Two Hana @ Century Square - Bringing Two Cultures, Korean And Western Together

There are quite a number of restaurants and eateries to check out at the newly re-opened Century Square mall. One of these restaurants and eateries is Two Hana which is located near the mall's taxi stand. It is a Korea meets West cafe concept offering a eclectic menu featuring all-day dining, light bites, hearty mains, alluring dessert, refreshing drinks and specialty coffee from All Press.

Two Hana Drumlets 3.5/5

Since it is a Korean inspired cafe, then we can do without the Korean fried chicken. The Two Hana Drumlets ($9) comes in 2 flavours - Honey Butter and Spicy Yangnyeom. It is a sweet and spicy combination with deep fried crispy skin. The honey butter sauce drumlets are topped with popcorn and almond while the spicy yangnyeom comes with sesame seeds.

Korean Cauliflower Fritters 4/5

Kimchi Mac & Cheese Bites 3.5/5

For some light bites on the menu, there are the Korean Cauliflower Fritters ($8) and Kimchi Mac & Cheese Bites ($9). The cauliflower is coated in a light crispy tempura batter and glazed in a sweet and spicy sauce. Up a notch with the kimchi mac & cheese whereby the cheesy filling is spiced up with kimchi chucks enveloped by crispy breadcrumbs.

Bulgogi Sidewinders 3.5/5

If you find having fries alone is rather boring, then the Bulgogi Sidewinders ($9) will be a nice change with its abundance of toppings such as beef bulgogi, creamy bulgogi sauce, kimchi bits, onions and parmeson cheese. It may sounds and looks messy but the combination actually comes together quite well.

Korean Slaw & Rocket Salad 3/5

If you want something light and healthy, there is the Korean Slaw & Rocket Salad ($9). The green consists of an assortment of rockets, cabbage and red cabbage. It is topped with pear, parmesan, mandarin orange, citron jam, yogurt and raisins. I enjoyed how the fruits and jam lend a citrus touch to the earthy greens.

Kimchi Bibimwrap 3/5

A staple Korean dish is the bibimap which is usually served in a bowl. How about the Kimchi Bibimwarp ($12), bibimap in a wrap? The wrap is stuffed with kimgaru rice, spinach, namul, shiitake mushrooms, fried garlic, egg, lettuce, cabbage, toasted sesame dressing and fried garlic. This is a meal on its own. You can also opt not to have rice in the wrap.

Striploin Bap 4/5

Rice bowl has been one the latest food trends in Singapore. Jumping on the bandwagon is the Striploin Bap ($13), its Korean interpretation of the rice bowl. Beautifully seared striploin slices, together with servings of kimchi, spinach, beansprout namul, caramelised onions and poached egg rest on top of the kimgarou rice. In fact, I find the bowl a bit small for the generous servings.

Crisp-Battered Pacific Cod 3/5

The Crisp-Battered Pacific Cod ($14) is served on a bed of doenjang mashed potatoes and comes with a choice of kimchi veloute or honey soy mayonnaise sauce. Unfortunately the highlight of the dish is the doenjang mashed potatoes, made from 60% potatoes, 40% butter and doenjang sauce. The bland tasting pacific cod is overshadowed by the creamy mashed potatoes with chunky bites.

Korean Seafood Cioppino 4.5/5

The dining group's favourite has to be the Korean Seafood Cioppino ($12), brimming with a medley of mussels, clams, prawns, mushroom and carrots stewed in tomatoes cream base. Diners can have a choice of tofu or soft rolls to go with the rich and creamy soup. It's like have a bowl of lobster bisque.

Gochujang Braised Lamb Shank 3.8/5

I thought the Gochujang Braised Lamb Shank ($24) is rather special. Unlike the usual, it is braised in a gochujang tomato sauce. While the braised sauce was delish, I was lacked down by the texture of the lamb shank. I was expecting it to be more tender. It seems that the lamb shank needs more hours in the pot.

Apple Caramel Waffles with Doenjang Caramel Ice Cream 3.5/5

As for dessert, I tried both the Apple Caramel Waffles with Doenjang Caramel Ice Cream ($9) and Strawberry Waffles with Honey Citron Ice Cream ($9). The waffles are crispy and dense. The addition of fruits help to cut those density with the yummy ice cream providing the home run.

Strawberry Waffles with Honey Citron Ice Cream 3.5/5

Overall, I feel that Two Hana serves some interesting Korean meets Western dishes but some are not at that level yet. There is potential in the dishes but probably needed more refinement to reach to excellent. Putting the food aside, the cafe serves great coffee using beans from All Press. So don't forget to get your caffeine fix whenever you drop by the cafe.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Two Hana
Century Square
2 Tampines Central 5
#01-21
Singapore 529509
Tel: +65 62604339
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Tampines (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tampines MRT station. Take Exit C. Turn left and walk to traffic light junction. Cross the road and walk down Tampines Central 5. Walk to Century Square. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Three Bistro @ Marina Square

Conveniently located at Marina Square, Three Bistro is a modern restaurant, bar and wine space which offers a wide range of western fusion food ranging from salads, pizzas to hearty main courses and desserts. Wine lovers will be delighted to know that Three Bistro actually offers a good selection of wine that is rarely found elsewhere in Singapore.

Take for example these three bottles of wine below. Notice the Chinese letters on the bottle? They are, in fact, French wine that are harvested and brewed in China. One of them has even clinched an award at the Hong Kong International Wine Tasting Competition!

Classic Mushroom 3.5/5

Our dinner started rolling with some warm comforting soups. Those who love truffle oil would love this rendition of Mushroom Soup ($6) as the chef is rather generous with the serving. However, a drizzle of truffle oil might just suffice as it overpowered the mushroom flavour.

Seafood Soup 3.8/5

This Seafood Soup ($8) resembled a fishermen’s stew with plenty of fresh fish, squid, in a perfect backdrop of sweet and sour tomato base that would rally up anyone's spirits on a rainy day.

BBQ Chicken Pizza 2.8/5

The pizza base is gratifyingly crisp and the combination of chicken, pineapples and bbq sauce in this BBQ Chicken Pizza ($10.50) sounded like a Hawaiian dream come true. And this dream would realize in reality if fresh honest ingredients were used and a little more effort were channeled to craft the dough.

Pan Seared Salmon with Tofu 3/5

The Pan Seared Salmon with Tofu ($12) left me in confusion because the components seemed to be isolated from one another. The pan-seared salmon in teriyaki sauce and the deep fried golden tofu were tasty on their own but there was just too little chemistry between the two, as well as the green smear of sweet wasabi custard, to inspire any beautiful love story.

Baby Back Ribs 2.8/5

Arriving in two hunky slabs, the Baby Back Ribs ($23) definitely got me salivating over the tantalizing looking BBQ sauce. I would love to have basked in the porky glory if the flavour had penetrated through the meat. They were overdone, resulting in an arduous task of chowing through the meat.

Duck Confit with Honey Vinaigrette Dressing with Creamy Mash Potato 3/5

Some chefs do it the crisp way; some chefs do the traditional braised way. Like it or not, the Duck Confit ($25) here belonged to the classic camp where the skin is soft and supple. The meat was fairly tender but could have retained more moisture. This would have been a good interpretation of a classic confit if the dry mash potato hadn't been "modernized" by the truffle oil.

Lamb Shank 3.5/5

Some people might find this Lamb Shank ($27) slightly gamey but I thought the meat was a good sign of long braising, boasting of the lovely silky, almost sticky texture. The side vegetables such as carrots and onions were also cooked down to a pleasant sweet mash. Perhaps a little touch of herbs and spice would do the trick to coax out the nuances of this dish.

Cod Fish, served with Tomato Salsa and Cream of Anchovy 3.5/5

Perhaps due to the choice of using oven-baked technique, the skin of the Codfish ($27) remained chewy, a pity because the great storage of fats could have been harnessed to produce an aromatic crisp fish. Nonetheless, it was a very healthy dish that is extremely light on seasoning, slightly too light to register on the palates of an average man. The cream of anchovy was also absent that day. That said, this is pretty ideal for ladies who are watching their diet.

Panna Cotta 3.5/5

Back to the desserts, the Panna Cotta ($5.50) has a unique consistency of a milk jelly pudding and the sugar content is well regulated.

Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream 3/5

Meanwhile, the Chocolate Brownie ($6.50) also made quick entrance, albeit at the mercy of the delicate ice cream that was melting in mid-way. This brownie might not be out-of-the-world delicious, but efforts still have to be credited to the chef who made this instead of outsourcing to external bakeries. It had a dense, nutty texture, which would be elevated to a next level if served warm.

Currently, the concept of the food at Three Bistro appears inherently fuzzy to me, though I sincerely appreciate the effort that goes into styling up some dishes here. If more energy is directed towards the balance of flavours and textures in each dish, I think Three Bistro would stand out as one of the quality all-day dining and chill-out spots in the CBD district. Live band music performance is also available during the evenings from 730pm go 1030pm on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Written and Photograph by Li Tian, a passionate foodie behind Singapore-Japan Food Blog “Dairy & Cream”. Has an eye for pastries and desserts.


Three Bistro
Marina Square
6 Raffles Boulevard
 #01- 07/08
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 63388644
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thr3ebistro
Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 10am - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 10am - 12midnight
Sun: 12noon - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take exit B. Walk to Marina Square via Marina Square Link. Walk to the destination. Journey time about 5 mins. [Map]

NUVO @ Marina Square

The Dining Edition at Marina Square has injected some vibe into the shopping mall with the numerous restaurants in the area. Located at the far corner of the dining section is NUVO, a contemporary Italian Japanese restaurant helmed by Executive Chef Mark Richards. With Chef Mark Richards on board and a refreshed menu, I was looking forward to try the new creations at NUVO.

Dinner began with complimentary bread with truffle butter. A delightful start to dinner.

Warm Japanese Mushroom Salad 4.8/5

My favourite vegetable is spinach and I could not be more delight to have the Warm Japanese Mushroom Salad ($18) that is filled with my favourite greens. The baby spinach dressed with butter truffle oil shoyu has a subtle sweet and tangy combination that was very pleasant on the palate. Paired with pine nuts, mushroom and asparagus, this gives the salad the needed textures of enjoyment. And it is served warm.

Crispy Calamari 4/5

Another salad dish on the menu is the Crispy Calamari ($18) with arugula, togarashi, white balsamic and compressed watermelon. The crispy calamari is sprinkled with Japanese chilli pepper giving it a hint of spiciness to lift the springy calamari. Not many people enjoy arugula because of its bitterness but the compressed watermelon in yuzu was a brilliant idea for the balance of the dish.

Angus Osso Buco Stew 4/5

Stew and oyster fritters pairing on a plate is a first for me. The Angus Osso Buco Stew ($28) with the stew made from roasted bone marrow, consists of Hijiki and Porcini mushrooms that are oven roasted with thyme and rosemary. It is finished with a reduction of veal jus, parmigiano reggiano and toasted breadcrumbs. This a rich and full flavoured dish with many components working harmoniously together.

Kurobota Pork Belly 4/5 and Angel Hair Wakame 3.8/5

There is actually 2 dishes on the plate in the Kurobota Pork Belly ($32) and Angel Hair Wakame ($18/$24). The pork belly is cooked Kakuni style which is simmered in dashi, soy sauce, mirin, sugar and sake. The result is a tender and flavour pork belly that is so what similar to Chinese cuisine. I remembered trying this dish at Immanuel French Kitchen too. It is not surprising as both chefs used to work at Keystone. I ave mixed opinions of the Angel Hair Wakame. While I like the texture and dryness of the pasta which resembles the Chinese stir fried noodles flavoured bythe lobster essence and rayu oil, I thought the dish somehow was one dimensional without much excitement.

Baked Olive Cod Fish 4.8/5

The next dish definitely hit the right spot for me in both taste and presentation. The Baked Olive Cod Fish ($35) with pepperoni, hon shimeiji and baby potatoes blown me off with its rich flavours. The cod fish was also cooked perfectly to tender and came with nice buttery flavour.

Japones Australian Lamb Shank 4/5

The Japones Australian Lamb Shank ($38) was a sous vided in limoncello giving it a nice fruity zest to the fork tender lamb. The gamey lamb is well suppressed by the seasoning but the highlight for me is the bed of organic pasta from Sicily known as fregola sarda. It was a very delectable bite that is similar to couscous.

Smoked Uni Cabonara 4.5/5

The signature dish at NUVO probably is the Smoked Uni Cabonara ($38) which is given a modern interpretation. The star has to be the rich and creamy uni sauce that gave the dish its character while the truffle soil completed the innovative cabonara crowned with an onsen egg. While there is crayfish in the dish, I have to say I walked away not remembering tasting it.

Wild Honey Panna Cotta 3.5/5

The smooth Whild Honey Panna Cotta ($16) comes with dehydrated fruits such as lychee and makan. I was surprised by the flavour of the dehydrated fruits. It tasted like the real thing.

Fuji Apple and Parmigiano Reggiano Torta 4/5

Using a secret family recipe with an Italian twist, the Fuji Apple and Parmigiano Reggiano Torta ($14) is baked with Parmesan and fresh Fuji Apple. The torta was moist ad cheesy. This is served with a scoop of fig and honey ice cream adorned with crumble and flake almonds.

Not to be missed is the 3 course Set Lunch menu ($15++) and 4 course Dinner Menu ($35++). The value for money lunch set comes with 3 courses of starter, main and dessert. The dinner menu on the other hand comes with a soup, entree, main and dessert.


[CLOSED]
NUVO
Marina Square
No 6 Raffles Boulevard
#02-100
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 68222098
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nuvosingapore
Website: http://nuvo.sg/
Nearest MRT: Esplamade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take exit B. Walk to Marina Square via Marina Square Link. Walk to the destination. Journey time about 5 mins. [Map]

10 at Claymore @ Pan Pacific Orchard

For the month of August to September 2013, 10 at Claymore at Pan Pacific Orchard will be bringing back timeless classic dishes featuring preparation methods of the 60's and 70's. Themed Timeless Plates of Pleasure, let us embark a food trail down memory lane when flavours were simple yet hearty. At 10 at Claymore, one will be spoiled for choices as you get to order from the ala carte buffet menu as well as extensive selections of international cuisines of seafood, cooked food and desserts spread around the spacious restaurant.

Canadian Handpicked Scallop 2.8/5

Ordering from the ala carte buffet menu, we started with the Canadian Handpicked Scallop. It is prepared like a yam basket with the scallop inside topped with Imperial XO sauce. Interesting concept but individual flavours felt disjoint.

Pacific Ocean Depth Sea Perch 3.5/5

The Pacific Ocean Depth Sea Perch fared much better with the Chong Qing spiced bean gravy enhancing the flavours of the fresh and moist fish.

Australian Master Kobe Wagyu Beef 'Outside Flat' 4.2/5

Cooked beautifully with mushroom creme, the Australian Master Kobe Wagyu Beef 'Outside Flat' was flavourful and succulent.

New Zealand Free Range Lamb Shank 4/5

The melted in the mouth New Zealand Free Range Lamb Shank with Shiraz Reduction is worth putting on a few pounds for it.

Indo-China Farmed Duck Breast 4/5

While others find the Indo-China Farmed Duck Breast gamey, I thought the pinkish sliced duck breast was excellently executed. The citrus honey glaze did bring a nice contrast of the flavours but I preferred a little more reduction of it for the meat to shine.

Penang Spicy Prawn Noodle in Soup 3.5/5

Known for its Penang fare, the Penang Spicy Prawn Noodle in a spicy crustacean broth was indeed hearty and comforting.

The ala carte buffet menu items are served in petite portions so diners can have a try of everything. It is unlimited so if you like a particular dish, just order again. For those that has a huge appetite, a wide spread of succulent seafood and bistro fare invites you at the buffet line.

For cheese lovers, its worth checking out the cheese section. 10 at Claymore has quite an interesting cheese selection such as Stout Porter, Stripey Jack, Lime & Chilli and Cranberry.

Penang Char Kway Teow 4.5/5

Even with a bloated stomach, I still tried to save some space for the award winning Penang Char Kway Teow. I could smell the fragrant noodle from a distance and each mouthful was filled with delightful wok hei flavour.

Dessert

A meal is never complete without dessert. The sweet tooth will be joy with the sweetness that is available at the buffet spread. Celebrating Singapore 48th Birthday this year, diners will get an exclusive price of $48++ per person at 10 at Claymore on the 8th and 9th of August 2013.

Timeless Plates of Pleasure

Date: August to September 2013
Dinner (8th & 9th August): $48++
Diner (Mon - Thu): $59++
Dinner (Fri - Sun): $62++
Brunch (Sun): $68++


10 at Claymore
Pan Pacific Orchard
10 Claymore Road
Singapore 229540
Tel: +65 67370811
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PanPacificOrchard
Website: http://www.panpacific.com/en/Orchard/Overview.html
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 1030am (breakfast), 12pm - 230pm (lunch), 6pm -1030pm (dinner)
Sunday: 12pm - 3pm (brunch)

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk towards Wheellock Place via ION. Exit Wheellock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Cross the road at the traffic light junction and turn left towards Royal Thai Embassy. Walk to Palais Renaissance which is right after Royal Thai Embassy. Cut through Palais Renaissance to the other side of the building. Pan Pacific Orchard is opposite the building. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Shaw House via underpass. At the road level, walk along Orchard Road towards Royal Thai Embassy direction. Walk to Palais Renaissance which is right after Royal Thai Embassy. Cut through Palais Renaissance to the other side of the building. Pan Pacific Orchard is right opposite the building. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Prego @ Fairmont Hotel Singapore

All these while I have read good reviews on Prego at Fairmont Singapore but I have never get the chance to try the food until a couple of weeks back. With a new look menu to enhance the dining experience at the Italian Trattoria, Chef Antonio Facchinetti brings to diner an authentic, traditional and homely Italian cuisine with the fresh and quality ingredients.

We started the meal with a selection of bread accompanied by seasonal dips. From left to right, we have the Tomato with Basil, Caramelized Onion with Ricotta Cheese and Truffle with Ricotta Cheese. My personal favourite among the three is the caramelized onion with ricotta cheese. The sweet and savoury combination worked wonderfully with the caramelized onions lending a delectable bite.

Insalata Mista 3/5

The Insalata Mista ($19) is a mix of green salad, radicchio, fennel, red onion and lemon dressing. While I appreciated the fresh greens, I still prefer a little more of the zesty lemon dressing to live up the bowl of salad.

Stracciatell di Bufala 4.5/5

The Stracciatell di Bufala ($26) comes with a marinated king prawn topped with tomato, oregano and spring onions sitting on a bed of buffalo stracciatella. The exquisite dish cleverly showcased the flavour of each individual ingredient while working harmoniously together.

Cotechino 3.5/5

The Cotechino ($23) is an Italian cooked pork sausage with roasted organic sweet pepper sauce. The pork sausage did resemble the luncheon meat which is more familiar to my Asian palate. I have to say I did not quite enjoy the fatty texture of it. On the other hand, the sweetness of the roasted organic sweet pepper sauce gave the needed balance to the dish which I applauded. The sauce also went well with the bread.

Bucatini 3.8/5

The thick spaghetti like pasta with a hole running through the center, Bucatini ($36) has a delectable bite tossed in a mix of calamari, bread crumbs, chilli, black anchovies and fennel. An interesting pasta dish with layers of textures that was enjoyable. It was a good dish getting favourable nods from the table but I still like my pasta with sauce.

Paccheri 4.2/5

Originating from Naples, Paccheri ($42) is a huge tube shaped pasta hollow in the middle. I liked the bite of the pasta that was beautifully cooked in a tomato based sauce with maine lobster, roasted heirloom tomatoes and basil.

Truffle Risotto 4.8/5

Using Acquerello rice that is aged for more than a year, the Truffle Risotto was probably the highlight of the night. The risotto was cooked perfectly with the rice grains absorbing all the beautiful flavours. Hearty and comforting, the creamy risotto was topped with an egg and sauteed mushroom.

Merluzzo 4.5/5

The Merluzzo ($42) was cooked beautifully, moist and buttery. The baked cod fish is served with artichoke, pomodorini, kalamata olives and mashed potatoes.

Stinco d'Agnello 4.5/5

The Stinco d'Angello ($30) basically fell off the bone when I cut into it. The braised lamb was so tender and succulent. It is served with delectable roasted fennel and potatoes.

Zabaglione 3/5

Wrapping up the dinner is the Zabaglione ($14), a classic Italian dessert made of egg yolk, sugar and sweet wine and paired with colourful berries.

Spotting a brand new look and offering guests an authentic Italian family style experience, Prego will be one of the few Italian restaurants that I will recommend. While there are some misses, the hits outshone them. They are many good food at Prego that is worth going back for.


Prego
Fairmont Singapore Hotel
Level 1
80 Bras Basah Road
Singapore 189560
Tel: +65 64316156
Website: http://www.fairmont.com/singapore/dining/prego/
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 10am (breakfast), 630am - 1030am (deli)
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 230pm (lunch), 1130am - 1230am (pizzeria)
Sun: 1230pm - 3pm (lunch buffet)
Daily: 630pm - 1030pm

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