A GLEE-ful Aladdin by W!LD RICE

Last Sunday, I had the privilege to attend the opening gala performance of Aladdin. First staged at the Jubilee Hall, Raffles Hotel in 2004, W!LD RICE's Aladdin gave a well-loved fairy-tale a clever local twist and charmed audiences with its side-splitting comedy, heart-warming songs and snazzy dance routines.



This year, Asian Idol Winner Hady Mirza and Singapore Idol runner-up Sylvia Ratonel made their theatrical debuts as Aladdin and Jasmine. Most of us know of Hady from his Singapore idol's fame, but Sylvia's voice was also what impressed me the most. If you don't know who she is (like me before the show), you will want to know more about her after you hear her sing.

Helmed by director Glen Goei, this brand new production from W!LD RICE boasts a soundtrack of original and mash-ups of contemporary pop songs. Think Lady Gaga's Born This Way and Katy Perry's Teenage Dream. If you love GLEE, you will love Aladdin.

Aladdin's star-studded talented cast includes Karen Tan as Wizard ABBA-k'adab-rah, Darius Tan as Widow Wong Kee and Juwanda Hassim as Genie of the Lamp. It will also feature 50 young talents from the age of 4-14 as part of W!LD RICE 's First Stage programme.





W!LD RICE do not receive any funding from The Arts Council or any form of support from the Singapore government. They rely solely on sponsors, theatre goers and supporters to keep doing what they are doing. So why not show your support by buying tickets to watch the feel-good pantomime. Aladdin is not just for kids. As an adult (though I am a kid at heart), I enjoyed it very much. It promises fun for all and is the must-see show of the holiday season.


For more information, please visit:
W!LD RICE : www.wildrice.com.sg
SISTIC: www.sistic.com.sg

X'mas At The Link Home

Christmas mood is in the air... Orchard Road has been adorned with bright decor lights, the malls have decked out in their best glory, the retailers have put out their best merchandise. Over the weekend, I attended the festive launch at The Link Home at Paragon.

The beautiful display got me in the mood for some Christmas cheer. From peacocks in the trees to Harry Potter inspired furry owls on the shelves, cheery birds on cake stands to hanging polka dot teddy bears to bring a smile to anyone's face.

If you are shopping on Orchard Road, why not pop by to Paragon to check out The Link Home for some inspirations. I guarantee you won't leave empty handed... be it gifts for your loved ones or just something for yourself. I went home with some Parks London candles, an owl, a polka dot teddy bear and a little owlet. Do I need them? No. Do I want them? Yeah! Have a Merry Christmas inspired by the little animals!


The Link Home at Paragon
#04-10/11/12, 290 Orchard Road, Singapore 238859.
Tel: (65) 6737 7503

The 20/20 Feast at Tippling Club

I just did a marathon. Nope, I didn't run one. I had a 4-hour long dinner marathon at Tippling Club. The occasion? Chef Ryan Clift had a one-night only special dinner to celebrate his 20th anniversary in the culinary world.

Over the course of his 20-year career, Ryan has worked with some of the world’s best chefs, including Marco-Pierre White, Peter Gordon, Emmanuel Renaut, Shannon Bennett, and Raymond Capaldi. Impressive!

This special 20-course dinner was priced at S$350++ per pax (excluding drinks).

The menu for the night. I arrived at Tippling Club at 8.30pm and I "rolled" myself out at half past midnight. The picture of a sweet little boy is Ryan when he was young! I asked Ryan when he started cooking and he replied, "I was a naughty boy and I dropped out of school when I was 14 years old, and I started cooking since then".


Here's a look at the magnificent dinner I had. Some of the dishes will be featured in the new menu so you will get a chance to sample them too. Go on, feast your eyes out on Ryan's creativity!

#1 - Cucumber & black miso, sakura ebi

Ryan preparing the 2nd course...

#2 Tuna taco, pulled pork

#3 - Scampi watercress

#4 - Smoked eel, mustard ice cream


#5 - Foie pearls

Ryan cooked most of his dishes using Gaggenau's induction hob at the bar counter, so his guests could see him in action. He is one of the ambassadors for the luxury German kitchen appliance brand in Singapore. Soon, he will be the first chef in Asia to be appointed as Gaggenau's international ambassador. The diners next to me were really wowed by the sleek design and hi-tech functions of the Gaggenau induction hob.

#6 - White truffle risotto


#7 - Razor clam with cep mushrooms


#8 - Black cassoulet
(Served using an egg coddler from Jenaer Glas)


#9 - Sole a la meuniere


#10 - Mussels and tomatoes
(Love this 'hot & cool' double-walled glass from Jenaer Glas)


#11 - Salsify and black truffles


#12 - Pigeon, beetroot, quinoa


#13 - Kagashima wagyu


#14 - Matcha tea sorbet


#15 - White truffle cheese


#16 - Peanut butter


#17 - Liquorice


#18 - Milk


#19 - Candy apple


#20 - Chocolate

What an inspiring gastronomic experience it has been! I am really glad that I attended this special dinner, even though I developed a temporary belly after pigging out. If Ryan does a similar dinner to celebrate 21 years as a chef next year, I will be there to do a 21-course dining marathon. If you like some of the dishes you see here, why not pop by to Tippling Club to experience Chef Ryan's progressive cuisine for yourself?


For more information, please visit :
Tippling Club - www.tipplingclub.com
Gaggenau - www.gaggenau.com
Jenaer Glas - www.zwieselkristallglas-shop.com

Nagomi - My Favourite Omakase Place

I have been wanting to blog about Nagomi for quite some time but I kept forgetting. Perhaps the procrastination came from the fact that I go there so often that I will always tell myself "I will do it the next time I dine there". I had a fantastic dinner there again last night and today is the day for me to share with you one of my favourite Japanese restaurants in Singapore.

Located at the 2nd level of Cuppage Plaza, Nagomi is one hidden gem that rewards those who seek it out.


Once you set foot in Nagomi, you will forget that you are in Singapore and may think you are actually in a restaurant in Japan. Dining in this intimate 25-seater restaurant is a truly gratifying experience. The dark wood setting and personal service create a warm and welcoming ambience.

I love both the bar counter seats and the tables. When it is more than 3 persons, I will usually sit at a table to facilitate conversations. Otherwise, if dining alone or in a pair, the bar counter is a great experience.

The restaurant holds shochu for patrons in individual earthen servers, which gradually smoothen the strong taste of the wine. This allows regular customers to appreciate the maturing aroma of their personal shochu.

Nagomi is an omakase restaurant, which means it doesn't have a set menu. The chef will serve a degustation menu based on the freshest produce available during the time. However, he will ask if you have any dietary requirements or restrictions. Here's a look at some of the dishes I had.

Amuse Bouche

The meal starts off with 2 small dishes.

Salad

Some days you get a tofu salad, some days you might get a juicy sweet tomato. It depends on what's the best available at the market.

Sashimi

At Nagomi, the fish is imported four times weekly to guarantee the natural sweetness of fresh sashimi.

Seafood - Fried, Grilled or Baked

Some days you get a dish of fried fish fillet, some days you might even get deep-fried sea eel.

Some days you might even get baked scallops with cheese.

Fish - Steamed or Grilled

You will most certainly get a whole fish. Depending on the type of fish, the chef will determine if it's best grilled or steamed with light sauce.

Beef

Yummy beef fillet with dipping sauce. We had this dish every time we dined at Nagomi. It's the signature dish.

Carbs

You will most likely get the porridge unless you specify that you prefer something else. The alternative to porridge is rice with fish roe and miso soup. Both just as delish.

Always make a reservation if possible as the place is frequented by Japanese and local foodies. With only a seating capacity of 25 pax, you sure don't want to risk being disappointed if you turn up without a reservation. Nagomi is closed on Sunday. The price per person is about S$120++ (excluding drinks).

For more information, please visit www.nagomirestaurant.com.sg