happeningsFOODPROMOTIONS

Yishun Park Hawker Centre $1 CarnivalTwenty-six stallholders at Yishun Park Hawker Centre will be taking part in a $1 carnival tomorrow, where they will offer “generous sampling portions of their signatures dishes” at $1 each. Among the participating stalls are JJ Prawn Noodle, Fishball Story,Li Fang Congee, Ah Tan Wings, Nasi Lemak Taliwang and XLX Modern Tze Char.WHERE: Yishun Park Hawker Centre, 51 Yishun Avenue 11 MRT: Free shuttle bus service from Yishun, Khatib and Sembawang stations WHEN: Tomorrow, 11am - 5pm PRICE: $1 signature dishes from participating stalls TEL: 6481-7573 INFO: E-mail info@timbregroup.asia or go to yishunparkhc.sg

Bayou Bonanza At Park Bench DeliPark Bench Deli is hosting a special event called the Bayou Bonanza to showcase New Orleans cuisine such as po’ boy sandwiches, Cajun seafood boil, crawfish tater tots, lobster roll and buttermilk frog legs.WHERE: 179 Telok Ayer Street MRT: Telok Ayer WHEN: Sun, 3pm - midnight PRICE: Call to inquire TEL: 6815-4600 INFO: E-mail bros@parkbenchdeli.com

Seoul Yummy’s Spicy Stew OfferSeoul Yummy’s latest Dak Bokkeum Tang stew is a signature stir-fry chicken spicy stew popular among South Koreans. Its housemade spicy broth comes in three levels of spiciness. Diners who finish the stew can get up to 30 per cent off. On June 30, customers who finish the level 5 spiciness stew can get a 50 per cent discount and a $50 Seoul Yummy voucher.WHERE/TEL: Seoul Yummy outlets at Bugis+ (6509-6900), Ion Orchard (6509-4045), Junction 8 (6570-2033), SingPost Centre (6747-9665), Causeway Point (6219-5008), Jem (6694-3013), Square 2 (6397-6939) MRT: Various stations WHEN: Till July 8, 11.30am - 10pm PRICE: $49.80++ (with side dish & dessert) INFO: facebook.com/seoulyummy

Visiting French Chef At GinettNext week, Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar will play host to French chef Herve Frerard, one of Thailand’s most revered chefs who has cooked for the Thai Royal Family. The author of his own cookbook will bring his best signature dishes such as Beef Oxtail, Slow Cooked Organic Egg and Tomato Coeur de Boeuf (beef heart tomato) with shrimp, tangy yuzu cream, red onion pickles and chives. For dessert, there will be French favourite Rum Baba, served alongside a chilled Soup of Garriguette and Charentais Melon (strawberry and cantaloupe). WHERE: 200 Middle Road MRT: Rochor/Bencoolen WHEN: Mon - Thu & July 1 (6 - 10pm), June 29 & 30(6 - 11.30pm) PRICE: From $13++ TEL: 6809-7989 INFO: randblab.com

WORLD CUP

Super Happy Hour At Holiday Inn Orchard City CentreWatch World Cup 2018 matches on the 85-inch central screen at Lobby Lounge & Bar at Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre, while service referees (bar team members) facilitate your orders from its Fifa World Cup menu. There will be beef and vegetarian nachos, truffle fries, crispy chicken wings with Korean gochujang sauce, fusion sliders of minced wagyu and Angus beef, and Asian sliders with marinated pork and chilli soft-shell crab. Get two Budweiser beer buckets at $100 nett and receive a complimentary platter of crispy chicken wings.WHERE: Lobby level Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre, 11 Cavenagh Road MRT: Somerset WHEN: Till July 15 PRICE: Budweiser beer: $12++ a bottle, $50 nett a bucket (five bottles) TEL: 6733-8333 INFO: singaporeorchard. holidayinn.com

Savoury Bites AtCrossroads BarCrossroads Bar at Swissotel Merchant Court Singapore has launched a World Cup Menu. Items include Drop Ball ($14++), a dish of meatballs with marinara sauce; Corner Kick ($12++), comprising mini beef sliders in

charcoal brioche buns; Midfield ($14++), chicken wings with spicy sauce; Offside ($16++), a platter of veal, herb chicken and spicy pork sausages; and Side Kick ($10++), Bent Arm Ale beer-battered Sidewinders Fries enhanced with Seaweed Citrus Dust.WHERE: Lobby level Swissotel Merchant Court, 20 Merchant Road MRT: Clarke Quay WHEN: Till July 15 PRICE: $10++ - $16++ TEL: 6239-1847/1848 INFO: E-mail dining.merchantcourt@swissotel.com

Beer And Staycation Deals At Raffles MarinaDiscovery Pub at Raffles Marina is offering promotional prices for two jugs of Heineken ($55++) and Tiger Beer ($50++) when you watch the live screenings at the pub. Special staycation packages are also available at RM Hotel during the World Cup period. WHERE: Raffles Marina, 10 Tuas West Drive MRT: Tuas Link WHEN: Till July 15; noon - 2am (weekdays), 2pm - midnight (weekends) PRICE: Beer $50++ - $55 (for two jugs); staycation $128++ a night (includes two jugs of Tiger beer & breakfast for two) TEL: 6869-2277 INFO: E-mail marinabistro@ rafflesmarina.com.sg

New Menu At Nickeldime NovenaNickeldime Novena recently launched a new gastro-inspired menu to complement its live screening of selected World Cup matches. Highlights include housemade sourdough pizza, craft beer-infused housemade meatballs andmini Jalapeno IPA burgers.WHERE: 01-01 Novena Regency, 275 Thomson Road MRT: Novena WHEN: Sun - Thu: 11am - 11pm; Fri & Sat: 10am - 11pm PRICE: Bar bites $6 - $14, pizza $16 - $20, burgers $13 - $16, platters $38 - $42 TEL: 6265-5118 INFO: E-mail hello@hiddendoor.com.sg

Sky-High Cheering At Club55Cheer on your favourite teams at Club55, which is screening up to 60 World Cup matches, including the final. Enjoy dishes such as Prime Aussie Beef Burger and Spicy Chicken Wings and themed beverages. Continue the merrymaking at Renku Bar & Lounge with the Hot Wings and beer combo ($25++), half a dozen wings alongside a trio beer flight (120ml each), comprising Renku Lager, Belgium Witbier and Irish Ale.WHERE: Level 55, Hotel Tower 2 (Club55); Lobby, Sands Tower 1 (Renku), Marina Bay Sands,10 Bayfront Avenue MRT: Bayfront WHEN: Till July 15 PRICE: Call to inquire TEL/INFO: Club55: 6688-8858, e-mail club55@ marinabaysands.com; Renku: 6688-5535, Lounge@MarinaBaySands.com

SAKE/WHISKY EVENTS

Orihara Shoten Sake FestivalVisitors at Orihara Shoten’s annual Sake Festival Singapore can taste about 450 sake labels and other Japanese liquors. They will also getto interact with sake brewery owners and brew masters from more than 40 producers. Each visitor will receive a complimentary festival sake cup specially made for the event by a minoyaki craftsman from Gifu prefecture. They can also win sake bottles and other memorabilia.WHERE: Summit Hall 1, Level 3 Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, 1 Raffles Boulevard MRT: Esplanade/Promenade/City Hall WHEN: Tomorrow, 1 - 6pm (doors close at 4.30pm) PRICE: $40 tickets from sistic.com.sg/events/ csake0618 or Orihara Shoten Sake Bar & Liquor Shop (01-02, 11 Unity Street) TEL: 6224-0445 INFO: facebook.com/oriharashouten

The Black Swan’s Glenfiddich Whisky Pairing DinnerThe Black Swan is partnering Glenfiddich to present a whisky-pairing dinner led by regional brand ambassador Matthew Fergusson-Stewart. Highlights of the four-course dinner include Hokkaido Scallop Carpaccio served with apple and tarragon (paired with Glenfiddich 12 Year Old) and Grilled Rainbow Trout (Glenfiddich 18 Year Old).WHERE: 19 Cecil Street MRT: Raffles Place WHEN: July 7, 7pm PRICE: $118++ a person TEL: 6438-3757 INFO: theblackswan.com.sg

JIANGNAN DISHES AT SI CHUAN DOU HUATaking inspiration from Qing dynasty emperor Qian Long’s sojourns into Jiangnan, Si Chuan Dou Hua chef Leung Wing Chung has come up with a list of dishes this month celebrating the cooking of this Chinese region.

Jiangnan refers to the area south of the Yangtze river and covers cities ranging from Nanjing and Suzhou to Shanghai and Hangzhou.

Chef Leung, who is based in the outlet in Kitchener Road, offers 18 dishes at $18 each, served in small portions to enable diners to savour the variety of the region’s

cuisine. Some have been given a slight twist. An example is Deep-fried Minced Meat Roll (above) from Suzhou, a delicious pork and ham patty wrapped over one end of a stalk of lemongrass and deep-fried. Usually, sugarcane is used rather than lemongrass.

Other dishes to check out include Pork Ribs With Zhejiang Vinegar and Fish In Shun De Style.WHERE: Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant, Parkroyal on Kitchener Road, 181 Kitchener Road MRT: Farrer ParkWHEN: Till June 30 PRICE: $18 a dish TEL: 6428-3170

JUSTIN QUEK’S NEW CASUAL RESTAURANT Diners who miss chef Justin Quek’s cooking at Sky On 57 can now go to his new restaurant, JustIN, also in Marina Bay Sands. But unlike the rooftop fine-dining restaurant which closed a year ago, this is a casual eatery in the shopping mall with slightly more down-to-earth prices.So you find a dish like Chef Justin’s Signature Wok Fried Live Maine Lobster Hokkien Noodle (above) priced at $38 instead of $48. But it is just as good. The lobster-and-pork stock is robust and the kitchen is generous with ingredients such as lobster meat, squid and pork belly.

Prawn and Pork Belly Noodle Soup ($16), the chef’s version of prawn noodle soup, offers even better value. The noodles come with two crunchy big prawns, shelled and butterflied, as well as slices of pork belly and fishcake, and a hard-boiled egg. Most hotel cafes charge more for the dish without delivering the same quality.

Desserts are a must-try. House-made Ondeh Ondeh Cake ($9) is light and fluffy, though the sweetness can be toned down a tad. Goreng Pisang “Split” ($15) comes with delicious salted gula jawa ice cream. And durian fans will swoon over the Durian Creme Brulee ($12), which is not too sweet or overpowering and hits the spot.WHERE: JustIN, Bay Level, L1-83 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue MRT: BayfrontWHEN: Noon to midnight daily TEL: 6688-7722

CLAYPOT PROMOTION AT HAI TIEN LOHai Tien Lo is bringing back its claypot promotion after a successful run two years ago. Most of the 24 dishes this time are new, although fans of its Roasted Duck with Sea Cucumber in Abalone Sauce from the last promotion will be glad to know the dish is on the menu again.

You can choose any two claypots for $38. I recommend the Claypot Pork Spare-ribs with Goose Webs, but if webs are not your thing, try the Claypot Baked Prawns with White Pepper, which has a lovely aroma from the pepper.

Other dishes to try include Claypot Sliced Grouper with Winter Melon in Supreme Fish Broth and Claypot Bean Gluten with Pork Tendons and Garlic.

Pick at least four claypots for a table of two because the servings are not big.WHERE: Hai Tien Lo, Level 3 Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard MRT: Promenade WHEN: Until Aug 31, 6.30 to 10.30pm (Sundays to Wednesdays) PRICE: $38 for two claypot items TEL: 6826-8240

KONJIKI HOTOTOGISU RAMEN FROM TOKYOAnother ramen brand from Japan has opened here. Konjiki Hototogisu, which began as an eight-seater in Tokyo in 2006, opened its doors last night at Chijmes. Known for its clam broth, it has been listed in the Bib Gourmand section of the Tokyo Michelin Guide for the past four years.

A range of tonkotsu flavours has been created for the Singapore outlet because of the popularity of pork bone broth here. But I would recommend the shop’s signature hamaguri soup instead. It is made with hamaguri clam, pork and nihondashi, and the sweetness of the clams makes it stand out.

There are two versions – shoyu and shio ($14.90 each). Shoyu is stronger and comes topped with porcini and black truffle oils. Shio has a bit of porcini paste and white truffle oil. I’m not a fan of truffle oil, but there’s no option of leaving it out. So if you prefer to taste the original clam soup, I’d suggest you scoop out the oil.

The ramen comes with cha su (pork slices), but if you want an egg, it’s $2 extra. You should also get a side order of belly cha shu, which has a lovely smokiness.

Another plus factor is that the shop does not add MSG to its food – quite possibly the first ramen shop here that does not do so.WHERE: Konjiki Hototogisu Singapore, 01-17 Chijmes,30 Victoria Street MRT: City Hall WHEN: Noon to 3pm, 5 to 9.30pm daily

Wong Ah Yoke Food Critic recommends

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WONG AH YOKE

| FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2018 | THE STRAITS TIMES | life D5