Hemlig - Scandinavian Delights

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Going on more gastronomic adventures, and this time is jumping into the unchartered waters of Scandinavia! I personally think it's a pretty daring move since I had never tried Scandinavian cuisine before, or even read about it before Hemlig. But it's exciting too to try something new, and it's part of the fun.

Turns out that the food here is really good and surprisingly very suitable for our palates. The place has this classy clean look with lots of light colour wood that reflects the cool climate of Scandinavia. And the antler lamps complete the look. With the ambience in place, time to enjoy some Northern European fare.

Smørrebrød of Plaice with Homemade Remoulade is bit like Fish n Chips, but way better. The plaice flatfish has fine, moist texture with subtle sweet flavour. It is more flavourful than than the usual Fish n Chips. And each thin fillet is thoroughly coated with golden brown super crispy breadcrumbs to yield that brittle crunchiness with each bite. Homemade remoulade is the star here. It is like tartar sauce, creamy but has more goodies packed within, being more nuanced and varied in flavours.

Tjörn Altos Plato Elderflower Lingonberry Lime is made with Scandinavian liquor and is thus very unique in taste. There are herbal and nutty notes in the cocktail that actually go well with the refreshing tangy taste of the fruits.

Janzon's Temptation Creamy Baked Potatoes Anchovies and Sautéed Onions is the MVP here. This is so delicious! Freshly baked in the glassware, the blanket of browned potato strips and savoury cream hold the heat within to get piping hot potato strips slathered with creamy umami. This is pure delight to savour. And I like it that the potatoes are in the shape of French Fries, since the core of the strip has a good bite to it and let the mild sweetness of potato shine through the flavourful sauce. A must-try here.

Dessert of the Day is Chocolate Brownies. Rich dark chocolate and an interesting nice texture similar to that of nougat. I like this.

The ambience has a sense of cool calm with lots of high tables for the cool and sophisticated ones. There are some family friendly tables at both ends too. The service is very good and friendly, advising me on number of dishes to order so that I don't overstuff myself. At here, I feel a moment of being far away from the usual city buzz. I enjoy my time here.

Actually, after a lunch here, I'm all eager to try more of dishes here. And I saw that the dinner menu is even more exciting, with Skagen (Cold Water Shrimps with dill and lemon), Gravlax (House cured Salmon), Seafood Casserole and more. All these look like what I will like! I think I need to plan a trip to there for dinner lol

Thoughts: I had tried Scandinavian cuisine and it's good!

This restaurant is no longer in operation.

CouCou Authentic Swiss Restaurant and Bar - Swiss Gruyère Cheese Goodness

Time for a small adventure by trying new cuisine, and this time, it's Swiss Cuisine at CouCou. I actually found out about this place when I walked pass it. The sheltered cosy-looking courtyard looks like a nice little exclusive den. And the bold red sign also attracts the attention.

I feel like I'm in a cosy rustic European log cabin when stepping into the restaurant. The numerous cuckoo clocks hung on the wall add even more authentic feel to that vibe. I think I know where the restaurant name of CouCou came from 😉 The food here is a must-try for cheese lovers. And potato lovers too. Or for those who just want to have fun dipping the food into the molten cheese, aka fondue.

MALAKOFF CouCou is one of the specialities of this restaurant and is best eaten warm. So my suggestion is to inform the staff to serve this dish first before serving the rest. Within the crunchy deep fried bread crumbs exterior is the molten, slightly stretchy Gruyère Cheese mixed with shopped onions, herbs and wine. The juxtapose of textures is awesome and this dome of cheese is full of flavours. The accompanying mustard adds a dash of excitement and balance the creaminess of the cheese. This is a must-order here.

Rösti Zermatt features delicious, smooth shredded potato that has a bit of bite in the core of each strand. Potato in this form is yummy due to the novelty of having an iota of crunchiness in the potato strand. The bitter nutty taste of melted Swiss Raclette Cheese highlights the starchy sweetness of the potato. It tastes even better with tangy veggie taste of the pickled zucchini and onion. As for the ham, it's better to eat it together with the rösti since the ham is pretty salty but it does well to add extra taste to the potato.

Best cocktail I have: Cosmorand, which has Abricotine, Triple Sec, Cranberry Juice, Lime Juice, Orange Zest. Intoxicating and very refreshing, best for refreshing the palates when enjoying the cheese. Great recommendation by the friendly lady staff.

Tartare de Filet de Truite is a pretty nice dish to have between the cheese dishes since the raw trout cubes seasoned with dill and green chillies, plus a dollop of sour cream on top, uplift the palates with the taste of freshness. Though I have to admit that I still prefer my raw fish in slices instead of cubes. So when I'm having this, I like it but I'm also thinking of alternative scenario of ordering the dessert of Meringues à la Double Crème de Gruyère instead of this.

Update: Back here to try the dessert! I just realise I got to try at least one of the speciality desserts of the restaurants I love to feel truly fulfilled. And so I also order other dishes since I'm here again.

Salade de Cervelas is a nice, filling and flavourful. The blocks of Gruyère cheese adds bits of nutty bitterness to the tangy, savoury, creamy sauce to elevate the taste. The texture of the Swiss sausage is smooth, contrasting nicely with the crunchiness of the vegetables.

Crème de Courge is sweet comfort food. The sweetness of pumpkin, the buttery flavour of butter nuts and the earthy tone of chestnuts go so well together.

I'm back here because of the dessert Meringues à la Double Crème de Gruyère, and it is worth it. The double cream is rich yet light and refreshing at the same time. The tart taste of the fruits and fruit sauce makes this dessert taste even more refreshing. The meringue is a nice neutral base to introduce the crunchy texture without the wheat flavour of biscuits. This actually allows the taste of the cream and fruits to be the highlight. A unique and lovely dessert.

Singapore Sling is unique and refreshing. And I like the fruits and little umbrella added to it.

Dining area at the nice little courtyard.

Coming into this place really feel different, due to distinctively different setting from other European restaurants. It's like exploring a different part of Europe up North with the pine wood ceiling, cuckoo clocks, antler lamp, brick walls and clear glasses with rhombus patterns. I love this unique feel.

The service is very good, being friendly, efficient and helpful. And service staff Ann has this warm personality that makes patrons feel at home. I definitely enjoy myself here. In fact, I feel so cosy and chilled here that I start watching a bit of Youtube videos here while munching on my rösti. Of course, only do this if solo dining. If with any companions, just put the phone aside.

This restaurant is perfect for gatherings, whether with family or friends. It is pretty heart warming to see the groups dipping their food into the cheese fondue, served in a little cast iron stove, together.

When I'm up for a little imaginary "trip" to the Alps to enjoy some swiss cheese dishes, this is the place I will go to.

Ahh, the soothing feeling when watching the pendulum of the clock swings.

Thoughts: Enjoying Gruyère Cheese and Cream in a log cabin is a delight.

9 Craig Road

Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar