Ma maison

Ma maison seems to be stuck in a time warp. Since JC days till now, the ambience and menu have stayed largely unchanged. I don't have any fond memories of the food there despite patronising it several times over the years. However, today, my opinion seems to have changed.

Opted for the $16.50 set lunch which comprises mushroom soup (the thick hearty sort), a small baguette (perfect! Crusty on the outside and soft on the inside) salad, (ordinary) a hamburger steak (yummy!), potato salad, spaghetti (too salty) as well as a glass of home brewed ice lemon tea. Its not exactly cheap but still pretty good value overall.

Interiors are dim, cosy and 1950s american with a crooner singing in the background. Strangely it reminds me of christmas.

Will definitely be back again to try the ginger pork which my colleague swears by.

Pollen

I arranged a rare lunch date with Hubby yesterday. Chose the newly opened Pollen at Gardens by the Bay due to the novelty factor which includes (1) being transported to the restaurant in your own personal buggy, (2) eating food prepared (or at least conceptualized) by a one star michelin chef, (3) gaining free access to the Flower Dome thereafter and (4) getting up close and personal with a 1000 year old olive tree! Wow! How's that for SGD55 per head? I'm in! Was quite fortunate to secure reservations one week earlier. They are fully booked most of the days so reservations are a must.

It was a sweltering hot day and the restaurant is not exactly very near the main entrance so the restaurant's complimentary buggy service (which runs every 5 mins) was a very nice touch.

Pollen is located within the Flower Dome itself. Its furnishings are classy, white and seem to carry some Nordic influences. Most of the diners were locals comprising well heeled executives, rich tai tais and the occassional auntie. Formal wear is not a must here. Hubby and I wore jeans (paired with a smart top) and looked perfectly in place. However, I must also add that skimpy tops are also not recommended due to the chilly temperature in the dome. If you must, bring along a jacket or shawl.

Table 8. That was my requested choice of seating since it was recommended by an 8 Days article and purportedly boasts the best view (which includes close proximity to a 1000 year old olive tree on the 2nd level). Unfortunately, the restaurant doesn't open its 2nd level for lunch and Table 8 turned out to be a really shaky table on the first floor with a clear view of the Flyer, joggers and tourists.

The SGD55 menu offers excellent value.

For starters, we were served with some tough baugettes and sour dough bread, a potato cod spread and some clean tasting preserved olives.

 

The waiters don't seem to possess the finnesse of upper end eateries in Singapore like Cut, 1929, Mortons and St Pierre. One waitress spilled our bowl of olives just as it was about to be served to us while the other gave me a clueless look when I asked about the 1000 year old tree on the second floor. They were however attentive in refilling our water (yes, its only tap) and paced the meal nicely.

The food however redeemed the whole dining experience. Clean tasting notes with surprise ingredients that we never thought could work so well together. Portions were just right- leaving us satiated but craving for more.

Hubby's salmon starter was an interesting match of ocean trout (looked like salmon to me) with beer pickled onion, oyster mayo and smoked eggplant. A most unusual combination which left him a little perplexed and strangely delighted.

 

My starter of slow cooked egg with some tomato puree, cubed potato and chorizo chips was a savoury mess of comfort food at its best.

For mains, we both had the roasted pork belly with broad beans, squid and chorizo. Pollen's version isn't the crackly brown kind which you find at Chinese roast stalls. Rather, this one was caramelized with a melt in the mouth tenderness and richness that only pork can offer. Placed on top of the dish was a crackling piece of keropok that added some localised feel to the dish. What caught us by surprise was the addition of small pieces of slow cooked squid. Who would have thought pork and squid taste so good together? I suddenly recall a nyonya dish where minced pork is stuffed into fresh squid..looks like the Europeans also have their own ang moh version.

Dessert was interesting...a play of colours and textures. More to tease than to fill. Hubby's dessert of beetroot sorbet with hibiscus compressed apple and salted milk chocolate was again an evolution of taste that entertained our palates. It was so girly looking he almost wanted to swap with me.

My dessert was substantially less flamboyant in sight but no less interesting in taste. I opted for something more sourish and was rewarded by a cucumber sorbet with crispy and burnt lemon meringue. It was unlike any dessert I have eaten before. Heavenly.

We didn't linger too long at our table our lunch and promptly adjourned to the 2nd level to admire the 1000 year old olive tree before moving on to the main Flower Dome.

The transition from taste to sight, smell and sound of nature was seamless and left me slightly breathless. I felt as if I had been teleported to some flower garden in Cameron Highlands. An almost ethereal experience that I strongly recommend.

Light bites at The Sail

Stumbled upon this hole in the wall cafe on a dreary weekday afternoon. Prices of sandwiches and lunch bento sets are reasonable, starting from SGD8 for a chicken sandwich. Staff sport sunny dispositions and service is brisk. Restaurant even offers free lunch delivery service to my office.

Ordered the much raved about king crab sandwich and found it rather unappealing at first. Portion was paltry and looked like it could be consumed in 5 mouthfuls. Also took issue with the bread, which resembled something you could fish out of a gardenia sandwich bag in a supermarket.

My attitude however changed after taking the first bite. The subtle sweetness of the shredded king crab was well balanced with just the right amount of mayo. Even the use of white sandwich bread was a well thought one as its clean spongy softness mopped up the fillings nicely and did not overwhelm the delicate seafood undertones. Yummy.

As I was still feeling quite peckish after that, I ordered a california handroll. Easily one of the best versions I have eaten but not cheap at SGD5 a piece.

Didn't get to sample my kaki's pork bento set as the portion looked barely enough to feed one. She pronounced it highly tasty and commented that she would not mind ordering it again.

Overall a good place for a quick and light lunch. However, be prepared to pay more if you decide to order sashimi, drinks and dessert.

Hokkaido Sandwich and Sashimi Deli
4 Marina Boulevard
#01-33 The Sail @ Marina Bay S018986
Tel: 65090685

Molly Malone's set lunch

Ultimate SGD25 nett lunchtime fix at Molly Malone's. Comes with soup, main, dessert and drink

Since the onset of my pregnancy, I have developed an aversion to fish and hate its smell.

Things have since improved in recent weeks. I no longer cringe at the thought of eating fish and even managed to round up my kakis recently for lunch at one of our all time favorite fish and chips joints- Molly Malone's.

Molly Malone's is an Irish pub tucked along the corner of Circular Road. It has dark woody interiors which reek of stale smoke. Ang Mohs like to congregate there for their beer fix (even during lunchtime!) I've been a fan of their fish and chips for more than 8 years and am pleased to report that the quality of their food has not changed a single bit.

In a bid to attract the lunchtime crowd to dine in their pub, Molly's has come up with a SGD25 nett sett lunch promotion which comes with a soup of the day, fish and chips, dessert and soft drink/coffee/tea. We all ordered a set for ourselves each.

Typical of pub food, portions are super generous. The cream of cauliflower soup served that day was thick and delicious. Being small eaters, most of the ladies in our party were half full after this course and could not finish their main course of fish and chips- which is a great pity.

I really dig the fish and chips from Mollys, which represents the holy grail of deep fried food to me Eaten piping hot from the fryer and doused with a generous layer of tartar or chili sauce, the crisp batter and flakes of fork tender fish taste exceptional when downed with a gulp of ice cold beer or 7-up. Mollys also does a wicked rendition of thick cut chips, which come smokin hot and crisp on the outside.

Dessert that day was a pretty slice of tiramisu. Everyone was pretty stuffed by then but managed to polish off their plates (girls just love their desserts). It wasn't the best tiramisu we had eaten but was a fitting end to a perfect meal.- save for the spotty service.

Molly's has evolved into an lunchtime institution in Raffles Place that I have grown to embrace over the years. I hope it continues to keep up its winning formula so that die hard fish n chip aficionados like myself can have our fix when we need it.

Molly Malone's Irish Pub
56 Circular Road
Tel: 6536 2029

Saint Pierre

In Love Again

I always thought French food was overpriced, pretentious and inaccessible to the man in the street. I'm very glad Saint Pierre proved me wrong.

Service. To me, what really sets St Pierre apart from its competitors is its service. Unlike other chi chi eateries who accord special treatment only to ang mohs, big spenders and regulars, St Pierre treats all its customers equally well. Service staff comprise of an eclectic mix of Asians and Caucasians, all of whom are sharply attired and highly articulate. Food is presented with a flourish and whisked away in a most unobtrusive and tasteful manner. Even plain ol' tap water is served from a very pretty vase-like jug. Frankly, I couldn't ask for more.

A picture of the maitre'd hotel (taken from St Pierre's website)...though he didn't serve us personally , he waved us a friendly goodbye and has a most charming smile

Value. Priced at SGD28, the 2 course set lunch (comprising of a main course and dessert) offers best value for money. If you are feeling more extravagant, top up SGD20 to enjoy a full course set lunch which includes a starter, main course, desssert and coffee/tea. Regardless of how many courses you opt for, cheesesticks and bread are served on the onset, followed by a complimentary amuse bouche.

Food. Our amuse bouche comprised of foie gras mousse served with thin pieces of wafer and random slivers of garden vegetables on a chic stone slab. I am no fan of foie gras but found the overall flavors well balanced and highly refreshing. My unadventurous lunch partner however refused to touch her portion altogether. This caught the attention of our restaurant manager, who immediately replaced her dish with an equally delicious-looking substitute. This is what I call great service.

Amuse bouche: Foie gras mousse served on a stone slab

Whilst the restaurant updates its set menu from time to time, certain perennial favorites have been retained to cater to popular demand. One such item is the miso cod. (I spied with my little eye that at least 90% of the lunchtime patrons had also opted for the cod)


Perfectly cooked and lightly slathered with miso paste, I enjoyed the freshness of the cod and its delicate sweetness. Folks who prefer stronger flavors would however enjoy Ember's version better.

For dessert, we opted for yet another signature dish of the restaurant- Grandma's flourless chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The intense bittersweet richness of the chocolate left us momentarily paralyzed and floating in 7th heaven. It was at this very point that our semi-sluggish brains also started calling out for caffeine. I ordered a pot of L'oriental tea (a light floral concoction) while my partner ordered a pot of English Breakfast tea. (SGD8.50 each). Both were equally sublime.


Everyone loves a surprise and this establishment certainly knows how to pull a good one. Towards the end of our meal, just when we thought it couldn't get any better, we were presented with a complimentary selection of sweets (also referred to as petit fours) daintily arranged in a classy wooden box. Our selection comprised of bite sized chocolate chip cookies, cubes of sugar crusted lemon jellies and white chocolate coated marshmallows. What a glorious finish.


Location/ Ambience: The restaurant is located just a stone throw's away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD. Tucked in a corner of Central Mall just beside the taxi stand. we were able to locate the restaurant without much difficulty. Central Mall used to be a wildly popular watering hole in its heyday but has since faded into obscurity. The whole building resembles a ghost town during lunchtime. Not that we're complaining though. Some peace and quiet during lunchtime is always welcome.

Though smallish in seating capacity, St Pierre still manages to maintain an air of understated elegance, accentuated by the use of soft velvety undertones, crisp white tablecloths and fine tableware. Perfect for intimate gatherings and cosy chic lunches.

This is one fantastic restaurant which I will foresee myself coming back to over and over again.

Saint Pierre
3, Magazine Road
#01-01, Central Mall
Tel: 6438 0887

Restaurant Ember

daDining with a friend

A trip to Ember is like reconnecting with an old friend and concluding (with much relief) that nothing has changed. The ever affable Sabrina fronts the restaurant with confidence and ease. Over in the kitchen, her husband Sebastian works his magic, churning out dish after dish of gastronomic masterpieces.

The restaurant usually runs at full capacity, especially during lunchtime where most opt for the highly popular SGD38+++ set lunch, comprising of a starter, main course and dessert (inclusive of coffee and tea). The crowd is predominantly local, with many hailing from the nearby Central Business District. Most are here for pleasure rather than business as the low lying ceiling tends to amplify noise, making conversation a little challenging at times.

Selections in the set lunch menu are extensive and would please even the fussiest of diners. An addictive home made warm walnut loaf is served to all guests on the onset, providing a lovely teaser to what lies ahead. Service is unpretentious and obliging- don't be afraid to ask for more bread! For set lunch that day, I opted for bamboo clams (Starters), miso cod (Main) and Chocolate Fondant with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (Dessert). Every dish was executed beautifully and left me hankering for more.

Bamboo clams- A refreshing take on this dainty shellfish which is commonly served with garlic/soy sauce/black bean sauce in Chinese seafood restaurants. The slivers of crunchy white flesh came perfectly steamed and were paired with a shimmering mustard-like sauce. I was blown away by the unique blend of textures and flavours.

Miso cod- A perennial favorite of mine. The sweet miso sauce is well absorbed into the cod, resulting in luscious petals of caramelized flesh that effortlessly glide down the throat. Heaven.

Meatlovers to note: The restaurant does not serve its beef well done as this tends to give rise to dry and unflavorful meat. I'm not a beef lover so I will allude to the chef's (better) judgment on this one.

Chocolate Fondant with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream- This dessert has been surfacing in numerous restaurant menus at an alarming rate. However, few restaurants can execute this dish as well as Ember. Everything about it is rich, sinful and downright delicious- from the molten lava to the pretty vanilla bean speckled ice cream.

Tea/Coffee- Love the way the restaurant thoughtfully throws in good tea/coffee as a finishing touch. My camomile tea (no teabags..they use the real thing) came with honey and was the perfect remedy for my restless weekday spirit. Better still, I got a whole teapot and a little cookie to myself.

Ps: I have a love-hate relationship with the restroom. Its retro design fits perfectly with the eclectic vibe of Hotel 1929, where the restaurant is housed. However, its also unisex AND super squeezy. I still get a little queasy when I use it. Guess this is a small price to pay for dining at one of my favorite chi chi lunch spots in Singapore.