The Food Scoop | RWScoop

Category Archives: The Food Scoop

What’s a good Mother’s Day gift?

May 06, 2011 rwscooper

Let me guess. You’re reading this post cause you’ve expanded every possible gift option for Mother’s Day over the past few years. Or perhaps too consumed by who to vote for at tomorrow’s polling day, you’ve run out of bandwidth to think of something by Sunday. Or you simply forgot – and this turned up when you googled ‘Last minute Mother’s Day gift ideas/shopping’.

Well, here’s one way to commerate the greatness of motherhood:)

The Mother’s Love Concert 2011!

8 May 2011, Sunday
3pm and 7.30pm
Resorts World Sentosa, Compass Ballroom

Featuring the main cast from the popular series – Paladins in Troubled Times, 爱 – the performance would include the stars’ display of their skills in both singing and acting, that will surely bring a smile to your mums (especially if they’re glued to Channel 8 nightly at 7pm). We gather too that this will be the last concert performed by the cast! So hurry to our website for more details on this and grab those tickets before they run out.

And if you’re thinking of just bringing her out for a good meal, we have special cuisines arranged for Mother’s Day at the resort. Check them out here!

All the best in gift-hunting! And of course, the best gift would definitely still be that personal wish and time spent.

Knowing Joël Robuchon – Part 2

April 20, 2011 rwscooper

[Written by Tania H.]

Joël Robuchon and long-time chef companion Philippe Braun sharing his amazement about the amphibians

Knowing Joël Robuchon – Part 1

April 18, 2011 rwscooper

[Written by Tania H.]

Mr. Robuchon with his top chefs in action

Five Facts You Should Know about Joël Robuchon

Lunching out?

March 24, 2011 rwscooper

Have you reached the point where your entry in that regular lunch spot is welcomed by that all familiar voice of that same stall vendor who can spell out your dish of choice for lunch flawlessly everytime? Or perhaps exhausted every possible permutation of food selections at your lunch hangouts that you’ve resorted to Google for new options?

Well, if that’s you, here’s some great deals to look forward to at the resort to spice up your lunch hours!

Lunch Deals till 30 April (Valid for Mondays – Fridays, 12-2pm)

Another Option For Celebration

March 01, 2011 rwscooper

Dish 1: Seafood Ice Experience

[A review by Amelia Eng, winner of Osia signature dish contest]

For this year’s Valentines’ Day celebration we wanted to have it in Resort World Sentosa. We went to Osia Restaurant for dinner. The first word that came to my mind was ‘EXPENSIVE’! But hey, fear not, its all affordable!

Fun food to eat at Resorts World this Lunar New Year!

February 01, 2011 rwscooper

[Written by Tania H.]

When it was time to invite the media over for the traditional lo hei luncheon, I decided to shake things up a bit. Other than the usual tossing and sending vegetables a-flying, I invited a couple of my media friends to stuff Feng Shui Inn’s signature Braised Eight Treasures Duck. [Check out Brad Lau from ladyironchef working his charm on the duck!] A highly sought-after item on the restaurant’s menu, the duck stuffing consists of salted egg yolk, Chinese sausage, chestnuts, flower mushrooms and lotus seeds among other ingredients to infuse the poultry with an aroma to make your mouth water. Seeing how Singaporeans love their duck, no doubt this will be on many tables this festive period.

After the customary lo hei starring our glistening Australian lobster sashimi and delectable Eight Treasures Duck, chef Li served up the rare Japanese sea cucumber and giant fish maw. I was particularly tickled, given it was my first time tasting a premium sea cucumber with stubby spikes and an expensive one at that.

Talking about fun food, the chefs at Loui’s NY Pizza Parlor at Universal Studios Singapore have designed an ingenious Lo Hei Pizza Yu Sheng to introduce this prosperous must-eat to tourists who are visiting USS during this festive period. Tapping on the East meets West notion, this yu sheng is served on a crispy thin-crust pizza base which gives the dish the extra crunch and texture. If you’re at USS sometime this Lunar New Year, be sure to check out this one-of-a-kind pizza yu sheng at Loui’s!

Check our website too for more festive treats at the resort! http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Specials/LunarNewYear2011/Dining

A stroll in(to) the park

January 26, 2011 rwscooper

Ok, so you’ve taken RWS-8 or the Sentosa Express till you can literally memorize the timings and routes. Well, here’s another option: Walk in!

Alright, before you frown at this suggestion, let us qualify that this is no ordinary sheltered walkway…

Sentosa Boardwalk opens this 29 Jan!

620-metre long, the Sentosa Boardwalk offers pedestrians a canopy-covered route into the island. And that’s not all, it comes equipped with a network of travellators too, so you get a good mix of strolling and ‘gliding’ by the waterway with the various F&B/ retail outlets along the way.

Be sure to catch its opening celebration this Saturday, 29 Jan, where there’s gonna be a special event, pyrotechnics and lots of activities and giveaways. There will also be an attempt to set a really interesting Singapore Book of Records:) No charges for 29 and 30 Jan, so come on down and experience the walk for yourself!

OSIA Wins Best New Restaurant!

January 12, 2011 rwscooper

[Written by Tania H.]

Inset (L-R): Australian celebrity chef Scott
Webster and Chef de Cuisine Douglas Tay

Leaping across the baptismal fire, 2010 went out with a bang with Osia being awarded the title of Best New Restaurant by CNNGo’s Best Eats 2010! Barely a year into its opening, chef Webster together with local chef de cuisine Douglas Tay have won the hearts of many who would attest to Osia’s unique fare (showcasing fresh Australian ingredients like barramundi and lemon myrtle) and service with a smile. Instead of blowing our own trumpet, I got Mr. Eric Teo, President of Singapore Chefs Association and Panel Judge for CNNGo’s Best Eats 2010 to share why he feels Osia deserves the award.

Inset: Chef Scott Webster (left)

“OSIA is my choice as Best New Restaurant because the quality of food is excellent and has been extremely consistent since its opening. Australian celebrity chef Scott Webster runs a tight ship and together with Chef de Cuisine Douglas Tay’s impressive culinary creativity, OSIA’s menu is truly value for money. Congratulations to the OSIA team for winning this award!”

Eric Teo,
President of Singapore Chefs Association / Panel Judge for CNNGo’s Best Eats 2010

I also managed to steal some of chef Webster’s precious time for a short e-mail interview.

Tania H: Given that Osia has opened for barely 8 months, it has already garnered such commendable accolades. How do you feel about this?

SW: Naturally I am extremely excited, with so many high profile openings in 2010 and then to be voted the best of all the new openings. It is great but more importantly I am excited all the hard work of the team at Osia led by Chef Douglas Tay (a Singaporean) and Restaurant Manager Kori Millar is being recognised by the public and restaurant reviewers.

TH: What do you think is the winning recipe for Osia?

SW: Restaurants in this day and age are not just about food. The package is important, ambience; service and food are a hand-and-glove fit. Resorts World Sentosa has given me and my team the perfect combination of all three.

TH: What do you have to say to critics who’ve given their nod of approval to Osia and those who say otherwise?

SW: Firstly, thank you! Secondly, we do not take awards as the signal for resting and sitting back. We will not get everything right, every day, but it is important that we look on our mistakes, hope they are only minor and continue to work towards perfection.

With good things coming in pairs, five of Resorts World’s restaurants were honoured in Singapore Tatler’s Best Restaurants Guide 2011—namely Osia, kunio tokuoka, Chinois by Susur Lee, Palio and Rang Mahal, and kunio tokuoka received another feather in the cap by winning the Best Service Award.

Looking back on the past year, it’s been an amazing roller coaster ride. How can we forget 2010 with all the headlines we made—the expensive Sultan fish at Feng Shui Inn which was given quite a royal treatment in the dailies for weeks; the elite price tag of a $750 tasting menu (when our four-Michelin starred chef Kunio Tokuoka’s namesake restaurant opened in May) which has since of course been trumped by other celebrity chef restaurants; the orgasmic hot Valrhona chocolate soup with black pepper ice cream at Australian celebrity chef Scott Webster’s restaurant Osia which guests have compared to being better than sex; and the enormous 21-inch pizzas at Loui’s NY Pizza Parlor at Universal Studios Singapore topping the chart as the biggest pizza to ever grace our shores.

Inset: Chef Joel Robuchon speaking to fellow chefs

With all that said, the best is yet to come. Legendary Chef of the Century Joël Robuchon will be arriving in Singapore to open his two restaurants, Joël Robuchon Restaurant and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon early this year, and we cannot wait to dine in his restaurants to find out what makes this world’s most decorated chef with 26-Michelin stars so famous and revered.

Adding on to our list of first-of-its-kind attractions, Maritime Xperential Museum (MXM) is also on its way to completion and I hear we have fun F&B concepts in MXM. If you are not in the know, the MXM will take you back in time to one of the greatest eras in history: It is here that the tale of maritime adventurers, sea pirates, and the growth of sea trade between Asia, the Middle East and Europe is told. Follow historical figure Zheng He as he takes you through to the Maritime Silk Route.

Righto, without revealing too much, stay tuned to this space and better yet, come visit us to experience A Million Moments in One World!

Check out our website too for more on Osia and other dining options at the resort.

The Fe(a)stive Season!

December 23, 2010 rwscooper

[ Christmas blogpost (part 2) by Tania H. ]

In part two of my foodie blogpost for Christmas, we move on to the festive themed menus around the restaurants this December. Give mom a break from the stove or your wife for that matter and take them out for a festive feast followed by a stroll to Singapore’s tallest Christmas tree at Resorts World.

A picture speaks a thousand words and I’m sure the shot below speaks volumes to your parotid gland. Are you salivating yet?

Grainge Black Angus Beef Striploin MS 3

Titled Grainge Black Angus Beef Striploin MS 3 with creamed chestnut, roasted artichoke, field mushrooms and bacon beef glace sand, this is one of Osia’s main highlights on the Christmas menu, available both on Christmas Eve and the day itself. If you haven’t tried Osia’s cuisine by Australian celebrity chef Scott Webster, it’s a reflection of Australia’s cultural melting pot. Showcasing the freshest produce from the Land Down Under, beautiful ingredients are transformed into morsels of goodness on the plate with an adept chef’s hand which practices absolute meticulous finesse.

Valrhona Hot Chocolate Soup

At $180++ per head, you’ll also get to taste Chef Webster’s legendary Valrhona Hot Chocolate Soup. It’s a larva cake but without the cake. Some guests have commented it’s better than S.E.X. Yum!

Palio turkey ravioli served with its own gravy topped with pomegranate seeds

If you’re looking for something hearty, the food at Palio will have you licking your lips all the way home. Serving authentic Tuscan cuisine, our Italian chefs have come up with a Christmas menu that’s exciting yet familiar. Featuring the Turkey ravioli as seen above, Pan-seared Monkfish served with fine beans in Prosecco wine and caviar sauce, and the decadent Pandoro Christmas cake served with Panettone flavored ice cream and warm chocolate sauce as dessert, your family will be pleased. The 5-course Christmas Eve set dinner is at $88++ per head.

Rib eye Tagliata with cannellini beans purée, roasted figs and brandy sauce

On Christmas day itself, Palio will be serving the Rib eye Tagliata and other delicious items on its 4-course set dinner menu at $68++.

If buffet is more your thing, Starz at Hard Rock Singapore has a wide array of seafood including beef carpaccio, baby octopus with sesame, cold appetizers and excellent Chinese food for the whole family. For Christmas, we’re throwing in a plump roast turkey stuffed with chestnut, my favourite stollen, pudding drenched in chocolate sauce and lots more. There’s even a dedicated Indian live station for those piping hot pratas and a Japanese station for fresh sashimi and sushi! Starz’ Christmas Eve international buffet dinner is at $98++ per guest and on Christmas day itself, international buffet brunch at $88++.

Not forgetting a place where you can party the night away and count the seconds to Christmas Day, come by the Rock Bar where a selection of luscious festive shooters is just an order away. Located at the lobby of Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, our shooters go by quirky names like Electric Blue, MYS-T-VIOUZ and Beary Holiday.

For a refreshing burst of lime, try Electric Blue, designed to jazz up your Christmas, after combining main ingredients of sambuca and bols blue curacao. For MYS-T-VIOUZ, it’s indeed a mysterious potion of Midori Melon, some grenadine syrup and a splash of creamy Baileys Irish Cream (and other secret ingredients), making it the perfect indulgent drink. To relive your childhood, order Beary Holiday, which promises to put on a smile on your face with nostalgic gummy bear lollies.

Performing every Fri and Sat from 8.15pm, you can also catch the live performance of homegrown artists, Zsa and Claire as they blow you away with their awe-inspiring percussion music.

So drop by Resorts World today and celebrate Christmas with us!

Check out our website for more details.

Fiesta – a carnivore’s sweet dream

November 10, 2010 rwscooper

[Written by Chris D.]

I just had one of the best mix of food and service experience in the past few months.

When my friend Emma first asked me to join her for dinner at Fiesta, located within Festive Hotel, I wasn’t sure what to expect from a restaurant which serves Latin American cuisine. But from the moment we arrived until the moment we walked out, the impeccable service and memorable food blew us away.

Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by warm smiles and ushered quickly to our table. Edrick, our waiter, explained the menu and took our drink orders. Within moments, not only was he back with our drinks, he also served us piping hot cheese bread. Wow, the bread turned out to be a winner – it was simply divine!

The menu had several categories of set meals: $25 for a two-course, $39 for a three-course and $45 for a four-course. And each set had numerous mouth-watering options that we could choose from. We picked the four-course meal.

Black Bean Soup

It was a treat from the first course – black bean soup with ham and cumin. Within seconds of arriving, Emma and I had devoured it. The chef had avoided an all too common problem with bean soups; here, salt had been used in moderation which gave way to a hearty, enjoyable soup that didn’t leave you screaming for water after each mouthful.

The King Crab Salad

My King Crab Salad arrived; piled high with fresh crab meat, avocado and adorned with edible flowers. The balsamic vinegar that was drizzled on the plate brought out the sweetness of the crab in a way that I haven’t tasted before in Asia while the flowers gave the dish a perfect light, summer salad kind of touch.

For the mains, Emma had ordered the Brazilian mixed Churrasco plate and for me, the 600-gram grain fed T-bone steak.

The Brazilian Mixed Churrasco

The mixed Churrasco plate came with flame-grilled sausage, rib-eye steak and spring chicken with lime. While we found the sausage slightly salty, the rib eye steak and spring chicken were phenomenal; both cooked to perfection. Normally on mixed grills, I’ve found that restaurants tend to use mediocre quality meats, but at Fiesta, the rib-eye was second to none; juicy and tender.

My T-bone was everything I had hoped for and more. With the T-bone, you get the tender filet on one side of the bone and on the other side of the bone is the New York strip. The entire steak was also juicy and tender and the flame-grilling had given the meat a perfect, slightly smoky taste. It was a great steak! (Ed’s note: so good, didn’t manage to take a picture before it’s gone!)

After finishing such a huge steak, I couldn’t even think about dessert. But the waiter quickly changed that at the sight of chocolate. Out comes one chocolate mousse and then a dessert that goes on my list of top ten (non-chocolate) desserts I have ever tried; coconut custard—smooth and creamy with the perfect amount of coconut.

For the last taste of the meal, I had to have a few more of the cheese bread balls.

You can bet I’ll be back again when I’m craving a great steak dinner, exceptional service and all at a very reasonable price.

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Chris D, who is working on upcoming projects for Resorts World Sentosa, will be guest blogging about his dining experiences at the resort.

Chris D’s enjoyment of traveling is second only to the love affair with food and luckily for him, his job has allowed him to combine those two passions. Everything from six star, fine dining experiences in Europe and pork lau lau cooked in an underground oven in Tahiti to fried scorpions in China and catfish in the US; he has rarely met a food that he didn’t like.

“I’m forever in search of ‘THE meal’; the one that combines impeccable service, a unique ambiance and that ever-so elusive perfect combination of ingredients, cooking technique and at least a pinch of culinary passion. Be it back street food cart or Michelin rated restaurant, until then, I’ll continue to enjoy the journey.”

- Chris D.

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Fiesta is located in Festive Hotel (Level 3), Resorts World Sentosa.

For more promotional details, please visit www.rwsentosa.com.