Singapore Restaurant Week March 2015 Review: Praelum Wine Bistro
PUBLISHED March 11th, 2015 04:00 pm | UPDATED June 16th, 2020 05:47 pm
Praelum Wine Bistro is one of those gems that have survived the extremely competitive Duxton neighbourhood simply by being very good at what they do. For our last review of the March edition of Singapore Restaurant Week 2015, this intimate, 40-seater restaurant definitely surpassed our expectations with its three-course dinner ($35++) and wine pairing (3 glasses) at an additional $25++.
We started with the fork tender Canadian Baby-Back Ribs, which arrived with a glaze of ginger, honey, Worcestershire, and (the secret ingredient) a teeny bit of hoi sin sauce. While my companion commented it was slightly too sweet, I found the taste just right when paired with a glass of Shiraz from Murray Street Vineyards (Barossa Valley), which was robust enough to hold its own yet not too overpowering.
Seafood Casserole – an intense yet simple dish of shrimps, scallops, squid, sea bass, roasted veggies, forest mushrooms, and potato au gratin served with garlic bread (pssst, they bake their own baguettes!). It’s wholesome, hearty, and nothing too complicated – as is the paired Loimer Grüner Veltliner 2013. Vibrant and floral, this white wine from Austria is relatively high in acidity, which freshens up the palate.
The sweet treat of the meal came in the form of a Crème Brulee. The folks at Praelum do a very decent rendition of the classic French dessert – the rich custard was smooth, fragrant, and not too cold while the caramelized crust was perfect. Our last glass of wine was the 2011 Château Cantegrit Sauternes, a French wine from Bordeaux. It’s probably one of the most glorious sweet wines I’ve ever had, period.
Overall: Good value, great service, and excellent wine pairing by General Manager/Sommelier Gerald – a must try! You’ll probably keep coming back after Restaurant Week, too.
Book your seats at Praelum Wine Bistro online for Singapore Restaurant Week, happening 14-22 March 2015.
