Weekender #89

WK89A/MCI(P)060/08/2013

I S S U E 8 9 J U LY 1 1 - 1 7 , 2 0 1 4

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T r av e l a T i o n

be pampered in a spa getawaya greaT & convenienT escape

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weeKender promotion SentoSa BBQ By the Beach

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JULY 11 - 17, 2014

EntErtainmEntW

get ready for a Shiok weekend!

Singapore Food FeStival 201411–20 JulThemed “A Walk Down Memory Lane”, Singapore Food Festival (SFF) 2014 will relive the best memories of the festival’s 20-year history. Immerse yourselves in an array of dining experiences and cuisines that represent Singapore’s rich food legacy at multiple locations

Tuck into honest-to-goodness local favourites and savour familiar flavours presented in creative ways, and discover some things you never knew about our colourful gastronomic diversity!

Kicking off SFF is Singapore Chinese Dialect Heritage Fest. Take a nostalgic walk down Chinatown to taste Chinese dialect dishes such as Hokkien Rickshaw Noodles and Teochew Yam Paste.

Next, head over to South East Sliders @ ION Orchard that offers a radical take on old favourites like beef rendang and chicken debal.

Indulge in interesting Peranakan fare like Chendol Agar Agar, and gain insights into Peranakan culture at the roving food truck, Nyonya Mobile.

At Suvai 2014, excite your taste buds with Indian cuisine made by celebrity chefs, with master classes and a Family Cooking Challenge to look forward to.

Dine in sand-sculpted comfort at BBQ by the Beach on Sentosa, with the return of the traditional Hawaiian underground barbecue pit, ‘Imu’.

At ION Orchard Local Food Trail, sample signature delights, such as chilli crab and kaya toast, that have withstood the test of time. Various locations, www.singaporefoodfestival.com

Photos: Chinatown Food Street & Chef Devagi

fUn @ SentoSa

BBQ BY tHe BeaCH12, 18 & 19 Jul (Fri & Sat), 6.30pm-10.30pm, $79 to $99 (Adult, includes island admission); $29 to $39 (Child aged 3 to 10, includes island admission)

Dining by the beach takes on a whole new meaning at Sentosa’s latest gastronomic experience. Catch the sunset and nightfall as you savour barbecued food.

Book your reservation to a sumptuous BBQ Dinner amid the best island sunset, complete with great music and entertainment like the heart-thumping fire twirling performances!

Log on to store.sentosa.com.sg to book your reservations now.

perFeCt WeeKend eSCapade!25-28 Jul (Fri-Mon), 4.30pm-9.30pmCelebrate in festivity with exciting music performances, delicious food and fun-filled activities. Enjoy performances of overseas and local school bands on 25 & 26 Jul as they share their music with you at this biennial event.

Come this 27 Jul, just chill and relax in the company of great music and tantalising food with friends and loved ones at Ukulele Groove. This is a place where music meets food.

Celebrate Hari Raya with Malay cultural performances, fusing traditional and modern elements that will entertain you in festivity.

Sentosa

SentoSa SpooKtaCUlar 2014 Jointly produced with gtH11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 Oct & 1 Nov, 7pm-1am, $56.60* (Advance Ticket), $46.60* (Sentosa Islander Members)

Get ready for a whole new extreme experience this Halloween! Experience the dark come to life in the new Spooktacular haunted village – Laddaland – with horror features from Alone, Countdown and The Swimmers.

Purchase your entry tickets to Laddaland at store.sentosa.com.sg/main/events Fort Siloso

*Valid till 30 Sep.

to Find oUt more aCtivitieS and

promotionS on SentoSa, SCan Here

now on Check out these events & activities happening this week

neW! Free! tHe mp3 experiment12 Jul, 5pmPeople are reaching out to each other, to strangers, to society. But are you listening? Be a part of the revolution to show the world and ourselves that we believe, hope and care. This is our soundtrack. Experience fun, spontaneity and community in this guerrilla social event presented by local youth movement The Hidden Good and powered by the National Youth Council with the Singapore Kindness Movement and partners. Register at mp3experimentsg.launchrock.com to find out the secret location.

neW! m1 CHineSe tHeatre FeStival m1: FlUidUntil 12 Jul, 8pm (Wed–

Sat), 3pm (Sat & Sun), $38In the theatre and on the stage, he speaks not a word; she moves not a finger. The performer vocalizes her thoughts. She questions, whispers, blabbers, shouts, moans, commands and enlightens in the absence of plot, character

and dialogue. Explore the unique meaning and perspective of performance, theatrical space and the audience experience. In Chinese with English subtitles.Lasalle College of the Arts, 1 McNally Street, www.sistic.com.sg

neW! Free! inSipid aWaKeningUntil 22 Jul, 11am–7pm (Mon-Fri), 11am–5pm (Sat)

The gallery features over 20 artworks from 2012 to 2014, along with dozens of original sketches. Yifei creates a

self-contradictory image of a boy, who has a cold expression but also a sensitive mind, to express a mix of loss and new awareness. Inspired by his own growing up experiences, he arrives at new perceptions and experiences about art and life through his various artworks. Societe Generale Gallery, 1 Sarkies Road, www.alliancefrancaise.org.sg

neW! Free! let’S CeleBrate SgUntil 27 Jul, various timingsLet’s take pride in our national identity and rich heritage with fun-filled activities that get in touch with our Singaporean-ness. Design a tote bag with Uniquely Singaporean stamps at Chop My Singaporeans! Get reminded of how shiok it is to be a Singaporean through a Special Satellite Exhibition that touches on personal experiences and diverse local culture. There is also Brain Benders for kids to have fun.Lot One Shoppers’ Mall & Bukit Panjang Plaza, www.lotone.com.sg, www.bukitpanjangplaza.com.sg

neW! Free! perSian garden Floral diSplaYUntil 3 Aug, 9am–

9pm, usual admission charges applyDiscover the gardens where the Princes and Princesses fell in love. Soothe your soul in the serenity of the Persian Gardens, displaying the blooms such as the Persian Violet, Cyclamen and Jasmine. “Persian Garden” is the Middle

Eastern leg of the “Gardens by the Bay Goes around the World” series, bringing a touch of paradise to Singapore.Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive, www.gardensbythebay.com.sg

neW! tHe SoUnd oF mUSiC11 Jul–10 Aug, 8pm (Tues-Fri), 2pm & 8pm (Sat), 12pm & 6pm (Sun), $65 onwardsThe world’s best-loved musical is here, with memorable tunes such as “My Favorite Things”, “Do-Re-Mi”, “Climb Ev’ry Mountain”, “Edelweiss” and the glorious title song, “The Sound of Music”. This lavish and critically-acclaimed production tells the uplifting true story of Maria, Captain Von Trapp and his seven children. Don’t miss the show that will touch the hearts of all ages. Marina Bay Sands Grand Theatre, 10 Bayfront Avenue, www.sistic.com.sg

weekender.com.sg

Feasting, fun & setting sun at BBQ in Sentosa

SPECIAL WEEKENDER PROMOTION:Quote “SFF14weekender” to be entitled to 1 FREE Wings of Time show ticket (worth $18) with every BBQ by the Beach ticket purchased.

11, 12, 18 & 19 Jul, 6.30pm-10.30pm, $79-$99The familiar barbecue concept is given a fresh spin at Sentosa’s latest gastronomic experience. At Singapore Food Festival 2014, BBQ by the Beach allows diners to fully immerse themselves in a unique al fresco dining experience.

With the specially-sculptured sand tables and seats (created by renowned local sand sculptor, Joo Heng Tan) along with comfy cushions; set against the best island sunset as the backdrop, the tone is set for a romantic dinner affair at Sentosa’s Palawan Beach.

You can look forward to seeing the comeback of the traditional Hawaiian underground barbecue pit known as “Imu” that first

made its appearance during Singapore Food Festival 2012. Back with a bigger underground pit, it will once again produce succulent barbecued seafood and meat grilled to perfection.

Indulge in a delectable spread of seafood and meat dishes, popular staples and deserts. Must-tries include the baked king prawns in banana leaf, spit-roasted whole lamb and the delicious grilled beef rump.

Of course, no barbecue feast is complete without great music and entertainment. Heart-thumping fire-twirling stunts will accompany the feast.

Come with your loved ones for unforgettable feasting and fun this July!Sentosa, Palawan Beach, www.sentosa.com.sg

f e a t u r e d e v e n t & P r o m o t I o n

w o r l d c u P f e v e r

Weekender Group Pte Ltd80 Playfair Road, Blk A, #02-03, S367998Tel: +65 6493 2001 E-mail: [email protected]# 201212438E MCI (P) 060/08/2013

WEEKENDEREditorial DirectorFrank [email protected]

Editor Lester J Wan

Art Director June Law

Sales Director David Phey

Advisor James Yip

DistributionLawrence Tan

CoordinatorRiki Zou

Sales Seth Leow [email protected]

Interns Basil LeeLim Wan Ling

Disclaimer: The illustrations, photographs, views and statements expressed by our contributors, bloggers, illustrators, or writers do not necessarily reflect the views of Weekender Group Private Limited. Weekender Group Private Limited does not warrant the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of those views or statements and do not accept any legal liability whatsoever arising from any reliance on the views, statements and subject matter. © Copyright Weekend-er Group Pte Ltd. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all rights including those in copyright in the content of this publication are owned by or controlled for these purposes by Weekender Group Pte Ltd. Copyrights to photographs, Illustra-tions, or any other forms of work which appear in this publication provided by non-Weekender Group Pte Ltd contributors are owned and controlled their respective creators. Except as otherwise expressly permitted under copyright law or Weekender Group Pte Ltd, the content of this publication may not be copied, reproduced, republished, downloaded, posted, broadcast or transmitted in any way without first obtaining our written permission or that of the copyright owner. Information accurate at press time.

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NEW EXPANDED MRT AREAS:Every Friday morning peak period. Subject to weather and traffic conditions.• Raffles Place • Chinatown • Dhoby Ghaut • City Hall • Orchard • Somerset • Newton • Bugis • Woodlands • Bukit Gombak • Choa Chu Kang • Tampines • Admiralty • Tanjong Pagar • Buona Vista • Yishun • Khatib • Clementi • Redhill • Queenstown • Serangoon • Boon Lay • Jurong East • Tiong Bahru • Toa Payoh • Marina Bay • Ang Mo Kio • Mountbatten

Writer Cheryl Chia

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Contributors Harry Tan Christine Winters

GETTING HARD COPIES:Weekender is delivered to hundreds of thousands of homes island-wide. You can also find copies (while supplies last) at:OvER 200 SElECTED 7-ElEvEN lOCATIONS ISlANDWIDEFor actual locations, visit our website

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Road to a Final worth salivatingThe pretenders have been put to the sword, setting up a final to salivate over – will the sexiest football reign supreme?

More countries and stars such as James Rodríguez and Karim Benzema have bowed out of the World Cup, setting up killer clashes in the semi-finals between traditional powerhouses Germany and Brazil, and Argentina and Holland.

We re-visit some of the eventful quarter-final matches in preparation for the ultimate match.

GERMANy vS FRANCE [1-0]Mats Hummels scored the

sole goal in the 12th minute. The German machine

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treads on, and is still the favourite to win it all.

BRAzIL vS COLOMBIA [2-1]The tournament’s current top scorer James Rodríguez won the hearts of millions with his incredible dedication on the field and his goals. Sadly, Colombia was knocked out.

Nonetheless, the hosts have been devastated by the loss of Neymar to fractured vertebrae.

NEThERLANDS vS COSTA RICA [0-0, 4-3 ON PENALTIES]At the end of open play, Netherlands manager Louis Van Gaal stunned the world by substituting first-choice keeper Jasper Cillessen for Tim Krul to take the penalties.

The Newcastle keeper denied brave contenders Costa Rica in the shootout.

When you receive this issue, the semi-finals would’ve just been over. Who’s your bet for the drool-worthy final?

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Thomas Mueller will continue to orchestrate the German war machine

Savour succulent barbecued seafood and meat grilled to perfection

What are ethical sales strategies and persuasion tactics about? Ethical sales and persuasion is not about getting people to do things they don’t want or shouldn’t do – it’s about allowing them to overcome the obstacles that are holding them back from taking action that will empower them.

The art of persuasion can involve some form of manipulation or maybe exaggeration to serve your purpose. How do you determine whether or not you’re being ethical? I teach my students to never pressure or manipulate a client and always qualify them – that is, determine whether they actually stand to gain from the encounter.

You’ve gone through the most scandalous time in your life. What’s your lesson and how do you earn people’s trust and credibility in business when they know what you’re capable of? I discovered for myself that life’s most effective lessons are in the failures. And not many people have failed as spectacularly as me.

The most powerful quality that I hope people realise I am capable of is the ability to rebuild and succeed using sound, ethical principles and strategies.

Did you have any breakthrough moments when you started reaching out to people in public presentation? My first presentations were to corporate clients. It was at these that people started approaching me and saying, “How can I take this home with me? Can you teach how individuals can use this system?”

I realised then that I could repackage the Straight Line System in a way that any business, entrepreneur or even employee could put into practise and benefit enormously.

Please share with us about marketing traps and what We can we do to avoid them.Marketing isn’t about ‘traps’ – it’s about opening up awareness of opportunities.

The golden rule probably is: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Meet Jordan Belfort, the real Wolf of Wall Street, and glean business tips and insights from the legend himself

In The Wolf of Wall Street, the recently-released Hollywood blockbuster, superstar actor Leonardo DiCaprio played Jordan Belfort, a Long Island penny stockbroker who served 22 months in prison for defrauding investors in a major 1990s securities scam.

This true story shook the world as it involved widespread corruption on Wall Street and in the corporate banking industry, and chronicled the meteoric rise of Belfort, and his dramatic fall from grace.

Now, you can meet the Real Wolf of Wall Street when he comes to Singapore. Don’t miss this opportunity to glean valuable business tips and insights from the legend himself.

Let Belfort share with you on his rise to fame and fortune, as well as the lessons he had gained after he had to rebuild his life and business from scratch.

Here is a short interview with Belfort as a prelude to what he has to share.

“I discovered for myself that life’s most effective lessons are in the failures...

The most powerful quality that I hope people realise I am capable of is the ability to rebuild and succeed using sound, ethical principles and strategies.”

Get up close to Jordan Belfort, the real Wolf of Wall Street, and get precious tips and inisghts from him

Tips & insights from the Real Wolf of Wall Street

Facing the top broker or salesman like you, how can we break down the sales pitch and protect ourselves?If you are truly dealing with a “top salesman”, they will qualify you – and if they find that you have nothing to gain from a product or service, they will not use any unethical means to make you buy something you don’t want or need.

What does money mean to you? How do you define the relationships between wealth and happiness?My character in the Wolf of Wall Street movie says, “I’ve been a rich man and I’ve been a poor man, and I choose rich every time.” I’ve come a long way since then.

It is true that money allows you freedoms that lack of money won’t allow but ultimately it’s the love and support of those important to you that provides you with true wealth and happiness.

You’ve learnt from your mistakes and from failure but you’ve also learnt a lot of things from good decisions and success. For you, which offers the greatest lessons?One of my earliest mistakes was thinking that Gordon Gekko, from the 1987 movie Wall Street, could be a role model. But I came to realise that greed is not good.

Ambition is good, passion is good. Passion prospers. My goal is to give more than I get; that’s a sustainable form of success.

Belfort is committed to sharing with you his tips and insights for success without you having to endure his punishing failures. He has engineered over $1.5 billion worth of financing for various public companies, and held controlling stakes in more than 30 of them.

He has also acted as a consultant to more than 50 public companies, and has been written about in numerous major newspapers and magazines in the world. His two bestselling books have been published in 22 countries and translated into 18 different languages.

Belfort is also a frequent guest-commentator on CNN, CNBC, Headline News and the BBC.

Don’t miss out on the wealth of knowledge and experience waiting to be tapped.

Catch Jordan Belfort, the Real Wolf of Wall Street, at Resorts World Sentosa Convention Centre on Tue, Jul 29, 2014, from 7pm to 10pm. Registration begins at 6.15pm.

Belfort will share on strategies for success without you having to endure the same failures

weekender.com.sgJULY 11 - 17, 2014

JULY 11 - 17, 2014

EntErtainmEntw wEEkEndEr.com.sg

m o v i E p r E v i E w

Cold War & multiple identities

Picking up where the series “The Americans” left off, we speak with actor Matthew Rhys on the cliffhanger ending and the next season

Welsh actor Matthew Rhys plays a Russian playing an American

in the Cold War drama “The Americans”. His character, Phillip Jennings, is a complex one, requiring him to play several roles as his character continually goes undercover.

He gains the trust of FBI executive assistant Martha as his alter ego, Clark, and Season 1 then ends with them tying the knot while Phillip’s wife, Elizabeth, gets shot.

We speak to the star of this pulsating drama.

Where does “The AmericAns” pick up This seAson, AfTer lAsT yeAr’s finAle?It picks up a short time after the violent end of the first season, so Elizabeth is very fresh out of

recovery, probably back a little too early, and straight back on to operations; and it is sort of a new beginning for the two of them.

I think that experience unifies and bonds them incredibly. It’s a new journey through the second season for those two, as they discover each other and become more of a unit.

your chArAcTer seemed A liTTle more open-minded, ThAT he could see boTh sides, AmericA And russiA. he seemed more sympATheTic To AmericAn life; does ThAT conTinue This seAson?It has, very interestingly – they always tell us about what we are supposed to say and what we are not… [laughs]

iT’s ok; The informATion is sAfe; no one in The usA uses The inTerneT in 1982!Yes, I keep forgetting that. Of course, I’m so method!

It turns out, they leant Phillip one particular way, and more so because of his children, becoming taken with a slightly more materialistic and capitalist life that America presented, and that goes up to a certain point in this season.

And then there is a big change in him, which is great; it is so fascinating, the psychology of him and how it affects those two.

i reAd AbouT you sAying sAlly field WAs An imporTAnT menTor To you, from “broThers & sisTers”. could you Tell us A biT AbouT ThAT And WhAT you leArnT from her?It was a number of things; it has to do with a work ethic. She taught me about the discipline. You can’t just joke around in those moments. You have to stay focused, be prepared.

Every aspect of it really: your script breakdown, knowing where you are coming from, knowing where you are going.

We did this one scene where she had to break down at a funeral and then they wanted to shoot her first because she was going to cry, and then they really wanted to move the camera.

They said, “But it is going to be a 20-minute move…” and she went, “That’s fine,” and she went and sat down and she started knitting and she just cried for about 20 minutes, just quietly, but staying in it and then they called her back up, and she did it (the scene) straight away.

And that’s when I went, “No wonder she got two Oscars!”

“The Americans” Season 2 premiered on Jul 5 at 8.55pm, and continues every Sat on FOX, SingTel mio TV Ch 330 & StarHub TV Ch 505.

Feel-good summer musicalWhat happens when your first holiday romance is getting married... to your sister?

Maddie (played by Annabel Scholey) is getting hitched

to hunk Raphael (played by Giulio Berruti). Taylor (Hannah Arterton, younger sister of Gemma Arterton) is returning to attend her

Walking on SunShine:

sister Maddie’s wedding in Italy’s sun-drenched town of Puglia. All seems to be picture perfect. But is it?

Unbeknownst to Maddie, Raf and Taylor had an intense holiday fling and that is just one of the many setbacks on Maddie and Raf’s road to happily ever after.

The two pretend they’ve never met to avoid upsetting Maddie. But how

long can secrets be kept under wraps?

A mAmmA miA! sequel?Many would find Walking on Sunshine much like a rehash of Mamma Mia! (the popular musical set to Abba songs) – only with more musical variety. Walking on Sunshine features popular retro hits from the 1980s such as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and Madonna’s “Holiday”. Is this a story

for an older audience but with a young cast to attract the younger generation as well?

“Don’t You Want Me, Baby?” was an easy choice of song for the scene where Maddie’s ex tries to win her back, since the ready-made lyrics fit in handily. We can’t help but suspect that the producers had picked a dozen hits from a particular decade before joining the dots to form a cliché two-for-one romance.

Seriously, one has to question if this is worth the price of the ticket. Still, the songs are undoubtedly lively and once popular, for those who love music from that era. The young and attractive cast also helps to raise interest levels.

fun cAsT To sAve A mediocre ploTIt’s hard to expect much of a storyline in a common tale of two sisters entangled in a love triangle but there seems to be enough ingenuity in the execution and enthusiasm from the cast to appeal to audiences.

While the young Arterton’s portrayal of Taylor has an endearing sincerity on top of her girl-next-door looks, one

can easily forgive Berruti’s limitations in his acting for his male model perfection.

The supporting actors seem to have done a better job at bringing their characters to life. Look out for Greg Wise who’s immensely likeable despite the character’s shiftiness, and Danny Kirrane who will wow you with his dance moves.

Singer Leona Lewis plays Taylor’s spirited best friend, Elena, and her portrayal was surprisingly natural for her debut acting role. Although only Lewis as well as Giulio Corso are professional singers, the rest of the cast show off impressive vocal ability.

A mainstream yet delicious jukebox musical, Walking on Sunshine has the potential to leave you feeling warm, upbeat, and slightly blinded by all the blazing colours and sunshine. Just don’t come with high expectations.

WAlking on sunshine [pg]direcTor: Max Giwa &

Dania Pasquini sTArring: Annabel Scholey,

Hannah Arterton, Leona Lewis & Greg Wise

genre: Musical, Romance

run lengTh: 98 minreleAse: 10 Jul

WiN a pair of tickets to into the storm

premiere on 29 July!

TicKeTs giVeaWaY

inTo The sTorm [pg13]In this action-packed thriller, a group of high school students document the exciting events and devastating aftermath of a tornado tearing up the land.

Into the Storm stars Richard Armitage (The Hobbit), Sarah Wayne Callies (“The Walking Dead”) and Jeremy Sumpter (Soul Surfer).

5 pairs of tickets to the premiere of Into the Storm on 29 Jul, 7pm, at GV VivoCity up for grabs!

TO WIN, SIMPLY:1. Like & share our Facebook

page at www.facebook.com/weekendersgp

2. Drop us a private message with the words: “Weekender Storm”

3. Include your: Name, NRIC, E-mail & Mobile No.

CLOSING DATE: 16 JUL 2014

WeeKeNder

Leona Lewis and Hannah Arterton are an elfin pair

The strong romantic vibes could have you Walking on Sunshine too

The intrigue and tension continues in Season 2 of “The Americans”

JULY 11 - 17, 2014

Foodmaniaw weekender.com.sg

PAGE 7

n e w r e s t a u r a n t

Restaurant Impossible:Fail to hail?

Getting a restaurant back on track can be a tremendously difficult task but this series shows you how it can be done within two days

The average restaurant owner would blow up in panic if they found out they only had two days and a small budget to turn their failing restaurant around.

With the help of Chef Robert Irvine, “Restaurant Impossible” shows how the impossible can be achieved as effortlessly as possible. Chef Irvine is always up for a challenge and he always succeeds in getting restaurants back on the path to success.

Watch and see how the impossible is nothing to him.

The ResTauRanTs savedIn the 13 episodes of “Restaurant Impossible”, Chef Irvine travels around the USA to help family businesses get back on the path to success.

In Episode One, he starts off in Kansas City, where a restaurant is in trouble due to the death of

their chef-owner. Watch how he helps them turn their business around in their time of trouble.

In the following episodes, he travels to Ohio to help a tavern that had been in business for more than six decades, to Minnesota to help a bar and grill with a $10,000 budget and one month away from losing their business, and on to Montana, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, Philadelphia, Florida, and North Carolina.

He covers almost the entire United States on his mission to aid ailing eateries.

Why “ResTauRanT ImpossIble” Is a musT-seeThroughout the chef’s culinary journey, across the nation, he meets various people of different personalities. These include family members who cannot stand to look at one another, to families who are stressed out by large debts.

He never fails to lend a hand and to quickly turn their

businesses around. In fact, it is no challenge for him to get them back onto the path to success in just two days, and usually with no more than $10,000 to spend.

Each episode is interesting in terms of seeing what Chef Irvine does to help them, and will have you on the edge of your seat wondering if the family and Chef are going to be able to meet their very stiff deadlines.

Follow “Restaurant Impossible” to see how the odds are overcome.

“Restaurant Impossible” airs on Tuesdays at 8pm on Food Network Asia, StarHub TV Ch 433.

t e L e V i s i o n

Pulau Ubin Fish & Chips and other dishesNew restaurant Portico takes liberties with contemporary Western food to create refreshing dishes

Tucked in the office park along Alexandra Road is Portico, an intimate all-day dining café. Helmed by Executive Chef Leandros Stagogiannis, it features hearty home-style creations.

Chef Leandros used to work at Heston Blumenthal’s three Michelin star restaurant The Fat Duck in the UK, as well as local fine dining establishments here such as St Pierre. The menu reflects simplicity, yet with incredible attention to detail.

poRch-sIde dInIngPortico, meaning “porch” in Italian, intends for the diner to feel as though they are dining at a friend’s home, and the menu reflects this approach. Try the Crispy Sweetbread with Onion Puree and Heart of Palm

salad ($17-$29). Golden fried nuggets of sweetbread – a gland from the cow – are paired with a sweet caramelised onion paste and thin strips of fresh heart of palm.

The sweetbread doesn’t have any strange scent or texture; it’s simply like a fried, slightly chewy, piece of meat. The Grape and Quinoa Salad, Sugar Snap Peas and fresh raspberries ($14) are also good to start. The slightly sweet and tart salad also has bits of roasted watermelon for a juicy flavour.

suRf & TuRfI loved the classic Sea Bass Fish and Chips with a side of crushed peas and fresh mint ($19) – the fish being freshly caught from Pulau Ubin and shipped to the restaurant within two hours for this dish.

The fish is flaky fresh and coated in a crispy beer batter, drawn from

the chef’s experience in Britain. Fresh mint is mixed into the crushed peas for an additional fragrance.

The Kombu Soba Noodles with Truffle and Crispy Light Brown Shrimp ($16) is a little salty but the crispy small shrimp adds crunch and sweetness to the noodles. Desserts were a little over the top in my opinion but the Manjari H20 ganache, Sweet Corn Sorbet, Roasted Hazelnuts and Cashew Praline ($16) stood out the most with the rich chocolate and nutty flavours. Portico, 991B Alexandra Road, #01-10, Singapore 119970, Tel: 6276 7337

Champagne revolution: The art of SabrageOpen a bottle of fine champagne the way Napoleon’s officers did

There are a few ways to uncork champagne. You can merely pop it the usual way, shake it until it explodes or open it with dramatic flair with a sabre.

The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore introduces The Art of Sabrage at the Chihuly Lounge, with the purchase of a bottle of Dom Perignon for $488. We tried our hand at this traditional technique, and it’s much easier than you’d think!

The TRIck To sabRageA traditional and

ceremonial technique of opening a bottle with a sabre, sabrage was popularised during the French Revolution by Napoleon’s army. Now, it is an uncommon way to commemorate and celebrate victorious and joyous moments.

We were told that the trick is to find the weak spot of the bottle. The two weak spots lie at the lip near the opening and along the vertical seam.

At the intersection of the seam and lip, the stress concentrations combine, and the glass strength is reduced by half. This means if you run the sabre along the seam swiftly, it detaches the cork.

It sounds easy enough but you need stable hands as the bottle and the sword are quite weighty. What we did not expect was the entire neck of the bottle slicing cleanly off and flying away with the cork when the pressure escaped from the bottle. No shards would fall into the champagne.

If you want to learn the art of sabrage to impress your friends, open your own bottle of Dom Perignon with this classic move. You may consider this for your wedding in the future but first practice at the Chihuly Lounge. You’ll also get a Commemorative Certificate as a token of your skilful achievement. Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, 7 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039799, Tel: 6434 5179

s aV o u r t h e s i p

Chef Robert Irvine shows how the impossible can be achieved as effortlessly as possible, in “Restaurant Impossible”

Saving family restaurants around the US

Expect refreshing dishes like Crispy

Sweetbread

The art of Sabrage with Dom Perignon

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JULY 11 - 17, 2014

TRAVELATionw wEEkEndER.com.sg

Low-cosT gETAwAYs

Malaysia’s spas know achievers need energy, and just how to restore tired minds and bodies

The demands of daily life can really take their toll on you. In today’s world, time is money and

constantly working against a deadline can drain your energy and send your stress levels sky-high. Yet you are expected to perform at your best, day after day.

This is only possible if you clear your mind and recharge your body and spirit from time to time. In the workplace, success and energy go hand in hand.

Malaysia has lots of options for you to reinvigorate your entire being.

A Soothing EScApEFortunately, when burnout threatens, you can escape to one of Malaysia’s many world-class spas.

You can find these great spas at resorts, beauty salons and even schools!

The treatments can be gentle enough to relax and soothe your body, or be sufficiently tough to get rid of toxins in your body. It is your choice.

A spa takes you to a place where you find peace. This is especially great if you are overwhelmed with work or need to get away from the daily grind.

The spa treatments can put a healthy glow on your face and a spring in your step. They can even be such transforming experiences that you leave with a new perspective on life.

These spas usually offer many different kinds of treatments, including steam baths, aromatherapy, body wraps, massages, nail care, skin exfoliation, yoga and meditation, hair treatments and even waxing.

The greaT SPa eScaPe spoTLighT on mALAYsiA

EAt Your WAY to hEAlth & EnErgYA stay at a good spa can be life-changing. Apart from massages and treatments, patrons can learn how easy it is to eat healthy and the importance of taking care of their bodies.

Once they leave, they will be able to make better decisions on their diet and lifestyle. Follow-up consultations are often part of the treatment.

Many people who are struggling to lose weight also find their answer in a spa. Once you have established a healthy eating pattern and lifestyle, the weight comes off and stays off.

QuAlitY trEAtmEntThe hotel and spa industry is setting new quality standards all the time. Ayurvedic treatment, Balinese pampering or a traditional Malay massage, are all on the menu at the many of these centres.

Spa therapists and practitioners aim to give you nothing less than a full and varied non-medical health treatment. Programmes designed around specific client needs are also available and growing in popularity.

A few of the many great spas that you may visit in Malaysia are The Chateau Spa & Organic Wellness Resort in Berjaya Hills, Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Mines Wellness Hotel, The Andaman Langkawi, The Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort, and The Westin Langkawi Resort and Spa.

What are you waiting for? Take a good break and rejuvenate your being now.

For more information or enquiries, please contact Visit Malaysia Year 2014 Secretariat at +60388917000 or log on to www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my.

“A spa takes you to a place where you find peace. This is especially great if you are overwhelmed with work or need to get away from the daily grind.”

There are many types of programmes and treatments to soothe your mind and heal your body

A spa in the midst of nature is a heavenly experience

If you need a short holiday but your budget for your flight is about $100, look no further

phukEt – SimilAn iSlAndSimilan Island is an excellent adventure playground for divers. The most striking features are the piles of curious stones, some as big as houses, spilled out in jumbled piles.

Behold the enormous Sailing Boat Rock teetering high above

by Pinang Peranakan Mansion and see over 1,000 Peranakan artefacts. From $50, AirAsia. From $59, Tigerair. Both promotions end 13 Jul.

YogYAkArtA – BoroBudurA lush tropical landscape dotted with hundreds of temples, Borobudur leaves you spellbound. With surrounding valleys undulating in mist, it’s an extraordinary sight.$100, AirAsia. Promotion ends 13 Jul.

the cove. The white coral-sand beaches are splendid. From $52, AirAsia. Promotion ends 13 Jul.

pEnAng – gEorgEtoWn Penang basks in street art glory in conjunction with the annual Georgetown Festival. See mural paintings all across the town. The artworks are funny and fascinating.

You can also pop

All information accurate at time of writing.

Weekender #89

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