Sunday, May 12, 2019

[Tasting] Discover the Joys of Dry-Aged Beef @ Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar

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If you've been to Ginett recently, you may have noticed the Dry-Ager fridge taking up residence in the dining area. As a meat-atarian, I am excited as this new addition by Executive Chef Sylvain Royer is bound to raise the flavour of the steak up multiple notches! And, there is no better way than to experience it, ourselves.

Dry-Ager fridge

Googled and in accordance to Wiki, that aging of the meat is the process of utilizing the beef's natural enzymes in breaking down its connective tissues, with the aim of tenderizing the meat.

Then, there's dry aging and wet aging. In dry-aging, the primal and sub-primal cuts of the meat; typically strip loins, rib eyes, and sirloin, are placed in a refrigerator unit. The key effect of dry aging is the concentration and saturation of the natural flavour, as well as the tenderization of the meat texture. Sounds good. However, dry-aging is a more expensive endeavor and takes a longer time when compared to its wet-aging counterpart.

beautiful aging

All these talks about the sciences makes one hungry! Let's eat! Coincidentally, we were there on an Oysters Frenzy night, which happens on every Thursday. How does $1 per piece for Fine de Claire, sounds? Yes, please!


Oysters Fine de Claire 12 pcs

let's enjoy
Domaine Raimbault Sancerre, Loire Valley (Sauvignon Blanc) @$14

I asked Ginett's resident sommelier, Ms Justine Le Merle for wine recommendations with the oysters and was happy with the Sauvignon Blanc from Loire Valley, with its gorgeous yellow hue, moderate flavours of a balanced mineral and citrussy notes. Said to be ideal to be paired with starters and seafood and I do agree. Thank you Justine!

Oh, speaking of wine, how could one not think about the cheese? Ginett has increased its range of  French imported AOC cheese such as the creamy and nutty Saint-Félicien from Rhône-Alpes, the pyramid-shaped Pouligny-Saint-Pierre made exclusively using unpasteurised whole goat's milk from the Loire Valley in central France, or the earthy Tomme de Savoie, the oldest of all Savoie cheese. Hmm, so many types, which ones to try first? I think I need a cheese sommelier!

cheese cabinet

As our party of 4 has limited stomach space, we decided to forgo the cheese for this round. Nevertheless, here's the link to previous visit and the cheeses that we had tried. My favourite was the Brillat Savarin.

while waiting for the mains...

For main course, we'd be focusing on the tasting platter of Angus ribeyes; consisting of the natural Australian 30-36 months Pasture Fed Angus Beef and the 270 days Grain Fed Australian Black Angus MB3+ Rib Eye that had underwent a 3-weeks and a 6-weeks dry-aging process.

Black Angus steaks (top left to right): Australian 30-36 months Pasture Fed Angus Beef Rib Eye, Dry aged 3 weeks and 6 weeks were both Australian Black Angus MB3+ Rib Eye
Currently, the menu states that the Australian 30-36 months Pasture Fed Angus Beef Rib Eye is priced at $36++ for 250g and the Australian Black Angus MB3+ goes for $48++ for 250g.

For each order of the steak, diners would get a choice of one side and one sauce: Sauce: Béarnaise, pepper, blue cheese. Since we are having 3, we got to try all the sauces. I was wondering about the pepper sauce though, as pepper sauce is less common in restaurants serving steaks? Might be wrong but that was the impression when it first arrived.

Let's talk a bit about the sides. One could choose creamy spinach, mesclun salad, mashed potatoes, ratatouille, mushroom fricassée, and potato wedges. We chose creamy spinach, ratatouille and mushroom fricassée. Creamy spinach has become the defacto choice (along the lines of creamy kale), ratatouille because we need to fulfill the vegetable quotient and mushrooms because one can't go wrong with mushrooms!

creamy spinach
ratatouille
mushrooms fricassée

All sides were good but all of us loved the creamy spinach!

Australian 30-36 months Pasture Fed Angus Beef  

We tasted the steaks starting from the natural free range, antibiotic & hormone free Australian Angus ribeye and it has a good mild beefy flavour, firm chewy texture yet still tender. It felt like the meat was rather lean.

Next, the 3-weeks Dry Aged Australian Black Angus MB3+ Rib Eye which had a more tender texture as compared to the non-aged beef. Its flavour was more apparent when compared to the non-aged version. I loved the char on the 3-weeks and the 6-weeks dry aged ribeye and, it gave the meat an elevated smokey flavour.

Dry aged 3 weeks Australian Black Angus MB3+ Rib Eye

However, I felt that the difference between the 6-weeks and the 3-weeks was more in the flavour compartment. The 6-weeks aged meat was tastier but I could not tell if there was any differences in texture between the 3-weeks version.

Dry aged 6 weeks Australian Black Angus MB3+ Rib Eye

For the 3-weeks and 6-weeks aged beef, there was no funky smell whatsoever and it was an overall pleasant experience with an enhanced and pronounced flavour in comparison to its non-aged counterpart.

Our host, Jasmine shared that her favourite main would be the Scottish Salmon, so we gave that a try as well. A beautiful slab of salmon with skin-on, served ontop a bed of creamy spinach. Double yums.

Scottish Salmon @$32++


For dessert, we ordered three out of the nine stated in the menu. Had always wanted to try the traditional dessert, Baba au Rhum so that made it into our list. Next, we had Jasmine's favourite which was the Chocolate Tart and finally, for our finale, we selected Paris Brest.

Baba au Rhum @$14++


So what is Baba au Rhum?  According to Wiki, it is a small yeast cake saturated in syrup made with typically, rum and served with cream. Orhhhh. The version here is soaked in vanilla infused rum syrup and the yeast cake tasted like a fluffy bread. Overall, the dessert was light and refreshing. So interesting.

Chocolate Tart @$12++

The 70% cacao chocolate tart shall satisfy any chocolate cravings that one might have. Rich, creamy, just the right amount of bitter and sweetness, that's best paired with a cup of coffee/tea. The pecan ice-cream was so good and it took its time to melt even in our sweltering heat. Bravo!

For me, the best dessert would be the Paris Brest. A mega choux filled with creamy, luxurious hazelnut praline cream. Absolutely, heavenly.

Paris Brest @$18++
hazelnut praline cream (cross-section view of Paris Brest)

Having dined at Ginett on a couple of occasions, it is advisable to make your reservations to avoid disappointment as the place is usually crowded after 6.45pm, even on a weekday.

Thank you Natasha, Jasmine and Ginett for having us. Justine, it was nice meeting you and thank you to you and team for taking care of us that night.

Dinner with Hence, Alvin and Melissa.

Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar 

Address: 200 Middle Rd, Singapore 188980
Websitehttps://www.randblab.com/ginett-sg
Contact: 6809 7989
Business Hours:
Daily 7.00am to 11.30pm

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Big Sake Bar @ 302 Beach Rd (The Concourse Skyline)

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Big Sake Bar is a contemporary Japanese izakaya'esque place that serves contemporary fusion Japanese, and plenty of sake. The place is located at The Concourse Skyline and is within walking distance from Sultan Gate. Its taxi drop-off point is somewhat disorientating and somehow I ended up at the Concourse instead. Just keep to the same side and walk further towards Sultan Gate and one will see a row of dining places, inclusive of Big Sake Bar.


internal decor of old school Japanese posters

Overall, the place feels a bit smallish but cosy. Be greeted upon entrance and it could accommodate groups of 8 pax as per our party size. On the other end from our table, there is space for another 4 pax.

table for 4
We ordered a bottle of Nabeshima "Pink Label" which is of the Tokubetsu Hanjozo variant. From Saga, Kyushu with ABV 15%. The sake is clear and has a clean dry mouthfeel, with aromas of grain. Tasty and easy to drink.

Nabeshima "Pink Label" 720ml @$88+

Plus, the sake cups were so cute! I liked my deep blue cup with a 3D koi in it.

there's a koi in my sake (cup)

For starters, we got the izakaya favourite of tako wasabi, which was essentially chopped raw octopus with wasabi. For the uninitiated, this dish is rather slimey and strongly flavoured but goes well with the drinks.

tako wasabi, served with seaweed sheets @$8+
たこわさ

Agedashi Tofu @$8+
Nitako @$12+

The agedashi tofu was different from what I'm used to have. The tofu here is thinly sliced before being battered and deep fried. So cool, and looked lovely when plated. Tasted soft too. 

The nitako is said to be boiled octopus in special sauce. However, there were more chopped cucumber and tomatoes in there, than the octopus so I'll skip this one and have the tako wasabi instead.

Tamago Mentaiyaki @$10+
For a dish with a bit more luxury, we opted for the Hotate Foie Gras from the Chef's Special section. Whoa, foie gras and scallop for just $18? Yaassss! Give me more! But alas, we exercised restrained and managed to share this amongst the many of us.

Hotate Foie Gras ホタテのフォアグラ @$18+

What's a Japanese meal without sashimi? Why, it is an incomplete one! And hence, we had the Hirame Uni Sashimi. Seems like this is not in its online menu though.

Hirame Uni Sashimi @$40+

Hirame is a type of flounder and sliced thinly for sashimi with an almost translucent flesh. Clean, firm and slightly bouncy chew and has a mild flavour. Paired with creamy uni for an immediate elevated contrast in texture as well as flavour!

For the non-drinkers, we had green tea in jugs as well. Its price is based on per head. But one could have unlimited refills.

green tea @$2+ per head

But what about our main dish? The highlights at Big Sake Bar would be its kushiyaki, I'd think. Large chunks of meat on skewers? A resounding yes! For the kushiyaki platter, one could opt for either 6 or the 9 sticks with different pricing. However, it would be an omakase style where the chef decides on the items to be served.

Kushiyaki platter - 9 kinds of grilled skewers 串焼き @$30+ per plate


For our 9 sticks platter, there were about 7 meat skewers and two vegetables. My favourites (surprisingly comprised of vegetable skewers!) were the shitake mushrooms, brinjal and the butabara (pork belly) skewers. So good. Expect a heavy hand in seasoning but it all tasted so good with the sake.

Each stick of the butabara 豚バラ is priced at $4.50+ so we had a repeat of those to satisfy the meat cravings.

Speaking of meat cravings, we also had a plate of grilled pork jowl (pork cheek). The texture was kind of firm yet crunchy crisp. Not like a cracker but in the meat-kind of context.

Pork Cheek @$16+

If you prefer something warm and soothing but does not want to load up on the carbs, why not have the Yasai Takiawase. A bowl of comforting stewed vegetable. There were pumpkin, carrot, daikon, brinjal and shitake mushrooms. So good and the awesome taste!

Yasai Takiawase @$9+


By this time, our belly are full and the alcohol kicking in, so to end our night, let's share some delicious warm soup.

soup of the day @$10+


All in all, we spent about $52 per pax for an evening of relaxed vibes, in good company and good food. The food is reasonably priced and at the moment, there is no GST, only 10% service charge.

Thank you Ivan for making the reservation. An enjoyable evening with the boys; Hoong An, Alvin, Hence and the girls; Tracy and Elle.


Big Sake Bar

Address: 302 Beach Rd, #01-02, Singapore 199600
Contact: 62912700, 96567105
Business Hours:
Mondays to Saturdays - 5:00pm - 12midnight
Closed on Sundays & Public Holidays

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

[PROMO] The Millennium Mother’s & Father’s Day @ Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel

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"Celebratory delights fit for the King and Queen!" is the theme for this year, and hence, bring your love ones and indulge mom and dad with a memorable celebration to show your appreciation!

Be pampered with the lavish buffet spread of home cooked signatures at Food Capital by Executive Chef David Toh, or an impressive evening at Grissini with celebratory dishes  exquisitely prepared by Head Chef Mirko Vinci. To top it up, why not indulge in the hottest and most popular family staycation package ‘Holiday Family Staycation’.

Holiday Family Staycation Package


  • available during weekends (Fri/ Sat/ Sun) in May and June 2019 at SGD238nett

Benefits

  • complimentary upgrade from the Superior to Deluxe room
  • an extra bed for 1 child (below age of 12)
  • complimentary scheduled shuttle bus service to Orchard Road and Chinatown 
  • instant registration to the ‘Live Like a Local’ half day guided tour to Tiong Bahru on Saturday
  • a delectable breakfast spread at Food Capital for 2 persons


Hotel Activities during the May/June Mother's and Father's Day Celebration

  • cupcake decoration booth, a stalk of carnation for Mum during Mother’s Day
  • a beautifully designed Instagramable backdrop to capture beautiful memories
  • live band singing to tunes for both special occasions
  • All Dads dining at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel on Father’s Day will also get a free pint of beer


Room reservations

Tel: 6233 1327
Email: rsvn.gcw@millenniumhotels.com



Do enquire and make your bookings from the hotel directly. Enjoy your stay and happy celebrating!

Monday, April 29, 2019

[PROMO] Café Lodge Mother's Day Buffet @ YWCA Fort Canning

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Café Lodge has lined up a special lunch and dinner buffet to celebrate Mother's Day on 11 and 12 May 2019.

Start from appetizers that include Seafood on Ice, Smoked Mackerel with Condiment, Roast Beef with Gherkins, then proceed  with some DIY action at the live station for Lor Mee, Pork Rib Curry, Braised Soya Chicken and Yam Rice with Dried Shrimps. and a wide spread of tempting desserts such as Chicago Cheese Cake, Brownie Marshmellow Cake, Bo Bo Cha Cha and more.

On 4 and 5 May 2019 slots for Lunch and Dinner, book and dine and receive a 25 percent discount for Mother’s Day Buffet.

For Purple Taste readers, quote "ThankyouMom" to enjoy the discount on 11 and 12 May 2019 as well!

Here is a preview of the Mother's Day Buffet items. To start, I'd recommend the Avocado Crab Meat Salad. It was creamy and tasty, with ample crab meat!

Apple and Celery with Walnuts Salad
Avocado Crab Meat Salad 

Then, nourish the soul and body with a bowl of pork ribs Sichuan soup with radish and wolfberries. 

Sichuan soup with radish


For the main course, look forward to the garoupa with salsa and the roasted chicken. The roasted chicken was really good with thin crackly skin and moist flavourful meat. Served with a small plate of peppered salt and lime. Old school style and so likeable!

Garoupa with mango salsa (may change in actual menu)

Roasted Chicken Chinese Style 
lime, salt and pepper

The other mains listed in the Mother's Day Buffet Special are Sauteed Beef with Bitter Gourd, Sauteed Potato with Salted Egg, Braised Beancurd with Seafood and Fried Yu Mai with Garlic.

For dessert, there's Mango Mousse Cake, Chocolate Pistachio Mousse Cake, Brownie Marshmallow Cake, Bo Bo Cha Cha, Sea Coconut with Jelly, Assorted Ice Cream, fruits and nonya kueh.

fresh fruits 


Mother's Day Special Buffet Information


Lunch Buffet  -  11.30am to 3.00pm
Dinner Buffet -  6.00pm to 10.00pm
Price: Adult at $38++ per pax and Child (6 to 12yrs) $15.80++ per pax

Promo: Quote "ThankyouMom" to enjoy the discount off the buffet price on these dates 4, 5, 11 and 12 May 2019

Reservation: Call 6333 0487 or email cafe@ywcafclodge.org.sg



Happy Dining and Happy Mother's Day, everyone!

Saturday, April 27, 2019

[Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel] "The Influencer Takeover"

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For the first time, 5 Singapore based Influencers have been invited to take over  Grand Copthorne Waterfront hotel’s social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram  from April till September 2019 as part of the hotel's 20th anniversary celebration.

These Influencers/Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) will have freehand to post their experiences while staying at the hotel.  This initiative is part of the celebration for the 20th birthday of Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel which falls on the 1 October 2019. The selected Influencers are Bino Chua (I Wander), Darren Ang (Darrenbloggie.com), Ivan Teh (Ivan Teh-Running Man), Hazel Lam (Hazeldiary.com) and Ai Ling (Purple Taste).

We will be like any other regular guest who checks-in to the hotel for a 3-days 2-nights stay during any of the dates in each of the month starting from April till Sept 2019.  We can critic the hotel’s services, facilities as well as outlets in the most honest and transparent manner without interference from the hotel and to post our experiences on the hotel’s social media pages together with a review on our own blogs.

The public will also be able to read about things to do around the hotel and tours available from
within the hotel from the well-established DMC and daily sightseeing tour operator - Tour East
Singapore from experiences gathered from these KOLs.  Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel,
General Manager Mr Farid Alain Schoucair said, “20 years is a huge milestone for this great
property & we are celebrating it in a way no one ever did, which is to allow 5 influential
individuals to give unbiased opinions on what Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel is all about.”

Want to find out more on what we will be saying about our Grand Copthorne Waterfront's experience? Subscribe now to our social media platforms and follow us to the take over!


Grand Copthorne Waterfront

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrandCopthorneWaterfrontHotel/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandcopthornewaterfront/

Follow our hashtag: #influencertakeovergcw 


Meanwhile, you could also catch us in radio interviews this month!

A big thank you for your support if you had caught some of us on air on 25 April 2019 during 938NOW "The Breakfast Club" and Money FM 89.3.

Do join us when we take over Grand Copthorne Waterfront hotel's Facebook and Instagram for 3-days each month, from April till September!


 
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