Grissini, Food Capital, Tempo Tasting Session 2018

Grissini, Food Capital, Tempo Tasting Session 2018
392 Havelock Road
Level 1 Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel

Opening Hours:
Mon - Sat: 12pm - 2:30pm (Lunch), 6:30pm - 11pm (Dinner)
Sunday: 12:30pm - 3:30pm (Brunch), 6:30pm - 11pm (Dinner)


https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/singapore/grand-copthorne-waterfront/grissini/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Purple Taste, Darren Bloggie, Geeky Elephant, Hazel Diary, and Ms Hannah Chia.
On a subsequent return visit, I paid a discounted price.

Rich Christmas Fruit Cake (SGD $48++ for 1kg)

Winter Wonderland & Festive Feasting At Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 8
Value for Money: 9
Budget about SGD $64++ (Lunch) / $88++ (Dinner) per person.


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After my previous visit to Grissini, Food Capital, Tempo, have returned this time for the launch of their 2018 Christmas theme - Winter Wonderland. This year, the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel achieves a first in Singapore; bringing in actual replicas of famous trains from Switzerland. Occupying the main lobby, the stately display looks fantastic. And of course, the buffet is executed to its usual good standards.

Christmas Tree

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland

Ambience at Grissini, Food Capital, Tempo is open-concept, yet cozy and inviting, with modern contemporary decor around the place. Food Capital has the largest floor area, cleverly making use of decor, partitions, and the curvature of the building to section off areas, making it seem more intimate. Ample natural lighting and a high ceiling lend a sense of space, while light wooden furnishings with comfortable cushions are contrasted by vibrant blue backed booths. Over at Grissini, the atmosphere takes on a more sophisticated class, warm lighting with dark wooden furnishings on plush carpets, with heavy curtains against the windows. Tempo bar benefits from being in the center of both restaurants, functioning as a sort of divider. There is also al-fresco outdoor seating, though it's not suitable on warm or wet days.

Gingerbread House

Gingerbread House

Gingerbread House

Pillow Lights

Food Capital Dining Hall

The highlight is the actual replica of trains from Switzerland, made of die-cast metal, moulded to look exactly like their real-life counterparts, and powered by electricity. We understand this setup was enabled by an avid collector of these electric trains, who kindly loaned them to the hotel for the Christmas season. The Electric Train - Bernina Express is displayed as a 100-year-old retro model, when the trains were still painted in yellow. In contrast, there is also the ultramodern Electric Train - Allegra, which plies the mountainous train system of the Rhaetian Railway in the Swiss Alps today, in a stark red which contrasts beautifully with the white winter snow scenery.

The electric trains run on a beautifully hand-crafted, 5 layer infrastructure that measures 6.3 metres length, by 4.8 metres breath, by 3.8 metres height, and holds more than 100 gingerbread houses with approximately 1000 miniature Christmas trees. This eye-catching attraction took 6 months to conceptualise and build!

Electric Train - Bernina Express

Electric Train - Allegra

Electric Train - Allegra

Electric Train - Allegra

Service at Grissini, Food Capital, Tempo is good, befitting of a restaurant. Staff are professional, engaging, and efficient. They offer greetings upon entry, and are quick to seat guests. Staff will brief you on the various sections, and helpfully make recommendations if asked. While they're able to broadly describe what is available, their product knowledge does not have depth. I like that staff come around to check on your dining experience, as well as clear away empty / dirty plates quickly, which is important in a buffet.

Chef David Toh

Table Setting

Satay Man Grilling

Food at Grissini, Food Capital, Tempo is International cuisine, and includes American, British, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, with a range of rotisserie / grilled meats, fresh seafood, salads, main courses, stir-frys, desserts, cold cuts, and more. The highlight here would be the josper grilled meats and seafood. Generally, I would say the dishes here are executed to an above average standard, made with fresh ingredients, and are tasty. As a buffet, portions are naturally unlimited. Prices are comparable to other hotel buffets, and is good value for money because of the quality, budget about SGD $64++ per person for lunch, or SGD $88++ per person for dinner here.

Christmas Meats & Wine

Chocolate Fountain & Condiments

Us

A festive yuletide toast, the Cocktail Red Snow (SGD $$20++) is presented by Tempo bar. Made with a blend of Laplandia lingonberry vodka, grapefruit juice, pomegranate seeds, and tonic water, this refreshing concoction has a fruity sweet sour flavour.

Cocktail Red Snow (SGD $$20++)

A festive Christmas tipple, the Cocktail Santa Fizz (SGD $$20++) is presented by Tempo bar. Made with a blend of Laplandia cloudberry vodka, Cointreau triple sec orange liqueur, lemon juice, egg white, and soda water. Served with a candy cane stirrer. This bubbly fizzy lively concoction has a fruity eggy sweet sour flavour.

Cocktail Santa Fizz (SGD $$20++)

Cocktail Santa Fizz

The Baked Cordon Bleu Turkey Wrapped With Portobello Duxelle In Puff Pastry (SGD $78++) is a showcase of Chef David Toh and team's culinary ability. Crisp flaky puff pastry envelops a chewy turkey roulade, stuffed with creamy portobello mushroom duxelle (finely chopped with shallots, parsley, black pepper, butter), and thin slices of tender ham. Complex layers of flavour, buttery sweet savoury earthy herbal. It's decently tasty, but the execution and presentation has a bigger wow factor compared to taste.

Baked Cordon Bleu Turkey Wrapped With Portobello Duxelle In Puff Pastry (SGD $78++)

Baked Cordon Bleu Turkey Wrapped With Portobello Duxelle In Puff Pastry

Baked Cordon Bleu Turkey Wrapped With Portobello Duxelle In Puff Pastry

Baked Cordon Bleu Turkey Wrapped With Portobello Duxelle In Puff Pastry

The Honey Baked Ham (SGD $88++ for 2kg) is meaty with a satisfiying chew to texture, the sweet savoury salty flavour somewhat off-set by a slightly dry, slightly moist texture. The star here is the Bone-In Gammon Ham (SGD $278++ for 5kg - 6kg), easily the best thing we ate during our visit, with its tender, succulent texture, and delicate sweet savoury salty flavour. Served with sides of sauteed brussels sprouts, grilled vegetables (cherry tomato, zucchini, yellow squash), and roasted baby potates with thyme.

Honey Baked Ham & Bone-In Gammon Ham

Honey Baked Ham (SGD $88++ for 2kg)

Honey Baked Ham

Bone-In Gammon Ham (SGD $278++ for 5kg - 6kg)

Bone-In Gammon Ham

Loved the Roast Beef Sirloin With Mixed Spices (SGD $98++ for 2kg), for its tender, juicy, succulent texture, and bold meaty savoury salty flavour. Sliced into it really easily, and is straightforward satisfiying. The Baked Australian Lamb Rack (SGD $98++ for 800g) was also very good, with its nicely bouncy juicy texture, and savoury sweet flavour that does not have strong gamey flavour. Oddly, no mint sauce was served with this, in its place, a home made red wine au jus that complemented the meaty flavours.

Roast Beef Sirloin With Mixed Spices & Baked Australian Lamb Rack

Roast Beef Sirloin With Mixed Spices (SGD $98++ for 2kg)

Roast Beef Sirloin With Mixed Spices

Baked Australian Lamb Rack (SGD $98++ for 800g)

Baked Australian Lamb Rack

The Traditional Marinated Whole Turkey (SGD $148++ for 4.5kg - 5kg) is thinly sliced, which aid the texture and mouthfeel - not too dry, not too tough, easy to chew. As with most standard turkey meat, it's rather flat in taste, and works much better with the accompanying cranberry sauce.

Traditional Marinated Whole Turkey (SGD $148++ for 4.5kg - 5kg)

Traditional Marinated Whole Turkey

Not to be outdone, Chef Mirko Vinci of Grissini presents a new festive pasta dish, the Pasta Orecchiette With Sardines In Pesto Sauce. Featuring medium sized, tender meaty sardine fish fillets from Italy, these are tossed with al-dente orecchiette pasta noodles in a bright pesto sauce, garnished with cruncy panko breadcrumbs. Has an earthy savoury salty herbal flavour that remains light and appetizing. I rather enjoyed this.

Pasta Orecchiette With Sardines In Pesto Sauce

Pasta Orecchiette With Sardines In Pesto Sauce

The buffet has good range and variety of options. From the Sampler Indian Plate, I loved the Dal Makhani and Tandoori Roti. From the Sampler Chinese Plate, I loved the Steamed White Chicken and the Black Pepper Stir-Fried Beef. From the Sampler American Plate, I loved the Shepherd's Pie and Honey Baked Ham.

Sampler Indian Plate

Sampler Chinese Plate

Sampler American Plate

The Baked Cheese Oysters is the dish that diners would queue patiently for, then once it's served, whack so many at once that the entire serving is gone in less than 5 minutes. Why? Because it's delicious. The fresh, plump oysters have a meaty juicy briny bite to texture, and the gooey cheese on top lends a bold savoury salty cheesy flavour. Highly recommended!

Baked Cheese Oysters

The Satay here is done well. Although I'd like more meat on each skewer, the meaty savoury flavours of the chicken satay and beef satay really shine, enhanced with a hint of smoky aroma. The peanut gravy is properly rich, thick, and slightly chunky. Good!

Satay

The DIY Laksa is above average, a signature must-eat dish when you're here. I like mine with less rice noodles and bean sprouts, but with more tofu puffs, fish cake, and quail eggs. Then I'll stack steamed white chicken and roast pork belly on top. Shiok!

DIY Laksa

The Christmas Stollen (SGD $30++ for 600g) has a crisp, crunchy texture, with a bold fruity sweet flavour. This traditional fruit and nut bread is studded with raisins, candied orange, and almonds. Decent enough, not as sweet as other versions elsewhere, think this will appeal to most.

Christmas Stollen (SGD $30++ for 600g)

Christmas Stollen

The Traditional Valrhona Alpaco Chocolate Log Cake (SGD $65++) has a rich, creamy, decadent feel, with bold chocolatey sweet flavour. Rather heavy on the palate, but delicious.

Traditional Valrhona Alpaco Chocolate Log Cake (SGD $65++)

Traditional Valrhona Alpaco Chocolate Log Cake

The Strawberry Mousse With Earl Grey Cremeux Log Cake (SGD $65++) has a similarly creamy smooth and rich texture, but the contrasting sharp sour tangy flavours of the strawberry mousse and the earthy floral sweet flavours of the earl grey tea infused cream pair nicely, making this lively on the palate.

Strawberry Mousse With Earl Grey Cremeux Log Cake (SGD $65++)

Strawberry Mousse With Earl Grey Cremeux Log Cake

The Hazelnut Mousse With Cherry & Chestnut Paste Log Cake (SGD $65++) also has a creamy smooth and rich texture, but the flavours are unique, being earthy nutty sweet in taste. Unusual for a dessert cake, may not appeal to all.

Hazelnut Mousse With Cherry & Chestnut Paste Log Cake (SGD $65++)

Hazelnut Mousse With Cherry & Chestnut Paste Log Cake

The Rich Christmas Fruit Cake (SGD $48++ for 1kg) has a moist, soft texture, with buttery fruity sweet flavour. Love the brightness on the palate, and visually, it's also pleasing.

Rich Christmas Fruit Cake (SGD $48++ for 1kg)

Had a Sampler Dessert Pastries Plate and a Sampler Festive Pastries Plate. Of these, the Bread & Butter Pudding, studded with raisins, was outstanding, with its soft, warm, moist texture, bold milky bready sweet flavour, and rich creamy sauce. Other festive dessert cakes include the Red Velvet Chocolate Cupcake, the Orange Ginger Cake, and the Vanilla & White Chocolate Sponge Cake. These were generally slightly above average.

Sampler Dessert Pastries Plate

Sampler Festive Pastries Plate

Red Velvet Chocolate Cupcake

Orange Ginger Cake

Vanilla & White Chocolate Sponge Cake

Loved the Christmas decorations and dishes at Grissini, Food Capital, Tempo. Their food is fairly consistent and tasty, the service friendly and efficient, and the ambience has that lovely festive feel. Worth a visit!


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