<p>A new upmarket restaurant has joined the Sofitel family—Racines is Sofitel Singapore City Centre latest culinary venture, located in the heart of Tanjong Pagar. The hotel’s executive chef Jean-Charles Dubois may be French, but the menu uniquely combines traditional French classics with local Chinese dishes; a likely testament to his own roots (<em>Racines</em> is French for ‘roots’) and new influences here.</p>
<p>The French portion of the menu includes Local Kale Salad with Baby Heirloom Tomatoes, Traditional Lobster Bisque with Coral Oil and Chargrilled Galician Octopus with Avocado (both $78 with dessert). But for those hankering after elevated Chinese delicacies, Chef Andrew Ong’s Kung Pao Sakura Chicken with Peanuts ($32) and Nyonya Style Stir-Fried Calamari ($68), among others, should do the trick. Certain dishes on the menu have even been curated to celebrate the best of both worlds—you can choose to have frog legs done the French way (Racines’ Signature Grenouille with Pan-Fried Pink Garlic, Parsley and Wild Mushroom Emulsion) or Chinese (Stir-Fried Frog Legs in Spicy Szechuan Salt, $58).</p>
<p>Racines’ decor certainly matches the grandeur of its menu. Located on level five of the hotel, the restaurant showcases a 180-degree panorama of Tanjong Pagar’s skyscrapers and shophouses through floor-to-ceiling windows. The customized furniture and lighting fixtures are understated but elegant, and the entire space is designed in the open-kitchen concept so favored by modern restaurants. And because there are no lengths too extreme to go to in providing a quality dining experience, Racines even has its own apiary courtesy of a specially designed bee hotel, to provide the freshest honey for guests.</p>
<p>Dine a la carte or pick from the buffet breakfast, 3-course set lunches ($38), and dinner menu available daily. From <strong>Nov 1-30</strong>, every four paying guests dining in for dinner will enjoy a complimentary bottle of house wine. Time to head down to check out that beehive for yourself. </p>
<hr />
<p><strong>Racines </strong>is located at <strong>9 Wallich Street, Hotel Sofitel Singapore City Centre Level 5</strong>. </p>
