Monthly Archives: November 2013

(Christmas Feature 2013) St. Regis Singapore

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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If you’ve been contemplating on that one special occasion to splurge on an extravagant meal, this festive season is most befitting to. Pamper yourselves at one of the world’s finest hotels, St. Regis Singapore, as they bring you a series of celebratory menus at three restaurants –Brasserie Les Saveurs for refined French cuisine, LaBrezza for hearty Italian, and Yan Ting for classic Cantonese innovations.

To enjoy the company of your loved ones, friends or colleagues, the John Jacob Ballroom is the perfect venue for a lavish year-end party. Guests can choose between two thematic settings: of exquisite silvery elegance or luscious red grandeur.

For more information, contact St. Regis Singapore’s Events Specialists at or visit www.stregissingapore.com/meetings-events.

Festive menus include extravagant buffet spreads and distinctive set menus, priced from $108++ per person.

Here’s a sneak peek of what St. Regis Singapore is offering this jolly season.


Amuse Bouche – Poached Egg with Shaved Black Truffles (LaBrezza)

Continue reading →

(Christmas Feature 2013) Degustation Festive Dinner Menus at French Brasserie Clifford, Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Festive dining is special in many ways –one of which is the joys of spending quality time with loved ones.

Ambience plays an important role in our dining choices. If you’re looking to recline in pure luxury, and enjoy the charming views by the window, French Brassier Clifford at Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore is where you can consider.

Celebrations at French Brasserie Clifford, Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore begin from 27 November 2013.


Foie Gras two ways – Terrine on Brioches, Pan Seared Coffee Dust (available in Festive 4-Course Degustation Dinner from 27 November to 23 December, and 26 to 30 December 2013)

From 27 November to 23 December 2013, a four-course degustation festive dinner menu is available at $95++ per person.


Vin Blanch Poached Turbot with Grenble’s Sauce of Lemon Caper and Crisp Croutons (available in Festive 4-Course Degustation Dinner from 27 November to 23 December, and 26 to 30 December 2013)

Courses include the Foie Gras Terrine on Brioche, Vin Blanch Poached Turbot with Grenoble’s Sauce of Lemon Caper and Crisp Croutons or Traditional Season Carved Turkey with Stuffing, Chestnut, Brussels Sprouts, Braised Cabbage and Giblet Gravy, and Mont Blanc –Chestnut Cream Snow Meringue with Caramelised Chestnut. Couples enjoying the festive dinner menu may choose to pair their dinner with a bottle of champagne at $268++ per couple. Continue reading →

Asian Masters 2013 – Absolut Expressions by The Disgruntled Chef

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Presenting innovative gastronomic experiences accompanied by unexpected libations, Asian Masters returns for its fourth edition from 1 November to 7 December 2013.

Making special appearances at Asian Masters are two chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants – Chef Mok Kit Keung from Hong Kong and Chef Hajime Yoneda from Japan – as well as celebrity Chef Chumpol Jangprai who is known as the Iron Chef of Thai Cuisine, and Chef Alex Kang from Korea.

Besides having the traditional wine pairing dinners, there will be innovative cocktail and whisky pairing dinners that are bound to pique contemporary palates.

The Absolut Expressions by The Disgruntled Chef that was held on 19 November 2013 pairs modern European cuisine with inventive cocktails concocted using vodkas by Absolut.

The lovely dining experience began with some light canapés that include the Truffle Bikini Sandwich, Wild Mushroom & Chorizo Tart and the Tomato & Mozzarella Skewers.

We couldn’t get enough of the tiny but immensely tasty Wild Mushroom & Chorizo Tart.

Refreshing drinks to kick off the evening include the Royal Kurant comprising Absolut Kurant, Crème De Cassis, Lime, Basil and Champagne, and the Lucky Lemonade comprising Absolut Citron, Lemon, Lime, Cranberry, Blueberry and Lemonade.


Grilled Eel, Foie Gras, Kabayaki Sauce

For the first course, ‘Disgruntled Chef’ Daniel Sia dazzles diners with the visually stunning and mouth-wateringly delicious creation that match-makes the sweet savoury eel and creamy foie gras pâté flawlessly. Delightful to the last bite. Continue reading →

(Christmas Feature 2013) Mandarin Orchard Singapore

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Having participated in Mandarin Orchard Singapore’s pre-Christmas media party for three consecutive years, I have to say that they’ve consistently and successfully delivered the whole festive atmosphere –even despite celebrating Christmas 2 months before the actual day.

If there be an award to the best pre-Christmas media party, Mandarin Orchard Singapore would win hands down! Everyone had so much fun.

So what’s taking place at Mandarin Orchard Singapore this Christmas? Continue reading →

(Christmas Feature 2013) Let Violet Oon Cater your Christmas Party!

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Let the catering aficionados of Violet Oon’s Kitchen handle your party planning this festive season!

One of the highlights of their Christmas menu is Violet’s signature sliced turkey breast with apricot sausage stuffing and homemade cranberry sauce.

The Christmas Festive Menu and the Christmas Celebration Menu are available from 1st to 30th December 2013, and are priced at $38++/pax and $48++/pax respectively (min 30 pax).

Popular favourites include Shepherd’s Pie, Dry Laksa and Chicken Curry.

For enquiries, call or email .

Violet Oon’s Kitchen
881 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 279893
Facebook page:
Website: http://violetoonskitchen.com/

Photographs in this post are works of Melicacy. To engage photography services, email .

(Christmas Feature 2013) Marina Mandarin Singapore

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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This post is best accompanied by the music from this clip:

Doesn’t it get you into the festive mood instantly?


Roasted Tom Turkey ($138, 5kg)

Now that you’re in a Christmas-y trance, I shall attempt to make you hungry with some food porn –essentially the Christmas offerings from Marina Mandarin Singapore.


Heritage Peranakan Roasted Turkey ($148, 5kg)

Whole turkey marinated with nonya spices; mushroom stuffing and sautéed vegetables; homemade tamarind Jus.


Baked Salmon & Prawn Duxelle Pie wrapped in Puff Pastry served with Truffle Cream Sauce ($88, serves 6)

A must-try from their savoury menu is the Baked Salmon & Prawn Duxelle wrapped in Puff Pastry. Continue reading →

Thanks to the Entertainer App, I saved $30 at Buyan Russian Restaurant & Caviar Bar!

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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There aren’t many Russian restaurants in Singapore. One of the most talked about Russian restaurants is Buyan Russian Restaurant & Caviar Bar. I was lured to this charming dining enclave by the Entertainer App’s attractive buy-one-get-one-free offer.

Read about my previous experience with the Entertainer App at Hummerstons here: https://melicacy.com/?p=6402

The Entertainer App is free to download from the app store. Each month, there will be about 15 participating merchants who will offer one-for-one deals in the Entertainer App, which you don’t have to pay for in order to utilise. But, if you would like the full version of the Entertainer App, which allows you to enjoy one-for-one deals at over 1000 merchants, the in-app purchase costs just $57 (for a limited time only; usual price $95).

It makes good sense to purchase the huge collection of over 1000 one-for-one deals at just $57 or even $95 if you dine out often, since the amount already pays for the meal itself and you can save on so much more.

The Entertainer app makes the unaffordable affordable, when you and your dining companion are only required to pay for the price of one!


Complimentary bread


Mimosa Salad ($12)

We commenced the meal with the Mimosa Salad, which consists of pink salmon flakes, finely chopped white onion, shredded carrot, crumbs of egg, and homemade mayonnaise, topped with grated emmental cheese, and presented in neat layers. It’s a decent dish. The contrasting elements work well together.


Pan Seared Salmon with Nut Sauce ($24)

For the main course, I had the Pan Seared Salmon with Nut Sauce. Continue reading →

SAFRA Photo Convention –a great opportunity for photography enthusiasts to elevate their photography skills!

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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SAFRA Photographic Club will be hosting the SAFRA Photo Convention on Sat, 23 November 2013 at SAFRA Mount Faber. SAFRA Photo Convention is held biennially and usually a renowned overseas photographer will be invited to speak on a particular theme.

This year, SAFRA Photographic Club decides to focus on areas of conflict and peace, calling attention to the importance of National Service, with the aim of highlighting NSmen’s role in national defence.

There are two parts to this convention: an enriching talk and an Adobe’s photo-enhancing workshop.

Look forward to the exciting exhibition of famous photographer Adam Ferguson from his assignments in Afghanistan and Iraq, and hear all about his experience.

Photography enthusiasts can also take this opportunity to enhance their photo-enhancing skills at the Adobe’s workshop, which is included in the ticket price.

Submit your inspirational stories relating to Singapore’s National Service to win tickets to the Photo Convention on 23 November 2013. Selected stories will be published online. The weekly lucky draw winner will be announced on www.safraphotoclub.com every Saturday.

Email your stories to with your name, NRIC/passport number and contact number.

More information here: http://www.safra.sg/en/Participate/SAFRA-Photo-Convention.aspx

Registration opening and closing date: 18 Sep 2013 – 22 Nov 2013-11-19
Venue: SAFRA Mount Faber. Function Rooms, Level 2
Time: 8.15am – 4pm
Fees: $2 for SPC members, $22 for SAFRA members, $60 for guests and $5 for students (Go in groups of 4 and pay for the price of 3)

Screen Bar at Rendezvous Gallery

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Screen Bar is the latest and most mention-worthy Food, Beverage and Entertainment concept in town. A hangout spot where you can not only bond over food and drinks, but also over your favourite shows and games.

A dedicated projection or TV screen is installed at every table, enabling guests to use it to watch movies, live sports broadcasts, surf the net or play console games, whichever content they like without having to accommodate to other guests’ preferences. Continue reading →

What will the wood horse year bring for us in year 2014?

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What will the wood horse year bring for us in year 2014? This article is for all my friends and readers.

The snake year is coming towards its tail and another galloping animal, the horse, will soon arrive.  The Chinese celebrate their lunar new year on 31 January 2014 and most would assume it is the arrival of Horse year. However, according to the Farmer or Thousand year calendar, the New Year actually starts on 4 Feb 2013 at 06:21 am, and it is a wood horse year. It has the following combination of elements:

You can look back at major events that had happened in year 1954 because it was also the wood horse year and history repeats. There were some major natural disasters such as land movement, extreme drought, great floods, hurricane and nuclear accident. There seems to have natural disaster happening around us every year.

So for year 2014, we could also expect some of the natural disaster that happened in year 1954 and you should be able to observe some related happening as days get nearer to Feb 2014. Let’s pray again that their catastrophic effect is minimized. Continue reading →

Carré Pain d’Epices –Spice Breads for all occasions

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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An icon of the French gastronomy, Pain d’Epices is pronounced as pah(n) deh-pees, and means spice bread or honey bread in French.

Carré Pain d’Epices combines flavours from the West and Asia to cater to local palates. The brand is conceived jointly by the enthusiastic and passionate Delphine Giron Le Martin and Beatrice Burguet, who hail from southwestern France and eastern France respectively. They value authenticity and the quality of ingredients; hence the recipe is kept close to the origins, and remains eggless, dairy-free and fat-free.

The Carré Pain d’Epices collection comprises four flavours: original, mango, ginger and chocolate chip.

Continue reading →

iProperty.com People’s Choice Awards 2013 (Vote & Win a Holiday!)

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Singapore’s only consumer voted real estate and services award is back! Take a few minutes to vote for your favourite property, mortgage loan provider, best home furnishing store and many more in the iProperty.com People’s Choice Awards 2013 to stand a chance to win attractive holiday prizes.

Check out the 2012 winners here: http://www.iproperty.com.sg/awards/2012/results

Browsing through the voting gallery is almost akin to looking for inspiration and shopping for my future condo! I took a little bit more effort to research on the various shortlisted nominees just to ensure my decision is fair, and boy was I fascinated by how much Singapore’s properties are modernising over the years.

In the “Object of Desire Award” category, I chose Ferra by Far East Organization as one condominium I feel has the best architecture (internally and externally) that one would lust after.

Inspired by the elegant Ferrari car design, the unconventional structure of Ferra boasts subtle curved contours, and is injected with a sleek and state-of-the-art feel. I want to move in instantly!

Garnering a vote from me in the “City Slickers Award” category happens to be a property that also belongs to Far East Organization. It wasn’t an easy choice to make though; I was torn between the other nominees as they each had their individual traits that made them stand out. Continue reading →

The Fullerton Hotel’s Town Restaurant presents Chicken Rice Festival Buffet (11 to 24 Nov 2013)

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Chicken rice lovers, brace your appetites, because The Fullerton Hotel’s Town Restaurant envisions busting your calorie budget and making it worthwhile to, with the Chicken Rice Festival Buffet that’s happening from 11th till 24th November 2013.

The spread of local chicken rice dishes – including Hainanese Chicken Rice, Ayam Penyet, Chicken Devil’s Curry, Chicken Nasi Briyani and Ayam Cincalok – is a true manifestation of the distinctive characteristics and diversity of various ethnic cuisines in Singapore. Continue reading →

Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore presents Chefs With Altitude 2013 (11 to 17 November 2013)

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Thai Mango Minstrone Yuzu Sorbet

Chefs With Altitude is a weeklong epicurean extravaganza inaugurated in 2003, designed to showcase the most exquisite selection of food, drinks and club entertainment at Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore.

Chefs With Altitude 2013 brings the prowess of three talents – Chef Xavier Beaudiment from one Michelin-starred Le Pré in France, Chef Julien Schillaci from Restaurant A L’etage Parc Des Eaux Vives in Switzerland, and drinks specialist Tristan Stephenson from Worship Street Whistling Shop in UK – to run the show at JAAN, Equinox Restaurant, and City Space respectively. Continue reading →

Haagen-Dazs introduces specially crafted Coffee Creations infused with the new Chocolate Hazelnut Brittle

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Catering to the palates of chocoholics and coffee lovers alike, Haagen-Dazs invites Eduardo Vastolo, illyCaffe Barista Trainer for the Asia Pacific Region, to craft three coffee creations infused with the new Chocolate Hazelnut Brittle ice cream flavour.

This new flavour is a decadent combination of dark chocolate ice cream with a smooth hazelnut swirl and textured pieces of crunchy hazelnut brittle.

Coffee fans can enjoy Eduardo’s creations in the comforts of their homes as Eduardo has a step-by-step video guide on how to create them using home coffee machines. He also hosted a series of workshops for participants to learn how to make the perfect ice cream coffee.

I attended the hands-on session hosted by Eduardo, watched him demonstrate his recipes of the ice cream coffees, and also got to fabricate my own Haagen-Dazs coffee creation. Continue reading →