Zafferano @ Ocean Financial Centre

My last visit to Zafferano at Ocean Financial Centre was almost two years ago. I am back to check out their newly launched Saturday brunch, "The Italian Table" on every first and last Saturday of the month. The Italian feast comes in 4 courses, namely antipasti, pasta-risotto, mains and desserts.

Stewed Clams and Mussels with Rosemary Croutons 4.5/5

When the brunch was served, I was taken back by the table full of food in front of me. This is only the first course - antipasti, and there were already seven different items on the table. On the table, there were Stewed Clams and Mussels, Baby Lobsters flambe with Brandy, Mozzarella, Selection of Cold Cuts, Deep Fried Seafood and Fjord Trout all for sharing according to the number of pax.

Baby Lobster 4/5, Selection of Cold Cuts 4.5/5

The Baby Lobster flambe with Brandy is topped with cocktail mayo sauce, giving it a fruity sweet finishing to the lobster meat. Personally, the highlight of the antipasti has to be the selection of cold cuts (24 month Pio Tosini Ham, Pistachio Mortadella, Iberico Salami) and mozzarella. It was so good that some of us ordered a second servicing.

Deep Fried Calamari, Prawns, Anchovies 4/5

Hidden in the basket is a delightful selection of Deep Fried Calamari, Prawns and Anchovies.

Marinated Fjord Trout, Avruga Caviar, Orange 4.5/5

Live Seasonal Oysters 4.5/5

There were more seafood in the Live Seasonal Oysters and Marinated Fjord Trout which showcases the freshness of seasonal seafood.

Gnocchi 4.5/5

Moving on to the second course which showcases the staple Italian cuisine - Pasta and Risotto. I remembered I was impressed by the Gnocchi when I visited the restaurant 2 years ago. The recipe has changed. Now it is cooked with seafood in a white wine, tomato base sauce compared to the usual cream base. The handcraft potato gnocchi still tasted as good.

Veal Ravioli 3.8/5

I am great fan of Ravioli but I find the veal filling was too rich in flavour, overpowering the balance of homemade veal ravioli with porcini mushroom sauce, truffle emulsion.

Lasagna 4/5

Indulge the layers after layers of pasta sheets in the Homemade Lasagna in minced beef ragout with bechamel sauce.

Saffron Risotto 4/5

Served right on the table side is the Saffron Risotto using Acquerello rice grains cooked to a nice al dente bite. The creamy texture with the aromatic Iranian saffron holds the whole dish together.

If you are already full by then, then you will miss out the delicious trio from the third course - Mains. On the menu is a choice of three mains in the Oven Baked Sea Bass with Tomatoes, Olives, Capers and Fresh Herbs, Roasted Whole French Spring Chicken with Bell Pepper, Red Onion, Mushrooms and Slow Cooked Pork Belly with Potatoes and Bery Sauce. All the mains have its own merits that it is quite hard to lay a finger which is the best. So the best is to go with a group of friends and get to try a bit of everything. If not, really pace yourself in between courses.

Wrapping up the Saturday lunch is the dessert table with at least 5 different types of sweet delights such as Tiramisu,  Macarons, Panna Cotta, Cakes and Fresh Fruits. As you can probably see, the brunch is not on a feast to the eyes but for the tummy too. The 4 courses brunch was just a lie, there were so many food on a table that I need a second stomach to indulge in them.

Saturday Brunch (First and Last Week of Month)
Adult: $88++ per pax include of free flow soft drinks, juices, coffee and tea
Adult: $108++ per pax include free flow Prosecco
Adult: $138++ per pax include free flow champagne.


Zafferano
Ocean Financial Centre
Level 43
10 Collyer Quay
Singapore 049315
Tel: +65 65091488
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZafferanoSG
Website: http://zafferano.sg/
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 3pm
Brunch
Sat: 1130am - 230pm (1st and last Sat of the month)
Dinner
Mon-Wed: 530pm - 1145pm
Thu-Sat: 530pm - 1am
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place. Take Exit C. Walk to Ocean Financial Centre which is on the left. Journey time about 3 minutes.

Clinton Street Baking Company & Restaurant @ Purvis Street

The fame New York's Clinton Street Baking Company & Restaurant servicing traditional American breakfast and brunch has finally landed on the shore of Singapore with the opening of the flagship store at Purvis Street. Together with Charleen and Kimberley, we made our way down to their soft opening on 19 September 2015. The restaurant was full when we reached about an hour after their soft opening at 0905am. After waiting for around 20 minutes, we were ushered to our table.

Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwich 3.5/5

We started with the Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwich ($13.50) that comes with scrambled eggs, melted cheddar, house made tomato jam and hash brown. The highlight on the plate has to be the hash brown. The buttermilk biscuit was really good too. I like the tomato jam pairing more then the scrambled egg. The scrambled egg was on the dry side and together with the dry biscuit, the result was not very palatable.

Banana Walnut Pancakes 4.2/5

Next is the pancakes with warm maple butter that made Clint Street a household name in American. The pancakes come with three choices - blueberries, banana walnut or chocolate chunk. As Kimberley does not like berries and since Charleen has it in New York before, we decided to go for the Banana Walnut Pancakes ($18). The pancakes were fluffy and moist, what I enjoyed even more is the layers of banana in between, allowing the enjoyment to be consistently through. Drizzled the warm maple butter for a elevated appreciation of the traditional American taste.

Chicken & Waffles 4/5

Only available for lunch after 1130am is the Chicken & Waffles ($21).  The chicken comes with a honey-Tabasca sauce on top of  a crispy Belgian vanilla buttermilk waffle, served with the signature warm maple butter on the side. We can tell that there was some thought behind the crisp and doughy waffle, which is more incline to the savory side to complement the chicken. If the chicken could be more tender and juicier, it would be perfect.

Sugar Cured Bacon 4.2/5

Thanks to Charleen for recommending us to get the Sugar Cured Bacon ($7) for the side. I would high recommend it after trying it. It tasted some what similar to Bak Kwa but thinner and crispier. I personally enjoyed pairing it with the chicken and waffles, giving an additional dimension to the dish.

Not everyone has the luxury of flying all the way to New York to try the Clinton Street Baking Company's food. Servicing the same menu as New York, I am glad that Clinton Street has opened in Singapore, offering us the traditional American breakfast and brunch. Consider I visited the restaurant on its first day and leaving with a satisfied tummy, I am sure new heights can be achieved if it continues to strive in quality and consistency.


Clinton Street Baking Company & Restaurant
31 Purvis Street
Singapore 188608
Tel: +65 66844845
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours
Daily: 8am - 6pm

Direction: 
Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to North Bridge Road. Continue on North Bridge Road towards National Library. At the traffic junction of North Bridge Road and Middle Road, cross the road and continue on North Bridge Road. Turn left onto Purvis Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]