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Inspired by the wide ranging food available & travel accessibility in Singapore, this blog serves information shared and experienced by the author. Beware, it might be highly addictive.
We had our dining location changed at the eleventh hour when I noticed the sponsored Instagram feed showing up Pappardelle from Porta while I was browsing. Well, advertising works sometimes afterall ~ they attracted diners like me. Ha Ha Ha.
Porta
Porta is located in Park Hotel Clark Quay serving modern European cuisine. Unlike majority of other hotel dining restaurant, Porta is located at the ground level of the hotel with a Al Fresco dining section.
Porta Entrance
The cosy environment has a space for gourmet retail products used in their dishes. Besides having the products placed on the series of cabinets, there are more products displayed on their island counters.
Link Way to Hotel
Coaster for our drinks
Warm Butter buns were served swiftly after our orders. As it was a cold day I felt quite hungry, thus I quickly spread some of the butter and munch on it while waiting for our food.
Bread
We started our meal with the soup of the day as cream of potato and it was quite ordinary.
Soup of the day - $11
I have been looking around for nice Pappardelle since not many places have it. In fact its this dish that make my trip to Porta. Having tried its first taste, I was rather disappointed.
Duck Ragout - $24
It was kind of lacking in oomph and was bland in taste though Parmesan sauce and herbs were used. Duck meat on the other hand were generous but too, lacking in taste.
Close Up
As I cut down the pork belly, the knife went through it like hot knife through butter. Maybe I was just exaggerating but certainly the piece of meat was more tender than a piece of Tau Kua. The fat was well rendered and could easily melt in my mouth. The pineapple puree and BBQ sauce had complemented the slab of belly.
Pork Belly - $26
Leaving room for desserts, we had ordered the Black Forest. The dessert served was presented in a creative manner. The dark chocolate lava cake was served with whipped cream topped with coconut shavings. Chocolate shavings has been used in part of the dessert's decoration. Maraschino Cherry was tucked by the side with some coco nibs. It was a bittersweet experience with some crunchy texture.
Black Forest - $14
Yes, its not our usual piece of tiramisu cake. Instead of having them in a whole piece, tiramisu was served in its deconstructed form. Every individual component of the cake was laid nicely on the plate, coffee, lady's finger, Kahlua and Mascarpone Cheese.
Not-Your-Usual Tiramisu - $12
Overall, food quality was not too bad. Apart from that, I find that their service was kind of lacking given a weekday evening. It was slow and perhaps, there is shortage of manpower.
Rating: 3.25 / 5
Porta Location: 1 Unity Street Level 1, Park Hotel Clarke Quay, Singapore 237983 Nearest MRT Station: Clarke Quay (NE5)
Guten Tag! The way of saying good day in German. Visiting Stuttgart Blackforest Boutique Cafe has always been in the back of our mind. With years working in a German firm, I learn that German Cuisine were not just about beer and pork knuckles though it was being portray in such way.
Stuttgart Blackforest Boutique S-Cafe
Boutique
Having visited Germany a year or two back, Stuttgart is one of the place I heard and still yet to be checked on my visited list. All I heard was their reputable black forest and cuckoo clock factory. S-Cafe was decked out with woods, giving a quaint environment. There were even large green pine trees to mimic the forest environment or even those beer gardens in Germany. Atmosphere was generally interesting and definitely relaxing. For those who love nature, this might be a good choice for you.
Stuttgart Blackforest
Environment
How can the trip to a German Cafe be completed without a sip of their beer? Food was all washed down by the bottle of Engel Radler.
Enger Radler - $13
While the partner is in need of some caffine to perk himself up with a cup of Iced Cappucino. It came as a little surprise as cookies were given and syrup was added separately.
Iced Cappucino - $7
A basket of bread and magarine spread was compliments from the cafe.
Compliments
Braised Beef Short Ribs was introduced by one of the server and that was not from the menu. I guess that dish was available on certain days only. Braised Beef was cooked to its tenderness which allowed meat to be easily removed from the bone and was supported by a bed of mashed potatoes and 2 slices of vegetables. It was crunchy and kind of reduce the smell of the beef Short Ribs. I was told that those vegetables were called watermelon carrot when I asked about them.
Watermelon carrot with short ribs
Beef Short Ribs - $28
The more than 100g large slice of Signature Black Forest Cake did not disappoint. It was rich and creamy but not cloying in its chocolate sponge and kirsch soaked cherries. Every layer was well define, given a good texture of what a Black Forest Cake was supposed to be. It's the best so far that I had ever eaten in Singapore.
Vampires, beware! Mad for Garlic is re-opened on 1st July 2013 after its re-vamp in Suntec City Mall. Originated from korea, Mad for Garlic is one of korean's popular chain restaurants known for its Garlic-Specialized Italian dishes.
Not only that if you are a Wine lover, this is for you as Mad For Garlic did provide an extensive wine menu. Look at the neatly placed bottles of wine on the left. With Garlic as the main theme, I could never fail to miss out garlic as part of their interior decorations. A big garlic wreath was left hanging at its main entrance and seen surrounding its big lamps at the middle of the restaurant. The entire environment had brought out a good European Rustic ambiance with its sleek black and white design with zigzag tiles.
Shop Front
There were two sections in the restaurant, the one that we had seen earlier on was its main and looked brighter. As we were dining in a group about 10 with a kid, we were direct into a private area in the restaurant. This place had separated the main dining with a big glass panel, dimmer but cosy. The down side was that it was not easy for us to grab attention from the servers. Parents need not worry about their kids, Mad For Garlic has excellent place for you to park your prams in front of their shop.
Quiet Ambiance
Opted for Garlic Cream Based over Tomato. These Fresh Mussels were served with assorted pepper and tastes tad spicy with its dried chilli padi.Chopped garlic was heavily added to eliminate the natural's stink from mussels.
Sauteed Fresh Mussel - $32.40
Probably the best food ordered for the night. Garlic Snowing Pizza was cream-based topped with sweet garlic, diced pineapples and shrimps with cheese. It had a unique favour that gave a good first impression and I like its thin crust together filled with shaved cheese. A nice try for Snowing effect.
Garlic Snowing Pizza - $22.50
Rich Creamy Garlic Sauce Pasta anyone? Served with springy bite size lobsters and orange fish roes. Simply love these different kinds of textural bite on the palette.
Lobster Cream Pasta - $23.50
Garlic Fried Rice with Garlic Pickles, Bacon and Fish Roe. Ingredients like green and red pepper, onions was added. Each grain of risotto was aromatic, tasted full of flavour. This dish somehow relate me to the english version of "Yang Zhou Chao Fan "扬州炒饭".
Garlic Sizzling Rice - $21.40
Fresh Seafood Pasta was filled with original Italian Tomato Sauce as well as shaved cheese that covers up the entire dish.
Seafood Tomato Pasta - $24.60
Carbonara with Bacon in Herb Garlic Cream Sauce was too creamy to my liking. Advisable to be consumed before it turned cooler as it tastes abit chalky after sometime.
Garlic Carbonara Pasta - $21.70
So much of saying, are you mad for garlic yet? Do try it before the vampires start chasing after you. :)
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Mad for Garlic Suntec City Mall, 3 Temasek Boulevard #02-300/301, Singapore 038983
2fifteen is tucked in a cosy corner at Level 2 Rochester Mall, with the help of big signboards around, it made patrons easier to locate her by walking along the walkways at the outdoor area.
2fifteen was named after its unit number, #02-15 in case many of us wander why such an imitable name.
As we entered the restaurant, we felt that Interior Design was well done up, with a concept more towards a modern French ambiance furnished against some rustic looking brick walls and wood-liked homogenous flooring. Chandelier was seen hanging from the fore-ceiling with place brightly lited. Apart from these welcoming designs, service was above average with observant server who come in once a while to topped up our glasses of drinks.
Entrance
Though named as a kitchen but it was a place serving hearty, unpretentious comfort french European cuisine.
Counter
Executive Chef Kenny Yeo who helmed 2fifteen kitchen had his culinary skills honed at Le-Cententaire Hotel-Restaurant, 3 Star Michelin establishment in France, some Singapore's best restaurants including Les Amis and at various private functions with reputable guests including the former Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.
During my visit, we had noted his presence and he was friendly enough to give us a smile and a waving gesture, saying "Hello" to us.
One need not worry about bringing the kids into the restaurant as they were children friendly. Service was professional as the child seat was already prepared when we were there.
Dining Area
The weekend menu that keep us thinking although it was cleared cut, I just felt like having all. 2fifteen, UMakeMeHungry!:p
Menu
Started our palates off with the freshly baked mini croissants & Baguette with Butter, warming right into our stomach.
Bakery
Crossiants were fragrant, crispy with flakes loosen from it as we bite them off.
Freshly Baked Baguette and Butter
One of the appetisers we had. Sprinkled heavily with vinargrette and if lucky, one can actually get to crush on the little sea salt crystals within.
Medley of Garden Mesclun (Vegetarian)
Tangy tomato as the soup of the day. Sweet and tastes tad sour, standard, nothing to rave about.
Soup of the day - Tomato Soup
Beverages - Pomegranate (front), Apple Juice (Back)
Enjoy every bite of the Warm Salad of Foie Gras with Grape Petite Sald and Raspberry Vinaigrette. This is a top up at ($14) on top of the adult main course. Look at the bubbles formation, isnt the pan-seared fragrant slab alluring? Once we had it in our mouth, it literally disintegrate and melts right away. Thumbs up!
Scrambled Egg prepared with Truffle Oil and a cherry tomato, included in a standard adult main course.
Breakfast Egg
A special dish served to us in replacement of Sauteed Aglio Olio & Spicy Italia, a children friendly dish which spaghetti was cooked to al dente perfection lavished with sauteed mushrooms with garlic.
Sauteed garlic mushroom with spaghetti
Pork escaplop was served with sage leaves in between the meat, accompanied by apples and dill sauce. Pork was abit hard to bite, nevertheless it still tastes good with the sweet black sauce.
Pork Escalope
An additional main ordered. Crispy Duck Confit from Perigord, Medley of Mesclun, Balsamic Vinagretter. Uncover the cracking crisp layer and you will find a layer of fat. Perfectly marinated and amazingly delectable accompanied with garden of Mesclun and roasted potatoes. Yums!
Cost: $36
Duck Confit
3 kinds of sausage was served, white, original and spicy flavour accompanied by a bed of smashed potatoes, sauerkraut with caramelized onions. Simple and very filling to the stomach.
Bungers and Mash, Sauerkraut and Brown Onion Sauce
Coconut and Ice Cream topped with fragran coconut flakes in a icy cup. Cooling and refreshing way to end the meal.
2 Scoops of Ice Cream
The presentation of Homemade Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese had brought laughter to the table. Served on a plate which reminds me of a tile from a renovation warehouse I had visited weeks ago, I thought this idea was crazy, nevertheless, I still find it innovative.
The dish was adorn with fruits like blueberries, raspberry, strawberries with 4 tiny dots of cranberry sauce at each corner, forming an invisible square. Carrot Cake was fragrant and not that oily with nuts and carrots crunch. A small ball of coconut ice-cream with coconut flakes was included too.
Carrot Cake
Homemade Cream Brulee with Exotic Food. 3 types of flavours (Earl Grey, Classic and Green Tea) to choose from and we had the earl grey. Caramelized frosty top layer packed with sweetness. The Earl Grey Cream Brulee was good.
A special compliment done up for the birthday girl. These Happy Birthday wordings were specially requested at the time of phone reservation. Carfefully planned with the "fireworks" on plate. Take a look at the video.
Home-made Apple Tart comes with Crushed Almonds, Caramelised Sauce and Vanilla Ice cream. Freshly baked and 20 minutes baking time is required. Voted this for the best desserts among all orders. Served in a hot pan, these paper thin crust had packed our last dish with cracking bites! Shiok! Cost: $16
I always think that having French Food in Singapore is costly. Amazingly, with the eminence of Chef Kenny Yeo, French Cuisine had been make wallet friendly, saving us from burning a hole in the pocket. I was rather surprised that the place was near empty considering that those dishes whipped out by reputable Chef Kenny Yeo was exquisite. It's really a hidden Gem in the west. For such quiet ambiance, this is a perfect spot to romance your date on weekends if this style floats your boat.
Do remember to make reservations for weekdays especially.
