Friday, May 31, 2019

Antoinette @ Penhas Road - Ushers In A Collection Of Delectable Treats And Inviting Flavours

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This May, Chef Pang Kok Keong has upped the ante at Antoinette with a fresh new menu revealing a collection of bistro-style imbued in French cuisine, but it is the menu dedicated to a decadent savoury and sweet souffle pancakes, as well as its latest cake creations that you should hone in on.

Forestiere
Forestiere 4/5

Kicking off with a menu selection total of 5 flavours, both savoury and sweet - fans of souffle pancakes are bound to be spoilt for choice. The savoury variation offers a whole new perspective of enjoying the souffle pancakes. Our pick goes to the Forestiere ($16) which sees pancakes stacked with creamy mushroom sauce, a fluffy omelette and a small garden salad on the side.

TrésBerries
TresBerries 4.2/5

An all-time favourite classic is the TresBerries ($16) which features soft slabs of souffle pancakes with light, airy vanilla creme chantilly, accompanied by fresh strawberries and blueberries. Turn up the sweetness level with a generous dousing of honey maple syrup.

Crème Brûlée
Creme Brulee 4.2/5

For those with a sweet tooth, the Creme Brulee ($16) is one that needs no persuasion to be polished off. With vanilla custard draped over the pancakes, accompanied by a thin layer of carefully torched caramel and pieces of strawberries on the side.

Ondeh Ondeh
Ondeh Ondeh 4/5

A heartfelt ode to the beloved Singapore Kueh, the Ondeh Ondeh ($16) is served with a local twist, surprisingly well-balanced with lavish sprinkles of snowy coconut flakes, pandan-flavoured custard and drizzles of gula melaka for a touch of nostalgia.

Fluffy
Fluffy 4.2/5

Indulge in Antoinette’s five new cake creations, courtesy of Chef Pang, with an emphasis on the balance of flavours and creativity.

An inspiration gathered from the clouds, the cloud-shaped dessert aptly named Fluffy ($13/$49/$98) is a white chocolate mousse scented with vanilla. Aesthetics-aside, the taste of this charming piece of dessert was no less impressive. Take a bite into the soft exterior to reveal a decadent heart of Kirsh-soaked almond genoise, strawberry cremeux and a thin layer of tangy passionfruit lemon jelly for a gentle touch of tartness.

Earl Grey Bubble Tea
Earl Grey Bubble Tea 4/5

Fans of bubble tea would surely be enticed by this unique creation. The Earl Grey Bubble Tea ($9/$42.50/$85) comes in a cup filled with light and spongy cake at the base, infused with a rich earl grey tea aroma, followed by a thick layer of salted cream cheese, and topped with fresh mango cubes and tapioca pearls steeped in Okinawa black sugar. This fun-filled creation is as enjoyable to eat as it is Instagram-worthy.

Kyoto
Kyoto 3.8/5

Another tea infused creation is the Kyoto ($9/$42.50/$85) which pays homage to hojicha teas. The dessert reveals a layer of mousse enriched with a toasty nutty aroma of the hojicha flavour, a thin layer of orange confit for a subtle tangy-sweetness. This is then topped with a soft finger sponge made with Okinawa black sugar, complete with black sugar crème chantilly and a sleek of glaze finish. However, we felt that the orange confit was a mismatch to the richness of hojicha.

Bananier
Bananier 4/5

The Bananier ($9/$42.50/$85) features a classic marriage of dark chocolate and caramelised bananas. The rich layers of chocolate genoise find pleasant contrast with layers of crunchy milk chocolate feuilletine, and laced with light caramel parfaits and rum-flambéd bananas to give a moreish mouthfeel with the different texture and flavours.

Velvet Rouge
Velvet Rouge 3.8/5

Lastly, the Velvet Rouge ($9/$42.50/$85) was a well-executed elegant take on the classic red velvet cheesecake. The rich creaminess of the crimson-dyed cheesecake is cut with the light sweet-saltiness of the salted caramel crème chantilly, finished off grandly with showers of chocolate crumble for a delightfully balanced bite.

Schiacciata2
Schiacciata 4/5

Revel in the hearty repertoire of bistro-style dishes as well. A classic take on comforting food, the all-day menu draws in on starters, mains as well as seasonal specials that continue to excite diners' palate.

Kickstart the meal with the Schiacciata ($18), a traditional flatbread stuffed with melted camembert, pecorino and a rich truffle aroma. Served with a sunny side up and honey for a sweet-savoury combination, which surprisingly works well.

Wagyu Beef Cheek Tagliatelle1
Wagyu Beef Cheek Tagliatelle 4/5

For mains, the Wagyu Beef Cheek Tagliatelle ($28) is another new addition to the menu. The homemade whole wheat pasta boasts a thicker texture and chewier bite, complemented by the delicious wagyu beef cheek braised in red wine, veal stock and aromatics for 6 hours which blends perfectly with the pasta. Topped with an indulgent truffle foam to enliven the experience.

French Chicken and Sausage Casserole2
French Chicken and Sausage Casserole 3.8/5

Next, we move on to the French Chicken and Sausage Casserole ($24) - a classic french country-style casserole with braised chicken and pork sausage cooked together in a tomato-based stew with wine and cannellini beans. The hearty dish is then sprinkled with parmesan bread crumbs and broiled. Served with pomme puree on the side made with mashed potato.

Crispy Pork Belly Confit
Crispy Pork Belly Confit 4.2/5

The seasonal Crispy Pork Belly ($28) is a favourite with pork belly cured and confit in duck fat for a day pressed to shape and fry over low heat to achieve the perfect tender consistency, well-rendered fats, and thin crisp skin. The dish is served with savoury cabbage braised in chicken stock, pomme puree, and an umami-laden mustard sauce made from Dijon and Pommery mustard for a hint of spice.

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Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Antoinette 
30 Penhas Road
Singapore 208188
Tel: +65 62933121
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Lavender (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thur: 11am - 10pm
Fri & Eve PH: 11am - 11pm
Sat: 10am - 11pm
Sun & PH: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Lavender MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to V Hotel Lavender. Walk down Horne Road and turn right onto Penhas Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

The Clifford Pier @ The Fullerton Bay Hotel - Chef Philip Chia X The Clifford Pier "Best Of Perankan Cuisine" Promotion

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For the third time, Guest Chef Philip Chia will be taking over the kitchen of The Clifford Pier at The Fullerton Bay Hotel. As a fourth-generation Chinese Peranakan, he continues to draw inspirations from recipes of generations to deliver the classic flavours, while imbuing them with a modern flair.

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Trilogy of Appetisers 3.5/5

First time ever, Chef Philip designed a savoury Trilogy of Appetisers to be featured in the 4-Course Set Dinner. Presenting three ala carte dishes almost like a degustation manner, the highlight for me is Chef's rendition of the Pong Tahu Goreng. The deep-frying process brings out the taste of the beancurd even more, and the pork acts as a backdrop to provide the savoury sweetness. The Grilled Spicy Laksa Prawns will definitely whet your appetite with its aromatics and spices, which is further boosted by the tangy and spicy side salad of wingbean, cucumber, pineapple, calamansi and torch ginger. Whereas for the Kurobuta Pork and Crabmeat Nonya Ngoh Hiang, the accompanying garlicky sweet sauce was a tad too sweet for me.

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Peranakan Hee Peow Soup 3/5

The Peranakan Hee Peow Soup ($26) is loaded with 3 types of housemade meatballs - prawn, fish and pork, and they were pleasingly light and juicy. The fish maw was pretty luscious too, but I find the soup itself slightly blend and saltish.

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Ayam Buah Keluak 3.5/5

Ayam Buah Keluak ($40) is an interesting take on the classic. Although the overall taste doesn't quite reflect the traditional profile of the dish, I love the presentation, with the sous-vide Sakura chicken roulade mirroring the shapes of the Buah Keluak. Those enigmatic black nuts become even more alluring, and to be able to taste it on its own is such a treat.

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Satay Babi Goreng 3.5/5

Satay Babi Goreng ($39) veers towards the rich side, hence the bowl of rice is there for you to enjoy the gravy. The pork belly was even more tender than expected, but a handful less salt would have made the flavours of the dish more balanced.

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Ikan Chuan Chuan 4.2/5

Ikan Chuan Chuan ($52) allows you to enjoy the beautiful meat of the fresh whole snapper without the fuss of deboning the fish. Cubed and deep-fried, each fish nugget is very lightly battered, with the meat staying firm and moist. The tangy-sweet dressing has a very good consistency that simply glazed the surface of the battered fish cubes, flavouring them without weighing them down.

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Udang Masak Pedas Nanas 3.8/5

Udang Masak Pedas Nanas ($42) features a lovely light, spiced Malaccan-style coconut gravy, zesty with pineapples cubes and slices of grilled pineapples which I adore. The whole fresh prawns were somehow slightly overdone, but overall it was a very pleasing dish.

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Snow Ko Swee 4.2/5

Chef Chia’s efforts in representing all-time Peranakan delicacies with his Snow Ko Swee is much lauded. Every element on this plated dessert was delicious, be it the Kueh Ko Swee in two variations (one prepared with gula melaka, and the other with white sugar), the mellow sweet coconut ice cream, the freshly grated coconut, the airy sponge or even the cream dollops. You just got to make space for this dessert.

The Clifford Pier, The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore Chef Philip Chia x The Clifford Pier ‘Best of Peranakan Cuisine’ Promotion 13 June to 28 June 2019 
A La Carte and Set Lunch Menu Monday to Friday, 12.00 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. (except Public Holidays) - 2 course Set Lunch S$40* per person
- 3 course Set Lunch S$45* per person

A La Carte and Set Dinner Menu Monday to Friday: 6.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. (except Public Holidays) - 4 Course Set Dinner S$69* per person (Minimum 2 person order)
Dining Reservations at (65) 6877 8911 / 8912 or email dining-rsvp@fullertonhotels.com.

Words and photos 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.


The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore
80 Collyer Quay
Singapore 049326
Tel: +65 65975266
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
High Tea: 330pm - 530pm
Dinner: 630pm - 10pm
Supper: 10pm - 12midnight (Sun-Thu), 10pm - 1am (Fri-Sat)

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Clifford Centre. Cut across the building. Go to 2nd floor, take the overhead bridge link across the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]