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Saturday 31 January 2015

The Missing Pan @ Bukit Timah Road : NEW Items!

After achieving raving success for its delicious brunch dishes, The Missing Pan, a cosy bakery-cum-brasserie at Bukit Timah, has launched several new main courses and light bites that are perfect for sharing over dinner. The good news is that they are available all-day just like their hearty brunches.


Chorizo Pork Fiesta 3.5/5
Highlights from the "Munch" section include this Chorizo Pork Fiesta ($10), a generous serving of intensely savory Spanish pork sausages that are bouncy on the teeth. I thought the meaty discs combined with black olives were a little too salty on their own, but the acidic crunchy gherkins and dried chili acted as good mediators in terms of both flavors and textures.
Chargrilled Squid 4/5
I am not a fan of squid but this Chargrilled Squid ($12) were so sweet and succulent that made me rediscovered the charm of this brainy seafood. The enticingly sweet and spicy "hush hush" seasoning probably won a lot of points for this dish, which implied that the side dressing of honey lime mayonnaise did not serve much purpose but this would taste equally mouthwatering even if other seafood are tossed in.
Mushroom Quesadillas 3/5
The Mushroom Quesadillas ($18) had the basic necessary ingredients such as wild mushrooms, bell peppers, onions and mozzarella but the taste fell rather flat. It was a pity because the tortilla skin made in-house was excellently crisp and fresh. Perhaps a mix of cheese and a little more spice would bring about clarity of flavors.
Smoked Duck Risotto 4.2/5
Nonetheless, regardless whether you have visited in the past for the food, the Smoked Duck Risotto ($25) provided another good reason to dine here. Instead of slices of smoked duck breast, the meat was meticulously chopped into bite sizes, blending itself seamlessly with the rest of the ingredients including hojimeishi mushrooms and baby spinach. The bright zesty flavor of the semi sun-dried tomato lightened everything instantly and served as a good foil for the rich and creamy base.
Frozen Honey Nougat 4.5/5
The vigilant eye for consistent quality food is not kept to the main courses but also the desserts section, where non-conventional pairings like thyme ice cream and nutty brownie would invite you to linger for more. Take for example the Frozen Honey Nougat ($12) that was flecked with pistachio nuts, dried almonds, and jazzed up with a delicate and aromatic coconut tuile biscuit. I was amazed how this chilled meringue was so restrained in sweetness, even when consumed with the meringue sticks. This is definitely a wonderfully refreshing and healthier confection than the usual ice cream to tide sweet cravings.
Bread and Butter pudding with Vanilla Crème 4/5
Topped with all kinds of fruits you can imagine-from the usual berries to apples, grapes and even watermelon, the humble Bread and Butter pudding with Vanilla Crème was transformed into the largest and possibly most beautifully plated version I've ever seen. This eggy pud would set you back at only $8, but increase your belt size by another hole. Begetting a long swipe through the vanilla crème and cocoa crumbs, the lush custardy interior would be perfect if it had a toastier exterior.
Pleasure 3.5/5
Besides the desserts, all the cakes and bread are churned out from the 1st floor bakery. The Pleasure ($8.50) is a classic interpretation of a milk chocolate-hazelnut cake but the dacquoise and ganache were slightly stiffened and dry. However, the hints of salt did help to enhance the elusive chocolate and pull things into a more coherent shape.

For those who love their alcohol, The Missing Pan boasts a specially curated list ranging from Thatcher Ciders, Brothers Ciders to craft beers from Belgium and UK. With a winning recipe of earnest passion and sincerity in serving good food, I am confident that the Missing Pan will continue to anchor a strong foothold in the local F&B scene.

The Missing Pan
619D Bukit Timah Road
#01/02-01
Singapore 269724
Tel: +65 64664377
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/missingpan
Website: http://www.themissingpan.com
Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens (CC Line), Farrer Road (CC Line)
Opening Hours: 
Tue-Sat: 9am - 5pm, 6pm - 10pm
Sun/PH: 9am - 6pm
(Closed on Mon)


This article first appeared on SG Food on Foot, an excellent and comprehensive food blog that showcases Singapore's best food near MRT stations. 

Friday 30 January 2015

Laduree Tokyo Boutique & Ice Cream Bar : Pistachio, Oh Yeah!


2 years ago, I did not had a good impression of Laduree's Rose St Honore. Since then, I had stopped trying its pastries as the price is far steeper than many patisseries. However, I noticed that there was something different about the St Honore this time and decided to try the Pistachio version (907 Yen) .

And I would like to declare that the Pistachio version as my best St Honore so far. It is a ravenous work of art that operated at the absolute limits of complete tastiness. 
Yes, if I am not wrong, they have tweaked their recipe and structure of the St Honore. Nothing is caramelized here, instead, the base ring is insulated with pistachio chocolate. And I think they "cheated" by supplanting the base with a 1/4 inch thick biscuit crumble and added two clumps of salty crumble that transformed the entire into an A+ work. 
Fluffy Pistachio cream that penetrated every part but did not kill the gateau, though the piping work was a little sloppy. Good job Laduree, you have usurped the Best Patisserie in Town voted by the people for St Honore. 
The Plasir Sucre (799 Yen) is a marvelous chocolate bar that is on par with Pierre Herme's version. I found no valid reason to devalue this masterpiece because it is an assemblage all the ideal chocolate components. From the base, there is the moist hazelnut dacquoise, praline and that two longitudinally-piped milk chocolate sandwiched between the chocolate planks that defined a typical Plasir Sucre. 
In fact, you can find many similarities of such in the world. In Singapore, the Royal Hazeltine or some Hazelnut Nougatine cake comes close but can never ever reach the pinnacle of elegance. 
Good to know: Only the Shinjuku outlet serves soft serve ice cream. I was too lazy to customize so I picked the Pistachio Griotte (556 Yen) that consists of Yoghurt Fraise Ice cream with caramelized pistachio nuts, griotte cherry sauce, griotte compote,pistachio macaron crunch and it was really rich, creamy and tangy. 
Blissful treat under the blazing heat. 
Laduree Tokyo 
Shinjuku Outlet (Boutique & Ice Cream Bar)
Shinjuku-ku, Shinjuku 3-38-2
Lumine 2 1st Floor
Hours: 11am-11pm
Access: Shinjuku Station 
Details on other boutiques here (Japanese only)

Wednesday 28 January 2015

BoCHINche: Argentinian Brunch


The words "Argentinian Meat and Supermarket" got me way excited before I even stepped into this restaurant because it has been long since I visited one Latin American restaurant. The last one was at the now-defunct Sur Nuevo. Argentina beef steaks are well-known but we skipped their signature steaks from the grills section and headed straight from the all-new brunch menu, since they are only available on weekends from 11am-3pm (which coincides with our visit). 
Classic Provoleta with Almonds & Honey ($19)
It's a cunning dish that secretly sneaked in all the winning flavours into one, grilled and served in a metal grill with gooey cheese bubbling furiously as if shouting "Eat Me! Eat Me" Wait no longer and dig in before this Argentinian cheese variant solidified into curd-form. Incredibly simple yet superbly sharp, mature, sweet, crunchy. Forget about the dry focaccia bread and just deliver the cheese pud into your mouth. 
From the Grills: Green Asparagus, Baked Brie and Grated Granola ($23++) 
I love asparagus. I love brie. I love granola. So I thought I would love it when these 3 items are put together on a plate. This sounds like an innovative breakfast dish but the trio seemed to have parted ways with each other. The granola was used too sparingly and the dry, hard toast reduced the appeal. 
But all is not lost. The highly anticipated Chimichurro Burger V2.0 ($28++) did not disappoint. Yes, this is probably the second most expensive burger I've had after DB's burger but the ingredients sourced from Argentinian probably contributed the bulk of the cost. It had no fries, but in terms of flavours, it hit the bull's eye. 

The bright orange HEN egg yolk that spurted in my mouth was the first source of delight, followed by the HUGE succulent and flavourful beef pattie, soft caramelized onions, bacons, smoky chimichurri sauce. I like the base of the bun which had soaked up the  juices of the overriding components. 
The classic egg benedict is given a twist with Braised Ossobucco being sandwiched in between the poached eggs and toast ($25++). The chives hollandaise was elusive and did not create much impression, just like the veal shanks that were shredded too thinly and turned out rather bland on the toast. 
The Brioche French Toast, house cooked ham and bacon-vanilla ice cream ($19++) is still strictly a savoury dish even though there is a petite scoop of ice cream to cut through the salt. It had a soft custardy interior but would be more enticing if there is a sharp buttery aroma and a little more sugar. But the burger cum bacon lover @fundamentally-flawed loved this dish so much that she would order this for brunch again. 
Spared from the ultra-sweetness of an authentic Tres Leches, the Milk Cake tasted like a good and sponge cake soaked with just the right amount of milk. I am not a fan of sherbet but the acidity of the passionfruit sherbet smoothened the creaminess of not only this cake but also the other outstanding desserts like the Dulce Le Che Creme Brûlée ($17++) 
My heart skipped a beat when I had the first bite of this super creamy and sweet pud that lie beneath the perfect bittersweet caramel crackling. The non-conventional Banana Split Ice Cream served as a perfect counterpoint to the smoky custardy body. Yes, this is very sweet but I love it. 
To me, a meal is incomplete without a dessert and better completed with something chocolatey. So the Chocolate Pudding with Salted Caramel ($16++) definitely brought the meal to a nice full stop. The strong dose of salt in the caramel moderated the velvety milk chocolate cream, though some people might find the salted caramel to be in excess. The proportions could be better tweaked to have more crunchy brioche croutons. 

Nonetheless, it is advisable not to go for two cream-based desserts straight in a row as the amount of richness can be quite overwhelming. 
Even though there might be empty seats around the restaurant, it is highly recommended to reserve a table in advance to secure a good "feng shui" spot in this Argentinian restaurant. For those who are looking for an unconventional yet quality brunch without budget constraints, BoCHINche would be a very good choice. 

BoCHINche  
22 Martin Road 
Weekends 11am-3pm (brunch) 3pm-11pm
Tues-Fri 11am-11pm
http://bochinche.com.sg/

Monday 26 January 2015

Royce Ishikajima Okinawan Part 2 : Nama Chocolates

Besides the snacks from Royce Ishikajima as mentioned in the previous post, I managed to restrain my purse and bought a few (not all) Nama Chocolates that is made with local Okinawan produce.

Not a fan of fruit blended chocolates but out of Mango, Pineapple, Passionfruit and Lime, I chose the last one, thinking that it would be at least be not too sweet. However, it was so sweet and I am glad I hadn't bought the other two.

Meanwhile, Okinawa is famous for its distilled liquor aka Awamori and so it was churned into Royce Nama Chocolate as well (See Blue Package). The alcohol is rather mild so I'm sure kids can take it as well.

My favourite flavour is the Kokutou aka Black Sugar version with mixed with salt and rum. The intense molasses flavour overtook the chocolate and somehow suppressed the creamy character of Nama chocolates.

And it goes without question that I found myself hooked to the Kokutou Milk Chocolate Squares. Each moreish delight comes in a different package design based on the iconic images of Okinawan. Very special and meaningful, isn't it?

And last but not least, the Salt Chocolate Tablets.  石垣の塩チョコレート
Each box comes with not 1 but 3 big rectangular slabs of milk chocolate coated generously in Ishigaki's salt. Now I've begun to think that milk chocolate works the best with salt out of the three types of chocolate (white, milk and dark).  


It is really rare for Royce to bring in their sister brand to Tokyo so if you managed to catch them randomly somewhere, don't miss it! :)


ROYCE ISHIGAKIJIMA ロイズ石垣島
Various Stores in Okinawa, including Shin-Ishigaki Airport, Naba Airport and stores in Ishigaki City

Saturday 24 January 2015

Divine Desserts @ Mezza9

You can be certain that the team at Mezza9 takes their desserts seriously when you discover an exquisite menu devoted wholeheartedly to desserts. Since September last year, this menu featuring five desserts and a cheese platter, has been introduced and adds on to the existing cakes/pastries at the Mezza9 shop. What's better way to indulge in their DESSERT PLATTER ($32++) that offers a taste of everything after a satisfying Italian dinner at Pete's Place

Does this look like a hot piping Souffle? In fact, this is a frozen Grand Marnier Souffle ($16++ for ala carte)  that is no less potent than the bottle of liquor itself. Every spoonful oozed plenty of boozy goodness that I constantly reminded myself to handle this with extra care to minimize spillage. 
Much has been raved about the astoundingly creamy home-made ice cream and this mixed pool is no exception. The smooth, rich Papua New Guinea vanilla bean and Manjaro chocolate ice cream sat in contrast with the eye-poppingly tart Passionfruit sherbet and zesty raspberry sherbet, creating quite an exciting taste experience that would appease gelato and sherbet fans at the same time. There is a bonus that is not as showy as the curvy nut tuile perched at the top--bitter cacao nibs inside the intense chocolate gelato. 

Mezza 9 Deconstructed Pavlova ($16++ for ala carte) 
The cloud-like crispy baked meringues were taken down a notch on sweetness with the sourish kick from the sherbet and berries. 
Dessert flower pots are no longer any novelty but the Flower Pot ($16++ for ala carte) here is probably one of the better ones in town. It is not spammed with mousse or any cheese cake but a superbly executed caramel sea salt ice cream that enrobed the palates with toasty notes of burnt sugar. To be more precise, the caramel flavour was perfect, something that very few can mastered well (most are either overdone or underdone). 
Besides the flower pot, the Grand Cru Chocolate Mousse ($16++ ala carte) is my another favourite in this platter. After all the bright flavours, this chocolate jar proved to be a pleasantly bitter sanctuary that soothes the taste buds. I emptied the entire shooter of dark chocolate sauce and sank myself in the blissful chocolate bed.
 
A divine finish for the divine desserts
 
Divine Desserts @ Mezza9 Grand Hyatt
Available during opening hours
Lunch: 12pm-3pm, daily
Dinner: 6pm-11pm, daily
Sunday Brunch: 11:30am-3pm, last pour at 2:45 pm
Click here for full menu
Note that ala carte portions will be bigger than portions for dessert platter

Chinese New Year are now available at the Mezza9 Shop till 5 March 2015
For full list of takeaway goodies, visit here

Friday 23 January 2015

Pete's Place @ Grand Hyatt: Hidden Gem for Italian Food

Walk down the stairs to the basement level of Grand Hyatt Hotel and one will be greeted by the nostalgic sight of traditional Italian trattoria that makes you feel as though you are coming home. There is much buzz around this enduringly popular family-friendly Italian restaurant as the food is refreshingly simple yet decently priced, especially when every main course ordered include a self-plated salad and free flow of Italian bread

Free flow of Homemade Italian Bread and Butter Spread with Every Main Course
Bread lovers like me will find it extremely difficult to resist the wonderful carbs here. The olive and sundried tomato foccacia or the grissini sticks underpin all the necessary aspects of the authentic Italian approach.
The salad bar is such a great idea that it should be introduced in more local restaurants. From alfalfa sprouts, baby asparagus to marinated mushrooms, tuna or sun-dried tomatoes, there is a wide selection of freshly sourced greens that can be pimped up with in-house dressings and the yummy shavings CHEESEThe salad bar may not be free flow but one plate is more than sufficient as the delicious main courses are waiting ahead. 
The Gamberi e Nero de Sepoia ($29) is one exemplary Italian dish which the ingredients speak for themselves. No rich heavy cream but just a clear base of seafood broth that brimmed with the sweetness of seafood, parsley and garlic. The springy and fresh seared prawns and length-sliced chillis at a cheery flavour to the toothsome Italian "mee pok'". 
We were deliberating between the hearty Sustainable Fish Stew with Baguette ($32) and this Pan Seared Cod Fish ($36) but chose the latter in the end. The fatty white fish luxuriates in a shallow pool of Parsnip purée and creamy spinach, flanked with tart radish and yellow Polenta Cubes which resembled mango cubes. 

I wished the cod skin could be crispier but the overall dish was wholesome and satisfying, not overwhelmingly heavy in seasoning that would have robbed away the beauty of the fish. 
We had to bade goodbye without trying the classic dolci like Tiramisu and Amaretti Chocolate Pudding this time round as we were heading to Mezza9 for the divine desserts. But this means a legitimate reason to come back for the wooden fire pizzas and more pastas next time, probably through their value for money set dinner or the Sunday Brunch when I can conquer all dishes with a glass of Prosecco.

Pete's Place
Grand Hyatt Hotel Basement
Lunch: 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, daily
Dinner: 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm, daily
Sunday Brunch: 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
For menu and current promotion, visit here

Wednesday 21 January 2015

Kyoto Fukujuen in Tokyo: Ocha Kaiseki 

If you have tried Kaiseki once before, how about trying some Tea Kaiseki next time? Kyoto Fukujuen has opened a modern Kaiseki restaurant right at Tokyo Station Granroof. The concept is really interesting as it firstly incorporates all kinds of tea into traditional Kaiseki dishes and injects the style with a touch of French. 

Lunches are always the best choice for those on a budget and I picked the ¥2800 lunch course. It started with a pre-top grade "Ama-cha" with gyokuro leaves (bottom left of pic). As the name implies, it is a sweet tea. Three different kinds of tea leaves (Tencha, matcha, houjicha) are meant to be paired with the main course later as condiments.
Instead of having rice and soup towards the end of the meal, the two items are served together with the amuse bouche-pork rilette houjicha cream puff. The soup item is a sweet potato cold cream soup with matcha olive oil while the rice item is a Sencha smoked rice ball. 



The French baguette is served with three kinds of butter--matcha/sencha/houjicha. It was intriguing to know that tea can be churned with into butter. There was no taste but only tea fragrance to speak of.
The main course is a choice of two kinds of fish. Instead of the breadcrumb battered Saba fish with Sencha sauce, I picked the sea bass. It might looked plain but the fish itself is well seasoned and complemented with the bright white Balsamic vinegar and Gyokuro sauce. It is served with an array of seasonal Kyoto vegetables. 
Dessert was a platter of traditional and modern Wagashi. Needless to say, the matcha orange stood out from the crowd as the mini peach Wagashi filled with koshi-an was too sweet and there is nothing spectacular with a piece of butter cake.

The restaurant is also a tea house so one can enjoy authentic Ocha together with matcha sweets. Come during summer and there is this beautiful kakigori, or my best matcha kakigori this year. It does not have any red beans, but semi-cooked Tanba black beans draped in some golden flakes. The sweetness comes from the matcha red bean mochi and the matcha syrup.

The cuisine is refined, delicate and surprising. Plus, the service here is excellent and it's situated just right at Tokyo Station. But, I guess it's time to head to its main shop in Kyoto. 
French Cha Kaiseki by Kyoto Fukujuen Charyo
ふれんち茶懐石 by 京都福寿園茶寮 
Tokyo Station GranRoof
Chiyoda Ku Marunouchi 1-9-1GranRoof 3F
Access: 2 min walk from Tokyo Station Yaesu Minami-guchi (South Exit)
Lunch 11am-2pm
Tea 2pm-5pm
Dinner 5pm-9.30pm