Thursday, November 12, 2009

Rock-n-Roll, Jukebox and Frosty Shakes!



I’m a huge fan of the 1950s retro age of classic American diners and the always appealing cheeseburgers and fries synonymous with the Greenback nation. And you can get this and more at Mel's Drive-In in Universal Studios Singapore, which combines great food with a great atmosphere, encapsulating the rock-n-roll fad that took the world by storm in the cult movie Grease, and marking an era in old world America where gaudy flared skirts and body-hugging shirts were all the rage.

Singapore probably has some decent-looking eateries replicating the classic American diner experience, but nothing comes close to the real deal—which is why if you’re a fan of jukeboxes, twisting to the tunes of Elvis Presley, the first-ever and probably last King of Rock’n’Roll, creamy yummy-licious milkshakes and melting cheeseburgers, Mel’s Drive-In in Universal Studios Singapore would be a dream come true (and you don’t have to burn to a hole in your pocket for a plane ticket just to try out these authentic flavors).

Featuring bright neon lights, classic black-and-white checkered tiled flooring, booth seating upholstered in synthetic leather, a long bar counter with a whole line of high bar stools, good old fashioned chrome-plated, padded dining chairs and tables, lots and lots of stainless steel furnishings and a bevy of classic automobiles parked outside the premise, that’s the 1950s look of Mel’s Drive-In in a nutshell.

For nibbles, hearty meals and the ultimate indulgence, look forward to a whole selection of irresistible juicy burgers and fries, chicken sandwiches, piping-hot chicken fingers, crispy onion rings, authentic root beer floats, frosty milkshakes and the list goes on!

What’s more, when you dine, you’ll be entertained by a motley crew of swinging a capella singers and you can join in too, in the song and dance.

The atmosphere would be bright, cheery, and no doubt stylish and sleek. If you want to experience how it was like on the movie set of Grease and immerse in the nostalgia of the rock-n-roll era, Mel’s Drive-In is THE place for you to start. So put on your blue suede shoes, practise your killer moves to get ready to rock the building and grab some juicy burgers along the way!

Mel’s Drive-In, which is located inside Universal Studios Singapore, Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park, is slated to open in the first quarter of 2010, as is Resorts World Sentosa.

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Hollywood, Here I Come!

Just last week when I was on my way to work, I saw the Far Far Away castle, or for fans of the DreamWorks animation, the name of the castle is the ‘First Castle from the World of Shrek’.

It’s being built at an unbelievable speed; other than the highest turret which has been erected (measuring some 42.5m in height), the main facade is also almost completed.

For a moment, I felt like a child again, looking at the majestic castle and wondering what it beholds. Then it occurred to me that this is a part of my (world’s first) ‘office’, considering I’ll be conducting work at some point in time in the castle, be it showing the media around or talking shop with my Universal Studios Singapore colleagues. I can’t believe we’re almost coming to the end of the rainbow to find the pot of gold!


A mock-up of the ginormous lettering, which will greet visitors to Sentosa Island. This has been put out in the sun some weeks back to test the weather fastness of the paint.


The other exciting development for me is actually the constructing of the larger-than-life-sized alphabets that spell ‘Sentosa’ at the entrance of the island, which will be among the first things greeting guests when they commute to Resorts World Sentosa. The letters are humungous and I’ve seen them at the current construction site, waiting to be transported to their new home. Imagine—instead of the famous Hollywood sign that has become emblematic of the playground of the rich and the famous in Los Angeles, we’ll all be seeing ‘Sentosa’ standing proudly on our own Sentosa hill, and that’ll be another unforgettable sight to behold.

And now to continue where I left off at my previous entry, I’ll fill you in on more of Universal Studios Singapore’s exciting food offerings. Other than the 12 dining outlets, of which six are Halal certified for our muslim guests (i.e. Mel’s Drive-In, Friar’s, Goldilocks, Celebrity Café & Bakery, Oasis Spice Café and Gloria’s Snack Shack) and the many vegetarian options to cater to the diets of lacto-vegetarians, strict vegans and fruitarians alike, we also have innovatively-themed food carts too — and you heard it here first!


The Pops! food cart... with loads of popped delights

Instead of your usual run-of-the-mill food kiosks, some of these amazing 500-metre long fanciful food carts are actually fabricated out of automobiles and will be stationed at the respective zones of the park. They are extremely eye-catching and were creatively designed to reflect the food they serve. Like for the Pops! food cart shown in the photograph below, naturally, it spells popcorn! But not just any salted caramel or sweet-buttered popcorn, there’ll be flavours out of this world that you’ve never tried before.

In addition to this one, there’ll be a motley crew of others with quirky names like Tail of the Pup selling hot dogs and sausages; Curry Up! selling Indian pratas; Gingy’s House of Sweets selling special candy apples and Little Red’s selling smoked giant turkey legs and yummy savoury pies.

As for drinks, grab special arctic blast frozen drinks from the Antarctic Refreshments food cart and for some indulgence, sink your teeth into the extremely sinful, but mouth-watering churros first to hit Singapore, from The Churro Station food cart. Are you drooling yet?

I can already hear my tummy rumbling so while I go settle my hunger pangs, I’ll leave you to rummage your refrigerator. Expect more photos when we’re ready to release them, and so until my next entry, eat well and sleep well because you are what you eat!