PUBLISHED November 29th, 2017 04:00 am
If you’re anything like us and can feast on desserts for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you might fall in love with the new Dessert Pig Out menu at Fat Lulu’s, and perhaps even the man behind it all, Chef Song. The reserved Malaysian-born chef is one half of the dynamic duo behind the River Valley restaurant (which we previously wrote about here), and in contrast to the feistiness of his partner Chef Sam, Song is much cooler – the perfect temperament for mastering his passion of confectionary-making.
“I realised that sweet things make people happy without fail, and I love to see people happy after eating what I’ve made.”
Having apprenticed in a confectionary shop in his hometown of Julai and later on at the five-star ZON Regency Hotel in Johor Bahru, Song arrived in Singapore to lengthy stints at the Grand Hyatt Singapore, Halia, and Raven before taking on the mantle at Fat Lulu’s. For all his mild-manneredness, Song’s indulgent creations can be particularly intense. His new Dessert Pig Out set, which sees a whopping 10 sharing plate desserts for a maximum of four to share, runs the gamut from chocolate and beetroot to cheese and mocha.
Repeat customers will know that these aren’t run-of-the-mill desserts that we’re talking about. There was the Childhood, which sees a peanut butter popsicle served with chunks of raspberry granita and housemate chocolate cookie crumble. And now, we see the Mini Childhood, a scaled down version of the same dessert but with a hazelnut popsicle instead. Berries & White Chocolate is another decadent fare – white chocolate ice cream served with cassis granita, frozen cassis foam, and strawberries infused with elderflower syrup.
Apple & Champagne is served in a heavy stone bowl, featuring an elegant quenelle of tangy green apple sorbet on a bed of sweet and milky frozen champagne foam. By now, it’s clear that Song likes delicate fruit and floral elements. Though amongst all that the gentle Lemon Grass Jelly stands out for its distinct Asian flavours of lemongrass, calamansi, and ginger flower – similar to the Teochew dessert one might see at a Chinese wedding.
Other highlights include the humble Green Tea Opera soaked in housemade green tea syrup, inspired by a recipe from the Grand Hyatt kitchen, and the very delicious (and equally pretty) Beetroot & Cheese – beetroot and blueberry sorbet, plus lemon cream cheese mousse. As for the rest, well, part of the fun is not knowing what you’ll get.
Don’t have three other people with you? Well, get your body ready for new desserts on the à la carte menu, such as the Three Porn Stars trio ($28++) of Ipoh White Coffee, hazelnut, and milk chocolate popsicles; and the crème brulee-like Melaka Boleh ($18++) with gula melaka, cream cheese cream, and nutty adzuki beans. We’re not hating on the simple waffle and scoop of ice cream, but that said, Fat Lulu’s will show you what intricate technique-driven desserts are all about – and trust us, they promise a happy ending.
The Dessert Pig Out is available at $65++ for a set of 10, for a maximum of four guests, Mon-Fri 8.30pm onwards, Sat-Sun 12pm–3pm. Fat Lulu’s is located at 297 River Valley Rd, Singapore 238338, p. +65 9236 5002.