Flutes @ the Fort

When it was decided that our monthly meal would be at this place, the first question that came to mind was: "What is Australian Cuisine?" Upon further investigation, it turns out it really isn't much different from Western but as the main flutes website has it, Australian cuisine is: "high quality modern Australian cuisine – characterised by fresh local ingredients."

Address: 21 Lewin Terrace, Fort Canning Park

Contact: 66338 8770

Website: http://www.flutesatthefort.com.sg

Entrance

Getting to the entrance isn't a difficult task but it might elude you if you don't pay attention. The flutes valet parking service is highlighted by a small balloon which is pretty much invisible during the peak hours with cars screaming down your neck. Either way, the moment you find your way in, the immediate impression is that you are no longer in Singapore, and that, my dear friends, is priceless.

The elusive valet parking sign

Exterior

Interior

Soft lighting and a suitably colonial architecture built during the early 19th century welcomes you into this little getaway from all the hustle and bustle of daily life. Art pieces adorn the walls of the little restaurant and despite the pictures you see here, the lights are rather dim once you are inside. Oh, no worries about air conditioning after your long walk here for the place is thankfully air conditioned and very cosy.

Menu


Complimentary Bread

Something about these fine dining restaurants which i have come to realize, is that they serve really good bread. Free no less. And this one is pretty well done. Served in loafs instead of single pieces, the sourdough bread here is soft albeit having a nice crispy crust. Personally, i had in excess of 6 pieces of bread and it still wasn't enough. I had to stop before i stuffed myself too full for the coming main courses though. Which is quite a shame. =P

Alaskan King Crab Souffle ($25)

Having arrived very late because i had to direct a dear friend to the location (when i myself didn't know where it was i might add), we missed another appetizer ordered by the group who came earlier but ended up better off since we knew what was good then. This double baked Alaskan King Crab souffle hit the spot just right for me. Although the portion was small, the taste more than satisfied my questions for whether the location would be worth the money. The dish simply tasted cheesy with hints of crab, i believe one crab could have made more than one of these dishes which is a shame we didn't get the whole deal. Still, coupled with the complimentary bread, this was an excellent starter.

Roasted Half Duckling ($38)


Seared Paperbark Scented Petuna Ocean Trout ($36)


Roasted Black Cod ($36)

I got a little taste of almost everything you see here and i must say the ocean trout and black cod is extremly well done. Fragrant, fresh and simply delectable. Worth a try but of course, i'm basing that on just a small spoonful so you may have you reservations before trying. Well, all my friends had their eyes wide open and mouth humming: "Mmmm....." after one bite so you got your review there. I didn't get to try the roasted half duck but i didn't hear any complaints on that either.

Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly ($37)

I got to have a really generous piece of this as well and i must say, its fragrant and tasty...as soon as you get over the fact that the tasty soft portion is all fats of course. Best to let a person who had it as a main course tell you how it really tastes. And this is FatPig in his own words:
"My main course, the Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly. Just to reiterate that Kurobuta Pork is akin to Kobe beef in the pork hierarchy, therefore making it highly prized and expensive. The Kurobuta pork belly was nothing short of excellent, with the fats literally melt in your mouth tender and the meat fibrous yet retaining a certain firmness. Did I mention anything about the skin being crackling crispy as well? The accompanying Sauteed Portobello mushrooms were juicy and soaked up the wonderful Star Aniseed Jus, making for a wonderful and flavourful side. Please be warned that this dish is definitely not for the health conscious."

Grilled Grain Fed Beef Tenderloin ($39)

And yes, i had beef again. Well, i had to make a choice between this and kangaroo loins so naturally i picked something i'm already familiar with to prevent disappointment. Did it disappoint? I'd say no. The beef came nicely grilled to perfection, being nicely cooked on the outside and fresh on the inside thus retaining most of the beef juices i so love. The side of mashed potato gratin was great, the top most layer was little crunchy and very soft on the inside. The sauce deserves special mention as well, it tasted like a mix of japanese teriyaki sauce with chinese soya sauce used in fish dishes. A wierd combination to be sure, but surprisingly compliments the dish making it close to perfection. For me at least. =P

Chocolate Fondant

Fresh Mango and Strawberry Millefeuille

Personally, i did not get to try these 2 but i understand they were acceptable though not extraodinary.

Peach and Vanilla Creme Brulee

A lovely dessert to be sure. However, having tried the same offering in Eden Cafe by Chef Clement, i'd say the creme brulee was good but lacking in the sense that the sugar layer on top was too thick. It actually stuck to the teeth and that dampened spirits somewhat after a satisfying meal. That said though, the layer beneath was still smooth and moderately sweet enough to be good. The ice cream it came with was Mint and Chempedak which is nice and smooth but didn't quite appeal to my tastes. I could have enjoyed a simple vanilla with the creme brulee and it would have been perfect.

Bill

The meal came up to $516 for 7 people. Which isn't too expensive considering it brought me temporarily away from the bustle of daily life and had a generally high quality in its food offerings. Factor in wonderful company and this Aussie meal is just great.

Score:

Ambience: 7.75/10
Food : 7.75/10
Value for Money: 6.5/10
Portion Size: 7/ 10
Service : 7.5/10

Overall: 7.3/10

Last Word:
So far, i've had quite a few meals and this is one of them i could easily recommend to people. The ambience is nice with soft lighting and its rather obscure location. Romantic even if its a quiet evening. When we were there, there was a rather huge rowdy group behind us that made conversation rather difficult. Food-wise, this place works for me and their seasonal offerings mean i could return for different dishes each time. Do try this place out.