One of Orchard’s best kept secrets – I’ve now discovered – has to be the roof garden at Orchard Central. I wish I had known about this little haven on the many occasions I’d wondered why I put myself through the Orchard ordeal, stifling the urge to bash crazed shopping addicts out of the way with my elbows. But how did I find myself up here, on the 12th floor? Well actually it had nothing to do with shopping and everything with a desire to savour some of those aromatic flavours of Vietnamese cuisine that I have such fond memories of from my travels. And because I had heard good things about NUOC, I was even willing to spend an evening in a restaurant in a mall – shock horror! Walking in, I wasn’t a mad fan of the interior, I begun to feel a little apprehensive because it...
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When I was recently invited to a tasting by the folks at The Exchange, I was intrigued to see how it would fare because I’m not usually a fan of restaurants smack bang in the heart of a financial centre. BUT I’m delighted to say that on this occasion, The Exchange was a firm exception because it really does serve up some rather good food. Opened back in November and located in the atrium of Asia Square Tower 1 which big guns like Citibank like to call home, this is far from a stuffy CBD restaurant. More a large, light, open hangout with a buzzy vibe, bar and not to mention a rather large open kitchen. What I like about this place is though contrary to its location, it really feels like the kind of place that you could enjoy a good meal whether you’re work lunching, weekend lunching,...
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Meandering down Haji Lane and it’s veritable treasure trove of boutiques, it’s easy to run out of steam – or more likely, out of spending-money before you reach the opposite end. With so many temptations and treats, it takes a thoughtful and restrained shopper to check out all there is to offer before diving head first in to the goodies. With this in mind, I’d like to introduce you to one of my favourite shops, tucked around the corner on North Bridge road, because folks……it’s definitely worth holding back until you get there. Just be warned – you may want to purchase EVERYTHING! Thoughtfully put together in a conservation shophouse, the owners of Threadbare & squirrel, Adrian and Val clearly have an eye for detail, the kind of quirky, unique and fun detail that makes me girlishly happy. Everything is delightful, from the curios for sale, the eye-catching merchandising,...
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Most people will know about the LASALLE Show which once a year showcases the work of it’s final year students but did you know that there’s also the opportunity to view works by current students and recent graduates at the school’s Praxis Space Gallery (as well as sometimes guest curated exhibits)? On this occasion, we went down to check out Though We Be But Human, a showcase of some of the best works from first year Visual Studies students. The works on display were their interpretations of what it is to be human, as seen through their eyes. It was great to see such examples of burgeoning talent – and their use of skills and techniques – all in this space. And to those who say that there’s no creativity in Singapore we say Pah! to you. Right here is all the proof you need of creative, inquisitive minds...
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There seems to be so many cool little cafes popping up all over Singapore, the latest of which is a very new three and a half weeks old outfit by the name of Selfish Gene Cafe, in Tanjong Pagar. We discovered this gem on a scour of the area which is already bursting full of fab finds and my goodness are we glad we did! This is a great spot, light and fresh feeling. But why is it called the Selfish Gene Cafe? Well, quite simply because the owner Gene is selfish and will not serve the food he wouldn’t eat. Moreover after what felt like an incessant search for the perfect cafe which left Gene feeling rather dismayed, he decided to open his own. Hurrah for us! Now we popped in for a spot of afternoon tea, coffee and cake but this is also a great spot for lunch...
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Ok, so this isn’t the first time I have writen about Vintry, but the previously I was covering their events. This time-round I wanted to go back and have a good, proper taste of their menu… food menu to be precise…. To give you a little background, Vintry was actually first established in Kuala Lumpur, and due to it’s success there, the owners decided to give the Singapore market a try. Situated (unfortunately) in Clarke Quay, it’s a peculiar place to imagine a wine bar. It’s no lie that the past few years Clarke Quay has become much less of an eating place, and more of a party place, so how does Vintry fare? Personally, I rather like the atmosphere inside, it’s compartmentalized and has great mood lighting so it’s easy to find some privacy…it’s also a welcome escape from the loud clubs nearby. In terms of the their...
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My my my, 51 Waterloo Street seems to be quite the place for hidden gems. Not only does it house a host of smaller galleries which we recently wrote about here, but it is also home to The Fine Palate Cafe. A spin off from Fine Palate Catering, it’s a much needed tranquil spot right off the commotion of Bugis where you can enjoy solid, homely, unpretentious food served up with a laid back vibe and a little bit of New York jazz in the background. We actually came down here first time for brunch, but then because I couldn’t decide whether I wanted brunch or lunch that day (a frequent occupational conundrum), in true piggy style I came back to do lunch a few days later and so this feature is therefore a combination of the two . Before whichever you decide to have (and there’s also dinner...
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Last week I had the pleasure of attending an intimate wine tasting and introduction to Top Wines’s newest addition to their already stirling wine selection. Aside from bringing in some good wines, they’re also a really nice group of people AND they organize almost monthly events like this and other wine dinners, which I have had the pleasure of attending beforehand. Anyway, this tasting was to introduce Dominio del Plata, a relatively large-sized brand hailing from Argentina. The set-up: pretty formal and guided by the regional brand ambassador, Mr. Julien Bonnard. We would be tasting 4 labels from the famed winemaker Susana Balbo. First wine up was the Crios Torrontes (2011 vintage, $40 per bottle). A light wine, it had a potent grapefruit and elderflower aroma to it and a strong, long finish, if a bit tart. Generally a pleasant wine. Decent value for money. Next up was the first...
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Pssssst….I’ve got a secret to share with you. Did you know that there is a little enclave of galleries nestling at 51 Waterloo Street in a refurbished former Catholic School? Despite being a stone’s throw away from the Singapore Art Museum, you might be completely oblivious to the fact, and therefore missing out on this little find. 51 Waterloo Street (or 222 Queen Street) is home to Art Trove, YAVUZ Fine Art, The Private Museum and Gallery M, all offering exhibitions covering very different genres of art. So let’s set off on a virtual art tour…. First up is Art Trove, which focuses on bringing European art from exceptionally talented artists to Singapore. And I kid you not because currently exhibiting at Art Trove is Pablo Picasso & The School of Paris (until February 20). Did you know that ‘The School of Paris’ is actually a term often used...
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You may be familiar with the name Caffe B though perhaps mainly for it’s restaurant offering at Marina Bay Sands. But did you know that it’s actually a two level affair with a pretty fab little bar overlooking the Bay? Ah but that’s not all. Something else is happening at the bar and this time it’s all about the music. Yes you may have thought Marina Bay is all about the shops, the clubs and the restaurants but now there’s something in-between, thanks to Groove Therapy, a genius collaboration between the DJ collective matteblacc and Caffe B. Groove Therapy is a post-dinner, pre-party offering on the strip serving up a special concoction called “Barrio Funk” which fuses latin funk, cuban jazz, rare funk breaks, vintage soul, salsa and other funky beats. It’s the brainchild of DJs Drem, JNR and Paulsilver who under the banner matteblacc are on a mission...
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