Chef Otto Weibel unveils White Marble, his loving tribute to the Mediterranean, bringing the diverse and luscious flavours of its sea and land, and the warm hospitality of its people, to Singapore diners.
Few places on earth enchant like the Mediterranean. To the ancients living around it, the sea seemed the centre of the world, thus earning its name in Latin -- medius terra – ‘the sea at the middle of the earth’. While the sea and its hinterland became the cradle of Western civilisation, its most welcome gift to humankind, however, has to be its food.
At the junction of three mighty landmasses – Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East – the Mediterranean is surrounded by 21 countries and dotted with islands whose respective food traditions have all left their mark on the incredible smorgasbord that has come to be known as ‘Mediterranean cuisine’.
A paean to the culture and cuisine of the Middle Sea, White Marble is a Mediterranean grill restaurant created by Chef Otto Weibel, Singapore’s grand doyen of Western food and beverage.
Continuing from the success of its sister restaurant Black Marble, White Marble is similarly resonant with Chef Otto’s culinary philosophy -- of quality, fresh produce prepared with rigor and simplicity to bring to the fore their naturally inherent flavours cooked to perfection.
What Chef Otto did with grilled premium beef and meat at Black Marble, he now does with Mediterranean flavours and a focus on seafood and vegetables at a 158-seat casual dining space located in Orchard Rendezvous Hotel close to the heart of Orchard Road.
By recreating the classic flavours of the region, of Spain, Portugal, France, Morocco, and the Middle East, Chef Otto takes diners on a gastronomic journey around the sea that won his heart while still a teenager.
Travelling to Greece with his family – his first encounter with the Mediterranean – he was instantly smitten with the landscape, the culture, and the food. A visit to a small village in Italy years ago further strengthened his feelings. Yet again, the lively camaraderie of the locals and their genuine hospitality left a deep impression on him.
Since then Chef Otto’s explorations in the region for work and leisure have taken him to many more countries of the Mediterranean. And always he was struck by the almost spiritual integration of food with lifestyle; with values that seemed to chime with his own.
Healthy, sustainable living was promoted through eating fresh local produce prepared with simple cooking techniques to allow the natural flavours to shine through.
There was a firm belief in cultivating a balanced social life and connecting with people who matter through good food. Chef Otto sought to coalesce all these observations into an immersive experience at White Marble.
Diners are treated to dishes from the three Mediterranean regions – Middle East, Southern Europe and Northern Africa – along with a wide range of fresh produce and vegetables, herbs, spices and grains. While much cross-pollination has occurred over the centuries between the blocs, certain divisions are generally apparent.
As Chef Otto conceptualises the immersive menu, his protégé Executive Chef Kenneth Loke brings it to life on the plate. The olives, spices, beans, vegetables, seafood and meat tell of the bounty of the Mediterranean littoral and the freshness and quality of its produce. The grill section, especially, features a selection of premium vegetable, seafood and meat seasoned and grilled to perfection in the charcoal oven.
Echoing the communal dining culture and warm hospitality of the Mediterranean home, dishes are made for sharing, and plated with contemporary finesse. The myriad choices on offer cater to all dining occasions.
Fried Coated Olives ($8) with spicy yoghurt is a popular pick from the bar snacks; while the Mezze Plate ($34 for two) from the sharing chilled platters is one of Chef Otto’s favourites and a signature dish at White Marble. The Mezze Plate is the quintessential platter of the Eastern Mediterranean region, featuring Tabbouleh with quinoa, Fattouche, Eggplant Moutabbal, Hummus, Chicken Skewer and Pita.
Appetisers tempt diners at the start of a meal: whether chilled as in Broccolini & Fine Green Beans ($15); or warm as in Roasted Butternut Squash ($12) or chargrilled Octopus ($36). An excellent main course is Prawn Bucatini Puttanesca ($28), a classic Italian staple that exhibits the perfection of a simple dish. The bucatini is sauteed with fresh cherry tomatoes, capers, olives, garlic, prawns and anchovies.
The grill selection promises ‘Simplicity but Perfection’. Lovers of seafood would want to choose Fish Of The Day in which the fresh catch of the day is simply prepared and seasoned with sea salt flakes, lemon, light herbs and cold-pressed olive oil, then expertly cooked over hot charcoal.
Otherwise there’s Chicken Leg Bone-in Tagine ($60 for two), a classic Moroccan stew perfectly cooked in the traditional earthen pot known as the Tagine.
The skewered dishes of the restaurant are served with 3 sauces -- Lemon Garlic Cream, Harissa Aioli, and Salbitxada. The must-trys are Seafood ($38) featuring a skewer of prawns, swordfish and octopus; and Australian Lamb ($48), a skewer of chermoula marinated lamb. Rounding off the meal are some ravishing desserts, highlights of which are Fig & Almond Tart ($16), and Crema Catalana ($16).
Diners enjoy these delights in a restaurant that evokes Mediterranean conviviality through a pristine space of white and gray tonality and sleek contemporaneity that lives up to the name White Marble.
The choice of natural yet luxurious finishes, such as mother of pearl mosaic, recalls the varied, resonant landscapes of the Mediterranean lands; while the various spaces within the 3000-sq-ft area – dining hall, outdoor terrace and bar – make the restaurant responsive to any social occasion.
Mediterranean restaurant Bar & grill Wine & Spirits
a. 1 Tanglin Rd, #01-09/10, Singapore 247905
