SEE | Singapore Heritage Festival | National Heritage Board
The 20th edition of Singapore HeritageFest (SHF) returns over four weekends from May 1 to 28. Presented by the National Heritage Board (NHB), SHF 2023 invites everyone to uncover the lesser-known stories about Singapore’s unique history with a dynamic line-up of over 80 programmes revolving around the themes of sporting heritage, and public transportation history.
These programmes include guided trails, hands-on workshops, exhibitions, film screenings and more, many of which are organised in celebration of significant national milestones like SBS Transit and SportSG’s 50th anniversary, Singapore Sports Museum’s 40th anniversary, the 35th anniversary of the launch of the MRT system, as well as NHB’s 30th anniversary.
As part of NHB’s 30th anniversary celebrations, there will be a colourful pop-up installation at the National Museum of Singapore called Homeground. Set in an immersive, vibrant shophouse designed in collaboration with local artist Sadiq Mansor, festival-goers can look out for artworks featuring elements of the 10 heritage trails, as well as take part in storytelling sessions, craft activities and quizzes.
For the sport-inclined, don’t miss out on the Closing Weekend Sports Day, which invites festival-goers to come decked in their PE attire to participate in a series of nostalgic sports and games as well as high-energy showcases from experts.
To register for the programmes, visit www.sgheritagefest.gov.sg
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Evolution of French transportation | Alliance Française de Singapour
Discover French transportation across the ages at Around The World, the latest exhibition at Alliance Française de Singapour which runs till July 15.
See also: Weekout (Dec 11): Janice Wong, Butcher’s Block, Cat Bite Club, 39+ Art Space
Inspired by French author Jules Verne and his famous Extraordinary Voyages collection which includes celebrated novel, Around the World in 80 Days, the event invites visitors to transcend time and space, travelling around the world via air, land, sea or space.
Start your journey with air travel and witness some of the most iconic aircrafts that have played a significant role in shaping modern air travel such as Air France's Concorde. In land transportation, visitors will get to discover France’s intercity high-speed train, TGV, an acronym for Train à Grande Vitesse. And in sea transportation, view a model of the SS France -- the longest Trans-Atlantic liner which sailed for a record 42 years.
The last room of the exhibition takes visitors on a journey beyond Earth and into the vast expanse of space. Here, guests will gain a first-hand, immersive experience of space travel through a Virtual Reality experience.
Other fringe events include talks, film screenings, workshops and activities for kids.
Exhibition patrons will also stand the chance to win an Air France Singapore-Paris flight ticket. To participate, visitors need to submit their entry ticket and complete a quiz about the exhibition. For ticketing information visit alliancefrancaise.org.sg
EAT | Modern Indian favours | Mandala Masters
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Following on its successful chef residency programme, Mandala Masters has announced an exciting new month-long residency with multi-award-winning restaurant, Indian Accent from New Delhi.
Helmed by celebrated chefs Manish Mehrotra and Shantanu Mehrotra, Indian Accent has garnered international acclaim for its cutting edge take on Indian cuisine. The restaurant's menu features dishes that are inspired by traditional Indian flavours that are reimagined with contemporary techniques and global influences.
There are both vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus, both equally impressive. Guests can expect exciting dishes such as Kanyakumari crab with sago pongal and a delicate serving of caviar, followed by a decadent dessert featuring a doda burfi treacle tart glazed with caramelised milk ice-cream. Other main course choices include a succulent Wagyu pathar kebab with bone marrow nihari adorned with lily buds.
One of our favourites is the Phuchka, featuring tiny crispy pani puris which you fill with little shot glasses of infused waters with familiar flavours that range from sweet to savoury. Another is the seasonal morel used in an aromatic truffle rice pudding dish, which left us wanting more. One of the highlights in the vegetarian menu is the hundred layer paneer, meticuously crafted, and paired with a moreish tomato-based chutney. Even a simple buttery naan served with a lovely wasabi-infused raita and dal sauce was pure heaven!
The chefs will be supported by their 40-strong front- and back-of-house team, which includes head of bars, Varun Sharma, and head of wines Kevin Rodrigues, who will be curating a tasteful beverage programme to complement the dishes. We insist that you try Sharma's creative cocktails, especially the savoury one that tastes like rasam!
Indian Accent is ranked the 19th best restaurant in Asia, on the Asia’s 50 Best list, and has received numerous awards and distinctions for its innovative homage to Indian cuisine. Chef Manish has been recognised as the No. 1 Chef in India by various organisations and publications, including Culinary Culture and American Express. The restaurant has won praise for its contribution to Indian culture and is listed in TIME Magazine’s ‘World’s 100 Greatest Places’. Both chefs have spent over two decades with the EHV International Group, which was founded by restaurateur Rohit Khattar.
The special event is sponsored by Singapore-based family office Amaya Ventures, which aims to introduce the unique flavours and essence of India to Singapore. Throughout the month of May, Indian Accent will also be collaborating with local culinary giants like Euphoria and Candlenut in exclusive four-hands dinners, as well as beverage partnerships with Tippling Club. For more details, visit Mandala Club.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday, the gastronomic experience from May 9 to June 3 will feature a choice of 4-,7- or 9-course menus starting at $188++ for lunch, and $238++ for dinner. For reservations, contact reservations@mandalamasters.com or WhatsApp 8399 5364.
Vintage apothecary pop-up | Ghostwriter
MasterChef Singapore finalist and performing artist Inch Chua teams up with bar consultant Andrew Pang to open Spectre, a vintage apothecary bar and restaurant that embodies kintsugi, the art of repair and celebration of imperfection and growth.
The duo will offer nourishing Southeast Asian bites and beverages with an ethos of mental wellness to this new concept, which is slated to open in a permanent space in Tanjong Pagar in the second half of the year. For now, fans will be able to sample the goods this May at a pop-up at incubation space, Ghostwriter.
Guests will have a selection between a la carte offerings or a tasting menu featuring eight of Spectre’s top dishes ($150) and an optional cocktail trio pairing ($50). Highlights include small plates ($16) such as Mackerel Kinilaw and Eurasian Feng. Sharing plates ($26) offer playful twists on beloved favourites such as the Prat Dogs made with Kurobuta pork sausages, and the Osso Buco Kueh Pai Tee filled with bone marrow and candlenut oxtail marmalade. Another must-try is the Smoked Stingray Pasta ($32) with fazzoletti pasta.
To complement your dishes, Pang has created a repertoire of signature cocktails at $23 each, as well as no-ABV and low-ABV offerings at $18 each.
With space for 10 to 15 guests, Ghostwriter offers a space for F&B operators to trial-run their concepts to the public before a potential launch or expansion. Spectre will take up residency for the whole month of May from Tuesdays through Saturdays, 5pm to midnight. For reservations, visit www.lowtide.sg/ghostwriter.
