Bino

Craft Tea Fox Matcha and Hojicha Latte

May 9, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

I love matcha. I seek it almost on a daily basis, having prowled all the matcha tea houses in Singapore and even cafes that sell matcha latte or offer it as a cold brew. I recently came across Craft Tea Fox. The brand specializes in matcha and hojicha and their product line-up revolves around that – from powder to cold brew.

Craft Tea Fox sells Matcha Latte (S$7) and Hojicha Latte (S$7) and they also sell oat latte versions of the same at S$8 per bottle. As I am lactose-intolerant, I tried their oat latte range.

hojicha oat latte craft tea fox

Their Hojicha Oat Milk Latte was smooth to the taste, with a creamy finish. While I did note that it was slightly sweetened, it was not too sweet that I could easily make out the nutty taste profile of the roasted green tea as it sunk in.

matcha oat latte craft tea fox

The Matcha Oat Milk Latte hits you immediately the moment you drink it. The delightful bitterness of the tea was clearly perceptible, indicating a generous concentration of matcha. Compared to the hojicha, the matcha latte seemed less sweeter.

Craft Tea Fox operates primarily as as a delivery service but they do make their matcha and hojicha lattes available in certain cafes and bakeries like An Acai Affair, Morimori Yogashi Patisserie, etc. Islandwide delivery is free for orders of S$40 or more – or roughly 6 bottles of their latte. Otherwise, an S$8 delivery charge applies. My matcha and hojicha latte bottles were packed nicely in a styrofoam box when it was delivered to me, with the bottles still chilled inside and ready to drink. Craft Tea Fox delivers from Mondays to Fridays, from 11AM to 7PM. I was initially concerned that I might not be at home when they deliver but their website states that the bottles can still stay cold for a few hours when inside the styrofoam box.

Aside from single orders, Craft Tea Fox also has a subscription system where customers can automatically have their matcha or hojicha latte bottles replenished every 1,2,3 or 4 week intervals at 10% off the ala carte prices. For matcha purists, Craft Tea Fox sells matcha and hojicha powder, including ceremonial grade ones. Customers can also choose to order these powders as a DIY set inclusive of a bowl and whisk, similar to how they do in matcha tea houses.

Order from Craft Tea Fox here.

Hotel Staycation Review: Goodwood Park Hotel – Colonial Charm & Rare Low-Rise Lodging Close to Orchard Road

May 5, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

One of Singapore’s heritage hotels, Goodwood Park Hotel is well-known for its fairytale-like facade owing to the building’s past as the Teutonia Club. The Tower Block of the hotel is considered one of Singapore’s national monuments and the property is very much a well-regarded institution in the city not just as a place of lodging but also for its famed food and beverage offerings. Food-related keywords – such as the Chinese restaurant Min Jiang or the hotel’s durian fiesta – are very much synonymous to Goodwood Park, sometimes even overshadowing the property’s room stay proposition.

goodwood park hotel facade

fiat brevetti 1906 – goodwood park hotel

Wandering around the hotel’s walkways, one can’t help but encounter plenty of history, from displays of old advertisements and cutleries to the vintage 1906 Fiat Brevetti displayed in the Tower Block’s driveway. As such, staying here is akin to a 3-in-1 deal. Along with a room stay, one gets to soak in all the charms of a national monument and also feast on some of the property’s culinary delights.

Goodwood Park Hotel recently underwent a refurbishment which saw 5 of the room categories refreshed with a natural color palette. The look is in keeping with other recently refurbished areas, such as Min Jiang which unveiled its new look in late 2020. I stayed at the Poolside Suite, one of the renovated rooms in the hotel.

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Review: The Gyu Bar – Omakase With Excellent Beef & More

May 3, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

As traveling to Japan is implausible these days, the past 8 months has seen greater demand in omakase-style dining in Singapore. Establishments offering omakase tend to feature rare ingredients flown in from various parts of Japan, drawing in diners who miss getting traveling to Tokyo, Osaka and other cities to get their fix.

The Gyu Bar which is located within the same grounds as Novotel Singapore on Stevens differentiates itself from other Japanese restaurants by specializing in beef. The restaurant opened some 3 years ago as a yakiniku joint and bar but has since diversified its menu to offer other types of seafood. The Gyu Bar is also offering omakase in its repertoire but because of its “beef-y” proposition, their omakase is distinct from the bulk of sushi / seafood dining that other Japanese restaurants have. The Gyu Bar’s omakase is 9-courses and all but two (the dessert and soup courses) have beef in them.

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Review: Jiang Nan Chun Launches Chef Albert Au’s Signature Menu

April 30, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

Jiang Nan Chun at Four Seasons Singapore has onboarded a new Executive Chinese Chef – Albert Au who hails from Hong Kong. In line with his introduction to the property, the restaurant has launched a Chef’s Signature Menu available for both lunch and dinner.

The Chef Signature Menu is available for both lunch and dinner. It is 6-courses for lunch and is priced at S$178++ while it is 7-courses during dinner and is priced at S$198++. Wine pairing options are also available. For this particular instance, I had the 7-course dinner set.

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Review: Sunday Brunch at 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung – The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore

April 29, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

15 Stamford by Alvin Leung – the inhouse restaurant of The Capitol Kempinski Singapore has taken a relatively bold move in its Sunday brunch by presenting it in a slightly different format from the “hotel norm.” The Sunday Brunch at 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung is presented as an ala carte “set” semi-buffet with 6 courses rather than a full-fledged buffet. The highlights – such as the mains and seafood – are limited to just one serving per person but after having tried this brunch myself, this decision seems to surprisingly work in the restaurant’s favor.

This review is a course-by-course run through of the Sunday brunch at 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung to help readers decide if it is a brunch worth going to. I will also share my opinions on each dish and my overall verdict at the end.

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Tuxedo Cafe and Patisserie Launches a Revamped Menu

April 28, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

Tuxedo Cafe at Carlton Hotel Singapore has revamped its pastries menu and now features up to 20 new creations for the public to enjoy. Launched in April 2021, these pastries are a mix of some bestsellers as well as new recipes formulated by the inhouse pastry chefs.

The new menu selection was deliberately crafted to showcase a diversity of flavors. Here are some of the highlights to look forward to:

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Ultimate Gardens by the Bay Guide – Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, Floral Fantasy, Supertrees & More

April 25, 2021 by Bino 1 Comment

Opened in 2012, Gardens by the Bay is a manmade attraction in the central part of Singapore. Spanning more than 100 acres in area, the park has become one of Singapore’s iconic spots due to its massive supertrees and thanks to its strategic location, just next to Marina Bay Sands and overlooking the city’s scenic Marina Bay.

Gardens by the Bay is one of Singapore’s most popular tourist attractions, being a hit with both foreigners intrigued by its look that seems to come straight out of a science fiction movie and locals who come periodically for its seasonal exhibitions.

The most intuitive way of categorizing the different areas of Gardens by the Bay is by segregating it between the paid and free areas. The bulk of the outdoor sections – such as the Supertree Grove, Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes, outdoor gardens and sculptures do not require any admission fees. On the other hand, the indoor areas – such as the Cloud Forest, Flower Dome and Floral Fantasy are chargeable. Walking through the 22 meter high skyway at the Supertree Grove is also chargeable even though marveling at these same “trees” from the ground level is free. This guide will cover both the main attractions of Gardens by the Bay with an emphasis on the paid areas and also some free sections.

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Hotel Staycation Review: Wanderlust, The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood

April 21, 2021 by Bino Leave a Comment

It seemed like not so long ago when Wanderlust Hotel first opened in 2010 as a whimsical boutique hotel in Little India with rooms characterized by bright colors and neon lights. It was one of the most recognizable properties of Unlisted Collection’s hospitality arm – the group that arguably started the trend of housing boutique hotels in shophouses in Singapore.

wanderlust hotel facade

In the last two years or so, Wanderlust Hotel quietly revamped itself with a new look emphasizing co-living and even long stays – a concept propagated by its new owners, 8M Collective. Officially, it is now known as Wanderlust, The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood. Gone are the loud colors – the interior has now been replaced with warm and earthy tones while the boutique property also now markets itself to those staying for weeks or even months. Given this emphasis, it is perhaps no surprise that the owners have teamed up with Oakwood to manage the property. After all; in-room cooking utensils, communal laundry areas and even a staggered housekeeping schedule are more in keeping with a serviced apartment proposition than a cookie cutter boutique hotel.

wanderlust hotel lobby

The lobby is perhaps the only part of the hotel where a semblance of color remains. To blend in with the inhouse Sri Lankan restaurant – Kotuwa – the lobby sees a splash of colors, albeit not in the same bright style as during the hotel’s Unlisted Collection days. The furnishings are characterized by long couches, lounge chairs and even a small bar counter to emphasize that idea of co-living.

wanderlust hotel lobby

The property has just 4 floors and 29 rooms. There are 3 room categories in Wanderlust. I stayed at their Studio Loft which is their highest category room.

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