Grilled Eggplants with Walnut Spread & Pomegranate Salad ($8)At the bistro, "dining well" is an underlying philosophy, and this is further emphasised by the evident pride in food quality, preparation and presentation. Diners are invited to embark on a journey of taste with the eclectic menu that incorporates dishes from different parts of Asia.
While Coriander Leaf is strongly fusion in the presentation of its food and menu, it does not see itself as a "fusion place". Instead, focus is placed on giving new interpretations to traditional Asian dishes, such as preparing Asian food using Western techniques, and adding an innovative twist to familiar sauces and condiments.
- Black Angus Beef . crispy mushroom risotto . wasabi pepper sauce ($33)
- Frontier Chicken - stir fried with coriander seeds & chili flakes . yoghurt cream . mizuna . butter naan ($24)
Anyone who enjoys modern South Asian and Middle Eastern cusine.
Not the most romantic place, but quaint enough for dinner with friends. Unfortunately, the noise level can escalate when the Bistro is packed, especially with large groups of diners and wine involved. This makes it hard to have proper conversations over the meal, so diners who enjoy dining in a peaceful environment might want to avoid visiting on friday and saturday nights. Alternatively, you can arrange to have an earlier dinner, between 6 - 7 pm, before the crowd comes in.
According to acoustics expert Alan Saunders, noise level is related to how acoustically hard the surfaces in the restaurant are. This could be why Coriander Leaf suffers from such a high noise level. Every surface in the Bistro is hard, from the wooden tables to the glass windows, and stainless steel open-concept kitchen.
Coriander Leaf
3A River Valley Road
#02-12 Clarke Quay
Tel: 6732 3354
Dian Xiao Er: Herbal Roast Duck
1 Comments Published by andrea on Thursday, October 26, 2006 at 6:09 PM.
Dian Xiao Er is a mid-priced restaurant specialising in duck roasted with Chinese herbs. There are 3 types to choose from - Ginseng, Angelica Herbs (Tung Gui), and a combination of 10 Herbs. The ducks, prepared fresh daily, are marinated with herbs and spices for hours before roasting.
Despite mixed reviews on this place by friends and colleagues, it seems to be always packed during meal times. The restaurant does not take reservations, so be prepared to queue for up to 30 - 40 minutes if you arrive during "peak hours".
Dian Xiao Er fans say:
- The roasted duck skin is golden brown and extremely crispy, while the meat is lean, tender and juicy.
- The Tang Gui herbal duck is served with a generous amount of sweet and fragrant herbal sauce.
- The preparation is not refined and the herbal sauce has high sugar and MSG content.
- For the quality of the roasted duck, the restaurant is over-priced.
The bottomline:
What's so special about Dian Xiao Er's roasted ducks? It's perhaps the only place in Singapore that sells herbal roasted duck at a reasonably affordable price. The duck meat is tender and similar to what you get at Crystal Jade, so the sweet Tung Gui sauce is definitely what makes Dian Xiao Er's version unique.
At the end of the day, whether this restaurant will be a hit or miss for you boils down to individual preference and taste - do you love or hate the sauce? For roast duck lovers, it's definitely worth a try just to satisfy your curiosity.
Dian Xiao Er
#02-203/204 Marina Square
Tel: 6337 1928
Hours:
11:30am - 2:30pm
5:30pm - 10:00pm (last order 9:30pm)
Pu Tien: Extraordinary Ordinary Meals
0 Comments Published by andrea on Thursday, October 12, 2006 at 4:18 PM.What you can expect:
Inexpensive, skillfully prepared home-cooked food.
Pu Tien city is known for its seafood and beehoon products, and Heng Hwa cuisine is characterised by simple dishes that showcase the natural flavours of the ingredients.
Here are some recommended dishes:
Steamed Prawns in Bamboo ($15)
Sweet and fragrant clear herbal soup enhances the natural taste of the prawns
[Front: Home-Made Beancurd ($8); Left: Fried Hing Wa Beehoon ($4 for small);
Right: Eggplant with Porkfloss]
The restaurant's signature dish is the Fried Hing Wa Beehoon, which consists of mushrooms, clams, prawns, pork belly, tau pok, peanuts, vegetables, and deep-fried seaweed. The beehoon and seaweed are as authentic as they come, as they are specially flown in from Pu Tien.
While the beehoon is indeed tasty, and the portions are generous, do remember that this is essentially home-styled food. Like all the other dishes on the menu, you won't be "wowed", but you'll be satisfied with the quality and taste for the price you pay.
Beware of Copycats:
First-timers may be confused by nearby restaurants with similar names. The Pu Tien Seafood Restaurant is only a couple of units away, while the Pu Xin (Pu Tian) Restaurant is just round the corner at 282 Jalan Besar. Both sell the same signature Heng Hwa dishes as Pu Tien Restaurant, but are not affliated in any way to the original.
Pu Tien Restaurant
127-129 Kitchener Road
Tel: 6295 6358
Hours: noon to 3pm, 6 to 11pm
La Petite Cuisine Taipei: Justin Quek at Snappers, Singapore
0 Comments Published by andrea on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 11:01 AM.
Jasmine Jelly with Pomelo and Yoghurt Sorbet
Egg Surprise - light milky almond foam on top, smooth hazelnut chocolate in the middle, and crunchy hazelnut bits at the bottom. A delightful play on form, function, taste and texture, served on a bed of sesame seeds.
Read a more detailed account of our lunch experience at CindyHeartLife.
For an indepth review of the gourmet dinner, check out Nibble & Scribble.
Details of the lunch and dinner menus can be found at Chubby Hubby's post on the event.
Summer Pavilion: Applause or Avoid?
0 Comments Published by andrea on Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at 6:39 PM.
Zucchini with stuffed prawns & mushrooms
Summer Pavilion, which serves modern Cantonese cuisine, is everything you'll expect of a Ritz Carlton signature restaurant - exemplary service, classy ambience, and quality fare executed with meticulous pride.
But with a dearth of independent reviews on this restaurant, you may have some reservations about "risking" a meal there. Afterall, you'll be expecting to pay ritzy Ritz Carlton prices. (If you've been a victim of over-rated, over-priced hotel restaurants, you'll understand this emotion apprehension... or what I refer to as "hotel food" baggage.)
Here's the verdict:
Summer Pavilion may not have the "so-hip-it-hurts" factor of the Majestic, but the fare here is not what you'd call "safe and boring" either.
In fact, there are some innovative dishes worth trying, such as the Zucchini with stuffed prawns and mushrooms and the Chili Softshell Crab. Both are successful fusions:
- the Italian zucchini with Chinese-style prawn stuffing, garnished with fried wonton skin and Japanese seaweed;
- and the crispy Japanese softshell crab with Singapore-style chili crab sauce and bun.
Besides being creative and scrumptious, they are also fun to eat!
[L-R: Zucchini sliced-up to reveal fresh prawns and mushrooms; Softshell Crab soaks up the tasty goodness of the chili sauce]
Other recommendations - Superb Standard Fare:
- Fried Rice
There is a variety here to choose from. Go for the one with the minced duck. Both taste and execution are excellent. - Roasted Meat Platter
It's just duck, chicken and char-siew, but what a difference quality preparation and marinate makes!
[L-R: Roasted Meat Platter; Clear Lobster Broth]
Recommended for:
People who enjoy quality food and service in peaceful environments.
Price:
$110 nett. for 2 people.
Based on a sample menu of the stuffed zucchini, chili softshall crab, fried rice, roasted meat platter, and clear lobster broth.
Summer Pavilion
The Ritz-Carlton, Singapore
Tel: 6434 5286
Wine Garage: delicious dessert discovery
0 Comments Published by andrea on Thursday, October 05, 2006 at 6:49 PM.There is a dessert on its menu that is absolutely heavenly, and deserving of a pilgrimage to seek palate-enlightenment.
In fact, this dessert - called Date and Brown Butter Crostata with Fennel Gelato - is too delicious and exceptional to be saddled with such a boring, unimaginative name.
As with many things in life, the secret of success lies in achieving "balance". Wine Garage's interpretation of this italian tart is exemplary of the perfect balance between the "dough" and "date" - the taste of each is distinct, yet without one overpowering the other.
To best enjoy this rich-tasting Crosata, there should be a little coconut cream and a little fennel ice-cream with each bite. Just the perfect combination of complimentary tastes and textures. 
Ambience
This 125 seater restaurant bar and wine retail shop has a posh, cozy interior and open-air mini bar. The alfresco seating area has a friendly and casual vibe, with a decent view of the Singapore River.
Other information
A wide variety of reasonably priced wines is available. 75% of the 300 labels here are priced under $50 a bottle.
Hours
Mon - Thur, Sun: 4 pm - 12am
Fri - Sat: 4 pm - 1am
Wine Garage
30 Merchant Road
#01-02 Riverside Point
Tel: 6522 2188
