Mandarin Gallery Blog

Time flies when you are having fun (and eating well). So, it came as a bit of a surprise to realise that Ippudo, which serves some of Singapore’s favourite ramen dishes, turns two this December. In commemoration of its anniversary and the upcoming Christmas festivities, the celebrated restaurant establishes its position at the forefront of Japanese cuisine by launching a new Grand Menu that promises to bring new tantalizing flavours and taste to the table. In line with Ippudo’s spirit of constantly experimenting with new dishes, this revamped and improved menu is designed to enhance the dining experience.

At Ippudo, ramen takes centerstage. This explains why the Shoyu Wanton-men, a ramen dish featuring a clear, flavourful broth and succulent scrimp dumplings, is a highlight of the Grand Menu. Ippudo is also introducing Menma (bamboo shoots) as a new accompaniment to go with your ramen, in addition to the popular Tamago (flavoured egg), Chashu (simmered pork belly) and Kakuni (tender pork cubes).

Ippudo fans will be happy to see that some of their old favourites, including Bakuretsu Tofu, Goma Q, Pork Buns and Dashimaki Tamago, will remain on the new menu. At the same time, they will be delighted with the new creations, such as the Salmon Hotplate Steak and Tarutaru Chicken With Balsamic Sauce.

Three dishes are worthy of a special mention. The Aspara Ohitashi with Onsen Tamago is a cold appetizer that brings together an intriguing mix of warm (hot spring egg) and cold (chilled asparagus) components.

The Grilled Mentai & Potato Avocado Shrimp Gratin, a healthy oven-baked dish that features a deliciously thick white sauce, and the Tonkatsu Tamago Toji, a sizzling deep-fried pork cutlet dish, are also destined to be massive crowd-pleasers.

The new Grand Menu will be available at Ippudo (#04-02/03/04, Mandarin Gallery) from 12 December on weekdays from 5pm onwards and all day during weekends and public holidays

The only global industry magazine to focus on denim and sportswear, Sportswear International is arguably one of the most authoritative publications on casual and street fashion. This explains why we are extremely pleased to announce that three of Mandarin Gallery’s brands are winners of the prestigious Sports International Fashion Awards! Celebrating the best collections of the year, winners are picked by both readers and an independent jury. Beating intense competition from premium brands including Diesel Black Gold, G Star and Fred Perry, Adidas SLVR, Nudie Jeans and Vans came up top.

Best Sport/Street: Adidas SLVR
Adidas’ sleek, urbane and smart fashion line has been going from strength to strength with each new collection. Founded on the principle of melding beauty with utility, Adidas SLVR constantly strives to push the boundaries of sportswear inspired clothing. Featuring refined, modern silhouettes, tasteful colour palettes and clever details, each piece is an investment that you can wear season after season (and probably in more ways than one).

Adidas SLVR is available at Adidas, #03-13, Mandarin Gallery

Best Denim: Nudie Jeans
Possibly the very best jeans money can buy, Nudie takes denim very seriously indeed. Proclaiming to offer not just jeans, but “a way of thinking, a concept and an undying passion”, this is definitely not your regular denim label. Working towards the goal of using organic cotton exclusive in the long run, the Swedish brand has gained recognition for their eco-friendly ways. The best raw materials and a slow production process ensure that every pair of Nudie jeans is a masterpiece.

Find a good selection of Nudie Jeans at The Denim Store, #03-09-11, Mandarin Gallery

Best Sneakers: Vans
Born in 1966, this iconic Californian sneaker brand continues to reflect the optimistic spirit of its founding decade. First popularized by skateboarders and BMX riders, Vans’ clean-cut designs soon found their way onto the feet of other sportsmen, including basketball players and even skydivers. Today, Vans is best known for its wide range of styles and colours and counts legions of hip, fashion-conscious individuals as fans of the comfortable soles and classic good looks of its sneakers.

Pick up your pair of Vans at in:Famous, #03-21, Mandarin Gallery

Once upon a time, sneakers were associated with scruffy boys who play basketball and could not care less about fashion. But that is all in the past now. Today, these casual, comfortable shoes are enjoying a chic makeover as a staple for the insouciantly stylish. A throwback to the simpler days of our youth, the sneaker has long since gone beyond its humble athletic origins and become full-blown fashion statements. Here are three brands that have brought the fine art of canvas footwear to new heights – help yourself to a pair (or two) of these very cool kicks!

Feiyue
A French brand with a Chinese name? That should be intriguing enough to warrant a closer look at Feiyue, which has been making waves in the sneakers world since 2006. Originating from Shanghai, China in the 1920s, the company was acquired by a team of innovative sneaker enthusiasts who infused it with a European aesthetic and improved quality. At the same time, they have also managed to retain the shoes’ vintage authenticity, resulting in a unique blend of cutting-edge design and classic charm. Take your pick from its extensive collection of low, mid and high cut models.

Superga
If it is good enough for Alexa Chung, it is good enough for us. A favourite of the British IT girl, Superga has been churning out its iconic plimsolls since 1911 in its native Turin, Italy. Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the brand has made Chung its new face because she encompasses Superga’s fun, effortless style and personality. Its fresh, rubber-soled good looks is famed for its high quality and versatility. It can even be washed to create that cool, worn-in vintage look, just like your favourite jeans!

Both Feiyue (SGD79 to SGD119) and Superga (SGD69.90 to SGD76.90) are available at in:Famous, #03-21, Mandarin Gallery

Forfex
The anti-thesis of the retro-styled canvas sneaker, the distinctly avant garde Forfex is the brainchild of talented young designer Giovanni Forbice. Featuring bold details like brightly coloured felt petals and sharp studs, these sneakers are definitely not for the faint-hearted. With names like Sex Studs and Killers, these loud, dynamic sneakers do not merely make statements – they demand to be stared at. If you like to let your shoes do the talking, you should be making a beeline for a pair of Forfex right about now.

Forfex retails for SGD170 to SGD420 at Ambush, #03-14, Mandarin Gallery

At any given point in time, there are a dozen and one new and wonderful things happening at Mandarin Gallery. To make sure that you are kept in the know about the biggest bargains and hottest new arrivals from our fabulous brands, keep a keen eye on this blog because we will be updating you regularly on the latest goodies that should be going onto your to-buy List. This time around, we have a piece of award-winning design, truly organic French perfume and cute time-tellers waiting in store for you!

Bud Cosmetics
Proclaiming to be ‘Truly Organic, Terribly French’, Honoré des Prés, a cult French organic perfume range, took the world of scents by storm and bagged the Wallpaper Magazine’s Best Design 2010 Award. Crafted by renowned perfumer Olivia Giacobetti, who has worked with Guerlain, Hermès, L’Artisan Parfumeur  and Dyptique, Honoré des Prés is a luxurious line of fragrances of 100% natural origin that has been certified organic by ECOCERT. Lovers of The Big Apple will be delighted with the sensual, trendy and urbane ‘We Love NY’ (SGD190) collection while the fresh, chic and vintage-inspired Les Verrines d’Honoré (SGD130) collection is an ode to the good old days of our grandmothers.

Honoré des Prés perfumes are available at Bud Cosmetics, #03-32, Mandarin Gallery

Elephant & Coral
Having been awarded the prestigious iF Design Award 2012, the Pentagon Collection from Elephant & Coral is an instant modern classic. Made of polished precious resin and featuring a luxurious 18K gold nib, it has been a labour of love that is 18 months in the making, but the result is certainly worth the effort. Inspired by the Asian interpretation of how the world is conceived, each side of the design’s five-faceted pentagon shape represents one of the following elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Aesthetically simple but strong, the Pentagon is designed to facilitate how it is held, used and stored.

The limited edition Pentagon Collection consists of 200 pieces of fountain pens (SGD1280) and 100 pieces of rollerball pens (SGD1080). Elephant & Coral is located at #03-03, Mandarin Gallery

Marc by Marc Jacobs
You can always count on Mr Jacobs for a bit of fun. This season, the Marc by Marc Jacobs Dreamy Logo collection features the playful font that has been a hallmark of the label’s clothes and accessories. The new Bubble collection is chunky and very trendy with a unique two-piece mirror dial and indexes of cutout dreamy logo lettering. The standout pieces of the collection are undoubtedly the chic aluminum handbag charms (available in shiny silver or black) that can double as a witty pocket watch.

The Marc by Marc Jacobs Dreamy Logo watch collection retails at #01-11, Mandarin Gallery from SGD320 to SGD450