Enoteca L'Operetta - Neapoletan Pizza & Cuisine

An Italian colleague of mine recommended Enoteca L'Operetta at Boat Quay for authentic Neapolitan pizza.  Of course I will trust an Italian completely for pizza recommendations, and so I headed there the following day for a dinner date with the husband over the weekend.

We had the Tre Gusta Caprese (SGD 38.00) as an appetizer.  These are three types of fresh cheeses served with cherry tomatoes.  The cheeses were burrata, bufala and ricotta.  Each was wonderfully smooth and I always appreciate the subtle flavor of Italian fresh cheeses.  The cherry tomatoes were also commendable -- they were so sweet and fruity.

Tre Gusta Caprese (SGD 38.00)

For pizza, we went with the chef's recommendation called Bismark (SGD 26.00).  This had tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto, parmesan, and egg.   This was absolutely delicious.  The toasted crust just melts in your mouth and the texture was just incredible.  The tomato sauce was extremely fresh and the toppings were very delectable.  Suffice it to say this is one of the best pizzas I've had so far. 

Bismark (SGD 26.00)

We also had the Pappardelle rosse al pomodoro con ragu di kurobuta (SGD 28.00).  The pappardelle pasta was made with tomatoes while the sauce had black pork ragout and porcini mushrooms.  This was nicely flavored - the tomato pappardelle gave the perfect amount of acidity to the dish which balanced out the savory pork.

Pappardelle rosse al pomodro con ragu di kurobuta (SGD 28.00)

Food was excellent at Enoteca L'Operetta, and I was impressed with everything we ordered.  Service was very warm and efficient.  Pricing is not too bad as well for the great quality of their dishes.  This restaurant has become an instant favorite, and I will definitely be back to try out their other pizzas and other menu items.

Enoteca L'Operetta

78,79 Boat Quay

Tel# : 6438 2482

Flutes at the Fort - Outdoor Dining

A few officemates and myself went for dinner at Flutes at the Fort just off Fort Canning park.  The ambience is supposed to be vineyard inspired.  I can't comment for sure how close it might look like to an actual vineyard, but the outdoor dining experience was lovely all in all.  The restaurant is actually an old restored house where seating is at the terrace, so it has that country Gone with the Wind feel to it .

For starters we had the Seared Sea Scallops (SGD 28.00).  The scallops were beautifully fresh and the tangy lime dressing was perfect with the gigantic juicy scallops.

Seared Sea Scallops (SGD 28.00)

Our table also had the Pan Fried Foie Gras (SGD 28.00).  The foie gras had the crisp searing on the outside which I always enjoy as a prelude to the inner buttery texture of the liver.  The sweet prune glaze was also fantastic in this dish.

Pan Fried Foie Gras (SGD 28.00)

For mains, a few of us shared the Grainge Black Angus Cote de Beouf (SGD 120.00).  This is a heavy 900-gram steak.  The menu says that it's good for 2, but in my opinion the portions are large enough to feed 3 to 4 people.  This enormous piece of ribeye was delicious, and the meat was very tender with just the right amount of seasoning.

Grainge Black Angus Cote de Beouf (SGD 120)

Our table also had the Gratin Of Whole Lobster (SGD 45.00).  The cheese sauce was rich but very satisfying.  The lobster was a little small in size, though it was cooked well and had a nice overall texture.

Gratin of Whole Lobster (SGD 45.00)

For dessert, we tried out the Dark Chocolate Fondant With Fennel Ice-Cream and Pistachio (SGD 16.00).  This was reminiscent of a souffle or lava cake.  I love anything with oozing warm chocolate sauce, so this was an instant hit for me.

Dark Chocolate Fondant (SGD 16.00)

Flutes at the Fort was delightful, and all the dishes we tried out did not disappoint.  This is definitely a good place to visit for special occasions, and I'm glad I got to try this out.  The place is hidden and quite difficult to find, so do visit their website for clear instructions on how to get there.

Flutes at the Fort
Fort Canning Park
23B Coleman Street
Tel #: 6338 8770
http://www.flutes.com.sg/

Brasserie Wolf - Casual French Dining

Some officemates and I headed over to Brasserie Wolf at Robertson Quay for a Friday night dinner last week.  I recommended the place since most of us were craving for steak, and I had been here a few times before and enjoyed the casual ambience.

For starters, we had the Portobello Mushroom Salad (SGD 16.00).  The mushrooms were gigantic and the stalks were stuffed with goat cheese.  Great contrast between the pungent cheese and the subtle portobello.

Portobello Mushroom Salad (SGD 16.00)

Our table also had the Chicken and Foie Gras Terrine (SGD 17.00).  I thought the foie gras portions here were too tiny to enjoy.

Chicken and Foe Gras Terrine (SGD 17.00)

The last of the starters were the Rock Oysters (SGD 28.00 for 6 pcs).  These  huge oysters were incredibly fresh, so hats off for that.

Rock Oysters (SGD 28.00 for 6 pcs)

As I mentioned, our table was craving for steak.  Some of us (including me) had the USDA Prime Sirloin (SGD 40.00).  Even if I asked for my steak to be cooked rare, the meat was a little on the tough side.  The cut had a little bit too much muscle for my liking.  The fries were also average, and I thought more creativity could have gone into preparing this.

USDA Prime Sirloin (SGD 40.00)

Others opted for the more premium Argentinian Tenderloin (SGD 47.00).  I tried this and thought this was definitely a much better option.  The cut was extra thick and the meat was really soft.  The peppercorn sauce on the side was also a nice accompaniment to the beef.

Argentinian Tenderloin (SGD 47.00)

Some hits and misses in our orders, but overall still a good dining experience.  I have always enjoyed my visits here, and will still recommend them for those looking for casual French dining.  If you are opting to order steak, do order the tenderloin over the other cuts.

Brasserie Wolf
80 Mohammed Sultan Road
#01-13 The Pier @ Robertson
Tel #: 6835 7818

TWG Tea Salon & Boutique (Part 2) - Brunch Sets

Some friends and I had brunch at TWG Tea Salon & Boutique.  I was here a few months back for afternoon tea which I had very much enjoyed, so I was looking forward to what TWG had to offer for brunch.

They only serve brunch set menus ranging from SGD 40.00 to SGD 54.00 which come with a main course, apple or orange juice, choice of tea from TWG's extensive selection, 2 pieces of scones or muffins, and choice of dessert from the TWG patisserie.

I had the Midsummer Brunch Set Menu (SGD 40.00) which featured the Summer Quiche as main course.  I loved the flaky crust and the balance of egg, roasted peppers, and spinach in the pie.  This was an extremely generous serving of quiche, and I highly recommend you share this unless you have a gigantic appetite.

Summer Quiche - Part of Midsummer Brunch Set Menu (SGD 40.00)

One of my friends also had the Gourmet Brunch Set Menu (SGD 40.00) which had Scrambled Eggs with Alba Truffle Oil and Seafood Salad.  The scrambled eggs with truffle was magnificent.  The aroma of truffle was very distinct and appetizing.

Scrambled Eggs with Alba Truffle Oil Served with Seafood Salad
 - Part of Gourmet Bruch Set Menu (SGD 40.00)

The husband ordered the Pacific Brunch Set Menu (SGD 52.00) which features a Scallop Carpaccio for mains.  The scallops were tasteless, and the salsa did nothing to add to the flavor.  This was one of the pricier sets and honestly this was not worth the added cost.  The cheaper brunch set menus were definitely a better option than these disappointing scallops.

Scallop Carpaccio - Part of Pacific Brunch Set Menu (SGD 52.00)

The brunch sets came with choices of pastries.  I forgot the exact names of the desserts -- but they looked and tasted like a blueberry tart and a dark chocolate pastry.  Both desserts were enjoyable and very visually appealing.

Blueberry Tart

Dark Chocolate Pastry

This brunch experience was enjoyable, save for the disappointing scallop carpaccio.  The rest of our orders were pretty satisfying.  And as I mentioned, portions are very generous so don't be afraid to share.  Though I did not post any photos this time around, the tea and scones were still remarkable - consistent with my previous vist.

TWG Tea Salon & Boutique

2 Bayfront Avenue

#B2-65 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

Tel #: 6636 8863

Osteria Mozza - Modern Italian Cuisine

Had a post-Valentine dinner with the husband at the very popular Osteria Mozza in Marina Bay Sands.  I have long been a fan of Pizzeria Mozza which is located next door, and have always been curious about what Osteria had to offer.

Since it was after all a semi-special occasion (and also the fact we were lazy in choosing dishes on our own), we each had the tasting menu at SGD 128.

For starters, my husband had the Antipasti Choice A: Smoked Sea Trout Salad with green bean salad, jalapeno, and toasted almonds.  This was a nice and light dish and the almonds added nice texture and crunch to the dish.

Antipasti Choice A: Smoked Sea Trout Salad

I had the Antipasti Choice B: Grilled Figs with pancetta, Parmigiano, and aceto balsamico.  I really enjoyed this and the grilling on the figs were beautiful, leaving an almost meaty/ savory taste to the greens.

Antipasti Choice B: Grilled Figs

The next dishes were from the mozzarella bar.  My husband had Choice A: Burrata with beets, horseradish, walnut, and mizuna.  I really liked the combination of horseradish with mozzarella.

Mozzarella Choice A: Burrata with beets, horseradish, walnut, and mizuna

The other mozzarella dish was Choice B: Burricota with braised artichokes, pine nuts, currants, and mint pesto.  I enjoyed the artichokes and overall refreshing flavor of this appetizer.

Mozzarella Choice B: Burricota with braised artichokes, pine nuts, currants, and mint pesto

For the pasta dish or Primi, my husband had Choice A: Pici with duck ragu.  This was alright -- the noodles were nicely al dente, but the sauce was nothing worth raving about.

Primi Choice A: Pici with duck ragu

I had the Primi Choice B: Ricotta Gnocchi with wild mushrooms.  The potato dumplings (gnocchi) had a nice soft texture.  The mushroom sauce however was too salty and quite mediocre.

Primi Choice B: Ricotta Gnocchi with wild mushrooms

For mains, my husband had the Secondi Choice A: Pan Roasted Grouper with tomato, capers, and olives.  The sauce was okay, but overall again nothing commendable.

Secondi Choice A: Pan Roasted Grouper

The other choice for Secondi was the Grilled Iberico Pork Chop with cranberry beans cooked in soffrito.  I had high hopes for this dish as the presentation was beautiful.  However taste-wise, it was one-dimensional.  All I could taste was extreme saltiness from the seasoning and extreme sourness from the cranberry.  It was sadly a disappointing main course.

Secondi Choice B: Grilled Iberico Pork Chop

We were then served with Rock Melon Sorbetto with Passionfruit Gelatina.  If I were to be frank, the dish looked rather ugly.  There was no effort in presentation whatsoever.  And the sorbet which normally is used to cleanse the palate did nothing of that sort as it was excessively sweet.

Rock Melon Sorbetto with Passionfruit Gelatina

For dessert, the first choice was the Fritelle di Riso with banana gelato and rum raisin sauce.  The alcohol content was too strong and took away from what would have been a decent dessert.

Dolci Choice A: Fritelle di Riso

We also had the Dolci Choice B: Rosemary Olive Oil Cakes with olive oil gelato and rosemary brittle.  This was pleasant -- the hint of olive oil on the cake gave a nice aroma to the dish.

Rosemary Olive Oil Cakes

I was hoping the tasting menu would be a great showcase of the restaurant's best creations, but apart from the antipasti and mozzarella dishes, this was rather average.  Not sure if their ala carte menu would have been a better option, but sadly this experience was quite a let down.

Osteria Mozza

2 Bayfront Ave.

Level B1 #42/46

The Shoppes @ Marina Bay Sands

Tel #: 6688 8522

Pasta Brava - Italian Dining

My husband and I headed over to Pasta Brava in Craig Road for a weekend dinner date.  This restaurant came highly recommended by a friend.  The place was very inviting as well - it had a very warm and cozy atmosphere, like eating in a family dining room.

For starters, we shared the Rucola con scaglie di parmigiano e pera (SGD 13.00).  This is a rocket salad with extra virgin olive oil, parmesan flakes and pear.  Pasta Brava's olive oil was really aromatic, and I love how it brought out all the distinct flavors of the salad, cheese, and pear.  A simple but wonderfully executed dish.

Rucola con scaglie di parmigiano e pera (SGD 13.00)

For pasta, I had the Ravioli con carne di manzo al gorgonzola (SGD 22.50).  This was a ravioli filled with minced beef and light gorgonzola cheese sauce.  The gorgonzola sauce was exquisite, and the blue cheese had just enough kick.  This was a very satisfying pasta.

Ravioli con carne di manzo al gorgonzola (SGD 22.50)

My husband had the Linguine regina del mare (SGD 23.00).  This is a seafood linguine with prawns, clams, scallops, squid, and crayfish.  The portions of seafood were very generous.  The tomato sauce was very fresh and delightful.  However some of the seafood was a tad bit overcooked.

Linguine regina del mare (SGD 23.00)

Hefty Portions of Seafood - crayfish, squid, clams, scallops, and prawns

For dessert, we had the Tiramisu al mascarpone e caffe (SGD 10.00).  The tiramisu was pleasant, and it had a very nice espresso and liquor flavor.

Tiramisu al mascarpone e caffe (SGD 10.00)

I enjoyed our dinner at Pasta Brava altogether, and this restaurant will definitely be worth a few more visits.  Pricing is not bad and definitely commensurate to the quality of ingredients and impressive execution of the dishes.

Pasta Brava
11 Craig Road
Tel #: 6227 7550

TWG Tea Salon & Boutique - Afternoon Tea

Weekend brunches and afternoon tea get togethers are my favorite things to do with friends.  I spent the Chinese New Year holiday doing just that.  Some girlfriends and I headed over to the much hyped TWG Tea Salon & Boutique at Marina Bay Sands for some chit chat over high tea.  I have been a fan of TWG tea bags for some time now, but I've never actually had the chance to eat in the restaurant til now.

I had the Chic Tea Set worth SGD 32.00.  This comes with a selection of sandwiches, tea, scones, and muffins.

You are given a choice of different sets of sandwiches.  I chose the Imperial Set, which had 3 finger sandwiches of Foie Gras, Cucumber with cream cheese infused with Earl Grey Fortune, and Chicken with Comptoir de Indes Tea infused with crème fraîche.  The Foie Gras sandwich was brilliant.  The buttery smooth texture and rich flavor of the foie gras complemented the bread really well and just melts in your mouth.  I'm glad I saved that sandwich for last amongst the three.

Imperial Sandwich Set

For my tea, I chose something that was chocolate and mint infused.  I forgot the name, but I really loved the aroma and overall flavor of cocoa on my tea.

Chocolate Mint Tea (Forgot the exact name!)

There is also a choice of 2 freshly baked scones or muffins.  And since I couldn't decide between the two, I got one of each.  This is served with TWG tea jelly and whipped cream.  The muffin was an ordinary chocolate muffin-  okay but nothing fantastic.  The scone on the other hand was just heavenly.  The fancy tea jelly was a perfect accompaniment to the scone, and I was savoring each bite of the warm bread spread with this jelly.

Scone & Muffin with TWG Tea Jelly & Whipped Cream

Chocolate Muffin and Scone

I'm glad the tea set I tried at TWG lived up to the hype and did not disappoint.  Service was good and the atmosphere is lovely for high tea.  My only complaint however is that I thought the tables were on the small side, and we therefore had difficulty maneuvering around our tea pots in the crowded table.  I will of course still make a return trip for that foie gras sandwich and more of those scones.

TWG Tea Salon & Boutique

2 Bayfront Avenue

#B2-89 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands

Tel #: 6535 1837

For my readers living in the Philippines, TWG Tea is now available in Manila and distributed by Manila Global Brand.

La Petite Cuisine - Affordable French Grub

I headed over to La Petite Cuisine with my husband over the weekend since we were along the Bukit Timah area.  La Petite Cuisine is a no frills french restaurant that has a very decently priced menu.  And as the term "no frills" suggests, there is no ambience or exceptional service to comment on.  And therefore I will only limit my comments to the quality and pricing of the food.

For starters we had the Panfried Chicken Liver Salad (SGD 10.00).  Being a huge fan of chicken liver, I was extremely delighted with the portions of this dish.  The dressing perfectly complemented the greens and liver.  Absolutely loved this and couldn't stop raving about it while chomping down huge bites of meat and arugula.  However I must warn that you must have an affinity towards chicken liver to order this, else I can see how others may find this overwhelming.

Panfried Chicken Liver Salad (SGD 10.00)

For mains I had the Mignon of Veal Tenderloin with Tarragon & Chanterelle Mushroom with Pasta (SGD 29.00).  I thought the mushroom sauce was nicely done.  The quality of the veal tenderloin was nothing worth shouting about, but overall this dish was fine.

Mignon of Veal Tenderloin (SGD 29.00)

My husband had the Sea Prawns with Wholegrain Mustard served with Butter Rice & Salad (SGD 19.00).  Had a taste of this and I really enjoyed the mustard sauce and thought it had a rich, scrumptious buttery-mustard flavor that went really well with the prawn.  The butter rice was very smooth-- reminded me of my childhood habit of mixing margarine with rice (obviously I had no concept of cholesterol back then!).

Sea prawns with wholegrain mustard (SGD 19.00)

La Petite Cuisine is definitely value for money.  The quality is pretty decent for the affordable pricing.  Of course there are compromises made on the quality of meats used such as the veal tenderloin, but this is forgivable.  I will most definitely be back to have more of the chicken liver salad or perhaps will try out their foie gras as well.  And the good news is that craving for Frech cuisine now means I don't necessarily have to burn a hole in my pocket.

La Petite Cuisine

10 Jalan Serene (Bukit Timah corner Farrer Road)

#01-05 Serene Centre

Tel #: 6314 3173

Brasserie Les Saveurs - Christmas Day Brunch

I celebrated Christmas Day by having brunch at the very swanky Brasserie Les Saveurs at St. Regis Hotel in Tanglin Road.  I have read great reviews about their champagne brunches and hence booked myself a table as early as 2 months back in preparation for Christmas.  I absolutely fell in love with the interior of the place.  It had a very warm yet classy feel to the ambience.  Check out the photo below taken from our table.

Our table all had the Champagne Brunch with free flowing Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut (SGD 188).  They also had a Non-Alcoholic Brunch (SGD 158) available, but since it's  holiday season, there's absolutely no excuse to refuse getting tipsy in the afternoon.

The Champagne: Perrier-Jouet Grand Brut

The brunch comes with a Seafood on Ice Buffet.  The variety of fresh seafood was absolutely breath taking.  I loved the oysters. lobster tail, and abalone.  The seafood were all fresh, fresh, fresh.  This seafood buffet already made this trip worthwhile!

Seafood on Ice Buffet - Oysters Galore

Seafood on Ice Buffet -Alaskan King Crab Legs, Lobster Tail, Mussels, and Prawns

Seafood on Ice Buffet - Sashimi Station

There were also several Passed Around Appetizers which were offered by the chef on each table.  I was only able to take a photograph of 2 of the appetizers.  There were some hits and misses with the appetizers but overall they had very delectable choices.  And I do enjoy the novelty of having someone come over your table to offer a bite size dish.

Passed Around Appetizer - Truffle Risotto

Passed Around Appetizer - Asparagus and Mushrooms

The rest of the entrees were served as part of a degustation menu.  The first of the degustation menu was L'Oeuf au Caviar, which is egg with French caviar served with finger toast.  The presentation was very pretty.  Taste wise, it was nice and light -- like a fancy scrambled egg seasoned or salted with the caviar.

L'Oeuf au Caviar

Next up was Le Foie Gras.  The foie gras was served with a pumpkin puree and root vegetables on the side.  I thought the foie gras could have used more  salt and searing as the outer layer was still a bit soft in my opinion.  Foie gras of course is still foie gras, so still a very enjoyable dish.

Le Foie Gras

The soup served was Le Marron, made of chestnut, pancetta, croutons, and chives.  This was a very nice and creamy savory soup without the heaviness.  Finished this up in a few gulps.

Le Marron

Le Saint Pierre was a poached dory with zucchini and tomatoes.  The colors on the plate were beautiful, though taste wise I thought this was the most forgettable dish of the menu.

Le Saint Pierre

The main course was La Viande, where you have a choice of Turkey, Lamb or Beef served with vegetables and winter black truffle.  I had the Turkey, though at this point I was so full that I could not enjoy this anymore.  So I will not comment any further on the taste as I was too full to really savor this dish.

La Viande - Turkey

No matter how unbelievably full I get, I always have room for dessert.  And boy did the Dessert Buffet look absolutely appetizing!  The whole table looked like  sugar wonderland, enough to make a child (or adult) giddy with excitement.  I wanted to try out each and every single dessert, but unfortunately my stomach capacity would not allow me to do so.  I had a try of the Lemon Meringue Angel and the Chocolate Souffle.  The Lemon Meringue had black berries in the center which added more depth to the dessert.  The Chocolate Souffle was really delicious -- it had cinnamon and nutmeg to add a festive twist to this divine dish.

The Dessert Buffet

Lemon Meringue Angel

Chocolate Souffle

I was very happy with our visit to Brasserie Les Saveurs this Christmas.  The brunch was on the pricey side, but the quality of the food (especially the seafood and dessert buffet) were more than enough to compensate for the price.  If I find myself spending Christmas in Singapore again next year, I will definitely be eating Christmas Day brunch here again.


Brasserie Les Saveurs
29 Tanglin Road
The St. Regis Hotel
Tel #: 6506 6888