F&B restaurants are a dime a dozen in Singapore these days and most don't even survive past a year. Which is why Absinthe is great, because despite its lack of publicity and even a change of location, it has been doing good since i last wrote about it 2 years ago (read about it here).

Led by award-winning Chef Francois Mermilliod and General Manager Vincent Jaureguiberry, Absinthe is best known for serving classic French cuisine complemented with well-priced wines right in the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District.

Formerly located at Bukit Pasoh, Absinthe’s current premises at Boat Quay is spread across two adjoining shophouses over three floors, which accommodates 140 guests in various party configurations. A Seafood Bar and Chef’s Table on level one offer fresh seasonal catch, oysters and caviar. 

Enjoy an "Absinthe Afternoon" from 4 to 6.30pm on weekdays with drinks and some light bites such as fresh crustaceans from the Seafood Bar and an assortment of French cheeses. Grilled options such as Tiger Prawns ($18) and Foie Gras ($16) and gourmet sandwiches are available if you're more peckish.

Level two houses 2 dining rooms and one private room.

There is no minimum spending required for the private Beluga Boudoir, which seats 4. We heard that it is quite the popular proposal spot so do book in advance. I thought it was a wee claustrophobic with the curtains drawn.

There is another dining room and two private rooms on level three. Additionally, a private verandah on level three looks out into the stunning skyline of Marina Bay Sands and an outdoor al fresco area sets the scene for experiential dining along the iconic Singapore River. Perfect for a private party.

We sampled a couple of dishes from the ala carte menu. Pictures show tasting portions.

Hamachi ($26), carpaccio of marinated yellow tail kingfish with Aquitaine caviar, cucumber and baby cress. A simple refreshing start to the night.

Saint Jacques ($26), seared Hokkaido scallops, braised daikon, wakame and lemon thyme emulsion. Lemon line. This dish really whets the appetite with the tangy citrus. The braised daikon, while being thoroughly flavored, still maintained some bite to it. The scallop was perfectly executed with a light pinkish center and lovely browned crust.

Next, the Foie Gras Poêlé ($29), Chef Francois’ rendition of pan-fried foie gras served with warm blinis and Morello cherries. I found it little on the oily side and the blinis soaked up all the excess oil. Needless to say, I left it after a bite. If foie gras is your thing, opt for the Foie Gras Terrine ($29), layered with smoked duck breast and served with warm brioche (read it here). It's certainly a hot favorite.

The Bisque ($15), lobster (of course) was a little on the bland side. A hint of cognac was detected but did not lend any flavors to the soup.

From the mains, the Canard (lunch $40, dinner $42) is a French duck leg confit should not be missed. Nice crispy skin with a well flavored and moist duck meat. Comes served with Sarladaise potatoes, mushrooms and Madiran wine sauce.

We ended dinner on a sweet note with the Vanilla Madeleines ($15), freshly baked-to-order and accompanied with Valrhona chocolate mousse. Freshly baked goods are always good but this changed my mind about the boring madeleines. If you don't have a sweet tooth, then head for the Absinthe “French Farmed Cheese Trolley”, which are elected by an “Affineur” (Master Cheese Ager) in France, who recommends the variety according to their “best-age” for enjoyment, and are specially flown in for Absinthe on a weekly basis.

A reduced a la carte menu is available at lunch, and a full a la carte menu is available at dinner. A pocket friendly three-course Lunch Set ($38) offers good value with a selection of five dishes each under the entrées, mains and desserts. Additionally, a 7-course Degustation Menu ($98) is available for order at lunch and dinner. All menus are changed every three months but signatures will stay.

Thank you Absinthe and FoodNews PR for the delightful dinner!

Absinthe

71/72 Boat Quay, Singapore 049860

Tel: +65 6222 9068

Weekdays: 12 - 2.30pm, 4 - 6.30pm, 6.30 - 10.30pm

Weekends: 6.30 - 10.30pm

One thing that i miss most about NYC is having pizza on the go. Strangely, we don't have such a culture in Singapore but Pezzo has been trying to change that mindset. Since December 2012, Pezzo has been serving up freshly-made pizzas with 13 convenient pizza-by-the-slice kiosks and 6 delivery stores island-wide.

The nice peeps over at Pezzo sent some love over and i got to sample their pizzas for the first time. I thought Pezzo sounded very familiar and that's when i realised that i've seen them making their pies fresh at the Ion Orchard stall!

First up, the Ho Ho Hola Hawaiian, a Christmas tree pizza. Priced at $29.90, it is topped with Turkey Ham, Turkey Bacon, Green Pepper, Peach, Cherry Tomato & Mozzarella Cheese. Think of them more as pillowy pizza buns which are really easy to bite into (no mess even for little mouths). I liked how the sweetness of the peaches (sadly canned) complemented the savory toppings. This festive pizza will be available till 31st Dec 2013.

I also sampled Pezzo’s new fiery creation, Hot Chick, a pizza made with strips of spicy chicken, special chilli sauce, red chillis, peppers, roast garlic and a combination of cheddar and mozzarella cheese. This is probably one of the spiciest pizza that I've eaten in Singapore but I enjoyed the kick pretty much. Certainly a hit with the fam.

There are over 20 flavors and you'd be spoilt for choice. I'm not a fan of the Fisherman’s Favourite, a seafood pizza with tuna, shrimp, spinach, onions, red pepper, tomatoes, oregano and basil. Tuna is a really weird choice for pizzas I feel. Most fish are in fact.

I'd rather go for Meat Sicilian which is packed with beef pepperoni, beef salami, Italian sausage and Italian herbs. Or try the unique Sambal Ikan Bilis pizza, a hit with many food bloggers! Vegetarians can dig into the Garden Gourmet pizza consisting of artichoke hearts, red onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach leaves and Italian cheese or the Spinach Special.

So if you are looking for a change in pizza flavors, do check out Pezzo. Or do it the New Yorker way and eat a slice off the cardboard.

Pezzo
Tel: +65 6665 6565
http://www.pezzo.com.sg

December is the month to celebrate love and family, after all it's the season of giving! If you're looking to give your loved ones a spectacular and lavish treat, St. Regis Singapore has got all bases covered with their celebratory menus and bespoke service at their 3 restaurants- Brasserie Les Saveurs, La Brezza and Yan Ting. On top of that, there's also an extensive range of takeaways, which includes a special that I can't stop raving about! Read on to find out!

I was invited to sample the various offerings for the Christmas specials. This time we dined in one of the event spaces which was decorated to the theme of luscious red grandeur. 

Dinner started with an Amuse Bouche from LaBrezza. Here's the Poached Egg with Shaved Black Truffles.While the truffle was undisputedly aromatic, i found the dish to be on the bland and boring side. Some saltiness in the form of thinly sliced cured meat (perhaps iberico) would be delightful. 

Next was the Artichoke and Potato Soup from Brasserie Les Saveurs which was served with Boston Lobster Tartare, Tarragon Espuma and Crispy Squid Ink Polenta. Another bland dish. I didn't like the hard and uncrackly polenta crisp, which turned into a soggy mess when dipped into the soup. Not a fan of this one.

The Medley of Seafood from BLS buffet line, with Shucked oysters (we had the French ones), Poached Boston Lobster Tail, King Prawns and Alaskan Crab in Court Bouillon. Can never go wrong with fresh seafood.

From La Brezza, the Mediterranean Sea Bass Cappellacci with Green Asparagus, Sun-dried Datterino Tomato and Saffron Sauce. I removed the thick and slightly dry pasta skin to get to the delicious fish that was hidden inside. A thinner shell would do the dish a lot more justice.
Next, the Filet Mignon En Brioche from BLS. I was looking forward to the dish when i saw it on the menu as it has all my favorite ingredients. A generous piece of foie gras sits atop a juicy beef tenderloin that is wrapped with Proscuitto Ham and then everything is wrapped in a brioche shell. The flavors are a lot more intense in this dish (Périgord Sauce is used in this one) as compared to the other dishes that we had. The dish would have been a lot better if the foie gras were seared more thoroughly. I would also have preferred a classic brioche instead of this thin parcel (more bread and more fluffy). 
If you're thinking of having a Christmas party at home, a festive takeaway is the Roasted Whole Muscovy Duck with Orange Sauce (2.2kg, $132) with Potato Purée and Sautéed Baby Vegetables. The duck was a little bland au natural but went ok with the citrus sauce. The Braised Kurobuta Pork Leg from the takeaway menu caught my attention though.

Remember what i said about the St. Regis special that cannot be missed. Well here it is! Introducing the St. Regis Log Cakes.

It's not a typical log but it is so much tastier!

On the left, we have the Red Berries with Pistachio Sponge Log Cake (low sugar) and on the right, my absolute favorite Chocolate Passion Royal Log Cake (750g, $48). I devoured the huge slice of Chocolate Passion Royal log and was still craving for more after! The smooth and rich chocolate mousse was paired with the tangy passion fruit crème brûlée and a layer of crunchy feuilletine. The most amazing combination of flavors and textures. YUMMEH! This is the perfect cake of the season i swear!

Another favorite is the St. Regis Singapore’s Christmas Stollen with Dried Tropical Fruits (500g, $32). This was the first time tasting a Stollen and i fear that St. Regis has ruined me with their high benchmark. I love that it's packed with dried fruits like cranberries, wolfberries and apricots. The core of the Stollen is a nutty sugary and grainy paste which is absolutely delicious. Needless to say, i finished this too. This will be another hotseller at any party.

If you are looking for a presentable gift, you could also consider the St. Regis Christmas Hamper which consists of the Christmas brandied cherry fruitcake, Christmas Stollen (YAY!), Christmas pudding, fruit preserves, handcrafted chocolates, assorted cookies, TWG Christmas Tea and a bottle of Billecart-Salmon Brut Champagne.

For more on St. Regis' festive offerings, visit http://www.stregissingapore.com/christmas to find out more!

St. Regis Singapore
29 Tanglin Road, Singapore
Tel: +65 6506 6888

It's the end of the year again and as work winds down, it is a must for all of us to indulge and pamper ourselves a little (and some). The past couple of weeks was insane for me at work and i really needed a break. My wish was answered by Secret Santa (or pretty elves ;)) when i received an invitation for a staycation at Grand Hyatt Singapore and i happily scooted off to my mini holiday right after my work even ended.

The Grand King in the Terrace Wing was my room for the stay. The generous 42sqm of warm and relaxing timber environment came with a functional extended workstation bathed in natural daylight. To keep guests entertained, a 37-inch flat screen television with personal audio/video connection, including a DVD/CD/VCD player, allows you to chill out from the comfort of the plush soft goose down king bed with fluffy pillows.

Other than the fabulous room, what i like about Hyatt is their willingness to listen to their guests. Hyatt is Listening, a customer oriented project, focuses on tailoring the stay for each and every of their guest. Hyatt Has It, one of the enhanced services for all guests, offer essentials such as a phone charger, curling iron, steamer, yoga mat, makeup remover wipes and razors to keep, borrow or buy! You only need to bring yourself to Hyatt and everything would be provided for. Best way to rest and relax!

On top of that, i received some special treats! Champagne, chocolates, along with pretty flowers are my kinda thing. ;)

The sweet girls at Grand Hyatt Singapore also threw in a decadently rich Blackforest cake to sweeten my stay. Perfect way to kick start the staycation!

With bubbly in hand, i had a nice warm bubbly soak in the lovely tub and experienced yet another nice touch by Hyatt with their high quality June Jacobs bath amenities. I love the light fragrance of the Green Tea and Cucumber infused products.
Guests staying in Grand Club Rooms also enjoy a host of additional benefits and privileges including complimentary Internet, and the use and access to their Grand Club Lounge, which serves complimentary Continental breakfast, evening cocktails and all day beverages.

Time for some light snacks at the Club! Canapes and cocktails are served daily from 6-8pm.

I helped myself to some delicious sweet and savory bites before my spa session. A mix of hot and cold finger food are available. Make your own salad with the fresh greens or go with some hearty pastas.

Gotta love the variety of cheeses available for the picking. Perfect with the selection of red, white and bubbly at the drinks station.

Next, i headed to Damai Spa to experience their Signature massage. 
Damai Spa has 11 all-encompassing treatment rooms and they incorporate exclusive spa products from the June Jacobs Spa Collection. Each treatment room has its own water feature in a nature-inspired setting. A Couples’ Room features an indoor stone tub overlooking a private outdoor water terrace with an open skylight. 

The massage was very relaxing. The therapist complimented me on my very firm and strong back but said that my upper back is rather tight. I certainly need to see her more often!

Each treatment room has its own shower but i took the opportunity to check out the public shower area shared with the gym. A sauna, steam room, hot and cold plunge pools are available in both the male and female locker rooms. Perfect way to rejuvenate after a grueling session at the gym.

After being kneaded thoroughly, i headed to dinner at Oasis, a BBQ restaurant with an open bar, where chefs prepare meat and seafood selections a la minute on the open charcoal-fired grills. It's located on the 5th Level of the Terrace Wing, same level as Damai Spa, the gym and the pool.

All you can eat appetisers, main courses and desserts with free flow of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, D'Arenbery 'The Footbolt' Shiraz, Tiger and Heineken beers, margaritas and soft drinks for S$88 per pax. Buffet is available on Fri and Sat nights while platters are served on other nights. We saw that it was very popular with large groups.

A selection of the appetizers. The roasted sweet potatoes and tomato salad was delicious.

From the grill, there were some hits and misses. The first couple of prawns that we had were juicy and succulent, however the later batches were burnt and dry. The fish and roast beef weren't to our liking as they overdone as well. The sausages and the ribs however were noteworthy and had me going back for seconds. Surprisingly good was the roast duck which came with a Peking duck sauce. Yummeh.

Another part of the Hyatt is Listening project is to maintain their guests' health and well-being on the road. Their new menu offerings include fresh juices and smoothies, balanced portions and "create your own" options. We made our own fried brown rice with plenty of shredded cabbage and carrots, baby corn, mushrooms and some chili to taste. This was very addictive.

To feel like guilty about our meal, W and i had a self practice yoga session in the comfort of our room (which gave her the aches because i'm a mean yoga teacher). A call to housekeeper had the yoga mats sent over for our workout. Yay!

Woke up early for my morning Sun Salutation at the gym before heading for breakfast at the Grand Club Lounge. Buttery and crispy chocolate pain, served alongside eggs of our choice and plenty of juices, coffee, muesli and cheese. Perfection.

If you're planning to give yourself a treat (if you're not headed overseas which you should be doing), do consider the Grand Hyatt Singapore for a staycation. Thank you Nicole, Sandee and Indrani for the invitation once again!

Grand Hyatt Singapore 

10 Scotts Road, Singapore 228211
Tel: +65 6738 1234

Christmas is not complete without log cakes and this time round, Smoulder the Soft Core bakers are back with their Signature Dark Chocolate Log Cake with a delicious chocolate ganache filling. Think rich, dark, dense and intense, just like the sweet boys at Smoulder who sent the delightful bites my way. ;)

What's more is that these yummy treats are gluten-free! The Signature Dark Chocolate is flourless, while the Black Forest is not and contains kirsch-soaked alcoholic cherries! Yums. These huge logs come in 500g ($32) and 1 kg ($52) and there is an early bird offer that ends 2 Dec ($28/$46).

For gifting or for personal indulgence, Smoulder has shrunk the logs and made bite-sized versions of their Signature Dark Chocolate and Black Forest cakes. I easily devoured a log by myself! Each log only costs $5. Be warned that the cake is very dense and is more brownie-like that cake-ish. I found them a little on the dry side.

Another special edition that should not be missed is the Dark Chocolate Peppermint Lava Cake. Definitely no sharing for this one. I love the the minty and rich molten center. Sinful but delightful! Hurry go get your hands on them. The 3 piece set goes for $8.20 and it's $24 for the 9 piece set.

Here are the other lava cake offerings at Smoulder. http://www.ms-skinnyfat.com/2012/07/dessert-review-smoulder-lava-cakes.html.

Thank you Smoulder for the early Christmas treats!

Smoulder
Raffles City Shopping Centre #B1-68 
China Square Food Centre #01-04