Over the past couple of years, Marina Bay Sands’ (MBS) Epicurean Market has earned a place on the foodie calendar. And why not? It has what most food festivals struggle to secure: A world-renowned cast of headlining chefs. And just when you thought there were only so many big names you could squeeze into the building, this year’s event, which begins tomorrow, boasts a couple more firsts in the celebrity chef department. For example, you can sample some of Gordon Ramsay’s newly-opened Bread Street Kitchen signatures, including the potted salt beef brisket and fish and chips (you would be hard pressed to find a better version anywhere in Singapore).
Adrift’s Chef David Myers will also be in town to showcase his inspired style of Californian cuisine via dishes such as pineapple tamarind glazed pork ribs, and his popular king crab melt with pimento cheese. Equally exciting is the opportunity to have a taste of Wolfgang Puck’s Spago — well before the restaurant’s first Asian outlet opens here later this year (at Level 57 of the Sands SkyPark Tower 2). The featured dishes include handmade agnolotti and spicy tuna tartare — the menu for Spago in Singapore is said to proffer “an imaginative and seasonal menu of Californian cuisine with global accents”.
Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay in Singapore. Prior to its opening in 2010, it was billed as the world's most expensive standalone casino property at S$8 billion, including the land cost. The resort includes a 2,561-room hotel, a 120,000-square-metre (1,300,000 sq ft) convention-exhibition centre, the 74,000 m2 (800,000 sq ft) The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands mall, a museum, two large theatres, "celebrity chef" restaurants, two floating Crystal Pavilions, a skating rink, and the world's largest atrium casino with 500 tables and 1,600 slot machines. The complex is topped by a 340-metre-long (1,120 ft) SkyPark with a capacity of 3,900 people and a 150 m (490 ft) infinity swimming pool, set on top of the world's largest public cantilevered platform, which overhangs the north tower by 67 m (220 ft).
The 20-hectare resort was designed by Moshe Safdie architects. The architect was Aedas, and they were responsible for employing all consultants and for developing, co-ordinating and implementing the design. Engineering was provided by Arup and Parsons Brinkerhoff (MEP). The main contractor was Ssangyong Engineering and Construction. Originally set to open in 2009, Las Vegas Sands faced delays caused by escalating costs of material and labour shortages from the outset. The global financial crisis also pressured the company to delay its projects elsewhere to complete the integrated resort. Although Marina Bay Sands has been compared in scale and development costs to MGM's CityCenter, the latter is a mixed-use development, with condominium properties (comprising three of the seven main structures) being sold off.
The resort and SkyPark were officially opened on 23 and 24 June 2010 as part of a two-day celebration, following the casino's opening on 27 April that year. The SkyPark opened the following day. The theatres were completed in time for the first performance of Riverdance on 30 November. The indoor skating rink, which uses artificial ice, opened to a performance by Michelle Kwan on 18 December. The ArtScience Museum opened to the public and the debut of a 13-minute light, laser and water show called Wonder Full on 19 February 2011 marked the full completion of the integrated resort. The grand opening of Marina Bay Sands was held on 17 February 2011. It also marked the opening of the seven celebrity chef restaurants. The musical The Lion King debuted on 3 March 2011. The last portion of the Marina Bay Sands, the floating pavilions, were finally opened to the public when the two tenants, Louis Vuitton and Pangaea Club, opened on 18 and 22 September 2011 respectively.
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Singapore Marina Bay Sands Masterchef © 2017
