With Valentine’s Day on a festive weekend, take a breather with your significant other with these recommendations
FOOD
Day of love
Buona Terra
Nestled among the row of colonial buildings along Scotts Road, Buona Terra is a one Michelin-starred contemporary Italian restaurant helmed by Chef Denis Lucchi.
Celebrate the day of love with Buona Terra’s special six-dinner course menu ($268++), available exclusively on Valentine’s Day.
The meal begins with the Crudi Di Mare, a selection of fresh raw fish, seafood and Oscietra caviar. Next, savour the Granchio crab salad and the Funghi E Tarturo, a porcini mushroom flan served with morel, oyster, chanterelle and shaved black truffles.
The Spaghetti features scampi tartare and saffron bisque, while the Wagyu course is fronted by charcoal-grilled beef from Sendai in Japan.
Dinner concludes with the Agrumi, a conical tuile encasing a creamy lemon mousse and olive oil cake, finished with lemon espuma and a citrus salad.
SEE: Going natural
A celebration at Buona Terra is not without its wines, with three exquisite bottles (from $35++ per glass; from $170++ per bottle) handpicked for the occasion.
The Arboreus Paolo Bea is a natural white wine bearing citrus notes and a captivating orange colour, it is a choice wine to pay homage to the most romantic day of the year. Make a toast with a bottle of Krug Champagne Rosé, a blend of white and red grapes that meld into a harmonious, delicate rose hue.
Finally, consider the Kairos Zyme from Romeo and Juliet’s town of Verona, with its complex mix of 15 grape varieties of reds and whites with an elegant palate and sweet aroma of espresso, wild cherry and blackberry jam.
For reservations, call 6733 0209 or visit www.buonaterra.com.sg
DRINK
Raise a glass
With Valentine’s Day falling over the Lunar New Year weekend, it is the perfect time to raise a glass to loved ones, with gift bottles for him and her.
For Her
The Rosé Multi-Vintage ($118) is a beautiful sunset-pink rosé that offers a unique combination of aromas, including British summer fruits and shortbread. Its creamy, round texture and refreshing redcurrant, raspberry and cherry flavours give it an elegant and silky finish.
The first ever Prestige Cuvee rosé made in England, 2010 Nyetimber 1086 Prestige Cuvée Rosé ($450) represents the pinnacle of Nyetimber’s winemaking.
Their 2010 vintage celebrates a pure expression of Pinot Noir red fruit, alongside floral and pastry notes, the result of many years of ageing on the lees. The body and supple texture of this wine pair perfectly with weightier poultry and seafood.
Perfect for a date night at home, Nyetimber is available to purchase online via Analogue Wine Merchant at www.analoguewinemerchant.com
For Him
Created in a single distillery, Asakura Premium is distilled from 100% local Japanese barley and matured in oak sherry casks, which combined with traditional koji fermentation endows a distinctively smooth taste and texture unique to Asakura Premium.
Asakura Premium radiates a deep golden hue. Scents of honey, vanilla and coconut from the oak cask lure the nose. On the palate, notes of honey work with hints of brown sugar and cinnamon with a touch of yuzu zest.
Asakura Premium ($198) is available to purchase in Singapore through Cellarbrations at www.cellarbration.com.sg and is currently on a promotional price of $152.
ARTS
A Voyage of Love and Longing
National Museum of Singapore
Opening at the Goh Seng Choo Gallery on Feb 10, A Voyage of Love and Longing marks the first time the National Museum of Singapore is pairing drawings from the William Farquhar Collection of Natural History with Malay literature, classical texts and pantun (oral poetry) to provide a fresh, lyrical perspective on the natural history collection.
The exhibition draws inspiration from the practice of belayar (voyage) in the Malay Archipelago during the 19th century, and is designed in a way that invites visitors to experience the emotions seafarers felt at different points of a sea voyage, from departure to return.
The drawings on display depict flora and fauna featured in tales of love and longing from the Malay world. The new exhibition also features innovative use of interactive, digital activities and onsite displays for visitors to engage with drawings from the storied collection.
Visitors can even take home a memento of their favourite drawings and poems, or share them with others, by creating a digital postcard at the exhibition. For details, visit www.nhb.gov.sg/nationalmuseum
