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

This Chinese New Year, treat your guests to something more special than butter cookies, bak kwa and love letters. Delicious as these traditional goodies may be, going off the beaten track on the food front will certainly delight your friends and relatives (especially after three days of eating the same things). Make extra effort and splurge a little on the delectable gourmet food at Jones the Grocer. Throw the best parties with world renowned chocolates, exotic drinks snacks and organic tea!

Hamstead Organic Tea
An increasing number of people are taking the age-old habit of tea-drinking more seriously. These days, not any old cup of tea will do. With a more refined palette, there is a higher demand for fine, organic tea and this is right where Hamstead Tea comes in. Producing biodynamic, organic and fair trade tea, Hamstead believes in lush, natural tea leaves and fragrant, flavourful brews. Offering a good selection of black, green and herbal teas, this is simply how tea should be.

Pick up your Hamstead Tea for SGD13.50 each

Griottines Cherries
Forget the boring olives – these brandied cherries from French brand Griottines will taste much better with your champagne and cocktails. Loved for their freshness and refined taste, these wild Morello cherries have been pitted and prepared in Kirsch liqueur according to a well-guarded secret recipe. Other than being an excellent drinks addition, they are also great with desserts like cakes and ice-cream.

Griottines Cherries come in a pretty red jar and retail for SGD23.50

Alice Swiss Chocolate
Alice Swiss Chocolate is supposedly the ‘definitive Swiss chocolate experience’. Crafted in an artisanal manner, only the most luxurious cacao is used in its creation. Originating from a glacial valley over looking the Alps, Alice combines the rich local chocolate-making heritage with modern insights into branding and packaging. Housed in a distinctive, attractive sliding case, its name is inspired by Lewis Carroll’s most famous tales.

Alice Swiss Chocolate is available at SGD36 per box

Jones the Grocer is located at #04-21/23, Mandarin Gallery

It may only be the second week of November, but the Christmas jingles (which get more incessant each day) are a clear reminder that it is time to start counting down to the jolly Christmas season! And what better way to do so than with 24 delicious pieces of chocolates to nibble and savour, for each day in the month of December leading up to the 25th? The Christmas calendar (or Advent calendar) is traditionally meant for impatient children who cannot wait for Christmas to come, but there is no reason why adults should not have a bit of the fun. Filling their special calendars with premium confectionery, BESCHLE Chocolatier Suisse caters to the discerning grown-up palate.

The Advent Calendars
Featuring a beautiful, sensual lady on its front, the Lady advent calendar contains 24 classic, alcohol-free chocolates and truffles for your indulgence in the pre-Christmas season. With delectable treats like Truffe au Lait, Truffe Vanille, Truffe Ivoire, Café au Lait and Grand Cru Trinitario Madagascar in the mix, you will not know which one to expect each day – and this element of surprise adds to the delight of it all. For those who prefer a simpler design, there is also the Burgundy advent calender with its tasteful print. Lastly, the Santa Clause advent calendar (shown above) will be a sure hit with the children.

The Christmas Gift Boxes
Have you received an invitation to a Christmas party and have not the faintest idea what to bring as a gift? Put together with the spirit of Christmas in mind, Beschle’s special seasonal gift boxes are perfect for this purpose. The Christmas Spirit set offers a fine selection of liquor-flavoured truffles in dark, white and milk chocolate while Collection d’Hiver is made for wintertime with traditional Christmas spices. For true decadence, pick up the Truffes au Champagne de Nöel, an extravagant collection of dark and milk chocolate-coated truffles infused with Marc de Champagne (champagne brandy).

BESCHLE Chocolatier Suisse (#01-18, Mandarin Gallery) Advent Calendars retail for SGD69 while its Christmas Gift Boxes of 6 pieces each retail from SGD39

BESCHLE Chocolatier Suisse is not your ordinary chocolate-maker. Its latest advertising campaign is styled like a fashion editorial and features beautiful women biting blissfully into Beschle confectioneries. The message conveyed is one of decadence and absolute luxury, which is precisely what the brand stands for in the world of chocolate. Dubbed ‘chocolate haute couture’ by some discerning chocolate connoisseurs, Beschle is an indulgence that is always worth a sin.
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