Those working in the Orchard precinct will be delighted with Caveau Wines & Bar’s new set lunch menu, priced at a modest $25 for a three-course meal. If you’re looking to impress your date but running slightly tight on budget, this is where you should consider as well.
Caveau Wines & Bar is an inaugural collaboration between Les Amis Group and its sister company Vinum Fine Wines, seeking to be Singapore’s first 3-in-1 beverage playground. Continue reading
These days in Singapore, with the increasing popularity of Spanish tapas bars, more and more restaurants – Spanish or not – term anything of petite proportions served on a plate or as a platter as tapas.
Setting aside the innumerable array of tapas interpretations – some rather pretentious, some simply inspired – Octapas Spanish Tapas Bar is where you’ll take a leap closer to Spain without having to hop on a plane.
Tocino Envuelto Gambas; Prawns Wrapped in Crispy Bacon ($16.50)
Consultant chef Javier Lecumberri from San Sebastian, Spain, brings his expertise in modern Spanish fare to the table, at Octapas, revitalising the tapas scene with a new menu, Bay of Biscay.
Some of Chef Javier’s rustic Basque creations are reminiscences of his hometown, on the coast of Biscay, while many are of modern and inventive twists without losing the authenticity.
Here are some recommended items: Continue reading
How would you define “Unique Hawker Food?”
There’s a fine line between unique and bizarre. Would the unique interpretations deter too far away from the quintessential hawker food that we all grew up on and love?
Partly, I agree that all hawkers are unique in their own ways –unless they are exact duplicates. But, tremendous uniqueness comes from something that’s innovative and out of the box, standing out from the rest –something that intrigues and leaves an impression.
I never thought I’d encounter something so truly unique, but this bowl of Fruit Juice Mee Siam from Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa emerges as so.
Fruit Juice Mee Siam with Crayfish ($6)
The owner takes pride in cooking the gravy from scratch, insisting on using only the freshest ingredients he obtains from the wet market daily.
What sets this Mee Siam apart from others is the secret blend, of several fruit juices that yields a light and refreshing taste. The commixture of fruit juices imparts a familiar tangy flavour that we associate Mee Siam with, but without the heaviness, oiliness and cloyingness of the accustomed version. There’s also a subtle sweetness coming through the tangy notes, which I suspect comes pineapple juice. I couldn’t discern the other ingredients he’d added, but the grittiness commonly encountered in Mee Siam (from the addition of shrimp paste) is not present. Continue reading
“Meals served in hospitals are unappealing and bland.” Do you have this preconception about hospital food? This post is about to change your mindset.
Truth is, there are hospitals that serve boring and insipid food. But, the good news here is that, several hospitals are upping their ante, revamping their menus to keep up with growing expectations, and to pander to fussy eaters. One of which, is Raffles Hospital –a leading private healthcare provider in Singapore and South East Asia. Their range of specialist medical and diagnostic services spans across 30 specialties, in which patients are assured of top-notch medical services in a palatial and comfortable environment. Continue reading
22 April 2013 marks the World Gourmet Summit’s inaugural Youth Chef’s Day, held at the Alkaff Mansion, and presented by Meat & Livestock Australia. It was an intensive 5-hour workshop where close to 300 F&B students took part. Aged 15 to 25, the F&B students from five leading Singapore culinary and tertiary institutions – Shatec Institutes (SHATEC), At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy, Temasek Culinary Academy, Republic Polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) – were invited to attend.
Budding chefs and future F&B professionals had a rare opportunity to interact with the world’s best culinary experts, such as three-Michelin-starred French chef Yannick Alléno and Spain’s finest pastry chefs, Paco & Jacob Torreblanca, picking up tricks of the trade and gaining new insights.
The day’s session includes leading industry experts such as Mr Earnst Huber, Awards Of Excellence 2013 Déliciae Lifetime Achievement Award winner, who shared his expertise on the Art of Butchery; David Senia, Executive Chef of Capella Singapore, who believes in drawing inspiration from new experiences with local flavours and ingredients, blending them with various techniques acquired from his stints around the world; Jimi Tegerdine, Executive Chef of LeVel33 and presented by Indoguna; and Chef Edmund Toh, Assistant Vice President of Resorts World Sentosa and President of Singapore Chef’s Association.
This workshop provides young talents with a platform to learn from world-class chefs and award-winning culinary experts. Continue reading
For those who live on the other end of Singapore, a long drive away from the Alexandra precinct, like myself, you probably have not been to (or heard of) ARC –Alexandra Retail Centre. To my surprise, the mall is bustling with crowd.
On weekends, activities at the atrium keep the noise level at a constant high –but not excessive to the point of disturbance. We see mostly families with children during weekends, while the working crowd brings life to the mall on weekdays. It’s not surprising to see children’s activities abound; there are enrichment and education centres located within the mall, such as Art Boot Camp, Berries World of Learning School and Cristofori Music School.
Cappuccino ($5.50)
To ardent coffee lovers, I have a piece of good new to share: you have one more place to add to your to-go list –ROOM coffee.bar. Serving up cups of organic USDA Certified coffee that also sport the Rainforest Alliance certification, discerning coffee drinkers will be pleased.
Taylors of Harrogate Tea, Blackberry & Elderflower ($5)
Non-coffee drinkers can also sip on quality Taylors of Harrogate teas, imported from the UK.
What attracts me most to this place is the atmosphere. The façade suggests happiness –something beautiful and soothing. The interior immediately gives off a relaxing and comfortable vibe. The owner describes this look as ‘Scandinavian Chic’.
Regulars of ROOM coffee.bar include senior executives, expatriates, ladies-of-leisure, coffee hunters and Internet geeks.
Don’t be shy to make use of their complimentary WiFi and power point sockets. Dwell in its unhurried pace and laid-back setting, and enjoy an aromatic cup of your favourite brew at your own leisure. Continue reading
Located in one of Asia’s busiest hubs within the Marina Bay precinct and Central Business District, Suntec City Mall spans over 7 million square feet of space, replete with an international convention and exhibition centre, five office towers, and a four-level shopping mall that boasts over 300 retail outlets, 50 pushcarts and a multitude of dining establishments.
Injecting new life to the Fountain Terrace, Food Republic Suntec’s White Garden theme is awash with a minimalist contemporary design, swathed in white.
For a taste of local flavours, hungry shoppers and convention delegates can head over to Food Republic for affordable options. Recently reopened after a major makeover, this iconic food atrium occupies a space approximately 16,000 square feet. Offering high quality food in a comfortable, chic and inviting environment, the line-up of 18 stalls and 3 mini restaurants offers a diverse range of cuisines to cater to a wide audience. Continue reading
I’ve never been the sporty one. Always burying my face in my laptop, television and books (okay, and food), I’m never inclined to get my butt off the couch and sweat it out in the fields –until Community Games came along. Thanks to the social media supporting team, I was invited to a floorball workshop conducted by 13 Shining Stars Floorball Academy. Continue reading
The World Gourmet Summit is a highly anticipated annual gastronomic extravaganza, organised by A La Carte Productions (a subsidiary of Peter Knipp Holdings Pte Ltd), supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, and presented by Citibank.
This 17th edition of World Gourmet Summit kicks off its eleven-day spectacle at the stunning S.E.A. Aquarium, Resorts World Sentosa Singapore, on 16 April 2013.
This year’s theme, Artisans & The Art Of Dining, showcases artisans from all over the world, whom all are experts in their respective fields. Discerning individuals who appreciate fine wines and gourmet cuisine will certainly know not to miss out on this series of events.
Prestigious Chefs Gabriele Ferron (Italy), Jean-François Piège (France), Joachim Koerper (Portugal), Matt Moran (Australia), Paco & Jacob Torreblanca (Spain), Rodrigo de la Calle (Spain), Sanjeev Kapoor (India) and William Ledeuil (France) make their appearances, showcasing their individual talents and intricate craftsmanship.
Over 600 guests turned up for the Opening Reception, clinking glasses of sparkling, and taking pleasure in sumptuous treats at the live stations, with the vivid and breath-taking aquarium as a backdrop. Continue reading
Set foot in a sanctuary of calmness and serenity… Keyaki sits on the fourth level of Pan Pacific Singapore, where a glass door opens to an enchanting Japanese garden.
Surrounded by a beautifully sculpted garden and koi pond, with soothing sounds of water flowing from the mini waterfall feature, this makes the perfect backdrop for an exquisite dining experience.
Renowned for the use of fresh, seasonal imports from Japan, Keyaki offers sashimi, teppanyaki, sukiyaki and more.
They have recently launched a Weekend Set Brunch, served from 11.30am till 2.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays, priced at $60++ per person. The 8-course set brunch includes assorted sashimi, chawanmushi, tempura, cod fish with teriyaki sauce, teppanyaki, California roll, miso soup and dessert.
The 4-day gourmet festival has come to a close, and I’m already eagerly awaiting the next installation. SAVOUR 2013 was a huge success, despite the brutal and unforgiving heat.
The alfresco Gourmet Village featured over 25 leading chefs and 18 award-winning restaurants, several of them with Michelin-stars to boot. Continue reading
Her eyes, gleams with hope and love; her heart of gold, pumps with zeal and affection; the charitable efforts that portray her selfless love for the less privileged, tug on my heartstrings so emotionally.
Joy Mahbubani, Managing Director of J’s Restaurant, is a passionate and determined lady, who has survived the distressingly rocky road of being a single mom, has fought with death when she was taken ill 9 years ago, and has overcome ordeals of hardship and grief that an average Singaporean can hardly fathom. While many restaurateurs are driven by money, Joy derives simple pleasures from giving back to society.
There are no short of dining options along Purvis Street, but this under-the-radar and often-overlooked eatery distinguishes itself with its widely-varied classic Latin American influenced food, inspired by Joy’s travels through South America. Continue reading
Striving to achieve flavours as authentic as what you can get in Ipoh, with sedulously sourced ingredients and a vastly experienced chef holding the reins, Ipoh Lou Yau Bean Sprouts Chicken brings the characteristic city closer to you, at several conveniently located outlets island-wide.
Under the Select Group’s family of trusted F&B brands, you can be assured of fresh and uncompromising quality in this latest venture brimming with heritage. Continue reading
Last Saturday, a multitude of tweets and instagram photos were uploaded with the #SgMemory hashtag, adding to the library of over 5000 photos (now 8,900 and counting). Five bloggers, armed with cameras, smartphones, and a ravenous appetite, set out on a Nostalgia Tour to some of the most enduring food establishments in Singapore with rich histories to boot. Even the gray skies and threats of thunderstorm could not dampen our high spirits.
The #SgMemory hashtag can be used on anything Singapore-related, and need not feature anything ‘retro’ or dated. The purpose of this hash tag is to establish a gallery of images for the future generations to look at, and for us to look back on. Continue reading
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Chef Mak Kwai Pui garnered vast culinary experience working at renowned hotels, before he eventually set up his first restaurant, Tim Ho Wan.
Shortly within a year of business, Tim Ho Wan was awarded one Michelin star for its remarkable array of dim sum; it wasn’t long before the business expanded from one outlet to four in Hong Kong.
This April 2013, Tim Ho Wan’s first-ever overseas outlet opens at The Atrium@Orchard, Plaza Singapura –a highly accessible and bustling mall just above the MRT station. Continue reading