Mandarin Oriental Singapore Melt Cafe's Valentine's Day Dinner 2014 Part 1

Ok apparently Melt cafe at Mandarin Oriental Singapore has a special Valentine's Day dinner every year, but I couldn't find any reviews of it before I went this year, so hopefully this will be helpful.

Menu

This was the menu they emailed to me. They said it might change on the day itself. I think there were some changes, but I can't remember any specific ones.

SALAD BAR

• Caesar Salad - Anchovies, Grated Parmesan, Garlic Croutons, Bacon Bits, Caesar Dressing
• Seasonal Boutique Market Greens - Red Treviso, Baby Spinach, Mesclun Mix, Arugula, Yellow Frisée, Butter Lettuce, Snow Pea Sprouts, Romaine, Red Oak, Endives, Green Coral
• Dressings and Emulsions - Asian, Balsamic, French, Italian, Thousand Island
• Flavoured Vinegars and Oils - Matured Red Wine, White Wine, Sherry, Raspberry, Champagne, Apple, White Balsamic, Black Balsamic, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Walnut, Hazelnut, Avocado, Pumpkin
• Toppings for your Salad - Fennel, Red and Yellow Cherry Tomatoes, Olives, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, French Bean, Snow Peas, Corn Kernel, Shredded Carrot, Alfalfa Sprouts, Japanese Cucumber, Baby Radish, Fava Bean, Kidney Bean

APPETISERS AND SALADS

• Thai Papaya Salad and Roasted Peanuts
• Thai Loster Salad with Glass Noodle
• Thai Minced Chicken Salad
• Casted Golden Cumin Pumpkin Salad with California Raisin and Organic Nuts
• Alaskan Crab Salad Gateaux with Avocado, Tobiko and Organic Cress
• German Potato Salad with Sausages and Herbs
• White Truffle Scented Wild Mushroom Salad
• Herb Cous-Cous Salad Tossed with Pesto
• Maine Lobster Compression with Balsamic Poached Pears and Micro Cress
• Tomato and Mozzarella Salad

EUROPEAN CHARCUTERIES 

• Selection of Premium Charcuteries
• Mortadella, Parma Ham, Black Forest Ham, Honey Baked Ham
• Beef Bresoala, Coppa Salami, Smoked Chicken Breast, Smoked Duck

ARTISAN CHEESE DISPLAY

• Finest Selection of Imported Farm House Cheese
• (Cow, Sheep, Goat and Blue)
• Accompanied with Quince Paste, Flavoured Jams and Mostarda
• Assorted Crackers, Nuts and Dried Fruits

ANTI PASTI

• Specialty In-House Marinade
• Grilled Italian Vegetables, Vintage Vinegar Mushrooms, Capsicum, Eggplant, Sundried Tomato, Pickled Beets, Marinated Bocconcini, Herb Marinated Feta Cheese, Artichokes, Stuffed Olives, Kalamanta and Black Olives

BREAD CREATION

• Array of Special Bread Loafs and Rolls
• Assorted Crisp, Stick and Twist
• Dip of “Spices”
• (Baba Ghanoush, Hummus, Sundried Tomato, Basil Pesto, Olive Tapenade and Black Truffle Mayo Dip)

JAPANESE CULTURE

• Selection of Freshly Pressed Nigri Sushi and Maki
• Freshly Sliced Sashimi Moriawase
• Boston Lobster Sashimi and Lobster Salad Maki Roll
• Japanese Tako, Salmon, Tuna
• Japanese Cha, Zaru Soba or Somen
• (Pickled Ginger, Soyu, Wasabi, Soba Sauce, Shredded Nori, Bonito, Spring Onions and Japanese Pickles)

SEAFOOD COLOSSEUM

• Finest Composition of Mollusks and Crustaceans
• Maine Lobster and Craw, Shucked Oysters, Snow Crab, Spanner Crab
• Green Lip Mussels, Black Mussels, Tiger Prawns, Jonah Crab Craw
• Sea Conch, Peruvian Scallops, Violet Scallops
• (Spiced Chilli Jam, Lime Aioli, Wasabi Mayo, Signature Oriental Dressing)
• (Flavoured Tabasco, Mignonette, Lime and Lemon Wedges)

FOIE GRAS STATION

• Port Gelee and Foie Gras Terrine on Ice
• Pan Seared Duck Liver, Caramelized Onion Jam, Toasted Brioche and Micro Cress

MELT’S SPECIALTY LOBSTER NOODLE

• Maine Lobster, Dried Seaweed, Silken Beancurd and Szechuan Vegetable Cooked A-La-Minute in a Hua Teow Enhanced Lobster Broth
• (Red Chilli, Chilli Padi, Fried Shallot, Spring Onions, Light Soya Sauce)

MELT’S SPECIALTY VALENTINE’S ROAST (LIVE STATION)

• Overnight Roasted Veal Steamship with Tuber Vegetables
• (Merlot Jus and Djon Mustard)
• Slow Baked Iberico Pork Rack with Mustard Rub
• (Sage Jus and Brandied Apple Compote)

INDIAN CUISINE

• Selection of Tandoori Lamb Rack, Tiger King Prawn, Black Cod and Vegetable Kebab
• (Plain, Garlic and Butter Naans)
• Selection of Indian Vegetable and Meat Curries
• Masala and Plain Papadoms
• Indian Rice of the Day with Condiments

THAI AND ASIAN WOK

• Assortment of Oriental Crackers with Chilli Dips

Liquid Sensation

• Herbal Black Chicken Broth with Winter Melon
• Thai Tom Yum Soup with Medley of Seafood

Starch

• Thai Olive Fried Rice
• Steamed Jasmine Rice

Crispy Deluxe

• Wok-Fried Butter Oatmeal Prawns
• Crispy Prawn Paste Chicken

Wok Heat

• Vegetarian Thai Green Curry
• Thai Stir-Fried Minced Chicken with Basil and Cashew Nuts
• Steamed Sea-Bass with Thai Sauce 
• Stir-Fried Chicken with Dried Chilli and Cashew Nuts
• Wok-Fried Oriental Vegetables
• Black Pepper Beef with Onions and Trio Peppers 

EUROPEAN CLASSICS

• Array of Crisp and Chips

Liquid Sensation

• Cognac Infused Lobster Bisque
• Garlic Croutons

Stewed and Braised

• White Wine Mussels with Tomato and Kalamata Olives
• Hungarian Beef Goulash
• Braised Beef Cheeks with Root Vegetables

Pots and Pans

• Sautéed Country Sausages with Bacon and Caramelized Onions
• Gratinated Escargot with Basil Pesto 
• Citrus Baked Sea Perch with Dill and Leek Cream

Carved

• Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb with Mint Glaze and Herbs Crusting

Starch

• Creamy Mashed Potatoes 
• Truffle Pilaf Rice with Raisins and Parsley
• Roasted New Potatoes with Pommery Mustard and Herbs

Farmed Greens

• Braised Corn on the Cob
• Roasted Butternut Squash with Thyme and Garlic 
• Roasted Market Vegetables with Garlic and Herbs 
• Organic Beans Cassoulet
• Tomato Gratin with Champignon Mushrooms

BBQ EXTRAVAGANZA @ THE ALFRESCO TERRACE
On The Rotisserie

• Milk-Fed Suckling Pig
• Hoisin Rubbed Farmhouse Pullet

On The Grill

• Thyme-Garlic Marinated Short-Rib of Beef
• Citrus Dill Marinated Marron Lobster
• Live Tiger Prawns
• Rosemary Rubbed Tenderloin Steak
• Garlic Infused T-Bone Lamb
• Cajun Chicken Supreme
• Specialty Jumbo Pork Sausages
  Chicken Satay
• Snapper Fillet
• Satay Sauce, Hoisin Sauce, Sambal Chilli, Chinchalok Chilli Lime, Chilli Sauce, Thai Chilli Sauce
• Onion Marmalade, Dijon Mustard, Pommery Mustard, Horseradish Cream and Tomato Ketchup

Gourmet Flavoured Salts Pairing

• Indian Curry Salt, Japanese Togarashi Salt, Italian Herb Salt
• Chinese 5-Spice Salt, Hawaiian Black Salt, Smoked Sea Salt

SWEET ENDING DELIGHTS

• Bittersweet Valrhona Dark Chocolate Cake “St.Valentine”
• Baked Chocolate Tarte with Fresh Berries
• Alfonso Mango and Pistachio Cake
• Croquembouche with Roses
• Heart Shaped Strawberry Gateau
• Heart Shaped Chocolate Praline
• Rosella Philadelphia Cheese Cake
• Fresh Berry and Ricotta Cheese Tart
• Raspberry Pate a Chou
• Fresh Strawberry Tuxedo
• Chocolate Cremeux with Morello Cherries
• Rose Layer Cake
• Assorted French Dragee

Chilled Glass Cabinet

• Savarin with Tea
• Jivara Chocolate Mousse
• Lemon Cremeux with Crumble
• Berry Compote with Chantilly
• Fruit Jelly
• Assortment of Sunny Macaroons

Freshly Scooped Homemade Gelati

• Homemade Ice Cream Served with a Freshly Baked Waffle
• Topped with Choice of Chocolate Sauce, Maple Syrup, Chantilly Cream or Vanilla Sauce

Garden of Fruits

• Selection of Refreshing Sliced Fruits:
• Papayas, Watermelons, Honeydews, Pineapples, Rose Apples, Guavas, Kiwis, Persimmons, Star Fruits, Oranges, Grapes

Selection of Thai and Local Desserts

Price

S$108++ per person with juices and soft drinks
S$128++ with glass of Veuve Cliquot champagne, juices and soft drinks
S$158++ with free flow of champagne, wines, beers, cocktails, soft drinks and juices

The Review

Ok I should have written this 4 months ago, so I may not be remembering correctly.
The first thing you want to know is the Melt cafe has 2 seating areas: indoor and outdoor. I'm not sure if you can, but you should try to specify WHERE you want to sit when you make your booking, maybe even which part (closer to the roast, closer to the fruits, table that seats only 2, yes they have larger group tables). I didn't and they almost sat me outside, which I didn't want.

The table was decorated with rose petals and a fresh rose for the lady:

Which, I suppose, is a backup if you forgot to get one. Before I forget, it's pretty dark in this restaurant so my camera was struggling to take pictures. Make whatever preparations you must.

Ok, where to start? There were 3 tables in the cooked foods section. The first was Indian food:

If you read through the menu above, there's a TON of food, and it's impossible to try everything. You're going to have to pick those you like/sound interesting.

The middle table had the roast and European food:

"MELT'S SPECIALTY VALENTINE'S ROAST (Live Station) Overnight Roasted Veal Steamship with Tuber Vegetables"

And the last table (closest to outside) was the Asian food:

Now, I seem to remember that the prawn paste chicken wasn't so nice, probably because it was kept in a covered pot and not cooked within the last 5 minutes. So maybe you'll want to focus on foods you don't normally get to eat.

One side counter had the usual sushi and sashimi, like during their normal buffets, as well as the cold salads.

Ok this meal may be more than I can comfortably put in one post. I'm going to split it so I don't have to mess with the formatting later.
TO BE CONTINUED