My Selection: Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

Diana Soh: I am a contemporary music composer, I write modern classical music for a wide variety of instrumentation, singers as well as the use of electronics. I spend my time between Singapore and Europe, with Paris as my second home.

MS: What does your job entail exactly?

DS: My job entails composing art-music for various types of classical music ensembles and sometimes I use technology like motion-sensor devices for my creation. I also work closely with these musicians to create tailor-made pieces and to push the limit of their abilities all at the same time questioning the limits of what music can and might be.

MS: How long have you been living in Singapore and what brought you there?

DS: I am a born and bred Singaporean and amazingly enough living overseas cannot take the Singaporean-ness out of me. I still crave all my hawker-fare and a good bargain. I fly home every chance I get to spend time with my family and friends.

MS: With work done, how do you like spending your free time in the Lion City?

DS: My daughter loves the water and the great outdoors so, I think we’ve actually checked out almost every toddler friendly water park in Singapore. As a family we love strolling along East Coast Park and I enjoy café hopping while catching up with friends.

MS: Singapore is famously a melting pot of cultures and, as a result, also of multiple cuisines. What are your favorites?

DS: Its so difficult to choose … A must-have when I touch down is my Ayam Buah Keluak, a good Hokkien Mee, visit to a good Zi Char store and some Prata with a mutton curry… I could go on…

MS: Where do you like to have dinner in Singapore? Could you name your Top 3 picks among restaurants, bars & cafes in Singapore?

DS: At the moment I’m quite into fusion food so… Violet Oon’s Kitchen (the Bukit Timah branch has a to die-for burburchacha panna cotta), Ippudo and Sinpopo Brand near Katong I12.

Styled and shot by Violet Oon’s Kitchen

MS: Selecting wine depends very much on the occasion. When do you like to drink wine? On its own / with a meal / alone / with company?

DS: With a meal and with company, while cooking for company.

MS: Are there any wines that you particularly like and would recommend to our readers? Or maybe you have your favorite pairings with the food you mentioned before?

DS: My husband is the expert on wine so I usually let him choose when it comes to pairings. But I must say, being French, he is quite partial for French wines… Recently we had a very good Château de Meursault – Clos du château (I don’t remember the year, sorry!) that was very “buttery”, went very well with our seafood dinner.