Tiffin Room @ Raffles Hotel - Return of The Wondrous Flavours of Holi

Tiffin Room at Raffles Hotel is once again presenting Holi Festival Specialities, exclusively crafted by award-winning Chef de Cuisine Kuldeep Negi, at the historic Tiffin Room. The Wondrous Flavours of Holi will be available from 18 to 31 March 2024 for both lunch and dinner.

Stuffed Yellow Lentil Dumplings 3.5/5

Our dinner began with Chef Kuldeep's Welcome Dahi Gujia (Stuffed Yellow Lentil Dumplings With Sweet Yogurt, Tamarind And Spicy Mint Chutney), a beloved North Indian snack, involves lentils ground and shaped into a half-moon gujiya, generously adorned with yoghurt, tamarind chutney, coriander mint chutney, and an array of Indian spices. Combining the chutneys and spices resulted in an explosion of flavours - a delightful interplay of sweet, tangy, and savoury notes infused with aromatic undertones. The addition of nuts provided an enjoyable textural contrast to the chaat. Personally, I would have preferred a bit less of the tamarind chutney, as it leaned towards the sweeter side.

Pickled Spicy Tandoori-Grilled Chicken Wrap 4/5

Next is the Achari Murgh Tikka Kathi Roll, featuring Pickled Spicy Tandoori-Grilled Chicken Wrap served with Beetroot, Radish And Onion Salad. The chicken was tender and flavourful with a heady blend of spices, which was quite nicely balanced by the herbaceous mint chutney and the side salad.

Pan-Seared Black Cod 4.5/5

The Main Course was served in its classic tiffin set. Tawa Masala Fish was the crowd's favourite, featuring Pan-Seared Black Cod in a Special Blend Of Spices, Onion And Tomato Masala. The tangy and fruity sweetness of the masala complemented the inherent richness of the cod.

Boneless Chicken Leg 4/5

Murgh Madras is a crowd pleaser with tender Boneless Chicken Leg in curry rich in mustard seed and spices.

Pahadi Gosht 4.2/5

Pahadi Gosht is a rare treat that serves Himalayan-style Lamb Chop Curry with Fresh Herbs And Spices. The lamb was delightfully tender, and this more robust form of curry proved to be a good pairing with the meat's flavours.

Yellow Lentil Curry 3.5/5

The Tiffin set also includes Shahi Dal, a curry made with Yellow Lentil with Black Beans and Red Kidney Beans. I enjoyed the textural interplay of the various beans and lentils, but I prefer a more spice-forward curry that tastes bolder.

Tomato Mint Pulao 5/5

Butter Naan and Laccha Parantha 5/5

Despite the curries being the main focus, the Tomato Mint Pulao, Butter Naan, and Laccha Parantha truly stole the spotlight for me. The Tomato Mint Pulao was a delight, featuring light and fluffy basmati rice infused with the fragrant essence of mint and cardamom, punctuated by sweetness from softened fresh tomatoes. Both the naan and parantha proved equally satisfying, boasting the desired texture and a rich, buttery flavour that added a layer of joy to the overall dining experience.

Dessert 3/5

The Dessert is a platter of Makai Halwa, Gujia, and Gur Para (Sweet Corn Halwa, Traditional Sweet Dumplings Stuffed With Coconut And Dried Fruits, and Jaggery Bites). However, I found these selections a bit too heavy for a dessert course after the fairly rich dishes. Perhaps a lighter option would have provided a more balanced and refreshing conclusion to the meal.

Options of 2 glasses and 4 glasses alcoholic beverages pairing are available as well.

Photograph and written 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.


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]

Rempapa @ Park Place Residences at PLQ - Cultural Celebration Series, New Dishes For Deepavali

As part of Rempapa's Cultural Celebration Series to showcase Singapore heritage cuisine, the restaurant will feature two dishes celebrating Deepavali from 17 to 24 October 2022.

Kool 4/5

The first dish Kool ($80++), is a Northern Sri Lankan speciality. The recipe came from Chef Damian's granddad's neighbour. The hearty soup consists of fresh seafood such as prawns, squid, crabs and fish head served in a claypot and is suitable for 3-4 pax. They are also vegetables such as long beans, sliced tapioca, and jackfruit seeds. The soup is not the lemak type. It is light with a bit of tartness from the tamarind juice with some dried chilli flakes for a touch of heat. It comes with a bowl of brown rice. We recommend having the brown rice with the comforting stew. Three days advance reservation is required for the dish.

Lamb Dhalcha 4.8/5

The other dish is the Lamb Dhalcha ($60++), a Eurasian interpretation of a traditional South Indian lentil stew. Tender lamb ribs, lentils and potatoes are cooked with an aromatic amalgamation of spices such as toasted cumin, fennel, and coriander. It was so good that I kept returning to the chapati to wipe up the sauce.

Assortment of Kuehs 4.5/5

Wrapping up our dinner, we had an Assortment of Kuehs, a must-have at Rempapa.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Rempapa
2 Paya Lebar Road
#01-01/02/03
Park Place Residences at PLQ
Singapore 409053
Tel: +65 94591603
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Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1030am - 1030pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 930am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to Sims Avenue. Cross the road. Walk to Park Place Residences. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Melt Cafe @ Mandarin Oriental Singapore - Delhi Food Festival Dinner

From 7 to 16 June 2019, Melt Cafe at Mandarin Oriental Singapore invites you to their Delhi Food Festival Dinner. Enjoy a slew of traditional Delhi dishes from both the Indian specialties station as well as their live stations which are set up exclusively for this festival.

Tomato Coriander Broth

Kick start your meal with this Tomato Coriander Broth, which can be found beside the Western Food station along with other soups. What makes this broth unique is that its rich consistency is obtained from ground basmati rice, rather than starch or potatoes. Extremely tangy and delicious, it is dangerously moreish!

Masala Dosa

I was surprised to see a Malasa Dosa Live station. You could have it plain as well, to appreciate all the beautiful and bright chutneys served alongside.

Chaat

Not to be missed is also the brightly lit Chaat station and each chaat is as colourful with flavours and textures from Moong Dhal Pakori  chickpeas, potatoes, onions, green chili, pomegranate tamarind chutney, mango chutney and sweet yoghurt.

Whole - Roasted Lamb Biryani Saffron Rice

Heading the Indian Specialties station is this iconic Whole - Roasted Lamb Biryani Saffron Rice, Vegetables. However, you can only witness its magnificence only on Friday and Saturday Dinner. So choose your date wisely.

Dal Dhaba

The Lentil Curry is a mainstayer and as humble as it may seem to be, it is the tastiest among all. I have tried it a couple of times during my other visits, and it never fails to delight my taste buds. Perhaps, it is its tomatoey flavour coupled with spices that makes it so alluring.

Macher Jhol

Among other festive dishes, my favourite is the Bengali Fish Curry with Coconut and Mango. The curry was fruity but was more piquant than sweet, which made it very appetising.

Mutton Ki Shami

A few items to highlight, such as their Signature Lamb and Foie Gras Kebab with Indian Spices. The flavours of lamb and foie gras were surprisingly good with each other without being too gamey.

Malai Jhinga

Tandoori Tiger Prawns were nicely charred, but some were slightly overcooked.

Til Wale Bharwa Aloo

The Potatoes and Cottage Croquette with Sesame Seed reminds me of sesame balls, that exudes tons of sesame flavour at every bite.

Paneer Tikka Masala

Their Vegetables and Spinach Creamy Curry Gravy is pleasing with a good ratio of spinach to the gravy, which makes it relatively light and less sinful when you reach out for more.

I wish there would be more exclusive Indian desserts to try but there wasn't. But the Alfonso Mango Lassi satisfied that nonetheless.

Pricing
$78 Per Adult Inclusive of Chilled Juices Every Sunday to Thursday Dinner
$88 Per Adult Inclusive of Chilled Juices Every Friday and Saturday Dinner

Written 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.


Melt Cafe
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Singapore
5 Raffles Avenue
Singapore 039797
Tel: +65 68853500
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Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line, DT Line), Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 630am - 930pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk to Marina Square. Follow the signage to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit B or D. Walk to Marina Square. Follow the signage to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Kilo Kitchen @ Duxton Road - Moved To Its New Location After 8 Years At Kallang

Kilo Kitchen which has been at Kampong Bugis Road for the last 8 years has relocated to its new home at Duxton Road. Retaining the same laidback vibe of its original Kilo Kitchen in Kallang, the new place stops an open-format natural kitchen and a Turkish marble and brass bar with a raw, minimalist decor, greenery and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Kilo's Seafood Ceviche 4/5

The Kilo's Seafood Ceviche ($23) hits the spot with its citrusy and spiciness amid the fresh seafood. Besides the usually tuna and snapper, I enjoyed the addition of the fresh octopus and crispy wanton skin for the extra textural bite.

Beef Tongue Taco 3/5

The Beef Tongue Taco (2 for $18 / 4 for $35) comes with tender black pepper flavoured beef tongue paired with miso, apple and jalapeno-garlic tallow wrapped in tortilla shell. The flavours are beautiful but I felt somehow not satisfy with the thin slices of beef tongue, it is not substantial enough.

Atas Lentils 3.8/5

I like the idea of the egg yolk, giving the Atas Lentils ($26) a coat of creaminess. The smokiness of the bacon gives it a nice contrast but I am not sure about the necessity of the truffle. If it comes with some some pita bread to mop up the lentils, that would be perfect. It felt a bit weird having it alone without any bread.

Squid Ink Rice 3.5/5

The Squid Ink Rice ($29) serves in claypot is defintiely eye catching but its only for plating purposes only. It was missing that smokey flavour and burnt rice grains, one would expect in claypot rice. The finishing was also on the salty side too. Apart from that, I enjoy the crispy baby squid that comes with the claypot rice.

Ricotta Gnocchi 2.5/5

I was really disappointed with the Ricotta Gnocchi ($26). The gnocchi was too doughy and bland. Even the delicious mushroom and miso butter sauce did not manage to lift the taste profile.

Grilled Whole Rainbow Trout 3.5/5

Simply cooked to showcase the flavour the ingredient is the Grilled Whole Rainbow Trout ($46). Grilled to an exterior char, the fish remained moist inside. This is paired with confit tomatoes, basil and olive oil to complement the subtle flavour of the trout.

Chocolate Terrine 4.2/5

Surprisingly my dinner ended on a high with the Chocolate Terrine ($14). The richness of the chocolate terrine, tuile and smoked salted caramel works harmoniously striking the perfect note to wrap up the dinner.

I was not impressed with the food at Kilo Kitchen. Maybe its raving reviews when it was at Kallang has set my expectation high. To be frank, checking with my dining group that has visited Kilo at Kallang, they also find the food was subpar. Not sure whether it is due to the change of chef but I hope they can pull up their socks and reach the same standard and quality they are known to be.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Kilo Kitchen
97 Duxton Road
Singapore 089541
Tel: +65 64673987
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Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 530pm - 12midnight
Sat: 6pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun-Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Orchid Hotel. At Orchid Hotel turn right onto Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road to the opposite side of Tanjong Pagar Road. Walk along Tanjong Pagar Road to Duxton Hill. Turn left onto Duxton Hill and then turn right on Duxton Road. Journey time about 15 mins. [Map]