12 ways to celebrate SG50 like a foodie!

The whole island is ablaze with "SG50" logos and promotions, and for true blue Singaporeans, first things first: "What’s in it for my stomach?"

Restaurateurs are getting creative this season by incorporating Singaporean elements into their cuisines and giving flavourful Singaporean twists to their featured dishes.

Celebrate SG50 with your tastebuds - these great promotions and unique creations are sure to get the fireworks going in your mouth!

1. SG50 Awesome August @ Singapore Flyer

To mark the nation’s half a decade of independence, the Singapore Flyer is putting on a two-day non-ticketed event from 8 - 9 August 2015 titled SG50 Awesome August @ Singapore Flyer.

Open to public, this event will feature the Singapore Flyer lit in red and white and promises pure entertainment, complete with exciting performances, and over 40 food and lifestyle booths from 1pm - 10pm.

During the event, catch stand-up comedy performances by Hossan Leong and Mark Lee at 7pm, a nostalgic outdoor movie screening of Army Daze (1996) at 8.30pm, and on 9 August, a ‘live’ streaming of the NDP on LED screens at 5pm.

For the Flyer’s signature Premium Sky Dining Flight, they have also introduced a limited-time-only special four-course dinner menu available from 6 - 10 august 2015, featuring fusion cuisine served by a personal butler within one of the 28 rotating capsules.

Address: 30 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039803

Tel: 6333 3311

2. 50licious Celebrations at Orchard Hotel

As an SG50 treat, all citizens aged 50 and up get to enjoy a free buffet lunch at the Orchard Café if accompanied by a paying adult!

At Hua Ting, diners can enjoy a six-course set lunch created by award-winning Masterchef Lap Fai for $50++. The set lunch includes the following: A combined dish of Sautéed Fresh Prawn with Passion Fruit Sauce, Marinated Duck Wing with Spicy Pepper Sauce, and Fresh Tomato Marinated with Sour Plum Braised Assorted Seafood in Whole Mini Pumpkin Sautéed Fresh Scallop and Seasonal Greens in Spicy Black Bean Sauce Sautéed Sliced Kurobuta Pork with Wild Mushrooms and Water Chestnuts Braised Mee Pok with Shredded Char Siew in Hong Kong Style Hong Kong Traditional Red Kidney Bean Pudding

Are you drooling yet?

These delicious offers are available until the end of the year.

Address: 442 Orchard Road, Orchard Hotel, Singapore 238879

Tel: 6739 6565 (Orchard Café), 6738 6666 (Hua Ting)

Image source: Millennium Hotels and Resorts Website

3. The Seafood International Market & Restaurant

Crazy for crab? From 15 July to 31 August 2015, 11:30am to 2.30pm, the Seafood International Market & Restaurant is offering $50 for two Sri Lanka crabs (usually $70)—great for a hearty lunch for two.

This offer is limited to one order per table and both crabs have to be cooked the same way.

Address: 902 East Coast Parkway, Blk A #01-01 Big Splash, Singapore 449874

Tel: 6345 1211 or 6345 1212

Image source: The Seafood International Market & Restaurant Website

4. Casa Verde

This modern European trattoria nestled within the lush flora of the Singapore Botanic Gardens combines wholesome Italian food with local favourites. To mark Singapore’s 50th birthday, Casa Verde is offering some great deals in the month of August.

From 3 to 7 August 2015, 12pm to 2:45pm, enjoy a local delicacy like Mee Rebus, Mee Siam, Laksa, or Char Kway Teow with drinks at $9.80 nett.

Then on 9 August, get 50% off on all pizzas whether for dine-in or takeaway!

Address: 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569

Tel: 6467 7326

Image source: Casa Verde Website

5. Canopy

After four months of renovation, this gem of a restaurant tucked away in Bishan Park II is not one to be missed.

For the month of August, diners will get to enjoy Canopy’s twist on a local favourite, the Chilli Crab Pasta for only $17.50 (usually $21). Wash that down with a Singapore Sling at $10.50!

Love desserts? Every order of a main course for brunch and dinner from 7 - 10 August 2015 comes with a complimentary slice of Jubilee Cake, while stocks last.

Address: 1382 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, Bishan Park 2, Singapore 569931

Tel: 6556 1533

Image source: Canopy Garden Dining Facebook

6. The Dunearn, Singapore Botanic Gardens

Here’s another garden for al fresco dining amid lush greens.

For August, patrons of The Dunearn (Singapore Botanic Gardens) can enjoy 50% off their SG50 Set Menu for the second diner.

The 3-Course SG50 Set Menu includes the following: Appetiser: Crispy golden brown soft shell crab salad marinated in shrimp paste sauce Main Course: Garam masala spiced T-bone lamb and Sautéed scallop infused with lemongrass essence. Served with fried garlic angel hair pasta Dessert: Coconut panna cotta with bubur hitam and rose espuma with a touch of pineapple granita Coffee/Tea

Address: 1F Cluny Road, 259602

Tel: 6586 3260

Image source: Tripadvisor

7. Bakery & Bar ST. MARC

The folks at St. Marc have combined their signature dough with Singapore’s signature dish to create the Chilli Crab Croissant!

For only $2.60 each, savour St. Marc’s signature croissant dough scrumptiously wrapped around an explosive combination of juicy crab meat and a wedge of boiled egg, served with sweet and spicy chilli sauce.

Available at all outlets from now until 31 August 2015.

Outlets: Vivo City Marina Square Raffles City Shopping Centre Parkland Green @ECP

Image source: Bakery & Bar ST MARC Facebook

8. BRUSSELs SPROUTS

Mad for mussels? This Belgian beer and mussel joint is offering 1 Starter-sized pot of mussels and 1 Main-sized pot of mussels at only $50 (usually $60) from Tuesdays to Sundays.

Just order one pot of their Asian sauce from the month's special or from their regular menu. For July, the Asian sauce of the month is Japanese Miso Mussels!

Outlets:

Big Splash

Address: 902 East Coast Parkway, Blk F #01-27, Big Splash, Singapore 449874

Tel: 6346 4344

Robertson Quay

Address: 80 Mohamed Sultan Road, #01-12 The Pier @ Robinson, Singapore 239013

Tel: 6887 4344

Sentosa Cove

Address: 31 Ocean Way, #01-01 Quayside Isle, Singapore 098375

Tel: 6684 4344

Image source: BRUSSELs SPROUTS Website

9. Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant

At PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road, Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant is celebrating SG50 with the Nostalgic Dim Sum Buffet Feast at $50 nett for 2 adults during lunch!

Usual prices for weekday lunch (Mon - Thu) are $32++ per adult and $20.80++ per child while weekend lunch (Fri - Sun, eve of any public holiday) prices are $38++ per adult and $22.80++ per child.

For a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 12 diners per bill, diners can enjoy this offer from 1 April - 31 August 2015. Reservations required.

Address: Level 3, 181 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208533

Tel: 6428 3170

Image source: Si Chuan Dou Hua Website

10. Pastamania

Pastamania has introduced Singapore-inspired dishes to create a menu especially for SG50 comprising of four fusion pastas, three appetisers, two desserts, and three infused drinks.

The pastas are winning "Singapore meets Italy" recipes from the annual Chef Mania competition: Shiok & Spicy Chilli Crab Mum’s Salted Egg Soft-Shell Crab Hei Bi Biam (Spicy Dried Shrimps) Barramundi, and Prawn Sambal-Pura

Appetisers: Prawn Salad Stuffed Tau Pok Chop Chop Chicken Salad Nenek’s Secret Rojak

Desserts and drinks: Goreng Pisang Gelato Sago Manis Gelato Apple Lychee Milo Dinosaur Limau Mint

For a limited time, mix and match these meals for Italian dining with a local twist at your favourite Pastamania outlet!

11. Violet Oon Singapore

After six weeks of renovation, this Peranakan restaurant reopened in time for the SG50 celebrations.

We had a special opportunity to immerse in the classy Peranakan setting while enjoying a combination of Hainanese, Hokkien, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian dishes. With a larger local repertoire of Nonya and local favourites, our editor enjoyed flavourful dishes made from the heart of Violet Oon and team.

Whether it was the melt-in-your-mouth Aunty Nanny’s Daging Chabek Beef Cheek, crispy Coronation Chicken in Wantan Leaf Cup or the cheesy surprise Meatless Meatballs Rendang, palates were delighted! And, have you heard of their popular desserts yet? Our vote goes to the aromatic Pulat Hitam with Ice Cream and soft delectable Eurasian Sugee Cake.

This revamped restaurant also includes a show kitchen for culinary workshops and also doubles up as a private dining space for up to 12 persons!

Address: 881 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 279893

Tel: 6468 5430

12. Bloomsbury Bakers

If you’re all about dessert, enjoy a slice (or two!) from Bloomsbury Bakers’ new series of locally flavoured cakes and tarts! The fusion of local dessert and classic cake flavours in treats like the Chendol Cheesecake, Orh Nee Cake, and Pulut Hitam Tart are sure to bring on some nostalgia.

We were invited to test these delights and it was a lovely surprise! The cakes aren’t heavy-handed on the sugar and the Bloomsbury Bakers did a great job fusing the sweetness with the local flavours.

The Orh Nee Cake was light and fluffy with toasted coconut for an interesting crunch. The flavourful blend of gula melaka and coconut in the Gula Melaka tart was a favourite at the tasting. Finally, the Chendol Cake was chockful of chendol bits and had a fragrant gula melaka aroma.

Address: 30 Bendemeer Road, #01-889, Singapore 330030

Tel: 6299 3450

So, pick one of these awesome SG50 dining specials and tell us which one is the best!

Written by

Mary Anne Ho

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