The Peppermint Restaurant, located within the Parkroyal Collection hotel at Marina Bay, celebrates Singapore's vibrant local flavours with its Go Lokal buffet. The Chef de Cuisine Leon Yee and his culinary team curate this gastro journey of some local and familiar favourites. The buffet offers flavours that represent the best snippets of Singaporean cuisine.
There are classics like the Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Cordyceps, where this herbal-infused broth warms the soul. It was a great starter. And if you love soup, two other soups are offered; a rich, thick tomato soup and a delicate miso soup. I also made my own Kueh Pie Tee, filling the crispy pastry shells with braised radish, prawns, crushed peanuts, and a piquant chilli sauce.
Seafood lovers are well looked after with a feast of oceanic delights. The Cold Seafood Buffet overflows with fresh oysters, prawns, lobster, conch, crab legs and clams. I tried the yellow and green chilli sauces besides Tabasco and lemon wedges. Wow…superb condiments for the cold seafood. The prawns were bright and had a crunch indicating approving freshness.
Singapore-style Chilli Lobster takes centre stage, presenting lobster tossed in a tasty chilli-crab sauce that effortlessly combines lobster's decadence with chilli crab's familiar spiciness. The Lychee Prawn Ball with Durian Cream Dip is a new addition with a touch of novelty to the seafood spread. At the Japanese counter, more seafood is offered, such as fresh tuna, salmon and octopus sashimi as prawn tempura.
Peppermint's Go Lokal Buffet also caters for meat enthusiasts. Indulge in the succulent Buah Keluak Wagyu Beef Belly, with pandan bao buns encasing a velvety filling of wonderfully tender beef. This was a nice twist from the usual pork belly filling. Weekend dinners offer additional dishes, such as the Truffle Black Angus Minced Beef Roti John, a gourmet take on street food, and the Grilled Australian Baby Lamb Rib Satay, featuring perfectly grilled lamb ribs bathed in a very familiar satay sauce. The Grilled Chicken Wings, reminiscent of the East Coast food centre, are finger-licking good with a zesty and spicy chilli sauce.
Sweet endings are a trademark of the Peppermint buffets; this time abound with delightful local desserts such as Grated Coconut and Sesame Muah Chee, Deep-fried Durian Balls, and a most wonderful Chendol Gelato. This pandan-flavoured ice cream was a treat. Can I have more? There are a variety of cakes like red velvet and a good choice of traditional Malay kuehs.
Now, please wait for this, as it could be a first for hotels in Singapore. For durian enthusiasts, an exclusive outdoor dining experience awaits on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, featuring unlimited servings of the King of Fruits, including Musang King (Maoshan Wang), Red Prawn (D13), and D24 durians. The most interesting has to be the open-flame barbecued durian. I am not known to wax lyrical about durians, but as the BBQ version is new to me, I had to give it a go.
The high heat helps soften the flesh and caramelise the sugars, intensifying the flavour. The heat and the flames tame the notoriously strong aroma of durians, giving the durian a more decadent taste. So how was it? The unmistakable aroma lingers, and the flesh is creamy, sweet and smoky. The drizzle of gula Melaka probably helped me to savour and appreciate this unique treat. A million times better than my expectation!
Peppermint's Go Lokal Buffet celebrates Singaporean culinary heritage, a whirlwind of familiar flavours that tantalise the senses and capture the essence of Singapore’s diverse food culture. Don't miss this opportunity to savour the best of Singapore's flavours at Peppermint.
a. 6 Raffles Blvd, Level 4 PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore 039594
w. www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pr-collection-marina-bay/dining/peppermint.html
About The Reporter
Expat writer and reporter Douglas Peris is a passionate foodie and avid traveller originally from Australia; now living in Singapore since 2000. With an appreciation and curiosity for street food, unique travel destinations and diverse cultures, Doug enjoys indulging in culinary delights primarily across Asia during his work and leisure travels. When Doug is not seeking out the best local eats, you can find me in the kitchen trying new recipes, cycling along the east coast of Singapore, watching rugby matches, or planning his next beach getaway or guest visit as a well-known writer and reporter for Expat Choice Asia. His varied experiences allow Doug to provide unique perspectives on the vibrant local food scenes across this dynamic region where his recommendations are regarded as honest and reliable. So join Doug as he shares his food and travel adventures through thoughtful reports and articles published and distributed on www.expatchoice.asia - if you would like Doug or any of the Expat Choice reporting team to visit your property as a guest to report on your special experience and have this report published on our network you can contact Expat Choice HQ on email with details about your offering at [email protected]
Afternoon Tea at Portman’s Bar
Portman's Bar offers an exquisite “Go Lokal” Afternoon Tea experience, curated by Pastry Chef Christopher Eng and his pastry team. Inspired by the vibrant flavours and unique ingredients found in Singaporean cuisine, indulge in local delights, such as Chicken Floss Sliders, Crab Wanton, Satay, Fruit Rojak with Sakura Ebi, and more. For a sweet respite, guests can enjoy the Urban Farm Pandan, a pandan coconut tiramisu, infused with the fragrant flavours of gingko nut, or delight in the nostalgia of the Classic Butter Cake.
Guests can also satisfy their sweet cravings with a selection of patisseries, macaroons, pralines, and cookies from Portman’s Bar’s roving Sweet Wagon. The “Go Lokal” Afternoon Tea at Portman's Bar is available from now until 31 August 2023, priced at $58++ per person. Enhance this Afternoon Tea experience with a two-hour free-flow of Taittinger Champagne at $68++ or Prosecco at $38++.
a. 6 Raffles Blvd, Level 4 PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore 039594
w. www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pr-collection-marina-bay/dining/portmans-bar.html
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