In Your Corner
Traverse the grounds of the Singapore Botanic Gardens – now a UNESCO Heritage Site – carefully, and you’ll find a black and white bungalow that dates back to 1910. This is Corner House. It’s a collaboration between co-owners chef Jason Tan and Renny Heng, a restaurateur and the driving force behind Verre in Robertson Quay, and Greenwood Avenue’s Shelter in the Woods – all of which are stars of the Singaporean culinary scene.
Tan’s ‘gastro-botanica’ cuisine pays tribute to the historic botanist EJH Corner, who served as the Gardens’ assistant director for 16 years and lived in the house from 1929 to 1942. French-inflected dishes centre on garnishes and vegetables, transforming Corner House’s culinary experience into what Tan describes as a “walk in the park”.
The restaurant’s animated sense of inventiveness, coupled with the beautifully restored bungalow and its sleek, contemporary interiors, has earned it a Michelin star for two consecutive years.
Beside its clever use of botanicals, another attraction of Corner House is its rotating 600-label wine collection. Through strong links to Wine Culture, the cellar also boasts the country’s largest restaurant collection in half-bottle format. The brightest star of Corner House’s wine list is undoubtedly Pontcin by Chateau Grillet, making its first appearance in Singapore.
