Stellar dining at 1-Altitude
PUBLISHED September 16th, 2013 01:16 am | UPDATED June 2nd, 2016 03:44 pm
Dining at 1-Altitude is something that most would associate with being flashy, great for views, and generally to impress visitors or business associates… Food takes a backseat. However, with Chef Milar taking the helm at the recently rejuvenated dining destination, I have to admit that it rather does live up to its name, with stellar food accompanying the whole experience.
Arriving at Stellar for the first time is something of a swish experience. You enter at ground level to a lift which seems to go endlessly up like Willy Wonka’s. Mercifully, instead of bursting through the glass roof at great speed, the lift does eventually stop at the 62nd floor, where the door opens, and the setting really takes hold of you.
One thing I very much like about Stellar as a restaurant is its bright ambience. Granted, you’re having lunch in the tallest buildings in Singapore and the entire space is covered with windows, but still. I like being in the light – it means when it comes to the food that the presentation has to be that much better, as your patrons are going to see every single, tiny detail in glaring clarity. In Stellar’s case, Chef Milar uses this as an opportunity to show his culinary prowess.
For example, the quick-to-arrive amuse bouche made with hamachi (yellow tail) tartar and sake sorbet served on a chiso leaf. Not only was it phenomenally tasty with the cold soft sorbet oozing over the firm, fresh hamachi but…well, just look at it! It’s a little orange mouse on a plate!
The rest of the dishes to arrive were impressive. The first appetizer was an open ravioli of decadently soft scallop with diced marinated sweet pear. Impressive, with the pear adding a slight sweetness to the scallop (reminding me of how well sweet fruits go well with pan-seared foie gras).
Next up was possibly my favourite dish, smoked eel. Something very uncommon for a menu in Singapore, but absolutely gorgeous. The smoked eel was perfectly textured with that wonderful smokey flavour. I also adored the chunk of beautifully cured ocean trout. I seriously need the recipe for this one.
On to a surprising vegetarian course, batons of asparagus and a semi-poached egg with the Chef personally coming over to shave some fresh black truffles for garnish. Nice touch!
The only disappointing dish was the Sous vide Kobe beef. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, just a little too delicate and bland for my liking.
However this was more than made up for by what was about to happen. Let’s just say, that the ‘dessert experience’ is well deserving of its title. You can’t really see from this picture but the plate itself is about one meter long. Chef will personally come over and plate everything right in front of your eyes. As you drool away, one dish after another is plated theatrically. It’s not just pretty – the desserts are excellent. I was particularly partial to the chocolate bomb, and the molton lava cake.
The gastronomic menu here isn’t cheap. A four course menu will set you back $95++, however you do have the luxury of being able to chose from a rather delicious and elegant selection of dishes.
Dining in a beautiful location in Singapore can often mean a disappointing compromise when it comes to the kitchen. I am most pleasantly surprised to discover that the food at Stellar achieves a standard great enough to be worthy of such a wonderful view of our fair city. If you have friends visiting from abroad or want to organise an impressive fine dining meal with a superb view, Stellar should be right at the top of your dining shortlist.
Written by The City Nomad.
On this occasion the meal was compliments of Stellar
