Showing posts with label must go. Show all posts
Showing posts with label must go. Show all posts
Nami: Dainty set-lunches that champion the Art of Dashi
Labels:
dashi,
hidden finds,
japanese,
must go,
restaurants,
set lunch,
shangri la hotel,
will return
·
It's easy to build a killer menu from a bunch of gastronomical accessories and premium ingredients. But to build a restaurant's menu on the backbone of Japanese cuisine - dashi - is anything but derivative. Nami in Shangri-La Singapore does so with guns ablazing, and in doing so, challenges culinary boundaries of the eating out folk.
Zafferano presents New Dishes by Chef Emanuele Faggi
Labels:
cityviews,
downtown,
downtown line,
italian,
may return,
must go,
raffles place,
restaurants,
romantic,
special occasion
·
If there is anything more alluring about dining at Zafferano, is the fact that the new Head Chef Emanuele Faggi possesses the same charisma, in and out of the kitchen - both to bedazzle your tastebuds and to charm your socks off when he out working the dining room.
The young budding talent is a Tuscan native, who interned at the famed L'Albereta Resort led by legendary late Chef Gualtiero Marchesi. Following that, his culinary journeys whisked him away to 2-Michelin starred Cracco Ristorante where he honed his skills for five years under the wings of Chef Carlo Cracco. One precious value that is heavily emulated through the meal is the conscious effort to reduce food wastage, with various food discards or "trash" reappearing on dishes such as carrot skin powder and onion skin powder repurposed as flavouring agents. Meaningful, and I might add, brilliant all at once.
JYPSY: Casual Japanese restaurant with nomadic island life vibes
Labels:
affordable,
cafe,
date night,
fried chicken,
fries,
hidden finds,
japanese,
large groups,
martin road,
must go,
robertson quay,
romantic,
sharing,
small plates,
sushi,
will return
·
Opened this July, JYPSY is PSCAFE'S newest cafe concept - casual Japanese restaurant peddling a nomadic island life which you'll find expressed in its immaculate decor of hanging ferns, traditional Japanese paper lanterns and wind bells. It's a gorgeous space that touts an equally breezy menu of sushi rolls, sashimi and more in sharing plate formats. Despite the upmarket vibes, price remains easy on the wallet.
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.
Mikuni's "Doyo no Ushi no Hi" or Summer Unagi Festival Menu hopes to boost your vitality
Labels:
fairmont hotel,
japanese,
must go,
restaurants,
sake,
seasonal,
special occasion,
unagi,
will return,
wine pairing,
wines
·
A time-warp happened within the first few seconds of being seated in the darkened inner sanctums of Mikuni. Flashbacks to my last "Doyo no Ushi no Hi" menu in 2016 under the tutelage of Chef Moon Kyung Soo and that glistening coat of sticky glaze on charcoal grilled eel. I coo-ed. It was superb. However, a lot of things have changed over the last two years. One of the most major - Executive Chef Keisuke Uno taking over the reigns and breathing new life into the extensive menu of kaiseki, sushi and sashimi, teppanyaki and robatayi offerings. Another would the addition of outlet manager and sommelier Ryuta Yamada to the team. Fortunately, I was extremely blessed to be able to experience his prowess in wine and sake through a rather intriguing wine and sake pairing that was purposed to sing in harmony with the Summertime Unagi Treat.
Lewin Terrace takes matcha beyond the mug with [Oh! Matcha Dessert Buffet]
Labels:
buffets,
desserts,
ice-cream,
matcha,
must go,
restaurants,
romantic,
special occasion,
will return
·
Following the highly popular Ichigo Delight Strawberry Buffet, Lewin Terrace introduces another cult favourite dessert choice, Matcha. Going at just $38++ per pax, diners can enjoy unlimited servings of premium matcha desserts that are reimagined into different shapes and forms.
The Salted Plum joins the leagues of the Dirtyyy Late Night Eats.
Labels:
affordable,
boat quay,
casual,
cheap,
circular road,
large groups,
must go,
restaurants,
taiwanese,
will return
·
Last year, Five Ten's achingly hip temple to home cooked fare basking in Taiwanese pedigree, set the pace for Singapore's new restaurants. Even after its reincarnation as The Salted Plum along the uproarious Circular road, it's still in a league of its own.
Rakuya at East Coast: Affordable Omakase to put you in high spirits. That, and Sake!
Labels:
date night,
East Coast/ Joo Chiat,
hidden finds,
must go,
omakase,
sake,
will visit
·
If you've heard rumours about a joint up in the East that does a 8-course Omakase at just $48 (also available at $88 and $128 options), chances are that it is newbie, Rakuya. And boy, do they do it with pizazz.
Fat Cow launches new Omakase menus
Labels:
donburi,
japanese,
must go,
omakase,
orchard,
special occasion,
sushi,
tanglin,
will return
·
For the first time in all my Fat Cow experiences, I sat at the sector coined as the 'lounge bar' for my meal and as I must admit that being denied of the mysterious nature of traipsing down the unassuming corridor to enter the gorgeous dining open dining hall, did remove from the novelty of the Japanese steakhouse experience. But then again, I was here for the new Omakase menus with a pronounced shift of focus to the nigiri sushi, hence the change of atmosphere was one that was required and almost mandatory in a sense, that it put the illustrious yearnings of wagyu beef at bay.
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.
Shaburi and Kintan: In the mood for a meat fix?
Labels:
affordable,
barbeque,
buffet dinner,
buffets,
grilled meats,
japanese,
jem,
jurong east,
large groups,
must go,
restaurants,
shabu shabu,
will return,
yakiniku
·
It's been almost 2 years since my last visit to the much lauded shabu shabu establishment Shaburi and Kintan in JEM mall and judging from the crowds that have amassed in the premises at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon, the folks of Jurong East have taken to the concept very well. The place is filled to the rafters with enthusiastic diners filling up at the new and improved greens section of the side-dish buffet. On top of that, main menus for the Shaburi have seen drastic improvements with the inclusion of a larger variety of meat choices such as chicken and seafood shabu.
Panamericana: Authentic taste of the Americas with a generous spirit shuffle
Labels:
cocktails,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
must go,
restaurants,
sentosa,
special occasion,
sunday brunch,
will return
·
When it comes to the options for watering holes, it's stiff competition in Sentosa. I mean, island life, if there was "The Kennedy Package" (cue Linus from 'How I Met your Mother') for Piña Coladas, I would be first in line.
The shiniest joint (and no doubt, the swankiest) to join the list is Bar-grill Panamericana in Sentosa Gold Club - it's a 6000 square feet destination that houses a brick-encased asador in the heart of the dining room, and there couldn't be a sales tactic more enticing than seeing whole meats grilled in plain view.
SPRMRKT relocates to Cluny Court
Labels:
all day,
bukit timah,
cafe,
cluny court,
large groups,
lifestyle,
must go,
restaurants,
southeast asian,
will return
·
Founded some 6 years ago at McCallum Street, homegrown brand SPRMRKT was the role model for a slew of other dining establishments that chose to adhere to a multi-concept experience in their space.
Last month, the brand relocated to the charming Bukit Timah neighbourhood at Cluny Court. A befitting spot given its proximity to World heritage site - Botanical gardens and its affiliation with inspiring daily life, coincidentally the long-time philosophy of SPRMRKT.
Writer Belinda Yong takes us through some of the dishes specially created by Chef-Owner Joseph Yeo who is well known for accenting his fare with a hodgepodge of Southeast Asian flavours.
Pastaria Abate: Good times for both the wallet and the finicky eaters
Labels:
affordable,
casual,
cheap,
craig road,
date night,
family friendly,
must go,
outram,
pasta,
tanjong pagar
·
Now that we're in the thick of Singapore Cocktail Festival. Here is a word to the wise. Make sure to line the stomachs before hitting up those bars. #DrinkResponsibly.
And in case you're looking for something easy on the wallet in and around the bar hot spots that will leave you more liquid funds for later, here's a gem of a suggestion - Pastaria Abate on Craig Road, where fresh pastas made daily are emphasised and every table is vacated with empty plates. It's a tell tale sign that there is pedigree here and the crowds flocking in on a Thursday night is living proof.
[BALI Eats] Artotel Beach Club bring Cool Tropical Vibes to Sanur
Labels:
Bali,
beach,
cocktails,
family friendly,
hotel,
Indonesia,
must go,
overseas,
pizza,
restaurants,
sihanthewanderer,
travel,
will return
·
Away from the havoc and maniac of the party-region Kuta and the increasingly health conscious, acai bowl ardent areas of Seminyak and Canggu lays the seemingly more mellow, Sanur. Known for its central location and manageable wave action, this seaside village has been dubbed most family-friendly by Bali travellers. A quality that's further affirmed by its 25-minutes driving distance from International airport of Ngurah Rai.
On my recent trip to Bali, I had the privilege of stopping over for one night at Artotel Sanur Bali before my red-eye flight back to Singapore the very next day. And boy was I elated about the proximity to the airport. That and the flexibility of the staff in helping us pack our 'breakfast-inclusive' of Nasi Goreng ready for our 4 am journey, this certainly made for outstanding service brownie points.
But before we return to the comforts of the tastefully decorated Artotel, let's talk about the newly opened Artotel Beach Club (ABC) that has brought an air of briskness to the sleepy beach side town. If you're used to the eclectic mix of businesses in Sanur, Artotel Beach Club's bold splashes of color across its 7000 sqm beach side oasis is a perfect fit. It's peachy vibes spilling across luscious lawns with the occasional cabana and its two storey bamboo clad restaurant.
[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.
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.
Asanoya Bakery will have you tossing up between new savoury and sweet specials
Labels:
afternoon tea,
all-day-breakfast,
Asanoya,
baked goods,
bakery,
Bread,
breads,
bugis,
cafe,
croissant,
family friendly,
large groups,
must go,
orchard,
queen street,
will go
·
Having recently been caught in the crossfires of a conversation that revolved around breads at a dinner table has really made me evaluate my favourite picks. When asked which my favourite bread shop was, the answer - Asanoya. And with their recent downsizing of breads to paw sized awesomeness to abet eating on-the-go, it's easy to see why I'm so besotted.
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.
Blue Label Pizza: we don't stay for desserts, because the pizzas robbed us of our tummy real estate
Labels:
affordable,
ann siang,
casual,
club street,
large groups,
must go,
pizza,
restaurants,
will go,
wines
·
We fall utterly silent, albeit for the appreciative hums that escape our lips between bites. It's a ferociously interesting night out with the boy, and based on all the delicious rumours that were circulating about this basement joint; we were half anticipating the night to cumulate in a smack down of exhilarating flavors. And boy weren't we disappointed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
