The annual Singapore Cocktail Festival takes place from 10 to 18 May 2019, with week-long cocktail experiences around the city celebrating the craft of libations. Here are three highlights to look out for. FESTIVAL VILLAGE The headlining event of the Singapore Cocktail Festival is the boozy funfair picnic-style Festival Village…
Years ago, I had a meal at a Spanish restaurant called Esquina, and I had this little nasi-lemak inspired seared scallop dish which left such an impression on me that I remarked that it was”(q)uite marvellous and one of my most memorable and startlingly good mains ever”, ending my review with a…
The UTW (“Under Ten Words”): Spanish, hearty and gloriously pig-centric, nose-to-tail, occasionally adventurous comfort fare. The must-orders (if any): Carabinero Arroz, Gin Panna Cotta Summary: The chef previously headed the kitchen at UNA at One Rochester. Dehesa is proud of its nose-to-tail concept (choice extract from their website: “robustly flavoured alternative…
Pettite France (French whisky, cream, honey, almond, spiced sable, almond crispy crepes, apricot, mascarpone) from Mad About Sucre’s newly-launched Autumn/Winter cake collection. The nutty and indulgently rich dome was a Tang Wei and Tony Leung-esque filthy romp between roasty, thick and creamy almond nougat and milky, unflinchingly drunken homemade French…
Jiu Zhuang Xiaolongbao infused with Single Malt Whisky (?!?) from Jiu Zhuang, a Chinese dim sum bar tucked deep in Dempsey forestry. Essentially soup dumplings gone all Eyes Wide Shut-esque libertine debauchery, with the whisky striking with an arresting fumes-y, throat-drying vengeance. 4/5 Jiu Zhuang Block 6C & 6D Dempsey…
Grand Marnier Crema Catalana from Milagro Spanish Restaurant at Orchard Central. Essentially your standard crème brûlée but with sassy unwashed blonde hair, being inappropriately high on sangria (and Grand Marnier, of course) and warbling lines such as “lucky that my breasts are small and humble so you don’t confuse them…
A Compter Du Printemps from Mad About Sucre – strawberry cream, lemon mousse, French champagne, raspberry, almond sponge cake, croustillant. The posh champagne jelly was inappropriately inebriated to such a degree that it probably contravened something in the Liquor Control Act, whilst elsewhere the glacial and understated strawberry cream struck…
TNT from Non Entrée Dessert Cafe. There is enough kinetic energy from all the fizziness from the raspberry poprocks and yuzu form to power a small fart, whilst elsewhere the pistachio sponge smells all masculinely nutty, the lychee sorbet and marinated strawberry basil lend a playful sweetness to the proceedings,…
Christmas Cake from Mad About Sucre – aged brandy, apricot, cranberries, currant, citrus peels, vanilla light rum sauce, and rum chantilly cream. Essentially the gustatory equivalent of seeing your familiar friend of many years in (ahem) naughty and slightly inappropriate Santa attire for the first time. The alcoholic fumes diffuse…