Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2019 i epicure

As I’m writing this Editor’s Note in my living room with the balcony doors closed, I’m battling watery eyes, a dull, intermittent ache in the head and a stuffy nose. The discomfort has persisted for more than a week, thanks to the thick haze that usually shrouds our entire city at this time of the year. While the stifling smog should dissipate soon and I have taken to sleeping earlier and increasing my intake of double-boiled soups to alleviate these symptoms, the fact that the annual haze has been getting progressively worse each year is a wake-up call for the region to tackle the transboundary issue. This haze is the result of man-made wildfires in Indonesia, which are in turn fuelled by demand for the country to grow more cash…

Palazzo Di Varignana, an 18th century estate within the Emilia-Romagna region, has partnered with Da Paolo Gastronomia to debut a range of Italian products in Singapore. Experience the estate's full range of Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil Selection ($46.90), which comes with three different types. The Palazzo Box ($139) contains a bottle of Riserva Blu blend olive oil, two types of artisanal jams (Apricot and Caramelised Watermelon), two jars of honey (Millefiori and Sulla), and two kinds of tea. The estate's agricultural practices are completely sustainable and certified organic, with great care taken to maintain the verdant 75-acre landmass. #B1-K8, Da Paola Gastronomia, Paragon, 290 Orchard Road. Tel: 6738 1462 Greek-Kouzina’s Greek Raw Chestnut Honey is a dark, mahogany-hued honey sourced from small batch producers in the East Halkidiki forests…

Dean Brettschneider's latest dual concept Baker & Cook Dempsey and Planck Sourdough Pizza at Dempsey is located on a grassy knoll along Loewen Road. Take your pick from the 12-metre Deli and Bakery counter that displays the brand’s signature pastries and breads, and nurse a cuppa while the kids run loose in the outdoor playground. The menu also features brunch items and main courses with Asian and Antipodean influences. Highlights include the unique Peter Gordon’s Turkish Eggs ($20) served with yoghurt and Aleppo chilli butter, the gorgeously plated Dutch Baby Pancake ($22) and foot-long plank pizzas such as Parma ham and rocket ($13), and the blue cheese and fig ($14.50). 30C Loewen Road. Tel: 6251 1098…

Having a meal within the Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski is a guarantee of satisfying dishes served in a modern setting. The latest to join the repertoire of restaurants along the stretch is Chalerm Thai, which serves up traditional Thai dishes. Try to get a seat on the second floor to dine underneath the regal yellow canopy amidst wooden dividers and ample greenery. While you can enjoy classic dishes like Phad Thai Kung ($14) and Tom Yum Goong ($15) – both of which are executed well – give the lesser known dishes a go. The Yum Pan Boong Krob ($8) is an addictive treat of battered morning glory flowers and leaves that are best dunked into a sweet-spicy chilli dip. For mains, order the Kor Moo Yang ($18) for succulent…

Flip through the pages of Gjelina and you will get a feel of MTN, a small but stylish restaurant in Venice, Los Angeles, without leaving your house. Written by chef-owner Travis Lett, the vibrant cookbook features 125 recipes from the restaurants (on and off the menu), as well as exclusive cooking hacks. Fresh vegetables and grains are the main stars. Learn how to elevate your vegetable dishes into restaurant-worthy creations. The book also includes dreamy images of the district, raw ingredients used for dishes, as well as portraits of their cooks, portraying the humble narrative of the restaurant. Published by Chronicle Books LLC. Available at amazon.com S$49.18 Enter some of the most stylish homes in Australia such as restaurateur Justin Hemmes’ harbourside retreat in Guillaume: Food For Family. Taking inspiration…

Every afternoon, an outfitted motorbike arrives at the kitchen backdoor of W Bali – Seminyak. It has one mission: to pick up the remains of the day’s tasty food from the resort’s breakfast buffet. After carefully stacking a few large containers inside the cooler box, the driver immediately heads back to the Scholars of Sustenance (SOS) headquarters in Kuta. There, Yuni Derlean, the foundation’s food hygienist checks, weighs and separates the food. As more drivers arrive, the counters are quickly filled with loaded containers of surplus food, including muffins and fried noodles. They are donated by hotels, food suppliers, catering companies, beach clubs, and a bakery who have pledged to assist SOS in their food rescue efforts. First founded by Bo Holmgreen in Bangkok because he noticed that a lot…

2016 was the watershed year that some Burgundy producers lost their entire crop to hail and frost. Across the Chablis region, which was particularly hard hit, it’s estimated only about half of the usual harvest made it to bottle. This was followed by equally devasting frosts in 2017. The raging Northern California wildfires of 2017 were the costliest on record, and spread dangerously close to well-established wineries in Napa and Sonoma. Frey Vineyards, for example, saw their winery’s tasting room, bottling facility, offices and 14 of the property’s residences reduced to ashes. Wineries across the world are feeling the effects of climate change and its direct or indirect impact. Some have made extreme steps to continue making wine into the future, such as Piemonte-based Angelo Gaja’s venture into cool climate…

New faces at the helm Shaking up Manhattan Bar is Australian bar manager David Nguyen-Luu. Before he unveils a new menu in February 2020, he’s made additions to the current one – especially in the gin department. Kryptonite ($25) is a modern gin & tonic, using clarified watermelon and Mancino Secco for a fuller flavour profile than expected. Joining the Eras of New York menu is the Millennium (2000s) category. Look for the outstanding No Vacancy martini ($25). Fords Gin, Mancino Secco Vermouth, peach liqueur and orange bitters, which changes in flavour when tasted separately with olive, fresh apple, and a lemon twist on the side. Bada Bing Bada Boom ($27) pays tribute to The Sopranos, a powerful chocolate-y medley of Glenlivet 12 Years, Ruffino Chianti red wine, spice syrup…

I like to think of staycations as the power nap of international holidays. You know, pepper the year with a few refreshing local breaks to complement the annual overseas vacay. With the hectic lifestyles we lead, finding the time and energy to plan a trip overseas can be quite a challenge in itself, so booking a quick staycation holds much appeal. It’s the perfect remedy to recharge our batteries when there's just not enough time to take more than a weekend off. And with a variety of themed rooms and hotel options across the island, Singapore’s backyard actually looks quite appealing as a passport-free getaway. Did you know that the global financial crisis in 2008 kick-started the staycation boom to encourage people to go for holidays despite tighter budgets? Today,…

Staycations are an excellent fuss-free way to enjoy the weekends with family, but holing up in the hotel room all day long might not be the best way to maximise your time. With any of the five Park Hotel Group’s properties, you have the chance to explore your own backyard before retiring to your hotel room to enjoy the rest of your stay. Grand Park Orchard In need of some serious retail therapy? Check into Grand Park Orchard for a weekend of shopping and relaxation in Singapore’s premier shopping district, and stay in one of the most fashionable hotels in town. The 308-room property boasts designer interiors, a laidback al fresco bar and a stunning pool. Better yet, opt for the Crystal Club rooms to access privileges like express check-in…

epicure is available at the following: Onboard Singapore Airlines (SIA) as an inflight magazine Airport Lounges/Airline Offices Air France-KLM British Airways Cathay Pacific CIAS DBS Asia Treasures DNATA Lounge Emirates SATS Premier Lounge SIA KrisFlyer Gold Lounges SIA SilverKris Lounges Thai Airways Deluxe Rooms & Business Centres of Hotels & Resorts in SINGAPORE Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa Amara Singapore Capella Singapore Carlton City Hotel Singapore Carlton Hotel Singapore Concorde Hotel Singapore Conrad Centennial Singapore Fairmont Singapore Four Seasons Hotel Singapore Furama City Centre, Singapore Furama RiverFront, Singapore Goodwood Park Hotel Grand Copthorne Waterfront Grand Hyatt Singapore Grand Mercure Singapore Roxy Hilton Singapore Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong Hotel Jen Orchardgateway Singapore Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore InterContinental Singapore JW Marriott Hotel Singapore…

Le Méridien Singapore has updated the menus of its in-house establishments WoW Bar and Latest Recipe. Cocktail time at the former feature free-spirited tipples inspired by the island locale of Sentosa, including the Sentosa Sling ($22) and the Sentosa’s Southern Seas ($20) – complete with a lemon rind sampan. These are best enjoyed with WoW Bar’s new petit plates; go for the Crab Meat Croquettes with Chilli Crab Sauce ($18) and signature tartine of prawn salad with salted egg fish skin ($17). At all-day dining venue Latest Recipe, local and international à la carte dishes are available for diners to choose from. Two-Way Beef ($38) features a grilled ribeye steak and tender morsels of slow-cooked 60°C brisket, while the Pan-Fried Locally-Farmed Barramundi ($32) is served with a hearty quinoa and…

Up on the seventh floor of Funan Mall, 72-seater NOKA adds to the already crowded Japanese restaurant scene in Singapore. Its advantage? A 5,000 sq ft rooftop urban farm run by Edible Garden City grows pesticide-free herbs, microgreens and vegetables like lemon balm, basil, butterfly pea flowers and purslane, which are featured liberally on head chef Seki Takuma’s omakase and à la carte dishes. Carefully sourced produce like the Snow Aged Niigata Wagyu ($89) are allowed to shine with just a sprinkle of rooftop herbs and a uncomplicated yuzu ponzu dressing, while the typically buttery black cod exudes a cleaner taste with white sesame sauce and a garnish of pulut hitam furikake, Meixcan tarragon and sea grapes. $150 (omakase); $45 (three-course set lunch). A children’s menu is also available. #07-38/39,…

Fresh from its one-Michelin star accolade after barely 10 months of opening, Restaurant JAG has launched a new summer menu, perfect for curious epicureans who have yet to visit this contemporary French fine diner. What’s unique about chef-owner Jeremy Gillon’s culinary concept: instead of protein or seafood, he constructs dishes based on the availability of handpicked herbs from the mountainsides in Savoie. These herbs form the base from which he creates vibrant and elegant dishes filled with poetic textures and flavours. Standout dishes – and they are many – include Carvi, Aubergine, Plaice which celebrates eggplant in three variations. Smoked eggplant is served with eggplant chips, eggplant purée and paired with pan-seared and grilled plaice, with carvi herb powder enhancing the accompanying fish jus. After a herb-infused palate cleanser of…

Six wonders Union Square’s ONE65 is the brainchild of award-winning chef Claude Le Tohic. The multi-level culinary concept in San Francisco occupies a tall narrow 1908 Beaux Arts-style building, which looks like a dollhouse from the outside. On the first level, ONE65 Patisserie welcomes diners with freshly baked breads, soups and traditional French sweets. Behind the counter is where baked treats like viennoiserie and breads are made. Up on the second floor, there’s more production in action: chocolates are made in a glassed-in display room. ONE65 Bistro & Grill sits in the third floor while bar and lounge, Elements is located on the floor above. O’ by Claude Le Tohic, a fifth floor fine dining restaurant is where diners at O’ can expect servers to roll out carts of delicious…

Azur Level 2, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Hotel, 75 Airport Boulevard. Tel: 6823 5354 The only buffet restaurant in Changi Airport, Azur is a convenient spot for a family meal before sending your loved ones off at the departure gates. Start your feast with fresh cuts of flavoursome meat from the carvery, decadent crustaceans from the seafood on ice station before heading to the open kitchen for Singapore-Style Chilli Crabs served with Mini Mantou and Oyster Omelette. Save some room for the gorgeous dessert table laden with indulgent cakes, warm chocolate pudding, ice cream and Asian sweet treats. 20%* off total food bill Cafe Oriental Lobby level, Amara Singapore, 165 Tanjong Pagar Road. Tel: 6879 2599 A meal at Café Oriental is to enjoy a wide range of local foods…

Ramen is only ever as good as one of its most important components, the broth, and Tokyo-based ramen brand Konjiki Hototogisu has it down pat. Hototogisu recently earned their first Michelin star in the Tokyo 2019 guide, and joins Tsuta and Nakiryu as the third Michelin-starred ramen in the world. Their outpost in Singapore at 100 AM, Ura Hototogisu, is their fifth outlet. Atsushi Yamamoto, the chef behind the original Konjiki Hototogisu in Shibuya, has chosen to partner with ITO-EN to create a unique broth that is the base for the signature ramen at the 100 AM outlet. Yamamoto uses Sawara fish from Kyoto as the base flavour of his soup, and fortifies it with ITO-EN’s genmaicha. The toasty and nutty aromas of the roasted rice green tea mingle enticingly…

Staycations are a fuss-free way of spending quality time with the family, and Hotel Jen Tanglin is more than capable of providing a fun-filled experience. The whimsically designed hotel features multiple Instagram-worthy spots throughout the hotel, such as floating beds, repurposed bicycle frames and graffiti walls. The quirkiness doesn’t stop there; as a technology driven hotel, room service to all 565 guest rooms is done via their Jena concierge robot. When you’re done asking Jena for a wefie or finding the perfect backdrop for your next post, head out for an exploration of the city by foot or bicycle. Located beside Tanglin Mall, you can start your shopping walkabout there before heading down the rest of Orchard Road for a retail therapy marathon. The picturesque Dempsey Hill area is a…

Opened late last year, AccorHotels integrated lifestyle hub is a prime spot for families and couples looking for a staycation venue. Situated on the edge of Orchard Road, you can simply hop on the hub’s shuttle service and find yourself at some of Singapore’s finest shopping malls within minutes. Love the outdoors? The hub is well-equipped to keep you occupied throughout the day with its outdoor pools and tennis court. For foodies, a total of nine different dining outlets will keep your palate satiated. Within the hub is the 254- room Novotel Singapore, a tranquil, ecofriendly hotel. Beyond the 150-metre self-sustaining green wall on the exterior and rain-inspired chandelier in the lobby, guests can check into spacious rooms fitted with rainfall shower features before enjoying a good night’s rest on…

Patrick Alès, who pioneered the hairdressing style of ‘le brushing’ and counted Edith Paif, Jacky Kennedy and Brigitte Bardot among his clients, created PHYTO in 1969, a line of natural, botanical hair products that are gentle to the skin and scalp. His grandson, Yahn Alès was initially not interested in following his footsteps. After graduating with a Masters in Business Management from Aix-Marseille School of Management, Yahn worked as a project manager for a business development firm in the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region for seven years before he decided it was time to continue his family’s legacy. Yahn’s current position has seen him travel worldwide to spread the brand philosophy of love for hair, with Singapore as his latest stop. It’s your first time in Singapore. What do you…

Adding to Sweden’s array of eco-friendly hotels, such as the treehouse-inspired Treehotel and its award-winning Mirrorcube room, is the Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa, which is located on the edge of the Arctic Circle in Lapland. The 12-cabin strong property is heavily inspired by the timber logging practices of the past, where felled trees were transported downriver for processing. Each of the cabins is built using locally sourced pine and oak and is fitted with Scandinavian furniture and finishings. The six land-based cabins are stars in their own right, however, the true flagship of the Arctic Bath Hotel and Spa will be the six floating cabins which provide two distinct stay experiences — statically frozen in place during the winter and free-floating when the ice melts in summer. The well-being…

Capella Singapore’s Cantonese restaurant, Cassia, has launched a new winter menu marked by several fish and lamb dishes; the latter is not often featured in Chinese cuisine. As part of the mains in the Seasonal Set Menu ($99/person), Lee uses a blend of 13 spices to create the Deep-Fried Spiced Lamb Chop with Fish Paste served with piquant barbecue sauce. Seafood lovers can enjoy the cod fish, baked till tender and smothered in an umami-laden bonito sauce. The Oriental Dim Sum Afternoon Tea ($45/person) has also been refreshed and now includes a medley of reinterpreted local favourites like Deep-Fried Scallops with Yam Paste and Poached Lamb Dumplings with Shi San Xiang. #03-00, 1 The Knolls. Tel: 6591 5045. Email: cassia.singapore@capellahotels.com…

DEAN HO, director of The N.1 Institute for Health; provost’s chair professor of Biomedical Engineering and Pharmacology at National University of Singapore; co-founder of KYAN Therapeutics What is the business model of KYAN Therapeutics? KYAN Therapeutics is a clinical-stage artificial intelligence company leveraging on different technology platforms to transform the way patients are treated and therapies are developed. We revolutionise the drug development and dosage optimisation processes and are developing therapies for oncology and infectious diseases. Simply put, we use technology to deliver the right amount of drugs to the right location at the right time; through this we can enhance treatment outcomes and improve the lives of patients. What business challenges have you faced? Over the years, my research team and I have been using nanodiamonds to improve drug…

For 13 years, Xi Yan served up innovative Chinese cuisine at its Craig Road shophouse, an intimate space that could only fit in six tables. After its closure in February, it has resurfaced with a bigger venue in the heritage-rich Maxwell Chamber Suites. While the old cosy dining atmosphere is missing, Xi Yan Maxwell more than makes up for it with an expanded menu of over 70 à la carte dishes, a casual bar serving Chinese-inspired cocktails and a flexible private dining room option that can take in 14 to 50 guests for events and small weddings. The dishes retain creative chef and founder Jacky Yu’s inventive streak without losing its emphasis on taste. Grilled iberico pork collar is so tender it can be enjoyed alone or doused in honey…

Katja Loher, multi-disciplinary artist WHERE TO EAT As Shanghai’s only three Michelin-starred restaurant, high-concept Ultraviolet takes experimental and experiential dining to a whole new level. The dining experience starts from the meeting point where you are taken to a secret location – a windowless room with nothing but a long table set for 10 guests. You are then immersed in a multi-sensory feast, centering on the unusual taste combinations of each course. The atmosphere is driven by music, smells and images projected onto the walls. Despite the fanfare, the star of the show is very much the food. There are 20 courses of culinary alchemy, such as Pop Rock Oyster and Truffle Burnt Soup Bread. Hardcore food lovers will relish this chance to engage their imaginations as well as their…

The holidays are fast approaching and there's only one way to spend it, according to president and chief executive officer of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Ellen Bettridge. The exuberant lady introduced the group's latest luxury river cruise tours at an exclusive dinner organised by epicure and held at Sheraton Towers Singapore. The dinner was hosted by epicure's senior publisher Cecilia Goh and managing editor Adeline Wong. Guests included Alberta Canada Singapore Office managing director Shane M. Jaffer, Greenwood Fish Market owner and director David Lee, Roger Lee, strategic investment director of Xin Gang Investment, and Felicia Soh, general manager (consumer products) of Olam International. Also present were The Travel Corporation's managing director (Asia) Nicholas Lim, Uniworld’s director for Asia Henry Yu and his team members. Wong took to the…

“A miracle wine… produced with the most natural methods.” “400 years without a drop of pesticide.” The inclusion of Château le Puy’s 2003 vintage in the TV adaption of the successful Japanese manga, Drops of God, catapulted the modest Right Bank winery into something of a phenomenon. But this inadvertent incursion into popular culture is only one small part of its story. Jean-Pierre and Pascal Amoreau, the 13th and 14th generation of the family who has been farming their lands since 1610, take their custodianship very seriously. There is no other Bordeaux label that sits as comfortably on both natural wine bar lists and gets featured on Michelin-starred restaurant menus as Château le Puy, thanks to a strict organic and biodynamic regime that began since early 1900s. ANCESTRAL KNOWLEDGE The…

A leading purveyor of specialist epicurean foods and beverages, Culina has always been a vibrant playground for chefs and foodies – many have been inspired to create culinary masterpieces through Culina’s curation of new produce and exciting partnerships. A stalwart of stalwarts, Culina celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with a big bang. Think a revamped and bigger outlet at COMO Dempsey, a partnership with FairPrice Xtra VivoCity and a milestone charity programme, among others. Culina at COMO Dempsey Back in 1994, Culina was a wholesale distributor of fine foods and wines, which brought in exciting gourmet brands. Now, it has expanded its premium and exclusive offerings with the opening of new flagship outlet, Culina at COMO Dempsey. The swanky new 15,000 sq ft one-stop-shop houses a bevy of premium…

The historic neighbourhood of Farrer Park is packed with nostalgia-inducing spots, including an entire array of ethnic restaurants and haunts along Race Course Road and the ever-bustling Mustafa Centre. Enter One Farrer Hotel. With innovative hospitality offerings and its ‘Hotels within a Hotel’ concept, the five-star property is a prime staycation spot for exploring the historic locale with family in tow. Take your pick from the sleek and straightforward Urban Hotel rooms, the Loft Apartments or the glamorous Skyline Hotel & Villas. The latter is One Farrer Hotel’s most indulgent offering; the Skyline Rooms boast impressive vistas of the Singapore city skyline and access to private facilities, while each of the six unique Skyline Villas is decked out in chic furnishings. All rooms in One Farrer Hotel come with in-room…