Yellow Pot @ Six Senses Duxton - Indulge In A Guilt-Free Gastronomy

Yellow Pot is the modern Chinese restaurant and bar that is located inside the newly opened Six Senses Duxton. Yellow Pot is helmed by Chinese Chef Sebastian Goh, which offers classic and innovative Chinese cuisine that favours healthful, organic and sustainably-sourced ingredients.

Chilled Organic Vine-ripened Tomatoes 4/5

The Chilled Organic Vine-ripened Tomatoes ($8) are to be eaten in whole to get a burst of flavours, whetting up the appetite. The tomatoes are sourced from Malaysia, lightly poached and skin peeled. They are then soaked in "Li Heng" plum juice of herbs, licorice root, mint leaves and rock sugar for 3 days.

Seared Pork Cheek 4.2/5

The Seared Pork Cheek ($12) has a bit of Thai influences with the crowning of the julienned green mango. The tender pork cheek are pan seared and dressed in a familiar sauce that is quite similar to our local satay peanut sauce. A well executed dish with a lot of different flavours and textures at play.

Hot & Spicy Soup 4/5

The Hot & Spicy Soup ($12) is made from a housemade hot bean paste. They are also shredded chicken, wood ear mushrooms and enoki in the soup. The soup base itself is exactly not really spicy, the kick comes from the Sichuan chilli oil that is added to it before serving.

Roasted Duck 4.5/5

One of the group's favourite is the Roasted Duck ($32 for half). The bird is marinated in a fermented bean curd marinade for 2 days. It is then roasted in the traditional Apollo oven using hickory wood chips. This results in a beautiful duck with crispy skin and tender meat, with a hint of woody scent.

Wok-seared Organic Grass-Fed Beef Tenderloin 4.2/5

The Wok-seared Organic Grass-Fed Beef Tenderloin ($36) may seems rather common in most Chinese restaurants' menu but there are a few twists here. The beef cube are cooked in a honey-pepper sauce which is actually made up of Sichuan peppercones and crushed tellicherry peppercorns, together with organic raw honey. This is finished with a sprinkle of Himalayan salt and crispy garlic.

Braised White Cabbage 4.8/5

One of my personal favourite is the Braised White Cabbage ($12). The cabbage has been braised until soft, soaking up the flavoursome chicken stock which consists of rich chicken essence, conpoy and Shaoxing wine.

Steamed Kuhlbarra Barramundi 4/5

A homely dish is the Steamed Kuhlbarra Barramundi ($22). Something new for me is the house-made scallion-ginger pesto sauce that is topped on the barramundi, which complements the moist fish excellently. Instead of the usual soy sauce used in steaming fish, the chef has made a savoury fish stock of anchovies, fish bones and trimmings.

Braised Sweet & Sour Eggplant 4.2/5

Another home-cooked dish on the menu is the Braised Sweet & Sour Eggplant ($14). The eggplant is deep fried and then braised in sweet and sour sauce, together with assorted mushrooms. I enjoy how the sweet and sour sauce elevated the whole appreciation of the eggplant, which is actually quite tasteless on its own.

Stir-fried Mee Sua 4.2/5

This would be what I called the atas Stir-fried Mee Sua ($18) that comes with tiger prawn and hokkaio scallop. The chef added Nanyang soy sauce to create a burnt caramelised flavours, on top of the smoky wok hei flavour.

Lemongrass & Calamansi Jelly 4/5

Wrapping up the dinner, we have the Lemongrass & Calamansi Jelly ($8). A light and refreshing dessert to liven up the palate after all the richness and delicious food.

Tea aficionados can complement their dining experience with a pot of artfully brewed tea for the table. Pick from an extensive selection of Chinese teas exclusively curated for Six Senses Duxton by Yixing Xuan Teahouse, a family-run teahouse just around the corner from the hotel. From an easy to drink Yunnan Black Tea Dian Hong Gold ($12) to a full-bodied High Mountain Oolong ($22) grown in the alpine tea zones of Taiwan, each tea is thoughtfully listed to guide diners in appreciating the different types of tea leaves, their history and health benefits.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yellow Pot
Six Senses Duxton
88 Duxton Road
Singapore 089540
Tel: +65 69141420
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT Station. Take Exit A. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road and walk to Craig Road. Walk down Craig Road. Turn right onto Duxton Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Savour 2016 @ Bayfront Avenue - 10 Dishes Worth Spending Your Money AtSavour 2016

Savour 2016 is back again this year from 12 to 15 May 2016 at Bayfront Avenue, next to Marina Bay Sands Exhibition Centre. Unlike previous years, the entry this year is FREE! This year the event will also be focusing on our local talents and homegrown emerging chefs, dishing out their dishes at the 10 gourmet stalls located around the compound.

The 10 gourmet stalls offer up to 30 different dishes with pricing ranging from $6 to $12. It may not be possible to eat your way through all the stalls. Even if you can, your wallet may hurts. Hence here is a list of dishes that I think you should spend your dollar on.

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Labyrinth

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Siew Yoke Umami Rice 4.5/5

Siew Yoke Umami Rice ($12).  Roasted Pork Belly, Crispy Nori, Japanese Umami Rice.

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Saveur Art

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Angel Hair Lobster Pasta 4.2/5

Angel Hair Lobster Pasta ($12). Lobster, Angel Hair Pasta, Fish Roe, Crispy Ebi.

Egg Confit 4/5

Egg Confit ($6). Egg, Truffled Potato, Mousseline, Macadamia Nuts, Brown Butter.

Tropical Passion Fruit Sorbet 4/5

Tropical Passion Fruit Sorbet ($6). Passion Fruit Sorbet, Mango Curd, Roasted Penja Pineapples, Coconut Sable, Cream.

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R&D

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R&D's Fried Chicken 4/5

R&D's Fried Chicken ($6). 12 Spice Dredge, Gong Bo Sauce.

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Cato

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Salted Egg Black Cod 4/5

Salted Egg Black Cod ($12). Pan Seared Black Cod, Salted Egg Veloute, Fennel Salad.

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Salt Tapas & Bar

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Tempura Fish Taco 4/5

Taco of Tempura Fish ($6). Tempura Fish, White Cabbage, Pineapple Salsa, Wasabi Mayo, Tobiko, Spring Onions.

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Bar A Thym

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Iberico Pork Jowl 4.5/5

Iberico Pork Jowl ($12). Pork Jowl, Tatsoi, Pickled Pear, Hazelnut Dressing.

Wagyu Striploin 4.2/5

Wagyu Striploin ($12). Striploin, Mushrooms, Beans and Truffles.

Valrhona Chocolate Mousse 4.5/5

Valrhona Chocolate Mousse ($6). Chocolate Mousse, Passion Fruit, Almond Crumble.

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L'Espace Martell

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The venue can be quite hot especially in the day. So do remember to check out the various beverage stalls around the venue. Not to be missed is the Martell booth for the refreshing cogna cocktail to cool off from the heat.

Do also look out for Savour Wines happening on 8 - 11 September 2016 and Savour Christmas 17 - 20 November 2016.


Savour 2016
Date: 12 - 15 May 2016
Venue: Bayfront Aveune (next to Marina Bay Sands Exhibition Centre)
Nearest MRT: Bayfront MRT (exit A)
Website

The Disgruntled Chef @ Ann Siang Road - Bringing Sexy Back To The Table

It was almost two and half years back when I visited The Disgruntled Chef at Dempsey. I remembered having a good meal at the casual restaurant back then. This time round, I visit their second outlet at Ann Siang, a fine dining concept nested at The Club Hotel.

Tom Collins 4.2/5

We started with some pre-dinner drinks in the Tom Collins ($18) and Bee's Knees ($18). We opted for something like and refreshing. which both the cocktails managed to deliver, not only in taste but in sight. The Tom Collins is a concoction of gin, lemon, yuzu, homemade pandan syrup, rosemary and club soda.

Bee's Knees 4.5/5

Interestingly the Bee's Knees is served in a teapot. The mixture consists of chamomile infused gin, grand marnier, lemon, orange and honey. Even before we started on the food, the cocktails have already impressed us. I even made a mental note to return for more of their cocktails when I am in the vicinity.

Fish Kebab 4.2/5

Dinner started with the amuse bouche. The Fish Kebab with a bed of tomato salsa, maybe bite size but it is bursting with lovely flavours, giving me a glimpse of what to expect for the rest of my dinner.

Burnt Onion Charcoal Bread 4.2/5

Most restaurant offers complimentary bread but at The Disgruntled Chef you have to pay for these delicious black gold, Burnt Onion Charcoal Bread ($9). The charcoal bread is crispy on the outside and fluffy inside. It comes with cream cheese foam and homemade fish floss. When eaten together with the charcoal bread, it further enhanced the whole onion flavour.

Burratina & Momotaro Tomatoes 4.2/5

For a light starter, the Burratina & Momotaro Tomatoes ($18) will be your choice. The sweetness of the tomatoes is dressed with black olives powder and oak smoked olive oil for a full flavour with the cucumber lending a refreshing touch. A worthy note is the oak smoked olive oil, which is smoked in house.

Sea Scallop Carpaccio 3/5

The Sea Scallop Carpaccio ($21) is topped with endive, pear, red cabbage, black truffle and brown butter vinaigrette. While the endive, pear and red cabbage add crunchiness to the whole dimension, I find that there is too many things going on the plate, shadowing the main cast. I also felt that the bitterness of the red cabbage kind of throw the balance of the dish off.

Steak Tartare 4.5/5

The Steak Tartare ($18) is served pre-mixed with soft quail eggs and fried tendons. It also comes with black charcoal bread chips. I prefer to enjoy the full flavour of the steak tartare itself but if you are worry of the rawness, I would recommend having it together with the bread chips.

Braised Iberico Pork Cheeks Crepinette 4/5

Moving on to the mains, we started with the Braised Iberico Pork Cheeks Crepinette ($38) which comes with miso carrot puree, broccoli and braised daikon. There were two types of the texture in the parcel, stredded and minced. The miso carrot puree, broccoli, braised daikon not only complement the crepinette but also helps to cut through the richness.

Crispy Beef Short Ribs 4/5

A weekday evening special is the Crispy Beef Short Ribs ($38) that has been sou vide for 36 hours. The tender and flavourful beef is paired with white kimchi, spicy kimchi mayonnaise and soy glazed baby potatoes. I thought I tasted fermented beancurd but after checking the familiar taste actually comes from the gochujang used in the braising jus.

Crispy Golden Snapper 4.5/5

My favourite among the three mains is the Crispy Golden Snapper ($32) with puffed scales, zucchini caviar, clam and basil fondue. The layer of crispy scales gives the moist snapper an additional coat of texture enjoyment. This is further complemented by the light but yet flavourful fondue.

Lemon Posset 3.5/5

Moving on to the dessert, we have the Lemon Posset ($14) which comes with pistachio sponge, stewed blueberries and lime meringue. For those that prefer something light, this will be a good choice.

Poached Strawberries 4.2/5

I am not a sweet tooth person so the Poached Strawberries ($16) is for me. The puff pastry chips, vanilla creme, formage blanc ice cream, looks so simple yet so delicious.

Chocolate Fondant 4.2/5

The finale has to be the Chocolate Fondant ($16) with peanut butter ganache. The chocolate fondant is moist and rich but what stole my heart is the banana fritters. The banana fritter coated with crispy rice is my first encounter and I really love their rendition at The Disgruntled Chef. This is accompanied with the house made dark rum banana ice cream without any additives.

Indeed The Disgruntled Chef has brought sexy back to the table with a refinement to its menu at the Ann Siang outlet. Although it is a fine dining concept, the price has been kept sensible. It even has a gourmet two course ($33++) and three course ($45++) menu on weekday for those that is looking for a quick lunch.


The Disgruntled Chef
The Club Hotel
28 Ann Siang Road
Singapore 069708
Tel: +65 68082184
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Lne), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sat: 12pm - 230pm (brunchfest), 6pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Sun)

Directions:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Cross Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Continue to the end of Amoy Street. Scale the stairs beside Siang Cho Keong Temple, up Ann Siang Hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Maxwell Road towards Kadayanallur Street (beside URA building). Turn right onto Kadayanallur Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

CATO @ South Bridge Road - Modern Asian Cuisine with a Holistic Range of Craft Beers and Spirits

CATO is the newest restaurant and bar that has recently become the new resident of the historical building where the first OCBC Bank was located. CATO offers modern Asian cuisine, with a holistic range of over 60 small batched craft beers and spirits from around the world.

Crispy Squid 4/5

Our dinner at Cato started with some small plates. We started with the popular Crispy Squid ($12) which comes in a sweet and salty Thai style glaze. The delectable nip is very addictive, goes well with the beers and spirits.

Prawn and Spinach Wanton 3/5

The Prawn and Spinach Wanton ($10) looks like blooming flower on the plate. The golden baked wanton parcels are stuffed with prawns, spinach and mushrooms. While the crackling wanton skin is outstanding, the stuffing did not manage to excite my taste buds. In addition, the wanton parcel is quite hard to handle and eat.

KFC Korean Fried Chicken 4/5

With the number of Korean restaurants opening around Singapore selling the popular fried chicken, the rendition of the KFC Korean Fried Chicken ($16) at Cato is as good or even better than a few places. It also comes with a sweet and mildly spicy gochujang dipping.

Mentaiko Mac & Cheese 3.5/5

My high expectation of the Mentaiko Mac & Cheese ($15) turned disappointment as I could not traced any mentaiko in the multi layers of flavours. Saying so the Southern comfort is quite enjoyable with the creamy cheese, aburi salmon cubes and tteok (korean rice cake).

Mini Braised Beef Sandwiches 3/5

The flavoursome beef is braised in black bean sauce and served in between bread. The Mini Braised Beef Sandwiches ($16) will comfort the hungry stomach, for a substantial bite.

Sizzling Hotplate Octopus 4.2/5

One of my favourite small plates is the Sizzling Hotplate Octopus ($18). The flavour is straight forward and robust amid the sun dried tomatoes and roasted new potatoes. The grilled octopus was also cooked to a nice tender texture.

Twice Cooked Iberico Pork Cheek 4/5

Moving on the big plates, the Twice Cooked Iberico Pork Cheek ($30) surprised me with the tender pork cheek slices which have been grilled and steamed, this is hold together by the rice wine mustard sauce.

Bangkok Lobster Risotto 4/5

The Bangkok Lobster Risotto ($32) comes with sous vide lobster, tom yum flavoured risotto, seasoned vegetables and lobster butter. It is a very beautiful dish with rich robust and cheesy flavour. The risotto was also cooked al dente with an enjoyable bite to it. However I probably got myself lost in Bangkok as I was not able to taste any tom yum.

Tea Smoked Chicken with Spicy Japanese Noodles 3.8/5

The Tea Smoked Chicken with Spicy Japanese Noodles ($20) comes with Chinese tea smoked chicken, soba, ghost chilli dressing, pearl tomatoes, garden greens and sweet potato chips. The tender chicken was the highlight, well infused with the tea fragrant. However the soba was kind of bland and all I can taste is the spiciness from the ghost chilli dressing.

Pineapple Pork Curry with Baked Rice 4/5

The Pineapple Pork Curry with Baked Rice ($26) is from the recipe book of Grandma Maureen. The traditional Eurasian pineapple curry comes with slow cooked pork belly and baked rice, served in a pineapple and topped with a melted cheese. The curry was some what new and unique to my taste buds. Initially I thought I tasted salted fish or anchovy in the curry gravy but it is actually belacan after checking with the kitchen.

Seared Barramundi Fillet with Homemade Curry 4.5/5

What blow the house down has to be the Seared Barramundi Fillet with Homemade Curry ($28). The pan seared barramundi is served in a traditional Indian fish curry, grilled okra and eggplants. It even comes with sliced bread to soak up the delicious Indian fish curry. This is like a deconstructed modernise fish head curry. A must try!

Valrhona Chocolate and Pistachio Cake 3/5

There is only one dessert item on the menu and that is the Valrhona Chocolate and Pistachio Cake ($12). The decadent chocolate fondant cake served with a scoop of ice cream and fresh pomegranate. A decent chocolate cake with moist interior but the missing pistachio puzzled me. It also need to consider changing their ice cream supplier.

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PROMOTION - COMPLIMENTARY TAPAS OF THE DAY

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For one month period, 18 April 2016 to 18 May 2016. When you walk in to CATO, let the person at the entrance know and quote "CATO Online" to receive a complimentary Tapas of the Day. The promotion is brought to you by the kind folks at CATO.


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CATO
237 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058786
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 5pm - 12midnight
Sat: 6pm - 1am
(Closed on Sun and Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight down Pagoda Street to South Bridge Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]