RESTAURANT WEEK 2015 : PUNJAB GRILL...

Restaurant week is back! And our first booking this year was last night at Punjab Grill, Marina Bay Sands. I have dined here previously for Restaurant Week in 2013, so I was excited to see what this year had to offer and also, excited for Joe to try the restaurant for the first time. It was really nice that the menu has evolved since the last time I visited. It really isn't just your average Indian restaurant. One of our desserts was served on a miniature chair! So cute! We have a few more bookings for Restaurant Week, and I'm already looking forward to the next one! 

"To dine at Punjab Grill  is to take an epicurean journey through India’s richly diverse Northwest Frontier Province — the undivided Punjab region. Food from gourmet metropolises like Lahore, Peshwar, Rawalpindi, Kabul, Amritsar, Multan and Patiala, formed the urbanized melting pots of different cultures."

Chef Special Muse Bouche of the Day

SOUP

Roasted Mint and Tomato Shorba served in tea cups

APPETIZERS

Wooden Fire Scottish Salmon Tikka spiked with Saffron Aioli

Australian Baby Lamb Minced Patty stuffed with Masala Cheddar Cheese topped with Coriander Mayo

Kalamata Olive Chicken Tikka

Chef Special Sorbet

MAIN COURSE

Pan Grilled Fish fillet served with Southern Style Coconut Kaffir Lime Sauce

Winter Vegetable tempered with Roayl cumin & Burnt Garlic

Meat Punjab Grill

Dal Punjab Grill

Tempered Pilau

Bread Basket

SYMPHONY OF DESSERTS

Betel Leaves Kulfi

Chocolate & Green Apple Mousse

Beet Carrot Halwa

To read more about Punjab Grill and to check out the menu, please see the website http://www.punjabgrill.com.sg

WHITE COLLAR BOXING 2015...

Last night Joe and I attended a White Collar Boxing event at Suntec City Convention Centre. This was our fourth boxing event here in Singapore. Some of you might remember that Joe and I met at the first event we went to. This time last year we were supporting Martin at the White collar Boxing. This year, we were supporting his girlfriend Cline "The Hulk" Hogan. 

It's such a great event, for a good cause. And of course, it's the only time that I really get to dress up and get pampered. This year I even had my hair and makeup done. For anyone who is after a great stylist and makeup artist Salma is the lady for you. Contact Salma through her Facebook page Makeup and Hair by Salma.  

"White Collar Boxing™ in Asia started at Vanda Boxing Club and this is something we are intensely proud of. As the first WWCBA accredited training establishment and the home of more White Collar Boxers than anywhere else in the world, we are the place to come if you have aspirations to compete in this growing sport.

White Collar Boxing™ is so called as it is generally contested by men and woman from the "White Collar" professions such as banking, legal, technology or media. Most probably with no amateur boxing experience, a White Collar Boxer is trained to compete in one of the many WWCBA sanctioned White Collar Boxing™ events around Asia Pacific over a 12 week period. Vanda Boxing Club has trained over 390 White Collar boxers in the last three years and is frequently used by the White Collar Boxers in Asia, the US and Europe as a pre-fight training camp to test themselves at the club that has produced WWCBA champions."

To read more about White Collar Boxing here in Singapore visit http://www.vandaboxing.com/wcb.html

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THESE CUTIES...

Happy 1st Birthday to our adorable twin nieces Acacia and Valentina. Can't quite believe they are a year old today! 

And next week will be little Leyton's birthday! So it's celebrations all round. So sad that we aren't there to join in the birthday fun with you guys! One day...

BACCHANALIA IS BACK...

Joseph and I recently attended a special evening at one of my favourite restaurants, Bacchanalia. They have recently been closed for a few months after relocating to a new space on Hong Kong street, very near to my office. 

"For two special nights, old friends and Fat Duck alumni – Kim Öhman from the Michelin-starred Farang in Stockholm and World Gourmet Summit chef of the year Ivan Brehm of Bacchanalia – will merge their soulful but innovative, Asian flecked cooking styles for two exclusive dinners.

Öhman and Brehm will prepare a unique seven course menu; think novel dishes like green lipped mussels with a Thai dipping sauce, trout roe and coriander. Or poached grouper with turmeric coconut curry, sprouted mint salad, chili jam and lime.

Each chef will preparing three courses, then merge their creativity into one extravagant dessert."

Wow. The food was out of this world! It was an incredible evening. Great food, great atmosphere and great service from the team at Bacchanalia. I highly recommend a visit to see the new space! 

THE MENU

Green lip mussels, nahmjim, trout roe and cilantro

Crispy glutinous rice and fermented soy bean cake, crab and osier caviar

Confit duck wrapped in spinach with steamed vegetable broth

Grilledlamb neck, black rice vinegar dressing, shiitake mushroom, roasted rice and aromatic thai salad

Poached grouper, turmeric & coconut curry, bean sprout & garden mint salad

Duck breast, umami crumbed celtuce, piccalilli & sweet potato puree with salted egg

Watermelon granite, giant sorely ice cream, rose and lychee pearls, mangosteen and thai basil

Chocolate ganache, grapefruit jam, fresh and frozen grapefruit with assam tea ice cream

5 YEARS IN SINGAPORE...

I can't quite believe I'm saying this but today marks the start of my sixth year in Singapore! 5 years ago today I arrived here ready for the unknown. I have so much to be grateful today as I look back over my five years here. A massive thank you to all my family and friends back home for their continued support whilst I live my dream. I miss you all immensely and look forward to seeing you in March/April next year! 

I am very lucky to have made great new friends who are helping me daily make amazing new memories. Life here can be so hard when you are away from your loved ones, but having such a wonderful group of mates really does help! 

I'm also incredibly happy that I work with such a talented group of people who make going to work everyday worthwhile. Everyday is a fun day and we are creating great creative work daily! I am very proud to be where I am today. 

And of course, I managed to pick up a husband along the way. Something that had never even crossed my mind when I jumped on the plane! Little did I know I would meet a New Zealander who would become my life companion. We are blessed to be able to travel to the wonderful places that we do together and enjoy Asia as much as we do! Long let the travels continue!

Here I am, celebrating back where it all began at the Post Bar, Fullerton Hotel, where I return every year to celebrate with a cocktail or two. Hope to keep this ritual going every year…

WATCH THIS SPACE...

I've just had the sad realisation that I haven't had the chance to blog in a very long time! As we swiftly approach September, which will mark my 5th year in Singapore, I hope to start blogging just as much as I did when I first arrived. 

So, please ... watch this space. As there will be much more news coming on our Singapore adventures soon! Apologies for the lack of news recently. 

BANGKOK GETAWAY...

Joseph and I have just returned from a weekend getaway to Bangkok. Joe had never been before, and I haven't visited since Amanda and I travelled there together in 2008.

To make things easier for us I booked a guided tour that took us to a variety of Bangkok highlights. We were collected from our hotel, and we took the Skytrain to Saphan Taksin, where we travelled by boat along the Chao Phraya River. When we reached Tha Thien Pier, we were nearing our first stop… Wat Pho, also known as the reclining buddha. This had been one of my favourite places when I was in Bangkok six year ago. And it was exactly how I remembered it. Incredible. 

Wat Pho is one of Bangkok's oldest temples, that existed before Bangkok was established as the capital by King Rama I. It was built in 1832 and represents the entry of Buddha into Nirvana and the end of all reincarnations. At an incredible 15 metros high and 46 metres long it's understandable why this statue is so impressive. The soles of it's feet alone are 3 metres high and 4.5 metres long, beautifully inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and the whole Buddha is completely plastered, then gilded with gold leaves. It is breathtaking. 

Next stop, the Grand Palace to see the Emerald Buddha. This is definitely a must-see when you visit Bangkok. It's spectacular. This was built in 1782 and was home to the Thai King for 150 years. The architecture here is beautiful and extremely intricate. It takes a while to take all the craftsmanship in. It's also a very popular place! Be warned, the weekends are very busy! 

Of course, for me, the highlight of any Thailand trip is always the amazing food. Unfortunately we had to cancel the cooking class that I had booked us as I was unwell. However, even though we didn't get to make our own, we did manage to eat yummy local food on the river at lunch time...

Following lunch, we took a Tuk Tuk to the Khao San Road where we indulged in massages. Another fantastic highlight of Thailand! So cheap, and always so good! 

Another boat ride, and our final stop at Jim Thompson's House. This was a new highlight for me as I hadn't done it before. American businessman Jim Thompson revitalised the Thai silk industry in the 1950s and 1960s. Strangely, he disappeared whilst on vacation in the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. His house, which he designed and built himself, is now a museum with a large collection of Buddhist and secular art from all over Asia, including Burma, Cambodia and Laos. Again, this is well worth the visit! 

One of the biggest highlights of our trip was our hotel. A recommendation from Kay, who runs our Thai office. We definitely want to go back and spend more time at Hotel Muse, after we were made so welcome this time round. 

"Rising high above one of the city’s most desired residential districts, Hotel Muse brings to Bangkok a heretofore unknown hedonistic experience: a hotel dedicated to the golden age of travel and the most opulent of art and design. Hotel Muse likewise dedicates itself no less to the art of pure pleasure, for every conceptual element reflects a theme of fanciful indulgence.

The late 19th- and early 20th-century period was indeed a golden age for Thailand, a time of opening up and looking out, of engaging the wider world with an impassioned and resolutely independent turn of mind. So too was it in Europe, as the years saw the birth of luxury travel on glamorous trains and magnificent ships. In such a spirit, Hotel Muse blends the heritages of East and West, the styles of Siam and France, into a beguiling melange of timeless sophistication and unequivocal modernity."

Hotel Muse is out of this world! Spectacular rooms, incredible service, an extravagant rooftop bar and an extraordinary eating experience at The Medici Kitchen, that kept us entertained throughout dinner with singers. For more information on Hotel Muse visit the website : http://hotelmusebangkok.com

VENUS RUN 2015...

Today is International Womens Day and to celebrate Libby and I ran the Venus Run. Venus Run is specifically targeted at women, with a 5km route starting at Gardens By The Bay East. 

I haven't done much running recently, so this 5km was a great way to ease myself back into it. 

Massive thanks to Joe for getting up early on a Sunday to support me! 

To learn more about International Womens Day visit:

http://www.internationalwomensday.com

NEW ZEALAND 2015...

We have just returned from an amazing family holiday to New Zealand. Having not seen any of Joe's side of the family since the wedding in 2013 it was a great time to visit, especially since Heather and Chris welcomed their babies into the world last October. 

We started our trip with a four day stay in Auckland. Just enough time to catch up with the family and our friends there. I had been so excited to meet the new twins since they were born, so this trip was all about quality time with these guys, as who knows when we will see them all again.

The last time I was in New Zealand, we attended a wedding on Waiheke Island, and I have wanted to return there to do a wine tasting tour. Natasha, Joe's sister joined us, and we spent the day touring Waiheke, thanks to Enjoi Waiheke Wine Tours.

I can highly recommend Enjoi. We had a great day visiting Kennedy Point, Casita Miro, Stonyridge and Cable Bay Vineyards. Just the three of us. With great weather and a great tour guide we had a fantastic day on Waiheke. 

KENNEDY POINT

"Kennedy Point Organic Winery is tucked among thePohutukawa Trees overlooking Waiheke Island’s Kennedy Bay.

Sit and enjoy the stunning sea views or relax in the picturesque picnic area in the Olive Grove. It is the perfect setting to sample our award-winning Organic wines, extra virgin olive oil and Kennedy Point honey."

http://kennedypointvineyard.com

CASITO MIRO

"Casita Miro Restaurant on beautiful Waiheke Island is renowned for its ambiance, fine food and wines

We specialise in the cuisine of Spain and the wider Mediterranean Rim and take enormous pleasure in sharing our love for fine food, wine and sherry. Casita Miro is all about shared dining and our ‘tapas’ and ‘raciones’ (large plates) are perfect for a fun, relaxed and social dining experience.

Casita Miro has been winner or runner up for the last three years in the ‘Best Rural Restaurant’ category of Metro Magazine’s Top 50 Auckland Restaurants."

http://www.casitamiro.co.nz

STONYRIDGE

"Stonyridge Vineyard is a world-renowned Cabernet-blend winegrower, located on the beautiful island of Waiheke, near Auckland, New Zealand.We are dedicated to producing the finest Cabernet blends in the world (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot)using traditional winemaking."

http://www.stonyridge.co.nz

CABLE BAY

"Cable Bay Vineyards is renowned for crafting exquisite, award-winning wines from Waiheke Island, Marlborough and Central Otago. At Cable Bay you can enjoy wine tasting in the Cellar Door, drinks and small plates in the breathtaking outdoor Veranda or fine food in The Dining Room. With stunning views over the inner Hauraki Gulf and Auckland City, Cable Bay Vineyards is a must-see during your visit to Waiheke Island.

Our first vineyard was planted on Waiheke Island in 1998 with Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Gris. Now we grow more than 10 varietals including Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.

Our very first Chardonnay produced in 2002 won the gold medal at the prestigious International Wine Challenge in London, in a competition involving more than 40,000 bottles of wine from around the world."

http://cablebay.co.nz

After our first four days in Auckland were over, we drove North to Whangerai where we stayed in a really quaint Bed & Breakfast for one night. It was the prefect location to explore Whangerai Heads. 

http://www.whangareibandb.co.nz

Just down the road from where we staying was an incredible "pub", The Parua Bay Tavern. The perfect place for a great feed! 

http://www.paruabaytavern.co.nz

When we arrived at the Bay of Islands I was blown away. We had booked a villa which was perched right at the top of a hill overlooking the bay. 

As we won't be seeing Joe's friends for his 40th Birthday this year, they threw him some surprise drinks at Ponsonby Workingmans Club to celebrate a few months early, which was really thoughtful of them. 

Our last day was spent with the family, getting as many cuddles as we could from the twins and Leyton, and spending quality time with Joe's mum, dad and sisters. I was extremely sad to say goodbye, as we don't have any plans (as yet) to visit New Zealand again. It may very well be a few years before we see the family there, but we sure did make the most of our time this time round. Thank you to everyone who made our trip such a great one! See you all again soon!