Lai Huat Signatures @ China Street

When I was told that there is a new Lai Huat Signatures restaurant near the central business district (CBD) at China Street, I could not hold my joy to know that their signature Sambal Promfret since 1951 will be easily available to diners now with the restaurant conveniently located near Telok Ayer MRT station.

The signature sambal belachan was created by the late Mr Lim Song Lai in his humble coffeeshop along Ophir Road back in the 1950s. Now there are five different restaurants around the island at Jalan Besar, Guillemard, Upper East Coast, Rangoon Road and China Street. Each of them bears slightly a different name but retained the Lai Huat brand name. All of them seem to inherit the recipe of the late Mr Lai. While the five restaurants are owned by different members in the family trees, they are all run individually which seems to suggest that there are different views and directions for the business. Anyway, let us focus on the food.

Crab Beehoon 3/5

At Lai Huat Signatures, besides the signature Sambal Promfret the restaurant also woks up a eclectic selection of cooked dishes on the menu. One of them is the Crab Beehoon ($58/kg) which we tried. There will hits and misses in their execution. The beehoon was cooked to a good slurping bite complemented by the freshness and sweetness of the crustacean. However the beehoon failed to absorb the essence of the crab, lacking the oomph  factor.

Fish Maw Soup 3.5/5

The Fish Maw Soup ($18/$35/$48) with dried Scallop and crabmeat came across has hearty and comforting, flavourful but yet not too starchy.

Roasted Chicken Two Ways 3.5/5

The Roasted Chicken Two Ways ($30) actually comes in the form of roasted chicken and strips of chicken meat tossed in a Thai chilli sauce. The exterior of the roasted chicken is crispy while the interior is still tender and juicy. Pair with strips of cucumber and carrot in a sweet Thai chilli sauce, the other version is more light and refreshing as if having a salad dish.

Sambal Promfret 4.2/5

Lastly the signature item on the menu, The Sambal Promfret  (Market Price) which comes with a generous topping of the sambal. I am told that there is a slight difference in how Lai Huat Signatures prepared the sambal compared to the other restaurants. Traditionally the sambal is wok fried until fragrant but risk of getting burnt. Over here, it is oven roasted for consistency. If you like spicy food, the sambal promfret is not to be missed. The sambal is so good that you can just have it with a bowl of rice.


Lai Huat Signatures
23 China Street
Singapore 049565
Tel: +65 66363828
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction: 
Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Cross Street towards Far East Square. Turn right onto China Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Zafferano @ Ocean Financial Centre

My last visit to Zafferano at Ocean Financial Centre was almost two years ago. I am back to check out their newly launched Saturday brunch, "The Italian Table" on every first and last Saturday of the month. The Italian feast comes in 4 courses, namely antipasti, pasta-risotto, mains and desserts.

Stewed Clams and Mussels with Rosemary Croutons 4.5/5

When the brunch was served, I was taken back by the table full of food in front of me. This is only the first course - antipasti, and there were already seven different items on the table. On the table, there were Stewed Clams and Mussels, Baby Lobsters flambe with Brandy, Mozzarella, Selection of Cold Cuts, Deep Fried Seafood and Fjord Trout all for sharing according to the number of pax.

Baby Lobster 4/5, Selection of Cold Cuts 4.5/5

The Baby Lobster flambe with Brandy is topped with cocktail mayo sauce, giving it a fruity sweet finishing to the lobster meat. Personally, the highlight of the antipasti has to be the selection of cold cuts (24 month Pio Tosini Ham, Pistachio Mortadella, Iberico Salami) and mozzarella. It was so good that some of us ordered a second servicing.

Deep Fried Calamari, Prawns, Anchovies 4/5

Hidden in the basket is a delightful selection of Deep Fried Calamari, Prawns and Anchovies.

Marinated Fjord Trout, Avruga Caviar, Orange 4.5/5

Live Seasonal Oysters 4.5/5

There were more seafood in the Live Seasonal Oysters and Marinated Fjord Trout which showcases the freshness of seasonal seafood.

Gnocchi 4.5/5

Moving on to the second course which showcases the staple Italian cuisine - Pasta and Risotto. I remembered I was impressed by the Gnocchi when I visited the restaurant 2 years ago. The recipe has changed. Now it is cooked with seafood in a white wine, tomato base sauce compared to the usual cream base. The handcraft potato gnocchi still tasted as good.

Veal Ravioli 3.8/5

I am great fan of Ravioli but I find the veal filling was too rich in flavour, overpowering the balance of homemade veal ravioli with porcini mushroom sauce, truffle emulsion.

Lasagna 4/5

Indulge the layers after layers of pasta sheets in the Homemade Lasagna in minced beef ragout with bechamel sauce.

Saffron Risotto 4/5

Served right on the table side is the Saffron Risotto using Acquerello rice grains cooked to a nice al dente bite. The creamy texture with the aromatic Iranian saffron holds the whole dish together.

If you are already full by then, then you will miss out the delicious trio from the third course - Mains. On the menu is a choice of three mains in the Oven Baked Sea Bass with Tomatoes, Olives, Capers and Fresh Herbs, Roasted Whole French Spring Chicken with Bell Pepper, Red Onion, Mushrooms and Slow Cooked Pork Belly with Potatoes and Bery Sauce. All the mains have its own merits that it is quite hard to lay a finger which is the best. So the best is to go with a group of friends and get to try a bit of everything. If not, really pace yourself in between courses.

Wrapping up the Saturday lunch is the dessert table with at least 5 different types of sweet delights such as Tiramisu,  Macarons, Panna Cotta, Cakes and Fresh Fruits. As you can probably see, the brunch is not on a feast to the eyes but for the tummy too. The 4 courses brunch was just a lie, there were so many food on a table that I need a second stomach to indulge in them.

Saturday Brunch (First and Last Week of Month)
Adult: $88++ per pax include of free flow soft drinks, juices, coffee and tea
Adult: $108++ per pax include free flow Prosecco
Adult: $138++ per pax include free flow champagne.


Zafferano
Ocean Financial Centre
Level 43
10 Collyer Quay
Singapore 049315
Tel: +65 65091488
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZafferanoSG
Website: http://zafferano.sg/
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 3pm
Brunch
Sat: 1130am - 230pm (1st and last Sat of the month)
Dinner
Mon-Wed: 530pm - 1145pm
Thu-Sat: 530pm - 1am
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place. Take Exit C. Walk to Ocean Financial Centre which is on the left. Journey time about 3 minutes.