Welcome the Year of the Dragon With Holiday Inn’s Chinese New Year Buffet

The Vinexposium group is delighted to announce the return of Vinexpo Asia 2025 to Singapore.

Taking place from May 27 to 29, 2025, and set at the iconic Marina Bay Sands, it will be making its comeback as an even more dynamic and robust trade show, offering three days of unrivaled business prospects for wine and spirits professionals, associated businesses, and journalists.

This edition will bring together 1,100 exhibitors from over 20 countries, and welcome 11,000 professional visitors from 70 countries. It will include diverse top producing regions such as France, Italy, and Australia, along with Spain, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, United Kingdom, to name a few. 

Asian producers are stepping into the limelight with China and Japan set to make a significant splash at the event. Meanwhile, South American flavors will shine bright with standout contributions from Argentina and Chile, adding a rich, diverse touch to the lineup.

And let’s not forget the spirits! This year’s showcase will feature a robust selection from Japan, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, France, and China, putting the spotlight on the latest trends and innovations in the world of spirits.

Making its debut in Singapore, the Welcome to the Organic World (WOW!) section is a brand-new highlight that’s all about sustainability and flavor. Here, visitors can dive into a curated selection of organic and biodynamic wines from around the globe. Whether you’re a fan of eco-conscious sips or just curious about the latest trends, WOW! promises to be a refreshing addition to the lineup.

But that’s not all — Vinexpo Asia 2025 is also introducing the Wines Unearthed collective to the stage. This award-winning initiative is making its first appearance at the event, offering a unique platform for boutique winemakers to connect with distributors in the region. Think of it as a one-stop shop for discovering hidden gems and small-batch producers who are ready to make their mark. As usual, visitors can also experience insightful high-level masterclasses from spirit professionals, conferences, and discovery tastings.  

Pre-registration is required here to order your badge.

Location: Floors L1 and B2, Marina Bay Sand, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Wednesday, from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM. Thursday 29 May from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. 

For more information, visit their website, or check out their Instagram and Facebook. 

The news cycle is fast-paced, unforgiving, and often expeditious. Stories break, are reported, peak, and eventually die down. But what happens when the storytellers themselves choose to resist? This is the case of "The Slow Press," an independent Singaporean zine that’s found a niche in unhurried and thorough reporting.

With a focus on Singaporean culture and cuisine, The Slow Press banks on the universal language of food – specifically, people’s love for it. Christy Chua, Founder and Editorial Director of The Slow Press, had felt that serious yet accessible food journalism was lacking in the Singapore context and so decided to found the zine. Through long-form journalism, The Slow Press explores ties between human relationships and the food people eat.

Since its inception in 2021, the brand has expanded to include merch, community events, and a podcast. They now offer people a chance to purchase stickers, pouches, and shirts and even organize meet-ups and potlucks with like-minded folks. People can also tune in to their podcast entitled “Guacamole,” though of course, the publication remains at center stage.

Aside from issues of The Slow Press, the publication has also partnered with other creatives to produce one-off zines that focus on topics such as Singapore's love for poultry (in "Talk Cock Sing Song") and autobiographies (as in "How to Cook Prickly Pear").

Though, at the moment, the team consists of professionals who are also committed to various day jobs; as such, they only manage to produce a couple or so volumes a year. It’s the very definition of quality versus quantity.

“I personally feel that working at our own pace has allowed us to produce an output that we're happy with,” shared Christy. “Our stories are timeless as long as we're putting a new perspective out there and impacting an audience in a certain way.”

This year, The Slow Press steps into its fourth anniversary with an upcoming release in February 2025. The magazine has covered a handful of landmark topics in the past four years; but in fact, Christy shares that their most recent release – Volume 6 – has been her favorite so far.

“The abstract theme [of “Best Before”] had allowed us to explore a vast range of topics in Singapore's society — from familial relationships at home to migrant workers' meals, seed saving, traditions of tea and sake, and more,” she shared. “I laughed, cried, and felt a lot editing and reading this collection of stories.”

As can be expected, the zine veers away from trends and focuses more on stories that have shaped the city-state into what it is today. “It's amazing how food can be the segway into discussing larger topics at hand, like history, cultural identity, politics, and society, and we are here to talk about all of these as well,” Christy said.

For her part, Christy would love to explore the world of kueh-making in the coming issues. A bite-sized snack that’s been translated in different ways by different cultures, kueh comes in a range of colors, flavors, and shapes. Yet, they seem to be a dying art in a city that’s become so urbanized.

“I feel a pang of sadness every time I visit my favorite kueh stall and think to myself, ‘Who will be rolling out the dough in another five or ten years?’” Christy shared.

And though Singapore is known for its fantastic food, Christy acknowledges that locals tend to gravitate towards other factors when choosing their meals. There is the aesthetic appeal of food, as well as the monetary aspect of it to consider.

“But there are younger Singaporeans like us who are interested in farming their food, cooking their meals, and learning more about their grandparents' recipes,” Christy said. “I'm sure that if we'd wanted to, we would find ways to continue our traditions.”

Fortunately, with the help of creative outlets such as The Slow Press, young Singaporeans are doing exactly that – preserving their traditions. They’re even sharing it with other cultures! The Slow Press has activations all around Asia, in art fairs and bookstores across Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta, and more.

“As a visitor to a foreign land, I'd find myself excited to try the local dishes and learn about their cultural traditions, the same way someone from abroad may feel when they chance upon a copy of The Slow Press,” Christy pointed out.

Ultimately, The Slow Press serves up more than just your usual news cycle stories. They document meaningful heritage ideas that they themselves – as locals – have experienced or observed.

“Even if a certain business we've featured is no longer operating, we feel that our work has captured a frozen moment in time,” she said.

Connect with The Slow Press online

Feeling lucky this Lunar New Year? If you do, KFC Singapore is inviting you to join their latest KFC Huat Heist for a chance to win a big cash prize!

KFC fans and customers will have a chance to win up to S$18,000 while enjoying the chain’s newest offering, the crunchy and mouth-watering Cereal Chicken. For this competition, two Huat Heist vaults will be set up at the Kallang location on Jan. 22 and on Feb. 5, which can be opened only by cracking the code given by KFC.

To join, participants must be able to spot eight lucky numbers hidden in the Cereal Chicken campaign posters, to be posted regularly on KFC Singapore’s social media page. Then, participants must purchase Cereal Chicken or Cereal Chicken Burger bundles from any KFC outlet and keep the receipt. Each receipt is equal to one chance to open the vault.

On the activation dates, those who have cracked the code can head over to KFC Kallang and present their receipt to the staff and key in their eight-digit code to attempt to open the vault. Those who would be able to unlock the two vaults first will win S$9,000 each!

Any cash prize that will not be won will be donated to charity, according to KFC’s announcement.

Prior to this, KFC has also launched their mofusand merchandise, which can be purchased with Cereal Chicken and Cereal Chicken Burger boxes.

Unleash your inner Sherlock and join the heist! To get the clues, follow KFC Singapore on Instagram. You can also check out the full mechanics here.

Location: KFC Kallang, 190 Stadium Blvd., Singapore

McDonald’s and Sanrio always have some of the cutest collaborations ever.

Just in time for the Chinese New Year, McDonald’s Singapore launched a "My Melody" Collectible Mahjong set that’s sure to make family gatherings even more special.

Sanrio fans and collectors will be able to usher in prosperity for the Lunar New Year and get this must-have addition to their collection for SG$228, after redeeming 3,888 points at the McDonald’s app.

Want to know how to get your own? Here’s how you can claim the McDonald’s "My Melody" Mahjong Set.

Step 1: Exchange 3,888 points for the ‘McDonald’s My Melody Mahjong Set’ Deal

From Jan. 13, 2025, at 3 PM, you’ll have to log in to your McDonald’s app and tap on the “Redeem McDonald’s My Melody Mahjong Set” tile. These points are accumulated from all the times you’ve ordered McFood!

After entering the waiting room, queuing, and confirming that you have sufficient points, book your slot to purchase the "McDonald’s My Melody Mahjong Set," which is from Jan. 20 to 23, from 3 PM to 9 PM.

Step 2: Redeem the ‘McDonald’s My Melody Mahjong Set’ Deal to purchase and collect at McDonald’s Suntec City

Once you have your timeslot, you can proceed to McDonald’s Suntec City branch to buy the mahjong set with your details. Remember! The staff will not accept screenshots or photographs of the "McDonald’s My Melody Mahjong Set" Deal.

You can redeem the deal at the Self Ordering Kiosk, with each mahjong set retailing for S$228. Once you’re done, head on to the collection counter and claim your McDonald’s My Melody Mahjong Set!

Mahjong Sanrio-fied, and Made Cute

The “McDonald’s My Melody Mahjong Set” is everything you can think of when you try to envision it: a set adorned with the golden arches logo with a red background, with My Melody peeking out of the brown takeaway paper bag at the back, and My Melody surrounded by McDonald’s menu items at the front.

The tiles are of the Singapore mahjong playing style, which includes the animal tiles. These animal tiles include a cat, a rat, a rooster, and a centipede. In this set, they’re Sanrio-fied — the rat is a friendly Sanrio mouse, while the centipede is now a happy caterpillar.

My Melody can be seen as the flower suit, paired with McDonald’s faves. The bamboo suit is replaced by McDonald’s garlic chili fries, while the circle suit is given a fast-food makeover, with burger buns and patties in place of the wheel.

For more information and updates on their menu and offerings, visit McDonald’s Singapore on their Facebook and Instagram pages. You can also check out their website for the Terms & Conditions.

Location: McDonald’s Suntec City 3, Temasek Blvd, #02-732, Singapore 038983

Redemption Hours: 3 PM to 9 PM, last queue at 8:30 PM

KFC Singapore is launching the most purr-fect collaboration to ring in the new year as its crowd-pleaser, Cereal Chicken, officially makes a comeback!

Made with a tasty blend of buttery cereal, curry leaves, and chilies coated on KFC’s signature Hot & Crispy Chicken, this finger-lickin’ good menu item is a fire way to start 2025 and celebrate Chinese New Year.

But that’s not all, starting Jan. 13, KFC is also launching its highly anticipated mofusand collaboration merch which includes a series of plushies, keychains, red packets, and blind sticker sheets!

If you don’t know already, mofusand is a group of cats donning cute headgear and costumes created by Japanese artist, Juno. These KFC kawaii kitties are too cute for words and are designed with some of the fast-food chain’s iconic menu items like the chicken drumstick, egg tart, and red and white striped bucket. Here’s how to get your paws on them.

KFC x mofusand Keychains

You can get the limited-edition keychains for S$12.95 with any purchase of a Cereal Chicken or Cereal Chicken Burger box. These are available in all stores, except Singapore Zoo and Sentosa, and can be ordered via POS only.

The keychains will be launched weekly with a different design each week, so make sure to remember these Mondays: Jan. 13, 20, and 27. Queue tickets will be distributed on the day and can be redeemed by 1 PM only. Each customer can purchase a maximum of two mofusand keychains with the purchase of two Cereal Boxes.

KFC x mofusand Plushie

The plushie is available for S$19.95 with a purchase of the Cereal Chicken or Burger box. There’s a maximum order of one plushie per customer. The item will launch after 11 AM on Feb. 5 at these KFC outlets:

• Kallang
• West Mall
• Tampines Mall
• Causeway Point
• Vivo City
• Serangoon Nex
• Jurong Point
• Lot 1
• Compass One
• Northpoint City

KFC x mofusand Red Packets, Stickers Sheets, and Pouches

The packets come for FREE with any purchase of the Cereal Chicken or Cereal Chicken Burger Box, Buddy Meal, or Feast. It will be available from Jan. 13 to Feb. 11 at all KFC outlets, except Singapore Zoo and Sentosa. Each pack has two designs with six packets.

Meanwhile, the sticker sheets come for FREE with a minimum spend of S$12 during breakfast hours from Jan. 13 to Feb 11 at KFC Breakfast Stores.

The limited-edition pouches come for FREE with any purchase of the Cereal Chicken Family Feast, but only via KFC delivery from Jan. 20. All the merch is available while stocks last so make sure to save the dates!

For more information, click here. You can also follow KFC Singapore on Facebook and Instagram for updates.