If you are on a search for ala carte buffet with a difference in Singapore, Peppermint is a brand-new farm-to-table dining concept at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay.

For fans of AquaMarine (yes, the hotel is previously known as Marina Mandarin Hotel), you would find that the interior and food offerings have gone through a total revamp, and certainly looks very inviting.

Boasting a spectacular view of the Marina Bar skyline and the hotel’s atrium garden, Peppermint’s ambiance is ideal for a romantic dinner or smart casual gatherings.

Walking in, you would find that it is not like a typical buffet restaurant, with verdant interiors and natural colours add comfort and relaxation to your dining. So you don’t feel rushed or hurried, and can dine totally at ease.

There will actually be an urban farm right in the terrace (to be opened to public in Jan 2021), filled with edible flowers, herbs and veggies. These are actually used as ingredients in food and drinks, and to garnish and flavour au naturel.

This is where you can dine in a garden setting as you savour a wide selection of wholesome Asian and Western faves prepared fresh from an open kitchen.

These eat-all-you-can dishes will be safely and conveniently served direct to your table. All you need to do is to scan the QR code, and start picking your favourites right away.

Helmed by Executive Chef Chan Tuck Wai, Peppermint’s new menu reflects its focus on conscious eating, featuring plant-based dishes using local and sustainably-sourced ingredients.

Here are some of the food highlights at Peppermint:

Boston Lobster Au Gratin (1 serving per person)
Make your meal extra special with this Boston Lobster cooked with precision to get the right tenderness.

Served au gratin with grated cheese, this cold-water lobster is baked until the cheese melts and becomes lightly brown, beautifully decorated with edible flowers. Savour its sweet white meat from a half-lobster serving.

Ocean Harvest
This bountiful harvest is every seafood lover’s dream, featuring a mix of freshly-shucked oysters, scallops, sea whelks, black mussels, tiger prawns, and even snow crabs (available for buffet dinners).

Served on a bowl of pristine ice, Ocean Harvest exudes freshness and clean, simple flavours, allowing you to enjoy its natural taste.

Japanese
The fresh sashimi offerings are freshly sliced, then sent to your table, get a plate of melt-in-the-mouth Salmon, Tuna, Swordfish, Hamachi and Octopus Sashimi in a single plate.

For sushi lovers, available is an assortment of Sushi and Maki accompanied with pickles and condiments.

If you prefer something warm for the belly, there is also the wobbly-smooth Swimmer Crab Chawanmushi.

Carvery Wagon (Rotation 2 type daily)
There are two types of carvery available on rotation, from Slow Roasted 120days Grain Fed Black Angus Beef, Baked Norwegian Wellington, Herb Crusted Australian Lamb Rack, to Pan Roasted Wagyu Beef Oyster Blade.

The perfect Western main for the steak lover in the group. This Angus Beef comes from selected Black Angus cattle fed on a grain-based diet for an average of 120 days.

Slow roasted to optimal doneness, this steak is kept moist and tender to satisfy your meat cravings.

French Pot – Marseille Bouillabaisse with Caramelized Fennel Encased in Puff Pastry
From the Mediterranean coast of the West comes this classic French-style seafood soup with caramelised fennel.

Served encased in puff pastry, this bouillabaisse or traditional Provencal fish stew originated from the French port city of Marseille.

Enjoy the contrast of the crispy puff pastry with the rich, flavourful stew within. Eat when it is hot out.

Lifestyle – Sous Vide Farmed Chicken, King Oyster Mushroom with Organic Pumpkin Puree
Bite into an exceptionally tender strip of chicken, slow-cooked sous vide style for utmost succulence.

This spring chicken is peppered up with pungent and sharp flavours of oregano, balanced out with umami from the accompanying King Oyster mushroom ragout and freshly harvested garden greens.

Lifestyle – Pan Seared Sustainable Barramundi, Farm Grown Vegetables, Honey Soy Emulsion
A simple, pan-seared fillet of sustainably-sourced Barramundi is served in a contemporary fashion.

This Asian sea bass has a mild flavour and white, flaky flesh, complemented a sweetish honey soya emulsion and dill oil.

Italian Grains – Short Neck Clam with Whole-Wheat Linguini Aglio Olio
Make your carbs a little healthier with these whole wheat linguine prepared aglio olio style with garlic, oil and fresh steamed clams.

This Western noodle dish features Short Neck clams, the smallest type of quahogs – a species of hard-shelled clams. Their small size makes it ideal for steaming giving you not-so-chewy pieces of clams to bite with your al dente pasta.

If you prefer rice, also available is the Crustacean Risotto, Fresh Basil and Sun-dried Tomatoes.

Wok – Wok Fried Beef Rib with Coffee Sauce
A creative take on barbecue using tender beef ribs and an unexpected ingredient of coffee.

The somewhat bitter flavour of coffee pairs beautifully with these wok-fried beef ribs as it is infused with a sweet and savoury sauce.

Each piece of tender meat is thoroughly coated with the dark sticky sauce, then sprinkled with toasted almond slices for an added crunch.

Other items you can expect from the “Wok” section include Chong Qing Fish Collar, and Stir-fried Freshly Harvest Vegetable right from their farm. All complete with wok-hei.

Heritage – Singapore Laksa with Seafood
This iconic Singaporean dish features thick rice noodles in a rich gravy with rempah, a complex paste of spices imparting an intense flavour to the dish. Thickened with coconut cream, the gravy is also infused with Asian herbs for fragrance and freshness.

The taste and aroma of the sea are captured with the trio of prawns, scallops and a half lobster.

Other local heritage highlights are the Prawn Noodle Soup with Brown Rice Vermicelli and Whole Wheat Noodle and Hainanese Chicken Brown Rice – both healthier alternatives for guilt-free indulgence.

Mod-Sin – Char Grilled Chicken “Satay”, Pineapple Cucumber Salsa
Brighten up the smoky charred taste of your chicken “satay” with this refreshing salsa, made with pineapple and cucumber puree and seasonings.

A modern rendition of the popular local dish, this is a meatier version with appetising nutty sauce that complements the grilled meat.

Mod-Sin – Singapore Chilli Crab Cake
An Asian main transforming the classic Singapore Chili Crab into convenient, easier-to-eat patties.

These crab cakes include tasty rice baked in a crustacean stock with crab meat for a delectable seafood flavour. If you like those Chilli Crab flavours, then this is quite a good ‘hands-free’ alternative.

To replicate the lip-smacking gravy coating the crabs, this dish serves the cakes over a viscous chili crab sauce and topped with micro herbs for a modern touch.

Patisserie Station
Moving on to the sweet treats, the Patisserie Station offers a selection of petite dessert bites (so you can have more) with Strawberry Yoghurt Cake, Royal Charlotte Espresso, Manjari Chocolate with Crunchy Pearls, Coconut Lime Mousse, along with selection of Nonya Kueh, Pralines and Sweets.

Not to be missed are the Signature Durian Penget and Chocolate Lava Cake with oozy fillings.

Make some space for the refreshing signature Peppermint Cucumber Sorbet at the end of the meal, or it can work as a palate-cleanser.

Or pick from the rotating selection of Raspberry, Mango Pomelo, Lychee Sorbets; or Vanilla Beans, Double Chocolate, Milk Tea, Hazelnut Ice Cream flavours.

While buffets in the past have always been associated with “all-you-can-eat” with rich, extensive and perhaps heavier food choices, I think it is a positive move for Peppermint to move towards conscious eating, including sustainable ingredients in many of the dishes.

Plus, the food are all sent to the table with manageable and still tasty portions – so you tend not to overeat and instead enjoy the dining experience.

There is also a good mix of East meets West option, from well-plated European dishes to perennial local favourites with a healthier touch.

Peppermint Ala Carte Buffet Pricing
Lunch $65++ per adult, $32.50++ per child (6-12 years old)
Dinner $88++ per adult, $44++ per child

Mouth-watering festive dinner specials include Boston Lobster Au Gratin, Baked Norwegian Salmon Wellington, Manuka Glazed Tom Turkey Roulade, Chestnut Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce and Festive Chicken Ham with Maple Molasses & Gingerbread Spice. On New Year’s Eve, diners can look forward to Maine Lobster with Salted Egg & Cheddar Cheese, 90 days Aged Black Angus Beef Tomahawk with Beurre Noisette and Snow Crab Risotto with Fresh Basil and Sun-dried Tomato.

Peppermint Festive Lunch – 1 Dec 2020 to 1 Jan 2021
$68++ per adult, $34++ per child

Peppermint Festive Dinner – 1 to 23, 25 to 30 Dec 2020 and 1 Jan 2021
$88++ per adult, $44++ per child

Peppermint Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Dinner – 24 and 31 Dec 2020
$98++ per adult, $49++ per child

(Credit Card promotions applicable for UOB, American Express, Citibank Cardholders. Prior reservation recommended. T&C apply.)

For diners who want to take home PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay’s festive roasts and goodies, you can place your order here: https://panpacific.co/3lWtM6D

Peppermint
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 6845 1112
Email: peppermint.prsmb@parkroyalhotels.com
Reservation: https://www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pr-collection-marina-bay/dining/peppermint.html
Opening Hours: Breakfast 7am – 11am, Lunch 12pm – 2:30pm (Mon – Fri), 12pm – 3pm (Sat, Sun, PH)
Dinner 6:30pm – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay.

While nearby Tiong Bahru, Holland Village and perhaps River Valley have been known to be the café hopping hotspots, the Redhill area is getting popular with more F&B opening up there.

Here are 10 cafes you can find at the Alexandra, Redhill, Bukit Merah areas:

Geometry
2 Jalan Bukit Merah #01-5142, Singapore 150002
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9.30pm (Sun – Thurs), 12pm – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

Ice Cream Café Next to ABC Market
It felt like a Mathematics lesson on “Geometry” when owners Shuxian and Jeslyn named their ice cream cafe as such due to the formulas and equations needed to create their gelatos (The café business has been passed to new hands.)

With a total of 18 flavours to choose from, expect interesting flavours such as Earl Grey Tie Guan Yin, Mandarin Orange Sorbet and Watermelon Lychee Sorbet.

75% of the flavours were classified under “Premium” flavours at an additional $0.70 per scoop due to the fresh fruits added.

3 bases were available as a base with a single scoop of gelato: Tart ($9.90), Belgian Waffle ($8.50) and Brownie ($8.90).

The French tarts were freshly baked and served warm. Its base had a contrasting chewy centre, buttery fragrance, and taste that resembled that of a cross between almond tart and Taiwanese pineapple tart. Geometry (Jalan Bukit Merah)

Carrara Café
Blk 2 Jalan Bukit Merah #01-5148, Singapore 150002
Tel: +65 6250 9952
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11:30am – 10pm (Fri – Sat)

Ice Cream Cafe Serving Mentaiko Pasta And Marmite Fried Chicken Waffles
Carrara Café is located at Blk 2 Jalan Bukit Merah, of walking distance from ABC Brickworks Food Centre, few shops away from fellow ice-cream café Geometry.

There are 3 components to Carrara – a café, bistro and creamery.

All Day Breakfast choices include Sausage Cheese Rosti ($17.90), Turkey Bacon Eggs Benedict ($16.90), Big Breakfast ($16.90).

Mains served were familiar items you get from the typical Singapore-café, with Chilli Crab Pasta ($17.90), Tom Yum Seafood Pasta ($13.90), Truffle Breakfast Pasta ($13.90), Chicken Chop Aglio Olio ($12.90), Fried Chicken and Waffle ($12.90), Salted Egg Fried Chicken and Waffle ($13.90) and Fish & Chips ($12.90).

You can have a scoop on the Signature Waffle ($8.50) topped with chocolate sauce with a side of maple syrup.

The outer layer was suitably crispy, matched with thick fluffy batter. The accompany scoops of Thai Tea and Coconut ice cream which I ordered were creamy, with pronounced flavours of each. Carrara Café (Jalan Bukit Merah)

Refuel II
28 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 152028
Tel: +65 6265 7368
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Refuel Café can be found at 744 Bedok Reservoir Road and 28 Jalan Bukit Merah, and this Refuel II Café is considered quite a hidden find of a short walk from ABC Brickworks Food Centre.

All Day Brunch items include Full Tank ($15.90), Salmon Benedict ($13.90), Salmon Pesto with Scrambled Eggs ($14.50), Pulled Pork Benedict ($13.90), Fried Chicken Waffles ($13.90), Porky Egg Waffles ($13.90),

For something more fillings, you can have mains of Honey BBQ Ribs ($15.90), Honey Lemon Chicken ($14.50), Baked Chicken Stew ($14.50) or pasta dishes of Bacon Aglio ($12.90), Spaghetti Carbonara ($13.50) and Creamy Shrimps & Mussels ($13.90).

The Double Chilli Crab Pasta ($14.90) is called “double” because there are both flaky crab meat and crispy soft shell crab, in a spicy, creamy and eggy tomato base sauce. Good to know that the soft shell crab is first fried with a special spice coating.

Noticed that they gave quite a lot of sauce, and it was strong in flavours, from the tomato-tanginess, sweetness, to the spicy kick.

Would have preferred chunkier crab meat for better bite and a lighter sauce, but it is a not-bad version for its price point.

Durian Lab Cafe
Blk 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-22 Singapore, Singapore 151119
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Ah Seng Durian Opens Cafe With MSW Burnt Cheesecake And Cruffins
Ah Seng Durian has expanded with a 2nd outlet at 119 Bukit Merah, and this comes with their very first Durian Lab café next door (The shop is near Alexandra Village Food Centre.)

Just a note that the space is air-conditioned and so the aroma is trapped.

Over at Durian Lab, the cakes and pastries are supplied by 2 homegrown bakeries: Flor Patisserie and Keong Saik Bakery.

Both patisseries are incorporating Mao Shan Wang durians into the desserts from Ah Seng (himself).

The MSW durian desserts include Durian Tart ($8.50), Roll Cake ($8), Mille-Feuille ($11.50) and Short Cake ($8); while Keong Saik Bakery is also supplying Burnt Cheesecake ($11) and Burnt Cruffin ($6.50).

The Burnt Cheesecake ($11) was well-executed with a texture of smooth, velvety cream with some durian flesh for an extra bite, and an ice cream-like sensation when served. Durian Lab Cafe (Bukit Merah)

The Bakery Chef
Blk 161 Bukit Merah Central Singapore 150161
Tel: +65 6273 9211
Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 7pm (Sat – Sun)

Humble, Delicious Cake Cafe at Bukit Merah
The Bakery Chef may be a small 20-seater café, located at an inconspicuous location of Blk 161 Bt Merah Central, but its bakes easily beat what several other cafes offer. No surprise, as its chef (or chefs) all came from kitchens of various hotels.

Its open concept kitchen churns out quite a variety of cakes, pastries and macarons, with the most popular ones amongst customers being the Red Velvet Cheese Cake, Chocolate Guanaja, and Rainbow Cake (available in limited quantities).

My favourite was the tall Carrot Cake multi-layered with light cream cheese, being moist without being mushy, and not overly dense. Could be slightly more spiced, but I am not complaining.

Another best-seller from The Bakery Chef is the Burnt Cheese Cake. While their version is made with only one type of cheese, the texture was actually quite soft (though not considered molten).

What made it extra delicious was the added served of light cream with tinge of sea salt, that gave the cheesecake that added salty-sweet savour and moisture as you eat it with the cake. The Bakery Chef (Bukit Merah)

Qi Philosophy
93 Dawson Road, #01-02 Sky Terrace @ Dawson Singapore 142093
Tel: +65 69090198
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 9pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Cafe With Scenic Park View, Serving Healthy Meals At SkyTerrace@Dawson
Qi Philosophy is nestled within the compounds of SkyTerrace@Dawson, an award winning Build-To-Order (BTO) HDB development located at 93 Dawson Road.

What you get is a cafe set right in the middle of a scenic park environment next to Alexandra Canal Linear Park, with green communal spaces and a park connector just steps away.

So while you are having coffee, you can see families, joggers, and cyclists around.

For Asian delights, there are offerings of San Bei Ji or Traditional 3 Cup Chicken ($8.80), Nyonya Chicken Curry with Achar Pickles ($8.80), Ayam Ponteh ($8.80) or Stewed Chicken & Potato in fermented soy bean, Nasi Goreng ($8.80), Nyonya Dry Mee Siam ($8.80) and Qi Healthy Basmati Nasi Lemak ($12.80).

As for the Western menu, there are the Signature Laksa Pesto Pasta ($9.80), Rainbow Mentaiko ($9.80), Grilled Vegetables Marinara ($9.80), Miso Chicken Warm Bowl or Salad ($9.80), and a selection of Wraps, Sandwiches and Burgers.

Dishes served are generally lower in calorie and sugar. Qi Philosophy (Dawson Road)

Seeds Cafe
501 Margaret Drive, Singapore 149306 (located within Rainbow Centre Margaret Drive School)
Tel: +65 6817 9414
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon – Sun)

Beautiful Café With Beautiful Heart
It is heartening to see the Singapore society getting more inclusive, and I make it a point to help cover some of these hidden gems that go beyond to help others.

Seeds is another undiscovered café that is full of heart.

Its location may provide some indication of its mission, as it is found within Rainbow Centre at Margaret Drive School.

Therefore, Seeds is a vocational training ground for persons with disabilities so that they can transit to open employment, and a platform to advocate for a more inclusive community.

There is a small selection of pastries such as muffins and brownies, while the coffee is made from the Gachala blend roasted by Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee.

I like the name of the place. You help plant a seed, which can grow to a tall and strong tree, or even a harvest. Seeds Cafe (Margaret Drive)

Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee
170 Stirling Rd, #01-1133, Singapore 140170
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5:20pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 3:50pm (Sat, Sun)

50 years Heritage Of Roasting Quality Coffee
Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee started off as a coffee beans wholesaler and later transformed into a cafe in 2014.

With more than 20 different origins of specialty coffee from Africa, Asia and America, the homegrown local coffee roastery supplies their beans to various F&B brands in Singapore.

The espresso-based drinks include Long Black ($4.90), Piccolo Latte ($4.90), Cappuccino ($5.40), Latte ($5.40), Flat White ($5.40) and Mocha Latte ($5.90).

Cold brew is also available in 3 different flavours: Black ($7.50), Pollen White ($7.50) and Mocha ($8). Served in 330ml glass bottles, the technique they used for the cold brew here only requires 1 hour of steeping instead of the usual 12 hours or more.

Using the same 2 beans- blend of 50% Columbia and 50% Guatemala but with a darker roasting technique, honey is added to the milk in the Pollen White ($7.50) for the sweetness.

The Living Room Eating House
400 Lengkok Bahru, #01-01, Singapore 159049
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 5:30pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Local Food Café Found Hidden Within Leng Kee Community Club
The Living Room Eating House or Living Room @ Leng Kee is located at Leng Kee Community Club, which is a 10 to 15 minutes’ walk away from Redhill MRT station.

The café occupied quite a big space with friendly-cosy vibes, popular with families (you just pray that the children don’t cry too loudly and run around).

I can imagine that if customers can come in during non-peak hours to have a kopi and read a book.

Seems to be operated by a family, the café has rather personable service and serves up local delights in the likes of Nasi Lemak (from $3), Mee Siam ($3.50), Prawn Noodles ($4, $5, $6), Big Prawn Noodles ($8, $10), Bak Kut Teh ($6.5), and Chee Cheong Fun ($2).

These are your coffee shop pricing, or maybe just that 1 to 2 dollars more, with aircon-comfort. The Living Room Eating House (Lengkok Bahru)

PYROAST @ Henderson
102 Henderson Road (Sprout Hub) Singapore 159562
Tel: +65 9199 0467
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)

Specialty Coffee Stall Hidden Within A Converted Canteen At Henderson Road
PYROAST is a coffee stall found at Sprout Hub, a urban agriculture place located at Henderson Road.

Perhaps Sprout Hub is a totally foreign name to you, an urban farm and “food social hub located in the heartland of Redhill”.

The coffee place shares the space of a refurnished former canteen with Meat & Greet, o-Kome, and LOK-KOL. While hidden, it is worth exploring if you stay around in the neighbourhood.

From curating green coffee beans to roasting, the PYROAST team strives to deliver great quality coffee from bean to cup.

This is offer customers a good variety of roasted coffee beans and 100% customization to their needs and desired cup profile.

What you can expect include Hand-brewed coffee ($7 onwards), Latte ($4), Long black ($3.50), Espresso Boom ($5.50).

Good to know that there are more than 15 types of single origin and three home blends available here. PYROAST @ Henderson

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

With another new addition to the cafe scene, Slickshots (not Slingshots) has opened in the heartlands at Boon Keng offering gelato, waffles and coffee.

(NEW Ice Cream & Waffles cafes in Singapore recently include Burnt Cones (Sunset Way), AMPM Café (Ang Mo Kio), Creme & Cone (Lau Pa Sat), Obsessive Chocolat Desire (OCD) Ice Cream Cafe, Gelato Labo (Faber Drive), Haute And Cauld (Bedok Reservoir), Hay Gelato (Bedok) and I See Cream (Thomson). Just to name a few.)

By definition, “slickshot” refers to someone who possess effortless and cool skills that will impress many people.

Will Slickshots impress diners with their menu?

Stepping inside, the 20 seaters space is decked in a simplistic, minimalist MUJI-style that incorporates white, grey and wooden elements together.

Four seats are available at the coffee bar counter for the serious coffee drinkers, who will like to interact with the barista over their cup of coffee.

As I visited Slickshots during their soft-launch phase, the pricing is not stated on their menu yet and payment is purely by tipping basis.

The owners emphasised that the main focus of Slickshots is on their coffee, not so much on gelato and waffles.

Using the Throwback Blend from PPP Coffee, a 2-beans-blend of Brazil Rio Brilhante and Guatemala Sitio De Maria, their coffee menu offers a selection of Black, White, Brown aka Mocha for their espresso-based drinks, Oat Cold Brew and Filtered Coffee.

For the non-coffee drinkers, Cascara (Coffee cherry, the part that is enveloping the coffee beans which are the seeds), Chocolate, Pulpy Orange, Candied Apple and Sunset Lemonade are available.

I had the Hot White, which is medium-bodied and smooth in texture, darker roast and well- balanced with a chocolate and nutty aftertaste.

Apart from their coffee menu, Slickshots offers 12 gelato flavours supplied by Sweet Cheeks Gelato located at Potong Pasir .

Think common flavours such as Dark Chocolate, Mango, Earl Grey, Hazelnut, Nutella Peanut Butter and Pistachio, whereas interesting flavours include Bailey’s & Brownies, Hojicha, Cereal Milk, Cinnamon Brown Bread, Marshmallow Oreo and Honeycomb.

The Waffle was well executed, thick, airy and fluffy on the inside with a crispy texture on the outside that will resonate with the waffle lovers.

It was also aromatic and fragrant, coming with optional chocolate sauce drizzled.

Even though the gelato scoops were slightly smaller than most gelato bars, the Pistachio flavour was worth a mention.

It had a rich, creamy and sticky texture, with a distinctive earthly and nutty taste, without being overly sweet.

Dig inside and you may be in for a surprise, finding bits of crushed pistachio seeds embedded within the creamy gelato that added some crunch to the overall texture.

As a fan of Japanese roasted teas, I couldn’t give the Hojicha gelato a miss, which had the same creamy texture without being icy.
Taste-wise, I wished that the Hojicha gelato can have a reduced sugar level and a stronger aromatic tea scent.

“That’s a Slickshot!”, even though Slickshots did not have anything that is really unique to them, they are off to a promising start with the usual good waffles, gelato and coffee.

SlickShots
34 Whampoa West, #01-35, Singapore 330034
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Sweet Cheeks Gelato (Tai Thong)
Creme & Cone (Lau Pa Sat)
AMPM Café (Ang Mo Kio)
Obsessive Chocolat Desire (OCD) Ice Cream Cafe
Burnt Cones (Sunset Way)

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Lucky Cat is a vegetarian café which serves mainly Japanese fusion food with speciality coffee in the heartlands of Hougang.

Probably one of the first of its kind.

With the increasing traction of vegetarian and meatless dining demand, we are beginning to see many big brands and indie cafes exploring using “impossible meat” or plant-based ingredients to come up with meat-free menu to cater to the growing demand.

Vegetarian dining scene nowadays has also been exciting with injection of various fusion cuisine flavours and creative execution.

Perhaps some of the more notable names are like Elemen, Sufood and Teng Bespoke.

Even Necessary Provisions (moved to Tanglin Road) serves vegetarian brunch fares now.

Inconspicuously located within Hougang Community Club, I was rather surprised to find Lucky Cat somewhat semi-populated with tables of uncle and auntie diners on a weekday.

Perhaps the idea of innovative vegetarian food and pocket-friendly pricing did nail their sweet spot.

The menu has a bountiful offering of Japanese fusion items such as Onigiri, Donburi and Maki Rolls.

I ordered the Konjac Sashimi Platter ($10) of salmon, tuna and squid, and have always been intrigued by how konjac jelly can pass off as fish slices.

What impressed me was its almost identical resemblance to actual fish – its bouncy chewiness and the smooth texture. I could even taste hints of fishiness flavour.

I also took a liking to the Tofunagi Maki roll ($12) modelled after unagi roll.

The ‘unagi’ was grilled to light crisp and coated with teriyaki sauce and mayonnaise, sprinkled with white sesame for the enhanced aroma.

While Japanese Curry Katsu, available in Don or Noodles ($9) was one of their recommended dishes, it fell slightly short of my expectation.

Though the katsu soy patty was acceptable, I thought its curry gravy tasted one-dimensional and could use a bit more depth in flavour as it was neither sweet nor spicy.

Perhaps because I was offered somen instead of standard noodles which they had ran out, the two combination just didn’t gel together well.

There were also side dishes like Tempura Shiitake Cream and Cheese ($7) and Korean Yangnyeom Monkey Head Mushroom ($11) which was a crowd pleaser.

Especially the latter which took after sweet and sour pork, the meaty texture of monkey head mushroom generously coated with sweet dressing pulled it off well.

From the speciality coffee department, other than standard offerings like Black ($4), White ($5) and Mocha ($5.50), they also serve a series of coffee mocktail concoctions such as Espresso Lemon Tonic ($5), Yuzu Coffee Cream ($6) and Starry Starry Night ($6).

I had their You So Fresh ($6), concocted from citrusy yuzu, fresh mint and espresso shot which was, like its name suggests, pretty much refreshing to drink.

If you are feeling ‘local’, there are also items such as Hokkien Mee ($5), Mee Goreng ($5), Sweet & Sour Fish Rice ($6.50) to Sambal Fish Rice ($6.50) – some items come with vegan options. Quite an inexpensive alternative for vegetarian and vegan diners.

Lucky Cat
35 Hougang Ave 3 #01-02, Hougang Community Club, Singapore 538840
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
10 Best Vegetarian And Vegan Restaurants In Singapore
Necessary Provisions (Tanglin Road)
Elemen (Millenia Walk)
Sufood (Raffles City)
Grove (Waterway Point)

* Written by Lewis Tan @juicyfingers, a self-proclaimed coffee addict. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Bedok is well-known for its hawker food and supper places, especially those at , Bedok 85 (Fengshan Food Centre), as well as Bedok 216.

There are more and more cafes and ice cream places we can find there, some closed at 2AM for the night owls.

Must add a disclaimer that I stay in the West, so coming to Bedok is a once-in-a-while affair and so compiling this café guide took a while.

Percolate
136 Bedok North Avenue 3, #01-152B Singapore 460136
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Quality Coffee and Artisanal Products At Bedok North
Percolate feels like an honest, unpretentious, cosy café, and certainly has brought more life to this part of the Bedok neighbourhood since its opening many years back.

It is a humble small café opened by a few friends, the barista formerly from Loysel’s Toy (who remembers this?). The name has nothing to do with chocolate, but describing a process where liquid “passes through a porous substance or small holes.”

Food wide, you can head over for some Barista Granola ($8.50), Banana Loaf ($10), Soba Salad ($13.50), Prawn Curry Mash ($13), Black Pepper Beef Couscous ($14), Duck Breast Congee ($13) and Unagi Soba ($14.50).

They also offer Croissant Sandwiches filled with Curry Egg Mayo ($7), Ham & Cheese ($7) and Hae Bee Hiam ($8); as well as a selection of cakes of Pistachio Lemon ($7), Orange Berries Passionfruit ($7), Carrot Cake ($7), Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana ($7) as well as the recommended Rootbeer Chocolate ($7).

I can see why Percolate is a survivor in this fast-moving cafe scene – they do things from their heart.

FATCAT Ice Cream Bar
Blk 416 Bedok North Ave 2 #01-25 Singapore 460416
Tel: +65 6241 0830
Opening Hours: 1pm – 10pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues

Famous for Charcoal Waffles with Salted Egg Yolk Sauce
While there were a couple of copycat (pun not intended) versions, FATCAT was the originator of the Charcoal Waffles with Salted Egg Yolk Sauce ($6.50, extra $1 for sauce) in Singapore. They are also considered a ‘survivor’.

They also have a Brown Butter Waffle ($5.50) served with salted caramel sauce and a sprinkle of dried lavender, with chocolate sauce on the waffles for extra flavours.

Need some ice cream? The signature flavours here include Butter Beer, Hay & Honey, Earl Grey Lavender, and Watermelon Soju.

You can also get Mojito Cocktail Spheres ($4.50 each). Small? Expensive? When these little spheres burst right in the mouths, delivering the mojito right into circulation, this could be worth the experience.

Hay Gelato
136 Bedok North Ave 3, #01-148, Singapore 460136
Opening Hours: 1pm – 2am (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Late Night Waffles & Gelato Cafe Opens Till 2AM
This is just 2 doors away from Percolate Coffee and one street away from crowd-favourite FatCat Ice Cream Bar that serves artisanal ice cream flavours.

A single scoop of gelato is priced at $4.20 whereas premium flavours will cost an additional $1 and waffles at $5.50.

A total of 12 flavours will be available at any one time, with interesting flavours such as Balsamic Strawberry, Truffle, Meyer Lemon, Yuzu Ginger and Smoked Hay.

I didn’t expect myself to “eat grass” when I ordered the Smoked Hay ($5.20 for premium flavour), supposedly their signature flavour at Brine Restaurant.

Made by smoking real hay (plants or grass dried and stored as animal fodder or food) and infusing into their milk-based gelato, the Smoked Hay gelato was dented in the centre with cocoa nibs on top.

The gelato was smooth and milky, with distinctive smokey-ness that lingers in the mouth without the grassy flavours of hay, whereas the coca nibs add some crunch to it, making it more robust and earthy. Hay Gelato (Bedok)

Power Coffeehouse
Blk 84 Bedok North Street 4, #01-27, Singapore 460084
Opening Hours: 8am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun) (Close on 2nd Mon of each month)

Local Fusion Dishes with Comfort of Home
As this is a relatively new café (opened 2019) and hidden at the back of Block 84, not many people know that there is a place here that serves up local toasts and fusion mains.

For drinks, there are both local kopi and teh, along with artisanal coffee from To-gather Café.

Comforting homely dishes served include Claypot Curry Chicken, Claypot Congee, Power Nasi Goreng, Ayam “Lu Rou” Don, Laksa Hokkien Mee, and Power Nasi Lemak.

They also serve up Western-style mains such as Prawn Aglio Olio, Italian Chicken Meatball Pasta, Grilled Chicken Chop and Italian Herb Crusted Fish and Chips.

BCC Tea Studio
Fengshan Market, Blk 84, Bedok North Street 4, #01-29, Singapore 460048
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Sun – Thu), 10am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

Affordable and Instagram-Worthy Bubble Tea At Bedok 85
BCC Tea Studio is located beside Bedok 85 Fengshan Market & Food Centre which is known for its steady stream of evening and supper crowd.

In addition, its location is near 4 schools: Anglican High School, St. Anthony’s Canossian Secondary School, Bedok Green Secondary School and Red Swastika School. And bubble tea typically appeals to youths.

Their menu is categorised into Pure Tea (Small $2.10/ Large $2.90), Milk Tea (Small $2.60/ Large $3.40), Fantasies with layered coloured drinks ($4.20), Fizzies ($3.50), Slushies ($3.90) and Hot drinks ($3.90).

In terms of pricing, not THAT expensive as well.

The signature Fantasies ($4.20), splashed on several social media channels, come in pretty coloured layers and interesting names such as Purple Dream, Galaxy Blue and Milky Way.

Haute And Cauld
740 Bedok Reservoir Road, #01-3179, Singapore 470740
Opening Hours: 11am – 2am (Mon – Sun)

Ice Cream Cafe With Yubari Rock Melon Flavour At Bedok Reservoir
From midnight supper spot at Bedok 85 Fengshan Food Centre to the new gelato bar Hay Gelato that opens till 2am, it seems that Bedok is indeed very ‘happening’ at night.

The 20-seater space has a different feel at night, illuminated by blue neon lights that gives off a chill and relax vibe.

The Waffles ($7.90) come in 3 different flavours: Red Velvet, Charcoal and Buttermilk with a set option ($12) that includes a single scoop of ice cream with a soft drink.

14 ice cream flavours are available on their display shelves, ranging from Pistachio, Brownies & cream, Route 88, Speculators, Strawberry Cheesecake, Aroy Mak (aka Thai Milk Tea, Mint), Golden Vanilla, Yubari Rock Melon, Cookie Monster, Creme Brûlée, Cotton Candy, to Camomile Honey.

The Yubari Rock Melon was less common and interesting, tasted like melon milk with a lingering fruitiness in its flavour. Haute And Cauld (Bedok Reservoir)

Burp Kitchen & Bar
740 Bedok Reservoir Road #01-3165 Singapore 470740
Tel: +65 8428 4722
Opening Hours: 4pm – 10:15pm (Mon – Fri), 12pm – 10.15pm (Sat – Sun)

Comforting, Inexpensive Burgers & Pastas At Bedok Reservoir
Burp Kitchen & Bar at Bedok Reservoir (brunch with a view) is focused on Americanised comfort food, with Asian-inspired and Tex-Mex fusion dishes. Complete with rustic décor and friendly service.

This can be considered a place to hang out with friends for dinner and after-work drinks. This is especially when their cocktails, mocktails and bottled craft beers are priced inexpensively.

You can have a go for some comforting bar grub of Salted Egg Wings, Wanton Poppers, and Prawn Paste Popcorn Chicken; or have a dinner meal of Truffle Mushroom Carbonara, Grilled Unagi Aglio Olio, Triple Cheese Burger and Beef Bulgogi Tacos.

I particularly enjoyed the Truffle Beefy Shrooms Burger ($12) with the seared beef patty with rich hearty flavours, topped with savoury sautéed mushrooms.

The ingredients were held together well in a soft brioche bun, and the addition of truffle mayo added some aroma as you bring it closer to your nose.

Refuel Cafe
744 Bedok Reservoir Road, #01-3029, Singapore 470744
Tel: 6448 0015
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Uncomplicated Brunch Fare, Mains and Pasta
Refuel Café can be found at 744 Bedok Reservoir Road (within Reservoir Village) and 28 Jalan Bukit Merah – both cafes have slightly different offerings)

All Day Brunch items at Bedok include Salmon Scramble ($12.50), Vegan Baked Eggs ($9.90), Pulled Pork Burger ($12.90), Porky Egg Waffle ($13.90), and Banana Pancakes ($9.90).

For their big breakfast plate, get the Extra Tank ($16.50) with scrambled eggs, sauteed mushrooms, sausage, bacon, smoked salmon, baked beans and salad.

It was a no-fuss plate, though I thought that the scrambled eggs could be creamier for a better mouthfeel.

For something more fillings, you can have mains of Honey BBQ Ribs ($14.90), Baked Chicken Spicy Sauce ($13.50), Baked Salmon ($13.90) or pasta dishes of Bacon Aglio ($11.90) and Creamy Shrimps & Mussels ($13.90).

The Forage Café
30 Jalan Pari Burong, Singapore 488696
Tel: +65 8869 7131
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Honey-Themed Cafe With Waffles Sandwiches
This shop located at Jalan Pari Burong (also considered near Tanah Merah, Simei, Expo) is a honey-themed one. “Foraging” is the process where bees scout for the best nectar, and thus the name.

Upon entering the café, you would notice a gallery of bee-related photos on the side; a counter selling honey and related products near the back of the café.

What you can expect is an All-Day Menu serving Waffle Sandwiches, and Donburi bowls added with apple vinegar honey sauce.

Pasta dishes and mains are available from 5pm to 9:30pm, which includes Halibut Mentaiko ($26), Panko-Crusted Truffle Chicken ($20), and Baby Back Ribs ($25).

I ordered the Chilli Cheese Chicken ($15) instead as it sounded more unique, and I wanted to see how chilli cheese sauce would go with fruity honey.

While my personal preference it for a larger piece of crispy and airy buttermilk waffles, the mini waffles had quite a soft texture which worked as a suitable contrast with the heavier fried chicken thigh fillings.

Instead of the usual maple syrup, the pure-tasting honey worked as a good accompaniment, so much so that you would feel tempted to get a bottle of honey home.

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10 Best Holland Village Cafes
10 Cafes And Brunch Places At River Valley

* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary and Nicholas Tan @stormscape.

Great news for ramen fans. Mark your calendar as Kanada-Ya Singapore will be opening its 4th location at Paragon on December 19, 2020 (Sat).

In addition, there is an opening special in which diners at Paragon can enjoy 100% Unlimited Cash Rebate on your first meal with no minimum spend and no cap. From 19 – 21 Dec, more details below.

It was in 2009 when Kanada-Ya was founded by Kazuhiro Kanada in the small city of Yukuhashi on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu.

This renowned Japanese ramen chain expanded to Singapore in December 2019, and since then has wowed ramen fans with their award-winning tonkotsu ramen.

Over in Singapore, there are currently outlets at Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ) , Change Alley Mall, and Marina Square.

Kanada-Ya makes its specialty ramen with an 18-hour broth and a secret sauce to add umami flavours. It took a year of experiments before this self-taught chef, a former pro-keirin racer, discovered his breakthrough recipe.

It was the rich and flavourful pork bone broth that earned it awards, paving the way to expand in Hong Kong, London, Spain, and Singapore. In London, it was voted as the No. 1 Ramen Restaurant in London by The Telegraph London.

Here’s more on what you can expect at Kanada-ya:

Kotteri Tonkotsu Ramen ($14.90 for basic, $16.90 for regular, $18.90 for special)
The creamy and thick (“kotteri” means thick) tonkotsu broth is the foundation of this signature ramen.

The signature pork bone extract has a deep and robust flavour. If you want to experience the most authentic Kyushu ramen, order this. A Kanada-San’s original recipe you shouldn’t miss.

Available in 3 variants, the Special gives you 4 pieces of thick and juicy slices of pork belly chashu, crunchy wood ear fungus, tokudai nori, spring onion, and a runny-in-the-center hanjuku egg.

To keep it authentic, the signature tonkotsu broth is handmade by the founder himself and imported from the original restaurant in Japan.

Along with the comes a special wheat noodle. Mr Kanada makes his noodles with a specific type of flour, enriching with an exact protein content and alkaline salts. These gives the noodle its firm yet springy texture.

Black Garlic Ramen ($16.90 for basic, $18.90 for regular; $20.90 for special)
Even in Singapore, you get to the try Hong Kong’s Favourite, the Black Garlic Ramen.

Made with fragrant homemade black garlic sauce, this ramen pairs together Kanada-Ya’s satisfying tonkotsu broth with tender slices of pork belly chashu, wood ear fungus, leeks, nori, and spring onion.

Truffle Veggie Ramen ($16.90 for basic, 18.90 for regular, $20.90 for special)
Cross the borders of taste and try London’s recipe, the Truffle Veggie Ramen. Ideal for vegetarians, this ramen is made with a meat-less ramen broth that’s still rich and creamy.

Instead of the special ingredient pork bones, this veggie-based broth is made with soy milk for that light creaminess, vegetable dashi for umami flavour, and truffle oil for that alluring aroma.

The noodles used are of a different type from the other bowls, with a softer bite. My favourite parts were the crispy deep-fried lotus roots and sweet beancurd skin.

Truffle Ramen ($22.90 for basic, $24.90 for regular, $26.90 for special)
This truffle-centric ramen is London’s favourite, a simple yet stunning Hakata style ramen topped with belly chashu, asparagus, and nori.

The distinctive aroma will definitely ‘arrive’ before the bowl does as diners wait in anticipation.

Its fragrance and flavour come from the black truffle oil mixed with the signature tonkotsu soup base, and the black truffle jelly topping made with black truffle paste.

Even the chashu is truffle marinated for that ultimate truffle flavour.

You get firm yet springy noodles to pair with their signature pork bone broth. If you like the thin and long Hakata style noodles with a firm bite, this will be right up your alley.

Only 20 bowls of Truffle Ramen are available daily. Make sure to catch this limited item.

Oyakodon ($12.90)
Oyakodon (literally “parent-and-child-donburi”) is a play on words for a dish with both chicken (parent) and egg (child).

This Japanese rice bowl dish is prepared by simmering bite-sized pieces of pan-seared chicken thighs, egg, and onions in an umami-rich dashi and soy-based sauce.

The sweet and savoury saucy mixture is then poured over a bowl of steamed fluffy rice. However, I do feel that if this is your first time to Kanada-ya, the noodles are still the more distinctive dishes and better choices.

Unagi Don ($16.90)
A Japanese rice bowl rice featuring pan-seared Japanese freshwater eel glazed with a sweet and savoury tare sauce.

Home-made with soy sauce, sake and mirin, the tare sauce coats the flavourful unagi as it is laden over fluffy, steaming rice.

Nanban Chicken ($8.90)
Complement your Kyushu ramen with this Kyushu appetiser from the Miyazaki prefecture.

Made with a lightly battered chicken that’s deep-fried and marinated in a sweet and sour vinegar-based sauce. It’s made Nanban-style (Nanban means “foreign”) by topping it with a specially-made tartar sauce with quite a bit of chopped items.

Truffle Fries ($6.90)
It does feel strange to find Truffle Fries in a ramen eatery, but go for eat if you crave for these nibbles. Enjoy some crunch along with your ramen with these thin-cut potatoes deep-fried ‘til golden brown.

Served with a drizzling of fragrant truffle oil and sprinkling of nori.

Crispy Sweet Spicy Wings ($8.90)
Tease your palate with these sweet and spicy mid-joint wings. Deep-fried ‘til golden brown in colour and skin crunchy, they can be an appetiser for sharing – I did feel that the meat within could be marinated longer for the flavours to better permeate through.

Takoyaki ($5.90)
Add a side dish of little balls of takoyaki made from wheat-flour batter in dashi broth with small pieces of chopped octopus within.

Served with a coating of brown takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, and a generously sprinkling of bonito flakes.

Agedashi Tofu ($5.90)
A traditional Japanese appetiser of silken tofu coated with potato starch and deep-fried ‘til a crispy crust form.

It is soaked into a dashi-based sauce and topped with katsuobushi (bonito flakes), grated ginger, grated daikon, scallion, and nori. Perhaps there could be more sauce so that the dish would be more flavourful.

The tofu did have a warm, satin soft interior.

Kanada-Ya Paragon Opening Special: Enjoy 100% unlimited cash rebate on your first meal
In celebration of the opening of its fourth outlet in Singapore, Kanada-Ya will be offering 100% unlimited cash rebate for your first meal, via the Kanada-Ya app.

Enjoy the cash rebate with no minimum spend and no cap. Available only from 19 – 21 December 2020 only at the Paragon outlet.

Kanada-Ya – PARAGON
290 Orchard Road, #04-09/K1, Paragon, Singapore 238859
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/kanadaya.sg

Kanada-Ya – PLQ MALL
10 Paya Lebar Road, #03-30, PLQ Mall, Singapore 409057
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Kanada-Ya – Change Alley Mall
30 Raffles Place, #01-19/20, Change Alley Mall, Singapore 048622
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Kanada-Ya – Marina Square
6 Raffles Boulevard, #02-203/204, Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Kanada-Ya.

Located right next to Forty Hands at East Coast Road, Isshin Machi 一心一町 is the newest addition to the East Coast Plan.

Isshin Machi 一心一町 might sound like the name of a Japanese izakaya at a glance, but in fact, this is a Taiwanese eatery which has strong Taiwan vibes.

There is an extensive menu of more than 80 dishes ranging from Appetisers ($1 – $7.20), Fried dishes ($5.90 – $12), Snacks ($6 – $18), Rice ($7.80 – $13), Soup ($3.90 – $9.90), Noodles ($5 – $13), to Coffee ($3.50 – $6) and Tea ($7.90).

The 70-seater space is considered cosy, beautifully decked with wooden furniture pieces and mural art painted in white and blue, depicting the various iconic places in Taiwan such as the Jiemei (Sister) Lakes (姊妹潭) in Alishan, Taiwan.

I decided to go with their signature bowl of Hakka-style Braised Meat Rice ($9) aka Lu Rou Fan, the must-have iconic dish when in Taiwan.

The bowl came with both fatty and lean strips of braised pork, pickled vegetables, sliced cucumber and a whole braised egg.

Compared to the Lu Rou Fan in Taiwan, the Hakka-style Braised Meat Rice here comes with a more generous amount of braised meat and sauce, drizzled onto the soft and fluffy white pearl rice.

There was an almost-equal ratio of lean to fatty braised meat, which enhanced the chewy sensation whereas the braised sauce leaned towards a viscous texture, with flavours on the robust and savoury side.

A meal is not complete with another iconic dish, the Taiwanese Braised Beef Noodles ($12) with an option to change the usual La Mian to Tainan Guan Miao Noodles which has a similar texture as our Ban Mian.

The beef soup was clear and flavourful, the slices not being overly gamey, whereas the noodles were soft and chewy.

I did wish that the braised beef was less fatty with a higher proportion of meat so that it would not taste that greasy.

On their rice menu, there was a total of 12 rice dishes, including the famous DTF-style Egg Fried Rice ($7.80), Fried Rice with Shrimps & Eggs ($12) or Specially Marinated Pork Chop ($12.30) and Fried Rice with Crispy Chicken Cutlet ($12.90).

The Fried Rice with Specially Marinated Pork Chop ($12.30) came with thin slices of grilled pork well-seasoned with soy sauce and salt.

However, Uncle Roger may not approve of this Fried Rice though, which was unfortunately on the dry and perhaps lacked of seasoning.

Golden Fried Chicken ($6.90) is a common street snack found in Taiwan night markets, usually deep-fried on the spot before sprinkling salt and pepper on it.

The Hakka-style Golden Fried Chicken had a thick and crunchy golden-brown crust, sprinkled with an assortment of dried chilli and salted vegetable.

The texture of the chicken pieces was tender, lightly marinated and not heavily-flavoured.

Words of cautious: eat it while it is hot to enjoy the crisp and crunch (because it somehow lost the crispiness pretty fast).

Isshin Machi also serves a list of Taiwanese drinks such as the globally-recognised Brown Sugar Caramel Pearl Milk Tea ($3.90), Brown Sugar Caramel Milk Tea ($3.20), Taiwanese Roselle Tea ($3), Taiwanese Black Sugar Winter Melon ($3), Assam Milk Tea ($3.20) Sour Plum Juice ($3.80) and Taiwan Shih-Chuan Ready-to-Drink Vinegar ($2.80).

The Brown Sugar Caramel Pearl Milk Tea ($3.90) was on the sweeter side but the pearls were really soft and chewy with a caramelised-sweet aftertaste.

The familiar and nostalgic Taiwanese accent of the service crew, the enthusiastic and heartwarming service and a menu written in both Traditional Chinese characters and English, all of these bits and pieces of my fond memories of Taiwan can be found here.

Isshin Machi will probably be one of my go-to-places to satisfy my cravings for Taiwanese food if I am on the East side of the island.

Isshin Machi 一心一町
224 East Coast Road, Singapore 428921
Opening Hours: 11am – 9.30pm (Mon – Sun)

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Monga (ION Orchard)

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Rockon Tokyo 六酣東京 is an obanzai (おばんざい) specialty restaurant in Tanjong Pagar, perhaps one of the unusual few you can find in Singapore.

Obanzai is a style of Japanese cuisine native to Kyoto, characterised by nourishing and comforting dishes with home-style recipes passed down the generations. Obanzai cooking heavily relies on vegetables and seafood, using ingredients that are in season, but minimises food wastage.

While the restaurant is called “Rockon Tokyo”, the menu reflects the traditional style of Japanese cuisine native to Kyoto, using fresh ingredients with no MSG nor preservatives.

Not only is home-style obanzai cooking healthy but heartwarming as well.

It is a collaboration between Saitama-native Chef Sekiya Katsuyuki and famed sake sommelier Koki Miyoshi.

As the head chef of Akane, the Japanese Association of Singapore, Chef Sekiya has over 20 years of experience specializing in yakitori, eight of which were honed in Singapore.

Chef Sekiya is known for his grilled delicacies, specialty seafood dons, and other obanzai dishes served hot and cold. He offers something new every two weeks, depending on what is available and in season.

The minimalist interior with elements of natural wood exudes a cosy and intimate ambiance.

This is indeed quite a homey experience because only 22 guests can be seated at any time – so please reserve your seats early

Here are some of Rockon Tokyo’s highlight dishes:

Rock On! Tokyo Treasure Box ($106)
Start off with the essential must-order at Rockon Tokyo – Rock On! Tokyo Treasure Box is indeed a tray full of precious culinary jewels.

This set features a tamago kake gohan, a bowl of steamed Japanese rice topped with an egg – the white comes in a form of meringue then torched; while a “well” in the mound of rice to pour the egg yolk into.

The real surprise (sorry I gave it away) comes in the form of white truffle shavings, in which the prized truffle is kept in a limited edition LV ‘bag’.

Break the egg yolk, mix it all up for a creamy, risotto-like texture.

Served separately on a decadent tray are generous plates of uni, caviar, crabmeat and ikura. Savour the flavours of the ocean as you taste each on their own, or mix one or two or all into your luxurious-tasting rice.

Dashimaki Tamago with Double Mentaiko ($24)
Among the hot dishes, try the Dashimaki Tamago with Double Mentaiko especially if you love an egg-centric dish.

This Japanese rolled omelet is prepared by rolling thin layers of beaten egg in a pan like a tamagoyaki. Dashimaki tamago, however, is infused with dashi stock to add an umami flavour.

Double up the flavour as this roll is stuffed with double mentaiko which adds that touch of spiciness.

Karaage with Smoked Japanese Tartare ($17)
Add a crunchy mouthfeel as you bite into these deep-fried fried chicken pieces. Each nugget of karaage is coated in a crispy crust but inside the chicken meat is tender and still juicy.

This is one of those karaage in which I feel there is quite significant contrast between the skin and the meat.

Plus, each order comes with dip of smoked Japanese tartare – so not just the normal mayo.

This special tartare sauce complements the taste of the chicken with boiled eggs and iburi gakko, smoked pickled daikon/radish of the Akita prefecture in North Japan.

KUROBUTA Shabu-shabu Black Pork Salad ($16)
A salad like no other, this simple dish is visually composed of just three ingredients: pork, greens, and sesame seeds.

Behind its simplicity is a complex web of texture and flavour.

Featuring premium meat Kurobuta pork slow cooked over low temperature to give it that utmost butter tenderness. The micro greens add a refreshing crunchy and herb taste.

And as a finale, a sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds for a hint of nutty flavour.

Assorted Fresh Sashimi featuring Kuro Maguro ($40)
Fresh Kuro Maguro is an assortment of prime cuts of lean and fatty Japanese blue fin tuna served on a platter.

Depending on availability, fish could change source from Oma and Minmaya (Aomori) to Toi (Hokkaido) and Shiogama (Miyagi).

Flown from different locations in Japan, the fresh cuts of fish are served with special sauces and condiments to bring out their natural sweetness.

Chūtoro with Narazuke Pickles ($36)
Another recommended tuna and narazuke combo is the Chūtoro with Narazuke Pickles.

Feel the melt in your mouth softness of the medium fatty tuna usually found near the skin on the back and belly.

Rather than eating the sliced fish plain on its its own, you can wrap up these bite sized slivers of chūtoro with some shredded narazuke pickles (the pickles are pickled in a mixture of both sake and mirin), a sprinkling of chopped onions and in a nori (seaweed) sheet.

Homemade Chicken Dumpling “Tsukune” ($8)
Try some kushiyaki from the charcoal grill. This tsukune is a Japanese chicken meatball cooked yakitori style on a skewer.

Prepared homemade, the chicken dumpling remains juicy and complemented with a sweet soy yakitori tare when grilled; with an optional egg yolk dip.

Other recommended skewers include the Koji-marinated “Gyutan” Beef Tongue ($14), and Miso-marinated Pork Shoulder ($6).

Home-made Honey Lemon Pudding ($8)
Cap off your Japanese meal with a home-made sweet-sour pudding served in a small cup, torched before serving for a layer of caramelization which make remind you of crème brûlée.

Flavoured with the sweetness of honey and the bright sparkling acidity of lemon, this delicate and velvety pudding is an ideal palate cleanser to a series of rich, satisfying dishes.

Sake Lees Ice Cream with Charcoal Grilled Pineapple ($12)
For something cool, try the Sake Lees Ice Cream with Charcoal Grilled Pineapple. Find a reason to celebrate with this frozen treat spiked with a dash of sake lees (The taste of sake lees or sake kasu is fruity and has a similar taste to Japanese sake.)

The tropical flavours of pineapple get a mild charred taste with the grilling, mellowed with a sprinkling of green tea tapioca.

Rockon Tokyo Omakase ($88)
If you can’t decide, leave things up to the chef with its omakase menu that will serve 8 delectable courses for $88.

It will include a starter, assorted obanzai, a warm dish, seasonal sashimi, charcoal-grilled seasonal fish, seasonal fried fish, tamago kake gohan and a homemade honey lemon pudding for dessert.

You may add on the Rock On! Treasure Box for $90, a Gout-O I.C.U (ikura, caviar and uni atop rice) for $60 or 5 glasses of sake pairing for $60 (60cc each).

Their range of sake is quite impressive, featuring premium and rare ones, including a fave of the Emperor of Japan.

Rockon Tokyo
106 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088525
Tel: +65 9731 1136
Opening Hours: 5pm – 10:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
https://www.facebook.com/rockontokyo

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Rockon Tokyo.

Hooray for friends in the North. Joy Luck Teahouse 歡樂冰室 popular for its Hong Kong style Egg Tarts is going to open its 3rd outlet at Woodlands Causeway Point on the 18th of December.

The first two Singapore outlets at ION Orchard and Bugis Junction have been attracting long lines for items such as Egg Tarts from Hoover Bakery, Pineapple Buns and Hong Kong Milk Tea from Kam Kee Cafe, Curry Fish Balls from Tak Hing, Chee Cheong Fun and more.

The Causeway Point kiosk is located at quite an convenient venue – get through the main entrance, take the escalator down to B1 and voilà.

If you love the taste of malty Milo – the taste of childhood around the world, you would enjoy the new offerings.

The new outlet will offer two exclusive products made with a favourite beverage of Singaporeans: Milo Pineapple Bun and Milo Yin Yang. (These Milo products will be available at ION Orchard & Bugis Junction outlets from 24 Dec onwards.) Here’s more:

Milo Pineapple Bun ($2.50, $2.00 during opening special 18 – 20 Dec 2020)
The Pineapple Bun aka Bo Lo Bao itself is made from a recipe from Kam Kee Café – started more than 50 years ago in Hong Kong. Kame Kee started originally as a dai pai dong at Shau Kei Wan which grew to a famous cha chaan teng at Sheung Wan (Sai Ying Pung).

Made with a blend of premium flour, the buns are baked fresh within the store itself, and comes with sweet, crumbly golden crust.

While the Pineapple Bun in Singapore is available in original, butter, luncheon meat and kaya versions, there is a Causeway Point exclusive which is the Milo Pineapple Bun.

This version is said to be inspired by the nostalgic childhood treat of spreading Milo powder on bread aka “Milo Sandwich”.

However, the fillings here do not just include Milo powder, and some sugar as well. Some of you may be wondering about condensed milk which is not add as there is already sweetness in the bun and powder.

The Milo powder adds an interesting chocolate-malty flavour within, though I would recommend eating this fresh after buying from store as the powder may clump up in the humidity.

Milo Yin Yang ($4.30 for hot, $4.60 for cold, $4.90 for bottled)
So why didn’t anyone create this earlier? A unique drink offered by Joy Luck Teahouse, this beverage is made using a golden-combination of quality coffee, premium HK milk tea and Milo chocolate malt.

I ordered it with 0% sugar and loved it.

One sip and you can taste the rich chocolatiness and slight bitterness of the tea, along with fragrance of coffee.

However, some of you who find this on the siap (lingering bitterness) can opt for some sweetness.

The energy-boosting drink is available in hot, ice, or bottled version which is convenient for takeaways.

Egg Tarts from Hoover – Pastry Skin or Cookie Skin ($2.30)
Over 100,000 egg tarts have been sold since Joy Luck Teahouse opened its first store at ION Orchard in September.

The two types of Hoover Cake Shop 豪華餅店 Egg Tarts come with a multi-layered puff pastry crust; OR “cookie” base akin to sweet shortbread crust.

The crust base is made from carefully chosen Australian ingredients, a special blend of fine butter, and the best premium flour.

The Pastry Skin appears to be the more popular version in Singapore.

As for the smooth and creamy custard fillings, while they could be slightly thicker for more satisfaction, they are thankfully not too sweet so you can always pop in more than one piece.

Hong Kong-style Chee Cheong Fun ($3.80)
The Chee Cheong Fun or jyu cheung fan is served the traditional street-snack style – rolled up without fillings, and drizzled with signature soya sauce, sesame peanut sauce, and sweet sauce.

A dollop of chilli sauce is provided at the side.

In terms of quality assurance and authenticity, the smooth rice noodles sheets are developed together with the same supplier which supplies to the Top 10 Chee Cheong Fun stores in Hong Kong.

Joy Luck Teahouse Causeway Point Official Opening Special
From 18 to 20 December 2020, enjoy the following promotions at the Causeway Point outlet.
• Enjoy 1 Free Drink with a purchase of Milo Yin Yang (the lower priced drink will be free, limited to 1 redemption per transaction)
• Milo Pineapple Bun at Special Promotion Price of 20% off – $2.00 per piece (Usual Price $2.50)

Joy Luck Teahouse – Causeway Point
#B1-K01 Causeway Point, 1 Woodlands Square, Singapore 738099
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/joyluck.teahouse

Joy Luck Teahouse – Bugis Junction
#B1-K25 Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street, Singapore 188021
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Joy Luck Teahouse – ION Orchard
#B4-61 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Joy Luck Teahouse.

Even though I went before opening time, I still had to wait for slightly more than an hour for my Moonlight Horfun. Some people had it ‘worse’.

Well, the famous Ipoh Tuck Kee Son 怡保德记仔炒粉 has opened in Singapore.

Restoran Tuck Kee 怡保德记 is considered one of the must-visits when you are in Ipoh, famous for its Cantonese style stir-fry noodles with power wok-hei.

This stall at Noa Nam Building near Jalan Besar is opened by the 3rd gen, thus the “son” in the name.

I actually attempted to queue for a number of times, but put away with the perpetually long-line and decided to turn up before opening hour of 5:30pm – a ‘strategy’ which worked this time.

Even if you see just 8 to 10 pax in front (good news: we all maintain our social distancing on the markers), you may have to wait say about 35 to 45 minutes TO ORDER.

There was a bit of deja vu of the queueing experience as this was where Kok Kee Wanton Mee used to be. (Question: Will Jumbo buy Ipoh Tuck Kee over?)

Get the buzzer and exercise more patience for the food (say another 20 – 30 minutes) to arrive. Helpful with you get a tiny squad to take turns to queue. (Wait, all these is before many other food bloggers *I know I know, don’t hate me* and Mothership even written about it.)

Signature items at Ipoh Tuck Kee Son include the Moonlight Horfun aka Yu Kong Hor ($5.50, $8.50), Baby Octopus in Soy Sauce ($8), Braised Yee Mee ($5, $8), Hokkien Fried Dai Loke Mee ($5, $8), and Fried Low Shu Fun ($5, $8).

The other famous item of War Tan Hor Fun ($5.50, $8.50) is perpetually always “sold out” aka not available.

Yu Kong Hor is called “Moonlight Hor Fun” due to the raw egg yolk that resembles a full moon against the night sky, and in this case on top of the dark wok-fried rice noodles (The other famous zi char place selling this dish is Keng Eng Kee Seafood.)

The Hor Fun is stir fried in savoury-sweet dark soy sauce to add smokiness and distinctive wok-hei to the otherwise bland rice noodles, before adding in lard, pork slices and vegetables.

Each plate of the flat rice noodles is prepared and stir-fried individually, so be prepared to wait a little longer to appreciate the effort.

I thought this was a very good plate of Hor Fun – smooth rice noodles (different from the usual which are thicker), flavours permeated through, with wok-hei though not as much as I would have expected.

The accompany chill sauce with strong belacan flavours was a huge draw for me as well. Perhaps more crunchy pork lard would have sealed the deal.

While I am not typically the biggest fan of octopus, the Baby Octopus in Soy Sauce ($8) is another must-order.

They were first steamed before drizzling shallot oil, fried garlic and spring onion.

The texture of the baby octopus was extremely soft and crunchy, and was totally delicious when dipped in the alluring tangy chilli sauce with peanuts.

Will I queue an hour again for this? Perhaps no, this is easily one of the best Moonlight Hor Fun you can find in Singapore.

Ipoh Tuck Kee Son 怡保德记仔炒粉
No 27 Foch Road Hoa Nam Building #01-02 Coffeeshop Stall No.1, Singapore 209264
Opening Hours: 5:30pm – 9pm (Mon, Thurs), 11:30am – 2pm, 5:30pm – 9pm (Tues, Wed, Fri – Sun)
(Timing changes – do check their Facebook for updates)

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* Written by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary and Nicholas Tan @stormscape. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Culture Spoon is a new co-sharing kitchen concept along River Valley Road, with a 40 seaters space (30 indoors and 10 outdoors) featuring different chefs and cuisines on different days of the week.

Promising, though this can be confusing for diners as there are both permanent and pop-up concepts within the same space.

You get Thai, Western, Indonesian, Filipino Food, along with pastries and cakes – offered at different hours of the day.

Thai food is prepared by Wok with Man, Chef Wyman Wong who has prior experience at two-Michelin-starred Waku Ghin, and is available daily for lunch (11.30am – 2.30pm) and dinner (after 5.30pm).

Dessert is sourced from Cultured Bakeyard from 7.30am, whereas coffee is supplied by Quarter Life Coffee Roasters and Tea by The Tea Affair.

There are 2 pop-up concepts: Mamilani Home Cook (Indonesian food) on Fridays and Saturdays; and Luci’s Kitchen (Western and Filipino dishes) for lunch on Sundays to Thursdays dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.

I went on a weekday late afternoon, which means the kitchen is closed and only their desserts, coffee and tea are available.

Check out the display shelf for the pastries such as not all items stated on the menu are available.

Think Earl Grey Chocolate ($9), Black Sesame Tang Yuan ($8), Basque Cheesecake ($9), Tiramisu ($9), Chestnut Shortcake ($8.50), Burnt Butter Bundt Cake ($6), Croissant ($3), Calamansi Tart ($7.50) and Pecan Pie ($8).

I was half expecting the Black Sesame Tang Yuan ($8) to be in the traditional form.

Shaped like a tangyuan (glutinous rice ball) with a white vanilla mousse outer layer and black sesame curd fillings, the vanilla mousse leaned towards the sweeter side.

I enjoyed the black sesame curd with a smooth, velvety texture and a flavour that is robust, fragrant, earthly and nutty that counterbalance the sweetness from the vanilla mousse.

Set on top of a roasted puff mixed nuts base with sunflower seeds and chocolate base, it added some crunch to the overall texture.

I also ordered the seasonal Chestnut Shortcake ($8.50) that comes with alternating layers of chestnut cream, vanilla Chantilly and coffee sponge cake.

While I initially imagined it to taste like a Mont Blanc, the flavours of the chestnut shortcake turned out to be light on the palate, probably too light.

But I enjoyed the strong contrast between the soft and fluffy texture of the sponge cake that easily melts in the mouth, and chewy chestnut embedded within.

2 different single origins of coffee beans are used in their espresso-based drinks and are roasted by Quarter Life Coffee Roasters.

Think Pa-O Black Honey from Pin Laung, Myanmar with a sweet, silky, well-bodied flavour structure with sweet black berries and chocolate in the finish and Uraga Gomoro from Ethiopia with a sweet and floral taste.

The usual offerings of Espresso ($4), Black ($4.50), White ($5.50) and Barista Breakfast ($7) with both Espresso and White can be found on their menu with options such as Oatly (+$1), Iced ($0.50) and additional espresso shot ($0.50).

My cup of White ($5.50) using single origin of Pa-O Black Honey was enjoyable, being smooth, medium bodied with a sweeter profile, slightly acidic and well-balanced.

A co-sharing kitchen offering different cuisines in one space is definitely welcoming to the diners since they are given more options – especially when there is a strong expat community in the area, but perhaps some stream-lining of the food (or days of availability) could help position the place clearer.

Culture Spoon
409 River Valley Road, Singapore 248307
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 11am (Sun – Thu), 7:30am – 1am (Fri – Sat)

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* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Located diagonally opposite Cafe De Nicole’s Flower at East Coast is another new addition to the East Coast Plan.

And not surprisingly, Sundays Ice Cream is the nth number of ice cream and gelato bars that opened in Singapore the past months.

Other recent openings include Obsessive Chocolat Desire (OCD) Ice Cream Cafe, Burnt Cones (Sunset Way), AMPM Café (Ang Mo Kio), and Creme & Cone (Lau Pa Sat).

Taking over the space previously occupied by 818 Durians & Pastries at Kurau Court, the 34- seaters space has a simple interior with 12 indoors seats and 22 alfresco seats in their mini “courtyard”.

The menu is straightforward, offering Ice Cream (Single Classic $3.90, Double Classic $7, Single Premium $4.90, Double Premium $9), Cone (+$1.50) and Buttermilk Waffles ($4.90).

16 flavours are available each time, with classic flavours such as Black Sesame Street, Coco Lychee, Honeycomb, Coco Mint, Stracciatella (milk with chocolate shavings), Salty Caramel, Hazel’s Nut, Hazel’s Coco and Crema Mama (condensed milk).

Premium flavours include Honey Nougat, Fifty Shades of Earl Grey, Avocado Fellow, Hazel’s Kopi, Gingerbread Cookies, Caramelised Banana and Butterscotch.

Some flavours are as interesting-sounding, not commonly found in most ice cream bars.

My favourite of those tried was the Avocado Fellow – rich, creamy and smooth in texture with a distinctive avocado taste that tasted almost like the real fruit.

It was enjoyable as the texture wasn’t icy and not too sweet.

However, even though the Buttermilk Waffle ($4.90) was fragrant with butter and vanilla flavour, it was rather cakey with minimum crisp on the surface.

The Buttermilk waffle also came with a choice of chocolate or caramel sauce, sprinkled with lotus biscuit and icing sugar for the extra garnishing.

The Black Sesame Street was worth a mention, as creamy as Avocado Fellow, aromatic and robust in flavours.

It tasted similar to the traditional black sesame paste, in the form of an ice cream, filled with earthy and nutty flavours.

There is no sorbet on their menu and the only dairy-free option is the Coco lychee, made using coconut milk and lychee that resembled Nata de coco (coconut jelly-like substance).

As expected, the Coco Lychee could be a little sweet to my liking.

Sundays Ice Cream might have found a good location in Telok Kurau as there are few other ice cream bars in the vicinity, and they are opened every day, and till midnight during the weekends.

Sundays Ice Cream
201 Telok Kurau Road (Kurau Court), Singapore 423910
Opening Hours: 4pm – 11pm (Mon – Fri), 4pm – 12mn (Sat – Sun)

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* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

How many ice cream and waffles cafes do we need at Sunset Way?

Answer is four.

Situated nearest to the bus stop at Sunset Way, Hundred Acre Creamery had jumped onto the ice cream and gelato bandwagon there, joining The Daily Scoop, Burnt Cones and Dawn’s Gelateria.

Technically, Olla Specialty Coffee within the same area also serves up waffles.

As to why “Hundred Acre Creamery”, the 25 seaters space is named after the fictional place in the book “Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne”.

In this land called “Hundred Acre Wood”, Christopher Robin accompanies Pooh and his friends on many childhood adventures to learn about the meaning of companionship and love.

As fans of the fictional story, the owners would like to share happiness, love and the value of companionship through their favourite childhood treats – ice cream and dessert.

Apart from the usual offerings such as Ice Cream (Single $3.80, Double $7, Premium +$1, Gourmet +$1.50), Rosemary Cone (+$1) and Waffle ($6), interesting desserts such as Life of a Coconut ($7), Coco Affogato ($8), Dalat ($9) and Coco Pandan Waffle ($10) can be found here too.

I felt excited looking through the 14 ice cream flavours which sounded more interesting and ‘adventurous; compared to some of the recent new openings.

Unique flavours here include Peach Basil, Sea Salt Butter Caramel, Lilac Taro, Soursop Mint, Thai Tea Lychee, Ocean Blue (Nori with white chocolate) and Honey Chrysanthemum & Cacao Nibs.

I had a double scoops of ice cream: Ispahan and Peach Basil ($7) which are sorbet and dairy-free.

The Peach Basil was my favourite – citrusy and fruity with distinctive aroma. The taste of fresh basil also balances well with the overall flavours.

The Ispahan made from rose, lychee and raspberry was floral, robust and refreshing, with the berries adding some tartness.

As artisanal ice cream cones become more popular thanks to Birds Of Paradise for their thyme cones, we are seeing more herbs-infused cones.

Over here, there is the Rosemary cone (+$1) with aromatic and herbaceous scent.

Among the four desserts on their menu, Life of a Coconut ($7), Coco Affogato ($8), Dalat ($9) and Coco Pandan Waffle ($10), their Dalat ($9) is their signature item, named after a tranquil highland city in Vietnam and its signature avocado cream dessert.

The Dalat ($9) is made of butter avocado imported from Dalat (located in southern Vietnam Central Highlands) topped with a scoop of coconut sorbet and toasted coconut flakes with roasted peanuts.

I was intrigued by the Coco Pandan ($10) instead, with almost the same ingredients as the Dalat ($9) sans the avocado cream, but instead comes with a coconut pandan waffle and Gula Melaka sauce.

Unfortunately, the waffle was thin, dense and chewy, similar to that of neighbourhood confectionery due to coconut milk added into the batter.

Being adventurous, I added a scoop of Ocean Blue (Premium $4.80) made of blue pea, nori and white chocolate onto the Coco Pandan.

While I must applaud their bravery and creativity, the Ocean Blue was unfortunately off balance and tasted too savoury due to the nori added. However, at least the texture was considered” ‘on point’ – creamy and non-icy.

As one of the owners is Vietnamese, there are various interesting Vietnamese influence on the menu such as Ca Phe Ice cream ($4.80) made using Vietnamese coffee, Viet Drip Coffee (Hot $4.50, Cold $5.50), Coco Affogato ($8) served using coconut sorbet and Viet Drip Coffee and Dalat ($9).

Even though Hundred Acre Creamery is the last ice cream cafe to open at Sunset Way, their unique flavours, warm service and a cute interior design will be their main highlight to attract café-hoppers in the vicinity.

Hundred Acre Creamery
Block 109 Clementi Street 11, #01-37, Singapore 120109
Opening Hours: 12pm – 12mn (Mon – Sun)

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* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Chef Cheryl Koh was once named “Asia’s Best Pastry Chef” by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, and that clearly gave a boost to her dessert-only shop “Tarte by Cheryl Koh”. (Chef Janice Wong previously won the same award for two consecutive years.)

Tarte by Cheryl Koh has recently opened a second store at Raffles City, about a 5 year gap from the first. (You can also find the tarts served at SOCIEATY (Farrer Park).)

Perhaps you do not know that Chef Cheryl also studied French in university, and once worked at the two Michelin-starred restaurant Lasserre in Paris. She is also currently the Pastry Chef of 3-Michelin starred Les Amis Restaurant in Singapore.

The café is located next to Tenjin at the basement of Raffles City, and attracted many curious onlookers. Seating capacity is limited to say about 2 tables.

And yes, ”$13 for a tart?”

My friends had a slight surprise, remembering that the tarts of a 8cm diameter used to cost about $10. Maybe they haven’t had it in a while.

Some of the available tarts were Strawberry ($13), Cherry ($13), Black Forest ($13), Apple Crumble ($11), Pear Bourdaloue ($11), Caramel Mixed Nuts ($11) and Ardeche Chestnut ($11).

Generally speaking, I prefer the fruit tarts here compared to the other variants. I often find them of good quality, not overly glazed so that you can still appreciate the natural sweetness of the fruits.

The Cherry Tart remained one of my favourites, and I loved the lovely blood-red colour and sour-sweet flavour and juiciness.

As for the tart base, it was buttery and classically French, simple and firm, did not leave crumbs over as I took bites into them. But I know of people who would prefer more ‘buttery-ness’.

The Strawberry ($13) with light vanilla cream is a good-to-order if you come across them – pretty-looking and not overly sweet.

For the festive special, I had the Caramel Mixed Nuts ($11), adorned with pistachio and hazelnut and coated in caramel with a layer of orange marmalade. It lacked of that nutty-crunch that I would have preferred.

Tarte by Cheryl Koh – Raffles City
Raffles City Shopping Centre #B1-46 Singapore 179103
Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)

Tarte by Cheryl Koh – Shaw Centre
Shaw Centre #02-12 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Roads Singapore 228208
Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

TVB fans will not be unfamiliar with veteran Hong Kong Actor Benz Hui 许绍雄 (欢喜哥!), known for his many iconic roles in HK films and dramas.

Don’t be surprised if you ever spot the veteran actor at Cafe Bakeaholic in Springleaf. This is because the shop is owned by his daughter, Charmaine Hui.

While Charmaine was supposed to head off to UK to pursue her Masters degree this year, her plans was disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which left her ‘stranded’ in Singapore.

So, what started off as a passion for home-baking evolves to a full-fledged double unit bakery-café that can sit 30 pax.

It is located at The Brooks II, a mixed-use commercial-residential development at Springleaf, next to the Singapore Zoo.

Spanning across 2 units with tall ceilings, the first unit has a fun and vibrant pink layout, with a ribbon-like waveform bespoke lighting, colourful chairs with terrazzo tabletops and a gold-trimmed glass display shelf showcasing the bakes of the day.

The unit next door has an additional #OOTD corner with multiple hanging light bulbs for the perfect Instagram shot.

The menu at Cafe Bakeaholic is pretty extensive with both savoury and sweet items, ranging from Salad ($8 – $12) to Pizza ($13 – $15), All Day Breakfast ($10.90 – $14) and their rotating selection of Pastries ($3.50 – $7.50) and Desserts ($3 – $8).

Signature bakes include the Madeleines (Single $3.90, Box of 6 for $22) that comes in various flavours such as Lemon, Earl Grey and Genmai Matcha with mulberry properties with an additional antioxidants properties.

I had the Lemon Madeleines (Single $3.90, Box of 6 for $22) that was the only flavour available at the time of visit.

Tasting like butter cake, it had a soft and buttery texture with a light citrusy punch from the lemon.

2 flavours were also available for their Donuts, the Sugar ($2.80) and Cinnamon ($3), both a soft and fluffy with a chewy texture that was light and refreshing.

The Sea Salt Dark Chocolate Brookies (65g for $12) was my favourite, a mix between brownie and cookies with a punch of sea salt added to cut through the rich chocolatey taste.

Unlike the usually cookie with a crispy and buttery texture, the Brookie leaned towards a soft, chewy and fudgy brownie texture.

For a fun and interactive experience, Hot Cocoa Bomb ($8), Dark Chocolate Milk Bomb ($8) and White Chocolate Matcha Milk Bomb ($9) are available on their menu.

Hot milk is poured over a chocolate tart shell to melt and release the content encased within.

Matchaholics would probably prefer something stronger and more robust as the White Chocolate Matcha Milk Bomb ($9) was on the sweeter side due to the white chocolate tart shell and the marshmallows.

Highlander coffee is used for their espresso-based drinks such as Espresso ($5), Long Black ($6), Cappuccino ($6) and Latte ($7).

Also available are Tea items such as Earl Grey ($7), Calming Spirit ($7), Nutcracker ($7.50), Milky Popcorn ($8), Blood Orange ($7) and Pear & Mangosteen ($7.50).

Being the only cafe in that area, Cafe Bakeaholic will be a good option for a dessert fix, and perhaps you might catch Benz Hui there helping out his daughter.

Cafe Bakeaholic
The Brooks ll, 25 Springside Green, #01-12/13, Singapore 786015
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

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* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The Glasshouse at CHIJMES has earned quite a following for serving artisanal coffee in a pretty glasshouse-like setting and garden-esque décor.

Not many may know that they have started a “Anther” concept. They also supply coffee to Starter Lab at Havelock Road.

“Anther” symbolises a part of a plant or flower where pollens are produced, and the beginning of creating something new.

You can find the concept in collaboration with Angie’s Oyster Bar at Level 2 of Tan Boon Liat Building – which is quite known for the numerous furniture and home accessories shop.

While the building is kind of near Tiong Bahru and Outram areas, it is not that easy to get to. But it can be worth it making a trip here with its open resort-like vibes, away from the hustle and bustle.

The pastries offered include Classic Croissant ($5), Ham & Cheese Croissant ($8), Pain Au Chocolat ($6), Cinnamon Roll ($6), Assorted Loaf Cakes ($6), and Sea Salt Chocolate Sable ($3.50).

The croissant was deliciously flaky with buttery aroma.

The menu from Anther is quite lean for now, but you can always order favourites from Angie’s Oyster Bar.

Coffee choices include White ($5.50), Black ($5), Mocha ($6.50), Piccolo ($5), Cold Brew ($6), Matcha Latte ($7).

While the coffee was slightly on the acidic side, it was overall smooth and decently strong.

Anther By Glasshouse
313, Outram Road Tan Boon Liat Building, #02-01, Singapore 169073
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm (Mon – Sun)

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Halfpipe is the newest cafe in town at Triple One Somerset Orchard Road, opened by the folks behind The Ride Side, a Snowboarding Company in Singapore.

A retail and drinks concept that incorporates coffee, craft beers, snowboarding and skateboarding, Halfpipe wants to create a space for the board sports community to gather together.

This is pretty similar to bicycle-theme cafe Crank n’ Chain at Sentosa Quayside Isle) with both a bicycle retail shop and a cafe under the same roof.

Stepping inside, one will be greeted by the retail section displaying an array of various skateboards decks ranging from colours to the sizes.

Here, you can customise your own skateboard from the bearings (Steel, Ceramics) to the size and design (including customisation) of the skateboard decks, Wheel Size and Durometer (85a, 90a, 100a).

While waiting for your customised skateboard to be ready, patrons can simply head to the 12-seaters coffee bar for a drink.

Their menu is short and concise, only consisting of Coffee and Craft Beers.

A 2-beans-blend of Brazil and Colombia roasted by Penny University is used for their espresso-based drinks such as Black ($4) and White ($5) with additional top-up of $1 for Iced, Espresso shot or Otis Oat Milk.

Diners also can choose to bring home their houseblend (200g for $18, 1kg for $55) decked in bright red and loud colours.

My cup of White ($5) with double espresso shots was medium bodied, smooth and well-balanced, robust and slightly acidic in the aftertaste.

Specialty Cold Brews (Black $7, White $8) are also available in 250ml bottles using a single origin coffee beans from Papa Palheta.

The Cold Brew Black ($7) had a floral, citrus notes with taste of peach and earl grey tea whereas the Cold Brew White ($8) has a heavy body with chocolate and hazelnut taste.

There are also non-caffeine drinks on their menu such as Chocolate (Hot $5, Iced $6), Kombucha (Iced $7) and Baby Cino (Hot $3.50, Iced $4.50) that is essentially hot frothed milk.

Here, they also serve a selection of Craft Beers from countries such as United States of America and New Zealand, ranging from Lager ($10) to Ale ($11), IPA ($14) and Stout ($15).

I’m glad that Halfpipe Skate Bar is more than just a skateboard retail space and they serve some good coffee which can be alternative options to Glyph Supply Co. that is in the same building at Triple One Somerset.

Halfpipe Skate Bar
111 Somerset, #01-15, Singapore 238164
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)

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* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Singaporeans love their zi char, and Enjoy Eating House probably falls into a category that has a mix of zi char, comforting home cooking, and even a touch of Thai cuisine all at the same time.

Good news: they have opened a NEW outlet at Hotel Mercure on Stevens, and diners can experience a more modern ambience with extensive menu here.

The food stays true to its concept – traditional yet innovative Singaporean food courtesy of head chef and owner Joel Ong.

Some of the regular favourites such as Chef Joel’s XO White Fish Soup ($10), Peranakan Bakwan Kepiting Soup ($8), Shiok Minced Prawn Patties ($12), Hainanese Chicken Satay ($10), Singapore Style Chilli Prawns ($22), and signature BBQ Pork Cheek ($18) can still be found.

I have ‘followed’ Chef Joel for quite a while, after I first wrote about his Thai restaurant back in 2012.

He previously spent a year in Thailand living with the locals and studying its culinary art, and aims to serve food that “taste, strong-flavoured yet well-balanced.”

He then opened Enjoy Eating House within a charming boutique hotel at Jalan Besar, and the humble eatery got quite known through word of mouth.

Operating since 2018, Enjoy Eating House has been serving many hearty recipes inherited from Chef Joel’s grandma. Popular zi char delights packed with a powerful wok hei are given a contemporary take here.

If you are looking to try the food that is near to town, they have opened a new flagship outlet at Mercure on Stevens (which is kind of in between Orchard Road and Bukit Timah) – also keeping things fresh with its new revamped menu with 10 new dishes.

This is a bigger space with seating capacity of up to 60 pax, and has a colourful and retro 1990s vibes (including their choice of music playlist). Plus, a spot relatively near town with free parking.

Ready to move out of the old and into the new? Here are some of Enjoy Eating House’s signature and spanking new dishes to get you in the mood:

Signature Salt Baked Whole Barramundi ($40)
If you come in a group, then get that Salt Baked Fish – which is exactly what it sounds like — fish crusted in salt and slid into the oven.

The salt-coated skin protects the fish as it cooks evenly, and also traps the moisture, resulting in a moist and tender meat.

Locally sourced from Pulau Ubin, the barramundi used is farmed without the use of antibiotics or chemical additives.

You can taste how fresh it is, as it is delivered within hours of harvest. Simply baked in salt, the fish keeps its natural freshness and sweetness and you take bites of the chunks of white meat.

I enjoy eating fish on its own, but you can always use sprinkle more of that salt, or dip into a Thai-inspired spicy sauce dip.

Signature White Pepper Alaskan King Crab (500g) ($88)
Make this signature dish your center piece, especially if you love the succulence of naturally sweet Alaskan King Crabs. This is our table’s favourite dish, snapped up in minutes.

This divine crustacean’s colossal legs are first flash-fried, then tossed in a local classic, white pepper sauce. The dish also includes ample amount of spring onions and ginger, great for those who love ”jiang cong” style of zi char food.

Unlike the more common black pepper sauce, the white pepper’s distinct fragrance and taste do not overpower the sweetness of the crab meat.

Use the chopsticks to give a slight push on the meat, then savour the sweetness of the crabs with a slight punch of the peppers.

Black Angus Beef Tenderloin with Foie Gras($30)
A dish hard to resist featuring Black Angus beef tenderloin cubes and pan-seared foie gras.

Oozing with melt-in-your-mouth textures, the foie gras complements the tender, juicy chunks of beef wok-fried with red and green bell peppers, onion, and garlic.

A zingy home-made black pepper sauce – a combination of both Western and Asian style of black peppers, wraps everything together in this one-bowl dish. Overall, this East-meets-West dish is towards the rich side.

Ugly Cabbage in Fish Sauce ($13)
Don’t belittle this dish’s simple, unassuming appearance. Within the torn, crunchy pieces of cabbage lies a strong, wok hei-infused flavour.

Chef shared that there is no major secret in the ingredients, ”Just cabbage, garlic, fish sauce and sugar…”. It is all about the skills of the wok-frying.

It was indeed a good smoky aroma to this sweet cabbage dish, recommended as a side to your beef or fish entrée.

Grandma’s “Te Kah” Bee Hoon ($14 for S, $34 for L)
Made from Chef Joel’s Grandma’s secret recipe, this is the dish to order when dining with family.

Slurp-worthy for all that soupy brown gravy, this enticing dish features braised pork trotters so tender the fat jiggles in your mouth. Not the canned type and braised from scratch by the way.

The meat is served with greens and mushrooms to balance the flavour.

I believe every grandma has a different recipe to this classic old-school comfort dish. This version is the zhup zhup (saucy kind) in which the flavours are infused in the vermicelli.

What some would describe as ”zhong kou wei” (rich flavours) as well – I like.

Classic “Yu Sheng” Ceviche ($18)
Since CNY 2021 (12 Feb) is fast approaching, you can also try Chef Joel’s contemporary take on Yu Sheng, the classic Cantonese-style raw fish salad.

Instead of the sauces being poured around and lo-hei, the sauce (a mixture of plum sauce, oyster sauce, ginger, sesame oil and more) is piped around which you can use as a dip.

Enjoy Four Treasure Soup ($23)
Take a moment and sip with leisure and reverence this Four Treasure Soup.

Made with four key ingredients – abalone, scallop, fish maw, and crab meat – this rich and flavourful soup has a pumpkin base and also prepared using chicken stock cooked for many hours.

“Popiah” Garden ($14)
Yes, if you been enough to Taiwanese street markets, you can tell that this dessert dish is inspired by the ice-cream “popiah” wrap with fresh peanut candy shavings.

A beautiful and edible garden served on a plate, featuring a handmade popiah skin lawn landscaped with a foliage of house-made blue pea pandan lemongrass, sea salt Horlicks and soursop gelato.

Completing the “garden” is traditional peanut candy sands and edible flowers.

There is no specific way to having this – you can eat the gelato on its own (the lemongrass is my favourite, while I though the Horlicks was on the saltier side), or tear a piece of the skin to wrap it around.

Chendol Panna Cotta ($8)
This popular Asian iced dessert chendol sports a European flair by having panna cotta for a base.

Dig into the coconut-flavoured luxuriously-textured Italian cooked cream thickened by gelatine.

But before that, you got to scoop out the green pandan-flavoured jelly noodles sitting on fragrant gula melaka syrup. A not-bad, delightful meal-ender.

If you need a thirst-quencher, #SupportLocalSG with the featured locally-brewed craft beers from Lion Brewery Co., and an expanded range of alcoholic beverages including wines and spirit.

Special mention to the Brewery’s Straits Pale Ale with lychee and citrus fruits notes; Singaporean-inspired alcoholic beverages like the Compendium Chendol Gin and Compendium & Made Cold’s collaboration of Kopi-O Liqueur.

Can’t decide what to have?

Enjoy Eating House also offers their own local version of “Omakase” with the “Huat Ah Set” ($88 per person, min 2 to dine) and “Sui Bian Set” ($58 per person, min 2 to dine).

If you are the anything also can personality type, order the “Sui Bian Set” features best-selling items such as Chef Joel’s Signature XO White Fish Soup, Signature BBQ Pork Cheek and Singapore-style Chilli Prawns with Mantou, and “Enjoy Sweets”.

Won’t regret because the food is not so “Sui Bian” here.

Enjoy Eating House – Stevens
30 Stevens Rd #01-07, Mercure on Stevens, Singapore 257840
Tel: +65 8511 1478
Reservations: https://wa.me/6585111478
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/EnjoyEatingHouse/

Enjoy Eating House – Jalan Besar
383 Jalan Besar, Kam Leng Hotel, Singapore 209001
Tel: +65 9299 1601
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Enjoy Eating House.

Peranakan food lovers should probably be familiar with Daisy’s Dream Kitchen.

It is an unpretentious Nonya restaurant which has been around for almost a decade, serving up comforting Peranakan home-style fares in the West.

Side story – the restaurant is run by the family of local arts and theatre drama comedian, Selena Tan. #supportlocal

They started off as a humble stall at Tiong Bahru Market, then relocated to West Coast and now a casual dining restaurant at Temasek Club, Rifle Range Road.

Their latest kiosk concept, Daisy’s Dream Café, shares the revamped basement food hall space with next-door neighbour like Paradiddle Gelato at KINEX, Paya Lebar.

The menu offerings here is an adaptation from their original restaurant, featuring some of their signature dishes with a twist – in the form of hearty Nonya rice bowls.

There are four rice bowl options to choose from – Babi Buah Keluak ($11.80), Babi Pongteh ($9.80), Assam Chicken ($9.80) and Beef Rendang ($11.80).

Apart from the highlight dish, the bowl is assembled with a choice of accompanying chap chye or sayur lodeh, a piece of Ngoh Hiang and a dollop of Sambal Belacan.

My pick goes to the Babi Buah Keluak Bowl ($11.80).

While usual Buah Keluak recipe is commonly prepared using chicken meat, they use pork collar bone braised till tender soft which soaks up the piquant nuances of bitter-sweet earthy notes from buak keluak nut paste.

When eaten together with their house blended belacan, it offered a unique myriad of savoury, sourish, spicy and bitter flavour which I adored.

Though I must acknowledge that this is an acquired taste for some to be able to appreciate the flavour combination.

Babi Pongteh is another of my to-go dish, basically pork belly braised in fermented soy bean paste.

I liked that they use a fattier cut of pork belly that complements the savoury gravy to give a creamy collagen-ish finish.

Other than Nonya bowls, one can also order accompanying sides such as Otak Otak ($4.80) and Ngoh Hiang (5pcs) ($6.80).

Their Ngoh Hiang ($6.80) came plump and juicy, embedded with crunchy bits of chopped chestnut and onions to give an additional bite texture.

Quite addictive and I could easily finish everything on my own.

To go along with rice bowls, they also serve traditional desserts like Chendol ($4) and speciality grade arabica coffee as beverages.

Other than generic Hot and Cold Americano ($3.50/$4.50), Latte ($4/$5), Mocha ($5/$6) and Cold Brew ($6), I was rather intrigued with their OrangeSpresso ($6.50).

The concoction was refreshing and came with sweet tanginess from orange juice, together with chocolatey notes from espresso shot.

Good to have an affordable and fuss-free Peranakan option in the east.

Daisy’s Dream Cafe
11 Tanjong Katong Rd, KINEX, #B1-K1, Singapore 437157
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
10 Modern Peranakan Restaurants In Singapore
The Real Peranakan (Hillcrest)
Indigo Blue Kitchen (Shaw Centre)
The Blue Ginger (Great World)
Godmama (Funan)

* Written by Lewis Tan @juicyfingers, a self-proclaimed coffee addict. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

When I walked past this chio contemporary café at ION Orchard, I was slightly surprised it was a KOI. Yah, the Bubble Tea KOI. It looked like it could very well be one of those artisanal coffee chains.

Except that this is called Signature by KOI, which really means it is the more premium aka atas concept.

The other thing is, this was probably one of the few Bubble Tea shops that I see is empty, especially when it is in the heart of town during the peak festive season.

There were people who curiously walked in, and aimlessly walked out. Was it the price? Was it intimating? What?

I loved KOI when it landed in a humble Toa Payoh neighbourhood shop back in 2008. But of course time has moved on, and they have rebranded a few times with a strong following.

The Signature by KOI – the same concept as the outlet at Jewel Changi Airport, also serves up cakes, waffles, macarons, ice cream and $12.90 Totoi Toasts with a garden-like seat down area.

The recommended drinks also come at a premium pricing, with offerings included Ice Cream Earl Grey Black Tea ($5.10), Coffee Jelly Floral Green Milk Tea ($5.80), Oat-Ba Earl Grey Milk Tea ($6.30), Mini Bubble Chocolate ($7.30), Ice Cream Brown Sugar Earl Grey Milk Tea ($7.30) and Boba Brown Sugar Fresh Milk ($7.40).

Wah, $7.40. Not the most expensive, as there is also a Grapefruit Yakult at $7.60. Jeng Jeng Jeng (I start to recall my $2.50 BBT days…)

I ordered the Signature Pearl Earl Grey Milk Tea ($5.80) which come in mixed boba and mini pearls – one of the reasons why I liked KOI for the playful mixture of textures.

However, I did feel that the earl grey fragrance could have been more pronounced.

Also available are cakes such as the New York Cheesecake, Red Velvet Cake, Chocolate Guinness, and Whiskey Carrot Cake.

I was recommended the Whiskey Carrot Cake, which tasted better after 10 minutes as it was still slightly hard when taken out of the chiller. Though I couldn’t really taste any strong traces of alcohol within.

There is a shift of BBT shops being just kiosks, to better branding with sit-down spaces. I think there will be enough people who are willing to pay more just to rest their legs after shopping.

If not, can always stick to the cheaper KOI Express concept. There is just one in the basement.

Signature by KOI (ION Orchard)
2 Orchard Turn #B3-18/19 ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Gong Cha and Häagen-Dazs BTF
Milksha (Paya Lebar Quarter)
Bober Tea (Bukit Panjang Plaza)
The Whale Tea (Lot One)
R&B Tea (SMU)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.