Melt Cafe @ Mandarin Oriental Hotel Singapore - Lobster Bonanza

Extend your festive celebration at Mandarin Oriental Singapore with Melt Cafe's Lobster Bonanza. Taking place between 7 - 21 February 2017, you get to enjoy one of favourite seafood of all time - lobsters, out to excite your taste buds in different manners. The dinner menu highlights the versatility of lobsters in the various stations.

Thai Lobster Salad with Glass Noodles 4/5

Out of the various stations, I guess the Cold and Appetisers Section was my favourite. Not only they served very refreshing starters and side dishes, I got to taste the natural sweetness and firm texture of the lobster meats being highlighted.

The Thai Lobster Salad with Glass Noodles simply up the flavour and texture by a notch, replacing the usual shrimps with bouncy lobster meat. It was visually a feast too. This could easily be a stayer of a restaurant's menu.

Lime Marinated Lobster Gateaux 3.8/5

The Lime Marinated Lobster Gateaux was creamy with abit of citrusy touch. It was a little on the saltier side but that brought out the subtlety of the avocado puree. The tobiko added lots of crunch and flavour which made a scoop of this gateaux a perfect topping to my salad and toast.

Lobster Maki Roll 2.8/5

At the sushi counter, Lobster Maki Roll was added to accompany the usual selection of sushi and sashimi.

Singaporean Style Chili Marron Lobster 3/5

Moving on to bolder flavours, you have your Singaporean Style Chili Marron Lobster cooked in tangy chili sauce served with mantou. Many loved the deep fried mantou but there was too little sauce to go with it.

Thai Tom Yum Soup with Shredded Lobster Meat 3.5/5

The Thai Tom Yum Soup with Shredded Lobster Meat is a luxurious twist to the tradition tom yum soup with the addition of shredded lobster mean. Though I could not see much of the shredded lobster meat, the taste of the tom yum soup itself pass muster. Well, I could always add the meat myself, there was plenty at the cold station! Which I did. I tried the Cognac Infused Lobster Bisque as well, which I thought it was lacking the crustacean flavour.

Oven Roasted Lobster Tail with Brandy Hollandaise and Gruyere 4/5

I believe the Western Show Kitchen is the hottest station as the lobsters here were really indulgent. The Oven Roasted Lobster Tail with Brandy Hollandaise and Gruyere is certainly one of the classics. The meat remained firm and springy, easily lifted off the shell. The sauce and cheese layer was evenly roasted, attaining a burnt crust with a oozy lava-ish sauce. Not too thick or heavy, allowing me to still savour the beauty of the lobster.

Singapore Lobster Laksa 3/5

Perhaps to suit the international taste buds, the Singapore Lobster Laksa does not carry the usual robustness. Hence, be more generous with the sambal chili and condiments at the side as they really fire up the flavour of your local delight.

Cheese Naan 4/5

And of course, there are the rest of the international selections. If you are a regular here, their all time favourite Indian cuisine live station is still around to serve up piping hot naans along with the chutneys and curries. There is the Indian Spices Marinated Marron Lobster served with yoghurt dip if you love spices and curries.

Cakes and Ice Cream 4.5/5

I still feel Melt Café serves one of the best cakes and desserts. Other than its signature chocolate cake, its green tea cake has always been just as delicious. The tarts are very interesting too. Of all the desserts, one should not miss having their homemade ice creams and waffles.

Lobsters aplenty, though this is not the lobsters season. Only within these 3 weeks if you want to catch this Lobster Bonanza. A few days have already passed, hence do make a date with Melt Café soon.

Lobster Bonanza at Melt Cafe

Price points:
- $75 per person (Monday to Thursday) inclusive of free flow of juices additional $20 per person for free flow of house wines, beer and soft drinks.

- $85 per person (Friday and Saturday) inclusive of free flow of juices additional $20 per person for free flow of house wines, beer and soft drinks.

Written and photographs 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
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC 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]

Melt Cafe @ Mandarin Oriental Hotel Singapore - Unlimited Servicing Of Sashimi, Sushi And Many Other Japanese Fare

Just right before the onset of the festive season, Melt Cafe at Mandarin Oriental decided to celebrate the last bit of the year with a Japan Food Fair. Diners of Melt Cafe get to enjoy a wider selection of Japanese food specially prepared for a limited period of time from 23 November to 4 December 2016 (dinner only). For a complete experience, there is even sake to complement the promotion. That is rather rare for a buffet setting.

Sashimi 4.5/5

Start off your meal with a plate of fresh Sashimi. If you like hamachi, theirs won't disappoint you with the thick cuts. I like their cute little triangular California roll with tobiko which has a balance of  the vinegary rice and sweet filling.

Ebi Tempura Hand Roll 4.2/5

Upon request, hand rolls are made ala minute to ensure that the seaweed is still crispy when delivered into your mouth. Especially for their Ebi Tempura Hand Roll. The ebi tempura was still warm when I had it. The crust was crispy and the ebi remained firm and succulent.

Pork and Chicken Katsu Curry 4.2/5

What I really want to highlight is the Japanese curry station which offers both Pork and Chicken Katsu Curry. The light and airy batter seems to have successfully locked in all the juice of the meats, resulting in an extremely tender and moist texture. It was such an indulgence to have an entire onsen egg to glaze over the mini curry don with its creamy egg yolk. What I regretted not doing there and then, was to ask for another scoop of the curry - robust with a spike of fiery, this curry don is certainly one of the most memorable so far.

Melt cafe is also popular for their Indian cuisine. Their live nann station, serving fresh garlic and cheese naan are the best companions for the selection of curries and tandoori. Their curries were complexities with multitude of spices and ingredients. Despite finding them relatively creamy, I find it hard to stop after a few spoonful of it.

Green Tea Swiss Roll 4.2/5

Green Tea Yuzu Cake 4/5

During this Japanese Fest, there are a few unique desserts specially crafted for the occasion. There are the standard Green Tea Swiss Roll as well as the Green Tea Yuzu Cake. While the latter has a interesting tangy twist to its matcha flavour, I still prefer the simpler pure green tea swiss roll which exudes its matcha elegance.

Melt Chocolate Cake 4.2/5

Never walk away without a slice of Melt Chocolate Cake- moist and spongy with bitter sweetness. This is one of the ultimate chocolate cakes to have. The other humble looking classic pandan cake may surprise you with its comforting pandan aroma and sweetness.

Homemade Ice Creams 4.2/5

Last but not least, their Homemade Ice Creams. The sweetness of ice creams usually make your throat stick but theirs are almost thirst quenching.  My favourites are their yogurt, strawberry, chocolate etc... Almost all flavours! Just choose all to pair with your Green tea waffles.

Available only for 2 weeks before the advent of the Christmas season, do make a date with Melt cafe soon!

Japanese Food Fair at Melt Cafe
Price points:
- $75 per person (Monday to Thursday) inclusive of free flow of juices additional $20 per person for free flow of house wines, beer and soft drinks.

- $85 per person (Friday and Saturday) with barbecue and inclusive of free flow of juices additional $20 per person for free flow of house wines, beer and soft drinks.

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
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC 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]

Silver Shell Cafe @ Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa & Spa - Crusin' With Cuisines At Silver Shell Cafe

Silver Shell Cafe at Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa & Spa has revamped its dinner themes giving diners an opportunity to experience mulit theme dinners that vary daily. This new multi theme concept will be available every night throughout the year.

Sundays and Mondays  - Feast at Rasa
World cuisines with buffet stations featuring oriental, western, indian and local flavours.

Tuesdays - Oh! Singapura
Local favourite such as satay, fish otah, char kway teow, mini steamboat and other local delights.

Wednesdays - Mediterranean
Signatures such as Tuscan roast pork belly, Moroccan whole roast lamb with spiced rice and chorizo paella.

Thursdays - All Around Asia
A melting pot of piquant flavours and aromas, from Malaysian ayam masak merah to Vietnamese grilled sausages, Thai red duck curry, Filipino crispy pata deep-fried pork leg and Peranakan assam prawns.

Fridays - A Taste of the Ocean
Fresh marine harvests ranging from oysters to lobsters, king crabs and scallops.

Saturdays - Barbecue and Roast
Showcases the crispy, flavourful crackling or roast pork belly and suckling pig, complete with barbecued squids, prawns, lamb and beef.

Crab Salad 4/5

Cold Seafood 3.8/5

I visited Silver Shell Cafe on a Monday which is the Feast of Rasa theme that features an array of international cuisines. I started with some refreshing Crab Salad and followed with some fresh harvests from the sea.

Vietnamese Beef Noodle 3.5/5

Laksa 4/5

To warm my stomach a bit, I headed to the live noodle station and tried both the Vietnamese Beef Noodle and Laksa. Cooked to order, it is perfect for those looking for something soupy and comforting.

Cheese Garlic Naan 4.5/5

Tandoori Chicken 3.5/5

One of my favourite stations at Silver Shell Cafe is the Indian station. The beautiful smell of spices perfumed the air from the array of curry dishes on the spread. A must try is the Cheese Garlic Naan. Crispy on the exterior yet fluffy inside from the cheese stuffing. I would also recommend having some of the fish curry and dal to go with the naan.

Char Siew 3.5/5

For those that is looking for a good Hong Kong Roast, you can head to the Chinese station when you can satisfy with the selection of roasts such as roasted duck, roasted pork belly, roasted chicken and char siew.

Clam in White Wine 4.2/5

At the station, I would recommend trying the Clam in Chinese Wine. The sweetness of the clam is further elevated from the aromatic Chinese wine sauce.

Souffle 4/5

Cheese Cake 4/5

Wrapping up the dinner we head to the dessert corner and had the Souffle and Cheese Cake. Lucky I have saved some stomach space for desserts. It seems like the kitchen has a very good pastry chef. I enjoyed both the souffle and cheese cake. It is not easy to do a good souffle and I think the chef nailed it. Furthermore, this is probably the first buffet restaurant that serves souffle.

What makes Silver Shell Cafe different from other restaurants is their thoughtfulness. The family friendly restaurant not only has a kid's corner but recently added the Baby Zone which provides complimentary baby food, in addition to value-added amenities such as milk bottle sterilizers, microwave, baby dining utensils, baby wipes and diapers.


Silver Shell Cafe
Shangri-La​'s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa
Leve 3 at Dine on 3
101 Siloso Road
Singapore 098970
Tel: +65 63711966/1970
Website
Nearest MRT: Harbour Front (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 630am - 11pm
Buffet Breakfast: 630am - 1030am
Buffet Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
Buffet Dinner: 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbour Front MRT station. Take Exit C or E. Walk to pick up point at exit of Lobby F in Vivocity (near JPot and Nyonya & Baba Restaurants). Wait for the complimentary shuttle bus service. The shuttle service is available every 20 minutes of the hour. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Melt Cafe @ Mandarin Oriental Singapore - Explore The Flavours of India

Melt Cafe at Mandarin Oriental Singapore will be drawing your attention to a special showcase of Indian cuisine by Indian Specialty Chef Santosh Kumar from 16 to 31 May 2016. And not just the food itself, I was welcomed by a beautiful lady dressed in Sari, with Indian music to waltz me in.

Mutton Biryani 4/5

What caught my eyes at the Indian cuisine section was their Mutton Biryani. Like a King indeed, the mutton biryani is cooked with a whole lamb, which has been roasted for hours. Apart from the tender mutton, I love the aromatic spiced basmasti rice, punctuated with sweetness lent from raisins, dried apricot etc. There was also a lot of textures to it, thanks to the crunchy carrots and green peas.

Tandoori Jhinga King Prawns 3.8/5

A few notable items which I particularly like. The Tandoori Jhinga King Prawns marinated with spices and carom seeds is definitely one of them, something different from the usual tandoori fish or chicken. Fresh and succulent, the spices and carom seeds really whetted my appetite.

Lamb Foie Gras 3.8/5

Lamb paired with Foie Gras is not something that I would expect, given that both ingredients inherited a rather strong and acquired flavour. However, perhaps given the right proportion, this petite item turned out to be quite palate pleasing, rather than giving me a flavour assault. The patty was moist, and not gamey. The marriage of these two is almost like that of beef patty and bacon.

Potato Stuffed with Cottage Cheese and Vegetable 3.8/5

One of my favourite snacks of the evening was this unassuming looking Potato Stuffed with Cottage Cheese and Vegetable. The potato was roasted to the right tenderness, and I really like the comforting sweetness of the stuffing.

Vegetable Curries and Flat Bread, Yogurt and Chutney 3.5/5

There is a range of vegetable curries, which you can pair with an assortment of naan flat breads with flavours such as garlic, butter, olive and cheese. To mellow the fiery and creamy curries, you may want to visit their special 'Indian snack bar' for some homemade chutneys and yogurt.

Rasmalai Cottage Cheese Balls in Cream, Dumpling with Light Syrup, Apricot Pudding

To complete the entire Indian dining experience, there are 3 Indian flavoured desserts. They are Rasmalai Cottage Cheese Balls in Cream, Dumpling with Light Syrup, Apricot Pudding. My favourite is the apricot pudding. It was sweet and sour, and aromatic with cardamom.

Sushi and Sashimi 3.5/5

Herbal Prawn 3/5

Other international cuisines are available - Japanese, Asian, cold sections and desserts.

Cheese and Accompaniments 3.8/5

Apart from the Indian cuisine, another highlight for me is their cheese platter and crepes station.

Crepes with Ice Cream 4.5/5

The crepes was soft and fluffy, and was delicious even on its own. No matter how filled you are, their ice creams are a must-try. Their chocolate ice cream was rich, velvety and edged with bitterness, while the strawberry sorbet was tangy and refreshing. Their yogurt ice cream is also not-to-be missed.

 Explore The Flavours of India is available for lunch and dinner at Melt Cafe from 16 to 31 May 2016,

Lunch
Mon-Sat: $62
Sun Brunch:
$98 (inclusive of free flow of juices and soft drinks)
$158 (inclusive of free flow of champagne, wines, beer, juices and soft drinks)

Dinner
Sun-Wed: $78
Thu-Sat: $88 (inclusive of barbecue selections)


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

Opening Hours:
Breakfast: 630am - 1030am
Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
Brunch: 12pm - 3pm (Sun)
Dinner: 630pm - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

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