RWS Food Affair (14 - 22 September 2013)

If you are into trying the wonderfully prepared, plated and great tasting food by Celebrity Chefs, you should check out the RWS Food Affair that's starting from 14 - 22 September 2013.

International Celebrity Chefs like Chef Joël Robuchon to the first female Iron Chef Cat Cora of Iron Chef America will be there. Local celebrity chefs like Chef Sam Leong, Chef Douglas Tay, Chef Li Kwok Kwong and Chef Kenny Kong.

They have so many different menus and programs, you should visit their comprehensive website at http://www.rwsentosa.com/rwsfoodaffair to check out what you like.



A few of us had a mini RWS Food Safari recently to taste what's in store for diners at the RWS Restaurants. We were having a dish or two at a restaurant and hop on to the next. It was quite an experience. It's also a preview to the food that you will get when you book the RWS Food Affair.

Pitstop 1: L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon.



There are 2 restaurants at the same venue side by side.There's L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon and also Joël Robuchon Restaurant, one more casual and the other more formal.

Both are having special menu prepared by Chef Joël Robuchon. He's in town.
- Joël Robuchon Restaurant is having a Menu Dégustation, a 10-course dinner for $450++
- L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon is having a Menu Découverte, a 6-course dinner for $180++

The exact dishes you will have is available on their website.



One of the reason why we love the nicer French restaurants is the loaves, rolls and delicious carbo that goes with the butter that they serve. If you want to bring your other half out for a date, this is a nice place. I brought the wife here for her birthday last year.



At L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, you can see the whole kitchen in action. The wife and I were seated at the counter and we were just looking at everyone's food being prepared.



Another reason I love about French Restaurants are the Amuse Bouche.
I do really get amused by it!



This is the Royal foie gras custard with Red wine reduction and Parmesan foam that this place is famous for. You should just try it yourself to know how it taste! It's really good!



Back to the RWS Food Safari we had, we were to have our Cold Appetiser here.

This was "Le Crabe". It's Alaskan King Crab meat on thin layers of Japanese Daikon with sweet and sour vinaigrette. (Épicé aux fines lamelles de raves à l'aigre-doux)

You do get this in their regular menu too.



Just unveiling the daikon cover to show you what's inside. Chef said that it's the same Alaskan King Crab that they serve in all Joël Robuchon worldwide.


Pitstop 2: Osia



Just across Joël Robuchon is Osia, and we just took a few steps to come here.
Osia does Asian influence food with Western culinary techniques.

If you visit the RWS website, you can view their 4 course dinner at $130++.
The dishes served at on the website.



We had our warm appetizer here. Chef prepared a corn meal crusted Foie Gras on top of daikon and a mix of beetroot, rhubarb and riberry.

I thought the corn meal crust was a bit different from the usual, but it gave it a nice crunch. It was also not too raw, so it was nice. I guess you can always tell them how you like it.


Pitstop 3: Forest森

We celebrated a family birthday here and we loved the food here. I think it's because we all loved the food prepared by Chef Sam Leong. I remember how excited my mum and aunt were, when we got them to a Chef Sam and Forest cooking class last time at ToTT. (it was all a ploy to get them to learn and cook for us!)

If you have Cantonese speaking parents, Chef Sam Leong will get along very well as they chat about food. At Forest森 on 14 Sep 2013 (Sat) from 12 to 4pm, there's a Sam & Forest Leong Cooking Masterclass (which includes 4-course lunch) at $160 nett (max 16 pax)



At this pit stop, Chef Sam Leong and Chef Make Tan of Forest森 welcomed us. We were served this creation from Chef Mike Tan. Steamed New Zealand Cod Fish with Yuzu Mushroom Sauce. It looks like Mei Cai over cod, but it's actually very very delicious and fragrant Yuzu Mushrooms!

Somehow this combination is just superb and the cod was cooked to perfection. 


Pitstop 4: Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora.



This place is simply amazing!!! It's the place where you dine with the sea creatures that swim around you. If you follow me on Instagram (@keropokman), you would have seen two InstaVideos that I have.

This fabulous venue is also where the "RWS Celebrity Chefs Dinner" will be held.
This is the dinner that all 6 celebrity chefs will prepare a six-course dinner for you.You’ll be treated to Ayala Brut Majeur NV Champagne upon arrival, and free flow of Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz Mourverdre and Penfolds Koonunga Hill Autumn Riesling during dinner.

The chefs will be present to talk to you and for you to take photos!

Date: 7pm, 18 Sep 13 (Wed)
Venue: Ocean Gallery, S.E.A. Aquarium
Price: $288++
The menu is online at the RWS Website.



At this pitstop, we had Chef Yew from Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora prepared this dish for us. Kurobuta Pork Belly and Fried Octopus (the 2 mini tube like thing). Served with Sauerkraut Purée, Cabbage Roll and Mustard.

The pork belly had been sous vide and then seared to make it crisp. It's something for die hard pork lovers who love the fatty bits! I never had Sauerkraut in a purée form before. The cabbage roll was kind of pretty too isn't it?



At this same pitstop, Executive Pastry Chef Kenny Kong made us Yuzu Mango Cremuex with Gula Melaka Streusal with Milky Lemongrass Sorbet. So beautiful and what a plethora of taste.

So much details went into making this. Sometimes I wonder which one to start to fully appreciate this beautiful art piece.

Chef Kenny is the President of the Singapore Pastry Alliance.



Chef Kenny decided to have an extra treat for us by making us these lollipops!

Hope you enjoy this little preview of the RWS Food Affair.
Visit http://www.rwsentosa.com/rwsfoodaffair for the full details and bookings.

For the prices you see above, if you book using a MasterCard you get 20% off.
The 20% off is also applicable for RWS Invites members.

Island Café @ Tangs Orchard

Island Café is one of the cafe that is still around after so many years. How many of you grew up visiting this place with your parents?

It's been a while since the wife and I came here. In fact, with so many malls opening up all over Singapore, we hardly come down to Orchard Road. I have some Tangs points expiring, so I thought I better spend it quick. It also happens to be my birthday month, and I got an SMS from Tangs telling me to collect a birthday letter that entitles me to some discounts around the different department in Tangs. Let's eat and use up the points!

One of the birthday offer was a 20% discount at Island Café plus a slice of cake.I like the sound of that.


Tauhu Telor ($10)

The tauhu telor at Tangs has always been most people's favourite. Just look around and you can see many tables ordering it. I always sheepishly look around what people order when I am ushered to my seat. I know many of you do the same too right?

The tauhu telor has enough eggs covering it and when it's deep fried, there's a nice crunch covering the tofu as you bite into it. The sweet sauce for their Tauhu Telor is one very addictive sauce! Sweetish and saltish, it just makes you want to dip more of the sauce for every piece of tauhu that you fork up.



Hainanese Chicken Rice ($14)

I asked the wife should I try this. She says it used to be not nice at all. She has not ordered it for years. Maybe we should give it a change right? Plus I don't know why I just felt like having chicken rice, so I thought we shall try it.

When we ordered it, the service staff asks if you prefer the breast meat or drumstick. That's a nice touch. We opted for the chicken drumstick.

Rice was done nicely. Fragrant but not too sticky. I know many people like stickier rice like Tian Tian's. Everyone in Singapore has their own perfect chicken rice! 



As many chefs will tell you, put in some nice plates and you can sell it for more. The chicken above looks quite decent right?

The chicken is nice lah. I noticed it was also slightly warm and not cold like most Hainanese chicken rice. It's also not salty, so you can dip it in as much black sauce, ginger and chilli sauce without making it too salty.

There's also some chicken 'soup' that is a little thicker than the accompanying soup below the chicken, and it taste nicer too. It comes with a few leaves of Xiao Bai Cai, few slices tomatoes and cucumber placed below the chicken.




The chicken rice chilli is decent not very spicy, so it won't kill tourists' tongue. Talk about tourist, if you look around, it looks like it's mostly locals. A lot of diners seems to be of our parents age and also quite a few young families too. (I suspect all Tangs card members using up their points like us!)

I find that pouring whatever leftover chilli over your rice and adding some of the Tauhu Telor's black sauce, is the best way to finish your rice! You can literally wallop the rice just like how our parents will say it.



A simple black forest cake that's for Birthday customers. They will ask you to pick one from the cake display fridge.

The Crayfish Laksa seems to be what most people order here too. If you think Chicken Rice is too 'normal' to order here, you can order that. The satay seems to be a popular order too, we noticed that when we were walking out.

The service staff working there seems to be long serving staff. We 'eavesdrop' our next table conversation with a staff about her looking familiar. She said, she's been there for 12 years! Then something about her getting her long service award too. They must be doing something right about their HR policy here.

Total bill after discount was $22.60.
After using the bonus dollars from the store card, it was only $10.60
One of the best way to use up your store card bonus dollars instead of letting it expire!

 
Island Café 
Tangs Level 4
310 Orchard Road
Singapore 238866

Tel: 6737 5500

SweetSpot Deli @ Marina Bay Sands

The wife is traveling to the US for a work trip and we were talking about the meals that she will be looking forward to and some not so. The business lunches that she will have with colleagues and bosses will be more formal and 'strict'. She is however looking forward to the simple, cheap but super delicious deli sandwiches that she loves. Loads of Corned Beef and Pastrami on toasted bread that gives you a great satisfaction with every bite.

So when I told her if she wanted to come to Sweet Spot Deli for some tasting that was arranged by the PR folks of MBS, she looked at me and said Desserts for dinner? Are you sure?

If you are like her thinking that SweetSpot is all about desserts and all things sweet, it is. SweetSpot Deli however is not. MBS has a few SweetSpot, and look for the one with the word Deli if you want some easy takeaway food that's not all just sweet stuff.



Sweet Spot Deli has taken over what used to be Java Detour, if you are wondering where SweetSpot Deli is. It's a simple looking deli with basic chairs and table and most things DIY.

Behind the simple looking Deli is quite delicious Manhattan staples that 2 chefs at MBS has created. Executive Chef Christopher Christie and Executive Pastry Chef Ryan Witcher are behind the food here. They have brought to us New York style Deli sandwiches that tempts the wife, and Cakes and Desserts that tempts me.

They use disposable cutlery, plates and bowls here.  I noticed the plates and bowls are mostly disposable cornware stuff. If you are there for a conference (that don't provide food) and need to grab a quick lunch, this might be a good place to grab affordable food.


Chicken Soup with Matzo Ball ($6)

Something that we don't usually find in Singapore. Chicken Matzo Ball Soup. Matzoh balls are made from matzoh meal and eggs and it does have a very unique texture. To me, it has a texture of firm tofu (taukwa). Served in chicken soup, it's something that many of us will love to have on cold days like what we are having these few weeks.

Something that looks really simple, but this version according to Chef Christie has to be boiled for an hour. After the balls are done, it's served in a delicious chicken soup.

I was curious to find out more, so I did a search, there are recipes that boil for 20 minutes, there are those that boils for 1 hour (those from NY based chefs). 

If you don't like Matzo balls, this dish is actually the Chicken Soup dish on the menu. You can choose between Matzo balls, Rice or Egg Noodles to go with it.




They also have a variety of sides for $2 each. We tried the mash potato and coleslaw. I particularly liked their coleslaw that was to my taste, crunchy and the dressing is just nice. If you like pickles, you can order it too, but the sandwiches already comes with it, so order it only if you are an absolute pickle fan.


Corned Beef, Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut and Russian Dressing on Grilled Rye.
(Regular (70gm) $9, Large (110gm) $14)

The New York Deli sandwiches on the menu are very delicious. What you get is quite a lot of filling (70 or 110gm of it), you can choose regular or large. I suggest the large and then share it with someone. If you are alone, pack the other half for tea!

The rye bread was so crispy after being grilled. You take a big bite and you hear and feel the crunch then next you bite into the soft and yet firmly assembled cheese, corned beef and sauerkraut. The flavor profile is savory and enough acidity to counter it from the sauerkraut. The melted swiss cheese gives a nice warm gooey feel in your mouth.

Surprisingly it does not fall apart even though it's so packed with filling.



Comes with a nice long strip of pickles too. I heard they are very particular of the pickles they use here too. Are you a pickles person?

I didn't write down the taste notes the other day, so I can't remember if they were the sweeter or sour version. I think it was the sourish tart version. (Correct me if I am wrong when you have it there before)


Pastrami, Swiss Cheese, Coleslaw and Russian Dressing on Grilled Rye.
(Regular (70gm) $9, Large (110gm) $14)

We also tried a similar sandwich. This is without Corn Beef, but lots of Pastrami and Coleslaw. A very delicious sandwich too. A nice toasty sandwich for those who loves pastrami. Something so simple yet so tasty. I know I can't do this at home because I just can't assemble it nicely enough and I don't have that toaster grill that presses everything down nicely.

(If you are like me asking what's the difference between Corned Beef and Pastrami, my short answer is that they are almost the same. Both started off as Corned Beef, but Pastrami has an additional step of a flavor rub over it and then getting smoked)


I know many people who work in the Suntec Towers and also MBFC are tired of eating the same thing. Both are not too far and is walkable too!



Line-caught Albacore Tuna, Lettuce and Tomatoes on rustic white bread.
(Regular (70gm) $8, Large (110gm) $11)

This tuna sandwich something you would be familiar with, but the "greenies" amongst us will be glad to know that the tuna used here is the sustainable type. They are line-caught tuna.


Smoked Salmon, Creme Cheese, Tomato and Red Onion on Toasted Bagel. (110 gm, $13)

This was good! I eat bagels plain sometimes and my secondary school friend will tell me, wrong wrong wrong, he says I committed a cardinal sin. This should please him. Toasted Bagel with Creme Cheese and topped with smoked salmon!

The whole plate looks so appetizing already!



SweetSpot makes their own bagels. If you don't already know, there's a huge underground complex that houses the MBS kitchen that is churning out food 24x7!

The photo above will tell it all about the layers of tuna. No further description needed.



Devil's Chocolate Cake  ($8)

Executive Pastry Chef Ryan Witcher has been around the world including stints in 2 NYC Hotels. Here at SweetSpot Deli, the cakes are huge, yes, very big pieces and certain cakes are sold out rather quickly.  The best selling cake is the Signature Cheesecake. It was already sold out the day we were there.

This is the Devil's Chocolate Cake. From the above, I can see 4 layers of chocolate cakes between 4 layers of chocolate ganache. If you are here, I suggest 2 persons share 1 sandwich, 1 side and 1 slice of cake and your own drinks.


Blueberry Cheesecake ($8)

Blueberry Cheesecake is cheesecake with blueberries on top. At the back of my mind, I kept thinking I need to come back to try the Signature Cheesecake. So I shall be back another day for it.


Notes:
It's a no frills place with great food behind the simplicity. Note that only SweetSpot Deli serves the Deli food, the other SweetSpot branches do not. It opens early at 8 am everyday. So those who are on their way to work in the area can drop by and grab some breakfast too.

There are 11 kinds of New York style Deli Sandwiches on the menu. The cheapest sandwich on the menu is the 'without meat' option. A Swiss Cheese, Coleslaw, Russian Dressing on Grilled Rye costs only $6. There's also 4 kinds of salads.

During lunch hour, you can add $4.50 for a soda and a side dish or $1 for a cookie.



SweetSpot Deli
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Bay Level, #01-30
10 Bayfront Avenue,
Singapore 018956

Tel: +65 6688 8584
Hours: 8 am - 11 pm (Sun - Thu) / 8 am - 12 am (Fri, Sat, Eve Public Holiday)