Famous Treasure Tasting Session 2020
13 Stamford Road
#02-28 Capitol Piazza
Opening Hours:
Daily: 11:30am - 3pm, 6pm - 10:30pm
http://www.thefamoustreasure.com/
This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Jennifer Yeo Lifestyle, Mighty Foodie, Darren Bloggie, Mission SG Cafes, and Food Gem.
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| Famous Treasure Abundance Pen Cai (SGD $388 / $588) |
Modern Nanyang Dining To Usher In The Year
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 8
Value for Money: 8
Budget about SGD $52++ per person.
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Launched in July 2018, Famous Treasure serves a wide variety of Nanyang cuisine; with modern Chinese dishes spanning Teochew, Hokkien, and Cantonese cuisines, along with Pan-Asian dishes from Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai, Indian, and Singaporean cuisines. An offshoot of The Famous Kitchen, Famous Treasure is their upmarket sit-down Chinese dining concept, and it impresses with gourmet Chinese Zi Char dishes that pack big, bold, yet familiar flavours. We were impressed upon our last visit, and this time, they exceeded expectations again.
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| Glenfiddich Whisky Partnership |
Ambience at Famous Treasure exudes a luxurious, opulent, sophisticated feel. The spacious 150-seating area is lit by warm lights, and adorned with colours of wood, brown, white, and black. A decorative ceiling with soft curvature leads the eye across the hall, which is neatly arrayed with modern cushioned high-back chairs, and cloth-covered tables set with porcelain tableware. A live seafood tank occupies a corner, opposite a small open bar with high stools. In yet another corner, a partnership with The Balvenie whisky brand has an open display of their range. There are 4 private dining rooms, which aren't completely soundproof.
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| Famous Treasure Exterior |
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| Famous Treasure Interior |
Service at Famous Treasure is professional, attentive, and efficient. Sharply-dressed staff greet guests at the entrance, then briskly usher them to seats. Though the menu is extensive, staff seem to display sufficient product knowledge while taking orders, being able to briefly describe dishes. They announce dishes being served, then proceed to arrange the table to create space for the new dish. Staff proactively offer to clear finished dishes, and cleaning up is done quickly when diners leave so the place looks neat and presentable. I like that they are engaging, according personalised attention when speaking with diners.
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| Seating |
Food at Famous Treasure is focused on Modern Nanyang cuisine, which encompasses South Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisines. The menu is fairly extensive, yet, every dish we had was decently executed and big on flavour, a testament to the kitchen team. From braised dishes to roasts, stir-frys to curries, the versatility and skill that goes into the range of dishes is commendable, and comparable in standard to other top Chinese restaurants. Portions are large and hearty, designed for communal dining. Prices naturally, are higher than elsewhere, though you get good value considering they're near fine dining standards. Budget about SGD $52++ per person for a meal here.
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| Us |
This 2020, Famous Treasure welcomes the Chinese New Year Of The Rat with a range of celebratory dishes that are traditional and authentic in taste. Feast to health, wealth, and happiness with set menus that range from SGD $488++ for 8 diners, to SGD $1388++ for 10 diners. For those who prefer ala-carte orders, you too can savour these auspicious dishes, meticulously crafted by the culinary team. Available from 8 January till 8 February 2020, advance reservations are recommended, book via this link.
The Shunde Yu Sheng (SGD $118 to $180) is unlike any yu sheng I've eaten before. Named after the Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region in Guangdong province, China, this version is supposedly the inspiration for the popular Chinese New Year yu sheng dish. It features thick, fresh, sashimi-grade slices of hamachi / Japanese amberjack / yellowtail fish, plated over a plastic wrapped bowl of ice, which prevents ice burn. The fish has a succulent tender moist texture, with good sweet savoury flavour. Served with crisp thin julienned aromatics, which include spring onions, garlic, leeks, shallots, garlic chives, dried tangerine peel, pickled cabbage, fried yam / taro strips, sugar, light soy sauce, sesame seeds, and sesame oil. Everything is tossed together then portioned out. The result is a delicate blend of sweet salty savoury sour herbal spice nutty flavours. Resembles yu sheng, yet different and unique. Requires 3 days advance order. Good!
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| Shunde Yu Sheng (SGD $118 to $180) |
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| Shunde Yu Sheng |
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| Shunde Yu Sheng |
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| Shunde Yu Sheng |
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| Shunde Yu Sheng |
The Herbal Chicken Soup With Morel Mushroom & Peach Gum (SGD $68 / $138) is a warm, soulful, comforting dish, whose delicious soup / broth has deep earthy savoury sweet bitter herbal flavours. There's a whole stewed chicken within, with tender chicken meat that has delicate herbal sweet savoury flavour. Completed with soft morel mushrooms which lend robust earthy sweet flavour, and gelatinous peach gum which lends fruity sweet flavour. Feels so nourishing. Good!
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| Herbal Chicken Soup With Morel Mushroom & Peach Gum (SGD $68 / $138) |
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| Herbal Chicken Soup With Morel Mushroom & Peach Gum |
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| Herbal Chicken Soup With Morel Mushroom & Peach Gum |
The Roasted Irish Silver Hill Duck (SGD $58 / $108) here is excellent, and I would return again just for this. The duck has been beautifully roasted, with a crisp skin that crackles softly when bit, revealing the tender, moist duck meat beneath. Between is a succulent layer of duck fat (which is easily removed if you choose). This has deep meaty savoury salty flavour which is nicely enticing. Served with a rich sticky plum dipping sauce on the side, which I feel isn't necessary, as the roast duck is delicious on its own. Highly recommended!
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| Roasted Irish Silver Hill Duck (SGD $58 / $108) |
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| Roasted Irish Silver Hill Duck |
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| Roasted Irish Silver Hill Duck |
The Steamed Marble Goby Fisherman Style (SGD $12.80 per 100g) stands out for being a unique fish dish. The whole marble goby fish is fresh and clean-tasting, with delicate sweet savoury notes, and a tender moist flaky texture. But the surprise is the gravy, infused with fresh spring onions, leeks, and the natural juices of the fish, giving it a lovely herbal sweet vegetal flavour. Good enough to drink. Highly recommended!
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| Steamed Marble Goby Fisherman Style (SGD $12.80 per 100g) |
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| Steamed Marble Goby Fisherman Style |
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| Steamed Marble Goby Fisherman Style |
The Wok-Fried Prawn Balls Nanyang Style (SGD $36 / $54 / $72) has a Peranakan taste profile to it. The fresh bouncy deshelled shrimp / prawns have a juicy bite, with good natural sweet savoury flavour. But the main difference is the thick, rich gravy coating it, a Modern Singaporean fusion combination of rendang spices and lemongrass. The result is a savoury sweet spice taste, yet, it's distinct enough that you get a layered flavour profile on the palate. Plated over thin sliced juicy cucumbers and surrounded by firm edamame / immature soy beans, both of which lend vegetal sweet flavours. Good!
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| Wok-Fried Prawn Balls Nanyang Style (SGD $36 / $54 / $72) |
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| Wok-Fried Prawn Balls Nanyang Style |
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| Wok-Fried Prawn Balls Nanyang Style |
The Famous Treasure Abundance Pen Cai (SGD $388 / $588) is a luxurious, hearty dish. Over a mound of soft stewed Chinese cabbage and tender daikon radish is a variety of premium ingredients. It includes crunchy broccoli florets, tender roasted duck, tender shiitake mushrooms, fresh juicy whole prawns / shrimp, crunchy pig's skin, soft stewed oysters, bouncy dried scallops, wispy black moss / fat choy / black hair vegetable, gelatinous sea cucumber chunks, and tender whole abalone. This has deep robust earthy savoury sweet salty herbal vegetal flavours. Really filling. Good!
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| Famous Treasure Abundance Pen Cai (SGD $388 / $588) |
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| Famous Treasure Abundance Pen Cai |
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| Famous Treasure Abundance Pen Cai |
The Mashed Yam Taro With Gingko Nut & Pumpkin (SGD $8 per person / $32 / $56) has a properly thick, sticky, gloopy texture to the mashed yam / taro paste, and it holds a beautiful earthy sweet nutty flavour. Crunchy firm gingko nuts with herbal nutty flavour, and soft tender pumpkin chunks with fruity earthy sweet flavour, round out this dish. I felt a little coconut milk may have made this easier to eat, as it's rather rich. Very filling for an individual, as the portion is generous enough to share.
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| Mashed Yam Taro With Gingko Nut & Pumpkin (SGD $8 per person / $32 / $56) |
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| Mashed Yam Taro With Gingko Nut & Pumpkin |
I consider dining at Famous Treasure to be among the best meals of 2019, and on this return visit, they wow-ed all over again. The Chinese New Year set menus and ala-carte dishes at Famous Treasure are great for get-togethers with family or friends to celebrate and catch-up. Available from 8 January till 8 February 2020, advance reservations are recommended, book via this link.
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CONVERSATION