If variety is the spice of life, let’s just say that we like it really, really spicy. Last year was a great one for new restaurants, and we can only hope the months ahead will be similarly fruitful. In the meantime, a look back at some of the best establishments to open here in the last 12 months. 

Angelo’s
111-113 Killiney Rd., 6732-5113.
There’s no doubt that Chef Angelo Sanelli (formerly of Michelangelo’s) knows how to serve impressive Italian classics. The house-proud pastas and tiramisu are heavenly. And his namesake eatery, with its dim lighting and dark corners, is the perfect place for a first date. Even if you don’t manage to score, you’ll leave with your belly completely satisfied.

Arbite
66A Serangoon Garden Way, 6287-0430.
We know it’s hardly downtown, but that’s part of its charm. This cozy nook is all the way out in Serangoon (a mere one-minute walk from Chomp Chomp); just trek up to the second floor for some fresh handmade pasta. Chef and proprietor Marc Wee makes a batch from scratch everyday, so be sure to have a plate of pappardelle with shrooms, parma ham, onions, garlic and shallots in a decadent cream sauce. Also noteworthy is the meltingly tender Asian-spiced lamb shank.

What The Dining Scene Needs in 2011

The Disgruntled Chef
26B Dempsey Rd., 6476-5305.
There was some hullabaloo about the name when The Disgruntled Chef first opened. Tongues wagged and chef-owner Daniel Sia firmly insisted that in this case, a name is just a name. Well, enough about that. The overriding grey color palette and clean lines make for a minimalist space, while the dining concept promotes the merits of sharing. Modern European dishes are executed with ease and grace, such as the baked bone marrow with homemade persillade, crayfish mac’n’cheese and fig crisps with Roquefort cream. And the drinks here are pretty darn good, too.

Ippudo TAO
#01-55 UE Square, 207 River Valley Rd., 6887-5315.
The whole ramen craze might be so over, but this joint is one of the best. The noodles here are delish, but we especially appreciate that they also do kushiyaki (Japanese grilled dishes) for added variety. Plus, they’re open till a little later than most (last order on weekdays is at 11pm, while it’s at 1am on weekends).

Kinki Restaurant + Bar
#02-02 Customs House, 70 Collyer Quay, 6533-3471.
The brightly-colored floor mural (designed by Chris Garver of Miami Ink fame), exposed pipes and light fixtures fashioned from fishing hooks clearly indicate their departure from the usual Japanese restaurant décor. That same attitude is displayed in the food, with pan-seared foie gras and raw Hokkaido scallop sushi, century egg, organic tofu and snow crab in ponzu sauce and grilled black cod in a pomegranate-honey miso sauce. They’ve (finally) opened up their alfresco area, for yet another rooftop experience along the waterfront.

kunio tokuoka
#02-139 Crockfords Tower Lobby Level, 26 Sentosa Gateway, 6686-3633.
We’re a little jaded when it comes to this whole celeb chef business. After all, it’s no secret that quite a few of them open up and, like Cake sang, are almost “never there.” Michelin-starred chef Kunio Tokuoka swings by every so often to check in on things, which is a comforting thought. The kaiseki menu is divine and the service well above average, but be prepared to drop a handful of big ones.

L’Entrecôte
36 Duxton Hill, 6238-5700.
A Parisian-style steak and frites bistro that only offers one main course (who would have thought we’d go for that?). Sure, it’s a bit of a tight squeeze inside the place, but we reckon the foie gras terrine, duck rillettes and waffles with salted caramel make it all worthwhile. As a bonus, our wallets don’t suffer from post-traumatic stress.

Peach Garden Sichuan @ Miramar
3/F Hotel Miramar, 401 Havelock Rd., 6736-3833.
We’re always hankering after a dose of seriously spicy Sichuan fare. And this is where we found it. Their range of dishes includes relatively mild options such as sautéed pork neck with onions and minced garlic or braised prawns, fried French beans with minced meat and Sichuan peppers and crystal vermicelli in a claypot, as well as the fiery Chong Qing diced chicken and chilled chicken in spicy paste. And just in case you forget where you are, they’ve decided not to take any chances with peach tree art work on almost every wall and pillar.

Restaurant Ten
7 Purvis St., 6333-9901.
On our first visit to the reincarnation of Metropole Herbal Restaurant in a three story shophouse, we were greeted with bright lights, white leather chairs, and pale yellow walls and tablecloths. They’ve since softened it up a smidge, with a smattering of brightly-colored paintings adorning the walls. Fortunately, their modern Chinese food isn’t only scrumptious; it distinguishes itself with its efforts to ease up on the usage of oil—sure to please the more health-conscious. The stellar service is a real bonus. 

What 2011 Needs

• Better service standards please (it is possible?). And no, before you ask, it doesn’t stop at just filling up our wine glass when we politely ask you to.
• Daring dining concepts. We thoroughly enjoyed guerilla dining, so something else to keep us entertained while we fulfill our gastronomic needs would be much appreciated.
• Just for the heck of it, how about some controversy? Aside from infamous food blogger ladyironchef and the “to pay, or not to pay” Private Affairs fiasco (how dare he call himself a lady!), and a $1,200 fish at RWS, the scene is lacking real talking points. We reckon it wouldn’t hurt to shake things up every so often. [TOP]

You’ll need high heels, hot pants, and not be afraid of embarassing yourself. No, we’re not talking about a job interview at Hooter’s. We’re talking about sexy dance classes. Yet with so many new options now available, it can be hard to tell which ones make your ass look good and which ones make you look like an ass. If you’re inspired by the recent dance flick Burlesque and want to try a class now, here are a few great options.

Acro Polates
Using silk, Lycra, trails of tissue and even hoops to maintain creative aerial balance, Acro Polates dancers swing around and slide up and down a pole to produce awe-inspiring, sometimes jaw-dropping poses. Studio owner Ming Leong claims Acro Polates is a fabulous way to tone up muscles and increase your fitness level. “There is a lot of isolated usage of the arms, hips, thighs and ankles—parts of a woman’s body that are commonly considered sensual,” says Ming.
Behind closed doors: The studio offers various levels of static and spinning pole classes. In the spinning courses, you’ll learn how to incorporate pole tricks into a routine. Participants commonly wear hot pants, a sports bra or a tank top, and a pair of chunky high heels, but you’re encouraged to wear what’s most comfortable for you.
How much: $23 for a single aerial introductory workshop.
Where: Polefessional Polates, #02-29 Waterloo Centre, Blk 261 Waterloo St., 6334-2382.
Fit factor: 4/5
Sex factor: 2/5 It kind of makes you look like a performing monkey in heels—not sexy.

Burlesque
This famous blend of dance, striptease and dark humor was one of the most sought after forms of entertainment from the 1930s to the 1950s, and made a comeback in recent years through, among others, performer Dita Von Teese. It’s aboout far more than just fishnet stockings, high-cut bottoms, red lipstick and suggestive props.
Behind closed doors: If you want to unleash the vintage tease in you, this is the class to take. It’s a liberating experience, being able to sashay about a room waving feathers. You will learn how to handle a boa (not the snake, the accessory), take off a glove (it really is an art, this one) and connect with the music. Naturally, you’ll feel like a dumbass for the first 15 minutes of the class. This is perfectly normal.
How much: $15-20 per class.
Where: Jitterbugs Swingapore, #B1-08 The Cathay, 2 Handy Rd.,
6887-0383.
Fit factor: 2/5 But you could pump up your workout by including a chair in your routine.
Sex factor: 5/5 Keeping things under wraps only amps up the allure.

Salsa
This dance form has drawn millions of fans from across the world with its saucy Cuban, European and American dance elements. Today, many see the dance as very “ghetto,” having been performed on the streets and in underground night clubs. The flow of the dance accentuates all the right curves in women and provides cues for appropriately sultry stares.
Behind closed doors: The beginners’ module doesn’t require a dance background or a partner (which makes it awesome for singles). You will be introduced to the origins of Salsa as well as core dance moves like the cross body lead, cross body lead left turn and other simple turns.
How much: Beginner’s class costs $70 for five sessions.
Where: Attitude Dance Studio, #02-01, 70 Palmer Rd., 6226-2381.
Fit factor: 3/5
Sex factor: 4/5 Have you seen Dirty Dancing?

S.L.A.P (Strip/Lap dance)
We don’t need to tell you what a striptease or a lap dance is, do we? Well now they’re moving from the seedy bars of New York to a dance studio in Singapore.
Behind closed doors: Shaking your butt in someone’s face while taking off your top (all while maintaining a come-hither look on your face) is as difficult as it sounds. If you can master that, honey, you can master anything (or anyone). Learn how to maximize the floor space as well as roll and twist your body seductively in the “Striptease and Chairwork” bit of the course before taking on a more complex routine.
How much: $220 for eight weeks.
Where: Bobbi’s Pole Studio, #02-01, 222 Queen St., 6333-4308.
Fit factor: 1/5 It’s mainly done for fun.
Sex factor: 3.5 It’s a little too in-your-face, so to speak.

Dare to dress differently?
Pick up costumes, props and outrageous outfits here

• Costume City #09-03 Henderson Industrial Park, 203A Henderson Rd., 6270-1722.
• No 1 Costume Costume 7 Jalan Lembah Kallang, 6333-9440.
• Talent House Studio38A Mayo St., 6299-4240.
• The Wearhouse People’s Association, 9 King George’s Ave., 6340-5220.

The stats don’t lie. According to the 2010 Census, the last decade has seen a dramatic rise in the number of lonely souls here in Singapore. Among the key demographic of 30 to 34 year olds, 10 percent more men and nine percent more women are single now than they were when the new millennium began.
Now’s not the time to get into the whys and wherefores. (And the issue of our Total Fertility Rate dropping to 1.16 is a whole other story. TFR … SFW?) No, what’s needed is a hi-tech, failsafe plan to fix those figures in time for Valentine’s Day. The big day is still more than two weeks away—ample time to turn your fortunes around. Here’s how.

January

28 Friday
If you’ve made it this far and haven’t found that special someone, chances are you’re doing it wrong. Don’t make the mistake of trawling bars using worn-out chat up lines. Get professional help. Sign up for an Attraction Accelerated Weekend Workshop with Aura Dating (Jan 28-30, www.auradating.com). They’ll teach you what works and what doesn’t, take you out on field exercises and be there to offer feedback based on what they see of your performance. The workshop is aimed at men, but Aura offers special classes for ladies too (don’t expect them to divulge all the tips they share with guys to get your attention though!).
If Aura’s a bit too rich for you, or if the idea of going clubbing turns your stomach, it’s time to give the folk at It’s Just Lunch a call (6536-0100, www.itsjustlunchsingapore.com). They’ll help you schedule appointments with like-minded people; no pressure, no embarrassing lunges at the end of the date. It’s tight, but if you get started now you could be up and running in time to have a dozen lunch dates between now and Feb 14. And if none of the lucky 12 are what you’re looking for, we politely suggest that you lower your standards. No-one’s perfect, least of all you, Mr. I-can’t-find-a-date-and-keep-blaming-other-people.

29 Saturday
It’s tight, but if you do get a date you need to make sure you’re in decent shape. Two weeks is still enough time to lose those extra pounds. Sign up for a one-day trial membership for free at Pure Fitness (3/F Knightsbridge, 270 Orchard Rd., 6100-3813). Or better yet, do daily yoga at True Yoga ($214/mth for basic membership at 4/F, Pacific Plaza, 9 Scotts Rd., 6733-9555). It’ll give you far more to talk about than just lifting weights when you do get that date. Or join SAFRA running club ($32 for non-members at www.safra.sg)—who knows, you might meet another singleton there. Remember, keep your eyes open at all times—not just when you’re in a bar.

30 Sunday
Sunday’s a great day for lazy breakfasts at home, and all-day DVD marathons. But you’ve got to use your time more tactically. Learn how to cook the perfect Eggs Benedict (www.wikihow.com/Make-Eggs-Benedict), so if you wake up with company on Feb 15 you can impress your new friend. Or take it one step further and sign up for a private cooking class at Cookery Magic (117 Fidelio St., 6348-9667, www.cookerymagic.com).
And don’t watch just any old movie. Check out (500) Days of Summer, to boost your indie-romance cred; Fifty First Dates to learn what not to do; and light-hearted fluff like Wedding Crashers to make you laugh. Borrow them from Video Ezy (#02-07 Vivo City, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6278-8364), since you don’t want your date to see them when they come back to your place.

31 Monday
Back to work, and you’re probably still feeling pessimistic. It is Monday, after all. You need to believe this is going to happen. Forget the self-motivation tapes and make a dinner reservation that requires you to put down a deposit. Then you’ve got a target to work towards. Try Garibaldi Italian Restaurant (#01-02, 36 Purvis St., 6837-1468) for a 6-course menu at $148 per person, or Sky on 57 (57/F Sky Park, Marina Bay Sands Tower One, 2 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868), where the view alone is sure to get your partner all hot and bothered.

NEXT: February 1-7

February

Jeju Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival

Feb 17-19. South Korea. www.buriburi.go.kr
Not only a favorite resort island for Koreans, Jeju is also a great place to enjoy age-old folk traditions. Every year, almost 350,000 people participate in a fire ceremony to pray for good health and a good harvest in the coming spring. There are also a number of hands-on events tourists can easily participate in throughout the three-day festival, the highlight being the setting on fire of the old grass on the hill, which everyone does together, in order to banish harmful insects and bad luck and to prepare the land for the coming cultivating season.

39th Hong Kong Arts Festival

Feb 17-Mar 27. Hong Kong. Various prices. www.hk.artsfestival.org
39 days, 15 venues and more than 200 performances covering music, dance and theatre make the 39th edition of the Hong Kong Arts Festival even larger than previous years. The 2011 line-up is headlined by Tristan und Isolde performed by the Leipzig Opera from Germany, The Halle Orchestra from Britain, Hiroko Kouda and the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Carnations by Tanztheater Wuppertal from Germany, The Golden Lotus by Beijing Dance Theater, the Threepenny Opera by Berliner Ensembler and An Ordinary Man by Poon Chan-leung.

Hadaka Matsuri at Saidai-Ji Temple, Okayama

Feb 18. Japan. http://tiny.cc/fcxyx
Hadaka means naked, so you know what to expect from this festival. Nearly ten thousand Japanese men roam the streets in their traditional fundoshi underwear in search of the one fully naked man hidden among them. The one to find and touch the naked man will have good luck throughout the year. After a winner is declared, the mass moves to the Saidai-Ji Temple, where monks have a blessing for good luck at midnight. Sound fun enough for you?

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

Feb 19-Mar 6. Australia. www.mardigras.org.au
When the Asia Pacific gay headquarters organizes a festival, you can rest assured it won’t be small. The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is the region’s largest and most famous LBGT festival. The 11th edition of two-week long event is packed with a line-up of highlights like parties on the beach and at poolsides, art events, stage shows, a film festival organized by Queerscreen, a sports festival and, on Mar 5, a grand parade involving thousands of LBGT and non-LGBT citizens dressed up in some outrageous costumes.

Cricket World Cup

Feb 19-Apr 2. India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. www.www.cricketworldcup2011.co.in
The thwack of leather willow can only mean one thing, cricket. Held every four years it doesn’t get any bigger than this, especially as the tournament is being held in the cricket’s spiritual home, where fanatical crowds should be as much of a spectacle as what takes place out on the crease. Fourteen teams will compete in a series of one day matches over two months and across three countries for the right to be crowned champions.

MARCH

The Lion King

Debuts Mar 3. Singapore. S$65-240.
www.marinabaysands.com/entertainment
The Marina Bay Sands sees the Southeast Asian debut of the world-famous musical stage show The Lion King. Based on Disney’s 1994 animated movie about the story of an African lion with music by Elton John and Tim Rice, the Southeast Asian version will be staged with a new cast selected from around the world and promising the same levels of performance and amazing sets you might have seen on Broadway or the West End.

Mosaic Music Festival

Mar 11-20. Singapore. Various prices. www.mosiacmusicfestival.com
Started in 2005, this is one of Singapore’s largest music festivals and one not to miss for world music and jazz lovers. The ten-day line-up covers everything from folk and R&B to hip hop and electronic rock. Judging from previous years, nearly 100,000 visitors from all over the world are expected to enjoy the extensive list of artists headlined by Angelique Kidjo, Jamie Lidell, Michel Camilio Trio, The Manhattan Transfer, Joanna Newson, Charlie Hadan & Quartet West, Thailand’s T-Bone and Grammy Award-winning hip hop artist Common. Best of all, most of the shows are free.

Japan Fashion Week

Mar 18-25. Japan. www.jfw.jp/en
For its twelfth year, the fashion week of Asia’s hippest dressers features creations by 30 Japanese fashion entrepreneurs. Highlights include araisara, fur fur, Theatre Products, Yuki Torii and Somarta, famous for the extravagant bodysuits they created for Lady Gaga. And Japanese fashion is not all harajuku, so don’t expect every show to be full of avant-garde designs and manga. Pre-registration is required.

Hong Kong International Film Festival.

Mar 20-Apr 5. Various prices. www.hkiff.org.hk
One of Asia’s oldest film festivals is now fighting back against the influx of Korean films with an array of flicks ranging from indie films to multi-million productions. While details have not yet been confirmed, we’re expecting the world premiere of Quattro Hong Kong 2, an omnibus project featuring short films by four award-winning directors: Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Brillante Mendoza, Ho Yuhang and Stanley Kwan.

Hong Kong Rugby Sevens

Mar 25-27. Hong Kong. HK$1,250 for a three-day pass. www.hksevens.com
No matter who you’re supporting—All Blacks, Springboks, Wallabies, Lions, or Dragons—this is one of the world’s premier rugby events and a great warm up for the World Cup in New Zealand in Sep. The tickets for the seats Hong Kong stadium run out fast so make sure to grab the early-bird promotion that ends Jan 31.

April

Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix

Apr 8-10. Malaysia. RM500-1,600.
www.malaysiangp.com.my
Started in 1999, the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit has long been recognized as Southeast Asia’s first F1 racing event with international standards. Be an early bird and reserve seats to see international racers from world-famous teams, including Ferrari, Renault, and Mercedes, racing over 5.543 km with 15 turns and eight straights in front of 130,000 spectators.

Taipei Flora Expo

Through Apr 25. Taiwan. One-day NT$150-300, three-day NT$600, unlimited entry NT$2,500. www.2010taipeiexpo.tw
Last chance to walk through an array of 25 million flowers and plants in every color, covering an area of more than 90 hectares in the city center. Highlights are the diagram garden from The Netherlands, a zen garden from Japan and a Buddhist garden from Thailand as well as eco-gardens and cultural events.

Sui Sian

The Landmark Bangkok, 138 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-254-0404. BTS Nana. Dim sum available daily 11:30am-2pm.
The dark wood décor with deep red accents sets a elegant baseline to your Chinese New Year, which may be just what you’re looking for, instead of the usual, bustling insanity. Your urge to speak in hushed tones in this serene atmosphere will dissipate quickly when enjoying their fantastic dim sum deals which cover all the classics and accompanying rice, noodles or soup. Their year-round all-you-can-eat option (B420) covers 20 classic choices at lunchtime, and for the holiday, Feb 3-4, they’re doing an extra special set at B888 per person that also includes soup, noodles and a Peking duck for the table.

Man Ho

JW Marriott, 4 Sukhumvit Soi 2, 02-656-7700. Dim sum available daily 11:30am-2pm.
This will be a popular hangout for Sukhumvit hi-so family get-togethers this Chinese New Year, thanks to its elegant décor (wood paneling, large round tables and waitresses in quipao/cheongsam) and enormous, bright windows with views over Sukhumvit Road. They do two options: a B490 all-you-can-eat dim sum during the week, and a slightly fancier set for B720 (all week) that includes roast duck and shark’s fin soup (boo!). They also specialize in abalone and bird’s nest dishes.

Maria

50-52 Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, 02-221-5211. Dim sum available daily 11am-2pm.
Maria is like an old relative you see once a year for Chinese New Year. The rest of the time, you wonder if he’s dead: the doors hidden behind lotto sellers are always closed, but Maria is ever ready to welcome visitors. Step inside and find yourself in a large space decked out with simple 70s-style décor that can accommodate more than a hundred people all at once. The experience is old school and comforting, with lots of dim sum trucks and waving and pointing. A can’t-miss dish is the kha muu mantou (stewed pork knuckle served with steam Chinese buns). No set menus, but dim sum starts at a mere B40.

Silver Palace

4 Silom Soi 3 (Soi Phiphat), 02-235-5118. BTS Sala Daeng. Dim sum available daily 11:00am-14:00pm, 18:00pm-22:00pm
A two decade-old institution, Silver Palace is conveniently located in the heart of Silom, which also means that it’s crazy busy, thanks in part to its affordable prices. The vibe is of a laid-back and boisterous food hall, typical of this type of establishment: a large room, lots of round tables and maroon table clothes. We’re a little sad that they don’t do their B299 dim sum buffett anymore, but individual baskets range from B50-80, so no big deal. On Feb 2, spend over B2,000, and you get a 50% dining voucher for your next visit.

China House

48 Oriental Avenue, 02-659-9000. Dim sum available daily 11:30am-2:30pm
If you don’t mind having a slightly belated Chinese New Year celebration, consider spending Sunday afternoon at the atmospheric and fancy China House, where the dim sum brunch at B1,154 (or B1,650 with booze) is one of the more affordable offerings. If you want to celebrate with a date rather than grandma and grandpa, you’ll love the Wong Kar Wai-esque, smoking den feel of this place. As for the food, the dim sum are solid and fresh, being prepared a la minute, and there is an array of other Hong Kong-style dishes and Chinese classics. Get all you can eat from Mon-Sat for B888 (no drinks included). But for their legendary shrimps in wasabi mayonnaise, you’ll have to order a la carte.

Liu

Conrad Bangkok, All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Rd.,
02-690-9999. Dim sums available Sunday 11:30am-2:30pm.
Unlike the vast sprawling spaces and starched tablecloths of many dimsum halls, Lui has a low-ceilinged cozy feeling and a colorful décor with delicate traditional furniture and lots of red accents and table settings, all of which work to make it feel more like a standalone than a hotel restaurant. The dim sum set lunch isn’t pricey either. For B980, you get all-you-can-eat privileges for dim sum and lots of table toppers like braised shark’s fine with crab meat, garoupa fish with shredded taro and fried Shanghai yellow noodles with duck. For B1,180, you can get a slight upgrade with more seafood-heavy dishes.

Ahyat Abalone

Ramada Plaza Maenam Riverside Bangkok, Charoenkrung Rd., 02-291-7781/3. Dim sum available daily 11am-2:30pm.
This Bangkok franchise of Hong Kong’s Michelin star-studded restaurant never fails to pack in hordes of dim sum lovers on a daily basis. While its décor could do with some updates (think noisy and chaotic air-con room with big round tables), the restaurant itself is lauded for cooking up abalones to perfection and an impressive selection of Hong Kong-style dim sum, which comes in 30 varieties. The highlights include steamed scallop dumpling (B86), baked char-siew (BBQ pork) bun (B74), baked egg tarts (B68), deep-fried crispy flour wrapped in rice noodle (B80) and steamed bun with custard (B64). If that’s too much to shell out for dumplings, go there on during lunch for a 50% discount off the dim sum menu. Booking is a must.

Crystal Jade

G/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-129-4343.
For more branches, go to www.crystaljade.com. Dim sum available daily 10:30am-6pm
They may be a chain, but Crystal Jade is a hot favorite when it comes to democratic (haha) Chinese in our fair city. Not only do they do dim sum daily from 10:30-6pm, they’re also one of the few places in town you can get xiao long bao, those soup and meat-filled dumplings from Shanghai. And the Paragon branch is the least chain-y and most festive of the bunch, with its columns, dark wood and banquet style eating—perfect for a New Year’s brunch with your parents.

Xinn Tien Di

3/F, Gaysorn, 999 Ploenchit Rd., 02-656-2114. Dim sum served daily noon-2pm.
It’s hidden away on the top floor of Gaysorn, which means it’s often less than full, but it does come with the requisite high ceilings and a brigade of efficient waitstaff and knowledgable captain. We’re fans of the dim sum service here, as their light dumplings are delicately-made with thin skins and juicy flavors that avoid being too pork fatty. The chef also has a deft hand at seafood and their speciality Peking duck, which comes with light pancakes that are green with the addition of tea leaves. Dim sum ranges from B50-100.

1. Remington, B2,095.
2. Philips, B8,020.
3. Braun, B4,690.
4. Panasonic, B2,990.

Essentials

5/F, Central Chidlom, Ploenchit Rd., tel 02-793-7777.

TEST 1: CREAM OR BLOOD?

Shaving without any cream left the guinea pig’s neck a bloody mess with redness and a burning sensation that lasted for thirty minutes. Verdict: Screw living in the woods and proving you’re a man. Go get yourself some shaving cream.

TEST 2: DOES THE CREAM MATTER?

Online, you’ll find plenty of experts claiming only a B20,000 brush made of Nepalese badger’s hairs is fit to apply shaving soap. But the real point of the cream is that your face needs to be wet at all times for a good shave. And since water tends to run off the face, cream is simply a convenient, not-too-messy way of keeping a film of smooth, glide-inducing liquid between the blade and your skin. We tried the boring Gillette can you’ll find in any 7-Eleven versus a fancier Nivea one. Honestly, there was no noticeable difference.

Verdict: Do use cream, but the brand hardly matters. Or just plain soap will do if you’re desperate.

TEST 3: ARE MORE BLADES BETTER?

Apart from inducing severe hemorrhaging, the shaving-without-cream test has its benefits. It puts razors to the ultimate test. And while two-blade razors seem to skip along the skin, yanking at the beard and making irritating, grating noises, their three-blade counterparts performed much better. Although real men chuckle at the multiplication of blades on razors (The Economist very seriously, and mathematically, projected that we will have 14 blades soon), we find they offer a much smoother shave.
Verdict: Less is not more. Go for three blades.

TEST 4: DO BRANDS MATTER?

In a blind test, we’re pretty sure we could tell the difference between two and three blades. But it’s difficult to tell the difference between a Gillette Mach 3 and some no name 3-blade alternative. Same with the two-blades. Word is, though, that the cheaper blades dull faster—although that calls for more testing.
Verdict: Cheap is surprisingly good.

TEST 5: WILL I GROW BOOBS?

Boldly going where no man has gone before, we also tested women’s razors on a man. We’re sad to report the devices’ pinkness did not imbue them with some magical feminine power. The male guinea pig’s (a guinea boar?) breasts did not grow, nor did his capacity to concentrate for stretches of more than five seconds.
Verdict: Women’s razors, apart from being cuter, are identical to the ones for guys.

Selecting the winners for Reader’s Choice Awards is really, really simple. Readers vote online, we count the votes, we publish the results. And yet, we’re constantly approached by skeptics who ask if we fudged things this way or that. What can we say? This year, we did our drinking mainly at WTF and Soul Food—neither of which won a mention here. And that’s the point. This isn’t about BK’s writers, it’s about our readers. And here’s what they (you) thought were the best places to chill out, party on, feel great or just escape from it all.

Chill Out

Favorite Wine Store: Wine Connection
New category, new face, stunning win. With nearly three times as many votes as its closest rival (Central Wine Cellar), Wine Connection clinches the title.
Favorite Mall: CentralWorld
Maybe it’s post-protest sympathy, or B80 movies on Wednesdays, or the new ice-skating rink, but CentralWorld managed to stay fresh enough to keep its crown for another year.
Favorite Coffee Shop/Dessert place: Starbucks
Will you be terribly surprised if we tell you Starbucks won—again! (And by a long way.)
Favorite Phone: iPhone
Favorite Automobile: BMW
Favorite Credit Card: Citibank

Party On

Favorite Bar: Bed Supperclub
Bed wins comfortably. What’s interesting is how close Iron Fairies and Hyde & Seek came to runner-up Q Bar.
Favorite New Bar: Hyde & Seek
As you might have guessed from the above, Hyde & Seek wins by a narrow margin. Runners-up: Iron Fairies, Funky Villa, Fat Gutz. That’s two bars (Iron Fairies and Fat Gutz) in the top four from the same owner: Kudos to Ash Sutton.
Favorite Venue for Live music: Saxophone
Favorite Jazz bar: Saxophone
Why Saxophone suddenly plummeted in the charts last year, we’ll never understand. This year, they’re back at the top, pushing Brown Sugar to second place. In the Jazz Bar category, near identical results.
Favorite Venue for DJs: Bed Supperclub
It’s Bed again, with a comfortable lead over Q Bar.
Favorite Beer: Heineken
Heineken beats Singha. Then comes Hoegaarden and Asahi. My, how posh you guys are. Ever heard of Chang, Cheers and Leo?
Favorite Spirit: Absolut
Sweden’s Absolut gets more than twice as many votes as France’s Grey Goose. Sacre bleu!
Cutest Staff: Bed Supperclub
Most Overrated Bar: Bed Supperclub
Again, two sets of near-identical results with wins for Bed followed by Q Bar and Hyde & Seek. Which allows us to present you with this theory: can one equate having hot staff with being overrated? That would make BK Magazine very, very overrated.

Feel Great

Favorite Spa: Health Land
Clean and professional, the chain beats the five-star hotels thanks to its pocket-friendly prices.
Favorite Fitness Club: Fitness First
Fitness First barely beat True Fitness last year. What a difference a year makes. It’s a clear win for 2011, and California Wow is back from third place to runner-up. True is now a distant third.
Favorite Yoga/Pilates Studio: Absolute Yoga
Favorite Hospital: Bumrungrad
Favote Beauty Clinic: Romrawin Skin & Beauty Clinic

Get Away

Favorite Airline for Travel within Southeast Asia (domestic and regional): Air Asia
Air Asia wins yet again but there’s lot of change from year to year in the runner-ups. Bangkok Airways nearly clinched the title in 2010, but has toppled in the charts since. THAI, on the other-hand, makes a strong comeback, and was within five votes of a win!
Favorite Airline for Travel Outside Southeast Asia: THAI Airways
Favorite hotel (outside Bangkok): Let’s Sea
A lot of you voted for chains (in that sense, Sheraton is the combined winner), but when it comes to picking one individual property, Hua Hin’s Let’s Sea is still your top choice.

EATING OUT

Favorite New Restaurant: Hyde & Seek
Favorite Steak Place: New York Steak House
Favorite Buffet: JW Marriott (Marriott Cafe)
Favorite Sunday Brunch: Four Seasons
Most Overrated Restaurant: Sirocco
Favorite Western Restaurant: Sizzler
Favorite Restaurant: Fuji
Favorite Asian Restaurant: Fuji

1. A set of offerings for people with incompatible signs to avoid ripping each others throats out. B139 from Tesco Lotus

2. A red glass candlestand. B2,450 from Central Chidlom

3. A gold-colored rabbit  to scare away bad luck. And children. B99 from Tesco Lotus

4. They say the print is European but we think this palette, lip gloss and mascara from Milly for Clinique are perfect for Chinese-looking girls getting ready to be the prettiest for Valentine’s next week. B3,250 from Clinique

5. Add a festive feel to your wrist with My Rabbit Story special Chinese New Year collection. B2,000 from Swatch

6. A red and gold envelope (ang pao) to give a couple hundred to your security guard or a couple million to your local police chief (if you own a bar). B12 each from Tesco Lotus, B30 from Central. And a greeting card, B45 from B2S.

7. A set of Chinese paint brushes and ink for Chinese calligraphy. B995 from Central Chidlom

8. A jewelry box made from Chinese silk. B1,500 from Central Chidlom

9. A set of small drawers made from Chinese silk. B1,500 from Central Chidlom

It’s Chinese New Year (Feb 3). This time around, it’s not about resolutions—it’s all about predictions! (If your really new to all this, read Chinese Astrology for Dummies, first.) We spoke to feng shui master Visit Techakasem about what this means for you, and if it’s the right year to start your restaurant or continue to blame your spouse for their bad habits.

Compatible signs

Dog: Those born in a year of the dog, especially in 1946 and 2006, will have the best luck this year.

Incompatible signs

Rooster. The most incompatible sign this year, roosters should be ready for struggles, accidents, and illnesses. Tough luck!
Dragon. People born in the Dragon years might be abused and obstructed by anonymous persons. There’s also a chance of becoming involved with crime and losing money.
Rat. Rats will feel frustrated and uncomfortable as a result of other people’s behavior. You might also face obstructions that seem unfair.
Horse. Major disagreements could happen with close partners, spouses and parents.

SCREWED? NOW WHAT

Visit sacred places. Those at risk of experiencing bad luck should go pay respect and make offerings to the god of the Rabbit years (sim bao) and the god of the dog years (bia suk) at your nearest Chinese shrines. The popular places are Leng Nei Yee or Mangkorn Kamalawat Temple located in Yaowarat and Naja Shrine in Chonburi. To make sure all that bad luck is swept away, find a Chinese monk and let him use a piece of gold/silver paper to wipe you from head to toe 12 times.
Ask for help from those with good luck. Become best friends with those born in 1946 and 2006 as they can help give you better luck. Simply ask the people in those two dog years to offer some gifts to you. The gift doesn’t need to be precious or valuable but should be small as you need to carry it with you throughout the year. Don’t forget to give them back a small gift. It’s a good way to make merit, and don’t worry, they won’t absorb any bad luck from your wretched self.

What about me?

If you’re neither a dog, rooster, dragon, rat or horse, know that years of the rabbit tend to be harsh years, though not as bad as tiger years (last year), according to many fortune tellers. Anyway, as the element of this year is gold (metal), we can still expect growth in finance, banking and the jewelry businesses. Well, the heavens work in mysterious ways. To one and all, happy new year and good luck.

Chinese Astrology for Dummies

1. Find your sign based on the year you were born.

2. The sign opposite yours, on the above chart, is the sign you’re least compatible with. So if, for example, you’re a pig, make sure your boss is not a snake. Or if you’re a rooster, you’re in for a really bad year as you sit opposite the rabbit. (See main story.)

3. The two signs flanking your opposite sign are your compatible signs. So, for example, the year of the rabbit should be good for dogs and monkeys.

Check out these lucky charms to ward off bad luck.

Now that you've got the technical side of it down, here's a quick round-up of where to celebrate the New Year.