The Weekly Grub: 17 June

We’ve got a mixed bag of gastronomic goodies for you this week – a swanky new tea collection, a French wine dinner, a juice cleanse featuring delectable new blends, a restaurant to catch those National Day Parade (rehearsal) fireworks, and umami sea urchin! No matter what type of foodie you are, you’re bound to fancy at least one of these.

Singapore Botanic Gardens launches Orchid Tea Collection

The '1965' cocktail with Orchid Collection Tea
Halia’s ‘1965’ cocktail with Orchid Collection Tea

Experience our national flower in a brand new fashion this July! Inspired by the National Orchid Garden, the Singapore Botanic Gardens has collaborated with Halia to introduce the Orchid Tea Collection – orchid infused tea blends with rooibos, black, white and green teas as bases. In celebration of SG50, the Garden Shops and the Halia at Botanic Gardens have launched a special edition menu starring the tea orchid tea blends like the 1965 ($25) cocktail featuring Hendrick’s gin, Red Orchid Tea, lemon syrup, and lime juice, as well as the delectable White Orchid & Lapis ($14), a scoop of refreshing White Orchid Ice Cream beside our favourite layer cake.

Halia’s Orchid Tea collection will be available from 1 July till 31 August 2015.

Domaine De Baron’Arques Wine Dinner

Indulge in Pollen‘s exquisite four-course menu featuring dishes like Chicken Liver Parfait with spiced pear puree and gingerbread and Black Angus Short Rib with miso and salt baked celeriac, with each course artfully paired with a glass of fine Domaine De Baron’Arques. Andrew James Manktelow of Bon Cru Fine Wines will also be sharing more about these wines from the Limoux vineyard in the south of France.

Priced at $140++ per person, the one-night only dinner will take place at Pollen on 25 June, 7pm.

Catch Fireworks at Catalunya

Fireworks at Catalunya Singapore
Fireworks at Catalunya

As we inch closer to August, you’re bound to hear the thunderous pre-NDP fireworks at least once. We reckon its time to catch them in their dazzling glory by dining at Catalunya on Saturdays leading up to National Day (and that day itself, of course)! Blessed with floor-to-ceiling windows, Catalunya is probably one of the best places to be for that – especially if you love digging into their signatures like the Suckling Pig Tapa ($22) or the smoked pepper Lomo Iberico ($45).

Uni Euphoria at Unlisted Collection Restaurants

The menus over at Sorrel, Restaurant Ember, and Bincho are going in the way of sea urchin for the month of June! Sorrel’s serving up a two-bite wonder of fragrant sea urchin orbs draped in tamarind and uni custard, all sitting prettily on a crunchy seaweed cracker. For something more substantial, a decadent broth made from burnt sweet corn, zucchini, and uni accompanies Restaurant Ember’s Steam-Baked Halibut. Uni for dessert – why not? The silky Uni Pudding at Bincho is prepared with sea urchin paste and drizzled in burnt caramel syrup to meld the luxurious flavours together.

Detox with HicJuice

HicJuice's 5:2 Juice Plan
HicJuice’s 5:2 Plan Juices

Inspired by the 5:2 intermittent fast diet, HICJUICE returns will its 5:2 juice plan, which helps the body recharge, cleanse, and boost fat metabolism by limiting calorie intake twice a week on ‘fast days’. The folks over at HICJUICE have already done the math for each bottle of cold-pressed juice, counting the essential calories while ensuring you get sufficient vitamins and minerals so you don’t have to. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the juices being bland or overly verdant – blends such as Flaminglow (watermelon, cucumber, apple, beetroot, lemon, and ginger) and Chunky Monkey (banana, cacao, almond, dates, cinnamon, himalyan salt, and ionized water) sound like just the drinks we’d happily pick up at a regular juice bar.

Avatar photo


When not travelling around Singapore searching for the best iced coffee, Stephanie can commonly be found checking out museums, waiting in long queues for bubble tea, and taking her two dogs out on walks.