The Black Swan

the movie? nopeeee. rather this dining establishment is the newest in the offerings from the Lo & Behold Group which manages other restaurants such as The White Rabbit and Extra Virgin Pizza, among others. this is actually the first time i've dined at any of their restaurants, and i've gotta say that i'm impressed! ;) 

starting with the ambience - tucked away in a white colonial building at the edge of Cecil Street, its entrance is unassuming, and you might just drive past the building without realising that the interior had been revamped into a restaurant. this exudes a feeling of exclusivity, and once you step through the doors, a hushed buzz invites you in. there is an energy within this place, but it's subtle, almost imperceptible. and that's the beauty of it. it's pretty dim inside (hence pardon the poor picture quality), but the bar looks outstanding amidst the darkness. service is faultless.

we started off with the char grilled beef tartare ($26) and pan-seared foie gras ($28). oh, how i've missed foie gras! :P makes me throwback to 2012 again, when i had so much foie gras (thanks to my numerous food tastings) that it could probably last a lifetime. (well, i could always have more...to last  two lifetimes maybe? :p just kidding)

the foie gras was perfect :') beautifully seared and melting smooth inside, i savoured every bite of it as i rolled it on my tongue. it came with a deliciously fluffy toasted brioche and a fascinating yuzu marmalade (gosh i didn't taste the yuzu, but it was a refreshing accompaniment to the creamy goose liver).

it was my first time trying beef tartare and i absolutely loved it!! USDA 365 days grained fed beef combined with nashi pear and toasted sesame made for a smorgasbord of flavours, and i completely could not taste a hint of any rawness :D great for noobies like me! it came with slices of grilled bread which were awesome as well. (how to they make it so crisp, yet fluffy?!)

for mains, we started with the chilean seabass ($36), which was very light on the palate and came with a bright roasted beetroot, bacon velouté. i loved the combination of beetroot + bacon, which masked the woody flavour of beetroot which i typically detest.

The Black Swan burger ($26) was delicious to say the least. a well-balanced and flavourful piece of art that included a seasoned, oh-so-juicy patty, mature cheddar, a sunny side up egg, streaky bacon, bibb lettuce sandwiched between two lovely fluffy (again!) buns. the thick cut fries that came with it were good too (though i'm not a fan of thick cut fries so i've got not much to comment on it).

and guess what! that ain't all. we ordered drinks as well, and i have to say that i loved loved LOVED my Escape to Amalfi cocktail (all cocktails at $19). just the name itself sounded sexy enough and brought me back to Italy ~ ahhh (: it was a wonderfully refreshing drink with fine bubbled prosecco excited with vodka and topped with a zesty sorbet of organic lemons from Italy's Amalfi Coast (says the menu. wow!) it was sooooo good! mummy & papa ordered Moral Hazard and Cecil Sour, which were both whiskey drinks. and i don't quite fancy whiskey so i've got no comment on that haha. they were pretty generous with the liquor though, which is a plus!

no doubt, this place is pricey. but it's really worth the splurge if you want to treat yourself to a good meal (:

The Black Swan
19 Cecil Street
Tel.: +65 8181 3305
Lunch (Mon-Fri) 11.30am-2.30pm
Dinner (Mon-Sat) 5pm-10.30pm
Supper (Mon-Thu) 10.30pm-1am
(Fri-Sat) 10.30pm-2am

The Big Sheila

i had the most rushed dinner ever at this restaurant, because of their weird seating timings (5-7pm, 7-9pm and 9-11pm) and we arrived at the wrong time. though it caused a rather unpleasant blemish in our experience, i've got to say that the food wasn't too bad. in fact, it was really interesting concept! their food is very much a visual feast, with its lovely plating and very interesting ingredients (: all the dishes we ordered were from the 'on the board' menu, which i realised was probably a wrong decision because they were roughly similar, and didn't have any 'real' meat in them. then again, we had such little time to decide on what to order that i wasn't even thinking straight.

first up was the TBS Bangin' Burger ($22), which turned out not so much like a burger actually! it was a French baguette topped with beef balls, caramelized onion, bocconcini cheese. dill pickle and rocket. absolutely lovely. i'm making a guess here, but i think the beef balls were handmade because the texture was perfect!! so soft with just the right amount of bite. enjoyed it so much! (: and all the toppings on it simply enhanced its flavour further. it came with a very interesting beetroot relish (sounds so healthy!) and my favourite, the tomato salsa.

 who says you can't have christmas anytime of the year? not at the big sheila ;) we had the Xmas Ham All Year ($18), which was a roasted glazed ham baked that came with delicious condiments of mustard, preserved apricots and a delicious block of butter. i fell in love with their French baguettes here, which were toasted to perfection - a crusty exterior with a delightfully fluffy interior, their aged cheddar cheese - which had such a piquant aroma, and their roasted roma tomatoes (sweet, savoury and herby all at once ^^)!

last thing we ordered was A Ploughman's ($24) which was a piggy, prune and pistachio terrine. i thought it was not too bad! we don't usually order such dishes, but it was interesting. mummy didn't like it though, because it's preserved. it was served with a cute little baby Scotch egg ^^ i guess because it's a quail's egg inside! i wonder what the exterior is made of? i really like it though! (: 

The Big Sheila

15 Swan Lake Avenue

Tel.: +65 6645 4422

Lunch: Tue-Fri 11am-3.30pm

Dinner: Tue-Sat 5pm-11pm, Sun 6pm-10pm

Brunch: Sat & Sun 10am-4pm

Brussels Sprouts

it's so great that i've now learnt to eat seafood so that i can try out awesome places like this!!! :D

MUSSELS MADNESS

it goes on every day, but the time changes depending on which day of the week :) and it's super!!

choose from either 2 pots of starter sized mussels ($30) or 2 pots of main size ($60). erm, dont look at the quantity on the website -.- it's not accurate. but anyway, sam & i got the starter sized pot with 12pcs in each, to share between the two of us and it was just nice :)

there are so many sauces to choose from! and i think i'll be back someday to try out more ^^ we got the Meridionale which was a flavourful blend of onion, parsley, butter, saffron, tomato, garlic, herb de provence and olive oil. it reminded me so much of pasta sauce!!! uber delicious. and the tom yam sauce too packed a delicious punch with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, lobster consomme and prawns (yup there were prawns in it too! extra seafooooooood!).

you can totally scoop up the sauce with the ladle to drink. *slurpssss* :D the mussels madness also comes with a free flow of thick-cut, crispy chunky chips. loveeee :D

i'm a happy girl :)

Brussels Sprouts

80 Mohamed Sultan Road

#01-12 The Pier @ Robertson

Tel.: +65 6887 4344

Mon-Thu 5pm-12mn

Fri 5pm-1am

Sat 12pm-1am

Sun 12pm-12am

Paul Bakery

i think it's been a year since Paul opened in taka, and i've been wanting to try it since then!! so glad that i've got the chance to now :) their pastries are really super awesomeeeeee :D and i would love to go back for the desserts sometime. can't believe i missed them, but i was really too full unfortunately :( went there for brunch!

greedy me decided to order a patissier's bread basket ($9.90) all for myself! actually i would suggest ordering this to share, together with other things (maybe...dessert? :P), but it definitely gives you the chance to try out their awesome breads which i am absolutely crazy about! i loved their croissant for it's crackly texture and fluffy interior. i've had the chance to eat such wonderful croissants, like tiong bahru bakery as well! i would totally want to like a post on my favourite croissants or eggs benedict someday. hehe ^^ a surprising discovery was the briochette! when i first saw the picture of it, a round bun that didnt stand out much next to the croissant and pain au chocolat, i didnt take much notice of it. however, when i bit into the bun, i was surprised at how warm and fluffy and it was!!! i absolutely loved it! the briochette is also slightly dense, which makes it a delight to bite into.

on the other hand, i was kinda disappointed with the pain au chocolat as i felt it wasnt that wonderful as it was touted to be. for the flute (which is kinda like a french loaf/baguette), have it with the butter and jam provided. it's yummy! :)

papa had the Gaufre chocolat ($7.50) which is a waffle with chocolate sauce. while i felt that looks-wise, it wasnt very impressive, it tasted pretty good! i loved how the waffle was warm and fluffy inside, and the chocolate sauce was delectable!

for the mains we had the Oeuf brouilles ($9.80) which is scrambled eggs with soft bread, cherry tomatoes, turkey ham and sauteed cherry tomatoes. we also ordered the Oeuf sur le plat ($9.80) which is exactly the same, except that it's sunny side up eggs. in my opinion, stick to the breads/pastries/desserts at Paul (although i havent tried the desserts but i heard it's good!) because the mains werent very outstanding. the eggs were pretty decent, but the rest of the dish was just alright and didnt impress.

anyway, to end off on a good note, here is a teaser of the desserts on offer! dont they look gorgeous <3.<3 hehe.

Paul

Ngee Ann City Tower A #03-16

Tel.: +65 6836 5932

Sun–Thu 8.30am-10pm

Fri–Sat 8.30am-11pm

Carpenter & Cook

ooh gosh i've been procrastinating doing up these posts for the longest time! >.< but anyway, i've long heard of carpenter and cook about how lovely its baked goodies are, and it definitely lived up to expectations! :) all homemade, you can really feel the amount of love and joy that goes into making these treats ^^ look at how pretty they are!!!

i have to say that i felt a slight tinge of disappointment when i first stepped into this place because it didnt look as pretty as i'd imagined, but their food display...was mind-blowing :D gosh, having to decide on all those lovely pastries, tarts and cakes on display was so difficult! :P my pictures dont do justice to them, really. because it was kinda dark there and i was using my phone camera, so the pictures were a bit blah.

first up was the queen of hearts tart ($6.20). a luscious almond cream tart with a deliciously crisp buttery crust with lovely berries inside! they use the freshest seasonal fruits available, and the berries added such a delicious zesty flavour to it!

the pear almond eat me cake ($5) was a soft buttery pound cake filled with pears and frangipani :) loved how fluffy it was!

this was a really yummy sandwich but i can't remember what it was called! :( the bun was super duper fluffy! and slightly sweet as well, which went perfectly with the ham and cheese inside ^^

we tried two quiches! :) have i mentioned how i love pies/tarts because of their crust? :D it's so yummy and flaky and crispy! yummmz :D they're $7 each. this was the peperoni quiche if i remember properly. with sundried tomatoes in it. surprisingly actually preferred the spinach quiche (below)!

it was sooo delicious and eggy! haha. and i liked how the taste of the spinach didnt take centrestage, but rather complemented the other ingredients rather well.

definitely would like to go back here again! ^^

Carpenter and Cook

19 Lorong Kilat #01-06

Tel.: +65 6463 3648

Tue-Fri: 12pm - 10pm

Sat: 10am - 10pm

Sun: 10am - 7pm

Closed on Mon

PS Cafe

ooh i've heard so much about PS Cafe, and it's been around for years! but i only finally got the chance to try it now :) and i'm so glad that i did!!!! it was awesome :) i went to the branch at ann siang hill, and i have to say that it has a really lovely ambience. tucked away in a corner, up a flight of stairs, and there is a very rustic, victorian-feel about the place. it was quite empty when we were there on an early sunday morning, just a few tables occupied, all ang-mohs. you feel as though you're overseas, except that when you look out, you can admire the beautiful skyline of the CBD.

i've heard about their truffle shoestring fries ($15). and i've never had much experience with truffle fries, but i've never been that impressed with those i've tried so far. UNTIL THIS. listen up, PS Cafe's truffle fries are LEGENDARY. they are just simply darn awesome!!!! i have no words i can use to express this. when it came to the table, the whoosh of the smell of truffles just hit me. and the fries are coated in a lovely aroma of truffle essence, with grated parmesan cheese that further embodies the truffle flavour. and each piece of the fries is just super crisp and a delight to eat.

the strawberry pancakes ($23) were, i felt, nothing very spectacular. it was a generous stack of homely fluffy pancakes though :) i liked how they were not done in a "perfect" polished way, but rather, looked like they had been tossed together rather artistically. and the strawberries were inside the pancake batter! interesting :) they came with whipped cream, maple syrup and poached berries (which were super sweet!!!!).

i had the chorizo and eggs ($28). loved how fragrant the sausage was - it went beautifully with the toasted sourdough, mushrooms, avocado and eggs. you can choose to have the eggs poached/scrambled/fried.

the steak sandwich ($29) was a whopper of a burger! :) and it was goooood. it was one of their specials, so it isnt on the menu. there were so many layers of things, can't figure out what it was. but the beef was really tender. beautifully done :) and it came with more fries! just normal shoestring fries, which was still yummy :)

love this place, love the ambience. definitely recommended for dates! ;)

PS Cafe

A.S.H. Park

45 Ann Siang Road #02-02

Tel.: +65 6222 3143

*only admits adults & teenagers

Brunch: Sat, Sun & PH 9.30am-4pm

Lunch: Mon-Fri 12pm-4pm

Tea: Mon-Fri 3.30pm-6pm

Sat, Sun & PH 4pm-6pm

Dinner: Daily 6.30pm-12am

Wine Universe

At Oenotheque, drinks take the centre-stage. But that doesn’t mean that the food is incidental. In fact, all the items on the menu look so mouth-watering that we’re pretty sure you will have a hard time narrowing down your choices. Do not fret however, as the staff here are delightfully affable, and would be glad to share with you their recommendations from the menu, and advise you on the drinks to pair with your food.

Kick-off your meal with a glass of bubbly and some warm bread. A glass of Moscato, with an ever-so-slight sweetness, goes a long way in stimulating your appetite for the meal ahead. The wines from Oenotheque come from all over the world, with the best from Europe – take your pick from the vast selection of Swiss, French, Italian and Spanish wines.

The food served at Oenotheque is primarily French, with some Swiss specialties. And no French meal is ever complete without duck liver. The pan seared Foie Gras was beautifully done, characterized by its supple consistency and succulence. It went well with the sweet toasted brioche, which had a lovely crumbly bite. A light hand of sea salt gave the liver an extra boost of flavour, which contrasted with the pear that was drenched in a saccharine sauce. To wrap it up, the cherries added a tartness that brought all dimensions of the taste spectrum into a single dish.

The food served at Oenotheque is primarily French, with some Swiss specialties. And no French meal is ever complete without duck liver. The pan seared Foie Gras was beautifully done, characterized by its supple consistency and succulence. It went well with the sweet toasted brioche, which had a lovely crumbly bite. A light hand of sea salt gave the liver an extra boost of flavour, which contrasted with the pear that was drenched in a saccharine sauce. To wrap it up, the cherries added a tartness that brought all dimensions of the taste spectrum into a single dish.

You should definitely go for the Swiss specialties for the mains. If you have two or more people, we’ve heard that the Fondue Bourguignonne is a winner at this restaurant! It’s filling though, so make sure there are enough people to share. Alternatively, the Émincé de veau zürichoise is a great choice as well! The veal tenderloin scaloppini, true to its name, is wonderfully tender and brimming with juices. The rosti is of excellent quality, probably the best you can ever get, and its muted aroma complements the savoury meat perfectly. Have this with a glass of full-bodied Pinot noir to draw out the essence of the red meat.

Conclude your meal on a sweet note, with a delectable flute of Moscato – so sweet, that you can catch a whiff of the fragrance as you bring the glass to your lips and which goes beautifully with the fondant au chocolat.

*This is an article i wrote for reserveit.sg (: Try out their online reservation service, and you can check out more articles there!

Oenotheque by Wine Universe 

Millenia Walk #01-109

Tel.: +65 6338 0717

Lunch: Mon-Fri 12pm-3pm

Sat (brunch) 11.30am-3pm

Dinner: Mon-Fri 6pm-11pm

Sat 6pm-10pm

Suburbia

A winding road, a flight of steps, lush greenery. As you enter the oasis that is Suburbia, slightly hidden amidst the trees and shrubs that surround it, the buzz from the world outside falls away, as a soft but unmistakable sigh escapes from your lips. Set in a suburban and countryside environment, housed in a building of beautiful architecture that used to be the Ficus Station on Sentosa’s monorail system, Suburbia exudes a refined elegance and beauty. Surrounded by a manicured landscape and lush foliage, it is the perfect sanctuary to wind down after a busy day with a drink in hand.

With many European restaurants, foie gras is a must-have, and a must-try. As it is, Suburbia’s foie gras ($26) is one of their chef’s recommendations. Delightfully easy to slice through with little resistance, the foie gras has a rich, smooth body that slowly dissolves in your mouth. A pretty pear compote on the side is laced with cinnamon and provides a lightness that complements the foie gras nicely.

For a vegetarian option, try the Gratin of Cepes Mushroom Terrine ($28). Layers of sautéed cepes mushrooms are drenched in olive oil and crème au jus and gratinated till brown, and give off an earthy aroma which teases your senses. Topped with a red pesto that has a crunchy nutty texture, this is definitely an appetizing start to a meal.

You have a choice between the prawn bisque and soup of the day ($8 each). Be sure to check with the staff whether they’re serving the mushroom soup, which is one Suburbia’s best-sellers! With a generous amount of chunky mushrooms pureed into a creamy soup, fired up with a peppery kick, it is a favourite among mushroom lovers. The prawn bisque too, is agreeable, with the luscious essence of the prawn enveloped in the smooth soup. Despite its creaminess, the soup is somehow light, which allows you to enjoy the entire bowl without feeling too stuffed before your main course. And a little surprise at the bottom awaits – a crunchy juicy prawn to reward you for slurping up every bit of soup.

The grilled wagyu rib eye ($42) is a mind-blowing dish, with is gorgeous artistry and depth of flavour. The beautiful presentation of dishes at Suburbia characterizes the chef’s creativity and eye for design, and the expectations created with this first impression do not disappoint. The sexy musk of truffles wafts from the meat the moment this dish is placed in front of you. As you bite into the beef, fragrant juices ooze out with a burst of accents in your mouth. Absolutely delicious.

To cater to any sweet tooth, we recommend the warm chocolate fondant ($10). A charming spongy cake with a slightly chewy interior, piped with a delicious quantity of viscous chocolate mousse, this is a universally-enjoyed dessert. A unique accompaniment comes in the form of a honey & fig ice cream which you can’t say no to!

*This is an article i wrote for reserveit.sg (: Try out their online reservation service, and you can check out more articles there!

Suburbia

30 Allanbrooke Road, Sentosa

Tel.: +65 6376 5938

Tue-Thu & Sun: 3pm-11pm

Fri, Sat & Eve of PH: 3pm-12am

Othello's Cafe-Bar

Stepping into Othello’s, you first notice the extensive bar counter right next to the entrance, with a couple of expats chilling with a drink as a gentle breeze tickles your skin. With a menu that caters to everyone’s taste buds, and Old World and New World varieties of wines, this is the go-to place for any occasion. Exotic European music playing in the background and alfresco views of the neighbourhood set the mood for a relaxing night ahead.

As with most European restaurants, we started off the meal with a platter of bread. We loved how the bread was so fluffy and held a hint of olives that made it tasty by itself. Together with and olive oil dip enhanced with the aroma of garlic, it naturally sharpened our senses for the meal.

We were first served the Grilled Calamari with Warm Spinach Salad, which was a deliciously healthy starter. Huge tender baby spinach leaves with fresh grilled squid, drenched in a generous amount of garlic and olive oil, and a sprinkling of dried fruit for a contrast – this is agreeably appetizing.

A twist from the norm, the foie gras at Othello’s comes in a thinner, more deep-fried nature unlike its counterparts in other restaurants. It is paired with a softly boiled apple that provides a welcome neutralization to the fatty meat.

Highly recommended for the main course are the jumbo prawns. Huge, succulent and oozing with juices, this is a winner in Othello’s new menu. The prawns are rubbed with herbs such that they are plump and smooth, highlighting the chef’s tender treatment of them, and they released a beautiful fragrance with every bite. The dish is also accompanied by a luscious serving of creamy mashed potatoes – simply perfect!

We loved the quail for its tender, smooth texture. Firm, with a generous amount of flesh, this was complemented wonderfully by the creamy risotto that it came with.

The apple crumble had a rather unique presentation – served in a cup, the crumble was a delightful batter constructed separately from the apple. Boiled for hours to a moist texture and toasty warm, the apple juxtaposed the vanilla ice cream that provided the icing on the cake to top off this wonderful end to our meal.

*This is an article i wrote for reserveit.sg (: Try out their online reservation service, and you can check out more articles there!

Othello's 

12 Greenwood Avenue

Tel.: +65 6468 0939

Mon - Thu 11am-11pm

Fri 11am-12am

Sat 8.30am-12am

Sun 8.30am-11pm

Group Therapy

another place which i've been wanting to try out for the longest time! tucked away on the second floor along the ubiquitous row of shophouses at duxton hill, this place is easy to miss with its small signboard! but it's really a little haven that's nice to chill :) their menu isnt extensive, but there's a decent all-day breakfast for those who want their brekkie at any time of the day, and also sandwiches and pies that are enough to fill you for a meal! :)

i had the baked chili crab pie ($16) which was chunks of crab claw meat cooked in chili crab sauce and baked in a shortcrust butter pastry. i loved the pastry!! couldnt get enough of it ;) the interior was pretty tasty, but i would say, if you like chili crab, the real deal is still wayyyy better. i really liked the salad and crisps that came with it though! :) the salad was topped with quinoa which provided a different texture and crunch, and the sauce that came with it was delicious.

the rest of my friends got the smoked salmon avocado sandwich ($18) which was mega huge! it honestly justifies the $18 price tag haha. and it was delicious! the way the flavours of the smoked salmon, avocado, cream cheese and rocket leaves complemented each other was just amazing.

for a little hide-out time with your friends, this is definitely a good place to go! :)

Group Therapy 

49 Duxton Road #02-01

Tel.: +65 6222 2554

Tue-Thu: 11am-6pm

Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm

Sun & PH: 9am-6pm

Closed on Monday

Platters Bistro & Wine Bar

With a firm belief in the adage “sharing is caring”, the people behind Platters Bistro & Wine Bar advocate the idea that sharing food in groups makes a meal much more enjoyable. This is why they serve up their dishes in platters that are perfect for that night out with friends, or even to make a romantic dinner just a little cosier. To keep their menu refreshing for their fans, Platters has a line-up of guest chefs who update the menu every three months with their personal interpretation of “sharing g’nosh”. When we visited the restaurant in June, Chef Jimmy Chok whipped up dishes that showcased his expertise in combining elements from both east and west cuisines to produce an innovative assortment on our platters. From July onwards, a whole new menu will be laid out, beckoning us to come back for more.

The house platters are the restaurant’s own specialty, and you can choose from the Cheese or Charcuterie selections. Depending on how hungry you are, you may opt for three, five or seven choices ($18/$28/$38)! Expecting a meaty dinner ahead, we went for three different kinds of cheeses for some variety to begin with. The Tete de Moine was an absolute favourite of ours! Scrapped by a knife to develop its scented flavours, this hard cow’s cheese was presented in a beautiful moulded shape. Its texture was somewhat feathery, and tickled our tastebuds in a delightful manner. We were recommended the Pecorino Romano, which is hard sheep’s cheese. Well-known for its saltiness, this had a sharp tang that provided a strong contrast to the other two cheeses on our platter. The Brie de Meaux had a soft creamy texture that held a combination of nutty and fruit aromas.

To cleanse our platter in between the cheeses and meat, we tried The Garden Harvest ($24) that consisted of a variety of vegetables. You can opt for a full or half board for your order, but we would recommend the smaller one so that you can have more variety. Honestly, every single one of the platters sounded so delectable, we wished there were more of us so that we could order everything on the menu. The baked portobello mushrooms were so fragrant, we could catch a whiff of it every now and then. Super tender and juicy, it had a full-bodied taste and melted in our mouths. The momotaro tomatoes were soft and juicy, and were drenched in a delicious yuzu miso sauce that was lightly savoury and refreshingly sour. The spinach triangles comprised salted, almost pureed spinach encased in a crispy thin filo pastry and served with a dollop of coriander yogurt.

Finally, the Carnivore platter ($38) is definitely a must-order for any meat eater. Braised beef short ribs, roasted honey lamb ribs and poached pork belly – this was a sinful dish that would bust any diet. But it was worth it. The ribs were beautifully done, such that they fell off the bone easily with a fork. The meats came with three kinds of mustard – horseradish sauce, pommery mustard and sweet mustard that harmonized the flavours of the whole platter impeccably. If we weren’t so stuffed, we would have loved to try the dessert platter, Sweetheart Spread, which is bound to seal the deal for any lovebirds. We will be back!

*This is an article i wrote for reserveit.sg (: Try out their online reservation service, and you can check out more articles there!

Platters Bar and Wine Bistro

42 Club Street

Tel.: +65 6223 8048

Mon-Sat: 12pm-3pm

5pm-12am

Nosh

Nestled in what almost resembles a giant treehouse in Rochester Park is Nosh. there are actually many food places popping up there! and with the circle line, that area is now so much more accessible :)

started off the meal with this lovely starter which they called fried italian flatbread i'm not wrong. it was sooooooo delicious! if you've ever eaten those pizza biscuits that they sell in grocery stores, this is the bread-version of it! :D deliciously seasoned with various herbs, it had a crispy exterior, and a dense chewy interior that was absolutely lovely.

we ordered some appetizers to share - the seared scallops ($18) was a beautifully harmonized dish. the soft tender scallops melted in my mouth, and they were contrasted with the woody, slightly sweet flavour of crunchy candied walnuts. and this had to be the most yummy spinach i've ever eaten!!!! super melt-in-your-mouth soft, and so flavourful.

the mango avocado creviche ($18) was very interesting to eat! following the instructions of the waitress, we each took a piece of the tortilla chips (crunchy and nicely seasoned!) and plopped a serving of the black cod, heirloom tomatoes, fresh chili, avocado and mango onto it, and into our mouths it went. nice combination of flavours :)

and i really loved my drink!!!! :) this has to be one of the nicest drinks i've ever ordered. usually i'd get a little sick of the alcohol taste after awhile, but my Stay cocktail ($15) made of kaffir lime, yuzu and vodka had the most refreshing taste that i loved it soooo much and i could have more more more :D the sweet-sour flavour of the yuzu was just damn awesome :D

i ordered the braised veal cheek ($25) which came with saffron risotto and was flavoured with various herbs like garlic, cinnamon and clove. this was SO tender that the meat just fell away easily when prodded with a fork, and simply melted in my mouth. a dish rich in flavour, the risotto was creamy and smooth, and added even more body to the meat.

i loved how the kurobuta pork belly ($25) was fried so beautifully, without any hint of any oiliness. it came topped with apple chutney, and very interesting sides - sweet potato mash and sweet potato chips. the chips were thinly sliced, and held a touch of sweetness, distinguishing it from your ordinary potato chips. the sweet potato mash was equally wonderful, very light and easy to eat.

the sambal snapper ($25) was one punchy dish! it was really quite spicy haha. i have to say that i was pretty surprised a western restaurant could do this asian dish so well. the tamarind rice that came with it was nicely flavoured with a variety of spices and tasted delicious!

the braised lamb shank ($29) was not really my cup of tea, since i dont like lamb. but the gamey taste was relatively minimal! and the meat was super tender too.

i liked how the grilled chicken pasta ($24) was relatively easy to digest, considering it was a creamy pasta. usually i shun creamy pastas because i don't like the sauce much, but a mouthful of this pasta, which came with fettucine, caramelized onions, iberico ham and mozzarella, was not just tasty, but easily palatable! :)

Nosh

9 Rochester Park

Tel.: +65 6779 4644

Tues-Sun: 6pm-10.30pm (Dinner)

Sat & Sun: 10.30am-2.30pm (Brunch)