Showing posts with label events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label events. Show all posts
[Tipsy Tuesday]: Newsletter for the Thirsty
Labels:
alcohol,
barolo,
brunch,
cocktails,
drinks,
events,
fine dining,
gin,
guest bartender,
mooncakes,
round up,
sunday brunch,
thebarawards,
truffle,
wine pairing,
worlds best bars
·
Pick your poison: from locally distilled gin from Mandai to epic wine pairings and alcoholic mooncakes. We round up our favourite drink-related events this autumn. All the better to prime your livers with before the holiday season.
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Wine Lust 2018, 10 Aug - 10 Sep
The much beloved oenophiles dream experience makes a comeback for a second edition this year from the 10 August to 10 September. The month long wine-filled celebration will feature a variety of wine events at 15 award-winning restaurants across the island.
Here are some of my top picks:
4-Hands Manjimup Truffle Dinner with Renato Barolo Wines
Monti
Monti
14 Aug, 7 - 10pm
Here's a match made in heaven - decadent fresh Manjimup black truffles from Australia meets the best Barolo wines from Renato Corino.
For one night only, tuck into a sensuous 6-course dinner featuring the peak produce of the winter truffle season in Australia. With Chef Christopher Millar from Stellar at 1-Altitude and Chef Felix Chong manning the stoves, rest assured that your palate is in for a treat. The cream on the cake: each guest will enjoy 30 grams of the prized fungi paired with the finest ingredients such as Black Onyx Angus beef and Live Jade Abalone.
Alan Blakers, the founding family member of Manjimup Truffles will be on location to further drive the inception of the delectable treat amongst the diners.
This indulgent truffle themed dinner will be beautifully complemented with barolo wines as is priced at $168++ per head.
Tickets available here:
https://goo.gl/PXCCU7
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Wine Lust Brunch Affair
Botanico
18 Aug, 12 - 3pm
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Wine Lust Brunch Affair
Botanico
18 Aug, 12 - 3pm
Free flow wines at brunch just found a whole new meaning with Botanico's Wine Lust Brunch Affair this coming Saturday. Besides the delectable food by Chef Sujatha Asokan, diners get a choice to top up $55++ per pax to enjoy a complimentary tasting of over 96 unique wines from around the globe. Guests can continue to enjoy their favourite tipple at home for a special price if they decide to purchase by the bottle or case.
Facebook event:
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Le Donne Del Vino
Botanico
30 Aug, 7 - 10pm
Tucked away in the heart of Botanical Gardens is Botanico, a spot of tranquil beauty and immaculate lush green surroundings. Escape the city buzz with Le Donne Del Vino (Women of Wine) on the 30 August where the contemporary bistro will be honouring three of Italy's finest female winemakers alongside home-grown powerhouse Chef Sujatha Asokan who will be fastidiously preparing a memorable six-course menu featuring recipes disclosed from the winemakers' families themselves.
Tickets are priced at $110++ per pax and are available via
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Barolo Wine Dinner with Giovanni Oliva
The Summerhouse
31 Aug, 6 - 10pm
If you've got a soft spot for the huge reds, this dinner might pique your interest. The full-bodied red from the historical Cordero di Montezemolo family winery will take centerstage in a five-course dinner in the cosy realms of The Summerhouse dining room.
Tickets are priced at $120++ per person and are available here:
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Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with Regent Hotel's NEW Whiskey-infused Snow Skin mooncakes
Summer Palace Dim Sum guru Chef Leong Kwok Sing partners with bar Manger Philip Bischoff of Manhattan, Asia's Best Bar to present an exquisite collection of perennial favourite alongside two new spirited snowskin variants: Barrel-aged Sazerac 6-year-old Rye with coffee and chocolate and Barrel-aged La Lousiane Cocktail with Yuzu and Green Bean Paste.
The former combines the likes of rye-whiskey aged in 10 year old tawny port washed American oak barrel for 25 days, with coffee and chocolate paste for a play on nuttiness, chocolate earthiness and a risque sharpness. For those who like your cocktails a little less serious, the barrel-aged La Louisiane Cocktail with yuzu and green bean paste will hit the spot. Based on a classic Creole cocktail, the snowskin representation of is no less complex, perked up with notes of overripe oranges to awaken the senses.
Guests have the option to purchase the Manhattan Mid-Autumn box which comes with an assortment of Manhattan exclusive snow skin mooncakes and limited edition four-set whiskey tasting box (2 cl bottles of specially curated American whiskies and two exclusive barrel-aged blends from the Rickhouse in Manhattan) for $168. Definitely a gift worthy of any serious imbiber.
Enjoy early bird discounts till the Aug 19, where all 4 or 8-piece mooncake box purchases are entitled to 30% discount. Regular orders from 20 Aug to 24 Sep will enjoy a 15% discount with the use of the following credit cards: Bank of China, Citibank, Diners Club, HSBC, Maybank, OCBC and UOB.
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Uniquely Singaporean: Tanglin Gin
The former combines the likes of rye-whiskey aged in 10 year old tawny port washed American oak barrel for 25 days, with coffee and chocolate paste for a play on nuttiness, chocolate earthiness and a risque sharpness. For those who like your cocktails a little less serious, the barrel-aged La Louisiane Cocktail with yuzu and green bean paste will hit the spot. Based on a classic Creole cocktail, the snowskin representation of is no less complex, perked up with notes of overripe oranges to awaken the senses.
Guests have the option to purchase the Manhattan Mid-Autumn box which comes with an assortment of Manhattan exclusive snow skin mooncakes and limited edition four-set whiskey tasting box (2 cl bottles of specially curated American whiskies and two exclusive barrel-aged blends from the Rickhouse in Manhattan) for $168. Definitely a gift worthy of any serious imbiber.
Enjoy early bird discounts till the Aug 19, where all 4 or 8-piece mooncake box purchases are entitled to 30% discount. Regular orders from 20 Aug to 24 Sep will enjoy a 15% discount with the use of the following credit cards: Bank of China, Citibank, Diners Club, HSBC, Maybank, OCBC and UOB.
~~~
Uniquely Singaporean: Tanglin Gin
It's about time that Singapore has its first Gin. Presenting to you, Tanglin Gin, Singapore's only handcrafted spirit, batch distilled in Singapore (Mandai, no less). The secret ingredient - Orchid; seemingly befitting since it's our national flower. The tipple heroes 11 botanicals, with some less usual suspects such as Amchoor (Indian Dried Green Mangoes) and Dendrobium Orchid. The result is a modern gin with a subtle floral fragrance and a slight citrus backdrop. Best enjoyed neat.
Find out more here:
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The Bar Awards
is back in Singapore for its 2018 edition this weekend and it beckons you to get your crazy on!
Origin Bar
16 Aug
6pm onwards
The weekend of debauchery is starting off with a bang at Shangri-La Hotel's Origin Bar. Eight esteemed bartenders from all around the region will be doing rotational shifts behind the bar, dishing out the cheekiest of concoctions. So, don't expect to be standing straight at the end of the night.
Featured bartenders include
- Aili Nguyen of Employees Only Hong Kong (The Rising Star, Hong Kong)
- Angel Ng of PS150 (The Ada Coleman Winner, Kuala Lumpur 2017)
- Backstage Cocktail Bar (Best Hospitality, Bangkok 2018)
- Coley Cocktail Bar (Bar of the Year and Best Hospitality Team, Bangkok 2018)
- Please Don't Tell (Best Hotel Bar, Hong Kong 2018)
- Ponn Kitiphum (Mekhong's Brand Ambassador)
- Vesper (Most Creative cocktail program, Bangkok 2018)
- Yes Please (Manila)
~~~
Other guestshifts worth looking out for:
PS150 (KL) at HRVST/ 17 Aug/ 6 - 10pm
Vesper (BKK) at Smoke and Mirrors/ 17 Aug/ 8pm - 12am
Coley (KL) at The Spiffy Dapper/ 17 Aug/ 8 - 12am
Backstage Cocktail Bar (BKK) at Tess Bar and Kitchen/ 17 Aug/ 8 - 12am
Waterloo Street Luau Party/ 17 Aug/ 7pm onwards **
Jigger and Pony Sneak Preview Pop-up at Gibson/ 18 Aug/ 6pm - 2am
Tropic like It's Hot Featuring Bali's Best Bars at Lucha Loco/ 18 Aug/ 6pm - 12am
Employees Only Hong Kong at Highball/ 18 Aug/ 9pm - 12am
Please Don't Tell Hong Kong at Native/ 18 Aug/ 6 - 10pm
Vesper at Origin Bar/ 18 Aug/ 8pm - 12am
Flagship Turns 3 ft. Satan's Whiskers/ 18 Aug/ 8pm - 1am
More details here
~~~
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?
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| Best selling beer -Singha beer represents at the festival! Quench your thirst here! |
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| Kin Arai Thai Kitchen along Jalan Sultan dishes out their fiery fare here too! |
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| 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
Greenwood Fish Market and Bistro @ Sentosa Cove: 4th World Oyster Festival
Labels:
alfresco,
events,
food festival,
greenwood avenue,
must go,
oysters,
quayside isle,
sashimi,
sentosa,
sentosa cove,
will return
·
It's that time of the year again for Greenwood Fish Market's 4th World Oyster Festival!
Having attend the previous year's session, expectations for this years round up were sky high, spurred on even more by the prospects of new grounds at Quayside Isle where the balmy seaside breeze fortifies the need for more seafood!
The new Greenwood Fish Market and Bistro at Sentosa Cove features a light and airy set-up. Walls are dealt away with and instead, the longish restaurant boosts a mix of al-fresco and indoor seatings tinted in muted shades of blue, marbled wood and silver accents. Hosting a mini market place on its peripherals, the shelves are stocked with decently priced wines, dry produce and chunks of handsome looking fish perfect to indulge in a little kitchen experimentation with.
But what you're really gunning for are the oysters. Especially so, this time of year when Greenwood Fish Market brings in 20+ different oysters, each with its unique characteristics to be enjoyed fresh and unadulterated. The World Oyster Festival lasts about a month from 1st - 31st July'2016 and is held at both it's first outlet as well as the newly minted Quayside Isle branch to grant more people the opportunity to sample the varieties they have to offer.
TAP Craft Beer Bar: Asian Invasion (tap takeover)
Labels:
barfood,
beer,
capitolpiazza,
craft beers,
events,
meatballs,
must go,
tacos
·
Barely a week after the adrenaline-pumping action of Beerfest Asia, the good folks at TAP Craft Beer Bar are presenting the Asian Invasion - a tap takeover at their Capitol Piazza premises headlined by Asian beer. A total of 14 beers will be available on tap, from breweries in Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and our very own Singapore.
[GIVEAWAY] Food Trail with Quandoo: Singapore online reservation platform
Labels:
cocktails,
date night,
events,
food trail,
french,
fusion,
good eats around tanjong pagar,
steak,
tanjong pagar,
will go
·
There were drinks. Plenty of drinks. And for an instant, I was convinced that Quandoo was the best restaurant reservation platform there was. Not to sound cheap or anything, but let's do a recap of the food trail arranged by Quandoo and PR Bespoke; the fabulous foodie adventure unravelling in such halcyon fashion with a clear reflection of the various establishment's concept that you'll come to admire the curation of brands in Quandoo's care.
Quandoo, launched in Singapore in late 2014; now has a network of over 720 bookable restaurants and seated over 1.5 million diners over that course. Clearly remarkable for a business that has only been around the block for a while.
Long Chim: Celebrate the celebrity restaurant's 1st Birthday with $9 dishes all day long
Labels:
affordable,
celebritychef,
cocktails,
events,
large groups,
marina bay sands,
media event,
must go,
restaurants,
special occasion,
spicy,
thai food
·
Come end of March, Long Chim turns 1 and in lieu of these festive occasion, they will be offering a plethora of signature dishes, new offerings and iconic Thai cocktails for just $9++ on the 30th March, all day from 12pm-12am.
The specially curated menu includes charming starters such as chiang mai larp of chicken, grilled pork skewers and crunchy prawn cakes while an entourage of spicy knock-out curries, red curry of roast duck will also be peddled at 9 dollars. Should the food be a tad too overwhelming in flavors, take a swig of the special beverages on offer. The melrose fizz getting my vote for best thirst quencher, its bubbly personality making for better conversations across the table.
[Singapore Cocktail Week 2016] Top 10 Cocktails you must try: Part 2
Labels:
cocktails,
events,
sgcocktailweek
·
1) Charles Muse (Neon Pigeon)
Mark Graham Thomas, previously of Bacchanalia bar and general manager of Club39 has nestled at Modern Izakaya, Neon Pigeon parked on the once sleazy street of Keong Saik this SGCW. His preference for savory concoctions over sweet proving to be quite a challenge for the average palate to wrap their beak around; but truth be told, the Charles Muse, inspired by comfy carrot soup and the infamous Hot&Cold from Operation dagger is effin' delicious. Carrots are cooked down, with fennel, caramelised onions and a good measure of salt for that savoury element and blended to a umamified soup which is then shaken with tanqueray gin. The foam that glides effortlessly above the drink consisting of fresh apricot puree and cream together with fat-rushed rum for that buttery edge.
2) Rock and Rye (Operation Dagger)
A well hidden space - a basement off the hustle and bustle of Ann Siang Hill - Operation dagger is practically a speakeasy. Here the Rock and Rye impresses, enlivened with ruby tones of seasonal stonefruit and oils expertly wrung from generous peels of lemon.
3) Swizzle with Swagger (Anti:dote)
A curious concoction with a good hit of local flavors, the Swizzle with Swagger combines Black monkey rum, gula melaka Falernum; which upon further investigation is a Carribean type spiced syrup cooked with gula melaka and tons more asian spices; and lime served with crushed ice. Too easy to drink if not for its crushing alcoholic effects masked by an innocent sweet facade.
4) All Shall Perish (HOD)
Highly recommended, the All Shall Perish comes fortified with subtle notes of ash and chocolate from the Mezcal, dashes of coffee brown Rabarbaro Nardini (rhuarb apertif) as well as Rhubarb bitters scenting the mix with a bodacious herbal drive. Great for those who love their tonic soups.
5) Sesame Street (Tess Bar)
Quite the charmer, sesame street, concocted by Diageo Reserve World Class S.E.A Bartender '2015, Steve Leong is perfectly balanced. Smoked Black sesame seed lacing the glassware wafts up memories of breakfast - peanut butter sandwiches, but it soon matures with a sip of the Old Fashioned inspired brew - Wild Turkey 81 Bourbon with orange bitters. Those interested in more local concoctions should head down to Timeout's kopitiam styled Jio You Cocktail Club where Steve Leong will be shaking up drinks, inspired by what else? - hawker fare. We've got Crab those Buns and pandan and coconut infused barley water medley Seah Street Power Nasi Lemak on the bucket list!
And there you have it... our Part 1 and 2 of the Top Cocktails to revel in the last two days of Singapore Cocktail Week 2016. So go forth and grab a drink of two; besides its friday night, there's really no excuse too. Or follow us on @thedrinkseekers Instagram for updates!
[Singapore Cocktail Week 2016] Top 10 Cocktails you must try: Part 1
Labels:
cocktails,
events,
sgcocktailweek
·
Here's our pick of the lot. Needless to say, this 8 day mothership of cocktail-focused gatherings featuring international and local bartenders helming the bars with their wacky creations will lead to an alcoholic chase like non other. However, we would strongly suggest these beverages for the everyday enthusiast, you bet your bottom dollar they will be worth your while.
1) Juliet's Secret (Manhattan Bar)
Senior bartender Cedric Mendoza translates family tradition through his submission for round two of the Diageo World class competition based on the fruit and plant theme with the Juliet's Secret. A rum based concoction, combining sublime Ron Zacapa 23 with Pedro Ximenez, homemade Pistachio Orgeat syrup and fresh lime juice. Brimmed on all sides with a trio of dehydrated tomatoes, mushroom and pineapple dust; this refreshing drink with a creamy edge transmutes itself depending on which way you sip from the glass.
2) Monkey Business (La Maison Du Whisky)
Trust the whisky fanatics at LMDW to work their magic with a bottle of Monkey Shoulder. Combining Gin, Sloe Gin, simple syrup, lemon juice a pinch of salt and lavender. The Monkey Business contains no soda of any sort, deploying an egg white instead to supply a frothy tingle.
3) Boston Tea Party (Jim Meehan, PDT)
Complex, balanced and dangerous. Layers and layers of new sensations arise as the sencha green tea and Bittermens boston bitters rise above the base spirits of Banks 5 Island Rum and dry vermouth - creating a symphony of colors, if only for a brief moment before residing to its alcoholic roots. Stunning. Watch out for PDT (Please Don't Tell) resident bartender, Jim Meehan guest shift at The Cufflink Club later tonight, 15th March.
4) Ratu Pa Lo (Long Chim)
A single cocktail from their SGCW menu effectively makes this new revamped bar at Long Chim one to seek out. The alcohol force is strong in this one, so let the good times roll. Rum, gin and five spiced syrup are smoothed with velvety froth, the fresh mandarin infused with egg white conjuring up memories of mango lassi.
5) Rye Dynasty (Gibson Bar)
Ever wondered what a negroni taste like at the end of a drunken night? This drink would be most certain to wake up even the sleepiest drunk. A twist on the classic drink sends the tongue careening into new frontiers, Rye Whisky meets Creme de cassic, cocchi Americano and bitters in a stiff cocktail adventure. Best one for a night cap.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of our list to be published nearing the end of the working week or follow us on Instagram @thedrinkseekers to catch a glimpse of the action.
Tamarind Hill: VITAGEN Less Sugar celebrates SGWeekendFeast
Labels:
alfresco,
circle line,
events,
media event,
must go,
special occasion,
thai food
·
The persistent haze has not stopped Singaporeans from dining out, judging from the turn out at the staggering number of food events in the last few weeks - we deduce that Singaporeans clearly live to eat.
Last weekend, we had the honour of attending the finale of Vitagen's fun-filled #SGWeekendFeast held at the pristine new Tamarind Hill, a modern Thai-Chinese Bar restaurant atop Labrador Hill.
As part of the unique collaboration, celebrity chefs Sam and Forest Leong were both present at their live cooking counters and the couple also came up with a special menu, together with Vitagen inspired drinks and desserts for their guests. Besides having food meticulously prepared from the counter by the duo, we were also supplemented with an endless food supply from the BBQ and buffet station! Talk about a feast...
{KL}: Burger investigations at #ieatburgers
Labels:
burgers,
events,
kuala lumpur,
malaysia,
overseas,
travelling
·
My indecent obsession with burgers continues across the causeway, where a recent trip up to Kuala Lumpur saw me conquering burger joints and attending the #ieatburgers event orgnised by friedchillies.
Let's start off with My Burger Lab located in Petaling Jaya. Well loved for its quirky menu and charcoal powder dyed buns, the place was teeming with life when I arrived on a late Friday evening. A persistent queue of hungry diners lining from wall to wall.
I had the Beautiful Mess ($18), beef patty, fried portobello, sunny side up, cheddar cheese. And honestly, it sure up the anty on the 'mess' factor, the pattys consisting of such grounded down meat mixture that its somewhat crisp exterior gave way to a sloppy mess halfway through. In fact, the fried portobellos assumed a more desirable texture than the beef patty itself, it's juicy squared off innards benefiting from the breaded and deep fried treatment. The sunny side up egg that crowns off this tethering stack bearing a slight resemblance to airport scrambled eggs with a ton of cream thrown in for the bulking. Not exactly the best burger it claims to be.
Moving on... the stars magically aligned to get me the privilege of participating in the I EAT BURGERS event in Kuala Lumpur on the 7th June just when I was there over the short weekend trip. A coincidence you may say? I believe it was destiny that brought us together.
Organised by the Fried Chillies , this fiesta brings 20 of the best burgers in Klang Valley together. Like an orgy of heart clotting transgressions... I descended very quickly to feed my vices.
These were some of the burgers stalls I sampled from that day (in no particular order of merit, click on the links for some lucid food pornography)
- Burger Junkyard (Kota Damansara)
- Kak Ana Green Apple Burger (Ampang)
- Yazid Burger (Shah Alam)
- Steam & Grill (Setiawalk Puchong)
- Mustafa Jones (Taman Melawati)
- Big Hug (Subang Jaya)
- Smashies (Setapak)
- Burger Om (Ampang)
Some of the memorable ones for me include the Chili Beef Concar-nay Burger and Buffalo Soldier Burger from Burger Junkyard; Kak Ana famous 'I Love You' Burger and Steam & Grill's Serunding Burger.
Of all, Burger Junkyard scored the highest in regards to the bun, the spongy butter brioche buns still retaining that slight savoury edge to enhance the sweeter fillings that were noticeably more innovative than its neighbouring stalls. The Buffalo Soldier burger is a grilled chicken burger smothered in buffalo hot sauce, glazed with cool sour cream and a celery infused cheddar. Nicely balanced with a good ratio of filling to bread. Steam and Grill's unorthodox methods of preparing the meats create an almost Malaysian stylised beef patty; the combination of steam and grill ensure a higher level of moisture is retained, resulting in a pulled beef texture filled with asian spices and marinades. Definitely a star in the making.
But never straying from the search of the best Ramly burger, I stumbled upon Kak Ana Green Apple and their 'I Love You' burger. From the moment the patties hit the grill to the stage where a slew of hot sauces and creamy white mayonnaise are showered over the top; this baby cries out to be picked up. A streamlined perfection assembly of chicken and beef patty separated by a fried egg and those signature green apple slices helping to cut through the absurd greasiness. Brilliance. I attacked this one like hungry pack of wolves.
Singapore... we could use an event like that now.. TOP 10 burger food festival perhaps?
World Street Food Congress 2013: The Food Jamboree
Labels:
events,
festivals,
special occasion,
street food
·
10 Countries
37 Street Food Masters
For the first time ever, the World Street Food Congress is held in Singapore and is a recent cause for thrills and excitement stirred up amongst the overspilling throngs of locals that call themselves foodies.
In a bid to give street food more credit whilst preserving old traditions at the same time, the congress put together by Mankansutra (a local food enthusiast company); have gathered 37 stalls from all over the world (mainly inspiration drawn from founder, K F Seetoh's travels) and placed them on common grounds for the general public to feast and make merry. Sounds like a dream, yes it is!
Located at the F1 Pit Building and Paddock, the World Street Food Congress is easily accessible via public transport. Take a MRT to promenade station and walk on over from Milennia Walk shopping center. Or you could easily find a lot at the Singapore Flyer carpark or the Esplanade should you be driving on down. Whatever it may be, make sure to work up an appetite before this as the Jamboree can prove to be a mind-boggling oasis for the fussy eater.
When done right, dining alone radiates confidence and both defiance of constricting social norms. But in this very instance, screw being single! Grab a partner, maybe two, or even a group of wranglers, the more the merrier cause the larger your group, the more food you get to sample. And with so many mouthwatering options being dangled like carrots in front of a ravenous donkey, it doesn't take more than a second to decide on your favourites.
Here are some of mine...
Shrimp and Grits from The Swamp Shack. Despite it being my very time sampling the ever so popular grits, I was surely taken by it's gritty cornmeal like texture. savoured with the sweet and slightly acidic tomato sauce on the top, it sure hit the comfort food status quo. The Shrimps were well battered and fried, resulting in a thoroughly crisp texture, unfortunately the use of salt was quite overwhelming.
The Soft Shell Crab Burger from the EuroTrash Food Cart. Object of desire created by Charles Thomas from Portland, Oregon. Mainly devoured by my friend, this burger with light-crispy soft shell crab served with spicy mayo-yogurt sauce was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. oh yes, I sure wished the burger was 10 times it's usual size. Look forward to this one.
We moved on the Asian delights after the two. Strangely, we notice a lack of representation of the Korean and Japanese street foods. Where were the Korean rice cakes and chicken BBQ Skewers, the sticks of yakitori or even the sweet taiyaki? Maybe we'll leave that to the next time. Presenting to you the Hoy Tord from Hoy Tord Chao Lay. Essentially a crispy griddle fried seafood/oyster omelette pancake; this was a work of art. ephermeral in texture, the eggy, starchy omelette with gorgeously crisp sides ( derivant from skills that can only described as 'a flick of the wrists')lay on a bed of lightly seared beansprouts. I'm not being a tease over here, but this was good, no, to-die-for.
the Seafood Toastadas from La Guerrerense was next on my agenda. Braving the snaking queues, I locked my order in and let my anticipation grow like a balloon about to burst. With the words "make it spicy", I invite a small cheer from the kitchen. Okay, now I'm starting to regret this. Their tostada with sea urchin, pisto clam, salsa and avocado was an epic adventure rolled into one small and expensive package. Sabina Banderas Gonzalez and her legendary toastada food card from Ensenada in Mexico has quite a big following; from the media, to food giants, such as Anthony Bourdain voting it one of the '101 Best Places to Eat in The World'. And spicy it was.. my mouth inevitably bursting into a mountain of flames as the spoonfuls of homemade salsas from the many colourful jars perched on display, took its toil. Heed my advice and just go with a medium spicy level to enjoy the freshness of the seafood.
The Porchetta Burger from the People's Pig, also from Portland, is another crowd favourite. The melt-in-your-mouth pork belly lending no resistance to one's bite. Surprisingly light in the spice department as well, with only fennel and garlic lending to the flavors, this dish gives full credit to the pork. The handful of peppery arugula providing that bit of leverage from the overwhelming fattiness.
last but not least, we headed to The Swamp Shack for more creole inspired soul food. The Smothered Chicken features chunks of stewed meats sitting on a fluffy bed of spicy mash. Well seasoned. Hearty. Stuff that makes you want to roll around and sleep in it. I'm such a tease.
The World Street Food Congress Jamboree will end this Sunday the 9th June. So if you're planning a visit any time soon, make it quick as I reckon the procrastinators will surely choke up the area. Bring an empty stomach as well, and if in the case, you're lacking one, plan your food adventure, it doesn't take that long (look through the instagram feeds with the hashtag #wsfc for some drool-worthy photos)... My must tries would be the soft shell crab burger and the seafood toastadas.
Date: 31 May 2013 to 09 June 2013
Venue: F1 Pit Building and Paddock, 1 Republic Blvd, Singapore 038975
Opening Hours: 11am - 10pm daily
Website: http://www.wsfcongress.
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