66 Chambers Red Room: On Air featuring Asakk and Aufas

I just found another two DJs, Asakk and Aufas, to keep a lookout out for because I totally enjoy what they belt out for the night.

Aufas, with his seamless blend of relentless, blood-pumping Schranz, hypes up the room real good, getting us into the mood for more.

Asakk, with his unparalleled energy, passion and fantastic build-up to the heart-pounding, grinding drops, gets us to totally immerse in his music and our movements to it. I remember his build-ups so well. Things are ramping up real good as the night goes on. So looking forward to attending his next rave!

Asakk in action. I stop videoing at the drop because I want to go back to dancing to the drop 😂

Aufas belting out awesome Schranz tunes

I got the awesome drops on my phone when I forget to turn off the video mode. Lucky!

Thoughts: Energy Overload! Heart-Pumping Hard Techno Opera!

22A Tanjong Pagar Road

66 Chambers Red Room: On Air featuring God Reset

Actually, my original plan for Friday, 4th September, was to go home early to get a good sleep, since I had crazy Fridays for the past weeks. But the moment I found that the mysterious DJ for On Air 4th September is God Reset, I know my plan had changed because I want to enjoy raving to his music again after his awesome performance at BL4CK M1RR0R.

And so here I am, raving to his heavy, dark, raw music as it transits from Dark Hypnotic to Hard Techno, and then to Industrial Techno. Since there are transitions of music for the three hours, he signifies this by wearing his trademark mask when the music gets heavier and harder with BPM going up. The beats are so wicked. And the transitions are fantastic.

I also love the intimate small setting of Red Room, where we ravers can feel the energy of the DJ and vice versa, especially for God Reset, who responds to our high energy. And as a metal head, his music hits all the sweet spots for me.

And yes, I dance real hard this night, in fact harder than I ever have been, especially at the later part of the night where the BPM ramps up to insane level. Crazy good time. I totally enjoy it! Till next time!

Thoughts: Crazy Good Time! I have never Danced Harder!

22A Tanjong Pagar Road

66 Chambers Red Room: On Air featuring MYA

I'm back at Red Room: On Air after an awesome night last week.

After a sumptuous crab feast and then a drink of Long Island Iced Tea, followed by listening to Industrial Techno on my way home, I kind of decide that the night is still very young. And I remember that I like what DJ MYA was playing in an instagram post on her first night at On Air, so I get a ticket on a whim, just 25 minutes before sales of tickets stop.

The result is hours of fun from movement to the high energy music belted out by MYA. I find myself immediately dancing in exuberance from the start of her set, characterised by high BPM, strong beats, deep bass and energetic melodies, with mechanical sounds seamlessly woven in as the night goes on and the music getting stronger. It feels good to discover another local talent that I can keep a lookout for.

Thoughts: Heart Pumping Music and Desire for Movement

22A Tanjong Pagar Road

66 Chambers Red Room: On Air featuring DJ Dosh Ong

It just seems like there's always new discovery at 66 Chambers, just when I thought I have happily explored everything there.

I did mention in my previous post that I went to 66 Chambers to hopefully find a place to dance to my heart's content (before I found Hard Techno), but I didn't find it there at my first time there during Sins and Seduction event. So imagine the turn of events, many months later, where I absolutely dance to my heart's content and have a blast at 66 Chambers' Red Room: On Air series, featuring DJ Dosh Ong, who plays Hardgroove, Raw Style and Industrial Techno. Yes, Industrial Techno is the one genre that got me to this event.

And this is one genre where everyone can move to by punching the air and all looks cool doing so. The energy in the room is full on with DJ Dosh taking the lead, where even the guys, who don’t dance, start punching the air in enthusiasm.

DJ Dosh seamlessly transits from the light Hardgroove to get us to warm up, to Raw Style to get us to start dancing harder, then ramps up to mechanical, heart-pumping, furious Industrial Techno for that ultimate high in dancing. The anticipation is so good and the drops are wicked.

The session is like an underground rave, where music and movement is the catalyst. It is more intimate, with more raw emotions and more space. It is one of a kind of experience. I’m keeping a lookout on more updates from DJ Dosh and Red Room: On Air.

Thoughts: Mind-blowing, Music and Movement, Freedom for Expression

22A Tanjong Pagar Road

66 Chambers - The Bar for Enjoyment of Different Spirits and Sharing of Secrets

My relationship with 66 Chambers is like a roller coaster, where I keep going back to find out if I can discover more new things from this one of a kind bar. This time, I just go to the bar on a whim because of a very random reason. Yup, story time!

I tried to recall how I got so much into Hard Techno and thus discover a new love in dancing to Hard Techno music. Then I remembered that it came from watching videos of ravers dancing to Hard Techno. But how did those videos got on my feed? Most probably from my search on Holy Priest, due to a lovely attendee at 66 Chambers' event telling me that she loved the heart-pumping rock music of DJ Holy Priest. His music was not rock music, as I had later confirmed 😂 But her mistyping of his genre of music sent me down the rabbit hole of Hard Techno because I wouldn't search up on him if she said his music is Techno.

So basically, I went to 66 Chambers at first to look for a place to dance to my heart's content, and I didn't exactly find that here, but this place led me indirectly to exactly what I had been searching for. With this revelation, I decide to just go to 66 Chambers, the place where it all started, on a normal day to just enjoy a shot of my favourite Gas Chamber before going off elsewhere.

And oh boy, it turns out that my most enjoyable time at this place is on a normal day, without any events. I ended up staying here for an hour to enjoy a variety of quality spirits and cocktails at the recommendation of the awesome bartenders since it's free flow of spirits for an hour. The bartenders and staff are so friendly, where they share the taste profiles of different spirits, tidbits about the events and the confessions written by the patrons. Yes, I have to write one myself in order to see the confessions made by other patrons. It is so fun and eye-opening to read the confessions with the staff. I read all the confessions, by the way, because I'm too curious.

I definitely recommend this bar to just enjoy the free flow of spirits and chat with the bartenders and staff here. Time files here. It's a different and fun experience.

Thoughts: Exciting Place to enjoy a Variety of curated Spirits, Cocktails and Secrets

22A Tanjong Pagar Road

Dill - Lovely Amazing Scandinavian Cuisine

I know that I will come back to Dill again after my first outing here because I love the unique flavours of Scandinavian fine-dining style cuisine here, realised with Japanese and Norwegian ingredients, the super cosy feel of the restaurant and the great hospitality of the owners.

The dishes here all pleasantly surprise me with special flavours of Scandinavian herbs, resulting unique tastes of fermentation techniques and how all these robust flavours are tied nicely together. I'm amazed that while Japanese ingredients are used, the dishes taste distinctively Scandinavian.

Decked in pine wood, the restaurant has this upmarket homely cosy feel, that is so different from those at other places, due to the host/owner's passion for the restaurant, evident from the beautiful floral arrangements on display in the space.

I definitely will be back here again to enjoy awesome Scandinavian cuisine in a cosy place.

I always love Scallops but at that time, I also wondered if the distinctive taste of this seafood could be transformed to be different yet still distinctively scallop. And Chef Daniel Hasvold Jung-Eldøy is one of the few chefs who can do just that. The unique herbal taste of lovage lifts up the milky sweetness of the plump juicy super sweet scallops while the emulsion balances the flavours while adding hints of zesty excitement. Amazing taste and texture too, due to the excellent juxtapose of crunchy leek and bouncy scallops.

Complimentary snack comes in the form of Truffle and Asparagus Tart, which has crunchy bits of asparagus introducing tiny bits of savoury excitement within the smooth creamy core elevated with the earthy aroma of truffle. A good exciting start.

When I saw that uni is one of the ingredients in the first appetizer, I thought it would taste Japanese. I’m so surprised to find that this dish tastes amazingly and distinctively Scandinavian. The cured egg yolk shavings, which contributes to the unique taste of the dish, with the spicy horseradish, punctuate through the briny umami of uni for a soft creamy, savoury, slightly zesty awesome taste. The crunchy, smooth turnip pieces add good hearty bites to the texture.

Langoustine from Norway is so unbelievably tender and juicy. With the seasoning sprinkled on the langoustine, plus the fermented leek and herbal freahness of parsley, the first bite of this makes me go, “Wow, this is so good!” This tastes like lots of unique flavours rolled into one light balanced harmonised taste. A must-try order here.

I’m not a fish person, but I totally love the Halibut here, which is fresh, pliable and succulent, with a touch of roasted goodness of meat. The zest of the sauce and the taste of dill cut through briny sweetness of the Halibut to elevate the taste. Crunchy vegetables such as cubed cucumber and corn add so mich to the texture and the taste.

I’m not a chicken person either since the breast meat is usually too plain, tough and dry while the thigh meat has tendons and strong gamey taste. But the spring chicken here actually tastes so good, where thr breast meat is so tender and flavourful. The light sauce enhances the sweetness of the meat. The paper thin chicken skin is super crispy, making it a delight to munch on with the meat. The mizuna leaves and ramson capers adds additional texture and herbal goodness to the dish. Best chicken dish!

The dessert pleasantly surprises me by how balanced the taste of strawberries is in here. The high tangy taste of strawberry is balanced by the custard and lemon verbena while the biscuits, kolakaka, add warmth and variation to the texture. The custard is so good, in the sense that it is creamy but not heavy. Excellent dessert.

I got to the try awesome Norwegian spirit, which tastes fresh and sweet. A must-try!

A special wine that tastes like rum 💖 I love it!

Thoughts: Incredible Unique Dining Experience full of warmth

33 Duxton Road

66 Chambers (Sins and Seduction Event - The Red Room) - Epitome of Self Expression

Yes, I’m back at 66 Chambers for another Sins and Seduction because this time, they offer something different in the form of the Red Room: a room restricted to kink enthusiasts and the truly curious only.

I specifically go for this event as observer, as 66 Chambers always welcome. I’m surprised by how respectful and structured the interactions are here.

Actually, I totally enjoy this event as compared to the first such event I had attended, despite the fact that the only primary difference being the addition of Red Room only. One of the reasons is that this event attracts quite a number of kink enthusiasts, who are so friendly. And I actually feel so at ease interacting with them because of their expressiveness, openness, respect of boundaries and emphasis on communication, which is a must in kink context. There is no hidden agenda and no need for reading the room when communicating with them, thus making the interactions truly enjoyable for observers like me, who is purely looking to know and understand more ways of expression.

Yup, I don’t attend these events to find anything, which many people find unbelievable.

I find out some fascinating and intriguing nuances about kink community that totally satisfies the Enneagram 5 in me. So yes, I love to attend more events with the kink community involved, as observer.

Besides the kink enthusiasts making this event awesome, another primary difference is my mindset when going to this event. Last time, I was reactive and performative, wondering what to do, waiting around for things, like mass dancing for example, to happen, thus I felt underwhelmed when nothing big happened. Yes, there was some chatting with people, but the interaction felt strained to me because being reactive and performative at that moment, I was not into the conversations, taking all the energy out of me when I tried to respond accordingly instead of spontaneously.

Now I go with the mindset to curate my own experience based on the space 66 Chambers provides. I start talking to the kink enthusiasts and people that I find interesting, exploring different drinks on the menu, enjoying the music, dancing when the music feels right and watching some kink individuals expressing themselves. I totally enjoy myself and I do feel that curating one’s own experiences in this bar is what this place is all about.

Even the staff is way more friendlier with me this time (it was very crowded last time, so understandably, they need to focus on crowd management). Because of this, I get to talk to the bartender a bit and he recommends me the Gas Chamber. And an awesome recommendation that is. It is a fiery drink, literally, infused with aromatic smoke. The bartender will light the drink up on fire and then pour the drinks and flames all together into the shot glass. It feels so hypnotic and intriguing to see a stream of blue flames flowing down from the wine glass and into shot glass. Then I get to inhale the aromatic smoke that the drink is infused. Lastly, I down the drink in one gulp to taste its entirety of intoxication, smoothness, aroma and sweetness. It’s oh so good. I love it. Given the theatrics and great taste, this drink is a must-try.

Thoughts: Mind Opening Experience

66 Chambers (Sins and Seduction Poolside Edition event) - Seductive, Cool and Idyllic Lifestyle

66 Chambers is back with another Sins and Seduction event, this time is Poolside Edition, with DJs onboard to hype up the atmosphere. I like the atmosphere here where everyone is dressed in white and express one's uniqueness and individuality with details, silhouette, design and movement. And due to the nature of the alternative lifestyle the 66 chambers subscribes to, we have daring individuals who dare to challenge the norms and dress in the non conventional way that says, "This is me." This is an eye opening event that feeds the curious minds like mine.

Due to the open and brighter space of this event at El Chido at Pullman Hotel's rooftop, I find that the energy here is more free flowing and vibrant as compared to the previous event. The presence of the pool, DJ booth, ample walking/dancing spaces and availability of numerous seats and standing tables make it possible for patrons to engage in a variety of activities for interaction instead of just standing around, unsure of what to do, or gather around the bar to get a drink to kill time. And as an observer, the brighter settings make it easier for me to observe expressions of the attendees. I have to admit that I do prefer this edition. This time, I'm pretty impressed.

Photo from 66 Chambers' Official Instagram

Thoughts: Sensual and Intense, Curated and Mind-freeing

66 Chambers (Sins and Seduction event) - Intensity and Edgy Lifestyle

66 Chambers, which is a bar into subculture, underground sounds, self expression, sounds very promising to add something different to the bar scene in Singapore. The interior is very on the point, with black and blood red theme ruling the space. It is seductive and intense.

In fact, after several outings here, I keep discovering new things about this unique bar. Definitely one of my favourite bars now!

Want to enjoy some good drinks, have a good chat with the friendly bartenders and read some confessions? Come on a normal day. Want to indulge in subculture and dress up to a theme? Come for Sins and Seduction event. Want to dance to DJ playing underground sounds? Come for Red Room: On Air event.

For Sins and Seduction events, it draws the unconventional individuals to this place, who are the highlight of this place. There are the expressive ones who dressed themselves in bondage to attend the event. It is really an eye-opener to me. If given the chance again, I love to talk to them to know more about this subculture. To feed my curious mind and satisfy the observer in me. The bondage tools hanging off the wall in the rooms, plus the cage, really drive home to the bondage-centric core of this place.

Though I think that it takes time to local bar scene to get acclimatised to this kind of subculture. Because when at event, I find that most patrons are passive and just waiting around for something to happen. There’s techno music playing, but hardly anyone is vibing to it, maybe because of the seduction vibe dominating the air?

The drinks on normal menu are more for intoxication. Yes, it's my instinct to taste the drink instead of just drinking it, due to how extensive I write about food and drinks. Go for the premium drinks instead if one is into the taste of the drinks. In fact, I highly recommend the premium menu.

Note: Gas chamber drink is so good, with completed with the flames, and is worth that special visit. And at the latest outing during a normal day, without any events, I get to try a variety of curated spirits here due to the free flow promo, they are so good!

I feel this bar wants the patrons to be daring and make full use of the spaces and props provided to express ourselves. If you are into it or want to try it, go for it.

Though I think a DJ will make the vibe there more alive. Note: On second outing here, I feel this place is positioned for self expression, where the space provided is your playground. So the time here can be as alive and interesting as one makes it out to be, with or without DJ.

Update: I'm back for the Poolside Edition of Sins and Seduction, and I love it this time. And Red Room event is a very eye-opening experience.

Actually, coming here on a normal without any event is also awesome!

They have DJs now for Red Room: On Air 👊👊👊 And I totally love it! Sessions I have been to:

DJ Dosh Ong

DJ MYA

Thoughts: Interesting Bar, for Self Expression through Alternative Lifestyle, or To See and To be Seen, or Appreciation of Spirits, or Movement to Music

22A Tanjong Pagar Road

Arc-En-Ciel Patisserie - Beautiful Parfaits

I remember Arc-En-Ciel Patisserie as that gorgeous instagram worthy cafe with equally instagram worthy bakes that taste so as good as they look. So when I found out that this quaint patisserie comes out with a range of incredibly beautiful parfaits, I immediately jump onto it.

And this place still features the clean, minimalist, stylish interior, with pops of green from the plants, that immediately calms the mind at entering it. Every corner here is a good photo-taking opportunity.

The parfaits here are so pretty that I delight in taking photos of the Eve’s Garden I have ordered. And lots of goodies added, from Hokkaido Milk Gelato, Earl Grey Lemon Jelly, Pistachio Dacquoise, rośe wine jelly, chantilly cream, raspberry sauce, caramel chantilly, to fresh strawberries. The taste is multifaceted and delights the palates. I almost love the juxtapose of different textures to make things exciting.

Thoughts: Beautiful Desserts with Depth in Texture and Taste

37A Neil Road

Dill - Amazingly Magical Scandinavian Cuisine

Scandinavian Cuisine is quite a rarity in Singapore and is a needed addition here to our melting pot of different cultures manifested through food. So when I found out about Dill, a Norwegian restaurant helmed by Michelin Star Daniel Hasvold Jung-Eldøy, I knew I must come here to get a taste of what Norwegian Fine Dining is like.

And after an awesome, one-of-a-kind dinner here, I can say that Norwegian cuisine is one of my favourites!

Update: And of course, I'm back here again!

The food here is full of harmonised, well-balanced, distinctive flavours, perked up by hints of zest. The taste is light yet complex at the same time. It is so different and distinct from other cuisines that I definitely feel like I’m dining in a faraway land full of seafood caught from the cold waters, fresh and specially fermented vegetables.

With Chef’s impressive resume, my first assumption will be that the restaurant tends towards formal dining style. So I’m pleasantly surprised by how cosy, homely and intimate the space is. Decked in light beige wooden panels and partitions, populated with pale wooden furniture and decorated with dainty light-coloured florals, this stylish minimalist place is like that quaint little Nordic restaurant packed with the owners’ passion.

The service is excellent, being so friendly, especially with the awesome host, who ensures patrons feel welcomed, enhancing that homely feel.

This is a must-visit for the foodies, the curious and the adventurous.

The first appetiser of Löyrom, which is Nordic roe, Cheese and Chives, all of which have very distinctive strong flavour, is surprisingly well-balanced in taste. The mildly briny sweetness matches so well with nutty pungency of cheese, especially with the chives adding a layer of soft vegetal freshness. And the Onion Cream is the magic that elevates the dish, evoking that "wow"moment. It adds complexity to the taste and its pungency highlights the natural sweetness of the roe and cheese. The pastry shell's texture is buttery and crumbly, blending seamlessly with the smoothness of the cheese. An awesome start to the meal. 

Fluffy Sourdough Bread with crispy shell is a delightful snack to enjoy on its own or with the Norwegian butter. First time I'm trying Norwegian butter and I'm impressed. As compared to the famous French butters, this butter is lighter on the palates while being sweeter at the same time. It fits with the whole theme of the meal, which is light and full of flavours. 

The Scallops here, interestingly served cold, are the most refreshing scallops, in a good way, of course. The soft briny sweetness of the scallops is rendered complex and oh-so-good by the vegetal sweetness of peas, the zest of the sauce, the pungency of herbs and yes, the lovely char aroma of grilled seafood. I love this so much that I finish every single drop of the sauce.

Next up is the warm dish of Cod, which is so different from any other cod dishes. I'm not exactly a fish person, but I totally love the cod here. Because the cod is perfectly cooked, being juicy with that iota of firmness, and featuring a thin layer of browned surface, and the pungency and zest of fennel and fermented celeriac cut through the oilness and brininess of the fish to retain the milky sweetness.

The beef is packed with meaty sweetness and is so tender with a good amount of char to impart an extra sweetness. The grilled vegetables are da bomb: the grilled sweetness of Baby Gem is so amazingly good that it makes me go "wow". The whole dish is made exciting and refreshing by the herbal zest of ramson.

The dessert of Rhubarb, Strawberry and Cream is light and refreshing with different layers of flavours, from mild sweetness, tanginess to a touch of earthy herbal taste. The crumble at the bottom is the magic here, adding a satisfying crunchiness and a buttery sweetness to round up the flavours nicely. 

Lovely White Whine

Smooth Red Wine

Thoughts: Falling in Love with Nowegian Cuisine!

33 Duxton Road

Fura - Full of Passion and Excitement

I get to know about this cool futuristic bar, Fura through Forged by Vow. That’s the good part about being in Forged Club. I get to know about unique, exciting dining concepts.

At Fura, the deep passion the team has for their crafts is evident in the food, drinks and service. And this passion translates to food and drinks that are out of this world, full of dimension in the flavours and taste oh-so-good. Vegan in nature, the food here can actually triumph over many meat-based dishes due to the ingenious layering of robust flavours from the fields and gardens, with a good dose of Asian influences. Fresh, Natural, Daring and Exciting is how I describe the food here. I'm so impressed with the dishes I have tried. Best Vegan/Vegetarian food I ever have.

The drinks here is in another league of their own. Creative, daring and exciting, I have lots of my "first times" here in the drinks department. First time trying strawberry fermented "dirty" wine, first time trying champagne with kelp ice-cream, first time trying cocktail made from beans ... I look forward to experiencing other forms of "first time" here.

The service is absolutely wonderful. Andrea has so much passion towards her craft and the philosophy behind the bar. She is warm, friendly and professional, making awesome recommendations on the food and drinks. And the way she introduces the dishes and drinks really gets me all hyped about them.

I think I can say, this is most probably the best and my favourite bar. This is a must-visit for foodies.

The special appetizer only available in Tasting menu is beautiful in both looks and taste. This is like the gardens, full of vibrant colours and crisp, clean aromas. In fact, the herbs, flowers and plants are sourced from Fura’s backyard garden. Refreshing, uplifting and holding so many flavours from tang, savoury, sweetness to spiciness, this dish is one of top reasons why the Tasting menu here is a must-try.

A QUAIL WALKS INTO A BAR is intense umami manifested. Forged parfait, which is cultured Japanese quail, tastes like rich creamy vegan foie gras complemented by the crunch texture of earthy hazelnut biscuit and multifaceted flavours of malt apple and onion crisp. So flavourful, so sinful (in a good way) and so indulgent.

XOXO,TEMPEH is earthy goodness that has so many harmonious flavours and exciting textures. The mushroom xo tastes so amazing when paired with herbal, tangy, bombastic chimichurri. And the pomelo adds the lovely slightly bitter tang and fun in popping the sacs when biting into them.

MODO & PRESTO is wholesome Motherdough sourdough with a twist in its unique dips: the creamy pumpkin seed puree and slightly spicy capsicum with shio koji. The dips are so unique and delicious in taste.

Garlic Caviar, a specialty of Fura. The most guilt-free caviar, alongside tonburi ❤️

MILK/MYLK/MELK is Bewilder oyster mushroom with shallot, nut-milk dashi and slow-brewed mushroom broth. This is warm earthy umami that tastes so satisfying and makes me go “Wow, this is happiness.”

Carrot cake with sambal cream cheese and orange oil. Moist and rich, with a touch of savoury spiciness from the sambal makes this dessert so exciting and complex in taste.

Only available in tasting menu, Lemongrass ice-cream with caramel is a winner. The distinctive exciting taste of lemongrass is actually perfect marriage with creaminess of the ice-cream. I love this. Definitely one of the most memorable desserts I ever have.

KING BELOTE features the lightest chocolate made from zucchini. This is brilliant. And the porcini ice cream! It is delicious! Full of earthy umami of mushrooms. The crispy yoghurt meringue is like the perfect meringue to go with chocolate cake since its tang cuts through the richness of the chocolate to harmonise the flavours. 100 points on both taste and texture.

STRAWBERRY GENERATION 60 day fermented strawberry/cherry/red apple/vanilla is so refreshing.

CAVIAR PAPI with Grey Goose, green apple, lemon balm is a must-try here because it is so good and unique. Kombu ice-cream and black garlic caviar in cocktail? Yes! It works beautifully here!

BEANS,BEANS, THE MUSICAL FRUIT is Empirical Soka infused with essences from lots of beans, such as tonka bean, butter bean and pea shoot. It is beanlly beanlly good. I’m absolutely surprised by how good it is. Another must-try here.

NEW YUCK CITY of Empirical Ayuuk, seaweed, pineapple, lemon and grapefruit is packed with lots of flavours, made even more exciting with the white chocolate foam decked on top. So unique and so good.

SO YOU BOUGHT SAD CORN is stronger with Monkey Shoulder as base. Corn vinegar caramel, masa and corn husk meringue make things more interesting.

PICK ME UP is creamy goodness with slight astringent flavour due to the eclectic mix of Empirical Ayuuk, brown butter, custard, orange and Fura “coffee” that is make up of different kind of teas.

THE BLACKER THE BERRY 60 day fermented blackberry/ blueberry/ yam is sweet, tangy and refreshing. Perfect as dessert wine.

Pots of fresh herbs at kitchen counter ready for use in the dishes

Thoughts: Fresh, Natural, Flavourful, Daring, Exciting!

74A Amoy Street