Binge - You Don’t Have to Be Lavish to Eat Well

You don’t have to break the bank to live the good life, that’s my mantra. Have your nose honed onto good value and you can do a pretty decent job living a budget la dolce vita.

Gunther’s, named Asia’s Top 7th restaurant by the Miele Guide (…Altogether now, say, “Ooooooh…!”) has recently rolled out a weekday set lunch at a shamelessly purse-friendly $38. This gets you a choice of three appetizers, three main courses, plus dessert, coffee or tea. Not bad for a place that was once revered in hushed tones, and having been there was like having seen the face of God! Favourite items here are Cold Angel’s Hair Pasta with Oscietra Caviar and crispy Suckling Pig with Kriek Beer Sauce, Carpaccio of Wagyu Beef “Tartare” style is served with crispy potato, and Fine Tart of Apple a la Dragees with Vanilla ice-cream. (I doubt these great creations will fall into the humble three course menu though…..) For a fancier feast, fork out $128 for a six course dinner featuring the best of the a la carte creations.

36, Purvis Street, #01-03

Tel : 6338 8955

Another restaurant good for suckling pig and offering an even more enticing deal is Vanilla Pod at Mandai Orchid Garden. From now until 31 January, kids below 12 eat totally for free – nada, zero, zilch. Music to my Ebenezer ears! So it’s nowhere as polished and fine as Gunther’s, but you can expire soulfully among the lush foliage dressed in an Egyptian cotton frock, as your angelic offspring gambol in the sprawling, undulating grounds of flora. Lunch (or dinner) on modern European dishes – be assured the food is good! – particularly the pork knuckle ($25.50 and large enough to feed 2) and ice cream doused with Pedro Ximinez. It’s a must-do especially on a lazy Sunday, and definitely worth the long trek out to the wild yonder. Best thing is, this deal is good even on weekends and Public Holidays. One adult limited to two kids only, please.

200 Mandai Lake Road

Tel:l 6368 0672 or e-mail: marketing@chefpeterandcompany.com.sg

Next stop, Grand Hyatt Singapore. Have you heard of Oasis? It’s their all-day poolside restaurant up on Level 5 of the Terrace Wing, tucked within a lovely rooftop garden. Pick a cool day to go, cos it’s all alfresco – no air-conditioning, darlinks. The main draw there is its barbecue buffet dinner every Friday and Saturday from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Good for the carnivore in you, it’s laden with grilled meats, sausages and seafood prepared a la minute from the custom made charcoal grill. $68.00+++ per person with free flow beer, wines, soft drinks and margaritas. Best thing to do? Go first for a pampering at Hyatt’s spa Damai next door, then when you’re all nice and kneaded, totter over to pig out with the family. Now that’s a good way to start any weekend.

Tel: +65 6732 1234 (Reservations are a must)