EPICURE NEWS
Calling all lovebirds. Splurge out this Valentine's Day with these restaurants.
Valentine’s day specials and the latest openings
Executive chef Alex Phan of Porta at Park Hotel Clarke Quay will impress couples of all ages with his four-course Valentine Set Menu ($64/person). The meal starts with a comforting Thai Sweet Potato and Carrot Soup, and is followed by an indulgent
Foie Gras, pan-seared and served with strawberries and a balsamic reduction. Choose between a succulent Kurobuta Pork Belly or delicate Norwegian Salmon for your mains, and cap off the meal with the contemporary Multi-textures of Chocolate. Prosecco will also be available by the glass at a $10 supplement.
Lobby Level, 1 Unity Street. Tel: 6593 8855
Dinner with a view is a staple of Valentine’s Day dates, and
The Carvery at Park Hotel Alexandra is certainly a suitable venue. Be one of the 10 couples to join the exclusive Valentine’s Day Pool Side Dinner Experience ($168/couple); take in the verdant vistas of the Southern Ridges from the alfresco dining area next to the hotel’s infinity pool while indulging in a four-course menu consisting of dishes like 24-hour Braised Beef Shortrib, luxurious Seafood Platter, and a Valhorna Chocolate Terrine. If you miss the opportunity, The Carvery will also be offering an enhanced Valentine’s Dinner Buffet ($68) that compliments the restaurant’s signature roasts with an array of Valentine’s Day-themed desserts.
Level 7, 323 Alexandra Road. Tel: 6828 8880
Fancy a good steak? Gordon Grill at Goodwood Park Hotel has been an institution since its opening in 1963, and will be offering a four- ($288/person) and five-course set dinner ($308/ person). Enjoy the refreshing Crab
Salad with Compressed Watermelon, Plum and Caviar, and decadent Poached Lobster with Chicken Roulade, before savouring the steakhouse’s signature Grilled Japanese Wagyu Beef Sirloin. The unctuous slab is served with a rich Bordelaise sauce and accompanied by a creamy pumpkin truffle puree. Cut the richness by ending the meal with the tangy Pink Profiteroles, stuffed with yuzu cream, raspberry jelly and mango passion fruit sorbet.
Lobby Level, 22 Scotts Road. Tel: 6730 1744
Couples with a preference for Asian flavours will enjoy the five-course set dinner ($98/person) from Yàn at National Gallery. Toast to your love with a complimentary glass of rosé before starting the evening with an assortment of delights from the Valentine’s Day Combination Platter, and the nourishing Double-boiled Chicken with Rosé and Dried Figs. A duo of seafood dishes await as the mains; Baby Lobster is baked with mentaiko mayo to form a gorgeous shade of pink; and Cantonese noodles are elevated with cod fish fillet and decadent foie gras. Finally, end on a sweet note with a Snowskin Custard Dumpling and a Crispy Banana & Red Bean Pastry.
#05-02, 1 St. Andrew’s Road. Tel: 6384 5585
Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena presents two scintillating offers this Valentine’s Day. Urbana’s five-course dinner ($198/couple) will definitely impress, as the rooftop bar remains the highest within that area, offering unfettered panoramas of the cityscape. The menu by executive chef John Chye starts with the playful Skye22 Kaya Toast, a sweet savoury platter of duck liver terrine, green tomato jam and brioche bread, and ends with a sharing dessert platter of five sweets. To pull out all the stops, whisk your special one away with a Valentine’s Staycation ($399) at the hotel’s premier room. The package comes with the Valentine’s Day Dinner at Urbana, a pre-dinner Pink Blossom cocktail and a buffet breakfast at Skye22.
99 Irrawaddy Road. Tel: 6378 2060
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel offers a choice of two exciting Valentine’s Day specials right in the heart of Orchard Road: a buffet dinner ($118/person) at Marriott Café, or the six-course set menu ($108/person) at Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant. At the former, indulge in a bounty of seafood like Boston lobster, snow crab legs, oyster Florentine and gratinated mussels, or savoury dishes like Crispy Pork Saddle with Pancetta, and
Bharat Spiced Lamb Chops. Do save some space for the extensive dessert spread, with highlights like Pink Champagne Jelly and Praline Chocolate Gateau. The latter presents a more formal affair, with the sublime sixcourse meal being served in the restaurant’s magnificent oriental setting. Highlights of the menu include a generous BBQ Combination Platter, Stewed Beef Shortrib with Sha-cha Sauce, and the Braised River Prawn with Ramen finished with a rich sea urchin sauce.
320 Orchard Road. Tel: 6831 4605
Surprises are in store at Tablescape Restaurant & Bar, where executive chef Armando is driven by the fundamental precept of touching diners with the unexpected. Dinner begins with oysters that have been gently smoked and dressed with cucumber tartare and a Singapore Sling-inspired granita to add complexity to the unctuous bite. The richness of foie gras follows after to tease taste buds with contrasting notes of sweet plum and gently bitter cacao nibs, while the original Risotto without Rice hits the perfect note with all five flavours for a deeply impactful experience. Choices for mains are confit black cod with purple potato chips, and an anchovy-amalfi lemon sauce; or beef tenderloin with white, gold and red baby beetroots and a truffle jus. Dinner is concluded with a deconstructed tiramisu that invites couples to change their perspectives of the expected. The degustation menu begins at $168 per couple for five courses and goes up to $268 with a bottle of Champagne Lanson.
Level 3, Grand Park City Hall, 10 Coleman Street. Tel: 6432 5566 The Alkaff Mansion remains a delightful venue that evokes the mood for romance. With the rolling hills of Singapore’s Southern Ridges providing the backdrop for a picturesque dinner setting, diners will be tantalised by a five-course meal at UNA, starting with complimentary Love Potion cocktails, an amuse bouche of vermouth jellystuffed olive and Salpicon de Pulpo. The flow of sensual flavours continues with a carpaccio of Carabineros Prawn, gently zinged up with housemade wasabi aioli and lime, continued by a Gazpacho Consomme of tomato consommé, confit tomato and basil to refresh the palate for the Bacalao Confitado or confit salted cod, and Angus a La Parrilla or grilled beef tenderloin. Finish off with a creamy sweet Mousse de Chocolate Blanco for a high note to the evening. Priced at $298 per couple at UNA; and $148 per couple for a threecourse meal at TXA Pintxo Bar.
10 Telok Blangah Green.
Tel: 8123 8484 (TXA); 8126 8844 (UNA]
Feel on top of the world at Stellar at 1-Altitude, with a stunning aerial view of the cityscape, and a multi-sensory gastronomic experience. The six-course dinner starts off with Loch Fyne salmon cured in cherry served with pistachio and pearl onion, followed by sustainable Brittany blue lobster topped with Sturia caviar and red currant gel, and heart of palm velouté accompanied with saffron crumble. Follow that with some indulgent seafood, seared Kinmedai with celeriac texture and olive dressing. Then tuck into the indulgent A Cow Loves to Graze, tender Mayura oyster blade smoked in apple wood and accompanied with baby beetroot and Jerusalem artichoke purée on a bed of hay. Complete your gastronomic adventure with Get A Rhu-mmm, rhubarb mousse in a rhubarb compote, dressed with lychee confit and candied rosemary. Priced at $194 per person; $244 per person for window seats; add $200 for two glass of Dom Perignon and a bouquet of flowers.
Level 62, One Raffles Place, 1 Raffles Place. Tel: 6438 0410
Romance thrives amidst the bustling business district at The Black Swan, housed in an art deco building along Cecil Street. Just as its name suggests, the restaurant has been designed to inject an aura of unexpected old-world grandeur that takes you away from the rigours of work routine.
For the occasion, head chef Alysia Chan has designed a menu to tantalise the taste buds. Her minimum waste ethos means diners are in for a rare treat, and her interpretation of chophouse classics for modern palates will please with its sophistication. Start with a umami-packed Crispy Pig Ears followed by a selection of plates like the Ricotta Gnocchi tossed in arugula walnut pesto and the Fried Monkfish Cheeks done á la Grenobloise. Freshly shucked oysters will make a perfect accompaniment to your desired selection of bubbly or rosé tipples. The first seating (6-6.45pm) is priced at $98 with wine pairing at $30; second seating (8.159pm) is at $118 with wine pairing at $30.
19 Cecil Street. Tel: 6438 3757
Celebrate love in style with Pan Pacific
Singapore’s Roses, Champagne, and Hearts, Oh My! dinner buffet at Edge.
The international buffet restaurant promises decadent eats interspersed with doses of fun. Look forward to fresh ocean gems such as Fine de
Claire Oysers, Alaskan King Crab Legs, Sea Conch and Boston Lobster. There will be live stations proferring items like Grilled Marinated Fish, Spicy Sausages, Lamb T-bone as well as the Jumbo River Prawns. For desserts, try the tangy Lemon White Chocolate Tart or the addictive Caramel Pear Almond Gateau. For a more intimate evening with your date, reserve the exclusive booth seats in advance for a little more privacy. Priced at $138 per person; additional $20 per person for two glasses of Veuve Clicquot Champagne.
Level 3, Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard. Tel: 6826 8240
Fancy good old-fashioned steak? Then make it to
Wolfgang’s Steakhouse Singapore for its all-day four-course menu ($258 per couple) that features scrumptious starters like Warm Scallop and Bacon Salad, followed by a bowl of hearty Mushroom Soup with White Truffle Oil. For the entrée, choose between the fresh Jumbo Lobster and 28 days
Dry Aged Ribeye Steak – served with two sides like rich creamed corn, subtly spiced creamed spinach and lightly buttered mashed potatoes. Then toast to your love with your complimentary glass of Taittinger Champagne.
#02-01, Intercontinental Singapore Robertson Quay, 1 Nanson Road.
Tel: 6887 5885
PARTY TIME!
It’s time to strap on your dancing shoes and let your hair down. Rumours Beach Club, one of Bali’s hottest beach clubs, is finally here in Singapore. Party-goers can now soak in the sun at any of the three swimming pools
(the only beach club in Singapore to have three) and sip on signature tipples like the Tiki-tattles ($19.80), a refreshing concoction of Stolichnaya Salted Karamel, fresh passionfruit, lemon citrus and rosemary. Feeling a little peckish? Rumours Beach Club got you covered from bar snacks such as Nacho Chips ($12.80) and golden Calamari ($10.80) to Western favourites like its signature Classic Burger ($18.80) served with the crowdpleasing "deep-fried in beef fat" fries.
40 Siloso Beach Walk Sentosa. Tel: 6970 0625
OTTO-LY GOOD STEAK
After the revamp of Otto's Deli Fresh last year, veteran chef
Otto Weibel chooses to not rest on his laurels and opens his brand new steakhouse concept, Black Marble. The 48-seater restaurant, tucked away in a corner on the second floor of Raffles Holland V, serves up contemporary Western cuisine with a focus on succulent grilled meats sourced from Australia, Japan and New Zealand. Beef is undoubtedly the star of the joint, and their key dishes include the A4 Kagoshima Wagyu Beef Sirloin ($90) and the 45-day Dry Aged Bone-in Ribeye ($78). The latter is aged in-house with Himalayan salt and served with your choice of homemade sauce. (We recommend the chimichurri mint or red wine jus.) For non-beef dishes, the Lobster
& Scallop Saffron Risotto ($34) and Grain-fed Lamb Rack ($38) will impress.
#02-01, 118 Holland Avenue. Tel: 9641 6913
FRESH OFF THE STREET
After a lengthy refurbishment, Spice Brasserie at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road is ready to impress with the new focus of their signature Asian-style buffet spreads: street food. Executive chef Robert Chan and his international team have curated flavours ranging from Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan and India to create the menu for the 300-seater restaurant. The highlight of the spread is definitely the live stations; the Charcoal Grill station presents robatayaki-style grilled items, including BBQ Carrot Cake and the Black Char Siew, which is slow cooked till it attains an addictive caramelised exterior; the Tandoor station dishes out a striking Squid Ink Naan alongside classic dishes of Butter Chicken and Gobi Manchurian. Other must-eats include popular Singaporean fare such as Stir-fried Slipper Lobster in Black Pepper Sauce, Chilli Crab, and an extensive list of old school desserts like Durian Pengat, Mua Chee and assorted Kuehs. Available for lunch ($34/50, weekday/weekend) or dinner ($42/60, weekday/ weekend).
Lobby Level, 181 Kitchener Road. Tel: 6428 3160
TASTE LIKE HOME
Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy’s Jia Wei Chinese
Restaurant recently underwent a complete overhaul – from the interiors to the menu. Step inside and you will be greeted with a lovely blue hue (a stark change from their purple walls) and ceiling-to-floor windows which allow natural light to flow in. Focusing on home recipes (from Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant’s staff), diners can expect a slew of heart-warming signature creations such as the Ah Gong Pork Roll Ngoh Hiang ($20), Ah Ma Prawn Roll Hae Chor ($20), and the indulgent Home-made Smoked Honey Iberico Pork Collear Char Siew ($28). Fans of the classic dishes fret not, the popular Chef Special Ocean Gems Vermicelli in Opeh Leaf ($28) with a moreish gravy remains on the menu.
Level 2, Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy. Tel: 6340 5678
NEW CHEF, NEW MENU
Maggie Joan’s attains another level of refinement with the arrival of new head chef, Zach Elliottcrenn, who cut his teeth at award-winning restaurants such as Cutler & Co and Vue de
Monde in Melbourne and was previously the head chef of one-michelin-starred Portland Restaurant in London. He brings to the table a slew of new local-produce-focused creations such as Smoked Carrot Tartare ($20), a beautiful bed of binchogrilled carrot ribbons and miso mustard seeds cradling a gorgeous orange confit egg yolk; and Baby School Prawns, Green Apple ($23), a twist to the classic prawn cocktail, featuring poached local prawn dressed in mari rose and served on a plate of green apple cubes, salmon roe and a heap of finely shaved romaine lettuce.
Our favourite was the Red Snapper ($34), which takes on a beautifully crispy crust, primed with market greens and served with dollops of black garlic jam and warm dashi – which adds an addictive sweet flavour. However, Elliott-crenn’s Papaya is one dessert we are still dreaming of the herbaceous-perfumed dish of olive oil cake, peppercorn and papaya seeds-infused crème fraiche, compressed papaya slices and tarragon ice cream and oil. Priced at $36/person for twolunch courses, $42/person for three-lunch courses and $95/person for tasting menu.
#01-01, 110 Amoy Street. Tel: 6221 5564