The Garden of Eden @ Neil Road

It was quite a challenge finding The Garden of Eden. Although it was situated inside a shop house along Neil Road, but there is almost no visible signs indicating where the restaurant. After walking along Neil Road for a while, we then managed to locate it. It's nearly at the very end of the road.



When we enter, a chirpy service staff welcomed us to our seats. Chef here is Tim Ross-Watson, who has worked before at the now defunct Wine Garage. Read that he has also worked in Gordon Ramsay's restaurant in London.



Was told that the food here is presented and cooked in a very creative way. So we started off with the Waldorf Salad (S$26) - Apple, celery, stilton nitro dressing, walnuts and mixed salad leaves. The salad was topped with freeze-dried cheese. Not only did the smoke enhanced the presentation, but the cheese was freeze-dried so it won't taste so strongly.



Next up was the Foie Gras (S$29) - Foie Gras mousse, chicken crackers, sherry gel and herb salad. It was interesting to have chicken crackers to accompany the creamy foie gras.



One of the best dish for the night was the Gammon and Eggs (S$28) - Homemade gammon, mustard pickled pineapple and truffle egg mayo. We really dig into the truffle egg mayo.



For the mains, we selected 2 items. First was the King Fish (S$39) - Quinoa, sweet corn, leek flowers and chervil. Special mention for the fish, which was fresh and sweet.



Pork lovers will be happy with this Pork Plate (S$40) - Pork belly, pork jowl, pork cheek, and "bubble n squeak". It's pork done in a variety of ways. The best item here is the pork belly, which was really tender when we sliced it open.



Before desserts, we had Coffee (S$5)



Asked them for their dessert recommendations, and suggested the Lemon Meringue Pie (S$15). It's like a deconstructed lemon pie.



But what's touted as their signature dish, is this Jelly and Ice-Cream (S$15). The entire dessert is made right in front on your table. With all the pouring and dry ice, you would think you are watching a science experiment.



In actual fact, the "substance" used are all edible - 66% Valrhona chocolate mousse which is freeze-dried in liquid nitrogen, together with raspberry gel, coconut cream, chocolate sponges and tiny bits of red sweets. I like how the chocolate mousse "melts" when you put it in your mouth. An usual experience.


The Garden of Eden
148 Neil Road

品珍私房菜 Yummy Recipes @ Crescent @ Kallang

Was reading the Chinese tabloids recently and one article caught my attention. The owner of Yummy Claypot from Joo Chiat has invested a 6 figure sums to open a high-end Chinese restaurant in MacPherson. I was quite curious who would want to open a high end restaurant in an industrial estate, so I made my way down to take a look.



It's not easy finding this place. The restaurant is located in a new office building called Crescent @ Kallang. The funny thing is that its location Kallang Pudding Road is nowhere near Kallang, but within MacPherson Road. You can park your car along the small road outside of the restaurant. A row of red lanterns will guide you to the main door (above).



Upon entering the restaurant, we know where all the 6 figure sums went to. According to news reports, the owner went to different parts of China to source for antiques and beautiful decorations for his new investment.



There are 2 sections to this restaurant. On your right is a family round table section.



On your left is the small table sections, perfect for groups of 2 to 4.



The staffs here are really one of the most attentive and most courteous guys for a Chinese restaurant. Although most are mainland China staffs, but their service level is top notched. We were served the Braised Peanuts (S$2) while looking through the menu.



After ordering, the waitress wheeled out a huge black pot. When I say huge, I really mean HUGE! Guess what's inside?



The answer is Double Boiled Pig Stomach Soup (S$38 for one huge pot). This huge pot of soup can easily serve 10 big bowls of soup. But if you can gather 4 to 5 soup lovers, it will be gone in no time. This pig stomach soup, one of their signature and a Hokkien specialty, has a really intense taste and aroma. We can tell that the soup has been boiled for hours and hours in the big pot. A must try.



A whole chicken was stuffed inside the entire pig stomach to make this soup. The chicken meat was still tender when I tried it.



Also had this Sambal Long Beans with Seafood. Beans were crunchy and the sambal had a nice kick.



Tofu lovers will love this Special Tofu Treasure Box with Seafood. Forgot the price, but everyone enjoyed this too.



Yummy Recipes also has another house specialty - Braised Duck with potato and yam (S$16). The braised duck was really smooth and tender, and if I didn't remember wrongly, was also boneless too. Try the meat together with a piece of yam or potato. Another must order.



There is this unique vegetable dish called Double Prosperity Kailan (S$10). It's basically Kailan cooked 2 ways. On the left is the normal garlic stir fry style, but on the right is a special deep fried kai lan. Tasted almost like crispy seaweed.



The last dish we had was the Sri Lanka Crab Baked Rice (S$58). Crab was fresh and sweet, but I find that there is too much minced garlic inside the baked rice. Perhaps a little less garlic would be better. But still, the rice was very flavourful.


品珍私房菜 Yummy Recipes
Crescent @ Kallang
47 Kallang Pudding Road
#01-08

Delicious @ Scotts Square

Had a weekday lunch at Delicious over at the newly opened Scotts Square, located between Grand Hyatt hotel and Tangs.



For those who are not familiar with Delicious, it's a popular chain of high-end cafe from Kuala Lumpur. Something like PS Cafe which sells not only western food, but also traditional Malaysian cuisines.



We skipped the appetizers and went straight to mains. First was the Spicy Crabmeat Linguini (S$15) - tossed with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes & Arugula, sprinkled with Pine Nuts. I didn't really enjoy this, as it was not as flavourful as I hoped it would be. Lot's of crab meat though.



When the Rendang Tok Short Ribs (S$12) was brought to our table, we were quite shocked at the huge serving of the rendang beef ribs. This dish was served with White Rice, Jelatah, Salted Egg, Ulam, Emping & Sambal. The rendang tasted yummy, but as there were huge chunks of rib bones, therefore the meat portion wasn't too much after all. Would recommend 1st time visitors to try this. But the rendang does get too boring after a while.



Wow, their Coconut Cake (S$9) is one of the best I had for a long time. Not only was there freshly grated coconut fillings on the cake, but there were also chunks of sweet coconut flesh fillings within the cake. The menu stated that their coconut are Hawaiian coconuts. Not sure if it means the coconut type or they are really flown in from Hawaii.



On the other hand the Sticky Date Pudding (S$8) with Butterscotch Sauce & Vanilla Ice Cream was quite a letdown.



Prefer the original version from Marmalade Pantry. Some hits and misses here, but overall quite a good place for a meal, and I would come back just for the coconut cake.


Delicious
6 Scotts Road,
B1-16/19
Scotts Square

La Maison Fatien @ Duxton Road

It's not everyday that you see a restaurant built just for a house-brand French wine. So we were really surprised to read that Maison Fatien, a wine company in Burgundy, had opened their first overseas outpost here in Singapore.



Located at Duxton Road, the interior of this shophouse has been transformed into a rustic French restaurant. The atmosphere here is casual, and the food is rustic French.



As recommended by the friendly service staff, we had their inhouse 2008 Maison Fatien Volnay. The wine was easy to drink. It tasted even better after the wine was allowed to "breathe" for a while.



For starters, we had the Escargots (S$12) - 1/2 dozen gratinated escargots garlic butter. The escargots were really juicy and tender, and filled with the wonderful fragrance of butter and garlic. Mop up the garlic sauce with the toastes provided.



Aother yummy starter is this Onion Soup (S$12) served with crouton, gratinated with Emmental cheese. Unlike most onion soup, their version here is not too salty. Yet it retains the creaminess and sweetness of the original french onion soup.



French mustard for our mains.



We went through the one-page menu. Decided to order the popular Duck Confit (S$28) served with "Sarladaise" potatoes. The chef did a wonderful job, and the skin of the duck was crispy but not too oily. The duck meat was tender and flavourful. I also enjoyed the potatoes.



Another good mian dish we had was the Roasted Pork Chops (S$22) served with potato puree and sauce "Charcutiere". The pork was slightly chewey, but we find it quite flavourful.



Managed to finish our wine before desserts were served.



As we were too full, we shared just one dessert, which is the Creme Brulee (S$10) - Vanilla custard and caramelized brown sugar. It was one of the best Creme Brulee we had in Singapore. The surface was crunchy and the custard within was creamy. Excellent.


La Maison Fatien
76 Duxton Road

Alfresco Gusto @ ION Orchard

Always noticed this alfresco restaurant located outside of ION orchard, but never had a chance to try it. Finally had a chance one day to have a quick dinner at there.



There was a huge thunderstorm all across Orchard Road in the afternoon.



The strong wind splashed in the rain a bit. Otherwise it will be pleasant to dine at the all outdoor venue, especially here since this bistro installed ducts that bring in cool air-condinioned breeze.



My main for the day was the Sea Urchin Riosotto flavoured with truffle oil and scallops.



And for desserts, it's the Pear Tart Tartin - Caramelized Pear tart with honey. Food here is pretty decent, and it's a nice place to chill out while in Orchard Road.


Alfresco Gusto
2 Orchard Turn,
#01-15
ION Orchard

Santi @ Marina Bay Sands

The news of Santi closing at Marina Bay Sands came as a shock to quite a number of foodies in Singapore. This was because that the late chef himself has passed away while here in this very restaurant, and many would have thought that the family would like to preserve this place as a memory for this great chef.



Upon hearing the news, we made a reservation weeks in advance for a table on the final few days before it closed. As expected, the restaurant was full house and many were here to enjoy their last dinner here before the shutters came down.



First, we had our favourite Emilio Lustau East India Sherry – Jerez – Xérès – Sherry, Spain (S$25 per glass)



As always, we were served these vegetable crisps which were freshly fried. It came with a nutty dipping sauce.



Before serving us the breads, the staff brought out the entire selection for us to see.



We like the breads served here. Lot's of different varieties to choose from. Our favourites were the ones with sweet pumpkin, and also the olive bread.



After flipping through the menu, we decided to go for the big one: The Surprise Menu (S$385 per person). Gazpacho with mussels and 7 years aged Joselito ham toast



Bamboo tartar with truffles and puntarelle



Reveulto of crab with caviar and heart of palm - We like this for the taste and creaminess.



Fried smelt fish with tomato and chorizo



Traditional rice "amb fesols i naps", which is Spanish for rice with white beans and turnips. Served with a delicious roasted kurobuta pork.



Catalan cannelloni with seasonal mushrooms



Market fish (John Dory) with peaches and smoked eel



4-month Aged Wagyu beef with oyster, artichokes, fava beans, topinambour (Jerusalem artichoke) and truffle sauce - The combination of oyster and beef actually works. Oyster was fresh without the "fishy" taste.



Assortment of cheese, served with toasts and lot's of honey.



Basil infusion with green apple and yogurt - Our pre-dessert.



Peanut praline with yogurt and cinnamon cream



Ended our surprise menu with Petit fours. We miss the Santi's marshmallows which we were given last time when we had dinner here.



One last look around the restaurant before it closed for good.



Although Santi was in Singapore for only slightly less than 2 years, but it has contributed a lot to the local dining scene. I think many will miss this wonderful restaurant. And of course, the late chef.


Santi
10 Bayfront Avenue,
#L2-03,
Casino Level 2,
Marina Bay Sands