Monday, September 16, 2013

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CNNGo.com


Singapore's 8 best new restaurants

Posted: 15 Sep 2013 03:00 PM PDT

Close to 700 new eateries opened in Singapore over the last year. We've done the hard work and offer this shortlist of the best

When the two Integrated Resorts opened in 2010 -- Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa -- Singapore's then-languid dining scene got a much-needed booster shot.

Almost overnight, the city-state became the city du jour for new openings as Michelin stars-studded chefs, wannabe restaurateurs and imported cooking talents scrambled for space to house their dream restaurants.

The trend continues. Jamie Oliver just opened a 250-seat Italian eatery at Vivo City, his first in Asia. Mario Batali recently announced plans to open Carnevino, his third F&B concept in the city.

Big name chefs aside, the scene  is equally buzzy for indie operators -- new small plate eateries continue to grab the spotlight, unfazed by the incessant stream of French, Italian and Japanese openings.

Not surprisingly, clusters of dining enclaves have popped up and this excitement has spilled over to Club Street, which is enjoying a revival after years of slumber.

Records from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) show that 686 new eateries sprouted in Singapore last year. Staggering growth for a city with less than 3,000 restaurants.

We've combed them all and shortlisted just a handful of the best to open in the last year.

More on CNN: Singapore's best cocktail bars 

Bar-roque Grill

Bar-roque Grill standouts include the NZ little neck clams served simmering on a hotplate of white wine-infused broth with garlic pork sausages.​Nine years after honing his craft with Daniel Boulud, Stephane Istel – former executive chef of DB Moderne Bistro Singapore -- left to call his own shots at Bar-roque Grill.

His ornately decorated space adorned with a life-size painting of a wine-guzzling cherub at Amara Hotel is the perfect setting to showcase the menu of rustic French fare. 

Think tart-flambee and rotisserie meats -- prepared with a touch of Mediterranean flair.

Bar-roque165 Tanjong Pagar Road​, Singapore; +65 6444 9672

Moosehead Kitchen Bar

Char-grilled asparagus: The garlic-miso broth makes this dish a winner. ​Daniel Ballis, a former bar manager at Four Seasons Singapore, runs the floor in the cramped digs of this minimally-embellished Telok Ayer Street eatery he co-owns with his father.

Spanish arts graduate-turned-chef Manuel Valero Ruiz heads up the open concept kitchen where a charcoal powered indoor oven smokes the Mediterranean small plates to perfection.

Highlights include scrambled eggs with smoked mushrooms and black truffle shavings; and char-grilled asparagus with crispy leek in an intensely savory garlic-miso broth.

Moosehead Kitchen Bar, 110 Telok Ayer Street; +65 6636 8055

More on CNN: Island hopping around Singapore

Bacchanalia

Bacchanalia is set in Singapore's historic Masonic Lodge. ​First time restaurateurs Alexander Chew and Raj Datwani struck gold when they landed a roomy space on the ground floor of Masonic Lodge for their debut eatery.

Named Bacchanalia after the boozy pop-up brunch series the duo has been running since 2012, the eatery's kitchen features a trio of former Fat Duck chefs led by Brazilian Ivan Brehm.

The menu features experimental creations like 'duck confit' wrapped in spinach leaf chased down with a cup of corn and cucumber dashi.

BacchanaliaMasonic Club, 23A Coleman Street; +65-6509 1453 

Saint Pierre

The star of the St Pierre show. Yuzu-scented King prawn tartare crowned with creamy sea urchin.After 13 years in a low-key office building in the CBD, Saint Pierre's Emmanuel Stroobant recently moved to Sentosa island. 

His new roost at Quayside Isle serves up Japanese-inflected modern French cuisine in a Nordic-inspired dining room​ with wrap-around floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

The highlight is Stroobant's 10-course omakase menu, with its delightful yuzu-scented King prawn tartare crowned with a tongue of creamy sea urchin.

Saint Pierre31 Ocean Way, #01-15 Quayside Isle; +65 6438 0887 

More on CNN: Singapore dining: Best of the old and new

The Naked Finn

Somehow, the plastic walls work. ​Fresh seafood char-grilled simply with olive oil or unsalted butter and served unadorned is the hallmark of this pared-down, plastic sheet-walled restaurant at Gillman Barracks.

Owner-operator Ken Loon goes to great lengths to source the finest crustaceans, mollusks and ground fish for his menu. 

Star dishes include the Indian squids, Atlantic scallops and African lobsters via the a la carte menu.

Alternatively, the "Set for 2" and "Set for 4" bundle the top fin fare with chilled vermicelli and greens for a complete meal.

The Naked Finn41 Malan Road #01-13 Gillman Barracks; +65 6694 0807 

Burnt Ends

There are only 18 seats at small plate restaurant Burnt Ends. And they're usually all filled. ​​A four-ton double cavity brick oven powers the gourmet BBQ fare served in this 18-seat small plates eatery at Teck Lim Road.

The high-profile owners -- including Loh Like Peng and Andre Chiang -- have created an elegant setting of burnt rain tree-wood counters and charcoal-toned hanging lamps to lure guests. 

But even these play second fiddle to the menu of smoky delights by David Pynt, ex sous chef of Asador Etxebarri.

We recommend the smoked quail's eggs and grilled squid in paprika dusted butter oil.

Burnt Ends20 Teck Lim Road; +65 6224 3933 

 

Ki-sho

Ki-sho's a looker alright. But it's the dishes, like the French Gillardeau oysters bathed in a yuzu-scented jus with briny ikura pearls, that keeps diners coming back.​Set in an atmospheric black-and-white bungalow at Scotts Road, this kaiseki house looks every bit as upscale as a ryotei (upscale Japanese restaurant) in Kyoto.

Helping to achieve this aesthetic are a 10-seat hinoki wood counter and trio of traditionally decorated private rooms that come complete with shoji (rice paper) sliding doors.

But it's the multicourse tasting menu of East meets West zen plates by former Waku Ghin chef, Kazuhiro Hamamoto, that keeps the Japanese food aficionados packing in. 

Ki-sho29 Scotts Road; +65-6733 5251 

Izy

Izy's eight-course omakase dinner is great way to sample some of the menu highlights. ​​​A Club Street new comer, Izy's setting of dull-grey concrete walls with an eye-catching 11-meter pop art-meets-vintage mural sets the scene for the lip-smacking Japanese-inspired small plates crafted by chef Kazumasa Yazawa, who cut his teeth at Tetsuya's and Waku Ghin.

The best way to take it all in is the affordable 8-course omakase dinner, which includes daily-changing specials augmented by fixtures like the decadent wagyu bowl crowned with aromatic summer truffle shavings served alongside a bowl of tuna dashi-accented miso soup.

We suggest ending it all with a night cap of Japanee whiskey at the hidden cache bar. But you didn't hear it from us.

Izy, 27 Club Street; +65 6220 3327

More on CNN: How to live like a millionaire in Singapore 

World's 10 best shopping cities

Posted: 15 Sep 2013 09:46 AM PDT

Credit card? Check. Flats? Yep. Complete lack of buyer's remorse? Hells, yes! Time to hit the world's ultimate shopping destinations

Don't hide from it. Revel in it.

Shopping is a drug, and just as therapeutic as anything handed out by your doctor.

That's why when we wanted to know which international cities deliver the most gratifying shopping prescriptions, we consulted global experts, such as fashion merchandising firm Donegar Creative Services and Marie Bergfelt, senior spokesperson for Global Blue, which publishes the Globe Shopper City Index.

Then we judged cities in four areas, using a one-to-10 scoring scale for each category:

1. Getting around: Quality of public transportation, affordability and availability of cabs.

2. Value: Bargain opportunities, such as sale seasons and average prices.

3. Variety: Number of available brands, range of shopping categories, quantity of upscale shops, department stores, boutique and vintage retailers and market stalls.

4. Experience: City beauty, quality of window displays and shop décor, friendliness and competence of clerks and service staff, dining and accommodation options.

Then we charged into the breach.

10. Madrid

10. Madrid, Calle SerranoSidewalks. Glorious sidewalks.

Getting around: 6  |  Value: 6  |  Variety: 4  |  Experience: 7 |  Total: 23

Madrid mostly gets our credit cards warm simply for being Madrid, though it's worth noting that the city ranks third for best prices on general luxury items in the Globe Shopper Index.

But we can't wow our friends with statistics (not our shopping friends, anyway), so what about the goods?

When searching for items unique to Madrid, we fell in love with Capas Seseña.

Established in 1901, the shop sells traditional wool and cotton velvet capes for men and women. The clientele includes Pierce Brosnan and Hillary Clinton. Picasso was reportedly buried in his cape from the store.

Casa de Diego stocks souvenir-worthy fans, mantillas, ornamental combs and even castanets. But what we really wanted to take home was one of its work-of-art statement umbrellas with engraved silver handle (€325/US$415).

Whip out the plastic at:

Capas Seseña, Calle de la Cruz, 23, 28012 Madrid, Community of Madrid; +34 915 316 840; open Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-8:15 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m.; www.sesena.com

Casa de Diego, Puerta del Sol, 12. 28013 Madrid; +34 91 522 66 43; open Monday-Saturday 9:45 a.m.-8 p.m.; www.casadediego.net

 

9. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

9. Dubai Mall All that glitters often really is gold in Dubai.

Getting around: 6  |  Value: 6  |  Variety: 8  |  Experience: 4 |  Total: 24

Dubai is known for glamour and excess; so you can pretty much guess that the shopping here would have your Scottish/Chinese/Indian/Great Depression grandmother spinning in her inexpensive plywood coffin.

A miniature kingdom unto itself, the Dubai Mall is the world's largest mall in total area, with theme parks, a waterfall, "dancing" fountains, Olympic-sized ice rink, aquarium, indoor souk and malls within the mall, such as the Galeries Lafayette from France and the first Bloomingdales outside the United States.

If that isn't enough cash registers, there's also the Mall of the Emirates, with the first indoor ski resort in the Middle East.

The Dubai Mall also hosts the annual Dubai Shopping Festival in January and February. We assume it's called a festival because they have fireworks, but it's really about package deals and discounts -- up to 70 percent on electronics, clothing and popular items.

The 2013 festival starts January 5.

Whip out the plastic at:

Dubai Mall, Doha Street, Dubai; +971 4 362 7500; open Monday-Wednesday and Saturday-Sunday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursday-Friday 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m.; www.thedubaimall.com

Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha 3, Dubai; +971 4 377 2000; open Sunday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m.-12 a.m.; www.malloftheemirates.com

 

8. Vienna

8. Vienna, Christmas MarketIt only feels like every day is Christmas in Vienna. Getting around: 6 | Value: 8  |  Variety: 3 | Experience: 8 | Total: 25

With some of the earliest closing hours out of all the cities on the Globe Shopper Index, Vienna is tricky for shopping.

Total buzz kill, right?

But it also has some of the best values in Europe, coming in second on the Index for total cost of luxury items.

At the centuries-old Naschmarkt, you can eat your way along 1.5 kilometers of 120 food vendors flogging local eats from kaiserschmarrn (dessert pancakes) and crepe-like palatschinke to exotic cheeses and seafood.

During Christmas season you can browse through glass baubles and handcrafted ornaments while sipping on glühwein at Vienna's venerable and gloriously lit Christmas markets, the Platonic ideal of a fairy tale Christmas.

That's good for an extra "Experience" point and an eighth-place finish.

Whip out the plastic at:

Naschmarkt, 1060 Vienna; +43 1 5463405430; open Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Saturday 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Viennese Christmas Market by City Hall runs November 17 to December 24. Rathausplatz, 1010 Vienna; open Sunday-Thursday 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., December 24 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; www.christkindlmarkt.at

 

7. Buenos Aires

7. Buenos Aires Bullrich Shopping MallHow many styles can you pack into one place?Getting around: 6 | Value: 8 | Variety: 6 | Experience: 7 | Total: 27

Sexy Argentine dance moves + sexy Argentine climate = sexy Argentine shopping.

Yes, the formula sort of sometimes works like that, especially when you're stalking high-quality leather at affordable prices.

Established in Buenos Aires in 1952, Mocasines Guido sells leather shoes for men; today there are three locations in Buenos Aires.

Calle Murillo is a street with leather shops that also offer tailoring services. Murillo 666 is perhaps the best known, but about 50 more surround it, a handy surfeit of shops come haggle time.

Whip out the plastic at:

Moscasines Guido, Rodríguez Peña 1290, Buenos Aires; +54 11 4813 4095; open Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Murillo 666, Murilla 66, Villa Crespo, Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Province; +54 11 4856 4501; open Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

 

6. Hong Kong

6. Hong Kong, Mong KokIn Hong Kong, you can always find someone to go shopping with. Getting around: 10 | Value: 5  |  Variety: 6 | Experience: 7 | Total: 28

Hong Kong's shop clerks are borderline stalkers -- in a good way!

If you don't know where you're going, they'll follow you around till you find it. If you don't know what you want, they'll tell you.

But the obsessive help can come in handy, especially if it leads to a world-class bargain.

According to Global Shopper City Index research, 87 percent of Hong Kong tourists shop, and "76 percent of shopping tourists expressed above-average satisfaction on value for money in 2011." Small wonder that Hong Kong also claims the title of best Asian shopping city in the Index.

For a bespoke shopping experience that involves local color, we hit up individual boutiques.

Fang Fong Projects in Central stocks womenswear from local label Fang Fong, which is like a Shanghai Tang that you'd actually want to wear -- modern clothes with tasteful Asian touches.

Frequented by celebrities, KniQ stocks one-of-a-kind items like artfully ripped stockings (HK$320/US$41), and a selection of jumpsuits for men that costs upward of HK$2,000 (US$250).

Whip out the plastic at:

KniQ, Shop 4B, Vienna Mansion, 55 Paterson St, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong; +852 2881 7903; open Monday-Saturday 2-10 p.m., Sunday 2-9 p.m.; www.kniq.com.hk

Fang Fong Projects, 67A Peel St., Central, Hong Kong; +852 3105 5557; open daily 2-8 p.m.

The hippest district in town: The likes of Kapok, Club Monaco Men's Store, Monocle are found in in Starstreet Precinct in Wanchai (Star Street, Moon Street, Sun Street) and St. Francis Yard.

 

5. Paris

5. Paris, Merci boutiqueThe Parisian life is yours. Euros not included. Getting around: 6 | Value: 6 | Variety: 8 | Experience: 9 | Total: 29

The best shops in Paris don't sell clothes. They sell lifestyles.

Whimsical concept shop Merci stocks a selection of designer goods that fall under the category of utterly useless but absolutely desirable, such as art deco Bakelite switches. It's housed in an airy and vaguely bucolic space that includes a secondhand bookshop, florist and café. In addition to the Annick Goutal scent line, Merci stocks apparel by Stella McCartney and Yves St Laurent, often with deep discounts.

Colette offers reduced prices on designer goods. Then again, if you're like us, whatever you save on a Fendi dress might be spent on stylin' necessities like a bottle of Bling H2O, which comes in a frosted glass bottle decorated with Swarovski crystals. It's available for about US$50 at the downstairs "water bar," which has more than 70 brands of bottled water.

And, of course, there's the holy trinity of Parisian department stores:

Le Bon Marché dates to the 1850s. It's famed for a monster section of gourmet food (5,000 choices strong).

Printemps has the world's largest beauty department. This year the store is partnering with Christian Dior for an exclusive line.

Extravagant Galeries Lafayette is housed in a seven-story art nouveau structure with an entire floor dedicated to lingerie. Every Friday at 3 p.m. there's a free fashion show with English commentary. Reservations required, either by emailing welcome@galerieslafayette.com or calling +33 1 42 82 36 40.

Whip out the plastic at:

Le Bon Marché, 24, rue de Sèvres, Seventh Arrondissement, Paris; +33 1 44 39 80 00; open Monday-Wednesday, Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursday-Friday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; www.lebonmarche.com

Printemps, 64, boulevard Haussmann, Ninth Arrondissement, Paris; +33 1 4282 5000; open Monday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. except for Thursday open 9:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; www.printemps.com

Galeries Lafayette, 40, boulevard Haussmann, Ninth Arrondissement, Paris; +33 1 4282 3456; open Monday-Wednesday, Friday-Saturday 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Thursday 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; www.galerieslafayette.com

Merci, 111, boulevard Beaumarchais, Third Arrondissement, Paris; +33 1 42 77 00 33; open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; www.merci-merci.com

Colette 213, rue St.-Honoré, First Arrondissement, Paris; +33 1 55 35 33 90; open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; www.colette.fr

 

4. Kuala Lumpur

4. KL, 1 Utama"OK, we're the first ones in. Now what?"Getting around: 6 | Value: 10 | Variety: 8 | Experience: 6 | Total: 30

Sometimes bigger really is better.

That's the prevailing shopper's ethic in Kuala Lumpur, anyway.

Three of the world's 10 largest malls are in KL, including 1 Utama, the world's fourth-largest mall with more than 650 shops, Asia's largest indoor rock climbing facility, massive rooftop garden with 500 species of exotic plants and indoor rainforest with koi ponds and freshwater aquarium.

KL's impressive score comes from its winning combination of high quality shopping, affordable prices and reliable sales, which can stretch for several months. This year's Year-End-Sale, from November 10 to December 31, is just one doozy of an example.

Whip out the plastic at:

1 Utama, 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama City Centre, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan; +60 3 7710 8118; open daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; www.1utama.com.my

Local designer Peter Hoe's store in KL's historical building: Peter Hoe Beyond, 145 Jaan Tun HS Lee, Kuala Lumpur, +60 3 2026 9788, open daily 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.

 

3. London

3. London, LibertyDon't be fooled by Liberty's Tudor facade. Ultra-modernity lurks within. Getting around: 6 | Value: 6 | Variety: 10 | Experience: 9 | Total: 31

London prices can destroy your will to live. And that's just the cab fare to get to the shopping areas.

But get over the sticker shock and you'll probably agree with its Globe Shopper Index ranking as top European shopping city and its Donegar Group nod as the world's top fashion shopping destination.

The Globe Shopper City Index notes that London outstrips all the other European cities in both the quantity of shops and availability of international and local brands.

London shopping at its best is bold, eclectic and international. Case in point: department store Liberty.

Liberty may have a Tudor-style exterior and fireplaces, but its stock is contemporary and cool, encompassing in-house designer stationary, clever kitchen accessories to upstage your neighbors and clothes from a select pool of local and international designers.

Of course, you might end up with a £245 (US$390) Mathieu Challières Mini Volière Bird Cage Table Lamp, but that's the black magic of a wonderful shop -- it inspires you to buy things you never knew existed.

Whip out the plastic at:

Liberty, Great Marlborough Street, London, +44 20 7734 1234; open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Sunday noon–6 p.m.; www.liberty.co.uk

London's most fashion forward market: Dover Street Market, 17-17 Dover St., London W1S 4LT; +44 20 7518 0680; open Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday noon-5 p.m.; www.doverstreetmarket.com

 

2. Tokyo

2. Tokyo Harajuku"If it's not kawaii, we're not stopping."Getting around: 8 | Value: 8 | Variety: 9 | Experience: 9 | Total: 34

The ultimate Tokyo shopping experience is the department store. Walk into one and you'll be met like a royal.

Global chain Isetan has its mammoth flagship store in Shinjuku, eight separate buildings stretched along two blocks. Isetan has English, Chinese and Korean-speaking staff and a personalized interpretation service, as well as shopping consultants who will advise you on everything from shoes to fish, all available through reservation (+81 3 3225 2514).

A foodie heaven, the basement has dainty Japanese bento boxes as well as French pastries and macaroons. When shopping for clothes you can take a break from the international luxury brands on stock to try on some kimonos.

Tokyo's shopping is also surprisingly affordable, according to the Globe Shopper City Index, with Asia's fourth-cheapest shopping, and the cheapest average price for a Canon EOS 600D body.

All this too tame? No worries, Tokyo still gets its freak on. Shops like the seven-story M's: Pop Life Sex Department Store sell creative toys such as you've never seen and we prefer not to describe in front of our impressionable interns.

Whip out the plastic at:

Comme des Garçons,5-2-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo; +81 3 3406 3951; open daily 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; www.comme-des-garcons.com

M's: Pop Life Sex Department Store, 1-15-13 Soukanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo,; +81 3 3252 6166; open daily 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; www.ms-online.co.jp

Isetan Shijuku flagship, 3-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; +81 3 3352 1111; open daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; www.isetan.co.jp

 

1. New York

1. NYC - Saks Fifth AvenueFrom fab to abstract, you'll buy it at Saks Fifth Avenue. Or at least stop to look.Getting around: 8 | Value: 7 | Variety: 10 | Experience: 10 | Total: 35

In what other city can you score a Blair Waldorf Henri Bendel headband and Chuck Bass' bright red onesie?

"This town has so much diversity in style and interpretations of chic," says New York-based fashion editor and stylist Stella Lee.

For something you can't simply Google up, Lee recommends vintage showroom Rare Vintage for "anyone who is visiting and in search of a shopping gem unique to NYC."

"You can find pieces from every possible era spanning the entire last century of fashion history, and from a wide range of design houses including the likes of Galanos, Dior, Givenchy, Ungaro, Pierre Cardin, Ossie Clark, and more," says Lee.

If you have the stamina to get up at ungodly hours for the city's sample sale stampedes, New York Magazine has a comprehensive guide.

Whip out the plastic at:

Rare Vintage, 24 West 57th St., New York; +1 212 581 7273; open Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; www.rarevintage.com

From vintage collectibles to local art and crafts: Brooklyn Flea (Fort Greene Flea), 176 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, open Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., www.brooklynflea.com (moves to 1 Hanson Place at Ashland Pl., Fort Greene from November 24 to April)

Which is your favorite shopping city? Where do you like to shop? Leave a comment.

Originally published November 2012; updated September 16, 2013.