Fine Palate At 51 Waterloo Street

Located at 51 Waterloo Street, Fine Palate is about 5 - 7 minutes walking distance away from Bras Basah MRT Station (CC2). The restaurant is opened by Heather Barrie who is an Australian-born chef staying in Singapore and she has more than 20 years experience in food catering services.

I love the modern contemporary Australian cafe set up of the restaurant which is so cozy and homely for friends and family to get together and enjoy hearty weekend brunch. Although their indoor siting capacity is around 30 pax but they do have outdoor al-fresco sitting on both side of the restaurant too.

BEVERAGES

While waiting for the dishes to be served, I have a glass of freshly squeezed juices - Beetroot And Apple Juice (S$6.00). You could customized your own juice by mixing your desire fruits shown on their juice menu. 

According to Melissa who ordered this Chocolate Brownie (S$10.00) she really loves the taste and texture where bits of brownie could be found in the milkshake too.

Lemon Meringue (S$10.00) which combined or both sweet and sour taste in a glass.This is a special beverage which is well-received by most of the customers so I guess I would try it on my next visit.

APPETIZERS

I love fried calamari especially the one served at the Thai restaurant near my area. However with a twist, FINE palate served Crispy Calamari (S$14.00) with some cucumber curls and tartar sauce which is a refreshing pick to accompany some cold beer for hot afternoon treat.

Their Quiche Of The Day (S$12.00) was rather good which served with some garden salad as side. I love the pastry crust as well as the savory custard which is soft and milky.

{Must Try} Out of the 3 Appetizers served, Crispy Kurobuta Pork Belly (S$16.00) with jalapeno salsa and mirin sauce definitely won a vote from me. Personally I love pork belly especially those which are roasted till crispy outer layer but tender and juice meat when bite. So from the photo above, I am sure you would want to try a bite too.

BITES

For "bites" we start with some crispy golden Fries (S$6.00) that is served with homemade wasabi mayo and ketchup at the side. Their wasabi mayo is quiet mild in taste so you don't have to worry as you won't get "choke" bur rather addict to the wasabi dip. 

{Must Try} All of us love this Crispy Chicken Triangles (S$8.00) with is "Lemon grass" infused chicken that are wrapped in crispy pastry and served together with the sweet chilli sauce. Very refreshing snacks while enjoy it with some girls talk.

When compared with the Crispy Chicken Triangle above, this Mini Chicken Quesadillas (S$8.00) that served with homemade tomato salsa was rather a bit on the lose side. The tortilla skin was rather chewy and the chicken filling is not as flavorsome as the lemongrass chicken.

For those who love burgers, these Trio of Fine Palate burgers (S$15.00) might be something that you would prefer for brunch or even afternoon tea on a sharing basis with friends. You could pick your choice from: Wagyu beef burger that severed with  melted smoked cheddar, crispy bacon, lettuce and gherkin aioli or Teriyaki chicken burger that comes with lettuce and cucumber pickle.

The 3 of us have different opinion on these burgers; for me I love the texture of the bread which was slightly chewy as compared to those soft burger bread. But the wagyu beef patty was slightly a bit tough on that day perhaps due to over cooked or some other reason.  

MAINS

Tuna And Capellini (cold) (S$20.00) serve with seared yellow fin tuna capellini tossed in a sesame shoyu dressing on a bed of angel hair pasta. We all love this light and refreshing dish and the wasabi mayonnaise also added a kick to enhance the taste of this cold dish.

Usually their Catch Of The Day (S$20.00) depends on what fish is fresh and available in the market on that particular day. On that day, we have snapper which is cook in Asian Style and the 3 of us love this dish. The fish is very fresh and the combination sauce blends well with the sides as well.

Duck Leg Confit (S$26.00) with braised red cabbage, roast potatoes and fresh asparagus (additional $6.00 if part of a set) is something that we look forward to. Although the outer skin is crispy as it looks but I find some part of the meat is rather a bit tough and dry.

Salmon Benedict (S$18.00) serve with salmon gravlax, baby spinach, hollandaise sauce and rocket salad on English muffins. This is sure a great choice for brunch menu and those who love poached eggs. But for me, since I don't really like smoke or gravlax salmon I would prefer to go for just their Eggs Benedict without salmon.

DESSERTS

When comes to dessert I am sure no one could resists a slice of freshly Baked Oreo cheesecake (S$10.00) which served with some summer berries. Although the price for their desserts might be slightly pricy for a small piece of cake but I am sure if it is nice, you won't mind paying slightly more for quality.

Lemon tart (S$10.00) with coconut anglaise and raspberry compote is one dessert in their menu too. To me the taste of lemon tart is quiet bland as compared to what I have tired before which is more infused with lemon fragrant as well as taste. But overall this might be a good choice for ladies or someone who prefer a light and refreshing dessert.

Didn't get to try this but Melissa mentioned their Tiramisu (S$10.00) is a "must try" too!

{Must Try} Dessert Of The Day was Mango Penna Cotta (S$10.00) during our visited and since I love mango, automatically that was my pick. Their Mango Penna Cotta was slightly different from the usual one as it taste more mousse like with a light mango fragrant which makes you go for more. But just don't expect the texture to be similar with the usual penna cotta which is smooth and custard like.

During our two hours dining session a couple of weeks back, I notice there are quiet a flow of crowds and most the customers look satisfy with their food and services. So for my personal opinion, I think the dishes and desserts at Fine Palate are pretty decent for the price and after all it still depend on individual's preference and taste buds.

My recommended dishes are Crispy Kurobuta Pork Belly, Crispy Chicken Triangles, Tuna And Capellini, Catch of The Day and Mango Penna Cotta / Tiramisu. Lastly I would like to thank Ananya from Chrysler Communications and Fine Palate for hosting this invite tasting.

Fine Palate
51 Waterloo Street
#01-­‐04/05
Singapore 187969
Reservation: +65 6336 5120
Website: www.finepalate.com.sg

Opening Hours:
Tuesday – Friday: 11am – 4pm (Lunch)
Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 4pm (Lunch/Brunch)
Closed on Monday

Cheesy Mayo Tuna Toast

Sometime when I am rushing for time or we are bored with the usual rice or porridge dishes for lunch, I would grab a loaf of thick toast or baguette together with a can of tuna to make this Cheesy Mayo Tuna Toast. For this recipe I used PurpleBerry bread which I have found at one of the bakery near our area. We love the taste fruity fragrant of the bread as well as it natural purplish colour.

CHEESY MAYO TUNA TOAST

Often I love to use Tuna Chunk to mix together with some Japanese Mayonnaise and chopped shallot/onion. And in order to make it look more appealing I would do an open face sandwich which look more classy like cafe style. So even though this is homemade but with some quick adjustments and effort we could also serve cafe style brunch at home for our loved ones too!

(Serves: 2 |  Preparation: 10 minutes |  Baking: 3 minutes)

Ingredients:
2 - 4 Pieces of Thick Toast
1 Can Ayam Brand Tuna Chunk In Olive Oil, drained
2 Shallot, finely chopped
1.5 Tablespoon Japanese Mayonnaise
1/4 Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Some Cherry Tomato, halves
Shredded Cheese

Method:-
1. Drain tuna chunk, pour it in a s small mixing bowl together with chopped shallot, mayonnaise and black pepper till well combined.

2. Spread the tuna mixture evenly among the bread slices, top with cherry tomato and shredded cheese.

3. Baked in a toaster oven for about 3 - 5 minutes till cheese melt and slight golden in colour.

4. Remove garnish with some parsley flakes and extra mayonnaise and serve immediately.

Tip:
~ You could use any tuna of your choice for this recipe.

~ Mayonnaise could be omitted for healthier choice.

Ultimate Colla-gen From Korea

Recently I have received a very interesting "product" to try out which is totally different from those daily "food products" that I have tried. When parcel arrived, I was surprise with it's packaging which resemble those "Japanese style" bento box wrap-up. And when I upload a photo of the above on instagram (here) and facebook (here) I received many interesting answers such as "burberry bags, mooncakes, cookbook" and etc.

To reveal the mystery, below is the content of what was being wrapped under that burberry cloth.

I am always curious when it comes to the word "Collagen" whenever I watch those Korean dream where the actor/actress will eat first thing in the morning to nourish their skin and etc. So when I get chance to review this Ultimate Colla-gen from Korea, I was delighted to give it a try.

Ultimate Colla-gen is available in 2 formulations which caters to people of all age groups. For individuals in their 20s to 40s, Ultimate Colla-gen Plus will help them nurtures skin, hair and nails. Whereas for those in their Golden Years, Ultimate Colla-gen Gold will nurtures their joints, bones and skin.

When compared to other collagen products in the current market, Ultimate Colla-gen’s Nano-molecular collagen was found to be 50% smaller which in a way enable fast and easy absorption into the body.

The reason why we need collagen is because as we age at around 25 years old, the collagen levels starts to drop at about 1.5% every year. So by the age of 45, our collagen levels in the body will ave reduced by up to 30%. But with consuming of Ultimate Colla-gen at least it helps to supplement natural collagen loss in line with balanced diet, skin cares and sleeping habits.

Ultimate Colla-gen is 100% developed and blended in Korea, according to strict Good Manufacturing Practice. It has a light and refreshing after taste which is not fishy or oily as compared to some other similar products because it is s made using real blueberry extract. Most important it has NO preservatives, NO trace metals and NO sugar.

Furthermore Ultimate Colla-gen is also Halal-certified in Korea. Each 38kcal sachet of Ultimate Colla-gen contains 5,000mg of Nano Collagen combined with an optimum and synergistic mix of 6 other multi-nutrients like Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin C, Probiotics, Glucosamine, Acai Berry, Real Blueberries extract, Chondroitin, Silica and MSM.

Apart from mixing it into warm/cold water, you could also mix it with your favourite juice and consume together. Just empty the whole sachet into a 200ml glass of water, stir well and drink.

Both Ultimate Colla-gen Plus and Ultimate Colla-gen Gold can be purchased from Nishino Pharmacy outlets, Pharmex Healthcare outlets, Robinsons, Pan Derma Clinique@Great World City and selected Sa Sa Outlets. Each box contains 30 sachets which is enough for one month’s consumption at S$88.00.

Lastly I would like to thanks Absolute PR and Ultimate Colla-gen for the complimentary product.

Nyonya Food Affair At Buffet Town

For the month of September till 31st October 2012, Buffet Town is having "A Nyonya Food Affair" theme to provide diners with a different dining experience. So about two weeks go I have visited their outlet on a weekday dinner together with Celes and Shitting.

Although the Nyonya section is not very big but it does consists most of the Peranakan signature dishes such as Babi Pongteh, Itek Tim, Kueh Pie Tee, Chap Chye and etc.

Part of the Nyonya Food Section which is visible from the entrance and beside the pizza station.

For something refreshing, start off with these Nyonya Appetizers such as:- Sambal, Achar, Papaya Pickle, Chin Chalok and etc. Personally I love the Papaya Pickle and Achar.

After the appetizer, you could move on to their delicious home-cooked main dishes such as:- Otak Otak Pangang, Nyonya Fried Mee Siam, Babi Pongteh (braised pork) and Nyonya Chap Chye.

Most of us love the Fried Mee Siam which is fragrant with spices used and filled with old-school flavour.  The texture of the Babi Pongteh is soft and flavorsome which goes well with steamed rice together with the Chap Chye.

Other than dishes above, they also have others such as:- Shrimp Fritters, Ngoh Hiang, Kueh Pie Tee, Itek Tim (Salted Mustard Duck Soup) and Nyonya Curry Chicken.

Out of the above-mentioned, Curry Chicken is our less favourite because we find it a bit too saltish to our liking and it is not fragrant enough as compared to the usual local curry chicken that we had. But other than that, Kueh Pie Tee and Itek Tim are both "must try" which you don't want to miss out. Love the Itek Tim soup which reminds me of my grandma cooking.

Kueh Lapis is one of my favourite kueh especially during Chinese New Year and at the Nyonya Buffet  you could also find assorted nyonya kueh such as Kueh Salat,  Pulut Inti, Steamed Lapis and even Chendol as after meal dessert.

Apart from the Nyonya Food Affair, Buffet Town also has  20 over other categories of food which definitely would satisfy the taste bubs of the 450 seating capacity. No wonder it is always "super long" queue outside the restaurant during lunch or dinner.

So if you love seafood on ice, I would suggested you to go for their fresh sashimi and oyster which we all find it fresh and worth trying.

Above are some of the food from other various stations such as:- Rojak, Assorted Satay, Chilli And Black Pepper Crabs, Assorted Tempura, Roasted Beef and not forgetting their crispy and delicious assorted Pizza which is something not to be missed.

After a hearty meal, you could grab a cup of coffee/tea to pair with some miniature assorted mousse cups, cakes, self made Ice Kechang, ice cream, soy beancurd and etc. Their mango mousse cups are something that I love and it always run out pretty fast too.

Lastly, you won't want to miss out the best dessert at Buffet Town which is their freshly made Waffle. It is crispy on the outer layer and yet light and fluffy with each bites. I love to pair it with my favourite Green Tea Gelato (example from Kiseki post here) plus drizzle of chocolate sauce but too bad that night they have run out of green tea gelato.

A Nyonya Food Affair will be available from 10th September 2012 till 31st October 2012 at Buffet Town, Raffles City. So if you love Nyonya food, do call early to make reservation in order to avoid disappointment.


BUFFET TOWN
Raffles City
#B1-44E
252 North Bridge Road
Reservation: +65 6837 3793
Website: www.buffettown.com.sg

Opening Hours:
11.30am - 3.00pm daily (Last order at 2.30pm)
6.00pm - 10.30pm daily (Last order at 9.30pm)

Buffet Town Pricing:
Monday - Friday Lunch: S$24.80++ (adult); S$17.80++ (child)
Sat, Sun, Eve of and PH Lunch: S$29.80++ (adult); S$17.80++ (child)

Monday - Thursday Dinner: S$34.80++ (adult); S$20.80++ (child)
Friday - Sunday, Eve of and PH Dinner: S$39.80++ (adult); S$20.80++ (child)

* Child(6 - 12 years old)


Thank you Chantel and Buffet Town for the tasting invite. You could also read more HERE from my old post regarding my 1st visit to Buffet Town for their lunch buffet.