THE S EXPLORING SHANGHAI’S JING’AN ⬤ OUTSTANDING NATURE RESERVES ⬤ ON TOUR WITH SLOANE STEPHENS SilverKris JULY 2019 A NEW SEASON FASHION MOVES OUT OF DELHI’S SPACES MARKETS TO SAVOUR BOLD CHEFS AND INTERIOR DESIGNERS RENOVATE MILAN’S DINING SCENE 䉘ꓧ偅楉鿛假搑掾 THE SQ | STOPOVER From Peranakan culture to contemporary dance to the island’s latest green spaces, this month’s guide to Singapore has something to off er every traveller 1 perhaps the annual Ballet DAY Under the Stars, running over two weekends at Fort Canning Park, will be more to your liking. You can spread out a picnic mat and enjoy highlights from shows such as Swan Lake and The Nutcracker performed by the Singapore Dance Theatre. For dinner, head to the border of Chinatown and the CBD for a meal at Kilo Kitchen. The long-beloved, 1 Japanese-leaning restaurant settled into its new location on Duxton Hill late last year but still serves casually elegant dishes such as wasabi tuna tartare and lamb shank. 2 Post-dinner, a short amble will land you at Start your day bright and ION Orchard. Lounge Bar, early at Glyph Supply Co Enjoy hearty an extension of (3), a minimalist new café fare that artisanal outfi t located in 111 Somerset. They borrows from Restaurant JAG. showcase rare beans such as global fl avours, Following the Ethiopian Wush Wush from such as spicy eatery’s theme, partner roasters and serve crabmeat pasta, the “French cocktail treats including fl aky almond kimchi fried rice and bar” focuses on herbs croissants and fruit tarts. truffl e beef burger. from the Savoie region as the INSIDER TIP Now that you’re awake, A short cab ride will then foundation for creations such take a 20-minute stroll bring you to the National as the hyssop-infused rum. along Orchard Road to Museum of Singapore (1). the Peranakan Gallery at The current “Packaging Claymore Connect. Here Matters” exhibition (until you can learn more about the 15 September) provides a history and customs of the nostalgia-fi lled look into the Raymond Khoo Peranakans (individuals of evolution of local packaging Founder of The hybrid Chinese and Malay design in the Lion City and Peranakan Gallery heritage), dating back over how it refl ects the changing “I recommend that tourists 500 years. The experience identity of the nation. visit Peranakan includes walking among This month also welcomes heritage boutique ornate shophouse façades, the annual M1 Contact Rumah Bebe browsing beautiful ceramics contemporary dance festival, along East Coast Road. It’s a true and marvelling at intricate where companies perform blue showcase embroidery and beadwork. bold new works, many of of Peranakan food For lunch, head to them presented at the iconic and clothing.” Marmalade Pantry (2), which durian-inspired Esplanade. If 3 IMAGE: DOUBLEPHOTO STUDIO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM (MUSEUM), ILLUSTRATIONS: PRISCILLA WONG PRISCILLA (MUSEUM), ILLUSTRATIONS: STUDIO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM DOUBLEPHOTO IMAGE: just re-opened its fl agship at you’re more of a traditionalist, SILVERKRIS.COM 29 THE SQ | STOPOVER 1 For a hearty start to your day, the no-frills Casuarina Curry on Upper Thomson Road is a DAY hugely popular local favourite, beloved for its fi sh-head curry, nasi briyani and roti prata. With your tank full, wander over to Lower Peirce Reservoir Park next door, a verdant expanse surrounding one of the city’s main water catchment areas. The leafy boardwalk trail winds through secondary forest alongside the reservoir, and you might spot monitor lizards and macaques. 2 After communing with 2 nature, grab a cab to leafy Dempsey Hill and make a beeline for Siri House (1), a destination that combines retail, art and dining under one roof. That includes Jam, where the seared Chilean sea 3 produced by these truly bass with mushroom dashi diverse plants. and the corn-fed chicken in For dinner, head to Guccio a white-wine cream sauce are Ristorante (2) on Gemmill particularly recommended. Lane – their seasonal fi ne- Afterwards, take a walk to dining cuisine celebrates all Singapore Botanic Gardens. regions of Italy, with selections Experience sections of like tagliatelle with duck rainforest that showcase the ragout, pan-seared Sardinian herbs, ferns, trees and shrubs octopus and beef short ribs found in this part of the world, with celery-root puree. Be plus an orchid garden fi lled in on the latest attraction, sure to leave space for the with 1,000 species. Floral Fantasy (3). It features signature tiramisu dessert. With a name meaning four garden landscapes under From here, take a stroll to ginger in Malay, The Halia the themes of Dance, Float, The Monarchy, a British-style sits within the Ginger Gardens Waltz and Drift, and a 4D ride cocktail bar with grand décor and has alfresco seating where that simulates the fl ight of a to match the regal name – they INSIDER TIP you can enjoy an afternoon dragonfl y. Also worth visiting also off er a large selection of snack of sticky toff ee pudding is the Scentsational Orchids whisky and gin. Check out the and iced cardamom milk tea. display at Cloud Forest that’ll art pieces on display by rising Next, take a taxi over to lead you on a journey through artist Alex Wakefi eld, all Gardens by the Bay and drop the sweet, hypnotic perfumes of which are for sale. Ming Tan Executive Chef of Jam at Siri House HAPPY TRAILS “At Chinatown Hawker Centre, Explore Singapore’s abundant nature with these three great walks you can share a dish of claypot TreeTop Walk Bukit Timah Pulau Ubin rice and chicken The highlight of a long Nature Reserve The paved road from the or a piping hot bowl of noodles hike at MacRitchie Hiking through the trails main village leads to the with fish balls. Reservoir is the 250m here, you might encounter Chek Jawa Wetlands. The Finish with an suspension bridge. It towering dipterocarps route passes the former iced dessert of off ers prime photo (a species of lowland Headman’s House and the sea coconut or opportunities with its rainforest tree), reminders Ubin Fruit Orchard, where ice kachang.” expansive canopy views of World War II history you might spot monkeys of the secondary forest. and thorny rattan trees. swinging in the trees. 30 SILVERKRIS.COM THE SQ | STOPOVER 2 After toiling over a hot stove, reward DAY yourself by heading a 10-minute drive further west to the Clementi area for a cooldown at Pobo Gelato. The cosy gelataria is situated in a neighbourhood community centre and is known for its classic gelato fl avours from chocolate to hazelnut, as well 3 as Asian-inspired creations such as matcha and pandan. Head back to your hotel to freshen up before going for 1 dinner at Gaston (2), a bistro and wine bar whose menu Have a light breakfast in 3 and ambience pay tribute preparation for today’s to the region of Burgundy culinary escapades – this despite its location in an month sees the return of the ornate shophouse on Keong Singapore Food Festival (3) Saik Road. Their signature from 19 to 26 July. During dishes include jambon persillé this annual gastronomic (parsley ham) and truite a extravaganza, with events l’aligoté (steamed trout fi llet peppered across the island, with white-wine sauce). you’ll be able to sample A short walk around the wonderful plates from local curling roads of Tanjong and international chefs at pop- Pagar and you’ll be at Risky up restaurants, chow down Business. Named after the on the creations of up-and- Tom Cruise fi lm, this fun bar’s coming hawkers and savour cocktails bear names inspired a taste of the past at the 50 by the American celebrity’s Cents Fest in Chinatown. oeuvre. – By Sanjay Surana Feed your mind fi rst, INSIDER TIP though, at the recently opened Huggs-Epigram Coff ee Bookshop (1) located in the SAVOUR THIS URA Centre. A collaboration Learn more about the delights of Peranakan cuisine at these restaurants between Huggs Coff ee and the local publishing imprint Violet Oon Singapore at Jewel Epigram, it off ers great bites Singapore’s beloved celebrity chef Ron Choo and coff ee, which you can sip has an outlet at Changi’s buzzing Owner of on while browsing more than new development, with dishes such Huggs Coffee as fi ddlehead ferns in spicy coconut “One of my 400 books about Singapore favourite coffee or by Singaporean authors. sauce; grilled chicken with gula melaka syrup; and sugee cake with a joints is Plain Then head west to Palate Vanilla at ION calamansi drizzle. violetoon.com Orchard. I like Sensations, one of the city’s their lattes and premier cooking schools, for Baba Chews delicious tarts. a fun and educational cooking Located in the former Joo Chiat The other place class. They cover everything Police Station, this pretty eatery is Patisserie G serves local favourites such as ayam located at Millenia from South Asian to European Walk for a coffee cuisines, but why not get some buah keluak (chicken in black nut and lemon tart.” local insight by opting for their gravy) and beef short ribs rendang (fragrant curry). babachews.com.sg class on local heritage dishes. (HUGGS-EPIGRAM COFFEE BOOKSHOP) HUGGS-EPIGRAM COFFEE BOOKSHOP FESTIVAL), STB (SINGAPORE FOOD IMAGES: 32 SILVERKRIS.COM.