Christina's @ Mondrian Singapore Duxton - Marriage of Mediterrane Nuances with Asian Flavours

Christina's at Mondrian Singapore Duxton has recently unveiled a new menu crafted by Chef Kenny, who blends his culinary experiences from Europe and Singapore to create dishes that marry Mediterranean nuances with Asian flavours. A standout feature of the new menu is the addition of wood-fired components in various dishes, enhancing their depth and complexity.

Quinoa Avocado Chicken Salad 4.5/5

We started our meal with a light option from the Soups & Salads selection: the Quinoa Avocado Chicken Salad ($24). This dish features a tender piece of grilled chicken breast atop a bed of quinoa, fresh mesclun salad, and creamy avocado chunks, offering a wholesome and refreshing start.

Octopus Carpaccio 4.5/5

Additionally, we tried the Octopus Carpaccio ($28) from the Social Plates selection. This dish combines smokey, wood-fired grilled octopus and delicate carpaccio-style octopus with a bed of fennel arugula salad, resulting in delightful textures and fresh flavours.

Seabass Fillet 4.8/5

We opted for the Seabass Fillet ($34) and King Prawns with Vodka ($38), both prepared over woodfire for mains. The seabass was very well executed, delivering tender meat and crispy skin. The simple preparation allowed the fish's natural flavours to shine, with the saltishness from diced Mediterranean olives enhancing its sweetness.

King Prawns 4.5/5

Likewise, the King Prawns were flambéed with vodka at our table, adding a dramatic flair. The prawns were served with a piquant, mouthwatering lime dip that enhanced the taste of the succulent prawns.

Josper Grilled Pineapple 2.5/5

Banoffee Mess 3/5

We had Josper Grilled Pineapple with Smoked Ice Cream ($14) and Banoffee Mess ($14) with ginger-caramelized banana for dessert. While both desserts were a bit too sweet for my liking, the Banoffee Mess fared better with its textural contrasts and varied flavours, featuring chocolate soil and chantilly. The grilled pineapple could have been more charred for a deeper flavour, and the smoked ice cream was overly sweet and one-dimensional.

Raspberry Pistachio Financier 3.5/5

Christina's also offers a selection of homemade pastries. The Raspberry Pistachio Financier ($8) surprised us with its unique nutty flavor and tangy raspberry core, which balanced the financier's sweetness.

Photos and words 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.


Christina's
Mondrian Singapore Duxton
16A Duxton Hill
#01-09/10
Singapore 089970
Tel: +65 6019 6010
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Nearest MRT: Maxwell (TE Line), Outram Park (EW, NE Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 8am - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 8am - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Cross the road and walk to Duxton Road. Walk down Duxton Road. Turn right onto Duxton Hill. Walk down Duxton Hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight to Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road and walk to Craig Road. Walk down Craig Road towards Neil Road. Turn left onto Neil Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk to the staircase behind the open air carpark. Take the staircase to Duxton Plain Park. Turn right and walk down the Duxton Plain Park. Cross the tunnel, take the stairs to the road level and walk down Neil Road. Walk to destination. Journey time bout 6 minutes. [Map]

Kaarla Wood-Fire Grill and Bar @ CapitaSpring - Pivoted From Fine Dining to Casual Australian-Japanese Restaurant

Formerly a fine dining concept, Kaarla at 1-Arden CapitaSpring has transitioned into a casual Australian-Japanese restaurant that offers a welcoming space for communal dining over wood-fire sharing plates and classic cocktails. Diners can also look forward to regular live entertainment for a chillout evening. Despite this pivot, Kaarla continues its commitment to sustainable dining by using ethically sourced ingredients from artisanal producers and local farms, incorporating over 158 species of edible greens, herbs, and flowers from its 10,000 sq-ft urban farm.

Yuzu Shoyu Salmon Skewers 4/5

Deep-Fried Lotus Root Chips 4/5

Parker Brioche 4/5

Instead of courses and a la carte dishes, the menu is now categorised into more affordably-priced sharing plates suitable for communal dining or after-work drinking sessions. To start the evening, we enjoyed some bar snacks, including crisped Deep-Fried Lotus Root Chips ($12), which were moreish with sweet-savoury furikake and dashi honey. The Parker Brioche ($10) with shio kombu butter added extra butteriness, and the Yuzu Shoyu Salmon Skewers ($15) satisfied with their fatty texture and smoky umami flavour.

Burrata 3/5

Coal Roasted Tiger Prawns 2.8/5

We tried the Coal Roasted Tiger Prawns ($22) and Burrata ($14) from the small plates. The burrata was lusciously soft and pillowy, complemented by a contrasting garlicky goma sauce. However, I couldn't help wondering what happened to the other half of the burrata. The prawns had good flavours imparted from sansho pepper and a tangy native tamarind jam, but they weren't as succulent as expected.

Natural Pork Loin 4.5/5

John Dory 2.5/5

For mains, the Natural Pork Loin ($36) was excellently done over a wood fire, served pink-tender over a bed of braised barley and garden vegetables from the farm. However, the John Dory ($46) fell short with a rubbery texture.

Wood Roasted Pumpkin 5/5

The Wood Roasted Pumpkin ($14) was a highlight for me. Slow-roasted, it had a dense and starchy texture, with a sweetness aptly contrasted by sharp goat's feta cheese and an umami miso glaze made from its own seeds, ground and mixed with miso. Atop the feta cheese was a handful of watercress from its farm, which surprised me with a refreshing, crunchy texture.

Cherry Ripe 4.5/5

Rounding off our meal was a divine Cherry Ripe ($18), featuring a classic combination of tart cherries and bitter dark chocolate ganache, brought together by a creamy coconut fudge.

Garden Fizz, Old Fashioned Kaarla

Alongside the revamped menu, the drinks selection has been refined to a concise selection of four signatures (all at $22), maximising house-grown herbs and kitchen ingredients. The Garden Fizz is a citrusy drink accented with rosemary, while the Old Fashioned Kaarla exudes a much bolder flavour, concocted with Australian bush tomatoes muddled with bourbon to give a slight caramel hint.

For the upcoming National Day, Kaarla is also one of the best options to catch the fireworks:

* Indulge in a 5-Course National Day Dinner priced at $168++ per person. (Available on July 27th, August 3rd, and 9th)
* Raise a Toast with Free-Flow Alcohol for $59++ per person on August 9th, from 6-8PM
* Join the Skyline Sparkle Party every Saturday from June 22nd to August 9th, Tickets are $30 nett per person and include one drink (choice of soft drink, juice, beer, housepour spirits, or wines).

Photos and words 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.


Kaarla Wood-Fire Grill & Bar
CapitaSpring
88 Market Street
#51-02
Singapore 048948
Tel: +65 8518 3763
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Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon- Fri: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 11pm
Sat: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk to Malacca Street. Walk down Malacca Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]