If you think eating out in Singapore is boring, think again. This month, there is truly something for everyone with a crab party happening, new brunch offerings and several revamped menus that sees pancake being served for dinner, bar grub so good you can have them as meals, and just good steak done right. Plus, there are some places to bring mummy dearest to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Wine and dine like you’re in 1930s America
Everyone’s favorite CBD area post-work drinking spot, The Black Swan, has upped its game yet again (that beer garden alfresco area opened late last year is amazing) with the launch of an overhauled menu, the work of Chef Daniel Sia (previously from The Disgruntled Chef) who recently rejoined as culinary director of The Lo & Behold Group. Its chophouse selection has gotten a rework, featuring cuts like the tender Tajima Wagyu Striploin ($60) and Stockyard Angus Porterhouse Steak ($134) that is capable of satisfying two individuals hungry for good beef. The Steak Tartare ($26) is a prime selection too, even for those who don’t usually like raw meats.
Pleasantly surprising are their new desserts, like the Classic Apple Tart ($14) and Cookies & Cream ($16). Despite their bland names, the desserts are served in amusing ways and more importantly, taste great and are not saccharine sweet. Plus, to go along with their potent new steak lineup, The Black Swan now has its own head sommelier, Yeo Xi Yang. Be sure to look out for the pleasant chap. He will pair lovely whites and reds according to what you order, and if you’re especially nice to him, he’ll bust out his secret stash for you, including a not-on-the-menu Tesseron Cognac Lot N 53 XO Perfection that makes any steak dinner here a blissful experience.
Crab parties are the best kind of parties
There is nothing more satisfying than using your fingers to dig into a meal. And at Ah Hoi’s Kitchen, found on the fourth level of Hotel Jen Tanglin, you can do just that while keeping things classy in an al fresco venue that reminds you of local zhi char restaurants. Ah Hoi’s, already known for its chili crab, is now throwing a Festival of Crab by introducing nine (that’s right, nine) other ways to have our favorite, meaty Sri Lankan crabs.
There’s no way to eat all of them (in one go at least), so be smart and get your claws on the Salted Egg and Crispy Yam Crab, Glass Noodles and Chinese Wine Crab or Claypot Crab Beehoon, that will have you hankering for more. For this crab feast, the crustaceans are only going for $75 per kg till the end of July.
The only place to feast on Kumamoto beef
If you’re the type that can differentiate between your wagyus, you will appreciate the fact that Me@OUE is now serving up A4 Kumamoto steak, the only stand-alone restaurant in Singapore to do so. New Executive Chef Sam Chin, a young and talented chef originally from Penang, has recently taken over Me@OUE’s open-concept kitchen that boasts French, Japanese and Chinese cuisines.
His first order of business was to introduce new cuisine, and the Kumamoto wagyu, known for its buttery flavor thanks to the high amount of monounsaturated fat in its marbling, has caught our eye. You can have it as a tartare, cooked Szechuan style, grilled over charcoal or pan-seared. Chef Chin, who insists on using fresh and seasonal produce, is also introducing his own personal tasting menu that changes according to the seasons, as well as an omakase option that uses catch from Tsukiji Fish Market flown in every two days.
Bar grub done so good it’s better than having dinner
While most know Manhattan at The Regent Singapore for their world-class cocktails, not many are aware that the food menu here has been given equally profound attention. If you haven’t had your fill of their food before, now is a good time to go. From May 8, and in conjunction with their third anniversary this year, the bar will be doing a complete menu overhaul, the first time they are doing this rather than giving it more minor updates. At the same time, they will be changing the theme of the menu from being inspired by Manhattan districts to gaining inspiration from the various eras experienced in New York City.
For instance, from the European Exploration era, expect the Green Goddess Kettle Chips ($13), a modified version of the all-American bar snack staple. And from the Golden Era comes the Pepper Dog ($18) that tips its hat to the ubiquitous hotdog. Of course, the new menu comes with a stable of new cocktails as well, such as the Knickerbocker Hotel-inspired TKH ($24), a spirit-forward rye whisky-based concoction meant to remind us why New York is known as the city that never sleeps.
Brunch doesn’t need to dent the wallet
They first helped us out with our drinking habits by offering $6 wines by the glass, and now, Ginett is doing it again, this time satisfying our insatiable appetite for brunches with a new weekend brunch menu featuring items like smoked salmon egg cocotte ($11), poached eggs and merguez ($12) and banana and walnut waffles ($13). Of course, no one is stopping you from having their wines and equally satisfying mains while you’re there.
Mothers deserve a special treat
Not all Mother’s Day meals are made equal. Over at Open Farm Community on May 14, pamper mummy dearest with farm-to-table cuisine like warm broccoli salad, cured ocean trout savoury crepe and Thai basil gnocchi at a three-course brunch ($58) that not only tastes good but is actually good for her health. Mums who dine here also get complimentary welcome drinks, a rose-soaked towel to freshen up, as well as Strip and Spa Esprit vouchers to continue the pampering later.
Those looking for more traditional eats set within luxurious confines can head to Jade at The Fullerton Hotel for a dim sum brunch that features over 50 creations like crystal shrimp dumplings, abalone siew mai, congee with lobster and dried scallops, among many other dishes, for just $39 per person. There are many other things happening at the hotel, so check out the full details here. There is also special Mother’s Day staycation package for those who really want to show the most important woman in our lives our appreciation.
It’s not always about decadent experiences, of course, and learning to cook with mummy is one fun bonding experience you can count on. Choose to do so at Dean & Deluca’s cooking workshop held on May 6 at the Orchard Central branch, where head chef Nabil Tan will conduct a lesson filled with fuss-free breakfast recipes. That way, come Mother’s Day, you will be able to cook up a delightful meal for her using their bring-home starter cooking kit and ingredients–all while mum lazes in bed.
Because pancakes for dinner
As if there isn’t enough reason to head to Tiong Bahru Bakery already–their kouign amann is to die for–the bakery chain, now more appropriately called a restaurant chain with their full-service menus, has recently updated their dinners to offer savory pancakes in a variety of flavors. New on the menu are dishes like the pancake-forward PB&B Burger (pancakes, spiced pork belly, salted caramel, toasty brulee bananas, ricotta cheese and more) and the Kim Cheesy Pancake Burger (kimchi pancakes, sweet bean sauce, tofu, sauteed cabbage and more) that accompany more traditional stacked finds like the French onion burger.
A Monday-only buffet spread that won’t leave you in a coma
Knowing how much we love our buffets but our waistlines too, Lime Restaurant at Parkroyal on Pickering has come up with a solution, starting May 15, that just might work. Calling it the Lime-Light semi-buffet ($48), the special spread, only available on Mondays, first lets you eat-all-you-can, but only allowing you to take from the appetizer section of the buffet line, which includes the salad bar, a rosti potato station and a raclette cheese station. Then, choose from five a la carte dishes such as the Singapore Luxe-Sa with Maine Lobster or the 36-hour Braised Australian Wagyu Cheek, before ending things on a sweet note back at the buffet line’s dessert table.
