Zén-sational
Updated: Jan 20, 2019
Chapter 1
Let me start off by saying I hardly spend more than $800 for two guests at dinner, or any meal for that matter, in Singapore, or any other country come to think of it. I mean it's a very very rare occasion to splash out that kind of cash any time of the year. Probably the only time I can remember doing this was at three-Michelin-starred restaurant and No.1 on World's 50 Best (2016), Eleven Madison Park in New York City. Lunch at the world's best restaurant then cost us US$295 + taxes each, and drinks which came up to a reasonable SGD1,000 for two of us, or slightly over that.
This then leads me to the buzz around new-ish Restaurant Zén that took over the building formerly occupied by two-Michelin-starred Restaurant Andre which closed for good last year. Since the sister restaurant to Frantzén opened last November, all I heard or read about was the price of dinner here - $450++ for a one-menu degustation for one guest. This is excluding the alcoholic pairing at $250++ (6 glasses) and non-alcoholic pairing at $125++ (6 glasses). So forgive me if I took awhile to consider the financial ramifications of my future meals expense report for 2019, and maybe entertained a fleeting thought, I can pass on this one.
I couldn't. And I'm glad M made that decision very easy for me.
Snack #1
Beer poached king crab with sake-washed trout roe, aspic of crab, fennel flowers
Snack #2
Swedish Rårakor (Råraka) twist that's traditionally potato rosti, is translated into a potato roll filled with sour cream, Vendace roe from Kalix (Swedish salmon), pickled onion rings, chives
Snack #3
Whipped foie gras tart, preserved Perigord black truffles, toasted Danish rye, dried celeriac crisps, maple syrup, nutmeg
Snack #4
White cockles, blanket of lardo, Jerusalem artichoke puree, chrysanthemum petals
Snack #5
Onion velouté, almonds, almond milk foam, liquorice cream
These snacks, drinks and hot & cold towels (yes!) were served on street level where The Kitchen is. Read up on upcoming posts to see the rest of this meal looked like.