After photographing weddings at various venues across the years, be it grand hotel ballrooms, small intimate bars, cosy dimly lit restaurants, and even shophouses – I always find myself wanting to photograph more at Min Jiang at Dempsey. It still remains one of my favourites for short ROMs (marriage solemnisations) or actual day weddings, whether it is a lunch or dinner reception.

Graduated groom Bing Rru, an amazing chef in his own right, recently made plenty of headlines when he opened Kuro Kare at within the SMU premise with his partners. Their amazing black curry, hence the name Kuro Kare, is cooked for 36 hours prior and served with whichever dish you decide to order.

I had an opportunity to head down to eat, as well as photograph some scenes and dishes.

As the malls start to play Christmas songs, and the year runs down to its inevitable end, I'll just start by saying - we survived. Sorta. Soaked in the festive mood, but yet taking in the harsh realities of what Covid has done to us at the same time, I took a while to gather my thoughts to pen this. This year has definitely been one to remember, for all its fragilities and dualities. For every small win that we can celebrate, we would be countered with the seemingly overused phrase of "one step forward, two steps back". For weddings to take place, we have to adapt to the many restrictions to limit the spread of Covid.

With weddings now scaled down due to the Covid19 pandemic, many couples have been scrambling to find the next suitable venue outside of the usual hotel ballrooms and grand churches. Lo and behold, on the island of Sentosa, there is a beautiful restaurant known as the Panamericana. I have photographed there once, and I have loved the setting ever since.