, which overwhelms the mousse.

Given the vibe and atmosphere, it is kind of hard to resist the Loco Group’s brand - new draught beers inspired by trips to Mexico and a selection of over 30 craft beers. Happy Hour takes place from 5pm to 7pm on weekdays.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Chico Loco
102 Amoy Street
Singapore 069922
Tel: +65 97387828 (Whatsapp Only)
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours
Mon-Thu: 8am - 10pm
Fri: 8am - 12midnight
Sat: 5pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Amoy Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Telok Ayer Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Three Buns Quayside @ The Quayside - Potato Head Family's First Stand-alone Restaurant For Their Award-Winning Burgers

Three Buns Quayside is Potato Head Family's first stand-alone location in Singapore for their award-winning burger and cocktail brand. This new home in Robertson Quay features a newly curated menu with a combination of exclusive items and popular signatures, alongside with weekend brunch menu and crafted tropical cocktails.

Aligned with Potato Head Family ethos of “Good Times, Do Good”, the 80-seat burger bar is fitted with upcycled interiors from bottom up. You will find yourself walking on eco-friendly cement, sitting and dining on sustainably made furniture handcrafted by Indonesian artisans.

All burgers here are made from scratch, and by that they mean 95% of the menu handmade including ketchup! That's possible because Executive Chef Adam has honed his craft at Lonsdale in London which is known for making burgers from scratch. Each patty is made from two prime cuts of grass-fed Australian meat, seasoned with kosher salt and that's it. What bind the buns and patties together are the homemade sauces such as the piquant Three Islands Mayo (mayo, ketchup, sriracha), premium cheeses from US, UK and Greece, and really interesting relish which you will find out as you make your way into the burgers.

Bun DMC 3.8/5

The new burgers are exclusive to this outlet, and there seems to be a head-to-head battle between Bun DMC ($16) and Da Cheese Master ($15). Bun DMC stood out with its refreshing home-made watermelon rind relish and bore an interesting identity with the layer of bawang goreng (fried shallots) sprinkled on top of the onion puree. The Three Islands Mayo (mayo, ketchup, sriracha) is creamy, sweet with a hint of spice, bringing all the ingredients together with the help of the sharp melted cheese.

Da Cheese Master 3.8/5

Da Cheese Master was fun and messier with gooey double cheddar and homemade ketchup. The double cheddar wasn't too strong, it only made this burger hearty and finger-linking good. The humble ketchup really brought the ingredients together. It was sweet and tangy, and worked well with the charred onions in supporting the black Angus beef patty.

Red Man 3.8/5

There is a reason why Red Man Burger (Beef Rendang) ($28) is priced much higher than the rest. Between the special coconut buns is a slab of beef cheek which has been sous vide for 24 hours in a sweet and spicy blend of over 10 spices and ingredients that has been stewed for 2 hours. My teeth sunk through the beef cheeks as I took a bite. The sauce was robust but not at all overpowering. I love the pickled cucumber and slaws at both side of the beef cheeks which brighten up the taste. However, at some point, I felt the meat had lost a little of its natural juice and flavour, perhaps as a result of sous vide. I couldn't really taste the coconut profile of the buns either, which is a pity. Overall, beef cheeks may still be best to stand as a dish in its own rather than in a burger.

Smokin-B-Boy 3.5/5

Smokin-B-Boy is Potato Head's signature burger with the classic combination of smokey bacon and beef patty. Again, the sauce in between heighten the profile of the meat. My vote still goes to either Bun DMC and Da Cheese Master, for that piquancy which is missing in this classic.

Truffello 3/5

Truffello ($15) is a meat-free burger with Portobello mushrooms replacing the beef patty. As much as I like the pickled onions and cold slaw in between, it hasn't changed my mind towards a meat-free burger. I still see it as a healthy, mushroom sandwich.

Truffle Hound 2.8/5

Seng Dog 2.8/5

A few new bites to go with your drinks. Truffle Hound ($15) and Seng Dog ($12). Once can choose between beef or chicken sausage. If you really want to try a hotdog, then the latter may be a better choice with its matcha bun.

Miso Dirty Fries 3/5

What's more exciting than those hotdogs are these Miso Dirty Fries ($9) and Naughty Fries. The fries are fried potato slices, first comes dressed in miso béarnaise, smoked chicken sausage, chicken floss, chives, scallions and pickle chilli, while the latter is topped with ayam chicken, marinated in a spicy and tangy Korean BBQ sauce. Albeit the overly seasoned potatoes, both are great change from the usual bites.

Crackalacka Corn 3/5

As for the Crackalacka Corn, you can throw that in if you want to boost your vegetables intake.

Somebody told me that burgers and milkshakes together is one of the best marriages ever, and Three Buns’ elevates that with two new boozy milkshakes – the bananas-based 3 Monkeys ($18) and chocolate-filled Aye Sailor ($18) made with house-made vanilla ice cream. 3 Monkeys is definitely sugar overloaded hence i would recommend Aye Sailor for its rich chocolaty taste enhanced by chocolate bitters. Non-alcoholic version is available as while, great for the kids for families coming for their weekend brunch.

Sticky Icky Wicky 3/5

A few desserts available to sweeten up your meals, though I feel I rather have my indulgent milkshake. Never mind the rest and go for the Sticky Icky Wicky, a sticky pudding that comes piping hot with a layer of caramelized gula melaka which cools and releases the sweetness in your mouth as the ice cream melts.

As mentioned, brunch is available as well, on every Saturday and Sunday from 11am-4pm. What caught my eyes was Beet It. The striking pink hues atop of the salmon toast is beets & horseradish, which is really rare to find in Singapore and it costs a premium to bring fresh horseradish in. Blueberry Basic ($15) is buttermilk pancakes with not your maple syrup but a special housemade sauce made with vanilla salt, vanilla pods, thyme and coffee ground. So, nothing here is that basic afterall.

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.


Three Buns Quayside
60 Robertson Quay
#01-01
Singapore 238252
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT Line, NE Line), Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 5pm - 12midnight
Sat-Sun: 11am - 12midnight
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop along Upper Cross Road, Opposite Subordinate Court (Stop ID 06171). Take bus number 51 or 186. Alight1 stops later. Cross the road. Cross the river and walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to junction of River Valley Road and Clemenceau Avenue. Cross the road. Turn left and walk to the river. At the river, turn right and walk down the river. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]