La Strada

I'm having full faith in the Les Amis Group, since all my experiences with them have been disgruntlement-free so far. From splendid Au Jardin to the unparalleled Aoki to dandy Canele Patisserie, memories remain sweet and pleasant (: Next up: their italian counterpart.

La Strada offers a set lunch at $28++ (2 courses) or $34++ (3 courses), with three selections available per course.

In the bread basket was a decent ciabatta and wedges of their wood-fired pizza crusts smeared with tomato and herbs.

Butternut pumpkin soup

Memories were blurry from the few sips of butternut pumpkin soup i took, except it not falling into the too-thick or too-dilute extremes.

Smoked salmon with yogurt dill dressing

Smoked salmon is always my prime choice; even if this was just an average-joe smoked salmon salad comprising dressed mesclun, capers, mini croutons, balsamic glaze & olive oil drizzles.... Hmmm and was there supposed to be a yogurt dill dressing?

Char grilled 70 day grain-fed sirloin beef, mesclun salad, cream potatoes

Hearing the title of a '70 day grain-fed sirloin beef' is enough to make any beef-loving human smile. And indeed, the beef-lover across me spoke only praises of his tender, well-grilled steak served with creamy mash.

Pan-fried Salmon with mesclun salad, roasted new potatoes

For a non beef eater-cum-salmon fan like me, the choice is none other than a panfried salmon steak. La Strada's execution of the mundane dish was creditable... The skin was seared to a skillful crisp, flesh kept delicate, slightly rawish in the middle & pleasurably fat-laced ooooohhh. It's been a while since i had a decorous salmon steak like that.

Tiramisu

Their puffy light tiramisu-in-a-teacup was decent at best, without distinctly stunning details.

Orange ice nougatine

The orange ice nougatine was essentially a mascarpone parfait with chockfull of nuts & candied fruits, set over a chocolate feuillete base. I liked the nutty textures and christmas-y feel attached to it... makes me wanna sing the chipmunk song haha. Eat it quick before you start to see a grossly melted mush on your plate.

Planning to return for a taste of their famed pastas.

La Strada
1 Scotts Road
#01-10/11 Shaw Centre
6737 2555

Lunching Wild (Rocket)

Things i like about chef Willin Low:

Abdicating his corporate status to pursue his heart instincts.

His unabating passion for cooking.

His courage to twine local nosh & western posh.

The unpredictability of his dishes.

Relish. Wild Oats. Wild Rocket.

I never had a boredom issue with Wild Rocket's menu. The 3-course Ala carte Lunch ($35++) is my running choice here. The cast changes periodically & newbies-on-probation often sound mismatchingly gripping. They make you go ?!! alot.

Check out: Bah kut teh wanton, foie gras ngoh hiang, salted duck egg pasta, bee tai bak, blue swimmer crab congee soup, hainan tomato relish, gong tng, sticky rice.... Slowly getting disturbing.

The foccacia bread seemed to have waned in standard. I remember it being dense & moist with savory cheese speckles dabbing its caps the last time, but now the virtues have vanished.

Five-spice Foie Gras ngoh hiang meat roll ($13.80)

How's a Foie Gras Ngoh Hiang for starter? Think French wave thwacked Peranakan Loh Bak. He swathes foie gras & five spice-marinated prawns in beancurd skin, then teamed caramelized onions & fresh granny smith sticks to cut some unctuousness. Culturally bizarre but interesting.

Pan-seared Tuna Rocket Salad ($12.50)

I thought they could have laid more semi-seared tuna, or maybe used a less canton-evoking ginger dressing to silence my grouses. Relish's got a similar version with 5 tuna slices.

Harji Pasta with Prawns ($5 supplement applies)

Fans of "har ji meen" would beam upon their special-of-the-day. The Hong Kong delicacy is done a notch classier by replacing egg noodles with fine angel hair slicked in minimal olive oil. The shrimps were crystal (my own term for crunchy, semi-pellucid prawns) but dried shrimp roe too little to shine.

Roast Chilean Seabass on light congee ($32)

On extremely rare occasions, i see grease in a different light.

Their Roast Chilean Seabass happens to fall in that pinhole. Fish oils + the oleaginous attributes of chai poh confit composed a flavor so scrumptious, that diluting it with uninspiring ketupat-like congee makes no prudent sense.

Personal note: Still loving Ember's CSB most! (:

Kueh Baulu Tiramisu ($9.80)

Kueh Baulu's versatility worked. The reappraised dessert tallies alcohol-moistened spongecakes, espresso icecream & mascarpone cream that's not unduly firm. 5 points for taste, 2 points for his witty substitute.

Wild Rocket Strawberry Cheesecake ($10)

Deconstructed food can be tricky. Consume each component individually & you're bound to condemn: Lemon mascarpone too thick, macerated strawberries syrupy sweet, maple icecream stings of saccharine (but i like it!), biscuit blocks boring.. A mouthful of any could tip the threshold.

My strategy: Take concerted spoonfuls of everything. Allow all the players to glister & flaws would conceal.

Willin conveys close-to-our-heart ingredients in contemporary makeovers, without elaborate sauces or presentations. His innovation is apparent but steep. And i'm not sure how long this risky fashion will continue to lick the boots of the crowd. One or two attempts are likely, but we cannot dismiss the tendency of Singaporeans reverting to no-frills hawker fare for best local comfort.

Even for me, i'll be more enthusiastic spending 40 bucks on a focused, less alloyed cuisine. Sad to say.

'The discovery of a new dish does more for the good of mankind

than the discovery of a new star.' How true.

Wild Rocket

10A Upper Wilkie Road

Hangout Hotel @ Mount Emily

6339 9448

Chalk Restaurant

Arty-farty bistros are bustling up in education institutes lately.

Chalk's the resident star of the Old School (formerly MGS), dressed in smart colors and discernibly well-loved by the vibrant New School thinkers. Casual and chic the way i like it.

My first moments began with a cheery waitress who recognized me from her ex-workplace Peperoni Pizzeria haha. Two types of breads are served here: a presumable baguette and onion foccacia, which are decent enough but not stunning to be remembered.

Someone close to me is hooked to Spaghetti Vongole ($23)- a dish hardly served in an organized fashion. But at Chalk, concern for presentation is evident. The clams didn't stick out from random angles but instead concentrically arranged below the pasta. With kicks of chilli padi, cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley, it tasted clean without being bland.

My love for pizza is clearly infiltrating... or am i just bent on finding the best? Chalk does a conspicuously nice Capricciosa ($15 for 10") delegating artichokes, ham, shitake mushrooms, black olives and a soft gentle cheese. My request for garlic over olives blended in fittingly. The crust was puffed & crisp-sustaining... only flawed by a dearth of wood-fired goodness. Pity.

Finishing this is peanuts for my astounding pizza capacity.

I liked whatever Creme Brulee i dug out of the teardrop bowl... contents of exquisitely smooth baked custard clung with occasional screams of yolk-iness that's not overwhelming. Even if so, it comes with pistachio hazelnut biscotti sticks to intervene. One of the more outstanding renditions on my list.

I'm having a predicative fore-crush on their desserts, am soooo returning for the rest of the lineup. I spy passionfruit souffle, apple & rhubarb crumble, vanilla pannacotta, chocolate fondant & crepes suzette... Looks like a dessert-dedicated visit is necessary.

If youthful casual-chic is your thing, Chalk is likely up your alley.

Chalk Restaurant @ Mount Sophia

11 Mount Sophia

#01-03

6883 2120

Sweet Indulgence: Slice of Bittersweet

Pink, sweet, girly. Charming things.

Sweet Indulgence is all about title-appeal. To begin, a name that sounds good enough to bite. To end, glamoury descriptions and discerning prices which may not permanently please.

i admit my mixed feelings about this place.

A close friend's insistence set me on a swift street-navigating around Tanjong Pagar. We arrived, number ones. With proud illusions of booking the entire small-scale restaurant for at least the first half an hour.

Complimentary Foccacia

And the dinner began well. Blocks of foccacia bread, warm and soft like how i would imagine them to be. The complimentary pizza was all thats hampering me from accepting a second helping.

Seafood Platter ($18.80)

The awesomeness continued. we were both taken in by the seafood platter's array of fresh variety sauteed in its sweetish white wine stock. liked the crystal prawns, albeit tiny, but felt the scallop flesh was way too XXS in size.

Chicken & Mushroom Pizza

($17.80, complimentary w every 2 main courses ordered)

And more.

I was still slurping the platter's wine reduction when my friend's sudden "OMG" grabbed my attention.... "the pizza is sooo good".

Nods my head in agreement. Sweet Indulgence's chicken and mushroom pizza honestly sat chunks of chicken, juicy white button mushrooms, onions, roasted green peppers & fresh cheese on a pizza base so optimally rolled out. There's this charred fragrance about its crust that gets me going.

takeaway-whatever's-left-behind policy holds.

Baked Salmon Fillet ($24.80)

One step back. the baked salmon fillet was pan-seared, and almost dried up of the herb butter sauce at consumption midpoint.

Chilean Black Cod ($32.80)

Two steps back. heavily flouring the chilean black cod and coating it with a gimmicky homemade lobster jus performs no justice to the prestigious specie, and its extortionate pricetag. The nuttily-dressed salad was more brilliant than that.

Warm Chocolate Lava Indulgence ($10.80)

Warm Chocolate Lava Indulgence. The chocoholics wouldn't miss out on this people-see-people-like hotshot. decent rendition, minus the burnt base, for any trace of molten dark cocoa lava and a non-magnolia/marigold/kings scoop of vanilla darling seals the lips.

I love stuffs pink, sweet & girly.
But a pity, the sweets don't tie with full agreement.

PS. envying their 19-year-old dessert chef!

Sweet Indulgence

2 Stanley Street

6223 7707

Wild Rocket's Sunday Brunch

I was taken by surprise when Dad drove up Mt Emily Road today.

elaine: where are we going?
dad: Wild Rocket.

omg, omg.

It must have been my verbal admiration for Willin Low lately, or constant repetition of how his lawyer-turned-chef background have inspired me a great deal, but dad have most probably adhered to my fascination.

And we both headed into hangout hotel with full anticipation.

Bright classy white exuded a clean atmosphere while a blooming scarlet area catches the eye almost immediately- a private section for bigger groups.

Dainty cubes of complimentary bread kickstarted our brunch, warming my fingers as i picked them out of the teardrop-shaped bowl. Lightly savoury, and best dipped in olive oil.

spicy conpoy & fresh scallop spaghetti w dried shrimp ($22)

The waiter added "you've made a very good choice, sir" as he placed the spicy conpoy & fresh scallop spaghetti with dried shrimp into dad's view. My heart dipped when the first flavour i picked up didn't suit my liking.

Certainly no overcooked strands but the sharply spicy yet sweet effect appeared rather uncomforting. I would call for larger scallops as well.

scrambled eggs smoked salmon foccacia sandwich ($17.50)

I immediately shifted my hopes to my next dish.

Indeed, this ever-common scrambled eggs smoked salmon foccacia sandwich dish was transformed to his own. His version of herb-free foccacia (just like the starter), olive-oil damped, laid beneath an overwhelming blanket of hollandaise sauce and wet scramble. Satisfyingly creamy with a perfect touch of seasoning.

Generous chunks of fresh grade salmon gave the lightest smokyness.. easily mistaken as sashimi.

dark lava chocolate gateau w vanilla icecream ($13)

Dessert was simply a beautiful finish.

I was bound on the dark lava chocolate gateau w vanilla icecream. Just how would one of Lifestyle's top 10 chocolate desserts taste?

DIVINE.

The neat brown shell released a pleasurable flow of bitter chocolate- a pure indication of quality dark chocolate being invested, plus vanilla icecream for neutralisation.

Hot & cold, bitter & sweet... the contrast was sensational; complemented with tiny crumble bonuses. Real skill display.

I had to say, i did not leave this place unsatisfied.
And still filled with anticipation.. for any next visits ahead (:

Wild Rocket

10A Upper Wilkie Road

Hangout Hotel @ Mt Emily

6339 9448

The Caffe.Bar

From what i have heard, this Bakerzin-related uses a chef poached from an unrevealed restaurant, and is Daniel Tay's creation for his sister. They do not exactly occupy a shop space but situates in the middle of Parkway Parade's fashion retail area. Dad frequents here for lunch so often that they even issued him an exclusive VIP card.

The all-day-set-meals are a hit if you wish to savour a variety at a worthy price. Gourmet Sets cost $19.90 and Cuisine Sets at $20.90, each inclusive of a soup, choice of main course and standard coffee/tea.

Clam Chowder & Walnut Toasts

A Clam Chowder came hot and comforting, palatably creamy without binging on the chunks. Not only did the soup taste good, we were also entitled to free flow of their DIY slice-and-toast bread bar. Walnut bread is our usual.

Medallion of Salmon with Wasabi & Soy Honey ($20.90)

Two pieces of salmon fillet, coiled up and pan-fried to a remarkable note. I loved the way the two unbeatable sauces coordinated so well, with contrasting dashes of potent wasabi creating tastebud wonders with that sweet-savoury soy honey. My only grouse had to be the measly portion, but then again, quality beats quantity. If the grease could be slightly reduced, this Medallion of Salmon with Wasabi & Soy Honey dish comes close to perfection.

Seafood Aglio Olio Spaghetti ($19.90)

They execute good skills in their pastas too. Dad's Seafood Aglio Olio is tossed in extra virgin olive oil packed with spice and a plethora of fresh seafood.

Coffee, Greentea & Passion Macarons ($1.50 each)

Priced at $1.50 each, these macarons were probably the cheapest desserts on display. I reckon the same production line as Bakerzin's except with a change of flavours to avoid confusion. Not too bad, the flavours were clear and distinct.

Rosy Pink Tea

The emphasis on presentation, ambience and all is just so typical of a perfectionist's style. A return is definite, since everything from pastas to the desserts are all worth a try.

The CaffeBar

80 Marine Parade Road

#01-34D Parkway Parade