“Superb foray into Argentinian cuisine”
Located along Martin Road and above Common Man Coffee Roasters, boCHINche is Spa Esprit’s most “exotic” eatery to date. boCHINche serves Argentinian cuisine and is out to dispel the notion that Argentinian cuisine is just all about meat. Being our first time tasting Argentinian cuisine and without knowing what to expect, we went for the dinner with an open mind and an appetite to match.
boCHINche’s interior has an open layout, allowing you to view the chefs at work. The openness is filtered by the warm lighting and darkwood furnitures, resulting in a “cosy-yet-open” dining environment. We also appreciate the ample space between tables – allowing us to talk without fear of disrupting other diners or worst, being eavesdropped on, perfect for catching up with friends and love ones. And gossip.
Chilled pea soup, shallots, yoghurt and chopped mint ($8). The presentation of the soup got us really excited and if you’re out to impress a date, this is a must order starter (well that is if your date appreciates liquid green peas). Love the addition of onion and bread crumbs to the soup, both gave it a much needed texture and crunch while the onion also provided extra sweetness.
Iberico shoulder, 30 months ($19). All cured meat platters come with boCHINche’s homemade pickles. Featuring the best cut of the pig, the iberico shoulder itself wasn’t too salty and overpowering. The wafer thin Iberico shoulder slices paired with the homemade pickles make a very beautiful combination and would please any pork-meat lover. Enjoy the meat with the accompanying focaccia bread for something more substantial.
Sea bream ceviche, tiger’s milk and sweet potato ($15). This dish reminded me of a typical Thai salad dish with its hint of sourness and spiciness, although I must say that the spiciness is a whole lot more toned down than most Thai salad dishes. The ceviche is akin to our yusheng except that its a wetter version. The flavours of this raw fish dish is interesting and surprisingly quite acceptable to our local palate. I really liked the mixture of sour, spicy and crunchy sweet potato crisp as it counters all the soft textures of the dish.
Crab on toast, humita, pickled turnips & chopped coriander ($19). The flavour of the crab meat was drowned by the sweetness of the corn sauce but the otherwise too sugary dish was saved by the slight hint of spice and coriander that could have been enhanced more to balance it out. The bread wasn’t too soggy and yet manages to soak up the flavours well. For some, the interesting mix of flavours and ingredients might require an acquired taste, I just think you’ll need a couple of bites to get accustomed to it.
Watermelon, mozzarella, tomatoes & toasted seeds ($13). Grilled watermelon at most places are simply served in olive oil and balsamic vinegar but at boCHINche ,the grilled watermelon is tossed together with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and sunflower seeds, which intensify the flavours. Even with the curdy and rich mozzarella, the sweet juiciness of the watermelon pervade. It’s a refreshing take among most of the heavy dishes.
Lomo Beef fillet 300g ($78). At 300g, this grass-fed tenderloin fillet would be good for sharing and perfect for someone with a voracious appetite for beef. The beef tenderloin fillet was well grilled, the robust flavour from being grass-fed and cut tenderness make the fillet very delectable. At boCHINche, all their premium Argentine cuts are grass fed and available in bigger sizes. The fillet is also available for purchase at the grocer.
Lemon sole with tarragon & lemon butter ($39). While the beef steak would be good for sharing, the sole on the other hand, is better for individual serving. This classic French dish is elegant and most importantly, the fish was fresh. The lemon butter gave the fish added taste and tarragon was there to exude aroma. Would be perfect with crusty bread or warm rice, to soak up that flavourful sauce and make a more substantial meal.
Green asparagus, baked Brie and grated granola ($19). I’m not sure if one can ever describe an asparagus with “grilled to perfection” and if possible, I think this would be it. The lightly seasoned asparagus were grilled and yet retained its firm and nutty flavours – simply delicious. The combination of grilled asparagus with baked Brie balances out the dish wonderfully.
Creamed spinach ($9). Creamy and slightly cheesy atop a bed of soft spinach, this creamed spinach side completes the steak experience. This plate of saucy greens cut the rich flavors of the steak. But with its richness, it would be best to share.
Chocolate pudding, salted caramel, berries & brioche croutons ($16). boCHINche gave this classic dessert a twist with its addition of salted caramel. We liked the thickness and richness and yet how it wasn’t too sweet – they probably used bittersweet chocolate. Lovely dessert made lovelier with the berries and broiche croutons.
Milk cake, passion fruit sorbet & toasted almonds ($14). Made from fresh cream, evaporated milk and condensed milk, the milk cake is light and moist. The sweetness of the cake is countered by the scoop of accompanying passionfruit ice cream, however the sourness may be slightly too overpowering. Toasted almonds provided some much needed crunch to the otherwise too “soft” dessert.
Creme caramel, “dulce de leche” and banana spilt ice cream ($13). The contrast between the brittle caramelised topping and the smooth, creamy custard beneath was enough for me to be a creme brûlée convert. The scoop of banana spilt is literally the “icing” on the cake, in this case, the cream. Every spoonful was a marriage of cold and warm with a mixture of hard and smooth, creamy textures – The creme brûlée and ice cream amplify each other’s strength resulting in what I would describe as a blissful marriage.
boCHINche also has a grocer area where you’ll find products that aren’t easily found anywhere else in Singapore. The grocer stocks over a 100 quality Argentinian and European produce, allowing you to bring home a taste of Argentina. Personally, I think the Ortiz’s range of tunas and sardines make a great addition to your homemade sandwiches and/or salads.
While the air-conditioned dining area was cosy, we wouldn’t mind lounging it out in the alfresco area either. Perfect for one of those lazy afternoons coupled with a cocktail or more.
While I still can’t quite put my finger to describing what Argentinian cuisine is, I can see a lot of mediterranean influences and mashing of European styles. Through all the mashing, the high quality of dishes is still evident and although there are some misses among the hits, the hits would still reckon subsequent visits.
Expected Damage: $40-$70/pax