Indice dei contenuti per February - March 2021 in epicure

Did you know that the delicate notes of pure white tea yields a huge amount of antioxidants, while green tea’s elegant notes of fresh grass make them both excellent pairing recommendations for salads and vegetarian dishes? “For beginner tea drinkers, green teas such as Green of Fujian and Sencha Matcha are great for their delicate taste, health benefits and lower theine contents. Rich in zinc, vitamin C, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, the umami taste of green tea goes best with seafood and salad to accentuate the sweetness and flavours of the dishes,” says Maranda Barnes, Director of Communications & Co-Founder of TWG Tea. Likewise, blue tea (commonly known as oolong or “Black Dragon” tea) and black tea are better paired with meats and heavier, richer foods, to help improve digestion…

Concept Esther Faith Lew Art Direction & Styling Thng Wee Nee Photography Ching Location & Recipes Restaurant Euphoria Styling Props All plants courtesy of Sing See Soon Floral & Landscape Jardin de Cactus Green Centerpiece by Emilio Robba, Daum. Sweet Corn and Sea Urchin Serves 10. Prep time 2 hours Cook time 30 minutes Feuille de brick tuile • 10pcs Feuille de brick pastry• 50g Unsalted Butter• 50g Honey 1. Mix honey and butter well. Spread between Feuille pastry, for a total of 3 layers. 2. Place on desired mould and bake in combi oven at 160 degree celsius till golden brown, for 7 to 10 minutes. Sweet corn purée • 1kg Good quality frozen sweet corn• 300g Salted butter• 300g Milk 1. Sweat butter with sweet corn, then slow-cook for 1 hour…

It’s no secret that eating less red meat, and more fruit and vegetables is good for both people and planet, thus making plant-based foods and a flexitarian diet are some of the most used trending buzz phrases today. What is a myth though, is the fact that a plant-based diet is synonymous with being vegan or vegetarian. In reality, a flexitarian approach allows for natural inclusion of diverse protein sources, in which regular meat and dairy are still permissible occasionally in smaller quantities, putting a greater emphasis on plant-based alternatives. The key to making this supposedly healthier and more planet-friendly lifestyle change sustainable and more enjoyable in the long run, is to simply include more plant-based foods to an already healthy diet rather than making drastic diet changes, most of…

December to February are grape-picking months in India, particularly near the town of Akluj in the Solapur district of Maharashtra. In 2020, just before international borders started closing in March, a handful of invited guests from Singapore journeyed to the 240-acre vineyards to experience not just the wines, but also the guesthouse, the harvest, and the workings of the modern winery that Fratelli Vineyards has carefully built where once was rocky, poor soil. In any other circumstances, this would be a thirst-inducing travel story, detailing in vivid colour the sights and sounds of Mumbai – the nearest gateway airport – all the way to sleepy Akluj, a 6-hour car ride away. However, as physical travel remains elusive for the time being, we can instead be transported to exotic lands through…

Crossovers and collectibles The Balvenie unveiled its exquisite 15-sets only The Balvenie x Royal Selangor Collector’s Box (starting from £41,800, inclusive whisky) in December. This work of art was designed from scratch, and is crafted from high-grade walnut wood and encased in Royal Selangor’s signature dimple design pewter. Each one holds three bottles, and the lucky owner will also be able to select from The Balvenie expressions which are aged 30 years and above to fill their box. For everyday budgets, a beautiful handcrafted pewter-based rocks whisky glass is available In a gift box that includes either the 12 Year Old DoubleWood, 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask or 17 Year Old DoubleWood ($125-235 from tinyurl.com/WGSlazmall). This collaboration falls under The Balvenie’s Handcrafted By platform, that highlights its celebration of craft.…

HIGASHIYAMA NISEKO VILLAGE, A RITZ-CARLTON RESERVE Situated at the base of Mount Niseko Annupuri, the picturesque all-season alpine resort offers a sanctuary from which one can explore the surrounding mountain, gastronomy, culture and tradition. Encouraging reverence for the transient beauty of nature and well-being through indoor and outdoor self-discovery, the resort is also the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Japan. Offering access to 2,191 acres of skiable terrain, avid skiers and snowboarders can ski to their hearts’ delight and find respite in one of the 50 rooms and suites. Designed for comfort and warmth, each room and suite offers expansive mountain views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Focus on holistic wellness with bespoke spa treatments and a traditional Japanese onsen experience in mineral-rich waters from the underground hot springs. ★ YASUNARI KAJI GENERAL…

What if the future of fine dining lay in breaking down the ‘castes and classes of dining’, where it wasn’t defined by the traditional boundaries and trappings of fine or mass dining; but rather, the focus lay on the overall dining experience while showcasing the natural goodness of finely-curated, top-quality ingredients, all without the use of any preservatives, pre-mixes, artificial ingredients and excess salt or sugar? Miso and caviar are used instead of salt for umami notes; the natural sweetness of ingredients provide the required sweet notes; and using seasonal produce from an informal network of friends and family suppliers in Europe and other parts of the world, ensure that only the best produce makes it on to your plate, while completely eliminating the use of middlemen and questionable quality…

NIC PHILIP EXECUTIVE CHEF OF MAMAKA BY OVOLO What is the meaning of Valentine’s Day to you? It’s a call to wine and dine that special someone, to flatter, impress and indulge together and reach a satisfying end. What is your most memorable celebration and why? I’m not normally the romantic type. A chef’s Valentine’s Day is usually just like any other busy service. Standing over the hot section barking orders and because it’s Valentine’s Day, they are generally two tops or tables of two, so I usually have a hundred dockets on fire. By the end of the big night, I’d be lucky to have the time to pick up my girl and found somewhere still open. Describe your perfect Valentine’s meal. I’d start with some naked oysters. Then,…

The special thing about PUTIEN is that it is, well, not special. PUTIEN does not place importance on being defined as such, although its simple focus on “fresh ingredients” and “authentic taste” has won accolades for the 20-year-old brand, Michelin star no less. It is a commitment that founder Fong Chi Chung has set in stone since the beginnings of PUTIEN as a coffee shop in Kitchener Road in 2000, and it looks like his eldest son Fong Chak Ka is staying true to its brand promise – and keeping home close to his heart. “PUTIEN is about home-cooked food. It’s just simply that. Food that is unpretentious, simple and pure. Many families do not have time for home-cooked dinners anymore, and we just want to provide a simple meal…

San Francisco in the 1800s conjures up images of the Gold Rush and a time of chaos and rapid economic growth. Excess and extravagance were the accelerants of society. Set against the historic heritage shophouses of the Singapore Boat Quay district, Barbary Coast stirs up our imagination of the era with creative cocktails and mesmerising design. A lifestyle destination with two unique concepts under one roof, Barbery Coast was conceptualisd by The Compound Collective, who worked with EDG to bring the ideas to live. Comprising The DeadFall and The Ballroom, the multilevel venue is a juxtaposition of the rags to riches lifestyle. “Perhaps the most striking way in which this is interpreted are the two separate levels, which links the physical architecture and layout of the heritage shophouse to the…

Indulge guilt-free in Melati, a sweetener-free, vegan, non-alcoholic aperitif, at only 12 calories per serve. Lorin Winata, founder of Melati Drinks, a Singapore-founded non-alcoholic aperitif company, has worked with an Ayurvedic specialist and food scientist to create the aperitif, inspired by traditional Asian medicinal remedies using herbs and botanicals. “Melati’s first product the Classic, is handcrafted from 26 healing botanicals selected for their mood boosting, antioxidant and detoxifying compounds which help liver detox, increase blood flow, spark digestion and support general wellbeing,” says Winata. Each botanical is individually treated via traditional cold-extraction for up to six weeks to extract maximum benefits, before being carefully hand-blended locally. The botanicals used include goji berry, hibiscus, raw cacao, chokeberry, ginger, star anise, sencha, red kampot pepper and cinnamon, resulting in a refreshingly fruity…

Jason Tan took the culinary world by storm in 2014 with his gastro-botanica cuisine, an innovative avant-garde philosophy that celebrated botanicals in their own right, shining the spotlight on the infinite possibilities of humble vegetables and elevating them to an equal status as that of proteins - a definite first for diners and chefs alike. Trained in classical French cooking and having worked in several Michelin-starred restaurants throughout his career, Jason is the first and only Singaporean chef to be awarded the Michelin star four years in a row, as well as being ranked for five consecutive years (2016-2020) on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants during his tenure as chef and co-owner of the Corner House at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It was in the lush environs of the UNESCO heritage…

★ Soy protein – Also known as soy leghemoglobin, this protein is found in the roots of soybean plants, and is rich in non-heme iron (a type of iron found in many plants that is different to regular heme iron in meat). Soy protein usually forms the base of many plant-based burgers because of its ability to make fake meat “bleed” when cooked to mimic real red meat as far as possible. However, it is important to note that while soy protein is rich in iron, plant-based non-heme iron is absorbed at a much lower rate by our bodies than regular heme iron found in animal products. Hence the need to add vitamin B12, iodine, zinc, vitamin D and calcium to plant-based products, to better cater for vegan requirements. ★…

It may be your home, but the air quality within isn’t quite as clean as you might expect. Harmful particles and gases tend to dwell, affecting your health and quality of life. To breathe easier and healthier all-year round, consider investing in the LG PuriCare 360° Double Air Purifier (from $1,799), a smart device which delivers clean, fresh air to every nook and cranny of your house. Featuring a six-step filtration system that effectively eliminates 99.9 percent of pollutants including dust, allergens and harmful gases, the PuriCare 360° leaves your pad invigorated and free of germs. The Clean Booster function also boasts a nozzle that has the ability to rise from the top, distributing clean air up to 7.5m at a go. To maximise the use of your intelligent air…

2020 was certainly an unprecedented year on many fronts, with a marked shift towards plant-based eating. Even meat haven fast food chains such as KFC, Burger King and McDonald’s introduced plant-based options to their menu. But what really is driving this plant-based popularity - is it the planet’s threat from climate change and global warming or our own quest to eat better? “Global warming is expected to rise by temperatures by 3-5 degrees by the end of 2100, with catastrophic consequences on the planet. There is an urgent need for lower greenhouse gas methods of food production, with meat production and livestock farming being amongst its largest contributors. It is simply not sustainable to continue to resort to meat production to feed a world population of 8 billion people. The…