Atmosphere Bistro : New Menu, Better and More Delicious

When it comes to seaside dining experience, I tend to think of expensive and generic food that tends to play second fiddle to the ambience. But I am happily proven wrong during my recent visit to Atmosphere bistro which has revamped its menu to offer new Asian fusion dishes that more than pleases the eye.

The western-centric menu remains casual but the quality has definitely gone up notches since my last visit. Starting with the Garlic Butter Mussels ($14.80), the whole shell blue mussels were plump and fresh, with an aromatic garlic butter cream sauce that is perfect for mopping up with the crispy roti prata. Many dishes have become more instagram-worthy but thankfully they are not short of flavors. For instance, the Lava Cheese Burger ($24.80)  is something you might want to reward yourself with after sweating out at East Coast Park. Beneath the toasted Brioche Buns is an evil stack of deep fried Camembert Cheese that oozes while your knife cuts through to the beef patty.

Just like the Waffle Burger ($21.80), the beef patty here was slightly too mushy and thus my vote goes to the Mentaiko Pull Pork Burger ($24.80) as the moist pork is more easygoing on the palates and the bed of shredded carrots worked like a refreshing coleslaw that added pleasant acidity to the dish.

Fusion is no longer confusion here with the Mentaiko Waffle Pizza ($16.80) serving as another good example. The tender buttermilk waffle isn't those crispy types but that's not a bad thing at all. Together with the Pork Bratwurst Sausages, Mentaiko Mayo, pineapples, cheese and bonito flakes, this is a sweet-savory combination that resembled a Hawaiian Pizza but hundred times better than one. The Premium Seafood Rice Bowl ($24.80) is my another favorite dish that comes with plenty fresh seafood like scallops and cod fish atop of premium Japanese rice. The garlic butter sauce did not overpower the natural sweetness of the seafood and this serves as a good break from the monotony of western dishes.Considering the quality ingredients here, this is a value-for-money dish not to be missed. 

Desserts are given a serious makeover here and one should definitely not miss the Black Pearl ($16.80). Even though the idea of pouring hot sauce over chocolate sphere is nothing new, the chocolate is potent and the intense rum punches through the sweetness. I was teleported to cloud nine. The Matcha Lava Cake ($14.80) was too sweet while I preferred the Coconut Cheesy Toast ($14.80) to have more Gula Melaka to balance out the rich Mozarella Cheese. But overall with the major improvements in food, this bistro certainly offers more than just the "atmosphere" 

Monday to Thursday: 6pm to 12am

Friday and Eve of Public Holiday: 6pm to 1am

Saturday, Sunday, Public Holiday: 10.30am to 1am

* Closing time subjected to change for LIVE sport screenings

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Chocolatier Inamura Shozo : Hidden Chocolate Patisserie in Ueno Tokyo

Most patissiers would serve chocolate cakes but very few would open another outlet just dedicated only to chocolate. Imamura Shozo is one of those. Located in the quiet suburbs of Yanesen, Chocolatier Inamura Shozo is Chef Inamura's second boutique after his popular Patissier Imamura Shozo which debuted in 2000 in Ueno Sakuragi.

But the range isn't very wide. Only chocolate entremets and confectionaries like bons-bons or pound cakes. No plated desserts or ice cream. Even for the entremets, you can easily count them in less than ten fingers. And there's only 6-8 pieces for each type. Apparently, the range doesn't change frequently as well. 

Yet, I can say that the chocolate entremets are high flyers in the league of chocolate even though I only tried two items. The chocolate glaze was as smooth as mirror and the mousse glided around the tongue almost like an Olympian ice skater skiing in the ice rink. The Matcha Chocolate is probably the most matcha-ish chocolate entremet I've ever, ever have. There's a good balance of matcha and white chocolate, with the mellow bitterness emerging mainly from the matcha ganache. It was sweet but in the milky form that won't shut you off like some entremets which make you feel as if you are just eating sugar. 

Coincidentally, the Larme (涙のしずく) was another tea-based entremet of bergamot tea. I picked this because the tangy lemon cream provided a nice refresher which prevented me from feeling jaded with the chocolate. Both works were impeccable in achieving the right consistency of chocolate mousse that can be enjoyed at a cool temperature of 25-26 degrees. Even better than Jean Paul Hevin to me. But it could be more adventure in the textures. None of the entremets had a crunchy component and a macaron base is the furthest you can get besides the typical sponge-mousse-ganache combination.

Nevertheless, the CP value is high and I was very satisfied with the two I had (initially I even wanted to order three for myself). It's worth a detour if you are in the Yanesen district or maybe as breakfast before lunch at the coffee house. Just be prepared that the potency of the chocolate is likely to get you a little chocolate dizzy.

〒110-0002 東京都台東区上野桜木2-19-8

10am-7pm

Closed on Mondays and every Third Tues 

http://www.inamura.jp/

宇治の抹茶とホワイトチョコレートを合わせたムースとチョコレートのムースで層をつくり、土台のマカロンに抹茶のガナッシュとチョコのガナッシュの２種類をサンドいたしました。

ベルガモット風味の紅茶が香るチョコレートガナッシュ・チョコレートムース・レモンのクリーム・マカロンショコラが入っております。レモンクリームで爽やかさを表現しており

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Bee's Knees @ Botanic Gardens : Extended Opening Hours with Delicious Bar Bites

Food from cafes and restaurants in tourist attractions tend to be overpriced and lacking in quality. But not so for Bees Knees Cafe, the sister cafe of Botanico located at the 1st floor of the restored two-storey heritage building in Botanic Gardens.


Already attracting crowds of locals and expats alike during weekends, Bees Knees has expanded its menu to offer a plethora of hearty western dishes from pastas to bar bites. The Potato Chips Salad ($8) is a spinoff from Japanese Potato Salad with a familiar taste of Japanese mayonnaise mixed with Spanish Onions and mustard.


But this is a thousand times more addictive because the thin extra virgin oil fried potato chips make munching such an easy affair. Not to be missed is the crispy Boxing Chicken ($14) with Siracha mayonnaise and the Crispy Calamari ($14) with Chincalok Coriander. But the ultimate sinful indulgence was the "Beef Cheeky" Fries. With soggy fries drenched in rich beef ragout and mozzarella, it looked as if it popped out from American food shows. And the sodium level here is also no joke.

But rest assure that these aren't the only delicious food on the menu. For something light and healthy, try the "Veggie Goat" ($16) a refreshing quinoa salad tossed with cherry tomatoes, roasted pumpkins, figs, watercress and caramelized goat cheese. The balsamic reduction injects the right degree of acidity and livens up the flavors. For the sandwiches, they are interestingly served with the uncommon Turkey bread that has a crunchy crust and holds up wet ingredients very well.

The Tiger Prawn Pasta ($18) turned out to be totally different from what I imagined. Luscious dark brown pappardelle fully absorbed the seafood flavors with tiger prawns so fresh and plump that makes this almost as lavish as a lobster pasta. This self-service cafeteria also offers fresh croissants, cakes all baked in house. There's waffles and pancakes but I highly recommend the Five Spiced Churros. They are so delicately crisp on the outside and stretchy on the inside. Being neither too doughy nor greasy, these deep fried snacks are even better than  the ones I had at Barrio.

Portions are huge for sharing so it is best to get a group of friends down to share the variety (and calories). But do pick the right time to come or be prepared to queue.

Currently, Bee's Knees is offering a promotion of 2 regular pints of beer and 1 pizza for $38. Don't miss this great deal! (p.s I don't drink but I had the Truffle Mushroom Pizza which was fragrant and delicious!) 

Bee's Knees
50 Cluny Park Road
Botanic Gardens

Monday to Tuesday, 8 am - 6 pm

Wednesday to Sunday, 8 am - 10 pm

*'Live' band plays acoustic music every alternate Friday

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Botanico @ The Garage: New F&B Concept at The Botanic Gardens Serves Excellent Food

After the successful establishment of the Summerhouse at Seletar, 1-Group, the lifestyle F&B Group operating several award-winning restaurants such as UNA and 1-Rochester, redefines botanical adventures once again at The Garage. 

Converted from a 1920s Art Deco Conservation building, the 2-storey house offers 2 different F&B concepts; Bee Knees and The Botanico. The latter which I visited, is situated on an open-plan rectangular space at the 2nd level, with an outdoor terrace sheltered under the lush green canopy. There's a hidden garden bar in the outdoor area for guests to chill out with cocktails such as Blackberry Mojito and Garage Gin'onic


What Botanico offers is a contemporary-bistro, seasonality-driven menu based on formidable techniques and a dedication to the "craft". Spanish-born Chef Antonio Oviedo wasn't born in a family of chefs, but a combination of virtues led him to amass a diverse range of skills in some of the world class kitchens.

Smoked Sardines ($20)

Chef Antonio managed his culinary transition from 3 Michelin-starred El Cellar de can Roca in Spain to Binomio and later Iggy, with aplomb as witnessed from his innovative dishes that are humble yet rarefied. For instance, one doesn't get gazpacho as a bowl of chilled red soup but as a kind of almond milk conditioner that bridges the diverse elements such as Smoked Iwashi, crispy croutons cooked in Iberico fat, chorizo bits and tomatoes. Never have I come across such an eccentric dish which can't be easily categorize as an appetizer or a dish.

Reflecting the spirit of Botanico is this Botanico Salad which features plump and juicy Momotaro tomatoes alongside pickled beetroots, cucumbers and Canarejal cheese, a traditional raw unpasteurized sheep milk's cheese from Northern Spain. I was taken aback by the pungence of the cheese but I loved the richness. This is a dish could convert non-tomato eaters as the cheese allow the natural sweetness of these French tomatoes to speak for themselves.

Spanish croquettes are a common sight on bar counters in Spain but this Idiazabal Croquettes ($14 for 2 pcs) by Chef Antonio could be the most truthfully cheesy deep fried bombs you ever had. The bread crumb coating is crisp and light while the idizabal, a kind of unpasteurized sheep milk's cheese from the Basque Country, does not overpower despite its mass presence. Not to mention that the chorizos ratcheted up the smoky flavors by a few notches.

I was apprehensive of the Lamb Tartare ($20) but it proved to be the lightest form of raw meat I've ever had. There's no hints of gamey-ness at all and in fact, very fun to eat with pockets of flavors from the deep-fried capers, pickled onions and funky mustard ice cream alongside the Black Olives Arlette that reminded me of a crispy cheese galette.

Botanico might not be the place that one associates with seafood but those I've tried were first-rate. Hand-dived from Hokkaido, the sustainable Japanese Scallops ($27) came in 3 fresh succulent portions, slightly scorched in places to add flecks of brown to the opaque white.  The sweetness was enhanced by Iberico lardo while the Tompinabar (Jerusalem Artichoke) puree and crisps were a welcome change to the usual parsni


I highly recommend The Chargrilled Carabinero. It was such a steal for $28 as the scarlet prawns were utterly sweet and plump, complementing perfectly with the saffron mellow rice that was like a cross between paella and risotto. Having fully absorbed the essence of prawn bisque made from the stock of Carabinero prawn heads, the rice was heady in aroma and brimming with umami goodness. I really enjoyed the sticky texture and emptied the bowl grain-free.

Chef Antonio's flair for free experimentation continues to the desserts. The Tropical Fruit ($14) is breaks down the barrier between sweet and savoury with the aromatic Laksa Leafs Ice cream and white chocolate tumeric ganache. Paired with pungent jackfruit, sea coconut, deep-fried laksa leaves, this dessert is so bold and wild; a rediscovery of  the beauty in tropical herbs and fruits.

As an interpretation of gin and tonic, the  Botanist ($12) isn't as intense as expected, but more like a palate cleanser with cucumber sorbet and coconut foam that dissipates in seconds. Apart from coconut sables and kaffir lime zest, there's Granny Smith apples infused with gin that won't leave you sober. The flavors were too clean for me but I am sure those without a sweet tooth will like this.

The Ceiba ($14) is a must-try dessert for hard core chocolate lovers (Me! *raises hand*) as the warm organic chocolate cream doubled up with fudgy chocolate brownies to produce a knock-out effect on me. So bitter rich, potent and deeply satisfying that I couldn't suppress my greed to spoon for more. The ginger ice cream was mild while the red hibiscus petals were sour and crunchy. Put them all together and you get a very balanced chocolate dessert.

From the starters to the desserts, the food here truly testify chef's prowess that straddles across disciplines, be it traditional or avant garde, savory or desserts. I can't wait to be back here, to be inspired by Chef Antonio's dishes in a place of beauty and peace


Botanico @ The Garage
Wed-Sun 6pm-10pm
50 Cluny Park Rd
Singapore 257488
https://www.facebook.com/thegaragesbg/

This is an invited tasting.

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Alter Ego @ Esplanade : Eat Clean and Indulge Dirty

Angel and Demon. 

Pure and Evil. 

Clean and Dirty. 

Everyone has an alter ego hidden inside ourselves. That alternate face that's always deviating from the norm, gravitating towards the sinful, unhealthy actions. Imagine having healthy poke bowls with sinful fries drenched in cheese. That's what you can find at AlterEgo, an edgy underground space at Esplanade where you can "unleash your alterego".

Over food, that is. 

Indulge dirty with the Chilli Cheese Dog ($13), an impossibly soft butter griddled bun stuffed with grilled cheddar sausage smothered in sweet and spicy house-made minced beef, sour cream and melted cheddar cheese. It spoke the language of comfort food just like the twice-baked Buffalo Wings ($14). These were more smoky than spicy, but already flavorfully seasoned on its own without the need for house ranch dressing. 

Crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside consistency is the litmus test of good fries but Alter Ego takes it to an extreme new level with its original Pizza Fries drenched in seemingly endless three-cheese sauce and smoky pepperoni ($14)

Yes, this is bound to ruin your diet plan tremendously but you know you just want to jump right in the ship of melty goodness. And the bacon ketchup sauce served at the side only worsen things by making the fries extra moreish. Don't ever eat this with your hands. And this applies for the dangerously addictive deep-fried Fish Skin ($8) that latched to the special Umami dust. 

Yet another stunningly lavish treatment of potatoes is the heaping bowl of Loaded Taters ($13) I actually didn't know tater tots are hash browns in small cylindrical forms but knowing that made me realized how crazily tasty hashbrowns can be. 

The crisp, golden shells yielded gently to a soft piping hot interior. Tossed them with spicy japeleno cheese sauce, fragrant flecks of maple glazed bacon and sour cream and you've got an entirely different beast. 

With so many heavy, rich-flavored dishes across the board, the Grilled Cheese ($11) suddenly became pretty lightweight and easy to handle. Imagine golden toasts with wafer-like crispness collapsing into an ultra-gooey center as you sink your bite into it.

I knew I needed to work my ass out for all the #cheesepull goals but no regrets as this IS the best cheese toast I've ever had after the one at Dominique Ansel Japan. Add on $3 for beef short ribs fillings.

Healthy eats? Did I mention that at the start? Yes, the poke bowls are definitely a must-try and I loved them as much or even more than some of the above dishes. All the poke bowls are pre-set but you can still swap or top-up for certain ingredients.

Similar to bara chirashi dons as they seemed, these poke bowls got the higher vote as I find that the sauce marinade is more livid without draining the natural sweetness of the sashimi. The poke bowls also offer plenty of textures and nutrition than an average chirashi don. For example, the Umami Omega ($16) features a spicy garlic sesame salmon with lime avocado and kale chips on signature sushi rice. There's also a vegan option great for vegan and non-vegan eaters alike. 

To cap it all off, there's desserts such as Lemon Ice Box Pie ($11) and Berries & Cream  ($11) to help you gain more weight. Both of them reminded me of classic Ang-moh desserts that are buried under an incredulous mountain of fresh chantily. However, I soon realized that the amount of cream was actually just right to go along with the tangy lemon filling or even the juicy macerated berries.

At AlterEgo, it's really go big or go home. If you've already swallowed down so much cheese and flavors earlier, why still bother about the cream? :D 

Be true to yourself. 

Let loose and eat for your ego. 

Alter Ego by A Poke Theory

#01-13D Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue

Mon – Fri 11am – 1am
Sat: 10am – 2am
Sun: 10am – 1am

www.alterego.sg

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Birds of a Feather @ Amoy Street : Creative Contemporary Sichuan Cusine

As the saying goes, "Birds of the same feathers flock together", Birds of A Feather is a contemporary Sichuan all-day dining place where people of like mind, values and tastes congregate over good food and drinks as many times as they wish. Like a "third place" or another sanctuary nest to enjoy a moment of peace animated by the greens, beautiful Northern Chinese timber and overhead lamps "clouds". 

Opened by the same owners of successful cafe chain, 良木缘 Good Wood Coffee in Chengdu, Birds of a Feather offers modern Western food with an ostensible Sichuan influence. For instance, the Tofu Burger with Mapo meat sauce $22 is an oriental take on the western burger with a light and crisp tofu pattie in between Chinese Mantou. The overall dish leaned toward the light, healthy spectrum--a far cry from the typically gravy-laden Chinese dish but a more liberal dressing of the delicious meat sauce would be ideal.  

I prefer the Oriental Bolognese ($20), a scrumptious plate of angel hair pasta tossed in savoury pork ragout and Sakura Ebi.  It's a truly successful re-interpretation of the Zha Jiang Mian, but I would top up $2 for the spicy version when I come back next time. 

Besides the pasta, another favourite was the Crispy Panini with Pork Belly. As the name suggests, the crust is superbly crunchy but not tough. Once you sink your teeth into those wicked layers, you get a bastion of juicy flavors oozing from the Sichuan pork belly, grilled cheese and pickled cabbage. This is one great inspired dish not to be missed for lunch or dinner. Hot & Sour Chazuke ($28), a Sino-Japanese inspired dish of spicy pickled mustard broth, charcoal grilled Barramundi and mentaiko. The ensemble of flavors around the Niigata rice was just as vibrant as its colors.

As with any restaurants in China especially in the Sichuan province, there's bound to be an array of 小菜 to choose from. Here, there's the "Small Plates" section where one can find truly excellent bites such as Crispy Gyoza with Truffle Soy Vinegrette  ($16), Crispy Pork Trotters in a Bag ($12/5pcs), and the Fried Calamari with Yuzu Tartar Sauce ($19).

If you are looking for that tingling, numbing sensation, opt for the Fortune Skewer in Sze Chuan Pepper Broth ($19) that comes with Japanese noodles. It's like Harry Potter's Candies where each skewer is of an ingredients.But the highlight was the piquant and robust broth which I couldn't resist slurping till the final drip.

Those familiar with Sichuan cuisine will know that 辣子鸡 is a must-have dish and I was satisfied with the version here known as "Find your chicken in the chillies" $16. Although it didn't make me sweat out, the crisp tender chicken pops offered a good kick without being greasy. Just stay clear of the bright red chillies if you don't want to end up with a prolonged numbness on your tongue. 

Desserts were no less delicious than the mains starting from the refreshing East-meet-West Poached Pear with Longans, white fungus and orange peel ($12). First impression counts and it was love at first sight for this blossoming pear  taking center stage in this dessert.  It's as light as those Cantonese 糖水 but forged a stronger presence with the bittersweet citrus caramel ice cream and gentle citrus perfumes from the orange peel.

The Feathers Cheesecake ($9) is just as feathery light as its name while the Deep Fried Glutinuous Rice Cake with Okinawan Syrup ($12) took me by surprise with an incredible soft texture beneath the browned surface, nothing of those chewy or rubbery rice cakes that I usually come across in other Chinese restaurants. 

While fusion can often be a confusion, none of the dishes I've tried land into this situation 

From the design to the food, everything here is very well-strategized and creatively pieced together. Across the mains I've tried, the spice levels are generally well-moderated without any major compromise in flavours. With so many new restaurants and cafes opening up these days, this place is definitely one of the best places I've dine in 2016.

Birds of a Feather

113 Amoy Street Singapore 069935 Tel: (65) 6221 7449  

Nov 2016

Mon-Sat 10am-11.45pm 

Sun 10am-6pm 

Dec 2016 onwards 

Mon-Sun 10am-11.45pm 

FB: birdsofafeathersg

Instagram @birdsofafeathersg

 

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