A while ago, I was invited to join Quandoo for its first ever food trail. Being a food lover, I was excited when I saw the list of participating restaurants. Some of the names are The Clan Restaurant (Q-Awards Most Popular Restaurant of 2015 winner), Golden Peony @ Conrad Centennial Hotel and Laurent’s Café. Our meeting point was at Bar A Thym (Q-Awards Best Newcomers of 2015 winner), a new venture by award-winning Chef Francois Mermilliod.
After a welcome speech by Quandoo Singapore Managing Director, Mr Konrad Richter, the first course was served. It was an appetiser from Bar A Thym, Ceviche of Yellow Fin Tuna with apple-fennel salad and yuzu ponzu dressing ($24++). It was very appetising and refreshing. I have also enjoyed the different textures from the squid ink crackers and the lovely made yellow fin tuna ceviche. Give me a glass of bubbles and it would be a perfect date night!
There was also transportation provided throughout the food trail starting from the first restaurant to the last restaurant with courtesy of Kombi Rocks. Gosh! My food trail is cooler than yours, right? For me, it is a tick off the bucket list of travelling in a vintage Volkwagen Kombi ride. Weee!!
The kind peeps from Kombi Rocks have also prepared some delicious iced Thai milk tea and iced Lemongrass drink for us. What a fantastic experience it was. But do note that, it is best to keep the group small (4 to 5 pax) if you want to enjoy the ride. I find that anything more than 5 pax at the back of the car is a bit cramped.
Our next stop is Golden Peony @ Conrad Centennial Hotel to try Chef Ku’s Signature Trio Platter! This is one of my most anticipated stop as I have yet to try Golden Peony despite hearing a lot of good reviews. Amongst the 3, [Steamed lobster meat on egg soufflé served with fish rose ($18++), Swan pastry filled with chicken and foie gras ($9.80++) and Roast Peking duck, parma ham, pineapple and crispy beancurd skin rolled with homemade crepes ($14++)], my favourite was the Roast Peking Duck rolled with homemade crepes as I like the textural bite from the crispy bean curd skin and the presentation of the peking duck is also very unique.
Quail, carrot puree, spring vegetables ($40++)
44C Salmon, edamame, basil oil, fennel Jam, Sea, sea foam ($42++)
Young Lamb, yogurt mint, cous cous, ratatouille, Jus ($44++)
Iberico Pork Jowl, smoke celeriac, jap cucumber, apple ($36++)
Wagyu beef loin, Himalayan pink salt, jus ($48++)
The third stop brought us to The Clan at POMO. When the head chef came out to greet us, I was so surprised to see that he was very young (most likely in his mid twenties). Well, we had 2 sets of the five dishes to be shared among the 14 of us. The Iberico Pork Jowl was my favourite among the 5 and I wished to have more. I like how flavoursome it was and for non-pork lover, I guess it means a lot. All of the dishes, except for the wagyu beef loin, served were sous vide cooked. Hence they are all very moist and tender.
I like the idea of ending the food trail on a sweet note. Our last and final stop was at a hidden gem at the basement of the Heeren. Bet you don’t know that there is a Laurent’s Café here. Laurent’s Cafe is the brainchild of Laurent Bernard who won The Best Chocolates Award from Singapore Tatler’s The Best of Singapore four years consecutively, from 2011 to 2014. Besides serving cakes and chocolate, breakfasts and sandwiches, hearty mains are served here too! Yes, from the same guys behind Laurent Bernard Chocolatier at The Pier at Robertson Quay.
We have 4 kinds of cakes, Exotic – coconut, passionfruit yuzu ($10.50++), Carré Braisé – strawberry & vanilla ($10.50++), Feminity – raspberry dome, milk chocolate ($10.50++) and Pleasure – milk chocolate mousse, hazelnut ($10.50++). Yum Yum
Mr Laurent Bernard was also very kind to have an assortment of 6 pralines in a box and some macarons for us to bring back to share with our loved ones. Now, here is my turn to share some good news with you. One of my lucky readers will stand a chance to win a $100 dining voucher courtesy of Quandoo. To qualify, simply make a reservation at any of the four participating restaurants via the links below:
Bar-a-thym
Golden Peony @ Conrad Centennial Hotel
The Clan Restaurant
Laurent’s Cafe
The promotion will end on 30 June 2016.So Good luck, peeps! Let’s dine and win away!
