Birds of A Feather – A Lighter and Refreshing Menu 2024 [MEDIA INVITE]

Birds of A Feather (“BOF”) has introduced new flavours in their latest menu, focusing on lighter and refreshing flavours. BOF remains committed to its principles, delivering contemporary cuisine with Sichuan influences that blend East-and-West menu.

We started the tasting with dishes from the “Beginning”.

Beginning

Ume Tomato (V) [$14] - Ume Marinated Looye Cherry Tomato, Ume Granite, Sour Jelly, Salicornia. The Looye cherry tomato absorbs the lovely ume marinate. When I bit into the tomato, it was bursting with sweet and plum flavour. The sour jelly and salicornia provide a contrasting flavour and crunchy texture.

Ume Tomato

Ceviche [$21] - European Sea Bass, Chopped Chilli Salsa, Celtuce, Oriental ‘Tigers Milk’, Citrus Pops. The thick cubes of European Sea Bass are marinated with Oriental “Tiger Milk”. Tiger Milk is a Peruvian sauce base used to make Ceviche. This oriental version is on the milder side and it also adds pickled ginger as part of the sauce. The result is a lovely Ceviche with Oriental flavours.

Ceviche

Yu Xiang Eggplant Soba (V) [$18] - Japanese Eggplant, Soba, Puffed Buckwheat, Julienne Vegetables. I am not an eggplant fan, but I must admit this vegetarian dish piques my interest. The julienne vegetables consist of bell peppers and carrots have a lovely crunchy texture, in contrast to the braised eggplant. The sauce has a touch of bitterness and tanginess to tease your palate.

Yu Xiang Eggplant Soba

Spinach & Mushroom (V) [$17] - Spinach, Pine Nuts, Smoked Bamboo Shoots, Tea Tree Mushroom, Rye Croutons, Ferment Soy Bean Sabayon. A lot of flavours and texture happening in this dish. I like the flavour combination of smoked bamboo shoots and mild fermented soy bean sabayon that coddles the bitterness from the spinach. Hidden in the background is Sichuan sweet vinegar sauce that liven up the flavours. Meanwhile, the pine nuts and rye croutons for some crunch in the dish. A nice warm salad dish.

Spinach & Mushroom

Pork Dumpling [$18] - Pan Seared, Sichuan Dressing, Fried Sage, Almond, Lavosh. The pork dumpling is bursting with flavour, coated with spicy Sichuan dressing and sweet butternut puree. The sesame lavosh tasted like crispy dumpling skin.

Pork Dumpling

Next up for the tasting is “Ongoing” Menu. These are the favourite items on the BOF Menu, that have undergone some tweaking.

Roast Duck Consommé 

Roast Duck Consommé [$28] - Oriental Flavoured Duck Consommé with Duck Ravioli, Black Trumpet Mushroom, Cordyceps Flower, Braised Daikon. For someone who enjoys a lighter dish. The broth is clean-tasting and infused with mild oriental herbs. The ravioli is filled with juicy roast duck.

Roast Duck Consommé 

Chow Chow Prawn [$43] - Wok Fried Spiced Tiger Prawn, Sichuan Chow Chow Relish, Coriander Puree. This is the dish that you want to keep the utensils aside and use your fingers. The tiger prawns are fresh and well-seasoned. I enjoy sucking the jus from the prawn head, followed by the crunchy flesh of the prawn. The Sichuan chow chow relish is tangy, sweet and packed mala heat. Yummy! One of the must-order dishes at BOF.

Chow Chow Prawn

Barramundi Chazuke [$36] - Pan Seared Fillet, Classic Sichuan Sour Veg Fish Broth, Japanese Rice, Sauté Romaine, Kale, Mustard Green. One of the main stayers in the BOF Menu. The barramundi fillet is pan-seared to deliver a crispy skin and moist flesh. However, the star of the dish is the classic Sichuan sour vegetable fish broth. It is robust, sourish and packed with a bit of heat. A great dish to warm up your stomach.

Barramundi Chazuke

Next up is the Apportion dish (dishes good for sharing). Loup De Mer (600g - 700g) [$98] - Whole European Seabass Spiced, Sichuan Chopped Chilli Salsa, Asparagus, Ratte Potato, Kale, Black Trumpet, Vine Pepper Beurre Blanc. The whole European seabass is spiced, butterflied and pan-fried with the scales still on. The result is a crispy exterior, with natural scales crackers on the skin side and velvety flesh. The vine pepper beurre Blanc (white sauce) complemented the fish perfectly together with the ratted potatoes and asparagus. Yummy!!

Loup De Mer

For “Finale” / desserts, we have Citrus Block [$16] - Grapefruits & Orange Terrines, Milk Chips, Spiced Earl Grey Sauce & Sabayon, Popping Candy, Crispy Yogurt. A refreshing citrus fruit terrine, paired with awesome spiced earl grey sauce. The milk chips popping candy provide an exciting texture in this dessert.

Citrus Block

Jujube & Strawberry [$17] - Red Chinese Dates, Jujube Mascarpone Cremeux, Jujube Cake, Jujube & Strawberry Compote, Almond Sable, Dried and Fresh Strawberry. A deconstructed version of jujube pastry, bind together by jujube mascarpone cremeux.

Jujube & Strawberry

Overall, it was an exciting meal at BOF. Executive Chef Eugene See and his team always impress us with the East-meet-West concept, beautiful plating and lovely Sichuan flavours. Although the latest menu is lighter and more refreshing, the Sichuan-inspired flavours remain. Our personal pick is the Ceviche, Ume Tomato, Chow Chow Prawn, Barramundi Chazuke, Loup De Mer and Citrus Block. Kanpai!! Cheers!!

Thank you very much Kristine, Chef Eugene See and BOF team for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 8.75/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: N/A

Ambiance: 8/10

Budget per Person: $51 - $80; $81 and above

Birds of A Feather

115 Amoy Street

#01-01

Singapore 069935

T: +65 9755 7115

W: https://www.birdsofafeather.com.sg/

F: https://www.facebook.com/birdsofafeathersg

IG: @Birdsofafeathersg

OH:

Mon – Sat: 12.00 – 15.00; 18.00 – Midnight

Sun: 12.00 – 15.00; 18.00 – 22.00

Menu available online

Market Bistro – Wall Street Style Bistro at MBFC [MEDIA INVITE]

Market Bistro is a Wall Street-style bistro, inspired by the bustling food scene in New York’s CBD has opened its doors in the heart of Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC). It is run by Eleven Seventeen, the same group that brought you the awesome steakhouses, Meadesmoore and Fat Belly.

Market Bistro

The décor is a blend of simplicity and sophistication, combining the theme of black and white with the timeless classic of wood. Market Bistro (“MB”) will serve NEW All-day dine-in menu, pasta set lunch and even cater to lunch takeaway that will include salads and proteins. MB also offers coffee from the award-winning Blacklist Coffee Roaster in Perth.

The Coffee Bar

Part of Dining Area

We started our tasting with Sharing Items. Fried Baby Squid [$15]. They are crispy, tender and bouncy. The homemade aioli is creamy, with a touch of spice, like an XO sauce. When you squeeze the lemon, it adds a zesty spark to the dish.

Fried Baby Squid

Deep Fried Camembert (V) [$16] – Truffle Honey & Pickles. LD and I like the crumbly crust of the cubes of camembert and creamy cheese that followed. The truffle in the honey dip is too overpowering for our liking. Maybe they might consider a stronger honey like Leatherwood. The pickles jalapeno is perfect for balancing the creaminess in the cheese.

Deep Fried Camembert

For the mains, we ordered 200g Grass Fed Ribeye [$34] - Blistered Tomatoes, Mojo Verde & Fries; and Tiger Prawn Bisque [$28] – Fusilli Lunghi, Prawn Bisque, Grilled Tiger Prawns & Chervil.

200g Grass Fed Ribeye

The Ribeye is cooked perfectly to medium-rare. It is juicy, succulent and not overly fat. The fries are crisp externally and fluffy internally. The blistered tomatoes are bursting with sweetness combined with a lovely charred, while the mojo verde on top of the steak spice up the dish together with the brown sauce.

200g Grass Fed Ribeye

Tiger Prawn Bisque pasta is a “Flavour Bomb”. The ramen-looking fusilli lunghi pasta is crunchy and chewy like a Korean ramen, soaks up the essence of the robust prawn bisque. The prawns are pan-seared with butter, resulting in a crispy exterior and crunchy meat. The roe inside the super crispy prawn heads, are the key umami to this dish. Yummy!!

Tiger Prawn Bisque 

We complete the meal here with the delightful Baked Alaska [$12] – Swiss Meringue, Red Berries, Vanilla Ice Cream & Genoise Cake. The Baked Alaska has a nice charred and sweet. Internally, it is filled with red berries, vanilla ice cream and genoise cake. The refreshing and zesty passion sauce is perfect complement to the sweetness of the Swiss meringue and vanilla ice cream.

Baked Alaska

To accompany our meal, LD had a nice Cabernet Sauvignon house wine and I had homemade Iced Lemon Tea without sugar.

Cabernet Sauvignon & Iced Lemon Tea

Overall, the food is delicious and packed with flavours. While the plating is simple, bistro style, the menu has been meticulously curated. Definitely, a place to visit in the MBFC area. Cheers!!

All Day Menu

Thank you very much Protegie Consultancy and Team Market Bistro for the invitation.

Pasta Set Lunch Menu

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 8/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 8/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Market Bistro

12 Marina Boulevard

#01-03 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3

Singapore 018982

T: +65 8399 1912

W: https://www.marketbistro.com.sg/

F: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553875808099

IG: @Marketbistro_sg

OH:

Mon – Fri: 08.00 – 21.00 (L.O. 20.30)

Closed on Weekends and PH

Menu available online

Bites & Brews – A Laid Back Resort Like Café with Yummy Food [MEDIA INVITE]

Bites and Brews Singapore (“B&B”) is the first official outpost of the Shanghai-based Bibimi F&B Group. The Singapore outpost is located in our Peranakan heritage neighbourhood, Joo Chiat. This new 60-seater casual dining restaurant embodies the brand’s commitment to sustainability and embracing the heritage of its surroundings.

Bites & Brews

B&B Facade (Image Credit: Bites & Brew)

In line with its sustainability theme, B&B is decorated with warm textured wood furnishing, recycled doors, windows and open brick walls which also creates a laid-back resort-like ambiance. The furniture used is sourced from second-hand, while the Perankanan-inspired fabric ceiling drapes, lamps and tiles add an extra touch of charm and pay homage to the rich heritage of Joo Chiat.

Al-Fresco Dining Area

Part of Indoor Dining Area

Peranakan Inspired Light & Vase

To set the mood, the music is controlled by a team member from the DJ station. During brunch, the music is tuned to something hipper to lift the spirit of the diners, while in the evening it will induce more calming music to set intimate dining scene and to chill.

Part of Indoor Dining Area, DJ area under the B&B logo

We started our dining experience at B&B with some mocktails. Passion Fruit – Raspberry Lemonade [$9] made with Fresh passion fruit, homemade raspberry juice, Lemon juice, soda water. A refreshing combination of citrus and berries.

Passion Fruit – Raspberry Lemonade

Kaffir Limes – Lemongrass Sencha Tea [$9] made with Resh kaffir lime, fresh calamansi, cold sencha tea, cold brew butterfly pea flowers. A complex drink with Peranakan influence.

Kaffir Limes – Lemongrass Sencha Tea 

Following the drinks is Shawarma Lamb Pide Pizza [$28]. This boat-shaped pizza is inspired by Turkish tradition. The sourdough base pizza crust is crisp and fluffy with a nice chewiness. The lamb shawarma uses premium lamb shoulder, marinated for 12-hours in a blend of Middle Eastern spices and sous-vide for 24 hours. Completing the generous toppings are creamy feta cheese, spicy red pepper sauce infused with Middle Eastern-style yoghurt, roasted peppers and fresh mint. What a “Flavour Bomb”

Shawarma Lamb Pide Pizza 

B&B Cheeseburger Burger [$28] - Kimchi Jam, Spicy Mayo and Arugula. Soft and fluffy charcoal buns with perfectly cooked burger patty and melted cheese. The kimchi jam and spicy mayo work wonders on the background, infusing sweet, fermented and creamy flavour.

B&B Cheeseburger 

Perfectly Cooked Patty

Grilled Iberico Pork Jowl [$35] – Coffee-roasted parsnip, pea sprouts, grilled pineapple, fig-sesame mostarda. At a glance, it looks like a simple stir-fried dish. It turns out to be the opposite. The pork jowl is tasty and juicy, the parsnip is crunchy with a lovely smoky aroma, while grilled pineapple and fig-sesame mostarda added a different type of sweetness to this dish. A lovely dish with plenty of flavours.

Grilled Iberico Pork Jowl 

Spicy “Pina Colada” Red Snapper [$45]. A signature dish at BB inspired by Puerto Rico's Pina Colada cocktails. The red snapper is firm yet tender, stuffed with Chinese cabbage, kaffir lime & ginger, topped with house-made basil-lime leaves oil and luscious pina colada sauce.

Spicy “Pina Colada” Red Snapper 

The result is a culinary delight, sophisticated and filled with the charm of the tropical ocean. Love the combination of the creamy pina colada and the perfectly cooked fish.

Mapo Tofu Lasagna [$21] Sichuan meat & tofu ragu, mozzarella, tomato sauce, parmesan. A fusion of Chinese and Italian cuisine. Instead of the usual creamy tomato, the fillings are replaced with Signature mapo tofu meat sauce and the sauce sips nicely into the pasta sheets. The signature mala spicy Sichuan flavour helps to balance the usually rich lasagna dish.

Mapo Tofu Lasagna

Dessert was Berries & Cream Waffle [$18] – Fresh berries, raspberry gel, strawberry chamomile gelato, whipped cream. The crispy and chewy waffle provided a nice comfort and a sweet ending to the meal.

Berries & Cream Waffle 

Don’t forget to check out their Signature Cocktails such as RUMORbanana (finest Bumbu Rum, homemade apricot-honey cordial, Assam Tea); DRUNKMatchaka (Gin, homemade raspberry jam, Matcha tea); and TomRUMYum (coconut water, lime juice, Rum, kaffir lime and ginger juice).

RUMORbanana

DRUNKMatchaka

TomRUMYum

Overall, LD and I had a great time during our tasting session. The culinary creations are well executed and each have a unique twist. Our pick for the food are Lamb Shawarma Pide Pizza, Grilled Iberico Pork Jowl and Spicy “Pina Colada” Red Snapper. The Signature cocktails and mocktails are a must-try as well. Cheers!!

B&B SG Menu 1

B&B SG Menu 2

I brought my overseas guests for brunch the following week and I ordered Lamb Shawarma Benedict [$28] – Poached eggs, harissa hollandaise, spinach, house-made brioche. I must say, anything with Lamb Shawarma on B&B’s menu is a must order!!

Lamb Shawarma Benedict 

Flat White

Thank you, Christine (CQ Works) and Team Bites & Brews, for the invitation and for hosting us.

B&B SG Menu 3

B&B SG Menu 4

Food & Drink: 8.5/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: N/A (Media Invite)

Ambiance: 8.75/10

Budget per Person: $26-$50; $51 – 80

Bites & Brews

15 Crane Road

Singapore 429360

T: +65 8815 9615

W: https://www.bitesandbrews.life/

F: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557413591352

IG: @Bitesnbrew_sg

OH:

Tue to Thu and Sun, 11.00 – 22.00

Fri, 11.00 - Midnight

Sat, 10.00 - Midnight

Closed on Mon