2007 08 31 - The Tent ( Mongolian cuisine )

If there is a star in the making on Singapore’s wine and dine scene, the The Tent is it.In a city like Singapore, where the consumption of food is a national obsession, it’s no wonder that a restaurant like this has sprung up.

The restaurant business is more competitive than ever, especially at Clarke Quay, where The Tent, situated next to the fountain court at the centre of the Quay, competes with an amazing range of gastronomic delights.So how can one Mongolian Grill restaurant stand out against all this competition? It’s simple really – for once, when the sign outside heralds a “unique” concept, the restaurant really does deliver just that.

The name itself says it first – The Tent’s concept is in rekindling a time when Genghis Khan’s armies would set up camp, light a bonfire and grill their meals on their huge iron shields. Step inside The Tent and you’ll find this ancient tradition continuing, albeit in the comforts of a modern setting.The only difference from Khan’s armies here is that you won’t have to hunt for the food yourself.

Instead, as you sit down, a waiter comes over, hands you a token with your seat number on it and explains how your evening will unfold. Here, he says, you go to the food area and fill one large bowl with food, and a smaller one with sauces and give them to the chef to grill for you. In the meantime fill another plate with salad and the food will be delivered to you.The fun here really is in the food selection and the ultimate tasting of your concoction. You’ll find the base for your meal in the range of rice, noodles and vegetables. Then, moving on, you can choose from a range of chicken, beef and seafood to enhance your dish with.

Finally, you really begin to play God with your stomach by selecting your sauces – and here it seems like there’s any sauce you can dream of. There’s Bulgogi sauce from Korea, Red and Green Curry sauces from India, Chilli sauce from the Philippines, Teriyaki sauce from Japan, Satay sauce from Indonesia, Tom Yam sauce from Thailand and The Tent’s own signature sauce amongst many, many others.And don’t forget the little extras like chopped peanuts and garlic, sesame seeds, brown sugar and chilli powder that turn your dish from good to great.Mix a few of these babies up together and then hand it all over with your food to the chef. What comes back is a meal designed by you, for you. Vegetarian? No worries, just avoid the meat and focus on the vegetarian sauces. Fussy about ingredients? Just don’t choose the ones you dislike. Love or hate spicy food? Here you decide what’s mild and what’s not!

It really is uncanny how all the foods and sauces just seem to mix into something special every time. And even better, everyone pays a set price so you can go back as many times as you like to try more combinations.Ultimately, the whole dining experience at The Tent can be described in one word – fun. It’s fun to choose your food, it’s fun to mix your sauces and it’s especially fun to subject your concoction to the taste test amongst your group.

Address: #01-02, Block 3D, Clarke Quay, River Valley Road, Singapore 179023Tel: (65) 6339 0200Dining hours: 6.30pm-11pm daily.