Open For Business: Antoinette at Sofitel So Singapore, Tapas 39, Balaclava, W.E.+, La Ventana

Antoinette at Sofitel So Singapore

Pastry chef Pang Kok Keong of the Sugar Daddy Group has opened another Antoinette patisserie at the lobby of Sofitel So Singapore in Robinson Road.

Sticking to its French aesthetic, the outlet seats up to 30 diners and serves a wide selection of pastries and cakes, along with macarons, chocolates and jams.

To mark the launch, he has created a Satay Swirl pastry ($3.50), which pays homage to the favourite hawker dish. After all, Antoinette is located just opposite the famous satay street at Lau Pa Sat. The Danish pastry has chef Pang's house-made satay sauce incorporated in its layers.

Other highlights include pure butter croissants, Antoinette's kouglof and pain au chocolat. Prices start at $1.50 for a sugared brioche.

Antoinette has two other outlets, in Penhas Road and Mandarin Gallery.

Where: Sofitel So Singapore, Lobby Level, 35 Robinson Road
Open: 8am to 10pm daily
Info: Call 6701-6868 or go to www.facebook.com/Antoinette.sg

Tapas 39

Members-only Club 39 at Duxton Hill has opened a new tapas restaurant called Tapas 39 on its ground floor. It is open to the public.

The kitchen is headed by Chilean executive chef Rodrigo Guerrero, formerly from 63Celsius.

Tapas items include fried potato stuffed with salt cod mousse ($12); soya and honey mustard pork ribs ($15); mushroom and truffled quail egg tortino ($12); and sea urchin au gratin topped with champagne ($20). Create a tasting menu for $60+, with a selection of five tapas.

There are also breakfast items such as Greek yogurt and fresh fruit salad ($12.50), classic scrambled eggs, toast and butter ($7), and granola, dry fruit, ricotta and honey ($10).

The brunch selection features a lobster roll ($40) with wasabi mayonnaise, Granny Smith apple and potato chips; crab meat and avocado salad ($22); and truffled eggs, portobello mushroom, potato, asparagus and Jamon Iberico de Bellota ($22).

Where: 39 Duxton Hill
Open: 8.30am to midnight (weekday), 10am to midnight (weekend)
Info: Call 6221-4235 or e-mail reservations@theclub39.com

Balaclava

Nightlife hotspot Balaclava returns to Suntec City after four years at Ion Orchard. It was first located in Suntec City from 2000 to 2010. The menu features a variety of Asian and Western cuisine, as well as tapas items.

Asian highlights include Hokkien Mee, with prawns, squid, and pork lard in a prawn broth ($16); Black Angus beef kway teow in black bean sauce ($16); and mee goreng ($16) with seafood. Western food items include gamberi (prawn) aglio olio ($22); and Cajun snapper ($22) with mixed green salad.

Kick back with drinks and tapas such as crab cakes ($16); meat platter ($38) with crispy pork, chicken wings and assorted sausages; and top shell with Thai chilli ($12).

Where: Suntec City Tower 5, 3 Temasek Boulevard, 01-434
Open: 4pm to 1am (Sunday to Thursday), 4pm to 3am (Friday and Saturday)
Info: Call 6336-0050

W.E.+

Retail space Workshop Element has moved away from its pop-up store format to focus on a permanent store concept, which houses the W.E. cafe.

All-day brunch items include Eggs Benedict Norwegian ($19.90) with poached eggs, smoked salmon, roasted potatoes and toast; scrambled eggs ($17.60) with pork sausage and roast potatoes; and omelette ($17.60) with pork sausage and toast. Sandwich options include tuna (from $8.90); roast beef ($16.90); and chicken and celery ($10.90).

For dessert, waffles with honey butter ($6.90); and waffles with gelato ($11.90, with single scoop) are available.

After your meal, check out the store's offerings, which include brands such as shoemaker Atelier LLYR; socks retailer Happy Socks; Revolte, which sells children's clothes and women's accessories; and BSYM (formerly known as Mu) by W.E.'s founder and local designer Alfie Leong.

Where: Suntec City Tower 5, 3 Temasek Boulevard, 02-433/434/436/438/441/442
Open: 9am to 8pm daily
Info: Call 6837-0287 or go to www.facebook.com/we.cafe.singapore

La Ventana

Unlike many high-profile openings of celebrity chefs boasting Michelin stars, Michelin-starred Catalan chef Carles Gaig has opened a Spanish tapas restaurant in Dempsey with hardly any fanfare.

On the menu are dishes such as Jamon Iberico de Bellota ($26 for five pieces); roasted octopus ($38) with potatoes and Spanish smoked papra; crispy suckling pig ($38) with strawberry salad; and carabinero paella ($39) infused with seafood stock.

Do not miss the signature dish of Canelon 1869 ($12), which is an Italian-style canneloni with beef, pork, foie gras, and a truffle cream sauce. The recipe dates back to 1869, when his family's restaurant opened.

Restaurant Gaig in Barcelona, which also draws on the family's age-old recipes, received its first Michelin star in 1993.

Where: 16A Dempsey Road
Open: Noon to 3pm, 6 to 11pm, Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Monday
Info: Call 6479-0100 or go to www.facebook.com/LaVentanaSG

This article was first published on September 13, 2015.
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