Tucked inside Orchard Rendezvous Hotel is Unkai. Chef Eugene Lam is the main man behind this 30-seater new Japanese restaurant, and has had stints at various top Japanese establishments including Hide Yamamoto and Ashino.

The omakase menus, priced from $88++ to $138++, treat its diners to the likes of a starter, a grilled dish, 10 or 11 sushi, hand roll, soup and dessert, depending on which you go for. Its ingredients are flown in from Japan, like the nanatsuboshi and yumeipirika rice from Hokkaido for its sushi, all brightened with either white or red vinegar, depending on the fish.

One we enjoyed was the playfully named Peek-A-Boo, with delicate narabi uni (sea urchin) from Akiyama in Japan, tucked under a sliver of fleshy chuturo that’s a party on the palate. Meanwhile, we’re still thinking about the buttery Binchotan Otoro, marinated with chef’s house-blend shoyu then seared with binchotan. The house-smoked otoro, which is aged for 20 days to develop its flavours, is equally flawless.

Another highlight: the Kuro-awabi, starring sashimi-grade Japanese shelled abalone that’s been steamed for six hours for a tender, chewy bite, and sits in a creamy abalone liver sauce. And If you have more room, ask for the Magic Bowl, available upon request. The season’s freshest ingredients crown pearly Japanese rice, and are seasoned with his secret blend.

There are also a la carte options available, like the Signature Unkai Soba ($68++) and Pork Cheek Bowl ($26++).

Unkai Sushi is at 1 Tanglin Road #01-10, Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, Singapore 247905.

Beloved restaurant Chatterbox has reopened with an elegant new space on level five of the newly-minted Hilton Orchard Singapore with sophisticated decor and plush banquette and booth seating. PSA: Request for a seat at the verandah, which affords lush views of the greenery outside.

And of course, its famed Mandarin Chicken Rice is back, with flavourful aged jasmine rice (this absorbs more of the broth) and smooth, tender chicken. But this time, for a communal dining experience, you can also order half or the whole bird, instead of as an individual set ($25 per set, $38 for half chicken, and $72++ for whole chicken). Drizzle it with the punchy housemade chilli sauce, grated ginger and soy sauce served together.

But there are also new menu additions. The Sea Perch with Burnt Green Chilli ($28++) boasts buttery, fork-tender fish coated in a light crisp batter, that’s topped with a fiery roasted green chilli paste. The Lemon Butter Tiger Prawns ($25) too is a winner with large succulent tiger prawns that are twice-fried and glistening with a sweet and savory sauce.

The menu also carries Otah Otah, a thick soft slab that houses crab meat chunks and laksa leaves. It’s tame when it comes to the heat, and perfect for those who aren’t fans of spicy food. For your daily dose of greens, the Wok-fried Sambal Wing Beans ($8++) is a yummy option, with crisp wing beans and onions slathered with a sweet but rather fiery rempah.

Chatterbox is at #05-03 Hilton Orchard Singapore, 333 Orchard Road, Singapore 238867. Visit this link for reservations.

Scottish gin maker Hendrick’s has unveiled a new limited-edition creation that nods to the Ayrshire coast of Southwest Scotland. Aptly named Hendrick’s Neptunia, it’s created by master distiller Lesley Gracie, who was inspired by her strolls along local coasts.

The result? A marriage of Hendrick’s signature aroma of cucumber and roses, refreshing Scottish coastal botanicals, and a clean bright citrus finish. Enjoy it neat, with tonic, or try out Hendrick’s Neptunia Fizz recipe — combine two parts of Hendrick’s Neptunia with one part fresh lime juice, one part simple syrup, and topped with soda.”

Available from April 6 at Cold Storage, iShopChangi and WG&S brand stores on LazMall and Shopee.

If you’re headed to Ikea for a spot of furniture shopping and feeling peckish, there are new menu options to look forward to. This April, it’s rolling out chicken paella (Ikea family price: $9.50; public: $10.90) , as well as seafood paella (Ikea family price: $13.50; public: $14.90) to sink your teeth into. Available as a dinner special every Wednesday from April 6 to May 25, from 5pm onwards, while stocks last.

For halal diners, there’s a new Asian and Western fusion-inspired menu, with options like a nasi kerabu chicken leg set ($8.50, only available from 1 April to 3 May), and beef cheek rendang with mashed potato and mushroom soup (Ikea family price $16.90; public: $18.50), available from April 1 to May 31.

You can also partake in fika (a coffee break) with Ikea Jurong’s outlet-exclusive high tea set for two, priced at just $7.90. Tuck into an apple cake, a muffin, chocolate cake with crunchy caramel and and two premium teas. It’ll be available from 3-5pm daily, while stocks last.

Also only at Ikea Jurong, look out for the Family Platter ($22.90) that’s good for two and loaded with lamb shank, a grilled chicken leg, two spring rolls, fries and mixed vegetables, as well as two Loka drinks. Available from Monday to Friday, 5 to 7pm. The two deals run from now till May 31, 2022.

Private dining experiences have been all the rage for the past couple of years. And here’s a new space to ring up for a reservation: Yi Qian Private Dining, helmed by former Golden Palace Chef Raymond, who also cut his teeth at Hong Kong’s famed Lei Garden Restaurant.

Start with the Crispy Prawn Fritters ($9.80++), with crisp golden Sakura prawn slices, or the fluffy Teochew Crispy Yam & Prawn Omelette ($24++). A nourishing soup is a Chinese dining staple, and here, you’ll get the Pig’s Stomach and Chicken in Pepper Soup ($108++, serves four to six, pre-order 1 day in advance), which sees a whole kampung chicken wrapped in a pig’s stomach and boiled for four hours in a white pepper broth. Then line your belly with the Braised Abalone with Dried Shrimps Claypot Rice ($20++ per person, for a minimum of four persons), or the Poached Bamboo Clam with Beansprout and Dough Fritter in Prawn Stock ($18++), with a prawn stock that’s made from scratch.

End your meal on a sweet note with the Sugar Encrusted Deep Fried Yam Sticks ($20++).

Yi Qian Private Dining is at 2 Leng Kee Road, #01-04 Thye Hong Centre, Singapore 159086. Visit its website for more or for reservations.