FINE FARE - In the Mood for Food

dining adventures of a food fantatic and dessert devotee in Singapore


Coriander Leaf, Clarke Quay

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."
- Virginia Woolf

Grilled Eggplants with Walnut Spread & Pomegranate Salad ($8)

Coriander Leaf is the culinary dream of Samia Ahad, who envisioned an intimate space where food-related activities could be centred, with guests as active participants in the culinary experience. Positioned as an Asian Food Hub, this fine-dining bistro/cooking school/chef's table/private dining room showcases South Asian, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern and East Asian cuisine.

At the bistro, "dining well" is an underlying philosophy, and this is further emphasised by the evident pride in food quality, preparation and presentation. Diners are invited to embark on a journey of taste with the eclectic menu that incorporates dishes from different parts of Asia.

While Coriander Leaf is strongly fusion in the presentation of its food and menu, it does not see itself as a "fusion place". Instead, focus is placed on giving new interpretations to traditional Asian dishes, such as preparing Asian food using Western techniques, and adding an innovative twist to familiar sauces and condiments.

Must Try!
- Ginger-Butter Prawn . cherry tomato & mint relish . coriander rice ($26)
Succulent prawns, sweet cherry tomatoes, and an absolutely divine creamy and tasty sauce. The coriander rice is fragrant and buttery, with each mouthful leaving you wanting more. To get the most out of the excellent ginger-butter sauce, order an additional side of Coriander's soft, fluffy butter naan to go with it. This is just sooooo good...

Maybe?
- Black Angus Beef . crispy mushroom risotto . wasabi pepper sauce ($33)
The beef is tender and juicy, and the risotto is full of flavour. The downside? You only get 2 parts beef and 2 parts cripsy risotto --- kid's size. Portions are depressingly small for the price you pay. Try only if you're a fan of savoury dishes.
.
Save Your Calories...


- Frontier Chicken - stir fried with coriander seeds & chili flakes . yoghurt cream . mizuna . butter naan ($24)
The butter naan is fantastic. Better than what you'll get at most Indian restaurants in Singapore. However the chicken is simply too salty. Its natural taste is completely overwhelmed by the sauce.

Recommended for:
Anyone who enjoys modern South Asian and Middle Eastern cusine.

Ambience:
Not the most romantic place, but quaint enough for dinner with friends. Unfortunately, the noise level can escalate when the Bistro is packed, especially with large groups of diners and wine involved. This makes it hard to have proper conversations over the meal, so diners who enjoy dining in a peaceful environment might want to avoid visiting on friday and saturday nights. Alternatively, you can arrange to have an earlier dinner, between 6 - 7 pm, before the crowd comes in.
Note on restaurant acoustics:
According to acoustics expert
Alan Saunders, noise level is related to how acoustically hard the surfaces in the restaurant are. This could be why Coriander Leaf suffers from such a high noise level. Every surface in the Bistro is hard, from the wooden tables to the glass windows, and stainless steel open-concept kitchen.

Coriander Leaf
3A River Valley Road
#02-12 Clarke Quay
Tel: 6732 3354

Dian Xiao Er: Herbal Roast Duck


Dian Xiao Er is a mid-priced restaurant specialising in duck roasted with Chinese herbs. There are 3 types to choose from - Ginseng, Angelica Herbs (Tung Gui), and a combination of 10 Herbs. The ducks, prepared fresh daily, are marinated with herbs and spices for hours before roasting.

Despite mixed reviews on this place by friends and colleagues, it seems to be always packed during meal times. The restaurant does not take reservations, so be prepared to queue for up to 30 - 40 minutes if you arrive during "peak hours".


Dian Xiao Er fans say:
  • The roasted duck skin is golden brown and extremely crispy, while the meat is lean, tender and juicy.
  • The Tang Gui herbal duck is served with a generous amount of sweet and fragrant herbal sauce.
And the opposition camp says:
  • The preparation is not refined and the herbal sauce has high sugar and MSG content.
  • For the quality of the roasted duck, the restaurant is over-priced.

The bottomline:
What's so special about Dian Xiao Er's roasted ducks? It's perhaps the only place in Singapore that sells herbal roasted duck at a reasonably affordable price. The duck meat is tender and similar to what you get at Crystal Jade, so the sweet Tung Gui sauce is definitely what makes Dian Xiao Er's version unique.


At the end of the day, whether this restaurant will be a hit or miss for you boils down to individual preference and taste - do you love or hate the sauce? For roast duck lovers, it's definitely worth a try just to satisfy your curiosity.


Dian Xiao Er
#02-203/204 Marina Square
Tel: 6337 1928

Hours:
11:30am - 2:30pm
5:30pm - 10:00pm (last order 9:30pm)

Pu Tien: Extraordinary Ordinary Meals

Pu Tien Restaurant at Kitchener Road specialises in Heng Hwa cuisine from Pu Tien, a coastal city in China's Fujian province. Given that most Singaporeans are not familiar with Heng Hwa food, this humble restaurant has a certain novelty appeal that will incite any foodie seeking new dining experiences.

What you can expect:
Inexpensive, skillfully prepared home-cooked food.
Pu Tien city is known for its seafood and beehoon products, and Heng Hwa cuisine is characterised by simple dishes that showcase the natural flavours of the ingredients.

Here are some recommended dishes:

Steamed Prawns in Bamboo ($15)
Sweet and fragrant clear herbal soup enhances the natural taste of the prawns

[Front: Home-Made Beancurd ($8); Left: Fried Hing Wa Beehoon ($4 for small);
Right: Eggplant with Porkfloss]

The restaurant's signature dish is the Fried Hing Wa Beehoon, which consists of mushrooms, clams, prawns, pork belly, tau pok, peanuts, vegetables, and deep-fried seaweed. The beehoon and seaweed are as authentic as they come, as they are specially flown in from Pu Tien.

While the beehoon is indeed tasty, and the portions are generous, do remember that this is essentially home-styled food. Like all the other dishes on the menu, you won't be "wowed", but you'll be satisfied with the quality and taste for the price you pay.

Beware of Copycats:
First-timers may be confused by nearby restaurants with similar names. The Pu Tien Seafood Restaurant is only a couple of units away, while the Pu Xin (Pu Tian) Restaurant is just round the corner at 282 Jalan Besar. Both sell the same signature Heng Hwa dishes as Pu Tien Restaurant, but are not affliated in any way to the original.


Pu Tien Restaurant
127-129 Kitchener Road
Tel: 6295 6358

Hours: noon to 3pm, 6 to 11pm

La Petite Cuisine Taipei: Justin Quek at Snappers, Singapore

Jasmine Jelly with Pomelo and Yoghurt Sorbet

French masterchef Justin Quek left the famed Les Amis in 2004 (after helming it for 9 years) to conquer the Taiwan market with the award-winning La Petite Cuisine in Taipei.

In a home-coming of sorts, and perhaps in conjunction with the promotion of his first cookbook, Justin Quek - Passion & Inspiration, the award-winning chef brought his entire team of staff from Taipei to host special meals at Snappers, Ritz Carlton for 3 days between 11 - 13 October 2006.

For those of you who are curious about all the fan-fare and hype, you will be glad that you did not spend $55+++ on the lunch. While the menu was interesting as it showcased Taiwanese produce, the meal failed to offer anything out of the ordinary. In fact, the taste and quality of the food were unremarkable, and not consistent. The combination of ingredients and sauces seemed to be at odds with each other as well for some of the dishes.

[L-R: Olive Loaf; Romaine Lettuce with King Oyster Mushroom in Autumn Dressing; Grilled Smoked Sirloin with Autumn Vegetables; Poached Ocean Fish in Ginger Nage and Fresh Herbs]

Does Justin Quek have a very distinctive style? None of the folks at our table had tried his food before. We'd read about his flair for that added Asian twist to traditional French food, yet the meal turned out to be rather pedestrian.

The only items that merit special mention were the Chefs' desserts. The Egg Surprise for being exceptional, and the Jasmine Jelly for having the potential to be exceptional. Both are imaginative concoctions, but the Jasmine Jelly had a weak flavour that did not go well with the pomelo and yoghurt sorbet. It is however, very pretty to look at, and can be a winner once the taste has been refined.

Egg Surprise - light milky almond foam on top, smooth hazelnut chocolate in the middle, and crunchy hazelnut bits at the bottom. A delightful play on form, function, taste and texture, served on a bed of sesame seeds.


Read a more detailed account of our lunch experience at
CindyHeartLife.
For an indepth review of the gourmet dinner, check out
Nibble & Scribble.

Details of the lunch and dinner menus can be found at Chubby Hubby's post on the event.

Summer Pavilion: Applause or Avoid?














Zucchini with stuffed prawns & mushrooms



Summer Pavilion, which serves modern Cantonese cuisine, is everything you'll expect of a Ritz Carlton signature restaurant - exemplary service, classy ambience, and quality fare executed with meticulous pride.

But with a dearth of independent reviews on this restaurant, you may have some reservations about "risking" a meal there. Afterall, you'll be expecting to pay ritzy Ritz Carlton prices. (If you've been a victim of over-rated, over-priced hotel restaurants, you'll understand this emotion apprehension... or what I refer to as "hotel food" baggage.)

Here's the verdict:

Summer Pavilion may not have the "so-hip-it-hurts" factor of the Majestic, but the fare here is not what you'd call "safe and boring" either.

In fact, there are some innovative dishes worth trying, such as the Zucchini with stuffed prawns and mushrooms and the Chili Softshell Crab. Both are successful fusions:
  • the Italian zucchini with Chinese-style prawn stuffing, garnished with fried wonton skin and Japanese seaweed;
  • and the crispy Japanese softshell crab with Singapore-style chili crab sauce and bun.

Besides being creative and scrumptious, they are also fun to eat!



[L-R: Zucchini sliced-up to reveal fresh prawns and mushrooms; Softshell Crab soaks up the tasty goodness of the chili sauce]


Other recommendations - Superb Standard Fare:

  • Fried Rice
    There is a variety here to choose from. Go for the one with the minced duck. Both taste and execution are excellent.
  • Roasted Meat Platter
    It's just duck, chicken and char-siew, but what a difference quality preparation and marinate makes!

[L-R: Roasted Meat Platter; Clear Lobster Broth]


Recommended for:
People who enjoy quality food and service in peaceful environments.

Price:
$110 nett. for 2 people.
Based on a sample menu of the stuffed zucchini, chili softshall crab, fried rice, roasted meat platter, and clear lobster broth.


Summer Pavilion
The Ritz-Carlton, Singapore
Tel: 6434 5286

Wine Garage: delicious dessert discovery

Here's the best kept secret about Wine Garage...

There is a dessert on its menu that is absolutely heavenly, and deserving of a pilgrimage to seek palate-enlightenment.


In fact, this dessert - called Date and Brown Butter Crostata with Fennel Gelato - is too delicious and exceptional to be saddled with such a boring, unimaginative name.

As with many things in life, the secret of success lies in achieving "balance". Wine Garage's interpretation of this italian tart is exemplary of the perfect balance between the "dough" and "date" - the taste of each is distinct, yet without one overpowering the other.

To best enjoy this rich-tasting Crosata, there should be a little coconut cream and a little fennel ice-cream with each bite. Just the perfect combination of complimentary tastes and textures.

Ambience
This 125 seater restaurant bar and wine retail shop has a posh, cozy interior and open-air mini bar. The alfresco seating area has a friendly and casual vibe, with a decent view of the Singapore River.

Other information
A wide variety of reasonably priced wines is available. 75% of the 300 labels here are priced under $50 a bottle.

Hours
Mon - Thur, Sun: 4 pm - 12am
Fri - Sat: 4 pm - 1am

Wine Garage
30 Merchant Road
#01-02 Riverside Point
Tel: 6522 2188




Listed on BlogShares