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 – Drinky-Poo’s at $5, Girls!

Where to go for our lychee martinis and cosmos? Mandarin Orchard’s new Bar on 5 is rolling out a super sweet deal on cocktails from today. How sweet is it? How about $5 a pop for all martinis using Russian Standard Vodka? According to our sources, faves at the bar are the Lycheetini, Peach Martini and Cosmopolitan. But if you’re in for a bit of James Bonding, she says the Classic Martini and Dry Martini are good too.

If you’re heaving the hubs, the bar’s got 1-for-1 deals for beers (average price $12++) and spirits (average price $16++) as well as wine ($14++). Finally for a bit of bubbly, a bottle of Moёt & Chandon goes for $99++ all day!

Level 5, Mandarin Orchard Singapore

333 Orchard Road

Tel: 6831 6288

- by EW

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Binge - Cocktails & Light Bites with the Girls

When girls get together for a catch up session or a good ‘bitch’, the venue is (almost) everything. It has to be conducive enough for conversation, comfy enough for lingering, stylish enough for association.

One of my favourite places is Bodega y Tapas, a regular haunt for my girlfriend and I. It’s a pretty casual, almost rustic set up adjacent to Orchard Hotel, and what we like about it is that it’s a little more quiet than most places. Best of all, the food and wine are great value.

Wines, cava, cocktails and sangria – for which they have a few variations beyond the norm - all go one-for-one literally all day (until 9.30pm!). Their Spanish chef rolls out a menu of 35 tapas too, and I always like the Spanish cheese platter ($17) and trio of croquettes. Enough of these small dishes, plus a hearty stream of libation makes a particularly good lunch, especially if you don’t have to totter back to the office after.

The new menu offers things like pork cheeks ($15) with pumpkin sauce and Madrid-style beef tripe stew ($12) slow-cooked with chickpeas and Pimenton. For $20, you can pick three tapas from a menu of seven for a weekday set lunch, or if you have a group of girls with you, there’s Paella Española with chicken, vegetables & seafood ($80 for 4 to 5 pax), and the squid ink paella with squid and prawns ($70 for 4 to 5 pax). Only thing is, you have to order the latter two dishes one day in advance. And for upmarket foodies, this is one place that serves premium Spanish ham – the famous Jamón Ibérico de Bellota (40g at $24) and the Jamón Ibérico Reserva (40g at $20). The sangria here is generous with fruits, there’s even a bubbly cava sangria, and their Bellinis are very nice too. Chin chin!

442 Orchard Road, #01-29 Orchard Hotel

(65) 6735 3476

12pm – 11.45pm

I honestly prefer my wines ‘cos I always imagine chocolate has more calories….but if you and your gals like what the Aztecs imbibed, get your artisanal cacao fix at the chi chi Chocolate DeSténation at 313@Somerset. Cakes here are unique and super cute, like the Potato, Italian Garden Cake and the Chocolate Strawberry shortcake wrap. Drinks to have are the hot chocolate, Nippon Hot chocolate with a dash of wasabi, and look at this! …cocktails from $7.50 and on Wednesdays, 1-for-1 chocolate cocktails & wines from 5pm! Nice! And there’s more fun fun fun.

This place serves a daily breakfast set at $7.80 (inclusive of pastry of your choice and coffee/tea), 40% off pastries from 9am-12pm; all-day 1-for-1 hot chocolate on Tuesdays; and if you’re mending a broken heart by busting your girth, there’s the sinful dessert degustation set at $14.80 (inclusive of pastry, chocolate bon bon, a scoop of gelato and coffee/tea) daily from 12pm-6pm. And finally for a cake with a statement (good to know if you’re bringing dessert to a dinner party), Chef Stefano (the Italian guy who runs this place) offers quirky originals in limited quantities – check out Han’ei, an Asian inspired cake with white chocolate and wasabi, black sesame sponge and yolk custard scented with yuzu ($65) and its signature Candle, made with Tahitensis vanilla cream, caramel mousse, crunchy praline with rock chocolate base ( $80). Not original enough? Have your cake customized and eat it too, with an advanced phone call. I like!

313 Orchard Rd #01-25/25A

Tel: 68365344

Then for the top of the world feeling, I just discovered Wangz Hotel, a new barrel-shaped boutique hotel in Tiong Bahru (Yes! Don’t get too excited, Aunties – it IS just a skip from Tiong Bahru market!) Right at the rooftop, its lounge/bar Halo does one for one cocktails ($14++ per order) every Wednesday from 4pm. The range of cocktails offered on this deal changes monthly so go over and be surprised. What’s nice here is the more-than-180-degree view of the city and the surrounds, the relatively quieter ambience (jazz and bossa nova), you’re surrounded by reflecting pools of water, and best thing is, we can make reservations for the few tables so Aunties don’t have to stand on their heels all night!

231 Outram Road

Tel: 6595 1388

- by Ee Waun

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