November is an exciting month for food in the MICHELIN community! From two-MICHELIN-Starred JAAN by Kirk Westaway's grand reopening, one-MICHELIN-Starred Alma's Haikal Johari opening a new bistro in the Heartlands, to refreshed menus, white truffle celebrations, and exciting collaborations, here are the latest happenings in Singapore's MICHELIN dining scene.
JAAN by Kirk Westaway Reopens Its Doors to the Public on 06 December 2022
After its three-month hiatus to make room for transformations, two-MICHELIN-Starred JAAN by Kirk Westaway is slated to welcome guests again on Tuesday, 06 December 2022. Lauded by our MICHELIN Guide inspectors for embodying the quintessence of fine dining, JAAN by Kirk Westaway is praised as a romantic restaurant has it all — food, service, ambiance and spectacular views.
Presenting an experience that transports guests on a journey to Devon in Southwest England, the home region of Westaway, the refurbished and elegant space is described to pay homage to the uniquely diverse terroir of Devon, which is also the root of Westaway's inspired culinary creations.
“Design and ambience are such an intrinsic part of creating a memorable dining experience, and I am thrilled to have been involved in the design of a space that further complements and embodies our culinary philosophy. JAAN has been a landmark dining destination for nearly 20 years, and this journey of evolution is an integral part of our enduring promise to continue delivering exceptional guest experiences that combine impeccable design, fine flavours, and the exquisite craftsmanship of Reinventing British cuisine. We cannot wait to welcome guests back into JAAN to experience it all,” mused Westaway.
Working in close partnership with award-winning global hospitality design agency greymatters, the new JAAN by Kirk Westaway promises an immersive dining experience that highlights the essence of the restaurant through modern and timeless lens.
Building on Westaway's belief that provenance is the driving force behind extracting maximum flavours from any meal one can create, the restaurant reopens with its new Winter menu geared for the festive season, featuring thousands of ingredients and showcasing British vegetables and cheeses from across the UK, plus a festive guinea fowl dish.
JAAN by Kirk Westaway is located at the Hotel Swissôtel The Stamford at 2 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178882. Reservations can be made via +65 9199 9008, jaan.bookings@swissotel.com, or online at www.jaan.com.sg.
MICHELIN-Starred Alma's Haikal Johari Opens His New Bistro, Alkove, in the Heartlands
Having opened just yesterday, 16 November 2022, Haikal Johari of MICHELIN-Starred Alma has unveiled Alkove, his newest venture located along Kovan Road.
“My style has always been very classic, while incorporating some modern techniques of European or French cuisine,” he says. “I'm pretty much old school when it comes to my cooking techniques, so my inspiration still comes from classic French dishes. I don't get carried away too much with trends, but I do like injecting new flavours based on where I was and where I’ve been," says Johari.
Alkove features French-inspired classics such as French onion soup, canelés, croissants, Chicken Vin Blanc, and more. The bistro's philosophy takes cues from the French art of living and is centred around elevating simple everyday routines into something pleasurable, as well as a heightened appreciation for not only the finer things in life, but the every day things, starting with that first cup of coffee over breakfast.
Alkove is located at 2 Kovan Road, 01-10 Simon Plaza, Singapore 548008.
Anne-Sophie Pic Presents Special "Les Agrumes" Menu at La Dame de Pic, Raffles Singapore
Renowned French chef Anne-Sophie Pic returns to Singapore for a special menu launch at her one-MICHELIN-Starred post in Singapore, La Dame de Pic. In her specially curated Les Agrumes menu, Pic presents epicurean delights that spotlight the aromatic spectrum of citrus fruits.
For SG$348++ per head, guests can partake of the special menu where each dish is infused with the aromas and flavours of ingredients such as lemon leaves, bergamot, yuzu, and kaffir lime, as well as prized Japanese Kabosu and the citron (aka cédrat), which is known for its delicate taste and intense fragrance.
La Dame de Pic is located at the Raffles Hotel Singapore, Grand Lobby, 1 Beach Road, 189673, Singapore. Book a table here.
Hamamoto Launches Autumn Menu Featuring Delicacies Such as Shirako (Cod Milt) and Seko Gani (Female Snow Crab)
At newly minted MICHELIN-Starred Hamamoto, chef Kazuhiro Hamamoto presents ingredients and dishes that showcase a quintessential Japanese autumn.
Shirako or cod milt is back in season and served with Kinki (thornyhead fish) in a gutsu-gutsu, which refers to the sound that a pot of boiling soup makes akin to a volcano. The rare, shiny-eyed Mehikari, a fish that lives deep in the ocean, also makes an appearance in Hamamoto's fall menu. It is first dried overnight before grilling in a cooking style known as ichiyaboshi. Kawahagi or thread-sail filefish is served as nigiri with its liver tucked between the sliver of fish and morsel of pressed rice.
Seko Gani, or female snow crabs with their scarlet roe, are served with their flesh poached and presented alongside their uchiko (innards) and sotoko (roe).
Regulars who are familiar with Hamamoto's style will find that the signature dish of Sendai Wagyu — which is presented as thin slivers of the beef torched by a single hot coal and crowned with uni and cured egg yolk — receive a showering of White Truffles from Europe.
Dessert showcases La France Pears from the Yamagata prefecture with pear jelly and kakigori (shaved ice), and lastly, as an ode to the Autumn season and to close the meal, persimmons are part of the Hamamoto fruit plate.
Hamamoto is located at 58 Tras Street, Singapore 078997. Reservations can be made via +65 9672 7110 or online.
Ivan Brehm of MICHELIN-Starred Nouri Launches a Series of Crossroads Dining Experiences
Championing a concept of “crossroads” cooking, Ivan Brehm of one-MICHELIN-Starred Nouri frequently explores how cultures, ingredients, and geographical locations intersect with a menu that unfolds like a narrative. In his menu at Nouri, flavours such as vanilla and turmeric are repeated throughout and lighter flavours build up to a tour-de-force climax.
Drawings from this narrative, Brehm has announced his launch of a series of Crossroads experiences, which kicks off on 10 December at Nouri. The first of this series features a collaborative dinner with Khir Johari, author of award-winning book, The Food of Singapore Malays.
Named Crossroads: Archipelago, the meeting of minds between Brehm and Johari is embodied in the one-night-only menu that is described to offer guests multiple ways of exploring how the exchange of gastronomic ideas across the Malay Archipelago and beyond have contributed towards the way we eat today — through the lens of Brehm's Crossroads Thinking.
Some of the dishes that will be served include an interpretation of the Ayam Masak Puteh, a famed staple from Warong Nasi Pariaman, the oldest surviving nasi padang warong in Singapore founded in 1948. The eatery still stands at 738 North Bridge Road. While it is traditionally a dish of grilled chicken served in a rich coconut broth, the team at Nouri interprets it by brining a guineafowl in coconut water then delicately poaching it in rich coconut milk before being grilled and served alongside its poaching liquid. Another notable menu item is the Asam Pedas, a spicy fish stew. At Nouri, the gravy will be clarified into a consommé accompanying a torched seafood crudo.
“All cultures are inextricably linked, with interactions over time being responsible for every element of our lives as humans. The same way no human is an island, no culture exists in isolation. To breed a world of tolerance, one must first understand cultural difference as the result of circumstance. Food is the best and most delicious way of doing that ,” says Brehm.
Nouri is located at 72 Amoy Street, 069891, Singapore. Book your table for the Crossroads: Archipelago dinner on 10 December 2022 here.
In the Mood for Truffles? Buona Terra Presents Its White Truffle Menu for the Year
White truffle season returns, and MICHELIN-Starred Buona Terra revels in one of the most anticipated gastronomic highlights of the year, showcasing the precious gem in this special menu. Harvested in Italy amidst cool climate, the white truffle is highly prized for its unforgettable aroma and earthy notes.
From now till December 2022 or when the white truffle season ends, Buona Terra will feature a very special White Truffle Menu showcasing dishes such as the White Truffle Egg Soufflé with Saffron and Parmesan Cheese Sauce, a classic way of relishing the white truffles' distinct flavours, with the added touch of a par-baked amber egg yolk nestled within. The Poached Egg with White Truffle, Smoked Potato and Mushrooms features sautéed in-season Chanterelle or Porcini mushrooms topped with a poached egg and smoked potato espuma. Capped off with a foam of aerated Parmesan cheese water and dusted with mushroom powder, the dish is presented as a "cappuccino" with a side of "toast" that comes in the form of a bruschetta crouton with Taleggio cheese, a drizzle of truffle honey, toasted hazelnuts, and shavings of white truffle.
Buona Terra's pastas are also described as "divine" by our MICHELIN Guide inspectors, and diners can enjoy a classic Tagliolini with Butter Emulsion, Parmesan Cheese and White Truffle where fresh handmade tagliolini is lightly tossed in a 36-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano sauce, and completed with shavings of white truffle. Lastly, a Risotto with Espresso, Parmesan Cheese, and Anchovy Sauce, which is simmered with a coffee-infused broth, apple wood smoked butter, and Parmesan cheese. It is complemented with a "Baugna Cauda" sauce of Spanish anchovies, garlic, shallots, thyme, and cream; topped with shaved white truffles.
The white truffles menu is available from SG$118++ to SG$228++ per guest.
Buona Terra is located at 29 Scotts Road, Singapore 228224. Book a table here.
Osteria BBR by Alain Ducasse Launches Refreshed Sunday Brunch Menu
MICHELIN-listed Osteria BBR located Raffles Hotel Singapore launches a 120-minute free-flowing Sunday brunch experience that features a myriad of Italian delights.
Harping on the flavours and senses of the Italian Riviera, the brunch begins with a selection of antipasti featuring fresh seafood, selection of Italian cold cuts, and artisanal cheeses such as the Mezza Dozzina di Ostriche Antilope, freshly shucked Antilope oysters with a tinge of lemon and vinaigrette; as well as Capesante Hokkaido, fresh Hokkaido sea scallops complemented with pink grapefruit and crispy quinoa.
More specialties include the the Uovo Strapazzato, a brunch classic featuring scrambled eggs with sea urchin and caviar set atop; Risotto Acquerello with mushrooms and celeriac; as well as crisp wood-fired pizzas. A refreshed menu of seafood dishes, meats, and an assortment of fresh greens is also presented, including the Astice, which is a Maine lobster accompanied with crispy vegetables and bisque sauce; and the Filetto Di Manzo, Black Angus beef tenderloin paired with celeriac along with a truffle beef jus.
Brunch is concluded with sweet treats such as the classic Italian dessert, Tiramisu, or a selection of homemade ice creams and sorbets. Choose among desserts such as the Mousse Al Cioccolato, rich chocolate mousse made from Alain Ducasse’s chocolate, complemented with homemade buckwheat ice cream, or the rich Fragola e Pistacchio, which is homemade pistachio ice cream laid on a bed of strawberries.
Brunch at Osteria BBR by Alain Ducasse is available every Sunday, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The restaurant is located at The Raffles Hotel Singapore, Grand Lobby, 1 Beach Road, 189673, Singapore. Book a table here.
