Chinese New Year in 2019 will happen on the 5th of February and according to the Chinese zodiac, the coming lunar year will be the “Year of the Pig.” For an auspicious festive treat, many hotels and restaurants in Singapore are outdoing each other in featuring the very best for reunion dinners, lo heis (yu sheng), pen cai as well as festive takeaways. As with previous years, diners are spoilt for choice when it comes to bagging the most premium yu sheng or pen cai with pretty unique variations to choose from. I’ve seen relatively novel ingredients being incorporated such as truffles, imperial ham and even caviar while others are sticking to their traditional best sellers. Whatever it is you’re after, you will certainly have to book in advance for that reunion dinner venue during this busy dining period. Here’s a guide on this year’s offers:
Food
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NEW: Hiryu – Sushi Restaurant in Singapore’s Tras Street
Hiryu opened a couple of months ago in Tras Street as a restaurant specializing in inventive Japanese cuisine.
It is helmed by Chef Raymond Tan who has spearheaded other well known Japanese restaurants such as Sushi Jin, Sushi Murasaki and Kurama Robatayaki. He also served a stint at Fat Cow.
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NEW: 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung – Reimagined Asian Flavours at The Capitol Kempinski Singapore
15 Stamford by Alvin Leung has officially opened at The Capitol Kempinski Singapore. Helmed by the so-called “demon chef” Alvin Leung who holds 3 Michelin stars for his Bo Innovation restaurant in Hong Kong, the venue pays tribute to various Asian cuisines such as those from Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore.
15 stamford interiors
The menu at 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung consists of Asian favorites but with creative twists through Chef Leung’s contemporary touch. I had the opportunity to visit the restaurant one day before it opened and I must say I was impressed.
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Tamarind Hill Singapore – Upscale Thai Food in Leafy Labrador Park Setting
Perched on a hill in leafy Labrador Park, the Thai restaurant Tamarind Hill feels like a world away from the density of Singapore. Along with the nearby boutique hotel Villa Samadhi, this dining and lodging complex is part of Samadhi Retreats and indeed being here – even if you don’t stay overnight – is akin to being in a retreat. There’s little of the noise or endless chatter here that one would come to expect when dining in a restaurant. The presence of both outdoor and indoor seating areas means that it’s usually possible to find a cozy and intimate area to dine. I was given a welcome drink as I entered as well as the ala carte menu. The menu at Tamarind Hill ticks the right boxes where an upscale Thai restaurant is concerned with the usual suspects such as curry, tom yum and fish cakes going alongside some pleasant surprises such as wagyu beef in the meat section.
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Review: Telok Ayer Arts Club – Restaurant cum Gallery in the CBD
Telok Ayer Arts Club opened roughly a month ago in McCallum Street as a multi-concept venue by The Supermarket Company. More than just a restaurant, the venue combines food and drink, art and music in an accessible space.
The venue is curated by individuals from the creative scene with experts for the music and visual arts. From time to time, you can even glance upon paintings which are meant to suit the playlist and to an extent, the food menu.
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Christmas Takeaways in Singapore (2018) – Best Log Cakes, Turkey, Ham & More
Many families and friends use the Christmas season to meet up and reunite with a nice festive meal at home. There’s practically no skipping the turkey, ham and log cake when it comes to intimate Christmas gatherings. This year, expect some pretty creative flavors such as satay or salted egg on the turkey while those yearning for more traditional creations will likewise be spoilt for choice.
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Opus Bar & Grill at Hilton Singapore – Premium Butcher’s Cuts
Opus Bar & Grill at Hilton Singapore is currently running a promotion with its premium butcher’s cuts for S$128++ (total for two persons) that comes with different types of meat and even wine. The package includes four types of meat as well as free-flow of select wines for two hours from Sunday to Thursday, or 50% off select wine bottles from Friday to Saturday.
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Sri Lankan Crabs at Wan Hao, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza (2018)
It is almost hairy crab season again and this year, Wan Hao at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza is doing something different by offering Sri Lankan crabs instead. Known for their huge size and juicy meat, it’s a good year-round alternative to the seasonal and oftentimes, harder to eat hairy crabs that diners tend to prize.
Wan Hao’s crab promotion runs from now until 30th November 2018 and range from starters to mains. I headed down to the restaurant recently to check it out.
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