As June takes us firmly into the mid-year rush, a host of new launches and openings provide plenty to look forward to. It’s an exciting time for tech as the futuristic Dyson Zone—the brand’s new noise-cancelling headphones with on-the-go air purification—arrives in Singapore. The winners of this year’s Apple Design Awards for app and game design were also unveiled at this year’s WWDC, with Thailand-based developer Lykke Studio clinching the inclusivity award with their game, Stitch. On the culinary front, two-Michelin-starred restaurant Saint Pierre’s new vegetarian tasting menu is a step forward for inclusive dining, and the new Miyoshi by Fat Cow presents modern Japanese cuisine across three concepts—ramen, teppanyaki and omakase.
Meet the Dyson Zone—the brand’s new headphone-air purifier hybrid
The verdict is out—the Dyson Zone is ahead of its time. Newly launched in Singapore, the machine is a hybrid between a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and a portable air purifier. Its unconventional design (particularly the Bane-esque visor that fits over your nose and mouth) makes it unlike anything else on the market.
In its role as an audio device, the Dyson Zone excels. When you slip the hefty cups over your ears, a seamless vacuum seal forms instantly, blocking out every bit of unwelcome noise and external distortion. The sound quality is crisp and balanced without being overwhelming. Its striking sci-fi look (par for the course when it comes to products designed by the brand) makes for a strong visual statement when worn, but the construction of the Dyson Zone has been carefully considered beyond optics. Plush leather padding lines key segments of the headphone band, allowing for an exceptionally snug and comfortable fit.
Now, on to the part of the device that everyone is most curious about. The Dyson Zone’s air purification prowess is experienced through a contact-free visor—or mask—that magnetically snaps on and off the headphones. Air is drawn in through the dual-layer filters slotted into each earcup, then projected into the wearer’s nose and mouth through the mask. The filter can catch pollutant particles as small as 0.1 microns, and neutralises acidic gases in the air, such as nitrogen dioxide.
Is it practical? Well, that depends. With a battery life that allows for four hours of combined purification and audio run-time (this number goes up to 50 if you use only the headphones), the device would last just about the duration of your daily commute to and from the office. It’s also heavier than most headphones, which is justifiable given the high quality of materials used and considerable additional capabilities. With the deteriorating air quality we are beginning to experience in cities across the globe, it might just be the prescient solution we need to fight air pollution’s harm on our bodies.
Find out more about the Dyson Zone here.
Apple Design Awards 2023 unveils winners for app and game design, including categories like inclusivity
At Apple’s recent WWDC, many exciting innovations were revealed, alongside prestigious accolades—in the vein of its annual Apple Design Awards. Specifically in the realm of apps and game design, winners were awarded within categories of inclusivity, social impact, visuals and graphics, innovation and delight and fun. This year saw Thailand-based developer Lykke Studio clinch the inclusivity award with their game—Stitch.
Contrary to games that ground themselves in wins, losses and fierce competition, Stitch acts as a soothing game following a beautiful embroidery puzzle format. It is built with custom toggles for those with colour blindness, low vision, motion sensitivities and even left-handers. Founder of Lykke Studios, Jakob Lykkegard, made accessibility a crucial part of Stitch, after his friend who is colour-blind cited having difficulty with a previous game. “I view incorporating accessibility into the game the same way I would adding Chinese as a language option. You want to add that in because you want to open up a market that now has easier access to playing your game,” says Lykkegard, who was inspired by the Japanese Sudoku. He also maintains that games should eschew barriers to entry. “Some people get scared when they see a game with numbers, thinking they aren’t smart enough for it. But the most important aspect of any game is for people to feel good about themselves. We wanted to make it more approachable with the use of embroidery.”
Download Stitch on the App Store.
Two-Michelin-starred restaurant Saint Pierre launches a vegetarian tasting menu
It is fitting, given Chef-Owner Emmanuel Stroobant’s own journey as a practising vegetarian for over a decade, that Saint Pierre’s new Elegance tasting menu places a permanent plant-based option on the restaurant’s roster. In its creation, Stroobant’s goal is twofold: to demonstrate that vegetables deserve a centre stage spotlight on any fine dining table, and to ensure an inclusive culinary environment where vegetarian diners can enjoy the same gastronomic experience as everyone else.
With great flair that belies Stroobant’s deep understanding of the rich flavours and vast potential that plant-based ingredients hold, the menu offers an exquisite taste of modern French cuisine at its finest. A delightful amuse-bouche of cauliflower cream starts off the meal, its light sweetness complemented by homemade preserved black winter truffle from Périgord and lightly smoked mountain caviar. White asparagus à court mouillement is served with celeriac purée and a lemongrass vin jaune emulsion, while morel mushrooms are stuffed with a filling of green asparagus and morel, roasted in garlic butter, then smoked on the barbeque—delivering a flavourful burst of umami in the mouth. To bring the exquisite culinary journey to an end, choose between the Manjari Chocolate and the Kochi Dekopon. The former, inspired by one of Stroobant’s most vivid food memories of tasting a chocolate-raspberry macaron as a child, contrasts rich dark chocolate with tangy raspberries and refreshing lychee sorbet. Meanwhile, the latter is a citrus-forward dessert infused with brandy, served alongside kaffir lime chantilly cream, citrus compote and citrus segments.
Saint Pierre, 1 Fullerton Road, #02-02B One Fullerton, Singapore 049213
The renowned Fat Cow has a new sibling in Miyoshi
Miyoshi by Fat Cow is the brainchild of Fat Cow’s head chef, Shingo Iijima, and Miyoshi’s sous chef, Nigel Loh, who have come together to inject modernity to Fat Cow’s traditional techniques and premium produce. The result is an array of visually arresting dishes in Miyoshi’s three concepts—ramen, teppanyaki and omakase.
Seated at the wood and steel teppan counter at the cavernous Miyoshi by Fat Cow, you get the sense that there is no better place to be in the restaurant. The teppan-kaiseki menu, which offers you the best of both worlds, is thoughtfully curated with starters and soups to whet your appetite, before it moves on to scrumptious heavyweights in its grilled seafood and meats. After a generous selection of starters, which include fresh spring rolls and wagyu tartare, the servers dish out a bonito soup with thinly-sliced Miyazaki A4 wagyu and shredded vegetables. The comforting mix of dashi stock and melt-in-your-mouth wagyu, grilled perfectly on the teppan, make this experience deeply satisfying.
Look forward to Miyoshi’s straw-smoked Hokkaido scallops, lightly seared on the teppan then smoked with straw, and topped with Russian caviar and shiso flower. Other incredible plates include the Wagyu Tenderloin A4, served with yuzu kosho—Japanese citrus chilli paste—and kizami wasabi, and Signature Garlic Rice, a simple yet moreish final dish that ends your meal on a delightful note. Our top hit of the night? The Black Truffle Sukiyaki, where a stunning piece of Hida ribeye is marinated with sukiyaki sauce made with mirin, sake and shoyu. It is then topped with shaved black truffle and an egg yolk sauce, making the dish truly memorable.
Miyoshi by Fat Cow, Mess Hall at Sentosa, 2 Gunner Lane #01-04/05/06, Singapore 099567
