This May, visit your favourite restaurants with refreshed menus, be it Spanish or Italian fare, South American cuisine, or even an Indian wedding gourmet feast.
Araya
Singapore’s first (and only) Chilean South Pacific fine dining restaurant Araya, unveils a brand new degustation menu Costa ($368++), paying homage to the Chilean coast with this marine-based eight-course culinary experience.
Derived from Cordillera de la Costa or the Chilean Coastal Range, Costa showcases the marine bounty found along the rugged forested coasts of Chile’s 6,437km long coastline along the South Pacific Ocean, as chef-partners Francisco Araya and Fernanda Guerrero take on an innovative approach to reimagining the sea creatures, plants and cooking techniques native to their homeland.
The menu opens with Cochayuyo, a protein-rich large Southern bull kelp from the Chilean coast, rendered to a briney spread to accompany pastry chef Fernanda’s famed bread basket at the start of the meal. Next up is Taigairai, featuring choro zapato (meaning ‘shoe’ in Spanish), the Chilean giant mussel served raw, ceviche style.
Curanto is the third addition in the Costa menu, named after a pre-Hispanic cooking technique. Used by indigenous Chilotes from Chiloé Island in South Chile, an assortment of meat and seafood are wrapped in leaves then cooked in an earth oven with hot stones. In chef Francisco’s rendition, a whole abalone is wrapped in corn husk, sealed in a dough parcel made from charcoal and corn husk ashes, and cooked over the fire.
Finally, the Chancho en Piedra, a cantaloupe gazpacho palate cleanser with cubes of compressed cucumber serves as a prelude to the Aged Ecuadorian Cacao with Pigeon Supreme, the only non-seafood course on the Costa menu. Finish with the new dessert of Lucuma, inspired by the fruit of the same name native to the Andean Valley. It takes the form of an ice cream alongside vanilla jelly, coffee espuma and caramelised rice puffs.
Araya is at Mondrian Singapore Duxton, 83 Neil Road. #01-08, Singapore 089813. For reservations, visit here.
Bar Cicheti
Bar Cicheti recently reopened its doors again following a comprehensive month-long makeover, revealing renewed interiors and an innovative overhaul of its food and drinks menu.
The food menu stays true to Bar Cicheti’s roots with its eight signature pasta dishes, with all pasta freshly made daily. Smoked Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe ($28) boasts smoked, chargrilled bronze-extruded rigatoni tossed with pecorino, aged parmigiano reggiano, Sarawak black pepper, and a squeeze of lemon.
Seafood options include the Spaghettini al Nero di Seppia ($32) in a briny squid ink aglio olio sauce laden with garlic, topped with smoky rings of char-grilled baby squid; while the Bucatini con Gamberi ($32) flanks Argentinian red prawns with sweet roasted piquillo peppers in lobster bisque.
Likewise, meat options include Tagliatelle al Ragù ($30) for spinach tagliatelle coated with a rich ragu sauce made from Merlot-braised beef cheeks; and the crowd-favourite Agnolotti ($31) is stuffed with a melt-in-your-mouth duck marmalade served simply in a brown butter sauce.
Starters and desserts feature a few more favourites from yesteryear such as the Polpette di Manzo ($22) for buttery brisket meatballs; tempura-battered Fried Sage ($12), and the sweet and tart Burratina ($28) in raspberry vinaigrette reduction with lightly fermented marinated cherries served on a bed of peppery watercress.
Bar Cicheti is at 10 Jiak Chuan Rd, Singapore 089264. For reservations, visit here.
Barrio
Translating to “neighbourhood” in Spanish, Barrio by Kulto in Bukit Timah is everything you would expect from family-style convivial Spanish hospitality. Celebrating it’s first anniversary with a brand new menu, expect traditional Mexican tapas teeming with with vibrant Spanish flavours, with an absolute value-for-money $28 weekday set lunch deal.
Must-tries include Barrio’s special ceviche, the Bikini Sandwich, Pork Belly Tacos, as well as Sauteed Squid with Fennel Puree and French Bean, and Garlic Prawns with Hummus. Leave space for the Pork Sausage and Mushroom Paella, and Churros with chocolate sauce.
Barrio is at 73 Hillcrest Rd, Singapore 288945. For reservations, visit here.
Cenzo
Cenzo is home to traditional Italian fare with a modern Australian twist that embodies Australian chef Drew Nocente’s vibrant Italian roots and Australian heritage. Expect hearty dishes in a casual and relaxed setting served just as you would at home.
Nocente’s latest menu offerings include the reimagined Pappardelle Ragu Bianco, a timeless Italian favourite of chewy pappardelle in white ragu sauce, with tender veal, fragrant herbs, and a hint of cream.
For seafood enthusiasts, the Capesante features perfectly seared scallops atop creamy cauliflower puree. Also new on the lunch set menu are two additions of Bruschetta al Granchio for succulent crab meat crowning crispy toast, and the hearty Malinese, for fried pork chop with rocket salad.
Cenzo is at 81 Club Street, Singapore 069449. For reservations, visit here.
Lime Restaurant
Lime Restaurant’s much-celebrated Lobsterfest is making a triumphant comeback for a limited time from May 17 to June 29, 2024. Diners can enjoy an impressive assortment of lobster delicacies prepared in a wide array of styles that transcend the usual offerings.
Alongside the Seafood Bar’s Boston Lobsters and fresh catches, the menu boasts a diverse range of lobster dishes such as Mini California Lobster Rolls and Sarawak White Pepper Lobster. Indulge in Asian favourites like XO Lobster Tobiko Fried Rice, Lobster Tail Masak Nenas, Black Pepper Lobster, and Chinese-style Rock Lobster with Glass Noodles.The Western kitchen features highlights like Lobster Claw Parmesan Wheel Risotto and Lobster Bisque, while fans of smoky flavours can indulge in Boston Lobster Thermidor and Grilled Marinated Rock Lobster served straight from the wood-fired Josper grill.
Lime Restaurant is at Parkroyal Collection Pickering, 3 Upper Pickering Street, Singapore 058289. For reservations, visit here, WhatsApp +65 9859 0681 or email [email protected]. Prices start from $138++ for adults from Monday to Thursday, and $148++ on Friday, Saturday, eve of and on public holidays.
Rang Mahal
If you’ve never been to an Indian wedding, here’s a taster. Rang Mahal’s nine-course degustation Feast is a showcase of the rich tapestry of India’s North West Frontier’s gastronomic diversity with modern twists, inspired by Navaratna (nine gemstones representing heavenly planets, and a metaphor for a collection of the best nine).
It’s an extravagant Indian wedding gourmet experience, in collaboration with award-winning international Indian Wedding food curator Sarita Bazaz. This specially curated degustation menu is a new addition to Rang Mahal’s menus. Highlights include Nasheela Jhinga, prawns seasoned in the dark rum sauce served with cilantro mint chimichurri; Himalayan Morels, made with premium Kashmiri morel mushrooms stuffed with aged parmesan and goat cheese before being finished with truffle salt and housemade truffle oil; and Khaaja Sevpuri, a Mumbai street-style chaat snack signature; among other more exotic curations.
Rang Mahal is at 7 Raffles Blvd, Level 3 Pan Pacific, Singapore 039595. For reservations, visit here.
Revolver
With three-Michelin-starred chef Tristin Farmer (of the now-defunct Zen) helming Revolver as group culinary director and chef-partner, Revolver’s highly anticipated new menu Bullet 13 showcases a progressive South Asian-spiced menu and punchier, bolder flavours, making even more use of its open-fire grill.
Choose from the lunch menu ($99++); four dinner tasting menus; and The Spread, a Private Experience Room exclusive menu. The Experience dinner menu kicks off with a trio of Snacks comprising Masala Potato with Malabar crab and curry leaves; Bao stuffed with corn curd and crowned with caviar; and Taquito with pork belly and piquant green chilli chutney. Other menu highlights include the chargrilled Courgette Blossom encasing a ball of spiced potato and served with a smoked tomato chutney; abd Black Cod with Alphonso mango pureed with habanero.
Popular favourites of Paneer and Kulchette also take a refreshed identity. Now Paneer is stuffed with milk fudge, chargrilled in the tandoor and plated with onion mash and a flavoursome coriander and mushroom XO; while the Comte-stuffed Kulchette (also on the Experience menu) comes with assam hamachi collar, or with a generous shaving of Black Perigord truffles (on the Vegetarian Experience menu). Kulchette is also available as a dinner add-on paired with Malabar Crab ($28), Caviar and Raita ($75), Butter Chicken ($18), or “Parade”, a combination of four to five types of Kulchette for sharing ($88).
For communal style dining, head upstairs to the Private Experience Room for specialities such as a Tomahawk with Kashmiri chilli or a Guinea Fowl with vindaloo and wild garlic Kulchette in The Spread; as well as a biryani-spiced Donabe of Koshihikari rice with crispy lamb fat and coriander stems.
Revolver is at 56 Tras Street. Singapore 078995. For reservations, visit here.
White Marble
Mediterranean restaurant White Marble celebrates its second anniversary with the addition of five new, limited-time-only Mediterranean dishes, crafted by chef Otto Weibel and executed by his protege Kenneth Loke. By recreating the classic flavours of the regions of Spain, Portugal, France, Morocco, and the Middle East, chef Weibel takes diners on a gastronomic journey around the sea with dishes personally created from his fondest memories of his time there.
Diners can expect new creations of lobster, seafood rice, sea bass and langoustine, rounded off with a dessert of apple tart, which is in accordance with his culinary philosophy – of quality, fresh produce prepared with rigour and simplicity to bring forth their naturally inherent flavours.
The star of the menu is the Flaming Lobster ($89++) featuring two skewered and grilled Canadian lobsters flambeed with rum, and served with a rich thick lobster bisque. The Crispy Mediterranean Seafood Rice ($59++) features crispy rice blackened to smokiness on a sizzling pan and embellished with more seafood including arrowhead squid, black mussels and Tiger prawns, with spicy aioli.
For seafood options, choose between the grilled Smoked European Sea Bass ($69++) served with a sauce vierge; or Langoustines ($39++) for premium-grade saltwater langoustines poached in garlic butter spiced with chilli, parsley and lemon. End with the rose-shaped Fresh Apple Tart ($18++), complemented by mascarpone and burrata gelato.
To celebrate this milestone anniversary, diners enjoy $1 half-pint beer (capped at two half-pint beers per pax) with every selected main dish ordered till May 31, 2024.
White Marble is at Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, 1 Tanglin Rd, #01-09, Singapore 247905. For reservations, visit here.
Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
The restaurant celebrates the return of executive chinese chef Kwan Yiu Kan with a menu comprising his signatures such as Baked Sea Perch with Miso Sauce, and Stir-fried Wagyu Beef Cubes with Black Pepper and Longan. Diners can also look forward to other new creations such as Mock Goose with Black Truffle and Honey Sauce, and Kurobuta Pork Chop with Black Truffle and Sesame Sauce.
For Parents’ Day, Kwan’s set menus are a blend of time-honoured recipes and innovative culinary dishes. The six-course menu ($118++ per pax, minimum two persons) comprises favourites such as Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Matsutake Mushroom, Sea Whelk and Bamboo Pith, and Baked Sea Perch with Garlic Sauce; while the nine-course menu ($1,088++ /table of 10 people) features Roast Duck smoked with Tea Leaves and Black Truffle, and Braised Dried Seafood and Lobster Soup. Both set menus are available for order till Jun 30, 2024.
Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant is at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, Level 4, 317 Outram Road, Singapore 169075. For reservations, visit here.
