Showing posts with label Octopus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Octopus. Show all posts

Sunday, April 26, 2026

VUE @ OUE Bayfront - New Weekend Lunch Set Menu with Signature Dessert Trolley

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Perched atop OUE Bayfront, VUE continues to impress with its refined modern European cuisine and stunning skyline views. Elevating the weekend dining scene, the restaurant has launched a new Weekend Lunch Set Menu, thoughtfully curated with a choice of four ($108++) or five courses ($128++). Each dish reflects a careful balance of artistry and finesse, culminating in a delightful finale of free-flow desserts from its signature trolley.

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As with every visit, the meal began on a high note with the restaurant's complimentary milk buns. Soft, pillowy and lightly sweet, they were perfect when paired with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It's one of those addictive starters that inevitably leads to a second helping, and understandably so.

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42-Month Aged Jamón Iberico 4/5

We started our lunch with the cold appetisers, in which the 42-Month Aged Jamón Iberico delivered a deeply savoury, complex flavour profile. The long curing process lends the ham its signature intensity and nutty undertones, complemented beautifully by sweet Charentais melon. Paired with the La Coca toast, a thin, crisp Spanish flatbread, provided a delightful textural contrast, allowing the richness of the ham to shine.

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Heirloom Tomatoes 4/5

The Heirloom Tomatoes offered a lighter yet equally satisfying alternative. Naturally sweet and juicy heirloom tomatoes were paired with smoked burrata, creating a luscious creamy contrast. The inclusion of tonburi, often referred to as "land caviar," added a subtle popping texture, while black olives introduced a gentle briny depth, tying the dish together harmoniously.

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Wild Caught Scallop 4.2/5

Moving on to the hot appetisers, the Wild Caught Scallop stood out for its precision in execution. The wild caught scallop was pan-seared to a perfect golden crust while retaining a tender, succulent interior. Its natural sweetness was elevated by the luxurious topping of Osetra caviar, while the white chocolate miso emulsion added an unexpected yet balanced layer of sweetness and umami. The sautéed spring peas lent freshness and a slight crunch, rounding off the dish elegantly.

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Grilled Baby Gem Lettuce 4/5

In contrast, the Grilled Baby Gem Lettuce showcased the restaurant's mastery of binchōtan grilling. The lightly charred outer leaves carried a gentle smokiness, while the inner core remained crisp and refreshing. The dish was brightened with an orange tahini dressing, complemented by feta cheese, walnuts and a Parmesan crisp. It delivered a pleasing interplay of smoky, creamy and crunchy textures.

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Wild Forest Mushroom Risotto 4.8/5

For the risotto course, both options impressed with their depth of flavour and execution. The Wild Forest Mushroom Risotto was a comforting, earthy masterpiece. Made with a medley of premium mushrooms, including porcini and chestnut, the dish exuded deep umami richness. Each grain of rice retained a slight bite, coated in a creamy, velvety sauce enriched with aged Parmigiano Reggiano. The addition of truffle further enhanced its aromatic, woodsy profile.

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Signature Uni Risotto 4.8/5

Equally indulgent was the Signature Uni Risotto (+$12). This luxurious creation highlighted the briny sweetness of Hokkaido sea urchin, folded into a creamy emulsion that beautifully coated the Japanese multi-grain rice. The grains offered a subtle textural contrast, making each mouthful more dynamic. The uni foam intensified the oceanic flavours, resulting in a deeply satisfying and decadent dish.

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Spanish Octopus 4.5/5

From the grill, the Spanish Octopus demonstrated VUE's expertise with binchōtan charcoal. The octopus was cooked to a perfect tenderness, with a slight char that imparted a smoky depth without overpowering its natural sweetness. Accompanied by grilled baby gem lettuce, semi-dried tomatoes, and a pistachio chimichurri, the dish was well balanced, with the nutty, herbaceous sauce elevating the overall profile.

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Stoneaxe Wagyu Rump Cap MBS 8-9 4.5/5

For the mains, the Stone Axe Wagyu Rump Cap MBS 8-9 (+$15) was a highlight for meat lovers. Also known as picanha, the cut is prized for its rich flavour and luscious fat cap, which renders beautifully over the grill. Simply seasoned to let the beef's quality shine, the meat was juicy, tender and deeply flavourful. Served with truffle mashed potatoes and heirloom cauliflower, the accompaniments complemented without overshadowing the star ingredient.

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Desserts 4.2/5

Ending the meal on a sweet note, the Dessert Trolley remains a signature draw of the weekend lunch experience. Presented tableside, it offers an enticing selection of bite-sized and plated desserts that change with the seasons. From delicate pastries to indulgent sweets, the free-flow format allows diners to sample a variety of creations, making for a playful and satisfying finale.

Overall, VUE's Weekend Lunch Set Menu delivers a well-paced and thoughtfully executed dining experience. With its combination of quality ingredients, refined techniques and indulgent touches like the dessert trolley, it is an excellent choice for a leisurely weekend indulgence in the heart of the city.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


VUE
OUE Bayfront
Level 19
50 Collyer Quay
Singapore 049321
Tel: +65 8879 0923
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon – Thu: 1130am - 2pm, 530pm - 1am
Fri: 1130am - 2pm, 530pm - 2am
Sat: 1130am - 430pm, 530pm - 2am
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Clifford Centre. Cut across the building. Take the overhead bridge link across the road. Turn right at the base of the overhead bridge. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 8 minutes. [Map]

Saturday, February 14, 2026

Amor @ Amoy Street - New Spanish Restaurant by Chef Wang, Former Founding Team Member of Olivia Restaurant

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Opened in February, Amor is a warm and intimate Spanish restaurant inspired by leisurely meals, shared plates, and the unhurried rhythm of life in Barcelona. Set within a charming shophouse at 107 Amoy Street, its menu draws inspiration from sun-drenched markets, lively tapas bars, and coastal villages by the sea.

Co-founded by Head Chef Yu Wang Leung (Chef Wang), a founding team member of Olivia, and Executive Director Azad Sharma, a hospitality veteran with over a decade of global experience, Amor invites diners to linger, share, and fall in love, one plate at a time.

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To start, we were served an amuse-bouche of juicy Watermelon Cubes, a refreshing burst of sweetness to awaken the palate.

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Escalivada Tarta 4.2/5

The first tapas was the Escalivada Tarta ($16 for two pieces), a Catalan classic reimagined. Smoky, roasted eggplant, capsicum, and onion are layered over a crisp tarta shell and paired with a foie gras terrine, then finished with extra-virgin olive oil, sherry vinegar, and a Parmesan cheese sauce. While I'm not usually a fan of foie gras, its presence here was unexpectedly subtle, adding creaminess to the dish that complemented the crunchy tarta base. A vegetarian version is also available, substituting cheese for the foie gras.

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Happy Egggg 4.8/5

Happy Egggg ($18) lives up to its name, an easy-to-love dish that delivers pure comfort. Served in a martini glass, it reveals layers of silky truffle sabayon, a perfectly cooked 65°C onsen egg with a luscious runny yolk, roasted pumpkin coulis, crispy jamon chips, and brown butter sourdough croutons, finished with a fresh chervil and dill salad. Utterly delicious, it's the kind of indulgent comfort food I would happily eat again and again.

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Gambas Al Ajillo 4.5/5

We sampled a tasting portion of Gambas al Ajillo ($34); the full serving comprises four prawns. The prawns are actually sashimi grade, and were firm and generously sized, cooked in fragrant garlic oil and paired with a smoked potato foam, finished with a dusting of sweet paprika. Addictive and tasty, we just wished we had some bread to mop up the sauce.

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Pulpo De Galicia 4.8/5

The Pulpo de Galicia ($32) was another of the evening's more memorable dishes. The octopus was impeccably cooked, tender yet springy, with crisped edges. Its savoury and lightly smoky flavours were complemented by soft potatoes, sweet corn, and a rich sobrasada sofrito.

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Tea Smoked King Salmon with Avruga Caviar 5/5

We were genuinely blown away by the Tea-Smoked King Salmon with Avruga Caviar ($34), both for its execution and the thoughtfulness behind the dish. Norwegian sashimi-grade salmon is used, combining both belly and back portions and shaped to resemble a single fillet. The fish is gently sous vide before being smoked with Chinese tea, then finished generously with Avruga caviar. The result is exceptionally tender salmon, paired with the savoury caviar. It's finished with vichyssoise (a soup made of cooked and puréed leeks, potatoes, onions and cream), parsley emulsion and wasabi. Pure indulgence, I loved eating this!

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Foie Gras' A La Brasa' 4/5

My dining companion also tried the Foie Gras' A La Brasa' ($40), a barbecued foie gras served with sweet-and-sour endive and burnt onion soup. Presenting the foie gras in a soup was quite unique, though its texture became a bit too soft.

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Paella- Mediterranean Seafood 3.5/5

Naturally, we had to try their Paella ($56), and had the Mediterranean Seafood version, which featured seabass, squid, and shrimp. I found the rice of this paella a bit wet and sticky, lacking the coveted toasted rice bottom layer. While I don't really mind the sticky rice texture, the seabass also imparted a strong fishy taste to the dish, which I didn't enjoy.

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Signature Basque Burnt Cheesecake 4/5

Moving on to desserts, we had their Signature Basque Burnt Cheesecake ($16), a creamy confection with a hint of savoury blue cheese complexity. I was initially hesitant, as blue cheese is not my thing. However, it was surprisingly pretty good: the blue cheese flavour was mild, offering more smoky savouriness than an overpowering blue cheese taste. It was still a bit too rich overall, and we couldn't finish the slice between the two of us, but cheese lovers will definitely enjoy this one!

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Hazelnut & Molten Lava Cake 4.5/5

The Hazelnut & Molten Lava Cake ($18) was a bigger hit with our taste buds; my dining companion even declared it the best dessert ever! This warm hazelnut and almond praline cake features a molten, flowing centre that's rich, intense, and indulgent, served straight from the oven. It's intriguingly paired with coconut ice cream, and together, it's very yummy.

Overall, this is a solid tapas spot, and their first menu is a strong start with lots of hits and even some exceptionally good dishes. As someone who enjoys veggie-forward dishes, I was pleased to know that many of their offerings can also be made vegetarian, as one of the investors is a vegetarian himself. Visiting in the afternoon also offers a leisurely lunch with great value: set menus at $38++ that include sharing tapas, a main course, and dessert.

Photographed and penned by Shermine. Through her pictures and stories, she shares her journey of savouring new flavours and experiences. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Amor
107 Amoy Street
Singapore 069927
Tel: +65 89165607
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Amoy Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Telok Ayer Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 8 minutes. [Map]

Saturday, January 24, 2026

One Prawn & Co @ New Bahru - Modern Asian Seafood Grill by Chef Gwyneth of Michelin Bib Gourmand Zhup Zhup

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One Prawn & Co would be familiar to prawn noodle enthusiasts, as the original Michelin Bib Gourmand prawn noodle eatery by Chef Gwyneth has since been rebranded as Zhup Zhup. Today, One Prawn & Co represents her newest culinary venture, a modern Asian seafood grill concept at New Bahru, centred around woodfire grilling and bold fusion flavours.

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The restaurant offers a mix of indoor and outdoor seating, along with counter seats that provide diners with a front-row view of the chefs at work in the open kitchen.

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The $100++ per pax dinner set menu is perhaps the best introduction to Chef Gwyneth’s cuisine. Thoughtfully curated, it takes diners on a progression of flavours, beginning with lighter, refreshing bites before moving into deeper, smokier notes. A minimum of two diners is required, and reservations should quote OPC100SET.

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Hamachi Tartare 4/5

The meal began with the Hamachi Tartare, served on a crisp sago cracker and topped with hamachi, tobiko, and kimchi. While the kimchi was more subtle than expected, the overall combination made for a clean and refreshing start.

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Smoky Prawn Toast 4.5/5

Next came the Smoky Prawn Toast, featuring juicy prawn paste, pickled red onion and homemade garlic aioli on crisp toast. It was a delightful bite that balanced crunch, creaminess and a gentle smokiness.

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Burrata & Smoky Beans 5/5

The brilliantly executed Burrata & Smoked Beans was my absolute favourite dish of the meal. Crunchy haricot verts and white bait are topped with umami-packed cracked chilli and creamy burrata. Unexpected yet perfectly harmonious, it was so addictive we polished it off super quickly. This is also available a la carte at $26, and I highly recommend ordering.

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Spicy Octopus 4.5/5

Fusion flavours continued to shine with the Spicy Octopus. Tender grilled octopus was paired with assam pedas, while lotus root chips added a satisfying crunch.

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Scorched Hor Fun 4.2/5

We watched as the chefs carefully prepared the Scorched Hor Fun, a modern nod to the local zi char classic. The hor fun is cooked in a mesh sieve over a woodfire to achieve an intense char, then tossed with XO sauce and Sichuan peanuts, and finished with plump seared scallops. While we definitely wished for a more potent XO punch, the lighter flavours were still enjoyable.

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“Typhoon Shelter” Prawn 4.8/5

The beautifully plated “Typhoon Shelter” Prawn followed. Five smoky, perfectly cooked prawns sat in a rich elderflower vermouth sauce with burnt leek oil, creating a sweet, savoury, herbaceous combination.

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Malt Black 4/5

Desserts began with Malt Black, a unique sourdough ice cream paired with roasted white chocolate, yuzu and Horlicks crumbs.

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Lemongrass Ice Kachang 4.2/5

The Lemongrass Ice Kachang was a refreshing finale, featuring osmanthus aiyu jelly, roasted coconut, lemongrass granita and plum vinegar.

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed Chef Gwyneth’s refined yet soulful creations, particularly her thoughtful approach to reimagining local Asian flavours through a modern lens.

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.


One Prawn Co
New Bahru
46 Kim Yam Road
#01-10
Singapore 239351
Tel: +65 83660130
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Nearest MRT: Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Fri: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 11am - 430pm, 6pm - 10pm
(Closed on Mon & Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to the traffic junction of River Valley Road and Clemenceau Ave. Cross the road and cut through UE Square to Unity Street. Turn right onto Unity Street and walk to Mohamed Sultan Road. Cross the road and walk to Kim Yam Road. Walk down Kim Yam Road. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 10 minutes. [Map]

Friday, November 21, 2025

Cendra Tapas Bar and Grill @ Gemmill Lane - Modern Catalan Flavours in a Cosy Hideout

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Tucked away along Gemmill Lane, Cendra Tapas Bar and Grill is a cosy, modern Spanish-Catalan restaurant helmed by Chef-Owner Xavi Palau. Hailing from Barcelona, Chef Xavi brings a thoughtful mix of tradition and innovation, backed by his experience as former Executive Sous Chef at FOC. At Cendra, his personal interpretation of Catalan cuisine shines through in comforting, flavour-driven plates.

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Crystal Bread with Tomatoes 4.8/5

We kick-started the meal with the Crystal Bread with Tomatoes ($12), further elevated with Iberico Ham ($36 for 50g). The sweet tomato spread layered over the crisp toast combined beautifully with the intensely flavoured Iberico ham. Each bite brought back fond memories of Barcelona, in which simple ingredients were treated with respect and allowed to shine.

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Canadian Oysters N2 4/5

The Canadian Oysters N2 with Gin Fizz Foam ($8) offered a refreshing counterpoint. Briny and creamy, the oyster was lifted by the bright, zesty gin fizz foam, giving the classic raw oyster a playful twist.

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"Ensaladilla Rusa", Smoked Mackerel on Crisp Toast 4.8/5

The Ensaladilla Rusa with Smoked Mackerel on Crisp Toast ($22 for 2pc) was one of the standout tapas. The classic, creamy Spanish potato salad paired harmoniously with smoked mackerel. It was simple yet incredibly satisfying. This dish is a reminder of how straightforward components can come together to create something truly memorable.

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Cod Fish Fritters 4.2/5

The Cod Fish Fritter ($10 for 2pc) is another Spanish classic done well. Encased in a paper-thin, golden crust that gently shatters, the interior reveals a light, airy, mousse-like texture brought about by the whipped batter. The flavours unfold gradually, from the crisp, lightly toasted exterior to the tender, mildly briny cod within. A squeeze of lemon or a swipe of aioli brightens and completes this comforting bite.

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Roasted Leek, Romesco, Hazelnuts 4.2/5

The Roasted Leek ($16) is grilled just enough to achieve a slight char, imparting a hint of smokiness while preserving its sweetness. Paired with romesco (a traditional Catalan sauce celebrated for its nutty, smoky richness) and hazelnuts, the dish offers a lovely balance of textures and flavours.

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Spanish Octopus with Iberico Chorizo Foam 4.5/5

Another highlight was the Spanish Octopus with Iberico Chorizo Foam ($30). The octopus was cooked to a beautifully tender consistency, complemented by the rich, savoury Iberico chorizo foam that added depth and umami to every bite.

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Pork Butifarra Rice "a la Llauna" 4.5/5

Unlike typical Spanish restaurants, Cendra does not serve paella. Instead, it introduces diners to A La Llauna, a traditional Catalan technique where rice is baked in a shallow metal tray. The Pork Butifarra Rice "a la Llauna" ($40) comes laden with a tomato-based sauce infused with butifarra sausage, pork ribs, and mushrooms. Smoky, savoury, and deeply comforting, each spoonful evokes the warmth of home-style Catalan cooking, refined just enough for the modern table.

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Chocolate Soufflé with Stracciatella Ice Cream 4.2/5

We ended the meal with the Chocolate Soufflé with Stracciatella Ice Cream ($18), a flourless soufflé made with Costa Rica 70% chocolate. Soft, fluffy, and intensely chocolatey, it's a dessert that will undoubtedly delight chocolate lovers.

Cendra Tapas Bar and Grill stands out for its honest, flavour-driven approach to Catalan cuisine. While the menu keeps things tight and focused, each dish reflects Chef Xavi's depth of experience and personal connection to his heritage. Whether you're here for small plates, comforting baked rice, or simply to explore Catalan flavours beyond the usual paella, Cendra offers a warm and satisfying dining experience worth seeking out on Gemmill Lane.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Cendra Tapas Bar and Grill
5 Gemmill Lane
#01-01
Singapore 069261
Tel: +65 96634084
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Mon, Wed-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 11pm
Sat: 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Tue)

Direction:
Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Cross Street. Turn left onto Club Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]