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2010-08-05
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It’s been so long since I first wanted to try Ember that I had almost forgotten about it! When the occasion presented itself, we decided to head down the narrow lanes of Chinatown to Keong Saik Road and give this restaurant, located on the ground floor of the boutique hotel Hotel 1929, a shot.We were there to try their set lunch, priced at $38++ for a 3-course lunch plus coffee, tea, or a “welcome drink” which would be a specially concocted fizzy drink of sorts.It took quite some time for our co
We were there to try their set lunch, priced at $38++ for a 3-course lunch plus coffee, tea, or a “welcome drink” which would be a specially concocted fizzy drink of sorts.
It took quite some time for our complimentary bread to be served (it about about the same time as our starter), but when it hit the table, I realised the reason for the wait and any misgivings completely vanished. The Sundried Tomato Focaccia is hot out of the oven – and I mean hot. The bread must have been baked freshly upon our arrival! And the bread was addictively good, throughly aromatic, with a crusty exterior and pillow-y soft insides. One of the best complimentary breads around. Gosh I could polish off another loaf!
My appetizer for the day was the Pan Seared Foie Gras with caramelised apple and clove, port and raspberry glaze (additional charge of $6). A healthy (or should I say, very unhealthy) sized slab of foie gras, though it did not meet expectations. The foie gras was a tad overcooked, leading to a rubbery texture instead of the meltingly wobbly one I love. There was also a number of stringy bits that shouldn’t be there! Ruined the texture and delight of the foie gras.
My partner’s choice was the Pan Seared Foie Gras with fresh orange segment, orange and passionfruit reduction (additional charge of $6). Now this one was completely up to par! As opposed to my slab, this was everything you want our of your foie gras – crispy exterior, wobbly, buttery innards that just melt in your mouth. Perhaps it was due to the part of the liver that we got – his was thicker, while mine was wider (which may be more difficult to avoid overcooking). I loved the candied orangie strips on the top that were little nibbles of sweetness.
To be fair, no fault can be found with either preperation fo the foie gras – both were excellent, I just wish my slab was better cooked.
I chose the Marinated Cod with Black Miso, accompanied by sweet peas and herbed potatoes. Would you look at that hunk of beauty? A good-sized, thick piece of cod was served, and completely covered in the miso paste. The waitress asked “do you like sweet things?” when I ordered this. True enough, this is really for those who don’t mind a sweet main course – the beautifully laquered cod was sweet with miso, that worked almost like a teriyaki sauce coating the buttery, fresh fish. I enjoyed it for sure.
The partner’s Yam Crusted Vealloin with selected dips, Japanese salsa, and miso vinaigrette was a star in its own right – think perfect tonkatsu, with its crispy batter that distinctly tasted of yam, and the medium done veallion inside that was so tender and juicy. It’s blushing pink! I’ve never quite been a fan of breaded, deep fried cutlets since so much can go wrong – often overcooked and dry, took much breading to too little meat etc, but this is delish.
For dessert, we first had the Sticky Date Pudding, which wasn’t on the menu but the waitress recommended to us as a new item. The warm cake is not too sweet, and full of the distinct flavours of dates, ginger, and other spices. Unlike others which drench their cake with a bucket-full of toffee sauce, that component is not overwhelming here. The Grand Marnier ice cream pairs surprisingly well with it. Personally, I still prefer my sticky date at Boomerang Cafe, but that has to do with my extra sweet tooth
The Warm Valrhona Chocolate Cake with Vanilla bean ice cream was brilliant. Served hot, I was delighted when the flood of molten chocolate came pouring out the moment we dug into it. Put it on too many dismal experiences with molten chocolate cakes that simply aren’t molten, or aren’t even warm. While I’d like to see a crispy exterior, the thin wall of sponge was good too. Thick chocolate-y goodness! The speckled vanilla bean ice cream just lended the much needed cold note to this hot cake and ended the meal well.
Generally excellent food and friendly service, I don’t know why it took me so long to get here, but I’ll be back (soon, hopefully!). The great thing is the surprising variety of choices one has for the set lunch - there’s at least 8 different options for appetizers, mains and desserts, which means that you can come over and over again and not have to eat the same thing/combination twice!
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