blackswan

Touted as one of the best Japanese restaurants in S'pore, the Wagyu Beef was however, a disappointment.

A Japanese business friend wanted to try this place as he has heard favourable comments about the eatery. We decided to try their Wagyu Beef set.The premium set came with the usual rice, miso soup & salad.Also included was a Chawanmushi; not the tastiest or smoothest I've taken.I'd my Wagyu Beef medium-well. Being a regular Wagyu Beef eater, I didn't like the colour of the meat. It didn't looked fresh to me. The chunky pieces of beef didn't melt in my mouth as it should have been. Instead, they were tough & difficult to chew.

Both my friend & I were surprised with the outcome. We'll never go back again.The matcha ice-cream & cheesecake weren't fantastic but certainly the best of the lot.

This was my 3rd visit to Garibaldi. I first visited this Italian gem when they opened many years ago & I was impressed. But slowly, I soon forgotten about this eatery as I've been busy trying new restaurants that kept springing up.

This visit was an invited event by P&G & guests were served a three-course lunch menu:Our first course began with the Wagyu Beef ‘Carpaccio’ with Rocket Salad & it was totally out of this world. I love Carpaccio & this was served with generous toppings of Wild Rocket & Shredded Cheese.

The appetizer was paired with Penne cooked with Prawns, Zucchini in Light Tomato Sauce. It was a delightful start.You don't get thick pieces of Pork Tenderloin here. Instead, thin & tender Pork ‘Scaloppini’ was served with Parma Ham, Sage in ‘Marsala’ Wine Sauce. The dish was well-executed & the aroma of Sage enveloped your mouth with every bite.I'm real fussy about Tiramisu & I wasn't fully satisfied with their Signature ‘Garibaldi Tiramisu’. I couldn't taste much of the coffee liqueur & it was a little too mushy for my liking.

Overall, the atmosphere is cozy & fills with rich & warm Italian taste. Food is still good though the dessert was a disappointment.

Stumbled upon The Ship's Lobster Promotion & we were in for a delightful surprise.Generous serving of Pork Chops; nicely grilled & tender. Cheesy & creamy baked Lobster. Well executed!For the price of $34.90++, there's really nothing to complain. Everything turned out to be better than expected, except for the dessert of the day. It was some kind of mousse. Maybe we were too full, it didn't go well with the main course as the lobster was cheesy. Perhaps they should serve something refreshing instead. Will definitely go back again.

I was introduced to this Italian joint for lunch. First time there but I was impressed with their food.Bread was served warm with Olive Oil & Black Olive paste.I'd the Wagyu Beef Carpaccio ($25), served with Rocket & shaved Parmesan Cheese for the appetizer.For the main, I opted for the Pasta with Prawns ($30). The minced spicy Pork Sausage added to the pasta, gave it a different twist. It was delicious!

Though prices are on the high side, but food is good

This is the price tag for three pax, if you relish dining in a celebrity chef-run restaurant. Gourmands can enjoy the 14-course degustation menu which many famed food critics have described as pure ‘magic’, or make selections from the ala carte menu, & be awed by Robuchon’s famous bread, cheese, dessert, ice-cream & tea trolleys.

Well, my group of three were simply electrified by their Degustation Menu @ S$565 each, glass of Champagne @ S$45/each & 3 bottles of mineral water @ $18, amounting to about S$2,200 incl tax.We were impressed from the start, with their magnificent most talk-about bread trolley. Never have I seen such a huge selection of bread!I picked 3. Ladies will certainly fall in love with their petit bread sizes. It’s great, since I could select more given that they’re small in size.

Service was immaculate. The Maitre d’ asked if we like our bread to be warm before serving. Yum! Even their bread tasted different & they’re sooooooooo good!

What we had:Imperial caviar on a shivering corn velouté
with golden croutonsFoie gras & potatoes carpaccio,
topped with shaved winter truffleMore delicious bread while waiting...Black truffle in a hot pastry, onions & smoked ham

Be awed by the 14-course dinner & more @ http://luxuryhaven.blogspot.com/2012/03/s2000-bill-at-joel-robuchon-rws.html! Well, my 3-hour French affair ended with a goodie bag containing a Lemon Cake to take home & share with my family. The dining experience was divine & the gastronomy meal is sure to please any discerning palate, if you have the money to indulge.

SGD 600(Dinner)

Ambush is a good place for some nice German sausages. Be sure to go there during lunch hours for their value set lunches. You've a choice of either a $9.90 or $11.90 set which includes a drink & soup.Set lunch 1: $9.90Set lunch 2: $9.90 + $2 to change side to RostiSet lunch 3: $11.90We also ordered their Clams & Mussels Pot in Vinc Blanc sauce @ 15.90. You can also choose to have either Clams or Mussels & a variety of sauces.It was our son's birthday, so we ordered their Molten Choc Cake. The cake didn't turn out as we'd envisaged. When my son took a scoop, the melted chocolate inside didn't flow out as it was supposed to be. You'll be disappointed if you're a Molten Choc Cake lover.

Other than the cake, this was our 5th visit there & we're loving it!

2012-03-06

Celebration: Birthday

This time round, besides the usual Teochew Cold Crab @ $8/100g that I'd ordered to take out, rest of the dishes were not too bad.The Sauteed Scallop with White Truffle Oil @ $8 per piece was delicious. The fragrant from the truffle oil enveloped the entire egg-white dish & it was real yummy.The Glutinous Rice in Lotus Leaf is also another must-try.If you've taken too much oily stuff or wanting to eat something light, go for their Minced Pork Rice Porridge which is very appetizing.

Overall, the food at this restaurant is above average & it's good for family gatherings.

I would like to highlight the Ginseng Oolong Tea @ $1.80/pax.Also, my main visit to Bosses is always to eat their Crispy Aromatic Duck @ $25 for half-duck. I used to order this whenever I'm in a popular Hong Long restaurant in London. But it seems that in S'pore, this is is only restaurant I found that serves the same version of Crispy Duck. The photo didn't do justice to the dish. It tastes much better than it looks. The skin is very crispy & the waiter will shred the meat upon serving. Completely different from Roast Duck.

Have you been to a restaurant with no menu Do you like surprises Well, if you’re tired of picking food off the menu, this Italian joint would probably suit your taste if you don’t mind forking out S$98 for a lunch per head. The Michelin-Star eatery that people raved about is a family-style restaurant in a shophouse space, with cozy dining rooms. Upon seated, my Japanese ex-colleague & I were welcomed by a passionate & well-polished manager, explaining the concept of the degustation No Menu. We got to choose only the Main Course – Fish or Meat, & the rest is up to the Chef. Being an anti-fish person, I was disappointed with my Amuse Bouche. The breaded Anchovy was too fishy for me. Then again, it’s not fair for me to comment being one who doesn’t appreciate fish.Starter 1: Mix of Parma Ham & BrushettaStarter 2: Boiled Mussel & PrawnsTrio Pasta:
Asparagus Risotto, Wild Boar Pasta, Burrata Cheese RavioliMain: Pork PiccataDessert: Green Apple Cake with Ice-cream

So was I impressed Honestly, No. Coming from Michelin-Star Chef Osvaldo Forlino, I was disappointed. The first three courses were very simple dishes & didn't quite display the Chef's skills.

For the much talk about Pastas, I saw my well-travelled business friend mixing the Risotto with the Wild Boar Pasta. I too, found the Risotto too bland while the other, too salty. So it was a brilliant idea to mix them up & eat it together. Lol!

The only thumbs-up dish was the Pork Piccata, one of the best I’ve ever tasted. The pork was thin, light & very tender. An excellent execution by the Chef.

Would I return again Definitely not for the S$98 course as it wasn’t value for money. Certainly not my cup of tea.

SGD 98(Lunch)

An opulent yet cosy combination of rich fabrics, lavish chandelier & expertly crafted interiors gives Brasserie Les Saveurs a warmth & soothing ambience. Located at the grand luxurious St Regis S’pore, with generous views of the hotel pool & lush gardens, the venue is a perfect place for afternoon tea or to chill out with friends. The French cuisine started with a molecule gastronomy treat; a Bacon & Potato Foam Espuma which was amazingly delicious.It was one of those moments when I wanted just something light. I’d the day’s selection of fresh French Oysters @ S$10/pc, which was exactly what I’d wanted.I hit it off next with their Lobster Bisque @ S$25. The Maitre D came with a plate beautiful Ravioli.Then he poured the Bisque into the plate. The creamy soup was rich & bursting with the flavour of my favourite seafood. Only complaint: It wasn't piping hot.Escargots used to be in the menu of many fine dining restaurants. Recently years, they seemed to disappear from the menus but instead replaced with delicacies such as Foie Gras. So I was overjoyed upon seeing Snails in Saveurs’ Carte du jour & jumped at the offer without second thoughts.

However, the S$22 appetizer did not turned out as I’d envisaged. It was more of a Croquette. It was partly my fault, as I didn't study the menu properly. I’d to admit that the Escargots in garlic-infused bouillon wasn’t as appetizing & I was disappointed. I ended my lunch with a sweet note though. The warm Manjari Moelleux served with Malibu Sorbet & Pandan Coconute Espuma @ S$21 was out of this world.I couldn’t resist their dessert trolley & decided to take out some. The Chariot De Desserts were going @ S$22 for 2, so I’d selected 4 of their recommendation to take out. However, the image of the cute desserts was marred by the containers. I was shocked that such a high-end hotel didn’t even have a proper cake box barring its hotel logo. Instead, they were packed in plastic containers just like any hawkers outside.

Despite much being said about this new kid on the block, the overall dining experience @ Saveurs was just very average. Not much complaints about food except that service was extremely slow even though it was just half-occupied. Points minus for those lousy cake containers.

I just had the best Pizza, & the most expensive to date! The Pizza Bosco Porcini @ S$42 excl taxes was my top pick, with bits of cured Italian Sausage & TRUFFLES! Not only were there Black Truffle shavings, the server explained that the Chef also used Truffle Oil in the Pizza & lined the base with Truffle cream sauce. So there're actually lots of Truffles in there.

I love the earthy mushroomy smell & taste with each bite, especially their crispy waffle-thin crust. Simply the best Pizza I’ve ever tasted to date!

For those who’re not familiar with this priceless delicacy, Trufficulteurs use specially-trained dogs to find these buried treasures each year. Truffles are among the most expensive natural foods in the world, selling for hundreds or thousands of US$/pound!I couldn’t get enough of the Pizza, so I ordered a take-out: il Cielo Pizza @ S$48++. This one has a mouthful of Lobster & generous toppings of Caviar on each slice of Pizza. My two guys at home prefer this but Truffles Pizza is no doubt my No. 1!

Ascending 218m into the clouds, you haven’t seen S’pore till you’ve whizzed yourself right to the rooftop of ION Orchard. Sitting on Level 55, set against the backdrop of the astounding 360° city skyline, is Salt Grill & Sky Bar.

This wedding anniversary, hubby & I chose to dine at Salt Grill, by Celebrity Chef Luke Mangan. It’s truly gourmet dining with stunning views!Upon ushered to our seats, by the full-fledged windows with mind-blowing skyline of S’pore, a plate of warm curry bread with raisins served with Extra-virgin Olive Oil & a mixture of Spices, soon greeted us.To start off, my hubby opted for Salt’s signature ‘Glass’ Sydney Crab Omelette (S$29). The egg dish was filled with fresh succulent crabmeat & topped with Enoki Mushroom Salad, bathed in Miso Mustard broth. It was a delight to begin with.My son & I stuck to our favourite & had the Foie Gras Parfait (S$27 each). A unique way of serving the delicacy, together with toasted Brioche, Walnut & Mesclun Salad.

It was so delicious that he emptied his parfait as though it was Chawanmushi (Japanese Egg Custard) in no time.For the main, I'd tucked myself in with their suggested Roasted Gnocchi with Pork & Fennel Sausage (S$36). It was an unusual choice for me but I wanted something light. The potato dish was flavoured with Parmesan & Pangritata & it was tasty. However, I'd prefer to have bite-size sausages instead of minced.The two men are fish lovers, so they opted for the Barramundi Fillet (S$38 each). The fish was nicely grilled & served with Green Beans & Wasabi Mayonnaise. The Wasabi gave the fillet a hinge of zest, but thankfully, it wasn’t too spicy for Jon.All of us had enjoyed Luke’s Liquorice Parfait with Lime (S$16 each), which was worth the try. A distinctive dessert with a different touch.The meal all ended too fast. We’d a good time sipping Mint Tea & trying out their Petit Fours (S$10).

After a satisfying lunch, we continued to elevate our senses at the highly acclaimed Sky Bar. En-route, guests can play with the State-of-Art telescope, featuring live & augmented reality viewing. Pls visit http://luxuryhaven.blogspot.com/2011/10/celebrating-our-21st-anniversary-at.html for more pix

2011 – Ranked 27 in S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurant
2010/2011 – Miele Guide Asia’s No.1
2010 - Ranked 28 in S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurant
And the list goes on & on for this Award-winning Modern European restaurant, which also happens to be in my top 3 fave list.

The lunch was my first visit after Iggy’s had moved from Regent Hotel to The Hilton. The first few months were always fully booked & I finally gave up trying until a recent occasion when I brought 2 friends there.

Ouch! The 4-course lunch menu @ Iggy’s is now S$85++/pax! I felt really bad as I didn’t expect the prices for lunch had gone up so much. Nevertheless, we were all eager to see what Iggy’s had installed for us.

Honestly, it was an unpleasant start. I was a little put off by the Amuse Bousche. If you’re not a fish lover like me, you’d certainly give this Anchovy a miss. The twin fish served on Watermelon was marinated with different seasonings – one sour & the other, salted. It was hard to digest for me, too fishy; but my two guy friends gobbled them without a single trace. I assumed they liked it.I was starving so I indulged myself in their Sour Dough & Garlic Bread. That was good!Delightful, crunchy & juicy, is how I would describe the Gillardeau Oyster. The appetizer was an execution of explicitness & taste; a dish which marry European influences with fresh Asian flavour. Love how the deep-fried tempura Oyster was served, floating on a bed of sago with a tinge of lemon & dashi.Call me silly or loyal. Out of 10 visits to Iggy’s, I would order their Cappellini with Sakura Ebi 10 times. Just couldn’t get enough of this. Tried ordering at another restaurant once, but it was a disaster. Guess I would just stay faithful here. One word to describe the pasta: BEST!

While we were waiting in between our meals, we noticed there was something different about the door to the kitchen. Look at the pix carefully:One minute it was opaque,Next, it became a see-through door. The 3 of us were trying to make a wild guess. What’s with this magical door? Give it some thought. I’ll reveal the answer at the end of this post. See if you get it right.Well, I was in a carnivorous mood that day & so I opted for their Angus Rib-Eye as my main. I was totally satisfied with the succulent tender cut, served with Brussels Sprouts & a dash of Wasabi. Not many chefs could produce a medium-well beef that melts in your mouth, & I was 100% happy with the immaculate skills.

The finale was Guinness for me. The Miso Caramel dessert was a real treat with peanuts & marshmallow. However, my friend wasn’t too happy with his dessert.“Something missing in the middle?” he asked the waiter jokingly. Either you love or hate the plating of this Strawberry dessert. My friend was complaining that he could hardly find any strawberries in it. Lol! What do you think of this presentation?

Ok, so have you got the answer to the mysterious kitchen door?

Iggy’s has this very interesting concept whereby when the door is opaque, it means the chef is busy preparing in the kitchen. When the food is ready, the door will turn transparent to signal to the waiters to enter & pick up the food! Amazing, isn’t it?

SGD 100(Lunch)

I prefer my Ramen with the Tonkotsu broth, a creamy texture unlike others with clear broth. Tonkotsu is the mainstream of Hakata, Japan. The broth is from an elaborated process of cooking pork bones for more than 20hrs.

Ippudo came highly recommended by my Japanese friends. But because of the long queues when it first opened its branch in S’pore, I avoided the place. Just the other day, I picked my son up from class for lunch; his school’s just opposite the Mandarin Gallery where Ippudo is located.

It was almost 2pm then, but the Japanese restaurant was still packed. Menu is simple, just a 2-page laminated piece of paper. One side’s ramen & the other, side dishes. It wasn’t difficult to choose as they’re only 3 types of Ramen: Shiromaru, Akamaru & Karaka. The ramen broth is divided by colors: Shiro (white) & Aka (red). The Karaka ramen is spicy.Jon opted for the Akamaru Kasaneaji @ S$15, with slices of pork belly chashu. He added also added an egg for extra S$2. We ordered a side to go with the ramen. Although price’s a little dear @ S$8 for 4 thin slices of Chashu on Hotplate, the pork was tender & delicious.

Ippudo features skinny Hakata-style ramen, with prices starting from S$15. “So, how’s the ramen?” soliciting an answer from Jon. His answer was simple, “Mum, I’m not going to Ajisen anymore”.

The last time I was at this Teochew restaurant was ages ago. I could hardly remember this eatery & non of the people I knew mention about Teochew City. I was shopping at Centrepoint & spotted the old dame couple of weeks back. I thought perhaps I should revisit this eatery. My friend & I I opted for their $68 set lunch, which consisted of:Except for the Cold Crab & the dessert, the rest of the dishes didn't turned out the way I'd envisaged & they were a dissapointment. Dishes were served lukewarm & bland. Maybe it's the reason why this old dame is a forgotten one.