White Marble @ Orchard Rendezvous Hotel - Chef Otto Weibei's Loving Tribute To The Mediterranean

The newly opened White Marble restaurant at Orchard Rendezvous Hotel is a Mediterranean grill concept by Chef Otto Weibel, Singapore's grand doyen of Western gastronomy. The restaurant brings together the timeless flavours of the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. And in line with Chef Otto’s philosophy, dishes are prepared with fresh quality produce, using simple techniques that showcase the natural flavours at their vibrant best.

Roasted Butternut Squash 4.2/5

Our dinner started with the Roasted Butternut Squash ($12++). The sweetness of the butternut squash is paired with chilli yoghurt and coriander salsa. It comes with a hint of spiciness from the chilli oil drizzled over the dish, finished with toasted sunflower seeds and seasonal herbs.

Octopus 4/5

Following that, we have the Octopus ($36++). The charcoal-grilled Spanish octopus rests atop crispy potato and garlic cream. Pistachio crumbs are added for extra texture, while the chilli oil spiced up the taste profile.

Fattouche 3/5

Mezze Plate 3.5/5

The Mezze Plate ($34++) and Fattouche ($12++) are good for sharing. The platter comprises falafel, tabbouleh with quinoa, fattouche, eggplant moutabal, hummus, chicken skewers, and grilled pita. The platter draws inspiration from Chef Otto's trip to the Middle East, featuring dishes in the region such as Dubai, Lebaron and Egypt. A healthy take from the region is the Fattouche, a classic Levantine crunchy salad dressed in a refreshing lemon dressing.

Chicken Leg Bone-in Tagine 4.5/5

Great to go with a plate of rice is the Chicken Leg Bone-in Tagine ($60++). The whole chicken leg is marinated with shawarma spice for a day, grilled and cooked with red onions in a tagine. It is a classic Moroccan stew held together by a delicious tomato sauce brightened with dates and preserved lemon.

Prawn Bucatini Puttanesca $28++

My favourite dish for the night is the Prawn Bucatini Puttanesca ($28++). I love the pasta texture cooked in a classic Italian recipe with olive oil, mixed olives, tomatoes, capers and anchovies. It seems that many things were going on, but they came together harmoniously for a delicious finishing.

Seafood and Australian Lamb Skewer 4/5

Not to be missed at White Marble is the charcoal-grilled Seafood Skewer ($38++ per skewer) and Australian Lamb Skewer ($48++ per skewer). The seafood skewer consists of octopus, white fish, prawns, and assorted vegetables. I prefer the Australian lamb skewer marinated in chermoula. It was juicy and tender. Three different sauces - lemon garlic cream, harissa aioli, and salbitxada are served to enjoy the seafood and meat.

Crema Catalana 4.2/5

Unlike creme brulee, the difference is that Crema Catalana ($16++) is thickened with milk and cornstarch instead of cream. Freshly squeezed orange juice is added, zesting up the flavour profile. It is topped with torched orange segments, freeze-dried tangerines, candied orange peels and mint leaves.

Fig & Almond 4/5

Another classic Spanish dessert is the Fig & Almond ($16++), a cold-pressed olive oil cake baked with fresh figs. It is paired with almond crumble for crunch and yoghurt ice cream for a sweet ending.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


White Marble
Orchard Rendezvous Hotel
1 Tanglin Road
#01-09
Singapore 247905
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Website
Nearest: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Walk down Orchard Road to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Mariners' Corner Restaurant @ Sunset Way - The Hainanese Western Restaurant Has Moved To The West

Suppose you are fans of Mariners' Corner Restaurant, which used to be at Maritime House. In that case, you will be glad to know that the Hainanese Western restaurant has moved to Sunset Way at Clementi Street 12. Stepping into the restaurant, I felt that I had been transported to the 1980s, giving me a nostalgic feel.

After browsing through the menu, we decided to add an extra $5.80 for a complete set meal, complementing the main course with a bowl of Salad, Soup of the Day, Garlic Bread. Coffee/Tea and dessert.

We started with the Salad Bowl dressed in thousand island sauce, followed by Garlic Bread and Creamy Chicken Soup. There is nothing wow to shout about but classic old-school starters to kickstart the meal before the main course.

Calamari with Tar Tar Sauce 3/5

We decided to order a plate of Calamari with Tar Tar Sauce ($7.50) for the appetiser. Unfortunately, while we enjoyed the crispy batter, we found the squid was a bit rubbery.

New Zealand Ribeye Steak 4.2/5

For my main, I decided to go for the New Zealand Ribeye Steak ($27) served with baked potato and buttered veggies. For the sauces, there are five choices - black pepper, mushroom, garlic shallot, BBQ and sambal. I decided to go for the black pepper sauce for the steak. I find it value-for-money for the quality of beef and price. What I find weird is the topping for the baked potato. It uses deep-fried garlic instead of bacon. I am not sure this is the norm, but I am used to having it with bacon instead of deep-fried garlic.

Grilled King Snapper 2.8/5

My partner has the Grilled King Snapper ($23.50) paired with Almonds with Lemon Butter sauce for the other main. I thought it was lacklustre, lacking the sharpness in flavour to lift the fresh catch. I was expecting it to be more grilled too. Instead, it was too plain, missing the char-grilled aroma.

Finally, wrapping up our set meal is a slice of Fruit Cake with chocolate sauce. Actually, Mariners' Corner reminds me of Jack's Place with its interior decor and food, providing a nostalgic charm that is slowly disappearing in an urbanised country like Singapore.


Mariners' Corner Restaurant
Blk 106 Clementi Street 12
#01-40
Singapore 120106
Tel: +65 62249928
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Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 184. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 52 or 154. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Dover MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Dover MRT station (Stop ID 19031). Take bus number 74. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]