Perched on level 5 of Downtown Gallery, nestled in a cosy corner with green outdoor of the shopping mall is the place for executive working in the area to chill after work with food, bar-bites and drinks.

The Garden Club dedicated a Brunch menu of Beyond Burgers, Pasta, in short, single dish items while for dinner, sharing plate. I visited them during dinner and tried out some amazing vegetable dishes.

Small Plate

Diner could share some healthy small plate such as the Fried Brussels Sprouts ($9).

I would highly recommend the Broccoli Tempura with Gochujang Mayo ($6). All fried food is extra tasty with a mayo-sauce.

Mains Plate

For Mains, diner could opt for the Cauliflower Bouquet Roast ($10) with Miso sauce. Really healthy and the miso sauce is the key to enhance the flavour.

For a more wholesome option, Garden Ragu Fettucine ($15) with Beyond Meat are added to give the “Beef” Bolognese Sauce.

My favourite got to be the freshly Grilled Barramundi sat on a bed of quinoa and barley mix. The entire combination was excellent.

Dessert

The dessert served at The Garden Club are vegan-friendly, hence no milk is added. For a lighter option, select the Apple Rosette Tart ($8).

If you prefer chocolate, opt for the Dark Chocolate Tart. Extremely chocolaty.

NAHMJ Verdict

I was surprised to find the food served at The Garden Club to be so tasty despite being vegetables.

The Garden Club

6A Shenton Way, #05-01 OUE Downtown Gallery, Singapore
Tel: +65 6971 8265

Website: https://www.thegardenclub.sg/

Opening Hours

Mondays – Fridays:
Grab & go 9am-4pm,
Quick serve 11am-3pm,
Lunch noon-2:30pm,
Dinner 5:30pm-10:30pm,
Bar 5pm-midnight

Getting There

By MRT:

• East West line – Tanjong Pagar station (Exit B)

By Bus:

• UIC Building along Shenton Way   10, 10e, 57, 70, 75, 97, 97e, 100, 106, 107, 128, 130, 131, 133, 162, 167, 186, 196, 196e, 400, 402, 700, 850E, 951E, 970, 971E, 982E
• Aft Capital Tower along Robinson Road   10, 10e, 70, 75, 97, 97e, 100, 106, 107, 128, 130, 133, 162, 196, 196e, 850E, 868, 951E, 982E
• International Plaza along Anson Road   57, 131, 167, 186, 400, 402, 970, 971E

Rating: 7/10


*Disclaimer: This was a media invite.

The post The Garden Club Serving Healthy Food At Downtown Gallery – Downtown, Singapore appeared first on NAHMJ.

Thyme at Aliwal has a complete different vibe from the first. This is an indoor cafe with air-conditioning and a playful interior. For those who lament about the heat at Rochester but loves their food, you can opt to enjoy them at this outlet.

Menu at Thyme At Aliwal is similar to the Rochester outlet. What’s more, be rest assured of the quality and standard too.

This round, I chose different items from what I tried at Rochester. Though not a big fan of mushroom, an exception is for the Portobello, hence I opted
Portobello with Mango Mayo ($14). I was curious of the sauce, mango chutney with mayo was a killer combination, perfect for the breaded shroom.

Pan-seared Norwegian Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce ($22) is another amazing item. Alluring crispy skin on the surface of the fillet was the plus point. Lemon Butter Sauce coupled with the salmon was superb. At the bottom was a bed of perfectly grilled vegetables.

I was Apple Crumble With Ice Cream

NAHMJ Verdict

Personally, I prefer Thyme At Aliwal to Thyme At Rochester, as it has air-condition.

Thyme At Aliwal

28 Aliwal Street #01-07, Aliwal Arts Center Singapore 199918
Tel: +65 6444 6400

Website: https://www.thyme.sg/thyme-aliwal-craft-cafe

Opening Hours

Sundays – Thursdays 1100 to 2100 | Fridays – Saturdays 1100 to 2200 | Sundays | Closed on every Tuesday

Getting There

By MRT:

• Downtown line & East West line – Bugis station
• East West line – Lavender station

By Bus:

• At or opposite Plaza Parkroyal along Beach Road   100, 107, 107M, 961, 980
• Before Sultan Mosque along North Bridge Road   7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 145, 175, 197
• Near Bali Lane, along Ophir Road – 48

Rating: 7/10

*Disclaimer: This was a media invite.

The post Thyme At Aliwal, An Additional Option to Kampong Glam – Bugis, Singapore appeared first on NAHMJ.

Whetted our appetite with the Marinated Cabbage ($6), simply with chilli soy vinaigrette and white bean. Though it is an extremely simply dish, we like the flavours and texture of the dish.

Slow-Cooked Coix Beef Soup ($15) was a little disappointing in my opinion. The tomato flavour dominated or more accurately, it masked the rest of the flavour. Personally, I would prefer a stronger beef aroma and lesser tomato fragrance.

Comfort food is up next with Tangy Chicken and Mushroom Braised Rice ($26). This reminds me of porridge cooked in chicken stock. Well-balanced flavour. It will be my go to dish on rainy day.

Even though I am not a cooked-Salmon fan, I enjoyed the Miso Red Dates Roasted Salmon ($35). Amazingly, the miso red dates glazed worked extremely well on the Salmon. In short, it was delicious. 

Meals with no dessert is never complete. We got the Molten Matcha Lava ($16) to round it up. The matcha flavour was sufficient with thick molten matcha lava flowing from the centre of the cake.

NAHMJ Verdict

I always love Asian elements infusing into Western dish. There might be some misses in the Sichuna-inspired dishes whipped by Halcyon & Crane, on the whole, there are more hits. 

Halcyon & Crane

290 Orchard Rd, #03-09 The Paragon, Singapore 238859
Tel: +65 6416 4886

FB: https://www.facebook.com/halcyoncrane/

Opening Hours

Daily  0900 to 2200

Getting There

By MRT:

• North-South line – Orchard or Somerset station

By Bus:

• Opp Ngee Ann City along Orchard Boulevard   14, 14e, 124, 128, 143, 162, 162M, 167, 171, 190, 700, 700A

• National Youth Council along Grange Road   7, 14, 16, 36, 65, 77, 106, 111, 123, 174, 174e, 175, 971E

• Lucky Plaza along Orchard Road   7, 14, 14e, 16, 65, 106, 111, 123, 175, 502, 502A

• Opp Mandarin Orchard along Orchard Road   36, 77, 124, 128, 143, 162, 162M, 171, 174, 174e, 190, 518, 700, 700A, 971E

Rating: 8/10

The post Halcyon & Crane, Sichuan-inspired brunch, At Paragon – Orchard, Singapore appeared first on NAHMJ.

Akin to stepping into a home, we were warmly received by the staff into a 56-seater space, decked out with wide, wooden tables and comfy banquet seats. The space boasts a walk-in wine cellar which holds over 300 different styles of wine from over 80 Old and New World wine producers. Eighty percent of these are EXCLUSIVE to The Wine & Gourmet Friends.

When deciding on a bottle, you have two options – William Seah, the owner and resident wine guru, to recommend something to match the food, or, you can saunter in and peruse the vast collection before pulling something off the shelf to drink in or take away. With prices ranging from $25 to $1,888, William reassures, “We are able to acquire even higher valued wines to meet our customers’ needs.”

Chef Wilson Ang has over 11 years of experience under his apron and honed his skills at a myriad of stellar boutique dining establishments. Working together with Pastry Chef Gus Wang, who is also a partner at The Wine & Gourmet Friends. Their creations are expressions of a food philosophy that has evolved over many years in the kitchen.

Prawn & Seafood Bite (Hei Zho) ($12)

Many of the dishes served at the bistro are skillful adaptations of dishes that Chef Wilson and Chef Gus grew up with. Hei Zho, a traditional deep-fried prawn roll, is elevated in this rendition of the dish. Prepared with minced pork belly (hormone and antibiotic free), diced sea prawns, turnip and cuttlefish paste for bite and as a binder, these rolls are deep fried to a crisp, then topped with a refreshing sweet and sour homemade achar (Peranakan spicy pickled vegetables). Because chef put more prawns in the Hei Zho, it makes the texture more springy.

Wine Pairing: BODEGAS BRETON Loriñon Crianza Rioja DOCa (Northern Spain) ($35)

Tasting Notes: Notes of raspberry and violets, and hints of cocoa, vanilla and toasted oak. Medium to full-bodied wine, yet soft tannins and ripe fruit freshness.

Foie Gras Lotus Leaf Rice ($18)

Perfectly seasoned and seared foie gras lies atop a bed of lotus leaf rice, fragrant with ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, porcini and shiitake mushrooms, and Chinese X.O. sausage. Lotus chips add a satisfying crunch. Traditionally made with glutinous rice, Calrose rice provides fullness to this dish without overwhelming the stomach. Very nice, can see this working as a snack.

Wine Pairing: ARC DU RHÔNE Côtes du Rhône-Villages AOC (Northern Rhone Valley, France) ($42)

Tasting Notes: Lusciously fruit-driven nose of dark berries, cherries & hints of spices. Medium-bodied wine with dense flavours & silky tannins.

Roast Pork Belly ($24)

Chef used Australian Bangalow sweet pork to prepare this dish, the layer of crisp crackling skin makes this dish so remarkable. It was served with a side salad and a dusting of smoky kaffir lime leaf powder for depth.

Wine Pairing: SNAKE + HERRING “Dirty Boots” Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River, Western Australia) ($49)

Tasting Notes: Nose-filled blackcurrants and blackberries layered with notes of dried tea-leaves and herbs, over hints of cedar and toast. Full-bodied wine with rich yet smooth tannins, vibrant with firm structure and lingering finish.

Lamb Trio ($30)

This plate consists of lamb kofta – tender minced lamb, with mixed herbs and spices such as ras el hanout and harissa, and wrapped around a lemongrass stalk; lamb rendang and rosemary grilled lamb rack. Chilled quinoa salad and cucumber raita are perfect accompaniments.

The rosemary grilled lamb won me over, it lends a layer of herbal spicy flavour to the natural smoky savoury sweet taste of the meat.

Wine Pairing: SANTA SOFIA Antichello Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG (Veneto, Northeast Italy) ($79)

Tasting Notes: Intense nose of dried plum and prune, cinnamon and cocoa, and hints of tobacco, toast and oak. Full-bodied wine with rich tannins, dense texture and very lasting finish.

Black Pepper Crab Noodle ($18)

The picture of the Black Pepper Crab Noodle doesn’t just look good, but tastes good also. A base of nutty wholegrain noodle, is drenched in black pepper sauce made with Sarawak black peppercorns and a rich seafood broth, topped with a plump soft-shell crab and blue swimmer crabmeat, as well as beansprouts and crispy shallots. Hearty and filling dish, highly recommended.

Wine Pairing: The Cloud Factory Pinot Noir (Marlborough, South Island New Zealand) ($38)

Tasting Notes: Lively bright nose of cranberries, redcurrants and lingonberries. Medium-bodied with soft tannins and a refreshing, soft texture.

Teh “C” ($8)

Lavender Early Grey ice cream, popping candy and crunchy chocolate pearls.  The ice-cream was very creamy, it wrapped up our dinner nicely.

Wine Pairing: Burlesque White Zinfandel Rosé (USA) ($35)

Tasting Notes: Fresh, lively nose of strawberries, cherries and red berries. Light to medium-bodied with soft tannins and a refreshing, soft texture.

Promotion & Discount

Customers may look forward to the following promotions and discounts at The Wine & Gourmet Friends:

• Monday Mussels Madness: Enjoy 50% off Laksa Mussels (u.p. $18)
• Tuesday Bottomless Wine: $38 per person
• Wednesday Beer Buffet: $38 per person
• Thursday Ladies Only 1-for-1 House Pours
• Saturday Wine & Spirit Sharing Hour (4pm – 5pm) – a wine appreciation and knowledge sharing session conducted by the team
• Sunday ‘Bring Your Own Food’ (a minimum purchase of 1 bottle/ 4 persons is required)

NAHMJ Verdict

If you believe that friendships are forged and flourish over good wines and heart-warming food, please bring your friends and loved ones to The Wine & Gourmet Friends. You will enjoy your experience here, the comfortable laid-back ambience and friendly knowledgeable service and hearty portions of delicious food.

The Wine & Gourmet Friends

48 Bukit Pasoh Road Singapore 089859
Tel: +65 6224 1982

Website: http://www.twgf.sg/
FB: http://www.facebook.com/twgf.global

Opening Hours:

Monday to Saturday  1200 to 2300  |  Sunday  1200 to 2100

Getting There

By MRT:

• Northeast and North-South Line – Outram Park Station (NE3/EW16)

By Bus:

• Before the Pinnacle @ Duxton along Neil Road   61, 166, 197

• Pearl’s Center along Eu Tong Seng   54, 124, 143, 147, 166, 190, 851, 970, CT8, CT18, CT28

• Opp Pearl’s Center along New Bridge Road   2, 12, 33, 54, 63, 124, 143, 147, 190, 851, 961, 961C, 970, CT8, CT18, CT28

Rating: 8.5/10

*Disclaimer: This was a media invite.

The post Wine & Gourmet Friends, Exclusive Wines Boutique And Restaurant – Outram, Singapore appeared first on NAHMJ.

There is a common mis-conception about French food. Unanimously, the response is that after a French meal, there is a need to go back home to have some instant noodles to fill the stomach. This is not true of Authentic French Food.

At So France Bistro and Epicerie, they serve hearty substantial classics French food without frill. 2 menu are available at the bistro; first is a menu for lunch (Le midi) and the other is known as the menu (La Carte) for dinner. For lunch, you will find 2-course lunch set while this option isn’t available for dinner.

Skipped the lunch menu and dive straight into the dinner menu since that was what we were there for. On the menu ranging from Appetisers, Oysters, platter of cold cuts and cheese, stew, grill and desserts are available.

Begin with platter to share; Assortiment de charcuterie / Assorted cold cuts ($28.50) and Assortiment de fromages /Assorted French cheese ($28.50). Each assortment offers 6 varieties. The selection differs from time to time. The platter is not only pleasing to the sight but also to the palate. I love dipping my hard cheese with the jam. 

Subsequently, moving to the stews. First is the Cocotte de poulet supreme aux champignons / Chicken mushroom stew ($24). Cooked using the sous vide method resulting in a tender juicy chicken breast meat. I am not a fan of both chicken breast meat and sous vide though. I can’t deny the tasty sauce of the stew though.

Anytime, I would prefer the Cocotte de joue de boeuf confite / Beef cheek stew ($26) to the former dish. Chunky Beef cheek absorbed the essence and was easy to the jaw.

Finally, our last stew for the night was the Cocotte de parmentier de canard / Duck confit gratin ($26). Duck masses well-distributed through the wholesome potato mashed.

Out of the 8 available desserts, we tried 3 of them. Started with the lightest, Pomme cannelle confite à la crème / Cinnamon apple confit with soft cream ($6.50). Overwhelming cinnamon flavour within the apple pieces which will find delight with fans who love this spice.

Followed by the Les canelé de Bordeaux en profileroles / Caneles from Bordeaux ($12). Simple vanilla ice cream sandwiched between caneles.

Lastly, our favourite dessert among the 3 choices was Le coulant au chocolat noir / Dark Chocolate lava cake ($9.50). Bitter-sweet Valrhona chocolate was used to baked this lava cake. To a bitter-sweet chocolate fan like myself, I find it too sweet.

NAHMJ Verdict

Enjoy a hearty dinner of authentic French fare, the answer is So France Bistro and Epicerie.

So France Bistro and Epicerie

7 Fraser Street, #01-51 to 56 DUO Galleria, Singapore 189356
Tel: +65 6828 1536

Website: https://www.so-france.sg/

Operating Hours

Bistro

Mondays, Wednesdays – Thursdays  1130 to 1500, 1800 to 2130  |  Fridays & Saturdays  1130 to 1500, 1800 to 2230  |  Sundays  0900 to 2130  |  Closed on Tuesdays

Wine bar

Mondays, Wednesdays – Thursdays  1630 to 2300  |  Fridays & Saturdays  1630 to 0000  |  Closed on Sundays and Tuesdays

Getting There

By MRT:

• East West line & Downtown line – Bugis station (EW12/ DT14)

By Bus:

• At or opposite Plaza Parkroyal along Beach Road   100, 107, 107M, 961, 980

• Before Sultan Mosque along North Bridge Road   7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 145, 175, 197

• Near Bali Lane, along Ophir Road   48

Rating: 8.5/10

The post So France Bistro and Epicerie Dishing Hearty Authentic French Food – Bugis,Singapore appeared first on NAHMJ.

It isn’t easy to spot Ta-Da! The Bistro as it is located at an obscure corner or rather, one would easily dismiss it since it is beside the huge Food Republic. To get to the bistro, once you locate Food Republic from Bras Basah Road, turn into Bencoolen Street which is across Rendezvous Hotel. 

Modern looking with homogenous white tables and chairs placed neatly in rows within the space. I like the lighting features that looks like leaves hanging from the ceiling.

The bistro offers an assortment of cuisines such as Asian, French and Italian.

Basilic Chips ($10) and Prawn Twister ($12) are 2 appetisers which we think they made great bar grub. Basilic Chips is made of mashed potato with basil and then deep-fried. This ball reminds me of a dish which my Mom used to made when we were kids. Prawn Twister is similar to Wanton with whole prawn instead of minced.

Triple J ($12) is a signature dish at Ta-da! The Bistro, succulent deep-fried Chicken Wings with homemade blue cheese sauce. Personally, I find the sauce too dilute though I adore the wings.

Poke has recently taken the central stage in the dinning scene in Singapore. Hence Ta-Da! The Bistro, you could Build Your Own Poke ($18). Alternatively, opt for Poke Mee ($15) which is a pre-fixed bowl.

One of the highlight is the Salmon and Ebiko Pasta ($18).

Wagyu Striploin ($24.90) and Corn Fed Chicken ($17.90) are 2 highly recommended items for Mains. A diner who visited Joel Roubochon commented that the mashed potato by the Wagyu Striploin side was similar to what the Michelin Star Restaurant offered.

A pity we didn’t have a chance to try out the Pizza, that’s provide us a good reason for revisit.

Menu

The menu for the restaurant are below.

NAHMJ Verdict

Ta-Da! The Bistro is a great place for a gathering with friends and to savour a preview of 3-Michelin star food.

Ta-Da! The Bistro

51 Bras Basah Road #01-03A, Manulife Centre, Singapore 189554
Tel: +65 6560 0859

FB: https://www.facebook.com/tadabistro/

Opening Hours

Mondays – Saturdays  1100 to 2300  |  Closed on Sundays

Getting There

By MRT:

• Circle line – Bras Basah station
• Downtown line – Bencoolen station

By Bus:

• Manulife Centre along Bras Basah Road   131, 147, 166, 857

• Hotel Rendezvous   7, 14, 14e, 16, 36, 77, 106, 111, 124, 128, 162, 162M, 167, 171, 174, 174e, 175, 190, 502, 502A, 518, 518A, 700, 700A

Rating: 7/10

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They present artisan produce, world-renowned wines and heavenly French delicacies direct from the rich terroirs of France, particularly from the Nouvelle Aquitaine South West region.

I have to say that this was the most comprehensive wine tasting session that I had ever attended so far. For each wine we tasted, we went through three-step processes.  We started with visual examination by looking at the wine and analysing the visual aspects of the wine. Then we moved on to olfactory examination to smell the wine and tell the intensity and finesse. The last step is the gustatory examination – to drink the wine and describe the three phases – attack, mid-palate and finish.

After the wine tasting, we tried some oysters which were delivered from Bordeaux overnight. The oysters are so fresh and smooth, the jelly like texture does not give you any tooth resistances.

Next, we tried some French cheese, I like the blue cheese especially because of the rich but not so overwhelming smell and the melt-in-mouth texture, it is a great cheese for beginners who want to dabble in the joys of blue mold, but do not want to dive in head first.

Finally, we visited their gourmet store, they have chocolate, candy, traditional biscuits, French wine.

Every product is carefully selected for their quality.

Also for the savoir-faire of the artisans who are passionate about their craft. 

More than 500 products come directly from France.

By far, the most attractive one in the So France gourmet store me is the wine in tube, the small packaging makes it so easy to carry and more affordable compared to a bottle of wine.

NAHMJ Verdict

If you fancy a trip to France for lunch or dinner, or you would like some French wine with some delicious cheese and charcuterie, or you would like to taste some delectable French specialties and discover authentic traditional French products? So France is the right place to go!

SO France @ DUO Galleria

7 Fraser Street, #01-51 to 56 DUO Galleria, Singapore 189356
Tel: +65 6828 1536

Website: https://www.so-france.sg/

Operating Hours

Bistro

Mondays, Wednesdays – Thursdays  1130 to 1500, 1800 to 2130  |  Fridays & Saturdays  1130 to 1500, 1800 to 2230  |  Sundays  0900 to 2130  |  Closed on Tuesdays

Wine bar

Mondays, Wednesdays – Thursdays  1630 to 2300  |  Fridays & Saturdays  1630 to 0000  |  Closed on Sundays and Tuesdays

Gourmet store

Mondays, Wednesdays – Fridays  0800 to 2100  |  Saturdays & Sundays  0900 to 2100  |  Closed on Tuesdays

Getting There

By MRT:

• East West line & Downtown line – Bugis station (EW12/ DT14)

By Bus:

• At or opposite Plaza Parkroyal along Beach Road   100, 107, 107M, 961, 980

• Before Sultan Mosque along North Bridge Road   7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 145, 175, 197

• Near Bali Lane, along Ophir Road   48

Rating: 8.5/10

*Disclaimer: This was a media invite.

The post So France @ Duo Galleria, 100% French Experience Le Bistro-Epicerie – Bugis, Singapore appeared first on NAHMJ.

Codigo 1530, a clear winner at the 2016 SIP, is a premium Tequila ranging from Blanco, Rosa, Reposado, Anejo and Origen depending on the age and aging process of the tequila. Its Anejo also distinguished itself as “Anejo of the Year” at the 2016 New York International Wine & Spirits Competition.

I went to Audace Bar & Restaurant on level 1 of the Wanderlust Hotel on a wet evening. The coziness of the stylist interior with an old-world charm was like a balm to dispel the cold and damp of the rain falling intermittently throughout the day.

The epicurean journey was kick started with the exotic, mildly sweet and spicy Amuse Bouche (Chestnut Soup and Chai Oil) nicely matched with the light and refreshing Rosa 75 with its natural rosy hue and floral notes.. It was indicative of what Michelin-starred Chef Jeremy Gillon, 36, had in mind when he created the 5-course dinner menu featuring exclusive and unique herbs from the French Alps for a Tequila-pairing extravaganza.

I had the 2 appetisers – Egg, Sea Urchin, Radish and Acchillee and Scallops Celeriac/Cassia – paired with a 15ml Blanco shot and La Paloma Cocktail. The Blanco had a pure clean taste which complemented the seafood and egg. The tequila helped to clean the palate for the small morsels of seafood and the lightly salted egg yolk. The La Polma Cocktail was not overly sweet, refreshingly tart and a little bitter to match the simple appetisers with varied flavours.

The main courses that followed were as finely presented as the appetisers and were eagerly awaited. I was served a Rosa Shot and Basil Rosa Sour Cocktail to go with the Turbot, Sweet Potato, Dried Oyster and Ortie. The Rosa Tequila, the first natural pink Tequila in the world and has been heralded the new Rose, will appeal for its pretty pink and clean taste. It went well with the mild tasting Turbot which had a firm, juicy and lightly salted flavour. I understand the flatfish to be usually boneless but had to pick out 2-3 small bits of bones while savouring it. The Basil Rosa Sour Cocktail as the name suggests complement the delicate and moist fish meat with its herby and citrusy balance.

Hailed from Normandy and has been cooking since he was 14, Chef Gillon has an amiable and smiley disposition. His gastronomic creation begins by first combining the different flavours of vegetables and herbs before deciding on the type of meat to tempt the taste buds.  His next dish of Lamb, Hay Grass, Rutabaga and Anchovy was a veritable example of his passion and culinary skills.

As a non-lamb eater, I was suitably impressed with the mild, tender and clean tasting lamb which was browned nicely outside with slight pink within for a good bite and texture. The Bee Sting Cocktail incorporating the Reposado had a hint of vanilla and the sting from 2 chillies grown inhouse by General Manager Farhan Samad. The cocktail lent a piquancy to the meat and added a new twist to the multifarious flavours.

The final dish to round up the dinner was dessert comprising Avocado, Vanilla, Chocolate and Kumquat paired with an Anejo shot and Anejo Old Fashioned Cocktail.

The latter is a classic despite its namesake. The simple cocktail with the spicy and robust Anejo, orange peels and bitters was the perfect complement to the simple sweet dessert.

NAHMJ Verdict

Audace Bar & Restaurant is a stylist outfit priding itself on new taste experiences by Michelin Star awarded Chef Jeremy Gillon. The Tequila-pairing dinner is an extension of its pushing the epicurean boundaries. Well worth a visit for the pairing of Codigo 1530 and French cuisine with that special someone or family or friends in the intimate and cosy setting.

Codigo 1530 is multi-award winner at the 2016 SIP

• Platinum, Best in Class Award: Anejo
• Gold Medal: Reposado
• Gold Medal: Extra Anejo
• Bronze Medal: Blanco

Audace Bar & Restaurant

2 Dickson Road, Singapore 209494
Tel: +65 6396 3322

FB: https://www.facebook.com/AudaceSG

Opening hours

Mondays – Sundays  0730 to 1000 (Breakfast)T  |  Tuesdays to Saturdays  1130 to 1400 (Lunch), 1400 to 1800 (Afternoon Tea), 1830 – 2359 (Dinner) [last order at 2200 – Bar opens till midnight)]  |  Sundays  1130 – 1600 (Brunch)

Getting There

By Car

Free Valet Service

• Weekdays: Dinner Service,
• Weekend: Lunch, Dinner and Brunch Service

By MRT

• Downtown line 2 – Jalan Besar (nearest) or Rochor station

• Northeast line – Little India station

• East-West or Downtown line line – Bugis station

By Bus

• The Verge along Sungei Road   48, 56, 57, 131, 166, 170, 851, 960, 980

• After Sim Lim Square along Rochor Canal Road   23, 48, 57, 66, 67, 170, 851, 960, 980

• Before Sim Lim Tower along Jalan Besar Road   64, 65, 130, 139, 147, 857

• Tekka Centre along Serangoon Road   23, 64, 65, 66, 67, 131, 139, 147, 857

Rating: 8.5/10

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Offering both indoor and outdoor dinning option by the Kallang River, providing a chillax environment. What’s more, there is a Crazy Hour (5pm to 6pm) for Beer with about a dozen selection and 5 House Pour. If you are not in time for the Crazy Hour, next up is the Happy Hour (6pm to 9pm).

With beer, it is best with some bar snacks. A handful of selection with the Tocha Special Top Shell ($9.80) in Thai style and Spicy Mid Wing ($9.80) with belachan chilli being the most recommended.

Mushroom Soup ($5.80) is an in-house made soup with chunky bites of a blend of mushroom. The soup has a smooth creamy texture however, the creaminess hint was a little too strong for me.

3 starters for selection and we chose the Baked Scallop ($8.80 for 3 pcs). Eat while it is hot otherwise the the cheese will harden.

Meat lovers can opt for the Carnivore Combo ($26.80) consisting of pork sausage, lamb, chicken and smoked duck. If we weren’t informed that those were lamb, we would have mistaken it for maybe pork.

For pork, Iberico Pork ($22.80) is a great choice. Lightly chewy pork with minimal marinate allows diners to savour the original goodness.

2 fish options, besides the Fish & Chips are recommended. First is the Grilled Salmon ($15.80). Best eaten with the crispy skin. I like it better when dipped with the Honey Mustard.

Next is the Grilled Cod ($19.80) with mashed potato. Personally, I prefer Cod to Salmon.

A choice of Single ($11.80, one patty) or Double Rock Burger ($15.80, two patties) which we opted the latter. The grounded beef was at a good grind size to provide a good bite texture.

Our last dish was the Tiger Prawn with White Wine Sauce ($13.80). The spaghetti has an interesting texture, similar to the Chinese La Mian with more chewiness and subtle white wine aroma. Personally, I would skip this dish.

Besides beer, an array of alcoholic drinks and handful of non-alcholic beverages, worth a page of menu are available. A pity, Tocha Bistro doesn’t offer any desserts.

NAHMJ Verdict

We thought well of Tocha Bistro, especially if you enjoy your beers. Moreover, they offer quite a handful of delicious dishes to go along with the drinks.

Tocha Bistro

FB: https://www.facebook.com/tochabistrosg/

Opening Hours

Sundays – Thursdays  1200 to 0100  |  Saturdays  1200 to 0200

Getting There

By MRT:

• East-West line – Lavender (nearest) or Bugis station

• Downtown line – Bugis station

By Bus:

• Opposite Blk 461 along Victoria Street   2, 7, 12, 32, 33, 51, 61, 80, 130, 133, 145, 175, 197

• Blk 461 along Victoria Street   2, 7, 12, 33, 107, 107M, 133

• Hotel Sultan or at Textile Centre   107, 107M

• Blk 8 or before Sultan Mosque along North Bridge Road   7, 32, 51, 61, 63, 80, 145, 175, 197

Rating: 7/10

*Disclaimer: This was a media invite.

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Ambience is casual and cosy too though lacking of the home-feel like RoyceMary. 

Menu at Common Chefs Bistro isn’t one that offered the most comprehensive, however, there are a number of interesting creation which one might be tempted to.

Our first item was the highly recommended Truffle Tatter Tots ($8-S / $14-L). Truffle essence was strong to the smell, but not to the palate. These popular Tatter Tots came with a truffle mayo as a dip. Most enjoy the dip, though I don’t, as I find the dip a little too sweet.

The next item, Rich Man ($16) is only available on weekends. Sandwiched between the brioche bun are some unique ingredients; chorizo patty, caramelised onions, scrambled egg and mushroom and smoked cheddar cheese. Overall, we find it special but a little too salty. The tatter tots is a great replacement for the usually seen fries.

Lightly spicy Grilled Prawn Tacos ($12) is also highly recommended. You need to eat it as a wrap to fully relish on the flavour. Grilled spicy prawns are sat on a bed of salad. The slight saccharine raisins elevated the overall flavours. 

Here is another unique item offered by Common Chefs Bistro, Full Breakfast Wazza ($12). It is a Waffle and Pizza hybrid. The waffle is one of the best. Buttery pillowy soft interior which isn’t too dense. We thought the waffle might turn soggy due to the topping but it didn’t, which was good.

For those who love Shepherd Pie ($15) but rarely found in cafe, here is one which I do enjoy. The rich flavoured minced meat buried beneath the mashed potato and cheese was at a perfect ratio. Loving Common Chefs Bistro version.

Besides the usual tea and coffee available at most cafe, Common Chefs Bistro offers 8 flavours for their Milkshakes ($8). We tried Salted Caramel and Thai Milk Tea, and we prefer the latter as it wasn’t too sweet and we could savour Thai Milk Tea flavour.

NAHMJ Verdict

Generally, we at NAHMJ do agree that the quality and standard of food at Common Chefs Bistro is thumb-up, especially when they are at such a wallet-friendly price point. We are confident that cafef-hoppers will be delighted that they have contributed to the population of cafe in North of Singapore.

However, ultimately, it is about one’s preference.

Common Chefs Bistro

8 Jalan Legundi #01-13 Singapore 759274
Tel: +65 6659 1208

FB: https://www.facebook.com/commonchefs/

Opening Hours

Monday – Friday 1030 to 2230; Saturday – Sunday 0900 to 2300

Getting There

By MRT:

• North-South line – Sembawang (followed by a 10 -15 min walk or take the free shuttle bus to Sembawang Shopping Centre)

By Bus:

• Opp or after Sembawang Shopping Centre along Sembawang Road – 167, 856, 858, 859, 980

Rating: 7.5/10

*Disclaimer: This was a media invite.

The post Common Chefs Bistro At Jalan Legundi – Sembawang, Singapore appeared first on NAHMJ.