AMEX Restaurant Week Day 5: Oso Ristorante

I’ve been meaning to check out Oso for a long time. In fact, I think the one I heard rave reviews about was Oso but I mistakenly went to Otto at Red Dot instead. So when I saw Oso up for grabs, I booked a table for 8.

The guys at Oso were really nice to have offered my group of guests and I the wine cellar which was private, intimate and personally, I think we got the best table in the room. Although we were cut off from the rest of the restaurant, we were not neglected at all. Service was impeccable and attentive. We were very pleased with the presentation of our food, the speed and pace of the food served and the quality despite it being a full house and the discounted price due to it being restaurant week.

Our starting dish was very impressive. We basically had a mixture of antipasti but the presentation was lovely. And each individual item tasted magnificent. Perfectly executed with a lingering after taste that just made you  wonder how the next one would taste. The portions were just enough for you to enjoy it and yet whet your appetite, craving for more. Well done!

Personally, I found the main courses less outstanding and less impressive. They were not bad, in fact, they tasted great. But I guess they lacked the WOW factor after the splendid starter dish. In all fairness, my pasta was fabulous and it was extremely palatable. My colleagues loved their fish and steak too. Excellent food!

The dessert was nice too, and by the end of it, we were all full and satisfied. My colleagues were pretty impressed by the dinner and said they would definitely return. Needless to say, I made the same mental note! Thumbs up from me!

http://www.oso.sg/home.html

AMEX Restaurant Week Day 4: The Knolls

When I booked this restaurant, I had no idea it was all the way at Sentosa and that it was at the Capella hotel. To be honest, I thought it was quite a drag traveling all the way there especially on a weekday after work. However pictures of the place looked nice and after my horrendous meal at Novous the night before, I was determined to have my restaurant week experience right back on track. Capella itself, for anyone who has been there, is a lovely hotel. I love the space around it and the colonial design, perched up on a hill. The hotel is grand and has a certain elegance about it. I have only been to Capella for wedding dinners and each time I am rushing to beat the bride and groom so I never really wandered around the hotel to take it all in. The circular ballroom with its high ceiling definitely had its splendour and the traveling to Sentosa made those weddings memorable in its own way. But for the first time, I was here for a casual dinner and so I took my time to walk around some parts of the premises. It’s really quite beautiful and I like the open air lounge that overlooks the pool and the vast greenery surrounding it.Quaint and just what one needs away from the city. The Knolls itself has a very modern interior design, using pine wood as its base. There is a somewhat Balinese feel to it, and I know I may not make sense saying this, but it’s almost like a modern resort feel. Kinda like an in-between. It didn’t have the pretentiousness of a fine dining restaurant yet it wasn’t entirely a warm family restaurant.As a whole, I thought the place was good for a casual dinner with a group of friends on a weekend. Just to chill and enjoy each others’ company. I’d imagine it would be perfect for a Sunday brunch, followed by a relaxing afternoon at the open air lounge, sipping champs or drinking tea whilst listening to the live band. Really quite the luxury….mmm…maybe I should give that thought a try.

The food is pretty good. Nothing distinctively outstanding yet nothing bad either. The breadsticks were good and the presentation of the food was inviting. Every dish was tasty and well executed. The best part for me had to be the pricing. I took a look at the regular ala carte menu and I was impressed with how everything seemed so reasonably priced. Given the 6-star standing of the restaurant and the fine furnishings, Imust say I expected the food to be more expensive. I was pleasantly surprised and in fact, that is probably the pulling factor for me. It is in Sentosa afterall, so if I am thinking of an afternoon with the girls or perhaps with the man (when that happens), this would be quite the perfect way to laze a Sunday afternoon.

HSBC Commercial

Following the success of You are the Apple of My Eye, HSBC did a commercial using the film as the skeleton. I like it.

You are the Apple of My Eye

This show came highly recommended by many friends especially Duan, my JC mate. I didn’t have much expectations going into the theatre and perhaps it was apt that I watched it with my secondary school classmates. The show was heart felt and kinda takes you back to when things were much simpler. A time of innocence. The show made me reflect on how much I have changed from those times and if I like what I have become…haha all this from some teeny movie. Not bad huh? Enjoy!

AMEX Restaurant Week Day 3: NOVOUS

I have actually been to Novous at the National Museum before with some girlfriends and we tried their degustation menu at the full price. I recall not liking it and finding the menu a little too interesting for my taste buds so I really can’t fathom what ‘possessed’ me into making a reservation here again for Restaurant Week. 2nd chance perhaps? Whatever the reason, the verdict is the same, possibly with more conviction this time. I came with 2 different girlfriends and they echo my thoughts.

The ambience at Novous is actually really nice which makes it quite a pity that their food just isn’t up to standard. The decor is classy, cosy and quite perfect for a romantic dinner or a girly night out. The high ceiling makes it rather grand and the terrace outside makes for a good post-dinner chillout. The bar is also has a rather exquisite vibe to it, and the place doesn’t feel local.

So what’s wrong with the food? I think the chef tries to be creative and combines a unique mix of ingredients with every dish. Each item on the menu has your familiar basics but prepared in a way that just doesn’t work. Everything tastes either bad, bland or weird. It was just difficult to enjoy the food. I remember when the main course came, I barely touched it. I believe I took 2 spoons and told the waiter to clear it. I don’t like to waste food, especially not when I am paying so much for it (there was an additional for Novous so it was at $55++/head)! But I just couldn’t eat it.

Whilst the staff weren’t particularly rude, they also lacked an enthusiasm or positive energy. I get it that it is a fine dining restaurant and I wasn’t expecting the waiters to be jumping and hopping around, but I guess there was just a lack of “life”; everyone just seemed listless and going with the motion.

I did like how they have a piece of cardboard explaining each dish they served. I thought that was a nice touch.

I’m really sorry to be giving this verdict but Novous is a no-go for me. I won’t be going back and I won’t recommend it. Maybe for drinks.

Bounce by Calvin Harris featuring Kelis

Love this track. For those of you who enjoy this sort of music and love to dance to R&B hip hop/ Top 40s…DJ Stas who plays at Filter Members Club is AWESOME!

AMEX Restaurant Week Day 2: LeBon Marche

I picked LeBon to take my family as I was looking for French cuisine. I had never been to LeBon before and seeing that it was located in Bukit Timah, I figured it might be one of those restaurants hidden in a residential estate, homely and unpretentious just like Valentinos. Well, I was pretty darn close.

Le Bon is actually much easier to find as compared to Valentinos. It is along the main road and is not difficult to spot. The decor and layout is simple and casual. The entire restaurant feels somewhat like a cafe/deli. There is even a counter selling fresh meat and cheese I believe. Honestly, when I first arrived, it wasn’t quite what I expected. I guess I wasn’t expecting a posh fine dining sort, but I was looking for a more intimate, cosy, family restaurant type. Perhaps with dimmer lighting and cosy seats. But I was there and the set offered was at $35/pax so I wasn’t about to just walk out.

I must say, I was pleasantly surprised. The food served was amazing. Each dish was done immaculately and tasted divine. Probably more so considering the price tag. The foie gras was delectable, nicely fried to a healthy burnt dark shade on the outside whilst soft on the inside. Love the way it just melts on your tongue. The pork belly, which wouldn’t have been my instinctive choice given I don’t particularly take to pork, was amazing. It was one of the best Korubuta Pork Belly I have ever had. Again, it was burnt slightly crisp and there was just the right amount of fat to give it that UMPH whilst it melts away once you put in your mouth. It was extremely tasty and really quite a bit of heaven right there. The fish was good although not as outstanding as the pork. The dessert was a little strange. I wasn’t quite sure if I liked the taste of it. It didn’t suck but it was an interesting combination. All in all, it was an excellent meal and we left full and satisfied. I really appreciated how they came up with such a good set meal without having us pay extras like some of the other restaurants. It was more than decent for the price paid and quality was definitely not compromised. Thumbs up from me!

AMEX Restaurant Week Day 1: Boathouse

I went quite crazy this restaurant week, making reservations for dinner every single night, and lunch as well for the weekend. A full week of pure indulgence. I didn’t even think about how much I was going to spend, or how jaded I would feel eating such rich food all week and multiple courses. Well, the theme this time was definitely pork belly. Almost every menu had it. By the end of restaurant week, I had gained quite a bit of weight; and unfortunately, some of it has not left. Signs of ageing – a much weaker metabolism, something I haven’t quite gotten accustomed to. For the first time in my life, I think I actually would need to exercise in order to keep in shape and of course healthy.

First up for restaurant week was the BOATHOUSE. Whilst I have been to the rooftop for drinks on occasion, I have never tried the restaurant below. I believe it was Saint Julien’s before it’s current occupation by the Boathouse. Located just beside the Fullerton Hotel, a tiny 2 story building with a rooftop bar, the Fullerton Boathouse is cosy and quaint. A very small setup with just enough seating to accommodate about 30-40 pax, the restaurant is unpretentious and simple in its decor. The interior is furnished mainly of pine wood and has a slight sense of old European times. A rather romantic place that is good for conversation.

The menu for the day was rather straightforward. At $55 per pax, it was pretty value-for-money. However, the additional $35 one had to pay in order to have the scallops was pretty harsh, in my opinion, and not worth the money. However, seeing that it was my first night of restaurant week, and that the scallops were calling out to me, I went for it. We also ordered a glass of wine each. All in all, my bill came up to about $200+ for 2. So much for a $35/head meal!

I enjoyed dinner very much. The food was very well displayed and perfectly executed. My scallops were nicely burnt on the outside and very fresh and tasty. The caviar on top was probably the reason I paid $35 extra, which was a pity because I am not a fan.

My main course – the Australian Fillet of Beef – was delicious. The meat was tender, it was well cut, and it tasted amazing. The beef pretty much felt like it melted in my mouth and the entire dish was very palatable. I loved how the onions went with the beef as well. Yummy!!!

The desert was very unique and whilst the presentation had a lovely colour, it made me feel a tad uncomfortable (somewhat like nails on a chalkboard). It had those little balls sticking out which had a strange effect on me. The desert was yummy of course and nothing like anything I have tasted before.

I enjoyed my first dinner here at the Boathouse and I look forward to returning on a regular day for lunch/dinner.

PS: I think the rooftop is quite nice for a simple engagement or ROM party. It’s the season where many of my friends are planning their big day so just thought I’d share. I recently attended a wedding at The Amara Sanctuary in Sentosa and I must say I was quite impressed. Unlike Capella, the Amara had a more cosy feel and the food was good! The ballroom had a high ceiling and is of a good size and square. For those of you couples looking for a wedding venue, here’s a tip! I hear it’s pretty reasonable too.

A Prime Minister’s treat – GUEST REVIEW

Tucked away in the endless, unconquerable labyrinths of Bangkok’s side- and backstreets, called Sois, lies a restaurant called Napa on 26. The neighborhood is fashionable. So fashionable that the former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva does not reside far and a few other interesting restaurants (Bo.Ian) call the area their own. Make sure to memorize the way when you go there as Bangkok taxi drivers are getting lost in the chaotic layout of the city as well as the multiple times returning visitor to Bangkok or don’t understand your directions in anything but Thai.

The restaurant has a rather intimate bar/lounge when you enter. Noise is kept to a minimum, helped also by the choice of materials. In a time when hard material in restaurant interior design dominate, the carpet floor adds a lot to the cozy, romantic but nevertheless sleek and stylish ambience. Take a step up from the bar and you are in the restaurant where warm colors dominate. Seating is very flexible, tables far away enough from each other that you can have an intimate conversation without too many ears following. Some of the chairs rather remind you of a King’s throne, also so comfortable they are.

Chef and Co-Owner William Schillinger has created an interesting but nevertheless not too adventurous menu, very French inspired though prepared with a good portion of New World fusion cooking . The dishes that we tried clearly showed signature of the chef and left no doubt about the quality of ingredients used.

We started out having the trio of Hokkaido Scallop, Tiger Prawn and Boston Lobster. Each of the seafood items was masterfully prepared and presented. Flavors of the accompanying sauces/broths were very finely balanced not to overpower the quality and freshness of the seafood. The other appetizer we shared was the Napa’s XO goose liver terrine served with very small Gewurztraminer jelly cubes. Done in the best French way and served with cracker-like tiny toast breads, the slice of goose liver had a good room temperature to develop all its aromas.

Saving space, we skipped the soups and focused on the main courses.

A roast salmon in its crispy skin with marinated tomatoes and mini salad came tastefully succulent and presentation of the plate again left no doubt that the restaurant deserves the highest recommendation by hotel concierges for honeymooners and couples looking for a special treat of the spouse.

The Monk fish medallion on eggplant caviar with cauliflower and bacon mash potato easily made it up with the other main. The eggplant caviar was more likely an extremely well balanced version of a ratatouille with eggplant and tomatoes, not dominating the fish in its tender texture and taste. The potato mash shows the creative hand of Chef William and looking back at the four courses, the term “modern Australian” came to my mind in an otherwise and already mentioned celebration of French cooking.

A small but fine selection of cheeses from the Affineur, probably not easy to find in an area like Bangkok rounded the meal.

One of the signature desserts of the house, an Armagnac infused soft parfait came in an oversize Cabernet glass, deliciously creamy but frothy and with a lightness that even full stomach could take.

Illy coffees and homemade “Apricotine” let us forget that in the meantime we already sat in the restaurant the whole evening, serviced by a crew that was attentive but very discreet and their knowledge was up with the standard of the restaurant.

Being in Asia for some time, chef skills and produce made this a very memorable dining experience for the connoisseur as well as a comfort food lover.

- Toby Frei

Stories in Pictures

Checking out the “Gotham City” . The Hossan Leong Show with family . My Niece Valerie’s Crepe Bday Party . Launch of Moet GOLD . Business in Beijing . Partying in Hong Kong . New Grey Nails – LOVE . Green Day . G’s wedding . J’s wedding . Royal Room – Elegantly Wasted . MINK Launch Party . Post Hen’s at Filter