You could say this is a “Cooking Papa” simulator in Singapore.

Singaporean content creator, Luke Chan, more popularly known as "Lukeychan," has made a 180-degree turn from his online persona and forayed into the F&B industry with his Italian café, PastaPapa.

Hidden in the Sports Lifestyle Center at Bukit Merah, PastaPapa is a partnership between Chan his gym partner, DLLM Lok Lok’s owner Jayden Loh, and two others.

While it seems like a very normal Italian café, selling Italian cuisine like pasta, risotto, tiramisu, and panna cotta, there’s an experience you won’t see in any other restaurant: You can cook your own food through PastaPapa’s self-cooking stations.

For about S$39.90 (for two), diners have the option of DIY-ing their own meals and cooking their own pasta mains, choosing from either Bolognese, Carbonara, Vongole, or Seafood Aglio Olio, along with a choice of appetizer, two bowls of mushroom soup, and a choice of dessert.

Of course, this includes wearing a chef’s whites, and instructional videos to guide the “chef” along the way—for the immersive experience.

The videos were made and animated in the “Cooking Mama” style, with the voice-over done by Luke Chan himself. Diners and chefs can expect hearing phrases much like in the cooking simulator game, once they get their dishes done!

If diners aren’t in the mood to cook, PastaPapa has their regular menu, with their signatures including the Carbonara (S$11.90), Bolognese (S$10.90), and Seafood Aglio Olio (S$13.90). Their appetizers feature French Fries (S$7.00), Truffle Fries (S$9.50), Flame Torched Smoked Duck (S$6.90), Popcorn Chicken (S$8.00), and more.

What are you waiting for? Head on to PastaPapa to get your “Cooking Papa” simulation on! Follow PastaPapa on their Instagram!

Location: PastaPapa, 3500A Bukit Merah Central, Singapore 159837

Opening Hours: 12 PM to 10 PM (Closed on Sundays)

Still figuring out where to host your Lunar New Year gathering? Whether it's a festive family reunion or a lively luncheon with colleagues, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium has you covered with two standout dining spots: the Halal-certified Atrium Restaurant and the elegant Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant.

From Jan. 13 to Feb. 12, 2025, Atrium Restaurant will serve up a Chinese New Year-themed buffet featuring festive treats like yu sheng, dim sum, chicken bak kwa, and fried nian gao with sweet potato. Rotational highlights include salmon sashimi, oysters, grilled lamb chops, laksa, and chocolate fondue.

Special festive dishes like Mini Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and Braised 10-Head Abalone will be available from CNY Eve to Day 4 (from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1). Prices start at S$98, with an exclusive 1-for-1 offer for adults.

Looking for something more refined? Head to Xin Cuisine for their Reunion Dinner. Starting from S$768++ for six diners, enjoy dishes like Vegetarian Salmon Yu Sheng, Braised Dice Abalone with Shredded Fish Maw, Sautéed Prawns in X.O. Sauce, and Steamed Marble Goby Hong Kong Style. Plus, enjoy a 10% discount on banquet menus!

For those who want to celebrate at home, pre-order Xin Cuisine’s Chinese New Year takeaways until Feb. 9, 2025, which include a luxurious Sliced 2-Head Abalone Yu Sheng from S$128, or a traditional Pen Cai packed with abalone, scallops, fish maw, and prawns, priced from S$398. For sweeter offerings, try Xin’s in-house signatures: Yam and Pumpkin Cake for S$55 per box or Nian Gao with Coconut Sauce for S$53.

Location: Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, 317 Outram Road, Level 4

Opening Hours: Wed-Sun, from 11:30 AM to 3 PM, from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM

For more information, visit Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium on their website, or follow them on Instagram or Facebook.

Missed those sweet and tangy tarts from BAKE Cheese Tart? Great news, because the Japanese dessert brand is making a comeback in Singapore with a pop-up outlet — but for a limited time only!

According to the brand’s press release, the reopening is “a response to overwhelming demand and fond memories from fans who fell in love with its iconic tarts.”

Unveiled at Takashimaya along Orchard Road last Dec. 27, BAKE Cheese Tart’s new pop-up outlet offers their classic cheese tarts, made with smooth Hokkaido cream cheese and crispy double-baked crust, among other flavors.

To celebrate its opening and the Lunar New Year season, the outlet is also offering an exclusive promo. From today until Jan. 27, customers who purchase a six-tart set, which comes in Lunar New Year-themed packaging, will receive one complimentary Earl Grey Cheese Tart.

The Earl Grey Cheese Tart is a first-in-Singapore offering and is made with a blend of fragrant Earl Grey tea and their classic cream cheese filling.

BAKE Cheese Tart first opened in Singapore with a West Gate outlet in 2016, which saw long queues and rave reviews from dessert lovers in the city. In 2019, the brand closed its Singapore stores to make way for its sister brand, ZAKUZAKU.

Get your hands on these sweet treats while they’re here! For more details, follow BAKE Cheese Tart Singapore on Instagram.

Location: BAKE Cheese Tart, Basement 2, Takashimaya, 391 Orchard Road, Singapore

Welcome the new year full of prosperity, as fast-food giant McDonald’s in Singapore, in collaboration with Sanrio, is bringing back their Prosperity Feast!

The chain’s newest offering features the beloved Prosperity Beef Burgers, made with sesame buns, juicy beef patties smothered in black pepper sauce, and crunchy onions, as well as the crispy Prosperity Twister Fries and the sweet and tangy Pineapple Pie.

From Jan. 2, 2025, McDonald’s will also launch their Fortune Prosperity Beef and Chicken Burgers, which are sure to delight with an added golden fried egg, plus the sweet and fruity Strawberry Soft Serve.

To wish their customers more fortune and prosperity, the fast-food chain is also giving away free Sanrio-themed red packets (also known as ang pao) to those who will purchase any of the menu items in the Prosperity Feast, starting Jan. 2 at 11 AM.

Aside from the red packets, McDonald’s will also give away a free box of Snap Cards, a Sanrio-inspired card game, to customers ordering any Value, Upsized Value, Feast, and Family Meals from Jan. 16 at 11 AM.

The first wave of McDonald’s Prosperity Feast menu is available in-store, on the McDonald’s app, via McDelivery, Deliveroo, foodpanda, and GrabFood.

To learn more about this oh-so-delicious new offering from McDonald’s Singapore, visit their website or follow them on Instagram.

In today’s interconnected world, it doesn’t seem too farfetched to crave Spanish food in Singapore. Fortunately for you, this is the exact experience that Chefs Carlos Montobbio and Antonio Miscellaneo are bringing to Joo Chiat.

Known for its rows of traditionally colorful Peranakan shophouses, Joo Chiat is on every foodie’s Singaporean bucket list. Aside from the rich art and architecture, the neighborhood boasts a host of international fare, with exotic restaurants and cuisine that range from Italian pizzerias to Peranakan diners. Today, they welcome a new player to the scene: Spanish tapas bar Carlitos.

“I know that locals often enjoy Spanish food when they visit Spain,” noted Chef Carlos. “But I also felt that Singapore was lacking an authentic tapas experience.”

Carlos and Antonio, who are known for their work at Esquina and La Bottega respectively, transport diners to the vibrant streets of Barcelona through a menu of over thirty tapas.

“Similar to how Singaporeans keep a mental map of the best spots for dishes like bak chor mee, kwey chap, or hot pot, I have similar memories of places where I had the best version of each tapa,” shared Chef Carlos. “I wanted to bring all those experiences to Singapore in one place.”

According to the chef, tapas and pintxos are more than just a dish you can order at a restaurant. In Spain, these foods are a way of life, a cohesive experience meant to be shared with those you hold dear.

“Tapas is a very informal way of eating in Spain,” Chef Carlo noted. “While it doesn’t necessarily mean cheap food, it does lean more towards a casual vibe; it’s also meant to be shared. The idea is that the more people, the better.”

At Carlitos, the two chefs attract a crowd by offering fun plates such as the Jamon Iberico Joselito, acorn-fed Iberico ham aged 36 months. There are also Croquetas de Calamar or squid croquetas in squid ink aioli, Gambas al Ajillo or Atlantic prawns cooked in garlic and chili oil, and Macarrones del Cardenal, which marries Iberico sofrito and Manchego cream unto homemade penne.

“Our tapas are as close to what you’d find in Spain as possible,” said Chef Carlos. “We don’t add any local twists, adaptations, or ‘filters’ – what you get is the real deal. I believe many Singaporeans have been exposed to Spanish food, either through travel or other Spanish restaurants so there’s no need to change it. Singaporeans enjoy Spanish food just as it is.”

Of course, Chef Carlo admits that tapas can vary significantly depending on the region in Spain. “Even within the same region, each restaurant often puts its own unique twist on the dishes,” he noted. Yet, Chef Antonio puts the charm of Carlitos into a simple bottom line: people like good food, no matter what kind.

“We do our best to source ingredients that are the closest to what we taste back home, with as little compromise as possible,” Chef Antonio said. “The idea is that this tapas bar has an added fun vibe and allows us to enjoy a greater selection of dishes on our table.”

At the end of the day, Chef Carlos’ knowledge of Spanish food enriches the Singaporean culinary scene. The chef, who’s trained at Michelin-starred restaurants in his home country, continues to share his experiences with the local palate.

“[My training in Spain] introduced me to fine dining and instilled in me a deep respect for technique and precision,” he shared. “Now, it’s been ten years since I left Spain [for Singapore] and I continue to try to capture the essence of Spanish flavors. For me, it’s about honoring my roots while constantly evolving.”

Location: Carlitos, 350 Joo Chiat Rd Singapore 427598

Opening Hours: Wed to Sun

Wed & Thurs: 5:30 PM to 11 PM

Fri & Sat: 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM and 5:30 to 11 PM

Sun: 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM and 5:30 to 10:30 PM

Reserve a table here.

If you’re tired of swiping left on love and right on loneliness, here’s some sweet news! Bumble is taking over Uncle Chieng’s iconic ice cream cart on Orchard Road, the heart of Singapore’s shopping district, this December 2024.

For two weekends only — from Dec. 14 to Dec. 29, 2024 — Singapore’s most beloved ice cream uncle and the buzzy dating app are serving up scoops of connection for you to meet a potential match, alongside some quirky dating tips inspired by Bumble’s Dating Trends 2025.

From 12 PM to 10 PM every Saturday and Sunday, the first 200 Bumble users who flash their dating profiles will snag a complimentary sweet treat. And as if free ice cream wasn’t cool enough, Bumble has launched a new “ice cream” interest badge that can be added to your dating profile — a sure-fire way to bond with fellow dessert-loving singles.

“In 2025, we’re seeing a big shift towards real-ness in the dating game with more people taking the time to truly find somebody that supports their unique interests," said Chen Meihui, APAC Communications Lead of Bumble.

This supports Bumble’s stance that 56% of Gen Z singles agree that geeking out on something together is considered a form of intimacy. This event follows Bumble’s recent morning run singles mixer event, in collaboration with Urban Milers Run Club in November, where 150 singles mixed fitness with flirting during a singles mixer.

For more information on the event, follow Bumble on their website, or follow them on Instagram and Facebook.