FOO’D by Davide Oldani

It was on a weekday when we had lunch at Italian fine-dining restaurant FOO'D by Davide Oldani, located in Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall. Davide Oldani is a celebrity chef with a one-Michelin-starred restaurant – D'O in Cornaredo, just outside Milan. Started with one of his specialty, caramelised onions with 20 months aged Grana Padano served hot and cold. Our table enjoyed how the sweet and soft onions were balanced by the savoury and creamy Grana Padano, though the standout was the flaky and crispy puff pastry. Could neither rave about nor fault my choice of main course, chicken roulade with truffle sauce. There were mixed reviews for the dessert of lemon curd with meringue, lettuce sorbet and cocoa crumble. I found the lettuce ice-cream bitter with a raw vegetable taste, and gave it a miss. In contrast, the tart lemon curd went well with the sweet meringue and cocoa crumble. Was not impressed with the meal and left the place hungry.

Cook Mee

I have eaten the last few times I walked past Cook Mee at Raffles Exchange, and reminded myself to try this another day. It is by the same people behind Wheat – at B1 of One Raffles Place and Raffles City Shopping Centre, known for its Japanese-inspired soba noodles, brown rice and salad. There were a few people when I visited for late dinner, and more continued to stream in after. Ordered its $9.90 Soupermen as the dry tossed ramen comes with a separate bowl of spicy or non-spicy double-boiled chicken- and pork-based soup. I can choose ingredients for my soup and my choice was prawns and white clams over diced salmon, mussels and shredded chicken as well as edamame, mushroom and tofu (other choices are beansprouts, broccoli, cabbage, corn kernel, kimchi, leek and seaweed). The springy ramen were topped with beansprouts, shredded cucumber, sous vide egg and sesame seeds. Could neither rave about the bland soup and white clams nor fault the succulent prawns and mushrooms.

Tamashii Robataya

Have wanted to try Tamashii Robataya, located on the 2nd floor of a row of shophouses along North Canal Road, for a while and finally made a reservation for lunch on a weekday. It was my dining companion's first time trying robatayaki or Japanese grill served on Samoji, a long wooden oar that Japanese fishermen used to serve their catch centuries ago. Seated at the counter where fresh ingredients separated us from the chefs, we could watch our orders being prepared. Lunch sets come with rice, refreshing salad and pickles, succulent salmon sashimi, mix mushroom in butter sauce that I could not fault and homely Ton Jiro – Japanese soup made with pork and vegetables, and flavoured with miso. There was nothing to rave about its Tsukune Steak (grilled minced chicken with onsen egg) and Sake Teriyaki or grilled salmon with teriyaki sauce. The highlight of our meal was the Maccha and Goma ice-cream, that is, green tea and black sesame flavours.

Imakatsu

One of us was tasked with the "job" of finding a good place for lunch and the place of choice was Imakatsu. The Japanese restaurant, which specialises in tonkatsu, has been around for 80 years in Japan with its flagship at Roppongi and presence also at Ginza. It was a weekday when my dining companions and I visited the branch at Boat Quay, its 2nd in Singapore after The Star Vista. While none of us have tried the place before, we were looking forward to a meal there due to the rave reviews online. However, reservations were not allowed so we decided to try our luck. As there were no available seats indoor, we settled for a table outside. No air-conditioner, just the fan and thankful for no haze.

Ordered Bite Size Pork Fillet and Chicken Fillet Cutlet Set from the lunch menu – comes with miso soup and pickled vegetables, unlimited rice and fresh cabbage. The katsu items had tender and juicy insides with a thin, crisp and evenly-coated layer of batter that was not too oily. Loved the sweet potato and preferred the pork to chicken fillet. Raw crunchy cabbage was perfect with sesame dressing especially when interspersed with deep-fried food. I could not complain about the soft-boiled egg I added, just like the lovely rice and pickled vegetables. Non-deep-fried food items on the menu include Oyako Don, Pork Don with Oroshi/Ginger Sauce and Cold or Hot Udon.

Olivia Cassivelaun Fancourt (OCF)

Olivia Cassivelaun Fancourt, also known as OCF, is a French restaurant named after Sir Stamford Raffles' first wife. It is located on the 2nd floor of the Old Parliament House, which is The Arts House today. Started in 2013, it has been on my radar since. And with Singapore Restaurant Week from 14 to 22 March this year, I found a good reason to visit. The lunch menu includes an entrée of marinated asparagus, poached organic egg and smoked eel from Kaviari or Jerusalem artichoke velouté with Parmesan foam and truffles. While I could not fault the asparagus, the egg and eel was too salty for my liking. This was followed by main course of Iberian pork collar, glazed Jerusalem artichoke, vegetable purée and roasting Jus. Pork collar was surprisingly fatter than we expected, but otherwise good. I loved the artichoke reminiscent of potato but not the pumpkin purée. Dessert of whipped ganache with espresso ice cream was presented with hot moka poured over it.

Note: The restaurant has closed.

Three Cups Coffee Co.

Located on the 4th floor of revamped One Raffles Place (formerly known as OUB Centre) away from the hustle and bustle at the basement, Three Cups Coffee Co. is by the same three people behind espressoLAB at Bali Lane. Michael, his wife Sue and their friend Allan believe that magic happens when three special ingredients – "great coffee, d'lish food and friendship", are brought together. Customers can choose from three types of custom-roasted coffee beans and blend to be enjoyed in different ways. The former are a Signature Espresso Blend, seasonal Single Origin espresso and Single Origin Pourovers while the latter includes having it hot or iced, nude or with milk/chocolate and pourover methods such as V60, Aeropress. Affogato, cold brew and organic soy options are also available. Other items on the menu include all-day breakfast on weekends, sandwiches and wraps as well as cakes, pastries and pies.

Ngon

Located at the basement of One Raffles Place is Ngon, which means delicious in Vietnamese. With non la (the iconic Vietnamese palm-leaf conical hats) hanging from its ceiling, the place mimics a casual roadside dining in Vietnam. Having travelled across his country and sampled dishes from the north to the south, Vietnamese chef Lucas Dinh presents the best with many ingredients imported from Vietnam. To maintain authenticity, some items such as the meatballs and bánh cuõn are also handmade daily. Ordered a beef sliced phõ set that comes with a choice of coffee and lotus tea, and two deep-fried spring rolls. Beef was tender and thin flat rice flour noodles reminiscent of kway teow smooth, in an herbal broth I could not fault. Spring rolls, crispy on the outside with fillings I could not rave about, were perfect when dipped in the accompanying sauce. A tad oily, if I must nitpick.

Shinkansen

From the same people behind Standing Sushi Bar and Tanuki, Shinkansen offers "lunch on the fast track" just like Japan's high speed train that it was named after. Started at the end of last year, the branch at Ocean Financial Centre has a few high chairs at the wooden counter by the concrete wall. Bottles of spirits sat on black shelves reminiscent of that in a library, a hint that this place becomes a bar – The Secret Mermaid, when the clock strikes 7. By day, it offers sushi and sashimi as well as design-your-own noodles, rice and salad bowls. Took me a long while to finally visit the Japanese fast-casual lunch spot, on a Saturday when food options in the area were limited. My Tuna Loco consisted of too little tuna tataki and sesame seeds for my liking but too much soba noodles and cabbage in onion sauce, which I could choose how much to add. Shinkansen can also be found at 100AM (do not expect the same industrial décor and day-to-night transformation) and United Square.

Woo Ricebox

Located at the basement of Ocean Financial Centre is Woo Ricebox, which serves traditional Taiwan-style lunch boxes. Premium short-grain rice prized for its fragrance and springy texture when cooked are imported from Chihshang in Taidong where its 1st branch, at a major railway interchange, was set up in 1939. To cater to scores of hungry Taiwanese travellers embarking on train rides that lasted for hours on end, nutritious meals with a balance of meat and vegetables were created in convenient rice boxes –  small, compact and made of a special type of porous wood to help wick away excess moisture from the ingredients. This ensures the food stays fresh and warm hours after purchase and even fried items do not turn soggy. All rice boxes are paired with a choice of a main meat item, braised egg-half and beancurd as well as sautéed seasonal vegetables and a savoury blend of pickles.

Oriole Coffee

Avid coffee lover Keith Loh, who came in 1st at Singapore National Barista Championships (SNBC) in 2010, opened Oriole Coffee Roasters where coffee beans sourced from around the world are roasted. According to the website, its coffee operations are managed by John Ting who came in 1st at 2008's and 2009's SNBC. To enjoy the usual coffee beverages or Oriole specials such as double ristretto servings of Oriole espresso blend and some of their winning coffee creations, head to Oriole Café and Bar or Oriole Espresso and Brew Bar. Menus at both places differ with breakfast included in the latter, tucked away in a corner by the lift lobby on the 1st floor of Republic Plaza. It was bustling when I visited after lunch on a weekday and ordered a macchiato – could smell an aroma of roasted beans in the medium-bodied cuppa that was bitter, acidic and could not be salvaged by adding sugar.

Dimbulah

Located a few metres away from Black Coffee Dessert Bar at Hitachi Tower, Dimbulah at Chevron House was as vibrant when I visited after lunch. Loved how the colourful panels and pictures stood out against the mostly neutral palette, wood and metal in the brightly-lit place with lots of vertical space. Could smell a nice aroma of roasted beans in my order of macchiato – strong (all coffee are double ristrettos) with a tinge of bitterness overwhelmed by acidity. Am not so sure this is fine Australian coffee but the passion to bring quality coffee from plantation to cup has led to vertical integration of coffee beans from farming to retail coffee shop. Exclusive Arabica coffee beans are grown, harvested and roasted on Dimbulah Mountain Estate, its own plantation on Atherton Tablelands in Tropical North Queensland, Australia. Interestingly, only one of its six branches in Singapore is outside the Central Business District.

Coffeesmith

I thought I would try Coffeesmith, one of the independent coffee joints in Raffles Place, on a weekday afternoon after the lunch crowd had eased. Used to being charged extra for takeaway containers, I was surprised that some drinks here were cheaper as takeaway. Wondered aloud about the possibility of customers drinking their takeaway orders at the barely furnished place and was told they would be charged the drink-in price. The promotion is meant to encourage takeaway orders due to its limited seats (I counted 8 small tables of 2-3 chairs each). While my question had yet to be answered, I decided against ordering a takeaway to drink in after payment lest I would be shooed out of the café or had to top up the price difference. Most seats were unoccupied at that time but I did not probe further and instead ordered a macchiato.

Black Coffee Dessert Bar

Black Coffee Dessert Bar was opened in 2009 by a few friends fanatic about coffee, food and vintage furniture. According to the website, there are two branches at Hitachi Tower and TripleOne Somerset though the latter has since closed. I have been to both, ordering its Valrhona Chocolate Banana Cake, Valrhona Dark Chocolate Tart and Chocolate Rum Affogato at the former. At the latter, I had its all-day breakfast, Valrhona Chocolate Cupcake with Nutella Frosting, and Macchiato. Other than tables made up of old television sets with sheets of glass on top, there were also gramophone, lamps, old-school clocks and retro-looking display cases. Together, different tables and chairs (including re-holstered old-style sofa) gave cosy vibes to the old-world charm of both places.

Le Saint Julien

Read in the papers that the Best French Restaurant voted by Singapore Business Review in 2008 and 2009 would be moving out of The Fullerton Water Boat House after 10 years in business. Among the handful of French fine dining restaurants I have tried, thought Le Saint Julien was the best in Singapore and reminded myself to make a trip down memory lane before it closes at the end of January (the last date for reservation is 18 Jan 2013). Visited on a Friday for dinner and was led past a comfortable-looking area with sofas ideal for lounging. Sat at a table by the window just like the last two times and found the place surprisingly quiet with only a few customers. Though its impressive selection of wine was awarded the Best Wine List of the Year by Wine & Dine in 2009, my dining companion had a mocktail while I started with an aperitif of Campari with orange that was bitter, sweet and tart at the same time.

New Kid on the Block – Jamaica Blue

Took me a while to find Jamaica Blue, which was tucked away by One Raffles Place Tower B lift lobby. The café is contemporary designed with its distinctive blue logo against lots of wood and white. Ordered a Jamaica Blue Signature^TM Blend macchiato and was asked if I preferred it long or short. Settled for the latter with just a dollop of milk foam atop the freshly brewed espresso. Jamaica Blue Signature^TM Blend, a blend of 100% Arabica beans, is a CSR Golden Bean Medal Winner so I just had to give it a try. According to its menu, Wallenford Estate® Jamaica Blue Mountain® is a single origin coffee from the prestigious Wallenford Estate in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica.

New Kid on the Block – Costa Coffee

At the rate that coffee chains and independent outlets are opening one after another, either Singapore cannot get enough java or the coffee culture here is gaining ground. The more the merrier, I say so that with choices and hence competition, it will no longer be a mean feat to find good coffee. Within walking distance from Japanese's Doutor Coffee at Marina Bay Financial Centre are English's Costa Coffee at Chevron House and Australian's Jamaica Blue at One Raffles Place. And it seemed all three opened within the same week.