Ms Skinnyfat

Duck isn't featured typically in ME food but well this is Artichoke. Grilled Duck “Shish Taouk” ($30) uses fresh duck breast cubes which have been marinated in yoghurt, onion juice, spice (cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric) for a minimum of two days for that extra tenderness, skewered and cooked on a charcoal grill with olive oil and lemon. 

If you are more of a steak person, go with the Steak Of The Day. We had a flavorful rump cap when we visited. 

Also have it with the Housemade Hashbrown ($14). Russet potato steamed and grated, pressed then baked, resulting in this cross between a jacket potato and a typical hashbrown and topped with sour cream and fresh za'atar (a Middle Eastern wild thyme).

Come weekends, there's also brunch at Artichoke. I can be a vegetarian if i get dishes like Cauliflower Kushari ($24) all day everyday. This is my favorite brunch dish of the lot that we sampled. The vegetable is deep fried until it is shrivelled for that bitter sweet flavour. It is then mixed with rocket leaves, onions, lentils, mint, puffed corn and fragrant Egyptian Jewelled rice, then tossed in shallot oil, and seasoned with salt and amba (similar to mango chutney). Together with the smoked egg, this is one hearty and healthy brunch dish that doesn't compromise on flavors. 

Chicken Urfa Kebab ($28) is one juicy skewer, thanks to the clever use of ice cubes to bind the meat before it's grilled over a mangal fueled by coal. No wonder it's a brunch favorite.

I love pork floss and i cannot lie but i'm not too sure about the Crispy Lamb Floss ($28) which features a twice cooked lamb that has been shredded and fried. Unlike the sweet pork floss, this lamb floss derives its flavor from its accompaniments, a thinned down hummus, grapes, cherry tomatoes and sliced green chili. 

For desserts, i'm going with the 'ashtray' Date Pudding ($16). The date pudding has a lovely smoky flavor from the twice twice cooked dulce de leche, and additional bitterness from the espresso jelly. There's an added salty-sweetness from the cashew brittle and praline, plus a magic crack of sea salt. My absolute favorite. 

I acquired a love for baklava after a trip to Turkey where i had it everyday after every meal. The Baklava Cheesecake ($22) at Artichoke takes inspiration the Turkish sweet and marries the latest Basque burnt cheesecake trend to present this dessert. Mediterranean flavors are enhanced with the orange blossom honey, rhubarb syrup, lemon and kataifi pastry- things that normally go into a baklava. The cake is not molten like that of a Basque cheesecake if you're wondering. 

While the Malabi ($16) avocado pudding wasn't bad, i couldn't get past the pudding x granita texture. It's too jarring a combination for me personally. The avocado pudding is topped with a passionfruit granita, and garnished with Thai basil leaves and meringue pieces. I wouldn't mind eating them separately, just not together.