Little Farms Bistro @ Katong Point - Introduces Brand New Wood-fired Creations

Located at Katong Point, Little Farms Bistro introduces its brand-new wood-fired gastronomic creations. Head Chef Ming Earn curates a menu that celebrates the finest farm-fresh ingredients, emphasizing wood-fired grilled dishes featuring high-welfare meats from renowned brands, elevating dining with a harmonious fusion of flavours, from vibrant salads to satisfying mains, all prepared thoughtfully to deliver exceptional taste and nutritional value.

Kickstart the meal with thirst quenchers such as the Grapefruit & Hibiscus Lemonade ($8) and Orange & Lavender Earl Grey Iced Tea ($8). The latter stands out for its delicate fragrance of orange and lavender, a refreshing beverage for those who appreciate a touch of floral and citrus in their tea.

Prawn & Bourbon Bisque 4/5

The Prawn & Bourbon Bisque ($14) is a sumptuous soup offering a rich and creamy base infused with the essence of prawns. The addition of bourbon adds a unique depth and sophistication to the flavour profile, creating a harmonious blend of smoky and slightly sweet notes.

Cured Salmon Tartare 4.2/5

The Cured Salmon Tartare ($12) features finely chopped cured salmon, accompanied by grilled Wawa cabbage for a smoky dimension, creamy avocado wasabi for a touch of heat, and garnished with lumpfish roe, which adds briny notes that accentuate the flavours of the salmon.

Chermoule Braised Fable Mushroom 3.8/5

The Chermoule Braised Fable Mushroom ($24) features meaty Fable Mushrooms braised in a fragrant and slightly spicy Chermoula sauce. Accompanied by grilled aubergine, tangy tomato, and cauliflower rice, the dish offers a harmonious fusion of textures and flavours. It is served atop grilled pita bread, adding a delightful crunch and toasty aroma to the dish.

Thai Style Organic BBQ Chicken 4/5

The Thai Style Organic BBQ Chicken ($30) features organic BBQ chicken expertly grilled to perfection, achieving a juicy and tender texture. The grilling process imparts a smoky char and a mouthwatering barbecue flavour to the chicken, enhancing its natural juiciness. This Thai-inspired creation is accompanied by a refreshing scallion, pickled garlic salad, and a sweet-spicy Thai sauce, offering a harmonious blend of flavours and textures and giving the dish a distinct Thai flair.

Roaring Forties Lamb Cutlet 4.2/5

From the wood-fired grill, we tried the Roaring Forties Lamb Cutlet ($42/200g) served with mint sauce. The grilling process over the wood-fired grill imparts a delightful smokiness to the lamb, enhancing its overall flavour profile. The exterior achieves a beautiful char and slightly crispy texture, pleasingly contrasting the tender and succulent interior. The classic mint sauce adds a refreshing and herbal note, creating a harmonious balance of flavours.

Yakult Peach Mousse 4/5, Black Sesame Opera 3.5/5

For desserts, they have a selection of delectable choices, such as the Yakult Peach Mousse ($10), which features Yakult's refreshing, tangy taste paired with the sweetness and aroma of peaches. It is a harmonious and light dessert that perfectly balances fruity and creamy flavours, making it a delightful and refreshing conclusion to your meal. The Black Sesame Opera ($12) delivers a sophisticated blend of flavours. While it has a faint black sesame undertone, the predominant taste is that of nutty chocolate. It caters to chocolate lovers while offering a subtle nod to the unique taste of black sesame.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Little Farms Bistro
Katong Point
451 Joo Chiat Road
#01-01
Singapore 427664
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Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon: 8am - 930pm
Tue-Thu: 8am - 830pm
Fri: 8am - 9pm
Sat: 730am - 9pm
Sun: 730am - 830pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Walk to bus stop at Block 99 (Stop ID 81181). Take bus number 16. Alight 4 stops later. Walk down Joo Chiat Road to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Joie @ Orchard Central - Restaurant with Modern Meatless Cuisine in Orchard Central’s Rooftop Garden

Tucked on the 12th floor of Orchard Central is Joie, a restaurant that prides itself on bringing diners a modern meatless menu with Japanese-European elements. It shares the top floor with one other restaurant and the mall's rooftop garden, with views overlooking the bustling Orchard Road.

Joie offers a 4 or 5-Course set for lunch and a 6-Course for dinner. The prices are as follows:

4-Course Lunch
$38++ on Mondays to Fridays, except Eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays

5 Course Lunch
$50++ Daily

6-Course Dinner
$78++ on Mondays to Thursdays
$88++ on Friday to Sunday, Eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays

For this visit, we had two sets of the 6-Course Dinner and hence could sample more dishes as indicated individually below. Beverages are not included, but Joie offers quite a comprehensive list of alcoholic drinks and a more straightforward non-alcoholic list containing mocktails, coffee, tea and soft drinks.

Complimentary Snack - Spaghetti Sticks

We were first served with a complimentary crunchy snack of Spaghetti Sticks in two flavours, spiced and non-spiced.

Palate Cleanser - Passionfruit Sorbet

After that, we were treated to Passionfruit Sorbet, which was intended to cleanse our palates before beginning the course properly. However, it could have been less icy and a lot less sweet to provide a lighter and more refreshing start.

Starter - Chef’s Selection of Assorted Platter 3/5

However, we were uncertain if it was intentional, but the capsicum kebab was made with a mix of vegetables in their raw form, and the raspberry sphere was overly sweet with a flat burst of flavour.

However, we were uncertain if it was intentional, but the capsicum kebab seemed to be just made with a mix of vegetables in their raw form, and the raspberry sphere was overly sweet with a flat burst of flavour.

Side Dish - Bailing Mushroom on Paper Hot Pot 2.8/5

Our first side dish was the Bailing Mushroom on Paper Hot Pot. We appreciated the chunky yet soft-texted mushrooms here, but the accompanying soup was overly sweet, making it challenging to savour fully. A more balanced base would have enhanced the overall enjoyment.

Side Dish - Gratinated Champignon with Mozzarella 2.8/5

For our second side dish, we had the Gratinated Champignon with Mozzarella. I looked forward to it when I saw the copious amount of cheese and golden-brown crust, but I was disappointed with the meagre portion of button mushrooms. The bread meant to pair with the Belgian endives was, unfortunately, a bit stale.

Cold Dish - Tuna Cold Steak 1/5

We ordered the Tuna Cold Steak as our first cold dish, which had marinated watermelon with dill mustard dressing and a topping of pine nuts. The texture of the 'steak' was soft, but flavour-wise, it was cloyingly sweet.

Cold Dish - Vegetable Sashimi On Ice with Oyster-Leaf Shooter Glass 2/5

We've had vegetarian sashimi a couple of times before this and were excited to try Joie's carefully plated rendition - Vegetable Sashimi On Ice with Oyster-Leaf Shooter Glass.

Instead of the usual konjac for the sashimi, they've ventured to use other elements, such as coconut, huai shan and aloe vera. The platter featured 'salmon, octopus, jellyfish and abalone', arranged from left to right. It was served with soy sauce and an oyster-leaf shooter glass. Unfortunately, like the previous dishes, most of these items leaned towards the sweeter side. We would have preferred a better balance with more savoury elements.

Soup - Japanese Kunbu Broth with Hand Carved Tofu 1/5

Our first choice of soup was the Japanese Kunbu Broth with Hand Carved Tofu. We understand from the menu that it was meant to be a double-boiled Japanese seaweed consomme, but what we had was regrettably bland.

Soup - Infusion of Cepes & Truffle 3/5

The Infusion of Cepes & Truffle was a better bowl. The mushroom soup here had delightful bits of mushroom and carried a mild truffle fragrance.

Main - Truffle Risotto 2.8/5

There are 5 mains to choose from for the dinner course. The Truffle Risotto with a croquette on top, mascarpone cream, greens, and black truffle didn't quite meet our expectations. The risotto had a thick porridge-like texture, lacking the desirable al dente bite. Additionally, we would have appreciated the croquette more if it had been served hotter and crunchier to provide better textural contrast.

Main - Grilled Summer Mushroom Steak on "Pu Ye" Hot Stone 3/5

Our second main, the Grilled Summer Mushroom Steak on "Pu Ye" Hot Stone, fared better. Beyond the visual presentation, the "Pu Ye" hot stone was intended to keep the dish hot. The mushroom steak here highlights a well-grilled monkey head mushroom with a mild smokiness. While the deep-fried spaghetti was too oily, I would have liked more of the truffle mashed potato as it was smooth and carried a good amount of flavour.

Dessert - Yoghurt Pudding 2.5/5

The Yogurt Pudding dessert had a watery texture, lacked the expected tangy yoghurt notes and leaned towards the sweeter side.

Dessert - Homemade Cheesecake with Oreo 2.8/5

Our last dessert was their Homemade Cheesecake with Oreo. It was average, with a decent amount of cheese flavour.

Unfortunately, our visit to Joie fell short of expectations. While we valued the warm service, the food quality needed to align with what we anticipated from a casual fine dining establishment. Many dishes lacked flavour or erred on the side of excessive sweetness. We hope this was an isolated occurrence and hope to experience better in the future.

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.


Joie
Orchard Central
#12-01
181 Orchard Road
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 9663 0901
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Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit C or D. Walk to Orchard Central. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tanyu Exclusive 探鱼 @ Jewel Changi Airport - Newly Opened Tanyu Outlet with 8 Flavours of Grilled Fish and Self-Service Ice Jelly Bar to Enjoy Till 3am

Tanyu has been one of many diners' go-to spots for Chongqing-style grilled fish since it joined the local F&B scene in 2017. Newly introduced in Jewel Changi Airport is Tanyu Exclusive, the brand's first-ever supper concept store, open to welcome diners till 3am daily!

The new space works perfectly as a supper spot or to enjoy before you catch a flight. If you dine in later in the night between 10pm and 3pm, there are special supper exclusives and an additional 15% off. All of the staff we met were very cheery and helpful, and the curated Chinese playlist enhanced the overall vibes.

Self-service Ice Jelly Bar

The unlimited Self-service Ice Jelly Bar ($2.80/pax) is definitely the first thing that would catch your eye upon stepping in. It's fun to DIY and refreshing to have through the meal.

Pick from different types of jelly to add to the shaved ice with other toppings, including osmanthus honey, peach gum, pearls, peanuts, hawthorn bits, and more. We went back for seconds and thirds for this.

Fresh Clams in Spicy Sauce 4/5

We started with a chilled appetiser, the Fresh Clams in Spicy Sauce ($9.90). The clams were average in size but picked up the mildly spicy and numbing sauce well.

Chongqing Cold Noodles with Shredded Chicken 4/5

You can opt for regular white rice to accompany the grilled fish, but Tanyu also offers noodle dishes. For a spicy option, go for the Chongqing Cold Noodles with Shredded Chicken ($8.90). While I found the noodles a little too soft, I liked the smooth texture and the appetising sauce.

Noodles with Onion Oil 3.8/5

There is Noodles with Onion Oil ($5.80) for a non-spicy choice. Similarly, it had softer noodles here, but I found the scallion oil used, unfortunately, a little too bland.

Grilled Fish with Fresh Green Pepper, with Limbo Fish 4.8/5

The highlight of our meal was the Grilled Fish with Fresh Green Pepper, with Limbo Fish ($48.90). I always appreciate how customisable a meal at Tanyu is - you can pick your choice of fish broth and add a variety of ingredients to your liking.

I recommend adding their special beancurd ($3.90), which soaked up the broth superbly well. Other ingredients ($4.50/portion) include enoki mushrooms, konjac, bamboo shoots, potato slices and more. My only qualm here was the broth's saltiness, which made it less drinkable.

Grilled Fish with Sauerkraut, with Limbo Fish 4.5/5

We had the Grilled Fish with Sauerkraut for our second fish, with Limbo Fish ($48.90). The fish in both were tender, soft and fresh, which made it easy to separate from its bones. The saltiness here was more balanced with strong tangy notes.

Golden Mushroom with Minced Garlic 4/5

Enoki mushroom and garlic fans should try the Golden Mushroom with Minced Garlic ($5.80). It's a simple dish, but the intense garlic flavours were satisfying.

Lychee Shrimp Ball 4.2/5

We were most surprised by the Lychee Shrimp Ball ($9.80). They were served piping hot and crunchy, with a juicy shrimp filling, pairing harmoniously with the tangy chilli on the side.

Grilled Lamb, Grilled Chicken 3.8/5

While the rub of herbs and spices on the Grilled Lamb ($6.90 for 3 Pieces) and Grilled Chicken ($6.90 for 3 Pieces) were decently aromatic, we found both meats too tough.

Double Taste Rice Cake 4.5/5

The Double Taste Rice Cake ($7.80 for 5 Pieces) was a hot dessert that had praises from everyone. Each had a thin crisp exterior while remaining delightfully soft and chewy within. It was perfect to enjoy with the drizzle of black sugar syrup.

Thunder Grape Drink, Tangerine Hawthorn Drink

We had huge cups of beverages to pair, namely the Thunder Grape Drink ($5.80) and Tangerine Hawthorn Drink ($5.80). Though these came in a big portion for sharing, they were both too sweet for our liking.

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.


Tanyu Exclusive 探鱼
Jewel Changi Airport
#B2-235/236
78 Airport Boulevard
Singapore 819666
Tel: +65 6513 3203
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Nearest MRT: Changi Airport MRT (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3am

Direction:
1) Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Ganko Sushi @ Penang Road (Dhoby Ghaut) - Enjoy 1-for-1 Promotion on New Japanese Robatayaki Menu Till 31 July 2023

Ganko Sushi debuted in Singapore in late 2021, marking its first outpost in Southeast Asia, after successful operations of its 99 restaurants in Japan and 100th in Hong Kong. The restaurant takes pride in its attention to detail and the seafood ingredients' quality. Specially selected fresh catch is flown directly from Japan up to thrice a week to ensure optimum freshness.

Under the guidance of new Head Chef Koichi Matsuda, Ganko Sushi's menu sees a smoky twist with its new robatayaki offerings. The chef brings along with him rich experience from various stints in Michelin-starred restaurants in Japan.

Robatayaki translates to 'fireside cooking', with dishes done grilled. From now till the end of the month, diners can experience the new robatayaki menu with a 1-for-1 promotion on the equivalent value of dishes. Each table is limited to only one redemption per bill while stocks last.

Deluxe Sashimi Platter 4/5

We tried several of the restaurant's signature dishes before the robatayaki menu. While the Deluxe Sashimi Platter ($77) featured very fresh and thick slices, the price tag was considerably steep.

Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura 3.8/5

The crunchy Shrimp & Vegetable Tempura ($15) consisted of three prawns, lotus root, shiitake mushroom, seaweed and more. My dining companion and I found this a little oilier and more underseasoned than we would like.

Supreme Sushi Platter, 12 Types 4.2/5

We also had the Supreme Sushi Platter ($77) featuring 12 types of sushi, with selections such as negitoro, chutoro, ebi, uni and tamago. The ingredients were fresh, with a good rice-to-topping ratio. Note that wasabi is included by default, but you can inform the staff if you prefer without. They also offer platters of smaller sizes.

Large Asparagus 4/5

Moving on to dishes from the Robatayaki menu! Though the Large Asparagus ($10) from Nagano looked unassuming, the toasted almond slices and creamy mayo-based sauce hidden underneath paired nicely with its crunch. The portion leans small.

Shiitake Mushroom 4/5

The Shiitake Mushroom ($5) uses mushrooms from Gifu. These were minimally seasoned and grilled to a lovely juiciness.

Corn 4.2/5

One of my favourites was the Corn ($15) from Hokkaido which boasted a crisp texture and a delicate sweetness. The smokiness here was light.

Big Clam 4/5

I believe the Big Clam ($20) from Aichi was lightly seasoned, as it retained that natural 'ocean' saltiness and sweetness.

Potato with Butter 4.2/5

The simple yet satisfying Potato with Butter ($5) was a pleasant surprise. The slices of grilled potatoes from Hokkaido had thin, crisp skin, and they were fragrant from the smokiness and a good amount of butter. The addition of kombu bits elevated it with an umami touch.

Warabi Mochi 4/5

Dessert was a traditional Japanese dessert, the Warabi Mochi ($8).

It was served with nutty soybean powder and sweet brown sugar that you can add based on your preference on the sweetness level.

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.


Ganko Sushi
9 Penang Road
#01-01
Singapore 238459
Tel: +65 8828 2280
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Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut MRT (CC, NE, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130a, - 230pm, 6pm to 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk to Penang Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]