Showing posts with label local food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local food. Show all posts
Ding Dong releases 18 new dishes that incite wanderlust in Southeast Asia
I've always had a soft spot for Ding Dong (read my previous extolments here) and its representing unbuttoned Asian-trendy-comfort-food virtues. In a commitment phobic world, it's always refreshing to see a restaurant so enterprising in the spirit of introducing an ever-changing spectrum of Southeast Asian dishes and flavours to its diners, yet still retaining a contemporary edge that's party-ready (it's always tempting to hit the cocktails and bubbly hard). This season, Ding Dong puts on its thinking cap once more and derives a spread of eclectic offerings that will have you at the edge of your seat.
The Guild Singapore: Hong Kong's independent craft brewery and it's 'conscious' kitchen
Labels:
cocktails,
craft beers,
from farm to table,
gastropub,
happy hour,
keong saik,
large groups,
local food,
must go,
pubfood,
restaurants,
sustainable,
will return
·
Like The Library, before The Guild, there's a certain exclusivity and 'hidden gem' factor in stumbling upon The Guild - a polished marble round bar housing a centralised beer dispenser of 20 taps (19 bars, 1 Gin and Tonic), dark wood accents and kitschy heritage tiles. Beers and comfort food, it isn't quite a groundbreaking combo, but upon closer inspection, you'll be surprised to find out that the newly minted The Guild Singapore peddles the duo with so much originality and spunk that its akin to being on a carousel. For your palate at least, and thank goodness it's nowhere near as pompous as its previous occupant.
The Lobby Lounge @ Shangri La Hotel does The Local Spin-off at their semi-buffet lunch
Labels:
buffets,
business lunch,
hawker,
hotel,
local food,
orchard,
shangri la hotel,
will return
·
For the first time ever, 7 legendary hawker dishes come together at the luxe Shangri La Hotel's Lobby Lounge at lunch. It's as easy as choosing one main from the range before digging into the plethora of local delights on the rather extensive line-up which feature Popiah, Kueh Pie Tee, Braised Pork Belly, Ayam Buah Keluah, Cheng Tng, and finally concluding the debauchery with nonya kuehs from HarriAnns.
I applaud the hotel's ability to recalibrate something as easily accessible as Bak Chor Mee and make diners see it with fresh eyes; albeit for the convenience of choosing from the best representations in the land without the long sufferance of queueing nor enduring the outdoor elements. As a bonus, each monthly edition of new Heritage Weekend popups features a live station headlining a beloved hawker classic - Prata from Springleaf Prata Place in March and the much lauded Chendol from The Coconut Club in April (happening today!).
[BALI eats] Kayumanis Resto Jimbaran dishes out authentic cusine emblematic of spiritual Bali
Labels:
Bali,
balinese,
desserts,
destination hotel,
Indonesia,
indonesian,
local food,
must go,
roast duck,
sihanthewanderer,
special occasion,
travel,
will return
·
Thin whiffs of smoke float up from the skewered duck, conjuring up spiritual references to Balinese rituals performed by high priests. And that was exactly what it was. Mysterious in its musky aroma, you're transported right to the centre of the action. Gone is the disengagement with your dream Bali holiday, and all of sudden, you're caught gazing at the swaying of the coconut trees with your head in the clouds. Kayumanis Resto Jimbaran has this effect on me, sending me veering, crashing straight into the intended pleasures of a spiritual trip to Bali.
Tok Panjang, a long table CNY heritage feast at Folklore
Labels:
affordable,
beach road,
bugis,
chinese new year,
CNY,
destination hotel,
family friendly,
heritage,
local food,
must go,
set menu
·
Like a breathe of fresh air, Folklore celebrates Lunar New Year with Tok Panjang - a lavish heritage feast sprawled out over a long table - a ritual at Peranakan households meant to mark special occasions. Here, there are no traces of the stodgy peng cai nor tacky heaviness of nian goa (apologies if I've stepped on anyone's feet with that remark. Do note that I do love a good Nian Gao), instead, the tabletop is covered with 15 heritage dishes prepared true to Chef Damian's Peranakan maternal grandmother. Talk about embracing the communal spirit, Folklore's Tok Panjang has got it down pat.
Sky22 @ Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena: more than just dining with a view
Labels:
business lunch,
family friendly,
fusion,
hotel,
laksa,
local food,
mariott hotel,
novena,
pizza,
set lunch,
vegeterian
·
Throw a stone and you'll probably hit a restaurant that banks its reservation list on glamorised decor and stellar views of the metropolis. But the number of restaurants that actually serve up food that is befitting of its ludicrous inflated price tags are few - the new Sky22 being one of the handful that finds a righteous balance between being your business-savy hotel restaurant with mediocre International offerings and a casual dining joint that attempts to keep things playful without being flippant.
VLV Riverside - New Riverside Zi-Char Dining Experience
Labels:
alfresco,
clarke quay,
family friendly,
large groups,
local food,
might return,
seafood,
zi char
·
Zi Char is a never-dying trend in Singapore, with crowds willing to bear with the uncomfortable coffeeshop stools, creaking fans and the shouting aunties for a sumptuous meal of home-style dishes. But what if I told you that these dishes can also be enjoyed in a more comfortable setting; one that overlooks the Clarke Quay riverfront, with cushioned chairs and even live music to boot?
Look no further than VLV Singapore, as they have recently introduced their newest dining concept, VLV riverside, which offers diners local zi char favourites with a twist.
Ding Dong: runs the night with their New Menu
Labels:
amoy street,
barfood,
cocktails,
fusion,
large groups,
local food,
must go,
special occasion,
telok ayer
·
There's just something about Ding Dong after dark that has got me charmed. I'm bought into the lure of a lardaceous affair of Pork Trotters in between alcoholic thirst quenchers; the illustrious neon lights reflecting off mahogany wood table tops hitting the spot where party vibes are concerned. The menu needs little decoding, recently revamped by new Assistant Head Chef Miller Mai under the guidance of Chef Ryan Clift, it screams of modernised childhood nostalgic dishes and some of which are stellar. While the food is loosely based on local favourites, the kitchen pushes far beyond those boundaries. Subverting and reinventing dishes, Ding Dong targets a new generation of novelty-seeking urban diners. I, for one am extremely grateful for this tenant on the mega food-centric Amoy Street.
[Town Restaurant] Famed Michelin-Starred Hong Kong Soy Sauce Chicken Rice comes to Fullerton Hotel!
Labels:
chicken rice,
fullertonhotel,
local food,
michelin starred,
must go,
pop ups
·
If you absolutely detest queuing for hours on end for good food, you'll probably be delighted to know that Chef Chan Hon Ming of the famed, one Michelin-starred Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle in Chinatown Food Complex will be bringing his signature Chicken dish to Singapore Fullerton Hotel. For ten days only, diners will get to savour the winning soy sauce chicken - that takes about five-hours to prepare - alongside the usual Town Restaurant dinner buffet fare that comprises of a comprehensive spread of fresh seafood, sushi, sashimi and a whole assortment of local delights and desserts.
Served with a dash of soy stock and chili sauce (if you like) as well as Chinese Parsley for added aroma, the chicken certainly lives up to expectation. The skin is sweet and not too oily, while the meat is tender. Even the chicken breast that we usually shun from, is palatable. Have your chicken served on some steamed white rice to soak up the excess gravy, alternatively, have it on its own if you're slashing out the carbs.
Either way, the soy sauce chicken counter is worth a visit and besides, Chef Chan himself would also be making appearances on the 1st - 3rd and 8th - 10th June' 2017 from 7 -9 pm. So you better not chicken out on this opportunity to finally meet the affable chef himself. Take some photos for memorabilia of course, and get your hands on the much talked about dish without waiting in line for hours.
Town Restaurant
Fullerton Hotel
t: (65) 6877 8911 / 8912
Written and photographed by Stanley Lui.
A fashion blogger who is also an avid food lover at heart, Stanley Lui has written for luxury titles like Senatus, Robb Report, Singapore Tatler and HungryGoWhere. When he's not busy sussing out the latest food trends and hot new restaurants, he can be found sipping champagne and gobbling up canapes at the latest fashion event. Read more from Stanley at http://fashionide.comhttp://fashionide.com.
Open Farm Community: Backyard dining
Labels:
dempsey,
dinner,
hidden finds,
local food,
must go,
special occasion,
will return
·
Hello my friends (and the same to whichever lurker is reading this sad pathetic blog)
Welcome to this, the 7th Sunday of the year - sign already that the days run away like wild horses over the hills. How are you this week? Tired? Empowered? What's your adjective? I'm feeling a little anxious, apprehensive at the turn of events and not too sure if I'll be able to stick my landing. Still though... gotta bounce.
But first, here's a quick run through of Open Farm Community's latest foray into an urban oasis of local inspired flavors with regional produce to boot. 10 entirely crisp and clean new dishes greet the menu, each and everyone of them drawing inspiration from the diverse and distinct DNA of Singaporean's favourite flavors.
Monday Light Bites: Roxy Laksa EST 1952 @ Timbre+
Labels:
affordable,
hawker,
hidden finds,
laksa,
local food,
noodle,
onenorth
·
Not to be confused with the original Roxy Square laksa, Roxy Laksa EST 1952 was borne out of humble push cart origins. Started by Mr Lim Kiok Seng who used to station his cart outside the Roxy Theatre, the recipe has since then been passed down to its current 3rd generation runner, and endearingly, his grandson, Mr. Mike Lim.
With a short stint at East Coast Lagoon Food Village, the stall has now relocated to Timbre+, this brazen move in collaboration with lawyer-turned-chef Willin Low of famed Wild Rocket. It's long heritage a tad aloof to the new-ish facade of the shipping container composed grounds. Still, food standards here are kept on a tight ship and artisanal integrity is preserved, right down to the itty gritty details. Mind you, Mike still takes to squeezing his own coconut milk by hand, daily.
Ordering is kept fuss-free at the stall, and unlike the usual where you get a choice of noodles and the decorative sides of egg and cockles. Roxy Laksa only does theirs one way - the Roxy Laksa ($4.50) comes served with slices of fishcake, prawns and beansprouts. All splayed out over thick rich gravy with hand chopped spices for a touch of Perenankan nostalgia. To be perfectly honest, I've not quite savoured a broth like this, chock full of prawn bits and thick with nyona influences, this will have you slurping till the bottom of the bowl.
So if you're around the area and looking for a quick laksa fix, visit Roxy Laksa EST 1952 and show your support! Last I've heard Chef Willin and Mike are working out plans to create a production kitchen that will make hawker food on a more scalable level without compromising on flavors!
Roxy Laksa EST 1952
Timbre+
73A Ayer Rajah Crescent
S(139957)
Operating Hours:
Mon - Sat: 9am - 6pm
Sun: Closed
The Clifford Pier: presents a localised Singapore Heritage AfternoonTea
Labels:
afternoon tea,
cakes,
fullerton bay hotel,
fullertonhotel,
fusion,
girls night out,
high tea,
local food,
must go,
scones,
special occasion
·
The Clifford Pier is in a league of its own. That's in terms of heritage value as well as ambiance. First and foremost, being a landmark built to serve as a landing point for immigrants and other sea passenger, the place is steeped in history and it's emulated through the grandeur and majesty of the venue which Fullerton has painstakingly taken to restore.
For a taste of localised flavors, interlocking tastes of sambal chili, dark soy sauce and garlic; look to The Clifford Pier's new Singapore Heritage Afternoon Tea. The selection of 8 savoury and 8 sweet items, a thoughtful representation of Singapore's culinary past and present. Make sure to complement your afternoon tea experience with a choice of beverage ranging from local Teh Tarik to a selection of excellently curated tea, each touting a fancy name such as Silver Moon and Magic Moment.
SAVOUR Wines 2016: reasons to visit Singapore's BIGGEST ever Food and Wine Festival
Labels:
celebritychef,
festivals,
food festival,
local food,
marina bay sands,
must go,
savour,
will return,
wines
·
If you did patronize the SAVOUR event in May this year (read about my experience over here); you would have known what a huge success it was in combining the prowess of several home-grown culinary talents and their mentors together with the magic of fresh produce from far-away lands all under one roof! Good news! as SAVOUR makes a second comeback this year with an event that piques the interest of wine-savvy members with a larger-than-life wine market housing over 400 labels of wines, specially curated from all over the globe.
My [One-North Eats List]: Timbre+ and More!
Labels:
affordable,
cafe,
circle line,
coffee,
hawker,
hidden finds,
large groups,
local food,
one north,
will return
·
With the recent opening of hipster enclave Timbre+ in One North, the once dire foodie landscape has seen massive limelight in the recent weeks from both the media and the locals alike. On hindsight, it's strange to see how the vendors arriving with feeding buckets to nourish the hive of activities generated by the melting pot of talent, ideas and business opportunities, are so late to the game. Still, better late than never, right?
Traversing the area looking for lunch options can be a slightly daunting affair given the minimal foliage coverage and soaring temperatures in the industrial fixture. So to cut you some slack, here are some of my 'tried-and-tested' joints in and about the region.
Town Restaurant @ Fullerton Hotel - Lost and Found || Artisanal Malay and Indian Cuisines
Labels:
affordable,
buffet dinner,
fullertonhotel,
hotel,
Indian food,
large groups,
local food,
malay,
must go,
restaurants,
will return
·
Local food and cuisines lost and found are primed to get more glory in the year 2016 with a meal at Town Restaurant snatching up some pretty impressive accolades, in my books, with a short term stint featuring mother-and-son duo Lakshmi and Daniel Surendran from Heavens Catering. Returning as guest chefs after a very successful debut last year in July, the pair will be dishing out a storm on the buffet line at Town Restaurant only from the 6th to the 16th Jan'16. So you better start jostling for a table quick!
Open Farm Community:Social Market|| The Root of all Local
Labels:
affordable,
botanic gardens,
cafe,
cocktails,
coffee,
dempsey,
farmers market,
large groups,
local food,
must go,
new openings,
orchard,
pasta,
restaurants,
will return
·
There's even more excuse to visit Open Farm Community now especially with the Social Market #2 running its second rounds to usher in the new year on the 9th and 10th of January from 10am to 4pm. If you've made the wiser choice of being the early bed or.. the late comer, there are benefits to both; some being access to soap demonstrations, as well as yoga and Pilate classes.
But first, let's talk food. With the extensive brunch and lunch menu at your disposal in the greenhouse, here are some of our recommendations straight off the bat.
Sakura International Buffet Yio Chu Kang: Facelifts
Labels:
affordable,
buffet dinner,
buffets,
cakes,
chinese food,
chocolate,
desserts,
dim sum,
family,
family friendly,
halal,
local food,
noodle,
sashimi,
seafood,
sushi,
thai food,
yio chu kang
·
Sakura International Buffet Yio Chu Kang has recently introduced its revamped storefront and a brand new dining concept complete with a fresh line-up of signature dishes. We got first dips and here's our verdict, to better aid you in navigating the intimidating spread.
For starters, dive straight into the Boston Lobster & Argentine Red Prawn Hokkien Mee. A luxed up version of the perennial local favourite, the glorious lobster and fresh prawn perched on top a bed of moist al dente noodles definitely does whet the appetite for more.
I would advise you to make a pit stop for the Shrimp Paste Chicken if you catch it being refilled with a fresh batch. Piping hot straight out off the fryer and handsomely arranged, the flavors in these are legitimately authentic.
Good Chance Popiah: tracing back my roots
Labels:
chinese food,
family friendly,
local food,
outram,
popiah,
tiong bahru
·
Mastering languages has never been my forte. My existing problems with spoken Mandarin, a tell tale sign of my skills, or lack thereof. That being said, I've always held deep regrets for not picking up dialect when I was younger, seeing that it serves as a potential tool to bridge gaps in working relationships; especially so in the kitchen environment; I am always ashamed to say that I am Hokkien but sadly I do not speak the language.
The language of food, on the other hand. That, I can comprehend.
In fact, the language like 5-dimensional travel in the Interstellar; transcends all boundaries, a simple dish evoking memories, transporting you thousands of miles away in a seconds, bonding strangers, it seems that possibilities are endless when it comes to the all important grub.
At Good Chance Popiah, an air-conditioned zi char store set in the outskirts of sleepy Tiong Bahru, traditions are kept alive with the communal practise of rolling Hokkien Popiah together at the table.
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