Dan & Esther's Food Haven

We're a married couple who love to travel, drink and eat (not necessarily in that order). When we're not busy stuffing our faces, we own and operate The Good Beer Company, a hawker stall in Singapore's Chinatown.

[danandesther]

[Singapore] Gaston.

There’s a plethora of French fine dining restaurants in Singapore, but more casual establishments are less common. And those that focus on Bourgogne cuisine, even rarer. New Keong Saik Road establishment Gaston focuses on the cuisine from a region better known for its wines, and does so admirably.

Don’t expect to see the likes of duck confit here, which is a more noble dish than the humble, hearty cuisine Burgundy is known for. Expect the likes of the Croquettes Bourguignonnes ($9++ for 3 pieces/$18++ for 6) made with ham and Epoisses; Epoisses, of course, is a (stinky) Appellation d’Origine Protégée cheese right out of the Burgundy. There’s escargot, of course - escargot is a prized delicacy in all of France, but in Burgundy it's a religion.The Escargots de Bourgogne (6pcs: $15++ for 6 pieces/$28++ for 12) comes in crispy pastry shells, giving a lovely textural crunch to the chewy bite of the snails.

And of course any self-respecting Bourgogne eatery will have beef bourguignon on the menu. Gaston’s version hails from the mother of its general manager and owner Geoffrey Daurelle, himself a Burgundy native. The Boeuf Bourguignon ($32++) is traditional in the sense that it’s served atop mashed potatoes rather than having potatoes in it; potato isn’t an original ingredient in the classic regional dish.

We like that the range of Bourgogne wines here aren’t on the priciest side; while it does offer some famous names, Gaston also offers more affordable wines from lesser known appellations like from its Cote Chalonnaise and Maconnais sub regions.

If you enjoy your French fare, and particularly from rustic Bourgogne, Gaston is it.

Gaston 

Address 25 Keong Saik Rd, Singapore 089132 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours 5pm to 12mn in Mondays; 11am to 12mn Tuesdays to Saturdays; closed on Sundays Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

[Singapore] Wanton Fu.

Went looking for a fried porridge place in Jalan Besar only to find it sadly closed down, but then stumbled on Wanton Fu on the side of a small mall in the area. This specialty wanton noodle shop - as many other food commentators have pointed out - is almost a carbon copy of iconic Joo Chiat joint Eng’s Wanton Noodles, mainly because it’s opened by an ex-Eng’s staffer.

Wanton Fu offers up the “red version” of the hawker favourite - i.e. chilli sauce only - so if you prefer your wanton noodles in a black, soy-based sauce you’re out of luck. What we do like here is that the noodles are thicker than usual - more Korean ramyeon than you mian - and a chilli sauce that’s so (deliciously) spicy it'll make you tear almost instantly. One wishes the noodles didn’t come as dry, but at least you can help yourself to as much fried minced garlic, pickled green chillies and lard pieces as you want to flavour your noodles. 

And for those who can’t stand the heat in the hawker centre or kopitiam, Wanton Fu is air-conditioned so you can have this hawker dish and enjoy eating it in cool comfort too.

Wanton Fu

Address 380, ARC 380 #01-09 Jalan Besar, Singapore 209000 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours 11am to 10pm daily Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

[Singapore] Paradise Dynasty Opens at Wisma Atria.

The first thing that hits you as you enter the new Paradise Dynasty at Wisma Atria is its bright decor. Hello Kitty pink is probably the best way to describe it, and if you’ve been to Paradise Group’s Beauty in the Pot outlet at Kinex (formerly OneKM), the intense pink accents everywhere will feel familiar.

In celebration of its opening, Paradise Dynasty has launched an exclusive Beauty Collagen Xiao Long Bao that continues in the colour obsession and is dyed pink. These soup dumplings are a collaboration with Beauty in the Pot and combine the best of both brands - Paradise Dynasty’s popular dumplings filled with the famous collagen broth from Beauty in the Pot. They are not for sale though, and only offered as a complimentary item for every order of Specialty Dynasty Xiao Long Bao ($16.80++ for 8 pieces). This time-limited offer is only available until the end of January and for the first 100 orders per day.

Don’t fret though, as there are new dishes on the menu to look forward to, and my favourites are the ones featuring yellow croaker, a fish with the most delicate texture, such as Crispy Yellow Croaker Spring Roll ($9.20++), and La Mian with Yellow Croaker Fish and Preserved Vegetable ($16.80++).

Paradise Dynasty is offering a whooping 50% off all ala carte food items on 19 and 20 January for Paradise Gourmet Rewards members, and Citibank debit and credit card members who dine in. Reservations will not be accepted for these two days so be prepared to queue!

- Esther

Paradise Dynasty (Wisma Atria)

Address 35 Orchard Road Wisma Atria #01-18. Singapore 238877 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours 11am to 10pm Mondays to Fridays; 10.30am to 10pm Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays Tel (65) 6219 3931

[danandesther]

[Singapore] Mrs Pho House.

Despite living near Joo Chiat - home not only to Singapore’s Peranakan culture but also a sizeable Vietnamese enclave - we’re actually not as familiar with Vietnamese food as should really be. A recent trip to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) did open up our eyes - and palate - to the cuisines of Indochina, and we resolved to learn more.

Which brought us to Mrs Pho House. We previously visited the original Mrs Pho at Beach Road, and when they finally opened a bigger space at Rangoon Road we knew we had to visit. Unlike Mrs Pho which is more focused on pho, Mrs Pho House offers a variety of Vietnamese home-cooked dishes. The Bánh Xèo and Chao Tom were decent enough, but the absolute must-order - especially if you’re a fan of cockles - is the signature Mrs Pho’s Cockles. It’s a really simple peasant dish of cockles cooked in minced fried garlic, lard and palm sugar and then tossed with rau ram, or Vietnamese coriander. We guarantee this dish will leave you licking your fingers for every last bit of that fat and sugar-laden sauce.

We’ll need to return at least a couple of times to see if the other dishes are up to scratch, but we’re definitely ordering the cockle dish each and every trip. 

Mrs Pho House

Address 221 Rangoon Rd, Singapore 218459 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours 12noon to 10pm daily Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

[Tokyo] Shinjuku Kappo Nakajima (新宿割烹 中嶋).

Don’t do Tokyo’s Michelin-starred Shinjuku Kappo Nakajima if you don’t eat fish - specifically sardines (イワシ). In fact, don’t visit if you abhor curt service, or hate queuing. Don’t go if intend to visit as a big group, or worse, come hauling children (you just get turned away). 

If that don’t deter you in the least bit, Nakajima is likely to be the cheapest Michelin-starred meal you can get in Tokyo. They got the Michelin recognition just by serving sardines - in the evenings, Nakajima offers an omakase meal serving various dishes all featuring the fish. But for pure affordability, visit during lunch hours when they serve four set meals (priced from 800 yen) each of which cook the sardines differently.

For the more squeamish, the Furai lunch set - where the fish is battered in panko crumbs and then deep fried, and served with curried, pickled vegetables - is the best bet. But the signature version here would be the Yanagawa Nabe, which sees the sardines fried as above but then served with egg in a claypot; a fabulous way to eat it. Then there’s Nizakana (pictured above), which sees the fish braised in dashi and soy sauce, and finally a Sashimi version if you want to taste the fish in its most natural form.

We’d recommend the Nizakana and the Yanagawa Nabe options; the portion for the sashimi is middling, and why bother to eat the deep fried version when you can have it deep fried and then elevated with egg in a hotpot?

Shinjuku Kappo Nakajima (新宿割烹 中嶋)

Address B1F, Hihara Bldg, 3 32-5 Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo Prefecture 160-0022 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours 11.30am to 2pm and 5:30pm to 9.30pm Monday to Saturday Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

[Singapore] Beef Sukiyaki Don Keisuke.

It seems like F&B entrepreneur and Japanese ramen king Keisuke Takeda can do no wrong; the owner of a chain of casual Japanese food concepts - Tonkotsu King, Tendon Ginza Itsuki, and Teppanyaki Hamburg Nihonbashi Keisuke Bettei, amongst others - earlier this year launched Beef Sukiyaki Don Keisuke that’s proved to be a massive hit for its luxurious sukiyaki beef bowls.

In fact, that’s pretty much all the small, cramped-10 seater serves - you pick either the Beef Sukiyaki Don (S$13.90++) of premium koshihikari rice (cooked in a proper donabe, no less) heaping with slices of US Prime chuck roll, or the more decadent Kiwami Wagyu Sukiyaki Don (S$29.90++) with a generous serving of Yonezawa A4 wagyu beef instead. Your choice is prepared ala minute in front of you, and then served along with side servings of sesame tofu, an onsen egg, traditional miso soup, as well as assorted pickles. 

You can even ask for additional servings of beef - US Prime beef at S$10.00 ++ per 120g serving (120g), or the wagyu at S$25.00++ per 120g serving (pictured) - but the regular portion is more than enough for most. You’re also better off going with the cheaper regular beef sukiyaki don; it’s a lot less fatty and rich but still redolent with a robust meat flavour. The one with Japanese wagyu is delicious but comes with so much rendered beef fat soaking through your rice that can make it rather heavy going.

And at S$13.90++ for the regular bowl there really is absolutely no reason to eat the far, far inferior version from Yoshinoya, and continues to prove Keisuke’s dominance in the casual Japanese dining scene with his blend of affordability and quality.

Beef Sukiyaki Don Keisuke

Address 11 Kee Seng St, #01-01 Onze @ Tanjong Pagar, Singapore 089218 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours 11am to 2.30pm and 5pm to 10pm daily Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

[Singapore] 2018 Staycations.

It wasn’t until very recently that we decided staycations were worth spending on. It had always seemed to be much more appealing to take a short flight to any nearby destination than paying to stay at a hotel in Singapore, especially when room rates here are typically upwards of S$200 a night. But as we get older, the hassle of packing, travelling to the airport two hours beforehand, and then planning for activities and meals on the trip itself, means we’re tired even before we’ve stepped out of the house.

A staycation bypasses all of that, although what we look for on our local stays (apart from the basic requirement of a clean room with a working shower) is quite different from the expectations of our overseas trip.

A swimming pool large enough to do laps

Well-equipped gym

Close proximity to lots of (good) food

Bearing these in mind, here’s a quick peek at the local hotels we’ve stayed at in 2018 (and in case you’re wondering, no these aren’t sponsored stays).

30 Bencoolen.

30 Bencoolen was the only boutique hotel on our list, as most smaller hotels don’t have a decent-sized swimming pool. It checks all three boxes though, and having undergone a $20 million dollar transformation in late 2017 (it was previously Bayview Hotel), everything including our Deluxe room, was still in great condition. It also houses LOCAL, a fusion restaurant helmed by award-winning chef Elvin Chew offering a really legit Nasi Lemak.

Stay here for: Brand-new cozy furnishings, great food in the Bras Basah and Selegie areas, and proximity to town.

30 Bencoolen | 30 Bencoolen St, Singapore 189621 |6337 2882

PARKROYAL on Beach Road.

We picked the newly-renovated Superior Room in PARKROYAL on Beach Road for my birthday stay because it was a really good last minute deal. It’s centrally located and comes with a very large pool (main photo) and gym, but some parts of this hotel have probably seen better days, even if recent refurbishments did help. They also offer complimentary vouchers for the famous Tian Fu Tea House and award-winning Si Chuan Dou Hua restaurant which are located within the hotel.

Stay here for: The vibrant scene at Haji Lane and Kampong Glam on the weekends, and authentic Thai food at Golden Mile Complex.

PARKROYAL on Beach Road | 7500 Beach Road, Singapore 199591 | 6505 5666

One Farrer Hotel.

Arguably our favourite hotel in Singapore at the moment, Daniel’s birthday stay at the Skyline Studio in One Farrer Hotel (a lovely complimentary upgrade from our original Skyline Room booking) was nothing short of amazing, with a separate shower/bathtub in a bathroom almost as large as the bedroom. Rooms on the Skyline floors also get access to a private gym and pool, both of which are well maintained. Service is consistently good, whether at the reception or in the lobby bar.

Stay here for: Pretty much everything, including the surrounding neighbourhoods of Little India and Jalan Besar which have plenty of good eats.

One Farrer Hotel | 1 Farrer Park Station Road, Singapore 217562 | 6363 0101

Park Hotel Farrer Park.

Directly across the road from One Farrer Hotel is Park Hotel Farrer Park, a stay that I redeemed as an employee benefit from my previous employer. The two-storied Sky Loft isn’t something most people would opt for, but we like the separate bed area on the second floor (although going down narrow stairs to use the toilet in the middle of the night can be a hassle). The pool and gym are on the small side, but adequate enough for our purpose.

Stay here for: The most comfortable bed. One night here made me want to buy a mattress topper for our bed at home.

Park Hotel Farrer Park | 10 Farrer Park Station Road, Singapore 217564 | 6824 888

- Esther

[danandesther]

[Singapore] Weekend Brunch at The Summerhouse.

The Oval at Seletar Aerospace Park is a bit of a distance for most, but the recent development of the cluster of black and white colonial bungalows into an F&B enclave is worth checking out if you’re after an escape from overcrowded spaces in the city; the idyllic and relaxing vibe of the area being perfect for a lazy weekend. If you have yet to be convinced to make the trek there, consider The Summerhouse’s new weekend brunch menu as an additional incentive.

In line with their farm-to-table philosophy,The Summerhouse’s very Instagram-able Mud Crab Omelette ($24++) uses fresh handpicked mud crab from local fish farm Seafood Culture, and garnishes from their onsite herb garden. Philosophy and photos aside, the flavour of the omelette delivers too, especially when accented with the sharp spiciness from the Kampot peppercorns. We also liked the US Prime Short Rib Hash ($28++), a competent dish of well-fried potatoes, tender beef cubes and a perfect sunny-side up egg.

The star of The Summerhouse’s brunch though is definitely the Mayura Full Blood Wagyu MB9+ Flank ($60++, above). Served with roasted organic carrots and parsnips, and crispy duck fat potatoes, the quality of the meat really comes through - well-marbled and full of beefy flavour. A little pricey for the portion, but you get what you pay for.

- Esther

The Summerhouse

Address Level 2, 3 Park Lane, Seletar Aerospace Park Singapore 798387 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours Weekend Brunch - Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday 11.30am to 3pm Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

[Singapore] Telok Ayer Arts Club.

An art gallery, music event space, dining and drinks for the working crowd, Telok Ayer Arts Club is a multi-concept venue smack in the centre of the CBD area. Backed by the folks behind SPRMKT, it aims to foster a “community centre” spirit, where art, music, food and drink come together in cohesiveness.

Comparisons with the now closed Artistry will invariably arise, but while Artistry thrived on an organic indie vibe, Telok Ayer Arts Club’s approach to art is more planned inspiration. Not just content with exhibiting artwork throughout the space, the F&B team also works together with the artist to create dishes and drinks inspired by the artist’s work, so expect to see a section of the menu that is constantly refreshed.

To cater to the multiple concepts, the menu is similarly diverse, from ordinary grain and salad bowls (nicoise, couscous) for the lunch crowd, to the more innovative wanton skins stuffed with bocconcini, and tofu and tomatoes dressed with white miso and shiitake pesto. Drinks-wise, Telok Ayer Arts Club’s version of a Bloody Mary delivers a spicy punch with interesting savoury notes from the addition of chilli crab sauce. Yes, chilli crab sauce.

- Esther

Telok Ayer Arts Club

Address 2 McCallum St, Singapore 069043 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours Monday to Saturday, 11am to 11pm Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

Artisan Selections.

We’re beginning to move a lot of our shopping online - RedMart for essentials, iHerb for personal care products, for example. As for food, we buy seafood from Ah Hua Kelong and even fancier seafood like uni and sashimi-grade fish from Zairyo and Sasha’s Fine Foods. As for meat we like Meatlovers, while Mr. Farmer is where we get chicken products. In fact we buy so much online these days that where we used to go to supermarkets at least once a week, we only do so rarely now.

We recently discovered another curated online food portal; Artisan Selections focuses on artisanal foods from Australia, working with craft producers to bring in the likes of handmade breads, pastries, chocolate, cheese, charcuterie and other food items from across Australia. We particularly enjoy the Baylies brand of gourmet crackers that are so perfect with a cheese board, as well as charcuterie from Barossa Fine Foods.

The only thing is that since most of these items are perishable and Artisan Selections bring in a limited quantity of goods at a time, things do run out. Hopefully we’ll get to see more brands from Australia hop on board with them. - Daniel

[danandesther]

[Singapore] Christmas in the Plenitude, a festive multi-sensory ten-course dinner at Stellar at 1-Altitude.

If you’re aiming to splurge on a nice meal this Christmas season, look no further - ‘Christmas in the Plenitude’, a limited time festive ten-course gastronomic extravaganza at Stellar at 1-Altitude that will titillate all of your senses at once, is it.

Held in the its luxury Dom Pérignon Plénitude Suite, this decadent dinner features a selection of some of the most coveted festive ingredients sourced from artisanal producers around the world, such as truffle, Sturia caviar, Hokkaido uni, aged Comte, and Mayura wagyu beef. If you’re familiar with Chef Christopher Millar’s work with truffles or specialty wagyu beef, for example, he’ll put all that knowledge and expertise into this one meal paired with Dom Pérignon champagne.

You’ll end the dinner on a high with Pastry Chef Jasmin Chew sweeps in to assemble your dessert course, a Christmas log cake reimagined as a fireplace. If it sounds strange, know that she’s one of our favourite pastry chefs in town, and it’ll taste as magical as it looks.

The ten-course Christmas in the Plénitude experience at Stellar at 1-Altitude - available 22 to 25 December 2018 - is priced at $440++ per pax, inclusive of one complimentary glass of Dom Pérignon PS 2000. Guests who dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will also receive homemade accoutrements of fig and cranberry compote and mini plum pudding to take home. For reservations, please contact Plénitude Guest Relations Manager Newman at [email protected].

- Daniel

Stellar At 1-Altitude

Address Level 62, 1 Raffles Place Singapore 048616 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours Monday to Friday - 12pm to 2pm and 6.30pm to 10pm, Saturday - 6pm to 10pm, Sunday - 6pm to 9pm Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

[Singapore] Afternoon High Tea at Nesuto Patisserie.

High tea has always been a staple on Nesuto Patisserie’s menu, and Nesuto takes special pride in creating various high tea sets throughout the year so you can get a different experience every few months. For the festive season, Nesuto presents Enchanted Winter, a set of four savouries and five sweets displayed prettily in three tiers, accompanied by a pot of artisan tea, including some from local tea curator Antea Social.

The Enchanted Winter set is stronger on sweets than savouries, which I guess isn’t unexpected. The Scones with Mascarpone and Orange Cranberry Compote are, in particular, worth the calories, as is the Milk Chocolate Cherry Almond Trifle.

The Enchanted Winter high tea set ($70.80++ for 2 pax, plus $45.90++ for each additional pax) is available from now until 31 January, everyday from 12pm to 5pm. Reservations must be made at least two days in advance.

- Esther

Nesuto Patisserie

Address 53 Tras St Singapore 078992 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours Monday to Friday - 12pm to 10pm, Saturday - 12pm to 11pm, Sunday - 12pm to 7pm Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

[Sendai] Gyutan Ryori Kaku Vlandome (6片牛舌套餐).

Like Umami Tasuke (旨味太助) that we visited on the same trip to Sendai, Gyutan Ryori Kaku Vlandome is similarly a gyutan (牛タン) restaurant shop offering the region’s specialty of grilled beef tongue.

But where Gyutan Ryori Kaku Vlandome differs from the rest is that this basement eatery is lauded by fans for offering chunkier pieces of gyutan as opposed to the thinner slices you find elsewhere; it’s meatier and gives a more robust bite, and also allows the chef better control over the grilling for more even cooking throughout so your gyutan won’t come overcooked and tough like it might do in other places.

Even more interesting is its tataki (たたき) version; the gyutan is seared quickly over the grill retaining a raw centre, and then sliced up and served with thinly shredded onions and a ponzu sauce. It’s absolutely delicious and a perfect “side” dish to your grilled gyutan set meal. Also excellent as a side dish - especially for those who don’t want too much meat - is the raw tomato salad, thinly sliced and sweet-as.

Gyutan Ryori Kaku Vlandome

Address 3-8-14 Ichiban-cho, Aoba-ku | B1F Suzuki Pottery Store, Sendai 980-0811, Miyagi Prefecture (Google Map link)

Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

[Singapore] Kindori.

Japanese steak restaurant Renga-ya in CHIJMES recently converted its cosy outdoor space to introduce a Japanese-style fried chicken concept called Kindori. 

Kindori is Japanese for “golden chicken”, and in this case rather apt. Kindori uses fresh local kampong chicken - proper Japanese chicken would be prohibitively expensive to be used this way - that is first marinated in a mixture of yogurt and Japanese herbs and spices, before being battered and fried to a golden crisp. The Full Bird ($29++) here is a whopping eight good-sized pieces, and is certainly value for money. The crust is not shatteringly crisp as you may expect from Korean-style fried chicken - more like KFC, to be exact - but this way you taste more chicken than batter or sauce. But if you really like your sauces, Kindori serves a range - the Kare Curry, Umami Ume and Wasabi Cream get our thumbs up - for you to dip in.

There’s Boneless Chicken Karaage ($6++) too, if you don’t want to wrestle with gristle, but for those who do should order the Chicken Soft Bone ($6++) - the nankotsu (軟骨) makes an excellent beer snack. Speaking of which, Kindori offers a pretty good range of Japanese craft beers, including our favourite Hitachino Nest.

Pretty sure we’ll be back often!

- Daniel

Kindori Singapore

Address #01-11/12 (beer garden), CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street Singapore 187996 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours 6pm to 11.30pm daily Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

[Sendai] Umami Tasuke (旨味太助).

Ask any native Japanese which regional specialty is a must-try in Sendai, and chances are you’ll be pointed to gyu-tan (牛タン). Gyutan is beef tongue, and in the case of Sendai they generally slice it thinly and then grill it over charcoal and usually serve it with pickled vegetables, oxtail soup and mugi gohan (steamed white rice with barley).

And this is exactly what you get at Umami Tasuke (旨味太助) - in fact it’s pretty much the only dish they offer at this specialty BBQ gyutan shop. If you’re lucky you’ll get a counter seat where you can observe the chef grill the gyutan in front of you under the watchful eye of the proprietor; the latter sometimes reject improperly grilled pieces while scowling at the chastened-looking chef. 

If you aren’t familiar with beef tongue, it has a texture that’s a bizarre combination of hearty beef steak and crunchy pork kidney. When grilled it acquires a delicious savoury smokiness that’s absolutely perfect with the mugi gohan. They have three serving sizes here, dictated by the number of slices you require - Esther and I each had 5 pieces.

Like most dining establishments in Japan, don’t expect to come dine here in big groups; it’s generally a long wait for groups of four or more. It’s worth it, though! - Daniel

Umami Tasuke (味太助)

Address 2-11-11 Kokubuncho,Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-0803, Miyagi Prefecture (Google Maps link) Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

[Singapore] Mister Wu.

Tucked away at the Chinatown end of China Square Central sits Mister Wu, a small modern Chinese teahouse and restaurant named after Wu Jue Nong, an educator from the Zhejiang province who dedicated his life’s work to tea. He not only pushed for the founding of tea research institutes, he even risked his life to bring tea varieties from war zones in Southern China to Hong Kong during WWII to ensure their survival.

It’s no surprise then that Mister Wu stocks a great assortment of tea, and aims to increase the awareness and appreciation of Chinese tea to Singapore, although perhaps not in the usual traditional tea house manner. Think tea-based cocktails like the vermouth and baijiu-based Spring Cherry Blossoms ($18) with rosebud tea, and even a tea ice cream.

The food though, is a more traditional affair, with la mian options for lunch and an Abalone & Kampong Chicken Hotpot - Dry/Soup ($38) that we can’t quite get enough of for dinner. The hotpot base is pretty much a slightly spicy kung pao chicken gravy, and if ordered dry, can be topped up with soup towards the end of the meal so you can drink it. This hotpot alone is sufficient for two to share, but you don’t want to miss out on adding more ingredients, like the beautifully marbled Japanese Wagyu Shabu Slice ($18), sweet and fresh Jumbo Scallops ($16), and sashimi-grade Oysters ($10).

- Esther

Mister Wu

Address 3 Pickering Street, Nankin Row #01-44/45 Singapore 048660 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours Monday to Saturday, 11.30am to 2.30pm, 6pm to 10pm Tel [phone]

[danandesther]

[Singapore] Blossom.

Setting up a restaurant located in Marina Bay Sands is a tough proposition. The venue already hosts a number of top restaurants backed by celebrity chefs like Cut by Wolfgang Puck, DB Bistro & Oyster Bar, and Takumi Yamamoto, all vying for the patronage of thousands of visitors every month. So to really stand out from the competition, you’d have to bring out the big guns.

And that’s exactly what Marina Bay Sands’ newest Chinese restaurant Blossom has done, by appointing Chef Fok Kai Yee as Culinary Master. With over 30 years of experience in the kitchens of Li Bai, Lei Garden and Summer Pavilion, Chef Fok, together with Executive Chef Jason Lau, serves up a menu that delivers classic flavours while employing innovative culinary techniques, as seen in Blossom’s Stir-Fried Bird’s Nest with Fresh Crab Meat ($88++). A traditional Chinese ingredient that’s typically served double-boiled with rock sugar for a dessert, Blossom transforms bird’s nest into a dish that takes advantage of its unique texture, pairing it with sweet crab meat. Equally decadent is the Poached Fish Noodles and Lobster in Lobster Soup ($24++), which has the influence of a modern Western-style lobster bisque but still retains familiar Chinese flavours.

Also, don’t miss out on the visually impressive Royal Secret Recipe Smoked Duck with 15-year-old Pu-Er Tea and Chrysanthemum ($25++ for half, $50++ for whole, pictured), presented at the table with a flourish, with intense tea smoke permeating every last bit of the tender meat and crispy skin.

- Esther

Blossom

Address Marina Bay Sands Hotel Lobby Tower 2, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018972 (Google Maps link) Opening Hours Monday to Friday 11.30am to 11pm; Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays 11am to 11pm Tel [phone]