Catalunya The Fullerton – One Of S’pore’s Most Romantic Restaurant In A Glass-Encased Dome
Booking a place at Catalunya, one of the most scenic restaurants right at the heart of the Singapore bay, proved to be quite a challenge for my other half, as he had waited precisely 1 month before 14th of Feb to place a booking with them. Given the importance of this date, it came as no surprise when this romantic spot was quickly snatched up by couples looking to whet both their visual and gastronomical appetite.
[caption id="attachment_2884" align="aligncenter" width="960"]Stepping foot into the slightly dimmed setting immediately puts us in a romantic trance. I was also handed a stalk of lovely rose by two lovely ladies who greeted us by the entrance. We reached at slightly over 6:30pm, the time where the sun was just about to set. The ceiling-to-floor windows guided the sunlight gently into the room, giving the restaurant a majestic feel. The ambiance at Catalunya couldn’t have been more perfect!
We were guided to our seat by a friendly waitress who then introduced the Valentines dinner course meal to us. We were also promptly informed by her that there was a minimum charge of SGD120 per person for that night. The dinner course was designed with 3 Tapas, a starter, a choice of 2 main course, and finally a dessert. As the dinner was only slightly over SGD90 per person, we opted for 1 more Tapas and 2 mocktails to make up the SGD120.
The first Tapas that came – lobster meat wrapped with avocado, topped with dollops of salmon roe – was all my favourites wrapped in one dish. I wasn’t a huge fan of avocado, but it provided that tinge of sweetness to the lobster meat that gently unfolds while I was chewing it.
The waitress did not wait for our stomach to settle before bringing in the next 3 tapas: Jaman iberico, Tomato bruschetta, and the yummy mushroom croquets! The jaman iberico was pretty close to the one that my boyfriend had while he was on training in Spain, and when it came, he spared no time in making sure I immediately savour it together with the tomato bruschetta. The saltiness of the jaman iberico blends well with the juicy tomatoes as they melt gently in my mouth.
For the choice of 2 mains, my boyfriend opted for the charcoal grilled beef ribeye, cooked to medium-rare, while I opted for the poached sea bass. The ribeye was juicy, and a match with the mushroom sides. Unfortunately, the ribeye was a tad too charred for my boyfriend’s liking, given that the ribeye was grilled with charcoal. For my sea bass, the choice of SalsaVerde as the dressing turns out to be a wonderful surprise, as I was known as someone who does not appreciate greens in my food.
As we were enjoying our tapas and mains, we were also served our mocktails by the attentive waitress. The drinks menu were spoilt with choices for alcoholics, despite it only having 2 mocktails for us to choose from. I chose the refreshing “Singapore Breeze” (a blend of passionfruit, apple, honey and lime), while my boyfriend had no choice but to go with the “Co-cooler” (a blend of cucumber, mint, apple, and jasmine tea). Singapore Breeze is an aptly given name, with the ingredients truly being gentle on my throat. The Co-cooler is also a well deserved name with the minty feeling that was left on my tongue long after I had sipped the drink.
Finally came the dessert – the chocolate fondue. Dark chocolate was not my fanfare, although it was definitely my boyfriend’s favourite.
I ended up giving him a portion of my share as he was known to love the bitter-sweet that dark chocolates offer. Nonetheless, the dessert served as a nice wrap-up to our romantic and gastronomic getaway at Catalunya, and we would surely visit again.
FORT By Maison Ikkoku – An Exquisite 4 Course CNY Menu With A Twist
I could hardly contain my excitement when I was invited to FORT by Maison Ikkoku to savour its latest Four-Course Chinese New Year Menu, which was carefully whipped up and conceptualised by Executive Chef and Head Mixologist, Ethan Leslie Leong. Available from 1 Jan – 29 Feb 2016, the 4-course menu, set at $48++ per person, and an additional $40++ for four unique cocktails, boasts 4 dish that are named after auspicious Chinese wishes.
Having stepped foot to the newly-minted Pinacotheque De Paris at the historical site of Fort Canning Hill for the first time, I was immediately enchanted by FORT’s 30-seater restaurant bar. The place was adorned with luxurious velvet curtains, copper pipes & Edison filament bulbs, creating an ambience that epitomises both modern chic and ancient industrial.
Four-Course Chinese New Year Menu at FORT by Maison Ikkoku
Starting the prosperous dining journey was the 招财进宝 (Joyous Treasure): a delectable starter of pan-seared Hokkaido scallop, heaps of seaweed and a generous amount of golden roe, sprinkled all over with edible gold flakes. This was paired with喜气洋洋 (Jubilant Festivity), a sake infused with fragrant lemongrass that whets my appetite for the upcoming dish.
Second in the menu was the 好事连连 (Bountiful Harvest), a reinterpretation of the classic Roast Goose. This is certainly one of my favourites, being an avid Roast Goose fan. The puree, made using ingredients such as lotus, beet, sweet potatoes and kaffir lime, complements the Roast Goose so perfectly, both in terms of the palate and sight. This was paired with a visually stunning cocktail, 珠光寶氣 (Bejewelled Radiance), which was made with sparkling bubbly and floating daisy caviar.
Moving on to the mains, the auspiciously named 年年有余 (Sea of Fortune), features a succulent Salmon steak that was cooked to perfection. Presented on a bed of sweet, tart green apple, grapefruit and passion fruit, the dish was perfectly balanced with a copious dollop of salmon roe. The cocktail pairing was the carefully concocted 招財進寶 (Opulent Prosperity), made specially in-house with citrus sugar, whiskey and bitters.
The 金玉满堂 (Golden Royale) is such an adorable dessert that I couldn’t help falling in love with. Bursting with zesty and citrus aroma, this sorbet was served alongside frozen Kumquats. As I savoured the tantalising flavours and observed with fascination the gold colour of the dessert, I came to a realisation that the dish was so aptly named. I was then treated to a beautiful sight when the mixologist concocted 歩歩高升 (Passion Abundance), an earthy drink made with a base of spiced rum, a dash of Himalayan salt, a hint of caramel and passion fruit, that was served with heaps of dry ice, for that added drama.
Signature Ala Carte Dishes at FORT by Maison Ikkoku
Apart from the festive menu, I was kindly treated to one of its signature dishes from the ala carte menu – The Fort (4 pcs S$18++ / 8 pcs S$28++), which was a beautifully created spicy maguro hand-roll.
For Omakase Lovers
In addition, since 1 December 2015, FORT by Maison Ikkoku has launched their 12-course Omakase for just S$68++ per person. Diners will be taken through a gastronomical journey with dishes using the freshest ingredients presented in a form that brings out the best in them. Given the delightful experience with the 4-course menu, I would certainly visit Fort again, for the Omakase.
FORT by Maison Ikkoku
Address: Pinacotheque De Paris, 5 Cox Terrace, Fort Canning Hill, S(179620)
Telephone: +65 6336 0507
Opening Hours: Daily 4P.M till Late
Getting There:
- Nearest MRT Station -Dhoby Ghaut (5 – 8 minute walk from Park Mall towards Fort Canning Park)
- Nearest Car Park Car Park B, Fort Canning Park (Free parking after 5pm)
- Nearest Bus Station 04223 – Old Hill Street Police Station (5 minute walk up the stairs leading to Fort Canning Park)
This article is written by Yi Shiean (@yishiean), our brand ambassador for Discover SG. We are looking for more ambassadors to join us, so email us at [email protected] to find out more!
