This 2nd chronicle that I want to share with you guys is around 13 years ago when I was 4 years old. That was the first time I travelled outside of Indonesia. It was Singapore, called the city of Lions. Since then, I travelled to Singapore almost every year with my parents, mostly because I needed a treatment for my sinus infection. But even after my treatment was complete, my parents kept on dragging me to Singapore, going to the same boring place over and over again. I'm eventually became sick of going to Singapore. However, last year when I went to Singapore with my parents, I was the one that dragged them to modern and up-to-date places that are perfect for a family vacation.
Every time I'm in Singapore, I always see families going from malls to malls 24/7 like there's nothing else better to do than shopping. The same thing happened to me and I realized that this is because my mom insisted my dad and I to shop with her. And of course like every other Dad, my Dad willingly follow my mom to go shopping and even carry her shopping bags. Well, last year, I created our own family itinerary that fixed this problem. The first place that you can visit is Marina Bay Sands, a dazzling entertainment complex that combines a luxury hotel, convention and exhibition facilities, theaters and an upscale shopping mall and high class restaurants by celebrity chefs. There is even a distinctive lotus flower museum that showcase thousands of plants. This is the time where you, as a kid, to take in charge and force your parents to go here. While your mom can go shopping freely without you and your dad whining, your dad can go to the casino and make some money and you can visit the Harry Potter exhibition in the same entertainment complex. You can even visit the contemporary lotus flower museum. This isn't just an ordinary museum, you can embark on an amazing walk and feel as if you're in a paradise surrounded with magnificent flowers. It is literally like a scene from "Avatar", where you can find blue flowers and even rare venus flytraps. Or if you feel like you need some family time together, then you and your parents can go to the ArtScience Museum. The architecture of this building is mind-blowing, it is crowned with ten petals that have been described as the "welcoming hand of Singapore." The building itself is shaped like a water lily emerging from the park in front of the Shoppes building complex of Marina Bay Sands. Even if your parents hate science museums, this particular museum will blow their mind away. There are so many unique exhibitions every month, including Lego bricks, WWII original photo exhibition and even an art show that trace the seafaring history of the Fujian people as they traveled from China and settled down in Southeast Asia. After an exhausting day in this entertainment complex, you and your parents can experience a fine dining experience at Wolfgang Puck or Mario Batali's restaurants that are also located in Marina Bay Sands. However, I recommend to dine at the White Rabbit if you still have some energy to venture the city of Singapore.
The White Rabbit is the most unique fine dining restaurant that I've ever been. It is a restaurant and bar housed in an awe-inspiring and beautifully-restored old chapel located off the Dempsey area in Singapore. The building itself is nearly 200 years old, and it is literally a church. Well, I get it, it's kinda ironic to eat at a church while you're wasting lots of money for food and drinking cocktail, but trust me, you will have an amazing time here. They serve classic European comfort food and original cocktails. As their famous line says, "Inspired by the past, showcasing the present."
For the starters, I recommend ordering their succulent and well-known seasonal oysters with or au gratin. You and your parents can also share a portion of "the birds and the beets." It is a well-balanced dish of seared quail, baby beetroot and beet greens. If your parents insist on eating healthy food, then you can eat the seared quail that is cooked with perfection, while your parents can enjoy the baby beetroots. For the main course, I insist you to try their beef cheek bourguignon with crispy bacon or the char-grilled Mangalica Pork collar. For those of you who don't know fancy culinary terms, they're basically an amazing steak dish with potatoes, cream and puree. I can guarantee you it's better than any steak you can find in Texas. The legal drinking age in Singapore is 18, but this restaurant will let you order drinks if you're 16 with parental permission. If you want to try their cocktail, I recommend ordering their Espresso Martini, White Peach Bellini or their original Bloody Mary Martini.
After you're done eating your main course, it's time to go outside to their patio known as the "Rabbit Hole." This is the place where you can relax in the garden while enjoying a glass of cocktail and dessert. They also have a private bar outside that provides dessert and drinks. For their dessert, I recommend ordering their white chocolate souffle or the White Rabbit Creme Brulee topped with summer berries. While you and your parents are enjoying the dessert, you can also take a family photo with the gorgeous atmosphere. The garden itself looks like a scene from "Alice in Wonderland." The Rabbit Hole is definitely the perfect place to end your exhilarating day in Singapore.
I think it's hilarious they have an option called the "Birds and the Beets," but that beef cheek bourguignon you suggested sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteI went to Singapore several years ago, but i didn't find any good dining place. I would love to try the beef cheek bourguignon in the White Rabbit restaurant. And the Rabbit Hole sounds like a good place to relax.
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