Where To Eat & Drink: A New Oyster Bar Concept, $150 Omakase Lunch & More
Our round-up of great dining spots to check out, fab drinks and the latest in food news this week
Always on the hunt for new dining spots? We bring you sound bites on where to eat, including new restaurant and eatery openings, the best places for your after-work tipple, and what’s new in the food scene.
Where to check out this week: Japanese art-inspired afternoon tea at Skai, a new oyster and cocktail bar concept in Joo Chiat, Lobsterfest is back at Lime Restaurant, and more.
Skai has teamed up with Artistory and Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, for an afternoon tea experience themed around Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai's famed Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" series.
Titled "Gathering of The Greats, A Wave from The East", it encompasses sweet treats and savoury bites that you can savour while soaking in the soaring cityscape views from level 70 of Swissotel The Stamford. The interiors, too, showcase Katsushika Hokusai’s biography and some of his most celebrated artworks.
Largely inspired by Katsushika Hokusai’s floral prints, the savouries see options such as moreish duck rillette on an oat cracker with chrysanthemum flavours and petals that nod to the "Chrysanthemum and Horsefly" artwork, and Salmon, inspired by "Blackberry Lily". The salmon is garnished with hibiscus cress, granny smith and wasabi. There's also Eel, a petite tart piped with earthy hummus, olive oil caviar and green peas, as well as an edible print.
Then work your way through the equally pretty sweets, which nod to the "Umezawa Manor in Sagami Province" piece. What instantly got our attention was the Chocolate Fuji, a white chocolate and mango passion fruit coulis confection that resembles the majestic Mount Fuji. The whimsical Vanilla Cloud Mousse, reminiscent of the clouds in Hokusai's works, will have you sinking your teeth into an airy mousse-topped madeleine with raspberry marmalade. Another highlight's the cheery yellow Yuzu Cremeux with a bright citrusy flavour.
There are specially concocted drinks too, from the passion fruit, citrus and blue pea flower Horizon Gaze ($22++ as a cocktail, $15++ as a mocktail) starring a pretty gradient of colours, as well as the Umi No Kisu Latte ($10++), which is inspired by the depiction of Mount Fuji, boats, and waves in the print.
Guests who place a reservation for the “Gathering of The Greats, A Wave From The East” high tea on www.skai.sg will be automatically eligible to participate in an exclusive lucky draw that promises one winner a two-night stay in Swissôtel Nankai Osaka’s Swiss Executive Room with buffet breakfast and Table36 club lounge access for two persons.
Available till July 1 2023, daily from 3pm to 5pm. $68++ per adult and $34++ per child (6 to 12 years old). Add on free-flow champagne (1.5 hours) from $75++ per person for Henriot Brut Souverain; or $90++ per guest for Moet & Chandon Rose Imperial.
Skai is at #70-02 Swissôtel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Road, Singapore 178882. Visit its website for reservations or more information.
Coffee house by day, Kings Cart Coffee has debuted a new concept that turns it into Joo Chiat Oyster House, an oyster and cocktail bar when dusk falls. Dimmed lights mark the transition, harkening to the days of the “red-light district of East Singapore".
Slurp down plump creamy Japanese oysters with a sweet finish from the Hyogo prefecture. Go naked or get them with various toppings, like Red Wine Mignonette for a tart contrast, or the herbaceous Chimichurri (both from $3.30 per piece for a dozen; min two pieces per flavour). Or indulge in the Ikura option ($8.30 per piece; min two pieces per flavour) which bumps up the brininess.
It doesn't stop there — if you like your oysters grilled, the ones here are worth ordering, too, including the creamy Mentaiko, decadent torched Miso Butter, Garlic Chili or Cheese Baked oysters.
Bivalves aside, other bites include Eastern-Western fusion plates with Singapore-inspired influences like The Blur Like Sotong Fritters ($6) of fried calamari served with housemade lemon mayo, or the Chili Crab & Mantou ($16) with crisp mini mantou to soak up the tangy spicy sauce with chunks of crab meat, though a thicker consistency would have been more satisfying. For something more substantial, there's a spicy Portobello Aglio Olio ($21++).
Pair the nosh with Singapore-inspired tipples, from the cheekily named East Coast Plan with a zesty blend of Hendrick’s gin, mint, lime, and prosecco, to Solero. Hands down our favourite, the boozy rum-based iteration of the nostalgic lime-flavoured vanilla ice cream Solero is a great way to end your meal.
King's Cart Coffee is at 328 Joo Chiat Road, #01-05, Singapore 427585. Joo Chiat Oyster House opens Mon to Tue, 5pm to 10pm, and Wed to Sat, 5pm to 11pm.
Now billing itself as a farm-to-table American grill restaurant, Rosemead has refreshed its offerings with a more accessible produce-driven menu of Californian flavours with contemporary and Asian slants. Behind it is co-owner and Executive Chef David Tang who draws on his Californian background and Chef de Cuisine Ammie Khoo who brings to the table years of experience at grill restaurants.
To start, the warm savoury Warm Cheese Puff ($14++ for two) is a cheese lover's dream with gruyere and parmesan folded into choux pastry, and an oozy smoked cheddar mousse centre. Also don't miss the bombolini-style Chicken Liver Donut ($12++ for two), sandwiching velvety mild-tasting chicken liver parfait, and quince jam that adds sweet contrast.
The farm-to-table approach is honoured across dishes like the housemade Sweet Potato Gnocchi ($36++) with savoury speck dashi and grilled golden cordyceps from local farm Kin Yan, as well as Wild Tiger Prawns ($32++) from the local Ah Hua Kelong. From the waters of Sabah, Malaysia, the smokey succulent crustaceans come slathered with a rich spicy sauce of bagna cauda, tabasco butter and finger lime. A must-order is the New Zealand wild-farmed Ora King Salmon ($45++). Cured, confit and lightly broiled, it's incredibly tender, and sprinkled with seasoned breadcrumb for a textural contrast.
The classic steak and eggs dish is elevated with the Miyazaki Wagyu A4 Striploin ($92++), sourced from the south Japanese prefecture. A house anchovy steak rub adds umami, before it's met with the hearth's open fire, and comes with an earthy mushroom bordelaise sauce and a fried egg.
Get a glass of wine (or three). You can look forward to over 250 labels sourced from around the world with a focus on small American producers, all curated by Marcus Tan, Jigger & Pony Group's principal sommelier.
Rosemead is at 19 Cecil St, Singapore 049704. Visit its website for reservations or more information.
For a leisurely omakase lunch amidst tranquil surroundings, Sushi Sato at Dempsey is one to check out. Even better: It has a new omakase lunch concept at an exclusive price of $150 that's only available from June for four months. Served in the six-seater private dining room, it comprises seven sushi courses alongside assorted dishes and dessert and will be helmed by head sushi chef Kawana Yusuke, who has close to three decades of experience.
Our meal started with a refreshing appetiser of yuba (beancurd skin) in dashi jelly, ikura, Chinese cabbage, and a delightfully juicy Japanese fruit tomato. Comforting chawanmushi with seaweed sauce, chestnut, lily root and scallops follows after, before segueing into the sushi courses.
The sushi rice or shari, uses three Japanese red vinegars combined with specially selected Tsuyahime rice from the Yamagata Prefecture, lending just enough acidity that brighten the toppings of fish and shrimp that follow. Think mild-flavoured tai (seabream), creamy Hokkaido botan ebi, briny kohada (gizzard shad) and smooth oily kinmedai (golden eye snapper) lightly seared with binchotan for smokey flavour. Towards the end, there's gorgeously fatty otoro that melts in the mouth.
Ending the savoury courses is Sato’s signature rice bowl topped with a decadent mix of bafun uni and ikura. The meal rounds off with a flavourful prawn miso soup, and a dessert of seasonal fruit (we had juicy Yamagata cherries) with a gloopy homemade warabi mochi that's a joy to eat.
If you have room still, add on the signature Amadai and Shishito Pepper Tempura, served piping hot. The crisp airy batter conceals tender flaky fish as well as mild, earthy shishito pepper. Another add-on option in the negitoro roll.
Sushi Sato is at 6B Dempsey Road, Singapore 247662. Visit its website for reservations.
Lobsterfest returns to Lime Restaurant at Parkroyal Collection Pickering
Lime Restaurant at Parkroyal Collection Pickering is wooing seafood lovers with its annual Lobsterfest, which is making a celebrated return.
You can indulge in the prized crustaceans at the seafood bar, as well as with signatures such as the Lobster Laksa, Steamed Lobster with Ginger Garlic Paste and Chinese Wine, Singaporean Chilli Lobster and Baked Boston Lobster Thermidor. This year, the restaurant's also elevating the experience with guest chefs from Aromkwan Bangkok and Blue Smoke Singapore, who will helm the outdoor BBQ station for two weekends.
On June 17 and 18, look forward to vibrant culinary delights from Aromkwan (Bangkok)'s chef Vishnu Bernard, like the Aromkwan Asian Slaw With Claw, tong-tingling Lobster Bakar Sambal Tumis Rebel Flambe, and the must-have 30 Hours Smoked Pork Knuckle Biryani.
Following that, on July 1 and 2, chef Ivan Yeo from award-winning contemporary Asian grill and smokehouse Blue Smoke will shake things up with his Hyogo Oysters with Oak-Smoked Coriander Lemon Drip, Szechuan-style Grilled Lamb Shoulder, and Grilled & Smoked Lobster with Chaoshan Salsa.
Lobsterfest buffet dinner is available from now till Aug 6, 2023. From Mon to Sun (6.30pm to 9.30pm). $166++ per person, including free-flow beer, chilled juices, soft drinks, specialty coffee and tea. Click here for reservations.