DanielFoodDiary.com

An entire café selling just tiramisu? Seems a little risky. But when owner Judith feels that her product got what it takes, you know that her tiramisu probably is a cake above the rest.

L’Atelier Tiramisu can be a little hard to find, well hidden at the corner of the basement of Clarke Quay Central. It is at the furthest end. Although it is also an “L’Atelier” and in that dark black and red, this café has nothing to do with Joel Robuchon.

Judith learnt her tiramisu-making skills in France, not Italy as some would assume. She met her husband in Paris, stayed there for a few years, and learnt the ropes. This was a recipe handed down by the family for generations, but she modified it with additional flavours.

There are four basic flavours currently – classic, lychee, dark cherry and matcha, though some more are in the pipeline. A slice is at $6.80 while and entire cake is $48. If you come with a date/friend, try the sampler of 5 cups at $15.

I was full of anticipation, and was not disappointed at all. Few cakes can impress me taste-wise, while a lot can by its aesthetics.

Truth-to-told, I am not that a fan of tiramisu. But one spoonful, one spoonful of that very moist cake sponge, creamy mascarpone and a slight explosion of Liberty’s expresso and liqueur with Marsala wine got me almost in cloud nine.

It could be the proportion of the liqueur that hooked me. No, I think it is the moisture, one of the few times I had such wet-tasting tiramisu that actually stays upright.

The Dark Cherry is my next favourite, like you can really bite the sweet cherries within. I didn’t try the lychee, but the girls seem to enjoy it. Matcha was a little clash-y for me. Then again, I am picky over matcha items.

Is L’Atelier’s Tiramisu the best in Singapore? You know, it probably is.

L’Atelier’s Tiramisu
The Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street #B1-09 Singapore 059817 (Clarke Quay MRT), Tel: +65 9389 8582
Opening Hours: 12:00pm – 9:30pm (Mon-Fri), 1:00pm – 9:30pm (Sat), 1:00pm – 7:00pm (Sun)

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DOMVS is called the ‘grande dame’ of Italian dining, opened since 1985. Stepping into DOMVS, the Italian Restaurant (pronounce as if the “V” is a “U”) at the Sheraton Towers Singapore, I cannot help but continue the feeling of being in Europe. (Read: Brasserie Les Saveurs at St Regis.)

DOMVS means ‘home’ in Latin and the entire ambience gives you the impression of being in a rich European house.

One is greeted by the calm, confident and classy décor of the grande dame of Italian dining which has over 20 years of history in Singapore. My only question is, “Why has this Italian restaurant been falling out of the radar?”

The restaurant which offers contemporary Italian cuisine looked grand, but the emptiness with three or four tables filled during the weekends felt more startling. Perhaps it is because Sheraton Towers has always been known to be a business hotel and thus the patrons mainly come in during weekdays.

I felt sufficiently prepped for the delectable meal, and I was not disappointed.

We were greeted by two refreshing-tasting Antipasto (both at $26), one a dish of thinly-sliced smoked ocean trout served with mixed fruit salad and wasabi balsamic dress, and the next thinly sliced wagyu beef eye-round cured in Trapani rock salt served with seasonal salad and pecorino Romano cheese.

The truth is, I was not expecting much looking at the number of customers dining. But the grills here are impressive.

The Kurobuta Pork Jowl ($42) was evenly grilled with a slight glaze, tender on the inside and made more invigorating with an apple tonka bean puree that lifts the entire dish up.

Though lamb is not one of my favourite meats, the Grilled Lamp Chop ($46) marinated in oregano garlic served with mustard sauce can almost change my impression of that. This was the star dish of the day, tasty, succulent, and full of flavours.

To top off the meal, I had a Freshly Baked Warm Peanut Butter Lava Cake served with rum & raisin ice cream ($20) for dessert. Good. It is not the usual lava cake.

Service is impeccable, intuitive and intimate. I can imagine many business matters discussed confidently here. Indeed, DOMVS offers a regular 2-course executive set lunch at $35, and 3-course at $42.

DOMVS
Lobby, Sheraton Towers, 39 Scotts Road, Singapore 228230 (Newton MRT) Tel: +65 6839 5622
Opening Hours: 11.30 am. – 2.30 pm (Lunch), 6.30 pm – 10.30 pm (Dinner) Daily

Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has a “Triple Benefits” dining offers for members. Till Sep 2013, SPG members will enjoy three exclusive benefits whenever they dine at one of 650 participating restaurants and bars in Starwood Hotels & Resorts around the globe. Membership is free.

SPG Triple Benefits at DOMVS the Italian Restaurant
• 15% discount on food for lunch or dinner
• Complimentary glass of house wine with meal any day of the week
• Additional 100 Starpoints when you dine with 3 or more guests

DanielFoodDiary.com will be giving away 4 pairs of vouchers (2 pairs lunch, 2 pairs dinner) for you to enjoy this Italian Grande Dame Dining experience at DOMVS. All you need to do is to
a) LIKE this entry
b) Join as an SPG member at the following link
c) Comment below with your membership number, and whether you would want the lunch or dinner vouchers.
(Results will be announced 6 Sep)

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Original Entry at Live It Loud Website

There are people who come to me and say, “Daniel, you are a food blogger, how come you can eat so much and can still stay in shape?” They are perhaps also slightly envious of how I managed to turn a hobby into a job. Like how everything seem so effortless, and how everything falls into place.

I can tell you this now.

NOTHING is effortless. NOTHING ever really falls into place by itself.

Growing up as Me was not exactly a smooth journey. I was fat. I had low self-esteem. I hated how I looked. I was envious of my classmates who looked better than me.

I was constantly stressed by problems in life – school work, money, health, family, friends, relationships (or rather, the lack of it – girls avoided me) and everything else. Whenever I had problems, I turned to eating, and grew fatter and fatter.

You may now wonder “What are you talking about? You look okay what!”

This WAS how I looked. (And on the right is how I look now.)

Looking back, what I learnt is: Don’t waste the day in anger, worry or self-pity because it will just be another day wasted.

Today, I have become a fitness instructor at a very popular gym, and am the choreographer and master trainer of the new Great Singapore Workout. One of my best moments? Leading Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in the workout.

No, all these did not come with a snap of my finger and I have no quick wonder formula. It takes time, it takes effort, it takes lots of perseverance but the results are worth it. I do have some tips on how to eat right, so that you can stay stress-free.

Treat yourself to your favourite foods
Chicken rice, char kway tiao, fried chicken, ice cream, chocolates… These are some of my comfort food and they can be really unhealthy. I love them and am still eating them today. But nobody should eat them excessively. And trust me, if you eat them ALL THE TIME, they are not going to taste as good. These are little treats I give to myself. You know there are moments when you feel down and out and a treat like this can take you up instantly.

Treat your friends to your favourite foods
This is what I used to do when I was stressed out – Hide in my room, or in front of my TV and finish up 2 tubs of ice cream or an entire pack of potato chips ON MY OWN. During those moments, yes, I felt really exhilarated, but it was only temporary. Get your friends (even just one will do) to share the happiness and of course, calories! Food shared always taste better. If you have any problems – do the same – share them with your friends.

Treat water as your best friend
I am not talking about soft drinks or flavoured water – just clean drinking water. There are so many benefits to drinking water! It helps you lose weight, keeps you hydrated, improves your skin texture, maintains digestive health, flushes out toxins and reduces stress and fatigue!

Treat yourself well – Everything takes time
Yes, everything takes time. There are no quick fixes for problems. Diet takes time. Losing weight takes time. Some of us may hate healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits and find it impossible to add them into our diets. My little trick? Add them slowly. Start with those vegetables that you really like, then slowly add some variety, especially greens and fruits that you have never come across or eaten. You may be surprised at how refreshing some of them can actually taste.

There is no such thing as instant gratification
This may offend some but I am just going to say it. It is so tempting to seek instant gratification and instant pleasures. Drugs, smoking, excessive drinking… These are not magic bullet or pills. They will not solve your problems. Instead, they harm your body and ultimately, they KILL you. I repeat, they KILL you. In fact, you are not the only ones they will harm – your parents, your loved ones, your friends and all those who cares about you will suffer too.

Sometimes, I find too many people trying to avoid stress by working on what is external and out of their control. My personal take on this – if you feel good about yourself, confidence and assertiveness will come from inside you. Start feeling good by eating right.

*This entry is brought to you by Central Narcotics Bureau

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When I looked at the dishes and presentation of Baba Blues, this wave of nostalgia settled in on me, “This totally reminds me of what my ah-ma used to cook.”

My granny who is Chinese but brought up in a Peranakan family, used to cook such dishes – the Babi Ponteh, Hei Bee Hian, Rempah Ikan, Sambal Udang, Chap Chye and Ayam Buah Keluak. For the young ones who never tried before Nyonya cuisine, the food combines Chinese, Malay and some other cultures and is fast disappearing.

There are a few Peranakan Restaurants around, like Blue Ginger, Baba Inn, Violet Oon’s Kitchen, and House of Peranakan Cuisine. As they are more established, their food is also more polished, and perhaps commercial.

Baba Blues’ nyonya food may remind you of a simple fuss-free home-cooked meal, what your mum or granny would prepare during a Sunday dinner (that’s if your mum is a good cook). You could see it in a good or bad way.

The dishes are usually prepared by owner Ben’s mother Auntie Marie, who still insists on pounding the Rempah and cooking the Ayam Buah Keluak. If she is not around, you won’t get your Ayam Buah Keluak.

Some of my favourite dishes are the Sambal Udang ($10.00), fresh prawns cooked in a sambal and belacan, which is both tangy and semi-spicy, and Babi Pongteh ($9.00), stewed pork belly with mushrooms and potatoes. The meat and potatoes are cooked till soft, and the stew sauce makes a lovely accompaniment to just plain rice.

I usually frown upon eating such fishes. Maybe it is the non-photogenic look or smell if you do not clean them properly. Baba Blue’s Rempah Ikan ($7) of fried whole selar fish comes with a surprise of homemade sambal belacan stuffed within, fresh-tasting and sedap. So good I immediately ordered takeaways so that my mum can eat this with her porridge.

Ben said that these are the dishes he grew up with, such as the Cold Tofu topped with home-fried shallots ($3.90 order this please) and Chap Chye ($7). The classis stewed vegetable came slightly luke-warm, and I suggested that this could perhaps be served in a claypot in future.

I came to Baba Blues after a buffet and food sampling. All dishes on the table – finished! Almost till the last drop. Maybe you won’t appreciate such simple fare if you belong to another generation (Oh, Baba Blues serve Western food like burgers and chicken chop too, with a pub behind FYI).

Considering how pricey and effortful preparation of Peranakan food is, price point is still wallet friendly. This may sound strange, but if you crave for home-cooked Peranakan food, Baba Blues could provide you with that comfort.

Baba Blues
8 Jalan Gelenggang, Singapore 578190 (Upper Thomson, when driving turn in from Jalan Leban at Ivins to Jalan Kuras), Tel: +65 6458 9080 www.babablues.com.sg
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 11:00pm Daily

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Iggy’s has been commonly known to be Singapore’ Best Restaurant. The restaurant named after respected restaurateur Ignatius Chan is in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants since 2009, the first restaurant in Singapore to be on the coveted S. Pellegrino list.

It was considered the best Asian restaurant in 2012 when it was placed at No. 26 (though fell to the No. 65 spot during 2013). It has been named as the best restaurant in Asia 3 times by the Miele Guide.

Recently, it was the only restaurant in Singapore to enter the Foodie Top 100 Restaurants, compiled by renowned food critics including Patricia Wells, Gael Greene, Ruth Reichl and Masuhiro Yamamoto.

With that many accolades, one would expect more than a gastronomic experience. The main reason for me coming here is that to be a food blogger reviewing some of Singapore’s best restaurants, I should at least try THE restaurant widely known to be THE Best.

It is tough to categorise Iggy’s food. Some call it European, fusion, or east-meets-west. More correctly said, Iggy’s create dishes based on its founder’s favourite food and combinations, incorporating inspirations from the Asian, European and Australian continents.

For lunch, the tasting menu is at $125++, while its usual Dinner Menu is at $195++ and Gastronomic Menu a pricier $275++.

While its dishes are named simply, such as “Bonito”, the presentation of burrata cheese and ginger is like an exquisite piece of art, with taste with a print that is unique to Iggy’s.

Take for example, another dish called “Chlorophyll – sea and soil”, uncooked vegetables placed on a deep black plate resembling an evolving stem. I may call this “Avatar”, but its present name is apt.

This is a salad of 34 different leaves and petals, all raw, all meticulously placed together. It is a visual spectacle more than a taste explosion, though chomping down 34 different plants at the same time will make an impressionable aftertaste- for the food or bad.

Iggy’s signature dish is its Cappellini with sakura ebi, konbu and shellfish oil, which has been around since its days in The Regent. I don’t use the word ‘umami’ often, but this IS UMAMI. The crunchy sakura prawns bring out the flavours of the lightly tossed angel hair pasta, and gently let it slip through your mouth. (The other fantastic angel hair pasta is from Gunther’s.)

However, when I would to look at the overall experience, Iggy’s reputation of the “Best Restaurant” could be a double-edge sword. Service was competent, reservations was easy (via an online form). But I did expect more ‘wow’. Some dishes were impressive, though a good half would not be as memorable or mind (taste)-blowing.

My dinner experience was perhaps marred by the patrons sitting next table, a lady busy name-dropping and complaining about her husband to another man. The distance was close enough that I could hear every single name she dropped. (Not impressed.)

Overall, you would have to appreciate Iggy’s for its aesthetic craft and creation of dishes not found elsewhere, unique to its name.

Iggy’s
Level 3, The Hilton Hotel, 581 Orchard Road Singapore 238883 (Orchard MRT), Tel: +65 6732 2234 or send text message to +65 8188 3200 www.iggys.com.sg
Opening Hours: 12pm – 1:30pm (Mon-Fri Lunch), 7pm – 9:30pm (Mon-Sat Dinner), Closed Sun

The post Iggy’s – Known To Be Singapore’s Best Restaurant. Does It Impress? appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Talk about one of my favourite holiday destinations and it will definitely be Bangkok Thailand. All the food, the shopping and the massage! Are you dreaming of a holiday trip there yet?

Here is chance for you to win a 3D 2N Bangkok trip presented by DBS Indulge!

It is really fun and easy to participate.
- Snap a picture of your favourite food from any DBS Indulge participating restaurant
- There are more than 1000 participating restaurants. For a full list of restaurants, download the DBS Indulge App and go to “Dining Indulgences”
- Post the picture on your facebook wall with the caption “Bring me to Bangkok. Thank you DBS Indulge”
- Send in a screenshot capturing the number of “Likes” and “Shares” on your post to dbsindulge@hungrygowhere.com by 30 September 2013.
- Top 3 entries with the most “Likes” and “Shares” wins!

This is my entry, and it is really simple and fun to join. Always good to share food photos with your friends.

DBS Indulge is a dining programme that offers you a culinary experience unlike any other. Beyond the ever-increasing Credit Card Dining privileges at over 1,000 dining outlets islandwide, indulgence now becomes even more inviting. With unique opportunities to savour signature creations and learn the finer culinary arts from celebrated chefs, you’re in for an exquisite treat.

*This entry is brought to you by DBS Indulge*

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It takes a few minutes to walk from the entrance of The Fullerton Bay Hotel to its signature restaurant Clifford. I felt that this walk is necessary as it will bask you with anticipation as you walk past the grandeur and elegance of its interior.

After getting through this slightly darkly-lit walkway and entrance, you would walk into the chic brasserie of Clifford which has a European inspired décor, a 10 metre high ceiling and windows overlooking the sparkling waterfront of Marina Bay. Simply splendid for romantic dinner dates.

The previous times I was here, I was presented with two types of degustation menus – a French selection and Singapore Culinary Treasures which include the likes of Wok Fried Carrot Cake, Chicken Rice and Prawn Laksa.

This season till 30 September, Clifford offers a Wagyu Wagyu Wagyu Selection helmed by Executive Chef Sandro Falbo – who happens to be a humorous French Chef.

With the Wagyu set at $190.00++ per person, the highlight is a Trio of Braised Wagyu Cheek, 24-Hour Orange Scented Short Ribs and 500-day Grain Fed Wagyu Sirloin.

The wagyu beef is of Grade 8 from Australia, and you will be assured of a certain quality.

My favourite dish of the lunch meal was the French Wagyu Oxtail Onion Soup ($32 for ala carte) with Wagyu Beef Carpaccio ($32 ala carte) accompanied with grilled porcini, arugula and parmesan lace. The former a rich cheesy soup bursting with warm flavours, with makes a suitable of accompaniment to the fresh thinly sliced beef where you can slowly savour its most natural taste.

The Cannelloni with Morel Mushrooms and Truffle Colombier Fondue ($38 ala carte) felt it could do with thicker and more substantial pieces of meat within. Saw some people at the table not finishing it despite knowing it would be ‘a waste’.

There were some exquisite and luscious dishes that makes the meal memorable, though the price tag would turn away some and make you think twice before that investment. For important business lunches and significant romantic dinners.

Clifford
The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, 80 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049326 Tel: +65 6333 8388 www.fullertonbayhotel.com
Opening Hours: 6:30am – 10:30am (Breakfast Mon-Sun), 12pm-2:30pm (Lunch Mon-Sat), 6:30pm-10:30pm (Dinner Mon-Sun), 12pm-3:00pm (Sun brunch)

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4 Fingers Crispy Chicken at Ion always has a long queue. BUT, it could be also because it is only one cashier working most of the time (even though there are two counters), and the service is generally slow. Well, does not quite qualify to be called ‘fast food’.

People will still wait for an average of 15 to 20 minutes to get their 5 fingers, I mean hands on these Korean style fried chicken.

Korean fried chicken differs from typical American style fast-food fried chicken as they are usually covered by a layer of sauce or spices, and is being fried twice. The skin is usually thinner, crunchy and less greasy, and therefore more pleasurable to eat sometimes.

4 Fingers Crispy Chicken is set up by 4 friends after they chanced upon many such Korean fried chicken shops in New York, and they brought the concept to Singapore. They are not to be confused with Bonchon Chicken, a South Korean franchise, though many thought they are the same thing. (Notice that 4 Fingers also dropped Bonchon from their branding.)

The speciality is the 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken Wings and Drummettes (6 pieces for $9.95) coming in flavours of soy garlic, spicy or mixed. Seriously speaking, the seasoning is very tasty and you would want to slowly lick the sauces off the skin.

The chicken though, felt like they went for an extended sun-tan session, and were dry and shrivelled. Probably meant for a snack-like food.

If you want juicy, moist and piping hot, then order the Chicken Drumsticks (3 pieces for $10.95). Because after you bite through the crackly skin, you do get steam coming out from juicy chicken meat. Between the 2 types of fries, I found the seafood have a more impressionable taste than the kimchi flavoured.

Most call 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken one of the best Korean fried chicken in Singapore, and only Chicken Up can beat it. What do you say?

While I genuinely enjoy the marinates and drumsticks, one wishes that they would do something about their consistency and queue system.

4 Fingers Crispy Chicken
#01-32 Plaza Singapura Singapore 238839 (Dhoby Ghaut MRT)
Opening Hours:10:00am – 10:30pm Daily

Other Chicken Entries
Bonchon Chicken (Bugis+)
Poulet (Great World City)
The Rotisserie (China Square Food Centre)
Charly T’s (Nomu Building)
Wingadees (Junction 10)

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Everytime I go to Resorts World Sentosa, Chili’s has become a default pit-stop for a meal after Universal Studios. Perhaps it is feel-good vibes that allow whole groups of friends to be merry over huge burgers, tortilla chips and milkshakes.

The Dallas originated chain has 4 branches in Singapore – Central Clarke Quay, Tanglin Mall, RWS and JCube, all selling Tex-Mex cuisine in huge portions that makes it suitable for families and friends to share. To keep things updated, they have just introduced a new menu available now through 26 November.

An appetising starter would be the Fried Quesadilla Bites ($11.00). Quick tip: Don’t spend too much time on taking photos of the snack. Just eat it while it is still hot and crisp. Battered and fried, I was not expecting the flour tortillas to be oozing with cheese, along with the bites of chunky southwest chicken. Deep fried food lovers would find it tough to stop at one.

These fried bites would go well with the Platinu Presidente Margarita ($16) made with Tres Generaciones Angejo Tequila, Cointreau Orange Liquer and Brandy, garnished with Fresh Lim Sour. If you are fond of the shaker (like my dining partner who wanted to bring a container home), you can buy it back for $14 so that you can make your own concoction at home.

There are a couple of new mains introduced from Chilis – the Parmesan Crusted Steak ($39.00), Bacon & Cheddar Steak ($39.00) and Parmesan Chicken ($24.00).

The steak crusted with parmesan and Monterey Jack cheese worked better for me, with the crisp top layer adding a textured scab and slight saltiness. Makes the steak a little more playful to eat, and go for the medium rare where it is suitably juicy.

Instead, the Southwest seasoned steak topped with bacon and melted cheddar cheese would cheer the younger group because it does feel like eating a pizza at parts. But I felt the accompaniment did not blend as well into the steak, like two separate parts compared to the former.

The Parmesan Chicken is a similar take, drizzled with chile butter and sprinkled with green onions. Chicken breast meat, if not prepared well, can turn out to be dry and tough. But this version manages to lock the moisture in, and turns out to be one of the table’s favourite – with its crumbly outer layer and tender inside.

All the Chili’s mains come with two sides, such as Jalapeno Mashed Potatoes. Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Smoked Sweet Potato, Smoked Potato, Homestyle Fries, Broccoli, Corn on the Cob, Rice and Black Beans.

My personal recommendations for the two are the Jalapeno Mashed Potatoes and sweet and juicy Corn. I must say I haven’t eaten Corn on the Cob for ages, and it is absolutely fun to eat off the stick.

Dessert is a decadent Banana Bread Pudding ($13) topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, cinnamon, chopped nuts and a caramel drizzle. For a limited time, diners will enjoy 20% off when they order any 2 new menu items.

Forget about the calories, or just get more to share your food.

Chili’s
The Central @ Clarke Quay, #01-18, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059817 Tel: +65 62251687 (Clarke Quay MRT)
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 11:00pm (Sun-Thurs), 11:30am – 12:00am (Fri-Sat)
Other Locations: Tanglin Mall, Resorts World Sentosa, J-Cube

DanielFoodDiary.com will be giving away 3 x $40 vouchers for you to enjoy a hearty meal at Chili’s. All you need to do is to
a) LIKE this entry
b) COMMENT below any new dish you would like to try from Chili’s Singapore and why.
(Results will be announced 24 Sep)

*This entry is brought to you by Chili’s Singapore

The post Chili’s – New Menu New Choices, Mostly Big & Juicy + Vouchers Giveaway! appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Owner Zenn Eng of Cake Spade declined a photo. She must think I am a stalker or something, having visited her cake shop 3 times in a week. Just to describe her, she is sweet and beautiful, with an SQ girl style of elegance. (I am kind of sure people would search “Cake Spade Owner” on Google.)

Of course it is her cakes that prompted me for a return visit. The name of her shop may remind you of an American fashion design house or MP – and is pretty catchy.

Cake Spade is located at Orchid Hotel, which is proof that that location is not only about ramen shops and omakase. During my 1st visit, Zenn told me her best creations are in the 2nd shelf, not the top. That is where the Red Velvet ($5.90), Spiced Carrot Cake ($5.90) and Hummingbird ($5.90) are.

The Hummingbird Cake is soooooo good. I can have two of these. This moist sponge gives a feeling of bright summer Hawaii or a refreshing drink of Pina Colada, as it is sweetened with banana pulp, pineapples and coconut. You get traces of those three, but it is the coconut that gives this an extra zest. Top 10 cakes of Singapore definitely (I should come out with a list soon.)

The Spiced Carrot Cake is my next favourite, in between light and dense, with an addictive creamy layer of vanilla cream cheese icing. It is really the texture that differentiates itself from all the dry carrot cakes out there.

Zenn’s repertoire is built over the years from At-Sunrice Global Chef Academy, an apprentice at Shangri-La’s pastry team, a baker at Island Creamery and years of online home delivery.

Her proudest cake is perhaps the Strawberry Tofu Cheesecake ($5.90 per slice, $52 whole) with fresh strawberries encase in jelly with digestive biscuit crust at the bottom. Think jelly-hearts in cake form. Of the peach and strawberry, this is the lovelier and tastier version.

Even my mum is a converted fan, which asks me about that cake elaborately wrapped in a brown cardboard box. Cake Spade sells really lovely cakes, and it is really not just about the owner.

Cake Spade
#01-06 Orchid Hotel, 1 Tras Link, Singapore (Tanjong Pagar MRT) www.cakespade.com
Tel: +65 6444 3868
Opening Hours: 12:00pm – 8:00pm (Mon-Thurs), 12:00pm – 10:30pm (Fri-Sat)

Other Cake Entries
Windowsill In The Woods (Horne Road)
Le Chocolat Café (Ann Siang Hill)
3 Inch Sin (Millenia Walk)
K-ki (Ann Siang Hill)
L’Atelier Tiramisu (Clarke Quay Central)

The post Cake Spade – You Won’t Regret This Piece Of Cake appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

My first Seventh Heaven was at Pasar Bella, which ironically did not bring me to any parts of paradise after having it. The server had problem scooping, and I was given a cup of very airy, less than half-filled ice cream.

Seventh Heaven has actually been around for a number of years, known to develop and craft innovative flavours of ice cream. Their previous choice of locations have always been less than favourable and out of the way, from Raeburn Park, Kaki Bukit, 112 Katong, to the present Orchard Central, Gardens by the Bay and Pasar Bella.

We were at Orchard Central because my friend really wanted The Superman Mudpie ($13.90). “Look at the colours. They make me so happy.”

Indeed, the four-coloured blue, red, yellow and brown (the original superman didn’t have brown) mudpie named after our favourite DC Comics character made me happy too. It was so instagram worthy it got onto popular page and broke my personal record.

It is said that the Hershey’s brand of Superman ice-cream contains strawberry, banana and blue moon flavours, and I think Seventh Heaven’s do have traces of those. It remains a secret. The entire thing, while looking like an artificial gigantic paddle-pop, actually tastes better than it looks. Every scoop feels more exciting than the usual chocolate, with hints of banana (?) and other flavours.

There were an equal number of hits and misses though. The Simplicity Waffle ($9.70) was dry and airy, almost feels like eating a thick piece of love letter, compared to the usual moist denser texture.

Seventh Heaven offers flavours like Lychee Martini, Yuzu Sorbet, Kumkat Sorbet, Seasalt Caramel, Passion Fruit, Black Sesame, Butterscotch and Pecan. The Japanese Black Sesame and Matcha flavours worked for me – it is tough to find ice cream that tastes real.

But perhaps they were being too experimental, some of the flavours were cloying sweet, or artificial tasting (like the durian which was somewhat repulsive). Anyway, you can try their flavours before ordering.

Overall, I liked the bright and colourful vibes at Seventh Heaven. You just need to know which ice cream to order, and stick to it. If not, order their Matrix ($29 house decides, $36 you decide) for a sample of 12 best sellers.

Seventh Heaven
Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road #02-31/32 Singapore 238896 (Somerset MRT)
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm Daily
Kiosks: Pasarbella at The Grandstand, Garden by the Bay

Other Ice Cream Entries
Alfero Artisan Gelato (Lor Kilat)
Cold Stone Creamery (Orchard Central)
Island Creamery (Serene Centre)
Udders (Thomson Road)
The Daily Scoop (Chip Bee Gardens)

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[Barcelona, Spain] One who wants to feel the pulse of Barcelona city just needs to enter TapaÇ24. Also, if you want to have a taste of the El Bulli alumni, this will probably be one of the most affordable, and most approachable options.

The celebrity chef behind Tapas 24 is Carles Abellan, who formerly worked for Ferran Adrià at the 3-star Michelin El Bulli. (And it is almost impossible and frustrating to get a reservation for Adria’s renowned Tickets – no email reservations, no phone numbers to call, no walk-ins allowed.)

Tapas 24 does not offer the traditional-traditional tapas, but mostly with a modern and innovative twist. Some tourists will say it is Spanish ‘fast-food’. It is true in a sense, but Tapas24’s takes make fast food look and taste like junk.

Go during the off-peak hours. By off-peaks, I mean Spanish off-peaks – they have their lunches and dinners later than the rest of the world. Like maybe right at the opening hours of 1:30pm and 8:30pm.

I was greeted by an immerse energy and rhythm of Tapas 24. Staff was always on-the-move, serving food, speaking in a quick-okay English, all in a messy but organised fashion. Sit at the bar counter if you have the choice to get all the action.

If there are only 3 things you can order, get the Bikini Comerç 24 (8.90€), Mc Foie-Burger (9.60€) and Bravas (3.50€) in that order. But after having those, you would want to order much more.

“Get the Bikini, Get the Bikini!” This is what I hear from customers seated 4 places away. This is not what the Spanish ladies wear to the beach, but a warm sandwich with black truffles, cured Iberian ham and buffalo mozzarella. It’s like having all of my favourite things in a crisp thin sandwich bursting with all the goodness. This is quite the mama-mia.

The Mc Foie-Burger seems to be a dig at a certain Mc. Of course they cannot be even compared side by side. The really small beef hamburgers seem rather pricey at 9.60€, but when you spread the foie ganache all over like jam, it makes all that difference. You wished you never have ordinary hamburgers ever again.

Which brings me to the Fried Potatoes Bravas. Isn’t this like French fries overly spread with garlic mayonnaise? Not when it enters your mouth. This to me, is the real fries – hot, thick, crisp, made with good real potatoes.

A meal without beverages would cost about 20-25€ per person on average. Tip of the day: Please don’t go during Saturday nights and Sundays. They are closed. Visit Tapas 24 after a visit at Gaudi’s Casa Milà and Casa Batlló which are just minutes’ walk away. All to get a taste of Barcelona Spain.

Tapas 24
Carrer de la Diputació, 269, 08007 Barcelona, Spain, +34 934 88 09 77 (No reservations),
Metro: L2, L3, L4 Passeig de Gràcia
Opening Hours: 8:30pm-11:00pm (Mon), 1:30-3:30pm, 8:30pm-11:00pm (Tues-Fri), 1:30pm-3:30pm (Sat)

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Ippudo has always been one of my favourite ramen, easily my top three. Compared to the original Ippudo at Mandarin Gallery. I somehow prefer the Mohamed Sultan Ippudo Tao branch. There is more life and vibrancy over there, with a slightly bigger selection yet less customers in the waiting.

That branch recently made a significant change – dropping the Tao brand into Ippudo SG (no more dramatic drum rhythms), and offering mainly Hakata-style thin and straight noodles. The thicker noodles (which I would call the mee-pok) have also been removed from the menu.

I have always wondered about Ippudo’s lack of expansion. After all it has been around 3 years in the Singapore market, being one of the first to lead the ramen craze in the country, yet remaining at 2 branches while the rest have caught on or exceeded.

Ippudo SG at Mohamed Sultan continues to serve its signature ramen: original tonkotsu broth Shiromaru Matoaji ($15), Akamaru Shinaji which includes a special blended miso paste ($16) and Spicy Tonkotsu ($16). For something not available at Mandarin Gallery, the Bonito Tonkotsu ramen ($16) is unique to this branch.

Unfortunately during one of my visits to try its new menu, I was met with a reservation mess-up from their staff and the rude service subsequently did not help. Long story short, they made a mistake, put the blame on the customer, and wanted to ‘chase’ my friends away. Their Japanese in-charge was prompt enough to savage the situation.

Normally I would not return but I liked the food so much that I wanted to give Ippudo another chance.

The Hakata Shoyu ramen is like how it is presented, simple and clear without any fanciful condiments or presentation. Usually I am a thick milky tonkotsu person, but am able to appreciate the distinct pureness in this broth. The thin and slight curly noodles cooked al-dente hard continued to work for me.

The Bonito Tonkotsu is a love or hate. Those who are bored are simple flavours would find this thick bonito fish stock a much-needed inclusion, while some would find the bonito overpowering, distracting the original taste of the tonkotsu broth.

Ippudo SG’s ramen still maintains its consistency. On my wish list, a lower price and a more approachable Ippudo would help push up its ranking.

Ippudo SG @ Mohamed Sultan
207 River Valley Road #01-55/56 UE Square (Along Mohamed Sultan Rd) Singapore 238275, Tel: +65 6887 5315
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 12am (Mon-Thurs), 11:30am -3pm, 5:30pm -2am (Fri-Sat), 11:30am-11pm (Sun)

Other Ramen Entries
Tonkotsu Kazan Ramen (Liang Court)
Menzo Butao (Marina Square)
Ramen Kagetsu Arashi (The Star Vista)
Keisuke Tonkotsu King Four Seasons (Bugis Village)
Menya Sanji (Orchid Hotel, Tanjong Pagar)

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TripleOne Somerset, which the taxi uncles still like to call PUB or Singapore Power Building, is just across the Somerset MRT and offers some different dining experiences.

I go there often to grab my groceries from FairPrice Finest, some bread from Imperial Treasure Bakery, or meet up with friends over a meal at its restaurants. If you want to need somewhere relatively quieter from the buzz of town, or restaurants which can hold up large groups of people, TripleOne is just minutes’ walk away from Orchard.

What I like about it is that it offers some eating places that are not exactly the same cookie-cutters available elsewhere, such as Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, Brill, Fukuichi Japanese Dining, Windows of Hong Kong, and Coffee & Toast, Daruma Ramen House, Imperial Treasure Steamboat Restaurant and Togi Korean Restaurant.

Here are 5 Restaurants to check out when you are at TripleOne Somerset.

Togi Korean Restaurant #02-15, Tel: +65 6737 7397
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3:00pm, 6:00pm-9:30pm Daily

Quite surprised to find a modern-looking Korean restaurant on the 2nd storey of TripleOme. I didn’t know! It is the same Togi that is available at Mosque Street, though this is a bigger place with both indoor and outdoor sittings. Plus really high ceilings, so you won’t exactly smell. Opened by Koreans, you can be assured of some form of authenticity in its cuisine. My recommendation is the Maeoon Samgyupsal ($18), 200 grams of fiery and well-marinated Spicy Pork Belly.

Imperial Treasure Steamboat Restaurant #01-21 TO 23 Tel: +65 6732 8231
Opening hours: 11am to 3pm, 6.00pm to 3am Daily

Imperial Treasure has always been satisfaction-guarantee with its chain of restaurants. The Steamboat Restaurant specialises in serving Chinese steamboat, offering both ala carte and set menus, and dim sum during lunch. This is quite a classy steamboat restaurant compared to those you have seen elsewhere, and do expect to pay a premium for it. There is really a wide range of soups you can choose from. Other than the usual Sichuan spicy and healthy chicken soup, the other specialties include satay flavour, seaweeds & kelp, century egg & parsley, drunken chicken with ginseng soups. Its 16 additional condiments should also excite you. (Read: Imperial Treasure Steamboat Restaurant)

Fukuichi Japanese Dining #02-11/12 Tel: +65 6271 5586 / 6472 8269
Opening hours: 11.30am-3pm, 5.30pm-12am Daily

This is perhaps another hidden find, a 4000 square feet Japanese dining restaurant with an indoor sushi bar and outdoor sake wine bar. Fukuichi’s lunch sets at an affordable $16-$20 are pretty popular with the corporate crowd. Some of the more popular offerings include an assorted raw fish set of Sashimi Teishoku ($20), Sushi Teishoku, Grilled Chicken with Teriyaki Sauce Kijiyaki set ($16) and Grilled Mackerel Set ($18). The chef will also whip up an occasional creative dish such as almond tempura prawns, so check with the staff for recommendations.

Imperial Treasure Windows of Hong Kong #01-K1/24/25 Tel: +65 6732 8798
Opening Hours: 8am-9pm (Mon-Thurs), 8am-9.15pm (Fri), 10am-9.15pm (Sat & PH), 10am-9pm (Sun)

Windows of Hong Kong would be what I call a corporate canteen, a huge space with a very strange ordering system. There was a big board with specific set menus from A1-A6, with varied combinations for soup/drink changes and upgrades. With all that said, the food was all worth it. It felt real, unlike some cafes which tried hard to pass off local food as Hong Kong. The wanton and beef brisket noodles spelled authenticity, with springy waxy yellow noodles, matched with an ‘I could eat it on its own’ chilli sauce. The brisket was tenderising soft, and broth bursting with flavours of bones and shrimps.(Read: Imperial Treasures Windows of Hong Kong)

Daruma Ramen House #02-15 Tel: +65 6235 6079
Opening Hours: 12pm-3pm (last order 2.30pm), 6pm-10pm (last order 9:30pm)

New ramen shop Daruma Ramen House is actually not from Japan, but first set up in Hong Kong, re-created and updated by proprietor Charlie Chan. Before you feel too suspicious about its quality, Daruma is named one of the top 5 ramen restaurants in Hong Kong by Tatler. There is no fuss to Daruma’s menu: just three choices of Shoyu, Spicy and Tonkotsu. If in doubt, go for the Tonkotsu with braised pork belly, barbecued pork and mentaiko combination ($18). The broth is said to be cooked by boiling over 90 kilograms of premium pork bones imported from Holland for 8-10 hours every day. (Read: Daruma Ramen House)

TripleOne Somerset’s The Secret Garden – 5 Sep to 6 Oct 2013

There are 3 good news to share about TripleOne Somerset’s The Secret Garden Promotion
No 1: Get Double Deals with 1-for-1 dining and pampering deals at Coffee & Toast, Fukuichi, Glitz HairWorkz, Imperial Treasure Windows of Hong Kong, and The Nail Spa & Wellness
No 2: Vouchers for Grabs. Every week 30 lucky shoppers will stand to win vouchers of up to $100 each by spending $150 or more at participating outlets.
No 3: Shopping Treats for the highest spender of the week and 2 winners will stand to enjoy treats worth over $1000!

T&C applies. For more details, check out TripleOneSomerset.com.sg

DanielFoodDiary.com will be giving away 2 x $50 vouchers for you to enjoy shopping or dining at TripleOne Somerset! All you need to do is to
a) LIKE this entry
b) COMMENT below on your favourite restaurant at TripleOne Somerset and why.
(Results will be announced 1 Oct.)

*This entry is brought to you by TripleOne Somerset*

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The last time I went to Carousel was to celebrate a birthday. It was great fun and the service staff served up a jovial birthday song. I have heard that Carousel staff always make that birthday song a little more memorable than usual.

I was just waiting outside for a friend during my invited lunch tasting at Carousel, and was asked by a service staff if I wanted a seat inside first. I was pleasantly surprised, as initiative in service is something becoming less common in Singapore.

Carousel has always been quite a popular hotel buffet restaurant amongst locals and foreigners, especially since it is halal. It serves a huge variety of cuisines, featuring a variety of sweet treats with not one but three dessert counters. Special mention must be made of its bread & butter pudding and Asian selections.

This time, I saw a new Teriyaki counter where you can have Japanese style fried rice, chicken, seafood and beansprouts on a single plate, all cooked lived in front of you.

Service was also prompt, especially in terms of clearing plates and refilling of water. That is especially important to me when having a buffet.

And to my further surprise, I noticed that the service staff pouring water was also the same one who greeted me at the door. Wait a minute, why is she multi-tasking?

After a chat, I realised that “butlers” at Carousel are trained to be multi-tasked so that they can deliver personalised and seamless one-stop service to enhance guests’ experience. So Lena the butler can also be a coordinator for concierge service, and a bartender for making cocktails!

The butlers at Royal Plaza on Scotts are also trained to be multi-skilled, such as making evening cocktails and various types of egg dishes when requested. Okay, I am kind of sceptical when it comes to this – will this overwork the workers?

Lena told me that she has been working at Royal Plaza on Scotts for more than 20 years, and wasn’t satisfied with knowing how to do just one thing. She likes to learn with the job, doing a variety of tasks keeps her interested and passionate, and she gets to attend trainings to learn new skills.

She mentioned how one of her guest wanted a mojito, and was astonished how she managed to whip up a glass on her own. The bartender happened not to be around. From a customer’s point of view, that is definitely easier and smarter, and lot of trouble and time saved. Lena was candid enough to share that she even got a pay increase for learning new skills!

How is that even impossible? Get free training and more pay?

With this service staff shortage in Singapore, her original job was redesigned by the hotel which wanted to provide staff with better jobs and better pay, a strategy which organisations such as e2i have been encouraging other hotels to adopt. She wants to work hard for an employer who values every worker, even the older workers like herself.

While the hardware of a buffet restaurant is important, it is also the ‘heartware’ that adds that special touch to the dining experience. You know what I mean when you notice that service staff genuinely look happy and sincere to serve. No wonder the birthday songs at Carousel always feel happier.

Carousel Buffet Restaurant
Lobby Level, Royal Plaza on Scotts 25 Scotts Road Singapore 228220 Tel: +65 6589 7799
Opening Hours: 12:00pm-2:00pm (Lunch), 3:30pm-5:30pm (High tea), 6:30pm-10:30pm (Dinner)
Prices for Adults: $46.00++ Lunch, $62.00++ Dinner (Weekday), $50.00++, $75.00++ (Weekends)

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Hong Kong’s Cafes, better known as Cha Chaan Teng, are a class of their own not found in other parts of the world. I am not talking about places where you sit down quietly and slowly to drink a cup of coffee.

In fact, Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng are better known for their tea, and you should finish your food as efficiently fast as possible. People are waiting for your seats!

Here are some distinct characteristics of Hong Kong Cafes
- Hong Kong style milk tea is served, or more commonly known as ‘si mud’ silk stocking tea.
- Many sell almost everything under the roof, from toast, instant noodles, barbecued meat, congee, curry, steak to desserts. Order the sets if you are lost.
- Due to their colonial influence; food generally has an east-meets-west twist. Like curry spaghetti, or pork chop burgers.
- Some cafes open for extremely long hours. If you crave for midnight supper, you know where to head to.

Here are 5 Hong Kong Cafes you can look at heading down.

Australia Dairy Company 澳洲牛奶公司
G/F, 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong (MTR Jordan Exit C2) 佐敦白加士街47-49號地下
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 11:00pm (Closed Thursdays)

At one of Hong Kong’s most popular and famous Hong Kong café (Cha Chaan Teng) Australia Dairy Company, expect attitudes, partly rude service, chaotic ambience, long queues, and a very good plate of scrambled eggs. The morning set at HKD$28 consisted of a buttered toast, scrambled eggs, macaroni soup with ham and coffee or tea. The eggs are fluffy and tasty, some say the secret ingredient is canned cream soups. The café is a frantic battle zone during peak hours. Tip: Join the queue, get your way in, squeeze into a table, order and enjoy your food.

Lan Fong Yuen 蘭芳園
2 Gage Street Central, Hong Kong (MTR Sheung Wan Exit E2 or Central) 中環結志街2號 Tel: +852 2544-3895/ 2854-0731
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 8:00pm (Mon-Sat)

Lan Fong Yuen is most famous for two items: Pork Chop Burger (HK$44 with a drink, HK$2 extra for iced drinks) and ‘Silk Stockings’ Milk Tea (HK$16). They are said to be the creator of the pantyhose milk tea (wonder how they even got it started) so it is the must-have here, even if it may not be the best. They have been established for more than 50 years, started as a ‘Dai Pai Dong’, thus the inconspicuous shop entrance. Tip: You are likely to walk past and miss it. Look for the shop sign ‘Lan Fong Yuen’ and walk all the way inside. Don’t assume it is closed even though it looks like it.

Honolulu Café 檀島咖啡餅
G/F & Mezz Floor, 176-178 Hennessy Rd., Wan Chai (Wan Chai MTR Exit A4) 灣仔軒尼詩道176-178號地下及閣樓, Tel: +852 2575 1823
Opening Hours: 6:00am – 12:00am

Jacky Cheung and Tang Wei filmed “Crossing Hennessy” here, if you are the sort who like to go on celebrity hunts. Most tourists come all the way here for their egg tarts, which are divinely smoothly filled and fluffy crusted. Get a ‘simple’ budget set at HK$26 which can include an Egg Sandwich, Beef Satay Nissin Noodles and Hot drink. The food is nothing fanciful, but that is a typical Hong Kong café culture for you. Tip: Buy the egg tart. No, buy a few.

Tsui Wah Restaurant 翠華餐廳
Various locations, including 15-19 Wellington Street, GF-2F, Central, Hong Kong Island (Central MTR)
77-81 Parkes Street, Jordon, Kowloon
Opening Hours: 24 hours Daily for certain locations

Before I fly away from Hong Kong airport, I would get a cup of “I love Tsui Wah” milk tea, or pre-packed bottles so that the taste of Hong Kong will still linger after I reach home. Tsui Wah had its beginnings as a ‘bing sut’, a predecessor of tea cafes way back in 1967 at Mong Kok. Already a listed company, they are the pricier Hong Kong cafes around. Know not what to order? Get one of their “Top 10” food listed in their menu which includes Crispy Pork Chop Bun (HK$35), King Prawns in XO Sauce with Tossed Noodles (HK$51) and Swiss-style Chicken Wings(HK$51). Tip: Tsui Wah can be found in many parts of Hong Kong, but its most popular branch at Central opposite Yung Kee near Lan Kwai Fong.

美都餐室 Mido Café
G/F, 63 Temple Street (Yau Ma Tei MTR Exit B2) 油麻地廟街63號地下, Tel:+852 2384 6402
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 9:30pm

My friend who stays in Hong Kong says Hong Kong directors actors like to hang out at the old and nostalgic Mido Café. Sure enough, I spotted veteran actress Zheng Pei Pei in the corner, silent and dignified. Some of the recommended food at Mido are the Spare Ribs Baked Rice, Fried Noodles with Pork and Ying-Yang, a mixture of coffee and tea. Many Hong Kong cafes are becoming a part of history. Before Mido would ever disappear, just go to experience this ‘time machine’. Tip: Take the corner booth. That’s the ‘Hong Kong celeb’ corner.

Additional note: This post took me 5 visits in 3 years to decide which are my personal favourites (I left out Capitol, Star, Yee Shun and some others). Tell me which are your must-goes in Hong Kong.

Other Hong Kong Entries
Australian Dairy Company (Hong Kong)
Star Café (Hong Kong)
Tim Ho Wan (Hong Kong)
Bing Sutt G.O.D Starbucks (Hong Kong)
Ho Hung Kee (Hong Kong)

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The season of the Hairy Crabs is back again, a time when we have to wait once a year to savour on sweet sweet crab meat and orangey rich roe.

Taste Paradise is offering a Hairy Crab Set ($168++ per person, min 2 persons, $138++ per person for ANZ, OCBC and PGR cards), with the crustacean delights specially imported from Jiangsu province in Chin. Touted as the home of hairy crabs, Jiangsu crabs boast sweeter meat as well as rich and succulent roe in their crabs.

There are three other factors I look out for when selecting a restaurant for hairy crabs, other than price: The reputation of the restaurant, the accompanying dishes, and the skills of the service staff.

You see, while most Chinese restaurants in Singapore are known for one dish or the other, there really isn’t one which stands out for serving ‘the best hairy crabs in Singapore’. Thus the reputation of its quality of food plays a huge part.

Taste Paradise led by Executive Chef Fung Chi Keung has always been known to be one of the most top end, if not the finest restaurant under the Paradise Group of restaurants. Both their dim sum and some of its modern Chinese cuisine have proven to be popular.

The accompanying dishes in Taste Paradise’s Hairy Crabs six-course menu do not disappoint, and two of them stand out.

For the starter, we had a Combination of Hairy Crab Roe served in a Hand Roll and Fried Prawn with Black Garlic Sauce. The hand roll can be liken to a mini-ice cream cone filled with full-bodied sauce, while on the other side the prawn which is seen as ‘heavy’ in taste as well, fortunately balanced with a cool sweet watermelon.

The Braised Hairy Crab Roe with Edamame Tofu and Scallop is luxurious in its texture, blanketing over a smooth green beancurd (which is really the best part of the dish) with a slight crisp outer layer. The scallop is plump and fresh.

The staff at Taste Paradise were skilled in dissecting the crabs, partly giving a clear elaboration on which parts to savour and which to avoid. They fuss you to quickly scoop up the roe, and pass you a special bottle of toothpaste to clean your hands in case your hands smell after handling the crabs.

Sometimes having hairy crabs can be a matter of both timing and luck, especially if you are just in for the roe. My crab can be said to be in the average for the amount of its orange treasure, and the meat mildly satisfying.

The entire Hairy Crab meal slants towards being heavy, and can guarantee you feeling a little more than full. If you are up for rich food, Taste Paradise can satisfy that craving. If not, you got to wait one more year.

Taste Paradise 味之楼
ION Orchard #04-07 (Orchard MRT) Tel: +65 6509 9660
Opening Hours: 11:30-3:00pm, 6:00-11:00pm (Mon-Fri), 11:00-11:00pm (Sat-Sun)

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If time could be turned back, or if I had the opportunity, I would probably do something what SMU student Jia Wei is putting his heart to – opening a café. Every now and then, I would have a wild thought of opening a café or stall in school, selling ice cream and chicken wings.

The Basement Café is a social café started by five present SMU students. Where they found the time and energy, I do not know. But those who been through university days can certainly can fathom how much passion and determination is needed to sustain this.

They call themselves a ‘social café’ because they carry out various initiatives to help the underprivileged people – from a soup kitchen for all the cleaners in our school, as well as a Chinese New Year reunion dinner for the need. And there is a space for art exhibitions and talent performances.

The second question you may have is: Can they cook? (The first question is “Got time meh?”)

I can possibly rest your doubts – these young people mean serious business. The kitchen is headed by two of the owners, both coincidentally named Jiawei. They basically went out into the industry to learn from various restaurants, culinary school, and spent holidays perfecting the recipes in the kitchen through trial and error.

The menu consists of all-day breakfast, salads, soups, cakes and mains such as roasted chicken thigh, pasta and ribs.

Knowing my obsession with eggporn on Instagram, Jia Wei guaranteed that their eggs would be runny. Their Sir Bennie Royale, at an affordable $10, consist of poach eggs with smoked Norwegian salmon served on toasted English muffins. Yes, they oozed beautifully and tasted better than some of the eggs ben at some of the so-called cafés.

The Sous Vide BBQ Pork Ribs ($15) is also their pride and joy. The meat after cooked sous vide for eight hours, is quite fork-tender and generous in portions.

I was surprised that the café does not sell the usual items that uni students would take pleasure in – chicken wings, fries, nuggets and curry puffs. The deep fried stuff. The limitation of the kitchen is part of the reason, but these student-owners want to sell healthy quality food that they would be proud of (*clap clap*).

These students could go a lot way if they are given the right support. SMU students, you know where to go. The rest, The Basement Café is also opened to outsiders.

Coffee was more than decent, art was beautiful, tarts could be more polished but still pleasant. I always believe that we should never under estimate the youths because they dare to dream big. May be a different story for adults.

The Basement Café
80 Stamford Rd #B1-62, School of Information System, Singapore Management University SMU
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5pm (last order 4:30pm) Mon-Fri

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Thank you DBS Indulge. You are really bringing me to Bangkok! All my life I never really won a travel before through a contest, and this is my first.

DBS Indulge organised a contest in Aug and all we needed to do is to snap a picture of our favourite food from any DBS Indulge participating restaurant, post it on facebook, and get as many Likes as possible to WIN a free trip to Bangkok.

The Top 3 entries are *drum roll*
1st place – Bahari Bin Haron with 515 likes!
2nd place -Tan Tian Ling
3rd place – Daniel Ang

Bahari Bin Haron’s winning photo. “I am very privileged to be given this free trip to Bangkok by DBS Indulge! All I needed to do was dine with DBS! It is so easy!”

Tan Tian Ling’s photo. “Although I love dining and food photography, it was never in my wildest dreams to be selected as a winner. Thank you DBS Indulge for the generosity and the free trip to BKK!”

My photo. Thank you DBS Indulge for really bringing me to Bangkok! Looking forward to great food, exciting shopping and relaxing massages.

It was really a pleasant surprise. While I wasn’t campaigning for the Likes too aggressively, thank you for my friends for showing support to my food photos.

We love Bangkok for its variety of reasons from food, shopping, massages to all the entertainment offerings. It turns out that the 3 winners have also won a land package trip to Pattaya, where I never visited before.

I am quite excited as I am also considering booking the land package for my family. The price is quite reasonable, and the itinerary sounds interesting.

CTC Travel Land Package to Bangkok + Pattaya (Travel period: 01 Nov 13 – 31 Mar 14)
The CTC Travel’s Thailand special land package can be as low as $178, and is inclusive of accommodation with daily breakfasts, airport return transfers and city tour.

5 Things To Look Forward In The Pattaya Trip
No 1 – Markets
A visit to Pulldown Market, which I heard is one of the largest fresh seafood markets in Thailand, centred around the Maeklong Railway’s track.

No 2 – Sea Sports
Water skis, snorkelling, parasailing and sunbathing in the beautiful Coral Island. Time to get a tan.

No 3 – Arts
The ArtsiIn Paradise is a museum where all the artwork has a 3D illusion even though they are painted on a flat wall. I have visited a similar museum in Korean and had loads of fun taking pictures.

No 4 – Shopping
While I generally don’t wear gems, I thought of getting a stone for my mum’s birthday at Gems Gallery Pattaya, which is known to be the world’s biggest jewellery and gems centre.

No 5 – Sights
Other than Sriracha Tiger Zoo & Honey Bee Farm, the tour would also pay a visit to Pattaya’s most noticeable landmark, the 130 metres high Khao Cheejan also known as the “Buddha Mountain”.

Thank you DBS Indulge and CTC Travel. Look out for my food entries when I make it there!

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Talk about dim sum in Singapore, the Liu Sha Bao or Golden Lava Custard Buns are one of the top orders. Considered a new dim sum item first made popular in Hong Kong, the uniqueness is in its creamy runny egg custard filling made with salted egg yolk and butter.

Perhaps it is our obsession with flowing food items. What makes a Liu Sha Bao tick? To me, it’s the soft outer bun layer, steamy oozing golden lava when bitten into, the after taste of the salted egg yolk, and that special X-factor. Some buns just have that extra oomph. (Read: 5 Oozing Food That Singaporeans Love)

When I did an informal poll via facebook and instagram, the usual Chinese restaurant names were contributed: Crystal Jade, Canton Paradise, East Ocean, Man Fu Yuan, Imperial Treasure, The Cathay Restaurant, and Victor’s Kitchen – the humble shop at Sunshine Plaza most known for this particular dim sum.

I ventured far to try more than 10 different restaurants, and became excitedly surprised by some of the lesser-known names. These are what I consider the 5 Best Liu Sha Bao in Singapore.

Mouth Restaurant
68 Orchard Road Plaza Singapura 238839 (Dhoby Gaut MRT)
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm (Mon-Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat-Sun)

Mouth Restaurant may not be the number one dim sum restaurant to many, and its branch at Plaza Singapura can be so quiet that it feels cold an un=atmospheric just dining there. Maybe I am bias. But Mouth Restaurant’s custard bun ($5.60 for 3) is one of the few presented with baked crust, with skin slightly crumply yet still soft. (Think Tim Ho Wan Singapore buns with custard fillings) The inside is not the usual milky creamy, but buttery where the salted egg yolk texture is distinctly grainy. The flow is thick and slow, like bright yellow lava of the volcano flowing down that may set your heart racing with anticipation.

Taste Paradise 味之楼
ION Orchard #04-07 (Orchard MRT) Tel: +65 6509 9660
Opening Hours: 11:30-3:00pm, 6:00-11:00pm (Mon-Fri), 11:00-11:00pm (Sat-Sun)

All Canton Paradise, Paradise Pavilion and Kungfu Paradise serve Liu Sha Bao of the same recipe, but it is Taste Paradise’s version ($5.50 for 3) that is a slight cut above the rest. The reason? Paradise’s Group best dim sum shifu are found at Ion’s Taste Paradise, hand-making these custard buns fresh, steaming them for an exact 5 minutes. The texture is creamy smooth and colour vibrant yellow. The best word used to describe these treasures? Delicate.

Bosses Restaurant 黑社会
#02-156/157 Vivocity, 1 Harbourfront Walk (Harbourfront MRT), Tel: +65 6376940
Opening Hours: 11:00am-9:30pm Daily

Bosses only serve 2 dim sum items during dinner time – the Liu Sha Bao and Xiao Long Bao. Both are exceptional, I mean, when you compare to their other dishes. The restaurant with its modern black walls is relatively quieter than all the other restaurants at Vivocity which see queues during the weekends. The Signature Custard Lava Bun ($4.20) is worth my trip here, arriving steaming hot, and the orangey yellow skin remains supple fluffy even after a while. The filling flows, flows and flow – very generous, and somewhat more to the watery side.

Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck
#05-42/45 Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd. Singapore 238859 (Orchard MRT), Tel: +65 6732 7838
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am-2:45pm (Mon-Fri), 11am-2:45pm (Sat), 10:30am-2:45pm (Sun); Dinner 6-10:30pm Daily

Imperial Treasure’s group of restaurants always have a certain quality to their dim sum, and do you know the restaurant at Paragon branch is the one which is ranked Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant? (Only Chinese restaurant from Singapore on that list too.) The buns are almost perfectly shaped, with the taste striking an appropriate balance between sweet and sugar. Unlike some other buns which can get too oily or rich, you would find it easy to pop more than one.

Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant
187/188/191 Jalan Besar Singapore 20882 Tel: +65 6225 7788
Opening Hours: 6pm-6am (Wed-Mon), Closed Tues

This is a choice between Swee Choon’s and Victor’s Kitchen. I finally picked Swee Choon (although I know many will differ in opinion) because Swee Choon ($3 for 3) has a better consistency and a more pleasant eating environment (even though both fall under the same type.) Swee Choon’s interpretation is slightly sweeter, while Victor’s has the stronger salted egg yolk savour. While some of Swee Choon’s dim sum are not as consistent as we have liked, its Golden Lava buns have always been outstanding for a shop with modest beginnings, with one of my friends exclaiming it is “life-changing”.

Royal China Restaurant
03-09 Raffles Hotel Arcade, Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Road Singapore 189673 Tel: +65 6338 3363
Opening Hours: 12:00-3:00pm, 6-10:30pm (Mon-Sat), 11:00am-2:00pm, 600-10:30pm

Almost made it to the 5. Contrary to what many may think, Royal China is not as steep in price even though it is in Raffles Hotel. Royal China’s version has the addition of mango juice to the custard, thus the slightly sweeter finish. Though the bun did not ooze enough to draw the oooohs and ahhhhs, unfortunately.

Tell me which is your personal favourite Liu Sha Bao in Singapore and why?

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