Le Fusion @ Robertson Quay - Contemporary Tinkering With A Unique Twist of Ingredients

Le Fusion at Robertson Quay is a chic restaurant and bar opened by husband and wife duo. The duo has put together an array of modern Chinese dishes inspired from the travel around the world.

Focaccia Rose Mantou 3/5

Diners at Le Fusion will be greeted with the Focaccia Rose Mantou. Similar to the bread and butter served at a Western restaurant, the mantou is made from a blend of pumpkin and original flour with hints of oregano paired with vinaigrette dressing on the side.

Rougle Foie Gras 4/5

An unusual pairing is the Rougle Foie Gras ($25). The pan-seared foie gras rest atop a bed of Chinese glutinous rice, elevated by the tangy mandarin orange-infused in-house sauce. The combination may sound weird, but surprisingly it is pleasantly balanced with a refreshing touch.

Imperial Double Boiled Soup 4.5/5

The Imperial Double Boiled Soup ($28) is Le Fusion's luxe rendition of the traditional Buddha Jump Over the Wall. The nutritious soup which has been double-boiled overnight is packed with richness drawn from the essence of the premium ingredients such as abalone, scallop, dried oyster and a myriad of Chinese herbs. I would recommend having a sip of its original taste before adding the Nu Er Hong Rice Wine, which gives the soup a new taste profile with an added tinge of sweetness.

Crispy Pork Belly Mantou 3.5/5

A delightful dish on the menu is the Crispy Pork Belly Mantou ($12). The slow-roasted succulent pork belly with crispy crackling skin is sandwiched between soft fluffy mantou with a mix of marinated salted vegetables, mayonnaise and crushed peanuts. While I enjoyed the dish, I thought the sweet and spicy Thai chilli sauce may be a better alternative to the mayonnaise.

Braised Abalone Seafood Rice 3.8/5

The Braised Abalone Seafood Rice ($38) is an "atas' version of the Chinese Mui Fan. The rice is drenched in a special savoury consomme and comes with a medley of seafood such as Tasmania 6-head abalone, scallops, fish, squids, mussels and prawns.

Trio Pasta 3/5

Still on carbo is the colourful Trio Pasta ($38). The trio pasta flavours are green pesto, red chilli crab and sesame squid ink. While it is pleasing to the eyes, it doesn't really translate to the taste.

Crispy Pork Roulade 3.5/5

Moving to the meats, we started with the Crispy Pork Roulade ($32).  The pork belly is stuffed with a mixture of uncased sausage meat and roasted in the oven. The result is a succulent interior with a crisp, crunchy exterior. It is paired with baby tomato soaked overnight in Shanghainese plum wine, deep-fried mantou and piquillo yuzu emulsion.

Asian Crusted Provencal Lamb Rack 4/5

Coated with breadcrumbs and Provencal herbs is the Asian Crusted Provencal Lamb Rack ($46). I enjoyed the rub on the lamb rack, giving it a beautiful flavour complementing the tender lamb rack.

Tsingtao Beef Fillet 3.5/5

Lastly, we have the Tsingtao Beef Fillet ($42) which has been tenderized through 12-hour infusion with Tsingtao beef. While the meat is cooked to perfect tender, I didn't like the bitterness beer taste that distracted me from appreciating the natural sweetness of the meat. What stood out was actually the cauliflower pommes mash at the side. It was so soft and delicious.

Le Fusion Chendol 3/5, Panna Cotta with Sweet Glutinous 3/5

Wrapping up the dinner we have the Le Fusion Chendol ($14) and Panna Cotta with Sweet Glutinous ($14). I preferred the panna cotta over the chendol. The chendol lacked the coconut milk fragrant and gula melaka bittersweetness. I also think the restaurant needs to reconsider how the desserts are served. Though it looks elegant in a glass, it is hard for the diners to get to the ingredients to enjoy the dessert.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Le Fusion
The Pier at Robertson Quay
80 Mohamed Sultan Road
#01-7/8/9
Singapore 239013
Tel: +65 63639966
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 5pm - 1am
Sun: 4pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to traffic junction of Clemenceau Ave and River Valley. Cross the road. Turn left and walk down Clemenceau Ave. Turn right onto Unity Street. Then left onto Merbau Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Tonito @ Jewel Changi Airport - Serving Lesser Known Traditional Latin American Cuisine

Having dined at Tono Cevicheria on a few occasions, I have grown to enjoy the vibrant flavours of Peruvian cuisine. I was excited when it opens a brother restaurant, Tonito at Jewel Changi Airport, bringing the lesser known Latino dishes to Singaporean as well as tourists travelling in and out of Singapore.

Mexican Ceviche 4/5

For appetisers, we started with the Mexican Ceviche ($28) and Ceviche Tonito ($28). The Mexican Ceviche consists of octopus, Japanese baby scallops, crabmeat, pico de gallo, limes, and guacamole. It is best eaten together with the crispy corn tortilla for an explosion of flavours and play of textures.

Ceviche Tonito 4/5

Tasted as good is the Ceviche Tonito ($28) that comprises of Japanese baby scallops, octopus, crabmeat and fried calamari in Smoked Aji Amarillo Tiger's Milk. Compare to the Mexican Ceviche, and I prefer this more as the flavours are sharper with more depth.

Pork Tacos 4/5

Tonito does not focus only on Peruvian food. It also offers a selection of Latin American cuisine  such as the Mexican tacos and quesadillas. For tacos, there are options for fish, beef, chicken and pork. I had the Pork Tacos ($16) which comes with crispy pork belly, sausage, caramelised onion, chipotle mayo aioli with soft corn tortilla.

Beef Quesadillas 4.2/5

The Beef Quesadillas ($16) with crispy thin flour tortilla is another excellent dish on the menu. Marinated beef, coriander aioli and avocado puree are sandwiched in between the crispy shell, bound together by the melted cheddar cheese for a cheesy enjoyment. There are also options for pork and chicken if you don't eat beef. For vegetarian, the corn replaces the protein.

Fish Moqueca 4.2/5

A dish closer to our local palate is the traditional Brazilian Fish Moqueca ($26). The fish stew is prepared with rich coconut milk in a piquant gravy of tomatoes and peppers which has a mild spicy kick. It goes very well with the fragrant garlic rice.

Latino Seafood Rice 4.5/5

My favourite dish for the night goes to the Latino Seafood Rice. The crabmeat rice cooked in white wine, dried chilli sauce and parmesan cheese is delicious and flavourful. Crispy fish, calamari and prawns accompanied the dish. It is a simple yet hearty dish. I probably can eat this every day and not get tired of it.

Tres Leches 4.5/5

Not being a dessert person, I find myself enjoying the Tres Leches ($8) paired with pineapple compote and crispy coconut flakes. The sponge cake soaked in coconut milk is moist and sweet.

Unlike Tono Cevicheria, Tonito offers a more family-friendly, convivial dining atmosphere with hearty and flavourful traditional Latin American cuisine that is lesser known to Singaporean.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Tonito
Jewel Changi Airport
78 Airport Boulevard
#02-248
Singapore 819666
Tel: +65 69043975
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit A and B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]