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Bino

Hotel Review: Intercontinental Singapore

March 22, 2016 by Bino 3 Comments

Intercontinental Singapore is a luxury hotel located in the lively Bugis area of Singapore. Being very much part of the city’s central core, famous attractions such as Arab Street and the civic district are within walking distance while shopping destinations such as Suntec City, Raffles City, Bugis Junction and Haji Lane are just a hop and a skip away. The hotel was built in 1995 incorporating the architectural styles of the shophouses in the area. While the original shophouses no longer exist, the hotel has a distinct Peranakan theme throughout its halls and even in the rooms. This was further enhanced over the last two years when the property underwent a renovation. The Peranakan theme remains but it’s now compounded by a contemporary vibe. I recently checked out the Intercontinental Singapore through a staycation to find out exactly how the property has changed.

If you’re into patterns, this property has plenty to keep you busy. Tiled columns, snazzy carpeting and even the subtle wallpaper designs all bring the property’s Peranakan – classical design concept into life.

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Filed Under: Hotels Tagged With: IHG, intercontinental, intercontinental club lounge benefits, intercontinental singapore

SKIRT at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove: Steaks and Seafood

March 19, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

SKIRT at W Singapore – Sentosa Cove is a restaurant that can’t be found in other W properties. With a concept that is tied to the life cycle of a cow (it is a grill after all), SKIRT serves up prime cuts of steak and seafood that come from sustainable sources.

The first thing I noticed when I entered the grill were the cozy ambience and excellent décor, with overhead accents to create a dreamy effect especially in the evenings. The restaurant’s centerpiece is the parilla grill which they use to cook their steaks. They are one of the few steakhouses with this type of machine in Singapore. The aging cabinet filled with different types of meat is also hard to miss as diners make their way to their tables.

I started the meal with a refreshing serving of Hokkaido Scallop Ceviche ($23++). While fish is usually used for this Peruvian dish, I found scallops to be a superior choice for this tangy interpretation. Instead of being garnished with lots of onions and vinegar, the ceviche at SKIRT was fruity, with citrus sauce and topped with chunks of oranges. This created a sweet-sour taste to the ceviche which enhanced the sweetness of the succulent scallops. Don’t judge me but I liked the sauce so much that I was still having a go at it even after gulping down the scallops.

Next came the Confit Duck Leg ($23++) which in contrast, was more earthy compared to the traditional confit. Topped with a slow-cooked egg and vegetables, this dish had a very homey feel to it, like comfort food. That being said, it was excellent with the duck being tender without being mushy.

A meal at SKIRT would perhaps not be complete without having a go at their steaks. For those who are particular with their steaks, SKIRT offers a myriad of cuts, with beef hailing from various parts of the world. I had the F1 Grain-Fed Wagyu ($118++) which hailed from Victoria, Australia and had a marbling score of 6 – 7. I chose to have my steak done medium rare, which is just about the right amount of done-ness for such a good piece of meat. The 250gram rib eye looked quite large upon serving but my ravenous self had no problems in devouring the juicy steak which was succulent at every bite.

Alongside the steak, I had Sauteed Broccolini with Sakura Ebi ($15++) and Truffle Mash ($15++) as my sides. What is a good steak after all without some mashed potatoes to go along with it? The broccolini was an interesting side, with the ebi giving it a bit of a more local hae bee feel.

We ended the meal with Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate – a name which could only pass in a W property. In retrospect, it was an apt name as the dish consisted of exactly three types of chocolate – fudge, ice cream and bar. There was a fourth type also if you consider the sprinkling of chocolate powder.

Overall, I enjoyed every dish I had for dinner which doesn’t happen very often. This was compounded by the good service from the staff who displayed impressive product knowledge, as was the case during my staycation at W Singapore the week prior.

SKIRT
W Singapore – Sentosa Cove
21 Ocean Way Sentosa
Singapore 098374

Filed Under: Food Tagged With: skirt, steakhouse in singapore, W hotels

Hotel Review: Fullerton Bay Hotel

March 13, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

The Fullerton Bay Hotel which overlooks Marina Bay in Singapore’s Raffles Place district is a relatively new entrant in the country’s luxury hotel scene yet it has been quick in making a name for itself within its 6 years of existence. For the past couple of years, this 100-room property has consistently earned the coveted 5-star rating from the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide. For 2016, it’s one of only three hotels in Singapore to earn that distinction. I have known it all these years due to its rooftop bar, Lantern which is one of the most iconic rooftop drinking spots around the bay area. Most recently, I had the opportunity to check out this property through a weekend staycation.

lobby of fullerton bay hotel

lobby of fullerton bay hotel

With a location at Collyer Quay, within walking distance from Raffles Place MRT and the Merlion, the property is highly accessible with a bus stop right at its doorstep. It is also part of the 5 kilometer or so route that circles the bay – a route that takes you to Singapore tourist attractions such as Marina Bay Sands, the Esplanade as well as the futuristic Helix Bridge.

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Filed Under: Hotels Tagged With: fullerton bay hotel, singapore staycation

Sunday Champagne Brunch at Town Restaurant at Fullerton Hotel

March 5, 2016 by Bino 4 Comments

Town Restaurant at Fullerton Hotel has been offering Sunday brunches for some time now but it has recently upped the ante by offering thematic brunches once a quarter. Last Sunday, I was invited to check out the first of these thematic brunches with a focus on Italian gastronomy. Helmed by Executive Chef Sandro Falbo, Chef Carlo Marengoni and Chef Benedet Paolo; we were treated to various regional Italian specialties, from appetizers down to desserts, while some of Fullerton’s other regular Sunday offerings such as fresh seafood and a wide array of sashimi were also available.

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: fullerton hotel, singapore buffet, sunday brunch, sunday champagne brunch, town restaurant

Food Review: LaBrezza at St. Regis Singapore

February 28, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

LaBrezza, the Italian restaurant at St. Regis Singapore recently introduced a new menu to solidify their core offerings, with an overall theme that combines traditional culinary techniques alongside modern inspirations and seasonal ingredients flown in from Italy. I remember eating here for the first time some seven years ago, over New Year’s with family. The menu has of course, undergone a multitude of changes since then so I wanted to check out what they offered this time around.

We started off with Insalata di Mare ($29++), a classic dish meticulously presented in a linear form. The salad featured a spread of prawns, octopus, scallops, mussels, clams and calamari salad interspersed with zucchini, some baby carrots and asparagus tips. Finally, it was topped with lemon zest, capers and oregano salmoriglio – overall a light and refreshing start to the meal.

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Filed Under: Food Tagged With: italian restaurant in singapore, labrezza, st. regis singapore

Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium

February 13, 2016 by Bino Leave a Comment

The building where the Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium now stands in Outram Road is no newcomer to the Singapore hospitality scene. It was previously known as Glass Hotel and subsequently the Concorde Hotel. Its latest incarnation as a property under the IHG Group has greatly increased its visibility in recent years and its latest refurbishment in 2014/15 has made it a 4-star hotel offering value that is hard to beat in a city where hotel rooms are notoriously expensive. A couple of weeks back, I checked out the hotel via a weekend stay.

holiday inn singapore atrium lobby

As an IHG Rewards Club elite member, I was given a coupon for welcome drinks upon check-in. What was particularly surprising that day was that the hotel had a special lucky draw which I’ve not encountered before. They asked me to pick a card which contain varying rewards. The one I picked awarded me with 500 points. Not a lot, but the surprise was certainly pleasant. I was also reminded that as a hotel guest, I could enjoy 25% for any meals I have at the in-house restaurants.

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Filed Under: Hotels Tagged With: holiday inn singapore atrium, IHG, singapore staycation

Nan, Thailand – Sleepy Town in the Thai Far North

February 11, 2016 by Bino 16 Comments

I had stumbled upon Nan, in Thailand’s far north upon the recommendation of a traveler I had met when I was in Chiang Mai. Supposedly steeped in tradition, with national parks such as Doi Phu Kha at its doorstep and opened up from isolation fairly recently, I was quite keen to explore a slice of this heavily touristed country that had not yet been trampled by mass tourism.

From Bangkok, my flight arrived in Nan on a crisp Saturday morning. For a town of less than 20,000 inhabitants, I was taken aback by the airport terminal which seemed too modern for a town supposedly steeped in traditional ways.

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Filed Under: Thailand Tagged With: nan thailand tourist attractions, things to do in nan thailand, wat phumin

Phrae – Thailand’s Hidden Gem

February 6, 2016 by Bino 3 Comments

Wandering through the streets of Phrae in Northern Thailand, I could not help but get a sense of deja vu as I surveyed the walled old town and the many photogenic temples, teakwood mansions and museums dotting the enclosure. My guidebook described Phrae as having similarities to Luangprabang in Laos and surveying the sights around me, I’m inclined to agree. Phrae to most is a rather unknown place, even for Thais as its namesake province only came into Thailand’s (then known as Siam) control around a century ago and its relative “isolation” is part of the charm.

the unusual structure of wat chom sawan

With a population of slightly less than 20,000, Phrae is a rather quiet town with its tourist attractions concentrated mainly inside the walled city. I had visited during a weekend but found other tourists sparse, local weekenders included. After getting off the bus from my 2 hour journey from Nan, I immediately walked towards Wat Chom Sawan which is just a few blocks away. I was struck by the unusual architecture of the main prayer hall. departing from the Lanna style that I see all over these parts. Most guidebooks describe the style of Wat Chom Sawan as Burmese, but having visited Burma a couple of times before, I really could not see the similarity. The temple is noted for the heavy use of wood and multi-tiered roofs, a style which is pretty unusual for Thai temples.

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Filed Under: Thailand Tagged With: things to do in phrae, vongburi house, wat phrathat cho hae

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Who Wanders Here?

Hi, I'm Bino, a part-time wanderer and a travel blogger. In this site, I share with you my top travel itineraries. Along the way, I also provide travel guides and tips, recommendations on awesome food to try and impressive hotels to stay! Read More…

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