The Good Life: Editors’ Picks of the Week (September 22-26, 2025)

In every The Good Life: Editors’ Picks column, we round up our editors’ favorites—restaurants, cocktails, experiences, exhibits, and everything in between. Here is our latest list.

The Language of Flowers by Didi Quiason Lopa

Didi Quiason Lopa’s flowers bring joy.

Her first solo exhibit two years ago won me over—vibrant florals created from poured paint given the freedom to roam unrestrained on her canvases.

Her second solo show currently running at León Gallery is called “Language of Flowers,” where she introduces a new blowing technique to the poured paint. The resulting blooms are bold, happy spheres in pastels or contrasting blues and grays.

Didi describes the technique as providing “airy spontaneous beauty, embodying the perfect marriage of control and chance in art,” she says. “Its unpredictable result makes each bud, each flower unique.”

She also incorporates Sashiko, translated as “little stabs,” in some of her works. The intricate Japanese embroidery technique adds texture and structure to the fluidity of the paint. 

Through September 29 at León Gallery. – Yvette Fernandez, Chief of Editorial Content

Little Miss Saldo’s, Silang, Cavite

Chef Rhea Rizzo of Mrs. Saldo’s has launched her à la carte concept just steps from her main dining room, Mrs. Saldo’s. Aptly named Little Miss Saldo’s, the space invites guests to experience her cooking without the formality of a full tasting menu.

A standout is the hamachi crudo, set on puff pastry and brightened with yuzu curd, which delicately balances saltiness, creaminess, and acidity. The unexpected additions of the curd and the puff pastry were a lovely, welcome surprise, adding some texture and dimension but maintain the lightness of the dish. The pan-fried barramundi, prepared with beurre noisette, capers, parsley, lemon, and crisp sourdough crumbs, is also a favorite. Also recommended: sticky toffee pudding, silky cheese ice cream, and the salted chocolate tart; any is guaranteed to bring the meal to a satisfying close.

It may be a bit of drive, but once you pass through the gates, this jewel of a place alone makes it well worth it. It’s beautifully designed and laid out, with each dining concept tucked away in its own lush, secluded corner. The interiors of Little Miss Saldo’s is cozy and rustic, reminiscent of the aesthetic of wine tasting rooms in the California wine region.

Also worth the drive are the sourdough and foccacia bread that opens every meal—I’d go any day of the week just for those. Now, those same loaves can be purchased over the counter at The Necessary, their bakery-café, also in the vicinity. For longer stays, there’s a modern, industrial-style loft with a heated pool, designed for four to six guests. Originally built for the family themselves, it feels like a true retreat—and of course, it comes complete with a fully equipped kitchen.

Watch out for Rizzo’s upcoming menu for Mrs. Saldo’s, slated for release this November, which will place Californian cuisine at its heart—a fitting tribute to the years she spent living there. California’s produce-driven ethos and its celebration of freshness have long shaped her perspective in the kitchen. This menu promises to be both a personal homecoming and a creative expression of the flavors that continue to inspire her most. – Kimberly Rocha-Delgado, Digital Editor

Little Miss Saldo’s is located at Mrs. Saldo’s Lot 5664, Barangay Malabag, Silang, Cavite, from 11am to 9pm, Wednesday to Sunday. +639171002983

Order is Essential by Fernando Zóbel, National Gallery Singapore

The National Gallery Singapore is always on my must-visit list whenever I go to the Lion City, and I was fortunate to catch Order is Essential, having missed Zóbel: The Future of the Past at the Ayala Museum that concluded earlier this year.

To call it a retrospective would undersell its depth and ambition. In one of the galleries, the exhibition places Zóbel’s small syringe—the instrument behind many of his most important paintings, like “Saeta 44,” above—at the center of a mirrored display case, giving viewers a 360-degree view of this modest tool, all at once. The effect is emblematic of the show itself: a five-pronged, wide-reaching exploration that reflects Zóbel’s oeuvre and his multifaceted thought process and inter-continental creative journey from every perceptible angle.

Curated by Dr. Patrick Flores, it is exhaustive, exhilarating, and best savored over the course of an entire afternoon—perhaps after a hearty lunch at Violet Oon or just before dinner at Odette, the three Michelin-starred French restaurant in the Supreme Court Wing, which reopens this December. – Kimberly Rocha-Delgado, Digital Editor

The National Gallery of Singapore is located at 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore. Visit their website for more information.