Ingleside @ Tras Street - From Fermentation to Fire

Ingleside is a new modern European restaurant in the heart of Tras Street in Tanjong Pagar. Spearheaded by the husband-and-wife team of Louis Chan and Jana Jusman as Head Chef and Head Fermentation Specialist respectively, Ingleside brings time-honoured techniques of fermentation, dry-aging, and wood-fired cooking, melded with innovative approaches to craft a contemporary European menu.

Tuna Tartare 4/5

We embarked on the 6-Course Ingleside Experience Menu ($128++), starting with the Tuna Tartare. This dish features finely diced tuna housed in a crispy shell, paired with maitake shoyu, sesame oil, yuzu, and pickled shallot, and topped with caviar. Each bite is a delightful burst of flavours and textures.

Truffle Toast 4/5

Next was the Truffle Toast, where fluffy brioche is deep-fried and topped with foie gras mousse, sauternes jelly, and fresh black truffle shavings. Every bite provides an explosion of rich and decadent flavours.

Jamon Ball 3/5

The Jamon Ball, shaped into a crispy potato ball, is packed with the lovely flavours of jamon serrano and Gruyere cheese. The thin, crispy coating encases a savoury filling elevated by the sweetness of shrimp.

Hand Cut Wagyu Tartare 4/5

Following the trio of snacks, we moved on to the appetisers, starting with the Hand Cut Wagyu Tartare served atop roasted bone marrow. This dish features a myriad of housemade ferments, including shoyu made from coffee, celery vinegar, and roast chicken garum, topped with cured egg yolk. This dish requires an additional top-up of $24 but is well worth it for its complexity and depth of flavour.

Maitake & Pork 3.5/5

The other appetiser, Maitake & Pork, features confit pork cheek that melts in your mouth, paired with a split pea miso glaze. Crispy kale topped with shio koji sauce completes the dish for added crunch.

Atlantic Octopus 4/5

Moving on to the mains, we had the Atlantic Octopus, cooked over a wood-fire grill and served with smoked pepper squid garum puree, black garlic aioli, herb aioli, prawn oil, and charred fennel. The octopus was tender, with a lovely char from the grill.

Tajima MBS 6-7 Koji Picanha 4.2/5

The meal's highlight was the Tajima MBS 6-7 Koji Picanha, aged in house-grown shio koji. This ageing process adds a subtle sweetness, umami, and juiciness to the already well-marbled steak. It is accompanied by pomme puree and slow-roasted banana shallots, creating a perfectly balanced dish.

Deconstructed Lemon Meringue Tart 4.2/5

For dessert, we enjoyed the Deconstructed Lemon Meringue Tart. This dessert is a medley of textures comprising yuzu granita, smoked ice cream, lavender lemon curd, and thyme crumb. It's sweet, tangy, and refreshing, making it an ideal sweet ending to the meal.

Smoked Chocolate Brownie 4/5

For those craving a richer and sweeter finish, the Smoked Chocolate Brownie is moist and molten, paired with grilled pineapple and coconut foam. The coconut foam smoothens the richness of the brownie, although the grilled pineapple's tropical finish left me slightly puzzled by its intent.

Ingleside offers a captivating dining experience with its modern European menu, expertly crafted by the talented duo of Louis Chan and Jana Jusman. Each dish showcases its mastery of traditional techniques and innovative flair, making Ingleside a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts looking to experience a unique blend of flavours and textures in Tanjong Pagar.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Ingleside
49 Tras Street
Singapore 078988
Tel: +65 88394393
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line). Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue: 6pm - 1130pm
Wed-Fri: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1130pm
SatL 6pm - 1130pm
(Closed on Sun and Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Tras Street. Turn right onto Tras Street. Walk down Tras Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 2. Turn left and walk down Tanjong Pagar Road. Turn left onto Tras Street. Walk down Tras Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

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
Facebook
Instagram
Website
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]