Salt grill and Sky bar Festive Dining 2014

Since Christmas and New Year are so close to each other and you're probably worrying about both meals, here's highlighting the Christmas and New Year's Eve Dinner Menu at Salt Grill and Sky Bar Singapore. 

Start dinner off with a G.H Mumm Champagne ($98++/bottle; $55++/half bottle).

The Amuse Bouche of Coconut broth with Sydney spice. Just like i remembered it to be, this kaffir lime coconut broth is so very Thai. Mod-Aus is highly influenced by Asian flavors imo. For the second seating for the NYE dinner, an oyster tasting plate is available too. 

The entree options are as follows.

Seared foie gras, pine nut crust, scallops, peach, brioche (only for NYE). It was a huge chunk of seared foie gras which could be better seared to complement the creamy texture. The pine nut crust didn't come through and i was missing the nuttiness. The plum was a nice alternative to the usual berries though.

Star Anise Pork Belly, with seared scallops, cauliflower puree, pickled cucumber. This dish is available on both menus. This is what a kong ba (braised pork belly) would taste like but the pork was on the dry side sadly. We had no issues with the beautifully seared scallops and the amazingly creamy cauliflower purée (will pick this over mash anytime).

The Tuna Tataki (only for NYE) may not look very appetizing with the yellow saffron coloring but the texture of the puffed rice with stringy smoked enoki and sweet onion worked pretty well. The tuna could be less well done though.  

The cigar of whipped goats cheese was enjoyable since i love cheeses but some people did not like the sharp tartness. I thought the dish could do with sweeter elements than the beetroot hummus and fresh figs (which weren't very sweet). For Christmas, you could also opt for the signature Tea Smoked Quail as your starter.

On to the hearty mains. For Christmas, how can we not have festive favorites such as Turkey Breast and Honey Roasted Ham right? Sides include fries/mash potato, fine beans confit shallot or pear, blue cheese, walnut and rocket salad (this is my personal fav).

The Portuguese baby chicken was our favorite main from the NYE menu. The flavors reminded me of the home cooked Turkish meals that i had on my travels with the spice rub of paprika and mint. Pair the crispy tender chicken with the thick saffron sauce and you have a winning combination. Lovely roasted vegetables and spiced chorizo added helped to lift the dish through the differing textures and flavors.

I also enjoyed the Sydney spiced barramundi with thai styled char sui mushrooms and bok choy. I've taken a liking to the firm fish with a light sweetness. 

We were a little confused by the Cape grim strip loin with caramelized endive, eggplant purée and salsa verde. The meat was decent but the sauce tasted of Japanese curry with some minty residue.   

While i liked the initial fresh notes of the pan fried potato gnocchi due to the medley of corn, asparagus, zucchini and truffle verjuice dressing, it was overpowered by the oily gnocchi. The potato pillows, while fluffy, were too big and doughy and I felt myself slipping into a food coma after 2 bites.

For desserts end with one of the 4 desserts. My personal favorite of the NYE menu was the Chocolate tart. 

This tart was a hybrid of a regular chocolate tart and molten lava cake. Think powdery and gooey filling with a crunchy buttery base. Icing on the cake were the praline ice cream and brûlée banana. Good news is that it's available on both Christmas and NYE dinner! I much preferred this over the other desserts. 

Raspberry cheese cake was meh. The cheese was too gelatinous in my opinion. 

The Mango and Coconut bomb Alaska had a rather dry sponge which was like a traditional kueh bolu imo. Too sweet for my liking as well.

Cheese lovers could go for the very substantial cheese selection with quince paste lavoch. The Pouligny Saint Pierre was a delightful crumbly goats milk cheese. For Christmas, there's also the traditional Christmas Pudding or Raspberry Panna Cotta.

Overall, sufficient selection of items for a decent festive meal to end/start the year. Plus the view is amazing. You'll probably be able to catch the fireworks (i'm assuming there would be some). 

3 Course Christmas Dinner Menu ($100/pax)
24 and 25 Dec 2014
3 Course New Year's Eve Dinner Menu
31 Dec 2014
First seating: 6pm - 8pm ($125/pax)
Second seating, 8.30pm. Last order at 12am. ($148/pax)

Salt Grill and Sky Bar
55th and 56th floors, ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6592 5118

30licious by AMEX and HungryGoWhere

Riding on the coattails of Restaurant Week and providing the excuse to start the festive feasting early, American Express and HungryGoWhere jointly present 30licious - S$30 culinary treats till 2 December 2014. An exciting selection of restaurants has come on board this round, including big and familiar names like Lawry's, Bedrock Bar & Grill, Gyu Kaku and NUVO.
We visited The WEJS by Medici Cafe, a little alfresco joint at the secluded far end of Rochester Park. Service was extremely slow (it was just the chef and his wife) but i loved the hearty Tunisian food!

For starter, choose between Chicken & Spinach Soup or Salade Mechouia. The spinach soup wasn't too creamy so you could still taste the goodness of the vegetables. I thought a touch of cream would gel the soup better though. 

I also enjoyed the traditional tunisian oven baked red and green capsicums cold salad which was served with bread.

For mains, the Tunisian Chicken Couscous was fabulous. I may be biased towards the couscous but I simply love the fluffy little grains that tasted so light. The chicken leg absorbed the rich flavors from the tangy vegetables and tomato stew and became fork tender with.

The Chakchouka was also one of the better ones that I've tasted in Singapore and certainly not as overpriced as that of Wild Honey. This is best paired with couscous!

The set meal also comes with a drink (we had fresh juice) and dessert (very common man). Perhaps you could give their churros a try. We had the mixed can fruits cocktail which was meh of course.

UNA @ One Rochester is also an excellent choice for a romantic dinner under the fairy lights. Word is that the ex-Bomba chef has made UNA his home and has been dishing out the hearty and authentic paella that we know of. We started with a glass of 2012 Malacapa Rioja ($14/glass, $75/bottle) that came with the meal. It was an extremely enjoyable blended Spanish red and we would certainly come back for another bottle of this.

After waking our palate with the tangy gazpacho, we dug into the Signature Seafood & Chicken Paella, a rich and intensely flavored pan of short grain with generous toppings of perfectly grilled prawns, fish, chicken, mussels and clams. I thought the dish was a little salty, especially with the sliced chorizo but a small portion of it was just right.

The Pluma Ibérica was a great piece of tender Kurobuta Pork simply paired with a smoky sweet marinade and creamy mash (the kitchen was a little heavy handed with the salt).

I wasn't too impressed with the Churros (a la carte) which had a really milky center. I prefer churros with a little more crunch on the outside.

During the offer period, American Express® Card Members can enjoy 30licious special menus at more than 30 restaurants across the island for just S$30++ each. Customers who do not have American Express Cards will be charged at S$35++. To enjoy the delectable 30liciousdeals, you simply need to log on to book.hungrygowhere.com/30licious to make your bookings.

48 hours in Cappadocia

Cappadocia (Kappadokya) is a fairytale, complete with whimsical fairy chimneys, magical hot air balloon rides, and mystical sunsets over valleys. It's the reason why i fell in love with the country i've not been to (Turkey), until i made it a reality of course. Well long distance relationships just don't work for me, so i made this city, in the Anatolian region, my first stop on my Turkey trip.

STAY

Upon arrival, take a 1h transfer from the airport to one of the towns and check yourself into a cave hotel. A trip to Cappadocia isn't complete if you don't stay in one. It is certainly part of the charm of the place. The hollowed out soft volcanic rock accommodation is anything but shabby. Most of these lodging are luxurious with all the modern comforts you can imagine- electricity, wifi, baths, central heating, ac, beds etc. Each cave room has its own character- stone (made from blocks)/cave/chimney, with windows or not, view etc. so it all depends on what you prefer. It was a real headache deciding which town, which hotel and then which room! 

I decided on Goreme because it is fairly accessible to sights and activities (Goreme Open Air Musuem and Hot Air Balloon rides). Considering we only had 48h (or less) in Cappadocia, we didn't want to waste it on traveling around. I would love to check out Ürgüp and its boutique caves but it's just a little far off.

Here are some Goreme Cave hotels that i considered. 

1. Kelebek Hotel (I stayed here)

Room 5 and 6 are in the top of the fairy chimneys and for only 55 Euros (what a steal)! However, they do not come with ensuite bathrooms and are on the smaller side but hey, it's in a fairy chimney! Go for the Junior Suite Room 4 if you want a chimney experience with a bathroom. If you're claustrophobic, pick the Junior Suites (85 Euros) with windows. They come with lovely views of Goreme. I like Room 19, 113, 18 and 15 (somewhat in order). The organic breakfast spread was amazing (love the pides) and facilities include a Turkish hamam and a pool! (more on Kelebek later)

2. Aydinli Cave House 

This is a small home boutique, family-run guesthouse located just a short stroll from the city center. Double rooms are from 70 Euros onwards. I liked Room 10. For suite rooms (100 Euros), I'd go for 12, 3, 8, 9, 5 in order of preference.

3. Koza Cave Hotel

4. Terra Cave Hotel

If i were to visit Ürgüp, i'd pick one of the following: hotels for your consideration: 

Esbelli Evi- Charming place. The first cave hotel in Ürgüp.

Selçuklu Evi Cave Hotel- Near good restaurants.

Kayakapı Premium Caves- Very grand. Super lux! Some caves have private swimming pools.

DO

The Goreme Open Air Museum is a short 1km walk away from Goreme city center. Do not miss this UNESCO World Heritage site which was once a Byzantine monastic settlement and 17th Century pilgrimage site.

It was hard not to be wowed by the rock-cut churches, chapels and monasteries on site. 

SoulCycle NYC

I've never gone to an indoors spinning class till New York and i guess that kinda spoilt it for all the other spin classes that i'll ever go to. Yes i've sold my soul to SoulCycle (that's if i really have to ride). SoulCycle is the indoor-cycling cult that has people paying $34 per 45 mins class plus extras for shoe rental ($3) and water. Yes it is anything but cheap but it's NYC and New Yorkers will do anything to have them somebody tell them to believe in themselves and that is the appeal of SoulCycle.

SoulCycle is more than indoor cycling. It is a motivational exercise experience that combines crazy spinning, music and therapy. 

Once your shoes clip on, the lights dim and you'll be surrounded by flickering candlelight. The instructor (who is also a DJ and motivational speaker) starts spinning his/her set. You pedal on the beat and you lose yourself to the blaring music. There's no giving up because you ride as a pack, as a community. You will push yourself to the limits because you will not accept anything less. At least that's what the instructors will tell you. Nobody gives up. Until you attain that perfect you.

SoulCycle is fitness reinvented. It has put fun back into fitness and they claim that 45mins is all it takes to transform the way you look and feel. I can bet on that feel good factor. Why do you think there are so many gorgeous New Yorkers with slim waists and perky booties coming back to Soul again and again? I have not walked out of the refreshing lemon smelling facility feeling like i haven't pushed myself enough (other than the time when we had a lousy instructor and that is a rarity).

Along with Lululemon, SoulCycle is certainly the other crazy fitness phenomenon/brand taking US by storm. S is absolutely crazy over them (he needs that external motivation to work out whereas i'm naturally intrinsically motivated. I'm a type A yogi.). That said, i'm good with the occasional adrenalin pumping fat-burning cardio, full-body workout sessions (with hand weights as well). SoulCycle is the best spinning experience ever and sadly we just do not have that kinda crazy inspirational instructors or exciting facilities with great music in Singapore. I guess i'll stick to yoga here.

Do you exercise when you travel? Have you experienced similarly great spinning classes in Singapore? 

XOXO
Travelerintransit

The Boiler

It is all about Southern American Cajun seafood boil on our sunny island these days and we checked The Boiler, a gem tucked in the ulu and industrious Tai Seng estate. It's a queer location for a seafood spot but we absolutely dig the cavernous space and their delicious offerings. I guarantee that The Boiler is certainly worth your trek!

Here's the menu. It made perfect sense for us to order the Boiler's Bombdiggity Bag ($139) since there's a huge group of us (we had 3 bags of that). Each bag feeds more than the recommended 4 pax (that or we are small eaters). Dungeness or Brown Crab, prawns, mussels, clams, sausages, and corn are tossed with a sauce of your choice.

Our food were delivered in plastic bags placed in big metal buckets. You can only imagine the excitement at the table when the food was poured over the grease-proofed table mat. Don't worry, plastic bibs are provided to protect your clothes but try not to wear white yea?

For the sauce, there's garlic butter (for the kiddos), pepper butter (for amateurs), mild, medium and raging spice. Of the lot, i thought that the mild worked the best. It was more savory than the bland and boring garlic butter, but not too spicy to give you a heartburn or mar the taste of the seafood. You really don't wanna be eating chili alone (my bad experience at Cajun Kings taught me that. Read review here).

Of the ingredients in the bag, I loved the succulent and juicy prawns, the salty chorizo style sausages, and not to mention the sweet corn! The juicy kernels provided a respite from the spices after a while.

Get a lobster ($49) to go with your meal! Same price as Pince and Pints but without the queue (just make a reservation)! I liked this better than the crabs. Lemon butter was a good choice as the sauce is lighter and simpler, which allowed the freshness of the lobster to come through. The pepper butter can be rather overwhelming with spice in my opinion and not quite suitable for this meat.

Have some sides to go with the seafood. The bags come with fried man tous (buns), which were great to mop up the sauce a la chili crab style. We enjoyed the Cajun Fries ($5.90) with crispy thin batter and substantial filling. On hindsight i would have tried the sweet potato fries ($6.90). The onion rings ($7.90) were made with real onions and gave the meal an added crunch. Luncheon fries ($7.90) are well, luncheon fries.

If you're not up for a seafood feasting, you could also do smaller meals such as fish and chips, chicken and waffles, and hot dogs as well. 

For desserts, we had the Molten Lava cake ($9.90) which remained fairly decent even after all the photo taking. The almond (mocha?) ice cream with Oreo crunch was a hit with us. 

Skip the fried banana and durian fritters ($7.90) with salted caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. It sounded way more exotic than it tasted and certainly not quite worth the price for fried pisang. Plus it had a stale oily taste.

We really enjoyed our meal while it lasted. It was fun passing food around with our bare hands and letting loose at the dining table. However, the gastric reflux was pretty severe and the garlic aftertaste lingered long after the meal concluded. In fact, it's pretty nauseating thinking about it right now. So yes, it's a once in a blue moon indulgence for us.

That said, I'd certainly recommend The Boiler for a gathering with family and friends! What's your favorite seafood boil? 

The Boiler
18 Howard Road
Tel: +65 6635 1285
Sunday - Thu: 5 - 10.30pm

Fri- Sat, Eve PH: 5pm - 12am

Closed Mon

Restaurant Ember

A good restaurant is one who keeps her customers and Restaurant Ember has been doing that for more than a decade (12 this year)! With a chic face lift and a change in chef (Chef Sufian Bin Zain, previously from Iggy’s and Waku Ghin), Ember has kept its rich classics and added refreshingly light new dishes to the mix. We sampled some items from the lunch set menu, as well as others from the main menu.

Taste buds were awakened with the amuse bouche of crispy sakura ebi and the loveliest freshly baked bread. 

I love cheeses and the Burrata ($14) was a great way to start. Milky and creamy fresh cheese with nutty, smoky and slightly bitter endives, cherry tomato, arugula, pesto. Well Chef had me at burrata.

For a lighter tasting starter, the Flan is a classic that is well loved by customers. Steamed egg custard with generous chunks of mudcrab, asparagus and Aonori (seaweed). It was every bit Japanese with the silky curd and light earthiness from the asparagus.  

I can never say no to Duck Confit and this 36 hours twice cooked leg with mashed potatoes and caramelized onions ($32) was delicious. Certainly my top 2 choice for mains at Ember. I loved that smokiness of the cured meat and it wasn't overly salted as well. My way of eating this? Remove meat from bone, mix things up a bit. You'll get that light creaminess from the potatoes and the sweetness from the onions along with the savory leg. Yums. If you wish to have this for dinner, do order in advance for the a la carte item.

My other favorite was the Pan-roasted Barramundi ($28), with tomatoes, fine beans, Avruga caviar, clam jus ($28). Loved the light flavors of the barramundi and the salty bacon-like avruga caviar. 

For dinner, you could do the 60 hours slow cooked Angus Short Rib ($38), with a special charred onion puree (which doesn't taste like onion at all), confit of cherry tomatoes and beef jus. Cooked to perfect tenderness, the marbled meat was paired perfectly with the sweet onion puree. I could love onions like that.

The Bouillabaisse with NZ Langoustine, Hokkaido Scallops, Barramundi, Garlic Aioli ($32) was sadly weak in the umami seafood flavor and tasted a little flat in my opinion. Perhaps a little too delicate? The clams were rather flavorless and the langoustine was limp. I would rather a firmer shellfish and fish.

I'm not a fan of Ember's dessert due to the lack of balance in their sweets.

Our Valrhona chocolate fondant had a mysterious burnt taste. It's a safe dessert but it's nothing wow. 

The deconstructed cheesecake with figs, crumble, Tahiti vanilla ice cream was light in flavors but not in texture. The creamy cheese would do better with fresh figs than the processed jelly jam.

The Texture of pistachio, sponge, crumble, ice cream, ginger milk foam ($15) was refreshing enough only because I love ginger and the hint from the foam added that light perfume at the end. The dish was as transient as the foam, so light that you don't even taste or feel it, with the exception of the really sweet ice cream. 

The best part of dessert was the dessert wine actually. Well if you need something sweet, just go for the Torbreck The Bothie 2011.

Hits and misses at Ember but there are sufficient options in the set meals to ensure a good meal. The 3 course set lunch is only priced at $42 and the 4 course dinner at $88. I would bookmark this for business lunches. :)

Restaurant Ember

50 Keong Saik Rd, Singapore 089158
Tel: +65 6347 1928
Weekday Lunch: 11.30am - 2pm
Dinner (Mon - Sat): 6.30pm - 10pm
Closed Sun