The bubble tea trend in Singapore is not showing signs of stopping, yet.

If you are a bubble tea fan who have been to Taiwan, the brand “Milkshop” 迷客夏 shouldn’t be unfamiliar.

It has over 230 outlets in Taiwan (20 in China and 3 in Hong Kong), voted the No.1 brand by Taiwanese university students. So “Milkshop” is finally opening up in Singapore, at Suntec City Mall and Funan.

Marketed as “Milksha” in international markets, its first flagship outlet at Suntec City Mall will be officially launched 22 June (Sat, location above Uniqlo), followed by the second outlet at Funan on 28 June (Fri).

I tried the Milksha in both Taiwan and Hong Kong, and loved it for the natural tasting and smooth milk.

You may be feeling sort of a bubble tea fatigue now, and wondering what’s the difference between Milksha and all other brands.

There is some intention to move away from the mainstream brown sugar milk trend, and instead they would like to emphasize on the freshness and pureness of their signature drinks.

Good to know that there are no preservatives, chemical ingredients or artificial colourings used in the beverages.

100% natural fresh milk, no creamer, using sugar from sugar cane.

With no addition of colourings, you may find that the pearls or bubbles are therefore clearer in colour instead of the usual brownish-black. This is also because the pearls are sweetened with honey.

Milksha will first launch four series in Singapore: Fresh Milk Series, Fresh Milk Tea Latte Series, Premium Tea Series and Special Concoctions; and you can include toppings such as honey pearls, grass jelly and pudding.

If you are unsure what to order, here are the signature Milksha drinks:

Azuki Matcha Milk ($5.60)
The Azuki Matcha Milk features matcha specially imported from Izumo Tousuien (桃翠園) which is a century-old matcha specialty brand from Japan.

The matcha is first chilled, then directly air-flown to Singapore, assure that you get your ‘legit’ tasting matcha latte.

If you like your distinct matcha flavour, you would get it in this delish drink. Also quite pleasantly light, with nice balance of the slight bitter matcha and moderate sweetness coming from the red beans.

(Just a note: If you want to drink this, look out for “Izaumo Matcha Milk” or “Azuki Matcha Milk” which comes with red beans on the menu. There is also “Green Tea Latte” which is a different thing all together.)

Fresh Taro Milk ($5.60)
Real taro is used here – impressive. The taro are chopped, steamed, then mashed by hands with a metal masher. After which, the taro mash is scooped up into circular shapes, then blended with milk upon order.

This differs from some stalls which use taro flavours or just powder.

The taro is also specially imported from Dajia (大甲) in Taichung, Taiwan. The district is specially known for its high-quality taro, taro cakes and “purple jade” desserts and the likes.

The blended Fresh Taro Milk was expectedly rich and creamy, just mildly sweet, and may make you feel like you have having an orh nee drink – except that it is relatively smooth and not that thick.

If you love munching some of those taro bits after sipping, you are in luck as they can be found providing that extra textural sensation. Yammy.

Valrhona 100% Cocoa Milk ($4.80)
Expect a pure and intense cocoa taste, as the drink uses premium Valrhona cocoa from France. (Valrhona is known for producing the world’s finest chocolate in the small village of Tain L’Hermitage, with complex, balanced and consistent flavours.)

I would recommend either a 0% sugar (if you want that rich-bitter chocolate flavour) or 30% for that slight sweetness.

Earl Grey Latte ($3.80, additional $1.00 for honey pearls)
The Sri Lankan earl grey leaves used are actually freshly brewed in-house, which gives that tea fragrance with bright, clean and invigorating taste.

After mixing with the milk, this drink is part creamy and part comforting.

Refreshing Orange Green Tea ($4.20, $5.00)
You can already imagine that orange should provide that vibrant taste which transforms green tea to a more ‘lively’ and revitalising drink – great for the hot Singapore weather.

What’s noteworthy is that whole oranges which are imported from Taiwan are juiced. That includes the orange zest which provides an aromatic punch to the drink. (I think this reads better in Chinese… 橙皮的香氣完全釋放，喝起來帶有橙香氣卻不酸又順口)

Taiwanese oranges are used here because they are sweeter, juicier, with distinct sharp flavour.

Roasted Wheat Tea ($2.60, $3.40)
This is a roasted wheat and cassia seed tea, somewhat like coffee in terms of the aroma and bitter-sweet taste, yet without the caffeine.

For those who enjoys the toasty and earthy flavour, with slight bitter undertones.

You can drink it kosong (sans sugar), or added with milk and grass jelly.

Brown Sugar Milk ($4.60, additional $1.00 for honey pearls)
This currently trending drink has a different take here.

Firstly, the brown sugar is prepared from scratch, ie the brown suagr imported from Taiwan is mixed, heated and stirred thoroughly till it becomes the molten liquid form. No pre-mixes or syrups are used.

The boba or bubbles are the bottom are honey pearls. They are freshly cooked, then frozen before being air-flown directly to Singapore. Instead of using dried pearls, Milksha invests in quick freeze technology to maintain the texture and taste consistency of each pearl.

Thus, you would find that the pearls have this honeyed-sweetness and are more chewy than usual. Also the brown sugar taste doesn’t overwhelm the whole cup.

Black Sesame Milk ($4.80)
Even though this is not one of appointed signature drinks and is ‘hidden’ near the bottom of the menu, I would think this Black Sesame Milk has got what it takes to be popular among Singaporeans.

If you love your Goma drinks or zhi ma hu aka grounded black sesame seeds dessert, you should give the Black Sesame Milk a go for the delicious nutty and mellow taste.

Tip: Add some red bean for the ultimate sweet-earthy pleasure.

So this is my personal recommendation: Azuki Matcha Milk, Black Sesame Milk, and Fresh Taro Milk. Hmm… happens to be all the milk drinks. I guess they are called Milksha for a reason.

Milksha Opening Promotion
Milksha will be opening its first flagship outlet at Suntec City Mall on 22 June 2019 (Sat), followed by its second outlet at Funan on 28 June 1019 (Fri).

Get your hands on Milksha’s uniquely designed cup sleeves with every purchase of drinks. Suntec City outlet will offer two, while Funan outlet will offer one of their own store-exclusive cup sleeves designs.

In celebration of Milksha’s Funan outlet opening, purchase any 4 drinks and get a Milksha tumbler for free. Promotion is valid from 28th June 2019 onwards. While stocks last for both exclusive items.

Milksha – Suntec City Mall
3 Temasek Boulevard #02-375/376 Suntec City Mall Singapore 038983 (Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre side, above Uniqlo)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/milkshasingapore

Milksha – Funan
107 North Bridge Road #02-K07 Funan, Singapore 179105
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Milksha.

[Hong Kong] Soufflé pancakes seem to have taken off in Japan and grown in popularity in other part of the world.

The interest for these pancakes in Hong Kong started with Flipper’s, which spots a crazy queue going up to hours on the weekends.

am.pm located along Nathan Road in Mongkok (closed to the Yau Ma Tei side) is another one of the hot favourite spots to go for these jiggly soufflé pancakes.

The bright and fun yellow bus shop front will surely catch your attention, if not for the youthful crowd gathering around the booth waiting for their pancakes.

Unlike Flipper’s, am.pm Hong Kong is not a sit down café but more of a takeout booth.

So expect to order, pay, wait and then eat on the spot while standing around.

Apparently, they have also been featured on the immensely popular Korean show Running Man, which propelled their fame even further.

On top of the original soufflé pancakes, some of the other flavours include tiramisu, creme brulee, black sugar milk, mixed berries soufflé pancakes.

The pancakes are made fresh upon ordering, so a typical 8-10 minutes’ wait on a no-queue day is to be expected.

The best way to pair these thick jiggly pancakes is to order them with the soft serve.

The smooth and creamy soft serve (+10HKD, SGD1.80) made with Hokkaido milk makes the entire dessert more delectable and actually goes very well with them.

Their signature best seller, Crème Brûlée Souffle Pancake and Soft Serve (HKD60, SGD10.50) were 2 thick but super fluffy pancakes.

For more dramatic effect, the pancakes are further topped with a nice layer of custard cream and then torched for the caramelised effect.

Surprisingly, this was not too sweet despite how it sounds and so perfect with the soft serve.

The Tiramisu Souffle Pancakes (HKD45, SGD7.90) had a nice creamy texture and strong hints of coffee but was overall sweeter than the Crème Brulee.

From what I noticed, it seems they are constantly changing up flavours and introducing new items, like the new matcha and white chocolate lava pudding chiffon pancakes with “flowing” centres.

Even their soft serve flavours are also constantly changing.

These pancakes are pretty good and airy but also quite filling to have on your own. Definitely recommend them for sharing.

Oh yes, despite the name, they only start operating from 1pm.

am.pm Hong Kong
Shop B, G/F, Grand Place, 560 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong (Yau Ma Tei MTR Station Exit A2)
油麻地彌敦道560譽發廣場地下B舖
Tel: +852 2725 4318
Opening Hours: 1pm – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

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* Written by DFD’s Hong Kong Correspondent @kara_the_explorer, who is the Singaporean “tai tai” living the foodie dream in Hong Kong. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

From Osaka to Singapore, Asian Rad Afters is one distinctive shop, in terms of its cyan-green colour and offering of Bubble Waffle. You can call them an “egglet”.

Even the origins of the name “Asian Rad Afters” is unique, and is one of the most frequently asked questions from the customers.

According to the Japanese owners who had shifted to Singapore, the word “Asian” refers to the fusion of local Singaporean flavours into Hong Kong Egglet.

As for “Rad”, it is a slang for “radical” which means “awesome”, while “after” represents having awesome Asian desserts after meal. Sodesu-ne.

Located right next to Stateland Cafe and Brother Bird along tourist-centric Bali Lane, the double- storey bright cyan green (some see it as Tiffany blue) exterior stood out from far.

Note that the cafe area is only limited to the first floor, with 10 counter seats.

The menu includes offerings of Bubble Waffle ($12 – $13), Iced Asian Tea ($4.80), Fruit Cup ($8.50) and Ice Cream (Single scoop $4.50/ Double Scoops $6.50).

The Bubble Waffle is prepared ala minute upon order, with multiple flavours of fanciful names.

The Singapore exclusives are called Peranakan Road ($12.50) and Little SouQ ($13).

Other flavours include Nutty Caramel ($12), Blue City Chocolate ($12) and Japanese Garden ($12).

Each Bubble Waffle comes with a floral, green (that same shade) paper cone wrapped with a sheet of plastic to prevent the melted ice cream from spilling all over our hands.

#ForTheGram With a scoop of ice cream placed within the hot bubble waffle, the plastic wrap comes in really handy in such instances.

The Little SouQ ($13) exclusive to Singapore, comes with a chocolate Bubble Waffle and a scoop of Thai Milk Tea Ice Cream and various toppings such as cream cheese, dried fig, coconut flakes, dates, pumpkin seeds and pretzel.

I was half-expecting for it to be only instagrammable, but the combination turned out to be quite oishii.

Unlike the usual Hong Kong style egglet, the Bubble Waffle is crispy on the edges, with moist and fluffy texture on the inside. You can say the mouthfeel is almost similar to a cake.

Appearance-wise, the Bubble Wrap may look sweet, but the toppings of dried fig and dates are actually mildly salted which add that savoury touch.

At the bottom layer of the Bubble Waffle, I was surprised to find a familiar taste of pandan in the green sauce.

To create a local taste, the owners have added kaya to all their Bubble Waffle instead of custard used in their outlet in Japan.

The thirst-quencher which comes in the form of the Iced Asian Tea ($4.80), created with striking colours of different layers.

A total of 4 different flavours ($4.80) are available which include Princess Yang Kweifei (lychee, oolong), Arabian Nights (spicy lemonade), Kuta Beach Sunset (orange, roselle) and Bonsai Citrus (lime, matcha).

The Arabian Nights came with beautiful layers of blue (butterfly pea tea), red (cinnamon) and yellow (honey) and bits of yuzu.

Typically the butterfly pea tea doesn’t have an obvious taste on its own. Adding cinnamon here gives that spiced kick towards the back.

A refreshing twist to the usual drinks.

Asian Rad Afters offers quite an interesting selection of desserts in a pretty setting.

Note: the shop is pending Halal-certification.

Asian Rad Afters
33 Bali Lane, Singapore 189869
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 7pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon, Tue, Opened on PH

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

[Old Delhi] Wandering through the narrow streets of Old Delhi is an adventure that engages all the senses.

The sights are a reminder of the bygone era, whereas the jarring sounds of the traffic form a unique medley that is out of tune and overpowering at the same time.

However, it is also in these streets that one comes across the most enchanting of smells.

If the desire for business is what drives the people of Old Delhi, food is the lifeline that gives them the energy to go about their daily routine.

Old Delhi’s historical importance reflects through its many buildings and gastronomic offerings that have satisfied cravings of the most ardent gourmands.

Places like Karim’s are iconic, often written about in books, but there’s a whole lot more to the culinary delights of Old Delhi, especially in the area around Chowri Bazaar and Jama Masjid.

Here are 10 outstanding haunts that welcome food lovers from near and far with their exceptional preparations, promising insight into Old Delhi’s gastronomic heritage that in some cases, is centuries old.

Kuremal Mohan Lal
Shop No. 526, Kucha Pati Ram, Sitaram Bazar Rd, Chawri Bazar, Delhi 110006
Google Maps – Kuremal Mohan Lal

Old Delhi’s Most Famous Kulfi
The sign above Kuremal Mohan Lal states that it is “Old Delhi’s Most Famous Kulfi”, and there is no debating that.

In fact, it is safe to say that you won’t find a more enjoyable kulfi in the whole of Delhi.

Their speciality is the stuffed Kulfi (Rs 250, SGD4.90). An exclusive fruity pleasure that includes stuffing a mango, orange, or pomegranate with kulfi to give it a natural flavour.

There’s a refreshing lightness to the Kulfi served here that calms the mind and makes for the perfect respite during hot and humid days.

Operational since 1906, Kuremal’s mango stuffed kulfi is a winner during the mango season, however, do try the orange one which I found to be a lot more interesting in terms of taste and texture.

Old Kheer Shop
2867, Bazar Sirkiwalan, Chawri Bazar, Chandni Chowk, Delhi 110006
Google Maps – Old Kheer Shop

Silky Smooth and Creamy Kheer
The quaintly named Old Kheer Shop has no menu. It sells only one item – Kheer which is a type of rice pudding (Rs 30, SGD0.60).

Silky smooth, creamy, perfectly sugared, and having a slightly thicker consistency than the usual kheer found elsewhere, Old Kheer Shop has been serving this sweet obsession since the 1880s.

The charm of eating at the shop is its no-fuss atmosphere, very much like most eateries in the area. The kheer is simmered overnight over a wood fire, giving it a distinctive smoky tang, and it’s worth having it early, for once the daily batch it over, there’s nothing available till the next day.

Another exciting aspect of the shop is its location. As the birthplace of India’s iconic actress from the yesteryears, Madhubala, there’s a sense of cinematic nostalgia to the place, even if it doesn’t come across in the shop’s modest appearance.

Shyam Sweets
House No. 112 Chowk Barshahbulla, Chawri Bazar, New Delhi, Delhi 110006
Google Maps – Shyam Sweets

Gratifying Muttar Ki Kachoris
The rush at Shyam Sweets on a weekday morning speaks volumes. As a favourite local breakfast joint, its Muttar Ki Kachori (Rs 40, SGD0.80) is always in demand and simply fabulous.

Kachori, a commonly eaten fried snack, is characteristically stuffed with ingredients such as onions and potatoes, but here it is packed with peas into a delicious eat with a flaky exterior.

As for the story behind their bestseller, it was India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru who suggested that Shyam Sweets should make kachoris filled with peas.

The rest, as they say, is history, and now people from all parts of the city descend here to savour in the slightly spicy but truly gratifying Muttar Ki Kachoris served with aloo ki sabzi (potatoes in gravy).

Kallan Sweets
Shop No. 4 & 5, Matia Mahal Road, Opposte Jama Masjid Gate No. 1, Matia Mahal, Delhi 110006
Google Maps – Kallan Sweets

Famous Paneer Jalebis Sweets
An Indian sweets shop at a prime location opposite Jama Masjid, Kallan Sweets is famous for its Paneer Jalebis (Rs 50, SGD1.00) made especially during Ramadan.

Thicker than the average jalebi, and having a softer composition, Paneer Jalebis are quite sugary and filling. While okay as a one-time eat, I do much prefer the traditional, crunchier, jalebis over these.

Kallan’s keema samosas are also recommended; however, it comes wrapped up in a gunjiya and not in the standard triangular shape of a samosa.

Lalu Kababee
Urdu Bazar Rd, Jama Masjid, Old Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi 110006
Google Maps – Lalu Kababee

Tender Buffalo Meat Kebabs
The residents of Delhi take their kebabs seriously, and whenever a place gains notoriety for its kebabs, you can be sure there’s something special about it.

Lalu Kababee has the softest, melt in the mouth, buffalo meat kebabs (Rs 50, SGD1.00) I’ve ever had in my life.

Served with raw onions, it was the butter “gravy” alongside the kebabs that surprised me the most.

A relatively recent trend, the butter makes the kebab lighter on the stomach and along with the mint chutney gives it a distinct taste.

Sharbat E Mohabbat
Shop No. 1125, Matia Mahal Road, Opposite Jama Masjid Gate No. 1, Matia Mahal, Delhi 110006
Google Maps – Sharbat E Mohabbat

Refreshing Pyaar Mohabbat Mazaa
Food and drinks are often about novel ideas that seem to click with the masses. Eating out during the summer months of Delhi can be tiresome, and it is for this reason, Sharbat E Mohabbat is such a hit with the locals.

The tiny eatery is known for concocting the refreshing Pyaar Mohabbat Mazaa (Rs 20, SGD0.40), a mixture consisting of Roohafza and milk along with sugar syrup, for that extra bit of sweetness, and pieces of watermelon to add some crunch and fruity flavour.

Pyaar Mohabbat Mazaa is mostly available during summer or around the time of Ramadan as a favourite drink to have after iftar.

Haji Mohd. Hussain Fried Chicken
No.113, Matia Mahal Rd, Bazar Matia Mahal, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Delhi 110006
Google Maps – Haji Mohd. Hussain Fried Chicken

Crispy Jama Masjid Fried Chicken
On the one hand, there’s the famous international brand KFC, whereas in Old Delhi they have what is now popularly recognised as JFC – Jama Masjid Fried Chicken (Rs 100, SGD2.00).

The most amazing deep-fried chicken cooked in three steps, Haji Mohd. Hussain’s restaurant has become a significant stop for any food trail through Old Delhi.

The chicken, first marinated in spices and chickpea flour, is then shallow-fried to give the outer skin some colour. Cut into smaller pieces; the chicken is finally deep fried once the order comes in. As a result, the final pieces are hot and tender from the inside and crunchy from the outside, every single time.

Besides the crispiness of the chicken, it is the finger licking yellow chutney, another in-house speciality, that accentuates this dish to a whole different level, making it the best fried chicken you will ever have, guaranteed.

Haji Sharbati Nihari
722, Haveli Azam Khan, Jama Masjid, Matia Mahal, Chandni Chowk, Delhi 110006
Google Maps – Haji Sharbati Nihari

Slow-cooked Meat In Tasty Stock
Nihari is a rich and intensely flavourful dish that comprises of overnight, slow-cooked meat in a tasty stock. Generally, nihari (Rs 100, SGD2.00) is a breakfast dish, and most restaurants run out of their stock around breakfast time.

During the month of Ramadan though, Nihari is also available in the evening and makes for a wholesome dinner after breaking of the fast – iftar.

Legend has it that there are still shops in Old Delhi that take some of the day’s stock and add it to the next batch. This would mean that their present stock has flavours that date back years, possibly even decades.

Haji Sharbati Nihari is an underrated corner shop in one of the tiny side lanes opposite Jama Masjid that serves one of the most delicious versions of the nihari. The rotis that come along, to dip into the gravy, are fluffy and soft, complimenting the meatiness of the dish.

Dil Pasand Biryani Point
887, Kalan Mehal, Chandni Chowk, New Delhi, Delhi 110002
Google Maps – Dil Pasand Biryani Point

Fragrant Biryani Rice with Marinated Meats
Situated close to Haji Sharbati Nihari’s shop, in an even smaller street, is Dil Pasand Biryani Point. Just like the locals are particular about their kebabs, they are equally possessive about the Niryanis they like, and Dil Pasand ranks amongst the best in the area.

The slow-cooked Biryani rice has a beautiful fragrance to it, whereas chunks of marinated meats add to the wholesomeness of this royal dish.

Biryani goes well with raita, but Dil Pasand’s Biryani is equally tasty when eaten on its own.

While it’s possible to eat at Dil Pasand, most patrons prefer to get their chicken, or lamb biryani (Rs 160, SGD3.15) packed to take home and eat.

Cool Point – Purani Dukan Zene Wali
972, Bazaar Matia Mahal, Opposite Jama Masjid Gate 1, Jama Masjid, Delhi 110006
Google Maps – Cool Point

Delectable Shahi Tukdaa
Cool Point might have a rather modern name, but it has been serving the most delectable Shahi Tukdaa, which is deep fried bread topped with cream, and homemade mango ice-cream (Rs 60, SGD1.20) for close to four decades.

It is a small shop with no seating, situated in front of a staircase, because of which it is famously known as Purani Dukaan Zene Wali (The old shop with the stairs).

The best way to go about making the most of your visit here is to have the shaahi tukdaa and mango ice-cream together.

This combination of hot and cold makes the dish a year-round favourite and definitely one to have after a lovely meal consisting of some biryani or fried chicken.

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* Written by DFD’s India Correspondent @tickereatstheworld. Raghav is a travel and food writer who enjoys the thrill of discovering new places and writing about them. When he is not working, he can be found driving around his two kids from one birthday party to another.

So Chinatown Complex Food Centre has made its return after a few months’ renovation (though as an outsider, we don’t see much noticeable differences other than the nets), and the one stall that many look forward to is Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao 中国拉面小笼包.

The humble stall offers a great value for your money with delicious handmade Xiao Long Bao ($6.50), Szechuan Spicy Wanton ($5), and hand-pulled noodles such as Sour & Spicy Noodle, Beef Noodles, Dumpling Noodles and Sour & Spicy Noodles (each bowl priced at $3.50 – $4).

It gained more recognition after it was awarded a “Michelin Plate” in the Singapore Michelin Guide.

For first timers, navigating around the food centre especially in the hot weather may be daunting, so I always first look out for Hawker Chan Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle (#02-126). The stall is kind of nearby (#02-135).

Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao 中国拉面小笼包 was first established by Mr Li Feng Cai and his wife who were originally from Anhui, China. He learnt the art of noodle making from Beijing and Shenzhen.

Who doesn’t love a good steamed dumpling?

The Xiao Long Bao are freshly made on the spot by hand, considered affordable at $6.50 for 2 baskets of 5 (increased from $6 before renovations).

Digging into that smooth skin, to find steamy and belly warming soup and juicy filling awaiting you, can be a blissful experience.

The broth to said to be cooked for 12 hours before being frozen and wrapped in the minced pork dumpling.

Many would compare this to the offering of the other famous chain. I would say while it lacked the finesse in terms of consistency and thickness of skin, the fillings were moist and meaty, while broth was to the sweeter side.

Add some vinegar and chilli for a better experience.

The Pan-Fried Dumplings aka Guo Tie ($6.50 for 10 pieces) certainly looked promising with its crisp outer layer, and almost golden-brown exterior. Such beautiful pieces.

Alas, the inside wasn’t as juicy as I would have expected, though it was similar rather meaty. So im comparison, not my favourite thing here.

If you need to choose, then I would rather go for the Szechuan Spicy Wanton aka Hong You Chao Shou ($5 for 10 pieces) with almost slurp-worthy vinegary sauce with tingling of spiciness.

Between the Xiao Long Bao and La Mian, surprisingly the La Mian with Fried Bean Sauce ($3.50) impressed me more.

There was a certain pleasant and doughy bite to the long strands of thin noodles.

The bean sauce was generous in portion, and wasn’t over in terms of that fermented bean taste.

The stall does get rather crowded during peak meal times, as more tourists are getting aware of their existence, especially when they have got a fair bit of publicity from the Singapore Michelin Street Food Festival. Come slightly before the typical dinner times if you can.

Zhong Guo La Mian Xiao Long Bao 中国拉面小笼包
335 Smith Street, Chinatown Complex Food Centre #02-135, Singapore 050335
Tel: +65 9743 5287
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 8:30pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon, Tues

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

Despite Singaporeans’ love for desserts, we actually don’t get that many Hong Kong style dessert shops around.

The most prominent and authentic ones are probably Ah Chew Desserts, Mei Heong Yuen Dessert, Ji De Chi, and Dessert First.

When I learnt about Jin Yu Man Tang Dessert Shop 金玉满堂甜品 at East Coast, I think it has the potential to be a hit with families.

Perhaps its location, lack of marketing and visibility cause it to be off-the-radar, but this should pick up really soon.

The dessert shop does remind of Ah Chew Desserts in a certain way, and I do hope they can one day extend hours later to cater to the night owls.

(Photo credit: Nicholas Tan @stormscape)

Some of its specialties include the Ginger Milk Pudding 姜撞奶 ($4.00), Shun De Double Layer Milk 顺德双皮奶 ($3.60), Peach Gum with Milk 桃胶鲜牛奶 ($4.50), Mango with Mini Rice Ball 芒果小丸子 ($5.00), and Deep Fried Milk 炸牛奶 ($5.50).

(Photo credit: Nicholas Tan @stormscape)

The Ginger Milk Pudding ($4.00) is probably their hero product, made on the spot only after ordering.

First you get a bowl of ginger mixture, after which milk would be poured into it. Wait for about 4 minutes or so, then the milk would turn into smooth-wobbly pudding.

Just like how it is traditionally done. Note that no takeaways will be available for this due to the steps needed to make it properly.

The signature Shun De Double Layer Milk ($3.60) originated from Shunde in Foshan China. You can also choose other toppings such as red bean, mango, lotus seeds, walnut, almond, and papaya.

The milk pudding was incredibly soft, and melt-in-your-mouth.

It does remind me of Hong Kong’s Yee Shun Milk Company, except that this may in fact be even softer.

It is fair enough to say that Mango Sago Pomelo ($5.00) aka ”Yang Zhi Gan Lu” is one of Singapore’s favourite Chinese-style dessert.

Their version came with grapefruit pulp, which provides that slightly-bitter and tart taste which complemented the sweet, fresh mangoes.

I also enjoyed that the desserts here, are generally not too sweet.

The next time I come, I am likely to try the Deep-Fried Milk ($5.50) which requires quite an extensive making process.

A special milk mixture has to be harden, wrapped up, then deep fried carefully upon ordering.

You would get that crunchy feeling on the outside, and soft-melty inside.

Jin Yu Man Tang Dessert Shop金玉满堂甜品
66 East Coast Road, The Flow #01-03 Singapore 428778
Tel: +65 6214 3380
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)

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

Ask where the best Chilli Crab is in Singapore, and you may probably get a debate with varying supporters of Roland, Red House, No Signboard, Long Beach, to Jumbo.

I would say Mellben at Ang Mo Kio is a popular and safe choice for finger-licking-good Chilli Crabs and Claypot Crab Bee Hoon.

From a humble stall along Commonwealth Avenue in 1979, the family-run Mellben Seafood has established itself as a well-known seafood destination in Singapore.

In 1985, founder Melvin Soon partnered with Benson to launch Mellben Seafood Catering Service. Today, their network has a total of 8 outlets, including Uncle Leong’s Seafood (Yeah, they are related).

The restaurant is also listed in the Singapore Michelin Guide with a “Michelin Plate”.

The open-air crab shell-adorned restaurant in Ang Mo Kio is located quite distance away from the nearest MRT station, at a kopitiam in one of the HDB estates.

Some people brave the distance for a taste of their heavenly crab dishes, but it is best to call ahead to make a reservation.

Otherwise you will face with a long wait, especially during the weekends.

Almost everybody comes here for the crabs.

Choose from any of the 15 ways their in-house chef freshly prepares the star crustacean, from the classic Chili Crab to Black Pepper Crab, Butter Crab, Curry Sauce Crab, Salted Egg Yolk Crab, Shimmering Sands Crab, Claypot Crab Vermicelli Soup, Laksa Crab, and many more. (The Laksa Crab is exclusively available at their Opal and Pasir Ris Branches.)

Mellben’s Chili Crab is arguably one of the best in Singapore, served using large crabs in a thick, spicy and slightly sweet chili sauce. Level of spice can be adjusted according to your preference.

It is understandable that preference for Chilli Crabs can leave people divided: some may prefer spicier sauce, while others would like more of that sweet-ketchup taste.

Mellben’s style is very starchy, eggy and gooey, ie a lot of sauce that you have more than enough to sweep your mantou.

I won’t say it was spicy, but had more sweet-savoury notes and quite well-balanced. I actually still liked the sauce very much.

Crabs were thankfully fleshy and succulently-sweet, more substantial than some of the recent ones I tried.

However, a medium sized portion could cost you about $100 or even more, and this would be seen as ‘touristy-pricey’, especially when it is at a non-airconditioned space.

The other thing is, the fried mantou were sent much earlier than the crabs, and therefore it lost much of the crispiness by the time the star arrived.

The Claypot Crab Bee Hoon Soup aka Claypot Crab Vermicelli Soup is also a must-try. You may have to wait for 45 minutes, depending on the time you come.

Served piping hot, the milky broth is rich and aromatic with its inherently sweet crabs and smooth glass noodles.

If you are lucky, the crab meat in your crab is “solid”. As they say “Not 100% Guaranteed Solid Crab”.

They also offer live seafood and a variety of zi char dishes.

Average check per person is $50 – $60. Prices are not listed in the menu, so you may want to check before ordering before you end up with a shock.

Mellben Seafood 龙海鲜螃蟹王
232 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, St 22, #01-1222, Singapore 560232
Tel: +65 6285 6762
Opening Hours: 5pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Orchid Live Seafood (Bah Soon Pah Road)
New Ubin Seafood (Hillview Ave)
JB Ah Meng (Geylang)
Crab Corner (Joo Koon)
Seafood Paradise (Marina Bay Sands)

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

If you haven’t heard, the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019 awards will take place right here in Singapore, on the 25th of June at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) Expo & Convention Centre.

Sometimes referred to the ‘Oscars’ of the culinary world, this is the first time the awards ceremony will take place in Asia.

Perhaps the chance to rub shoulders with renowned chefs such as Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana), Gaggan Anand (Gaggan) and Tetsuya Wakuda (Waku Ghin)?

Here’s the peculiar thing: Considering that this major food event is held in SINGAPORE, there is not as much buzz as you would have unanticipated, even among many of the foodies. We shall see what happens when the key date draws near.

Here are the Best 51 – 120 restaurants which are announced first. Singapore’s only entry (so far) is Burnt Ends at 59.

51. Reale, Castel del Sangro, Italy
52. Mikla, Istanbul, Turkey
53. Arzak, San Sebastian, Spain
54. D.O.M., Sao Paulo, Brazil
55. Maeemo, Oslo, Norway
56. Relae, Copenhagen, Denmark
57. Nobelhart and Schmutzig, Berlin, Germany
58. Sud 777, Mexico City, Mexico
59. Burnt Ends, Singapore
60. Indian Accent, New Delhi, India

61. Uliassi, Senigallia, Italy
62. Nihonryori RyuGin, Tokyo, Japan
63. Florilege, Tokyo, Japan
64. The Ledbury, London, UK
65. Selfie, Moscow, Russia
66. Core by Clare Smyth, London, UK
67. Astrid y Gaston, Lima, Peru
68. Faviken, Jarpen, Sweden
69. Nahm, Bangkok, Thailand
70. Saison, San Francisco, US

71. SingleThread, Healdsburg, US
72. Aqua, Wolsfburg, Germany
73. Mani, Sao Paulo, Brazil
74. Lasai, Rio de Janiero, Brazil
75. DiverXo, Madrid, Spain
76. Momofuku Ko, New York, US
77. Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare, New York, US
78. Lido 84, Gardone Riviera, Italy
79. Mingles, Seoul, Korea
80. Estela, New York, US

81. Quique Dacosta, Denia, Spain
82. Engima, Barcelona, Spain
83. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, London, UK
84. Attica, Melbourne, Australia
85. Amass, Copenhagen, Denmark
86. Tegui, Buenos Aires, Argentina
87. Martin Berasategui, Lasate-Oria, Spain
88. Lun King Heen, Hong Kong, China
89. 108, Copenhagen, Denmark
90. Alo, Toronto, Canada

91. Sushi Saito, Tokyo, Japan
92. Harvest, St. Petersburg, Russia
93. La Cime, Osaka, Japan
94. Aponiente, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain
95. Gaa, Bankok, Thailand
96. Belon, Hong Kong, China
97. Vendome, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
98. Anne-Sophie Pic, Valence, France
99. The Jane, Antwerp, Belgium
100. Oteque, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

101. Brae, Birregurra, Australia
102. Amber, Hong Kong, China
103. Jade Dragon, Macau, China
104. Cococo, St. Petersburg, Russiaa
105. Kadeau, Copenhagen, Denmark
106. Restaurant David Toutain, Paris, France
107. Il Ristorante Luca Fantin, Tokyo, Japan
108. L’Astrance, Paris, France
109. Alcalde, Guadalajara, Mexico
110. Neolokal, Istanbul, Turkey

111. Chambre Separee, Ghent, Belgium
112. St. John, London, UK
113. Vea, Hong Kong, China
114. La Colombe, Cape Town, South Africa
115. Per Se, New York, US
116. St. Hubertus, San Cassiano, Italy
117. Epicure, Paris, France
118. Ernst, Berlin, Germany
119. Atomix, New York, US
120. Sugalabo, Tokyo, Japan

Other Related Entries
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2019

[Sydney] If you have ever wondered what a hipster café serving Singapore-Malaysian cuisine would be like, you can find it at Café Rumah.

“Rumah” means “house” in Malay.

This is a rather understated café located on Sydney’s Surry Hills – where all the great brunch and coffee places congregate.

To be really honest, I have walked past the shop quite a number of times but never had a strong urge to enter because… why have local food in a foreign land?

Also, it is not the type of cafes that serves up beautiful brunch food, but there is so much charm within this small space.

Café Ruman is owned by Riszal Nawawi who has Malaysian heritage, and a lot of the food is inspired by his memories growing up in Malaysia.

Some of the recipes have been passed down through the generations of his own, as well as his wife Yoon Yang’s family. They were both in the banking industry who decided to make Sydney their home.

It offers something different to your usual Aussie café which can be more predictable, for example the usual Avo Toast and Eggs with Bacon.

Café Rumah takes things to the next level and adds a twist on café favourites with Rendang Baked Eggs (AUD19) with house made beef rendang, free range baked eggs and sourdough bread; Chilli Pan Mee with pork ragu and mushrooms (AUD15); as well as Char Siu with free-range fried egg and roti (AUD18).

You can even order smashed Avo on Toast (AUD12), a favourite of Sydneysiders, with free-range onsen egg and nori seeweed, something you would be unlikely to find anywhere else in Australia.

Another highlight is The Kopitiam Brekkie (AUD7) with homemade kaya spread, created with a recipe originally belong to Yoon Yangs’ grandmother.

You can also try the kaya which are filled within freshly baked Madeleines (AUD6 or 8). The only thing is, as they are prepared in small quantities, they run out fast.

Occasionally, you MAY see the specialty of Laksa Rumah (AUD19) on the board.

The Laksa is made Nonya style, quite coconuty, slightly sourish-tangy, less on the spicy side.

An interesting feature is that it is paired with the Malaysian favourite of Lou Shi Fun aka “Mouse” noodles which are thin, fatter strands of rice noodles.

They take great pride in their food and use high quality ingredients.

Sydney’s coffee culture is big, and they use Cabrito Coffee here, which has a very good reputation for their high-quality beans and blends.

The teas are supplied by T Totaler, and for people that like a cold, fresh drink, you can choose from three different cold-pressed juices.

There are even artisan soft drinks available with flavours like yuzu and mint, and rose and milk.

For a Singaporean visiting such a café, it does feel like home as you can hear that familiar accent from behind the kitchen.

The food tasted comforting, yet they were some intriguing Australian twists which added some element of intrigue.

Other than the café staples with the South-East Asian twist, do not miss some of their Nonya Kueh Kueh which are out in limited quantities.

Café Rumah
71 Campbell Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia
Tel: +61 02 9280 2289
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 4:00pm (Mon – Fri), 9:00am – 4pm (Sat), closed on Sundays
Google Maps – Café Rumah

Other Related Entries
Devon Café (Surry Hills, Sydney)
Cuppa Flower (Waterloo, Sydney)
Paramount Coffee Project (Surry Hills, Sydney)
Edition Coffee Roasters (Darlinghurst, Sydney)
Dutch Smuggler (George Street, Sydney)

Click HERE for other SYDNEY Food Entries

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

Pides (pronounced as “pea-dae”) are Turkish flatbread which are typically combined with various toppings, traditionally prepared during Ramadan.

Trust the Koreans to ‘hipster-fy’ it.

I chanced upon What’s Pide at China Square Central, which is a South Korean brand with 11 outlets in Seoul.

It operates like a fast-casual restaurant concept, offering 5 types of Pide – Hey! Lu Lu ($6.50), Sofia’s Meatballs ($7.50), Prawn Star ($8.50), Mrs Park ($9.00), and Eda-san ($7.50). (Who comes up with these names?)

Good to know that the pides are hand-kneaded using a specially formulated flour from Korea which are created with a secret mix of dry ingredients, and baked fresh every day.

The recipe and technique combined is said to give the traditionally firmer flatbread a spongier texture.

I asked the cashier to pick a Pide for me, and she went with Mrs Park which contains seasoned bulgogi beef, pickled jalapenos and caramelised onion. Good as this is probably the most Korean of all the offerings.

Considering that I just came back from the Middle East for a trip and eaten loads of flat bread, I found the Korean pide familiar yet different.

I enjoyed the feeling of holding it with the hands, feeling that soft texture before chomping down. There was this lovely crust on the outer, and the bread was indeed like cushion.

The beef bulgogi used in Singapore is said to use 50% less sugar – no wonder it wasn’t as rich as I have expected.

I enjoyed the sweet-savoury marinate but wished that it was overall juicier.

Perhaps this was done so as to not create a mess while eating for the CBD workers.

What’s Pide also offers its own coffee, a Pide’s Brew ($5.50) brewed fresh with a splash of coconut water.

It was rich, chocolatey and quite intense, but the balance seemed marginally off such that you get quite strong-bitter notes towards the end. Perhaps it needed more coconut water for that slight sweetness.

Promising, and I think it will make a suitable take-away meal. Good alternative to the boring sandwiches.

What’s Pide
22 Cross Street #01-63, China Square Central, Singapore 048421
Tel: +65 9389 0863
Opening Hours: 8am – 9pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sun

Other Related Entries
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Nipong Naepong (313@somerset)
9PM Kkochi (Causeway Point)
Guma Guma (Vivocity)
NY Night Market (313@somerset)

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

Talk about some of Singaporean’s favourite indie gelato cafes in Singapore, they include Creamier, Birds Of Paradise and Dopa Dopa.

Butterknife Folk at River Valley Road has been slowly building its fanbase through its wacky, creative flavours.

And great to know that they will soon be opening at Funan when the mall launches on the 28th of June.

The café actually started selling cakes, but switched to gelato after it gained traction with customers.

If you find the name slightly peculiar, the owner felt that starting a café in a competitive market at this young age, was akin to fighting a battle with a butter knife.

”While other chefs have impressive tools and knives from their bags, I hope to show the world what we can do with our butter knife.”

The one unique thing is the gelato shop changes its flavours ALL THE TIME.

So if you really enjoy something, better get a tub back or come back the next day, or you may never get to try it again. It happened to me before (Thankfully, they reintroduced the Thai Milk Tea gelato a year later.)

This is one of those gelato shops I would head back once in a while, just to be surprised. And my recommendation is, be very open in trying out new things and not just stick to the tried-and-tested.

You never know.

Butterknife Folk at Funan will also feature a “no menu” concept.

Instead of a fixed menu board selection of flavours, customers will be greeted with a large 2.2m mirror hung above the gelato cabinet reflecting the 16 flavours of the day.

The gelato is made in-house from scratch, with a strong emphasis placed on the selection of raw ingredients.

Everything is made only one pan at a time. When that flavour runs out, you will never know what comes next. So that is truly artisanal.

Scoops are priced at $5 single and $9 for double.

For Funan’s outlet, some of the opening flavours you can look forward to include Ondeh Ondeh, Goma, Citrus Bitters, Blueberry Lavender, Dulce & Banana, Jasmine Tea Amarena, Madagascan Vanilla, Roasted Pistachio, and Brown Butter Pecan.

I saw a couple of my favourites, including the rich and creamy Ondeh Ondeh, and Goma with the distinct and aromatic roasted black sesame taste.

Fans who remember their intriguing Chicken Rice flavour launched last National Day, will be happy to know it is making a comeback (after some persuasion from regulars who missed to have it).

Chicken Rice Gelato?

Yes, complete with rice bits, black sauce and chilli. Friends who had it told me it actually worked, and one of those gelato flavours that “rocked their socks”.

Butterknife Folk
Funan #02-02, 107 North Bridge Road Singapore 179105
Opening 28th of June at Funan

Other Related Entries
12 Must-Try Ice Cream Cafes In Singapore
Birds Of Paradise (Jewel Changi Airport)
Dopa Dopa (South Bridge Road)
Denzy (Bishan)
Creamier (Toa Payoh)

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

Satisfying restaurant meals for $10 and below are getting more difficult to find now, but it is still very possible.

This is how.

Chope is celebrating its 8th birthday, and there will be over 210 unbelievable deals ranging from CRAZY 1-for-1s, to flash deals AS LOW AS $0.80 on ChopeDeals Birthday Flash Sale.

Bookmark this date: 27 June 2019 (Thurs) and this page as the one-day flash sale will start at 12 midnight. (Some of the better deals run out fast, so it can be worthwhile to sleep a little later that night.)

Here’s how you can enjoy ChopeDeals in 4 steps:
Step 1 Choose: Choose an offer from a list of curated restaurants available on ChopeDeals web and app.
Step 2 Get Deal: Purchase the discounted voucher and receive it on your email or retrieve it via the Chope app.
Step 3 Dine: Inform the staff that you will be using your voucher prior to ordering.
Step 4 Redeem: Present your voucher at the restaurant to offset the bill and enjoy your savings.

A birthday celebration is never complete without good food. Here are 10 of the highlights I found which are BELOW $10!

Samsui by Soup Restaurant
Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Boulevard, #03-201, Singapore 819666
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Perhaps you may not know that the home-grown Soup Restaurant has opened a “Samsui” concept at Jewel Changi Airport.

Located on the third floor, dinners get a stunning view of the 40-metre Rain Vortex surrounded by the lush Forest Valley.

This is a modern Chinese restaurant concept, showcasing new renditions of heirloom Cantonese dishes that have stood the test of time.

A favourite is the Samsui Braised Seafood Bee Hoon which is served with premium seafood such as long dun fish slices, scallops and live prawns. Simmered with the freshest seafood broth, you have to savour that umami in every bite.

Also get the pretty-looking Sweet & Sour Pork, decorated with edible flowers sourced from local farmers.

ChopeDeals: Choice of 1 Signature Main at $8:
– Signature Braised Samsui Seafood Bee Hoon (U.P $17.90)
– Sweet and Sour Pork (U. P $13.90)
Get ChopeDeals HERE – Samsui by Soup Restaurant

Soup Restaurant
Various locations in Singapore, including Changi Airport T2, Clementi Mall, Compass One, Holland Village, Hougang Mall, Jurong Point, NEX, Paragon, Suntec City, United Square, Vivocity
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Soup Restaurant is of course known for its variety of herbal soups, a quintessential part of Cantonese dining.

These traditional boiled soups are prepared with fresh ingredients, simmered for hours to create the nourishing and wholesome bowl. Choices include Lotus Roots with Pork Ribs, Old Cucumber with Pork Ribs, ABC Soup, and Sweet Corn Soup which changes on a daily basis.

Pair the soup up with Soup Restaurant’s Hometown Tofu, which looks deceptively simple but is lightly-crisp on the outside and silky-smooth on the inside. Brings back that nostalgic taste as well.

ChopeDeals: Choice of 1 Signature Main at $8
– Hometown Tofu (U.P $10.90)
– Traditional Boiled Soup of the Day (U. P $17.50)
Get ChopeDeals HERE – Soup Restaurant

Udon Kamon
Eat At Seven, 3 Temasek Boulevard #03-315, Sky Garden Suntec City, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 11:30pm – 3:00pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)

At Udon Kamon, all noodles are homemade and made fresh daily.

Another key selling point is that this Japanese concept offers different types of udon broths, the widest range available in Singapore.

The Magma Spicy Udon will satisfy those with a penchant for spicy soups. Served in a hot stone bowl to keep the dish piping hot, it combines Sanuki udon with the intense flavours of red chili peppers that make the broth bright red.

It is not called Magma Spicy for nothing.

Generously topped with Black tiger prawns, Kampong chicken, bamboo shoots, half an aji tamago, and chopped green onions.

ChopeDeals: 1-for-1 Signature Udon at $16.24 for 2 bowls (U.P $32.48). Choice of Tonkotsu Udon, Smoked Duck Udon, or Magma Spicy Udon.
Get ChopeDeals HERE – Udon Kamon

The Quarters
Icon Village 16 Enggor Street #01-09 Singapore 079717
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm (Mon), 10am – 10pm (Tue – Sat), Closed Sun

The Quarters’ concept is inspired by modern Singapore cuisine, otherwise known as “Modsin”.

Known for their handmade sauces and refreshing take to local food, they aspire to evolve heritage recipes with a touch of modernity.

One of their top-sellers is the Salted Egg Chicken Burger, which sandwiches a huge oat-battered buttermilk infused chicken thigh in a bun, slathered with salted egg aioli, and served with fries.

Other Modsin signature burgers include the Satay burger filled with spiced chicken, peanut sauce, rice patty and served with salad; and the Shiok burger of spiced pork in a soft bun and fries.

ChopeDeal: Signature Burger by The Quarters at $9.40 (U.P $18.80)
Get ChopeDeals HERE – The Quarters

The Beef Station
2 Tai Thong Crescent, The Venue Shoppes, #01-05, Singapore 347836
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon

The family-friendly eatery serves up a variety of beef dishes, including Hainanese Beef Noodles (available soup or dry), Beef Balls Noodles, and the newly launched Mala Beef Noodles – for those craving for something tongue-tingling.

Jio your friend (since it is 1-for-1) for a Hainanese style Beef Noodles with tender slices of beef poured over with thick flavourful gravy.

If not, get the Beef Ball Noodles in comforting beef broth. You can choose a noodle type from thick bee hoon (the most popular), thin egg noodles, kway teow or yellow noodles.

ChopeDeals: The Beef Station – 1-for-1 Signature Beef Noodles with Ice Lemon Tea/Lime Juice at $8 (U.P $16)
Get ChopeDeals HERE – The Beef Station

Noodle Thai Thai Kitchen
327 Beach Road Singapore 199560
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm Last order 10:45pm (Mon – Fri)
12pm – 11pm Last order 10:45pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

Located in the heart of Beach Road, the chefs at Noodle Thai Thai Kitchen are from Thailand who aim to provide that fiery, authentic taste.

Amongst the favourites is the Signature LALA Jade Noodle, of thing and springy spinach noodles cooked with fresh flower clams (lala) and topped with Thai basil leaves.

The winning element is Chef’s secret sauce, which provides a mouth-watering slightly spicy combination after you toss them well together. If your tongue is on fire, cool down with some Iced Lemongrass drink.

ChopeDeals: Signature Lala Jade Noodle with choice of 1 drink of Iced Lemongrass / Iced Lemon Tea at $8 (U.P $15.40)
Get ChopeDeals HERE – Noodle Thai Thai Kitchen

The Autobus
6A Shenton Way OUE Downtown Gallery #01-01 Singapore 068815
Opening Hours: 11am – 10:30pm (Mon – Fri), 8am – 3pm (Sat), Closed Sun

The Autobus is a bicycle-themed café located at OUE Downtown Gallery, popular with CBD workers and gym goers alike for their coffee and protein bowls.

Customers would be given an order-chit to personalise your own bowls, in which you can choose a base, protein, 2 sides, dressing and toppings.

Start with a base of brown rice, fusilli pasta, romaine lettuce, potato cucumber salad; then topped with cajun chicken, seaweed turkey, breast, sweet glazed char siew, BBQ pulled beef or baked dory.

After adding sides and toppings – onsen egg and roasted cauliflower are popular choices, complete the bowl with dressing of roasted sesame, spiced oregano, honey mustard or basil pesto.

ChopeDeals: 1-for-1 Signature Protein Bowls for $11 (U.P $22)
Get ChopeDeals HERE – The Autobus

Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
317 Outram Road Singapore 169075
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2:30pm, 6:30pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Fri)
10:30am – 2:30pm, 6:30pm – 10pm (Sat, Sun, PH)

Savour modern Cantonese cuisine at the award-winning restaurant Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant, with offerings of heart-warming soups, delicious stir-fried dishes and roasts.

Its Smoked Tea Duck which is smoked in a medley of tea leaves such as jasmine, chrysanthemum and pu-er, is not to be missed for its crispy skin and aroma.

The Poached Rice with Seafood in Superior Broth served with Crispy Rice is a crowd-pleaser.

Diners get a mix of crispy rice with poached rice grains for their textural surprise, cooked in superior broth amid morsels of scallops, prawns and compoy.

ChopeDeals: Poached Rice with Seafood in Superior Broth served with Crispy Rice or Smoked Tea Duck at $8 (U.P $16.50)
Get ChopeDeals HERE – Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant

Maggie Thai Chinese Restaurant
1 Liang Seah Street, Singapore 189022
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

One of the mainstays along Liang Seah Street (near Bugis), Maggie Thai & Chinese Restaurant offers familiar Thai and Chinese dishes. Usually you would find groups of family and friends sharing food there.

There is quite an extensive variety of rice items, from Thai Olive Rice, Thai Seafood Fried Rice, Pineapple Rice, Thai Mango Chicken Rice, Thai Prawn Paste Chicken Rice, Thai Butter Chicken Rice, and Thai Assam Fish Rice.

The Thai Basil Pork Rice remains a favourite, of bold-flavoured minced pork fried with Thai basil, served with steamed rice and sunny-side up.

If not, choose a noodle dish from offerings of Thai Fried Bee Hoon, Pad Thai, Beef Noodle Soup and Tom Yum Noodle Soup.

ChopeDeals: Rice or Noodle Main + Drink + Dessert at $8 (U.P $14.10)
Get ChopeDeals HERE – Maggie Thai Chinese Restaurant

G Chop House
111 Somerset Road #01-K8 Singapore 238164
Opening Hours: 11am – 8:30pm (Mon – Sat), 12pm – 6:30pm (Sun)

You may have seen G Chop House making its appearance in various food fairs in the past, and congratulations to the owners… they have started their first standalone outlet at TripleOne Somerset.

A moderate crowd can be found here during lunchtime, waiting patiently for some of the addictive Taiwanese style snack.

The Champion Chicken Chip is fried upon order (so be prepared to wait a little while), cooked till crisp and golden. Top it up with seasoning powders of chilli, cheese, sweet plum, curry and seaweed.

The Instagram-worthy item would be the Signature Chicken Chop, stuffed with cheese and pieces of pineapple. Cut it open, watch it ooze, then pop the pieces into the mouth. Hard to stop at just one or two pieces.

ChopeDeals: Choice of 1 Signature Chicken Chop or Champion Chicken Chop with Green Lemon drink at $4.20 (U.P $8.40)
Get ChopeDeals HERE – G Chop House

Other than the 210 dining deals at up to 64% off which are up for grabs, look out for the variety of 1-for-1 deals on sale, including signature mains, signature items and buffets.

This is the time you can also ‘stock up’ on cash vouchers: they come with up to 50% OFF (i.e pay $25 for $50 cash vouchers, $50 for $100 cash vouchers.)

You can also expect flash deals as low as $0.80 at 12pm, 6pm and 8pm at this page.

Also, on top of all these deals, you can get an extra $8 OFF (with a minimum spend of $40) when you pay with DBS PayLah! with the code . This promotion is limited to the first 2000 redemptions only, so remember to purchase early.

As part of Chope’s 8th birthday celebration, check out the Chope app or website to play and win prizes such as 2D1N staycations, dining vouchers, and promo codes worth over $500,000 between 15 June to 7 July.

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Chope.

Authentic German restaurants are few and far between in Singapore, but if you are craving for some Pork Knuckle, German sausages and Schnitzel, here’s where you can go to.

Located in the City Hall area at the posh Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski, Frieda German restaurant and bar offers German and Austrian fare.

Named after Frieda, the only daughter of Berthold Kempinksi (founder of Kempinski hotels) and wife Helene, the restaurant embodies her spirit of warmth and service.

Expect your food with large servings of homely hospitality, much like how this hotelier made guests feel at home.

Let’s start with the interiors.

You should feel this comforting warmth throughout the restaurant’s uniquely-designed pastel green, wood and floral themed sections: Frieda’s Day Bar, Frieda’s Dining Room and Frieda’s Garden.

If you are an art geek, you’d probably recognize the design depicts traditional German restaurant architecture of the late 19th century.

The Day Bar, inspired by Berlin’s urban style, is where you enjoy an abendbrot (a casual evening meal), preferably with an ice-cold German beer on tap or the hotel-exclusive Frieda Lager.

The elegant wood-paneled Dining Room with dramatic lighting is best for a cosy, intimate dinner. And the botanical-themed Garden is simply enchanting and romantic.

Helmed by (the gut aussehend) German chef Jan Mulik, Frieda offers menus for a la carte, desserts & bar snacks, lunch set, and a seasonal menu.

Check out the must-try hearty dishes at this fairly new concept, possibly among the best rendition of modern German cuisine you can find in Singapore:

Oven Roasted Pork Knuckle ($39)
Founded on the oldest recipes of Germany, this house special is prepared using a whole free-range Australian pork hind leg knuckle.

The meat is washed in an ice-bath for no less than two hours, then slow-cooked in a pork stock. What makes the stock so aromatic are the juniper berries, cloves, bay leaves, peppercorns, garlic and onion added to it.

For three hours, the pork knuckle is simmered ‘til fork tender in this flavourful stock. The long process continues with its skin removed and oven-roasted until it turns crispy.

This dish (good for 2-3 or even more) take 30 minutes prep time. Meanwhile, enjoy some table bite or starters while waiting.

You will be rewarded with a succulent yet crispy pork knuckle, served with pretzel dumplings, house-made sauerkraut and beerjus.

Platter of Grilled Sausages and Meatloaf ($54 for 2 pax, $105 for 4 pax)
Dining as a small group? The sharing platters for 2 and 4 are recommended.

A serving includes 4 types of sausages that are grilled to smoky goodness, including a smoked beef sausage.

The moderately spicy Nuremberg sausage, one of Germany’s most significant contribution to European cuisine, is also part of the selection. If you love cheese, you will enjoy the savoury but mild taste of Emmental in the cheese sausage.

As a rule, eat these bangers with the accompanying Dijon mustard or horseradish. Your platter also comes with mashed potato, pretzel dumpling, and sauerkraut that has been fermented for two weeks with salt and vinegar.

Completing the platter is the equally delicious meatloaf – steamed then flavoured with assorted spices and home-made butter.

Veal Wiener Schnitzel ($37)
Wiener Schnitzel is German for Viennese cutlet. While this is also prepared pork or chicken, Chef Mulik uses the traditional veal to create this dish.

The veal cutlet is pounded thinly and evenly to tenderize it, then breaded with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs.

With a property heated oil in pan and flipping at the time, the schnitzel creates a light and crisp golden-brown skin and a tender, moist center.

This light and delicate main course is served with the customary potato salad.

A serving comes with home-made cranberry sauce and traditional gurkensalat, a salad of thinly sliced cucumber, dill, sour cream and parsley. Your Austrian-inspired meal is not complete without this.

Beef Consommé ($15)
Start off your meal warming your tummy with the deeply savory Beef Consommé with semolina dumplings aka Griessnockerlsupper, a signature at Frieda.

The consommé, heartier than a basic beef broth, is prepared from slow-cooking baked oxtail in a big pot to extract the essence of beef.

The stock is clarified of fat and particles to yield a pure, clear liquid, as how a consommé should be. Taste how it carries the earthy notes of the root vegetables and chives, and the couple of egg-shaped Austrian-style semolina quenelles further enriching its flavour.

A variation of this beef consommé (also $15) comes with thin-sliced herbal pancake instead of semolina dumplings.

Poached Wagyu Beef Brisket ($35)
Another signature main course is the Poached Wagyu Beef Brisket, made extra tender by cooking it at 72 degrees for over 24 hours.

If you have serious meat-lovin’ side, this dish will please you.

You’ll appreciate this even more with the accompanying horseradish cream sauce, parsley potatoes and beetroot salad.

Pretzel Dumplings ($26)
If you’re looking for a vegetarian main course, or a comfort dish at that, this is it.

These pretzel dumplings are served with rich and creamy mushroom ragout and scallions. The pretzels come from Berthold Delikatessen, the classy deli next door selling German-style breads, rolls, and pastries.

These dumplings take a long process to prepare these, adding milk, eggs, herbs, parsley, chives, paprika powder, then cooked via steaming.

Semolina Pudding ($12)
Semolina makes its appearance in the dessert menu as a Semolina Pudding, aka Griessflammerie, Frieda’s signature meal-ender.

This porridge-type of dish is cooked with milk and topped with a sour cherry compote and sprinkled with pastry dough crumble.

By baking this with semolina, the consistency becomes like rice pudding or maize-based grits.

Pancake Bismarck ($12)
A Bismarck is a German pancake that’s also called a Dutch baby pancake or a Dutch puff.

Unlike the typical pancake cooked in a pan (hence the name pan + cake), a Bismarck is baked in an oven.

Enjoy Frieda’s version of the Bismarck, a fluffy, crispy pancake served with a drizzle of maple syrup, icing sugar and mixed berries compote.

If you head over Frieda during lunch time, check out their value-for-money lunch sets. A 2-course meal is going at $15, while a 3-course meal is priced at $19. The mains (rotational) can include Grilled German Sausage, Baked Chicken or Swabian Noodles.

Frieda restaurant and bar
Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski, Unit 01-87, 01-K1-K2, 15 Stamford Road, Singapore 178906
Tel: +65 6715 6873
Email: frieda.singapore@kempinski.com
Opening hours: Lunch 12pm – 3pm, Dinner 6pm – 10:30pm Last order 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with The Capitol Kempinski.

GSS? Suntec City is bringing on an irresistible, value-for-money gastronomic tour with its very own Great Sedap Sale (GSS).

This is when you can get many food and beverage items for only $2 or $5.

There will be 21 unbeatable F&B deals up for grabs on the Suntec City app from 1 to 21 July 2019.

Here’s how it works:
– The Flash sale starts at 10 am daily (1 – 21 July)
– 1 deal (in limited quantities) to be released each day.
– Each flash deal sale will end at 11.59pm on the same day or when sold out (whichever is earlier).
– Utilise the deal in-store by 31 July 2019.

Some of the $5 F&B deals include Mala Xiang Guo Bowl with White Rice (COCA), Fat Chap Burger (Fat Chap), Pasta (Mad for Garlic), 2 Bento and 1 set of UMI-CHAN and FRIENDS Plushie with Tote Bag (umisushi), full pint of Draft Beer (Morganfield’s), 14 pieces of Wings (Wingstop), Fried Chicken Set (Guksu Restaurant), and selected Korean Set Meal (Kimchi Korean Restaurant).

These deals are mostly priced above $20 to $30 originally, so you are effectively getting a huge discount.

As for the $2 F&B deals, you can look forward to Signature Tie Guan Yin Soft-serve (TP Tea), Root Beer Float (Diggersite), and Gaoshan Oolong Fruit Tea (Partea).

Here’s more on the Suntec City $2 & $5 F&B Deals:

The Butcher’s Kitchen
Suntec City North Wing #02-472 (between Tower 1 & 2)

The Butcher’s Kitchen located at Suntec City Level 2, is part of The Butcher’s Group of Companies – one of the largest butcher retailers in Singapore with over 15 years of history. (They also have a butcher counter located inside the restaurant to allow diners to buy fresh meats directly.)

Its signature Beef Dice bowl feature cubes of Australian grass-fed black angus ribeye presented with different accompaniments, such as Japanese Fried Rice, Aglio Olio or Mixed Salad.

This is completed with sides of corn and sunny side-up.

The seared beef cubes may remind you of those at the Taiwanese night markets, with that element of smokiness and juicy, succulent bite.

Further personalise your dish with different choice of sauces from beef brown, red wine, chicken mushroom to black pepper, which you can dip your beef dices into, or drizzle over the rice.

Suntec City GSS Flash Deal 2019:
$5 Beef Dices served with your choice of main (Japanese Fried Rice, Aglio Olio, or Mixed Salad) and sauce (choose from beef brown, red wine, chicken mushroom or black pepper)
Comes with sunny side up and corn. (U.P $19.75)

T&C: Valid for dine-in only.

OLDTOWN White Coffee
Suntec City North Wing #01-429

OLDTOWN White Coffee is Malaysia’s largest halal-certified kopitiam restaurant from Ipoh, Perak. It serves up a variety of Malaysian food and drinks from white coffee to toasts, rice and noodles.

Satisfy your cravings with the hearty delight of OLDTOWN White Coffee’s signature Nasi Lemak, served with marinated fried chicken wing, hard-boiled egg, roasted peanuts, and sambal chilli with ikan billis for that added kick. All complete with fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves.

Get a friend along for the Ipoh Chicken Hor Fun, featuring a steaming bowl of thin and smooth Hor Fun (flat rice noodles) with blanched chicken and prawns in a comforting chicken and prawn broth.

Suntec City GSS Flash Deal 2019:
$5 OLDTOWN White Coffee Sedap Meal for 2 pax (U.P up to $19.90), which is inclusive of
– 1 x Ipoh Chicken Hor Fun
– 1 x Nasi Lemak with Fried Chicken Wing
– 1 x OLDTOWN White Coffee – Cham (hot or cold)

T&C: Valid for dine-in only.

COCA
Suntec City North Wing #02-440

Hotpot restaurant COCA is known for offering Thai cuisine with traditional elements of Chinese Cantonese home-style cooking.

Do check out their Hua Diao Phoenix broth and Tantalising Tom Yum, alongside with house specialties such as Fish Glue, Shrimp Paste and Handmade Wanton.

In addition to their Merciless Mala Tang, COCA has also just introduced “Merciless Mala 2.0” – their rendition of Mala Xiang Guo pack filled with ingredients stir-fried with fragrant mala paste and Chinese spices, which is included as part of COCA Premium Buffet.

Exclusive to COCA Suntec City, an individual Mala Xiang Guo Bowl will be available as diners get to choose 5 ingredients from a range of delectable comforting treats such as sliced meat, sweet corn, luncheon meat and golden mushroom; then freshly-fried with that distinctive wok-hei.

The Mala Xiang Guo Bowl is paired with rice to help balance out that heat, but you would still feel that shiokness with numbing spiciness from the fragrant ingredients.

Suntec City GSS Flash Deal 2019:
$5 Mala Xiang Guo Bowl with White Rice – choose any 5 ingredients from selected list of ingredients (U.P $20, for single pax).

T&C: Only available for sale though Suntec Rewards GSS flash deal. Pre-order is required prior to collection. Valid for takeaway only.

OSG Bar + Kitchen
Suntec City North Wing #01-510

OSG Bar + Kitchen has a fairly interesting concept. It serves up familiar lunch items such as Nasi Lemak Sets, Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl, and Bak Chor Mee – from the famed Taman Jurong 58 Minced Meat Noodle no less.

Come evening time and it is transformed into a music restaurant-bar with live music and Open Mic night.

Some of the recommended dinner items include Pan Roasted Halibut & Tiger Prawn, Sake Teriyaki Chicken, Sweet & Sour Pork, Chicken Tikka Pizza, Crispy Chilli Crab Spaghetti, and Udon Aglio Olio.

The crowd-favourite Prawn Aglio Olio is going at $5 just for this promotion with generous servings of tiger prawns, which is really value-for-its-money.

You are likely to find more sautéed minced garlic and chilli flakes added, as the kitchen had fine-tuned the Italian pasta to suit the local taste-buds.

Suntec City GSS Flash Deal 2019:
$5 Prawn Aglio Olio (U.P $21.07)

T&C: Valid for dine-in only.

HarriAnns Nonya Table
Suntec City West Wing #01-416A

HarriAnns has been around since the early 1950s, started as a simple push-cart in the Tiong Bahru district in Singapore.

Since then, it has been offering Peranakan heritage food made from recipes passed down for three generations from grandma’s time.

Today, it continues to use traditional methods and the freshest premium ingredients in the making of their dishes, including its signature Nonya Kueh & Cookies. Each piece is an edible piece of art, painstakingly hand-crafted by its chefs with tender loving care.

You do not need to wait till Chinese New Year to have their Sambal Prawn Rolls aka Hae Bee Hiam.

Warning: These spicy sambal prawns wrapped in thin filo-pastry are highly addictive and it is not quite possible to stop at two or three pieces.

Suntec City GSS Flash Deal 2019:
$5 per bottle of Signature Sambal Prawn Rolls. (U.P $20.90)

Peperoni Pizzeria
Suntec City Fountain Court #B1-130

Pepperoni Pizzaria is popular for comforting Italian classics and wood-fired pizzas, with range of flavours from Margherita, Funghi, Hawaiian, Meatball & Scallion, Chicken Truffle, Portobello, Carne (meatballs, bacon, pepperoni, mozzarella), to Frutti Di Mare.

Pair the pizzas with some Crossroads Premium Craft Beer. The crisp and refreshing beer was specially developed and designed to complement Singapore’s heat and humidity.

Expect light to medium body; malty backbone; smooth, sweet grains balanced by hoppy bitterness. Cheers to a good time with pizzas.

Suntec City GSS Flash Deal 2019:
$5 for 2 pints of 450ml Crossroads Premium Craft Beers (U.P $24).

T&C: Valid for dine-in only.

Maison Kayser
Suntec City East Wing #02-601

Maison Kayser is a contemporary artisanal bakery founded by Eric Kayser, known for both traditional and creative bread, flaky croissants, pastries, savoury sandwiches, and tempting cakes.

Among the favourites are Madeleines, the delightful little French butter cakes that come in shell-shapes.

The sublime buttery flavour and fluffy texture make them perfect for serving with coffee or tea.

Suntec City GSS Flash Deal 2019:
$2 for 4 pieces of Madeleine (U.P $6)

Olivia & Co
Suntec City North Wing #01-481

Olivia & Co. is a travel-themed gourmet bistro offering artisanal coffee and drinks, world-inspired food, and retail products.

You will find many of the working crowd and shoppers taking a reprise at this cosy café.

Coffee beans are directly sourced through fair trading from the coffee farms of Bali which are blessed by highland climate and volcanic soil.

The coffees such as the Latte and Cappuccino are generally a crowd-pleaser, on the chocolatey-side, not as acidic, pleasantly smooth and balanced.

Suntec City GSS Flash Deal 2019:
$2 Regular Hot Coffee (U.P $6)

T&C: Applicable for Long Black/ Cappuccino/ Cafe Latte/ Flat White/ Cafe Mocha. Valid for dine-in only.

Cio ENZYME DRINK
Suntec City East Wing #01-K3

While bubble teas are in a rage now, not many are familiar with enzyme drinks.

Cio ENZYME DRINK offers enzyme beverages, which is designed to improve health as enzymes help to aid bodily functions such as digestion and metabolism.

So you can take them after a heavy meal, or during tea time as a thirst-quencher.

They are refreshing anyway, with obvious vinegary taste, fizzy nature, available in multiple pleasant flavours such as winter melon, mango, and lychee.

Suntec City GSS Flash Deal 2019:
$2 Large Cio Enzyme drink (U.P $4.80)

T&C: Applicable for winter melon/mango/lychee flavours only.

$2 and $5 F&B Deals: 1 – 21 July:
21 unbeatable flash deals up for grabs on the Suntec City App.

One flash deal will be released at 10am daily from 1 – 21 July on the Suntec City App. Each flash deal listing will be available for just one day, on a while stocks last basis.

Here’s how you can purchase the flash deal:
Step 1: Download the Suntec City App and sign up as a member. Membership is FREE.
Step 2: Tap on the “Flash Sale” tab in the app menu
Step 3: Click on “Add to cart” or “buy now” to purchase the deal.
Step 4: Proceed with the payment and redeem your deal at the respective store.

Each deal ends at 11:59pm on the day itself or while stocks last (whichever is earlier). All deals must be utilized in-store by 31 July 2019. Strictly no extension will be given.

Tip: Like and follow Suntec City’s Facebook Page to receive first-hand information every morning on the flash deal of the day.

For more information, log on to https://sunteccity.com.sg/greatsedapsale

Promotion details: Spend & Redeem 1-21 July
Spend $50* and receive: ez-link Card Top-Up (worth $2) OR Parking Coupon (worth $2.80)
Spend $100* and receive: $10 Suntec City Voucher

Citi Cardmembers’ exclusive: Spend $150*^ and receive additional $10 Suntec City Voucher.

*T&C apply. Redemption is valid for Suntec Rewards members only. Max 1 redemption per member per day. Max 3 combined same-day receipts to redeem. While stocks last.

^ Applicable for payment made by Citi Credit Cards only.

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Suntec City.

If you haven’t heard, a part of Orchard has been transformed into a retail and F&B “wonderland”.

From now till 30th June 2019 (Sun, not much time left), 11am to 10pm daily, there will be retail and F&B stalls for you to explore at the GREAT Singapore Street (GSS) Pop-Up.

The venue is right at the Grange Road Carpark, next to 313@somerset and opposite Orchard Cineleisure.

Other than retail stalls offering fashion apparel and accessories, vintage collectibles and lifestyle specialty gifts, you can look forward to food, food, and more food.

Some of the highlights include American burgers from the famed 25 Degrees, Jen Tanglin’s Seafood Thermidor, Keisuke’s Black Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen, Assam Laksa from Indocafe, and Salted Egg Rosti from The 6ixes.

Here are 11 GSS food container stalls you can look forward to:

Ayam Shiok Burger – Burgers & Fries with Special Local Flavours
This is a gourmet Modsin fast food concept created by the team behind The Quarters, which aims to celebrate Singapore’s progressive heritage through food.

With a crisp oat battered Chicken patty as a base, get a soft burger with a range of sauces available.

Pick from options of the Ayam Legend ($8) with salted egg sauce, Ayam Hot ($8) with heirloom curry sauce, and Ayam Bibik ($8) included with a Peranakan inspired buah keluak sauce – the “Truffle of Asia” with earthy and nutty flavours.

Vegetarians can also enjoy a Brinjal patty as an alternative.

For something to nibble on, the shoe-string fries come topped with salted egg, chilli crab and truffle sauce, that can be paired with Kombynation Co’s Kombucha.

Jen Tanglin’s Favourites – The Famed Chilli Crab & Local Delights
Jen Tanglin’s Favourites features bite-sized signature dishes at their restaurants, Ah Hoi’s Kitchen and J65 – the all-day dining buffet restaurant.

Ah Hoi’s Kitchen has made a name for itself for its local classic dishes including the signature Chili Crab.

Well, you can take a taste of the Chilli Crab right here at the GSS Pop-Up with the Chilli Crab Sauce with Mantou ($10).

The Seafood Thermidor ($10) being one of the popular dishes in the J65 buffet line up, can also be found here. With succulent seafood doused in a creamy sauce and blow-torched to melted perfection, every bite could leave you wanting more.

Also look forward to the Lamb Shank with Couscous, Pulled Beef Sandwich, Lobster Bisque, and other craft beers and juices (all $10 each).

25 Degrees – Gourmet Burgers, Wine & Liquor Bar
25 Degrees is authentic American burger and milkshake joint (located near Bugis) that originated from Los Angeles, and has been endorsed by A-List celebrities as their go-to burger joint.

Look out for their “Number One” ($10), the signature burger with 200g USA Angus beef, creamy crescenza, gorgonzola, strips of smoky bacon, topped with slowly caramelised onions and finished with… Thousand Island.

Exclusive to the GSS Pop-Up, there is an even special of Turkey Cheese Burger ($10) included with turkey patty, caramelised onion, swiss cheese and ketchup.

Bodacious – Bistro & Bar
Bodacious is known for its unpretentious and hearty food. If you require something substantial, look out for the Bodacious Beef Burger of juicy angus beef served with caramelised onion, orange cheddar, tomatoes, along with a side of fries.

Other favourites include the Ultimate Whole Roasted Cauliflower ($7) – okay, this is really good yummy; Chilli Dog with New Zealand beef served topped with sumptuous bolognese sauce; and beer-battered snapper Fish & Chips with Cajun spices.

The White Clam Bucket ($9) of clams deglazed in white wine cream and tossed with garlic butter and baguette should get your hungry for more.

Kebabs Faktory
Kebabs Faktory brings about a range of no-frills, healthy kebab items made with fresh ingredients, inspired by Turkish, Lebanese, Indian, and Greek cuisines.

The fuss-free kiosk offers different options such as Chicken Sharwarma ($9.90), Chicken Tikka Kebab Roll ($9.90), Mexican Spicy Chicken Roll ($9.90), Rice Bowl with Chicken ($9.90) and Butter Chicken Rice Bowl ($9.90).

For vegetarians, worry not as you can also have your share of Paneer Roll, Falafel Roll, Falafel Rice Bowl, and Paneer Masala Rice Bowl (each $9.90).

Make the kebab a meal by adding $4 to include hummus/fries and a drink.

Streetfeed.SG – Street Food & Snacks such as Angus Ribeye, Black Pepper Smoked Duck and Truffle Mash
Streetfeed.SG which last made its appearance at the Shilin Singapore Food Festival, is back with more tempting treats.

Start with appetisers of Beef Chilli Fries with onsen egg and cheese ($8.90), Truffle Fries with Parmesan Cheese ($6.90), Scrambled Eggs with Sautéed Mushrooms or Turkey Bacon ($6.90).

Love BOTH salted egg and truffle?

Their most popular street food item happens to be the Salted Egg Crispy Chicken with Truffle Mash ($8.90); while the Black Pepper Smoked Chicken Breast ($10.90) and Australian Angus Ribeye ($12.90) also come with the ‘hit’ side of Truffle Mash.

The 6ixes – Specially-crafted Rostis
The 6ixs reinvents the classic Swiss Rosti by putting a Southeast Asian twist on it – crispy on the outside, yet slightly mushy on the inside.

Choose from classic, cheesy or salted egg flavours with different toppings such as chicken bratwurst, smoked salmon, smoked duck and beef tenderloin. The basic Classic Rosti costs $6, and the recommended is the Spicy Cheese Rosti ($7) with Beef tenderloin add-on ($6).

All variations are served with a generous dollop of sour cream.

Other than the Rosti live station, The 6ixes has expanded to serve up marinated Chicken and Beef Kebabs ($6, $7), alongside Chicken and Beef Arayes Wraps ($10, $12).

The Connoisseur Concerto – Gourmet Food featuring Western, Peranakan and International delights
The Catering Concerto by TCC offers choices of Western, Peranakan or International delights to suit all tastes.

Over at the Western side, other than Flavoured Crispy Fries and Crispy Shimeji with Golden Crumb, there are recommended pasta dishes of Prawn Spaghetti Aglio Olio ($12), Bolognese Cheese Spaghetti ($12), and Wild Forest Mushroom Spaghetti Aglio Olio ($12).

Also featuring modern Peranakan cuisine from Indocafe – The White House, the Nyonya Kueh Pie ($8 for 6 pieces) is a favourite, with crispy ‘top hat’ pastry cups filled with shredded turnip, prawns and homemade chilli dip.

For something to whet up your appetite, get the Assam Laksa ($10) of noodles in tangy spicy fish soup, served with traditional accompaniments.

If you come in a group, then it could be worth-it to try out the Combo Set ($13), a more complete set comprising of Assam Laksa, Homemade Crispy Prawn Fritters, and Crispy Spring Roll.

The Flying Squirrel – Sashimi & Sushi
The modern Japanese restaurant is known for its Japanese favourites such as fresh cuts of sashimi, handmade sushi and lunch bento sets; to more modern interpretations such Japanese Tacos filled with Tuna & Avocado and Crab Mayo.

Get your hands on some of their Maki. The sushi hand rolls (available in $6 and $12 versions) comes wrapped with various fillings from spicy salmon, spicy salmon, California to ebi fry.

Small bites of Chicken Karaage ($10), Chicken Gyoza ($5), Pumpkin Croquette ($5) and Truffled Ebi Fry ($10) are also available, best paired with some drinks.

The highlighted item would be the TFS Premium Chirashi ($25, U.P $36++), containing generous portion of fresh ingredients – salmon, tuna, octopus, sweet shrimp, scallop, salmon roe, sea eel, Japanese omelette, all on a bed of fluffy salmon and roe rice.

Wawa SG – Fresh Lala Clams & Noodles
Having their food is said to make you go excited with “Wa, Wa, Wa”, thus this name.

Founded by a group of friends for their love for seafood and zi char dishes, Wawa serves up items with paired with interesting sauces from garlic butter to homemade garlic seafood broth.

If you need a comforting treat, have some Fresh Lala ($8) cooked in garlic seafood broth, Fresh Lala in rich and creamy garlic butter sauce ($8), or Fresh Lala Pasta ($12).

Also, they are rated 3 stars on FoodKing by Night Owl Cinamatics, and so they are surely “Food King Good”!

Ramen Keisuke – Tonkotsu Ramen & Gyoza
To local ramen fans, Ramen Keisuke needs little introduction.

Chef-owner Keisuke Takeda is known to take inspiration from the French culinary style, and incorporate into his ramen creations.

To create that creamy texture and unique depth in flavour in the broths used for the ramen, the stock brewing takes several hours.

A special Tonkotsu is available during the GSS Pop-Up at only $8 per portion. Also available at the Spicy, and Black Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen ($9).

Alley SG – The All-Time-Favourite Bubble Tea and Mini Pancakes
If you need your thirst quencher, The Alley SG (not to be confused with other bubble tea brand The Alley) is serving up drinks from Brown Sugar Fresh Milk ($3.90, $4.90), Brown Sugar Coca Latte ($4.50, $5.50), Brown Sugar Crème Brûlée, ($5.30, $6.30), to Brown Sugar Milk Tea ($3.90,. $4.90).

The one item to look out for are the “Pufferties”, of Dutch Baby Pancakes ($6) with your choice of topping and sauce ranging from milk chocolate, white chocolate, raspberry mash and peanut butter.

Asia Pacific Breweries – Beers & Ciders
Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore is the home of the world-acclaimed Tiger Beer – a Singapore icon born and brewed on local soil since 1932. Tiger Beer is now available in more than 75 markets around the world.

In addition to Tiger Beer, APB Singapore’s portfolio of beers includes ABC Stout, Anchor Beer, Baron’s Strong Brew, Guinness, Heineken and the range of Archipelago craft beers.

On the bar menu includes Draft Beer for $8 (330 ml), or $20 for bundle of 3.

Other than the food and retail, you can also chill out at the air sofa and picnic benches at Grange Road Carpark.

There will be jazz bands and screenings of short films produced by students from Temasek Polytechnic.

Performances lined up every evening include Zi Jie, Andrew Chen, Y & Z, 53A, The Big Break, Jack and Rai, Frydauz, Harith and Marian.

On 29th of June (Sat), there will be screening of Pete’s Dragon at 7pm which is a collaboration with Singapore Film Commission).

If you have spent a minimum of $100 (same-day combined receipts), remember to redeem your GoSpree tote bag to hold all your great buys when you spend a minimum of $100 at any pop-up stores at The GREAT Singapore Street Pop Up.

The Great Singapore Street Pop-Up
Venue: Grange Road Carpark (near Somerset MRT Station)
Opening Hours: 21 to 30 Jun, 11am – 10pm (Most food stalls opens around 4pm.)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with The GREAT Singapore Street Pop-Up.

[Seoul] Mint lovers assemble.

There is a café in Hongdae Called Mint Heim 민트하임 serving mint-flavoured items for all you people who love eating toothpaste mint.

Hidden away from the main streets of Hongdae, the turquoise-coloured entrance is bold enough to attract passers-by with a second glance or a turn of the head.

Of course, for a mint-themed café, how can the interior not be aqua/jade/teal coloured?

The café is decorated with white tables, green-coloured chairs and wall-paper printed with green leaves.

As I visited during a weekday morning, there were few customers which made the place feel quite cosy and fresh, minus the fact that the shop was blasting some music.

Their menu came in both English and Korean, and since the place happened to be popular among the Japanese, certain items were labelled in Japanese.

The Mint Oreo Cheesecake (6,500 Won, SGD7.60) and larger-than-usual Mint Oreo Macaron (2,500 Won, SGD2.90) accordingly were most popular among the Japanese customers.

This can be paired with Mint Café Latte (5,000won, SGD5.80), also one of the top-sellers. I know, this is sounding kind of an overdose already.

Going to be honest here, I am not that a huge fan of mint, but the gradient of this drink is b-e-autiful.

There was a slight cooling-mint flavour to the coffee, not to the extent of overpowering. Refreshing and perfect for summer.

The Mint Oreo Cheesecake’s colour may throw off some people slightly though, looking as though it was radioactive and with a colour that could suggest desserts-for-aliens.

The fudgey cheesecake was thankfully not too sweet, while the chocolaty Oreo flavour balanced out the ‘spiciness’.

However, the Oreo biscuits were unfortunately not crunchy at all (perhaps it is NOT that fresh), and overall could be too rich and overwhelming to finish on your own.

If you can’t get enough, they sell boxes of Mint Pretzels (6,000 Won, SGD7) and Mint Chocolates (6,000 Won, SGD7SGD) as takeaway gifts.

Well thankfully, the café also serves non-mint items like Chocolate Cake, Mango Peach Yogurt and Macarons.

Your non-mint-lover friends have no reason not to go now.

Mint Heim 민트하임
28 Jandari-ro 6-gil, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
서울시 마포구 서교동 366-28
Tel: +82 2324 1359
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps – Mint Heim

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One In A Million Café (Itaewon, Seoul)
Stylenanda Pink Pool Café (Mapo-gu, Seoul)
Jean Frigo 장프리고 (Jung-gu, Seoul)

* Written by DFD’s Café Correspondent @__sy_g. Songyu is a food and travel blogger whose hobby is uncovering hidden hipster cafes. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

[Sydney] Ask what the top 10 cafes in Sydney are, and Edition Coffee Roasters is likely to land a spot.

René Redzepi who is the Executive Head Chef of world-famous restaurant NOMA, counts the coffee here as his favourite in Sydney.

This cafe founded by brothers Daniel Jackson and Corie Sutherland, serves up food that is Scandinavian and Japanese inspired.

Add that element of surprise. I once had a Chirashizushi Tacos, akin to your sashimi donburi topped with edible gold dust, to be wrapped with seaweed. Up-level Japanese don.

Previously, the flagship of Edition Coffee Roasters is located at Liverpool Street, but that shop has closed. There is another existing store at Haymarket.

If the décor of the previous space can be described as “day”, then this would be “night”.

While several Scandinavian-style coffee shops are typically minimalist white, Edition goes on an almost-all-black palette, with a modern looking sculptural organic interior.

Beautiful space with a touch of mystery.

They have a focus on using the freshest ingredients, keeping a small and easy to read menu to provide Sydney-siders with something exciting, new and different from the traditional breakfast you may find at local cafes.

While the menu is lean, some of the dishes they create are quite unusual which creates buzz amongst other foodies.

When I visited, dishes included Butter Poached Prawns with Apple and Pearl Senbei (AUD15), Barley Risotto with Jerusalem Artichoke (AUD16), Chicken Breast with Buttered Soy Mushroom and XO Sauce (AUD18), and Miso-glazed Lamp Rump and Smoked Mash (AUD20).

Note: the menu is ALWAYS changing.

Even though I had a rather safe choice of the Pork Katsu Burger (AUD12), it was almost faultless with crispy and juicy meat sandwich in a soft, butter house-baked milk bun.

They not only produce amazing meals, but are also known for their excellent coffee which they roast themselves.

The coffee comes in the standard variety of Milk (AUD4), Black (AUD4), and Filter (AUD4).

Edition is a very experimental restaurant. They try to fuse different aesthetics, vibes and cuisines and everything they make seems to work and draw customers in.

Definitely a refreshing change to the usual café scene.

Edition Coffee Roasters
60 Darling Drive, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 8am – 5pm (Sat – Sun)
Google Maps – Edition Coffee Roasters

Other Related Entries
Chaco Bar (Crown Street, Sydney)
Paramount Coffee Project (Surry Hills, Sydney)
Mecca Coffee (Alexandria, Sydney)
Devon Café (Surry Hills, Sydney)
Artificer (Surry Hills, Sydney)

Click HERE for other SYDNEY 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.

Singaporeans love their hotel buffets, especially those with attractive dining deals.

These featured buffet spreads provide unlimited savoury and indulgent delicacies to satisfy your taste buds and keep your wallets happy.

Other than the freshest seafood, hearty roasts, local favourites, and tempting desserts, many of these buffet restaurants are also offering less commonly seen speciality dishes, from Lobster Omelette with truffle, DIY Poke Bowl, Thunder Tea Rice, Mango Curry, to Crispy Pork Saddle.

(Check out video highlights of Racines’ Lifestyle Brunch Sunday.)

Check out the following 10 Hotel Buffets, some with 1-for-1 dining specials and 50% OFF 2nd diner:

Racines, Sofitel Singapore City Centre
9 Wallich St, 5th floor Sofitel Singapore City Centre, Singapore 078885
Sunday Lifestyle Brunch Hours: 12:30pm – 3:30pm

This is a Sunday brunch with a difference – no conventional buffet lines, pick-and-choose what you enjoy.

Here’s how it works at Racines: Diners can mix and match from various food and beverage packages, with greater flexibility in pricing while reducing food wastage.

The Racines’ Lifestyle Brunch begins with a core buffet selection at $68++ with the Salad & Dessert Ateliers. Whet your appetites with a selection of up to 15 varieties of French cheeses alongside an assortment of homemade viennoiseries.

The Salad Atelier features terrarium-style compound salads, with recommendations including baby French Grenaille potato salad glazed in a lively Madras aioli, and crispy sea salt baked organic beetroot with marinated feta and pear.

If not, create-your-own-salad with the selection of ingredients and dressings.

You can further top up for free-flow Signature Mains ($10++) or Signature and Premium Mains ($30++), with dishes all prepared a la minute so that you get them fresh, piping hot, and sent right to your table.

The Signature Mains comprise of all-time favourites from Racines’ award-winning repertoire, combining both French and Asian-local favourites. Have the best of both worlds with the likes of French Onion Soup, Crab Rigatoni topped with crispy spiced shallots, to Hainanese Chicken Rice and Char Kway Teow.

The Seafood Laksa contains coconut broth which is quite spicier (so go easy on the chilli), loaded with prawns, fresh cockles, scallops and quail eggs. Not to be missed.

Racines’ Lifestyle Brunch Sundays, 12:30pm – 3:30pm
Salad & Dessert Ateliers: $68++ (Price before 1-for-1)
Add On Signature Mains: $10++
Add On Signature and Premium Mains: $30++

Exclusive HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
1-for-1 on Lifestyle Brunch, Valid only for base adult brunch package at $68++

T&C:
– Valid till 28 July 2019.
– Complimentary diner(s) will also receive base adult brunch package at $68++
– Diners may top up the difference for packages of their choice.
– Additional S$10++ per person for free flow of Regular mains and additional $30++ per person for free flow of Premium Main.
– Advance reservation is required. Booking must be made via TablePlus at http://bit.ly/HSBCLifestyleBrunch

Element, Amara Singapore
Amara Singapore, Level 1, 165 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088539
Tel: +65 6879 2607
Lunch Buffet: 12pm – 2:30pm (Mon – Fri)
High Tea Buffet: 12pm – 3:30pm (Sat – Sun)

Conveniently located within a few minutes‘ walk from the Tanjong Pagar MRT Station, you will find Element at Amara Singapore, a resto-bar concept that fuses food, drink, and lifestyle in a modern space.

It is an all-day dining, multi-cuisine restaurant that caters to diners looking for a decent assortment of dishes at a good price.

Offering a buffet with various seafood and meat-based dishes, Element could be your go-to dining place when you’re in the area, especially if you are into Alaskan King Crabs and Japanese specialties.

Depending on seasonal availability, you can give in to your seafood cravings with their selection, including Short Neck Clams, Half Shell Scallops, and Oysters.

Rotating daily are the dishes in the live station, where you can catch local favourites like Spicy Sambal Prawns and Curry Leaves Wok-Fried Slipper Lobster with Chili Crab Sauce.

Two chicken dishes worth your attention are the Crispy Roasted Chicken with Meat Floss, and the zesty Smoked Paprika Chicken Casserole.

Lunch Buffet, 12pm – 2:30pm (Mon – Fri)
Adult $55++, Child (6 to 12 years old) $28++

High Tea Buffet of Local Delights, 12pm – 3:30pm (Sat – Sun)
Adult $42++, Child (6 to 12 years old) $21++

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
One dines free with every 2 paying adults for Lunch and Weekend High Tea Buffet

T&C:
– Valid till 31 July 2019.
– Valid for Lunch Buffet from Monday to Friday and Weekend High Tea Buffet on Saturday and Sunday.
– Not applicable during eve of and public holidays; and special / festive periods.
– Advance reservation is required.

Azur, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
75 Airport Boulevard Singapore 819664 (Terminal 3, Changi Airport)
Tel: +65 6823 5354
Lunch Hours: 12pm – 3pm (Mon – Fri)
Weekend Brunch: 12pm – 3.30pm (Sat – Sun)

Azur features an open-kitchen where chefs serve an extensive buffet spread combining Asian delicacies and Western favourites.

So, reserve your tables early and get the best seats in the house as you dine with a view of their “cooking theatre”.

Other than the signature items of seafood specials like Chilli Crab, Seafood Paella, and the family-friendly Whole Salmon in Rock Salt, looking out for the BBQ Roasted Beef Ribs.

These ribs are fall-off-the-bone-tender, because they have been sous-vide for 24 hours before being roasted in the oven.

Another interesting new addition is the DIY Poke Bowl Station. Explore your creativity by building your own colourful bowl with a range of nutritious ingredients.

Start with a base, then add protein and your favourite toppings including salmon sashimi, quinoa, teriyaki chicken, roast beef, soft boiled eggs, seaweed, sweet corn, purple cabbage and Japanese pickles.

Lunch Buffet (Mon – Sat): Adult $58++, Child $29++
Sunday Brunch: Adult $88++ per adult, Child $44++

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
1-for-1 Lunch or Brunch Buffet

T&C:
– Valid till 31 July 2019.
– Valid for Lunch Buffet from Monday to Friday and Brunch Buffet on Saturday and Sunday.
– Advance reservation is required.
– The offer is not valid in conjunction with other discounts, offers, promotions, privileges and vouchers.

Tandoor, Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre
Address: Basement 1, Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre, 11 Cavenagh Rd, Singapore 229616
Tel: +65 6733 8333
Sunday Brunch Hours: 12pm -2:30pm (Sun)

Established in 1985, Tandoor, Singapore’s most awarded Indian restaurant , takes diners on a culinary journey with its authentic North Indian dishes that pay homage to India’s rich culinary heritage.

From the dining hall, you will be able to see the chefs at work, from making Indian breads to preparing kebabs of tandoori meats and vegetables that are served fresh to your table.

The full-length windows also allow you for a view inside the kitchen, where two custom-made copper tandoors (or clay ovens) stand for the preparation of several dishes.

Recommended dishes include Ajwaini Macchi Tikka (fish tikka flavoured with carom seeds, spices and chargrilled), Malmali Seekh Kebab (spiced minced lamb rolls flavoured with fresh Indian herbs and spices, skewered and cooked in the tandoor), and Murgh Badam Ka Shorba (chicken soup with a rich infusion of almonds brewed with fresh mint).

Don’t forget to get a serving of the Dum Murgh Biryani, a traditional chicken biryani cooked on ‘dum’.

Sunday Brunch for $52++ per person.

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
One dines free with every 2 paying adult for Sunday Brunch

T&C:
– Valid till 31 July 2019.
– Advance reservation is required.

J65, Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore
Level 1, 1A Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249716
Tel: +65 6831 4374
Brunch/Lunch Hours: 12pm – 2.30pm (Mon – Fri)

J65 showcases the multicultural cuisine of Singapore, with a spotlight on signature home-style dishes.

The weekday lunch buffet promises a wallet-friendly treat, with offerings of savoury treats from Signature Singapore Laksa, Pan-Seared Sea bass, Seafood Fried Rice, Braised Stew, fresh Seafood-on-Ice, and a variety of Roast Meats.

Talking about meats, a highlight is the mouth-watering Lamb Shank. Expect fall-off-the-bone chunks of meat, as the shank is braised in a peppery and hearty stew.

Price of Lunch Buffet (Mon – Fri): $32++ per pax

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
50% off 2nd Diner on Weekdays Buffet Lunch

T&C:
– Valid till 31 July 2019.
– Valid for Weekday lunch buffet from Mondays to Fridays only.
– Valid for dine-in only, and not applicable for takeaways.
– Menu items are subject to changes dependent on the availability of ingredients to ensure freshness.
– Advance reservation is required.

Ash & Elm, InterContinental Singapore
80 Middle Road, InterContinental Singapore Level 1, Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 68251008 / +65 68251061
Lunch Hours: 12pm – 3pm (Mon – Sat)
Sunday Champagne Brunch: 12pm – 3pm (Sun)

Ash & Elm which focuses on European dining, features three exciting culinary theatres.

This includes a charcuterie and cheese room, wood-fired oven and an open charcoal-grill kitchen, so take your time exploring the space.

As for the Sunday Brunch, diners can also choose from a selection of nine à la minute petit plates of sophisticated flavours, including Duck Confit, Braised Beef Brisket and Ratatouille. Select all 9, or a couple more of your favourites.

Complementing the platters is a showcase of delicacies including a variety of French cheese, premium seafood on ice, luscious caviar, succulent roasts, and an array of delectable desserts.

The experience is further elevated with unlimited servings of Taittinger Brut Champagne, and house wines, among a selection of beverages. Truly a Sunday brunch with a touch of elegance.

Price of Sunday Champagne Brunch:
From $148++ inclusive of unlimited Champagne and wines (adult), $98++, inclusive of soft drinks, coffee and tea (adult), $48++ (child)

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
20% off Sunday Champagne Brunch

T&C:
– Valid till 28 July 2019.
– Available on Sunday from 12pm to 3pm.
– Not valid with other promotions, discounts and/or loyalty cards.
– Advanced reservations are required.

Melt Café, Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
5 Raffles Avenue, Marina Square, Singapore 039797
Tel: +65 6885 3500
Lunch: 12pm – 2:30pm (Mon – Sat)
Brunch: 12pm – 3pm (Sun)
Dinner: 6:30pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Melt Café is Mandarin Oriental Singapore’s stylish all-day-dining restaurant, exuding modern sophistication in both its interior and menu.

Known for its extensive international buffet, Melt Café tempts its guests with ultimate indulgence, offering a spread of Japanese, Indian and European cuisines.

Come Sunday, enjoy family time over Melt Café’s Brunch also featuring oysters and premium seafood, plus roasted Wagyu cuts and sabayon in liquid nitrogen.

New highlights include an Egg station featuring the crowd-favourite of Lobster Omelette accompanied with fresh black truffle; the French and Italian cheese station featuring 12 to 14 gourmet selection; and the finest European cold cuts including Parma ham, Iberico ham, champagne ham, and Bresaola.

Taking centre stage is an award-winning patisserie and extensive dessert counter that will make any sweet tooth smile.

Lunch Buffet (Mon – Fri): $57++
Lunch Buffet (Sat): $61++

Sunday Brunch
$118++ inclusive of free flow juices
$178++ inclusive of free flow of “R” Ruinart champagne, wines, beers, cocktail of the day, soft drinks and juices
$218++ inclusive of free flow of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs champagne, wines, beers, cocktail of the day, soft drinks and juices

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
One dines free with every 3 paying adults.

T&C
– Valid from 1 to 31 July 2019.
– Not valid with other discounts, privileges, promotions, set menus, special menus, vouchers, membership privileges, VIP cards.
– Discount is not valid on service charge and taxes
– Advance reservation is required.

The Square Restaurant, Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay
177A River Valley Road, Singapore 179031
Tel: +65 6433 8790
Brunch/Lunch Hours: 12pm – 2:30pm (Mon – Sat)
12:30pm – 3pm (Sun)

Located at the 7th floor of Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay, The Square Restaurant is a modern venue for international buffets showcasing different themes, and Sunday brunch buffet.

It boasts of an open kitchen where you can interact directly with the chefs at the various stations, and experience an interactive cooking experience.

Signature dishes to look forward to include Singaporean local favourites like The Square Signature Laksa, Live Station Chilli Crab, Seafood on Ice, and Durian Pengat for lovers of the “king of fruits”.

An interesting new addition is the Thunder Tea Rice dish aka “Lei Cha Fan”, which you would seldom see in a hotel buffet. There are two parts to this dish – the rice and the comforting tea soup.

The Hakka-style “Thunder Tea Rice” contains ingredients which are pounded manually (so the sound of the action is said to resemble thunder), made with ‘Luk Bou’ Chinese tea leaves, toasted sesame, toasted peanut, old ginger, fried anchovies, Thai basil, mint leaves and manicai. (This dish is only available on Wednesday and Sunday during lunch.)

Price of Brunch/Lunch Buffet: $68++ for 1 Adult

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
20% off total food and beverage bill with 3 or less diners
25% off total food and beverage bill with 4 or more diners

T&C:
– Valid till 31 Dec 2019.
– Advance reservation is required.
– Valid for both credit card and debit card.
– Not applicable for HSBC USD card and HSBC Corporate card.
– Valid for dine in only.
– Promotion is applicable for all buffets and ala carte food items.
– Promotion is not valid on eve of and on public holidays and special occasions.
– Promotion is not to be used in conjunction with other promotions, vouchers, sets or privilege programs.

Marriott Cafe, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Road, Singapore 238865
Tel: +65 6831 4605
Brunch/Lunch Hours: 12pm – 2:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Marriott Café is a popular destination for both its Weekday and Weekend Lunch Buffets, due to its curated spread and value-for-money pricing.

The buffet spread is brimming with fresh seafood on ice, sushi & sashimi, charcuterie & cheese, gourmet roasts, Western and Asian delights, and desserts. The Seafood Station has a steady supply of crayfish, prawns, and snow crabs.

Western and Asian crowd pleasers include Baked Parmesan Chicken with Peppers & Thyme; Seafood Stew; Pastas; Laksa; Malaysian Chicken Curry and more.

For premium meat-lovers, check out the Beech Oven Station like the Australian Roast Beef Sirloin and Roast Prime Ribs.

The Crispy Pork Saddle with Prunes, Pancetta & Mixed Herbs is also not to be missed, boosting a crispy layer with a crunch, with moist and succulent interior. (*Some of the items above are only available for Sunday Lunch.)

Price of Brunch/Lunch Buffet:
Lunch Buffet (Mon – Fri)
Adult $59++, Child $35++ (Age: 5 to 12 years old)

Weekend Lunch Buffet, (Sat – Sun)
Adult $78++*/$98++**
Child $38++ (Age: 5 to 12 years old)
*Inclusive of free flow of soft drinks & juices
**Inclusive of free flow of sparkling wine, beer & juices

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
50% off Daily Lunch Buffet

T&C:
– Discount is valid for food bill only.
– Valid from 5th April – 31st July 2019.
– Maximum of 6 pax per reservation, limited to the first 50 pax per day.
– Payment must be settled via HSBC Credit/ Debit Card.
– Valid for dine-in only (Mon – Sun).
– Not valid on the eve of Public Holidays in Singapore, Public Holidays in Singapore and special occasions including Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
– Not valid with other ongoing promotions, offers, vouchers, rebates or privileges unless otherwise stated.
– Minimum 2 days advance reservation is required via 6831 4605.

Town Restaurant, The Fullerton Hotel
The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square, Singapore 049178
Tel: +65 6877 8911
+65 6877 8912
Weekday Lunch Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm (Mon – Fri)

Take your pick of flavours at Town Restaurant, which serves an extensive buffet spread of both local and international dishes.

It also boosts of a revamped al fresco waterfront terrace, where you can have your meal right next to the historic Singapore River.

Must haves are local favourites like Town Laksa and Fullerton’s Hainanese Chicken Rice which are prepared a la minute by Town Restaurant’s chefs at different live stations.

The Hainanese Chicken Rice is prepared by their chefs who use only the freshest chicken, along with a house recipe that ensures tender meat with maximum flavour. Served with fragrant Jasmine rice scented with pandan, it is best savoured with the accompanying piquant chilli and ginger sauce.

Other highlights to look forward to are the fresh seafood on ice, sumptuous dessert spread featuring local kuehs and Western favourites, and a DIY ice kachang station.

Weekday International Buffet Lunch: $57++ per adult, $29++ per child

HSBC Credit Cards Promotion:
One dines free with every 3 paying adults for Weekday Buffet Lunch

T&C:
– Valid till 31 July 2019.
– Valid up to a maximum of 8 diners.
– Not valid on the eve of Public Holidays in Singapore, Public Holidays in Singapore and special occasions unless otherwise stated.
– Advance reservation is required.

For more details on the latest #HSBCDining promotions, hop on over to www.hsbc.com.sg/dining. Terms and conditions apply for all promotions herein.

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with HSBC Credit Cards.

Another month, another mall opening in Singapore.

The opening of Funan should bring out some excitement for “NEW F&B” hunters in Singapore.

Some of these new names include Afuri Ramen,
NOKA by Open Farm Community, Godmama (modern Peranakan restaurant), POPs (rice bowl shop by the people behind Populus), The Oyster Bar, PPP Coffee, Fireless Kitchen and Nasty Cookie.

As for the cafes and dessert shops, here are 10 of them:

% Arabica Singapore
56 Arab Street Singapore 199753
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Famous Kyoto Cafe Finally Opens At Arab Street
%Arabica which first announced its opening in Singapore last August 2018, has finally opened at 56 Arab Street.

The Arab Street branch is a small 20-seater, designed in minimalist white similar to many of the other stores world-wide.

Caffe Latte is priced here at $7 for short, $8 for tall, while the iced version is priced at $8.

If you prefer something sweeter, also available is the Spanish Latte ($7.80. $9.00) which is included with condensed milk.

I enjoyed the Iced Caffe Latte, it was as pleasurable as how I remembered it to be – the smooth milky feeling, aromatic coffee, and balanced robustness.

Everything is slightly pricey though. Oh well. %Arabica Singapore (Arab Street)

Dosirak – Somerset
313@Somerset #B2-15 Singapore 238895
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun, including PH)
https://www.facebook.com/DosirakSG

Korean Bibimbap Shop At 313@Somerset
Dosirak is a modern bibimbap concept that is newly opened at 313@Somerset basement 2 (next to Popeyes).

Dosirak, which refers to the traditional Korean lunchbox, is part of the product concept. Here, they serve the Bibimbap and all its ingredients inside your “lunchbox’, in this case, a capped pint.

The colourful pints which may remind you of those which store ice cream, making it easy for takeaways as well.

The fun part happens when you add the sauce and shake the Bibimbap until all the ingredients mix up and come together.

Their Bibimbap veers away from tradition, mixed by shaking, inspired by the traditional Korean lunchbox. Dosirak (313@somerset)

Pronto Singapore
Capital Square #01-02/08, 23 Church Street Singapore S049481
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 11:30pm (Mon – Thurs), 7:30am – 2am (Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat, Sun)

Popular Japanese-Italian Cafe From Japan Opens In Singapore
You may have walked past one of these Caffe Pronto in Japan, but may not have paid special attention.

Pronto has opened in Singapore, within Capital Square along Church Street.

It is located within a Japanese-themed gourmet space called GOCHI – which houses six different Japanese food concepts. These include Chojiro (sushi), Unaemon (unagi), Suage Express (soup curry), Morozoff (cheesecakes and chocolates), and Paletas (popsicle).

It changes its menu and service style according to the time of the day. This is where you can enjoy Italian-style coffee and bread in the morning, then a plate of pasta for lunch and dinner.

Pasta choices include the classic Bolognese ($11), Porcini Cream Sauce with Truffle Oil ($15), Scallop & Bottarga Aglio Olio ($13), Crab & Broccoli Arrabiata ($18), and Mozzarella Tomato Sauce ($15). Pronto (Capital Square)

KURA Singapore
46 Kim Yam Road, The Herencia #01-07 Singapore 239351
Tel: +65 9722 2996
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm (Mon), 9am – 6:30pm (Tues – Fri), 10:30am – 5pm (Sat, Sun)

Well-Hidden Café Offering $4 Cakes At Kim Yam Road
KURA 蔵 in Japanese stands for a “storehouse”, a place where the owners would ‘store’ treasured pastries for customers.

Some of their signature offerings include the Key Lime Tart ($4, $6), Earl Grey Chocolate Tart ($4, $6), Dark Black Forest ($6.50) and Brown Butter Madeleines ($1.50 per piece).

Prices are considered pretty affordable.

The Dark Black Forest ($6.50) which is a contemporary twist on nostalgic flavours comes recommended.

While it didn’t look like a black forest cake at all, it kept its ‘cherried’ essence within, and I enjoyed the soft chocolatey mousse-like texture. Kura (Kim Yam Road)

Asian Rad Afters
33 Bali Lane, Singapore 189869
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 7pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon, Tue, Opened on PH

Insta-worthy Bubble Waffle From Osaka Japan
From Osaka to Singapore, Asian Rad Afters is one distinctive shop, in terms of its cyan-green colour and offering of Bubble Waffle. You can call this an “egglet”.

The menu includes offerings of Bubble Waffle ($12 – $13), Iced Asian Tea ($4.80), Fruit Cup ($8.50) and Ice Cream (Single scoop $4.50/ Double Scoops $6.50).

The Bubble Waffle is prepared ala minute upon order, with multiple flavours of fanciful names.

Unlike the usual Hong Kong style egglet, the Bubble Waffle is crispy on the edges, with moist and fluffy texture on the inside. You can say the mouthfeel is almost similar to a cake. Asian Rad Afters (Bali Lane)

Jin Yu Man Tang Dessert Shop 金玉满堂甜品
66 East Coast Road, The Flow #01-03 Singapore 428778
Tel: +65 6214 3380
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Jin Yu Man Tang Dessert Shop 金玉满堂甜品 a Hong Kong dessert house located at East Coast, has the potential to be a hit with families.

Some of its specialties include the Ginger Milk Pudding 姜撞奶 ($4.00), Shun De Double Layer Milk 顺德双皮奶 ($3.60), Peach Gum with Milk 桃胶鲜牛奶 ($4.50), Mango with Mini Rice Ball 芒果小丸子 ($5.00), and Deep Fried Milk 炸牛奶 ($5.50).

The signature Shun De Double Layer Milk ($3.60) originated from Shunde in Foshan China. You can also choose other toppings such as red bean, mango, lotus seeds, walnut, almond, and papaya.

The milk pudding was incredibly soft, and melt-in-your-mouth. Jin Yu Man Tang Dessert Shop (East Coast Road)

Wu Pao Chun Bakery
Capitol Piazza, 13 Stamford Rd #01-19/20, Singapore 178905
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Famous Taiwanese Bakery Opens In Singapore
The famous Wu Pao Chun Bakery from Taiwan has opened in Singapore at Capitol Piazza.

Baker Wu Pao-chun 吳寶春 himself found fame when he won the Les Masters de la Boulangerie world-championship held in Paris.

He is known for the Lychee Rose Royal bread created, which included rose petals, dried lychees and millet wine.

Walking in, you may feel that Wu Pao Chun Bakery is “BreadTalk 2.0” with its décor, shelf displays, bread offerings and even the Toast Box nearby. Just FYI, BreadTalk has an 80% stake in this joint venture.

The two main breads to look out for are the award-winning Lychee Rose Royale and Red Wine Longan ($20.80 each), handcrafted in small batches, available only at specific timings.

PPP Coffee by Papa Palheta
Funan #02-19, 107 North Bridge Road Singapore 179105
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

We have not heard from specialty coffee roaster Papa Palheta in a while. The group who is also behind the famous hipster coffee place Chye Seng Huat Hardware, will be launching Singapore’s first employee-store PPP Coffee. That means a portion of the profits will go to the staff.

A highlight of the space is an experiential brew bar for customers to have a go at brewing and interacting with coffee apparatus

The selection also incorporates some local Nonya Kuehs (applied by One Kueh At A Time), and you can look out for the Ondeh Ondeh ($5 for 5 pieces) with coffee infused gula melaka filling.

Butterknife Folk
Funan #02-02, 107 North Bridge Road Singapore 179105
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Gelato Cafe With Creative Flavours Opens At Funan
Butterknife Folk at Funan will also feature a “no menu” concept.

Instead of a fixed menu board selection of flavours, customers will be greeted with a large 2.2m mirror hung above the gelato cabinet reflecting the 16 flavours of the day.

The gelato is made in-house from scratch, with a strong emphasis placed on the selection of raw ingredients.

Scoops are priced at $5 single and $9 for double.

For Funan’s outlet, some of the opening flavours you can look forward to include Ondeh Ondeh, Goma, Citrus Bitters, Blueberry Lavender, Dulce & Banana, Jasmine Tea Amarena, Madagascan Vanilla, Roasted Pistachio, Brown Butter Pecan, and… Chicken Rice Gelato.

It does taste like the local hawker dish, in a strange way. Butterknife Folk (Funan)

What’s Pide
22 Cross Street #01-63, China Square Central, Singapore 048421
Tel: +65 9389 0863
Opening Hours: 8am – 9pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sun

1st Pocket Pide From Seoul Arrives in Singapore
What’s Pide at China Square Central is a South Korean brand with 11 outlets in Seoul.

offering 5 types of Pide – Hey! Lu Lu ($6.50), Sofia’s Meatballs ($7.50), Prawn Star ($8.50), Mrs Park ($9.00), and Eda-san ($7.50).

Good to know that the pides are hand-kneaded using a specially formulated flour from Korea which are created with a secret mix of dry ingredients, and baked fresh every day.

The recipe and technique combined is said to give the traditionally firmer flatbread a spongier texture.

What’s Pide also offers its own coffee, a Pide’s Brew ($5.50) brewed fresh with a splash of coconut water. What’s Pide (China Square Central)

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

[Sydney] This “canteen” is technically a brunch-café located within the industrial area of Alexandria.

Alexandria was originally an industrial area, but it has undergone gentrification over the past few years.

You will find lots of trendy coffee shops and eateries around (such as The Grounds Of Alexandria), and now this.

Many successful Sydney cafes put in the extra effort on their theme and objectives, with loads of attention to details on menu and décor.

You will not miss seeing “wholefoods” and “organic” here, as the café has a strong focus on sustainability and biodynamics.

This place encourages health and wellbeing everywhere you look, from the lovely fresh ingredients on display through to the peaceful vibe they have created.

Starting with the interior, the space is very pleasant and cosy, with loads of pink accents from the furniture to plates.

Pot plants on tables, seven communal tables to sit at, big glass doors that allow natural light to spill in, stools and beach chairs, natural wood surfaces, relaxing music playing on the radio, fresh fruits and vegetables on display, exposed bricks and concrete ceiling with hanging lights.

It has a communal vibe, with six long wooden tables for visitors to sit at.

You can strike up a conversation with other people that also enjoy healthy lifestyles.

The menu is also designed to be shared. For example, the salads can be mixed and matched, and are served on a big plate.

The ingredients are organic, eggs are free range/biodynamic, packaging is biodegradable, and it caters to vegetarians and vegans.

Breakfast is very popular, but lunches are also great. Price is on the higher side though.

Dishes that may be offered during lunch (note they are seasonal and rotational) can include The Amazing Arifin’s Thai Beef Lemongrass Galangal Ginger Chilli (AUD28), Organic Free Range Chicken Tikka Masala (AUD25), Slow Roasted Grassfed Leg Lamb (AUD30) and Organic Inglewood Parmesan Chicken Schnitzel (AUD30).

I had the signature Parmesan Not-So-Scrambled Eggs (AUD22) with biodynamic eggs with fresh chilli (or real truffle oil), shaved parmesan cheese with avocado, tomato, baby spinach, fresh herbs and sourdough or organic basmati rice with grass fed butter.

The meal was are elegantly presented, looked very fresh and healthy, and actually a lot tastier that what I had expected.

You would have imagined that flavours would have been a lot more muted, but this was not.

Another must-get is the 6-hour Organic Chicken Brown Rice Congee (AUD16), which was warm and comforting for the colder winter season. The consistency was just right, and nuances of spiced ginger.

Somehow it tasted quite ‘Asian’ especially with the addition of chilli flakes, white pepper and shallots.

They do great coffee using Marvell Street, Datanali, Nicaragua beans and also have a selection of 18 different teas as well as some delicious juices, smoothies and tisanes.

Bread and Circus Wholefoods Canteen
21 Fountain St, Alexandria NSW 2015, Australia
Tel: +61 0418 214 425
Opening Hours: 7:00am – 3:00pm (Mon – Fri), 7:00am – 4:00pm (Sat – Sun)
Google Maps – Bread and Circus Wholefoods Canteen

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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.