on the Go with Bo!

Happy New Year!

Exactly my thoughts for the new decade: stay calm, cool, collected

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Kampong Glam in Haji Lane

I've been in Singapore for 2.5 years, but Arab town is a part I don't really know that well.  Yesterday we had a meeting on Arab Street, and ended up having drinks nearby, at a funky joint called Blu Jaz Cafe.  Fantastic outdoor sitting, and I hear that at night it turns into a great jazz bar!

But to get there we walked down Haji Lane.  Now … this is a totally hip and happening back-alley type street, right next to the mosque.  You wouldn't imagine!

Great little boutique shops, art stores, young and trendy people, Caribbean-style colorful shop-houses, animated walls … very 'in' if I may say.  I heard they call this Kampong Glam.  Love the name!

Had never heard of this place … and that afternoon I open an email from a friend in San Francisco … who sent me a link to a NY Times article on Singapore and a hot new destination.  And guess what … it was about Haji Street!

Coincidence???

 

 

Jalan Merah Saga in Holland Village

Expats love Holland Village.  For moi … somehow, it just doesn't do it for me!

They say it feels 'European' but I don't quite see the resemblance, plus why come to Singapore to search for 'European' … right?

Anyhow, I do have one street that I do like there.  And that is Jalan Merah Saga.  They've got some:

> great restaurants:  Original Sin - delicious organic Mediterranean cuisine

> great specialty stores: Pantry Magic - everything you needed for baking.  Although I don't bake or cook, I just eat … I love playing with all the colorful spatulas :-); da paolo gastronomia - where you can get ready-made food and all sorts of other tasty food items

> art galleries:  Taksu

… plus more.  And it's not the mess that the rest of Holland Village is.

 

 

Laksa at ION

If you ever find your way down to the basement of the brand new ION mall on Orchard, there is a fantastic laksa place at the food court :-) I keep returning back for more ...

 

Otto

When you drive down Maxwell Road, you pass this really lovely colonial building painted all in red.  It's the Red Dot building.  Passed it many times, without really knowing what's inside.  Thought it was an art gallery or something!

Well, in the inner-courtyard there is a great Italian restaurant called Otto.  Had the degustation menu with Chianti wine for a friend's birthday and it was delish.

PS Cafe at Dempsey Hill

I've been to PS Cafe at Palais Renaissance so many times … and actually never went to visit their sister outlet at Dempsey … even though I'm there quite frequently!

Well, it's my new favourite hang-out … especially for a lazy casual Sunday brunch.  The design is completely open, blending nicely into the very green and lush jungle surrounding.  I already knew the brunch menu is great from their other outlets … but … don't forget to order their signature dish:  french fries with truffles!  The order is not for the faint at heart … it's a copious order, enough for three :-)  But it's yummy, yummy, yummy.

And they have wonderful cakes … including a flour-less orange cake.  Biting my lips now …

Also great for dinner.