My heart was bursting with pride when I discovered that a PHILIPPINE-inspired dish is now on the lunch menu at one of my all-time favorite restaurants in Singapore, Restaurant Andre! The dish is the brainchild of Filipina chef de partie, Johanne Siy-Cuyegkeng, who was inspired when she and chef/ co-owner Andre Chiang visited Manila for Madrid Fusion earlier this year. “I was inspired by the Madrid Fusion experience,” she shares. “The whole approach of drawing from my roots and experiences in creating a dish.”
On the menu, it is called Idea of “Kinilaw” Ceviche/ Cured Scallop Three Ways in Tiger’s Milk/ Cucumber, Apple Jelly and Avocado. It is scallop tartare, cured in Tiger’s milk, mixed with aromatics, spices and shreds of dried scallops– wrapped in a delicate scallop skin, “made by pureeing scallops and rolling them out into a flat translucent sheet like pasta, cooking them sous vide and punching them out,” explains Jo, who worked at Eric Ripert’s Le Bernardin and Daniel Boulud’s Cafe Boulud in New York, before joining Restaurant Andre.
It’s not only pretty– meticulously and painstakingly plated, just like every other dish at Andre, but also very refined in flavor, the freshness of the sea– specifically the scallops, sliding flawlessly into the palate– and likewise very refreshing for our Southeast Asian weather! It’s on their lunch menu-– which is a steal at SG $128++— which I highly recommend you order for a taste of the Philippines at the #1 restaurant in Singapore, #5 restaurant in Asia, and #46 in the world.
PS I am currently obsessed with “China Rich Girlfriend” by Kevin Kwan, the sequel to his international bestseller “Crazy Rich Asians.” Hence, I got so excited when I found Restaurant Andre on Chapter 9 of Part 2! In the book, Andre is described as “a top restaurant” and “the elegant white colonial-era shophouse that has been converted into one of the island’s most acclaimed restaurants.” As if we didn’t know that already! 🙂
Restaurant Andre is located at 41 Bukit Pasoh, Road, Singapore 089855. For reservations, phone +65 6534 8880 or visit <restaurantandre.com>. It is open for Lunch: Wednesday & Friday only / $128++; Dinner: Dinner: Tuesday – Sunday / $298++. It is closed on Mondays and Public Holidays
