Braise offers new champagne brunch

I’ve never really been a champagne brunch kind of person. To crawl out of bed, stuff my eyeballs out, then sink back to sleep again seems a bit indulgent (even for a foodie like me). But when I trooped down to the idyllic Braise (2/F, 60 Palawan Beach Walk, Sentosa, 6271-1929) to try its new champers brunch, I was frankly surprised at the super-good deal these guys had rolled out. For just $68 per person, you get seven entrees to try at unlimited amounts (excluding the pan served foie gras with caramelized apple and port wine sauce, which is limited to just one serving); a choice of an egg dish (Benedict, scrambled, fried or crispy with sausages, bacon or cured salmon) or pancakes; one main; one dessert; and a free flow of homemade ice tea, mocktails and juices. Add on Delamotte Brut champagne ($88 for a bottle, $168 for two) and you’ll be good to go—to sleep, that is, after it’s all over. From the entrees, I totally loved the light, Japanese-influenced seared scallop with wakame pasta, the flavorful deep-fried oyster with garlic aioli, and the maddeningly addictive pan-fried shrimp and crab cake with peanut sauce. As for mains, I was digging the saffron porridge with pan seared cod fish, which was a perfect marriage. For desserts, I highly recommend the lovely brioche toast, caramelized banana and vanilla ice-cream. Um, maybe I’ll rethink my “lunch, not brunch” leanings. - Belinda Wan