Amasou, Umasou

Via Mar

2012-01-29T18:00:00.009+08:00

As a regular visitor to the Singapore Arts Museum, the sights of people candlelight dining and chilling at Via Mar had always been tempting me to give it a try. But you know there are things like tapas and paella, you don't get to fully enjoy them unless you have a good crowd. So it wasn't my initial intent to have lunch at Via Mar with a friend. That said, I was actually quite thankful that it was the only place nearby which was still open while the others closed for the new year.

Their value-for-money $28 set lunch was not available on weekends. We had some ala carte dishes to share nonetheless.

Traditional Spanish Potato Omelette ($10)

I liked the crunch provided by the potato bits but overall the dish was a little bland to the taste.

Mussels in White Wine ($25)

The white wine sauce was excellent, combined with the alluring aroma from the garlic served in abundance. It was so tasty that I found myself scraping the bottom of the plate after I finished the mussels.

Roast Cod with Creamy Clams & Prawns ($34)

We were at first taken aback by the 'disorderedness' of the dish. Messy appearance aside, man, the taste was OMG, and the portion was quite generous. The mash potato served as side was equally yummy too.

(Outside the window, a happy moment was captured by the lens.)

Despite the tapas menu here being limited for a Spanish specialty restaurant, their paella menu on the other hand looks promising enough to warrant another visit.

Standard Chartered credit cards get 15% off ala carte menu on weekdays.

Via Mar
71 Bras Basah Road
#01-03 Singapore Art Museum
Daily, 11.30am – 10.00pm
6423 0900

It was museum free-entry day. Besides visiting the regular exhibits, I was there just in time to catch a glimpse of the four elephants before they got auctioned off for charity.

I first thought its name was Halloween, but then it deserved a better one - White Elephant.

Kilo

2012-01-22T23:29:00.009+08:00

You have probably heard of the Raw Kitchen Bar. If you didn't made it there before it closed, the team behind it has put together another quaint eatery one will find hard to love. The name, KILO.

A 10-minute jaunt from Lavander MRT along the Kallang River took us to Ture (the former Sam Tat Warehouse), where Kilo is located just one floor above Loysel's Toy.

A dinner at Kilo is like a visit to a designer home. Minalistic décor with a unique cosy vibe.

We had Avocado-wasabi Tuna Tartare ($22) to share. Wasabi made an excellent agent which brought out the best flavours of the well marinated tuna.

Unagi & Teriyaki Linguine ($19)

When I saw Squid Ink Rice with Prawns & Squid + Eggyolk ($19) on the menu, I knew I was so had to try it.

Plated like a colourful palette, my main was very much a treat for the eye and stomach. Unlike the more common squid ink risotto, the rice grains were pleasantly light and flavourful, though not as firm as I expected of sushi rice.

To round it off, we had their Lava Cake ($7), the only available dessert of the four on the menu. Fortunately its rendition here didn't disappoint. Intense 'lava' warmed the heart in an incredible way. Scoop it up with the very fluffy and melt-in-mouth cake shell, you will surely go yummm~~~!

The barcounter showcases a fine selection of wines and sakes, which are served in generous portions.

Come here and experience Kilo yourself.

Reservation in advance is an absolute must.

Kilo (Facebook)
66 Kampong Bugis, #02-01
Tue - Sat, 6pm - 12am
6467 3987

Happy Lunar New Year everyone!

恭喜發財!!!

Pause

2012-01-15T22:24:00.006+08:00

We continue to enjoy the boom in the craft coffee scene as more and more indie coffee joints are popping up locally, some in the most random locations. And talk about randomness, if you think Papa Palheta is already the extreme, Pause @ Dominic Khoo’s 28th Fevrier will surely set you to think again.

Set in an English townhouse look-alike building, surrounded by commercial warehouses in Bukit Merah, Pause shares this aesthetic white space called Dominic Khoo’s 28th Fevrier with bespoke shoemaker Edwin Neo of Ed Et El and fashion designer Kevin Seah.

The head barista at Pause is Haryanto Soemito who got some coaching from Cuppachoice.

On the day of visit, their special houseblend and a single origin were on offer. Personally, I prefer the Guatemala beans over the blend of Brazil and Sumatra beans. The former one was lovely nutty and struck a fine balance with the milk, while the blend was a little more complex, less rich, but densely creamy that went down very well with the deletable almond stick.

While visiting Pause, you don't just sit on their Flexiblelove Chairs. Move about the premises, and you will soon discover a whole world of wonders just behind the scene.

Pause @ Dominic Khoo’s 28th Fevrier (Facebook)
5 Jalan Kilang
Mon - Sat, 9am - 10pm
6366 4642

Chalk @ Old School

2012-01-08T14:59:00.003+08:00

Hi everyone, how has your first week of the new year been so far? Life has been busy and eventful, with gatherings after gatherings. But it also means I have plenty in the pipeline to share. So stay tuned.

As I'm in the midst of moving to my new home, let me just keep my words brief and leave my photos to do the talkings.

Chalk
11 Mount Sophia, #01-03
Lunch, 12pm - 3pm
Dinner, 6.30pm - 10.30pm
6883 2120

I arrived early before dinner and went snap happy around the area.

As some of you are already aware, this grand old dame will be torn down to make way for property development this year, (though I really hope the URA would change their mind). Come and visit this place while you still can.

Chock Full of Beans

2011-12-30T19:06:00.028+08:00

I have a secret affection for Changi Village, the local equivalence for holiday chalets and urban escape. I also enjoy my morning cuppa. So imagine my excitement when I learned about this new coffee joint recently landed in Changi Village on The Ponderous Pilgrim. Never mind the travelling. I hopped on to Bus 29 from Tampines last weekend and reached my destination in ~~a little less than an hour~~ a blink of an eye .

They get their beans from Highlander Coffee, a four bean blend I heard. Not the best cup I had, but these clever latte arts really made my day.

Penne with Roasted Summer Veggie

With the current lunch promotion, we got our pasta dish, soup of the day and coffee at just $14.80.

Smoked Salmon Sandwich ($13)

Also on promotion was their sandwich lunch set at just $13 (inclusive of soup and drink).

The smoked salmon was succulent and the portion generous, as the picture can tell. I have had smoked salmon sandwiches at many cafés, but what I liked about the rendition here was the use of cream cheese and pickled pepper which added some extra savouriness to it. Yummy~

Seeing many tables around us having their signature Dark Chocolate 70% Cake, kiasu we were that we also ordered one slice with (Gryphon) Camomile Tea, again a set ($8.50). The cake was smooth and intensely chocolatey, but didn't really taste like 70% in my opinions. Our tea which was served in a pot came surprisingly with two cups for the pair of us. A small gesture it might seem, but it was service with such thoughtfulness that made dining experience memorable.

So next time when in the neighbourhood, whether you are heading down to Pulau Ubin or simply visiting to chill, here is one perfect place for your quality coffee and savoury bites.

Chock Full of Beans (Facebook)
4 Changi Village Road, #01-2090
Tue - Fri, 11am - 10pm
Sat - Sun, 9am - 10pm
6214 8839

With 2012 just round the corner, Amasou Umasou would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Thanks for all your supports and friendship this past one year. May you have the most wondrous and fulfilling year ahead.

Last but not least, have fun at your new year celebrations. Cheers :)

Jewel Coffee

2011-12-24T10:13:00.013+08:00

The CBD coffee connoisseurs are never short of craft coffee options with the high concentration of indie coffee joints brewing in the area. Jewel Coffee, located at One Shenton may not be the newest in town, but is probably the only local café that solely focuses on single origin beans for all their coffee drinks.

Taking care of your cuppa are veteran barista Shinhao who has years of experience under his belt, and the stunning La Marzocco Strada from Italy. Not forgetting the Macro Über Boiler which allows precise brewing perfection. On the other hand, you may also choose a manual brewing style if you have the time, be it the Chemex, V-60 dripper or a syphon.

Here I had my latte ($5.8) made from a bean called Lintong, from Indonesia. It was an intense, nutty body with a lingering herbally sweet aftertaste. Oh man, I never knew single origin could make such an interesting cup until I took that sip. Oh, did I mention that all espresso-based drinks here are double-shot?

The café currently has over 20 beans, rotated on a weekly basis. Surely this is something worth you frequent checking back for. Tasting classes are conducted on some of the not-so-busy weekends to promote higher coffee appreciation. Be sure to stay tuned to their facebook page for event updates.

Jewel Coffee (Facebook)
1 Shenton Way, #01-07
Mon – Fri, 7am – 9pm
Sat, 8am – 5pm
6636 9452

Today is Christmas Eve, here is to wish my dearest readers and friends a Merry Christmas!

La Petite Cuisine

2011-12-19T01:14:00.010+08:00

I have a soft spot for French cuisine. La Petite Cuisine and its likes which serve casual French fare are the names I swear by. In the past, to get to Serene Centre could mean hour-long bus ride followed by some 10 minutes of footwork. But not any more. With the recent opening of the 13 stations including Botanic Gardens along the Circle Line, a trip down to Serene Centre has become very much painless.

Ravioli of prawns and foie gras ($15.0)

The skin of the ravioli was made perfectly al dente. The lemon cream sauce infused with parsley was light and very tasty. Fillings in the raviolis were decent with substantial foie gras goodness, though I found it a little dry. As this dish only comes with three raviolis, if you have more people at the table, their Half a dozen escargots in croissant ($13) would make a better entrée choice.

Ham & cheese omelette ($10.5)

This was decent too, came with a bed of greens in an appetizing dressing.

Dory in basquaise sauce & rice ($12.5)

Dory filet was fresh and well marinated.

Sirloin steak w/ gratin potato ($16.5)

I asked for medium rare but my steak somehow turned out to be medium well done. Never mind the mishap, as I thoroughly enjoyed the delicious potato gratin in cream.

Fricassée of large scallops & baby spinach ($26.0)

I regretted ordering steak when the four plump and juicy scallops showed up at the table. The downside of the dish however was the spinach cream sauce that was too heavy for my dining partner who started to feel queasy halfway through. Needless to say, I was more than happy to help her in that.

There have been many raves about the service standard. To me, expection management is the key to a happy dining experience here. After all, this is a modest place for casual French fare. Anything more than that, you will have to pay the extra service charge elsewhere.

La Petite Cuisine
10 Jalan Serene
#01-05 Serene Centre
Lunch, 11.30am – 2.30pm
Dinner, 5.30pm – 9.30pm
6314 3173

The Muffinry

2011-12-13T06:36:00.012+08:00

Thanks to the third coffee movement that swept across the island, we now get to enjoy a cup of quality brew at a growing number of non-specialty coffee places. First there was A Curious Teepee, then Drips, and recently The Muffinry on Telok Ayer Street has joined the list.

Helming the brew counter were two young and affable baristas, Chris and Jimmy.

Previously relied on roasts from Papa Palheta, they have since moved on to come up with their own customized blend 'Malabar', a blend of three beans (origins: Brazil, Sumatra and Guatemala) with the help of Coffee Culture. The result was a bittersweet with an intense body. It wasn't exactly strong as I could recall, but it was the complexity of flavours that made this cup very much enjoyable.

Despite the excellent coffees, due attention should be given to their fresh baked muffins. Alongside the regular flavours for the sweet-tooth, the café also offers a range of innovative savoury muffins ($2.4 ea) and 'boozy' ones ($3 ea). Currently there are over 20 flavours but only about six varieties are available daily.

Try their best-seller Green Eggs & Ham ($2.4), a savoury concoction of avocado (the green eggs), ham and spring onions. The portion might be smaller than the ones in your neighbourhood bakery, but it was well textured and packed with ingredients.

There are also other goodies baked perfect for the festive season.

The café is rather cramped with limited seats, definitely not a venue for your class gathering. Take-away might be a better option.

The Muffinry Bakery & Café (Facebook)
112 Telok Ayer Street
Mon – Fri, 8am – 5pm
Sat, 10am – 4pm
6509 6462

Broadway Café

2011-12-06T08:12:00.010+08:00

Tucked away in the very last conserved shophouse along Duxton Road, Broadway Café is latest entry to the charming Duxton enclave. Its menu serves quite a good variety of drinks and cakes that got me interested weeks ago. And there I was on a Monday afternoon when many other places calling it weekend.

My disappointing cup of Latte ($6.9) tasted a tad bland and overly creamy. My bad for choosing a dcoffee drink at a non-specialty coffee place.

Not quite sure what to have, their cake of the day became the perfect answer to the undecisive moment.

Having fragrant kaya cake as the sponge, the cream layer was delightful when eaten together with the red beans. Quite a decent piece of cake I must say.

Looking at the many polaroids at the entrance, the café must have seen many joyous birthday celebrations. While the food I had was mediocre, their comfy couches look like just the perfect spot I can spend a lazy afternoon on. As it is opened till late, it also makes a great hangout alternative to all the pubs in the area.

Broadway Café (Facebook)
15 Duxton Road
6224 6131

Sarnies

2011-11-29T08:50:00.001+08:00

Sarnies on Telok Ayer Street is my new found breakfast spot in the CBD area. Run by a brother and sister team from Aussie, this three month old café serves really good coffees and sandwiches.

My morning was started off with a shot of Piccolo ($4.5), made from beans by Papa Palheta. Absolutely no complaint.

The choco-loving friend was extremely pleased with his cup of Hot Cocoa ($5.5). Easily one of the best in town by his fussy standard.

BLT ($10.9)

I was happy to see my fave brunch item served as sandwich here.

The potion was however huge that I could barely finish half of it. Meant for sharing I suppose.

Despite being new in the area, the café has won the apparent royalty of many who work in the neighbourhood, as customers who came in that morning were mostly greeted by name. There is also an intriguing lunch menu I will come back for.

So do drop by to grab a bite or some coffee soon if you work nearby.

On a separate note, I think I smelled fresh baked muffins from a few shops away while searching for Sarnies. Will be back real soon.

Sarnies (Facebook)
136 Telok Ayer Street
Mon – Fri, 7am – 3pm
6224 6091

L'etoile

2011-11-20T18:21:00.011+08:00

L'etoile is star in French, and I think it's quite an apt name for this new rising star, a French-themed Japanese café housed in a two-storey shophouse at the junction of Owen Road and Dorset Road. As it was the owner's intent to settle on an off-the-beaten track (read: ulu) location, having a GPS device with you on the first visit here is highly advisible.

While the first floor of the café has a relatively modern setting that looks like a random page torn off from an Ikea catalogue, its second floor is entirely a different world. Imagine you have a grandfather clock, a vintage typewriter, as well as a Singer sewing machine as your coffee table.

The medium-roasted blend supplied by Highlander Coffee suited my tastebuds pretty well, as I could probably tell from the excellent cup of Cappucino ($4.5) I had.

Their Ciabatta Smoked Duck ($6.9) was more than decent.

Juicy smoked duck and soft ciabatta.

Stunning murals handpainted by the owner and friends.

Retail space in case you wanna take home something to please someone.

Service was warm and sincere. Despite being short-handed, we had the friendly barista repeatedly came up to the second floor and offered to fill up our glasses.

L'etoile (Facebook)
160 Owen Road
Tue – Sun, 9am – 8pm
Closed on Mondays
6298 2872

The Broers Café

2011-11-14T18:01:00.014+08:00

Adding to our local specialty coffee scene is The Broers Café located near Farrer Park MRT. This charming little café is the venture of Kiat and Han who were ex-colleagues at Starbucks as baristas and subsequently became buddies. As the name Broers is actually Dutch for “brothers”, its owners hope the café can be a bonding place where strangers come in and leave as friends.

Here is a little short clip they made about the inspiration behind the café.

And Kiat shares his obssession with coffee.

Readily admitting that he couldn't do fanciful latte arts, Han did quite a decent cup of Latte($4). Fragrant and robust, though I might just like it to be a little nuttier.

Wanting to have something to munch, we had their Smoked Norwegian Salmon Ciabatta ($8.50). Smoked salmon was tasty while fresh lettuce gave the extra crunch. Along with it also came a side of potato salad dressed in an insanely yummy sauce.

Looking for something sweet and Kiat recommended this Summer Berry Tart ($6.0).

Apart from the tart base wasn't firm enough to my likings, the yogurt curd which had a jelly-like texture was on the mild-sweet side, unexpectedly light and delectable.

The relaxing view from where I sat.

Being strategically located in a way, this café is a great alternative to the other overly popular cafés if you wanna find somewhere to get some work done over a cuppa, or simply sit down and chill. It would be perfect if there is some couch comfort to match the cosiness of this place.

Note: Payment by CASH only.

The Broers Café
3 Petain Road
Tue–Thu & Sun, 10am – 8pm
Fri–Sat, 10am – 11pm
Closed on Mondays
6295 5426

那些年，我們一起追的女孩

2011-11-09T08:05:00.008+08:00

Today instead of making you feel hungry, I would like to share with you a movie that recently moved me.

Titled You Are the Apple of My Eye, the film is a semi-autobiography of Taiwan novelist-turned-director Giddens Ko (九把刀), who with his group of college buddies, (not coincidentally) had a crush on the same studious girl in their class in high school days, and that all the crazy stuff that soon follows. Woven with Giddens' wicked sense of humour, the story develops very tastefully. Although in the end it is not the stereotypical happily-ever-after ending largely wished for, it does come to a tasteful closure with quite a bang. Like many put it, watching this movie makes one feel like falling in love all over again.

(Image credit: http://www.giddens.tw/blog)

Enough said, I shall leave it to you to find out the rest when it is set to open in cinemas this Thursday 10 November.

Meanwhile, for some of the behind-the-scene stories, head to Giddens Ko's personal blog.

Drips

2011-11-03T23:12:00.015+08:00

Didn't I just mention recently that there have been many quaint cafés and shops popping up in the Tiong Bahru Estate lately? If you have yet to check them out, here is one more to add to your itinerary.

Located just a stone throw away from The Orange Thimble, this new kid on the block is the brainchild of Alfred Chan, of Fredo Galaxy, a heartland bakery in the Commonwealth area. Although the main attraction here is their pastries, they also serve sandwiches, quiches and other light bites, so need not worry if you come with an empty stomach.

Blackforest Ham & Eggplant Sandwich ($9.80), with the option of whole grain and croissant. My croissant was served warm and appropriately flaky, with a pleasant buttery flavour.

Veggie & Chicken Pie ($5.80), a simple yet comforting pie packed with hearty fillings.

The coffees here deserve much attention too. Pulling away at a separate counter, the barista here delivered quite a balanced cup of Latte ($4.50).

Friend ordered a slice of Tiramisu ($6.80). Suitably moist and creamy, and not too sweet. It would be perfect if there was more rum in it.

Macadamia Nut Tart ($5.80)

Pastries are baked fresh daily, so to skip the wait, 1pm is a safe timing to arrive. But if you have to time to spare, be here a little early and you may catch some actions at the kitchen as they whip out their freshly baked of the day. It is all but fascinating stuff to watch. Well, at least true for someone like me whose greatest achievement by far is brownie baking using mix.

After much waiting in anticipation, it was time to claim the prize.

Mixed Berry Tart ($6.00)

Mango Tart ($5.50) was the apparent crowd pleaser here. Topped with a huge pile of delicious mango cubes, the shortcrust tart base was buttery and firm, with a bed of smooth custard. Thyme leaves added some interesting spiciness to it. If this is what you are here for, have your fingers crossed before you step in, as they get wiped out pretty quickly.

I particularly appreciated how they make use of natural lighting here. Now talk about being photography-friendly.

I also liked this cushion on the couch.

The Orange Thimble and Drips are breeds apart and each has its own merits, it's kinda hard to tell which one I prefer. But if you have a plan to please someone with a sweet treat, Drips will probably offer you a higher success rate. And besides, unlike most of the small cafés, business is as usual every Monday. So you know where to go to next time you have Monday blues.

Drips Bakery & Café
#01-05, 82 Tiong Poh Road
Mon - Sun, 10.30am - 9.30pm
Closed on Tuesdays
6222 0400

The Naked Finn @ A Curious Teepee (CLOSED)

2011-10-29T01:06:00.008+08:00

The Naked Finn is a two-month-long menu preview put up by the team behind the former Klee Bar before it's set to open on Sentosa 2012. I don't know what took me so long to pay them a visit, but I'm glad that I made it just in time as they move into the very last week of this collaboration.

When visiting A Curious Teepee, it's always good to start off with some coffee. Serving Papa Palheta's very own roasts, prepared by baristas coached by them, you can be sure you are in safe hands. And indeed, my Piccolo Latte ($4.8) was very velvety and rich, a perfect drink to warm up the body a little after days of raining.

We had Tatami Iwashi ($10), a highly addictive snack made from dried shirasu (white fish), came in crispy bite-sized sheets. It makes great beer-buddy if you are here for a drink.

Strongly recommended by our helpful waitress was Salmon Rocket ($12). Succulent salmon belly slices were lightly blow-torched, unleashing all the omega-3 goodness. In the end we had to resist the temptation of ordering another one because we had a show to catch.

My companion very much enjoyed her Chuka Hiyashi Ramen ($9), chilled ramen accompanied by a colourful assortment of toppings. But what made it shine was the appetizing tare dressing.

As for my Aigamo Ramen ($12), while the thinly sliced smoked duck breast was extremely tender, the noodle threads were delicate with a smooth and somewhat 'fluffy' texture, akin to that of udon. But really, what made the bowl of ramen stood out was its clean-tasting stock, which left a lingering taste that was soothing to the palate.

Judging by what this preview has to offer, there is sure much to look forward to when the full menu is unveiled at the new premises on Sentosa next year.

And if you are planning a visit, today would well be your last chance. So come down to Scape this evening before it's too late.

The Naked Finn Pop Up @ A Curious Teepee
*SCAPE #02-24, 2 Orchard Link
6820 1680
Availble until October 30

Update: Oh no, A Curious Teepee has closed their physical space at *Scape on the last day of 2011. Meanwhile, you can still visit their website just a click away.

梅光軒

2011-10-23T11:31:00.005+08:00

Taking a break from my caffeinated adventure, I popped by Baikohken, one of the local ramen destinations many rave about.

Having heard words about Baikohken being notorious of serving huge portions, I knew the rumour was true when I saw the four slabs of monster-sized meat on my Chashu Shio Ramen. Just as I was looking forward to my chashu galore, much to my disappointment, it wasn't as tender as I'd like it to be. While I found noodle texture was fine, the broth was too light (if not bland) for my likings. I recalled Gyoza no Ohsho @ Cuppage Plaza served better shio ramen.

Knowing too well that their big portions are not for everyone's stomach, they also serve ramen in half the portion. Despite that, it was a strnggle my companion trying to finish her half-portion Yasai Ramen. Her miso broth somewhat tasted better than mine.

Given the many better ramen options, it will probably be long before I'm back again.

梅光軒
7 North Canal Road
6534 3808

Jimmy Monkey

2011-10-20T04:59:00.011+08:00

With a buring passion for coffee and the desire to bring his coffee experience in Melbourne back to Singapore, Michael Ryan, owner of Jimmy Monkey started the café at the One-North Residences neighbourhood, a short walk away from Buona Vista MRT.

Came equiped with Singapore's very first Slayer Espresso machine, it is no monkey business here for owner barista Michael when it comes to pushing your cup of coffee.

My Flat White ($5) tasted a little harsh at first, but soon I found myself succumbed to its rich aroma and velvety texture.

It was later we found out that there were two shots that went into it.

Delectable Smoked Salmon Pesto Aglio Olio Spaghetti ($14) to go with my coffee. The pasta was al dente!

Priced as much as my pasta was their Signature Alcoholic Thick Shake ($14). Topped with a bed of Violet Crumble, the soothing fragrance of rum reminded me of my fave order at Once upon a Milkshake. It's a to-die-for you have a sweet-tooth. Too sweet for me however.

Hearty Breakfast Sandwich ($12) with rocket, avocado, bacon, egg and the mysterious Kay's relish that I super liked :)

If there be just one more thing that would give one a lasting impression on this place, this has to be it. Came complete with a toilet roll.

While Jimmy Monkey can be counted on for their excellent brews, their Sunday brunch menu is sure one big draw that makes future visits a must.

Jimmy Monkey
9 One-North Gateway
#01-51 One-North Residences
6777 8470

The Coffee Daily

2011-10-10T09:01:00.008+08:00

It's a love-hate relationship I have with Serangoon Garden. On one hand this place is a food heaven where you will never run out of dining options, even in the wee hours. On the other its inaccessibility kinda bugs the west-residing me.

But after seeing a post on Sarah's Loft, I braced myself for a 1.5 hour ride to get to this somewhat familiar place called Brighton Crescent. Why the familiarity? Forgetful was I that my last visit here (the then Awfully Chocolate) left my prime lens cap-less for the next couple of weeks.

You find this one month old café located along a row of old school shophouses. Its menu serves simple coffee and smoothies. You can also pick up some sandwiches, cakes and pastries if you wanna get a bite.

My Mocha ($5.30) was slightly nutty, less robust than I had expected, nonetheless still made a good perk-up for a gloomy afternoon.

It was Shepherd's Pie Friday. Owner Nicole urged us to give their signature dish a try.

My apologies for this unsightly mess, but this pie we had was pretty good. The stew was warm and juicy, full of beefy flavours. The mash potato was smooth and the crust on top was crisp.

I liked their Almond Croissant ($3.20) which was not too buttery and there were some bites to it.

The café adopts a 1980s minimalist interior sporting one-of-a-kind chairs, vintage records, old school fan and such. It gave me an idea how I want to do my kitchen next time.

This one left me a bit speechless. It's sure a piece of art in its own right.

Gusto Gran blend by Highlander Coffee for sale. You can now be your own barista at home.

The Coffee Daily (Facebook)
75 Brighton Crescent
Tue – Sun, 9am – 6pm
Fri, 9am – 4pm
Closed on Mondays
6284 8894

R.I.P. Steve Jobs

2011-10-07T05:16:00.005+08:00

"3 Apples changed the World, 1st one seduced Eve, 2nd fell on Newton and the 3rd was offered to the World half bitten by Steve Jobs"

To the Michelangelo of the digital age, thank you for all your innovations and inspiration that forever changed the way we live.

Cuppachoice (CLOSED)

2011-10-04T12:14:00.016+08:00

I have been in the mood for specialty coffee lately. But like the Chinese saying '醉翁之意不在酒' goes, most of the time I just wanted to find a place to kick back and soak in the laidback vibe that some of the indie cafés offer.

Cuppachoice has been in the Chinatown neighbourhood for over two years. With its core business of more than two decades in commercial roasting, it has produced many fine baristas, some of who have moved on and opened their own joints. The new Pause at Dominic Khoo’s 28th Fevrier has been marked on my radar.

My cup of Flat White ($4.20) wasn't lukewarm when it was served. Or perhaps I took too long to get the shot. A little disappointed with its taste which wasn't as intense as I expected. The texture was nevertheless velvety.

Almond Latte ($5.80)

The hint of almond flavour made this blend a delight to the taste and smell.

I was lucky enough to catch some heat over at the roaster.

Watching my 'to-go' list of new indie coffee places growing longer each day, I don't see myself returning for coffee any time soon. If you are in the area next time, here is noentheless one place to drop by and have a cuppa.

Cuppachoice
3 Temple Street
Mon - Sat, 9.30am - 5.30pm
Closed on Sundays and PH
6227 8892

Maison Ikkoku

2011-09-30T22:19:00.029+08:00

Manga fans of my age should be familiar with this name. This romance hit in the 80s by Takahashi Rumiko was so popular that it was re-made into anime, TV drama series and eventually went up to the silver screen.

(Internet image)

In case you are wondering, no, this post is not about manga appreciation, not just yet. Today instead, I want to share with you this new cool coffee place in the Arab Street neighbourhood. To name their joint after this manga hit, the folks behind it must be really in love with their manga. Curiosity led me to Kandahar Street this week to find out more.

Housed in a three-storeyed shophouse, the place consists a café, a boutique for men's wear on the second floor, and a third-floor bar which is set to be opened in November.

Your coffee here is prepared by baristas trained by Tokyo’s Streamer Coffee, with your choice of brewing method. (My lesson at The Steeping Room came up handy.) The café menu also offers light bites like sandwiches and cakes to complete your experience. There is also a brunch menu for your weekend coffee sips.

Wasabi Egg Sandwich ($10.9)

The amount of wasabi in it was strong enough to give the kick, but not too much that would otherwise make you start crying.

Beef Striploin & Horseradish ($13.9)

Loved the appetizing horseradish dressing for my greens.

Literally translated to 'House of Moments', this concept café seeks to provide patrons a sense of 'freeze in time'. Vintage wardrobes and the use of recycled doors as your coffee tables added an extra touch.

I was told you would see the upper halves of these wardrobes when visiting their fashion boutique.

We spotted a keyhole on our table.

It was a much enjoyed evening and nice meeting with the friendly chaps who run this place. I will be back for brunch soon, definitely.

Maison Ikkoku (Facebook)
20 Kandahar Street
Mon – Thu, 9am – 7pm
Fri – Sat, 9am – 10pm
Sun, 9am – 6pm
6294 0078

The Tastings Room

2011-09-24T16:10:00.009+08:00

While I was at a loss trying to find a venue for a gathering last month, helpful Sherie of maameemoomoo came to my rescue with her timely post on this exciting new bistro at Marina Square. Reservation was made right away. Thanks Sheire!

Upon arrival, I was surprised to learn that this place was nothing like the kinda classy places often associated with wine. Nonetheless, its minimalist décor provides an effortless atmosphere for one to experience food and wine. To add to the merits, the service staff were very knowledgable of the menu and down to earth friendly, leaving us pretty impressed with the service standard.

Our Smoked Salmon & Tomato Pizza ($13.9) was served with a crispy thin base which allowed us to fully enjoy the generous ingredients. The only misstep was probably the rocket leaves which tasted too peppery for some of us.

Pan-fried Chicken Roulade ($17.9)
Chicken thigh stuffed with sautéed mushrooms, chicken chipolata and garlic potato mash finished with thyme-infused chicken jus.

Not my main, but I liked the idea of stuffing mushrooms into chicken, reminded me of a home dish that I grew up eating and am still loving it.

I adored my Sun-kissed Tomato Crayfish Pasta ($13.90). The drizzle of spring onion nicely masked the tanginess of the tomato while still keeping the linguine appetising and tender. How I wished there were more chunky bites to the crayfish.

Be sure to save some room for their 5-starred dessert menu.

New Zealand Kapiti ice cream is available at $3.50 per scoop. Out of the four flavours we tried, the refreshing Lemongrass & Ginger was agreeably the most popular, so much so that we had two more servings shortly after.

When we found some ice crystals halfway into one of the scoops and feedback to the friendly manager. Acknowledging the faux pas readily, he changed a new scoop for us. Thumbs up for the service!

The Warm Banana Cake ($8.5) was served spongy and warm, with an soothing banana fragrance. If the cake doesn't satisfy your banana craving, the caramelized banana that comes along will.

Our last dessert Chocolate D24 Durian Cake ($8.9) left the die-hard durian fan at our table screaming for more. The layer cake was soft while the purée smooth and delectable, with rich durian flavours. If only the serving was bigger...

Our total bill for the night came up to be just below $100 for five, after the 30% voucher one of us brought along. With such affordable yet outstanding fare, I just wish I could learn to appreciate wine more. With The Tastings Room, I know I will.

Do check out their website for the monthly specials and any other promotions.

The Tastings Room
6 Raffles Boulevard
Marina Square, #01-08
Sun – Thu, 10am – 10pm
Fri – Sat, 10am – 12am
6338 1829

Tenza Izakaya

2011-09-20T01:36:00.004+08:00

A recent farewell dinner for a colleague led to my discovery of this izakaya in the Sunset Way dining belt. Two weeks ago, I returned for a simple dinner.

As a relatively new establishment, I was really impressed by the variety of food it had to offer. On the regular menu alone there were over 100 food items to choose from, truly a case of being spoilt by choice. I also appreciated that some of items were very interestingly named, which ironically made our selection process a slow and painful one. Sorry waitress.

Complementary appetizer was served shortly after we got seated.

It was a tough choice between Mizuna Salad and this Tenza Salad ($14.80), their in-house special. The unique sesame dressing was light but very yummy. There was a familiar flavour in it I particularly liked but just can't recall it now.

We also tried a couple of grilled items.

Asparagus Pork Belly Maki ($2.60)

Flavourful juice deposited on springy asparagus. Nice!

Yakitori($1.80)

Ika Sugata Yaki ($8.80)

While checking photos my curious companion asked me why I didn't frame this entire dish, without even realizing that her eager chopsticks moved too quickly that it outran the camera shutter.

The place ran out of cod fish, we had Saba Shioyaki ($7.80) instead. Not that we had anything against mackerel, nor didn't the chef do a good job, but after having the dish, the craving for gindara mentai yaki just grew stronger.

Katsuo Steak ($13.80) easily became my fave dish of the meal.

Skillfully seared to a satisfying texture, the savoury gravy only helped to bring out the best flavours of the fish.

My favourite dish deserves a second shot.

The same night saw two groups of Japanese diners seated around us. From their ecstatic conversations and laughter we both knew that they were equally pleased with their dining experience here.

As we only got to tried a small variety of dishes, future visit(s) is definitely a must. And besides aren't you glad to know that now you don't really have to travel all the way to Demspey for a meal among lush greenery?

Tenza Izakaya
Blk 106 Clementi St 12 (Sunset Way), #01-38D
Tue – Sun, 6pm – 11pm
Closed on Mondays
6773 0093

The Orange Thimble

2011-09-14T09:41:00.004+08:00

Ever since The Orange Thimble opened its doors late July/early August, I have been frequenting the Tiong Bahru Estate on a weekly basis. Mananged by people who grew up on the very same streets of the estate, the café is an inviting space for a cup of coffee and some light bites. And ice cream too.

If you are wondering what the café has to do with a thimble, the name is a tribute to the sewing shop which previously occupied the shop space.

On one of my visits, I had the much raved about English Breakfast Burger ($5.50) that came with pork sausage, bacon, rocket and portobello. While I liked the combination of rocket and mushrooms, the pork sausage was however a little on the tough side.

Every order of hot beverage here is served with a little nostalgic touch.

They have a wide selection of cakes for the sweet tooth. Highly recommended is their Hazelnut Dacquoise ($6.50). The dark chocolate moouse layer was smooth, firm and rich, and not too sweet. It made a great companion with my Camomile Tea ($4.50).

The café is also an exhibition space for photography works and paintings.

Although it can get rather popular over the weekends, on weekdays it's a great place to sit down for coffee over a book. Service was warm and hospitable, together with cosy ambience and jazz music, making one feel very much at home.

At the moment they don't accept NETS and credit card payment, do come with enough cash.

The Orange Thimble
56 Eng Hoon Street #01-68
Tue - Thu, 11am - 9pm
Fri, Sat, 9am - 1030pm
Sun, 9am - 9pm
Closed on Mondays
6223 8068

Ramen Keisuke Tonkotsu King

2011-09-05T06:35:00.005+08:00

Located on the ground floor of Orchid Hotel in Tanjong Pagar, this new ramen place from Tokyo is giving its competitors a run for the money.

As its name suggests, only pork bone broth is served here. But that doesn't make this place necessarily boring. At Tonkotsu King, you get to personalize your ramen, by filling up a questionnaire-like order ticket, with options such as the type of soup base (plain, red spicy or black spicy) you like, strength of your broth, noodle texture and many more.

Little something to keep the hands and mouth busy whilist waiting for your food. Egg basket was provided free of charge.

With the most ordinary ramen priced at $10.80, it only made economic sense to go for the all-in version for just $4 more.

It didn't take long for my order to be served. Before I could taste my food, attention was drawn towards the XXL chashuu ~~slices~~ slabs (which came in pair!), as well as the face-sized seaweed sheet stuck to the side of the bowl.

I very much enjoyed my Tonkotsu Ramen Special ($14.80), with spring onion, black fungus, fatty chashuu, and a perfectly soft-boiled egg. The broth was hearty, strong and flavoursome, just the way I liked it to be. As on the stiff noodles I chose, the noodle threads were curly springy and paired with the soup pretty well. I also helped myself to some pickled beansprouts for extra tastes and texture.

While sipping up the heavenly broth, I spotted lumps of pork fat lurking within, a sure sighting that would give any health-conscious person a heart attack. So guys, be warned.

Friend had Red Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen Special ($15.80), which was served with a dash of chili oil and chili powder. Though the broth was too strong for his tastebuds towards the end, I could only hear praises of his equally sinful spicy noodles.

Let's come back next week, shall we?

Ambience wise, it is the kinda place only good for a quick meal then move on. So have your post-dinner activities planned out in advance.

豚骨王
#01-19 Orchid Hotel
1 Tras Link
Lunch, 11.30am – 3pm
Dinner, 6pm – 10pm
6636 0855

大黒屋

2011-08-30T21:34:00.004+08:00

Many know that I have a soft spot for ramen. Thanks to the growing appetite for ramen in recent years that saw the rising of many local and overseas names, choices are plentiful whenever craving calls.

A dinner with friends found me at Daikokuya's Paragon outlet last week. Not only the four mainstream soup bases are served here, Daikokuya's menu also carries a number of regional variations from Japan. With so much to offer, it was quite a struggle trying to decide what to go for.

大黒屋つけめん - $13.90

While I didn't try the noodles, which I was told were very well textured, the double boil broth dip was extremely rich and flavourful.

九州とんこつらーめん - $15.90

My Tonkotsu broth didn't disappoint too. Said to have been in the pot for over 12 hours, the milky soup was not so salty as expected, yet robust in hearty flavours.

明太子餃子 - $6.80

Not to miss was their pan-fried gyozas, now came with an appealing topping of spicy cod roe and spring onion, giving the already delectable dumplings a big boost to the savouriness.

Daikokuya might not be the best available option for a bowl of authentic Japanese ramen, but if you feel like breaking away from the usual soupy noodles, do give their Maze Ramen a try.

Next up, Tonkotsu King Ramen Bar at Orchid Hotel.

大黒屋
290 Orchard Road
#B1-47 Paragon Shopping Centre
6737 5416

Spizza @ Club Street

2011-08-26T04:17:00.015+08:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had a gathering with a group of friends whom I had not met for almost a year. It was also meant to be a surprise birthday party for the leader of our wolf pack, who was (albeit reluctantly) the first to enter his 30s. Although cover was blown even before we arrived, we had some fun together, as we were increasingly aware that it was getting harder to meet up.

We ordered several appetizers and pizzas, but some were gobbled up before the shutter button was pressed.

Tacito ($11), beef carpaccio with lemon dressing, shaved cheese and rocket. Not for the faint-hearted.

The pizza menu showcased a list of 26 pizzas in alphabetical sequence, each of which bearing the name of a person. Talk about a complete A-to-Z list.

Vittoria - Tomato, Mozzarella, Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, Chili.

Sofia - Tomato, Mozzarella, Shrimps, Mussels, Scallops, Calamari, Fresh Basil. Pizza of choice for seafood lovers.

Not on the menu was the star pizza of the month, Golosa, loads of mushrooms and cheese.

Being not a huge fan of pizzas/cheese, I'm not keen to rate the dishes. However, I liked the thin pizza crust. And they were quite generous with ingredients, as seen from the photos.

Dessert however, was a tad disappointment. Calories should have been saved for a nice piece of Mont Blanc at the other end of the street.

Brick walls added a homely touch to this pizzeria.

It was a much enjoyed afternoon with good food and great company. Now, why did our birthday boy's partner chose this venue, knowing too well that he didn't fancy cheese.

Spizza on Club Street
29 Club Street
Lunch, 12pm – 3pm,
Dinner, 6.30pm – 10.45pm
6224 2525

江ノ丘

2011-08-23T06:00:00.007+08:00

Some izakaya at Cuppage Plaza was full house one Friday evening. A check on hungrygowhere took us off the beaten track to another Japanese restaurant in a conserved house in Cairnhill area. Oddly placed just next to a road junction, the isolated two-storey building was dwarfed by its tall-standing apartment neighbours. An unusual sight.

The highlight of the menu is their shabu-shabu courses with 12 different meat choices to choose from, which include wagyu and kurobuta. The menu also carries bento sets and other ala carte dishes if you decide to have a quick meal and catch up on some retail therapy thereafter.

US Beef Course - $38

To the shabu shabu newbie pair (that's us), the helpful waitress did a good job providing a brief crash course on shabu shabu before we dip in.

Three different kinda suaces were served - ponzu and dashi for the veggie, and savoury sesame sauce basically good for everything.

Much to our surprise, the soup base was quite bland-tasting, unlike the Chinese steamboat we are familiar with. The meat however was pretty good. Take a piece of thinly sliced beef, dip into the boiling broth and count to three, argh... yumm~~

A great Japanese treat is never complete without that something orange.

The restaurant played a pleasant selection of classic Japanese songs, making it a more relaxing and enjoyable meal. Although Eno Oka might not have one of the best menus to offer, if you feel breathless when Orchard Road gets too crowded, take a leisure walk behind Paragon, Eno Oka might just be the perfect spot for a no-frills dinner. For the budget-conscious, there is no 7% on final bill.

江ノ丘
56 Cairnhill Road
Lunch, 11.30am – 2.30pm
Dinner, 6pm – 11pm
6887 5527

Absolute Thai

2011-08-19T08:02:00.012+08:00

Whenever friends ask me for weekend dining recommendation, Marina Bay Link Mall will usually be the first to appear in my thought bubble. Not only because it is a far less crowded mall on weekends (largely due to its seeming inaccessibility), visitors are in for a culinary adventure with mouth-watering treats offered by over 20 restaurants and cafés. Next time if you are feeling the squeeze dining out in Cityhall or Orchard areas, a quick solution might just be some 5 minutes away.

A recent green curry craving led me to Absolute Thai, a modern restaurant which serves modest Thai fare.

Stir Fried Beancurd with Hot Basil Leaves ($9), munchy beancurd cubes spiced up by a hearty serving of chilli, garlic and basil leaves.

Stir Fried Kailan with Salted Fish ($9). My favourite cze char was given a very alluring salted fish smell. Friend and I ended up fighting for this dish down till the very last bit of 'giam her'.

After a long wait came the highlight of the meal, Green Curry Chicken ($12), also known as Gang Keow Wan. The green curry here did serve up my expectations - with a potent blend of coconut milk, curry paste, herbs and other spices root to Thai cuisine, this savoury and vibrant dish sure packed a punch. Needless to say, the chicken was superb tender too. One plate of rice is never enough to sop up every intricate drop of the flavourful gravy.

Talking about curry, according to a recent survey, Thailand's Massaman Curry was crowned the best among world's 50 most delicious foods, (our chilli crab and chicken rice are on the list too). Could anyone recommend a place where I can get a taste of this legendary dish locally?

Dessert menu was limited.

Mango Sticky Rice ($6.90), juicy mango on a bed of sweet and salty tasting glutinous rice. One would just hope the mango be more repined.

Service however wasn't quite up to the mark, IMHO, given the restaurant's location and classy décor. We had a waiter twice tried to clear my bowl of apparently unfinished curry, while others oblivious to refill water despite several requests. So keep an open mind.

10% off final bill for any Standard Chartered card.

Absoulte Thai
8A Marina Boulevard,
#B2-16/17 Marina Bay Link Mall
Daily, 11.30am – 9.30pm
6634 2371

Tom's Palette's 3rd Anniversary flavours

2011-08-13T14:36:00.016+08:00

With the third anniversary of Tom's Palette just round the corner, Chronos, Eunice and team have rolled out three new flavours to commemorate this special occasion. I was lucky enough to bump into their promotional booth at the flea market at Red Dot Traffic last night.

If you have been a supporting fan of Tom's Palette, you may find the new creations quite unusual of what they do. Think along this line, Aussie Merlot, Malibu and Cointreau. But if you think about it, this is hardly surprising, for the couple team have created more than 100 flavours over the years, many simply beyond one's imagination. My favourite goes to 'Melt & Sizzle'. What about you?

Among the three, I liked the Malibu + Brown Sugar Sorbet the most. Flavoured with coconut rum and dark rum, this heavenly sorbet was complete with a light taste of brown sugar sweetness.

The soothing aroma of rum is still lingering on my tastebuds...

Do stay tuned as they promise more exciting new flavours to mark their third birthday.

Tom's Palette
100 Beach Road
#01-25 Shaw Leisure Gallery
Mon–Thu: 12pm – 9.30pm
Fri–Sat: 12pm – 10pm
Sun : 1pm - 7pm
(Closed on last Sunday of the month)
6296 5239

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Though this space has been hosting weekend flea markets every first Sunday of the month, this collaboration is one of the biggest I have seen in years. With over 70 booths showcasing creative work, design and art, exhibition and live music, it was party all night until 12am.

Fancy a funky haircut/shave?

Even our furry friends were dressed to the occasion.

Don't wanna miss another great event like this? Join their mailing list to stay in the loop.

Little Part I Café

2011-08-04T02:29:00.022+08:00

Two Sundays ago, I had the chance to meet the two ladies, Camy and Michelle, behind the blog CoffeeTablePeople.

Quite a recent startup I would say, the site takes readers on a visual tour to the many quaint and quirky cafés on our shores and beyond. I bookmarked the site shortly after it started and have since been loyally frequenting it whenever I needed new waterholes. And besides, I find it really hard not to like their photos on the blog.

Our meeting point, Little Part I Café, a hole-in-the-wall in the tranquil neighbourhood of the Adelphi Park Estate off Upper Thomson Road. Serving up some of the western homecook favourites, simple yet comforting, it's one of those rare places that makes you feel like dining at someone's residence.

My early arrival allowed me some time to browse their story book collection while taking sips from my Big-Mug Hot Chocolate ($6.50).

Espresso ($3.50). Look at that lovely smoothy layer of foam.

Salmon Crêpe ($16.90) for the ladies.

My main was Irish Beef Stew ($21.90). Cooked to perfection with an alluring aroma, the flavoursome beef was fall-apart tender.

On the other hand, I did try my best to finish my greens (food wastage is a sin), the supposedly citrus dressing which carried a drench silimar to that of 'Mama Lemon' however turned the stomach. And the rest of the table readily agreed.

Lunch was ended on a sweet note with a simple dessert. I can't say for sure it was a good piece of Cheesecake ($5.50), but in the presence of great company, everything was just made sweeter.

Thanks for initiating this meeting Camy.

P.S. To save yourself some walking, the café is also accessible by its back door near Thomson Plaza.

Little Part I Café
15 Jasmine Road
Sun – Thu, 12pm - 10pm
Fri – Sat, 12pm – 12am
6451 7553

Crab Shack

2011-07-24T06:00:00.012+08:00

Just opened late last month, Crab Shack is the much anticipated comeback of the popular outlet in Upper Thomsom area which was closed a couple of years back. When I learned that it was actually the joint venture of a group of ex-hall friends, I told myself I was so gonna 'show my support'.

We arrived at about 6 on a weekday evening and most of the tables were already taken, many marked by flower crab dishes. What a promising sign.

Due to their busy kitchen during dinner time, it took quite a while for our food to arrive.

Their Seafood Croquettes ($4.50) made a great appetizer. Fried to a salivating golden brown, the lemon flavoured creamy centre was substantiated with crab meat, squid and sun-dried tomato. Best eaten while still hot.

Like the previous dish, our Crab Au Gratin ($4.50) was laden with well-seasoned crabmeat, buried under the cheese layer grilled to a slight crisp.

If not for the fragrant garlic flavour in the Crab Baked Rice ($6.50), it could have been a case of cheese overdose.

2 pc Value Meal ($9.90). Go for the 3 pc meal ($12.9) if you have more headcounts.

When it comes to eating steamed crab, my Cantonese tastebuds still prefer to go along with the Chinese pink vinegar (which complements the sweetness of crabmeat very well), over the provided sweet-tasting sauce. On the other hand, instead of serving just baked beans and fries as sides, I think it will be great if patrons are given more choices. Imagine you have some bee hoon to dip in to the flavourful juice of the crabs.

Total damage was at $27 for two, a real steal if you ask me. ~~With their opening promotion, you can get a complimentary brownie ice cream with any order of main course.~~ Check out their facebook page for promotion updates and other useful information.

To get to Crab Shack, take bus service 269 from AMK bus interchange and alight 4 stops later, opposite Block 110. As the kopitiam gets pretty packed during dinner time, try to arrive early to beat the crowd.

Crab Shack (Facebook)
Blk 107 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4
Daily, 12noon - 12mn

JAMS

2011-07-19T01:16:00.003+08:00

Last Friday afternoon before the annual Ballet under the Stars at Fort Canning Park, I had a bit of time to kill and thus went down to check out new book titles at Prologue, Popular's new-concept bookstore at Ion Orchard.

Residing in the bookstore is a café called Jams which serves some light bites, organic coffee and other treats. Perfect mate for your newly acquired books/magazines. Being quiet and secluded, it's one of those few places you won't feel uneasy dining alone.

My lonely afternoon reminded me of a photography project Table for one by local photographer Samantha Tio a year ago. Although it is no longer updating, if you have not visited the blog, I urge you to do so. It might just change your take on lone-dining thereafter.

JAMS
#04-16 ION Orchard,
2 Orchard Turn
6509 6090

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Needless to say, the following evening was a memorable one picnicing under stars, marked by the spectacular performaces put up by dancers from Singapore Dance Theatre. If you have missed it this time round, try to book your tickets early next year.

Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.

Loysel's Toy

2011-07-10T05:20:00.010+08:00

If you have been a loyal fan of Papa Palheta but hoping it has more to offer than just coffees, your prayer has been answered.

Sits at the foot of the landmark building once known as the Sam Tat Warehouse (三達大廈) along Kallang River, Loysel's Toy is a 6 month old café put together by owner Leon and his team of baristas.

It is a full café which serves an all-day breakfast menu along with their signiture gourment coffee. And some desserts too.

One of us had this unusual Salad #2, an interesting combination roasted duck and asian greens, topped with an appetizing citrus dressing. The generous portion of coriander and peppermint however was a major turn off for me.

Pork Sandwiches, served with chips. It's munchy time!

Scrambled Eggs on Toast. It was a pity there wasn't any avocado to go along.

While I was looking for something sweet, the curd of my Lemon Tart was too sour for the tastebuds.

Coffees here are as good as the ones at Papa Palheta - strong, smooth and exquisite. For the true blue coffee connoisseurs, you can even choose the brewing method.

Even if you are not in the mood for coffee, there is also a small selection of fruit juices and teas on the menu.

Apart from the food, I pretty much enjoyed the ambiance of this place. Despite the scorching sun, the al-fresco area where we sat was well sheltered and breezy. It's the kinda place I would love to hang around one whole day to do my things.

I'm so going to be back again.

Loysel's Toy
66 Kampong Bugis
Ture, #01-01
Tues - Fri, 9am - 6pm
Sat - Sun, 9am - 7.30pm
6292 2306

The Daily Scoop

2011-07-03T00:26:00.007+08:00

For we believe that in every story there should be a sweet ending, we went on to satisfy our dessert cravings at Chip Bee Gardens after lunch at AJInoMORI.

Every time visiting Holland Village, a stroll down Jalan Merah Saga is a must-have on my itinerary. I like the rustic charm and out-of-country tranquility here, a stark contrast to the bustling streets and lively vibe of Holland Village just some 5 minutes walk away. And besides, there is this pet shop at the end of the row of shophouses where well groomed cats are free to roam the premises.

Featuring over 30 flavours on any regular day, a single scoop is priced reasonably at $3.20, and double $5.60.

Not settled with the regular scoops? Do drop by often as they come up with exotic creations from time to time. I'm excited about their Pur-Pearl Rice and Wasabi Mango flavours. And don't forget to give other ice cream beverages a try. Both affogato and milkshake sound good if you ask me.

The Daily Scoop
Blk 43 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-78 Chip Bee Gardens
Mon–Thu, 11am – 10pm
Fri–Sun, 11am – 10.30pm
6475 3128

You may also wanna visit their Sunset Way outlet
41 Sunset Way
#01-04 Clementi Arcade
Mon–Thu, 11am – 9pm
Fri & Sat, 11am – 10pm
Sun, 2pm – 9pm
6463 3365

AJInoMORI

2011-06-30T06:47:00.026+08:00

Nothing beats the thrill of unearthing new waterholes.

When I saw the discount coupon for this new place (izakaya) on hungrydeals.com two weeks ago, I prepared for lunch at Lorong Liput with a few clicks on the mouse.

Read Aji no Mori, this izakaya can accommodate 60 diners. Set in a warm and cosy ambience, one may choose to sit at a regular table in private cubicles, or bare his/her soles on the wooden platform (like the Japanese) for a more authentic feel.

We had a humble start with Salmon Nigiri ($5).

Called Healthy Salmon Veggie Roll ($10), these makis had a healthy twist of alfalfa sprouts instead of rice. While my companion thought the taste was too 'green' for her, I liked the crunch from the grass.

Gyu Karubi (Beef short rib, $12) was as suluccent and tender as the best steak I had in recent memory. Grilled to a tantalizing pink on the inside, the mere sight of it was enough to send any beef-loving human go weak in the knees.

Flavoursome juices rushed forth the moment I sank my teeth into the melt-in-month protein, the taste was OMG.

Foie gras toufu steak ($18) was another highlight of the meal.

The rich flavours of the goose liver filled the tofu steak and was an absolute must-try for any foie-gras fan.

Not to forget the staple, Ochazuke ($7), served with crunchy pickles.

We were 'rewarded' this Salmon skin with cod roe as a gesture of good will by the restaurant staff. How nice...

Service was brisk and attentive, and the waitstaff served us with a smile throughout the afternoon, making an already pleasant dining experience even more memorable. We even fixed a date to return before we left.

The night after I got home, I bought another 30% off e-code intended for my future visit, but after some time, I thought it would be more meaningful if it can be passed on to one of my dear readers. (Sorry I only have one as I didn't see this coming. I wish I can do this more often, so let's see). It was therefore decided that the first person to express his/her interest would get it. Let me hear from you soon. This e-code is valid till 21 Aug.
Claimed :)

味の森
17D Lorong Liput
Lunch, 12pm–2.30pm
Dinner, 6pm–11pm
6468 6813

Papa Palheta

2011-06-25T11:04:00.012+08:00

After my visit to The Steeping Room that left me ever so eager to meet the 'PAPA', I found myself knocking at its door twice the following week.

Situated in a row of shophouses and accessible only by the back door, Papa Palheta is a stark contrast to the bustling main road some 10 metres away, offering coffee connoisseurs just the perfectly conducive atmosphere for catching-up with friends over a cuppa aromatic brew, or simply for a care-free weekend unwind.

Call it a café if you may, this place isn't quite like the others. For one, there is no cafeteria fare. No dessert, no tea, no kaya toast, but just freshly brewed coffee.

Also, it goes by no billing system. You only need to tip the amount you think your coffee is worth.

As you enter the tasting room, you would be easily taken by a sense of nostalgia. Sporting an eclectic collection of objects of the past, this lovely space makes one feel exceptionally at home.

Still don't see the picture? Snapshots might drop some hints.

Beans are roasted here every Monday.

A word of advice: Don't let your wallet carry nothing but $50 notes when you visit Papa.

Papa Palheta
140 Bukit Timah Road
Sun, Tue–Fri, 9am – 6pm
Sat, 9am – 7.30pm
Closed on Mondays
9799 0420

The Screening Room

2011-06-19T16:25:00.006+08:00

Previously known as the two-starred Damenlou Hotel (大門樓旅店) until 2007, the 5-storeyed historical building on Ann Siang Hill was taken over the following year and transformed into a film and foodie haven called The Screening Room, with dining, wine, and theatrical experiences all under one roof.

I have been recommending this place to friends without having been there. At last, I got my chance early this month.

Our delightful appetizers raised the bar for the dishes to come.

Can't decide what to order? Their platters are good to start with.

Feeling adventurous, we chose the less common Greek Platter ($18) that comprised selected bites with alien-sounding names.

Tastebud was particular impressed with the kakavia greek fisherman stew that came in a cup. Intense in flavours and complex in taste, it warmed the heart in a unique way that left me lost for words for the next couple of minutes.

Next, juicy Grilled Potobello Mushroom ($10), drizzled with sea salt and olive oil.

Danish hake fish ($28) enveloped in a potato crust fried to crispy brown, garnished with trout roe and citrus fruit salsa.

It was decided which dessert we wanted, to end this grand dinner.

Mahalabia ($14) it was called, the yogurt crème was livened up by the pomegranate and peppermint bits. Refreshing bites of crushed peppermint provided a lovely balance to the tangy yogurt.

I don't usually eat yogurt, but here I devoured it.

No one leaves The Screening Room without visiting its star attraction for the night - La Terraza. It was Time Out’s best alfresco bar for 2008.

Take comfort from the casual yet stylish settings of rooftop bar as you take a sip of icy cool beer and soak in the spectacular view of CDB skyline.

The Screening Room
12 Ann Siang Road
6221 1694

The Steeping Room

2011-06-12T09:02:00.016+08:00

The Steeping Room is a pop-up guerilla retail space put up by the people behind Papa Palheta. Tucked away in an old housing block in Waterloo Street, it would take a slip on a banana peel on the steepest slope for one to stumble upon this place (unless you are informed).

If you see weighing balances, bunsen burners, beakers and conical flasks, no, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. Judging by all these 'barangs' (set-ups), even the least coffee-knowledgable person could tell that they mean serious business here.

No milk-based nor sweetened coffee is served here.

Manned by a group of experienced and passionate baristas, the space is truly a dedication to the ultimate coffee appreciation. Each week they try to bring in beans from various regions of the world and experiment them on different brewing methods.

I strongly recommend The Steeping Room Series($20 for 1, $35 for 2).

Free your senses as you allow one of the resident baristas to take you through the brewing process, one step at a time. To help you understand the beans better, each of the blend is paired with dark and milk chocolate (from Royce!).

While dark chocolate enlivened the flavour of my Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, milk chocolate worked wonders with a bean of high acidity such as the Papua New Guinea Sigri Peaberry.

It was an experience like no other.

Complete with jazz music.

The Steeping Room is going to be here until end of July. Visit them before it's too late.

Payment by CASH only. And take note of their opening hours too.

The Steeping Room
#02-30, Block 261 Waterloo Street
Thu to Mon, 10am – 6pm
9655 0357

Hinoki

2011-06-06T15:17:00.002+08:00

Hinoki is a recent Japanese addition to the F&B cluster of China Square Central. Jointly owned by chef Lawrence Chia, its menu features bento sets priced mostly in the $30 range. Steep it may sound at first, but to be fair, you do get what you pay for.

This fresh sashimi platter was just part of the deal. Along with the Sashimi Gozen ($28.8) my companion had, it also came with soba, tempura and a bowl of rice, promising to fill even the most famished diner.

Hinoki Sushi Gozen ($32) is one of the popular sets among diners and it's not difficult to figure why. For those who like variety, the set offers 19 pieces of nigiri-zushi and mentaiko maki and what you get is very much dependent on the day's catch and chef's discretion.

We were particularly pleased with Gindara Mentaiyaki. The readily melt-in-mouth cod fish was given a mighty flavour boost with the spicy fish roe that sat well on our palate.

On promotion was Salt-grilled Salmon Head at just $8.8.

Lucky I must be, our lunch was blessed with the warmest hospitality, thanks to my lunch kaki who previously worked for a food supplier and formed close ties with the many Japanese establishments around.

On the other hand, Class 95 is a good station, but not so when I want to enjoy a Japanese treat. Then again, it is personal.

檜
22 Cross Street
#01-50 China Square Central
Mon–Sat, 12pm–3pm, 6.30pm–10.30pm
Closed on Sundays
6536 7746

Three Wombats Café

2011-05-28T10:18:00.000+08:00

Two weeks ago, a friend of mine introduced me to this Anstralia inspired café located in the heartland of Whampoa, just off Balestier Road.

The menu serves all-day breakfast and some simple café fare. The prices are reasonable too.

Wombat's Breakfast

Fish and Chips

Although the food here was on the mediocre side, I really enjoyed the laid-back vibe here, complete with relaxing music and comfy couch.

Illustration: Wilcox

On a separate note, while trying to find out more about the animal, I came across this hilarious comic and with it an article on wombats' mating habits. Read on here.

Three Wombats Café
18 Kim Keat Road
6251 1958
Tue–Sun, 11am – 10pm
Closed on Mondays

まる玉らーめん

2011-05-25T09:27:00.008+08:00

Do you still remember when was the first time you had your favourite food that you fell for it?

The story all started when I was a loyal fan of Ma Maison two years ago. Every time I was on level 3 of Central Mall, there was constantly this long queue outside Marutama till a point that I became suspicious that the guys were actually paid to queue.

Of course such suspection was later proven groundless when I had my first bite of ramen there. My love for this Japanese delicacy grew fonder as I discovered more about it from other ramen chains soon sprang up across the island. The taste of Marutama was somewhat forgotten. So when I walked past its latest outfit on B1 of United Square, passion was rekindled, and I knew it was time for a re-visit.

That evening, I found myself at its Central flagship outlet.

Things here haven't changed much - its menu, the prices, settings, as well as the eager/hungry patrons that faithfully form the queue shortly after the clock hits 6.

What sets marutama apart from the pack is that chicken broth is used here. Besides being less heavy on the tastebud, the taste of our soup was beautifully enhanced by a 'green' flavour, thanks to the hearty topping of spring onion and seaweed.

The noodle threads are thin and springy.

Dashimaki Tamago is one of the must-tries.

With 10 ramen tags on the right of this blog, Marutama still does the best gyoza. Personally I prefer steamed version over the common pan-fried ones, as the skin is thinner and softer, and fillings more succulent.

To better our dining experiences with a touch of nostalgia/timelessness, the restaurant plays a selection of classic Japanese songs mostly from the last century. One of which include the record smashing hit 君がいるだけで released in 1990 by a pop band called 米米CLUB.

まる玉らーめん
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#03-90/91 The Central
11.30am – 10pm
6534 8090

CrazyWorld Café

2011-05-14T10:10:00.010+08:00

The growing appetite for designer products among the young (and young at heart) has seen many new boutiques sporting chic and quaint knick-knacks finding their way to our nostalgic spots. You see a couple of them in Ann Siang/Tanjong Pagar area. And if you have a fond affection for designs and things along that line, this new café located in Chinatown is one that you won't wanna miss.

It was through the blog coffee table people that I came to know about CrazyWorld. The retail space of the café carries an eclectic selection of vintage objects as well as designer products by emerging local designers. I recalled seeing some of those items at Red Dot Design Museum and the Singapore Arts Museum.

You can't disagree with me that the weather these days has just gone haywire. With NEA just announced that the scorching heat was here to stay until end of the month, the best way to retain one's sanity is probably to stay indoor and enjoy some icy cool drinks. Anyone with me?

'You have to try our Crazy Wings ($6.50 for 3)!' said the waiter.

The wings were very well marinated and juicy, with a little crisp on the outside. Honey mustard dip that came with it gave a big boost to its savoriness.

At first I told myself I had been having too much oily stuff lately, the next thing I knew, I heard 'Salt n Pepper Calamari' slipped off my lips. Oops...

It turned out to be no disappointment. The batter didn't fall into the too tough nor too soggy extreme, was spiced up with a hearty touch of chilli and pepper.

The café serves All-day Breakfast for those who love their scrambled eggs and sausages. And for the night creatures too!

Lips are sealed when I want to comment on the Spicy Black Pepper Dory my companion had.

Besides food and shopping, every now and then the café also hosts live concerts by emerging musical talents from our shores and beyond. Past and featured include Taiwanese group 棉花糖(katncandix2). There is an ongoing photography exhibition featuring the works of Singaporean self-taught photographer Mandy Tay. So watch this space.

Visit their website to find out more.

瘋狂世界
24 Temple Street
Tue – Thu, 12pm - 10pm
Fri – Sat, 12pm - 11:30m
Sun, 12pm - 8pm
Closed on Mondays
6223 7553

The Pigeonhole

2011-05-06T02:32:00.002+08:00

Last week's adventure led me to The Pigeonhole, a new book café along Duxton Road. The venue is also doubled up as a dynamic arts space which showcases local arts talents and to promote the enjoyment and appreciation of the arts. The kinda events you can look forward to include film screenings, arts exhibitions, recitals and more.

It was pity that only Chocolate Bread & Butter Budding was available on the day of visit.

Loved the colourful tiles used as coasters here.

The atmosphere is exceptionally cozy thanks to the earthly-toned décor with many retro furniture pieces, topped with soothing music.

Do check on their website for programme updates.

The Pigeonhole
52/53 Duxton Road
Closed on Mondays
9627 2586

らーめん山頭火

2011-04-28T06:18:00.005+08:00

It was a gloomy evening after a brief downpour which rendered Orchard Road cold and heavily congested. As I walked down the street feeling emo and hungry, I was wishing for something warm and hearty to perk me up and a bowl of ramen seemed to fit the bill.

It was an impromptu visit so I went by my gut feeling and picked one value-for-money dinner set which came with a bowl of Shio Ramen and Sake Ikura Rice. Did I mention that I was hungry?

The soup base of the Shio ramen served here was actually pork bone broth seasoned with salt. It was creamy, the flavours intense, and it was one of those rare tastes good enough to make the room go silent.

Apart from the comforting soup base and springy noodles, what I liked about it most was the good mix of toppings including my favourite menma, and that unusual blob of pickled plum.

Her bowl of Asahikawa Ramen ramen soup was tonkotsu broth in shoyu (soya sauce).

Worth-noting was the runny egg which was done pretty well.

The Yaki Gyoza here however were just ordinary, nothing to shout out about.

On a separate note, a check on Wikipedia found that Santouka was named after the famous Haiku poet Taneda Santouka (俳人種田山頭火). Would the knowing of this little fact help to enhance the taste of your next bowl of ramen here? Well, I'm not sure about you, but it might work for me.

らーめん山頭火
21 Cuppage Road
Cuppage Terrace
Daily
6235 1059

Talent Café

2011-04-19T20:51:00.013+08:00

Talent Café is a relatively new bistro located at the end of Tras Street in Tanjong Pagar. To most, it's a place to meet for good food and great company, but to chef-owner Christopher, the café is where his many talents are showcased.

Lunch was started with a lip-smacking appetizer called Tapas 3.

While the button mushrooms were meaty and juicy, the braised brinjal in olive oil dressing was delightful with slices of toasted baguette.

Marrakash, an oven-baked chicken in wine dish, was upgradable to a set lunch for a few dollars more.

Although pasta in tomato sauce wasn't quite my thing, the beef meatballs were perfect - tender bites of savoury goodness.

You may laugh at me, but it was my first encouter with this fish called Hake.

Having an interesting texture similar to that of crabmeat, the fish tasted almost like cod. How I wished the portion was bigger.

It turns out that hake (which I thought was a Japanese fish) belongs to the family of Cod and Haddock. It is a deep sea fish commonly found in Europe.

Seeing I was busy shooting away, the friendly chef came around to have a chat with us after lunch. It turned out that he who was a passionate photographer himself, was the one behind all the amazing shots on the café menu too!

Beside its sleek black & white furnished main dining area, there are four other sections, one for a different occasion. A parade of colours, if I'm to put it.

Private room good for 6 pax.

I see a lot of potential in this particular section. What do you say?

Talent Café (Facebook)
34 & 36 Tras Street
6536 7077

Ximending Taiwan Cuisine

2011-04-08T08:58:00.005+08:00

Just one of those regular catching-ups with modest food and great company.

大腸四季豆 ($9.9)

I'm not a kway chap person, but the green beans just left me craving for more.

主廚豆腐 ($11)

三杯雞 ($17.9)

蔭豉蚵 ($15.9)

My favourite dish of the night. If you often find yourself devouring all the mini oysters on your oyster omelette before moving on to the egg, this is the dish for you.

西門町
252 North Bridge Road
Raffles City Shopping Centre #B1-44C
6336 2118

Fine Palate Café

2011-04-05T05:21:00.017+08:00

Waterloo street, which was first named Church street after Thomas Church in 1837, was one of the earliest streets to be constructed in Singapore. It was later renamed in 1858 by the then Municipal Council, in commemoration of the victory of the Duke of Wellington over the French on the Battlefield of Waterloo (in present-day Belgium) in 1815.

Today, Waterloo Street is lined with prominent religious landmarks including the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, Sri Krishnan Temple, and the Maghaim Aboth Synagogue, just to name a few. (And lots of makan places too!)

It's not clear what's the original function of this colonial-styled building located at 51 Waterloo Street, which now houses several private art galleries as well as the Singapore Ballet Academy. I chanced upon Fine Palate after visiting some of the galleries and was immediately drawn to its sleek décor and enticing menu.

Started in January this year, the café aims to provide effortless fine dining experience in a casual and cosy ambience. With over 20 years of experience in gourmet catering, most of the ingredients are prepared from scratch, making the dishes here absolutely outstanding.

There was an interesting flavour in the sauce that sorta 'tickled' the tastebud. It turned out that the secret behind was actually red pepper, as revealed by the helpful waitress.

You could probably guess the look on my carnivore companion's face when this Vegetable Crudités ($6.00) showed up on the table.

Lesson learned: Never be too shy to ask, especially when the name of a dish looks vocabularily challenging.

Fries ($6.00), spiced up with homemade wasabi mayonnaise.

Char-Grilled Sirloin Steak Wrap ($18.00), with mixed greens and marinated beetroot.

You have to be extra careful when eating this though, because you don't want that juicy beetroot to add an extra color to your outfit.

Sesame Buckwheat Noodles ($18.00), served with springy pan-seared tiger prawns, topped with rocket and a touch of sesame dressing.

My companion commented that her soba would have been better enjoyed if it was served chilled instead of at just ambient temperature.

Nothing I could pick on this tender 200gsm Char-grilled New Zealand Sirloin Steak ($22.00), except that the sauce of my choice, Dijon Mustard didn't go so well with it.

Their Tuna and Capellini ($18.00) here was a total winner.

Angel hair of fine texture was flavourfully livened by a ~~nice~~ sublime sesame shoyu dressing. The chunky fresh raw tuna was only made savourier with the alluring aroma of the same dressing. Even my non-sashimi-eating companion couldn't help but stole some tuna from me.

It had been long since I had a decorous dish of such remarkable standard.

Our lunch was ended with the dessert of the day, Double Chocolate Mousse ($8.00).

Get intimate with your food while watching it being prepared from just arm length away.

While there is no 7% on total bill, Standard Chartered cardmembers get 15% off ala carte menu.

Fine Palate
51 Waterloo Street #01-04/05
Tue–Sun, 11am – 6pm
Closed on Mondays
6336 5120

**********************************************************************************************************************************
After our lunch, we proceeded to the museums in the arts belt, where the third edition of Singapore Biennale is held.

Here are some of the snapshots.

Her lady the (unfortunately fully booked) Merlion Hotel, by Tatzu Nishi.

The one you have probably seen on poster and banners, which is also one of my favourites.

Titled Factum by South African aritst Candice Breitz, the work comprises video installations showing interview footage with seven pairs of identical twins and a singlet set of identical triplets. Difficult to tell apart at first, as the interview goes on, sharp distnctions in their voices, body language and world-views slowly give them away.

This work has been well-received in many countries and it's now your chance to catch it locally.

Double up, by Michael Beutler from Germany.

Le Cannibale by London-based artist Mike Nelson.

A site specific work by Poland artist Gosia Wlodarczak, titled Frost Drawing for Kallang. One of my favourites too.

Stored in a jar: monsoon, drowning fish, color of water and the floating world, by Vietman born artist Tiffany Chung.

The event runs until 15 May, don't miss it or you will have to wait for another two years.

Joan Bowen Café

2011-03-26T08:41:00.005+08:00

Have you heard of/been to Professor Brawn Café at Novena Square? If you like the concept beside that café, this post is probably going to interest you even more.

Started in June 2009 as a social enterprise by a couple who named the café after their daughter with special needs, the café aims to empower youths and children with special needs by providing them with employment and training, so that they can integrate well into the society where they contribute as an active member of the local community.

Getting to know about this place was nearly one year ago on MsGlitzy.com and it had since been on my to-check-out list.

The café's serves a simple European menu which seems to offer everything. The service staff are warm and friendly and you might just need a little bit of patience while your orders are being taken.

My companion ordered their Aubergine Salad ($8.90) which came with the grilled eggplant she wanted to try. Its portion was generous, making it a perfect alternative to a main course.

Our ovenbaked Garlic Mussels ($8.90) were perfumed with fragrant garlic béchamel sauce, topped with a touch of cheddar cheese.

Bangers & Mash ($12.90)

Seafood Aglio Olio ($15.90)

Won't it be nice if the choice of pasta was squid ink instead?

Catch of the Day ($15.90)

I love sea bream on my sashimi platter, but this pan grilled version here didn't disappoint.

Besides the fish which was grilled to a skillful crisp on the inside, in particular I liked the pumpkin mash that not just brought vibracy to the plate, but also comfort to the palate.

This probably leads to the café owners' residence. I have always wanted to have a spiral at home.

These drawings reminded me of Xinli's skillful sketches on theMOOSE.

As night falls upon this sleepy estate, with lights dimmed to intimate brightness and soothing music playing in the air, you find a growing affiliation to this place. The next thing you know, you are going to return for more.

Joan Bowen Café
9 Jalan Wangi
Mon to Fri, 11am – 9.30pm
Sat, 12pm – 9.30pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
6281 3629

The Diet Butler (CLOSED)

2011-03-17T04:47:00.005+08:00

Monk's Hill Secondary School's history began in 1958 on a plot of land that was once the site of a Chinese monastery. Following its merger with another school in 2006, its former campus at 10 Winstedt Road was opened for office tender and is now home to mostly design and architectural firms.

(Image source: Wikipedia)

Finding 10 Winstedt was an easy task, but locating The Diet Butler could be a little tricky.

Set in a small room on the second floor of the school compound, this 24-seater café serves western fare with a healthy twist.

It was a Wednesday and Grilled Dory with Herbs and Lime Butter ($16.90) was offered as the set meal, which came with a side of choice and soup of the day, Broccoli Soup.

Our soup was flavourful and loaded with fine broccoli bits which gave a hearty texture.

The Roasted baby potatos were crunchy but not too raw. Although they tasted a little bland at first, the subtle hint of ginger and herbs made up for it.

Grilled Dory with herbs and lime butter ($16.9)

There was a satisfying depth of flavour in the lime butter sauce which made the dish shine. Three pieces of dory fillet at this price is quite generous I must say.

Ribeye steak with mushroom gravy ($18)

As expected, my ribeye steak too didn't carry much taste on its own. The mushroom gravy on the other hand was a palate-wower. Laden with button mushroom chunks, its mushroom aroma was amazingly robust and only made the tender steak more delectable. Oh man, I'm drooling when typing this out.

Although there is no ongoing credit card promotion at the moment, the café does not charge 7% GST. And besides, most of the dishes are seasonal and menu gets revamped on a monthly basis. I'm already planning my next trip to try their Pan Grilled Scallops with spicy guacamole.

The Diet Butler
10 Winstedt Road #02-07
Mon - Sat, 11am - 10pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
6733 3250

SoHo7 Café & Bistro

2011-03-06T05:14:00.009+08:00

It was a much-anticipated brunch with a good friend last morning. Not only was it the good company that I looked forward to, but also it was the chance to visit this one-month-old café which serves all-day breakfast until, well, 'the moon shines'.

There were two separate menus, one for burgers, the other breakfast. Brunch items are priced from $6 to $17 without the annoying pluses.

Presentation wise there was much room for improvements, but I really loved the poached eggs which were done perfectly runny here, so much so that I didn't realize my avocado was missing from my Tassie Avocado Benedict ($17) until I was processing my photos. Dots...

The idiom 'don't not judge a book by its cover' suits the case of my companion's Oink Oink Eggs on Toast ($9.7) very well too. But look at it the other way round, this might just be the best I can make my breakfast look like at home.

There are in-house brewed coffees made from freshly roasted beans to complete your breakfast.

Reservation is highly recommended on weekends.

SoHo7 Café & Bistro
36 Armenian Street, #01-08
Mon - Fri, 8am – 9pm
Sat - Sun, 9am - 6pm
6634 5779

Tea Café (MOVED)

2011-03-02T02:51:00.020+08:00

Call it a café, it is actually a tea lounge set on the second floor of a restored shophouse along Seah Street just opposite the Raffles Hotel. I stumbled upon it after lunch nearby some weeks ago. Getting to find out more about this place then I realized it was no average tea café, but one with the capital 'TEA'.

It was love at first sight the moment I set foot into its interior.

Its menu boasts over 50 well selected types of teas from our region and beyond. From the ever so common Chinese teas, floral teas and fruit teas, to more exotic/premium tea leaves such as Japanese Gyokuro (玉露）and DaYuLing (大禹嶺茶) from Taiwan, to comforting home brews like Red Date Tea and Eight Treasure Tea, you name it, they have it.

We were treated to a cup of refreshing green tea (Bi Luo Chun 碧螺春 as I suspected) and some crackers as soon as we sat down, which was very welcome. Warm wet towels were also offered (in the SIA way), making us feel like VIPs.

Sweet memories were still lingering of that cup of enchantingly fragrant Peony Jade I had at Nectarie Patisserie not so long ago, it was only natural to choose one with a similar-sounding name.

Much to the contrary, my cup of White Peony ($12) here was much more heavy-tasting with strong oriental flavours. Its bitterness which was quite overpowering for my tastebuds at first, was well balanced by the candied orange peels which made a heavenly complement to the tea.

My companion on the other hand picked the sweet-tasting Cranberry Tea ($12) from the fruit tea menu. The tea was nicely perfumed with a delightful scent of cranberry. The tartness of the berries was not exceedingly bold. Best enjoyed with the provided syrup.

Apart from many known health benefits, ladies will be glad to know that cranberries which are laden with antioxidants are useful in fighting ageing and improving complexion. Who said that healthy stuff should necessarily be awful-tasting?

There is no better way to enjoy good teas than with some delightful light bites. On the menu you can find tea inspired comfort food like the mouth-watering tea egg and tea wings. As our first choice tea mushrooms was not available for the day, the lady staff recommended Cucumber Sandwiches ($8) to us.

As it was for our teas, there seemed to be no effort spared in preparing this dish. Cucumber was thinly sliced up to very fine thickness that you could almost see through it. Together with grounded sesame seeds and seasoned seaweed they were sandwiched between two pieces of white bread which were then pressed to an appealing thickness.

Still remember that Kid's meal created by my playful companion at The Plain last November? Here creativity struck again. Titled, Macro vs Portrait.

At the other end of the spiral you find yourself at the loft housing a boutique shop. There it showcases an exhaustive collection of tea sets for tea appreciation of higher levels. It was simply an eye-opener.

Some of the teas here are quite pricey -say a pot of premium Tie Guan Yin for $28-, making them only good for occasional indulgence. The venue nonetheless is a great getaway for small groups to have some queit conservations or just simply chill and spend a peaceful afternoon away.

TEA Café
~~38A Seah Street~~
Mon – Sat, 11am – 7pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
6333 5400

TBZM has moved to another location while business hours remain unchanged
43 Middle Road
#02-00 Boon Sing Building

Relish

2011-02-22T08:25:00.007+08:00

As far as I can recall, Relish was one of the first few local burger places in town a few years ago. Then came the 'Burger Boom', which saw joints of its like sprouting up all across the island.

While today many take them for granted, the uprising of these burger places has undoubtedly changed the way we look at gourmet burgers, otherwise seen as just another 'McDonald's' experience.

I vaguely remember how many times I have visited Relish, located in Cluny Court which is one of my favourite haunts. The word 'relish' itself carries many meanings, one of which is the strong appreciation for something, based on my understanding. When it comes to the hamburger, it refers to a cooked or pickled (or both) ingredient which is typically used as a condiment (Soruce: Wikipedia). Quite an apt name for a burger joint I suppose.

Loved their chalkboard menu and hilarious slogan.

Bacon and Cheese Beef Burger (150g, $15.5) was not my main. My companion liked the beefy patty which was substantial and juicy, and was done perfectly medium rare too.

My Grilled Portobello Tofu Burger ($17.5) was not bad but unfortunately didn't meet my expection. The grilled tofu steak was satisfyingly firm. The lack of taste in the portobello mushrooms however let me down. Not very encouraging for one who wants to go healthy.

What can be a better way to celebrate weekends than relishing your favourite brunch dishes? On any relagar weekend, brunch is served as early as 10.30am.

Eggs Wild Benedict ($18.8) wasn't not that impressive. I didn't like bacon that was tough and seemingly overdone. Then there came my companion's WoW (Word of Wisdom) of the day: Do not judge a ramen shop by its sashimi, so she spoke.

Eat the fries while still warm, as you find them turn soggy pretty quickly.

While everyone loves their scrambled egg smoked salmon for breakfast, Chef Willin's idea of doing it with a bagel was simply transforming.

There we had Rosemary Smoked Salmon Bagel ($19.8), made extra savoury with Scallion cheese and a perfect touch of seasonings.

I wished I could have some freshly cut avocado to go with it.

This curious guy next table stared at us for a while, long enough for me to pick up my camera and took this shot. How I wished someone could have given him a piece of napkin.

Relish by Wild Rocket
#02-01 Cluny Court
501 Bukit Timah Road
Mon - Fri, 12pm - 3pm, 6.30pm - 11pm
Sat - Sun, 10.30am - 11pm
6763 1547

Watami @ Central

2011-02-11T06:33:00.006+08:00

My apologies for the lack of updates lately. Life has been rather busy after the Lunar New Year and I'm currently abroad for work, all I have to work with is this long overdue post of mine.

I had a dinner at the Central Outlet of Watami a couple of months ago and wasn't at all impressed.

First was a hotplate of charred Hotate Butter Yaki ($7.80). Boo~.

Our Sapporo Miso Ramen ($10.80) was not too bad, but not great either.

Hotplate Gyoza ($7.80) was a little pricey in my opinion. For the same price it could usually get me one more gyoza elsewhere.

The only dish I liked was probably my Seafood & Chicken Kamameshi($11.80), which provided some cooking fun for me who can barely cook ~~well~~.

Food and service issues aside, the untolerable noise level during dinner time ruined our dining experience as a whole. Watami might just be a fine/affordable answer to your cravings for Japanese food, but if you are looking for beyond just the pleasure to the palate, need not look too far and you will be able to find one elsewhere.

わたみ
6 Eu Tong Sen Street, The Central
#03-82/83/85/102/108/109
Daily, 11.30am to 11pm
6323 3398

Happy Chinese New Year!

2011-02-03T01:26:00.005+08:00

Here is to wish all my dear readers and friends a healthy and fun-filled Lunar New Year!

Candlenut Kitchen

2011-01-29T01:48:00.007+08:00

Candlenut, also known as Kukui Nuts, is a popular ingredient used in the preparation of Peranakan dishes including a thickener and flavoring in curries. You probably have seen its trees in your neighbourhood all your life but were never aware of the usefulness of its seeds in our kitchens. (And yes, I'm guilty too :P)

Left: A candlenut tree; Right: Deshelled candlenuts (Photo source: Internet)

Candlenut Kitchen which is conveniently located just off the junction where four major roads meet, is a relatively new Peranakan eatery slowly building up its reputation for its delectable nonya favourites, with some family recipes passed down through generations.

Complimentary crackers for diners.

Not to be mistaken as the economic rice normally found in local food courts and hawker centres, Chap Chye ($10) combined cabbage, pork belly, beancurd skin, black fungus and glass noodles simmered in pork & prawn stock, offering diners a familiar taste of homecooking.

Our Sambal Petai Prawns ($13.8) was awesome. Totally loved the winning combination of petai beans and sambal. Now I regret having forgotten to ask for less prawn more petai.

When my companion first urged me to give their Beef Rendang ($18) a try, I was skeptical about it for I had not got over a bad memory about a mutton rendang dish I had (somewhere) some years back.

I was glad that we ordered this dish after I had my first bite. I liked the beef cubes which was braised until jelly-like tender. The rich coconut gravy was mildly spicy and flavourful, went well with our steamed rice.

As it was getting late, we decided on one dessert to call the night.

Our La Chendol ($7) turned out to be a scoop of homemade chendol ice cream topped with chendol jelly, red beans and gula melaka. The icy scoop was creamy, the flavour was intense without being overbearing.

It was a pity that we had to give other desserts like D24 Durian Soup a miss. Nonetheless, Candlenut probably serves the most promising desserts among all Peranakan places I have been to.

I was back last week for their weekday $10+ set lunch, which came with three mini dishes, was really decent and worth every cent.

Overall, it is a casual-chic venue serves a straightforward menu that offers classic modern Peranakan favourites. I'd love to make a come back for their ayam buah keluak many rave about.

Candlenut Kitchen
Lunch, 1130am - 230pm
Dinner, 6pm - 10pm
Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
6226 2506

Food photography with Dr. Leslie at Fukuichi

2011-01-22T03:05:00.011+08:00

Last Saturday I had the chance to attend a food photography workshop organized by Canon and Dr. Leslie Tay who is behind the famous blog ieatishootipost. It was a fun and engaging session in which Dr. Tay shared with us many useful tips and advices on how to achieve ~~higher quality~~ more salivating images.

A little background knowledge of the venue: Fukuichi Japanese Dining located on the second floor of Somerset TripleOne, is a joint partnership of Fukuichi Gyogyo (福一漁業) of Shizuoka, Japan and Chun Cheng Fishery of Singapore. With fisheries in Japan as its core business, most of their ingredients are shipped directly from Tsykiji Market to Singapore. By elimilating the middlemen, much is saved along the way and the savings are then allowed to be passed on to the consumer end.

It was my honour to meet Dr. Leslie Tay in person through this event.

Dr. Tay in action.

And here are some of my humble shots:

土瓶蒸し (dobin mushi) and the unfortunately overexposed shrimp.

かに豆腐

鮪すし

冷し魚面

海老天婦羅

サーモントロ

Participants were each treated to a delightful bento set at the end of the event. The Kani Tofu was what I enjoyed the most - cold tofu laden with crab meat was dressed in a unique sauce of century egg.

If you are interested in taking part in such a workshop, do sign up for Canon's newsletter and you will get updated in the timeliest once the next one is confirmed. Follow this link here.

福一
#02-11/12 Somerset TripleOne
Lunch, 11.30am – 2.30pm
Dinner, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
6271 5586

Sugar Granny Café

2011-01-20T03:17:00.006+08:00

Tucked away inside what looks like a former headquater of some Chinese trading association, Sugar Granny Café is a perfect oasis in Chinatown for you to beat the killer afternoon heat, and great supper hangout place just to chill and relax. Its interior décor is an interesting mix of the old and the new. I mean, who would expect an LCD TV to be on the same wall with an old fashion wall phone? How about a scooter next to a gramophone?

Its menu serves a limited but innovative selection of mouth-watering finger food and delicious dessert options. The couple team owners might have come from HK or be big fans of their dramas/movies that there is a strong Cantonese cultural influence seen in the way dishes are named here. Some of these include 顛雞！起你骨！(De Bone Fried Chicken Wings). Cantonese-speaking folks would probably appreciate this more.

Battered mushrooms, something I would love to make at home for snacks. Making this however may be a bit tricky for someone who can't even cook his maggie mee well.

Memories were blur about this dessert that I had some time ago, except for the extra fine ice which set it apart from being just an ordinary all time favourite of mine.

The nostalgic setting here has no doubt added an extra flavour to the food. It's even so for folks who have spent a good part of their lives around these objects of the last century.

As Sugar Granny opens till pretty late, pop over to Bukit Pasoh the next time a certain dessert store on Mosque Street is closed.

老甜婆
5 Teo Hong Road
Sun – Thu, 1pm – 11pm
Fri – Sat, 1pm – 1am
6224 9368

Gogo Rama

2011-01-16T03:56:00.007+08:00

Located along Bali Lane lined with gaffiti-painted shophouses, Gogo Rama is a new kid in the block where you can find quirky artworks and gifts for your room and friends. There is also a small café in the shop space for one to chill.

All excited about this new find, a friend and I went down to check it out last week but it turned out that there wasn't a pleasant experience for us after all.

It all started when we wanted to place our orders.

Have you ever been to an eatery where you found that more than 90% of the menu was not available?

I'm actually cool about having to work with the lack of food variety if I'm well informed beforehand, but the frustrating episodes whereby I took long to decide on a particular thing but later only to find out it not available which got 'replayed' three times eventually got on my nerves.

Blue Monday ($4.90) was a concoction of orange and apple juices, not something to my liking.

After what felt like a good one hour wait, our Empanada ($9) finally showed up (we were the only customers then). This megasized Spanish 'samosa' filled with beef turned out to be quite tasty, and my companion concurred.

"I dare you to put your finger there." I challenged my companion.

Ambience wise, I liked the many artworks around the café, especially the ones by Anarkitty. The dim lighting made this space exceptionally cosy and inviting. The food selection here albeit limited was not too bad. Or should I say everything would have been better if only the deafening music wasn't there?

In between songs, often did we find ourselves ~~speaking~~ shouting at the top of voice during our conversation. Perhaps the café should seriously consider providing hearing protective equipment for the poor little girl who works here for long hours.

There is a no-photography policy in the house, meaning no pointing of cameras at the artworks and products.

I often got approached and advised by service staff not to take photos at eateries, but the way this was done here colud have be more tactful, in my opinion.

Gogo Rama
20A Bali Lane
6396 8937

みず

2011-01-12T01:29:00.015+08:00

This was my first time returning to Miz after its renovation late last year. From the outside, Miz might appear as a humble 'local' Japanese eatery for the very affordably priced lunch and dinner set, and its popularity among office crowd. Getting to know it a bit more will reveal otherwise.

The chef-owner of this restaurant is Mr. Mizushima Hiromi (which explains the restuarant name), who graduated with a law degree in Japan but decided to follow his dream and went through a road less travelled. A former chef of many 5-stars hotels, he has more than ten years of culinary experiences under his belt, and even had the prestige of cooking for the Japanese Royal Family.

First on the table was Salmon Tataki ($12), lightly seared fresh salmon fillet in appetizing vinegared seasoning.

Served in a tapas way, Gindara Miso Yaki ($15) came with three slices of black cod, each sitting elegantly on a throne made of lettuce leaf, crowned with crispy toppings. The amount of miso was just what this fine black cod rightfully deserved - sweet, flavoursome and melt-in-monthed savoury. Simply sublime~.

How my Unagi Seiromushi ($9) was done here, was very much like how we Chinese do it the 'dim sum' way. The unagi I had was decent and went well with the rice topped with a bed of dashi tamago.

Highly recommended on the menu was this Cold Garlic Butter Udon with Caviar ($12). The heaviness of the butter was well balanced by the flavour of the minced garlic. I am not a big fan of caviar, its presence nonetheless contributed to the aesthetic merit of this dish. Overall, it was a great invention but priced on the high side, in my opinions.

As Miz is an izakaya, expect the noise level to go up during dinner time at its full capacity. That evening there were a few tables of Japanese diners, which was a good sign of authenticity. I will recommend this place to anyone who is looking to a scrumptious authentic Japanese meal without burning a hole in the wallet.

みず
7 Craig Road
Lunch, 12pm - 230pm
Dinner, 6pm - 11pm
Closed every 3rd Sunday of the month
6225 5961

$8.80 nett lunch at Eight

2011-01-06T18:45:00.008+08:00

Eight Café & Bar is run by chef-owner Bill Ho and his friends in Bukit Pasoh Conservation District. On one hand, this place is rahter secluded that I had passed it off as a furniture shop several times for years. On the other the steady flow of patrons streaming in and out of the café during lunch hours kinda gave it away.

No menu is given here. What you see on the chalkboard is what you can get. Lunch items are changed daily so that no two days' menus are the same. I like it just like the Kinder Surprise I used to receive from my parents when I was a child. But of course if you are really dying to find out, the menu is just a phone call away.

My companion didn't quite like his Simply Fish & Wedges, as the batter was hard and thick and there wasn't much fish inside.

On the other hand my Stewed Beef Spaghatti which was done the oriental way turned out to be decent. The stewed beef was very tender and succulent, while spaghatti was made delectable with the flavourful gravy.

No service charge and GST here, every main ordered comes with complimentary soft drink of your choice. Top up $1 for coffee or fresh fruit juice.

The guys might have been running on a tight budget when setting up this place as most of the furniture seems old and recycled. But yet it's this earthy tone with a retro vibe that makes this space exceptionally warm and cosy. The well selected music being played softly in the background only makes dining experience more enjoyable.

While their lunch menu is a hit-and-miss, I figure that its business might boom for yet another reason next month.

Eight Café & Bar
8 Bukit Pasoh Road
Closed on Mondays
6220 4513

由〇博多らーめん

2010-12-31T17:51:00.021+08:00

Originated from Hakata, Yoshimaru is under the management of the Jumbo Group (yes, the seafood one). Talking about Hakata, situated in the northwest part of Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyuushuu, it is regarded as birthplace of Tokotsu broth ramen, and many famous ramen chains like Ippudo came from there as well.

Ever since Yoshimaru opened its first local outlet at Big Splash, it had been on my to-go list, but the thought of having to travel all the way to the east somehow killed the appetite. And then, there came its second outlet at Holland Village, which brought cheers (and relief) to noodle fans living in the other half of Singapore.

Their Moridakusan Ramen ($15.00), aka all-in that I had, came with all the toppings you can expect of a bowl of hearty ramen. The toppings were excellent. I'm not sure whether it was because it had been too long since my last bowl of ramen, the tokotsu broth here was outstanding. Smooth, milky, and robust in flavours, I was totally sold. What made it even more delightful was probably a subtle taste from some unknown ingredient which made the soup less heavy.

My companion later told me I had a 'see-star' look while I was having my bowl of ramen.

(Seeing stars, from One Piece)

Not only do they serve ramen dishes, you can try out this burger creations here. With this Mini Burger Combo ($8.80), you get to savour all 3 flavours at a much discounted price. Pictured from the left are Teriyaki Chicken, Mentaiko Mayo Prawn and Spicy Cha Shuu.

My personal favourite was teriyaki chicken not just because of the juicy tender chicken, but the others were simply too spicy for me.

Mini Ramen at $6.80, takes good care of your waistline and wallet.

Citibank cardmembers enjoy 10% discount.

**********************************************************************************************************************************
With this post it rounds up my 2010. I would like to thank everyone for your support and readership. Hope you had a wonderful and fulfilling 2010. May there be many more good eats for you in years to come. Happy 2011!

由〇博多らーめん
31 Lorong Liput
Holland Village
6463 3132

ReStore

2010-12-24T22:24:00.029+08:00

Following a 'tip-off' about new cafés by fellow blogger Sidney of My Elastic Pants, I took a walk down to Tanjong Pagar last week and had got myself indeed some surprise finds. Well done, buddy.

ReStore is a new vintage furniture shop located in the historic Tanjong Pagar Conservation District. The shop was the creation of two friends who love vintage furniture and decided to make a business out of what they love and do best.

Rumours has it that the Japanese lady owner bakes her bagels and waffles so well that, they decided to have a café in their shop space where customers can get to taste her delicious bagels and waffles while shopping for furniture.

There we had Cinnamon Raisin Bagel ($5.50), served with walnut and cream cheese. I liked my bagel which was firm yet not too hard, giving some bite to the teeth. Its jam filling on the other hand was a pleasant surprise to the palate.

My Very berry Sundae ($6.90) was laden with berry goodness and the vanilla ice cream was rich in flavours.

I told my companion to leave some of her Pure Canadian Maple Syrup ($8.80) for me to try, but all she left me with was her empty plate.

*********************************************************************************************************************************
Every piece of furniture here was hand-picked by the owners and has been painstakingly polished, repainted and restored to its former glory.

Chairs.

More chairs.

Is that old locker for sale as well?

The previous owner of this study table didn't like attending school much I suppose.

My companion commended Meg's choice of music, which worked suitably well with the café's vintage theme.

All in all, I really enjoyed my afternoon at ReStore.

So next time should you want to inject a new life to your modern home with a few vintage accents, get down to Tanjong Pagar and you may just find what you're looking for at ReStore. Over delicious homemade waffles and bagels of course.

ReStore
124 Tanjong Pajar Road
Tue - Sun, 12pm - 7pm
Closed on Mondays
6222 3510

Hairloom & Caramel Café

2010-12-24T05:17:00.002+08:00

Caramel Café has been around for almost three years. Some like the little tasteful décor put up at this place, others just simply be in love with the mismatching but cheerful colours of their tables and chairs. If one has to give a name to the café's theme, there should be none more befitting than 'Alice in Wonderland'. (Coincidentally there is a rabbit painted on the wall).

My previous visit here was more than one year ago when the café menu only served a limited selection of cupcakes and some other sweet treats. A re-visit last week found that their menu has got revamped and they now also serve salads and a wide variety of staples such as pastas and sandwiches.

My Marshmallow Cafe Au Lait ($5.50) didn't fare quite well, as the coffee taste was quite dilute. I still prefer my marshmallow in rich hot chocolate.

Real Blend of Dark Chocolate ($5.50). My partner just couldn't get her eyes off the lovely colourful tea set.

Too full for a main course, we decided on Smoked Salmon Salad ($9.50). The veggie was crunchy and full of juice. The smoked salmon though deemed too salty when eaten alone, the lemon mayo dressing which was refreshing and appetizing made this dish very delightful.

If you are here on a weekday for lunch, with their ongoing lunch promotion you may get a main course with complimentary drink and dessert for just $12.90+.

Riding on the current vintage trend, the café owner has stocked out many retro items and nice knick-knacks which would make great gift ideas for many occasions. Some of these include the chocolate bar calculators I got one for myself, and vintage children's pianos which was selling like hot cakes (Two sold in barely 1/2 hour).

Here is to wish everyone a Merry Christmas!

Caramel Café
100 Beach Road
#01-50/52 Shaw Towers
Mon–Thu, 12pm – 8pm, Fri–Sat, 12pm – 10pm
Closed on Sun & PH
6295 2188

Forty Hands

2010-12-18T16:16:00.005+08:00

From plant to cup, it requires on average the work of forty hands, that is how the name of this two-month-old café came about. Tucked away in the sleepy Tiong Bahru estate, coffee connoisseurs now have one more hot spot to pick up their cup of gourmet coffee.

Forty Hands was a joint set up by a group of visionary individuals who share the same desire to make a positive impact to the life of millions of coffee growers in developing countries.

Its coffee menu features a selection of freshly brewed in-housed blends priced from as low as $2.50 (no ++).

My cup of Mocha ($6.50) was made smooth and robust in flavours. The melted chocolate in it warmed me from bottom up that rainy afternoon.

On any regular weekdays only a small selection of sandwiches are served. Their weekend brunch menu looked really tempting.

At first I was puzzled by the origin of this roly-poly-looking drawing on the wall appeared at several locations of the café. A pleasant conversation with Harry (the owner) helped to shed some light.

(Meet Mr. Harry Grover.)

With their brunch dishes (like Eggs Benedict) we missed out this time, as well as the tapas menu in the making(as I read on TODAY Dec 15), there is definitely a need for another visit.

Get 10% off with your HSBC credit card.

Forty Hands
78 Yong Siak Sreet
#01-12 Tiong Bahru
Daily, 8am - 6.30pm
6225 4623

National Geographic Café

2010-12-14T07:04:00.014+08:00

Ask anyone about National Geographic, its world-famous publish will immediately appear in their thoguht bubble. When this question is thrown to a photographer, he or she will probably start telling you about the gorgeous images that constantly appear in their periodicals. As for me, I have been a big fan of them even way before I took up my photographic hobby. When I visited their flatship store at Vivocity, it was then I realized there was more than meets the eye.

Occupying a significant portion of the shopspace, the National Geographic Café is helmed by a Spanish chef who specializes in pincho dishes which are prepared using natural and healthy ingredients.

Got aptly named due to the appearance of its tealeaf pellets shared close resemblance with that of gunpowder pellets, my Green Tea Gunpowder ($5) gave a hearty aroma before I took my sip.

Potato Purée ($6) topped with smoked salmon and pineapple carpaccio.

The second to arrive, Grilled Mushrooms ($6) was well seasoned and toothsome. Its serving was too small for the two of us though.

Based on my understanding, white asparagus is a seasonal delicacy and usually more tender than its common green cousin. For the café which serves this dish all year long, canned ingredient could have been used. Oh well, who cares whether it's tinned or fresh as long as it makes one's tastebud happy.

A good selection from Spain ($11) comprises a mouth-watering selection of cured smoked meats. I figure that this dish would make one good beer buddy.

As the café only serves light snacks, I will point my finger to elsewhere if you are looking to a filling treat.

This made it to my next year's birthday list (*hint).
(No, not the brown sling bag, but the rock underneath it.)

While feasting my eyes on the breath-taking pictures on display, I seemingly started to appreciate the noble visions of the guys behind National Geographic, as well as their tremendous research and expedition efforts spent in showcasing the many beautiful sides of Mother Earth where we ordinary people have little access to. As all net proceeds will go to fund NG's vital exploration, conservation and education programs, there I have one more excuse to return for some savoury bites.

OCBC credit card members can get 10% off total bill, valid through Monday to Friday only.

National Geographic Café
#01-19 VivoCity
1 HarbourFront Walk
Daily, 10am – 10pm
6376 9557

Fabulous promotions @ Taira Izakaya

2010-12-08T23:03:00.004+08:00

After reading promising reviews on Taira Izakaya quite some time ago, I final had my chance to pay a visit last Friday. And if you are planning a trip there, there is no better time to vist than now.

As most of you know that having sashimi at a restaurant (especially in a hotel) can be a rather expensive affair, with the ongoing DBS/POSB credit card promotions, you can get to enjoy 3 slices of fresh sashimi for just $2. The choice of fishes are Salmon, Tuna, Mekajiki (swordfish) and Hamachi (yellow tail).

Hungry chopsticks had started moving before I could secure a decent shot. Arhhh...

This plate of salmon sashimi was effectively $10(++) under this promotion. Yes, that's right, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. And that's even cheaper than what you can get from any supermarket after the 'critical hour'. Afforable it was, its quality was never compromised, as every slice of sashimi we had was fresh and succulent. Although there is a ceiling of $10 worth of sashimi (15 pieces) per order, there is no limit to the number of orders you can make.

Other in-house credit card promotions include sushi @ $1 per piece, hand roll @ $2 per roll, Asahi Beer @ $4.8 per mug and the list goes on.

The Soft Shell Crab ($8) we had brought back fond memories about our favourite Japanese stall at faculty canteen during our schooling days.

Shishamo ($5 for 5 pieces)

The texture of our Ika Shioyaki ($12) was rubbery, a little disappointment.

Sake Ochazuke ($8). A little pricey for such a small serving.

Too bad my favourite Oden was sold out for the night. We had this Seafood Nabe ($20) as our soupy fix.

Do leave some room for their icy sweet treats - Yuzu Sherbet ($6), Sesame Ice Cream ($5) and Matcha Ice Cream ($5).

Service was friendly and attentive. When the bill was presented to us, our ala carte bill was further slashed by 10%. What a steal, I thought to myself.

This whole array of promotions is going to end this December, call the number below today to find out more.

平居酒屋
#01-16 Holiday Inn Park View
11 Cavenagh Road
Mon–Sat, 12pm–3pm, 6pm–1am
Sun, 11am–3pm, 5pm–11pm
6836 5298

Room with a View (MOVED)

2010-12-01T11:43:00.018+08:00

If not for an event notice put up on a local photography forum about an ongoing exhibition at its venue, I couldn't have come to know about Room with a View. Sitting on the fifth floor of a commercial building along Carpenter Street, of where tenant list comprises a diverse collection of businesses (from international college and KTV lounge to gym and camera rental shop), this café is truly one hole-in-the-wall.

Get a lift ride when you reach Block 17. As the lift door slowly opens up on your right, you know you are at the right place.

Run by two young lady owners, Joanna Wan and Keryl Low, the café serves a fine selection of gourmet sandwiches, pastries, pastas among others.

Many raved about their Signature Room Carrot Cake ($5) and so I decided to give it a try. Moist carrot cake was topped with cream cheese icing, adorned with walnut and apricot bits. I liked its moist cake layer, but it was pity that the icing was too sweet that day.

It was a gloomy afternoon which had seen it drizzling non-stop outside the windows. A cup of their rich Hot Chocolate ($4.5) thus made great perk up option.

My companion just couldn't stop saying praises about his Turkey B.L.A.T ($9). With bacon replaced with turkey breast, there came the L, A and T, all wrapped up in a tortilla skin. Shouldn't it be T.L.A.T instead?

The scrumptious café fare here is just part of the deal. While visiting the café, do spend some time to feast your eyes with the many exhibition pieces. One of the lady owners told me that the photos were actually taken by amateur photographers. This gallery is meant to be a medium for the non-professionals who take really good photos to showcase their works, which otherwise could only be seen online.

"Photography is a way of feeling,... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything." This famous quote by the late American abstract photography master Aaron Siskind just didn't stop resonating with the photographer in me.

As exhibition here changes on a regular basis, I see myself returning to Room with a View pretty often.

Do give them a call in advance if you are going to show up in a big group.

Room With A View
17 Carpenter Street, #05-01
Mon – Fri, 9am – 7pm
Sat, 10am – 6pm (closed Sun & Public Holiday)
6438 4230

Update: Room with a View has closed its Carpenter Street premises and reincarnated into ROOM coffee. bar on the Level One of PSA building. Check out their facebook page for more info.

Books Cellar

2010-11-29T08:06:00.013+08:00

Housed within one of the clan-like shophouses along the charming Bukit Pasoh Conservation District, Books Cellar offers its guests a cosy space for one to spend a lazy afternoon away with a cup of coffee while catching up some good reads.

This bookstore café/bistro is a venture of two good friends, Kathleen and Honvie who share the same passion about reading and probably sports, as I would tell from the autographed soccer jersey and baseball on display. Featured on the café's menu are pies and cakes from renowned makers, sandwiches made in-house and collectibles such as autographed storybooks and limited editions of books for the die-hard fans and collectors alike.

Ham & Cheese Sandwich ($5.50)

Their Signature Chicken Pie ($6.00) is baked fresh daily. Piping hot when it arrived at our table, the juicy pie was generously filled with chucky chicken and egg. I liked its crust which was not too thick nor flakey, providing a satisfying bite as the teeth sank into it.

Be sure to give your sweet tooth a treat with their sweets such as this yummy Apple Crumble ($4.50).

Café menu is uniquely clipped to the hardcover of a bedtime storybook.

If good food and coffee over a good storybook is what floats your boat, hop over to Books Cellar this weekend.

Books Cellar(Facebook)
19 Bukit Pasoh Road
Daily, 12pm - 12am (Closed on Tuesdays)
6220 9019

The Plain

2010-11-24T04:06:00.009+08:00

Ever walked into a café and wished you were the one living in it? The Plain is the kind of place that does the magic. Located in the conservation area of Tanjong Pagar just a short walk away from the MRT exit, this two-month-old Melbourne-inspired café serves an all-day breakfast menu amid simple yet chic décor.

Start it off with a cuppa Genovese coffee (from $2.80) made the way you like it, your perfect mate for a morning perk-up or lazy afternoon sip. Add in a shot of soya goodness for just 50 cents.

Stop bothering about all the chicken-and-egg questions in life and have a Humpty Dumpty & Vegemite Soldiers ($5.00). Our all-time local breakfast favourtie is now served with buttered toasts sticks.

Get ready to dip in!

Recommended by the owner was Darling's Eggs ($7.50, $10.50 for two), poached egg, ham, cheese and roma tomatoes on sourdough toast. Simply delightful.

Antipasto ($8.00), grilled eggplant, artichoke and rocket leaves sandwiched between Italian Ciabatta Bread, an ideal choice for vegetarians. Its portion might be small for some, but hey, a good breakfast doesn't have to be a filling one as I have come to learn these years.

An instant invention by my companion while I was busy shooting away. 'We should propose this to Vincent (the owner) to make it the kid's meal', he jokingly suggested.

Notice something missing from the menu? That's right, the desserts. But fret not, different homebaked sweets such as chocolate and lemon tarts are made fresh the daily. Be warned though as they get wiped out pretty quickly.

6-seater private corner tucked away from the sight of other diners, available through advance booking.

Besides the remarkably comforting food and cosy ambience, the service crews here are friendly and easy to talk to, so much so that you can treat them as your normal friends. Oh, did I mention that this place as well as the people are extremely camera-friendly too?

If you are planning a visit to The Plain, remember to do a check on their online bulletin for their scheduled off days.

This café is another great find by Yen of Vanilla Minuet. Check out her blog to see The Plain in a 'different light'.

The Plain
50 Craig Road #01-01
Daily, 730am - 730pm (Schedule)
6225 4387

Casa Verde

2010-11-15T09:11:00.004+08:00

Casa Verde, literally means 'Green House' in Italian, is one of the pizzeria arms belong to the Les Amis Group of restaurants. Nestled amidst the lush greenery of Singapore Botanic Gardens, it's a popular spot to hit for park visitors and morning joggers alike.

Breakfast here is served as early as 0730 a.m.

Muesli with fresh fruits, oat and yoghurt ($5.50), a healthy choice for all waist-watchers. A little too healthy for me though.

I liked the hint of cinnamon in our Peach Danish ($4.50).

Not sure what to order? You won't go wrong with their Gourmet Breakfast ($14.00), which promises a well-balanced spread including scramble eggs, hash brown, back bacons, sausage, mushrooms and a basket of French toast. Wash it down with a cuppa potent coffee.

Available only on weekends, Egg Benedictine ($11.00) is a must-have for any die-hard brunch fan. I however would have loved it even more if there was a little more dressings to my greens which carried a raw taste.

Besides being budget-friendly as all prices are net, Casa Verde is also one of the few establishments which are pet-friendly on this island, so you don't have to worry about your beloved 'son' or 'daughter' might go hungry at home while you are away enjoying your breakfast.

(A furry patron at the next table.)

As the old saying goes, "the early bird gets the worm", breakfast menu is served until 1130 a.m., so set your alarm clock to the right time this weekend.

Casa Verde
1 Cluny Road (Visitor Centre)
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Daily, 7.30am – 9.30pm
6467 7326

熱烈　一番亭

2010-11-08T22:41:00.005+08:00

An long overdue post. I shall let my photos to do the talkings this time.

レインボーカルパッチョ

銀だら明太焼き

黒豚かつ

黒豚角煮ラーメン

熱烈　一番亭
60 Robertson Quay
#01-04 The Quayside
6733 3923

Platypus Test Kitchen

2010-10-19T08:32:00.006+08:00

If you read theSundaytimes a couple of weeks ago, probably you may have come across this 2-full-paged article on under 30 restaurateurs, and the owners of Patypus Test Kitchen, Nicholas Lin (26) and Lee YuanZheng (25) were among those featured. (Also on the list was Marc Wee (28) of Arbite)

Opened its door last month at Clifford Centre, the café serves fresh made pastas and soups at the heart of the Central Business District. While it's unclear how and why the café got interestingly named after an Australian native mammal, its modern and chic décor -especially the high table, literally- allows it to stand out from all its neighbours.

Pasta dishes here are priced between $10 - $12 while fresh made pastas $15.50. With the ongoing lunch promotion you can upgrade you main to a set meal inclusive of a soup and coffee of your choice for extra $3.50. To find out more, refer to their Lunch Menu.

I topped up another dollar for their Hungarian Beef Stew instead of a soup. The stewed beef was tender and flavoursome.

Whenever given the choice, I will opt for fresh pasta over its dried cousin as the former is usually better textured and like some put it, there is more bite to it.

The Squid-Ink Seafood Marinara I had here shared many resemblences with that I had at Arbite. The Tagliatelle pasta was thinner over here, hence making it easier to slurp. I was also glad that juicy shrimps and fresh scallops were used in place of clams which really saved me the trouble of having to remove the shells.

On the other hand, however, the chef might have his salt bottle cap accidentally fell off when working on my dish which I found was on the salty side.

My companion chose Chorizo Gnocchi as his main.

Many regard gnocchi as the western version of 算盘子 for the both come in silimar shapes and sizes. As the gnocchi pasta itself didn't carry much taste, one has to count on the sauce to make this dish work. The thinly sliced Spanish chorizo sausage was delectable and extra springy. While there wasn't any Italian parsely - as the menu promised- (do you see one), the rocket leaves would have tasted better if they were cooked. Raw rocket leaves on the other hand are more for salads, in my opinion.

On their service, some have expressed frustration with bad service on their visits. As for our case, they forgot to served our wild mushroom soup until we were half way through our lunch (even we forgot about it as well). Then again, as a new-born start-up, it may just take them some much needed time to 'sort things out' and get things in place. So let's wait and see if things would get better, shall we? And besides, I'm already looking forward to some of their daily specials, say Pan-seared Black Cod every Tuesday and Out-of-the-Pan’ Seafood Paella Wednesday. Another visit is definitely necessary.

For those who are interested, co-owner Nicholas Lin is also one of the authors of Bachelor's Banquet. You can get a copy of this culinary bible at the café cashier counter.

Platypus Test Kitchen
24 Raffles Place #02-02 Clifford Centre
Mon–Fri, 10am – 6pm
6533 7402

A Thousand Tales

2010-10-15T17:36:00.011+08:00

I had always wanted to visit A Thousand Tales since I first chanced upon it in June. When a friend of mine asked to meet up last week, I finally had my chance.

Opened by a group of friends who shares the same passion for design and good living, the Scandinavian-inspired furniture shop on Haji Lane radiates an unspeakable homely charm.

Its walk-up gastrobar Café Fables occupies a significant portion of the three-storey pre-war shophouse.

Matcha Red Bean ($5.20)

The bitter green tea flavour of the sponge balanced out the layers of butter cream which would otherwise seem too heavy. The azuki layer on the other hand, lent a savoury sweet note to this pairing.

Banana Surprise ($6.50)

Both of us were taken aback by this samsui-hat-looking object when it first showed up on our table. For a moment, I thought someone had left a plasticine sculpture on my plate. This banana really surprised us by being a crêpe of some sort, but it was not something I would expect a banana-sounding item to be.

Made from white chocolate and other unknown sweet ingredients, the spongy outer layer of the cake itself resembled a yoga mat that had rolled gracefully out of the oven. Filled to plumpness was banana in heavy cream. Finally, the banana had made its appearance. A pleasant surprise.

As the name of the shop implies, everything here tells a story, whether be it the vintage handmade furniture or the one-of-a-kind art piece by Japanese sculptor Sumio Suzuki. Nothing short of stylish.

(The noble steed many of us once dreamed of owning.)

During our visit, both of us couldn't help but admire this giant pencil-drawn octupus on the wall. When asked if this was sketched to honour PAUL THE OCTOPUS from FIFA 2010, the owner revealed that their 8-legged friend had been up even way before the World Cup was kicked started.

With its bar serving cakes and tailored cocktails with character, it's clearly café-type goodness for the sweet-toothed with not a single savoury item on the menu. I figure that they may need to include some light bites soon.

The next time you are at Haji Lane to check out your favourtie shop-stops, why not pop by level two of A Thousand Tales to see what it has to offer.

(This resident of Haji Lane just can't agree more.)

A Thousand Tales
55 Haji Lane
Daily, 3pm – 1am
6298 0838

ボングウ (Bon Goût)

2010-10-11T08:09:00.005+08:00

Bon Goût literally means 'good taste' in French. First started as a hybrid Japanese bookstore café at UE Square back in 1997, it has since moved to its current location at the vibrant Robertson Quay and continued to serve comforting home-styled Japanese food alongside good reads.

Bon Goût to me was a surprise find. Despite I have been to Robertson Quay a dozen of times, never once did I notice its existence until last Saturday. I like the way one hungrygowherer put it - a hole-in-the-wall kinda place.

まぐろ漬け ($8)

In the olden day when food was scarce, early Japanese used sugar, salt among other ingredients to preserve vegatables which later came to be known as pickles. Raw fish later was also preserved in silimar manner so as to extend its shelf life. While there is little need for food to be preserved today, this dish remains popular and new ingredients such as sake are commonly used to enhance the flavours of the dish.

Contrary to tuna sashimi, the flavour of our Maguro Tsuke was mild but pungent, not something to my tastebud's likings.

野菜カレーライス ($9)

Curry was first introduced to Japan during the late 19th century (Meiji Jidai) by the British Navy when India was then under the administration of the British. Over time, the dish has evolved with many varieties and become popular enough to be widely regarded as a national dish today.

While many like curry the Indian way, I prefer the Japanese version which is relatively sweeter and less heavy in taste.

親子丼 ($11)

Oyako in Japanese literally means 'parent' and 'child'. It's not difficult to figure out how it got its name if you know that egg and chicken are its main ingredients.

The serving of my Oyako Don here was generous for the price.

I found one of my favourite comic titles.

Help yourself with the Japanese magazines while waiting for your dinner to be served.

While dining at Bon Goût is an effortless business, it's also a perfect spot to hit if you are looking to a lazy afternoon to catch up on some reading. Shut your eyes a bit on one of the comfy couches if you need to. As the night falls in the neighbourhood, be awakened to the fragrance of the gentle steam from the rice cooker just behind your couch. The next thing you know, dinner is served.

ボングウ
60 Robertson Quay #01-01 The Quayside
6732 5234

Old School Delights

2010-10-01T06:42:00.028+08:00

Having so loved the homecooked food put up at their yearly Chinese New Year parties, the owners (siblings Aaron and Olivia) of Old School Delights decided to take this love one step further, setting up this themed café two months ago. Its menu serves up 'retro' fare such as mee siam and laksa.

Visitors are welcomed to full-length chalkboards across the walls on both sides and wooden benches and tables, resembling that of old school classrooms back in the eighties (or even earlier). One would be overwhelmed with a sense of nostalgia upon entering the premises.

Our lunch was started off with their Signature Pulut ($1.80 each), or more commonly known as Lemper Udang (correct me if I'm wrong). The spicy dried shrimp fillings gave the kick to this appetizer. Remember to try their otah too.

Mee Siam ($4.50) is reportedly the inspiration behind this café. Staying true to the 20-year-old home recipe passed down by the owners' grand-aunt, its gravy comprised 11 secret ingredients. Even if you are not a mee siam lover, try the OSD version and who knows you might just get hooked.

Another must-try here is the Laksa ($5.20). A popular dish rich in Peranakan culture, the bowl of laksa I had here was a winning combination flavoursome gravy, noodles and hearty servings of dried beancurd, fish cake and cockels among others. While less coconut milk was used, making it a more guilt-free indulgence for all.

There are four simple desserts on the menu: Chendol, Sago, Burbur Hitam and Red Bean Soup ($2.80 each).

For some reasons only Sago was available for the day, I gave it a try nevertheless.

Even though appearance wise it was just like our normal ice kachang without the colourful syrups, when taking in the first bite, started rolling in were the memories of the good old days when my mum would reward me for helping out with her house shores with 50 cents, which later would get me a bowl of ice kachang from the kopitiam across the street.

Many diners (including me) were seen disappointed when were told their best-selling Seriously Dark Choc Cake was sold out. (The lady in the backdrop probably shared the same sentiment. Just kidding...)

Apart from providing pleasure to the stomach, not on the café's menu was an extensive collection of retro toys which diners are encouraged to browse and make purchase. Some of these toys we grown-ups are all so familiar with include the Five Stones, Aeroplane Chess and Chatek. One of these would be sure to evoke fond memories of your childhood and awaken your inner child.

It doesn't matter when and where you had the last bowl of laksa from the pushcart uncle in your neighbourhood, come down here to Old School Delights and you can have all your old favourite dishes encored.

If you are a tertiary student, flash your student/matric card to enjoy 10% off total bill. Do note that this promotion is valid on weekdays, 3pm to 6pm only.

I would like to thank Yen of Vanilla Minuet who led me to the discovery of this place. You may check out her blog for more amazing photos on OSD.

HAPPY CHILDREN'S DAY TO ALL CHILDREN AND THE CHILD IN YOU.

Old School Delights
215M Upper Thomson Road Singapore
Wed to Sun, 12pm – 11pm
6458 4518

RaindrOps Café

2010-09-22T23:34:00.017+08:00

Tucked away in a quiet corner at Scape, RaindrOps is one nicely decorated café that you wouldn't wanna miss. Here at RaindrOps, whether you like to dine inside its well-lit glasshouse for its cosy ambience yet vibrant atmosphere or the al fresco area, being surrounded by a sea of greenery in all angels, it provides an excellent getaway from the hustle and bustle of Orchard shopping belt.

The café serves a mixture of European fare of great variety. From their beautifully plated appetizers and salads, to pizza, pasta and other main courses, to their must-have desserts, its menu is sure to bring you a culinary adventure for your palate.

Our Tataki Tuna ($8) was simply a beauty to behold upon - Pacific tuna lightly pan-seared to lovely pink. While the tuna was fresh and appealing, the black pepper taste in my opinion was too strong that it killed the subtle taste of the tuna. The shimeji mushrooms on the other hand were toothsome and gave this dish the extra bites.

Portobello mushrooms were out of stock for the day, the helpful service staff recommended us to give their Beer Battered Mushrooms ($8) a try instead.

Crispy and on the outside and warm and soft on the inside, flavourful juice oozed out of my button mushroom the moment I sank my teeth into its golden armor. How satisfying~

One of the mains we had was Vongole ($14) - seafood linguine pasta served with clams and garlic white wine sauce tossed in flame.

My Crispy Salmon with Asparagus ($16) didn't disappoint. The salmon fillet was very fresh and succulent, and the potato mash creamy and tasty. Not forgetting the surprisingly delectable bitesize veggie which gave the dish the crunch. Even though I didn't usually like carrot and cucumber, I couldn't help it but finished all off by myself.

My companion's Chicken Leg Lemongrass with Pumpkin Risotto ($15) was decent too. The tender free range chicken leg was marinated with red wine sauce and made savoury with a Thai twist. The pumpkin risotto was firm and of just the right creaminess served as a good complement.

It was another case of too much good food for us that we (albeit unwillingly) had to give dessert a miss.

Their non-alcoholic menu was quite limited. Considering that Scape is a place where yousters hang out, I was surprised that there were only a handful of non-alcoholic drinks but an extensive array of wines and beer selections on the menu. Perhaps the café is catering more to working adults. But well, I might be wrong.

The service staff were sincere and attentive. While I was busy shooting our appetizers, one of the waiters asked me whether we would like to have our mains later. A small gesture it might be, I was always appreciative towards service with such thoughtfulness.

There are several in-house promotions going on. Besides their $10 weekday lunch, to help wash away your Monday blues, have your date with Raindrops on a Monday to enjoy 15% off your total bill (or 20% for RaindrOps members).

With service and food of such remarkable standard, all I can wish for is just a clear blue sky on my next visit.

RaindrOps Café
2 Orchard Link *Scape #02-38
6834 4977

新緑

2010-09-13T07:33:00.006+08:00

Shinryoku Yakitori Restaurant is a modern kinda izakaya with capacity of about 20. Small it may be, its cosy and ambience lends a relaxing atmosphere, making it a perfect location for one to unwind after a day of hard work.

We went to give it a try after a visit to SAM last Friday evening.

鮪たたきサラダ - $18

We started off with this Maguro Tataki Salad.

Lightly marinated with vinegar, tuna was briefly seared and seasoned with grounded ginger paste (hence the name 敲き or tataki).

The tuna was deliciously tender and tasty, when combined with a hearty mix of rocket leaves, onion and delightfully tangy dressing mading this dish a truly toothsome one.

明太子スバゲティ - $12

Ordinary spaghatti made exceptionally delectable with mentaiko or fish roe (spicy) with a light touch of garlic sauce. Its taste is still lingering strongly on my tastebuds.

鮭　茶漬け - $6

Some call it the Japanese version of the commonly known Teochew Congee, Ochazuke is made by pouring green tea or dashi over cooked rice. While in the past it was a convenient way for the Japanese to make good use of leftover rice, it has nevertheless evolved and became a popular dish in Japanese cuisine.

Though I found the salmon chunks and the rice too light in taste, mixing in some wasabi will set off many wonderful explosions of flavours in mouth.

If you likes variety, grab a few friends down to sit for their ala carte buffet which is available at $50++, with free flow of alcohol for additional $35. Their buffet menu features a full array of izakaya fare ranging from popular favourites like sashimi, yakitori and tempera to grilled chicken hearts and livers for the adventurous. After your meal, remember to put up a star next to the favourite dish(es) on the wall before you leave.

The next time when you are thinking of a scrumptious treat of Japanese fare without hurting your purse, you know where to look to.

新緑焼き鳥レストラン
8 Purvis Street
#01-01 Talib Court
6338 8472