Republic Bar – Christmas Drinks Now Available!

It’s that time of year again… & Republic Bar has a Festive Cocktails menu with 5 options (at $26++ a pop) to get your Christmas spirit on. Available daily ’til 31st December 2022, from 5:30pm onwards.

I couldn’t pass up Eggnog (pictured in the tall glass, next to the Negroni), as it is one of my favourite things about Christmas – especially the alcoholic variant. Creamy, sweet drinks deviate vastly from my typical go-to flavour profile for cocktails… But this is probably the only exception.

Expectedly, this is dangerously easy to drink. Quite reminiscent of when I’d put Bailey’s in my milk & cereal, & sit at the back of the LT to inconspicuously slurp it up during class. But this drink is better, in part because it isn’t as sweet as the “cereal milk” left behind post-meal.

The lightness in the whipped texture of cream & egg provides a comforting mouthfeel in every sip. & as you swallow, you get the warm contrasting depth of the dark spirits – Barcadi 8 & Michter’s Bourbon. Of course, there is that touch of nutmeg for a homely Christmas feel… The warm hug that envelopes everything so nicely together.

I enjoyed this from start to finish, but am cognizant that I might be a little bit biased, festival-wise. Try it for yourself & pass your own judgement 😉

Hot Buttered Rum ($26++) was recommended by one of the friendly waitresses. I originally thought I’d stop at 1 Christmas drink, having had a few from the regular menu already… But this sounded too good to pass up.

I was pleasantly surprised.. I loved this even more than Eggnog! Super baffled – because I eat my kaya toast without butter (don’t judge), yet I’d happily drink a litre of this warm, comforting buttery rum…? What sorcery is this!?

Perhaps it was the simplicity of this drink that won me over: Bacardi 8, butter, festive spices. & as I’d mentioned above, it’s served warm. So past the creamy top that gives you a comical moustache, you get that warm fuzzy feeling inside that feels almost self-healing. Mana regen ftw.

Other drinks on Republic Bar’s Festive Cocktails menu:

𝑴𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒆 ($26++)
Remy Martin VSOP, Shiraz, Citrus, Festive Spices

𝑷𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒂 ($26++)
Telmont Champagne, Cointreau, Cranberry Juice

𝑷𝒊𝒎𝒎’𝒔 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒖𝒑 ($26++)
Pimm’s No. 1, Lager, Ginger

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Indoor seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations – I used SevenRooms
💦 Water is not chargeable; neither are the dish of nuts served as nibbles
📍 Inside the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia

CRUST Day 2022 – about time we had a sustainability fair

Earth Day was last week, but IMHO being responsible to mother earth is an everyday thing. CRUST kindly invited me to #CRUSTday2022 over the weekend at The Refectory.. Exceptionally happy when the causes I’m passionate about overlap in complementary fashion – namely #zerowaste & #supportlocal.

Was honoured to be remembered by Founder & CEO Travin as someone who has supported them from their humble beginnings. I first got to know about the brand in 2020 through their first CRUST Zoom Night during CB 1.0… & the rest is history. Very happy to see a great Singaporean brand flourish locally & even expand overseas.

Their sustainability-centric fair featured a plethora of F&B brands – Crunch Cutlery, Zenko Superfoods, The Wicked Granola, Thee Tea, Hook Coffee, Antidote Juice, Dan’s Bites, Lemuel Chocolate, Wolf & Wald.. Each with booths to explore, learn more & make purchases at. The fair may be over, but you can still buy some of their products on e-commerce platforms like Lazada & Shopee.

Thee Tea capsules – compatible with nespresso machines

My personal favourites were Crunch Cutlery‘s edible cutlery (which I bought for my nieces & nephew) & Zenko Superfoods‘ water lily pops + ancient grain clusters, which Dex & I couldn’t stop snacking on while sipping on beers at the beer flight tasting workshop.

Thank you CRUST for the invite – cheers to your very happy 3rd birthday & to a greater impact on our world! #saveacrust

Laut – Supporting Local Food & Cocktails

Had a really enjoyable night with a plethora of delicious food, good variety of cocktails & even better company. I enjoyed listening to the unique stories behind each of these & I’m sure you will too. All part of the experience & good vibes here.

So the food at Laut – how do I summarize it, if that’s even possible. Each dish has a story of its own, inspired by local flavours, staying quite true to that yet managing to be unique/intriguing.

Sometimes, you just need to try a dish to really be wow-ed by it. Describing it doesn’t do it justice (or maybe it’s just me 😂). The Burnt Eggplant Dip ($12+) was that for me. It’s essentially that, with a tomato & onion relish – served with curry spiced papadums.

First of all, props to the papadums for being fresh & crispy, because there’s nothing like a soggy papadum to ruin your day. Secondly, what sorcery is exactly in this dip?? Such distinct yet harmonious flavours: The smokeyness from the char, creaminess of the eggplant, & flavourful spice (not heat!) from the papadums. This was a hot favourite for the original days when customers would order this during CB 1.0 for delivery. &, of course, it still is.

The Bergedil ($15+) is another dish that has a cool story to it. It does remain true to its tasty fried potato nature – with good fragrance & flavour which I believe is in part from the Madras curry oil, balanced with the earthiness from the trumpet mushrooms. But what truly takes the cake is what they call the umami soil. That’s where the story gets pretty cool to me! I’ll leave that to the good folks at Laut to tell it to you. I was quite fascinated as Damian took me through the narrative. 😍

I had a Malay-speaking friend who asked me if Laut was seafood-inspired cuisine, as laut translates to seafood in Malay. The scrumptious sharing plates I enjoyed had seafood as the main star. When dining restrictions open up, I’d recommend dining in with a sizeable group, so you can order more items off this sharing menu.

I hate it when squid/octopus are overcooked, rubbery & tough to the chew. Laut’s Squid Gado ($27+) was anything but that. The seared whole squid was done so marvellously that it was almost melt in your mouth… I had to pause to think about whether I actually put the correct thing in my mouth 😂 (just an excuse to have a 2nd bite, amiraiiii?)

& the “Gado” in the name – you guessed it – the peanut sauce in the Gado Gado we all know & love.

BUT WAIT, that’s not all. Introducing the Otah ($37+) – by far the most atas otah you’ve ever had… & dare I say, it is worth it. The mix of fish? Oh, no big deal, just some awesome barramundi, blended mackerel & squid. 🧐

This otah really left me wanting more. Its texture is bouncy & firm, & the rempah mix was on point with good flavour. I loved the Nyonya Achar on the side as well, which provided nice refreshing acidity in between bites. It actually also goes well with the otah in a single bite, too. On the whole, this was an addictive dish & one of my favourites of the night.

Now, on to the drinks. I tend to be wary when cocktails arrive at my table very pretty. I appreciate good aesthetics, but not at the expense of bad taste, i.e. saccharine sweet or artificially syrupy. This was anything but that; & the variety of bespoke cocktails here is quite impressive:

🔸Grass ($21+) – slightly savoury & refreshing 👌🏻
➡️ Gin, Ginger Flowers, Pickle Brine, 3 Grass Kombucha

🔸 Kopi O ($21+) – strong flavours, but thankfully I was able to sleep that night. Personally enjoyed the creaminess of the coconut oil that goes well with the coffee.
➡️ Trigona vodka, nitro charged Sumatra coffee, toasted bread vinegar, orange pekoe tea, coconut oil

🔸 Mata Kuching ($21+) – as a sweet treat, this isn’t my typical cocktail profile, but is likely an easy drink for some folks.
➡️ Aged malt, smoked longan distillate, rambutan & lychee soda, cat whiskers flower (they upsized our flower for us haha)

🔸Lengkuas ($21+) – refreshing, beachy vibes, feels like a summertime drink without the scorching heat or sunburn
➡️ Aged Malaysian Molasses, Citrus Granitas, Laut triple spiced ginger beer.

Thanks Damian / @drinking_noodle for the invite & hospitality! 💕

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🙋🏻‍♀️ Service charge applicable
🚫 No GST

Tempura Makino’s First Outlet Outside Japan – in Suntec City

A well-established tempura specialty chain in Japan, Tempura Makino, has come to our shores! Conveniently located at #02-305/308/311 of Suntec City’s West Wing, it’s near Donki (if you need a landmark) & nearer to Esplanade than Promenade MRT.

Within the premises, there are options to dine at booth or counter seats – if you’re seated at the latter, you get a good view of chef freshly preparing made-to-order tempura.

Tempura Makino’s Interior – Booth/Counter Seats

Tempura Makino’s style of tempura is right up my alley. As you can see, the batter is light & crispy. Really appreciate how it’s not dripping (or even soggy – eeks) in oil. They even have Mochi Ice Cream Tempura ($4.80++/piece)!? There are 2 flavour options: Strawberry/Matcha. Mochi gives this dessert a chewy texture, alongside the ice cream which is creamy & takes a while to melt. While I don’t have a sweet tooth, hence am undecided if I’d order this again, this gets plus points for novelty.

I am a MASSIVE lover of eggs, & their Tempura Egg ($2.50++/pc) me greatly 😂 After seeing Jamie’s Instagram stories & hearing her rave about it, I must say it lived up to my expectations. I enjoyed every slurpy bit of it & could totally eat this on its own to savour the creaminess of the yolk. But I found myself pairing it together with the other tempura we had & enjoying it more that way.

Speaking of creamy – know what else is creamy? These Tempura Oysters ($3.80++/pc)! They were absolutely bursting in my mouth.. & I was shocked when Jamie revealed these are priced so affordably. IMHO they tasted & felt more lux than that. Will definitely order this again the next time I’m here.

Special shoutout goes to the noods, which are available in cold/hot options – we picked cold for both.

I loved how silky smooth the Inaniwa Udon ($7.80++) is, & enjoyed the Soba ($6.80++) that I nicked from Evan. Both are good for sure, & it probably is a matter of preference as both of us had a different favourite carb choice.

Wash down your meal with some refreshing ice cold draft beer – I had a pint of Asahi Super Dry ($13.80++/pint, $8.80++/half-pint)…

… Or pair it with their housepour sake:
❄ [Cold] Tomioh Gin No Tsukasa Junmai Daiginjo ($48++/300ml, $30++/180ml)
🔥 [Hot] Hakushika Nadajikomi ($30++/300ml, $20++/180ml)
🍶 They also have other sake bottles available for the discerning ones (i.e. not me)

Housepour Cold Sake – Tomioh Gin No Tsukasa Junmai Daiginjo

Other tempura items on their food menu include:
➡ Prawn & Vegetable Tempura ($16++): A nice platter of Prawns (3 pieces), Eggplant, Maitake (mushroom), Butternut Pumpkin, French Bean, Lotus Root

➡ Chicken Fillet ($5.80++/plate): I’m not a huge fan of chicken tempura, but this is one of the better ones out there. The chicken was juicy & thankfully not dry

➡ Mentai Seaweed ($6.80++/plate): A heaping amount of mentai in this one – personally too overwhelming for me, but A+ for generosity! Probably best eaten with rice to balance out the salty flavours. Seaweed remains crispy alongside the light tempura batter 👌🏻

➡ Asparagus ($2.80++/piece): My favourite veggie tempura of them all – well executed, with a lovely crunch to the bite. There’s an Asparagus with Bacon ($4.80++/plate) option as well, for the porky lovers. I’d imagine that’d add a nice savoury touch to the Taste of Green.

➡ Okinawan Mozuku Seaweed ($5.80++/plate): No this is not hair LOL. It’s quite a sight to behold, also delightfully crunchy, & I think this is where the light batter really shines. I can’t imagine this being enjoyable in a thicker batter & dripping in oil. I loved chowing down on this goodness with the tempura egg 😉

Thanks Jamie/EN Group for the invite & hospitality! 💕

Get out of Tanuki Raw by 21:15hrs, ok?

Tanuki Raw honestly needs no introduction… Happy Hour from 5-8PM daily; their drinks aren’t anything to shout about, & I only order them because they are a prerequisite to get the happy hour bites.

Plate of 12 Oysters (max-ed out our limit with 2 drinks)

Oysters at $2++ a pop (which is half off the usual price of $4++ a piece) if you order a drink (max 6 oysters per drink); these were well-shucked & delightfully creamy to my preference.

5 slices of salmon sashimi for $7++ (limited to 5 slices aka 1 set per drink); I can’t eat raw fish so I can’t say much, only that they look fairly thick – but my dining partner said these were okay.

Lobster Salad & Salmon Bao at $5++ a piece. Again, didn’t try this but here’s a pic for reference.

Tanuki Raw’s Truffle Yakiniku ($19++) hasn’t changed much over the years – decently delicious, an average sized portion. However, quite disappointing to see that our request to serve the onsen egg (of another bowl, not in picture) separately was not taken seriously. It was indeed in a separate bowl, but had egg white remnants on the beef slices. If the diner requested for this & had an actual egg allergy.. 🤔

But wait, there’s more! That wasn’t the ultimate turn off during this particular visit. Get this – we were reminded FIVE times from 20:53 – 21:12hrs that we had to leave by 21:15hrs, as that was when they were closing.

We had already been informed of this upon arrival at 19:53hrs. Reminding us once would be acceptable but 5 times in 20 mins? Especially when you can clearly see we were in very intense conversation throughout dinner? How rude.

However, let me try to make the most out of this occurrence. I interpret this ferverent frequency of reminders as a reflection of how important this is to them.. So here’s me doing my part & making a public service announcement: To all who dine here, GTFO by 9:15PM, alright?

Our waiter was in such a hurry to clear our table that he spilled food back on the table in his haste to do so, & didn’t clear it up properly. Omg, punctuality is really so important at this outlet.

“You all are the last ones here already,” he barked at us, & even rapped on our table with his knuckles to bring his point across. Ok… Can.

What a way to make your customers feel so welcomed. Not sure if any other diners had experienced this before, but I certainly hope not.

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
📱 Accepts GrabPay
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Only seats the group when all are present
💦 Water is not chargeable

Set of Six Before Dark

When I’m alone, I usually sit at the bar for a nice view of the bottles & the occasional chit chat/playful banter. But at Set of Six, it might be a tough call.. Both seem like good options. The seats look quite comfy & yes that is a disco ball 😉

Doesn’t look like something I’d typically order, but looks can be deceiving – Orchard Smash ($25++) is a cognac-based cocktail with citrusy goodness. Deceivingly refreshing with Dry Curaçao & Mint, go slow & savour it in all its cheerfulness, despite the temptation to slurp it all down. It’ll hit you with a fairly nice buzz after.

Didn’t have much time to spend here, but glad I made it & I will certainly be back. Make your reservations early as it gets packed as night falls. Yes lol I was here at 5pm on a Saturday – was able to walk in, but not before they asked me how long I’d be staying.

45 mins, I laughed. Hehehe.

Everyone takes a photo here (outside the bathroom)

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
🖥 Accepts reservations online/by phone
💦 Water is not chargeable

Evening Oyster Happy Hour at Beurre

Beurre’s Oyster Happy Hour: Mon – Sat, 5-7PM. With a minimum order of 2 drinks, you can get these babies at $2++ a pop. Do read the fine print, though – with a minimum purchase of 6 oysters & maximum of 12 per bill, there isn’t much wiggle room IMHO. I reckon a table of 2 diners would optimize this perfectly…. Or a single solo yolo diner like myself 😂

So these oysters… They are the bomb, man. While not the plumpest, they are juicy enough for my liking. Slightly creamy & with a tinge of brineyness – which is the flavour profile I enjoy. I ordered 6 oysters for myself & tbh as I sit here typing this, I’m tempted to order 6 more to finish on my own…

I enjoy my oysters best with a squeeze of lemon & a nice glass of wine. Pleased to find that Beurre’s drinks menu has some pretty affordable options. I chose the Delle Venezie Pinot Grigio. A light & fruity one, it has hints of pears & apples, which sounds easy to drink – & that it was. It also complemented the oysters nicely, warranting a double thumbs up from me 👍🏻👍🏻

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬 Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available
🖥 Accepts reservations – I used Chope
🍽 Burpple Beyond Partner (1-for-1 set course menu)

Crust Brewing – All Sorts of Local Beer Made with Bread

Check out my latest beer stash from Crust Brewing! I shared their Instagram post & tagged them to get $10 off & free delivery. Sweet deal.

I love bread, & I love beer. I also love “optimizing” every part of my life. To know that the founders of Crust believe in maximizing their resources & reducing waste.. I like that. This seems like a great fit for my alcoholism, tastes & beliefs 😜

Crust was born out of their love for beer & founded on their strong belief in sustainability. Making use of fresh surplus bread from various sources (bakeries, hotels, grocers) in the brewing process, these bread are given a new lease of life instead of going to waste. 🍞 🍻

They currently have 5 beers available; 2 flagship & 3 collaborations. Quickly DM them for details, limited stock available!

Unfortunately, with circuit breaker rules in place, Crust Brewing can’t produce or bottle more beers at the moment. But hopefully once these restrictions are lifted, their online store will be up & running for us to GO GO GO 🤞🏻🍻

Also worthy to note: Don’t throw the beer bottles out when you’re done – you get a 50¢ refund per bottle on your next order when you return them. They also reuse their carton boxes for delivery, so keeping those to return to them would be helpful too.

So how do the beers fare?

Breaking Bread Ale (5% ABV)

Crust entered the market with this flagship light ale. An easy pale ale to drink, the tasting notes are crisp & floral fragrant. Its caramel notes linger around, but it isn’t sweet. Not sure if I’m imagining it (placebo effect or issit I’m drunk liao), but I do taste a faint yeastyness of bread.

I like it! Would order this again. I am glad that the “duplicate beer” (6 bottles but only 5 kinds of beer, remember?) is this one 🍻

Kaya Toast Stout (4.3% ABV)

Kaya Toast Stout (4.3% ABV) with The 1925 Brewing Co.

This collaboration brew with The 1925 Brewing Co. is described as “your morning breakfast of kaya toast & coffee, reimagined at night“. This is quite true, & I enjoyed this stout very much.

The aftertaste is quite reminiscent of kaya – just a hint, only – without the saccharine sweetness that I dislike. This creamy stout has notes that remind me of roasted coffee beans & caramel.. The flavour profile isn’t too strong, but it is nonetheless delicious. A well-executed, easy-to-drink stout that I am impressed with.

The King’s IPA (4.7% ABV)

The King’s IPA (4.7% ABV) with Edible Garden City

Crust’s pioneer collaboration brew with Edible Garden City has hints of green mango. Not from actual mangoes (but my photo gets an A+ for effort, right?), but from ulam rajas grown right here in Singapore. Don’t know what that is? Google it. I had to. No shame in that, I’m always curious to learn 😁

I’m not a huge fan of IPAs, but I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I liked how refreshing this was with the slightly fruity notes.. Yet the characteristic hoppyness of an IPA was not lost. Made it easier to drink than your usual IPA.

I’d order this again – hopefully I’m not too late as it’s running low in stock. It’s a popular one!

Beerguette (4.5% ABV)

Beerguette (4.5% ABV) with Tiong Bahru Bakery

Another collaboration brew, this time with Tiong Bahru Bakery. This pilsner-style beer uses TBB’s fresh surplus baguettes. I found it to be rather bitter & too hoppy for my liking; in terms of flavour profile, I (expectedly) didn’t taste much breadyness in this one.

Not really my kind of beer – but everyone has their preferences, right? I’d still say give it a shot if you haven’t tried it before. I recommend starting out ordering a 6 pack so you can try Crust’s full variety of 5 types of beer. Then re-order your favourites next time.

I Knead An Easy IPA (4.7% ABV)

Right off the bat, I love this pun on their 2nd flagship beer. Second to that, this is quite the easy IPA to drink. The hoppyness is balanced with the fruity flavours.

Out of their 2 flagship products, though, I prefer the Breaking Bread Ale for its crisp/clean profile. Unfortunately, that’s sold out for now – when they’re able to start bottling again, grab that quick!

GUDSHT Bottled Cocktails by Elite Bar Solutions

If you can’t go to the bars.. Let the bars come to you. Been seeing a plethora of bottled cocktails offerings pop up everywhere since circuit breaker measures were introduced in Singapore. Quite apt because I think most of us are going crazy staying at home.

Elite Bar Solutions took it a step further to pay it forward, & I was fortunate enough to receive a free GUDSHT cocktail of my choice, delivered to my home! I picked the Unicorn Barf ($48.00 nett), a glittery cocktail of Roku Gin with homemade Yuzu Rose Infusions & Butterfly Pea Syrup Infusion.

It’s quite unlike my usual drink choice.. Deeznuts ($54.00 nett) would be more aligned with my default. But I wanted to try something different, & Unicorn Barf sounded quite refreshing & floral.

Yo guys this kept me quite happy in the 2 nights that I drank it over. I wanted it to last longer (lol) so I served it over an ice ball – happy to report that it wasn’t too diluted at the end. I loved the citrus from the yuzu & also the sweetness (think sweet plum & honey) that was just right for me. I dislike insanely sweet cocktails, but this was fine.

Elite Bar Solutions‘ cocktails are free of preservatives, so they should be consumed within 10 days from bottling. Generally not a problem for me 😛

I usually float around to different bars to drink their cool cocktails (obviously), but also to appreciate their ambiance, as I’m mostly alone & enjoy it this way. Can’t do the latter anymore, but with a nice jazz playlist in my bedroom, cocktail in hand… I’m not really complaining. Yet.

Happy to be able to pay it forward myself by nominating someone to receive a bottled cocktail as well. I think I shall nominate the most extroverted extrovert I know, whom I’m certain is quite miserable during this circuit breaker period. & who also is an alc– I mean, who also enjoys tasty adult beverages, just like me. Yes, that’s what I mean.

I Dabao-ed Beer From Flagwhite

There’s always reason to try something new. For me, this is my first time dabao-ing beer in my own container!

COVID-19 Circuit Breaker measures in Singapore – a month later, we’ll see 2 distinct groups of people emerge: (1) the Masterchefs, or (2) the Alcoholics Anonymous.

No prizes for guessing which group I belong to. Made my way down to FlagWhite after hearing about their half-off beer on tap promotion. They’d just opened a new keg before the Circuit Breaker measures kicked in place. Of course, I couldn’t let it go to waste!?!

The kegs they have in place:
・ Stone & Wood Pacific Ale Pale Ale (4.4%) – Cloudy & golden, big fruit aroma & refreshing finish
・ Parrotdog Bitterbitch IPA (5.8%) – Grapefruit pith, piney dates, herby bitter, malty, pie crust-esque

Brought my own tumblers (meant for protein shakes lmao #fitspo) to dabao some beer home to have with dinner. Ended up getting twice the amount I originally planned for -although I think I was limited by the size of my container, so maybe not exactly twice.. But I’m happy to do my part to support my favourite local cafe.

Read for my Fitspo BEER SHAKE (just kidding)

I think we all know & love FlagWhite for their awesome brunch & coffee. I’d never drank anything alcoholic here before, tbh. But now that I know they have beer on tap… Maybe I should just set up a tent here & call this my new home. (After circuit breaker measures are over.)

Please continue to #loveyourlocalsg during this challenging time. Be responsible while you do so – wear a mask if you can, stay a safe distance away from others, & remember to wash your hands regularly (& moisturize!).

💳 Accepts credit cards
🌬️ Air-conditioned seats available
☀ Al fresco seats available (just 1 table outside)
📱 Accepts GrabPay
📶 Free WiFi available
🔌 Power sockets available
💦 Water is not chargeable
🙋🏻 No service charge
🚫 No GST