The Plain – For that Simple Unpretentious Brunch

A cafe’s name often speaks volumes about its history and concept. For The Plain, it seems that the owners named it as such after much thought. Location seems to be the main driver behind this decision, with The Plain’s location near Duxton Plain Park. Concept was the other driving factor, with the owner’s intention of setting up a cafe that is as plain as possible; simple and easily understood without the gimmicks. A minimalistic cafe where one could come in for a casual cuppa, coffee or sandwich.

There’s just so few brunch places around nowadays that eludes the super chillax uncommercialized feel like The Plain does. I’d be lying if I said cafes like Wild Honey, Epicurious and Spruce are like that too. Somehow, they come across as trendier, with a see and be seen vibe to it, where you actually end up dressing up for a simple brunch. On the other hand, I’d be entirely comfortable dropping by The Plain in my shorts and flip flops.

There’s nothing distinctly special about the food here. The food menu is quite limited and the items can be easily prepared at home. For example, the Darling’s Eggs ($12), “Poached Egg with Ham, Cheese and Roma Tomatoes on Sourdough Toast”, can be easily replicated. Seriously, poaching eggs isn’t that difficult! Normally, it’s the Hollandaise Sauce that comes along with it that’s the problem but The Plain keeps it simple by using melted cheese instead.

My personal preference veers to the Dean’s Breakfast ($11), “Poached Eggs with Melted Cheese & Vegemite on Sourdough Toast”. This is my first time eating vegemite, a yeast extract that is supposedly nutritious. I thought it went rather well with the toasted sourdough, intensifying the flavour of the melted cheese. My only quibble was that the eggs were noticeably over-poached so the yolk was solid instead of runny. That definitely can be worked on.

HH and JH shared an Iced Chocolate but I didn’t get to try it.

Iced Chocolate ($5.50)

The Plain does their coffees well. T got a Cappuccino (butter cookies on the side were made by T’s gf and meant for decorative purposes only and not served with the coffee) which he said was pretty good.

For myself, I got a Latte which was quite fragrant and smooth with the right thickness (“gao-ness”).

While I normally emphasize on the food, I think The Plain is just one of the few places where I can bear to leave critical food-related judgements behind (not that there are many) and soak in the ambience instead. It does help that the staff are super approachable and really treat their customers as they would their friends.

PS: Currently, I’m embarking on a pet project to identify Singapore’s best 5 brunch places so you’d probably see more brunch posts coming up shortly.

Bon Appetit!

The Plain

50 Craig Road

Tel: +65 6225 4387

Hosted on the Patio – Another Place Great for Dates and Birthdays

Just last week, a bunch of us celebrated MZ’s 21st birthday at Hosted on the Patio. I realize now that I should have taken some pics of the setting and surroundings because it’s really an ideal place to host birthdays and go on dates. Actually, almost all the customers here that night were couples yearning a relaxed quiet evening out. The ambience is a mix of Timbre @ Old School and Artichoke Cafe (along Queens Street), and a live band played for the enjoyment of al fresco diners (it was a Saturday if I’m not mistaken).

Food was generally decent (though not astounding) but service was really sluggish and we waited around half an hour for the food, probably because the kitchen isn’t equipped to handle large orders at one go.

As an appetizer, the Atlantic Crab Salad ($16++) comes highly recommended. Chunks of briny crab meat is tossed with crisp salad, cherry tomatoes and sweet orange citrus segments, all dressed in a tangy tomato syrup. The myriad of light flavours works for the dish and the plethora of colours is appealing. The serving is generous and can be shared between 3 people.

I had high expectations for the Honey Bourbon Ribs ($26++) but was left slightly disappointed as the beef rib was not as succulent as what I remember it to be as when I had it in other places (I fondly recall my first brush with beef ribs at Brewerkz).  On the other hand, the marinate was ok and the thick cut fries were awesome.

My favourite main tonight was definitely the Smoked Duck Linguini ($24++). While the sauce is supposed to be a fragrant rose sauce (I’m thinking rose as in the wine and not the flower), only trace amounts of rose was used and the sauce was more or less a blend between cream and tomato base, which worked out just as well, appealing to people who find the usual tomato base too tangy and the usual cream base too cloying. The Wood Smoked French Duck Breast, Asparagus and Mushrooms is nestled on firm Linguini Pasta (just how I like it), and plays along with the pasta’s gentle symphony.

I have had better Capellini Nero ($28++), better known as Squid Ink Angel Hair Pasta elsewhere. The angel hair pasta tossed with fresh prawns, crab meat and roasted tomatoes come across as a little dry for my liking though I would say the flavours are intact.

Didn’t manage to try the other Mains such as the Beef Scallopini ($28++) which is described as “Tender Escalopes of Beef Tenderloin pan seared and deglazed with Marsala and Cream with Roasted Potatoes and Porcini Mushrooms” on the menu.

Chilean Cod & Slipper Lobster ($32++). Described as “Duo of Grilled Cod and Slipper Lobster accompanied with Tomato Jam and Onion Glaze in a crisp white wine butter sauce with vegetables on the side”.

Braised Lamb Shank ($24++). Described as “Slow Braised Lamb Fore Shank nestled on Mint Scent Risotto, draped with Roasted Onion, Tomato Red Wine Sauce and drizzled with Lemon Parsley Oil” on the menu. MZ thought it was just so-so.

Given the reasonable prices of the Mains here, the Desserts seem relatively overpriced, unjustified by its run of the mill standards. The Molten Dark Chocolate Fondant with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream ($14++) is pleasantly average.

I didn’t like the Green Tea Creme Brulee with Almond Biscotti ($12++) as I found the creme brulee too dense that it feels more oversteamed eggy than creamy. I also felt that the caramel was overseared, resulting in an unpleasant overly charred taste.

Hosted on the Patio does some dishes well but in general, the main draw of this place is simply the laid back ambience not available in the heart of town.

Bon Appetit!

Hosted on the Patio

991B Alexandra Road, #01-10

Tel: +65 6276 7337

Open Door Policy – My Recommendation for First Dates

It’s been some time since I last found a place that I’d be comfortable bringing a first date to. A place atas enough to show that she is worth my while and me hers, a place intimate enough to carry out conversations without too much intrusion yet not deafeningly silent enough to make conversation intervals feel awkward.

Welcome to Open Door Policy (ODP).

ODP is very much a laid back bistro serving fun contemporary western fare, whose main clientele comprises of chic young professionals who know how to enjoy the finer things in life. I see or at least I want to see myself in their shoes in 5 years time, not mindlessly climbing the corporate ladder but having enough life to hang out with colleagues and friends after work, sipping a glass of wine or two to celebrate the end of a hectic day.

The place looks rather empty in this picture but don’t be fooled. Once it reaches 8pm (even on weekdays), the place is packed and one might find trouble getting seats without any reservation. The kitchen operates with an open concept, so if you are the kind of person who likes to sit in on the action and watch how your food is being prepared, you can try asking for bar counter seats which overlooks the kitchen.

I wasn’t here for a first date though, just a casual catch up session with T and CJ. We weren’t planning to have a proper dinner (each of us just had a main each) since we had post ODP plans at Magma Restaurant (should be doing a write up on it soon as it’s currently my favourite watering hole and I have patronised it 4 of the 5 past wednesdays for their german wines, the other wednesday it was closed for renovation!).

I ordered the 48 Hour Cooked Braised Beef Cheek with Mochi Potatoes, Carrot Puree and Snow Pea Tendrils ($29++) and I thought it was excellent. The cheeks are succulent and full flavoured, and the mochi potatoes are rather interesting as its texture really resembles that of mochi. The carrot puree is a little too sweet for my liking though but the beef cheeks taste just wonderful on its own.

CJ had the Roasted Salmon with Panzanella Salad ($25++). There’s nothing fancy about the salmon, but what caught my attention was the tasteful croutons that came served with it, crisp, buttery with a hint of tomato.

T got the Pan Seared Sea Bass with Artichoke, Potatoes and Rocket Salad ($27++). I much preferred this to the salmon as the skin is more crisp and the meat less chewy. I tasted some gentle drips of lemon juice that made this all the more refreshing. The roasted potatoes are well marinated as well, owning most of the wedges I have had elsewhere.

Overall, I wouldn’t rate the food here as world class but it is indeed competent enough to leave an impression, not to mention that the staff here are friendly. I would definitely return again.

Bon Appetit!

Open Door Policy

19 Yong Siak Street

Tel: +65 6221 9307

Ember III – A Great Way to End the Year

First of all, Happy New Year to everyone! I hope 2011 has been a great year for you as it has been for me and let’s pray that 2012 brings lots of joy, laughter and peace into everyone’s lives

Anyway just a couple days back, I visited Ember for the third time this year. Visiting the same restaurant twice doesn’t happen often for me, much less 3 times, especially since I have been attempting to cover as much ground as possible with regards to the visitation of different local restaurants.

A reason for this anomaly could be because during our last SMU Gourmet Club event, events director G mentioned she had never been to Ember before and since she was flying off for her Barcelona exchange soon, I thought this would be a good opportunity for her to try it. But I think maybe I was just finding an excuse to come back myself. Ember just has that much an allure.

Nothing much has changed from its set lunch menu since my last 2 visits, apart from the slight price increment that I find highly justified given the popularity and quality of Ember. Currently, their 3-Course set lunches are priced at $42++, which is still a fraction the price of their set dinner (that I believe serves roughly the same items choices).

Having been here before too, CW ordered what she claims is the best foie gras she has eaten - The Roasted & Poached Foie Gras with Mirin, Shoyu & Shiitake (requires a $6++ supplement). I’m guessing the savoury foie gras is poached first to cook the liver properly before being subsequently roasted to attain that firm brown surface with wobbly fatty interior. If this is your first time to Ember, I highly recommend you order this but if you haven’t had foie gras before, perhaps you should try out a few other places first before trying this one or you’d be hard pressed to find somewhere else even remotely comparable.

G doesn’t like foie gras (I know most of you must be going: “Impossibru!”) so she had the Pan Roasted Scallops with Parma Ham, Citrus & Tarragon Vinaigrette instead. It’s definitely above average but nothing compared to the really fresh and utterly orgasmic ones I had with CW at Cornwall, England, last June during our short road trip. I still think of them sometimes, after all I would not be exaggerating much saying they made me open my mouth, salivate and gurgle “mmmm” the way Homer Simpson does when he thinks of donuts.

Ember does their Field Mushroom Soup (avail in their set lunch menu) well but you know what’s even better than that? Field Mushroom Soup with Poached Egg and Foie Gras (a special appetizer for today’s lunch menu, requires supplement of $6++). The mushrooms are blended finely, leaving the texture of the soup velvety smooth yet not watered down. In fact, the flavours are rather intense, so it might have gone well if a piece of brioche was included on the side. And the few drops of white truffle oil does well to add an earthly aroma that stimulates the olfactory senses and whets the appetite for the upcoming mains. Few bite-sized pieces of foie gras can be found in the soup but possessed a slightly gamey flavour.

The list of appetizers available here are really extensive, leaving one spoilt for choice even for subsequent visits. So just to give you an idea of what other choices are available apart from those mentioned, I will list them down here too:

1) Pan Seared Foie Gras with Fresh Orange Segments, Orange and Passionfruit Reduction (supplement of $6++)

2) Pan Seared Foie Gras with Caramelized Apples and Cloves, Port & Raspberry Glaze (supplement of $6++)

3) Chicken and Duck Liver Parfait, Brioche and Late Harvest Muscat Jelly

4) Cold Tofu Salad with Avacado, Tomato and Sesame Dressing

5) Shaved Parma Ham with Fresh Figs & Rocket Salad

6) Deep Fried Soft Shell Crab with Sweet Wasabi Aioli

7) Field Mushroom Soup with White Truffle Oil

8) Homemade Crispy Tofu with Foie Gras Mirin Sauce & White Truffle Oil (I have read some good things about this on other blogs, think I might just try this the next time around)

For Mains, CW stuck to the safe choice of Pan Seared Chilean Seabass with Mushroom and Smoked Bacon Ragout, with Truffle Yuzu Butter Sauce. To our surprise, it came out uncharacteristically overcooked and tough. The mushroom and bacon ragout didn’t find favour with her either though to me it’s still pretty tasty as I’m a hardcore mushroom fan. Even my hair grows out into a mushroom shape if I refrain from having my monthly haircut.

G settled for the Pan Roasted USDA Prime Beef Tenderloin with French Fries & Merlot Reduction. If you have had the deep fried golden mushrooms at some Taiwanese Street Snack stalls (abundant in Singapore), you might find some semblance with the fried golden mushrooms topping the steak. I’m thinking it’s roughly similar though the ones here are less fried so they come across as half crunchy (from the mushroom texture) and half crispy(from deep frying). The Steak was well executed as well, surprisingly tender and flavourful for a restaurant not specializing in steak.

I saw quite a few patrons ordering this during my previous visits so I reasoned that it must be good – the 12 Hour Cooked Pork Belly with Savoy Cabbage, Apple Puree & Spiced Calvados Sauce. In fact, there are 3 sauces to eat the Roast Pork with, the brown sauce at the top is a sweet asian glaze (tasting similar to the one you would use for peking duck), the middle yellow one is a mild mustard sauce (great for cleansing the palate if the pork belly gets too oleaginous) and lastly the savoury brown sauce in the test tube which I believe could be the Spiced Calvados Sauce (my favourite of the 3 and tastes a bit like a thicker and more robust hawker duck sauce) (Calvados is a type of Apple Brandy). There’s really nothing more I can ask for from a Roasted Pork Belly, a tender layer of meat meeting a thick layer of crackling skin, broken easily with a light prodding of a fork. No wonder its popular.

While the Crispy Caramelized Pear Tart with Homemade Bailey’s Ice Cream (upper pic) is pretty good, we all preferred the Crispy Cinnamon “Apple Pie” with Homemade Rum & Raisin Ice Cream (bottom pic) because it’s sweeter and less tart, pardon the pun.

But if you prefer something cold and a little more creative, the Frozen Nougat with Seasonal Berries and Lychee Sorbet is the way to go. Unlike normal nougats which are irritatingly uber chewy, the frozen nougat is very much a dense ice cream chocked with nuts. And the Lychee Sorbet is indeed a refreshing way to end off a meal.

Set Meals come with a choice of coffee/tea, but since CW didn’t want either, the staff told me I could upgrade my “normal” coffee to a cappuccino, which I did. 赚到!

Food aside, one other thing I really like about Ember is the service staff. They are really attentive, versed in fine dining etiquette (meaning they will really arrive to clear your plate if you decide to pair your cutlery together in the same direction as we discovered today) and are very friendly, often striking up casual conversation. Most importantly, they are not annoyingly pretentious.

Bon Appetit!

Ember

50 Keong Saik Road, Hotel 1929

Tel: +65 6347 1928

Pierside @ One Fullerton

There is a sheer abundance of discount coupon websites nowadays like Groupon, deal.com.sg, VoucherWow etc, and while I used to be intrigued by them initially, the novelty has worn off somewhat. Apart from the more common holiday and spa coupons, some of these websites do offer coupons for restaurant meals as well, often including a glowing excerpt of the restaurant and a brief overview of its dining concept on its website. Using such a website, my friend C had purchased $170 of food credits at Pierside (using $100) and invited me along. Personally though, I have never trusted these excerpts, I mean, why would a restaurant offer a discount unless it’s not doing well enough the draw in a crowd? Hence, despite a very promising menu (avail on their online website), I kept expectations in check just in case.

We were first served a complimentary amuse bouche of marinated fish. While it looked rather dry, it tasted surprisingly good, with a taste and texture resembling unagi in a light kabayaki dressing, though springier.

As excessively greedy individuals, we figured getting a Plateau De Fruits De Mer ($60++) consisting half a Maine Lobster, 3 Rock Oysters, Prawn Cocktail, Tuna Tataki, Cured Salmon, Baby Octopus, New Zealand Green Shell Mussels, Venus Clams & Brown Spotted Shrimp provided more flexibility and utility than any other appetizer on the menu. Sadly, we found the platter slightly underwhelming, pulled down by the stale deep fried shrimps that had been left to air for too long, the lackluster tuna tataki and salmon as well as the tasteless lobster lacking its natural sweetness. However, I did enjoy the Rock Oysters which starts off briny before a gentle sweet undertone hits you, as well as the fresh prawns.

The Pan Roasted Foie Gras on Toasted Brioche, Aged Port & Prune ($28++) turned our moods around as the portion was pretty generous, not to mention it’s also one of the better ones I have had. Forget about the Brioche and just savour the wobbly livers in its unadulterated glory. Eating the pineapple at punctuated intervals does help to relieve the unctuous nature of the foie gras too.

The Char Grilled Organic Pork Rack with Fava Beans, Compressed Granny Smith & Green Mustard Grain ($38++) fared averagely as some portions of the pork was a little to lean for my liking but I like how the poached sweet apple (under the round piece of meat)  goes well with the pork. The round piece of fried meat (which the server said was a roulade though it doesn’t look it) was bad, way overfried and utterly dry. We left that untouched after an initial bite.

From what I read on Hungrygowhere, the Oven Roasted Miso Cod with Minted Pea Puree($33++) seems to be a popular item here. It’s not bad but I would have preferred if more miso marinate was used as the flavours comes across as slightly too mild, especially since the sweet miso flavours was retained almost entirely on the cod surface and failed to infuse into the cod flesh. If you read food blogs often enough, you might have come across a Miso Cod that is most highly acclaimed in Singapore. The one I’m thinking of is the Miso Cod at Restaurant Ember, currently my favourite restaurant for a set lunch. Coincidentally, I’m going to be lunching there tomorrow, ready to be spoiled once more. Yay!

I was too full for desserts, partially because I had downed 2 pots of their herbal camomile tea as I was having a sore throat. Overall, I guess what you pay is what you get. While I would not rate the food as stellar, the full view of MBS makes up somewhat for it.

Bon Appetit!

Pierside Kitchen & Bar

1 Fullerton Road, #01-01 One Fullerton

Tel: +65 6438 0400

L’Entrecote – You don’t need Wagyu for good Steak

One problem I find when dining out is that sometimes there are just too many choices available on the menu that I’m left overly spoilt for choice, not knowing what exactly does the restaurant specialize in. Often, I resort to simply asking the restaurant staff for their personal recommendations to facilitate my decision making process. If this is what frustrates you often, L’Entrecote might just be the place for you!

The dining concept at L’Entrecote is simple. They offer you the best of what they do – the Entrecote Steak ($29++), drizzled in a fiercely guarded secret butter-based sauce with a free-flow of Crisp Golden Shoestring Fries & Salad and complemented with a complimentary glass of their hand picked red wine. The only decision left to the diner is whether or not to order any appetizers and/or desserts.

We ordered our steaks medium rare and it was done as such. While the steak wasn’t marbled, it is cooked in a fashion that enables you to enjoy it lean, with a texture resembling that of a slab of lightly seared tuna. The steak is served as 2 portions, possibly to allow the 2nd portion to be kept warmed before it is finally served, so what is seen below is just the 1st portion (about 60% of the actual amount of steak)

So for that affordable steak meal, do try out L’Entrecote. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Bon Appetit!

L’Entrecote

36 Duxton Hill

Tel: +65 6238 5700

Garibaldi Italian Restaurant & Bar – Very Meh

Now that holidays are here, I have been trying my best to spend more time with my non-SMU friends whom I might have neglected through the school term. This term has been a trying one for me, but which term hasn’t? One thing’s for sure though, I had definitely spent more time in the library and less time with the nom noms this time around. So now, it was time to go on an eating spree to make up for lost time… 

I arrived ahead of C, excited to be dining at what was considered to be one of Singapore’s leading Italian fine dining restaurants. The service was impeccable, and the maitre’d saw to it that I wasn’t too bored, coming over to chat a while I waited for C.

When C arrived, we were served with complimentary freshly toasted Dried Tomato Focaccia Bread. First impressions count and Garibaldi nailed it as this was the 2nd best complimentary bread I have had so far (the best being from Private Affairs which has recently shifted out of its Joo Chiat premises). C even got himself a third slice!

Their 3-Course Set Lunch is priced at $38++, a huge discount from the ala carte prices which would probably set you back by about $100ish.

For appetizer, C chose the Cocktail Di Gamberetti or Poached Shrimps with Romaine Lettuce in Cocktail Sauce. They are quite generous with the shrimps, and the shrimps were fresh and springy so no complaints here. It does remind me of the cold dish prawns you get at wedding dinners.

For myself, I opted for the Soup of the Day which happened to be Asparagus & Crab Soup. It’s quite starchy, so I think they might have blended in some potatoes to thicken the soup a bit. Overall, it was meh.

For Main, I had the Spaghettini with Calamari, Black Olives and Fresh Tomatoes, thinking that a fancy Italian restaurant would definitely get their pastas right. Yet again, I was left disappointed as this was forgettable.

C’s Stewed Red Snapper served with Grilled Polenta and Green Peas fared slightly better, though severely lacking a wow factor. Polenta is made from cornmeal and supposedly looks a bit like mash potatoes which I don’t see any of. Perhaps it is the toast lookalike behind the fish.

For desserts, diners get a choice of what they want from a cart of homemade cakes by Sweets Garibaldi.

Diners can also choose if they would like a sauce (Chocolate, Vanilla and one more I can’t recall) to accompany the cake.

C got a Chocolate one which I didn’t try.

For myself, I had a Hazelnut Flavoured one which on first bite tasted like Kinder Bueno with the soft hazelnut cream and crisp praline base. I thought it could have been better if the sponge was lighter and more airy.

The set lunch comes with a choice of coffee or tea. The coffee was fragrant and robust despite being quite bitter (typical of french and italian coffees perhaps?)

Overall, I wasn’t impressed with the food but felt the service made up for it.

Bon Appetit!

Garibaldi Italian Restaurant & Bar

36 Purvis Street

Tel: +65 6837 1468

Pasta Brava – Hearty Italian at Mass Market Prices

Sherwin’s, Sophie’s and Annie’s birthdays were long overdue and due to the 101 reasons that kept everyone busy over the past month, we didn’t get a chance to celebrate during the school term. And since school’s finally out, I had tasked myself with finding an appropriate place for a casual birthday lunch.

You know for large group gatherings, an appropriate lunch venue requires affordability, accessibility and of course, a minimum standard of quality, and finding such an ideal lunch spot is indeed a tall task. Faced with such a situation, I humbly suggested Pasta Brava, a restaurant on my to-go list which I had yet to try.

Located within walking distance from Tanjong Pagar Mrt, Pasta Brava serves hearty authentic Italian fare at very very reasonable prices about $25ish to $35ish a person for a generously portioned main. It has cemented its position and credibility in the Singapore food scene after garnering numerous accolades and awards over the past decade which are conspicuously framed up on the wall of the reception area.

The pastas here are pretty heavy so while I’m an advocate of having a complete meal consisting appetizer, main and dessert, you you might want to consider skipping the appetizers unless you are planning on sharing the mains. And instead of having desserts here, you can also consider strolling around the Ann Siang or Duxton area to try the various highly acclaimed patisseries such as k ki, Bonheur Patisserie and Flor Patisserie.

In descending order starting from my favourite pasta, I enjoyed the Spaghetti Della Pescatrice, “Spaghetti with Seafood in Squid Ink Sauce” ($23++) the most. Some of my friends found the briny squid ink sauce a little too salty but I thought it was awesome with the subtle bittersweet clam juices infused into the pasta.

One of the better risottos I have had, the Risotto Al Funghi Porcini, “Arborio Rice cooked with Porcini Mushrooms, White Wine & Parmesan Cheese” ($23++) is something I would recommend ordering here. Don’t attempt to finish this alone though as the cheesiness gets to you after awhile. The Porcini Mushrooms adds a texture akin to smooth fresh scallops to the dish which I find extra inviting,

I have a particular fondness of clams. I think it’s because of the fond memories I have about my trip to Gold Coast when I was younger where I picked up live clams off the beach and boiled them back in the hotel to eat. Subjectivity aside, there was consensus that the Spaghetti Alle Vongole In Bianco, “Spaghetti with Fresh Clams, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, White Wine and Parsley” ($19++) was one of the favourites of the meal.

Spaghetti Anacapri Al Cartoccio, “Spaghetti with Crayfish, Garlic, Herbs & Tomato Sauce served in Parchment Paper” ($23++). I’m not sure if it’s because of the effect of sealing it in parchment paper that stops the white wine from vapourizing but I detected a stronger than usual wine taste which I quite enjoyed (then again, no description of wine is mentioned for this dish so I might just have imagined things).

Agnolotti Farciti Al Salmone, ”Round-shaped Pasta filled with Fresh Salmon, served with Tomato and Cream Sauce” ($22.50++). Agnolotti is a type of ravioli, and the difference in naming convention arises mainly from the initial place of origin, with Agnolotti originating from Northern Italy and Ravioli from the Coastal South. The difference in locale also results in a difference in terms of stuffing used, where fish, vegetables and cheese was commonly used for Ravioli while meat was used as a stuffing for Agnolotti.

The Fettuccine Alla Carbonara, “Fettuccine with Bacon, Onion, Egg Yolk, White Wine & Cream Sauce” ($20++) is decent but too heavy for my liking. The pasta was also a little on the soft side.

While the Linguini Regina Del Mare, “Linguini with Clams, Prawns, Scallops, Squid, Crayfish, Garlic & Tomato Sauce” ($23++) looks like the Spaghetti Cartoccio (above), the tomato sauce comes across as less flavourful.

There’s no end to good food around the Tanjong Pagar and Outram area but Pasta Brava has left a deep enough impression to warrant future revisits.

Bon Appetit!

Pasta Brava

11 Craig Road

Tel: +65 6227 7550

Rocks Urban Grill + Bar @ The Sail – No Smooth Sailing

Rocks Urban Grill & Bar is the latest addition to the Emmanual Stroobant Group, which features reputable restaurants such as Saint Pierre, The French Kitchen and Picotin in Singapore. However sad to say, I find Rocks falling way short of its sister restaurants which is rather surprising since friend LZ did provide positive feedback on his last visit here.

Currently, there’s a festive 3-Course Set Lunch menu priced at $49++ and since my party was not provided with the usual weekly $39++ set lunch menu,  I’m guessing the festive set lunch menu might have replaced it for the time being. Personally, I was quite disappointed with the choices made available in the festive set, as they seem to feature cheaper and less popular alternatives compared to what is usually made available on the weekly set lunches, yet being priced at a premium. In the end, we decided to just go ala carte.

Served atop a hot pebble, the Sizzling Beef Maki ($18++) was more a feast for the eyes than the palate. The beef was slightly on the chewy side (though the extent of chewiness/rareness also depends on how long you leave it on the hot stone), and stuffed with what I believe to be Spinach, Mustard sauce and Parmesan cheese. Dipping it into the side of Soy (like how you would for sushi) is optional in my view because the soy simply overpowers everything, though eating the beef maki au naturale doesn’t result in a symphonic harmony of contrasting flavours either. In short, not recommended…

While it might seem aesthetically appealing, I suggest avoiding the Braised Lamb Shank with Rosemary, Thyme & Garlic ($33++). As far as I remember, this is definitely the most gamey and pungent lamb dish I have ever come across and I had quite a bit of trouble wolfing it down. This is definitely one of the areas Rocks should look into.

The meal started going uphill from here though I was already left with a bad taste in my mouth. While GR and CC liked the Grilled Baramundi ($30++), I thought it was merely pleasant. Enjoyable to eat, but not the best in town. The searing of the skin could have been made slightly crispier.

The Duck Confit ($33++) is done competently here. My only grouse is that the meat is slightly on the dry side but the duck skin and fat is simply marvelous and flavourful. Needless to say, duck confits are salty so a dessert is definitely in order after eating this.

We got the Baked Apple, Toffee Ice Cream with Double Cream & Brandy Snap ($14++) at GR’s request since he’s a huge apple fan and apple crumbles are his kryptonite. I think he quite enjoyed this but since I’m not much of a baked fruit kind of person, I thought the concept behind this dish is good and zingy with the combination of concentrated apple goodness and sour cream, but shall still prefer to stick to safer and more boring options such as cheesecake and chocolate fondants in future.

My favourite dish for the meal was the Cheesecake with Red Berry Sherbet & Apricot Chutney ($16++). I knew this had to be good seeing the specks of fragrant vanilla beans scattered throughout the cheesecake. The Sherbet is good too, and has a hint of yoghurty flavour despite sherbets supposedly having low dairy contents.

While I wasn’t impressed by their lunch, I concede that my negative experience could be partially because I failed to try what Rocks is known for, which is their Beef.

Bon Appetit!

Rocks Urban Grill + Bar

2 Marina Boulevard , #02-01/02 The Sail @ Marina Bay

Tel: +65 6438 4404

Artichoke Cafe + Bar – Putting Moorish Cuisine on the Singapore Map

“We believe that the most enjoyable meals are those that are shared. These thoughts are reflected in our menu, which is made up of communal shared plates.

So round up a bunch of people, order a mix of dishes, and enjoy a little bit of this and a little bit of that, rather than 25 bites of the same thing. Feel free to order more than once.”

This pretty much sums up the dining concept behind Artichoke Cafe…

Artichoke Cafe’s premises used to house the now-defunct My Secret Garden and while the restaurant has changed, the interior remains very much the same as before, minimalistic and uncluttered. Like The White Rabbit @ Dempsey, the compound housing Artichoke used to be a small chapel as well, adding to the surreal tranquility and serenity echoing throughout the premises.

Artichoke is helmed by Chef Bjorn Shen, whose fiery passion and masterful cooking shows up evidently in his successful endeavor,  effectively putting Moorish Cuisine on the Singapore map. There’s no easy explanation to Moorish Cuisine, a cuisine borne of diverse sources and if you are just slightly more attentive, you might just be able to pick out the African, Middle Eastern and even Spanish influences.

We started off with Moorish Dips ($16+), a tasting of 3 Arabian dips with bread. My favourite was the Roasted Carrot Dip, sweetly spiced with cumin, rosewater and walnuts. The Labneh or Homemade Yoghurt Cream Cheese with house blended Za’atar was good as well, not to sour and extra creamy. From their glossary, I found out that Za’atar refers to a fragrant condiment made from sesame seeds, sumac wild thyme. The third dip is the Hummus, or Chickpea puree with tahini (sesame paste), lemon and sumac. It’s decent but I have had smoother ones elsewhere (thinking of Sofra Turkish Cuisine).

Upon request of C, the Forgotten Grain Salad ($15+) has now returned back on their menu. It’s a really healthy dish, made up of an observable mixture of Wild Rice, Cracked Wheat, Quinoa, Pomegrenate, Nuts, Capers and Sunflower Seeds. Personally, it reminds me much of hamster food for the health conscious for whom I am not.

A dinner special scribbled on the chalkboard not part of the regular menu, Chef Bjorn was kind enough to offer us a complimentary Spiced Chickpea & Spinach Stew with Crumbled Feta Cheese ($15+).

A new item on their menu, Artichoke’s Char-Grilled Local Calamari ($22+) with Cucumber, Aioli & Lime is one of the best renditions of squid I have ever had, springy, juicy and zesty. Marinated with their own ras el hanout (literally means “top of the shop” or the best blend of spices a spice vendor has to offer), this is really the bomb!

We see some Spanish influence from the Pan-Roasted Red Snapper Fillets with Piquillo Pepper Salsa ($28+). The skin is seared well and the fish is fresh.

Admit it, we all have a weakness for Mac & Cheese ($40+). The one served here is an upgraded version though, containing tender Stewed Beef, Kashkaval Cheese, Organic Mushroom and a hint of White Truffle Oil. Whole baby vine tomatoes scattered in the dish helps relieve any excess cheesiness and the portion is large enough to be shared amongst 2-3 pax as a main.

The Date Pudding ($14+) here has officially become my favourite dessert around. Served with Smoked Milk Custard, Cocoa, Peanut Caramel & Sea Salt, it deviates slightly off track from the simple warm sticky date pudding with caramel sauce.

The Homemade Baklava ($15+) is a Sweet Arabic Pastry with Almonds, Pistachio, Walnuts, Filo Pastry, Honey Syrup & Orange Blossom Honey Gelato. Tasting much like Honey Stars with the crunchy nuts and honey gelato, it was fantastic as well though all 5 of us had a preference for the date pudding.

This concluded one of my most memorable meals this year and I’m positive I will be back in a jiffy.

SMU Gourmet Club organized a dinner event at Artichoke Cafe about 2 months back which I attended as well but have yet to post on. So the 2nd half of this post will be mainly pictorial to give you a better sense of what else Artichoke has to offer.

Stuffed Piquillos

Manzanilla Olives and White Anchovies

Beetroot Tzatziki with Dukkah

Hanger Steak with Romesco Sauce

Chickpea & Pork Stew with Blood Sausage

Lamb Shoulder with Toum Garlic Sauce

Bon Appetit!

Artichoke Cafe + Bar

161 Middle Road

Tel: +65 6336 6949