In The Mood For Love

From cosy French brasseries to mod-Asian restaurants, Singapore has romantic dining destinations aplenty that'll sweep you off your feet this Valentine's Day.

- Nafeesa Saini

MEADESMOORE

21A Boon Tat Street, meadesmoore.com Modern steakhouse Meadesmoore introduces a Valentine's Day menu inspired by fantasy-comedy film Midnight in Paris. Its Conscious Coupling menu takes diners through the different stages of falling in love, as the protagonist did in the movie.

The meal begins with Beguiled, an appetiser of buttered brioche topped with briny uni, fresh horseradish cream and lardo. Yearning is a Scallops Aguachile similar to ceviche. Sliced scallops are tossed in shallots, garlic and coriander in rhubarb and lime juices, with chopped green Serrano chilli and fresh pomegranate. What follows is Desire, in which sweet prawn is grilled aburi-style, paired with farro grains that are cooked into a risotto and finished with umami-rich housemade shrimp butter. Cutting through all that richness are a heady vermouth emulsion and garnishes of lemon zest, garlic, chive flowers and celery cress.

Fervor presents a choice of mains: a wagyu coulotte or smoked pork jowl. The former is a juicy, charcoal-grilled rump served with a nutty sunchoke puree, chips and crunchy roasted hazelnuts. It's also accompanied by buttery foie gras jus and classic Bordelaise sauce. In the smoked pork jowl, a triple-cooked Spanish Duroc pork is first charcoal-grilled, sous vide for 12 hours, and then grilled a la minute. The charred yet tender meat comes with violet-coloured potato puree, radicchio in a lavender and sherry vinaigrette, and pickled mustard seeds. Deep-fried ham crisps are then sprinkled over for a salty crunch.

The final course is a satisfyingly light dessert. Enchanted is a choice between a white chocolate custard with perilla (an aromatic plant with a strong minty flavour) or a shiso-flavoured cake with strawberry ice cream and streusel crumbs. The Conscious Coupling menu is available on Feb 10 and 11 for lunch, and Feb 13 and 14 for dinner.

CLOS PASOH