Bino

The Astor Grill Takes Over Brasserie les Saveurs Until 31st August 2023

July 14, 2023 by Bino Leave a Comment

Until 31st August 2023, Brasseire Les Saveurs in St. Regis Singapore is transformed into The Astor Grill; a pop-up restaurant inspired by the great chophouses of early 20th century New York. For both lunch and dinner, The Astor Grill presents its own menu featuring steaks as well as seafood.

Entering the restaurant, the look and feel is still the same as the Brasserie that I’ve grown quite familiar with. Given St. Regis’ New York heritage, the interiors as well as the dimly lit nature of the restaurant could very well fit nicely with a steakhouse concept.

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The Only Bali Itinerary You’ll Need With Ubud, Nusa Penida, Northern & Southern Bali

July 12, 2023 by Bino 2 Comments

Bali is often considered one of the quintessential places to visit in Asia. So strong is its draw that nearly 40% of all foreign tourists to Indonesia make their way to the mellifluous sounding island famous for its unique style of Hinduism, beach clubs, rice paddies and luxury resorts.

Many visitors who hail from nearby countries swear by the allure of its charms. They come to Bali not once or twice but make it an annual affair (or even more often than that). Whether you are into beaches or culture or nature, there is something for everyone here in Bali. In this suggested itinerary, I show you how you can visit Bali for up to a week’s duration. You can easily trim this down, depending on the length of your stay – picking activities here and there dependent on where you are staying.

If you are visiting Bali and contemplating how long you need to spend in the island, I would suggest you go for 5 days / 4 nights minimally if it’s your first time and you intend to explore a bit. While it’s easy to do day trips to various parts of the island, the lack of major highways could mean that you could be facing traffic jams especially in places frequented by tourists.

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Ganko Sushi has a 1-for-1 Promotion for its NEW Robatayaki Menu

July 5, 2023 by Bino Leave a Comment

Ganko Sushi opened some 2 years back and remains to be one of the more popular dining establishments in the UBS building (9 Penang Road). It counts the likes of Sourbombe Bakery, Edith Patisserie and Pi Food as its neighbors.

ganko sushi

As the name suggests, Ganko is primarily known for their fresh sushi and sashimi. They serve it in various formats, from ala carte offerings to rice bowls, luxe lunch sets and omakase menus as well. Diners primarily come for their reasonably priced range of premium raw fish, although pricier and luxe omakase sets costing S$300++ are also available.

Ganko Sushi recently introduced new robatayaki offerings. The historic Japanese restaurant has diversified into a smokier new menu under the direction of a new head chef Koichi Matsuda, who took over the helm of the kitchen in recent months.

Borrowing from his experience in various Michelin-starred restaurants in Japan, Chef Koichi adds to Ganko’s premium offerings with a robatayaki menu that will change on rotation to reflect the best of the seasons.

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S$68 Lunch Omakase Set at Unkai Sushi in Orchard Rendezvous Hotel

July 3, 2023 by Bino Leave a Comment

Unkai Sushi, a Japanese restaurant located inside Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, has unveiled their seasonal 8-course omakase lunch menu and it is priced at only $68.

Unkai Sushi is helmed by Chef Eugene Lam who used to come from prestigious restaurants such as Hide Yamamoto, Ashino and Sushi Mieda, where he trained as a sushi and kitchen chef. This is a cozy space hidden deep within the ground floor lobby of Orchard Rendezvous Hotel. The 30-seater restaurant offers omakase as well as ala-carte sashimi and sushi offerings and comforting rice bowls. Ingredients vary depending on the season and are typically sourced at the peak of their freshness.

I recently dropped by to try Unkai Sushi’s S$68++ omakase. The price range is a welcome addition to the range of omakase options in Singapore.

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Best Cheap, Midrange and Luxury Hotels in Kuching, Malaysia

June 30, 2023 by Bino Leave a Comment

Kuching, otherwise known as the “Cat City,” is one of the main gateways to the island of Borneo. In recent years, the city of Kuching has also slowly emerged as a destination in its own right with its culinary offerings and unique colonial heritage placed in the spotlight.

Those visiting Kuching will be pleased to note that lodging options remain affordable. The hotel scene in Kuching is a mix of local boutique hotels, large independent all-inclusive digs as well as a few international chains. I have been to Kuching a number of times and always stay in a different hotel each time just to keep things interesting.

Here are some of the more popular as well as best hotels in Kuching to check out for your next trip there:

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Best Cheap, Midrange & Luxury Hotels in Hoi An, Vietnam

June 29, 2023 by Bino Leave a Comment

I have been to Hoi An in Central Vietnam countless times and one thing that always impresses me is the relative degree of comfort and quality my money can get me here. US$40 per night can easily get you a nice, modern looking hotel with welcome drink/fruit basket and breakfast while US$100 will already get you close to 5-star level of luxury. This is why I love coming back and each time I am here, I try a different place to stay.

In Hoi An, there are 3 general areas to stay. The most popular area is just outside the ancient city where plenty of boutique hotels are situated. The second general area is at the outskirts of the town where plenty of quality accommodations can be had for a cheaper price than those nearer to the ancient city. The third area is the most exclusive one – generally near the coast facing the South China Sea. Many luxury resorts with their own beachfront are located here. Hotels in this area are mostly low-rise and come with plenty of space to roam around.

In this guide, I show a mixture of hotels from these 3 areas – ranging from cheap to midrange to luxurious ones that you can book for your next Hoi An trip.

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ESORA | Michelin Starred Modern Japanese Kappo Style Cuisine in Mohamed Sultan Road

June 26, 2023 by Bino Leave a Comment

Esora is no stranger to Singapore’s dining scene. Since its debut in 2018, it has garnered accolades – most notably its Michelin star which it attained roughly a year or so after it opened. The modern Japanese restaurant focuses on Kappo-style cuisine where the menu is heavily influenced by the seasons.

Entering the restaurant, one can’t help but express some awe at the skylight hovering above the chef’s preparation area. The glass is overlaid with lattices which probably creates some interesting shadows in the day with the light penetrating into the dining space. I was there for dinner and unfortunately, did not get to see the effect with daylight.

Flowers – both fresh and dried – are used prominently in the design of the restaurant. This, too, changes by the season.

The kitchen is helmed by head chef Takeshi Araki who hails from Hiroshima. He assumed the role in Esora in 2022.

Esora offers a 9-course lunch menu for S$328++ and a 10-course dinner menu at S$368++. Diners may also opt for beverage pairings like the wine and sake pairing, sake pairing alone or tea pairings for those looking for non-alcoholic options.

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The Perfect Cambodia Itinerary With Phnom Penh, Siem Reap & Battambang – One Week Travel Guide

June 20, 2023 by Bino 1 Comment

Cambodia has perhaps been squarely identified with Angkor Wat that those who have not visited are hard pressed to find a different reason to come. For someone who used to be stuck with this mindset, it took me six long years before I made my second visit to Cambodia (my first one was to see the temples of Angkor). What I discover during my subsequent visits (there have been 7 as of this writing) have always left me eager to uncover more. There are a lot of things that have kept me coming back, including the delicious food, the multifaceted architecture as well as friendly people. For folks who have yet to visit or are deciding whether to do so, I hope my suggested Cambodia itinerary which runs through Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battambang will be of help!

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