It is time to lepak on the Loof again! Singapore’s favorite standalone rooftop bar has been given a face lift and they invited ‘King of Dude-stronomy’, Chef Bjorn Shen of Artichoke and Bird Bird to give the menu a touch of his signature 'Dude-Sin' twist. For the unacquainted, Dude-sin cuisine is bar grub/comfort food that we, pretend-Singaporean-adults (with cravings of a 6 year old) wanna eat in the middle of the night. Inspirations are drawn from our collective childhood memories of mama shop, Zichar stalls, fast food and more.

Credits- Loof

Chips with dips, Skewers, Buns and Bowls, the new menu has a mix of dishes from snacks to fuller heavier meals. 

Old time Loof fav of Chilli Crab Fries ($15) has been given a facelift. The blue crab dip is now served cold, with more citrus lime flavor, and sans cheese. Refreshing it was, but a hot dip may work better to comfort one's soul (i feel the same complains of the regulars). 

What's better than tacos? FRIED WANTON SKIN. Presenting the Asian tacos that is the California Crackers ($14). Glorious golden brown wanton skins will now hold some California roll mayonnaise mix of ebiko, avocado, edamame, and furikake. A bite of this dish will deceive your stomach of its exploding state (after many other dishes) and have you devour more food after. SCARY. The only thing i didn't like was the rather overpowering alkali taste of the wanton skin.

I'm not a buffet fan but after all that judging for the Weekender Food Mania Awards 2016, I'm practically a buffet expert. SO it is with great pleasure to announce that I have found the BEST CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH IN SINGAPORE (ok chill) and it is BAR & BILLIARD ROOM at Raffles Hotel Singapore (sorry can't get over the excitement)!

No seriously, if I have to pay for a buffet, Bar & Billiard Room can take my money NAO. Well, Raffles Hotel is honestly the best place to waste your Sunday away at (such gorgeous grounds) and BBR oozes class and fun. I would liken it to a fabulous house party thrown by your best foodie friend I.e. ME (haha)! I was sold once they brought the magnums of Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose around and started filling our glasses. OH YAASSS. 

We were overwhelmed by the massive spread of appetizers, none of which are your run-of-the-mill sort of stuff. We feasted on the best mix of vegetables- artichokes, beets, tapenade, quinoa, ripened vine tomatoes, eggplant, and smoked/cured meats- salmon, duck, ham, chicken. 

Shooters make for easier eating and while you can easily grab some of that Maine Lobster with Avocado & Black Truffle; King Prawns; and Parma with Burratina from the cold cuts area, you should also walk to the other end of the room where the the live stations are. DO NOT BE LAZY. That short walk will reward you with that fat creamy foie gras with pea purée. 

Also, the other highlight is the UNI SCRAMBLED EGGS. While i wasn't impressed with the eggs (they seemed more like mashed potato?), i would die for that uni. Oh no it's not even any of that nonsense uni sauce, there were tongues of uni in every little cup. 

All that amazing cheeses (about 40 varieties) hard, soft, cow, goat, bleu (they were oh so pungent and savory).. With dried fruits, quince paste, jams, and a delicious array of artisanal breads to go with. You can't go wrong with the sourdough selection (with cheese, multigrain and more), or that lovely Sundried tomato ciabatta that i devoured with the salted Echire butter (lovely)! I was upset that i couldn't fit in any of the glorious flaky croissants and quiches! :( 

Obviously my preferred starter is cheese. ;) 

All that lovely cold cuts, and sides of foie gras in terrine and marbre form. Pair them with the melons of course or on the lovely brioche. 

Seafood wise, you wouldn't be disappointed with fresh and plump lobster, prawns, oysters, and more..

How about some hot seafood? Do not miss the gorgeous scallop with potatoes, leek risotto and black truffle! 

On to the meats! Do not miss the Iberico pork ribs for your life. Seriously that fatty tender meat was so well marinated with a well balanced sweetness. It could do with some char but was delicious nonetheless. I had seconds. And I did not share.

That Omaha Beef tenderloin is one of the smoothest piece of meat that I have had! Want something more manly? There's also the Australian grain-fed rib on bone; Welsh lamb (both saddle and rack with herbs form); and duck too!

Pair them with sides of potato gratin, eggplant parmigiana, creamed spinach, creamy leeks with ham, or pasta even.

I took too many trips to beautiful desserts table of course. It was hard to find fault with what was available! I loved the homemade chocolate chunk with nuts, mixed nut tart, salted caramel Saint Honor (such lovely choux with smooth cream), hazelnut opera, coffee caramel cream and MORE! 

SO PLEASE, TAKE MY MONEY ALREADY Bar & Billiard Room! Save all your buffet money for this people but it's worth that decadent Sunday afternoon. Sunday brunch runs from 12 to 3pm weekly. It's $198/$218 for the Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve/Brut Rose, or $158 for a selection of wines, beers, juices, and signature Singapore Sling.

Trust me, the best Sunday Champagne Brunch experience right here at Raffles Hotel Singapore.

Bar & Billiard Room 

Raffles Hotel Singapore
1 Beach Road Singapore 189673

Tel: +65 6412 1816

Mark your social calendar, lovers of all things alcoholic! Singapore Cocktail Week returns from 12 to 19 March 2016. Gear yourself up for a week of heart-pumping events with the various cocktail workshops, bar tours, supper clubs, brunches, pop-ups, and international guest bartender appearances. If last year’s was amazing, this year’s will be mind-blowing! With 60 participating bars and restaurants and almost 20 cocktail events, the question is: Which one to pick? 

If you're like us and need nibbles with your tipples, then here are some restaurant-bars that we've checked out. Have breakfast any time of day at Tanuki Raw with their Bakon and Espresso drink made with bacon-flavored vodka and Red Espresso, Fortune Cookie Chai Syrup and egg white. We got a kick to the night with the espresso shot but where is the bacon? Nevertheless, we wouldn’t mind having this for breakfast, every day. 

If you're more the juicing sort, then think of the Tanuki Garden (Vodka, Celery Juice, Green Apple Juice, Lime, Absinthe, Basil and Coriander) as your green juice for the day. Well, it's all made from veg no? ;) 

The signature Truffle Yakiniku Beef Donburi was delishly comforting. Digging into the bowl of rice and meat isn’t my thing, but if I had finished it, you can bet it was heaven. The umami truffled rice had a hint of furikake, the blushing slices of meat were sliced to perfect thickness, and the egg oozed and coated every single grain. Definitely a satisfying bowl to prep the stomach for more drinks!

Diablio @ Lucha Loco

At Lucha Loco, be greeted with Mexicano music and sombreros. Here, five drinks are available—Margarita Último, Frambuesa, Loco Pisco Sour, El Megroni and Café Diablo. The El Megroni (Mezcal, Italian Aperitif, Vermouth) and Café Diablo (Mezcal, XO Café dark cocoa, Cynar liqueur, egg white, flamed orange) stood out for me. I must state that the El Megroni leans towards the bitter, so if you aren’t a fan, then stay clear. The other three cocktails were just too fruity or/and romantic for my taste buds.

Don't cry for Meat Argentina. The truth is... Argentinean cuisine is more than just meat. In fact over at Bochinche, chef Diego Jacquet will expose you to the bold Argentinean flavors with quality seafood, cheese, and greens, other than meats.

The ideal start to a night includes a round of drinks with with the small plates. With the daily Happy Hour on from 5.30 - 7.30pm (wines and cocktails go for $10), you know dinner is off to a good start. Go with the refreshing Mr Hendricks ($19), a classic lemony cucumber cocktail; or shake things up a little with Spicy Lolita ($19) made using a house spiced vodka. Argentinean wines are available too and I highly recommended the smooth and full bodied Cadena 2012 Mendoza Malbec.

Be there on Wednesdays at HH and you'll get the delicious Provoleta with Almond and Oregano honey ($17) free with 1 HH drink! You know where you'll find me on Wednesdays!

That salty sweet baked cheese is best complemented with the Iberico Cold Cuts ($22) which have been cured for 30 months (my favorite is the lomo). I would also have some of Chef's special salted butter (which he makes in small batches each day). If you miss that, the olive oil is amazing too with the Rosemary focaccia and ham.

Farther off Robertson Quay is Rodyk Street, which was for a bit, a hipster spot (thanks to Toby's Estate). Even though i used to frequent this spot, i've not noticed Verre, formerly a wine bar hidden behind dark and heavy drapes. Thankfully, after a relaunch, Verre Modern Bistro and Wine Bar has lost all that darkness and brought light, and great food to its mix. 

The new direction cannot be a better choice really. With their expertise in wine (they have over 750 labels of fine wine mainly from Bordeaux and Burgundy), Verre is able to provide great pairings with their Modern French dishes created by Chef Consultant Masashi Horiuchi (who also manages Shelter in the Woods). We had an extensive night of food and wine pairings, something easily done since one could have over 30 wines by the glass with your food choice.

A good start to a meal at Verre would be the creamy Chicken Liver Parfait ($24) paired with a reduction of port wine, madeira wine shallot, balanced with a tangy mandarin orange jelly and a dehydrated honeycomb-like mandarin orange. This was paired with a dry lemon lime Paringa Estate Riesling 2012 ($19.50). 

The Half Lobster Salad ($38) features a sweet Maine lobster cooked in court bouillon, with a creamy guacamole and a refreshing calamansi and honey dressing. I would order this dish for the sweet and tangy dressing! The wine pairing was the Stick Chardonnay 2013 ($18) with flavors of grapefruit, white peach, citrus and oak spice.

2016 food trend alert! I foresee there will be many more of the Japanese omakase-cocktail pairing type of restaurants popping up next year. Yes you heard it here first! I first experienced this at Kakure by Ki Sho. Sushi Mitsuya does it as well, and then recently at the spanking new FORT by Maison Ikkoku. Yes our favorite brunch co. now has a cool and classy restaurant-bar sister at Pinacotheque De Paris on Fort Canning Hill. The menu sees a line up of bespoke cocktails alongside pretty plates of mod Japanese food, and the entire concept is developed by the familiar Ethan Leslie Leong, who is both the Executive Chef and Master Mixologist

I first met Ethan at Drink Culture and he already wowed me with his cocktail skills then. Now add chef to the mix, and interior designer too?? The 30 seater restaurant is also designed by him and it's super underground chic. Love the vibe here!

Much thought has gone into the cocktail pairing multi-sensory dining experience at FORT by MI. Expect to be surprised by the changing scents, textures, sounds, flavors, and techniques showcased in the food and tipples preparation. It's a F&B lab with the -insert chemical process here- processes going on right before our eyes. 

Some highlights from the a la carte dishes here. The Sea ($38) is a pretty sashimi platter which layers on Hokkaido Scallop, Irish Oyster, Seaweed, Ikura, Tobiko and Ebiko on a bed of sea salted ice. It's gorgeous, but the overall flavor was a little too salty for me with all that roe, and it got fishy as well. 

The Nest ($28) is such a festive plate! Doesn't it remind of Easter? Think of this as a western chawanmushi which combines hot melted Mozzarella and  Parmiagiano-Reggiano with free-range chicken eggs. Not a fan of the smoked hay (it smelled like gym socks), but I guess that adds to the overall rustic appeal of the fish. 

A mod sushi roll which is quite fiery is the Spicy Maguro Hand-roll, The Fort [4 pcs $18 (4pcs)/ $28 (8pcs)]. The heat comes from a special Asian chili sauce added to the minced tuna, which was a bit mushy but the overall bite was quite shiok. 

This holiday, FORT by Maison Ikkoku presents a Three-Course Festive Menu (20 Nov - 31 Dec 2015) which is priced at $38/pax + $20 for 2 cocktails. This includes a surprise starter of the day, a main, and dessert.

I enjoyed the main of Holiday Turkey, comprising two succulent turkey breast medallions marinated with a mix of herbs and spices and cooked sous-vide style. So tender and juicy! Truffles have been infused into the meat and a sprinkle of cinnamon for good (holiday) measure! 

I highly recommend drinks pairing for this. The Santa Red is such a mellow  sweet cocktail with a port-like red wine reduction and perfumed with bergamot. 

To end off the dinner, the delicious Martell Cordon Bleu Lavender Crème Brûlée. Silky custard infused with the subtle lavender and a buttery caramel cognac. End the night perfectly with The Snowman, a concoction of spice rum with buttered popcorn, hazelnut and milk, which is another dessert in a cup! 

I'm definitely coming back for the super affordable 12-course Omakase for just $68/pax. Ethan definitely has many more tricks up his sleeves! 

Bespoke cocktails are priced at $18, and infusion shots at $10.

FORT by Maison Ikkoku 

5 Cox Terrace, Fort Canning Hill, Pinacotheque De Paris, S179620 

Tel: +65 6336 0507 

Daily: 4pm till late 

If you need something to prep your stomach for a night of drinking, MEATliquour SIN, by popular burger joint from the U.K., will line your intestinal walls with hearty (and greasy) patties. The Duxton outpost is the first out of the U.K and provides a convenient stop for you the get the party started with their hangover food (when you're drunk the order doesn't matter). 

Communal dining is the way it is here. Food is served on customized trays that cover the entire table top and then it's all hands on deck. You never have to wait for your companion's food to arrive because they will be served together. 

The classic Dead Hippie ($22) rules the lineup imo. 2 x mustard-fried beef patties, dead hippie sauce (can't get the recipe out of 'em), lettuce, cheese, pickles, and minced white onions. The double patties gives the burger a better mouthfeel and it's a party going on in there with each bite.

USDA Chuck is used for the patties and the slightly tougher meat brings more flavor to the burger. Wagyu fats are added for the extra juiciness. The buns are made in house and they perfected that dense butter roll texture which holds the meat perfectly. 

New kid on the block is the saucy HDB Tower Burger ($21) (Geddit? Hurhur.) which features a deep fried chicken fillet, hash brown, jalapenos, cheese, slaw and Russian sauce (a ketchup mayonnaise yogurt base). Well I would call this a Russian sauce burger instead of a chicken burger actually since the sauce stole all the thunder from the dry meat. 

Perhaps chicken isn't MEATliquor SIN's strong suit but their sauces definitely are. The Buffalo Chicken Burger ($20) was on the dry and tough end despite being slathered in their house-made hot pepper sauce. The sauce is reminiscent of Buffalo and is just a tad spicy but I missed the mild Blue cheese sauce altogether. Perhaps some of that on the side?

Give the newly debuted Fish Burger ($19) a miss. The beer batter was bland and thick, with a sea bass that lacked seasoning as well and tasted slightly muddy. Well, fish is not meat anyway but I guess we gotta feed the pescetarians. Oh they also have something for the vegetarians too. 

When I thought the chicken couldn't get any drier, the Thai Thighs were served. I would have liked for the Thai spices to be in the seasoning rather than as a side dressing for the bland and dry Panko breaded thighs (which were more like chicken breast). S was like, "the chicken is dry but if you soak it long enough it's still ok". Oh boys. But that's the market MEATliquor is going for so I guess it works. 

The burgers do not come with sides so pick the fries for sharing. Our table liked the Shambal fries ($12), which is an expat take on the local sambal sauce (so it's super mild and a tad sweet). This definitely needs more sauce and a runnier fried egg (or 2) to coat the golden crispy fries with goodness. 

I preferred the Chili Cheese Fries ($18), which packed in more punch with their tangy beef chili and crazy jalapeños. Of course cheese, mustard, and onions on top. 

The Onion Rings ($9) are gigantic and if you like anything fried, this is it. We loved the sweet whole onion rings in it but did not enjoy much of the super thick batter which turned slightly rock hard when cold. Order this to share. 

After all that grease, a refreshing Pina Colada ($19) was much needed. Isn't the presentation lovely? That's a burnt coconut meringue, which tasted so good I wanted to ask for a topping of that to go with my unfinished drink (I would have asked if I was high enough but I wasn't). 

MEATliquor SIN is a burger joint made for the boys. The expats really dig this place. For me, I can only justify that Dead Hippie with an insane workout before and after (which I did). Even still, i think i can only manage one visit in 6 months.

MEATliquor SIN

99 Duxton Rd, Singapore 089543

Tel: +65 6221 5343

Mon - Wed: 5pm - 12am

Thu - Fri: 5pm - 2am

Sat: 5pm - 3am

Introducing you to the hidden world of sake is Kakure, a boutique sake bar backed by the omakase powerhouse team at Ki-sho, both located in a beautiful black and white along Scotts Road. The setting provides an intimate environment for learning more about the art of Japanese cuisine and drinks. Kakure is specially kept small on the 2nd level of the house so that diners can interact with the two kikisake-shi or certified sake sommeliers John and Makoto-san. 

The sake list at Kakure, one of the largest in Singapore, has been carefully curated in a partnership between Ki-sho’s chef Kazuhiro Hamamoto and the 2 sommeliers. Expect handcrafted sakes, only in limited quantities, with over 50 different labels from multiple regions of Japan. If you want to get in on the insider secrets of Japanese connoisseurs, Kakure is the place to head to. 

For the full sake experience, Kakure presents an assortment of bar cuisine to accompany the sake. Crafted by Chef Hamamoto, the omakase is priced at $88 for 6 courses. Small plates are expected but we left feeling quite satisfied. The a la carte selection is sufficient if you wish to pick your own bar food (indiv prices stated). There's your usual tempura and tsukune and a good selection of oden.

Gentle(wo)manly pursuits at the revamped Bar & Billiard Room at Raffles Singapore. B&B is the oldest existing bar in its original location in Singapore, and it will bring you back to the old school with their crazy storage of 400 curated whiskies alongside an entirely new cocktail list and bar menu. Sophisticated yet relaxed, just like what you would expect a gentlemen bar to be (cigars included, not that i approve of smoking).  

Even if you can't appreciate whisky (like me), you can get schooled here by Christoph B. Nyfeler Raffles Singapore’s Resident Whisky Expert (dude has 16 years of whisky experience). For serious drinkers, the whisky list here boasts a strong Scottish presence with a good selection of American bourbons and Japanese whiskies, many of which hand selected, limited ed and directly imported.