Greenhouse…….Ritz Carlton Hotel, Singapore

Special Thanks to my host who has graciously invited me to a Friday Seafood Buffet Dinner at the Greenhouse of Ritz Carlton Hotel.

The moment you sashay in, you will be greeted by the jade-like fairy-floral adorning the front and center. Quite a divine view!

(Vast Ocean-fresh Seafood Sideboard)

The sideboards are cleverly arranged along the aisle; thus creating a conspicuous food scene and plenty of room for diners to sashay around!

Some tantalizing highlights:

(I like the way they accentuate their array of food!)

(French Farmhouse Cheese Platter)

(Ice-Cream & Sorbet Parlour;

A rare sight in the local buffet scene!)

(Artisanal Cakes for Dessert)

(Moët & Chandon: not suitable for teetotalers but

available unlimitedly to wine connoisseurs during the

Sunday Vintage Champagne Brunch.*)

(The pianist will showcase his tunes during Brunchtime.*)

(My host’s most favorite Table No.65 which

overlooks the lush greenery.)

It is one of the best and inviting dinner buffets I had so far. Highly recommended to empty nesters to indulge yourselves since the restaurant offers half-price tags to golden agers (60years & above) for their Saturday Asian Seafood Buffet Lunch (Regular Price:SGD58++ Per Adult) & Sunday Asian Seafood Buffet Dinner (Regular Price SGD:66++ Per Adult)!*

On our way out, we heard a handsome vocal emitting across and we bolted to take a peek. It’s the Chihuly Lounge!

A lovely array of scarlet-red roses that greeted us at the

heart of the lounge!

My host promises a return visit to Chihuly Lounge on another day, which I am looking forward to in anticipation!

*For more info, please call (65) 6337 8888 or visit http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Singapore/Dining/Default.htm

db Bistro Moderne…….Singapore

Burgers, I have tried many and various; especially fast-food outlets’ and a handful of restaurants’ too. As for a premium burger: Oh Yes, I mean pricey ingredients such as foie gras & beef short ribs which are used unsparingly and how about that?

To satiate our curious palates, my comely sidekick made a reservation with db Bistro Moderne which happens to be nestled within one of the few famed supreme malls in Singapore, ‘The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.’

A Teaser of the mall: A tinge of Venice,
which you will find sampans in place of gondolas.

Much has been heard about Contemporary Interior Designer, James Beers’s recurring collaboration with Chef Daniel Boulud each time when a new bistro is about to debut. The sassy-patterned floor tiles, complementing-designed tableware and meticulous details like the db logo imprinted on the waxed paper acting as tableware’s lining.  Alluring-red banquettes, wine-colored candle holders, light & soft music in the air, my mind is in a whirl but for a good cause.

I am won over by both the interior and ambience; the bistro is simply cozy and elegant. (Even their restrooms approximate a 5-star hotel’s) You can swirl your glass and raise a toast with your beau or business associate at the bar which is tucked away exclusively at a nook. Or book their private room for a privé function. The rest is purely for your enjoyment of fine dining.

We teed off our dinner with some complimentary bread. I would say they are well-baked but not well-liked in terms of their texture. I have noticed an ubiquitous trend in local restaurants to serve bread as it is without keeping them warm. I still prefer my bread the old-fashioned way: warm and fluffy inside; isn’t it easier to slather that cold shaving of butter?

My sidekick picked a Mint & Lime Ginger drink; a calming concoction bursting of 3 different flavors and yet harmonizing one another to a tee. You taste zesty lime on one palate, invigorating mint on the other and zingy ginger on another as you sip alternately.

This is my first time savoring a premium burger and using cutlery to devour my approximately 5 inches tall db Burger. There is absolutely no way to devour it in one bite! I did away with the cutlery and chose the primitive way to eat it. The patty which was done medium rare was cooked to a tee but it tasted insipid. I nibbled some foie gras tucked along with the braised short ribs. Black truffle is supposed to be included but sorry, I just couldn’t detect the musky truffle and all I could see was some hidden black blob. Though I was given some relishes to slather onto the burger, I chose to taste it originally since it’s called ‘The Original db Burger.’ The home-baked parmesan bun was preferred to the main character. The entremets (fries) were lightly-salted and buttery-crisp which my sidekick enjoyed more than I did. Hmmm, after all, I still prefer my ordinary burger!

Wild Boar with Herb Penne – An interesting dish of herbaceous-looking penne cooked à la Al dente; firm but resilient. The ‘wild pork’ from the wild boar tasted succulent and odorless. Occasionally, you will find bites of mushrooms here, sun dried tomatoes there and mint leaves in between.

We topped off our dinner with a Pomme: Apple beignets (French doughnut; a deep fried choux pastry sprinkled with confectioner’s sugar), Vanilla Chantilly (Vanilla-infused sweet whipped cream) & Armagnac (French Brandy) Ice Cream. We relished some dollops of poached pears and fruit compote. As we indulged in this Afters, assorted engaging textures were degusted. Then, I washed it down with a cup of Americano to cap the night.

In my humble opinion:This is the Bistro for you if price tag is never a concern; only luxuriating yourself is!

(For more info on the menu & prices, please visit:

http://www.marinabaysands.com/Singapore-Restaurants/Fine-Dining/DB-Bistro-Moderne/)

Loysel’s Toy Café.......Singapore

Dear Papa Palheta,

I went to your Loysel’s Toy Café with some friends today and was spellbound by the laid-back, rustic charm that exudes from the alfresco garden furniture, bicycles displayed for rental, colossal bonsais, a graffiti storefront depicting the transit of coffee et al. It is a rare dining scene in Singapore.

However, this is not my main motive for traipsing all the way to 66 Kampong Bugis. I am here purely to savor a cuppa crafted by your brainchild. Sipping my Affogato seems to require a bit of D.I.Y-mixology: pour the brewed coffee over the ice-cream and muddle.

The end result is akin to a shot of stout; so robust that my wearied mind was awakened by the opulent aroma and a bitter-piquant aftertaste which only coffee connoisseurs can relate and appreciate.

I harmonized the lingering aftertaste with some tangy bites of a Lemon Tart; a short crust pastry filled with freshly-whipped zesty lemon cream. So far so good and I could feel that I was distant from needing a siesta, as it was a languid afternoon.

Next, came along a slice of Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake which I found it cloying and heavy-bodied with hints of peanut butter; not that it is poorly baked but just not my ideal cake...

Two of my friends went for Earl Grey Tea with notes of Lavender displayed in lovely tableware, which is fit for lassies’ tea sessions in the courtyard.

Recurring gusts of winds caressed our faces and hair as we ensconced at a nook in the alfresco. We chatted and chatted…as if the evening never arrive. We were completely soaked into the genius loci.

To conclude, here’s what I would share with my other friends:

Who’s there: Hipsters, Families-in-the-know, Couples yearning for rustic rendezvous 

What to avoid in the Alfresco: Alluring Wigs, Marilyn Monroe’s dresses, Sassy Hats

What to wear: Jane March’s braids, Aviator sunglasses, Levis Capris

Where to sit: Inside the café; watching the baristas pulling their brewing stunners and at the same time, enjoying controlled-cold-air especially when Mr Wind is not blowing.

When to go: Tues-Fri (9am-6pm), Sat-Sun (9am-7.30pm)

What to do next: Stroll leisurely along the proximate Kallang Riverside Park or rent some bicycles and have an impromptu friendly match.

Someday, I will drop by and pay you a visit too.

Yours sincerely,

Zon

*** For more info on the menu, please visit http://www.loyselstoy.com/ ***

3D_CNY_Cookie

Adorable as they seem &

Blessed am I to eat up them.

Crisp is the feel &

Delizioso is the taste!

*Specially hand-crafted by my bosom friend, Hanni & her daughter, Tricia*