Picture this: you're watching one of the best Wes Anderson films ever made (yes, it's The Grand Budapest Hotel) and while you savour the scene with your eyes, you also get to smell and taste a dish inspired by that very same cinematic moment. Sound too good to be true? Not at Nom Nom Cinema!
They've managed to blend cinema and fine dining to perfection, making for a fantastic date night idea for artsy types. We couldn't help but be enticed into trying this unique culinary journey for ourselves — read on to find out more.
Photo from Fox Searchlight Pictures
The experience begins even before guests enter the theatre, as ticketholders will receive the dress code via email. Those who enjoy dressing up are invited to emulate the hotel guests from the movie and get all glammed up in fun pastel outfits or all-black formal attire. We even spotted a few guests with their vintage-style cameras and photo props!
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
We were greeted at the entrance by a friendly staff member dressed in a royal purple uniform, à la the hotel doormen from the film, then shown to our seats. The spacious screening area looks like something straight out of a Pinterest board — think high ceilings and long tables set with elegant tableware fit for dinner service at a fancy hotel.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
It's great to arrive early since there's plenty to do before the film starts. Guests can browse the menu for the night, order drinks via QR code, or snap some pictures at the train-themed photo spot. The film starts at 7.30pm sharp, then it's full steam ahead from there!
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
Our first appetiser, the Monsieur Jean, arrived at the 5-minute mark. This squid-scallop-corn concoction is made to resemble a cigarette served in an ashtray, just as the concierge onscreen is sneakily stashing away his cigarette. We could smell the smoke from the dish, though it tasted pleasant enough and not all smokey or ashy as we had feared.
Next up was the Lobby Boy's Beginnings, a lavender-infused pumpkin soup that somehow managed to encapsulate the elegance of the Grand Budapest Hotel alongside a sprinkle of nostalgia, all in the space of a soup bowl. Don't ask us how they did it!
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
Wash it down with Mountains & Monasteries, a lovely blend of coconut creme, coconut water, vodka, white chocolate liqueur, and mint. There is also a non-alcoholic version of the drink for those who aren't in the mood for a tipple. The sugar-encrusted rim paired exceptionally well with the tangy flavour of the drink and easily made this the best beverage of the night.
Then came a selection of mains, starting with Mr Gustave's Speech, a duck salad with walnuts and raspberries coulis, which turned out to be our favourite dish overall, thanks to its delightfully sweet and savoury taste (this had me scraping my plate clean, for real).
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
But there was no time to get used to a life of luxury, because next we quite literally got a taste of prison with the Prisoner's Bread — a small, plain loaf of Vienne bread that tasted surprisingly yummy with basil butter.
At this point (1 hour and 5 minutes into the film) I was already feeling rather full and was surprised to be presented the Mr Gustave's Escape, a hearty serving of apple-roasted chicken with apple and seasonal vegetables. But alas, there was no escaping eating this dish because the chicken tasted super fragrant and the addition of the apple certainly elevated the plate, leading us to wolf it all down.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
To end off the 7-course dinner, we received our long-awaited Mendl's boxes, holding a dessert named Compliments of Herr Mendl. Rather than a ready-to-eat dessert, the box contained three cream puffs of varying flavours and sizes, as well as a tube of buttercream and edible pearls. You'll have to take our word for it that assembling this choux pastry tower was just as fun as eating it!
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
Overall, the Nom Nom Cinema experience is not only ideal for film lovers and fine-dining enthusiasts, it's probably one of the best interactive dinner activities out there — especially for those who enjoy immersing themselves in a film or dressing up for the occasion. Take that someone special or your best girlfriends out for a fancy dinner to remember, you won't regret it!
You can grab tickets to Nom Nom Cinema from $145 each. Every ticket includes a 5 course film-inspired dinner + 1 film-inspired drink, and you may choose from a standard or vegetarian menu.
More fun activities and events in Singapore:
