Pollen is an appropriate name for a restaurant set in the stunning Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. The towering SuperTrees that could have come straight out of Avatar are the awe-inspiring backdrop to your buggy ride to the restaurant.
SuperTree Grove
The food at Pollen is equally spectacular, with the Mediterranean-inspired cuisine appearing more like works of art, than dishes of food, beginning with the complimentary canapes. These super cute, candy coloured macarons were fabulous with the sweet, melt-in-your-mouth beetroot meringues blending perfectly with the savoury goats cheese filling.
Beetroot meringue with goats cheese
The smoky charcoal crackers were light and crisp, lifted by the freshness of the taramasalata.
Charcoal cracker with taramasalata
The steamed buns were my least favourite of the starters. The buns were fluffy but bland and the strong blue cheese cream was definitely needed to give this dish flavour.
Steamed buns with blue cheese
This is not the best photo, but I really enjoyed the amuse bouche which tasted like a futuristic tomato soup, with its different textures all combining to create an incredible flavour sensation.
Rosemary pannacotta, pepper coulis with croutons, tomato foam
We decided to go for the tasting menu, which began with a cool and fresh scallop carpaccio. The scallops were delicate and silky, set off nicely with the crisp frozen apple slices and salty sea grapes.
Carpaccio of Hokkaido scallops, guava, frozen apple and wasabi, dill yoghurt, seaweed oil
I would be happy to eat this amazing truffle toast for breakfast (or any meal, really) everyday for the rest of my life. The black and white truffle mousse was light in texture, but so full of flavour, combining nicely with the crunchy toast soldier.
Gorgonzola consommé, pears, port jelly, artichokes and truffle toast
Another of my favourites was the seared foie gras which was delectably smooth and rich, but balanced with the acidity of the calamansi jelly and the cracking chia seeds.
Seared foie gras, calamansi, white fungus, longan, chia seeds
The fat slab of salmon (which appears to be quite well hidden in the photo!) was silky and oily, and I was glad to have the mandarin and wasabi powder to cut through the richness. I wasn’t a huge fan of the soft shell crab which was also a touch oily and not crunchy enough to add texture.
Jasmine tea cured Norwegian salmon, artichoke barigoule, mandarin, Ikura caviar, soft shell crab
The beef short rib was lovely – tasty and tender, and I loved the rich, melt-in-your-mouth bone marrow. The pepper gel was also a really clever idea – from now on when waitstaff ask if I want cracked pepper, I’m going to ask for pepper gel instead.
Beef short rib, confit portobello mushroom, charred onions, smoked bone marrow, timut pepper gel
Dessert was phenomenal. I don’t like beer, but this smooth Hoegaarden ice cream had just enough beer flavour without the bitterness and was a surprising partner to the deconstructed lemon tart, which comprised a gorgeous ribbon of vanilla lemon cream and crumbled shortbread. The sweetness of the poached pear and the slightly bitter sheets of cocoa lace added even more depth to a wonderfully complex and perfectly balanced dish.
Hoegaarden – Poached pears, Hoegaarden ice cream, cocoa rice paper, shortbread, vanilla lemon parfait
Full yet? Well, I hope you saved room for the super cute white chocolate and raspberry ice cream bar! Looks like a mini Magnum but tastes way better.
White chocolate and raspberry ice cream
TL;DR:
- An amazing and memorable meal – each course was delicious and bursting with complex textures and bold flavours, not to mention the gorgeous presentation. I always make the effort to visit Pollen when I visit Singapore and I’m never disappointed.
- When you have dinner at Pollen, you also receive a free buggy ride to the restaurant from the entrance of Gardens by the Bay, as well as complimentary entrance into the Flower Dome (normally SGD$12-28 for adults).
Pollen
Flower Dome, Gardens By The Bay
18 Marina Gardens Drive #01-09
Singapore 018953
T: +65 6604 9988
W: Pollen
