Showing posts with label 3 Fine Dining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 3 Fine Dining. Show all posts

Saturday, 7 January 2023

Mott 32 – Exquisite Chinese Dim Sum

Mott 32 at Marina Bay Sands Singapore (“Mott 32”) is an authentic Chinese restaurant that utilises modern & innovative cooking techniques from around the world to bring out the best of authentic Chinese recipes. The name Mott 32 pays homage to 32 Mott Street in New York, where the city’s first Chinese convenience store opened in 1891. Mott 32 Singapore is the 4th Mott 32 restaurant globally, including Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Vancouver and Bangkok.

Mott 32 Entrance
Image Credit: Mott 32
When I first step into Mott 32, I was impressed by the décor of the restaurant. A classy oriental design, complete with flora motifs around the dining area of the restaurant. In line with the current trend, the sight of the grand Mott 32 bar is not to be missed, where the mixologist will prepare drinks inspired by the Chinese culture and the flavours of Asia.

Part of Dining Area
Partial View of the Grand Bar
We started our meal with a bowl of soup. I choose Fish Maw, Conpoy, Garoupa Soup ($25). The milky colour broth is creamy, tasty yet subtle. It is infused with collagen from the fish maw and umami from the conpoy.

Fish Maw, Conpoy, Garoupa Soup
Signature Crispy Sugar Coated Peking Duck Bun ($12, 3pcs). The baked bao has a nice and crispy skin. The duck fillings are juicy and not too sweet. Although the charcoal bun is coated with icing sugar on top, the sweetness is almost unnoticed, instead, it binds the bun and fillings nicely.

Signature Crispy Sugar Coated Peking Duck Bun 
Dim Sum Platter ($13), consisting of South Australian Shrimp, Prawn, Hot & Sour Shanghainese Soup Dumpling; Black Truffle Siew Mai; and Wild Mushroom, Water Chestnut Crystal Dumpling. A lovely combination on the basket. The mushroom crystal dumpling is chewy and bursting with flavour. The siew mai is juicy, with quail egg inside it and a hit of truffle. The mala XLB is very good, filled with hot and sour soup that was subtle, enough to entice your palate instead of numbing it.

Dim Sum Platter / Basket
King Prawn Har Gow ($12, 4pcs). The barometer of dim sum standard in a restaurant. The Mott 32 passed with flying colours. The har gao is big, plump and juicy. The skin has a nice bouncy texture and holds the prawn fillings very well.

King Prawn Har Gow 
Australian Wagyu Beef Puff ($12, 3pcs). The layered pastry skin reminds me of deep-fried prawns in vermicelli noodles. However, instead of crispy noodle, the filo pastry is crispy and crumbly, filled with black pepper wagyu beef. It was so good; I can finish the whole plate of this puff.

Australian Wagyu Beef Puff
Australian Wagyu Beef Puff
Cold Free-Range Chicken, Szechuan Peppercorns, Chilli Sauce ($26). Served chilled, the chicken is firm and tasty. While the sauce looks fiery, the taste of the mala is very subtle. It delivered controlled and complex mala flavour without numbing your tongue. The crunchy fried garlic on top adds a different texture to the dish and breaks the “mala spell” on your palate.

Cold Free-Range Chicken, Szechuan Peppercorns, Chilli Sauce 
Chicken, Prawn, Taro Croquette ($13, 3 pcs). The exterior of the taro croquette is light, crispy and fluffy. The fillings of chicken and prawn are packed with flavour and paired well with the taro pastry.

Chicken, Prawn, Taro Croquette
Pan Fried Turnip Cake, Dried Scallops and Japanese Sakura Shrimp, Dong Guan Sausage and Shrimp ($13, 4 pcs). Without a doubt, it is the tastiest turnip cake I have tried so far. The exterior is crispy and full of the crunchiness and umami flavour from the Japanese Sakura Shrimp. The take itself is a blend of softness and bouncy texture, filled with dried scallops and Dong Guan sausage. Yum Yum.

Pan Fried Turnip Cake, Dried Scallops and
Japanese Sakura Shrimp, Dong Guan Sausage and Shrimp
Crispy Egg Noodle, Stir-Fried Egg White with Prawn, Scallop, Conpoy ($38). LD’s favourite noodle. The egg noodle is crispy and springy, covered in egg white gravy and full of the bounty of the sea. The scallops are juicy and the conpoy gives the umami OMPH in this dish. A must-order dish here.

Crispy Egg Noodle, Stir-Fried Egg White with Prawn, Scallop, Conpoy 
Crispy Egg Noodle, Stir-Fried Egg White with Prawn, Scallop, Conpoy 
Desserts were Lotus Seed Paste Puff, Red Bean Curd ($10) and Coconut, Water Chestnut, Glutinous Rice Roll, Crushed Nuts ($10). The lotus seeds puff exterior is crisp and crumbly, topped with aromatic roasted sesame on top. It is a modern twist to the traditional red bean paste pancake.

Lotus Seed Paste Puff, Red Bean Curd
The Coconut, Water Chestnut, Glutinous Rice Roll, Crushed Nuts shows the creativity of the team at Mott 32. The water chestnut glutinous rice roll is chewy and tasty, coated with finely grated coconut shavings and rich coconut milk. The crushed nuts sprinkled on top added a crunchy texture to this awesome dessert.

Coconut, Water Chestnut, Glutinous Rice Roll, Crushed Nuts
Service is meticulous, professional and slick. They make sure that you are taken care of from start to finish.

Private Dining Area
Overall, it was a great dining experience. While the dim sum menu is limited, they ensure each one of them is to the highest standard. I recommend the Signature Crispy Sugar-Coated Peking Duck Bun, Australian Wagyu Beef Puff, Pan-Fried Turnip Cake, Crispy Egg Noodle, Stir-Fried Egg White with Prawn, Scallop, Conpoy and Coconut, Water Chestnut, Glutinous Rice Roll, Crushed Nuts as dessert. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 9/10
Value: 6/10
Service: 8.5/10
Ambiance: 9.5/10
Budget per Person: $81 and Above

Mott 32
10 Bayfront Ave
B1-42-44, Marina Bay Sands Singapore
Singapore 018956

T: +65 6888 9922
OH:
Lunch, 11.30 – 14.15 (Last Seating)
Afternoon Tea, 15.00 – 17.00 (Sat, Sun & PH)
Dinner, 17.00 – 21.30 (Last Seating)
Drinks, Last order 22.30
Menu available Online

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Golden Peony – Curate Your Own Menu [MEDIA INVITE]

Chilled Cream of Avocado, Vanilla Ice Cream, Red Bean, Coconut Pudding.

September brings an exciting dining experience at Golden Peony. Curate Your Own Menu! Create your bespoke dining experience at Golden Peony curated from celebrity Chef Ku's new menu. A 5-course lunch from S$48++ per person or 6-course dinner from S$68++ per person.

LD and I tried their 6-course dinner menu.

We started with the delicious century egg prawn roll for appetizer. Crisp exterior followed with springy prawn meat. In the centre of the prawn roll are bak kwa, century egg and wasabi mayonnaise. A good way to start. 

Century Egg Prawn Roll
London’ Duck Pancake Roll, Parma Ham, Pineapple, Crispy Beancurd Skin Swan Pastry with Chili Crab Meat. An individual portion of a mixed platter. You start with the chewy homemade pancake skin that wraps the juicy and succulent London Duck. This homemade pancake skin is specially made to provide extra chewiness and to reduce the possibility of the skin drying out easily. 

London’ Duck Pancake Roll, Parma Ham, Pineapple,
Crispy Beancurd Skin Swan Pastry with Chili Crab Meat
.
On the top, there are few slices of the roast London duck to savour with the plum sauce or even with the shiso leaf. The swan pastry is light, crispy and crumbly. It is filled with Singapore's Signature Chilli Crab that packs a solid punch. 

Crispy Beancurd Skin Swan Pastry with Chili Crab Meat
Crispy Beancurd Skin Swan Pastry with Chili Crab Meat
Double-boiled Baby Abalone Soup with Sea Whelk, Conpoy and Bamboo Pith in Mini Golden Pumpkin. A beautiful plating for this soup dish. The chicken soup is double boiled with the pumpkin. The broth tasted clean, with natural sweetness from the pumpkin and filled with the essence of the chicken. The abalone added a subtle flavour of the sea and the chewy texture in the soup together with the bamboo pit.
 
Double-boiled Baby Abalone Soup with Sea Whelk,
Conpoy and Bamboo Pith in Mini Golden Pumpkin
Double-boiled Baby Abalone Soup with Sea Whelk, 
Conpoy and Bamboo Pith in Mini Golden Pumpkin
Steamed Halibut, Capsicum Preserved Chili. The steamed halibut has a firm and buttery texture. The fungus and asparagus added an extra crunch to this dish. While I am not a fan of chilli on my fish, I do appreciate the multi-layers that the sweet picked chili brings flavours to this dish. Surprisingly, the sweet pickled chilli did not overpower the original flavour and still able to taste the freshness of the fish. 

Steamed Halibut, Capsicum Preserved Chili

Steamed Halibut, Capsicum Preserved Chili
Baked Kurobuta Pork with Bacon and XO Chili Sauce. Chef Ku version of pork roll. Kurobuta pork is wrapped with bacon in infused XO Chili sauce and baked. Although the pork roll is fork-tender, the XO sauce flavour is overpowered by the sweetness of the onion. Plated with the pork are broccoli for contrasting crunchy texture and tangy red currant berries, that will cut through the sweetness in the sauce. 
Baked Kurobuta Pork with Bacon and XO Chili Sauce.
Baked Kurobuta Pork with Bacon and XO Chili Sauce.
Stewed River Prawn with Crispy Egg Noodle Ball, Ginger, Spring Onion and Egg Gravy. When I cut through the egg noodle ball, I can hear the beautiful crunchy sound. Even after allowing the noodle soak and absorb the rich prawn infused egg gravy, I can still taste the crispy texture of the egg noodle in each bite. The gigantic river prawn is fresh, juicy, sweet with a hint of bitterness at the end. Totally love this dish. 

Stewed River Prawn with Crispy Egg Noodle Ball, Ginger, Spring Onion and Egg Gravy
The River Prawn
Chilled Cream of Avocado, Vanilla Ice Cream, Red Bean, Coconut Pudding. A Smooth and creamy avocado cream paired with vanilla ice cream. The bouncy heart shape red bean and coconut jelly adds a twist and contrasting flavour to the dish. Awesome dessert to round up the meal nicely. 

Chilled Cream of Avocado, Vanilla Ice Cream, Red Bean, Coconut Pudding
Overall, it was a sublime creation by Executive Chef Ku Keung and his team at Golden Peony. The menu is delicious and well balanced. Yummy!! 

Curate Your Own Menu 
When: September 2020 Onwards 
Time: Lunch 11.30 – 14.30; Dinner, 18.30 – 22.30 
Where: Golden Peony 
             Conrad Centennial Singapore, Level 3 
Price: Lunch, 5-course menu for $48++ per person 
          Dinner, 6-course menu for $68++ per person 
Reservation: 
Call 6432 7482/88 or Email Sinci.GoldenPeony@conradhotels.com; or 
Menu available here

Thank you very much Golden Peony Team & Conrad Centennial Singapore for hosting us. 

Food & Drink: 8.5/10 
Value: 8.5/10 
Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation) 
Ambiance: 9/10 
Budget per Person: $51 - $80; $81 and Above 

Golden Peony 
2 Temasek Boulevard 
3F, Conrad Centennial Singapore 
Singapore 038982 

T: +65 6432 7482/88 
IG: @Goldenpeony
OH: 
Mon – Sat: 11.30 – 14.30; 18.30 – 22.30 
Sun: 10.30 – 14.30; 18.30 – 22.30 

Tuesday, 24 March 2020

[CLOSED] MAI by Dashi Master Marusaya – Premium Sushi & Dashi Omakase Menu [MEDIA INVITE]

Hokkaido Hairy Crab (Kegani) with
Sweet Vinegar Sauce topped with Hokkaido Uni.

MAI by Dashi Master Marusaya has launched its signature Sushi & Dashi Omakase at S$88++. Located at the heritage Bukit Pasoh area, it provides a great setting for this 38-seater exquisite yet affordable restaurant.

MAI by Dashi Master Marusaya

Seated at the Chef’s table, LD and I had the pleasure to see Chef Hiroyuki Ono work his magic preparing our omakase meal. We also had the pleasure meeting Marusaya Group Executive Chef and Vice President, Shinji Hara.


Please let the Chef or service staff know if you have any dietary restrictions or any food that you don’t like. In our case, we did not have unagi, as LD does not eat it.

Chef's Table at MAI by Dashi Master Marusaya

We started the culinary degustation with Hotaru Ika (Firefly Squid) with Japanese Kai Lan and Katsuobushi (Skipjack Tuna) - Spring dish. These 3 weeks old mini squid are crunchy, followed with cream texture internally. The bonito and kai lan introduce a savoury and bitter flavour to the dish, while tangy sauce made with katsuobushi and vinegar gave a refreshing tangy touch to this appetizer.

Hotaru Ika (Firefly Squid) with Japanese Kai Lan
and Katsuobushi (Skipjack Tuna)

Black Sesame Tofu with Ikura in Dashi Stock. The black sesame tofu has a firm and dense texture, tasted earthy, creamy and smooth. LD says it tasted like savoury black sesame ice cream. The saltiness from the ikura, together with the sauce made from soya sauce, mirin and dashi added the much-needed umami flavour in the dish, together with the refreshing mint flavour of the chopped perilla leaf.

Black Sesame Tofu with Ikura in Dashi Stock

Black Sesame Tofu with Ikura in Dashi Stock

Sashimi platter consists of Akami, Chutoro, Sawara and Kinmedai. The kinmedai is smooth and fatty, with a touch of smoky umami flavour as it was wrapped in seaweed. Sawara (Spanish Mackerel) has a firm and smooth texture. While Akami gives you a solid tuna flavour and the Chutoro just melts in your mouth. All the sashimi is served at almost room temperature, where you can taste the full flavours of the fish. In between savouring each slice of sashimi, you can cleanse your palate with the Japanese kai lan leaves salad.   

Sashimi platter consists of Akami, Chutoro, Sawara and Kinmedai

Sashimi platter consists of Akami, Chutoro, Sawara and Kinmedai

Tamago in Dashi topped with Katsuobushi. Served warm, the tamago is bouncy and accompanied with katsuobushi that enhance the tamago flavour further. The dashi stock nicely binds all the ingredients together at the end. A special tamago dish indeed.

Tamago in Dashi topped with Katsuobushi

Tamago in Dashi topped with Katsuobushi

Hokkaido Hairy Crab (Kegani) with Sweet Vinegar Sauce topped with Hokkaido Uni. A mini dish that brings you the flavours of the ocean. The crab meat is sweet, while the uni is creamy and gave the super OMPH in this dish. A slight touch of sweet vinegar sauce keeps the balance in check so you won’t feel overwhelmed. Yummy!!

Hokkaido Hairy Crab (Kegani) with
Sweet Vinegar Sauce topped with Hokkaido Uni

Sakura Ebi with Ashitaba (Angelica Keiskei, also known as Tomorrow's Leaf), Matcha Salt and Japanese lime (Tempura Style). MAI version of prawn crackers. The mini sakura ebi and as chopped ashitaba is coated with batter and deep-fried. The cracker is light and crispy. I suggest you eat it in three steps. First bite, plain. Second bite, with the lime. Third bite with lime and salt. The three different flavours transition is just remarkable.

Sakura Ebi with Ashitaba, Matcha Salt
and Japanese lime (Tempura Style)

Sakura Ebi

Iwate Wagyu with Bamboo Shoot and Japanese Kai Lan in Sukiyaki Sauce. The beef is braised until tender. When you bite into it, you can taste the marbling in the beef and the sweetness of the sukiyaki sauce. Served with the stem of Japanese Kai Lan, the bitterness balances the sweetness of the sukiyaki sauce, while the bamboo shoot adds the crunchiness in this dish.  

Iwate Wagyu with Bamboo Shoot and
Japanese Kai Lan in Sukiyaki Sauce

For the sushi: MAI uses rice from Hokkaido for their sushi, seasoned with apple vinegar, rice vinegar, red vinegar, sugar and salt.

Chef Hiroyuki Ono preparing the sashimi

Sushi 1: Hotate and Uni Handroll – A jumbo size of hotate, generous cut of hotate and scoop of uni, delivering a sweet, creamy flavour and wrapped in super crispy seaweed. LD give her two thumbs up! #Unigasm.

Hotate and Uni Handroll 

Sushi 2: Wild Fresh Tai (Red Snapper) with Tai Liver. The red snapper is torched slightly, allowing it to have multiple textures. Smooth, creamy, like eating foie gras sushi.

Wild Fresh Tai (Red Snapper) with Tai Liver

Sushi 3: Marinated Akami Maguro and Aburi Otoro. The ultimate maguro experience. Two layers of maguro, marinated Akami which is firm and silky, plus the Aburi Otoro, the fatty cut that just melts in your mouth. #Sushigasm

Marinated Akami Maguro and Aburi Otoro

Sushi 4: Saba with Momiji Oroshi (Spicy Grated Daikon Radish). A firm texture fish, silky with a strong ginger taste, tangy and spicy kick from the Momiji Oroshi.

Saba with Momiji Oroshi 

Sushi 5: Ika with Yuzu. The ika is bouncy and a bit sticky. As the yuzu is very mild, you can only taste it briefly before being overpowered by the wasabi.

Ika with Yuzu

Sushi 6: Kuruma Ebi (Tiger Prawn) stuffed with Egg. Sweet, fresh, firm and crunchy tiger prawn stuffed with chicken egg yolk. Nice presentation with a colourful prawn.

Kuruma Ebi (Tiger Prawn) stuffed with Egg

Sushi 7: Maki with Cucumber, Japanese pickles, Chopped Tuna and Aburi Otoro, topped with Ikura. Exquisite maki with two different tuna texture, topped with lots and lots of ikura.

Preparation of Chopped Tuna, Aburi Otoro Maki

Chopped Tuna, Aburi Otoro Maki

Maki with Cucumber, Japanese pickles,
Chopped Tuna and Aburi Otoro, topped with Ikura

In traditional Japanese way, Miso Soup with Tofu Skin and Cabbage round out this beautiful meal. Robust with unique ingredients in the soup.

Miso Soup with Tofu Skin and Cabbage

Dessert is Daifuku. Soft and delicate mochi, stuffed with red bean fillings and strawberry. You can choose coffee or tea to be served with the dessert.

Daifuku with Coffee

Daifuku

The restaurant is very spacious. The seating area can be divided into Chef’s Table, 2 private rooms and seating in the dining area. The décor is very grandeur, paying homage to Japanese elements.

Seating in Dining Area

The Bar

Overall, it was a memorable dining experience. Chef Ono Hiroyuki is very entertaining and skilful in preparing the superb meal. Please take note that the dishes will vary depending on availability of ingredients and seasons. LD & I are impressed with the food and service here, we look forward to our next visit here. Kanpai!! Cheers!!

Sushi & Dashi Course

Thank you very much Jennifer Yeo Consultancy and MAI by Dashi Master Marusaya for hosting us.

In addition to MAI, the group also owns flagship restaurant, Dashi Master Marusaya at Robertson Quay, TEN Sushi at Robertson Quay and Monte Risaia at Duxton. (Click on the link for the review of the other restaurants).

Food & Drinks: 9.5/10
Value: 9.5/10
Service: N/A (Media Tasting)
Ambiance: 8.5/10
Budget per Person: $81 and Above

MAI by Dashi Master Marusaya
46 Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore 089858

T: +65 6327 8414
W:
F: 
IG: @mai_by_marusaya
OH: Mon – Sat 12.00 – 14.30 (LO 14.00); 18.00 – 23.00 (LO 22.00)

Our Popular Reviews: