Showing posts with label big groups. Show all posts
Showing posts with label big groups. Show all posts
Plum and Toro: Not so much a meal spot as a fun night out of town, literally.
Labels:
big groups,
cocktails,
contemporary,
date night,
hidden finds,
japanese,
robertson quay,
will return
·
Looking to avoid jostling with the crowds in the mainstream part of town? Meet Plum and Toro, a secret enclave of a Japanese restaurant located in InterContinental Robertson Quay. A little devoid of the usual Japanese izakaya vibe - cue the words, homey, unpretentious and perhaps a little dingy - Plum and Toro swings into the contemporary jive of things with a tastefully designed food menu and an intimidating full fledged list of alcoholic tipples.
Beast and Butterflies: where culinary insurgence takes trip
Labels:
alfresco,
beer,
big groups,
chinese,
fusion,
happy hour,
hotel,
m social,
must go,
pork knuckle,
restaurants,
robertson quay
·
I'm saying this only because of the Crispy Pork Knuckle, served with the most ridonkulous Nam Jim sauce that you'll just want to bottle and use at BBQs, with grilled chicken wings, etc... Okay, then maybe I'll also make leeway for the Scallop Carpaccio and the Yam Brulee - a most ambrosial ramekin of orh nee blessed with a crackin' caramelised lid - both humble, but no less, better, incarnations of their original inspirators.
Origin Grill and Bar: a tribute to Singapore's heritage
Labels:
alcohol,
bar bites,
bars,
big groups,
cocktails,
comfortfoods,
must go,
shangri la hotel,
will return
·
Nowadays, people want more than just a fancy cocktail whilst engulfed in a certain sexy darkness. They search for experiences, something to soothe the fatigued soul, something to transport them to another dimension.
Enter Origin Bar, a swanky hotel bar whose top-notch drinks and good looks are championed by an earnest intent to pay homage to Singapore's cultural heritage. Looking past the lures of the grilled specialities of the restaurant menu, the bar is a haven of nostalgic sophistication, a sanctuary like in the 1920s. Dressed with accents of peacock green in contrast to old-fashioned wood and distressed reflective surfaces. The interiors are inspired by the romance of voyage by train, and the room is cleverly divided into more intimate pockets of space by velvety drapes in the most gorgeous rich shades. Low lighting contributed by Hassel table lamps create a warm feel reminiscent of European carriages by night, where imbibers speak in hushed tones over the sound of rolling cocktail ice cubes. Some nights Origin is a cocktail hunter's best kept hideaway. Other night it teems with life and pulsates tunes rolled out by live DJs. It is an experiment in opposites and boy does it please the extremists.
Brotzeit's NEW exclusive German draft beers by Lowenbrau and Franziskaner
Labels:
beer,
big groups,
craft beers,
family friendly,
german food,
orchard 313,
somerset,
special occasion,
will return
·
It's not everyday that you are graced with the presence of beer royalty, so imagine my astonishment when Brotzeit Singapore invited Master Brewmaster George Reisch of Anheuser-Busch and Honorary Knight of the Brews Mashstaff to launch four draft beers from two German heritage breweries, Franziskaner and Lowenbrau, brewed since the 1360s and 1380s respectively.
In conjunction of their 10th 'wunderbare' anniversary. Brotzeit has these exclusive drafts on tap at all of their Singapore outlets - the Lowerbrau Original Munchner Lager, Franziskaner Hefe Weissbier, Franziskaner Dunkel Hefe-weissbier and Lowenbrau Original Munchner Dunkel Lager for the first time. And not only that - a bevy of new German items were introduced to the menu as beer pairings.
[NEW MENU] Hungry Heroes: Burgers Galore in the shadows of Superheroes.
Labels:
affordable,
american,
barfood,
big groups,
burgers,
diner,
dinner,
farrer park,
must go,
pork belly
·
I have high expectations when it comes to burgers.
No shit, Sherlock (Hey, Captain America, I think I just said a bad word). *grimaces* Bad jokes aside, my intolerance for poorly constituted piles has become much talked about topic among fellow foodies. So upon arriving at Hungry Heroes and presented with a media-tasting menu that features 3 different burgers, not one of which was the conventional beef variation, my hairs stood on ends.
But first, appetizers to let the Proper Job IPA slide down a little easier. Heros Fries ($10) and Clash of the Potato, Mayo and Scallions ($7) are diet fiends that may just be well worth its calories. The former is your usual skinny fries topped with a landslide victory of chilli con carne, criss cross drizzles of nacho cheese and then another solid lattice of mayonnaise overhead. Talk about overkill. I would however, point you in the direction of the latter, the clash of the potato, a winsome potato salad dish enhanced by crispy duck fat cooked potatoes, a zeng-ed kewpie mayo sauce and huge pilings of spring onion. Rub it all in and you're most certainly to overindulge on this course alone.
The Armoury Gastrobar: The burger game here. game-changer.
Labels:
beer,
big groups,
bugis,
burgers,
cityhall,
craft beers,
dinner,
downtown,
esplanade,
gastropub,
happy hour,
pasta,
pubfood,
will return
·
A new face in the South Beach Quarters has surfaced, breaking through its former rigid armoury historical roots to reveal a contemporary gastro-bar reinforced with classic pub grub such as burgers and hearty meat pastas given a more creative approach. In the space, with its curious mishmash of upscale and casual decor, your first concern should be the beers. Sporting a rather sexy wall fitted with 15 taps, the bar pours a variety of American craft beers and ciders on tap; my advice would be head down during happy hours from 5-8pm to enjoy 1-1 beers, that way, your Deschutes Freshly Squeezed IPA will only set you back at 9++ per US pint.
Entertainer App 2016: Food Trail + Promo Code
I'm a huge advocate of The Entertainer App. After raking up $700 plus in savings in the past year whilst happily satisfying the tummy with yummy nosh, I can't help but laud praises for the handy app that promotes 1-1 deals at several establishments spotting the island. Aside from the mandatory F&B merchants (after all, we know Singaporeans can sniff out a good food bargain from a mile away), the entertainer app boosts several other premium lifestyle choices that will luxuriate your life.
Recently I've had the privilege of participating in a tour of some great merchants situated along the Duxton region along with the company of like-minded foodies.
Quick Picks: No-frills meals for the weekends
Labels:
affordable,
aljunied,
big groups,
circular quay,
cityhall,
clarke quay,
dinner,
list,
lists,
lunch,
must go,
raffles place,
restaurants,
robertson quay,
thai food,
zichar
·
Singapore's restaurants run the gamut from sleek and chic to fuss-free. Yet behind all the glitz and ritz of new year brunches are options of places to dine without breaking the budget. Try Thai street food at the newest instalment of Aroy Dee or settle for something a little more romantic at Halia. Whatever you fancy, here are some of my recommendations for great food, perfect for the new year feasting.
DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe: Festive Season Menu | Better late than never
Labels:
american,
big groups,
burgers,
family friendly,
marina bay sands,
restaurants,
will not return
·
Christmas celebrations at The Shopped at Marina Bay Sands veers away from the usual posh nosh fare with the festive season 3-course menu at DC Comics Super Heroes Cafe swooping in to the rescue of all the daddy and mummies in distress, fretting over where to bring the kids to for Christmas celebrations.
Dishing out American cuisine with a heavy inception of Superhero charm in every aspect - cocoa powder stenciled patterns on drinks to batman shaped carrot cutouts in your soup; DC Comics Super Hero cafe is perfect for the young ones or perhaps those still flagrantly young at heart.
Megumi Japanese Restaurant @ Upper East Coast Road: Japanese nosh with a local spin
Labels:
affordable,
alfresco,
big groups,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
japanese,
must go,
ramen,
restaurants,
sashimi,
tempura,
udon,
will return
·
I'm just going to dive straight into the food. Because that's mainly what it is about at this no-frills Japanese eatery tucked away in the Upper East Coast Road region, flanked by the ever-so crowded Perle Noire and Strictly Pancakes on the other side.
Focus on the sashimi, and not the stiff faces of the floor staff, whom not once in my time spent at the joint even lifted the corners of their lips. Since the ordering is done through an IPAD system, it more or less lessens the interaction between these drones and the diners, so I'm not complaining. It just bugs me a little that the kitchen which bears so much soul in its cooking is cold and barren on the outside.
My orders of Mekajiki ($14 for 5 slices) and Salmon Belly ($12 for 5 slices) was inspiring. Thick slices of omega-3 laden treasure pots on a single dish definitely is a sight for sore eyes. We could have eaten 5 of these and begged for more. The Ebi Tempura ($15) was your run off the mill regular fare, the light batter not possessing as much crispness as I would like, however, the stiff, crystal snap of the prawns within, do make a difference.
Weekend Haunts: Places worth checking out for their [NEW MENUS] part 2
Labels:
affordable,
all-day-breakfast,
big groups,
brunch,
burgers,
cafe,
circle line,
dinner,
eggs benedict,
hidden finds,
must go,
orchard,
orchard 313,
pasir panjang,
restaurants,
sunday brunch,
tacos
·
Happy Sunday Folks!
If you're enjoyed our part 1 of the "Places worth checking out for their NEW MENUS" then, you're gonna love our second instalment.
More places to wine and dine this weekend without bursting the budget. We've got everything from
fish tacos to the jumbo breakfast burrito, and even a Chia Seed coconut rose yogurt with homemade maple granola and berry compote for the health freaks. Loud and rowdy, with loads of laughter and way too many empty plates. That's how you know you're doing your weekends justice.
Let's start the ball rolling with the familiar Oriole Coffee + Bar stationed under the big ass fans in the vicinity of the Pan Pacific suites in 313Somerset. Under the influence of head chef Randy Torres who is a true blood Texan; the menu has taken a sharp curve in a South American direction with inspiration drawn from many comfort dishes in that region. Breakfast for examples sees two newcomers, the Jumbo Breakfast Burrito ($16) and the Humble Baked Egg Skillet ($16); both of which are real treats except that my allegiance falls with the latter. The lovely amalgamation of flavors you get when churning your spoon through the hot cast skillet of tender roast stew, sweet potatoes, and the piece de resistance - caramelised emmantal cheese forming chunks of savoury shards throughout the full bodied mixture. This disappears way too easily, as so does the jumbo breakfast burrito which so happens to be the perfect kind of hangover cure. Stuffed with Spanish chorizo, scrambled eggs, chipotle puree and smoked cheddar cheese, these tight rolls are then seared on all 4 sides till a desirous shade of brown; abetting the eating experience, where you'll gratefully avoid the situation of burritos that fall all over your plate instead of your mouth. Oriole does it right, and they know it.
Oxwell & Co.: Christmas Fabulous Feast
Labels:
affordable,
ala carte,
big groups,
british,
christmas,
cocktails,
gastropub,
hidden finds,
may return,
roast,
set menu,
special occasion
·
Christmas kind of snuck its way into our calenders once again, the entire year passing us by like a whirlwind affair. Now, its time to line your stomachs with traditional Christmas roasts and prepare for the assault of one, too many alcoholic beverages in the course of merry-making. Naughty or nice, I'm sure Santa's too busy overworking his minions to tell.
So, moving on, Oxwell and Co.; the British inspired gastro-pubs rolls out its festive menu in true English style, with traditional roasts and pork crackling to foster the spirit of sharing and caring with a convivial communal dining practice.
Oxwell & Co. resides in this over-trodden neighborhood of Ann Siang Hill being knocked around mercilessly by the well-heeled crowd, bar-crawling their way through the vicinity and punishing their livers in the midst. Walk in the front door and you're in a wood sheathed interior with minimalistic walls decorated with twisted piping, similarly defiant lamp shadings bouncing off the walls in a free spirited disarray. It's a bohemian space, like a dingy pub gone rogue; and the food here is equally manic.
Sumiya @ Suntec City: 'Irori Genshiyaki' - unveiling the secrets of Japanese grilling
Labels:
big groups,
big special occasion,
cityhall,
expensive,
japanese,
must go,
sunteccity,
will return
·
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.
Sin Lee Foods: Soulful nosh
Labels:
all-day-breakfast,
big groups,
brunch,
cafe,
fried chicken,
hidden finds,
must go,
tiong bahru,
waffles,
will return
·
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
Labels:
affordable,
big groups,
desserts,
hidden finds,
modern,
must go,
restaurants,
robertson quay,
romantic,
special occasion,
tapas
·
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.
The Alshaya Food Tour: iHop + P.F.Chang's
Labels:
affordable,
all-day-breakfast,
big groups,
dubai,
family friendly,
pancakes,
will return
·
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)
Labels:
affordable,
big groups,
desserts,
dinner,
East Coast/ Joo Chiat,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
lunch,
must go,
spicy,
thai food
·
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.
Cha Thai: an Air of Confidence
Labels:
big groups,
chinatown singapore,
expensive,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
telok ayer,
thai food,
will return
·
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.
Labels:
big groups,
brunch,
cocktails,
dempsey,
hidden finds,
must go,
pasta,
special occasion,
sunday brunch,
will return
·
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...
Top Picks: The Naked Finn, The Missing Pan, Essen @ The Pinnacle
Hidden gems, cafe fare and the usual suspects, fine dining in hawker settings, call it whatever you like, but these are a few joints that have piqued my interest over the last couple of weeks.
Just hear me out, it's only going to take a couple of minutes and following which, put on some knickers and prepare to hit up these various spots, because good food don't lie, and my personal marvellous reviews of the exceptional produce should by and large do the rest of the work.
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