Watering Holes
Raise a glass at Singapore's best bars and lounges by Lauren Raps We're so lucky to have many spices in our Singapore meals, an embarrassment of riches. Even better is that we also have an abundance of talented bartenders and restaurateurs, some of whom are using these spices to create new cocktails or to raise the standard of the tried and true. Team Bar Night took our tough assignment in stride and found some creative cocktails at an array of the city’s best bars.
Podi & Poriyal: Cumin Baanam
ingredients and spices and taking three hours to prepare, this drink is a tropical coconut rush. The staff at Podi & Poriyal also prepare an assortment of international cocktails, such as the Old Fashioned, the Negroni, the Dark & Stormy and the Gin Fizz. The bartenders offer singular flavors to their guests by subtly modifying each of these classic cocktails using spice-infused spirits. “The historic spice trail has a meaningful connection to India. We wanted to showcase Indian spices in a unique context, especially while introducing cocktails
Cunim Baanam (in metal cup) at Podi and Poriyal
Podi and Poriyal bar tender - Mastroianni Gajendran Muttiaiah
We couldn’t help but fall in love with this beautifully decorated, cozy vegetarian Indian restaurant on Serangoon Road, that is gaining renown for its delicious cocktails, as much as for its delicious South Indian food. Savor lunch or dinner in their dining room or scoot around to the side of the restaurant to find the most precious bar where “Maestro" Mastroianni Gajendran Muttiaiah tends bar.
and spirits to a South Indian vegetarian/vegan friendly dining experience,” said Jamuna Raghavan, the founder of Arparnam, the organization that runs Podi & Poriyal. “We keep our collection simple, yet evocative. Spices are additive to the cocktail experience and create an ethnic connection that leads not only to discovery, but also to nostalgia, especially for those who regularly use these spices in their cooking. We are currently working on the next version of our cocktail and mocktail program and hope that when it’s ready, it creates the same excitement the present program has.”
His Cumin Baanam is a combination of their homemade cumin-infused rum with their well-established mocktail, the Thenga Baanam. Highlighting a medley of twelve -- 6 --
AWA Magazine - September/October 2021
