Barcelona is an amazing city. The weather is perfect, the locals are friendly, the shopping is great, and of course, I like the fact that people here love dining till late.

Whenever I go to a city that I really like, I always find myself envisioning a future staying there. After spending the first day in the capital of Catalonia, I told myself: “I could live in Barcelona!”

It has always been my dream to visit Spain, and eat Spanish tapas while bar-hopping. I managed to go to some of the eating spots that a few readers recommended when I mentioned on twitter that I was heading to Barcelona.

For the first two days, we mostly ate at the (touristy) restaurants along La Rambla as we were staying in the area at Hotel Espana. That’s so wrong. I know I know. But luckily for the next three days, we ate pretty well, and some of the tapas restaurants were spectacular.

A local told us that Paco Meralgo (c/ Muntaner 171. 08036 Barcelona, Spain Tel: 93 430 90 27 Metro: Hospital Clinic) was a place worth trying, and after getting her assurance that it wasn’t a tourist trap, we managed to navigate our way there.

They serve a huge variety of tapas ranging from a simple Chicken and Ham Croquette (€1.35/piece) to Fresh Anchovies in batter (€5.35), Patatas Bravas (€3.8), and Deep Fried Baby Squid (€11.55).

Throughout the trip, I’ve tried Paella from different restaurants, but sadly, I didn’t manage to find a good one. Or maybe it is because we were simply too used to the localised version of Paella that we have in Singapore. The hunt for the best Paella continues. Maybe a trip to Valencia (the home town of Paella) next year?

In between meals, we went to the most famous tourist attraction in  Barcelona: Sagrada Familia – a large Roman Catholic church which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi.

Words failed me as I came out from the Metro and saw the Sagrada Familia. It was one of those scenes where time stood still, and you could only stop and stare in awe. “Oh my god. I’m standing in front of the Sagrada Familia. Oh my god. This is something that you only get to see on TV.” *pinch cheek*

And the same thing happened here.

Another tapas restaurant you should go is Ciutat Comtal (Rambla de Cataluña 123, 08008 Barcelona, Spain Tel: 934 156 020 Metro: Diagonal.)

The menu is divided into several categories: Salad (€3-7), Flautas (€4-7), and Tapas (€4-10). A plate of Assorted Tapas (€15.65) came with prawns, clams, green pepper, fried small fishes, and potato croquette. In addition to the platter, we also had Baby Squids done in Andaluz style, which was excellent with beer.

While wandering around, we walked right into a peaceful street protest.

As I’ve mentioned, we stayed in La Rambla – a very popular tree-lined street in central Barcelona – and I really liked the area. (Other than the fact that it’s very touristy.) There were many adjoining streets, and it was really fun to walk randomly into one; it felt as though we were exploring a huge maze, and you never know where you’re going till you get there.

Just a stop away from La Rambla is Passeig de Gracia – a major avenue which is one of the main shopping district in Barcelona. Here, you can find the high-end designer boutiques and restaurants.

Tapas 24 (269 C/ Diputació, 08007 Barcelona, Spain Tel: 934 880 977 Metro: Passeig de Gràcia) was highly recommended and I immediately fell in love with the place when I stepped in. It was modern, unpretentious, and informal; just the kind of place that I’d open if I were ever crazy enough to set up a restaurant one day.

Unfortunately, the food that we had at Tapas 24 was not fantastic. Maybe the chefs had a bad day, maybe we had unreasonably high expectations, or maybe we just ordered the wrong dishes; the food wasn’t as good as I hoped it would be. That said, I can still see myself going back for a meal to try the other tapas when I’m in Barcelona next time.

Spanish Tomato Bread – toasted bread rubbed with fresh garlic and ripe tomato, then drizzled with olive oil and a bit of salt – is something that’s eaten all over Spain.

Among the tapas places that we went to, Cerveceria Catalana (236 C/ Mallorca, Barcelona Tel: 932 16 03 68 Metro: Passeig de Gràcia) stood out for serving good tapas at reasonable prices. It was the best meal that we had in Barcelona.

I’ll go so far as to say it’s a must-try restaurant in Barcelona. Reservations are required, if not be prepared to wait for at least half an hour.

Churros with hot chocolate.

I was so goddamn happy in Barcelona; we were practically high on wine and sangria everyday, and needless to say, we ate a lot. After each meal, we would go shopping at places like Zara, H&M, Pull & Bear, Mango, and Stradivarius. And after digesting our previous meal, we would grab gelato and waffles by the roadside. Then we would continue to shop and make friends with our credit cards.

Shopping, eating, drinking, sightseeing, eating shopping, eating, drinking, and more drinking.

Getting to Barcelona: Singapore Airlines flies seven times weekly from Singapore to Barcelona. For other options, Qatar Airways and Emirates Airline often have promotions on flights to Europe.

Getting to city from airport: The main airport is about 17 km south-west of the Barcelona city centre (Plaça Catalunya). It takes about half an hour to go by bus A1 (from terminal 1), or A2 (from terminal 2). The price of round ticket is approximately €9. (I’d suggest taking the bus. Among the different cities I went to, Barcelona had the most convenient public transport from airport to city.)

Travelling Tips: Barcelona is known as the pickpocket capital of the world, so make sure to look after your belongings closely.

Where to stay: 4 star Hotels at La Rambla start at about €80 a night.

If you are craving for Spanish Food, read my guide to Spanish Restaurants in Singapore

With Valentine’s Day just two weeks away, the question on everyone’s mind: where to go for a romantic date?

Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, I’d suggest celebrating it the weekend before, or a few days after. Unless both of you have violent objections and insist on celebrating it on the actual day, it really doesn’t make sense to pay so much just because it is February fourteenth.

As such, this post is mainly on romantic restaurants in Singapore which I think are worth trying; you can also use it as a guide for other special occasions. (I’m not including the details of Valentine’s Day set menus. If you want to find out more, please call the respective restaurant to check their Valentine’s Day promotions.)

Here are some suggestions on where to go for Valentine’s Day Dinner 2012.

Otto Ristorante

I’ve been hearing good things about Otto Ristorante, but somehow I never got the chance to try it. I finally went there recently, and I’m happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Otto Ristorante has a 5 course degustation menu at $88/pax, which in my opinion, is great value for the quality of food.

It is definitely going into my list of must-try Italian restaurants in Singapore.

28 Maxwell Road
#01-02 Red Dot Traffic Building
Tel: +65 6227 6819

Bar & Billiard Room

Take a day off and enjoy lunch with your partner at the Bar & Billiard Room at Raffles Hotel. I like the nostalgic feel of the restaurant, and the buffet selection offers a wide variety of choices. Buffet lunch from Mon to Sat is $60++/pax, while dinner is $75++/pax.

1 Beach Road
Raffles Hotel
Tel: +65 6412 1816

Brasserie Les Saveurs

If you’re going to do brunch, do it in style in one of the most posh settings in Singapore.

Brasserie Les Saveurs at The Regis is easily one of the most romantic French restaurants in Singapore, so why not come here for an early Valentine’s Champagne Brunch this coming Sunday?

At $170++/pax, the Champagne Brunch Buffet at Brasserie Les Saveurs is not cheap. But what you get is a wonderful experience with free flow of champagne.

29 Tanglin Road
The St. Regis Singapore
Tel: +65 6506 6888

Bistro Soori

Bistro Soori is a cool, cosy, informal restaurant with a small open kitchen and a few tables, which makes you feel as though you are dining in a friend’s place. The prices aren’t too high (although not too low, either), and you can have a good meal without spending ridiculous money. It was one of the best meals that I had in 2011, and I think you will like it too.

2 Teck Lim Road, Singapore
(Near Outram/Tanjong Pagar)
Tel: +65 6438 3802

Halia Restaurant

Halia Restaurant is located in the Ginger Garden of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and it has been known as one of the most romantic restaurants since opening in 2001. While prices are rather steep, it is the perfect place for a special date.

1 Cluny Road
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Tel: +65 6476 6711

Hummerstons Restaurant

One of my favourite new restaurants is Hummerstons restaurant at Robertson Quay. The food is competent, and reasonably priced. Definitely worth checking out.

11 Unity Street
#02-14 Robertson Walk
Tel: +65 6737 8863

JAAN Restaurant

If money is no object, go to JAAN Restaurant at Swissotel The Stamford.

JAAN by Chef Julien Royer is, without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in Singapore. Of course, I can’t afford to eat there all the time, but for a lavish meal like this, enjoyed with a amazing view of Singapore’s skyline – it is indeed a fine way to splurge during a special occasion.

2 Stamford Road
70F Swissotel The Stamford
Tel: +65 6431 5670

Keyaki Japanese Restaurant

Keyaki – at the rooftop Japanese garden on level 4 of Pan Pacific Hotel – is a traditional fine dining Japanese restaurant. For dinner, you can either eat at the Teppankayi counter, order ala carte or go for the 8 courses Kaiseki dinner set ($160++/pax).

The Japanese Restaurant currently has a very good brunch deal on weekends (12 noon to 2.30pm): 10 course kaiseki set brunch featuring Japanese cuisine prepared in various styles is available for just $60++/pax. Feast on the selection which includes daily kobachi, three types of appetisers, assorted sashimi, steamed egg custard, assorted tempura, teppanyaki beef or pork with fried rice, dessert.

7 Raffles Boulevard
4/F Pan Pacific Singapore
Tel: +65 6826 8335

Recommended : Valentine’s Day Food Gift Ideas

Which is your favourite restaurant for a romantic date? How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day 2012? I want to hear from you!

Food blogging has given me interesting insights into the Food & Beverage industry. All I can say is it is definitely not an easy business, and I have nothing but respect for restaurateurs and the folks working there.

But sometimes, I’m really annoyed by the simple things that are missing. It seems like a no-brainer to me to do things the way they should be done, but it too often goes wrong somewhere. If I had it my way, here are 5 Changes I’d like to see in restaurants.

Provide free wifi

It’s nice to read that the Malaysian government just passed a law to mandate free WiFi for all restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. Being a frequent traveller, there’s nothing more frustrating than to keep searching for free WiFi hotspots.

While we are lucky that Singapore is one of the countries in the world with high internet penetration rate, not everyone has internet data on the go. Moreover, tourists will usually patronise restaurants that provide free WiFi, or at least it is one of the main motivating factors in choosing a place to dine.

Get someone who can speak well to handle the phone.

This is the first level of interaction between the restaurant and the (potential) customer. Screw this up, and you will never hear from the customer again. So for goodness sake, get someone who can speak well to handle the phone.

“Can I make a reservation for dinner on Monday night?”
“Can you prease repeat that?”
“Can I reserve a table for two on Monday night?”
“Oh ok lor, I will chope you a seat on Tuesday.”

Have a nice website, get on twitter and facebook.

In this modern era where everyone is connected to the internet, it is a must for restaurants to have a presence online. Every restaurant should have a decent website/blog to provide the basic information (more on this in another post), while building the relationship with customers via twitter and facebook.

Reward staff with 10% service charge.

The service line in Singapore does not have a very good reputation. This is hardly surprising since it is not seen as a respectable career, and it doesn’t pay very well.

From what I understand, not all restaurants give the 10% service charge collected to their staff. I know it is not easy for restaurant owners to run the business, but I think it is only fair to motivate and reward staff with some incentives.

Offer free tap water.

In Singapore, it is safe to drink water straight from the tap, and it is free. So there is no excuse for restaurants not to offer tap water. While drinks are a lucrative source of revenue, restaurants should not deny customers the option of having tap water.

What are some of the changes that you would like to see in restaurants?

With the new SMRT Circle Line, it is so much easier to go to places like Telok Blangah, Pasir Panjang and Labrador Park; it has made lots of eating places more accessible. I can go on and on about all the food places, but I think it’s a better idea to read my guide to restaurants near SMRT Circle Line.

As part of the campaign by SMRT to let more people know about the eating places near to the new Circle Line, I hosted two food outings at one-north and Botanic Gardens MRT Stations where twenty readers joined me and dined for free.

For those of you who are not familiar with the two areas, I’m sure you would want to find out where to go for yummy food.

Two weeks ago, we had the food outing at one-north MRT Station and we went to Shin Nichi (1 Fusionopolis Way, #02-20/21 Fusionoplis Tel: +65 6466 3511) for Japanese food.

Many people probably have not been to Fusionopolis since it is situated in a business park, but there are a few dining options  there – like Penang Place Restaurant, Koryo Korean Restaurant and Eighteen Chefs – that are worth a try too.

I had a wonderful time, and it was lovely to meet people who love food. I’m thinking about doing more food outings for this year, we’ll see how that goes!

Another SMRT food outing was held at Botanic Gardens MRT Station, which is located along Bukit Timah Road. I always go to the area, as there are lots of good food places.

With the new Circle Line MRT Station at Botanic Gardens, you can easily get there and eat the famous Selera Rasa Nasi Lemak at Adam Road Food Centre, or go to Cluny Court to have burgers at Relish Restaurant and Serene Centre for ice cream at Island Creamery. Further down the road is Coronation Plaza, where there are eating-places like Burger Shack, Choupinette, En Japanese Dining Bar, and Swiss Grill – the place we went for the SMRT food outing.

I hosted the food outing at Swiss Grill (587 Bukit Timah Road, #01-05 Coronation Shopping Plaza Tel: +65 6463 8080) because I wanted to introduce a restauarant, which serves good food at affordable prices.

Most of the items on their menu – burgers, sausages, and salad – are priced reasonably below $15; and you can get a 200g Angus Ribeye for $39.90. Everyone agreed that Swiss Grill has really good burgers, so do check it out when you are in the area.

I’m sure you know this by now, but in case you’ve missed out on the news: Bayfront and Marina Bay Stations are finally opened on 14th Jan 2012. I love going to the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands to walk around, so this is great news for me as it will be easier to go to MBS via the new Circle Line MRT Station. To get to Bayfront MRT Station, you can transfer at either Marina Bay or Promenade MRT Stations.

That’s it folks. I had fun at the food outing, and I hope to do another one soon. Meanwhile, Qiuting will be organising the last SMRT food outing in February, you can join her by registering at the SMRT Circle Line page.

Bistro Soori is one of those off-the-radar restaurants that you will never know of unless someone recommends it to you.

It is a cool, cosy, informal restaurant with a small open kitchen and a few tables, which makes you feel as though you are dining in a friend’s place. The prices aren’t too high (although not too low, either), and you can have a good meal without spending ridiculous money.

The meal that we had at Bistro Soori was a revelation. The food was simple and unpretentious, prepared with just enough care that you know you are dining at a restaurant where Chef Benjamin McBride and his team take their food seriously.

At lunch time, they offer a great set lunch at $39 (you can also choose to order ala carte); and during dinner, they have a different menu with slightly higher prices, and it ranges from $15-21 for starters, $25-39 for main courses, and $12 for desserts. There’s also the option of ‘Omakase‘, with 5 course at $105, and 6 course at $130.

The menu at Bistro Soori is simple, with a few selection under each category. For starters, you can choose between Scallop with truffle Vinaigrette ($19) and Duck Rillette ($15). You will also be tempted by the Karaage Fried Prawn ($18) and Slow Roasted Pork Belly ($18). I did.

For main courses, the Roasted Pork Tenderloin ($28) sounds good on its own, but you will eventually want to go for either the Brown Butter Maine Lobster ($38) or Rack of Lamb ($34); or both. Desserts too, are special. Pandan Souffle ($12), Almond Milk Panna Cotta ($12), and Cognac Creme Brulee ($12) will make sure that you end the meal on a sugar high.

If you’re one of those people that likes to watch their food prepared, the bar counter is just the place for you.

Together with a glass of champagne, the Karaage Fried Prawn with Cherry Tomato ($18) was a great way for us to start the meal.

While I liked the pairing of poached pair with foie gras, I thought that the Foie Gras Duo ($21) was only decent. I probably had better foie gras before. Or maybe because it was overshadowed by the other starter – Slow Roasted Pork Belly ($18), which without a doubt, was the highlight. It was by far one of the best roasted pork belly I’ve had.

We also thoroughly enjoyed the Slow Baked Salmon ($34) with corn pudding. A slightly different rendition of the Slow Baked Salmon (with corn, chilli, shallot, lime) is available on the set lunch menu.

Among the main courses that we had, my favourite was the Rack of Lamb ($34). I’m sure the staff thought I was some sort of hungry ghost the way I attacked it, but it was really quite good.

The Beef Duo ($39) is the best way to enjoy the best of both worlds. The steak was fair, but nothing to write home about.

Like how all good meals end with desserts, we had Chocolate Tart ($12) with lemon curd and Pandan Souffle ($12). The Chocolate Tart came highly recommended, but we didn’t like it as we felt that it was too dense and heavy; not something that you would want to eat after a heavy meal. Thankfully, we had the Souffle to save the day. It was magnificent: the pandan flavour was fascinating and the souffle was done just right.

Since I went to Bistro Soori for dinner a while back, I’ve been recommending it to my friends. It was one of the best meals that I had in 2011, and I think you will like it too. Reservations are highly recommended.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Bistro Soori
2 Teck Lim Road, Singapore
(Near Outram/Tanjong Pagar)
Tel: +65 6438 3802

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

During our behind-the-scenes tour of Martell, I’ve learned a lot about cognac, but really, there are so many things to know and three days are just not enough. That said, we managed to see a bit of everything, and one of the highlights was the visit to the Martell Cooperage where the barrels are made.

In order to have a better appreciation for cognac (or any liqueur for that matter) it is important for us to know of what goes in to producing it.

I’m sure everyone knows about the different types of Martell Cognac, but how many people can say that they know how the beverage actually comes about? While it’s definitely more fun to just drink cognac, I think it’s equally important to know about the origin.

I was a little overwhelmed when I stepped into the cooperage. There were so many things happening at the same time, and I was trying to take in everything. Luckily we had a staff who was there to explain the barrel-making process while we explored the area.

Before the visit to the cooperage, I thought that most of the work are done by machines and computers. So I was quite amazed to see that much of the barrel-making is still dependent on human labour.

There are some steps where they can use machines to cut the wood, but much of it is still done by hand and crafted with precision. As we walked through the different production stages, we saw many coopers busy at work, and trust me, it’s not an easy job.

From the selection of oak, to the preparation of the wood, and to the production; it takes a lot of time and labour just to make a barrel.

The visit to Martell Cooperage showed me that there are so much more to making a bottle of cognac. Here’s a toast to the unsung heroes working hard behind the scenes.

Note: I travelled to Cognac via Paris as a guest of Martell. No monetary benefits were received, only air tickets and hotel accommodations were sponsored.

One of the best food in Singapore is definitely Chicken Rice. For the uninitiated, chicken rice is basically steamed/roasted chicken and white rice, served with chilli sauce, ginger, and dark soy sauce.

Every time I have chicken rice, I wonder why I don’t eat it more often. Especially when there are so many good ones around. Everyone has their favourites, Singaporeans always like to debate on where is the best chicken rice in Singapore.

Of course, I have my own favourite chicken rice stalls, but I’m always on the lookout for new places to try. Chin Chin Eating House at Purvis Street has always been known for their chicken rice, so when I happened to be in the area, I suggested going there for lunch.

For some reason, I was craving for Hainanese Pork Chop, and as soon as I saw it on their menu, I ordered a portion.

I liked Chin Chin Chicken Rice well enough to go back again, although I don’t think they are the best chicken rice I’ve had. Don’t get me wrong, though. The chicken, the rice, the chilli, they are all good. But it just didn’t wow me. The Pork Chop too, was decent, but not life-changing.

If you are thinking of where to eat in the City Hall/Bugis area, Chin Chin Eating House at Purvis Street might just be the place to go.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Chin Chin Eating House
19 Purvis Street
Beach Road Conservation Area
Tel: +65 6337 4640
Daily: 7am – 9pm

When my good friend was back in town during Christmas, we wanted to catch up over tea, so I suggested a few afternoon high tea places. Since it was the festive period, I tried to call to reserve a table, only to find out that all the hotel tea lounges were fully-booked that day.

After looking through my list of new places to go, we eventually settled for a nice little cafe at Holland Village. I’ve heard a lot about Foster English Rose Cafe, but somehow, I just never got the chance to drop by. I’m happy to say that I’m glad that I finally did.

I’m going straight to the point, because I don’t want to delay you from going down to Foster for tea. It is a lovely cafe to hang out with your friends, so remember to bookmark this post for your next outing.

Stepping inside Foster, we immediately fell in love with the rustic charm of the cafe. It’s quite difficult to describe it with words, so I’ll leave it to you to find out.

We ordered the Devonshire Cream Tea Set (served from 3pm to 6pm daily). At $11, it is probably one of the cheapest high tea sets in Singapore. What you see in the picture above is for two. So it’s actually not a lot of food. Each person gets two scones, one slice of cake, two finger sandwiches, and coffee/tea.

Served with jam, whipped cream and butter, the sturdy and dense scones were perfect. I lurveee the scones and I thought that the cake was also quite decent. The sandwiches, on the other hand, were mediocre and not worth mentioning.

Just so you know, Foster English Rose Cafe at Holland Village is also a steakhouse and they offer a variety of dishes on their ala carte menu: English Farmhouse Fare like Cottage Pie ($16), and Seared Yorkshire Pork Rack ($26); Steaks like US Black Angus Ribeye Steak ($42) and their signature Fillet Fantastique ($42); and other main courses like Pastas, Fish and Chicken.

What I’ve been wanting to say is, you should go to Foster not just because they have one of the cheapest high tea sets in Singapore, but also because they have a cosy and nice ambience which is perfect for a lazy afternoon. That is all you need to know. See you at Foster.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Foster English Rose Cafe
277 Holland Avenue
Holland Village
Tel: +65 6466 8939
Sun to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 1am

For more recommendations, read my list of Afternoon High Tea Places in Singapore

2011 has been a beautiful year for my food blog: winning Nuffnang Asia Pacific’s Best Food Blog, eating lots of yummy food, travelling to gorgeous cities, and meeting many new friends.

Just a quick self-plug: my blog garnered a total of 414,395 unique visitors, and 945,413 page views in December 2011. And according to Alexa traffic rankings, ladyironchef is currently the top #86k website in the world, and #482 in Singapore.

For advertising, please contact me at bradleyfk@gmail.com

January has been off to a great start so far, and I hope to share more good food with you this year. Thank you for joining me on this amazing journey.

When visiting Singapore, one should go for things that are unique to our island. Hawker food is definitely right at the top of the list. Chicken rice, hokkien mee, char kway teow, and laksa – Singapore is a foodie paradise.

One of the more popular hawker centres in the West is Clementi Market and Food Centre. Besides Bukit Timah Hawker Centre, this is the place that I always frequent when I want a cheap and simple meal.

Like other hawker centres, Clementi Food Centre has its own star tenants: stalls with extremely long queue throughout the day. Tanglin Halt Western Food, Clementi Fish Soup, Nam Kee Hokkien Mee, Chen Ji Ke Jia Niang Dou Fou, and Yong Fa Hainanese Curry Rice have been around for quite some time, and they are among the most popular stalls in the market.

My favourite is definitely Tanglin Halt Western Stall (#01-11) which has good Western Food. I’ve been going back for many years, and I’m pleased to say that standards have not dropped.

When you mention Clementi Food Centre, the famous Clementi Fish Soup (#01-41) immediately comes to mind. There’s a perpetual queue for their Fish Porridge, Sliced Fish Soup and Fish Head Bee Hoon; the only way to beat the queue is to go during off-peak hours.

Just behind the Fish Soup stall, there’s Nam Kee Hokkien Mee (#01-12) where you need to wait at least twenty minutes for a plate of Hokkien Mee, which by the way, is basically fried noodles cooked in Hokkien (Fujian) style. The good thing is you don’t have to stand in line as they will take down your table number and serve it to you. I like Hokkien Mee, but I don’t really fancy Nam Kee’s version as I find it a little too dry.

Chen Ji Ke Jia Niang Dou Fou (#01-27) – known for their Yong Tau Foo – only opens during the day. Their business is so good that they usually close after lunch.

Just a few stalls away, you can always find a madding crowd waiting in line at Yong Fa Hainanese Curry Rice (#01-25).

There are a few chicken rice stalls in the market, and it can be quite a headache if you don’t know who to order from. I usually go to Song Xing Chicken Rice (#01-25) and stall #01-18, simply called ‘Hainanese Chicken Rice.’

If you feel like having Prawn Noodles, check out Kim Meng Prawn Mee (#01-38). They also have Lor Mee and Laksa.

At night, Chai Ho Satay (#01-10) is the place to go for satay – a dish of skewered and grilled meat (chicken/pork/beef/mutton), served with a peanut sauce.

The famous Bedok Chwee Kueh (#01-32) also has a branch at Clementi Hawker Centre. Chwee Kueh – a steamed rice cake topped with fried preserved radish – is the perfect way to start a hawker feast.

For Pig’s Organ Soup and Bak Ku Teh, I’ll go to Zheng Zhi Wen (#01-19). Right beside it, there’s this stall – Snow Mount (#01-17) – selling fried Pisang Goreng. Speaking of which, they also serve Char Kway Teow (I know, it’s a little weird). I had it once and I thought that it was okay. Otherwise, I’d satisfy my Char Kway Teow craving at Stall #01-34, the only vender in Clementi Food Centre that sells Oyster Omelette, Carrot Cake, and Char Kway Teow.

Clementi Central Market & Food Centre is located at Block 448 Clementi Avenue 3. It is just a few minutes walk away from Clementi MRT Station.

Dear A&W,

Ever since you pulled out of Singapore many years ago, poor Singaporeans have to go all the way to other cities like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Batam in order to satisfy our cravings. How can you be so heartless to deny us of curly fries, root beer float, coney dogs, and ice cream waffle?

Someone, please bring A&W back to Singapore!

(To any potential investors who might be interested in bringing A&W restaurant back to Singapore, 5 million Singaporeans will be eternally grateful to your company.)

I know you didn’t do well due to the intense competition from rival fast food restaurants, but hey, everyone deserves a second chance. Just look at how Wendy’s, Domino’s Pizza, and Dunkin’ Donuts have made a comeback in Singapore. You can do it too!

Okie, obviously emotional appeals do not work on you. Otherwise how can you explain the fact that plenty of petitions to bring A&W back to Singapore failed? I shall try another method. A&W, you better come back to Singapore. Otherwise, I’ll boycott you when I go overseas.

A&W Y U NO COME BACK SINGAPORE?

Regards,
A fan who is eagerly waiting for the return of A&W to Singapore.

I was craving for Thai food after blogging about my trip to Bangkok. Since folks kept telling me that Jai Thai serves cheap and good Thai food, I decided to make a trip there for lunch.

Jai Thai Restaurant has three outlets at East Coast Road, Clover Way, and the other at Purvis Street where we went to. The menu is broad in categories: appetisers, curry, tom yum, seafood, beef, chicken, vegetable, rice and noodle; and deep in choices, with plenty of dishes to choose from under each category. With the exception of steamed fish which cost slightly more, most of the items on the menu are priced between $5-8 for small portion.

It is my new favourite Thai Restaurant to go for a quick and inexpensive meal.

We knew what we wanted, which was a good thing because there are so many things on the menu. Between the two of us, we shared four dishes and two Thai milk tea. The food came quickly and we started with the Phad Thai, the dish that is synonymous with Thailand.

I really liked Jai Thai’s Phad Thai ($5 for small); the noodles had a nice wok-hei and the right level of moistness. With a squeeze of lime, it was textbook perfect.

The other dishes that we had were decent, nothing to write home about. Take for instance, the Green Curry Chicken ($5 for small). It was certainly satisfying, but nothing special to make me sit up and take notice.

Tom Yum Seafood Soup ($5 for small), while tasty – would be perfect if it was hotter. I know, I know. I’m asking for it. But for something like Tom Yum, it’s either all or nothing.

A simple and honest meal. Jai Thai serves very decent Thai Food at affordable prices. I’m adding it to my list of Best Thai Restaurants in Singapore, definitely going back soon.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Jai Thai Restaurant
27 Purvis Street
#01-01 An Chuan Building
Tel: +65 6336 6908
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm

7 Clover Way
Tel: +65 6258 0228
Mon to Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 9pm
Sun: 6pm – 9pm

205 East Coast Road
Tel: +65 6346 4940

For more recommendations, please read my list of Thai Restaurants in Singapore

I’m really excited that Chinese New Year is just less than two weeks away. It is the time where we get to catch up with our relatives and friends. And of course, the part that I’m looking forward to is eating lots of yummy food.

In recent years, more and more families are choosing to eat out because of convenience and ambience. There are also some that order Chinese New Year Takeaways from restaurants and hotels, to eat at the comfort of their homes. No matter where you are having your reunion dinner, I hope you will have a good time with your loved ones!

If you are still looking for a restaurant to celebrate the occasion, let me help you with some suggestions for Chinese New Year Dinner 2012.

Chin Huat Live Seafood

For a scrumptious seafood feast, go to Chin Huat at Sunset Way for their Chinese New Year Promotion. At $398++ for 10 persons, the set menu comes with Salmon Yu Sheng, Braised Shark’s Fin, Deep-fried Goby, Poached Live Prawns and Steamed Chicken.

105 Clementi Street 12
#01-30 Sunset Way Singapore
Tel: +65 6775 7348

Mandarin Court Chinese Restaurant

This Lunar New Year, Executive Chinese Chef Sunny Kong of Mandarin Court Chinese Restaurant has put together 10 different signature menus ranging from the $98++ per person menu (minimum 2 persons) – which features Salmon Yusheng, Braised Shark’s Fin, Steamed Sea Perch, and Braised Baby Abalone; to an extravagant $1,888++ meal for 10 persons, from 13 January to 6 February 2012.

From their Chinese New Year Takeaway menu, the prosperity Salmon Yusheng for 8-10 persons is available for $108, while the Pen Cai for 5-8 persons is $368.

333 Orchard Road Level 35
Orchard Wing Mandarin Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6831 6262

Man Fu Yuan

Over at Man Fu Yuan Intercontinental Hotel, there are 12 different options to cater to everyone’s tastes. The 6 course menu ($108++/pax) – with Yu Sheng, Shark’s Fin, Baby Abalone, Deep-Fried Sea Perch – is ideal for a family of 4.

Should you choose to celebrate your Chinese New Year Dinner Party at home, Man Fu Yuan also presents an attractive takeaway package which includes Pen Cai and Yu Sheng at $358 (DBS Credit Card promotion at $320).

80 Middle Road
2F Intercontinental Hotel
Tel: +65 6825 1062

Chinese New Year Eve, also known as Chu Xi: the day where families gather for reunion dinner.

Imperial treasure steamboat

What’s Chinese New Year’s Eve without steamboat?

On 22th Jan 2012, Imperial Treasure Steamboat at TripleOne Somerset has created special Chinese New Year set menus. For a family of 4, you can have the $328++ menu which comes with Lo Hei, Seafood, Prawns, Abalones, Scallops, Clams, and Desserts.

For those of you who are having an early reunion dinner celebration, the normal set menu for 4 persons is $168++.

111 Somerset Road, #02-21 TripleOne Somerset
Tel: +65 6732 8231

Keng Eng Kee Seafood

For a simple reunion dinner, head over to Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant. There are two Chinese New Year Set Menus at $399 and $499 (for 10 pax). For smaller families, you can order from their Cze Char ala carte menu.

The last I checked, they are fully booked during Chinese New Year’s Eve.

Blk 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1
#01-136 Alexandra Village Singapore
Tel: +65 6272 1038

Paradise Inn

With 11 branches in Singapore, Paradise Inn is the ideal choice for your family reunion dinner. The casual dining restaurant serves good Chinese food at affordable prices.

23 Serangoon Central
#03-15 NEX Mall
Tel: +65 6634 4228

What’s there not to like about Chinese New Year when you get to eat traditional goodies like kueh bangkit, loveletters, pinapple tarts, peanut cookies, and bak kwa?

Yan Ting

One of my favourite Chinese restaurants in Singapore, Yan Ting at the St Regis is the place to go if money is no object.

Yan Ting presents several sumptuous set menus for Chinese New Year 2012. You can choose from the 8 course ($1088++/10pax) which has Salmon Yusheng, Braised Shark’s Fin Soup, Steamed Soon Hock, and Crispy Roasted Chicken; and the 9 course which has Double-boiled Shark’s Fin Soup, Pan-roasted Rack of Lamb, Crispy Peking Duck as the highlights.

There’s also the 6 course set menu at $98++/pax (min 2 persons) for smaller families. The Lunar New Year Dinner menus are available from 12th January to 6th February 2012.

29 Tanglin Road
The St Regis Singapore
Tel: +65 6506 6888

Most people have the impression that I always eat at fine dining restaurants, but my friends would know that I usually prefer going to casual places that are cosy and provide good food at reasonable prices.

But sometimes if you want a very good meal, you really have to fork out top money for it. JAAN Restaurant at Swissotel is the prime example. I had one of my best meals of 2011 at JAAN. I’m going out on a limb and say that they are among the top restaurants in Singapore.

When you eat in one of those fine dining restaurants, you’re not just paying for the food. You’re also paying for everything that comes along with it: the location, the rent, the service, the plates, the view, and the ambience. JAAN has it all: central location at City Hall; highest restaurant in Singapore; breathtaking view of the city’s skyline; knowledgeable servers who do a good job between the dining room and kitchen; and most importantly, good food.

At lunch time, they have extremely good value for money set lunch: 3 course at $52 and 5 course at $82; and during dinner, there are two different choices, including the 5 course menu for $198 (with wine pairing $318), and 7 course menu for $238 (with wine pairing $418).

And of course, you can also order from the ala carte menu which has five appetisers ($46-52), five main courses ($82-118), and four desserts and cheese ($28-45).

We sat there waiting eagerly for the food to come, while having some wine. The amuse-bouche arrived on our table and I put it into my mouth without hesitation.

We were on a roll. The mushroom soup next was excellent. I took a sip, and the only word that came out of my mouth was: wow. This is coming from a guy who doesn’t fancy mushroom soup.

I didn’t want to fill my stomach with bread, but I couldn’t resist having one, okay two from the impressive selection of bread.

And then, we were served the Trumbetta Zucchini ($49) – burratina, basil, almonds and black olives. In terms of presentation, it was one of the prettiest dishes that I’ve seen.

I thought that the Saint Jacques ($49) – rosemary smoked trondheim bay scallops, reinette apple cider, boudin noir and burnet – was good, but my friend told me she had an even better one at another restaurant.

Still, it was quite a sight to behold, and there was a mini performance when the staff sent this to our table.

The star of the meal, without a doubt, is the Ravioli ($46) – organic hen egg, artichoke, melanosporum truffle and cantal. Chef Julien Royer brought the dish out, and he gave us a generous shaving of white truffles on the spot.

It was hands down the most delicious ravioli I’ve ever tasted.

The Atlantic Cod & Baby Squid ($82) – chanterelles, broad beans and smoked garlic emulsion – was equally splendid.

We couldn’t stop gushing about the food, and on top of that, the wine recommendations from the sommelier were spot on. No one that day could have eaten a better meal than us.

After our empty plates were taken away, we continued with desserts. The Choconuts ($28) – Jivara mousse, peanuts, Macadamia nut ice cream. The perfect ending for a perfect meal.

I was wrong. It wasn’t the ending, I’ve forgotten about petit four. Now we can live happily-ever-after.

It’s been a while since I’ve been surprised and won over by a meal. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been eating plenty of very well executed food but the problem with having a benchmark is that it’s getting increasingly difficult to wow me. But JAAN managed to do just that.

The presentation of the food is flawless. Chef Julien Royer and his team pay attention to every single detail and all the dishes are plated beautifully.

$200/pax (probably more because you are going to have wine) for a meal is not a small sum. I can’t afford to eat there all the time, but for a lavish meal like this, enjoyed with a amazing view of Singapore’s skyline – it was a fine way to splurge during a special occasion. JAAN at Swissotel is, without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in Singapore.

Singapore Food Blog Review
JAAN Restaurant
2 Stamford Road
70F Swissotel The Stamford
Tel: +65 6431 5670

Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 7pm – 10pm
(Closed on Sun & PH)

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

I like eating in restaurants. To me, it is never just about the food, it is also about the ambience, and the company.

When I am dining out, I always can’t stop myself from noticing everything that’s happening in the restaurant: the staff, the menu, the layout, and the interior. I think it’s becoming a job hazard, but I guess it’s a good thing as I’ve come to learn quite a few things from observing.

Besides those that I’ve mentioned, there are other important things to be learned when we are dining out. Here are 5 Life Lessons Learned from Eating in Restaurants.

#1 Food always looks better on the opposite table. As the saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other side. Don’t envy others for what they have, focus on what you have.

#2 Be nice to yourself, because if you don’t, nobody will. Not everyone can afford to eat at nice posh restaurants on a regular basis. But everyone should occasionally indulge in a good meal, especially during a special occasion. Eating good food is one of the few things that can make us truly happy and satisfied.

#3 No matter what you do, always be well-prepared. Which romantic restaurant to go for your anniversary? Read ladyironchef of course. The point is, you should always be well-prepared. Just like how you will read food blogs to find out more about a particular restaurant, you should also put in effort for everything else.

Going for a job interview? Find out more about the company. Meeting your prospective mother-in-law? Find out what she likes. Always be well-prepared.

#4 There are no stupid questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you are eating at a fine dining restaurant. You shouldn’t feel embarrassed to ask for something, and don’t worry about the snobbish staff judging you because chances are, most of them can’t afford to dine there all the time too.

Likewise, don’t let your fear of embarrassment keep you from doing or asking anything in life.

#5 Always keep your options open. Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mexican (just to name a few) – there are so many cuisines, so many different restaurants to try. The same logic applies in life. There are many options out there, don’t limit yourself. Keep your options open, you never know what will happen next.

Read my earlier post on 5 Life Lessons Learned From Eating Buffet.

Singapore is a multicultural society, and one of the best things about living here is that we get to celebrate the different festivals like Deepavali, Hari Raya Haji, Christmas, and Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year – the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays – falls on 23 and 24 January 2012. The main highlight of Chinese New Year in Singapore is the Chinatown Celebrations. Every year, many stalls will line up the streets of Chinatown, and visitors can soak in the festive mood at the market.

Here are some photos that I took at the Chinese New Year Market in Chinatown.

I like Chinese New Year. It is the time where we go shopping for decoration items, new clothes and Chinese New Year food. It is the time where families get together for the reunion dinner. And of course, it is the time for us to indulge in Chinese New Year traditional goodies like kueh bangkit, loveletters, pinapple tarts, peanut cookies, and bak kwa.

Chinatown Chinese New Year Night Market
Date: 31 December 2011 – 22 January 2012
Time: 6.00pm – 10.30pm
6.00pm – 1.00am (Chinese New Year Eve)
Venue: Pagoda Street, Smith Street, Sago Street, Temple Street, Trengganu Street.

Ciki and I were bar-hopping after our dinner at Ippudo Ramen, and before going to our second stop at Orgo Bar, we decided to have some snacks at Tomo Izakaya, Esplanade Mall.

The Japanese casual dining restaurant has an original outlet at Clarke Quay, and they serve a variety of small dishes together with Japanese beers and sake.

Izakaya is a term referring to a Japanese drinking establishment that’s focused on drinks, but like many bars, serves food so that you will not drink on an empty stomach.

Besides the branch at Esplanade, folks working in the Marina Bay area will also be happy to know that they have a new sister restaurant – Akari Dining & Bar – at Marina Bay Link Mall.

Looking at Tomo Izakaya’s menu, the dishes are standard to any usual Japanese restaurants – Sushi ($8-20), Sashimi ($18 upwards), Makimono ($4.5-12.5), Kushiyaki ($5-12/skewer), Agemono ($7.5-18), and Udon/Soba ($10).

As we already had dinner, we ordered mostly skewers like Okura Bacon ($7) and Enkoi Bacon ($8.5), as well as Tori Karaage ($10). The food that we ordered was decent, nothing exceptionally fantastic, but good enough to go along with our sake.

A good place to hang out with colleagues after work for drinks and a simple dinner. Tomo Izakaya at Esplanade also has an ala carte buffet lunch (12pm – 2.30pm daily) for $23.8++, which includes around 25 to 30 items like sushi, sashimi and others. I’d probably drop by to try the buffet when I am craving for Japanese food.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Tomo Izakaya
8 Raffles Avenue
#01-09 Esplanade Art Centre
Tel: +65 6333 0012
Lunch: 12pm – 2.30pm
Dinner: 5pm – 11.30pm

3A River Valley Road
#01-04 Clarke Quay
Tel: +65 6336 0100
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 3am

For more recommendations, please read my list of Japanese Restaurants in Singapore

Takashimaya at Ngee Ann City had revamped their basement Japanese food court. The current space is bigger and it has more Japanese eateries – like Baikohken, Nakajima Suisan, Romankan Yokohama, Tsuru Koshi Udon, and Yonehachi – which serve cheap and good Japanese food.

So if you haven’t been there for a while, maybe it’s time to check it out when you are looking for a place to eat in Orchard.

Baikohken

Tucked in a corner of the Japanese Food Hall, Baikohken has always been known for serving generous portions of ramen. Prices start from $13.5 upwards for a bowl of regular ramen.

391A Orchard Road #B2-01-04
Takashimaya Food Hall Ngee Ann City
Tel: +65 6235 3483

Nakajima Suisan Grilled Fish

The menu is Nakajima Suisan is rather limited, but there are more than enough options for fish lovers. The cheapest item on the menu, Saba Set is only $7.5.

There are also Salmon Teriyaki Set ($12), Gindara Terryaki Set ($14.5), and Hokke Hiraki Set ($10) to choose from. Each set comes with miso soup, white rice, pickles, and salad (ala carte items are $2 cheaper).

391 Orchard Road
Takashimaya Shopping Centre Food Hall

Romankan Yokohama

When you mention Tonkatsu, most people will think of Japanese restaurants like Tampopo, Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin, or Tonkichi. But the problem is a tonkatsu set there can easily cost $20 or more.

This is where Romankan Yokohama – a tonkatsu speciality eatery – comes into play. It has been a fixture at Takashimaya’s food hall for some time, and although the tonkatsu ($13) isn’t spectacular, you can’t really complain for that kind of price.

391 Orchard Road #B2-04
Takashimaya Food Hall Ngee Ann City
Tel: +65 6738 2505

Tsuru Koshi Udon

My friend is a big fan of Tsuru Koshi Udon at Takashimaya Basement Japanese Food Court. He’d go so far as to that it is the best Udon he had in Singapore.

After having it, I thought it was okay, nothing special really. That said, I can see myself coming back when I’m craving for Udon because they have affordable prices.

Udons range from the basic Kake Udon ($6.5) to the more fanciful Curry Udon ($9). I had the Ebi Tempura Udon ($9) and Niku Udon ($9) and they were fairly decent. Add $5 to get a set meal with Mini Soboro Don or Mini Kakiage Don.

391 Orchard Road
Takashimaya Shopping Centre Food Hall

Yonehachi

If you are looking for a light and simple meal, try the healthy Okowa rice meals at Yonehachi. It serves simple Okowa sets which include the famous sticky rice, miso soup and pickles; and cost between $6.80 and $7.80. They come in different flavours – red beans (original), chestnuts, salmon, Hijiki seaweed and sansai (vegetable).

For something more substantial, they have Grill/Fry Okowa sets like Shio Saba, Chicken Teriyaki and Unagi. Prices range from $11.80 to $14.80 depending on the Okowa.

391 Orchard Road #B2-04-1/2
Takashimaya Food Hall Ngee Ann City
Tel: +65 6333 8227

Non-Japanese options:

Ambush Pasta Bar

Serves simple and (relatively) cheap western food like pasta and sausages. Pastas are available for $11, and you can add on $3.9 to upgrade to a set.

391 Orchard Road #B2-04
Takashimaya Food Hall Ngee Ann City
Tel: +65 6726 8303

Fisherios Fish N Chips

The kiosk specialises in fish and chips, which starts from $6.

391A Orchard Road
#B204-4-2 Ngee Ann City

Mignon’s Steak

Besides affordable steaks ($19.9 for Ribeye Steak), Migon’s also has a comprehensive menu which includes appetisers (below $10) like Mushroom Soup, Mussels, and Escargot. The casual steakhouse is worth a try for those on a budget.

391 Orchard Road #B2-04-3
Takashimaya Shopping Centre Food Hall
Tel: +65 6737 3556

For more recommendations, please read my list of Japanese Restaurants in Singapore

Wow. Another year just passed by like that. This year was a big one, and I couldn’t have done it without you guys. Thank you for being here.

I ate a lot last year, and I managed to travel quite a bit as well. Like what I always say, travelling is just an excuse for me to eat more. So I’m not surprised that some of the best meals that I had last year were during my travels.

To be frank, it’s quite difficult to impress my jaded palate nowadays. You see, the problem of having too much good food is you will always have a benchmark to compare against, and this will lead you on a (never-ending) quest for something equally good, if not better – which is often quite impossible.

Thankfully, I’ve had several really good meals throughout the past 365 days, and I hope that I’ll be able to share with you more good food this time next year.

So for now, here are the 10 Best Meals that I had in 2011.

New Year Resolution in 2012: Eat more!

JAAN Restaurant in Singapore

Ever since Chef Andre Chiang left JAAN, the fine dining restaurant at Swissotel the Stamford – ranked #39 in S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2010 – had struggled to fill his shoes. After eating there recently, I’m happy to say JAAN’s talented new Chef de Cuisine Julien Royer is the right person to lead them to greater heights.

The food was very, very good. It is one of the few meals I had in 2011 that made me sit up and take notice. JAAN is definitely one of the best restaurants in Singapore, and as long they stay on track, I’m sure it will not be long before they are back among the best restaurants in the world.

2 Stamford Road
70F Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore
Tel: +65 6431 5670
Mrt: City Hall Station

Café des Fédérations Bouchon in Lyon

When I was planning my Europe trip, Lyon wasn’t even in the picture. I wanted to visit some of the cities that I’ve always wanted to go – like Madrid, Venice, and Prague. After I figured that it is impossible to squeeze in all of them, I decided to keep it within the area, and Lyon – known as the food capital of France – immediately came to mind.

I’ve read a lot about the bouchons in Lyon; everyone raved that the best food in France could be found there. The Bouchon is a Lyonnais version of the classic French bistro. I’ll be writing a separate post on the food that we had, to cut the long story short, I had one of my best meals in 2011, if not my life, at Café des Fédérations.

8-10, rue Major Martin, Lyon
Tel: 04 78 28 26 00
Metro: Hotel de Ville

Bistro Soori in Singapore

Another really good meal that I had was at Bistro Soori. I wasn’t expecting much before going, and boy was I blown away by the food. It has a cosy and intimate setting, and some of the dishes – Pork Belly, Rack of Lamb, and Pandan Souffle – that we had were outstanding.

Sometimes, good things happen when you are least expecting them.

2 Teck Lim Road, Singapore
Tel: +65 6438 3802
Mrt: Outram Park Station

Zubuchon Lechon in Cebu

The lechon from Zubuchon is quite easily one of the best things that I’ve ever eaten. Utterly delicious.

One Mango Mall
General Maxilom Ave, Cebu City
+63 32 2395697

Prive Restaurant in Singapore

One of my favourite restaurants in Singapore is Prive at Keppel Bay. They serve good and unpretentious food. The meats that we had from the Josper Grill menu (prices range from $52 for Kurobuta Pork to $75 for the 280g Ribeye Cap) were fantastic. Definitely worth a try if you are in Singapore.

2 Keppel Bay Vista
GF Marina Keppel Bay, Singapore
Tel: +65 6776 0777
Mrt: Harbourfront Station

Cerveceria Catalana in Barcelona

Among the tapas places that we ate in Barcelona, Cerveceria Catalana stood out for serving good tapas at reasonable prices. It was one of the best meals that we had during the 5 days there. Just in case you are wondering, the jar of sangria you see in the picture doesn’t have anything to do with my choice. I’m completely sober as I write this.

236 Mallorca, Barcelona
Tel: 932 16 03 68
Metro: Passeig de Gràcia

Antoinette Patisserie in Singapore

Antoinette, without a doubt, is my favourite patisserie in Singapore. I lurveee Chef Pang’s creations and if I lived near the Lavender area, I could imagine myself dropping by the Parisian tea salon every other day. Try the Antoinette Chocolate Earl Grey Cake.

30 Penhas Road, Singapore
Tel: +65 6293 3121
Mrt: Lavender Station

Dinner at Martell’s Château de Chanteloup

I had many good meals during Martell’s Pure Gourmet tour, but the highlight was definitely the risotto that we had during one of the dinners. Paired with a glass of cognac, it was out-of-this-world-good. I can never see risotto in the same light again.

Naughty Nuri’s Warung in Bali

Naughty Nuri’s Warung is famous for its pork ribs, with many people calling it the place to go for the best pork ribs in Seminyak. It was so good that I polished off the whole rack by myself.

Jalan Batubelig 41 Kerobokan Kelod
Kuta Bali Indonesia
Tel: +62 361 847 6722

Pierre Herme in Paris

What do I need to say about Pierre Herme? It has always been my dream to visit the famous patisserie in Paris, and what a moment it was. After having the desserts from Pierre Herme, life will never be the same again.

I’ve always wanted to visit Europe, so I was really happy when I got the chance to go on a trip a few weeks ago. While I was excited about going to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and explore the patisseries, the highlight of my trip was definitely joining Martell on their Pure Gourmet Tour in the Cognac region.

Over the three days, we had an insider view of what goes on behind the scenes at Martell, and it was such an eye-opening experience as we witnessed first-hand the entire cognac-production process. Join me on this adventure to learn more about Martell and cognac!

When you mention Cognac in Singapore, most people will think of Martell, which is hardly surprising since they are the market leaders here. After going on this trip to learn more about cognac, I can assure you that there is a reason why Martell is so popular. From the distillation process, to the location of the vineyards, the way it grows the vines, the constant vigilance during the ageing phase, to the making of oak casks – Martell ensures every step is being done the right way so as to produce a bottle of good cognac.

I arrived in Paris one day before the trip to Cognac, and it gave me ample time to wander around Paris (more on that in another post).

The next morning, we hopped on the highspeed train to the Cognac region. We were feeling a little grumpy as we had to wake up for a 7am train, but when we arrived at Château de Chanteloup, the amazing view all but made up for it. I’m pretty sure I actually said “oh my God” aloud.

I had the pleasure of being in the company of David from David Lebovitz, Douglas from Intoxicating Prose, Qing from Neeu, Max from Cognac-Expert, Jamie from Life’s a Feast, Ren from Fabulicious Food, and Helene from The Lux Chronicles. All of us had so much fun (and cognac) during the stay in the Château.

This was the view that I woke up to every morning. It felt like heaven. I didn’t want to leave.

Our adventure started after lunch at Le Bistrot de Claude (35 Rue Grande 16100 COGNAC) – we were told it is one of the best restaurants in Cognac. We began with our behind-the-scenes tour at the Martell Distillery where we learned about the Martell-making process.

Throughout the trip, we were joined by Martell experts, so we had the opportunity to ask anything and everything we’ve ever wanted to know about Cognac. It’s really fascinating to speak with Jermey Oakes – Martell’s Brand Ambassador to China – and he shared with us lots of interesting stories about his experience working in the China market.

Stepping outside the distillery to visit the Martell vineyards.

Our tour continued with a visit to the Martell Cooperage where we witnessed the entire oak-making process. It was a lot of hard work, and it’s really quite something to learn that there are so many people working behind the scenes in order to produce good cognac.

Another highlight of the trip was visiting Martell’s headquarters. There, we were shown the original cellars and we had a tour of Martell’s Heritage Centre where we learned about the rich history of the cognac maker.

Tasting of Martell Cognac.

The real treat for us was in Paradise, or Martell’s Cellar, where they keep the oldest stock of cognac. We tasted the legendary L’Or de Jean Martell, and there’s only one word to describe the experience in Martell Paradise: wow!

And of course, everyone bought bottles of Martell cognac after the tour.

At Martell, it’s not just about the cognac. There’s also an emphasis to pair cognac with food. I was impressed by the fact that Martell actually has resident chefs working on their Pure Gourmet programme.

Developed by a team of culinary experts led by Chef Philippe Labbé, the idea behind “Pure Gourmet” was to develop a full menu involving ingredients which combine well with the particular characteristics of cognac.

We also got the chance to learn cooking from the chefs. Or rather, the chefs did all the work while we watched. We were treated to crêpes with orange sauce, and warm Madeleines straight from the oven, to go with glasses of cognac of course.

Throughout the trip, we had cognac every meal. It was crazy, but so much fun! Other than having lots of cognac, the kind folks at Martell also fed us very well. Life is good when you have delicious food and great cognac.

As I was taking the train back to Paris from Cognac, I kept thinking about our adventure over the past few days. We learned about the production of cognac, and the whole process is really mind-boggling. There is a level of quality control at every stage, and those guys at Martell really pay attention to every single detail.

We learned how to appreciate cognac with food; every cognac has its own personality and when you pair it with the right dish, it adds a different dimension. There is so much to learn, and so many different types of cognac to drink.

After going on this special trip, I will never look at a bottle of Martell Cognac in quite the same way again.

Note: I travelled to Cognac via Paris as a guest of Martell. No monetary benefits were received, only air tickets and hotel accommodations were sponsored.