Boeuf @ Telok Ayer Street - 2Hr All You Can Eat Free Flow Argentinian Ribeye On Weekends

Boeuf, located in the Central Business District, is a new steakhouse that offers a variety of aged prime ribs as well as steak with varying marbling scores and beef sourced from around the globe without breaking the bank.

Bone Marrow 4/5

We started with the Bone Marrow ($18/$30) with toasted bread, perfect for mopping up the creamy, rich-tasting bone marrow.

Wagyu Tartare 4/5

Next is the Wagyu Tartare ($28). The portion is generous. Using 400+ days grass-fed Australia Wagyu MB5, the raw beef tossed with capers, shallot, and gherkins is packed with lovely flavours. I am told the chef added mayonnaise, giving it a delightful creamy texture.

Board Minnie 4/5

The Board Minnie ($48) is great for sharing and comes with two kinds of cheese, bresaola and veal rillette. You can also create your own board at $13 each per selection.

Signature Dry Aged Prime Rib Bone-In 4.5/5

The highlight has to be their Signature Dry Aged Prime Rib Bone-In ($18/100g). It comes bone-in, with a minimum of 1kg of charcoal-grilled beefy goodness. Customers get to pick their own dry-aged option, grilled over charcoal on a lava stone, giving it a good char and infused with a smoky aroma. It is then popped into the oven to lock in the juiciness. There are four different accompanying sauces - Steak Butter ($5), Pepper ($5), Mushroom ($6) and Blue Cheese ($6).

Potato Gratin 4.5/5

Kenya Bean 3.5/5

Hand Cut Fries 4/5

We had some sides to go with the beautiful charcoal-grilled prime ribs. Out of the six items available on the sides menu, we picked the Potato Gratin ($12), Kenya Bean ($9) and Hand Cut Fries ($9). Out of the three sides, the Potato Gratin stood out. The layered potato slices baked in cream and cheese were deliciously flavoured with herbs adding a subtle earthy taste profile. The kenya bean and hand-cut fries were comforting dishes that complemented the steak and frites dining experience.

Argentinian Ribeye 4/5

Beef lovers will rejoice that Boeuf has a 2-Hour Eat All You Can Free-Flow Argentinian Ribeye promotion for only $48++ on weekends. However, despite free flow, the restaurant did not shy away from offering quality cuts.

Choco De Coco 4/5

After all the meats, it is good to end the meal on a sweet note. Chocolate lovers will revel in the Choco De Coco ($13) served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. There is even chestnut in the dark chocolate dessert.

Creme Brulee 4/5

The Cream Brulee ($13) was soft and creamy with a crackling caramelised sugar on top. The contrast provides a wonderful textural experience for a satisfying sweet ending.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Boeuf
159 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068614
Tel: +65 69701255
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Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 1030pm

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

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Turn left and walk down Telok Ayer Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Salt & Palm @ Joo Chiat - Neighbourhood Resto-Bar Serving Modern Flavours Of East Indies

Having won over Sydney, Australia, Salt & Palm has now opened in the colourful neighbourhood of Joo Chiat, bringing its fun new take on the flavours of the East Indies to our shore. Helmed by Executive Chef Natasya Soetantyo, she seeks to change the perception and introduce the diversity of Indonesian cuisine as a whole archipelago through contemporary cooking techniques using traditional spices, recreating the complex flavours and dishes in a modern way.

Fresh Oyster 4/5

We kickstarted our meals with a couple of starters, beginning with the Fresh Oyster ($28 for 3 pc). The freshly shucked Amelie oysters from Marennes-Oleron, France, can be paired with either a choice of lime wedges or tomato tamarind and basil kemangi pandan oil.

Hokkaido Scallop 4/5

Next is the Hokkaido Scallop ($22), lightly torched and paired with tempe chips, fried garlic, chilli peanut lime, sweet soy and lemon basil herbs. The combination gives a glimpse of Chef Natasya's philosophy of incorporating her Indonesian heritage into her cooking.

Fish Cake 4/5

The Balinese-style Fish Cake ($12 for 2pc), made from minced fish and a blend of traditional spices, is topped with chilli lemongrass shallot salsa which enlivens the flavour. The accompanying chicken skin tuille provides that extra textural enjoyment.

Potato Cake 3.5/5

There are also several Vegan dishes on the menu, such as the Potato Cake ($12 for 2pc). The potato cake is topped with vegan mayo and vegan caviar to finish. The combination and flavour are straightforward, which didn't come with any significant surprises.

Prawn Bisque Pasta 4/5

Moving to the mains, we had the Prawn Bisque Pasta ($32), inspired by Palembang Mie Celor, a seafood noodle in coconut broth. The interpretation, which comes with king prawns, south sumatran prawn bisque, onsen egg, beansprouts, tobiko and chives, is bursting with the sweetness of the sea.

Beef Short Ribs 3.8/5

Australian grain-fed beef is used for the Beef Short Ribs ($52). I wish the texture could be more tender, but the rendang sauce is fragranced with kaffir lime leaf, cinnamon, chilli, and candlenut. The flavour is more savoury than sweet, leaning more towards the Indonesian style instead of the sweeter Malaysian style.

Porchetta 4.5/5

The Porchetta ($32) at Salt & Palm is its version of Balinese Babi Guling. The pork belly is marinated in a unique Balinese spice blend but cooked in Italian style. The result is succulent with crispy crackling, paired with chilli lemongrass salsa for a lifted enjoyment. This is one of my favourite dishes for the night.

Mushroom Rendang 4.5/5

Another beautiful dish on the menu is the Mushroom Rendang ($30). The medley of mushrooms and baby potatoes is simmered in a housemade rendang sauce over long hours and topped with toasted coconut flakes for texture contrast.

Pandan Coconut Creme Brulee 2.8/5

We wrapped up our dinner with the Pandan Coconut Creme Brulee ($15) and Pavlova ($18) for dessert. The Pandan Coconut Creme Brulee is egg and dairy free, topped with jackfruit and berries. There was even young coconut filling in the custard. However, I wouldn't say I liked the texture of the creme brulee. It lacked that smooth, creamy texture without the use of egg and dairy.

Pavlova 4.2/5

Compared to the creme brulee, I preferred the Pavlova ($18) for its brighter flavours. The plant-based meringue with plant-based mango and passionfruit cream is further embellished with fresh mango, blueberry, grilled peach and coconut flakes.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Salt & Palm
467 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427678
Tel: +65 89399617
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Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Thu: 5pm - 11pm
Fri-Sun: 9am - 3pm, 5pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take bus number 16. Alight 4 stops later. Walk down Joo Chiat Road to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Ms Durian @ Jalan Besar - New Standalone Bakery And Cafe Specialising In All Things Durian

If you are a durian fan, Ms Durian is a bakery and cafe you will definitely want to look out for. The team started with a small shop at Potong Pasir in 2019 before expanding to this new space at Jalan Besar in February. Their new standalone space has indoor and outdoor seating and offers diners freshly made items of all things durian.

Apart from their signature sweets, Ms Durian has also launched a new variety of savoury dishes with mains such as Pan-seared Salmon ($29) and Smoked Duck Eggs Benny ($22), as well as sharing dishes like Fried Cheese ($18) and Grilled White Corn ($12).

Mao Shan Wang Durian High Tea Set

One of Ms Durian's signatures is their Mao Shan Wang Durian High Tea Set ($45/pax). Two high tea sessions are daily, at 1pm and 3pm. Each set has four desserts, three savoury items, and a tea pairing. Do note that it is mandatory for each person at the same table to order a set each. We sampled a few items from the set, starting from the top with the ones with the least durian intensity before the stronger ones after. First was the Fried Durian. This bite had a rich durian filling with coconut sauce to pair with it. Next was the Durian Craquelin, a mini version of one of their best-selling creations. We loved the crisp and light outer layer, paired with a sweet durian centre.

We then moved on to the Durian Macaron, which had a soft and chewy shell, before finishing with the Durian Cheese Mousse that came topped with brown butter crumble. I would have liked a stronger cheese mousse here for contrast; otherwise, it was a pleasant dessert.

Durian Ice Blended 4/5

The Durian Ice Blended ($10.50) is a new introduction to their beverage list. You can have it two ways - the first is as it is served, while the second is being paired with grounded white sesame. I thought it could be blended more smoothly, and the addition of white sesame was negligible, but we enjoyed how it was rich yet not overwhelmingly sweet. It works well in satisfying the durian craving and doesn't leave you feeling heaty after finishing the whole glass.

Durian Coffee 4.2/5

Each bottle of Durian Coffee ($12.50) is made to order, done with a combination of creamy latte and durian. The espresso notes hit strongly initially, while the durian notes come in at the end. The team worked on attaining a well-balanced ratio here.

Creme Brulee with Mao Shan Wang Durian Ice Cream 3/5

Ms Durian offers a couple of plated desserts, including the Creme Brulee with Mao Shan Wang Durian Ice Cream ($18.50). While we enjoyed the rich, creamy ice cream and crunchy macadamia nut brittle, we found the vanilla essence too strong in the custard and the torched sugar layer too thick. The team was very open to feedback, so we look forward to an improved version!

Mao Shan Wang Durian Tiramisu 4/5

Made with freshly pulled espresso and an additional touch of rum, Ms Durian's Mao Shan Wang Durian Tiramisu ($18.50) is intentionally kept more bitter. We liked the intensity of the coffee and its contrasting pairing with the thick and sweet durian mousse. The ladyfingers were of a harder texture, which would be better if they were soaked further for a softer texture.

Whisky Mao Shan Wang Durian Cake 4.5/5

The Whisky Mao Shan Wang Durian Cake ($14.50) features a triple-layered Mao Shan Wang durian between whisky-infused sponge cake, topped with meringue. The whisky leaves a subtle whiff, while the crisp meringue gives a complementary touch of sweetness. The durian was rich but not too sweet, which we greatly enjoyed.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Ms Durian
11 Kelantan Road
Singapore 208604
Tel: +65 69620057
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Nearest MRT: Jalan Besar MRT (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Thu: 9am - 6pm
Fri-Sun: 9am - 10pm
(Closed on Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Jalan Besar MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk down Jalan Besar Road towards Kelantan Road. Turn right onto Kelantan Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Au Balcon @ The Summerhouse - Parktake In Comforting, Classic French Fare With The Reinvented Au Balcon

Formerly known as the French Dining Room at The Summerhouse, Au Balcon, located on the second floor of the historical building, refreshed its menu to focus on classic French flavours with a twist.

Octopus & Prawn Nicoise Salad 3,5/5

We kickstarted our dinner with several entrees, starting with the Octopus & Prawn Nicoise Salad ($28). It is an elevated take on the salad featuring a smoky, tender grilled octopus leg on a bed of fresh butterhead lettuce, sweet cherry tomatoes, haricot verts, olives, fingerling potatoes and local Kelong-farmed prawns. I am not a salad person, but the accompanying ingredients liven the enjoyment of the boring greens.

Florentine 65℃ Organic Egg 3.5/5

Next is the Florentine 65℃ Organic Egg ($18). A farm egg sits on a bed of garlic-sauteed spinach, cauliflower puree and is finished with a flourish of fresh truffle shavings, pecorino and truffle vinaigrette. It may look simple but do not be deceived by it. It is packed with lovely flavours.

Seared Atlantic Scallop 3.8/5

Seared to perfect golden brown is the plump and sweet Atlantic Scallop ($24), paired deliciously on a swath of smooth, vibrant romesco sauce, topped with sweet caper raisins and coriander cres from The Summerhouse's edible garden.

Pluma Iberico 4/5

Moving to the mains, we had the Pluma Iberico ($48) beautifully seared and paired with a sweet-sour apple celeriac puree and moreish garlic brussels sprouts. It is sprinkled with toasted almonds for a layered bite and a nutty finish.

Kuhlbarra Barramundi 4/5

The Kuhlbarra Baramundi ($36) is sustainably sourced, paired with creamy polenta and roasted heirloom carrots. A rich, savoury crustacean reduction beautifully ties the dish together, binding every component together in harmony.

Wagyu Striploin 4.2/5

Another delicious protein is the richly marbled Wagyu Striploin ($98), charcoal grilled to perfection. The melt-in-the-mouth beef is served with a buttery, smoked potato puree and crispy broccolini.

Citrus Creme Brulee 3.5/5

Wrapping our meal is the Citrus Creme Brulee ($16). The smooth and creamy vanilla custard is given a citrus lift with the addition of orange zest. However, I preferred the other dessert. The Paris Brest ($16) fares much better with airy choux pastry rings piped with a rich, nutty praline diploma and finished with a light dusting of icing sugar.

Paris Brest 4/5

Having dined at The Summerhouse previously, the new menu fell below my expectation. It is good, but the dishes felt safe without many surprises or its own character. They are classic French fare, which can be found in any French restaurant.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Summerhouse Dining Room
Seletar Airport
3 Park Lane
Singapore 798387
Tel: +65 88095840
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Nearest MRT: Punggol (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Dinner
Mon, Wed-Sun, Eve of PH & PH: 6pm - 10pm
Brunch
Sat-Sun, PH: 1130am - 3pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Punggol MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to Punggol Bus Interchange (Stop ID 65009). Take bus number 117. Alight 6 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 30 minutes. [Map]

White Rose Cafe @ York Hotel - Rejuvenates Dining Experience With A Refreshed A La Carte Menu

White Rose Cafe at York Hote, known for its authentic local and Asian classics, revitalised its a la carte menu showcasing a delectable selection of local, Asian, Western, and premium carbon-neutral beef specialities conjured by the culinary team.

Gado Gado 3.5/5

New highlights for the appetiser include the Gado Gado and Seafood Couscous Salad. The light and appetising Gado Gado ($15) comprising of long beans, boiled potato, cabbage, bean sprouts, fried bean curd and egg is dressed in a fragrant peanut sauce for a nutty finishing.

Seafood Couscous Salad 4/5

The Seafood Couscous Salad ($20) consisting of prawns, squid and fish in a refreshing mango salsa dressing is excellent for whetting up the appetite.

Minestrone 3.5.5

For the soup option, diners can choose either the Minestrone or the new Crab Bisque with Cognac. The sweet and tangy Minestrone ($15) soup comes with delightful bites from the accompanying ingredients such as beans, pasta, potato, carrot, zucchini and cabbage.

Crab Bisque with Cognac 4/5

The Crab Bisque with Cognac ($18) is much more robust and richer in flavour, paired with garlic bread and cream.

Thai Green Curry 4/5

Besides the local classic, the kitchen has expanded the menu to include Thai cuisine. We tried the Thai Green Curry ($25) with tender chicken simmered in a rich coconut-based curry. It is served together with a plate of fragrant steamed rice topped with a silverfish omelette.

Chicken Roulade 4/5

We moved from local and Asian cuisines to Western fares, such as the Chicken Roulade and Ribeye Steak ($52). The tender and juicy Chicken Roulade ($25) is paired with mashed potatoes, asparagus, broccolini and baby carrots. It is a classic and simple dish executed beautifully for a delicious meal.

Ribeye Steak 4/5

Consumers are more into sustainable diet nowadays, so the culinary team has replaced the regular ground beef with carbon-neutral beef from Five Founders, Australia. Beef lovers can look forward to the perfectly grilled Ribeye Steak ($52) served with potato gratin and seasonal vegetables.

Paneer Tikka 3/5

Green Burger 3/5

For the vegetarians, customers have the option of Paneer Tikka ($16) served with raita and papadum. I am not a fan of it. I thought it was bland, lacking a sauce. Maybe a vegetarian curry will help to elevate the dish. For something for filling, go for the Green Burger ($18), whereby plump and juicy portobello mushroom is sandwiched between charcoal bun with pesto mayo dressing.

Chocolate Lava Cake 3.5/5

Sago Gula Melaka 3.5/5

Creme Brulee 3.5/5

End your meal on a sweet ending with a selection of desserts such as the Chocolate Lava Cake ($12) with vanilla ice cream, Sago Gula Melaka ($9) with coconut milk and Creme Brulee ($12), a rich custard base topped with a layer of hardened caramelised sugar.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


White Rose Cafe
York Hotel
21 Mount Elizabeth
Singapore 228516
Tel: +65 67370511
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am to 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 1. Walk down Scotts Road towards Goodwood Park Hotel. At Goodwood Park, turn right and walk to the end of the carpark. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]