The Blackground

A bunch of young local designers have set up shop here to showcase their graphic works and doodlings on a series of affordable tote bags and T-shirts (all $18), notebooks ($14) and jewelry imported from Thailand ($18 onwards). The vibe here is definitely kooky and creative—peppered around the store are amateur photographic works and plastic cameras that retail for just $9.90.

The Attic

Run by cool cat Yap Chang Ten, The Attic is chockfull of everything and anything—from vintage vinyl players to hard-to-find 70s advertising signboards and cigarette cans, 60s Levi’s shirts and collectible sunglasses—you name it, the man has it.

The No Label Shop

OK, so no one is really supposed to know about this place (there’s no signboard whatsoever)—as with most shops that sell designer goods parallel-imported from China and other parts of Asia, where they are usually made. But it’s certainly worth a visit for the marked down evening dresses and shoes spanning labels like Prada, Issey Miyake, Chloe and Louis Vuitton.

Exhibit

Proprietors Angeline and Yoyo have an eye for trendy pieces sourced from Hong Kong and Taiwan. The layout of the shop is particularly attractive, with accessories ($49-69) clearly showcased inside a makeshift white drawer near the entrance and the clothes sparsely hung to create an illusion of exclusivity.

The Corner Shop

This vintage-inspired lifestyle store may not carry the real thing (the rare clothing and vinyls displayed around the counters are from the owner’s private collection), but they have some pretty cool berms and rock-inspired T-shirts ($59.90 upwards) that are available for sale. Oh, and if you’re a supporter of local photography, check out the black-and-white photo shots of rock stars and DJs by the likes of Eden Cai ($90 upwards).

Black Carpet

One of the best new stores here (and only one-month-old), art director Seelan Palay has come up with a noble concept. Works by local artists like Lee Wen will be showcased on its walls over the next few months, alongside a series of limited edition tees ($30 upwards), hats ($30), wallets ($100) and one-off backpacks ($300) for the design conscious.

A-Lodge

Owner Karen handpicks the gems here from Taiwan during her buying trips every month. Stocks are updated every week, ensuring fresh finds each time you visit the store. Some of the rarer gems here include flowy tops and dresses by brands Wonderment, Mix Sense and Noten Inc., with prices averaging between $59.90-159.90.

Wondering why you finish the work day grouchy, stiff and vowing to quit? Your office chair might have something to do with it. So here are a few that promote better posture, greater comfort and just look all kinds of awesome.

The Workbay Chair

$8,910 from Vitra Singapore
This one scores points for its comfortable high backrest and convenient cocoon shape—great for when you want to distance yourself from annoying colleagues.

Vitra Waver

$2,325 from Space
The Waver’s proof that unusual design doesn’t have to cause backaches. It offers the same type of comfortable seating usually seen on an upholstered couch, but stands out cheerily in terms of fabric color and shape.

Generation by Knoll

$2,373 from Vanguard Interiors
The Knoll chair is a strange sight with its dangerous curves and stark upholstery, but what’s even stranger is that this work chair is said to rearrange itself in response to its user, so don’t expect it to improve your posture.

Walter Knoll—Turtle

$5,393 from Proof Living
Renowned London design team Pearson Lloyd has taken the idea of the bucket seat and turned it into this work of art, which comes with a swivel base or a four-leg base. You can choose to have your back bucket made of white or black plastic, or dressed with fabric or leather covers—classy.

Pressed chair

$995 from Jules & Jim
If you’re an advocate of good posture, this fearsome-looking invention might work in your favor.

Essentials

Jules & Jim
Proof Living
Space 77
Vanguard Interiors
Vitra Singapore

1.) Maybelline

Usable on both eye and lip make up, you will need to shake the bottle a bit before use. The first wipe only has a small effect, and there are still some makeup stains left after the third wipe. It’s even harder when trying to remove waterproof mascara—so the trick is to hold the cotton pad to both of your eyes for 10-20 seconds before wiping. Its small size makes it handy for traveling.
Price: B159 for 70ml.

2.) L’Oreal

Similar to Maybelline, it needs a good shake before use, but we were able to effortlessly remove all eye makeup with just one swab. A few more strokes will be needed for thick waterproof mascara. The texture is pretty oily so you’ll need to finish off with some water-soaked cotton pads. Good only if you don’t wear too much makeup.
Price: B240 for 125ml.

3.) Boots Collagenese

This oil and water solution doesn’t do much on the first wipe. Eyeliner marks disappear only with a bit of force, and it fails to completely clean up masacara. Make sure you shut your eyes tightly when applying to avoid the ouch factor.
Price: B280 for 150ml.

4.) DHC Cleansing Oil

The color is a bit unusual until you realize that this product’s main ingredient is pure virgin olive oil. It is super greasy and you need to apply it with dry hands and face. Surprisingly, your eyes need to be rubbed pretty hard to wipe off all the makeup. That also means oil might get into your eyes, but there’s no irritation. With a little bit of water, the oil turns milky. After a thorough wash, pores feel narrower and skin smoother. Too bad its outrageously expensive
Price: B1,350 for 200ml.

5.) No. 7

A little bit oily but at the same time, the eyes feel hydrated, and the greasiness disappears pretty quickly. Only two wipes suffice to erase all the eyeliner marks. The pumping dispenser helps avoid unnecessary spilling. Its small bottle is also suited for travel kits.
Good if: You have money to spend, but you do it reasonably.
Price: B400 for 100ml

6.) Johnson’s Baby Oil

With this pure mineral baby oil, you can get rid of your eyeliner with a single wipe. More effort is necessary, though, if your lashes are covered with sticky waterproof mascara. Oily residue is inevitable so you might need to soak a cotton pad with water, and then wipe your eyes again to freshen up. Not good for facial makeup cleansing, obviously. Definitely no irritation even when some gets into your eyes. It’s super cheap, super easy to find and has other uses.
Price: B132 for 200ml.

7.) Cleansing Express

This cleansing lotion comes in clear liquid form and is free of alcohol, oil, and fragrance. One great thing about Cleansing Express is that it removes all the makeup on your face from eyes to lips in one step (and a few cotton pads) without having to wipe and scrub too many times. Just like when using a toner, dark smears on cotton pads are noticeable especially on a sweaty day. Skin feels cool and fresh after use, but we did feel a bit of eye irritation, too. Perfect if you’re a workaholic who goes home very late or a chic party animal with no energy left at the end of the night to painstakingly remove your make up.
Price: B380 for 300ml.

8.) Shu Uemura White Recovery Ex+

We fell in love with its beautiful packaging as soon as we saw it. Unlike other brands, the product requires dry skin for application. You’ll feel awfully greasy applying it and we find it a bit hard to wash off thoroughly and even harder to use when trying to rub off the eye makeup. But once we got to the finishing line, our skin felt super smooth and healthy. Although this is a one-step cleansing method that requires no other finishing products,the price is hardly justified.
Price: B3,800 for 450ml and B1,650 for 150ml.

9.) DHC Makeup Remover

The ratio of oil and other liquid ingredients is 1:1 so you do less work getting rid of regular eye cosmetics. It’s pretty easy to get most of your makeup off, but a bit more effort is needed to get at all the liner marks out. But somehow, the eye area ends up feeling fresh and healthy. No smell, no irritation.
Price: B620 for 120ml.

1.) EZ-Choice

B29 at 7-Eleven
Perhaps not surprisingly, our winner was the only contender that was fresh, proving (yet again) that freezing and thawing diminishes flavor.Although this one is a touch dry, it has a nice combination of sweetness, spiciness, herbs and garlic. Plus the rice is fluffy and aromatic. Compared to the other contenders, which were largely too one-dimensional in flavor, this one was strongest in terms of authenticity and execution.

2.) EZ-Go

B39 at 7-Eleven
Fresh or not, 7-Eleven is clearly on to something as even their frozen option was enjoyed by the tasting panel. There were a number of things we didn’t like about it, though: it took forever to heat up, the texture of the chicken was gristle-heavy and the purists on our panel were weirded out by the addition of kaffir lime leaves in this krapao dish, which made it taste slightly like hor mok. Still, if you forgive the creative license in this dish, it was pretty delicious. It also comes with a fried egg, and it’s the second-cheapest option in our roundup.

3.) CP

B65 at Tops
Very pretty to look at with a nice, dark color, but alas the pleasantness stops there. There’s no exciting aroma, and the chicken itself is extremely spongy. As for the flavor, it’s overwhelmingly one-dimensional, with lots of heat, lots of garlic but no herbs to speak of. The only saving grace is the aromatic rice, but that’s really it.

4.) Pranpai

B59 at Tops
Pretty disappointing on all fronts: a small portion and a sickly look don’t create a good impression, nor does the small pool of broth at the bottom after you microwave it—we like a thick almost gravy-like sauce. The aroma is lacking, too, as is any discernable flavor of herbs or garlic. Oh, and the chicken is spongy. Bleh. It comes with an omelet, but we didn’t consider it in our tasting.

5.) S&P

B65 at Tops
If you like your krapao a bit sweet and not very spicy, you’ll like this one. The dish looks pretty, with pale chicken and red peppers. Once you eat it, however, there is a touch of coconut cream, which is pretty odd, but does give the dish a nice texture, even if it does taste a bit like Penang curry. There’s a slight wilted-herb aftertaste, but that’s to be expected, considering the dish is thawed out from a deep freeze.

The long-haired one Steve Aoki unleashes his animal instinct on this special Halloween-themed night at Avalon.

If you thought rollercoaster were rides were scary, wait till you take them on at Halloween Horror Nights.

As usual, Zouk doesn’t disappoint with Rites & Rituals, featuring some awesome prizes and of course, free entry (but only if you’re early).

Get in free to see I Am David Sparkle! Just come dressed in your trendiest gore and turn up before midnight for Us Against The Sound.

A B movie themed  mayhem and sordid tunes abound at Zirca for The Grindhouse Halloween—we’re getting the chills already.

The Singapore Flyer gets a horrific “revamp”, with Chinese tombstones, Hantu mansions and Japanese graveyards. Come to Fright Fest @ Singapore Flyer for the ride of your life.

Romance as tragedy. Come in your Sunday worst to the Butter Factory's Hallowedding celebration—for a night of shenanigans.

Unleash your inner freak at the trick or treat bash at selected watering holes in Peranakan Place for Evil Carnival. 

A night of Halloween themed activities and more as Clarke Quay transmogrifies into something straight out of a ghastly horror story  for The Mysteries of the Haunted Island.

Cloak yourself in lace or leather for Ku Dé Ta's Black Moon Halloween.

I*CON Shunji Matsuo by Lily Xu The latest addition to Shunji Matsuo’s growing empire specializes in Japanese celeb styles, as well as the more adventurous variety seen on the streets of Harajuku and Shibuya. Also available are Arimino Japan hairstyling products and treatments. #01-35 Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Rd., 6737-5311.

Jayun Hair Boutique Besides engaging in styles commonly seen on the streets of Seoul and Busan, Jayun also provides popular Korean treatments such as the Cyber Clinic and Rescue Perm. #03-03 Pacific Plaza, 9 Scotts Rd., 6887-4542.

Komachi the Hair Cult The stylists here have quite a rep for knowing what they’re doing and doing it well. Celeb hairstylist and makeup artist Andrea Claire has even raved openly about her session with hair designer Yoshiko Tsuji. #02-03/04 International Building, 360 Orchard Rd., 6339-9432.

La Coco Having started out with only two Korean hairstylists, the salon has since expanded, taking appointments from both men and women looking to get a Korean-inspired mop many local stylists aren’t familiar with. #04-13 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Rd., 6884-4644.

Spa Scene Great for elaborate Korean hair treatments, you can browse their online catalog for an idea of what they do, which includes volume rebonding and the setting perm inspired by sexy superstar Lee Hyori. #03-27A Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Rd., 6337-4424.

Baize

If you’re not sure where the night is headed, pop by China One, the opium den-inspired bar and club that also houses Baize, their pool lounge. On weekend nights, the place is teeming with PMEBs engaged in a sort of chicken dance amid lavishly carved mahogany furniture, rattan lampshades and bare walls, giving this nightlife spot a unique old China vibe.

Se7en 1nch

This occasionally raucous bar reminds us of downtown Manhattan, what with its psychedelic graffiti and brick walls, but that’s not why you should spend an evening here. Besides a rather sought-after pool table, Se7en 1nch also has a live stage and pole dancing platform, and a rather intimidating long bar, not because of its staff but for its notorious Absinthe cocktails.

Lot, Stock & Barrel

Despite being located on a little street beside Raffles Hotel, this grubby pub is definitely not for the hoity-toity—a charm in itself. The jukebox adds to the place’s homely and unassuming ambiance, while the warmly-lit pool area, dart boards, squash chairs and TV turned to the sports channel make Lot, Stock & Barrel a really nice after-work joint.30 Seah St., 6338-5540.

In the 15 works created during her residency at Singapore Tyler Print Institute last year, the background of vivid magenta skies, resplendent with Braille messages created using intricately minute perforations made out of mirrors, take multi-layered forms as one views them from different perspectives.

The works, named after doomed romances, ancient jewels and famous latitude lines, cleverly resonate with the MacArthur Award-winning artist’s fascination with how humans have always looked up to the skies for information.

While it is easy to interpret the fable of ill-fated, star-crossed lovers in works like Devdas and Paro and Tristan and Isolde and how latitude lines like the Tropic of Capricorn have been important in navigation, the works challenge you with their indecipherable messages.

The confusion is no accident, as Fernández work references “Ecriture Nocture,” or “Night Writing,” a perplexing communication system designed by French army Captain Charles Barbier de la Serre during Napoleon’s reign.

If you do want to take home one of these unique creations, be prepared to fork out between $20,000 and $45,0000.

Night Writing runs through Oct 29 at Singapore Tyler Print Institute.

Political Mother

The quirky dance darling and erstwhile composer Hofesh Shechter, who once donned a gorilla suit on stage, returns with the highly anticipated sensory feast Political Mother. Expect militant drumming, roaring guitars and gritty high octane dances in an explosive work that question the idea of modern day nationhood and democracy.

We Came From The East

If your grandmother told you that hip hop was born in Papua and not the streets of Bronx, you would probably think she’s gone senile. But that’s definitely not the case with Indonesian choreographer Jecko Siompo’s We Came From The East. The movements are based on Animal Pop, a vigorously sublime combination of traditional tribal beats, animalistic moves and hip hop. But it’s not all primal as the troupe of eight Indonesian and two German dancers notch up this fresh, clever cross-cultural piece with a generous dash of humor.

6,000 Miles Away with Sylvie Guillem

Shame on folks who are under the impression that only nubile teens make good dancers. Sylvie Guillem, the acclaimed 46 year old former ballerina banishes that ageist stereotype with an eloquent series of two performances in Rearray and Bye. The former is a serious duet with veteran Nicolas Le Riche examining the relationship between age and dancing. The later, a solo choreographed by Mats Ek, is a playful mediation on a middle aged woman who escapes into her youthful dreams. Also includes Jiří Kylián’s work 27’52,” performed by dancers handpicked by the famous choreographer.

Another year’s gone by, and we’ve taken it upon ourselves to find an entirely new list of 50 eats that are simply die, die, must try. We’ve taste-tested everything from hawker fare to fine dining grub, deep-fried to oven-roasted dishes, and come up with our top eats for 2011. Here they are, in no particular order. So no excuses, get cracking folks.

1. BERKSHIRE PORK BELLY AT NOVUS

It’s no secret that we have a real weakness for all things porcine, and this offering from chef Stephan Zoisl is stunning. With just the right ratio of fat to meat in our book (1:1), and after being cooked sous-vide for 48 hours, it’s hard not to inhale these thin slices of incredibly succulent American Berkshire pork belly in one go. They sit pretty atop a fragrant and creamy saffron-scented risotto, accompanied by Joselito ibérico, crisp pork crackers, parmesan and char-grilled capsicum which make for a winning combination. $38.

2. TOKUSEI REIMEN AT JAPANESE BBQ YAKINIKU YAZAWA

We aren’t big fans of cold noodles, but for this rendition we’ll make an exception—chewy translucent threads in a chilled chicken broth, topped with half a hardboiled egg, slivers of chicken, sesame seeds and accented with aromatic garlic oil. Yummers. $18.

3. FOIE GRAS DUO AT BISTRO SOORI

You’re going to love us for this one, unless you’re a doctor. Texan chef Ben McBride has our vote with this truly decadent number: Pan-seared foie gras coupled with a pink peppercorn-studded wine-poached pear filled with a very pleasant surprise—rich foie gras mousse. To tie it all together and save it from being overly cloying, a mildly sweet yet tart pink peppercorn gastrique. $21.

4. JIAOZI AT YANG GUI FEI

Unfortunate name choice of this little gem aside, the jiaozi in hot and sour soup here is terrific. The broth is spicy, sour and flavorful, and serves as the ideal complement to these juicy homemade pork-filled dumplings. You almost don’t need any vinegar on the side. $7.

5. ENTRE-NOUS CRÊPE AT ENTRE-NOUS CREPERIE

The signature Entre-nous crêpe makes us weak in the knees. A paper-thin treat crisped to perfection, made with organic wheat flour, is dressed with housemade salted butter caramel. We’ve been known to lick our plates clean. $9.30.

6. NASI AYAM PENYET AT NUR INDAH KITCHEN

The crunchy yet tender chicken is a winner, and pairs superbly with the fluffy rice (cooked with chicken stock). Don’t forget to pile on the sweet and sour chili. $4.50.

7. GRILLED PRAWN PASTA AT NÁZT BISTRO LOUNGE

Lip-smackingly good, yet so simple. A combination of grilled tiger prawns and al dente linguine coated with a spicy prawn-scented butter sauce that you’ll find hard to share. $22.

8. WHOOPIE FRIES AT PIQUE NIQUE

Hella hard to say no these babies, despite the fact that we’re well aware of how bad they are for our waistline. Deep-fried, thick-cut golden fingers of crisp potato, tossed in a blend of seasoning that tastes like a very successful marriage between Cajun spices and curry powder. Enjoy with tons of mayo. $8.

9. BLACK TRUFFLE AND ARTICHOKE SOUP AT GUY SAVOY

All it takes is one mouthful of celeb chef Guy Savoy’s signature black truffle and artichoke soup to convert even the most cynical of critics. $90.

10. SASHIMI POKE AT HEART BISTRO

Hawaiian food doesn’t really exist in Singapore, but it does make a fleeting appearance here in the form of poke: Marinated thin-sliced salmon sashimi with a sprinkling of white and black sesame seeds. $16.

11. SUP TULANG AT AL KADER RESTAURANT

The deep red gravy might be off-putting to some, but we can guarantee that it’s really delicious with a strong tomato flavor and loads of marrow in the bone just waiting to be slurped up. $6-12.

12. JELLY ‘N’ ICE CREAM AT THE GARDEN OF EDEN

Chef and owner Tim Ross-Watson’s unusual interpretation of a childhood favorite (his and ours): Jelly and ice cream. We have fond memories of jice, but it was never quite as fancy as 66% Valrhona chocolate ice cream, raspberry jelly and gel, coconut cream and mouth-tingling pop rocks. $15.

13. CONFIT SAKURA AYAM TUTURAGA AT THE MOLUCCAS ROOM

We adore Indonesian-born chef Alicia Tivey’s confit Sakura ayam tuturaga, a tangy Sakura chicken confit curry with roasted new potatoes that showcases her classical French cooking techniques. $33.

14. APPLE OATMEAL PANCAKES AT BOATHOUSE

Brunch is one of our favorite meals, and the apple oatmeal pancakes here are what we crave most weekends. Light, fluffy, and healthy to boot, apple compote and honeycomb are a particularly nice touch. $18.

15. PEKING DUCK SKIN, FOIE GRAS AND PRAWN COMBO AT MAJESTIC RESTAURANT

Props to chef-owner Yong Bing Ngen for making Chinese cuisine contemporary with dishes like this stellar combination of Peking duck skin, pan-seared foie gras and crispy prawns with wasabi dressing. $18.

16. SUCKLING PIG AT OTTO RISTORANTE

Proof that not only the Chinese do crispy suckling pig well. This scrumptious rendition is lacquered with black locust tree honey and accented with aged balsamic vinegar. $48.

17. BLACK CARROT CAKE AT LE YI SHI FRIED CARROT CAKE

Chunky cuts of carrot cake that’s fried until slightly caramelized and evenly coated with thick, dark soy sauce. We suggest ordering it with chili. $2-3.

18. TARTE TATIN AT RESTAURANT EMBER

After all this time, still one of the best damn apple tarte tatins in the city. $16.

19. FILET MIGNON AT KEYSTONE RESTAURANT

Chef de cuisine Mark Richards makes several noteworthy creations so it’s hard to pick just one, but our carnivorous predisposition votes for the Rangers Valley filet mignon cooked to your specifications (medium-rare please folks), accompanied by brown butter béarnaise and miso yaki eggplant. $58.

20. XO CHEONG FUN AT YAN TING

Wok-fried cheong fun with XO sauce and eggs might not sound like anything special, but sometimes it’s the simple things that do it for us. This one certainly does. $10.

21. SCALLOPS AT FIFTYTHREE

Instead of the usual pan-seared ones that are de rigueur in most fine dining establishments, this entrée crafted by chef-owner Michael Han is restrained yet it still packs a culinary punch. Start with sashimi-style scallops, add in balls of compressed watermelon, then an Earl Grey and lavender granita, and finally, crisp chicken feet and passion fruit coulis to finish it off. Stunning. $53 upwards for three courses.

22. BEEF RENDANG PIZZA AT WOK & BARREL

Of all the dishes at this modern Singaporean newbie by chef-owner Shen Tan, this is the one we just couldn’t get enough of, with all the goodness of tender and tasty beef rendang surfing on a house-made thin-crust base. $11.90.

23. BAN MIAN AT L.32 SHOU GONG MIAN

These soft and supple homemade noodles have just the right thickness, floating in a light and flavorful soup with fresh prawns and extremely crispy fried anchovies. $3-5.50.
 

24.PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE AT HUMMERSTONS

We won’t bore you with all the details about what goes into making this baby, although we will tell you it has something to do with slow-roasted pumpkins and a crisp, homemade rosemary-scented base. The result is an incredibly dense and satisfying slice of nirvana (it’s incredibly dense and satisfying). $10.90.

25. HERBAL MUTTON SOUP AT NEW WORLD MUTTON SOUP

A fourth generation family business specializing in mutton soup. The broth is hearty and comforting, and the meat tender. $4-10.

26. CURRY-RUBBED WAGYU AT KHA

This restaurant may have moved, but its food is still as good as we remember. Do try the grilled red curry-rubbed Wagyu beef with papaya salad, yogurt and chili jam. $29.

27. CARBONARA PASTA AT LA STRADA

This is completely different from the usual bastardized white cream sauces you might be used to, in a good way. Our tip: Gently break the coddled egg nestled on the bed of fresh pasta strands and toss lightly, while crisp prosciutto and sharp parmesan provide flavor and texture. $26.

28. MANADO-STYLE KUROBUTA PORK AT TABLE AT 7

Served with fragrant shallot-scented rice, the super tender Manado-style twice-cooked Kurobuta pork is marvelous. $28.

29. LEMON TART AT L’ATELIER DE JOËL ROBUCHON

Michelin star-studded Joël Robuchon is known for all kinds of elaborate creations, but we were blown away by one of the simplest: A slice of lemon tart. A delicate pastry houses the softest set lemon curd that is both tangy and subtly sweet. $25 for 5 slices.

30. HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE AT HAINANESE BONELESS CHICKEN RICE

If you’re a lazy bugger, you’ll be thrilled with this find: Fluffy, fragrant rice with moist and juicy chicken flesh. The soup is also slurpalicious, with a slight herbal taste. $3.

31. MILLE CRÊPE AT CLASSIC CAKES

Pastry chef and owner Charles Quek painstakingly makes and stacks layer upon layer of crêpes, in flavors like chocolate chip, apple and durian. Our pick hands down is the original, filled with a subtle vanilla bean cream that’s a real treat. $7 upwards.

32. BEEF FLAUTAS AT PIEDRA NEGRA

Expect three handsome deep-fried tortilla flutes laid out in a row on a bed of refried beans. Each crunchy brown tortilla roll is filled with meat so well-seasoned, you might be tempted to ignore the beans. Don’t. $11.90.

33. CHICKEN KIEV AT BUYAN RUSSIAN HAUTE CUISINE & CAVIAR BAR

It’s surprisingly light and tender, despite being breaded then fried to a golden crisp. $18.

34. CHINESE ROJAK AT STALL 11 ECONOMIC BEE HOON – NASI LEMAK – ROJAK

Large chunks of fruit and veg, crunchy you tiao and fragrant tau pok tossed in a zesty rojak sauce that’s most delicious. That and portions are liberal to boot. $3-4.
 

35. BOEUF BOURGUIGNON AT BRASSERIE WOLF

Traditional? Without a doubt. But that doesn’t make head chef Claudio Sandri’s rendition of boeuf bourguignon any less appealing. Expect mouthwateringly tender chunks of meat (you won’t even need a knife) and gravy so flavorful you’ll be tempted to drink it straight from the dish. $29.

36. JQ XIAO LONG BAO AT SKY ON 57

Who doesn’t love xiao long baos? But local celeb chef Justin Quek’s rendition filled with foie gras elevates the ordinary to the sublime. $25 for 5 pieces.

37. CHAR SIU AT OVERSEA RESTAURANT

Loyal patrons of the original in KL might complain that it’s not quite the same (in all honesty, we reckon it’s not quite as fatty or sweet), but it’s still some very nicely charred roasted pork with a sticky sweet glaze that oozes fatty goodness. $20 upwards.

38. OOZE AT PAVÉ CHOCOLATES & CONFECTIONS

A dark and handsome chocolate bar hiding sea salted-caramel; built for those cocoa cravings. $14.90.

39. PATATAS AIOLI AT SABIO TAPAS BAR & RESTAURANT

Delish wedges of fried potatoes smothered in aioli (garlic-spiked mayonnaise). $8.

40. STUFFED TOFU CRESPELLE AT KRISH

This Indian-inspired dish was a real surprise, since we’re not big on veggies. Tofu crespelle stuffed with garam masala-infused vegetables and mascarpone, finished with pickled lemon tomato sauce. We almost didn’t notice the lack of meat. $16. 

41. HOR FUN AT SHI HUI YUAN HOR FUN SPECIALTY

Chicken hor fun done just right. The gravy has just the right amount of salt to be flavorsome yet isn’t too thick, while chicken slices are tender. But what makes this a real winner are the mushrooms—large, sweet and juicy. $3-5.

42. POACHED CHERRIES AT SALT GRILL

Since his recent arrival, executive chef Shannon Binnie has introduced several new items to the menu. We like the poached cherries with yogurt mousse and honeycomb semifreddo—extremely satisfying yet not overly sweet. $16.

43. COQ AU VIN AT DB BISTRO MODERNE

A classic executed brilliantly. Rich and hearty with bacon, wild mushrooms and pearl onions. $34.

44. BACK & BELLY AT LEVEL33

He might be young, but he’s not pulling any punches. Chef Jimi Tegerdine does a mean Back & Belly—char-grilled 200-days-aged Stockyard sirloin and braised blackened brisket that’s a truly satisfying eat. $43.50.

45. SALT-CURED FOIE GRAS AT THE DINING ROOM AT TANJONG BEACH CLUB

The house-made salt-cured foie gras paired with kaya and toasted brioche, conceived by chef Craig Schantz, is outstanding; we love the contrast of savory, rich foie gras against sweet, coconutty kaya jam. $27.

46. EEL “TIÈDE” AT LES AMIS

Lightly-smoked eel “tiède,” with crispy pork croûton, horseradish and Dijon mustard emulsion, and Hungarian goose foie gras ”parfait,” Gewürztraminer jelly, brioche and black Périgord truffles. In a word: Divine. $55.

47. VEGEMITE SOLDIERS AT JIMMY MONKEY

We can’t claim to be crazy about Vegemite; we’ll leave that to the true-blue Aussies, but we are keen on these Vegemite-slathered toast soldiers covered with melted cheese and served with a soft-boiled egg. Wash it down with a nice flat white. $8.

48. TANDOORI FOIE GRAS AT PUNJAB GRILL BY JIGGS KALRA

Not ones to say no to indulgent food, we’ve enjoyed more than our fair share of tandoori foie gras. What makes it especially delectable is the sweet mango chutney that comes with it. $45.

49. UNI TAGLIOLINI AT PAMPLEMOUSSE BISTRO + BAR

A great spot for modern European fare helmed by chef-owner Adran Ling, we simply can’t get enough of their signature uni (sea urchin) tagliolini. The strands of pasta come coated in a rich crustacean cream sauce topped with pork gratons and fresh uni that’s both rich and gratifying. $28.

50. BRITTANY MACARON AT ANTOINETTE

Pastry king and restaurateur Pang Kok Keong crafts these ambrosial fleur de sel-kissed caramel-filled macarons, which are simply sublime. We’re guilty of devouring at least five in one sitting. $2.50.