Meet sustainable artisans
Hermès
Artisans from the house of Hermès make a pitstop to Singapore to showcase the brand’s unique craftsmanship, innovative spirit and sustainable endeavours, in a special week-long pop-up at Marina Bay Sands.
Set against the spectacular backdrop of Marina Bay, “Hermès in the Making” will be held at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza from now till Oct 9. Laid out in an open-plan manner inspired by a craftsman’s workbench, the scenography of the event features four themes that form the basis for the history and life of the house: preserving and passing on know-how, the quest for quality, durability and innovation, and respect for the environment.
From the brand’s iconic silk scarves and Kelly bag, to the new Hermès H08 watch and Chaîne d’ancre bracelet with diamonds, or Fauves de Nuit white porcelain plate, discover the brand’s exquisite collection of products and how are they created. Here to meet the public, artisans from the different métiers of the house bring with them their tools, their materials and their expertise to explain how these objects are crafted.
The exhibition incorporates a variety of interactive games that appeal to all five senses – including workshops focused on dexterity, musical composition using round knives, and colouring – allowing the public to enjoy an immersive experience. Visitors will also be able to watch the documentary Footsteps across the World produced by filmmaker Frédéric Laffont, which talks about Hermès’ unique connection with sustainable development.
Following this exhibition in Singapore, the travelling event will next be held in Kyoto, (Japan,) in November. 2022. Admission is free. To register for a spot, visit www.hermes.com/sg
Barbie’s house of dreams
Ion Orchard
View over 600 Barbie dolls dressed in luxury designer clothes or stylish homegrown labels in a special exhibition, House of Dreams, at the Ion Art Gallery, now on till Oct 21. Set against the landscape of the Barbie Dreamhouse, the dolls come from a single private collector, local Barbie enthusiast Jian Yang, who owns one of Asia’s largest collections of over 12,000 dolls. He will also be running a workshop (on Oct 8 and 15, at 2pm and 3pm) to take visitors through the art of creating upcycled eco-friendly outfits for the world’s most famous clotheshorse. Admission to House of Dreams is free.
See also: Weekout (Mar 20): Martell, 1-Group, Mandala Club, W Singapore - Sentosa Cove, Bedrock Bar & Grill
DO
French culture defined
Alliance Française de Singapour
After last year’s success of À Table!: The French Art of Fine Dining, Alliance Française de Singapour brings the cultural event back again to celebrate French gastronomy through a large array of events, now on till Nov 5.
The main exhibition, Bon Appétit!: The French Gastronomic Meal showcases the evolution of gastronomy, ingredients, and culinary techniques in France through the ages. From the first men to Paul Bocuse, discover the great recipes and chefs in the history of French cuisine. Organised in partnership with Daum, De Buyer, Gaggenau and Haviland, it also presents a Banquet Room and a Kitchen, equipped and adorned by the best French suppliers.
The transformed gallery will welcome a tremendous number of masterclasses and workshops, from the most prestigious French chefs, sommeliers and experts in Singapore, such as three-Michelin-starred Sébastien Lepinoy of Les Amis, three-Michelin-starred Julien Mercier of Odette, and two-Michelin-starred Emmanuel Stroobant of Saint Pierre.
In addition to the culinary fest, there will also be caviar tastings with Petrossian, chocolate tastings with Valrhona, wine and champagne tastings, and more. You can also engage your senses with a selection of movies and documentaries around French cuisine and chefs.
For dates and details, visit alliancefrancaise.org.sg.
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DRINK
Botanical cocktails
Ginger.Lily
Since Hilton Singapore tooktaking over the now-defunct Mandarin Orchard, Hilton Singapore’s the hotel’s bar and lounge Ginger.Lily has quickly established its menu as a unique botanical offering expressing the rich plantation history of Singapore’s shopping district Orchard Road.
With its signature high-tea menu already earning rave reviews, Ginger.Lily has now unveiled its new cocktail menu titled Bloom, which features native fruits, herbs and ingredients in a creative range of spirit-forward tipples, low-to-no ABV concoctions and visually stunning libations, brought to life by multi-sensorial elements.
Bloom, created by head mixologist Michael Mendoza, continues the botanical trail that Ginger.Lily embarks on beginning with afternoon tea, carrying over into an evening tipple. “Through colourful libations that excite and engage the senses, guests will discover the natural beauty of Orchard Road’s past orchards, and the diverse ingredients unique to Asia,” says Mendoza.
The menu features innovative, botanical-inspired drinks and is presented in three sections — Perennial, a selection of signature cocktails; Changing of the Seasons, drinks for different occasions; and Evergreen, which includes a range of non-alcoholic mixes.
An easy start to the evening, In Full Bloom is Mendoza’s take on the classic gin and tonic (G&T) — without the gin. It features a kaleidoscopic mix of fruit and herbs steeped in Rinquinquin, a white wine-based peach aperitif, and served in a clear Porthole infuser.
Another eye-catching highlight is Seashell, a drink inspired by and evoking Singapore’s history as a fishing port. It delivers refreshing herbal notes from its Hendrick’s Gin-base combined with elderflower tonic, freshly pressed cucumber and lychee lemongrass, and finishes with surprising umami from candied crabs served atop a sheet of steel mesh resembling a fishing net.
Changing of the Seasons comprises the bulk of the new cocktails to look forward to at Ginger.Lily. Inspired by the vibrant bloom of the eponymous ginger lily, Blossom is concocted with St. Germain elderflower liqueur, Brass Lion butterfly pea gin, honey and lemongrass. — e Every element of the cocktail is derived from florals, including a garnish of edible flowers which brings a refreshing pop of colour to the table.
My favourite of the evening, Birds & The Bees, delivers a tropical medley of macerated pineapple, jackfruit and passionfruit, topped with Aberfeldy Whisky and ginger ale, and served with a sugary side of fresh honeycomb that mixes in to add even more complexity to the cocktail.
Non-drinkers can also partake in Ginger.Lily’s celebration of botany with its offerings from the Evergreen range of non-alcoholic mixes. Lemonade Lustre, a fruity spin on lavender lemonade, is prepared with Lyre’s White Cane spirit, lacto-fermented blueberries and topped with mint sprig. American Beauty, reminiscent of a classic ginger ale, is mixed with mellow notes of bourbon from Lyre’s American Malt, alongside equal parts maple kombucha syrup.
While enjoying Ginger.Lily’s new cocktails, guests can also enjoy a selection of bar snacks like Iberico Ham with tomato basil and sourdough bread, Sakura Chicken Skewers with percik sauce, Kurobuta Pork Tacos with tomato, coriander and chilli mole, or more substantial menu offerings including Rock Lobster Risotto, Premium New Zealand Maimoa Lamb Rack and the Wagyu Beef Sando.
Ginger.Lily is located on Level 5 of Hilton Singapore Orchard, 333 Orchard Rd. – Bryan Wu
