Located on Robertston Quay, The Pier at Robertson is the latest lifestyle centre to hit our shores. Making good use of what used to be the black hole between Riverside View and the Singapore Tyler Print Institute, the new condominium has become home to a range of lifestyle and food and beverage outlets all centering around an open courtyard right on the Singapore River.

Landlords City Developments Limited (CDL) say in the coming months we can expect to see even more tenants arriving to complete the gastronomic lifestyle precinct tone that has already been set by the current tenants. With a whisky bar, wine bar, French brasserie, Japanese restaurant, coffee house and fine chocolatier, The Pier has already set the benchmark to become a worthy destination for young professionals who want good food and drink in a chilled out atmosphere.

Brasserie Wolf, #01-13 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6835-7818.
The latest offering from the Esmirada Group of Restaurants is this large French brasserie-style eatery. Helmed by Executive Chef Philippe Nouzillat, Brasserie Wolf might look posh, but it aims to be a casual joint where people can eat, drink and make merry, just as they do at the brasseries in France. Nouzillat tries to make his food unpretentious and homely, and tasty menu items such as French onion soup ($10) and duck a l’orange ($36) certainly achieve this. And things are expanding here—expect in the coming months to see more alfresco seating, breakfast and brunch menus, and an extended wine list. Nouzillat aspires to create an atmosphere of interaction between patrons, where people have fun and relax. With the spacious walk in wine cellar and a full bar, this should be easy enough to achieve.

Tasting Notes, #01-05/06 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6238-8840.
This trendy wine bar with its long island bar and plenty of seats both inside and out also sells around 250 labels of new and old world wines in their retail shop. The selection of new world wines is larger than their old world range, but there are plans to increase the number of labels available. If you can’t find what you want in their large variety, Tasting Notes will actually source the wines for you. And if you’re peckish, they has come up with a novel way to choose the perfect wine for your meal. If you’re already comfy in the bar and don’t want to move, you can order food from the neighboring restaurants and have it brought to you. Or, buy a bottle from Tasting Notes and the corkage fee will be waved by the some of the nearby restaurants.

La Maison Du Whisky Singapore, #01-10 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6733-0059.
The family owned company La Maison Du Whisky first started in France in 1956 and this new Singaporean operation is their third store. Expect all types of whisky from Scottish to Irish, American and rice. In fact, they are exclusive carriers of the 1974 Laphroaig Vintage (there are only 50 of these left in France and 12 left in Singapore) and are also the exclusive holders of a 30-year-old Aberlour whisky. Apart from their retail enterprises, the house organizes whisky events, specifically tastings. For around $50, join a blind tasting where participants discuss tasting techniques, the nose of the whisky and the making process. Small private tasting sessions of not more than 15 people can also be organized.

The Chocolate Factory, #01-11 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6235-9007.
Chocaholics beware: As the elegant packaging of The Chocolate Factory’s produce indicates, Chocolatier Laurent Bernard is a stickler for quality. The cafe also serves up daily homemade simple French pastries, such as cheesecakes, chocolate cakes and tiramisu. But really, it’s the chocolate you should come here for. Trust us when we say these are some of the smoothest and most delicate chocolates in town. Bernard’s chocolates are handmade daily in a specially chilled room within the cafe using fresh produce and only kept on display for three to four days. Bernard’s philosophy is that like fine food, fine chocolates should have a short shelf life—he recommends his chocolates only be kept for a week after you buy them. Bookings are recommended if you want to dine at the cafe on weekends.

Robata Yoyogi, #01-04 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6733-8711.
Sister restaurant to Yoyogi across the road, Robata Yoyogi is the only restaurant in Singapore completely devoted to the Japanese tradition of Robataya dining—eating fresh grilled seasonal ingredients served to you on a giant paddle. And it’s been an instant success. The restaurant is packed at nights with Japanese sitting for hours at a time, ordering dishes at their pleasure. There is an array of different items on order from grilled file fish ($12.50) to kuro buta or pork belly ($6.50) and all the ingredients are imported from Japan. For a unique dining experience where one can sit comfortably for hours sipping sake and tasting cuisine, this is a novel option.

The Coffee Connoisseur, #01-01/02 The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6733-8707.
And of course, a perfect way to finish off all this great food and drink is a strong coffee at this, the latest TCC outlet.

TIDBIT
Keep a look out for Brussels Sprouts, the latest culinary offering from entrepreneurial team Emmanuel Stroobant and Edina Hong of Saint Pierre due to open December 1.

Budget airlines are quickly becoming an integral part of the way we travel by providing us with cheaper prices to those much coveted, less-well-trodden destinations. But exotic travel doesn’t necessarily mean glamor, especially when you’re trying to do it economically. Here’s the lowdown on what you get for your dollar’s worth, and how to secure the cheapest tickets.

Air Asia

Destinations

One of the first budget airlines in Singapore, Air Asia is still a good choice for budget travel especially within Malaysia. Direct from Singapore they only fly to Bangkok, but if you can get to Kuala Lumpur first they offer some of the cheapest fares to Borneo as well as a host of destinations in Thailand (such as Chiang Mai and Phuket) and a hotch potch of others like Jakarta, Manila (Clarke) and Brunei. Another option is to travel overland to Johor Bahru and get flights to eight destinations from there, most in Malaysia.

Flight Times

Because of the transfer times in both KL or JB, weekend travel by Air Asia is a little tight as there are no really late night flights. However there are two direct night flights to Bangkok that are scheduled, which leave you plenty of time to get to the airport from the office.

Cheapies and their Likelihood

Air Asia still offers cheap deals that seem to be readily available at most times. Although the really discounted fares are rare, most flights are still cheap. According to their website, Air Asia’s discounts are based on supply and demand, so the earlier you book, the less you’ll spend.

On Board

Air Asia is definitely a no frills airline—the interior of the planes look old, the planes sound old (everything seems particularly noisy on Air Asia flights), and they offer very limited creature comforts (alcohol isn’t available for purchase). However, if you’re willing to pay, food such as nasi lemak or goreng, cup noodles and sandwiches are available.

The Downside

Because the only destination directly out of Singapore is Bangkok, this severely limits travel options with Air Asia, especially for short or weekend trips. There is also no allocated seating, but as most flights are short-haul, this shouldn’t be a big problem. Baggage check-in allowances are limited, however, to 15 kilograms.

Tiger Airways

Destinations

Tiger Airways was really the airline that opened up destinations such as Vietnam and Darwin with their ridiculously low prices and for that we’re eternally grateful. Also made more accessible are some of the smaller destinations in China such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou, and Thai hubs like Chiang Mai and Krabi. But flights to Manila are also to Clarke, about 70 kilometers (two hours drive) from Manila.

Flight Times

Flight times with Tiger Airways are quite amenable to weekend trips for most of the popular destinations, such as Hanoi, Bangkok, Krabi and Phuket. Watch out for timetable changes on October 28.

Cheapies and their Likelihood

The unbelievable Tiger Airways fares you see advertized are real—we’ve been able to obtain them before. But to get the real discounts, you have to be dedicated to surfing the site regularly and be prepared to make a decision to travel whenever the specials are available. According to Tiger Airways, ultra cheap fares are sold on a first come first served basis, with no restrictions on travel.

On Board

Most things can be purchased on board the airline including cup noodles, sandwiches, alcohol and merchandise. Even blankets are available for a price. There’s also a free magazine if you happen to forget to bring your own reading material. Tiger Airways uses new planes—their starting fleet was brand new in 2004 with another three craft expected by the end of the year.

The Downside

No allocated seating means that Tiger Airways flights typically see people queuing at the gate at least an hour before boarding. And if you can’t keep under the 15 kilogram luggage limit you can upgrade to a 20 kilogram limit for an additional $15 for a two-way trip rather than paying an extra $7.50 per kilogram.

One more thing—recently Tiger Airways has been in the habit of moving flight times around. This can mean that occasionally flights will change day as well as time which can affect your whole holiday—but at least they are willing to offer full refunds or allow you to choose other flight options without penalty, and they’ll usually let you know several weeks in advance.

Jetstar

Destinations

Thanks to Jetstar, Cambodia has suddenly become a lot more accessible, with flights into both Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Jetstar also offers cheaper flights directly into Manila (rather than into Clark) as well Denpasar (operated by Valuair), Yangon and, of course, Bangkok.

Flight Times

Many Jetstar flights don’t really work for weekend trips as outbound flights after 6pm on a Friday night are extremely limited. However, if your departure time is flexible, then most of the more popular destinations, such as Hong Kong and Bangkok, have multiple daily flights.

Cheapies and their Likelihood

Jetstar tells us that their promotional (read: really cheap) fares are usually available across all flights and all days, and will be released into the next available fare class as the plane sells out. However in our experience, the ultra cheapies sell out quick and tend to really only be available on flights departing Mondays to Thursdays. This is first come first served, so again, once a cheap fare is advertized it’s important to snap it up quick. Fares on Jetstar rarely get cheaper closer to the date of the flight—it’s more about buying the bargains when you see them.

JetSaver fares, as their name indicates, are the fares with the most restrictions, in particular the tickets are non-refundable, and departure and arrival destinations cannot be changed. Other fares tend to be more flexible, although cancellations will usually incur charges.

On Board

Some of the finer details are better taken care of on Jetstar than the other airlines—the planes are just under two years old, seats are leather and they are pre-assigned so there’s no mad rush before boarding. Beer, wine, scotch, gin and vodka are available for purchase on board as well as snacks, including hot meals for trips over three hours. Baggage restrictions are the normal 20 kilograms.

The Downside

Jetstar doesn’t seem to advertise as many of the unbelievably cheap fares as the other two airlines. In this sense their website and email blasters are perhaps a more realistic indication of what price range you can expect. But the flip side is Qantas frequent fliers can earn points with Jetstar JetFlex and StarClass tickets.

HEAR

Singapore’s not called a multicultural country for nothing. Pass through the Raffles Place and City Hall MRT interchanges, the epicenters of the public transport system through which Singaporeans of every ethnic group pass everyday, for an earful of announcements made in our four main languages: English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. To hear “stand behind the yellow line” in all languages is quite the ear-twisting quintessential Singaporean experience.

For an honest look at our kaleidoscope of cultures, there is nowhere more down to earth than our local kopi tiams (coffee shops). And by honest we mean that you’ll be able to pick up swear words in at least three different languages and various dialects too, as the patrons hang around downing mug after mug of the local Tiger Beer, coffee and tea. Check out Chinatown Complex on Smith Street.

Visit the infamous Speaker’s Corner (Hong Lim Park) on any given day and you can hear the deafening sound of...well, nothing really. Our version of Hyde Park, established to give Singaporeans a chance to speak out on issues (with prior approval, of course), is surprisingly empty (well not so surprising given the police station just 100 meters away)—except for guys like former taxi driver and independent politician Lim Kian Heng (aka Singlet Man) and a couple of soccer teams practicing on weekends. But it’s not that Singaporeans have nothing to say. Just hop into any taxi and ask what the driver thinks about the government/economy/price of gas.

Singapore has more than its fair share of song birds in our ever-growing music scene. Of course, whether those birds are singing beautifully or squawking like vultures depends on who you’re listening to. To get an earful of the latter, tune in to Singapore Idol every Wednesday on Channel 5. For more serious musical talent scope out the live gigs at Bar None (Basement, Singapore Marriott Hotel, 320 Orchard Rd., 6831-4657) or Timbre (45 Armenian St., 6338-8277).

Anyone looking to soak in the arts should definitely swing by Esplanade—Theatres on the Bay (1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222) at least once to catch a show. The “durian,” as it’s been nicknamed for its resemblance to Southeast Asia’s unique thorny fruit, is synonymous with the arts and is home to some of the most renowned performances, such as the ongoing Forbidden City.

For chilled out banter and chatter, make a stop at Café le Caire (39 Arab St., 6292-0979) on a Friday night. On top of the casual conversation from the crowd of mostly young professionals, there are also the sounds of really cool Middle Eastern music to soak up while enjoying a smoke from intricately designed hookahs.

Singapore is one of the most technologically up-to-date countries in Asia and yet, for some reason, there are quite a number of us that forget there’s a silent function on all mobile phones. Our memory of this function is especially dim when in cinemas. Sit in on almost any flick and listen to the myriad of Canto-pop ring tones that explode mid-film, followed by hushed (or not so hushed) conversations about how the movie is going to end.

If you’ve only got a short while to get jiggy in the clubbing scene, we suggest going for bite-sized samples of various musical styles on offer at Ministry of Sound (#01-02/07, #02-01/08, Blk C Clarke Quay, River Valley Rd., 6235-2292). Here, all you need to do to enjoy a different genre is step into another room.

From middle-aged rockers wielding their trusty (and in some cases, rusty) electric guitars to a surprisingly spry old man swinging about a string of beads around his waist like a delirious hula-hoopa, the buskers on our popular shopping belt Orchard Road are an eclectic bunch. They constantly fighting for your attention and spare change, usually by butchering classic rock songs and church hymns.

SMELL

Mount Faber may be only 106 meters tall (hardly a mountain) but this park has some of the freshest air around. The unpolluted air (except when the haze comes to town) is partly due to the lack of traffic, the abundance of plants busy churning out oxygen and the proximity to the sea. Chill out on a park bench, take a deep breath of O2 and enjoy the scenic views. Have a drink at The Altivo (The Jewel Box, 109 Mount Faber Rd., 6377-9618) if thirsty.

Love it or hate it but the durian, the big green, spiky, pungent fruit is synonymous with Singapore. Its distinctive pong is highly offensive to people unaccustomed to it who describe its creamy flesh as being like onion-custard. Which side do you fall on? To find out, drop by one of the numerous durian stalls along Geylang Road and cast your vote.

Explore the streets of the historical quarter Little India to learn more about Indian culture. The overwhelming scent of Indian spices, jasmine garlands, incense and yummy curries make your head spin. Go any day of the week—except Sunday—unless you like rubbing shoulders (literally) with thousands of foreign workers who hang out here on their day off work.

There are many who think our local film industry stinks. We certainly haven’t caught anything impressive lately and some productions have even lulled us to sleep. To prove we’re not just being picky, go see for yourself major local productions at movie theaters, while smaller indie films are being screened at The Arts House (1 Old Parliament Lane, 6332-6900), The Picturehouse (5/F, 6/F, The Cathay, 2 Handy Rd., 6235-1155) and the National Museum of Singapore (93 Stamford Rd., 6332-3659). Bring a pillow.

One way to know our Garden City better is to, erm, go to a garden. There’s no better place than the Singapore Botanic Gardens
(1 Cluny Rd., 6471-7361) where you can smell roses and frangipanis growing in abundance. Register for a garden tour at the Visitor Centre.

The National Museum of Singapore’s (93 Stamford Rd., 6332-3659) massive facelift is so recent the paint still smells fresh. Only to be officially opened in December, this 1887 building has been endowed with state-of-the-art facilities and 10,000 square feet of exhibition space. Come and take a peek at the exhibit “The Art of Cartier” and art works from the Singapore Biennale 2006.

The State’s ideologies and the local media are intricately linked. We advise you to be savvy and critical while reading the papers. See if you can sniff out the “out-of-bounds” markers the media abide by—that’s local political speak for the self-censorship process the journalists go through.

Just as sky scrapers and impressive office towers are associated with the Central Business District, small pubs, karaoke lounges, conservation shop houses and cheap hotels are the hallmarks of “fishy” neighborhoods Geylang and Joo Chiat. Come late, when the action really gets going, to see what Geylang Road and Joo Jiat Road are notorious for and a whiff of the shadier side of Singapore. A word of advice: Trust your instincts more than your eyes.

TASTE

Indulge your taste buds by having Sunday champagne brunch at a five-star hotel. Starve yourself for this treat: There’s food as far as the eye can see, plus free flow champagne. Available at One Ninety (G/F Four Seasons Hotel, 190 Orchard Blvd., 6831-7250, Sun 11am-1pm, 1:30pm-3pm, $132-292) and Town Restaurant and Bar (G/F The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square, 6877-8128, Sun noon-3:30pm, $118).

Try the local cuisine by heading to a hawker center at peak hour. Not only will you get to sample cheap local fare such as roti prata, satays and curry laksa, and interact with Singlish-speaking store owners, you’ll also witness the Singaporean kiasu mentality at work as long queues form at the best stalls. Particularly notable in the evenings are Newton Food Centre and Lau Pa Sat.

For local cuisine in more comfortable (air-con) surrounds, choose the set menu of home style Singaporean dishes at the charming 8 on Greenwood (8 Greenwood Ave., 6100-8711) restaurant or try the all-you-can-eat buffet feast at Straits Kitchen (G/F, Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Rd., 6416-7114).

Try cooling down outdoors by ordering our locally brewed Tiger Beer. Find a chilled out spot at Sentosa’s beach bar KM8 (120 Tanjong Beach Walk, 6274-2288) or check out the more salubrious atmosphere of the latest yuppie hangout One Rochester (1 Rochester Park, 6773-0070) which is housed in a traditional colonial residence.

Witness poor taste in action by going to Lucky Plaza shopping center (304 Orchard Rd.) where you can find all manner of cheap and tacky tourist trinkets, aggressive electronics-touting salespersons and even condom shops.

Satisfy your curiosity about the much-touted chili crab by heading out to the East Coast where many restaurants specializing in chili crab are located. Line up for a table at the chili crab institution Long Beach Seafood Restaurant (1018 East Coast Parkway, 6445-8833) to get your hands dirty with the rich red sauce.

TOUCH

Walking down Orchard Road on a weekend afternoon without bumping into people or having people bump into you is near impossible. But it still doesn’t compare to the swarm at Singapore’s only 24/7 department store, Mustafa (145 Syed Alwi Rd., 6295-5855), at its busiest around 2am on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Nothing brings out Singaporeans’ addiction to shopping more than this quirky phenomenon. This department store is a veritable bazaar for everything from groceries, toys and jewelry to hearing aids and kitchen sinks.

Nothing beats a bit of pampering at the end of a hard day like one of the many hair salons that wash your hair after a head massage and do a manicure—simultaneously. Prices are very reasonable; for a hair wash in a city salon expect to pay $15-20, for a pedicure about $30 and a manicure about $20. We recommend Jean Yip (#04-02 Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Rd., 6332-9919).

If you look around you—on the bus, train, in a restaurant—you see Singaporeans constantly text messaging on their mobile phones. The local obsession is so intrinsic that a 23-year-old Singaporean, Kimberly Yeo, held the world record in 2004 for thumbing 26 words into her phone in 43.24 seconds, beating the world record of 67 seconds. To complete your Singapore experience, see how long it takes you to punch in 50 SMSes.

You might get the chance to go to a supermarket while you’re here. If you notice people spending an awful lot of time by the boxes of fruit and veg—this is why. It is an annoying Singaporean trait to go through every single piece of produce, feel it, press it, sniff it, weigh it in the palms of one’s hand, before deciding which piece among the entire box is the best to buy. (And it’s always the piece right at the bottom.) As you can imagine, it takes a while to fondle 600 apples or 150 bundles of spinach. Try it for yourself and see.

If the delights of chili crab, laksa, char keow teow and other hawker food have piqued your interest, pick up some tricks of the trade by signing up for classes at Cookery Magic (58 Jalan Tembusu, 6348-9667). Run by the cheerful and knowledgeable Ruqxana, her classes teach you how to rustle up Singaporean street food in a home kitchen and include vegetarian options. Call Ruqxana to let her know you’re coming as she conducts the classes in her own home.

The best things in life are free. At least that’s the mantra Singaporeans believe in and live by. If you happen to pass by any shop, restaurant or bar that is giving away anything for free, chances are you’ll see a really long queue for it. Doesn’t matter what it is—a drink, a bag, a whistle, health insurance, used socks—if it’s free we want it. If we don’t want it, even though it free, then it must totally suck.

For a certain kind of action on a Saturday night, check out Orchard Towers. With bars like Naughty Girl, Peyton Place and Ipanema in this nightlife location, you can expect to find party girls, sailors, trannies and everything in between. If you step into any of the bars here you’ll see lots of couples dancing, ahem, cheek to cheek, if you get our drift. You definitely won’t be seeing these on your sightseeing tour of the island.

While Singaporeans are a civilized bunch most of the time, we do occasionally hang loose; you’ll even see us eating with our fingers. This happens mostly at South Indian “banana leaf” curry shops that serve rice and curry on, you guessed it, a banana leaf. Check out popular favorite Banana Leaf Apollo (54/56/58 Race Course Rd., 6293-8682) where the curry of choice is fish head. If you don’t fancy gouging out the cheeks of a garouper or sucking out its eyeballs (the most delectable part) try the chicken, prawn, or regular fish curry, or just go to vegetarian restaurant Komala Vilas (12 Buffalo Rd., 6293-3664). You can ask for cutlery, but the real way to eat is to slop curry on your rice, make a little ball, pick it up with four fingers then kick it into your mouth with your thumb. Wash basins are provided.

With the return of US beef and an array of good high-end and mid-range steak houses in town, there has never been a better time to make room for a big juicy steak. We hunkered down and carved our way through some of the best steaks in town.

Morton’s, 4/F, The Oriental Hotel, 5 Raffles Ave., 6339-3740.

In keeping with its American restaurant chain heritage, Morton’s firmly believes that bigger is better. Everything is truly humongous: Potatoes almost the size of rugby balls, and gigantic crayfish are all part of what one can expect here. Maybe ordering 24 ounces of ribeye is slightly OTT, but when it tastes as good as it does here, it’s a little hard to say no. Their biggest menu item is the porterhouse for two ($172), a whopping 48 ounces of meat, meat, meat. If this sounds too much, try the “smaller” serves—we highly recommend the 10 ounce Filet Diane ($76) with its gorgeous mushroom sauce or the Filet Oskar ($82.50) which comes with lumps of crab meat and a delectable Béarnaise sauce. At the moment Morton’s is serving Australian beef, but look out for US imports soon.

Lawry’s The Prime Rib, #02-42/44 Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd., 6836-3333.

Stepping into this seven-year-old restaurant in its prime real estate overlooking Orchard Road one could be forgiven for thinking you were in an English tea room. High ceilings, large paintings and maids’ uniforms certainly make it a novel dining experience. But what you’re really here for is the American rib eye roasted over two and a half hours and cut from 24-month-old corn-fed steers. Steaks come in four sizes: Five ounce ($49.80 for lunch, $54.80 for dinner), seven ounce ($59.80 for lunch, $65.80 for dinner), 10 ounce ($69.80 for lunch, $76.80 for dinner) and the giant 16-ounce ($89.80 for lunch, $94.80 for dinner), all served with delightfully fluffy Yorkshire pudding and Idaho mashed potatoes. On weekends the Flaming Tournedos ($67.80) are also available—Australian grain-fed tenderloin pan-seared and brandy-flamed at your table for an impressive spectacle. And if steak isn’t your thing, take your pick of the lamb shank ($44.80 available for lunch only) or the Atlantic mixed lobster tails ($86.80 available for dinner only) which are equally delish.

Long Bar Steak House: A Plantation Restaurant, 2/F, Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Rd., 6331-1612.

For a steak with a touch of Asian influence Long Bar Steak House offers their specialty rib eye ($55) and fillet mignon ($57) with a choice of six different sauces all with Asian flavors such as sambal. However, we prefer the more traditional steak sauces such as peppercorn, the subtle house barbecue and the aptly named “brown” sauce. Apart from the truly stellar service, what is especially helpful is the chart listing different ways of cooking the steak. As restaurants often vary in their interpretations of how well-done a “medium” steak should be, it’s extremely useful to have the restaurant specify exactly what you can expect. A la carte steaks are only available at dinner (at lunch time there’s a semi-buffet instead).

The Tavern, 229 River Valley Rd., 6737-6995.

For 12 years The Tavern has been luring discerning diners to its elegant Swiss-styled dining room with its promise of some of the best steaks in town. Expect grade-7 Australian Wagyu beef, sliced the thickness you desire ($40 per 100gm) at your table. The perfection of the grilling which brings the full flavor to the fore while being melt-in-your-mouth tender is impressive. Steaks are served with broccoli, delicious raclette cheese potatoes and a divine Béarnaise sauce. Or try US prime rib eye ($25 per 100gm) and organic US Kurobuta pork chops ($36). We can also highly recommend the New Zealand rack of spring baby lamb ($36) which is well marinated and served with a gorgeous garlic and rosemary red wine gravy. Specialty starters not-to-miss include pan-fried goose liver ($28) and raclette cheese with air-dried beef ($15.50), also beautifully prepared.

Just Steak, #01-42 The Riverwalk, 20 Upper Circular Rd., 6438-5522.

For the most fashionable steak experience in town, try Just Steak. Here, the minimalist blonde wood space and waiters dressed in black present a very cool contemporary experience. They only serve US beef, such as the Black Angus tenderloin steak ($5 per ounce) and the ribeye steak ($6 per ounce). They also serve strip sirloin steak ($6 per ounce) and Black Angus ribeye steak ($4 per ounce), all of which require a minimum order of eight ounces. They’re served with yummy potato croquettes, green beans and carrots, plus mustards and horseradish, but Béarnaise sauce requires 10 minutes of preparation. Also available are sides of creamed spinach ($10) and sautéed mushrooms ($9) which were tasty. They also serve US pork chops ($28 for six ounces, $48 for 12 ounces), roast rack of lamb ($39 for eight ounces) and over-roasted spatchcock ($28).

Gordon Grill, Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Rd., 6730-1744.

At this veritable institution, steak is a big part of the menu. Basically there are six cuts to choose from: Three American and three Aussie. The US beef served here is prime Creek Stone Black Angus and comes in rib eye ($2.60 per 10 grams), striploin ($2.40 per 10 grams) and tenderloin ($2.80 per 10 grams). And it is for good reason that this steak is considered one of the finest around. The Australian Wagyu, served as rib eye ($4.50 per 10 grams), striploin ($4.50 per 10 grams) and tenderloin ($$4.50 per 10 grams), is positively melt in your mouth. You can opt for your steak to be flambéed, grilled or braised. Béarnaise, green peppercorn and brandy, and mushroom sauces are available but the meat doesn’t need any addition. If you want to go for variety over quantity, check out the restaurant’s sampler lunch ($55 per person) which allows you to have two mains as well as three appetizers, three soups and two desserts—all in small tasting portions.

Hog’s Breath, #01-26/27 CHIJMES, 30 Victoria St., 6338-1387.

Where do you go if you want good prime rib in a fun, casual setting? Here! Aussie chain Hog’s Breath has been at CHIJMES for about a year now and is dishing out the same juicy steak as in Down Under. Slow cooked for up to 18 hours, the prime rib is tasty, tender and carefully put together. There are six flavors to choose from: the Mexican style El Grand; avocado; topped with prawns; au naturel; and best sellers Cajun blackened prime rib and hickory smoked prime rib ($29.50-34). As the portions are large coming in a big group is ideal if you want to also have appetizers and dessert. And the best beverage to accompany your hearty steak is an ice cold Aussie beer from the well stocked Hog’s Breath Saloon.

Forget Atkins, these days everyone is talking about G.I. when it comes to dieting. Rating a food’s glycemic index is the new way in which people are trying to burn calories and maintain a healthier lifestyle. Culinary master Emmanuel Stroobant of Saint Pierre and new delicatessen, Archangel, prepared me two weeks’ worth of low G.I. foods to find out whether this latest health regime really works.

Day One

Breakfast: Two hard boiled eggs.
Lunch: Carrot soup; salad of beef pastrami with tomato, rocket and vinaigrette.
Afternoon: Roast beef sandwich with boiled egg, tomato, rocket and rye bread.
Dinner: Braised veal cheek, one wedge of cheese.

All the food looks delicious—l find it hard to believe that this is really what they call a diet! Terrines, a cheese platter and rye bread are all part of the menu. I started by hoeing into it with gusto, my brain telling me that as this was all I could eat all day, that I should eat as much as I could. But I quickly realized one of the most fundamental things about the G.I. diet—the food is hearty and filling. Lots of items end up as leftovers which I pick at throughout the next few days.

Day Two

Breakfast: Sugarless strawberry jam with rye toast.
Lunch: Rocket and tomato salad; sandwich with rye bread, ham, zucchini, tomato and hard boiled egg.
Dinner: Spaghetti bolognaise.

I’m still excited by the items such as cheese and a seafood terrine from yesterday but here’s the problem—I just can’t seem to find room to fit them in. In fact, I have no stomach space to snack at all.

Day Three

Breakfast: Two hardboiled eggs; one raw tomato.
Lunch: Goats cheese, rocket and pear salad; rye sandwich with pink salmon, tomato and rocket.
Snack: Parmesan with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
Dinner: Rack of roast lamb with baked cauliflower, onions and cheese.

Apart from a (very) slight twinge of hunger in the afternoon, I am feeling fully satisfied. Although it was a bit of a struggle to resist the chocolates someone brought into the office, I feel physically satisfied throughout the day. In fact, if someone would make me roast lamb like that every day I would never need to leave this diet.

Day Six

Cheat day. Chef Stroobant thinks I’m entitled to have a day of indulgence and I agree. I plan to eat a couple of chocolates and enjoy a big bowl of pasta. Yum yum.

Day Seven

Brunch: Sausages; scrambled eggs; pancetta; short black coffee.
Dinner: Raw tomatoes and two wedges of cheese; chicken fricasse; two glasses of red wine.

Cheat day was a big mistake. It killed my resolve and made it so much harder to go back on to the diet as I lost momentum and motivation. Suddenly I am missing the three major things that I can’t eat—potatoes, chocolates and large quantities of pasta. A particularly bad mistake was agreeing to go out to dinner with friends and watch them eat—it made my beautiful dinner seem so much less appealing and just full of holes—holes in the shape of all the foods I couldn’t eat. The only good thing is that by being good every other day, I have lost one full kilogram in a week.

Day Ten

Breakfast: Two slices wholewheat toast with sugar-free blackberry jam.
Lunch: Sliced fish bee hoon noodle soup (not from Archangel).
Dinner: One slice wholewheat toast with sugar-free blackberry jam.

The best thing about this diet is that it makes living a healthier lifestyle much easier in general. Knowing that I have been putting the effort into eating healthily drove me out of bed and into an aerobics class at 6:15am. And it helped me shed almost another kilo since my last weight check.

Day Thirteen

Breakfast: One and a half sausages.
Lunch: Salad of tuna, broccoli, white beans, French beans and sweet corn (not from Archangel).
Dinner: Slow-cooked duck leg.

Last day on the diet and I can see the changes. My appetite is much smaller now; I physically can’t eat as much as my greedy brain wants to. I’ve started to really see that this diet is achievable on my own, and one that I could stick to without too many feelings of loss. And best of all, I’ve lost another half a kilo in the last couple of days.

Our Verdict

The G.I. diet seems a logical and healthy compromise between what we know about a healthy food intake (less fats and sugars) and the Atkins diet (no carbohydrates). Because it doesn’t limit dieters to or exclude any particular food group, I wasn’t losing out on any essential proteins or vitamins. But most importantly, it seems like a sustainable diet—the food was delicious and filling and even with its restrictions, the diet left me with a wide range of choices for each meal. For a healthier, more balanced diet that one can stick to long-term, this seems like a good option.

Is this a proper diet?

Generally, foods that have high sugar levels or are highly refined have a higher G.I. or glycemic index. That means the body absorbs them quickly, giving a quick peak in insulin and energy, which is soon followed by a drop. So once you’ve consumed a packet of sweets or a piece of white bread, you’ll feel an immediate satisfaction in hunger, but what you’ve consumed won’t have any long lasting effects—in a short time you’ll be feeling tired (from the withdrawal of glucose) and hungry again.

But not all carbohydrates have this effect. Unlike the Atkins’ diet, one doesn’t have to cut out low G.I. carbohydrates or those that are more slowly absorbed into the system (such as wholemeal pastas or wholegrain breads).

And even better, some fatty foods can be eaten. In theory, if the body has less sugar to burn for energy, it will need to use fat stores instead. But before you run out to consume a block of cheese or some streaky bacon, common sense still prevails, so intake should be in moderation.

Is it In or is it Out?

When looking at G.I. tables look for foods with numbers of 55 or less. Avoid all foods that have a G.I. of 70 or more as they are considered high G.I. Here are some general principles.

Avoid:

- Sugars (and yes, that includes cakes, cookies and soft drinks, including sports drinks).
- Refined carbohydrates, such as white rice and breads.
- Potatoes in every form, especially fries.

Choose:

- Complex carbohydrates, such as wholegrain breads and oats.
- Foods with high fiber content, such as most leafy vegetables.
- Proteins, such as lean meats.