Tanuki Raw @ Orchard Central

Located at Level 2 of Orchard Central. Visited on a Wednesday evening. This place has been around for awhile, and why it took so long for me to visit? Because I'd thought that it'll be very crowded here.

Happy Hour is from 5pm till 8pm, where martinis go for $10 and each alcoholic drink will entitle patrons to half a dozen oysters at $2 each.

outdoors, high stool, city view

menu

promo menu

Got myself a mojito for $12 (HH) and half a dozen oyster to share. We weren't hungry. Friend got the saketini for $10 (HH).

saketini, mojito and oysters

The oysters were.... rather flat. Well, can't complain for that price. Friend felt it was quite worthed it. Briny and salty.

oysters @$2 a pop

The alcohol in the cocktails gave us quite a buzz. Had another lychee martini and the third one was a cocktail recommended by the staff. Didn't finish the last one because it had a spicy and non-likeable taste. Had a basket of truffle fries and a plate of salmon sashimi.

The thing about outdoor seats was that it was pretty noisy from the birds between 730 to 8ish in the evening. Had to like speak louder times three, if you want to be heard.

Spent about $43 per pax that night.

[Valentine's Day] Arossa Wine & Grill @ Scotts Square

Valentine's Day is just round the corner, and are you perhaps, looking for a place to have a quiet meal with your loved ones?

Located at Level 2 of Scotts Square, this place may be just what you're looking for. Its Valentine's Day Special Menu would like to invite you to fall in love, all over again, in six plates.

flowers to brighten the day

waiting for love?

"A hungry person, is an angry one." So feed him/her quickly!

complimentary bread served warm, to stave off the hunger pangs

Someone said, "Food is the way to your lovers heart..." But do you know, which food do your partner really really likes?

une amuse

First plate, an amuse to start. A dainty looking Mascarpone Tart with Orange Marmalade. A very light touch, a teaser. Leaves you curious for more...

1st Course: Salmon & Scallop Tartare with Oscietra Caviar

Plate Two, sashimi appetiser. Glad that the salmon and scallop weren't too finely chopped up. Tried spreading some on the bread, and it was actually quite nice.

The aroma of truffle wafted up as the plate for the Third Plate, was set. This is the one dish, that I will not want to share. Nope, non-negotiable.

2nd Course: Roasted Foie Gras with Black Truffle Risotto

closer view of foie gras and risotto

Well-cooked grains, strongly flavoured and my favourite foie gras. Everything about this dish was likeable! Except for one. Its amazingly tiny portion.

But, perhaps, it is to save some stomach space for the Fourth Plate? A pasta course of home-made ravioli.

Pasta Course: Home-made Lobster Ravioli with Bisque Sauce

Much accustomed to minced fillings in ravioli, but here, one could find tiny pieces of lobster meat inside the ravioli. Such luxury. Although its a pasta dish, it still felt quite light.

Plate Five, means you have a choice. The man would probably opt for Braised Beef Cheek in Red Wine Sauce, served with mashed potato while she would probably enjoy the Roasted Seabass with Sauteed Sea Urchin & Persimmon Sauce.

Plate 5, main dish: Braised Beef Cheek

Plate 5: Roasted Seabass with Sauteed Sea Urchin

As expected, the beef cheek was good. Flavourful, firm and slightly gelatinous. Yums. Didn't get a chance to taste much of the seabass though, but it looked pretty.

Of course, the meal should end on a sweet note, hence lastly, dessert.

Plate 6: Chocolate & Hazelnut Semifreddo

Googled and semifreddo is a "light semi-frozen Italian dessert." True. It's mousse-like with chunky hazelnut bits. Not too sweet.

The Valentine's Day Special six plates, can be enjoyed for $120++.

Also sampled some items from the ala-carte menu. For starters, the oysters were really good. Plump and juicy, yet not too briny.

oysters half dozen @$38++

plump and juicy, that screams "Eat me!"

Or, you may fancy the beef carpaccio that was really thin, plenty of rocket leaves and a very good drizzle of balsamic.

wagyu beef carpaccio @$26++

tasty and tangy pork chop

As with occassions, how about some wine? The Zinfandel from California has a nice pinkish hue, sweet and sparkly.

But then, if one is drunk on love, any other drink would've tasted as sweet, yes?

Sparkling Rose @$75++ per bottle

Thank you Arossa and Publicist PR for the invited session.

Tsukada Nojo 塚田農場 @ Westgate Jurong East

Located at Level 3 of Westgate. Dinner is available from 5pm onwards. Was there pretty early, before 6pm. Amongst the early birds, hence no queue. Was quite a warm day, so chose to sit inside where there's aircond.

Had always wanted to try this but was deterred by the long queues, especially at Plaza Singapura. Good news for westies, as Tsukada Nojo is now more accessible.

here to try this

our table

it's all about the chicken

Bijin Nabe (美人鍋) or Beauty Hot Pot serves 2 pax and costs $25++ per pax.

bijin nabe ingredients

Service staff was friendly, always with a smile and would patiently explain the workings of the beauty pot.

collagen jelly flown from Japan, made from Jitokko chicken

The collagen lumps will boil and turn into the hotpot broth after a few minutes.

melting down

Once the collagen jelly had melted into drinkable broth, the attending service staff would scoop some into the small teacups. This is to allow diners to try the unadulterated soup prior to adding the other ingredients.

collagen soup

The soup was very tasty and luckily, not overly salty. Very pronounced chicken taste.

Next, diners are encouraged to try the chicken meat. Was informed that the kampung chicken (free range chicken) is from our neighbouring country, Malaysia.

drumlet

There are four types of taste enhancers for the chicken meat; leek and ginger oil, yuzu pepper oil, chili oil and soy sauce. Chicken meat was ok and quite tender. The yuzu pepper oil was quite salty though.

The ingredients for the hotpot included tori tsukune or minced chicken (for chicken meatballs), two slices of yellow zucchini, ocra, water melon radish, baby corn, fried beancurd skin, lettuce, sprouts, baby sweet potato leaves and shrimps.

waiting for a hot bath

doing the chicken balls first

all in, except for sprouts, baby sweet potato leaves and shrimps

The tori tsukune was quite nice. Ate it with the yuzu pepper and chili oil.

chicken meatball

For drinks, they do serve complimentary hot/cold tea.

cold tea

another cup of the collagen goodness?

In the midst of our meal, the service staff brought out a plate with heart shaped paste in it.

guess what's this for

It's a seaweed paste to enhance the soup. Put some of it into the small teacup and scoop the soup into it and mix well. Tiny hint of seaweed.

mochi-mochi thick noodles

The noodles is already cooked, so one just need to reheat it in the soup (aka, don't need to boil it for too long).

my dinner

The noodles weren't as thick I thought it would be. Nicely chewy and slurpilicious. Cooked the shrimps just lightly till it turned colour, and they were quite sweet. The soup got much thicker from all the boiling and very soon, a layer of oil formed at the top once we switched off the induction top.
 

rich broth

Was pleasantly surprised to see the plate of complimentary dessert. Nicely drawn! Kudos to the staff who did it.

nice artwork!

Dinner was a pleasant affair, and thanks Anna for the good service!

get a stamp for your next visit, and a complimentary appetiser plus a 'promotion' to the next level

This meal costs about $59 for 2 pax.