Blue and white upholstered dining chairs

How many chefs does it take to shake up a street? The answer is three, which also happens to be the minimum sign-up rate for a good boyband. Chefs Jeremmy Chiam of Le Binchotan, Miller Mai of Ding Dong and Eugene See of Birds Of A Feather started out as neighbours along Amoy Street, with their restaurants just a few steps away from one another. Their friendship developed in the back alley as they started borrowing eggs from one another and grabbing late-night drinks after work. If they were a boyband, it’s clear what their band name would be: The Backstreet Bengs, as they’ve proudly proclaimed themselves, with no small measure of self-deprecating irony. Foodies get to benefit from this unique friendship, too. This October, the chefs have decided to organise a two-night-only Six Hands dinner with a twist: Guests will move in and out of the three restaurants, stopping in for two courses at each establishment. Yes, you could think of it as restaurant speed-dating. Each … [Read more...] about The ‘Backstreet Bengs’ present a Six Hands dinner as you hop down Amoy Street

Traditional cheongsams can be exquisite expressions of elegance, but their limitations are clear to anyone who has worn one: they are restrictively narrow in parts, oppressively warm in humid climes and overly formal for everyday life. The same could have been said about the house that former scientist Ee-ling Fock and her radiologist husband, Eric Ting, bought in the central Singapore suburb of Novena in 2018. The outdated home, she realised, could be tailored for the 21st century, just as she had artfully modernised the Chinese dress for her home-grown fashion label, The Missing Piece. Built in 1997, the three-storey corner terrace house they had lucked upon was graced with good bones and towering cathedral ceilings – a prerequisite for Fock. But it was dark, with an entrance leading directly into the lounge room that narrowed the living area and made it almost inhospitable. Additionally, the bathrooms were oddly disproportionate to their respective bedrooms and not at all … [Read more...] about How a stylist tailored a fashion designer’s outdated Singapore home for the 21st century

Australia’s long been known for its wines, with its more temperate and cooler regions home to some of the best ones worth seeking out. And many of these internationally acclaimed wine regions are actually just a short drive away from Sydney. For the uninitiated, the rolling hills and fertile soil of New South Wales offer some of the best conditions for wine production. And the truth is, it’s so good that visitors are absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding where to go. READ: Holiday memories: Celeb foodies and chefs share their best New South Wales experiences Of course, with the travel restrictions in place, the caveat here is finding out when to go. But if you want to whet your appetite for a future overseas trip, here’s a lowdown on the six best wine regions in New South Wales to bookmark for some wining, dining and sightseeing. In the meantime, there’s always the next best thing – enjoying a glass or two from these areas right in the comfort and … [Read more...] about Your future road trip from Sydney: Exploring 6 famous wine regions in New South Wales

EXCLUSIVE: Norman Lear never was one to be stifled with. When Fred Silverman turned to him for a show to upgrade the image of CBS — the Tiffany network that, through the enormous popularity of The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres and Hee Haw, had come to stand for Country Bumpkins Supreme — Lear knew exactly the path he wanted to take. He would turn the sitcom landscape into a minefield where the timid dare not tread, taking on the Big Issues of the time: The Vietnam War. Civil Rights. Women’s Liberation. Hippie culture. The growing chasm between America’s Haves and Have-Nots. Lear would introduce Archie Bunker into the American cultural pantheon, damn the consequences. Not, however, with the wagging finger of the pedant. Lear, who had written comedy with Ed Simmons for Martha Raye, and Jerry Lewis & Dean Martin, produced variety shows and feature films with his Tandem Productions partner Bud Yorkin and hung out with Hollywood’s crack-a-minute cadre of … [Read more...] about Norman Lear Vs. CBS On Archie Bunker’s Bigotry, Gloria’s Skirt, And Sunday Sex In The City – Exclusive Book Excerpt

As a Type A personality, I like things to happen efficiently, especially when it comes to travelling. Bullet trains are my preferred mode of transportation. As are direct, non-stop flights – layovers, even for a few hours, fill me with existential dread. In fact, the phrase “as the crow flies” was coined with me in mind. But somewhere along the line, I have, quite unexpectedly, fallen in love with ship cruises. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I now appreciate the idea of a slower pace. The boon of being able to travel to multiple destinations without having to pack and unpack for each spot – and deal with an unending series of airports and bus stations and checking in, again and again, at a different hotel – fills me with ineffable joy. And if you think about it, eliminating this Groundhog Day-ness that’s associated with most modern-day travel is actually much more efficient. So, win-win for us Type As. And now, after a recent trip up the Mekong on the Aqua Mekong … [Read more...] about Time for reflection and glorious meals: A luxurious experience meandering up the Mekong