ember again

We have been to ember several times and each time we leave the restaurant amply satisfied and contented. We like the casual and efficient service - there is absolutely no airs or pretentiousness in the waitstaff. We also like the seasonal changes in the menu - we get to try new dishes each time. I particularly like the subtle Asian influences in the dishes - the chef doesn't try too hard to be innovative and neither does he confuse the palate with overwhelming flavours.

This time round, we had crab cake with tomato chutney - the bite of the cumin in the crabcake stood up to the richness of the chutney. I also liked the fact that it was wholly crab and not blended in with more potato or flour than crabmeat. We also had the lobster ravioli with lobster tempura - a perfect combination of both crispy and creamy decadence. The cream sauce and jus surrounding the ravioli was heavenly and did not overwhelm the lobster. Though I must say the tempura was really really tiny (about the size of half my pinky, literally).

For main course we had steak and fava beans - this was done to the right doneness, the smoky flavours of the grill permeating through the meat in every bite. D found the accompanying mash a little too sweet for his liking, though I noted that it was possibly done on purpose to complement the saltiness of the meat. I had the miso glazed cod with mangetout & potato quarters. Though this has been on the menu for the longest time, I never tried it before. The cod was simply done - but was delicious as it was. Melt-in-the-mouth buttery cod with a tinge of sweetness in the glaze. I liked that the potatoes and mangetout (sugar snap peas) were unadorned as not to compete with the richness of the fish. We also ordered a side of green salad which was as good as it always has been - lightly dressed with a Japanese-style soy dressing and seasoned wakame.

Dessert was an apple tart tatin - buttery and flaky, deeply caramelised and tender apple segments with creamy vanilla ice-cream on the side. Simply rustic and comforting. The vanilla pods on the tart gave off such an amazing aroma which made this dish truly the highlight of an already satisfying meal. It's ember again and again for me.

a leisurely afternoon cha

Last week, I had a day off and I met up with a dear old friend and fellow foodie, M. (She prefers to remain anonymous) We went shopping for shoes and bags (what else?) after a tim sum lunch at our neighbourhood Crystal Jade Kitchen (yes they have invaded the heartlands!)

After all the walking, my poor tired legs needed a rest, afterall they weren't accustomed to tai-tai shopping. We stopped at Central in Ngee Ann City as we both had a craving for something sweet and milky. I had the hot yin-yang (for the uninitiated it's coffee-tea with milk, hong kong style) and M had a milky hot tea. We shared a toast topped with condensed milk and peanut butter. And, woah, that certainly answered our cravings. It was lightly toasted and gooey, and the bread was crisp on the outside and really fluffy and light on the inside. I was won over I must say. I didn't expect much from a cafe-chain cha chan teng place like Central, but for that milky-peanutty toast, I'll be back, and of course only after shopping with my fellow wannabe tai-tai friends.

PS. I read that Central claims to be the original cha chan teng in Singapore. I haven't been to many others except for Xin Wang. I've tried Xin Wang at Marina Square and the yin-yang there wasn't as good as Central. The baked spaghetti with pork chop at the former was also way below expectations. Service-wise, Central is more sincere, but can be erratic and inconsistent as I found out on a repeat visit.

passionfruit craving

I have been trying to satisfy a particular craving of mine i.e. for passionfruit. Not fakey artificial flavoured syrups but for the fresh deeply yellow and fragrant fruit. Been asking M, a good friend of mine and globetrotter by profession to hunt down a jar or two of passionfruit curd in markets and delis in Sydney, Perth, San Frans and London but to no avail. I found some at Tekka market but sadly they were white fleshed and weak in taste and smell. The fruit seller says those are from India and are not the yellow ones I was looking for.

The other day, I was walking by Gelatissimo and remembered I had a passionfruit sorbet by the Sydney harbour 2 years back. The sorbet, coupled with the view of the harbour on a cool winter's day, was an unforgettable gastronomic memory. I stopped at the Scotts Road branch, made sure it was the same as the Sydney one, scanned the selection and zoomed in on the passionfruit sorbet. The verdict? Yes, it's the same one! It's the same taste! Creamy, fragrant, sweet, tangy with crunchy little black seeds. I finally found a way to satisfy the passionfruit craving in me without having to fly to Oz to get it.

PS. Lousy photo taken with my mobilephone, while trying to walk in busy tunnel in Orchard Road, while trying to lick the sides of the cup.

the lightest touch

Many thanks to Yuen and Judie for hosting such an enjoyable dinner - the freshest produce air-flown from Japan, the innovative and thoughtful Japanese dishes and perfectly matched wines. I especially enjoyed the tofu with the lightly seasoned broth, a stalk of tender white asparagus and bonito flakes. It was clean, fresh and appetising. The steamed pumpkin with sesame-soy dressing was equally delectable. A combination of many flavours in a bite - salty, sweet and a tinge of sour, all complementary to each other. I liked how the richness of the sesame dressing was able to stand up to the creaminess of the pumpkin.

The main course consisted of the freshest sashimi-grade salmon drizzled with teriyaki sauce. Served with the salmon were a trio of fresh scallops which reminded me so much of the ocean with its natural saltiness. On the side, a fresh slaw and cherry tomatoes, sauteed enoki mushrooms with garlic and boiled Japanese rice finished the course perfectly.

Judie's light touch throughout the dinner has done justice to the freshness of the ingredients, and that, I truly believe is the very essence of great Japanese cuisine.

dinner at senso

Though Senso at Club Street has been around for several years, I never really wanted to eat there. It looked really upperty (i.e. expensive) and it had this neo classical/roman interiors that I dislike. It was Saturday, in the late afternoon, finding a table at our favourite restaurants would be impossible. So we decided to try out at Senso. I was glad we did.

The appetisers weren't looking exciting so we skipped it. They did present us with a amuse bouche each - a braised duck tartlet something. I ordered a milanese risotto with scallop carpaccio and D had a wild boar pappardelle. Both were excellent - unadulterated Italian dishes that were full of robust flavours. My only teeny weeny complaint, if I had to make one, was that the scallops had a fishy smell. They tasted fresh enough, but the smell put me off. The risotto, however was al dente, creamy and flavourful. The saffron gave it a really nice subtle aftertaste. Yum. I would go back there to have it again.

Oh, another teeny weeny complaint - the tiramisu really lacked the kick. D, who is not much a dessert person, decided after a bite that the one he got from starbucks was better. I agreed. The complimentary palate cleanser - a shot of green apple sorbet scored better with both of us. Nonetheless, we had a wonderful dinner at Senso. Maybe it helped that I did not have any expectations. Or that the waiters were attentive and professional. Or that the food was thoughtfully prepared. Whichever the case, we'll be back again.