Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Fat Prince @ Tanjong Pagar - Turns Up The Vibe With Its New Brunch Menu

IMG_2357

The notion of fun dining is central to the recent revamp of Fat Prince at Peck Seah Street. Known for its modern middle eastern cuisine and unconventional 'kotails', a new head chef is on board to drive the refreshed menu. If you are looking for more ideas for brunches, Fat Prince might just be the answer.

IMG_2407
Morning Star Kotail

Fat Prince’s brunch menu is available every Saturday from 1130am to 3pm. And you will be delighted to know you can couple that with a two-hour free-flow from 12pm to 2pm ($59), featuring a selection from red and wine wines, prosecco, Peroni lager and the signature Morning Star Koktail.

IMG_2367
Mimosa

The brunch menu comprises Mezze and Salads, Mains and Kebah. You can also opt for a Royal Brunch ($49 per person), a set which includes their pick of a brunch exclusive, paired with a glass of Mimosa to start, a choice of Fat Prince’s signature house dips, a mezze or salad, and a dessert of the day.

IMG_2384
Cured Salmon Crudo 4/5

Mezzes are great introductory dishes to Fat Prince's take on modern middle eastern's flavours. Served as a light appetiser, I enjoyed the mouth-filling texture of the Cured Salmon Crudo ($18) and the contrasting crunch from the sprinkle of Dukkah. The drizzle of Pomegranate Molasses and Smoked Date Puree layered the dish with notes of dark, caramelised sweetness, which complemented the savouriness of the cured fish really well.

IMG_2393
Cashew Hummus 4/5

Hummus lovers will not be disappointed with this Cashew Hummus ($10) - savoury, lemony and zingy; as compared to a chickpea hummus, it is more textured, which makes it all the more suitable for the soft, fluffy toasted yoghurt pita.

IMG_2371
Lamb Meatballs 4/5

The Lamb Meatballs ($18) was an aromatic dish with much emphasis on the use of herbs and spices. The meatballs were well seasoned, juicy on the inside and crisp on the outside. They sat on top of Chermoula, a Morrocan sauce which is a mix of garlic, herbs and spices, accentuated by a sprinkle of Za’atar and a handful of arugula leaves. There are a lot of heady flavours going on in one dish, and it is one good dish to order if you are here for their kotails.

IMG_2516
Negroni Rouge

I have to say, if you didn't go for their kotails, a Saturday at Fat Prince would be like any other Saturdays.  For a more cautious start, perhaps go for the Gimlet 100 ($20) with Roku Gin, Japanese cucumber cordial and citrus. For something a lot bolder, the menu features two renditions of Negroni: Negroni Rouge ($22) with Beefeater Gin, Mancino Rosso, peppercorn and juniper; and Negroni Blanc ($22) with Beefeater Gin, dill, Mancino Secco and gentianne. Even for the untrained palate, they came across as more balanced and rounded than what I had tried till date.

IMG_2488
Fatteh Breakfast 3.5/5

To hold the drinks, line your stomach with something hearty, such as the Fatteh Breakfast ($24). What a feast to the eyes to see a wholesome combination of poached eggs, halloumi and falafel served with yoghurt, baby spinach and toasted pita. What stood out for me is the falafel with a dollop of hummus, as well as the spiced eggplant stew. What didn't sit well with the dish was the eggs - Sous vide eggs ain't just the same as eggs that are skillfully poached in water, and in the case, the runny eggs messed up the plate the moment they were being broken.

IMG_2492
Mememen 3.8/5

The Menemen ($28) scores with its robust spiced tomato base, lightened with labneh (a creamy, yoghurt cheese) and toasted pita. You get a choice of either lamb or halloumi.  Every spoonful of the tender shredded lamb meat together with the deep savoury tomato was deeply satisfying. The dish could have fared even better if raw eggs were cracked directly into the spiced tomato. Our eggs were overdone, and I reckoned that was because those were pre-cooked eggs.

IMG_2412
Shakshuka Leek & Kale 3.5/5

Chef's vegetarian version of Shakshuka is this Shakshuka Leek & Kale ($20) - Baked Eggs, Leek & Kale Ragout, Dukkah and Toasted Pita. Although I don't quite agree that this embodies the authentic flavours of shakshuka, which can also be done in various meatless versions using eggplants, capsicums and so on, I appreciate it as a meatless dish that appeals on taste and texture. Interestingly, it reminds me of thunder rice tea with the diced leek and kale, along with the addition of ground nuts!

IMG_2504
Half Fried Chicken 3.5/5

The Half Fried Chicken ($24) was clean and straightforward, hitting us with the right amount of greasiness and flavours. The fried yoghurt batter was thin and crisped, and the accompanying sauces and pickles injected even more characters into this classic dish.

IMG_2521
Spiced Berry French Toast 3/5

Something sweet on the brunch mains, which can also be a dessert is the Spiced Berry French Toast ($21) - Brioche, Caramelised Banana, Preserved Lemon Ice Cream. The saltish housemade preserved lemon ice cream was a winner but the dense slices of thick-cut toast that tried to pass off as a legit brioche were disappointing. It was a pity as the spiced berry compote stuffed inside the toast was really delicious.

IMG_2354

Overall, the vibe that Fat Prince provides, on a Saturday morning, will set you right for the rest of your weekend.

Written and photography 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.


Fat Prince
48 Peck Seah Street
#01-01
Singapore 079317
Tel:+65 62217794
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm to 12midnight
Sat: 1130am -3pm, 6pm to 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT Station. take Exit A. Turn right onto Peck Seah Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Monday, February 24, 2020

Tea Lounge @ Regent Singapore - Launches Newest English Garden Afternoon Tea

TeaLounge21

Tea Lounge at Regent Singapore has just launched an evergreen English Garden Afternoon Tea theme, where guests get to enjoy a quintessential Afternoon Tea in a contemporary colonial garden setting with classic British desserts. On weekdays, guests get to savour a quintessential three-tier afternoon tea. In contrast, on weekends, the high tea buffet serves up an extravagant spread of premium caviars, a carving station, with additional carveries of wood oven-roasted wagyu beef rump, Yorkshire Pudding and Forest Mushroom Jus, and more.

TeaLounge1

Tea Lounge goes back to the most quintessential of English customs - offering a selection of dainty sandwiches and delicate scones, as well as a variety of Gryphon tea blends to choose from. From robust, strong blacks of Assam to delicately scented Lychee Rose and herbal tisanes, there is no lack of choice for selecting just the right infusion. We opted for the Lychee Rose Tea, which had a subtle sweet lychee fragrance to it.

TeaLounge3

The Regent’s Signature Scones are slightly denser, with a nice crunchy crust around and a moist, crumbly centre. Served with Devonshire clotted cream, house-made berry preserves and luscious lemon curd. Various counters are generously stocked with a selection of dainty sandwiches such as Black Truffle, Organic Egg Mayonnaise and Cucumber, Mini Sausage Puff, Baby Spinach Quiche, and vibrant toss-ups of Chicken, Blue Potato and Green Peas with English Mustard.

TeaLounge8


TeaLounge16

Tea Lounge also offers up locally-inspired dishes such as the Fried Carrot cake, Cheng Teng, Herbal Chicken, Chicken Satay with peanut sauce, Chilli Crab Mantou, and Kueh Pie Tee.

TeaLounge7

The Chilli Crab Mantou was nicely executed with its fluffy buns and slightly pan-fried on the outside. The chilli crab sauce leans towards the spicier side, but I felt it lacked the robustness from the crab flavour.

TeaLounge5

We had the roasted wagyu beef rump, which was extremely succulent and tender on the inside, and spot a slightly charred exterior.

TeaLounge11

Not to be missed is their Crispy Chicken with sweet chilli sauce. The meat is cooked to fork-tender superb with a crispy exterior. Complete with a dip of sweet chilli sauce to elevate the whole enjoyment.

TeaLounge10

When you finally make it to the dessert station, get ready for a delightful selection of desserts. Among the spread, there are Triple Chocolate Fudge, Carrot Cake, Banoffee, Eton Mess, Victoria Sponge Cake, Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake, Rose apple Profiteroles, Fragrant Yuzu Fosset and more.

TeaLounge13

The ice cream waffles combination never goes wrong, as we enjoy the crispy fluffy waffles paired with the fragrant creamy lychee ice cream.

TeaLounge19

Afternoon Tea
$68 per adult | $34 per child
Additional $10 | $40 for a glass or free-flow Prosecco
Additional $15 | $60 for a glass or free-flow Champagne

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


Tea Lounge
Regent Hotel Singapore
Lobby Level
1 Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249715
Tel: +65 67253246
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard MRT (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 5pm
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 230pm (1st seating), 3pm - 530pm (2nd seating)

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Continue onwards to Forum Shopping Mall. Walk further down to Orchard Parade Hotel. Turn left onto Tanglin Road. Continue walking down Tanglin Road. Turn left onto Tomlinson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]