Food 'n' Wine Lovers...

German Riesling Tastings @ Les Amis

2010-05-14T23:46:00.002+08:00

11th May 2010

This is my first tastings in Les Amis with Timothy Goh, Maitre D/ Chef Sommelier and his team at the Les Amis Group of Restaurants.

*This is of my personal tasting and safekeeping of the experience i had and is not suppose to be of the use of business purposes or any other personal gains.

Just a brief History of the Winery "DONNHOFF"- Extracted from Tasting Notes

One of the World's most sought- after wine producers
Some of the best dry Rieslings in the World
Served at the highly acclaimed 3- michelin stars elBulli restaurant in Spain
Member of VDP (Assosciation of top- quality German wine estates

"These are some of the most justifiably fashionable and hardest- to- find Rieslings in the Wine World...." The World's Greatest Wine Estates by Robert Parker

Presenting to you the first 3 btls of Wine we had...

2008 Donnhoff Riesling Trocken

Look:

Pale- Yellow

Smell:

Explosive flavours of Fruits
Fresh cutted apples
lime, hint of lemon
soft balance of minerality

Taste:

lime
acidity level is relatively balanced
spritz (like a lemonade)

Recommended to go with Pre- Dinner Tapas:)

2008 Donnhoff Tonschiefer Trocken

Look:

Pale- Yellow

Smell:

Flavours are not yet open, feels relatively thick
Damp Cloth ( Minerality)
Grapefruit

Taste:

Rounder
Medium- full
Complex (lots of actions going on in the mouth)
Level of acidity is mid

I reckon it could hold for a little longer or probably one could try to decant it a little

Finish:

Great hold, firm finish
not too harsh, gives it a good memory for an end

2008 Donhoff Hemannshole GG

Look:

Pale- Yellow

Smell:

Lime
Metal/ Steel
Cut Grass
Apricot

Taste:

Apricot
zesty
mild- acidic
a little herbal character

Finish:

Light and gentle finish
Not too harsh
leaves you a little herbacious essence

Coming Next on the list, we have.......

REICHSGRAF VON KEESSELSTATT

Established since 1349
Award- winning German Riesling Producer
Highly- rated by Wine professionals
Served on SIA First Class
Served at Gordon Ramsay and The Fat Duck - 3- Michelin Restaurants)
Member of VDP

STAY TUNED....................

Upcoming post

2010-05-12T18:00:00.002+08:00

A Visit to Pulau Semakau

Singapore Chefs' Asosciation Annual AGM & "LOU HEI" Dinner

2010-02-22T12:43:00.005+08:00

"Lou Hei" (Cantonese for 撈起 or 捞起) is a Teochew-style raw fish salad. It usually consists of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon), mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments, among other ingredients. Yusheng literally means "raw fish" but since "fish (鱼)" is commonly conflated with its homophone "abundance (余)", Yúshēng (鱼生) is interpreted as a homophone for Yúshēng (余升) meaning an increase in abundance. Therefore, yusheng is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor. - taken from Wikipedia.

A very Happy Chinese New Year to one and all, on behalf of my team, i'll like to extend my blessings to you and your Family and may you be blessed with good health and good wealth.

It's been a month since i last blogged and i've promised you that this blog would be more exciting with many activities that i would be involved in with the Singapore Junior Chefs Club and the Singapore Chefs Assosciation. On top of that, i have also mentioned that there would be some adjustments to my writings this year after we set up the official Singapore Junior Chefs Club Website, Meanwhile, it'll be just me that would accompany you through your lonely nights.

Anyway, getting into today's topic, i just attended an Annual General Meeting followed by the LOU HEI dinner hosted by the Singapore Chefs Assosciation, proudly sponsored by Nestle last night at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.

We started at around 4.15pm in the afternoon with Chef Eric Teo. the president of the Singapore Chefs Assosciation hosting the Annual General Meeting and sharing the previous and upcoming event for this calendar year. Just for your curiousity, there are some really interesting events coming up this year such as the Food Hotel Asia this April, Cycling trips, Family day, International Chefs Day, etc... For more information on the events and what is lined up for you, please feel free to visit the Singapore Chefs Assosciation Website by clicking HERE. In the website, you could search for some of the events which you might be really keen to participate in. On top of that, membership is open to both public and corporate members, so please sign up if you wish to be part of us, it would definitely be a pleasure for us having you.

Well, off to a lighter note, after the 2 and a half hour long AGM, we headed to level four, the hotel's Ballroom for a fantastic Dinner. Lots of good food, good drinks and of course fantastic performances by the Lion dance group, Feng Shui Master, games/ events organiser, etc... Just like what Chef Eric Teo always say during his speech, "Always Expect good food when there's an event for Chefs", not abstracted word for word, but that;s the gist of it. I totally agree with what he says. Food was good, service was on the top notch, service staff had every eye for detail throughout the whole dinner. It was such a wonderful evening with celebrities such as Moses Lim, our Ambassador, many celebrity Chefs and of course high- rolling businessmen who are in the trade gracing the event. I personally believe that every one had such a good time networking, catching- up with old friends from the trade and of course, not forgetting to glutton down the fantastic array of Chinese cuisines put up by the Executive Chef of Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.

Special thanks goes to the committee who have wholeheartedly put in so much valuable time off their busy working schedules to put up such a wonderful and memorble evening for all of us. Not forgetting also are our sponsors ie. Nestle, Montreux Patisserie & cake houuse, etc for sponsoring us, without them, this event might not be such a great success, and of course Grand Copthorne Waterfron Hotel for giving us such a wonderful package to make the evening so special for every one of us.

Last but not least, let's toast to a wonderful year of Tiger and most importantly........ HUAT ah!!!

*Ps. Pictures would be uploaded once i've received them:)

Starting the writings for the New Year

2010-01-20T15:07:00.003+08:00

Hi dearest readers, I've decided that it's time i personally pen down my thoughts of the FoodnWine Group.

It's been a while that you readers out there have been following me and my blogsite. This year, i promise you a wonderful experience with us especially with the many event we're working on with the Singapore Junior Chef Club. As for the information of my future postings or whatsoever, i'll definitely make it a point to update all of you, however, as for now when the plans are still not concrete, i'll probably have to keep you in the suspense first.

However, to give you a little insides, i might still be writing here on my personal food and wine blogsite and feeding the Singapore Junior Chef Club with the blog entries or i might even close this blogsite down and concentrate on my full time job and the Singapore Junior Chef Club. Well, whichever choice i chose, i hope that you could give me your fullest support:)

It's been probably more then a year that i've been doing this, and i'll like to take this opportunity to thank all the restaurants, friends and of course my readers for sending all the support to me by feeding me with suggestive and supportive emails.

Once again, i hope to hear from you soon:)

Closing the Year 2009

2009-12-29T13:36:00.007+08:00

Dear Members, how have you been? I hope this year has been a smooth year for you. So let's prepare to make Year 2010 better and more fulfilling year for us:)

Just to update you, Mr Joel, the president/ Founder of Food n Wine Lovers is coming back for more action. Many of you would probably be thinking where's our president, where has he gone to? Is the Club dying?? Oh no... You're absolutely wrong. Our President have been really busy with his commitments with the Singapore Armed Forces. He has been serving the nation in the Army since June 2008, and will be finishing his National Service in May 2010, so no worries, he'll be back soon!!

Anyhow, just a little insight to the president's life! Being in the Singapore 3rd Guards Battalion, Mr Joel came to know of a very well known Junior Chef, Joab Wang in his course of duty, together, they've seen, experienced and ventured into many interesting Wine and Dine Scenes. Chef Joab Wang, or our nation's Pride have been constantly participating in Culinary Competitions and have won several awards (e.g. Food Hotel Asia, World Gourmet Summit). Together, they've come hand in hand, motivating and learning from each other the many skills and knowledge of their individual trade.

Recently, they were also selected to join the Singapore Junior Chef Club as one of the Club's Committee members. The Singapore Junior Chef Club is a Wing under the Singapore Chef Assosciation which focuses on inspiring and nurturing the Younger group of Chefs through trainings, networking sessions and field trips.

Thus, be prepared to hear more from us as we work together with the Singapore Junior Chef Club to bring you more updates from the local, and hopefully, some overseas Food and Wine Scenes:)

Regards,
Food 'n' Wine Lovers

Coming up!

2009-09-19T04:14:00.002+08:00

We've just tasted 2 bottles of wine today, one of which is a sparkling. Check us out soon for our reviews:)

And... of course, not forgetting to introduce you a new chillout area in Robertson Quay, "Incontro" !!!

I'm Back!~

2009-09-14T01:00:00.001+08:00

Hey people, sorry that i've been away for so long.. Well, i've gotta higher calling for the past year to serve the country! haha!!

Anyway, i'm now back again with more foodie entries! so if you've got a new restaurant, a new location that you wanna tryout, email us @ foodnwinelovers@gmail.com

Hear from you soon!

EVER TRIED BLENDING YOUR OWN COFFEE?

2009-02-02T03:36:00.004+08:00

Yes, now you've got a chance to do that!

Check out "KOPI KHAKI", a new concept showroom in Haji Lane when you are allowed to blend your own coffee and name it yours!!

Locate them @
34, Haji Lane
S189227

Or visit http://kopikhaki.blogspot.com

WOOD Restaurant & Bar @ VivoCity

2008-07-06T14:56:00.032+08:00

PRESENTING TO YOU HUNGRY "FOODNWINELOVERS"......

WOOD Restaurant & Bar

One of the hippest dining enclaves to hit Singapore, WOOD Restaurant & Bar, a newly adapted concept of incorporating cooking over wood is definitely here in TOWN to bring the art of cooking to a greater height!

With compliments from Wood Restaurant & Bar, we were treated to a 4 course tasting Menu prepared by Celestine and her team of Chefs!

Tasting Menu...

Starters
Wood Smoked Scallops, Leek Puree & Salted Black Beans $19

The best thing about this dish was that the scallops were really thick and juicy, and the portion was generous, so stop worrying if you can ever have enough! The scent of wood was distinctive with each bite of the scallop, overall it was a good dish in opening one’s appetite.

Yummy Scale: 3.5/ 5

Wood Roasted Asparagus Soup $14

To me it felt like a soup that has all the ingredients in the exact right amount, no more no less. It was not too thick yet had a strong focus on the flavor itself. Definitely a healthy choice!

Yummy scale: 3.5/5

Smoked Foie Gras Pizza with Grape $25

A MUST TRY! this was my favorite dish of the night. My first time trying such a pizza and I really enjoyed it very much. Though the foie gras was limited, its flavor was really intense, might possibly bring you to a state of euphoria! a perfect match with the thin and crunchy pizza crust with a hint of "charred" wood infused through the coking process.

Yummy scale: 4/5

Main Course
Stone Grilled Rice with Clams, Prawns, Fresh Tomato and Ginger $28

It definitely looks like an interesting dish when the stone pot arrived at our table, i would say just by the presentation, it already won my heart over! Just by tasting it, one could easily sense the aromatic flavors by the mingling of tomato and seafood juice, if you like a little spiciness to it, just inform the friendly staff to add some chili in for you:)

Yummy Scale: 3.5/ 5

Cardamom Coffee 12 Hours Smoked Wagyu Beef Brisket $32

Personally, i feel that the beef is quite a lackluster compared to the previous dish, the beef was a little over- cooked, thus causing the meat to be a little too tough for a Wagyu Beef. However, the sauce did make quite a difference, one could taste the ingredients used in the sauce, one prominent ingredient is definitely COFFEE!

Yummy scale: 3/5

Sides
Ginger Salt Baked Sri Lankan Mud Crab *Market Price

A very unique way of cooking a crab. I mean, how many times have you seen a crab covered in salt crystals and Ginger, wood baked in the oven. I guess that must be the reason why the crab had such a homogeneous taste. Maintaining its moisture and freshness of the crab, one could not miss the chunky flesh of the crab.... Slurps!!

Yummy scale: 4/5

Oaxacan Style Grilled Hokkaido Corn on the Cob $9

Pleasantly surprised by the sweetness of the corn. These Hokkaido corns really made me a happy girl all over again! Not forgetting the mozzarella cheese shavings which are not only visually pleasurable but also further highlighted the sweetness of the corns. Indeed a good blend of ingredients.

Yummy scale: 3.5/5

Desserts

Lychee Mint Granite with Framboise Jelly $10

Honestly, I was never a mint lover. The only mint I eat is probably "Clorets" (if they are mint at all). I was very surprised by how well the lychee and mint blended as one, and how their flavors complemented one another. It tasted genuinely refreshing after a long and heavy, not forgetting carbo-intensive dinner.

Yummy scale: 4/5

Food aside, the great ambience (with the view into Sentosa!) and the friendly service staffs were definitely another plus point to Woods. It was definitely a delightful dining experience we have had. Personally this is not my 1st time dining in Woods, however, it just seems that whenever i come, it's always another new experience for me. I was truthfully impressed by not only the food itself, but also the thoughts and efforts put into the many small details which recurrently triggered the “ooooooo”s, the ‘ahhhhhhhhh”s and the “wow!” from us.

Just a little bit more info...
Walking into Wood is just like entering a 5 star hotel, be entertained by the young and friendly host who'll head you through the narrow and subtly lit passage to WOOD and be awaited by a 3 meter high wine tower that impressively stores 500 bottles of wines waiting for you to choose from.

Once you enter main dining area, one could easily feel a sense of classiness and coziness while you are seated by the host. Not a second will you not be entertained by the whole layout and design of the restaurant with a full view of the open glass concept kitchen while overlooking the Cruise Bay separating Singapore from Sentosa.... More info, click HERE

Most importantly, if you're in for some romantic dinner or a simple lunch for the weekly bestie dates, check out the PRIVATE DINING area in WOOD Restaurant! Give them a ring and I'm sure you're in for something INTERESTING:)

*Indeed the perfect setting for couples!

For more information:

http://www.woodrestaurant.com

Wood Restaurant & Bar

No.1 Harbourfront, VivoCity, #01- 53

Operating Hours: Open Daily

Lunch: 11.30am- 2.30pm

Dinner: 6.30pm- 10.30pm

Bar: 11.30am- midnight (weekdays)

11.30am- 1am (weekends)

Reservations: +65 63759663
Email: info@woodsrestaurant.com

We're heading to Wood Restaurant!

2008-07-05T00:41:00.001+08:00

Hey people, we'll be heading to WOOD RESTAURANT on Friday, 4th July 2008 for a tasting session. So sit back, relax and be pampered with our reviews soon!

HELLO HELLO FOODNWINE LOVERS! :) Really...

2008-07-05T00:40:00.002+08:00

HELLO HELLO FOODNWINE LOVERS! :)

Really really SORRY for delaying this mouth-watering post in regards to our trip to "FRIENDS" @ Serangoon Garden Village! Well no worries at all dear all! This post is not gonna disappoint ya all at all! :) Just in case your not sure of the location, its right smack between THE COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF and CAFE CARTEL!

Friends @ Serangoon Garden Village

The few of us weren't exactly that hungry untill the glorious FOOD were served, and YES! We couldn't resist it simply because it was oh-so-yummyy!

STARTER

Grilled Portobello Mushroom

(served with cheese, mesclun and tomato)

We were simply wowed by this amazing dish because the flavour of the mushrooms was so rich that it really made us crave for more! To me, i felt that it was the sauce and garlic that really complemented the mushrooms! :)

YUMMY SCALE: 4/5

MAIN COURSE

Braised Lamb Shank in Red Wine

(served with mashed potato and tomato sauce)

Lamb probably is a very individual dish since mutton has a very strong taste. But what we tried at FRIENDS was really awesome! The red wine really cut into the lamb so nicely and on top of that, the meat was really tender! :)

YUMMY SCALE: 4/5

Oven Baked Cod

(served with roasted potatoes, *ratatouille, white wine cream)

MY OH MY! Cod is my favourite choice of fish and i'm pretty sure FRIENDS would be my favourite restaurant to dine at when i crave for it! The texture of the fish was baked to perfection since it was really juicy and sweet. I must say the roasted potatoes were really good and together with the unique white wine cream, it definitely enhanced the overall taste of the cod. 20,000 thumbs up for Chef Kenneth's signature COD DISH! :)

*ratatouille - a mixture of fresh summer vegetables usually tomatoes, garlic, onions, zucchini, aubergine, bell peppers and herbs!

YUMMY SCALE: 5/5

Wagyubeef

Braised Wagyu Beef

(steak in aged port wine served with sweet potato mousse, spinach and cured tomato)

This is a MUST TRY @ FRIENDS! The beef was super tender and SWEET! The sauce was awesome, it was both sweet and salty which really brought the flavour outta the wagyu beef together with the sweet potato mousse! It's really something different from your usual choice of beef steak! :)

YUMMY SCALE: 5/5

DESSERT

Rich Chocolate Mousse

Seeing is BELIEVING my friends! Don't you just agree that you're practically droooooling buckets upon viewing this?! I totally LOVE chocolate mousse and this really is the BEST i've tasted. The oh-so-SMOOTH and RICH texture made it feel like it was heaven! HAHA! whats more i could really taste the richness of the ingredients of this dish and most importantly, the sweetness level was perfecto! OOO baby i'm craving for more! :)

YUMMY SCALE: 5/5

Lavacake

Warm Varlhona Chocolate Lave Cake

(served with vanilla ice cream)

Believe me when i say NOTHING went wrong during our meal at FRIENDS that night! Not to mention, the heavenly choco lava cake, mmmm mmmm! I really enjoyed the fact that the cake was slightly bittersweet because i love bittersweet chocolate! What's more when you cut your fork into that lovely piece of cake, the chocolate slowly oozes out enabling JUST the SIGHT of this dessert to die for! Vanilla ice cream sure went well with this dessert, BUT! I would love to try bailey's irish cream ice cream with this :)

YUMMY SCALE: 5/5

WINE

WHOOHOO! And YES! What's a fantastic meal without the company of fine WINE!

Let's check out the choice of wine we FOODNWINE LOVERS selected from FRIENDS' great selection of WINE!

And no worries dear readers, we will provide you with FULL DETAILS and an in depth description about the WINE too! :)

35 South Shiraz

Vintage 2006

(90% Shiraz and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon)

Awards:

Bronze Medal, International Wine Challenge, London 2003 (02)
Silver Medal, Catad’ or Hyatt 2002 (01)

Right in the Central Valley of Chile lays a winery by the name of San Pedro which is the second largest Wine producer in Chile producing wines such as Cabo De Horno , the prestigious, if not, the best wine from San Pedro. Fortunately, today, we had the opportunity to taste one of the wines from San Pedro which is the 2006 vintage 35 South Shiraz!

Colour: Intense violet, vivid blackish tones.

Nose: Typical Shiraz’s spiciness, deep blackcurrants on the nose, with hint of cured meats. However, the smell of oak which I was hoping to smell wasn’t that apparent.

Taste: Silky, light bodied, crisp, gentle tannins, fresh fruits, spicy, short finish with a hint of oak.

Finish: short, oaky aftertaste.

Comments: Good wine to start off the evening with a bunch of friends who are out for some relaxation. Relatively friendly on the palate, not too harsh, fruit forward, definitely something not too strong for someone who can’t hold their liquor. Can even be drunk when you’re having a fish!

Bazzani Shiraz Cabernet

Vintage 2005

(70% Shiraz, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon)

Ratings: 89 points by James Halliday

Located in Pyrenees wine region of western Victoria, Warrenmang wines are well known for their quality and long- term cellaring potential. With grapes from the low- yielding 30- year old vines, they definitely produce one of the finest quality Pyrenees wines.

With regards to that, I can definitely vouch for its quality and long- term cellaring potential after tasting it.

Colour: Dark intense purple

Nose: Fruit- forward (typical of New World Wines), clove spice, ripe berry fruit, hint of mint and white pepper, oaky

Taste: Medium- bodied wine, relatively harsh tannins, astringent, crisp, spicy.

Finish: relatively long aftertaste with hints of mint

Comments: Slightly higher then a regular medium- bodied wine, relatively harsh tannins, acidic with a hint of spice and pepper. Good to go with beef or lamb with a sweet brown sauce and allow the acidity of the wine to cuts through the fats. I’ll recommend you to decant the wine and let it breathe for approximately 10- 15 minutes, taste it and tell me how you feel about it, it’ll definitely taste better! I reckon that this wine can hold another year or 2 with its level of acidity and tannins.

Winebar

ALRIGHTS! SO you've viewed the heavenly photos and read our food reviews regarding FRIENDS. Now its time to meet the one and only CHEF KENNETH! The man behind all the mouth-watering dishes :) He's a really nice and friendly guy with a hearty sense of humour! HAHA! Someone whom all foodnwine lovers should ADORE, muahaha :)

That's about it my dear readers! But dont fret, our appetites are getting bigger and bigger and so we WILL keep you posted regarding the restaurants, bars and bistros YOU as FOODNWINE LOVERS must must must visit so as to cast the WIDEST SMILE on your faces! But for now, you really gotta head down to "FRIENDS" @ Serangoon Garden Village! NIGHTY NIGHT and LOVELOVELOVE to the world! :)))

For more information:

http://www.friendsfoodandwine.com/index.html

Friends @ Serangoon Garden Village
1 Maju Avenue #01-01A
Serangoon Garden Village Singapore 556679
(private parking available)

Tel: +65 6289 2600
Fax: +65 6289 0665
Email: enquiry@friendsfoodandwine.com

Just a Glimpse!

2008-07-05T00:40:00.001+08:00

Hey people, sorry to have kept you waiting:)

Our Blogger is now Busy in Thailand enjoying the Sun and the Sea and of course her Wine with great company! But before i bore you with a "picture-less" entry, here's a glimpse of 2 of the....... i lost count of how many dishes we tasted at "FRIENDS @ Serangoon Gardens Village":)

Just Some appetizer for you.....

WAIT! Don't wet your Keyboard!! hahahahah!

We're Having a new Concept:)

2008-07-05T00:38:00.000+08:00

Just for the members who view our Blog regularly, we'll be using the BLOG for the purpose of food review after every tastings we have.

As for the Facebook Group, it'll remain to be the place for all the latest promotions and updates of the food and beverage scene!

Just a little update for all of you readers, we're in the interview stage with munkysuperstars for further collaboration in the media scene! So wish us all the best!

Hopefully we'll bring you some good reviews over the media soon:)

Sooooo.... Stay tune to us!

Low's Chicken Rice

2008-07-05T00:36:00.002+08:00

Check out the Family- owned Hainanese Chicken Rice by "L.C.R"

Focusing on the Finest quality and highest standards, our Chef Jeannie would definitely produce the best Hainanese Chicken Rice to fill that grouchy tummy of yours!

To check them out, Click HERE

Promotions @ MAGMA WINE BISTRO + SHOP

2008-07-05T00:36:00.001+08:00

Feeling bored and you've got no plans for the weekends?

Join us down on Sunday, 15th June 2008, 6.00pm at MAGMA wine bistro + shop for a Wine tasting and Education Evening from Simon-Buerkle, a wine maker from the wine region Hessische Bergstrasse with a selection of hearty and refreshing Rieslings, Chardonnay and Pinot blanc.
All of these for just $20++/ Free for the members of Magma wine club
On top of that, you'll get a 5% off your shopping goodies if you were to purchase a Wine from the shop!

If this doesn't satisfy your grouchy tummy, how about Indulging yourself to some refreshing Seafood dishes paired with Mosel Riesling Wines which will happen on Sunday, 29th June 2008, 6.00pm!
With just $59++/ Members of MAGMA wine club will be entitled to a 5% discount, you'll get to enjoy 5 DELICIOUS dishes with 5 EXCELLENT wines!

So, why wait any longer?

Get your reservations fast before you get disappointed!

Reservations: reservations@magmatc.com.sg
Website: www.magmatc.com.
Tel: 6221 0634

"I wanna know more about Wine and Dine"

2008-07-05T00:32:00.000+08:00

Do you have a FACEBOOK account?
If you do, join our group:)

Click here