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
Anjali Chocolat: Where Passion translates into bon bons.
Labels:
bukit timah,
chocolate,
desserts,
Gourmet Chocolate,
Grandstand,
pasar bella,
pralines,
turf city
·
Hidden away in the corner of the tangle of interweaving shop spaces of the Pasar Bella market is the new shop offering a neat selection of chocolates, pralines and bonbons. Behind Anjali Chocolat, is lady boss Anjali and her supportive husband who together have decided to open up a Chocolatier to fuel her passion and love for this luxury good.
Made from Belgian couverture, consumers are guaranteed a spike in quality, further enhanced by the creative juices of Anjali as she injects bits and pieces of herself and her vivid travel and living experiences from around the world into the flavors of the chocolate. Her exposure to a large hotpot of cultures clearly evident in her inspired use of a wide variety of spices and fruits in her pralines.
After a good amount of sacrilegious feasting on chocolates and a glass of sparkling white to top off the experience; I had gathered a list of chocolates that had caught my fancy. The Lemon White Chocolate Pistachio with it's pristine slick sides and marbled green top managed to balance out the slightly medicinal pistachio with a subtle tang from the lemon, the sweetness of the white chocolate carrying it home. The exotic Fig and Ginger Truffle resulting in an explosion in the mouth with the crunch of the fig seeds combined with the sugary hit of warmth from the candied ginger. A match made in heaven and delivered with strong persuasive powers. Worth lusting for is the Coffee Star Anise Bonbon; if you enjoy your liquorice (or Sambuca in my case), this chocolate delivers on every front, the star anise not as pungent as most would anticipate, but more subtle and almost mysterious. That aside, the fruit flavored bonbons failed to meet the mark, the strawberry and raspberry pate de fruit in both instances, represented by clumsy layers within the pralines. More attention to detail needed in this case.
In line with Diwali, Anjali Chocolatier has launched a list of attractive seasonal flavors which is not available for ordering. On hindsight, who doesn't like receiving chocolate? Whatever the occasion may be, chocolates will always win you some favors. So what are you waiting for?
Anjali Chocolat
200 Turf Club Road
t: 9853 9663
Tolido's Espresso Nook: Potential hideout spot.
Labels:
all-day-breakfast,
arab street,
brunch,
cafe,
coffee,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
jalan sultan,
kampong glam,
pasta,
will return
·
Farm cosy, Miner's nightmare or Snow Cabin; I can't quite put my finger on the description for the decor at Tolido's Espresso Nook. But one thing's for sure, the sight of textured wood with its uneven shades makes me feel at ease. So, in calling it a nook, that's just genius.
Founded by Mr Douglas Tan who has roots stemming from his previous venture at the Omni Theatre, his experience is represented by an large the queues and crowds at his former outlet. By word of mouth (and evidently from its'flower stamped instagram feed), Tolido's has become a go-to venue for fancy latte art and a solid cup of coffee with beans hailing from Yahava. The latter fact, the cause of some innate impartiality prior to my visit.
My Latte ($5.50), though a tad expensive, was big on flavors, underscored by a rich woody earthy profile befitting of the snug surroundings.
My companion ordered the Bacon Mushroom Aglio Olio ($9.50) while I floated between a few options till settling for the Norwegian Smoked Salmon Scrambled Eggs ($15.90). The former was a predictable plate of pasta that fell short of expectations, appearing lacklustre when it reached the table; only to reveal a pool of olive oil residing at the bottom of the bowl later. A couple of seconds more in the pan with a gentle tossing motion would have created a more desirable coating of oil with gentle nuances of nuttiness from the browning on this simple dish. As for my dish, the eggs were perfectly cooked, not the best of course, but sided by a sweet, tang and cheesy tomato au gratin, ciabatta studded with grains and a salad, there was nothing to complain about. The generous serve of smoked salmon adds considerable layers of flavor complexity and eating variations with each and every bite.
Tolido's Espresso Nook
462 Crawford Lane
t: 6648 0178
Opening Hours:
Tues - Thurs: 9.30am - 7pm
Fri - Sat: 9.30am - 10pm
Sun: 9.30am - 6.30pm
Babette: French meets Japanese in a Contemporary Hybrid
Labels:
affordable,
cafe,
family friendly,
farrer park,
french,
fusion,
hidden finds,
japanese,
lavender,
may return
·
Even restaurant-clogged Singapore has its food deserts, neighorboods where dining destinations (Good ones I mean) are like finding a needle in a haystack. But as restaurateurs seek out less-expensive and less saturated areas, a few are coming to life. Take the swath of land straddling Lavender and Jalan Besar, after the move-in of coffee institution Chye Seng Huat, several other cafes have followed suite, Windowsill Pies, Tiramisu Hero and the Bravery for example want in on the piece of action. Yet, with that much talk generated about these wild children, Babette still remains under the radar.
To quench my thirst after having traverse the neighborhood by foot, I ordered the Yuzu Beer ($14) a refreshing pint of beer that appeared to be tinted with a glorious bit of sunshine. As I worked through the pint slowly, every bit was as sweet and tangy as the last, a possible incentive to order this drink as there is no need to rush through it as you do with most beers.
The starter of Grilled Octopus Salad ($17) consists of Mediterranean octopus braised in Japanese sauce and served with fresh garden greens; while its vibrancy garners attention, it doesn't do much to charge the palate for the plates ahead. The piquant citrus dressing with orange segments not tantamount to the slightly chewy octopus that hadn't managed to pick up the sweetness of the braising liquids.
Owner Darren Wee ( who also happens to be a Radio DJ on 98.7fm) explains that the menu at Babette is reflective of his personality and cravings at the moment. "Take for example the roasted avocado, I've been dreaming about it a whole lot and would want it to be incorporated in more future menu items.", even playfully accepting my challenge to do a chocolate avocado pairing for desserts! Here, the food transcends words or boundaries... so lend a hand to your imagination and enjoy the loud, raucous and seemingly bizarre array of dishes.
Somewhat similar to the Babette movie experience, the first few courses were sleep inducing. Charred Cauliflower ($8) with yuzu veloute attempts to dazzle with its rare presence as a starter on its own at the table but honestly could use a touch more seasoning.The buttered soup base had a bisque like quality to it but needed a little more acidity.
This was followed closely by the Roasted Avocado ($12) stuffed with Aburi Salmon and diced tomatoes. Each bite with all the elements on the fork mellows out to a sweet creamy briny finish from the salmon.
Entrees continues without a hot streak of goodness, the Confit Salmon & Soba ($17) looking every bit as unappetizing with the confit salmon that appeared tampered with (not in a good way), the white edges and absence of healthy pink acting as red lights to the hopes of perfectly cooked fish. The soba noodles on the other hand were nicely seasoned with a light touch of dashi and Japanese herbs, that with the tamago served on the side were the saving grace of the dish.
Another instagram darling of the restaurant is the Steak and Foie Gras Donburi ($28), where deliciously salty marbled cut sirloin steak is paired with creamy foie gras and drizzed with the signature babette sauce. I liked the doneness of the steak, it's ruby red innards giving the impression that it was under-done, however, this is probably due to the sous vide technique which has resulted in an out-of-this-world succulent flesh with a nice crust developed from a quick sear in the pan. The one shortfall, was the foie gras which was cooked to the point that it was chalky and very unpalatable.
Affordable entrees include the Duck Confit Donburi ($28) which features a generously portioned duck confit sitting atop a bed of sushi rice, flanked by homemade pickles. A good option for people looking to have French fare and yet still have their dependable form of carbohydrate, rice.
Seeing that plans for the remainder of the night were beginning to take shape, I rev-ed up the engines once more with Babette ($16), a refreshing sour mix of passionfruit, lemon , mint and gin. This simple concoction all comes together so unexpectedly and right that it's easy to work through one too many during your visit. So be warned.
Before concluding your meal at Babette, be sure to order the Matcha infused White Chocolate fondant ($12 ) , judicious with sugar and complimented by the bitter grassy notes of Japanese Matcha powder, the lava cake is sure to steal the limelight and is best eaten with vanilla ice cream with premium azuki beans on the side. Simply sublime.
Babette's cuisine may adopt a mild sense of weirdness, however, with direction and leadership from owner, Darren, this destination cashes in on a whole unique attitude of a disregard for food trends, which has proven useful in setting it apart from other diners in the area. Definitely a place worth checking out (especially so for the lava cake.)
Babette
165 Tyrwhitte Road, #01-03 Parc Sovereign Hotel
S( 207569)
t: 6241 7727
Opening Hours:
Daily 11am - 11pm
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