Esplanade's Mosaic Music Festival returns in March
The world-famous Mosaic Music Festival, in its tenth edition, will be held at the Esplanade from March 7-16.
Why do you think there’s a trend for juicing?
Eating and drinking clean is a reaction to the fear we harbor towards processed food. People are going back to basics as we are starting to realize that the food we consume today is nowhere near as nourishing as it was generations ago.
What are the benefits of juicing every day?
Juicing gives you a concentrated shot of nutrients. We need seven to nine portions of fruit and vegetables a day, and a large glass of vegetable juice can help reach that target.
People often tout the pros of juicing—what are the cons?
People with digestive problems frequently embark on radical juicing regimens, but this may actually end up aggravating their condition. Also, juicing can be high in sugar if ingredients are not chosen wisely—for instance, fruits and beets have high sugar contents. Moreover, cruciferous vegetables such as kale and broccoli are best consumed cooked; juicing them may slow down thyroid function.
Any health advice/tips for juicing?
Start slow—don’t jump into juicing by doing an extreme juice fast. Begin with a single green juice or smoothie daily, and choose ingredients that are lower on the glycemic index.
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City Hall
Dine to a year of good health and prosperity with Plaza Brasserie's Fruitful Yu Sheng that features refreshing fruits such as mandarin oranges, peaches, rose apples and rockmelon. Or, tuck into auspicious dishes like the Eight Treasures Duck, poached live prawns in Chinese wine and crispy durian dim sum. These dishes, and more, are part of the restaurant's Prosperity Feast from January 17 to February 14 ($48 upwards).
Si Chuan Dou Hua will be providing a Reunion Imperial High Tea (January 6 to February 14; $32) for friends looking to catch up over tea this Lunar New Year. The menu includes dishes like yu sheng and nian gao, as well as eight different types of hancrafted dim sum, paired with premium Chinese tea. Sample the restaurant's signature black truffle yu sheng with fresh turbot (January 6 to February 14; $98 upwards) that features prized black truffles, as well as premium turbot sashimi.
Szechuan Court is dishing out eight Chinese New Year set menus (priced from $318 for four people to $1,388 for ten people), plus a series of the chef's signature dishes. Unique offerings include golden scallop ingots ($48 upwards) and Shanghai dumplings in superior bird's nest consomme ($16.80). There's also a special dim sum menu that includes golden "dragon" har gao ($9.80) brushed with gold, and foie gras golden treasure bun ($9.80).
A reunion dinner at Wah Lok will be an indulgent affair with premium delicacies including abalone yu sheng, longevity poon choi, roasted whole boneless suckling pig, and Hokkaido scallops yu sheng. The reunion dinner set menus will run from January 20 to February 14, and are priced from $388 for six people.
Clarke Quay
Enjoy festive specialties at Ellenborough Market Cafe's Lunar New Year buffet spread (January 30 to February 2; $48 for lunch, $70 for dinner). There will be delicacies such as golden suckling pig, chilli crab with mantou and fish maw soup with crabmeat on the menu. New Year flavors will also feature in the cafe's regular buffet line-up from February 3 to14—expect dishes like BBQ bak kwa coins and fried nian gao.
Peony Jade has come up with an “Instant Enormous Windfall, Good Health and Longevity” horse-shaped yu sheng ($198.88)—packed with premium seafood, yuzu sauce and drizzled with truffle oil. Also sample the other festive specialties (January 16 to February 14) that are on the menu, such as the "Prosperity Forward" horse ingot ($288.88), which is a treasure trove of whole Australian abalones, crispy pork knuckle, chestnuts, pork tendons, golden conpoy and premium wood-ear mushrooms, just to name a few.
sQue Rotisserie & Alehouse is offering an Abundance Prosperity Platter ($48.80) that comprises of roasted sweet plum glazed spring chicken, slow cooked crispy skinned pork belly, seared sweet-soured chilli prawns and deep fried golden pillows. Pay an additional $10 for two bottles of Koniq Ludwig Weissbier.
East
Chef Andrew Tharm at Azur Restaurant is whipping up a host of Lunar New Year creations for the restaurant's Auspicious Buffet (February 2 to14; $48 for lunch and brunch, $58 for dinner). Expect dishes like fortune pig's trotter with dried oyster and black moss, and tasty sea cucumber with chinese mushroom casserole. The carving station will also get an oriental makeover, presenting dishes such as crispy roast duck and roast pork with walnut glaze and ginger mustard.
Seafood giant Jumbo will be offering a slew of set menus and festive dishes this season (January 17 to February 14). There's the customary Cantonese yu sheng platter and pen cai, as well as unique plates such as double boiled honey dew soup with abalone, sea cucumber and winter mushroom ($38), and wok baked live lobster with curried butter sauce (seasonal price). The set menus vary from outlet to outlet, but prices start from around $428 for eight people.
La Barca's take on the traditional yu sheng platter (Jan 10-Feb 14; $98) features julienned zucchini, capsicum, carrots, fennel, celery bulb, crispy ham, caramelized lemon peek, delicately sliced salmon, tuna, and sea bass. It's also served with two dressings, either mixed vinegar, or a honey and orange sauce.
Chef Nixon Low is revamping traditional Chinese favorites this Lunar New Year at Petite Menu. Try the 'Abundance' halibut ginger barley risotto, which is a Hapanese mirin-glazed fish with barley cooked risotto-style, or 'Harmony' sweet and sour chicken roulade, a unique take on the classic chicken dish. The Chinese New Year set menu is available from January 31 to February 12 ($33 upwards).
Marina Bay
Usher in a bountiful year with an abundance of food at AquaMarine, with festive buffet spreads priced from $60 (January 24 to February 14). Tuck into traditional dishes such as yam ring and gold shell scallop with golden cereal. Of course, there's yu sheng by the platter as well.
Enjoy a stylish three-course set meal (January 27 to February 1; $78) at the Boathouse, with dishes such as pan-seared Atlantic sea bass with seafood fricasee and cauliflower puree, and bouillabaisse fish stew of octopus and prawns. Round up your meal with oriental-inspired dishes such as the chocolate pave with summer berries and mandarin orange granite, or the yuzu creme mille feuille with berry compote and vodka jelly.
Usher in wealth and prosperity this Lunar New Year with the Cherry Garden Treasure Pot at Cherry Garden. This traditional 'basin dish' is the largest in Singapore, weighing in at more than 25kg. It is stuffed to the brim with premium ingredients such as braised eight-head abalone, scallops, crispy pork belly, dace fillet and lobsters, and comes with a price tag of $118 per person.
db Bistro Moderne is offering a special family-styled dinner menu (January 30 to February 2) this Lunar New Year. The menu features plates such as Boston lobster with black pepper mee ($65 upwards), and roast stuffed suckling pig with gratin dauphinois, wild mushrooms, garlic baby kalian and butternut squash ($98 upwards).
Look forward to specialty dishes such as Peking duck, Boston lobster, foie gras and roasted suckling pig, as well as a yu sheng counter at Edge's Lunar New Year Eve dinner ($158), which also includes free flow of G.H. Mumm Blanc de Blancs Champagne, selected wines, cocktails and beers.
Hai Tien Lo is serving up an array of Lunar New Year specialties this season. Its Prosperity Yu Sheng Platter ($38 upwards) comprises ingredients such as vegetarian sea grapes and black moss, Hokkaido scallops, Norwegian salmon, abalone and fresh lobster. Other signature dishes include the traditional pen cai, or treasure bowl ($368 upwards) and stewed chicken with eight treasures and lotus seeds ($48). Or opt for the value-for-money set lunch and dinner menus ($108 upwards) from January 20 to February 14.
Who says you can't have Japanese food for Chinese New Year? Try Keyaki's Japanese take on the traditional yu sheng platter with its Wafu Lo Hei ($98), comprising tuna, salmon, yellowtail and tobiko sashimi mixed with pumpkin, carrot, radish, cucumber and other vegetables. There's also a premium version ($288), which includes lobster, salmon roe and sea urchin. Available from January 8 to February 14.
Ring in a fruitful 2014 with Peach Blossoms's Organic Fruits Yu Sheng ($68 upwards), which contains fresh organic strawberries, mangoes, rockmelon, papaya and kiwi. Feast on an array of other dishes too, including the Vegetarian Deluxe Treasure Pot ($288), made from ingredients like vegetarian abalone, bamboo pith, elm fungus, beancurd skin and flower mushroom.
North
Tuck into yu sheng with a Straits Chinese twist at Flavours at Zhongshan Park. The 18 Treasures Yu Sheng comprises 18 unique ingredients, including shredded green mango, pork crackling and red drum fish, and is available in three sizes ($28 upwards). Or, tuck into a series of prosperity buffet dinners at the restaurant (January 15 to February 14; $42 per person upwards), featuring signature Straits Chinese dishes such as drunken chicken. There are also auspicious 8-course set lunches and dinners (January 24 to February 14; $688 per person upwards) to be had.
Tired of glitzy, opulent restaurants? Dine amidst a lush, natural setting instead this Lunar New year. The Forest Lodge at the Singapore Zoo and the Ulu Ulu Safari Restaurant at Night Safari will be serving a special Chinese New Year Sit Down Set (Jan 24-Feb 9; $688) for ten diners. Dishes on the menu include dual flavored fried prawns and of course, the prosperity yu sheng. This offer is also available at the Flamingo Lodge at Jurong Bird Park. Call 6360-8560 for more information or reservation enquiries.
Similarly, the River Safari Tea House is offering up a six or eight course Reunion Feast (from $78 for two people) from Jan 27-Feb 15. Expect traditional dishes like XO sauce fried rice with preserved meat, and braised superior fish maw soup with crabmeat.
Orchard
Celebrate the lunar season with 10 at Claymore's Auspicious Plates of Treasure a la carte buffet (February 2 to 28; $62 upwards). Savor the 8 Treasure Broth, which contains pacific blue crab meat, yunnan ham, sea cucumber and flower mushrooms. There are also unlimited servings of yu sheng, if you go for dinner or Sunday Brunch from January 15 to February 15. Alternatively, go for the reunion dinner set menu priced from $988 (January 15 to February 15), featuring dishes such as double braised chicken in superior angelica broth and white truffle infused bonito ee mian.
Get your sweets from Antoinette this Chinese New Year. Satisfy your sweet tooth with the Mandarina ($10), a cake made from praline cream, mandarin orange jelly, chocolate pain de genes, milk chocolate chantilly, dark chocolate ganache and chocolate almond crumble. Or try the 8 Treasures cake ($15 upwards), which is a rich butter cake infused with red dates, roasted pine nuts, dried longan fruit, candied ginger, kaffir lime leaves, walnuts, goji berries and tangerine peel. There's also a selection of festive cookies, truffles, biscuits and tarts to be had.
Carousel has put together a remarkably healthy Eight Joys of Spring Yu Sheng platter (January 21 to February 14; $138 upwards) using eight herbal ingredients, including panax quinquefolius, salsify, red dates, wolfberries and herbal jelly. The yu sheng is topped with a special dressing comprising of Thai chilli sauce, orange sauce, plum sauce, sesame oil and lime juice. The restaurant is also offering a Lunar New Year festive buffet from January 30 to February 1, priced from $43 upwards.
The Harmonious Reunion Feast (January 30; $88) at Checkers Brasserie showcases Chinese specialties such as stewed pork knuckles and Peking duck with crepes and roasted pork belly. Indulge in the extravagant Triumph to Success yu sheng (January 30 to February 14; $688 upwards for thirty people), which features an abundance of fresh salmon, tuna and two-head abalone, topped with truffle oil and gold flakes. Orders must be made at least three days in advance.
Hua Ting has come up with a whopping 15 different Chinese New Year set menus (January 2 to February 14; $98 per person upwards), featuring favorites such as braised abalone with fish maw, shiitake mushrooms and seasonal greens in superior oyster sauce, braised king tiger prawns with spicy shrimp paste, and crispy roasted duck with pan-fried Hokkaido scallops.
Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant is offering a slew of culinary delights this Chinese New Year, including stewed "eight treasures" chicken with 5-head abalone ($298) and the traditional Buddha Jumps over the Wall ($438 for four people). There are also reunion dinner set menus ($138 per person upwards), featuring dishes such as imperial chicken with conpoy and steamed whole marbled goby with golden lily bulbs and black fungus.
Indulge in an array of prosperity dishes at Min Jiang, such as snapper with grilled puffer fish yu sheng ($138) and braised chicken with sea treasures in claypot ($198). There's also a range of Lunar New Year goodies available for takeaway, such as the 1kg Fortune of Gold ($80), which is a moist passionfruit and apricot pound cake topped with eight gold ingots and eight gold coins (handcrafted from chocolate, of course).
On the topic of pizzas—tuck into Skinny Pizza's kong bak pizza ($24) that features rich slices of soy-braised pork belly, lettuce, cucumber, coriander, shallots, chilli strips and togarashi flakes, on top of the establishment's iconic crackly crust. Or sample the seabass, razor clam and leek confit linguine ($26) that is tossed with white wine sauce. Available from January 15 to February 14.
Swensen's has come up with its own take on the traditional yu sheng platter (January 24 to February 14; $23.80 upwards). Its signature Fortune Yu Sheng features smoked salmon slices, crisp wafer sliced carrots, Shimeji mushrooms, preserved ginger, melon and cucumber, among other innovative ingredients.
Tandoor has also put a spin on the traditional yu sheng dish with its Indian-style rendition that is flavored with cumin powder, coriander, nutmeg, onion and ginger and sweetened with mango juice. Patrons can select the abalone prosperity yu sheng ($58 upwards) or the fresh salmon version ($48 upwards), from January 25 to February 14.
River Valley
Enjoy a Belgian-style yu sheng platter, called the Poisson Cru Platter, at Brussels Sprouts (January 30 to February 14). Made from turnip, beetroot, sirop de Liege, peanuts, raspberry vinegar, rollmops and mussels crackers, it's definitely not your usual fishy fare.
Tuck into a buffet spread this Chinese New Year at Cafe Brio's. Items on the festive menu (January 31 to February 13) include Singapore roasted duck with spinach and bean sprouts, crispy wasabi tiger prawns in taro ring with bonito flakes, as well as the signature Grand Copthorne Waterfront laksa. Prices start from $48.88.
Have a dim sum feast this Chinese New Year at Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant, with creations such as double-boiled bird's nest with Alaskan crab ($65) and roasted chicken with bird's nest and glutinous rice ($78). There is also a range of festive desserts, including nian gao ($48) and cranberry golden ingot cookies ($39 for 8 pieces).
Tiong Bahru
Tiong Bahru Bakery is joining in the Lunar New Year celebrations this year, with apple ($4.50) and ham and cheese ($4.50) versions of their signature Kouign Aman, and the specially created Pineapple Turnover ($6.80), a flaky puff pastry stuffed with sweet pineapple compote. They've also released a mandarin Kouign Aman ($3.80, only available at the TANGS Orchard outlet) that's bound to be very popular, so snap yours up quick.
Sentosa
Blue Lotus has come up with four Chinese New Year set menus (January 13 to February 14) this season. The Happiness menu ($88), Fortune menu ($108) and Longevity menu ($128) are affordable picks that feature standard dishes like yu sheng and marbled goby. The more luxe Prosperity menu ($288), on the other hand, comprises dishes such as double-boiled bird's nest soup with American ginseng and braised Australian green lip abalone in abalone jus.
Welcome the year of the horse at Cassia with its signature yu sheng platter, molded on the silhouette of a galloping horse. From January 27 to February 14, patrons can also take their pick from four traditional set menus. The Spring Menu ($69 for lunch) features traditional Cantonese fare, such as steamed siu mai topped with abalone. However, if you're looking for something more decadent, opt for the the Prosperity, Wealth and Fortune menus ($119, $159 and $209) instead, which feature premium dishes such as pan-fried Hokkaido scallops and steamed lobster medallions with egg white.
Pizza on any occasion—even Chinese New Year—is a good idea. Picotin Express is offering two oriental pizzas this fesitve season, quirkily named after Chinese horse breeds. The Guoxia Pizza ($22) features roast duck, plum sauce and water chestnut, while the Lijiang Pizza ($22) is topped with chinese sausages and spring onions.
Celebrate Chinese New Year off the mainland at Sentosa's The Terrace, which will offer a hearty buffet spread (January 31 to February 2; $68). Expect various Asian flavors such as drunken chicken, fresh seafood, roasted pork shoulder and yu sheng, among other sumptuous dishes.
South
Jamie's Italian has also come up with none other than an Italian-style yu sheng (January 27 to February 14, $6.50) , featuring italian crunchy root vegetables (grated carrot, heritage beetroot, white radish, butternut squash and celeriac) and beetroot-cured salmon slices, dressed in a unique vinaigrette made with lemon juice, olive oil and mint.
Celebrate Chinese New Year with a German touch this year with Brotzeit's Abundance Pan (January 22 to February 16, $88), which is filled with meaty specialties such as grilled pork chops, roasted sliced pork belly and Brotzeit's signature oven roasted pork knuckles. The dish also contains orange-cranberry red cabbage, mashed potatoes and napkin dumplings, so it's not all meat.
Tanjong Pagar
Bar-Roque Grill's Lunar New Year menu (January 28 to February 14) is inspired by French classics, as well as traditional Chinese festive dishes. There's duck consomme with glass vermicelli ($18), crispy pork knuckle with sauerkraut ($68) and whole suckling piglet, stuffed with French chestnuts, mushrooms and pistachios ($398), among other creations.
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Best Brunch Ever: Delicious Morning Recipes to Savour
Brunch is fast becoming a national obsession and kitchen giants Tools of the Trade (ToTT) are riding the wave with this brunch cookbook featuring 24 recipes across different cuisines, from American to Singaporean to French. At just $12.90, it's also cheaper than your next plate of eggs ben.
The Kinfolk Table
Fans of hip indie food bible Kinfolk will love this gorgeous cookbook, filled with 85 recipes from tastemakers all around the globe. With simple, fuss-free recipes such as Pulla (Finnish dessert bread) and almond jam tart, The Kinfolk Table ($59.80, from BooksActually) aims to focus instead on the relationships that surround eating. Even non-obsessives will find the sumptuous photography hard to ignore.
Plussixfive: A Singaporean Supper Club Cookbook
The brainchild of the Singaporeans behind the plussixfive supperclub in London, this cookbook ($48.90, from Kinokuniya) has a staggering 256 pages. Filled with over 50 recipes, irreverent doodles, tips and anecdotes, Goz Lee and friends teach you how to whip up local fare. Definitely useful for homesick Singaporeans living aboard, or for those leaving our sunny shores.
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Describe yourself in three words.
Hardworking. Lazy. Dreamer.
Which famous musician, alive or dead, would you love to perform with?
American singer-songwriter and guitarist James Taylor.
What is your greatest achievement to date?
The concert I held in 2010 for my 50th birthday. S.R. Nathan (the President then) graced the event as the Guest of Honor, and the concert managed to raise $1.1 million for community chest.
Describe your most memorable performance.
Playing on the main stage at montreux Jazz Festival in 1988 with my bandmates Redd Holt and the late eldee Young. We had a standing ovation from almost 4,000 people! The concert was televised live all over europe.
What are the three things that you absolutely cannot live without?
My mac Powerbook, brompton bicycle and custom-adjusted Kawai XO upright-grand piano.
If you were an instrument, what would you be?
Cello—I love the sound, expressiveness and range of the instrument.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Flying—I would flit around the world to catch great gigs and concerts.
What is your greatest vice?
I drink too much coffee.
Jeremy Monteiro will perform on Jan 3 and 4, 9.30pm, at The Sultan Jazz Club, $25.
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What inspired Friday the 13th: Hideout?
The [event organisers] A-Team wanted to host an event that is unlike anything that has ever been done before. We wanted to cater to party goers in Singapore who are looking for an underground party with a different sound and feel, so we created a pop-up club in a secret location.
We understand that The A-Team is a "supergroup" comprising six event organizers, Inception Entertainment, French Bastard, Kala Club, Osborne Holdings, Social Nomad and The Key Card. Tell us more about your unique collaboration and the process—who handles what?
This collaboration was made possible by [director of Inception Entertainment] Desmond Choo, who had a vision of uniting who he feels are influential event organizers in Singapore. He felt that we should combine our efforts and strengths to create a mega party that will be the talk of town, instead of focusing on small-scale projects. While it is quite difficult to explain exactly what our roles are, we have been able to work together and divide tasks in such a way that all of us can do what we enjoy and are good at.
What are you most excited about?
Personally, I am very excited about working with such talented event organizers. I truly believe that with all our strengths combined, we can create parties that will have the town buzzing.
What sort of crowd are you expecting?
I think that the people who turn up at our event will be those looking for something that is not mainstream. Our crowd will follow us because they like the music line-ups and different experiences that we offer.
What can partygoers expect?
A well-organized event with amazing beats, entertainment, great drink offers and lots of fantastic people.
What else do you have up your sleeves?
We have quite a few things in the pipeline, individually and collectively. For example KalaClub and Social Nomad are running the first ever Bollywood party in Pangaea on Dec 19, which we are very excited about! As for the A-Team, we will reveal our next event by the end of the year.
Friday the 13th: Hideout takes place on Dec 13 at a top-secret location which will only be revealed on the day of the event. $35-$45 from Peatix.
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