Stepping into Christina’s, I instantly knew I was going to have a good time. Old-school R&B was playing from the DJ booth, while a spacious bar beckons with an extensive drinks menu. Laidback coffeehouse by day and grill restaurant by night, the space will keep you lingering for hours thanks to its mellow lounge vibes.
On the ceiling, an art installation resembling shards of crystals takes pride of place. Aptly named ‘Crystalized’ by New York-based studio SoftLab, it belongs to Mondrian Singapore Duxton’s permanent art collection.
Quietly winning fans over since the hotel’s opening, Christina’s stands out amid the throngs of dining establishments in the Duxton enclave. Lest you need a reason to visit, chef Kenny Huang has launched a new lunch and dinner menu. Rooted in his family story, the menu highlights his passion for cooking with fire and his knack for blending Mediterranean nuances with Asian flavours.
Huang’s grandfather was formerly a fisherman in the waters surrounding Malaysia, while his father was a chef aboard an oil rig. His father travelled the world from the Indian Ocean to Europe and Brazil.
“My father would bring back spices and sweets from his adventures cooking for the rig crews around the world. We would gather friends and family for barbecues that featured local ingredients and exploded with a fusion of these flavours,” he said.
He reflected on these memories while working on the recipes for the new menu, which features Mediterranean-style dishes cooked over fire on the Josper Grill. Comforting, no-frills dishes dominate the menu, which include a decadent wood-fired Mac and Cheese made with cheddar, parmesan, and mascarpone; as well as a 40 Days Cornfed French Chicken served with crunchy Jerusalem artichokes.
Special mention also goes out to the crisp-skinned and sustainably sourced Seabass, accompanied by a fresh fennel, rocket and olive salad. For a dose of tableside theatrics, order the King Prawns. They are enlivened with a chili, coriander, and lime sauce, before being flambéed.
A night here isn’t complete without a cocktail or two, so I recommend going for the La Fresa. Crafted with Orientalist gunpowder gin, strawberry, and moscati d’asti, the refreshing and fruit-forward cocktail makes for easy drinking. Alternatively, soak up the nostalgia with Solero Daiquiri, a rum-infused tipple inspired by the popular vanilla and lime ice cream.
