Sunday, January 14, 2024

Madame Fan @ The NCO Club - A Mythical Spring Odyssey at Madame Fan this Lunar New Year

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Madame Fan welcomes the Year of the Dragon by rolling out their meticulously crafted festive Spring creations. From 15 January to 25 February 2024, diners can select from dine-in Set Menus (from $108 per pax) and a la carte items, highlighting elevated modern Cantonese dishes made with premium ingredients.

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Additionally, a special Lunar New Year Edition of the restaurant's Dim Sum, Drink Sum Brunch (from $118 per pax), will feature items such as Steamed Black Truffle Dumpling with Wild Mushroom and Crab Roe Har Gao alongside Madame Fan's Signature Salmon Yu Sheng and new-to-menu cocktails. This will be available from 10 to 12, 17 to 18 and 24 to 25 February 2024.

For our dinner, we sampled highlights from the various menus.

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Bountiful Blessings Lobster Yu Sheng 4.2/5

Exclusively available for dine-in, the Bountiful Blessings Lobster Yu Sheng ($238 serves 8 persons) is presented with the traditional Chinese character of the dragon 龍. The star here was the fleshy and sweet chunks of Australian Lobster paired with an assortment of other fresh ingredients.

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This refreshing modern take was vibrant yet pleasingly light, with the combination of homemade bak kwa, crispy lotus root slices, green mango, longan, pomegranate, guava, apple, mango and grapefruit, dressed in a Honey Grain Mustard Yuzu Yogurt sauce.

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Madame Fan’s Prosperity Poon Choi 4.5/5

Another must-have for Lunar New Year would be poon choi. Madame Fan's Prosperity Poon Choi (from $438 for 5 pax) contains top ingredients of abalone, sea cucumber, scallop, and tiger prawns simmered with premium yam in a homemade abalone broth. The base is slow-cooked for over four hours, further enhanced with the addition of a roasted pork knuckle.

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The Poon Choi is available for takeaway as well. Diners can opt to upgrade to the Prosperity Poon Choi Bundle ($698 for 6 pax), which includes Abalone Yu Sheng, Wok Fried Glutinous Rice with Preserved Sausage, Dried Shrimp and Yam as well as Pan Fried Nian Gao with Coconut Crumb.

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Geoduck with Japanese Cucumber, Black Fungus, Aged Vinegar 4.5/5

The chilled Geoduck with Japanese Cucumber, Black Fungus, and Aged Vinegar ($68 per a la carte portion) was an inviting starter, with the sweet and crunchy geoduck complementing the mild acidity from the aged vinegar jelly.

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Sea Urchin Shumai 4/5

Aside from the Geoduck, we also had the Sea Urchin Shumai, which is recommended to enjoy in a mouthful.

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Imperial Bird’s Nest Golden Broth 4.8/5

One standout dish for me that evening was the luxurious Imperial Bird's Nest Golden Broth. This slow-cooked velvety broth boasted rich umami flavours and was elegantly adorned with bird's nest, fresh crab meat and roe. The touch of crispy shreds of scallop added an extra layer of indulgence.

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Braised Giant Grouper 4/5

Chef's Braised Giant Grouper was presented with its fish skin, beancurd fupi, and chu hou sauce. While the Cantonese preparation rendered the grouper's meat tender, I personally found the braised sauce a tad too sweet.

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Stewed Seafood Beancurd Rice 4.8/5

Another remarkable dish was the Stewed Seafood Beancurd Rice. The base stock, enriched by Gu Yue Long Shan rice wine, created a flavourful stew that allowed the natural seafood sweetness to shine through, topped with caviar for an extra touch of lux!

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Mango Fountain Chiffon Cake 4.5/5

The chef puts a creative spin on the traditional Mango Sago dessert with the Mango Fountain Chiffon Cake ($22 for a la carte). This delightful conclusion to the meal presents a medley of textures, including crumbs, ice cream, mousse, chiffon, and fresh mango slices. I appreciated the well-balanced sweetness and the added zest from Australian finger lime.

To place your dine-in reservations, email madamefan.nco@marriott.com, call 6818 1921 or visit their website at www.madamefan.sg.

For takeaways, visit www.madamefan.oddle.me to view their full range of offerings. These are available from 15 January to 25 February 2024 and must be made at least 2 days in advance. Receive a limited edition keepsake of Madame Fan's exclusive Mahjong Set with a minimum spend of $3,888 nett for dine-in or takeaways.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Madame Fan
The NCO Club
32 Beach Road
Singapore 189764
Tel: +65 6818 1921
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Website
Nearest MRT: Esplanade MRT (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 11am - 330pm, 6pm - 10pm

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

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Nong Geng Ji Hunan Cuisine (农耕记) @ VivoCity - Popular Hunan Restaurant Opens 2nd Outlet at VivoCity

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Amidst the bustling F&B scene at VivoCity, the popular Hunan restaurant chain Nong Geng Ji (农耕记) makes its mark with its second outlet, following the success of its flagship at Collyer Quay. Curiosity led me to explore the vivid flavours of their Hunanese offerings.

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Stir-Fried Pork with Abalone 4/5

Hunan's signature Xiao Chao Rou (小炒肉) gets a delightful twist at Nong Geng Ji with the Stir-Fried Pork with Abalone ($27.90). A fusion of sliced pork, baby abalones, and Hunan green peppers creates a mildly spicy ensemble. While the dish boasts a unique texture with crunchy fungi, I found myself yearning for more of the signature green pepper, a soulful element that seemed slightly lacking.

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Stir-Fried Kampung Chicken with Camellia Oil 3.5/5

The Stir-Fried Kampung Chicken with Camellia Oil ($23.90) unfolds with tender chicken, crunchy black fungus, and potatoes. However, the disappointment lingers as the chicken pieces don't quite deliver on the meaty front.

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Casserole Flavoured Smoked Bamboo Shoots 4.2/5

A star of the meal, the Casserole Flavoured Smoked Bamboo Shoots beckon for a bowl of rice. Their spicy kick might be intense for those averse to heat, but the flavourful and crunchy bamboo shoots leave a lasting impression.

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Steamed Pork Ribs with Taro 3/5

Shifting gears to a non-spicy dimension, the Steamed Pork Ribs with Taro ($18.90) features soft and tender pork ribs atop a fragrant yam bed. It evokes the essence of steamed pork ribs dim sum, a comforting interlude in the spice-laden lineup.

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Glutinous Rice Cake with Brown Sugar 3.8/5

Concluding our dinner is the Glutinous Rice Cake with Brown Sugar ($3.90). This trio of soft and spongy delights bathed in balanced brown sugar provides a sweet closure to the Hunanese feast.

Nong Geng Ji at Vivocity is a worthy addition to the Hunan culinary landscape in Singapore. Despite minor hiccups, the restaurant captures the essence of Hunanese cuisine, offering a flavourful journey that invites both spice enthusiasts and those seeking unique textures.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Nong Geng Ji Hunan Cuisine (农耕记)
VivoCity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#01-51A
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 9082 0013
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Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am -10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Harbourfront MRT station. Take Exit C & E. Walk to destiation. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]