Feast and revel

WHAT: Epicurean Market 2015
WHEN: 14 to 16 August
WHERE: Hall D and E, Basement 2, Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre
TICKETS: $28/person for a three-day pass, inclusive of a complimentary pair of Schott Zwiesel red wine glasses worth $38

Marina Bay Sands brings out the big guns for its 2015 edition with a few major announcements. First up is Bread Street Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay, which opened its doors in June. Not to be outdone, Wolfgang Puck of CUT will unveil an outpost of his iconic restaurant Spago later this year on the 57th floor of Sands Skypark Tower 2 – expect to enjoy Puck’s Californian fare with global influences. Epicurean Market visitors will get an exclusive preview of Spago’s cuisine, which, along with Bread Street Kitchen, are the newest entrants to the marketplace’s lineup of celebrity chef restaurants.

Buoyed by the positive response to last year’s festival, Marina Bay Sands will introduce a new After Party concept on 14 and 15 August, at no extra charge to visitors. Market hours will be extended till 10pm, after which the lights will be dimmed, international DJs will turn up the music and visitors can enjoy bar bites, handcrafted cocktails and bottle service till 1am. Alumni chefs Daniel Chavez (previously from Santi) and Stephane Istel (previously from db Bistro) will be operating pop-up booths where you can grab some late night nosh.

But eager tipplers need not wait till the After Party to get their hands on a drink – there’s more than your money’s worth of opportunities to imbibe. Head bartender Kazuhiro Chii of Waku Ghin will be sharing about the art of Japanese bartending and teaching you how to perfect the Martini, Sidecar and Gin & Tonic, while you can also get your hands on old vintages and highly sought-after bottles at KOT Selections, one of Epicurean Market’s 20 participating wine vendors.

You’ll get the chance to appreciate rare bottles in exclusive tasting sessions. The prestigious Glen Ord Distillery will unbottle their oldest single malt, the Master’s Casks 40-year-old – only 20 out of 999 bottles are available in Singapore. Limited to 35 tickets, $88 per person inclusive of entry to Epicurean Market and a dessert pairing. LOUIS XIII de Rémy Martin will also be making a comeback – the legendary cognac is an extraordinary blend of 1,200 eaux-de-vie created in 1874 and aged for more than 100 years. Limited to 35 tickets, $88 per person inclusive of entry to Epicurean Market.

As usual, headlining the celebration of gourmet food and drinks, of which epicure is the official gourmet lifestyle magazine, are top toques such as Nancy Silverton of Mozza, David Thompson of Long Chim, David Myers of Adrift, and Justin Quek of Sky on 57. Something else to look forward to: Tetsuya Wakuda of Waku Ghin will introduce a selection of exquisite pastries, in addition to his food and exclusive sake offerings.