The Lunar New Year will be very soon upon us. Have you started tossing your yu sheng? We've done quite a few. Here's one certainly for abundance, with more than 20 ingredients, including Alaskan King Crab, from Palm Beach Seafood at One Fullerton.
Palm Beach has got a great location near the Merlion, and of course the million-dollar view of Marina Bay and Esplanade. When you're craving local-style seafood right in the Central Business District, or need to bring business guests, this is one place to consider.
The Alaskan King Crab Yu Sheng (S$58 or S$88) is a pretty platter. I like that this one has shredded fried yam on top.
Alaskan King Crab certainly ups the ante on this festive salad. You can taste the deep-sea sweetness of the crustacean in the mix.
Seafood Deluxe Combination (selection of five seafood items): $23.00 per person.
Here we have Canadian live oyster, Hokkaido scallop sashimi, New Zealand king salmon sashimi, Scottish bamboo clam, and live poached prawns. Other options include US Alaskan king crab or half-shell Chilean scallops.
Australian Lobster with Vermicelli in Superior Stock : $16.80 per 100g
This is an award-winning dish also known as Coco Lobo. It came steaming hot in individual claypots, and the beautiful complex aroma immediately sends your expectations soaring. Looks and even smells spicy, like a laksa, but it isn't at all. There isn't even coconut milk in this! Confused? Well, my tastebuds did a double take but were happy nonetheless. The lobster is incredibly fresh (it was live, apparently) and tasted gorgeous.
Honey Tangy Marble Goby: $7.50 per 100g
Another name for sweet and sour fish, you say? No, this is more than that. There are spices (I think lemongrass for one, and lots of hot chillies) that make this dish rise above the common sweet-sour rendition. It's almost like a Malay dish, an intensely flavoured and spicy one. Loved this - possibly my favourite of all.
Prosperity Vegetables: $48 or $68
Large dried oysters battered and fried, placed atop broccolini decorated with hair moss ("fa cai"). The oysters are smoky but a little dry (guess that's what the sauce is for). Vegetables are blanched just right though.
Chilli Crab $4.50 per 100g
These are some of the biggest Sri Lankan crabs we've seen. My friend Mei Ling who came with me kept pronouncing this (and pretty much every seafood item here) as "Fresh! Very fresh!" The thick sauce may look fiery red, but it's not spicy at all - quite tourist-friendly, I'd say. Personally I still think crab is best done with black pepper or salted egg.
Double Baked Crab a la Singapura: $4.50 per 100g
Well, Palm Beach has 11 styles of crab. They even concocted their own unique dish of double-baked crab with cheese. The whole crab is coated with crusty parmesan cheese - makes you want to lick the shells. I preferred this to the chili version.
Two Preparations of Nian Gao: $18 or $28
Nian gao (sticky New Year cake made from glutinous rice flour) we often see as the battered and fried sandwich (between yam and sweet potato slices). But here it's also presented like "kueh kosui", covered with shredded coconut (see background). Clever.
White Fungus, Red Dates & Dried Longan Served in a Coconut : $5.80
Warm and syrupy, this will satisfy any sweet tooth. Too bad you can't eat the coconut.
I have to say the fruit blends (S$3.80) here are good value, especially the mango. They are thick and rich with real fruit blended with ice.
Palm Beach has modern chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling greenery on one side, with large mirrors that almost look like an entrance to another room. Service so far was brisk and good; one of the wait staff even helped me deshell a crab claw.
They also have a daily lunch seafood buffet (check website promo page for details) but it's not available for February.
I would like to thank Karin of Palm Beach Seafood and Gail for hosting this seafood feast. It was an honour to meet Mr Han Jin Juan, the Managing Director. Thanks also to Fullerton Heritage for making the arrangements. This marks our final stop in the fantastic Fullerton Heritage food tasting series.
PALM BEACH SEAFOOD
One Fullerton #01-08,
1 Fullerton Road
Singapore 049213
Tel: 6336-8118
Open Daily
12noon – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Hi! I'm visiting from ladyironchef.com :) I love your pictures! Every dish looks perfect (especially the seafood deluxe combination)! I really need to try this place out - it looks divine! :) xx
ReplyDeletewhat so clever about nian gao covered in coconut? it's nothing new
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shirin! Yes, I see you often on LIC. Glad you popped over!
ReplyDeleteAnon: someone in a tizzy over mock kueh kosui? Well it may not be new to you, but it is new to me, as nian gao is not something I pay much attention to, or eat often.
Love your pictures, good photographer's eye, the food looks good too, what camera do you use Canon T1i, Nikon D90?? The old Scratch make me thirsty, pitty I can't drink anymore. Anyway thanks and keep going, got my Mojo back!
ReplyDeleteThank you, anonymous! I use an old Canon 400D (Rebel XTi) - I get asked this a lot, so I put camera info on the sidebar. Keep that mojo going!
ReplyDeleteThis article made me so hungry! These food pictures look amazing.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you're eating very good!
That food looks vary tasty. You have made me so hungry and I don't have what to eat now.
ReplyDelete