Innehållsförteckning för May 2016 från epicure

Stumped for Mother’s Day gift ideas? Pan Pacific Singapore has planned a series of activities to help you celebrate in a memorable way. Spoil mom with an indulgent staycation and enjoy a slew of scrumptious dining options as well as relaxing spa treatments – there won’t be any reason to step out of the hotel. Check mom into St. Gregory Spa for some well-deserved me time. Lay back and be pampered with the Relaxing Aromatic Body Bliss massage that uses calming Swedish massage strokes, or try their Indonesian Balinese massage, which promises to knead away the tense knots. From now until 30th June, make an appointment for one of the above massages during Monday to Thursday and enjoy a complimentary Elemis Ocean body wrap as well. Don’t forget to treat…

A flavoursome treat awaits your taste buds as TungLok Signatures introduces its new à la carte menu. Carefully created by senior executive chef Li Man, the scrumptious offerings employ quality ingredients to retain the traditional essence of Chinese cuisine, while still boasting a modern touch. For a dish with theatrical flair, order the Flaming Fortune Chicken ($98++), which is good to be shared among six diners, one day in advance. It’s served in a flaming ball, which is smashed right in front of your eyes to reveal tender pieces of chicken. TungLok Signatures’ succulent roast Irish duck ($30++/half) promises to satiate your appetite with its intense flavour. Using only the premium Irish duck (known as the best duck in the world) from Silver Hill Farm, this delicious roast boasts a…

When we first heard Capella Singapore had launched Chef’s Table, we knew we had to hold our next epicure masterclass there. The impressive private dining venue next to Bob's Bar is equipped with a gleaming range of De Buyer copper pans, a Thermomix, panini press, KitchenAid and La Cornue oven – in short it's every gourmet's dream kitchen. Eight epicure readers – all mums – were specially invited to our Cuban-themed masterclass, to preview the new space. The guests included society mums Cheryl Lee and Tammy Loh; private trader, Sofi Sui; manager of SLP Realty, Terrie Lam; public relations manager, Marie Wee; stylist Crystal Yap; and co-founders of branding consultancy Elementary Co., Aarika Lee and Charmaine Lee. In the stylish home-style kitchen – which seats up to 14 comfortably –…

Serves 4 Prep time 45 minutes Cook time 1 hour pork tenderloin 55g garlic, peeled 35g coriander pinch crushed black pepper 55g oyster sauce 160g pork tenderloin ♦ Blend garlic, coriander and black pepper in a blender and fold in oyster sauce. ♦ trim pork loin to 2 pieces, approximately 15cm long and weighing 80g each. ♦ apply marinade evenly over pork loin. roll pork loin tightly with cling wrap into a roulade. ♦ Vacuum seal and sous vide for 1 hour at 68°C. transfer pork loin to an ice bath and chill. chilli lime dressing 35g palm sugar 100ml thai fish sauce 135ml fresh lime juice 35g garlic, peeled and finely chopped 2 red chillies, finely chopped 1 chilli padi, finely chopped ♦ Place palm sugar in a metal…

One of the most luxurious addresses in Bangkok, Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit offers travellers a stylish sanctuary to retreat to after exploring the many sights of the city. The iconic five-star property is located in the lively Sukhumvit neighbourhood, a short walk from BTS Nana and Asoke stations. Each of its 345 rooms – of which 37 suites and 75 executive rooms have access to the exclusive Club Millésime – are decked out in Sofitel’s brand of French elegance and accented with Thai design elements. A generous marble bathroom, Hermès and L’Occitane toiletries, and a pillow menu are just a few of the creature comforts guests can enjoy. Pamper yourself at Le SPA with L’Occitane. The spa menu features a mix of ancient Thai healing traditions and Mediterranean-French philosophies to ease…

AT ONE WITH NATURE Cuixmala is a grand private estate embraced by over 25,000 acres of nature on Mexico’s Pacific coast, and on it stands the luxurious boutique hotel Casa Cuixmala. This idyllic retreat houses four palatial suites, including the Cuixmala suite, along with spacious bungalows. Designed by renowned French architect Robert Couturier, the interior combines styles from Morocco, India and Mexico to complement the breathtaking panoramic views. The estate has its own farms to produce almost 100 percent organic ingredients, while the catch of the day comes freshly caught from Cuixmala’s castaway beach, Caleta Blanca. The private beach offers guests the option of paddle boarding, kayaking and snorkelling among other water activities. But it’s the nature reserve that you should make time for: guests can assist the resident biologists…

Olivier Lordonnois, the general manager of The Mark Hotel in New York, has notched up more than 20 years of hotel operations experience in ritzy properties such as Hôtel de Crillon and The Lanesborough, and along the way developed a refined taste for travel. When he’s not making sure that The Mark is running like a well-oiled machine, he’s globetrotting from one exotic destination to another or indulging in his love of sailing, which he finds therapeutic. You’ve recently vacationed in Guatemala and Cartagena. Any tips for the intrepid traveller? If it’s your first time in Guatemala, you should definitely engage a tour guide who can get you up close to the wildlife, show you the impressive waterfalls, and share insider knowledge of the culture, such as the history of…

Pla neung manao, otherwise known as steamed fish with lime, is a must-have on the dining table at any Thai restaurant. Immersed in a sapid and potent sauce of chilli, lemongrass, lime slices, coriander, and garlic cloves, the fish (typically tilapia, sea bass, grouper or snapper) is scaled, scored and heated, then served over a portable furnace in a fish shaped dish. Its flesh should flake off the bones and melt in your mouth, and be accompanied by the spicy and tangy citrus flavours of the sauce. NARA THAI CUISINE Sourced from Jurong Fishery Port, the fresh and tender steamed sea bass is served on a metal plate immersed in an accompanying sauce; the latter is made more tangy by a dose of Thai garlic, red chillies, galangal and…

“It’s the season of awakening,” says chef de cuisine Ryohei Hieda when describing his spring menu at Shoun RyuGin in Taiwan. “Many fresh ingredients appear after a long period of hibernation, having absorbed all the nutrition throughout winter.” The sister restaurant of RyuGin in Tokyo and Tenku RyuGin in Hong Kong, Shoun RyuGin keeps to its Japanese culinary blueprint, but incorporates native ingredients from Taiwan. The kaiseki experience spans 12 exquisite courses. It begins with a variety of sensations in warm and cold appetisers, followed by a clear ‘owan’ soup, pristine sashimi, charbroiled fish, meat, rice, and a series of desserts. Diners get an unadulterated taste of the sea in the first appetiser of Hokkaido bahun sea urchin, sticky rice and baby cabbage. Fried wakasagi with yuba follows in quick…

Good fences make good neighbours, so says the idiom, but in the picturesque Mosel, neighbouring winemakers Konstantin Weis and Alexandra Künstler from Weiser-Künstler and Daniel Vollenweider have forged a strong friendship. They share more than just wine-making – in Singapore, both wines are distributed by a mutual friend, Ong YiXin from KOT Selections, who interned with Vollenweider at Dr Loosen, and was subsequently introduced by Vollenweider to Weis and Künstler (the latter who interned with Vollenweider). “We listened to North European alt-rock music while labelling bottles by hand,” reminisces Ong, while Künstler adds, “In 2005, it was a very hot summer and there was a lot of work to do.” THE PATH TO MOSEL Vollenweider, 46, came to the Mosel from Switzerland, where his parents had a small farm and…

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) has partnered with Michelin Guide Singapore and Robert Parker Wine Advocate to present Art at Curate, a series of pop-up culinary events hosted by CURATE, Asia’s first Michelin chef showcase restaurant. Throughout the year, visiting Michelinstarred chefs will take up a brief residence at the establishment, offering guests a rarefied peek into their craft through a series of dining experiences. The inaugural edition of Art at Curate takes place from 29 April to 6 May, featuring three Michelinstarred chef Massimiliano Alajmo. The Italian native clinched his three stars when he was just 28 years old for Le Calandre in Padua, making him the youngest chef in history to obtain the coveted recognition. Even after Alajmo concludes his stint on 6 May, the menus offered at CURATE…

For proud home owners and cookery enthusiasts, the heart of the house is invariably the kitchen. Here’s where it pays to have an innovative kitchen partner that constantly stays one step ahead of technology when it comes to putting together meals that nourish and inspire. The legend of De Dietrich began over 300 years ago as an ironworking firm, which expanded to railways and automobiles with the De Dietrich-Bugatti car in the late 1800s. It was in the early 1900s that De Dietrich turned its attention to consumer needs, creating the wood and coal Mertzwiller Oven in 1910 – the world’s first. Since then, De Dietrich has introduced the first Self-Cleaning Pyrolysis Oven and Steam Oven, ensuring that home chefs have the perfect equipment at hand to achieve culinary distinction.…

Enter a world of contemporary comforts at Hotel VIE Bangkok, one of MGallery by Sofitel’s unique properties. Located mere steps away from Ratchathewi BTS Station and within walking distance of the city’s prime shopping belt, guests can easily pop into popular malls such as Siam Paragon. Their 154 rooms offer high ceilings, copious amounts of space, a pillow menu, as well as dramatic floor-to-ceiling views of the cityscape. To make your vacation a little more extraordinary, splash out on one of four different types of suites, which are kitted out with Jim Thompson silk furnishings. Take advantage of impressive facilities including the rooftop VIE pool, VIE Spa and VIE Lounge. Newly appointed chef Nicolas Basset of La VIE - Creative French Cuisine restaurant doles out French plates which are as…

Designed by fashion designer Christian Lacroix, SO Sofitel Bangkok successfully captures the spirit of French joie de vivre with its elegant yet vibrant interiors. Staff are garbed in boldly patterned uniforms. Colourful murals adorn the hotel walls. Five leading Thai designers were also engaged to add distinctly local touches to the resplendent rooms and public spaces by incorporating their interpretations of the five elements – water, earth, wood, metal and fire. To keep up with the tech-savvy generation, SO Sofitel Bangkok offers digital check-in so guests can skip the traditional process. Free Wi-Fi is also available throughout the hotel. Their 238 rooms and suites are all equipped with 40-inch flatscreen LCD televisions and fully integrated Apple Mac mini media solutions, offering access to entertainment and guest services at your fingertips.…

If Bangkok is your choice destination for retail therapy, an ideal base is Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam, which is located directly above Platinum Mall in the heart of the city’s prime shopping precinct. Guests are just a hop, skip and a jump away from other major shopping centres such as CentralWorld, Siam Paragon, Siam Square and MBK Center. And when you’re knackered from a day of shopping, retreat to one of their 283 rooms, take a refreshing dip in their rooftop infinity pool, or relax your sore muscles in the sauna. Alternatively, book a stay at the newest addition to the Novotel group, Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, which is a short walk from Sukhumvit Road – the main artery of central Bangkok – as well as Sukhumvit MRT and Asoke…

I confess, it’s anathema to me to consult guidebooks when I travel. In my opinion, the best way to explore a city is to wing it and dive right into the fray instead of depending on ‘Best Of’ lists. To better understand a country’s culture, I like to interact with locals and get their take on their hometown. Luckily, I have cousins who were born and raised in Bangkok, so it’s easy for me to pop by the Thai capital every now and then to catch up with them and also have them bring me around. Sometimes, we even venture out of the city – when we want to relax and dip our feet in sand, we head to Brassiere Beach, so called because of the two round Nom Sao…

CHINESE CUISINE Few ingredients are as skin-pampering as bird’s nest. Let your mum indulge in Kai Garden’s nourishing bird’s nest menu from 1 to 8 May. Crafted by former Paradise Group’s executive chef, Fung Chi Keong, the dishes include Bird’s Nest Thick Soup with Sea Treasure, Braised Inada Noodle with Hokkaido Scallop, and Braised Goose Web with Sea Whelk. $108 per person. #03-128A/128B Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard. Tel: 6250 4826 Consider Yan Ting’s Mothers’ Day Weekend Dim Sum Brunch ($108 per person) on 7 and 8 May, where you can order delectables like Wok-baked Boston Lobster with Superior Stock, Steamed Pork and Shrimp Dumpling with Black Truffles, and Traditional Braised Pig Trotter and Egg in Black Vinegar. Lunch ($128 per person) and dinner ($168 per person) set menus specially…

From Baroque-style buildings during the 17th century to the development of modernism during the early 20th century and present-day rise of Dutch architects internationally, Amsterdam has long been a vanguard of global design. Hotel Pulitzer Amsterdam brings all these elements to the fore with its recent restoration and renovation. The property was already considered groundbreaking when it first opened its doors some 46 years ago, as it was the first five-star hotel in the city spanning 12 centuries old canal houses. Named after Herbert Pulitzer (the then-owner of the hotel and grandson of Pulitzer Prize founder Joseph Pulitzer), the hotel has expanded over the years and now runs through a labyrinth of 25 townhouses set between two major canals – the Keizersgracht and the Prinsengracht – which are part of…

Food: 7/10 Service: 7/10 Ambience: 6/10 Average dinner bill for two, with tea: $200 Must-tries: tea-smoked roasted duck, panfried carrot cake, and double-boiled morel mushroom soup CRYSTAL JADE PRESTIGE #02-01 Marina Bay Link Mall (Ground Plaza), 8A Marina Boulevard. Tel: 6509 9493 Taking over Paradise Pavilion’s plush pad at the Ground Plaza of Marina Bay Financial Centre, Crystal Jade Prestige looks to woo the same target audience of busy executives. Gone are Paradise Pavilion’s sumptuous turquoise velvet interiors – instead, Crystal Jade Prestige sports muted beige furnishings and lantern-shaped pendant lights. The interior looks less elegant, but in turn feels more approachable as compared to Paradise Pavilion’s opulent surrounds. It was a full house when I first visited for a weekday lunch so reservations are recommended. As if determined to…

Thanks to a recent refurbishment three months ago, Melt Café now exudes a more contemporary and design forward interior. A pâtisserie counter takes centre stage, showcasing daily delights from the hotel’s team of talented pastry chefs. Behind this counter is where the rest of the impressive buffet unfolds, with chilled seafood and cold cut counters at the fore and international delights further back. Start systematically with some briny oysters and a Caesar salad made the way you like it, or head straight to the hot counters of soups, vegetables, rice and meats. While you explore the carvery and live stations, Indian chef at Melt Café Santosh Kumar will ply guests with creations of various curries and naans. Be careful not to fill up too much though, as cooked-to-order pastas and…

What’s your connection with tequila? In Israel where I’m from, we partied in the 90s with tequila. I personally love tequila, and having been in the nightlife industry for a while, I realise it's an underrated spirit. A really good, premium 100 percent agave tequila has so much flavour and is even healthy for you. What do you mean by healthy? First, tequila is a really uplifting drink. Unlike some spirits that you finish a night with, tequila is uniquely distilled from agave and makes people more talkative and outgoing. That’s why we named our tequila El Optimista – I felt that this joy from tequila is actually about being optimistic and inspired. Also, pure agave tequila is not full of processed sugar so you’ll get less of a hangover…

It’s that time of the year again to treat mum to a gastronomic meal, and Marina Mandarin Singapore is offering just the perfect opportunity to do so. Situated in the heart of Marina Bay, the five-star hotel stays true to its philosophy of providing Asian hospitality with two Mother’s Day specials at Peach Blossoms and AquaMarine that is set to pamper palates. If your mum has a penchant for Cantonese cuisine, head to award-winning Chinese restaurant Peach Blossoms to enjoy a range of set menus filled with lavishly prepared dishes, available from 30 April to 8 May. Highlights include the braised eight-headed whole abalone with crispy charcoal bean in superior oyster sauce, and steamed marble goby in traditional style. AquaMarine, one of the few halal-certified restaurants in Singapore, will showcase…

Among a myriad accommodation options in Bangkok, The St. Regis Bangkok stands out as a choice address for ultimate comfort and luxury. It caters to both leisure and business travellers – the hotel is nestled within the city’s key commercial corridor and just a stone’s throw away from the prime shopping district. Decked in the St. Regis brand’s trademark sophisticated surrounds of warm woods and muted colours, the hotel offers 228 guest rooms, including 51 suites, The Penthouse, and 53 residences. Creature comforts abound in each room – catch some shuteye on cushy 300 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, soak in the separate rainforest shower and bath of the marble bathroom, and plug into the media hub panel for Internet access or project the contents of your laptop, iPad or…

The Pullman Bangkok Hotel G takes their cue from young and hip globetrotters to offer a more laidback and clean-lined aesthetic. Each of the 469 rooms boast floor-to-ceiling windows that look out to the glittering Bangkok skyline. Choose from four room categories – Deluxe Room, G Deluxe Room, Executive Room and Suite Room – all equipped with high-speed Internet access. Dine at one of five trendy restaurants such as Scarlett Wine Bar & Restaurant on the 37th floor, where you can enjoy wines and cocktails alongside traditional French fare against the stunning city backdrop. For a vacation fit for a king, book a stay instead at sister property Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit. Shaped like a sail, this architectural landmark boasts spectacular views from its 325 rooms. Travellers who prize convenience…

The “sense of place” approach at Grand Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residence is just what travellers need to feel right at home in the Thai capital. This philosophy is evident in small yet significant details. Hotel guests are welcomed with a traditional greeting, uniquely Thai gifts are placed in every room, not to mention Thai-inspired wellness rituals are organised within the hotel at various intervals throughout the day. The all-suite hotel offers 76 rooms, each boasting a private balcony, king-sized bed and Internet access. Choose from Superior, Deluxe or Executive suites ranging between 71 and 96 sq m of space. Situated next to Sukhumvit Road, a major artery of the bustling city, and three minutes away from Asoke BTS Station and Sukhumvit MRT Station, Grand Mercure Bangkok Asoke Residence ensures that…

Sydney holds many fond food memories for me. I lived in the city for a year and a half in my late 20s more than a decade ago, and it was there that I discovered things that at that time had been hard to come by in Singapore: the first taste of petite, juicy figs cannot be beat, neither can thick fresh heaps of yoghurt with real passion fruit, haloumi sautéed in butter or handmade smoky baba ganoush. Over the years, I’ve been back numerous times to visit family and friends. And while there have always been pockets of culinary pleasure found across the city, it has only been in recent years that whole neighbourhoods have been transformed – and in some cases, barely recognisable – into top foodie addresses…