ION INSIDER
Monday, June 09, 2014 | 0 Comment |
I was chosen to enjoy a morning date with ION ORCHARD alongside other bloggers.I got to enjoy fabulous French food and was introduced to some of ION's other special stores! Most of these specialty stores opened their first doors in ION and to date, host their main branches at their ION outlet.
BÉCASSE BAKERY
All their dishes are so beautifully plated I couldn't help but snap away!!
It opened its first store in Asia at ION Orchard and serves all day breakfast from opening and all day dining from noon.
Banana Tart with Salted Peanuts
Raspberry and Chocolate Feuilletine
Hazelnut Cappuccino Crème Pot
Crème Fraiche Macarons: Salted Caramel (Blue)
Scones served with Jam
Foie Gras Mousse Toast
Croque-Monsieur King Crab Brioche Sandwich
Crab Rillettes on Baby Lettuce
My favourite was the Croque-Monsieur King Crab Brioche Sandwich. It was super super good!! I savored every bit of it and thinking about it just makes me hungry.
This platter is available during high tea from 3 - 6pm daily.
Matchy nails with the Salted Caramel macaron!
Mains
Mixed Berry French Toast, served with Poached Pear & Fresh Ricotta
I would recommend this dish if you are looking for something refreshing and light to taste, yet filling. The pears were poached to perfection, and the acidity of the berries completed the dish with the toast.
(TOP) Croque Madame, on Brioche Bread served with Truffle Oil Baked Eggs
I can't say no to truffle oil! In case you are wondering, the Croque Madame served at BÉCASSE is something like french toast ham and cheese sandwich. This dish is definitely rich and great for the tastebuds! The baked eggs were almost pudding like too.
Egg Royal, served with Smoked Salmon, baked Spinach & Hollandaise sauce
I would have to say that this was my favourite dish. I've always loved Eggs Banedict and this was something similar! Poached eggs and smoked salmon are my favourite!!
Pulled Chicken Crepe, served with Fresh Spinach & Wild Mushrooms
Overall, the ambiance and setting of the restaurant is perfect for a lunch date. The restaurant is located by itself in the center of the 4th level of ION and has an open concept. It gives a free casual dining experience while serving food of high standards. Each dish was very beautifully plated and they all tasted excellent! It's hard to decided which dish tasted best cos they all tasted really good. The waiters at the restaurant were also very friendly. If you are not familiar with French food, you can always ask their waiters for assistance.
If you would like to go there with your family, BÉCASSE is the right place for you as their wide selection of food can cater to kids as well!
Their all time best selling dishes are:
If you would like to go there with your family, BÉCASSE is the right place for you as their wide selection of food can cater to kids as well!
Their all time best selling dishes are:
BÉCASSE Wagyu Burger
BÉCASSE Club
Coq au Vin (Braised Chicken with Wine)
Salmon en Papillotte
Tenderloin Steak Entrecote with Walnut Salad, Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes and Hollandaise Sauce
BÉCASSE Club
Coq au Vin (Braised Chicken with Wine)
Salmon en Papillotte
Tenderloin Steak Entrecote with Walnut Salad, Duck Fat Roasted Potatoes and Hollandaise Sauce
We were also served a variety of potted teas.
Tea selection:
Chai
Chamomile
English Breakfast
Peppermint
French Earl Grey
Forest Berries
BÉCASSE BAKERY ION ORCHARD
#04-27 - 32
Opens Daily: 10am - 10pm
Average Price: $25
CRATE & BARREL
Crate & Barrel began in the 1960s in an abandoned elevator factory. The couple who founded this company used crates and barrels to display the furniture they had sourced directly from craftsmen in Europe as they didn't have enough money to put up elaborate displays after purchasing all the furniture - hence the name and style crate & barrel.
Crate & Barrel is famed for providing functional and affordable high end kitchenware and furnishings. They have their own products unique to the Crate & Barrel name and they cannot be found else where!
This season is their Garden Party collection and I was greeted by a splash of colours on their display sets.
Couldn't resist a photo! Pic turned out a little blurry cos people don't rly know how to use my cam. Oops!
These punny plates are only $4.95 each. Damn cheap.. and they are made of porcelain. These plates are also seasonal and will not be replicated in later seasons so grab them now!!
They've also got lots of functional products like their Table in a Bag for $76.50 normally $119.95.
It rolls up and fits into a teal bag. I really like how their products are practical and yet still looks nice. I can't emphasize how much I love smart furniture haha.
Crate & Barrel also carries other brands in store, bringing the convenience of shopping to you.
Check out their OXO 3-in-1 Avocado Peeler at $17.95.
The Crate & Barrel store also has very exciting displays.
These flowers are the Hibiscus Napkin Rings. You can use them to hold napkins or utensils too if you like.
They retail at $10.95 each
The Marin Birds Dinnerware retails at $16.95 - $55.95
There is also a large variety of table mats retailing $8 - $13 each depending on size and design.
This is their Revolving Spice Rack with 16 Jars! So convenient for the kitchen.
Retails at $69.95 all the spices are included and bottles are already labelled. I think all the Mums out there are celebrating.
This Theatre Popcorn Popper is exclusive to Crate & Barrel! Retails at $49.95.
It makes a great gift and is also very portable and easy to clean as opposed to getting a whole machine.
Fancy Kitchen Napkins and Dishtowels. Retails as $6.50 - $25
I'm so in love with this reusable smoothie straw set of 4 at $8.95.
Dining ware ranging from $6.95 - $9.95. I f I could have it my way, I'f have all my utencils in PINK.
They also carry all kinds of dining utensils you'll ever need. They had so many I couldn't capture everything in my camera!
What's more, Crate & Barrel is having a 15% Discount on their Living Room Furniture for the Great Singapore Sale!
CRATE & BARREL ION ORCHARD
#04-21/22, #03-25 ( Level 3 right below houses more bedroom furnishing)Phone: +65 6634 4222
Opens Daily 10 am - 9 pm
VOM FASS
Located a few stores down from Crate & Barrel is VOM FASS. Here, we were greeted by a charming store keeper. He introduced us to many of the liquors, oils and vinegars that VOM FASS proudly manufactures. They are all made with a guaranteed seal of quality. They've got 2000 different products in their ION outlet. It's amazing that number of products can fit into their quaint little store!!
I tried a few of their products including their fruit liquor, balsamic vinegar and apple cidar (left to right below). They tasted different from the ones that are available at the supermarket and it was recommended by the shopkeeper to eat their balsamic vinegar with vanilla ice cream! Apparently it blocks the absorption of sugar.. now you can eat your desserts guilt free!!
Gift Ideas! These are the gift packages they sell at VOM FASS. Combine any liquor you like into the different flasks. I think it makes a great Father's Day gift.
Fancy 23K Gold in your drink?
More gift ideas! They also have the world cup versions too. They were out of stock cos they are so popular!
This is just one side of the store. All these barrels contained all sorts of liquor.
They were also very kind to gift the bloggers truffle oil. I can't wait to use it for my meals when I have more time to cook!
VOM FASS
#04-25 ION ORCHARD
+65 6509 8409
Opens Daily: 11am - 9.30pm
PENHALIGON'S
Penhaligon's opened its first doors in Singapore at ION in the recent years but the perfumery has a rich history of 140 years, originating from London. They are constantly renewing their scents and have reinvented many of their popular regal scents with a modern twist to keep up with time.
All the perfumes are made in London. What's so special you may ask? They pick the rarest of ingredients to be in the perfume which separates them from other perfumes -- hand squeezed bergamont to jasmine double the price of gold!!
Their perfumes come in with their signature clear glass bottle and ribbon topper look but they are very well packaged and would make a great gift for a friend, partner or even yourself.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself learning about perfume at Penhaligon's! The staff there (Caroline and Shafiq) were super warm and friendly and trust me when I say they really know their perfumes.
I learnt so much about how to wear a perfume. For example, to all the ladies out there, perfumes can be worn on the skirts and ankles... Why??
Wearing it on different parts of your body and whether on skin or clothes makes the same scent smell differently from person to person! Wearing it on your skirt makes the scent diffuse when you walk and spraying some perfume on your ankles is great for dinners! Caroline being her super candid self told us that you could drop something at the dinner table and if a gentlemen picked it up for you, he'd smell the perfume at your ankles. HAHA.
You can also layer 2 different scents to give off a different smell. Different scents are also suitable for different occasions like wearing perfume to a board meeting or to a dinner or just a casual day out. You really have to check out their store at ION cos they can do a fragrance profile for you.
All the perfumes are made in London. What's so special you may ask? They pick the rarest of ingredients to be in the perfume which separates them from other perfumes -- hand squeezed bergamont to jasmine double the price of gold!!
Their perfumes come in with their signature clear glass bottle and ribbon topper look but they are very well packaged and would make a great gift for a friend, partner or even yourself.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself learning about perfume at Penhaligon's! The staff there (Caroline and Shafiq) were super warm and friendly and trust me when I say they really know their perfumes.
I learnt so much about how to wear a perfume. For example, to all the ladies out there, perfumes can be worn on the skirts and ankles... Why??
Wearing it on different parts of your body and whether on skin or clothes makes the same scent smell differently from person to person! Wearing it on your skirt makes the scent diffuse when you walk and spraying some perfume on your ankles is great for dinners! Caroline being her super candid self told us that you could drop something at the dinner table and if a gentlemen picked it up for you, he'd smell the perfume at your ankles. HAHA.
You can also layer 2 different scents to give off a different smell. Different scents are also suitable for different occasions like wearing perfume to a board meeting or to a dinner or just a casual day out. You really have to check out their store at ION cos they can do a fragrance profile for you.
Shafiq introducing to us to different scents. He could also tell which types of perfumes we'd like just based on our clothing choices?!?! I was really impressed with him!
He's holding Artemisia and he's totally into the whole profiling of scents.
There are Head Notes, Heart Notes and Base Notes to each perfume born at Penhaligon's. Basically these notes represent the scent you'll smell from the time of application. They differ depending on how long they've been applied. I NEVER KNEW THIS. I really gained to much insights that day.
Another rosy scent that I like. Peoneve.
Photo from Penhaligon's webpage
I love Artemisia sooo much. They were really nice and I got to take home a travel sized Penhaligon's perfume atomiser. I've been wearing it out whenever possible and my boyfriend noticed it too when I first wore it. 'You smell really nice.' In his words. This is almost embarrassing to tell! :P
One with Sandy!
One with Zoe! My arm was exploding with bags to carry by the end of the blogger tour cos every shop gave us something to remember them by!!
The Penhaligon's store is also very nicely decored and obviously smells great too. This is some of the bloggers with the store's manager Caroline.
With the other bloggers invited to ION INSIDER tour.
Penhaligon's is having a Great Singapore Sale right now. Up to 50% off selected merchandise. Hurry and check them out now!!
Penhaligon's ION
#03 - 16
+65 6634 1040
Opens Daily 10am - 10pm
Lastly, I would like to thank ION Orchard for inviting me to this tour. I had a blast!! To be honest I've never really explored the upper levels of ION till now. I usually shop at the lower levels. But now, I know where to find unique or exquisite gifts for people.
Leave me a comment if you have any questions or email me at taniaxong@gmail.com!
Labels: becasse, blog tour, crate & barrel, food, ioninsider, lifestyle, penhaligon, perfume, vom fass
