Oct 16 2009
Rockers rule the restaurant
- Raygun rockin’ it out at Movida
Raygun, better known as the hot new Brit band with the hot song, Just Because, from their smoking new album, also called Raygun, were in town earlier this week for a blitzing show at Movida. But before the boys got rockin’ we sat down to lunch with them at Summer Pavilion, the swanky Chinese restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore.
- Raygun chowing down at Summer Pavilion
But this time, instead of quizzing them about all things music, we got the guys – Ray, Toby, Sam and Ben – to pretend to be Anthony Bourdain or the Makansutra guy and play food critic. Here’s what they had to say about the food (rated out of 5):
DIM SUM COMBINATION: Pan-fried crabmeat dumpling with prawn, mushroom and Chinese cabbage; deep-fried taro roll with chicken and spring onion; and poached wanton with chicken, prawn and vegetable in chilli sauce
RAY: I would give it a 5.
BEN: The presentation was 6 out of 5.
ADJ: I have dim sum quite a lot, but this is about 8,000 times better than anything I’ve tried. 5 out of 5.
SAM: 4.5 out of 5, because this could be amazing, then I’d have nowhere to go.
DOUBLE-BOILED SEAFOOD WITH WINTERMELON SOUP
RAY: The soup is very good, but I prefer a soup without the bits in it.
SAM: As far as soups go, it’s very good. Great flavour with these bits in them.
ADJ: It’s everything I expected it to be. It’s just what I was hoping for. So I’m a happy man. 4 out of 5.
BEN: I thought the soup was delightful. And I loved the combination of the soup with the wintermelon. I thought that was sensational. A very respectable 3 out of 5.
PAN-FRIED CHICKEN CHOP; and SAUTEED WILD MUSHROOM WITH SEASONAL VEGETABLE accompanied by BRAISED EGG NOODLES WITH FISH FILLET AND BEAN SPROUTS
ADJ: I would say the chicken was great. Good flavour, nice presentation. I’d give that a 4 out of 5. The noodles were very well cooked. I liked the fish. But they made a cardinal sin, in my opinion, because they included mushrooms, and I’m not a mushroom fan. I’m giving it a 3 for that.
BEN: The chicken – a beautifully selected chop of chicken on a bed of sweet onions, and the chilli sauce was just enough to give that spicy hotness. Perfectly complementing the chicken – 4 out of 5. I’m not a mushroom fan either, but they were in a nice sauce, which made them enjoyable. The fish was melt-in-your-mouth. I could have eaten more of that.
RAY: The chicken was grilled to perfection. The flower was a nice touch – I was tempted to eat it. I’d give that a 5 because I thought it was great. The noodles were pleasant, but I really wish there was more fish. The fish was good. I’d give that a 3.8 out of 5.
- Ray (left) and Adj (right) showing the wrong way to use chopsticks
CHILLED CREAM OF SAGO WITH MANGO AND POMELO
RAY: I’m into mango, but I’m not really into the bits, I would prefer if it was just a plain mango dessert. 2.8 out of 5.
SAM: It tastes all right, but I find the texture a bit weird, like the jelly balls. Looks like someone dropped silica gel in it. Oh, it’s sago. A 3 out of 5.
ADJ: I’m not enamoured by it, but I quite like it. It makes your mouth feel good. A 3 out of 5.
BEN: I think it’s nice to finish a meal with fruit. And I think mango is a… fruit. I like that they’ve done something nice with it. I don’t think I needed the whole bowl. Just a taster.
ADJ: Like a shot?
BEN: Yeah. Just a shot. On that basis, I’m going to give it a 3 out of 5.
The final verdict? Ben would obviously would make a better food critic than Ray - because once in a while, we’ll have to eat “bits”, won’t we, and we can’t just diss a dish just because there are ”bits” in it. (Thankfully, Ray won’t have to give up his day job any time soon.)
