Full Circle by J-man @ Thye Hong Centre - Semi-Fine Dining Restaurant Hidden Within A Business Centre

Full Circle by J.man at Thye Hong Centre is a semi-fine dining restaurant serving progressive Asian cuisine, helmed by Chef Jay Teo. Its circular logo, with a stray end, symbolise the start of a new journey for Chef Jay - from culinary school as a trainee to a fully-fledged Chef, then back to being an instructor, completing a full circle with him back being a chef once again. Weekdays dinner and Saturday lunch feature a $168 Tasting Menu, alongside an option for Full Wine Pairing $128 and Abridged Pairing $88.

‘Lap Cheong’ Croquette

Cured Mackerel

The Tasting Menu is really interesting. I experienced five unique 'snacks', followed by a 'bread' item with a wine pairing. We started with a rose to complement the savoury snacks.

Smoked Chicken Cigar

‘Char Siew’ Tartlet

Cured Mackerel and 'Lap Cheong' Croquette were served together, followed by Smoked Chicken Cigar and 'Char Siew' Tartlet. Though dainty in size, each was packed with flavours. The Char Siew tartlet came loaded with caramelised fatty goodness and was rich and mouth-filling.

Blue Swimmer Crab Broth

Oyster Bread

The items that made a statement for me were the Blue Swimmer Crab Broth and Teochew oyster puff-inspired Oyster Bread. 2kg of blue swimmer crab to produce a litre of broth; hence each bowl is a full-bodied broth with depths of flavours. Sandwiched between each fluffy bread is a plump oyster, complementing each other perfectly.

Hokkaido Scallop 4.5/5

Hokkaido Scallop features a refreshing mix of Hokkaido scallop and water chestnut. Green apple slices and ginger flower sorbet served with pickled jicama jus added to that lightness and crunch. After all the savoury snacks, this refreshed my tastebuds with its citrus-forward flavour profile.

Obsiblue Prawn 3.8/5

The next course was Obsiblue Prawn, served with piquant pineapple, bamboo shoot and tamarind chutney, and coconut cream spiced with kaffir lime leaves and tamarind oil. I love how the tropical flavours played out in this dish and the mingling of the cold and warm elements, producing a very cohesive dish.

Quail 2.5/5

One of the mains featured was Quail served in 2 ways - one with angelica root infused jus and the other deep-fried with a tempura batter. Either way didn't quite work for me.

Duroc Pork Belly 4.8/5

On the other hand, the Spanish Duroc Pork Belly was deeply satisfying. Each laced with perfectly crisped skin amazed me with its clean flavour and optimal lean meat and fats ratio. Drawing ideas from Korean BBQ, diners are given lettuce to wrap each piece of pork belly, with coriander pesto and fish sauce caramel on the side to slather them with. Similar to kimchi, there are also some pickles to help cut the meat's richness. I was surprised that I was able to finish all of it without feeling of being overloaded. Thumbs up for this dish!

Red Snapper 4.5/5

You can choose to add on a Red Snapper course (+$28). Reminiscent of otah, the snapper was aromatic with the warm notes of banana leaf. Slathered with laksa rempah and coconut, the snapper was delicious with punchy spices. The juicy pomelo salad served on the side was an equally thoughtful touch to the dish.

Pre-dessert

There's also a pre-dessert course - Chrysanthemum Jelly with Goji Berry Sorbet. The chrysanthemum scent was uplifting, and I enjoyed how the sorbet sweetened the jelly, which carries a slightly bitter note.

Porcini Parfait 4.5/5

Dessert was a Porcini Parfait with Miso Sorbet paired with sesame crumbles and poached pear. Savoury ice creams are common, but I rarely get to try a plated dessert that is so well executed. The porcini had a distinctive taste but melded harmoniously with the miso sorbet, with added textures and nuances from the sweet pear and nutty sesame crumble.

Sweet Endings 4.5/5

Summing up our meal was Sweet Endings, featuring 9-spice Madeline and adorable Kaya Toast Macarons. The latter had a crust creatively done by mixing real toast with meringue to create the bread-meringue crust. The kaya custard had just the right amount of sweetness for the pandan flavour to come through.

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.


Full Circle by J-man
Thye Hong Centre
2 Leng Kee Road
#01-05
Singapore 159086
Tel: +65 80310141
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Nearest MRT: Redhill (EW Line)

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

Direction:
1) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk down Tiong Bahru Road. Continue onto Leng Kee Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tiffin Room x Meatsmith Little India @ Raffles Hotel - Exclusive Collaboration Showcasing North Indian Flavours With Indian-Accented American Barbecue

It is a collaboration you should not miss. Tiffin Room and Meatsmith Little India are back again for the second time, with a specially curated four-hands menu from 14 to 28 July 2022. It guarantees you a treat by marrying Chef Kuldeep Negi's expertise in authentic North Indian flavours with Chef Edwin Tan's experimental take on modern Indian-accented American barbecue. You will see their skilful play on flavours, textures and spices come through distinctly right from the starters to the dessert.

The four-hand menu is available at Tiffin Room in Raffles Hotel for lunch and dinner. There are both Vegetarian ($98/pax) and Non-vegetarian ($108/pax) options, with the choice to add on for wine pairing ($78/pax).

Trio Starter 4/5

We had a delightful start to the meal with this trio starter - Papadum with Ikura and Creme Fraiche, Smoked Feta with Watermelon, Potato and Cheese Croquettes with Caviar and BBQ Mustard. Meatsmith’s Ikura Papadum has always been a crowd favourite. Pop it in a mouthful, and you get an explosion of briny ikura with rich and tangy creme fraiche on a crisp papadum.

Smoked King Salmon with Garden Tomato and Roquefort Salad 4.5/5

A pity that the Smoked King Salmon with Garden Tomato and Roquefort Salad was only available on the collaboration’s opening night of 14 July 2022. It made such a lasting impression! The lightly smoked cured salmon was of just the right level of saltiness, matched with fun bursts of flavours from the sweet oranges and tomatoes, as well as the sharper creamy blue cheese. Salmon was tender and flaky.

Hokkaido Scallop with Tandoori Black Cod 4.8/5

The Hokkaido Scallop with Tandoori Black Cod is a combined creation by both chefs. The plump seared scallop sits with a mildly sweet smoked carrot and orange purée, white wine reduction and caviar, paired with an aromatic and perfectly spiced Tandoori black cod. I thoroughly enjoyed how the seemingly different elements worked harmoniously together as a dish.

Signature Tiffin Box 4.2/5

For mains, a selection of North Indian dishes is presented in Tiffin Room's Signature Tiffin Box. Accompanying the fluffy and fragrant Jhinga Dum Biryani are three types of curries: Lamb Awadhi Korma (Lamb Chop Curry with Almond and Cashew Nut Gravy), Murgh Hara Pyaz (Boneless Chicken Leg with Spring Onion and Spinach Gravy) and Goan Fish Curry. Our favourite was the Goan Fish Curry, which features fresh red snapper. You can also enjoy the curries with three types of Naan: Garlic, Butter and Cranberry Cheese with sweet bits of cranberry encased within.

S’mores Tart and Smoked Coconut Ice Cream 4.2/5

I didn't think I would be a fan of this S'mores Tart because of how sinfully sweet it looks. Hence I was very pleasantly surprised to be proven otherwise. The torched marshmallow layer lends a little more sweetness to the decadent and smooth bittersweet chocolate base, paired with a scoop of cleverly well-smoked coconut ice cream and coconut flakes.

Anjeer Mawa Burfi and Pista Balushahi

We ended the meal with two classic Indian handmade sweets from Tiffin Room, the Anjeer Mawa Burfi and Pista Balushahi.

Papadum, Mint Chutney, Mango Chutney, Pickled Onion

Apart from the main dishes, you can snack on crunchy Papadum on the side. It’s served with three dips - Mint Chutney, Mango Chutney and Pickled Onion.

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.


Tiffin Room
Raffles Hotel
1 Beach Road
Singapore 189673
Tel: +65 63371886
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Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch: 12pm - 145pm
Dinner: 630pm - 845pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Junction of North Bridge Road and Bras Basah Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit F. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

KULTO @ Amoy Street - Honouring The Spanish Roots, Taste The Elevation

KULTO, nestled in a historic unit along Amoy Street, is a new homely space serving Spanish food that reflects Chef-Owner José Alonso's philosophy of respecting traditions, seasonality of produce, and elevated precision. Beverages also play a huge part in the experience of his guests. Other than the usual Sangria, Chef Alonso's extensive list includes wines featuring the different terroir.

Chili Crab Croquette 4.5/5

We had a variety of Tapas, starting with Chili Crab Croquette ($12). They were simply delicious, definitely one of the more refined croquettes I have to date. The mixture had a good ratio of béchamel sauce, shredded jumbo crab meat, caramelised onion and paprika, resulting in a well-blended creamy texture without being overly rich. The accompanying housemade chilli crab sauce may seem tiny, but it did reinforce that chilli-crab nuance with much intensity.

Jamón Ibérico Bellota 4.5/5

I like the Jamón Ibérico Bellota (36-months) with Tomato Bread ($29) just as much too. The housemade tomato spread on the house-baked sourdough is made with grated roma tomato, minced garlic and olive oil. Refreshing on the palate, that made the crispy toast the perfect pairing for the sliced jamón ibérico, which was incredibly rich, mouth-filling and savoury.

Tuna Tartare & Shrimp Tullie 3/5

Tuna Tartare & Shrimp Tullie ($22) fell short a little. Though the diced fresh tuna loin was plump and well seasoned, the shrimp tuille was too oily. A simple toast to go with it would have been enough for me.

Ibérico Chorizo, Confit Potatoes & Soft Eggs 4.2/5

Ibérico Chorizo, Confit Potatoes & Soft Eggs ($22) was almost like a good old hangover dish - comforting warm and soft confit potato, oozy eggs and chunks of josper grilled smoky Ibérico chorizo.

Grilled Avocado, Homemade Pesto & "Pipirrana" 3.8/5

Compared with the above, the Grilled Avocado, Homemade Pesto & "Pipirrana" ($22) was a bit muted in terms of flavours.

Mushroom and Pork Sausage Paella 4.5

Squid Ink Paella 4.2/5

The paellas here are done specially on Josper Grill, and you have a choice of Seafood Paella, Squid Ink Paella, or Mushroom and Pork Sausage Paella. We had the Pork Sausage and Mushroom Paella and Squid Ink Paella ($38 for 2-3 pax/ $62 for 3-5 pax). I very much prefer the first, perhaps it was brighter and more vibrant in terms of flavour profile, and the charred edges were also more pronounced than the latter. A housemade master pork stock is used, which the bomba rice absorbs as it cooks, then french beans, sweet peas, pork sausage and mushroom are added. As for the Squid Ink Paella, a housemade master seafood stock is added instead, followed by french beans, sweet peas, mussels, asari clams and baby squid.

Cheese Cake 4/5

For dessert, we had a beautifully crafted Cheese Cake ($12) made with Manchego cheese blended with a few other soft kinds of cheese, served with a molten centre. Its creaminess was balanced by the burst of acidity from the dried freeze raspberries.

Sponge, Whisky-infused Chantilly Cream and Nikka Whiskey 4.8/5

My favourite dish of the evening was this slab of dessert made with a layer of sponge, Whisky-infused Chantilly Cream and egg yolk ganache. Served with a drizzle of Nikka Whiskey over the cake, the sponge underneath sopped up the whiskey was given a bitter-sweet profile, and every layer came together in harmony. So good.

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.


KULTO
87 Amoy Street
Singapore 069906
Tel: +65 96205626
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm
Sat: 530pm - 10pm
(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]

Pura Brasa @ Guoco Tower - Popular Spanish Restaurant Chain Unveils New Weekend Brunch Menu

Originated from Spain, Pura Brasa at Guoco Tower is the place to go to if you want to have a taste of its famed high-quality, Josper-grilled Spanish dishes. The restaurant has specially curated a new weekend brunch menu for you with some of its signature Spanish dishes. Available every weekend from 12pm to 4pm, each set comes with 4 tapas, 2 main courses and 1 dessert, priced at $79.90 for 2 pax.

White Sangria

Other than the new Brunch offering, it also includes an option of 2-hour free-flow tipples of Cava, wines and beers for $39.90. Otherwise, the drinks menu is decent with a range of cocktails and alcohols, in which I had a light and refreshing White Sangria.

Tuna on Toast 4.2/5

We started off with Tuna on Toast, which was one of my favourite dishes on the set menu. The huge dollop of tuna was luscious but not overly creamy. Balancing its richness was a contrasting crispy toast, which was flaky like a puff pastry but without the presence of butter that would possibly make the entire bite overly heavy.

Homemade Spanish Croquettes 2.5/5

However, on the other hand, the Homemade Spanish Croquettes was a tad too cloyingly rich and possibly the least favourable croquette I had till date.

Josper® Grilled Wings 4/5

Pura Brasa may possibly be one of the very few places that you will get to try Josper® Grilled Wings, an elevated version from your usual grilled chicken wings. There wasn't much distraction from marination or seasoning, but just a simple layer of smokey flavour imparted from the grill that made these wings more superior than what's out there. The fries served along with it is a bonus!

Calamari Andalusian Style 4/5

I like this Calamari Andalusian Style too. Made with fresh squid rings, each ring was springy-tender with a nice contrasting crispy coat.

Charcoal Seafood Paella 4.2/5

The Mains include its best-selling dishes - Charcoal Seafood Paella and Josper® Grilled Spanish Pork Ribs. The rice of the paella was plump and firm, with added textural bites lent from green peas and diced prawns that were mixed within. Its sweet and tangy, tomatoey flavour profile, in comparison with the more highly flavoured tapas, made it even more moreish and delectable.

Josper® Grilled Spanish Pork Ribs 4.5/5

Josper® Grilled Spanish Pork Ribs is probably the item that brings customers back again and again. Again, similar to the chicken wings, the meat is seasoned minimally, which allows the smoky nuances of the meat to stand out. The meat was really tender and unctuous, but I thought a minute more on the grill, rendering more fats may make the ribs even more flavourful.

Churros 4/5

Dessert is two mini Churros They were crispy on the outside, and the core was slightly chewy. Served with thick, hot chocolate sauce, they were gone in minutes!

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.


Pura Brasa
Guoco Tower
5 Wallich Street
#01-16
Singapore 078881
Tel: +65 63869678
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Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 12pm - 11pm 

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

BTM Mussels & Bar @ Duxton Hill - All About Seasonal Mussels From France And Across Continental Europe

A lady sat at the bar counter, savouring a steaming pot of mussels, with sips of white wine in between; and she was in a world of her own. Get up close and personal with your 'mussels' at BTM (‘Back to Mussels’) Mussels & Bar, nestled in the quaint neighbourhood of Duxton Hill. A moules-frites concept by chef and restaurateur Olivier Bendel, BTM is a cosy and intimate space that serves up well sought after seasonal mussels sourced from France and across Continental Europe, cooked with original recipes created by Olivier himself.

During his first decade in the food and beverages industry, Olivier developed more than 250 original mussels recipes, and it was also during this time that he worked with some of the best mussel producers in the region. Those relationships continue, and together with his knowledge and understanding of mussels, you can expect good quality seasonal harvest each time you visit BTM. Picking mussels at the peak of their season, currently, the kitchen uses live Bouchot Mussels that are air-flown from Parcs Saint-Kerber in Cancale, Brittany (Northwest of France) to Singapore twice a week. 7 original recipes made it to the menu, available in portions of 500gm ($36), 750gm ($48) and 1kg ($58), and each style is served with French fries.

Marinieres 4.2/5, Thailandaises 4.2/5, Au Roquefort 3.8/5

Each recipe uses white wine, and each whiff of that savoury, winey aroma effusing from the broth as I brought it close to my face, was divine. Among all the different recipes, the style of preparation that will make one down the entire pot of 500gm on his own, I reckon would be Marinieres, the classic French style of preparation consisting of white wine, butter, parsley and onion. The light and elegant broth, infused with the juice from the mussels, didn't take long to get under my skin. Second to that would be the Thailandaises, a Thai-inspired concoction that will leave your tongue tingling with a bit of excitement. For a really bold option, and perfect for sharing, do consider Au Roquefort. The bits of the ‘the King of Blue Cheese’ swimming in the broth provides an extra oomph to the flavour.

Ardennaise 3.5/5

Ardennaise is a more neutral option, which is prepared with mushrooms, fresh cream, white wine, butter, parsley, onion and bacon. The bacon was supposed to lend a depth of smokiness to the broth, but it wasn't that pronounced as expected.

Au Curry 3.8/5

For the love of spice, go for Bouchot Mussels Au Curry. The red hue itself was appetising. Despite the addition of red curry and cream, the broth didn't lose its acidity. What the red curry provides is an added dimension to the aromatic white wine-based broth.

Le Croq-Truffle 4/5

Other than their signature moules-frites, the bar bites are worth coming back for. Offering bar bites from France and the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) region of Europe, one of the most highly raved about since its opening is the Le Croq-Truffle ($18), a luxurious version of the 'Croque Monsieur’. Fresh black truffle from France, Comté and Serrano Ham sandwiched in between heavily buttered toast, one piece of it is an indulgent, and 2 pieces of it is a sin!

Escargot Tartes Flambées 3.8/5

Perfect for sharing is the Tartes Flambées or Alsatian oven-baked flatbreads ($24 to $28), which come in a variety of interesting toppings. We had the Escargot Tartes Flambées ($26). The layer of caramelised onion slathered across the flatbreads, however, stole the limelight of the escargots. Richly browned, it was savoury-sweet, incredibly moreish, and mingled really well with the vibrant and garlicky Parsley Butter.

Truffled Porcini Croquette 4.2/5

The croquettes here are some of the better ones I have tried. Each one was perfectly crusted with a thin layer of coat. Between Jamon Croquettes ($12) and Truffled Porcini Croquette ($12), the latter won me over with its moist, cheesy, and relatively more gooey filling, coupled with an extra bite from the meaty mushrooms.

Jamon Croquettes 3.8/5, Bitterballen 3/5

If that is too much for you, Bitterballen ($8), Holland’s number one bite-sized snack, shares a similar crusty exterior with croquette but is less creamy as it is made simply with roux, beef and beef stock.

Waffle "BTM" 3/5

Desserts are available as well. Waffle "BTM" ($18) comprises a Belgian style waffle topped with vanilla ice cream and chantilly cream. It is decent, but the dessert menu promises a lot more exciting options than this. And since you are here at BTM, do explore more.

Summer Fruit-Infused Beers

BTM's beverage menu is also well-thought-out, offering wine, champagne and beer that Olivier deems best to pair with the mussels and sides. For a change, try its creations of Summer Fruit-Infused Beers - Passionfruit, Raspberry, Lychee and Pomelo Grapefruit (Happy Hour $10 / Regular $12).

Written and photography 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.


BTM Mussels & Bar
5 Duxton Hill
Singapore 089591
Tel: +65 66907562
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

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

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Orchid Hotel. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road, cross the road. Walk to Craig Road. Turn left onto Craig Road. Walk to Craig Place. Take the staircase inside the carpark at Craig Place to Duxton Hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 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 destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]