Jaan @ Swissotel The Stamford

I went to Jaan in late October 2013 to celebrate the girl's birthday. The restaurant surprising is not very big, probably around 40 seats not as per what I have imagined before my visit. We have a beautiful 3 hours artisan French cuisine dining experience at the top of Swissotel The Stamford on level 70 with a very scenic view. Time seemed to have slowed down during the culinary experience with each dish exquisitely executed, taking our time to appreciate each ingredient. I had the 5 courses Degustation Lunch Menu ($118) while my partner has the 5 courses Jardin Gourmand Lunch Menu ($118).

Cracker with Shaved Cheese 4/5

Cracker with Humus Dip 4.2/5

Chicken Samosa 4/5

Our lunch started with a trio of Amuse Bouche. There was the Crackers with Shaved Cheese, Crackers with Humus Dip and Chicken Samosa. When these were served, I can hear myself screaming inside how beautiful they were presented. It was like an art. The service staff will also take their time to introduce each dish which I really appreciated.

Cepes Mushroom Tea 4.2/5

Interestingly served in a tea presser at table side, the Cepes Mushroom Tea was comforting and filled with the earthy mushroom flavours.

Trumbetta Zucchini 4.2/5

My partner's lunch menu started with the Trumbetta Zucchini served with fromage blanc and vandouvan spices. A new subtle combination of flavours to kick start the lunch.

Ocean 4.8/5

My lunch menu began with the Ocean which is a seafood composition. I have to say this really taken me back with the culinary skills involved to present the different components on the plate. The ocean of seafood whetted up not only the appetite but the whole dining experience. I was already eagerly anticipating for the next master piece to be served.

Autumn Garden 4/5

Moving on to the second course, my partner has the Autumn Garden which s a platter of different vegetables and hazelnuts. The beautiful garden came with a thoughtful touch of different textures which is very delectable.

55min 60degC Rosemary Smoked Organic Egg

55min 60degC Rosemary Smoked Organic Egg 4.8/5

This is probably the most eagerly waited dish I was looking forward to try after seeing so many photos of it on social media. The 55min 60degC Rosemary Smoked Organic Egg definitely made a grand entry with its dry ice effect. It was then poured into another bowl of smoked rattes, chorizo iberico and buckwheat. The heavenly combination of textures and flavours plus the aromatic from the smoked rosemary underneath the bowl was an enjoyment of sight, taste and smell.

Carrots Saveur D'Orient 4/5

Third course for my partner is the Carrots Saveur D'Orient. This is a playful display of different carrots, couscous passion fruit and argan oil. The sweetness of the carrot and the citrus zest is a delectable combination.

Atlantic Brill Cochonaille 4/5

My third course is the Atlantic Brill Cochonaille. A perfectly cooked atlantic brill accompanied with le puy lentils and cevennes onion.

Pumpkin Musquee 4.2/5

The main for the 5 courses Jardin Gourmand Lunch Menu was Pumpkin Musquee that was made up of chestnut pasta, buffalo ricotta and black trumpets in a smooth pumpkin puree. Black trumpets is the black ingredients in the picture which is a form of edible mushroom.

Welsh Lamb Saveur D'Orient 4.2/5

My main is Welsh Lamb Saveur D'Orient where the lamb is cooked in 3 ways, sou vide, grilled and pan fried served with couscous, glazed carrots and argan oil. It was really an insight for my taste buds to experience the different techniques used in the same ingredients bringing out the different flavours and enjoyment.

Brie de Meaux Truffe 4.5/5

The Brie de Meaux Truffe is supplement at an additional cost of $25. I was glad that I decided to go for it. The toasted poilane with the artisan brie was an excellent pairing and I was blown off my chair by the truffle ice cream. My only disappointment was I could not have more of it. I meant without the need to pay for it.

Mango Sorbet and Meringue 4.5/5

Before moving on to our desserts, we were served a pre-dessert. The refreshing Mango Sorbet and Meringue was an excellent palate cleanser.

Last Sicilian Strawberries 4.2/5

Wrapping up the 5 courses Jardin Gourmand Lunch Menu is the Last Sicilian Strawberries. The cold and refreshing soupy dessert of rhubarb, basil, strawberry and lavender had a delish sourness flavour which I enjoyed a lot.

Choconuts 4.2/5

My 5 courses Degustation Lunch Menu is wrapped up with the Choconuts, a platter of different play of chocolate to appreciate the different taste and textures.

Petite Four 4.2/5

Petite Four 4.5/5

If you think that is the end for lunch, you are wrong. In fact you will notice we have more than 5 courses. I was delighted that my lunch did not end at dessert but instead with the Petite Four. It felt like going to a concert and having an encore at the end of the show. I just could not help feeling that the chef has saved the best for the last with the Jam biscuits, Lime and Ginger Ice Pop and Chocolate Lollipop.

I am glad that I have finally ticked off another restaurants in my list. It is definitely a worthy culinary experience that opened my eyes to the unlimited horizon in my food journey.


Jaan
Swissotel The Stamford
Equinox Complex
Level 70
2 Stamford Road
Singapore 178882
Website: http://www.jaan.com.sg
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 2pm, 7pm - 10pm
(Closed on Sun & PH)

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Miam Miam @ Bugis Junction

Miam Miam at Bugis Junction is a new French-Japanese cafe kitchen offering perfectly engineered meal made from scratch and with top grade ingredients. Using the Japanese ideologies of kaizen and kanban in its food and preparation practices, ensures lean and just in time production. Meaning all ingredients are measured and cooked to precise timing.

Hot Matcha Latte 4/5

As usual I am early for my dinner appointment so I started with a glass of Hot Matcha Latte ($6.80). Using premium Matcha and delicately steamed with milk, the rich and smooth matcha latte warming up the appetite for the dinner to come.

Miam Miam Spaghetti 4/5

Dinner started with a huge plate of Miam Miam Spaghetti ($15.80) that is served with sauteed with frankfurters, tomatoes, baby spinach, egg plant, bacon and a soft boiled egg. The portion is though for one is good for two. I prefer my pasta to be creamy so I didn't think I would like it until I have a taste of it. We were advice to break the egg and mixed it together with the whole plate. Tossed together with french butter, shayu and a secret broth the plate of pasta definitely won be over.

Riz Noir Squid Ink Rice 3.8/5

We usually have squid ink pasta and I like the interesting twist of the Riz Nori Squid Ink Rice ($16.50). The delish squid ink rice with assorted seafood is topped with an omu egg. My only disappointment is the omu egg that came across as a tad flat unlike those Japanese type that is thick and runny.

Riz Au Curry 3.8/5

The other rice item on the menu is the Riz Au Curry ($15.50). The baked rice with homemade Japanese curry, pork frankfurters, broccoli, cheese and egg was bursting with strong flavours. It is a beautiful dish but I prefer it to be a hint more spicy.

Souffle De Nuage 4/5

The Souffle De Nuage ($15.50) is probably one of the most unique dish I have tired this year. Diving the spoon through the airy egg and cheese cloud , lands into a sea of red rice grains field. The home style fresh tomato sauteed rice was fragrant and so interesting that you just need to give it a try.

Chocolate Molleaux 3/5

While the Chocolate Molleaux ($9.80) was moist but I was a bit disappointed that it does not have that lava flowing effect that will get everyone excited before digging in.

Caramelised Banana Pancake 4.2/5

The Caramelised Banana Pancake ($12.80) is served with bananas cooked in a deep golden caramel sauce and topped with premium gelato vanilla soft serve with toasted almond nibs. I was actually quite puzzle because the texture was closer to that of a cake than a pancake. The pancake was indeed light and airy. Seldom will I go back for more and that says a lot.

Hot Coffee 4/5

If you are coffee lover, do try their Hot Coffee ($5.20) brewed the old fashioned way, hand dripped from carefully selected 100% Arabica Beans.

Valrhona Chocolate Souffle 3.5/5

If you want to try the Valrhona Chocolate Souffle ($13.80), do prepare to wait for a good 20 minutes or more as it is freshly baked a la minute. The perfectly raised souffle was topped with a heavenly decadent melted chocolate to enrich the moment of ecstasy.

Overall the food at Miam Miam is pretty good and affordable, the highest price item is at $18.80. Patrons can also look forward to new surprises every six to nine months. The expanding brand will be opening their 2nd outlet at Westgate in end Decemeber 2013. The team is a also planning global expansion into Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, China, US, Canada, other parts of Malaysia and Australia with existing presence in Singapore, Melbourne and Penang.


Miam Miam
Bugis Junction (outside BHG)
#02-14
200 Victoria Street
Singapore 188021
Tel: +65 68370301
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miam.sg
Website: http://miam.sg/
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT Station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Absinthe @ Boat Quay

Formerly located at Bukit Pasoh, Absinthe has moved into its current location at Boat Quay occupying two adjoining shophouses over three floors. Lead by award winning Chef Francois Mermilliod and General Manager Vincent Jaureguiberry, Absinthe is known for its classic French cuisine. Coined after the old fashioned green spirit Absinthe that was banned in 1914 but subsequently lifted in 2011. Like the highly alcoholic liquor that required careful preparation and attention to detail, the team strives to revive the appreciation for classic French cuisine.

Hamachi 4.2/5

Before I get into my gastronomic journey at Absinthe, kindly note most of the items were sample portion except for the desserts. Dinner started with the Hamachi ($26), a carpaccio of marinated yellow kingfish topped with aquitaine caviar served with cucumber and baby cress at the side. A clean and subtle execution that delights the palate, igniting the night for what is to be served.

Saint Jacques 4.2/5

Next up is Saint Jacques ($26), a dual seared Hokkaido scallops, braised daikon, wakame and lemon thyme emulsion. The fresh scallop was cooked perfectly, springy and buttery. The wakame gave it an extra crunchy bite while the lemon thyme emulsion lifted the flavour. Interestingly, braised daikon is not a classic French. Accordingly to my understanding, the chef loves to add a bit of his character to his dish.

Foie Gras Poele 4.2/5

The Pan Fried Foie Gras ($29) was served with warm blinis and morello cherries. The combination worked perfectly with the blinis giving it a contrasting texture while livery foie gras was nicely balanced with the sweetness of the morello cherries.

Canard 4.5/5

The classic French Duck Leg Confit ($42) was really beautiful with its crispy skin and fork tender duck meat. Served with saraladise potatoes, mushrooms and madiran wine sauce, this is probably one of the best duck confit I ever eaten. Definitely a must order here.

Creme Brulee 3/5

Moving on to the dessert, the Jasmine Creme Brulee ($15) fell short of my expectation. The texture of the base was more like a mousse than custard. The yuzu sorbet on the other hand stood out on the plate with praises from fellow diners.

Madeleines 4.5/5

The Madeleines ($15) served with valrhona chocolate mousse was indeed a great delight to end the night. The freshly baked to order vanilla madeleines was crispy on the outside and spongy inside. It kind of remind me of the Asian kueh bolu.

This month actually marks the 5th year for Absinthe which was officially opened in December 2008. For a restaurant that has been around for this long and consistently serving quality food, it deserves more recognition. I am definitely impressed with my visit and I am sure I will be back for more when I noticed the 3 course lunch set at $38 and a 7 course degustation menu at $98 available for both lunch and dinner. Beside the food and service, Absinthe is also popular for its list of affordable price wines with the trusted selection from the GM Vincent who is a certified Sommerlier.


Absinthe
71/72 Boat Quay
Singapore 049860
Tel: +65 62229068
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Absinthe/56794462597
Website: http://www.absinthe.sg/
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line), Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 4pm - 1030pm
Sat-Sun: 630pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT Station. Take Exit E. Cross New Bridge Road to the opposite of The Central. Walk towards Upper Circular Road. Turn onto Upper Circular Road and walk to the end. Cross the road at South Bridge Road and walk towards the river. Walk down the row of shop houses along the river. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Raffles Place MRT Station. Take Exit G. Walk to the river. Walk down the row of shop houses along the river. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

LP + Tetsu @ Tanglin Mall

Hot News! The restaurant LP + Tetsu at Tanglin Mall by One Michelin Starred Chef Laurent Peugeot introduced probably the most affordable set menu ever by a Michelin starred chef. Not only that, at LP + Tetsu one can have a choice of Japanese or French cuisine created by the lauded chef. These set menus range from $28, $35 and $45. It is understand that the menu will be changed monthly without compromising in quality.

Before starting our meal, we were presented with the amuse bouche. An interesting showcase of the delicate culinary execution of the Michelin starred chef restaurant. After browsing through the menu, I decided to go for the 3 course Encounters French menu ($45) which also has a 2 course meal at $35.

Sanma Sushi 3.8/5

The 3 course Encounters French menu comes with a choice of starter, Salmon in Tartart or Sanma Sushi. I decided to go for the Sanma Sushi even thought I have ordered the French set menu. Since I was given a choice and the restaurant is known for both its Japanese and French fare, I might as well try both the culinary styles. The Sanma Sushi was served on a bed of raphanus sauce and topped with yuzu miso. The execution of the sanma sushi was more robust compared to the usual clean flavours of sushi.

Duck Breast 4.2/5

For the main, I was given the choice of John Dory or Duck Breast. I went for Duck Breast since I already had fish for my starter. It was a excellent choice with the beautifully cooked duck meat served with miso red fruits and chiogga beetroot. Picking bone out of the dish I thought the sauce was a bit on the salty side. It seemed like the chef prefers bold flavours in his dish.

Chocolate Beetroot 4/5

Last of the 3 course meal has to be dessert. There were 3 choices and I decided to go for the Chocolate Beetroot with Blood Orange Sorbet. I was a good choice with the rich creamy chocolate and tangy sorbet wrapping up my 3 course meal on a sweet memorable note.

Premium Bento Box 3.8/5

If you prefer Japanese over French, LP + Tetsu also offers a value for money Premium Bento Box ($28). The bento box comes with a selection of sashimi, rosu katsu, vegetables pickles, mesclun, rice and miso soup.

French Yusheng 3.5/5

Conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities, the restaurant has also created a French and Japanese rendition of the traditional yusheng. The French Yusheng comes with truffle, caviar, vegetables, beetroots imported directly from France in a refreshing French dressing. The melange of expensive ingredients was an unique and interesting change from the tradition. It had textures but the taste may be too refined for the Asian palate that is used to the traditional taste.

Japanese Yusheng 4.2/5

The Japanese Yusheng comes with  a variety of seafood such as tuna, scallop, salmon and more. The Japan version will cater more to the locals with the sweet and tangy flavours that is very similar to the traditional yusheng.

For the folks working around Tanglin area this is a deal definitely not to be missed. Starting from 6 November 2013, the set menus will be available to patrons during lunch time and even for early dinner from 6pm to 730pm daily.


[CLOSED]
LP+Tetsu
Tanglin Mall
163 Tanglin Road
#03-18
Singapore 247933
Tel: +65 68363112
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPTETSU
Website: http://www.lptetsu.com/
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop along Orchard Boulevard, opposite Orchard Parksuites (Stop ID B09022). Take bus number 7, 77, 106, 111, 123 or 174. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the overhead bridge. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Continue onwards to Forum Shopping Mall. Walk further down to Orchard Parade Hotel. Turn left onto Tanglin Road. Continue walking down to the end of Tanglin Road to Tanglin Mall. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Saveur @ Far East Plaza

From a humble stall in a coffeeshop offering affordable French cuisine, Saveur moved into a full fledged restaurant in Prinsep Purvis Street. The concept was so well received that long queues have been snaking outside the restaurant even before it is opened. Fans of Saveur will be rejoice to know that they have opened a second outlet at Far East Plaza.

Mushroom Cappuccino 3/5

Dinner started with the Mushroom Cappuccino ($4.90) served in a coffee cup. A warm and comforting cup of mushroom soup to warm up the digestive system for more to come.

Saveur's Pasta 3.8/5

Probably the dish that made Saveur popular is their signature Saveur's Pasta ($4.90). This is my first time visiting Saveur and I could not wait to dig into the capellini with chilli oil, finely chopped konbu, topped with minced pork sauce, chives and sakura ebi. A pretty and interesting dish with textures but it fell short to excite my taste buds in flavours.

Duck Confit 4/5

When I got the Duck Confit ($12.90), for a moment it reminded me of ayam penyet because of how flat the duck has been flatten. Putting the presentation aside, the duck confit was really tender and fell off the pork with ease. I was glad that the curing has not caused the duck to be too salty with the orange segments and orange infused nautral jus lending a nice balance to the flavour.

Pork Belly 3/5

The presentation of the Pork Belly ($10.90) looked much better especially with the wobbly soft boiled egg served on a bed of creamy green lentils. The main itself was a bit disappointing. The pork belly still has a hint of that porky taste which I did not enjoy.

Pistachio Panna Cotta 4.2/5

To complete my dinner experience at Saveur, I tried the Pistachio Panna Cotta ($6.90) which was surprisingly very good. The smooth and creamy panna cotta flavoured with pistachio was further accentuated with a nutty finish of ground and caramelized pistachio.

For a decent French cuisine without burning a hole in your pocket, Saveur does manage to lift live up to its concept and offering. I can see why the wallet friendly restaurant has a huge following especially with the younger customers. I have adjusted my expectation during my visit hence I am not particular with what I was served. Saying that I probably would not be visiting Saveur so soon as I prefer to pay a bit more for a more delicate and exquisite French dining experience.


Saveur
Far East Plaza
14 Scotts Road
#01-07B
Singapore 18858
Tel: +65 67361121
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/saveursingapore
Website: http://www.saveur.sg/
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 930pm (last order)
Sun: 1130am - 9pm (last order)

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Get to the ground level of Tang Plaza/Mariott Hotel. Proceed to Scotts Road. Walk down Scotts Road to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]