Mon, July 30, 2012
This week was a very busy one with the City Weekend 10th annual Readers' Choice Awards on Wednesday, but I did find time to visit Jaan at the Raffles Hotel for the first time in over a year. The food was very good, although the portions are very small, especially given the prices here.
Here's the Jaan salad, made with frisee lettuce, mushrooms and the best poached quail eggs ever.
And the yellow fin tuna, which is a recommended specialty for summer. I loved the edamame beans that came with it.
I also got to try some food of the new Writer's Bar menu, which should be available next week if not already. Despite the fancy atmosphere, they're going for more humble, homestyle food, and they even have a hot dog. It's insanely good, with the best hot dog bun I've ever had, and fantastic homemade relish. The proposed price? RMB88 plus surcharge, putting it at four times the price of a Bar Uno dog, and five times the price of No More Bunz. Would you still shell out to try it? Let us know in the comments below.
And then the awards came. We've got the full list of winners here. I'd like to give some shout outs to my favorite Editor's Picks, though. The Editor's Pick awards are awarded completely autocratically, by me, and are one of my favorite things about being City Weekend's dining editor.
Editor's Pick for Best Japanese went to Sake Manzo, and was received by owner Taka in a kimono.
I was very happy to see Gung Ho win the Readers' Choice Awards for both Best Pizza and Best Service this year. I ordered lots of Gung Ho last night to help them celebrate ... and help myself recover from a big night at the awards.
Editor's Pick for Best Dessert went to Divina Cakes, which just missed getting the Readers' Choice Award by one single vote.
Editor's Pick for Best New Restaurant of the Year went to Iki, the number one best thing about Shuangjing.
And lastly, I chose to give Editor's Pick for Restaurant of the Year to Terra. This restaurant has truly lived up to its potential this year, and Chef Paulo de Souza has developed a really delicious South American menu. I also love the bar downstairs and try to go as often as possible for great creative cocktails, an awesome outdoor area, good service from bar manager Matthias, and insane Friday and Saturday happy hour from 10pm-midnight.
And a few upcoming dining events:
The Cut hosts its first Wine Tasting Academy tomorrow afternoon 3-5pm.
Chef Yannick Alleno is in town to bring his three Michelin-star magic to S.T.A.Y. for a gourmet gala dinner on Wednesday.
