KOOZA Ignites The Child In You With A Wondrous Journey Of Nail-Biting Acrobatics And Playful Clowns

Many of us have the impression that a circus is where you see contortionists, jugglers and tight-rope walkers doing stunts and tricks, and clowns goofing around with their silly antics; we think of it as a place for slapstick entertainment.

Last week, I caught Cirque du Soleil Kooza, and I realised just how wrong I was.

The latest addition to the world-famous theatrical producer Cirque du Soleil’s series, KOOZA, is back in Singapore.

Presented in the intimate setting of the iconic blue and yellow Big Top tents that sits beside Marina Bay Sands, KOOZA pays homage to Cirque du Soleil’s roots by combining thrilling acrobatic acts with the traditional art of clowning.

Inspired by the Sanskrit word “Koza”, which means “box”, “chest”, or “treasure”, the 140-minute show follows the journey of “The Innocent”, who opens the portal to a magical world through a mysterious box.

Portrayed by an endearing pyjamas-clad character, “The Innocent” took us through the acts, the whole time reflecting exactly how we felt as an audience – in awe of everything.

We were thoroughly impressed by the stunning stage props, seamless transitions, the dazzling lights that complemented the acts, the adorable antics of the clowns, and the incredible stunts by the performers.

The Hoops Manipulation was one of first to leave an impression.

While most of us can’t even handle one hula hoop, the performer showed off her exceptional balance and impressive dexterity, spinning up to seven hoops at once, and making it look effortless while at it!

It’s no exaggeration to say that she was one with the hoops as she glided around on the aerial hoop, changing poses quickly while still managing to look graceful while doing so.

Another highlight was the Double Highwire, which involved four nimble performers who not only demonstrated their remarkable ability to balance, but who also had to jump over one another, have a fencing match, and even cycle on a thin wire!

The Skeleton Dance takes you to the craziness of the dark side with its choreography and flamboyant feather costumes. Pretty as it was, it served as a well-timed break (to us at least) as our hearts were racing from the intense acts happening back to back.

Our favourite act of the night was undoubtedly the Wheel of Death.

As the name suggests, a small slip up on the wheel can send you plummeting to your death. Be prepared to have your breath taken away and your nerves at an all time high as you watch the brave duo tame the enormous spinning contraption.

Throughout the night, we were kept at the edge of our seats. The crazy stunts we saw had us raving through the intermission and at the end of the show. The live singer and band, as well as goofy antics by the adorable clowns made it that much more entertaining.

True to Cirque du Soleil’s mission to invoke imagination and evoke emotions, we left the show wondering how amazing it would be if we worked or lived in a circus. Whether you’re already a fan of Cirque du Soleil, or have never caught any or their shows, don’t miss KOOZA! You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll enjoy your experience!

DiscoverSG Pro-Tip: Visit the toilet before you head over to the Big Top, and head over early! You don’t want to squeeze with the crowd for both ticket collection and bag check at the entrance.

Cirque du Soleil KOOZA will be performing in Singapore until 20 August 2017. Tickets are still available so get your preferred seats before they’re gone. Ticket prices start from $61.50, with the top tiered VIP Rouge – First Row tickets starting at $318.

Cirque du Soleil Kooza
Address: Under the Big Top Tent, next to Marina Bay Sands
Date: 12 Jul – 27 Aug
Duration: Approx. 2 h 20 min (including 30min interval)

Purchase your tickets to Cirque du Soleil KOOZA here.

Also read, 10 Fresh Events And Food Spots That Have Just Popped Up In The Second Half Of July [16-31 July]!

(Header Image Source: Cirque du Soleil)

Keep Calm And Curry On With This New Japanese Restaurant That Serves Hokkaido WHITE Curry

If the only curries you’ve tried to date only vary in shades of brown, it’s time to spice things up (pun intended).

Aside from soup curry – a kind of soup-curry hybrid – there is also the unique white curry served at Tengawa Hokkaido White Curry!

Tengawa is the newest Japanese enclave to join the line of Japanese restaurants on the second floor of Millenia Walk. Their signature dish is – you guessed it – white curry straight from Hokkaido!

This is the FIRST ever Japanese white curry restaurant in Singapore.

Hokkaido White Curry

Tengawa prides itself in being the first restaurant in Singapore to specialise in Japanese white curry. 

Its creamy stew is made from pure and fresh Hokkaido milk.

Wondering what gives this curry its white texture? It’s actually the absence of tumeric, the spice that gives the curries we know and love its usual yellow-brown colour.

On Tengawa’s menu, you’ll find three set dishes.

Firstly, there’s the bestseller – the Crunchy Chicken Katsu White Curry Set ($15.80).

The breading is light, crisp and fragrant, while the chicken within is moist and tender.

Next, there’s the Premium Ebi Fry White Curry Set ($16.80).

Covered with the same breading as the chicken, opt for this for that light prawn flavour! The prawns are pretty large too, so you don’t have to worry about going hungry!

Lastly, there’s the Juicy Japanese Style Hamburg White Curry Set ($15.80).

Its juicy and tender pork patty is nicely battered and well worth a try too!

Each of these sets come with a homely bowl of miso soup and chawanmushi, so you get even more of a mix of flavours and textures in your meal!

What’s On The Side

With just three dishes on the menu, you can be sure that each plate of creamy, curry goodness is made to perfection!

The chawanmushi is smooth and silky, with a lingering truffle taste.

The fragrant short grain rice is cooked in small batches too, which means you always get them fresh from the cooker.

For extra authenticity, even the garnishes of yellow petals and perilla leaf are brought in from Japan!

A complete meal with a delicious, unique curry, it’s definite worth checking out the next time you’re not sure what to have for lunch!

Tengawa Hokkaido White Curry
Address: Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard, #02-16, Singapore 039596
Opening Hours: Daily, 11.30am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6265 1314
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Also read Japan’s Largest Fugu Restaurant Chain Is Here In Singapore, And It Will ‘Blow’ Your Mind

(Header Image Source: Tengawa)

Salmon Samurai Is Now O-Fish-Ally Open – Create Your Own Salmon Don For Just $9.90

Salmon lovers, you’ll want to read this.

Newly opened Salmon Samurai is set to serve Singaporean’s favourite raw fish in all its delicious forms! There’s maki, sashimi, donburi, udon… the list goes on.

But let’s start from the beginning.

Matches Made In Salmon Heaven

On the menu are pre-determined salmon bowls, with salmon prepared in different ways paired with the base they go best with.

On the lighter side is the Salmon Poke with House Salad ($9.90), served with tart Wafu dressing that accents the umami flavour of the marinade perfectly.

You can swap out the salmon poke and get a Spicy Salmon with House Salad ($9.90), where the salmon is coated with a creamy and slightly spicy sauce for some added heat to the usual sesame salad dressing.

The Salmon Sashimi with Brown Rice ($9.90), blended with refreshing ume-yuzu Furikake, offers a surprising burst of savoury and sour flavours in each spoonful.

If you’re in the mood for something less raw, The Garlic Shoyu Salmon with Udon ($9.90) is perfect.

The braised salmon is tender, yet rich with flavour. Burst open the onsen tamago that comes with it; the yolk coats the dish for an extra boost of flavour.

Did we also mention the yummy add-ons as the cherry on top of your dish? Choose from half an avocado ($1.50), Onsen Egg ($1.50) and Ebiko ($1.00).

Build Your Own Salmon

Alternatively, don’t choose from any of the above options. At Salmon Samurai, you get to build your own salmon, i.e. customise your own bowl.

Just pick from its 5 not-so-basic Donburis–Salmon Sashimi, Salmon Mentaiko, Garlic Shoyu Salmon, Salmon Poke and Spicy Salmon–and pair it with a base of your choice, be it mixed grain rice, salad or udon.

And the best part of all of this? It only costs a very affordable $9.90 to put together the salmon don of your dreams.

Also, don’t miss their Warrior Maki ($9.90), the perfect side to your bowl.

All the salmon is delivered fresh daily and is only sliced upon ordering to guarantee freshness and quality. Sauces are made in-house, with the wasabi freshly grated for good measure.

If salmon dishes are your go-to at Japanese eateries, check out this salmon specialist for a tasty, affordable and completely fuss-free lunch!

Salmon Samurai
Address: Ocean Financial Centre, 10 Collyer Quay, B1-08, Ocean Financial Centre
Contact no.: 6634 8593
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11am – 8pm

Address: Tanjong Pagar, 100 Tras Street, 03-22, 100AM
Contact no.: 65 6543 6823
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11am – 8pm; Sat – Sun: 12pm – 6pm
Website

Also read Forget Sugar Glazed, This Cafe Serves Up Savoury Donuts Like ‘Cheeseburger’ And ‘Bacon’ At Only $2.90 A Pop

(Header Image Source: Salmon Samurai)

The Magical World Of Harry Potter Comes Alive At This Screening With Music By A Live Symphony Orchestra

Brace yourselves, Potterheads.

Here’s your chance to re-watch the first film of the beloved Harry Potter series–but with a live symphony orchestra performing the soundtrack.

A Musical Flight To Hogwarts

For the first time ever, Singapore will experience a concert playing every note from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Relive the magic of the film in high-definition on a 40-foot screen. And just under it, the orchestra performs John Williams’ award-winning scores, to picture.

Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone In Concert
Address: Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Dr, Singapore 038981
Date: Sat, 1 – Sun, 2 Jul 2017, 7pm
Admission: Standard: S$255, S$185, S$105, Esplanade Box: S$255, Premier Box: S$255, Restricted View: S$105
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These Light Art Installations Popping Up At Marina Bay Will Make You See Nature In A Whole New Light

i Light Marina Bay is back for its fifth edition, featuring 20 light-art installations from 9 different countries.

Although this year, there are 5 less installations from i Light 2016’s 25, this year’s festival will feature three festival hubs and a collaboration with international light festivals.

Urchin

Themed ‘Light & Nature’, i Light Marina Bay 2017 explores the intriguing tension between Singapore the concrete jungle and the ever present light and nature in our garden city.

Three New Festival Hubs

This year, the annual event caters more to families with its three festival hubs that feature sustainability workshops, activities for kids, and several F&B outlets. 

Located at The Promontory @ Marina Bay, The Float @ Marina Bay and the Bayfront Event Space, parents can bring their children to each of these three areas for some family-friendly fun!

The Colourful Garden of Light

For the tiny tots, parents of toddlers can head to The Float @ Marina Bay for the Art Zoo, where the children can go crazy on the inflatable playground, set majestically in a colourful zoological garden. With giant inflatable animal sculptures, this is a hands-on experience not to be missed by both Mummy and Baby.

Want to teach your older kids about recycling, urban farming and kinetic energy? The Promontory @ Marina Bay is the place for you! It features the Fantastical World of eco.me, a learning experience made fun by The Rice Company, an arts and cultural non-profit organisation in Singapore.

To satisfy your tummies after a long day of learning and interacting with the installations, the Bayfront Event Space will provide you with a spread of yummy treats. To round up the day, you and your tired kids can also enjoy the live music performances!

Ocean Pavilion

The introduction of the three family-friendly festival hubs is meant to help “reinforce the position of Marina Bay as a sustainable precinct”, says festival Director and Director (Place Management) of URA, Mr Jason Chen.

With the main focus of the i Light Marina Bay festival being environmental stability, Mr Chen adds that the URA is “glad to be able to involve our local community and younger generation to contribute to this meaningful festival.”

Ultra (Light)

International light-art installations

Along with the new festival hubs are light-art installations from 9 countries, including France, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

i Light Marina Bay 2017 will also be collaborating with international light festivals, namely the Bella Skyway Festival in Poland, the Scottsdale Canal Convergence in the United States and the Amsterdam Light Festival in The Netherlands.

In return for three wonderful installations, we will be sending an installation by local artist Lee Yun Qin.

Moonflower

Her installation, ‘Moonflower’, featuring over 800 luminescent flowers made of wire mesh, will be showcased at the Scottsdale Canal Convergence 2017 in the United States.

For a minimum price of $5, these 800 over stalks of flowers will be up for grabs to the public, with all proceeds going to the Garden City Fund, a charity supporting urban biodiversity and landscaping efforts in Singapore.

Northern Lights

In exchange, we in Singapore will be the happy recipients of Northern Lights by Swedish artist Aleksandra Stratimirovic,  HYBYCOZO by American artist Yelena Filipchuk and Canadian artist Serge Beaulieu, and Home by Anna Galas from Poland.

Home

When asked for the inspiration behind the international collaborations this year, Festival Curator and Principal Architect of Zarch Collaboratives, Mr Randy Chan, said that through collaboration, they hope to “bring our local artists to an international level”, as well as to “give a larger footprint to what i Light Marina Bay can do, not just in Singapore itself”.

HYBYCOZO

Noting that the theme of Light & Nature was a perfect fit with “the backdrop of the garden city we live in,” Mr Chan added that “[it] is encouraging to see continued interest and participation from local and international artists and [he] hope[s] the art work will inspire visitors to kick-start their personal sustainable journey.”

Lending a strange beauty to the Marina Bay waterfront promenade this year, the i Light festival is an event you won’t want to miss! Come on down from March 3-26 to check out these incredible, educational and environmentally-conscious art-light installations! You definitely won’t regret bringing your friends and family to check out i Light Marina Bay 2017.

i Light Marina Bay
3-26th March 2017
Marina Bay Waterfront: Free Admission*
Main event 7:30PM to 11:00PM (extended to 12:00mn on Fri & Sat nights)

*Charges apply for some attractions. See i Light Marina Bay website for more details.

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$1 Deals! Emporium Shokuhin Celebrates Its Anniversary With $1 Wagyu, Oysters, & More

As Singapore’s first integrated Japanese food shopping and dining destination, the After all, it is so ginormous that it’ll take you at least 10 minutes to browse through the never-ending variety of Japanese products.

If you haven’t already heard of Emporium Shokuhin, this Japanese market located within Marina Square is a Japanese gourmet grocer that features live seafood in huge ass tanks, a beef dry-aging facility, and eight unique dining concepts.

Talk about having an all-in-one food establishment!

Emporium Shokuhin’s 1st Anniversary $1 Deals

For its first anniversary, Emporium Shokuhin is rolling out a series of $1 deals throughout the month of November.

That’s right, $1.

If you’re still undecided on whether you should dine at Emporium Shokuhin, we present you four awesome $1 deals that’ll help seal the deal.

1. Indulge In Endless Premium Japanese Miyazaki Wagyu At Just $1

Smooth, buttery, and full of flavour – this grilled meat is the dream of all beef lovers.

Served by Gyuu + Yainiku Grill at Emporium Shokuhin, enjoy intensely flavoured dry-aged beef. Image flavourful, tender meat that melts in your mouth.

Originally priced at $98++ per individual, you’ll now get to dine at $1 for every 2^nd Miyazaki Wagyu & Kurobuta Buffet.*

This essentially means you get to dine at $99++ for two – wagyu-bly the best deal in town.

Gyuu + Yainiku Grill
Opening hours: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
*Valid only for adult buffet, 90 mins per dine-in

2. Enjoy Live Oysters At $1 Each

A fan of seafood? The Emporium Shokuhin’s Umi + Vino Seafood Wine Bar is the place to be this November.

With a minimum order of six oysters, you get to enjoy your second live oyster at just $1 each!* Say whaaaat. Looks like Takuni Raw won’t be the only place to get your oyster fix this month.

Umi + Vino Seafood Wine Bar
Opening hours: 11.30am – 10pm
*2^nd live oyster must be of same or lower value as regular priced oyster

3. Tuck Into $1 Hokkaido Wagyu Shabu-Shabu Buffet

The monsoon season is upon us and with all the rainy weather, who can blame us for craving something warm and soupy?

At Tsukeru Shabu-Shabu, you’ll get to savour premium flavoured, marbled wagyu with unlimited servings of seafood and vegetables at $99 for two!*

With its usual price at $98+ for one, this buffet is essentially going at the price of one-for-one.

Tsukeru Shabu-Shabu
Opening hours: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
*Valid only for adult buffet, 90 mins per dine-in

4. Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth with $1 Pastries

Looking for something sweet to end your meal at Emporium Shokuhin with?

Located within Emporium Shokuhin is Kohi-Koji Café & Bakery, a café that offers desserts ranging from fruit tarts to rainbow cakes.

Just for the month of November, enjoy the pastry of the day at just $1!* Simply purchase any beverage in order to enjoy the deal.

Kohi-Koji Café & Bakery
Opening hours: 8.30am – 8.30pm
*Purchase excludes bottled rinks
*Pastry of the day cannot be exchanged for other items

There you have it, four awesome $1 deals to take advantage of till the end of this November. So if you’re looking for a place for your Japanese cuisine fix, you’d definitely know where to go.

Emporium Shokuhin
Address: 6 Raffles Boulevard #01-18 Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Call: 6224 3433
Facebook here
Website Header image: Nuyou

Also read, Feeling Experimental? Try Alchemist Beer Lab’s Super Funky Infused Beers!

Wanna Share? 7 Steakhouses With Portions So Huge, You Need To Call Your Entire Squad!

Who can resist a good steak? Be it Wagyu or Angus, a seared chunk of peppered beef never fails to tickle our taste buds.

But not all of us are built to chow down 300g-portions effortlessly. For the light eaters, sharing a meal with friends is the perfect solution! Here are 7 steakhouses that offer some of the most generous sharing portions you can find in Singapore!

1. Morton’s The Steakhouse

Start off your steakhunt with one of the more atas spots: at Mandarin Oriental Hotel!

Swanky international restaurant Morton’s maintains its name by using the highest quality, US Department of Agriculture-designated ‘prime’ steak.

Image: pinkypiggu.com

We recommend the Double Porterhouse Steak (1.3kg at $250++), which can serve around four to five pax! If you’re still craving for more, get a ribeye (460g at $102) to share between two to three peeps.

Morton’s The Steakhouse
Address: 5 Raffles Avenue, Fourth Storey, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, Singapore 039797
Tel: 6339 3740

2. Badoque Café

Nothing beats a food joint with friendly service!

Not only does Badoque Café have warm and approachable service staff, but they also whip up a really good steak too.

Image: thehalalfoodblog.com

Feast like royalty with their “King & Queen” promotion, which unites 1.2kg worth of ribeye with a 1.3kg king crab for $298. The set also comes with two starters (blue oyster and Greek salad), four soups and four drinks. This serves about five to six pax!

Badoque Café
Address: 246 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574370
Tel: 6552 1646

3. iSTEAKS Diner

This grill-specialist has gathered a sizable fan following since its conception as a humble hawker stall in Serangoon Gardens years ago.

Having evolved into a modern diner, the long queues at both its current branches at MyVillage (Serangoon) and Holland Village are no doubt due to the superb and affordable grilled meats that iSTEAKS whips up.

Share a 1.2kg Australian Wagyu D-Rump amongst four pax at $85 (includes four complementary sides), or a 600g Australian Porterhouse T-bone for $49. They make fantastic burgers too! Yummeh!

iSTEAKS Diner
Address: MyVillage, 1 Maju Ave, Singapore 556679
Tel: 6285 8839

4. Bedrock Bar & Grill

Think chic dark wood, plush leather and dim lights on a hot date night. We like!

Tucked in the middle of Somerset Road, Bedrock Bar & Grill was named Singapore’s top restaurant in 2015 by Wine & Dine.

Image: facebook.com/BedrockBarAndGrill

The must-try F1 Tomahawk Steak serves up to three persons at 1.4kg (market price), while the double cut dry-aged Porterhouse feeds two (1kg at $180).

Complete your meal with a side of bedrock mac n’ cheese. Ooh. La. La.

Bedrock Bar & Grill
Address: 96 Somerset Road, #01-05 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard, Singapore 238163
Tel: 6238 0054

5. Pepper Steakhouse & Bistro

When all else in life fails us, we need a no-frills, value-for-money diner we can fall back on.

Look no further than Pepper Steakhouse & Bistro! The Australian Tomahawk is available here with an 800g option at $98, that comes with crushed green peppercorn and feeds around two pax.

Image: peppersteak.com.sg

Light-eating duos can try the 500g Chateaubriand tenderloin fillet at $74 (each sharing option also comes with thick-cut fries, sautéed spinach and a sauce of your choice). Apart from the meats, Pepper also offers an affordable lunch special that comes with five main-course items (at $15-18 each) and a buffet for salads and soups!

Pepper Steakhouse & Bistro
Address: Great World City, #01-66/67, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, Singapore 237994
Tel: 6887 3229

6. Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse

Italian restaurants don’t just serve pasta and meatballs okay!

Bistecca Tuscan is one of the best fine-dining steakhouses in Singapore, using only organic-fed Australian F1 Wagyu for their steaks (with an impressive marbling score of 6+). Their Florentine-style cooking method produces steaks with juicy cores and charred crusts.

Image: facebook.com/BisteccaTuscanSteakhouse

Dig into a sumptuous 1.1kg Bistecca alla Fiorentina T-bone or Bistecca alla Costata ribeye ($188++ each) with one or two other friends. Don’t forget to take a wefie in the breezy al fresco area.

Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse
Address: 25 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238969
Tel: 6735 6739

7. Cocotte

Nestled on the ground floor of the quaint Wanderlust hotel along Jalan Besar is the snug French restaurant-bar Cocette.

They serve up family-esque rustic French cuisine inspired by homemade meals enjoyed by the entire kampong (or the French-countryside equivalent).

Image: facebook.com/restaurantcocotte

Order a Tasmanian grass-fed Prime rib Côte de Boeuf to share in a group ($18++ per 100g), or the Truffle Wagyu for one (250g at $69++).

Still got space? Top your meal off with a helping of mussels and clams (350-400g at $35).

Cocotte
Address: 2 Dickson Road, Singapore 209494
Tel: 6298 1188

Steaks come from different sources, in various cuts, and the taste varies based on individual cooking styles.

Depending on the number of people you are eating with (and how much you can eat) you should try out different types of steak, as they all have unique experiences to offer.

If the quantitiy is too much for you, it’s okay! You can always share with your friends! Bon appetite!

Also, read We Hopped On The Makan Bus And Didn’t Wanna Get Off – Here’s Why!

Laneway Festival Singapore 2017 – 5 Underrated Acts That Even Hipsters Haven’t Heard Of!

Laneway has just released its lineup for
21 Jan 2017 (Sat), 10am
The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay

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