Entrepôt @ The Robertson House - A Taste of Anglo-Asian Inspired Cuisine

Entrepôt at The Robertson House stands the hotel's all-day dining restaurant and bar. Conceptualised based on Singapore's quayside story and growth as an entrepôt port, Entrepôt's menu is inspired by Anglo-Asian cooking techniques and flavours. The dishes are also crafted with communal dining and a spirit of friendliness in mind.

Black Sesame Hummus 2.8/5

Pita Bread

Our dinner began with an off-the-menu starter - Black Sesame Hummus and Charcoal-grilled Pita Bread with dukkah. The acidity of the hummus was quite on point, but the flavour of the black sesame seemed to have been overshadowed by the seasoning.

Signature Chinese Terracotta Tea 4/5

Next was the Signature Chinese Terracotta Tea ($10/portion), featuring a Crustacean Tortellini in Chinese Dried Mushroom Tea and Lapsang Souchong. The tea-infused mushroom consomme was earthy and light, complementing the meaty tortellini well.

Heirloom Tomato and Fermented Plum Salad 4/5

From the Starter menu, we also tried the Heirloom Tomato and Fermented Plum Salad ($18). The Fermented Plum Dressing, combined with a sprinkle of salty Olive Vegetables, worked harmoniously to enhance the inherent sweetness of the tomatoes. Elevating the dish further were drops of Thai Basil Oil, adding a delightful pepperiness to the overall flavour profile.

Angelica Root French Corn-fed Chicken Roast 3/5

Tasting portion

For Mains, we had the Angelica Root French Corn-fed Chicken Roast ($45), served with Cordyceps, Mushrooms and Asian Napa Cabbage. The well-caramelised skin was deliciously savoury-sweet with Herbal Honey. While the meat was tender, I found it rather bland, particularly when contrasted with the heavily seasoned Angelica Root Chicken Jus.

Claypot Rice 3/5

Claypot Rice ($28) indulged with Chorizo Sausage and Smoked Pancetta, contributing robust flavours and a meaty texture to the rice. The earthiness of the Wild Mushrooms provided a well-balanced contrast to the intense flavours of the meats. However, the dish leaned towards being a bit overly flavoured due to the infusion of Harissa in the rice.

Sticky Red Date Pudding 3/5

For desserts, we had Sticky Red Date Pudding with Butterscotch Ice Cream. The ice cream had a smooth and velvety texture, but the pudding, unfortunately, lacked the dense and sticky texture that I was anticipating.

The Drinks Menu is attractive with spirits and teas exclusively crafted for The Robertson House, such as Dr Robertson's Gin & Tonic concocted with Dr Robertson's Gin, the hotel's exclusive gin crafted with Tanglin Gin, Singapore's pioneering gin distillery.

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.


Entrepôt
The Robertson House
1 Unity Street
Singapore 237983
Tel: +65 8301689
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Nearest MRT: Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 630am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to Clemenceau Ave. Turn left onto Clemenceau Ave, walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Restaurant Espoir @ Amoy Street: Experience Modern European Cuisine With A Malayan Twist

Restaurant Espoir, the sister establishment of The White Label at North Bridge Road, offers a captivating culinary experience with its modern European cuisine infused with a delightful touch of Malayan influence. As a Muslim-owned restaurant, it provides a warm and inclusive atmosphere where diners can savour the flavours of European dishes enhanced by local inspirations.

Compressed Watermelon 3/5

The Compressed Watermelon Salad ($14) presents a delightful combination of flavours and textures. The soy-glazed compressed watermelon is accompanied by creamy feta cheese, fresh mesclun salad, tangy yuzu vinaigrette, and bursts of sweetness from the pomegranate. The yuzu vinaigrette adds a harmonious touch, bringing all the ingredients together in a tantalizing medley. While the dish is enjoyable, some diners might desire a greater quantity of watermelon and a chunkier cut to enhance the refreshing aspect of the salad.

Crab Croquette 3/5

The Crab Croquette ($24) presents a delightful combination of blue swimmer crab and cream filling encased in a light batter shell. Served with kaffir lime mayo, the croquette could benefit from a lighter cream filling to allow the natural sweetness of the blue swimmer crab to shine through.

Fish Consomme Heritage Style 4/5

For a taste of local inspiration, the Fish Consommé Heritage Style ($15) showcases a fish soup made from fish bone stock and dried flounder. Topped with chunky sous vide halibut and tomato caviar, this dish offers a unique fusion of European and local flavours.

Mushroom Veloute 4.5/5

Mushroom lovers will appreciate the Mushroom Veloute ($13), a rich and flavorful soup packed with sautéed mushrooms, black summer truffle, porcini tapenade, and mushroom emulsion. The earthy mushroom flavours create a comforting and satisfying dish.

Slow Cooked Breast of Lamb 3.5/5

Experience a unique take on the classic lamb dish with the Slow Cooked Breast of Lamb ($44). This rendition deviates from the conventional lamb rack. Tender and aromatic, the lamb breast is accompanied by garlic herb, pearl onions, baby carrots, tomato confit, salsa verde, and spiced lamb jus. While the dish is well-executed, the presence of the lamb skin might not be to everyone's taste.

Sea Urchin Tagliatelle 3/5

The Sea Urchin Tagliatelle ($39) offers a delicate and flavorful pasta dish for seafood enthusiasts. Although the tagliatelle is cooked to al dente perfection, the sea urchin flavour in the sauce could be more pronounced for a stronger umami experience.

Sticky Date Pudding 4/5

To conclude the dining experience, indulge in the Sticky Date Pudding ($13), featuring orange-infused sticky date pudding, almond crumble, orange caramel sauce, and a scoop of French vanilla gelato. The harmonious combination of sweetness and textures provides a satisfying and memorable ending to the meal.

Restaurant Espoir invites diners to explore modern European cuisine with a delightful twist of Malayan influence. With its unique flavour profiles and thoughtful presentations, it promises a dining experience that blends tradition and innovation in every dish.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Restaurant Espoir
70 Amoy Street
Singapore 069889
Tel: +65 88605935
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Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 10pm
Sat: 830am - 10pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Amoy Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Telok Ayer Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Roof Terrace BBQ Private Dining @ East Coast Road - A Feast Of Grilled Meat and Seafood

Recently, together with my foodie friends, we went to Roof Terrace BBQ, a private dining home at East Coast Road that specialises in barbeque. The action happens on the roof terrace under the stars. However, during our visit, the roof terrace's lighting was not working, so we shifted indoors.

Smoked Beef Brisket

We started the dinner with the Smoked Beef Brisket. It comes with a beautiful pink smoke ring. The smoked beef brisket was flavorful, succulent and packed with a smoky aroma.

Roasted Baby Potatoes with Fried Garlic and Shallots, Sauteed Swiss Brown Mushrooms

Japanese Coleslaw

Grilled Zucchini, Eggplant, Baby Corn, Bell Peppers

Cornbread

To go with the mains, the host has prepared a couple of sides to go along with them. They are delicious sides that complemented the mains excellently. Diners can look forward to sides such as Roasted Baby Potatoes with Fried Garlic and Shallots, Sauteed Swiss Brown Mushrooms, Japanese Coleslaw, Grilled Vegetables, and our favourite Cornbread.

Grilled Spanish Duroc Pork Chops

For the non-beef eaters, do not worry, as the host can customise the menu, such as the Grilled Spanish Duroc Pork Chops we had. Grilled to perfection, it is tender and juicy.

Salted Baked Fish

Grilled Jumbo Tiger Prawns

Besides the grilled meats, we also have seafood on the menu. We had a whole Salted Baked Wild Caught Red Snapper and Jumbo Tiger Prawns.

Sticky Date Pudding with Caramel and Homemade Burnt Vanilla

Wrapping the BBQ feast, we had Sticky Date Pudding with Caramel and Homemade Burnt Vanilla. A beautiful dessert for a sweet ending.

We paid $75 per pax. It is a price you can't find in the current private dining scene. Most of the private dining places are charging above $100 per pax nowadays. Unlike other private dining places, Roof Terrace BBQ does not allow alcohol.


Roof Terrace BBQ Private Dining
East Coast Road
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Tanglin Cookhouse @ Tanglin Mall - Modern Colonial-style Restaurant Offering Western and Asian Inspired Dishes

Tanglin Cookhouse at Tanglin Mall is a modern colonial-style restaurant serving Western and Asian-inspired dishes that best represent the dynamics between British culture and local flavours.

Here in the evening, you get to start with some tippers from the bar. We had Gin and Tonic - Berries Wonders with Widges London Dry Gin ($20) and a Moonshot Martini with Boutique-y Gin Company Moonshot Gin ($20) under the Special Gin Cocktails list. I recommend the latter, which allures with floral notes.

Vine Tomato Salad with Fresh Burrata Cheese 3/5

We started the dinner with Vine Tomato Salad with Fresh Burrata Cheese ($25.90). The salad was covered with an abundance of puffed kombu quinoa and a generous handful of pine nuts. The pairing of pillowy burrata with crunchy elements set this salad apart from the usual.

Tanglin Scotch Egg 2.8/5

Next, we had the much loved Tanglin Scotch Egg ($16.90), served with Purple cabbage slaw and pickled mustard seeds. Both the slaw and tangy mustard seeds cut the richness of the meat, but I find its gaminess a tad too much.

Salmon Wellington 4.5/5

We had Salmon Wellington ($26.90) and Grandmother's Roasted Chicken ($25.90) for the main. My favourite was the former. I loved the warm smell of the dill when it was served, and slicing the buttery puff into half unveiled an incredibly moist slab of salmon fillet. It was plain delicious with the side of lemon dill beurre blanc.

Grandmother's Roasted Chicken 3.8/5

The latter features a 1/2 spatchcock chicken with onion gravy and Yorkshire pudding. The chicken was tender with very nicely roasted skin, adding to its flavour. The onion gravy was superb, complementing the meat exceptionally well. However, the Yorkshire pudding was slightly burnt, and the green peas were somehow cloyingly sweet.

Sticky Date Pudding 3/5

For a sweet ending, the warm Sticky Date Pudding ($14) was comforting with English toffee sauce, with added nutella soil for texture. What's different about Tanglin Cookhouse's pudding is that it is served with papadam and coconut ice cream to give a savoury, tropical vibe. I enjoy the sweet-savoury play on this classic typical dessert. However, the pudding itself can be 'stickier', and the papadam was a bit limp when we had it, which affected the overall experience of this dish.

Eton Mess Trifle 3/5

We also had Eton Mess Trifle, a rather romantic dessert made by layering basil macerated strawberries, meringue and vanilla chantilly cream. The tangy strawberries brought the trifle a refreshing and herbaceous burst of acidity. However, less sweet would have been better.

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.


Tanglin Cookhouse
Tanglin Mall
163 Tanglin Road
#01-106
Singapore 247933
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Nearest MRT: Orchard Boulevard (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 9am – 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard Boulevard MRT station. Take Exit 1. Walk straight down Grange Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Godmama @ Funan - Presenting Godma And Mama's Heirloom Recipes Anew

Godmama at Funan is a modern Peranakan restaurant and bar. Stemming from the initial idea of preserving an heirloom recipe of egg skin popiah which is passed down from one of the co-owners' Godma and Mama. The concept eventually evolved into one that serves not only the egg skin popiah but also includes the classic Peranakan dishes, a mod-Peranakan brunch and cocktails.

All Star Egg Skin Popiah 4/5

Our dinner started with the All Star Egg Skin Popiah ($6.50), recreated using Godma’s family recipe. It takes 4 hours to prepare the jicama stew. Despite its dark colour, the jicama was quite balanced in flavour, and there was still a light crunch to it. Toppings include cucumber strips, lettuce, crispy garlic bits, coriander, sprouts and tiger prawns, which made it all the more satisfying for me as a popiah lover.

Ngoh Hiang 3.8/5

Next up was Ngoh Hiang ($11.90). The filling is a blend of fresh prawns, minced meat and water chestnut seasoned with five-spice. I like that it was not overly seasoned with spices, and it was of a looser mix that was moist and juicy. The chilli cuka at the side was punchy, which made the meat roll even more appetising.

Babi Assam 3.8/5

Babi Assam ($13.90 as part of the Executive Lunch Set; $18.90 for dinner) is Head chef’s signature dish. The pork belly is simmered in a spicy and tangy tamarind stew. The melt-in-your-mouth pork belly was the highlight for sure, and the gravy was robust without being too salty.

Ayam Buah Keluak 3/5

Although the menu states that the Ayam Buah Keluak ($15.90 as part of the Executive Lunch Set; $19.90 for dinner) is a stew, it appeared to be more of a braised dish. Presented in a more contemporary manner, you get two tender chicken thighs and buah keluak which are infused with fresh root spices of galangal and turmeric. I love that the nuts are served as a whole, which allows me to enjoy its flavours on its own. However, the meat did not seem to have taken in the flavours of the sauce. This mild version of Ayam Buah Keluak may sit well with diners who are not that into buah keluak.

Sambal Udang 2.8/5

One of the seafood choices is Sambal Udang ($17.90 as part of the Executive Lunch Set; $23.90 for dinner). The tiger prawns are tossed in a weak sambal sauce that lacked zest. My prawns were dry too.

Nyonya Chap Chye 4/5

Godmama's Nyonya Chap Chye (available as part of the Executive Set Lunch; $13.90 a la carte) is refined with prawn bisque as the base for braising the vegetables.

Sticky Red Date Pudding 4/5

The desserts left a much deeper impression than their main dishes. Turning a traditional drink of Longan Red Date into a dessert, the Sticky Red Date Pudding ($9.90) is served hot with longan tea glaze and vanilla ice cream. It was this dessert that made me overate that evening.

Pulut Hitam Panna Cotta 3.8/5

The jiggly Pulut Hitam Panna Cotta ($8.90) was light with a mellow sweetness. I love the chewy pulut hitam resting underneath the panna cotta especially.

Gingerflower Lychee Sorbet 2.8/5

A much lighter option would be Gingerflower Lychee Sorbet ($10.90). Sorbet tends to be overly sweetened to compensate for the lack of creaminess, which was the case here as well.

Godmama may not have dived into the complexity of Peranakan cuisine, but it allows diners to have a glimpse of the flavours in a relatively more casual and fun manner.

Written 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.


Godmama
Funan
109 North Bridge Road
 #04-07
Singapore 179105
Tel:+65 69700828
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Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun- Thu: 10am - 10pm

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