26@Marina Bar & Bistro

26@Marina is a bar & bistro that took root (geddit) right at the far corner of Satay by the Bay; a good distance away from the tourist crowd in the Gardens. Being at the side means they’re shielded from the smoky satay and BBQ seafood fumes, and not to mention the hustle and bustle that comes with it. With ample seating, it’s great for one, or with your entire bike/e-scooter gang while you crack a cold one with the boys.

So anyway, after grabbing a pint of ice-cold beer to cool off the heat, I was introduced to one of their specialties the crispy pork belly (i.e. sio bak) salsa. While the pork has all the juicy goodness to match the crunch of the skin, the real hero of the dish IMO is actually the sambal chilli, which is V E R Y S P I C Y. PEDAS. 很辣. காரம். Do take it sparingly if you’re a ketchupboi/ketchupgal! By the way, the chilli (aptly named Woo-La-La! Sambal Belachan) is available for sale in bottles at the counter if you want… BUT BE WARNED.

Feeling really hungry, we went straight for the mains. A new creation of theirs at that time is a charcoal burger, served with a generous 180g beef patty, and a breaded portobello mushroom stuffed with cheddar cubes. That’s right, an entire portobello mushroom, not one of those uppity burger joint burgers that only have a few slices of mushrooms ‘for the flavour’. Dressed well in cheese and sauces, the beef is done properly (medium) and I can only complain that I don’t have mushroom left in my stomach after eating! There’s going to be more burger creations apart from this one, so be sure to check out their social media or their menu when you’re there! (Newly launched: Mushroom Swiss Burger & Double Cheeseburger, +$2 for truffle fries)

Despite being a casual diner in an al-fresco setting they take their food seriously. The U.S. pork chops that we ordered came along not overcooked (common gripe) and well-seasoned too!

Incoming Promotion!

In line with our 52^nd National Day (SG52), 26@Marina will have a promotion from 3 August onwards! With any purchase of a gourmet burger (including the charcoal burger I ate, while stocks last) gets you a bottle of Tiger white (wheat beer)/black (dark lager) for just $5.20 (U.P. $8.50)! While stocks last!

Verdict

hole-in-the-wall-ness: [star rating=”3.5″]
It’s a bit far-flung from public transportation, but still rather accessible. We took an oBike here from MBS and it only took like 7-10 minutes? Also there’s free parking on weekdays for lunchtime (12-2pm)!

Price: [star rating=”4″]
Standard bistro prices, about $20-30/person. Which isn’t bad considering it’s right next to Gardens, a major tourist attraction.

Quality: [star rating=”4″]
Everything is freshly made, and by including an entire portobello mushroom that’s the same width of the burger patty, it shows they mean business!

Overall: [star rating=”4″]
A nice change from the Satay (hence Satay by the Bay) and other overpriced local fare, you should come to this watering hole for a ice cold pint and that F-L-A-M-I-N-G HOT chilli!

More Information

26@Marina Bar & Bistro
18 Marina Gardens Drive
Satay by the Bay
Singapore 018953
Opening Hours: 11:30am to 11:30pm Daily
Reservations: 6702-0739
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The post 26@Marina Review – There’s Not Mushroom Left After This! appeared first on You Otter Go There.

Just a couple of weeks ago, we were invited to the Singapore launch of Jules Taylor Wines at ONE°15 Marina, Sentosa Cove. From Marlborough, New Zealand,  this namesake winery started as and is still a boutique, family-owned-and-run company. Launched in 2001 with just 200 cases of Pinot Gris and Riesling, it has grown to include several other varieties, including Jules’ award winning Sauvignon Blanc. Joined by her husband George, another experienced winemaker with more than 18 years of experience (that adds up to at least 40 years of wine-making between them!), they also eventually launched George’s own collection, aptly named ‘The Better Half’. More on that!

WOK°15 Kitchen at ONE°15 Marina

Lauded as “Singapore’s Top Restaurant” by Wine & Dine, WOK°15 Kitchen radiates the spirit of the sea by featuring fresh live seafood for selection from the aquarium. With Executive Chef Chum Kar Ho leading the line, WOK°15 Kitchen showcases exquisite yet hearty Cantonese cuisine that, with its complex and rich flavours, will allure palates and satisfy even the most discerning and picky gastronomes. Presenting cuisines that are faithful to the traditional cooking techniques of Cantonese dining, expect only the most exalted flavours with an emphasis on premium seafood and uniquely crafted dishes.

We were treated to a really generous tasting menu by WOK°15, such as their appetiser which includes signature deep fried fish skin with salted egg yolk (黄金炸鱼皮) and sautéed pork belly with special sauce(妙酱烧肉); deep fried marble goby served with deluxe soya sauce (油浸顺壳鱼), sautéed beef cubes with garlic flakes (蒜片牛柳粒), and the star of the day, Singapore Chilli Crab with ried mantou (特制辣椒蟹伴炸馒头)! Okay enough talking for a bit, enjoy the pictorial break!

With fine food comes fine wine as well, in epicurean style. We had a wide variety of wines to pair with, but we especially loved the award winning Jules Taylor Wines Sauvignon Blanc. Without rambling on too much on the vintage, the concentrated of citrus and passionfruit flavour notes also carries subtle hints of fresh summer herbs with lemongrass. These linger on your palate, giving a long well-rounded finish to the wine without feeling too dry after. Grouped with fresh and well-prepared seafood, it is a perfect pairing!

All Aboard the ANKA by ONE°15 Marina

After a scrumptious lunch we were brought on board the ANKA, a mid-sized luxurious yacht courtesy of ONE°15 Marina. On deck we were graced with a presentation by George Elworthy (Jules Taylor’s husband), CEO of Jules Taylor Wines and Laura Grey, Deputy High Commissioner of New Zealand for Singapore. As explained the wines on offer were basically categorised into 3 groups; the classic, premium and elite; each represented by The Better Half, Jules Taylor (the wine collection) and “On The Quiet”, which is a reserve range of single vineyard wines by Jules, released in very limited volumes.

Out of all we felt the Pinot Noir was undoubtedly the most memorable. With wonderfully intense fruit flavours seamlessly balanced with soft, velvety tannins, it gives off a potpourri of aromas; ripe dark fruit, cherry and plum are layered over subtle oaky notes. Which is what we would expect of a Pinot Noir, complex but very easy to drink over just about anything you want to pair it with (went well with the scallops and other light bites served on board by WOK°15 Kitchen as well)!

So that was a really fruitful (and fruity, geddit, fruity notes #dadjokes) afternoon, albeit dampened slightly by poor weather. Many thanks to ONE°15 Marina and Jules Taylor Wines for putting together a feast!

More Information

Jules Taylor Wines
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Price range for the wines are from $60-$80 for The Better Half and Jules Taylor, to about $100-110 for On the Quiet. For more information, visit their website or contact  the local Singapore distributor, SUTL Consumer Goods. I’d recommend you look at their full list of wines at their page here, or the gallery below. Currently they’re available at both of  ONE°15 Marina Club’s restaurants, Wheeler’s Yard, Post Bar at Fullerton Hotel and Temasek Club, just to name a few!

WOK°15 Kitchen
Level 1, ONE°15 Marina
Sentosa Cove, 11 Cove Drive
Singapore 098497
Lunch:
Tuesday – Saturday 11.30am – 2.30pm
Sunday & Public Holiday 11.30am – 2.30pm
Dinner:
Tuesday – Sunday & Public Holiday 6pm – 10pm
CLOSED ON MONDAYS
Reservations; call 6305 6998 or email at wok15@one15marina.com
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BONUS CONTENT

Beat the heat this National Day with the Red and White Pool Party. Featuring DJ Daniel Benjamin, DJ Patrick Olivier and DJ Maverick on the decks, be prepared to move to the groove of the fresh beats from day to night while immersing in the view of surrounding multi-million dollar superyachts, right at ONE°15 Marina Club. Tickets information as below on the poster.

As part of National Day celebrations, they’re also having a promotion for the aforementioned chilli crab at WOK°15 Kitchen, where it is $6++ per 100 grams (usual price at $8++ per 100 grams) for the whole month of August! That’s not all, there’s also a 1-for-1 Singapore Sling promotion at their bar, Bar Nebula! Talk about the good life!

This post is brought to you together with ONE°15 Marina and WOK°15 Kitchen, and Jules Taylor WInes. Picture and stomach space credits to Jon.

The post Jules Taylor Wines Launch with WOK°15 Kitchen at ONE°15 Marina appeared first on You Otter Go There.