Jade Restaurant (玉楼) @ The Fullerton Hotel - A Culinary Feast of Two Cities (双城珍馐食单)

Diners will be in for a great feast when two master chef in Cantonese cuisine come together to present A Culinary Feast of Two Cities (双城珍馐食单). From 02 to 08 November 2015, Executive Chef Lai Ching Shing of One Michelin Star Cantonese restaurant YUE at City Garden Hotel, Hong Kong collaborates with Jade restaurant's Master Chef Leong Chee Yang for the second time, to showcase a number of a la carte and set dinner menus, specially created for this collaboration.

Chilled Fresh Abalone with Chinese Wine, Cherry Tomatoes in Pomelo Vinegar 4/5

We had the Set Dinner Menu B ($98++ per pax) with six courses. The dinner started with the Chilled Fresh Abalone with Chinese Wine, Cherry Tomatoes in Pomelo Vinegar. The abalone was not only tender but flavourful. I could taste the beautiful essence that has been absorbed by the huge and plump abalone, bringing life to it. The cherry tomatoes in pomelo vinegar is a nice palate cleanser with its acidity, preparing me for the next dish.

Stir-Fried Sliced Grouper with Truffle Egg White, Superior Fish Maw Broth 4.5/5

Next dish is the Stir-Fried Sliced Grouper with Truffle Egg White accompanied with Superior Fish Maw Broth. I have tried the classic sai pangxie dish in scrambled egg white form but Chef Lai has brought it to a new level with the fish ball shaped egg white. I am surprised with the play of texture which tasted almost like fish paste. In the other bowl is the Superior Fish Maw Broth that comes with whole piece of thick bouncy fish maw on top of the rich and milky broth.

Steamed Minced Pork with Foie Gras and Scallops 4.2/5

I was looking forward to the next dish which is awarded Gold with Distinction Award at Hong Kong Tourism Board 2015 Best of the Best Culinary Awards. The Steamed Minced Pork with Foie Gras and Scallops served in a hot stone topped with a soy sauce sphere. I am told to cut into the sphere allowing the soy sauce to flow down onto the minced pork. The used of western ingredients and techniques for a harmonious balance in flavour showcases Chef Lai's culinary creativity and skill.

Poached Spiced Salt Water Kampong Chicken 4.2/5

Simplicity at its best is the Poached Spiced Water Kampong Chicken with ginger scallion sauce. The spiced salt water seems to bring out the sweetness of the chicken more. For an extra lift in enjoyment, have it together with the ginger scallion sauce.

Fragrant Fried Rice with Prawns, Barbecued Pork and Diced Vegetables in XO Sauce 4.2/5

The Fragrant Fried Rice with Prawns, Barbecued Pork and Diced Vegetables in XO Sauce was the perfect ending to the savoury courses. I could smell the aroma of the fried rice from a distance. The grainy bite of fried rice well coated with the XO sauce together with the other ingredients was a delicious and comforting finishing.

Shaved Coconut Ice with Mango, Glutinous Rice Roll, Chilled Roselle Rose Tea Pudding 4/5

Wrapping up the six course dinner menu is a trio of desserts. On the plate, there is Shaved Coconut Ice with Mango, Glutinous Rice Roll with Lotus Seed and Peanut Puree and Chilled Roselle Rose Tea Pudding with Red Bean Puree. My favourite was the Shaved Coconut Ice with Mango with its fruity and refreshing finishing, a refreshed take from the common mango sago. 

Besides the Set Dinner Menu B ($98++ per pax) which I tried. There is another six course Set Dinner Menu A ($118++). together with another seventeen a la carte items on the menu. For a limited period from 02 to 08 November 2015 only, do make your reservation at Jade Restaurant if you do not want to miss trying out the dishes by Michelin-star Chef Lai and the talented Master Chef Leong.


Jade Restaurant (玉楼）
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
1 Fullerton Square
Singapore 049178
Tel: +65 68778188
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Website
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]

Fried Porridge (炒粥) @ Macpherson Road

The great tongues of the members of Food Intelligence Network Singapore (FINS) have unearthed another discovery in a coffeeshop along Macpherson Road. Fried Porridge (炒粥) is a little humble stall inside Delicious Coffeeshop specialized in cooking different types of porridge. I managed to have a brief chat with the chef and understand that he is from Ipoh, Malaysia.

As mentioned earlier, Fried Porridge (炒粥) specializes in cooking different types of porridge. The stall sells Seafood Porridge, Promfret Porridge, Red Grouper Porridge, Prawn Porridge, Minced Meat Porridge and the Signature Fried Porridge. The reason why I travelled all the way to Macpherson is to try the Signature Fried Porridge ($6/$10/$20). The first time I tried fried porridge was back in 2012 in a Penang Hawker Fare event. Hence I was looking forward to try the dish again when I heard it is available in Singapore.

The chef started with frying some ingredients such as the yam, cuttlefish, dried shrimp, pork etc first in the wok before adding in the porridge and then the dark sauce. The chef did not reveal much about the dark sauce but just told me he mixed it himself using local sauces and manage to get exactly the same flavour as in Ipoh. However he did say that he is still trying to fine-tune it to suit the local palate.

Before serving to the table, the fried porridge is transferred to a claypot and topped with pork lard, fried shallots, sesame and spring onions.

The pot of fried porridge still comes with the grainy bite. The dark sauce definitely elevated the flavour of the plain porridge while the cuttlefish, yam, dried shrimps, pork lard and sesame further accentuated the flavour and textures . There are also crab meat and lean pork in the porridge but just a little bit of it only.

Overall the fried porridge is very comforting and hearty. I do hope that there are more generous ingredients in the porridge but I do understand they have to watch their cost. The fact that they are probably the only place in Singapore cooking the Malaysian dish, it is a reason by itself for you to make your way down to try it.


[MOVED]
Fried Porridge (炒粥)
Delicious Coffee Shop
456 Macpherson Road
Singapore 368174
Nearest MRT: Tai Seng (CC Line), Macpherson (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1030am - 8pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tai Seng MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Macpherson Road. Turn right onto Macpherson Road. Continue on Macpherson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 16 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Macpherson MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight towards the temple. Turn left onto the walk path beside the temple. Walk to bus stop at Ubi Ave 2, Aztech Building (Stop ID 71169). Take bus number 8. Alight 4 stop later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 16 minutes. [Map]