Showing posts with label Vegetarian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vegetarian. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Joie @ Orchard Central - Restaurant with Modern Meatless Cuisine in Orchard Central’s Rooftop Garden

IMG_3876

Tucked on the 12th floor of Orchard Central is Joie, a restaurant that prides itself on bringing diners a modern meatless menu with Japanese-European elements. It shares the top floor with one other restaurant and the mall's rooftop garden, with views overlooking the bustling Orchard Road.

IMG_3594

Joie offers a 4 or 5-Course set for lunch and a 6-Course for dinner. The prices are as follows:

4-Course Lunch
$38++ on Mondays to Fridays, except Eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays

5 Course Lunch
$50++ Daily

6-Course Dinner
$78++ on Mondays to Thursdays
$88++ on Friday to Sunday, Eve of Public Holidays and Public Holidays

IMG_3604

For this visit, we had two sets of the 6-Course Dinner and hence could sample more dishes as indicated individually below. Beverages are not included, but Joie offers quite a comprehensive list of alcoholic drinks and a more straightforward non-alcoholic list containing mocktails, coffee, tea and soft drinks.

IMG_3869
Complimentary Snack - Spaghetti Sticks

We were first served with a complimentary crunchy snack of Spaghetti Sticks in two flavours, spiced and non-spiced.

IMG_3870
Palate Cleanser - Passionfruit Sorbet

After that, we were treated to Passionfruit Sorbet, which was intended to cleanse our palates before beginning the course properly. However, it could have been less icy and a lot less sweet to provide a lighter and more refreshing start.

IMG_3871
Starter - Chef’s Selection of Assorted Platter 3/5

However, we were uncertain if it was intentional, but the capsicum kebab was made with a mix of vegetables in their raw form, and the raspberry sphere was overly sweet with a flat burst of flavour.

However, we were uncertain if it was intentional, but the capsicum kebab seemed to be just made with a mix of vegetables in their raw form, and the raspberry sphere was overly sweet with a flat burst of flavour.

IMG_3872
Side Dish - Bailing Mushroom on Paper Hot Pot 2.8/5

Our first side dish was the Bailing Mushroom on Paper Hot Pot. We appreciated the chunky yet soft-texted mushrooms here, but the accompanying soup was overly sweet, making it challenging to savour fully. A more balanced base would have enhanced the overall enjoyment.

IMG_3874
Side Dish - Gratinated Champignon with Mozzarella 2.8/5

For our second side dish, we had the Gratinated Champignon with Mozzarella. I looked forward to it when I saw the copious amount of cheese and golden-brown crust, but I was disappointed with the meagre portion of button mushrooms. The bread meant to pair with the Belgian endives was, unfortunately, a bit stale.

IMG_3875
Cold Dish - Tuna Cold Steak 1/5

We ordered the Tuna Cold Steak as our first cold dish, which had marinated watermelon with dill mustard dressing and a topping of pine nuts. The texture of the 'steak' was soft, but flavour-wise, it was cloyingly sweet.

IMG_3877
Cold Dish - Vegetable Sashimi On Ice with Oyster-Leaf Shooter Glass 2/5

We've had vegetarian sashimi a couple of times before this and were excited to try Joie's carefully plated rendition - Vegetable Sashimi On Ice with Oyster-Leaf Shooter Glass.

Instead of the usual konjac for the sashimi, they've ventured to use other elements, such as coconut, huai shan and aloe vera. The platter featured 'salmon, octopus, jellyfish and abalone', arranged from left to right. It was served with soy sauce and an oyster-leaf shooter glass. Unfortunately, like the previous dishes, most of these items leaned towards the sweeter side. We would have preferred a better balance with more savoury elements.

IMG_3878
Soup - Japanese Kunbu Broth with Hand Carved Tofu 1/5

Our first choice of soup was the Japanese Kunbu Broth with Hand Carved Tofu. We understand from the menu that it was meant to be a double-boiled Japanese seaweed consomme, but what we had was regrettably bland.

IMG_3879
Soup - Infusion of Cepes & Truffle 3/5

The Infusion of Cepes & Truffle was a better bowl. The mushroom soup here had delightful bits of mushroom and carried a mild truffle fragrance.

IMG_3880
Main - Truffle Risotto 2.8/5

There are 5 mains to choose from for the dinner course. The Truffle Risotto with a croquette on top, mascarpone cream, greens, and black truffle didn't quite meet our expectations. The risotto had a thick porridge-like texture, lacking the desirable al dente bite. Additionally, we would have appreciated the croquette more if it had been served hotter and crunchier to provide better textural contrast.

IMG_3881
Main - Grilled Summer Mushroom Steak on "Pu Ye" Hot Stone 3/5

Our second main, the Grilled Summer Mushroom Steak on "Pu Ye" Hot Stone, fared better. Beyond the visual presentation, the "Pu Ye" hot stone was intended to keep the dish hot. The mushroom steak here highlights a well-grilled monkey head mushroom with a mild smokiness. While the deep-fried spaghetti was too oily, I would have liked more of the truffle mashed potato as it was smooth and carried a good amount of flavour.

IMG_3882
Dessert - Yoghurt Pudding 2.5/5

The Yogurt Pudding dessert had a watery texture, lacked the expected tangy yoghurt notes and leaned towards the sweeter side.

IMG_3883
Dessert - Homemade Cheesecake with Oreo 2.8/5

Our last dessert was their Homemade Cheesecake with Oreo. It was average, with a decent amount of cheese flavour.

Unfortunately, our visit to Joie fell short of expectations. While we valued the warm service, the food quality needed to align with what we anticipated from a casual fine dining establishment. Many dishes lacked flavour or erred on the side of excessive sweetness. We hope this was an isolated occurrence and hope to experience better in the future.

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.


Joie
Orchard Central
#12-01
181 Orchard Road
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 9663 0901
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit C or D. Walk to Orchard Central. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Teng Bespoke @ Sunshine Plaza - A Gem For Vegetarian Japanese Food

TB1

Vegetarian and Japanese are not words you'll too often see together, but Teng Bespoke is one of the few restaurants aiming to offer something different. With a refreshed menu launched earlier this year, you will see an eclectic range of dishes from sushi, and tempura, to bento sets and desserts. The majority of the dishes here come in big portions. Hence it's a suitable spot for family meals and big group gatherings.

TB2
White Radish 4/5

We started with the hearty White Radish ($16). It was generously portioned and came with lots of different ingredients - shredded radish, baby tomatoes, lettuce, cashew, etc. and topped with vegetarian floss and seaweed. We expected the typical sesame sauce as a dressing but were pleasantly surprised by a thicker, richer and nuttier tasting one. It was a dish that we kept reaching out for throughout the meal.

TB3
Sashimi 3 Kind 3/5

The Sashimi 3 Kind ($19) comes with a selection of salmon, tuna and squid. There's not much difference in flavour across the three, but each has slight variations in its firmness. These mock sashimi are made of konjac jelly and have a slightly spongy bite. It's an interesting try, but I'd suggest going for their sushi options as it has more textures and different components.

TB4
Unagi Roll 3.8/5

A pity that the sushi rice was a bit mushy and sticky for both rolls we tried, but flavour-wise, we were pretty impressed, especially for the Unagi Roll ($16). It has an avocado and cucumber centre, topped with slices of unagi and a sweet glaze. We liked how there was quite a bit of smoky char that came with the unagi, which helped to tie it all together.

TB5
Mozzarella Roll 3.5/5

The second roll we tried was the Mozzarella Roll ($15). It has a fried centre with cucumber, topped with cheese and a mayo chilli sauce that reminds us of sriracha. We preferred the fried centre here to the one in the unagi roll for texture, but overall, we thought it could be less sweet.

TB6
BBQ Bacon w/ Enoki Mushroom 4/5

Apart from sushi rolls and sashimi, there's also a section of grilled items on the menu. This BBQ Bacon w/ Enoki Mushroom ($12) is one of them. It had enoki mushrooms wrapped with thinly sliced mock bacon, grilled in a sweet glaze. We enjoyed the light smokiness and the charred parts on the mock bacon. Other than enoki mushrooms, there's also the option for asparagus in replacement.

TB8
Spicy Ramen 3.8/5

The Spicy Ramen ($13) tasted like a cross between tom yum and assam that's not as rich and heavy in flavour and consistency. Nevertheless, we appreciated the cleaner broth, which came default in medium spice, with a considerable portion of noodles, topped with seaweed, vegetables, mock prawns, Japanese fish cake and corn. I would have liked a springier bite in the noodles, but otherwise, it was quite a comforting bowl.

TB7
Shiitake Mushroom with Cream 3.5/5

I heard from the staff that the Shiitake Mushroom with Cream ($17) is one of their must orders! The shiitake mushrooms are tempura fried and paired with lots of mayo and cream, with a lightly torched layer of cheese, sweet glaze and a Thai-like sweet chilli sauce. Some might find this a little watery with the generous amount of sauce, but we can also see why it's a popular dish with its family-friendly flavours. I would recommend ordering this in a bigger group to share.

TB9
Tempura 7 Kind 3.8/5

The Tempura 7 Kind ($16) came with mock prawns, sweet potato, ladyfinger, pumpkin, enoki mushroom, baby corn and lotus root. These could be a bit more seasoned, but they were lightly battered and fried to a good crisp.

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.


Teng Bespoke
Sunshine Plaza
91 Bencoolen Street
#01-50
Singapore 189652
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bencoolen (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11.30am - 3pm, 5pm - 9.30pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bencoolen MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Turn right to Prinsep Link. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Saturday, March 6, 2021

CARNE @ Amoy Street - Burger Joint By Three Michelin Star Chef Mauro Colagreco

Carne23

CARNE, making its first international debut in Singapore, is brought to you by Argentinian chef Mauro Colagreco whose restaurant Mirazur in France has a three Michelin star and is the number one restaurant on World's 50 Best Restaurants. With five stores in Argentina, the burger chain's concept believes in sustainable gastronomy, ensuring quality and sustainable production in every ingredient for the burgers. Carne is also the first burger chain to become a Certified B Corporation, a triple impact certification (social, environmental and economic) for business committed to doing better for the world.

Carne15
Classic Burger 3.5/5

We started with the Classic Burger ($19.50) in a buttery bun, sandwiched with a tightly compact natural grass-fed beef patty, local oak lettuce, organic tomato and organic red onion. Diners can choose to complete their meal with fries and mineral water or soft drink for an additional $10 to make it a combo meal.

Carne12
Beef and Chimichurri Burger 3.5/5

Carne debuts the Beef and Chimichurri Burger ($24) and Crispy Chicken Burger ($18) specially created for Singapore for its new opening. The Beef and Chimichurri Burger comes with their signature natural grass-fed beef patty and butter bun. It is paired with murcian cheese, jalapeno, organic red onion and local arugula dressed in chimichurri sauce for the taste of Argentinian roots.

Carne25
Crispy Chicken Burger

The Crispy Chicken Burger uses locally-sourced, GMO-free poussin chicken thigh with fresh green cabbage, chilli pickled organic cucumber, and organic greek yogurt dressing.

Carne19
Triple Cooked Agria Fries 4.5/5

One of the crowd's favourite is the Triple Cooked Agria Fries ($8.90). Thickly cut into the size of wedges; it is crispy on the outside and fluffy inside.

Carne5
Veggie Burger 4/5

Surprisingly, of the four burgers I tried, my favourite is the Veggie Burger ($16). Unlike the other burger's bun, it is flavoured with turmeric hence the yellow colour. There are grilled portobello, local oak lettuce, tomato tapenade, and charred halloumi cheese between the buns.

Carne4

Having tried the burgers, I am not sure whether the burger joint will win over the Singaporean's tummy. The burgers are pretty pricey, and I am not sure whether the locals will enjoy the beef patty style. I prefer those that are more loose, minced and airy.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


[CLOSED]
CARNE
88 Amoy Street
Singapore 069907
Tel: +65 88684388
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 11pm

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]

Friday, October 16, 2020

Peace Japanese Cuisine @ OUE owntown Gallery - It Even Have A 8-Course Vegetarian Omakase

Peace12

With its humble beginnings in 2017 in an industrial estate in Bukit Batok Crescent, Peace Japanese Cuisine had once shifted and settled at Beauty World Centre for 2 years before landing itself at the current space at Downtown Gallery. Its membership has grown over the years, with regulars often returning for their favourite dishes.

Peace3
Kani Hiyashi Pitan Tofu 4.2/5

Such as its Kani Hiyashi Pitan Tofu ($6.80). The homemade steamed cold egg tofu was soft and custardy, with a layer of crabstick meat underneath for a boost of textural bite. The blanket of century egg subtly flavoured the tofu, and I learn it is also one of the reasons why even non-century egg diners fall for this dish as well.

Peace23
Tori Karaage 4.5/5

One of the most crowd-pleasing items is its Tori Karaage ($8.80). For less than 10 bucks, you get a serving of 8 extremely juicy and succulent pieces of chicken meat. The mouthwatering part was when I peeled off the thin crispy layer of chicken skin, some of the juice and fats that were stuck underneath started to drip onto my plate.

Peace15
Kama Shioyaki 4/5

Peace9
Yellow Tail Carpaccio 4.2/5

The restaurant prides itself on using fine quality ingredients. That is evident in both Yellow Tail Carpaccio ($10.80) and Kama Shioyaki ( price by weight). The cold dish features slices of yellowtail topped with flying fish roe and dressed with a special truffles oil mix in Japanese shoyu. I love the meaty texture of the fish, which was beefed up further by the oil mix. But the flavour of the truffle had overpowered the fish slightly. As for the grilled Japanese Fish Collar, its supple and tender meat was pure joy.

Peace6
Aburi Unagi Salmon 3/5

Aburi Unagi Salmon ($19.80) is popular among the regulars too. The combination of mentai seared salmon on a Japanese eel roll tends to give that melt-in-your-mouth texture, one of the key reasons why such maki is always a popular item on the menu. The version here was good, but I feel the rice ratio was on the high side.

Peace13
Wagyu Teppanyaki 4.5/5

A must-try item I feel is the Wagyu Teppanyaki (200gm/$27.80). It is a pan-fried A3 Wagyu Sirloin Steak served with jus cooked with its own fats and a dollop of homemade garlic sauce. Mine was pan-fried to an ideal state where a good amount of fats had been rendered off just enough to release its flavours. And the well-seasoned jus had the effect of elevating its flavours as well.

Peace18
Steamed Eggplant 4.5/5

Peace Japanese Cuisine is known for its omakase too, even for vegetarian omakase. Not known to many, unless you are its regulars. Upon request, an 8 Course Vegetarian Omakase ($138 per pax) can be arranged with at least 2 days in advance notice for them to prepare the special ingredients. A glimpse of how creative the dishes can be, we were served a steamed Japanese eggplant with vegetarian dashi. And the best part is that the eggplant was not in any way soft and mushy, but the chef managed to retain its structure like pan-fried potatoes. The chef explained that as the steam evaporates, leaving the eggplant in the pan gives the eggplant a nice sear on the side, resulting in the delicious charred sides.

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. 


Peace Japanese Cuisine
OUE Downtown Gallery
6A Shenton Way
#03-20
Singapore 068815
Tel: +65 66940828
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 3 pm, 530pm - 9 pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to the traffic light junction. Cross the traffic light to Maxwell Road. Turn right and walk towards Shenton Way. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

麺 House Yamamoto @ Raffles City - Exclusive Chicken Soup Ramen

HouseYamamoto21

Chef Yamamoto, the man behind the 4-time Tokyo Michelin Bib Gourmand listed Konjiki Hototogisu Ramen, has recently opened a new concept - 麺 (Men) House Yamamoto, at Raffles City. Like all his 5 outlets in Singapore, House Yamamoto has a menu exclusive to this shop, and that is Chef Yamamoto's first chicken soup ramen in Singapore. On top of the exclusive ramen, the menu also has a few vegetarian-friendly dishes.

HouseYamamoto16
Truffle Shio Ramen 3/5

There are steps to appreciate Chef Yamamoto's ramen. Take the Truffle Shio Ramen ($14.80), you should start off by taking a spoonful of the original soup, followed by the portion with truffle oil. Then move on to the part with oyster paste, before mixing everything together into one. I find the taste of this Truffle Shio Ramen somewhat similar to Shio Hamaguri Ramen offered at Chijmes but lacks the harmony of flavours of the latter. The white truffle oil was a tad overwhelming, but if you like truffles, that won't bother you at all.

HouseYamamoto7
Porcini Shoyu Ramen 4/5

The use of lemon in ramen left a deep impression when I tried Chef Yamamoto's creation at Great World City. Porcini Shoyu Ramen ($14.80) uses lemon slices as well, which brightens the broth with a soft citrusy note. The broth smells comforting and uplifting at the same time. Mushrooms are not a common ingredient in ramen, but these stir-fried porcini and button mushrooms go well with the lemony chicken soup.

HouseYamamoto28
Salmon Snow 3.8/5

Other than the 2 signatures, there are 3 options dedicated to salmon. This combination of chicken broth and salmon has 3 variants to it, and my choice was Salmon Snow ($14.80). Other than the slice of slow-cooked char siew, it comes with salmon flakes, arugula, lemon and sour cream. The smell of the lemon and sour cream reminded me of a sweet pastry, which was somewhat appetising. Lemon, sour cream, arugula, salmon, a classic combination of a sandwich filling being incorporated into ramen! The presence of salmon can definitely be a lot more in the ramen, and a sweeter broth may be more suitable for the flavours to stand out as well.

HouseYamamoto5
Porcini Gyoza 3.5/5

A vegetarian-friendly side is this Porcini Gyoza. The filling is a mixture of diced Porcini mushrooms and leeks. The gyoza skin was really good, with a perfectly seared bottom and they were not at all greasy. As for the filling, I would prefer higher mushrooms to leeks ratio for a better texture and taste. I find the leek was a bit heavy on the seasoning.

HouseYamamoto18
Cold Tofu 4.2/5

The Cold Tofu here is made inhouse. A straightforward dish but just by looking at the 3 different toppings on each tofu cube, you can feel the efforts and thoughts behind it.

HouseYamamoto14
Wings Gyoza 4/5

A crowd-pleaser is the Wings Gyoza. Connected by a crisp skirt, each gyoza was plump and juicy with a right portion of filling within each pocket. This is probably one of the better ones I have tried in a ramen house.

HouseYamamoto1

Chef Yamamoto's creations always depart from your regular tonkatsu ramen. A great example is the newly launched vegetarian Avocado Ramen, which I didn't get to try. On the menu, it looks really delicious with buttered corn and avocado, definitely not your usual cabbages and beansprouts kind of ramen. It will be available as of this Thursday 10 Oct 2019 onwards, so be sure to give it a try.

Written and photography 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.


麺 (Men) House Yamamoto
Raffles City
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-44C
Singapore 179103
Facebook
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

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

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Elemen (元素) Classic @ Great World City - Celebration Of All The Brand's Most Beloved Dishes, As Well As New Creations

Elemem1

Elemen restaurants known for serving modern interpretations of meatless dishes, using natural and wholesome ingredients have opened a brand-new dining concept at Great World City, aptly named  Elemen Classic. Different from the other concepts, the menu curates all the popular and beloved dishes of Elemen, as well as newly created ones that are exclusively available at this outlet.

Elemem2
Classic Appetiser 3/5

Our dinner began with a trio of the Classic Appetiser ($4.80). I feel that it is like an amuse bouche that gives us a glimpse of the different cuisines on the menu. From Chinese cuisine, we have the konnyaku jelly, peach gum and goji berries marriage in sesame dressing. The Japanese cuisine is a simple crunchy Japanese cucumber with sweet plum sauce. Wrapping up the trio is the cherry tomato with sour plum sauce that demonstrates Western cuisine.

Elemem3
Truffle Breadsticks with Blueberry Yoghurt Sauce 4.2/5

The Truffle Breadsticks with Blueberry Yoghurt Sauce ($3.80) may look like an unassuming dish, but this is surprisingly one of our favourites. We even asked for second serving. The breadstick has a mochi-like texture made with truffle butter, complemented by the homemade yoghurt sauce with a sweet-sour tinge.

Elemem9
Double-boiled Cordyceps Flower with Peach Gum in Superior Soup 4.5/5

Nourishing and rich in collagen is the Double-boiled Cordyceps Flower with Peach Gum in Superior Soup ($10.80). It is double-boiled for a good 4 hours to extract the robust flavours from the cordyceps and pech gum.

Elemem8
Stir-fried Brown Rice with Preserved Bean Curd 3/5

For something for substantial, there is the Stir-fried Brown Rice with Preserved Bean Curd ($16.80). It features fluffy brown rice tossed with savoury fermented bean curd. Besides the fluffy rice, there are king oyster mushroom and edamame for the extra textural enjoyment.

Elemem15
Kale Tofu with Wild Rice 4/5

Another rice dish on the menu is the Kale Tofu with Wild Rice ($15.80). The wild rice has been soaked with miso sauce, cooked in bamboo stem for the additional aroma. This is accompanied by blocks of silky homemade tofu.

Elemem11
Laksa Fettuccine 3.5/5

For noodle items, there is the Laksa Fettucine topped with arugula and mushroom. It may look rather plain, but the laksa sauce is legit. It complemented the al dente fettuccine excellently. It is ok there is no tau pok, cockles, fish cake, and/or prawn.

Elemem12
Truffle Broth Ramen 4/5

An all-time favourite at Elemen is the Truffle Broth Ramen ($14.80). I am surprised that the restaurant manages to achieve the creamy consistency reminiscent of tonkotsu. It is done by boiling a medley of ingredients such as arrowroot, turnip, mountain yam, tangerine peel for 3 hours. It also comes with handmade dumplings filled with shiitake mushroom, tofu and chestnut.

Elemem4

If you find yourself spoilt of choice, you can go for the six-course ($28.80), or eight-course ($32.80) set menus.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Elemen Classic
Great World City
1 Kim Seng Promenade
#01-122
Singapore 237994
Tel: +65 62356613
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Great World (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Great World MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]