THE KNOLLS SUNDAY BRUNCH

One of the first weekend brunches we tried in Singapore was at The Knolls in the Capella hotel.  Located right beside the terraced pools of the hotel, The Knolls is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner and brunch on Sundays.  

Brunch is a gastronomic affair with a large seafood buffet (fresh oysters, king prawns and scallops), mini-seafood and meat appetizers, an assortment of fresh bread and salads with fresh burrata on the buffet.  The Mediterranean-inspired hot dishes change every Sunday and include - freshly pizzas with shaved truffles, roasted suckling pig, seafood paella, grilled sausages and lamb or beef skewers, assorted grilled vegetables and a roast meat.  There is also an amazing three-tier cheese cart served by a cheese expert who guides you through the day's choices.  Desserts are plentiful as well with pastries, cakes and an ice cream cart all served in individual portions which gives one the chance to try several sweets instead of just one.  There is a free flow of mineral water and soft drinks included in the price and an option to have free flow of champagne and wines or just wines is also possible.  It's a great way to get away and spend a long, leisurely lunch by the pool with a view of the sea and with live music in the background.  Sundays in Sentosa at the Capella brunch is like a mini-holiday from the hustle and bustle of Orchard road.

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The Knolls
Capella Singapore
1 The Knolls, Sentosa
098297 Singapore
Telephone: +65 6591 5046
*Open daily for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. 
*Brunch on Sundays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
(Brunch includes soft drinks, mineral water, coffee and tea) 
$168++ per Adult with free flow Champagne and wines
$148++ per adult with free flow of wines
$128++ per adult for food only
$78++ per child (7-12 years old)
$48++ per child (4-6 years old)

L'ATELIER DE JOEL ROBUCHON

The last few days before we were meant to return to Marbella, I went to dinner with my sister and her husband to one of our favorite restaurants in Las Vegas - L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon.  It's always a pleasure to go back to L'Atelier because it's concept of haute cuisine tapas eaten at the bar is so non-stuffy that it makes the meal more relaxed.  Last year we had dinner at the luxurious adjacent restaurant - Joël Robuchon where executive chef Claude Le Toic spoiled us with so many extra treats that we still remember that evening. 

We arrived to a half-full restaurant slightly late for our 8:00 p.m. booking and were lead to the bar, right smack in the middle where we could see all the action in the open kitchen.  That evening, chef Claude was at L'Atelier so we were able to say hello.  We were given our menus and after a careful discussion of who would order what so we could taste each other's food, we decided against the two multi-course prix-fixe menus and decided to go a la carte, choosing three dishes each from the small plates selection.   We also ordered three different red wines by the glass to accompany our meal - I chose a pinot noir from Oregon, my sister had a classic pinot noir from Burgundy and C had a shiraz.

A basket of homemade bread (at least four kinds) was left on the counter and when we asked for some of the fantastic bacon bread from next door, we were given that too.  Our wines were served along with the amuse bouche - a lukewarm parmesan foam which was delicious and a perfect teaser for the goodies to come.  While we waited for our first plates to arrive, the chef sent over a plate of jamon Iberico with some pan con tomate (tomato-topped toasted bread) which we thoroughly enjoyed.   Next came our three "appetizers" - les huitres (oysters) for me, la langoustine (one of Robuchon's signature dishes) for my sister and la saint-jacques (scallop) for C.  The five tiny oysters in their shell were served on a black plate with a sliver of lemon juice - each bite of the beurre d'Echire-poached (unsalted Echire butter) oyster was divine, the saltiness of the oyster juice perfectly complimented by the creamy melted butter.   The langoustine (Dublin-bay prawn) was crispy like tempura but wrapped in filo-pastry with a basil leaf - again, a delightful mouthful of crunchy prawn.  The scallop was a large one served on the shell and also poached in butter flavored with seaweed - sweet and salty all over again.  All three first plates were delicious.

Our next three plates were: le merou (grouper) for me, le homard (Maine lobster) for my sister and le ris de veau (sweetbreads) for C.  My merou came with an artichoke barigoule - a Provencal way of cooking artichokes with tomatoes and onions in a vegetable broth and was light and flaky but lightly flavored by the tasty thyme-infused broth.  R's lobster was poached in a spicy broth with a hint of lime that tasted like a very sophisticated lobster-version of a tom yum soup.  C's sweetbreads was actually one large piece seared in a pan and flavored with fresh laurel leaves - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  We were thoroughly enjoying our dinner and were all looking forward to our third plates which came soon after: steak tartare for me (I asked nicely if they could give me a half-portion since this was listed as a main course rather than a small plate and they very kindly obliged), le jarret de veau (veal cheeks) for R and the sole for C.  Again, all three were stunning - the sole served with ginger and leeks giving a very Asian-style twist to this classic fish, the veal cheeks were stuffed into ravioli and came with thinly-sliced fried artichokes and my mini-steak tartare, perfectly seasoned and spicy which came with a small salad and some crispy fries.

As we were debating on what to have next, the chef came over and offered us a selection of cheeses - six slivers of fromage de brebis (sheep's cheese), fromage de chevre (herb-covered goat's cheese and a crottin de chavignol), some Reblochon and Livarot, a triple creme explorateur plus another I can't remember.  Another basket of bread was served, this time with slices of walnut and raisin bread to accompany our cheese platter.  I love cheese so this was a perfect end to my meal but as we were on a roll, we decided to split two desserts between us - le citron and le chocolat which was more than enough but again, the chef very nicely sent out another dessert: les tartes, five tiny slices of tarts - raspberry, chocolate, apple, a frosted flake-topped one and a very thin custard Swiss tart.  Needless to say, we managed to polish them off as well.  Espressos which came with a tiny logo-topped chocolate truffle to end our gastronomic evening.  L'Atelier never disappoints (I've been to the one in Paris a few times and the one in Vegas twice) - the concept is fun but the wonderful flavors are consistent and although classic in nature, they always have a twist.  L'Atelier is definitely going on my best meal list for 2010.

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L'Atelier de JoËl Robuchon

at the MGM Las Vegas

Telephone: +1 702 891 7358

Reservations recommended

Open daily for dinner from 5:00 p.m.

Tasting menus start at $75.

Family day in Vevey

On our last day in Geneva, we had breakfast at Le Sud of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel du Rhone - I had a perfectly baveuse (runny) omelette aux fines herbes (omelet with fresh herbs), fresh orange juice, double espresso and crusty mini-baguettes.

Afterwards, we took the train at noon to Vevey where we were meeting up with my brother in-law and family for lunch.  J met us at the train station then we went to to see their new home before heading back down to Montreux for some lunch.  Montreux is home to the famous summer jazz festival and also the Clinique La Prairie where the famous (or infamous) submit to thalassotherapy, skin treatments or a weight-loss program as well as aesthetic surgery.

We had lunch in the middle of town then went for a walk on the boardwalk which at this time of the year is the venue for the annual winter Christmas market. - Marche de Noel.  We walked through the first row of stalls selling trinkets and Christmas items then crossed over to the other side where the food stalls were set up.  Right by the lake was a large covered area filled with benches and large wooden tables for an impromptu picnic of food items purchased from the many stalls.  The one we were drooling over was the Tartiflette stand where two gigantic (really! look at the photo above) pans were filled with a lovely scent of potatoes, chopped bacon and hot gooey chunks of Reblochon.  If I hadn't just had lunch, I would have had a plateful of this perfect winter dish.  Good thing that the parking entrance was nearby or I wouldn't have been able to resist the other stands selling saucisson sec, pastries, tarts, cheese and lots of other goodies.

Next, we dropped by St. George's School - where both my nephew and niece go before heading up the hill towards the Le Mirador Kempinski which has fantastic views of of the lake and the snow-capped Alps.  We walked around the terrace and enjoyed the scenery until it got too cold to stand around outdoors and headed back home.  J drove us back to the train station where we said a quick goodbye on the quai (platform) and hopped on the train back to Geneva.  A relaxing day spent with family to end our  weekend in Switzerland.

MERCADO SAN MIGUEL, Part 1

After hearing so much about the newly refurbished Mercado San Miguel off Plaza Mayor, I knew that I couldn't avoid going there and seeing what the fuss was all about.  Since its' construction in 1916, this Beaux Arts iron and glass was always a working market until then over the years, the structure was left in disrepair until it closed for renovation in 2003 and reopened to much fanfare this year.

The market turns out much smaller than I expected but interesting nevertheless with its' concept of a modern market.  The combination of traditional market stalls - fruits and vegetables, fresh fish and seafood, bacalao (salted cod), jamon Iberico, cheeses, fresh meat, Italian delicacies and pastas and gourmet products - Vincon for its' well-known array of designer kitchen gadgets, Libreria LAIE for a wide selection of cookbooks).  

There are also several places to enjoy what the market has to offer and eat sur place either directly at the bar or brought to one of the few high tables left in the center area.  You can have a major smorgasbord of goodies - freshly-shucked oysters accompanied by champagne from Ostras Sorlut , some freshly sliced jamon Iberico with a glass of wine from Pinkelton & Wine, some Fino and mixed cashews and almonds from Vinos Olorosos.  There is also a stall specializing in Portugese delicacies like tiny shrimp fritters and croquettes or smoked salmon and cod from La Casa del Bacalao.

If you'd like to have a proper lunch then sidle up to one of the three bars serving food and squeeze your way into a space on the counter - there is the Cafeteria on one end which serves round pieces of bread topped with all sorts of delicious things: pulpo (octopus), tuna, ham, egg or even better, do as we did and sharpen your elbows for a spot on the counter right beside the fishmonger where there is a list of fish and seafood specials along with two dishes in the cauldrons right on the counter (more on that in another post).

Of course, if you're just wandering around  then have a look at one of the pastry counters at the far end where there will surely be something to tempt you.  Pasteleria V is an Austrian pastry shop where the cakes are made following the Viennese tradition of pastry-making.  Beside it is another sweet-tooth magnet, a long counter with Spanish pastries and sweets from magdalenas to yemas, from chocolates to artisanal ice cream.  All you'll need is a cup of coffee and a place to sit down to enjoy your treat.  The best part is that all that grazing of top-quality food is easier on the pocket than a full-on sit-down meal at a traditional Madrid restaurant and much more fun too.

Paris Souvenirs - Comté, Mimolette and BRASSERIE BALZAR

On our last evening in Paris, we met up with friends from Dubai, Daria and Chad, who moved to Paris in March last year. We had drinks at their apartment in the 5th then walked the few blocks to Brasserie Balzar, another of Paris' traditional brasseries. The place was packed for a Sunday evening so it was a good thing we had reserved a table. The girls took over the banquette and the boys sat across. As soon as we ordered, the boys caught up on each other's work news while Daria and I caught up on gossip and shoes - typical girls' stuff.

We all decided to share our appetizers - Chad had the beet and lamb's lettuce salad, Daria the goat cheese salad, A the leek vinaigrette and the pumpkin soup for me. Sourdough bread and demi-sel butter were set on the table along with a bottle of chilled Brouilly. The starters were good - exactly what we wanted. Next came Aile de Raie au beurre noir (skate wing with black butter) and steak tartare for everyone else. Again, no mistakes here - crispy fries, spicy tartare and the skate was as it should be, soft and buttery.

We stayed on after dinner and talked some more, ordered two desserts to share - profiteroles and the last (extra-large) slice of mille-feuille on the pastry table. Slowly, the places started to empty and soon enough there were only a few tables left so we asked for the bill, walked back to their apartment to say good night and ask for some Ziploc bags for the two cheese we were taking back to Marbella.

It's been a week since we left Paris and there is only a small hunk (hardly) of cheese left. We've been nibbling the cheese daily since we arrived - a little slice after dinner, a small wedge for a snack and now there's only a little bit left. The Comté was nutty and perfect for a little snack. I also had some in a gourmet grilled cheese with some fresh Ciabatta bread. The Mimolette was a first for us both - harder than the Comté and orange in colour, we were surprised at how similar to Parmesan it tasted but with a little bit more of a bite. This is the kind of cheese that you hack at continuously and nibble bit by bit. Thanks to Tonger for this gourmet gift that made our Paris break last a week longer. Now, it's time to plan our next holiday - Las Vegas in a week.

Sunday dinner

I know it's been ages since my last post but being on the last weeks of pregnancy has made me lethargic and slow and prone to bouts of lying around in bed reading or napping. In any case, we've been out to restaurants a few times (Sushi des Artistes for lunch and dinner at Asador Guadalmina) plus a simple dinner of smoked salmon and blinis along with some cheese (Camembert and Pont-l'Évêque ) and Joselito gran reserva ham with homemade Focaccia from our standard pizza recipe. All thes gourmet goodies had come from another shopping trip to El Corte Ingles' gourmet section. We opened a bottle of 2004 autor de Aruspide - a 100% Tempranillo from Castilla-La Mancha, to accompany our dinner.

Impromptu Gourmet Lunch

Just got back from a morning of errands at El Corte Ingles, Spain's largest department store chain. We wandered around a bit and ended up at the Gourmet Shop on the top floor looking for something that we could have for lunch. There were lots of goodies to choose from but we zeroed in on a small pack of Joselito Gran Reserva ham (supposedly the best ham in the world as their tag line states) along with a chunk of Pont L'Evêque from Isigny Sainte-Mère and two small Picandine Crottin de Chavignol from the perigord region of France.

When we got home, we already had a tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad with fresh basil and some white pizza (just rosemary and Maldon sea salt). All we had to do was open the pack of ham and bring the cheese to room temperature. The ham was indeed delectable (not too salty and melt-in-the-mouth soft) while the Pont-l'Évêque was ripe and ready. Sometimes, the best meals are just things one throws together at the last minute especially when the products themselves are excellent even on their own.