Yan Restaurant (宴) @ National Gallery - Nourishing Cantonese Delights To Replenish The Body With Two Wellness Menus

For a limited period from 6 June to 31 August 2022, Yan Restaurant (宴) at National Gallery rolls up two Wellness Set Menus, developed together with guidance from Zhongjing Traditional Chinese Medicine. The delicious Cantonese fare incorporates the principles of Yao Shan (药膳) through the two set menus that harmonise wellness and health to replenish the body during the hot and humid summer months.

Crispy Skin Roasted Duck 4.5/5

The six-course wellness menu is priced at $158++ per pax, while the eight-course wellness menu is priced at $108++ per pax. We had the eight-course wellness menu starting with the Crispy Skin Roasted Duck marinated with Dried Mandarin Peel, accompanied with Chinese Pancake, Cucumber and Spring Onions. The use of Mandarin peels is said to nourish the spleen and lungs.

Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Immunity-Boosting Herbs 4.2/5

The Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Immunity-Boosting Herbs is brewed for 4 hours using a herbal soup mix curated by Zhongjin's physicians. The nourishing soup combines the wholesome benefits of ingredients such as milkvetch root, siler root, lotus seed, wolfberry, red dates, and candied dates. It helps to strengthen the spleen, reinforce and harmonise the vital energy in the body for summer.

Braised Sliced Abalone with Eggplant in Oyster Sauce 4.2/5

Eggplant, known to help reduces the risk of heart disease due to its fibre, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and antioxidants, is paired with Braised Sliced Abalone in an abalone and oyster sauce. It is my first time having eggplant done this way, and I truly enjoyed it.

Wok-fried King Prawns in Hawthorn Sauce 4.5/5

The Wok-fried King Prawns are cooked in Hawthorn sauce, which has many cardiovascular benefits such as treating high blood pressure, improving blood circulation, and many more. Its sweet and sour taste profile reminds me of sweet and sour pork, which excellently complements the prawn's freshness.

Steamed Chilean Cod Fillet with Cordyceps Flower 4.5/5

A favourite dish among the dining companions is the Steamed Chilean Fillet with Cordyceps Flower. The moist buttery-sweet Chilean cod fish is paired with cordyceps flower, commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to strengthen the liver and kidneys.

Sauteed Australian Scallops, Asparagus with Fresh Lily Bulbs 3.5/5

Sauteed Australian Scallops with Asparagus is a common dish in most Chinese restaurants. At Yan, it is elevated with the addition of lily bulbs promoting lung health, such as relieving coughs, dry throats, and other respiratory conditions.

Stewed Ee-fu Noodles with Mushrooms

Like every Chinese restaurant, we ended the meal with a carbo dish before the dessert. The stewed Ee-fu Noodles come with three different mushrooms - King Oyster Mushrooms, Enoki Mushrooms and Shimeji Mushrooms loaded with antioxidants.

Chilled Mao Shan Wang Durian Pudding 3/5

Last but not least, we had the Chilled Mao Shan Wang Durian Pudding to wrap up the dinner. While it is packed with the distinct aroma from the king of fruits, I didn't enjoyed the custardy texture of the pudding.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yan Restaurant (宴)
National Gallery Singapore
1 St Andrew's Road
#05-02
Singapore 178958
Tel: +65 63845585
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit D. Turn left and walk down North Bridge Road. Turn left onto Coleman Street. Walk down Coleman Street. Walk to destination. Journey time around 5 minutes. [Map]

Ichi Umai @ Junction Nine (Yishun) - Cozy Japanese Eatery That Offers Affordable Chirashi Don And Chestnut Pork Katsu Don

Located within the first level of Junction 9 at Yishun is Ichi Umai, a hole-in-the-wall Japanese eatery that offers affordable traditional and contemporary Japanese dishes. Diners can look forward to various Japanese food ranging from Chirashi Dons to Unagi Fried Rice, Chestnut Pork Katsu Don, and a variety of side dishes to complete the meal.

Sake Hotate Yuzu Carpaccio 4.2/5

We started the meal with the Sake Hotate Yuzu Carpaccio ($12.90), with fresh, thinly sliced salmon and scallops in citrus soy sauce. Truffle paste can be added at an additional top-up of $2. It comes with a pleasant truffle aroma that elevates the whole dish.

Sake Ikura Don 4.2/5

The Sake Ikura Don ($11.90) comes with raw salmon slices with salmon roe on furikake sushi rice. Well-proportioned and well-executed at an affordable price, the salmon slices were fresh. Furikake is added to give an umami taste to the Sake Ikura Don.

Kuri Buta Katsu Kare 4/5

The Kuri Buta Katsu Kare ($14.90) features a deep-fried panko-breaded chestnut pork cutlet, which is extremely crispy on the outside and tender within. The curry sauce packs a mildly spiced and rich flavour and goes perfectly well with the chestnut pork cutlet.

Ebi Tempura 4/5

The Ebi Tempura ($9.90) was simple but well-executed. The fried prawns were perfectly battered to thin crispiness and paired with a light tempura dipping sauce.

Ika Mentai Mayo 4.5/5

One of our favourite dishes and also the restaurant's popular side dish is the Ika Mentai Mayo ($12.90). The grilled squid itself was tender, with a bite to it. It was laced with torched pollock roe mayonnaise and miso mayonnaise, adding so layers of umami flavours to the seafood.

Tanuke Miso Roll 3.5/5

The Tanuke Miso Roll was an item that is not yet on the menu but will be launched sometime soon by the restaurant. It features miso mayo sauce on a fried crab meat sushi roll. However, we felt that the maki roll did not shine through compared to the rest of the dishes we had tonight, as the flavours were not prominent or memorable enough.

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.


Ichi Umai
Junction 9
18 Yishun Ave 9
#01-19
Singapore768897
Tel: +65 88871976
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Yishun (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Yishun MRT station. Take Exit C or D. Walk to Yishun MRT station (Stop ID 59009). Take bus number 803, 807 and 860. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Yishun MRT station. Take Exit C or D. Walk to Yishun MRT station (Stop ID 59009). Take bus number 811. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]