Pantler: A Promise-land of Honey and Sweets
Labels:
cafe,
cakes,
coffee,
desserts,
good eats around tanjong pagar,
hidden finds,
tanjong pagar
·
Peering down the grey minimalistic hallways of the shop house, my heart was gripped by eager anticipation to dive straight into the rows of sweet desserts. Here at Pantler, breads and pastries rule the land, there's no gimmick to the concept here, and hence decor is understandably stark.
For the neat freaks, Pantler's setup is the hinterland of your fantasies, entremets placed fastidiously on clinical silver trays lined up with tangential precision to its neighbours. Here, attention to detail has spilled over from Japanese foreshores, manifesting itself in exquisite looking cakes and tarts that makes for drool worthy eye candy.
Two separate visits later, I was sold. This is what Singapore's commercial district is in dire need of. A boutique purveyor of quality patisserie and boulangerie items in a simple yet classy environment. Perfect for mid-afternoon tea breaks or client meetings, if you may.
Founded by Baker Matthias Phua and partner, Head Chef Tomoharu Morita whose credentials span from highly acclaimed Grand Hyatt Tokyo to Joel Robuchon Singapore. The two have dedicated their passion and skills to creating products that are authentic and beautiful, paying special attention to produce, Beurre d'Isigny French butter and Japanese flour milled by Nishio Milling from Aichi Prefecture. This high quality ingredients takes precedence in the boulangerie items, the croissant ($3), crispy on the outside with light and fluffy innards. Unfortantately Singapore's humidity has dealt it a bad card and the exterior suffered a little, texturally. Nothing that a little warming up in the oven won't solve.
The Mango Passion ($5.80) and Creme Caramel ($5.80) comes highly recommended. Diving into the former will lend your mind a chimera of narratives; the tantalising creaminess of the mango flavoured panna cotta spiked by a slight tang from the passion fruit coulis pooled over the top. The 'jiggly-ness' of the pudding a testament to the Chef's profound pastry knowledge and skills. Touted to be Matthias's dessert of choice, I was eager to get a glimpse of what he saw in this humble offering. Lo and behold, this was frickin' magic in the mouth; I lapped it up greedily. What this traditional dessert has on the other versions is the caramel sauce that had been pushed to the edge of caramelization without burning. That's talent right there.
Other offerings that I've since tried are the signature Yatsura ($8.50) - hazelnut dacquoise, dark chocolate mousse and hazelnut feuilletine. Almost like the makings of a ferrero rocher in a more sophisticated form. The Pantler roll cake ($4.80) failed to leave an impression, and I took a back seat on the Pantler Cheesecake ($6.80) that was a tad too crumbly and dry for my liking.
The best desserts causes a clamour, sharing them provokes tension. The question of who's settling the last bite clearly defining likes and dislikes within the gang. My choice amongst the spread, the Pithivier ($7.50), a dessert that I've not had since making my own in pastry school a couple of years back. This traditional round French puff pastry circle filled with almond frangipane brought back flashbacks of the days of struggles with handmade puff pastry armed with only a rolling pin. Delicious in every right, the pastry was undeniably fresh and flaky whilst the almond filling fragrant, almost like eating a 100% marzipan. Don't judge.
The Ricotta Cheese Tart ($8.50) is another formidable dessert with soft and tangy innards backed by a crisp short crust pastry. Perfect for those who like something a little lighter.
Then there's the much talked about Choux Creme ($5.50). Details elevate this humble dessert such as the crisp nougatine topping that caps the choux pastry just before entering the oven; and the velvety smooth vanilla bean flecked pastry cream filling. My only wish would be a better cook on the puffs that would render the innards a little drier and crisper.
Coffee at Pantler is from Dutch Colony, so fans of the blend can now get your fix in the city!
Judicious with butter, sugar and everything nice, Pantler is set to steal the hearts and minds of dessert lovers and cafe go-ers alike. Be sure to make your rounds quick before the news gets out!
Pantler
198 Telok Ayer Street
S(068637)
t: 6221 6223
Operating Hours:
Mon - Fri: 8 30am - 8 30pm
Sat: 10 30 am - 5 30pm
Online Order available here
Atmosphere Bistro.Bar : The watering hole
Labels:
affordable,
beer,
desserts,
East Coast/ Joo Chiat,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
pizza,
pubfood,
ribs,
will not return
·
Have my eyes betrayed me? A quizzical look hung out on my face as the snow mountain pile of Kirin Frozen beer ($13) started rapidly on its descent. My first 'gulp'got me a mouthful of flavourless foam; endearingly referred to as beer slushie by Kirin's patented technology. I would advise you give this a pass. Since you've already made your way to the watering hole, get your hands on the Heinkein or Erdiner white draft beers instead; word has it that there's a promotion ongoing now for 3 pints at just $30.
The Atmosphere Bistro & Bar is a brand new establishment that has just opened its doors to the public on October 6. Located at Parkland Greens, a sprawling landscape of green along East Coast Park just right across from Parkway Parade. With the booming amount of space at the park, this creates an entirely family oriented environment where children can partake in outdoor activities whilst parents lounge in the cooler interiors of the restaurant, enjoying a cold pint or two. Technically, the location advantages already makes the Atmosphere a winning concept; but how does food fare?
From the extensive menu of pub bistro favourites, we chose two starters to tease our taste buds. The Spam Fries ($7.80) was a simple snack but given a little snap, crackle and pop from the kaffir mayo served on the side. Deliciously rich and salty, this would make the perfect snack for the young ones. Not so outstanding was the Escargot ($10.80) which regurgitated funky chewy nodules swimming in a bland garlic butter and covered with melted cheese. Hear me out, cheese doesn't make everything better. Skip this and give their truffle fries a shot instead.
The Baby Back Ribs ($19.80) lacked conviction: the citrus BBQ sauce bearing a strange resemblance to satay sauce and the meat an uncanny textural likeness to the local snack, (not exactly desirable in the case). With a little more time invested, the dish could have fared a whole lot better.
For the grazers, there is the Caesar Salad ($6.80). a creamy confetti of bacon bits, stodgy croutons and grated Parmesan over an avalanche of bottled caesar dressing. Overly sweet and immensely overdressed for such a humble setting, this is one salad on the menu to skim past. Let me lament about the rather poor renditions of Caesar salads I've delivered to my system lately; what happened to the handmade herbed croutons and dressings with that piquant scent of anchovies recognised in the aftermath?
Jacked up on cheese, the Squid Ink Pizza ($20.80) anticipates the roaring appetites of the young and the drunk. Atmosphere puts an innovative spin on the usual classics with such outrageous outputs; squid rings, sliced garlic, onion, squid ink tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese are stacked on with Pythagorean precision. The result grows on you after its slightly peculiar first impression. You might want to pry away the limp dough base and eat the meltingly moist interior spiked with a little dabble of Tabasco sauce.
Instagram darling, Atmosphere Burger ($19.80) left more oohs and aahs on the photographer instinct than on the palate. The monstrous triple stack of pork, turkey and chicken patties, over processed and struggling to reconcile with each other. If you're bought into the lore of this skyscraper-esqe burger, save your pretty penny for a trip to Suprette instead.
Desserts were a safe bet with assorted cakes, obviously outsourced with a good palate in tact. The Red velvet ($5.80) and Rainbow Cake ($5.80) were both moist and spongy in all the right places, the former edging out the multi-coloured unicorn with its charismatic cream cheese frosting.
If you're feeling a little fancier, order the Atmosphere Molten Lava Cake ($11.80), watch in glee as warm chocolate pours out from the molten core. A decadent treat for the discerning diners who delight in the alchemy of gooey chocolate with the blissful sigh of cold vanilla ice cream.
For all its flaws, the Atmosphere Bar.Bistro still packs promise, and with the throngs of people that trawl the parks on weekday nights as well as the weekends serving as potential customers; the establishment sits on a pot of gold. Only if the food is improved of course.
Fundamentally Flawed dined as a guest of Atmosphere Bistro. Major thanks to Cynthia of DFW Creative Private Limited for the invite and her gracious hosting.
The Atmosphere Bar and Bistro
920 East Coast Parkway #01-25/26/27
S(449875)
Opening Hours:
Mon - Thurs: 5pm -12am
Fri: 5pm - 1am
Sat: 10am - 2am
Sun and PH: 10am - 1am
Roosevelt's Diner & Bar: Revisited
Labels:
american,
beer,
craft beers,
desserts,
family,
family friendly,
fried chicken,
lunch,
ribs,
waffles
·
In Singapore's ever-changing culinary landscape, I rarely find myself making revisits to a single establishment much. Yet Roosevelt's with its strong showing has always won my biased favours... (Check out my first review). A stalwart among the few southern type American cuisine specialists in Singapore, this humble cafe/restaurant joint is dedicated to producing the finest burgers, southern fried chicken and baby back ribs that ever paraded the local scene. And without much ado, I announce my strong approval on this very successful movement.
Last weekend, the girlfriend and I headed in to satisfy my cravings. We eased into the meal with the big guns. The Southern Fried Chicken ($18) and the BBQ Baby Back ribs ($22) both delivered its promised punch, amplified by a liberal use of spice and sound cooking techniques. The chicken tanned and crispy, goes beyond the usual fried chicken with its' tight crumb that adheres with fond attachment to the succulent flesh. The triple mash of potato, pumpkin and sweet potato refusing to play second fiddle to the elephant on the dish, left me smitten and in denial of my diet attempts. The baby back ribs was a hearty course, fall-of-the-bone ribs slathered in the all important barbecue sauce and enlivened by a small mound of roasted corn salsa. This plump rack was good for sharing and though I admit to being quite cynical about this dish before it's arrival, I was more than happy diner at the end of the meal, expounding its ambrosial notes to all.
Of course, a trip to Roosevelt's wouldn't be complete without their signature waffle. Salted caramel waffles with crushed candied cashew nuts ($12) was our choice, and I dare say, a mighty fine one too. After all the savouries, we craved something sweet, and the waffle with its' crusty squares waiting to be smeared with ice cream and dredged in salted caramel sauce filled the void in our tummies with immediate gratification. The clever use of crushed candied cashews, a breathe of fresh air departing from the mainstream hazelnut and chocolate combinations. Definitely a dish perfect for the final flourish.
Roosevelt's Diner & Bar
311 New Bridge Road
#01-02 Dorsett Residences
S(088764)
t: +65 6538 3518
Grand Mandarin: I'm so fancy
Labels:
chinatown singapore,
chinese,
chinese food,
dinner,
family friendly,
lunch,
may return,
outram,
special occasion
·
Grand Mandarin, located in a inconspicuous building just off Outram Park MRT (inside joke: take heed that this IS in fact the nearest mrt station to the restaurant) houses a somewhat dated, dark and sophisticated dining room serving elaborate Chinese dishes that appeal the mid-tier diners and up. If you're got money to splurge and want to avoid the usual suspects hailing from large culinary groups, then Grand Mandarin would be a good pick of an underdog.
Take for example the empura fish that swims with such a lavish aura around it, as if it has come to self-awareness of it's prized existence from watching itself on television re-runs. The price on its' head escalating above the mortal thousands. I imagine the creamy sweetness of its flesh in my mouth and swiftly shut it down. It's not something worth dreaming about...
For the common folk, like me, Grand Mandarin does offer a wide range of impeccable Cantonese cuisine ranging from the customary dim sum to the homely doubled boiled soups and finally to the more extravagant roast duck. And just like so many new restaurants, the Grand Mandarin isn't strong across the board; for starters, service can be lackadaisical and not exactly polished. Requests for tea top-ups were forgotten and dirty plates not cleared with structured procession. The appetizers got the ball rolling with a delectable gleaming Deep Fried Prawn coated with creme lemon sauce ($32++ per order), earning points for its unparalleled flavor combination. The prawn still retaining a nice bite, melded well with the welcome rays of sunshine derived from the lemon sauce. The rest of the items, I was disagreeable with there after. Famous as it is, the Honey Glazed Barbecued Pork Loin ($15++ per order) with its pudgy rings of uncaramelized sugar on its exterior went down with a fight, the crunch exposing a figurative circle of refined white sugar that was slow to disintegrate compared to the pork loin that was melt-in-your-mouth tender - an addition that I found added unnecessary heft and calories to the dish. The Crispy Soft Shell Crab coated with Chicken Floss and Curry Leaves ($18++ per order) was a tad too sweet for my liking, the inclusion of curry leaves not providing any flavor profile assistance to the dish.
The Double-boiled chicken soup with cordycep flower ($9++ per person) was pedestrian with a general lack of seasoning. Though, I did enjoy the cordycep flowers which provided a crisp and chewy factor.
Another dish that didn't knock my socks off was the Steamed Silver Cod with pink ginger topping in bonito sauce ($22++ per person). Yes, the cod was supple and fresh, but the random jolts of piquant cured ginger layered like a mossy green carpet on a polished parquet floor was again haphazard and excessive. The bonito sauce working wonders to revive the umami of the rather neutral tasting steamed cod. I would suggest making a beeline for the baked version with lemongrass infusion sauce instead.
Tofu with crabmeat and egg white in carrot broth ($24++ per order) caused many quizzical looks round the table as the use of firm tofu failed to accentuate the luscious qualities of the crabmeat and eggwhite mixture.
A quintessential dish at every Cantonese food fest would be the roasted duck. Here at the Grand Mandarin, things are kicked up a notch with their Roasted Duck with Perigord Truffle ($28++ per order). At the very mention of truffle, I was afraid of the assault on the taste buds, however, contrary to that, my first bite had me on a wild goose chase for the lingering note of truffle. None. Where is it? I felt cheated.
The last dish on the tasting menu was a Stir fried Crystal Vermicelli with Pork Collar in X.O. chili sauce ($22++ per order), an adventurous carb offering with short plump strands of vermicelli tossed in a divine sauce forming the base of a bejeweled bowl of ingredients. The pork collar came in the form of decadent silvers of pearlescent fatty meat perfectly cooked and curled into submission. I revelled in the successful execution of the dish.
Liu Sha Baos were our next order of business. Fluffy balls encapsulating a torrent of sickly sweet salted egg yolk custard that flows out without much persuasion. Still, Mouth Restaurant's version has stolen my heart.
A more worldly dessert rounds up the meal. The Refreshing Green Apple Jelly with Lime Sorbet ($8 per serve) with it's tangy notes and cold construction had its desired felicitous effects and I greedily slurped up the stray bits of aloe vera earnestly. Definitely a humble but sensuous way to end the meal.
'
Notably, Grand Mandarin prides itself on being one the few solo establishments devoid of links to the big leagues. And serving such cuisine in Singapore, it certainly makes it a dime in a dozen. That being said, food standards with its price relativity leave much to be desired from this restaurant and unless improvements be made to befit the slightly heftier pricing, clients are likely to pack up and go after a one time experience.
Grand Mandarin
325 New Bridge Road
#01/02-00 S(088760)
t: 6222 3355
P.S. for those of you who would like to get a chance to win The Entertainer App. Please visit here to participate in my {GIVEAWAY}!
[The Entertainer App GIVEAWAY] Pappasan: Watermelon Sangria
If you're a big fan of the Entertainer App, we've got good news for you! The 2015 version will soon be launched in Mid November and as a sneak preview, we got to sample some of the offerings from PappaSan, one of the new merchants to be featured in Entertainer Singapore 2015.
For those of you are unaware of the lucrative savings and scrumptious deals associated with the app, I implore you to look at some of my personal dining experiences at the following merchants, The Roundhouse, Fat Cow, and Chez Petit Salut. But to cut to the chase, The Entertainer Singapore gives subscribers access to all 770+ '1-for-1' offers to some of Singapore's hottest restaurants, nightspots, informal dining spaces, spas, activities, attractions and more. With 3 vouchers per merchant, you can pay a visit to your favourite listings more than once! Evidence of my loyalty to the app can be seen in the figures below. Yes, cause numbers don't lie!
To kick start the evening, there were Watermelon Sangria shots in a watermelon, I refuse to approve the term 'shots', instead using a pint size glass to store the luscious liquids. The decapitated melons lining the decked out tables, held a mixture of fruit cocktail and wine infused juice; a sip of this will certainly get the party going. This was an introduction to the new Watermelon Sangria Tapas Fiesta (a package worth 98++ for 2 pax and starting at 438++ for a party of 10 and above); the deal includes five delicious small-plate special hot tapas to aid the festive alcohol ingestion. Certainly worth checking out if you're accompanied by a rowdy bunch and want to be spared the agonising wait between drinks for everyone to decide on their food orders.
The Succulent Beef Tenderloin Skewers behaved true to description, juicy cubes of tenderloin soaked to the core with a herbaceous marinade and then licked by hot flames on all sides. The char grilled marks, a good contrast to the slight sweetness resulting from the beef's luxurious bath.
If you like your garlic, turn your sights to the Prawns with Tomato and Italian Gremolata, the sauteed fresh prawns cooked to bouncy perfection, the aromatic gremolata giving the prawns a flavor edge and the cliched topping of parsley lending a hand to the dish's profile. I should have stuck it out and piled my plate high with these firecrackers, just 4 of these left my tummy hankering for more.
Lemongrass Chicken Wings adds to the pageantry of the spread with it's deep fried factor. Pity that these were just a tad overcooked and under seasoned; the golden crusted poultry crying out for the aid of a creamy dip to salvage it's forlorn state.
Another dish whose looks presides it's actual taste was the Crusted Chicken Rice Balls, as much as the concept is novel, the deep fried panko crusted mounds of chicken rice enveloped dry and tough bits of chicken.
Dinner continues with a bit of theatrics, the Mullets are wheeled out. Covered in a mountain of salt and set ablaze with brandy. Touted as the Snow Mountain Baked Fish ($48), this age old Italian technique of cooking fish with a heavy crust of salt guarantees a moist and perfectly seasoned fish almost all the time. Unfortunately, what we received must have been the oddment of this promise, the fish lacking in seasoning and dry despite the Chef's conscious effort to stuff it with garlic, onion, ginger, chilli and lemongrass.
The rock 'n' roll concert continues with the Whole Roasted Crispy Suckling Pig ($268, available only on pre-order). As tradition calls for it, as testiment to the pig's crispness, two lucky diners had the privilege of chopping the baby pig up with the edge of a regular dinner plate. The brashness of each move coupled with the gentle crackling of bones like music to my ears. The experience unfolds in waves of gustatory pleasure, the flesh of the pig, gelatinous,succulent and sapid from the liberal use of Portuguese special herbs. Pry open the hungry lips of a fried mantou and fill it with the likes of coleslaw, pork crackling and suckling pig dipped in a fiery sweet, chilli padi flecked dark soy mixture and you've got a winning formula. My only gripe would be that the glass-like wafer thin skin could have used a tad more salt to enhance it's flavor. But other than that, this dish indulged me and all my food fetishes.
The final flourish to the meal was the stereotypical chocolate lava cake, the twist lying in rather unorthodox brandishing of orange caramel sauce and cubes of mango. A sweet move to tighten the deal.
PappaSan is just one of the new merchants to be joining the entourage of The Entertainer App's 2015 versions and I, for one, am eagerly anticipating the exciting line-up for participating merchants to be revealed soon.
For now, I will be hosting a {GIVEAWAY} - 10 of my lucky readers will be given the Entertainer Singapore 2014 Mobile product for FREE!!! However, this will expire on Dec 31, 2014, but with all the upcoming festivities approaching, perhaps the app will come in useful, especially if hosting larger group gatherings. Imagine all the savings you could acquire!
To enter, all you have to do is
- Follow me on instagram at @fundamentally_flawed, find the picture of the suckling pig and give me shoutout!
- Comment on this blogpost telling me which restaurant/cafe you would love to see registered on the new merchants listing on The Entertainer 2015 app. Make sure to leave your name and email address to qualify as well.
- 'Like' the Entertainer Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/
TheEntertainerFB)
Please note that this contest ends on the 16th Novemeber, so quickly get to it!
PappaSan
01-01, 333 New Bridge Road
S(088765)
t: 8188 7189
Opening Hours:
daily 6 30am - 10 30pm
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
