SG Magazine, Mar 13

March 13 - march 26, 2015

Drink green beer this weekend

Free inside: An awesome guide to Bangkok’s best restaurants

# 6 7 3 | S G M A G A Z I N E | PREVIOUSLY I-S MAGAZINE since 1995

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

what’s on what’s new what matters

Photographer Lavender Chang explored the one-bedroom HDB units of Block 12, reserved for the elderly.

See interview , page 5 for more.

food

neighborhood

new place

travel

What’s Wrong with Local Dining?

Why Alexandra is Hot

A Vinyl-Only Bar on Haji Lane

Taipei, Three Ways

march - 26, 26, 2015 MARCH 13 -13 MARCH 2015

Drink green beer this #jointhecrowd weekend

# 6 7 3 | S G M A G A Z I N E | PREVIOUSLY I-S MAGAZINE since 1995

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

St. PatRiCk S FeStival

what’s on what’s new what matters

Great thinGs happen when you Get toGether.

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

TUESDAY

kPO

MOlly ROFFey’S – DORSett

tiMBRe @ the SUBStatiON

MUDDy MURPhy’S

MUDDy MURPhy’S

Black Party with Guinness at KPO featuring Reverie Live from 7pm to 8.30pm and DJ David Tang from 9pm till late.

Free pint of Guinness Draught for first 50 guests from 7pm. Free bites and Guinness Draught for $10.80, with dart and pool games all night.

Singapore’s 19th Guinness Oyster Opening Championship 2015

Be entertained by #1 Irish entertainer in the Middle East, Paddyman.

1 Killiney Road (S) 239518

331 New Bridge Road #01-04 Dorsett Residences (S) 088764

Live performances by The Common People doing their favourite UK and Irish pop and rock hits, along with Guinness Draught promotions.

UNPlUGGeD SiNGaPORe Enjoy 1-for-1 Guinness Draught @ Unplugged Singapore and be entertained by local musicians Sylvester Sim aka Sly and Friends.

Blk 7 Dempsey Road #01-03 (S) 249671

lONGtail Guinness Draught all night long at Happy Hour price along with a selection of Irish-inspired Bar Bites from 4pm to 11pm.

70 Collyer Quay #01-03 Customs House (S)049323

FaBRika @ klaPSONS, the BOUtiQUe hOtel Guinness Draught promotions with Guinness-infused tapas served with live performances.

45 Armenian Street (S) 179936

See the finest chefs from all over the world meet and battle for the title of “The 2015 Oyster Opening Champion”.

111 Somerset Road (S) 238164

111 Somerset Road (S) 238164

hOOD BaR aND CaFé

MOlly ROFFey’S – BRaS BaSah

Simon & Allie live performance from 7pm to 9pm, Rush Hour live performance from 9pm till late.

Guinness Draught for $9 till 12am and $5 after 12am.

Free pint of Guinness Draught for the first 50 guests from 7pm.

Free bites and Guinness Draught for $10.80 served with live performances all night.

Photographer Lavender Chang 201 Victoria Street #05-07 explored the one-bedroom HDB units 51 Bras Basah Road #01-02A Bugis + (S) 188067 Manulife Centre (S)189554 of Block 12, reserved for the elderly.

See INTERVIEW , page 5 for more.

MUlliGaN’S

the New haRBOUR CaFé & BaR

$10nett Guinness Draught all night long.

2 Guinness Draught pints at $17.59 and launch of The New Harbour Guinness Loyalty & Privilege Card.

Blk C Clarke Quay River Valley Road #01-10 (S) 179022

15 Hoe Chiang Road Level 17 (S) 089316

114 Tanjong Pagar Road, (S) 088529

the NEW HARBOUR café & bar pte ltd

FOOD

st. patrick s street Festival NEIGHBORHOOD NEW PLACE From 13th – 15th march

What’s Enjoy Guinness promotions all weekend Whylong with live stage performances starting 14th A Vinyl-Only March at 3pm.

And join us at the St. Patrick’s Street Festival Parade that takes place 15th March at Wrong with Alexandra Bar 3pm. on Circular Road, Boat Quay Local Dining? is Hot Haji Lane

TRAVEL

Taipei, Three Ways

And many more participating outlets.

page 3 20 feature

What’s Wrong with Local Dining?

Tax Season Treats

5 top 20

8 film

Snacks We Used to Love

Coen Brothers Retrospective

Dear Citizens, Tax season has begun, and we want to reassure you that the government is evolving with the changing needs of the populace. So, to celebrate SG50, we are pleased to announce six new taxes and tax deductions that you can use to your advantage in the next couple weeks.

13 art

22 shopping

NEW DEDUCTIONS

Best of Singapore Design Week

7 Cool Stores in Tiong Bahru

Kopi consideration. Cafe chains Coffee and Toast and Toast Box have raised their prices by 10%. And as a morning dose of kopi-o is the backbone of the workforce, coffee and kaya toast are now tax deductible.

24 new restaurant

26 drink

Nude Seafood

Best Punchbowls in Town

28 travel

31 interview

Beer, Bikes and Hikes in Taipei

Why Local Musicians Need Foreign Influence

Dating app deduction. Tinder is now charging premium fees.

The government understands that it’s hard to meet someone you like. And we’re not making things easier by pressuring you to reproduce. That’s why, to increase the probability of SG50 babies, Tinder fees will also be deductible on your tax return.

Ticket treat. To encourage concert ticket purchases, we’re making them tax deductible. You’ve been spooked by the by cancelations of Hostess Club, Mos Def, Lykke Li and others, and buying tickets is starting to seem like a crapshoot. But citizens, your leap of faith is vital to the economy. Keep doing it!

NEW TAXES

Who's in charge?

Publisher & General Manager Ric Stockfis countrymanager@asia-city.com.sg

Advertising Director, Business Development Intan Agustina advertising@asia-city.com.sg

Editorial Managing Editor Mrigaa Sethi editor@asia-city.com.sg

Senior Manager, Media & Marketing Shernan Plameras Executives, Media & Marketing Lee Wee Keong, Roderick Wong, Joy Yao, Swathi Raj

Staff Writer Aaron Khoo Junior Writer Letitia Tandean Custom Content Editor Clara Lim Custom Content Writer Joyce See Intern Erny Luiza Kartolo Design Senior Designer Carmen Louise Ho Designers Fishy Toh, Celeste Chooi

Where to find us!

Bangkok Asia City Publishing (Thailand) Ltd 22/F, Silom Center 2 Silom Road, Bangkok 10500 Tel: 02‑624‑9696 Fax: 02‑237‑5656 bkmagazine@asia‑city.co.th Shanghai shonline@asia‑city.com.cn

Marketing Marketing Manager Silver Adrienna Ng marketing@asia-city.com.sg Marketing & Admin Assistant Geraldine Tan

Finance Finance Manager Lynn Legaspi finance@asia-city.com.sg Accountant Huang Huiping Group Directors Chief Executive Officer Gretchen Worth gworth@asia‑city.co.th Group Digital Director Greg Duncan gduncan@asia‑city.com.sg On the cover Photography by Lavender Chang

The Asia City Media Group

Kuala Lumpur Pacific Tourism Communications Sdn Bhd Lot 2.44‑2.45, 2nd Floor, Wisma Cosway, Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: 60‑3‑2144‑4886 Fax: 60‑3‑2141‑1911

Singapore Asia City Publishing Pte. Ltd. Block 211 Henderson Rd. #07‑02 Henderson Industrial Park Distributed by Singapore 159552 Tel: 65‑6323‑2512 Fax: 65‑6323‑2779 contact@asia-city.com.sg

entertainment & lifestyle

SG Magazine is published 24 times a year by Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd., 211 Henderson Road, #07‑02, Singapore 159552.

Tel: 65‑6323‑2512 • Fax: 65‑6323‑2779. Copyright ©2015 Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. The titles “SG Magazine”, “I-S Magazine” and their associated logos or devices, and the content of SG Magazine and I-S Magazine are the property of Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. SG Magazine may not be distributed without the express written consent of Asia City Publishing Pte Ltd. Contact the Publisher for ad rates and specifications. All advertising in SG Magazine must comply with the Publisher’s terms of business, copies of which are available upon request. Printed by KHL Printing Co. Pte. Ltd., 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968. ISSN 0218‑8872 MCI (P) 174/12/2014

free ebook of every issue

issuu.com/sg_magazine

4

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

daily updates on news and events

sgnow.sg

giveaways, updates, stories

facebook.com/sgnow.sg

Non-truffle tax. Singapore’s superior standards of living are a point of pride us. So it’s unfair to tax the very things that make your lives better. A new tax on F&B businesses will punish nontruffled items. This will encourage truffle on everything and make you proud to live in the Lion City.

Emergency zi char solutions. The AVA has been helping local fish farmers who recently and creepily lost hundreds of thousands of fish because of…something. But something has to be done for you, the consumer, as well. We are unrolling a tax break for the city’s zi char establishments so you don’t suffer from any price hikes resulting from the shortage.

Anti-cutlery measure. According to a very reliable-sounding local study involving 11 people, people who eat rice with chopsticks have lower blood sugar levels. Healthier citizens are good for the health budget, so we’re taxing spoon users. The rest of you: prepare for SG50 commemorative chopsticks.

Sincerely, The Government

latest news and trends

@sg_now

see what we’re up to

@sg_now

Singapore’s latest news, numbers and dramas at a glance

hot or not

Our biweekly study of the city’s burgeoning (and dying) trends

ob index Charting the ups and downs of Singapore's openness, tolerance and freedom of expression mar

Hot: Indie screenings

Not: Blockbusters

The Projector seems to have kicked off a renewed love for indie screenings. We’d much rather watch an old cult classic than a new blockbuster. Luckily, there are tons of both listed in this issue. Turn to Film on page 14.

Hot: Punch

1

The Singapore Department of Statistics has announced that data users now have access to more (12,000, to be specific) statistical data series on the SingStat website, a platform for online statistical databases. The department states that this is “in line with the government’s intention to make more data available to the public as we build a Smart Nation”. We guess that means that, if you’re a self-motivated math nerd, you’re going to troll these stats and come up with ground-breaking sustainability solutions. Go forth and save the island.

It’s all at www.singstat.gov.sg.

Not: Cheap drinks

Forget broody cocktails; these days it’s all about the communal spirit of sharing punchbowls with your friends. Check out our drinks feature on page 26 for our favorite punchbowl options.

be good

Expand the family

Hot: Design

Hot: Dancing

From starchitect visits to outdoor parties to DIY furniture prototyping, this year’s Singapore Design Week is quite exciting. Significantly less exciting was the long, slow death of Future Music Festival, whose organizers, despite repeated appeals, were not given a license to hold the event. For other upcoming events, turn to SG Now on page 8.

Interview

The local talents behind our covers

even offered me to have lunch together. I still go back to visit sometimes.

We first noticed photographer Lavender Chang when we came across her series entitled Block 12, My Territory, My Dignity, which depicts the interiors of one-room HDB units built for senior citizens with financial difficulties. We were so struck by the sparse quietness of the images, we decided to put one on the cover. Here she tells us more about that project and her upcoming show.

What were the residents like?

The residents were friendly. Some

Tell us about your new show.

I am a Seed Though a Different One From You is a new series that I have been working on for the past year. I experimented with growing varieties of beans in diverse mediums such as carbonate drink, Chinese ink, milk and blood— metaphors of the struggles and obstacles individuals face in life.

What’s your process like?

Humans are the main subject in my work. My artwork takes a very long time to produce because I value process. It requires me to engage people to be part of the process, regardless of whether or not you see them physically in the artwork— unlike street photography, which is more observation.

Catch Lavender Chang’s new show at Galerie Sogan & Art (16 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6440-4886), Mar 19-Apr 8. www.lavchang.com. Free.

MRIGAA SETHI

Founded in 2010, Gentle Paws is a privately run, non-profit shelter that is home to over 50 dogs. They provide these dogs with food, shelter and medical needs. However, their lease of the current setup at Pasir Ris is set to expire, which means they need to rehome as many of their dogs as possible while they find a new location. They will be holding several adoption drives through March for these pups, some of which are only three to six months old. Details on each upcoming event will go up on their Facebook page, www.fb.com/GentlePaws.

say what?

up front

throwback 20 We’re turning 20 this year and feeling awfully nostalgic. This week we are looking at the snacks we spent all our pocket money on.

1 Apollo Milk chocolate wafers at their best.

2 Fizzy Cola 20 cents would get you a packet of five. Life was much simpler back in the day.

3 Potato Wheels It might not be the most creative name but it’s still yummy regardless.

4 Gem Biscuits Who didn’t love these cute, colorful bites?

5 Wang Wang Picture Wang Wang’s face. Yes, that’s how we felt when we bit into these little crackers.

6 Bee Bee It’s crispy and it’s small and there’s just no stopping once you start.

7 Haw Flakes There were those who ate ’em all in one bite and then there were those who painstakingly separated them piece by piece.

8 Ring Pops Didn’t this seem like the coolest sweet at one point?

9 Push Pop Until the arrival of the Push Pop. Hey, you get to save it till after class!

10 Mamee Monster The trick? Crush well and shake manically.

11 Biscuit Piring Yes, these disc wafer sweets are actually called Biscuit Piring.

12 Whistle sweets These sweets single-handedly taught us the art of whistling.

13 White Rabbit candy At age seven, eating “paper” was such a mind-blowing event.

The best comments on our most popular web stories

14 Magic Pops Nothing quite compares to the riot that takes place in your mouth two seconds after popping these.

Jayantika Soni This country has so many rules that this might as well seem true! —on “Public drinking isn’t the only thing on its way out”

15 Super Ring Who cares if they made our fingers go orange?

Melody Amanda My mom does. And my entire office. —on “Got a hoarding problem? There’s a local startup for that” Lee Mun Wai VERY IMPORTANT INFO —on “Get drunk without going broke: Singapore’s cheapest happy hours” Gabriel Q Chan Ah those magical years in Singapore.... I’ll always remember them —on “20 Singapore shopping malls that were super happening back in the day” Tiantian Zhang To the West!—on “4 reasons to go to One-North and Portsdown this weekend” Be a part of the conversation at www.facebook.com/sgnow.sg

16 Hacks These probably belong exclusively to the ’90s.

17 Twisties This was before potato chips and Lay’s took over our taste buds.

18 Ice lolly tube Did you break them in half or bite off the top?

19 M&M wannabe Remember those fake M&Ms that came in a circular foil? Popping them gave us great pleasure.

20 Hello Panda We’re still addicted to this one.

For more lists revisiting Singapore’s history, visit www.sgnow.sg. JOYCE SEE

FRIDAY, March 13, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

5

26 - 29 March 2015 F1 Pit Building

Savour These Highlights!

Celebrity Chit Chat Meet your favourite celebrity chefs at their SAVOUR restaurants or learn from them at any of our FREE Celebrity Chef Masterclasses and Workshops!

Cheese Room For the first time ever, we are building a cheese room with over 50 cheeses from around the world to overload your senses including a 1000-day old cheese!

Sake Appreciation In addition to all the wines available, we also have a Sake Tasting area with more than 50 sakes! You can also attend sake appreciation workshops with our Sake Expert, absolutely free!

Get Your Hands Dirty Cook alongside your favourite chefs at the Hands On Studio. Learn to cook with our celebrity chefs as they teach you how to make their favourite dishes at home.

Oyster Bar After our Oyster Bar was cleaned out last year, how could we not restock? Get ready for a fresh selection of oysters everyday in the Gourmet Market.

Going Local We've also kept an eye out for local foodies who have taken on the F&B scene. Check out artisan producers like Nutteree, The Edible Company, Crateful, Drizzle & Sprink and many more! They'll be ready with tastings and a full range of locally made products that are to die for.

Have you gotten your tickets yet?

Voted Singapore’s Best Food Event 2014, SAVOUR is set to take you on another unforgettable culinary journey. Meet top local and international chefs and taste over 50 award winning dishes. Packed with FREE celebrity chef materclasses and workshops, PLUS a Gourmet Market filled with products from around the world, there is something for everyone at SAVOUR.

Artichoke Bjorn Shen

&SONS Andrea De Paola

Stellar@1-Altitude Christopher Millar

Garagistes, Australia Luke Burgess

Saint Pierre Emmanuel Stroobant

UNA@Rochester Jean Phillipe Patruno

Il Cielo Riccardo Catarsi

L'Entrecote and &Made Damien Le Bihan

Spathe Public House Claudio Sandri

Ku De Ta Frederic Faucheux

Candlenut Malcolm Lee

Bo Innovation, Hong Kong Alvin Leung 3 Michelin Stars

Kiin Kiin, Demark Henrik Yde 1 Michelin Star

Tippling Club Ryan Clift

Midsummer House, UK Daniel Clifford 2 Michelin Stars

OSIA Douglas Tay

Restaurant Ember SuďŹ an Zain

Forlino Yohhei Sasaki

Restaurant Andre Andre Chiang

Cocotte Anthony Yeoh

Main Partners

Media Partners

Ticketing Partner

now

The essential guide to what’s on in Singapore Send your events news to art@asia-city.com.sg, nightlife@asia-city.com.sg, stage@asia-city.com.sg

sat

thu

Mar 14

Mar 26 Official Media

Food & Drink Savour

aRT OH! Open House

After a two-year absence, this ingenious, ambitious art-in-the-heartlands project is back.

This year, they’ve invited emerging Singaporean artists like Guo Yixiu to install art in actual residences in Joo Chiat, and there will be a series of guided tours for viewers to experience art in a whole new way, as well as learn about the heritage in that neighborhood. Previous editions took place in neighborhoods like Marine Parade and Tiong Bahru. Mar 14-15, 2122, 28-29, 4pm. Various venues, www.ohopenhouse.org. $20.

thu

stuff PechaKucha Night

Mar 19

This informal event first took place in Japan and now, it’s been held in over 700 cities. It gathers creative-types who give presentations in a 20x20 format, meaning 20 images each showing for 20 seconds. Mar 19, 6:30pm. National Design Centre, 111 Middle Rd. www.pechakucha.org/ cities/singapore. Free.

This year’s edition of the foodie festival returns to the F1 Pit Building to bring more celeb chefs (both local and international) who will cook up a tasting portion storm. The line-up features more than 50 signature dishes from the likes of Artichoke’s Bjorn Shen, Tippling Club’s Ryan Clift and Restaurant Andre’s Andre Chiang, among others. There’s also a gourmet market peddling hard-to-find fruits, wines, cheeses, charcuterie and even cocktails.

The event also hosts masterclasses, cooking workshops and tasting sessions. Mar 26-29. F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Blvd., 6884-6940, www.savour.sg. $55-65.

THU

fri

Mar 19

COMEDY Magners Singapore International Comedy Festival

Catch tons of stand-up comedy acts (both local and international) when this comedy festival returns like Phil Kay, Joanna Sio, Andre King and more when they descend on riverside bars and pubs. Mar 19-21. Various venues, Circular Rd., www. comedyfest.com.sg. $20-70.

Mar 20

stage Warpaint

The result of an 18-month Directors’ Lab research project, this play chonicles Patricia Toh’s transformation as she challenged her body’s limits while training for a boxing match. Mar 20, 8pm; Mar 21, 3pm, 8pm. The Substation Theatre, 45 Armenian St., 6337-7535, www.substation.org. $15-20.

tue

Mar 21

Film Coen Brothers Film Series

This month-long retrospective includes favorites like Fargo, True Grit, A Serious Man and Intolerable Cruelty. A total of nine films are showing, including a special tribute to The Big Lebowski (Mar 21) where you’re encouraged to dress up like the characters and enjoy White Russian cocktails. Through Mar 31. The Projector, 5/F Golden Mile Tower, 6001 Beach Rd., theprojector.sg. $10-17.

8

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, march 13, 2015

thu

STAGE Repertory Platform

This dance production by RAW Moves comprises two performances: Singaporean choreographer Ebelle Chong’s Standing, Sitting and Lying Down: 7 inspired by her seven years of being a stay-at-home mom, while Taiwanese choreographer Chang Chien-Hao’s Floating Box delves into the mind’s perception of quotidian experiences.

Mar 26-28, 8pm. Goodman Arts Centre Black Box, #01-53 Block M, 90 Goodman Rd. $24-30 from Peatix.

Mar 26

Send your events news to events@asia-city.com.sg

MUSIC Musicians Unite!

Soundbites from various genres cross paths with familiar faces like Oli Hughes, Justin Bannister, Timothy Patrick, Yazeid Rahman and Tom Gilbert.

There are also special guests throughout the night.

Mar 13. Blu Jaz, 11 Bali Lane, 6292-3800. Free.

Blue Monks Jazz Jam The monthly Tuesday night jazz, funk, swing and Latin jam is like an open mic, but for music.

Join resident band The Blue Monks on stage.

Just bring your own instruments. Mar 17, 8pm.

Artistry, 17 Jalan Pinang, 6298-2420, www.fb.com/ artistryspace. Free.

Sunday Vocal Jam Take part in this jam session happening every last Sunday of the month with plenty of acapella singing to be done. This month’s edition will be taking place at the open stage area in the library@ esplanade. Mar 29, 3pm. Esplanade, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377, www.a-cappella.org.sg. Free.

concerts Reverb This performance by National University of Singapore’s Guitar Ensemble features a diverse repertoire with classical guitar sounds. There’s also a guest appearance by Turkish guitarist Tolgahan Cogulu. Mar 14, 3pm, 8pm. UCC Theatre Foyer, University Cultural Centre, 50 Kent Ridge Crescent, 6516-2492. $20 from Sistic.

Brooke Fraser This New Zealander folk-pop singer-songwriter makes her Asian debut with her latest album Brutal Romantic.

For super fans, there’s also a special meet and greet package. Mar 20, 8pm. Kallang Theatre, 1 Stadium Walk, 6348-7907, www.sproutentertainment.com.sg. $58-148 from Sistic.

Emilie Simon French electro-pop singer and composer—best known for hits like “Desert” and her cover of Iggy Pop’s “I Wanna Be Your Dog”—performs original tracks and covers. Mar 23, 8pm. *SCAPE The Ground Theatre, 2 Orchard Link, www.figure8-agency.com. $60-75 from Peatix.

Mew The Danish alternative rock band is back with tunes from their upcoming album set to drop in April. They’ll also be performing favorites like “Comforting Sounds” and “Snow Brigade”. Mar 30, 7:30pm. *SCAPE The Ground Theatre, 2 Orchard Link. $90-140 from Peatix.

Art After Dark

stage

comedy Talk Cock Comedy Join Singaporean comic Jonathan Atherton at this weekly no-holds-barred open mic comedy night. If you are so inclined to sign up, email info@thecomedyclub. asia, but do it quick as spots fill up fast. Mar 18 & 25, 8:30pm. Blu Jaz, 11 Bali Ln., 6292-3800, www. thecomedyclub.asia. $10.

Sparkling Plucked Strings Two major Chinese plucked-string instruments, the pipa and liuqin, take center stage at this concert conducted by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra’s artistic director, Wang Fu Jian. Mar 14, 8pm. SCO Concert Hall, Singapore Conference Hall, 7 Shenton Way, 6557-4019, www.sco.com.sg. $30-70 from Sistic.

dance

SG50 Concert Series in the Park—Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park Held in one of the largest parks here the outdoor concert features community group performances and well-known local acts like Kit Chan, Olivia Ong, Jack & Rai, Matthew and the Mandarins, Broadway Beng and Suhaimi Yusof. Mar 14, 4pm. Grand Lawn I, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Ang Mo Kio Ave. 1, www.nparks.gov.sg. Free.

theater

The Green Corridor

JJSalsaRengue Dance Bash 2015 This salsa party features jazz and contemporary dance performances by the group’s main and junior teams, Grupo Invicta and SMU Caderas Latinas. Mar 21, 8pm.

72-13, 72-13 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6737-7213,www. jjsalsarengue.com. $28-38.

Anna Vinterfall

SG PICK

Daniele Tstalr

SG PICK

A Night of Magic at Raffles

The Gathering with Erlend Oye The Norwegian musician, best known for being one half of indie folk duo Kings of Convenience, performs songs from his second solo album Legao, which he recorded with Icelandic reggae band Hjálmar. Mar 19, 8pm. The Coliseum, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 6577-8888, www. thegathering.asia. $78-100 from Eventclique.

The Best of Rufus Wainwright The award-winning vocalist and songwriter plays his greatest hits following the recent release of studio album Vibrate: The Best of Rufus Wainwright.

Mar 17, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8377. $48-108 from Sistic.

Crosby, Stills & Nash Twice-inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, these granddaddies of folk rock play a string of classic hits like “Deja Vu”, “Helplessly Hoping” and “Wooden Ships”. Mar 19, 8pm. The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green, 6636-0055, www.lamcproductions.com. $98-228 from Sistic.

Neighborhood Guide 5 reasons to go to Alexandra (other than Ikea)

Swedish illusionist Joe Labero has sold out arenas around the world and been crowned “Illusionist of the Decade” at the Magic World Cup in Beijing.

His Singapore show “A Night of Magic at Raffles” has been extended another five weeks, in case you missed him the first and second time around.

Mar 26-May 3, 2015. Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Rd., 6412-1323, labero.com.sg. $50-$230.

The best parties happen at Gillman Barracks Gillman Barracks’ Art After Dark (Mar 20, 7pm.

9 Lock Rd., www.gillmanbarracks.com) is back after a successful edition in January, and Timbre@ Gillman’s Saturday Social BBQ at takes place on Apr 4. There’s more to come, too. Apart from a new shortcut to Labrador Park MRT, there are new eateries slated to open there: a cafe by the Artistry folks, the return of biker pub Handlebar, and The Naked Finn’s new restaurant (their current shack will become a bar).

There’s an atas kopitiam If you’re at Bukit Merah then you really have to schedule some lepak time at Salut (#01-40 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1). This hipper-thanusual kopitiam has checked tablecloths and relatively upmarket tenants like Immanuel French Kitchen, serving fancy stuff like duck rillette and camembert cheese gratin, and Seasalt, a quality seafood-focused stall. There’s also German pub grub, killer chicken wings and the mandatory craft beer stall.

Portico

is a terrific find in this part of the woods. Local chef Nixon Low pushes out meticulously plated dishes. Perhaps our favorite item on the menu is the baller version of truffle fries. At $42, each jumbo serving comes with truffle shavings, white truffle salt, aged gruyere shavings and gold leaf(!).

You can snap up vintage finds The vintage junkies among us couldn’t be more excited when we found super-cute antique/ vintage store and cafe Old Habits (#01-315 38 Telok Blangah Rise, 9644-2777, www.facebook. com/habitssg) hidden in Telok Blangah. It’s the antithesis of Ikea and a treasure trove of wonderful old junk: posters, TVs, crockery, trinkets, toys, you name it.

And a nice restaurant in an industrial estate You do have to traipse around some high-security industrial buildings to find it, but Portico (#01-10 991B Alexandra Rd., 6276-7337, www.portico.sg)

So much fresh air Finally, there’s a whole lot of greenery in this part of the city to explore on foot or your wheeled vehicle of choice. There’s Labrador Park, where Sideshow’s legendary Sunday drunk picnics are held; Telok Blangah Hill Park, which gets you to the famed Henderson Waves bridge; the park connector along Alexandra Canal, which is really the Singapore River; and The Green Corridor, everyone’s favorite railway-track-turned-linearpark. Clara Lim

Art

SG PICK

Gaya Created with Indonesia’s rich culture and history in mind, there’s lots of singing and dancing­—by Indonesia’s top choreographer Gianti Giadi—as it tells the story of Singapore’s founding father, Sir Stamford Raffles and his contributions to Indonesia. Mar 15.

SOTA Drama Theatre, School of the Arts Singapore, 1 Zubir Said Dr., 6594-8411, www.gelarbudaya.com. $19-25.

Pioneer (Girls) Generation The Necessary Stage brings a comedy about a group of independent and sassy seniors living in an upscale retirement home as their strong opinions create trouble and tension between friends. This play features Dwayne Lau, Thomas Lim, Audrey Luo, Irene Ong, Padma Sagaram and Catherine Sng. Mar 26, 27, 8pm; Mar 28, 3pm, 8pm; Mar 29, 3pm. Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd., 63323659. $27 from Sistic.

Art After Dark at Gillman Barracks The third edition of this bi-monthly party comprises the joint openings of several galleries, extended opening hours and F&B pop-ups. In conjunction with Singapore Design Week, there will also be outdoor film screenings. Mar 20, 7pm. Gillman Barracks, 9 Lock Rd., www.gillmanbarracks.com. Free.

Migration’s Breath India-born and New York-based, Rina Banerjee’s multicultural upbringing influences sculptures and lithographs and focus on migration and diaspora.

Through Mar 21. Ota Fine Arts, #02-13 Gillman Barracks, 7 Lock Rd., 6694 3071, www.otafinearts. com. Free.

The Jungle of Form, Colour and Tempo Thai artist Knakorn Kachacheewa’s first solo exhibition in Singapore showcases her Western style of painting in colorful and surreal pieces, including 12 new pieces of artwork. Through Mar 29. Ode To Art, #01-36E/F Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Rd., 6250 1901. Free.

FAD Democracy 12 artworks from nine Indonesian artists like Agan Harahap, Faisal Habibi, J. Ariadhitya Pramuhendra and Mahardika Yudha explore different perspectives on democracy today and the way social media affects how politicians approach their campaigns. Through Mar 29.

Mizuma Gallery, #01-34 Gillman Barracks, 22 Lock Rd., 6570 2505, www.mizuma.sg. Free.

Stay in the Loop Subscribe to our weekly newsletter SG Weekend at sgnow.sg/newsletters FRIDAY, march 13, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

9

49 Seats

Food Central From burgers to salads to cupcakes, here are six delicious options at this iconic Orchard Road mall.

BWB | Burger VS Wings + Bar

Café Mondo

T

he next time you find yourself looking for somewhere to eat along Orchard Road, head to Orchard Central. With more restaurants and cafes still popping up, this mall has established itself as a destination for good food. Keep an eye out for these six hotspots the next time you’re in the area.

BWB | Burger VS Wings + Bar

BWB | Burger VS Wings + Bar

BWB | Burger VS Wings + Bar

10

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015

BWB | Burger VS Wings + Bar

The place: As the name suggests, this allAmerican joint is themed around a good ol’ food fight. The decor is a nod to the boxing ring, with punching bags and boxing gloves adorning the roomy 180-seater eatery, along with plenty of eye-catching signs.

The goods: Go for their signature Tyson Peanut Butter Burger ($21.90) that consists of angus beef, streaky bacon, arugula, creamy peanut butter and cheddar cheese in a sundried tomato brioche bun.

If you’re up for a challenge, the Hot Buffalo Wings ($15.80) come in three levels of spiciness: mild, medium and suicide. Their weekday lunch (MonFri, $17.90) and dinner (excluding Friday) deals mean that with every four diners, one gets to eat for free. Oh, and the weekday set dinners (MonThu, $19.90) also come with free salad and dessert buffet and a 20% discount on a la carte items. Their daily happy hour is 12-7pm, when beers start at $8. #11-03/04, 6634-0423 » Quote SG Magazine to enjoy the above deals.

Valid from Mar 17-Apr 17, 2015.

ADVERTORIAL

49 Seats The place: This casual diner is all about concrete floors, marble-topped tables and a stylish update of the metal gates that bring to mind an oldschool coffee shop.

The goods: On the menu are affordable Western dishes served with a local twist. There’s a good variety of light bites (from $4.90), sides (from $5.90) and pastas (from $10.90), all served up in metal plates no less—to stay true to the coffee shop theme. A hot favorite is the tom yum seafood pasta ($14.90) that packs a serious kick.

Pair it with beers that start from $12 ($49 for five). Options include Stella Artois, Heineken, Tiger, Hoegaarden and Corona. It’s also really affordable and there’s no service charge or GST. #08-08, 6509-5895

49 Seats

49 Seats

Café Mondo

» Quote SG Magazine and get a further 10% off all pastas. Valid from Mar 17-Apr 17, 2015.

The place: This casual open-concept cafe boasts a contemporary decor with wooden flooring, counter tops and padded leather chairs, bringing to mind an urban American-style deli.

They’re halal, too, and there’s no GST. The goods: There’s a pretty extensive menu with everything from sweet treats like ice cream and waffles to hearty soups and savory mains like waffle burgers and pizzas. Their must-try is the Chocolate Indulgence that comes with two scoops of Kapiti’s triple chocolate flavored ice cream, chocolate sauce and brownie bits served on waffles or pancakes ($15.50). If you’re feeling especially peckish, go for the hearty foccacia beef sandwich ($11.80) topped with mozzarella cheese. #02-31/32, 6884-7510

Green Rabbit Crepe & Salad Gastrobar

Green Rabbit Crepe & Salad Gastrobar

Café Mondo

» Quote SG Magazine and get a free coffee or tea with every main item purchased. Valid from Mar 17Apr 17, 2015.

I Wanna

The place: There’s no missing this casual, fast food-style eatery, thanks to its huge signboard.

The floors are covered with artificial grass and the walls are lined with dark textured tiles, reminding us of a rabbit burrow.

The goods: Health nuts will love the simple, nutrition-packed salads and crepes here. The best part? There are 30 standard toppings and 18 dressings. Can’t decide on what to have? Go for the Koi Nippon ($9.90) that consists of salmon, tofu, soba noodles, broccoli, cherry tomatos, sesame seeds and miso dressing. For something more sinful, their signature crepes include banana chocolate, strawberry shortcake and cheesy mushroom. #B2-06

The place: This cozy cupcake cafe is the perfect spot for a mid-day refueling stop, thanks to its welcoming crisp white interiors.

The goods: I Wanna is all about too-prettyto-eat handmade cupcakes topped with moist icing in intricate designs. There are unusual and delicate flavors like almond lavender, French rose and milk tea. Don’t miss their red velvet cupcake that’s topped with lychee infused cream cheese ($3.50) and the unique lemon curd flavor, which is essentially vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese and a dash of lemon curd. Pair their indulgent cupcakes with a cuppa Gryphon tea ($3.50 per pot); options include lavender, earl grey, chamomile and passion fruit and apple. #B2-04

» Quote SG Magazine and get a 10% discount off your total bill. Valid from Mar 17-Apr 17, 2015.

I Wanna

» Quote SG Magazine and get your third cupcake free, with every purchase of two regular cupcakes.

Valid from Mar 17-Apr 17, 2015.

Lady M® Confections

Lady M® Confections

The place: With its floor-to-ceiling windows, this chic cafe is bright and airy and overflowing with natural light. Adopting a minimal approach, the decor includes plain white tables and chairs contrasting starkly against brown flooring.

The goods: An offshoot of the popular New York-based dessert cafe, this place is famous for its mille crêpe cake ($8.50), a confection featuring 20 layers of crepes filled with cream.

Besides the original, there’s also a green tea version ($9). Another must try is the raspberry chocolate tart ($8), a decadent creation consisting of rich velvety dark chocolate ganache atop milk chocolate mousse. Wash your dessert down with coffee (from $3.50), tea (from $5) and Pierre Jouet Champagne ($20/ glass, from $99/bottle). Prices are not inclusive of tax. #01-27 & #02-07, 6509-3673

Lady M® Confections Brought to you By orChArD CENtrAL

181 Orchard Rd, 6238-1051, S(238896), www.orchardcentral.com.sg. Open 11am-10pm daily.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

11

now Send your events news to events@asia-city.com.sg

Making Trouble Writer and visual artist Tania De Rozario shares transcripts of her interviews with artists and administrators that reveal the history, opinions and emotions of those involved with arts activism. Mar 20-29, 12pm. The Substation Gallery, 45 Armenian St., 6337-7535, www.substation.org. Free.

SCENE & HEARD with Letitia Tandean

SG PICK

happenings

literary World Lit featuring Dana Thomas The fashion and culture journalist discusses stories from her book Gods and Kings, which explores the changes in the couture and fashion industries since the ‘80s and details the rise of iconic fashion designers John Galliano and Alexander McQueen Mar 20, 7:30pm. Living Room, The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, 6332-6900, www. theartshouse.sg. Free from Eventbrite.

SG PICK DSTLLRY

Calling All Muses

New monthly music event Songwriters Night happens at Barber Shop by Timbre (#01-03 The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Ln., 6336-3386) and features established and upcoming singersongwriters on stage. Each session involves one main act and an open mic for emerging artists.

Local Thespians

Esplanade’s The Studios (Esplanade Theatres, 1 Esplanade Dr., www.esplanade.com) gets the SG50 treatment with 50 of Singapore’s biggest English-language plays dating back to the ‘60s.

Showing between Apr 2-May 10, the season is a joint effort with playwright-director Chong Tze Chien; full-length productions include Emily of Emerald Hill and Descendants of the Eunuch Admiral. Tickets go for $5-30 from Sistic.

Bar Crawl

If you’re feeling the post-Cocktail Week blues, here are two new bars to check out.

Highlander (#B1-05 Chijmes, 30 Victoria St., 6336-1239, www.highlanderasia.com) has opened its second outlet in Chijmes.

Food-wise, they peddle traditional Scottish dishes like salmon and tattie scones, with drinks ranging from rare bottles to whisky cocktails, beers and wines. Meanwhile, DSTLLRY (#01-01 Infinite Studios, 21 Media Circle, 9633-4890, www.facebook.com/ dstllryco) works on an omakase basis, bespoke cocktails are paired with Japanese small plates. The industrial space also doubles as a performance venue and art gallery.

“Start your week off right at one of these great yoga studios. http://ow.ly/JIx6Q” And don’t miss our daily updates either.

Follow SG on Twitter @sg_now

Kim Joon and Hosook Kang Two noteworthy but completely opposite Korean artists share an exhibition. While Kim is known for graphic digital and pop culture prints, Kang has a painterly approach to his works, filled with flowers and sunbursts. Through May 10.

Sundaram Tagore Gallery Singapore, #01-05 Gillman Barracks, 5 Lock Rd., 6694 3378, www. sundaramtagore.com. Free.

Shakti: Women Behaving Badly—Tales from Indian Folklore

Same Different 10 graduates of Thailand’s Silpakorn University show their individual identities through different mediums, including drawing, painting, phtography and sculptures.

Through Apr 6. Yeo Workshop, #01-01 Gillman Barracks, 1 Lock Rd., 6734-5168, www.yeoworkshop. com. Free.

Ryan Gander: Portrait of a Blind Artist Obscured

by Flowers UK-based artist Ryan Gander’s visual puzzles and oddly assembled objects focus on the idea of parallel history and time. The artist shares a space with works by Do Ho Suh, Teppei Kaneuji and Haegue Yang. Through Apr 11. Singapore Tyler Print Institute, 41 Robertson Quay, 6336-3663, www.stpi.com.sg. Free.

Food & Drink SG PICK

interview Han Liguang What’s the direction of the new menu?

The direction and creative process will remain the same, but we are working on smaller, more sophisticated dishes. We are also researching seasonality in Singapore and the use of local produce in line with our seasons.

Where do you get inspiration for your Mod Sin dishes?

Inspiration can come from a single ingredient, a flavor or an idea. But the main source of inspiration comes from being a Singaporean who lives to eat, the memories, emotions and culture of growing up in Singapore and what quintessentially makes us Singaporean.

The local chef behind Restaurant Labyrinth constantly pushes Mod Sin boundaries by elevating local dishes with gastronomic finesse.

Here he tells us what’s happening at his restaurant this month and what he’s up to at food festival Savour.

Labyrinth’s been around for over a year.

What’s next?

Labyrinth will be releasing a new menu in March with new dishes, a remake on classic favorites and a new menu structure to enhance our diners’ dining experience.

It will also be relocating to a new, bigger dining room with a very different feel to the current one. Details to follow.

What hawker stall never fails you?

I always love my economical been hoon breakfast at Shunfu Market, second floor. It’s simple fare but a weekly treat for myself.

If you could dine with one chef, dead or alive, who would it be?

Ferran Adria, assuming someone can translate for us. His vision, courage, creativity and understanding of local tradition and respect of ingredients are truly inspirational.

What can we expect from you at Savour this year?

I will be holding hands-on demo classes around the theme “Modern Asian Cooking at Home” and featuring dishes that diners can easily replicate at home.

Catch Han Liguang’s classes at food festival Savour, which runs Mar 26-29.

For more information, visit www.savour.sg. LETITIA TANDEAN

12

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, March 13, 2015

MoonShadow Stories hosts a storytelling session with Kamini Ramachandran where she shares traditional Indian folk tales focusing on the way “bad girls” in olden times dealt with fear, sexuality, relationships and aspirations.

Mar 20, 8pm. Gallery, 2/F The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, 6332-6900. $15-18 from Bytes.

Book Club: The Rape of Nanking This bi-monthly club discusses fiction and nonfiction works through a woman’s perspective. The discussion of The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II is led by the Singapore Committee for UN Women and delves into the murder of more than 300,000 Chinese civilians by Japanese invaders from the eyes of the perpetrators and the civilians. Mar 26, 7pm. Singapore Committee for UN Women, 30A Keong Saik Rd., 6222-3239. Free from Peatix.

Fresh! Poetry Slam Word Forward’s slam session is back at a new location. 12 spoken word poets bring their A-game for a three-round knockout tournament involving prize money, too. Expect confessional rhymes and Singlish invectives. Mar 26, 8pm. Blu Jaz, 11 Bali Ln., 6292-3800, www.wordforward.org. $7.

conferences

Singapore Cocktail Week It’s the last chance to catch libations from the city’s top 30 bars with cocktail workshops, spiritthemed cocktail tours and pop-up bars. There are still tons of international guest bartenders doing shifts at bars around town, as well as workshops to attend. Through Mar 14. Various venues, www. singaporecocktailweek.com.sg. $38-140.

Gelato World Tour This gelato-only affair involves a competition of 16 chefs vying for bragging rights for the “World’s Best Gelato”, a gelato-themed dinner and lots of workshops and classes by gelato masterchefs. Plus, taste the 16 competing flavors of gelato. Mar 20-22. Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868, www. gelatoworldtour.com. Free.

The Growell Pop Up The folks behind Edible Gardens borrow Broadcast HQ’s space for a pop-up all about urban farming. There are workshops, discussions, exhibitions and dinners to attend, but there’s also a cafe and retail space that sells local artisanal goods like Mofo Chili and urban foraged honey. Through Apr 19. Broadcast HQ, 109 Rowell Rd., 6292-4405, fb.com/thegrowellpopup. Free.

The U Symposium: Magazine Contemporary A design, media and culture conference kicks off its inaugural event with a publication-focused theme—Magazine Contemporary. Editors-in-chief and creative directors from popular indie magazines such as Lucky Peach and Kinfolk will speak at this two-day conference. Mar 14-15. The Projector, 5/F Golden Mile Tower, 6001 Beach Rd., www. theusymposium.com. $120-200 from Peatix.

sales & fairs International Furniture Fair Singapore Happening at The Decor Show and Hospitality 360°, this annual interior design fair has a massive range of furniture, accessories, interiors and fittings. Expect major brands like Manutti, Ethnicraft, and Ligne Roset. Mar 13-16, 9am. Singapore Expo, 1 Expo Dr., www.iffs.com.sg. Free.

The Local Zouk Flea & Easy + ZouKiDisco The flea market is back with a local theme for SG50 and will be set up like a pasar malam with food like cup corn, kueh tutu and an ice cream man. Tons of local trinkets, too, of course. Mar 15, 1pm. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988, www.zoukclub.com. $10.

HAY House Pop-up Danish label HAY House’s pop-up at Kapok has a great selection of home and lifestyle products that boasts minimal designs and are modern and functional. Prices range from $9 for a paper tiger toy to $34 for wine glasses and $845 for rugs. Through Apr 12. www.ka-pok.com. Free.

now festival guide What to catch at this year’s Singapore Design Week

Design Trails

S T R E E T F E S T I VA L Maison & Objet

Design Stage

Fifty Years of Singapore Design As one of the main highlights of Singapore Design Week 2015, this permanent exhibition celebrates Singapore’s 50 years of design, including architecture, multimedia, industrial, fashion and interior design. National Design Centre, 111 Middle Rd., 6333-3737, www.designsingapore. org/sdw. Free.

SingaPlural The main event of Singapore Design Week 2015 celebrates architecture, urban planning, interior, graphic and fashion design through a host of installations, exhibitions and talks. The event covers the entire design process, from conceptualization to making and selling. Through Mar 15. Raffles Design Institute, 99 Beach Rd., 6338-5288, www.singaplural.com. Free.

Maison & Objet Asia The famous French design trade event returns with an expanded selection of chic, quirky furniture and home furnishings from international exhibitors.

Highlights include Designer of the Year and Rising Asian Talents, as well as the Interior Design & Lifestyle Summit. Mar 13, 6pm. Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868, www.maison-objet.com. $35.

Design Trails This free shuttle service kicks off at National Design Centre and travels around the city, making

pit stops at places like designer’s studios, charming concept stores and other design-related spaces.

Mar 21-22, 11am. National Design Centre, 111 Middle Rd., 6333-3737, www.designsingapore. org/sdw. Free.

New British Inventors: Inside Heatherwick Studio See over 110 works from famed British designer Thomas Heatherwick’s Heatherwick Studio, best known for designing the London 2012 Olympic Cauldron. You’ll also get to see Heatherwick himself who will be giving a lecture. Apr 12.

National Design Centre. Free.

‘Kampong Spirit’ Street Furniture Prototyping Session This project by award-winning design consultancy Chemistry is a hands-on prototyping workshop, exploring street furniture and fixtures from the past, present and future. Mar 17, 4pm. National Design Centre. Free.

DesignStage The first of its kind in Asia, the event focuses on Asian designers, provides a platform for collaborations across genres spanning architecture, interior and even jewelry. Through June 4. MAD Museum of Art & Design, #01/02-01 10 Tanglin Rd., 6734-5688, www.designsingapore.org/sdw.

Free. Joyce See

Be part of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Southeast Asia!

Come join us as we celebrate “All things Irish” over the weekend!

13 – 15 March 2015 Boat Quay (Circular Road)

Irish Food Trail PA R A D E 2 0 1 5

Dress up in GREEN and join us at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday 15th March!

There’s no better time to explore all the bars along the Singapore River than during St. Patrick’s Day! Have a taste of Irish-inspired food and beverages specially crafted by the chefs and bartenders at selected participating establishments to further enhance experience!

s Guinnes to

Remember order yourself a pint of Guinness to boost your party mood during the festival! Sláinte!

Registration starts at 2.30pm @ the grass patch outside The Arts House, come rain or shine.

Fun-filled activities for the young and lively

Mark your calendars!

Just the tip of the iceberg

The kids are in for a good time!

Head over to the children activities corner for cutesy animal rides courtesy of Zoomoov; face painters, balloon sculptors and candy floss for the young and young at heart!

We add tons of new parties, concerts, exhibitions, meetups every day.

Keep up at sgnow.sg/events

Live Irish Music & Dance for everyone!

Music 3 new local albums to check out

Boat Quay and Circular Road dances to the best of Irish-inspired live traditional and contemporary music and dance!

To all who love Irish music: Come and join the party!

For a full line-up of performances, please visit: www.singapore-river.com/StPatricksDay2015

People Eating People

by The Psalms Known for their rock riffs, strong vocals and syncopated jazz improvisations, this five-man band has just dropped its ninetrack debut album. Check out their intense pro-rock numbers like “I, a Nomad” and “My Demigod is a Cannibal”. $12 from www.thepsalmssg. bandcamp.com.

Seamonster by The Steve McQueens Neo-soul/funk jazz band released its debut album following the 2014 EP Einstein Moments. Expect soulful tracks tinged with funky, bassy jazz rhythms. They play live on Tuesdays at The Powder Room (19 Cecil St., 8181-3305, www. theblackswan.com.sg). www. fb.com/thestevemcqueens. music.

Immaterial by Hanging Up The Moon This home-grown folk band played at Laneway this year.

Look forward to hearing their acoustic guitar-heavy sound and all-dude harmonization in their upcoming third album, set to release at the end of March. www. hangingupthemoon.com.

ERNY LUIZA KARTOLO

FRIDAY, March 13, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

13

now Send your events news to events@asia-city.com.sg

sports

outings

Runninghour: Run So Others Can! Run with over 200 visually-, mentally- and physically-challenged runners. You can also sign up with a friend for the Blind Run category where one of you will be blindfolded while the other acts as a running guide. Mar 22, 7am. Marina Bay Waterfront, Marina Blvd., www.runninghour2015. com. $45-50.

Romancing U Hosted by Nikki Muller, there are stand-up routines by comedian Hossan Leong, a screening of Date Night starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey and music from jazz band Summertimes Hotshots. Mar 14, 6pm. Fort Canning Green, Cox Terrace, 6332-1200, www.ufamily.org.sg. $15-30.

2XU Compression Run Don your running shoes for this half-marathon that’s all about testing human performance levels. Race categories include 5km, 10km and 21.1km distances. Mar 29, 5am. F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Blvd., 6884-6940, www.2xucompressionrun.com.sg. $50-70.

Film SG PICK

Nightlife Kenny Dope The four-time Grammy nominated DJ plays his fusion of house, hip hop, Latin, jazz, funk and reggae beats. With 20 years of DJing under his belt, you‘ll recognize tunes like “Stay Sharp” and “Brazilica”. Mar 13, 10pm. Kyo, #B1-02 Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 6225-6001, www.clubkyo. com. $20-25.

Kyo presents V1.0 Dance to street sounds, up-and-coming gems and contemporary house and techno beats. Local DJs Haan, Zig Zach, EJ Missy, Godwin P and Norman C man the decks. Mar 14, 10pm. Kyo, #B1-02 Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 6225-6001, www. clubkyo.com. $20-25..

Vibe Beach and Music Festival The first lifestyle beach festival combines sports and music into a huge 15-hour party. Expect big name DJs like Miles Slater and AN21 supported

by Joshua P. Music aside, there’s beach volleyball, beach soccer and zumba dancing. Mar 21, 10am.

Siloso Beach. $35-350 from Eventclique.

SG PICK

Gems of Amoy Cinema This screening event showcases 13 films produced by the Amoy and Hokkien film industry from the 1940s all the way to the 1960s. Films include Hokkien opera Taming of the Princess, backstage musical Siren of the Dance Hall, and more. Check the website for complete listing and timings. Through Mar 15. Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd., 6332-3659, www.nationalmuseum.sg. $8 from Sistic.

Malaya Black and White This film series includes a screening of Pretty Polly, which depicts Singapore as a hedonistic playground for swinging adults and romantic liberations. Mar 18, 7pm. National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd., 6332-3659, www.nus. edu.sg. Free from Peatix.

cinema highlights Kidnapping Freddy Heineken Starring big names like Anthony Hopkins, Sam Worthington and Jim Sturgess, this tells the story of the planning, execution, aftermath and downfall of the kidnappers of beer tycoon Alfred “Freddy” Heineken. Opens Mar 19.

Zouk Soundsystem presents Thomas Gold with Lincey Known for his explosive live sets, Berlinbased DJ Thomas Gold headlines with his progressive house music and tracks like “Eyes Wide Open” and “Beast”. Mar 14. Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988, www.zoukclub.com. sg. $28-33.

Midnight Shift with John Heckle and Tapirus Supported by Lily‘s Rose and Haan, this Saturday night techno series is back with a double bill featuring DJ Tapirus’ deep and powerful sounds and UK DJ-producer John Heckle‘s fast-paced mixing with turntables and drum machines. Mar 28, 10pm. Kyo, #B1-02 Keck Seng Tower, 133 Cecil St., 6225-6001, www.clubkyo.com. $20-25.

Koi Bang Street Gang This Haji Lane street party is an all-day affair, so come prepared. Turn up with your crew in gang colors to get freebies and prizes, though actual aggression and other gang behavior is not actually encouraged (we think). Mar 29, 2pm. KOI Bangers + Izakaya, 9 Haji Lane, 9790-7535. Free.

The Divergent Series: Insurgent The dystopian trilogy is back as main character Tris, played by Shailene Woodley, searches for allies and answers in the ruins of futuristic Chicago. As fugitives on the run, Tris and Four evade power-hungry leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet) to try and unlock the truth behind their society.

Opens Mar 19.

McFarland Inspired by a 1987 true story about high school coach Jim White (Kevin Costner) and a last resort job that lands him in a predominantly Latino high school in California. It’s all about a white family facing challenges in a diverse and economicallychallenged community. Boohoo. Opens Mar 26.

Mr. Pip When charismatic (white) teacher Mr. Watts (Hugh Laurie) starts reading Dickens’ Great Expectations to his (brown) students during Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville civil war, the lines between fiction and reality are blurred. Opens Mar 26.

The Gunman Sean Penn plays a gun-slinging action star in this action-thriller by Pierre Morel (Taken). A cat and mouse chase ensues all over Europe as he goes on the run after he’s betrayed by the organization he worked for. Opens Mar 26.

Download the free SG Now app www.sgnow.sg/app • Hundreds of listings, daily updates • Restaurants, bars and other openings • Save events to your calendar 14

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, March 13, 2015

www.facebook.com/tat.sg

thaiairways.com.sg

www.facebook.com/tat.sg

CHIANG RAI CHIANG MAI

CHIANG MAI

” BANGKOK

HUA HIN BANGKOK

” SINGAPORE

SINGAPORE

Preferred card:

Preferred brands: Fold this pull out guide in 3 steps: On the cover: Issaya Siamese On the Club cover: Makka Hotel, Chiang Mai

1 2

3

Eat Me

Bo.lan

U.N.C.L.E. Gaggan

Mikkeller Nahm

Vesper

Sra Bua

Issaya Siamese Club

Namsaah Bottling Trust

Supanniga Eating Room

Chon

HIP & HAPPENING

Quince

Fine dining aside, trendy casual restaurants are mushrooming across the city.

Ginza Sushi-ichi

Appia

Bo.lan

There’s more to do in this sleepy seaside resort town than just lazing by the beach and soaking up the sun rays.

Azure

This beachfront international restaurant not only lets you dine to amazing sea views, it also lets you dine in the pool itself. Tuck into fresh seafood sourced by local fishermen or sign up for their “Chill & Grill Chandon Brunch” on Sundays that serves up creative plates like penne carbonara in a DIY shaker.

Intercontinental Hua Hin Resort, 33/33 Petchkasem Rd., +66 3261-6999, www.huahin.intercontinental.com/azure.

Hagi

Hagi

Located minutes from Hua Hin’s main beach is this quaint Japanese restaurant that looks like something straight out of Japan. The cozy eatery offers outdoor dining as well as a teppanyaki counter. Go for the Sukura set, which comes with everything from scallops and tiger prawn to sashimi and ice cream.

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, 1 Damnernkasem Rd., +66 3251-2021, www.facebook.com/hagiatchbr.

Madame Green Jae Keao

Madame Green Jae Keao

Hidden on a tiny road, this no-fuss seafood restaurant has been a favorite for its fresh and tasty seafood dishes for decades. Go for the simple deepfried sea bass with fish sauce, soft shell crab with garlic or fried squid with salted egg.

42 Moo Baan Khao Takieb, Nong Kae, +66 3265-5103.

Oceanside Beach Club and Restaurant

This stylish resort sits right by the beach with an open-air sitting area and a beach bar decked out with white sofa beds and plush pillows. Pick from both Thai and international seafood like crabmeat risotto and deep fried tiger prawns in tamarind sauce.

Putahracsa Hua Hin, 22/65 Nahb Kaehat Rd., +66 3253-1470, www.oceansidebeachclub.com.

White Lotus

Perched on the 17th floor, this elegant Chinese restaurant offers stunning views of Hua Hin Bay and the Gulf of Thailand. Expect an extensive menu of authentic Sichuan and Cantonese dishes like Peking Duck and braised abalone with sea cucumber, scallops and fish maw.

Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa 33, Naresdamri Rd., +66 3253-8999. www.facebook.com/hiltonhuahinthailand.

You Yen

Housed within a beautifully restored wooden house that was built in the 1920s, this seafood restaurant oozes yesteryear charm. Dig into dishes like stir-fried crab meat with curry sauce and sweet and sour squid soup while taking in the peaceful ocean views.

29 Soi Hua Hin 51, Naeb Kehardt Road, +66 3253-1191.

A Detour to Hua Hin Hills Vineyard Wine lovers, it’s worth making a trip down to the town’s only vineyard and one of the pioneers of what’s now called New Latitude Wines. Under the label Monsoon Valley, these local winemakers bottle award-winning Chenin Blanc, Colombard, Shiraz, Sangiovese and Tempranillo. Harvest season is between Feb and Mar each year and you’ll also get to tour the vineyard on an elephant or a jeep. There’s also an airy and contemporary bistro that serves Western and Thai fare, with wine pairings of course.

1 Moo 9, Baan Khork Chang Patana, Nong Plup,Prachuap Khiri Khan, +66 81701-0444, www.huahinhills.com.

Oceanside Beach Club and Restaurant

Thailand’s picturesque Northern city might be known for its grand temples and abundance of nature but there are also plenty of regional dishes to be had.

Rustic and Blue

Marnda Brasserie

This gorgeous riverside restaurant boasts views of the Ping River and is decked out in collectible antiques and art. It is also flanked by traditional rice barns and historical colonial-style buildings. The menu consists of a wide variety of Western and Thai dishes and features plenty of local produce, including freshly caught fish from the nearby river.

9 Moo 1 Tambon Kuamung, Saraphi, +66 5310-3703, www.marndadee.com Marnda Brasserie

Farm Story

This cozy two-story home-turned-restaurant only seats 10 and it uses only homegrown, chemical-free ingredients. Try their Northern hang lay pork curry with rice and wash it down with a cup of khao niew leum pua tea (forgetful husband glutinous rice tea).

7 Ratchadamnoen Soi 5, +66 8 1629-1662.

Khun Churn

This casual family-run joint has come to be known for its seriously good vegetarian food and its daily meat-less buffet. Don’t expect to find any faux meat here. Instead, it’s well-executed

plates of meat-free dishes using tofu, mushrooms and rare indigenous veggies as the core ingredients.

Old Cultural Center, +66 5327-0071, www.facebook.com/khunchurn

Local Cafe

The brainchild of Udom “Note” Taepanich, one of Thailand’s most famous stand-up comedians, this cafe housed within a giant glass house is full of whimsical touches. Think larger-than-life cat statue in the front yard. The food here is a Thai-Japanese fusion and dishes include pork belly in Northern Thai style curry.

Think Park, Rinkham Junction, +66 5321-5250.

Show your Thai Airways SIN-BKK boarding pass and receive a complimentary plate of special Lanna spring rolls. * * Terms and conditions apply.

Offer valid till June 30, 2015

Rustic and Blue

True to its name, this Western place is big on rustic decor, with a gleaming oakwood table, hanging plants and black steel shelving. There are even tiny chairs made from hay bales out front. This laidback eatery has a huge focus on farm-to-table and they also serve all-day breakfast, craft beer and cocktails.

Nimmanhaemin Soi 7, +66 86654-7178, www.facebook.com/rusticandbluechiangmai.

Local Cafe

The Restaurant

Situated in the heart of Chiang Mai and along the banks of Mae Ping River, this riverside restaurant makes for quite a romantic spot. The menu is a mix of Thai, western and Indian dishes; their lamb tandoori is a must-try.

Anantara Chiang Mai Resort and Spa, 123-123/1 Charoen Prathet Road, Changklan, Muang, +66 5325-3333, www.chiang-mai.anantara.com.

Tong Tem Toh

There’s plenty of rustic charm to go around at this Northern Thai restaurant. You’ll find wooden benches and chairs and drinks served in old-school Thai metail cups. Decor aside, their food doesn’t disappoint. Go for the nam prik noom (Thai-style roasted green pepper salsa) served with crispy pork skin and fresh vegetables.

11 Nimmanhaemind Soi 13, +66 5389-4701, www.facebook.com/TongTemToh

3 WAYS

SG DISTRIBUTION

All free! every two weeks

To never miss an issue

1 PICK up SG at over 200 venues ARAB STREET/KAMPONG GLAM · Artistry Cafe · Working Title · BEACH ROAD · Blu Jaz · The Plaza L1 Office Lobby Reception · BOAT QUAY · Enoteca L’Operetta · Harry’s @ Boat Quay · Southbridge · The Arts House at Old Parliament · Timbre @ The Arts House · London · O Comptoir · BUGIS · Hood Bar and Cafe · Essensuals by Toni & Guy @ Bugis · K Suites @ Bugis+ · Stuttgart Blackforest Boutique S-Cafe · Tony’s Pizza @ Bugis · BUKIT TIMAH · The Great Beer Experiment @ Pasar Bella · CHINATOWN · Ô Batignolles · The Chamber · The Muffinry · Wa-Cafe · Morsi & Sorsi · CITY HALL · Smoothie King @ Suntec City · The Soup Spoon @ Suntec City · The Soup Spoon @ Raffles City Shopping Centre · Addictions Café & Remedy Bar @ Marina Square · Barossa @ Esplanade · Coffee Club @ Millenia Walk · Outback Steak House · Paulaner Brauhaus · Timbre @ The Substation · Ice Cold B’s · Brotzeit @ Raffles City · Coffee Club @ Raffles City Shopping · MICA Office Lobby Reception · The Substation · Front Row · Loof · Dome Café @ Singapore Art Museum · Privé CHIJMES · WineBos · CLARKE QUAY · Brewerkz · KURO Restaurant + Bar · Ricciotti @

The Riverwalk · Wings · The Central L1 Customer Service · Crazy Elephant · Mad for Garlic · DEMPSEY · Taphouse

by Brewerkz · Jones The Grocer · White Rabbit · House, Barracks & Camp · Dome Café @ Dempsey · Red Dot Brewhouse · DHOBY GHAUT · Kith Café @ Park Mall · Dôme @ Plaza Singapura · EAST · Tolido's Espresso Nook · The Tuckshop · City Square Mall Customer Service Counter · Loysel’s Toy · Morsels · HARBOURFRONT · King Louis · Prive Bakery Café · Brotzeit @ Vivo City · Coffee Club @ Harbourfront Centre · Sky The Fitness Lifestyle · HOLLAND VILLAGE · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Holland Village · Barossa @ Holland V · Harry’s @ Holland Village · Wala Wala · Fosters - An English Rose Café · MARINA BAY · Carnivore Brazilian Churrascaria @ Marina Bay Sands · Erwin’s Gastrobar · The Coffee Bean @ Marina Bay Sands · Bazin · Salad Stop @ MBFC · Smoothie King @ MBFC · MOHAMED SULTAN / ROBERTSON QUAY · Kith Café @ Watermark · Harry’s @ Pier Robertson · Blow+Bar · Wine Connection Cheese Bar @ Robertson Walk · Wine Connection Tapas Bar & Bistro @ Robertson Walk · Toby’s Estate · En

2 eBook: every issue delivered to your inbox

= new venues

Grill and Bar · Singapore Repertory Theatre · NOVENA · Kitchenette ORCHARD · Active Life Center · ION Concierge counter · The Marmalade Pantry · Balaclava · Coffee Club @ Paragon · Dome Café @ Paragon · Dôme @ Scotts Square · PS.Cafe @ Paragon · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Paragon · Dome Café @ Shaw House · TAB · Saveur · Sky Pilates · Smoothie King @ Centerpoint · Essensuals

by Toni & Guy @ Orchard Central · Hansel · Lawry’s The Prime Rib · Leftfoot @ Cineleisure · Rockstar by Soon Lee · RAFFLES PLACE · &SONS @ China Square Central · Catalunya · Impact MMA · The Bank Bar & Bistro · Coffee Club @ One Raffles Quay · 1-Altitude · Coffee Club @ Raffles Place Square · Impact MMA @ Shenton House · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Republic Plaza · The Exchange · The Royal Mail Restaurant & Bar · True Fitness @ Chevron House · Dome Café @ UOB Plaza 1 · Salad Stop @ One George Street · Boathouse · Kinki · Capital Square · Simply Sandwich · RIVER VALLEY · Five & Dime · Bangkok Jam · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Great World City · True Fitness @ Great World City · Tony’s Pizza @ River Valley ·

SENTOSA · Kith Café @ Sentosa Cove · Hard Rock Café RWS · iFly @ Sentosa · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Palawan Beach · Tanjong Beach Club · Wave House Sentosa · SOMERSET · Smoothie King @ 313 · Actually · Editor’s Market@Somerset · Dean & Deluca · Ice Cold Beer · No. 5 Emerald Hill · Oriole Café & Bar · Brotzeit @ 313@Somerset · Jibiru · KPO Café Bar · Porterhouse Butcher Bar · Toni & Guy @ Mandarin Gallery · TANGLIN · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ Forum Galleria · K Suites @ Orchard Parade Hotel · Hard Rock Café · TANJONG PAGAR · Jekyll and Hyde · Foodology Fresh · GAEST · Kyo · 137 Telok Ayer Street Level 1 Reception · The Ogilvy Centre · Boulevard · Pacific Coffee Company @ Reddot Traffic · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ CPF Building · Red Dot Design Museum · The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf @ International Plaza · The Coffee bean & Tea Leaf @ Fuji Xerox Tower · Broth · Latteria Mozzarella Bar · Sprmrkt · TIONG BAHRU · Tiong Bahru Bakery · Coq & Balls · Forty Hands · Books Actually · WEST · Curbside Cafe & Wine Bar · Skyve Elementary Bistro & Bar · Salad Stop @ Fusionopolis · One Rochester · Nosh

3 Follow us on issuu at issuu.com/sg_magazine

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

19

feature

What’s Wrong with Local Dining?

So we had a few Singapore restaurants on the San Pellegrino list last week.

But why isn’t our local dining scene even better? By Letitia Tandean Labyrinth

S

ingaporeans love calling themselves foodies and pontificating about how they live, breathe and obsess about food.

So why aren’t our local chefs treated like rock stars? Why are we being overshadowed by other Southeast Asian cities? Why do none of our San Pellegrino restaurants serve local food? To get to the bottom of this, we speak to chefs, restaurateurs and some San Pellegrino panelists and come up with some possible reasons.

Most cool restaurants are corporate projects

Emil Halim

Dibs

Local chefs tend to stay local Yes, there’s been a bit of noise over Singapore chefs like Shen Tan and Willin Low. But international exposure for local celeb chefs “is very limited. Somehow, the ones that get exposed are the same big name [international] chefs,” according to Emil Halim of East 8 (www.east-8. com), a fusion New-York style bistro with modern Asian plates. It’s really only the likes of Cut, db Bistro, Pollen all run by foreign and/or international celeb chefs that get written up in regional magazines. “It’s necessary that the mind sets of consumers be more open to the idea that a local chef is capable of surpassing their foreign counterparts. Local talents just haven’t been given the opportunity,” says Leong Khai Git of Dibs (www.dibs.sg), an independent Asian-tinged small plates restaurant.

Morsels

20

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, March 13, 2015

A huge chunk of the new restaurants we’ve written about in recent months are owned by the same two or three restaurant groups. The Unlisted Collection have places like vinyl bar LongPlay (www.facebook.com/LongPlaySG), bistronomy degustation-based eatery Sorrel (www.sorrel. sg) and smokehouse Meat Smith (http://ow.ly/JU0II). While Les Amis Group also recently unveiled affordable omakase place Sushi Jin (www.sushijin.com.sg) and the Spanish restaurant La Taperia (www.lataperia.com.sg). On one hand, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Diners get cool, new places to play at, and local talents get to work up the ladder without risking the cash. But it does mean that small, chef-owned restaurants struggle to be seen.

It also means that we’re importing “restaurant concepts” rather than incubating home-grown ideas and inspiration. “Most people don’t know that a restaurant that seems boundary-pushing here has been done in another big city before,” says Raymond Lim of Les Amis, “Groups like Unlisted Collection are great at looking at trends in places like London, New York to transplant the concepts here.”

“Four of the six Bangkok restaurants on the San Pellegrino list serve Thai food. But there’s no such momentum in Singapore.”

Mod Sin hasn’t taken off Importing sexy restaurant ideas means we’re not nourishing local flavors and cuisine. In Bangkok, Thai cuisine has had a renaissance in the city’s fine dining restaurants and chefowned, mid-range hipster establishments. Four of the six Bangkok restaurants on the San Pellegrino list serve Thai food. But there’s no such momentum in Singapore. “It’s very hard to define what exactly Singaporean cuisine is. Many people believe it is an influence or buffet of cuisines from around Asia,” says Han Liguang of Labyrinth (www.labyrinth. com.sg), an independent gastronomic restaurant doling out Mod Sin dishes.

Last year, it seemed like Modern Singaporean, or Mod Sin, would be the cuisine we could rally around, with places like Ujong, Labyrinth and Wild Rocket championing the idea. “What we need is time to develop [Mod Sin] further and have individuals and corporate showcase our food to the world,” says Chung Deming of The Quarters (www. facebook.com/thequarterssg), a cafe known for its durian creme brulees. Not surprisingly, it’s going to take more than gimmicky dishes like beef rendang burgers and bak kwa mac n cheese.

Labyrinth

“The masses are not as sophisticated in terms of food knowledge and the willingness to spend is perhaps less”

Raymond Lim

Diners think local can’t be fancy

Chung Deming

“I get mixed feelings when customers tell me that they are surprised that my food surpasses their expectations. But it makes questions why the lower expectations?” says Leong Khai Git. It seems like unless a restaurant has a pedigree, we’re pretty unwilling to fork out our hard-earned money for lesser-known (and often local) restaurants.

Because, of course, everything is expensive As more hoods become “up-and-coming” fewer areas remain within the reach of budding restaurateurs. We’ve heard of kopitiam uncles handing over their Tiong Bahru coffee shops in favor of kicking back and relaxing while rental money pours in. And rent is just the beginning of the problem. “The labor crunch is definitely an issue,” says Han Liguang. “But the main challenges include finding a supplier on the same wavelength as we are supplying niche and fresh produce.

We even have difficulty finding the right form of serviceware to serve our dishes on.”

Everyone’s playing it safe

East 8

“The market here is fairly faddish. One second everyone is chasing tapas and then something else. There aren’t many new local restaurants by local chefs,” says Petrina Loh and Brian Chia of Morsels (www.morsels.com.sg), a small plates restaurant pushing out Western dishes with a twist. Most insiders agree, local chefs don’t dare to push boundaries whether it’s because of customer feedback or lack of special produce. “The real question is do I think local consumers take enough risks and push the boundaries in not just the highend restaurants, but also the coffeeshops?” asks Jeremy Nguee of Preparazzi (www.preparazzi.sg), a catering company. While Jason Tan of Corner House (www.cornerhouse.com.sg), a fine dining restaurant focused on seasonal vegetable produce, cites other reasons “Today’s young chefs need to work harder, to delve deeper into the craft and learn culinary processes instead of seeking quick gratification.”

Morsels

event list Where to catch local chefs Restaurant Week When: Mar 14-22 What: It’s not really a festival but it is fine dining for a steal with local chefs like Candlenut’s Malcolm Lee and Portico’s Nixon Low participating. www.restaurantweek.sg.

Savour When: Mar 26-29 What: One of the most anticipated food fests, it includes local chefs like Labyrinth’s Liguang Han and Artichoke’s Bjorn Shen.

Plus, there’s a gourmet market, workshops and boozy stalls, too. www.savour.sg.

World Street Food Congress When: Apr 8-12 What: It’s all about international cheap bites here. From Mexican tortillas to Singaporean chicken rice, it brings over 40 stalls with the likes of Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice. www.wsfcongress.com.

World Gourmet Summit When: Apr 14-25 What: This star-studded event brings top notch local and international chefs to the island. They’ll be hosting masterclasses, tasting dinners and wine pairing dinners. So expect local names like Justin Quek of Sky on 57 and Sam Leong of RWS’ Forest. www.wgsawards.com.

Singapore Food Festival When: July What: Taste new signature dishes whipped up by local chefs like Damien D’Silva who made rendang sliders for the last edition. Plus there are fringe events like Nyonya food truck, too. www.singaporefoodfestival.com.

Like this issue? Read it and every new issue of SG free on your tablet or mobile. issuu.com/sg_magazine FRIDAY, March 13, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

21

island

The latest openings and hottest trends in Singapore

BooksActually

Tiong Bahru

Curated Records

France, Los Angeles-based Building Blocks and British brand Falcon Enamelware. #01-65 59 Eng Hoon St., 9117-0430, www.nanaandbird.com

shopping guide

Tales of Tiong Bahru

Curated Records As the name might suggest, this independent record store has a carefully curated range of vinyls, from mainstream hits to small indie releases. The tiny shop space squeezes in over a thousand records covering pop, electronic, folk and rock n’ roll, with prices starting from $27. Owner Tremon Lim is happy to shoot the breeze with you, play an album you’re curious about or even place a special order for that record you’ve been hunting down. #01-53 55 Tiong Bahru Rd., 6438-3644, www.facebook.com/curatedrecords

7 great stores for the living room, the closet, the bookshelf and the turntable. By Joyce See

Woods in the Books With colorful interiors and a wonderful, whimsical collection of picture books, coloring books, comics and graphic novels, this minimalist bookstore doesn’t just have a loyal following among kids. Creative types have been known to browse here for hours, too.

3 Yong Siak St., 6222-9980, www.woodsinthebooks.sg

BooksActually A quaint, pint-sized shop nestled on Yong Siak Road, this dream of a book store is packed from floor to ceiling with an expansive—albeit offbeat—selection of fiction and literature that covers various subjects like history, biography, food narrative and math. It also boasts the largest collection of local literary publications, including out-of-print titles, and vintage knick-knacks in the back room. Not to mention the adorable, if haughty, cat who skulks about.

9 Yong Siak St., 6222-9195, www.booksactually.com

One Olive

Strangelets Sick of mass-produced items that everyone seems to have?

This design boutique will provide that breath of fresh air.

Established in 2008, Strangelets is still one of the best spots in town for wild and wow furnishings and curious accessories sourced from all over the world, like arty lamps

by Geoffrey Mance and coffee tables from Mark Product.

There’s a charming collection of unique children’s toys and greeting cards in the back, too. It’s pricey, but super fun to browse.

7 Yong Siak St., 6222-1456, www.strangelets.sg

Woods in the Books

Le Halo The quirky all-day breakfast cafe on the fringe of Tiong Bahru comes with a colorful mismatched decor and a menu full of cutesy-sounding creations. The interiors are crammed with a whole bunch of nostalgic items like old school board games, vintage flasks and old school sewing tables.

The good news is; some of these items are also for sale.

They’ve roped in vintage collectors and online retailers, Chair-ish The Moment to feature a small retail space within the cafe, prices start from $15. #01-162, Blk. 4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee, 9736-8087, www.facebook.com/lehalocafe

Nana & Bird What started out as a pop-up concept store by owners Georgina Koh and Tan Chiew Ling has now expanded to include two boutiques. The flagship store, located in the same neighborhood, retains the intimate, homey vibe as its sister outlet, but offers different labels spanning readyto-wear, accessories and home wares such as Heinui from

22

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, march 13, 2015

Packed with twee-friendly ornaments like bird cages, metal pots, baskets, wooden boxes and vases of all sizes, this cute flower shop also offers bespoke flower arrangement services, from $80. Everything here is super Instagram friendly; there are wreaths, lavender flowers and collection of vintage knick knacks, so try and not get too trigger happy. #01-01 61 Seng Poh Lane, 6779-3543, www.oneolive.net

Nana & Bird

ADVERTORIAL

Your Own St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl Irish Lamb Stew

There’s no better time to explore all the bars along the Singapore River than during Mar 13-15. Not only are there great deals on drinks, lots of beer (some of it green) and pub grub, there are also lots of visiting performers and even a street parade.

2

5

6

3

4

3

7

Hero’s

This sprawling Wild West-style saloon is ideal for a midday respite. The place is dimmer and cool, with brick and stone walls mingling with steampunk accents. There’ll be plenty of beer to fuel your day, but the St. Patty’s special is The Paddy’s burger with corned beef, onions, Irish cheddar and an optional fried egg.

69 Circular Rd., 6438-6058, www.heros.sg

4

Mogambo

No one can deny that this bar is the place to go to for shooters and lots of debauchery. Plus, it’s got a semi-alfresco space and a sprawling bar top. We dare you to ring the bell and buy the house a round. After all, isn’t St. Patrick’s Day is all about being generous with your beer?

3 Canton St., 6438-9808, www.mogambo.sg

5

This creperie is the ideal place for a mid-afternoon perk-me-up, in the form of their wafer-thin French-style crepes.

The sister outlet of Club Street’s O Batignolles , they will be serving a special shamrock-encrusted sweet crepe.

79 Circular Rd., 6534-7645, www.facebook.com/ LeComptoirSingapore

Le Comptoir

No pub crawl is successful without some hearty food. Start down the river with comforting lunchtime nosh at this microbrewery. Grab burgers like the Cowboy, made with bacon, IPA-battered onions and honey chipotle BBQ sauce, as well as the duck confit pizza and pork knuckles. Don’t forget to pair it with one of the signature brews like a light pilsner to get your day started. #01-05/06 Riverside Point, 30 Merchant Rd., 6438-7438, www.brewerkz.com

2

6

Brewerkz

RedDot Brewhouse

The Quay will be packed with revelers doing the same, but you simply can’t enjoy the day without having some green beer. Get the signature Monster Green Lager, infused with green spirulina, at this modern but laid back sports bar. If you get peckish, the bar does a mean spring Irish lamb stew loaded with leeks and potatoes.

34 Boat Quay, 6535-4500, www.reddotbrewhouse.com.sg

Official Beer:

BQ Bar

This unpretentious and modern bar is practically at the heart of the energetic day. With the podium located within earshot of the pub, you’ll get wind of all the live performances without having to step into the sweltering heat. Here, they’ve got traditional Guinness battered fish & chips with pints of draught Guinness to satiate even the most raucous of partiers.

If you’re feeling energized, go for the Irish Trashcan shot with vodka and Midori or the Irish Flag, with creme de menthe, Bailey’s and Grand Marnier.

30 Boat Quay, 6436-9722, www.bqbar.com Red Dot Brewhouse

1

O Comptoir

7

Molly Malone’s

End the evening at this classic corner Irish pub. It’s the meeting point for all revelers and has a great atmosphere with its house band playing traditional Irish tunes, fiddle included.

Settle down with mussel fritters served with lime mayo and a glass of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey. If you prefer something quick and potent, The Shot Toddy, made with whisky, lemon and honey, should do the trick.

55 Circular Rd., 6536-2029, www.molly-malone.com

Supporting Establishments:

3 Days of Parties Green beer aside, there are also festivals, contact sports, parades and candy floss.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Aside from the Irish ambassador’s presence, the parade will be a fiesta of bagpipes, flags, a marching band and even the Gaelic dragon boat team. They’ll be traipsing down Circular Road on Sunday, Mar 15 at 3:30pm. It’s free for all, just don your best shamrock green.

St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival

Running all weekend (Mar 13-15), the festival will feature Irish rock bands and dances. There’s also a food trail involving restaurants and bars like Molly Malone’s and BQ Bar, featuring dishes like beer-battered fish and chips and lamb stew. Plus, it’s free and open to all.

Live Performances

This year, Circular Road is home to two stages with lots of bands like The Craic Horse and The Cans on rotation through the night. Some of the bars along the stretch will also host its own guest bands playing Irish music and folk rock tunes.

Booths Galore

There will also be booths throughout Circular Road, dishing out everything from free candy floss to face painting services.

Brought to you By Singapore river one

eats

The inside scoop on Singapore’s drink and dining scene

URBAN FARMS Foraging Fiesta

The folks behind Edible Gardens have taken over Broadcast HQ for a pop-up all about urban farming at Growell Pop Up (109 Rowell Rd., 6292-4405, www. facebook.com/thegrowellpopup). There are workshops, discussions, exhibitions and dinners to attend, but there’s also a cafe and retail space selling local goods like Mofo Chili and urban foraged honey. There are talks by Burnt Ends’ David Pynt and dinners cooked up by the likes of Morsels and Cajun Kings. The pop-up lasts until Apr 19.

NEW CAFE Hello Halo

There’s a new all-day breakfast cafe on the fringes of Tiong Bahru. Le Halo (#01-162 Blk 4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee, 9736-8087, www.facebook.com/lehalocafe) sports mismatched decor and a menu full of twee-sounding creations like the piggy stew with slow-cooked pork and toast ($11.50), the mandatory mushroom carbonara ($14.50) and the otak with a sunny side up egg ($8.50).

It also has a retail space with goods from online shop Chair-ish the Moments.

NEW MENU The Italian Job

NEW RESTAURANT In the Nude This specialty seafood joint is not only cooking up fresh catches, but also putting a healthy spin on everything. Nude Seafood (#01-02 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3, 12 Marina Blvd., 6443-1167) whips up dishes like salmon belly with soba noodles ($13), grilled king prawns ($22) with “forgotten grains” and miso-grilled seabass with quinoa ($19). Plus, it’s great for the CBD lunch crowd, with wines by the glass and beers.

24

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, march 13, 2015

Florentine restaurant Procacci (#01-04 Customs House, 70 Collyer Quay, 6532-9939, www.facebook.com/ ProcacciatCustomsHouse) has recently revamped its a la carte and lunch menus. Aside from being recently renovated, the bayside eatery now offers items like scorched scallops with bagna cauda ($28), ravioli stuffed with lobster and scallop ($46) as well as lamb chops ($48) with five-spice crumbs and a red wine sauce.

eats The damage: All $220 Where to get it: Jigger & Pony, 101 Amoy St., 6223-9101, www.jiggerandpony.com.

Asian Sensation

The team has turned a Ketel One vodka cocktail challenge into a mainstay cocktail to share. This one is aptly served in a steaming dry ice copper kettle and Chinese tea cups. It’s got elderflower liqueur and cinnamon syrup so it’s nice and aromatic.

The damage: $90 Where to get it: L’Aiglon, 69 Neil Rd., 6220-0369, www.barlaiglon.com

Hot Tub Thyme Machine

drink

Punch Drunk Love

Who doesn’t love the festive, communal spirit of a giant, to-share cocktail?

Here are some of the best in town. By Letitia Tandean

This infamous punchbowl needs no introduction. It’s one of the definitive cocktails of this speakeasy-style bar.

Served in a miniature bathtub, complete with a rubber duckie, it’s made with rum, Earl Grey and absinthe. Quirky, but potent.

The damage: $90 Where to get it: The Library, 47 Keong Saik Rd., www.thestudy.sg.

Champagne Bowl

K-Town

Plan B

The 28HKS boys have it down: the huge crystal bowl ($230) is filled with Reposado tequila, citrus, oolong, lemon berry heritage tea and is topped off with bubbly.

It serves 20, so smaller groups should proceed with caution.

The damage: $230 Where to get it: 28 HongKong St., 28 HongKong St., 6533-2001, www.28hks.com.

Soju Punch

Aside from the addictive Korean fried chicken, we love the punch here that’s served in a bowl carved out of watermelon and topped with soju and fresh juice. It’s kitschy, it’s fun and it’s very potent.

The damage: $30 Where to get it: Chicken Up, 48 Tanjong Pagar Rd., 6327-1203, www.facebook.com/ chickenup.

Stamford Tea Party

The new cocktail menu at Ding Dong has a few creations that are great to share. This one comes in a coffeeshop-type tea kettle

Ethan Leslie Leong is no stranger to cocktail decadence. Though this punchbowl has Champagne in the name, it is made with Italian sparkling wine. No matter, it’s still pretty decadent with a mix of berries, fruit liqueurs, gin, vodka, white rum and a whole bottle of bubbly.

and serves four. You have two choices: a gin-based citrusy cocktail or a cognacdriven peach creation.

The damage: $65 Where to get it: Ding Dong, 23 Ann Siang Rd., 6557-0189, www.dingdong.com.sg.

The damage: $298

K-Town

This fusion Asian New York-style tapas bar serves a rendition of the classic fruit-driven soju drink. Served in a watermelon bowl, similar to Chicken Up’s, the concoction has soju, watermelon juice and citrus.

Where to get it: Maison Ikkoku, 20 Kandahar St., 6294-0078, www.maisonikkoku.net.

Stamford Tea Party

The damage: $68 Where to get it: East 8 New York Fusion Tapas + Bar, #01-21/22 10 Coleman St., 6338-8289, www.east-8.com.

Chatham Artillery

The raucous Japanese-inspired bar has seven different punchbowls, so we’re spoilt for choice here. This potent creation is our favorite and made with cognac, bourbon, dark rum and topped off with bubbly. For something refreshing, opt for the tropical tasting Pisco Punch.

Chng Tng Punch

Locally inspired Mars Bar has two punchbowls and cocktails to share. We love the refreshing local dessert-inspired chng tng with dried longan, pearl barley and sago. For those who don’t like herbal sweetness, there’s the Ice Jelly Punch made with rum, kwaifeh lychee and dark rum jelly.

The damage: Both $109 Where to get it: Mars Bar, The Duxton Hotel, 83 Duxton Rd., 9651-6741, www. mixesfrommars.sg.

Chatham Artillery

new ResTaurant Sorrel The buzz: The short stretch of Boon Tat gets a gastronomic upgrade in the form of this produce-driven restaurant by the Unlisted Collection.

The vibe: Although we hate the term bistronomy (bistro vibes and gastronomy merged), this is what it is. The space has counter seats with a frontal view of the kitchen, while normal tables line the sides of the narrow space. It’s also pretty laidback considering it pushes out fine dining plates, a respite from the usual stiff table clothed culture. Plus, they’ve got pretty cool local artwork ranging from paintings to figurine sculptures.

The food: The rebel child of Jaan and Tippling Club (no wonder, as the Sorrel chefs have had stints at the two restaurants). It’s about fresh market produce, from Tekka Market to France, plated with precision. Snacks include things like sour cream and onion chips with a twist, while mains are generally well-executed although some a bit over-seasoned.

There’s no a la carte menu, but you can opt for three, five and seven course meals ranging from $45 to $118. A five-course dinner ($88) includes crunchy kohlrabi in sesame paste and the impressive langoustine and mussels with egg yolk ravioli.

We only wish the wagyu shortrib didn’t play it safe, although kudos to Chef Teo for smoking the bone marrow morsels for added contrast.

The drinks: The focus is on the wines here. Wine pairings with a five-course dinner come at an additional $65.

Why you’ll be back: There’s a reason why this place calls itself “approachable fine dining”. You get the whole tasting experience for well under $200—a rarity in Singapore these days. The constant menu changes are exciting enough to warrant a second trip.

21 Boon Tat St., 6221-1911, www.sorrel.sg. Open Mon-Fri noon-2pm; Sat 7-10pm. LETITIA TANDEAN

26

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, march 13, 2015

eats Send your food news to food@asia-city.com.sg

new bar LongPlay

NEW AND NOTED with Letitia Tandean

db Bistro Moderne

The buzz: This much-awaited vinyl cocktail bar adds old school tunes to Kampong Glam.

Dutch Colony Coffee

Burger King

The much-loved local burger joint is back. After moving out of the Bukit Merah kopitiam, De Burg (#02-15 CT Hub, 2 Kallang Ave., 6538-2874, www. facebook.com/deburgsingapore) has reopened in Kallang. Sink your teeth back into their juicy burgers, like the signature De Burg ($17.50) with striploin, Portobello mushroom and onion rings.

Just be warned, there are huge queues.

Tale of Two Coasts

It’s too easy to feud over whether the East or West coast reigns supreme.

Here’s a good reason to be diplomatic: The Broll Face (www.facebook.com/ brollface) is trying to unite us over something we all love: cafes. Make a trek down to cafes on the opposite end of the island, and get up to 20% of discounts at participating cafes. Think java from places like Jimmy Monkey, Dutch Colony Coffee and Carvers & Co.

De Burg

Moderne Touches

Michelin-starred celeb chef Daniel Boulud’s db Bistro Moderne (#B1-48 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8525, www.dbbistro.com) is getting a makeover. Expect to see the place transformed into a more inviting and open space, accompanied by a new oyster bar with live shucking stations, as well as a new menu with dishes like Mediterranean-style octopus with almond puree and Dover sole with Oscietra caviar.

Smoking Hot

The Unlisted Collection is at it again. After long-awaited openings of Sorrel and LongPlay (see right), they now have a new restaurant. Meat Smith (167 Telok Ayer St.) is a specialty meat smoking joint with an in-house smoker from the United States. The shop will be outfitted like a blacksmith’s and serve roasts, smoked meats. For drinks? Picklebacks, of course, along with bourbon and beer.

The decor: The narrow and corridor-like space is outfitted with burnished brass mirrors, steel cases and leather chairs that are juxtaposed by airy linen curtains.

The drinks: Nicholas Quattroville, formerly of The Library, created the cocktail menu with kitschy names like the cognac-based Marlon Brando ($20) with Stella beer, as well as the House of the Raisin Sun ($20) with raisin-infused tequila and citrus. There is a succinct list of wines like a Fenomenal verdejo ($16/glass, $94/bottle) and an extensive list of spirits (from $7/glass) from rhum agricole to cognac. You can also order a secret drink, but only if you know the right phrase.

The food: Drink-friendly snacks and sandwiches. The addictive buttermilk chicken ($12) is moist and crispy, while the togarashi squid with harissa dip ($14) is nicely seasoned. Don’t miss the mac & cheese ($16) that comes charred and oozing.

The music: A serious vinyl collection and turntable set-up playing 50 records each night (you’re welcome to make requests).

The thousand-strong collection range from classics to funk and rock tracks, with greats like Frank Sinatra but also Pink Floyd.

The crowd: Vinyl hipsters and after-work execs.

Why you’ll be back: Adventurous and delicious drinks and comforting bar bites aside, this space is a lively, slightly more upscale alternative on grungy Haji Lane.

4 Haji Ln., 6291-3323, www.facebook.com/LongPlaySG. Open Tue-Sat noon-3pm, 6pm-midnight; Sun 2-11pm. LETITIA TANDEAN

Look out for this awesome dining guide, free with the next issue!

Lunch deal May May The deal: This new, airy Asian-inspired eatery fills a gap on Tras Street, which is otherwise loaded with fine dining. Lunch combos here revolve around simple, satisfying rice bowls (you can even opt for the quinoa option for an extra $2).

There’s a choice of five toppings, including the popular red chili chicken ($15) with caramelized onions and the light butter poached cod ($18) with wakame and pickled lotus root. House salad and a nonalcoholic drink are another $3. You can also have the dessert of the day for an extra $6.

Why it’s worth it: The space is modern, yet inviting and the food is comforting without being boring. The lunch bowls don’t skimp on meaty toppings. Plus, the coffee here is from Nylon Roasters.

Lunch available Mon-Sat 11am-2pm. 65 Tras St., 6221-4698, www.facebook.com/ maymaydining. LETITIA TANDEAN

Foodie gossip

Pizzaof life

Thai

l slice

Cheape r tha to Ban n flying gkok

For a rea

Soi 60

Sabai

Peperoni

Extra Virgin

Pizzeria

Alt. Pizza

Pizza

.,

New

asek Blvd

Tem daily er 4, 3 za .sg. Open Alt. PizSuntec City Tow izza.com

#01-602 7, www.altp secret 6836-920 m. $ amazing get has an re you 11am-10p pizza bar concept whe chego mporary a DIY like man This conte the crust and toppings onions, s for pizza with zo, roasted recipe craft beer chori mize your tin Rd.) chicken, to custo also stock the spicy ern Petit (Mar chipotle include PS. Cafe and Mod more.They cheese, arella. top picks e oil and Coast Brewery truffl es. Our with mozz e whit from Napl rnia’s Lost chio pesto imported i and the pista Bar from Califo ery.

Grill io Pizza Brew s pepperon Time Don Anton Saga, Pizza & Quay, Merah Bar rtson Italian Sun m.

New 44 Jalan Open Mon-Fri lo Pizza 95 Robe . Open Tueoncello .pscafe.co rgate, .sg.

Lim Da PaoChip Bee Gardens, Rive 11am .com 0 1, www e Petit ncello.sg un aolo #01-19/2 7, www.limo :30pm. $$ PS. Cafin Rd., 8188-619 t. $ #01-46 9, www.dap 10:30pm; Sat-S better 6-10 nigh their that are 6634-511 pm; daily 38 Mart 6479-605 pm, 5:30pm8am-mid tes from river ction V the nd t devia extensive noon-2:30 s along Open daily ed to perfe noon-2:30. $$ al Holla nd outle a more and few place here are crisp rucola and print your typic larger seco u space with s, burgers s 10:30pm s s at like There are drawing fitted with cow Petit’s Bahr Pizza that’ rack ings out e one.

Tiong y of pasta is as it come s wine y hang great topp alfresco spac and than this compact includes plent h a mention lli, spinach Pizza Bar A trend enormou ed with a cozy wort Da Paolo tables and an casual ambiance like broco Mangalitsa and stack . Plus, there’s menu that pizzas are crowd, ’s en d. Try ings place The moo topp wood tive hing. rful . The watc addic prosciutto paninis. wheels with ceilings, a chee ercorns, as the people ch of the room you in . pink pepp iutto great for s, as well . in 12-in one end staff will put arella, h bean ia prosc eroni.com pizza to, mozz rucola, and frenc scamorzina polite wait ni Pizzer www.pep 11amwith toma or pizza with se. and PeperoRd., 6732-3253,-10:30pm; Sun en, salami the pizza chee and chick of Parmesan E D noon Zion R ado 56 O -Sat avoc Mon New N S Open shavings joint. g.

S P O za.sg. sg. Open . $ t pizza and thick za Bar .donantonio.s www.spiz has a grea is friendly and g 10:30pm p also ce SpizzaSt., 6224-2525, :30pm. $ onio Piz 0pm. $$ 8, www comfortin , Amis grou ey, servi g and Don Ant 6293-654 pm, 6:30-10:3 m, 6-10 The Les ’s really hom Ingredients are 29 Club a ham Klapa, use dinin 12-2:30p -2:30 t. romise homely . s like parm a 2 Jalan both in-ho Everything are consisten in this Mon-Fri n’t comp Sun noon with item ’ve also got s Coccozza le Donna’s that does supreme joint does Open Tuethe pizza ic They gourmet, s reign Antonio ings like to a simp For a place Italian pizza pretty rooms. erman’s lamb and pasta ry run by Chef l recipes, his with topp this pizza but also ni mush Pizzas e-style delivery, Gourmet pies cooked ham It n eate and porci brews like Timm and wines traditiona fresh, hom ty. rucola. rucola ails South Italia his family’s on quali mushroom and la, ham and e with with of craft by of cockt nutella, are mad equally rustic oke, selection a select list Inspired ed with echo gorgonzo dishes artich is topp t that rful with and , Zara, beers furniture and flavo s. The restauran white pizzaa sweet pizza s. simple ingredientshed walls and nd flake t) also does almo ser and des white-wa Page 23 bananas Sicily. (order AD on vibes of YOLO se see View, » Plea za Marina 8 earn Piz in Tower One, Open .co to za.com. re w.chope Extra Virg at ww avirginpiz Asia Squa r table #01-04 7, www.extr Book you ars! m. $$ casual 6247-575 doll the low-key, 10am-10p dining this is a here are Mon-Fri name, draws flour cheeky and the main With a made from goods, pizzeria -baked alfresco ar fresh spectacul

Fine Tha

#01-02 i on the Customs 3718, Bay www.sab House, 70 11:30am aifinetha Collyer Qua -2pm; Mon-Sat i.com.sg. Ope y, 6535Awash 6-11pm. with amb n Mon -Fri floors, ient amb $$ black tablecloth leather chair er light over parquet without s, you’ll find s and starched plen the over white setting. whelmin ty of fine Thai The tom g food spice pot of yum ruam in a mush mit talay pretty bayside well-balan rooms and —a simm seafood exquisite ced with a little adde in a spicy soup ering and pine roasted red duck curry d kick, as well —is apples. as the with adde d lyche Soi 60 New es #01-04 60 soi60.co Robertson Quay, noon-10:m.sg. Mon-Fri 6635 5:30-10: -6675, www 30pm . $$ 30pm This conte ; Sat-Sun . and mod mporary Thai resta ern dishe and fusio s like Thai urant serve ribs, Thai s up vibrant industrial n coconut pann duck salad Nara Thai -looking a cotta place dessert.

Cuisin space fits e and long With happenin right into the illuminate an Robe d bar, expats g scene, so you’l rtson Quay Aroy Dee and riverside’ the l be sure Thai Kitc the place those who 262 Midd s to find Thanying live in . lots of hen the area Restaurant com/aro le Rd., 6336 frequentin -8812, ydeekitch Spicy 3pm, www.face g 5pm-6am enthai.

Thai-Th Moo kata book Open #01-35 .$ ai Cafe If you’r daily 11:3 .

Blk your ingre is a Thai-style e cravi www.spic 115 Alju 0amng Thai restauran nied surrounde dients on a hotpot and barb food late midnight ythaicafe.com Ave. 2, 6747 dome-sh at morning. t that’s open fire. You’l d by a moat .$ aped metaecue. Cook -8558, . Open until the night, head Servi for daily 11am to this ng typic Retaining rice and l grill that’ walking l definitely catch soup stock al Thai wee hours of chicken s , over past this fare like the up auth its coffeesho (read: a mea green a charc simp p look, entic Thai pinea humble ty whif curry at oal this f barb lunch and ly decorated hole whe low price pple fried food such restauran ecue Nakhon -in-the-wa n ) resta dinner. t serve urant gets s, this no-frills jum (cha pork neck, moo as steam ll.

Kitchen #01-341 rcoal clayp crowded kata (Tha ed catfish, s Thai iced E-Sarn ot hot for daily noon212 Hougang i hot pot) and St., lemongra tea and finish pot). Wash 130 Pasi Thai Cui -3pm, sin it all dow jim with a 5:30-10p 21, 6286-878 This place ss jelly. com.sg. r Panjang Rd., e dessert n m. $ 5. Ope like aloe with queues, fills up fast so n Thai Tan 10pm Open Wed-Mon 6473-3716, vera which go early .$ are outlets.

11:30am www.esa tric New #03-23 They do the norm at to avoid the rn.

This Nort -2:30pm Orchard long though, both Kova take your heastern 4499. , 5:30 Towers, mini n and Bedo meat, Ope Thai eate available, mizing waiti order while Thai 400 3am-10: n Mon-Fri k you ry serve ng time if you want is the Thai salads, rice, 11:30am Orchard Rd., 30pm . Takeawayqueue and nood s a variety 9035 . vege to -10: $ skip the The locat with acac table cha of 30pm le Nara Tha dining-in is also ; Sat-Sun ion—foldi om ome dishes. Of note corridor They also ia and serve queue. i Cui let, #B3-21 d with surrounde ng tables along Ion Orch sine a spicy which is fried us take away do a variety the warm d by a third www.nar belachan ard, of floor fuzzies seedy dance athai.com 2 Orchard Bangkok’s boast abou and delivery. lunch boxes, dip.

10pm of eatin bars—gives Turn, available .sg. Ope . $$ g on a 6634-578 than that red light distri furniture, t with fores The space is for n sidew daily 11:3 noth t green A well7, but the alk in the usua description mighct. The menu walls and ing to know 0amfood’s is a lot l Singapore n name in pretty t imply, broa laab mea Northeastern MooJa satisfying outdoor Bangkok, Isaan fare—though: there der tom yum outlet serve . stir-fries t salads, etc— 25 Keon a s moderate the restauran ’s soup and papaya but and who yellow t’s first ly spicy salad, What’s com/Mo g Saik Rd., 6536 curry. The their delic le steam also curries, fare like more, ious nood boot oJaa ed/d resta -478 soft, .sg. Ope it’s all le soup incorpora noon-6pa eep-fried urant spac shell crab solid. n Mon 0, www.face ting purple, fish dishe s, m; Sun with purp the company’se is really prett with noon-11p -Fri 5pm-6am book. s. le seats y ; Sat m. $$ and pend signature color to ant lamp Lau s.

ght where er is bright est food

is bes Book you t. r table dining dollars! at www.ch ope.co to

earn

SG Eat

s 29

Eats 24 SG

SG Eats is our fun and fabulous guide to over 150 casual eateries across the island. From brunch spots and local fare to burger joints and late night supper, there are over 25 categories for every occasion, budget and taste bud.

Get it free with the March 27 issue of SG.

For weekly updates on new restaurants, bars and events on The Dish.

Sign up at sgnow.sg/newsletters FRIDAY, march 13, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

27

escapes

Holidays, hotels and insider travel news Send your travel news and promotions to travel@asia-city.com.sg

FujinTree355

DESTINATION GUIDE

Taipei Personality 3 gateway experiences that will have you hooked on the Taiwanese capital. By Ric Stockfis

Raohe Night Market

Keelung River

T

Move on to: SomethingAles (195 Roosevelt Rd., Section 3, Shida District), a simple neighborhood bar, open till 1am, with a loyal army of followers and a great selection of American beers. Or KidSorrow (B1, 26 Lane 131, Yanji St., Shilin District; +886 2 2872-9993, www. facebook.com/kidsorrow), a cult spot in the far north of the city serving rare ales and lots of Mikkeller.

aipei might just be Asia’s most underrated city—a beguiling combination of the best of the rest. Like Shanghai, it rewards aimless exploration on foot or by bike; like Bangkok, gritty and glam coexist side by side; like Tokyo, there’s an intoxicating sense that you’ll never quite know it all; and it’s surrounded by stunning green mountains that rival Hong Kong. Everyone comes here to eat (it even edges out Singapore in the street food stakes), but once you’re done with the night markets—of which Raohe (beside the Songshan MRT station) is the current foodie darling—there’s plenty more to keep you busy.

Street Style

Taipei is a great place to wander at will, but to cover more ground it’s well worth renting a bike. The public YouBike system (www.youbike.com.tw) is easy to use (just NT$10 (40 cents) for four hours), and there’s a huge network of cycle paths across the city, with the riverside routes among the most rewarding.

Start with: Dihua Street, one of the city’s oldest thoroughfares. This grubby lane of crumbling shophouses and Chinese medicine vendors close to the river is no secret. But long-established fabric retailers and tea merchants are now competing with cafes, galleries and co-working spaces, making it a great mix of old and new. It’s especially packed around Chinese New Year.

Move on to: Fujin Street, a quiet, leafy boulevard tucked away near Songshan Airport. It’s home to—you guessed it—a host of charming cafes, galleries and design stores. FujinTree355 (355 Fujin St.; +886 2 2765-2705, www.facebook. com/FujinTree355), which stocks colorful, lightweight womenswear and gorgeous Japanese-inspired homeware, is a great place to start—there’s even an offshoot cafe at no. 353. Other worthwhile stops include FunFunTown (No. 2, Alley 1, Lane 359 Fujin St., www.facebook. com/funfuntown), full of retro toys and traditional woodwork, and 3,co (377 Fujin St., www.3co.com.tw), which serves up artisan coffee and a range of beautiful tableware.

28

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAY, march 13, 2015

Day Hikes

Look down any street in Taipei and chances are there’ll be mountains looming on the horizon, meaning easy access to both well-trodden routes and some worldclass hiking.

Essentials YouBike

Start with: The Four Beasts. On the south east edge of the city—only a 15-minute walk from Taipei 101—are Tiger, Elephant, Leopard and Lion Mountains. Its proximity to the center and the fact that the paths are paved, well-signposted, well-lit and (relatively) easy-going, means there are few better places for an evening stroll looking over the city. The annotated Google Maps at is.gd/fourbeasts are pretty helpful, too.

Move on to: Maokong, where a glassbottomed gondola from the Taipei Zoo MRT station in the south whisks you up to tea country (NT$50 ($2) for 3 stations), with stunning views across the city. As well as tramping around the plantations, hillside temples and wooded slopes, you can put your feet up in one of dozens of charming teahouses, though be warned they get overrun at weekends.

Craft Beer

Off-the-shelf beers aren’t up to much here, although draft Taiwan Beer, only served for up to 18 days after production, is worth seeking out. But the first hints of a craft beer revolution are afoot.

Start with: Beer&Cheese Social House (169 Jianguo South Rd., Section 2, Daan District; +886 9 1654-9373, www.

Tigerair

Maokong

facebook.com/beerandcheese), a popular spot near Da’an Park, with eight brews on rotation on the taps (from NT$180 ($7.80)), a stacked fridge with plenty more and a delicious array of grilled cheese toasties (from NT$250 ($10.80)) as well as beers from local microbrewery 886 (www.facebook.com/886brewing).

They recently partnered with gypsy brewer Jeppe-Jarnit Bergso of Evil Twin to produce a Made-in-Taiwan IPA and a local edition of the ironically named Hipster Ale.

Insider travel tips

GETTING THERE We flew with Tigerair (from $260 return; www.tigerair.com), which has two or three flights a day leaving Singapore, including a Friday afternoon flight which gets you in for early evening. China Airlines, EVA Air, Scoot and Singapore Airlines also offer direct flights. A taxi into the city from the airport takes around 45 minutes and costs NT$1200 ($52).

VISA More than 40 countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, are part of the visa exemption program, meaning no visas needed for visits of up to 30 days. Check www. taiwanembassy.org/SG for the full list.

EXCHANGE RATE NT$24 = $1

Sign up to Escape Routes, our weekly travel newsletter at sgnow.sg/newsletters

escapes grand openings Mandarin Oriental Taipei

Overview: This majestic new spot, the first Mandarin in Taiwan, opened mid-way through last year and features more than 300 luxurious rooms and suites, alongside plenty of fine dining options. It’s on a leafy avenue to the north of downtown (perfect for exploring nearby Fujin Road).

Design: In a word: lush. The tone is set when you pull up outside—the Art Decoinspired building is the most imposing on what is already a distinguished street.

Inside is no less grand: you can thank their “artisan designers” for details like the flower-engraved leather walls and huge chandeliers.

imagine a night in one of their five varieties of suites, complete with private bar, would be even more special. Speaking of suites, there are 12 in the spa, too. On-site dining is as fancy as you’d imagine (the interior of breakfast spot Cafe Un Deux Trois is something special), though the opulent Mandarin Cake Shop, located in its own private courtyard, was an unexpected gem.

Rant: We’re splitting hairs here, but it’s a pretty big complex with multiple entrances, meaning the reception experience can be a little lacking (or nonexistent if you go in the wrong way).

Price: From $475/night.

Rave: They had us at the rainforest showers and Diptyque toiletries, although we 158 Dunhua Rd. North; +886 2 2715-6888; www.mandarinoriental.com. RIC STOCKFIS

ESCAPE ROUTES with Joyce See

PICTURES ARE FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY

A GLAMOROUS W T TIME EXPERIENCE HAPPENING DAILY FROM 3-5PM. WEEKDAY PACKAGES: DROP THE T² SGD 58++ FOR 2 PEOPLE BUBBLY DROP THE T² SGD98++ FOR 2 PEOPLE

Baba Iki

RESTAURANTS

Will Travel for Food We regularly do sweeps of the region’s hottest new food haunts. This time, we’ve got Hong Kong’s futuristic SAAM (51D Graham St., +852 2645-9828, www. saamhk.com) that has its gastronomic offerings projected onto the walls. Then there’s the swanky cliff-side resto Baba Iki in Phuket (88 moo 8, Sakdidej Rd., +66 7637-1000, www.sripanwa.com) that boasts drool-worthy Japanese plates.

Also on our list are Yangon’s Rangoon Bar (Union Business Center, Nat Kauk Rd.) that offers cocktails and rare single malts and House of Singapura (Nat Kauk Rd., +95 9 3025-8388, www.hos.com. mm) that serves no-fuss local grub, both set up by Singapore’s Les Amis group.

FLIGHTS

High Flying Singapore Airlines (www.singaporeair. com) is finally rolling out premium economy

class, with its first flight planned for Aug 9 to Sydney. Expect to kick back in wider leather-clad seats that come with a padded calf rest, foot bar, in-seat power supply and noise-canceling headphones. Plus, you’ll get priority check-in and a 35kg baggage allowance. While you won’t have to fork out as much as you would for business class, expect to pay 15-40% more than economy class.

TECH

PUBLIC HOLIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY PACKAGES: DROP THE T² SGD 68++ FOR 2 PEOPLE BUBBLY DROP THE T² SGD108++ FOR 2 PEOPLE FOR RESERVATIONS 6808 7258 WOOBAR.SINGAPORE @WHOTELS.COM

Spot It New mobile app Spottly (www.spottly. com) is a travel wishlist on speed. It lets you keep track and save all of the places you want to visit, and also gives you suggestions on cool hangouts and hidden gems based on listings created by fellow users. It’s also super easy to create a listing—as easy as posting to Instagram. There’s also a video function to share all those amazing moments. Unfortunately, this app is currently only available on the iPhone.

Android users, keep your fingers crossed.

*PRICES ARE IN SINGAPORE DOLLARS, SUBJECT TO 10% SERVICE CHARGE AND 7% GOODS AND SERVICES TAX.

WSINGAPORESENTOSACOVE.COM

FRIDAY, march 13, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

29

Hospitality Point-of-Sales & Information Management System

Touch

POS System

EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 5PM

• Easy to Use, Flexible, Functional and userr Friendly Fr Point of Sales System for the Hospitality Industry.

• Membership Software (CRM) with Loyalty Points Module.

• Costumizable Management Reports that Provide Detailed and Vital Information about your Business.

• Wireless Handheld PDA Ordering Terminal that Maximises Operation Flow of any Restaurant.

• Stock Inventory Software that Tracks Stock Balances with Easy-to-Use Recipe Generation Module.

• Multi Language Capability.

• Headquarters Module to Centrally Manage Information from Multiple Outlets.

Distributors :

Singapore Office

Indonesia Office

HRS Marketing Pte Ltd.

PT AWIZ Indonesia

28 Sin Ming Lane #06-136 Midview City Singapore 573972 Tel : +65 6252 3393 Fax : +65 6659 4240

19 Tampines Industrial Ave 5 T5 @Tampines #02-00 Singapore 528619 Tel : +65 6783 6610 Fax : +65 6783 7611

WWW.PRIVEKEPPEL .COM. SG

Malaysia Office

CCi Solutions & Security Sdn Bhd A-G-10, Jalan Bangau 11 Bandar Puchong Jaya.47100 Puchong. Selangor D.E. Malaysia Tel : (03) 8070 5880 Fax : (03) 8070 5882 Email: info@cci.com.my

NO. 2 KEPPEL BAY VISTA , MARINA AT KEPPEL BAY, SINGAPORE 098382

Jakarta (Main Office): Jl. Letjen Suprapto Ruko Cempaka Mas Blok I No. 3 Jakarta Pusat 10640 Tel : +62 21 4288 5023 Fax : +62 21 4288 5024 Surabaya (Branch): Jl. Raya Darmo Permai III Bavarian Village B-27 Surabaya Tel : +62 31 734 8959 Fax : +62 31 734 8962 Bali (Branch): Komplek Puri Citra Pratama Jl. Taman Sari VII No. B-17 Denpasar, Bali Tel : +62 361 803 7278

website: www.raptorpos.com | www.hrsmarketing.com email: sales@raptorpos.com

freewill astrology

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): In the fairy tale The Ugly Duckling, the young hero suffers from a peculiar case of mistaken identity. He believes that he is a duck.

All of his problems stem from this erroneous idea. By duck standards, he is a homely mess. He gets taunted and abused by other animals, goes into exile and endures terrible loneliness. In the end, though, his anguish dissolves when he finally realizes that he is in fact a swan. United with his true nature, he no longer compares himself to an inappropriate ideal. Fellow swans welcome him into their community, and he flies away with them. Is there anything in this story that resonates with you, Pisces? I’m guessing there is. It’s high time to free yourself from false notions about who you really are.

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): In the old Superman comics, Mister Mxyztplk was a fiendish imp whose home was in the fifth dimension. He sometimes sneaked over into our world to bedevil the Man of Steel with pranks.

There was one sure way he could be instantly banished back to his own realm for a long time: if Superman fooled him into saying his own name backwards. You might think it would be hard to trick a magic rascal into saying “Klptzyxm” when he knew very well what the consequences would be, but Superman usually succeeded.

I’d like to suggest that you have a similar power to get rid of a bugaboo that has been bothering you, Aries.

Don’t underestimate your ability to outsmart the pest.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): In 1637, mathematician Pierre de Fermat declared that he had solved the Last Theorem, a particularly knotty mathematical problem. Unfortunately, he never actually provided the proof that he had done so. The mystery remained. Other math experts toiled for centuries looking for the answer. It wasn’t until 1994, more than 350 years later, that anyone succeeded. I think you are on the verge of discovering a possible solution to one of your own long-running riddles, Taurus. It may take a few more weeks, but you’re almost there. Can you sense that twinkle in your third eye? Keep the faith.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 20): Your upcoming efforts might not be flawless in all respects, but I suspect you will triumph anyway. You may not even be completely sure of what you want, but I bet you’ll get a reward you didn’t know you were looking for. Cagey innocence and high expectations will be your secret weapons. Dumb luck and crazy coincidences will be your X-factors. Here’s one of your main tasks: as the unreasonable blessings flow in your direction, don’t disrupt or obstruct the flow.

CANCER (Jun 21-Jul 22): As soon as a baby loggerhead turtle leaves its nest on a Florida beach, it heads for the ocean. It’s only two inches long. Although it can swim just one mile every two hours, it begins an 8,000-mile journey that takes ten years. It travels east to Africa, then turns around and circles back to where it originated. Along the way it grows big and strong as it eats a wide variety of food, from corals to sea cucumbers to squid. Succeeding at such an epic journey requires a stellar sense of direction and a prodigious will to thrive. I nominate the loggerhead turtle to be your power animal for the coming weeks, Cancerian.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): In 1961, 19-year-old Bob Dylan began doing solo performances of folk songs at New York clubs. To accompany his vocals, he played an acoustic guitar and harmonica. By 1963, his career had skyrocketed. Critics called him a creative genius. Pop stars were recording the songs he wrote, making him rich. But he still kept his instrumentation simple, relying entirely on his acoustic guitar and harmonica. That changed in 1965, when he made the leap to rock and roll. For the first time, his music featured a full drum set and electric guitar, bass, and keyboards. Some of his fans were offended. How dare he renounce his folk roots? I wonder if it might be time for you to consider a comparable transition, Leo. Are you willing to risk disorienting or disturbing those who would prefer you to stay as you are?

Barossa_IS Magazine_Ad FA.pdf

1

1/12/15

11:48 AM

Week of Mar 13 © 2015 Rob Brezsny

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): “Whoever travels without a guide needs 200 years for a two-day journey.” That’s an old Sufi saying sometimes attributed to the poet Rumi. I don’t think it’s accurate in all cases. Sometimes we are

drawn to wander into frontiers that few people have visited and none have mastered. There are no guides. On other occasions, we can’t get the fullness of our learning experience unless we are free to stumble and bumble all by ourselves. A knowledgeable helper would only interfere with that odd magic. But right now, Virgo, I believe the Sufi saying holds true for you. Where you’re headed, you would benefit from an advisor, teacher or role model.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 22): There’s a meme rolling around Tumblr and Facebook that goes like this: “Everyone wants a magical solution for their problems, but they refuse to believe in magic.” Judging from the astrological omens, I think this Internet folk wisdom applies to your current situation. As I see it, you have two choices. If you intend to keep fantasizing about finding a magical solution, you will have to work harder to believe in magic. But if you can’t finagle your brain into actually believing in magic, you should stop fantasizing about a magical solution. Which will it be?

SCORPIO (Oct 23-Nov 21): I have taken a passage from a letter that Henry Miller wrote to Anais Nin, and I have chopped it up and rearranged it and added to it so as to create an oracle that’s perfect for you right now. Ready?

“This is the wild dream: you with your chameleon’s soul being anchored always in no matter what storm, sensing you are at home wherever you are. You asserting yourself, getting the rich varied life you desire; and the more you assert yourself, the more you love going deeper, thicker, fuller. Resurrection after resurrection: that’s your gift, your promise. The insatiable delight of constant change.”

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): One of your important assignments in the coming week is to get high without the use of drugs and alcohol. Let me elaborate. In my oracular opinion, you simply must escape the numbing trance of the daily rhythm. Experiencing altered states of awareness will provide you with crucial benefits. At the same time, you can’t afford to risk hurting yourself, and it’s essential to avoid stupidly excessive behavior that has negative repercussions. So what do you think? Do you have any methods to get sozzled and squiffed or jiggled and jingled that will also keep you sane and healthy?

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): Singer Gloria Gaynor recorded the song “I Will Survive” in 1978. It sold over two million copies and ultimately became an iconic disco anthem. And yet it was originally the B-side of “Substitute,” the song that Gaynor’s record company released as her main offering. Luckily, radio DJs ignored “Substitute” and played the hell out of “I Will Survive,” making it a global hit. I foresee the possibility of a similar development for you, Capricorn.

What you currently consider to be secondary should perhaps be primary. A gift or creation or skill you think is less important could turn out to be pre-eminent.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): I’m tempted to furrow my brow and raise my voice as I tell you to please please please go out and do the dicey task you’ve been postponing. But that would just be a way to vent my frustration, and probably not helpful or constructive for you. So here’s my wiser advice: to prepare for that dicey task, lock yourself in your sanctuary until you figure out what you first need to change about yourself before you can accomplish the dicey task. I think that once you make the inner shift, doing the deed will be pretty easy.

ANNOuncement

FREE

ANGUS BEEF HAPPY SLIDERS

HOUR

Esplanade Mall #01-11 T: 6534 5188 barossa

30

22 Lorong Mambong T: 6468 4688

www.barossa.com.sg

SG MAGAZINE FRIDAy, march 13, 2015

MONDAYS–FRIDAYS 6–8PM Terms & Conditions Apply

notice of Intended marriage I, Clare Elizabeth Robertson, single, of 20 Duchess Road, 01-01 Duchess Manor, Singapore 268988, intend to marry Gabriele Vismara, bachelor, of 20 Duchess Road, 01-01 Duchess Manor, Singapore 268988 at Chiesa Del Varo, Piazza Del Varo, 98039, Taormina, Sicily, Italy, on 22 August 2015. Any person knowing of any lawful impediment to the marriage should without delay notify the Consular Section, British High Commission Singapore, 100 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247919.

Let the giveaways begin.

Free meals, staycations, concert passes and more Catch them all at www.facebook.com/sgnow.sg

Djulian Chng

last word

Aya Sekine She knows all about the triumphs and tribulations of the local music scene, as the keyboardist for local jazz band L.A.B—who are touring Japan in May—an organizer of offbeat acts from around the world and an adjunct professor at Lasalle. Here, she tells Mrigaa Sethi about life as an international school student in the ’80s and why influence is crucial to forging an artistic identity.

I moved here when I was four. My father was stationed in Singapore for a Japanese construction company. He also owned a cafe called Bon Gout on Robertson Quay, which was famous for its curry.

And that was it. I met so many people that I’m still friends with. I met Japanese jazz musicians who are really hot shots in Japan now, but at that time they were still learning. It was an eye opener. I finished high school, and I went back.

I had very red cheeks. I would run around trying to escape from everybody telling me, “Cute, cute!”

I didn’t have much money in New York. I worked parttime at Japanese companies.

As a teenager here, I listened to a lot of music.

It wasn’t like I was a successful musician. I was just Singapore TV back then had nothing, but that was when experimenting. In a way, it was the best time of my life.

VHS came in handy. My grandparents in I was a kamikaze fighter. I was going for it. I Japan would record stuff and send it to Identity doesn’t didn’t think. I just did everything. us—stuff on MTV, when it first started come overnight. When I came back from New York, I had a in Japan. regular gig at Jazz at Southbridge. It was part You have to I went to American school after I was of the reason I came back. [Owner] Eddie Chan 14. I was in a rock band with American called me and asked if I was interested. grow it. boys, playing Steppenwolf, Van Halen, Things in New York were coming to an end. I Poison, Rush. had been there 13 years, experienced 9/11. My health was I was also in the school brass band and in a jazz band. not very good. So I decided it was a good opportunity to go It makes your ears open up quite a lot—it’s complicated back where my parents were. music for kids. But my brother and I loved it; we could Singapore is just 50 years old. It’s important to have memorize the drum solo, the bass solo. your identity, but who the hell knows it so fast? I don’t I’m very influenced by my brother. He always had a know what my identity is. Identity doesn’t come overnight. band. He’s now the manager of a pretty big Japanese You need to grow it. It’s a seed. You water it by getting indie band called Quruli. inspiration.

My friends and I used to go to Saxophone Bar and The Brannigan’s. So I was quite exposed. We used to go to tea dances, too and Supreme House for the roller skate disco.

When I was 17, my mother recommended I go to Berklee [College of Music, Boston] for summer school, because she saw an ad in the Japanese newspaper.

Bands travel around Singapore, but not many drop by because they’re not for the masses and there’s nowhere to play.

I don’t book bands by popularity. For example, at Blu Jaz, I book bands by diversity. Some people complain that they didn’t like this band. I say, “Come back next week.”

But I sometimes end up saying no. I do budget calculations and say, “I’m sorry. We’d love to have you, but there’s nobody receiving you guys. And I can’t afford it.”

It’s great to have a local identity among locals. But you need to expand. Don’t be afraid of becoming somebody else. Local musicians need to go outside of Singapore to compare themselves and see how they sound in someone else’s territory.

I think there’s a mission for me. It’s big, but I don’t know exactly how to put it yet.

It has to be live. You need to talk to them. You need to feel it. It’s the air. It’s the silence in the audience. The good stuff I see knocks me out, and I just need to go to the practice room. This is the kind of feeling that we all need.

I think Singapore wants to protect itself, because it’s still young. It’s like a parent trying to raise the kid very safely until he goes out the door.

What I see Singapore inviting in to Singapore is always the same, because there is some kind of sponsorship.

But the bands that minority musicians want to see, we have to do it independently. And that is not easy because everything is so expensive.

FOR DAILY UPDATES, bonuS stories, hundreds of events, Bookmark sgnow.sg That’s what she said

by Kathy Macleod

kathymacleod.blogspot.com FRIDAY, March 13, 2015 SG MAGAZINE

31

Krall EntErtainmEnt prEsEnts

Featuring

burnt Out Punks

from march 26 - may DuE to popular DEmanD, wE’vE aDDED morE shows

3! BooK now.

jubilee hall 2015 Book now at www.sistic.com.sg • Tickets also available through 6348 5555 • More information: www.labero.com.sg

Are you ready to believe?