Weekender Food Mania Awards- Japanese Cuisine

Find me a Singaporean who doesn't love Japanese food for i believe it's quite impossible. Sushi, dons, ramen, sashimi, yakiniku, yakitori, shabu shabu... all these delicious Japanese food are so readily accessible to us and it's practically part of our diet! No doubt we had many contestants for the Japanese cuisine category for the Weekender Food Mania Awards 2016 but somehow all our favorites failed to make the list :/ We are left to judge 3 very surprising finds, each of a different style! Headache.. Oh well.

Tenkaichi- Yakiniku

6 Raffles Boulevard #03-129 Marina Square Shopping Mall

I have my regular yakiniku haunt and that is Gyu Kaku and fellow judge Tim also has his own fav Tajimaya. Well Tenkaichi exceeded my first impression of this place (it looked like a cheap bbq place despite being in Marina Square). We were tantalized with some premium Wagyu Beef (HELLO A5 Miyazaki Wagyu) and some other glorious cuts of beef (no special treatment for us really). Tenkaichi's Premium Wagyu Buffet only costs $98/pax; the regular yakiniku buffet which includes the Australian beef (all pretty decent) alongside pork, and some seafood goes for $78. There is an ongoing promotion that takes 35% off the stated price! Do check their FB page for promotional updates.

A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Tokujo Karubi ($45.90) also available a la carte.

Oriole Coffee + Bar New Brunch Menu

Coffee coffee coffee. Did i tell you that i've been completely won over by Oriole Coffee + Bar? I mean, i've been loving their coffee since like THE DEATH CREAM but i recently also realized that the Taisho White is pretty delicious when one cannot afford the crazy calories in TDC. Plus plus plus.. the new weekend brunch menu is a winner too. 

Available on weekends and public holidays from 10am to 2pm, Oriole's new brunch menu is packed with hearty and comforting breakfast-inspired dishes that pair perfectly with freshly brewed coffee. Just look at this massive brunch #onthetable!  

Starting with something healthy but super wholesome is the Wild Berries Oatmeal ($10). Yes it sounds too healthy and unappealing but it's a hidden gem! Plus didn't you read that article about the importance of a low GI breakfast? This delicious bowl of organic rolled oats is cooked with Oriole’s M.A.D. Milk, goji berries and brown sugar for sweetness, mixed in with an assortment of fresh strawberries, raspberries, blue berries and gooseberries. LOVE! 

Ok i tried. If you're not sold, there's still the Smoked Salmon Rosti ($16) with capers, fresh spring onions and homemade crème fraîche. Loved the thin potato strands here because it's more crispy and crunchy. Let me remind you again that this is mostly CARBS, and CARBS make you _ _ _ (fill in the blanks). 

Something i wouldn't mind working out harder for is the Crab Cake Benedict ($22), featuring 2 succulent Maryland-style crab cake patties, each topped with a slightly papery poached egg. and coated with a tangy lemon dill hollandaise.

Looking for comfort food? How about a Grilled Truffle Cheese Sandwich ($14)? While i enjoyed the savory flavors of the truffle cheese, Emmental cheese and oak smoked cheddar, sandwiched in a buttery broiche, it disappoints as a classical grilled cheese sandwich (where's the ooze and golden crust??). Oh but that creamy tomato cheddar soup on the side is superb with this combination though. just give me a proper CHEESUS?? 

In case you fail to make it down for weekend brunch, there's always All Day Breakfast to look forward to at Oriole which includes the Bircher ($11); Hot Cakes ($12); Avocado & Toast ($14); Jumbo Breakfast Burrito ($16) and my favorite supersize-me Humble Baked Egg Skillet ($16).

Oriole Coffee + Bar

96 Somerset Road, #01-01, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites, Singapore 238163 

Tel: +65 6238 8348 

Grab and Go Counter: Daily, 8am to 5pm 

Sun - Thu, PH: 8am - 11pm 

Fri, Sat, Eve of PH: 8am - 12am 

13 Stamford Road #02-20/21, Capitol Piazza Neue, Singapore 178905 

Tel: +65 6384 6495 

Daily: 10.30am - 10.30pm 

Patisserie Platine by Waku Ghin

I’ve been having a yearning for fine pastries and cakes lately. The gloomy afternoons might have played a role in my craving, but don’t you agree that a little sugar and colors are needed to brighten the day? So i wished and I got more than just that at Patisserie Platine, the latest patisserie by the award-winning restaurant Waku Ghin. 

Designed by Chef Yasushi Ishino, Executive Pastry Chef of Waku Ghin, and created by Waku Ghin’s pastry team, expect exquisite masterpieces of pastries and cakes made using premium ingredients and fresh seasonal fruits from Japan and Europe.

The Ghin Cheese Cake ($12), a Waku Ghin signature, will change your mind on cheesecakes (even if you're not a fan)! True to Japanese cakes, this white dome features a lemon cheese mousse and a lemon curd in the center that is refreshing and light. Just like the intricate white chocolate feather lying elegantly on top.

There’s also the Strawberry Cheesecake ($10) if you just got to have strawberries in everything. The surprise in this lovely cake is the unique combination of strawberry mousse and orange cheese mousse layers. Too pretty!

Coconut Mousse with Mango & Passionfruit ($10) is a delight to the tropical at heart. Under the vibrant orange is coconut mousse and layers of mango and passionfruit. Expect bursts of flavors in this pretty little thing!

Hearty Italian at Jamie's Italian

In need of a hearty meal? Then you gotta go Italian, Jamie's Italian. Yes there have been hits and misses (i kinda hate that they keep updating their menu with the new items and removing old ones) but sticking to the long standing faves will satisfy your need for comfort food.

If you don't know, Jamie Oliver focuses on using the best ingredients, which are meticulously sourced from producers, both in Italy and around the UK. All their staff are very knowledgeable on the dishes they serve and they are more than happy to share with you the origin of each dish, or how they are prepared and all. Meal time entertainment FTW.

On the Cured Meat Plank ($16.50/pax), there's the 18 month aged San Daniele Prosciutto; hot soppressata (Southern Italian dry salami); Mortadella & bresaola; Pecorino & chilli jam on the crunchy music bread; a beautiful selection of Puglia pickles; olives & crunchy salad. 

All meats are sliced to order ensuring maximum freshness and flavor. 

If i have to eat pasta, then they better be hand made and fresh! Of course that's expected at Jamie's Italian.

Singapore Coffee Festival 9 - 12 Jun 2016

Gonna be kept awake all weekend because it's the first Singapore Coffee Festival (SCF) 2016! From today till 12 June at the F1 Pit Building, coffee lovers and industry movers and shakers can look forward to the exciting activities at SCF with over 100 exhibitors from the coffee and café industry sharing insights over many cuppa of joe. 

Experience the vibrant local coffee scene at the SCF with names like Chye Seng Huat Hardware, Common Man Coffee Roasters, Smitten Specialty Coffee, Royz Et Vous, Knockhouse Supply Co, Dapper Coffee, Killiney Kopitiam, Oriole Coffee + Bar and many more

DRINK

Of course what is a coffee festival without lots of coffee and food right? CSHH and their Kopi C ice cream; Dapper Coffee and their experimental drinks like Earl Grey Yuan-Yang; Slayer Coffee and their rare Sweet Potato Latte; KUVO and their caffeine martinis; Oriole Cafe and their Taisho Cold Brew plus that DEATH CREAM!

Don't want coffee? There's also beer. ;)

Antoinette- A Matcha Heaven

I could live and breathe matcha #alldayerrday and upon hearing that Chef Pang of Antoinette has created a Fetish Matcha series, i promptly sprinted over. With 22 matcha creations, expect a full-sensorial sweet green tea experience from now till end July 2016.

The selection is insane with hot items, cakes, pastry, confectionery and drinks. I was amazed at how the lovely tea (from Nishio Japan) was showcased in each of the items: some flavors bold and expressive, others subtle and unexpected. 

My my all that green! 

Starting with the hot items, the one and only savory green tea item is the Matcha Pasta ($26). The hand-cut pasta is made with a matcha and flour dough, then garnished with marinated konbu and sakura ebi with matcha powder on the side. The morel mushrooms and black truffle paste give a deliciously earthy hint to the dish. Umami flavors in this one with a light green tea scent. Lovely.

Fusion Flavors at Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay

Are you a Laksa fan? If you are, then you gotta head over to The Square Restaurant at Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay! From now till end June, the family-friendly buffet restaurant will be having their first themed dinner buffet of the year called Fusion Flavours with their signature ‘Laksa Bar’! Giveaway details at the end of the post!

It was a crazy laksa fusion experience for us actually and I've not had so many Laksa dishes in years! Do not miss the laksa burger (slider size) which consist a buttery brioche bun sandwiching a succulent fish and prawn patty mixed with curry leaves and laksa spices. A fragrant pesto accompanies it and you can smell the lifting perfume of the laksa before the flavors explode in your mouth. Think of it as a denser otah! 

At the Laksa bar, check out the many Laksa fusion dishes! Pick from the rich and cheesy Laksa Risotto, Laksa Pasta, poached Mussels with Laksa and more. I liked the Laksa Malibu, which is an extra gao laksa with more coconut and spice, and it also has a mee rebus like nuttiness. It took me a lot of restrain not to devour the whole bowl! Pick your mix of mussels, prawns, fishballs, fried beancurd, egg and noodles, before handing it over to the chef for your piping hot bowl of laksa creation. 

Gratin oyster with Laksa sauce anyone? This combination works strangely with the plump creamy oysters and a slightly cheesy laksa sauce. 

Other inventive fusion dishes include the Nasi Lemak/ Laksa Risotto (the latter was a bit gelat) served with Strawberry Sambal, Chicken Rice Arancini (crunchy morsels lacking in chicken rice flavor...

The Gula Melaka Pork Belly was a salty sweet and rather tender! This was quite a hit. :)

Meaty Crabs in Rendang Sauce. The selection of dishes isn't spectacular, but much thought has gone into the creation of the dishes and some really did work very well. 

Have you had fusion desserts before? I thought these were kinda on the funky side. Wasabi Butter Cake, Black Pepper Mousse, and Laksa Panna Cotta anyone? 

Not all worked of course but I adored the creamy smooth Risotto Truffle Cheese Cake; dense Pumpkin & Cinnamon Bread Butter Pudding; and that melting Ginger Chocolate Fudge Cake. 

Family friendly prices as well at The Square Restaurant at Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay.

Daily Dinner buffet (6-10pm) goes for:
Adult: $58

Child (5-12 years old): $29

Senior Citizen (above 55 years old): $40

Here's a giveaway for you guys. 3 dining vouchers for the Fusion Flavor Buffet Dinner up for grabs.

First Winner:

1 x Free Fusion Flavor Buffet Dinner voucher for 2 pax

Second Winner:

1 x $50 Off Fusion Flavor Buffet Dinner voucher (min. 2 pax)

Third Winner:

1 x $50 Off Fusion Flavor  Buffet Dinner voucher (min. 2 pax)

All dining vouchers to be utilised by 30 June 2016. 

To participate:
1. Look out for my IG post with the Oyster Gratin
2. Repost it and tag @msskinnyfat and @novotelsg
3. Use the hashtag #novotelsg
4. Follow @novotelsg
Giveaway closes 13 Jun 6pm! Novotel will be picking the winners and contacting you directly.   

The Square Restaurant 

Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay

177A River Valley Road, Singapore 179031

Tel: +65 6433 8790

An Indulgent St. Regis Singapore Penthouse Experience

I used to think that staycations are a waste of time and money because honestly, that money is best spent on seeing the world and exploring new places right right right? BUT #adultworklife and limited leave + we can't go without an indulgent break for too long, so HELLO St. Regis Singapore!

I love the St. Regis Singapore, having lost count of the number of times i've dined here. She is a luxurious oasis in the off-Orchard belt, allowing business and leisure travelers the convenience, without the crowd.

Check in was a breeze and we were waltzed to our room in no time. For the first time ever, i appreciated the plush chair in the St. Regis's lift, for it was a climb to our 19th floor Penthouse Room. It provided time for our friendly guest relation staff to explain to us the various facilities, services, and activities in St. Regis.

We were then handed over to our personal butler (yes all guests get to experience the legendary St. Regis Butler Service), who brought us on a tour of our gorgeous room. But first, the view!

Of course i couldn't help but jump into the plush King-size bed with 600 thread-count bed linens and choice of as many types and number of pillows that i want. Yes 1 small girl and the need for a dozen  feathery clouds all to herself. Go figure. While i was bouncing away, our butler took our drink orders (the off-the-menu hot chocolate is super delicious), set up our Bose system so that we can chill to our favorite Spotify playlists, unpacked our luggage, and then fixed us a bubble bath in our super luxe bathroom. Is he superman or what?! 

I could stay in this bathroom forever. A free standing bathtub centerpiece is a must for any indulgent stay. It's even better if the tub is lined with French Breche de Benou marble. Bubbly time with bubbles anyone? You could also catch up on some tv on the strategically placed flat screen.  

If you don't have time for a soak, there's also the adjoining shower with massage jets to reinvigorate you, complete with the revitalizing Remede Spa bath products. Love that minty and cooling feel. 

The pampering continues at the Remede Spa, the first outfit outside of US. Individualised services are provided to scrub, knead, polish you into oblivion. Here i tried the award winning signature Warm Jade Stone Massage ($290/90mins), which uses both hot and cold jade stones to aid relaxation and improve circulation. Jr had the Body Revival ($260/90mins) treatment which rejuvenated him from head to toe (he had his first ever warm paraffin foot wax treatment here). 

The relaxation continues after a spot of floral tea and handmade chocolates (make sure you bring home some, they sell them outside Brasserie Les Saveurs). We chilled out (separately) in the wet facilities that is available to all guests. I alternated between the Finnish cedar wood sauna and the outdoor jacuzzi. The indoors spa pool and heated wave loungers reminded me of the traditional Turkish baths! 

You can also experience the world-renowned pedicure treatments designed by French Podiatrist Bastien Gonzalez at his Mani:Pedi:Cure Studio. Really really trust me, you'll never look at your nails the same way after. 

We could have gone for the daily afternoon tour of the private art collection in St. Regis which features over 100 original scultures by world famous artists such as Columbian artist Fernando Botero, French painter Marc Chagall, American architect Frank Gehry among others.. BUT the bed beckons! We couldn't even make it down to La Brezza for Italian nosh by the pool, instead choosing to have one of their thin crust pizza sent to our room. Pizza and wine in bed is pretty swell too. ;)

To make up for the inactivity the day before, we woke early to squeeze in a pre-breakfast workout. The 24-hour guest access Fitness Centre is a great place for a quiet workout. After a quick warm up, we ran to and around the newly minted UNESCO World Heritage site- The Singapore Botanic Gardens. It's surely a good way to work up an appetite in time for the epicurean breakfast spread at the gorgeous French restaurant Brasserie Les Saveurs. 

I love dining at BLS because it's so pretty. Go early, and be prepared to wait. If not, you could also choose to dine at La Brezza, which has a smaller breakfast selection. That works too if you prefer a quieter dining space. 

Well this is the main reason why i chose to dine at BLS, the Epicurean Lobster Omelette. Seems like most people didn't know that they could order this a la minute. Well, it's quite a normal-ish omelette with slightly old-ish lobster chunks. The caviar and creamy bisque sauce makes up for it though. 

If you love your carbs, you would be very satisfied with the breakfast pastries. Love the croissants, danishes, tarts, and sweets! I obviously had no issues having bread and butter pudding, waffles, and ice cream for breakfast.

Well if a western type of breakfast isn't your thing, then skip breakfast altogether and book yourself a Weekend Dimsum Brunch at Yan Ting. For $108/pax, you can feast on as many dim sum, hot dishes, and desserts as your appetite can stomach! Everything is fired fresh upon order which is PERFECT. Do not miss the steamed lobster, har gao siew mai, char siew sor and more. Expect a full post on this soon! 

Plenty to do at a stay in St. Regis Singapore. There was no rush at all at this lavish property. Can any other hotel chain beat a 4pm late check out (if you have the SPG Gold status that is)? Till the next time!

St. Regis Singapore

29 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247911
Tel: +65 6506 6888

Hello Kitty Orchid Garden Cafe Singapore

If you were from the earlier generations, you would have remembered those scary Hello Kitty queues at MacDonald's? Even if that was before your time, you can now experience it at the brand new Hello Kitty Orchid Garden Cafe at Changi Airport Terminal 3, 24 hours everyday! (Do you sense my excitement?) 

Well well, it's not a place that i'd recommend for food, but if you're in the queue, you probably are there because 1. You're a fan of Hello Kitty 2. You've been drugged and dragged there by your other half (my heart goes out to you). So here are some stuff that is somewhat worth some calories IMO. The Hola Nachos! ($15.90) are freshly made, flaky fried tortilla chips which are super crispy and buttery. Yes the cheddar sauce may taste like it came out of a can (and diluted), but it would be a t least be a source of comfort. Yes you can probably make better ones at home but remember you're stuck here in the cafe..

I would pick a traditional piquant punchy quesadilla over this mild like a kitty Enchanted Forest ($17.90; not on limited menu). The flavor is very Asian in fact, popiah-like with a strong taste of onions (not too caramelized). Wasabi sesame mayonnaise was added to the mix but I couldn't detect it at all. 

Need to fill your tummy? Have the Cowabunga! Wagyu! ($24). It's the only savory thing that i took an extra bite of. This is a local wagyu beef rendang cooked with a refreshing pineapple rempeh. It was spectacular, in comparison to the rest of the dishes.