From The Straits Times    |

#1 CURIOUS PALETTE

Cafe-hoppers may be well-acquainted with Strangers’ Reunion and Waffle Slayer in Kampong Bahru, owned by award-winning barista Ryan Kieran Tan, 29.
He has a new venture, which opened last week. The 4,700 sq ft Curious Palette offers an extensive range of dishes.

Light bites include miso-glazed chicken skewers with leek ($9.90), and crispy calamari ($12.90). All-day breakfast items include soft shell crab burger ($22.50) with wasabi slaw and pulled pork sandwich ($22.50) with poached egg. For dinner (from 6.30pm), highlights include sous vide Angus beef with pan-seared foie gras ($30.90 ) with hazelnut split sauce and mashed potatoes; pan-fried ocean trout with wild berry compote ($25.90) and blue cheese wagyu burger ($26.90) with bacon and sweet potato fries.

Crowd-pleasers at his other cafes – waffles and coffee – are also part of the menu. Offerings include buttermilk waffles with gula melaka and coconut cream ($14.50), or buttermilk waffles with wine-poached pear and walnut crumble ($15.50). Or try the picture-perfect Berry Ricotta Hotcake ($18.90) with fresh berries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and vanilla bean ice cream.

And don’t miss the coffee (from $3.50 for an espresso), which includes iced and filtered brews.

The 200-seat restaurant now houses a coffee roaster, as well as a space for events on the second storey. Look forward to more new offerings from Tan, such as coffee popsicles.

Where: 64 Prinsep Street

Open: 9am to 10pm (weekdays except Tuesday, and Sunday), 9am till late (Friday and Saturday)

Info: Call 6238-1068 or go to www.facebook.com/curiouspalette

 

#2 HOUSE OF ROASTED DUCK

With the recent interest in roast duck dishes, another restaurant specialising in it has opened. House of Roasted Duck is headed by Hong Kong chef Lau Wai Keung, formerly from The Excelsior Hotel in Hong Kong. He has almost 40 years of roasting experience. Signature dishes include crispy roasted duck ($48 for whole duck), Peking duck ($52 for whole), soya sauce chicken ($36 for whole chicken), and char siew ($12). Other items include shrimp wonton noodles (from $6) and congee with cuttlefish, fish slices, pig’s skin and peanuts ($6 a bowl). A selection of dim sum items are available, such as fried squid cake with lemongrass sauce ($4.20) and pumpkin and dried scallop dumpling ($4.50). House of Roasted Duck is owned by Gao Ji Foods, which also runs the Koo Kee Yong Tow Foo Mee chain, noodle restaurant Noodlestar and Japanese restaurant Niko Niko.

Where: Bugis Village, 233 Victoria Street

Open: 11am to 11pm daily

Info: www.gaojifood.com

 

#3 THE CARVERY

This 140-seat restaurant boasts a buffet that caters to carnivores, with a rotating selection of four to six premium meats daily. Roasts include dry-aged United States beef prime rib, lamb leg infused with rosemary, white wine and onions; and pork knuckle with crackling, and fork-tender roast chicken seasoned with herbs, carrots, onions, bay leaves and celery for up to 12 hours before roasting. There are more than 10 side dishes such as Yorkshire pudding and polenta fries.

Other offerings include lamb stew and baked salmon with beurre blanc sauce. Prices start at $38++ for lunch and $52++ for dinner. The restaurant has an opening promotion: come as a pair and one diner receives a 50 per cent discount. Valid until Sept 30.

Where: Level 7, Park Hotel Alexandra, 323 Alexandra Road

Open: noon to 3pm, 6 to 10pm, daily

Info: Call 6828-8800 or go to parkhotelgroup.com/alexandra

 

#4 EQUILIBRIUM MODERN ITALIAN BACARO & RISTORANTE

This 90-seat restaurant serves contemporary Italian fare. It is helmed by chef Samdy Kan, 33, who started Supply & Demand bistro in Orchard Gateway and The Esplanade.

Whet your appetite with starters such as La Bombette ($9.50), grilled skewered pork belly perfumed with grated Parmesan cheese, oregano and chilli flakes; and Calamari Alla Griglia ($15), grilled squid cooked in butter infused with fennel, chilli, mint and topped with citrus foam.

Main dishes include the Sull’imbrunire Pizza ($27), which is a tapestry of mozzarella, Coppa ham, mushrooms, arugula leaves and eggs on a thin crust pizza with tomato sauce and truffle paste; Truffle and Mushroom Pasta ($23) and Seafood Aglio Olio ($26).

Standing out from the typically sweet desserts is the Deli Dolce platter ($21), an assortment of chocolate-flavoured salami, raspberry and green apple infused prosciutto, onion pate with whisky caramel jelly, bacon jam and milk chocolates.

Where: 01-86, Capitol Piazza, 15 Stamford Road

Open: 11.30am to 2.30pm, 6 to 11pm, daily

Info: Call 6384-4069 or go to equilibrium.sg

 

#5 ELEMEN

Go meat-less at Elemen, a new restaurant by food court operator Koufu. The menu features a five-course weekday lunch set ($23.80++ a person) with a starter and choice of salad or soup, main course, dessert and drink, or an eight-course set ($32.80 a person) with additional rosemary breadsticks and apple cider. Salad options include quinoa salad and avocado salad, while soup items include wild mushroom cream soup with truffle oil. For main course, choose from dishes such as braised golden-brown pumpkin with glutinous rice; wild mushroom and white truffle pizza; and housemade Chinese tea tofu with wheat noodles. Finish off with desserts such as osmanthus flower with grass jelly, or chilled coconut puree.

Where: 01-75A/76 Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard

Open: 11.30am to 4pm, 5.30 to 10pm daily

Info: Call 6238-0511 or go to www.elemensg.com

This story was first published in The Straits Times on July 26, 2015. For similar stories, go to www.sph.straitstimes.com/lifestyle.

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