Author: Alex Chua
Yes, the rumour is true. While we were just about to walk into Rumours Bar & Grill at Jewel Changi Airport last Tuesday evening, Singapore’s PM Lee and his entourage just passed us by. Wonder where he dined at? Rumours? Lauded as an awesome hangout spot for families and friends, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is true.
If you’re familiar with its first Holland Village outlet, this award-winning Bali casual dining restaurant packs the same lively vibe, same awesome food plus more open space. I always love the idea of al fresco dining to soak in the sunlight minus the heat, and its location at the top floor of Jewel just ticks that box.
Okai, the store front is great and I got a lucky encounter with PM Lee, so how about the food? Let’s start with the proteins. Rumours is one of the few places in Singapore that serves the premium A5 Grade Kumamoto Wagyu Tenderloin ($87.80/ 200g). Their signature dish, this marvellous beef cut is moist, very tender and yet so flavourful. Coupled with Rumours’ specialty indulgent drinks, it would be the perfect dish to warm the hearts of the chatterers.
We’ve got the Deep-Fried Chicken Wings ($8.80) and Calamari ($8.80) to share. The 6 mouth-watering chicken wings accompanied with spicy mayonnaise is a definite value-for-money dish for drinkers who just need something to munch into.
The deep-fried squid, with its golden-brown and crispy exterior, isn’t that oily or chewy kind which I hate. They are pleasant to bite into without feeling oily and offensive to the tongue. For me the chicken and the calamari is a definite must-have if I ordered drinks here.
Next is the Rumours Classic Cheeseburger ($16.80). Made up of sizzling beef patty, stretchy cheese and fresh greens, piled with loads of fat chips. The patty is rather soft yet thick and juicy, coupled with a rich drizzle of melted cheese, making it a sumptuous joy to munch into it.
The Australian Baby Lamb Chops with Garlic Confit ($45.80) packs that meaty, flavourful punch, thankfully not overly seasoned but savoury with a tender bite. These are just that kind of high-quality proteins that I like, especially after a hard day’s work.
Coming to Rumours’ signature range of tropical cocktails we had the aptly named Two Boyfriends ($18). This revitalising gin-based cocktail is infused with fruity notes of plum and apple, with a shot of Baileys on top. Why this name you say – its because you need to drink from 2 straws at one go.
If you’re the kind that enjoys performances, then the Blowing Smoke ($18) should satiate your theatrical thirst. When the jar is lifted, a cloud of white smoke billows, perfuming the air with hickory smoky fragrance and unveil the rum-based cocktail. I enjoy the light hint of elderflower and its natural sweet cinnamon scent when drinking.
Now coming to the almost obscene drink (depending on your state of mind). The Come Inside Me ($18) is a smoky whisky based ice-blend, which you use the syringe filled with smooth, creamy Baileys and shoot it straight into the cup (beware of spilling all over!). An alternative way to drink this is to first shoot it into your mouth and then drink the cup. Pure satisfaction guaranteed.
If you need an uplifting vibe, deliciously rich food and refreshing drinks, then Rumours is for you!
Rumours Bar & Grill @ Jewel Changi Airport
Operating hours: Daily 10am – 3pm
cocktails
beGIN: Chic New Bar at Boat Quay for an Innovative Gin Fix
Author: Alex Chua
beGin takes a typical gin – usually drank in a traditional English-style habitat with upholstered furnishing – and gives it a chic new spin. Situated upstairs Singapore’s oldest traditional English Pub – The Penny Black, beGin is the only speakeasy bar that houses over 50 gins from different countries. Gin lovers can sample the vast selection in different ways (neat, with tonic or in fashionable cocktail) and pair it with savoury British-Indian small plates. Expect colours, delicious bites and upbeat music with friendly bartenders tucked inside this rustic, moodily-lit speakeasy.
Starting off the course is the Royal Chatanee (S$4), which consists a medley of mild to punchy dips – Tomato, Chilli & Ginger Chutney, Asian Salsa and aromatic Spiced Cilantro Mint & Coconut dip. This grazing platter with refreshing dips is good to awaken the palate for subsequent courses.
Popping into the Crab bomb-a ($13 for 5 pieces) has that savoury oomph of seafood satisfaction. The curry sauce, hidden within the light hollow crisp, is made with beGin’s in-house spice mix for that unique kick. Very addictive and easy to pop in a few.
Appearance can be quite deceiving. BeGIN’s bestseller the Samboo-sa Pasties ($11 for 3 pieces) is a modern interpretation of the humble curry puffs. The chicken has that fiery tandoori masala taste, encased in a fluffy crisp choux pastry for that lovely crunch.
A definite crowd-favourite, the nacho del goa ($15 for 5 pieces) is a twist to the classic butter chicken. Sitting atop nacho-shaped papadums, the prawns are coated with buttery northern Indian Sauce and onion yogurt. It’s not enough to pop in just one of these tasties.
The Cheeky Nigiri is perhaps my personal favourite among the delectable bar bites, partly due to its tender meatiness. Made of beef cheeks, yellow sushi rice and vindaloo sauce, this can simply be a meal of itself.
Enough with the food. Now for the drinks. LAVENDER ($25) is inspired by HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s luscious lavender garden. A dome once lifted releases smoke that unveils the dignified, feminine cocktail. Taste of floral and, with its opal pink, slightly girly drink, but I love it still. No judge.
For those who are into adventurous drinks, the Jagmohan ($25) is a curry and clove spiced tequila mix. Essentially Northern India in a drink, this unassuming cocktail is exotic and tastes of spices, completes with the tomato, chili and ginger chutney on the side with fried crisps.
KOKO ($23) is that decadently well-balanced cocoa-infused rum die-hard chocolate fans would find irresistible. Performed with a ‘fire’ show – igniting the dehydrated orange atop the rum – this fiery concoction is creamy, mellow-sweet cocoa and tastes just like a dessert by itself, which I simply adore!
beGin
27a Boat Quay, The Penny Black Upstairs, Singapore 049817
Operating Hours: Mondays to Saturdays: 5pm – 1am
Customise Your Own Bespoke Cocktail at DRINK Cocktail Bar
Author: Alex Chua
Finding the perfect drinking spot that your friends or colleagues will enjoy is easy, now with the opening of DRINK at the historic site of Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall. DRINK the cocktail bar is the brainchild of FOO’D by David Oldani, the latter of which was conceptualised by Italian celebrity Chef Davide Oldani, Chef-owner of the 1 Michelin-starred D’O in Cornaredo, Italy.
This stylish metropolitan bar is helmed by award-winning mixologist Mike Cheong, who had clinched 8 international and regional awards including Asia’s Grand Champion in the 2015 La Maison Cointreau Cocktail Competition. While you might be intimidated by the ‘bourgeois’ façade and think the drinks would be pricey, the reality is further than the truth – the drinks here are in fact more affordable than you could imagine. And guess what, you could create and name your own bespoke cocktail while enjoying free-flow of complimentary canapes too!
Height is the first thing that arrests me when I first walk in. It’s high ceilings and Corinthian columns, coupled with the alcohol and wine bottles gloriously arrayed on tall glass shelves exudes the kind of modern sophistication that makes you feel taller and more confident than normal. The orangey orbs hanging above provide sufficient illumination for a private, cosy conversation without being too much of an obstruction. And you are free to move and sit anywhere you fancy– at the counter, sofa, or go alfresco.
The famed mixologist is known to create exquisite and visually-arresting (note: Instagram-worthy) cocktails. You can savour Mike’s latest exquisite cocktails like Guilty as Charged ($20) which is well balanced with sweetness, acidity and texture, or Court Adjourned! ($18) with its fruity punch and hints of melon and floral notes. Want a taste of Mike’s creativity? Simply spend $100 on alcoholic beverages and he will concoct a complimentary bespoke cocktail named after you!
Ordering your own bespoke cocktail is simple – just fill up the form with the drink name, favourite spirit(s), preferred flavour(s) and texture(s) and slot it on the bar counter. I called mine ‘Kway Lapis’ and had the spirits section left blank for the creative mixologist to surprise me with the blend. The resulting is solid whisky mixed with hints of pomegranate – hitting the desired sweet and savoury taste.
Pairing up with the cocktails and wines are the complimentary canapes, available every day from 6pm to 8pm – a time when pals and loved ones unwind over a glass of wine or light cocktail before dinner. The selection of canapes includes Duck Gelatin, Vol Au Vent Taleggio Cheese, Green Pea in Glass, Pea Shoot, Quail Eggs, Totmato with Crabmeat Zucca & Gambretto,, Mini Zuccotto, Assorted Jelly and more.
Also available are the sharing platters good for 2 to 4 persons. For the self-professed carnivores, The Meat Platter ($48) is the ideal choice. Featuring mini sliders, chicken wings, lamb chops, pork sausages and fries. The Seafood Platter ($68) features a delightful spread of oysters, grilled squid, tiger prawns, battered halibut and fries. If you want you can add a whole lobster ($28) to the platter – fresh, fleshy with meat and de-shelled.
Currently, DRINK is offering Happy Hour from 4pm to 8pm (1-for-1 selected cocktails, wines, spirits and beer) and Complimentary Chef-curated canapes from 6pm to 8pm. No more excuse not to give this new establishment a try!
DRINK Cocktail Bar
Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall
#01-01. 11 Empress Place, Singapore 179558
Operating Hours:
Mon – Sat: 4pm – 12am
Happy Hour: 4pm – 8pm
Closed on Sundays
Tel: 63853424
Savour a Lipton Moment
I like teaaaaa. I like coffeeeeeee. I like literally ANYTHING with caffeine. Having said that, I like cocktails and cocktails too. Anything, anything interesting.
J and I spent one afternoon with Lipton, George Young and The Cufflink Club in creating cocktails and cocktails with tea.
I was amazed because there were 16 unique cocktails and cocktails recipes with a variety of Lipton tea for us to experiment different ways to experience the tea.
Your tea is no longer just some plain hot boring tea (although hot tea can be nice too, but it doesn’t hurt to explore). The recipes give a new twist to your hot tea by turning them into interesting cold beverages for the hot weather in Singapore.
I don’t know where to glue my eyes to. To James, the two hunks or my equipments!
I think he might just kill me if I stare at George Young for too long.. So…..
Here with our final product! It was refreshing and sweeeeet! I like how you can control the amount of sugar you want. I don’t like tea which is too sweet (other than milk tea).
I met the long time no see Sora Ma there too! What a pleasant surprise!
The 16 cocktail and cocktail recipes feature a variety of Lipton tea from its signature Yellow Label Tea and Pyramid Tea range.
My favorite Lipton tea is still their fruit range. Especially the berries and the Peach Mango! My parents preferred the Peppermint one though. This goes to show how wide their variety is!
We had such a comfy yet fun afternoon that day. Thank you Lipton!!
And thank you William for the photos below! It was good seeing him there too!!
The Lipton Yellow Label range and Lipton Pyramid Tea range are available at all major supermarkets at $5.85 (100 tea bags) and $4.95 (20 tea bags) respectively. Not too expensive isn’t it?
🙂