Meta @ Keong Saik Road

A new kid in the block at Keong Saik Road is Meta offering contemporary Asian dishes. At the restaurant, traditional dishes and flavours are given a new interpretation and creation with a modern twist. Helming the kitchen is Chef Sun Kim who has worked in Tesuya, Sydney and Waku Ghin, Singapore. The menu at Meta is kept simple with 3 tasting menus. It comes with a 5 and 8 course tasting menus, and a 5 course vegetarian tasting menu.

Amuse Bouche 4/5

The 8 course menu ($128++) started with the Amuse Bouche that gives a glimpse of the culinary direction of the restaurant. The Grilled Asparagus is topped with quinoa and sweetened with miso. Accompanying it is 2 thin crackling rice cracker with garlic aioli and squid powder. The play of textures and flavours are very pleasing to the palate.

Oyster 4/5

Freshly shucked Oyster is norm but pairing with lemon and ginger dressing with bursts of pomelo pulps. The tangy and sweetness complemented the oyster instead of overpowering it. A refreshing way to enjoy oyster.

Amaebi 4/5

The Amaebi, a Japanese Sweet Shrimp is served in two ways. First the deshelled prawn is served sashimi style with dashi jelly, trout roe, beetroot stem and carrot. Second the prawn head is given an aromatic smokey charred which is to be eaten last. I would advised cautious in eating as not to get cut by the shards.  The dashi jelly is the highlight for me, is like substituting the dipping sauce for sashimi.

Wagyu Beef Tartare 4.5/5

Most of us have probably tried beef tartare and it is usually served with a raw egg yolk to mix it up with the raw beef before consumption. At Meta, the Wagyu Beef Tartare has more textural enjoyment with the used of pear kimchi strips and rice crackers. The raw egg is also given a modern twist, replaced with the egg jelly. This interpretation has lifted the boring beef tartare dish to a new level.

Hokkaido Scallops 3/5

The Hokkaido Scallops comes with shaved bottarga, sweet korean miso, endive and squid ink cracker. The flavour of the dish unfortunately was pale in comparison to its beautiful presentation. It felt like the plump scallop is still hidden in its shell and not making friends with the rest of the ingredients. It somehow lacked the harmony for the dish to shout out.

John Dory/ Sea Bass 4.5/5

Moving on to the fish dish, I have the Sea Bass instead of John Dory. This is subject to the catch of the day itself. The sea bass was cooked beautifully with a layer of crispy skin, providing a delightful contrast to the moist white fish meat. The clear clam broth and basil oil further accentuated the flavours, wrapping up with fregula for a comforting satisfaction.

Slow Cooked Grass Fed Beef Short Rib 3.5/5

I love my meat but I have to say the Slow Cooked Grass Fed Beef Short Rib served with parsnip and oyster mushroom did not quiet manage to excite me. The meat was cooked to tender consistency but it lacked the punch in flavour that you get from the grill.

Blood Orange Cheese Cake 4.2/5

No matter how I look at it, I am not able to tell it is a Blood Orange Cheese Cake. That is what Pastry Chef Tammy Mah is all about with a skill which fit to the whole concept of the restaurant to create dessert with a modern twist. The deconstructed cheese cake is is made up of a citrus gel sphere encasing the citrus cheesecake and a dark chocolate shell with a blood orange liquid center.

White Chocolate Wasabi Cream with Sesame Sponge and Yogurt 4/5

Another interesting creation on the dessert is the White Chocolate Wasabi Cream with Sesame Sponge and Yogurt. The standout for me in the refreshing dessert is the unique wasabi spiked white chocolate cream. A familiar ingredient that is usually paired with sushi or sashimi but now being used in dessert dish.

The Rock

A fun dessert on the menu is The Rock. The espresso meringue is made of nitrogen. Diner is suppose to pop the whole thing into the mouth, and exhale! Cold nitrogen fume will breathe out of the nostril as the aromatic espresso slowing settled down on the surface of the tongue, waking up the senses. A fun dessert indeed but this is not something new to me.

Meta definitely is one of the restaurants to watch this year. The exquisite dishes definitely impressed but it falls short of wowing me. Saying that, I like Chef Sun Kim's culinary philosophy of  modern Asian interpretation playing with different textures.


Meta
9 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089117
Tel: +65 65130898
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Outram (EW Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 530pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Walk straight down New Bridge Road. Turn right onto Kreta Ayer Road. Turn right again onto Keong Saik Road. Walk down Keong Saik Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Xin Cuisine Chinese New Year 2016 @ Holiday Inn Atrium

Xin Cuisine at Holiday Inn Atrium welcomes the year of the monkey with a number of prosperity and reunion set menus, specialty curated by the team of master chefs to celebrate the joyous Lunar New Year. Tossing to an abundance and prosperity year, we have the Yusheng with Salmon, Bamboo Clam and Champagne Dressing.

Festive Dim Sum 4/5

If you do not know, Xin Cuisine serves dim sum on their menu too. In conjunction with the Lunar New Year, we tried the Festive Dim Sum for a glimpse of their delectable offering. On the platter we have the Steamed Xiao Long Bao with Crab Meat, Pan Fried Yam and Pumpkin Cake, Steamed Seafood Dumpling with Cordyceps and Deep Fried Mussel Stuffed with Shrimp Paste. The quintessential dim sum will delight every diners.

Xin's Traditional Pen Cai 4/5

A tradition during Lunar New Year feast is the luxurious Xin's Traditional Pen Cai that is filled to the brim with abalone, prawn, oyster, pork belly, roasted duck etc. For those that wants to impress their guests or family members, this is also available for takeaway during the festive period.

Braised Vermicelli with Crab, Ginger and Onion 3.5/5

A new creation for the Lunar New Year menu at Xin Cuisine is the Braised Vermicelli with Crab, Ginger and Onion. While it was an enjoyable dish with plump and juicy crab meat, the vermicelli lacked the essence of the crustacean.

Wok Fried Glutinous Rice with Preserved Meat 3.5/5

Rice is an essential part of a meal in Asia and it is even more fitting to celebrate the festive season with the Wok Fried Glutinous Rice with Preserved Meat. The glittering rice grains are infused with the wok hei aroma, with the flavour further accentuated by the preserved meat.

Xin's Traditional Nian Gao, Double Boiled Snow Pear 4/5

Wrapping up our dinner is the Xin's Traditional Nian Gao and Double Boiled Snow Pear with Osmanthus and Snow Fungus. My favourite is the double boiled snow pear with osmanthus and snow fungus. It is a light and refreshing dessert after the sumptuous meal.

For more information of Xin Cuisine's festive menus and takeaways, kindly refer to the website for more details.


Xin Cuisine
Holiday Inn Atrium
317 Outram Road
Singapore 169075
Tel: +65 67317173
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily 12pm - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10169). Take bus number 123. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes.  [Map]