Showing posts with label special occasion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label special occasion. Show all posts
Botanico: Bon viveurs, we've got a game-changer on our hands
Labels:
botanic gardens,
date night,
european,
fusion,
hidden finds,
modern,
restaurants,
special occasion,
wine pairing,
winebar
·
Wine-lusters looking to up their game when it comes to food and wine pairings can now look to Botanico's revised wine program for sure-win epicurean dreams. Not that there's anything wrong with a medley of cheeses and cold cuts, but when occasion calls for a little bit of spice, Botanico steps up to the plate; literally, with Chef Sujatha Asokan visiting the spice pots often in an effort to match up to the burgeoning vino activities in the lush space.
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.
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.
Bacchanalia goes the Seasonal route with their New Menus
There isn't any fancy pleasures more profound than a good slice of sourdough in the affable company of room temperature butter. The new Bacchanalia and I, got off to a good start with the impressionable introduction that involved one, too many bubbly slices christened with a firm crispy crust, singing a resounding sour note to the salty harmony of seaweed butter. And this was no ordinary seaweed butter, it's textural landscape undulating with pops of umami, as if with the hum of sea grapes. If you're one to judge a fine-dining establishment by its complimentary bread, Bacchanalia will you make you very very happy.
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.
Alma by Juan Amador sprouts from a series of cosmic events
Labels:
expensive,
goodwood park hotel,
hidden finds,
michelin starred,
restaurants,
special occasion,
wines
·
Publications company owned? The Birds of America reprints on the walls? Chef Haikal who previously helmed the Water Library in Bangkok? The first ever four-hand kitchen collaboration with Chef Dan Barker of Upstairs at Mikkeller? Wait. How does three-Michelin-starred German chef Juan Amador even come into the picture?
Dining at Alma was as much a palate titillating experience as it was enlightening - the stories that unfolded over lunch extending to all facets of business. And despite the mind boggling series of cosmic events that have resulted in this manifestation of this Michelin-starred restaurant located with direct access to the car park of Goodwood Park Hotel (a bonus when hosting VVIPs ), I was intent on displacing the romanticism of the stories overheard and focusing on the food itself.
Morton's of Chicago unveils new Spring menu
Labels:
date night,
expensive,
hotel,
mandarin oriental,
special occasion,
steak,
wines
·
It's old school extravaganza at Morton's of Chicago, the moment you walk through those doors its drab carpeted floors, heavy red velvet curtain partitions and conservative hard-backed chairs. Honestly, it can be interpreted two ways by different schools of thought - stale and conservative or nostalgic, old-school steakhouse. This one is going to make many people, very cross, but to be honest, I, unfortunately was not too taken by the dated decor. The tired staff, trained to the same mundane standards of cruise ship waiters, adding to the sense of 'tradition'.
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.
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.
Lerouy ft. Couvent des Jacobins St Emilion: A Love Story
Labels:
date night,
french,
new openings,
open kitchen,
special occasion,
tanjong pagar,
will return,
wine pairing,
wines
·
Tonight I consummate my love for alcohol, charging through a flight of Couvent des Jacobins St. Emilion vintages from the the stalwart 2009 down to a luscious 1989 tipple. Food and wine pairing, when done right, is a mutually beneficially relationship. So it makes me smile when the two come together in ways that are complementary and evocative. Suffice to say, by the end of the night, I had a silly grin plastered to my face - such is my simple story of the Sarment wine dinner at Lerouy.
8-Hands for Candlenut's 8 years
Labels:
dempsey,
family friendly,
peranakan,
restaurants,
special occasion,
will return
·
Nestled away in the lush greenery of Dempsey Hill, Candlenut's redefines elegant dining and brings Peranakan cuisine to a while new gastronomic level. By infusing Straits-Chinese food with contemporary flavours, Candlenuts earned its well-deserved recognition as the world's first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant.
To make its 8th anniversary celebration, with the theme "8 years 8 Hands", Chef Malcom Lee invited three of his chef friends, Willin Low of Wild Rocket, Wayne Liew of KEK Seafood and Andrei Soen of Park Bench Deli to share their creations at the lavish eight-hands cocktail party.
Le Binchotan: It's the Remix to Ignition
Labels:
amoy street,
cocktails,
date night,
french,
fusion,
hidden finds,
japanese,
restaurants,
sake,
smokehouse,
special occasion,
will return
·
There is an air of nostalgia as I entered the cylindrical fashioned, moody realms of the restaurant, Le Binchotan. Yet amidst the somber nature of the space, there's a spark of excitement in the air, Chef Jeremmy Chiam's impish smile affirming rumours. Taking over the reigns of the restaurant, it's outwardly apparent that new Chef-Owner, Jeremmy had a new spring to his step.
Le Binchotan, known for it's manifestation of modern French-Japanese cuisine in the back alleys of Amoy Street has had a new fire lit under its ass and with that comes swooshing in, promises of something fresh, vital and extraordinary. With great mental resistance, I consigned my previous experience of the restaurant to oblivion - after all, everyone deserves a second chance.
The Summerhouse's New Menu defies classification
Labels:
family friendly,
fusion,
hidden finds,
restaurants,
Seletar,
special occasion,
will return
·
It has been a while since my last visit to Summerhouse. I zoomed in to the edible garden to check in on the cocoa pods progress and was delighted to observe that they were in good shape. Looking around, there is a discernible difference in the yard’s outlook - 3 ominous domes are dispersed through the luscious foliage. It’s fairy-lit interior slowly coming to life with the dramatic setting of the sun that unleashes a whirlwind of peach-pop colours across the sky. And there you have it, as any great ‘special occasion’ type-esque restaurant experience begins, it pulls me in from more then one direction. The alluring settings of plush fur carpets draped over solid wood benches, champagne flutes that tilt to your lips to reveal fresh hits of thyme and cool drafts of air circulating the domes, all work to prime my appetite for the food, even before the rye bread hits the table. And when it did, I reached zealously for the house made butter; making sure to fill all nooks and crevices with it. No patch was spared. The scrumptious morsel, a prequel to the fortuitous meal to come.
[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.
[BALI EATS]: Urchin Grill & Raw Bar does poncey with major appeal
Labels:
Bali,
food tasting,
Indonesia,
must go,
omakase,
restaurants,
seafood,
special occasion,
travel,
travelling,
will visit,
wine pairing,
wines
·
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.
The Pelican Seafood Bar and Grill conquers both land and sea
Labels:
american,
burgers,
desserts,
family friendly,
fusion,
restaurants,
seafood,
special occasion,
steak,
surf and turf,
waterfront,
will return
·
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
Labels:
affordable,
cakes,
christmas,
clake quay,
fusion,
hotel,
restaurants,
spanish,
special occasion,
will return
·
Morsels: Timeless cuisine fostered by Asian heralded techniques
Labels:
dempsey,
fusion,
hidden finds,
modern,
omakase,
restaurants,
romantic,
special occasion,
will return,
wine pairing
·
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
Labels:
botanic gardens,
date night,
european,
halal,
large groups,
restaurants,
special occasion
·
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.
Dehesa X Bodegas Comenge: #SwineWineDrink
Labels:
clarke quay,
dehesa,
must go,
north canal,
special occasion,
will return,
wine pairing,
wines
·
We all need a little spark of a reminder sometimes. A little confetti in the air. A little whipped cream on top (somewhere, anywhere). A little something-something, je ne sais quoi to end off the tidings of a Monday. For me, its a gratifying wine dinner, complete with swash buckles of fat-licked meaty delights and perhaps a swig of sweet sherry to come to terms with the dire fact that there's 4 more days to the weekend. The recent Dehesa X Bodegas winemaker dinner I attended was all that with side of jovial banter and amicable ruckus caused by a case of too much wine. Nothing that the Monday blues can't handle given the amount of turmoil its already been put through. Sod that, give me a good glass of red and you'll have me purring over plain vanilla ice cream.
It's the ease with which they do it, this slightly inebriated airy wave at the door and the boisterous call to attention for Alvaro Comenge's introduction speech, by the reps of Iconic Wines Singapore that makes you think - hey - if it only took them till 6pm on a Monday to reach this state of enlightenment, the wines ought to be good. There's no sales pitch better than permission marketing; and at this stage, surrounded by light banter and blissful smells, I wanted in on the magic.
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