Breathing fresh air into the oldfangled Purvis Street is Tempt, a groovy gastro bar dreamt up by international private chef Candice Leong and her alter-ego as the Gluttonous Temptress.
Aside from her global sojourns wining and dining about, Candice armed herself with culinary stints across five continents and was even mentored by chef Damiano Nigro from the one-Michelin-starred Villa d’Amelia. And by sheer intention, the food at Tempt seeks to charm the senses, journey tastebuds across cultures, and perhaps even challenge the status quo a little.
The sound of crunchy pig’s ears, raw kangaroo tartare, and rabbit-stuffed pasta might raise the brows of adventurous gastronomes in delight. Though not everyone might feel the same type of way about these exotic feats. Instead, Candice is inclusive and shows off her versatility with other vibrant plates that harmonise flavours of the past and present with modern ingredients.
Think mouth-watering bites of Japanese tomato ceviche fortified with a mildly spicy yet floral leche de tigre, pillowy soft Hokkaido scallop carpaccio and crispy oxtail croquettes redolent of laksa leaves. We insist that you take a chance with the puffed beef tendons ($28) though. Each morsel arrives light as air and decorated with ribbons of Jamón ibérico and creamy Kaluga caviar for that all-sensational bite.
The kitchen is also adept at age-old preservation techniques. Charred fermented rose apple slivers pair with the signature hay-smoked pork belly, lending a much-needed acid hit to the otherwise fatty cut. Lightly pickled ume plum sharpen the edges of the rich venison and mustard greens main. There are even vivacious helpings of fermented red dragonfruit layered upon velvety smoked gelato with extra virgin olive oil for dessert.
For libations, pick from a modest selection that includes well-known labels and low-intervention bottles from the old world – mainly France and Italy. From the bar, agave spirits are given the spotlight so you’d be remiss not to have a salacious mezcal negroni.
And the raw interiors and decor in the two-storey heritage shophouse are worth a shout too. Gritty paint-stripped walls, tasteful wall art, and exposed brickwork from the late 1800s, it is all steeped in historical charm and contemporary grittiness. Ever been to the Sammlung Boros in Berlin? Yes, that.
