Sentosa GrillFest: Home Edition — Skip the crowds & let the party come to you

I have some of the fondest memories of Sentosa GrillFest, having it been one of the many projects I embarked on when I was an intern back in 2018. I remember gaping in wide-eyed wonder, trotting down endless rows and rows of stalls by the beach, each boasting scrumptious specialities in their own right.

Some lobster hokkien mee here, a salted caramel gelato cone there—it’s truly a riveting way to bring the spirit of beachside feasting to us all. This year, as many might have already guessed, Sentosa’s doing things a little differently. Sentosa GrillFest 2020 returns in an all-new virtual format, and while the annual crowds might be put on hold for now, that doesn’t stop the party from coming straight to you.

Credit – Sentosa GrillFest

Enjoy all of the delicious goodness, and be rid of the heat and mayhem this year. A huge variety of grilled fare by some of Singapore’s leading chefs, as well as online experiences like cooking classes, flash deals, Grill It Yourself Kits and gourmet bundles are at your disposal through just one click of a button.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of throwing an intimate (socially distant and compliant) two-in-one Halloween and Sentosa GrillFest party of my own, enjoying a one-of-a-kind treat by F&B operators from within and beyond Sentosa.

What I tried

Did you really have a Singaporean feast if chilli crab wasn’t present? Chef Tony Khoo’s Singapore Chilli Crab Claw (S$22) ensures you’ll check that right off your list. Served with four handsome crab claws and four mantous to pair—as all chilli crabs should—the star of the dish was truly the chilli crab sauce itself. A brilliant mix of tangy, savoury, and slightly sweet, I suggest throwing all preconceived notions of chilli crab out the window and relishing Chef Khoo’s rendition in all its finger-licking, umami glory.

I dare say that the 16 Hour BBQ Short Ribs (S$23) from Angliss Singapore is one of the best I’ve had to date. Despite sitting for quite a while and having been reheated (because in the food industry, the camera, woefully, always eats first), the short ribs were incredibly tender and fell right off the bone upon slicing through. The ribs’ fat had been rendered down nicely, glazing the chunky pieces of meat in a mouth-watering, juicy glow.

A song of “woah”s chimed upon the unboxing of the Singapore Farmed Sustainable Grilled Seabass With Cabbage Slaw & Fresh Lemon (S$20) from Sentosa Golf Club. The nature of takeout boxes didn’t dampen the grandeur of the fish dish, no. A gallant sea bass spanned across a crisp aluminium tray—all that’s left was to drizzle a touch of lemon and slather the brilliant cabbage slaw over.

The champion of a slaw is really what held the dish together; even long after the sea bass was done, I still clung on tightly to the bowl of toppings, savouring whatever I could of the fragrant meld of ginger and spring onion.

At this point, I’m beginning to forget that I’m not actually in Sentosa, but my home which I’ve excitedly decorated to remind me of the beach.

One Faber Group’s Thai Style Lobster & Shellfish Melt Bagel Sandwich (S$20) has to be the most millennial item on the menu. The zesty lemongrass sauce brought an interesting twist to this iteration of the dish, but I really wished they had separated the bagel bun from the rest of the ingredients to prevent it from getting too soggy. Nonetheless, it still presented delicious mouthfuls of briny lobster contrasted against a tangy Thai-style sauce.

A close second to the glorious short ribs in terms of tenderness would be the Grilled Black Pepper Crusted Pork With Grainy Mustard Sauce (S$18) from Singapore Chefs’ Association. With a perfect fat-to-meat ratio, the pork oozed with brilliant flavour, while the pepper that encrusted it kept the dish addictive and really cut through its heaviness.

Other special mentions include the Half Shell Scallop Mentaiko (S$15) and the Burnt Bee Hoon With Grilled Prawn and Egg White Gravy (S$18), which, in my humble opinion, are must-haves on your order list for the evening.

The incredible wok hei on the burnt bee hoon against a silky, creamy egg white gravy was just the kind of carbs we needed to wind the night down with.

One of the more interesting dishes of the night was the Mongolian Braised Chicken Mantou, Raisin Slaw (S$10). The mantou was a great touch to keep the slider light, and the Mongolian sauce was a lovely meld of tangy and sweet.

Wash it all down with refreshing coconut-based drinks from Co+Nut+ink that’ll sure to perk you right up, and keep the jelak-ness at bay. Stick to the basics with Fresh Coconut Water With Coconut Flesh (S$11 for two cups) or the Signature Original Coconut Shake (S$11.60 for two cups) if you’re looking for a dependable option, but otherwise, there’s always the Durian King (S$13.80) or the Red Ruby With Extra Scoop of Ice Cream (S$14.40 for two cups) for that extra indulgence.

Vera’s ‘Chef’s Kiss Award’

I typically avoid meat-heavy dishes like the plague because they usually hold much promise but end up disappointing due to unfortunate dryness. But despite the waiting time between preparation and the moment it made it into my mouth, the 16 Hour BBQ Short Ribs (S$23) stayed succulent and juicy, and was the first dish to get polished right off the plate. And for that reason, I proudly and loudly crown it as tonight’s ‘Chef’s Kiss Award’ winner. If you must order something off the aforementioned list, let the short ribs be it.

Final thoughts

Throwing mini parties and having loved ones over is really one of the greatest joys to look forward to this season. In a bleak pandemic-plagued world, I’ve learnt to treasure the privileges and pleasures I once took for granted. So really, gather family, friends, and everyone in between to bask in the grilled goodness that is Sentosa GrillFest 2020, bond over great fare, and make a day out of it.

The GrillFest runs from now until 22 November 2020, every Thursday to Sunday, and pay with Mastercard to enjoy S$5 off your order.

Additionally, purchase a Sentosa Fun Pass (90+5 Tokens) and receive a complimentary $10 GrillFest voucher! Grab discounted vouchers from Lazada and LazLive for your order from Sentosa GrillFest. For more information, visit sentosa.com.sg/grillfest.

Expected Damage: S$32 – S$47.40 per pax

*This post was brought to you in partnership with Sentosa Grillfest 2020.

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