Tonito @ Jewel Changi Airport - Serving Lesser Known Traditional Latin American Cuisine

Having dined at Tono Cevicheria on a few occasions, I have grown to enjoy the vibrant flavours of Peruvian cuisine. I was excited when it opens a brother restaurant, Tonito at Jewel Changi Airport, bringing the lesser known Latino dishes to Singaporean as well as tourists travelling in and out of Singapore.

Mexican Ceviche 4/5

For appetisers, we started with the Mexican Ceviche ($28) and Ceviche Tonito ($28). The Mexican Ceviche consists of octopus, Japanese baby scallops, crabmeat, pico de gallo, limes, and guacamole. It is best eaten together with the crispy corn tortilla for an explosion of flavours and play of textures.

Ceviche Tonito 4/5

Tasted as good is the Ceviche Tonito ($28) that comprises of Japanese baby scallops, octopus, crabmeat and fried calamari in Smoked Aji Amarillo Tiger's Milk. Compare to the Mexican Ceviche, and I prefer this more as the flavours are sharper with more depth.

Pork Tacos 4/5

Tonito does not focus only on Peruvian food. It also offers a selection of Latin American cuisine  such as the Mexican tacos and quesadillas. For tacos, there are options for fish, beef, chicken and pork. I had the Pork Tacos ($16) which comes with crispy pork belly, sausage, caramelised onion, chipotle mayo aioli with soft corn tortilla.

Beef Quesadillas 4.2/5

The Beef Quesadillas ($16) with crispy thin flour tortilla is another excellent dish on the menu. Marinated beef, coriander aioli and avocado puree are sandwiched in between the crispy shell, bound together by the melted cheddar cheese for a cheesy enjoyment. There are also options for pork and chicken if you don't eat beef. For vegetarian, the corn replaces the protein.

Fish Moqueca 4.2/5

A dish closer to our local palate is the traditional Brazilian Fish Moqueca ($26). The fish stew is prepared with rich coconut milk in a piquant gravy of tomatoes and peppers which has a mild spicy kick. It goes very well with the fragrant garlic rice.

Latino Seafood Rice 4.5/5

My favourite dish for the night goes to the Latino Seafood Rice. The crabmeat rice cooked in white wine, dried chilli sauce and parmesan cheese is delicious and flavourful. Crispy fish, calamari and prawns accompanied the dish. It is a simple yet hearty dish. I probably can eat this every day and not get tired of it.

Tres Leches 4.5/5

Not being a dessert person, I find myself enjoying the Tres Leches ($8) paired with pineapple compote and crispy coconut flakes. The sponge cake soaked in coconut milk is moist and sweet.

Unlike Tono Cevicheria, Tonito offers a more family-friendly, convivial dining atmosphere with hearty and flavourful traditional Latin American cuisine that is lesser known to Singaporean.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Tonito
Jewel Changi Airport
78 Airport Boulevard
#02-248
Singapore 819666
Tel: +65 69043975
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit A and B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Resplendent Reunions at Sheraton Towers Singapore

Sheraton Towers Singapore celebrates the Lunar New Year with a line-up of reunion feasts from 2 January to 8 February 2020. From traditional Cantonese cuisine with a selection of Chinese set menus to the casual but lavish buffet spread, you can also opt for festive takeaway treats to enjoy your reunion in the comfort of home.

Served in set menus and available for takeaway as well, Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant has created a new “Yu Sheng Loh Hei” Platter. To enhance the textural enjoyment of the yu sheng, Coral clams and sea whelk are added.

Coral Clams Yu Sheng 3.8/5

Coral Clam Yu Sheng Platter ($98/$188) features coral clam atop an array of ingredients such as yam, sweet potato, white radish, carrot, pickled ginger and pomelo.

Salmon Roe and Seawhelk Yu Sheng 3.8/5

A more lavish version will be Salmon Roe and Sea Whelk Yu Sheng Platter ($118/$208) that comes with an additional serving of salmon roe and succulent sea whelk.

Double-boiled Bird’s Nest Soup 3.8/5

Highlights of the set menu include this nourishing Double-boiled Bird’s Nest Soup with Fish Maw, Chicken and Morchella Mushrooms.

Braised Abalone, Stuffed beancurd Skin, Dried Oyster 4/5

Shaped like a yuanbao, I like how the flavour and texture of each individual ingredient - Abalone, Beancurd Skin and Dried Oyster, are being bound together by the braising sauce. Black Moss is added for the auspicious purpose.

Sauteed Lobster Claw, Prawns with Broccoli 3.5/5

Another dish as part of the menu to denote happiness is the Sauteed Lobster Claw, Prawns with Broccoli. The addition of the plump lobster claws to the succulent prawns seems to be a display of abundance and prosperity.

Crispy Roasted Chicken with Black Truffle 3.8/5

For a touch of modernity, Crispy Roasted Chicken is served with Black Truffle gravy. With the skin so beautifully crisped and meat that moist and tender, it might be better to appreciate the meat at it is.

Price starts from $888++ for a table of 10 persons. For bookings and enquiries, please call (65) 68395845/32 or email catering@sheratonsingapore.com.

For festive takeaways, other than the new Yu Sheng options, Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant has also curated a couple more new auspicious delights alongside traditional favourites.

Lotus Seed Cake with Preserved Meat, Lily Bulb, Chinese Yam & Dried Shrimp 4.8/5

Available for dine-in and takeaway, one of my favourite festive treats is this Lotus Seed Cake with Preserved Meat, Lily Bulb, Chinese Yam & Dried Shrimp ($52). With lotus seed and lily bulb mixed with alongside the Chinese yam to pump up the texture and flavours, each bite is full of surprises and definitely a lot more moreish than the traditional version.

Water Chestnut Cake with Osmanthus 4/5

To balance all the richness of the highly-flavoured savoury dishes, Water Chestnut Cake with Osmanthus ($50/order) is perfect to go along with a cup of Chinese tea.

The Dining Room will also be holding a special Chinese New Year Eve Dinner Buffet on 24 January 2020.

DIY salad with Chicken Bak Kwa and Pok Chui

To complete the experience, you can create your own salad yu sheng at the DIY station with toppings like chicken bak kwa and pok chui (crispy crackers).

Ngoh Hiang Salad with Pineapple and Cucumber

Other small bites include Ngoh Hiang Salad with Pineapple and Cucumber.

Black Pepper Crab Meat Timbale with Avocado and Chives

Indulge in petite but premium Black Pepper Crab Meat Timbale with Avocado and Chives.

Black Sesame Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage, Asparagus and Tobiko 4.5/5

Look out for the belly-warming Black Sesame Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage, Asparagus and Tobiko. Brimming with flavour and texture from the savoury and chewy Chinese sausage, saltish Tobiko, nutty black sesame, crunchy asparagus and of course, the fried rice itself, this dish is such a pleasure to tuck into.

You can also look forward to dishes such as Prosperity Clay Pot featuring an ensemble of premium ingredients including baby abalone, baby lobster, dried scallop, XO Chinese sausage and roasted pork belly, Four Treasure Soup prepared with fish maw, sea cucumber, shredded abalone and crabmeat, Spicy Szechuan Chicken, and Glutinous Rice with Chicken, Shiitake Mushroom and Chinese Sausage.

Price: $98 (adult); $49 (child) Prelude to Chinese New Year Lunch and Dinner Buffet.

For more information, please contact Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant at (65) 6839 5623, email libai@sheratonsingapore.com or order the festive takeaways online at https://shopatsheraton.oddle.me/.

For dining enquiries and reservations, please call The Dining Room at (65) 6839 5621 or email thediningroom@sheratonsingapore.com.

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.


Sheraton Towers Singapore
39 Scotts Road
Singapore 228230
Tel: +65 67376888
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Newton (DT Line, NS Line)

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