Experiential Penthouse Dining in the World's Highest Urban-Craft Brewery

It has been a norm for us every month, that after doing such a difficult work the night before, to go out for lunch together since most if us are either on an evening shift or on off the following day.

Since no one can suggest of a good place to go to, I finally decide for us to go to Level 33 restaurant in Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1.

I have learned about this restaurant a year ago when a friend of mine posted a picture of himself with a spectacular background of the world-renowned Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

It was also one of the options that I have in mind when I was looking for a restaurant to hold the reception of my supposed to be ROM solemnization.

I tried to make a reservation online but to no availability so I called the restaurant only to learn that it was still early for someone to answer my call. I end up making reservation through email though I doubted that I can get a table for a busy lunch day since the restaurant is situated on top of an office building, yet a representive called me few minutes later confirming my table reservation.

The lift dedicated for use to the restaurant is situated behind the main lift lobby which leads to the offices, and will take about a minute before you reach the top floor- Level 33- as the name says, is a penthouse restaurant and is the world's highest urban-craft brewery.

Upon alighting lift, you will be greeted by the receptionist with a warm welcome. Along the right side of the hallway are few huge tanks of beers, brewed on-site. On your left are few coffee tables with the view of the rooftop garden. When you reach the main dining area, a well-lit and airy ambiance will welcome you.

Following the lane of huge tanks is the bar, which is at the center of the restaurant dividing the dining area: the right with the view of the Gardens by the bay, the Singapore strait and the passing shipping vessels; and on the left where the Ploughman's table and the two adjacent private rooms are.

My friends were already at the restaurant when I arrived and I was blown away on the spectacular view of the Singapore skyline and Marina bay from our table which is adjacent to a floor-to-roof glass wall, about five meters high, just next to the private room.

The Ploughman's Table: a counter filled with scrumptous selections of appetizers and desserts, attended by chefs every now and then.

They have an executive lunch set available on weekdays from 12-2pm, which includes buffet of appetizers which consists of salad greens, pastas, cheeses, cranberry roll, cold cuts, nuts, smoked salmon and buttered prawns. You will choose your main dish from the classics or the weekly specials. And finish off with buffet of desserts which can be slices of fresh fruits like watermelon, melon and grapes and selection of bite sized sweets like pound and mousse cakes and pastry puff.

We haven't ordered any of their crafted beers nor any alcoholic drinks since we are working after. Given we took this semi-buffet dining set, my food-plating skills were not as bad as a newbie. 

Enjoy the photos, since we all enjoyed our food!

First plate of appetizer: Arugula salad with mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and pecans

Second plate of appetizer: macaroni with mushroom sauce; tagliatelle with chicken sausage and dried tomatoes and raisins. Cranberry bread.

Third plate of appetizer: cold cut platter consists spicy salami, turkey ham, camembert cheese, walnuts, blueberries and red cabbage coleslaw.

Fourth plate of appetizer: poached prawns, smoked salmon, goji berries, arugula with balsamic vinegar.

Main dish: roasted wagyu striploin sandwich, onion marmalade, wholegrain mustard, watercress, fat-cut chips and 33.1 blond lager-infused ketchup

Dessert: fresh fruits, pound cake, cream puff, rolled pastry, mousse cakes.

Rating:

8 out of 10, 10 being the highest.

Holiday hosting

I always wanted to be a host of a celebration. I want to be doing the planning, preparation and presentation.

Not being allowed to cook in the house where we are staying at is a big hindrance to do the two last things. Preparation and presentation.

Christmas is fast approaching when me and our friends #tropang #cablecar as we call ourselves (cable car refers to the pub where we always hang out after meeting up for dinner) decided to have a Christmas eve gathering.

I started to cram when I realized I am the one who will decide and cook the food.

I tried my luck and took several days to gather courage to ask permission from our landlady if we can use their kitchen to cook food for the party. I was surprised when she said yes instantaneously given that their religion is strict when it comes to food preparation.

Since the approval, I became more excited on how the planning will turn out.

I started creating the menu and matching the outcome of the taste in my mind.

Two weeks before the date, I started buying ingredients for the menu. It's really a good therapy going to the supermarket.

A day before the date, I started marinating the mains, making the salad, mouding the cake.

On the day of the event, I am cooking in full blast. Forget about the early holiday greetings, missed phone calls and unresponded messages. The goal now us to finish cooking the food.

I finally put on the finishing touches minutes before everybody arrives in the venue. Everyone was overwhelmed with the quantity of the food I prepared and I was so happy when everything were finished the next morning.

Nothing makes a good cook happy but to see the food he prepared satisfied the consumer.

Medzs Simply Mediterranean

It was few days back after I clean up my locker for clearance when I saw this flyer and caught the attention of the high tea offer which is way beyond affordable.

And so I called the number on the flyer to check with them what's inclusive with price.

A lady with a familiar accent answered on the other line.

And I asked what are the inclusions and what should I expect when I get there.

I was transferred to another person and the second person explained to me the details and I made a reservation for the following day.

The next day came and I received a call confirming my reservation.

I was late when I arrived and the first impression I had was, this place looks expensive.

We were greeted by the staff and handed us our cards, the cards will be used to charge us whenever ordering.

The place is so fine. The chairs are made of dark woods and the tables are white. There are plenty of huge capsicums decorating the entire restaurant.

The place is remarkable with its sculptured wood and glass walls and the pillars resembling the super trees of the nearby Gardens by the Bay.

The restaurant is spacious, instrumental music were playing softly in the background which adds to the warm ambiance.

It was not busy when we arrived so we are free to choose our seats so we sat on the long couch adjacent the sculptured wall, facing the Med Garden counter.

We came for the high tea promotion and we were expecting a staff to hand us the menu but since there's none, I dared to ask.

I was instructed to go to the Med Garden to place the order, which I did. I handed the staff my order card to charge the items and we were asked if we want coffee or tea.

"Coffee, for us, please." And I smiled.

I went back to my seat and minutes later welcome drinks which resembles tequila sunrise were served on long stemmed flutes. Mocktails are they according to the server.

Few minutes have passed and our coffee came. The coffee were served on wide-rimmed shallow cups underlined with serviette and comes with foamed milk on the side.

While sipping the welcome drinks, the food came on a two-tiered tray. The base tray consists of several canapes like tuna, smoked salmon and ham and french fries. The upper tray is for the dessert; velvet and cream cake, crispy-layered cake and creme brulee.

It us such an enjoyable dining experience we have in this place. I will certainly return to try their steaks and pastas.

The restaurant also hold functions and have an al fresco dining area if you want to enjoy cocktail drinks.

What I like the most are the tiny frames of mirrors hanging just outside the gents, very classic.

Another place where nothing's free. Pay for drinking tap water. After all you're in Singapore.


Rating: 7 out of 10, 10 being the highest

The Queen & Mangosteen

It has been a very warm Sunday afternoon and I just attended a mass when I decided to stroll in a nearby mall.

What I have in my mind is just having the usual coffee and muffin in a coffee shop but since the mall and the cafeteria I went to are packed with people, this restaurant caught my attention to what was playing in the overhead projector.

It's the F1.

I am not a fan of F1 but out of curiosity, I went in, given that their draft beer offer is irresistable.

There are three sections in he restaurant; indoor dining, bar and al fresco dining.

Situated along the shore of Harbourfront center, it's a good place to unwind and spend the afternoon for a laidback weekend.

Numerous lamps are hanging all over the place, mostly are concentrated at the long bar. There are also plenty of ceiling fans circling above us. The walls are made of red bricks and the furnitures are of dark wood.

The place is packed with people, mostly are British, given that the race has started.

I decided to sit at the bar adjacent to the al fresco dining area. It wasn't bad at all since the cool breeze from the sea blows toward my direction.

This restaurant serves Archipelago crafted beers and are available in three sizes: half pint (330 ml), pint (500 ml), and pitcher (1 L).

Prices are gradual from opening-3pm, 3pm-9pm and 9pm- close. It's their version of happy hour.

I had a pint of Irish ale, a dark lager, which has the highest intensity of alcohol level. It has the hint of chocolate, toffee and caramel.

I started with the corn chips and mango salsa. Its oven-toasted corn chips with chunky mango and tomato salsa dip which has the balance of sour and spicy taste.

That day, they have a special offer called 'Sunday Roast' where you can choose between beef and chicken as main. I took the rib-eye steak, medium rare, as I always wanted, and it came few minutes after ordering that took me by surprise.

It's a pound of rib-eye steak served with steamed brocolli and cauliflower, a mix of roasted yam, potatoes and sweet potatoes and a sweet choux pastry and scooped with brown sauce on top.

I was sated with the meal and though the race was over, I still took time to savor the moment while here.

At the distance you will hear the horns of sea vessels passing by, complemented by the sound of the waves. This time they're playing alternative rock and pop songs randomly which makes me feel more at ease.

I haven't left the place when I wrote this, yet, I'm already thinking of when to come back.

Perhaps a good company of friends will make the visit worthwhile.

Sun-Thurs: 12 noon-midnight
Fri-Sat and Eve of Public Holiday: 12 noon - 1am

Rating: 7 out of 10, 10 being the highest.

Batam's Prestigious Landmark

It has been a long day for us since we reached Batam and toured the city and since we all came from a very relaxing massage, all we want is to lay down in bed and have a good rest.

After the first couple who were with us in the tour was dropped off into their hotel, we're next. I have no idea where our hotel is located.

This is our first time in Batam, Indonesia. We woke up so early this morning for this trip, a breather from the hustle and bustle of the city and our way of celebrating our 29th month together as couple.

A 40-minute travel by ferry from Singapore's Harbourfront Ferry Terminal, this place is a quick getaway for those who wants to escape the fast-paced environment in the city.

Few minutes away from the hotel where we dropped the other couple, the coach bus driver pulled in this gated property and stopped infront of the huge glass door of the lobby of this four-star hotel.

Our tour guide lead us to the front office for check-in. The place is so breathtaking. The lobby is warmly lit by the lights illuminating from the huge copper chandelier in the middle of the high ceiling and from the four smaller chandeliers in the corners of the mezzanine floor.

On the right is a Cafe de Venus, and on the left is a small cafe where musicians are playing songs that adds to the classical feel of the place.

After getting the keycard to our room, we took the lift with glass walls and after the 5th level, you will see the Batam city skyline as you ascend to the floor where your room is.

The room is spacious, from the door, on the left is the bathroom with bathtub, on the right is the closet and safe box followed by the mini bar, stocked with complimentary and chargeable stuff, then a bench with shoe cabinet underneath, then the 32-inch LCD television and then the dresser table where the menu for the room service is.

On the left side of the room opposite the TV is a queen-sized bed stuffed with plush pillows and comforter in crisp white cotton sheets, then a coffee table for a couple. Then there's a balcony overlooking the sea and the city skyline. On the horizon is hues of orange, red and yellow of the setting sun.

As soon as we finished unpacking our things, we went down to the 5th level of the hotel where the Blue Horizon Fitness Center is. After logging in to the guest book, we took a shower and had a dip to the pool. The water is cold but there's also two jaccuzis beside it where you can warm yourself up.

Facing the hotel, on the right is a studio for those who are taking taebo and aerobics classes. On the left is the fitness gym, sauna and steam room.

After the quick dip in the pool, we returned to our room to take a bath and have our dinner.

We went to a fastfood just a block away from our hotel for our dinner. Then had a drink at the Top 21 bar which is at the penthouse level of the hotel. There is an on-going private function when we arrived so we are seated at the rooftop bar which has the breathtaking-360-degree view of the city at night.

We had Singapore sling and fruit platter while enjoying the spectacular view in the place. The sling is notable for the Bombay Sapphire gin they have used, though not much ice in it, the cocktail was served cold enough to be savored, in poco grande glass.

After that, we called it a day.

The next morning, as soon as I wake up, I took a dip in the pool and went to the sauna.

When I finished, I showered in the room and went down to have our breakfast.

Cafe de Venus is crowded with other hotel guests having their breakfast. The long buffet table in the middle of the restaurant is generously served with selections of local favorites, variety of breads, a salad bar, and coffee counter.

We had eaten our breakfast like there's no tomorrow. The stay in this place is memorable and real value for the money we spent for. The only thing lacking in the place is a wi-fi connection, though there's internet service in the room only meant for those who have laptops.


Rating for this place: 7 out of 10, 10 being the highest.