The Wine & Gourmet Friends @ Bukit Pasoh - The Restaurant Allows You To Bring Your Own Food On Sunday

Opened in September 2018, The Wine & Gourmet Friends is an Asian tapas wine bistro located on the ground floor of a conservation shophouse on Bukit Pasoh Road. Albeit a narrow space that sits only 56 pax, it boasts a walk-in wine cellar which holds over 300 different styles of wine from over 80 old and new world wine producers, in which eighty percent are exclusive to the bistro. As the name suggests, The Wine & Gourmet Friends is all about wine over food, or vice versa, but what really lies within its core is the celebration of friendships over good wines and heart-warming food within a casual and welcoming environment. Afterall, the bistro is brought together by a group of friends with years of F&B experience under their belts.

Wines start from $6 a glass and bottles range from $25 to over $1,888, with option to drink in or takeaway. I can't read wines with my untrained palate, so if you are like me, owner William will be more than happy to help you with your purchase. To ensure that you get the most out of your purchase, an Aerating Decanter is used to efficiently and rapidly ‘open’ a bottle’s aromas and flavours. This process of decanting comprises two-steps: pouring wine into the decanter and when the wine has had sufficient time to breath, reversing the bottle to return the contents into the original bottle. This not only saves space on your table for more food, it will also prevent the mistake of accidentally mixing wines which often happens when an unmarked decanter is passed around.

Prawn & Seafood Bite 3/5

Helming the kitchen are Chef Wilson and Chef Gus, and the menu created features dishes inspired by the many that they have grown up with. The first Asian-style bite that we tried was one that we couldn't be more familiar with - Prawn & Seafood Bite (Hei Zou) ($12). This is an elevated version of Chef Wilson’s Mum’s Hei Zou, prepared with minced pork belly (hormone and antibiotic free), diced sea prawns, turnip and cuttlefish paste for bite and as a binder. I like the crunchy bits of the turnip, and appreciate the light seasoning, unlike some that filled my mouth with pepper and salt. The accompanying sweet and sour homemade achar (Peranakan spicy pickled vegetables) was addictive! I wish I had a full bowl of it to myself.

Foie Gras Lotus Leaf Rice 3.8/5

If you like Foie Gras, do order the Foie Gras Lotus Rice ($18).  Foie Gras and rice to me is an unusual combination but the chemistry between these two ingredients was better than expected. Perhaps the idea came from replacing liver with foie gras (just guessing), the role of foie gras in the rice was like that of a stir-fried pork liver but with an additional creamy texture. It was seared to attain a slight crisp on its surface, which released a layer of sweet gaminess into the savoury rice.  Being the centerpiece of a dish usually, it did not steal any limelight from the lotus leaf rice, which was just as outstanding on its own. Fragrant with oriental seasoning and condiments, Calrose rice is used instead of glutinous rice to lighten the load from your stomach.  Glutinous rice would certainly be too soft and sweet for this dish to succeed.  I love the chopped porcini and shiitake mushrooms, and the Chinese X.O. sausage which added another dimension of flavours and texture. The fried  lotus chips were not necessary, as they turned greasy towards the end.

Roast Pork Belly 3.8/5

Roast Pork Belly ($24) was a straightforward dish but deeply satisfying. The roasted Australian Bangalow sweet pork delivered what we had imagined it to be - crisp crackling with a layer of tender pork fat with no unpleasant porky taste. Like how a good piece of beef should be treated with minimum seasoning, the roast pork belly is served with a dollop of mustard and honey balsamic reduction just to kick your taste buds a bit of a kick.

Lamb Trio 3/5

This plate of Lamb Trio ($30) consists of lamb kofta, lamb rendang and rosemary grilled lamb rack, served with chilled quinoa salad and cucumber raita. Out of these 3 variations, my favourite would be the lamb rendang.  The rendang had a sweetness that helped to sooth out the gaminess of the meat. Second to that would be the lamb rack, in which I believe many would consider the fats lining the bone a delicacy.

Black Pepper Crab Noodle 3.8/5

When I first saw Black Pepper Crab Noodle ($18) on the menu, I thought it was going to be again a rendition of a prawn pasta.  But very much adhering to the characteristic of a zichar dish, chef kept the use of noodles. Wholegrain noodle us used and because it had a firmer texture than normal yellow noodles, the black pepper sauce was able to coat them without weighing them down. The soft shell crab was quite meaty and the blue swimmer crab meat pieces tasted even sweeter against the savoury blackpepper seafood broth.

Goreng Pisang 4.5/5

The dessert that we had was excellent.  Goreng Pisang ($12) with ice cream might sound really rich against the dishes we had but this is not to be missed. Banana and chocolate is a heavenly combination but chefs took this up a notch with their own homemade dark chocolate ice cream and banana fritters, served along with a 'banana kueh' and 'banana leather'.  The batter of the fritters was airy and the banana within had soften under the heat and bursting with sweetness.  The banana kueh had a sticky and dense texture but not too sweet, which acted as a textural support for the dish. The banana leather was paper thin like chips and so moriesh.

What I find interesting here is the Sunday BYOF (Bring Your Own Food!). The kitchen will be closed on Sunday, but The Wine & Gourmet Friends stays open from noon to 9pm and you are invited to Bring Your Own Food – home-cooked or otherwise, for a day out with family and friends. All you need to do is only order a bottle of wine (minimum one bottle for every four guests) to enjoy your meal within the bistro. If you need help with your wine pairing, William and his team will be here as well.

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.


The Wine & Gourmet Friends
48 Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore 089859
Tel: +65 62241982
Facebook
Website 
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (Ew Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 11pm
Sun: 12pm - 9pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Kwee Zeen @ Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa - Launches Saturday Pink Brunch

Probably the first in Singapore, Kwee Zeen at Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa launches Saturday Pink Brunch, ideal for light-hearted gatherings, merry making and joyous dining. Besides an ambience of pink, Kwee Zeen has created a gastronomic spread of Mediterranean themed dishes to highlight the pink theme.

Domaine Ott Rose

Crowning the pink brunch is the Domaine Ott Rose wines which are produced from some of the oldest vines and most notable varietals of Provence, Southern France. The fruity and refreshing Rose wine is best enjoyed with the Mediterranean seafood spread.

Tuna Salad 4.5/5

Beetroot Salad 4/5

Starting from the Salad bar, there are many elements of pink to fit into the theme such as beetroot, cranberries, beetroot dyed quail eggs and tuna.

Cranberry Fried Rice 4.2/5

Steamed Fish with Cranberries 4.2/5

Prawn Penne with Pink Vodka Sauce 4/5

From the cooked food section, some of the pink dishes among the spread include Cranberry Fried Rice, Steamed Fish with Cranberries and Prawn Penne with Pink Vodka Sauce. These are only a few dishes among the huge selections on the buffet line.

Beet Cured Salmon with Pink Grapefruit 4.5/5

Fresh Oyster 4.5/5

Among the eclectic spread, there is an abundance of luxurious seafood such as Fresh Oyster, Sashimi, and a varieties of Shellfish to complete the whole experience.

Rounding up the Saturday Pink Brunch is a variety of specially crafted pink desserts to sweeten the whole brunch.

There is even a towering strawberry fondue to paint the restaurant in pink even more.

Cempedak and Durian Truffles 4.8/5

Not to be missed is the Cempedak and Durian Truffles. It is a rather new combination for my palate. I enjoyed how the combination work in harmony, not overpowering each other. A must try.

Kwee Zeen Saturday Pink Brunch
Time: 1230pm - 330pm
Price: $98++ adult / $49++ child with free flow of soft drinks juices.
Top up $30++ to enjoy free flow Rose wine

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Kwee Zeen
Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa
Sentosa Island
2 Bukit Manis
Singapore 099891
Tel; +65 67088366
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Harbour Front (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 630am - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at HarbourFront MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to pick up point at Exit D. Wait for the complimentary shuttle bus service. The shuttle service is available every 30 minutes of the hour. Journey time about 30 minutes. [Map]

Tiffin Room @ Raffles Hotel Singapore

Christmas is coming, and each hotelier has its own way of celebrating this joyous occasion with its guests. If you would like to experience a cross cultural Christmas experience, dining at Tiffin Room at our iconic Raffles hotel this year may be a good option. For this festive month of December, Chef de Cuisine Kuldeep Negi has created a special buffet menu for lunch and dinner featuring some of the restaurant’s North Indian signatures.

Red Snapper 3.5/5, Spinach 3.5/5, Butter Chicken 3/5, Murgh Dum Biryani 4/5

Seldom that I will head straight to the mains instead of the starters, but I was magnetised by the array of curries and the golden bryani rice. I started off with a bit of each – fish curry, meat, greens, rice and yogurt. The Basmati Rice says a lot about quality. Perfectly cooked, each grain was close, yet separated from one another at the same time. Perhaps it is the rose water that it has been cooked it, it embedded a fragrance which elevates the overall taste of the basmati rice. The Red Snapper curry was milder than I imagined it would be, and relatively light on the palette. That discarded my worry of leaving this place ‘heavier’ than I should be. I particularly like the Spinach. It wasn’t oily, compared to what I have tried elsewhere. Despite being mashed, it still tasted ‘green’!.

There is also a vegetarian section, which is just as tasty as its counterpart. Apart from the Spinach, you should also try the Dal Makhani, a curry made with Black Lentils Cooked Overnight with Tomatoes, Butter and Cream. I saw quite a few going back for a few more servings.

Palak Ki Tikki 4/5

From their vegetarian section, don't miss out their deep-fried Spinach Patties. It has a very enjoyable chewy texture and robust flavour.

Roasted Stuffed Christmas Turkey 3.8/5

A Christmas spread wont be completed without live carving stations. Tonight the stars were the Roasted Stuffed Christmas Turkey and Glazed Christmas Ham. The turkey meat was juicy and tender. Its stuffing was served at the side. I had my fair share of roasted butternut and brussels sprouts, which were great accompaniments to the meat.

Keema Mattar 3.8/5

In between we had 2 Pass Around Dishes. I quite like the sweetness in the minced Lamb Curry, and eating it with the piping hot naan was comforting.

Khumb-e-Malai 3.8/5

The Grilled Mushroom filled with Cheese, Onion, Garlic and Cream Cheese was very juicy, something that I didn’t expect coming from Indian cuisine.

Tummy half filled, I visited the cold section. That was when I spotted an array of colourful chutneys. I have always love Indian Chutneys. Sweet and tangy, they complement savoury dishes really well. I tried a couple of them as I went for my second round of mains. I so regretted not taking them in my first round!

Bread and Butter Pudding with Brandy 4/5 

For desserts, I was quite impressed with its western desserts. I love its mini Bread and Butter Pudding with Brandy. The brandy sauce was so yummy that I almost drown my pudding in it. I adores its homemade Rum and Raisin ice cream. It was infused with cardamom, and hence it has a more complex flavour. It tastes as delicious as it smells.

Wines from India is also available if you would like to make it a real complete experience. Simple spread but the flavours are robust and intense enough to satiate my appetite. With its antiquated and charming surrounding, it does set everyone in the mood for Christmas!

North Indian Curry Buffet Lunch & Dinner with Live Festive Carving Station
Date: 1 December to 24 December 2015
Price
Lunch: $65++ per Adult, $35++ per Child
Dinner: $75++ per Adult, $40++ per Child

Photograph and 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.


Tiffin Room
Raffles Hotel Singapore
1 Beach Road
Singapore 189673
Tel: +65 64121190
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line), Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch: 12pm - 2pm
Dinner: 7pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Cut through Raffles City Shopping Centre. Walk to Bras Basah Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit F. Walk to Beach Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Three Bistro @ Marina Square

Conveniently located at Marina Square, Three Bistro is a modern restaurant, bar and wine space which offers a wide range of western fusion food ranging from salads, pizzas to hearty main courses and desserts. Wine lovers will be delighted to know that Three Bistro actually offers a good selection of wine that is rarely found elsewhere in Singapore.

Take for example these three bottles of wine below. Notice the Chinese letters on the bottle? They are, in fact, French wine that are harvested and brewed in China. One of them has even clinched an award at the Hong Kong International Wine Tasting Competition!

Classic Mushroom 3.5/5

Our dinner started rolling with some warm comforting soups. Those who love truffle oil would love this rendition of Mushroom Soup ($6) as the chef is rather generous with the serving. However, a drizzle of truffle oil might just suffice as it overpowered the mushroom flavour.

Seafood Soup 3.8/5

This Seafood Soup ($8) resembled a fishermen’s stew with plenty of fresh fish, squid, in a perfect backdrop of sweet and sour tomato base that would rally up anyone's spirits on a rainy day.

BBQ Chicken Pizza 2.8/5

The pizza base is gratifyingly crisp and the combination of chicken, pineapples and bbq sauce in this BBQ Chicken Pizza ($10.50) sounded like a Hawaiian dream come true. And this dream would realize in reality if fresh honest ingredients were used and a little more effort were channeled to craft the dough.

Pan Seared Salmon with Tofu 3/5

The Pan Seared Salmon with Tofu ($12) left me in confusion because the components seemed to be isolated from one another. The pan-seared salmon in teriyaki sauce and the deep fried golden tofu were tasty on their own but there was just too little chemistry between the two, as well as the green smear of sweet wasabi custard, to inspire any beautiful love story.

Baby Back Ribs 2.8/5

Arriving in two hunky slabs, the Baby Back Ribs ($23) definitely got me salivating over the tantalizing looking BBQ sauce. I would love to have basked in the porky glory if the flavour had penetrated through the meat. They were overdone, resulting in an arduous task of chowing through the meat.

Duck Confit with Honey Vinaigrette Dressing with Creamy Mash Potato 3/5

Some chefs do it the crisp way; some chefs do the traditional braised way. Like it or not, the Duck Confit ($25) here belonged to the classic camp where the skin is soft and supple. The meat was fairly tender but could have retained more moisture. This would have been a good interpretation of a classic confit if the dry mash potato hadn't been "modernized" by the truffle oil.

Lamb Shank 3.5/5

Some people might find this Lamb Shank ($27) slightly gamey but I thought the meat was a good sign of long braising, boasting of the lovely silky, almost sticky texture. The side vegetables such as carrots and onions were also cooked down to a pleasant sweet mash. Perhaps a little touch of herbs and spice would do the trick to coax out the nuances of this dish.

Cod Fish, served with Tomato Salsa and Cream of Anchovy 3.5/5

Perhaps due to the choice of using oven-baked technique, the skin of the Codfish ($27) remained chewy, a pity because the great storage of fats could have been harnessed to produce an aromatic crisp fish. Nonetheless, it was a very healthy dish that is extremely light on seasoning, slightly too light to register on the palates of an average man. The cream of anchovy was also absent that day. That said, this is pretty ideal for ladies who are watching their diet.

Panna Cotta 3.5/5

Back to the desserts, the Panna Cotta ($5.50) has a unique consistency of a milk jelly pudding and the sugar content is well regulated.

Chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream 3/5

Meanwhile, the Chocolate Brownie ($6.50) also made quick entrance, albeit at the mercy of the delicate ice cream that was melting in mid-way. This brownie might not be out-of-the-world delicious, but efforts still have to be credited to the chef who made this instead of outsourcing to external bakeries. It had a dense, nutty texture, which would be elevated to a next level if served warm.

Currently, the concept of the food at Three Bistro appears inherently fuzzy to me, though I sincerely appreciate the effort that goes into styling up some dishes here. If more energy is directed towards the balance of flavours and textures in each dish, I think Three Bistro would stand out as one of the quality all-day dining and chill-out spots in the CBD district. Live band music performance is also available during the evenings from 730pm go 1030pm on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Written and Photograph by Li Tian, a passionate foodie behind Singapore-Japan Food Blog “Dairy & Cream”. Has an eye for pastries and desserts.


Three Bistro
Marina Square
6 Raffles Boulevard
 #01- 07/08
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 63388644
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thr3ebistro
Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 10am - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 10am - 12midnight
Sun: 12noon - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take exit B. Walk to Marina Square via Marina Square Link. Walk to the destination. Journey time about 5 mins. [Map]

Crab Ah! @ Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa & Spa

Pincers and Pints await you at Crab Ah! I am not referring to the all lobster Pince & Pints at Duxton. Instead I am bringing you to Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa & Spa. The waterfront area of the resort is converted into an al fresco dining facing the South China Sea offering a feast for two which includes succulent Sri Lankan crabs and an array of appetisers, side dishes, desserts and free flowing house wines and beer.

The picturesque views of the sunset on the coast, music from a live band and the surrounding sea breeze present a perfect evening for couples to wrap up a delightful dinner. If you are lucky, you may also spot peacocks running around the waterfront or sleeping up in the trees.

Crab Ah! is available every Friday from 630pm to 9pm at $138++ for two inclusive of free flowing house wines and beer.

Deep Fried White Bait 4/5

The dinner for two started with some delectable Deep Fried White Bait. Well seasoned and crispy, this is a perfect appetiser to go with the free flow wines or beer while waiting for the mains.

Salted Egg Yolk Crab 4.2/5

Chilli Crab 4.5/5

For the set dinner of two, diners get to have a choice of four different sauces. The four sauces available are the signature Chilli sauce, popular Salted Egg sauce, black pepper sauce and superior XO sauce. I got the chance to try two out of the four sauces. Both sauces were as good. The crab was also fresh, sweet and juicy complemented by the delicious sauces. Among the two sauces I tried, I would have to be a bit bias and go for more favourite salted egg.

Deep Fried Mantou Buns 4.2/5

Golden Deep Fried Mantou Buns are also served for diners to dip into the flavourful crab sauces of their choice.

Stir Fried Seasonal Vegetables 4.2/5

Shrimp Fried Rice 4.5/5

After digging into the luscious crustaceans and getting my finger messy, there were more dishes awaiting for us to savour. Both the Stir Fried Seasonal Vegetable and Shrimp Fried Rice looked kind of plain but that's only in appearance. The stir fried vegetable was crunchy and flavourful. Each mouthful of the fragrant shrimp fried rice was filled with wok hei aroma. Thumbs up!

Pandan Ice Cream 3/5 and Teh Tarik Ice Cream 4/5

Dessert is a choice of the Pandan or Teh Tarik Ice cream. I personally prefer the teh tarik ice cream over the pandan ice cream. I find the pandan ice cream tasted more like kaya, a bit too sweet.

Assortment of Kuehs 4/5

Besides ice cream, there are also a selection of different Kuehs for diners to have a taste of the local snacks. There is even a Do-It-Yourself Ice Kachang dessert counter.


Crab Ah!
Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa & Spa
Sentosa
101 Siloso Road
Singapore 098970
Tel: +65 63711020
Website: http://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/rasasentosaresort/press-room/press-releases/pincers-and-pints-await-at-crabs-ah/
Nearest MRT: Harbour Front (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Fri: 630pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbour Front MRT station. Take Exit C or E. Walk to pick up point at exit of Lobby F in Vivocity (near JPot and Nyonya & Baba Restaurants). Wait for the complimentary shuttle bus service. The shuttle service is available every 20 minutes of the hour. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]