MEDZS Bistro & Bar @ Clifford Centre

MEDZS has opened its third outlet, MEDZS Bistro & Bar at the heart of Central Business District (CBD), located at Clifford Centre. It is a bistro-by-day, doorstep-bar-by-night concept. Patron can enjoy an array of breakfast, brunch and dinner items. Catering for the busy executives working in the vicinity, it also offers a delicious sustenance for takeaway.

Viennoiserie Mini Croissants 3/5

At the cold display counter, is a selection of Viennoiserie Mini Croissants for takeaway. The varieties includes Prawn & Sesame Dressing ($3.90), Lemonade Crab Meat Mayo ($4.90), Pork Ham & Cheese ($3.90), Turkish-spiced Chicken ($3.90) and Homemade Cured Salmon ($3.90). Among the five choices I tried, my favourite was the Turkish-spiced Chicken. I probably need at least 2 of these to fill me up.

Artisan Sandwiches & Baguette 4/5

I always feel that bread is not a breakfast or lunch time for Singaporean. We still prefer our bak chor mee or chicken rice. Nevertheless, with the increasing foreign workforce in Singapore, they will feel home with the these Artisan Sandwiches and Baguette at Medzs Bistro & Bar. Choices available on the menu are Italian Panini Bread with Tomato Capresse & Buffalo Mozzarella ($12.90), Olive Ciabatte with Prosciutto & Veal Paprika Lyoner Ham ($12.90), Laugen Brotchen with Pork Bierschinken & Red Cheddar Cheese ($11.90) and Beef Pastrami with Rustic Baguette ($12.90). Influenced and inspired by different European countries (Italy, German and France), each of them has its own characteristic and goodness. The Laugen Brotchen with Pork Bierschinken & Red Cheddar Cheese with be my overall favourite.

Stuffed Cheesy Pull-apart Bread with Parsley & Basil 4.5/5

 One of the most assuming dish turns out to be my highlight. The Stuffed Cheesy Pull-apart Bread with Parsley & Basil ($9.90) nailed it for me. It tasted sort of like a upgraded garlic bread but with more layers of flavours and more important the stuffed cheese aroma that comes with each bite of the bread. Simple but harmoniously perfect in flavours.

French Bread Pizza 3.5/5

For something more substantial to satisfy the hungry stomach, once can try the French Bread Pizza. The stone oven olive bread (traditional) in a french pizza style, comes with 4 choices. They are Magherita ($12.90), Beef Pepperoni ($12.90), Honey Baked Ham & Roasted Pineapple ($12.90), Pesto Herbs & White Mushroom Cream ($12.90) and Al Fruiti De Mare ($13.90). I would think the local palate would prefer the Al Fruiti De Mare that comes with prawn, tuna and crab, a little seafood heaven on top of the bread. While the rest is rather classic toppings and flavours.

Deep Sea Prawn Wakame & Soba Salad with Sesame Dressing 4.5/5

If you prefer something like, then I would recommend you the Deep Sea Prawn Wakame & Soba Salad with Sesame Dressing ($7.90/$11.90). Actually its not really a salad dish but rather a cold soba dish with sesame dressing. It seems like sesame sauce goes well with almost everything and this is really appetizing.

Scramble Eggs with Chicken Sausage, Mushroom and Bacon 4.2/5

Egg White Scramble with Smoked Salmon Gravia 4/5

Most of us need our eggs for breakfast and Medzs Bistro & Bar offers exactly that. In fact, it offers more. On the menu is the Scramble Eggs with Chicken Sausage, Mushroom and Bacon ($5.90) and a healthier version Egg White Scramble with Smoked Salmon Gravia ($4.90). Judging from the extra order of the scramble eggs with chicken sausage, it looks like its more popular for its richer flavours compare to the egg white scramble.

Crispy Pork Belly with Tomato Braised Chickpeas 3.5/5

 Spanish Camarones 4.8/5

Medzs Bistro and Bar also offers some delectable Spanish Tapas and Bar snacks after 3pm. The Crispy Pork Belly with Tomato Braised Chickpeas ($6.90) turned out to be on the dry side for my liking. However the Spanish Camarones ($8.90) was the rock stars of the night. The fried Spanish shrimp anchovy marinated chicken was bursting with unami that rocks my world complemented by the awesome harissa aioli dip. It left me almost speechless for a minute just to enjoy that tsunami of flavours drowning every senses on my palate.

Red Velvet Cake 3/5

Salted Caramel Cheese Cake 4/5

MEDZs Signature Rainbow Cake 4/5

Medzs Bistro & Bar also offers all day dessert such as the Red Velvet Cake ($6.90), Salt Caramel Cheese Cake ($6.90) and Rainbow Cake ($6.90). Perfect for a light snack or a business meeting away from the office. I find the red velvet cake pretty bland and dry but the other two cakes are worth the calories.

Overall the opening of Medz Bistro & Bar at Clifford Centre offers a new choice to the working executives in the area with great value. The eclectic menu offers something for everyone for both dine-in and takeaway too. Start your day at Medzs with a great bite. Currently it is also offering 50% discount for all takeaway on display up to 31 March 2015.

Medzs Bistro & Bar
Clifford Centre
24 Raffles Place
#01-01
Singapore 048621
Tel: +65 65361917
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MEDZS.SimplyMediterranean
Website: http://www.medzs.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 8am - 10pm
Fri: 8am - 11pm
Sat: 11am - 8pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

East 8, New York Fusion Tapas + Bar @ Grand Park Hotel City Hall

East Village, Jackson Height, Astor Place... Am I naming the iconic places in the lower Manhattan? Don't be mistaken. These are actually the cocktails listed in East 8's menu. East 8, an Asian fusion tapas restaurant and bar, is the culmination of the owners’ love for St. Mark’s Place in New York City. Located at the ground floor of Grand Park City Hall, it is just within walking distance from Cityhall MRT Station.

Yellow Cab 4.2/5

Perhaps it was the time of the day when I reached. Located at Coleman street, I found this place extremely inviting.Be it the frontage or the interior, there was a relaxing feel to it. One of the owners, Emil, sat with us this evening. Having studied and worked in NYC for 13 years as a designer, he is one of the souls behind designing the perspective of East 8. We learnt that East 8 was imbued with the flavours and culture of "8th Street" in the lower Manhattan of NYC. From the chiselled brick wall to the Manhattan bridge structure suspension across the ceiling, it was all about details.

Jackson Height 4/5

They welcome their guests with a complimentary cocktail that changes daily, delighting even their regulars. It was Yellow Cab ($22) that took the lead this evening. This refreshing concoction of whiskey, gin and pineapple really lift up my tired senses. It was slightly tangy and sweet, with a tinge of bitterness. Following which, I got to try two other fusion cocktails, Jackson Height ($17) - "Thai" margarita with lime and a rim of Tom Yam salt and Astor Place ($16) - Yuzu in vodka, with a touch of thyme.

Astor Place 4.2/5

Once again, attention was paid to details- Instead of using the usual citrus for garnishing, the first was decorated with a Chilli Padi and the latter with thyme leaves. I'm not a cocktail connoisseur for sure, but I do appreciate cocktails with a well balanced concoction of spirits, sugar and bitters. I felt that their signature fusion cocktails definitely meet the mark. Down the list, it was refreshing to see ingredients like sake and soju in some other cocktails. Western dishes injected with Asian influences are rather common in our cosmopolitan city, but the idea of fusion cocktails is still not as widely explored.

A.L.T 4.5/5

As a start, Emil brought us A.L.T. ($16). As the name suggests, the dish was made of 3 basic ingredients but each characterised by their own distinct texture and flavour. Avocado - subtle, creamy. Lemon - acidic, sharp. Tuna - firm, meaty and mild. Extremely appetising, without overwhelming your taste buds. Really good stuff.

Portobello Mushroom Fries 4.2/5

In order not to bore their customers, especially their regulars, East 8 update their menu regularly by replacing some items with new creations. Certain items were retained due to popular demand. Portobello Mushroom Fries ($16) is one of them. I felt that the thin crispy outer crust did a wonderful job in locking in the juice, keeping every strip 'meaty'. Unlike the usual fries, this did not leave my mouth begging for water. Pretty addictive I must say.

Roller Lobster 3.8/5

Our first main the Roller Lobster ($28) was like a premium 'Ngor Hiang'. The poached lobster tail was wrapped in prosciutto ham, then doubled up with beancurb skin. The lobster was nicely poached, juicy and sweet but its sweetness was inundated by the saltiness of the prosciutto ham. The lime avocado oil and pickled seasonal vegetables did not do much in balancing the taste either. I do see a lot of potential in this dish, perhaps the execution itself needs further fine tuning.

Foie Gras Man Tao 3/5

Foie Gras Man Tao ($25) was the dish that enlightened me on the table setting. Emil explained that to live up to the spirit of “8th Street”East 8 strives to deliver quality dishes to its customers but in an unassuming manner. Customers can then relax and enjoy fine food without worrying the etiquette attached to fine dining. That was when it dawned upon me, I think, the reason behind setting the table with only a pair of chopsticks and a spoon. This Chinese sandwich can basically be eaten using just your hands. To me, it was an ingenious idea but poor execution once again. The fried Man Tou greased my hands as I lift it up with the apple compote falling off as I tried to take a bite. Rather than smooth and creamy, the foie gras was sort of granular and crumbly. Perhaps, a soft steamed Chinese bun might work better in bringing this dish together.

Miso Chilean Seabass 4.8/5

Knowing that I'm a fish lover, Emil was kind enough to prep one of their signature mains, Miso Chilean Seabass ($24) served with buttered shimeji mushroom and potato mash. Being the same family as cod fish, this sea bass bears similar flavour and mouthful of a codfish. Marinated with miso and wine, the fish was perfectly seared. This was absolutely my favourite main this evening.

Summer Spiced Lamb 4.5/5

Summer Spiced Lamb ($24) was a dish that literally spiced up the evening. The roasted lamb short ribs are marinated in different level of special spicy blend, allowing the guests to choose the level of spiciness they prefer. We chose the mid level that evening. The meat was extremely tender with only a slight gaminess. It slid off its bones effortlessly. Glazed with sweet lime zest sauce, the blend of sweet, spicy and zest cut the fattiness really well. I had mine together with the caramalised pineapples which further enhanced the overall taste.

Molten Peanut Butter & Chocolate 4.2/5

East 8's desserts do not disappoint. If you are a peanut butter lover, their Molten Peanut Butter & Chocolate ($15) will definitely satisfied your craving. I thought serving it straight from a mini saucepan was really cute and also a great way to contain the choco-peanut lava. A more gigantic scope of vanilla ice cream would have complimented it better... More oomph for sure!

I'm really drawn to their ambience. Though there were some misses this evening, I believe this place has a lot to offer in time to come. After all, they have only been in the scene for a year plus. I have never been to Manhattan but from the stylish interior to the table setting and choice of ingredients used, I could really sense the effort from the owners in trying to keep it true to the spirit of St. Mark's Place. I'm sure spending an afternoon here will be equally enjoyable.

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.


East 8
Grand Park Hotel City Hall
10 Coleman Street
#01-21/22 (facing Hill Street)
Singapore 179809
Tel: +65 63388289
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/east8sg
Website: http://east-8.com/
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thur: 12pm - 11pm
Fri: 12pm - 12midnight
Sat: 6pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk down North Bridge Road. At the junction North Bridge Road and Coleman Road, cross the road towards Peninsula Plaza. Walk down Coleman Road. At the junction of Coleman Road and Hill Street, turn right. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Element @ Amara Hotel

There is a buzz along Tras Street with cool rhythms in the air and a large merrymaking crowd gathered at the new Element on Tras Street, the new alfresco terrace of Element at Amara Hotel Singapore. The newly renovated Elment at Amara Hotel Singapore unveils an unique contemporary integrated dining that fuses food, drink, social dining and lifestyle in a sensational, all encompassing package. With the different elements at play, the new concept of the integrated gastronomic options offers an International Buffet (Heritage Element), Basque Cuisine (Basque Element), Toby's Estate Coffee (Barista Element), Outdoor Bar (Hip Element) and Flexible Dining (Individualist Element)

Toast of Grated Tomato and Iberico Ham 4.2/5

With the newly opened Element at Amara Hotel Singapore, a bold concept of introducing Basque cuisine with a young talented 22 years old Chef de Cuisine, Chef Mikel Badiola from San Sebastian in Basque Spain. Mikel picked up cooking at the age of 14 when he joined a txoko, a traditional gastronomic society where make members come together to cook in typical Basque culture. Went to culinary school and work in several local restaurant kitchens. At the age of 20, he worked with feted 3 star Michelin chef Martin Berasategui at his eponymous restaurant in Lasarte-Oria, Spain. Left for London to work before returning to Spain as Head Chef at the Real Nuevo Golf Club where his talent was spotted.

Showcasing Basque cuisine by the talented new Chef de Cuisine, Mike Badiola, we started with a selection of Pintxos equivalent to tapas. First up was the Toast of Grated Tomato and Iberico Ham ($15 for 2pc). The combination of the flavourful iberico ham and grated tomato was an excellent pairing whetting up the appetite.

Mushroom Brochette in Oporto Sauce 3.5/5

The Mushroom Brochette in Oporto Sauce ($12 for 2pc) has a delectable earthy flavour with a nice hint of spiciness form the oporto sauce.

Cod Fish Bechamel filled in Piquillo Pepper 4.5/5

The Cod Fish Bechamel filled in Piquillo Pepper ($12 for 2pc) with its love shaped like presentation was not only delight in sight but in taste. Meticulously prepared in grounding the cod fish into a paste and filled in Piquillo pepper, paired with a delish buttery and creamy bechamel sauce, bursting with beautiful flavour with each mouthful.

Spanish Omelette with Potato and Onion 4.2/5

Spanish Omelette with Potato and Onion 4.2/5

The ordinary looking round shape Spanish Omelette with Potato and Onion ($10) was surprisingly very delicious. The moist interior of chopped potatoes and onions is wrapped in a fragrant slightly charred omelette packed with homely goodness.

Basque Fish Soup cooked with Oven Roasted Bread 4/5

The Basque Fish Soup cooked with Oven Roasted Bread ($16) took me a while to get used to the acquire taste of burnt bread. As I got used to the taste, I could appreciate the different medleys of flavours hitting the palate with a aromatic smokiness in it. A very comfort and hearty bowl of fish soup.

Basque Tuna Stew with Potato and Pepper 4.2/5

While the Basque Fish Soup has a very robust and complex flavour, the Basque Tuna Stew with Potato and Pepper ($28) will come across as a cleaner version with delectable potatoes and pinkish tuna in cube shape. Given a choice, I would prefer this over the basque fish soup.

Squid with Tartar Sauce 4.5/5

Unlike Singaporean which likes the batter of our calamari to be crispy, the Spanish prefers it to be thin so that it can enjoy the freshness and juiciness of the squid. Squeezing a little zest from the lemon, the Squid with Tartar Sauce ($18) was both springy and crunchy allowing one to enjoy the freshness of the squid to the fullest.

Traditional Roast Suckling Pig 4.5/5

To adapt to the local palate, Chef Mikel has made a number of fine tuning such as making the skin more crispy. I really enjoyed the crackling paper thin skin and the extremely tender meat of the Traditional Roast Suckling Pig ($88 for 3 pax). Paired with the "Amara" sauce which went very well with the roast suckling pig.

A trio of dessert ended our night on a sweet note with the Cheese Cake ($9), Honey Jelly Yoghurt with Walnut Cream ($9) and Cold Strawberry Soup with Fruit Brochette ($9). The Honey Jelly Yoghurt with Walnut Cream is an interesting introduction to Singaporean as a dessert instead of breakfast. The combination of honey jelly and nutty walnut cream with yoghurt was interesting nice and great as a dessert. My favourite was the Cold Strawberry Soup with Fruit Brochette ($9). An unique and refreshing drink of infusing the savoury bruschetta with fruity strawberry.

The exciting young talent in Chef Mikel with its Basque cuisine will delight patrons with his culinary skill while the different flexible dining element allow one to eat and sit as one please. The integrated, multi-concept cuisine means that under a single roof one can dine from the international buffet, Spanish a la carte, Spanish set, Spanish pintxos, signature appertiser from Thanying, Silkroad Cafe Oriental (three other restaurants within Amara Hotel).


Element and Element on Tras Street
Amara Hotel
165 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088539
Tel: +65 68792555, +65 68792607
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amarasingaporehotel/
Website: http://singapore.amarahotels.com/dining/element/
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Breakfast (Daily): 6am - 1030am
Lunch (Mon-Fri, except PH): 12pm - 230pm
Brunch (Sat-Sun, PH): 1130am - 330pm
Dinner (Daily): 630pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Gopeng Street and turn into Tras Street. Walk to Amara Hotel. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Catalunya @ Collyer Quay (Fullerton Pavilion)

Known to many as the top Spanish Restaurant in Singapore, Catalunya which is helmed by Executive Chef Alain and Restaurant Manager Pol Perello who both have worked at the elBulli for more than a decade. Located at the new Fullerton Pavilion, Catalunya's unique glass-encased dome architecture floats atop the water of marina bay giving it a 360 degree panoramic view of the city and Marina Bay Sands.

Catalunya Tartar 4/5

"This tartar has a trick up its sleeve, give it a taste and guess what is in it"? When seeing this description on the mention, it just aroused our interests to order it and gave it a try. The Calalunya Tartar ($20) has a sweet finishing that is very pleasant to the palate. It is actually tomatoes. It did have an element of surprise as it gave me a new association to how we can use tomatoes as a tartar dish and elevate the taste of such simple ingredient.

Avocado Roll 4.2/5

The Avocado Roll ($22) was filled with lobster meat with thin slices of avocado wrapping it into a roll. I was expecting the flavour to be more mild and refine but instead it was very robust and bursting with flavours with little popping exciting of the fish roes.

Octopus A Feira 3.5/5

Octopus A Feira ($24) is a smooth and spicy Galician tapa finished with an extra touch of pork dewlap. The octopus was nicely cooked to a nice crunchy bite. The pork dewlap was kind of interesting which resembled our Asian roast pork.

Bikini 4/5

What a catchy name for a dish. The Bikini ($20) is basically truffle sandwich with ham and cheese in between. Simply but surprisingly packed with lots of lovely robust flavours.

Traditional Suckling Pig Segovian Style 4/5

One of the signature dish at Catalunya is their Traditional Suckling Pig Segovian Style ($135) which serves about 2 to 3 people. There were 4 of us and we could not finish it. I think Asian has a small stomach so I think this is good to go with 5-6 people. The whole roasted suckling pig is served to the table side and the waiter will portion it using a small plate. It showed how tender the suckling pig was, which was effortless portioned into several pieces. After that it is usually a Spanish tradition to smash the cutting plate symbolizing throwing away the bad luck.

Lobster Rice 4.2/5

The Lobster Rice ($80) was amazing flavoured with fresh grilled lobster. Each mouthful of the infused grains with bursting with bold and robust flavours. It is a beautiful dish but the price in my opinion was too steep.

Beside the beautiful view of the restaurant, the food at Catalunya was really good too. Flavours here are strong, robust and bold if I am to summarize my dining experience. However I felt that the pricing is a bit on the steep side. I probably will only visit the restaurant for very special occasion.


Catalunya
82 Collyer Quay
Singapore 049327
Tel: +65 65340886
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatalunyaSingapore
Website: http://www.catalunya.sg/
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Operating Hours:
Daily 12pm - 2am

Direction: 
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT. Take Exit A or B. Walk to Clifford Centre and then Change Alley. Take escalator to level 2. Cross the road using the OUE Link. Turn left towards Fullerton Bay Hotel. Walk to towards the bay and destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Si Chuan Dou Hua @ TOP of UOB Plaza

Sichuan cuisine is not just about their spicy food. There is more to their spicy and numbing flavours. (麻辣). For a limited period from now to 31 July 2013, Si Chuan Dou Hua introduces the Petites Selection to showcase the many unknown and robust flavours of Sichuan cuisine with a collection of 30 tapas sized offerings designed by Si Chuan Dou Hua's maestros Zeng Feng, Peter Tsang and Leung Wing Chung.

Spinach with Ginger Sauce

Savouring in a myriad of flavour, we get to sample an eclectic selection of the tapas sized offerings. The Spinach with Ginger Sauce is a refreshing and tangy combination of the aromatic herb ginger with vinegar and salt.

Sliced Pork in Garlic and Chilli Sauce

The Sliced Pork in Garlic and Chilli Sauce makes up of a blend of ground garlic, chilli oil, soya sauce and sugar that has a medley of spicy garlic and chilli flavour.

Chilled Sliced Radish Wrapped with Sliced Carrot

The exquisite labour intensive Chilled Sliced Radish Wrapped with Sliced Carrot has a subtle sweet and sour flavour.

Chilled Sliced Duck Wrapped with Egg Yolk

One of my favourite of the Petites Selections is the Chilled Sliced Duck Wrapped with Egg Yolk. The salty flavour is made up of salt, huatiao wine and other condiments is one of the predominant flavours in Sichuan cuisine.

Prawn in Spicy Ma La Sauce

Ma La flavour is one of the most significant, popular and recognisable flavours of Sichuan cusine made up of a piquant mix of peppercorn, chilli powder and salt. This is showcased in the Prawn in Spicy Ma La Sauce.

To enjoy the myriad of flavour, Si Chuan Dou Hua offers two options friendly on both the wallet and palate for the enjoyment of Sichuan cuisine with The Petites Selection in Wine Pairing and Tea Pairing with the Imperial High Tea.

Wine Pairing
A great option for pre-lunch or pre-dinner nibbles, enjoy your choice of 5 Petites dishes and 2 glasses of wine at only $55. UOB cardmembers exclusive: $48 for the above promotion; or enjoy a complimentary bottle of wines with every order of 10 Petites dishes, priced from $8.80 each.

Tea Pairing with the Imperial High Tea
Relish a leisurely afternoon savouring handcrafted dim sum, premium Chinese tea and your choice of 5 Petites dishes at only $30++ per person. UOB cardmembers exclusive: Start off your high tea with a complimentary glass of wine per person.


Si Chuan Dou Hua
TOP of UOB Plaza
UOB Plaza 1
80 Raffles Place
#60-01
Singapore 048624
Tel: +65 65356006
Website: http://www.sichuandouhua.com
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 6pm, 630pm - 1030pm The Petites Selection is available from now to 31 July 2013 for lunch, dinner and high tea from 1130am to 230pm, 630pm to 1030pm and 230pm to 6pm respectively.

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes.