Since we still cannot travel overseas yet, let us do the next best thing and take you around the world in search of Porcine Pleasures with Citi Gourmet Pleasures, which is just a fancy way of saying that we are looking for the best pork dishes from around the world!
For our first stop, we head to Germany for their famous crispy pork knuckle!
Frieda German Restaurant
Located in the Capitol Arcade @Capitol Kempinski, this place was named after the daughter of the founder of the Kempinski Hotel brand. This casual German restaurant serves up German beer on tap as well as classic German dishes such as the crispy pork knuckle which is first braised to render the meat fork tender before being roasted in the oven to crisp the skin. The secret is the addition of German beer at the end of the roasting cycle to give the skin its golden hue and to add that extra umami flavour! The chef himself hails from Southern Germany which adds to the authenticity of the dishes. Aside from the pork knuckle, he also does an authentic veal schnitzel, lentil stew and beef roulade which should trigger fond memories of anyone who has been to “das Vaterland”!
Citi Gourmet Pleasure Offer: 15% off a la carte menu with Citi Cards. Valid until 31 Dec 2021
Find out more about this deal here!
Frieda German Restaurant
Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski,
13 Stamford Road, Singapore 178906
Taste Paradise
From Germany we head East to China, home of ten thousand pork recipes. Taste Paradise is the flagship Cantonese restaurant for the Paradise Group of restaurants and we were really impressed with the quality of the dishes presented. Although the featured pork dish was the stewed prime rib with mirin in Wuxi style, I felt that it was the roast pork belly (Sio Bak) in the BBQ combination which really stole the limelight. It was perfectly roasted that made the skin very crispy and the meat was tender as well.
The other highlight was the traditional Chicken Broth with Fish Maw served in Japanese Stone Pot. The soup was thick with lip smacking collagen which made it the ultimate comfort food! The stewed chicken claw with abalone sauce was also another collagen rich dish which I enjoyed. Much to our surprise, Chef shared that no abalone was sacrificed to make the sauce! A real testament to the skill of Chef Chan Chung Seng, who is hailed from Hong Kong.
Citi Gourmet Pleasure Offer: $10 return voucher with any spend at any Paradise Group of restaurants with Citi Cards. Valid until 31 Dec 2021.
Find out more about the deal here!
Taste Paradise
#04-07 Orchard Turn ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
USHIO Sumiyaki & Sake Bar
The next stop on our Porcine Pleasure trail is a familiar Singapore landmark which I am sure many locals will recognise but perhaps not know of the name or the history of the place. It is currently known as OUE Tower where it was first built in 1973 as an observation tower for Change Alley Aerial Plaza. The revolving Tower now houses a restaurant and at the 8th level is USHIO Sumiyaki & Sake Bar which is a hidden gem for those looking for a restaurant with a scenic view.
We had the Buta Sumiyaki Donburi which was teriyaki glazed Nagano pork over takikomi gohan. It may be a simple dish of pork collar grilled over charcoal oven but when you have good quality pork, it is actually better to keep it simple in order to really taste the natural flavour of the meat. The Nagano pork isn’t actually from Nagano, Japan but is a Canadian brand based in Quebec bred to meet Japanese requirements. The pork is flavourful and juicy and the smokey flavour of the charcoal really adds to the rustic flavour of the dish. We also found the Zucchini Blossom tempura quite an interesting treat. Filled with crab meat and encased in a crisp tempura shell, it is the kind of thing that goes with a cup of sake while watching the sun go down at Marina Bay.
Citi Gourmet Pleasure Offer: $6 off with every $60 spend at participating restaurants under TungLok Group with CitiCards. Applicable for dine-in and takeaway. Valid until 31 Dec 2021.
Find out more about the deal here!
USHIO Sumiyaki and Sake Bar
60 Collyer Quay, OUE Tower, Level 8, Singapore 049322
Anouska’s Bar
For our last stop, we arrived at the Duxton Reserve, Autograph Collection to visit a bar named after the designer of the the hotel, Anouska Hempel. This illustrious lady, first came into the limelight as a “bond girl” having starred in the 1969 James Bond flick, “On her majesty’s secret service” with James Bond being played by George Lazenby. The bar has an old-world glamour about it with large golden fans and strong hues of black, gold and yellow for an interior that is warmly welcoming.
The food which was provided by the Yellow Pot Restaurant was very good. The food served was distinctly Chinese but with modern overtones. We liked Chef’s version of “Wuxi” Pork Rib which was fall-off-the-bone tender and covered with a sweet, piquant sauce accentuated with cumin and Sichuan Peppercorn spices. The Lion’s Mane Mushrooms with Avocado Puree was unexpectedly tasty and something I felt that I would eat if I ever went on a vegetarian diet. The Wok Seared Grass-fed Beef Tenderloin was straightforward, but perfectly executed. Anouska’s is a hip place to unwind with a craft cocktail and enjoy delightful dishes from the Yellow Pot restaurant all at the same time!
Citi Gourmet Pleasure Offer: Up to 15% off total bill with Citi Cards. Valid until 30 Dec 2021.
Find out more about this deal here!
Anouska’s Bar
83 Duxton Rd, Duxton Reserve, Singapore 089540
Conclusion:
With the Covid-19 situation that prevented us from travelling out of Singapore, the next best thing to do is to uncover hidden gems in our little red dot. Hope you’ve enjoyed our food trail in search of porcine pleasures with Citi Gourmet Pleasures.
Click here for all the dining deals with Citi Gourmet Pleasures.
Disclosure: this post is written in partnership with Citi Gourmet Pleasures.
