Singapore Airlines is a great way to fly. It's one of the reasons why i'm proud to be Singaporean. S and i always try to fly by SQ if it suits our travel plans. While the economy class is pretty decent, their business product is the best. It's the better-than-first-class business class! Here's a look at their International Long Haul Business Class Product on the A380 SIN-JFK route. For any flight that long a ride, business class is certainly required.

After checking in, i killed some time at the SilverKris lounge till it was time to board (review some other time). It was a breeze from the lounge through the gate to my seat due to my Star Alliance Gold status. Furthermore, the business class at FRA and SIN has a separate jet bridge entrance on an upper level solely for J.

Here's a look at the cabin. 60 seats on the A380 on the upper deck.

Singapore’s business class seats are arranged in a 1:2:1 forward facing layout so everyone gets aisle access.

Now the seats. At least 30" wide, it is almost as awesome as that 34" on the SQ First Class Suites (read my review here). I could sit cross legged on my upholstered leather seat and still have space for my pillow and the leather cushion. Yea it's that much space to lounge, recline, stretch and roll around.

There are no overhead bins above the center seats so it's just a little troublesome having to share a bin with the passenger at the window. However, there are pockets of space to accommodate small items.

If you want extra leg room, the front seats are the best of course (i was at 11F). I had a hard time propping my short legs on the front shelf which also doubles as a seat. You can easily dine with your partner this way. The 15.4" screen felt a little small from where i was seated though it's honestly quite big already. 

No toiletry kits on J, SQ only provides them for First and Suites. You get all the toiletries in the spacious toilet. Eyemask and slipper socks are provided but i didn't like the texture of the sock.

Got started on the Bollinger Special Cuvee before take off, followed by one of my favorites, the 2010 Weinhaus Ress Rheingau Riesling from Germany which is a fresh and light white that goes well with white meats and spicy Asian food. Red wine drinkers should be satisfied with the 2009 Chateau Loudenne Medoc Cru Bourgeois from Bordeaux.

As it was a last minute change in flights for me (long story), i had to forgo my Book The Cook meal on my other flight (no fate with my BTC Kaiseki meal!) and settled for whatever that was served on board. Here's my supper course.

For starters, the Caesar salad with marinated prawns, scallops and smoked salmon. Succulent and juicy scallops. Yums.

For mains, i decided to give Chef Sam Leong's dish a try. The deep fried chicken with apple salad and black vinegar dressing, vegetables and steamed rice. Sadly, it was extremely bland and dry. I didn't touch the dish after the first mouth and the stewardess was rather concerned and offered me a different dish.

The Nage of Salmon and Mussel in spicy minestrone broth with pasta and vegetables was a savory and hearty dish. The meat wasn't too dry as well. Fish is always a better option on flights even though i'm not a fan.

Dessert was the Blueberry cream cheese and maple syrup cake. Followed by the cheese cart and more drinks.

Bed time! It's a flat bed on the International long haul J class with a dedicated sleeping surface. Love the fresh linen, light duvet and larger pillows. It's a manual process to fold the seat forward but I got the stewardess to turn down for me. Since nobody was seated next to me, i had a bed and a seat for easy rotation. Heh.

I opted for a light supper instead and had butter cookies with cold milk while I watch my movie in bed.

Here's the supper menu anyway.

Before landing at Frankfurt for the short layover, breakfast was served. To start, I had my favorite Bircher muesli, followed by Black Forest Ham with caramalised chicory and poached egg. There's also the Singapore fried carrot cake for some local flavor and another omelette dish.

Even though the eggs weren't perfectly poached, it was really good for an airplane breakfast!

Quick transit at FRA. Headed to the Lufthansa Senator Lounge which is on the way to my gate.  

Spacious and clean facility. Most importantly, they have showers. Nothing beats a hot shower to refresh yourself before or in between flights. I really need to try the Emirates in plane shower on their first class flight soon.

Simple shower but adequate.

The lounge breakfast had a good spread of breads, cheeses and hams. The breads are full of goodness and absolutely delicious with the honey and other condiments. I opted for a rosé instead of coffee.

Back to the plane in an hour. Was told by my fellow passenger that I don't look like I took a long haul flight. ;)

Next leg to JFK. It's the same seat so I settled back into the routine of eating and watching tv easily.

3rd breakfast! Tomato Cheese Souffle served with bacon, spinach and roasted potatoes. Amazing egg souffle i must say!

Then it was lunch. Starter of Mediterranean platter. Stuffed peppers, roasted peppers, grilled zucchini, cheese and proscuitto.

Mains was Thai Green Curry with Chicken and steamed Jasmine rice which was delicious. Comparable to TG's thai food offerings on their Business Class. 

This was one of my easiest long haul flight. I can't imagine flying economy to NYC anymore. Oh the pain. Honestly nothing else can beat this, well other than the non stop SQ37 that i took from LAX to SIN. Can't wait for SQ to bring back the non stop to NYC. Fingers crossed for 2015! Till the next one!

xoxo

Travelerintransit

The things i miss most about Paris are first, the buttery and flaky croissants and then the beautiful people watching from the quaint sidewalks. I was delighted to discover a piece of Paris, right in the heart of Singapore at Cafe & Bar Gavroche.

Cafe & Bar Gavroche is opened by Chef Patron Frederic Colin, which also owns the successful Brasserie Gavroche, also on Tras Street. The conservation shophouse would not be out of place in Paris with its cobblestone flooring, Drucker wicker chairs and pre World War artefacts which includes the 4.2m wooden bar originating from Normandy, circa 1920.

I absolutely love the outdoors-indoor concept of The Terrace, a natural light filled space, where S and i enjoyed their weekend brunch.

We got started on the freshly baked and rustic croissants ($2.50) and pain au chocolate ($3.50).These are LOVE. Flaky, salty, crumbly and glossy pastries are the best. They are absolutely out of this world especially when paired with creamy French butter and Bonne Maman jams. Definitely a mood lifter!

Have them with some coffee or even better, the pear juice ($7). It was fresh pear in liquid form. Yums.

Smoked Salmon Oeufs Benedict ($25)- I loved the that Gavroche uses Brioche instead of muffin and the pillowy bun took in all that eggy goodness. The hollandaise is on the light side but that's what made it French.

Tartine d'oeufs brouilles, tapenade et tomatoes ($17)- was an interesting open faced country bread topped with scrambled egg  and spread with tapenade olives and sweet tomatoes. This is certainly a refreshing breakfast sandwich.

Not to be missed is also their Croque Madame ($18), a hot favorite with many diners that i vow to try the next time i return.

We ended breakfast on a sweet note with the profiteroles and i was extremely sure that Gavroche does really good breads and pastries. 

This is certainly where i'd be when i need a dose of Paris.

Weekend breakfast are available from 10.30am to 2pm. Catch you guys there sometime.

Cafe & Bar Gavroche 
69 Tras Street
Tel: +65 6225 4869
Tue - Fri: 12 - 2pm, 5pm till late
Sat: 10.30am till late
Sun: 10.30am - 2.30pm

Picking a hair salon/hairstylist is like picking a boyfriend. It takes a lot of effort at the start in finding the right place, continuous communication and potentially a long term commitment. I haven't divorced my stylist though but well i'm exploring alternatives since i've been approached by several salons to manage my hair. Soooooo... Say hello to Silkcut Salon!

Silkcut is a small salon operating in the Havelock Road estate. Well if you're wondering why Silkcut.. Well I don't go for big brands all the time. What matters is the quality of the salon, the ambience and the level of service and Silkcut meets all that criteria!

Silkcut has been in operation since 1995. Say wert! The creative directors, Dave, Eve and Geraldine, have years of experience under their belt (but none of the age on their faces I swear). Their customers are all regulars from all over the island who come here specially for their hair services.

The crazy packed salon on a Friday night. Weekends are way worse I heard! It's almost impossible to do a walk-in even on weeknights. Yea they're that popular.

When i first visited Silkcut Salon, i was terribly upset at the state of my hair. It was dry and had gotten worse after a dye at one of the Far East Plaza salons which I reviewed (thou shall not be named unless asked).

This is the before hair. Well I tried to make it a little more presentable by blowing dry my hair but it's really a huge heavy mob.

The back. Wispy and frayed hair. Yucks!

The Silkcut experience starts with a consultation. Geraldine, Eve and senior stylist Doreen spent a good 15 mins just touching and analyzing my hair to decide on the treatment plan. They finally decided to go with a Japanese Water Rebonding treatment to make my hair smoother, shinier and healthier.

This treatment is not harmful to the hair because there's only 10% chemicals and the rest is the Biostraight formula which is mostly moisture! It combines hair straightening with hair treament so it's a perfect 2 in 1 solution for me.

The solution was only left on for 10mins and the entire session only took me about 2h as compared to the usual 4h for rebonding.

The end product. Absolutely soft and silky smooth. It's not too flat as well since the solution wasn't left on for too long.

Just look at how manageable it is. Love!

Positively in love with my hair now. This is my out of bed look. No kidding. It's super low maintanence and fizz free. I only found my fringe a little flat but nothing unsolvable with some clay and clips.

For medium length hair, the Japanese Biostraight Water Rebonding costs $288. It's slightly pricier but you're paying for a stellar hair treatment on top of rebonding.

Silkcut Salon

22 Havelock Road #01-693, Singapore 160022

Tel: +65 6275 6108

Weekdays: 11am - 8pm

Weekends and PH: 11am - 7pm

I haven't been visiting the Far East Square, Chinese Square area for some time and was surprised to see a booming F&B scene when i dropped by during one weeknight. It was amazing the number of options the CBD crowd gets for dinner. The Mad Poet is the new kid on the block there, inspired by watering holes in New York.

I was surprised to see how empty it was as compared to the rather packed &Sons next door (had a taste of it at Savour 2014). Well, both Mad Poet and &Sons are gastropubs but the former is American, while the latter serves up Venetian ciccheti, which is a novelty in Singapore. Perhaps that's why the Mad Poet has been neglected. But hey, don't write it off as yet. Comfort food is always what we go back to isn't it?

An extensive drinks menu is available to go with the food. There's a good selection of European and Asian craft beers e.g. Old Speckled Hen and Wychwood Hobgoblin from the UK, and Hitachino Nest Red Rice and Yona Yona from Japan. I enjoyed the refreshing Death & Resurrection, a Caribbean white rum infused with cumin and shaken with Japanese yuzu.

The best kinda bar bites are those that are fried to a crisp, with lotsa flavors. The Tempura Mushrooms were quite perfect and we loved the really light and crunchy batter that was paired with a truffle aioli.

More crunchy bites but here's one that really packs a punch, the Jalapeno Poppers ($10). I thought these jalapenos were harmless, like the many that i've tried in Singers. Instead, i felt the blood rush to my head and i momentarily lost it for a bit. But yea. piquant peppers with creamy cheese stuffing and salsa are possibly the best beer food.

I liked the Buffalo Wings as well. It's hard to find decent ones in Singapore (not too spicy nor sour). My only complain is the accompanying blue cheese dip wasn't pungent enough.

The Smoked Duck Breast ($18) was also a great side/main. I haven't had any smoked duck that left an impression on me until Mad Poet came along. Tender and succulent slices of smoky red meat with the perfect balance of sweet and savory.

For something more substantial, there's the Mad Burger ($23) which is made with a Wagyu beef patty. The burger is a little on the bland side though.

If you work in the area, Mad Poet does a really affordable lunch menu that is priced at $10 nett. Think pastas and hearty sandwiches with various fillings such as cajun chicken, smoked salmon and roast beef. It also makes a decent spot to down a couple after work.

Mad Poet
20 Cross Street, #01-23/24, China Court, Singapore 048422

Tel: +65 6557 0312
Mon - Thu: 11am - 11pm
Fri: 11am - 12am
Sat: 11am - 11pm

For the wanderlust and foodies, Sheraton Towers Singapore Hotel is looking at satisfying your hunger. Drawing inspiration from their travel experiences, Executive Chef Nobuyuki Taguchi and his culinary
team at The Dining Room has crafted a new ala-carte menu that showcases signature dishes from around the world.

For the Francophile, the Confit de Canard, which is also Chef Nobu’s personal favourite. The duck leg is cured overnight, slowly simmered for another 10 hours before pan-frying to yield a golden-brown crispy skin, encasing the tender and flavorful meat. Paired with braised red cabbage and sautéed potatoes.Nothing beats a whole pork knuckle to go along with some beer! Eisbein, a traditional German delicacy, features a whole pork knuckle marinated overnight with a special in-house blend, boiled for another hour and then glazed with a coat of apple vinegar to attain a crisp finish. Good for sharing!
Have some Asian comfort food with the Dolsot Bibimbap. Mix in the homemade gochujang, a fermented condiment specially concocted by Korean Chef Kim, for a sweet, tangy and subtle chilli kick.
The Taste of the World ala carte menu is available daily for both lunch and dinner at The Dining Room. In-house guests may also enjoy these dishes in the comfort of their room.

The Dining Room, Sherton Towers Singapore Hotel
39 Scotts Road, Singapore 228230
Tel: +65 6839 5621

If your instagram, twitter or Facebook feed haven't been taken over by droolicious food pictures from SAVOUR 2014 yet, well, here's some (more) food porn from the annual gourmet food festival. Held from 5 to 9 March 2014 at the new location of The Promontory @ Marina Bay, SAVOUR is back with more Michelin-starred chefs, award winning restaurants, culinary activities and international food producers.

The highlight of the event was certainly the Gourmet Village for me, since i can't cook for nuts and thus demonstrations are wasted on me. I picked my dishes based on the mood of my tummy. I don't quite consider where the chefs hail from or their background. I only care if the food is good. Oh and i'd forgo the restaurants that i've visited. 

We started with desserts first because that was the first thing that greeted us. Oxwell & Co's Valrhona Chocolate Pot with fresh cream and homemade honeycomb gave us the smooth and sweet start to our night. I loved the slightly bitter mouse with the airy light sweetness of the honeycomb. Lovely.

Well i can't believe i haven't visited The Disgruntled Chef till now. Well, after sampling Chef Daniel Sia's food at SAVOUR, i'm sure i'd be back for more. The Braised Pork Cheeks with Miso Daikon and Mousseline Potatoes hit all the umami notes. The meat fell easily and i loved how the daikon had soaked up all that delicious stew.

So we went back for a second dish, the Crispy Lamb Short ribs with cumin and mint yoghurt. I liked the spices but we found the ribs to be too fatty. More yoghurt will be great to balance out the dryness.

We decided to go with the Tatin De Boudin Noir Aux Pommes by Chef Christophe Paucod from Lugdunum Bouchon Lyonnais, Japan. Not for the faint hearted or uninitiated, this is their house made Blood Pork Sausage with Apples, Tatin's Tart style. Well the sausage isn't as dense as the Scottish Haggis (which i love). It had more of a powdery pate texture and it's really savory (aka salty). Interesting pairing with the slightly acidic apple slices. My advice is not to have this as an individual main course. S and i only got through half of it because it was too much.

Chef Alvin Leung from Bo Innovation Hong Kong is a SAVOUR favorite. I didn't get a go at the molecular Xiao Long Bao last year so i had to this time round. We also ordered the Lap Mei Fan, a foie gras foam, rose wine jelly and crispy rice pops dish.

Well, i guess i can conclude that i'm not that into molecular gastronomy. The XLB broth was delicious (though a little sour) but why would i only want to taste the flavors without getting the real texture of the dish? The lap mei fan just didn't live up to my expectations. Now can i have the real XLB and claypot rice?

I quite enjoyed the Linguine Crab & Nduja by &SONS, the bold Italian Bacaro, but it's a little on the oily side. Do not miss out on the home cured Salami platter with Soprassata Veneta, Salame Dolce and Salame Piccante. Perfect beer or wine food! Will definitely check them out at the China Square outlet.

If you still aren't quite satisfied at the end of your meal and need something really filling and comfort-food-ish, grab the gourmet Bubbledogs. The 4th of July is every bit the sodium and fat packed hot dog (i meant it in a good way) that will satisfy any cravings.

There are many other notable restaurants and dishes like Mikuni (Kanpachi Truffle Soya and Braised Short Rib), JAAN (Organic Egg), La Cantine (because Bruno is awesome), Kiin Kiin (Frozen Red Curry)... So yeah.. don't miss out.

If you are inspired by all the delicious dishes and wanna give it a go at honing your culinary skills, head on to Tools of the Trade (ToTT) to pick up some toys. This is the first time SAVOUR is presenting a cookware retail section since its debut in 2012. Don't know what to get? Check out the products by interacting with the QR Code shopping wall or browse products at the iPad station. Live product demonstrations are also available.

ToTT is offering free delivery with just $80 worth of purchase at the SAVOUR ToTT's booth via ToTTstore.com instead of the usual $200 spending requirement! Free ToTT Home Chef membership is also available and new sign ups can stand a chance to win exciting prizes including a SousVide Supreme Demi in a lucky draw.

Well if you are tempted by the offerings available, SAVOUR is still on for the weekend! Check out their website for more information and start planning your menu. ;)

Who doesn't love cheese? Other than the lactose intolerant of course. Sorry folks but you're really missing out on a lot. For those who love their dairy like i do, here's one good one for you- Latteria Mozzarella Bar at Duxton Hill. For those who don't dig cheese (you should though), they do the Italian staples well too!

This 90-seater semi-alfresco restaurant is huge on cheese, which they import twice weekly from Italy. The cheese menu revolves around 11 variations of fresh mozzarella, each served with a contrasting side ($20-30).

Is it any wonder the pièce de résistance is the Burratina (a baby burrata) served with roasted pumpkin and truffle ($20)? This round of fresh artisanal cheesy goodness hails from Puglia and is made from cow milk mozzarella and cream. It has a solid silky outer shell and soft creamy center that spreads like a dream. Only because i wanted to give the dish a more umami dimension, the highly accommodating service staff added a round of parma ham to the dish for an additional $5. The squash gives the dish a tinge of sweetness and then there's also the earthy truffle perfume. I would have this as a main anytime and the portion is more than sufficient for that intent. 

Our starter of Crab & Stracciatella Cheese Salad with Roasted Zucchini ($20). I love the shredded rags of cow's milk mozzarella and fresh cream. It is delightfully rich but not too heavy. The crab meat lent a light and fresh seafood sweetness to the mix and i love the juicy roasted zucchinis at the base of the tower. The red wine balsamic reduction lifted the dish with the slightly bitter sweet acidity. Nicely done.

The Garlic Prawns, Chick Peas & Pesto ($20) antipasti was a good and piping hot complement to the cold cheeses. I couldn't resist mopping up the gravy with the delicious bread that was served. That was after we devoured the succulent prawns. They are a little small and we could definitely do with more! 

Next up, the Smoked Scamorza & Porcini Mushrooms Risotto ($25). Smoked Scamorza has a more dominant in taste than the mozzarella and i like how its natural saltiness flavored the risotto cream broth. I would say this is more of a wet risotto but it's nicely executed nonetheless. Would be a good dish to share.

If pasta is your thing, do not miss the Linguine Crab & Mascarpone ($25). The silvers of crab meat lent some fresh seafood sweetness to the pink sauce. I say this is as good as Valentino's.

I was surprised at the size of the Grilled Beef Sirloin Steak Tagliata with Rucola & Truffle Sauce ($35). This is a full size steak, grilled simply and served on rockets. The steak was tender and done medium rare like we like it. Love the truffle sauce too. I could hardly finish my dishes.

For desserts, it was the Lemon Panna Cotta with Balsamic Strawberries ($15). The pudding is slightly more curdled and firm but i love the thick milky smooth texture which is perfumed by the refreshing lemon. This is a match made in heaven. (No picture because the lighting is pretty bad and i think using the flash is rude.)

I must say i'm really impressed with the quality and quantity of the food served by Latteria. Also, the impeccable and friendly service made dining there an extremely enjoyable experience.

Enjoy their 3 course weekday set lunch at only $28++. You don't have to wait till Restaurant Week to do that. :)

Latteria Mozzarella Bar
40 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089618
Tel: +65 6866 1988
Lunch: 12-3pm (unavailable on Sat)
Dinner: 6-11pm