Big on Small at Gordon Grill

Dragged the makan kaki down to Gordon Grill for a lovely lunch. The initial mindset of having the UOB Chef's Creation was scrapped when the appealing Big-on-Small Lunch Menu caught my eye.

The option of being able to choose 3 items from both the Appetisers and the Soups selection, 1 main course each, and 2 desserts was a godsend for a fickle-minded girl like me.

 Appetisers

 Cold Japanese Noodles with king crab, farm caviar and white truffle oil

The somen noodles sure looked AND tasted like angel hair pasta, albeit not as springy. Tastewise, it tasted rather bland and a stronger taste of white truffle would have done the trick.

Scottish salmon confit with pickled cucumber and sesame shoyu vinaigrette

The well-marinated salmon was totally not fishy at all. It had a firm texture, but it literally disintegrated in my mouth.

Wagyu beef carpaccio with celeriac remoulade and parmesan cheese shavings

Forgettable. And celeriac remoulade, where were you?

Roasted duck foie gras with poached pear and raspberry vinegar sorbet

This was my first encounter with a proper slab of foie gras and I would say that it was less than enjoyable. I disliked its metallic aftertaste; thankfully the raspberry sorbet helped to quell the unctuousness.

Marinated Dublin prawn tartar with tomatoes and virgin mary sorbet

This did not leave much of an impression with me either, as I found the prawn tartar to be lacking in that slight sweetness present in fresh prawns.

Hokkaido scallops with Spanish ham, green asparagus and black truffle dressing

Pan-seared to perfection, this was easily the best appetizer of the lot. Salty parma ham sitting pretty atop of a plump, sweet, and juicy scallop. What's there not to love? And the black truffle sauce was the perfect complement.

Soups

(from left): Lobster Bisque, Mushroom Cappucino, French Onion Soup

My meal was starting to get better when the trio of mini teacup soups arrived. I couldn't decide which I loved more; they were all flavourful, creamy(for the first two), and absolutely titillating.

 Main #1: US Beef fillet and braised cheek in Bordelaise sauce and seasonal mushrooms

Awesome choice my dining partner made. I tried a tiny cube and was instantly won over. Done medium-rare, it was slightly charred on the outside, juicy and succulent on the inside. Bordelaise sauce was able to bring out the depth of flavour in it, and together, it was a match made in heaven.

Main #2: Baked 'fresh catch' with a light seafood risotto and tomato vinaigrette

Crispy skin, check. Firm, tender, nary a taste of muddiness in flesh, check. Cooked in seafood stock, the risotto was flavourful and whetted the appetite. The grains were suitably al dente without being too hard. Simple dish, yet perfectly executed.

Desserts

 Chocolate and hazelnut tart with a light orange ice cream

Finally, to my favourite course of every meal. Velvety rich dark chocolate, followed by a layer of hazelnut praline, encased in a crispy tart base. The orange ice cream was light with a tinge of zest in it. My only lament for this baby was that it was simply not enough!

 Pistachio creme brulee with almond crust

Torched a la minute, it arrived warm on our table, glistening in pride. I enjoyed cracking the sugar crust and scooping up the morsels of custardy goodness into my mouth. Pistachio could be identified, though not overwhelmingly so.

Conclusion
The food here is good, though not mind-blowingly so. But it's GG's attention to detail that impressed me. They actually bothered to garnish with crumbles of almond that provided added texture to the whole dessert.

 We ended off our meal with complimentary teas and left with our stomachs perfectly satiated. 

For their good food and polished service, I'll have no second thoughts about returning to GG. It helps that they add variety by bringing in various specials (white truffle, white asparagus, etc) from time to time.

Gordon Grill

22 Scotts Road

Goodwood Park Hotel

6730 1744

Daily: 12pm-2.30pm, 7pm-10.30pm

Chikuwa Tei

 A quick and simple lunch at Mohamed Sultan, nearby my old workplace.

 Otoshi (which means appetiser): Pickled lotus roots, these were served complimentary.

Sake Sashimi ($10++)

Fresh, thickly-sliced salmon.. So good you can eat it on its own!

*I was thrilled to see Otoro on their menu, but only to be told that it wasn't available on that day! T_T

 Chawanmushi ($5++)

This might just be the best I've ever had. Simmered with fragrant dashi stock, the silky egg custard glides down your throat without any resistance. It's also worth its price tag; just look at the amount of ingredients in it!

Cod & Vegetables Hot Pot Set ($24++)

The set came with an additional miso soup, rice, and fruits (watermelon). I find this rather value-for-money for their generosity with the cod fish slices(boneless!).

The broth was slightly sweet and quite tasty, perfect for people who want something light.

 Warming the tummy and the soul, I would call this comfort food.

My dining partner had the Yaki Udon set with Salmon (I'd forgotten the price)

I tried a little of it and found it quite decent.

This came with the udon set too

Will definitely recommend this restaurant for true-blue Jap food lovers (no fusion nonsense here) for its affordable lunch sets. They serve a wide variety of sashimi and sushi as well. People who'd like a change from the usual Sushi Tei, Ichiban, or Sakae Sushi can venture here for a nice and quiet meal. But be sure to call up to make reservations as this is a small restaurants and seats are limited.


Chikuwa Tei
9 Mohamed Sultan Road
#01-01
Tel: 6738 9395
Daily: 11.30am–3pm / 6pm–10pm