HazelDiary

Singapore’s culinary story is famously woven from many threads. Malay and Indian spices flavour
Teochew and Cantonese-descended culinary traditions and vice-versa, with differences subtle and
profound to be experienced between different households. And with Singapore rising to global
prominence as a key trade hub and expatriate haven, global tastes have started adding even more
vibrance to the mix.

The growing diversity of restaurants in Orchard Road’s environs is a testament to these profound
changes. In some spots, you can even taste the world without stepping out into the street. Right above
the Somerset MRT Station, the 313@Somerset Shopping Centre is just one of many places that bring
together a remarkable mix of local and international eats.
Whether you have half an hour between shops or are dedicating an evening to exploring flavours, this
area offers plenty of culinary passports to stamp. Try kicking off your international food journey with
these cuisines:

1) Ramen and Sushi Done Right
Orchard Road doesn’t disappoint when it comes to Japanese cuisine. Here alone, you’ll find a variety of
casual Japanese eateries featuring rich bowls of different regional varieties of ramen, fresh sashimi, and
expertly crafted sushi don. If you’re not sure where to begin, start with classic and accessible tonkotsu
or shoyu ramen and go wherever your tastebuds and curiosity take you.

2) Vietnam: Pho, Banh Mi, and More
Vietnamese dining offers you fragrant herbs, bright lime, savoury broth, not unlike Singapore’s native
eats, but still markedly different. It’s easy to get Vietnamese cuisine wrong, but a number of Orchard
Road spots serve authentic, traditional pho, banh mi, and other classics with all the flavours you’d
expect. If nothing else, a steaming bowl of pho beef or a refreshing summer roll is perfect on a rainy
Singapore afternoon, or even as a light dinner after a long day of exploration.

3) A Symphony of Savoury & Sweet Korean Flavours
Perhaps as part of the global K-Wave, it seems that Korean cuisine has also taken hold in Singapore.
Famous for its bold heat and fun dining formats, Korean cuisine runs the gamut, from staples like spicy
stews and bibimbap to beloved snacks and desserts like K-style corndogs and bingsu (shaved ice). These
meals fit both quick solo lunches and longer fiestas with friends.

4) Authentic Mexican & Latin American Street Fare
Speaking of fiestas, the wide variety of Latin American cuisines is now starting to be authentically
represented in Singapore. Foodies who have been around for decades might remember a time when
you couldn’t find a taqueria or burrito spot worth their name, but that is no longer an issue thanks to
the country’s growing international population. If you haven’t yet, try out some Mexican or Brazilian
eats for a vibrant contrast to Asian dining.

5) The Whole Breadth of Chinese Cuisines
Singapore has long been an Asian crossroads, so it’s no surprise that it offers the whole gamut of
Chinese cuisine, distinct from Singapore’s own Chinese-descended culinary heritage. If you’re looking for
them, you will even find regional takes on classic noodles, grilled fish, hotpot or wok-tossed stir-fries. Eat
with chopsticks, share plates and enjoy long, comforting flavours that reflect different parts of the
region.

6) Heartwarming Western Comforts
Sometimes, familiarity makes the best meal. Orchard Road is consistently among the first in the region
to offer authentic European and North American food concepts. Whether it’s steaks and hearty burgers,
fish and chips, or pastas and comfort mains, you’ll be able to take your pick, and be fully confident that
what you get lives up to the “real thing,” because it is the real thing.

7) Middle Eastern & Mediterranean Delights to Wake Up Your Palate
These cuisines are especially good for group dining, sharing plates and light yet flavourful meals.
Authentic takes of these cuisines have been sorely lacking in Singapore in part decades, but the full
experience can now be enjoyed if you’re in or around Orchard Road.

Here’s a pro tip: in between bites of grilled kebabs and flatbreads, you can enjoy colourful mezze and
fresh salads as a pleasing palate cleanser.

8) European Bistro Dining with Authentic Ambience
For a bit of old-world charm, European dining at Orchard Road brings relaxed bistro-style meals and sit-
down cuisine that’s literally, not figuratively, a world away from Singapore’s own home-brewed coffee
culture. Think hearty brunch boards, rustic mains and, in some places, Italian, Swiss, or French-inspired
classics with ambience that takes you elsewhere.

9) Casual Pan-Global Food Hall Adventures
If you want maximum variety without leaving one place, the food hall inside 313@Somerset is a
convenient choice. Food Republic brings together everything from Chinese grilled fish and mala hotpot
to Thai staples, Vietnamese noodles, Indonesian classics and more. Mix and match several small dishes
and make a meal of global street eats on one table; you might not be able to do it anywhere else.

How to Eat Around the World in a Day
Whether you’re a local or a visitor with a day to spend in SG, start your food adventure at Orchard Road.
Yes, the rest of Singapore is full of great dining spots, but it’s difficult to beat Orchard Road for sheer
diversity and proximity.

If you want, you can kick things off with a midday ramen or pho, wander through shops, then linger at a
legitimate Mexican taqueria for lunch. Walk off the meal with more shopping and return in the late
afternoon for Korean desserts or a café pick-me-up. Or mix things up as your heart desires.

Orchard Road makes this trivially easy to do. Unlike many other major shopping and financial districts
elsewhere, you’ll find malls connect through sheltered walkways. The Somerset MRT station also sits
right under 313@Somerset, so you never stray far from transport to the further reaches of the city as
you hop between cuisines. Whatever you fancy, Orchard Road’s global food options make it easy to
savour far-flung flavours without leaving Singapore.

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Nipong Naepong is literally translated as ‘your ppong, my ppong’, where ‘ppong’ refers to jjamppong; the brand’s core product. The brand is Singapore’s first Jjamppong specialty restaurant and a Korean fusion franchise brought into Singapore by the folks of Chir Chir, Massizim and their upcoming new franchise other than Korean franchise- Restoran Kota Zheng Zong (Bak Kut Teh) from Malaysia. Read More

I was introduced to Tring 313 mobile application recently. This app is launched by 313@Somerset which is to enhance the shopping experience for the 313 shoppers. Tring 313 app is a location based mobile application that includes the promotions of the retail shops and able to tailor alerts to personal profiles and preferences. The app offers exclusive fantabulous food deals of up to 50% off with participating tenants such as Hai Di Lao, Marche, Umi Sushi, ISEE iSEE and many more. This is just nice for foodie like me! Read More

It was an impromptu dinner with blogger friends at Masizzim last week. Finally get the chance to try after seeing all the positive reviews posted on social media which include media tasting. Masizzim is actually a combination of two Korean words – “masi” delicious and ‘jjim” stew. The brand is also from the same people behind the successful Chir Chir. Read More

From 10 – 19 June 2016, grab the opportunity for a photo taking session with the LINE Friends at Atrium Level 1, 313 @ Somerset. LINE Friends includes Cony, Brown, Moon and Sally are available for you to snap away! So, before it was opened to public, some of us have the privileged to get our photo taking done. Lucky us!

So, what can we anticipate from the event?

Carrie & Belle #BFFNoMatterWhat LINE STICKERS

313@ Somerset is the first shopping mall in Singapore to launch an official account on LINE App in June 2015. So, as part of their relaunch in partnership with LINE, 313 @ Somerset will be launching a set of eight (8) Carrie & Belle #BFFNoMatterWhat Line Stickers Vol. They are available for FREE downloads on the LINE Sticker Shop from 7 June 2016.

Here’s how it looks like from my phone. I downloaded the cute stickers to chat with my friends. We were told that this is the first set of animated stickers that is of non-LINE characters to be launched in Singapore. So grab the stickers within the limited time period!

INSTAGRAM CONTEST

So, on top of the stickers from LINE App, shoppers can stand a chance to win 313@Somerset shopping vouchers. All you need to do is to take part in the NO SURCHARGE- Post & Win #313BFF Instagram contest.Check out the pop-up LINE characters at Atrium Level 1 and get your shots just like mine!

QUIZ CONTEST

If instagram is not your cup of tea, you can add 313@Somerset as a friend on LINE and answer the trivia quiz on the 313@Somerset LINE official account.

PHOTO SESSION WITH LINE CHARACTERS

Other than the contest, there will be Bound-for-Happy Moments with Cony & Brown mascots as the two leads from the LINE Friends family making their appearance. They will meet and pose for photos with 313@Somerset shoppers.
Here are the details:
10 & 17 June (Friday) : 5:00PM – 7:00PM
11 & 12 , 18 & 19 June (Saturday, Sunday ) : 4:00PM – 7:00PM

MEET THE CELEBRITIES

Peak-Hour Alert with Xu Bin & Aloysius Pang as shoppers can look forward to an afternoon of games and prizes with the two heart throbs on 11 June 2016 (Sat), 4pm.

For all the fans of LINE Friends, get ready your camera and head down to the mall for some photo session this weekend!

More details are available here
Official Hashtags: #313GSSJoyRide | #BFFNoMatterWhat | #313BFF

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Chinese New Year in a week time! 313@Somerset which is accessible via Somerset MRT has kick off the festive seasons with a lineup of activities for its shoppers themed “Where Your Wishes Take Off”. One of which is a state-of-the-art interactive digital sky lanterns display where you get to pen your Chinese New Year wishes on colourful sky lanterns and release them into the starry sky, digitally. This is my 1st digital sky lantern ever. Read More

Finally! I tried the famous HaiDiLao last week with my foodie friends. HaiDiLao is known with their excellent service, quality foods and long waiting time. We tried to call to make reservation for the outlet at 313 Somerset but it is not allowed. Thus, one of the group, Nikki went around 4pm to secure the dinner table for 7pm. 海底捞火锅 HaiDiLao is a popular restaurant chain in China with origins in Sichuan since 1994. Read More

Date of Visit: 15 May 2015

Whenever I heard about waffles, the image that appears in my mind is the squarish shape with ice-cream toppings or savoury items on top of it. Oh boy, this time round is different! It is served is thin long waffles stick by Hvala Waffles Bar ! Read More