COMO Cuisine @ Dempsey - A Collection Of Global Cuisines Across COMO Properties And COMO Shambala

Mentioned COMO Cuisine at Dempsey, many will think that the food here is about wellness. It is actually not that. The menu at COMO Cuisine comprises of signatures dishes handpicked from across the COMO properties and COMO Shambala. It is a unique culinary journey where you can experience a collection of global cuisines sans having to get on a plane, all in one place.

Bhutanese Momos 3.5/5

We started with some Bhutanese Momos ($12++). At a glance, it looks like Chinese dumpling, but the dough is thicker, made from a combination of buckwheat flour and wheat flour. It is quite substantial, filled with pork, garlic, coriander and Szechuan pepper. I was actually disappointed that the accompanying Ezay chilli sauce did not use Bhutanese sun-dried chilli powder but Korean chilli powder which lacks the spicy kick.

Mangrove Crab Salad 4.5/5

The Mangrove Crab Salad ($24++) may look a little dull in colour but don't be deceived by it. It is a colourful firework of flavours from the fish sauce, lime juice, garlic and palm sugar. This is COMO Cuisine's interpretation of Thai Som Tum with fresh-picked mud crabs tossed in a salad of green mango, starfruit, cherry tomatoes, beansprouts, mint, coriander, Thai basil, fresh coconut slices and cashew nuts.

Spicy Prawn Relish 4/5

The Spicy Prawn Relish ($12++) is not spicy at all. It is like a bowl of chilli soup with chopped local tiger prawns and grilled corns. What is more interesting is the accompanying starfruit, guava, cucumber crudites and house-made rice crackers for dipping into the relish.

Golden Beetroot 4/5

A clean and delicious tasting dish is the Golden Beetroot ($20++). The heirloom beetroot is roasted in oil and vinegar, and served with Australian goat's feta cheese and finished with poppy seed dressing.

Lobster Biryani 4.5/5

The Lobster Biryani ($48++) really comes as a surprise for me. I thought COMO cuisine is all about the western fare, but this really was unexpected. I like how it is cooked with a house-made naan covering the bowl of basmati rice, locking in all the flavours. On the side, we have raita and guava pomegranate salad, for a balanced diet.

Tandoor Cauliflower 4.2/5

I guess COMO Cuisine never failed to surprise me with the Tandoor Cauliflower ($22++). I mean who will skewered chunks of cauliflower and roasted them in tandoor oven. What brings the dish together is the lemon dressing, giving it the needed acidity on top of the smokiness.

Pappardelle 4.2/5

Freshly made daily is the Pappardelle ($30++) that is cooked to a beautiful al dente bite. I love my pasta saucy and hence the duck ragout was a match in heaven for me. This is further topped with radicchio, basil and shaved pecorino.

Lamb Shank Massaman 4.5/5

Another beautiful dish on the menu is the Lamb Shank Massaman ($45++) served with naan bread and lightly pickled pineapple and cucumber. The lamb shank is cooked to fork-tender, falling off the bone with ease. It is so good that I could not stop going back for more naan to mop up the sauce.

Rich Chocolate Cake 4.2/5

The Rich Chocolate Cake ($14++) is COMO Cuisine's take on the chocolate florentine. The tart base is made from digestive biscuits and then covered with Michel Cluizel 70% chocolate. It is then served with rum-marinated cherries, fresh berries, coffee caramel, mascarpone chantilly infused vanilla bean and edible gold leaf.

Mocha Soft Serve 4/5

Subject to daily flavour, we had the Mocha Soft Serve ($10++). Who can resist a soft, creamy and refreshing soft served to wrap up dinner? It actually tastes like milo soft serve.

Jackfruit Pudding 4.2/5

Another beautiful dessert on the menu is the Jackfruit Pudding ($14++). The soft and moist ginger jackfruit pudding is served warm and topped with fresh jackfruit, passionfruit and coconut slivers. This is complemented by a scoop of house-made jaggery ice cream

Note: This is an invited tasting.


COMO Cuisine
Dempsey Hill
Block 18A Dempsey Road
Singapore 249677
Tel: 1800 3046688
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Holland Village (CC Line), Farrer Road (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Breakfast
Mon-Fri: 8am - 12pm
Lunch
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 3pm
Afternoon Menu
Daily: 3pm - 6pm
Dinner
Sun-Thu: 6pm - 10pm
Fri-Sat, PH: 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop along Orchard Boulevard (Stop ID 09022). Take bus number 7, 77, 106, 123 or 174. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to Dempsey Road. Walk to the round about near block 17 and 18. Walk to destination. Journey time 30 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop at Block 12 (Stop ID 11401). Take bus 106. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to Dempsey Road. Walk to the round about near block 17 and 18. Walk to destination. Journey time 20 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Farrer Road MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Farrer Road MRT station (Stop ID 11119). Take bus number 174 or 564. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Dempsey Road. Walk to the round about near block 17 and 18. Walk to destination. Journey time 20 minutes. [Map]

Indian Express @ Race Course Road - Home-style Northern Indian Cuisine Along With Indian-Chinese Favourites

Northern Indian cuisine is prevalent in our island but Indian-Chinese dishes are definitely less so. Here at Indian Express, take the chance to explore their characters that are unfamiliar to us, while tucking into your favourite Northern Indian dishes. Nestled in one of the shophouses on Racecourse Road, Indian Express has recently renovated and reopened with a fresh look. You may not have known, this casual dining concept is established by the same management behind The Song of India, currently helmed by executive chef Umed Singh, alumnus of The Song of India and protégé of Michelin-starred chef Manjunath Mural.

Tandoori Mix Grill Platter 3.8/5

As a starter or even a simple meal for two, the signature Punjabi-style Tandoori Mix Grill Platter ($19) that comes in a sizzling plate of lamb chop, fish, chicken tikka and kebab that have been grilled in the Tandoor, will have you deeply satisfied. I love the fish which was well marinated with spices and yogurt, and that layer of marination also kept it moist and tender during the grilling process.

Kashmiri Lamb Rack Wazwan 4.2/5

Each platter comes with a lamb chop as well and we had the chance to view them in full glory in the Kashmiri Lamb Rack Wazwan ($14) that made a rather dramatic entrance with the lamb racks smoking in its own juice and marination. It is something that you would not want to share, for all you want is to slowly lift the tender meat off its bone and savour it slowly.

Grilled Vegetarian Platter 3/5

The Grilled Vegetarian Platter ($14) was wholesome with Seekh Kebab, Paneer Tikka and Cauliflower. The Paneer Tikka could be a lot more pleasing if the bell pepper was more cooked down to release its fruity and smokey flavour.

Papdi Chaat 2.8/5

Pani Poori 3/5

One of my favourite small bites are Papdi Chaat and Pani Poori. What we had $7 each were decent but I would like them to be more tangy with yogurt and chutney.

Chilli Chicken 3/5

Indian Express also offers a comprehensive menu of Indian-Chinese dishes. Indian-Chinese cuisine has its roots back in Kolkata in the 1700s, the period when the Chinese migrated there and settled in. They adapted their own recipes with well-loved Indian spices and ingredients and that boost of flavours into dishes which please the local palate became a hit across India 90 years ago. We only managed to try one, Chili Chicken ($14). The flavours were quite homely actually, reminiscent of my mum's black soy stir-fried chicken but laced with chilli.

Butter Chicken 4/5

After all the dishes, we were ready for a lineup of well-loved Northern Indian classics. Among all, the highlight for me was the Butter Chicken ($14). The chicken was being barbecued beforehand, hence it exuded a strong hint of smokiness as I bite into it. Cooked in tomato sauce, the curry was bright with a well rounded tangy sweetness. That mingled perfectly with the smoky flavour of the meat.

Prawn Masaledar 4/5

Prawn Masaledar ($18) is slightly similar to butter chicken which has a tomato based curry but given a dose coconut milk. Again, I like that level of piquancy in the curry, though it was mellower.

Lamb Shank 3.8/5

Muglai Fish Curry 3/5

You can look forward to a good quality Lamb Shank ($16) which comes from one of the finest meat suppliers in Singapore. You may find the Muglai Fish Curry ($12) interesting, which probably reminds you of Thai Green Curry but I prefer a curry that is more robust.

Palak Paneer 4/5

Their Palak Paneer ($10) is also one of the better ones that I have tried. It has a pureed consistency, unlike those creamier ones with cottage cheese cubes swimming inside. Blend with minced garlic, there is an additional layer of flavour built into it that makes it far more delectable than the rest.

Bhindi Masala 3.8/5

Bhindi Masala ($9) is ladyfingers, an ingredient that you either love or hate. It's tricky to cook it well to a right doneness while keeping it green and crunchy. If you like it with samba belacan, this will not disappoint.

Royal Chicken Dum Biryani 3/5

To go with all the curries and dishes, you can go for their Royal Chicken Dum Biryani ($12) but I would suggest skipping that for their moriesh Assorted Naan (Plain Naan $2.50 / Whole wheat $3 / Garlic Naan $3 / Butter Naan $3). Nothing is more engaging than sopping them with curries and savouring them with hands!

Carrot Halwa 3.5/5

For dessert, we had a traditional winter time Carrot Halwa ($4.50) pudding that originated from North India. In North India, the seasonal carrot has a lot more water content but they managed to create the same using ghee, milk and sugar.

When there are so many restaurants in Little India that leave you clueless of where to dine in, simply head down to Indian Express for an authentic experience.

Words and photos 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.


Indian Express
38 Race Course Road
Singapore 218555
Tel: +65 63417429
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Little India (DT Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours
Daily: 12pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Little India MRT station.Take Exit E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

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]