Wah Lok @ Carlton Hotel

Wah Lok Restaurant on the 2nd floor of Carlton Hotel, Singapore, probably needs no introduction. Having won "Best Restaurant" many times, their food has won the hearts (or tummies) of many Singaporeans as well.

Personally, this was my 1st visit to them after their makeover. While I wasn't disappointed per se, I think they could have done better in terms of wowing me with their food because I remember the dim sum tasting much better the last few times I ate there.

The interior was given a spruce and they have shed the dated look of an old Chinese restaurant, opting instead for a more modern, almost Chinese grandeur look.

Pan Fried Pumpkin & Yam Squares

Yam and pumpkin sounded like a perfect combination. Alas, it did not live up to my expectations. Firstly, the dish was not served warm. In terms of taste, the yam was overshadowed. And with most yam dishes, it was slightly on the dry side. I really want to like this dish and hope that the next time I'm back, it will not disappoint.

Roast Pork Cubes or  Siew Yuk

The skin was crisp and there was a good balance between the amount of fat and lean meat. Slight gripe was that the bottom layer was too salty. Even though my favorite remains the one Crystal Jade Palace in Takashimaya, this was didn't do too bad.

Roast Pork Bun or  Char Siew Bao

Egg White with Crab Meat

Was really looking forward to this dish but maybe my high hopes set me up for disappointment. It was so mediocre I've almost forgotten about it. While texture was smooth, it was really bland. It lacked the savoury taste of egg whites and didn't leave an impression at all.

Fried Prawn Dumplings, Ming Xia Jiao

Old Winter Melon Soup

The winter melon soup was okay, but wasn't as tasty as the one at Imperial treasure. Maybe I like my food a little salty so this one tasted too healthy.

Overall Wah Lok is still a restaurant that we would very much recommend for Cantonese dishes. I would like to try dinner there one day as well to see what else they have to offer.

Wah Lok

CARLTON HOTEL SINGAPORE
76 BRAS BASAH ROAD SINGAPORE 189558

Level 2

Mondays to Saturdays
Lunch served from 11.30am to 2.30pm
Dinner served from 6.30pm to 10.30pm

Sundays and Public Holidays
Lunch served from 11am to 2.30pm
Dinner served from 6.30pm to 10.30pm

For reservations and enquiries, please call (65) 6311 8188 / 8189 or email wah.lok@carltonhotel.sg

Forest 森 @ Resorts World Sentosa

Paid a visit to the newly opend Forest 森 at the Equarius Hotel in Resorts World Sentosa for glutTAN Popo's belated 60th birthday lunch. Local celebrity chef Sam Leong's first restaurant collaboration with RWS and Chef Mike Tan after a 2 year hiatus left me feeling pretty excited for our glutTAN adventure. I didn't google the place prior to visiting and was pleasantly surprised to find that the place was so pretty! The entrance to the restaurant is nicely concealed in the left of the hotel lobby.

Upon walking in, the first thing that catches your attention is the decor. Designed after a rainforest, the high columns mimic tall tree trunks with a branch canopy and immediately makes you feel small (high ceiling plays a part). The woody and earthly tones make for a relaxing atmosphere.

 

The main dining area overlooks lush (albeit man made and probably fake) green grass and it really felt like we were in a resort of some sort, especially with the deck opening out to the grass.

Food here is generally reinvented fusion Chinese food. A little different from his usual style after being a part of the Tung Lok Group for so many years. 

The set lunch menu is available Mon to Sun - 2 course $28, 3 course $35, 4 course $45.

(All prices in SGD)

Appetizer / Soup

 Chef Special Soup of the Day

The soup was really good! Seemed like it was cooked with red dates and dried scallops that enhanced the sweetness of the soup.

Drunken Chicken with Hua Tiew Chiew Sorbet

Steamed Egg Chawanmushi with Pan-seared Foie Gras

Interestingly, the foie gras came with accompanying corn bits. The foie gras was shiok and really tasty and rich. Paired with steamed egg chawanmushi to even out the richness of the foie gras. It definitely helped in whetting my appetite and left me wanting more.

Crisp-fried White Bait with Green Apple Salad

This fusion dish is probably inspired by Chef Leong's wife, Forest, who is Thai. The salad was very refreshing.

Mains

Wok Fried Cubes of Beef Tenderloin in Black Pepper Sauce

The meat was cut into bite size portions and cooked in a black pepper sauce. It was tender and juicy, and chewy. However, the portion was a little too small for a main.

  

Steamed Chilean Seabass in Black Bean Sauce

The fish was soft and tasty. Fish is usually not very popular with the kids, so a small portion is perfect for those who would like to have fish without having to order a whole fish.

Sesame Crispy Tempura Shrimp Coated in Mayonnaise

The prawns were really fresh and crisp. The tempura coating on the prawns helped to retain the taste of the sauce and of the mayonnaise.  I liked that the tempura coating was not oil soaked. A lot of times fried prawn in Chinese restaurants are usually deep fried in very hot oil, leaving it hard and crispy. In this case, it was still crisp but it wasn't hard and oily at all.

As usual the kids started running around.  I love the picture on the right!

Rice and Noodles

Wok Fried Pearl Rice with Minced Beef in home made XO chili sauce 

Braised Ee-Fu Noodles with Shredded Chicken

  The noodles went down really well as it wasn't too dry, as some e-fu noodles tend to be.

Lemon Grass Boneless Chicken with Japanese Noodle Consomme

Even though the children did not have anything, the chef prepared a special mango dessert for them!

(L-R): Pandan Fudge. Vanilla Beancurd Fresh Strawberry Ginger Syrup. Mango Passion Sorbet Almond Crumble

Compliments of the chef

And out to the grass we went. B had to stay in because he refused to remove his sweater and the sun was blazing.

A very enjoyable lunch that was very well priced. We liked it a lot and will hopefully head back soon :)

Enquiries and reservations can be made at +65 6577 7788 or reservations@rwsentosa.com

DB Bistro Moderne

Lunch venue for the day: DB Bistro Moderne - A contemporary French-American restaurant, it tweaks traditional French dishes to fit the American market. Hmm I know.. Another restaurant at Marina Bay Sands. Well, to be honest, I am a little sick of the place, but it's a pretty convenient place for us in terms of distance, parking and well.. space.

Overall food was not bad, but service was a little slow, needed a couple of reminders for our forgotten orders.

First up, introducing our new "reviewer" - glutTAN baby no. 1 Barnaby!  - He takes his role very seriously. 

I love this photo of him! He did end up drawing all over my book though, but cute nonetheless.

For appetizers, we ordered Royal Oysters that cost an exorbitant $9SGD a piece!  Poor fatty was a little left out again cause she can't have any. 

The oysters tasted pretty nice on first taste, but left a bad after taste - slightly metallic and unpleasant. It could be that we ordered the wrong type but generally we prefer the creamy oysters.

 Jason was our photographer for the day! There are no pictures of him so click here if you want to put a face to him. 

He had the Homemade Potato Gnocchi ($34SGD) for his main.

Braised Endive, Fourme D'Ambert, Baby Spinach, Walnuts

"The serving is miserably small for a main. Delectable by itself, but hardly complimentary to the sauce that accompanies." It looked so small I wondered if it was an appetizer. Guys should never order this as a main!

glutTAN No. 4 Jane had a medium rare Steak Minute ($26SGD).

Sunny side up egg, Breakfast Potatoes, Sauce au Polvre 

 "A small piece tends to cook more quickly and so it wasn't as tender but it was nicely grilled and the meat was flavourful. It came with a nice aroma and was accompanied with a tasty sauce. A nice surprise was the diced accompanying potatoes bites - soft and moist on the inside. Sunny side up had a nice runny yolk too. Not bad."

Personally, as compared to the meat from Steak Frites (photo is missing! Think in the chaos we left it out), the meat tasted better, but wasn't as tender and meaty. The steak that came with my medium rare order was pink on the inside and very juicy and tender, though a little too much salt was added. Comes with fries that did not disappoint - crisp and yummy!

Barney was getting a little impatient because he couldn't eat his fries.

 glutTAN No. 1+1 Teng Chuan (B's Dad) had The Original bd Burger ($38SGD)

Sirloin burger filled with braised short ribs & Foie gras, served on a Parmesan bun.

"A decent dish, but a tad dry. I liked the short-rib stuffing, but pretty stingy with the foie gras. Bun was nice too."

glutTAN gong gong had The Frenchie Burger ($26SGD) - pic on left

Beef patty topped with confit pork belly, caramelized onions, Morbier cheese, Arugula, Cornichons. Served on a black pepper bun.

Hmm.. shall ask him what he thought abt it later.

Butternut Squash Soup ($15SGD)

Cranberry Coulis, Pumpkin Oil

The soup was creamy, sweet and wasn't too thick. Came with small pumpkin bits that Jane likes. Got a thumbs up from glutTAN 1+1 too!

 

glutTAN po po and glutTAN No.1 Adelene had Poached Eggs Benedict ($24SGD)

Ham, spinach, Hollandaise sauce, English muffin

"It was good, the accompanying potato bites were tasty. Though the hollandaise sauce is a little on the salty side."

The kids usually get a little restless and this is when we try to finish up asap and take turns to feed/entertain them/take them for walks.

The ever patient glutTAN No.3 feeding B while he's engrossed with the iphone.

glutTAN No. 2 Soo Lin had both the Lobster Salad and Fried Eggs Lyonnaises.

Lobster Salad ($36SGD)

Avocado, Endive, Grape Tomatoes, Green beans, Artichoke Hearts, Pesto dressing

"Not impressed, it looks a lot better than it taste. A little stingy with the Lobster."

Fried Eggs Lyonnaises ($21SGD)

Duck confit, Potatoes, Mushrooms, Mesclun Salad

"If you are a duck lover, you will love this, it's rich and flavourful. All the ingredients came very well together, though it got a little jelat after a while." 

All of us at the table. Everyone seems to be busy with something.

Pot De Yogurt ($15SGD)

Homemade Yogurt, Mixed Berries, Beignets

 "Comes with 2 ball doughnuts with a bit of raspberry sauce. Doughnut balls were not too sweet, just right. The yogurt taste good, like Meiji Vanilla yogurt."

Annie seems a little confused, probably cause she's never eaten doughnuts before. 

Well... she doesn't know what she's missing out on.

 Cute snippets of the kids.


With love from the Tan Family.

Till our next adventure!