藝 Yì by Jereme Leung @ Raffles Hotel Singapore - Exquisite Lunar New Year Specialties

藝 Yì by Jereme Leung at Raffles Hotel Singapore welcomes this Lunar New Year with dishes that embody traditions with an artistic flair, available from 17 January to 15 February 2022.

Toss to abundance with auspicious Yu Sheng specials. Available for dine-in and takeaway, each Yu Sheng comes with a unique Yunnan rose dressing crafted by Master Chef Jereme Leung. For takeaway orders, the ingredients will be presented in an assembled multi-tiered red box that is both convenient to carry and aesthetically pleasing on the home dining table. We tried the Longevity Yu Sheng ($198++), which features premium ingredients such as arctic shellfish and Japanese sweet shrimps.

Braised Beancurd with Yunnan Golden Fungus & Pine Nuts 4/5

After the Yu Sheng, we began the evening with a nourishing Double-Boiled Fish Maw, Morel Mushrooms & Nostoc Pearls Broth.

Steamed Spotted Garoupa & Fresh Lily Bulbs with "Mao Er Duo" Black Fungus 4.5/5

For the main Lunar New Year feast, savour specialities such as the Steamed Spotted Garoupa & Fresh Lily Bulbs with "Mao Er Duo" Black Fungus. Artfully presented on the plate, I enjoyed the crunchy elements of the dish that complemented the fish.

Braised Beancurd with Yunnan Golden Fungus & Pine Nuts 4.5/5

Another main dish we had was a wholesome Braised Beancurd with Yunnan Golden Fungus & Pine Nuts.

Steamed Jasmine Rice with Chinese Goose Liver Sausages & Preserved Meats 4.8/5

The Steamed Jasmine Rice with Chinese Goose Liver Sausages & Preserved Meats was the highlight for me - fluffy steamed rice flavoured with unctuous, savoury-sweet Chinese goose liver sausages & preserved meats. It was simple yet indulgent and satisfying.

Organic Eggplant with Japanese Sea Urchin in Vinegar Dressing 4/5

Fresh Scallop & Spinach Roll with Sesame Sauce 4/5

Apart from the more traditional dishes, there are some which deviate from the usual, such as this Organic Eggplant with Japanese Sea Urchin in Vinegar Dressing. I appreciate how the ingredients have been treated with restraint to bring out their flavours. The same goes for the Fresh Scallop & Spinach Roll with Sesame Sauce.

Cantonese Sponge Cake, Pumpkin & Sweet Potato Nian Gao 3.8/5

Our dessert comprised a warm and comforting Cantonese Sponge Cake infused with Dried Tangerine Peel, as well as an auspicious looking Pumpkin & Sweet Potato Nian Gao.

From 3 January to 28 January 2022, guests may enjoy 20% off* online orders on Auspicious Delights, including selected home dining sets, Yu Sheng specials and a la carte takeaways, and enjoy 15% off* online orders of Bountiful Gift Sets & Hampers.

*Valid for AMEX, Citibank, DBS/POSB, HSBC, Maybank, OCBC and UOB cardholders.

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.


藝 Yi By Jereme Leung
Raffles Arcade
328 North Bridge Road
Singapore 188719
Tel: +65 63371886
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 2pm, 6pm - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Junction of North Bridge Road and Bras Basah Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Jurassic World Cafe @ ION Sky - Dinosaur-theme Cafe Pop Up

Time travel back millions of years with Southeast Asia’s very first Jurassic World Cafe! Based on the original concept in Japan, this exclusive two-month pop-up is located at Level 56 of ION Orchard and will run from now till 3 January 2021. For the dino-enthusiasts, you can now enjoy the scenic view of the Singapore skyline from ION Sky while feasting on themed menu items amid the jungle-themed decor complete with LED displays of dinosaurs. There are also dinosaur-printed posters wrapped around the viewing gallery’s pillars. Be greeted by a life-sized model of Blue, the fan-favourite Velociraptor made famous by the sequel, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom as you enter. Don't forget to take photos at the dinosaur theme photo booth as well!

Mosasaurus Soda 3.5/5, Iced Latte 3.8/5

Starting with the drinks, we had the Mosasaurus Soda ($8) - a mystical ombre blue drink that comes in 2 distinctive coloured layers, served with pineapple cubes and blueberries. It was a very refreshing drink with a strong minty taste, albeit a somewhat muted one-dimensional flavour instead of having a more pronounced tropical fruity flavour that we had hoped for. While the Iced Latte ($7) was relatively decent, if your love your lattes hot, you’ll enjoy the hot version with dinosaur images imprinted atop the foam.

Volcano Curry 4/5

Our favourite among the dinosaur-theme mains was the Volcano Curry ($23) that comes with pulled pork, and potato cubes slathered in a generous portion of curry sauce and served with a side of sunny lettuce and pea tendrils. Mimicking the hot lava spewing from the active volcano in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (represented by the small mountain of charcoal rice), we love the flavourful and slightly spicy curry, together with the tender meat and potato. It also comes with a postcard with a picture of an erupting volcano that you can stack it behind the plate for an instagrammable shot of the dish.

Jurassic World Burger 3.8/5

The Jurassic World Burger ($28) features a beef patty sandwiched in between 2 charcoal buns, together with crispy bacon slices, cheese, tomatoes, purple cabbage and mushrooms. The dish was also served with crispy fried potato wedges on the side, and three streaks of mayo sauce resembling claw marks drawn on the plate. Although the thick beef patty was a tad dry and hard on the outside, it packed a lot more juiciness within, with a more tender texture.

Fossil Excavation Cake 4/5

We ended the meal with the Fossil Excavation Cake ($16) which consists of a base layer of light sponge cake, vanilla and white chocolate mousse, and topped with generous amounts of crushed oreo crumbs. The dessert was light and not as overly sweet. It paired well with a side of strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

There is also a dedicated merchandise section available where you will find limited edition Jurassic collectables, such as the Jurassic World Lego sets, Snap Squad figures, and the cafe-exclusive Blue plushie keychain.

While the food and drinks were pretty enjoyable, we feel that there could have been more decor spent for the interiors - with more dinosaurs, installations and greeneries to create a better jungle-like and immersive experience for the Jurassic lovers. The cafe will operate from 11am to 10pm daily. Tables will be available for reservations from 6 November 2020 onwards. To book your table, you can call 8028 1489, or email reservation@jurassicworldcafe.sg

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.


Jurassic World Cafe
ION Sky
Level 56
2 Orchard Turn
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 80281489
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am – 10pm

Directions:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Violet Oon @ Jewel Changi Airport - Biggest Outlet To Showcase Our Local Flavours To The World

Violet Oon has opened its biggest ever restaurant at Jewel Changi Airport, an ideal location to showcase our local flavours, allowing jet-setting travellers as well as local to savour our much-beloved cuisine. On top of that, a lot of the dishes are exclusive at the Jewel outlet only.

Nyonya Poh Piah Party 4/5

Available only at Jewel Changi Airport is the Nyonya Poh Piah Party ($58). The condiments and sauces are served in platters, allowing customers to put them together and fold it themselves. It can serve up to six pieces. The highlight has to be the rich bamboo shoot and jicama stew braised in a housemade prawn bisque and Fujian bean paste. There is also a vegetarian version at $56.

Mango Kerabu with Ikan Bilis 4/5

The Mango Kerabu with Ikan Bilis ($10) resembles and tastes like the Thai mango salad with its tang and spiciness. The strips of sour green mangoes, sliced tomatoes, onions, and pink ginger flowers are tossed in a sweet and sour plum and chilli infused sauce. I like the touch of adding ikan bilis into it for that extra crunch.

Crispy Kurobuta Pork Fingerlings with Garlic and Curry Leaves 4.2/5

A great finger bite with a few glasses of drink is the Crispy Kurobuta Pork Fingerlings with Garlic and Curry Leaves ($18). The juicy kurobuta pork marinated in spiced batter is very addictive. Once again, it resembles another dish that we are familiar with, the Taiwanese fried chicken.

Marmite Baby Sotong Salad 3.5/5

Salad with baby sotong is something different from the usual. The Marmite Baby Sotong Salad ($25) comes with deep fried crispy baby squid that has been tossed in marmite sauce, served on a bed of mixed greens, cucumber and cherry tomatoes with housemade vinaigrette.

Otah Toast 4.2/5

The Otah Toast ($16) reminds me of my childhood. It was my favourite breakfast combination. A whole chunky piece of spiced coconut cream fish otah is served on toast and a bed of sliced zucchini. It comes with a side of house salad. It is slightly spicy for those that can't handle chilli well.

Roti Violet Tuna Wala-Wala 3.8/5

For the prata lovers, there is the Roti Violet Tuna Wala-Wala ($15) and Little India Vegetable Curry with Roti Prata (Vegetarian) ($17). The Roti Violet Tuna Wala-Wala is a modern take of the traditional dish with crispy tuna flakes that have been seasoned with spices, mustard seeds and curry leaves on top of a fluffy roti prata.

Little India Vegetable Curry with Roti Prata (Vegetarian) 4.2/5

For traditional is the Little India Vegetable Curry with Roti Prata. This is the vegetarian version. There is also a fish curry version for the non-vegetarian. The curry comes with vegetables such as eggplant, okra, tomatoes, and cabbage infused with tamarind juice and creamy coconut milk. The curry is really shiok and pairs excellently with the fluffy prata.

BBQ Eggplant with Sambal (Vegetarian) 4/5

The BBQ Eggplant with Sambal ($13) is a dish for the brave who dares to take the chilli challenge.  The eggplant is grilled and then topped with two types of chillies. The green coloured chilli is sambal hijau, and the red coloured chilli is goreng chilli sambal. It seems quite an odd dish, but it does allow the appreciation of the laborious effort in making the sambals.

Ayam Panggang Katong 4.5/5

Another grill dish that most of us enjoyed is the Ayam Panggang Katong ($16 Half/$25 Whole), served with piquant achar and VO chilli sauce. The chicken is grilled to perfection. It is tender with a subtle charred sweetness on its skin, which has been brushed with gula syrup.

Sugee Cake with Calamansi Drizzle and Ice Cream 4/5

For dessert, we had the Sugee Cake with Calamansi Drizzle and Ice Cream ($15). This is a traditional Eurasian cake made from semolina and ground almonds. At Violet Oon, it is topped with lime drizzle and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a lifted enjoyment.

Pandan Gula Melaka Cake 4.2/5

My favourite cake at Violet Oon has to be the Pandan Gula Melaka Cake ($13). The sponge cake is light and airy, which has been infused with fresh pandan juice. In between each layer is buttercream frosting and desiccated coconut tossed in gula melaka syrup.

I have enjoyed the food at Violet Oon. It definitely showcases the flavours of our local cuisine. However, the pricing is a bit on the steep side. Let's be honest, would you pay $17 for 2 pieces of prata and vegetable curry? I know I can't compare the cost of running a restaurant to a hawker stall, and probably the quality of ingredients used. However, this is a fact that consumers will tend to do so.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Violet Oon
Jewel Changi Airport
78 Airport Boulevard
#01-205/206
Singapore 819666
Tel: 65 98349935
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am - 11pm

Direction:
Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to the link bridge to Jewel. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]