Photography enthusiasts will be thrilled to know that the luxury German photography brand, Leica, has opened its 3rd global cafe right in Singapore’s refurbished Raffles Hotel.

Background info: the first Cafe Leitz is in Wetzlar, Germany (for obvious reason) and the second one in Bangkok, Thailand at EmQuartier’s mezzanine level in partnership with Thai’s coffee brand Pacamara.

As for Singapore, Cafe Leitz was set up within the very first Leica store in Southeast Asia since 2010 right in Raffles Hotel.

The interior is clean, white and minimal, incorporating the complete Leica experience: Leica Galerie (amazing works on display shot on a Leica), Leica Store (camera and lens on display) and Cafe Leitz all under one roof.

Something different at Leitz Cafe in Bangkok is the menu concept. Instead of working with just one cafe, Pacamara for Cafe Leitz Bangkok, there will be a change of cafes partnering with Cafe Leitz Singapore every month.

Partnering with Alchemist for the coffee and The Patissier in the month of December and Haritts Donuts for the month of January, the menu offering is somewhat similar: Coffee and bakes, no savoury items unlike the outlet in Bangkok.

Using a single origin coffee beans from Brazil in collaboration with Haritts Donuts, both Black and White are available which was smooth and medium body.

Hints of chocolate could be detected, together with dried fruits, plum and sugar cane.

Haritts Donuts is known for their Japanese-style donuts, which has a pillow-like and doughy texture, unlike their American counterpart.

Available in 3 different flavours: Matcha, Hojicha and Earl Grey, the first two were unfortunately out of stock when I visited.

I enjoyed the slightly chewy texture of the Earl Grey Donut but wished that the taste could be more pronounced.

Coupled with books, photo-journals and magazines by world renowned photographers on display, it’s a conducive place to truly appreciate the Leica experience.

Cafe Leitz Singapore
Raffles Hotel Arcade, 328 North Bridge Road, L1-20/21, Singapore 080333
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

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

The post Cafe Leitz Singapore – Camera Brand Leica Opens Cafe In Singapore, At Raffles Hotel appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Located at the Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre, Chuan Kee Boneless Braised Duck is one of the most popular stalls there, and is also listed under the Michelin Bib Gourmand.

As a hawker food stall that’s been operating for more than 10 years, Chuan Kee generally gathers a loyal and steady stream of patrons, especially during the weekends.

It is owned and operated by Huang Ming Yu, who began the stall when he was just 23. At 15, he left school and worked for his cousin at He Ji Braised Duck at Clementi.

That’s where he learned how to cook braised duck. He then created his own recipes for Chuan Kee, which up to now remain a well-kept secret within the family.

Today, Chuan Kee has a 2nd stall at Chong Pang Market and Food Centre, which is run by his wife. He personally braises the duck at both stalls.

Chuan Kee sources its ducks from Malaysia. Compared to other braised ducks cooked using frozen meat, Chuan Kee’s are made from fresh duck which makes the meat sweeter.

Specialising in Teochew-style braised duck only i.e. there is no roast duck nor other roast meats in the menu, Chuan Kee serves all duck boneless but you can request it bone-in should you prefer.

Chuan Kee’s simple menu is anchored on 3 items: Duck Rice ($3, $4, $5), Duck Noodles ($3, $4, $5), and Duck Porridge ($3, $4, $5).

Its signature dish Chuan Kee Duck Rice ($3, $4, $5) features braised duck coated in a dark and luscious sauce, topped over fluffy rice cooked in a Hokkien style of lor (sauce) thickened with a little starch.

The slices of duck meat have an underlying gaminess and a robust, buttery flavour due to some pieces with a layer of fatty skin.

Some pieces were tougher than I would have preferred though.

My favourite component was the aromatic rice, despite being drenched in sauce, was neither sticky nor mushy.

A piping hot bowl of dark-coloured broth comes with the set. It has a mild, well-balanced savoury-sweet taste accentuated by herbal notes from dang gui.

You can also order extra accompaniments which include braised peanuts, slices of braised bean curd (tau kwa), half a braised egg and refreshing slices of cucumber on the side.

If you are more of a noodle person than rice, go for the Duck Noodles instead.

Coated with Chuan Kee’s signature sweet braising sauce, this dish is likewise topped with slices of boneless braised duck.

Served with a slightly sweet sambal chili on the side to add a spicy flavour to the noodles. Though I am usually a noodle person, I felt that the braised rice and sauce tasted more complete with the rice.

As for the Duck Porridge, it has a velvety texture that was neither too gloopy nor too runny. By itself it doesn’t pack that much flavour, but with the dark sauce it was seasoned perfectly.

The warmth of the porridge makes it a good comfort food to enjoy on a cold or rainy day.

While it may not be the best-best in Singapore, if you are hankering for duck rice that is cheap and good, Chuan Kee is worth the venture to.

Chuan Kee Boneless Braised Duck
Ghim Moh Market and Food Centre #01-04, Block 20 Ghim Moh Road, Singapore 270020
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Fri – Wed), Closed Thurs & last Sun of every month

Chong Pang Food Centre #01-159, 105 Yishun Ring Road Singapore 760105

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Singaporeans are typically fond of their tonkotsu-style ramen, and some may still be unfamiliar with Mazesoba. Some people describe this as ”Japanese Bak Chor Mee” – not that wrong either.

Mazesoba, literally translated as “mixed noodles” is a type of broth-less ramen, particularly popular during the hotter summer months.

So even though there is “soba” in its name, the dish is technically “ramen”.

To me, the appeal in the noodles is about the mixture of all toppings and sauces. Even though there are many ingredients and so much going on, when all are mixed together, they create this complex but blended flavour with satisfying mouthfeel.

Mazesoba can be explained as dry Japanese ramen (or Japanese gan mian), in which “maze” means “to mix”, and “soba” means “noodles”.

Here are 8 Best Places To Get Your Mazesoba Fix in Singapore:

Menya Kokoro
3 Temasek Boulevard # 03-313 Suntec City Mall Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6235 3386
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/menyakokorosg/

Japan’s Most Popular Mazesoba Chain Opens In Singapore At Suntec City
The Japanese dry ramen brand has opened 27 outlets worldwide within a short number of years, including Japan, Indonesia, Spain, Thailand and Vancouver, and looks set to expand further.

The local store in Singapore is helmed by the founder Chef Takuma Ishikawa himself, who trained under the originator creators of Mazesoba, and once won the Best Mazesoba Award in Japan. Therefore, you will be assured of the ‘Japanese-quality’.

The five types of Mazesoba on Singapore’s menu range from the original Tokyo Maze-Soba, Cheese Maze-Soba, Curry Maze-Soba, Spicy Maze-Soba and Vegan-Maze-Soba, together with some Singapore-exclusive creations

The Spicy Maze-Soba ($11.80++) is my favourite bowl, but the spiciness is likely to divide people. Some of us shared this bowl – a couple enjoyed the kick, the shiokness which result in some sweat to break out.

There were others who thought this might have been too fiery for their liking.

And here I am, asking them to add more of those spicy oil. When the spices and meat sauce coat the noodles, the sensation was like having a good-old bowl of comforting Mapo-Tofu. Menya Kokoro (Suntec City)

Kajiken 油そば専門店 歌志軒 – Novena
10 Sinaran Drive #02-03 Square Two Singapore 307506 (Novena MRT)
Tel: +65 6904 4714
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Kajiken – Tanjong Pagar
Orchid Hotel #01-07, 1 Tras Link Singapore 078867 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Tel: +65 82260199
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3:30pm, 6:00pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 9:30pm (Sat – Sun)

1st Mazesoba Specialty Shop In Singapore
Kajiken at Orchid Hotel is the first shop dedicated to selling just Mazesoba in Singapore.

Its signature dish is Mazesoba Nagoya Style ($12.80), in which dry ramen noodles is mixed with spicy minced pork, soft boiled egg, seafood and chopped vegetables.

The mix of sauce reminded me of the Taiwanese style of Dan Dan Mian, with a mild level of spiciness that doesn’t overpower the other ingredients. Yet added with that umami mouth-feel as you take bites.

I liked the addition of chopped vegetables and egg – one provided the occasional crunch and refreshness; the other a layer of stickiness between the noodles.

Even though the wheat noodles seemed moderately thick, the combination was well-balanced and didn’t feel too heavy. Kajiken (Novena Square 2)

Ramen Champion – Bugis+
201 Victoria Street, Bugis+ #04-10 Singapore 188607
Tel: +65 6238 1011
Opening Hours: 11am – 10.30pm (Mon – Fri), 10:30am – 10:30pm (Sat, Sun, PH)
https://www.facebook.com/RamenChampionSingapore

Mazesoba Created By 3 Ramen Masters
The Chef Horikawa Maze Soba ($12.80+) is created after a 3-way collaboration between Tsukemen Masters Chef Tomiyama and Chef Ohashi from Japan; and Chef Horikawa from Ramen Champion.

Chef Horikawa uses his original maze soba sauce blend to bring the authentic taste of classic Japanese maze soba.

Accompanied with sliced spring onions, spicy minced pork, matchsticks of nori seaweed, creamy mentaiko, a dollop of mayo, and topped with an onsen tamago.

Break the runny egg yolk to make your maze soba creamier and milder in spice. Toss the ingredients together to create a gloopy mix before you dig in.

Enjoy a generous portion of chewy, springy noodles mixed with the medley of ingredients. Available at Teppan no Hoshi stall in Ramen Champion Bugis+. Ramen Champion (Bugis+)

Kaneta Shoten
133 New Bridge Road, B1-44/45 Chinatown Point Singapore 059413 (Chinatown MRT)
Tel: +65 6443 8366
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 10:00pm (Mon – Fri), 11:00am – 10:00pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

Truffle Mazesoba At Chinatown Point
The signature Kaneta Mazesoba ($13.90) is a truffle scented dry ramen with special sauce.

I find the pricing reasonable (some ramen are quite ridiculously priced nowadays), especially when this comes free up size, free eggs and free flow pickled spicy pineapple.

There was a good mix of flavours and texture, from the spicy minced pork and soft mushrooms. The truffle does not ‘hit’ you immediately, but comes as a subtle aroma upon every bite.

Compared to Kanshoku Ramen Bar, this uses thicker noodles and has a more ‘complicated’ overall taste. Think each will have their own following. Kaneta Shoten (Chinatown Point)

Uma Uma Restaurant & Bar
9 Raffles Boulevard #02-06, Millenia Walk Singapore 039596
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 12am (Mon – Sat), 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10pm (Sun)

Mazesoba at Forum Galleria and Millenia Walk
A brief background of Uma Uma Ramen: A ramen chain from Fukuoka Japan, established n 1953, its name a play on “umami”, and Singapore’s Forum Galleria outlet is its first venture overseas.

The Mazesoba ($17) contains springy noodles added with chasiu, bamboo shoots, leek and sprinkling of spring onions. You may get hooked on the sauce.

There is also a vegetarian option with chasiu at $15.

Menya Sakura
1 Tras Link Road, #01-07, Orchid Hotel, Singapore 078867
Tel: +65 9469 3366
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:30pm, Last Orders 10:00pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun, PH

Nagoya Style Ramen and Mazesoba At Tanjong Pagar
Menya Sakura at Orchid Hotel Tanjong Pagar (previously at 64 Boat Quay) is the group’s first outlet in Singapore, and it specialises in Nagoya-style ramen.

Its Abura Soba ($9.90) is affordably priced, containing cubes of pork char siew, bamboo shoots, spring onions and ajitama egg. There is also a Spicy Abura Soba version ($10.90).

The special blended sauce at the bottom is made with 3 different soy sauces, and tasted refreshing and ‘clean’.

As for the noodles, they are cooked quite el dente with a delicious chewy bite. Overall, the mixture is not that heavy. Menya Sakura (Tanjong Pagar)

Menya Sanji Singapore
1 Tras Link, #01-14 Orchid Hotel, Singapore 078867
Tel: +65 6604 8891
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 11:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Dry Ramen With Spicy Miso Sauce
Another ramen store found at Orchid Hotel. Menya Sanji serves up Japanese style Sanji Mazesoba ($9.80++) topped with stir-fried pork, half and egg and vegetables.

Its special components are the tasty soy sauce base, mixed along with spicy miso sauce.

The accompany soup is said to be cooked for 20 hours in Kagoshima before being imported into Singapore.

Daily Noodles
Amoy Street Food Centre, #02-130 Singapore 069111
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 3:00pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Mazesoba Found at A Hawker Centre
It is not that common to find Mazesoba sold in a food centre. The stall-owners behind Daily Noodles wanted to sell their noodles at a price range in which everyone can enjoy.

”I recall a ramen master once said that ramen should be sold at a price point where a convenient store part-timer’s one hour salary can afford.”

Their Nagoya Dry Ramen is sold at an inexpensive $6.00, containing springy noodles, toppings of minced meat, fried shallots and runny egg. Tip: add a sprinkling of vinegar, and it would taste even more like ”Bak Chor Mee”.

I would personally recommend the Chashu Mazesoba ($6.50) which includes slices of pork belly with smoky flavour.

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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There is just something about “Zi Char” (or Tze Char 煮炒) that is very comforting, especially when the dishes come served piping hot with that strong wok-hei (wok-heat).

Zi Char places are great for family and friends gathering, mostly at affordable pricing (except when you order seafood and just anyhow order).

Some of my personal favourite dishes to order include Beef Horfun, Sweet & Sour Pork, Sambal Kang Kong and Har Cheong Chicken, though there are many eateries that come out with their own specialty dishes.

For example, Two Chef’s Butter Pork Ribs, Kok Sen’s Big Prawn Noodles, and Keng Eng Kee Seafood’s Ming Zhu Rolls. Though there are copycat versions around, few do as well as them.

These are some of the 12 Best Zi Char Places in Singapore, which are favourite ‘zhu chao’ places along with stand-out signature dishes.

Kok Sen Restaurant
No 30-32 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089137
Opening Hours: Lunch 11.30am – 2.30pm, Dinner 6.00pm – 10.30pm (Closed on Mon)

Big Prawn Bee Hoon And Claypot Yong Tau Foo
With a history of more than 37 years, it is known to serve different-from-usual wok-fried zhi char, with some dishes unique to this restaurant.

The regulars know the restaurant as “Kau Kee” – the name of the founder, while “Kok Sen” is his son. It is currently helmed by the third generation in the family.

The signature dishes include Big Prawns Horfun ($16, $32, $48), Big Prawns Bee Hoon Soup ($16, $32, $48), Crispy Noodles with Shrimp Omelette ($12, $18 $36), Kung Pao Frogs Stir Fried with Dried Chilli ($20), Cereal Butter Squid ($14, $21, $28), Sambal Kangkong ($10, $14, $18), Black Pepper Beef ($14, $18, $24), and Thai Style Fried Rice ($6.50, $13, $19).

These are not your ordinary coffeeshop prices.

This Cantonese-style restaurant most famous dish is its Big Prawns Bee Hoon Soup, costing a pricey $16 for the smallest portion in a seemingly humble zi char place.

Yes, 16 bucks for hae mee!

But quoting a beauty brand, it is worth it. I have been ordering it almost every single time I come. My tip is to share the bowl with a friend, though as it is quite heavy and rich in taste. Kok Sen Restaurant (Keong Siak)

Keng Eng Kee Seafood 瓊榮記海鲜
Blk 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-136, Singapore 150124
Tel: +65 6272 1038
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2:30pm, 5pm – 10pm

Moonlight Horfun And Coffee Ribs
Keng Eng Kee is one of those Zi Char places that actually have good service (no grumpy aunties) – prompt (in fact too prompt my dishes arrived in minutes) and friendly.

The originality of the dishes is quite mixed. Owner Mr Liew is Malaysian who learnt his craft from his Hainanese father-in-law, and serves mainly Cantonese styled dishes.

There are a number of dishes that regulars order. The most talked-about dish is the Moonlight Horfun ($6, $9, $16), along with Mingzhu Roll ($12 for 6 pieces), Prawn Roll ($8 for 8 pieces), Yam Basket ($20), Coffee Pork Ris ($15, $20, $28), Claypot Pig Liver ($15, $20), Marmite Chicken ($12, $18, $25) and Salted Egg Sotong ($18, $28, $38).

The Mingzhu Roll ($12 for 6 pieces) is a dish unique to Keng Eng Kee, that looked elaborate and creative for a zi-char dish.

It is fried tau pork stuffed with a variety of ingredients – salted egg yolk, prawn, ham, mushrooms and parsley served with a sweet cream sauce. Keng Eng Kee Seafood (Alexandra)

New Ubin Seafood Hillview
Lam Soon Industrial Building No. 63 Hillview Avenue Singapore 669569
(Hillview MRT, 15-20 min away. Bus numbers 176, 963, 970)
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am – 2pm (Tues – Fri), 11:30am – 2:30pm (Sat, Sun, PH), Dinner 5:30pm – 10:30pm Daily
Reserve Online Now – New Ubin Seafood Hillview

US Ribeye and Heart Attack Fried Rice
What I like about this place: The breath of its variety, even Masala Chicken, which reflects our unique Singapore culture.

You won’t find just the typical zi char dishes, but US Ribeye, Chocolate Alexander, Fish Roe Masala, BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Satay Foie Gras, and BBQ Pork Collar among the top selling dishes.

How I look out for dishes to order is the floor-to-ceiling chalkboard where they would indicate their most popular dishes – Heart Attack Fried Rice, Chilli Crab, Crispy Pork Knuckles, Boss Style Bee Hoon, Great Shovel Nose Ray, and Hei Chor.

Some customers call this the ‘ang moh’ zi char restaurant, and order the US Black Angus Ribeye Steak ($14 for 100 grams, we paid $84), served together with caramelised onions, Idaho potato wedges, sea salt flakes, and my favourite… fried rice cooked with beef drippings.

Por Kee Eating House
#01-02 69 Seng Poh Lane Singapore (10-15 min walk from Tiong Bahru MRT)
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 11:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Champagne Pork Ribs and Homemade Beancurd
They closed, and they reopened. Yeah. Say hello back to Por Kee’s signature dishes like the Champagne Pork Ribs, Homemade Beancurd ($16), Cereal Prawns ($22), Crispy Butter Prawns ($22), and Yam Basket with Chicken and Shrimp ($16).

My favourite dish is easily the Homemade Beancurd with mushrooms ($16).

While deep fried, the inside remains very smooth and silky, poured over by a flavourful sauce with super-power wok-hei. I swear you can feel the wok-hei breathing in your body after taking a bite.

An underrated dish that I enjoyed is the Fried Beef Hor Fun with Black Bean Sauce. Ask for the chili sauce to go along – great combi.

Diamond Kitchen
87 Science Park Dr #01-01 Oasis Singapore 118260
Tel: +65 6464 0410
Opening Hours: 11am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 11pm (Mon-Sun)

Main outlet:5000F Marine Parade Road, Laguna Park (Condominium), #01-22/23, Singapore 449289

For Sauna Prawns and Salted Egg Sotong
There are some reasons for its success: positive reviews from critics and bloggers, and a fairly interesting variety of Singapore meets Malaysian zhi char dishes.

For those who have yet to try their food, their recommended dishes include Sauna Prawns, Three Eggs Chinese Spinach, Champagne Pork Ribs, Superior Chicken Soup, Gan Xiang Fried Rice, Pumpkin Beancurd, Diamond Gan Xiang Crab, Garlic Steamed Bamboo Clams, Salted Egg Sotong, and Hong Kong Steamed Fish.

Many calamari dishes tried elsewhere failed big time, usually tasting rubbery and overpowered by salted egg yolk sauce. Singaporeans may love salted-egg-anything, but let us not drown our food in it.

Diamond Kitchen’s Salted Egg Sotong ($14) was spot on – crispy deep fried, dusted with some spicy powder, evenly tossed in salted yolk mix, and did not taste overly chewy.

Yong Kee Seafood Restaurant
Boon Hwa Food Centre, 43 Jalan Besar (opposite Sim Lim Tower)
Opening Hours: 5:30pm-3am (closed on every first Wed of the month)

Chao Tar Bee Hoon
Every table orders the chao tar bee hoon (burnt vermicelli) at Yong Kee.

This crispy vermicelli is a must try at Yong Kee located within a coffeeshop along Jalan Besar Road. You might have seen this dish before in Malaysia, but it is definitely uncommon here. The wait of 20 minutes was long, but it was worth every minute.

Arriving like a round pancake, the beehoon was crusty on the outside layer, yet moist and flavoursome on the inside where the bee hoon had soaked up the rich stock.

Customers also order the prawn salad served in a honeydew. However, do note that the prawn batter would likely turn soggy after being soaked in the mayonnaise-based gravy. Yong Kee Seafood (Jalan Besar)

Two Chefs Eating Place
Blk 116 Commonwealth Crescent, #01-129 Singapore 140116, Tel: +65 6472 5361
Opening Hours: 5pm-11:30pm (Mon), 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5pm- 11:30pm (Tues-Sun), Closed last Mon of the month

Butter Pork Ribs
Two Chefs describes themselves as “high class dishes at zi char prices”. Hmmm.

The dish that everyone talks about is the Butter Pork Ribs ($8/$12/$16) which is pork chop (no ribs) covered with a specially made powdery butter.

The pork cubes are indeed quite tender (can’t complain because I always get tough pork in Singapore), covered in this snowy white textured, sweet tasting butter power which takes four hours to prepare.

It tastes like dried up condensed milk, while the traces of curry leave add a hint of fragrance. The dish used to be much better though, recently the power got clumpy.

Mellben Signature
7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza #01-105 Singapore 081007
Tel: +65 6220 5512
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10:15pm (Mon – Fri), 12pm – 10:15pm (Sat), 5pm – 10:15pm (Sun)

Salted Egg Crab and Prawns
Mellben has always been attracting crowds for their crabs, but this is the first time I had their Salted Egg Yolk Crabs (seasonal pricing).

I was expecting a wetter sauce, but the mighty crustacean came in a drier form such that the fleshly crabs had already absorbed some of the flavours.

The outer coating was grainy with a moderate touch of sweetness, added with fragrance from the curry leaves and butter. You will find yourself licking your fingers pretty soon.

Tip: You can request for extra sauce at $4 to go with the crispy mantou.

You can also consider the Salted Egg Prawns. Somehow the drier sauce worked well with the fresh sea prawns, good enough that you can actually have them with the shells on.

JB Ah Meng
2 Lor 23 Geylang, Singapore 388353
Tel: +65 6741 2418
Opening Hours: 5pm – 3am (Mon – Sun)

White Pepper Crab and Salted Egg Prawn Roll
Accordingly, the chefs from JB Ah Meng are from across the causeway, and cook in feisty Malaysian style with wok-hei.

JB Ah Meng has a number of ‘star’ signature dishes – JB San Lou Meehoon, White Pepper Crab, Salted Egg Prawn Roll, Fried Fish Head, and 3 Delicacy Beancurd.

If you are a first timer here, you should order at least one of the above.

We heard a statement that “If JB Ah Meng’s White Pepper Crab is 2nd best nobody will claim to be the 1st.”

Is that even true? But after chomping down those sweet fleshy chunks on meat tossed in piquant kick of white pepper, I think there is some truth in that statement.

The Mee Hoon looked like a plate of flat mess, but you know, the taste is quite the opposite. The darker the colour, the more flavours it had absorbed. JB Ah Meng (Geylang)

Ka-Soh Restaurant
Alumni Medical Centre 2 College Road, Singapore 169850
Tel: +65 6473 6686
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am – 2:30pm, Dinner 5:30pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

96 Amoy Street Singapore 069916
Tel: +65 6224 9920
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:45am – 2:30pm, Dinner 5:30pm – 10:45pm (Mon – Sun)

Sliced Fish Soup And Prawn Paste Chicken
If you find yourself at Ka-Soh Restaurant, also known as Swee Kee Fish Head Noodle House at College Road, you may find yourself walking back in time.

Some of the signatures include the Sliced Fish Noodle Soup ($7.50++ for a single serving, $24++ for 3-4 persons, $38++ for 5-6 persons), Prawn Paste Chicken ($15.50++), Spare Pork Ribs (18.5++), Deep Fried Frog with Ginger (22++), Sambal Cuttlefish (18++), Beef and Fresh Crab Meat Hor Fun with Black Bean Sauce and Egg (18++), Fried Yam (8++).

The restaurant still cooks its signature Fish Noodle Soup in a traditional style.

The kitchen would first deep fry the snake-head fish bones, cook the stock for hours till it forms a white, almost-milky base.

Many fish soup stalls now use the short cut by adding evaporated milk to give that creamy mouth feel, but Ka-Soh still use the labour-intensive way.

The soup is paired with simple ingredients of white rice noodles and crunchy vegetables, and you could taste traces of wine that made it more uplifting. Ka-Soh Restaurant (College Road)

Long Ji Zi Char
251, 253 Outram Road Singapore 169049
Tel: +65 9790 5682
Opening Hours: 5:00pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Crab Bee Hoon
The environment is like an old-school Chinese restaurant of the 80s, the type you would celebrate Ah-gong’s and Ah-ma’s birthday at.

The star dish of Long Ji is unquestionably the Crab Bee Hoon (seasonal price).

Its appeal is partly the robustly appealing gravy, cooked with crabs, cabbage and oyster sauce with a peppery aroma. Plus point, no MSG or chicken powder are used in the stock.

If you like your Crab Bee Hoon semi-wet (okay, more wet than dry), this is for you.

You would notice that both the beehoon and gravy are in a light brown colour. That is because Chef would fry the vermicelli all the way till almost to a point of getting burnt. Full of wok hei. Long Ji Zi Char (Outram Road)

Sik Bao Sin (Desmond’s Creation)
592 Geylang Road, Singapore 389531 (Between Lor 34 & 36)
Tel: +65 6744 3757
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:45am – 2:30pm, Dinner 5:45pm – 9:30pm (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon

13 Dishes Offered, Famous For Steamed Fish Head
The food items here are called “Desmond’s creations”, as it is headed by Chef Desmond Chia who was formally from the famous Sik Wai Sin near Geylang Lor 15.

You won’t find fried rice or horfun, but only dishes that go with rice. Just a note: the menu here doesn’t indicate any pricing. That may make a new diner slightly anxious, enquire and you would find out that prices are mostly either $19 or $26 per dish. (Prices here are indicative, so do ask.)

Among the 13 items, 10 are listed as all-time favourites, with 4 named as main stars: Steamed Fish Head, Tofu Prawns, Ginger Chicken, and Steamed Pork with Salted Fish.

One of my personal favourites was the Steamed Pork with Salted Fish ($17), neither overpoweringly salty nor oil, and went well with steamed white rice.

Although the younger generation now probably have less contact with salted fish type dishes, it was so comforting-good. Sik Bao Sin (Geylang)

So what are some of your favourite zi char places and must-have signature dish?

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10 Singapore Heritage Bakeries and Shops

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Finally, or too late?

Burger & Lobster from London will be opening in Singapore during the first half of 2019 at Jewel Changi Airport.

The chain joins Shake Shack and A&W as other high profile names opening at Jewel. Well, we would all have expected it to come, since there are already branches in Bangkok and Genting Highlands. It was only a matter of WHEN.

The restaurant will be located at Jewel’s highest floor called “Canopy Park”, which will have a view of the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. Gorgeous.

Let’s just hope the price would not be too ‘gorgeous’ as well. (The Original Roll cost a jaw-dropping 1500 baht in Bangkok, which is about SGD64-65.)

Meanwhile, here’s a write-up of the London outlet…

[London] Once upon a time, Burger and Lobster only had a three-item menu of burger, lobster, or lobster roll.

It became a runway hit, as all were initially priced at the same at a fixed £20 each.

However, poor financial results caused the restaurant chain to change prices, for a more competitive and sustainable £16 for the Original Burger, £25 for Lobster Roll and, Lobster at £23 for a pound (450 grams).

Burger and Lobster somehow, has become a “must-visit” for many people travelling to London, especially for Singaporeans. Somehow.

It could be because of our fondness for fresh seafood and lobster rolls.

The brand of Burger & Lobsters, a UK chain, has been “wild and live” since 2011. It began with 4 schoolmates on a rooftop in London.

Their bright idea was to put up a restaurant where they only serve one or two main ingredients, but executed perfectly. So, in a small Irish pub in Mayfair the first Burger & Lobster was born.

The chain has grown from Mayfair to 9 more outlets internationally. Burger & Lobster has made its mark in Stockholm, Dubai, London, Manchester, Kuwait, Jeddah, Genting Highlands, New York, and Bangkok.

Their lobsters are wild-caught and come live from Nova Scotia, CA, while burgers are made from 100% Nebraskan Beef. To complement these menu starrers, Burger & Lobster offers some sides and beverages to complete the dining experience.

In terms of ambience, this branch located near Chinatown looked like where Londoners would hang out after work; and travellers with better spending power grab a bite before musicals nearby.

A lot of movement; a lot of energy. Could be a bit noisy when the crowds build up.

Interestingly, I saw a Singapore Chilli Roll (£22) and was intrigued enough to order it, just to understand their interpretation.

All lobster rolls come in a toasted brioche bun. The Original Roll (£25) is lobster with Japanese mayo & lemon.

Served with chips and salad, the spicy version, the Chilli Roll was made of prawn and lobster combined with their homemade chilli sauce.

The sauce tasted very similar to the Singapore Chilli Crab gravy, except that it was sweeter and had less of the tangy-tomato flavours.

While I generally enjoyed the fluffy toasted bun, I thought that the addition of prawns destroyed the ‘purity’ of the combination, and would have preferred more lobster chunks.

As for the burgers, there were 3 kinds of 100% Nebraskan beef in custom baked brioche buns with sesame seeds – Lobster Burger ((£23), 10z Original Burger (£26) and Black Bean Burger (£14).

Unfortunately, the Lobster Burger turned out to be quite ordinary for me, as I thought that the lobster meat and beef patty didn’t gel quite well together.

It was also because the buns were not as soft as I imagined, so they just all felt like separate parts.

To me, the real deal would be getting some of those Steamed Lobsters, so as to thoroughly enjoy the freshness and sweetness of the chunks in its entirely.

I would consider Burger and Lobster as a to-visit, more for its fame, and to strike off one your bucket list.

Burger and Lobster
Leicester Square, 10 Wardour St, London W1D 6QF, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 20 3205 8963
Opening Hours 12pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Thurs), 12pm – 11pm (Fri – Sat), 12pm – 10pm (Sun)
http:// www.burgerandlobster.com
Google Maps – Burger and Lobster

London Branches at
– Threadneedle Street 52 Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AR UK
– Bread Street 1 Bread Street, London, EC4M 9BE London
– Soho 36 – 38 Dean Street, London, W1D 4PS UK
– Oxford Circus 6 Little Portland Street, London, W1W 7JE UK
– Bond Street 26 Binney Street, London, W1K 5BN London

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Click HERE for other LONDON Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Camaca
9 King Albert Park, Kap Mall #01-11/12, Singapore 598332
Tel: Tel: +65 6904 3811
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Gorgeous Cafe Serving “Giant Macarons” Which Are Actually Gelato
Camaca specialising in Gelato, Coffee and Chocolate originated from Taiwan and this is the first store in Singapore.

Gorgeous space, I must say, with an upper storey complete with a coffee bar.

These ‘macarons’ are specially made capsules, which need to be placed in their custom made gelato machine before serving.

The gelato encased within would then be squeezed out, twirled onto a cup akin to a softserve ice cream.

The purpose of putting the gelato in the capsule is mainly for 2 reasons: for hygiene as it prevents unwanted particles from getting in; and preventing air and ice crystals so that the gelato gets an improved texture.

The gelato comes in flavours such as Musang King Durian, Pomelo Tea, Swiss Chocolate, Raspberry Mango, Coconut, Royal Earl Grey, and Roasted Oolong. Camaca (King Albert Park)

Pobo Gelato
2 Clementi West Street 2, Unit 01-02A, Singapore 129605
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Wed – Mon), 6pm – 10pm (Tues)
https://www.facebook.com/pobosg/

Pobo Gelato – Artisanal Italian Gelato Café, Hidden Within West Coast Community Centre
Pobo Gelato aims to brings a taste of Italy to Singapore with the gelato they serve.

All the gelato are handmade from scratch in the shop, churned out fresh by the owner himself.

Each scoop goes for $4 per flavour, $7.50 for 2 flavours, additional $1 for waffle cone.

An interesting feature is that gelato shades are used rather than ice cream scoopers, as the texture is silkier and softer (as compared to American style ice cream) and can easily be scooped out.

Some of the signature Italian flavours include Pistachio, Hazelnut, 70% Dark Chocolate, Fior Di Latte (Milk) and Speculoos. Also available are Asian local-inspired flavours of Pandan, Milo, Matcha, Houjicha and Earl Grey Lavender.

I was instantly impressed by the consistency of the gelato because of how soft it is.

HEYTEA Singapore – Clarke Quay
HEYTEA @ CLARKE QUAY #01-06 at 3A River Valley Road, Singapore 179020
Opening Hours: 12pm – 1am (Mon – Sun)

HEYTEA Singapore Opens 2nd Outlet At Clarke Quay
HEYTEA Singapore 喜茶 has opened its second outlet at Clarke Quay.

Boasting a modest area of 2,200 square feet, customers can sit down and enjoy a cup of tea in the comfort of the modern teahouse.

Located amidst the bustling bar scene at Clarke Quay, this outlet opens at 12pm and closes as late as 1am.

Expect 4 special Singapore-exclusives at HEYTEA Clarke Quay – 2 Tea Geek Special Blend and 2 Tipsy Ice Creams.

For the Singapore-exclusive alcoholic tea creations, they include the Scarlet’s Heart ($16), a refreshing watermelon-pink tipple topped off with a layer of foamy egg white.

Combining the sweet notes of fresh fruits, juicy pineapple pulps and cognac brandy with a hint of floral fragrance from jasmine green tea.

As for The Royal’s Romance ($22), it is a combination of vodka and osmanthus oolong, laced with a sprig of thyme and coupled with a splash of zest from fresh lemons.

Mavrx Coffee Bar
1 Kim Seng Promenade, #01-129, Great World City Office Lobby
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 5:30pm (Mon – Fri), 10:00am – 5:30pm (Sat – Sun)

“Hipster” Coffee Place Opens At Great World City
Mavrx Coffee Bar has opened another outlet at Great World City, at the office tower side.

To retain some of those “hipster” vibes, a wall on the side features the words “Get Shit Done” and cups with puny captions. They are all different, grab a takeaway and read away.

Similar to the first outlet, there is no proper sit-down space per se, but there are benches around for you to hold conversations.

Mavrx Coffee Bar serves up cups of Espresso ($3.50), Flat White ($5), Latte ($5), Cappuccino ($5), Mocha ($5.50), and the not-so-common Genmaicha Latte ($5.50) and Yuzu Cooler ($5.50).

It also offers options of House Blend and Single Origin – a Kenya Rianjagi with blackcurrent, lemonade sweetness, and juicy finish. Mavrx Coffee Bar (Great World City)

Boyle’s Coffee X Love Bites
SMU Li Ka Shing Library, 70 Stamford Rd, #01-22A, Singapore 178901
Tel: +65 8784 4648
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 8:00pm (Mon – Fri), 9:00am – 3:00pm (Sat – Sun)

“Korean” Cafe Opens In SMU Offering Grain Bowls And Nitro Cold Brews
Boyle’s Coffee, which is a coffee brand of South Korea’s UTB Coffee, has made its way to SMU.

This is its 3rd store in Singapore, with the first two found at Bukit Timah Plaza and
Suntec City.
Located right below SMU Li Ka Shing Library, I can foresee a lot of SMU students using this place for short discussions and rushing assignments.

If you have heard about Boyle’s coffee, you’ve probably know about their Nitro Cold Brews. This outlet is also said to house Singapore’s first Mavam Espresso Machine.

Their Nitro Coffee known for silky and smooth texture, is created by cold brew coffee and nitro gas, served in a tall glass.

As this is a “Love Bites” concept, the café also offers “Love Bowls” from 11am onwards, with offerings simply (or lazily) named The Chicken, The Fish, and The Egg.

Cafe Leitz Singapore
Raffles Hotel Arcade, 328 North Bridge Road, L1-20/21, Singapore 080333
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Camera Brand Leica Opens Cafe At Raffles Hotel
Photography enthusiasts will be thrilled to know that the luxury German photography brand, Leica, has opened its 3rd global cafe right in Singapore’s refurbished Raffles Hotel.

The interior is clean, white and minimal, incorporating the complete Leica experience: Leica Galerie (amazing works on display shot on a Leica), Leica Store (camera and lens on display) and Cafe Leitz all under one roof.

Partnering with Alchemist for the coffee and The Patissier in the month of December and Haritts Donuts for the month of January, the menu offering is somewhat similar: Coffee and bakes, no savoury items unlike the outlet in Bangkok.

Alchemist
2 MacTaggart Road, #01-01 Khong Guan Building, Singapore 368078
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm Last Order 4:30pm (Mon – Fri); 9pm – 6pm Last Order 5:30pm (Sat), Closed Sun)

Alchemist Opens 3rd and Flagship Outlet
Alchemist started out as small takeaway coffee outpost in the CBD.

This 3rd outlet is their flagship store where they house the coffee roasters at the back, and an island-open concept coffee bar at the front.

They continue to source for their own coffee, roast them, and then focus on making it simple and approachable to our customers.

Jia Yi Wan 加一碗
7 Hoe Chiang Rd, Singapore 089313
Tel: +65 6904 2580
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Penang Cafe With “Penang Street Art” Found At Tanjong Pagar
Jia Yi Wan 加一碗 specialises in Penang cuisine.

The eatery serves up Penang Curry Noodles ($5.80), Claypot Mee Tai Mak ($7.80), Chicken Horfun Soup ($5.80), Penang Prawn Noodles ($6.80), Penang Lor Mee ($5.80) and Penang Char Kway Teow ($5.80), and sounds rather promising.

However, their menu also (strangely) includes Claypot Bah Kut Teh and Korean Toasts. While those toasts look quite all of place with the Penang theme, I suppose it was there to appeal to the CBD workers in the vicinity.

Tipo Pasta Bar
785 North Bridge Road Singapore 198753
Tel: +65 8768 0785
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 12pm – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

Halal Pasta Cafe With Artisanal Handmade Pasta
The name Tipo came about from “Tipo 00”, a type of smooth wheat flour also known as “doppio zero” or “granero tero” which originates from Italy.

The pasta-café serves up hand-crafted pasta, at a rather affordable price of $13.90 to $15.90 for their recommended combinations.

Diners can also customise pasta dishes from $9.90 (100g) and $12.90 (150g) onwards.

If making pasta choices seem too hair-splitting for you, then go for the standard choices of Royal Ragu ($13.90), Creamy Chicken & Mushroom ($14.90), Prawn Aglio ($14.90), Seafood Pomodoro ($15.90) or Full Vegan ($13.90).

With interesting pasta made from scratch such as Dill & Lemon Fettuccine and Saffron Fusilli, Tipo Pasta Bar does sound promising, and perhaps need some fine-tuning on their cooking processes.
Tipo Pasta Bar (North Bridge Road)

Wok In Burger
124 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-136 Singapore 150124 (within Keng Eng Kee Seafood)
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:00pm – 10:00pm (Mon -Sun)

Zhi Char Dishes Incorporated Into Burgers
(Not a café per set, but I thought this concept is interesting enough to be introduced.) Popular zhi char shop Keng Eng Kee Seafood has opened a new Burger stall called Wok In Burger.

It is introduced with the novel idea of incorporating local zhi char dishes into Western style burgers.

Say “Hello” to Chilli Soft Shell Crab Burger, Salted Egg Pork Burger, Coffee Pork Burger, Pai Gu Wan Burger and the likes.

I also tried the Marmite Fried Chicken Chop Rice ($7) with sunny-side egg and loved the moist chicken drizzled in an addictive sweet sauce.

The rice tasted like it could have more wok-hei. The next time I come, I would order a Marmite Pork Burger which should work pretty well. Wok In Burger (Bukit Merah Lane)

Other Related Entries
10 New Cafes January 2019
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10 New Cafes October 2018
10 New Cafes September 2018

* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary, Nicholas Tan @stormscape, and Song Yu @__sy_g.

The post 10 New Cafes In Singapore February 2019 – Hidden Hipster Cafes Open At Macpherson, SMU, Great World City appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

It seems like the famous Chin Mee Chin Confectionery 真美珍茶室 located at East Coast Road has ended operations. (This comes shortly after another nostalgic shop of Teck Kee Tanglin Pau has announced its closure. Sad to see our childhood places fade away.)

While a notice in front of their shop states they would be back during January 2019, shutters are still down and they have yet to return.

A search on Google also shows that Chin Mee Chin is “permanently closed”.

Residents of Katong and of a certain generation should be familiar with Chin Mee Chin Confectionery, otherwise known as CMC.

This is where you can get a taste of the old-styled coffee and bakes, and to take a step down the memory lane.

The Hainanese coffeeshop 真美珍茶室 along East Coast Road, presently owned by Mr. Tang See Fang, was founded by the owner’s father in 1925.

There is a certain nostalgic charm in this little shop, with mosaic blue and white tiles, marble top tables, a mixture of wooden chairs and ceiling fans.

Other than kaya toast, this confectionary offers pastries like custard puffs, curry puffs, Swiss rolls and fruit cakes, lined up in aluminium trays within old-looking metal shelves.

People go for the hot piping tarts when they come out straight from the kitchen at the back, filling up the signature white boxes with delights for the family.

My favourite is the French Toast with the thick slab of butter and sweet aromatic kaya hand-made in traditional style.

The Custard Puffs, served in little plastic dishes, are also a draw with the dark yellow custard, lightly prepared and not too sweet to the tooth.

Regulars would certainly miss that familiar smell of kaya, butter and coffee prominent in the air; and the sight of aunties at the back-kitchen rattle as they prepare the daily fix.

In the time when rentals keep going up, reliable F&B workers are hard to find, and with nobody to take over the realms, we will unfortunately see more of these familiar places we grow up with, disappear.

Thank you Chin Mee Chin for the memories.

Other Related Entries
10 Singapore Heritage Bakeries and Shops
20 Best Singapore Local Cafes – For Kopi & Toast
12 Best Zi Char In Singapore
10 Nasi Lemak Dishes In Singapore
26 Places To Eat In Singapore

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Margaret Drive’s Queenstown Library was where I used to borrow books (maybe this will reveal my age).

The joy continued with a meal at the food centre opposite, and the staples would usually include popiah, pan-fried dumplings, and yes, Sin Kee Chicken Rice.

Sin Kee is a well-known name among chicken rice stalls in Singapore, mainly serving poached chicken rice Cantonese-style. It garnered more attention when it earned the distinction Bib Gourmand awarded by Michelin Guide in 2018.

Truth be told, there are a couple of “Sin Kee” around that I am not too sure which is the original. But perhaps it doesn’t matter that much now.

(Managed to find some old photos I took of the Margaret Drive stall.)

Founded in 1971 as a hawker stall at the now-defunct Margaret Drive Food Centre, it is a family business owned by a certain Mr. Leong. His 2 sons, Niven and Benson, took over after he passed away in 2008.

Niven sold his late father’s famous chicken recipe, and now operates his own Uncle Chicken Rice at the Alexandra Village Food Centre.

Meanwhile, Benson continued operating Sin Kee, which moved to Mei Ling Food Centre, until 2015.

A year later, he and business partner Edwin Goh re-opened Sin Kee at Holland Drive where it is currently located, tucked at the corner of Chang Chen Mee Wah Coffee Shop.

The flagship item Chicken Rice ($3.50, $4.00, $4.50) is the most popular in the menu line-up.

What makes diners constantly coming back for more is essentially their signature dish Chicken Rice, all chunky slices of chicken meat served with a plate of flavourful yet surprisingly, not as oily rice.

Sin Kee’s chicken are poached in a flavourful stock using chicken bones and other seasonings, to produce chicken that’s tender, smooth-skinned, succulent, and evenly cooked through.

An interesting method is that the chicken is plunged in icy water to “shock” the poultry. This cooking method results in a meat that is ‘crunchier’ and in a skin that is smoother.

It also creates the gelatinous film just beneath the skin which many find delectable.

Note: As per Sin Kee’s tradition, there is no soup served along with Chicken Rice. The flavourful chicken broth went into the poaching of chicken and cooking of the rice.

If you do prefer a specific part of the chicken, you may order the Chicken Drumstick Rice ($4.50), Chicken Thigh Rice ($4.50), or the Chicken Double Wings Rice ($4.50).

Others may argue the chicken is good on its own, but for those who need more flavour in their dish, Sin Kee serves condiments on the side: soy sauce, chili sauce, and its Cantonese-style ginger dip – which makes the chicken meat refreshingly better.

The ginger dip uses both young and old ginger, house-made grated and prepared watery with a gentle spiciness.

The chilli sauce, made with lime and vinegar, is sharp, tangy, and spicy.

Although the core item in the menu is Chicken Rice, Sin Kee offers a couple of vegetable dishes and innards as side dishes.

Gizzards and Liver are both priced at $3.00/$4.00/$5.00 for S, M, and L. If you order any of the Chicken Rice Sets, you can add on the gizzard or liver for only $1.00

Oyster Sauce Greens and the crunchy Bean Sprouts which is a must-order follow similar pricing ($3.00/$4.00/$5.00).

Come as early as you can as many dishes are gone by late noon. Plan ahead as the stall is closed every Monday.

After so many years, the authentic flavour of their Cantonese-style chicken has remained almost the same, attracting both loyal patrons and foodies exploring that time-tested taste.

Sin Kee Famous Cantonese Chicken Rice (Holland Drive)
Block 40, Stall 7, #01-39, Holland Drive, Singapore 270040
Tel: +65 8428 7865
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 4:00pm or while stocks last (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon

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Lian He Ben Ji Claypot Rice (Chinatown)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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[Seoul] Matcha cafes are not a common find in Seoul, especially when it comes to an entire cafe dedicated to serving matcha gelato, pastries and drinks.

I was just roaming around Zapangi 자판기 (you know the pink Instagrammable vending machine door) when I came across an unassuming white cafe with glass windows right at the road junction.

Looking through the glass panel, it just looked like any other ordinary ice cream shops.

Nope, I was wrong.

The moment I stepped through the glass door, I realised this is THE place for me, an entire cafe offering matcha gelato.

Not one or two shades of green, but a total of 6 different visible intensities, neatly arranged from the weakest (Level 1) to the strongest (Level 5+, why not Level 6 though). Daebak!

Using matcha powder from Jeju Island instead of the ones commonly imported from Uji, Kyoto, organic milk and natural sweeteners in their gelato, it boasts several health benefits.

Gelato are price according to their level, ranging from Level 1 (KRW 2,900, SGD3.50), Level 2-5 (KRW 3,500, SGD 4.20) to Level 5+ (KRW 3,800, SGD4.60).

For the matcha-holics or those who can’t decide on a single intensity, a platter of all 6 different levels are available at KRW 19k, approximately SGD23.

The platter helps in differentiating the levels with each mouthful as direct comparisons can be made.

Level 1 and 2 leaned towards a milkier taste, with hint notes of matcha on the tongue.

Level 3 is a comfortable level with distinctive notes of matcha well balanced with the sweetness of the milk. Most of my friends enjoyed this level the most.

For the matcha-holics, level 4 a suitable level, with umami-ness and lingering bitterness on the palate.

I personally find level 5 and 5+ enjoyable on the first bite, but the bitterness gets too unbearable after a few more mouthfuls.

The shop owner suggested eating one scoop of level 5 with one scoop of level 1 to balance out the bitterness.

Yes, level 5 and 5+ is really strong though.

Other desserts include Matcha Cheesecake (KRW 5,500, SGD6.70), Matcha Bingsu (KRW 14k, SGD17) and Yogurt Bingsu (KRW 13k, SGD15.70).

The Matcha Cheesecake (KRW 5,500, SGD6.70) is another bestseller, available in limited quantity (read 16 slices a day).

Made using Level 3 and 5 intensities of matcha, the cheesecake is created to form different layers, with a gradual increase in intensity.

Silky smooth mousse-like texture with distinctive milky cheese taste and increasing in matcha taste as you continue to dig into it.

The sweetness and bitterness is very well balanced between the cheesecake and matcha layers respectively. Mashisoyo!

Both Matcha Latte (or they named it as Matcha Milk tea) and Milk Tea are also available in cute takeaway bottles (KRW 3,800, SGD4.60).

Smooth with light notes of matcha (probably not as distinct after eating Level 5 Matcha gelato), it’s not as memorable as the Matcha Gelato Platter and the Matcha Cheesecake.

Nocturne No.5 is definitely one of the must-visit (personally for matcha-holics like me) that serves really good matcha desserts and I was glad that I chanced upon this shop while walking around Mangwon station.

Nocturne No. 5 녹턴넘버5
117 Poeun-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul (Mangwon Station)
117 메디움빌딩 1층
Tel: +82 2 6954 0960
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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[Bangkok] One of the oldest neighborhoods in Bangkok, Bangrak is mostly populated by Cantonese immigrants who are famous for their cooking skills. The area is nearer to the riverside, known for many of its noteworthy eats.

Sanyod is one of the most well-known restaurants there, offering Thai-Cantonese cuisine and attracts regulars and customers from other parts of the city.

They come here to try the signature char-grilled Roast Duck marinated with a secret sauce and other tasty Cantonese dishes.

It was also awarded the Bib Gourmand in Bangkok’s Michelin Guide.

It was in 1962 when the founder Wu Chun Pei decided to open a food stall serving up Radna (fried noodles with gravy) and other Cantonese dishes by using his family recipes.

Business was brisk and the stall expanded to a restaurant. It was originally named “Seng Yid” which translates to “success and prosperity”.

As the Thais have difficulty pronouncing the name, it was changed to the Thai word “Sanyod” which means “superb”.

Sanyod currently has 4 branches in Bangkok (including Central World Level 6 B Zone and Sena Fest 2nd floor) and this is the original shop.

If you want a more spacious dining experience, you can just cross over opposite to the other more upmarket restaurant.

The restaurant’s décor and layout are considered simple and no-fuss, with round tables that can accommodate up to 25 people in total.

The menu consists of a wide selection of Chinese-Cantonese cooked-to-order dishes including the signature Roast Duck (150, 200, 300 baht), Radna (130, 200, 300 baht), and “Goy See Mee” – Pan Fried Noodles with Egg Drop and Pork Gravy (85, 250, 350 baht).

150 baht is about SGD6.50 or USD4.80, considered mid-range in terms of pricing.

There is a wide menu from Roasted Pork, Crispy Roasted Pork, Fish Maw Soup, Double Boiled Duck Soup, Deep Fried Fish Topped with Spicy Sauce, Braised Tofu in Earthenware Pot, to Chao Min (Fried Noodles) with Chicken.

Even if you are familiar with Hong Kong’s Roast Duck, the versions in Bangkok tend to be slightly different – more to the sweetish side and sauce-heavy.

The same went with Sanyod, a plate coming with part-tender-part-fatty pieces drenched in a sauce with Chinese herbal hint.

I had tried another famous duck shop in Bangkok before, and Sanyod’s take was certainly more flavourful and less tough. They were also chopped into manageable thinner pieces, not the chunky and meaty type.

Fans of Thai-style Wanton Noodles should really make your way here.

The Egg Noodles and Shrimp Wantons topped with roast duck and pork (150, 300, 450 baht) though looked superbly dry without much sauce, was actually quite tasty with light fragrance after being tossed properly.

The egg noodles were flat, with a springy bite.

The Pan Fried Noodles with Pork Gravy (130, 200, 300 baht) was enjoyable in terms of its tender pork slices and wok-hei, though I thought that the base sauce could do with slightly less salt and sugar.

There was also that touch of old-school flavour that I found rather endearing about this place.

Sanyod แสนยอดโภชนา
89 Soi Sathon Nuea, Charoen Krung Road, Silom Subdistrict, Bang Rak District, Bangkok, Thailand (Near Surasak and Taksin BTS)
89 ซอยจรัสเรือง ถนนสาทรเหหนือ แขวงสีลม
Tel: +66 2 234 7968
Opening Hours: 10am – 8:30pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 9pm (Sat – Sun)
Google Maps – Sanyod

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Click HERE for other BANGKOK Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Sanyod – Famous For Roast Duck, Radna (Horfun) And Wanton Noodles, At Bangrak Bangkok appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[London] When I think of café experience minimalism, I cannot help but think of the cult favourite Nordic Bakery in London.

There is no doubt that antipodean style coffee shops have been all the buzz in recent years. The prevalence of Aussie and Kiwi coffee culture has all but taken over the London scene with an identifiable style that may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

(Photo credit: Nordic Bakery Facebook)

Nordic Bakery, with locations in Golden Square, Cavendish and Dorset Street in London, offers a keen and stylish alternative.

A lovely, stripped back and simple Scandinavian-style coffee shop that does not bother with the fuss now associated with coffee drinking.

In a city so inundated with independent cafes trying to make their own specific mark on the coffee landscape, Nordic Bakery simply wishes to provide refuge for those who want to enjoy their brew in an atmosphere without the pretence and the noise.

However, you do not visit this establishment specifically for their coffee. They offer the bare essentials: a choice of teas (£1.80), a latte (£2.50), filter coffee (£2.30), cappuccino (£2.50), mocha (£2.90), and espresso (£1.60).

Nothing fancy, just what is expected.

But where they do excel is in their bakes and confections. Nordic Bakery boast a true reputation for utilising tried and tested recipes that hail from Scandinavia, items that can scarcely be found anywhere else in London.

Their bakes include Cinnamon Bun (£3.40), Berry Buns (£3.20), Butter Buns (£3.00), Skoleboller (£3.30), Apple Tosca Bun (£3.30), Almond Twist (£3.40), Oven Pancake (£3.40), Raspberry & Blueberry Oatbake (£3.40), Tosca Cake (£3.60), Tiger Cake (£3.30) to Mud Cake (£3.30).

£3 is about SGD5.30 or USD3.90.

Whenever I visit, I cannot help but order several portions of Karelian Pie (£2.30).

These are gorgeous pastries that originate from Finland, and are made combining a thin, crunchy rye crust with a filling of rich rice porridge or potato mash.

Lather on a blob of egg butter and you reach pastry heaven.

The mini cinnamon buns are also rather good here, a portion that is not too large to fill you up but just big enough to make you feel satisfied.

It almost goes without saying that Nordic Bakery use their own traditional recipe for their buns.

Depending on when you visit, you may have the opportunity to try anything from Nordic Salmon Soup to Lent time buns with whipped cream.

Their selection is diverse, always introducing new items to keep things interesting.

I would definitely recommend Nordic Bakery to anyone who is looking for a quiet, charming place either to work or socialise, where they can eat unique café grub that is always a topic for conversation

Nordic Bakery, Golden Square
14A Golden Square, Soho, London W1F 9JG
Opening Hours: 7.30am – 7pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 8pm (Sat – Sun)
Google Maps – Nordic Bakery, Soho

Other Related Entries
Monmouth Coffee Company (Covent Garden, London)
Flat White (Soho, London)
Workshop Coffee (Marylebone, London)
The Attendant (Fitzrovia, London)
Jacob the Angel (Covent Garden, London)

Click HERE for other LONDON Food Entries

* Written by DFD’s London Food Correspondent Leander Dias SaltyCritic. Leander Dias was born and raised in Dubai, a burgeoning city with diverse food culture. Since moving to London to read for his English MA at UCL, he has utterly immersed himself in the local food scene, writing extensively about everything he eats everywhere he goes. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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You may not have expected to find a hipster café within this interesting and nostalgic building located where MacTaggart Road and Burn Road meets.

As you look up to the top and read from right to left, you would notice the words 康元 which means Khong Guan.

This 3-storey building is where Khong Guan Biscuit Factory used to be, and was given conservation status in 2005.

The lower floor is now occupied by Alchemist, which first started out as as small takeaway coffee outpost in the CBD at International Plaza, Tanjong Pagar.

This 3rd outlet is their flagship store where they house the coffee roasters at the back, and an island-open concept coffee bar at the front.

They continue to source for their own coffee, roast them, and then focus on making it simple and approachable to our customers.

If you need to find good third wave specialty coffee in Singapore, this is where you can come to.

Two blends were available when I visited – Dark Matter which was bold and nutty, or Areka with berry-fruity and floral notes.

Prices range from $3.00 from an espresso, $4.50 for a white or black, $5.50 for an Ice White, to $6.00 for a pourover.

I generally enjoy their coffee, especially the Dark Matter blend which is bold, full of body, and also balanced.

A pity that when I arrived, there were only Croissants left for bites.

With that said, the one I had was a surprisingly crisp and buttery piece – worth pairing with coffee.

I also liked the environment, not as echoey as expected, with various seating arrangements, and decorative traces of the old heritage building. Look at the flooring.

Just a little suggestion: Since the café is located within Khong Guan Building, I thought it might be a pleasant touch to include a small Khong Guan biscuit with some of the drinks. Also for nostalgic purposes.

Alchemist
2 MacTaggart Road, #01-01 Khong Guan Building, Singapore 368078
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm Last Order 4:30pm (Mon – Fri); 9pm – 6pm Last Order 5:30pm (Sat), Closed Sun)

Other branches
Hong Leong Building, 16 Raffles Quay #01-08 Singapore 04858
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun

International Plaza, 10 Anson Road #01-34 Singapore 709903.
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun

Other Related Entries
Ristr8to (Tai Seng)
JAB Coffee Co. (Raffles City)
Brawn & Brains Coffee (East Coast Road)
Liberty Coffee Bar (Jalan Besar)
Homeground Coffee Roasters (Joo Chiat)

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

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There is no stopping of Japanese cafes opening up in Singapore.

Some are established dessert brands, such as Pablo Cheese Tart and Hattendo (There are a couple of big Japanese names opening up in Singapore in 2019, so look out for them.)

Not forgetting about the coffee drinkers, Omotesando Koffee and Baristart Coffee have also set foot in Singapore near the CBD.

Some are home-grown brands we should be proud of, such as Hvala and Matchaya, both known for their matcha latte and desserts.

Those in this list are a combination of cafes that originate from Japan, feature Japanese style food and desserts, or are helmed by Japanese chefs. There is a list of20 Japanese Cafes In Singapore おいしいです:

(Click PLAY for video highlights of Baristart Coffee Singapore.)

Baristart Coffee Singapore
65 Tras Street Singapore 079004 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/Baristart-Coffee-Singapore-239801243463838

Popular Hokkaido café Baristart Coffee has arrived in Singapore, and it is not difficult to understand why it would be a hit with both coffee and Japanese food lovers.

Other than using Hokkaido milk of exceptional quality for its coffee, matched with beautiful latte art; its food and desserts – such as the Shiro Kuma Hokkaido shaved ice is worthy venturing to Tanjong Pagar for.

It is the first café here to offer coffee using the popular Brown Jersey Milk from Biei, a small town in Hokkaido, Japan.

Biei Jersey Milk is an ultra-premium milk prized for being rare, as there are only about 800 Brown Jersey cows left making up 1% of the total cow population in Japan. Baristart Coffee (Tras Street)

Matchaya
Icon Village Gopeng & Tras Street, #01-72
Tel: +65 9767 9811 / 9837 3187
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 7pm (Sat – Sun)

Matchaya is a Japanese tea shop serving authentic Japanese-inspired beverages and sweets.

All premium ingredients, such as matcha and houjicha, are painstakingly sourced from different prefectures in Japan and blended exclusively.

Hand-brewed from their own sources of tea, the Matchaya Exclusive Blend which is a bottled Japanese Milk Tea is a crowd favourite.

Try the bestsellers Cold-Whisked Milk Tea which consists of 2 flavours of Extreme Uji Matcha; and Houjicha Milk ($6.50 each) with roasty, nutty and notes of Koffee.

Hvala CHIJMES
CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street, Singapore 187996
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

A Japanese teahouse located within the walls of the 19th-century built chapels at CHIJMES.

The space has a minimalist touch with wooden elements incorporated into every single details, yet brought out the beauty and the simplicity in the design. (Reminds me of Peace Oriental Teahouse from Bangkok.)

The tea apparatus and tableware are all neatly displayed at the bar counter, from the mini stone mill grinder, pour over apparatus, tea scoop to the whisk.

This is probably the best spot to witness all the actions and effort in preparing every cup of tea. They have recently expanded their space, and certainly feels more “zen” now. Hvala (CHIJMES)

PABLO Cheese Tart Singapore
Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, 435 Orchard Road #01-02/38, Singapore 238877 (Orchard MRT)
Tel: +65 6835 9269
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

The first-ever Pablo Cheese Tart Café in Singapore is situated at Level 1 of Wisma Atria, Orchard Road.

Pablo fans claim that their Cheese Tarts are the best ever, and is branded as “The most famous cheese tarts from Japan”.

This Singapore café carries many cheese-based products including the Signature Pablo Freshly Baked Cheese Tart, Pablo Mini Cheese Tarts, Pablo Smoothies and Pablo Soft-Serve Ice-Cream.

The iconic big 15-cm Cheese Tarts come in flavours of Original Cheese ($15), Matcha Cheese ($18), and Chocolate Cheese ($18).

Unfortunately, the Original Cheese Tart only comes with the “Medium” option for Pablo outlets outside Japan. In Japan, you get the “Rare” version which is more molten and flowy. This is so as to keep quality consistent, as they said.

The custardy mousse-like fillings were well, predictable with a mousse-like cheese filling, glazed with apricot jam. Pablo Cheese Tart Café Singapore (Wisma Atria)

Pancake Cafe Belle-Ville
Bugis Junction #01-01B, Towers 230 Victoria Street Singapore 188024 (Bugis MRT Exit C, facing Victoria Street, under the giant TV screen)
Tel: +65 6255 5456
Opening Hours: 8am – 8.30 pm (Mon – Sun)

Suddenly Japanese pancakes are getting back in trend in Singapore, with the opening of Pancake Cafe Belle-Ville at Bugis Junction, and Riz Labo Kitchen.

Pancake Cafe Belle-Ville originated from Osaka Japan, with its popular flagship store located at Umeda Whity. This Singapore branch is its first overseas outpost.

The pancake café is known for its meringue made-to-order millefeuille (French for “thousand layers”) pancakes, included with homemade whipped Hokkaido cream, stacked from 2 to 8 layers.

Priced from $11.90 to $16.20, varieties include Strawberry and Mixed Berry Pancake, Mango Pancake, Grilled Apple with Homemade Caramel Pancake, Matcha with Rice Ball and Red Bean Pancake, and Chocolate with Grilled Banana Pancake. Belle-Ville (Bugis Junction)

Hoshino Coffee
Chinatown Point #02-47/48 Singapore 059413
Tel: +65 6244 2028
Opening Hours: 11.30 am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Hoshino Coffee takes pride in its hand-drip coffees, made with roasted 100% premium Arabica coffee beans. These beans are carefully selected by Hoshino Coffee’s very own coffee blend specialist Master Kanno.

To pair with your coffees, you may order any of their popular soufflé-style pancakes – baked fresh upon order (allot 20 minutes waiting time) and served with whipped butter and your choice of syrup (maple or honey).

Their signature Pancakes Souffle Style is priced $9.80 for single and $12.00 and double. The special matcha variant is at $13.50 for single and $16.80 for double.

Aside the hand-drip coffee and pancakes, Hoshino offers spaghetti with various toppings (its signature is Hoshino Spaghetti with Eggplant, Bacon, Shimeji & Sausage, $14.00), rice dishes (the Fuwa-Fuwa Hoshino Souffle on Porcini Cream Rice with Bacon is a must-try), meat plates (go for the Hoshino Angus Beef Steak Plate, $21.80), and side dishes (Hoshino French Fries with Wasabi Mayo, $6.00).

Japan Rail Café
5 Wallich Street, #01-20/21 Tanjong Pagar Centre, Singapore 078883 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sat), 11am – 8pm (Sun, PH)

Rail pass ticketing, retail and Japanese style cafe. This is the first overseas venture by East Japan Railway Company, located on Level 1 of Tanjong Pagar Centre.

Walking in, the first thing you may notice is a convenient rail ticket service for Japan rail passes.

You can purchase exchange orders for JR passes before their trips at the instore rail pass ticketing counter operated by JTB Pte Ltd.

Food wise, the menu did feel rather ‘Western-Japanese’, with a selection of burgers ($19 – $22), sandwiches ($15 – $18) and rice plates ($16 – $18). There is a selection of pastries from Asanoya Bakery.

Asanoya Bakery Singapore
Wilby Central, 15 Queen Street, Singapore 188537
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon-Thurs), 10am – 10pm (Fri), 8am – 10pm (Sat), 8am – 8pm (Sun)

The Asanoya brand is 81 years old, founded in 1933 in Karuizawa Japan. The bakery is known for its rustic Japanese-style bread, with a European twist and baked in a traditional stone ovens (modern ones in Singapore).

Their top few bake include the Fruits Rye, a mixture of fragrant orange peel, rum infused raisins, lightly crushed walnuts and almonds mixed into a delicate rye bread.

Hattendo Singapore Cafe
Tanjong Pagar Centre #01-05, 7 Wallich Street Singapore 078884
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 8pm (Sat – Sun, PH)
Reserve Online Now

Japanese soft cream buns Hattendo are available in Singapore as a café concept at Tanjong Pagar Centre.

The cold cream bun by Hattendo looked so unsuspectingly simple, like a plain white round dough smaller than a child’s fist.

Although this would remind some of a choux puff, the layer of fluffiness was “not a puff”, but had a bread-cake texture, soft like an expensive good quality pillow. Hattendo (Tanjong Pagar)

Tsujiri
176 Orchard Road #01-101 The Centrepoint Singapore 238843
Tel: +65 6238 8224
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Other branche: The Central @ Clarke Quay

Probably one of the most known Japanese green tea café in Singapore. Tsujiri is said to be a 155-year-old traditional Japanese tea brand serving the highest quality Matcha with a contemporary twist.

However, do not confuse them with Japan’s Gion or Saryo Tsujri – which the Japanese are more familiar with.

The O-Matcha Latte ($5.60, $6.20) is a customer favourite, made using matcha harvested from Tsujiri’s own plantation in Uji, Kyoto. I found the latte slightly sweeter than the usual Japanese style, but was still a smooth, refreshing drink.

Tachihara Coffee
9 Raffles Boulevard, #01-96 Millenia Walk, Singapore 039596
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 9:30pm Daily

Pullman Bakery, famous for their Hokkaido curry buns and other Danish pastries, is a name that Japanese bread lovers should recognise.

Do you know that it first started off as “Tachihara Bakery” way back in 1978 in Hokkaido Japan?

I noticed that there is matcha in EVERY section of the menu, and ordered the Matcha Cream Toast ($3), Ice Matcha Latte ($4.50), and Matcha Cup Dessert ($3).

The Ice Matcha Latte ($4.50) was relatively sweet, overpowering everything else. As a matcha lover, I would have preferred more distinct notes of green tea. Tachihara Coffee (Millenia Walk

Maccha House Singapore
Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, #B1-40, Singapore 238896
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon-Sun)

Maccha House specialises in traditional Maccha beverages and desserts created from this fine green tea powder, all sourced from Kyoto Japan.

While they also serve hot food items, most are really here for their desserts, such as the Maccha Soft Serve Anmitsu with Rice-flour Dumplings, and Maccha Parfaits which come with rice flour, chocolate or soy milk pudding.

While the palm-sized Maccha Tiramisu ($7.99) seems ordinary, it contained a layer of premium Kyoto’s “Morihan” matcha powder with more than 170 years of history, carefully dusted on top.

They serve the Hot Maccha drink the traditional way – whisked with a bamboo chasen out of a bowl. Their Maccha Latte is considerately not as bitter, so some may like this version? Maccha House (Orchard Central)

Café & Meal MUJI Paragon
Orchard Paragon, 290 Orchard Road #04-36 Singapore 238859 (Orchard MRT)
Tel: +65 6735 0123
Opening Hours: 10am – 9:30pm (Mon-Sun), Full menu available only after 11am, Last order 9:45pm

Lifestyle Japanese brand MUJI has finally opened its first “Café & Meal MUJI” in Singapore at L4 Paragon Orchard. Die-hard MUJI fans will be sooooooo excited.

After shopping for those ‘no-brand’ home accessories, you can rest your legs at the café for some Caramel Pudding ($4.90) and Roasted Tea Pudding. There are electrical sockets if you need to work on your laptop.

For a filling meal, Japanese style ‘cai peng’ is available. A selection of 1 hot and 2 cold deli with choice of white rice or bread is at $12.90, while the 2 hot and 2 cold combination is at $16.90. An additional $1 can be topped up for Ten Grain Rice – Niigata Koshihikari Japanese white rice mixed with multi-grains. The dishes taste, em, healthy. (Read: Café & Meal MUJI Paragon Orchard)

Doutor Coffee 株式会社ドトールコーヒー
Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3, #01-05, 12 Marina Boulevard Singapore 018982
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 9:30am (Mon-Fri), 8:30am – 4:30pm (Sat-Sun)

I suspect not many know there is actually Doutor Coffee in Singapore. Doutor is a popular Japanese retail company specialising in coffee roasting and coffee cafes, with over 1200 outlets around the world. My favourite branch being the one at Ginza.

CBD executives would come for breakfast with options of Ham & Egg Sandwich ($7.80), Pancakes with Choco Banana ($6.80) and localised Kaya Toast with Azuki or Egg ($4.80).

In between meetings, I like to wind down at a quiet corner here. Its Crepe Cake and Matcha desserts are great for a relaxing afternoon bite.

Patties & Wiches
391 Orchard Road Takashimaya Shopping Centre #03-10A Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238872 (5-10 min walk from Orchard MRT)
Opening Hours: 9.30am – 9.30pm (Mon-Sun)

We can imagine Japanese tai tais loving the space here. Patties & Wiches (the shop’s name comes from burger-patties and sand-wiches) serves an agglomeration of Japanese pastries from various Japanese F&Bs in Singapore such as Asanoya Bakery and Chef Yamashita. Plus a Western twist.

The highlights include a $55 Wagyu Burger, Chef Yamashita’s Mont Blanc, and the must-try Fumi Araya Chou-Pop ($3) which comes in 5 different flavours. I may have liked this place better if there are more unique bakes, also because I have always tried those from Yamashita. (Read: Patties & Wiches Orchard)

Watanabe Coffee
350 Orchard Road Shaw Centre, Swiss Cottage Estate, Singapore 238868 (Orchard Road MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon-Sun)

After Patties & Wiches, Japanese tai tais can take a stroll down to Shaw Centre for Watanabe Coffee.

I was excited about their selection of matcha (finely grounded green tea leaves) desserts and drinks: Matcha and Ogura Shibuya Toast ($16.80), Japanese Matcha Parfait ($13.80), Matcha Pudding ($8.20), Matcha Shake ($9), Matcha Latte ($7.80) and Matcha Roll Cake ($8.20). The original branch seems better in terms of food and service though. (Read: Watanabe Coffee Orchard)

Nana’s Green Tea Café
The Atrium @ Orchard, Plaza Singapura 68 Orchard Road #03-80/82 Singapore 238839 (Dhoby Ghaut MRT) Tel: +65 6684 4312
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm

With more than 30 branches in Japan, Nana Green Tea is sometimes termed as the “Japanese Starbucks”.

Although Nana’s Green Tea is known to be a café, it also sells several main courses such as dons, udons and sushi rolls, with a more localised menu quite unlike the ones in Japan.

Desserts such as its Matcha Anmitsu ($8.80), are definitely its strength. It may not blow you away but makes a decent afternoon tea-time treat, with its azuki red bean paste smooth and satisfying.

St. Marc Bakery & Bar
Parkland Green @ ECP 920, East Coast Parkway #01-09/10, Singapore 449875
Tel: +65 6342 1786
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Tue – Fri), 9am to 10pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon
Other branches at Raffles City Shopping Centre, Vivocity, Marina Square

Japanese dessert Café Saint Marc has a few star items – Choro Cro pastry, Little Fuji and Geisha Waffle Cone. No doubt, I am a fan.

Few would know they opened a restaurant concept with much larger space at Parkland Green, East Coast Parkway. Dining at a Japanese café by the beach sounds like a great weekend activity. However, while The East Coast St. Marc may provide a fuller menu, the experience at other branches felt better. (Read: St Marc Bakery & Bar Parkland Green)

Omotesando Koffee
6A Shenton Way #04-01, The Work Project, Downtown Gallery, Singapore 068815
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon to Fri), Closed Sat, Sun

This a take away store tucked away in a corner of Level 4 of Downtown Gallery as part of office space “The Work Project”, but that did not hider coffee fans from finding their way to this secluded part of building.

Over here, the menu is kept simple with Hot or Iced selections.

Hot coffee include espresso based Omotesando Koffee Hot (Regular $4, Large $5), Hand Drip Koffee ($6) Latte and Cappuccino (Regular $4.80, Large $6).

The popular choice is the signature Iced Cappuccino (Single $7.50, Double $8.50) capped with layer of bubble foam and topped with cocoa powder. Omotesando Koffee (Downtown Gallery)

Kagurazaka Saryo 神楽坂茶寮
VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-59, Singapore 098585
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Known to have 9 outlets in Japan with 14 years of history, Kagurazaka Saryo has opened its very first flagship store right in Singapore at VivoCity.

Brought into Singapore by Japan Food Holdings who owns eateries such as Ajisen Ramen, they have replaced existing Fruit Paradise outlet (Oh bye bye, Fruit Paradise!) with Kagurazaka Saryo.

Fans of fruit tarts from Fruit Paradise need not worry as the tarts are still available for purchase in slices or in whole at Kagurazaka Saryo.

The menu offers a selection of signature matcha desserts such as their famed Matcha Fondue with Assorted Sides ($14.90) and Matcha Frozen Smores ($9.90).

However, the matcha ice cream was milky and sweet, and the taste of green tea was not as distinct as expected, especially when this brand is supposed to comes from the land of matcha. Kagurazaka Saryo 神楽坂茶寮 (Vivocity)

Other Related Entries
40 Amazing Matcha Desserts In Singapore
12 Japanese Restaurants & Cafes At Suntec City
11 Must Try Japanese Restaurants At Millenia Walk
10 Japanese Cafes In Singapore
12 Best Sushi Rolls In Singapore

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

The post 20 Japanese Cafes In Singapore – To Satisfy Your Matcha, Pancakes And Japanese Desserts Craze appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[Hong Kong] One of Hong Kong’s most iconic Dim Sum restaurants Lin Heung Tea House 蓮香樓is likely to close, as the landlord did not renew the lease.

Located at Hong Kong Central, Lin Heung is popular amongst locals and tourists alike, for its very authentic dim sum experience.

I have been there a couple of times. No matter how much I tell my friends to get mentally ready for the Lin Heung ‘warzone’ experience, they never really are.

If you do not speak Cantonese (or at least pu tong hua), and have no understanding of the dim sum trolley culture – good luck.

First things first, grab your seats or wait around like a vulture till you get some empty ones. You definitely have to share the table with complete strangers.

Dim sum ladies dressed in light blue would come out pushing trolleys of food.

For popular items like the Cheong Fun and Cha Siu Bao, this is a competition of fastest runner and fastest hands first.

The price of the food is considered inexpensive, though quality nothing to shout about if you compare to some of the other top-notch Hong Kong dim sum restaurants.

However, this is probably one of the 10 things you must experience in Hong Kong if you are a foodie.

Come early enough in the morning, and you would spot the locals (generally the older generation) gathering over breakfast, or the lone uncle analysing the horse betting books.

The building’s landlord has not renewed the restaurant’s lease, which is set to expire in the second quarter between April and June this year.

According to Hong Kong’s media outlets, the staff had its final Lunar New Year dinner together, and would most likely continue business only till end of February 2019.

Another heritage restaurant making way, to commercialisation.

Lin Heung Tea House 蓮香樓
162 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong (Sheung Wan MTR Exit E2)
Tel: +852 25444556 (Queue up very early)
Opening Hours: 6am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
(Operations till possibly end February 2019)

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12 Must Try Dim Sum Restaurants In Hong Kong
One Dim Sum 一點心 (Prince Edward, Hong Kong)
Famous Dim Sum 名點心 (Prince Edward, Hong Kong)
Sun Tung Lok 新同樂 (Tsim Sha Tsui , Hong Kong)
Tin Lung Heen 天龍軒 (West Kowloon, Hong Kong)

Click HERE for other HONG KONG Food Entries

The post Lin Heung Tea House 蓮香樓 – Hong Kong’s Iconic Dim Sum Restaurant Likely To Close End February appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[Seoul] Jjajangmyeon, Jjamppong, Tang Su Yuk, also known as Korean-styled Chinese food and commonly seen in Korean dramas may not be as common in Seoul, at least in dine-in restaurants.

These dishes are commonly ordered for takeaways and through delivery services instead.

After trying the various JjajangMyeon restaurants in Singapore such as my two favourites at Tae Woo Ban Jum and O.BBa Jjajang, I was determined to try the “authentic” version from the land of origin, South Korea itself.

The search led me to Mashi China 맛이차이나 at Mapo-gu.

It was not an easy find though, as there was no any indication that it is located on the 2nd floor of the building (Uri Gym) even on Google Maps and Naver app.

I wondered to myself: this must be a true hidden gem with diners streaming in past lunch hours even on a weekday, mainly locals and an entire menu in Korean language (no English and Chinese menus or photos available).

Service was prompt and my group got our seats within half an hour of waiting in line and the staff members were friendly even though there was a language barrier.

I decided to go with the popular choices that our neighbouring tables had ordered and ended up with a Jjajangmyeon (KRW 7,000, SGD8.50), Jjamppong (KRW 8,500, SGD10.30) and Tang Su Yuk (KRW 16,000, SGD19.30).

The Jjajangmyeon (KRW 7,000, SGD8.50) comes in a big bowl drizzled with generous amount of black bean paste sauce with thin slices of cucumber.

There are some distinctive differences between Chinese-styled and Korean-styled JjaJangMyeon（炸酱面）, the latter having thicker gravy and with a mixture of sweet and savoury sauce.

With ingredients such as onions and minced meat stir-fried with shallots for the extra aroma, each strand of noodles is generously coated with the black bean paste gravy for the extra oomph.

One small difference between this bowl and the ones back in Singapore is the noodles used, and in this case, it was light and springy, balanced out by the stronger flavour in the black bean paste.

While I was satisfied with the Jjajangmyeon, the one dish that stood out the most is the Jjamppong (KRW 8,500, SGD10.30).

Definitely the best I had to date and it comes with an assortment of seafood such as cuttlefish, prawns, clams, onion, cucumber.

The highlight of the Jjamppong is the soup broth with a distinctive seafood taste, but yet not overpowering.

The spicy yet addictive gochutgaru chilli powder elevated the taste of the dish, well balanced by the brininess of the seafood, whereas the yellow noodles remained light and springy.

The Tang Su Yuk (KRW 16,000, SGD19.30) is a sweet and sour pork dish, deep-fried to give the meat pieces that golden brown, crispy texture.

In this case, the sweet and sour sauce with hints of plum in it was served separately to maintain the crispiness of the pork.

Mashi China 맛이차이나 serves one of the most memorable and mashisoyo meals during my trip and I’m really glad to come across this hidden gem.

Mashi China 맛이차이나
68 Dongmak-ro, Seogang-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea (Sangsu Station)
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 4pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon-Fri), 11.30am – 10pm (Sat-Sun)

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

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[London] The Duck and Rice at Berwick Street, Soho is undoubtedly a pretty restaurant.

Carrying the reputation of Alan Yau, the man behind Wagamama, Hakkasan and Yauatcha, there tends to be certain expectations of delicacy and luxury associated with the décor of his restaurants.

But it must be said that in terms of the food, one can justly assert that there are far better places to eat Chinese food in London.

This not to say that the experience at The Duck and Rice is necessarily a bad one, far from it, but the restaurant coheres to a different kind of clientele.

For example, if one is in London and is both desperately in need of a pint as well as a hearty meal of Chinese food, they will soon find that The Duck and Rice is perfect for their needs.

The place itself, as aforementioned, is well decked up.

Pretty ceramic wall tiles of blue and white patterns, geometric metal partitions and window panes, brass beer barrels stacked atop each other as you enter, and a spiral staircase made with ornately designed iron that leads to the restaurant on the upper floor.

Now, while I did infer that the cooking at the establishment is not remarkable per se, their food is tasty and comfortable for casual diners.

At the gastropub, you get a large menu sheet with a pencil, requiring you to tick off what you would like and then hand it in to the waitress.

From small chow, chop suey and bao buns to rice, noodles and dim sum, there is a vast selection of Chinese and Taiwanese options to choose from.

My partner and I ordered a selection of meat and vegetarian dishes to test the variety and were both pleased and disappointed.

In terms of dim sum, the restaurant does quite well. Scallop Shu Mai (£8.20, SGD14.30) come in three pieces, steaming hot and succulent.

The vegetable dumplings (£5, SGD8.70) that are filled primarily with soy marinated mushrooms are scrumptious too, offering a sweet savoury flavour that charms you into ordering more.

The five-spice fried chicken (£6, SGD10.50) looked incredibly inviting but was lacking in some regards.

While the chicken itself was immaculately cooked, the actual flavour of the spices did not quite come through.

It is amusing that perhaps the best and most disappointing dishes came alongside each other.

The smoked mock duck bao buns (£13 for 3, SGD22.70) did have all the makings of a dish set to please, but unfortunately the sauce that accompanied the mock duck was too smoky to stand.

After a bit of the bao, it was very difficult to taste much else.

I will say, however, that the texture of the vegetarian duck equivalent was pretty spot on. If they tweaked the sauce, I’m pretty sure it could be a hit.

For me, the duck and rice (£15.50), the restaurant’s namesake dish was the best of the lot.

The quarter portion of Cantonese roast duck came perfectly cooked, with crisp skin, fat well rendered and sauce perfectly balanced, sitting atop a mound of steaming hot rice and chunks of cool cucumber.

If I ever visited again, I probably would only order a bowl of duck and rice, with some dim sum besides.

The Duck and Rice exhibits a concept that is different from most in the Soho area.

It offers a unique combination of Chinese food with pints of Pilsner beer for those who drink that invites plenty of warranted interest.

While the food itself is just a tad above average, the experience of the restaurant itself seems to excite London foodies.

The Duck and Rice
90 Berwick St, Soho, London W1F 0QB
Opening Hours: 12pm – 11pm (Mon – Thurs) 12pm – 11:30pm (Fri – Sat), 12pm–10pm (Sun)
www.theduckandrice.com
Google Maps – The Duck and Rice

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Click HERE for other LONDON Food Entries

* Written by DFD’s London Food Correspondent Leander Dias SaltyCritic. Leander Dias was born and raised in Dubai, a burgeoning city with diverse food culture. Since moving to London to read for his English MA at UCL, he has utterly immersed himself in the local food scene, writing extensively about everything he eats everywhere he goes. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post The Duck and Rice – Elevated Chinese Dishes And Dim Sum, Near Chinatown London appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[London] When it comes to an appreciation for well-sourced, eclectically served coffee, there are few places in London as qualified as Monmouth Coffee Company.

Since their entrance into the world of coffee in 1978, a debut that saw them roasting their beans in their Monmouth Street shop basement using a 1930’s Whitmee and direct-flame machines, Monmouth has expanded from Covent Garden to two more, successful locations in Borough Market and Spa Terminus in Bermondsey.

This coffee company is directly invested in the coffee they roast and brew.

Representatives travel the world to taste and understand potential products, all so you can count on the fact that every cup of coffee is meticulously made.

Much like chef’s that build relationships with farmers to establish a trusted assurance of good ingredients, Monmouth maintain a similar ethos that develops the same value for interaction with every party involved in the production of their coffee.

You can feel their passion almost as soon as you enter.

Wood finished interiors filled with the aroma of various coffee mixtures infused with the enthusiasm of both novice and expert coffee drinkers alike as well as the erudite staff.

Not only can you select from a number of delectable pastries on offer from Croissants (£2.00) to Pain au Chocolate (£2.00), trays of various coffee beans are also on show for you to pick and have prepared the way you desire.

If you find decision making difficult, the baristas, who are quite the experts themselves, will have no issue explaining to you the different flavour profiles of each variety.

On this visit, I had a subtly mild citrus filter coffee called El Cielo from Bolivia (£3.10).

It was perfect with a rather robust portion of an almond croissant (£2.50) that was generously filled, and dusted with sugar.

One of the highlights for me was the handmade chocolate truffle (£1) that I could not help but order.

It was smooth and decadently delicious. Each one reminds you of Christmas and the truffles you would have made in the kitchen with your grandmother.

All in all, if you are a coffee drinker and are looking for a place that venerates coffee and feels warm and communal then Monmouth is your safe place.

You would struggle to find much better in the city of London.

Monmouth Coffee Company – Borough Market
2 Park St, London SE1 9AB, UK
Tel: +44 20 7232 3010
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 6:00pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
https://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk
Google Maps – Monmouth Coffee Company Covent Garden

Monmouth Coffee Company – Covent Garden
27 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9EU
Tel: +44 20 7232 3010
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 6:30pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

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* Written by DFD’s London Food Correspondent Leander Dias SaltyCritic. Additional photos from @DanielFoodDiary. Leander Dias was born and raised in Dubai, a burgeoning city with diverse food culture. Since moving to London to read for his English MA at UCL, he has utterly immersed himself in the local food scene, writing extensively about everything he eats everywhere he goes. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Monmouth Coffee Company – A Must Visit At London’s Borough Market For Good Coffee appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Kebun should be considered the first vegan tea and coffee latte bar in Singapore, located at Block 531 Upper Cross Street.

Finding the shop may not be that easy, as it is situated at an inconspicuous corner unit, though the block is directly opposite Hong Lim Food Centre.

Vegan restaurants and cafes may not be that evident in Singapore, but they are gradually gaining popularity due to changes to lifestyles.

The owners of Kebun are vegan themselves, and wanted to set up a vegan place that didn’t cost an arm and a leg.

The drinks are dairy-free, made using handcrafted cashew mylk made fresh daily.

If you are curious what “mylk” is, this is an alternatively spelled word used to describe plant derived “milks”, like from soy, almonds, coconuts, peanuts, cashew, and sesame. Just to avoid the confusion.

Some of the signatures offered include Kebun’s Earl Grey Latte ($5), A Date with Chat Latte ($5), Royal Thai Latte ($5), Violet Sweet Potato Latte ($5.50), Seoul Misugaru Latte ($5.50), and Kyoto Matcha Green Latte ($5.50).

There are occasional seasonal drinks such as the Ondeh Ondeh Latte ($5.00).

For those who are accustomed to milk-milk, this may need some getting used to.

The Earl Grey Latte I had was slightly creamy, with an obvious nutty mouthfeel, but the milk had no strong flavour of its own. Therefore, the Earl Grey flavour became quite pronounced this case.

And it was rather filling.

They also offer a small selection of Vegan cakes, such as Kueh Lapis Sagu and Chocolate Cake.

While I didn’t have much expectations for a Vegan Kueh, it was surprisingly quite soft and delicious, neither greasy nor very sweet.

I convinced myself it was “healthy”, and guilt-freely finished the entire piece.

Kebun: Specialty Tea Latte Bar
Blk 531 Upper Cross Street #01-41 Singapore 050531
Tel: +65 90098375
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Funny how we often use the word ”Rojak” in our colloquial language, yet the dish has somehow gone under-the-radar in the recent few years.

For foreign friends who are wondering what exactly is Rojak… in Malay, it means “eclectic mix”.

It is a uniquely Singapore experience to try – this humble dish, with its interesting mix of ingredients, is a spot-on reflection of the multi-cultural diversity of Singapore.

Some call this our local-style salad (some call it a fruit salad) and what makes this dish much talked-about is its killer sauce and unique ingredients.

Balestier Road Hoover Rojak in Whampoa Makan Place (right next to Liang Zhao Ji Duck Rice), is perhaps one of the best known Rojak places in Singapore. (This stall serves the Chinese style, while there is another version elsewhere called the Indian Rojak which is entirely different.)

Founded by Mr. Lim Ngak Chew (who passed away 2 years ago) in 1961, it humbly began as a push cart in Toa Payoh.

After receiving his hawker’s license in 1971, he settled at a spot opposite the now-defunct Hoover Theater at Balestier Road. Shaw Plaza now stands where Hoover Cinema used to be.

He eventually moved to Whampoa Drive Food Centre, and retained its name “Balestier Road Hoover Rojak” since it has become so popularly linked to that old location.

It is also one of the hawker stalls awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand in Singapore, securing the spot for a number of years.

Famous for its Rojak ($4 or $5 for a small plate), the Hoover rojak uses hardly-seen ingredients such as jellyfish, century egg, and bunga kantan (torch ginger flower buds).

Joining the seemingly-odd combination of ingredients are bean sprouts, cucumbers, turnip, guava, chunks of pineapple, unripe mangoes, taupok (deep-fried beancurd puffs), and you tiao (deep-fried dough fritters).

Everything is tossed in a gooey sauce that’s wonderfully well-balanced: sweet, savoury, tangy, and spicy.

The base is made up of assam (tamarind), sugar, chili sauce, and fermented Penang hae kor (prawn paste), creating a taste that borders on addictive.

It is finished off with a generous sprinkling of ground peanuts, coriander and lettuce leaves.

What draws me was its luscious sauce with that distinct hae kor taste, with the crunch of the peanuts.

I would recommend adding a century egg into the mix, though that is always a love it or hate it item. (Well, century egg even appeared on Fear Factor before).

This delicacy may be an acquired taste for some people, but its creamy texture is a welcome addition to the bevy of ingredients.

Prepare to queue, and you may stand in line for up to 40 minutes since they prepare your rojak only upon order.

If not visit the stall during its off-peak hours like 11 am on a weekday. Come early as it closes at 4pm (or sometimes earlier).

There are reviews that comment that the taste is not quite the same as in the past, and portions are smaller than expected.

What made people loyal to the brand is its consistency in every plate. The challenge now of its second-generation owner to maintain this legacy of flavour for the years to come.

Balestier Road Hoover Rojak (Whampoa)
#01-06 Whampoa Drive Makan Place Block 90, 90 Whampoa Drive, Singapore 320090
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 4pm (Wed – Sun) Closed Mon – Tues

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

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Love can be expressed in so many different ways, and for Geri Tan, it is about giving job opportunities for the people she care about.

For teachers and students at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Raffles Institution and Nanyang Girls, you would have noticed My NoNNa’s.

All the outlets serve up fuss-free, home-style Italian food such as pasta and pizzas. While SUTD has a sit-down café concept, the other two are canteen stalls popular with students.

Another aspect that people may not be aware of, is that My NoNNa’s is a social enterprise that hires people with special needs.

Chef-owner Geri employs staff who are autistic, have intellectual disabilities, or with physical disabilities including the wheelchair bound.

To be honest, this is a seldom talked-about subject in Singapore, and many people may not know how best to communicate with the staff there.

”Don’t look at their disabilities. Look at their abilities.” Geri proudly calls her staff “champions”.

There, I saw Jasnam and Gabriel working like brothers, doing tasks such as assembling the food, preparing the ingredients, doing the cleaning up and serving.

”Just look at their smiles. They are some genuinely happy when they are appreciated. The modern people… don’t smile that much anymore.”

That hit my heart a little.

It made me think about when the last time I was truly contented about very simple things in life, or when I last saw a crowd of joyful faces in the CBD.

As I thanks Jasnam for serving up the Roast Chicken, he gave a shy but endearing smile that made you feel so welcomed to the space.

Food-wise, My NoNNa’s Café at SUTD serves up dishes such as Oven Baked Pastas ($8.50); Italian Roast Chicken ($8.50); Italian Herb Pork ($8.50); Salads of Italian Roast Chicken on Quinoa ($9), Sundried Tomato Quinoa Salad ($9); and Desserts of Apple Crumble ($5) and Tiramisu ($5).

The students’ favourite here is the Mac & Cheese ($8.50) and it is not difficult to understand why.

It had creamy sauce that was not overly rich, chewy macaroni pieces, and was indeed gloriously cheesy.

My choice would go to home-styled Turkey and Ham Milanese ($9.50), of bread-crumbed meat rested on an addictive and tangy marinara sauce. The recipe was said to be from a real “Nonna” in Italy.

”From my ex-Italian boyfriend’s nonna!”, Gerri laughed.

The Italian Roast Chicken ($8.50) served with a choice of pasta, Italian rice or quinoa, was aromatic with a tasty light crisp on the skin.

My NoNNa’s Café chose to specialise in Italian dishes, also because the preparation process is relatively methodical and easier for staff with special needs to learn.

The staff is supervised by a store manager. Over at SUTD, you would find Vera in the kitchen, whom Geri described as “the epitome of patience”.

They have also implemented a new Butleric AI-powered POS & CRM members reward system to replace their current processes.

One important reason is the special implementation of voice recognition ordering to assist intellectually-challenged staff to place orders for customers.

They feel the proudest when the staff get a sense of independence and self-worth, because there are those who stay at home and eventually find it more difficult to integrate into society.

This is also opportunity for students to learn how to interact with people who may seem to be different from them.

And the younger ones never seem to have that much of a problem, but the adults who are often too task-oriented that they forget about slowing-down and truly communicating with others.

As I was having the delicious Tiramisu – which also means “cheer me up”, I ate it with a big smile.

I was proud of Jasnam, Gabriel, and all the staff there who did their best to perform their job; Geri whose big smile and bigger heart inspired me to want to do more.

That love, for food and other people in this world, is so amazing.

My NoNNa’s – SUTD
Singapore University of Technology and Design, Building 2, #01-203, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Wed), 9am – 10pm (Thurs – Fri), Closed Sat – Sun

My NoNNa’s – RI
Raffles Institution Stall No. 14 (Year 5&6 Canteen) Bishan Street 21, Singapore 409051

My NoNNa’s – NGHS
Nanyang Girls High School Stall No. 7, 2 Linden Dr, Singapore 288683

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The post My NoNNa’s – Café At SUTD Which Employs People With Special Needs, Shows Us What LOVE Is appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.