BiTES - The Scoop on Good Eats (January 2016) by BiTES - The Scoop on Good Eats

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Come makan with bites p3

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HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR p4

Bite-sized festive dining news

2016

SUPERMARKET SLEUTH p20 It's not as hard as you think to prepare fish for the reunion table

Work, play and wake up right!

DRINK TANK p22

New drinks and zero-alcohol 'beer'

LAST BiTES p24

The team reveals our CNY fave snacks

+F o res d o at t h s t s h i g n ou en 8 p1

r Bot d anic Gar

w e l c o m e

Where to find your B i T E S ? DOWNLOAD THIS ISSUE at www.bites.com.sg PICK US UP! Free at over 100 venues Cafes & restaurants Bonta Italian Restaurant & Bar (District 10) • Dean & DeLuca - Orchard Central • Delifrance Cafe - Cold Storage Jelita • EN Grill and Bar • Farisya's Kitchen • IPPIN • Kinsa Sushi HillV2 • Ramen Champion • Picotin Express - Sentosa Cove • ZEN Japanese Cuisine • and many more!

Also hand-distributed 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 • Tiong Bahru • Woodlands • Yishun

Check out the Full list at www.bites.com.sg/about

Cover image Dreamstime

Publisher Cecilia Goh Editor June Lee Contributing Editor Joyce Huang Staff Writer Meredith Woo Editorial Intern Samantha Seah Senior Designer Benjamin Soh Design Intern Yong Cheng Wei Head of Business Development (Food Division) Carlos Loh Business Director Ashad Shah Assistant Business Manager Stephanie Tan Publishing Admin Manager (Admin & Circulation) Siti Haneymah Consultant Digital Manager Eugene Koh Web Developer Jun Evangelista Accounts Manager Linda Ng Group Publisher Ho Sum Kwong Group Managing Editor Adeline Wong Group Creative Director Thng Wee Nee 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

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Copyright by the Publisher. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of the Publisher is strictly prohibited. Views and opinions expressed in B i tes are not neccessarily those of the Publisher and the Editors. Although every reasonable care has been taken to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of the information provided in this publication, neither the Publisher, editors and their employees and agents can be held liable for any error and omission, nor any action taken based on the views expressed or information provided within this publication. You should always seek your own professional advice. All prices are in Singapore dollars stated and exclude miscellaneous taxes, unless stated.

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Happy Newr Yea

3 Craft beer floats

$11-13 | Till 31 Jan | Thirsty @ Serangoon Gardens Up your root beer floats a notch with exclusive Thirsty x Udders craft beer floats like Brothers cloudy lemon with Alphonso mango sorbet. www.facebook.com/ thirstybeershop

10 Chinese New year Festive Carnival

STAR WARS Exhibition

Till 5 Jan | Changi Airport Terminal 3 Departure Hall Your last chance at being a Stormtrooper, Kylo Ren or Chewbacca entering the life-size X-Wing Fighter. Work up an appetite taking pics. www.starwars.changiairport.com

Till 7 Feb | 11am-10.30pm | Open space in front of People’s Park Complex Soak up the festive vibes as you walk among the rows of stalls selling everything from mouth-watering Chinese New Year delicacies, festive decorations and potted plants to clothes. www.chinatownfestivals.sg

Free | Every Friday, 10am-1pm | Open Farm Community Appreciate how food ends up on your plate. Get engaged in the process of seed sowing and harvest, to enjoying the fruits of one’s labour in this community gardening project. www.openfarmcommunity.com

19 Dahlia Dreams

$12-20 (locals), $28 (standard) | 9am9pm | 15 Jan to 28 Feb | Flower Dome Bask in the world of the legendary monkey king said to be born in the mythical Flowers and Fruit Mountain during the Year of the Monkey. www.gardensbythebay. com.sg

Till 28 Feb | 9am-6pm | CDL Green Gallery, Tanglin Appreciate the finer points of our garden city captured in stills. (Closed every last Tuesday of the month.) More on p.18-19! www.sbg.org.sg

$110 | 11am-2pm, 2.30-5.30pm or 6-9pm | 117 Fidelio Street Learn to make chee cheong fun, salmon and prawns dumpling and flaky spring onions pancake with Ruqxana up close and personal, in her cosy home. www.cookerymagic.com

13 CNY Rainbow Kueh Lapis

11 New Urban Farmers’ Project

Our Garden City Refocused Exhibition

6 Singapore Dim Sum 1

$118 | 3-6pm | ToTT @ Dunearn Get baking this CNY! Add a dash of colour to your bakes, and wow friends and relatives with this festive treat displayed at your table. www.tottstore.com

20 Singapore Art Week

16-24 Jan | various venues Celebrate visual arts at the civic district and Marina Bay, Bras Basah and Bugis, the Gillman Barracks and even Orchard Road and Dempsey Hill. Enter the artsy cafes around too! www.artweek.sg

Pongal (harvest) Festival

A visit to Little India is a must. Campbell Lane will be transformed into a pedestrianstreet-mini-village, outfitted with festive stalls and Pongal-themed performances, and Kinta Road will be bustling with a mass Pongal cooking competition and colourful street light-up. www.yoursingapore.com

21 Home Organisation Workshop #2

Free | 7-9pm | The Co. Are your kitchen drawers stuffed? Let professional organiser Natalie Ricaud share her 7-step process of organising and maintaining a tidy home Limited to 30 pax.

16 Chinatown official lightup and opening ceremony

6-10pm | New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Sen Street Kick start a whole slew of Chinese New Year festivities with the vibrant colours of the street light-up (till 8 March) and make some noise with spectacular live performances and the traditional lion dance. www.chinatownfestivals.sg

Heel before me

$36 | 7.30-9pm | WOOBAR, W Singapore It’s midweek and Ladies’ Nite too! ‘Shoe’ all your cares away on the dance floor. Ladies, enjoy free flow Champagne included in the cover charge, and 50% off drinks from 9pm-12am. www.woobar.wsingaporesentosacove.com

www.invisiblespacessg.com

27 Tarts and cookies

$100 | 9am-1pm | Level 3, 21 Simon Road Bake up a storm with these festive CNY bites. The ever-popular pineapple tarts, almond cookies and German green tea cookies will be sure to vanish quickly from your table. www.chantilly.com.sg

coming up in February

8 Feb: Chinese New Year 14 Feb: Valentine’s Day 18-20 Feb: Chingay Parade 2016

Maka

# m a k a n o n b i t e s

on BiTES GUESS AND WIN!

Each month, we’ll feature a fresh makan place—whether it’s a new outlet of a familiar brand, revamped concept or completely new entrant—for you to guess what/where it is. Correct answers will be entered in a draw to win a dining experience with us!

jan: 5 readers stand to win DINNER FOR 2

Kickstart 2016 with an exciting open concept buffet venue by day and sultry dining destination by night, located in a grand hotel just 5 minutes' walk from Bugis MRT. Formerly the Olive Tree, this revamped and renamed European restaurant now serves up signature platters featuring house-cured meats, freshly baked flat breads, steaks seared to perfection and indulgent desserts. Look out for the live chef action at the Charcuterie & Cheese Room, Wood-Fired Oven and Charcoal Grill while you dine. Give us your best guess between 1-15 January to dine at the restaurant on 17 February, 7pm! For full details and to enter, visit www.bites.com.sg/makanonbites

BiTES reserves the right to publicise winners’ names and pictures. By entering the contest, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to publish publicity photos and video in any format without limitation. Participants to ensure they can dine on 17 Feb at 7pm. More on www.bites.com.sg/makanonbites

n BiTES: Makan o anese Yumeya Juarpa nt Resta amed

Where: #01-01, 33 Moh

Sultan Road 7pm hen: 7 December 2015,

W What we ate: • Trio of appetisers: kimo Chuuka kurage, an ponzu, ise-ebi salada e • Sashimi moriawashi • Ikura chawanmus • Yasai itame • Grilled sausage e • Tempura moriawas • Tamago miso shiru • California maki • Matcha ice cream

While many might spend Monday night recovering from the week's onslaught of work, Makan on BiTES winners and their dining partners were treated to a nine-course Japanese omakase meal in bar enclave Mohamed Sultan. We dined at Yumeya Japanese Restaurant, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The sashimi was a hit, boasting fresh cuts of maguro, hamachi, amaebi, hotate and beautiful spheres of ikura. The tempura platter was battered and deep-fried a la minute, making for a crisp prelude to the savoury egg drop miso soup.

Other dishes of note included delicacy monkfish liver, Okinawa-style stir-fried vegetables and the California maki, a carb course made so tasty with pops of tobiko. We ended our meal with a refreshing scoop of green tea ice cream, before bidding farewell to the waitstaff dressed in yukata and taking one longing last look at the feature Scan the QR code for a wall of regional Japanese sake near slice of the door. Arigatou gozaimasu, Yumeya! the action.

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b i t e s auspiciously shaped as fish. In addition, there's the famous Marina Mandarin Yusheng ($88 for 5 pax, $128 for 10 pax) with fruity mango, strawberry, jackfruit, kiwi, pomelo and rock melon. This year, we've got our eye on their whole roasted goose ($298) and Blossoming Abalone Treasure Pot ($318 for 5 pax) filled with whole abalone, fish maw, deep-fried live prawn, pig's trotter, roast duck and plenty more. Orders from 18 Jan to 22 Feb. Level 5 Marina Mandarin, 6 Raffles Boulevard. Tel: 6845 1018, www.marinamandarin.com.sg/dining TungLok Group presents a grandiose fussfree feast with their Heavenly ($468-698 for 6-10 pax) and Royal ($368-498 for 6-10 pax) sets. These luxurious take-home dishes include the signature TungLok Treasure Bowl (pen cai), Prosperity salmon yu sheng and superior herbal chicken. The vegetarian

peach blossoms

Auspicious takeaways

Peach Blossoms never fails to impress with their innovative Cantonese flair. Check out the cheese nian gao ($38.80 for two); the sweet-savoury treat is

Festive dining

Centrally located at Prinsep and Robertson Quay, Red House Seafood Restaurant is a perfect spot for updated nostalgia. Feast on their annual dinner set menus (till 22 Feb, $588-988 for 10 pax), and get together for reunion (7 Feb only, from $288 for 4 to 10 pax). Must-tries are Singapore chilli crab in Red House chilli stew and Scottish blue lobster with creamy custard sauce. A take-home tiffin set ($188 for 6 pax) comprising sauteed trio of seafood with pineapple in chef’s spicy sauce and braised pork belly with special sauce is also available. Prinsep outlet: Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm, 5-11pm; Sat-Sun & PH 11am-11pm. 68 Prinsep Street. Tel: 6336 6080. Robertson Quay outlet: Mon-Fri 3-11pm, Sat-Sun & PH 11am-11pm. #01-14 The Quayside, 60 Robertson Quay. Tel: 6735 7666

Red house seafood restaurant

crystal jade

option ($268-368 for 6-10 pax, only available at LingZhi Vegetarian) boasts Thai-style deep-fried vegetarian fish, fragrant rice wrapped in lotus leaf and a complimentary TungLok nian gao. Available from 4 to 22 February. www.tunglok.com Arranged to resemble an ancient Chinese coin are Crystal Jade’s homemade traditional cakes ($39.80). The boxes of carrot cake, yam cake, water chestnut cake, egg cake and glutinous rice cake are available from 15 Jan at selected outlets. Pre-order online from 4 Jan. Tel: 6512 6833, www.crystaljade.com Spruce up your lo hei this Lunar New Year with Pince & Pints’ lobster yu sheng ($88). pince The crustacean, & pints also known as the Dragon of the Sea, symbolises strength and good fortune in Chinese mythology. Steamed live lobster and salmon sashimi adorn this platter of otherwise traditional yu sheng. Pre-orders: 4-24 Jan; collection: 3-6 Feb. 32-33 Duxton Road. Tel: 6225 7558

CNY snackables

fort by maison ikkoku

Celebrate Chinese New Year your own way with modern tipples by Ethan Leslie Leong, accompanying a four-course dinner at FORT by Maison Ikkoku (till 29 Feb, $48 and $88 with cocktail pairing). Sip on lemongrass infused sake with pan seared Hokkaido scallops with a touch of edible gold flakes; a refreshing cocktail made with daisy caviar with roast goose; whiskey, bitters and citrus sugar with salmon steak and fruits; and spiced rum with caramel, passion fruit and Himalayan salt, with citrus sorbet. Reservations recommended. Daily 4pm-12am. 5 Cox Terrace. Tel: 6336 0507

Prima Deli’s laksa cookies ($18.80/tin), made with the same bestselling Prima taste laksa sauce mix, will spice things up. Otherwise, try their new Supreme pineapple tarts ($23.80/tin), made with Sarawak pineapples, or their usual range of Pillow ($18.80/tin), Fortune ($1.80 each) and cheese ($18.80/tin). Early birds (4-17 Jan), receive one free tin of pineapple tarts with every two Pillow or cheese varieties. www.primadeli.com No time to fire up the oven? Bakerzin’s box of nine good luck cookie packs ($29.80, 8pcs/pack) has got you covered. What’s new: choco-nutty oat, Rosey Posie, perky citrus and peanut choc-chip with sea salt; what’s back: nutty cashew and mac-coconut. They’ve also got kueh lapis in vanilla and coffee ($26/48) or chocolate ($28/52). www.bakerzin.com It’s a reunion of flavours with Dancing Chef Suki Sauce ($2.85). The condiment pairs well with meats and veggies, balancing spicy and sweet. D.I.Y. dipping sauce equations: fresh chillies + herbs & spices = special suki; lime + special suki = tangy suki; and so on. Tiger Radler mandarin orange ($17.80, 6 x 323ml pack)'s mandarin orange juice adds punch (but with just 2% alcohol)— especially when paired with traditional treats like bak kwa, chilli crab and love letters. Yum seng!

Jolly Japanese

Monster Curry conquers the east with its latest outlet at bustling Parkway Parade. Beat the hunger pangs with the Combo Curry ($25) that packs enough pork katsu, fried fish, pork shabu shabu, shrimp tempura and cheese for two, or opt for your fave seafood or meat plates. The natto and egg curry ($13) is ideal for a protein-packed meal, while the cheese pork katsu ($14) makes us belly happy with fresh mozzarella stuffed into the crispy pork. There are five flame levels, from zero to ‘monster hot’—which are you? Daily 11am-10pm. #01-11 Parkway Parade, 80 Marine Parade Road. Tel: 6348 6171

dark rum, lime, gula Melaka, peach) to your tab. MonSat 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-12am; Sun 11.30am2.30pm, 5.30pm-10pm. #02-06 Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard. Tel: 6837 0827

shinsapporo ramen

uma uma restaurant & bar

Although known for Hakata-style ramen, Uma Uma Restaurant & Bar steals the show with kushikatsu, or deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables. For now, the Osaka speciality includes pork loin, prawn and juicy scallops ($2-5, min. order 2 sticks). Other finger foods include addictive eihire or stingray fins ($10), brussels sprouts ($10), and charcoal-grilled yakitori ($2-3, min. order 2 sticks). Popular tonkotsu ramen ($14) aside, we really enjoyed the mazesoba (dry-mixed ramen with onsen egg, $14) and well-balanced bushi tonkotsu ramen ($16). Add also the tasty cocktails and drinks by Horse's Mouth such as The Black Pearl ($14/18;

Can you take the heat at Shin-Sapporo Ramen? Latest offering Fire Ramen ($15.80, advanced order recommended) is a visual spectacle of noodles set aflame after sizzling oil is skillfully poured into a nondescript bowl of ramen. After your eyes (and camera) eat, your tongue gets the full punch of hot garlic and creamy pork bone broth. Making a comeback is Tonkotsu Sake Ramen ($15.80), joined by new addition Abura Sake Ramen ($15.80), in which a vinegar base is balanced with Japanese rice wine, and served with miso curly ramen noodles, ajitama and shimeji mushrooms. Only at orchardgateway (#B2-04A/05, 277 Orchard Road. Tel: 6702 4906) and Century Square (#B1-10/11, 2 Tampines Central 5. Tel: 6783 6304) Men-Tei Ramen, known for its consistent Japanese noodles and scientific cooking methodology, has new menu items. We fell in love with mazemen ($13), a chilled dry-style ramen with a unique sauce of scallops, clams, kelp and dried sakura shrimps, and an onsen egg to mix in, and addictively al dente wheat noodles. The gyoukai ramen ($14), which pairs zatsubushi (dried premium fish) stock with a special shoyu blend or infused Japanese sea salt, is perfect for wet weather days. Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm. #01-01 Robinson Centre, 61 Robinson Road. Tel: 6438 4140 men-tei ramen

Gyuu+

Meat lovers take note: Emporium Shokuhin’s dry-aged beef from its onsite aging cabinets can also be enjoyed at Gyuu+ @ Emporium Shokuhin. This yakiniku grill offers premium picks at affordable prices, over the customised Japanese ‘smokeless’ grill tables. Start with an appetising hamachi ($15) or sea bream ($16) fillet, marinated with shoyu and topped with a cube of butter to be slowly cooked over the heat in an aluminium boat. Go big with USDA Prime sirloin steak cut (from $58 for 14-day age) if you want a meaty bite, or save yourself for the A5 Miyazaki short rib (from $48 for 21-day age)—the juiciest cut in our books. End with a chilled and springy Gyuu+ Reiman ($14) in bonito broth with the unexpected freshness of watermelon and cucumber. Daily 11.30am-3pm, 6-10pm. #01-18 Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard. Tel: 6224 3433

nikunohi

Affordable A5 Japanese wagyu also features at the famed NikuNohi yakiniku grill—you’ll find its only overseas branch in Singapore. Fill up the smokeless grill on the table with 23 cuts ranging from familiar to the deliciously exotic. We couldn’t get enough of the Premium Rare Plate ($48 for 150g)—showcasing three cuts such as bottom flap (flank breast with a sweet layer of fat) and tri-tip, but the Kiwami Ultimate Plate ($138) is worth the splurge for Chateaubriand, beef tongue, chuck eye, finest ribeye, skirt, and sukiyaki. Daily 11am-10.30pm. Eat at Seven, #03-316 Suntec City North Wing, 3 Temasek Boulevard. Tel: 6837 0263

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CRAZY ABOUT CHURROS

We dropped the news about South Korean chain Churro 101 opening its first outlet in Bugis+ a few months back. A second outlet at 313@Somerset has since opened, selling the same "Better Than A Boyfriend" branded fried dough sticks. What to try: bestseller dark chocolate churro ($5.40), classic cinnamon churro ($3.50) and churro set that comes with ice cream or hot/iced coffee ($5.90-6.80). #B3-49, 313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Road churro 101

Also saying annyeong is yet another South Korean franchise, Mr Churro. Its first outlet opened last month in ION Orchard. The first kiosk was opened by Jungwoo Hong in 2013 as a way to earn money to marry his

then-girlfriend. Better than a husband, then? What to try: 50cm original churro ($4.50) that's in a cute loop shape, nutty churro ($5.90) with dark chocolate sauce and peanut-almond topping, ice cream churro ($6.50, go for the Singapore exclusive banana milk soft serve). #B4-61 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn Finally a big shoutout to our homegrown brand, Churros Factory! Its spanking new sixth outlet just opened at Orchard Central, offering the full range of unique flavour-infused Spanish fritters. Fancy a Bouquet of Churrose ($28) or a 60-piece churros set for your party ($50)? Preorders and delivery service available; all products and ingredients from halal suppliers. What to try: special outlet-only flavours S'berry cheese cake ($5.50), mango churros with cream cheese mousse ($5.50) and blueberry velvet with jam ($5). Don’t forget sea salt caramel on charcoal churros ($5) and ondeh churros ($5). #B1-01 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road. Text pre-orders to: 8500 0700 Mr Churro

Lap up local

At 420-seater Palette Restaurant & Bar, food stalls range from Singaporean fare to noms from Malaysia, Hong Kong and Indonesia. New items include handmade ikan parang fish cake ($4.90) from Restaurant Ah Koong, baked rice with abalone ($18) from Ah Yat, and nasi tumpeng mini ($9.50) from IndoChili. No queuing needed ‘cause you’ve got a trusty iPad to order from at this atas food court. Daily 11am-10.30pm. #B120/27 Capitol Piazza, 13 Stamford Road. Tel: 6384 3359 As hipster as it gets is Singapore’s first yong tau foo tapas bar, Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen. The fusion joint is an off-shoot of the famous 20-yearold chain, and serves up head chef Warren Poh’s fu lin bar & dinner creations such as kitchen the moreish crab risotto, served with spanner crab, salted egg cream, tobiko and leek ($21), and Inka oven specialities. Think a beautifully burnished Iberico steak ($23), simple with toasted sesame and fleur de sel, and grain-fed U.S. beef ($25), juicy with red wine jus. If you’re craving YTF, there's seven assorted pieces in signature gravy ($8), or just head down at lunch. Mon-Sat 10am-3pm, 5pm-12am. 127 Telok Ayer Street. Tel: 6423 0311

AD O L WN EE ! R F DOO UR APP Y KED HOO

Ever wanted an App that is dedicated to your fishing adventures? The HOOKED - Plan, catch, snap and share App is the one-stop shop for any angler worth his rod. With three basic functions— planning trips, sharing photos, plus a news feed—and an easy-touse interface, the HOOKED App is perfect for fishing lovers.

To download the free app, go to the Apple App store and key in HOOKED - Plan, catch, snap and share.

Visit us at:

www.hooked-magazine.com

Like us on:

Subscribe to us on:

Available in:

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For iOS devices

#HASHTAG & App-enings

What’s trending on social media. (P.S. Like us! @bitessg on Instagram and BitesSingapore on Facebook) 30 minutes… is the average time for a Deliveroo delivery. Enjoy quality nosh from F&B brands like En Japanese Dining Bar, MEATLiquor SIN and Pho Stop. Just key in your postal code, order your #desklunch and even track your Roo Man. The service will go

islandwide by March this year. Order via the newlylaunched Deliveroo app (free on iTunes, use promo code “ROOAPP” to get $15 off your first order) or via deliveroo.com.sg 30 minutes… is also the average time for a foodpanda order to arrive, thanks to its in-house fleet of over 500 motorbike couriers and advanced delivery technology. New restaurants to browse: Sushi Burrito, District 10, The Assembly Ground, and Nandos; and an exclusive partnership to bring you comforting broths from The Soup Spoon. App available for iPhone and Android, and via w ww.foodpanda.sg

30 minutes… is how quickly you'll receive an order from Watson stores within selected areas of central Singapore via Honestbee. An array of health and beauty supplies, and non-perishable items is available

from the personal care store. Other stores on the Honestbee portal include supermarkets like FairPrice, Four Seasons Organic Market and Cold Storage (all same price as in store). honestbee.com What's RedMart Relay? It's an on-demand marketplace that gives customers the flexibility of shopping from RedMart's retail partners. This means hot meals, electronics and other items can be purchased along with the online grocer's own inventory of items. Runners, or personal shoppers, will personally pick up the items for you, but can make a consolidated delivery. The service will be rolled out islandwide early this year. Available on App Store and Google Play. relay.redmart.com Hey, hawker! This app (iPhone and Android) aims to bring shiok local food to your door sans the humidity and the queues. As with most apps, you can find out what options are nearby, and track the estimated time and real-time location of the riders. The app currently takes orders from several stalls including those in Newton Food Centre and Hong Lim Complex Market and Food Centre.

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Cafe H t Seat

What We Ordered:

Sukki had: Oreo milkshake ($9)—“perfect!” June had: Berry Bonanza milkshake ($9)—“so filling and healthy” Jeanette had: Smokey the Bear Shake milkshake ($9)—“interesting" We all shared: Mac n cheese, truffle with wild mushroom ($16), waffles and wings ($22), popcorn chicken with salted caramel popcorn ($16), truffle wagyu burger ($28), chocolate lava cake ($12)

In this column, we pick a notable personality to go cafe-hopping with us. At OverEasy Orchard’s retro-themed diner, Singapore’s first burlesque performer Sukki Singapora lets us in beyond the celebrity veil to get to know the geeky social misfit she used to be. By June Lee, Photography by Benjamin Soh

@sukkisingapora loves dressing up (and cake, lots of cake)

@shakeembuns The cheeky, all-American diner serves updated comfort food Sukki Singapora is telling me the names of her cats— Ivan and Seven of Nine—and the Star Trek: Voyager reference completely flies past my head. “When I was a child, I played with dinos and watched sci-fi films with my dad,” she giggles. She’s giddy with anticipation at the Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie, and confesses to enjoying Babylon 5. The ‘Katy Perry of burlesque’ and ‘Asia’s answer to Dita Von Teese’, Sukki is as big a geek as you can find. She was top in Science at school and was working in IT before the creative side of her personality took over, and her performing career was born. At just 26, Sukki is famous for legalising burlesque in Singapore, co-founding the first Asian Burlesque Festival, getting invited to Buckingham Palace, and paving the way for young women looking to express their sensuality through the new-old art of burlesque. But she’s also the same petite girl who had (and still has) really strict parents, was dorky (“speccy, bracey, totally uncool”) and nicknamed the Scooby Gang along with her studyholic friends in school, whether in Singapore or the U.K. (her dad is Singaporean, mum is British; both are doctors). We pause in the middle of our whirlwind chat when the lunch spread arrives. The excitable Sukki loves food, especially cake—“if I were a cake,” she muses, “what you see is what you get, but with layers. Something quirky in appearance but with a refined taste. I’d be a rainbow kueh!” True to form, she doesn’t deprive herself of food, immediately wanting to order everything on the

menu but eventually settling for waffles and wings with maple syrup—“mains and dessert in one,” she coos, tucking in with her fingers. Sukki is a social media fiend, personally managing 34.3K followers on Instagram, 6K on Twitter and 44.6K fans on Facebook alongside YouTube, Vine, Tumblr and Snapchat accounts. “I love social media,” she declares a little self-consciously, noting that “people demand access to your life. I don’t hide anything and I put myself out there because my fans are my friends. I know it sounds cheesy, but I have a lot of young female fans who I think of as my sisters.” Although she’s had her share of hecklers and sensationalist media, she says, “I try not to be cynical of the industry, and to set an example by responding with decorum.” Of being Asia’s first professional burlesque performer, Sukki feels the “massive pressure to get it right.” She went full-time just two years ago, and sees female empowerment at the core of burlesque. “For me, it’s about showing that you can be a strong woman,

#CORSETS

be respected in your career, and be tasteful.” She’s aware that her celebrity status has ushered her into an entertainment industry that “demands a size 0”, so she stays fit by going to the gym. “Don’t do anything crazy because of pressure,” she admonishes. “And let’s get something straight—corsetting doesn’t reduce your waist size and doesn’t change your ribs, so don’t do anything drastic. What it can do is make stiff ribs become more flexible so that you can wear smaller corsets while performing.” Sukki’s competitive Asian spirit is never far from the surface, no matter which industry she’s in. Bigger sets, gorgeous corsets, being in a different city every two weeks—it’s part of the job. “No matter what path you choose, just be really great at something,” she concludes.

@missjunelee from @bitessg meets @sukkisingapora, @jeanette_t, and Trisha from @mercurysocial

#SHOWGIRLLIFE How many:

The art: There’s

“Too many to count!”

no nudity, “the knack is in knowing how to remove a garment gracefully and not fall over.”

The latest: Steel-boned Sultan Queen with a 17.5” waist (pictured). She handplaced over 17,000 Swarovski crystals on this Indian design with a Bollywood influence.

Five years: Time taken to go from 24-26” to 17.5” waist in performance corsets (currently the smallest in the industry).

SOURCE: “From @kikucorsets. I’m a feminist, I believe in women supporting other women.”

Boo-boos:

“In my first show, everything that could get stuck, did. But it’s fine to make your audience have fun with you. That’s the beauty of burlesque—it’s empowering.”

Performance style: “Mine is New Orleans bump ‘n grind with a bit of Bollywood. It's not about sexiness but sensuality—80 percent of my audience are women.”

ADVERTORIAL

More the merrier

This January and February, the bigger the group the more you save at The Dunearnƒmaking it the ideal destination for reunions and gatherings with friends and family.

Squid Ink Pasta with Prawns, Scallops and Cod Fish infused with Lobster Cream Sauce

Chempedak Creme Brulee with Earl Grey Ice Cream

Chicken Leg with Rosemary and Couscous Tabbouleh

Lunch: Order three SETS, pay for two

Make the working week more enjoyable with a green, gastronomic sojourn. While located in the tranquil surroundings of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, The Dunearn is just minutes away from the downtown belt—giving plenty of time for recharging over your meal. Busy executives will appreciate the twoor three-course executive set lunches ($2835). In the former, choose from a main course and dessert, while the latter includes option of appetiser or soup. Diners in January will enjoy selections such as duck rilette salad or roasted curry pumpkin soup, while mains range between sirloin steak with mushroom fricassee, roasted rainbow trout and tortellini crab and lobster pasta with tomato basil sauce. In February, you can look forward to crusted salmon fillet, chicken leg or giganti pasta with porcini mushroom and white wine cream sauce. Rest assured you’ll end with a dessert to remember, be it lemon millefeuille in January or old fashioned butter cake with earl grey ice cream in February, followed by coffee or tea. Promotion*: Order three executive set lunches and pay for two. Jan-Feb, daily 11.30am-3pm

Dinner: Order five SETS, pay for four

Ever looked at an a la carte menu and wished you could try a bit of everything? Here’s your chance to design your own meal with The Dunearn’s Create-YourOwn-Dinner programme. The menu begins with two courses at $45 and three courses at $55 per person, with the option of topping up $5 for lobster and prawn thermidor gratin flambéed in cognac; $12 for a grilled platter; and $20 for grilled wagyu ribeye (marbling 8/9) with port wine sauce. From the ample variety of modern European cuisine, we can’t resist salmon carpaccio served with truffle salsa ($16)— though the new flamed venison carpaccio with sweet and sour fig jam ($17) is equally attractive. From the eight meat and six seafood options, guests often rave about the grilled lamb T-bones with roasted potatoes, and prawn and scallop aglio olio. Desserts satisfy every sweet tooth, from those who love chocolate to local flavours—don’t miss the new chempedak crème brulee with earl grey ice cream. Promotion*: Order five Create-YourOwn-Dinner sets and pay for four. Jan-Feb, daily 6.30-10pm

*Promotions are not available on 14 February 2016

The Dunearn, 1F Cluny Road | Tel: 6779 1811 | www.nuss.org.sg/restaurant.php?rid=6

Lobster and Prawn Thermidor Flambeed in Cognac

Taste of the Sea

Lemon Millefeuille with Mascarpone Cream and Raspberry Sorbet

c o v e r

s t o r y

16 Healthy startsto

2016

Been putting off a particular New Year resolution? If one of your goals is to achieve a fitter, trimmer, better you, there’s no need to revisit your fear of the treadmill or forgo life’s deliciousness with these manageable bite-sized feel-good suggestions. By the BiTES team

Eat your breakfast While a recent U.S. study found that your morning meal might not be the most important after all, we do agree it’s an excellent (and quick) way to start the day. Easy five-minute meals: overnight oats, chia seed pudding, yoghurt and granola/fruit, or scrambled eggs a la microwave. Alternatively, get the Morries 3-in-1 Breakfast Maker ($59.90 from lazada.sg), a toaster oven, non-stick frying plate and coffee maker all rolled into one for fussfree brekkies.

2016

WAKE UP RIGHT

ANOTHER KIND OF BAR Whole&Hearty (#01-84 Icon Village, 12 Gopeng Street) is an openconcept breakfast and yoghurt bar for wholesome breakfast takeaways (Mon-Fri 8am-12.30pm), with options of hot oats porridge, fresh seasonal fruit, cereals and granola. Pick a bowl size and fill it up—guilt-free.

Track your sleep Invest in a sleep and fitness tracker like the Basis Peak (US$149.99/S$211.50 from www.mybasis.com). The smartwatch offers sleep stage insights, measures heart rate and even notifies you to texts, emails and calls. Alternatively, the Sleep Cycle app ($1.49 from Google Play, free from iTunes but with $1.99 in-app purchases) uses sound/movement to determine the best time to wake you up. DON’T hit that snooze button—you’ll feel groggier instead.

Glass of warm lemon water Some of our colleagues swear by it, what with our extensive food tasting sessions and regular makan outings (#firstworldproblems). Squeeze the juice from a lemon into 0.5-1L of tepid water and raise your glass to power-packed nutrients (vitamin C to increase immunity levels, pectin fibre for colon health, and more), better digestion and a healthier liver—lemon flushes out toxins and helps your liver produce more enzymes. Best taken 15 to 30 minutes before your first meal.

WORK RIGHT

Snack well Sign up for the monthly snack packs from guiltfree.sg ($12.90 for first box, from $15.90 per box thereafter) and BoxGreen (www.boxgreen.co, from $15.90 per box). The latter even offers a Team Box optionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;your co-workers will thank you later as you all chow merrily on wild mushroom crisps instead of oily curry puffs or day-old doughnuts.

boxgreen

Boost energy Keep those additional cups of coffee and sugar-laden energy drinks at armâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s length! The latter will only cause you to crash afterwards. Instead, try adding half a teaspoonful of maca powder or Peruvian ginseng into your food or drink. The superfood from superlife.co ($43.90/100g) is grown in Peru and is high in protein, natural sugars, iron, potassium, iodine, magnesium, calcium and fibre. Other foods that can give you a boost include salmon (Omega-3), banana (potassium, vitamin B), nuts (almonds, cashews, hazelnuts), goji berries and raw cacao.

Eat balanced The Daily Cut (thedailycut.sg) allows you to customise their protein-rich bowls ($12/15/18) according to your needs. Go halal with Lean Bento (#0202 The Arcade, 11 Collyer Quay. Tel: 6750 4504. Meals $12.95-15.95), or YOLO (#01-01 Icon Village, 12 Gopeng Street. Tel: 6221 3029) with menu categories such as Build, Glow, Perform, Shapeup (#beachbodygoals) and Soothe (for the gluten-, dairy- and wheat-intolerant). Meals from $6.50 to $14.90. lean bento

#Desklunch Heat-it-yourself: Fitness Ration (www.fitnessration.com.sg) provides freshly blast frozen calorie-controlled, gender specific packs (from $61.50/bundle of 5 meals), or fitthree.com ($12.90/meal, min. 3 meals per order) with 'omnitarian'/low-carb options. Hot and healthy: Food Matters (sg.foodmatters. me; from $7/meal, glutenfree and vegetarian options available), Grain (grain.com. sg, min. order of $30 unless in Grain Hotzone) or Spinacas (www.spinacas.com; hearty food matters salads, min. order $30).

Get moving Aim to walk 10,000 steps a day. If you're on the Health Promotion Board's National Steps Challenge (stepschallenge.sg), you're walking your way to a more active life, sure-win rewards and even be in the running to win a holiday package worth $10,000. Registration has closed early due to the overwhelming response, but we hear Season 2 is in the works! Inactivity apps like the ones found on the Apple Watch and Basis Peak are a great reminder to stay active. You can #deskercise while typing emails too. We recommend doing seated salsa, calf raises at the printer and speaking to colleagues face-to-face.

#drinkMoreWater Dehydration can also make you feel hungry when you're actually thirsty. This leads to unnecessary eating and maybe weight gain. To be entertained by hunks while you hydrate, check out JOE & THE JUICE (#01-35A Chevron House, 30 Raffles Place. Tel: 6221 2126). The Copenhagen import serves up items like Go Away Doc ($6.90/8.90), a carrot-apple-ginger mix that is anti-inflammatory, and a cheeky Sex Me Up ($6.90/8.90), made with passionfruit, apple and ginger. Of course, get your joe fix ($3.50-7) and sandwiches ($10.50-11.50) there too.

c o v e r

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Go raw/green How about a raw food brunch at The Living Cafe (779 Bukit Timah Road. Tel: 6468 4482)? Dive into dishes like avocado cucumber soup ($8.50), RAWoasted broccoli mushroom pizza with marinara or pesto sauce ($19.50) and salmon and mango terrine ($20.50). This diet is said to help the body prevent and fight diseases, preserve essential food enzymes and even help with weight loss. A great place for vegetarian noms is Real Food's sprawling Killiney outlet (Tai Wah Building, 110 Killiney Road. Tel: 6737 9516) that's also a grocer with books and music for relaxation. Popular menu items are handmade dumpling soup ($7) and beet millet burger ($12.80). Loving Hut (www. lovinghut.com.sg) is a firm fave for PeranakanWestern-local vegan fare ($12.90 for Bali Bliss soba salad, $14.90 for All-Star the burger with non-dairy living cheese, soy patty and cafe vegan omelette).

PLAY RIGHT

Cook clean So you already know about good fats and bad fats, but what about oils? More people are turning to coldpressed, virgin coconut oils like Nakula Organic ($15.95/500ml at Cold Storage), a premium unrefined Sri Lankan product. Even for those who dislike the scent of coconut (you know who you are), the pure product is quite a wonder whether you’re using it in your coffee, rice and curries, toast or even your hair. The gently nutty and fragrant oil is clear liquid at room temperature, buttery and solid when chilled, and can even be taken on its own as a dietary supplement (two teaspoons a day). With a higher smoking point, it can also be used in stir-fries, grills and roasts.

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reveals how she and her two adorable pups keep fit and fabulous!

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Sweet treats Don’t punish your sweet tooth. Fill up on Brownice’s (www. brownice.com) guilt-free vegan ice cream that’s made from organic brown rice, fruits and nuts (seasonal Mao Shan Wang flavour ($6/scoop, $18/tub). Celebrate a gym bunny’s birthday with a cake from halal Delcie's Desserts and Cakes (www.delciesdesserts.com). Choose from vegan, diabetic-friendly, baby-friendly and gluten-free options like Cherry On Choc (from $50) and Banana Dulce (from $45). The secret's imported organic GI 15 agave, organic apple puree, calciumenriched organic brown rice milk, and Delcie's own non-dairy cream. A lean 96kcal treat with only 7.2g sugar and 3.7g fat per 100g serving would be Cocowhip (www.fb.com/ cocowhipsg), a vegan and biococowhip fermented coconut softserve.

Online helpers Get your fresh fruit and veg fix easily with services like The Fruit Club (www. fruitclub.sg, boxes from $30), Tangy Tangerines (tangytangerines.sg), LazyFruits (www.lazyfruits.com, free delivery for orders above $68) and Simply Fresh (www. simplyfresh.sg; weekly deliveries of organic and freshly harvested produce from farms in Europe, Australia and New Zealand; from $145). Other unique e-grocers include Sabine's Baskets (www.sabinesbaskets.com; $38-98/ basket of handpicked produce from local wet markets), SGvegetables (www.sgvegetables. com; includes meats, groceries, meal kits and toiletries, free delivery for orders above $65) and PurelyFresh (www.purelyfresh.com.sg; yong tau foo and fresh seafood also available).

Sweat it out There's national movement ActiveSG (www.myactivesg.com) and Community Centre activities (one. pa.gov.sg). For the hipsters, try Pay What You Wish Yoga SG (www.fb.com/paywhatyouwishyogasg), a ‘drop-in’ class at Hom Yoga ($27), or access a network of gyms and studios with a single Passport Asia (www.mypassport.asia; trial from $9.99) or GuavaPass (guavapass.com; trial from $99) membership. If you’re not willing to sweat your bank account balance, opt for free activities such as nature walks along The Southern Ridges trail and the recently opened Coney Island (accessible via bridges from Punggol and Pasir Ris).

Shop smart If you’ve been inspired by the KonMari Method (referring to THAT book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up), you would have also realised that decluttering brings into play having just a few good quality items instead of mass-produced. Enter 100 Good Things (#01-685, Block 2 Balestier Road. Tel: 9383 1047), an “ode to conscious living” by wellness practitioner Joan Koh. Discover the joy of simplicity, from an organic cotton scarf to stylish bags made from scrap remnants, or bring the goodness into your kitchen: cut out sugars by using non-processed organic palm sugar ($3.60) or raw forest honey ($13.90).

pay what you wish yoga sg

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. We suss out Chinese restaurants for your CNY feasting, get laksa-fied at five great wallet-friendly places and troop to student-friendly Rocku Yakiniku for our review.

Bites guide:

Lao Beijing #02-11/12 Velocity @ Novena Square, 238 Thomson Road. Tel: 6358 4466 It’s easy to spot this traditional-style establishment amidst the modernity of Velocity. Lao Beijing’s high-tea buffet ($16.80++, Sat-Sun 3-5pm) offers a limited but delightful range of northern Chinese food. Specials would include the zha jiang noodles, steamed juicy meat buns and the signature Lao Beijing popiah (only for 4 pax and above).

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

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

Perennial Chinese Buffets

[$]

Bao Today Rendezvous Hotel #01-02 Rendezvous Hotel Singapore, 9 Bras Basah Road. Tel: 6336 5258 At this outlet, relish a larger assortment of dishes from their menu of 31 items, with even more on their buffet table ($16.80++ Mon-Fri & $19.80++ Sat-Sun, 3-5.30pm; $19.80++ Mon-Fri & $22.80++ Sat-Sun, 6-9.30pm) in bite-sized portions. Go for the crispy supreme chicken wings, liu sha bao, sliced abalone, steamed sliced fish with homemade Nyonya sauce and pan-fried champagne sliced pork.

bao today rendevous hotel

Jin Shan Lou #01-05 Tower 2 Lobby Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Tel: 6688 7733 Helmed by master chef Huang Qing Biao who has been in the industry for close to 50 years, Jin Shan Lou’s high-tea a la carte buffet ($16.80++, daily 3-5pm) will delight your palette with Cantonese, Hunan and Sichuan flavours. Steamed black truffle pork siew mai, roasted duck noodles or rice, and traditional brown sugar sponge cake are just some of the items that will whet your appetite.

lee’s taiwanese

LEE’s Taiwanese #03-05 Jem, 50 Jurong Gateway Road. Tel: 6694 1588 The a la carte buffet ($16.90++, Mon-Fri 11.30am-5pm; $19.90++ Mon-Fri 5pm onwards) brings us a taste of authentic Taiwanese grub. Load up on favourites like pig intestines and Taiwanese bee hoon, signature Taiwanese beef noodle soup, sweet potato fries and crispy chicken chop. No MSG is used.

Crystal Café Level 1 Orchard Grand Court Singapore, 131 Kiliney Road. Tel: 6830 2020 A value-for-money find in the heart of Orchard, the Taiwan porridge buffet ($13.80++, Mon-Fri 12-2.30pm, Mon-Thu 6-10pm; $15.80++, Fri 6-10pm, Sat-Sun 12-10pm) serves up traditional home-style dishes to accompany your hot gruel. It’s a good spread that includes their highly-raved-about braised pig trotters and chicken feet, and assorted desserts like durian pengat. We can see why Crystal Café has been around for over a decade. Hotpot Culture #04-102A Gallerie @ Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard. Tel: 6338 7873 Besides their signature hotpot buffet, the mini restaurant has a hearty lunch porridge spread ($8.80++, MonFri 12-2.30pm & Sat-Sun 12-3pm) too. Have your fill of Teochew-style sweet potato porridge with 24 accompanying buffet dishes like mapo tofu, hairy gourd, chye poh egg and kong bak pao. Free-flow homemade barley is on the house too. Jade Restaurant G/F Fullerton Hotel Singapore, 1 Fullerton Square. Tel: 6877 8188 Take fine dining to a new level with their weekend a la carte dim sum brunch buffet ($38++, Sat-Sun 11am12.45pm & 1.15-3pm). Soak up the rich heritage of your surroundings as you savour dishes like deep-fried taro paste with truffle and mushroom, braised pork knuckle with ginger and sweet vinegar, and steamed osmanthus flavoured barbecued pork bun.

jin shan lou jade restaurant

LingZhi Vegetarian [ ] #03-09 Velocity @ Novena Square, 238 Thomson Road. Tel: 6538 2992 A healthier option for hotpot and dim sum buffet fare ($22.80++, Mon-Thu and $24.80++, Fri-Sun 11am-3pm; $24.80++, Mon-Thu and $26.80++, Fri-Sun 6-10pm). Sweet potato, shiitake mushrooms and vegetarian kelp, are just some of the delights on offer. For something lighter they also have the weekend high-tea buffet ($14.80++, Sat-Sun 3-5pm) that serves mainly dim sum like crisp fried yam croquettes and steamed siew mai.

lingzhi vegetarian

Si Chuan Dou Hua PARKROYAL on Beach Road, 7500 Beach Road. Tel: 6505 5722 If you appreciate the burn from mala, this is the first place you should try (60 dishes deluxe feast: $40++, Mon-Thu & $45++, Fri-Sun 11.30am-2.30pm, 6.3010.30pm). The signature spicy-sour flavours are prevalent in most dishes, though there are exceptions like steamed bird’s nest prawn dumpling and deep-fried potato fritter with minced meat. For that numbing kick, try the Chong Qing diced chicken with dried chilli and the signature mapo tofu. Don’t miss out on the skilled tea masters’ performance as they serve you hot teas from a long spouted kettle. Swatow Seafood Restaurant #02-602 Block 181 Toa Payoh Lorong 4. Tel: 6363 1717 For Hong Kong style dim sum, opt for the high-tea buffet ($24 nett, Mon-Fri; $27 nett, Sat-Sun 3-5pm), where you’ll order from retro roving pushcarts. Must-tries are their custard buns, char siew puffs and century egg porridge. Kueh pie tee, shark’s fin soup and duck meat roll are also part of the buffet, but are only limited to one serving per person. Reservations recommended.

quality cafÉ

swatow seafood restaurant

yum cha

TungLok Seafood Various locations including #11-05 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road. Tel: 6834 4888 Located in the heart of Orchard, you’ll be glad to find a hearty a la carte dim sum buffet spread ($26.80++, Sat 11.30am-3pm and Sun 10am-3pm, $38.80++, daily 6-10.30pm) which includes cold cuts like salmon sashimi and mini octopus, as well as salads on top of the usual dim sum fare. Xin Man Yuan Vegetarian Restaurant [ ] #03-32 People’s Park Centre, 101 Upper Cross Street. Tel: 6438 0048/ 6536 5517 Here’s another vegetarian dim sum place you should stop by for lunch ($18.80++, Mon-Fri and $23.80++, Sat-Sun 11am-2.30pm). Gather your like-minded ‘kakis’, minimum four diners, and nosh on delicious chestnut siew mai, mushroom and spinach dumpling, and authentic Asian noodle dishes.

hai tien lo

Yum Cha #02-01, 20 Trengganu Street. Tel: 6372 1717 Picture traditional push carts, wooden chairs, and friends and family gathered with food and tea around marble tables. This Chinatown establishment’s weekday high-tea buffet ($23.80++, Mon-Fri 3-6pm) showcases over 60 Cantonese dim sum dishes. Staples such as har gao and siew mai are excellent, but do order new items like colourful seafood with pea shoot dumpling. The crispy red bean paste with banana filling, mini egg tarts and fried spring rolls are also not to be missed.

[$$] Quality Café G/F Quality Hotel Marlow, 201 Balestier Road. Tel: 6359 6856 Be bowled over by their Taiwan porridge buffet ($20.80++, Mon-Thu and $22.80++, Fri-Sun 6-10pm; $12.80++, Mon-Thu and $14.80++, Fri-Sun 10.30pm12.30am). It boasts 31 a la carte dishes like braised pork belly with dark soya sauce, fried omelette with chye poh and sauteed chicken with dried chilli.

Hai Tien Lo Level 3 Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard. Tel: 6826 8240 If you’re looking for traditional Cantonese cuisine with a modern twist, Hai Tien Lo’s dim sum lunch buffet ($56++, Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm) fits the bill. Indulge in deep-fried taro balls with minced chicken and quail egg, and steamed pork and prawn dumplings with fish roe. Finish your feasting on a sweet note with the complimentary chilled homemade beancurd with bird’s nest.

b u f f e t

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under $50 Laksa Buffets

plaza brassiere

NETT

King’s Laksa steamboat The star of the a la carte spread here ($18.80+, Thu-Tue 11am-2pm; $23.80+, Thu-Tue 2-11pm, Wed 4-11pm) is definitely the signature laksa soup base. Other broths include mala, chicken and seafood. Boasting a total of 60 to 70 food items, including cooked food, this cosy, air-conditioned shophouse keeps things unpretentious yet hearty. 17 Teck Chye Terrace. Tel: 6287 8010

Mitzo Level 4 Grand Park Orchard, 270 Orchard Road. Tel: 6603 8855 The first dim sum and mixology tasting of its kind, Mitzo’s a la carte dim sum buffet brunch ($118++ with free-flow cocktails, wines and beers, or $68++ for just food, Sat-Sun 11.30am-2.30pm) reinvents the

The flavours of Singapore at Spices Café lunch buffet ($39 nett, Mon-Fri 12-2.30pm) showcases herbal chicken soup and rich Peranakan cuisine with their ayam buah keluak and sambal udang petai. Don’t forget to indulge in the rich broth and thick rice noodles from the laksa live station dished out hot and fresh upon order too. Concorde Hotel Singapore, 100 Orchard Road. Tel: 6739 8370

Penang ST. Buffet

]

Housed in a jom balik kampong setting, this eatery’s Melaka lok lok steamboat buffet ($35.20 nett, Sat-Sun 6.30-10pm) brings you street food in style. In addition to the much-needed laksa broth, choose from three other soup bases: satay, tom yum and chicken. Bask in the fireworks show every Saturday from Resorts World Sentosa at 8.30pm as you chomp down on your food. Reservations required. 30 Imbiah Walk (Costa Sands Sentosa). Tel: 8457 7044

Jing Seafood Restaurant #01-02/03 One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Road. Tel: 6224 0088/ 6224 0033 As you walk in, the art installation Panorama of Jing (2008) will catch your eye with its use of acrylic, fabric and wood. But what really draws you to the restaurant is their weekend a la carte brunch buffet ($48++, SatSun 12-2.30pm including free-flow Chinese tea). Fill your table with assorted dim sum, deep-fried soft shell crab in salted egg yolk, and ee-fu noodles with golden mushrooms. Don’t forget the chef’s recommendations of Monk Jumps Over the Wall with black truffle and stewed half Boston lobster (additional $18++ for each portion).

The restaurant’s full length windows let in natural light, creating a spacious area that provides for a relaxing dining experience. Local, continental as well as regional favourites are featured in their full splendour here, from soft shell crab to Hainanese chicken rice. But the seafood laksa, their signature dish, is a must-try from the lunch buffet spread ($44.70 nett, Mon-Fri and $45.90 nett, Sat-Sun 12-3pm). Level 1 PARKROYAL on Beach Road, 7500 Beach Road. Tel: 6505 5710

Spices Café

Can’t live without laksa? These feasts will sort out your cravings.

Fara’s Restaurant [

Plaza Brassiere

Penang St. Buffet [

]

Indulge in a Penang feast without having to cross the Causeway (90 minutes buffet: $19.90 nett, Mon-Fri and $24.60 nett Sat-Sun; $27 nett Mon-Thu and $31.70 nett Fri-Sun, 5.30-10pm). Penang rojak, Hokkien prawn noodles and lor bak are highlights, but the main star is the leaner Penang assam laksa, said to be under 500 calories! Also, be “crab-tivated” by their annual crab buffet where you’ll be able to feast to your heart’s content on the crustaceans in a variation of styles and sauces. #05-11/12 Causeway Point, 1 Woodlands Square. Tel: 6894 7872

yan ting

Spices CafÉ

conventional Chinese dining experience by pairing Cantonese delights with cocktails. Intricately plated dishes like the black custard bun, wasabi-infused baked fish and crystal vegetable dumplings are all worth a mention. Not forgetting the carbs—try their braised truffles udon and fried rice with egg, char siew and vegetables. Reservations recommended.

[$$$] Yan Ting Level 1 The St. Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Road. Tel: 6506 6887 Have a fine affair at Yan Ting’s sumptuous a la carte dim sum brunch buffet ($108-168++, Sat-Sun 10.30am12.30pm & 1-3pm). From steamed pork and shrimp dumpling with black truffles to double-boiled bamboo fungus consomme with cabbage and mushroom, as well as other traditional seafood and delectable desserts, your cravings are all covered with their spread. The pricier buffet includes free-flow “R” de Ruinart Brut champagne.

buffet r ev iew Rocku yakiniku Bugis+ 16 Dec, 12.30pm $13.90++ (Stud

ents, Mon - fri)

Usual $15.90++

The student edition With the looming presence of our chaperone writer, the two youngest B i TES staff take on the student specials at Rocku Yakiniku Japanese Charcoal Grill.

First impressions: What caught our attention and drew us in were the LCD screens at Cheng wei Sa the entrance, mantha displaying enticing visuals of the BBQ food, as well as the ‘loudhailer’ front-at-house hostess calling out. Stepping inside this dark alcove, we noticed the rise in temperature, thanks to the warmth emitting from the live charcoal grills. Mmm… we couldn’t wait to get grilling! The interior of Rocku Yakiniku was actually quite dark and it took a moment for our eyes to adjust. The flashing strobe/disco lights that shone across the bare red bricks painted over with Japanese inspired graffiti, created a hip and cosy vibe all around. We weren’t sure about the industrial and pop art mix, but the dim lighting prevented further scrutiny, and the grilling process really took up all our attention.

cool graffitilined brick walls create a hipster vibe

Based on the above advice, our top three favourites are: “… The wagyu beef, crisp grilled bacon and the pork collar” Cheng Wei said right off the bat, “No! The last one would have to be the grilled, chewy baby squid” Samantha protested, “Ew no. Not squid. The pork collar was juicy and tender, it deserves the last spot in our top 3!” “The pork collar was good, but not as good as the baby squid, fresh and yummy from the charcoal grill.”

“Buffet is life!”—Cheng Wei Not so hawt: During lunch, there weren’t many servers around, and it took awhile to place more orders for meat. It gets more crowded at night, so there’ll be more waitstaff to attend to you then. PARTY PEOPLE: Head over for birthday celebrations if you want to put your birthday pal on the spot. Get them to sing the restaurant a song instead with the in-house live band (Fridays, 7pm onwards), and receive a party pack for their efforts too. Final say: A fascinating experience in the heart of Bugis+. Great place for a casual get together with friends after school, and even for working adults after dark (they have beer towers to accompany you through the night too). A simple no frills, no fuss meat-centric place for students on a budget.

Additional Wagyu beef @ $5.90 per person

Reservation tip: Best to come in an even-numbered group. A grill table accommodates four people, and for a large company, you’ll be seated at the long tables (individual grill tables lined up). Food stations: There is a humble buffet island at one corner, with a small selection of cooked food items like fried chicken, edamame, chawanmushi and the all-time-favourite garlic fried rice—made from Japanese short-grain rice—that was so popular it ran out in the first 30 minutes of our arrival. Lettuce, tomatoes, oyster mushrooms, corn, appetisers, apples, pears and some colourful Japanese jellies also made an appearance. Moving on to the main stars, our meats! To satisfy that voracious appetite, fill up on unlimited servings of meats. The selection is made up of three beef and pork parts, three types of seafood, bacon and chicken. To start us off, we were served sampler platters; thinly sliced pork belly, pork collar, beef chuck tender and beef chuck short plate, and green mussels, baby octopus and baby cuttlefish. Besides these, add-ons include wagyu beef ($5.90 per pax, free flow), and prawns and salmon ($3.90 per pax, free flow). Don’t forget your sauces— spicy miso, ponzu and sweet miso sauce.

The kids’ take on grilling #1 How to grill food: “just piak (slap) it on the grill and wait”. #2 When to eat: “if it’s not raw, and not burnt, it’s done”. #3 To get maximum effect: “splash cooked meat with all three sauces consecutively—best of everything”.

Additional prawns and salmon @ $3.90 per person Starting array for the lunch buffet

All-you-can-eat buffet lunch special: Mon-Fri $15.90++ and Sat-Sun, PH and PH eve $18.90++. An additional 20 items dinner buffet: $29.90++, $15.90++ for kids under 9 years old daily, with an additional $3 on weekends, PH and PH eve. Free-flow beer and dinner buffet: Sun-Thu $39.90++. Open: Mon-Thu 12-3pm, 6-10pm; Fri 12-3pm, 5.3011pm; Sat 12-11pm; Sun 12-10pm The oh-so-addictive garlic fried rice. a favourite among diners, and us too!

#04-06 Bugis+, 201 Victoria Street. Tel: 6634 3313

d i n i n g

Singapore Botanic Gardens might be a freshly inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site (4 July 2015), but the 82ha verdant attraction has over 150 years of history. As an avid naturalist, Sir Stamford Raffles set up the first botanical garden at Fort Canning. After its 1829 closure, a new garden was developed by the Agri-Horticultural Society at the current site in 1859. It’s not only all things green though. We spent a leafy afternoon exploring, and uncovered plenty of hidden F&B options. By Meredith Woo, Photography Benjamin Soh

In-garden grub

Overview Choose from upscale dining options such as Corner House (www.cornerhouse.com.sg), helmed by award-winning chef Jason Tan. His elegant GastroBotanica cuisine gives equal weight to both protein and botanical elements on the plate (three-course business luncheon from $48). Then there's the aptly-named Halia Restaurant (thehalia.com/sbg/ halia-at-sbg) at the Ginger Garden with signature nosh like The Ginger Garden ($12) and Spice Islands marinated lamb loin ($44). Adjourn to new extension Villa Halia for The Wine Bar, the Courtyard and the Gallery Room.

the dunearn

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national orchid garden

golden shower arches palm valley

THE DELL

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VANDA MISS JOAQUIM

burkill hall

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ginger garden

orchid plaza girl on a bicycle

VANDA MISS JOAQUIM

sun garden

swan lake

rain forest sundial garden

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holl and road

Island Creamery (#01-03) Way before the explosion of the artisanal ice cream parlours, we had to take a bus ride to Serene Centre for our Island Creamery fix. Its signature flavours include teh tarik, pulut hitam, Horlicks, Tiger sorbet and pineapple tart. Order a whole mudpie ($45), baked Alaska ($35) or Reverso ($38, fresh cream with chocolate balls and sponge fingers) for your chill party. www.islandcreamery.com PROPOSED XPANSION

TEMBUSU TREE

bonsai

BANDSTAND

frangipani garden

HOLTTUM HALL

risis gardens shop@tanglin

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Food Canopy (Raffles Building, Nassim Gate) Remember to return your tray at this eco-conscious food court with a green roof. Tuck into ayam penyet ($5.50), cold crab (from $20), eggs ben ($8.90) and truffle fries ($5.90). foodcanopy.com.sg

We dodged the storm and quickly found shelter thanks to Singapore Botanic Gardens Navigator app (iTunes only). It has an offline interactive map of the Gardens, D.I.Y. trails and info of attractions and events.

island creamery

mr prata

Casa Verde (Nassim Gate, Visitor Centre) Craving wood-fired pizzas (from $24) and other classic Italian dishes? Head to the newly renovated Casa Verde (A.K.A. Green House) with your family and pooch in tow. Fusion dishes like laksa aglio olio ($18) and heritage chow like Hainanese pork chop ($13) are also on the menu. www.casaverde.com.sg

Digital green

La Petite Cuisine (#01-02) A Serene Centre stalwart since 2006. The wooden tables and chairs are dressed in a retro red-and-white checked tablecloth, with a red brick feature wall. Come here for homely, affordable French dishes like escargot (six pieces) with croissant and salad ($15) and confit de canard with gratin potato ($17.50). All prices nett. www.fb.com/lapetitecuisinebistro

The Dunearn (House 1F, NUSS Guild House, Bukit Timah) Our go-to restaurant for contemporary Western cuisine whenever we’re in the area. Choose to dine out at the terrace for a splendid view of the lush foliage. Go for their executive set weekday lunch menus (from $28) or a create-your-own prix fixe dinner (from $45). www.nuss.org.sg/restaurant. php?rid=6

Evans Lodge (26 Evans Road) The quaint building is a student hostel and also home to popular eateries like Wildfire Burgers, Assembly Coffee and 24-hour Mr Prata. However, the place has been in shambles since last August, when the master tenant was put into voluntary liquidation. At press time, The Wine Company has moved out. In the meantime, we soaked up the charm while savouring a cappucino ($4.50) and PB&J cupcake ($7) at Assembly Coffee. We went for seconds at Mr Prata: masala prata ($3), fish and chicken chip ($7.50), Mr Prata mutton set meal ($7.50) and Italian prata ($7.50).

Overview Home to Bibinogs Kids Academy (#02-05/06), Decofix DIY Store (#01-06/07), Brick Station (#02-16A) for your Lego needs, hair salons and even a McDonald's (#01-01). This humble mall has served the Bukit Timah community— and students—since the early 1980s.

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Green range

Serene Centre (10 Jalan Serene)

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Must-visits

Assembly coffee

swan lake ENTRANCE TO RAIN FOREST food canopy

expansion plans

This year, look out for the Learning Forest (Tyersall area), which will be progressively opened to the public. The nature area within the Gardens will also be expanded to 20ha, up from the existing 6ha of rainforest. Rare species of trees like the damar hitam gajar and the giam will be planted, and a freshwater swamp will have boardwalks and viewing decks for visitors. The Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden extension will also be open by 2018.

e ge ad ita tre ro h e rbbe r ny c lu ru

Swan Lake Built in 1866 and formerly known as the Main/ First Lake. When we visited, two beautiful mute swans were gliding gracefully on the picturesque water. Cross the bridge and look for The Dell, an area dating back to 1882 originally designed to cultivate and showcase ferns. This hidden nook is undisturbed, save for the sound of traffic. National Orchid Garden Usually $5/entry, but ours was waived due to the school holiday promo (till 3 Jan). Inside, you'll find over 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids of orchids–products of the Gardens' orchid breeding programme that began in 1928. Head to the Tan Hoon Siang Misthouse for rare, unique and award-winning orchid cultivars; and the VIP Orchid Garden for the Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana.

Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Museum (Holttum Hall) Where professor Eric Holttum (Director 1925-1949) developed an innovative orchid breeding technique that stimulated orchid industries throughout the region. Step inside to view interactive exhibits highlighting the Gardens' rich heritage. Rain Forest We felt very small in this 6ha primary tropical forest as some trees were a massive 50m and older than modern Singapore. An easy-to-walk pathway leads you to rattans, fruit trees and the gigantic jelutong. Nature buffs, you'll find rare plants in this multi-layered ecosystem. Guided tours every second Saturday of the month.

#OOTD SPOTS

BURKILL HALL

Evolution Garden We travelled back in time, over three million years ago, to be exact, and encountered the 'dinosaurs' of the plant world. There are replicas of giant clubmosses, or prehistoric trees, and real fossilised remains of ancient trees. Pause for a moment beneath the bridge for your mandatory #OOTD shot. Waterfall (Ginger Gardens) It’s manmade, but cool nonetheless. Enter the cave and have someone snap you behind the curtain of flowing water. Leave out the geotag on your photo for added mystery.

WATERFALL

Burkill Hall (within National Orchid Garden) Wide-angle lens recommended. History geeks, this architectural beauty is being restored to its original state—an all-white building that’s possibly the last Anglo-Malayan plantation-style house in the region.

GOLDEN SHOWER ARCHES

Golden Shower Arches (within National Orchid Garden) Visit during a quieter time as it seems like everyone else is taking a #selfie or #OOTD here. The yellow flowers add a golden fringe to the verdant display. Symphony Lake When there are no concerts on the green, a low-angle shot of you meditating on the bridge or by the lake decorated with floating water lilies will look awesome on Instagram.

SYMPHONY LAKE

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symphony lake

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bougainvilla & bamboo collection

ah road

folliage garden herbs and spices

evolution garden

eco lake

national biodiversity centre singapore

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healing garden

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fruit tree collections

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river

THE DUNEARN

nut trees JACOB BALLAS CHILDREN'S GARDEN

RELISH

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National Icons

Vanda Miss Joaquim This hybrid orchid (Burmese Vanda teres + Malayan Vanda hookeriana; var. Agnes) was named our national flower in 1981. The perennial bloom was selected for its vibrant colours, hardiness and resilience to portray the Singapore spirit. Tembusu Tree Look carefully at your $5 note (Portrait series). That's the exact same tree that's standing on Lawn E. The evergreen Heritage Tree is said to be over 150 years old, and probably older than the Gardens.

TEMBUSU TREE

Bandstand The octagonal gazebo was built in 1930. Originally a small hill (33m above sea level), this was where regimental bands performed in the 1860s.

VANDA MISS JOAQUIM

Heritage rubber tree Sadly, the last heritage rubber tree toppled in 2013 due to rot at its base. But thirdgeneration saplings planted nearby (behind the Green Pavilion) still carry on its legacy. In 1877, the first rubber tree took root in the Gardens. The latex business was a major part of our economy in the early 1900s.

girl on a bicycle

Cluny Court (501 Bukit Timah Road)

Overview Just a hop and a skip away from the Bukit Timah gate of the Gardens and Botanic Gardens MRT station. Houses a Cold Storage (#01-02), various homeware/ furnishing/gift/kids' stores, and designer labels like Hanna Lee (#02-15) and Simone Irani (#02-17). A new addition is gourmet grocer The Fishwives (#01-04A).

bu kit ti mah gate

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nparks headquaters

risis gardens shop@ nassim gate

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Girl on a Bicycle Sculpted by Sydney Harpley and donated by Singapore's first chief minister David Marshall, the carefree depiction was installed in 1987 (Lawn O). Others in the series are Girl on a Swing (1984) and Lady on a Hammock (1990).

Da Paolo Gastronomia (#01-01) Easily recognisable by its al fresco awning. The gourmet deli cafe is a perfect pit stop before or after your trek through the Gardens, or your introduction to the Bukit Timah stretch. We like their authentic Italian coffee (from $4.50 for espresso) with a soup and pizza slice set ($9.80). www.fb.com/Gastronomia.BukitTimah Relish (#02-01) One of Singapore's earliest quality burger joints, having opened in 2007. Order a blue cheese and William pear burger ($21.90), or go for the open-faced BBQ char siew pork burger ($21.40). Share some hand-cut onion rings with curry mayo ($9.90) and a churro waffle ($15.30) coated in cinnamon sugar and served with a sea salt dark chocolate salt. Helmed by chef Wilin Low. www.fb.com/RelishByWildRocket

DO’S & DON’TS • Don't pluck plants • • • •

or damage park property Don't drive, cycle, skateboard, etc Don't smoke/no BBQ or open fires Don't feed birds or release animals Do leash and/or muzzle your dog, and clean up after them

s u p e r m a r k e t

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Silver abundance Symbolising surplus and prosperity, fish is a must at every Lunar New Year table. Even if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never handled fish before, satisfy everyone at your reunion dinner with these easy ideas. By June Lee B i T E S PAID FOR OUR OWN GROCERIES

Ginger Stuff minced ginger into cavity of cleaned fish, and place some slices on top of fish.

Place fish on plate, and steam the whole dish in a wok or other pot.

Coriander

Spring onion

Whole Red Snapper, 1kg or more (or any other white fish of your choice)

Egg

Kaffir lime leaves

Hai's fish curry paste ($2.09)

Mix minced fish with thick coconut milk, shredded kaffir lime leaves and rempah spices (we found a handy shortcut with this fresh fish curry paste!), and whole egg to bind.

Butter

Chilli

Coconut milk

Garlic Pour away fish liquid. Arrange slices of coriander, chilli and spring onion on top of fish. Place fish in roasting pan; make three slits on each side of the fish, and stuff with butter, garlic and paprika mix.

Oil

Woh Hup sesame oil ($3.30)

Tai Hua seafood soy sauce ($2.60)

Heat oil in a small pan till very hot. Pour over on top of the fish. Mix in a bit of sesame oil for extra fragrance.

For Traditional parents

Chinese steamed fish

Banana leaf

Paprika

Put a scoop of fish paste on each banana leaf, and use half a toothpick to secure each end (or staple it for much easier handling).

ALH rice wine ($1.90) Salt Coat the fish with salt, pepper and a fine smoked olive oil. Finish with a good glug of light soy sauce mixed with rice wine over the hot dish.

Garnish with choice of herbs and lemon slices, and bake for 20 mins till it flakes easily.

Pepper

Castillo de Canena oak-smoked olive oil ($19, Secrets Fine Foods) Steam or grill for 10 minutes, till cooked.

multicultural entertaining

For modern couples

Baked snapper

Otah

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Red hot and ready New year, new cooking challenges. Fire up your kitchen with fresh new gadgets and accessories in the luckiest colour of the season. By Samantha Seah

Rachel Ray stoneware oil dispensing bottle Contemporary and playful, this celebrity chef’s olive oil dispensing bottle adds a touch of fun to your table all year-round. Not only does the opaque and non-porous interior prevents oxidation, preserving the taste of your olive oil, the fitted grip and proportioned sprout work together to provide that perfect pour control.

US$16.99 (S$23.91) from www.rachaelraystore.com

Tupperware Fusion Master Mincer Make chicken bak kwa, beef burgers, prawn balls, yong tau foo, stuffed sea cucumbers and even sausages with this handy new product from Tupperware. The Fusion Master Mincer attaches firmly to a smooth table top via a suction cup despite its small footprint. It is also sturdy and a cinch to clean with its few easy-to-remove parts. Great for cutting out unwanted salt, fat, sugar and preservatives from your family's diet.

$169 from Tupperware Brands, #01-00, 85 Defu Lane 10. Tel: 6285 3988

Sodastream Play Create homemade fizz this Chinese New Year and yum seng with friends and family to good health and prosperity! This easyto-use machine lightly carbonates drinks using CO2 cartridges, allowing you to get creative with your own flavours and ingredients.

San Marco Magica Boncafé launches its new coffee and tea capsule system that allows you to be a home barista. The Magica Capsule Machine comes complete with a milk frother for those who love their java white. With San Marco coffee capsules (from $8.20 for a box of 10), enjoy six blends of varying intensity. Not a coffee person? Try their Brodies 1867 tea capsules instead–these come in breakfast, earl grey, green tea and forest fruit flavours.

$288 exclusively at TANGS at Tang Plaza, 310 Orchard Road, and VivoCity, #01-187 and #02-189, 1 HarbourFront Walk. www.tangs.com

Splash spoon rest Literally, add a splash of colour to your dining table with this spoon rest and avoid the drips and dirty tablecloths. Make your dining room a splatter-safe-zone with the rest of U.K. based Mustard’s thematic set of chopping board, lid opener and ladle.

£8 (S$16.94) from www.justmustard.com

$147.67 from www.sodastream.sg or Yeo Teck Seng, #03-00 L&Y Building, 59 Jalan Pemimpin. Tel: 6254 1511

Archipelago lobster dish May your plate never be empty this year. Entertain with these appetite teasers and everyone’s favourite luxe crustacean. Otherwise, set it on a stand and add to your marine or sailor themed space—it’ll fit right in.

$69 from Robinsons, #03-01 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road. Tel: 6216 8388

Microplane cube grater Microplane puts its most popular cutting edges: fine, ribbon and coarse styles, all in one compact cube. The grater’s dual-purpose catch feature doubles up as a measuring container and cover—making easy work of all kinds of cheeses, chocolates and vegetables.

$51.50 from ToTT, www.tottstore.com

Jamie Oliver bottle opener and corkscrew set Get party ready anytime with The Naked Chef’s stylish and functional drinks set complete with bar style bottle opener and nifty corkscrew. There’s even a recipe for white wine sangria thrown in.

$32.90 from Robinsons, #03-01 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road. Tel: 6216 8388

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Fresh finds We gathered a mix of fruity new drinks for a PALATE-CLEANSING start to the year—enjoy! By Samantha Seah

F&N Fruit Tree Cactus Mixed Juice Drink Price: $2.70 for 1L, $1.05 for 250ml Look past the thorny outward appearance of the cactus to reap a plethora of nutritional benefits—the F&N Fruit Tree Fresh Cactus Mixed Juice Drink is rich in antioxidants, soluble dietary fibres and Vitamins A, B-complex and C. Made with speciallyharvested cacti from Mexico and naturally sweetened with only pear and apple juice, the limited edition drink has crunchy aloe vera bits so you can #livejuicysg.

Allswell Golden Pear with Aloe Vera Refresh Price: $1.30 for 500ml, $2.10 for 1L, RedMart.com Always placing an emphasis on health and functionality, Allswell’s new Golden Pear with Aloe Vera Refresh is as nutritious as it is delicious. Harvesting nature’s goodness with their handpicked golden pears, this mild, cleansing drink refreshes your body, especially so when served chilled.

F&N Ice Mountain Sparkling water (Lemon/ grapefruit) Price: $1.20-1.90 FOR 375ML Ice Mountain Sparkling Water is a refreshing thirst quencher alternative that’s a cross between still water and a carbonated drink. Choose from two fizzy flavours: crisp lemon or grapefruit. #sparklefromwithin with this guilt-free and sugar-free revitalising booster.

Cocolex Price: $1.40 for 330ml. Enquires 6858 0179 Feel good, look good with Cocolex. It’s 100% pure, undiluted natural coconut water. Relatively new to the coconut water scene in Singapore, the makers of Cocolex have developed a winning formula—the drink is light with a rejuvenating taste and uplifting natural sweetness. Great as a postworkout electrolytes replenishment.

BOS Lime & Ginger ice tea Price: $4.50 for 250ml, RedMart.com/ The Providore BOS Lime & Ginger Ice Tea is a South African brand that is relatively new to our shores. This mellow tasting drink will rejuvenate any tired soul with its organic rooibos extract that's rich in antioxidants, electrolytes and essential minerals. Contains zero caffeine, best served ice-cold.

OISHI Green tea with honey lemon Price: $1 for 380ml Another addition to the OISHI family is the Green Tea with Honey Lemon. Brewed from 100% organic green tea leaves without agricultural chemicals or pesticides, the full-bodied beverage is married with the sweetsour notes of honey lemon.

SunMoon’s Lychee Luscious Price: ($2.95 for 265ml, 7-Eleven) SunMoon’s Lychee Luscious is a perfect introduction to its country of origin, Taiwan. The brand draws inspiration from the country’s famous Sun Moon Lake, and the flavour is of their popular seasonal fruit. This Halal-certified juice retains its original flavour and nutrients thanks to a high pressure pasteurisation process. Though not purely lychee juice, but with concentrates from apple and white grape, it tastes very much like what it claims: 100% juice and no added sugar.

F&N MAGNOLIA YOGHURT SMOOTHIEƒYUZU WITH ORANGE SACS Price: ($2.95 for 800ml and $1.20 for 250ml, major supermarkets) Load up on three times the amount of vitamin C with the new refreshing blend of fresh yuzu directly imported from Kyushu, combined with chewy orange bits in non-fat yoghurt from F&N’s Magnolia yoghurt smoothie range. Slightly sour with a smooth yoghurt flavour that goes down nice and easy, really perking you up during the 3pm low periods.

HOT ON THE SHELF

What’s new: OnePure mineral and sparkling water (glass bottle, $3.50 for 300ml from Cold Storage) Natural ‘factory’: Deep mineral aquifer over 730 ft (223 m) below ground, Ruahine Mountain Ranges in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand Mineral content (mg/L): 2.6 calcium, 8.52 sodium, 5.7 chloride, 1.47 magnesium, 3.86 potassium, 77.8 silica. Alkaline pH: 7.2 (which helps to balance modern acidic diets) Are you drinking enough water? The average urban body needs about 2 litres, or 9 cups of water, a day to keep it optimally hydrated. Instead of reaching for a snack, why not try sipping on a glass of water to help avoid dehydration and fatigue. Tasty treats: If you buy the best ingredients for cooking, make sure the water you use is also natural, not processed and from a high-quality source. Whether you’re making nut milks, chia seed puddings, fruity ice pops, or your usual smoothies, a mineral rich water like OnePure makes a difference. For recipe ideas, check out www.onepure.co.nz

Near-beer new year Your list of 2016 resolutions includes cutting down on booze, but It’s hard to stop oneself from cracking open a beer, especially when the season of reunion, snacking and feasting is just around the corner. We bust out some non-alcoholic options to find out which tastes most like the real thing. By Meredith Woo, Photography Benjamin Soh

Kirin Free

Sapporo Premium Alcohol Free

($19.70, 6x350ml, RedMart.com) Origin: Japan On the label: Malt, sugars, hops, acidulant, flavour, 38.5kcal Taste test: It’s legit when it comes to having zero alcohol, but taste-wise, it resembles cleanly flavoured tap water with an astringent (siap) mouthfeel. Slightly zesty and lemony too.

($19.70, 6x350ml, RedMart.com) Origin: Japan On the label: Malt, hops, yeast, acidulant, flavour, 42kcal Taste test: Strangely bland and left our tongues feeling scrubbed, and tasted a little like medicine. Sorry Japan, we can’t love this ‘beer’. Rating:

Rating:

Tastiest

Krombacher Pils Non-Alcoholic ($3.95, 330ml, RedMart.com) Origin: Germany On the label: Water, barley malt, hops, hop extract Taste Test: Similar to a medium-bodied flat beer with a faint musty flavour, like it’s been left in a cupboard. It’s smooth with a slightly sweet start and detectable hops. Close enough. Rating:

Hite Zero 0.00 Effes Zero Erdinger Alkoholfrei ($18.50, 6x330ml, RedMart.com) Origin: Germany Most beerOn the label: Folic acid, like Vitamin B12, 82kcal Taste test: Though marketed as an isotonic thirst quencher with reduced calories, this 'beer' has that full-bodied wheat taste. It’s smooth and smells like the real thing too. Can’t expect any less from this 130-year-old brewery. Rating:

Bar Watch Hombre Cantina dishes out unpretentious Mexican fare with recent updates to their menu, featuring the chicken tortilla soup ($7) and for a sweet finish, a different take on the churros—buñuelos ($5), traditional Mexican fritters. We tucked into classic street bites, such as the tostadas de queso ($17), hard corn tortilla with cotija cheese, and the enchilada, tortilla stuffed with chicken or beef ($20/23), dressed with mole sauce. For bar bites, or a companion to your chilled Mexican beer, go for their alitas ($10), deep fried chicken wings glazed with chipotle and Bang Bang sauce. Don’t know much about tequilas? They’ve got you covered with their Tequila Masterclass ($35) held once every two months. 53 Boat Quay. Tel: 6438 6708

($1.70, 500ml, Budget buy Mustafa Centre) Origin: Turkey On the label: Water, barley malt extract, fructose-glucose syrup, carbon dioxide, ascorbic acid, hops Taste test: A yeasty smell in-between that of banana and soy sauce. It’s sweet and light with a bitter aftertaste from the hops. Like juice from an unknown fruit.

($2, 355ml, Koryo Mart) Origin: South Korea On the label: Malt, about 60kcal Taste test: It’s pleasant with a gentle perfume. Watery but clean and smooth—just pretend it’s tea and it might grow on you. Rating:

Rating:

Nurse a cool bottle at The Tiong Bahru Club Singapura over their fresh Old Raj menu that boasts Northern Indian favourites from the tandoor, curries, naans, small plates and desserts. Western, local and Eurasian favourites are also available. Beers on tap include Hofbräu Dunkel ($7/12) and Asahi Dry ($7/12), with fourpint growlers ($44) for takeaway. Grab a Beerlao ($10/bottle), sip a Prosecco ($14/glass) or go for their signature Chaiholics lattes ($6.50). The quaint yet vibrant Tiong Bahru neighbourhood is a perfect spot to watch the world go by, from your tricolour vintage string chair. #01-88, 57 Eng Hoon Street. Tel: 6438 0168

Sneaky snackers

last

The BiTES’ team’s secret seasonal indulgences are secret no more! If your stash of Lunar New Year goodies vanishes in a puff this season, you’ll know why. By Samantha Seah Coming from Sarawak, June is fond of her hometown’s special snack—keropok topped with slivers of salty sweet Sarawak achar. “Fridge-cold refreshing achar on fresh keropok is the ultimate textural treat.”

Sam lives up to her surname Seah, with her favourite xia, or prawn rolls. “Oily spicy goodness with a great crunch to it when done well. It’s like the CNY version of potato chips that I can’t get enough of.” "The signature melt-inyour-mouth goodness of kueh bangkit is just too addictive, " enthuses Wee Nee. Her most patronised store used to be in Joo Chiat but has since closed. Luckily, the couple running it has continued to sell these gems from their home, so Wee Nee's still been able to enjoy it for the last five years.

Meredith just can't get enough of arrowhead chips, also known as chigu, or nga-ku in Cantonese. “Good ones are not too thinly sliced, not overly oily, brown or salty, and definitely not bitter. It's easy to go through a tin in just a day... Shhh!” Carlos loves this goodie that’s a traditional Indonesian cake— “I absolutely adore the soft chewy texture of bika ambon!” It’s also known as honeycomb cake due to the pockets of air created during the fermentation process.

B i T E s

"If it can be eaten, it's my favourite" laughs Linda, but if she had to choose just one thing, it has to be bak kwa. Her choice is Fragrance's signature sliced tender bak kwa for its softer texture, yet full flavour impact–the best of both worlds.

Ben just needs his kok zai—peanut puffs. “Grandma's handmade kok zai is the best. I'll break the pastry and consume the peanuts first.”

Cheng Wei, our second youngest intern, gets traditional with nian gao. Literally translated as ‘year cake’, it also symbolises achieving new heights. “It has a sweet and sticky texture from glutinous rice that’s really addictive.”