Dear Chef Jean-Philippe Patruno & team at Una 1 Rochester Restaurant,

Thank you for making our company event a memorable success. We were very pleased with the outstanding food, and the impeccable, professional service demonstrated by your staff.

Ambience at Una 1 Rochester Restaurant is lovely. The abundance of greenery and well thought out spaces create a feeling of calm relaxation during the day, and a more intimate setting at night.The spacious outdoor alfresco dining area is beautiful with its high chairs and fountain waterfalls, and the indoor dining area exudes a casual elegance and sophistication with well chosen, comfortable furniture and art pieces. We also felt the choice of Bossa Nova piped music at Una 1 Rochester Restaurant was appropriate for its setting.Thank you for letting us have the exclusive use of the Private Dining Area on the 2nd floor, as well as the accompanying Private Bar, Private Banquet / Tapas Area, Bridal Changing Room, and Projector & Screen at no extra charge. The equipment (Projector, Screen, Audio/Video, Sound System) were in great working order, and we also liked that the lights could be brightened or dimmed upon request. The view of greenery from the upper level is serene, and I noticed you actually have Rambutan trees growing in your premises!I must commend your team of service staff at Una 1 Rochester Restaurant for their outstanding, professional and efficient service rendered during our company event. In particular, you and Ivee for your openess in accomodating requests and working through last minute changes. And Peter for handling on-the-spot guests requests to change meals, as well as your kitchen for preparing food efficiently and quickly, such that none of our guests waited more than 10 minutes for their meals.I was particularly impressed that when we requested a change of tables for our certificate display, your staff actually sourced a table, cut up a roll of cloth for the table top, and found skirting to dress the table, all within 15 minutes. Aside from a minor hiccup in the beginning of meal service where the canapes and amuse bouche took quite long to be served, the rest of the night went exceedingly well.What initially led us to consider Una 1 Rochester Restaurant was the fact that you could provide Halal certified meals. Although Una 1 Rochester Restaurant serves Western style fine dining, in particular cuisine from the South of Latitude 30° - Spain, Italy, and France, your partnership with a Halal certified kitchen to prepare Halal / Muslim meals that is presented in a similar manner to your actual dishes, tastes almost the same, and is even served with Halal certified cutlery, is fantastic.

In fact, feedback from our guests is that Una 1 Rochester Restaurant is probably the first high-end, premium fine dining restaurant that is able to served Halal certified Western meals, that they've encountered! Our Muslim guests said the quality and taste of the Halal meals is extremely good, and are pleased that your staff took the trouble to provide Halal cutlery, at no additional charge. They were surprised that you also provide for / organise Muslim Weddings!We had originally agreed to a 5-course set menu (2 x Canapes, Amuse Bouche, Appetizer, Mains, 2 x Desserts - Per Person), at a fixed price of SGD $130 per person (without GST & Service Charge), although we ordered additional dishes at the last minute (for a total of SGD $180 per person, with House Wine / Beer + GST + Service Charge). Thanks for giving us the free flow of water, soft drinks, and fruit juices throughout the night!The Pimentos De Padron (SGD $16 Ala-Carte Tapas Portion, SGD $10 Set Menu Canape Portion) featured perfectly grilled Spanish Padron peppers. Most Padron peppers have a mild taste, only 5% are spicy due to the amount of water and sunlight they receive when grown, but fortunately, all the ones we had that evening were mild. I like how your staff describe it as "a lucky draw", as there is no way to tell the difference just by looking at them!The Octopus, Ratte Potatoes, Smoked Paprika (SGD $29 Ala-Carte Tapas Portion) were well received. The octopus was plump and fresh, with a meaty bite and clean taste. The potatoes had a slight sweetness and a slight earthy taste, which paired well with the octopus.Your signature appetizer of Scallops A La Plancha, Veal Cheeks, Iberico Ham Crisp (SGD $28) was very highly recommended, and I now understand why. Everyone was raving about how perfectly done the scallops were, plump, juicy, and just firm enough in texture. The veal was fork tender, coming apart easily when bit, while the black Iberian ham crisp lent a salty, savoury crunch to this surf and turf dish. The bed of mashed potato was smooth and creamy, absorbing the flavours of the veal and scallops.The mains of Wagyu Sirloin, Pequilo Peppers, Roquefort (SGD $50) has wagyu beef that was done to our liking, I had mine medium rare. The beef is very tender and flavourful, and the roquefort cheese added a burst of sharp tangy taste to each mouthful. The spinach and Spanish pequilo peppers added a vibrant colour on the plate, and a slight sweetness to the overall dish.The dessert of Panna Cotta, Popcorn (SGD $14) went down well with our guests, especially the crisp, crunchy popcorn-like bits on the top. The panna cotta itself was smooth, creamy, and sweet, and the passionfruit puree within gave it a tropical, fruity sweet taste.

The off-menu / special request dessert item of Chocolate Ganache In Chocolate Soil didn't fare as well, as many of our guests thought it overly sweet. The texture was nice though, being thick, rich, and creamy, but the overpowering sweetness made it hard to finish.Overall, we had a fantastic evening at Una 1 Rochester Restaurant, and the bosses are likely to strongly consider this as a venue for future events our company may hold. I personally will be visiting again to try the brunch menu! Thanks once again for all the assistance, it's much appreciated!

Best Regards,
Ivan Teh RunningMan.

Full Una 1 Rochester Restaurant review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2014/08/una-1-rochester-restaurant.html

Full Fosters review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2014/02/fosters.html

It's a testament to the fantastic quality of Fosters that they've survived in the constantly evolving and highly competitive food and beverage environment of Singapore for nearly 3 decades. Fosters Restaurant, also known as Fosters Steakhouse Restaurant or Fosters English Rose Cafe, has not only kept up with the times, but may still have a thing or two to school their competitors in the British English cuisine arena.

Ambience at Fosters is like a step back into merry olde England. Styled in the tradition of great British English pubs, with dark wooden furniture, cozy layout, and mood lighting, Fosters also has ye olde suit of knight's armour fronting their interior. The outdoor alfresco dining area has lush greenery and a mini fountain providing atmosphere. Perfect for relaxing, and slow conversations over hot meals.

Service at Fosters is excellent... if you're served by the senior staff. They are knowledgable, professional, and friendly, able to offer sound advice on menu items, and treat diners as old friends. On the flip side, the younger staff aren't much for conversation, and I had a rather unpleasant experience with an incredulous and awkward reply from one of them. Generally though, service at Fosters Restaurant / Fosters Steakhouse Restaurant / Fosters English Rose Cafe befits service at high-end fine dining establishments, albeit without the premium price tag.

Prices at Fosters are rather wallet friendly, ranging from SGD $15 - $50 per dish. Specialising in traditional British English pub grub, Fosters is also a pretty good steakhouse, offering a variety of quality cuts of beef. Dishes are rustic with generous portions, high quality and very tasty, though their belief in scratch preparation means you'll have to wait awhile for your order to be ready. Dining at Fosters is like savouring fine wine, make sure you're not in a hurry.

Full Checkers Brasserie review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2013/12/checkers-brasserie-tasting-session.html

Located at the lobby of Hilton Hotel Singapore, Checkers Brasserie hosts a weekly Sunday Brunch Buffet designed around freshly prepared-to-order dishes at live cooking stations. With a revamped menu revolving around a selection of Eggs Specialties and Gourmet Bites, which can be ordered an unlimited number of times, Checkers Brasserie hopes to allow diners more time to mingle and socialise instead of waiting for food from the buffet line.

Ambience at Checkers Brasserie evokes the rustic, countryside feel, with wooden panelling and summer colours. Layout is spacious, with the glass panels at the side letting in natural light and framing the greenery of the garden outside. While ambient light is sufficient, I noticed the corners of Checkers Brasserie tends to be darker. The main showpiece is the well thought out display of the buffet spread, laid out in logical sequence.Service at Checkers Brasserie is efficient, friendly, and professional. Staff seem more than happy to assist, and orders don't take too long to fulfill. Finished plates are cleared quickly. I noticed that most of the senior staff are very familiar with the food and drinks available, though not everyone in the rank and file is able to answer queries.The Eggs Specialties are the highlight on the Sunday Brunch Buffet menu at Checkers Brasserie, with a choice of 6 different styles of eggs, prepared in international styles. You don't have to wait at the counter, just place your order and staff will serve it to your table when ready. You can order as many rounds of the Eggs Specialities as you wish.The Modern style eggs are served in a mini cauldron, with a free range egg precisely cooked at 45 degrees celsius, on a bed of savoury chanterelle mushrooms and mushroom gravy. This was quite a stand out dish for me, really excellent combinaion of flavours. Pair this with crisp bread for maximum satisfaction.The Beef Bourguignon consists of tender, slow braised beef cheeks on a bed of bacon, mushrooms, onions, and truffle oil infused polenta, with a red wine sauce. I felt this was probably the best of the Gourmet Bites, just loved the tender meat and aromatic flavour profile of the dish.

Checkers Brasserie Sunday Brunch Buffet is only available on Sunday from 11.45am - 3pm. Items on this menu can be specially ordered ala-carte on other days. Prices start at SGD $80 per person, for a free flow of the regular buffet, Eggs Specialities, Gourmet Bites and smoothies / water / juices / coffee / tea. For free flow of wines or cocktails, add additional SGD $18. The luxurious Champagne Brunch starts at SGD $128.

Rakuichi Japanese Restaurant has flown rather under the rader since 2005, when they first opened in Singapore. Partially, this is due to a rather visually unappealing website and menu photographs, which do injustice to the great quality of their food. It's only when trying the food at Rakuichi that you'll be able to appreciate it!

Ambience at Rakuichi is modern Japanese, and rather minimalist. There isn't much decor to speak of, and the central showpiece is the open kitchen, where you might catch a glimpse of the chef preparing your meal. I particularly like watching them grill / blow torch food.

Service at Rakuichi Japanese Restaurant is friendly and efficient, with staff regularly coming to your table to top up the green tea. Staff are knowledgable enough about the menu, and can make recommendations, as well as carry conversations. Pace here is slightly leisurely, and as food is prepared upon order, a slight wait is inevitable.

The menu doesn't do justice to the food at Rakuichi, as all their dishes look, and taste, much better than depicted in the photographs. The best thing about food at Rakuichi is the incredible freshness of the fish and seafood, and you get really high quality, great tasting dishes. Prices are slightly higher than other places, due to the quality of ingredients. Menu options are limited, but the focus helps them, as the food is consistently good.

Full Rakuichi review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2013/12/rakuichi.html

Full Yan Ting review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2013/10/yan-ting-tasting-session.html

Inspired by the Chinese Imperial courtyards of the Ming Dynasty, where influential movers and shakers of the empire would gather for lavish banquets, Yan Ting restaurant in the St. Regis hotel exudes an elegant and sophisticated class befitting royalty. Helmed by master chef Mak Kip Fu, Yan Ting restaurant elevates traditional Cantonese fare into fine dining status, while retaining the soul of using only the freshest seasonal produce and showcasing natural flavours.

Ambience at Yan Ting restaurant is opulent. The grandeur of the interior exudes a classy elegance, without being too over the top. The tastefully arranged layout is suitable for business or private dining, and the decor enhances the overall ambience without being too loud. I also like the bright ambient lighting, which isn't too harsh or dim.

Service at Yan Ting restaurant is professional, discreet and polite. Staff may not make much conversation, but they are attentive and observant, and barely get in the way of dining, or conversations. The discreet yet efficient manner of staff at Yan Ting means you'll barely notice they're there! Tables are set, and cleared, with finesse. Communication in English however, is slightly below par.

Food at Yan Ting follows the Cantonese / Guangzhou philosophy of freshness of ingredients, little usage of herbs, and well balanced dishes that are naturally flavourful but not greasy. Yan Ting restaurant prepares classic Cantonese dishes according to time-honoured receipes, but presents them in beautiful contemporary style. Yan Ting restaurant is most well known for their weekend Dim Sum buffet brunch, considered to be among the best Dim Sum in Singapore. Despite the price of SGD $98 ++ per person, the Dim Sum buffet brunch at Yan Ting restaurant is very popular.

Since chef Mak Kip Fu joined Yan Ting restaurant in September 2013 as their executive chef, he has designed seasonal set menus which showcase the best of Cantonese cuisine. He has also introduced several of his signature dishes which have helped his previous restaurants earn Michelin stars.

The Pan-Seared Crab Claw Stuffed With Shrimp Mousse is chef Mak's signature dish. Fresh shrimp is pounded to a paste, wrapped around a freshly de-shelled crab claw, lightly fired, and then cooked in a broth with 10 different Chinese herbs and spices. The result is a fragrant, juicy, and succulent dish, enhanced with crisp texture from the asparagus and fried shallots.

An extremely uncommon Cantonese dish, and also a signature item of chef Mak, the Double-Boiled Duck With Cordyceps Flowers And Wolfberries won much praise during the tasting session. Easily the best dish on the menu, the soup has robust flavour, is well balanced, and very comforting. The wolfberries and raisins added a hint of sweetness, while the duck meat was tender without being stringy. Excellent!