Behind the same folks that brought you Fresh Fruits Lab comes Blue Willow, a thematic bar and bistro that derives its inspiration from one of our favourite science-fiction movies of 2009—to give you a clue, the alien characters in it are all blue.

Decked out in—you guessed it—blue with beautiful wall murals depicting scenes and characters from the movie, this cosy bistro in the West of Singapore is not your usual gimmicky themed cafe. Of hearty grub and inventive cocktails that are mostly blue in colour, the food standard is so good that you wouldn’t believe you are dining in a cafe!

You’d be pleased to know that the blue-coloured dishes and drinks are naturally coloured with butterfly pea; nothing tastes artificial nor tackily sweet. Blue dishes and desserts to look forward to include the Eywa Natural Blue Carbonara, Neytiri’s Blue Pancake Stack and Blue Velvet Cake. If you are out looking for a tipple, we are sure their stunning line-up of thematic cocktails will leave an impression as well.

From now until 04 Mar 2018 (excluding Valentine’s Day), our readers can quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making your orders to enjoy 50% OFF the second main course (on the lower-priced item). This promotion is valid for lunch and dinner daily.

So get your appetites going and your cameras at the ready, because Blue Willow Bar & Bistro is an absolute must-visit.

Blue Willow Bar & Bistro is the latest venture by a young couple, who are also the owners of restaurants Fresh Fruits Lab and Platform 1094. Tucked away along a small row of shops, away from the bustling city scene and near to the NUS campus, Blue Willow offers students and regular patrons alike some much-needed respite from the stresses of everyday life—at a pretty affordable price point too!

The inspiration for the blue themed, alien-world cafe, which serves Western-fusion cuisine, comes from a tree in the cafe’s backyard, reminiscent of the iconic ‘Tree of Souls’ in the movie—don’t tell us you’re still guessing.

JAKE’S BREAKFAST

Only available on weekends before 3pm, their brunch menu offers a fine selection of hearty grub that will set the tone for your weekend perfectly. First on the list is Jake’s Breakfast (S$16++): a huge plate featuring all the works from scrambled eggs, toasted baked garlic, bacon, chicken cheese sausages, grilled mushrooms and a salad.

Modelled after a classic English breakfast, this colossal plate promises you everything you could ever want from greasy to creamy—the best way to kickstart any day in our opinion.

EGGS BENEDICT

Although similar in composition, the Eggs Benedict (S$13++) served here is presented and prepared a little differently. Instead of the conventional English muffin, what you get as your base is a toasted soft roll which is topped with bacon, chicken ham, two sous vide eggs and drizzled luxuriously with their homemade hollandaise sauce.

NEYTIRI’S BLUE PANCAKE STACK

Perhaps one of the most ‘Insta-worthy’ items on their brunch menu is the Neytiri’s Blue Pancake Stack (S$14++) that comprises three thick, blue pancakes topped with blueberry, maple sago, strawberries and cookie crumbles.

The pancakes left a deep impression upon first bite! Fluffy with a crispy exterior and brimming with vanilla aroma, complemented with fresh berries and maple syrup that beautifully bring the entire dish together. As with all of their blue coloured dishes, no artificial colouring is added. All of them derive their bluish hue naturally from butterfly peas.

EYWA NATURAL BLUE CARBONARA

For something a little more unusual that is bound to have your Instagram followers in total awe is the Eywa Natural Blue Carbonara (S$14++).

Boasting a blueish colour courtesy of the butterfly pea added into the pasta dough, this dish would surely have diners feeling a tad confused at first, but stick your fork in and swirl some into your mouth and you would be greeted wiith a delicious medley of flavours from the sautéed bacon, savoury cheesy cream sauce and the rich sou vide egg yolk. After the initial taste, we were hooked and were ready to scarf down the entire plate.

BLUE WILLOW’S BARRAMUNDI

Grilled to tender perfection, the Blue Willow’s Barramundi (S$20++) is a good alternative to order should you wish for something less rich. Our fish was tender and flaky and the skin had a glorious crisp.

Complementing the Barramundi is a blue pine nut mustard cream sauce, as well as a combination of fresh vegetables from tender beetroot, wilted baby spinach and pine nuts, sprinkled over top.

FFL DA BOMB BURGER

For the love of ginormous burgers that pack great flavour, the FFL Da Bomb Burger (S$19++) is something we highly recommend.

This monster of a burger features a 200gram medium-well beef batty, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, grilled sweet onion, bacon, egg and is finally topped with a blue cheddar cheese sauce that diners are free to pour over themselves should they wish.

ENCHANTING BEVERAGE CONCOCTIONS

Besides their array of toothsome food offerings, do pay attention to their stellar cocktail menu as well. Offering a variety of inventive cocktails that showcase various methods of culinary theatrics, they are just as tasty to sip on as they are aesthetically pleasing.

Some of their cocktails even require diners to get ‘hands-on’ so pimp away, because at Blue Willow, the experience is what you make of it.

For the wine connoisseur, you will be delighted to know that Blue Willow is the only bar and bistro in Singapore licensed to bring in and sell the world’s first blue-coloured wine, Gik. We already know so many parties to bring this to!

From now until 04 Mar 2018 (excluding Valentine’s Day), our readers can quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making your orders to enjoy 50% OFF the second main course (on the lower-priced item). This promotion is valid for lunch and dinner daily.

Blue Willow Bar & Bistro
28 Clementi Road,
Singapore 129754
Tel: +65 6803 7472
(Closed on Mondays)
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 12am
Sat & Sun: 11am – 12am
Nearest Station: Kent Ridge / Haw Par Villa

This post was brought to you by Blue Willow Bar & Bistro.

A classic cocktail is defined as a cocktail that originated before the end of Prohibition in the United States in 1934. As with most cocktails, the origins are hazy, and many (recipes) have since evolved over the years with each bartenders’ rendition. One thing remains: the most important factor of a classic cocktail is quality.

Have you ever thought about what goes into that drink in your hand? What defines a classic cocktail? How do you differentiate a classic cocktail from cocktails?

This beginners guide to classic cocktails explains some of the most classic cocktails from six main spirits—brandy, gin, rum, tequila, vodka and whiskey.

Brandy

One of the most classic brandy cocktails is the Sidecar. Making its way into some of the most posh watering holes of London and Paris in the 1920s, this enticing mix of brandy, orange liqueur and a dabble of lemon juice is simply structured but complex enough to liberate jaded palates. Other variations include adding aged rum or green Chartreuse to the recipe.

Gin

“Shaken, not stirred.” James Bond has made martinis famous with his catchphrase when ordering a Vesper martini. The most classic gin cocktail is a martini—made with gin and vermouth, garnished with an olive or a twist of lemon. First concocted back in the early 1910s, the ease of manufacturing gin led to the rise of the martini as a predominant cocktail in the mid 20th century.

Rum

A common classic rum cocktail, the mojito requires five ingredients: white rum, sugar (or simple syrup), lime juice, soda water and mint. The combination results in a refreshing, citrusy sweetness that complements the sharp acidity of rum. Countless variations of the mojito make it difficult to accurately trace back its roots, but the early 19th century sees similarities in one of the world’s oldest cocktails El Draque—using wine in place of rum.

Tequila

One of world’s most popular cocktails, a margarita (tequila, triple sec and lime juice) is so simple to make, it’s practically impossible to screw up. All ingredients are added into a shaker and filled with ice before being shaken and strained into a cocktail glass rimmed with salt. While the moniker was first made known in the late 1940s by socialite Margarita Sames, its concoction has been dated prior.

Feverishly sprouting up around the island are cocktails bars dotting the nightlife scene. But what’s hot and what’s not? Here’s our pick of 5 hot new bars in Singapore that up the ante.

Vodka

Having been consumed for over 600 years in Eastern and Northern Europe, the history of classic vodka cocktails (or rather, the lack of one) stretches back a century or more to the early 20th century. An unstoppable classic vodka cocktail, Balalaika has a relatively strong taste of alcohol that may seem harsh at first, but gradually blossoms into a refreshing and tart drink. All it takes is vodka, triple sec and lemon juice—three simple ingredients for this lethal concoction.

Whisky

The early 1800s called upon the (very first) cocktail as “hair of the dog”—consisting of water, sugar and bitters. The term “old fashioned” was used loosely in the late 19th century to describe the old fashioned way of making a cocktail—choice of spirit, sugar and a dash of bitters. One of the early common spirits, bourbon (a type of American whiskey) was widely used in cocktails. Put two and two together, and the Old Fashioned was born. There’s a reason it’s called an ‘Old Fashioned’.

About the writer
Mandy Lynn is a former I-S Magazine nightlife writer and current editor of Nookmag; her dining and nightlife features have been published in Appetite Asia and Catalog Magazine. For on-the-go food recommendations, follow her on Instagram and Facebook, or join her on a Gourmet Adventure.