TABLESCAPE
Officially opened earlier this month, Tablescape is a 60-seater modern European restaurant and bar in Grand Park City Hall hotel.
Executive chef Robert Chan, fresh from his stint at The Carvery at Park Hotel Alexandra, gives a contemporary twist to classic dishes.Starters include steak tartare (right, $24++) and salmon gravlax ($16++) with subtle updates.
For mains, the lobster and fish pairing gets an upgrade with prosciutto ham-wrapped monkfish and Maine lobster on risotto in Armagnac lobster bisque ($38++). For the smoked braised Black Angus short rib ($30++), horseradish is pureed with potatoes to create a tangy side and freshly roasted bone marrow completes the dish.
Also on the menu are Josper-grilled meats and seafood for sharing. Preorder the porchetta (market price), a tender stuffed pork roll with crispy skin, carved tableside, for at least four people. Sides ($6++ each) include creamed spinach and quinoa with pumpkin.
The dessert selection ($12++) features a rotation of housemade sweets such as spicy mango and raspberry lychee with almond cake.
The bar menu offers wines, craft beers and cocktails with a twistas well as Mediterranean-inspired bar bites such as Cajun prawns ($12++).
Where: Level 3 Grand Park City Hall, 10 Coleman Street
Open: Noon to 2.30pm, 6 to 10.30pm daily
Info: Call 6432-5618, e-mail hello@tablescape.sg or go to parkhotelgroup.com/en/cityhall/tablescape
TYPHOON CAFE
The name is inspired by the Chinese term for typhoon, tai feng, and an abbreviation of tai wan feng wei, which means "taste of Taiwan".
Located in Plaza Singapura, the cafe is the newest dining concept by F&B group Creative Eateries.
Taiwanese food is synonymous with street food. Typhoon Cafe's small-plates section showcases classic street picks such as crispy pork intestine ($13.90), oyster omelette ($10.90) and golden chicken fritters ($8.90).
Other offerings include Taiwanese sausage-stuffed chicken wings ($10.90) and Typhoon taro chips ($12.90).
The menu includes 17 Typhoon Boards sets (from $12.90), which come in a variety of noodles and rice and feature Taiwanese national dishes such as oyster mee sua, lu rou fan (braised pork rice) and san bei (three cups) chicken. Each set comes with a Chinese chilled salad side dish and a soup of day for rice and dry noodles.
Desserts include Taiwan's iconic coffin toast - cereal coffin toast (above right, $14.90) is cereal coated and served with chocolate bananas, berries and stracciatella ice cream. A lighter alternative is the Typhoon pavlova ($13.90).
The beverage menu comprises Typhoon signature fruit teas ($8.50) such as Tropical Passion Fruit Tea, Summer Berries Rhapsody and Citrus Elixir. Typhoon Floral Tea is a medley of osmanthus, rose, lavender and jasmine.
Where: 04-67 Plaza Singapura (new wing), 68 Orchard Road
Open: 11.30am to 10pm daily
Info: Call 6884-5423 or go to www.typhooncafe.com.sg
FRUITURDAY SG
Fruiturday, a popular speciality smoothie and dessert brand in Thailand, has launched its first overseas franchise in Singapore with an outlet in the new south wing of Northpoint City.
Fruits are selected daily to ensure optimal ripeness and beverages are prepared fresh upon ordering, with no artificial flavourings and preservatives.
A menu highlight is Mango Sticky Rice Shake ($6.90), a twist on the traditional mango sticky rice dessert. The sticky rice is prepared using a semi-traditional Thai method and the process takes nearly three hours. A very limited quantity of this beverage is available each day.
The Coconut Shake ($4.90), prepared from fresh Thai coconut juice and meat, is also a crowd favourite. The Mixed Berries Smoothie (above right, $4.90), made from various berries, can be a breakfast replacement.
Other smoothies ($5.90 each) include Strawberry Banana; Mango Delight (mango plus strawberry); Mango Sago; Mango Passionfruit; Coconut Sago; and Honey Banana. Additional toppings are available at $1 each.
Where: B2-146 Northpoint City (South Wing), 1 Northpoint Drive
Open: 10am to 10pm daily
Info: Call 8464-0568, e-mail fruiturday.sg@gmail.com or go to facebook.com/FruiturdaySG
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