Pontini @ Grand Copthorne Waterfront

It was only last year in October that I visited Pontini's at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel for their Italian buffet. I am back again this time to check out the expanded menu of antipasti, breads, soup, main courses and desserts. Yes, you will need a bigger stomach to eat through the array of selections.

Cheese Platter 4.5/5

What impressed me most with the new revamped setup is the cheese room which housed an eclectic range of soft, medium and hard cheeses.

Foie Gras 3.5/5

Another new introduction is the live foie gras station with a variety jams and condiments. Pan fried on the spot and served with toasted brioche, this is eat all you can treat that is unheard of.

Oyster 4/5

A must have at any buffet has to be the cold seafood, especially the oysters. Even though the focus at Potini is on Italian cuisine, this has to be one of the highlight of every buffet.

Pizza 4/5

On each table, there is an ordering sheet where one can create their own pizza and it will be prepared a la minute. Diner can choose from Pancetta, Shredded Chicken, Salami and Smoked Salmon for their tomato and mozzarella cheese base pizza and another 3 choices of topping from a selection of 11 different ingredients.

Gnocchi with Roasted Sausage, Wild Mushroom and Chestnut 4.2/5

Ricottta & Spinach Ravioli with Premium Cheese Fondue 4.5/5

Orecchiette with Fresh Tomato Sauce, Black Mussels, Olives, Chilli Pesto 4.2/5

Tagliatelle with Roasted Sausage, Wild Mushroom, Chestnut 4/5

On the ordering set, diners can also be creative to mix and match their own pasta. 4 different pasta, Gnocchi, Orecchiette, Tagliatelle and Ricotta & Spinach Ravioli are available for selection. For the accompanying sauces, there are 5 different choices. I could not pin point which is my favourite as they all have their own goodness and as good with each pasta.

Oven Baked Barramundi Fillet 4.2/5

Roasted New Zealand Lamb Rack 4.5/5

Roasted Spring Chicken 4.2/5

If the free flow pizza and pasta is still not enough, there is still more to offer at Pontini with a choice of mains out of 5 selections. There are Oven Baked Barramundi Fillet, Tuscany Style Mixed Seafood Pot, Roasted New Zealand Lamb Rack, Braised Short Ribs and Roasted Spring Chicken. If the pizza and pasta is good, the mains are even better! The only disappointment is that I can only choose one of them.

Compared to the previous visit, the dessert selection has also expanded with more pastries such as cakes and tarts. For those with a sweet tooth, this is a welcome addition.

As I pen down the review of the visit, I could not help comparing with my previous. While the price of the buffet has increased, the food standard and quality has improved a tremendously too. In addition to the expanded selection. I only hate the fact that I don't have a big appetite to eat more of  the items available at the buffet spread.

The Italian Buffet is priced at $58++ per person. It is only available on Saturday and public holidays from 12pm to 3pm.


Pontini
Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel
Level 2
392 Havelock Road
Singapore 169663
Tel: +65 62331100
Facebook
Website 
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Italian Buffet: 12pm - 3pm (Sat and PH)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru Plaza (Stop ID 10169). Take bus number 123. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to junction of Havelock Road and Kim Seng Road. Cross the junction and turn left. Walk to destination. Journey about 15 minutes. [Map]

Stellar @ 1-Altitude

photo credit to Stellar @ 1-Altitude

Stellar @ 1-Altitude, has been well known for its modern gastronomic cuisine. If you are keen to try more than one main course, (which I always am), Stellar at 1-Altitude's Gastronomic Menu has up to 19 items for either a four, five or six-course tasting menu. The mix and match menu also features a dessert experience, in which you have a choice of sweets and "dessert art," and you get to see them prepared right in front of your eyes.

photo credit to Stellar @ 1-Altitude

Desserts, are often being sidelined, but not to the ladies maybe. However, we can’t deny the fact that, more often than not, they are indeed crucial to concluding your gastronomical journey. I believe it takes a lot of creativity, work and effort, to weave the different ingredients into a petite delight. And Chef Jasmin Chew, seems to possess the right DNA to be recognised in this arena.

photo credit to Stellar @ 1-Altitude

A naturally creative person, I believe her graphic design background has enabled her to use colours even more artistically. What her guests will be tasting, are her creations borne of her skills acquired from working overseas, as well as local’s renowned restaurants.

To have a taste of how complex it is, we were first made to do our own dessert - Yoghurt Crème Brulee, which is one of her signature desserts. Trust me, seeing her taking out the Crème Brulee from the mould seems as easy as snapping your fingertips. But when comes to doing it, it’s a totally different thing.

photo credit to Stellar @ 1-Altitude

Luckily we were only required to do one out of the 4 desserts - Fire Ball, Cherry Alaska and Smokey Coals. Plating these 4 desserts were the 2nd challenge. We were equipped with some edible gold paint, coffee crumbles, flowers, whipped cream etc, all the necessary to gel these desserts into one single painting. One of the most important items on the table, was the hand-held flame torch. With this, we torched the sugared top of the Crème Brulee, followed by flaming the liqueur for pouring over the Alaska and the Fire Ball.

photo credit to Stellar @ 1-Altitude

When the last drop of flamed liquor fell onto the Fire Ball, it was time for tasting!
Cherry Alaska ($16.00++) - Morello Cherry Sorbet Alaska with an aromatic Amarena soaked cherry centre flambéed with Grand Marnier. Distinctive color contrast was the first thing that caught my eye when I broke the ivory pyramid - a dark red Morello Cherry Sorbet. Sweet and sour, a refreshing dessert to wake up my taste buds. And the best part was when I bit into the Amarena soaked cherry!

photo credit to Stellar @ 1-Altitude

Then we moved down to Smokey Coals ($16 ++). Lapsang Souchang tea infused chocolate ganache wrapped in a thin layer of sponge. A pristine looking piece of art. It is like a white version of your usual molten cake but much more exquisite and delicate. Its flavour is rather subtle.

Yogurt Crème Brulee ($16.00++). I like this tangy version much more than the normal eggy ones, which tends to be sweeter. It is less rich, and I enjoy the lightness of it. The sprinkle of sea salt on top of the crispy burnt sugar works like magic in heightening the overall taste.

The finale was the Chocolate Bomb ($16.00++). After it being flamed with liqueur, it left a dark trail of warm, dark chocolate around the velvety hazelnut praline. Every scope of it, together with the centre piece was heavenly. Marrying the chocolate with the berry compote adds on to the divine factor.

photo credit to Stellar @ 1-Altitude

If you are here at Stellar, do remember to leave some room for their desserts. Seeing the Chocolate Ball flames in front of your eyes, or smelling the sweet smelling burnt sugar that perfumed the air, their dessert art is not just about satisfying your gastronomical cravings, but an experience that will please your other senses as well.

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.


Stellar @ 1 Altitude
One Raffles Place
1 Raffles Place
Level 62
Singapore 048616
Website
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (NS Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 12am
Sat, Sun & PH: 6pm - 12am

Direction:
Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk towards One Raffles Place which is on the left. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]