1. Lazy Sunday Afternoon: Oriole Café & Bar

Located right smack in the middle of Somerset, within the Pan Pacific Serviced Suites, Oriole is a cozy, laid-back and unassuming café that serves a wide variety of all-day casual dining and drinks.

Let Dad indulge in his favourite breakfast, be it the Classic Eggs Benedict or the savoury Oriole Big Breakfast.

Starring minute steak, sausage, ham, egg, mushroom, potato wedges and tomato chutney, the Oriole Big Breakfast ($24) is simply the best way to start off Father’s Day. Every bit of it is sumptuous, flavourful, and wholesome.

The Classic Eggs Benedict ($14) is affordable and good value for money. A delicious platter of honey baked ham, poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and English muffins, Dad might insist on coming here for Sunday brunch every week!

Then, wash the slight sour tinge from the hollandaise sauce down with a glass of Mocha Storm ($9), a smooth and rich blend of vanilla ice cream, cold brew, chocolate, caramel and milk. It’s part of ‘The 3C’s – Coffee, Chocolate and Caramel’ promotion happening between 14 May to 25 July 2012. A must try dessert under this 3C’s treat will definitely be the decadent Bernini At Sea ($10.50) The brownie layered with the homemade macadamia sea salt ice cream, paired with a shot of Baileys Irish cream, will make any man admit that he does have a sweet tooth.

Promotion:

Dads will be treated to a free Sunday brunch item if they dine with at least one paying adult or two kids on 17 June 2012.

Price rating: $$ – $$$$
Rating: 4/5
Address: 96 Somerset Road #01-01, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites
Telephone: 6238 8348
Opening Hours:

• Mon and Tues, 11am to 11pm (last orders at 10pm)
• Wed and Thurs, 11am to 12am (last orders at 10pm)
• Fri and Sat, 11am to 1am (last orders at 11.45pm)
• Sundays 10am to 10pm (last orders at 9.15pm)

2. Seaing is Believing: Seafood Paradise

There’s really nothing better than to treat your dad to a good ol’ family dinner with his favourite seafood delights, perhaps after a scenic ride on the Singapore Flyer. With a spacious seating capacity of 250, and 3 beautiful private dining rooms at the Flyer branchf, Seafood Paradise has come up with 8 different set menus for Father’s Day.

UrbanWire takes a look at Set menu B ($298), which is suitable for 3 – 4 people. In this set menu, it serves a total of 6 different dishes: Deep-fried shredded duck wrapped in Crépe, Braised Superior Shark’s Fin in Mini Claypot, Steamed Star Garoupa with Supreme Light Soya Sauce, Stir-fried Bamboo Clam with Asparagus in XO Sauce, Fried Rice served in Bamboo Tube with Baby Abalone and lastly, Cream of Mango with Fresh Pomelo.

The Deep-fried Shredded Duck wrapped in Crépe is an East-meets-West fusion dish, that is great to start with – not oily, but crispy. Dip it into Seafood Paradise’s homemade garlic chilli and your family and you will be fighting over the last piece! Paired with fragrant tea, be it Jasmine, Pu Er or Xiang Pian, this is just the best way for dinner to begin.

The Stir-fried Bamboo Clam with Asparagus in XO Sauce is definitely a must-try as well. Steamed with garlic and chilli, it tantalises your taste buds with an extremely addictive spiciness. Don’t worry about sharing; everyone gets 2-3 pieces of bamboo clam.

On the platter next is Fried Rice served in Bamboo Tube with Baby Abalone! The rice, stir-fried with crab meat and egg white, is at its best – perfectly toasted. Let’s not forget everyone’s favourite, the abalone! The abalone here is tender and chewy, and you’ll start to wish there wasn’t just one in everyone’s bamboo tube.

Dessert features Cream of Mango with Fresh Pomelo, and though many other restaurants serve pudding, with some even a pathetic diluted mix of mango and water, Seafood Paradise never lacks in quality. The sweet treat is one made out of pure mango puree and fresh sweet pomelo pulp. Compared to any other dessert, this ends the heavy dinner with a not-too-cloying taste.

If you’re not looking for their set menus, then there’s plenty from the a la carte menu to choose from too. One chef recommendation would be The Best of Dungeness Crabs (seasonal rates apply), flown in specially from America. There is a variety of 8 appetising ways of preparation you can choose from, including Stir-fried with Garlic Flakes and Foie Gras Påté. With the crabs typically growing up to 20 cm across the body shell and weighing up to 1.3 kg each, this is one luxurious dish Dad is sure to relish in.

Price rating: $$$$$
Rating: 5/5
Address: 30 Raffles Avenue, #01-01, Singapore Flyer, Singapore 039803
Telephone: 6336 5101
Opening Hours:

• Mon – Fri, 11.30am – 3pm (last order 2.30pm) and 6pm – 11pm (last order 10.30pm)
• Sat, Sun and P.H., 11.30am – 3pm (last order 2.30pm) and 5.30pm – 11pm (last order 10.30pm)

Address: No. 91 Defu Lane 10, #01-01 Swee Hin Building Singapore 539221
Telephone: 6487 2429
Opening Hours:

• Mon – Sat, 11.30am – 2.30pm (last order 2.15pm) and 5.30pm – 11pm (last order 10.30pm)
• Sun, 5pm – 11pm (last order at 10.30pm)

Address: 101 Bukit Panjang Road, #02-01 Senja-Cashew Community Club, Singapore 679910 (located opposite Bukit Panjang Plaza & next to the pond)
Telephone: 6766 9813
Opening Hours: Mon- Sun: 11.30am – 3pm (last order at 2.30pm) and 6pm – 11pm (last order at 10.30pm)

Address: 60 Airport Boulevard #036-059 Level 3 Terminal 2, Singapore Changi Airport Singapore 819643
Telephone: 6214 9655
Opening Hours: Mon- Sun, 11am – 11pm (last order at 10.30pm)     

3. The Carnivore in Dad: Outback Steakhouse

Photos courtesy of Elaine Huang

Located at Millenia Walk, just a 5-minute walk from the new Promenade MRT station, Outback Steakhouse takes pride in the word ‘homemade’. It would seem that everything is homemade, from their well-known bushman bread to creamy tomato and basil soup. Dimmed lights and seats catering to a more family-oriented audience, this American restaurant with an Australian theme would definitely be a great place to satisfy the meat-lover in Dad.

Free with every reservation only on Father’s Day, the BBQ Chicken Flatbread ($16.90), which looks much like a pizza, is a thin and crispy flatbread topped with freshly prepared grilled chicken cubes, chilli flakes, BBQ sauce and mixed cheese. It is slightly crusty and spicy, and great for sharing.

Two steaks, which your dad must try, will be the Teriyaki Marinated Ribeye ($41.90) and Chargrilled Ribeye ($41.90). Both are under the Ribeye Steakouts, which are recommendations from Outback Steakhouse. Well marbled, juicy and tasty with a 10oz cut, this is the steak for Dad. Marinated and seasoned, the Teriyaki Marinated Ribeye is chargrilled and finished with a sweet, tangy teriyaki glaze. Not too overwhelming, this boneless cut is just right.

The Chargrilled Ribeye uses a new espresso seasoning which perfectly complements it, making it juicy, tender and savoury. Ask for medium rare, which will get you a ribeye which is loaded with both flavour and bounce

Photos courtesy of Outback Steakhouse Singapore

Pamper Dad with the Chocolate Thunder from Down Under ($15.90), a fresh-baked pecan brownie crowned with rich vanilla ice cream, drizzled with classic warm chocolate sauce and finally, finished with chocolate shavings and whipped cream. Beware, though, if you’re not one with a big appetite, as Outback’s portions are large. Ask for a sampler instead, if you’re too full from all that yummy steak!

Promotion:

Free BBQ Chicken Flatbread with every reservation on Father’s Day

Price rating: $$$$-$$$$$
Rating: 4/5
Address: 9 Raffles Boulevard, #01-114 Millenia Walk (besides Conrad Hotel)
Telephone: 63873242
Opening Hours:

• Mon–Sun: 11.30am-10.30pm

Now you know where to bring your dads out for Father’s Day, there’s just no excuse! But do remember to get your reservations done as all restaurants listed serve on a first-come-first-serve basis!

Dec 25 marks the invasion of luminarias (a small paper lantern of Christmas significance) on the streets in Mexico, while young children in the Netherlands and the country’s former colonies eagerly anticipate the arrival of Sinterklass, the bishop version of white-bearded, gift-bearing Santa Claus. Here in sunny and snow-less Singapore, we do Christmas the way we know best – feasting! UrbanWire shows you how to munch your way through the holiday, from breakfast to dinner. Here’s to a taste of the Christmas spirit!

Breakfast ~ The Soup Spoon

With branches scattered across the island, The Soup Spoon is an affordable yet accessible option for a hearty start with an array of scrumptious soups, like their popular Boston Clam Chowder and Velvety Mushroom Stroganoff.

Giving you the perfect comfort food to start the day, The Soup Spoon offers a bowl of regular sized soup ($6.10) accompanied by a dinner roll. 3 delicious soups are the main highlights for the yuletide season, including a couple of old favourites.

Beloved of many is the Beef Bourguignon ($8), The Soup Spoon’s twist on late American chef Julia Child’s boeuf bourguignon. A concoction of beef, button mushrooms, french beans, sugar snaps, a mixture of root vegetables and a douse of red wine, it’s definitely a must-try.

Beef Bourguignon

The stew packs a powerful punch. After the initial taste of the beef stew, the flavour of the red wine will overwhelm the senses with a light salty aftertaste of the french beans. The rich taste of the stew is a throwback to the classic cold Christmas day stews making it a nice start to a day of feasting.

The Brussel Sprouting Chestnut Puree ($6.80) is a perfect way of going vegetarian in anticipation of the meat overload during the holidays. A unique mixture of brussel sprouts and chestnuts, the dish is topped off with cranberry infused crème fraiche. This puree shines the spotlight on the traditional Christmas dinner sidekicks – chestnuts and brussel sprouts!

Brussel Sprouting Chestnut Puree

While not the most attractive of their soups, it certainly has its charms. The consistency is extremely thick, filled with granular bits of chestnuts instead of the smooth yet full texture of their regular soups. The strong taste of the chestnuts almost overpowers the other flavours, but that makes it a good starter dish for anyone trying to ease into brussel sprouts.

The Tuscan Seafood Stew ($8.90) is another returning favourite. Resembling a party on your tongue, this has the most interesting flavour palette of the bunch. With a dash of wine added into the stew, it definitely warms the cockles of your heart, even if you’re not experiencing winter.

Tuscan Seafood Stew

Starting off with a light and fresh taste of tomatoes, the chockfull of seafood – especially the shrimps – leaves a tangy aftertaste on your tongue, making it a certain choice for those keeping away from the usual Christmas flavours.

If an early breakfast trip is out of the question, The Soup Spoon offers take-home soup packs that serves two, which you can heat up at home, and taste exactly the same, for a slightly cheaper price starting from $7.40 per pack.

Address: 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, Changi City Point #B1-24/25
For other outlets, please refer to their website.
Opening hours: Mon – Sun: 10.30am to 10pm
Rating: 4/5
Price Rating: $-$$
Note:

• Christmas Soups are available until Jan 4, 2012.
• Add $4.80 to get an upgrade to a set meal for every purchase of a regular or large soup. On top of the soup, the set meal includes a choice of a half salad, half wrap or half sandwich, and a choice of ice lemon tea, a muffin, chips or an apple.

 

Lunch ~ Oriole Café & Bar

Those in the know recognise that in Singapore, you probably get the best coffee in Oriole. After all, owner Keith Loh beat 23 others to win the Singapore National Barista Championship 2010, and the runner-up is his head barista!

Spice up the holiday with their award-winning Chilli Chocolate Mocha ($6) that combines chocolate with lots of spicy heat! Go on, immerse the cinnamon stick in the coffee. Enjoy the Oriole signature’s foamy richness and fresh roast with a warm spiciness permeating shortly after. The Piccolo Latte ($5.80) and Macchiato ($4.20) are alternatives for those who chicken out of anything spicy.

Chilli Chocolate Mocha

With 10% of their coffee drink proceeds going into the M.I.L.K (Mainly I Love Kids) fund that helps disadvantaged children and youth in Singapore, you can spread some love in the name of Christmas and do your bit for charity while indulging in these gourmet concoctions.

In Lebanon, which is not far from the birthplace of Jesus, families gather to share the mid-day meal with staples such as the Kibbeh (a sphericalsnack of cereal and minced meat) and the burgur (steamed or par-boiled grains). There, lunch is considered the most important meal during Christmas, so that’s your excuse for a hearty midday meal!

Ali Baa Baa

Bringing Christmas tradition from the Middle East to Oriole is Ali Baa Baa ($16), a deceptively simple burger that sees a juicy grilled Turkish lamb patty with tomatoes, onions and haloumi cheese, set between 2 slightly charred pieces of flat bread.

The mildly gamey taste of the lamb might put finicky eaters off, so the baba ghanoush dip at the side is a welcome garnish. A spiced eggplant sauce, the slippery ghanoush also slides down your throat easily. The dip’s smooth texture, together with the exotic patty, is as good as a gastronomic sojourn to the exotic Middle East, where the biblical Christmas story begins.

Warmed Chocolate Amaretti Pudding with Brandy sauce

Warmed Chocolate Amaretti Pudding with Brandy sauce ($10) reminds you of a lava cake, but creamier. The chocolate is not overly sweet and is nicely balanced with the generous amount of sour berries. The Italian amaretti (almond flavoured biscuit) lays in ambush at the base of the pudding, surprising you with an occasional delightful crunch. The brandy sauce adds an extra kick with the alcohol, rounding up the dessert with some very sinful intoxication! Not for the diet-conscious, but we say try it anyway, because it’s Christmas! If you must, share this sinful dessert with a friend.

 

Dinner ~ Aerin’s Café and Expresso Bar

This open concept café at the basement of Raffles City, next to a water fountain serves modern European cuisine and is known for desserts such as its Rum & Raisin Affogato ($7.50) and Anna’s Pavlova ($9).

Starting from $26++ to $30++, their festive dinner special is a steal. The 3-course set meal lets you choose from 3 tantalising choices such as the Oven-roasted Turkey with Walnut and Bread Stuffing ($26), Seared Halibut Fillet with Green Pea Puree ($28), and Grilled New Zealand Beef Tenderloin ($30).

Salad of Prawn, Rock melon & Black Sesame dressing

Starting off dinner with a bang is an artfully tossed salad, the Salad of Prawn, Rock melon & Black Sesame dressing, that tastes as good as it looks. The crunchy greens’ bitter tinge contrasts with the sweetness of rock melon and tender prawns. Topping it off is lightly salted miso-based dressing generously peppered with sesame seeds. The unexpected pairing of the miso dressing with delightfully fresh greens sets it apart from the conventional Caesar or garden salad.

Seared Halibut Fillet with Green Pea Puree

Beautifully done, the halibut is fluffy and moist. Its seared fillet skin adds a nice salty crunch to the dish, with mushrooms as garnish. The smokiness of the tomato sauce is heady and ends nicely with the mildly sour tomatoes. The viscous texture of the pea purée impresses with a sweetness that leaves you craving for more and is an interesting complement to the fillet. Even pea-haters are going to be converts after trying this one!

Mascarpone Wildberries with Raspberry Sorbet and Almond Florentines

If you’re expecting Christmas regulars like logcakes or fruitcakes, prepare to be sorely disappointed… but in a good way. The Mascarpone Wildberries with Raspberry Sorbet and Almond Florentines is a modern take on classic Yuletide desserts and best of all, this elegant dessert is not a diabetic hazard with just sweetness powering the whole dish.

The raspberry sorbet catches your eye immediately with its eye-catching festive red. It’s intense icy sourness powers through your palate and gets you hooked on the kick.

Beside the sorbet lies the Mascarpone cake, mercilessly stealing the limelight. If you find the taste of the cake familiar, dessert junkies will tell you that mascarpone is the Italian cheese found in well-loved dessert, tiramisu. Here, the velvety quality of the cheese is served in all its glory without any layered distractions and if you’re craving for some extra sweetness, the caramelized almond Florentines on the side will do just the trick.

Aerin’s Apple Pie