British Grub

It's not my first visit to BSK, but it's my first time trying its Beef Wellington ($80 for 3 generous pieces). It's my first time eating Beef Wellington, period. And I see why Gordon Ramsay made such a big fuss about it.

It's really delicious, tender medium-rare filet with mushroom duxelle enveloped in a flaky puff pastry that seals all that flavor inside. Just wish there was a bit more mushroom? Could barely taste it. 🤔

However the beef is seared to perfection and super flavorful, especially with the red wine jus that is served alongside. Also there's the excellently done glazed carrots and mashed potato. It's pricey, and maybe there are better ones out there, but the bar certainly has been set high for future Beef Wellington. :)

8.5/10

This Raffles Hotel special ($50) was super rich and decadent. Lobster chunks were tossed in a light dressing and topped with uni and caviar, then stuffed into a brioche roll.

Every bite was just erupting with umami and really flavorful. The lobster was nicely cooked too, not chewy or rubbery. And I love how the buttery, perfectly toasted brioche was super fluffy and went really well with the seafood.

My complaint would be that's its pretty tiny for the price. Despite the premium ingredients, I feel that it isn't super value for money.

7/10

How can I not eat this classic British pub fare at a restaurant opened by a British chef? BSK's version is a rather affordable $29, a no-frills affair served with tartar sauce and mushy peas. There are condiments available; a tiny jar of ketchup and vinegar.

The chips to me were the highlight of the dish. Thick-cut and chunky, they were hot, fresh and crispy. They went perfectly with any of the condiments; their ketchup is really really good. Its apparently imported from England and not your usual Heinz stuff; there is a rich fruity flavor that paired beautifully with the chips.

The fish took a backseat though. The batter was mostly air, and the fish underneath is cod but wasn't super flavorful. I thought the dish as a whole could be better seasoned. Also the mushy peas were very bland but I'm not sure if it was supposed to be that way.

7.5/10

This is a tortilla-esque crispy flatbread topped with fennel and pork sausage, spinach, creme fraiche, chili and shallot. ($28)

It tastes like a delicious fancy cousin of a thin-crust pizza. The creme fraiche is like a refreshing, cold version of a white sauce and goes really well with the spinach (makes it taste kind of like creamed spinach) and makes a great anchor for the flavor profile of the pizza.

Then the shallot and red chili kind of provide a burst of strong flavor in the background to contrast against the tangy, cool creme fraiche (although the chili was a bit too overwhelming for me) and the saltiness of the sausage. The sausage strangely didn't contribute much to the pizza except a mild umaminess and they look like blobs of meat.

The thin flatbread meant that it served merely as a vessel to deliver the flavors and textures to my palate. Which is right up my alley.

9/10