EAT
Fancy some bread sushi?
Small’s
Artichoke chef Bjorn Shen has been busy creating in his R&D kitchen Small’s, where he conjures hare-brained concoctions for diners looking for something uniquely unusual to eat. First it was a pizza omakase with a focus on real good dough, and now he has turned his attention to bread sushi.
Imagine a sushi bar where all the sushis you eat features raw, cooked or cured seafood on bread instead of rice. As a natural evolution of the inaugural pizza menu, this 2.0 version will leverage Shen’s dough-making expertise. The breads that sit underneath those pieces of fish will be made from high hydration, long-aged doughs and prepared using different cooking methods — high-temperature to low-temperature baking, binchotan grilling, deep frying and steaming. Each type of seafood will be paired with a style of bread that best compliments.
Taking inspiration from Danish smørrebrød, Basque pintxos and Italian crostini, one can expect more than just fish on bread. Condiments and other preparations join the party to give diners that riot of flavours they expect from a meal at Small’s. One of the dishes on the opening menu will be engawa (flounder fin) lightly seared, with a stir-fried green papaya salad sitting atop a freshly charcoal grilled nugget of bread, and topped with a generous shaving of frozen ankimo (monkfish liver).
The ‘doughmakase’ experience will be a tasting menu featuring three snacks, eight to 10 pieces of sushi bread, one hotpot and two sweets. Do note that the menu will adjust according to the seasonality and availability of ingredients.
Small’s is at #02-02 115 King George’s Avenue. Visit bjornshen.com/smalls for details.
See also: A galaxy-inspired X’mas party (and more) before Peace Centre closes its doors for good
SHOP
A bear-y lunar new year
Raffles City
To usher in the year of the Tiger, Raffles City will be turning our attention away from the wily feline (finally!) to the artfully adorable Be@rbrick bear, which will stand guard at towering heights outside the mall for plenty of picture-taking. Inside the building, the bears will front a pop-up art exhibition at Garden Court Level 1 organised in collaboration with resident gallery tenant Ode To Art. Entitled Journey of Joy, the specially-curated exhibition showcases 22 pieces of artwork, with prices ranging from $4,500 to $35,000, from four renowned international artists, namely Coplu from Turkey, Byun, Dae-Yong from Korea, Takashi Murakami from Japan and Beijing-born Wu Qiong. If you love all things Be@rbrick, the mall is giving out exclusive merchandise — such as Be@rbrick ang pows and tote bags — free with purchases from $100.
See also: Weekout (Mar 27): Man Fu Yuan, Noka by Tippling Club, Kampong Gelam, Singapore Zoo
DRINK
Enjoy Brad Pitt’s champagne
KOKS
The ‘World’s Most Remote Restaurant’ KOKS, from the Faroe Islands, will be presenting a special Valentine’s Day menu on Feb 12 and 14 at its pop-up residency at Grand Hyatt Singapore. The highlight of the event, aside from the exquisite tasting menus prepared by executive chef Poul Andrias Ziska of two-Michelin KOKS, is that you will get to sip on Fleur du Miraval ER2 rose champagne created by Brad Pitt in partnership with the renowned Perrin and Peters families. Each sip of this bubbly blooms with the extraordinary intertwining of dried roses, dehydrated peonies and a medley of fresh white flowers like hawthorn and honeysuckle in one’s mouth.
Lunch is priced at $398++ per person and comes with premium wine pairing and a hand bouquet of roses; dinner is priced at $798++ per person and premium wine pairing, both include a glass of Fleur du Miraval ER2 champagne. Each couple at dinner will also receive a bottle of Fleur du Miraval ER2 worth $538, complete with a special note from Brad Pitt and the Fleur du Miraval winemaker.
To book a spot, visit www.chefresidence.com
SEE
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Support local art
White Jacket
White Jacket, a multiple-award-winning design studio by interior designer Patricia Ho Douven, is no ordinary design firm that solely refurbishes homes and commercial spaces. It is also an outfit that supports the local arts scene by way of holding exhibitions within its posh new office space at Upper Circular Road.
Its artistic arm called Wonder by White Jacket was launched in 2019 to represent homegrown talent as well as curate art exhibitions. Starting this month till end-March, the studio will be holding two concurrent exhibitions within its space, showcasing the works of some of Singapore’s most prominent artists and designers.
The first, WJ x NAFA Showcase is a partnership between White Jacket and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) to display 10 personalised wooden stools based on the theme, Lepak, which in Malay means “to relax and do nothing”. Each one will be auctioned, with sale proceeds going towards the funding of NAFA scholarships and bursaries.
The other showcase called A Decade celebrates White Jacket’s 10th anniversary through the commissioned work of nine young artists. Each unique piece is based on the concept of celebration while encompassing local elements and history. Both exhibitions are open to the public and by appointment only at whitejacket.com/events
Moving forward, Wonder by White Jacket will also be launching an artist-in-residency programme where promising local artists — from designers to illustrators and even fashion designers — will get a chance to hone and promote their work in a three-month attachment.
DO
Put it in writing
La Salle
If you have a life story to tell but do not know how to get started, then sign up for La Salle’s writing class called Memoir: Writing your Story, Real and Imagined, as part of the school’s initiative to conduct short courses for adults to expand their skill sets.
Conducted every Saturday from Feb 19 to Apr 9 by writer, editor and historian Michelle Elvy from New Zealand, the course will consist of discussions and exercises with a focus around building voice and creating believable story arcs based on material drawn from memory. You will be introduced to a variety of memoir writing — from straight narrator to graphic novel to diary-like writing to creative non-fiction small story writing.
The course aims to examine what makes a particular memoir feel ‘real’, and why some resonate so deeply with us. Other discussion topics include establishing your own voice, building the world for your memories and memoir writing, the fallibility of memory, the gaps between the stories we tell and how to accommodate them as well as the truth in storytelling.
Classes are conducted online and cost $420. To register, visit www.lasalle.edu.sg/continuing-education/short-courses
