2020 hasn't been quite kind to us but life goes on. Hope everyone is taking the safe distancing thing and work from home seriously! Well if you get a chance to take a breather, i'm sure working from a tea lounge works too. Regent Hotel Tea Lounge has a well spaced layout that allows you to privately enjoy your three-tiered tea set that's served to your table on weekdays from 12 - 5pm. Regent's signature scones are one of my favorites in Singapore and best sliced apart and slathered with a thick layer to lush Devonshire clotted cream and a smidgen of lemon curd.  

On weekends, the tea lounge takes on a semi buffet format. The current theme is English Garden and you will find counters stocked with English cheeses and dainty sandwiches filled with black truffle, egg mayonnaise and cucumber. 

I very much enjoyed making these bite-sized blini sandwiches, which i generously topped with the various caviar. Other English delights include mini pot pies with Angus beef ragout, classic roasted Wagyu beef rump with truffle, and Yorkshire Pudding.

It's been more than a year since #meetthelulus went on our honeymoon to Morocco and i've procrastinated on the writing because i found it daunting to cover a 12 day trip in 1 post. The only thing i managed so far was a trip report on the wonderful Singapore Airlines A350 business class from Singapore to Barcelona. 

I wanted a fuss free honeymoon experience which doesn't involve fretting over the logistical arrangements on the road so i booked a private tour with Berber Space Morocco, a Moroccan agency that started in the Sahara Desert. I compared several Singapore and Moroccan agencies before deciding on them due to the great pricing and good reviews. I provided them with a skeleton itinerary (of cities to visit and activities that i want included in the trip) and they got back with the rest- which included accommodation options. 

The accommodation that we took were mostly riad stays (think of them as small boutique hotels) with some hotel options (for convenience in the bigger cities). I was happy with most of the options except the one in Fes (there was some screw-up and we were put up at a different riad). Anyway, if there's a specific accommodation that you want for sure, just let them know and they'll make the necessary arrangements. 

To get into Morocco, we took SQ from SIN to Barcelona, and then Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca. Our English-speaking driver Hamid drove us around the country and helped us settle into our local accommodation, got us our SIM cards and also helped us with general enquiries and suggestions. At the various cities, we were met with the local guides who'd provide us with insights to each location. Breakfasts are provided, and some dinners are included too (in locations that are not accessible e.g. in the desert and mountainous regions). Our luxury desert camp stay which includes our camel rides were also part of the package. The price was only 1400 Euros per person. We added on a little bit more for a half day hiking trip at the Atlas mountains (100 Euros each). Honestly i think it's a steal. A friend went on a 10 day trip and paid more than S$4000 per pax. Her accommodation was more standard luxurious but i was pretty satisfied with what we got at the price we paid. 

Below is a highlight of my trip. Do note that in order to visit the following spots, there may be some long drives in between and overnight stays in smaller towns. 

Casablanca-Rabat

We stayed the night at Riad Zyo, a clean and modern riad just outside the old city (medina), had our first Moroccan meal of chicken with preserved lemons at Dar Naji (they did not speak a word of English) and spent the next morning with a local guide touring the medina. We visited the oldest house in the Medina and the Kasbah des Oudaias which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Here you'll see houses painted in white and blue (apparently to keep out the mosquitos). While touring the Medina, we saw a really lovely riad Dar Shaan which you could also consider.

Chefchaouen

Chefchaouen is the blue city of Morocco, situated at the footstep of the Rif mountains. Unlike many parts of Morocco, Chefchaouen was occupied by Spain; therefore there is much influence from the Spanish civilisation and Moorish architecture.

Our original planned riad was supposed to be Darech Chaouen but somehow the booking changed and  we were put up somewhere else. Thankfully Riad Cherifa was equally charming, where every nook is the perfect photo spot. They have a pool and a hamman too! It was our safe harbour from the torrid rain that we experienced the 2 nights we stayed in Chefchaouen, which ruined our plans to go hiking.

There's nothing to do in Chefchaouen except to explore the labyrinth of blue alleyways and take plenty of pictures. A guy tried to show us his marijuana farm situated inside his house, which we politely declined of course. 

In our crazy fast paced nation, a slow food trend is burgeoning. At Tiong Bahru Bakery Diner, they've taken slow food and made it fast and casual. Almost every element of each dish is is made from scratch, using locally sourced ingredients and minimising food waste. Of course, the result is new flavors and food that is good for your gut and soul. The two diners are located at Raffles City and Funan Mall and provides diners with convenient all-day breakfast options with a whole lot of vegetarian and vegans dishes. 

At the helm of the bistro is the sweet and enthusiastic Chef Paul Albert, who cut his teeth at several Michelin starred restaurants in France and Rio. Paul brings along his experience in sourdough baking, after his experience with The Slow Bakery in Rio where he learnt a great deal about wild fermentation. 

A look at the menu and one may be surprised at the number of vegetarian and vegan options. It's a concerted effort to do so in fact. Trust me, it'd change your mind on going green if you're a serious meat eater. 

For starters, reach for the Chayote Kimchi & Mung Bean Salad ($18) which features a toss-up of slow-cooked mung beans, blanched local snake beans and an old-style Korean kimchi made using local chayote and turnip that has been fermented in-house for several months. The kimchi was definitely on par with those that i've had in Seoul and it's riper than usual. Crispy buckwheat and toasted peanuts give the dish an additional crunch. 

The Hot Chicken Salad & Caramelised Pumpkin ($20) is a generous salad that will satisfy your protein craving. The chicken is first marinated with various local spices and then sous vide. Unfortunately the breast was a tad dry and salty for me. The highlights for me were the Kabocha pumpkin that has a lovely brown butter flavor and a caramelized sugar-like crust that is au natural; and also the zesty pomelo salad with a Greek yogurt wasabi dressing and parsley oil.

There's nowhere else i'd head to for a good Sichuan meals but Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurants and they've introduced a variety of seafood dishes "Colours of the Sea" which is available till 12 Jan 2020 at their three outlets. TOP of UOB Plaza and PARKROYAL on Beach Road are offering special a la carte and set menus, while PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road serves a buffet. 

Did you know that Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant is pufferfish on its menu? Their fish is imported directly from Japan. Check out these cute Steamed pufferfish dumpling which is exclusively available at TOP of UOB Plaza, where you can also enjoy the rest of their delectable dimsum bites. Expect a refreshing sweetness in this dumpling.

Another must try is the Sliced pufferfish with fresh chili and sesame (right). I love the blend of spices and the sesame fragrance in this one.  

There's no such thing as regular seafood dishes at Si Chuan Dou Hua as we were wowed by the interesting combinations of flavors. In the seafood combination platter, what stood out was a crispy soft shell crab with Osmanthus sauce that all of us could not stop nibbling on due to the lingering floral taste. The salted egg fish skin was irresistible as well.

Kai Garden is one of my go to Chinese restaurants for dim sum and their very well priced and gorgeous Peking Duck! And guess what! Kai Garden has opened a new restaurant Kai Duck that focuses on innovative dishes made with their Cantonese-style Peking duck.

Their new outlet at Ngee Ann City is a modern casual restaurant that caters to smaller groups of diners. Yes, one can enjoy some glorious bird dishes even if one were alone. Oh the beauty of it! Unlike the traditional Peking style of baking the duck with fire, the duck skin used at Kai Duck is prepared by using the Cantonese method of drizzling the duck with oil after baking, to enhance the aroma and juiciness of the skin. 

We started with the Chilled Mini Tomatoes topped with Japanese Sesame Sauce ($10.80) which uses fresh Japanese cherry tomatoes marinated in a tart plum sauce, and is served with handmade squares of plum jelly. This refreshing appetizer complements the rich flavors of the other dishes. Save some for in between dishes! The plum marinade is exactly like the sauce that accompanies most roast ducks. 

One of the signatures at Kai Duck is the Peking Duck Salad Hand Roll ($4.80 ea). Think of it as a fried spring roll filled with juicy slices of Peking Duck, cucumber and lettuce, seasoned with Japanese sesame sauce and seaweed.

Sans the millenials, do you guys remember the start of the cafe wave in Singapore and how brunch was all about English Breakfasts and Eggs Benedict before it's about Smashed Avo on Toast or Soufflé pancakes? As i cut into my Instagram-perfect Eggs Benedict at The English House by Marco Pierre White and that sunset orange trickled down those pearly whites, i was reminded how the Eggs Benedict will always be an oldie but goodie. Is this what old people do? Reminisce? 

Anyhow, The English House is now serving traditional English breakfast items daily (except for Mondays) in their gorgeous colonial house. Daytime is the best time to get a good look inside the restored conservation building filled with quirky English curios and pop art, and also a touch of local kopitiam/old medical hall furniture. 

Breakfast starts with a basket of complimentary freshly baked sourdough with French butter and your choice of coffee, tea or juice. Proper yes sire.

Since i got you thinking about the Eggs Benedict ($20), here it is, the perfectly round eggs with a curtain of bright and lemony, rich and smooth hollandaise. Trust me when i say this is one of the best Egg Benedict out there currently. Of course the English got it right. The round Japanese egg sits on top of some juicy shredded Wiltshire ham, which provides a lovely saltiness to the dish. As the yolk explodes, the viscous liquid is soaked up by the pillowy muffin. DAYUMS. This reminded me why Eggs Benny is an evergreen brunch dish.

As French patisserie Antoinette bid farewell to its Mandarin Gallery outlet, its move to Millenia Walk is a warm welcome by the working crowd in the area, who gets to indulge on fresh bakes, sweet treats and savoury bites, all day everyday. 

Pick your spot, be it under the sun (i mean skylight) in the ‘al fresco’ area along the atrium, or tucked tucked away in a cosy corner in the store, and then be ready to watch the world go by for a bit. New to the Millenia Walk outlet are French-style savoury crêpes and weekday-specials, the Le Menu Petite Déjeuner (a simple breakfast menu) and Le Menu Sandwich (classic European sandwiches) that are exclusive to Millenia Walk.

For a quick grab and go, other than Antoinette’s signature Pure Butter Croissants ($3.5) and Pain Au Chocolat ($3.5), i highly recommend the Egg Muffin ($5) which is way better than MacD's FOR SURE. The housemade pork sausage patty is incredibly juicy and wholesome, with zero additives. Topped with cheddar cheese and a sunny side up, it's sandwiched between a housemade muffin which is amazingly fluffy and buttery inside and woah i love that crunchy crust it has. How is this only $5?? 

The Italian Focaccia ($8) is also an easy sandwich to eat on the go. You can't go wrong with pesto butter and cheese, plus some juicy sous vide chicken. I love the herby mix and it certainly provides a hearty start to the day. An extensive range of traditional European and Japanese-style breads are freshly stocked daily for a convenient snack at the desk too.

Odette is the most coveted restaurant to dine at in 2019, having toppled long time winner Gaggan to become The World's Best Restaurant in Asia, and then clinching its third Michelin star for the first time. Chef Julien Royer is surely on a winning streak. I thought Odette would stay on my must-eat list for a long time to come but Jr surprised me by getting a table for our wedding anniversary (he asked me a couple of days before so i only had to wait for 3 days to dine at Odette)!

If you're out to impress your date or celebrate a special occasion, Odette is the place to go. The walk through the historic National Gallery (it's magical and majestic at night) and into the feminine and elegant restaurant with soft hues of pink, grey and cream prepares you for an exquisite meal to come. The restaurant is named after Chef Julien's grandmother, who is also his source of inspiration for his food. The produce are sourced from specialist artisan producers across the world – from Europe to Asia and Australia. As his grandmother showed him, the most "remarkable dishes can come from the purest ingredients" and the addition of that ‘little something’ create dishes that excite the palate and fill the heart, and you can expect that experience at Odette.

Dinner was a seasonal Modern French 8-course menu ($328/pax, prices would be $358/pax starting Nov) and there's a vegetarian option available as well. We also went with the wine pairing ($245/pax) which is absolutely delightful if you are into wines.

Before the meal started, we were served with snacks as we sipped on our champagne. A fresh cumin snap peas tart, a Comte cheese cigar, and scallop taco.

Then came the bread basket with truffle brioche, sourdough, and olive roll, served with Catalunya olive oil and a whipped butter with ground buckwheat. The bread basket stayed throughout our meal despite how full we were because we simply couldn't bear to have taken away. #FOMO

It's been a year since #meetthelulus so here's a throwback! I meant to write about our Bali wedding much sooner but life took over so here it goes. If you are getting hitched and you are looking for something different from the usual hotel banquet, preferably a destination wedding, but yet super fuss free and NOT break the bank expensive, BUT also must be elegant, chill and fun, with good food of course... Well, just do what we did and head over to Tirtha Uluwatu in Bali, Indonesia. #notsponsored

Tirtha Uluwatu provides an all-in-one wedding package which takes care of everything you can think of. Wedding planner, MUA, floral, decor, f&b, accommodation, photography and videography, chapel for the ceremony, a change of venue for dinner, music and entertainment, and fireworks too! How do you think i got my wedding planned in 6 months without having to do much? All we had to do was to pick from their amazing list of partners and viola. Our bridal party also didn't have to lift a finger to do anything. We just needed to show up and look gorgeous. How's that for a wedding celebration?

I'll let the pictures do the talking. Our day started with prep at the Tirtha Glass House, a gorgeous 3BR villa where we were accorded a night's stay. It was also where we held our dinner reception. My Japanese MUA is Mami-san, and she nailed the look i wanted based on the pictures that i've sent our Tirtha wedding planner Anggie. Here's a simple braided updo with natural make-up for the day.

We chose the Glass House because it's full of greenery and a minimalist resort interior. Post-prep, we also had time to take some pictures on the grounds. 

  

Then it was off to the Tirtha Chapel for our ceremony. You could choose between a Christian ceremony or a Commitment ceremony.

You don't have to be in Niseko to enjoy Chef Willin Low's Mod-Sin izakaya dishes because they make an appearance every night at Relish @ Frasers Tower. In the day, enjoy Relish's classic burgers, pastas, and desserts; in the night, pick on bar bites and sharing plates over Japanese sakes and draft beers at Roketto Izakaya. Also, some of Wild Rocket's signatures are also available here! 

Warm your tummy with the Fish Collagen Broth ($5), a dairy-free but surprisingly rich and creamy soup that has extracted all the goodness from the fish bones. While it may look like a simple piece of fried fish, it's actually a homemade omu fish cake. Fish meat is mixed with egg, beaten and fried for the fluffy airy texture, similar to the typical fried egg floss at many fish soup stalls in Singapore.

Willin also likes to tease his dinners with all these Har Cheong (fermented shrimp paste) chicken dishes but he doesn't use any chicken in them. Instead, munch on a flavorful Har Cheong Pork Belly Keropok ($8.50) that is possibly the next big snack (goes perfectly with beer). The saltiness is well balanced with a refreshing Keffir lime mayonnaise.

A milder but more exotic version of the typical Har Cheong Chicken is the Har Cheong Tin Gai ($12), which features fried frog legs that have been mildly marinated in the pungent paste. It tasted like a very good fried chicken actually. Have it with the ginger flower paste and it instantly tastes like a staple on an Izakaya menu.

In need of some fresh air this smoggy September! Short of going on a getaway (somewhere without the haze), i'm thinking of a mini afternoon break at InterContinental Hotel Singapore, nibbling on Chef Ben Goh's Classic Afternoon Tea. And no, you don't have to wait for the weekends to enjoy this because it's available daily at the Lobby Lounge.

This particular Classic Afternoon Tea set celebrates Chef Ben's recent win as Pastry Chef of The Year 2019, awarded by World Gourmet Summit. The sweet treats tell the story of Chef Ben's culinary journey- inspirations from his childhood (such as the buttercream cake and his grandmother's kueh lapis), and his milestone creations and award winning sweets. These are accompanied by some specially created light savory bites to balance the desserts. 

Starting with the traditional stuff, the nostalgic old school buttercream cake. I NEVER liked this style of cake because the colors look radioactive and it always has this oily Planta mouthfeel to it. Well Chef Ben's version was totally NOT that. I loved the light saltiness of the buttercream and the light sponge layers. Chef also took a leaf out of his grandmother's book for the kueh lapis and created a springy and eggy cake that wasn't too sweet. The secret ingredient is DOM Benedictine. 

My heart melted at the Peach Melba Cheesecake with the loveliest shade of pink. I mistook the exterior for a tart shell and was surprised that it was a chiffon sponge instead. It's a perfect harmony of sugar and acid in this one. 

The best thing about Chef Ben's desserts is that they are always delicate and nuanced, even with the seemingly rich stuff like chocolate. The award winning Chocolate Lemongrass Pineapple cake may look intimidating but the filling is an airy mousse that is a chocolate cloud, further lifted by the notes of lemongrass. If that doesn't lift your mood, head over to the ice cream counter and help yourself to the free flow of a creamy smooth yogurt yuzu ice cream!  

Looking for a go-to guy for authentic mexicano? Well, as the name itself suggests, El Mero Mero is exactly where you should be headed for the real deal, and i really don't mean Tex-Mex. The restaurant at CHIJMES has been serving us amigos for the past five years with solid Mexican classics and now it has taken its offerings a notch up with its refreshed menu that is designed to reflect both Mexican culinary history and its dynamic modern foodscape. 

What's Mexican food without Guacamole ($16)? The version here at El Mero Mero is made better because you can mix all the smashed avocados and condiments in yourself before smearing it on the crunchy charred tostadas. My advice? Order another side of fried masa corn chips because they are thinner and crunchier than the charred ones.

Even though the Corn sampler ($15) may look pedestrian, it certainly didn't taste so. The Cotja cheese mayo dressing made all the difference. I adore a good taramasalata and this tasted like that, except that it's sharper in flavor and also happens to be vegetarian.

The brown corn-mushroom donuts are out of this world though. It's the first time i've had Huitlacoche, a fungus (or mushrooms) that grows on the corn.

The first Shangri-La hotel, the first Shang Palace. Since 1971, both hotel and restaurant has been making history, from our little red dot, to the rest of the world. 

At the restaurant’s helm is Chef Mok Kit Keung, who has 40 good years of cooking under his belt (he started when he was only 13). Chef Mok is the one who brought Shang Palace Kowloon to its second Michelin star in 2011 and we think there's a high chance he may clinch a star (or two) for Shang Palace Singapore. Expect an extensive menu (or menus), ranging from traditional nostalgia, classic signatures, and innovative new dishes by Chef.

Taste the flavors of the good old days with Chef Mok's heritage dishes. Preparation of these heritage dishes is often painstaking, time- consuming and intricate, which explains why they are hard to find these days.

Take the Boneless quail filled with bird’s best in supreme Broth ($98/portion) for example, the tiny bird had all its bones removed, leaving the delicate flesh and skin intact to be filled with 40g of bird's nest. The supreme broth is also cooked for 8 hours using chicken, pork, and Jinhua ham to coax maximum flavour. If you think about all the work and premium ingredients that went into the dish, you'd understand why the dish is value for money. 

The Deep-fried crab meat, coriander and pork fritter 金钱蟹盒 ($36/6pcs) may look like a regular fried wanton, but the skin is actually hand-sliced pieces of pork fat (they're sliced so thinly that they're translucent). The skin wraps a mixture of Sri Lankan crab meat, mushrooms, Chinese coriander and bamboo shoots, forming a "coin" which is then deep fried till crispy. I loved how wonderfully juicy each bite was. 

Our favorite wood-fired bakehouse Firebake has launched a refreshed lunch menu and also more new items to tantalize our taste buds! In its latest dishes, Firebake goes ‘back to basics’, offering quality bakes that reach out to childhood memories and comfort. 

My childhood would have been a lot more awesome if i've had something like the Firebake Tartine ($18 for full portion – available for brunch & lunch), an open-faced sandwich featuring a slice of Seedy sourdough. 

The Seedy is my favorite loaf at Firebake. Made with organic wholemeal with toasted sesame and pumpkin seeds, each bite is full of nutty crunch and fragrance. The toppings vary from time to time, and i had a slice topped with avocado, sauteed mushrooms, feta, pickled pistachio and cress. This is bound to satisfy any brunchy cravings!

Forget the Shake Shack queue guys and check out the Firebake Wagyu Cheese Burger ($18 – available for brunch & lunch). The fluffy house-baked wood-fired sourdough potato buns sandwich a juicy medium-done Australian Wagyu patty (with the perfect balance of lean and fatty mince). Hidden between the layer of meat, bun and melted cheddar are more umami surprises- an extra pat of butter, Grana Padano parmesan and -drumrolls- a thick tomato-based beef sauce created by Firebake’s founder, Konstantino Blokbergen. This sauce is inspired by the traditional Greek pastitsada stew and boy that really changes everything. 

Another new favorite for me is the Grilled Argentinian Striploin ($28 – available all day) which is topped with a refreshing and vibrant salsa verde. Argentinian steaks are known for their intensely flavorful profile and this 220g lean steak is no different. The beef is grilled to medium over Firebake’s traditional wood stove and served over a slice of rye bread. Absolutely rustic way to enjoy the slab.