MOONBOW @ Dempsey Hill - A Dazzling New Addition That Specialises In Modern European Cuisine With An Asian Accent

The ever-changing dining scene at Dempsey Hill sees a dazzling new addition, MOONBOW. Chef Heman Tan and Dylan Soh opened the restaurant, which specialises in modern European cuisine with an Asian influence. The glass wall in the main dining hall separating the kitchen reminds me of Hell Kitchen's scene. Diners have a full view of the adrenaline rush in the kitchen.

Candy Floss 3.5/5

Our dinner begins with the complimentary Candy Floss. It is a playful starter to kick start the dinner.

Moonbow Oyster Bay 4/5

Next up is the Moonbow Oyster Bay ($10++/pc), serves with oyster leaves at the side. The purposes of the oyster leaves are to open up the palate. The briny Fine de Claire oyster is paired with yuzu gel, cucumber pearl and yuzu granita for a flavoured and refreshing finish.

Garden of Escargot 3.5/5

The Escargot ($23++) is plated like a garden as if the snails are roaming among the fields of edible flowers, fresh micro cress, truffle gelato, mashed edamame and mushroom soil. There are even lychee pearls representing raindrops.

Jerusalem Artichoke 4/5

The Jerusalem Artichoke ($25++) is a comforting and creamy soup that comes with a 64 °C Sous Vide Egg, Caviar and Sunchoke Chips to balance the earthiness of the artichoke.

Cauliflower Bloom 4/5

The Cauliflower Bloom ($25++) is a multi-textural enjoyment of the various forms of cauliflower. On the plate, you can find warm cauliflower floret, dehydrate cauliflower, cauliflower cous cous, cauliflower puree paired with nuts crumbs, garlic crumbs, cress and hollandaise.

Tomahawk de Swine 4.2/5

Moving to the mains, we tried a couple of items from their menu. First is the gigantic Tomahawk de Swine ($68++). The restaurant uses untrimmed 4 days aged young pork tomahawk chop paired with roasted garlic, caramelized lime and pineapple compote. The pork chop glazed with BBQ marinade is grilled to a beautiful tender with a hint of smokiness and sweetness. My favourite way of appreciating the beautiful pork is to spread the roasted garlic on it.

Black Silkie Poulet 4.2/5

My first thought when I see the Black Silkie Poulet ($38++) is that the restaurant has taken a big risk. It is an ingredient that is usually used in Chinese cuisine but not in European cuisine. The sight of a black chicken may turn some diners off. I love black chicken, so I was worried but internally delight to have the dish on the menu. The black chicken's leg is chargrilled and paired with garlicky crumb, wolfberry mashed, black garlic puree, ugly heirloom tomatoes and chives. I have to call out the accompanying bearnaise sauce that brightens the tender chicken.

Chef Heman’s Black Berry 4 Grain Healthy Rice With Roasted Pork Jowl “Ton Toro” 4/5

One can opt for Chef Heman's Black Berry 4 Grain Healthy Rice With Roasted Pork Jowl "Ton Toro" ($38++) for a healthy eat. I enjoyed the different textures of the rice, and what brightens up the dish is the addition of Chinese lap cheong sausage.

Fermented Red Yeast Wine 4.5/5

Another favourite dish of mine is the Fermented Red Yeast Wine ($38++). I applaud the creativity of incorporating fermented red glutinous rice wine with the barramundi fillet. I am usually sceptical of this type of East meets West creations, but this dish has won me over.

Treasure Drawer 4/5

To wrap up the dinner on a sweet note, you can try the Treasure Drawer ($32++), which comes in two trays of dessert. Diners can enjoy a sweet treat of pistachio chocolate souffle, mango passion mousse, petite apple crumble tartlets, financier raspberry, orange granita, yuzu star anise pate fruit and truffle cheese macaron. It will be a good choice as you can have a bit of everything.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


[CLOSED]
MOONBOW
Block 10 Dempsey Road
#01-21
Singapore 247700
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Holland Village (CC Line), Farrer Road (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sat-Sun: 10am -3pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop along Orchard Boulevard (Stop ID 09022). Take bus number 7, 77, 106, 123 or 174. Alight 7 stops later. Walk up to Dempsey Hill. Walk right to the back of the cluster. Walk to destination. Journey time 30 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop at Block 12 (Stop ID 11401). Take bus 106. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to Dempsey Road. Walk up to Dempsey Hill. Walk right to the back of the cluster. Walk to destination. Journey time 20 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Farrer Road MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Farrer Road MRT station (Stop ID 11119). Take bus number 174 or 564. Alight 5 stops later. Walk up to Dempsey Hill. Walk right to the back of the cluster. Walk to destination. Walk to destination. Journey time 20 minutes. [Map]

Tablescape Restaurant & Bar @ Grand Park City Hall - Old School Charm With Bread And Dessert Trolleys

Stepping into Tablescape Restaurant & Bar at Grand Park City Hall gives you an old-world charm with gueridon service. Having visited the restaurant when it first opened. I was looking forward to the new changes new Executive Chef Armando Aristarco has brought to the restaurant.

It is great to see that the bread trolley is still around. With 4 types of freshly baked in-house bread in rotation daily (out of the 14), this is paired with a choice of salted or unsalted butter that is churned in-house. This is followed by an amuse bouche whereby the Sicilian prawn is paired with burrata, zucchini and squid ink croutons.

Scallop 4/5

The Scallop ($20) is a light starter in which the raw scallop is served with a refreshing cucumber gazpacho. A dish that allows the natural freshness to speak for itself without any strong seasoning to distort the taste.

Beef Tataki 4/5

Next is the Black Angus Beef Tataki ($20). The beautiful beef slices are paired with pumpkin puree at the side and white pepper foam on top. It is another light-handed dish, allowing the main ingredient to shine.

Egg 4/5

The Egg ($28) is a luxe version of our local breakfast. The slow-cooked 62 degree Celsius egg is covered with Parmesan fondue. It is then topped with two textures of asparagus and black summer truffle. I would recommend saving some of the earlier bread to mop up the dish.

Duck Risotto 3.8/5

Moving to the mains, we started with the Duck Risotto ($38). Using camaroli rice, the rice is slow-cooked with duck stock until the starch is released from the rice, giving it a creamy consistency. This is finished with olive oil, parmigiano reggiano and parsley. Not to forget the tender smoked duck and cubes of pan-seared foie gras that adds colour to the dish.

Iberico Pork Chop 4/5

One of my favourite for the night is the Iberico Pork Chop ($42) which has been marinated with salt, sage, thyme and black pepper. The piece of pork chop is then grilled to perfection upon order. It was tender, flavourful with an exterior char. The beautiful piece of pork chop is served with pommery mustard sauce, sauteed vegetables and roasted potatoes.

Organic Chicken 4.2/5

The Organic Chicken ($28) comes all the way from France. It is sous-vide and then roasted until crispy on the exterior, moist and juicy inside. Not to forget the baby romaine lettuce with housemade cardini dressing, topped with baked bacon bits and Parmigiano Reggiano shavings.

Coconut Raspberry Mousse 3.5/5

Champagne Jelly 3.8/5

From the dessert trolley, we have the Coconut Raspberry Mousse and Champagne Jelly. The Coconut Raspberry Mousse comprises of a layer of raspberry gel, coconut mousse, and almond crumble. Each spoonful comes with a multi-textural enjoyment. As for the Champagne Jelly, it is a light and refreshing dessert, with the candied orange peel giving it a citrusy lift.

Chocolate Souffle 4.2/5

A classic dessert is the Souffle ($16), It is light and fluffy. It comes with the choice of Grand Marnier or Valrhona Chocolate and Creme Anglaise.

Executive Chef Armando Aristarco has put together a fine European menu rooted in classical cuisine made excitingly contemporary. The bread and dessert trolleys give the restaurant an old school charm too.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Tablescape Restaurant & Bar
Grand Park City Hall
Level 3
10 Coleman Street
Singapore 179809
Tel: +65 64325566
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

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

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit D. Turn left and walk to junction of Coleman Street and North Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to Peninsula Plaza. Continue down Coleman Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Hoshino Coffee @ Bedok Point - Launches New Dinner Set Special With Series Of Special Selection Items

Known for its large selection of Western-Japanese food, Hoshino Coffee Singapore recently launched two new outlets at OneKM Mall and Bedok Point. To celebrate the opening of its new outlets, Hoshino Coffee launches a series of new special selection items. As part of the Hoshino Coffee Dinner Set Special (worth $60) for 2 pax, diners can pick any 2 main dishes, 2 drinks, and 1 dessert from more than 60 items in the main menu. Expect new dish offerings such as the Softshell Crab Aglio Olio, Softshell Crab Rice, "Omu" Souffle Curry, Mentaiko Carbonara, Ginger Chicken Spaghetti, and Pancake Souffle Style with Strawberry (Seasonal).

Ginger Chicken Spaghetti 4/5

One of the newest dishes in the menu, the Ginger Chicken Spaghetti ($16.80) features al dente spaghetti noodles with generously portioned chicken chunks. Somewhat a reminiscent of a traditional chicken rice dish, yet infused with a western element as spaghetti is used here instead of the usual chicken rice. Although the chicken meat is a tad dry, it is well-seasoned with a aromatic ginger fragrance.

“Omu Rice” & Angus Beef Steak Plate 4/5

“Omu Rice” & Angus Beef Steak Plate ($18.80) features generous juicy beef slices with tomato omelette rice. Served medium rare, the angus beef steak is pinkish in the middle, and boasts a tender consistency, while the omelette is soft and fluffy.

Pancake Souffle Style with Strawberry 4/5

End your meal on a sweet note with the Pancake Souffle Style with Strawberry ($12.80) which consists of a double layer of thick pillowy pancakes soaked in fresh cream, and topped with strawberries as well as a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The dish plays out a perfect tangy-sweet balance with the fresh berries and ice cream, while the fresh cream added some moistness to the pancakes which have a drier texture. Do note that the dish takes about 20 minutes to prepare, so it’s best to let the service staff know in advance once you are ready to have it served.

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.

Hoshino Coffee
Bedok Point
799 New Upper Changi Rd
#01-01
Singapore 467351
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bedok (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 1130am - 10pm
Fri-Sat, Eve & PH: 1130am - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight down Upper Changi Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Plentyfull @ Millenia Walk - Beautiful Food That Is Both Delicious To The Camera and Palate

I have seen many beautifully plated dishes on social media platforms from Plentyfull at Millenia Walk and I have been wanting to check out the place. Plentyfull is not just about instagrammable food, the food is actually made from scratch where possible, using the freshest seasonal produce sourced from farmers and artisans locally and internationally. It provides honest, hearty and homemade meals away from home.

House Charcuterie 4.2/5

Our dinner at Plentyfull started with the House Charcuterie. Diners can order a la carte or if you want a bit of each, you can go for a choice of 4 different cured meats at $38 regular or $46 large. We had the 777 Duck Breast Prosciutto ($16), 5J Jamon Iberico ($22) and Szechuan Peppered Swordfish Belly Ham ($16). My favourite is the duck breast prosciuto for its deep flavour that has been cured for 21 hours, smoked for 7 hours and dry aged for 7 days.

Organic Tofu Caprese 4.5/5

The next dish we tried is the Organic Tofu Caprese ($16). The smooth and silky tofu is dressed in an aged ponzu sauce with plum tomatoes, shallots and seeds. Tofu is known to be quite tasteless but this turned out to be a dish packed with complex but yet delicious flavours, refreshing and enjoyable. The plum tomatoes were extremely sweet too.

House Flat Bread 4.2/5

Do you know that Plentyfull made their own bread and butter? The best way to appreciate them is the House Flat Bread ($12) which comes with nori butter, elderflower caramel & EVO oil. My favourite is the nori butter with that extra hint of saltiness that went very well with the flat bread.

Seasonal Vegetable Tart 4.5/5

For the Seasonal Vegetable Tart ($16), this week we had the carrot tart. A layer of carrot puree sits on top of a crispy tart base that tasted like chicken twisties. This is crowned by a beautiful garden of vegetables held together excellently by the black garlic gem.

Grilled Spiced Lamb Ribs 3/5

Moving on to the mains, we tried the Grilled Spiced Lamb Ribs ($30). The slow cooked lamb ribs are served with smoked yogurt, edamame and horseradish. I could taste cumin and star anise on top of other spices and the smokey flavour. However I thought the meat was a bit overcooked and tough.

5 Spiced Duck Leg Confit 3.5/5

Next we had the 5 Spiced Duck Leg Confit ($28) with cucumber, radish salad and mantou. While the duck skin is slightly crisp, the meat felt short of being confit. It felt more like having a braised duck. I am not saying it is not good but kind of misleading with the menu.

Beetroot Risotto 4.5/5

My favourite dish at Plentyfull has to be the Beetroot Risotto ($24). The natural colouring from the beetroot made the risotto looks very appetizing. I was very eager to dig into the plate of arborio rice cooked with a medley of beetroot and pecorino cheese. This is a plate of goodness with the beetroot sweetness and cheesy percorino coming together beautifully on the palate.

Coconut Creme Brulee 4/5

For dessert, we tried the Coconut Creme Brulee ($14) which consists of coconut ribbons, salted gula melaka ice cream. Once again, I felt that the naming is a bit confusing. Except for the coconut ribbons, there is nothing actually taste coconut. Technically the creme brulee has coconut but the pandan flavour is more distinct. It should have named kaya or pandan creme brulee.

Miso Souffle 4.2/5

Not to be missed on the dessert menu is the Miso Souflle ($16) with toasted walnut ice cream. The light and pillowy souffle was so soft that I nearly fell into dreamland.

I am glad to have visited Plentyfull. The all day dual concept restaurant, patisserie and gourmet grocer not only dish out beautifully plated food, they are deliciously made from scratch too. It definitely worth a return to try more of the dishes on the menu.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Plentyfull
Millenia Walk
9 Raffles Boulevard
#01-79/80
Singapore 039596
Tel: +65 64932997
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 1130am - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Silver Shell Cafe @ Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa & Spa - Crusin' With Cuisines At Silver Shell Cafe

Silver Shell Cafe at Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa & Spa has revamped its dinner themes giving diners an opportunity to experience mulit theme dinners that vary daily. This new multi theme concept will be available every night throughout the year.

Sundays and Mondays  - Feast at Rasa
World cuisines with buffet stations featuring oriental, western, indian and local flavours.

Tuesdays - Oh! Singapura
Local favourite such as satay, fish otah, char kway teow, mini steamboat and other local delights.

Wednesdays - Mediterranean
Signatures such as Tuscan roast pork belly, Moroccan whole roast lamb with spiced rice and chorizo paella.

Thursdays - All Around Asia
A melting pot of piquant flavours and aromas, from Malaysian ayam masak merah to Vietnamese grilled sausages, Thai red duck curry, Filipino crispy pata deep-fried pork leg and Peranakan assam prawns.

Fridays - A Taste of the Ocean
Fresh marine harvests ranging from oysters to lobsters, king crabs and scallops.

Saturdays - Barbecue and Roast
Showcases the crispy, flavourful crackling or roast pork belly and suckling pig, complete with barbecued squids, prawns, lamb and beef.

Crab Salad 4/5

Cold Seafood 3.8/5

I visited Silver Shell Cafe on a Monday which is the Feast of Rasa theme that features an array of international cuisines. I started with some refreshing Crab Salad and followed with some fresh harvests from the sea.

Vietnamese Beef Noodle 3.5/5

Laksa 4/5

To warm my stomach a bit, I headed to the live noodle station and tried both the Vietnamese Beef Noodle and Laksa. Cooked to order, it is perfect for those looking for something soupy and comforting.

Cheese Garlic Naan 4.5/5

Tandoori Chicken 3.5/5

One of my favourite stations at Silver Shell Cafe is the Indian station. The beautiful smell of spices perfumed the air from the array of curry dishes on the spread. A must try is the Cheese Garlic Naan. Crispy on the exterior yet fluffy inside from the cheese stuffing. I would also recommend having some of the fish curry and dal to go with the naan.

Char Siew 3.5/5

For those that is looking for a good Hong Kong Roast, you can head to the Chinese station when you can satisfy with the selection of roasts such as roasted duck, roasted pork belly, roasted chicken and char siew.

Clam in White Wine 4.2/5

At the station, I would recommend trying the Clam in Chinese Wine. The sweetness of the clam is further elevated from the aromatic Chinese wine sauce.

Souffle 4/5

Cheese Cake 4/5

Wrapping up the dinner we head to the dessert corner and had the Souffle and Cheese Cake. Lucky I have saved some stomach space for desserts. It seems like the kitchen has a very good pastry chef. I enjoyed both the souffle and cheese cake. It is not easy to do a good souffle and I think the chef nailed it. Furthermore, this is probably the first buffet restaurant that serves souffle.

What makes Silver Shell Cafe different from other restaurants is their thoughtfulness. The family friendly restaurant not only has a kid's corner but recently added the Baby Zone which provides complimentary baby food, in addition to value-added amenities such as milk bottle sterilizers, microwave, baby dining utensils, baby wipes and diapers.


Silver Shell Cafe
Shangri-La​'s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa
Leve 3 at Dine on 3
101 Siloso Road
Singapore 098970
Tel: +65 63711966/1970
Website
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 630am - 11pm
Buffet Breakfast: 630am - 1030am
Buffet Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
Buffet Dinner: 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbour Front MRT station. Take Exit C or E. Walk to pick up point at exit of Lobby F in Vivocity (near JPot and Nyonya & Baba Restaurants). Wait for the complimentary shuttle bus service. The shuttle service is available every 20 minutes of the hour. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]