epicureApril 2016的目錄

Numerous definitions abound as to when millennials were born – demographers William Strauss and Neil Howe who coined the term set it as 1982 to 2004, while American think tank organisation Pew Research Center demarcates it as 1981 to 1997. What is clearer though, is that collectively as the most techsavvy and educated generation, millennials are fast reshaping the global economy and creating a shift in the way organisations run their businesses. As a potent consumer force in the F&B industry, they are also complex, spontaneous and sometimes contradictory, throwing curveballs at restaurateurs who are used to the more predictable and consistent spending habits of the boomer generation. The millennials I know watch more food television, show an interest in cooking but also dine out more often. They are a…

The epic Game of Thrones drama series is all the rage now and its many scenes filmed against the mystical backdrop of Northern Ireland’s forests, moors and castles have catapulted the country into pop culture. Some of these landscapes include The Dark Hedges, a beautiful avenue lined with spectacular beech trees, and Downhill Beach, a scenic coastal stretch with the Mussenden temple perched atop a 120 ft cliff. For an immersive cultural experience, pay a visit to the Titanic Belfast gallery – Belfast was where the iconic ship was designed, built and launched. The Titanic Experience encompasses nine interactive galleries covering the entire story from her conception to her voyage. Visitors can also explore the decks and cabins of SS Nomadic, the world’s last remaining White Star Line vessel and…

The World Gourmet Summit (WGS) has pulled out all the stops to deliver their most impressive programme yet, including Champagne masterclasses, an Acqua Panna Pairing Dinner with two Michelin-starred chef Yoshinori Ishii, and a Highland Park Whisky Dinner at Wooloomooloo Steakhouse with head chef Glenn Bowman. Here’s what else to look forward to from now till 24 April. Look out for the two-day signature event WGS 20 Best Chefs on 16 and 17 April, sponsored by Miele, Dom Pérignon and Sanpellegrino (tickets from $50 for two masterclasses to $160 for 10 masterclasses over two days). A handful of industry players – which includes the likes of Julien Royer, André Chiang, Malcolm Lee and Daniel Chavez – will convene atop One Raffles Place at Stellar at 1-Altitude to present exclusive masterclasses…

Indonesia STUMBLE ON A SPEAKEASY Jakarta’s bar scene is marked by an increasing number of hip drinking holes that operate under the radar. Like in the movie Kingsman: The Secret Service, where a smart menswear shop served as a front for the underground activities behind it, the suit boutique by the same name is actually a secret passageway to Hemingway bar, where the sultry vibe and mood lighting sets the tone for an evening of wind down drinks. Jl. Senopati 92, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. Tel: +62 21 739 7459 If a corporate dinner allows time for a drink after, head down to nip & Dram, a sophisticated den for the gentlemen to kick back with some fine whiskey. No loud music to contend with here – the lounge plays…

Celebrate the arrival of Spring at Keyaki with master chef Hiroshi Ishii’s new nine-course Kaiseki menu. The culinary experience revolves around the enduring tradition of ‘shun’, the belief that food should be consumed at the peak of its flavour during its proper season. Hence, the menu showcases authentic Japanese cuisine made with specially-sourced premium seasonal produce such as Takenoko (bamboo shoot), Sakura-dai (cherry blossom sea bream), and Taranome (mountain vegetable bud). A highlight of the delectable menu is an assortment of fresh sashimi that includes Tuna Belly, Filefish, Sakura-dai and Sweet Shimp. This is followed by Grilled Takenoko, fresh bamboo shoots that are first prepared by boiling with rice bran to remove bitterness and simmered with dashi stock for a subtle sweetness, then grilled with seafood and layered in a…

Trust Mainland Edam, a mild and smooth cheddar, to tie the flavours of ingredients together on a sliced baguette. “Mainland Edam is a light, versatile cheese that works well with the grassy freshness of asparagus, and is especially delicious when grilled,” executive chef Aaron Foster of The Westin Singapore enthuses. “Plus, pancetta really brings out the salty nuances of the mild cheese.” Of course, it also helps that Edam has 25 percent less fat than standard cheddar – the perfect excuse to help yourself to more of the moreish bites. Look also to Mainland’s six other cheese varietals to spice up your dishes – choose from buttery Gouda, sharp Vintage cheddar, light-flavoured Swiss, nutty Gruyere, crumbly Epicure aged cheddar, or crowd-favourite Tasty. The brand, which is based in Dunedin in…

Destination weddings are all the rage and Bali is one of the most sought-after locations for its wealth of exotic locales – whether you prefer sandy shores, leafy surrounds, high-altitude vistas or bucolic paddy fields as far as the eye can see, The Island of Gods has it all. Luxurious hotels dotted across the island each offers something unique to make your big day especially memorable. Where else (within a few hours of Singapore) can you set off fireworks or take off on a helicopter after you recite your vows? And of course, you're well-placed to transition straight from wedding to honeymoon with a traditional Balinese rubdown or de-stressing treatment at an indulgent spa. Here's to a lifetime of marital bliss. IN WEDDED BALI BLISS Three couples who tied the…

What can fun-loving couples do to make their once-in-a-lifetime event unique? W Retreat & Spa Bali - Seminyak’s WED YOUR WAY campaign has just what you need to jazz up your nuptials. Drawing from the hip hotel brand’s signature lifestyle programming and flair with fashion, music and design, the beachfront hotel offers a bevy of exciting activities that you can add on to your destination wedding. Overcome pre-wedding jitters with the Set the Stage programme of a stag night and hens/bridal party. Trust W Insider to plan the itinerary, whether it’s front row seats at Woobar or a thrilling night on the town. You can also luxuriate in manicures and rubdowns at AWAY Spa, which has recently launched Escape Cabana, their new spa cabana experience with a bespoke wellness menu…

All the time and effort put into preparing for your big day can result in unwanted eyebags and a dull, burned-out look. Take a break and allow the luxurious body treatments and scrubs offered by DaLa Spa to revitalise your spirit from inside out and ensure that you grace your big occasion in tiptop condition. These beautiful resorts are also an ideal destination for a hen’s party or a romantic, laidback honeymoon. DaLa Spa at Villa de daun lets couples experience the lavish beauty ritual once exclusively enjoyed by palace brides of Central Java in The Royal Wedding Ritual, which includes Javanese lulur exfoliation that uses turmeric, sandalwood and rice powder paste, hydrating yoghurt body polish, and a luxurious floral-infused milk bath. Another treatment that will leave the skin with…

SHAPE UP In the same way our sartorial choices define our personalities, the shape of a gem draws out one’s individuality. Princess diamonds exude a contemporary vibe; round diamonds are popular as they offer optimal sparkle; cushion diamonds look best in vintage-inspired settings, asscher and emerald diamonds have a subdued sparkle but are more transparent and elegant; heart-shaped diamonds have long been favoured by die-hard romantics; and oval, marquise, and pearshaped diamonds are unique choices that give fingers a longer and slenderer appearance. LABEL OF LOVE Proposing to a fashionista? Try going down on one knee with a piece featuring signature fashion house emblems. Inspired by the encounters of a passionate couple, this ring from Louis Vuitton’s Collection Monogram Fusion range marries the brand's monogram flower motif with a patented…

With my nose pressed to the window and as the plane skimmed over the frothy clouds then gently descended through them, what I had only imagined slowly materialised. Through the haziness, an almost painfully parched and delicately undulating landscape of fiery red soil dotted by occasional sprouts of greenery emerged. Then I saw them, those mystical ancient temples I had seen countless photos of. Reddish brown in colour, rendering them almost indistinguishable from the surrounding land, they rose like tiny jagged rocks from the ground. There were so many – hundreds – as far as my eye could see. My heart almost leapt out of my chest in excitement. My travel partner and I were arriving in Bagan, an ancient city right in the centre of Myanmar. Myths and legends…

Cold brew coffee, a more refreshing quencher than your usual java, is the go-to beverage of the trend-chasing millennial set. The extraction process, which is simple but protracted, involves either fully immersing the coffee beans in cold water or steadily dripping water through the beans. A much longer brew time – compared to normal coffee – of two to 24 hours, and the specific use of cold filtered water to a larger ratio of grounds result in syrupy, richer concoctions and more nuanced flavours, with none of the bitter oils and sharp fatty acids you get from brewing with hot water. One of the best ways to judge whether a cold brew is made well is a smooth, pleasant aftertaste. These are the places that passed the test. ORIOLE COFFEE…

How did the BottlesXO app come about? My co-founder Mischa schulze and i were two Europeans living in shanghai. Back home, we could enjoy boutique wines anywhere easily but in shanghai, shops were closed at night so we had to settle for commercial wines. We started investigating the possibility of importing wines to China and asked ourselves how we would create a wine shop for the digital age. so we developed our app to allow users to enjoy a perfect, reasonablypriced glass of wine hand-picked from boutique European wineries with just a few taps. Singapore has many wine shops and bars and also existing wine delivery services. What is BottlesXO’s competitive advantage? With BottlesXo, we are creating a new wine drinking experience. our GPS tracking function allows us to locate…

Boutique hotels have been around since the 1980s, with The Blakes Hotel in London and Ian Schrager’s Morgans Hotel in New York City blazing the trail. However, over the years, the term ‘boutique hotel’ has become ubiquitous and loosely used to describe any small travel lodging with quirky or modern touches. Thankfully, big players on the hotel scene have muscled in on the game in recent years, reinventing the wheel with standalone boutique-style chains targeted at the millennial jetsetter who expects more than mere comfort and convenience. Instead of rehashing what’s already been done, these sister brands bring to the table a fresh spin on travel accommodation, delivering unique sensorial experiences that go beyond providing a place to lay one’s head. GOING MOD In this age of social media, travellers…

Food: 7/10 Service: 7/10 Ambience: 7/10 Average dinner bill for two, with drinks: $200 Must-tries: falloff-the-bone ribs and gula melaka crème brûlée NAUGHTY NURI’S #01-84 Capitol Singapore, 15 Stamford Road. Tel: 6384 7966 Here’s a disclaimer: I have never been to Naughty Nuri’s in Bali. When I did go to the new outpost in Singapore, I made sure to bring three friends with me who had visited the flagship outlet. One is a die-hard carnivore, and another remembers her experiences vividly from multiple visits, so their opinion on how the signature pork ribs here measure up to its Indonesian counterpart is something I don’t take lightly. They all agreed it was comparable to the original. In terms of looks, the two restaurants couldn’t be more different. In Indonesia it’s a…

Jesse Katz has explored over 70 countries, mostly with his award-winning photographer father, Andy Katz. But it is his first time in Singapore, and also his first overseas work trip to promote Devil Proof Vineyards. “This is the furthest our wines have been out of the U.S.,” he shares without guile, before our lunch at Spago. Jesse is in high spirits – he’s fresh from diving in Raja Ampat and surfing in Uluwatu, and will be heading to Bordeaux after Singapore. Travelling is second nature to him, and this weeks-long Asia trip is likely the last long tranche before he buckles down to oversee his new Alexander Valley sustainable winery (completion due 2017) and the next harvest. He’s packed in a lot in 2015 – he quit his job at…

Previously a temporary pop-up bar, Hopscotch has entered its third phase with a new lease and regular live performances. Its latest menu, headed by co-owner Joel Ne Win, resembles a comic book incorporating 20 new cocktails into a hilarious storyline comprising four parts. Head straight for tequila-based Eating Air ($25), cleverly presented in sorbet form with ethereal notes of torch ginger offset with sumac and chocolate bitters. Savour the Old But Gold ($22), a twist on an Old Fashioned, with black walnut and pistachio bitters enhancing the sweetness of caramel popcorninfused Bulleit whiskey. But what catches the eye is the unconventional ice cube – here taking the shape of a shot glass made with lemon and rosemary, and garnished with salami and cherry. The moral of this storybook? Have fun…

When it comes to channelling the chic 1950s, accessories designer Cynthia Khoo, 42, has it down pat. From the Eames Lounge Chair that sits in her living room to the vintage tableware she displays during the lunch gathering we were invited to at her home one Friday afternoon, Khoo’s penchant for the aesthetic sensibilities of the mid-20th century is apparent. “When planning the interiors for our home, I was inspired by midcentury modern design because it creates a vintage feel without being dated. Also, the vibrant colours brighten the place without being garish,” she says of the 2,000 sq ft freehold apartment in East Coast that she shares with her 43-year-old pilot captain husband, Ernest Tang. In the same way an artist already envisions a painting before it materialises on…

With lush gardens encompassed by a panoramic vista of rice fields, coconut palms and the mighty Mount Agung volcano, every venue within The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah makes for a memorable wedding celebration. The Amphitheatre epitomises Bali, complete with majestic trees, lotus ponds, ornamental lakes and tranquil pavilions that appear to float upon gently swaying rice fields. Your dream wedding will play out comfortably in open air surrounds that accommodate up to 80 guests. The Bale Dedari is also a picture of tropical paradise, featuring a gazebo adorned with four heavenly angels perched in each corner as a witness to holy matrimony. The belvedere stands at the edge of the estate’s swan lake and is surrounded by perfectly manicured tropical gardens and flowering water lily ponds. Alternatively, have your ceremony…

If the idea of getting your nails done with your besties on your bachelorette shindig appeals to you far more than a night out on the town, check into Acqua Perla Spa at Double-Six Luxury Hotel, Seminyak. The lead-up to an unforgettable wedding at the design forward, all-suite property starts with restorative packages at Acqua Perla Spa for the bride and her posse. Inspired by the purity and power of water, the peaceful sanctuary serves to reconnect guests with nature and their inner selves. With a minimum booking of six guests, the Pamper Me Pretty or Virtue and Shine is an indulgent session that covers all manner of pampering from head to toe. Sit back and get your nails buffed and polished while good conversation and sparkling wine flow. Bonus:…

One of the highlights of every wedding is the walk down the aisle, the wonderful moment when all eyes are trained on the blushing bride as she enters the room. Few locations can capture this moment quite as spectacularly as the Bulgari Chapel. Reserved for the most exclusive celebrations, the Bulgari Chapel — housed in the cliff-edge Bulgari Resort Bali — is the venue of choice for a fairytale wedding that oozes glamour and sophistication. Guests will be suitably impressed by how the Bulgari Chapel, a design by Milan-based firm Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel and Partners, blends Bulgari’s distinctive Italian style with the traditional Balinese elements of its environment. The chapel’s external structure is covered by a sleek black wall made of Bangkiray wood, while the flooring is made of…

Let’s get one thing straight – I’m a West Coast guy through and through, but I don’t call L.A. home. I’ve lived everywhere from Seattle, Las Vegas and Philadelphia to southern Germany, Italy, and for the past five years, Singapore. But I’ve always been drawn to the City of Angels because it’s a hub for gastronomic risk-takers who start and grow really dynamic and novel food concepts. Lately, the fast casual food scene has erupted in L.A., and it’s millennials who are the driving force. They’re a generation who are increasingly more demanding about what they eat, where it’s sourced from, and the quality of their food. Gone are the days where a bucket of fried chicken would suffice. These young foodies want quirky yet socially conscious concepts, unique flavours,…

HAAB’, an immersive dining experience by Banyan Tree Mayakoba, celebrates the ancient culture and customs of the Mayan people through a splendid feast accompanied by interactive storytelling and rituals. Guests are welcomed by Mayan warriors donning traditional garb and feathered headdresses, then escorted to their seats on the earthy floor of an open forest garden. Traditional dishes served include spiced pibil suckling pig, fresh fish wrapped in banana leaves, and tortillas filled with chayote, a special Latin squash. There are even signature cocktails infused with local Mayan liqueurs like the huana, which is rum with guanabana (soursop) fruit. US$150 (S$210). For more information, contact +52 984 877 3688 or email mayakoba@banyantree.com. Foil’s dedication to luxury and ‘high performance art’ is evident in their new limited edition Oro-Nero skis made with…

Your foodie news around the world A restaurant named Farm2Fork and a Farm2Straw Juice bar is a clue to just how serious Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain is about sustainability. The resort in Sichuan has lofty plans to grow 50 percent of its own produce by end of 2017, and is relying on its thriving inhouse organic farm – already one of the region’s largest gardens – to get them there. It is refreshing to see how the unique East Asian harvest is incorporated in vegetable and fruit juices with natural infusions like bee pollen and ginseng, and dishes such as Cape Grim natural sirloin steak with garden vegetable tempura. The luxury establishment is currently seeing out the tail end of winter, and preparing to welcome a blossom season of…

Chope www.chope.co Can’t wait to get a seat at the hottest restaurant of the moment? Chope might just be your ticket in. As Asia’s premier online reservations provider, it lets diners make advance bookings through its website and app any time of the day, from anywhere in the world. Currently, over 600 F&B establishments are listed on the network; restaurateurs can track guests’ preferences, allocate necessary seating arrangements and improve turnover in Singapore. Chope also enhances dining experiences by letting users create lists of their favourite eating haunts, and access fellow users’ recommendations. The platform’s most popular feature remains the Chope cash vouchers, which are purchased at a lower price for significant savings. Chope currently operates in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Bangkok. HSBC Cardholders enjoy: Up to an…

When husband and wife team Brendan and Laura Carter started their own wine label Unico Zelo in Adelaide Hills in 2011, they were just 21 and 19 years old respectively. While neither of them came from historic wine families, their interest was ignited by a passion for the natural wine movement, which was at that time just beginning to gain momentum globally. “The affordable entry points to the wine world were dominated with more commodity-driven, beverage wine,” Brendan observed. As new wine drinkers themselves, the young couple knew that these selections were not enough to satiate this new generation of curious, impassioned and more socially-conscious wine drinkers. Thus the inception of Unico Zelo was to offer a new pathway to consumers – particularly their own demographic – with sustainable and…

It’s home to restaurants by Joël Robuchon, Hal Yamashita and Sam Leong. Now, Resorts World Sentosa is set to usher in a new wave of celebrity toques with the launch of CURATE, a perennial stage for Michelin-starred chefs to showcase their culinary creations. A new culinary series, Art at Curate, held in partnership with Michelin Guide Singapore and Robert Parker Wine Advocate, will see visiting chefs from around the world create exclusive tasting menus for the venue. During their stint here, they will also collaborate with RWS’ resident chef to devise signature menus that will continue to be available to the public even after their departure. The inaugural edition will take place from 29 April to May 6, featuring three Michelin-starred chef Massimiliano Alajmo. The Italian native clinched his three…

Makes 5 Prep time 25 minutes Cook time 15 minutes Wagyu beef and veal Scotch eggs 5 eggs, at room temperature 300g Wagyu beef, minced 300g veal farce pinch nutmeg powder handful italian parsley leaves, chopped 20ml cooking cream handful chives, chopped 4g Dijon mustard dash lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce ♦ Ensure eggs are at room temperature. Bring a large saucepan of water with a pinch of salt to a boil. add eggs and cook for 5 minutes over medium heat. Drain and cool eggs in an ice bath. Peel and set aside. ♦ Combine remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well. Divide mixture into 5 equal portions. ♦ roll each portion into a ball, then flatten out into a thin patty. Wrap each patty around the…

Start your sojourn in the Thai capital with Grand Mercure Bangkok Fortune as your base. Conveniently located in the central business district, the hotel is within easy reach of Rama 9 MRT Metro Station and numerous attractions, and just a 30-minute drive away from Suvarnabumi International Airport. Immerse yourself in the city’s art scene with a visit to the Thai Cultural Centre or The Bangkok Art and Cultural Centre, then indulge in retail therapy at the outdoor bazaar at Victory Monument. Afterwards, rest your feet in one of Grand Mercure Bangkok Fortune’s 400 rooms and suites, which includes two Club Prestige floors and a Presidential Suite. Business travellers are also catered for with 2,000 sq m of meeting and function spaces plus the option of a professional catering team. There’s…

A glorious beachfront wedding is to be expected when you’re tying the knot in Bali, but what really takes the cake for a truly memorable event is a ceremony in the Infinity chapel at Conrad Bali. The 12m-tall prism-shaped venue is one of Bali’s largest with 117 sq m of space and seemingly ‘floats’ in a reflecting pool of water. Thought is put into every detail of the chapel’s aesthetics – it boasts a transposable seating plan for up to 60 guests, plus a south wall of handsome marble facing a north façade of floor-to-ceiling steel-framed glass that looks out to the Indian Ocean. The bride and groom each have separate dressing rooms, while family and friends can lounge in an appointed suite. Alternatively, Conrad Bali renders wedding planning a…

If you’d like to forgo the grand fanfare in lieu of a quiet, private wedding, Wapa Di Ume Resort & Spa is the place to be. Its newly built chapel accommodates a maximum of 40 people to keep ceremonies small and intimate. In traditional Balinese fashion, young attendants clad in golden swirls of cloth join the procession to cast white frangipani petals on wedding guests while a priest bestows nuptial blessings under arching Penjor bamboo flags. At Wapa Di Ume, you’re constantly in touch with nature. Surrounded by rice fields, the resort houses a select number of villas with private pools, canopied beds and sunken baths so you can transition to your honeymoon immediately. The spa puts one instantly at ease with a design that stays true to the unique…

Every bride reaches a point where frazzled nerves get the better of her. When that happens, there’s nothing quite like an indulgent, relaxing spa treatment for the body to recharge. Merely stepping into the Spa at Maya in Maya Ubud Resort & Spa is a balm for the senses. Guests arrive via elevator to a secluded realm that promises wellness and pampering, then follow the footways through lush foliage to their own personal havens. Once ensconced in plush daybeds with views of the rainforest on one end and vertical gardens of the valley wall on the other, brides can opt for skin and repair facials which employ rich microemulsified gels and age-defying collagen treatment to look their best on their big day. Grooms in need of some time out can…

Location is everything when you’re planning a destination wedding – it doesn’t get any more idyllic than well-manicured lawns, lush tropical surrounds and ocean views at Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort. The hotel boasts all the comforts of an indoor ceremony such as climate control with The Jewel Box complex, in which its four walls are fitted with floor-to-ceiling glass windows to make the most of the resort’s garden backdrop. The garden reception area can accommodate up to 200 guests, while The Jewel Box can seat up to 80. Taking their cue from the Balinese belief that water symbolises life and fertility, the venue also has a water feature. Soon-to-wed couples are able to personalise their wedding setups with the help of the expert InspiredMeetings team. The sophisticated resort…

After the rush and euphoria from your wedding celebration, it’s time sit back, relax and enjoy Bali for all its beautiful sights and sounds. Honeymooners should venture north of Bali to the village of Sanggalangit to visit Hatten Wines’s winery’s Welcome Center & Observation Deck, which offers a charming look at its vineyards and environment. Back in town, Hatten Wine’s eagerly anticipated new wine lifestyle hub in the heart of Sanur has opened this month. Designed in the style of its first wine shop, The Cellardoor, the lofty warehouse space combines the edginess of modern glass and steel while incorporating the warmness of brick and playfulness of a creative, open-plan office. The boutique, in collaboration with Schott Zwiesel, offers newlyweds and their friends an impeccable lineup of homeware and décor…

Home cooks have embraced the new breed of high-performance, multi-purpose blenders in recent years, which has put gourmet results within reach. From smoothies and juices to soups and sauces, the blend trend is here to stay. But not all blenders are made equal. If you love the staunch functionality and timeless appeal of KitchenAid’s Stand Mixers, you’ll find a fitting companion appliance in the Torrent Blender, a stunning new piece of technology from the 97-year-old U.S. brand featuring a powerful 2.0 Peak HP motor. It’s the first Magnetic Drive blender for home use that places the optimal user experience upfront. Its dynamic design is truly hands-free and easy to use, as the magnetic drive system allows the pitcher to slide easily in and out of the blender base, as well…