There are many reasons why so many people fall in love with Phuket – white sand with turquoise waters and blue sunny skies; luxurious beach villas that will make you feel like royalty; cheap and delicious Thai street food; and wonder spa treatments for your tense shoulders after your flight.

Granted, Phuket has become very touristy in recent years as travellers escape there for a getaway, but there are still many beautiful beaches that are waiting to be explored. We spent a weekend in Kata Beach and had a memorable experience.

We preferred Kata Beach as it is a quieter area as compared to the extremely popular (and commercialised) Patong Beach. Our home for the weekend was a 1 bedroom grand seaview suite at The Aspasia Hotel Phuket (1/ 3 Laem Sai Road, Kata, Phuket, Thailand).

What I like most about the hotel is its location – a short 5 minutes walk to Kata Beach. Plus, it has a clean and spacious room with a terrific ocean view.

The first two days were spent hanging out by the pool, reading a book on the couch, and taking nice long strolls along Kata Beach.

There are also plenty of restaurants in the area. If you are planning a trip to Phuket Kata Beach, the following are just a few recommendations that you can try.

Our favourite place during this trip was Home’s Food Thai Food (87/2 Tayna Road Kata Beach, near Easy Rider Pub) a small eatery that serves cheap, honest and delicious Thai food. It was so good that we went back a few times.

Perched on the rocks overlooking Kata Noi Beach, Mom Tri’s Kitchen (12 Kata Noi Road, Kata No, Kata, Phuket Tel: +66 76 333 569) is an award-winning restaurant which food lovers must check out. For a spot to watch the sunset, go Re Ka Ta (3rd Street Cafe & Guest House 92/15 92/15 Khoktanod Road, Kata Beach Tel: +66 76 330 015), one of the most hottest beach clubs in Kata Beach, if not Phuket.

We also spent a day exploring Phuket Town, the largest town in Phuket. Most people go to Phuket for the beaches and hardly venture to Phuket Town. But our recent trip showed us a different side of the place. There, we discovered many nice cafes, eateries and boutiques.

Coffee lovers must check out Mac-chiato House & Cake Box (48 Thalang Road, Muang Phuket), a trendy cafe which serves a range of speciality coffee and desserts such as honey toast (B85), brownies (B55) and chocolate lava cake (B75).

You should also drop by Pirrera Cafe Bar (39/1 Dibuk Road, Phuket, Thailand Tel: +66 08 5782 4406). Housed in a beautiful old building, the cafe offers coffee, cakes and light snacks – a nice place to watch the World go by.

Another place that you should go is Kopitiam by Wilai (18 Thalang Road Tel: +66 83 606 9776), an old-school coffee shop that has affordable Thai food. On the menu, you can find local eats such as Cha Koay Teow (B70), Pad Thai (B70) and Tom Yum Koong (B100).

Getting to Phuket from Singapore is easy. Silkair, Jetstar, Tiger and AirAsia have direct flights (1 hour 46 minute) and the tickets are usually very affordable if you book in advance. Everyone needs a beach holiday, and if you have not been to Phuket, maybe it is time to book your tickets and pamper yourself with a weekend getaway.

They say if you fall in love with the right person, everyday is Valentine’s Day. True that, and while we need no excuse to be romantic, Valentine’s Day has been around forever and the day will be exceptionally sweeter with lots of love in the air.

Valentine’s Day need not be all about chocolates and diamonds. Wine & Dine is the most popular indulgence with the love of your life, but there are many other interesting ways to spend the day. Whatever it is, pick an activity that both of you enjoy, and just forget the world.

Here are 10 things to do on Valentine’s Day with your other half.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Explore Gardens by the Bay

Get in touch with nature and explore the pretty Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay, one of the newest attractions in Singapore. Have lunch at one of the restaurants in Gardens by the Bay and enjoy a cooling and leisurely stroll through the Flower Dome.

Take a cooking class together

There are plenty of fun activities for couples to do. If both of you love food, go for a cooking class and spend some quality time together. At Forest Restaurant, Chef Sam Leong has a special culinary class combined with a four-course set lunch. You can have a nice lunch at the restaurant, and then move on to the culinary class in the beautiful state-of-the-art show kitchen to learn some tips from Chef Leong.

The cooking Class (capped to maximum of ten guests) with four-course set lunch at Forest costs S$160 nett per person and is available every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (depending on demand, please call the restaurant to check the schedule).

A luxurious spa experience

How about a little treat for your partner and you? Everyone is tired from work, everyone needs to de-stress. Spa treatments are no longer an extravagant want, but a luxurious need.

Plan for a weekend getaway

One of the best things about being in Singapore is that it is just a few hours away from many amazing cities in the region. Take this opportunity and go for a weekend getaway with your partner. For more ideas, read our Guide to weekend getaways from Singapore.

Go for a staycation

For those of you who cannot afford the money or time for a holiday, the next best alternative is to go for a staycation.

For a lavish experience, book a room at Ritz-Carlton Singapore. There are many good hotels in the world, but Ritz-Carlton is in a completely different league. It is worth every cent.

We also love Four Seasons Singapore for their luxurious rooms on the couples’ floor.

You can also snuggle up for a romantic experience with a 2D1N stay at Hotel Fort Canning.

Dive with the sharks at Underwater World Singapore

If you are adventurous enough, why not go diving with the sharks? Underwater World Singapore has a dive guide-led programme ($120/pax) where you can spend 90 minutes with sharks and eagle rays. The best part is you do not need a scuba-diving license for this.

Escape to the countryside

Escape into the wilderness of the rural side of Singapore and soak in the tranquillity of Krangi. Pay a visit to the famous Bollywood Veggies and learn more about your greens. There are also many other farms to intrigue you – dragonfruit farm, goats’ milk farm, aeroponics vegetables farm, arowana farm etc.

Catch a play or musical

If Arts is your thing, and music is your soul, catch a musical at Drama Centre Theatre, Esplanade, and Marina Bay Sands Theatre.

Spend a day at the beach

Give me sun, sand, sea any day, any time. Nothing beats spending a day at the beach with your loved ones – idling, sea sports, reading… anything, as long as you are basking in the company of your loved one.

Romantic candlelight dinner

Any occasion is a good excuse to go to a nice restaurant and have a great time. My advice: avoid celebrating on the actual day. Instead, go the weekend before or after. For recommendations, read our guide to Singapore’s 20 Most Romantic Restaurants in Singapore.

With Chinese New Year just glimpses away, everyone is in the mood to celebrate. We rejoice without restraints, bask in the glorious festivity with all the goodies, and eat like the sun will never set. And as with all other festivals, people get fat and/or fall ill after celebrations. While having fun is vital and eating is one of the best ways to socialize, we have to remain responsible for our health.

Efficient digestion is so essential for good health. Here is a simple guide on how to aid digestion, and while you are savouring your pineapple tarts and bak kwa, please stay healthy for yourself and for your loved ones.

1. Embrace Grapefruits

Begin each morning with a glass of grapefruit juice – you have no idea how this wonder fruit has enormous benefits for you. Apart from its high Vitamin C content, grapefruits are high in fibre and low in calories. Worshiped by many weight loss practitioners, grapefruits is a catalyst for digestion by increasing your metabolism, lowering your insulin level and improving the flow of digestive juices. The pulp of the wonder fruit supplies healthy bulk to our body, and this aids bowel action.

On a separate note, grapefruits combats various diseases such as fatigue, fever, diabetes and urinary problems.

2. Chew and chew and chew your Food.

Take smaller bites, or put your fork down in between bites. Your digestive system begins working even before you eat, and your system will be kept busy for the next few hours (or sometimes even days – depending on what you eat) after you are done with your meal. When your food is being chewed up, it becomes a mushed-up form called bolus, and bolus is then pushed down from your throat to the opening of your esophagus – the second part of digestion, of which I won’t elaborate. Chewing your food into smaller pieces will aid this process, but if your food is still chunky while being swallowed, bolus will go down your windpipe instead – that is when you feel choked, bloated and uncomfortable.

So, take your time to eat. Do not be in a hurry to gobble all the food on your plate! Besides, eating slowly helps you feel full faster, hence moderates your food intake.

3. Go easy on the sugars

I know this is tough, because we all love sugars to death. But despite being such an advocate for desserts and sweet pleasures in life, we have to face up to reality that refined sugars destroys the mineral balance in our body. Sugars are sweet carbohydrates, and they have zero nutrients. And they make us fat. And they attribute to diarrhea and cramping.

If you have a sweet tooth, make a conscious effort to pick raw fruits and vegetables instead. They contain fructose – a simple monosaccharide that is absorbed directly into the bloodstream during digestion. This does not mean you have to sacrifice your needs for sweet stuff. Instead of reaching out for that can of fizzy soda that is conveniently on the table, make a trip to the kitchen and have yourself a glass of honey water. Fructose can be found in pure honey; mix a spoonful or two with water and you get a satisfying, sweet drink all the same!

4. Pile on the Fibre

Surely you would have heard this a million times. And yes, this method stays on for a few more millenniums. A high-fibre diet is a vital attribution to digestion. Fibre, particularly insoluble fibre, aids in constipation-prevention by bulking up and softens stool, and keeps food moving through the digestive tract. It also helps in maintaining bowel health, lowering cholesterol levels and controlling blood sugar levels.

Fibre can be commonly attained from eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Sure, fibre cannot be found in almost any of those jars of goodies, but we can most definitely still have our regular greens over lunch and dinner. Proportionate your dishes such that the ratio of vegetables to meat is 2:1.

5. Wise Supper Choices

We stay up later than usual on the first few days – to gamble, to catch up with relatives, and to simply merry-make. And it is only natural that while being active, we get hungry a few hours after dinner. Suppers are the ultimate killer – they bust any plans to slim down, and they disrupts your digestion system. But do not torture yourself on CNY, because if any, we should only let loose and indulge in festivities as such.

There are countless rules and restrictions about not eating after 8pm so as to prevent weight gain and indigestion, but the truth is, as long as you consume food, they are calories all the same. It is what you eat – not when you eat – that makes the difference. Opt for lighter options if you need your supper fix. Pick healthy zero-calorie food over that bag of chips, e.g. apples, citrus fruits, strawberries, mushrooms (sauté them), summer squash and green tea.

Simple and conscious effort go a long way. I hope this fool-proof guide helps, and may you have a very prosperous Chinese New year!

Words by Melody Yap, photographs by ladyironchef

An unobstructed view of the marina and an array of restaurants & lifestyle retail outlets – A whole new world is born in Singapore. Quayside Isle is a new integrated F&B and retail development within the luxurious Sentosa Cove enclave.

What makes Quayside Isle a place you can return to again and again is its excellent mix of eateries — from affordable options such as Kith and Grillado, to chill-out spots like Sabio by the Sea, Tapas & Grill and Brussels Sprouts – Belgian Beer & Mussels — and a breath-taking view of the beautiful marina. There are few places in Singapore that can match this new spot in terms of its diversity of dining options, as well as the overall ambience.

This is a place where I can come with a few friends to relax over drinks and finger food, or bring my family for celebratory meals during the festive season. It is also great for an intimate gathering with friends or a romantic date with your partner – the setting of the waterfront dining restaurants makes you feel you are on a vacation without even having to leave Singapore.

Below we share some of the highlights of the restaurants at Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove.

Brussels Sprouts – Belgian Beer & Mussels

Brussels Sprouts – Belgian Beer & Mussels set up by celebrity chef Emmanuel Stroobant is the ideal spot to go with friends to unwind after work. Get a few pots of their famous Moules Frites ($20 for 350g, $40 for 750g) to share. The Ostendaise mussels – made up of fish stock, lobster bisque, grey shrimp and mushroom – is the most popular choice. A craving for spicy flavours can be easily satisfied with their Tom Yum mussels.

We were also thoroughly impressed by its assortment of toasts. We had the Toast Cannibal ($14) – steak tartare on toast with gherkins; Rollmops Sur Toast ($14) – marinated herrings on a bed of green apple salad and roasted beetroot on toast; and Salade De Crabe ($14) – guacamole spread on toast topped with king crab and tomato salad. These homemade toasts were surprisingly good, and it was impossible to stop at one.

From 9 to 24 Feb 2013, Brussels Sprouts is offering Chinese New Year ala carte specials like glass noodle salad with pomelo, scallops with bamboo shoots, and mandarin orange & kumquat mousse – definitely an interesting alternative from the usual Chinese festive fare.

31 Ocean Way
#01-01 Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove
Tel: +65 6684 4344
Mon to Thu: 5pm – 12 midnight
Fri: 5pm – 1am
Sat: 12pm – 1am
Sun: 12pm – 12 midnight
Opens till 1am on Eve of Public Holidays

Grillado

First of its kind in Singapore, Grillado serves flat roasted Portuguese-style grilled chickens and chicken burgers, making it a must-try for poultry lovers.

For a healthier option, order the Body Burger ($8.95), consisting of chicken, spinach, tomato and Grillado’s signature sauce, where the meat is tender and juicy; and the Balmoral Beach Burger ($8.95), named after Sydney’s Balmoral Beach, which explains the golden theme of cheese, pineapple, mayo mustard and chicken.

Their flat-roasted Portuguese-style grilled chickens are also worth a try. A quarter chicken ($7.95), with a beer or coke, is all you need for dinner before taking a stroll along the beautiful marina.

Do check out Grillado’s promotion in February: Purchase 2 burger or roasted chicken combos and receive 2 complimentary cups of homemade yoghurt with fresh fruit or muesli.

31 Ocean Way
#01-10 Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove
Tel: +65 6734 9125
Mon to Thu: 2pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 12pm – 10pm

Note di Sicilia

For folks who have a sweet tooth, you must make a pit stop at Note di Sicilia for gelato. To ensure quality, they have specially imported a traditional machine from Italy to make fresh gelato daily.

The Milano gelato maker offers 16 different flavours. For me, the most outstanding flavour was the Fior di Latte – smooth, rich, and silky. The Pistachio gelato was equally good and similar to the ones that I tried in Italy.

Besides gelato, Note di Sicilia also serves good cocktails. Go for their signature Cosmo Calabria, a simple but brilliant concoction of raspberry, lemon and vodka.

31 Ocean Way
#01-09 Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove
Tel: +65 8168 4341
Daily: 10am – 10pm

Paradiso Restaurant & Bar

Opened by the folks behind Cuba Libre and Nueva Cuba, Paradiso Restaurant & Bar is set to be the see and be seen place in Quayside Isle by replicating the same winning formula: a sexy atmosphere, expertly made cocktails and tasty tapas.

It is nice to see that the menu not only has a good selection – from tapas, to burgers, pastas and vegetarian options – but it is also reasonably priced. For instance, the classic Seafood Paella is only $28, and most of the main courses are below $25.

With its delicious mixture of prawns, squids, mussels, fish and vegetables, cooked in prawn stock, the Seafood Paella was our favourite. The Filo Salmon Wrap ($20) also left an impression with its crispy filo pastry encasing the moist and tasty fish with a tangy salsa sauce.

Paradiso Restaurant & Bar is having a 20% off total bill promotion in February.

31 Ocean Way
#01-03 Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove
Tel: +65 6694 5428
Mon to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri: 11am – 12 midnight
Sat: 9am – 12 midnight
Sun: 9am – 11pm

Picotin Express

The European bistro at Sentosa Cove is a sleek and streamlined version of the original Picotin at Bukit Timah. With chef-owner Steve Kaye helming the kitchen, you can be assured of a good meal.

Picotin Express serves signature dishes such as the Pan-fried Sea Bass with lemon thyme risotto ($32), Beef Bourguignon ($30), Honey Glazed Pork Ribs ($30), as well as a selection of thin crust pizzas ($22).

The food at Picotin Express is simple, delicious and honest comfort food that you can eat regularly. Everything that arrived at our table was done to a high standard. I will definitely be returning to try the other dishes.

31 Ocean Way
#01-06 Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove
Tel: +65 6438 4747
Mon to Fri: 5pm – 12 midnight
Sat: 12pm – 1am
Sun: 12pm – 12 midnight

Sabio by the Sea, Tapas & Grill

Sabio by the Sea, Tapas & Grill is quite the perfect place to soak up the nautical environment and spend the whole afternoon relaxing by the marina.

Besides having an array of tapas, it also has a new Josper grill menu (exclusive to this outlet) which features signatures such as El Pulpo ($19), grilled octopus leg with viola mash potato; El Cerdo ($20), herbs marinated pig shoulder served with sauteed potatoes; and Esparrago ($16), grilled asparagus with serano ham and soft egg. The dish that stood out was El Cerdo – marinated pig shoulder – which paired perfectly with a glass of sangria. The Sabio’s Churros ($11) with chocolate dip is also a dessert that I’d definitely return for.

Sabio by the Sea, Tapas & Grill is offering a 1-for-1 deal on glasses of Sangria during the month of February.

31 Ocean Way
#01-02 Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove
Tel: +65 6690 7568
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri: 12pm – 12 midnight
Sat: 10am to 12 midnight
Sun: 10am – 10pm

Besides the six restaurants that I have visited, Quayside Isle is also home to Cove Stadium, sports bar and bistro serving American comfort food and pub grub; Solepomodoro Trattoria-Pizzeria, where you can get authentic Italian cuisine; Kith for a cuppa; Kebab House which specialises in Mediterranean kebabs; Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro for the freshest catch; Museo, a tea salon cum painting studio, and Ezoca Japanese Cuisine for a Kaiseki dining experience.

After a fulfilling meal, check out the lifestyle retail outlets which include Jasons The Gourmet Grocer, an exquisite gourmet shopping paradise for luxury aficionados; Little Provence that stocks a wide selection of French gourmet food; The Straits Wine Company which boasts a well-stocked wine cellar and bespoke services; Hera Beauty Salon which provides head-to-toe pampering with hair, nails, make-up and wedding consultancy services; and Nikei Fine Art, a luxury art space showcasing a series of abstract fine art pieces by renowned and emerging artists from Asia.

Sentosa Cove is more than just a luxurious residential area. With the opening of Quayside Isle to the general public, it is now a new getaway for everyone.

The best thing is, gantry entrance fee to Sentosa is actually pretty affordable during meal times. You pay only $2 per vehicle from 12pm to 2pm, and 5pm to 7am on weekdays, and $3 from 5pm to 7am on weekends – making it an ideal getaway spot for a business luncheon or a family dinner.

For those of you who do not drive, fret not because there is a free shuttle bus service (Sentosa Bus 3) from Beach Station Bus Interchange to Sentosa Cove Village, an approximate 5-minute walk away from Quayside Isle. To get to Beach Station, board the Sentosa Express train from VivoCity.

I have good news for you. If you have been thinking about staying at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove hotel, here’s your chance. Be one of 3 lucky winners to be pampered with a stay at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove hotel with a minimum spend of $50 in a single receipt at Quayside Isle. This promotion runs from 1 to 28 Feb 2013, 1 chance per diner/shopper per day, regardless of total spend. To qualify, all you have to do is to drop your completed form together with the original receipt into the lucky draw box located at level 1 near the lift after your meal. Easy!

I am convinced that Quayside Isle will become one of the most popular lifestyle and dining destinations. Given its unique waterfront dining concepts and speciality retail stores, I have no doubt that it will soon be packed. If you are planning for a romantic dinner during Valentine’s Day, the restaurants at Quayside Isle is perfect for the occasion.

To find out more about the F&B and retail outlets at Quayside Isle, visit their website at http://www.quaysideisle.com

Fashion lovers will be thrilled to hear that Magazine publisher Condé Nast will be opening a Vogue café, club and GQ bar in Singapore later this year. A Vogue club will also be launching in Bangkok at the same time.

The Vogue club in Singapore will be the latest addition to the terraces of the city’s soaring skyscrapers. It will be located on the top of Singapore Land Tower. I am really excited to hear about all the opening of restaurants this year. Which restaurants do you hope to see in Singapore next?

From a stall in a coffee shop to a full-fledged restaurant at Purvis Street, Saveur Restaurant has done a good job serving inexpensive French food. The long line of hungry patrons during meal times is a testament to its popularity. But does Saveur live up to the hype? Is it worth queuing up?

People love Saveur because it offers cheap and decent French food. There’s a trade-off, though. Portions are very small, so you have to order more dishes to share.

The main courses are averagely priced at $10, with a few special items at $24.90. Yes, so affordable, but because of its puny portion, you end up ordering more – which leaves you spending more than you normally would for a meal.

I wasn’t particularly impressed by the offerings, and while I appreciate that they offer decent French food at pocket-friendly prices, I am not in a hurry to come back.

Having said that, it is probably impossible to find another place that serves a good duck confit at $10. So, if you are on a budget, check out Saveurs. Remember to go early, or be prepared to queue.

Saveur Restaurant
5 Purvis Street #01-04
Tel: +65 6100 1788
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm

For more recommendations, read my list of Singapore’s Top 20 Inexpensive Restaurants

Szdechuan Court is known for serving good Szechuan and Cantonese cuisine, and its location at level three of Fairmont Singapore makes it the perfect place to have a nice meal with family and friends, or to host a business luncheon in an elegant and upmarket setting.

To celebrate Chinese New Year, the chef has specially created several set menus, and we had the good fortune to sample some of his signature dishes.

We started with lo-hei, the tossing of yusheng (raw fish salad which comprise crispy eel, salmon, abalone and lobster), a Chinese New Year ritual in Singapore.

There were classic dishes on the menu including Braised Whole Abalone with mushroom and dried oysters with broccoli, and Sweet and Sour Pork Spare Ribs topped with diced capsicums and pineapples.

The Three Treasures Double Boiled Cordyceps Flower Soup – with mini abalone followed shortly after. It was a simple and comforting soup – the kind which you can have everyday and not get sick of it.

The Crispy Tiger Prawns coated with mild spicy mayonnaise was also very good. In fact, I almost suspected that the chef coated the prawns with heroin, that made them so addictive.

The signature Deep-fried Turbot was the highlight of our meal. The fish, with a superior coriander soy sauce, had a shattering crisp, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We ended our feast with a Pandan Nian Gao topped with coconut flakes.

For Chinese New Year 2013, the chefs at Szechuan Court have specially created a collection of Chinese New Year signatures and seven set menus such as the Gong Xi Fa Cai set ($288++) a 8 course menu for a family of four and the Fortune Set ($888++), a massive 10 course menu for a table of ten.

Szechuan Court & Kitchen
80 Bras Basah Road
Level 3 Fairmont Singapore
Tel: +65 6431 6156
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

If you were patient enough to learn about the history of The White Rabbit at Harding Road, you’d probably have had a pretty intense lesson on Singapore’s history. Occupying the space of what used to be a chapel, this one-of-its-kind restaurant impresses the moment we step foot in. It is whimsical, classy and charming all at the same time.

We were excited to find out Chef Benjamin Tan is back, assuming the role of Head Chef after a hiatus, and has made a radical overhaul of the menu. It seems we weren’t the only one pleased; our waiter gushed over the good news, and reassures us that the meal was going to be nothing short of spectacular.

We began with the Classic Lobster Bisque, which assaults our senses the moment the lid was uncovered. This was unabashedly bold and intense as if a whole lobster had been grounded and concentrated to produce a velvety liquid. The half Maine Lobster ($38) served was exceedingly fresh, succulent and bouncy.

We’d never encountered beef so delicate and tender as that served in our next appetizer of Wagyu Carpaccio ($26). Chef Ben’s flair for marrying flavours shines through in this flawless dish; each mouthful a burst of flavors from the beef, balsamic pearls and aroma from the shaved truffles.

The Risotto ($21 as appetiser, $32 as main) was predictable, though we cannot find any fault about it. It was cheesy and pungent, and once again enlivened by generous shavings of truffle. Each grain barely retained its form in the creamy concoction, yet was perfectly al dente to give retain a satisfying bite.

We’ve been tormented by our obsession with the Char-Grilled Mangalica Pork Collar ($46) ever since we have had it. And so are many of their regular customers, we were told, who would return time and time again just for this dish. Step aside Kurobuta, for the Mangalica Pig puts every other porcine dish we’ve had to shame. We have never had pork this way, and can no longer have pork any other way now that we’ve tasted this. The well-marbled pork was almost surreal in flavor and texture; almost like beef except with flavours more sublime and delicate. We could not care less for the extraneous calvados cream and the odd-tasting celery root puree, and would even have this slab of pink, decadent pork steak by itself.

The White Chocolate Soufflé ($18) was light and fluffy, though curiously without a trace of white chocolate. We’d be lying if we said it was the best we’ve had but we liked that it didn’t suffer the common pitfall of being overly sweet, which meant that it paired beautifully with the dense chocolate ice cream. This is a dessert that would concur with those looking for a light way to end the meal.

We would recommend the 24-Hour Poached Pear ($16) instead, which was a stellar work of art. Two halves of a crimson red poached pear encasing a scoop of vanilla ice cream, perched atop a concoction of spiced crumble and burnt butter cake. This was an extremely satisfying end to a wonderful meal.

We cannot help raving about The White Rabbit. Every dish was delicate, well-balanced, and something that only a very talented chef could have achieved. Chef Ben’s return definitely marks a new beginning for The White Rabbit. Service does get a little slow, though we are unsure if this was with the intention for customers to enjoy a long evening. We can’t wait to make a revisit, and with tempting offerings on their brunch menu (think truffle mac and cheese), we’re sure we’ll be back pretty soon.

The White Rabbit
39C Harding Road
Dempsey Singapore
Tel: +65 6473 9965
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Words and photographs by Sarah Lim.

For many, Valentine’s Day is a dreadful day as restaurants mark up their prices ridiculously. However, it is still possible to have fun celebrating Valentine’s Day – with your partner, your family, or a group of friends – if you know where to go.

Here’s my guide to Valentine’s Day Dinner in Singapore 2013.

Like what I always say, any occasion is a good excuse to go to a nice restaurant and have a great time. My advice: avoid celebrating on the actual day. Instead, go the weekend before or after. Happy Valentine’s Day in advance.

Akashi Japanese Restaurant

Akashi is probably not the most romantic restaurant, but what it lacks in ambience it certainly makes up for with top quality Japanese food. This is a nice place to go for your first omakase experience as the restaurant uses the finest ingredients imported from Japan. Otherwise, there are also many value-for-money bento sets to choose from.

1 Harbourfront Walk
#B2-07-09 VivoCity
Tel: +65 6681 6719
Daily: 11.30am – 11pm.

DB Bistro Moderne

Daniel Boulud’s name is synonymous with fine dining in New York, and his signature Manhattan restaurant DB Bistro needs no introduction. The chefs have prepared a splendid four course Valentine’s Day menu ($148/pax). Start with a Maine lobster salad, and tease your taste buds further with their signature seared foie gras. Continue the feast with a roasted tenderloin, and end the romantic dinner with a French Kiss – Greek yogurt mousse with raspberry sorbet.

10 Bayfront Avenue
#B1-48, Across from The Theater, Galleria Level
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Tel: +65 6688 8525

Five and Dime Eatery

Located in a colonial shop house along River Valley Road, Five and Dime Eatery is a restaurant which serves comfort food like mac & cheese, burger, fish & chips, and pasta. Most of the items are priced between $20-30.

It is a charming place, with a friendly and cosy atmosphere. Take my word for it: Five & Dime Eatery is the perfect place to spend Valentine’s Day with your partner.

297 River Valley Road
Tel: +65 9236 5002 Mon to Fri: 12pm – 12am
Sat: 10am – 12am
Sun: 10am – 10pm

Fukuichi Japanese Dining

Fukuichi offers excellent set meals at reasonable prices. With its stellar location, the Japanese restaurant is a hidden gem in town. I am surprised that it is not as popular as I’d have expected it to be. It is my newest to-go place for Japanese food, I think you will love it too. If you love Japanese food, and if you are looking for a place to celebrate Valentine’s Day – or any special occasions, for that matter – Fukuichi Japanese Restaurant should be on the top of your list.

111 Somerset Road
TripleOne Somerset
Tel: +65 6271 5586
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 12am

Open Door Policy

Being under the Spa Esprit group (which also manages Forty Hands Cafe), Open Door Policy – with the perfect Manhatten-chic vibe – certainly delivers as far as ambience is concerned. But it is more than that – it is a bistro with a difference. Everything is prepared with the freshest ingredients and when you get to dine in such a buzzy yet intimate atmosphere, I promise you will fall in love with the place. Definitely one of my top picks for a special day like Saint Valentine’s.

9 Yong Siak Street
Tel: +65 6221 9307
Mon to Sun: 12pm – 3.30pm, 6pm – 11pm

Restaurant Ember

I have said it before, and I will say it again: Ember Restaurant has one of the best, if not the best set lunches in Singapore. If you are planning to take a day off, bring your partner to Ember. I am sure you will have a fantastic meal. Remember to make your reservation in advance, Ember is extremely popular.

50 Keong Saik Road
Hotel 1929
Tel: +65 6347 1928

Ristorante Pietrasantra

While the food at Ristorante Pietrasantra is not particularly impressive, the ambience makes up for all misgivings. The Italian restaurant is housed in a lovely building at Portsdown Road, and we love its homely, rustic setting. It is a pretty decent place to have a romantic dinner if you are not looking for something that is too fancy.

5B Portsdown Road #01-03
Tel: +65 6479 9521
Wed to Mon: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

There’s no shortage of steak restaurants in Singapore, and to make us excited over one takes more than just good food, yet Ruth’s Chris does just that. It impresses with authenticity and needless to say, the steaks are spectacular.

For steak lovers, Ruth’s Chris is the place to go for a nice dinner on Valentine’s Day.

6 Raffles Boulevard
Level 4 Marina Mandarin Hotel
Tel: +65 6336 9093
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 11pm

Salt Grill & Sky Bar

Looking for a stunning restaurant to impress your hot date on Valentine’s Day? Salt Grill at Ion Sky is just the place to go. Perched at the top of Ion Orchard, Salt Grill Restaurant by Chef Luke Mangan is all about the complete dining experience. From the journey through the mysterious lift to the amazing view when you step inside the restaurant – there is only one word to describe it – wow!

2 Orchard Turn Level 55 & 56
ION Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6592 5118
Daily: 11.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm

Wild Honey

I don’t know about you, but I love the idea of having breakfast food for dinner. So, how about going to Wild Honey for a breakfast date? The second outlet at Scotts Square has a lovely interior, and it is a great place to dine if you do not wish to spend a bomb on a meal.

6 Scotts Road
Level 3 Scotts Square
Tel: +65 6636 1816
Mon to Fri: 9am – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 8am – 10.30pm

With twenty branches around the island, O’Coffee Club is one of the most recognised cafe chains in Singapore. For Valentine’s Day this year, O’Coffee Club has specially created a 5-course Epicurean dinner at their first outlet in Holland Village. There will be live band playing while you enjoy a scrumptious dinner.

As this is a one-time special with an exclusive menu only available at Holland Village’s outlet for this Valentine’s Day, seats are limited. I will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with my partner there, and if you are thinking of where to go for a romantic dinner, why not join us on that special night?

Besides the 5-course Epicurean Dinner on Valentine’s Day, O’Coffee Club has also lined up many treats for us in the month of February.

Macarons lovers will be thrilled to know that the new creations include ‘Muddy Mud Pie Macaroon’, which is inspired by their famous ‘Muddy Mud Pie’ dessert and ‘CNY Pineapple Macaroon’. If you are looking for a Chinese New Year gift, O’Coffee Club’s ‘Haute Collection Pineapple Tarts’ ($6.80++ per box of 8) is the perfect thing to buy besides the usual mandarin oranges when you go visiting in the CNY. Also, their February’s high tea set ($8.50/pax) is one of the most affordable afternoon tea sets in town.

That is the start of my tantalizing adventure with O’Coffee Club. Remember to sign up for the event, and we shall have a ball of a time celebrating Valentine’s Day at O’Coffee Club together.

February is the shortest month, but it is no less exciting because Chinese New Year and Saint Valentine’s will keep us occupied. Celebrations after celebrations – this means massive feasting! Sounds like my idea of fun. Are you already looking forward to the month, as much as we do?

In the month of love and romance, we will be bringing you special Valentine’s Day features – look forward to Editor’s picks on romantic restaurants to celebrate with the love of your life, to Valentine’s Day ideas. While they say “if you find the right one, everyday is Valentine’s Day”, it is still a decent excuse to be extravagant. We really wouldn’t mind an extra surprise or a nice present.

Meanwhile, with so many big names opening in Singapore, it reiterates our blessing to have a place on this part of Earth. Laduree Patisserie, Jamie Oliver’s Jamie Restaurant and Tim Ho Wan are just some of the exciting ventures that will be opening new outlets here this year. We no longer have to fly overseas for all these delicacies; the world is coming to us.

Well then again, it may be just as evil – I cannot imagine how I am going to expand horizontally. Time to do some serious discussions on health tips, maybe.

Happy Saint Valentine’s, and have an indulgent month. Join us on our journey – on instagram, twitter and facebook – as we introduce more places around the world in search of good food and little sweetness in life.

When it comes to night markets in Taipei, most people are familiar with the famous ones such as Shilin, Raohe and Shida. However, not many know about Linjiang Street Night Market (also known as Tonghua Night Market) which is located on the fringe of a residential area in Da-an District, near to Taipei 101 and Xinyi.

For first-timers to Taipei, stick with Shilin and Shida night markets as they are bigger in scale and much more accessible. However, if you have been to the other markets before, you might want to check out Linjiang Night Market.

One of the most popular street food in night markets is yan su ji (Taiwanese salted crispy chicken). Small chunks of chicken are deep-fried and sprinkled with pepper salt, and they are offered with a variety of other ingredients such as Taiwanese tempura, fish ball, pig’s blood, squid, mushroom, tofu, and intestine. At the intersection of Linjiang street and Tonghua street, you can find this stall which has been around for 20 years.

Just across the street, there is a popular yan shui ji (steamed salted chicken) stall. It offers side dishes like vegetables, intestines, and different parts of chicken. Everything is chopped into small pieces and stirred with a pepper sauce.

Lu wei, or braised food, is also another must-try. A lu wei braised snacks stand typically offers a good selection of food such as vegetables, bean curd, intestines, and meat. Pick your preferred ingredients and the chef will cook it in a special sauce.

My favourite in Linjiang Street Night Market is this stall (pictured above) selling Cong You Bing (scallion pancake), a savoury flat bread with green onions and pork. It is greasy and sinful, but oh so delicious.

Besides having the usual oyster omelette, tian bu la (Taiwanese tempura), pig’s blood rice pudding, Taiwanese sausage and stinky tofu, Linjiang Night Market also has several stalls which offer something different. The appearance of German’s pork knuckle in a night market seems like a stroke of genius as it combines two favourite things: deep-fried food and pork knuckle.

Over at a corner, you can find an old lady making zhuang yuan bing (scholar’s cake), a traditional Chinese cake that comes with either peanut or sesame filling.

Surprisingly, I spotted two stalls selling Vietnamese street food such as banh mi sandwiches, salad and pho. It is really fascinating how different cuisines from around the world can be found in Taiwan’s night markets.

Other than street food, there are also steak restaurants and teppanyaki eateries. You can get a huge steak on a hotplate for NT$150 (S$6.50), while a delicious teppanyaki meal starts from as low as NT$100 (S$4).

If you are staying in the Da-an or Xinyi district – well, even if you are not, there is absolutely no reason to not pay Linjiang Street Night Market a visit.

For more recommendations, read my Guide to Taiwanese Night Markets and Street Food

The long queues outside Tim Ho Wan, the cheapest one Michelin star restaurant in the world, are a testament to its popularity. Waiting time is easily an hour, yet people queue up for their dim sum. Now, we will be able to enjoy the famous barbecued pork buns without having to fly to Hong Kong. Tim Ho Wan will be opening its first overseas outlet in the new atrium wing of Plaza Singapura on 10 April 2013.

Yet another pancake shop has popped up in the neighbourhood. This time, it’s Little Pancakes, located in the Upper Thomson area. What sets these pancakes apart, as the shop’s name suggests, is their size. Serving miniature pancakes that are about 3 inches in diameter, Little Pancakes offers both sweet and savoury options on the menu.

Interestingly, they also have an ‘Asian’ section in their menu, with choices such as Singaporeans Unite (pancakes served with local toppings such as kaya, butter condensed milk). My dining partner and I were in the mood for dessert, so we shared two sweet options.

The first was Gimme S’more Oreos ($8.20). The toasted marshmellows, oreos and chocolate ice cream were relatively ordinary, except for the maple syrup, which I found to be excellent.

Our second option was Mr. Bean Turns Red ($8.50), served with green tea ice cream and a side of Azuki red beans. Combining Asian dessert with western pancakes is a refreshing idea, and made for a surprisingly good dish. Most importantly, I thoroughly enjoyed the pancakes, as they were fluffy, buttery, and easy to eat. Do visit Little Pancakes if you are in the neighbourhood, but come early, as seating is limited and fills up quickly!

Little Pancakes
200 Upper Thomson Road
#01-04 Thomson Imperial Court
Tel: +65 6258 8515
Mon: 1pm – 11pm
Wed to Fri: 1pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 9pm

About the writer:
Amanda is a Singaporean with a passion for good food, fashion, and travelling. She is currently attending boarding school in the United Kingdom, and looks forward to many such new experiences after she begins university next year. Follow her adventure on instagram.

Whether you are looking for a restaurant to have reunion dinner with your family, or lo-hei with your friends and colleagues, here are some suggestions for Chinese New Year Dinner 2013.

Wishing everyone a happy Chinese New Year with your family and loved ones.

Canton Paradise

If the crowds at meal times are anything to go by, Canton Paradise is already very popular. It is not surprising, given that the restaurant chain focuses on the mass-market by offering decent Chinese food at affordable prices. The Lunar New Year menu here starts from $168 for a family of four, while you can also get their fortune pot (pen cai) for $198.

1 Vista Exchange Green
#B1-45/46 The Star Vista
Tel: +65 6694 2915
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10.30am – 10pm

Checkers Brasserie

Have your reunion dinner at Checkers Brasserie on Chinese New Year’s Eve and begin the feast with the Prosperity Yu Sheng, before having a serving of Mini Buddha jump over the wall. That is not all. The spread also includes Peking duck, roast pork, Japanese sashimi and sushi. The Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner Buffet is available on 9 February 2013, at $88++/pax.

581 Orchard Road
Hilton Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6730 3390

Forest Restaurant

With a tropical rain forest inspired interior, Chef Sam Leong’s Forest Restaurant at Resorts World Sentosa is one of the most stunning Chinese restaurants in Singapore.

Forest is introducing two reunion set dinners starting from $168++/pax and a 7 course Reunion Deluxe Tasting Menu at $888++/pax which comprises mains like Braised Bird Nest with crab meat and roe, and Braised 10 Head Dry Abalone with sautéed vegetable and truffle oil.

8 Sentosa Gateway
Level 1 Equarius Hotel
Resorts World Sentosa
Tel: +65 6577 7788
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm

Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine

The Imperial Treasure name is synonymous with good quality and consistently good Chinese food. The prices may be steep, but the high standard food, the friendly service make a meal at Imperial Treasure’s flagship outlet in Marina Bay Sands so reasonable.

The restaurant has prepared 9 different Lunar New Year set menus, and they are priced at $668++ for four, to $1288++ for ten.

10 Bayfront Avenue
#L2-04 Marina Bay Sands
Tel: +65 6681 6680
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 11.30pm

Majestic Bay Seafood Restaurant

Located by the waterfront at Gardens by the Bay, Majestic Bay Seafood Restaurant has one of the best spots in town. The new seafood restaurant by Chef Yong Bing Ngen showcases popular Singaporean classic dishes such as the chilli crab, black pepper crab and peking duck, but what you must not miss is the signature ‘kopi’ crab which is prepared with a special sauce made from a blend of 3 different coffee beans.

Besides having seven different Chinese New Year set menus (from $388++ for four), Majestic Bay Seafood Restaurant also has an eight course vegetarian set menu ($60++/pax) for this special occasion.

18 Marina Gardens Drive
#01-10 Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay
Tel: +65 6604 6604
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 5.45pm – 10pm

Peach Garden

The splendid view from level 33 makes Peach Garden at OCBC Centre an excellent option should you choose to dine out for reunion dinner. The basic Lunar New Year menu – which includes salmon yusheng, shark’s fin with crab meat, deep-fried sea perch, braised dried oyster – is available at $88++/pax (minimum two diners).

65 Chulia Street
#33-01 OCBC Centre, Singapore
Tel: +65 6535 7833
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun & PH: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm

Summer Pavilion

This Chinese restaurant at Ritz-Carlton Singapore seems to have the right formula – refined Cantonese cuisine served in a classy interior. Summer Pavilion has a platinum 7 course menu ($2288 for eight pax), and it is also offering the traditional pen cai at $360 (for four pax).

7 Raffles Avenue
Ritz-Carlton Singapore
Tel: +65 6337 8888
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm

Shin Yeh

Shin Yeh, the famous restaurant from Taiwan, is another place that you can consider for your Chinese New Year reunion dinner. The 8 course set menu starts from $148++ for four guests and goes up to $498++ for a table of ten

177 River Valley Road
#02-19 Liang Court
Tel: +65 6338 7337
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm

Szechuan Court

Over at Szechuan Court. the chef has specially created a collection of Chinese New Year signatures and seven set menus. The Gong Xi Fa Cai set ($288++) – a 8 course menu featuring Salmon Yusheng and Crispy Canadian Scallop – is good for a family of four. For a big group, the Fortune Set ($888++) is a massive 10 course menu that can feed a table of ten and some of the highlights are Crispy Tiger Prawn, Steamed Turbot Fish, and Traditional Roast Duck.

80 Bras Basah Road
Level 2 Fairmont Singapore
Tel: +65 6431 6156
Weekday: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Weekend: 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm

Yu Cuisine

Regulars to Marina Bay Sands will definitely notice Yu Cuisine, a modern Chinese seafood restaurant and champagne bar which has an outstanding blue and silver decor. If you are planning to splurge on the Chinese New Year reunion dinner, this is the place in town to do it.

For Chinese New Year 2013, Yu Cuisine has a 6 course menu ($468++ for four pax) featuring Yu Sheng, shark’s fin, abalone with sea cucumber and tiger king prawn.

10 Bayfront Avenue
#B1-07/08/09 & #L1-82 Marina Bay Sands
Tel: +65 6871 4135
Sun to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sun: 11am – 12midnight

For more recommendations, read my guide to Singapore’s Top 10 Seafood Restaurants.

Much has been said about Ryoshi Sushi Ikeikemaru, the sushi restaurant at the basement of Liang Court. I am going straight to the point: Whatever you have heard about Ryoshi – it is true. They serve surprisingly good and fresh sushi at very affordable prices.

I was a little apprehensive about trying it out as I thought it was just another mediocre Japanese restaurant serving sushi on conveyor belt. Thankfully, my worries turned out to be unnecessary. Ryoshi Sushi Ikeikemaru is very decent and judging from the crowd during meal times, it is already very popular.

Ryoshi charges by the plate, and prices range from $1.80 to $6.80 for different sushi. In addition, they also have a selection of ala carte dishes such as Tempura Udon ($9.60), Ebi Fried ($5.80), Chawanmushi ($3.80) and Salmon Avocado Salad ($7.60).

Don’t visit Ryoshi Sushi Ikeikemaru and expect to get quality sushi that you will get from top Japanese restaurants. But what you can expect is reasonably good sushi at pocket-friendly prices. If you are a fan of Itacho Sushi, I think you will like Ryoshi too.

Ryoshi Sushi Ikeikemaru
177 River Valley Road
Basement 1 Liang Court
Tel: +65 6337 1022
Daily: 11am – 9.30pm

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

Even though I have been to Ritz-Carlton Singapore many times, for some reason, I never had the chance to eat at Summer Pavilion, the luxe hotel’s Chinese restaurant. So, when I was there for a staycation recently, I made a reservation to drop by for lunch to sample some of their signature Cantonese dishes.

There are quite a few choices on its dim sum menu. You can find the usual Steamed Prawn Dumpling ($5.20 for 4), Steamed Pork Dumpling ($5.20 for 4), but there are also exquisite options such as a Dumpling with abalone ($15.80/pax), and Deep-fried Seafood Roll ($2.20/piece) with scallop, prawn and coral clam. Beyond the dim sum menu is a comprehensive list of chef’s specialities on the ala carte menu, with many dishes listed under each category.

We started off with the Barbecued Combination Platter ($30 for small). While the chicken and duck were good, the clear favourite for us was the delicious and juicy char siew.

The Baked Egg Tarts ($4.20 for 3) while decent, were not worth the calories. The Deep-fried Lobster Puff ($2.50) was also unremarkable.

Here, the classic Barbecued Pork Bun was given a twist with the addition of chunks of preserved vegetable. The taste was subtle, but it added a different dimension to the otherwise ordinary bun. If you like preserved vegetable, you must try Summer Pavilion’s Steamed BBQ Pork Bun ($4.50 for 3) because it is not everyday that we find renditions with preserved vegetable and onion. Unique for sure, and worth ordering.

The Doubled-boiled Clear Lobster Soup ($16/pax) with vermicelli and pine mushroom was a winner. another that won our hearts was the Baked Marinated Silver Cod fish ($20/pax), which came complete with a lovely champagne sauce.

We were greeted by a sizzling claypot as the staff brought the Braised Sea Perch and Egg Plant with Sze Chuan sauce ($8) to our table. This was followed by the beautiful Steamed Zucchini Flower ($13) stuffed with prawn, chicken and mushroom.

For the Steamed Bamboo Clams with golden mushroom, we were served two renditions – one with black bean sauce, and the other cooked with minced garlic. We thought that the black bean sauce was too overwhelming and it covered the taste of the clams. We preferred the minced garlic version, which brought out the freshness of the clams. It was fresh, succulent and bursting with flavours.

There were also some misses, such as the dry and flavourless Wok-fried Fillet of Beef; and the Poached Fish Noodle Soup with Lobster ($12/pax) which did not hit the spot.

All in all, it was a delightful meal, and if you are thinking of where to go for Chinese New Year Dinner, Summer Pavilion at Ritz-Carlton Singapore should be at the top of your list.

Auspicious lunch and dinner set menus will be available for Chinese New Year. If money is no object, go for the Platinum seven-course menu ($2288 for eight guests). The restaurant will also be serving traditional pen cai (available from $360 for four).

Summer Pavilion
7 Raffles Avenue
Ritz-Carlton Singapore
Tel: +65 6337 8888
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse is quite a household name among steak lovers, with over 130 restaurants worldwide. It’s rich history dates back to almost half a century ago, when a single mother mortgaged her home to buy a neighbourhood restaurant called Chris Steak House. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Fast forward 50 years, and Ruth’s Chris has managed to find its way onto our shores. The restaurant, like the rest of the Marina Mandarin Hotel, is dimly lit and cosy. There is no fancy tableware or glitzy décor to speak of and is reminiscent of an authentic American steakhouse.

If your partner loves steak, why not surprise him/her with a dinner here during Valentine’s Day?

We knew we were off to a good start when we caught a whiff of the Cajun Style Crab Cakes ($35), two generous hemispherical mounds that came sizzling in a fragrant herb butter, each packed firm with succulent crab meat tasting like they came fresh from the sea.

The sauce stole the limelight in our next appetiser of BBQ Shrimps in Creola Butter ($35). “You must have it with the bread,” our waiter told us, pointing to the pool of sauce of the BBQ shrimps. Good advice, as it would have been a sin not to mop up the lusciously creamy reduction, almost like a thicker version of good lobster bisque. If we were to nitpick, we didn’t exactly enjoy the alkaline shrimps, which were unremarkable.

For all the rave reviews, it’s inevitable that we had high expectations of the steaks which were fortunately met, if not surpassed. We had the Filet Mignon ($85) and the USDA Prime Ribeye ($85 for 340g) done medium rare, both of which were exceedingly tender, pink and fully packed with beefy juices. The former is slightly more forgiving on the conscience and would please those who appreciate a leaner cut. But go for the Ribeye; it is happiness on a plate as the beautifully marbled cut literally melts in your mouth.

The idea that good beef should only be seasoned with salt and pepper sits well with us; there’s no better way to fully savour what is said to be the top 2% of America’s beef than to have it unadulterated.

Unless you are one who needs the obligatory greens or carbohydrates, we’d advise passing on the sides. The Asparagus with Hollandaise ($25) and Steak Frites ($25) we had were unspectacular and boring. You’d be better off saving whatever precious stomach space you have left for something else.

To wrap up the meal, go for the Cheesecake ($25) and the Banana Cream Pie ($25). The banana cream pie was an absolutely stunning, with each slice of banana encased by a thin layer of crispy, caramelized sugar atop dense cold cream, and then a buttery tart that held everything together perfectly.

There is nothing fanciful about the Cheesecake, just an honest, no-nonsense version that is pretty much the epitome of this American classic. In other words, it was rich, it was creamy, and it was huge. So much so that we had to surrender a quarter of the way through.

There’s no shortage of steak restaurants in Singapore, and to make us excited over one takes more than just good food, yet Ruth’s Chris does just that. It impresses with authenticity and needless to say, the steaks are spectacular. The only downside is the rather steep pricing. But dining at Ruth’s Chris is more than just a meal; it’s the experience of dining in this widely acclaimed steakhouse that has served and impressed steak lovers worldwide.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
6 Raffles Boulevard
Level 4 Marina Mandarin Hotel
Tel: +65 6336 9093
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Words by Sarah Lim, photographs by ladyironchef

The restaurant scene in Los Angeles is certainly reviving with smart new bistros, cafes and restaurants springing up from east to west and emphasizing on chic and elegant fare and designs. While there are numerous upscale fine dining in the city that are highly acclaimed, some of the mid-range restaurants are worth the attention too.

My favorites are those that are famous for their brunches, lunches, and desserts. What’s better than spending your day with your girlfriends over lattes, Eggs Benedicts, cakes and conversations that are bathed in the beautiful afternoon light?

Here is a list of 5 Brunch Spots in Los Angeles that are worth checking out.

Hollywood. Beverly Hills. Celebrities. Theme parks. Beaches. Brunches. Desserts.

Urth Caffe

Prided for their own exclusively organic coffees and fine teas, Urth Caffe also boasts a unique atmosphere with outdoor seating on their large patio that are great for sunny days. My favorite drink here is their green tea latte, which is the best I’ve ever had. It has a strong but not overwhelming Matcha taste, creamy and not overly sweet. Their desserts come in large portion and are definitely great for sharing.

Urth Caffee Beverly Hills
267 S Beverly Dr
Beverly Hills, CA 90209
Tel: (310) 205 9311

Urth Caffe Santa Monica
2327 Main St
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Tel: (310) 314 7040

Bottega Louie

With its post-modern architecture, airy high ceilings, polished marble floor, full glass windows and wonderfully carved scones, Bottega Louie is one of the fanciest place for high tea. Their brightly colored macarons that are gorgeously displayed in the more than three meters long counter are the most tempting thing in the place, but I would also suggest their pear tart and chocolate soufflé too. Also not forgetting that the service here is impeccable.

700 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Tel: (213) 802 1470

CHAYA

CHAYA is a classy Asian fusion brasserie that has a sophisticated ambience with red accents decor. The restaurant serves sushi and main courses, but their desserts are not to
be missed. The chocolate croissant bread pudding is an absolute favorite and quite unlike the other bread puddings. Using croissants instead of the usual bread, their bread pudding is crispier on the surface and more moist and buttery on the inside. The molten chocolate cake is also memorable because they use a rich and thick Valrhona chocolate paired with candied hazelnuts and vanilla ice cream.

CHAYA Downtown
525 S Flower St
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Tel: (213) 236 9577

CHAYA Beverly Hills
8741 Alden Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tel: (310) 859 8833

Little Next Door

Housed in one of the blocks along the long stretch of Melrose Avenue, the Little Next Door is like a petite French garden tucked in between the other cafes and shops. Stepping into this place is like taking a quick vacation to France, with the atmosphere, waitress’ thick French accents and the quintessential french menu items like croque Monsieur and French onion soup. They also do their Eggs Benedict in a different way, using a soft buttery toast instead of English muffin. The pastries here like mille-feuilles and opera cake are perfect and pretty too.

8142 W 3rd St
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 951-1010

The Ivy

The Ivy has become one of the must-go places in Los Angeles because it is one of the prime star-spotting locations with its fair number of celebrity guests over the years. It is not unusual to see paparazzi camping outside this colorful bistro that has candlelit tables and roses everywhere. Its lush secret garden style atmosphere and beautifully presented food are definitely some of its selling points. The Ivy also serves one of the best red velvet cakes in the city.

113 N Roberston Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 274-8303

About the writer
Anlin Melina is a Business Administration and Economics student at the University of California, Berkeley, who likes travelling and writing during her free time. You can buy her new book “Once Upon A Blue Sky” – a travel guide book on cities in the United States – from Amazon.

PS Cafe Petit at Tiong Bahru is a new takeaway concept for freshly made pizzas and wine. It has a very cool vibe, and I love the design of the shopfront and interior. It is a shame that there is no dine-in area, though.

That said, it is a good option if you want to get pizzas for occasions like a house party, or picnic. On the menu, you can find pizzas (prices range from $21-28) such as PS Original Smokey Marherita, Bolognese, and Four Cheese Porcini.

PS Cafe Petit

78 Guan Chuan Street #01-41

Tel: +65 9226 7088

Tue to Sun: 11am – 10.30pm