This year, the theme of the 109th International Women’s Day is #EachforEqual: challenging individuals to make a collective difference towards a more equal future for the world.
It’s not just about donations and advocacy – making a small difference in your community might make a world of difference when millions of others do the same.
Singapore’s food scene is advancing as well. While there’ve been revered culinary doyenne for a while (the venerable Violet Oon comes to mind), more women are taking the helm in F&B: some are known for omakase, like Akane Eno of Ichigo Ichie, while others, mixology. And desserts. Especially desserts. Think Janice Wong and Cheryl Koh for a start.
A trio of female culinary heavyweights will be collaborating on Mar 8 at TONO Cevicheria to present an eclectic menu that highlights the strength of each chef to the fullest. The restaurant’s head chef, Tamara Chavez, will work alongside chef-owner of Morsels Petrina Loh and Nouri’s Ashlee Malligan to commemorate the day with Peruvian dishes influenced by their diverse culinary roots.
Chef Chavez brings mi vuleve a la vida, a mix of fresh seafood like prawns, octopus and crab cured in citrus. The tart, refreshing curing liquid now imbued with the briny essence of the seafood is used in a homemade tomato tiger’s milk. Meanwhile, chef Loh’s rendang taco combines angus rump cooked in housemade rendang paste, red onion raita and green mango pickle fenugreek: a creation reminiscent of her fusion-style cooking at her own establishment. Finally, chef Malligan has created a rich, spicy mole taco that swaps out dark chocolate with buah keluak to accompany slow-cooked Australian lamb shoulder, pickled jalapenos and cocoa nibs.
This menu is more than just good food: chef Chavez wants to empower other women to step up for what they believe in, even when the odds might be against them.
Where else to eat for International Women’s Day 2020
These other restaurants have also crafted menus to commemorate the special day – and of course, treat the ladies in your life to some much-deserved pampering.
https://www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg/gourmet-travel/international-womens-day-restaurants/
women's day menus
image
Chef Keisuke Uno presents a lunch bento at once an ode to Hina Matsuri – a historical Japanese doll festival where families wish their daughters good health and happiness – and also a celebration of women everywhere. With exquisite, quintessential ingredients beautifully presented in a dainty lacquered bento box, the set is a feast for the eyes and your tastebuds. Some highlights include flavours of the sea with dashi-foam adorned live oyster from the Mie Prefecture and a selection of sashimi including Japanese snapper, amberjack and the vaunted tuna belly. Also included is a curated tempura sampler, some braised delicacies and Kuchidiri, an assortment of quaint snacks. The star of the bento is surely the slow-cooked Stanbroke wagyu tenderloin in housemade teriyaki. The bento is accompanied by a hearty miso soup of asari clams and rice simmered in dashi crowned by grilled barracuda. The meal ends off with a classy rose tea jelly dessert with strawberry-flavoured yuzu sauce. Available from Mar 2 – Mar 14, 12pm to 2.30pm.
80 Bras Basah Rd, Level 3, Fairmont Singapore. Tel: 6431-6156
image
Enjoy classic Italian hospitality while honouring the milestones toward equality on IWD with a resplendent four-course menu at Zafferano. First, a delightfully charred white asparagus with smoked mascarpone cream and cured egg yolk to start you off. Thereafter, a briny red prawn crudo and ikura taglioni follows. To fill you up, either roast halibut drizzled with a lemon butter sauce or charcoal grilled Black Angus striploin accompanied by roasted sunchoke cream and rosemary jus. An airy apple millefoglie, spiked with apple brandy, and topped with housemade calvados ice cream makes for an elegant coda to the experience. The night doesn’t have to end there: the effervescent Terrace Lounge offers a stunning view of the Marina waterfront – and on Mar 7, an equally stunning IWD Ladies’ night deal of unlimited pours of spumante, house reds and whites, or beer at $50++ per person. The IWD dinner menu is available from Mar 2 to Mar 7, 5.30pm to 10pm. On Mar 7, ladies can enjoy the free-flow tipple from 7pm – 10pm, while other guests will have the same deal from 8pm-10pm.
10 Collyer Quay, Level 43, Ocean Financial Centre. Tel: 6509-1488
image
Capella Singapore’s home-style kitchen, helmed by chef Carol, is perfect for an intimate dining experience tucked away in Singapore’s south coast. Their IWD menu, available only on Mar 8, begins with a complimentary cocktail and heirloom tomato tartare with burrata foam and pickled apricots. Thereafter, sup on steamed barrumundi adorned by herbs and flowers from Capella’s garden in a beautiful Mediterranean consomme, and finish off with a decadent dark chocolate hazelnut crunch accompanied by bourbon vanilla ice cream. Hurry – there are only 20 seats. Available on Mar 8, 6.30pm to 10pm.
1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, Capella Singapore. Tel: 6591-5089
image
For the busy career-woman, it might be hard to get grub that tastes as good as it is for you. It gets worse when you’re rushing from a pre-lunch yoga sesh: thankfully, Escape’s got you covered. Their Go Clean, Go Green menu honours the dedication and sacrifices women in our lives make with a three-course set lunch designed for the contemporary woman. Start with farm fresh greens or wild mushroom soup before filling up with pan-fried Norwegian salmon or sous-vide free-range chicken breast. Finally, end off with a scrumptious lychee rose cake or saccharine strawberry tiramisu. You’ve earned it. Available from Mar 2 to Mar 15, 12pm to 2.30pm.
1 Farrer Park Station Road, One Farrer Hotel. Tel: 6705-7825
image
Nothing says pampering like bayside bottomless brunch (yes, that includes tipple) and manicures. Monti’s upped the ante on its standard (read: exquisite) Colapranzo brunch by inviting two female mixologists, Christyne Lee of Tess Bar & Kitchen, and Macaerna Rotger of the Other Roof to serve elegantly curated drinks alongside gorgeous fare. Look forward to refreshing burratina with heirloom tomatoes, decadent braised beef short ribs and Monti’s take on the staple tiramsu with a stunning blend of pistachio and coffee crumbles, espresso caviar, mascarpone mousse and dark chocolate. As a bonus, ladies who turn up between 1pm – 3pm can get a quickie manicure courtesy of the Nail Social. All this while half of the proceeds from Monti’s IWD brunch will be donated to AWARE, Singapore’s leading women’s rights group. For women, by women. Available on Mar 8, 11am to 3pm. Read more here.
82 Collyer Quay, 1-Pavillion. Tel: 6535-0724
Related:
12 women honoured at Women Entrepreneur Awards (WEA) 2019
International Women’s Day 2019: Advice from female leaders at the top
First female Brigadier-General in SAF among eight honoured in Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame