Introducing Asian-Inspired Tisanes Chocolates From The Masterchef

CHOCOLATES FROM THE MASTERCHEF Introducing Asian-inspired Tisanes

Derek Cheong, winner of MasterChef Singapore Season 2, wants you to go beyond the usual milk, dark and white chocolates. Kakkow is his new foray into artisanal chocolate that features offbeat flavours like Miso and Genmaicha, Cep and Walnut, and Corn and Truffle that will whet your appetite for the quirky and unusual. The name is a homophone of ‘“cacao”, the core ingredient in chocolates. Handcrafted in small batches, each bonbon is hand-painted with a spectrum of colours that best represent each flavour and its taste profile. Flavours are on a seasonal basis and may change every two months. Each Kakkow Box contains six bonbons and retails for $24. Order at kakkow.com.sg. Making traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) accessible through flavourful and easy-to-use tisanes is new premium wellness brand Qisane. Inspired by founder Rebecca Hong’s own longing for the traditional health-giving tonics of her childhood, the brand offers a selection of conveniently packaged tisanes, blended from whole herbs, roots and flowers that are celebrated for their health-giving properties.

Three blends are currently available, with each addressing a different concern. Chrysanthemum and Goji helps counteract the irritating effects of excess heatiness, which include fever, sore throat and irritability; Hawthorn and Osmanthus aids digestion and supports detoxification; and Cordyceps and Rose reduces fatigue by replenishing your qi. They can be purchased at qisane.com.

CELEBRATION AND FEASTING MORPH INTO AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE

Clay Saigon where celebration and feasting easily blend into a single, unforgettable experience. A restaurant, rooftop lounge, and bar serving Asian-inspired wood-fired cuisine that is heightened by the use of local, seasonal ingredients.An elevated dining experience and enjoyment in a spectacular, glamorous, and dynamic setting where guests may mingle and celebrate the night away. Nightly artist shows,DJ sets throughout the week, with live bands on the weekends. The cuisine fuses Asian and Western elements, focusing on regional and seasonal ingredients and shared eating. The wood-fired oven allows for the creation of mouth-watering roasted meats, poultry, fish, and vegetables. All menu items are intended to be shared, providing for a genuinely communal feast. The architecture is contemporary and Mediterranean in design. There are interconnected indoor and outdoor spaces. With light and warm colour palettes, ceramics, wood, wrought iron, and rattan, the interiors are influenced by the simple romanticism of the Mediterranean. 18 Number 6

Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: +84 90 735 1010

BRINGING FRIENDS TOGETHER THROUGH DELECTABLE GASTRONOMY

From the team behind – Marcels Restaurants and the famous Frenchstyled burger joint Marcel Burgers, Detour is the latest addition to this family of ever-growing popular restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City. The goal of MARCEL Restaurants is to create memorable experiences by bringing people together over delicious food. As the creators themselves put it, "We don't have preconceived views; we just put ourselves into a customer's shoes in order to find the most rewarding experience." And Détour is motivated entirely by impromptu journeys across the rural South of France.A menu, inspired by Provence, one of the most beautiful provinces in the south of France, features, fresh and seasonal recipes, which encourage guests to share meals, with alfresco-style seating offering that Southern French sunshine feeling. A refined restaurant, that exudes simplicity and elegance, diners can expect groovy brunches, sunset drinks or romantic dinners. 202 Pham

Thai Buong, Tan Phong Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: +84 93 141 6880

A GETAWAY FROM THE HUSTLE

TRE Dining is a combination of two parts. Firstly, it stands for three, thrice, tremor, which symbolizes the three main qualities of establishment, Food, Drinks, and Space. Secondly, it is a Vietnamese word for Bamboo, the source of inspiration for all the restaurant’s creations. A symbol of flexibility, durability, and longevity. The food is an interpretation of Vietnamese dishes. It is a balanced mix of many different cultural cooking techniques, sourcing quality ingredients, and balanced with tinges of traditional Vietnamese qualities. Their drinks (Wine, Sake, Shochu, and Cocktail) aim to not only soothe but elevate your dining experience. The space is encapsulated by carefully processed, cut, treated, and perfectly laid bamboo shoots. The formation creates the borders of their adventure. The ceiling is intertwined with bamboo to create an image of a nest. This cover sets the view for your experience. The guest's names can be carved on the

bamboo shoot. 35 Xuan Thuy Street, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: +84 94 984 8696

MIND-BLOWING STEAKS IN SAIGON

This is Vietnam's first authentic steakhouse, modelled after New York City's finest, placing a priority on dry-aged beef served with the utmost sophistication. Everything in this eatery seems like it was lifted from a traditional New York steakhouse! The dining rooms provide a sophisticated and elegant setting for a memorable dining experience, blending classic steakhouse character with heightened refinement. High ceilings, mahogany wood trim, and black leather tufted banquettes make C's restaurant elegant and cosy. An oak bar tops the restaurant, with the walls adorned with fine wine bottles. Any steak enthusiast will tell you that dry-aged beef is the finest. "Melt-in-your-mouth" tender and beefy flavour. C's Steakhouse's beef is dry-aged for 40-50 days in a dry-aged beef cabinet for a next-level dining experience. In addition to serving great steaks, they also provide superb fish, chicken, lamb, and Iberico pork. And do not ignore the opulent alternatives for appetisers, which include caviar, wagyu beef tartare, and grilled

marrowbones. 50 Truong Dinh Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: +84 898 999 454

LUXE GRILL HOUSE WITH A VIETNAMESE FLAVOUR

Sóno Grill & Bar, an upscale Vietnamese fusion grill restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows, blonde wood tones, minimalistic rattan decor, and an open-style kitchen. Vietnamese-inspired flavours and cooking techniques are driving this modernist fusion restaurant. The menu has a wide variety of unique and memorable dishes, such as Iberico Pork Secreto with betel leaves, pickled prawns, salted lime, fish sauce, and macadamia gel. Char-grilled octopus with Pepperonata sauce, creamy leek sauce, and pineapple salsa, and Dryaged duck breast (14 days) with Sichuan pepper, hoisin jus, pickled papaya, charred king mushrooms, and sawtooth oil can all be found on the menu. And for dessert, Sono suggests trying their Mille Feuille pastry with avocado purée, durian espuma, and coconut flakes. Sóno Grill & Bar, with its comprehensive wine selection, showcases the flavours of Vietnam in a stylish, contemporary manner, utilising

only the finest, locally sourced products. 215b37 Nguyen Van Huong Street, Thao Dien Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Tel: +84 96 703 7215

ROARING NEW YORK-STYLE DECADENCE IN THE HEART OF HANOI

Inspired by the opulence of the roaring twenties in New York City, The Hudson Rooms rooftop bar transports diners to a golden era when Jazz was king and contemporary decadence reigned. Famous for its oysters and caviar, faithful recreations of classic cuisine from bygone eras and a plethora of premium whiskeys and other libations, this Art Deco institution is not to be missed. Indulge in world-class oysters and caviar at The Hudson Rooms' marble-clad Oyster Bar. Try a whisky and oyster pairing, Caviar canapés, or tantalising bar bites. By night, the room morphs into a New York-inspired bar. The golden hour begins daily at 5 p.m. and is a great time to relax and absorb Hanoi. The Hudson Rooms, atop the Capella Hanoi hotel. A perfect venue for intimate gatherings and celebrations in a dynamic and stylish setting. Capella Hanoi, 11

Le Phung Hieu Street, French Quarter, Hoan Kiem Ward, Hanoi

WHERE THE EAST AND WEST COLLIDE

Culina Contemporary Dining & Gastro Café, located on the east side of Hanoi's West Lake, is a modern dining gastro café with an open kitchen and fusionstyle cuisine. Helmed by Executive Chef Nico Cecomoro, using the freshest available ingredients, it strives to be one of the few European-style restaurants in Hanoi to provide customers with a completely unforgettable dining experience. In line with its picturesque West Lake location, this renovated old villa decorated in a distinctively Mediterranean flair is spread out over four stories, with distinctly unique vibes at each tier. The Gastro Cafe is found on the ground floor, with the open kitchen and garden terrace located on the second story. Upstairs, you may find a more intimate dining space, and pièce de résistance, there's an exclusive whisky bar on the fourth level. The menu, a contemporary fusion of Eastern and Western cuisines, provides the diner with a wealth of options and unique permutations to choose from. Enjoy the sunset from the comfort of the airconditioned second-floor patio while enjoying a glass of

champagne and some tapas. 142 Tu Hoa Street, Quang An Ward, Tay Ho District, Ha Noi. Tel: +84 868 607 117

WATERFALL SPLASHES DOWN IN THE CENTER OF VIETNAM'S LATEST RESORT

Located 3 ½ hours from Hanoi, Avana Retreat is surrounded by unspoilt waterfalls, rice terraces, and forested hills. The 36-villa complex features an expansive indigenous design, a spa along a stream, and the most spectacular dining in South East Asia. The bungalow villas have thatched roofs and clay walls like Hmong homes. Rattan ceilings are Thai-woven. Local hand-drawn beeswax paintings with unique ethnic motifs cover the warm wood interiors. The property's forested area is highlighted by lantern-lit paths and footbridges, which do not harm the natural environment. A tiered balcony overlooks the private waterfall, which spurred the building a decade ago. Whilst the resorts outdoor yoga pavilion overhangs the stream. Four heated infinity pools face the sunset or clouds. Plastic-free and Eco-friendly Avana uses an electric buggy service and tree-planting initiative to aid the local environment and employs mainly locals. Xom Panh,

Mai Chau District, Hoa Binh Province. Tel: +84 218 3819 868