It’s incredible how fast the year has flown by! After all the hard work everyone has put in, now is the perfect time to gather some friends, unwind, and enjoy some well-deserved relaxation. In the hustle and bustle of life, taking a moment to step back isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential! So join us on our food trail where we will be taking you to two urban eats and two green retreats.
Featured Restaurants
ilmiri – Modern Korean Cuisine
right from top: Jjimdak “Cloud Cheese”, Kimchi BBQ Nacho, Mari topped with Ramyeon
After watching Culinary Class Wars, Lisa and I suddenly had a strong craving for modern Korean fusion food! If you’re feeling the same way, Ilmiri is the perfect place to satisfy that craving. Known for putting a fresh spin on Korean classics. This restaurant has over 200 outlets in South Korea, and the one at Joo Chiat is their second restaurant in Singapore.
One dish you absolutely must try is their Mari, which features thinly sliced meat wrapped around green onions and served with a choice of stews. It’s eaten in several stages. First, the waiter grills the meat at your table and serves you a piece to enjoy its original flavor. Then, a stew resembling Korean army stew is placed in the mini wok, with slices of pork added. Finally, you have a choice of adding ramyeon or steamed rice to complete the meal!
You may choose either Pork or Beef, and there are 3 choices of stew to choose from; Korean Tofu Stew, Soybean Paste Stew and Kimchi stew. We had the Korean Tofu Stew which was very nice.
ilmiri stands for “the town with premium taste”, and they are well known for the Jjimdak brand called Gold Jjimdak. When they came to Singapore, they combined Jjimdak with another brand called Mari, offering Singaporeans with their best menu options from both brands.
The Jjimdak is supposedly a Korean royal dish of braised chicken. They have reimagined the dish by adding other ingredients like glass noodles, potatoes, mando (Korean dumplings), and rice cakes. They have 8 different flavours! We got to experience their Cloud Cheese Jjimdak, which was topped with a generous layer of stretchy mozzarella cheese! While we expected the cheese to have a “cloud-like” texture, it’s called “cloud” simply because it covers the entire pan.
We also enjoyed their Kimchi BBQ Nacho. It is a Korean-Mexican fusion dish featuring Guacamole, Kimchi, and Bulgogi with your choice of beef or pork, on corn chips. Lisa especially like the soft, cotton candy like cheese topping.
Citi Gourmet Pleasures promo (available at both branches)
- Free Crunchy Potato (worth S$17.90) with min. S$80 spend
- Free Eonyang Bulgogi or Stir-Fried Pork (worth S$28.90) with min. S$120 spend
Valid till 31 Dec 2025
Click here for more information
ilmiri
467 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427678
Mon – Fri | 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 11pm
Sat – Sun | 11am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 11pm
25/26 Circular Rd, Singapore 049381
Mon – Fri | 11am – 11pm
Sat – Sun | 12pm – 11pm
The Butcher’s Wife – delicious gluten-free Brazilian fare
The Butcher’s Wife has been a fixture in Tiong Bahru for nearly a decade! I had often heard great things about it but never had the chance to visit until now. Known for its modern, gluten-free cuisine, the restaurant offers a diverse menu that blends Brazilian and contemporary influences.
Each dish is crafted with fresh, seasonal produce as well as a range of house-fermented ingredients. This results in bold and delicious flavors with a good dose of probiotics to boot. This is the perfect place for those seeking delicious, eclectic, wholesome and healthy food!
Start your meal with the Pão de Queijo, a Brazilian bread made from cassava flour and cheese. Its satisfying texture is reminiscent of our local kueh bika ubi, but with a delightful cheesy twist. The Seafood Moqueca, a Brazilian seafood stew, was also a pleasant surprise. It combines the richness of coconut milk and seafood stock, that tastes like a fusion between a bouillabaisse and lontong.
Don’t miss the Miso Corn Ribs which are slathered with a savoury sweet miso butter. For the main course, we recommend the Chargrilled Wagyu Picanha which are served with their house fermented okra and heirloom tomatoes to balance the richness of the meat.
Citi Gourmet Pleasures:
S$20 off with min. spend S$200
Valid till 31 December 2025
Click here for more information
The Butcher’s Wife
19 Yong Siak St, Singapore 168650
Tues – Fri | 12 – 3pm, 6-11pm
Sat – Sun | 11:30am – 3pm, 6 – 10:30/11pm
closed: Mon
Open Farm Community, located in the lush Dempsey Hill area, is a unique farm-to-table restaurant that celebrates sustainability and local produce. Surrounded by greenery, this vibrant dining spot offers a relaxed atmosphere where guests can enjoy freshly prepared dishes made from ingredients sourced directly from their own farm, as well as other farms in Singapore and the region.
Whether you’re looking for a casual meal or a quick respite from the concrete jungle, Open Farm Community offers a unique proposition that is hard to find in Singapore.
For starters, we highly recommend the smoked Beetroot Tartare. It is a fantastic appetizer that beautifully contrasts the smoky, sweet beetroot with creamy goat cheese and faux caviar made from locally farmed Finger Lime (Citrus australasica).
The crispy fried OFC Farm Okra is another treat, especially since we saw them growing right on the farm next to the restaurant. We also enjoyed the Lombok Whole Fish, featuring a whole deboned four-finger threadfin grilled over charcoal and served with Kombu butter. Finally, if you’re in the mood for something heartier, the Iberian Pork Cheek Casserole is incredibly tender and can be cut effortlessly with a fork!
Citi Gourmet Pleasures:
S$25 off with min. spend S$250
Valid till 31 December 2025
Click here for more information
Open Farm Community
130E Minden Rd, Singapore 248819
Mon – Fri | 12 – 3pm, 6 – 11pm
Sat – Sun | 11am – 3:30pm, 6 – 11pm
The Vineyard is a charming restaurant nestled within the lush greenery of Hort Park, offering a serene dining experience surrounded by nature. Known for its beautiful setting, the restaurant specializes in contemporary European cuisine, with a focus on local, exotic ingredients. Its air-conditioned alfresco seating area evokes the feel of a “vineyard” restaurant you might have visited on your travels!
For starters, we enjoyed their Discovery Plate, which featured Ah Hua Kelong Mussel Ceviche, crispy fried Bullfrog leg sourced from Jurong Frog Farm, and Crocodile Pâté served in a tart shell. While the idea of eating crocodile might seem novel, it just tastes like a cross between chicken and fish. The pâté is also included in their Charcuterie Board, which has various cheeses and cured meats.
As we gather for the year-end celebrations, such sharing plates are really good.
Another sharing plate that we had was the locally farmed Barramundi en Papillote – which means that the fish was wrapped in baking paper and baked in an oven. It was nice having fish prepared in a tomato-based sauce versus the usual way of steaming with ginger and shallots at the Chinese restaurants.
Citi Gourmet Pleasures:
Complimentary Side Dish with purchase of any Sharing plate
Valid till 31 Dec 2024
Click here for more information
Vineyard
33 Hyderabad Road, #02-02 Hort Park, 119578
Mon – Fri | 11:30am – 3pm, 6 – 10pm
Sat – Sun | 10:30am – 10pm
Conclusion
Hope we have given you some ideas of where to go and chill for your year-end gatherings, as we wind down for the holidays!
Remember to check out all the other dining deals with Citi Gourmet Pleasures! If you are a Citi Cash Back Cardmember, you can enjoy 6% cash back* on all your dining too.
Savour even more savings with an exclusive welcome gift of S$300 cash back* when you successfully apply for a Citi Cash Back Card. Sign up now. (*Terms and conditions apply. Valid for new Citi Cardmembers only.)
Happy Eating!
This post is written in partnership with Citi Gourmet Pleasures.
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