BiTES - The Scoop on Good Eats (January 2015) by BiTES - The Scoop on Good Eats

E E R

T h e s c o o p o n

g o o d

e at s

j a n u a r y

2 0 1 5

c o m . s g w w w. b i t e s .

MCI

(P)

187/03/2014

We GO Locavore for a whole day!

ADVERTORIAL

Ring in the drinks What better way to begin 2015 than with the world's best-selling French beer Kronenbourg? Pay a visit to District 10 at UE Square, which pairs its modern European dishes with this classic tipple

Bonne année et bonne santé! That’s French for Happy New Year and good health. Raise your Kronenbourg to wish your buddies—longevity and rejuvenation are integral aspects of this 351-year-old aperitif— and partake in The French Art of Pleasure, an uplifting celebration and enjoyment of nature's finest in our everyday lives. Savour a Kronenbourg 1664— tinted with Mirabelle plums, bananas, peppers and grapefruit. The pale lager's also brewed with pure water from the Vosges and the noble Strisselspalt hops. It’s delicate, crisp and finishes smooth. A fruity and refreshing counterpart to the classic 1664 is the Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc. Born in 2006, the cloudy wheat (white) beer is an all-rounded delight with sweet orange peel and undertones of coriander and cloves.

Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc (5.0%): the lager’s malty notes and fine bitterness cuts through the rich dairy in Quesadilla with Chicken, Capsicum and Melted Cheese

Kronenbourg 1664 (5.0%): citrus notes to lift the smoky flavours and coriander to deftly enhance the truffle perfume in the Signature Black Angus Beef Striploin, Fried Eggs and Black Truffle

Native Italian and executive chef Luca Pezzera of District 10, appreciates Kronenbourg for its heritage and alignment to the restaurant's brand strategy. The uninhibited and casual establishment exudes a fun dining energy, and offers authentic rustic European cuisine, beers, and a smattering of local flavours. “Kronenbourg 1664’s strategy in targeting consumers who seek a more premium drinking experience and a little sophisticated fun complements the dining experience we strive to provide to our customers,” he says. “It was not a difficult decision to introduce the brand here.”

Like us at www.facebook.com/ KronenbourgSG and www.facebook. com/District10BarandRestaurant District 10 Bar & Restaurant: #01-15/16/17 UE Square Shopping Mall, 81 Clemenceau Avenue. Tel: 6738 4788, www.district10.com.sg

E E R

bites g n i o

y j a n u a r

2 0 1 5

m . s g t e s .c o w w w. b i

MCI

(P)

DEALS

T h e s c o o p o n

g o o d

e at s

8 new

2014 187/03/

r o e o h t t s o t

pore’s a g n i S g n i t natural bount a r y b le

from Hard Rock Cafe, District 10 and more!

hotspots to bite into

inside BUFFET BOUNTY p14

10 vegetarian buffets and where to eat around Chinatown

DESTINATION: TAI SENG p20 Discover this up-and-coming foodie and furniture enclave snuggled in an industrial estate

SUPERMARKET SLEUTH p22 Create easy-peasy liquid assets with a few everyday ingredients

+t z +e e c har at m r a f lik d i a n i n n go ea loc ! y avore a d for a whole

LAST BITES p25

Lo and be…hei? Time to refresh your auspicious greetings

w e l c o m e

Where to find your BiTES? DOWNLOAD THIS ISSUE at www.bites.com.sg PICK US UP! Free at over 100 venues !

bites y j a n u a r

2 0 1 5

m . s g t e s .c o w w w. b i

mci

(P)

t h e

Cafe, District 10 and more!

s c o o P o n

g o o d

e at s

8 new

2014 187/03/

he roots to t

ngapore nGbratinG Sinatural bou’snty i o le

hotsPots to bite into

inside BUFFET BOUNTY p14

10 vegetarian buffets and where to eat around Chinatown

deaLs from Hard Rock

DESTINATION: TAI SENG p20 Discover this up-and-coming foodie and furniture enclave snuggled in an industrial estate

SUpERMARKET SLEUTH p22 Create easy-peasy liquid assets with a few everyday ingredients

+t z +e e c har at lik dining on a farm ea

LAST BITES p25

Lo and be…hei? Time to refresh your auspicious greetings

loC avore ay! for a whole d

Cover image Dreamstime

Cafes & restaurants &Sons • Alfresco Gusto • Bishamon • Black Angus Steakhouse • Bonta Italian Restaurant & Bar (District 10) • Brussel Sprouts - Big Splash • Brussel Sprouts - Robertson Quay • Brussel Sprouts - Sentosa Cove • California Pizza Kitchen - Forum • Daikokuya • Delifrance Cafe Cold Storage Jelita • Delifrance Cafe - Gateway West • Delifrance Cafe - Gleneagles Hospital • Delifrance Cafe - Harbourfront Centre • Delifrance Cafe - KK Women's and Children's Hospital • Delifrance Cafe - Lot One Shoppers' Mall • Delifrance Cafe - Mount Elizabeth Hospital • Delifrance Cafe - Rendezvous Gallery • Delifrance Cafe Singapore Post Centre • Delifrance Cafe - Thomson Medical Centre • Delifrance Cafe - UE Square • dr CAFE COFFEE (all outlets) • Eggs & Berries Changi City Point • Eggs & Berries Westgate • Emicakes @ Kovan • EN Grill and Bar • Ginza Lion Beer Hall • IPPIN • Joe & Dough (Kallang) • KOMMUNE • Medzs Millenia Walk • Medzs Orchard Central • Ootoya Japapnese Restaurant • Outback Steakhouse • Outpost Bar & Bistro • Oyster Bar & Grill Wharf • Ramen Champion •

Publisher Cecilia Goh

Web Developer Jun Evangelista

Editor June Lee Staff Writer Meredith Woo Editorial Intern Timothy Lam Contributor Kylie Ng, Lim Si Hui

Accounts Manager Christina Tan

Designer Benjamin Soh Contributing Senior Designers Loh Wai Sum, Lynne Wong Designer Intern Tay Yuliang Regional Business Director Carlos Loh Business Directors Penny Ho, Ashad Shah Business Manager Cherin Ong Publishing Admin Manager (Admin & Circulation) Siti Haneymah Senior Digital Media Manager Eugene Koh

Group Publisher Ho Sum Kwong Group Managing Editor Adeline Wong Group Creative Director Thng Wee Nee Bites is published 12 times a year by Magazines Integrated Pte Ltd 85 Playfair Road, #04-02 Tong Yuan Building, Singapore 368000 Tel: +65 6848 6884 Fax: +65 6748 3453 Website: www.bites.com.sg Advertising enquiries: 6848 6882 bites.editorial@magsint.com bites.advertise@magsint.com bites.marketing@magsint.com Distributed by Region Periodicals Distributor. Printed by Times Printers Company Reg No: 200918015G MCI (P) 187/03/2014

Bring us with you! BiTE INTO US ONLINE www.bites.com.sg BitesSingapore

@bitessg

Picotin Express - East Coast • Picotin Express - Sentosa Cove • Roti Mum • Selfish Gene Cafe • Spinelli (all outlets) • Starbucks (all outlets) • SQUE Rotisserie & Alehouse • tcc - The Connoisseur Concerto (all boutiques) • Tsubohachi • ZEN Japanese Cuisine Car showrooms Chevrolet • Citroen • Honda • Hyundai • Infiniti • Kia • Mazda • Nissan • Opel Singapore • Subaru • Toyota Singapore Cooking Schools Cookyn Inc • My Private Pantry • The Eureka Cooking Lab Country & Private Clubs British Club • China Club • Ee Hoe Hean Millionaire Club • Hollandse Club • Jurong Country Club • Keppel Club • Laguna National Golf & Country Club • Orchid Country Club • Raffles Marina • Republic of Singapore Yacht Club • Seletar Country Club • Sentosa Golf Club • Serangoon Gardens Country Club • Singapore Chinese Swimming Club • Singapore Cricket Club • Singapore Island Country Club • Tanah Merah Country Club •

The American Club • The Swiss Club • Tower Club Hotels Albert Court Village Hotel • Amara Singapore • AMOY Hotel • Bay Hotel • Carlton City Hotel • Changi Village Hotel • Concorde Hotel Singapore • Copthorne King’s Hotel Singapore • Furama City Centre • Furama RiverFront • Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel Singapore • Hilton Singapore • Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium • Hotel Miramar • Hotel Re! • ibis Hotel Singapore • Intercontinental Singapore • Link Hotel • Mandarin Orchard • Moon Hotel • Nostalgia Hotel • Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay • Orchard Hotel Singapore • Pan Pacific Orchard • ParkRoyal on Kitchener Road • Peninsula Excelsior Hotel • Ramada and Days Singapore at Zhongshan Park • Riverview Hotel Singapore • Studio M Hotel Singapore • The Club Hotel • The Elizabeth Hotel • The Quincy Hotel • The Scarlet Hotel • Traders Hotel • Village Hotel Bugis • Wangz • York Hotel MallS Far East Square • Katong V • Orchard Central • Parkway

Parade (Pedestrian Crossing) National Tourism Offices Australia Tourism • Japan National Tourism Organization • Korean Tourism Organization Petrol Kiosks Caltex • Shell • SPC Salon Jean Yip Hairdressing schools National University of Singapore •Temasek Polytechnic supermarkets Four Seasons Gourmet MarketMBLM • Four Seasons Organic Market-Great WorldCity • Four Seasons Organic Market-Parkway Parade • Meidi-Ya Singapore • Rochester Market Also hand-distributed at: OUTSIDE MRT Stations Ang Mo Kio • Bedok • Bishan • Boon Lay • Bugis • City Hall • Clementi • Dhoby Ghaut • Eunos • HarbourFront • Holland Village • Jurong East • Lavender • Orchard Road • Pasir Ris • Raffles Place • Serangoon • Tampines • Telok Blangah • Tiong Bahru • Woodlands • Yishun

BITES - Jan 15.pdf 1 19/12/2014 4:29:31 PM

c a l e n dA r :

j a n u a r y sunday

monday

tuesday

2 01 5

wednesday thursday friday saturday 2 FREE HARRY’S BEER POPSICLES

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 4

KUISHIN BO TOKYO AND KANAGAWA FAIR

5 JAN-29 MAR

Get ready for pop-ups and creative works at this monthly event. Allow 50 artists to sketch you in the ‘Portraits After Dark’ segment or just enjoy late-night shopping from the inspired offerings. www.maad.sg

$15 | HERO’S | 9-11.30PM

Singapore’s best local comedy night begins its 2015 run. Enjoy Happy Hour drinks all night while watching anyone who wants to perform stand up comedy to a live audience get their chance. comedymasala.com

KRANJI COUNTRYSIDE FARMERS’ MARKET FREE | 17-18 JAN | NYEE PHOE | 2-6PM

The third edition of this farmer’s market has expanded to include workshops and kids activity sections while still maintaining close focus on local produce and artisanal food. www.facebook.com/farmersmarketsg

25 SMACK MY BEACH UP: AUSTRALIA DAY SPECIAL TANJONG BEACH CLUB | 2-9 PM

Music, beer and a smoking barbie. A definite celebration of all things Australian as this all-day party by the beach features live DJs and a special barbeque menu to feast on. tanjongbeachclub.com

FREE | RED DOT DESIGN MUSEUM | 5PM-12AM

COMEDY MASALA SINGAPORE

Made from Harry’s signature premium lager in three flavours, these popsicles are addictive. Receive a free beer popsicle with every Big Plate order, or enjoy at $4.50 a pop (ongoing). www.harrys.com.sg

MAAD PYJAMAS

Speciality sawara (Spanish mackerel) steamed with Japanese rice wine is swimming your way as Kuishin Bo unveils their latest seasonal offerings. www.kuishinbo. com.sg

TILL 4 JAN | HARRY’S CUPPAGE OUTLET

20 M1 FRINGE FESTIVAL

15 PONGAL

SUPER0 OPEN AIR

15-18 JAN

24 TURNHOUSE ROAD | 2PM-LATE

Join in the celebrations during this Indian Harvest Festival that gives thanks for a rich harvest. Head down to Kinta Road for cultural dances and a mass Pongal cooking competition while being dazzled by the street light-up and decorations.

The pop-up boutique festival makes its return, kicking off Singapore Art Week with Singapore’s first dedicated festival mixologist haven, Alchemy Garden. Local urban farming experts team up with Icelandic Vodka for a mix of fun. www.super0.sg

22 SINGAPORE ART WEEK

$19, $22 | 14-25 JAN

17-25 JAN

With a new artistic director in the helm, the festival returns for its 11th year. Exploring the theme Art and Loss, Fringe will feature three world premieres, of which two are Singaporean. How’s that for some local pride? www.singaporefringe.com

Catch Asia Pacific Breweries Foundation signature art prize and the worldwide premiere of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Earlier Mona Lisa’ at Arts House Singapore during this nine-day festival. artweek.sg

28 NATURAL ASIA EXPO

28-30 JAN | 11AM-7PM | SUNTEC CITY

Delve into the world of natural foods as this exhibit showcases naturopathic remedies, mushroom products and functional food ingredients for both experts and the curious alike. 10times.com/ natural-asia-singapore

ST. JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL

FROM $165 | GARDENS BY THE BAY | 11AM

Keep a lookout for Angus and Julia Stone and homeborn talents Hanging Up The Moon in this unique live music experience while exploring the food kiosks on the grounds. singapore. lanewayfestival.com

29 30 HYPERMNESIA

7-10 PM | ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM

Interact with the exhibit as the sounds change in the background according to touch in this pole installation specially designed for internationally celebrated choreographer/performer Eisa Jocson. www.marinabaysands. com/museum.html

coming up in february

17-28 Feb: River Hongbao 2015 19 Feb-5 Mar: Lunar New Year

d e a l s

o f

t h e

m o n t h

30% off beer-battered fish & Chips (u.p $22). Voted top 10 fish & chips in singapore by epicure magazine. available all day.

$5 off with minimum purchase of $25

district 10 bar tapas Restaurant

four seasons organic market

Terms & Conditions

#01-42K3 The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green, Singapore 138617. Valid: 1-31 January 2015. Offer is not valid with other promotions or discounts. Not valid on eve and actual day of public holiday. Present coupon (original BiTES publication or printed from website). BITES

$5 voucher with every $25 spent on food and beverages only hard rock cafe Sentosa

#01-209 to 214 The Forum, Resorts World Sentosa, 26 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269 Terms & Conditions

Valid: 1-31 January 2015. Offer is not valid with other promotions or card discounts. Not valid on eve and actual day of public holiday. Present coupon (original BiTES publication or printed from website). BITES

20% Off ANY PIZZAS. Monday to Friday only. spageddies italian kitchen

#04-01, Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896. Tel : 67387798 Terms & Conditions

Valid: 1-31 January 2015. Limited to one dine-in redemption only per coupon. Not valid on eve of and on public holidays. Not valid with other discounts, Set lunch menus, Vouchers, promotions & corporate/loyalty programs. Present coupon (original BiTES publication or printed from website). BITES

Available at 2 outlets: www.fourseasonsorganic.sg/contact_us.php Valid: 1-31 January 2015. Offer is not valid with other promotions or card discounts. Present coupon (original BiTES publication or printed from website). BITES

Complimentary Takesumi Chilli Crab Bun with any purchase from new Dim Sum Menu. WEEKDAY LUNCH ONLY. Red House Seafood

68 Prinsep Street, Singapore 188661. Tel: 6336 6080 Terms & Conditions

Valid: 1-31 January 2015. Offer is not valid with other promotions or card discounts. Valid on weekdays for dine-in during lunch hours: 11.30am-2.30pm. Limited to one serving per voucher. Present coupon (original BiTES publication or printed from website). BITES

COMPLIMENTARY Bread & Butter Pudding worth $8.90 With purchase of any main course. Table @ Pipâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

#B2-11 to 22 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896. Tel: 6467 6867 Terms & Conditions

Scan here to check out the deals online at www.bites.com.sg

n e w s

b i t e s

1Huat!

We’re looking forward to Peach Garden Noodle House’s salmon yusheng ($48 for 6, $78 for 10), as well as mini deluxe pen cai ($238 for 6)—ideal for smaller families—comprising baby abalone, Tientsin cabbage, pork belly, roast duck, sea cucumber, dried oyster, prawn, scallop and black moss. Order from now till 14 Feb for self-pick-up at Noodle House and Chinese Dining outlets. While you’re at it, add on goodies like homemade radish cake ($18.80), waterchestnut pudding ($18.80) and pineapple tarts ($26.80). www. peachgardennoodlehouse.com

2#SG50: www.singapore50.sg

Swensen’s will be rolling out a year-long menu of specials. For the first quarter, feast on local flavours in a flavourful laksa aglio olio with king prawns ($14.90, Jan), grilled chicken with homemade spicy satay sauce served with a side of pineapple butter rice and salad ($14.90, Feb) and beef rendang baked rice, topped with cheese and prawn crackers ($13.90, March). www.swensens.com.sg Homegrown Ayam Brand is releasing a limited number of specially-designed classic oval sardine cans from February. The six original works are winners of a #sgmemory contest that saw over 700 entries. Three designs by Lee Xin Li, Ng Shi Ee, and Emily Yeo are rolling out first. www.ayambrand.com.sg geek cafe the prawn star

PEACH GARDEN NOODLE HOUSE

3Fresh on the Scene From 8 Jan, PrimaDéli will stock a variety of pineapple tarts: the buttery Pillow ($18.80/tin), limited edition Cheese ($18.80/tin), and Fortune ($1.80 each), which look like the tangy fruit, individually packed in red organza bags. Munch on the Prosperity cookie selection, 10 flavours which include a melt-in-the-mouth peanut butter ($18.80/tin), and hazelnut blackcurrant ($16.80/tin). www.primadeli.com Gather around the hotpot at STREET 50 Restaurant & Bar ($68 nett/person, 18-19 Feb) and toss to a year of abundance with the complimentary yusheng. Then feast on an 8 Treasures Platter which consists of salmon, wagyu, sea cucumber, razor clams, baby abalone, blue mussels, spanner crabs and red snapper. Savour their specialty herbal chicken broth, before ending with brown sugar or red bean nian gao. Level 1 Bay Hotel Singapore, 50 Telok Blangah Road. Tel: 6818 6681 Auspicious red Beautex boxes aren’t just the usual table necessity—each pack of five boxes purchased ($5.50) means a donation of 20 cents to Rainbow Centre, for children with special needs. Each pack also features designs by two students from the centre. Available from February.

Tze char meets contemporary at cheeky The Prawn Star. Its conserved shophouse space has been transformed into a gritty, graffitied back alley—albeit an air-conditioned and comfortable one. Feast on seafood and grills with the TPS grilled king prawns ($26), slathered in a delish kimchi-miso butter, though some may prefer the fragrant king prawns in vermicelli claypot ($32). Other influences abound in the Sriracha caramel popcorn ($8), sweet spicy and salty to whet the appetite, while shoestring fries get a juicy makeover banh mi style with barbecued pork and jalapenos ($12). 21 Duxton Hill. Tel: 6323 3353 If you enjoy omakase dining without the austere settings of a traditional sushi-ya, add E.Pachi to your culinary black book. Japanese veteran Kisho Watanabe, who used to helm Hachi at Mohamed Sultan, speaks enough English to guide you through the choices (from $78 for lunch, $123 for dinner) and will accommodate special requests to the best of his ability. Want to end your meal with udon instead of donburi? Just ask. Because menus are mercurial, expect anything from shirako marinated in a light ponzu sauce to nigiri sushi draped with melt in your mouth fish. 40/40A Boat Quay. Tel: 6535 1869 How do tech gadgets and coffee fit together? At Geek Café, buy electronic devices or get yours repaired, while sipping on house-roasted artisanal brews (signature KopiG blend) and tasting Cat and the

Fiddle cheesecakes. Have the classic Over the Moon ($4.50), or take on Maneki Neko ($6.20) which features yuzu, lime and lemon in a half-baked cake. Shop for iPhone 6 cases (from $4.50), power banks and record players even as you devour the Geek Sandwich ($5.90). They also host workshops that teach basic iPhone repairs, terrarium making and barista training. Mon-Tue, Thu, Sun, PH 9.30am-10pm; Fri-Sat 9.30am-11.30pm. #01-644, 81 Marine Parade Central. Tel: 6440 0256 Hotpot Kingdom could double-up as a reunion dinner venue or a comforting respite on a rainy day. Choose from a selection of mod-Asian rich broths brimming with flavour: Chungking Szechuan, Korean kimchi, Macanese pork bone, beef consomme and herbal chicken. Tuck into fresh ingredients like homemade fish paste noodles, Japanese wagyu tenderloin and seafood; and dim sum like siu mai with black truffle. Set menus from $15.80/pax. Daily 11am2.30pm (hotpot and dim sum), 2.30-5pm (dim sum only), 5-11pm (hotpot only). #B1-01B The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue. Tel: 6688 7722 Featuring food from Guangdong province, Joyden Canton Kitchen serves up delightfully refreshing chicken with huai shan (wild yam) and wolfberry in old coconut soup ($12.80), steamed in the coconut itself, to open up palates. On a cold day, the signature traditional rice vermicelli with poached egg white, crab meat and

hotpot kingdom

#HASHTAGS & APP-ENINGS

@JuliesBiscuits x #Hersheys The Julie’s Hershey’s range is a global handshake for both Malaysia’s leading cookie manufacturer and the big U.S. chocolate brand. Chomp on the new product line’s six varieties ($3.90/box): chocolate chip hazelnut, chocolate chip, chocolate chip oat, chocolate fudge, chocolate fudge vanilla and chocolate waffle—“smiles in every bite”. www.julies.com.my @guverasg What’s better than cookin’ up some bites? Jamming in the kitchen with the free music soundtrack created for BiTES by Guvera Singapore, the music streaming service with the mostest. Download the app or plug in straight from the website at www.guvera. com for plenty of other playlists, or create your own.

We’re on Instagram (@bitessg). Are you? #KrispyKremeSG What first struck us was the delicious cracking sound of the torched caramelised sugar shell when we sunk our teeth into Krispy Kreme’s hazelnut Kreme brulee doughnut ($2.95, available till 31 Dec 2015). The commemorative creation celebrates their new outlet at Great World City, alongside new menu item Kool Kreme ($6.90, a nutty doughnut and choc or vanilla ice cream combi, available till March 2015). krispykreme.sg

KrispyKreme es bite advert 17.06.14AW.pdf

17/6/14

#strongbow @theprivegroup Have a picnic on the lawn at @chijmes_sg with baskets for two ($40) from Privé at CHIJMES. These include essentials like bottled water, a bamboo mat, plates and cultery, napkins, condiments and three bottles of Strongbow Apple Cider (we like elderflower). Two menus to choose from: Cajun chicken panini vs red wine braised beef pie, anyone? www.privechijmes.com.sg @spoonful.sg This F&B events company draws attention to how precious food is, and its origins. Find easy recipes from contributors like chef Yamashita (chocolate tuiles) and Little Miss Bento on their website. Cooking classes in Jan: Dulcet & Studio (from $50) and Capricci Bar and Restaurant ($65). www.spoonful.sg

3:51 PM

n e w s

b i t e s

scallop ($15.80) with a glistening yolk atop warms the tummy with its wok fried fragrance. We also loved the soy sauce chicken (from $12) with a special ingredient of rose water. Daily, 11.30am-9.30pm. #02-21 HillV2 Shopping Centre, 4 Hillview Rise. Tel: 6465 9988 Catering to the CBD lunch crowd is Koji Sushi Bar’s inexpensive range of donburis and sushi sets served with speedy efficiency. In the evening, the bar transforms into a relaxed spot serving omakase with carefully selected sake, shochu and craft beer. Savour chirashi don ($17) with cubes of fresh sashimi marinated in a tangy sauce that comes with miso soup and salad. Or let the chef decide on the menu in a 9- to 10-course set ($65/$85). Mon-Sat 11.30am-3pm, 5-10pm. #01-42, 3 Pickering Street. Tel: 6225 6125 At Straits Express, you’re travelling to nostalgic times on an imaginary luxury train. The railway station inspired restaurant features specialties from Singapore, Malacca and Penang with native chefs at the helm: Anglo-Hainanese oxtail stew ($18.50), Nyonya chap chye ($9.50), and Penang assam laksa ($8). Chill by the river or party by the pool with one-for-one draught beers. Daily 10am-10pm. #01-24/28 & #01-K13/K17 Kallang Wave Mall, 1 Stadium Place. Tel: 6702 2964 The Find: modern European cuisine with a focus on French and Italian dishes, led by chef Andre Teo. The food: buttery lobster atop a flavourful risotto with watercress and sundried tomatoes ($28), a chocolate lava cake, crusty outside and liquid decadence inside ($10). You’ll also find a handy kid’s menu with pasta ($6), beef burger ($8) and a set meal ($12). The feel: comfy, homely, with a touch of class and an outdoor events area. Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6-10pm. #02-15 Rochester Mall, 35 Rochester Drive. Tel: 6659 8215

CARNIVORE BRAZILIAN CHURRASCARIA

4Branching out

The fifth branch of Carnivore Brazilian Churrascaria comes equipped with self-serve ice kachang machine, presenting more options for kids ($20) in this meaty buffet ($49, adults). With an al fresco area, dining under the stars becomes a very real possibility as the kids run freely. The beef ribs and hump are worth the wait as their juices burst forth with every bite. Grab the meat with tongs before it hits your plate as veteran passador chef Joao Batista Dos Santos brings them around in large skewers. Definitely try the bite-sized Brazilian cheese buns as the flavour of parmesan diffuses delightfully. Tue-Fri 6-10pm, weekends 1-3pm, 6-10pm. #01-16 The Grandstand, 200 Turf Club Road. Tel: 6466 9418

the syndicate juice co

CHICKEN UP JING HUA

Chicken Up’s third and flagship outlet offers extended hours, new dishes and desserts. Start with Bao Bao ($10), a soft bun with crispy chicken, beef and apple before making a move on their signature Korean chicken varieties. Try kimchi fries ($18) before ending on a high note with watermelon soju ($38); or go for the two-hour Death By Chicken buffet ($25) with 11 different flavours of chicken. The Drown By Beer buffet ($32), also for two hours, will fill you right up. Daily 11am-11pm. #01-44/45/46/47 Century Square, 2 Tampines Central 5. Tel: 6588 0308 Jing Hua marked its 25th anniversary with a third outlet in town. Formerly known as Qun Zhong Eating House, the family restaurant’s now managed by eldest son, Han Guo Guang. Try the signatures: Little Juicy Steamed Meat Dumplings ($5/4pcs), a light zha jiang mian ($6.80), and Chinese Pizza ($10.80) with an epokepok style crust and scallop folds. Don’t skip dessert: the tangyuan in winter honey osmanthus soup ($4) are filled with lotus and red bean paste from a 1989 recipe, while the crisp red bean pancake ($10.50) is made to order. Chinese Shao Hsing wine and Baijiu also available. Daily 11.30am-3.30pm, 5.30-10pm. #B1-04/05 Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Road. Tel: 6733 8231 Bukit Panjang Plaza gets an injection of eateries with Suki-Ya and Siam Kitchen. The house of hotpot introduces a new wasabi soup, adding horseradish into pork broth for a whole new level of spiciness. In addition, salmon for shabu-shabu is ideal for the health conscious. At the Halal Thai restaurant, enjoy street food faves such as tom yum goong and butterfly BBQ chicken. Siam Kitchen, #02-18 Bukit Panjang Plaza, 1 Jelebu Road (Tel: 6765 8839); Suki-Ya at #02-16 (Tel: 6765 8804)

Supported by the National Heritage Board, Bollywood Veggies (check out our locavore story on p.10) has launched The Kampong Garden: Ways of the Gentle Warriors, written by Carolyn Ortega. It’s a paean to growing edible gardens, encouraging our future generations to be more aware of overconsumption, with a focus on sustainability and the environment. The book also profiles five ‘warriors’ including Malini Sripicharn from Singapore Gardening Society, and Derrick Ng from Generation Green. bollywoodveggies.com

I Want Candy

Candylicious has opened the world’s largest multibrand confectionary store, stocking colourful pick-andmix candies alongside limited edition and confectionary for special dietary needs. At the back of the store you’ll find a baking studio and a party room for hire. #02-41/42 VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk. Tel: 6221 1707 Instead of brewing java in the office, we’re munching on ROCQ STAR’s dark chocolate-coated coffee beans in mocha and espresso flavours. Also available are dark choc-coated almonds, hazelnuts, raisins, and dried cranberries. Packed in re-sealable zip lock pouches, they’re a handy for a pick-me-up crunch. $6.90/200g (Choc-Pops), $3.90/30g (coffee beans). Inspired by the warmth felt when loved ones delight in receiving a gift, Cadbury has Glow. The chocolate pralines are housed in a gold and purple treasure chest ($9.90/16pcs, $14.90/24pcs). Customise your sweet gift with a note or a personalised video on www. cadburyglow.com Microwavable mini chocolate lava cakes from the supermarket? You bet! Done in 15 seconds, Mariette’s halal-certified treats literally ooze flavour. Also available are tea cakes in salted caramel with walnuts, orange with peel, and double chocolate ($7.90/box). For a limited period only, grab the Red Velvet Cheese Swirl and Matcha with Azuki Beans tea cakes ($8.90). From selected FairPrice stores, Cold Storage and Giant.

Healthy BiTES

Try The Syndicate Juice Co.’s nutrient-rich vegetable and fruit cold-pressed offerings (from $90 for a sixpack), the brainchild of certified yoga instructor Ann Loh and two of her friends. On the e-commerce site, it’s all straightforward-sounding (and urging) names like Detox Me! (green juices), Beets Me! (root juices), White Out! (almond milk blend) and Sun Salute! (banana smoothie blend). Detox programmes available. syndicatejuice.com

Mariette

New Menus

The newly revamped Brotzeit Bier Bar and Restaurant at Raffles City features an overhead dispensing system which ensures colder beers, and a new charcuterie section. Tuck into their seasonal menu lasting till March 2015, biting into perfectly roasted pork liver ($32.50), without forgetting the veal cheeks ($32.50), which are cooked for 12 hours to simply melt in the mouth. Mon-Wed 11am-1am, Thu-Sat 11am-2am. #01-17 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road. Tel: 6883 1534 The newly-launched kid’s menu at Restaurant Hoshigaoka features sets ($9.90 each) with kawaii names: Yoko Airlines airplane features tempura and mini udon, while Panda Bento Box has omelette sushi and takoyaki. Adults, try the black pepper gindara (cod) teishoku ($24.90), 30-days aged New Zealand ribeye

restaurant hoshigaoka

in a sesame marinade served on magnolia Houba leaf ($16.90)—and don’t forget to share your tempura ice cream ($6.80). www.hoshigaoka.com.sg

New Spaces

Transformed from a 13,000-square-foot carpark to a multi-disciplinary arts cum F&B space for youth—that’s 10sq. The arts training centre’s got an auditorium, dance studio, music room, drawing room and Happy Pancakes Café (Mon-Thu 11.30am-8pm, Fri-Sat 11.30am-8.30pm). The eatery’s backed by Owl International who pumped in $100,000, The RICE Company Limited (Singapore) and Little Creators (Japan). Set up to support financiallydisadvantaged youth in Singapore and Japan, the cafe serves as a service training facility and fundraising initiative for youth keen to pursue arts training. Drop by for a traditional kopi ($2.50), Owl style, and heartwarming maple-syrup pancakes (from $7.90). Level 10 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road. Tel: 6835 8173

insadong korea town

The famous food street from Korea has made its way to Singapore in the form of Insadong Korea Town. Order from a screen and sneak glimpses of the chefs in action at this indoor casual dining concept. A must is the ginseng chicken soup ($28) that has glutinous rice which is first stir fried with garlic for flavour, before being stuffed in the chicken. Explore two ways of eating the dish, as it is or with evaporated milk added for a richer flavour. To round up the experience, 16 push carts line the pathway selling authentic Korean merchandise, accessories and souvenirs. #01-30/31/32/33, 26 Sentosa Gateway. Tel: 6238 8221

Hooked is designed for anglers who want to improve their fishing skills and be kept up to date with the latest fishing news. In each issue, we’ll cover technical know-how in sections like Expert Opinions and Techniques. Our resident anglers will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about local fishing spots in the section HOOKED Team Go Fishing, while The List and Buyers’ Guide sections will feature tackle and other fishing-related gear. On top of that, The Sun Sea Surf section will cover boating and travel news. There’s all this and more in HOOKED!

#FLASHYOURCATCH Every two months we give you the opportunity to show off your prized catches. Two winners will be rewarded for their efforts.

Visit us at:

Like us on:

Available in :

www.hooked-magazine.com

www.facebook.com/ hookedmagazine

For iOS devices

Scan now to submit your catch!

c o v e r

s t o r y

Going to the roots So you want to be a locavore? We dig deeper into urban farming 101 to get you started with places to visit, and a full day’s menu to eat your way through By Meredith Woo Consider this: a simple salad might have clocked more miles than you can travel in a year. Avocados from the States, tomatoes from Japan, strawberries from South Korea, balsamic vinegar from Italy and milk from Australia—how far and how long have these ingredients travelled before they made it to your kitchen? Carbon footprint and freshness aside, another reason to eat local (or within a certain radius, say, up to Cameron Highlands) is an encouraging nod to our homegrown, hardworking farmers. However, farming in Singapore is not always smooth-sailing with expiring land leases, the need for cash and support, and resource scarcity.

Man of the land Uncle William, or William Ho, is a familiar face. The youngest son of Ho Seng Choon (a household name for eggs), he was “arrowed” by his siblings when former politician Dr. Seet Ai Mee asked for Lian Wah Hang Farm to be opened to the public for education in 1998. The business then moved to Farmart Centre after the avian flu scare. Now the passionate farmer leads tours, manages a quail farm and a retail/wholesale business. On his farming life “In Secondary school, dad literally gave me shit to start with. Convert it to something, he said. Initially I hated it—why not money, car, property? But I turned it into a lucrative business. One packet of ‘black gold’ would net me $5—big money then. I moved on to planting limes, then beekeeping. There was no internet so I did my research in the library. I also learnt how to take care of animals, feed them; made deliveries to hotels and restaurants when learning how to do sales.” On single-handedly leading farm tours “It gets busiest after exams. Some mornings I get a cohort of 240 kids (three sessions consecutively).

6 reasons to go locavore • Fruits and vegetables allowed to ripen fully on the vine or tree (versus being picked unripe) have a higher Vitamin C content, a 2000 Seoul National University study found. • #supportlocal. Give back to our community; let the industry flourish for better harvests towards a self-sustaining future and a deeper appreciation of farming. • Tastier food. Vegetables plucked hours (or minutes) before you buy them; just-laid eggs which are still warm. • Purer food. Food that is mass produced and has to travel long distances might be damaged

Afternoons are for CSR (corporate social responsibility) programmes. I’ve been asked to do night tours but I said no! It can get very tiring—a simple tour entails two hours of prep, two hours of talking, and another two hours to pack up.” On kids “Be natural and honest, share what you know and what you can. Admit if you don't know, then find out and tell them. They're the most sensitive creatures on earth, really genuine and not hypocritical. They grow up and some still remember what I said 20 years ago.”

Not all blue skies One looming issue KRANJI is the non-renewal of COUNTRYSIDE ASSOCIATION farm leases—the land is slated to become army training grounds and 62 farms (including Uncle William’s) with leases expiring between 2017 and 2021, are affected. We speak to the decade-wise and farmer-led Kranji Countryside Association for its views through executive secretary, Manda Foo.

along the way and might have less nutrients. Also, some might be irradiated to kill bacteria. • Save planet Earth. According to a study in Iowa, U.S.A., locally producing just 10 percent more of the produce consumed would decrease greenhouse gas emissions between 3 and 3.6 million kilograms. • You can identify where your food's from, speak to the source for more information, and even check out the farm conditions.

*Currently only eight percent of veggies eaten are grown locally, while over 90 percent of food consumed here is imported.

What’s KCA’s take on locavorism here? “KCA has organised and participated in various outreach and community events; coupled with a global movement towards locavorism, KRANJI COUNTRYSIDE interest in local produce has risen ASSOCIATION considerably in the last three years. The Kranji Countryside Farmers' Market’s launch (2014) drew huge crowds, generated a lot of sales and sent a clear message that locavorism is on the rise.” How important is farming here? “Local agriculture is a must for Singapore's strategy for food security. Farming needs to grow and develop as a well-supported and appreciated industry that utilises technology, innovation and good design to overcome challenges of resource scarcity.” What’s KCA’s take on the expiring farm leases? “We see the expiring leases and relocation/rebuilding of farms as a good opportunity to improve the industry. Moving forward, the industry needs reasonable land leases, access to skilled manpower, expertise, technology and networks. We will need the support of both consumers (who drive demand) and the government (who drives supply of our inputs). We are confident that locavorism will flourish.”

Going farm-to-table Going 100 percent locavore is next to impossible in Singapore, but local farmers as well as tech giant Panasonic are working to increase our self-sufficiency. Panasonic is working with Ootoya Japanese Restaurant. It announced its pilot commercial supply of locally harvested vegetables in July 2014. This includes premium Japanese crop varieties like mini red radish, mizuna (potherb mustard) and red leafy lettuce, which feature in the restaurant's seasonal salad menu. The indoor agriculture farm, is housed in a 248 square metre facility in Tuas, where temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide

Get your farm on Singapore's total farming area (one percent of total land area) produces about eight percent of food consumed here. There are six agrotechnology parks, namely in Lim Chu Kang, Murai, Sungei Tengah, Nee Soon, Mandai and Loyang. FARMS Aero-Green Technology (S) / Tropical Aeroponics www.aerogreentech.com.sg Blooms & Greens www.bloomsngreens.com.sg Bollywood Veggies www.bollywoodveggies.com Chew's Agriculture www.chewsegg.com Chiam Joo Seng Towgay Growers & Suppliers 100 Lim Chu Kang Lane 3. Tel: 6792 2703 Comcrop by The Living! Project fb.com/ComCrop D'Kranji Farm Resort www.dkranji.com.sg [See Wok & Talk, p13] Dairy Technology (S) 8 Lim Chu Kang Lane 8 (Plot LCK 6). Tel: 6793 7931 Eden Garden Farm #03-07, 213 Henderson Road. Tel: 9688 2280 Farm 85 Trading 81 Lim Chu Kang Lane 1

levels are monitored and controlled for stable and high-quality production. It's soil-based, and pesticidefree with LED lighting, to grow both leafy and root vegetables. Ootoya's three outlets get a total of 0.3 tonnes of vegetables each month. Panasonic is looking to increase that two-fold in two years, as well as up its contribution to local production from 0.015 percent to five percent by March 2017. Through vertical farming and shortening cultivation lead time, Panasonic also aims to grow over 30 types of crops (up from 10 now).

(Plot LCK 85). Tel: 6898 2003 Farmart Centre www.farmart.com.sg Fire Flies Health Farm www.fireflies.sg Fresh Milk Suppliers 5 Lim Chu Kang Lane 8A. Tel: 6793 7114 GHH Vegetables #14-71 WCEGA Tower, 21 Bukit Batok Crescent. Tel: 6565 0494 Ginza Farm Singapore www.ginzanouen.jp/sg GreenCircle Eco-Farm www.greencircle.com.sg Green Nature Ecological Technology www.greennatureeco.com Hay Dairies Pte Ltd www.haydairies.com.sg Jurong Frog Farm (JFF) www.jurongfrogfarm.com.sg Kin Yan Agrotech www.kinyan.biz Kok Fah Technology / The ‘Weekend Farm’ 18 Sungei Tengah Road. Tel: 6765 6629. www.kokfahfarm.com.sg Lian Wah Hang Pte Ltd www.unclewilliam.biz Long Kuan Hung Crocodile Farm 321 Neo Tiew Crescent. Tel: 6793 7038 Malaysian Feedmills Farms 2G Neo Tiew Lane 1. Tel: 6793 7156

N&N Agriculture 1 Lim Chu Kang Lane 9A. Tel: 6792 9742 NONG by Edible Garden City nong.com.sg www.ediblegardencity.com Nyee Phoe (Gardenasia) www.nyeephoe.com www.gardenasia.com Oh' Farms (Oh Chin Huat Hydroponic Farms) www.ohfarms.com.sg President International 2 Pasir Ris Farmway 1. Tel: 6582 3670 Quan Fa Organic Farm www.quanfaorganic.com.sg Seng Choon Farm 1 Jalan Gemala 2. Tel: 6762 2858 Sky Greens Kallang Basin, 42 Kallang Place. Tel: 6294 8280 The Wholesome Co. www.thewholesomecompany. com Viknesh Dairy Farm 6 Lim Chu Kang Lane 8A (Plot LCK 5) Yili Vegetation & Trading 82 Lim Chu Kang Lane 1. Tel/Fax: 6316 2089 FISHERIES Ah Hua Kelong fb.com/kelongfish Barramundi ASIA www.barramundi.asia

FinFisher www.finfisher.net Fish Vision Agro-Tech 6 Pasir Ris Farmway 1 Loyang Agrotechnology Park. Tel: 6582 2192 Marine Life Aquaculture marinelife-aquaculture.com Metropolitan Fishery Group www.realseafood.com.sg Rong-Yao Fisheries www.rongyao.com.sg Straits Seafood Company fb.com/straitseafood Tiberias Harvest / The Sampan Catch sampancatch.com OTHERS Agri Food Factories, Products & Suppliers Directory www.agri-biz.com Kranji Countryside Association www.kranjicountryside.com SG Farming www.fbk.com/SGfarming We Are Singavore wearesingavore.com

Urban farming 101

We drop by Edible Garden City’s HQ to find out how to start growing microgreens (i.e. radish or mustard, in the “primary school” stage). What you’ll need: • Reused plastic container with lid, holes poked in base • Soil/compost (2-4cm depth) • Misting bottle (for watering) • Seeds (organic best for germination and growth) • Scissors (for harvesting) • Daylight (best) or fluorescent light Get growing: • Wet the soil, sprinkling the seeds on top (no overlap) • Water again and put in shaded place or cover with a kitchen towel until seeds germinate • Water daily (morning and evening, more if needed) • Harvest (cut stalks above soil line; a week for radish), then loosen the soil and top up with fresh soil. • Repeat. If you’re often away, invest in a self-watering pot ($12 at NONG). The peeps at Edible Garden City are also working on self-watering kits that they hope to roll out by March, as well as a series of workshops and talks (Feb-Apr).

c o v e r

s t o r y

2 m k 8 1 7 n i h t Wi ? You bet. Aspiring y sourced ingredients

Within 716km2 y’s meals made from locall Eating a whole da nu’s crafted just for you.t for you. locavores, this me this menu’s crafted jus Aspiring locavores,

ggies ($12/loaf) g ambon and pisang rajah Breakfast from Bolly wood Ve • Banana bread s over 20 types of bananas like pisan) The farm grow Hay Dairies ($3 for a 20 0ml bottle via home deliver y m • Goat’s milk froor original from Prime Supermarket or te ola oc In ch art ($5/egg) Brunch cle William’s @ Farmhave one of the Un m fro gs eg n eo to • Pig t white; also said Limited. A transluclen els lev ro ste ole lowest ch ! Project mcrop by The Living Co m fro lad Sa cas) • ina Sp via s m lad sa ($9 in pre-made cape on Saturday mornings for their far *S at m the Catch maintenance session

pig eggeson

) ck of 10 spring quail 20 06 Poultry Farm ($18/pa in d d an Lunch ne il tai ua Q ob s ng wa Ha n n Wah halal certificatio /packet) • Quail from Liaen und since 19 54 and t $8 The farm’s be aroes from Ginza Farm Singapore (aboue (soil-free, uses less water) an ato • Sweet mini tomfarm based here uses a hydromembr This Japanese m Bistro Gardenasia grass drink ($4) frofre on lem & ) ($7 l shing and yum! tai Tea ck Re Countryside. mixed fruits co • Aloe vera jellymade with ingredients from the Kranji Farm-fresh— rong Frog Farm ($28.80/box) urced from China Ju instead of those so m far g fro ly • Hashima from m on s re’ gapo Get it local fro Sin er g and firm oup/The Fish Farm Dinner re, the fish are stron opolitan Fishery Gr po etr M ga m Sin fro of i nd uth mu so a se ep • Barra de d an g unnin Reared in the fast-r Kin Yan Agrotech ($6/kg) and roselle fruits from e vera, mushrooms • Edible cactus nic alo s, as tgr ea wh Buy also orga ssels ($8/kg) Supper ) and extra-large mu /kg 30 ($ bs cra r we • Flo menu, g from Ah Hua Kelonlong's December 2014 home deliver y ke the m Prices fro ile really affordable bone from Long Kuan Hung Crocod on at me ile od oc Cr • g) Farm (about $28.8ku0.k recipe teh t k ba a th Great wi

aloe

flower crabs

Locavore vs localmade— what’s the difference?

If something is made in Singapore, it doesn’t mean it satisfies the locavore criteria—items used in the product’s making could have been sourced from outside of the local radius. For example, chia seeds from Australia could have been used in homemade granola mixes. However, if locally sourced ingredients have been used in the locally-made item, then it’s a double-hip-hip-hooray! #winning *Try out local-made brands which made an appearance in the Tiong Bahru Crateful pop-up: The Mlk Co for nut milks and 3 Bites Full for natural nougat. Or pop by CT Hub 2 in Lavendar for Mina & Lilli’s customisable muesli and granola mixes.

w o k

t a l k

o ot h h o ot

Another side of Singapore Tze char on a… farm? Well, there’s live seafood, chilled beer and STAGE performances too at D’Beer Seafood Restaurant Photography by Benjamin Soh Our last memory was a quiet road that led us here… (Once you miss the last shuttle bus to Kranji MRT station at 6.35pm, the nearest bus stop is 2.4km away and taxis are next to impossible to find or book).

fi r e i s t j u st r i g h

zzz...

Fresh from the tanks, live prawns are placed onto hot stones. open the lid two minutes later to savour the juicy, sweet and firm meat.

FRESH

The bill The total (3 pax): $133.60 (incl. GST & Service) ➔ De Beer Specialty Fried “La La” Bee Hoon $18 (small) ➔ Drunken Sauna Prawns $30 (small) ➔ Steamed Bamboo Clams with Minced Garlic $36 ($12 each) ➔ Special Home Made Beancurd $14 (small) ➔ Coconut $8 ($4 each) ➔ One Glass Of Carlsberg $7.50

MISSED: TOO FEW FRIENDS IN OUR PARTY and no TABLE WILLING to share, we observed diners at the next table go at their crisp porker till only the head was left.

ya m se n g!!!

The bamboo clams with garlic were really fresh and crunchy, but too expensive for us to stomach. Meanwhile, the beehoon was peppery without much taste of the lala. The Tofu was enjoyable. D’BEER SEAFOOD RESTAURANT, D’KRANJI FARM RESORT, 10 NEO TIEW LANE 2. Daily 11am-2.30pm, 5.30-11pm. Tel: 6898 4767

Ah, food! We’re in a restaurant in a farm resort— call in advance to order the suckling pig ($198, feeds 8-10 pax), or request to share with another table (not always available).

With a name like D’Beer, we can’t help but order a glass of the golden liquid. Their tender Thai coconuts are really sweet too. At 8.30pm (WedMon), singers take to the stage and you can show your appreciation by “hanging flowers” (from $10). Tuesday is karaoke night.

The score ➔ Food ➔ Ambience ➔ Value

THE VerdicT ➔ An expensive meal (we didn’t even have crab or suckling pig) in a far off (and rather secluded) place. Seafood’s really fresh though, and it’s a good dinner option after a farm tour. Please drive (but not if you’re drinking).

Have a favourite hawker hunt? Talk to us at [bites.editorial@magsint.com] *BiTES dined incognito and paid for our own meaL

Thank you taxi uncle! Oh boy, it’s a long ride outta here…

It's a ta xi!? 13

b u f f e t

b o u n t y

Wish you had a reliable buffet resource available to guide you to the best all-you-can-eat spots? Buffet Bounty is your go-to resource on buffets for all budgets, tastes and locations. This month, the streets around Chinatown are alive with 26 buffets of all sorts, even while we rustle up 5 playful and unexpected buffets. Start the year with 10 vegetarian-friendly spreads and get good eating tips from the fitness instructer behind DanielFoodDiary. Log on to www.bites.com.sg for these buffets and more!

Bites guide: Price guide (nett) $ wallet-friendly (below $50) $$ just can’t resist a splurge ($50-100) $$$ a special occasion ($100-150) $$$$ indulgence galore (above $150)

moo... bar and grill

26 BARS [$]

MOO…BAR AND GRILL 21 McCallum Street. Tel: 6634 2662 Grab your mates and head on down to Moo…Bar and Grill for a relaxed evening and their free flow Tiger beer buffet ($25++, Mon-Wed 5-8pm). Drink up in the comfort of this modern watering hole, adjacent to the cultural Telok Ayer Street and Amoy Street area. PHOPHO 123 Telok Ayer Street. Tel: 6534 9741 Free flow of draught beer while slurping down pho and munching on rice paper rolls? Yes please! This beer buffet ($25++, Mon-Sat 5-8pm) at PhoPho offers Carlsberg and Kronenbourg 1664 to quench your thirst. The quaint restaurant is hidden away in Telok Ayer. THE MAD POET GASTROBAR #01-23/24 China Court, 20 Cross Street. Tel: 6557 0312 Beer and fried chicken–the Koreans got it right, but The

Niji Japanese Restaurant [ ] Level 1 The Seacare Hotel, 52 Chin Swee Road. Tel: 6818 2688 A Japanese restaurant in the afternoon and dinner, it’s also used as the hotel’s breakfast venue in the morning ($15++, daily 7-10am). Pop by for an international spread which includes chicken sausages, hash browns, miso soup, and a rotation of scrambled eggs, fried beehoon and mee goreng. There are juices, coffee and tea too. Walk-ins without reservations welcome. Orchid Café [ ] Level 3 Orchid Hotel, 1 Tras Link. Tel: 6818 6818 Nothing beats having a simple but satisfying dinner of warm Teochew porridge ($18.80++, daily 6-10pm). You’ll find about 14 main dishes and a choice of condiments at this humble but filling buffet: pig’s trotters, salted egg, mixed vegetables, stir-fried meats, kungpao chicken and even European fare like soup and pasta salad. Children will love the homely antiquated cafe as there’s lots of room for them to move about while baby high chairs and kids’ cutlery are available upon request.

Certified halal Does not serve pork or lard Kid-friendly facilities Veg-friendly

BUFFETS AROUND CHINATOWN

includes your choice of eggs, pastries and croissants, yogurt, cereals, fresh fruits, brewed coffee and tea. Mostly for hotel guests, but walk-ins also welcome.

Mad Poet is hot on their heels with their Beer & Bites a la carte buffet ($33++, Wed 6-8.30pm). Slake your thirst with free flow lagers from Paulaner, including the dark lager as well as the classic. Freshly cooked karaage chicken and fries round up this delectable combo. WINE MANSION 20 Keong Saik Road. Tel: 6532 4338 Boasting one of the longest wine buffets ($35++, daily 5-9pm except Wed, Fri and PH eve) at this central hangout, this great deal includes red, white and sparkling wine, as well as beer and a complimentary mini Wine Mansion platter. On Wednesdays, only ladies enjoy the same perks for just $25++.

HOTELS [$] Farm To Table Cafe The Duxton Hotel Singapore, 83 Duxton Road. Tel: 6227 7678 Hit up this café run by coffee nerds who also serve plates of a la carte comfort fare. Opt for their breakfast semi-buffet ($23.77 nett, daily 7.30-10.30am) which

visit

Re!Fill restaurant Hotel Re!, 175A Chin Swee Road. Tel: 6827 8228 Waking up to an international spread for breakfast is just the thing to start off your mornings. At Re!Fill restaurant’s breakfast buffet ($21++, daily 7-10.30am), indulge in a selection of waffles, sausages, hashbrowns and cereals, farm to table cafe

In partnership with

with eggs done up multiple ways for your preference. Dim sum, congee and a hot soup of the day are also available for those with a more oriental inkling.

[$$] Lime PARKROYAL on Pickering, Singapore, 3 Upper Pickering Street. Tel: 6809 8899 Gear up for a treat at Lime’s Peranakan kitchen (lunch from $45++, Mon-Sat 12pm-2.30pm; dinner from $58++, Mon-Sun 6.30-10.30pm). The Nyonya specials are further heightened by authentic herbs picked right from the hotel’s sustainable garden. Tuck into the heritage flavours of babi pong teh, ayam buah keluak and kueh pie tee, crafted by the restaurant’s in-house Nyonya chef, as well as Southeast Asian delicacies and modern international cuisine.

with the cuisine largely similar to Indian cuisine–expect naans and barbecued meats like chicken tikka on the menu. For the more adventurous, the brain masala recommended by the chef would be a first to many. BBQ WORLD 76 Amoy Street. Tel: 6423 1040 Nestled cosily almost out of sight in Amoy Street, this Korean grill BBQ buffet ($24.90++, daily 5.30-10.30pm; $24.90++, weekends 11.30am-2pm) restaurant is bare and basic, but the ribs are marinated to perfection with huge rolls of pork taking centrestage on the grill. BUFFET CITY 101 Cantonment Road. Tel: 6410 9084 This international buffet ($29.50nett, daily 11.30am230pm; $30.60nett, daily 5.30-9pm) serves up fresh catch (seafood), Japanese, Western, even dim sum/ pastries delights, including nyonya kueh. Crabs, prawns and clams are the definite crowd pleasers in the fresh catch station, while interesting Asian takes on sushi (sushi nasi lemak/sushi hei bee hiam) might just tickle your tastebuds in the right way. CHONG QING LIU YI SHOU STEAMBOAT 76-78 Smith Street. Tel: 6835 7626 Yin yang style pots filled with mala, herbal chicken or fish head stock are offered in this late night steamboat buffet ($21.80++, daily 11am-3am). Chong Qing Liu Yi Shou offers fresh seafood such as prawns and crabs to go with its cold appetisers and cooked food, including dim sum, chicken wings and fries. Save room for ice cream and fresh fruits after the meal to cool yourself down!

lime

RESTAURANTS [$]

chuan jiang hao zi

chong qing liu yi shou steamboat

CHUAN JIANG HAO ZI 12 Smith Street. Tel: 6225 1518 You can literally smell the spice lingering in the air as you sit down for the steamboat buffet ($24.80++, daily 11am-11pm). Unique soup bases are the forte here as the range boasts soups such as spicy crab, spicy prawn and duck. Remember to ask for lower spice levels as the Sichuan spices give the soup base such a kick that even some locals find it hard to stomach. GUO FU STEAMBOAT #01-31/33 China Court, China Square Central, 20 Cross Street. Tel: 6557 0906 The smell of herbal and tonic soups fill the air at this steamboat buffet ($21.90++, Mon-Thu 11.30am-3pm; $23.90++, Mon-Thu 3-10.30pm; $23.90++, Fri-Sun 11.30am-3pm; $25.90++, Fri-Sun 3-10.30pm), offering up cordyceps chicken soup as one of its steamboat bases. Cooked food featuring xiao long baos and shallot pancakes together with desserts are also included in the price, with seafood ingredients being prepared in-house for extra freshness.

ANNALAKSHMI #01-04 Central Square, 20 Havelock Road. Tel: 6339 9993 A pay-what-you-want vegetarian buffet (daily 11am3pm; Tue-Sun, eve of and PH 6-10pm) experience where the proceeds go to the Temple of Fine Arts is the unique selling point of Annalakshmi. (See also Top 10 Vegetarian Buffets, p19)

guo fu steamboat

BAR B Q TONIGHT 11-12 Stanley Street. Tel: 6327 9280 Traditional Pakistani food is the focus of this restaurant. BAR B Q TONIGHT’s buffet ($13++, daily 12-3pm; $25++, daily 6-10pm) homes in on richness and flavour,

Paradise Group of Restaurants Exclusively for HSBC Credit Cards

12.5% REBATE on total food bill

Valid till 31 Dec 2015 at all Paradise Group of restaurants except LeNu and My Nasi. HSBC Credit Cardmember must be a Paradise Gourmet Rewards member to be eligible for rebates. Rebates will be awarded in Paradise Dollars (P$). Other T&Cs apply.

b u f f e t

b o u n t y

Blogger Hot Seat We meet busy polytechnic lecturer and fitness instructor Daniel Ang of DanielFoodDiary over grilled meats at Han Geun Doo Geun’s buffet. The enigmatic man of many hats shares his heavy past and prolific ways—plus how he manages to avoid a double chin.

WHO: Daniel Ang (danielfooddiary.com) BLOGGING SINCE: May 2008, current blog started in 2011. “I wish I had a fanciful history and a snazzier name. I wanted to call it The Food Diary, but on a Twitter poll everyone said, ‘Why not put your name there?’ And it just happened. I set up my blog in a day.” FAMILY MATTERS: In 2011, he left his full-time job. “I needed to spend more time with my mum; life is not really about making money. I’m glad to have the opportunity to do things I like without sacrificing as much. Income-wise I did take a bit of a cut—no bonus, medical, CPF. So you have to be very disciplined.” SHAKE IT OFF: He’s been teaching group exercise classes (aerobics, step, zumba) for a decade. “I used to be quite fat and failed my IPPT except for sit-ups. I was determined to lose weight, and be fitter. After struggling for two years, I became a fitness instructor.” (B)EATEN: Eight restaurants in a day. “Terrible; by the third one I couldn’t take anymore. Nevertheless, it was a good experience to learn how to pace myself.” BIG SPENDER: Daniel has cut down on attending media tastings since early 2014, and pays his own way for his cafe stories. “The average bill is $50, but some easily come up to $200. I post daily, with a minimum of 30 posts a month.” BLOGGING PET PEEVES: “There’s still a lot of negative perception about blogging. You don’t see the other side where, for example, bloggers organise a charity event (Ultimate Hawker Fest). It’s myopic here, unlike in some countries where bloggers work with print media all the time for information and sources.”

ULTIMATE COMFORT FOOD: Wanton mee. “I like Kok Kee Wan Ton Noodle (from the now-defunct Lavender Food Square) but they’re gone.” DON’T OFFER HIM: “I’ve eaten things from praying mantis to centipedes; even balut. But I don’t eat reptiles, or pets—it’s not worth the anguish.” NEW YEAR PLANS: To publish a book and “uncover the newest places and hidden finds no one’s heard of.” ON BEING RUNNER UP in AWARDS: “I’m happy being number two because it gives something to work towards. But awards matter, of course! Who doesn’t want to win?” EXERCISE TIPS: “Find an activity that you really enjoy, so you won’t find it such a pain. Three times a week, 150 minutes, that’s the Health Promotion Board guideline. Always remember, input versus output; it’s a simple equation.”

THE BUFFET:

BBQ & A La Carte Buffet at Han Geun Doo Geun, Chinatown Point ($36.90++, daily 5.30-10pm)

TIME OF VISIT: 16 December, 7pm K-BBQ: “I’m very neutral when it comes to Korean food. I somehow haven’t caught on the Korean wave at all.“ STRATEGY: “I start with banchan (side dishes) because it helps get my appetite up. This is followed by mains like meat. I normally eat for the quality rather than the quantity. This is my body, I shouldn’t mistreat it.“ HIGHLIGHT: Spaciousness. “When you get your food, what I really hate is bumping into people.” VENTILATION: Not too smoky, but you’ll still smell of the grill. BEST DISH: The tender bulgogi sliced beef which are not overly marinated. “The potato salad, kimchi and spicy soup are good too." NOT EVEN ON HIS MIND: Gimbap (Korean sushi). “Sorry but leave it to the Japanese, please. And the rice fills you up too quickly.” MISSED: Tteok galbi or beef short ribs (not available), ramyeon (no tummy room). SHOULDN’T HAVE TAKEN: Spinach banchan. “It’s really not good. There are some things I order purely for colours, for photo-taking.” HOW MANY BiTES? Taste: 3.5/5 Value for money: 3/5 Service: 3/5

visit

DINE FOR FREE WITH HSBC CARDS

Enjoy hot hotel buffets with great deals on your HSBC credit or debit card.

Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa, Shutters Restaurant Tel: 6825 3866 HSBC CARDHOLDERS ENJOY: ◆ 10% off total food bill Furama RiverFront, The Square @ Furama Tel: 6825 3866 HSBC CARDHOLDERS ENJOY: ◆ 1-for-1 buffet Swissôtel Merchant Court, Ellenborough Market Café Tel: 6239 1848 HSBC CARDHOLDERS ENJOY: ◆ One dines free with every three paying adults for Buffet and Hi-Tea Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, MELT ~ The World Café Tel: 6885 3500 HSBC CARDHOLDERS ENJOY: ◆ 15% off food bill One Farrer Hotel & Spa, Escape Restaurant & Lounge Tel: 6363 0101 HSBC CARDHOLDERS ENJOY: ◆ 15% off total bill Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore, Atrium Restaurant Tel: 6731 7172 HSBC CARDHOLDERS ENJOY: ◆ 20% off buffet Ramada Singapore At Zhongshan Park, Flavours At Zhongshan Park Tel: 6808 6846 HSBC CARDHOLDERS ENJOY: ◆ 10% off total bill

In partnership with

PLAYFUL BUFFETS

under $50 NETT

Forget about buffets where all you do is chit-chat and stuff your face. Check out these fun finds where you can sing your heart out or make friends with orangutans—and pile your plate.

Ah Meng Restaurant [ ] Have Jungle Breakfast with Wildlife starring the zoo’s iconic orangutans (adults $33+, kids $23+; daily 9-10.30am) who’ll amble in from 9.30-10am. Interact with the cheeky primates, playful tamarins and docile snakes while enjoying the spread which includes a baker’s basket (breads, pastries, French toast), roti prata, dim sum, ginger chicken, chicken porridge and freshly scrambled eggs. Singapore Zoo admission charges apply (from $28 without tram).

Han Geun Doo Geun Korean Restaurant #02-35 Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Road. Tel: 6538 2775 At this modern K-BBQ restaurant, start your a la carte buffet ($26.90++, 11.30am-3pm; $36.90++, 5.30-10pm) with their oijangajji (pickled cucumber), its piquant flavours a foil to heavy eating after. Aside from galbi, bulgogi and moksal to BBQ over charcoal, fill up with over 40 items such as crispy kimchi jeon (kimchi pancake) and fried Korean dumplings. Each table comes with its own exhaust vent to tone down the smoke.

Ah meng restaurant

Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant Before or after a romp through the Night Safari, fill up your tummies at the kampong-style buffet restaurant. If you’re early, have the Asian buffet ($42 nett, daily 6-8.30pm); and save the Indian buffet ($29 nett, daily 9-10.30pm) for a post-animal encounter treat. Look out also for local dishes like chicken rice and chilli crab as you relax indoors or dine al fresco. Entrance Plaza, Night Safari, 80 Mandai Lake Road. Tel: 6269 3411

Ah Meng Restaurant (Terrace), Singapore Zoo, 80 Mandai Road. Tel: 6269 3411

KBox [ ] Replenish your tired throats while practising for the next round of Project SuperStar auditions. During the K Dinner Buffet (daily 6-10pm; $28++, Sun-Thu; $36++, Fri-Sat; doesn't include surcharges and tidbits, rooms subject to availability), fill up on Chinese, Western and Japanese cuisine, green salads, desserts and free-flow soft drinks. Also check out the live "teppanyaki" station, only available at this outlet. #08-01 Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, 8 Grange Road. Tel: 6756 3113

Rocku Yakiniku Rock out to bands on certain evenings ($29.90++, MonThu 6-10pm; $32.90++, Fri-Sun 12pm-10.30pm) while digging into charcoal grilled meat, sashimi, dons and more. Check in after 7pm at this 100-minute buffet for the sweet sounds of Skye Sirena (Thu), Regine & Ernest (Fri), and Mavis & Edmund (Sat). From January, receive a one-for-one beer promotion card. #04-06 Bugis+, 201 Victoria Street. Tel: 6634 3313

kbox

Xi Long Hotpot & Family KTV In a matchup of two seemingly-unrelated activities, Xi Long Hotpot & Family KTV offers a steamboat buffet ($30 nett, U.P. $55 nett; Mon-Thu 11.30am-11pm, FriSun 11.30am-1am) paired with three hours of KTV and free-flow drinks. Choose from soup bases Sichuan mala, tom yum, chicken or beef bone; then toss in scallop, pork, pig skin, liver, and vegetables to sweeten the boiling broth. Private rooms available. #01-03, 27 West Coast Highway. Tel: 6778 9545

a bubbling steamboat right next to it Korean style, just the way Singaporeans like it. Manbok Chinatown’s no frills buffet ($15nett, Mon-Fri 11.30am-3pm; $18nett, weekends 11.30am-3pm; $31.90nett, daily 5-11pm) has a selection of 10 marinated meats, steamboat items to create the perfect Army Stew, cooked food, and even drinks and ice cream. Turn up in a group of four or more for dinner and enjoy free flow beer.

maple loft

MAPLE LOFT #01-02 Tanjong Pagar Community Club, 101 Cantonment Road. Tel: 6225 6684 Who can resist the temptation of ice cream on a hot day–now just imagine an ice cream buffet ($8.80++, Tue-Fri 12-10pm; $8.80++, weekends 9am-10pm). Spoonful after spoonful of frosty creamy goodness in

Manbok Chinatown Korean Bbq & Steamboat Buffet Restaurant 279 New Bridge Road. Tel: 6557 0939 Marinated meats grilling on top of the barbeque with

Bakerzin

Exclusively for HSBC credit and debit cardholders:

10% OFF with a minimum spend of S$30 Valid till 30 April 2015. For outlet listings, visit www.bakerzin.com. For more dining privileges visit, www.hsbc.com.sg/dining

b u f f e t

b o u n t y

a never ending loop, served in a cosy retro-style café, surrounded by shelves of sweets and other goodies. A sweet-tooth’s wonderland and a kid’s paradise.

Man Yuan Vegetarian Restaurant. (see also Top 10 Vegetarian Buffets, next page)

ssikkek

YUM CHA RESTAURANT #02-01, 20 Trengganu Street. Tel: 6372 1717 Having set up two more outlets in Changi and Serangoon to appease its ever-increasing fan base, Yum Cha Restaurant has become a hotspot for dim sum enthusiasts since opening its doors in Chinatown. With a selection of almost 60 different types to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice at this dim sum buffet ($23.80++ (adult), weekdays 3-5.30pm), as you bite into skillfully prepared spinach prawn dumplings while reaching for sweet crystal custard dumplings.

SICHUAN STEAMBOAT RESTAURANT 12 Mosque Street. Tel: 6535 7848 Taking up both sides of the road in Mosque Street, Sichuan Steamboat Restaurant offers an extensive a la carte spread ($23.88++, Mon-Thu 11am-11pm; $26.88++, Fri-Sun 11am-11pm). With special meats such as duck tongue, pig brain and pig’s throat on the menu, you can be sure that this experience will be an interesting one. SPRING JuChunYuan #01-01 Far East Square, 130 Amoy Street. Tel: 6536 2655 This Singapore outpost of the famed Fuzhou restaurant whips up a well-priced dim sum buffet ($22.80+, MonFri 11.30am-3pm). From 5 Jan-1 Feb, Ju Chun Yuan will host a Fuzhou style dim sum a la carte buffet, while during the CNY period, 5 Jan-5 Mar, explore stalls in the courtyard of the restaurant selling authentic Fuzhou street food and snacks. The restaurant absorbs service charge.

tiffany cafÉ & restaurant

STRAITS CHINESE NONYA RESTAURANT #01-08 Chinatown Plaza, 34 Craig Road. Tel: 6534 7328 Managed by the oldest Nyonya restaurant group in Singapore with an impressive history from 1953, this restaurant boasts an authentic Nyonya buffet ($32++, daily 11am-2.30pm; $32++, daily 6-9.30pm). The fermented beans in their ayam pong tay is a nostalgic taste of Peranakan cuisine together with traditional desserts using gula melaka.

spring juchunyuan

SSIKKEK #01-01 Oriental Plaza, 291 New Bridge Road. Tel: 6225 6964 The smell of fresh roasted meats is unmistakeable at this Korean barbeque buffet ($24++, daily 12-2.30pm; 5.30-10pm) restaurant which serves up a huge range of marinated meats and side dishes. Try the samgyupsal, thick, tender fatty slices of pork belly roasted to perfection as the fats melt in your mouth.

yum cha restaurant

Tiffany Café & Restaurant Level 2 Furama City Centre Singapore, 60 Eu Tong Sen Street. Tel: 6531 5366 From its Malay kitchens come an array of international offerings for the New Year. The buffet ($49.80++, daily 12-2.30pm; $59.80++, daily 6-10.30pm) ranging from sashimi to desserts will tantalise the senses, especially the durian pengat. Iced peach and lemon teas are freeflow as well. XIN MAN YUAN VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT #03-32 People’s Park Centre, 101 Upper Cross Street. Tel: 6438 0048 A vegetarian buffet ($18.80++, Mon-Fri 11am-2.30pm; $23.80++, Sat-Sun & PH 11am-2.30pm) of dim sum, Chinese dishes and desserts are to be enjoyed at Xin

PARKROYAL on Beach Road - Plaza Brasserie For HSBC credit and debit cardholders:

15% OFF buffet lunch and dinner bill Offer is valid till 31 December 2015. Visit www.hsbc.com.sg/dining for more dining privileges.

In partnership with

Top 10 VegetarianLovers Buffets

Whether you’ve been veg-chomping your whole life or you’re going meatless as a New Year’s resolution, there’s no reason why you should miss out on buffets. We hunt down vegetarian-friendly buffets everyone can enjoy.

Annalakshmi Pay what you want at this buffet (daily 11am-3pm; Tue-Sun, eve of and PH 6-10pm). Like sister restaurant Annalakshmi Janatha, all proceeds go to the Temple of Fine Arts. Here, vegetarian dining is a cultural experience, not just a culinary one—you’ll feel it in the ambience and service. So enjoy the dosai and oothappam (rice and lentil pancakes) while giving as much as you can. #01-04 Central Square, 20 Havelock Road. Tel: 6339 9993

Classic Lao Di Fang Vegetarian Restaurant The a la carte buffet’s good for dim sum, like meatless xiao long bao and beancurd fries; and the Nyonya mock fish and sweet potato leaves with sambal. Things to note: a minimum of four pax to dine ($15.90+, MonFri 11am-3pm; $18.90+, Sat-Sun, eve of and PH 11am3pm; $19.90+, Mon-Thu 5.30-9.30pm; $22.90+, FriSun, eve of and PH 5.30-9.30pm); and an additional $1 applies on the first and 15th day of the lunar calendar. #B1-12 Park Mall, 9 Penang Road. Tel: 6535 2513 / 6533 8959

calendar) comprises unlimited items like braised taro, vegetarian assam ‘fish’, and tom yam pumpkin. Premium items like the monkey head mushroom with shredded ginger, cereal ‘prawn’, and deep fried mixed fruit roll, are limited to two servings only. #02-03 Hotel Royal @ Queens, 12 Queen Street. Tel: 6238 5085

LingZhi Vegetarian This 23-year-old restaurant uses only the day’s freshest ingredients so there’s no set menu. You’ll find a selection of dim sum with their mushroom hotpot buffet (11am-3pm, Mon-Thu $22.80++, Fri-Sun, eve of & PH $24.80++; 6-10pm, Mon-Thu $24.80++, Fri-Sun, eve of & PH $26.80++, min. two to dine). Choose from clear vegetable soup, spicy and sour tom yum, or a weekly special soup (additional $2/pax) like a cooling papaya yam which also improves digestion. #03-09/10 Velocity@Novena Square, 238 Thomson Road. Tel: 6538 2992

Lotus Vegetarian It’s hard to generalise that vegetarian restaurants offer less variety when this born-in-Taiwan restaurant serves both a steamboat buffet ($18.80++, Mon-Thu 11.30am3pm; $22.80++, Mon-Thu 6-10pm) and an Asian buffet ($22.80++, Fri 11.30am-3pm; $24.80++, Sat-Sun and PH 11.30am-3pm, Fri-Sun and PH 6-10pm). Enjoy home-style brewed soup bases in spicy Szechuan and Chinese herbal and over 70 items to choose from, including dim sum. Level 2 Quality Hotel Marlow, 201 Balestier Road. Tel: 6254 0091

vegetable biryani, fried okra, paneer in gravy, aloo and kulfi; Sunday brunch includes a live station which doles out apom, chaat or chole bhature, and more dishes to choose from. 33 Scotts Road. Tel: 6836 0055

Tiffin Room At this colonial-style restaurant, the all-curry Northern Indian buffet ($60++, daily 12pm-2pm; $75++, daily 7-10pm) includes a good portion of vegetable curries alongside a salad section with varied condiments like coconut chutney. Try the dahi kebab, a deep fried yoghurt dumpling, or fresh cheese naan that goes with the vegetable curries. For dessert, the gulab jamun, fried milk dumpling with saffron sugar syrup, will be a treat. Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Street. Tel: 6412 1816

Xin Man Yuan Vegetarian Restaurant The lunch buffet (daily 11am-2.30pm; $18.80++, MonFri; $23.80++, Sat-Sun & PH) comes with a selection of dim sum like barbecue gluten puff pastry and delicate chestnut siew mai. You’ll also find rice and noodle dishes, curry, vegetables, and desserts like almond cream, green/red bean soup, ice-cream and eggless cakes. #03-32 People’s Park Centre, 101 Upper Cross St. Tel: 6438 0048 / 6536 5517

yantra

song of india

Gopal’s Vegetarian Restaurant Strictly no onions or garlic used. The nightly dinner buffet ($11.90, daily 6pm-late) offers up mock mutton curry, vegetable curry, and unlimited chapatti to customers. The menu’s an easy read for those unfamiliar with Indian dish names. Call before going as opening hours can be erratic. 517 Serangoon Rd. Tel: 9853 3353

Graces Court Cuisine The a la carte buffet lunch ($15++, Mon-Fri 11.30am2.30pm; $16++, Sat-Sun, PH, first and 15th day of lunar

Yantra Song of India At this upscale restaurant, lunch ($38++, Mon-Sat 12pm-3pm) and brunch ($48++, Sun 12pm-3pm) include four to five vegetarian items, clearly indicated on the buffet placards. On rotation: blue cheese naan,

Relax in the chic restaurant and partake in inventive dishes which include vegetarian options broccoli cheese tikki, Delhi papdi chaat, tandoori gobhi (cauliflower) and vegetable makhni. As you savour your lunch ($25++, Mon-Thu 12pm-3pm; $30++, Fri-Sat 12pm-3pm; $49++, Sun 12pm-3pm), watch chefs prepare fare through the open concept kitchen which displays four large custommade tandoors.

PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road - Spice Brasserie For HSBC credit and debit cardholders:

15% OFF total bill

Offer is valid till 31 December 2015. Visit www.hsbc.com.sg/dining for more dining privileges. Visit www.hsbc.com.sg/dining for more dining privileges.

d e s t i n a t i o n

d i n i n g

Going mod-industrial

TAST Y PLA Z A

mact ag g a ha rr

n r oa d

son r oa d

david

y r oa d

pe r s o

h a rv e

rt ro

m ac h

Tai Seng is up-and-coming, with high-rises like the iconic BreadTalk IHQ and Sakae Building, an MRT station and designer furniture shops. Right opposite the eponymous street, you'll find (ahem) our office and the recent sprouting of cafes at Irving Place. Let the BiTES team show you around our 'hood—a mix of factory and office buildings, fast cars and heavy trucks, and of course the hidden finds and the places to dine.

ro ad

By Meredith Woo

UE Print media hub

ad trive x

irvin g pl a ce

r oa d

e r ro ad

irv bu iling in du ding stria

irving

harp

n r oa d

th e @ irvcom m e r ing z

TCC Ce ntral Kitche n

pe r s o

hei sushi

rt ro

FGA @ pl ayfair

lin ho bu ilding

nove lt y bizcentr e

m ac h

at-sunrise globalchef academy

r d ro ad

breadtalk ihq

mact ag g a

howa

TAI SENG

sweetest moments

tai s eng

upper paya lebar road

BreadTalk IHQ (30 Tai Seng Street)

At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy (Level 5) We can't skip this culinary institution. With a faculty of chefs, food professionals and qualified instructors, it's a great head start if you're eyeing a career in F&B. Alumni include chef Immanuel Tee of Immanuel French Kitchen. www.at-sunrice.com

UE Print Media Hub (61 Tai Seng Avenue)

You’ll find 12 stalls at Eat Inn selling fare like chicken rice (from $2.80 steamed/ roasted), Korean hot plate spicy chicken ($5/set), Halal Khadijah Kitchen’s kampong porridge ($3) and the newly-opened Ah Hoe Mee Pok which dishes out sliced abalone bak chor mee ($4).

WAREHOUSE SALES Peel your eyes for sale banners: we're fresh from Taste of Tradition's Xmas wine sale (15 Little Road) and the Link THM warehouse sale (Sakae Building), which offered up to 90 percent off brands like Adidas, Puma and Havaianas. Check out furniture brand Lifestorey (#01-00/A 16 Tai Seng St)—we spotted a lounge chair at $680 (U.P. $2,260). Charles & Keith (6 Tai Seng Link) also holds annual year-end sales (around Aug to Dec). Sites to check: singpromos.com or sg.everydayonsales.com

marq uis qsquare

Sweetest Moments (#03-01) This custom cake shop offers packages for baby's full month (from $5.90/gift box), birthdays, weddings and other celebrations. Free delivery over $200. Daily 9.30am-5pm, PH 9.30am-1pm. Tel: 6286 2553

general direction to macpHerson and paya lebar mrt tai se ng stre

tai se ng lin k

Hei Sushi (#01-02) Drop by for halal conveyer belt sushi that’s also available for delivery (min. order of $40). Also enjoy specially Hot Bean hotate ($7.38) and kaisen ramen ($15.88), or the Hei Warai party set ($58.88) for birthdays in the office. Dim sum also available on weekdays from 2.30-5.30pm. Daily excl. PH 11.30am-9pm. Tel: 6382 1494. www.heisushi.com

charles an d ke ith grou p s he adquaRter

Sakae Building (28 Tai Seng Street)

sakae building

Three floors of RETAIL Apart from necessities like 7-Eleven (#01-07), UOB (#01-01) and Watsons (#02-03), you'll also find: Thye Shan Medical Hall (#02-04) which offers herbal soup tasting on weekends; Cherie Hearts Little Play House (#02-12/13) to drop your tots off at; and N-Tech Car Grooming Services (#03-01) which offers express grooming at only $10.

mon soon drain

breadtalk IHQ

Level 1 Food Street Lots to eat here: you’ll find flagship brands BreadTalk, Din Tai Fung, Food Republic, RamenPlay and Toast Box. What we like: the long-queue Teochew fishball mee stall ($4 dry/soup) in the old street style Food Republic (#01-06), Din Tai Fung’s (#01-02) signature 18-folds xiao long bao ($9.80/10pcs), and BreadTalk’s Black Pearl bread for tea. Parking deals: Mon-Fri free first hour; Sat-Sun, PH free first two hours.

i ta

e av

THE BOILER (#01-06 Novelty Bizcentre, 18 Howard Road) Louisiana seafood and beer in an industrial area? You bet! Some days we troop down to The Boiler for its affordable lunch sets ($10.90 for fish and chips), or a post-work craft beer (from $11 for Royal Jamaican Ginger Beer) and a Boiler’s Bombdiggity Bag that’ll feed four hungry food writers ($139, Dungeness/brown crab, prawns, mussels, clams, sausages, corn and bun)—yum! Tue-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm; Sun-Thu 5-10.30pm; Fri-Sat, eve of PH 5pm-12am. Tel: 6635 1285

mp at

road

ng amp at

pon

joo se ng

k ampo

k am

Tasty Plaza (37 MacTaggart Road) Remember food, art, architecture and music pop-up CREATORY? This is the location that housed it in August last year. The repurposed industrial building is still home to enterprising local brands like Bettr Barista Coffee Academy (#07-03), and B.A.O Singapore / Patisserie G (#05-01) who are pursuing the delicious. www.tastyplaza.com

the boiler

bung pai

l ac e

e r oa

littl

anl yuia g t g n us in tond ild i u S b ITE B

d lo r o n

ir a r

g paya

pe r e

k apo fa bu il dingctory

le ba r

oa d

lo r

u ho op s h7-16 5 14

hous s hop2 9 107-1

al pay ng

e ba

a r ro

ses

io irect a l d y m rt r e g e n a rt le to b

onsoon drain

PLAYFAIR ROAD The Commerze @ Irving (1 Irving Place) It’s a hive of activity and new F&B energy here. Tenants include Grasso the living room Coffee (#01-27/28)—choose from sock-brewed or artisanal coffee, with fun flavours like cotton candy; 23 Jumpin (#01-25) for tiramisu duck leg confit ($16); TomorrowFree KaFei/Ooh Cupcakes (#01-20) for homecooked fare like laksa ($3.50) and toast sets; Round 8 (#01-24) for cold-pressed juices ($5.50) and tortilla wraps; SWAG (#01-26, salads wraps and greens)—opt for seafood galore ($9.90) or create your own; and Teapresso (#02-19) for kanten collagen jelly tea dessert ($3.90) or a creamy tiramisu coffee latte ($5.50). Cold-pressed juice company’s A Juicery has its kitchen and production area here too. When the building's fully operational, there'll be a staff canteen, a swimming pool and gym. LC Food Court @ Trivex (8 Burn Road) What stands out from the usual fare of mixed rice, ban mian, etc is Nature Park Seafood (#01-12) with sam lou horfun ($5/8/10) and even affordable tze char sets: $53 for 5-7 pax (coffee pork ribs, sambal kangkong, spinach with trio egg, dried meat floss prawn balls, hot plate beancurd, bittergourd with beancurd soup). Daily 11am-3pm, 5-10.30pm. Tel: 8575 3232

a le b r pay u ppe

ki m ch ua n ro ad

rintu b UE p h m e dia

n tai s e

a ram

p pai

playfair road

pancake king

ja l a n

ai mp

ja l

a ng

trivex

The Living Room (15 Playfair Road, #04-01) Chill at this Christian cafe which also provides F&B training for ex-offenders above 21 years old. Look out for the specials: we love the chicken roulade ($9). Other mains include Mongolian pork chop ($8.90), and fish and chips ($6.50). Add $3 for soup of the day (mushroom’s yummy) and a drink (freshly brewed iced lemon tea). Mon-Fri excl. PH 11.30am-3pm. Tel: 8678 8033 Dressabelle (15 Playfair Road, #02-01) We found the brick-and-mortar store of this online shopping site. Dresses for events from $33, chic tops from $25, and $30 work pants—great deals! www.dressabelle.com.sg LIN HO BUILDING (29 Playfair Road) You'll find stationery of every kind here: from their Panda Brand items like letter trays (from $4.50 for two-tier), to watercolours (from $2 for 12 colours). They'll also prepare gift sets for you—pop by to choose what you need. Free delivery above $80. Tel: 6283 7122 Kapo Factory Building (80 Playfair Road) Look beyond the grey facade to find the vintage-hip Red Point Record Warehouse (#06-11, Blk B), a recommendation from our design colleague. Then wander to The Rocking Chair (#03-08, Blk A), our editor’s pick for furniture and furnishings. By Invite Only’s office is here too (by appointment only, www.byinviteonly.info). Tong Yuan Industrial Building (85 Playfair Road) Two furniture and lifestyle stores for you to check out while here: Egg3 (#07-01)—we featured their bread box with chopping board ($59) in our inaugural issue, and Grafunkt (#02-01/02) for a Hug two-seater sofa and a Beam coffee table for your home's New Year sprucing.

g ave

UPPER PAYA LEBAR ROAD

three years in a balloon

Overview The BiTES team walk this road for flavourful and wallet-friendly nasi padang from Muslim Delights (No. 117), Chinese white/ rainbow bread from the traditional Jie Bakery & Confectionery (No. 123), pricey (above $10) siew yok and char siew rice from Kay Lee Roast Meat Joint (No. 125), and dry bak kut teh with tau huay to finish at Old Street Bak Kut Teh (No. 129). We highlight two more below. Pancake King (Golden 88 Cafeteria, 107 Upper Paya Lebar Road) We love the pancakes with the gentle crisp exterior and pillowy soft dough. Opt for a mix of coconut and peanut if you can’t decide between the two. What we love most, however, is chatting to the sprightly auntie who makes these snacks a la minute, puts in extra filling, and carefully wraps each piece ($0.80/slice, $3.20/whole). Mon-Fri 7am-5pm Three Years in a Balloon (163 Upper Paya Lebar Road) Opened by the folks behind Wimbly Lu, this newish cafe (opened Aug 2014) focuses on cakes (summer berry cheesecake, $6), pies, cookies, sandwiches and coffee. We also like the sparkling lychee quencher ($3) that had hints of ginger ale. Also try: house-churned salted caramel ice cream ($3/scoop) and waffles (from $3.50). For celebrations, order a whole cake (from $25 for 5-inches) by 3pm to collect at 5pm the following weekday. Mon-Fri 12pm-7.30pm. Tel: 9236 7366

s u p e r m a r k e t

s l e u t h

The liquid diet Drink nothing but liquids for three days? Not for us! We at BITES love our food-chewing ways too much. However, after having overly indulged during the heavy feasting season, we decided to start the year by swapping a meal or two every week with something from the blender. The results? Surprisingly delicious and inexpensive COMPARED TO STORE-BOUGHT JUICES. By June Lee, Photography by Benjamin Soh BiTES PAID FOR OUR OWN GROCERIES AT ROCHESTER MARKET

potato

celery

onion

carrots

pumpkin

water OR STOCK + salt/pepper

Vegetable soup

vegetable soup

The soup tastes pure, with each ingredient contributing its flavour and bite. Add more carrot for sweetness, increase potato for more bulk, or reduce onion and celery if you don’t like their tang–it's up to you. Blend longer—about 8 minutes—for a smoother liquid that you can drink, or leave it lumpy (about 4 minutes) if you want to serve as a textured soup. We chose a few organic ingredients to get a bigger health boost.

Naturai P-12 Multi Function Nutrient Machine ($1,288). We road-tested our liquids with this high-powered blender which is an all-in-one. It comes with eight preset functions including smoothie (to easily crunch ice), bisque (soups in minutes), nuts (for porridge and milk), and more. The vegetable function is equipped to optimally extract phyto-nutrients from your vegetables and juices. Overall, the machine worked exactly as it claims to, making short work of hard, raw ingredients such as pumpkin and cashews. The 2L large blender jar may seem too big—and cumbersome to wash—if you’re just making enough for yourself, so aim to make larger batches to share.

mint

lemon zest

Kale juice Australian kale leaves

ginger

We found this recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook, and while we’ve never taken kale raw before, this juice complete changed our minds. It indeed tasted like a delightfully grassy lemonade, with refreshing mint and ginger adding a lovely zing while the apple contributed all the natural sugar you need. Strain before drinking.

apple

walnuts

Nut milk

cashew

Who knew nut milk was so easy to make? A few minutes of noisy blending yielded the most professional tasting, rich and creamy drink with the ground up nuts. Use ice water and earthy brown sugar to maximise your immediate enjoyment.

sweetener and water

k i t c h e n

p l a y g r o u n d

Going green

Green is the new black. We’ve sifted out the best items to help you eat clean, prevent wastage, and turn your kitchen into a lush space. By Lim Si Hui

ZYLISS FASTCUT HERB TOOL Unleash your kitchen superhero power. Turn into Wolverine with this handy little five-bladed rolling tool that comes with a soft grip. Mince fresh herbs lightningquick to use in a roast, in a marinade or in a simple panfried dish.

HEMSLEY + HEMSLEY SPIRALIZER From the successful cookbook writers of The Art Of Eating Well comes a tool that will make it easier to rid your diet of heavy carbs by substitution. Whirl out some vegetable “noodles” for a light pasta or a crunchy carrot salad to bring to a sunny picnic.

£29.95 (about S$62) from www.amazon.co.uk

$33.90 from ToTT Store, 896 Dunearn Road. Tel: 6219 7077

TAKAHI HERBAL COOKER Brewing herbal soup has never been easier. This automatic cooker has a built-in buzzer which prevents over-boiling and over-spilling. Fill your kitchen with the aroma of healthy herbal tonics, and your loved ones’ tummies with home-cooked food.

WILTON BAKER’S PASTRY BLENDER To save wastage of pastry dough and beaten butter while baking, Wilton has attached a nifty gizmo to this blender that swipes off globs of goodness back into your mixing bowl. Easy to use and clean, it also keeps fingers dough-free. Perfect batch of cupcakes, here we come!

$9.90 from Bake It Yourself, 9 Circular Road. Tel: 6100 2253. www.B-I-Y.com

$118 from Harvey Norman, #02-56 to 62, 9 Raffles Boulevard. Tel: 6311 9988

$19.90 from IKEA, 60 Tampines North Drive 2. Tel: 6786 6868

JAPANESE OMELETTE PAN Idatakimasu, let’s eat! With this precisely-shaped pan, you too can make your own fluffy little tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette) at home for a tasty bento or as a side dish for a light lunch. It doubles up as a normal frying pan as well.

$38.06 from Rakuten, www.rakuten.com.sg

JOSEPH JOSEPH SPAGHETTI MEASURE No more grabbing a handful of spaghetti and tossing it into the pot. This measure has a precise aperture for one to four servings. It’ll also look pretty darn cute among your arsenal of kitchen tools.

$18 from Lazada, www.lazada.sg

KASTRULL SAUCEPAN This delightful enamelled steel saucepan will liven up any stove top with its rustic wooden handle and lid knob. If your kitchen’s Scandinavian-style, the chic green colour fits right in.

SALAD ZINGER Flavour up! Zing your salad with a healthy dose of infused oils and vinegars without bowls and ingredients to clean up afterwards. Add your favourite ingredients to the grind cup and shake the whole kaboosh up for healthy homemade dressings and sauces to drizzle easily over any dish.

$42.90 from Shinnpark, shop.shinnpark.com

‘Lo and be… hei!

last

The lo hei (捞起) we know and love was invented by four local chefs. Time to refresh your memory of all the ingredients tossed and couplets yelled. By Lim Si Hui Shredded re d vege ta bles: ca rrot, red ya m, ginger 鸿运当头 ( hong yun d a n g to u ) Good luck c ome th! T he first wo rd, hong, soun ds lik e red Chinese 5 -spice powder 五福临门 (wu fu ling men) For the five blessings to arrive

e eds Sesa me s 生意兴隆 xing long) (she ng yi er ess prosp Ma y busin

TOSS! (huat ah!) Use any auspicious phrases you know. Chances are, nobody will hear you amidst all the commotion Stand up! The higher you toss, the greater your fortune will be

le n t he t a b o e t a l p a ca i) P l a c e t he (gong xi f 财发喜恭 nd la tion s a C ongra tu y! prosperit ru yi) (wa n shi 意如 y 事万 o your wa g s g in h t M a y a ll

Ra w ma ck erel or yu sheng soun ds lik e 'rising ab un da nce' 年年有余 (nia n nian you yu) Abundan ce every ye ar 年年包有余 (nia n ni an ba o you yu) if using abalon e slices U PGRA DE! Most ho useholds now use sa lmon sa sh imi; some restaura nts luxe it up with lobster, abalon e, or ge oduck Plum sauce 甜甜蜜蜜 (tian tian mi mi) Have sweet and loving relationships

Shredded white radish 风生水起 (feng sheng shui qi) To rise quickly 步步高升 (bu bu gao sheng) Rea ch grea ter heights Crushed peanuts 金银满屋 (jin yin man wu) A houseful of gold and silver

Oil be n wa n li) 一本万利 (yi profit A 10,0 0 0 fold

Shredded green vege ta ble s: green ra dish, cucumber, gre en ya m 青春常驻 (qing chun cha ng zhu) Be forever youthful—the fir st word of youth also mean s ‘gree n’ SWAP! Add jade-green kiw i fruit as a symbol of prosperity Pok ch ui cra c k ers 满地黄金 (ma n d i hua ng jin A fl o o r f ul l o ) f go l d