Eat your heart out, Singapore
Celebrate National Day with these treats
It is a month to Singapore's 50th birthday. And true to form, we are celebrating with food.
These promotions cater to our three culinary loves: Dessert, buffet and discount.
DESSERT
Antoinette celebrates SG50 with kaya toast, but with a royal twist. Named The Queen's Kaya Toast (from $10), it is kaya with baguette and fancy Echire butter (handmade in western France).
It is available from Aug 1 at all its outlets (30, Penhas Road, tel: 6293-3121, and Mandarin Gallery, tel: 6836-9527).
Bloomsbury Bakers (30, Bendemeer Road, tel: 6299-3450) has a chendol cheesecake ($6.50 a slice) with a gula melaka glaze.
Other Singaporean options are pulut hitam tart ($6) and orh nee cake ($6). They are all available from the end of the month.
Singaporeans love durians, so Goodwood Park Hotel's SG50 Red and White durian mousse cake with D24 durian mousse ($50 for 500g) is the perfect party gift.
It is available only for takeaway from Aug 1 to Aug 10. Call 6730-1786 to place your order.
Honey Creme's SG50 contribution is the pandan gula melaka soft serve ice cream ($6).
It has a subtle pandan flavour and is layered with puffed rice, attap chee, toasted coconut chips and gula melaka syrup.
On National Day weekend, it will come with a Merlion-shaped biscuit.
Honey Creme is located at Jem and 313@somerset.
BUFFET
At Days Hotel, from now till Aug 31, citizens and permanent residents above 50 years old get a 50 per cent discount at 21 on Rajah for lunch, brunch and dinner. This halal restaurant serves Mediterranean and Asian dishes. Call 6808-6847 to make a reservation.
Those above 50 years old also get a 50 per cent discount at Mandarin Orchard's Triple Three Buffet Restaurant. This is for dinner and Sunday brunch, for up to eight people in a party. Call 6831-6288.
The TungLok (below) group of restaurants is offering SG50 discounts, priced at $19.65.
The dishes include steamed sea perch with salted pineapple at Shin Yeh Restaurant, traditional-style sweet and sour pork (TungLok Signatures) and TungLok Teahouse's fried assorted vegetables served in yam ring.
This promotion will run from July 15 to Aug 31.
Hua Ting Restaurant at Orchard Hotel has a six-course Superb SG50 special set lunch menu at $50, with dishes such as marinated duck wing and braised assorted seafood in pumpkin.
For reservations, call 6739-6666.
Halia at Singapore Botanic Gardens' SG50 contribution is a cocktail named 1965.
It has Hendrick's gin, Red Orchid Tea, lemon syrup and lime juice. It costs $25.
Now that the Singapore Botanic Gardens has been named a Unesco World Heritage Site, this is the perfect excuse to visit.
Call 8444-1148 if you need directions.
DISCOUNT
Till Aug 9, Kopi Tiam at Swissotel the Stamford is serving Singaporean favourites such as chicken rice, laksa and braised Hokkien mee at 50 cent per tasting portion. This is limited to 50 portions a day.
Call 6431-6156 to make a reservation.
Enjoy 50 new dishes from 50 restaurants
The best way to celebrate SG50 is to support local businesses.
And here is the perfect promotion: Restaurant Association of Singapore's inaugural Singapore Restaurant Month.
The event gives us a chance to enjoy local produce, namely eggs, fish and vegetables. These ingredients will be used in 50 newly created dishes from 50 restaurant brands.
A dozen heritage restaurants are also taking part, making this a good time to revisit some historic local eateries.
Some of the heritage restaurants participating are Islamic Restaurant (fish biryani with egg), Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant (sauteed bird's nest with egg white) and Hua Yu Wee (lala hor fun).
A highlight is the fried baby barramundi at Palm Beach Seafood Restaurant. It is a sizeable portion of fish for $18.
For more information, visit www.singaporerestaurantmonth.com.
Singapore Restaurant Month is on until Aug 10.
HIGHLIGHT: Palm Beach Seafood Restaurant’s fried baby barramundi. - PHOTO: PALM BEACH SEAFOOD
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