Saturday, November 12, 2016

Prego @ Fairmont Hotel Singapore - Italian Berlucchi Sunday Brunch

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Prego’s Seasonal Sunday Brunch at Fairmont Hotel, led by Chef de Cuisine Antonio Facchinetti and his team has launched an all new Sunday brunch buffet. Apart from offering all time favourites and classics, this new seasonal sunday brunch showcases new highlights such as live pasta crafting and risotto bar; a meat and seafood grill selection that is prepared à la minute and various seasonal stations on rotation based on seasonal produce.

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Cold Seafood 4/5

The station that invites you in will be the cold seafood counter where you will get your freshly shucked seasonal oysters, poached Alaskan crab leg, marinated tiger prawns, mussels and scallops. My favourite is definitely their Alaskan crab leg.

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Salad Bar 3.8/5

I was caught heading to their salad bar several times by their manager. Their Signature Vinaigrette simply makes my plate of green so appetizing. I usually don't really dress my salads but theirs make my green even more refreshing.

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Heirloom Tomato & Fresh Cheeses with Truffles and Mushrooms Edition 4.5/5

The seasonal counter over here features a Grand Tasting of Heirloom Tomato & Fresh Cheeses - Burrata, Mozzarella, Ricotta Cheese, together with the Truffles and Mushrooms Edition - Wagyu Beef Carpaccio with Truffle Breadcrumbs, Wild Frittata with Mushrooms and Grilled Portobello "Steak" Salad. Be it on its own, with the cheeses or as the 'meat' for my salads, the Grilled Portobello is as satisfying as a good piece of steak. Aged balsamic vinegar, vintage olive oil and gourmet salt are available for you to design your own luscious plate of antipasti.

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Parma Ham, Coppa, Salami, Pork Porchetta Chorizo Sausage, Prosciutto Cotto 4/5

And of course, not to forget the classic combination of burrata and parma ham.

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Rustic Italian Bread, Cheeses 4/5
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With a free flow of Berlucchi, house wines, I couldn't help but clutter my plate with breads, crackers, cheeses, Fresh honeycomb, fruit chutneys and walnuts. The goat cheese can be really strong, but it works really well with the fruit chutneys and walnuts. It was fun scraping the sticky honeycomb straight onto my fluffy breads and how I wish I could bring one of the butter pods home.

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At the live pasta station. there are a few variety of pastas to choose from such as squid ink spaghetti, ravoli, penne, but my pick is definitely their freshly made fettuccine, or known as tagliatelle to others.

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Fettucine with Mushroom Sauce 3.8/5

I had mine with truffle mushrooms sauce. The eggy pasta, evenly coated with the creamy sauce, remained light and al dente.

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Risotto 3.5/5

As now is the Truffles and Mushrooms Edition, our risotto, done with Carnaroli Rice and Tuscany Pecorino was adorned with silvers of truffles! I'm pretty impressed with the young chefs who did my pasta and risotto on the spot.

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Baked Seabass in Sea Salt Crust 3.8/5

From the Sunday roast station, I was lucky to get a taste of their Baked Seabass in Sea Salt Crust. The meat was extremely tender and moist, and the lemony sauce tuned up its flavour a notch. The ribs, on the other hand, was too tough for my liking.

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Hot Dishes 3.5/5

Hearty dishes aplenty at their hot dish station. There are items such as Halibut, Cioppino Seafood Stew, Lamb Osso Bucco with cheesy Polenta Cake, Crispy Calamari, and Roasted Eggplant Parmigianino. This is also where you will find their next specialty - Prego’s signature wood-fired pizzas.

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2 Chef's choices - Vegetarian and non-vegetarian 3.8/5

Both the Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian Pizzas are equally yummy - The crust is thin and tasty on its own, and the thickness is just right to support the ingredients atop.

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Halibut 4/5

I was surprised to find Halibut here, which was grilled to crispy sides. Another dish that would recommend is their Roasted Eggplant Parmigianino. I think Italians are one of the few who manage to grasp the nature of eggplants.

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Salmon Fillet & Beef Sirloin 3.5/5

On the same stretch, you will find a selection of meats and seafood such as Lamb Rack with Garlic & Thyme, Salmon Fillet with Dill & Lemon, Beef Sirloin with Rosemary and Chicken Thigh with Lemon & Oregano. Simply take your pick and pass your table clip to the friendly staff. All will be served to your table once done.

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There's a Kid's Corner too! Though I feel it's pretty scrumptious for adults too. I like to start off my meal with a warm soup. Their minestrone makes a good one.

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Classic Italian Desserts 4/5

And finally, after walking past their dessert bar several times, I could succumb to my temptations.

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Prego’s signature Tiramisu, Cannoli and Panna Cotta 4/5

For the first time, I got to try almost the entire range of classic Italian desserts such as Prego’s signature Tiramisu, Cannoli and Panna Cotta. Do leave some space for some others such as Blueberry-Basil Tart and Ricotta Cheese Cake, which you don't find them elsewhere.

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Lemon Au Gratin, Lemon Crumble and Lemon Sponge Cake with Candied Lemon. 3.8/5

On top of that, there's even a seasonal edition of lemon imbued treats - Lemon Au Gratin, Lemon Crumble and Lemon Sponge Cake with Candied Lemon. Very creative desserts that made use of the zesty characteristic of lemons. That makes me wonder what would be the next seasonal fruit on the table in the following month.

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With rotational seasonal ingredients on the different counters, there's always something new to engage our appetites and a reason to come back for more. Perhaps it was the natural lights that radiated into our dining premises, I love the warm and upbeat Italian atmosphere in here. Do opt for the ultimate indulgent free flow Berlucchi ’61 Brut Franciacorta to pair with this spread of authentic Italian fare. A leader in the Italian market for practicing the metodo classico style, which is the same production method used to make Champagne, this glass of Berlucchi will set your mood high for the rest of the week!

*The menu at the seasonal stations will change according to the arrival of new produce.

Italian Berlucchi Sunday Brunch
$128++ per adult, inclusive of free flow Berlucchi, house wines, draught beer and soft drinks
$108++ per adult, inclusive one glass of Berlucchi $98++ per adult / $49++ per child, inclusive non-alcoholic beverages

Written and photography 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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Prego
Fairmont Hotel Singapore
Level 1
80 Bras Basah Road
Singapore 189560
Tel: +65 64316156
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 10am (breakfast), 630am - 1030am (deli)
Mon-Sat: 1130am - 230pm (lunch), 1130am - 1230am (pizzeria)
Sun: 1230pm - 3pm (brunch buffet)
Daily: 630pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Fat LuLu's Asian BBQ & Dessert @ River Valley Road - Wicked Asian BBQ And Smooth Desserts

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Replacing the now defunct Five & Dime is Fat LuLu's Asian BBQ & Dessert. The new concept by the same folks behind Five & Dime, sees two different chefs with two contrasting personalities coming together, offering Asian barbecue and dessert. Chef Sam is the BBQ dude while Chef Song is the dessert prince.

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Burnt Corn 3.8/5

Our evening at the new establishment started with the Burnt Corn ($11). The bio-corn is rubbed with salt and lemon, oregano and served with sour cream. Aligned with Chef Sam's culinary philosophy - No Burn No Taste, the overly charred corn turned out to be very flavourful.

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Roasted Potatoes and Mushroom 3.5/5, Sataytay 4.2/5

Boosting the Roasted Potatoes and Mushroom ($12) is the coat of lamb fat over the starch. This is accompanied with honshimeiji mushrooms, kale and garlic. Another delightful item on the menu is the Sataytay ($12) which uses Iberico pork collar that is marinated in sambal for a whole full day to develop the flavour. On top of the flavoursome meat, it was tender and juicy too.

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Grilled Mangalicia Pork Collar 4/5

Chef Sam's Grilled Mangalicia Pork Collar ($24) is a Thai inspired dish. The pork collar is only seasoned with salt and grilled to a nice smokey scent, The other highlight on the board is the lightly charred sambal okra. The used of local spices to grill the okra reminds me of our sambal bbq fish.

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Duh Meat Boat 4.2/5

The Duh Meat Boat ($28) demonstrates Chef Sam's culinary skill in grilling perfectly. The wagyu skirt is grilled in low heat to get that slow caramelisation while retaining the succulence of the meat. On the other hand, the pork collar which is marinated in sambal and seasoned in salt, is grilled in high heat for the charred and smokiness. Even the accompanying kailan grilled for a different appreciation of the earthy green.

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Ikan Bakar 4.5/5

The Ikan Bakar ($28) is like the Asian version of Fish & Chips. The line caught parrot fish is marinated with chilli, garlic, lemon juice, Kashmiri chilli powder and grilled in high heat. The result is a moist fish with the beautiful aroma that is pleasing to both the taste and scent. The cucumber achar side provided the needed acidity to freshen up the palate.

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Spicy BBQ Full Rack Pork Ribs 4.2/5

The Spicy BBQ Full Rack Pork Ribs ($28) will be loved by carnivores for the fall off the bone meat. The spicy sauce which made up of chipotle, kechap manis, rice wine vinegar is kind of unique. It is a new taste to me and took a while to register my preference.

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Open Beef Ravioli 4.5/5

I actually have tried the Open Beef Ravioli ($22) when Chef Sam was at Raven. Back then I mentioned that the flavours and textures were on the note. However like a foreign song, I moved with the music but did not understand the lyrics. This time round, Chef Sam managed to sing to me in the dish and I could fully appreciate the whole concept and execution.

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Pineapple and Coconut Ice Kachang 4.2/5

Moving on to dessert, we started with the Pineapple and Coconut Ice Kachang ($14). The refreshing combination of pineapple and coconut is very pleasing to the palate. I actually thought it resembles the local chendol dessert instead of the ice kachang as the name of the dish suggested.

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Berries & Chocolate 4.2/5

Another refreshing dessert on the menu is the Berries & Chocolate ($16). The fruity dessert uses white chocolate and cassis, with elderflower-infused strawberries. After all the burn and heat of the Asian BBQ, the dessert complemented the whole dinner experience excellently.

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Banana Bread in Brandy Butterscotch Sauce 4.5/5

The warm Banana Bread in Brandy Butterscotch Sauce ($14) is really comforting. The moist banana bread together with the brandy butterscotch sauce is not overly sweet and well balance. The crispy rice grains provided the extra crisp to the whole dimension.

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Apple Tarte Tatin 4/5

The Apple Tarte Tatin ($14) is an accidental creation. Chef over caramalized the apples for his traditional apple pie and to save it, he laid a layer of pastry over the apples, baking it as an upside down tart. Likewise, he also created a new flavour when he burned the base of the vanilla ice cream.

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Childhood 4.5/5

Inspired by Chef Song's favourite childhood food, peanut butter and jam, he created the Childhood ($16) which looks like someone has dropped the ice cream on the plate. What is on the plate is actually a peanut butter popsicle with dark chocolate cookie and raspberry granita.

Fat LuLu's Asian BBQ & Dessert is quite an interesting new concept bring two contrasting chefs together. The difference created magical in the kitchen instead. Not only their styles complement each other but diners get to have the must of both worlds. Fat Lulu's serves brunch on weekends too.

Noted: This is an invited tasting.


Fat Lulu's Asian BBQ & Dessert
297 River Valley Road
Singapore 238338
Tel: +65 92365002
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Dhoby Ghaut (CC Line, NS Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun, Tue-Thu: 6pm - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 6pm till late
Brunch
Sat-Sun: 11am - 4pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to bus stop at Clarke Quay MRT station (Stop ID 04222). Take bus number 54. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station.Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at YMCA (Stop ID 08041). Take bus number 139. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]