The Food Dossier

Style Palate

Quick backstory: In 2020, Darryl Tan, a twentysomething then-fresh Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduate dithyrambic about peregrinating into the parlous world of F&B entrepreneurship, sounded out fellow schoolmate Ng Shi Long (both had pursued ITE's culinary arts technical diploma program which preened itself on partnering the redoubtable Institut Paul Bocuse, now Institut Lyfe) for going at the hawker thing together. Dude demurred, however, deeming himself too callow just yet.

They thus went their separate ways - Darryl apprenticed at Goho Kaiseki & Bar, a since-defunct izakaya previously clasping Duxton Road; Shi Long, meanwhile, among other gigs, sought experience with the modish fine diner-cum-watering hole Tippling Club (this lugubriously also went toast last December), surging up its kitchen ranks and making junior sous chef within 18 months.

Fast forward to September 2024. Maybe Shi Long finally vanquished his tenderfootness, maybe the stars opportunely aligned when the brand new Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre got rolling. Or maybe it's in part because Darryl's fiancée ruminated over expanding her germinal donburi brand Liu Kou Shui's footprint there (and she did). Whatever the reason(s), them two forthwith unbosomed Style Palate, gnashing up European fusion provisions - right beside LKS no less.

Style Palate opens daily from 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-8.30pm except Thursdays.

What knocked our socks off:

Ample justice was done to the Duck Confit: refulgent, overnight cured canard leg (skinny-dipped in rendered duck fat + an own finagled black pepper jus) bassooned savoury, molassy countenanced by absurd crackliness. Accompanying knoll of mashed potato, anodyne as can be, didn't razzle-dazzle one bit though.

Duck Confit ($14.90)

The tobiko-capped Cold Angel Hair Pasta forbye proved quite the disarming banger, ratcheted through truffle essence, sherry vinegar and un éclair de génie that is shio kombu (salted kelp).

Cold Angel Hair Pasta ($7)

Other item(s) sampled but turned out to be non-event(s):

Linguine Alle Vongole ($9)

Note: Prices subject to change without prior notice. Kindly clarify with stall before visiting or ordering.

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Score: 7.3/10