FEAST ON 100 SICHUAN DISHES
You know the tales you hear about how Chinese emperors in the past were served 100 dishes at every meal? Well, you can find out how that feels at the current promotion at Si Chuan Dou Hua in Beach Road.
Called 100 Sichuan Dishes, 1 Gastronomic Feast, the a la carte buffet menu is available until Oct 15.
Servings are kept tiny so that you can try as many dishes as possible. I managed about 80 in one sitting, taking just a bite from most plates. But in the case of some, such as Chilled Chicken In Spicy Paste, I finished the whole helping.
The selection is a grand tour of Sichuan cooking. Contrary to what many people think, the cuisine is much more than the spicy, numbing flavours it is most famous for.
The dishes here are classed according to sauces and flavours. There are 27 categories, including Garlic And Chilli Sauce, Sesame Sauce, Strange-Flavoured Sauce, Lychee Flavour, Ginger Flavour, Plum Sauce and Tomato Sauce. Quite a number of dishes are not spicy.
WHERE: Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant, 7500 Beach Road, Parkroyal on Beach Road MRT: Nicoll Highway/ Bugis WHEN: Till Oct 15, 11.30am to 2.30pm, 6.30 to 10.30pm PRICE: $48 a person, $58 with free flow of Bavaria Premium beer TEL: 6505-5722
SEAFOOD AND MEAT GALORE
Seafood and meats are the way to the hearts of many Singaporeans, which is why Edge at Pan Pacific Singapore has gone Surf & Turf with its buffet dinner on Tuesday nights. The spread is lavish, rivalling the restaurant's expansive Sunday brunch, except that there is no grilled Ohmi wagyu on the menu.
But you get new dishes, including a torched wagyu beef with salmon chirashi, and chefs going around the tables plating 24-hour braised wagyu beef short rib topped with seared Hokkaido scallops.
Try the wok-fried fish noodles with roasted pork and yellow chives, which is cooked to order, or the unusual spicy beef bulgogi pizza with shrimps.
If you would rather not wait, then weave through the display tables and help yourself to Western, Indian, Peranakan and Chinese dishes.
WHERE: Edge, 7 Raffles Boulevard, Pan Pacific Singapore MRT: Promenade WHEN: Tuesday, 6.30 to 10.30pm PRICE: $78 an adult, add $10 for free flow of selected wines TEL: 6336-8111
QUALITY BRUNCH AT AURA
Mega brunch buffets in five-star hotels are impressive, but some Sundays, you just want a quiet meal with family or friends - without compromising on the quality of the food.
That I found two Sundays ago at Aura Sky Lounge on the rooftop of National Gallery Singapore.
The spread was not massive, but there was more than enough to eat. I started with fresh oysters, including some delicious fin de claire ones from France, followed by foie gras and truffle crostini as well as starters such as burrata and asparagus.
Both the pastas on offer - trofie with truffle and mascarpone, and seafood caciucco - were excellent and fresh-tasting even though they were served in chafing dishes. And then there were the roasts - prime beef as well as a lamb leg - that were good too.
That left me no room for the charcuterie and desserts. But if you have a heartier appetite than mine, check out the selection of salami and ham or the tiramisu and cakes.
WHERE: Aura Sky Lounge, 1 St Andrew's Road, National Gallery Singapore, 06-02 MRT: City Hall WHEN: Sunday, noon to 2.30pm PRICE: $98 a person, $148 with free flow of Perrier Jouet champagne TEL: 6866-1977
MONUMENTAL MENU AT FULLERTON
To celebrate Fullerton Hotel being gazetted as a national monument this year, its Chinese restaurant Jade has launched a Fullerton Monumental Menu. The six-course dinner menu, priced at $88 a person, is created by chef Leong Chee Yeng, who finds inspiration in the colonial building's history as the former General Post Office and its location beside the Singapore River.
Dishes include Beauty In Stone, which is braised abalone and deep-fried fish maw stuffed with shrimp paste in rich broth served in stoneware, and Bridges Of Steel (above), golden fried pork ribs in garlic flavour served with spicy pickled cabbage.
Ask for the menu when you call to make reservations.
WHERE: Jade Restaurant, 1 Fullerton Square, Fullerton Hotel MRT: Raffles Place WHEN: 6.30 to 11pm daily PRICE: $88 a person TEL: 6877-8911
Book a meal at Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant or Edge with Chope.
