Gary’s Restaurant @ Rochester Park - Contemporary Italian Restaurant Set In A Heritage Bungalow

Gary's Restaurant, helmed by Taiwan-born Singaporean Chef Gary Wu, is located in a heritage bungalow surrounded by greenery. It's tucked in the quaint Rochester Park and offers both indoor and alfresco dining, as well as private dining spaces that are fit for various occasions.

Homemade Focaccia with Kombu Butter

We were served complimentary Homemade Focaccia with Kombu Butter before the start of the meal. I would highly recommend enjoying them immediately upon serving while they are still warm. The focaccia slices were lightly toasty yet fluffy, pairing perfectly with the homemade kombu butter.

Red Prawn Tartare 4.5/5

Appetiser was a flavourful start with the Red Prawn Tartare ($26), made with a combination of Botan Ebi and Gambero Rossi prawns. The drizzle of citrusy dressing and crunchy watercress bits complemented the intense sweetness and freshness of the prawn base, elevated with caviar and creamy uni.

Iconic Gary’s Garden Salad 4/5

The Iconic Gary's Garden Salad ($26) is a creation inspired by one of Singapore's iconic city skylines - Marina Bay Sands. It is assembled with mashed potato, charcoal powder and breadcrumbs as the 'soil' base, alongside seasonal greens such as heirloom carrots, US asparagus, mushrooms and more. It's then topped with truffle snow, pops of olive oil caviar and seasonal truffle shavings. It is a lighter starter than the Red Prawn Tartare, focusing on the freshness of the seasonal vegetables.

Signature Seafood Pasta 4.2/5

The Signature Seafood Pasta ($28) features homemade tagliolini in a seafood-rich stock made from slow-cooked lobsters and prawns. All the seafood in this pasta - clams, mussels, lobster and baby cuttlefish, were flambéed with brandy to bring out their flavours further. I appreciated how there wasn't too much of other additional seasoning added in, which allowed emphasis on the natural seafood sweetness.

Scottish Bamboo Clam 4.5/5

The dish that won unanimous praise from our table is the Scottish Bamboo Clam ($36). It is flambéed in white wine, and the crunchy slices of clams are then dressed in a light lemon dressing to pair with Italian squid-ink pasta in a garlicky base. The addition of bottarga powder elevated the overall seafood flavour with its light fishy notes.

Iberico Pork Jowl 3.5/5

The Iberico Pork Jowl ($38) features pork marinated with a blend of herbs and spices for 24 hours, accompanied by carrot purée and crushed pistachio. While the flavour was decent, it was a pity that the pork slices were too chewy for our liking.

Grass-fed Tenderloin

My dining companions enjoyed the Grass-fed Tenderloin ($42). The 150-day grass-fed Australian tenderloin is chargrilled and served with sides of potato cake, endives, roasted mushrooms, Dijon mustard and veal juice reduced with red wine.

Dessert Platter

If you're here for a celebration, the Dessert Platter is something you can look out for. End your meal with a fun sparkler candle that comes with a minimum order of 2 desserts. We got to try a trio for our platter here.

Gary’s Chocolate Lava Cake 3.5/5

Though the exterior of Gary’s Chocolate Lava Cake ($16) leaned more eggy tasting, it had an oozy dark chocolate centre which we enjoyed. We had ours with a scoop of nutty and sweet pistachio ice cream.

Gary’s Apple Tart 3/5

I prefer apple tarts with more tartness, while Gary's Apple Tart ($16) leans more bitter-sweet with the caramel sauce. Unfortunately, we found this a little too dry as a whole.

Tiramisu 3.8/5

Last but not least, the Tiramisu ($16). The highlight was its smooth and light mascarpone pairing with Kahlua coffee liqueur.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Gary's Restaurant
41 Rochester Drive
Singapore 138582
Tel: 65 89200200
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Nearest MRT: Buona Vista (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Buona Vista MRT station. Take Exit C. Take the sheltered walkway and walk towards Star Vista. Turn left onto Rochester Drive. Walk down Rochester Drive towards Rochester Mall. Take the staircase at the back of Rochester Mall. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Boyutei @ Ann Siang - All-day Dining Japanese High Tea Set

Boyutei, located on Ann Siang Road, is a contemporary French-Japanese cafe concept by Whitegrass and Hvala. It recently launched its first high tea comprising sweet and savoury Otsumami, conceived by Head Chef Takuya Yamashita of one Michelin-starred Whitegrass. Ranging from sweet to savoury, the dainty otsumami are served in the classic Japanese jubako (tiered boxes), reminiscent of Japanese Osechi Ryori (new year) festivities as an ode to tradition.

Somen with Sakura Ebi

Unagi Toast

I appreciate that the savoury range is not overloaded with carbs but a very well-considered serving of small bites. You may first wish to tuck into a small but hearty bowl of Somen with Sakura Ebi, followed by the mouth-filling Unagi Toast, layered with shredded egg omelette.

Ebi Katsu, Narazuke Cream Cheese in Monaka, Olive Financier

The 2nd tier of savoury items is filled with little surprises. In particular, Narazuke Cream Cheese in Monaka features a delicious sweet-meets-saltish combination of whipped cream cheese and crunchy narazuke, and the Olive Financier proves to be even more addictive than its original sweet counterpart.

Bocconcini with Moromi Miso

I enjoyed the Bocconcini with Moromi Miso a lot too. The intense miso flavour teases out the subtle milky flavour of the cheese, but more miso is definitely needed.

Goma Nama Chocolate, Matcha Warabi Mochi, Hojicha Financier, Sticky dates

Tiramisu

For the sweets, the Goma Nama Chocolate is much raved about for its aromatic black sesame exterior and its rich and velvety chocolate. The same goes for the chewy Matcha Warabi Mochi. My favourite is the Tiramisu. The sponge cake was adequately soaked with dark rum, and the cheese carried only a touch of sweetness. The matcha dust lent a kiss of bitterness which worked with the alcohol-soaked sponge cake. It has been a while since I last had an excellent non-traditional tiramisu!

The high tea set is priced at $69 per set for 2 persons, comes with two hot brews and is available for all-day dining.

On all weekdays of September, elevate your high tea experience a notch with free-flow natural sparkling wine from 3 – 5pm at a top-up of $30(u.p. $38) per person. Alternatively, opt for Masumi Junmai Ginjo Shiro sake at $15 (u.p. $18) per glass or $70++ (u.p. $88) per bottle.

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.


[CLOSED]
Boyutei
28 Ann Siang Road
#01-02
Singapore 069708
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Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Chinatown (DT Line, NE Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Cross Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Continue to the end of Amoy Street. Climb the stairs beside Siang Cho Keong Temple, up Ann Siang Hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 1. Walk to Erskine Road. Turn right and walk down Erskine Road. Turn left onto Ann Siang Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 4 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Pagoda Street to South Bridge Road. Cross the road and turn right. Walk down South Bridge Road. Turn left onto Ann Siang Hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

LUCE by Davide Giacomelli @ InterContinental Singapore - New Italian Restaurant Taking A Bistronomic Approach

Taking over the defunct Ash & Elm at InterContinental Singapore is LUCE by Davide Giacomelli. This new Italian restaurant embodies the marrying of gastronomic Italian dining experience with a warm and inviting bistro ambience.

Before starting our dinner, we are served complimentary bread paired with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. There is also a pot of herb with crackers placed in it.

Bruschetta 4/5

The Bruschetta ($19) here is enormous. It is not those that you can finish in one or two bites. The bread spread with grated garlic is toasted until very crispy. It is then piled with parma ham, buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomato concasse, rocket leaves and basil.

Octopus Peperonata 4.2/5

A recommended dish on the menu is the Octopus Peperonata ($36), a Sicilian-style cooked octopus pan-roasted with ratatouille of red and yellow pepper, red onions and fresh tomatoes. We enjoyed how the lovely sauce complemented the firm yet tender octopus.

Tagliatelle Coda di Manzo 4.5/5

The Tagliatelle Coda di Manzo ($36) may look plain, but each slurp contains punchy flavours from the deboned oxtail and shaved cheese. Not forgetting the fresh homemade tagliatelle pasta.

Acquerello Lobster 4.5/5

A LUCE signature must be their Acquerello Lobster ($46). Each mouthful of the carnaroli rice is cooked in lobster stock packed with robust crustacean flavours. It also comes with half de-shelled boston lobster.

Fragola 4.5/5

Luce-misu 4.5/5

For dessert, we had the Fragola ($18) and Luce-misu ($18). The Fragola is a light, sweet strawberry yoghurt mousse, yuzu chocolate cream, strawberry coulis, and dulce crumble. The Luce-misu is an upgraded version of the classic tiramisu sitting on top of a chocolate cake. It is like having two desserts in one.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


LUCE by Davide Giacomelli
InterContinental Singapore
Level 1
80 Middle Road
Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 68251008
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Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Mon-Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Hue @ Tyrwhitt Road - Innovative Interpretation of Royal Thai Cuisine with Contemporary Cooking Styles

Hue is a new Thai restaurant located in the Lavender area serving modern Thai dining experience from the royal Thai recipe book and modernised with contemporary cooking styles. The dishes here are innovative and refreshing interpretations of Thai cuisine while retaining the cultural roots of Thai food.

Melon First 3.5/5

Diners at Hue will get an amuse bouche of Melon First. The refreshing watermelon is brined with salted fish, topped with fried shallots and sprinkled with sugar. It is an unorthodox pairing which didn't quite work for me. I felt the fried shallots though fragrant, throw the freshness off.

Three Little Pigs 4.2/5

Meat lovers will relish the Three Little Pigs ($19). The oven-roasted crispy pork belly is given a quick stir fry in a green Thai sauce comprising three primary Thai herbs and spices of garlic, coriander, and white pepper, elevating the typical sio bak dish.

Garlilicious Prawn 4.5/5

There are many ways of cooking prawns, but this is the first time I have tried this style in the Garlilicious Prawn ($28). Not only are the fresh Tiger prawns grilled, they even come drenched in a special fragrant truffle sauce tossed with chopped garlic for a veil of earthiness.

Wrap It Up 4/5

The Wrap It Up ($19) is a fun rendition of the popular Thai Street Food - Kway Teow Lui Suan. A type of Thai fresh spring roll with herbs. To enjoy the dish, mix the kway teow with the sauteed minced pork, coriander, roasted peanuts and chopped chilli, then have it with the butterhead lettuce like a wrap.

Not a Tom Yum 3/5

This is probably the only Thai restaurant that does not serve tom yum soup on the menu. Instead, it offers Not a Tom Yum ($19), a hot and spicy soup served with charred seafood fried egg omelette. It tasted like a thick prawn noodle soup with a medley of Thai herbs. I find it too rich to have as a soup.

Paper Fish (180g) 4.5/5

A dish that I adore at any Thai restaurant is the Thai steamed fish with lime and garlic. Over at Hue, the dish is given a makeover in the Paper Fish ($23 for 180g / $45 for 360g). A whole fillet of Barramundi oven-baked in parchment paper, retaining and locking up Thai herbs and spices aromas.

Moocano 4.5/5

The Moocano ($23) is a fresh take on the street snack Moo Ping, a Thai-style grilled pork collar skewer. At Hue, the chargrilled pork is glazed with an in-house golden brown lava sauce and served on top of sticky glutinous rice. This is so good. I can have it as a meal on its own.

Tea-ramisu 4.2/5

Instead of coffee, the Tea-ramisu ($14) recreates the classic tiramisu with Thai milk tea, lady finger biscuits, mascarpone and rich ganache. It is a delicious creation that is as satisfying as the traditional Italian dessert.

Sohm Choon 4.2/5

Perfect for wrapping up the Thai meal is the sweet and refreshing Sohm Choon ($15), a summer dessert made from sweet and sour fruits, including lychee puree, lime zest, orange wedges and ginger, piled under lychee shaved ice. It is further accentuated by crunchy peanuts, lending extra texture and fragrance.

I am impressed with what Hue is trying to bring to the table, giving Thai food a new modern interpretation with its contemporary cooking. It provides the Thai food scene in Singapore with a refreshing and exciting change to the usual traditional Thai food.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Hue
123 Tyrwhitt Road
Singapore 207549
Tel: +65 90180992
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Website
Nearest MRT: Lavender (EW Line), Bendemeer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Wed: 6pm - 10pm
Thu: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Fri-Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm
Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Horne Road. Turn left on Horne Road and walk down Horne Road. Walk to the end of Horne Road and turn left onto Tyrwhitt Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bendemeer MRT staton. Take Exit A. Walk down Kallang Bahru Road towards Lavender Street. Cross the road and turn right onto Lavender Road. Walk down Lavender Road and turn left onto Tyrwhitt Road. Walk down Tyrwhitt Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Waterfall Ristorante Italiano @ Shangri-La Singapore - New Chef De Cuisine Featuring Pugliese Classics, Signature Handmade Pasta And Pizza

Waterfall Ristorante Italiano at Shangri-La Singapore welcomes new Chef De Cuisine, Simone Loisi. Chef Simone Loisi is formerly from iO Italian Osteria, a popular Italian restaurant in HillV2. With Chef Simone Loisi at the helm, customers can look forward to a new and refreshed menu.

Caprese Di Mare 4/5

We started our dinner with the Caprese Di Mare. What you get is a beautiful plate of marinated salmon and buffalo cheese atop a bed of fennel salad. It is a light yet appetising starter to kickstart the meal.

Porchetta Alla Birra 4.2/5

A worthy dish to order is the Porchetta Alla Birra. It is Chef Simone's rendition of the sumptuous beer-marinated pork belly that is both crispy and juicy. It is best to enjoy with the honey mustard adding a touch of tangy sweetness, while the tangy homemade sauerkraut helps to temper the meat's richness.

Pizza Mortadella Stracciatella 4/5

Italian cuisine is known for its pizza and pasta; hence, we need to try them. From the pizza selections, we had the Pizza Mortadella Stracciatella. The thin crust pizza comes with delightful toppings of stracciatella cheese, mortadella, grounded pistachio and sundried tomato.

Gnocchi Mare E Monti 4.2/5

We tried a couple of pasta dishes from the menu, starting with the Gnocchi Mare E Monti. The soft and fluffy handmade potato gnocchi is tossed in an umami prawn bisque sauce.

Orecchiette Broccoli E Salsiccia 4.2/5

The Orecchiette Broccoli E Salsicca is a pasta dish from Chef Simone's hometown of Puglia. The comforting pasta features a trinity of broccoli, Italian pork sausage meat and handmade Orecchiette pasta. The ear-shaped pasta is ideal for holding the creamy sauce, accentuated by shaved Pecorino, chilli, toasted fennel seed and breadcrumbs.

Linguine Al Crostacei in Crostia Di Pane 4.5/5

My favourite pasta dish is the Linguine Al Crostacei in Crostia Di Pane. It arrived covered in a thin layer of bread dough. Cutting open the bread dough reveals a hearty pot of luscious linguine brimming with a medley of crustaceans. The highlight is the delicious housemade tomato sauce. I recommend wiping up the leftover pasta sauce with the bread dough from the plate.

Polpo Alla Plancia 4/5

It is not just about pizza and pasta at Waterfall Ristorante Italiano. There is a selection of mains too. One of them is Polpo Alla Plancia, Mediterranean octopus leg with potato cream and mixed salad. The octopus leg was huge. The kitchen got the cooking spot on for a delightful, firm and bouncy texture.

Tiramisu Classico 4.2/5

The Tiramisu Classico is a light and sweet ending to a beautiful meal at Waterfall.

Cannolo Siciliano Fatto in Casa 4.2/5

If you still have space, I recommend going for the Cannolo Siciliano Fatto in Casa. The homemade cannoli stuffed with sweetened ricotta cheese with a hint of orange zest come with bitter chocolate chips and nutty pistachio on each side. It is one dessert, two ways of enjoyment.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Waterfall Ristorante Italiano
Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
22 Orange Grove Road
Level One, Garden Wing
Singapore 258350
Tel: +65 62134398
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Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk towards Wheellock Place via ION. Exit Wheellock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Cross the road at the traffic light junction and turn left towards Royal Thai Embassy. Walk down to the end of Orchard Road. Turn right onto Orange Grove Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 23 minutes. [Map]