Start The Year With A Treat

The year has started and it’s back to the grind after two weeks of partying, feasting and hopefully, some thoughtful reflection. So I suggest we start the year with a treat. There is a strong case for this. One – we deserve a reward for working towards world peace and familial harmony last year; and two – we’ll be working hard again this year putting all the resolutions we’ve planned into motion, grooming our nest, nurturing quality children and bringing home our share of the bacon. With so much on our plates, what better way than to start 2011 on a motivating note! We should….

Go shopping in Hong Kong!

A weekend would be perfect! Elaine will vouch for the high quality of retail therapy available there. And while there, you might as well take advantage of Metropark Hotel Wanchai Hong Kong’s newly launched Ladies Only Floor, called ‘She by Metropark’ (pictured above and top). So it’s not super duper luxe, but it is very comfy and pretty, with all the comforts particularly catered to the girls. Pretty, feminine rooms come with pillow menu, feminine accessories and design, complimentary broadband internet access and spa toiletries by THANN. Without a doubt, such a floor also gives women travellers a greater level of security. What’s best though is its great location smack bang in the heart of the city, near shops like Pacific Place, and foodie hubs like Lan Kwai Fong. To mark its launch, the hotel is offering an introductory package of HK$900 per room per night, excluding a 10% service charge, and late check-out at 3pm.

41-49 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong

Tel:+852 2863-7399

Email rsvn.hkwh@metroparkhotels.com

Buy A Ring

Friendship ring, engagement ring, wedding ring, eternity ring…these little trinkets have a way of marking time, don’t they? So why not buy yourself a new year bling? I have been buying one for myself every year for the last few years already, and it’s a fun way to remember the passing time….especially when they are fun, whimsical pieces. It was a ladybird and flower pendant with black diamonds in 2009, an onyx and diamond lizard in 2010, wonder what it’ll be this year? If I had to choose one now, it’ll be a funky, edgy stud ring from GoldHeart. Not exactly Cartier, but I just love how easy these are to buy….! Only S$868.

Goldheart Boutiques islandwide in Singapore

Toast The Year

Before things heat up and get you too busy, catch up with old friends and toast the year. Two great places for sundowners, especially when the weather is still cool and breezy here, are Octapas Spanish Tapas Bar and Tomo Izakaya, two great watering holes with gourmet nibbles in Clarke Quay.

I like that Octapas is just by the riverside where you can while away a leisurely evening, grazing, drinking and talking. Run by the people who used to do Tapas Tree, it offers a good range of sangria and Spanish tapas. I like their traditional red wine based sangria (S$14 ) better than the white wine version with apple juice. You must have the grilled squid with balsamic vinegar reduction ($15.50), beef tenderloin ($17) comprising cubes of grilled tender, flavourful meat, and paella marisco which, though a little soft, is pretty pleasant with their richly braised vegetables. Reservations only up til 7pm weekdays.

From Spain to Japan, Tomo Izakaya, round the corner, offers a good range of sake (ask for the sparkling variety) and light Japanese eats, enough of which can make a meal. What I really liked was the kobacha ni, simmered pumpkin which though simple, was excellent; hijiki and simmered soybean salad ($9, above), Nasu Agebitashi or deepfried eggplant with soup stock and Ginger (S$7.30) and ebiten tama chazuke, a porridge with deep fried prawns($9.50).

Octapas Spanish Tapas Bar - Blk D #01-08 Clarke Quay Tel: 68372938

Tomo Izakaya - Blk 3A #01-04 Clarke Quay Tel: 6333 0100

Drink Good Coffee

Everybody’s raving about it, sipping it and buying it. Even though I have a Jura at home, I will admit Nespresso does a mean caffeine kick. Since our calorie intake is limited, don’t waste it on imbibing anything less than the best you can buy and get one of these sleek machines onto your kitchen counter. It’s latest models are the retro-stylish Nespresso CitiZ Metal, automatic single-headed espresso machine (S$598, left) and the Nespresso CitiZ and Milk Metal with built-in milk frother (S$728). It’s a great way to start off the remaining 359 mornings of 2011, no?

- Ee Waun

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Binge – Fremantle Seafood Market

I just had lunch at the new-ish Fremantle Seafood Market yesterday. It’s my second time there. The first was about two months ago when it had just opened. The service then was rather rough at the edges and got me a little frayed on occasions. But this time round, they have clearly gotten their act together and I’m glad I made a return visit.

When you have such a day, ask for a table right next to the river’s edge. On a long weekend like this when we have a little more time to spare, sitting by the river over lunch, especially on a slightly overcast day when you aren’t sweltering in the heat, really had a holiday feel to it.

The inspiration here is, as its name states, Freemantle – that lovely port town in Perth, W Australia. The interior of the restaurant is done up to reflect the Victorian feel of that town, with old world posters, murals of the town, brick and dark wood. But I prefer the al fresco dining outside where it’s a lot lighter and breezy.

There’s nothing better than to bring your own wine ($30 corkage) and order a tiered seafood platter on ice to share. That’s what we did. They have increased the prices for these platters since my first visit – but even then, it remains reasonable. For $116, we shared Hearty Seafood Platter (enough for 3 people), with two tiers filled with at least half a dozen oysters, as many mussels, king crab, half a lobster, at least four kinds of sashimi including scallop, tuna and salmon, octopus, prawns in their shell, smoked fish, and some antipasti like stuffed peppers, olives and pickled jellyfish. The seafood was all very fresh, including the oysters which were superbly fresh. And that’s saying a lot from a person who really does not like oysters one bit! Even my young daughter who had not eaten oysters before slurped up two. Washed down with a well chilled Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, it was really a perfect way to spend an afternoon.

The Fremantle Salad was also very nice, mixed leaves and lots of flaked tuna with a poached egg on top, dressed in a light creamy dressing, and the seafood minestrone is a rich, hefty tomato-based soup with beans, celery and assorted seafood. The Catch of the Day is a fun option – you choose one of several kinds of fish (all filleted), pick your style of cooking (steamed, baked or grilled) and it’s served with two sides of the day. Another draw here is fish and chips ($19 and available for takeaway) and smoked fish platter ($15 for three types). I had the seafood bucket, comprising battered seafood, but I didn’t take to the batter much. For meat eaters, there’s wagyu lasagne and foie gras risotto. The load up on particularly good desserts - chocolate banana dome and the sticky date pudding.

All in all, for a mid-range restaurant, the food here is pretty good. Not middling and nondescript like many similar restaurants are, but quite a few notches up. For sure, it’s not going to knock your socks off, but you’ll enjoy it and the prices are not too painful either. And the setting is very nice – just pick the right weather for al fresco or hide away in the restaurant’s interior. (Pity there's no picture of the restaurant itself.)

- Ee Waun

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