LUCE by Davide Giacomelli @ Intercontinental Singapore - Celebrate the Magic of A Grandeur Christmas with Celebratory Sunday Champagne Brunch

This Christmas, step into a world of opulence and grandeur at InterContinental Singapore, where the spirit of the season comes to life through a splendid array of festive offerings. LUCE by Davide Giacomelli has introduced a lavish Celebratory Sunday Champagne Brunch for the Christmas season. Commencing from the 19th of November, this brunch extravaganza unfolds every Sunday and the first Saturday of the month, promising a feast of opulence and culinary excellence. Revel in diverse offerings, including standout features like Snow Crab Legs, Traditional Roasted U.S. Tom Turkey, Saffron Risotto served in a Parmesan Cheese Wheel, and the delectable Christmas Fruit Spiced Plum Pudding.

Commence your buffet adventure with the striking showcase of seafood on ice, presenting a diverse array of the freshest catches. Indulge in delights like yabbies, tiger prawns, snow crab legs, mussels, whelks, USA oysters, and Boston lobsters to set the tone for a luxurious dining experience. Take advantage of the finest sashimi and handmade sushi, adding an international flair to your brunch. Also, diners can delight in gourmet soups and salads, initiating the merriment on a delicious note.

Relish in small bites of exquisite flavours such as the smoked salmon poke bowl, Asian-style spicy ahi tuna tartar, Gamberi in Salsa Rosa, Egg Mimosa with tuna mayonnaise, coconut chia seed pudding, and Greek Style Quinoa Salad.

The smoked salmon poke bowl offers a delightful mix of seasoned wakame, edamame beans, pickled cucumber, red radish, and baby cos lettuce, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes. The Asian-style spicy ahi tuna tartar brings a zingy and spicy twist, while Gamberi in Salsa Rosa introduces succulent prawns in a tantalizing pink sauce. For a touch of elegance, savour the Egg Mimosa with tuna mayonnaise. Sweeten your palate with the coconut chia seed pudding, and revel in the healthful and flavourful Greek-style quinoa salad. Each bite is a celebration of diverse and well-crafted flavours, adding a layer of sophistication to your dining experience.

Witness culinary artistry firsthand as chefs man a dedicated station crafting the exquisite Saffron Risotto in a Parmesan Cheese Wheel. The creamy and velvety saffron-infused risotto, cooked to perfection, takes on a luxurious quality. As the risotto is prepared within the Parmesan Cheese wheel, it absorbs the essence of the aged Parmesan, resulting in a flavourful and indulgent experience.

Additionally, savour the flavours of the Signature Intercontinental Laksa Noodle, which offers a burst of rich and aromatic flavours. The robust and spicy laksa broth, harmoniously blended with coconut milk, creates a luscious base for the dish.

The Christmas roasts at LUCE by Davide Giacomelli feature a trio of delectable options: Australian Angus Beef, Traditional Roasted U.S. Turkey, and Slow Charred Lamb Shoulder with mustard and rosemary. The Australian Angus Beef stands out for its superb tenderness and rich flavour. The meat is complemented by a red wine jus that adds depth and enhances the overall savoury experience.

Indulge in the wood-fired pizza offerings at LUCE by Davide Giacomelli, featuring enticing options like Pinsa Margherita, Amatriciana Pinsa, Cotto e Funghi, and Formagii e Uva. The Pinsa Margherita showcases the classic combination of fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil. At the same time, the Amatriciana Pinsa may feature flavours reminiscent of the traditional pasta dish with tomato, guanciale, and pecorino romano. Cotto e Funghi combines cooked ham and mushrooms for a savoury delight, and Formagii e Uva presents a blend of cheeses with the sweet addition of grapes. These wood-fired pizzas promise a symphony of flavours, offering a delightful journey for your taste buds.

Choose from a delectable selection of familiar Asian delights, such as the Honey-glazed Pork Char Siew, which features a delightful combination of sweet and savoury flavours. The succulent pork, coated in a glossy honey glaze, offers a perfect balance of tenderness and caramelized richness.

For something more substantial, go for the X.O. Sauce Fried Rice with tiger prawns or Penne All' Arrabiata with homemade tomato sauce and parmesan cheese.

Conclude your dining experience on a sweet note with a delectable array of desserts at the buffet. Indulge in an assortment of delights, including assorted macarons, pralines, exotic coconut cake, Heritage Chestnut Cake, Oreo Cheesecake, Luce-Misu, Crunchy Chocolate Choux Puff, Winter Berries, and Sesame Golden Ball filled with salted egg custard. Savour Christmas treats like Christmas Fruit Spiced Plum Pudding, Christmas Stollen, and Christmas Fruit Cake for a festive touch.

Enhance the sweetness with a visit to the Dark Chocolate fountain, accompanied by tempting condiments such as strawberries, rock melon, marshmallows, dried fruits, pretzels, Oreos, and peanut M&Ms.

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.


LUCE by Davide Giacomelli
InterContinental Singapore
Level 1
80 Middle Road
Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 68251008
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Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Mon-Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Verandah Rooftop Rotisserie @ Momentus Hotel Alexandra - New Buffet Menu with Premium Meat Offerings and A La Carte Delights

Verandah Rooftop Rotisserie, located on the 7th level of Momentus Hotel Alexandra, is known for its poolside dining experience, where you get to feast with a view that looks out across the canopy of The Southern Ridges. Offering a unique concept of modern European cuisine infuses an Asian twist. Its latest Weekend Buffet Dinner menu includes premium meat offerings and new a la carte delights.

Seafood On Ice

The Seafood on Ice Station was bountiful with beautiful Live Pacific Oysters, Poached Sea Prawns and Black Mussels.

Charcuterie and Antipasti

Smoked Salmon

The Cold Larder station is allured with an extensive selection of chilled items, featuring a range of Charcuterie and Antipasti. Don't miss the in-house Smoked Salmon - it's arguably one of the best I've had in buffet spreads, offering a delectable, luscious texture and mouthfeel.

75°C Slow Roasted Argentinian Angus Beef Ribeye Australian Wagyu Tomahawk

The main draw of the buffet dinner is the Live Action Kitchen of succulent roasts. The 75°C Slow Roasted Argentinian Angus Beef Ribeye excites all senses as you watch the chef expertly grills your order a la minute on Hibachi Grill with Binchotan. With this extra step of grilling, the meat's flavours are definitely superior to a regular roast. Australian Wagyu Tomahawk adds to the feast as well.

48-Hour Citrus Brined Rotisserie Chicken

Crackling Stuffed Porchetta

Verandah Rooftop Rotisserie's signature 48-hour Citrus Brined Rotisserie Chicken isn't just your regular rotisserie-style chicken. Marinated with a blend of 12 spices, the meat was moist and tender, carrying the delectable flavours of its citrus brine, especially the chicken skin. The Crackling Stuffed Porchetta was a hit too. I love the end of the porchetta, which carried a good portion of the crackling!

Parmigiano Cheese Wheel Pasta

Parmigiano Cheese Wheel Pasta is a crowd-pleaser. Every plate is prepared fresh upon order. I enjoyed the chunks of the parmigiano that were tossed into the pasta.

Pizzas

Hand-stretched, thin-crust sourdough pizzas are freshly baked in a wood-fired oven using applewood. Three flavours are available - Classic Margherita, Seafood Sakura Ebi that tastes very much like Takoyaki, and a more saucy Gochujang Chicken.

Wood Fire Seafood Paella

The Wood Fire Seafood Paella is worth a mention. Not often will you find this dish offered in a buffet; its quality is restaurant-worthy or even better.

Grilled Octopus

Seared Scallops

Diners are invited to scan a QR code to order. A La Carte delights will be served at your table. The selection is impressive - Fish en Papillote, Cod fish, Seared Scallops, Grilled Octopus and Burnt Iberico Pork Secreto. Even though each is served in individual portions, every item is thoughtfully plated. I was particularly delighted by the Grilled Octopus that was accompanied by a Pedron Pepper, which added a special touch to the presentation and flavours.

Cod Fish

The Cod Fish was aptly seared, attaining a delightful char on the edges that added to its flavour profile. The pickled ginger slices served on the side provided a tangy contrast to cut through the richness of the fish's meat.

Dessert creations include Sticky Date Pudding, Buttery Madeleines, and a Choux A La Creme tower with caramel. The Pink Chocolate Fondue was mesmerising and pretty delicious too. But what I liked most was the Sago Pudding, which is a rare tasty treat for a buffet spread.

Sago Pudding

Weekend Buffet Dinner Fri & Sat: 6:00pm – 10:00pm $88++ per adult, $42++ per child (6 – 11 years old)

Photos and words 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.


Verandah Rooftop Rotisserie
Momentus Hotel Alexandra
Level 7
323 Alexandra Road
Singapore 159972
Tel: +65 6828 8880
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Nearest MRT: Queenstown (EW Line), Redhill (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Breakfast Buffet (Daily): 630am - 1030am
Weekday Semi-buffet Lunch (Monday - Friday): 12 noon - 230pm
A La Carte Lunch and Dinner (Daily): 12 noon - 10pm
Weekend Buffet Dinner (Friday & Saturday): 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Queenstown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Queenstown MRT station (Stop ID 11149). Take bus number 195. Alight 2 stops later. Walk towards Ikea, At Ikea, continuing walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Redhill MRT station (Stop ID 10201). Take bus number 33 or 120. Alight 4 stops later. Walk towards Ikea, At Ikea, continuing walk to destination. . Journey time 10 minutes. [Map]

Monte Risaia @ Duxton - A Contemporary Italian-Japanese Omakase Experience

Monte Risaia is a contemporary Italian-Japanese Omakase restaurant located on Duxton Road, helmed by Chef Taizo Yamada, whose forte lies in Japanese-inspired Italian cuisine prepared using premium and seasonal ingredients from Japan. We had a $98 Omakase Course consisting of 2 antipasti, 1 pasta, 1 meat and a dessert.

Wagyu Ham with Burrata Cheese 5/5

The first appetiser was Wagyu Ham with Burrata Cheese, whose rich mouthfeel and luscious texture bowled me over. The fats of the wagyu ham bind the ham and the cheese together as it melts away, with shredded parmesan cheese lending some sharp saltiness to the dish. I'm genuinely surprised by how well these ingredients harmonise with one another.

Lobster Bisque Cartoccio Style 4.8/5

The 2nd appetiser did not disappoint as well. The Lobster Bisque Cartoccio Style was rich and intensely flavoured, but it wasn't overly creamy or buttery.

Japanese Chiayu Confit 3/5

The 3rd appetiser is a seasonal dish - Japanese Chiayu Confit. I didn't quite know how to approach this dish as there wasn't any side dish I could use with the flavoured oil. The Chiayu had a hint of bitterness, but it wasn't unpleasant. Interestingly, that bitter nuance brought out the sweetness of the corn and tomatoes.

Signature Triple Dashi with Shiso Leaves Pasta 4/5

Chef Taizo's pasta left an impression when I had it a couple of years back. I love the addition of shiso leaves that permeates the pasta with this distinctive herbaceous scent and the intensity of the tomato pasta sauce. The Signature Triple Dashi with Shiso Leaves Pasta (hamaguri dashi, Kani dashi, konbu dashi) was just as delicious this time round.

Roasted Beef Tenderloin 4/5

For main, we had Roasted Beef Tenderloin. The meat was simply prepared, but Chef Taizo layered it with small touches of ingredients such as horseradish, parmesan cheese, balsamic and tomato sauce, seasoning the meat with tiny bursts of acidity, sweetness and some sharp saltiness. Even bits of chicken soft bones were added to give it a textural crunch.

Genmaicha Gelato 4/5

Dessert was a refreshing Genmaicha Gelato, which I thought was a deviation from the usual Matcha ice cream. There were even bits of roasted brown rice that had become chewy in its current form, giving an additional texture to the ice cream.

Photos and words 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.


Monte Risaia
59 Duxton Road
Singapore 089523
Tel: +65 69700067
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm – 230pm, 5pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Orchid Hotel. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road, cross the road. Walk to Craig Road. Turn left onto Craig Road. Walk down Craig Road. Turn right onto Duxton Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Turn left and walk to Neil Road. Cross the road. Walk to Duxton Road. Walk down Duxton Road. WAlk to destinaton. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Oishii Ristorante @ Frasers Tower - New Japanese-Italian Restaurant Offering Omakase Dinner As Cheap As $53/pax

Opened in June this year at Frasers Tower is Oishii Ristorante offering Italian pizza and pasta with a touch of Japanese ingenuity, alongside donburi and an array of classic Japanese dishes. The Japanese-Italian restaurant also has a splendid selection of Japanese sake, whisky, fine wines, champagne and beer to complement the dishes.

Truffle & Kombu Edamame 3.5/5

We started with Truffle & Kombu Edamame ($10), an ideal snack to munch on before the rest of the food is served.

Oishii Salad $12

Our salad of the day is an Heirloom of Tomatoes. I enjoyed the tomatoes' sweetness a lot, brightened by the ponzu-like sauce.

Truffle Mushroom & Seaweed Rigatoni 3.8/5

Pasta lovers will adore the Truffle Mushroom & Seaweed Rigatoni ($20) that has been perfectly cooked to a delightful al dente texture. Accompanying the beautiful dish are sauteed mushrooms in a miso truffle cream sauce, topped with nori seaweed.

Unagi & Corn Pizza 4/5

From the paste, we move to another Italian staple - pizza. We picked the Unagi & Corn Pizza ($22). The eight-inch white sauce pizza is topped with unagi, corn, tobiko and nori. The fusion combination works for me, giving the traditional pizza topping a new take.

Yuzu Miso Salmon & Ikura Don 4/5

From Italy, we moved to the Japanese's Donburi. We had the Yuzu Miso Salmon & Ikura Don ($28) brimming with fresh Atlantic salmon, ikura, onsen egg, tobiko, olives, pickled mustard greens and cucumbers. I appreciate the yuzu miso marination for the salmon and ikura. It enlivens the enjoyment of the rice bowl.

Salmon Tartare 4.2/5

It seems like the chef likes to use yuzu in his cooking. Yuzu is also used in the Salmon Tartare ($20), brightening the seasoned fresh diced salmon and served with tamago, tobiko and Pistachio nuts.

Ribeye & Pesto 4/5

Another beautiful dish on the menu is the Ribeye & Pesto ($18, 120g). On top of the char on the exterior of the binchotan grilled ribeye, I can taste a hint of sweetness to the medium-rare beef. It seems like it has been marinated in some sweet marinade, giving it the sweetness, paired with house-made pesto.

Yuzu Choc Tart 4.2/5

Wrapping up our dinner is Yuzu Choc Tart ($16). Another item on the menu shows the chef loves to work with yuzu. Usually, I have chocolate with orange, but yuzu is the first for me. I enjoy the yuzu curd and chocolate ganache combination more. The flavours are more prominent.

For those looking for a unique experience at Oishii Ristorante, you can go for the Japanese-Italian fusion omakase at an attractive price of $80/pax during lunch and dinner at $53/pax for 7 courses and $76/pax for 9 courses. It is not a typo error! The dinner omakase is cheaper than the lunch omakase!

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Oishii Ristorante
Frasers Tower
182 Cecil Street
#01-05
Singapore 069547
Tel: +65 62327890
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 113am - 1030pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to destination. Journey time about 4 minutes. [Map]