The buzz: For too long guys here have been denied access to American brand Banana Republic’s range of quality staples. No more. This latest store stocks some highly sought-after menswear pieces, as well as womenswear, accessories and jewelry.

The vibe: The 4,500 sq. ft. space allows fashionistas to troll through its collection rather comfortably—the cream-colored marble floor, rich wood panels and contemporary lighting also add a home-like feel to the place.

The goods: While the girls can revel in the typically modern yet classic skirts, dresses and wool jackets; the guys have more to write home about. Tailored corduroy two-button blazers ($300 upwards) will set them straight for both work and play, while more affordably-priced casual wear like woolen v-neck sweaters ($90 upwards) are daily essentials that are as timeless as they are chic.

Why you’ll be back: Because you’re too classy for GAP. And because you can finally have some of what the girlfriend’s having.

#B2-28 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Ave., 6334-7224. Open Sun-Thu 10am-11pm; Fri-Sat 10am-midnight.

Looppy’s Costumes House
25A Arab St., 6396-0949

Mascots & Puppets Specialist
#07-05 Macpherson Industrial Complex, 5 Lorong Bakar Batu, 6841-2260

Masquerade
294A Lavender St., 6292-4889

No 1 Costume
7 Jln. Lembah Kallang, 6333-9440

Party City
277A Holland Ave., 6462-6011

Talent House Costume
38 Mayo St., 6299-5240

Fear Factory—Zouk Halloween 2010
Oct 30, 9pm. at Zouk, 17 Jiak Kim St., 6738-2988

Heineken Presents “Rabbityville The White Rabbit’s Halloween Special” featuring Tim Sweeney
Oct 30, 9pm. The White Rabbit, 39C Harding Rd., 6473-9965

Circus Of Freaks: A Yelloween Party
Oct 30, 10pm. Stereolab, G/F Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Blvd., 6337-0800

Halloween at Krish
Oct 30, 10pm. Krish, 9 Rochester Park, 6779-4644

Halloween at the Night Safari
Oct 22-23, 29-31, 6:30pm. Night Safari, 80 Mandai Lake Rd., 6269-3411

Sentosa Spooktacular
Oct 22-23, 29-31, 7-11pm. Imbiah Lookout, Imbiah Walk (Sentosa Island). 6275-0388

1. Panasonic Toughbook C1

True to the name, Panasonic’s range of Toughbooks are so tough that they can practically withstand the weight of an elephant (OK, maybe a really tiny one). With a special magnesium-alloy casing and custom damping materials, they are designed to withstand 100kg of pressure. The Toughbook C1 is also the world’s lightest 12.1” convertible tablet PC and one of the first laptops to support multi-touch, so you can use either your digits or an electronic stylus to input info through the screen.
$3,199 from Challenger, #06-00 Funan DigitaLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6339-9008.

2. Casio Exilim EX-G1
Casio’s G-Shock co-branded EX G-1 compact camera isn’t afraid of anything. Shock-proof, dust-proof, water-proof (up to 3m) and freeze-proof (up to -1 degrees), this 12-megapixel toughie will boldly go where most men dare not. Coated in a layer of hardened rubber, this shockproof camera will keep on shooting even after a 7ft. drop. One of the more interesting features is its time-lapse function allowing you to capture great nature or sports shots.
$549 from Best Denki, #05-01/05 Takashimaya Shopping Centre, 391 Orchard Rd., 6835-2855.

3. LaCie Rugged Hard Disk
What’s the point of bringing your rugged laptop on a hike up that mountain if you can’t take a breather to watch some videos you’ve downloaded off the net? Your average hard disk would be in a hundred pieces … but not LaCie’s Rugged Hard Disk. This baby is really tough with its rubber-wrapped aluminum case complete with four shock absorbers. Comes in 320GB and 500GB with either USB 2.0 or FireWire connections.
From $239 at South Asia Computer, #03-01/41, Funan DigitaLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Rd., 6337-0871.

If you’ve watched one of those high profile races on TV like the Ironman Triathlon, you’d know that a triathlon is one of the most challenging perseverance sports around. However, it can also be one of the most rewarding. “It is so satisfying when you cross the finishing line [even if you don’t win it] because it means you’ve just done three sports and more,” says Ashley Liew, captain of the Singapore Management University (SMU) Aquathlon Club. But rewarding as it is, the nature of the race means you’ve got to train to be a Jack of at least three trades. We spoke to some local experts for tips on how to gear up for each discipline and where to find the right kit.

Taking the Plunge
Often, triathletes describe the swimming start of the race as like being in a human washing machine, with a few thousand people diving into the water at the same time. “In Singapore, they stagger the start so that participants take turns; but it’s still frightening if you’re a beginner,” says swimming instructor Augustine Teo. “If you’re a good swimmer, you should be able to get used to it after a while though.” Marco Ferdinandi, a regional director for Pure Fitness (3/F Knightsbridge, 270 Orchard Rd., 6100-3813) and an established triathlon coaching consultant, recommends that beginners learn the proper technique, which can make a real difference to their performance. “A trainer who understands the right swim technique can help you deflect unnecessary injury during your swim,” he says. Being comfortable also helps improve your overall performance. Corporate sales manager of Pure Fitness and a participant in the Asia-Pacific Ironman Championship Dane Cantwell says that there is an endless amount of equipment you can use to help you to swim faster, lighter, stronger and longer. “For the swimming bit of the race, you will need to set yourself up with a pair of swimming goggles, fins and paddles,” he recommends.
Gear up at Royal Sporting House, #B1-23 Great World City, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, 6734-2983.

Taking the Wheel
One important aspect to consider when training for a triathlon is the transition from one event to the other. Cycling on its own may be relatively easy but cycling after a long, cold swim? Tricky. “Preparing to go from a swim to a bike, commonly known as “brick training,” is essential (for participants) to feel comfortable and confident during the race. You would want at least six to eight weeks of transition training before heading into a triathlon,” says Pure Fitness’ Ferdinandi. “My structured daily training plan not only involves swimming, biking and running but also brick trainings or bike-runs, which are crucial in triathlons,” adds Ashley Liew. But before you can get started on your “brick training,” you’re going to need the most essential item—a bicycle. “The bike is probably the biggest money purchase a triathlete will need to make. It’s really crucial that you get fitted properly on your bike at a bike shop that knows how to size you correctly,” advises Ferdinandi. A helmet and cycling shoes are also essential.
Gear up at AttitudeBikes, 118 Telok Kurau Rd., 6344-4579.

The Home Run
Besides running (obviously), a good way to improve aerobic and cardiovascular fitness while getting used to the concept of mass racing is by signing up for jogging or walking clinics. “In a Jog-a-long class at Pure Fitness, the route and pace will be set by the instructor depending on the group’s running level. Another class is Walk-a-long, which is one of those social sessions that involve taking you outdoors for a brisk walk, varying the routes each time,” says Ferdinando. But while group sessions help improve your overall performance in the running bit of the race, there is another transition you should take note of—the cycle-run. “East Coast Park is an excellent place to train for both cycling and running with some nice flat paths. You can even try to combine a cycle-run session there,” Cantwell suggests.
Gear up at Sportslink, #01-07-12 Queensway Shopping Ctr., 6471-2363.

Get in on the action at these triathlon events:

Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore Triathlon
Since its inception in 2006, the Ironman 70.3 series has become one of the most popular and fastest growing triathlon races in the world. There are now 42 events globally, including the one in Singapore held in March, which qualifies athletes for the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 80.3 in Last Vegas. For more information, log on to www.ironman703singapore.com.

OSIM Singapore International Triathlon
One of the more established triathlons in Singapore, the event presented by the Triathlon Association of Singapore and held in April consists of smaller categories depending on the aim of your workout. There is an under-14 category, a less taxing Mini Triathlon and even a Corporate Triathlon for those who want to attempt a bit of team building. For more information, log on to www.triathlon.sg.

Tribob Singapore Sprint Series
Great for triathlon newbies, the Tribob Singapore Sprint Series has various distances and categories to suit all age groups and fitness levels. Their triathlon event is held in May. Tribob also offers you tailor-made training clinics to prepare you for your big race. For more information, log on to www.singaporesprintseries.com.
 

The girls in our edit team are a minority, so I wasn’t doing myself any favors when I trooped down to Stellar @ 1-Altitude (62/F One Raffles Place, OUB Centre, 1 Raffles Place, 6438-0410) for lunch with three of the guys. Granted, there was way too much food on the table for most ordinary people, but not us. We wolfed down pan-seared foie gras with pear carpaccio and jamon cream, a charcuterie taster spread including jamon, prosciutto and chorizo ($48); several rolls such as spicy tuna, ebi tempura and swordfish (from $18 each); a fresh sashimi platter; and those were just to get us warmed up. For mains, we moved on to truffled risotto with Maine lobster ($32) and slow-roasted suckling pig with crackling ($48). I even had to fight the boys, hard, for another piece of four hour-roasted Wagyu rib eye with foie gras sauce ($75). We even had dessert, or rather I had dessert while they mostly watched.

Cooking enthusiasts will be very pleased to know that ToTT (#01-01A Sime Darby Centre, 896 Dunearn Rd., 6219-7077), which stands for tools of the trade, opened with a clang over the weekend. My initial, albeit unrealistic, plan was to have a quick peek, but temptation proved more than I could bear. 36,000 sq. ft. of space that includes both a demo and hands on cooking studio, a bistro, a cookbook section and a whole host of products for baking and cooking. There’s also a Bake & Go corner where I made a tray of double chocolate chip cookies in 30 minutes flat. I may have cheated a little (the dough was already made), but no one needs to know that. Check back next week for a full story on all things cooking-related.

After a late post-work bite, I chanced upon Tomatillos (#01-04 The Foundry, 18 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 9655-0423), a new Mexican street food joint in my neighborhood. For a change, I was actually too full to consider chowing down. But I’ll be back to try some of their grub, and soon.

If you paid attention in class, you’ll already know about the history of the Singapore River. Interesting though it is, we tend to let our hunger not our textbooks guide us, and fortunately there’s a multitude of dining options along the banks. We started our food trek at the understated Robertson Quay area, past the crowds in Clarke Quay, and wound up at the iconic Raffles’ landing site. Here are the pick of establishments worth docking at.   

Brussel Sprouts
#01-12 The Pier @ Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6887-4344.
A relaxed bistro offering courtesy of Belgian celeb chef and yoga guru Emmanuel Stroobant, located in what’s arguably our favorite part of the stretch (Robertson Quay). It’s just busy enough to be buzzing but not so much as to be off-putting. We’re all about the mussels (done in 25 possible ways). For a clear option, order them a la Leffe Blonde—coriander, butter, celery, onion and parsley in Leffe Blonde beer. And if you need an extra hit of seafood, give their creamy ostendaise a go. Asian flavors make an unexpected appearance with lobster consommé base tom yam, all the usual suspects, and imperial ginseng, red dates and wolf berries in a double-boiled chicken stock. Starter portions go for $18.50, while mains are $38.50. Both are accompanied by free refills of fries. All the better to soak up the obscene amount of beer you’ll be drinking. Oh wait, that was us. There are only 120 different ones to tickle your fancy, so make sure you set aside some time to work your way through the lot. Brownie points (and a ridiculous bill) if you manage it all in one sitting.
 
Fremantle Seafood Market
#01-05/06 Traders’ Market, Blk. 3E Clarke Quay, River Valley Rd., 6337-1838.
Set in the bustling Clarke Quay area, this dedicated seafood specialist channels the vibrant yet carefree vibe of Freo, Perth. They’re all about the freshest seafood, flying it in thrice a week from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Alaska and, of course, Australia. Sure, there’s the quintessential fish ‘n chips ($19), which are always good with a lavish squeeze of lemon juice and vinegar, if you please. But for something a little different, try their whole fish, such as snapper baked in paper with a medley of different herbs or barramundi in a sea salt crust (from $55). We reckon their Sunday brunch ($58), with its spread of king fish Hamachi, yellow fin tuna, chilled shrimps, half-shell scallops and mussels with lemon cocktail sauce, is an ideal weekend option. Be sure to guzzle down some freshly shucked oysters with spicy soy mirin or garlic aioli.

Octapas Spanish Tapas Bar
#01-08 Blk. D, Clarke Quay, River Valley Rd., 6837-2938.
Also in the vicinity, is Octapas Spanish Tapas Bar, one of the newest restaurant-bars. While the indoor setup is made for cozying up with a special someone, that pretty much defeats the purpose of riverside dining. The alfresco area, like the rest of the lot here, is modeled after the deck of a ship. So you can’t take yourself too seriously if you want to enjoy it (the other option, which we always endorse, is to drink heavily). The flavor here is distinctly Spanish, so be prepared for an onslaught of tapas. We strongly recommend kicking things off with some blackberry sangrias ($16.50) as you wait. We’re fans of their flash-fried shrimps wrapped in bacon with tomato salsa ($14.50) and roasted piquillo peppers stuffed with minced chicken ($14). Other highlights include tender grilled squid in a balsamic vinegar reduction ($15.50) and beef tenderloin cubes in garlicky gravy ($17).

Timbre @ The Arts House
#01-04 The Arts House, 1 Old Parliament Lane, 6336-3386.
While we were initially reluctant to venture from the original at The Substation, we’re awful glad we did. It’s a great spot to kick back, and the view from the Arts House’s riverfront is splendid. Chill out to easy listening live local music with bands Goodfellas and 53A as you munch on their scrumptious thin-crust pizzas. We’ve been known to gobble down more than a few, such as their tandoori chicken ($17)—grilled tandoori-spiced chicken breast, sliced roma tomatoes, melted mozzarella and grilled yellow and green zucchini. If you can’t settle on just one flavor, do a half and half pizza for $19. Aside from their happy hours for the boozehounds, they also have bundled pizza and beer deals from $30.

IndoChine Waterfront Restaurant
Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, 6339-1720.
At the other end of the spectrum is famous IndoChine group’s spin on Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese food. Designed by Michael Ma, you should fully expect trimmings like lotus flower-shaped Czechoslovakian crystal chandeliers, Sukhothai Buddhas and Shan antiques for a touch of contemporary contrasted with old world charm. And yes, the view of Boat Quay and Empress Place is picturesque. But they’re not just a pretty face, the food is also delicious. Christen your meal with some goi cuon vit ($20)—Vietnamese rice paper rolls filled with roast duck, fresh green mangoes, Japanese cucumbers, coriander and mint leaves, highlighted with a mango ginger sauce. Signatures like the French beef stew ragoût ($26) and IndoChine lemongrass rack of lamb with pumpkin wedges and rosemary-scented apples ($46) are also worthy picks.

Other hot spots:
Aburiyatei
#01-10 The Quayside, 60 Robertson Quay, 6836-5370.

Brasserie Wolf
#01-13 The Pier @ Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6738-1077.

Café Iguana Riverside Point
#01-03 Riverside Point, 30 Merchant Rd., 6236-1275.

Kinara North West Frontier Cuisine
57 Boat Quay, 6533-0414.

Quayside Seafood Restaurant
Blk. 3A Clarke Quay, River Valley Rd., 6338-0138.

Spirits of Khao San Road. The first official Bangkok Halloween Festival sees haunted houses, plus an impressive DJ lineup which includes Zudrangma Records, CMYK, Club Soma as well as Trasher. Visit www.facebook.com/spiritsofkhaosarn for a complete lineup. Oct 29-31, 7pm-late. Khao San Rd. Free.

Suk 11 Club Crawl: Dead Sexy Halloween Special. The infamous bar hopping gets in on the Halloween fun, starting off at Bed Supperclub (Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-651-3537. www.bedsupperclub.com) before moving on to Q Bar and Nest respectively. Get a B300 wristband, which guarantees a VIP entry to all three venues and B100 drinks throughout the evening. Oct 29, 9pm-late. B300. 085-223-4324.

Halloween Bash with Benny Benassi. The Grammy Award-winning Italian turntablist brings us his epic tune “Satisfaction,” which won DJ Mag’s “Tune of the Year,” along with a collection of electro-house. Oct 29, 10pm. 808, RCA Block C, Rama 9 Rd. B800 from Total Reservation.

Black Halloween Party. The Halloween party series courtesy of Black Label sees festivities at the following venues around town: Curve, Slim, Route66, Nunglen, Fallabella, Wine Bridge, Whisky Mist and Inch. Oct 30, 8pm on wards. 

Happy Halloween. Celebrate the ghoulish gala into the early hours with the club’s live band. Oct 29-31, 9pm-late. Concept CM2, Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, Siam Square Soi 6, Rama 1 Rd., 02-209-8888. BTS Siam. B899 (2 drinks).

The Haunted Park. The Bat Blast party series gets spooky at the haunted house-inspired venue, plus a chance to win one year supply of Bacardi. Oct 30, 8pm.
Demo, Thong Lo Soi 10. More details at www.facebook.com/batblast.

Angels & Demons Halloween Party . The MBA school throws its biggest Halloween party yet, with three zones, Heaven, Hell and Garden of Eden, and a lineup which includes indie pop bands Potato, Jetset’er and DJ Knatz. Oct 30, 8pm-2am. Sasin, Chula Soi 12, Rama 1 Rd., 080-074-7419. For more details, visit www.facebook.com/sasinhalloween. B600.

Medieval Crime Scene Halloween. DJs Florian de Lux, Superstar Panda and Vladi drop hand-picked house tunes in this party inspired by the series CSI. Oct 30, 8pm-2am. f Lounge, KOI, Sukhumvit Soi 20, 02-258-1590.

Lady Gaga Halloween Party. Vie Bar throws a Lady Gaga-themed evening where you can win a host of fab prizes from dinner for two to a stay at the hotel. Oct 30, 7pm. Vie 39, 117 Soi 39 (Phaya Thai). BTS Ratchathewi.

Yelloween. Enjoy a two-hour free-flow of Ketel One Vodka (with any juice or soft drink) for B1,500, or Veuve Cliquot Champagne & Ketel One Vodka for B3,500. Oct 29-31, 9pm. Long Table, 25/F, Column Building, Sukhumvit Soi 16, 02-302-2557-9. www.longtablebangkok.com. BTS Asok.

Back to Hell + The Outta Space: Halloween 666. Electro colletive La French Riot takes over Room 1 whereas DJs Psyga, Oui and A_Lien spin the crème of psytrance, progressive tech and techno. Oct 30, 9pm-2am. Club Culture, Ratchadamneon Klang Rd., 089-497-8422. www.club-culture-bkk.com. B500 (all night open-bar).

Funhouse 2. Q Bar transforms itself into a hellish haunted house. Expect circus freaks and clowns. Oct 29-31, 9pm-2am. Q Bar, 34 Sukhumvit 11, 02-252-3274. www.qbarbangkok.com. B700 (2 drinks).

Day of the Dead. Barely recovered from its 8-year-anniversary bash, Bed throws another one dedicated to the dead. Oct 31, 10pm-2am. Bed Supperclub, Sukhumvit Soi 11, 02-651-3537. www.bedsupperclub.com. B200 (2 drinks).

The TCDC's ongoing spooky exhibition Spirits is also throwing a "lights-off" exhibition to celebrate the Halloween. More info here.

There can’t be many people who don’t own at least one pair of jeans. From ripped to skinny, stonewashed to boot cut there have been countless looks and styles over the years. Now this season’s denim trend is all about looking East to the deep-blue jeans of Japan.

“Nudie Jeans from Sweden were probably the first to show Bangkokians that there is more to jeans than just mass brands,” says Chnanon Sachdev, owner of high-end jeans retailer Pronto Denim. From this point on, affluent jean lovers started to look for something more exclusive and more special.

While Western jeans offer a wide selection of dying techniques, colors and washing styles, jeans from Japan use the original process from the early days of jeans production. For example, Evisu, a world-famous Japanese jeans brand, produces their jeans using an original 1950’s narrow-width weaving machine, bought from the US, together with Japanese fine cotton and unique techniques that include dying the material at least 16 times to achieve the trademark deep-blue color. The intensive nature of the process means less than 100 jeans are produced a day.

Brands like Pure Blue Japan and Flat Head take it even further. “They use creative techniques that result in interesting textures and strange colors appearing when the jeans are used for a long time. You won’t find this in the Western brands,” adds Chnanon.

The result of all these special techniques is that Japanese jeans are expensive. A pair of normal Edwin jeans (a more mass brand) can range from B3,500-8,000, while Pure Blue Japan and Flat Head can cost as much as B11,000. For Evisu, you’re looking at around B14,000.

If you want the feel of Japanese jeans without the price tag, then designer Matin Chareansri offers an affordable alternative with his Maru Q brand (B3,500-4,500). The half-Thai-half-Japanese Matin’s current collection features jeans decorated with a Japanese Obi (Kimino belt) cloth. To keep prices low he just imports the original denim and obi cloth before making the jeans here. “I love jeans, especially Japanese jeans—they have their own story but they also have super expensive prices. So I decided to create a more affordable option for Thai shoppers,” says Matin.

Those who love variety might not be such fans of Japanese jeans due to the limited colors. But there’s a reason for this: “Most Japanese jeans are deep blue or a true indigo color because they are aimed at people who want to create their own denim story,” explains Matin. “Each pair of jeans will have different wash lines, rimmed details or scratches depending on who wears them. Your jeans will truly be yours.”

TOP TIP

Chnanon says you should wear your Japanese jeans for six months without washing them. If that sounds downright disgusting, he says you can soak your jeans in clean water but don’t use detergent. This will help the jeans maintain their original color longer.

Places to get J-jeans

The herb-heaviness, sweet-sourness and other flavor profiles of Thai cuisine seem a perfect match with the greener notes, high acidity and pronounced tropical fruit—this last one depends on the winemaking style—of many Sauvignon Blancs. Of course, there are no hard and fast rules. There’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a Cabernet Sauvignon with a thick penang kai or a Semillon-heavy Bordeaux with a greasy tod mun, if that’s your thing. But this is a worthy adventure for wine novices, and to make the experimenting easier on your wallet we’ve rounded up our favorite Thai places that do Sauvignon Blancs by the glass.

Nahm

Domaine Vacheron, Sancerre (Loire, France) B475/glass
The Sancerre area in Loire Valley is renowned for its Sauvignon Blanc grapes, so this is a good opportunity to sample a grape grown on native soil and handled with Old World knowledge. Not only that, the Vacheron property is among the more respected. It’s been in the family for generations and has recently become fully biodynamic (a European version of organic). The wine is acidic and fruity, yes, but with an underlying flinty aroma, which makes us think that it’ll contrast pleasantly with nahm’s pomelo mieng kham canape (B200 a la carte) and cut nicely through one of their spicy nam prik, like the one with minced prawns, pork and shrimp paste (B400). Don’t expect the wine to douse the flames too much, though. For that you’ll need a sweeter wine.
G/F, Metropolitan, 27 South Sathon Rd., 02-625-3333

Spice Market

Kim Crawford (Marlborough, NZ), B650/glass
Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs are all the rage in the international wine market, even though NZ has only been dealing with this varietal for the past forty years. This has partly to do with their winemaking style, which stores the wine in stainless steel instead of oak, so there are no secondary flavors coming from the wood. The result is an amazingly fruity wine with medium acidity. The one from Kim Crawford is heavy on the pineapple, melon, passionfruit and other tropical fruits as well as some earthy, leafy tones. They recommend you have it with lemongrass dishes and summer salads, so try it with Spice Market’s yum tua ploo (winged bean salad, B290) or tom yam koong (B250).
1/F, Four Seasons, 155 Ratchadamri Rd., 02-126-8866

Mahanaga

Siglo de Oro, Santa Helena (Chile), B260/glass
Mahanaga may technically be a fusion restaurant, but there are still plenty of solid Thai flavors to pit against their Chilean Sauvignon Blanc. The one here has just enough acidity to enjoy with tart Thai dishes without making your teeth feel funny. It also has a lot of fruity intensity and hints of pineapples and mangoes and go well with fish and seafood. Try it with Mahanaga’s chilli jam marinated grilled chicken with lime dressing (B220) and their crispy soft-shell crab with peppercorn sauce (B270). You might enjoy the complimentary flavors of the chicken, or the contrast of the fried crab.
2 Sukhumvit Soi 29, 02-662-3060

Soul Food Mahanakorn

Yali (Maipo, Chile), B170/glass
It’s not just the super fancy Thai places that are doing it. Affordable, hip and new, Soul Food Mahanakorn currently does a Yali Sauv Blanc by the glass, and there is already talk of stocking two or three other options. Unlike some Sauv Blancs in Chile which can be too low on the acidity, this one packs a tart punch with lots of lime-like citrus going on, but also a hint of tropical fruit. We think it balances out the deep-fried gai tawt Hat Yai (B140) and the yam hua phlee (B130), and enhances the fish in a leaf (with lemongrass and lime, B160).
56/10 Sukhumvit Soi 55 (Soi Thong Lo), 085-904-2691

5 Tips for Wine Pairings

1. The general wisdom is that the food and the wine must be equal to each other in body and flavor. This is why red meats are often paired with big reds like Cabernet Sauvignon and Amarone and seafood with light whites like Sauvignon Blancs and Vermentinos.
2. On the other hand, it may surprise you that when it comes to finding your wine match, consider the sauce before you consider the meat. It may make sense to pair tuna with a light white, but if the tuna is cooked in a super creamy casserole with lots of garlic and horseradish, for instance, it might need something bolder, like a strong, creamy Chardonnay.
3. There are some exceptions to the rule of complimentary food and wine. Contrasting wines can be useful when you’re eating food that is very fatty and will coat your tongue. For instance, when eating fried chicken, an acidic white wine can help your palate handle the grease. A second grease-cutter is tannin, that astringent quality that some red wines, like Zinfandel, have. Another good example is having slightly sweet, or “off-dry,” white wines with spicy food. The slight sweet taste has a cooling effect.
4. Some foods are notorious for having no good wine match, such as egg yolk, the thick cake-like consistency of which can coat the tongue firmly and make it hard to taste anything, let alone your wine.
5. And final rule is: forget all the rules. No expert can tell you what you like better than you. Relax, there’s no perfect match that you have to find, and there are very few catastrophic matches. Go ahead and experiment.