Coffee Lounge @ Goodwood Park Hotel - Commemorates Singapore's Bicentennial With Local Hawker Fare Of Yesteryear

To commemorates Singapore's bicentennial, the Coffee Lounge at Goodwood Park Hotel pays tribute to the city's rich multi-ethnic food culture, with a curated menu of nostalgic local delights from the early days. The 5-Course Singapore Commemoration Local Degustation Menu costs $40++ per person is available from 29 January to 30 April 2019.

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce 4.2/5

The 5-Course Singapore Commemoration Local Degustation Menu starts with the Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce served with onions, cucumbers and ketupat. The satay is grilled to a beautiful char on top of its tender meat. My only disappointment is it left out the pineapple sauce in the peanut sauce dip, which they used to serve for the local degustation menu.

Freshly Tossed Singapore Rojak 3.5/5

A dish that beat represent our rich multi-ethnic food culture is the Freshly Tossed Singapore Rojak. Tossed in a tangy and piquant prawn paste, the tropical fruit and vegetable salad is influencd by the Malays, Chinese and Indonesians.

Hainanese Chicken Rice 4.2/5

An iconic Singapore dish is the Hainanese Chicken Rice that is created by the Chinese settlers from Hainan. To my surprise, the Hainanese Chicken Rice here is very well executed. The poached chicken is really tender with fragrant rice, accompanied by an addictive homemade garlic chilli sauce. My slight disappointment is the lack of texture from the short grain rice.

Laksa Singapura 3.8/5

A favourite local dish of mine is the Laksa. The version at the Coffee Lounge is more creamy and coconuty. It also comes brimming with rice noodles, prawns, bean sprouts, tau pok, fish cakes, shredded chicken and egg. I would prefer it to be more spicy though.

Bubur Pulut Hitam 3.5/5

For dessert, I was served the Bubur Pulut Hitam. It is a black glutinous rice porridge enriched with coconut milk.

Besides the 5-Course Singapore Commemoration Local Degustation Menu, Goodwood Park Hotel will launch the D24 Singapore Commemoration Cake ($88 nett) on 15 March 2019 in conjunction with the Hotel’s annual Durian Fiesta, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the British in Singapore. Featuring four flavours – gula melaka, coffee, pandan and durian mousse, the 1-kilogram cake is adorned with a mosaic of white chocolate squares imprinted with eight historical scenes of Singapore and Goodwood Park Hotel’s illustrious past. Limited to only 200 cakes, an advance order of five days is required, subject to availability.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Coffee Lounge
Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 67301746
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Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Scotts Road to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Wine & Chef @ Keong Saik Road - Hearty Italian Fare With Largest Range Of Exclusive Italian Wines

I visited Wine & Chef at Keong Saik Road  back in May 2017 when it first opened its door. It is good to see that the restaurant continues to serve up Italian fare incorporating Asian ingredients to pair with their range of exclusive Italian boutique wine. My re-visit is to checkout their newly revamped menu put together by the new Chef Darence Wee, previously from Les Amis group.

Gorgonzola & Italian Ciabatta 3.5/5

Before starting with the mains, you may want to order some small bites to nibble on such as the Gorgonzola & Italian Ciabatta ($9). I am not a big fan of blue cheese as I find them too sharp for my liking. However the gorgonzola, known as one of Italy's oldest blue cheese, did not turn out that piquant. You can also pair with the honey on the side, the sweetness definitely make it more palatable and enjoyable for me.

Pan Seared Foie Gras 4/5

Pan Seared Foie Gras ($16) is quite a common dish on any restaurants' menu. What stood out is the homemade apple and thyme brandy compote that helps to cut through the richess of the fatty foie gras.

Scallop Capellini 4.5/5

Not to be missed is the Scallop Capellini ($28). The pasta tossed in truffle and soy sauce is served chilled so it is very refreshing. It comes with plump and sweet air-flown Hokkaido scallop crowned with ikura. What elevated the whole dish for is the fried shallots, shio kombu and furikake. They added fragrance, sweetness and crunch to complete the dish.

Nduja Pasta 4/5

One of the crowd favourite is the Nduja Pasta ($28) with crayfish. The specially imported Nduja salami from Calabria, South Italy is tossed in tomato sauce for that sweet robust flavour, coating the pasta for the slurping goodness.

Linguine al Granchio 4.2/5

If you prefer your pasta to be more creamy and has that seafood flavour, then go for the Linguine al Granchio ($38). It comes with painstakingly freshly hand-peeled Sri Lankan crabs. The Chef even added crab roe into it, for that extra indulgence.

Pork Roulade 4.5/5

My favourite dish goes to the Pork Roulade ($24). The pork roulade comes with a crispy layer of crackling skin, with tender and juicy meat. It is smartly paired with homemade achar to cut through that richness. Do call to make reservation for this as only limited portions are available each day.

Venere Rice Pudding 4/5

Same same but different is the Venere Rice Pudding ($10). This is the same dessert which I tried during my first visit. It is a modern twist to the traditional pulut hitam served with vanilla bean ice cream and coconut crumble for a cold and crunchy finish. The difference is the popping candies that is mixed into the desert, giving diners the popping reaction as it dissolved in the mouth.

As this is my re-visit, I did notice some changes. Although the food is still as good, the price has increased. It is not a surprise with increasing ingredients cost and inflation. Proud to be serving the lowest house pour at $7 a glass, it used to be $6. The wine collection has also shrunk from the previous 250 to around 140 exclusive Italian wines now.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Wine & Chef
7 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089115
Tel: +65 62219279
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line)

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

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Walk straight down New Bridge Road. Turn right onto Kreta Ayer Road. Turn right again onto Keong Saik Road. Walk down Keong Saik Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Mustard Seed Pop Up @ Potong Pasir - Kaiseki Style Private Dining That Is Worthy For The Long Waiting List

Lately I have been checking out a number of private dining places such as Lucky House and Fat Fuku with my foodie friends. We are lucky to score a table at Mustard Seed Pop Up in August because a group cancelled their booking. Currently Mustard Seed is already booked out for the year. The private kitchen is helmed by Chef Ming Kiat who has worked and learned his craft at Goto and Candlenut. He left Singapore to work as a chef at the Singapore High Commission in Australia before returning home to start Mustard Seed.

Watercress Chawanmushi 4.2/5

We were given a glimpse of Chef Ming Kiat's culinary philosophy starting from the first dish, using local ingredients to create Japanese Kaiseki style dishes. Instead of dashi, he cleverly uses watercress broth to make the smooth and silky Watercress Chawanmushi. In it, there are also mushroom, tender chicken cubes and junsai (a kind of perennial water plant that grows in shallow ponds and swamps).

Fried Frog Legs Hakka Style 4.8/5

The aroma of the Fried Frog Legs already makes me drool even before they are served. The lightly  battered frog legs are inspired from the local Har Cheong Gai. The fermented shrimp paste works beautifully with the tender frog leg meat. Squeeze a bit of the calamansi to liven the whole flavour.

Milk Bun 4.5/5

Grouper in White Curry 4.2/5

Next we have Grouper in Japanese White Curry with Milk Bun. The highlight is the soft and fluffy milk bun. It is so good that we asked for more. Unfortunately there was no extra. I was hoping for more bread to wipe up the delicious white curry.

Yong Tau Foo, Oden 4.8/5

Another favourite dish of mine is the Japanese twist of Oden, Yong Tau Foo style. The broth is made from boiling ikan bilis and yellow bean. In the bowl of light and refreshing soup, you can find radish, homemade ngoh hiang, eggplant with cuttlefish paste and tofu.

Pork Belly with Local Condiments 4.5/5

After the bowl of comforting oden, we are served Pork Belly with Local Condiments. The local condiments are homemade cincalok, achar and sambal chilli ikan bilis. This is to pair with the braised pork belly and have it together with the vegetable, like a wrap.

Duck Meatball Curry

Wrapping up our savoury dishes is the Duck Meatball Curry. The duck meatball is made from a mix of breast and thigh meat. Water chestnut is also added for the additional crunch. The tasty red curry which is mildly spiced, complements the duck meatball excellently, as well as the Koshihikon Rice.

Guava, Cucumber and Yuzu Sorbet 4.5/5

Before moving to dessert, we had the refreshing Guava, Cucumber and Yuzu Sorbet for palate cleanser.

Pulut Hitam with Sake Lees Ice Cream 4/5

Even for our dessert, Pulut Hitam with Sake Lees Ice Cream incorporates both local and Japanese influences. The sake lees ice cream is a fermented curd from the remnants of sake making. The sweetness of the sake lees ice cream replaces the vanilla ice cream or coconut milk that is usually used in the traditional dessert.

I understand Mustard Seed is fully booked until end of the year already. Do check out his website if you are planning to make a booking. Good luck in making a reservation.


Mustard Seed Pop Up
Blk 121 Potong Pasir Ave 1
Singapore 350121
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Potong Pasir (NE Line)

Celebrate The Lunar New Year With Baba Chews Bar & Eatery @ Hotel Indigo

With the Lunar New Year just around the corner, there is no better time than now to make plans for an abundant and hearty reunion dinner with your loved ones. Nestled in Katong and an occupant of the former Joo Chiat Police station, Baba Chews Bar & Eatery is an all-dining restaurant imbued with contemporary Peranakan elements, and plays a modern fusion to its selection of traditional cuisine from the Straits of Malacca, western favourites and local delights. This festive season, diners can relish in a scrumptious set menu specially curated for reunion dinner on 15 Feb 2018 to usher in the Year of the Dog.

Baba Salmon Yu Sheng 4.5/5

As with all Lunar New Year reunion dinners, we start off the meal with the classic Baba Salmon Yu Sheng ($48/$68) which comes in a platter of assorted vegetables and ingredients including the pickled radish, cucumber, pineapple, sweet turnip, corn flakes, and generous salmon slices. A tangy home-made kaffir lime plum sauce is poured over the Yu Sheng before tossing to good fortune and health.

Hee Piow Ting 4/5

Also known as the Paranakan-styled Fish Maw Soup, the Hee Piow Ting ($16 per bowl) comes with pork meatballs, fish maw and cabbage. While the minced meats in the meatballs boast a soft and tender texture, the pork-based soup has a rich but balanced flavour which makes for a comforting dish to have before the mains are served.

Red Garoupa Tempra Style 4.2/5

The Red Garoupa Tempra Style ($88) features a fried red garoupa fish with peranakan onion and chilli sauce. While the sauce adds a tinge of spice to the dish, it is not spicy and packs a rich savoury flavour to the fish, which retains a soft and moist texture beneath its crispy skin.

“Lobster” Carrot Cake 4.5/5

A local all-time favourite, the “Lobster” Carrot Cake features a stir-fried Singapore style carrot cake with a soft chewy texture and a taste familiar to many. The addition of lobster and silver fish brings a unique upgrade to the dish, elevating its entire taste with a subtle hint of crustacean sweetness from the lobster and saltiness from the silver fish.

“Ong Lai” Noodle 4/5

The “Ong Lai” Noodle comes in a bowl of sauteed tumeric noodle coated with generous amounts of curry cream sauce, and served with seafood and chopped abalone. The robust piquancy from the curry cream sauce is by no means an easy feat, while the addition of seafood and chopped abalone lends a refreshing zing to the edging spice flavour.

Pulut Hitam with Sesame Dumplings 4.2/5

One of the quintessential traditional desserts, the Pulut Hitam with Sesame Dumplings is a must-have to end off the meal on a sweet note. The black glutinous dessert soup is thick, gooey, and packed full of goodness. A gentle bite on the delicate skin of the dumpling oozes out a fragrant black sesame lava which is simply pure indulgence.

During Chinese New Year, most eateries and restaurants will be closed to celebrate the festive occasion. You will be glad to know that Baba Chews Bar and Eatery will be open throughout the Chinese New Year Holidays. From 16 to 18 February 2018, look forward to a sumptuous Chinese New Year a la carte buffet brunch ($42++ per adult) with a pantry laden with delights such as Seared Tuna Ahi, Prawn Shooters and Smoked Sea-Caught Fish from the chiller, a soup pot of Bakwan Kepiting, D.I.Y. Rojak and Kueh Pie Tee as well as desserts like the restaurant’s signature Nangka Cheesecake, Durian Mousse with Gula Melaka, Lychee Crème Brulee, Salted Egg Kaya Macaroons, assorted Chinese New Year cookies and many more.

Further complementing the spread in the pantry are the Baba Chew’s all-you-can-order menu of 12 mains, cooked a la minute. The season’s highlights include: Lobster Carrot Cake – stir-fried Singapore style carrot cake with lobster and silver fish; Conpoy Glutinous Rice – stir-fried glutinous rice with ‘lap mei’ (waxed meat), mushroom, dried shrimps and dried scallops; Chef Alvin’s special “Ong Lai” Noodles - sautéed turmeric noodles with curry cream sauce, served with seafood and chopped abalone; Tempura Niao Gow – fried glutinous rice cake drizzled with yuzu caramel sauce; just to list a few.
 
Words and photos 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.


Baba Chews Bar & Eatery
Hotel Indigo
86 East Coast Road
#01-01
Singapore 428788
Tel: +65 67232025
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
All Day Dining Menu: 11am - 1030pm
Dinner Menu: 630pm - 1030pm
Bar Bites Menu: 11am - 12am
Weekend Brunch: 1030am - 3pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 6 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Muse Amuse @ South Bridge Road - Mod-Asian Sharing Plates And Inventive Cocktails

Stepping into Muse Amuse is like stepping into someone's house. The Carbon Collective which is behind the new 3-in-1 concept in the vicinity of Ann Siang Hill and Club Street integrates a restaurant, a cocktail bar and a retail space under one roof, modelled like an actual home.

Teh Halia Early Grey with Gingered Candy 4.2/5

Amuse - the cocktail bar is located at the back of the restaurant where you need to cross a wooden plank over a indoor pond. We started with Teh Halia Earl Grey with Gingered Candy ($25) fashioned by resident mixologist Isz Valentino. It is a refreshing drink composed with ginger cognac, Cointreau Chamomile, fresh grapefruit juice and earl grey tea.

Babung Blush 4/5

Dangerously good is the Babung Blush that is a concoction of rose syrup infused gin, cherry brandy and elderflower liqueur, garnished with dried rose buds. The two round shape pipettes are actually milk. Squeeze them into the mixture and give it a good swirl with the rosemary turning it into an adult Bandung drink.

Uni Pie Tee 3/5

Probably one of the most expensive pie tee I have eaten, the Uni Pie Tee ($15 for 2pc). It is stuffed with stewed radish and carrot, roasted hazelnut, cashew and topped with Hokkaido sea urchin. I do like the idea but I thought the sweetness of the urchin kind of throw the balance of the dish off.

Golden Kubun 2.8/5

The Golden Kubin ($15) is a Korean-Italian inspired dish. The spicy spheres of kimchi and seaweed arancini sits on a butternut squash puree and dollops of gochujang mayonnaise. Interesting dish but it tasted rather bland. It needs a heavier boost in flavours to justify the concept.

Tartaro 3.5/5

The Tartaro ($18)  is Muse's version of steak tartare that comprises of hand-chopped 200-day grain-fed wagyu tossed in sesame oil and layered with Korean honey pear, red chilli and egg yolk. I thought the soy based sauce was a bit too much and salty, masking the appreciation of the beef.

Chicken Roulade 3/5

Compared to the other dishes, the Chicken Roulade ($15) which consists of sous vide chicken thigh, yellow cauliflower puree and fried potato strips looks kind of sad. Supposed to be marinated in a Vietnamese-inspired blend of lemongrass, black pepper and soy sauce, it lacked the robustness I was looking forward to.

Royal Ratchaphruek 4.5/5

The dish that I like most is the Royal Ratchaphruek ($12). Like an Asian ratatouille, the dish is a medley of flavours and textures which is made up of slices of lotus root, sweet potato, zucchini, eggplant, carrot and potato, steeped in a tom yum broth that packed a real punch. Complementing the crunchy roots, this is uniquely addictive.

6-Day Baby Back Pork Ribs 4.2/5

The 6-Day Baby Back Pork Ribs ($16) is another dish which I enjoyed. The fork tender pork ribs are twice marinated and coated in sticky homemade BBQ sauce, with a hint of spiciness.

Sauteed Scallops on Japanese Somen Noodles 3.8/5

An instagram worthy dish on the menu is the Sauteed Scallops on Japanese Somen Noodles ($18). The pink broth is actually made of beetroot and dashi which goes well with the somen. However the somen was overcooked as it was quite soggy. Resting on top of the somen is the purple tuille, Hokkaido scallop and confit egg yolk.

Aurora USDA Prime Beef Angus Ribeye 4/5

Good for sharing is the Aurora USDA Prime Beef Angus Ribeye ($78). The piece of prime Angus beef is first sous vide then grilled to medium rare, served with Thai basil sauce at the side. It has flavourful and has a nice smoky charred flavour

Gula Melaka Panna Cotta with Umami Sea Urchin 3.5/5

I thought it was rather daring of Muse to pair Gula Melaka Panna Cotta with Umami Sea Urchin ($12). The sweet and briny combination was kind of unexpected. However I thought the balance was thrown off the balance by the sweetness of panna cotta, over shadowing the taste of the hokkaido sea urchin.

Slow-Cooked Black Glutinous Rice 3/5

Lastly we tried the Slow-Cooked Black Glutinous Rice ($8) which is an enhanced version of the pulut hitam. It has a layer coconut cream and topped with desiccated coconut flakes. I felt the rendition on the "dry' side. It need something more liquid or creamy to hold the elements together.

Overall I felt that the food at Muse Amuse has potential and I can taste the passionate in their creation However I think more thoughts are needed to refine the dishes. I also felt that the pricing is on the expensive side. Pretty dishes do not mean sales if customers do not think it is value for money.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Muse Amuse
289 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058835
Tel: +65 85000588
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 12midnight
Bar
Mon-Sat: 3pm till late
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight down Pagoda Street to South Bridge Road. Cross the road. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Wine & Chef @ Keong Saik Road - Pairing Italian Boutique Wines With Mod-Sin Cuisine

The newly opened Wine & Chef along Keong Saik Road is the brainchild of SG Wine Cellar in partnership with wine distributor Papawines from Italy. The new establishment offers a cosy destination for affordable Italian boutique wines paired with homestyle Mod-Sin cuisine. It is also a wine shop boasting over 250 exclusive Italian wines from boutique family-owned wineries, making them Singapore's largest collection of Italian wines.

Tofu & Century Egg 3/5

The kitchen is helmed by Executive Chef Wilson Ang who has worked at DB Bistro, Spruce and Fordham & Grand. Starting with the small bites, we tried the Tofu & Century Egg ($6). The dish is served cold. The soft and silky tofu is made from homemade organic soya milk. It is then garnished with creamy century egg yolk sauce, sesame dressing, extra virgin olive oil and pok chui crackers.

Steamed Black Mussels 4/5

Next, we had the Steamed Black Mussels ($18) which is one of their popular dishes. The Chilean mussels are steeped in chicken broth, Chinese rice wine, minced ginger and garlic. This is topped with chillies, shallots, cliantro, and finished with a spritz of lime juice.

Salmon Confit Risotto 4/5

I was told that the Salmon Confit Risotto ($18) is inspired from the local fish porridge, I have to admit it was a bit hard sell for me. However, this is really a yummy dish. Instead of rice, it is replaced with mascarpone barley. A while Norwegian salmon fillet is used instead of fish sices. It is finally crowned with ikura, tobiko and celery leaves, and dressed with lemon juice for a zesty finish.

Crab Meat Hokkien Mee 4.2/5

The Crab Meat Hokkien Mee ($26) is a upgraded version of the chef's mum recipe. The linguine pasta s tossed in a seafood broth and top quality dark soy sauce from a local producer, giving it a Hokkien touch. Seafood such as blue swimmer crab, tiger prawns, black mussels and squid are added with a generous lashings of pork lard, imbuing a richness to the dish.

Curry Pork Knuckle 4.2/5

An incidental creation when someone spilled leftover curry sauce onto the pork knuckle is the Curry Pork Knuckle ($20). For the portion and pricing, this is value for money and good for sharing among a group of friends. The pork knuckle is cured for 12 hours i a proprietary spice mix and then sous vide for 24 hours. It is deep fried and blanket with a homemade curry sauce before serving. I applauded the achar side that helps to cut through the richness of the dish.

Venere Rice Pudding 4/5

For dessert, we had the Venere Rice Pudding ($8). Basically this is pulut hitam or black rice cooked with pistachio paste and a bit of gula melaka for sweetness. Topped with a vanilla bean ice cream and coconut crumble for a cold and crunchy finish.

For diners that enjoy having a drink or two to pair with their food, you will be delighted to know that their house pour is only $6 per glass. The extensive wine list offers over 250 wines from 42 different wineries spanning North to South Italy to complement the food menu.


Wine & Chef
7 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089115
Tel: +65 62219279
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line)

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

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Walk straight down New Bridge Road. Turn right onto Kreta Ayer Road. Turn right again onto Keong Saik Road. Walk down Keong Saik Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]