Food

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Christmas Takeaways 2020 Singapore Nearly Complete Guide: Best Log Cake, Festive Ham & Turkey for the Yuletide Season

November 25, 2020 by Bino Leave a Comment

Perhaps more than ever, there will be a greater proportion of families and friends staying-in and celebrating Christmas at home with takeaways or food deliveries this year. Turkeys, ham and log cakes will once again grace dinner tables at home, as these items are practically a must when it comes to the Christmas dinner. For this year, dining establishments have been a bit slow in announcing their Christmas takeaway offerings, perhaps owing to the fluidity of the current situation. Nevertheless, I have tried to compile here what’s available at the moment, with a list of the must-have log cakes, ham and turkeys to order this season. This list of Christmas takeaways for 2020 will be expanded further, subject to new establishments coming live with their festive offerings so do check back regularly!

Since most establishments now allow for orders to be made online through their e-commerce sites, the use of certain credit cards may work to your favor, with up to 10x the points for online spend with cards like Citibank Rewards Card. Currently, you can get either S$250 as a cash reward or Apple Airpods Pro if you sign up as a new Citibank cardholder. You can access the offer here.

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Review: Buona Terra – Michelin-starred Italian Restaurant in Scotts Road

November 5, 2020 by Bino Leave a Comment

Given the constant buzz and loyal patrons flocking to Buona Terra, it came as a surprise to me that this Michelin-starred establishment has been around since 2012. Eight years seems like an eternity in Singapore’s fine-dining scene and throughout that period of time, it has been the same chef – Denis Lucchi – helming the restaurant.

Buona Terra literally means “good earth” in Italian and the diversity of the ingredients featured in the cuisine reflects not just the delights of the land but also the treasures of the sea. Seasonality plays a big part in the menu, with dishes in their set menu changing from time to time. I visited to try Buona Terra’s autumn menu which meant plenty of white truffles. I dropped by for lunch where the restaurant has set menus ranging from 3-courses (S$88), 4-courses (S$108) to 5-courses (S$128). Wine pairing options are also available and start from S$58.

The restaurant is situated in Scotts Road, in one of the black-and-white bungalows previously used by the British military during the colonial era. Buona Terra shares the same bungalow as the Japanese restaurant, Ki-sho, where the latter takes up the front while Buona Terra occupies a room at the side of the house.

The cuisine at Buona Terra is reflective of Chef Denis Lucchi’s origins in Breschia where he spent his younger years near the famed Lake Garda. The sensibilities of Northern Italy are reflected in the dishes – relatively light and exquisitely prepared.

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Review: Butcher’s Block at Raffles Hotel Singapore

October 26, 2020 by Bino Leave a Comment

Butcher’s Block opened in 2019 as part of a major renovation of Raffles Hotel Singapore. The restaurant located at the second level of Raffles Arcade – at the opposite end from where yi by Jereme Leung is located – used to be the more colonial-looking Long Bar Steakhouse. While that establishment and its accompanying look is no more, the iconic luxury hotel has replaced it with another steakhouse. That being said, the overall look and feel of Butcher’s Block is probably everything that Long Bar Steakhouse was not. The interiors are dark and rather masculine, with a rather special shade of blue permeating the space followed by golden metallic panels right by the open kitchen. In the dining area, one can find plenty of glass while the cream-colored leather seats are probably the only light-colored items one can find inside the establishment.

butcher’s block at raffles hotel singapore

The dark and masculine vibe of Butcher’s Block readily typecasts the restaurant as a dinner venue. In some ways, that seems to be the case. The restaurant is open for lunch only on Saturdays and Sundays and in the past, diners could not even access their specialty grills if they come in the day. That has now changed with Butcher’s Block recently revamped weekend lunch menu.

butcher’s block

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Review: Man Fu Yuan Launches a NEW 2020 Menu – Here’s What to Order

October 17, 2020 by Bino Leave a Comment

The thought of Man Fu Yuan inevitably conjures images of theatrically presented dishes. The great thing here is that it’s not all for show – the food is consistently good and the venue is oftentimes considered as among the best Chinese restaurants in Singapore.

This year marks the second year since Chef Aaron Tan came onboard as the restaurant’s Executive Chinese Chef. I had tried Chef Aaron’s creations in 2019 during his debut year at InterContinental Singapore and loved it so I was quite curious to see what new things he has come up with for 2020.

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Min Jiang at Goodwood Park Hotel Relaunches With a New Look and Menu

October 16, 2020 by Bino Leave a Comment

One of Singapore’s most established Chinese restaurants, Min Jiang has reopened following months of refurbishment. The restaurant has been around since 1982, delighting guests with its mix of Cantonese and Sichuan cuisines.

min jiang

The refurbished interiors at Min Jiang showcase the old and the new. You will find antique furniture peppered throughout the place while the color scheme has turned a tad brighter with hues of warm honey, silver-grey and teal in the textile wall panels. I especially love the tropical vibe in the alfresco area – a bit resort-ish and definitely not what one would expect at a Chinese restaurant!

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Irresistible Chinese Restaurant Promotions Under Phase 2 (October 2020)

October 15, 2020 by Bino Leave a Comment

Phase 2 is well underway and by this time, a good degree of normalcy has returned to Singapore’s dining scene, at least where customer traffic is concerned. More than ever, diners are seeking out for good deals especially as the country is plunged into its worst recession in history – with the F&B sector giving out some attractive deals to entice customers.

If like me, you have been craving for some outstanding Chinese cuisine after months of takeaways and deliveries, check out these offers that some of the country’s award-winning Chinese restaurants have in store.

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Review: Solo Ristorante’s Saturday Brunch

October 12, 2020 by Bino Leave a Comment

A recent weekend brought me back to Amoy Street, this time to Solo Ristorante. This Italian restaurant has been around since late 2018 but has a new chef onboard – Simone Fraternali – who used to be Head Chef at So Sofitel Singapore. He is now at Solo Ristorante as Chef/Partner. Chef Simone hails from Gradara, a small castle town bordering the Emilia Romagna region.

As Chef Simone spent much of his formative years in Emilia Romagna – he enrolled in a culinary school in Rimini for six years – his newly launched Saturday brunch (S$78++) is an ode to one of Italy’s most renowned culinary regions. The fixed menu comprises of 7 courses from starters down to dessert and is on a free-flow basis.

open kitchen at solo ristorante

Solo Ristorante is located in a charming shophouse in Amoy Street, just next to Avenue 87. The first thing I noticed when I entered Solo Ristorante is the open kitchen. If you sit close enough at the bar you can actually smell all the freshly-cooked dishes from there. The interiors are mostly in dark wood with equally tan and stylish furnishings.

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Review: Ginza Shinto – Sleek Japanese Omakase Venue at Mohamed Sultan

October 9, 2020 by Bino Leave a Comment

Ginza Shinto is a new Japanese omakase restaurant in Mohamed Sultan. Helmed by Chef Ron Newton Leo who has had over 30 years experience in preparing fine Japanese cuisine, this 50-seater luxury dining venue in a charming shophouse in Robertson Quay continues a string of unabated openings this year (despite the current situation).

ginza shinto

The space is evidently upscale the moment you enter. Everything is sleek and minimalist with an undeniable Japanese flair. I especially like the shade of beige used here. The bar counter seats take up quite a bit of space, allowing for large groups or multiple small ones to enjoy Chef Ron’s dishes while hearing his stories and humor. There is also a natural skylight on top of the preparation area, allowing one to dine in natural light especially when one comes for lunch.

Ginza Shinto offers lunch sets that start from S$30++, 5-course omakase at S$150++, 8-course omakase at S$220++ and 9-course omakase at S$300++. Ala carte menu items and sashimi platters are also available. I recently dropped by for a media preview before the Japanese restaurant officially opened.

You can also check out the full Ginza Shinto menu here

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