South America has been on my travel list since like.. FOREVER. I was supposed to explore this continent back in 2014 but due to some misadventure, it did not happen. I guess it was a blessing in disguise since ideally, it would make a lot more sense to visit a couple more countries in one trip. Let's face it, we don't have the luxury to go on holiday for months. 

Itinerary

After setting our minds on the trip, we were faced with bigger problems! Where should we go? Should we just do one country extensively or visit a couple more? How much time should we spend at each city/country? How do we get from one place to another? Is it going to cost an arm and a leg, or both?

One good way is to Google 'Best of South America travel' and start from there. This should give you a general idea of the different types of experiences SA has to offer.

How about a grass fed Argentinean steak?

City lovers will have much to enjoy in Buenos Aires, Sao Paolo, and Rio de Janeiro. Great food, music, and dance. You'd be thoroughly spoilt.

If you're into nature, flora and fauna, the Amazon rainforest is a must. Waterfalls are your thing? Get wet at Iguazu Falls. Weather too hot for you? Head down to El Calafate for the glaciers and trekking at Torres del Paine. 

Love your wines? Drink to your fill at one of the many vineyards. We think it's absolutely possible to drink your way through Chile (check out the Chilean wine region here) and those amazing Malbec in Argentina! 

Amazing breakfast and coffee at Coffee Town, San Telmo Market Buenos Aires.

If coffee is your poison, may we remind you that SA is also the coffee producing continent and all them single origins are easily within reach? 

Did you think we forgot Machu Picchu, one of the new seven wonders of the world? Hell no, we started the post with that!

For your reference, here is our itinerary. We wanted a mix of city, culture, nature, and wine experiences and finally settled on this mix.

Argentina- Buenos Aires: 4 nights 

Chile- Santiago, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar and 3 wineries along the way: 3 nights

Peru- Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu: 4 nights

Argentina & Brazil- Iguazu Falls: 2 nights

Flights- To South America

Next, check out where is the best to fly in and out from. Buenos Aires is a good spot to start/end your trip given the generally good air connectivity to the surrounding countries. Otherwise, Sao Paolo is a good option as well (sadly SQ discontinued their flights there). You may also want to consider an open jaw option if the price works out to be right.

Flights- Within South America

Given the limited time we have, the best mode of transport is by flight. We flew with Latam Airlines (under oneworld® alliance) and it was safe, comfortable, and reliable. Plus we could easily book multi-city trips easily on their website. 

We chose to book directly instead of getting the oneworld® Visit South America Pass. It may or may not be cheaper to book through oneworld® given that the tickets are priced by zones. You are also required to book your return travel on a oneworld® partner to South America in order to enjoy these fares. 

Booking these tickets is also very troublesome- only the oneworld® partner you're traveling with can book the tickets for you; and they need to know the exact flights that you want to be booked on. There's a lot more work on your part, and the turnaround may not be that quick, so tickets may run out in the meantime.. Anyway, just check both. It may save you some money either ways. 

International flight on Qatar: 7+ hours to Doha, and another 17 hours to Buenos Aires with a stop in Sao Paolo in between. Cost: S$2400

6 flights within South America on Latam: US$850 (the prices can fluctuate a bit depending on the timing that you pick so just keep playing with the timing)

Have a drink! It'll help with the planning anxiety. HAHA.

Free & Easy or Guided Tours

The crazy research and planning drove me crazy and i started looking around for tour operators who could help with the logistics. We went with a customized tour only because they could provide me with all the experiences that I wanted e.g. visits to specific wineries, food tour; group tours and private tours to sites and entrance fees (we learned a lot more about the culture with these tours in fact); booking of hotels (that we specified); and airport transfers. Well it's a free and easy with some help and convenience i'd say. But in short, if you want a great experience out of this trip, you need to do the ground work regardless. 

Private food tour in Lima Peru. Dining at Huaca Pucllana, which is located on an ancient site.

Cost wise, it can vary a lot, depending on how exclusive and luxurious an experience you are looking at. I'd say that our was a mid-range experience at a super low-end price. It would probably cost me more if i booked the exact itinerary myself. Also, the other tour operator that provided me with a similar itinerary was charging about US$800-1000/pax more. I was also quoted US$6k/pax (land tour) in another case. #sorrynothoneymoon #honeymoonalsowontpaysomuch #okmaybewillifigotomars

So if you wanna do a customized tour that is super value for money, go with Peru Interact Trails. They are based in Peru (duh) but are quite on the ball when it comes to working with the other local operators in the other SA countries that you wanna visit. Hell they even saved us from our broken down train from Machu Picchu back to Cusco. #notsponsoredbutidontmindalso

We stayed in a mix of boutique and chain hotels. This is Hotel Classico in Buenos Aires.

We paid about US$1900/pax for 10 nights of accommodation and activities (we chose to do Buenos Aires on our own since it's just another city). Super value for money really. I'll share with you guys more on the exact things we did as part of the tour.

Hope this helps a little with your South America travel planning! More to come soon.

XOXO

Travelerintransit

Birds of a feather, flock together. Any foodie  gathering would be made more enjoyable with good food and rejuvenating ambience at Birds of a Feather, a newly opened cafe and bar at Amoy Street. 

The all-day-dining cafe and bar offers a contemporary Western cuisine with a pronounced Szechuan influence. Hipster Szechuan i say! In the day, Birds of a Feather is an elegant Chinese tea house filled with light coming in through the air-well; In the night, it turns into a cozy speakeasy type of restaurant-bar. 

The Crispy Pork Trotter in a Bag (5pcs for $12) is gonna be my standard order at Birds of a Feather. Shake the crispy meat with savory Szechuan spices a la shaker fries style before you take a bite. The meat may look tough and dry on the outside, but you'll realize it's anything but that once you take a bite. I simply can't stop thinking about that cracker-like skin.. 

The Fortune Skewers in Szechuan Pepper Broth ($19, +5 for Japanese arrowroot noodles) may look like a harmless pot of oden but be careful when you take a sip as the silent spice may creep up on you. I liked how this is light tasting but flavorful and you also get that numbing (ma la) sensation as you get through the sticks.

Another crunchy snack to have is the Chicken in the Chilies ($16) but it pales in comparison to the spicy trotters.

Need to reduce the heat? Well i chose to put out that fire with some Hot Yuzu Tea ($16), which is actually a cocktail! I'm pleased to report that there's a variety of cocktails, spirits, and wines to accompany the fiery dishes.

For lunch, tuck into a light Roasted Chicken & Avocado Salad with Szechuan Pepper; tantalizing and hearty Grilled Cheese Panini with Szechuan braised pork belly and pickled cabbage and fried potatoes; or a satisfying Birds Signature Burger of charcoal grilled beef patty, foie gras, cheddar, carmelized onion, with a chili soy tapenade inspired by Szechuan Dou Pan Jiang 豆瓣酱!

On the dinner menu, an interesting item is the Hot & Sour Chazuke ($28), a comforting rice-soup comprising Niigata rice and  a spicy pickled mustard green broth, charcoal-grilled barramundi and mentaiko. It's like a refined version of a home cooked steamed fish dish. It's definitely perfect for a cold night or when you're in need of some familiar comfort. 

Oriental Bolognaise ($20, or $22 with spice) is another of my favorite. I found it hard to resist the saucy angel hair pasta tossed with saucy pork ragout, and thickened with an onsen tamago. Go for spice for sure, it really isn't that spicy. I loved how the thin noodles pick up the minced meat in the their web. 

Skip the Tofu Burger with MAPO Meat Sauce ($22). I found the breaded tofu cheese patty to be crumbly and bland and the MAPO pork ragout was so mild it went undetected by my tastebuds. More sauce and punch are needed in this one.

For desserts, how about a Deep fried Glutinous Rice Cake ($12) with Okinawan black sugar syrup and kinako (roasted whole soy flour)? This is like a fried version of warabi mochi with a crispy exterior and a slightly chewy center. 

I preferred the Poached Pear ($12) with citrus, ginger, longan, snow fungus, and orange caramel ice cream. Flavorwise, it's exactly like cheng teng, with a pronounced burst of orange peel. Very refreshing!

Birds of a Feather has an interesting and strong dining concept that I enjoyed very much. I'm excited to give their breakfast a shot next time, given the excellent shot of Feather's Coffee ($7.50) that i tasted (made from a blend of Brazil, Guatemala and Sumatra beans). This comes topped with a torched meringue which may be a tad sweet for seasoned coffee drinkers. Fret now, they also have regular specialty coffee here, all with double shots of espresso (YAASSS).  Single original coffee and manual brew methods are available too!

Could we ask for a better review to end the year? XOXO

Birds of A Feather

115 Amoy Street, Singapore 069935
(between Employees Only and Bochinche)

Tel: +65 6221 7449

Visited my favorite Telok Ayer haunt and found another new favorite that is Cheek by Jowl. Serendipity I say, as it stands in the previous spot of Sorrel (a restaurant that I loved but has since closed its doors). It's not by coincidence that it's also backed by Loh Lik Peng of Unlisted Collection (Loh has good taste). Just 10 months into opening, Chef Rishi Naleendra is already making waves with his mod-Australian creations imbued with multi-cultural influences and the use of natural, sustainable ingredients.

For the $88 Chef Tasting Dinner menu, I had the opportunity to sample the balance in Chef's menu. The menu consists 4 snacks, 4 savories and a dessert. Of course, we had to taste a little more so that you know what to pick!

Snacks

Baby Potato, Smoked Eel, Chive Dressing. Love the earthy punch from the cep mushrooms.

It's a mix of flavors and textures in the Chicken Liver Parfait Cigar and Date Jam. The light bitterness from the smooth liver was balanced with the sweet date jam that has a light tart element.

Quail Egg Wrapped in Kataifi Pastry with Togarashi Seasoning was made more for crunch than for taste IMO.

Tis the season to be jolly at PARKROYAL on Beach Road as they kickstart the festive season with the launch of several Christmas dishes at their restaurants Plaza Brasserie and Si Chuan Dou Hua!

Plaza Brasserie brings a local twist to the classic Christmas roast turkey with their Christmas specials: Kampong Glam Rendang Turkey with Organic Brown Rice Stuffing, Christmas Curry Turkey and the Traditional Roast Turkey with Triple Mushroom Stuffing. The Curry Turkey was my personal favorite, as the rich and well-spiced curry sauce compliments the moist turkey and gives it more depth and flavor. The turkeys are all priced at $128.

Also available over the Christmas period is the Seafood Paella infused with Saffron ($188). Wow your guests without the hard work, as each order serves 10 and comes with a generous serving of prawns, crabs and shellfish on a bed of moist and flavorful Paella.

If you love Chinese cuisine too much to give it up over the festive season, fret not! Si Chuan Dou Hua offers a Festive Lamb Shank in Dried Chilli and Sichuan Peppers ($58). An interesting and fiery twist to the usual lamb shank, this dish is sure to warm you up on a cold, rainy Singaporean Christmas evening.

Look forward to Plaza Brasserie’s festive buffet spread with live stations dedicated to juicy roasted meats and festive turkeys, Christmas specials like Sautéed Clams in White Wine, Rosemary Marble Potatoes, Brussels Sprout with Bacon, Honey Baked Ham and Wok-fried Tiger Prawns with Nonya Chilli. 

Crabs lovers will relish the return of diners’ favorites such as Honey Rock Sugar Crab, White Pepper Crab, Kam Heong Crab, Miso Crab, Salted Egg Crab and Chilli Crab with Mantou.

Have a Singaporean Merry Christmas at PARKROYAL on Beach Road with their local flavorful Christmas offerings. 

PARKROYAL on Beach Road

7500 Beach Road Singapore 199591

Tel: +65 6505 5666

Purists may be up in arms, but nobody said Christmas dining is only about turkey! Kotobuki would like to invite you to celebrate the festive season with them as they launch their special year-end promotion set!

Start the meal on the right foot with a glass (or two!) of Utakata sparkling sake- we loved our Yuzu flavoured one! Once you’re nicely warmed up, get started on the festive feast which consists of sushi, sashimi and tempura ($82, including a bottle of sparkling sake).

We loved how the Oshizushi (pressed sushi) came delicately and exquisitely arranged in a mosaic. 8 different variants were presented, including salmon and unagi on a bed of lightly vinegared rice. We must say we are not big fans as the topping to rice ratio is underwhelming. Plus that rubbery skinny eel was.....

Christmas is ‘round the corner! If you are still looking for a lovely place for Christmas dining, here’s a suggestion: Melt Café at Mandarin Oriental Singapore.

Tuck into Traditional Roasted Christmas Turkey with delicious cranberry sauce and traditional giblet gravy.

Look at the glistening Honey-glazed Bone-in Christmas Ham beckoning! Yums.

What’s Christmas without the sweet treats? On the festive table are Christmas Fruit Cake, Chocolate Yule Log Cake and Petits Calissons Christmas Tree to name a few. Psst, the Chocolate Yule Log Cake is pretty addictive!

Japan is such a diverse country with multiple prefectures, each with their own crowning glory. When we speak of Japanese tourism, the usual suspects are Hokkaido, Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto etc. However, there are multiple hidden gems interspersed amongst the many cities that make up Japan, and Niigata is one of them.

With the Shinano River running through and irrigating the city before opening into the Sea of Japan, Niigata is a port city renowned for their seafood, rice, Sake and fresh produce. From now till 30 Dec 2016, Tóng Lè Private Dining has partnered with Niigata City Prefecture to feature a set menu incorporating freshest ingredients direct from the famed “Rice Kingdom”.

We loved the Snow Crab (featured in the dinner menu), which consists slivers of the sweet, briny snow crab flesh marinated in two types of rice wine, served on a bed of Japanese tomatoes and topped with ikura.

Ama-ebi, or sweet shrimp, is an extremely popular ingredient in Japanese cuisine. What is special about the sweet shrimp featured in this specially curated menu is that their color and shape resembles that of chili peppers or 'nan-ban', earning them the nickname of Nanban Ebi. In order to preserve the sweetness and texture of these prawns caught off the coast of Niigata, Chef Ling of Tóng Lè has chosen to top the raw prawns on a light, velvety smooth pumpkin soup with delicate Japanese mushrooms.

No one does Wagyu like the Japanese, and the Wagyu beef we had was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and rich in flavour. Also excellent was the succulent greens and roasted chestnuts served on the side.

Sundays are made of Sunday Roasts and where better to have it other than at Morton's The Steakhouse, a Chicago steak establishment at The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Singapore. Yes, we no longer have to wait till dinner to feast on the perfect steak with Morton's three-course Sunday Lunch priced at only $65++. 

Prime Ribs at Morton's Steakhouse (+$25)

How does a 16oz juicy Slow Roast Prime Rib sounds to you? WE SAY YAY.

The Sunday feast begins with an appetizer and you cannot give the intense Signature Lobster Bisque a miss. It's smoky, umami, and so silky. We couldn't stop dipping the gorgeous onion loaf into it. The savory-sweet Baked Five Onion Soup is a close second and we adored the stringy cheese that tops the soup.

The greens are not quite worth the stomach space actually, being low in nutrients (lettuce are mostly water). That said, the Centre-Cut Iceberg is a good carb-less vehicle for that glorious blue cheese sauce!!! I have no idea how anyone would be able to finish this head of lettuce as an appetizer on their own.

NOW NOW, make sure you come with company so that you can have some of that heavenly Lobster Mac & Cheese as an additional order. This is hardly a side, it may potentially overshadow the mains here. Is $70 is worth the tag on a mac & cheese? HELL YEA if it's filled with chunks of succulent sweet lobster in every bite. And that sauce was like a condensed version of the lobster bisque!

Planning the Christmas gathering? Why not celebrate this festive occasion at Jamie’s Italian? From 28 November to 31 December, Jamie’s Italian is offering festive three-course lunch and dinner feast menus at $49.90/pax and $65.90/pax respectively. Christmas sure came early! Here are some picks from the lunch and dinner menu.

Fancy pâté for lunch? Try the Festive Italian Pâté, a plank of toasted ciabatta topped with free range chicken liver and vin santo pate, grated parmesan and crispy sage. For dinner, we recommend the refreshing Bresaola Salad with slices of cured beef, creamy ricotta on beautiful greens and sprinkled with toasted almonds, parmesan and aged balsamic. Of course there are other options like salmon too.

Lighter mains are served for lunch, but tasty nonetheless. Have the wildly addictive Wild Mushroom Pappardelle- think freshly made al dente curly noodles, tossed in a sauce of garlicky porcini mushroom and served with pan-fried Paris brown and oyster mushrooms. Or a carb-free Sea Bass served in a white wine, chilli, fennel and garlic broth with huge juicy mussels.

For dinner, you'll be faced with tough choices for your protein options. Mull over the Gennardo’s Porchetta, Roast Baby Chicken, Pan Fried Cod and Dry-Aged Sirloin Steak. All the main courses are accompanied by a side of hearty vegetables: Rosemary roasted potatoes, Brussels sprouts roasted and topped with parmesan and pangrattato, and parsnips, celeriac and squash roasted with olive oil and rosemary.

Fretting over your Christmas holiday meals? InterContinental Hotels Group may likely be your one-stop shop for all festive offerings from savories to sweets, traditional Christmas flavors to localized Singaporean ones. 

InterContinental Singapore 

InterContinental Singapore will be my top choice for a perfect Christmas meal around the fireplace (if only i have one at home). 

The Maple Wood Bacon-Wrapped Tom Turkey ($168 for 5kg) is by far the best turkey i've had all season. Wrapped with decadent strips of bacon and slow-roasted to perfection over maple wood, the juicy meat was more chicken like than typical dry boring turkey. Each order is also served with sides including charcoal-baked potatoes, winter vegetables, mushroom stuffing and giblet gravy- a hearty meal on its own. 

The desserts by Pastry Chef Ben Goh and his team will sweeten your holidays. I highly recommend the Buche de Noel White Yule Log (1kg for $68), which comprises a moist red velvet sponge layered with lemon curd, sheathed beneath a beautiful layer of cheese frosting. The sugar free Framboise of the Wild Forest (1kg for $68) offers a guilt-free choice which comprises a chocolate mousse, sugar-free chocolate ganache, centred with a raspberry confit atop a crunchy chocolate biscuit base. 

Crowne Plaza Changi Airport

Meat Lovers, there's no looking further than Crowne Plaza Changi Airport for the best Christmas roasts. OMG THAT BBQ GRAIN-FED BEEF RIBS (1.2kg for $118) is DA BOMB. Sous-vide for 24 hours, it falls right off the bone with a light tug of the fork. If you don't like the tangy BBQ sauce, there's also the Roast version that is paired with the palatable mushroom duxelle and red wine shallot gravy.