Location: Yishun

Long-Lost Malay Dish ‘Nasi Beringin’ Revived At Yishun: It Was Once Served To Royalty In The 1890s

One would typically associate Malay food with Nasi Lemak, Mee Rebus, Nasi Padang etc.

However growing up as a Malay in Singapore, most of us would probably have never heard of this Malay dish called Nasi Beringin.

This Malay dish was once sold in Singapore for a short period of time in the 1950s but gradually disappeared from the local Malay food scene.

Chef Fahmi Rahaman decided to revive this long lost Malay dish that was once served to the Johor Royalties in the late 1890s.

Reviving A Long Lost Dish

Introduced in the late 1890s, Nasi Beringin was first popularised within the compounds of the Johor Royalties. Sultan Sir Ibrahim, then the 2nd Sultan of Johor in the modern era, regularly had this dish in his feasts especially when guests were invited to dine in the palace.

Nasi Beringin, was also called the “Nasi Bering Harum” (Fragrant Beringin Rice), as the scent from the dish never fails to invigorate one’s palate.

Owner of Fifty50 Empire, Fahmi Rahaman who was an ex Assistant Head Chef with Timbre Group recently set up stall at Yishun Park Hawker Centre together with his partner, Khairul Afnan selling Nasi Beringin.

Nasi Beringin is served with traditional favourites such as the Ayam Kurma, Rendang, and Achar which combines all the sweet, sour, spicy and savoury elements into a harmonious unity within a plate.

At Fifty50 Empire, you are given a wide range of meat to choose from – Fried Chicken Wing (Signature), Fried Fish, Beef Rendang, Tiger Prawn, Fried Squid which comes in various portion size (lite, double, triple).

They also provide three different sauces – rendang, kurma and masak merah. The sauces are really unique as they were taught to him by his mother.

If you’re wondering how Nasi Beringin tastes like, its basically a cross between Nasi Lemak and Nasi Briyani. Fahmi uses short grain basmati rice that is cooked with a variety of spices and oil resulting in rice that’s temptingly fragrant. Delicate hints of cardamom, cloves, star anise and fenugreek can be discerned in the rice.

The prawns were definitely the star of the entIre dish. The prawns were fresh and battered to give it a slight crunch. We recommend pairing the Prawns with Masak Merah Sauce.

The chicken wing was as impressive as the prawns. Instead of coating the chicken in a thick batter, the wings are lightly coated with flour and his blend of spices before frying. This makes a lot of difference to the chicken as the batter won’t soak up the oil and this also keeps it crispy.

If you’re looking for a traditional way of eating Nasi Beringin, we highly recommend pairing the Chicken with Kurma Sauce which is made from coriander, cumin, coconut, curry and chili.

The Beef Rendang is another favourite of Fahmi’s. The beef was tender and tore apart easily. I also liked the fact that the rendang was the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

Each plate of Nasi Beringin comes with sambal belacan for the extra kick, achar to cut the acidity of the dish as well as a crispy piece of papadum.

As compared to Malay dishes such as Nasi Lemak and Nasi Padang which can be pretty heavy as a lunch option, the Nasi Beringin did not leave me with a food coma.

If you’re ever in Yishun, and looking for a change from your typical Malay fare, you know where to go for a good meal.

Fifty50 Empire Nasi Beringin
Address: 51 Yishun Avenue 11, Singapore, 768867
Opening Hours: 11am to 9pm daily. Closed for Friday Prayers from 1pm- 2pm
Website

Also Read [REVIEW] We Spent $5.90 On LiHo’s New Salted Egg Bubble Tea So You Don’t Have To

(Header Image Source: Discover SG)

This Is Home Truly – S’porean Millennials On Growing Up In Local Neighbourhoods

We all grew up in Singapore. Right? Most of us. Well, after considering the concentration of Singaporeans to foreigners in the country, SOME of us grew up in Singapore.

But anyway, my point is we all grew up in a neighbourhood and have lots of memories tied to a certain area in Singapore.

Since my colleagues hail from different parts of Singapore, I decided to do a little investigation to find out where they grew up.

Bedok

Melissa

“I grew up in Bedok North, Fengshan. It was the quieter side of Bedok because the people living there were mainly elderly. Time moved slowly in the area, which made it very homely and cosy. This was before the trend of food bloggers hyping food in neighbourhoods.

You know how they have the ice cream uncles who would sell ice cream downstairs? Yeah, mine wasn’t an ice cream uncle. It was the kacang putih man.

I moved to Yew Tee in my early Primary years, but to be honest, Marine Parade was more exciting. Don’t put that in.”

Pasir Ris

Farhanah

“I grew up in Pasir Ris all my life. Though I shifted from Pasir Ris East to Pasir Ris West.

But I remember that the area was like a ghost town, because nothing was really developed yet. And the only mall we had at the time was White Sands Shopping Mall, that’s still around today.

There was also West Plaza and Elias Mall. Every outing with friends was always at Downtown East. This was before Downtown East expanded into e!Avenue today.

My Sports Days were a little more special because ours wasn’t conducted in-school, rather the school put up a huge tent and held Sports Day at Pasir Ris Park.

Also, I think every Pasir Ris kid will remember that we had our very own theme park in our neighbourhood. Yes, Escape Theme Park was ICONIC.

I liked that everyone living in Yishun had each other’s backs. The neighbourhood spirit was palpable. Can feel one. There was this sense of unspoken security in the neighbourhood. So actually no need to build wall because we already feel secure.

Even though Northpoint wasn’t much, it was great because it had Toys ‘R’ Us. For a kid, any place that had a Toys ‘R’ Us was a wonderland.

[caption id="attachment_35288" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Image Credit: SRX Property[/caption]

That’s not all, we were near Tuas, so factory smog and weird smells were common. Not to mention the presence of Tengah Air Base, which ensured that the 2 or 3 months leading up to National Day was filled with daily sonic booms of passing aircrafts.

I’m pretty sure my hearing is damaged thanks to the RSAF. Patriotism, I guess.

But to be honest, I grew to love Jurong West.

I love that the neighbourhood is quiet, even in the day. I love that we don’t have a huge amount of traffic passing through. I love that I don’t have to deal with crowd when I take the MRT, unlike Jurong East.

I guess there are benefits to living in the corner of Singapore after all.

Where did you grow up in Singapore?

Also read Bishan’s Carnival This Weekend Offers Food, FREE Workshops, And Black Panther Screening

(Header Image Source: Melissa Chan)

This Instagram Account Proves Why Yishun Has Always, And Will Always, Be Great

Tucked away in the northern region of Singapore, Yishun makes news headlines regularly. From drug ring busts and cat murders to civilians trying to attack policemen with stun guns, Yishun has developed a reputation for bad news.

“Build a wall around Yishun”, they said.

What’s up with Yishun? Could it be something in the air or perhaps the water? Is the temperature different in Yishun?

But it turns out, after multiple visits to Yishun, that the problem with Yishun is simple. There’s no problem. Nothing. Zero. Zilch.

Recently, I came across an Instagram (@makeyishungreatagain2018) that aims to make Yishun the greatest neighbourhood in Singapore. And here’s why I believe that Yishun is a pretty damn cool neighbourhood.

Contrary to popular belief, Yishun is a great place to raise your kids. Don’t believe? Come, I show you.

1. Yishun Has President Halimah, Your Neighbourhood Got What?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjtW9HPnsWj/?taken-by=makeyishungreatagain2018

Remember when everyone went crazy about President Halimah living in a flat in Yishun. After being declared President on September 13, President Halimah continued to live in her flat, making her Singapore’s first head of state to live in public housing while in office.

In her Facebook post, she mentioned: “Therefore, as much as I would like to continue living in my current home in Yishun, I have accepted MHA’s recommendation and will make arrangements to move to a new place soon.”

She’s so chill and down to earth. She’s the kind of President we all need!

Who knows, living in Yishun might inspire your kid to be the next President of Singapore.

2. Cheap, Good Food For The Soul

Living in Singapore may be expensive but food doesn’t have to be.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bj3rlNPAdRU/?taken-by=makeyishungreatagain2018

You’ll be surprised but Yishun Hawker Centre is home to some pretty darn good and cheap food.

Ah Tan Wings (Yishun Park Hawker Centre)

They’ve managed to perfect Har Cheong Gai that is crispy yet juicy, perfectly cooked, smells like heaven and tastes like an umami bomb.

For just $1.70, you can get a bomb Har Cheong Gai that will keep you coming back for more. Their wings are so good that they sell out quite quickly, so if you’re feeling brave and want to venture into Yishun, don’t waste the trip and stop by Ah Tan’s because where else can you get Har Cheong Gai to die for?

You can read more about Ah Tan Wings here!

$1 Carnival – Reunion @ Yishun Park Hawker Centre

For the longest time, Singaporeans have complained about the increasing prices of food and housing.

But for a day in the month of June, Yishun Park Hawker Centre is taking things back to the old days, when food was still cheap, and a crisp $10 note made you seem like a rich man.

For ONE DAY ONLY, 26 stallholders in Yishun Park Hawker Centre will be showcasing food from its traditional and young hawkers and you get to try the signature dishes from the participating stalls, for just ONE DOLLAR.

You can find out more about the $1 Carnival here.

Raising your kids in Yishun is a great idea if they eat WAY too much. Beats paying $7 for a McDonald’s meal any day.

3. Coolest Playground That’ll Put Other Playgrounds To Shame

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkJZNzZAra8/?taken-by=makeyishungreatagain2018

Your neighbourhood got playground like this? Don’t have right?

Created by US-based light sculptor, Mini Pool consists of 16 pads on the ground that light up and change colour when they are stepped on, according to a Straits Times report.

Complementing the playground’s whimsical theme are three crooked houses that seem to have been plucked straight out of a Dr Seuss book. There is also a kinetic hammock trellis – a swing set with nine seats installed at different heights.

Your kid will thank you for this. This playground is definitely not #basic.

Yishun River Green Playground
Where: Block 330 Yishun Ring Road

4. Home To The Largest Mall in the Northern Part of Singapore

Can we please talk about Northpoint City’s glo-up?

If you’re both busy working parents, figuring out where to bring your kids to over the weekends can be quite a headache.

Well, you won’t have that problem living in Yishun. Northpoint City recently opened their new South Wing and the options are endless.

There are over 100 food and dining concepts so if you have a kid who is a picky eater, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. If you need a quick retail therapy, there’s even Uniqlo in Northpoint City now.

Fun fact, Northpoint City has all major bubble tea brands in one mall. Gong Cha, Liho, Koi, Share Tea, Hi Tea, Teafolia, Yuan Cha etc. Your neighbourhood can beat anot?

Who needs Vivocity when you have Northpoint?

Good things do come to Yishun.

5. HDB Prices Are Considerably Cheaper Than Mature Estates

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkETq4rAQ80/?taken-by=makeyishungreatagain2018

If you work in the northern region of Singapore, or would prefer your abode to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city, then this location might make sense. With prices being correspondingly lower, a unit here could offer great value in the long-term.

If cost of living in Singapore is a major concern of yours, you can consider buying a house in Yishun to start a family.

Not only that, you don’t have to leave Yishun to access markets, schools, parks and even Khoo Teck Phuat Hospital. Everything you need is in one location.

There are also buses to almost everywhere from Yishun. Which makes travelling from place to place a whole lot more convenient.

6. Bowling, Prawning, Paintball, What Else You Want?

There’s no such thing as “nothing to do” in Yishun.

Welcome to the world of ORTO, where fun never sleeps.

Also Read Bishan’s Carnival This Weekend Offers Food, FREE Workshops, And Black Panther Screening

(Header Image Source: @makeyishungreatagain2018 )

Try 26 Hawker Dishes For $1 Each At This Carnival In Yishun Park Hawker Centre

For the longest time, Singaporeans have complained about the increasing prices of food and housing.

But for a day in the month of June, Yishun Park Hawker Centre is taking things back to the old days, when food was still cheap, and a crisp $10 note made you seem like a rich man.

What I’m saying is, on 23 June 2018, Yishun Park Hawker Centre will be having a $1 Carnival – Reunion @ YPHC to commemorate and celebrate both traditional and new hawker food.

Old And New Hawker Fare

For ONE DAY ONLY, 26 stallholders in Yishun Park Hawker Centre will be showcasing food from its traditional and young hawkers and you get to try the signature dishes from the participating stalls, for just ONE DOLLAR.

Happening from 11am to 5pm on 23 June 2018, you get to dig into signature hawker dishes such as thosai, prata with curry and prawn noodles. Look out for JJ’s Prawn Noodles, which are known for their rich and complex broth.

Other dishes to look out for include the handmade fishballs from Fishball Story and the smooth Chicken Porridge from Li Fang Congee.

While the traditional hawkers have stood the test of time and are exceptional at what they serve, the new hawkers (we call them hawkerpreneurs) hold their own too, serving up some pretty impressive dishes.

Once again, Ah Tan Wings leads the charge with his Har Cheong Gai (Prawn Paste Chicken).

Ah Lock Tofu serves up fluffy taupok skewers and Nasi Lemak Taliwang brings their addictive spicy Sino-Indo Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang to the table.

Haven’t seen anything you like yet? How about the Lala White Beehoon from XLX Modern Tze Char that boasts some intense umami flavours?

Seafood Pirates serves up a mean Prawn Omelette Rice and Midas Every Touch Is Gold spoils the market with a Midas Signature which includes baked prata, curry and roasted chicken.

Now that’s really making the most out of a dollar.

Flea Market

Of course, no carnival is complete without a flea market and carnival games!

There will also be a flea market for the adults, carnival games stations for the kids and the young at heart, a colouring contest, as well as an instant photobooth to capture the moment!

While the $1 Carnival runs from 11am to 5pm, the flea market will close later at 8pm.

Return Your Trays And Stand To Win Store Credits

Yishun Park Hawker Centre encourages diners to return their own tray after eating and every tray returned is a chance to win in the Tray Return Lucky Draw.

There will be a total of $1000 worth of store credits to be won in the Tray Return Lucky Draw.

For those of you living in Sembawang and Khatib, there will be complimentary shuttle bus services available to take you to Yishun Park Hawker Centre.

From 10.45am to 3pm, there will be pick-ups and drop-offs at Sembawang, Khatib and Yishun MRT station.

Are you ready for a sensational Saturday feast for $1?

Don’t forget to bring your friends and family so you get to try as many dishes as possible!

$1 Carnival – Reunion @ YPHC
Venue: Yishun Park Hawker Centre, 51 Yishun Avenue 11, Singapore 768867
Date: 23 Jun 2018
Time: 11am – 5pm (flea market closes at 8pm)
Website

Also read The Kevin Hart Irresponsible Tour Makes Its Final Stop In S’pore This Dec

(Header Image Source: Yishun Park Hawker Centre)

There’s A Sushi Joint At Yishun Town Square With Prices From $1/Plate

Growing up, my first introduction to the world of Japanese cuisine was at the first Genki Sushi outlet at FORUM The Shopping Mall. It was quite an experience, because the food comes (and goes) on a conveyor belt right next to your table. Don’t even get me started on the tabletop hot water dispenser.

Genki Sushi might have been one of the first sushi restaurants to bring the conveyor belt concept to Singapore, but it has since been adopted by many other sushi restaurants to the point where it has almost become a sushi-specific concept.

Now, this new sushi restaurant in Yishun Town Square combines 2 of the sushi dining concepts we’ve seen before, into 1 sushi restaurant.

Introducing One Sushi.

Home-grown Sushi Restaurant

Their two-tiered conveyor belt features a regular sushi conveyor belt on the bottom, while the top tier is a “track” for “sushi cars” to deliver the sushi that you order à la carte via the iPad.

You know the way your food comes to you at Genki Sushi? In the trains? One Sushi uses “cars” instead. It’s quite fun to see your food zoom towards you.

That’s not all, the sushi conveyor belt allows diners to choose from 50 different yellow-plated sushi at just $1.50 per plate! (That’s Sushi Express’ price OMG)

If you love Ikura (salmon roe), One Sushi’s Ikura Gunkan is permanently available at $1. Another value-for-money item on the menu is the Uni Sushi at just $1.50. $1.50 for Uni (Sea Urchin) is unheard of.

Planning to order from their à la carte menu? Go for the Hamachi Kama ($13.80). One Sushi uses fresh Hamachi Kama from Japan. Hamachi Kama is the collar of Yellowtail fish. Each fish has 2 and it is usually the most fatty part of the fish.

Don’t like fish? (Why are you at a SUSHI restaurant?) Try the Hotate Mentai ($4.80) which sees scallops served in-shell, topped with a generous dollop of mentaiko that’s been blowtorched for that charred savoury finish.

One Sushi looks promising for a new and upcoming sushi restaurant. For the aunties and mothers out there, the green tea and wet tissue are free of charge. Just saying.

Lastly, every month, they will select and feature 1 sushi in the $1 category so be sure to check with the staff!

So….sushi for dinner anyone?

One Sushi
Address: Northpoint City Town Square, Yishun New Town, #01-04, Singapore 760925
Opening Hours: Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6481 9331
Website

Also read Catch The LoL Grand Finals And 2NE1’s CL, The Sam Willows At ASEAN’s 1st E-Sports & Music Festival

(Header Image Source: One Sushi)

Ah Tan Proves He’s S’pore’s Lord Of The Wings – Amazing ‘Har Cheong Gai’ For $1.70

First of all, let me start by saying this – I don’t care for chicken wings.

Chicken wings seem to evolve into everyone’s favourite party food eventually and I never caught on. I’m the one who goes for fried rice at buffets and the hot dogs at barbecues while people tackle the seafood and chicken wings. After all, if people like me don’t exist, then the fried rice cook for what?

BUT, I will make an exception for prawn paste chicken, better known as Har Cheong Gai, to Singaporeans who know their tze char.

That, is what Ah Tan Wings has managed to perfect.

Ah Tan Wings The Chicken Game

Ah Tan Wings has garnered lots of attention previously, with their pop-ups at the Kranji Countryside Farmer’s Market and Civic District Festival, to name a few.

After all, if you were in a market and you smell Har Cheong Gai being cooked, you wouldn’t miss it. Har Cheong Gai is potentially one of the most fragrant fried food we have.

So because Ah Tan Wings is in high demand, the owner decided to open a stall in Yishun Hawker Centre. You can read the whole story on how he started the business here. We talk about food one. Lai, we move on to the chicken.

Now, you already know that Ah Tan Wings specialises in Har Cheong Gai and you can’t go wrong with it. When you’re there, order their Atas Wing Meal ($5.20), which comes with 2 chicken wings and 2 drumsticks, buttered rice (OMG) and a sunny side-up.

You already know I don’t like chicken wings but this one, SOLID AH. But then I hear y’all aunties behind complaining about portion. “$5 for 4 pieces only? Expensive leh. Bo hua (not worth it). ”

Auntie, you wait. That’s not all Ah Tan Wings serves. If you want more bang for your buck, then order the Atas Cutlet Meal ($6.50).

For $6.50, you get a decent sized fillet of prawn paste chicken thigh that has more flavour with every bite than their chicken wings, as well as the buttered rice and a sunny side-up.

To be honest, this one more wu hua (worth it).

If you’re looking for a smaller portion, Ah Tan also have. $3 will get you 1 portion of chicken wing and drumstick, buttered rice, and a sunny side-up.

Or if you’re with friends, then order the chicken wings a la carte at just $1.70 per piece!

Ah Tan Wings sells out quite quickly, so if you’re feeling brave and want to venture into Yishun, don’t waste the trip and stop by Ah Tan’s because where else can you get Har Cheong Gai to die for?

Ah Tan Wings
Address: 51 Yishun Avenue 11, #01-40 Yishun Park Hawker Centre, Singapore 768867
Opening Hours: Tue – Sun: 11am – 3pm, 4pm – 9pm, Mon: Closed
Website

Also read Don Don Donki’s Upcoming 2nd Outlet In Tanjong Pagar Sells Food That CBD Workers Can Easily ‘Dabao’

(Header Image Source: Vulcan Post)

This S’pore-Made Lightsaber Will Fulfil Every Geek’s Fantasy Of Being A Jedi

For true-blue Jedis, owning a lightsaber is a mark of training and honour.

I’ve always dreamt of being a Jedi Knight but there’s just one problem – you can’t get legit lightsabers in Singapore.

You only have the option of the plastic lightsabers from Toys R Us or you end up buying a lightsaber from the US which can get pretty expensive.

However, this dream of mine is about to become a reality thanks to Singapore company SaberMach, that specialises in high quality combat illuminated sabers.

The Force Is Strong With This One

SaberMach is a Singapore brand focused on building high quality sabers for Star Wars enthusiasts.

Started by two budget-conscious Singaporean Star Wars fan who could not afford lightsabers from the United States when they were in their teens, they joined forces to create the most badass sabers we’ve seen to date.

Unlike the licensed replicas found in toyshops, SaberMach lightsabers are manufactured in-house and made for one purpose – combat duelling.

This means that you can pretty much fight with these lightsabers but your body parts won’t get sliced off!

The Sabers

For the lightsaber fanatics, the Master Series sabers ($759) is the ultimate choice for the complete saber experience.

There are 7 hilts available from the Master series. I gotta say, they look pretty badass to me.

The Master Series saber provides up to 16 different LED colours in a single saber hilt and a flash-on-clash effect which is a flash of any color of light when your saber impacts on your opponent’s saber.

Best part, if you’re a collector, your saber comes with an acrylic casing for you to display your amazing hilts.

If you’re looking for a saber that’s more suited for combat duelling, SaberMach came up with a Sportz MACH model ($549) which is meticulously handcrafted for faultless precision handling.

Designed with serious combat in mind, its lightweight and sleek chassis is perfect for speed and accuracy.

Fans can also choose to personalise their sabers by engraving their names or logos onto it.

If you’re looking for a one of a kind lightsaber. SaberMach has expanded their services and is now taking custom 1 of a kind saber commissions.

The custom sabers will come with the quality of their standard SaberMach products together with the electronic chassis system found in their premium sabers.

Just as a Jedi knight builds his or her own lightsaber by hand, every single SaberMach saber is hand-crafted from an anodized aluminum tube at Sabermach’s factory in Singapore.

Owning a lightsaber has always been every geek’s lifelong dream and I can’t wait to get my hands on their creations!

SaberMach
Address: 9 Yishun Industrial Street 1 #03-86, North Spring Bizhub, 768163
Contact No.: 9859 2016
Website

Also Read Take First, Try Later – Stuff Your Bags To Your Heart’s Content At Carousell’s Clothes Buffet

(Header Image Source: SaberMach Facebook)

11 Artsy Events And Tantalising Eats For An Exciting End To January

It’s finally 2018!

We’re back in January, the “Monday” of the year. We’re all feeling sian but no worries, we’ve got some artsy AF events and great food for you to make it through the rest of this huge “Monday”.

Let DiscoverSG be your lobang. Let’s go!

Play & Discover

1. Art From The Streets

From 13 January 2018 to 3 June 2018, the world’s most iconic street artists will be showcasing their most provocative works for the first time in Singapore.

Titled Art from the Streets, this ground-breaking exhibition will trace the 40 years of street art, from its beginnings to the urban art form that it is today.

The exhibition will feature a series of live paintings that are created on-site by some of the most iconic street artists as well as new and upcoming names such as Spain’s Felipe Pantone, Singapore’s Speak Cryptic and Yok & Sheryo.

The new artworks are specially created for the exhibition, to showcase the diversity of the street art movement and how it is relevant to society in present times.

That’s not all, there will also be large-scale mural paintings, videos, prints, installations, archival material, drawings, and sketches from 50 of the biggest names in street art.

The ArtScience Museum will also be shining a spotlight on artworks from upcoming SouthEast Asian street artists.

Art from the Streets
Venue: ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore, 018974
Date: 13 Jan 2018 – 3 Jun 2018
Image Credit: World Snack Fair Facebook[/caption]

Held at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, the World Snack Fair gathers hundred over brands of snacks from all over the world.

Expect to find snacks from Japan, Korea, Europe, Australia, and SouthEast Asia. There’ll also be a Character cafe and a Cosplay Competition!

This is a fair for the serious snackers and anime fans.

World Snack Fair
Venue: Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre
Date: 19 – 21 Jan 2018
Website

3. Light To Night Festival 2018

The Light To Night Festival is back from 19 to 28 January 2018, once again painting the Civic District in a shower of stunningly vibrant light displays, installations, and creative works of art.

As one of the marquee events of Singapore Art Week, the festival is set to expand from an anniversary celebration by the National Gallery Singapore, to a district-wide arts festival, in collaboration with The Art House, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, Asian Civilisations Museum, and The Esplanade.

The theme for this year is “Colour Sensations”. Visitors will be taken on a captivating multi-sensory experience, from the stunning kaleidoscope of public art and installations from local artists to interactive light projections and immersive colourscapes.

There will also be a Festival Food Street at the Padang. So gather your friends and family and head down to the Light To Night festival for a night of artsy fun!

Light To Night Festival 2018
Venue: Civic District and Marina Bay (National Gallery Singapore, Padang, The Arts House, Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, Asian Civilisations Museum, Empress Lawn, Esplanade Park, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay)
Date: 19 – 28 Jan 2018
Website

4. Clean Bandit Live In Singapore

Grammy Award-winning musical sensation Clean Bandit will be here in Singapore on 22 Jan 2018, performing at the Suntec City Convention & Exhibition Centre Halls 601 – 604.

5. Munah & Hirzi Live: Curtain Call

For one night only, Munah Bagharib and Hirzi Zulkiflie, better known as MunahHirziOfficial, will be celebrating the end of an era, as they hold the final curtain call for their Youtube channel.

[caption id="attachment_32809" align="aligncenter" width="1001"] Image Credit: Munah & Hirzi Live: Curtain Call[/caption]

Sadly, they will be closing their Youtube channel after a decade of hilarious antics, parodies and a whole roster of familiar and crazy characters.

Don’t miss this final opportunity to catch them live at the Capitol Theatre on 24 January 2018.

Ticket prices go from $45 to $105 and can be purchased here.

Hurry and grab your tickets before they’re sold out!

Munah & Hirzi Live: Curtain Call
Venue: Capitol Theatre, 17 Stamford Road, Singapore, 178907
Date: 24 Jan 2018
Price: $45 – $105
Website

6. St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2018

The annual St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival is back!

This year’s event features a smashing lineup including Aldous Harding, Amy Shark, Anderson, Paak & The Free Nationals, Billie Eilish, Bonobo, Father John Misty, Loyle Carner, Mac DeMarco, Moses Sumney, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Slowdive, Sylvan Esso, The Internet, The War On Drugs, and Wolf Alice.

Happening on 27 January 2018, the festival promises to be a total sensory experience, bringing the best live acts – both new and established – onto the Laneway stage for music fans.

St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival
Venue: The Meadow, Gardens By The Bay
Date: 27 January 2018
Tickets: Standard Tickets: $158 | Door Sales: $200. Get your tickets  Image Credit: here.

Eat

8. Pizza Maru

Can’t decide between pizza and Korean food for dinner? How about both?

Pizza Maru is the latest franchise to hit our shores, serving up Chicago-style deep dish pizzas with a Korean twist. That’s right, we’re talking about deep dish pizzas with Korean flavours.

Known for their patented pizza dough made with green tea, chlorella and 12 kinds of cereals, this hefty pizza dough is made to support a multitude of ingredients in their deep dish pizzas.

One of the pizzas to look out for is the Real BBQ Chicago ($26.80) which comes stuffed with double mozzarella cheese, cream cheese mousse, string cheese, roasted onion, tomatoes, potatoes, chicken chunks, mushrooms, BBQ sauce, honey, almonds and icing sugar.

Sounds like a weird combination but it makes sense given the Korean influence on the dish.

Another must-try is the Mango Ocean ($19.80/regular, $23.80/large) which is a seafood pizza with shrimps, squid, scallops, mushrooms, broccoli, onions, black olives, mango, pilaf sauce, mozzarella sauce, spicy buldak sauce, and sweet potato-stuffed crust.

A great side dish to order is the SPAM Tower ($12.80). Layers of chicken SPAM, bell peppers, fried kimchi, cabbage, mushrooms, onions, seaweed, and a fried egg sitting on a bed of rice and garnished with potato crisps, parmesan cheese and sriracha sauce.

If you’re a fan of Korean food, or deep dish pizza, this is a place you have to check out.

Pizza Maru
Address: 930 Yishun Avenue 2, #B1-192/193 Northpoint City South Wing, Singapore 769098
Opening Hours: Daily: 11am – 10.30pm
Contact no.: 6280 6196
Website

9. Mak Hong Kee HK Kitchen

Newly opened along Keong Saik Road is Mak Hong Kee HK Kitchen, serving up classic Hong Kong fare that you normally find in a high end Chinese restaurant, albeit at a more reasonable price.

A must-try is their roasted meats. Mak Hong Kee HK Kitchen serves up roast pork which is slightly fattier with a thin crisp layer of crackling that is oh-so-satisfying.

Another roast meat to look out for is the BBQ Pork with Honey sauce, better known as Char Siew. The char siew served here is tender and not as sweet.

If you need your carbs, then we suggest getting the Beef Hor Fun ($10). The hor fun (rice noodles) used in the dish is narrower, and is stir fried with bell peppers and tender beef slices in a rich black bean sauce. This is a dish that you must order.

Mak Hong Kee HK Kitchen also has other selections of rice, noodle and congee dishes if you’re looking for other options.

If you’re looking for a place for a fuss-free family dinner, this is it.

Mak Hong Kee HK Kitchen
Address: 2/4 Keong Siak Road, Singapore, 089110
Opening Hours: Sun – Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Contact no.: 6909 0414

10. SayChiizu Singapore

Singapore has seen its fair share of cheese-flavoured food. Four cheese pizzas, grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese sundaes, cheesecakes, cheese cookies, and even cheese foam bubble teas.

This time round, SayChiizu, a popular Hokkaido Grilled Cheese Toast brand from Bangkok is opening its first store in Singapore at VivoCity on 15 January 2018.

SayChiizu will be serving up their signature grilled cheese toasts in several flavours such as Charcoal, Chocolate, Strawberry Cheese and Matcha Cheese.

The cheese is made from a secret blend of 3 different cheeses, which results in an incredibly stretchy consistency when melted.

That’s not all, the menu will also include cheese teas and cheese fries.

We cannot wait for SayChiizu to open!

SayChiizu Singapore
Address: VivoCity, #B2-K16, 1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore, 098585
Website

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11. MAAD, Market Of Artists And Designers

Since 2006, the Red Dot Design Museum has been organising MAAD, Market Of Artists And Designers as a platform to promote local artists and designers, for them to showcase and sell their original works.

(Header Image Source: National Gallery Singapore)