Where To Eat & Drink: Mister Donut Lands In Singapore, Exclusive Durian Deals & More
Our round-up of great dining spots to check out, fab drinks and the latest in food news this week
By Michelle Lee SM -
Always on the hunt for new dining spots? We bring you sound bites on where to eat, including new restaurant and eatery openings, the best places for your after-work tipple, and what’s new in the food scene.
What to check out now: Mister Donut has landed in Singapore with its iconic Pon de Ring doughnuts, day-to-night restaurant Elixir has opened its doors with inventive pizza options, Hilton Singapore Orchard's Estate has refreshed its Sunday brunch offerings, and more.
After its buzzy pop-up last year (and queues of up to four hours), American doughnut chain Mister Donut has opened its first Singapore outpost. It opened its doors on May 21, at Junction 8 in Bishan.
You can expect the iconic Pon de Ring doughnut, a delightfully chewy and airy ring of glazed mochi-like balls. The Chocolate version is a Singapore exclusive, with a smooth velvety chocolate glaze.
For those who haven't tried Mister Donut's snacks, there aren't just your regular yeast doughnuts (aka the ones commonly sold at doughnut stores here). It also serves up iterations like the Chocolate rings, which have a crumbly cake-like texture and includes options like Golden Chocolate and Coconut Chocolate. There's also the Chocolate Strawberry, another Singapore exclusive. It has a nice strawberry glaze, with a cake-like shell that could do with more cocoa flavour.
There's also the Old Fashion doughnut, which falls in between a cookie and bread. This was a little too dry. We say go for the yeast doughnuts - the bomboloni-style Angel Cream sees an airy pillowy shell filled with sweet cream, and a light dusting of icing sugar.
Would we queue for hours? Can't say we would. But the doughnuts, especially the Pon de Ring and fluffy yeast doughnuts sure make for yummy afternoon treats.
All donuts are priced between $2.30-$2.50, and are available in bundle purchases of six for $14 or 10 for $23, with a maximum purchase of 10 pieces (the Pon De Ring is capped at four pieces) per transaction per customer.
Mister Donut is at #02-27A Junction 8, 9 Bishan Pl, Singapore 579837. Opens daily from 11am to 8pm.
Formerly a small-batch coffee roaster serving up a compact menu of brunch staples, Elixir has relocated and overhauled its menu offerings. Now nestled in the quiet Holland Grove neighbourhood, the coffee bar turns into a pizza and wine bar when evening rolls around.
The menu's centred around casual but thoughtfully composed plates, like a lineup of freshly-baked flatbreads ($14 to $18) with various toppings. Turkish Egg features two poached eggs, intensely garlicky yoghurt and spicy housemade chilli crunch, while cheese lovers will enjoy Stracciatella, starring creamy cheese and sweet blistered cherry tomatoes. For something heartier, go for the shawarma-inspired Salumi with nduja, sumac onion, mint and dill.
Other tasty nibbles include battered Baby Octopus ($16) fritters, served with squid ink aioli, and a creamy Burrata ($22) from the Molise religion in Italy, with the Italian classic getting an Asian spin with housemade chilli crunch.
The housemade sourdough pizzas get our thumbs up with gorgeously pillowy and chewy pizza crusts. The signature Not-carbonara ($26) hits the spot with crisp strips of guanciale, an oozy egg yolk, and shavings of Pecorino Romano all atop a decadent mornay sauce. Or turn up the heat with Hot Mama ($28), which has Calabrese salami and extra heat from chilli crunch. Not a spice lover? Order Cali Cali ($28), which satiates with a hearty mix of sausage, earthy chopped kailan, and creamy guacamole. A wedge of lemon brightens it up.
Wash it all down with a selection of old and new world wines (from $16 per glass, and from $80 per bottle), craft beers (from $16) and classic cocktails like Negroni ($20).
Elixir is at #01-18 Holland Parksuites,24 Holland Grove Road, Singapore 278803. Visit its website for more information.
Hilton Singapore Orchard refreshes its Grand Sunday Champagne Brunch Buffet menu
Estate, Hilton Singapore Orchard's all-day buffet restaurant, has refreshed its Grand Sunday Brunch Champagne Buffet line-up.
Diners can enjoy a wider selection of fresh seafood such as Maine lobsters and snow crabs, as well as plump Irish, Canadian and Fine de Claire oysters. Meanwhile, cheese lovers will enjoy its library of 32 types of artisanal and seasonal premium cheeses. If avo for brunch is your sort of thing, make a beeline for the Avocado Bar, with avo-focused dishes like Avocado and Cucumber Gazpacho and Avocado with Tuna Tataki. A live station doles out fresh avo bruschetta spiced up with jalapeno.
Two new live stations have also been added to the Western Kitchen, serving up al dente orecchiette in a silky cepe sauce with local mushrooms, and Wagyu Beef Rossini with pan-fried foie gras. Or if Asian flavours are more up your alley, we recommend the Roasted Kurobuta Char Siew Noodles with fatty, caramelised slivers of char siew and shrimp wanton.
For something sweet, don't miss the Crepe Suzette live station doling out delicate crepes or the Peanut Butter Dragon Breath mini ice cream cones.
Let's not forget the booze — alcoholic beverages on offer include the Laurent Perrier Champagne and Whispering Angel Rosé. And while you're feasting (or boozing), there are activities like colouring, canvas painting, traditional Singaporean childhood games and magician acts to keep little ones occupied.
Every Sunday, 12 pm to 3 pm. $158++ per adult (includes chilled juice, coffee and tea). Top-up $50++ for free flow Champagne Package (Laurent-Perrier Champagne, house red and white wine and Whispering Angel Rose, beer, soft drinks). Top-up $70++ for free flow Premium Champagne Package (Billecart-Salmon Champagne, house red and white wine and Whispering Angel Rose, beer, soft drinks).
Visit Hilton Singapore Orchard's website for reservations or more information.
Intercontinental Singapore's flagship Italian bistro, Luce by Davide Giacomelli, is celebrating its first birthday. And to mark the occasion, it's running month-long activities from May 23, 2023.
For one, you can look forward to daily themed offerings. This includes the brand-new Ladies’ Night on Thursday evenings. Get your girlfriends and spend a minimum of $28++ each to enjoy two hours of bottomless Prosecco, Aperol Spritz and Luce's signature cocktails.
For a mid-week perk-me-up on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, there's the Pinsa and Booze bundle. Delight in bottomless servings of hand-tossed pinsas and pizzas with free-flow Menabrea Italian beer and Prosecco at $38++ per person, from 6pm to 8pm. Pinsa (a style of hand-pressed pizza dough) options include Prosciutto Cotto e Gorgonzola, Salsiccia e Funghi, Zucchini e Pecorino, Napoli and Mortadella.
Or if a hot date with your special other is on the cards, then drop in on Fridays for its Fri-Date special, a four-course set menu ($128++ per person) that sees tempting plates like Japanese scallop carpaccio, durum wheat spaghetti with langoustine, a Halibut confit with asparagus declination and cured fish roe, and a yuzu mango petit gateau. Wine pairing is available at an additional $68++ per person. Two-day advanced reservation is required.
Come the weekend on Saturday and Sunday (available from 6pm to 10pm), nibble on charcuterie while sipping on prosecco with Luce's Charcuterie Platter for two at $48++ (including a bottle of prosecco).
There's something for the kids too — on three selected Saturdays (June 10, 17 and 24, from 4.30pm to 6pm), Luce's pizza kitchen will host pizza-making workshops for young ones aged five to 12 years old. They'll learn to make the restaurant's signature hand-pulled pizzas under the guidance of experienced chefs.
Available at $49++ per child, aprons and hats will be provided and all participants will also receive a certificate of participation at the end of the workshop.
Luce by Davide Giacomelli is at InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966. Visit its website for reservations or more information.
Attention durian lovers. If you're looking for durian deals, Golden Moments is offering a new exclusive VIP membership ($99 a year) that allows members to enjoy instant perks, year-long discounts, vouchers and freebies.
Upon signing up, members will immediately get to enjoy $165 worth of perks, featuring a 600g box of de-husked fresh Black Gold Premium AAA Grade Mao Shan Wang (worth $52.80), $100 worth of Golden Moments E-Vouchers and two packs of Long Da Ge Lobster Snacks (worth $12.80). The durian brand has also partnered Three Legs Brand to offer complimentary bottles of its cooling water. Members will continue to receive these perks each year upon renewal of their membership.
In addition, members can look forward to VIP Premium Members-only rates for fresh durians at cost price for as low as $8 per kg to $12 per kg (depending on seasonal price) and discounted rates of up to 50 per cent off for all other durian and non-durian premium products and gift sets. Think crowd favourites like the signature 24K Mao Shan Wang Galaxy Cake, Signature Mao Shan Wang Snowskin Mooncakes, Durian Mochi and more.
Click here to sign up.