Top eats of 2017: Please Sir Can I have somemore?!

Tonight, from Kuala Lumpur, I'm raising my glass to one heck of a memorable year.

There have been highs, and extreme lows, bucket loads of tears, jaw-dropping sunsets and plenty of beauty.

Loads of delicious things have been set in front of me. Photos have filled the memory of my computer and pretty epic tales including silly exchanges with chefs have flowed out onto the Internet.

Here we are at the end and at the beginning. Like a hop, skip and quick restart.

But before we do so, there are certain dishes out there which I feel strongly compelled to commit to memory - here are my favourite eats of the year.

[NEW] Merci Marcel: Tiong Bahru gem touting bejewelled tipples

Just what the neighbourhood needs is another wine bar. Note, the lack of sarcasm in my voice. No, it's not a double innuendo. I persevere in proving my point, the bereft of chill-out joints in the creative enclave of Tiong Bahru a mystery to me seeing alcohol's ability to 'inspire'. Merci Marcel, the latest lifestyle concept doled out by the same folks behind O' Comptoir and O' Batignolles brings the same winning formula of wine and cheese dressed up in a more articulate vibrant manner.

The Affogato Bar: Tis' the season to be jolly... with the aid of chocolate.

Affogato Bar is Asia's first cafe that specialises in affogatos. As someone who is a lover of both coffee and ice cream, I've had affogatos a couple of times before straying away, since realising that the ice cream often melted into the coffee too quickly and both elements could not be tasted distinctly on its own. While I was slightly sceptical about how an entire cafe can be bourne out of a single dessert, I was even more hopeful that the cafe could change my mind about Affogatos.

The Affogato Bar released 3 special Affogatos for the Christmas season - Lady Claret, Firewood and Toasted Smores. After a series of careful consideration, we eventually opted for Lady Claret and Toasted Smores.

Limehouse: Date Night Solved.

It's been a good year for the business of libations and cocktail bars spanning our local shores. Singapore has really come into its own in the bar world, capturing six spots in this year's "World's 50 Best Bars" list, third to perennial cocktail capitals London and New York. One things for sure, the locals thirst for cocktails is insatiable. We might have our staid, workaholic way of life to blame, but that just makes the lure of a kooky libation after work, irresistible. Who's with me?

And with drinks, there must be food. If you're looking for a place that does stellar cocktails accompanied with tasty nosh, here's one to add to your list: Limehouse, a Caribbean style drinking den that will have you attempting to salsa at the end of your rum-filled dinner experience.

Urban Bites - All New Saturday Brunch, Lebanese style.

As many of you may know, I've lived in the Middle-east for a good one year, worked for a Lebanese cafe for another year and a half whilst in Sydney and was blessed to have sufficient exposure to the cuisine, at least, much more than a lot of my fellow dining companions. Not to boast, but I was truly appreciative for a middle-eastern cuisine vocabulary that extended beyond hummus and shish kebabs.  Hence when the invite to Urban Bites - the restaurant inconspicuously sounding more small plate concept than a communal Lebanese joint - I was truly flipping out. My memories of breakfast plates, aromatic hummus awarma and the sprightly impressions of herbaceous fattoush in summer had me hitting the ground running.

Urban Bites located on Telok Ayer Road sees a bevy of activity during weekend lunches. Quick Shish Tawook wraps and healthy vibes associated with hummus have been well received by the surrounding working community. However, 10 years into the business and the restaurant is seeing a major overhaul by Chef Khanashat's daughter Christine Khanashat who is determined to update a large majority of the dishes to appeal to the well-heeled crowd's sophisticated palates. With young and talented Lebanese Executive Chef, Haroutioun Ara Sayegh taking over reigns on the stoves, things have taken a drastic turn - for one, the restaurant now opens on Saturday, offering an authentic Lebanese brunch. It's clever, its a breathe of fresh air where champagne brunches and staple egg offerings are a dime in a dozen.

Humpday Quick Picks: Jade, B Burger, One Farrer Park Hotel X Da Paolo

JADE unveils a NEW Dim Sum Experience on Weekends and Public Holidays

Jade has done away with their popular a la carte Dim Sum Buffet in favour of a more refined and no less delicious weekend dim sum experience. The Gourmet Dim Sum Treasures with set meals starting at $68++ per person and capping off at an extravagant $108++ per person for the Royal Peacock set aims to allude diners with an exquisite line up of courses ranging from dim sum to braised birds nest and crabmeat broth and my all-time-favourite sautéed Boston lobster which the kitchen perfects to the T every time.

To start, a trio of contemporary bites feed the visual senses. The plumpness hiding some divine ingredients such as scallop dumpling topped with fish roe, golden sea urchin siew mai and foie gras and truffle shrimp dumpling. Luxe versions of the ordinary really; it's obvious that Jade values quality over quantity. You might even contemplate chasing the meal with an astutely paired glass of wine (or champagne if you're feeling fancy). Prices start from $19 per glass or $98 per bottle.

Another worthy contender on the Purple Finch menu ($68++ per head) is the savoury Wok-fried Rice Flour Rolls with Scallops in X.O. sauce. It's a tricky one, assuming the appearance of a regular fried carrot cake, this one is a textbook of textures - the flat surfaces of the rice flour rolls carrying smoky wisps of charred flavour while its centers retain that delectable chew. Pan-fried scallops up the ante and the XO sauce has an addictive fragrance that will have you wiping out the plate before you can even say 'Hey, PRESTO!'

Jade

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore

1 Fullerton Square

t: 6877 8188

Operating Hours:

Daily: 11 30 - 3pm; 6 30pm - 11pm

~~~

B Burger - Classic American burger joint with a Japanese Twist

Just when you think the burger culture is dead, along comes the fashion forward crew of Benjamin Barker with their latest foray into the meat sandwich business - B Burger, cleverly located in Cineleisure. The aim, to capture the hearts and stomachs of the younger audience, a move so brilliantly encapsulated in its usage of hipster graphics, Instagram worthy motifs and cute packaging.

Just based on concept alone, I'm sold. The artsy murals and neon lights a resounding representation of my deep profound love for burgers. Touted to be a burger and concrete paradise, I was quick to jump the gun where criticisms are made - it's ballsy, it's reckless and done so with youthful abandonment. That's B Burger in a nutshell. Now, the real question is if it lives up to expectations. After a quick taste test, I would agree with the latter. The concretes and milkshakes were splendid. The burgers on the other hand are your basic offerings with smushy overly sweet buns that did nothing for its overall integrity. Best of the lot, the Bomchika Wow Wow (yes, you get quite a kick from plain placing your order over the counter) ($10.90) combines the winning combination of fried chicken and egg between black buns mindlessly employed for aesthetic purposes. The Baller Burger ($10.90) is a close runner up with the thin layer or nori adhered to the bottom of the umamified stack adding extra dimension.

Affordability is key here so don't expect a deliverance of gourmet burgers. Do however save space for the concretes which are worth every single calorie you're splurging on. The S'mores Milkshake ($6.90) is a good thirst quencher - signature creamy vanilla ice cream made in house swirled with Nutella and topped with smatterings of crushed graham crumb and toasted marshmallows. The Peanut Butter Jelly Concrete ($7.50) has got a wild-child personality - two scoops of vanilla concrete tainted with malt powder for a bit of nostalgic factor. This concoction championed by bits of smooth peanut butter that stick to the roof of your mouth and imparts bursts of saltiness between mouthfuls of jelly laden mess. If you've got stomach for desserts, don't think twice. Even the Death by Chocolate successfully ropes in the non-dessert fans.

B Burger

Orchard Cathay Cineleisure

8 Grange Road

#01-01/01A

S(239695)

w: https://www.bburger.sg

Operating Hours:

Daily: 12pm - 10pm

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One Farrer Hotel and Spa X Da Paolo Group collaboration

Italian Dining Experience

Running till the end of December, this Friday night pop-up features the best of Da Paolo Group's famous homemade cuisine with One Farrer Park Hotel's latest focus on its new "Total Lifestyle Environment" led dining concepts. Available only on Fridays and running till the 29th December, the 6 course menu is priced at just $75++.

The homegrown brand are kings of the good quality, Italian fare at affordable pricing and needless to say, the 6 course menu packs a couple of standouts. The Ravioli di Vitello con Pomodoro e Grana Padano for example, is a showstopper. These cookie cutter pillows containing braised veal, lit by adequate seasoning and just the right amount of unctuous fats to stand up to the silky sheets. They've also got the ratio of crabmeat to pasta spot on in the Spaghetti al Granchio. Fresh, tangy and slighty creamy but not in a faux pas kind of way, this dish will burrow its way straight into your heart.

Choice of mains include the Baked Chicken Roulade and the Pan Seared Barramundi. My preference lying with the former, the usual stodgy chicken dish breathed new life into with an injection of various textural references from sauted mushrooms to the ethereally light bed of truffle risotto engulfed in a moat of forest berry red wine jus to refresh the palette in between bites

You're not leaving an Italian feast without first digging into some form of dessert. Da Paolo showcases its signature tiramisu as part of the set and I'm betting my bottom dollar on it. The moist slice eats like a dream, sponge fingers soaked in just the right amount of liquored goodness to promote healthy conversations at the table.

One Farrer Hotel & Spa

Level 6, Poolside

1 Farrer Park Station Road

S(217562)

t: +65 67057825

HolyCrab!: Let's Get Physical

Another Crab restaurant has popped up in Singapore, but wait, one that serves White Pepper, Butter, Green Chili and Balsamic Vinaigrette crabs? Count me in!

After seven years of operating as a private dining enterprise, HolyCrab has opened its first outlet at Tan Quee Lan Street, showcasing the titular crustacean in unique flavours that are bound to leave an impression.

[BALI EATS]: Urchin Grill & Raw Bar does poncey with major appeal

On a weekday night during the off-peak season at Urchin, it's a silent, empty place of polished floorboards, stiff back chairs and mahogany wood stained atmosphere. Similar to other establishments winging the Seminyak stretch, the ill-fated predicament seems commonplace. A waiter appears and injects some life into the dry as dust persona, introducing us to the tasting menu we would be navigating. Albeit, alone in the expanse of the spacious dining room. Urchin defers from most other restaurants, no death-defying design stunts, devoid of tropical-vibe inducing paraphernalia. 

I had no qualms, of course. Settling in prompting with a comp basket of sexy warm sourdough flanked by a small dish of Kombu butter that had seen too long a time in the freezer.

It's Cake Time!

Anchor Food Professionals (AFP) and nine local bakeries preset It's Cake Time, a campaign comprising nine specially created, tea-inspired cakes. All speciality cakes featured in the collection are delicately made with premium, New Zealand-made Anchor butter and cream.

More wicked cake action after the jump.

The Pelican Seafood Bar and Grill conquers both land and sea

Letting off a sigh that signalled both contentment and resignation, this was me, right after I had taken a first bite of my burger at The Pelican. The bay front restaurant has been around for what seems like ages now, its menu recently making transition from being full fledged seafood focused to featuring a pleasant interweave of surf and turf. The list reads easy and offers nothing out of the ordinary as far as your regular mid-tier restaurant would go - however, what lies simmering below the seemingly tranquil surface is a conglomerate of stellar staples. Hear me out.

Winter is coming: PORTA Fine Food and Import Company rolls out Christmas specials

Tucked away in a corner of the lobby of Park Hotel, PORTA Fine Food and Import Company is known for dishing out modern European specialties. This December, they have released a festive menu with dishes that offer a twist from the regular Christmas fare.

Tsuta Singapore celebrates their first-year anniversary with two brand new ramen offerings

Helmed by Chef Yuki Onishi, Tsuta's flagship outlet in Japan is the world's first Michelin-starred ramen eatery. Its outlet in Singapore at Pacific Plaza has been awarded the Bib Gourmand Award for the 2017 MICHELIN Guide Singapore. In conjunction with Tsuta's first anniversary, Chef has created two duck ramen dishes specially for Singapore that have made available to the public on the 4th November' 17.

Alaturka Turkish and Mediterranean Restaurant: Faith in Middle Eastern restored

A few years back, having returned from a short business-related stint in the Middle East and subsequently working under a throng of Lebanese bosses whilst living in Sydney, Australia; I've entertained thoughts that if in the case I weren't born Chinese, Middle eastern would be the next best thing. Reason being, the cuisine was gorgeous.

I had grown a furtive love for all things Middle Eastern, baba-ganoush, hummus, fattoush, baklava, halva - I wanted them all. Simple, satisfying and supposedly good for you.

[Weekend Pick]: Butcher Boy for late night munchies and Sunday therapy

On first glance, Butcher Boy comes across as just another one of the bar-touting restaurants flashing a  modernistic approach on Asian cuisine in the hope of enticing the ignorant tourist or expatriate. But on closer inspection, the joint boasts some amazing accolades, mostly with Andrew Walsh of Cure helming the finances and kitchen. Cure, having survived more than 2 years in the merciless Keong Saik neighbourhood, has proved its mettle; the informal diner is in good health and does a bustling trade with a spotlight placed on ever-changing menus dictated by seasonal goods.

Chef-owner Andrew Walsh has turned it up a notch in his second and newest venture, churning out grilled meat specialities with Asian sauces - think baos and buns, sharing plates and Asian centric cocktails - all inspired by his tasty adventures whilst traversing Asia. There's an immediate sense of ease and comfort, something metaphysical as you step into the low-light of the longish dining room. The high stool seatings and the tight tables encourage communal dining with a lofty chance of alcoholic tipples, the open bar making sure to fortify those thirsty needs. Staff are affable and not before long, a bottle of wine graces your groups table, and fret not, it is a perfectly plush spot to indulge in a tipple at mid-range prices.

Let's do the LOCO-motion - Mexican food trail with the Loco Group

The Loco Group brought us on a mini food trail to all three of their outlets, Super loco Robertson Quay, Super Loco Customs house and last but not least Lucha Loco.

We commenced the trail at Robertson Quay. Set just beside the Singapore river, Super Loco adopted a Mexican diner look and feel, with the strange use of vibrant colours, creative graphics, festival lighting, handwritten typography and street posters. It wasn't hard to fall in love with the venue. They even have a retail cabinet showcasing an array of quirky Mexican merchandise to be purchased!

Neon Pigeon: Autumn Migration

If you asked me to name two things the Singapore dining-scape (in specific the Keong Saik precinct) already has plenty of, I'd reply "modern-Asian cuisine and cocktail bars." So did I need to review another place that thrived on selling a combination of these two concepts to the unsuspecting audience, mostly expats, sorry. Theoretically, no. Especially where full-house bookings and raucous crowds are concerned on a daily basis. But gastronomically, where the autumn menu is headed, yes.

Hear me out.

Morsels: Timeless cuisine fostered by Asian heralded techniques

Areas like the lush Dempsey Hill have had its fair share of ups and down over the last decade. It spruced up nicely in its food and beverage conquest, attracting voracious appetites and roaring conversations in its hay-days with distinguished overseas brand backing. Think Jones the Grocer with its cool, softly lit gorgeous lofty interiors and fresh stacks of pancakes. However, the slowing economy took a huge hit and expatriates who were the majority denizens of Dempsey started making rarer appearances in the enclave. All of a sudden, things too a turn and these giants slowly moved out of the leaving a void to be filled. Not long after, new life style quarters Como Dempsey happened and the precinct teamed with life once again. Taking the plunge, was Petrina Loh, Chef/Owner of Morsels (previously located in Mayo Street) who moved her small plates restaurant into a more intimate 40-seater, 1000 sqf space  just at stone's throw from Long Beach Seafood.

Having not patronise her previous outlet before, I was pleasantly surprised by the cottage like intimacy of the dining space adjoining the open kitchen. Wild ferns frame the bar while wicker chairs and wooden table tops up the 'rustic' quality one experiences once you slide pass those full length barnyard type doors. At the point, you'll wonder if you've inadvertently stepped into someone's home, lifting your eyes to look out for quilted corners.

Halia celebrates its Halal certification with a new menu

Tucked in the lush foliage of the Ginger Garden, Halia at Singapore Botanic Gardens was established in 2001 and has served over a million customers with its modern European cuisine with Asian influences. In June 2017, Halia marked another significant milestone in its 16-year history and has attained Halal certification. To celebrate the Halal certification, Executive Chef Ciaran Armstrong, has introduced new additions to the menu.

How to boost efficiency in your F&B business - Orca Business Operating System

Ever had problems delivering food out to customers in a timely manner because of broken feedback to the kitchen display system?

Encounter tight deadlines while delivering reports, due to a delay in the stock-taking process?

Southpaw Bar & Sushi: The art of pairing food with whisky

Sat next to car repair workshops and hardware shops, Southpaw Bar and Sushi is a hidden gem and the island's latest attempt at diving deeper into our cups and pairing plates with heavier pours of whiskies and bourbons. With our restaurant scene awashed with wine and beer dinner options (the latter being a rarity as well), Southpaw is a lovely respite for jaded tipple pairing punters.

Whisky drunk neat always it the perfect mean to bookend a meal, the idea of a sit -down dinner pickled with spirit forward imbibes; maybe an ounce or so to invigorate the palate en route to the appetiser and a heavier sherry casked pour to complement the dessert. But that's where the fun stops, the resolution with the fish course or aburi salmon not something that can be fathom by most. Southpaw is where you find a solution to that wratched gap in the market. And why not? Why don't great whiskies bump the Bordeaux from beside those de rigueur plates of beef?

[Weekend Pick]: Potato Head Folk for killer burgers and cocktails

It's Friday. What could be more perfect than grounded meat seared to Maillard reaction glory between two sweet slices of buns? Maybe that old-fashioned you're holding in your other hand while studying the bewitching cross-sectional view of the burger. A burger is a simple premise, but doing them well is a dark art. For me, Potato Head Folk has always been on my radar (view here and here) and in a world where consistency is scarce, repeated visits have proven their culinary pedigree.

But first, the illicit goods.

Morganfield's: 5 years of Sticky Bones and a Spare Ribs GIVEAWAY!

Morganfield's claims to serve up the best ribs in town and we were invited to make our own judgement calls.

Saturday night picks - Chikin for feisty Szechuan yakitori and Asian inspired tipples

Spice devils! Step right up! Chikin, a new fusion joint to join the throngs of half-blood variants in the precinct offers something a little different. Western influences find no place here as the kitchen combines the founders' love for Japanese yakitori and Szechuan Shao Kao (BBQ meats). An extremely underrated marriage resulting from the co-founder's  Ms Tay Eu-Ten frequent visits to Chengdu.

Much to my amusement, there is no overt restaurant plagiarism here, the kooky result making me feel   at home instantly. Red and purple hues wash the surfaces of the shop-length bar counter. Barely a few steps in and I swiftly relegated myself to bar-fly status -  plopping myself down and perusing the cocktails list with enthusiasm.

OSO Ristorante: Italian restaurants takes to newer heights at its new location @ OASIA Hotel Downtown

The real question is whether or not the food delivers on the same front as its new established heights off the ground.

OSO Ristorante previously located on Bukit Pasoh Road maintains its rigour and unmistakable melancholy in its set-up. White, stiff starched linen greets table tops, the oddly angled ginormous mirrors pandering to your stalkerish ways of taking stolen glanced at your picture perfect date. Don't get me wrong, it's a gorgeous space, the dry aging cabinet behind the high counter and the cheese room stowed away at the entrance providing inspirations for the meal to evolve. However, the real anchor in the equation is the emergence of a blue oasis, the sight of OASIA Hotel downtown's swimming pool through tall glass windows that provides a stark contrast and balances out the grandeur in the space.

Braseiro Restaurant: Steaks and the whole she-bang at just less than $20.

Remember the steak article that I did a year back regarding 28 Juicy Steaks under $30? Truth is, I never really got round to trying all those on the list for fear of gout. However, a year has past and it has been my fortune to be able to continue the stake out, this time extending my footprint to the far east of the island.

As far as affordable steaks go, Braserio in Joo Chiat is up there with my personal favourites of The Betterfield and iSTEAKS. It takes little convincing to know that you've stumbled upon a bargain; one step into the establishment and the throngs of diners, large families with every member working their way through individual steaks with voracious appetites affirming the affordable yet luxurious deal.

Kori King: Kakigori that's as easy on the wallet as it is on the eyes

Kakigori is a Japanese shaved ice dessert that dates back to the 11th century. It was initially made only for the Japanese elites but have since gained popularity in Japan over the past few decades. Riding on the wave of shaved ice, Kori King is the pioneer to offer Kakigori in Singapore in a young more hipster-ish kind of settings at really wallet-friendly pricing.

Made from ingredients imported from Japan with no additives, colourants or chemical flavours, Kori King offers its customers an extensive menu of different flavours to choose from. This includes local delights such as Gula Melaka, popular favourites - Matcha and fruity flavours such as Mango and Strawberry.

Five-Ten: Taiwanese inspired Pop-Up

In place of the late CATO along South Bridge Road comes Five Ten, a trendy spot sporting homely Taiwanese inspired eats. Judging from the long queues snaking out the door every weekday night, its popularity amongst the young and voguish is unmistakable. A major home-run, evidently seeing that its name is based off a beloved pre-drinking game enjoyed by most Singaporeans (preferably equipped with adequate counting skills); conceptualised by the Kishore brothers most known for helming the 90s themed club FRESH!; their appeal preceding over the same audience in their latest establishment.

Song Garden - Custard Salted Egg Lava Mooncakes to die for

Missed out on the early bird discounts for mooncakes?

Have no time to visit the mooncake fair?

Fretting over which mooncake to purchase for the family (without burning a huge hole in your wallet)?

Then you had better heed my advice and head down to Song Garden located on the 2nd floor of Mercure Singapore Bugis to get in on their mooncake selection. The emphasis on the traditional baked mooncakes a refreshing respite from the peculiarities of this year's snow skin offerings from various establishments touting strange flavours such as tom yum, pink peppercorn and more. Call me old school, but there are certain lines that can't be crossed in celebration of such a historical occasion.

Redolent with nuts, the Five Assorted Seeds is one that would pander to the more matured taste buds. Almonds, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, persimmon and sesame seeds are held together with a sticky maltose filling which is just sweet enough to allow for the roast on the nuts to shine through. Unlike many renditions I've had, Song Garden's version doesn't crumble at the slightest touch nor stick to the teeth in unglamorous nooks and crannies. Definitely a keeper and a fine display of the artistry in the kitchen.

I've always been one to love white lotus paste, plain. However, come Mid-Autumn Festival, I cave in to the occasional yolk inception. The dynamite orange ball adding just that bit of luxurious salt to bring out the best of the smooth lotus paste. At song garden, the mooncakes come just a little more tanner than usual, the crust itself yielding a robust flavour that I prefer.

White Lotus (1 Box of 4 pieces): $50.80

White Lotus Single Yolk (1 Box of 4 pieces): $56.80

White Lotus Double Yolk (1 Box of 4 pieces): $62.80

Five Assorted Seeds (1 Box of 4 pieces): $62.80

Perfect little gold ingots; these salted egg yolk lava custard mini mooncakes from Song Garden are my recommended for most 'worth-it' purchase this mid autumn festival. Heat it up a little and you're guaranteed a nice flowy centre providing a faintly salty contrast to the milky crust.

Mini Custard Salted Egg Lava Mooncakes (1 Box of 8 pieces) for $62.80.

Note that this mooncakes are only available for purchase from Song Garden itself from now till the 4th October or until stocks run out.

Song Garden

122 Middle Road

Level 2

Mercure Singapore Bugis

t: 6521 9299

Lewin Terrace: 500 Days of Summer

There's barely anything left to coincidence on the plates as presented by Chef Shinkai that night at Lewin Terrace. His well-flourished career that took him through the kitchens of 3 Michelin star restaurant L'Osier in Tokyo to the beloved 1 Michelin star Beni on local grounds erecting some high expectations at the white-linen lined tables. Sure, we do know that the Chef is well-versed in the unique fusion of Japanese-French cuisine, but a quick glimpse at the summer menu revealed baffling misplaced words such as 'laksa' and 'lemongrass' - would these prove to be feign attempts at pushing the envelope, or will they actuate as pure ingenuity? I was curious to find out.

Full of Luck Club: What's Newer and Hotter.

Since my last visit to Full of Luck Club last year (read here), the joint has taken measures to reinvent the menu, pushing new-fangled offerings to match their stalwart menu items that have received a sort of cult status amongst the tipple-cravers.. think Braised Pork Bao and Golden Sand Corn washed down with ice cold beer. Yes, it does feel a little more like Friday doesn't it?

ADRIFT by David Myers will bait you with their Crazy Late Night Supper Menu

I can't pretend that I like any of the restaurants I've ever dined in at Marina Bay Sands very much. But one things for sure, when a kitchen delivers a full-fledged menu (Till 2am) complete with a wild bevy of high-strung cocktails till 4am every morning, It's a keeper and it deserves my support.

ADRIFT by David Myers (read my previous review here) has had raving reviews from me in the past, no thanks to golden crispy ingots of fried chicken karaage dredged through furikake mayonnaise that stole my heart on the first instance. If you've never visited the joint, the new super late-night menu will provide enough incentives for you to do so.

Rosso Vino: like an Italian Trattoria scene from Lady and the Tramp

Stuck in its ways. stepping into Rosso Vino is like a step back in time. Red napkin lined bread baskets and waiters dressed in starched and stiffened white shirts; the joint cashes in on the nostalgic factor; instilling in its diners an enthusiasm quite similar to what you would experience when you were ten and were told dinner is at Jack's Place. Despite it's conservative decor and even more time-honoured menu, dining for the first time at Rosso Vino is a dangerous love affair. The said waiters and waitresses working the dining room with effortless hospitality; like they'd been doing this their whole lives. I bet a bottom dollar that partaking in their fettuccine bolognese would be like a magical scene out of Lady and the Tramp sans the waiter serenading you with his impeccable accordion skills (though they would if they could).

Things to do this weekend: Sansiri's The Finest Thai Event

Hot, sweaty bodies push up against you and you revel in the occasional bursts of fresh relief as you round the corners of the festival grounds which house the cooler machines. As uncomfortable as it reads, you get a sense of satisfaction, almost akin to traversing the grounds of the former Bangkok markets. The hustle and bustle combined with the excitement conjured from discovering something new around every corner is infectious.  For those of you who aren't aware, Sansiri's The Finest Thai Event takes place this weekend, running from the 8th -10th September on the plush grounds of the Royal Thai Embassy (yet another reason to visit the festival).

What should you expect? Food of course! And lots of it, a good mix of Thailand favourites as well as local vendors who have proven their mettle and worth amongst Thai cuisine aficionado's here in Singapore. Some of the good folks include Kombi Rocks, Soi Thai Soi Nice (click to read my review), Porns Thai Food and April's Bakery amongst a bevy of other delicious things. 

Unavoidable to the inquisitive eye are the snaking lines that have formed for the famed After You Shibuya Toast. Take note that due to heavy demand, these are only served during 12pm to 2pm and 4pm to 6pm or until the item is sold out from its daily limitation. So be quick and nimble to avoid disappointment. Oh, and there's a cash only rule so bring some moolahs only with you.

But besides the gluttony that is often associated with Bangkok night markets, there's a whole sluice of other activities that are taking place simultaneously. The aim, to showcase Thailand's hip, cosmopolitan lifestyle right in the heart of Orchard Road.

Take a tour of the grounds and admire the delicate craftsmanship of skilled artisans - there's Thai Calligraphy and weaving to provide entertainment when the food situation gets a tad overwhelming. And as the night draws on, traditional dance performances and live acts put on by Paradise Bangkok will fill in the gaps. Don't miss out! Oh and there's an added incentive - Admission is free! So what are you waiting for?

Best selling beer -Singha beer represents at the festival! Quench your thirst here!

Kin Arai Thai Kitchen along Jalan Sultan dishes out their fiery fare here too!

If you're a Thai tea fanatic, options are aplenty at the grounds. Come take your pick.

Last but not least, visit "The Finest of Living" zone and get to know more about the neighbourhood of Thong Lo and Ekkamai and stand a change to win a plane ticket to Bangkok. All you have to do is snap and share as many photos as you like with the hashtags #SansiriGlobal #SansiriThailand #SansiriTheFinestThai.

The Finest Thai Event runs from 8th - 10th September 2017 from 12pm - 9pm, conveniently located along Orchard Road, it's just beckoning for you to grab the entire family and head down for a culturally enriching experience. 

The Finest Thai Event

The Royal Thai Embassy

370 Orchard Road

S(238870)

Event dates: 8 - 10th September 2017

Time: 12pm - 9pm