Foodies, you’ll be spoiled for choice. This week’s packed to the gills with lots of food and drinks events to check out.
The ultimate festival dedicated to all things gin, the East Imperial Gin Jubilee is back for its 4th edition from now till Nov 26.
This time round, there will be a total of 36 bars participating ─ the likes of db Bistro & Oyster Bar, Manhattan, 28 Hongkong Street, Pyxiemoss, Skinny’s Lounge and Cincin ─ creating their own signature Gin & Tonic drink with one of four East Imperial tonic waters.
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Expect a wide range of gins across the bars, such as Citadelle, Sipsmith, Monkey 47, The Botanist, and also craft gins like G’Vine, Ransom Old Tom and Santamania from small-batch distilleries.
There are masterclasses a plenty too, and more than a handful of them have free entry. For instance, the Brooklyn Gin Salon Session happening this Friday, November 25, 5-7pm is a gin appreciation class hosted by small-batch distillery, Brooklyn Gin.
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Other highlight events include the Gin-Spired Block Party at Conrad Centennial Singapore’s lobby lounge, where Gin & Tonics are going for just $12 each. You can pick from one of the 12 house concoctions, or customise your own.
Make time too for the Gin Lane Street Party, the headline closing event (there are three going on concurrently!) that’s at Hongkong Street this Saturday, 26 November, 6pm till late. Your drinks are a steal at $10 for a Gin & Tonic, and it’s your chance to hobnob with the best bartenders in the region and the gin distillers.
Various locations, now till Nov 26. See ginjubilee.com for more details.
Hokkaido food takes centrestage at this “street festival” at RWS.
There will be over 20 food and retail stalls selling Hokkaido grub. Among the participating shops are Santouka, who will be offering ramen with their signature melt-in-the-mouth pork cheek char siu, melon soft-serve from Hokkaido ice cream specialist Ohara Farm, Hokkaido cheese cakes from Snaffle’s and more.
Of course, no Hokkaido fair is complete without the prefecture’s fabulous seafood bounty. The Crab Bash at the Esashi stall will offer four types of Hokkaido crabs ─ king crab, snow crab, blue king crab, and hairy crab ─ and there will be chefs cooking them on the spot for you.
You can also sign up for a free Temari Zushi (sushi shaped into small, round balls) workshop conducted by Japan’s ABC Cooking Studio, learn how to pair your street food with sake, and purchase Japanese skincare and handicrafts. Notably, there’ll be a stall dedicated to traditional Ainu crafts ─ handmade by the indigenous people of Hokkaido!
B1 Forum, Resorts World Convention Centre. Now till Nov 27, 11am-10pm. Free entry. See rwsentosa.com/Homepage/Attractions/ShowsEvents/HelloHokkaido for more details.
You’ve watched them on reality TV. And now you finally have the chance to have a taste of their cooking prowess when the pop-up event, Masterchef Dining & Bar kicks off this weekend at the Intercontinental Singapore.
This 15-day event, running from Nov 25 till Dec 9, will feature Audra Morrice, who went from a finalist in Masterchef Australia to judge Masterchef Asia; Italian Luca Manfè who was crowned Masterchef for the 2013 US edition; Singaporean Woo Wai Leong who won Masterchef Asia in 2015; and former Masterchef Australia contestant Reynold Poernomo who is now of the most famous pastry chefs in Sydney.
These alumni of the popular competitive cooking reality TV franchise, will be joined by Marco Pierre White, the bad boy celebrity chef who, when he was 33-years-old, was the youngest chef in the world to have been awarded three Michelin stars.
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The chefs will be presenting their food at Intercontinental Singapore’s restaurant, Ash & Elm, and thanks to the restaurant’s cooking theatre layout, you’ll get to watch your favourite chefs in action.
Tickets are priced at $168 for lunch and $299 for dinner.
Oven-crisped salmon skin with ikura and burnt cream mayo by Woo Wai Leong
Alternatively, if you’d rather not committ to a full set lunch or dinner, head down to the hotel’s Victoria Bar instead to try the Masterchef team’s bar bites instead. Some items included Seared Wagyu Angus beef with orange soy dressing by Audra, and Peanut Butter Creme with Caramelised Brioche and macerated-strawberries-and-nut gelato by Reynold. Prices are also very wallet-friendly, starting from $15, and walk-ins are possible.
Ash & Elm, lobby level, Intercontinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road. Nov 25-Dec 9, noon-2.30pm, 7-10pm. Victoria bar, lobby level. Nov 25-Dec 9, 5pm till late. See http://masterchefdining.sg for more details and to purchase tickets.
Want in on a spot of Thanksgiving fun? Head down to The Beast for a Southern American-style Thanksgiving feast at their block party.
This casual eatery near Bugis is one of the most established names in Singapore for rustic, Southern grub, so you know you’re in good hands.
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On the menu are dishes such as roasted cajun turkey, bbq pork belly, and bacon and cheddar corn muffins. There’s even a spiced pumpkin punch ─ sounds pretty intriguing and delish!
And with a live band playing rock and roll tunes, you’re set for a jolly good time.
The Beast, 17 Jalan Klapa. Today, Nov 24, 5pm-1am. Free entry. See fb.com/events/1863092580570279/ for more details.
Hotel Jen Orchardgateaway’s last farmers’ market for the year takes place this Saturday, showcasing more than 17 farmers and vendors at its open terrance on level 10.
Besides local farms, such as Comcorp which will be selling herbs and greens, and Ah Hua Kelong which is well-nown for the pristine quality of its seafoods, you should also swing by Himalayan Premium Foods to pick up organic fruits and veggies that were grown right in Nepal.
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As a special service to customers, Hotel Jen’s chefs will even help to cook the fresh produce you’ve bought! It only costs a nominal fee of $5 a dish, and you can let them know if you have any preferneces, or leave it up to the chefs and dine in comfort al fresco, or indoors at the hotel’s Makan@Jen restaurant.
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Other notable vendors at the market include Nuts about Butter, a local nut butter specialist; Woodlands Sourdough which makes sourdough breads usually organic flours; Fatty Plant which will be selling seeds and tools for you to grow your own urban garden; and Papa’s Grove, a Greek olive oil purveyor run by two Greek brothers who are importing extra virgin olive oil straight from their family’s olive groves.
Makan@Jen Terrace, level 10, Hotel Jen Orchardgateaway Singapore. Nov 26, 9am-3pm. Free entry. See fb.com/events/731190607035635 for more details.