Sumiya @ Suntec City: 'Irori Genshiyaki' - unveiling the secrets of Japanese grilling

Walking into this place, the first thing that grabs your attention is the circular Enomatic sake dispenser, apparently, the only one in Singapore too. Basically, a wine enomatic system employed to perform sake duties, the elephant in the room, administers a total of 16 types of sake stored in temperature-controlled environment for diners to enjoy their choice of beverage in complements to their meal.

Since, I confess to not being much of a lover of sake, I took a sip of my 

half glass (60ml) Morboroshino Tak Daiginjo Blend Taplows ($14) and left it in the corner of neglect for the rest of the evening. That's not to say the rest of your sake connoisseurs out there won't appreciate the finer selections of sake procured by the restaurant and backed by a certified sake sommelier on site who would not hesitate to answer any of your queries should you not understand the tasting notes labelled on the sake dispenser. With these, indicating the aroma, taste identification, acidity, texture and origin; picking out a alcoholic beverage should be easy as pie.

The Sumiya at Suntec differs drastically from their flagship outlet at Orchard Central, sans the industrial metal sheeting and large communal spaces. Dining here is a little more intimate, a little more closeted off from the rest of the diners; a slight mysterious and fashionable setting, furnishing dressed in dark hues of grey and wood, preparing the guests for a feasts of gustatory pleasures.

Raven: "The New Americas"

The same folks behind speakeasy bar House of Dandy have poked their fingers into the restaurant scene with yet another sexy Urban City creation: Raven. Settled snugly in the bottom enclaves of Chijmes, this is the kind of place you bring secret dates to, hoping that something saucy will evolve from the whole exchange. Well, fret no, with a strong list of cheeky cocktails to boot (H.O.D... DUH), Raven might just be you go-to location if you're hoping to strike first-base.

In this space, a grafittied grand piano in the style of Rich Uncle Pennybags stands with a DJ console on its back, sleek leather booth seatings and mystifying modern light instalments pave the way for an equally bedazzling meal. "The New Americas" is touted to be the menu's art direction, and with that, I visualised Northern and Southern American comfort food perceived with a modern interpretation with teensie ounces of Asian flair subtly worked into each dish. With Sam Chablani, previously from Lolla heading the kitchen, I had no qualms that something prodigious was about to unravel itself.

[ANYMAP] Lepak @ The Holland Village

Holland Village, named in 1907 after Hugh Holland,  an architect and an amateur actor who was one of the early residents in the vicinity. Holland Road, also known as hue hng au in Hokkien, translates to "behind the flower garden". The "flower garden" referring to the Botanic Gardens, hence explaining the provenance of its name.

Whether you're looking for sweets filled pinatas, rare magazines or just a cool cafe to chill out with friends whilst simultaneously cooing over adorable latte art, you can be sure that Holland Village's amazing spread of local stores have got you covered.

The Alshaya Food Tour: Texas Road House; Overseas Weekend feasts with VITAGEN LESS SUGAR

As some of you might know, I've recently ventured to the Middle East and back. In a research collaborative with the Alshaya Group, Dubai in a big to scrutinise a couple of major International food groups and assess it's viability in the South East Asian Market. You can read more about my unbiased verdicts here and here.

Sounds like a noble affair doesn't it? In actual fact, the non-stop whining and dining had tumultuous effects on the poor ole' tummy. Not to sound like an old prude, but efficient digestion has never been one of my strong suit. Thank goodness for VITAGEN LESS SUGAR that came to the rescue after four days of heavy feasting.

'The Italian Table' @ Zafferano: magnificent Saturday Italian brunch

If there's one thing we take seriously here, its brunch. 

Hence when we heard of Zafferano rolling out its new and super indulgent Saturday Italian brunch, we stopped in our tracks and listened eagerly.

Every first and last Saturday of the month, Zafferano serves one of the most luxurious brunches around, it's arrangement gearing towards a  buffet style but with hints of ala carte's service finesse. Start off with a 7 different antipastis including fresh oysters and a selection of frito misto, 3 authentic pastas and a traditional saffron risotto and finally a choice of main course. Depart on a sweet note with a quick trip over to the dessert counter, there, a humble but cleverly curated selection of pastries await.

Sin Lee Foods: Soulful nosh

Some days when the cravings for Chicken and Waffles get a little too overbearing to handle, I slip on some decent shoes and head out the house in search for instant gratification at Sin Lee Foods (though I am now considering standing in line for 30mins under the hot sun for a taste of the forbidden fruit from Clinton Street Baking Company...that can wait). However, confessions first, this plan always fizzles midway, at this very juncture, hunger takes precedence and a toss up between a nearer cafe and this one, often ends up with the former emerging victorious. A tragic outcome, evident from my last visit being in July last year. You can read about it here.

Bochinche (revisited): The stars remain aligned

There exists a blurry line between Bochinche being a great bar or a great restaurant. Mainly because it does both with intuitive nature, as though it's an intrinsic part of its being. Plop your tush by the bar and lap on some interesting underpriced wines from the Argentinian region or shake up your own Chimchurri Bloody Mary table-side. Your life, your call. Just that my advise would be a little cocktail don't hurt nobody.

Now with a new menu of exciting small plates for sharing, dining at Bochinche just got a whole lot easier on the pocket and with the added benefit of having a wider variety of items tantalise the tastebuds. Some most orders: the Watermelon salad with mozzarella cream and tomatoes and the Ox Tongue topped with Parmesan foam, that is such a festival of textures and tastes, it makes you cantillate songs of praise to have working teeth and a tongue in your head.

Weekend Haunts: Vasco + Long Chim

Weekends are hard to come by, and when it does swing by, we hit hard and paint the town red. Whilst you're at it, make sure to get some good grub into your system; because nothing fuels the fun more than positive dining experience.

So, here are some places to check out over the coming weekend! Let's make a date.

Newly opened cocktail bar, Vasco located on Hong Kong street has got some mean grind, knowing that its current team spirit constitutes of those gregarious ones from leading local cocktail bar, The Cufflink Club; and with kitchen muscle provided by former executive chef of Esquina Tapas Bar, we've got a formidable force on our hands. 

Shake Shack - The Alshaya Food Tour in Dubai

Toss a coin out, even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Singapore, and you'll probably hit someone who has heard of Shake Shack, or even better still, someone who is a big fan of the brand.

Being the burger fanatic, I've heard myths and legends about the roadside NYC 'burger' stall that had achieved cult status and since then, went forth to open up chains throughout the world.

And today, I sought to challenge that myth. Putting Shake Shack through the mill, with a series of burger debauchery and mindless gluttony. 

The Alshaya Food Tour: iHop + P.F.Chang's

I willed my stomach into ordering something from the dinner menu, 'it's just for tasting purposes', I convinced myself despite the gut's relentless protest; something about being over fed. I ignored it - then my mind wondered to the additional paragraphs I had to add to the growing review. *Groans*

If you think there's such thing as a free lunch? There isn't.

As part of The Alshaya Food Tour that has journeyed across half the globe to taste test 4 American-based brands, iHop, Shake Shack, Texas Road House and P.F. Chang's, who coincidentally have set their sights on stepping foot into the South East Asian market; we had to do our due diligence.

Reports before 11pm every night? I'm on it!

Read on for the low down on what to expect should you be lucky enough to have these giants embrace our shores.

Gin Khao: I wish I have more than two thumbs (up)

I will get to the heftier items on the menu. I will sing praises about the Stir Fried Squid with Runny salted egg, that I still finish the sentence usually with a longing sigh. I will reminisce the intensely flavored Kang Ob Woon Sen, the glass noodles dampened with the concentrate of seafood broth and stippled with Thai garlic and pepper. I'll try to explain how I manage to make space for the Thai Green curry Gelato and sticky rice at the end of lavish meal- because it was so good - in due time. All in due time. 

Restaurant Sela: Modern European with a fleck of Asian confusion

Situated between Cityhall and Bugis, Seah street is home to one of my favourite baking supplies shop; my frequent visits to the joint during my better days as a budding pastry chef blinding me to potential great food experiences along the way as I spearheaded my way thru Raffles Hotel with cumbersome bags full of chocolate and dry ingredients to spin up sweet tales in my kitchen. Apart from my distasteful meal at Third and Sixth that forever left a mark on my soul (read about it here), Seah Street occupied no space on my map to achieve culinary satiety on local shores. Up till now.

This is SELA, an industrious restaurant dressed in a gobs of muted whites and muji like shades of wood and old fashioned tweed; fortuitous swirls of ink across white canvas decked the walls with their artsy intentions. Pushing past all that, I was solely focused on the food, having heard some amazing stuff about the petite courses, I came armed with expectations. Some of the most dangerous weapons, so they say...

Creature S: Twisted creatures that are best not to disturb

Here's a little Thursday jeremiad. 

Creature S....All that initial excitement, pumped up by deliciously spun tales and sights of its artfully decorated interior; plummeted to the ground after a very lackluster dinner crippled by horrendously amatuerish service. The only thing keeping us calm at the table whilst we received one glass of wine as opposed to the two that we ordered, was the therapeutic lemongrass aromas wafting through the air, reminiscent of a spa experience. Except that in place of amiable ladies in waiting, sophomoric adolescent boys took their place, typing on their phones furiously while our backs were turned.

Cha Thai: an Air of Confidence

Leah, business owner and head chef strides out of the kitchen, aromatic wafts of Thai Basil following in her wake. With a firm handshake exchanged, she proceeds to vouch for the quality of the menu, stopping briefly to evaluate our likes and dislikes before pushing out her recommendations . "People who don't go the wet markets to shop wouldn't understand why our food is so expensive," She laments, "but we only use the freshest of ingredients that we pick personally that's why the price." I shrug in contention at her unsettling air of confidence. However, the instant she dropped the French Culinary Institute background training, I was sold on her promise that her clear Tom Yum Goong would be "nothing like you've tried in Singapore before."

Open Farm Community: In the Weeds.

Disclaimer: In case you had the impression that I was going to slam Open Farm Community's garden nosh, no chance; by "In the Weeds", I meant the state of your poor stomach as it churns up its indignation in view of your unsuppressed gluttony at the table. Point is, you can't help it - food at OFC beckons with a spellbinding light that rendered me a minion, the fork doing relentless runs between the beautiful crockery and my mouth.

Open Farm Community plays a familiar game, the hipster playground that has accidentally allowed you in - rampage its grounds with a ping pong table (that could incidentally also double up for a beer pong table) in a vibrant shade of yellow on the porch; yet still retain a bit of its verdant nature with sprawling green pastures sporting an extensive spectrum of herbs and spices that would eventually end up on your plate in one form or another ~ Walk through the first extension of the establishment and you'll find memorabilia and cutesy baby-related merchandise from Tinydipity, there, traverse pass the covered corridors to the inner sanctum; a glasshouse-esque setup with an open-kitchen style pass; the orgy of chefs threading in tandem making for a fascinating sight. 

That's until the food starts spilling out onto the tables...