Tag Archives: restaurants

Mar 21

Le Bistrot du Sommelier – c’est si bon!

Our visit to Le Bistrot du Sommelier began as a mission to try tête de veau, a dish that we learned was rarely available as a special.  Fortunately, this rustic French bistro offers a number of other dishes that were all enjoyable, making a second (or many more) visit a certainty.   Since it was an impromptu family dinner with G’s brother M and mom A joining us, we were able to sample a variety of starters as well as take on the côte de boeuf, a signature dish.

True bistros are great finds in that they offer delicious and unpretentious food in a casual environment without breaking the bank.  There is also the added benefit of being able to order and enjoy wine without the need to have Parker’s latest wine guide handy.  Le Bistrot du Sommelier is a fine example of what I mean.  Other than the prices (it’s Singapore after all), this really is a welcoming place to enjoy a good rustic French meal without worrying about which fork to use.

While the printed menu options are limited, if you look on the walls, you’ll see the giant blackboard of beef-related offerings as well as seasonal specialties.  The Mont D’Or cheese high season had just ended in February, but they still had some in stock, so we ordered a 500 g serving along with an order each of the goat cheese salad, foie gras terrine, and escargot for our starters.

I should also mention that bistro food tends to be very rich and hearty.  The foie gras for instance came in a generous block that even for four liver lovers was quite plenty.  Similar with the salad as there was a bed of celeriac hidden beneath the greens.  Only the escargot came in a measly half dozen serving, but I can forgive them because of the wonderful accompanying sauce.  Our downfall though, was the Mont D’Or, baked with onions and ham.  Think fondue, but a mild taste and velvety creamy texture with a hint of pine.

By the time we finished appetizers, the women were ready to call it a day, but the heaviest items had yet to arrive.  Our mains were a shared 1 kg côte de boeuf that was beautifully cooked medium rare and smothered in onions and whole garlic cloves, and a classic steak tartare that was easily the best I’ve had in Singapore.    My only quibble was that it had a bit too much mustard and rough cut parsley.  The tartare beef was incredibly fresh with a great texture that would have been more apparent without the over-spicing.

We were all so stuffed that we passed on dessert.  Along with the tete de veau, desserts are also on our list of to tries for our next visit.  Le Bistrot du Sommelier is reminiscent of my favorite bistro that I always visit when I travel to Grenoble for work.  I don’t know or care if it’s the best in town or just average, all I know is that the service is friendly, the food is tasty, and experience memorable.

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Le Bistrot du Sommelier
46 Prinsep St #01-01,
Singapore
+65 6333 1982

Mar 17

Lunch @ Torisho Taka

G and I have added Torisho to “our must try for dinner” list due to our recent lunch experience there.  While we both have a fondness of Kazu Sumiyaki for our grilled food needs, it’s always good to have more options.  And Torisho is no stranger to quality; it’s the sibling restaurant of Aoki (which incidentally offers an amazing chirashi lunch).  The lunch selection is not fancy – mostly a selection of donburi, but each dish is well prepared and the prices are quite reasonable.  G went with the wagyu ($38), and I, the pork ($28). Continue reading »

Mar 12

Sky on 57

The two defining features of Sky on 57 are the panoramic views from atop the Marina Bay Sands, and its executive chef, regional celebrity, Justin Quek.  While the rest of the Skypark is off limits to restaurant patrons, the views available from the restaurant are still quite magnificent.  There is an outdoor patio where you can sip away at overpriced but well-mixed alcoholic drinks while impressing dates, guests, etc…  As for the food, the upscale fusion cuisine is reasonably well-executed albeit uninspired.  Given the prices, there are better dining options elsewhere, but then again you are paying a premium for the views.

The occasion was a birthday party for a group of 8, with a degustation menu that was left to the chef.  The starter was a chicken liver pate with marmalade cherry tomatoes that while nicely composed, felt a bit “cheap” given the relative abundance of finer ingredients (ie duck or goose liver).  The demitasse of shark broth that followed was well balanced, but no more unique than what one might find at a mid-range chinese restaurant.  Similarly, the pepper lobster was also cooked just-right yet unremarkable.  At this point we were all waiting in anticipation for the main course that would wow us. Continue reading »

Mar 9

Casa Tartufo

On an impromptu sibling double-date the other night, we ended up trying this newish “truffle-themed” restaurant.  Cousin S, a “pig” with a talent for sniffing out worthwhile dining, had said that the truffle pastas here were a must try.  Since the four of us all love truffles,  we were eager to sniff up as much as humanly possible in a single meal.  Casa Tartufo compentently integrates truffle into its menu items in a way that does not overpower yet leaves a pleasant after-taste which lingers long after the meal has concluded.  However the dishes themselves were quite average for the prices charged, resulting in a decent but sadly forgettable meal.

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Mar 7

Hediard

G had a craving for a croque-madame and suggested that we eat at Hediard, a cafe and fine foods boutique that feels unabashedly old world with its dark interior and reserved upscale decor.  It was already 2pm by the time we sat down, and the lunch rush (if there was one) was well over.  Other than the Asian bohemian contently sipping coffee by the windowsill, the place was completely ours.  While an empty resto-cafe could have been a warning sign that the food wasn’t up to the standard of the prices charged (the food was great),  at least the ambiance was worth it so far.

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Mar 4

Kazu Sumi-yaki

We recently ate at Kazu Sumi-yaki with our favorite foodie cousins, S & L, and were pleasantly surprised that while the crowds have gotten bigger, the overall quality was still worth the wait and the price.  For grilled meat-on-a-stick cravings, this is still the place to go in Singapore.  Located in sketchy Cuppage plaza (home to waaay too many karaoke/hostess bars), Kazu has been serving up skewered meat for over a decade, but unlike some other once-notable restaurants, the chef/owner can still be seen daily, grilling away in the kitchen.

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Feb 28

Yakiniku Yazawa

Yakiniku Yazawa is a guilty pleasure that we secretly indulge in every few months.  It’s always the same ritual, a tacit nod of approval from the wife, followed by the anticipatory drive over to Mohammed Sultan, with a hurried stroll into the best yakiniku restaurant on the island.  Spur of the moment visits have become harder as the place is now much more popular than when we first visited almost a year ago.  Even on weekdays, reservations are highly recommended.  But a bit of advance planning is worth it for the consistent quality A5 Japanese wagyu.

The Yazawa company in Japan is a wholesaler of beef as well as restaurant operator.  They are known for serving high quality beef at affordable prices, and their first foray in Singapore is no exception.  The A5 grade wagyu  is flown in weekly, chilled, never frozen, which allows diners to enjoy authentic Japanese beef that is almost comparable to what you might eat in Japan.   The selection of cuts changes daily as the beef is brought in whole pieces and sliced here.  The friendly and helpful staff can help you select a good variety for your grilling delight.

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Feb 18

And the secret ingredient is… Tofu!

Long before Iron Chef aired its tofu-themed battle, Sasanoyuki had already been serving tofu-based meals for a few hundred years (open since 1691).  While the Iron Chefs and challengers typically create 4 or 5 dishes based on the theme ingredient, this restaurant delivers at least 9, that’s right 9, dishes where tofu is the star.  While it may be hard to imagine how this humble curd could be served up in so many ways without patrons leaving in bland disgust, our meal here really opened my eyes to the possibilities of tofu-based cooking beyond just adding it to soup.  Second to the all-beef based meal at Sutamina-En, the lunch at Sasanoyuki was my other favorite of the trip.

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Feb 16

Sutamina-En – Yakiniku!

Tucked away on a side-street at the northern edge of Tokyo is a gem of an yakiniku restaurant, Sutamina-En (Stamina Garden). We were initially hesitant to make a trip so out of the way, despite the strong recommendation of a well-traveled foodie couple. But, since we were on a foodcation and Japanese wagyu is one of our favorite foods, we decided to make the pilgrimage.  This turned out to be one our favorite meals of the trip!

Sutamina-En is well known amongst the locals and is frequently featured in magazines and on TV shows.  Since they don’t accept reservations, we showed up before opening on a Friday evening to stand in line.  When we arrived there were a couple groups waiting.   A short 20 minutes later and the door opened for business.  While no English is spoken here, we were tipped by the same couple that mandarin however is.  Turns out, the 老闆娘, 帶 “姊”, is a fellow Taiwanese and a very excellent host.

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Feb 14

Tokyo – Where to Eat

4 days are simply not enough time to eat your way through Tokyo.  This is a city that boasts the most Michelin starred restaurants in the world (not that we could afford to eat at any of them).  The places that we did visit were all memorable and we highly recommend to fellow foodies.  Below are our favorites from the trip with a brief description, details, and of course links to food photos.  Be forewarned, English is not spoken at most of these places.  Ita daki masu!

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