Wakuda: Modern Japanese at Marina Bay Sands

 

A modern Japanese sushi restaurant and sake bar in Singapore's Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Wakuda captures the tension between traditional and modern Japan in a bold and thoughtful way through cuisine, design, and art, with Michelin starred chef Tetsuya Wakuda. The beautiful space incorporates traditional Japanese Kumiki wood joinery, modern calligraphy by Jun Inoue, and open kitchen where guests can watch sushi chefs at work in front of a majestic flaming red Japanese maple tree in the garden behind. Arriving for lunch, after having enjoyed a cocktail at the open air bar on the 57th floor of the Marina Bay Sands overlooking Singapore's Gardens by the Bay, we nestled into our cozy banquette at Wakuda and looked forward to a long leisurely curated lunch beginning with a carafe of their signature Isojiman, an artisanal Junmai Ginjo that's brewed exclusively for Wakuda in Shizuoka, Japan. Beginning with four starters, that were included in the Lunch menu, we selected two entrées including Grilled Unagi with Miso Soup and white rice, and a selection of bespoke sushi plus two Hokkaido Uni Nigiri as a special treat.

Wakuda incorporates traditional Japanese Kumiki wood joinery, 

alongside soft lighting, tan leather chairs and relaxing banquettes

Signature Isojiman, an artisanal Junmai Ginjo 

that's brewed exclusively for Wakuda in Shizuoka, Japan

Delicious glass of Isojiman Junmai Ginjo 53

Savoury Egg Custard Chawanmushi with Avruga Caviar

Homemade Egg Tofu garnished with tobiko and aojiso, a tiny green shiso leaf

Mizuna Salad with tomato, shiso, seaweed crumble and shiso dressing

Spinach Goma-ae, blanched Japanese spinach squeezed into tight bundles 

and topped with nutty sesame sauce

Grilled Unagi, or unagi no kabayaki, is a Japanese delicacy of freshwater eel filleted, skewered, and grilled over charcoal and basted in a sweet, savoury soy-based sauce called tare

Japanese short-grain rice served with the Unagi

Lacquer Bowl of Miso Soup

Miso Soup with fresh Nori, Negi and Tofu

Sushi Lunch with Akamai Lean Tuna, Ōra King Salmon, Anago, Yellowtail,

Hirame and Ōra King Salmon Makimono

Ōra King Salmon Makimono garnished with Kaiware (yellow radish sprouts) and Tenkasu

Hokkaido Uni Sushi, one of my favourite things in life

Wakuda ‘Daifuku’ with Japanese Premium Seasonal Fruits, Adzuki, Vanilla and Amazake Gelato

The "Stone" - Chocolate Orange Cointreau Mousse with Vanilla and Hazelnut

After a lovely lunch at Wakuda, we took a 'Grab' which functions much like 'Uber'

back to Raffles Hotel

www.marinabaysands.com/restaurants/wakuda-singapore

Wolfgang Puck: The 98th Academy Awards

 

This year’s Governors Ball, following the 98th Academy Awards on Sunday, will offer Wolfgang Puck’s signature menu items such as chicken pot pie and Oscar-shaped smoked salmon crackers. However, the evening will feature some new additions, including a sushi and salmon station with five chefs preparing handrolls, nigiri and crispy rice cakes. For dessert, there will be an apple strudel prepared by a recipe from Puck’s mother, as well as an ice cream and gelato station. "We’re using a new ice cream machine," says Puck’s son and co-chef, Byron Puck. "It’s a challenge when you’re making ice cream or gelatos for 1,500 people. You bring it out and it’s usually rock solid because it’s so cold and has to last throughout the evening. This machine keeps it cold and churns the ice cream so that you end up with a nice, consistent silky texture, and all from scratch!"

This year also marks the 32nd time Chef Wolfgang Puck is catering the annual Oscars Governors Ball, alongside his son, Byron Puck, preparing for approximately 1,500 to 1,600 guests, the team is managing an 84-dish menu that includes luxury comfort foods including smoked salmon pizza, and Wagyu burgers. The massive operation utilizes over 420 staff members to prepare roughly 25,000 plates for Hollywood’s elite. Clarendelle & Domaine Clarence Dillon return with the official wines of the Academy Awards and Piper-Heidsieck provides the champagne. Mixologist Charles Joly and Lorenzo Antinori and the team behind Hong Kong’s Bar Leone will be on-site to curate Tequila Don Julio cocktails. Saco Sarkissian, creative director of Petals LA, are providing the beautiful floral designs throughout the venue. Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the Oscars will take place on March 15 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and are to be televised on March 15, 2026 live by ABC. Stay tuned...

Wolfgang Puck and his son and co-chef, Byron Puck will be catering 

the 32nd annual Oscars Governors Ball

Lobster appetizers served in small glasses

Miniature Savoury Cannoli with chives

Mini Cheeseburgers with tomato and pickle

Fish & Chips with Mushy Peas

Chicken Pot Pies with shaved Truffle

Freshly made Madeleines with Oscar statuette

Chocolate Oscar Statue with Madeleines

And the winner goes to.....

 

Tiong Bahru in Singapore: An Art Deco Gem

 

One of Singapore’s oldest and most charming residential neighbourhoods, Tiong Bahru is an art deco gem. A modern relic frozen in time, it's one of the last few standing areas that have any resemblance of Singapore’s unique heritage. Built by the Singapore Improvement Trust between 1936 and 1941, these low-rise blocks feature iconic rounded corners, sweeping horizontal lines, and nautical elements including porthole windows and stainless steel railings. The historic neighbourhood is a designated conservation area, with 20 pre-war blocks protected for their architectural heritage. Historically nicknamed 'Mei Ren Wo' or 'Den of Beauties' in its early years, the neighbourhood was a prestigious enclave where wealthy merchants housed their mistresses, Tiong Bahru now blends preserved colonial-era charm with modern cafés, street murals, and the popular Tiong Bahru Market, where the neighborhood's authentic character comes alive. This wet market and hawker center combination serves as the daily gathering place for residents, where you'll see the real rhythm of community life.

The market operates on two levels: the wet market on the ground floor features fresh produce, seafood, and meat vendors, while the hawker centre on the upper level offers prepared food at incredibly affordable prices, as the market primarily serves residents, which means prices remain reasonable and quality stays high. A local hub for food and culture which features some of the best hawker food in Singapore, including shui kueh, fiery red Mee Goreng, chicken rice, and famous Michelin Bib Gourmand stalls. Meeting our tour guide Calvin in the Raffles lobby, we made our way to Tiong Bahru for a fascinating afternoon exploring the the Kampung spirit, where a little kindness goes a long way.

Tiong Bahru is home to one of the largest and best-preserved clusters of 

Streamline Moderne buildings in the world, a late-1930s evolution of Art Deco

Tiong Bahru's low-rise blocks create an environment where daily life happens at street level,

a human-scale design that has profound implications for the neighborhood's character

Tiong Bahru Qi Tian Gong Temple, more commonly known as Monkey God Temple, 

was founded in 1920 and began as a small traditional palm and wattle hut

A portion of a mural that depicts a calendar from 1979 
by Yip Yew Chong who grew up in Tiong Baru 

A side alley with murals and outside spiral staircases,

where locals know the shady and efficient way to reach Tiong Bahru Market

Tiong Bahru Market is the neighbourhoods living heart

Fabulous fresh fish in Tiong Bahru 'Wet' Market

The woman fishmonger with a big smile as I admired her seafood

Fiddler Crabs with striking markings

Asari short neck clams

Singaporean dog whelks commonly feature brown, speckled, or spotted patterns

Large Asari clams at Tiong Bahru Market

Gorgeous Giant Tiger Prawns, a crustacean after my own heart

Young merchant handmaking Yong Tau Foo, tofu skin stuffed with fish paste,

is a beloved Singaporean hawker staple, which are then boiled, deep-fried, or braised

Kuih Bongkong is a sweet Malaysian dessert that is steamed at home

The flower market was positively booming on a busy Saturday in Singapore

Opened since 1958, Bib Gourmand 'Jian Bo Shui Kueh' has been family-run for three generations,

is a household name when it comes to chwee kueh

Chwee Kueh and Sui Mai, is a Malaysian favourite hawker food of steamed rice cake 

topped with a sweet preserved turnip (chai po) and serve with sambal

Roti Prata

Fiery red Mee Goreng is a signature stir-fried Indian-Muslim hawker dish in Singapore

Michelin starred Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice stall with a long line

to order their signature dish

Tiong Bahru's famous Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice

The Pinnacle @ Duxton Skybridge in Singapore offers stunning views from its 50th floor 

and where our guide Calvin showed us at the end of our tour

With a 360° view over Singapore, the view from the rooftop was extraordinary,

and this was just one small vignette

A small portion of the Singapore Ports which is world's busiest transshipment hub

And we returned to Raffles at the end of our tour exploring Tiong Bahru with Calvin