Tucked away on the 2nd storey of the Intercontinental Hotel Robertson Quay is Ichigo Ichie - A hidden gem helmed by 45-year-old Chef Akane Eno - a graduate of the Tsuji Culinary School in Osaka. Chef Akane is currently the only female Japanese Chef helming a fine dining restaurant in Singapore. Opened in 2020, Ichigo
The white wines of Burgundy are, in general, made from the Chardonnay grape. There is, however, another white grape variety that is grown in the region; and this is the Aligoté. Prior to the onset of the phylloxera (the 19th century disease that wiped out almost all the vineyards in Europe), the Aligoté grape was
Our dining experience at Kappou by Chef Aeron Choo unfolded as a captivating narrative of delightful contrasts. The carefully curated omakase menu not only pays homage to Japanese cuisine but also incorporates Chef Aeron's creative spins, adding a unique touch to the omakase experience. Meanwhile, the service also seamlessly balances professionalism with genuine warmth and
Every year, during the 3rd week of November, the region of Beaujolais comes together to celebrate the new harvest. November is, hence, affectionately known as “Bojo month”. Beaujolais Nouveau is bottled just 6 to 8 weeks after harvest and is usually bright purple in colour with aromas and flavours of fresh crunchy red fruit such
Forget about Michelin stars and other culinary awards. These restaurants have stood the test of time, focused on their customers and served food that truly warms the heart. The artisanal and bespoke Italian restaurant Buko Nero is run by Oscar and Tracy Pasinato. Whilst it hasn’t been awarded a Michelin star, this cosy 16-seater restaurant
We’re a month away from finally closing 2020, and the most wonderful time of the year is just around the corner. Spending the upcoming holiday season might be a little different this time, but if there’s one way to fast forward the stress of 2020, that is to unwind with a much-deserved Christmas #staycation. While
History buffs like myself enjoy finding out what goes on beyond the label and the glass. Recently, I found myself reminiscing about old champagne houses, and the distinct black label with the red cross - symbols of Champagne Lanson – came to mind. Founded in 1760, Champagne Lanson is one of the oldest Champagne
With The Drinks Business reporting a drop in alcohol consumption (September 2024, by Ron Emler), it seems to be an opportune time to explore alternative beverages. What better option than tea? According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, tea is the world’s most consumed beverage after water. From China to India
Rainy mid-November came like a party crasher and as we were looking for a city escape away from the wet and windy shores of Phuket, there was a launch of Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town, the perfect fly-and-flop destination nestled in the heart of Phuket Town, just right next to Surin Circle Clock Tower. With
Bangkok’s skyline sparkles with an array of rooftop bars and restaurants, each offering picture-postcard views that make choosing just one an adventure of its own. With sweeping, unobstructed vistas from the 56th floor of the up-and-coming lifestyle destination, The Empire, Le Du Kaan by the renowned chef Thitid “Ton” Tassanakajohn masterfully marries contemporary Thai cuisine
When you next pick up a bottle of Dom Perignon, take a careful look at the label. The luxury Champagne house has created a series of 3 expressions of the same champagne and named them Plenitude 1 (P1), Plenitude 2 (P2), and Plenitude 3 (P3). Three different expressions of the same champagne released at intervals
Photo credit: Dom Pérignon/Nick Knight With Lady Gaga receiving rave reviews for her performance in Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci, it seems apt to highlight her recent collaboration with the Champagne House of Dom Pérignon. Part of the Creator’s Platform series, which has previously featured American singer-songwriter Lenny Kravitz, this limited edition series (released in
WORKSHOP Bangkok has made art even more fascinating – and flavoursome. –Featured Image Credit: WORKSHOP Bangkok– Photo credit: WORKSHOP Bangkok Bangkok's bustling Yenakart neighbourhood boasts a range of up-and-coming restaurants and bars. Amongst these, one which we absolutely adore is WORKSHOP Bangkok, a restaurant/bar/gallery/event space led by French chef Clément Hernandez, who has worked in
TASTING DATE : 19 AUGUST 2020, SINGAPORE Josko Gravner’s Ribolla is more than just a white wine from Italy’s Friuli Venezia Giulia region (not far from Slovenia). Made using the ancient winemaking technique of fermenting wine in huge ceramic vessels known as amphoras, Gravner is using a winemaking process that dates back to 6000BC. What
As I watched the live telecast of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral on television, I popped open a bottle of Gusbourne’s Brut Reserve 2015. With grapes located in Kent and West Sussex, the estate grows the traditional Champagne grape varietals of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Proudly produced in Britain it seemed
Chef Kenjiro “Hatch” Hashida is back with his sushi restaurant now located at Amoy Street (Hatch’s regulars may recall the original location at the Mandarin Gallery on Orchard Road and also the charming shop house along Mohd Sultan Road). Hashida 3.0 aims to woo diners with the offering of traditional Edomae sushi omakase, which reflects
It was a scorching hot summer day in Stockholm and according to the local news, it was the hottest summer in two decades. Nevertheless, it is always beautiful! Flowers are in full bloom, stunning boats are on display, leisurely walks and alfresco dining are in the daily itinerary. As the summer sun bathes the picturesque
House of Rituals, the flagship store of the Dutch brand, Rituals, is a nice surprise you come across when walking into Voetboogstraat in Spui. Opened in 2020 on the brand's 20th anniversary, House of Rituals is nestled in downtown Amsterdam. You may mistake it for a high tea restaurant when you first reach the building
Created in 2019 by the former Chef de Cave of Dom Pérignon, Richard Geoffroy, the 4th Assemblage of IWA 5 was recently released on the Singapore market. The sake has been produced at Shiraiwa, the permanent home of IWA 5. Shiraiwa, meaning "white rock," is located at the foothills of Tateyama in the Toyama Prefecture
Ever since we dined at Chef Pom Chinese Cuisine By Todd in Bangkok, we’ve been craving for their Shrimp Shumai, Barbecued Pork Rice Noodle Rolls and juice-dripping Xiao Long Bao. Naturally, a collaboration between heavyweights like Chef Thanarak "Pom" Chuto (Thailand's celebrated Chinese fare master) and Piti "Todd" Bhirombhakdi (the mastermind behind Boon Rawd Brewery
Singapore's multicuisine food scene is giving both locals and globetrotters a delicious opportunity to partake in new flavours and new dishes. With cool restaurants, cafes and bars constantly sprouting up all over town, this new-ish spot gives food aficionados something fresh and fine to chew on. In the fourth quarter of last year, the celebrated
A recent visit to Punjab Grill Bangkok has really eased our I-miss-travel nostalgia. Just moments away from one of Bangkok's bustling nightlife streets of Sukhumvit 11, this slice of the Punjab region comes in the like of a fine dining restaurant – except this one makes us feel right at home, thanks to its welcoming
Old world charm meets modern day chic at the recently restored Raffles Hotel. With interiors designed by famed interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud. the neo-renaissance hotel, built in 1887 by Swan & MacLaren, has survived the modernisation of Singapore and reinvented itself for the next generation of travellers. The grande dame is currently offering staycations to avail
TASTING DATE : 19 AUGUST 2020, SINGAPORE A glass of Ornellaia always gives pleasure. This 2000 did not disappoint. Aromas of black plum, baked fruits with beautiful secondary and tertiary notes of mushroom, smoke, cloves, cooked fruit, and tobacco greeted you on the nose. The palate was soft, fine, clean with elegant tannins. With an
Bangkok's food scene is in its heyday thanks to a spectrum of golden standard restaurants that offer a diverse range of cuisines. For ardent fine-dining lovers who are on the lookout for a modern haute cuisine interpretation of conventional Thai dishes, R-Haan is worth checking out. Translated as "food" in Thai, R-Haan and its menu
Think beyond palak paneer and butter chicken here at Rang Mahal. Rang Mahal within Rembrandt Hotel & Suites Bangkok has successfully and felicitously managed to marry old traditions and new innovations of Northern Indian cuisine for over two decades. The Bangkok rooftop restaurant slings out both favourites, such as palak paneer and butter chicken as
Nestled in a private bay, surrounded by inspiring blue ocean, swaying coconut trees and stunning limestone cliffs, The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui delivers more than just a pretty picture, their legendary hospitality truly captures the heart. This is where you can experience exceptionality and get your unexpressed wishes answered. Just 20-minute away from Koh Samui airport,
Speaking of my favorite hotels in Hong Kong, The Murray is one of them. Why? I have already fallen in love with this building even before stepping in. A classic match of gold and white, with the iconic arched colonnade, welcomes you in the building that is full of history. You will find a Pink
The spice-blossoming feast of our dreams is here at Jhol Bangkok. Piloted by Chef Hari Nayak (an established cookbook author, restauranteur and mastermind behind Priyanka Chopra's NYC restaurant "SONA"), Jhol serves up Indian Coastal fare, with a creative spin. “I want to showcase the glorious coastal cuisine from southern India I grew up eating. There
TASTING DATE : 6 AUGUST 2020, SINGAPORE I don’t think the House of Krug needs any introduction. Synonymous with luxury, a bottle of Krug is sure to bring delight to any table. With the growing interest in grower champagnes, one might wonder why one would want to still drink a Multi Vintage (MV) champagne today.
Tasting Date: May 2021. The Butcher’s Block Sommeliers play such an important role in our dining experience. They introduce us to the latest wine trends and exciting new producers; curate wine lists that are varied and interesting; and offer an extensive selection of wines for their guests to choose from. I had precisely such an
Vin de Constance by Klein Constantia in Cape Town South Africa is today being heralded as one of the greatest sweet wines in the world. It is perhaps the only sweet wine in the Southern hemisphere that is mentioned by Charles Dickens and Jane Austen in their writings (“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” and “Sense
There's "fishy" business going on here at Savelberg. The one-Michelin-starred restaurant with a focus on contemporary French cuisine sprinkled with Dutch flair serves up sensational seafood-focused dishes that may convert a seafood hater into a lover and, in parallel, a lover into a die-hard seafood fan. Owner and Head Chef Henk Savelberg is deeply religious
Photo credit: The Slate There's no denying; the uniquely-designed, tin mining-inspired hotel in Phuket, The Slate, deserves a golden spot in your must-visit luxury design hotel collection in Thailand, having been designed by the famed American architect slash interior designer, Bill Bensley whose work is behind renowned properties like Capella Ubud, Rosewood Luang Prabang, Four
Anyone from Bruges or who has been there for a lengthier duration will argue one day wouldn’t be enough, to take the dreamlike city in, see and experience every corner and appreciate its kind citizens. However, I will try to squeeze some of my favorite sights in this article. I visited Bruges in October 2021
There is something about the light in this magical place, not too warm, not too bright, romantic in a sense, just right to fall in love at first sight. Visby in Gotland has been on our radar for the past three years even before got here. Every local we meet would recommend us to experience
Produced only during years of exceptional quality, the champagne house of Dom Perignon is iconic and has its founding father Benedictine Monk Dom Perignon to thank for this legacy. Whilst legend has it that Dom Perignon created the art of the second fermentation in the bottle it is a known fact that he was instrumental
Samui’s favourite Italian haunt is currently satisfying the Big Mango with heart-warming Italian fare and hug-like hospitality. The venue, nestled in the heart of Bangkok's bustling shopping centre, "Pratunam," slings out an array of authentic Italian fare packed with sapori and flair, which is complemented by attentive service that does not feel excessive. Helmed by
After overcoming the hurdles of a divorce, I decided to do something radical – I froze my eggs and took a leap of faith to embark on a solo journey of self-discovery as a single woman. Eat, Play, Love, I thought. I had already done a lot of praying and healing due to my work
Having the right concierge while globe-trotting is like having a travel fairy godmother who leads you to all the right places. And for the A-listers, we're talking Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Johnny Depp, Naomi Campbell, Calvin Klein, Paris Hilton, and the list goes on – Serena Cook is their ultimate travel genie. Serena is the
Photo credit: Franz Keller Last November, the luxury branding expert Rachel Carrasco and oenophile Nicola Lee took advantage of the Singapore-Germany Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) for a five-day quarantine-free trip to the Black Forest region. As the home to Michelin-starred restaurants and stellar wineries, it’s no wonder our #FoodieBFFs chose the destination for their first
Looking at Rachel Carrasco and Nicola Lee’s long list of accolades, it is easy to conclude why the pair ended up as self-described ‘best food buddies’. Rachel is a luxury branding expert and the founder of experiential marketing agency RACHE, known for managing top wines and spirits brands, while Nicola is a distinguished member of
Like many of you, we are feeling the itch to travel again, luckily most of Europe the lockdowns have been lifted and people have been traveling within the region. We'd like to share three under-the-radar summer destinations we frequent where social distancing won't be a problem. Pack your weekend bags, get your cameras ready, and
Photo credit: Carette Paris In the past few years, the coffee excitement has come from cities such as Melbourne, Copenhagen, Seattle or Taipei. These cities renowned for their top-notch brews and innovative coffee-centric concepts could easily make the so Parisian “café crème” – an espresso served with a dash of cream or milk – look
There are so many experiences to take in whenever you are travelling to new places, but one thing that I always keep in mind during trips is checking out the food scene along the way. In Uppsala, one of Sweden’s oldest and most charming cities, the dining experience is just as vibrant as its past.
