Monday, February 10, 2025

Bhoomi by Milind Sovani @ Orchard Towers - A Celebration of India's Gastronomic Traditions with Modern Touch

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Chef Milind Sovani's latest culinary venture, Bhoomi, located at Claymore Drive, is a heartfelt tribute to India's diverse culinary heritage. Designed to highlight the robust spices of North India and the coastal delights of the Konkan region, Bhoomi showcases age-old recipes alongside contemporary inspirations from Chef Milind's extensive travels across India. The result is a thoughtful menu that celebrates India's gastronomic traditions with a modern touch while focusing on sustainability and healthy meals through organic, locally sourced ingredients and traditional cooking methods.

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Kulthachey Kalan 5/5

The meal began with Kulthachey Kalan, a comforting soup crafted from horsegrain (huligey) sourced from rural Konkan. Light yet flavourful, it was seasoned with warming spices and a hint of heat—perfect for awakening the palate.

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Bhima Onion and Avocado Kebab 4.8/5

Another starter, the Bhima Onion and Avocado Kebab featured pan-seared patties of avocado, Nasik white onion, and handmade cheese. The patties were beautifully seared, creating a delightful contrast between the crispy exterior and the creamy interior. A delicate balance of sweetness and savoury notes, enhanced with finely chopped onions and spices, made this a standout dish.

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Ultimate Chicken Tikka 4.5/5

From the charcoal-grilled specials, the Ultimate Chicken Tikka was a crowd-pleaser. Marinated using an authentic recipe from Delhi's Daryaganj, the chicken was beautifully succulent and packed with robust flavours. The smoky char from the grill added a delightful depth, while a hint of lemony acidity provided a refreshing lift. Although slightly on the saltier side, it remained a satisfying and well-executed dish.

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Koila Butter Chicken 4.5/5

Moving on to curries, the Koila Butter Chicken was one of Bhoomi's star offerings. Slow-cooked in a claypot over a charcoal pit, the curry was rich and indulgent yet skillfully balanced with layers of spices and nuanced flavours.

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Lahsooni Palak Paneer 4/5

Vegetarian-friendly options like the Lahsooni Palak Paneer and Mewadi Panchmeli Dal were equally noteworthy. The Lahsooni Palak Paneer featured a light garlic-tossed spinach puree, delicately seasoned to enhance the dish's natural flavours. The chargrilled cottage cheese cubes were soft, creamy, and milky, complementing the spinach beautifully.

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Mewadi Panchmeli Dal 5/5

Meanwhile, the Mewadi Panchmeli Dal, made with Rajasthan's five lentils and served with smoked chilli and ghee tadka, was a spice and texture masterclass, offering depth and consistency.

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Garlic Naan and Gluten-free Seeded Amaranth Roti

To accompany these curries, we had Garlic Naan and the gluten-free Seeded Amaranth Roti, the latter particularly impressed with its nutty undertones and aromatic toasted seeds.

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Gud Ki Rasmalai 4.5/5

Ending the meal was a dessert originating from the Bengali region - Gud Ki Rasmalai. This dessert featured soft and spongy Bengali-style rasmalai, made with sugar-free palm jaggery. The sponginess was achieved by kneading milk solids separated from boiling milk with vinegar. Infused with quintessential flavours of cardamom and rose water, it was another sophisticated representation of Indian culinary traditions.

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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Bhoomi by Milind Sovani
1 Claymore Drive
#01-05
Singapore 229594
Tel: +65 6225 4221
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk towards Wheellock Place via ION. Exit Wheellock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Cross the road at the traffic light junction and turn left towards Royal Thai Embassy. Walk down Orchard Road towards the junction of Orchard Road and Claymore Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Wagyu X @ Club Street - Launches Wagyu X Platters with Complimentary Sides

Wagyu X Major platter -3

Wagyu X, the renowned Japanese steakhouse by Chef Masahiro Takada, has launched an exciting new addition to their menu: the Wagyu X Platters.

There are two types of Wagyu X Platters available: the Wagyu X Origins (Sirloins) ($180++), which is good for 2-3 guests, and the Wagyu X Major (Sirloins) ($370++), which is good for 4-6 guests. Carefully curated by Chef Masa and his team from over 100 beef varieties sourced globally, these premium platters feature exceptional cuts from three top beef-producing regions: the US, Australia, and Japan. A must-try experience for steak lovers!

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Crab Stick Salad and Cherry Tomatoes

While waiting for dinner to begin properly, we were served a complimentary small snack of Crab Stick Salad and Cherry Tomatoes to whet our appetites and get us excited about our food.

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Kabocha, 4.5/5

The Kabocha ($26) was adorably presented and also delicious! The contents of the mini pumpkin are cooked with a creamy béchamel sauce and caramelised walnuts, then filled back into the pumpkin shell, topped with mozzarella and parmesan cheese, and baked. The result is a sweet, creamy indulgence in each scoop and a beautifully golden, cheesy crust.

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Tuna Steak 4.2/5

For the Tuna Steak ($24), sashimi-grade tuna is selected for its freshness. The sides are coated in sesame seeds and pan-fried. The steak is served with a dipping red wine apple sauce, which has a slight tartness that nicely complements the tuna.

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Chilled Somen with Scallops 3.5/5

This dish was promising. It was a classic combination featuring smooth, chilled Japanese Somen Noodles ($26) tossed in a sauce of konbu, truffle oil, and truffle paste and topped with fresh scallops. The flavour was quite nice, but the dish was let down by either too little sauce or an uneven toss before serving. As a result, the somen did not have the silky texture I like and turned out slightly dry.

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Wagyu X Major (Sirloins) 5/5

Then came the pièce de résistance of the evening — the stunning Wagyu X Major (Sirloins) Platter, featuring five premium cuts of beef that looked absolutely incredible. To make the tasting experience more fun and interactive amongst diners, Chef Masa invites guests to participate in a blind-tasting challenge, where they'll match each cut to its name and rank their favourite ones.

This platter consists of the following cuts:
· Wagyu X 250g
· Wagyu X Aged 250g
· Wagyu A5 Kyoto Hirai 160g
· USDA Prime MacClaren Farm Angus 300g
· Australian Wagyu F1 Stockyard 250g

1. USDA prime MacClaren Farm Angus-2
1. USDA Prime MacClaren Farm Angus

The USDA Prime MacClaren Farm Angus comes from a five generation family-run farm in Texas known for its ethically raised, all-natural Black Angus beef. Each steak boasts exceptional marbling, and a juicy, tender texture.

2. Australian Wagyu F1-1
2. Australian Wagyu F1 Stockyard

Coming from the other side of the world, the Australian Wagyu F1 Stockyard comes from a family-owned farm in southeast Queensland. The cattle are fed a nutritionist-approved special diet of steam-flaked grains and locally sourced feed products, contributing to its unique flavour profile.

3. Wagyu A5 Kyoto Hirai-1
3. Wagyu A5 Kyoto Hirai

This Wagyu A5 Kyoto Hirai was the cut everyone could easily recognise — the distinctive Japanese Wagyu, known for its luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth marbling. It offers an unrivalled flavour and a buttery texture that's truly in a league of its own. It would be perfect with rice, as the very high-fat content quickly makes it a bit rich.

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4. Wagyu X Aged

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5. Wagyu X

Wagyu X's signature offering is a unique Hokkaido breed, the result of crossbreeding a Kuroge Black Wagyu cow with an Aberdeen Angus bull. This blend combines the best of both worlds: the beautiful marbling that Wagyu is known for, together with the robust flavours of Angus beef. It's indeed delicious and less rich than the traditional Japanese wagyu cut. Wagyu X can also be further wet-aged for a more complex and more full-bodied flavour profile.

It's worth noting that while the meat is served medium rare by default, don't hesitate to request a more well-done version if that's your preference! Our table found the platter too rare for our liking and sent it back to be cooked to medium. We certainly enjoyed it even more once it was just right for our comfort level.

You can also order a wide variety of side dishes to complement your meal, such as mashed potatoes, onion rings, mushrooms, cucumber, charred asparagus, white rice, Japanese tomatoes, and more.

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Agedashi Tofu 4/5

The first side dish we tried was Agedashi Tofu ($16), a Japanese side dish that I really enjoy. It arrived piping hot, with a light and crispy batter that was spot on.

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Beef Tallow Fries 4.5/5

The Beef Tallow Fries ($16) might look like ordinary shoestring fries at first glance, but they are absolutely delicious! Cooked in beef tallow, they're wonderfully fragrant and incredibly crisp. Lightly seasoned with salt and furikake, they have an irresistible crunch that keeps us reaching for more. We found ourselves running out of fries before we realised it!

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Horenso Gomaae 2.8/5

The Horenso Gomaae ($16) features blanched spinach that's cooled and mixed with brown sugar, salt, sesame, olive oil, and furikake. The dish was a refreshing break after so much meat, but it felt too simple for the price.

From now until 28 February 2025, Wagyu X is celebrating the launch of its Wagyu X platters with limited-time promotions. Enjoy complimentary sides and a return voucher for your next visit.

· ⁠Wagyu X Origins (Sirloins) ($180++) – Free 1 Side (Beef Tallow Fries)
· ⁠Wagyu X Major (Sirloins) ($370++) – Free 2 Sides (Beef Tallow Fries, ⁠Horenso Goma Ae)
· Return voucher with purchase of any Wagyu X Platter: 20% off appetisers, sides & desserts

Photographed and penned by Shermine. Through her pictures and stories, she shares her journey of savouring new flavours and experiences. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Wagyu X
82 Club Street
Singapore 069450
Tel: +65 8795 6664
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Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT, NE Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Cross Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Continue to the end of Amoy Street. Climb the stairs beside Siang Cho Keong Temple, up Ann Siang Hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 1. Walk down South Bridge Road towards Ann Siang Road. Turn right onto Ann Siang Road. Walk down Ann Siang Road. Turn left onto Club Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 4 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Pagoda Street to South Bridge Road. Cross the road and turn right. Walk down South Bridge Road. Turn left onto Ann Siang Hill and then left onto Club Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]