Raffles Courtyard Presents Collaborations With Popular Home Chefs, Starting With PasirPanjangBoy

  

Are you on the exceedingly long waitlist for an almost-impossible-to-score seat in PasirPanjangBoy's private diner? Well, this piece of news might be music to your ears then! Raffles Courtyard is celebrating Southeast Asia's rich culinary heritage with a series of unique collaborations with home chefs behind popular private dining experiences in Singapore. And kicking off the heritage experience with scrumptious Peranakan fare is local chef duo Tinoq Russel Goh & Dylan Chan(PasirPanjangBoy). Ardent fans can have a taste of PasirPanjangBoy's signature dishes, right in the heart of Singapore at the iconic Raffles Hotel, from 12 March to 11 April 2021. 

 

Takeshi-San - New Japanese Restaurant in Holland Village That We Won't Revisit

New Japanese restaurants excite me. I love Japanese food, and I live right across Holland Village, so when I noticed the opening of Takeshi-San, I told my friends that we need to visit. We popped by on a Thursday evening and scored the last available table. It was crowded and packed and we were pretty impressed by the crowd — the food and service must be good right? 

 

Well, unfortunately, that was not the case at all.

(RELOCATED AGAIN)Hashida Sushi Singapore - An Unforgettable Omakase Experience

My omakase experiences have gotten, progressively, more expensive. While I was deliberating on where I should bring my best friend for a celebratory omakase meal, I consulted Rubbish Eat Rubbish Grow on his thoughts on the biggest names in the Japanese cuisine scene in Singapore. Here were my options : Shinji, Shoukouwa, Hashida, Tatsuya, Jiro. Nat very patiently went through every option with me, and it was a no-brainer. Hashida, it was. I made a reservation online for lunch on a weekday and made my way to Mandarin Gallery with a racing heart.

Hashida Sushi was first opened in Tokyo, in 1966, by Master Sushi Chef Tokio Hashida. His son, Kenjiro Hashida, is at the helm of Hashida Sushi Singapore.

Chef Kang's Private Kitchen - Super Hard to Book Michelin-Starred Chinese Restaurant

Chef Kang's Private Kitchen is one of the hardest-to-book Michelin-starred restaurants in Singapore. The small one-Michelin-starred outfit along Mackenzie Road has just 5 tables, and they have a whole line of loyal fans who return regularly, so it's not easy to get a seat here. I made a reservation about 6 weeks in advance, and my foodie friends were surprised that I managed to score a table! Truth be told, so was I. I was coming here with my dad and brother and was told over the phone that a minimum of 5 pax is needed for them to give us one of the dining rooms, so we were allocated a table next to the counter. That was a little disappointing but I guess, we were coming for the food more than anything else, so I agreed to it.

Holland Village Cobbler(Outside MRT/Decathlon) - please AVOID bringing expensive footwear here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hardly write negative reviews, I always try to support small businesses instead of well known multinational companies, and I love old folks. So it's sad that I have to write this to warn all of you who ever thought of, or are thinking of, going to the cobbler outside Holland Village MRT station.

Bistro Du Le Pin - Incredibly Affordable $120 18-Course Dinner Omakase with FREE FLOW WINE in Orchard

 

I posted a snippet of my dinner at Bistro du le Pin on Instagram stories and there were 250 sticker taps on it. This is when I knew I absolutely have to share about my dinner experience! I made a reservation weeks in advance for the 6pm seating, so make sure you book way in advance as well. I arrived promptly and the super friendly staff showed me to my counter seat and proceeded to store the cake I bought for my friend's birthday celebration in the fridge. There were a la carte options available but we were here for the $120/pax dinner omakase with free flow wine. And I would highly recommend that you go for that. I was super excited for the meal — I mean, come on, FREE FLOW WINE???

yì by Jereme Leung - Usher in a Bountiful Lunar New Year With Outstanding Chinese Cuisine

 

藝(yì) by Jereme Leung at the beautiful Raffles Hotel delivers cuisine that takes guests on an exploration voyage to China’s vastly diverse cultural regions. Their modern takes on classic Chinese cuisine are intricate, sophisticated, and timeless, and their dedication to culinary excellence is evident in the fine dishes that they bring to the table. And that commitment is especially apparent in their 2021 Chinese New Year line-up.

 

Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant - Luxurious Chinese New Year Masterpieces & Set Menus for an Ox-Picious 2021

 

Award-winning Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel never, ever, disappoints. Being the choice restaurant of many, even during non-festive periods, the restaurant is consistently packed, and scoring a reservation here during Chinese New Year is quite often a difficult feat. If you haven't yet dined here, it's high time you do so! Wan Hao is ringing in the new year with a flourish of 8-course Set Menus, enticing à la carte Lunar New Year masterpieces, and irresistible takeaway treats.

 

Solo Ristorante - A Disappointing First Visit to This Highly-Raved Italian Restaurant on Amoy Street

 

Heard a great deal about Solo Ristorante from fellow foodies and decided to bring my friend here to celebrate her birthday. It was a Sunday night and they seem fairly busy, and also short-staffed. It was difficult getting the attention of the staff once we were seated. Menus were not provided, the wine we chose was sold out, and it took us like 10 minutes to get someone's attention to place an order for another bottle of wine, only to be told a few minutes later that it's also sold out. We also had to ask for our bread to be served long after the server said that she's going to serve us bread. Not a great start to the meal to be honest, but the server was warm and smiley, and tried to strike some small conversation so I was hoping that the meal would still go well. 

Cheek Bistro - One-Michelin-Starred Modern Australian Restaurant With Great Food at Affordable Prices

 

Formerly known as Cheek by Jowl, Cheek Bistro is still run by the same husband-and-wife duo. They have changed their name, and switched up their prix fixe menus for a la carte menus. I've never been to Cheek by Jowl but I remember looking at their menu multiple times. I was glad that they've introduced a la carte menus which allow diners to pick their desired dishes, of course, and the a la carte options make dining here more affordable. I would say that you will definitely be getting your money's worth at this One-Michelin-starred restaurant that's belting out great contemporary Australian cuisine. 

terra Tokyo Italian - Witness the Marriage of Italian & Japanese Cuisine at this One-Michelin-Starred Restaurant

As its name indicates, terra promises a unique style of Italian cuisine, inspired by shokubunka (the honor of Japanese food culture) and Italian culinary traditions. Helmed by Chef Japanese Chef-Owner Seita Nakahara, terra Tokyo Italian does not offer an a la carte menu for either lunch or dinner. Instead, available are 2 set lunch menus($58/$128) and 3 dinner omakase menus($208/308/408) featuring fresh creations built on hand-picked seasonal ingredients imported directly from Japan’s farms and producers. terra prides itself on its selection of fresh produce and the staff will proudly introduce the freshest picks of the day to diners before the meal commences.

Arban Hotel - Best 3 Star Hotel in City Centre of Busan(Seoul)

When Singaporeans head to Seoul, they usually consider visiting Busan or/and Jeju as well. I've been to Korea multiple times and this was my first time in Busan. My family took a train from Seoul to this popular tourist destination that's best known for Haeundae Beach and Jagalchi Market. For our accommodation, we chose Arban Hotel which is centrally located. It's surrounded by shops and convenience stores, so that's a bonus. 

LeVeL33 - Value-For-Money Executive Set Lunch at World's Highest Urban Microbrewery

 

Perched on level 33(of course) of MBFC, LeVeL 33 is the world's highest microbrewery. Setting up of this place was a real tough job because the giant tanks required for the brewing of the beer couldn't fit into the elevators. Imagine the amount of work needed to lift numerous tanks up by cranes to the 33rd floor! Talk about dedication! Apart from brewing their own beer, the brewery does pretty solid food, and might possibly be best known for its spectacular view of the Marina bay area, where crowds most often gather for fireworks display come New Year's Eve or National Day. LeVeL33 is also known for their value-for-money Executive Set Lunch which runs from Monday to Friday.

Christmas Singapore 2020 - The Best Log Cake, Turkey, Ham & More For Takeaway & Delivery

Everyone's favourite holiday is coming right up! 2020 hasn't been the best year for most of us but there's still a happy jolly season to look forward to, right? We definitely deserve a pat, or many pats, on the back for getting through an unprecedented year. So let's pamper ourselves, and round off 2020 on a high with luxurious celebrations studded with glorious meats, decadent cakes, and elaborate cocktails, shall we? 

 

Days Hotel by Wyndham Seoul Myeongdong - Comfortable & Reasonably-Priced Hotel in Myeongdong

As we all know, most tourists choose to stay in Myeongdong when visiting Seoul as it's conveniently located and it has all the beauty and fashion stores that tourists love to shop at. Therefore, it's no surprise that there are many hotels in Myeongdong, and we are often spoilt for choice. Prices can be quite exorbitant, especially during peak seasons, as expected. My family of 4 visited Seoul in May and chose Days Hotel as it was reasonably priced and is situated just by the main road, so we could always catch a cab easily. We got 2 twin rooms, and were quite satisfied with what we got.

8 Best Sushi Omakase Restaurants in Singapore (From $68 - $250/pax)

Japanese omakase has exploded in popularity over the years. Whether its for Kaiseki, Kappo, or sushi omakase, Singaporeans are flocking to Japanese omakase restaurants more than ever before. One of the earliest omakase restaurants to have made its mark must have been Teppei. They still offer their very affordable and popular omakase which will fill you up to the brim. I remember the days where online booking wasn't such a big thing and people had to call for hours once phone reservations were opened to only be disappointed as they were already fully booked for months. 

 

Singaporeans love cheap and good stuff, but a good omakase more often than not comes with a hefty price tag. Big names such as Shinji, Shoukouwa, Oshino, and Sushi Kou offer $350 - $500 omakase and they're often fully booked and the wait for a spot to dine there might take months. If you're looking for great omakase options that are more wallet-friendly or a mid-range omakase treat for a special occasion, here are 8 restaurants you should consider!

 

SE7ENTH - Refreshed A La Carte Menu With New Creations Such As Wagyu Katsu Sando!

SE7ENTH at Oakwood Premier AMTD Singapore has just refreshed their menu with new additions! Having stayed at the luxurious property for three months, and ordered room service multiple times, I know that the head chef at SE7ENTH whips up pretty delicious dishes. Hence, I was excited to see what he has come up with. 

5-Ingredient Recipe - Fluffy, Soft & Custardy Tamagoyaki French Toast

Super fluffy, super soft, super custardy Japanese-style French toast made with just 5 ingredients??? Yes, you heard that right. It's super delicious, by the way.

Best Restaurants in Melbourne 2020

 

Melbourne is the cultural capital of Australia, and it has also been voted the most liveable city for many years running. With charming laneways studded with quaint outfits, a rich coffee culture, and a captivating food scene, Melbourne has something new or hidden every corner you turn. Having stayed here for more than 8 months, I've come to love this city more than my very own country. Dining out is definitely an expensive affair in Australia, so make sure you're spending your money at places that are worth it! 

 

Here's a list of my favourite restaurants, which are also, obviously, the best in my book.

 

Menbaka - Kyoto's Famous Fire Ramen Opens First Overseas Outlet at Cineleisure on 24 Nov!

   

Have you tried the world's first fire ramen? I did, a few years ago, at Menbakaichidai めん馬鹿一代, in Kyoto, and it was definitely one of the most unique, fun, and engaging dining experiences I've ever had!

Now, Menbaka is opening their first overseas outlet in Singapore on 24 November, at Cineleisure!