Jade Restaurant (玉楼) + Mooncakes 2014 @ Fullerton Hotel

With the Mid-Autumn Festival around the corner, what best way to celebrate this joyous festival with a reunion dinner feast with friends and families. Fullerton Hotel's Jade Restaurant presents a luxurious Mid-Autumn Reunion Dinner Feast available at $88++ per person from 25 August to 8 September 2014 to celebrate the full moon comprising of 6 courses.

Trio of Mid Autumn Combination 4/5

The first course is the Trio of Mid Autumn Combination. Chef Leong got his inspiration from the folk tale of Chang'E. The plating is supposed to represent Chang'E floating to the moon. The three components on the plate are Steamed Sea Prawn Roll with Capsicum and Mushroom, Shredd Chicken with Preserved Fruit in Honey Mustard Dressing and Tea Smoked Beancurd Carrot Roll. This is in fact an art on a plate with the prawn sitting on a cloud while the shredded chicken represents a lantern.

Boiled Sea Grouper Soup 4.8/5

Boiled with fish bones to get that milky robust soup base, the Boiled Sea Grouper Soup with Black Fungus and Chinese Wine this is extremely delicious and comforting. The used of quail eggs is a excellent choice for the theme, representing reunion with its dumpling like shape.

Fragrant Crispy Duck Stuffed with Yam Paste 4/5

The Fragrant Crispy Duck Stuffed with Yam Paste reminded me of the traditional yam basket but stuffed with fragrant crispy duck. I like the bite of crispiness from the duck skin in between the yam paste. Yam and duck is a classic combination but given a modern execution that will delight more the young and old.

Stewed Whole Abalone with Dried Scallop and Homemade Edamame Beancurd 4.5/5

A luxurious dish of Stewed Whole Abalone with Dried Scallop. However what stood out for me is the Homemade Edamame Beancurd that was extremely soft and silky. From its colour, I initially thought it was infused with spinach but to my surprise it is actually edamame. I thought the colour suit the theme of Jade restaurant perfectly and it should be made into their signature dish.

Wok-Fried Five Grain Rice with Crab Meat 4/5

You probably would not get this elsewhere. The Wok Fried Five Grain Rice with Crab Meat is both fragrant and packed with mouthful of different grainy bites with the crab meat lending a luxurious sweet sea flavour finishing.

Classic Trio Desserts 3.5/5

The feast is wrapped up with a classic Trio Desserts of Shaved Almond Ice with Osmanthus Jelly, Chilled Rabbit Shaped Egg White Cake, Petit Traditional Oven Baked and Snow Skin Mooncakes. The rabbit shaped egg whit cake is so adorable and cute that I almost don't bear to eat it. It has a marshmallow soft texture that sorted of melted in the mouth. Of course we can't do away with mooncakes since it is the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Can't get enough of The Fullerton Mooncakes? Don't worry the mooncakes are available for sales from 25 July to 8 September 2014 at the Fullerton Cake Boutique located on the lobby level of the hotel. The mooncakes are encased in an elegant oriental chest adorned with dainty pieces of jade or a classic golden-hued chest.

Taking centrestage this year is The Fullerton Snow Skin Treasures which offers a contemporary assortment of the classic. Two irresistible Snow Skin flavours exude a comforting taste of home with a dose of indulgence. The White Lotus Seed Paste with Single Yolk Snow Skin Mooncake features a smooth and delightfully sweet white lotus seed paste.

The Pandan with Gula Melaka Snow Skin Mooncake is a nostalgic blend of familiar local flavours where the aroma of the pandan complements the deep caramel flavour of the palm sugar.


Jade Restaurant (玉楼）
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
1 Fullerton Square
Singapore 049178
Tel: +65 68778188
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFullertonHotel
Website: http://www.fullertonhotel.com/dining/diningCategories_2-en.html
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT Station. Take Exit H. Turn right and walk towards the river. At the river, turn right again and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Hana Restaurant @ Forum the Shopping Mall

A new Japanese restaurant has opened up in the quieter stretch of Orchard at Forum the Shopping Mall. Hana Japanese Restaurant is located at the first level of the shopping mall. Stepping into the restaurant, I thought the black colour themed decoration, the selection of furniture and ambience felt a bit odd for a Japanese restaurant. Nevertheless, I am here for the food so let the taste buds do the talking.

Deep Fried Tempura Fish 3/5

Our omakase meal started with a piece of Deep Fried Tempura Fish. The fish mixture is made of 3 different type of fish, salmon, white fish and mackerel wrapped in betel leaves. I could taste onion inside the mixture too. Drizzled with a sea eel sauce, giving it a sweet finishing. This is actually quite an interesting opening to the courses which is more incline to Chinese cuisine.

Trio of Appetizer 3.5/5

Next up is a Trio of Appetizer of Octopus with Wasabi Leave, some sort of Grilled Fish and Fried Fish with Lime.  If I am not wrong the grilled fish is Fugu Mirin Boshi. It is one of my favourites among the trio. It felt like biting into a grilled bak kwa or cuttlefish.

Sashimi 4.5/5

This is probably what I most looked forward to in a Japanese meal, the Sashimi. The platter comes with fresh selection of Amberjack, Toro, Baby Snapper, Scallop and Sardine. This is probably my first time having raw sardine. I was worried that it may come across too fishy but it was not the case. The spring onion and ginger dip not only helped to navigate that fishiness but complemented it.

Soup 3.8/5

The pot of Soup comes with mushroom, crab and uni flavoured with butter for the soup. I actually find it strange why would someone cooked uni in a boiling broth. I felt that the natural sweetness of the uni was lost in the cooking. Putting that aside, it is a still a good pot of soup with delectable ingredients.

Grilled Horse Mackerel 3.8/5

I actually like the simplicity of the Grilled Horse Mackerel that is lightly seasoned with salt and grilled. Nothing fancy but pure enjoyment of the freshness and sweetness of the fish. Unfortunately the mackerel was only well grilled on one side but not the other.

Fried Clam Tempura 3/5

Another fried tempura item with clam, wild herbs and mushrooms. Fried to a nice crisp and not oily, the play of different textures in this small piece of tempura surprised me.

Teapot Soup 4.2/5

I always like the Teapot Soup served at Japanese restaurant. The teapot soup was well infused with the seafood essence which was very refreshing. I probably have more than 5 cups of it. It was timely after all the fried and grilled food. It helped to cleanse the palate and washed down all the greasiness.

Aburi Sushi Platter 2.8/5

Lastly I was served a Aburi Sushi Platter of Flounder Fin, Sea Eel, Tamagoyaki and Radish. The Aburi Sushi was a letdown. It tasted bitter and burnt even the rice was torched.

Overall I think Hana Restaurant still needed some more fine tuning for consistency. There were hits and misses during my visit. Hana Restaurant currently is running two Omakase promotions which is very worthy and value for money. First is a 9 Course Omakase at $30 ONLY on all Mondays. Second is Omakase Special at $60/$80/$120 on every Fridays and Saturdays only. Don't miss these promotions while it still last.


Hana Restaurant
Forum the Shopping Mall
583 Orchard Road
#01-17
Singapore 238884
Tel: +65 67375525
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HANARest
Website: http://www.hanarestaurant.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Walk down Orchard Road to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]