In today’s competitive dining scene, a chic space, tantalising curated menu, and trendy postal code often are no longer enough to pull the crowds in. Let’s be honest, we feed off celebrity culture, and whether the talents in the aprons like it or not, we’ve pushed them to the forefront of celebrity culture.
Our local food culture has readily embraced celebrity chefs in all shapes and forms. Here, we scope out a few terrific restaurants helmed by five of the most recognisable faces in the foodie universe.
1. Jamie’s Italian
When one thinks about celebrity chefs, Jamie Oliver, the charming Brit boy who talks a mile a minute is surely one of the first chefs that come to mind. His first outpost in Singapore, Jamie’s Italian, has certainly had no problems putting bums in seats. Nor has his recently opened branch on Orchard Road. The atmosphere at both venues is characteristically Jamie: down to earth, young, vibrant. The dishes are simple and accessible — but that’s why we love the Naked Chef right? The baked salmon ($23.50) is a satisfying main dish, served with a luxurious creamy lemon ricotta and a lightly dressed colourful root vegetable salad. But if you’ve come for the pasta, the tagliatelle bolognese ($15-$22) won’t disappoint. These ribbons of al dente noodles are covered in a chunky pork and beef ragu finished off with an amazing Chianti — it’s unlike any bolognese you’ve had!
VivoCity: #01-165 VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk; +65 6733 5500, www.jamieoliver.com. Mon-Thu 12nn-10pm, Fri 12nn-11pm, Sat 9:30am-11pm, Sun 9:30am-10pm. Forum: #01-01 Forum, 583 Orchard Rd; +65 6655 7676, www.jamieoliver.com. Sun-Thu 10am-10pm (kitchen opens at 12nn), Fri & Sat 10am-11pm (kitchen opens at 12nn).
2. Esquina
If you’re a fan of the British food scene, a visit to one of Michelin-starred Jason Atherton’s restaurants is a must. He operates three joints on our turf: Pollen, Esquina, and The Study. But it all started with his trendier-than-thou tapas place, Esquina. With Atherton based in London, Executive Chef Andrew Walsh has the licence to create — and he’s got a flair for it. Though Esquina is dubbed a ‘tapas bar’, its dishes are a far cry from the traditional Spanish nosh. The beef tartare($24) is a beautiful Japanese-inspired creation centered around dollops of deeply flavoured raw beef. It’s served with a rich sea urchin mayonnaise, egg-yolk dressing, deep-fried seaweed, sake and mirin marinated mushroom, and shavings of frozen foie gras. The spring salad — on the specials board the day we visited but is supposed to make its way to the menu — is a flamboyant display of the season’s best greens. On the plate (see below): crisp pea shoots, asparagus, romanesco, and roasted gem lettuce nest a runny slow-cooked egg.
16 Jiak Chuan Road; +65 6222 1616, www.esquina.com.sg. Mon-Fri 12nn-2:30, 6pm-10:30pm, Sat 6pm-10:30pm.
3. Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora
Arguably, the first true celebrity chef was the French-food-crazed American Julia Child. Since then numerous culinary stars have sprouted up in America, many thanks to reality television programmes like Iron Chef America. One of the most notable stars to emerge from the show is Cat Cora. Resorts World Singapore lured Cora to our island to run Ocean Restaurant. Though many visitors come for the view (one side of the restaurant looks into the Marine Life Park’s Oceanarium), the produce-driven cuisine is equally captivating. Chef de cuisine Yew Eng Tong (of The Cliff fame) has updated Cat’s signature sous vide king salmon ($26) and has turned it into a jazzed up ceviche of sorts. The almost raw salmon is covered in ikura and micro herbs and sits in a shallow soup of chilled citrus fruit and Laurent Perrier Champagne.
B1M SEA Aquarium, 22 Sentosa Gateway; +65 6577 6688, www.rwsentosa.com. Daily 11:30am-3pm, 6pm-10:30pm.
4. Osteria Mozza
Ginger haired American chef, Mario Batali, is one of the most well-known chefs in America. Mario’s love for Italian cuisine has led him to open a fistful of restaurants across the globe. We’re lucky to have two: Osteria Mozza and Pizzeria Mozza. If you’re a stickler for handmade pasta, Osteria Mozza is a must-visit. The pasta tasting menu ($98) takes you on a carb-laden tour of the restaurant’s best dishes. A truly stand out item is the pici with duck ragu. The udon-thick noodles are made simply with two ingredients: semolina flour and water. But don’t get us wrong, these noodles are individually rolled out by hand, and that takes at least 20 minutes per portion! The tomato-based sauce that coats the noodles is slow cooked with flaked duck leg, duck liver and a variety of traditional Italian herbs. Delizioso!
#B1-42/46 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave; +65 6688 8868, www.singapore.osteriamozza.com. Mon-Sat 5pm-11pm, Sun 12nn-2pm, 5pm-11pm.
5. Forest
But perhaps the celebrity chef restaurant that fills us with pride most is Sam Leong’s Forest. This homegrown talent is lauded for his contemporary Chinese cuisine, and at Forest he puts a Thai spin on many of his creations. One of the restaurant’s most popular dishes is the charcoal-grilled wagyu beef with foie gras($68). This dish is a single serving of juicy Australian beef topped with pan-seared French foie gras that is served with a sweet, tangy black pepper sauce. Perhaps this is Sam’s interpretation of the Tournedos Rossini, but it works brilliantly.
1/L Equarius Hotel, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway; +65 6577 6688, www.rwsentosa.com. Daily 7:30am-10:30am, 12nn-2:30pm, 6pm-10:30pm.
