Modern European restaurant Tablescape at Grand Park City Hall unveils an updated dining menu that takes its inventive cuisine towards a fresh new direction.
It’s been a while since we’ve returned to Tablescape in Grand Park City Hall, and many things have changed. Executive Chef Armando Aristarco recently left, but the team he cultivated continues Tablescape’s tradition of churning out inventive takes on modern European cuisine.
If you’re familiar with Tablescape in its earlier days – with founding chef Robert Chan at its helm – you may remember that the fare tended towards a more classic, stodgier approach. Its latest menu cannot be any more different. For its new a la carte menu, the kitchen team takes Aristarco’s Italian approach and pushes it towards a fresher, and healthier, direction.
For example, the beautifully plated Botanic Garden is a showcase of the vibrant colours, flavours and textures humble edible plants can bring to the table. A selection of fresh seasonal vegetables sits atop a bed of charcoal-grilled eggplant puree and are brightened with a sharp dressing made with raspberry vinaigrette and pommery mustard. This dish even comes paired with a glass of smokey Lapsang Souchong to enhance the experience.
Then there’s Zucchini, which elevates the often overlooked marrow by serving it in three forms: a smooth basil infused soup, a steamed ricotta-stuffed zucchini flower that melts and makes the soup creamier as you eat it, and tender sauteed zucchini cubes at the bottom for texture.
We loved Gnocchi, which was utterly melt-in-the-mouth thanks to an unusually high proportion (75%!) of potato to other ingredients like flour and egg in Tablescape’s recipe. Instead of a standard heavy cream sauce, the dumplings are served on broccoli base blended with savoury anchovies, topped with sweet mussels and finished with a wasabi foam that lightens and lifts the dish.
Carnivores would love Beef [Wagyu], an indulgent main of Sanchoku Wagyu beef striploin (Australian MB5) simply cooked in a Josper oven, seasoned with salt and pepper, and served with an eggplant puree and heirloom tomatoes. We reckon this is absolutely the best treatment for a good cut of beef, letting the star shine on its own.
Make sure you round off the meal with Tablescape’s classic Champagne, a light champagne jelly with berries and mascarpone, or Chocolate, a richer option of a Valrhona chocolate brownie with caramel and cardamom creme anglais.
A good way to enjoy the Tablescape new menu is through its course menus – there’s the 4-course Tasting menu, 6-course Experience menu, or an 8-course Degustation menu.
Since we’ve been stuck on our sunny island with all the travel restrictions, glamping has become a thing with couples and families seeking new experiences locally. At Grand Park City Hall, not only can you enjoy an outdoor glamping experience, you can have a luxurious picnic at the same time.
Its Glamping Picnic lets you “glamp” out over food and drink from Tablescape in a tent or gazebo at the hotel’s glorious rooftop terrace. Munch options include the likes of Foie Gras on buttery brioche, and Lobster, a lobster salad served on blinis.
Each space can accommodate up to 5 persons, and is available for booking as a 2-hour session (at 5.30pm or 8pm) for a minimum spend of S$88++ per person and a total minimum spend of S$350++. It is also available as part of Grand Park City Hall’s Glampcation, where you can book a night’s stay in one of the hotel’s suites and enjoy the picnic as well.
[Image credits: Superadrianme.com]
Tablescape (Grand Park City Hall)
Address Level 3, 10 Coleman Street, Grand Park City Hall, Singapore 179809 (Google Maps link)
Opening Hours 12pm to 2.30pm (lunch), 2pm to 5pm (afternoon tea), and 6pm to 10pm, daily
Web www.parkhotelgroup.com/en/cityhall/tablescape
Facebook tablescapesg
Instagram @tablescapesg
