Urban Bites @ Telok Ayer Street - Modernizing Lebanese Food in Singapore

Urban Bites may sounds like a modern restaurant but what it offers is lesser known Lebanese cuisine. The restaurant is opened by Chef Ghazi Khanashat, who has earned the moniker "Godfather" of Lebanese cooking in Singapore, for he brought the cuisine to Singapore almost 16 years ago. His daughter, Christine is running the business with a young and talented Lebanese Executive Chef, Haroutioun Ara Sayegh, helming the kitchen. They duo want to revolutionise Lebanese food in Singapore by giving Chef Ghazi's dishes a modern flair.

Lebanese Sangria 4/5

Having just return from Spain, I am delight to see sangria on the beverage menu. I ordered the Lebanese Sangria ($26). The Lebanese sangria is made form a concoction of Jallab (dates, grape molasses, rose water), Lebanese red wine, fruit cocktail, and freshly squeezed lime juice. A sweet and refreshing drink to kick start my brunch.

Cheese Manouche 4.5/5

Urban Bites has recently launched its Saturday Brunch which is available on Saturday from 930am to 4pm. One of the new items on the brunch menu is the Cheese Manouche ($16). The freshly baked flat bread is stuffed with four different types of Lebanese cheese (jeddal, feta, mozzarella and akkawi), and sprinkled with onions and parsley. The fluffy flat bread has a nice exterior crisp which comes from being baked in the stone oven. It also has a slight hint of spiciness.

Egg with Lamb Shashouba 4.2/5

The other brunch item I enjoyed is the hearty and comforting Egg with Lamb Shashouba ($20). Using lamb shoulder, it is first marinated for 24 hour with Lebanese spices before being roasted. Served in a pan, it consists of pulled lamb and three poached eggs steeped in a fragrant housemade sauce made of fresh tomatoes, chilli peppers, cumin and onions. It is then crowned with feta cheese and deep fried kale leaves. To eat, you have to give is a good mix. I preferred to have it together with the bread which is served on the side. The whole experience felt like having our local egg and toast.

Fettet Cauliflower 3/5

For those that loves yogurt, you will like the Fettet Cauliflower ($15). It comes with garlic-chilli roasted cauliflower, toasted crunchy chickpeas, velvety yogurt, crispy pita chips and pomegranate seeds. A worthy note is that Chef Ara spends hours making the yogurt daily. Unfortunately I am not a fan of yogurt and I guess I preferred a something richer in taste.

Lebanese Big Breakfast 3.5/5

If you are not sure what to have for brunch, then the Lebanese Big Breakfast ($20) will allows you to have a bit of everything. It comprises of labneh yogurt cheese, fatted hummus and a hard boiled egg with an assortment of fresh vegetables and thick slices of homemade bread.

Hummus Original 4.5/5

From the a la carte menu, we tried the staple Hummus Original ($15). The mashed chickpeas with tahini, lemon juice and olive oil was simple but yet hearty. Best to have it together with the warm bread.

Falafel Salad 4/5

The Falafel Salad ($18) can be a meal on its own. It comprises of mesclun greens, cucumbers, beetroot, avocado, chia and sunflower seeds in a tahini dressing, topped with falafel patties. There are a lot of textures at play and the highlight for me is the crispy falafel packed with lovely flavours.

Mixed Grill 4.2/5

Good for sharing is the Mixed Grill ($33) which comes with four different charcoal grilled kebabs. Beautifully marinated, spiced and grilled to tender is the cubed chicken, cubed beef tenderloin, minced lamb and minced chicken. The plate also comes with fries, mesclun salad and toum. Toum is a light and airy Lebanese garlic dip that you need to tried. It goes very well with the different meats.

Osmaliyeh 4/5

Last but at least, we wrapped up our meal on a sweet note with the Osmaliyeh ($12). It comes in a layer of flash-fried crisp filo strings followed by another layer of sweet clotted cream. This is finished with slices of strawberries, crushed pistachio and more filo strings.

While Lebanese cuisine is still rather new to many Singaporean, I have enjoyed the food at Urban Bites, especially that they are freshly made from stretch. I am also great to see the younger generation taking over the baton, inherit the recipes and making effort to modernize it to suit and attract the young customers. I am a believer that food needs to progress with time too.


Urban Bites
161 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068615
Tel: +65 63279460
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 10pm
Sat: 930am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk along the covered walkway until the junction of Mccallum Street and Telok Ayer Street. Cross the junction and continue on Telok Ayer Street. Journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to junction of Telok Ayer Street and Upper Cross Street. Turn left onto Telok Ayer Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Prego @ Fairmont Hotel Singapore – An Extravagant Truffle Feast at Prego

Synonymous with authentic Italian cuisine, and also known as one of Singapore’s favourite and longest standing Italian restaurant, Prego @ Fairmont Hotel Singapore has created quite a name for itself over the last two decades, consistently bringing to the table new ensembles of familiar flavours from Italy to excite tastebuds. And as we enter into the last segment of the year and bask in the festive spirit of the Christmas season, the most anticipated seasonal menu returns to Prego again, where Chef de Cuisine Antonio Facchinetti meticulously crafts a number of exquisite dishes with these legendary, prized black truffles that will delight gourmands and truffle connoisseurs alike. From now till January 2018, customers can look forward to indulging themselves in a variety of tantalising truffle delicacies, enjoy perfect pairings with a selection of their fine wines available all while immersing in this authentic Italian style dining experience.

Burrata 4/5

Kicking-start the truffle feast, we had the Burrata ($38) which features a bouche of creamy burrata cheese, topped with an abundance of fresh truffle shavings that spews an unmistakable truffle aroma in accompaniment. Nicely charred, the grilled Belgium endive added an addictive crunch, while the hazelnuts contributed some subtle nutty undertones to the dish.

Foie Gras E Capesante 4.5/5

The Foie Gras E Capesante ($40) comes in a slab of tender foie gras, juicy pan-seared scallop on a bed of soft velvety potato, complete with a drizzle of rosemary gravy and truffle shavings to enhance the flavours of the dish. No doubt an appetising marriage of foie gras, scallop and potato, this dish is nothing short of impressive, and certainly will delight tastebuds of many.

Passatelli Con Funghi 4.2/5

Moving on, we had the Passatelli Con Funghi ($46) which comes in a bowl of passatelli, freshly made in-house from scratch, with roasted wild mushrooms and generous portions of black truffle atop. With short strips of pasta formed from bread crumbs, eggs and grated parmesan cheese, the passatelli boasts a soft texture. It makes up a warm, comfort dish that settles well with the mildly salted roasted mushrooms. Of course, the black truffle was a welcoming addition that further added depth to its taste and just elevated the entire dish.

Risotto Zucca E Anatra 4.2/5

The Risotto Zucca E Anatra ($48) is another favourite, with tender and juicy slices of duck breast meat sitting on a bed of richly flavoured pumpkin risotto. Cooked till al dente with the addition of a subtle sweetness of the pumpkin flavour, the risotto was deliciously creamy while retaining a sufficient firmness to its every bite. The aromatic black truffle sauce offers a rich, earthy tone that lends a perfect savoury finish to the dish.

IL Cervo 4/5

The IL Cervo ($56) features tender wood oven venison loin, with crunchy root vegetables and buckwheat plenta that contributed to a sophisticated twist and an interplay of textures and flavours, while the drizzle of truffle jus as finishing touch added a richer depth in its tastes.

Cioccolata Bianca Al Tartufo 4.5/5

The truffle does not end with its mains. For those desiring a sweet end to the meal, try the Cioccolata Bianca Al Tartufo ($18), which is the perfect marriage of truffle with desserts. A unique take on truffle desserts, the dish features a spongy fluffy cheesecake with roasted pumpkin oil, soaked in white chocolate soup that lends a subtle sweetness and moisture to the cake. (A small jug of the soup is provided for you to personally pour the white chocolate soup in). Topped with a scoop of smooth, creamy and aromatic truffle gelato for that extra oomph, this is perhaps the one of the best truffle desserts I had. Also the perfect way to end the truffle feast on a refreshing and satisfying note.

The special seasonal menu at Prego boasts a variety of decadent truffle-infused creations, and is definitely one of the best places for you to indulge in those highly-prized winter truffles. Do note that all dishes are served with 2 grams of shaved black truffle, with additional shavings of truffle available at $15 per gram.

Words and photos by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Prego
Fairmont Hotel Singapore
Level 1
80 Bras Basah Road
Singapore 189560
Tel:+65 64316156
Website
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 10am (breakfast), 630am - 1030am (deli)
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 230pm (lunch)
Sun: 1200pm - 3pm (brunch)
Daily: 6pm - 1030pm (dinner)

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