ASIA EDITION
TOP SUITES OF
SINGAPORE
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ISSUE 8
THE THE GUIDE GUIDE
AROUND THE REGION As Asia shakes off the chilly months of winter and looks to the long days and warm nights of the summer months, it’s a great time to explore the region’s top tables and best bars. In our comprehensive “Guide” section, we bring you the top gastronomy
FIERY LIBATION / LE DERRIERE
and mixology experiences available across Asia Pacific’s hottest destinations.
On Bali, the Island of the Gods, the luxurious Regent Bali
ue’s terrace. Another great spot to enjoy the warmer climes
has opened in tranquil Sanur, and its Nyala Beach Club &
is the new Qi cocktail bar at the Mandarin Oriental Pudong
Grill, located adjacent to the resort’s expansive infinity pool
in Shanghai. Here, both classic and contemporary cocktails
and overlooking the island’s southern coast, is the perfect
are served al fresco with stunning views across the city.
place to shift gears with a well-made cocktail. For those
While Asia-bound travelers are spoiled for choice when it
looking for a faster pace, you can’t miss the Big Fish Bar
comes to new and exciting restaurants and watering holes,
& Grill, which offers stunning Australian-esque cuisine.
few boast the refinement of Tokyo’s newest dens, includ-
Things take on a more decadent touch in Hong Kong with
ing Collage, which recently opened at the Conrad Tokyo,
the opening of Le Dôme de Cristal, the first signature res-
serving up delectable French cuisine with Chef de Cuisine
taurant by acclaimed champagne house Louis Roederer.
Shinya Maeda’s distinctive artistic flair, and Wine House, a
Serving up world-class cuisine in sumptuous surroundings,
new wine lovers’ mecca that boasts over 2,000 labels, cu-
this is a must-try for any oenophile, especially with the ven-
rated by celebrity wine expert Junko Yaginuma.
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THE GUIDE
JAKARTA
BY GREG HARADIRAN
FROM A TO Z From the same culinary geniuses behind the enduring success of Amuz, Jakarta’s legendary fine French dining helmed by local celebrity chef Gilles Marx, comes their newest creation, Auroz Gourmet Grill, already voted as one of top three must-try new restaurants in Jakarta by the city’s critics and luminaries. The restaurant has an underground vibe where dining can still be enjoyed in a fairly relaxed, intimate setting. And that’s really Auroz’s raison d’etre. Chef and founder Gilles Marx explained, “We learned that many guests are too intimidated to eat at Amuz, save for special occasions. So, we decided to create a new concept, one that is much less intimidating and casual and bistro-like without abandoning style. We deliberately chose an off-site location for Auroz in a new building, so that diners can hang all that pretentiousness at the door and just come here for the food.” The concept behind Auroz is that of a gourmet grill bistro that blends French bistro cooking with a modern American steakhouse. Obviously, grill is its specialty, and its premium quality steak selections grilled to perfection are of the highest recommendation. Order anything from the ELEGANT DINING / AUROZ GOURMET GRILL
USDA prime rib eye to the Australian wagyu tenderloin Grade 9, and your trip to Auroz will have been wholly vindicated. A selection of excellent wines,
SPINACH AND BACON SALAD / AUROZ GOURMET GRILL
CHOCOLATE MOELLEUX / AUROZ GOURMET GRILL
such as the 2008 Amuse Bouche and Bordeaux Left Bank (notable is the 1998 Château Léoville-Las Cases Grand Cru Classe) and Bordeaux Right Bank will complete your evening.
Contact: Chef and founder Gilles Marx, 62-21-2957-3690; gilles@amuzgourmet.com; www.aurozgourmet.com
THE GREAT EXODUS The latest mega-nightclub iteration to rock Jakarta comes from the same group that launched one of the most controversial, yet successfully epic nightclubs in the history of the city: The Stadium Jakarta. Their second concept is no less glitzy or boisterous and promises the same kind of star-studded PARTY ATMOSPHERE / EXODUS
hard partying as its sister property, but with the respectability of a location in South Jakarta, where most of the socialites and celebrities reside. Hidden in a somewhat demure, also newly opened shopping mall called Kuningan City on Casablanca Road, Exodus’s penchant for glam and the extravagant makes it easy to find: Three floors of socializing space span the restaurant, the lounge, and the flagship club, each equipped with an array of the latest and greatest audio/video systems. The flagship club, Exodus 5 Club, features a 8,072-square-foot space boasting classic Tiffany-era décor fused with stainless steel, mirrors, and blue shades. Oversized leather VIP sofas allow freedom of sight while ensuring privacy. The pièce de résistance, however, is the HD LED screens (the largest in Jakarta) that wrap around the entire span of the club, streaming audio visual mash-ups in high definition. The party atmosphere is further enhanced by a German laser light show, more than 50,000 audio watts by Funktion One, and a liquid oxygen injection system, which blasts the dance floor in white clouds of pure oxygen. Gentlemen will appreciate rare and ultra-
BEEF AND RICE CRACKER SALAD / EXODUS
“PASSION JUNGLE” / EXODUS
premium spirits such as Macallan 30 Years Old, The Glenlivet XXV Twenty 25 Year Old, and the Martell L’Or de Jean Martell, while the ladies will be pleased with the club’s selection of sophisticated cocktails, such as The Red, made with fresh strawberry juice, Belvedere Vodka, light rum, grenadine, and lime.
Contact: Manager Addo Arsyad, 62-21-3005-6361; addo@exodus-jakarta. com; www.exodusjakarta.com
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