Screening Room

 

 

The brainchild of this ingenious dining concept in Singapore is food celebrity Samia Ahad who also owns the Coriander Leaf Group. I first met Samia Ahad at the Gallery Hotel when Coriander Leaf, another fantastic restaurant, first opened. Since then, I see Samia Ahad as a very successful food entrepreneur, chef and also an author of “Simply Samia”. She has also hosted a couple of TV shows.

 

The menu at Screening Room has something for everyone. Whether you want an inexpensive snack with drinks at the bar, a casual steak dinner or a more formal four-course menu paired with wines, it’s all here the way you want it and carefully crafted – yes, presentation is very detailed here.

 

                                                                                                                                         

The Bites menu is certainly for anyone who wants something light to nibble while enjoying a drink or something more substantial. For those who want variety in a plate, go for the Platter to Share. Screening Room gives guests the choice to make a culinary journey of nibbles through Asia with their Indian, South Asian, Asean and Mediterranean Platters. We tried the Mediterranean Platter that was enough for two persons to share. The Labne and Walnut and Red Pepper Dip were just about perfect balance in taste.

 

 

The Walnut and Red Pepper Dip, a Turkish iconic spread was served with naan wedges and carrot and cucumber crudites. As I was dipping my naan into this dip, I was thinking, I wish I have more of it to take home to use to make a flavorful sandwich spread or as a topping extraordinaire for a grilled fish! The wonderful warm color and flavor of red capsicum dominated the dish. The filo pastry filled with chicken filling was dainty and warm and there was also the Tapenade Bruschetta, Grilled Portobello Mushroom and Goat’s Cheese Mini Burgers and Grill Shrimp. On special requests by greedy me, I also tried the Brie Cheese with Onion Marmalade Mini Burgers. The Prawn Bouillabaisse (pronounced “buoy-ya-bess”) came next with plump Australian mussels and shelled prawns. It was full bodied and rich tasting minus the usual flavor of saffron.

 

 

For mains I ordered Samia’s signature dish Rack of Lamb with Tamarind and Coriander Seed Crust, served with yummy olive and potato mash and spicy green beans. The lamb was perfectly done, the way I had requested the chef to do and it was a generous portion. However, I would have preferred a generous crust of coriander seeds. My dining partner had Scottish Salmon with Walnut Tarator Crust, sweet pea coulis, sugar snap peas and crispy shallots……..a mouth of a words but a delight to look at. Presentation and choice

of crockery is awesome at Screening Room.

 

 

Yours sincerely, Devagi, the Dessert Devil tried two desserts - Valrhona Guanaja Dark Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Coulis & Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Valroha’s dark chocolate always had a complex flavor with red forest fruits notes and this cake went along with its cousin, the Raspberry Coulis and when you scoop the two and douse it with a bit of vanilla ice cream…….what do you experience, heaven in the mouth? Yes, YES!

 

                                                                                                                                                    

Spiced Panna Cotta with Bitter Sweet Citrus Fruit & Almond Cigar was a pretty thing and the Almond Cigar was a stand out…….filo pastry rolled up into cigars with marzipan that had a hint of ginger. The desserts were light and satisfying and went along well with the good coffee. The menu also had a good selection of French handmade raw milk cheeses and I was very tempted to try but will do the next time I am there. Finally, I decided to take a walk to see what the building has to offer.

 

 

 

If you are a whisky lover, you will be spoilt for choice at the Vault Bar, a nice, dark, somber, cosy underground hideout, located at the basement of the Screening Room. They specialize in Scottish whiskies and a range of craft beers drawn from microbreweries in Scotland. This is the sort of place one can unwind and relax on weekday nights with friends or discuss work over a beer or dram of good old Scottish whisky. It will be packed during weekends.

 

Get into the lift and then up a flight of staircase to the rooftop – it was hot when I went but I bet it would be breezy and beautiful at night with the stars staring down at you. Here is a very relaxed rooftop bar with casual wooden furniture and a reasonably extensive menu - the right place for those who want a starry evening and fresh air, plus a drink on hand.

 

There are many food and film paired events and menu here. Every Wednesday night at 7 pm, go and watch Hindi movies. Visit the website for a comprehensive time table for the screening of movies. For a one-time $100 payment, buy a MAM (Mad about Movies) card - you can watch up to 20 movies which makes watching one movie only $5!. If you want to watch a movie just for that day, it is $20….food not included.

 

                                                                          

 

The Screening Room also conducts boutique corporate or personal events like Movie Making Team Building Workshops , team bonding workshops, cooking classes, themed birthday parties and games show. The movie making workshop is team building event for groups of 15-30 people and it is a half day event that includes food naturally. They also have a unique team bonding event where one can watch a movie with a colleague while eating a menu specially designed and influenced by the movie.

 

Staff was pleasant and helpful at the Screening Room and as I left the place, I know I will return another day…….because I must taste the cheese and be there longer, to drink in the maximum of what the Screening Room offers.