LeVeL33 has earned its reputation as a upmarket microbrewery with a view over the years but now with the addition of a couple of new faces, including Executive Chef ArChan Chan and Chef de Cuisine Maksym Chukanov; expect a stronger focus on their beer, because you are gonna be drinking it,  and eating it.

Their latest menu offering focuses on featuring dishes with elements of beer, and although the team comes with plenty of experience, I had my doubts about fusing beer into European cuisine beyond typical bar pairings like pork knuckle and German sausages. As it turned out, I didn’t have anything to worry about.

With more delicate starters like Kingfish Sashimi ($26) (above) and Hokkaido Scallop ($24), Chef Chan managed to push the boundaries of what diners would typically associate with beer flavours. The cured kingfish doesn’t quite fall within the standard definition of sashimi but goes well with the accompanying nori and spent grain sand, while the addition of house-pickled cucumber made for an interesting combination of textures.

The grilled Quail ($27) (above) has a much more robust flavour from the stout used in its marinade, and while it is a bit closer in nature to other alcohol-infused dishes we’ve encountered elsewhere (think Guinness pork ribs and 三杯鸡), it was hearty, satisfying and left us wanting more.

A clear winner was the pan-seared Seabass ($36) with beer malt risotto and beurre blanc sauce – besides the perfectly done fish (crispy skin and all), the risotto also went extremely well with the sauce and made for a very satisfying main course.

However, it wasn’t only the meat items that were hearty and well done – vegetarians and vegans will be glad to know that Chef Chan’s Garden Greens Tart ($29) combines a gluten-free taro tart ring with seasonal vegetables to great effect. Although I typically don’t enjoy pure vegetarian options, I would recommend this in a heartbeat as an alternative to the Truffle Ravioli ($32) which was commonplace, though generous with the amount of truffle used in the dish. 

On a separate menu, folks looking for bar bite options would be pleased to find items like Spent Grain Flatbread ($16), Shisito Peppers ($10) and Southern Fried Chicken ($22) among LeVeL33’s offerings. The flatbread is served with cod roe dip and salmon roe, which was a little on the salty side, but otherwise makes for a moreish snack. For those who have trouble deciding, the Sharing Platter ($46) feeds up to 3 people and features both the chicken and flatbread, as well as a mix of white anchovy croutons and sweet potato fries.

The bar menu pairs perfectly with the beers on tap at LeVeL33, and for those looking for a more interesting introduction to beer, their craft beer cocktails are definitely worth checking out - we’d recommend the refreshing Blond Mojito ($22), and if you’re keen on sampling the beers brewed onsite, the Beer Tasting Paddle ($23.33), which comes with five 0.1L tasters of LeVeL33’s craft brews, including the Blond Lager, India Pale Ale, Stout, House Porter and Wheat Beer.

For those with a bit more of a sweet tooth, Chef de Cuisine Chukanov draws inspiration from his Russian heritage to create a Layered Honey Cake ($15) served with beer aerated honeycomb, topped with house made sour cream ice cream, lemon balm and fermented kumquat. The ice cream and lemon balm do wonders to cut through the sweetness of the honey cake and honeycomb, and balances this rich dessert very nicely. A darker option would be the Malt & Stout Parfait ($12), which combines a coffee oat crumble with a malt, stout and vodka parfait in choux pastry puffs to present a dessert that highlights the chocolate and coffee notes that stout lovers will recognise – this was particularly enjoyable without being too sweet.

LeVeL33

8 Marina Boulevard, #33-01, Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, Singapore 018981

Tel: +65 6834 3133

Mon-Thu: 11.30am – 12am 

Fri-Sat: 11.30am – 2am

Sun: 12pm – 12am 

It's been a while since i explored the Farrer Park area since i moved out of the North Eastern part of Singapore. Well Park Hotel Farrer Park was constructed while i was busy exploring other parts of Singapore (mostly the East) and in it i found Blue Jasmine, a Thai restaurant currently helmed by a petite female Thai chef!

Classic Thai dishes are served here but regional specialties are also dished out here and i got to eat my favorite Esarn (Northeastern Thai cuisine) dishes!

Start with the Cha-Om Fried Egg ($12), which is served rolled up at Blue Jasmine. The rolls of thin acacia leaves omelette is fragrant on its own but if you feel like it needs more kick, the classic Thai dip named Nam Prik Kapi based on fermented shrimp paste and fiery birds’ eye chillies will pack that punch you want. I loved this dish! 

We're used to Tom Yum and that's available at Blue Jasmine too. However, do give Sea Bass Poh Tek ($30), an Esarn style hot and spicy traditional soup, a try. The flavour profile sounds similar to Tom Yum and could, in fact, be considered a type of Tom Yum but Poh Tek is made with a different proportion of spices and ingredients, with the addition of deep-fried sea bass, offering a different dining experience to the classic. Sweetness and a lovely spice. Love the refreshing aromatics. Firm fried fish with a light batter that isn’t too soggy either.

Do not miss the Roast Chicken Esarn Style ($16), which is a double roasted chicken for that extra crispiness. Despite being cooked twice, it is super juicy. The marinate is made of an Esarn paste of galangal, lemongrass, coriander, garlic, turmeric, fish sauce and palm sugar, and is well absorbed by the chicken overnight. Accompanying the chicken is a spicy dipping sauce made with roasted glutinous rice with fried kaffir. The overall flavor is like that of a satay with moderate sweetness. 

Holy Basil KAPRAO (Squid, $24) is made for basil lovers. The fragrance permeates through every bite. It's classic Thai stir-fry and you can choose to have the succulent squid, or even kampong chicken and beef ribeye. 

Afternoon Tea, my long-lost love. How i've missed you. Is it me or has this idyllic event fallen out of favor? Whatever the case, InterContinental Singapore's new Afternoon Tea: Checkmate will make you fall in love again. From now to 31 January 2019, the Lobby Lounge at the hotel will showcase Pastry Chef Ben Goh's collaboration with world-renowned premium chocolate manufacturer Valrhona’s Master Pastry Chef Brice Konan- Ferrand's chess-inspired chocolate-based desserts, alongside some savory bites.

The set is priced at $88 for two persons, inclusive of a fine selection of loose-leaf teas and coffee. You can indulge with a half-bottle Taittinger Brut Champagne (375ml), along with everything else at $138/set.

I'm a traditionalist when it comes to tea and was surprised that we were served sweets first as Chef Ben wanted to focus on the sweets in the afternoon tea set. However, you can always request for a change in order of presentation, or to have both served at the same time (which i recommend). 

3 of the chess desserts are created by Chef Ben- The King, Pawn, and Bishop, while Chef Brice created the Queen, Rook, and Knight.

We meat lovers can always count on Opus Bar & Grill to satisfy our carnivorous cravings. This season, the restaurant has introduced new premium butcher’s cuts that are perfect for sharing. 

The new Premium Butcher's cuts showcase a variety of textures and flavors with 4 types of meat cuts on one platter. The platter is meant for two people but i really think that it's good for 4. Plus, it's only priced at $128, which i feel is a steal for the amount and quality of meats served. 

The platter includes 500 - 600g Rangers Valley Angus OP rib which has been dry-aged in-house between 18 to 36 days, which to me, is the highlight of this platter. There's also a 150g Margaret River wagyu flank steak cooked on open fire, best paired with the homemade smoked chili glaze. I loved the texture of the grain-fed beef short ribs (400 - 500g) with a marble score of three, however, even though it was braised with aromatic spices, the meat didn't have much flavor. All was saved by the barbeque sauce though. There are also sausages which have been grilled over Jarrah Wood for additional smokiness, however, they were kinda dry imo. 

Other sharing plates are worthy of your choice as well. I'd go for the Wagyu Sirloin with Boston lobster sharing platter ($138). While the lobster is on the smaller side, i loved the smoky umami flavors, plus the meat was super sweet and flavorful. The Wagyu Sirloin cut here was executed flawlessly as well. Other than meats, Opus serves Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)’s Chain of Custody certified seafood which are sustainably caught- the live Boston Lobster being one of them.

Not to be missed is also the new kelong local green mussels steamed in lemongrass fumes. There's a hint of Thai green curry in this with an aromatic perfume. 

If you just want your steak and want it bloody, I highly recommend the 1 to 1.2kg whiskey-aged U.S. California Tomahawk steak which is 365 days grain-fed ($153).  

A touch of flamed bourbon provided a light sweetness to the juicy steak before service. If you're not in the sharing mood, there are also prime grade cuts steaks from U.S. Greater Omaha, priced from $58.

As usual, there's a special wine package with two hours of select free-flow wines from Sunday to Thursday, or 50 percent off wine by the bottle on Friday and Saturday. 

Opus Bar & Grill 

581 Orchard Road, Singapore 238883 

Lobby Level, Hilton Singapore 

Tel: +65 6730 3390

Grill Daily: 6.30 – 10.30pm

Bar Daily: 10am – 12am 

I've heard interesting things about Nouri in the past year, prior to them earning their first Michelin star. Unfortunately (or fortunately), it took the star for us to check out Chef Ivan Brehm's crossroads cooking, only because we've been too busy with life (moving in, preparing to get married and all). In anticipation of the meal, I studied Chef Ivan's menu and i was very curious as to how our meal will turned out because of the strange mix of ingredients and flavors and how they don't conform to a type of cuisine.

After polishing the pretty plates that Chef Ivan sent out and also listening to his stories behind the dishes, I guess we got a sense of what crossroads cooking means. At Nouri, you'll taste universally good food- no matter where you're from, or where the food takes inspiration from, you'll be able to identify familiar flavors that strike a chord or bring back some fond memories. Well at least that's what i took away from my meal.

For dinner, there's the option of a 5 or 7 course Chef Tasting Menu ($145/$175). Lunch tasting is also available at $85 for 5 course. The portions aren't very big, but our dinner party of 4 (3 boys and me) were rather satisfied at the end of our 5 course meal. Wine pairing is available at an additional $90 with some interesting pairing choices from lesser known regions and producers. We were very impressed with how knowledgeable the staff are of the food and wines served. A girlfriend who visited Nouri earlier noted that their sake pairing is excellent as well. 

Dinner started proper with the Bread and Broth, featuring rye sourdough bread served with a bowl of silken cheese topped with extra virgin olive oil and 25 years old balsamic sauce; and a shot of bone and 7-vegetables broth.

The Italian throw an insane party and you can expect the same at Zafferano's Saturday Champagne Brunch specially curated by Head Chef Emanuele Faggi. The hearty brunch features 3 generous courses of Italian perennial favourites, served sharing-style at the table – the exact way Italian families have enjoyed their get-togethers for generations, as well as, a lavish spread of Italian sweets at the dessert bar. 

Go hungry is my last words for you. 

The feast starts with live seasonal oysters. Each diner gets two oysters but you get unlimited servings of all the other items. One portion of the appetizers is served first but feel free to ask your server for extras of whatever you like.

Fresh Italian burrata served with tomatoes is a must and boy are they creamy! 


I couldn't fault the other cold sides of marinated salmon topped with avruga caviar
 and selection of cold cuts
.

If you need something to warm you up, the stewed mussels in pepper broth with rosemary croutons fits the bill. They could have served fluffier bread so that they could soak up more of the broth. 

No one stands between me and the gratin Hokkaido scallops. The succulent flesh was topped with a mixture of savory crunch bread, parsley, pine nuts, and punctuated with juicy raisins. I'd skip the oily polenta cakes with bacalhau which was super fishy. Also, the sludgy and thick Tuscan soup of tomato and bread topped with Parmesann crumble didn't seem too appetizing so i skipped that altogether. 

Well, i was right to save my carb quota for the Primi course. From top clockwise, there's the superfine ‘risotto Acquerello’ with four cheeses topped with shaved summer truffle; house-made veal agnolotti with spinach and hazelnuts; and the baked potato gnocchi prepared in Sorrentina style, served with tomato, mozzarella cheese.

The standout was the gnocchi! I would never order gnocchi because the probability of getting a nasty one is pretty high but Zafferano does them perfectly- fluffy light pillows that you never want to stop eating, especially with all that cheese and sauce! The risotto was lovely as well. 

We haven't even gotten to the main courses yet! My pick? The pan-fried seabass prepared in the Mediterranean style with olives, tomato, and fresh thyme, accompanied by rosemary potatoes and sautéed vegetables. I love the brightness in the sauce and the flavors are certainly welcomed after loading on the carbs.

The other meat course is the pan-seared duck breast served with onion compote and mustard sauce but i found it a tad dry.

The Bar Del Dolci would be set up for the dessert course. A selection of Italian desserts such as tiramisù, chocolate brownies with pistachio mousse, almond cake with mascarpone cream, mini luscious chocolate mousse, and tarts are made available. My favorite was the chocolate cones and brownies.  

Zafferano’s Saturday Italian Table Brunch is served from 12pm to 3pm on 27 October 2018 and 24 November 2018 this and is available at $98/pax with free flow of Spumante, beer, house wine, juices and soft drinks, or $128 with the addition of free flow Champagne.

Zafferano

Ocean Financial Centre 10 Collyer Quay, Level 43, Singapore 049315 

Tel: +65 6509 1488

Weekdays: 11.30am - 3pm, 5.30pm till late

Sat: 6:30pm till late (last order for food 10pm) 

Sunday Brunch: 12 - 3pm

Maggie Joan's, our favorite laneway restaurant has shifted to serving Modern European cuisine after three years with Seumas Smith (formerly Head Chef at Moosehead) fronting the kitchen as Group Executive Chef. Seumas presents fine seasonal ingredients from small or artisanal producers on his plates, with every component made from scratch to maintain the integrity of the ingredients. 

We started with my favorite bite of Shiso tempura with taramasalata, nori & lime zest ($3/pc). It's expensive, but Chef Seumas can take my money if he makes it into a bucket for home consumption. It's a glorious combination of fat and salt. That shiso tempura with taramasalata should be made into a bucket of chips and trust me it's easy to finish that citrusy chips in no time.

We also could never resist a housebaked sourdough ($4) served with rendered and smoked O'Connor beef fat that is mixed with artisanal French butter. 

My favorite from the small plates was the Beetroot ($17) with smoked crème fraîche, walnuts & burnt honey. Here, the beetroots are pickled and barbecued in the INKA charcoal oven, thereby enhancing its sweetness. It was complemented with a hickory wood chips smoked crème fraîche, crunchy candied walnuts, fresh pomegranate, peppery upland cress and a dressing of burnt Scottish Heather honey sourced from Prince Charles’ Mey Selections. The textures and flavors were simply gorgeous, and it's the perfect dish for fall. 

It was the first time i had Burrata ($21) with an acidic dressing but i must say it was very refreshing indeed. The preserved lemon which has been pickled with a Chardonnay vinegar gave the dish the tangy lift. The sugar snap peas and garden peas also provided a crunchy rawness to the mix. 

The Hamachi Crudo ($23) with almond sauce was yet another inventive dish by Chef Seumas. Here, there's the fresh seafood flavors from the soy and mirin marinated trout roe and the hamachi. The wakame was also rehydrated and pickled with aromatics and white wine vinegar. The smooth almond sauce made from almonds and buttermilk and chardonnay vinegar provided that smoothness to the dish. 

On to the mains, the Barramundi ($34) was a comforting dish for me. The nage- a rich stock made from roasted fish bones and aromatics is what binds the dish. The light creaminess helped to make the creamy Scottish Loch Fyne mussels stand out and also complemented the delicate flavour of the locally farmed fish. The drops of parsley oil helped to add a different dimension to the dish. 

For feasting, the hearty sharing dishes from the grill excite. I really enjoyed the Spiced lamb, salmorejo, black garlic & salsa verde. Australian lamb loin is first crusted with a spice mix of sumac, cumin and dried coriander, then grilled in the INKA oven. I love the super juicy meat that was balanced with a fresh minty side. A pair of mini braised lamb buns accompanies the dish. These are baked in-house – similar to dinner rolls. I didn't quite like them as they were a bit hard and tough and the filling was dry. 

The Duck Breast ($36) with carrot, plum and buckwheat was another favorite for us. The French duck is first brined then pan fried till crispy, and finished in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes for medium rare doneness. The hearty meat was balanced with sweet confit grilled carrots, carrot puree, and plum puree. The jus was pure umami, made from simmering duck bones, burnt Scottish heather honey, brandy and red wine and aromatics used in the brine. 

The flavors and components in the Duroc pork chop ($42) worked- the apple purée, pork sauce, and crispy crackling. What disappointed was that the pork was a tad dry.

Vegetables are done really well at Maggie Joan's. I would order a side of Roasted carrots ($10) just for myself. The carrots are confit in butter with bay leaf, thyme, rosemary, salt and sugar. Then grilled in an INKA charcoal oven upon order, tossed in brown butter, black sesame seeds, parsley and honey. Paired with the smooth housemade ricotta and a tangy apricot puree gelatin, each bite was sweet heaven.

The deep fried Australian Russet potatoes ($10) were rather irresistible as well. I was surprised by the sweetness of the pickled mustard grains. Give the ingredients a good toss to mix the rosemary salt, French crème fraiche, pickled mustard seeds, whole grain mustard, finely chopped chives nicely before digging in.

Desserts hold their own with delightful sweets like the tropical Coconut panna cotta with prosecco & grapefruit jelly ($12).

The meringue ($12) did very well with the blackberries sauce, yogurt sorbet & shiso as well. 

The complimentary salted caramel and chocolate sable was the perfect ending to the night.

As usual, another lovely experience at Maggie Joan's with new favorites this time.

Maggie Joan’s Dining & Bar

110 Amoy Street #01-01 (Entrance from Gemmill Lane)

Singapore 069930

Tel: +65 6221 5564

Weekdays: 12 - 2.30pm, 6 - 11 pm

Sat: 6 - 11pm 

For 2 nights only on 17 and 31 October, the Backstreet Bengs of Amoy Street- chef Jeremmy Chiam of Le Binchotan, chef Eugene See of Birds of A Feather, and chef Miller Mai of Ding Dong, will work together to present a six-hands event. The mini food journey would bring guests to all three restaurants where they would sample a signature and a specially created dish that is based on the heritage of Amoy Street, Chinatown at each location.

The menu was planned in tandem, while carefully maintaining their individual culinary identities.

At Birds of a Feather, chef Eugene presents a special Sichuan-style Chwee Kueh. The “water cake” is made in-house the traditional way with rice flour, but is given a spicy savoury Szechuan spin with crispy kohlrabi bits and Szechuan spicy red oil, then dressed with scallion oil, pickled daikon and black fungus. The toppings are super addictive and i wished there were more with the cake.

This is served alongside a plate of Baked Eggplant, one of my favorites from the new a la carte menu (read about my review of Birds of a Feather here). The yuxiang [鱼香] sauce is so good with the baked eggplant and fried mantou!

At Ding Dong, chef Miller serves a special chee cheong fun made out of scallop. The smooth and silky sheets are made of scallop and encases crunchy tiger prawns and blue swimmer crab. The rolls are served with a typical South-East Asian sauce made with fish sauce, lime juice, clam stock and chilli. I thought it was a tad too fishy overall.

The signature Ding Dong dish is the Pork Collar, Char Siew, Caramelised Pineapple. The Iberico pork collar was a tad dry even though it was sous vide though.

My favorite dish of the night was served at Le Binchotan. The Uni Okayu with Charcoal Youtiao by chef Jeremmy is inspired by rice porridge but it was definitely a more superb version. Uni rice is served in a pool of rich kombu and scallop bouillon, garnished with crunchy charcoal youtiao rounds, and topped with even more lobes of fresh uni. This needs to go on the main menu. AGAIN.

The signature dish he presents will be a roll of his ‘Edible Charcoal’- beef short ribs braised for 16 hours wrapped in charcoal spring roll skin and accompanied by house-made garlic yoghurt. Careful of that really spicy and pungent garlic yoghurt!

Reservations must be made in advance; only a maximum of 60 reservations will be accepted each evening. Guests will be assigned a schedule the day before the dinner, so that they know where their meal for that evening will begin, where to go next, and where their meal will end that evening.

To reserve your seat, e-mail events@spa-esprit.com. Confirmed attendees will be sent an itinerary the day before the reservation.

Le Binchotan

115 Amoy Street #01-04 Singapore 069935 (Entrance via Gemmill Lane)

Tel: +65 6224 1045

Birds of A Feather

115 Amoy Street Singapore 069935

Tel: +65 6221 7449

Ding Dong

115 Amoy Street #01-02 Singapore 069935

Tel: +65 6557 0189