How many ice cream and waffles cafes do Singapore need?

A few more, it seems.

OCD Café is not exactly an unfamiliar name for those around Ang Mo Kio. However, the ice cream has moved from the North to the Jalan Besar enclave as its lease at the previous outlet has ended.

However, the new space is not near the Chye Seng Huat (and gang) vicinity, but nearer Jalan Besar MRT station, a short walk from Berseh Food Centre and supper goers’ favourite Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant.

Waffles after Mee Sua Kueh and Xiao Long Bao, perhaps?

While the café has a catchy name, it has nothing to do with “Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder” (I think real OCD people would find some of the décor not too orderly here), but Obsessive Chocolat Desire – for the love of both chocolates and ice cream.

The space has a primary baby blue accent; walk to the back you would find an outdoor courtyard – this part is non-airconditioned though.

Some fairy lights should do the trick.

While the pricing has gone up a little, it is still wallet-friendly considering there is no categorisation into normal and premium flavours like many other ice cream parlours.

Ice cream is priced at $4 for a single scoop, $7 for double scoops, additional $1 for cone and $4 for a normal or roasted black sesame or earl grey with almond banana waffle.

16 flavours are available at any one time ranging from their signature chocolate flavours (as their name implies) to classic ones such as Vanilla Chips and Pistachio.

The other rotating flavours include Brown Butter Blueberry, Hazelnut Rocher, Lychee Raspberry, Salted Caramel, Melon Milk, Bubblegum, Lavender Hojicha to an intriguing Jeju.

The highlight is definitely their five choices of chocolate ice cream from different origins: Madagascar 33% Milk, Ecuador 40% Milk, Belgium Dark 60%, and Africa 85% Dark.

The percentage refers to the amount of cacao in a chocolate bar.

Both milk and dark chocolate are made similarly from cocoa solids/ cocoa liquor except that the former contains less cocoa but with milk products within.

The Africa 85% Dark had a stickier texture that is similar to a gelato, and was strong, robust, and chocolatey all at the same time without any lingering bitterness.

I was recommended the Buttery Biscoff to pair even though my heart went for the more citrusy Jeju; in retrospective Chocolate + Orange is not uncommon (like chocolate-orange Jaffa) and can help balance out the richness.

The Roasted Sesame Waffle had a lovely crispy outer layer, though could be considered dense for some – balancing it out with a lighter ice cream should help.

For deep-fried nibbles, available are Lollipop Chicken ($10), Fries with signature dip ($5) and popcorn ($5).

The Lollipop Chicken is prepared wherein the meat is cut loose from the bone end and pushed down creating a lollipop appearance. Not bad.

The tricky thing about OCD Café is that it needs to find new footing again in an unfamiliar neighbourhood after building base at AMK.

It has warmth and sincerity, but perhaps lack a certain ‘sleekness’ and need to create some edgy ice cream flavours to appeal to the youngish-hip café hoppers in the vicinity.

Obsessive Chocolat Desire (OCD) Cafe
114 Jalan Besar Singapore 208834
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
20 NEW Ice Cream & Waffles Cafes In Singapore
AMPM Café (Ang Mo Kio)
Gelato Labo (Faber Drive)
Creme & Cone (Lau Pa Sat)
Tom’s Palette (Bugis)

* Written by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary and Nicholas Tan @stormscape. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

If you are someone who wants to eats freshly-churned ice cream at 7AM in the morning (and there is none in the fridge), you are in for a treat.

And not just at 7am, Burnt Cones also opened till 12 midnight daily, which can be a perfect ‘supper’ spot.

For midnight ice cream hunters, I have previously covered a couple of late night new ice cream cafes, including AMPM Café (Ang Mo Kio), Haute And Cauld (Bedok Reservoir), Hay Gelato (Bedok), and I See Cream (Thomson).

Burnt Cones is the newest addition to Sunset Way, located right opposite Olla Specialty Coffee (also serves coffee, ice cream and waffles), with the famous old-school Balmoral Bakery in the vicinity.

Stepping inside, the 24 seaters space is decked in white walls with an industrial cemented theme, spacious, brightly lit and minimalist.

As their name implies, Burnt Cones focuses mainly on their range of 12 gelato flavours (Regular Single $4, Double $7/ Premium Single $5, Double $9), Waffles ($6), Cones ($1) with a small menu of drinks such as Coffee (Black $4, White $5, Affogato ($10) and Tea ($4).

The choices are pretty common and on the safer side, with 4 regular flavours (Single $4, Double $7) namely Black Sesame, Fior De Latte (Milk), Earl Grey and Butterscotch.

The remaining 8 Premium flavours (Single $5, Double $9) consist of 85% Dark Chocolate, Tiramisu, Stracciamenta (Mint, Chocolate), Bacio (Hazelnut Chocolate), Pistachio, Scamorza (Smoked cheese) and 2 Sorbets: Mango Passion and Strawberry Basil.

The Waffle ($6) was on the thicker side, crispy on the outside and denser on the inside, which could be a little dry at times.

I find it excessive when icing sugar and maple syrup were added onto the waffles, especially when they masked the original flavours of the gelato.

On its own, the Pistachio gelato had a rich and creamy texture, with earthy and nutty tone that was pleasantly-enjoyable.

The Strawberry Basil sorbet was the highlight, being smooth and non-icy, yet it was rich with herbaceous taste like hawthorn, which made it refreshingly appetizing.

In terms of coffee, Burnt Cones uses single origin coffee beans from Colombia Planadas, roasted locally by a micro-roastery, for their espresso-based drinks.

My cup of White ($5) was smooth, medium bodied with a light-medium roast that complemented well with the heavier tasting gelato.

Burnt Cones has a promising start serving good gelato and sorbets and I hoped they can explore and be more adventurous in flavours, given the competition from the number of new ice cream bars opening these days.

Burnt Cones
105 Clementi Street 12, #01-02, Singapore 120105
Opening Hours: 7am – 12mn (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
20 NEW Ice Cream & Waffles Cafes In Singapore
AMPM Café (Ang Mo Kio)
Haute And Cauld (Bedok Reservoir)
Hay Gelato (Bedok)
I See Cream (Thomson)

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

Velocity@Novena Square may be known as the dedicated sports and active lifestyle mall (that is where I get my sports attire and shoes from), but it is also a mall of “international eats”.

This is especially when travelling is not quite possible now, and we still want to savour that authentic taste from our favourite countries.

From A-Roy Thai (Thai cuisine), Lao Beijing (Northern Chinese fare), HuLuRuk (Korean Noodle House), Gyu-Kaku (Japanese BBQ), to Fatburger & Buffalo’s (American-style burger and wings), you can ‘travel-the-world’ here.

Here are 9 of the favourites:

A-Roy Thai Restaurant
Velocity@Novena Square #03-61/64
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Authentic Thai Food Cooked By Team Of Thai Chefs
The family place A-Roy Thai Restaurant serves authentic and reasonably priced Thai food. It has gathered its own following, with many of its customers becoming regulars.

Signature dishes you can expect include Lemongrass Salad, Seafood Otah in Coconut, Steam Seabass and Thai Chendol with Coconut Ice Cream. Every ingredient is carefully handpicked and most are delivered fresh from Thailand, including herbs and spices.

Go for flavourful meal with their Pla Krapong Nueng Ma Now or Steamed Seabass with Spicy and Sour Soup ($35.90). The combination of spicy and sour flavours of the soup matched with mildly flavoured fish will make your palate pop up.

Complement your fish with an order of Ho Mok Maphrao Aon or Seafood Otah in Coconut ($18.90) served in an attention-grabbing coconut shell. The combination of seafood is made into a thick curry where the coconut cream is the predominant flavour.

Cool down from the spicy flavours with Thai Chendol with Coconut Ice Cream ($6.90), a colourful rendition of an iced dessert with blue and green pandan jelly. Topped with a dark red paste of beans over a scoop of coconut ice cream. Indeed Aroy!

Tomi Sushi
Velocity@Novena Square #02-76/77
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Savour Japanese Niigata Specialties with Maguro (Tuna) Special
Tomi Sushi originated in 1954 from the Niigata prefecture, where the climate produces the best-known rice brand Koshihikari. It is also the region with the best sakes and delicacies from the sea.

This season, celebrate all-things-tuna with their maguro promotion (till 27th of December).

Recommended is their Maguro Zanmai or Assorted Tuna Sushi ($29.50, U.P. $59), a selection of different kinds of sushi featuring the Southern blue fin tuna – prized for its rich and and melt-in-the-mouth meat.

Tomi Sushi brews its own traditional soy sauce for sushi and a special sauce only for sashimi; paired with the freshly imported fish and 100% Niigata Koshihikari rice.

If you love grilled fishes, the Maguro Kama Shioyaki ($28.50, U.P $38) is a sea-salt grilled blue fin tuna collar featuring a special salt from the rough seas of Japan. The salt’s mild and richer taste makes it a suitable seasoning for this lean yet fatty cut of tuna.

Also available at a promotional price is the Aburi Salmon Roll ($18), to enjoy the smoky taste of the torched salmon and the crunch of fresh cucumber slices.

Guzman y Gomez
Velocity@Novena Square #01-68/69
Opening Hours 10:30am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Celebration Of All Things Latin, For Mexican Flavours In Every Bite
Celebrate the season with Latin flair at Guzman y Gomez, the casual dining concept serving traditional Mexican favourites like burrito, quesadilla, tacos, and nachos.

Dishes are all made-to-order with ingredients prepared fresh daily.

Try their famous $3 Taco, a chipotle-seasoned hard-shell taco filled with Australian minced beef. Adding flavours and textures are shredded iceberg lettuce and Australian Jack cheese.

Another popular choice is the Burrito Bowl ($10.90 for reg, $7.90 for mini). Choose from a variety of fillings, ranging from the mild to spicy chicken to pulled pork and beef, to vegetarian-friendly tofu ranchero (natural bean tofu stewed with tomatoes, corn, pepper, chillies and spices.) They also offer brown rice as healthier option.

Get some Nachos ($13.50 for regular, $8.50 for mini) made with GYG’s corn chips, melted Australian Jack cheese, vegetarian black beans, salsa, guacamole and filling. Get your crispy corn chips topped with slow-roasted and tender hand-pulled beef, seasoned with GYG’s Guerrero marinade.

Hana-K
Velocity@Novena Square #02-25
Opening Hours: 10am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

For Korean Stone Pot Rice, Noodles, Porridge and Side Dishes
In the mood for Korean food? Stop by Hana K-Food, a specialty restaurant serving authentic Korean fare since 2013. (I spotted a real ajumma cooking up a fare.)

This traditional Korean resto is a proponent for healthy eating. And so you can find in their menu nutrient-loaded dishes like Ginseng Chicken Soup, Kimchi Soup and Bibimbap.

Boost your immunity and nourish up with samgyetang or Half Ginseng Chicken Soup ($16.00), a soup that marries health benefits and flavour. This fragrant dish is made with whole small chicken stuffed with sticky rice and other ingredients in an herbal broth.

For your main dish, go for the Bibimbap ($14.00), Korean’s famous rice dish loaded with meats, carrots, bean sprouts, zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, and topped with a sunny side up egg. Top up additional $2 for beef/ pork/ chicken bulgogi to go together.

Mix them while sizzling hot with Korean red pepper paste gochujang for a spicy, piquant flavour.

For your drink, sip some Hana K-Food’s specially created onion water for a change.

Harry’s
Velocity@Novena Square #01-59/60
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 10.30pm, Last order 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Singapore’s Most Well-Established Bar and Dining Chain
Harry’s is known for its Flatbread Pizza, coming in flavours of Beef & Pepperoni ($26), Hawaiian ($22), Mushroom & Truffle ($24) and Margherita ($20).

Kick off the festive season with their Year-End Special Ruby Turkey Flatbread Pizza ($26).

This sweet-savoury pizza is specially made with premium ingredients like diced turkey meat, Brussel sprouts, onion confit, and cranberry jam.

The fresh-baked Christmassy flatbread is beautifully dotted with ruby red jewels of cranberries complementing the green arugula leaves, all on a crispy thin base.

Velocity@Novena Square Promotion:
Pair your pizza with Heineken beer to complete the celebration. Get 2 pints of Heineken at $24 (U.P $28) or 4 pints of Heineken at $44 (U.P $56).

Limited to 1 redemption for every set of Ruby Turkey Flatbread Pizza purchased.

Tamago-EN
Velocity@Novena Square #01-90
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Delight in Golden Okinawan Egg Dishes and Desserts
What makes Tamago-EN special is that it only uses the freshest eggs imported from Okinawa. Rather than conventional heat sterilisation, the eggs go through a unique process of UV sterilisation. (Tamago-EN eggs are so fresh you eat it raw.)

Their egg-centric menu features the uniquely golden orange egg yolk of Japanese eggs. When used in dishes, these eggs give that fuwa fuwa (fluffy) texture.

Go for the Beef Stew Omelette with Rice ($16.80), a Japanese-style beef stew served in a large bowl with steamed butter rice.

The chunky pieces of beef in a savoury gravy is best mixed with the rice tossed with chicken & vegetables. Enjoy this hearty entrée topped with the beautiful-yellow omelette.

Have a sweet ending in the form of the Homemade Egg Pudding ($5.80) – made with fresh Japanese eggs, which becomes a soft and creamy gloop set in a glass jar.

The eggy flavour is complemented with sweetness from a drizzling of caramel sauce, topped with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

HuLuRuk Myeon House
Velocity@Novena Square #01-84/85
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 11:30am – 10:30pm (Fri, Sat, PH)

Korean Noodle House with Kalguksu (Knife Noodles) and Steamed Dumplings
Huluruk is a Korean noodle specialty house, and the recipe is said to be pass down from an old Korean lady “Halmuni” (which means grandmother in Korean slang).

Her Myeon Soup business started out in 1945, as the noodle courses and side dishes were her late husband’s favourites.

Available on its menu includes the seldom-seen-in-Singapore Kalguksu aka Knife Noodles ($12.80 – $15.80), Volcano Fried Rice ($10.80 – $13.80), and Korean Steamed Dumplings ($6.50 – $7.50 for 6 pcs) similar to a Xiao Long Bao – wrapped with chilli crabs, pork, or kimchi within.

The thick black sauce of the Jjajang Myeon ($10.80) was quite ‘legit’, also included with pieces of pork cubes. The noodles were cooked till too soft and wet for my liking though, otherwise would have been a better mix.

Ichiban Boshi
Velocity@Novena Square #02-13/14
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm Last order 9:30pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm (Sat – Sun)

Modern Japanese Cuisine with Wide Selection of Sushi, Fresh Sashimi and Variety Set Meals
No two Ichiban Boshi restaurants are the same, and at Velocity@Novena Square the specialty is Sakana (Fresh Fish).

Savour quality fishes imported directly from Japan, such as their Tai Acqua Pazza ($28.90) that comes with Japanese sea bream, clams and a melange of vegetables in house special broth.

For those looking to indulge in a hearty meal this festive season, keep an eye out for their festive special of Spicy Chicken Sugiita-yaki Gozen ($27.90) that is available for a limited period till 28 Feb 2021.

The chicken steak comes with light spicy marination on a Japanese cedar wood, complete with seared scallop & salmon sashimi with truffle oil, fried Quorn® meat-free ball wanton, mini rice bowl with salmon flakes & salmon roe, chawanmushi, miso soup and kanten fruit jelly.

The other recommended festive meal is the Rosemary Nitzuke Maguro Steak Gozen ($25.90), featuring tuna steak & vegetables with rosemary sweet sauce, pork skewer with long bean & quail egg, chicken meatball, noodles with Quorn® meat-free ball & poached egg, green salad, chawanmushi, miso soup and kanten fruit jelly.

Milksha
Velocity@Novena Square #02-51/52
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Taiwanese Unique Milk Beverages Brand with NEW Cocoa Ice Blended Series
As the leading bubble tea brand in Taiwan, Milksha offers unique beverages using 100% natural milk and natural ingredients.

If you are not sure what to choose, some of their best-selling items include Earl Grey Tea Latte, Fresh Taro Milk, Valrhona 100% Cocoa Milk, Refreshing Orange Green Tea and Brown Sugar Milk.

During this festive period, chocolate-lovers can delve into the world of chocolate with Milksha’s newly introduced Milksha’s Cocoa Ice Blended ($4.80) and Cocoa Ice Blended with Sesame Pudding ($5.20).

Both are blended with 100% Valrhona cocoa powder and fresh milk, then topped with cocoa nibs for that crunch as you take that sip. The sesame pudding which is made fresh daily in stores, lends a wobbly finish to the rich beverage.

Promotion:
Get any 2 cups from the Christmas series for $8.80 and any 3 cups for $12. (Series includes Valrhona 100% Cocoa Milk, Cocoa Ice Blended and Cocoa Ice Blended with Sesame Pudding.)

The Season of Gifting (from now till 27 Dec 2020)
Redeem exclusively designed Gift Wrappers and Spin & Win chance(s) with $60* spent ($50* for U-POPP members). Earn up to 3 spins when you purchase at selected outlets.
^Maximum 3 spins per redemption per day.

Redeem a Cheese Cutlery Set with $180* spent ($150* for U-POPP members).
*Max. 3 same-day combined receipts. Terms & conditions apply. While stocks last.

Visit www.velocitynovena.com for more details and other promotions.

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Velocity@Novena Square.

Another one? This can be a matter of pure coincidence, as there are now two NEW ice cream bars at Sunset Way. Another coming soon.

Located in the same neighbourhood as Burnt Cones (that also serves gelato and waffles), Dawn’s Gelateria is the latest addition to the community.

Over here, there are quite a number of food choices such as Chin Huat Live Seafood, Springleaf Prata Place, HoHo Korean Restaurant, Summer Hill, The Daily Scoop Ice Cream Cafe, Olla Specialty Coffee, Sunset Railway Cafe, Buttercake N Cream, Fredo’s Baker, Classic Cakes and Balmoral Bakery.

As to get this out of the way… in case you come here looking for a “her”, owner Chef Dawn is a guy.

This can be a relaxing place to take an easy-day out, with most of their seating space located outside the shop (8 indoors, 30 outdoors).

Unlike most gelato bar that focuses primarily on their gelato and waffles, Dawn’s Gelateria also serves an extensive menu of hot food that ranges from Starters ($7 – 16) to Mains ($11- $26), Seafood ($20 – $26) and Pasta ($15 – $24).

There are a total of 18 rotating gelato flavours.

Available in 2 cup sizes, think Regular flavours (3oz $5 and 5oz $8) such as Valrhona Chocolate, Fior Di Latte (Milk), Earl Grey, Chocolate Sorbet, Lemon Sorbet, Watermelon & Lime, and Mint Stracciatella.

At a higher price tag, there are Premium flavours (additional $1 per flavour) such as Speculoos and Amarena Cherry, Specialty flavours (additional $1.50 per flavour) such as Pistachio and 50% Strawberry, Sugar-Free Peanut Butter (additional $2) and Alcoholic Cranberry Portwine (additional $2).

After visiting many ice cream and gelato shops lately, I think I have gotten pretty “OCD” when it comes to the layout of the gelato in the display shelf.

Unlike most gelato bars with flavours properly laid out and labelled, the flavours here at Dawn’s Gelateria are randomly arranged.

As a little suggestion: some categorisation such as Regular, Premium, Specialty, Alcoholic and Sugar-free, would help customers make quick choices.

Plus, the flavours are labelled with a white marker against the glass panel, which made it hard to differentiate.

I ordered the 3oz of regular gelato ($5): Earl Grey and Watermelon & Lime on a Waffle ($8)

At $8 a piece, the waffle was considered slightly on the pricy side.

The Waffle came with golden brown crispy edges, thinner than the usual buttermilk waffle, with a denser and fluffy texture that is almost cake-like.

The highlight was the Watermelon and Lime sorbet, with sweetness from the watermelon on the first bite and a lingering refreshing citrus punch in the aftertaste due to the lime added.

The texture was dense and compact, non-icy with robust flavours that was not overly-sweet.

The Earl Grey was strong and intense, with a lingering pleasant tea aroma, and a texture that was smooth and creamy.

I was looking through their savoury menu and the Dawn’s Specialty Gelato Salad ($12) caught my attention.

What’s a Gelato Salad?

In fact, it is salad with mesclun lettuce, Japanese cucumber and cherry tomatoes topped with a scoop of savoury gelato such as Olive Oil Balsamic or Garlic Aioli.

Optional roast chicken, calamari or king prawns are available at an additional $4.90.

On the first bite, the Garlic Aioli gelato interestingly tasted like Thousand Island Dressing in the frozen form, savoury and cold at the same time. Can be an acquired taste.

The Garlic Aioli gelato went well with the salad, making it extra chilled and flavourful.

Dawn’s Gelateria does offer some interesting options and quality gelato on their menu.

However, the problem is with a 4th ice cream shop opening soon at Sunset Way (the first there being The Daily Scoop), and can be tough competition here within a small community.

Dawn’s Gelateria
106 Clementi Street 12, #01-38, Singapore 120106
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Thur), 11am – 11pm (Fri), 10am – 11pm (Sat), 10am – 10pm (Sun)

Other Related Entries
20 NEW Ice Cream & Waffles Cafes In Singapore
Gelato Labo (Faber Drive)
Cream and Cone (Lau Pa Sat)
Burnt Cones (Sunset Way)
Salted Caramel Artisan Ice Cream (Lor Kilat)

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

I wonder why are there not more places selling Chicken and Waffles?

The chicken and waffle pairing is known as “soul food”, a Southern-style sweet and savoury combination typically added with butter and maple syrup.

One day, I also hope to see a local hawker stall selling their version of Fried Chicken Cutlet on waffles (if they have kitchen space), perhaps even with our own local twist (like Gula Melaka maple syrup). Because why not?

Here are 10 popular café and brunch places you can find Chicken Waffles in Singapore:

Caffe Cicheti
26 Beach Road, South Beach Tower #B1-21, Singapore 189768
Tel: +65 6384 1878
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 6pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Sat), 10:30am – 4:30pm (Sun)

Caffe Cicheti at South Beach Tower is a great place to wind down during the weekends for brunch. It calls itself a “modern-day osteria” which brings fresh, bright flavours from the coasts of Italy.

I was enticed by their Waffles ($23.50) on Instagram and headed straight for it. No regrets.

The double-fried chicken thigh was done well – crispy, juicy, sizable piece; on topped of buttermilk waffles which just that the right amount of light crisp and wasn’t overly dense.

Though if I needed to nit-pick: the maple syrup was directly drizzled over, some parts ended up too sweet while the others didn’t get ‘covered’.

The Beast Southern Kitchen + Bourbon Bar
17 Jalan Klapa Singapore 199329
Tel: +65 6295 0017
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

Located near Arab Street and Bugis, The Beast has been known for its hearty meals and big portions, with signature items of The Beast Burger, Southern Fried Chicken, and Mac & Cheese Burger. (Need an extra friend to split the calories and guilt)

Head straight for The Beast’s Chicken and Waffles ($20) which contains signature fried chicken with waffles and house-made bourbon maple butter sauce.

The chicken came in a big slab and was flavoursome – of boneless chicken thing brined for 24 hours then fried till golden brown.

Though the waffles were airy and plain (A friend mentioned about a “weird yeast taste”.) The alcoholic bourbon whisky sauce was one of a kind (ie need to get used), which added a smoky twist to the sweet maple syrup.

For the People
11 Hamilton Road, Singapore 209182
Opening Hours: 9.30am – 9pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

With an intention to create a space for people to connect and recharge over food and drinks, the space at For The People is considerably spacious with a 60-seater space. I like the space as it has relaxing vibes and enough seating area during off-peak hours.

The Fried Chicken & Waffles ($19) is a balance of sweet and savoury, of crispy boneless chicken thing on Belgian waffles with maple syrup drizzle.

I enjoyed the chicken, though some people may be divided over the waffles which was light and spongy, rather than crispy and buttery-rich. Suppose that helped balanced the richness of the meat.

Clinton Street Baking Company & Restaurant
31 Purvis Street Singapore 188608 (in between City Hall and Bugis MRT)
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 6pm (Mon – Thu), 8am – 9pm (Fri – Sun)

If New York pancakes are your thing. Clinton Street Baking Company & Restaurant is a famed American breakfast institution hailing from Lower East Side New York.

The restaurant is known for its Blueberry Pancakes ($19.00), Chicken and Waffles ($21), Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwich ($17.00) and Farmer’s Plates ($22.00) of soft scrambled eggs, farmhouse cheddar, house rosemary pork patties, herb-roasted tomatoes with sourdough toast.

The Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Vanilla Buttermilk Waffle ($21) came drizzled with the warm maple butter.

I wished that the chicken came in a bigger piece – liked the batter though, not oily and crisp-crunchy, like how a South-Western chicken should be. The waffles could have arrived with a better crisp (could be too floppy at parts). But the maple syrup was delicious.

Kong Cafe
896 Dunearn Road, Sime Darby Centre #01-11 Singapore 589742 (King Albert Park MRT Exit B)
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon), 8pm – 7pm (Tues, Wed, Sat, Sun), 8am – 9pm (Thurs, Fri)

There is a minimalist style Korean lifestyle café at Bukit Timah, which appears to be still quite under-the-radar.

I couldn’t resist the Savoury Waffles ($18) included with scrambled eggs and fried chicken (or sausage and bacon).

The food items are freshly prepared, so do wait a while for them to be ready. Of late, I actually do not have overly high expectations of breakfast/brunch sets at cafes, because there would just be an item or two within the plate that would be ‘off’.

For this, the scrambled eggs were warm and luxuriously creamy, fried chicken crisp and on-point-juicy.

While the waffle was of a different style (could be more buttery I thought), I think people would like the overall combination.

Yardbird Southern Table And Bar
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, B1-07, Galleria Level Singapore 018956
Tel: +65 6688 9959
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 10am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

Yardbird Southern Table And Bar by Restaurateur John Kunkel, is dedicated to classic Southern cooking and farm-fresh ingredients. It operates outlets in Miami and Las Vegas. It was previously called “The Bird” for the local Singapore MBS outlet – complicated story.

It is famed for its Southern style Chicken ‘n’ Watermelon ‘n’ Waffles ($40), crafted using a 100-year-old family fried chicken recipe.

Accordingly, the chicken would be brined for 27 hours before mixed in a medley of spices such as paprika, cayenne pepper and garlic powder.

The chicken pieces came with a lightly crisp, thin coat of batter. Not bad, quite juicy and tender.

The waffle were not as crisp on the outer layer as expected, but at least the pieces were fluffy.

The highlight though, was the bourbon maple syrup. The deep oak flavour of the bourbon complimented the sweetness of the maple.

Revelry
21 Lorong Kilat, #01-02 Singapore 598123 (near Beauty World area / Chun Tin Road)
Tel: +65 9278 0466
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon, Wed, Thurs), 11am -11pm (Fri), 10am – 11pm (Sat), 10am – 10pm (Sun), Closed Tues

The Chicken & Waffles ($19) came with crispy chicken thigh on waffle served with maple syrup on the side.

Instead of the usual buttermilk waffles that would be more chewy and dense, Revelry’s version was crispy and light, with a texture in between the old-school ice cream wafers and youtiao (I thought).

There were loads of air pockets, and thus you would not feel so full after dining. While I did like the waffle texture, the chicken could be juicier and flavourful.

Menya Kanae
275 Thomson Rd, Novena Regency #01-08, Singapore 307645
Tel: +65 6261 6205
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

With a Japanese-style café and ramen bar in a one place, you can have your Karaage Waffles and Ebi Sando (prawn sandwich) or even classic Hokkaido Miso Ramen, depending on what you are feeling that day.

While chicken + waffles are one of typical and popular brunch items, Menya Kanae’s version of Zangi Karaage Waffles ($15.80) comes with four chunky pieces of Tori Karaage.

Marinated in Menya Kanae’s original sauce, these chicken pieces are packed with appetising umami flavours.

Enjoy four large pieces of deep-fried chicken, its tender and juicy meat covered with a crispy exterior for that crunchy bite.

Warning: can be very filling, so get a friend(s) to share this.

Wild Wood Café
598 Yishun Ring Road #01-51/52 Wisteria Mall Singapore 768698
Opening Hours: 11:am – 8:30pm (Tues – Fri), 10am – 9pm (Sat, Sun, PH), Closed Mon
(Photo credit: Songyu @__sy_g)

Wild Wood is a simple, bistro-styled café tucked away in level 1 of Wisteria Mall,

The W.W.W ($15.80), otherwise known as the Wild Wood Waffle, would probably be their signature dish. This is Crispy chicken served on a waffle drizzled with maple syrup.

I was kind of surprised to find greens (such as rocket leaves and lettuce) placed in between the chicken and waffles. It just doesn’t go together, but perhaps this is a move to make the dish appear healthier and cut through the grease.

The skin was slightly crispy and the meat, tender. There was some juice flowing out of the chicken when I cut through the slab.

Would love to have more maple syrup because I could barely taste it (or even knew it was there).

GRUB
Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park 510 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, Singapore 569983
Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Over at GRUB, you can choose from a selection from Truffle Floss Fries ($7), Mentaiko Fries ($7), Truffle Mushroom Baked Eggs, Maple Bacon Waffle ($17), Har Cheong Fried Chicken with Waffles ($17), Har Cheong Gai Burger ($17), to Mala Xiang Guo Burger ($20).

Inspired by the favourite local zi char favourite of Prawn Paste Chicken aka Har Cheong Gai, try Grub’s Har Cheong Fried Chicken and Waffles ($16).

Therefore, you could get the faint aroma of the shrimp paste as you bite into the juicy marinated fried chicken. For more of those local flavours, get the mildly-spicy sambal mayo that adds as a dip for the meat.

Other Related Entries
8 Luscious Lobster Rolls In Singapore
10 Cafes And Brunch Places At River Valley
10 Tasty Tonkatsu In Singapore
10 Egg Fried Rice In Singapore
10 Best Korean BBQ In Singapore For Sizzling Succulent Meats

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

Home-grown brand Dian Xiao Er is a familiar name among Singaporean foodies, known for its succulent Herbal Roast Duck prepared fresh and roasted in the display kitchen daily.

Its brand name originates from the traditional way of calling waiter “Xiao Er”.

Therefore, its raw and rustic ambience reflects an ancient Chinese inn.

As a diner, you may feel like a traveller in a pit-stop (like one of those you watch in a Chinese period drama) ready to refill, refresh and recharge before setting off to continue your journey.

If you think they only serve up signature Herbal Roasted Ducks, there is actually an array of specialties like the Signature Wheatgrass Tofu with Seafood ($15.90), Sliced Garoupa in Assam Style ($20.90), Dong Po Braised Pork Belly ($16.90), Marmite Chicken ($13.90), Mongolian Spare Ribs ($15.90), Fish Maw Thick Soup with Seafood ($18.90) and many others.

If you have not been to Dian Xiao Er for a while, they have just revamped its menu just in time for the year-end feasting (and next year’s CNY bookings).

Here are 10 of the Dian Xiao Er’s signature selections and exciting repertoire of new menu offerings:

Duck Roasted with Angelica Herb ($16.90 for ¼, $31.90 for ½, $43.90 for ¾, $55.90 for whole)
Some background: this house specialty is made using only the finest quality Cherry Valley ducks.

Every duck is prepared fresh and roasted daily to create the most delectable duck meat, and the rich flavours come from marinating the duck for hours in spices and a myriad of herbs.

The marinated ducks are then roasted at optimal temperature to tenderise yet keep the meat succulent while cooking.

This results in the skin beautifully golden brown in appearance, with a crisp texture.

Some people say the magic is in its specially concocted herbal sauce. You can choose from Dang Gui (Angelica Herb), Shi Quan (Ten Wonder Herbs) and Pao Shen (Wild Ginseng).

I liked that Dang Gui sauce best, with mild-herbal and slight-sweetish tinge that is quite unique to Dian Xiao Er; while the Shi Quan had the stronger herbal and saltier savour.

Signature Wheatgrass Tofu with Seafood ($15.90 for S, $31.80 for L)
A unique rendition of a bean curd, this signature dish is a silky jade green-tinged homemade tofu infused with wheatgrass extract.

Obtained from freshly sprouted first leaves of the common wheat plant, this flavouring extract is loaded with nutrients.

Served with a topping of prawns, scallops, broccoli, and other veggies in a light, velvety sauce.

What I liked about the tofu was that the inside was soft and sauce quite healthy and homely-tasting.

Prawns with Chinese Celery Sauce ($19.90 for S, $29.80 for M, $39.80 for L)
Chinese celery sauce? These appetising prawns are flash-fried to the right texture, then tossed in a one-of-a-kind Chinese celery sauce.

Finely chopped celery are mixed with minced red bell peppers, and fresh onions and tossed into the sauce, before slathering onto the crisp-skinned prawns.

Even if you are not the biggest fan of celery, the fresh-earthy taste came across quite gently and not overly pronounced.

If you prefer something heartier, there is also a Nanyang-style inspired Prawns in Chilli Sauce ($19.90) which features juicy prawns atop a bed of luscious chilli gravy.

Stewed Pork Ribs with Yam & Shiitake Mushrooms ($18.90 for S, $28.30 for M, $37.80 for L)
This warm claypot dish has pork ribs in a thick ‘yammy’ gravy, so tender the meat easily slides off the bone.

You should find the chunks of pork ribs with a mild, almost sweet flavour, complemented with the aromatic and earthy Shiitake mushrooms and starchy and dry yam.

The yam’s distinct and unique flavour mixed with the sauce from the braised pork ribs delivers a comforting taste.

Crispy Otah Charcoal Dough Fritters ($6.90)
One of my new favourites, the delightfully crisp Chinese fried dough fritters aka youtiao may remind you of “Sotong Youtiao”, but made dramatic with the addition of charcoal to darken their colour.

Inside, a mildly spicy otah or fish paste fills up the cruller. This adds flavour and a bit of heat, with a good contrast between the crunchy exterior and soft fillings.

Lotus Roots, Sweet Pea, Water Chestnut with Macadamia Nuts and Gingko ($14.90 for S, $22.30 for M, $29.80 for L)
A mix of vegetables and nuts, this colourful stir-fry combines the mild taste and pleasantly sweet flavour of lotus root with crunchy sweet peas and water chestnuts.

Macadamia nuts, prized for their sweet, buttery flavour, make this dish extra special.

I find this a good balance if the rest of the other dishes are heavier.

Crispy Frog Leg in Soya Sauce ($18.90 for S, $28.30 for M, $37.80 for L)
Enjoy these crispy frog legs as an appetiser, with fresh skinned frog legs marinated in soya sauce.

The meat’s mild, neutral taste takes on the umami flavour of soya sauce.

With seasoning and a light coating of corn starch, the frog legs get a crunchy exterior once deep-fried. Inside, its texture is reminiscent of a more fibrous chicken?

The dish is also served with a ‘net’ of deep-fried golden julienned ginger strips.

Roasted Char Siew ($9.90 for 10pcs, $17.90 for 20pcs)
Add some classic Cantonese-style Chinese BBQ pork into your meal with an order of Roasted Char Siew.

Each piece is perfectly caramelized on the outside with a layer of char, exuding a smoky aroma. The lean pork remains moist and tender, and I learned you can request for a fatter cut if preferred and available.

Limited quantities available daily.

Ten Wonder Shredded Duck Porridge ($9.90)
Served in a claypot, this thick rice porridge is made with delicious shredded slivers of roasted duck as main meat.

Boosted with Ten Wonder Herbs (the same used for the duck), this congee includes revitalising ingredients such as condonopsis root, foxglove root, licorice root, and seven other invigorating herbs.

Snow Fungus with Peach Resin ($5.90)
Cap off your meal with a refreshingly light dessert made with Snow Fungus and Peach Resin.

Even for dessert, you can make a healthier choice, as peach resin is known to be collagen-rich and packed with nutrients. Snow Fungus, aka shirokikurage, is a type of jelly fungus prized for its immune boosting properties.

A sweet meal-ended that perfectly balances taste, health and beauty. Available in both hot and cold versions.

Dian Xiao Er outlets:
Bedok Mall: 311 New Upper Changi Road, #01-73/74, Bedok Mall, Singapore 467360
Hillion Mall: 17 Petir Road, #01-08, Hillion Mall, Singapore 678278
JEM: 50 Jurong Gateway Road, #03-08, Jem, Singapore 608549
Jewel Changi Airport: 78 Airport Boulevard, #B2-229, Jewel Changi Airport Singapore 819666
Junction 8: 9 Bishan Place, #B1-07, Junction 8 Singapore 579837
Jurong Point: 63 Jurong West Central 3, #B1-57/58/59, Jurong Point, Singapore 648331
Lot One: 21 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, #B1-32/33, Lot One, Singapore 689812
Marina Square: 6 Raffles Boulevard, #02-200, Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Northpoint City: 930 Yishun Avenue 2, #02-06, Northpoint City, North Wing Singapore 769098
Serangoon NEX: 23 Serangoon Central, #02-09/10, NEX, Singapore 556083
Tampines One: 10 Tampines Central 1, #04-15, Tampines 1 Singapore 529536
VivoCity: 1 HarbourFront Walk, #02-138/9, VivoCity Singapore 098585
Waterway Point: 83 Punggol Central, #01-30, Waterway Point, Singapore 828761

Opening Hours: All outlets (except Jewel):
11:30am – 3pm Last order 2:30pm, 4.30pm – 9:30pm Last order 9pm (Mon – Fri)
11am – 10pm Last order 9:30pm (Sat – Sun)

Jewel:
11:30am – 9:30pm Last order 9pm (Mon – Thurs), 11:30pm – 10pm Last order 9:30pm (Fri),
11am – 10pm Last order 9:30pm (Sat – Sun)

Islandwide Delivery:
Dian Xiao Er is offering islandwide delivery at $5.90 (with min $40 spent, PHE/PH surcharge applies): https://dianxiaoer.oddle.me/en_SG/

(Free Hotplate Tofu/Wheatgrass Tofu/Soup of the day for first time delivery customers only. Enter promo code “FIRSTTIME” upon checkout.)

*This entry is brought to you in partnership with Dian Xiao Er.

Orchard Road is one of the to-go places during the year-end period for the Christmas lights, shopping and dining out with friends.

If you are heading to Orchard Road, this is an update of DFD’s previous entry of ”10 NEW Cafes At Orchard Road”, featuring more of the relatively new names of brunch places, cafes and dessert shops on the shopping belt.

For convenience, I listed them in order of direction from Tanglin Road to Somerset area.

Pano Kato
Tanglin Mall #02-23, 163, Tanglin Road Singapore 247933
Tel: +65 6235 5056
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Grill, Pizza and Deli at Tanglin Mall
As I was a fan of House Of AnLi, it didn’t take me too long to head over to Pano Kato located just a level below.

This is a Greek and Mediterranean style deli, serving up dishes such as Greek Salad with Feta Cheese ($22), Calamari ($22), Grilled Octopus ($28), Burrata ($4) and selection of pasta and pizzas.

I loved the Grilled Octopus ($28) which though looked small for its price, had a incredibly chewy texture, flavourful and well-grilled.

However, after repeat visits, my friends and I thought both the food and service were fairly inconsistent, but lovely space though.

Merci Marcel – Orchard
390 Orchard Road, #01-03/04, Palais Renaissance Singapore 238871
Opening Hours: 8am – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)

French Lifestyle Cafe At Orchard, With Beautiful Bohemian-Chic Outdoor Space
French restaurant-café Merci Marcel has a couple of outlets, at Tiong Bahru, Club Street, and this lifestyle concept at Orchard Road.

The Merci Marcel completes that picture – coffee, desserts, wine, food, place to Instagram and shop, and kids would probably feel comfortable here as well.

The all-day dining destination has quite a number of highlight dishes on its menu, including Ravioles de Royans ($18, $28)– French dumpling pasta filled with cheese & spinach, foie gras emulsion, Atlantic Wild Cod ($34), Barramundi Tartare ($23), Smoked Haddock Salad ($18), and of course the trending Impossible Marcel Burger ($28).

For desserts, there is the Crepe Mercel with tiramisu emulsion ($12), and Pineapple Carpaccio ($11) which my friend described as the best sweet thing she had in a while. Always packed. Merci Marcel (Orchard)

Brown Butter
583 Orchard Road, #01-18-19, Forum The Shopping Mall, Singapore 238884
Opening Hours: 11am – 8:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Avocado And Beetroot-Centric Cafe With Pink And Teal Colours
From the folks behind the Over-The-Top Milkshakes at Benjamin Browns and Flying Noodles at Hana restaurant, one would expect their newest venture would be another Instagram hit.

The entire space at Brown Butter is full of Instagram spots; from a wall full of pink roses to an entire pink shelf, pink fridge and a dual tone wall decked in pink and teal for the perfect #OOTD shot.

Their desserts menu is short and concise with avocado incorporated within it, namely Avocado Pancakes ($18), The Works ($21) served with bacon and sunny side up, Avo Waffles ($16) and Torched Avocado Cheesecake ($12).

The Avocado Pancakes ($18) came with 2 stacks of avocado pancakes with avocado slices sandwiched in between, and topped with blueberries and banana.

Social Place Singapore
Forum The Shopping Mall, #01-22, 583 Orchard Road, Singapore 238884
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 6pm – 9pm (Sun – Thurs), 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9:30pm (Fri – Sat)

Retro-Chic Tea House From Hong Kong Opens At Orchard Road
Founded in Hong Kong, Social Place is a retro-chic contemporary tea house imbued with nostalgic touches from olden Hong Kong days, which serves an innovative spread of Chinese fares and Dim Sum offerings.

Upon stepping into the restaurant, you will be greeted with sleek modern interior accompanied with fun vibrant elements such as, using ping pong table for dining and a whole mural wall made up of mah-jong tiles.

They were probably the OG innovators for the now already available dishes in Singapore such as Flaming Pineapple, Fried Chicken Pieces with Chillies served in Nest, and Truffle Mushroom Buns.

What left an impression was their Pork Sliders ($14.80) aka Chinese Kong Bak Pao which came with a slice of tender braised fatty pork meat sandwiched in between soft fluffy buns which literally melts in your mouth. Social Place (Orchard Road)

Cafe de Muse
350 Orchard Road Isetan Scotts, Shaw House, #01-00 & #02-00 Singapore 228208
Opening Hours: 24/7

Korean Coffee and Dessert Place at Shaw House
It seems like Cafe de Muse is a “Korean” cafe, looking at the servers, customers (who are primary Koreans) and they serve up Bingsu as well.

The cafe serves up the typical brunch items such as Avocado on Toast ($22), Egg Benedict ($26), a couple of sandwiches such as Beef & Chimichurri ($20), and Pasta dishes ($20 – $24).

The seats by the window make it a place to people-watch, and a friend quipped there is a “hunky cute Korean server with a soft voice”. Otherwise, I thought that the menu could have more differentiating factor to match its higher than average price point.

Leckerbaer Singapore
350 Orchard Road, Shaw House Isetan Scotts #01-K2 & #01-K3, Singapore 238868
Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Famous Danish Cookies Specialty Cafe At Orchard Road
From Denmark to Singapore, Leckerbaer has opened at Shaw House Isetan Scotts with a café concept. (Luke’s Lobster is neighbour and the brand-new Shake Shack is just across the road at Liat Towers.)

Leckerbaer was founded by two pastry chefs, Gabi and Jakob Baer Mogensen, who have extensive experience in the Scandinavian Michelin-Star scene.

The pastry shop makes everything from scratch and there are 8 Småkager in the counter to choose from. Flavours in Singapore include Banana, Milk, Chocolate, Vanilla, Passionfruit, Raspberry, Lemon, and Caramel.

However, these are not your usual-priced cookie, with each piece slightly bigger than a 50 cent coin costing $2.80. Savoury tarts from priced at $11 – $13, while a Breakfast Set is at $13. Leckerbaer Singapore (Orchard Road)

Poulet + Brasserie
ION Orchard #B3-21, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

French Fusion Restaurant-Café With Duck Confit, Nutella French Toast, At ION Orchard
Fans of Poulet would be familiar with its Roast Chicken with mushroom Chardonnay, Diane sauce, or cranberry sauce; but Poulet + Brasserie presents quite an entirely different concept.

A menu quite unlike their existing one, this one takes inspiration from cuisines in different places – Melbourne’s café-hopping scene, a little bit of Thai and French fare, and Singapore’s own local dishes. You can expect to find Seafood Laksa Linguine and Kaya French Toast here.

Chef Joshua Khoo (one of the chef-founder of Saveur) leads the kitchen brigade in preparing these dishes, combining local flavours with traditional French cooking techniques.

Get the Truffle Mushroom Risotto ($15++) which is infused with lots of umami flavours from combining different types of mushrooms – including oyster, button and brown shimeji mushrooms. You will also find bacon cubes and almond nuts for that multi-textural contrast. Poulet + Brasserie (ION Orchard)

Bacha Coffee
2 Orchard Turn, #01-15/16 ION Orchard Mall, Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Gorgeous Moroccan Themed Coffee Boutique & Brunch Place
This is the Moroccan brand’s first international outpost, specialising in coffee from single origins, coffee blends as well as flavoured coffee.

People think the concept is like TWG, but coffee version.

There are over 200 to choose from, and so you can come almost every day in a year if variety is what you crave. While the coffee selection may look overwhelming at first, they do include the taste profile and strength, and the serving staff can guide you along to make a preferred selection.

The décor itself is striking, designed to reflect the Moroccan Dar el Bacha palace in Marrakech. Some customers take the opportunity to strike a pose, some repeatedly and too many.

As for food, perhaps the more unique and Moroccan style dishes left a better impression, such as the Morrocan Chicken Pastilla infused with Rosenheim Coffee ($24), and Moroccan Kefta Meatballs accompanied with straw potato fries ($28). Bacha Coffee (ION Orchard)

Matchaya – Paragon
#B1-K4, Paragon, 290 Orchard Road, Singapore 238859
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

New Outlet at Orchard Paragon With Matcha Koffee, Houjicha Cakes
While many Japanese Cafes in Singapore are imports, Matchaya is a home-grown brand that has enjoyed quite a following.

Other than its café-style space at The Cathay (it previously moved from Icon Village), it has opened a NEW kiosk at Orchard Paragon.

The Japanese tea outlet at the basement of Paragon serves up more than just modern Japanese-inspired beverages, but also include desserts, cakes and softserves.

For Houjicha lovers, they serve up Houjica Choux Pastry ($4 per pc, $22 per box of 6) and Salted Caramel Coco Houjicha Roll Cake ($6 per pc, $28 per roll).

The roll cake includes houjicha, Chantilly creamed and salted caramel dark chocolate embedded in chocolate sponge, surrounded by fluffy sponge.

Flipper’s Pancakes Singapore
391 Orchard Road Takashimaya Shopping Centre #B1-56 Singapore 238872
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Famous Soufflé Pancakes Cafe At Takashimaya
The famous Flipper’s Pancakes from Japan has opened in Singapore at Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Ngee Ann City.

Diners in Singapore can come expecting 6 different soufflé pancake flavours.

They include the original Kiseki Pancake Plain ($16.80), Matcha Azuki ($20.80), Hazelnut Chocolate ($21.80), Millennial Strawberry ($20.80), Fresh Fruits ($21.80). And for a savoury option, there is the Benedict Pancake ($21.80).

Their Kiseki pancakes (well, most of them) are served in stacks of 3s, come with a wobbly soufflé-like texture, and with house-made maple-butter cream.

So comparing this to say the average souffle pancake in Singapore, what makes that difference is that the milk, Kanagawa Hinata eggs, and Hokkaido Kitahonami wheat flour used are all imported from Japan.

Which would just give that added subtle ‘egginess’. Flipper’s Pancakes Singapore (Takashimaya)

The Cupping Room Singapore
Unit #02-10A Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238872
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Famous Cafe In Hong Kong Has Opened At Takashimaya
If you have been to Hong Kong’s Central, you may have noticed the popular The Cupping Room along Cochrane Street, which is its flagship store located near Mid-levels.

They serve up espresso-based drinks using their House Blend; though are also known for offering single origin coffee beans from Kenya, Ethiopia, Colombia, Peru, and Rwanda.

I had the smaller cup of White, and thought that the acidity level could be on the stronger side for the Singapore palate. Perhaps next time I would order a larger cup or iced version with more milk to balance off.

There is a small selection of pastries and light bites offered such as Hazelnut Brownie ($5), Banana Bread ($5), Kouign Amann ($7) and Pain Au Chocolate ($6.50). Cupping Room Coffee Roasters Singapore (Takashimaya)

Drips Bakery Café – Orchard
Ngee Ann City #B2-31, 391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6222 0400
Opening Hours: 8am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Tarts Specialty Shop Opens At Ngee Ann City
Compared to the Tiong Bahru outlet, this is a smaller space and functions more like a takeaway shop.

They also offer Baked Tart with Long Black/Tea sets at $11.80, or Scone/Teacake/Croissant with Long Black or Tea at $6.

Rotating tarts you can expect to find there include Baked Almond Tart, Matcha Yuzu Tart, Cinnamon Egg Tart, Choc Truffle Tart, Baked Crumble Tart, Fresh Avocado Tart, Fresh Yuzu Tart, Lemon Meringue Tart, Baked Lemon Tart, Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart, and more.

The one item that has remained as a best seller over the decade is the Seasonal Fresh Fruit Tart ($12.90).

They use a secret recipe to create a French butter tart shell paired with freshly made in-house custard infused with Madagascar vanilla beans.

The tart is then topped with freshest seasonal fruits available. I once had the Mixed Fruit Tart with raspberries and blackberries which had a soft crumbly crust, smooth cream cheese.

Cafe Ma Maison
333A Orchard Road #02-33/34 Mandarin Gallery Singapore 238897
Tel: +65 6235 6411
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Japanese Cafe With Pretty Fresh Fruits Shortcakes And Fruits-Sando
Ma Maison, known for their Japanese-Western cuisine, Tonkatsu and pretty Japanese fruit tarts has re-opened its café concept at Mandarin Gallery.

For those of you who remember, Café Ma Maison used to exist at Liang Court’s basement. The new space at Orchard Road replaces where gorgeous pastry shop Antoinette used to be.

Other than a seasonal Assorted Fruits-Sando, there are two styles of cakes served – Special Cakes and Fruit Tarts.

In terms of “Special Cakes”, there is an attractive display of Classic Strawberry Shortcake ($7.80), Chocolate Walnut ($7.80), Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake ($7.80), Earl Grey Tea ($7.80), Fresh Fruit Shortcake ($8.80), and Japanese Matcha Mousse & Red Bean ($8.80).

While my heart told me to go for a Strawberry Shortcake, I thought it has become quite a regular offering in Singapore’s cafes and so opted for a more uncommon and colourful Fresh Fruit Shortcake.

Also included is a small savoury items menu, with Omu-Katsu ($20.80) of Omu-Rice with Pork Cutlet, Truffle-Flavoured Katsu Sandwich ($14.80), and Mentaiko Spaghetti ($18.30). Café Ma Maison (Mandarin Gallery)

Alchemist Design Orchard (DO)
250 Orchard Road, #03-01 Design Orchard, Singapore 238905
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)

Hidden Café At A Rooftop Garden In The Heart Of Orchard Road
Called “Alchemist Design Orchard (DO)”, this is Alchemist’s fourth outlet, following branches at International Plaza, Hong Leong Building, and a flagship store in Tai Seng. (Okay, they must think I love them A LOT since I actually wrote 4 reviews for them.)

Alchemist DO will be to many, the ‘perfect Instagram spot’ with concrete interiors, a swanky terrazzo tile coffee bar along with stainless steel finishing, along with some natural daylight at certain angles.

Pastries are supplied by local micro-bakery Bakehaus, and you can expect Butter Croissant ($3.50), Chocolate Croissant ($4.50), Almond Chocolate ($5), Raisin Custard Swirl ($5), and Passionfruit Danish ($5).

%Arabica Singapore – 313@somerset
313 Orchard Road #01-14/15 313@somerset Singapore 238895
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Famous Kyoto Coffee Shop At 313@somerset
A rather prominent location for %Arabica Singapore, especially if you come out from Somerset MRT, or walk from 313 to Orchard Central.

The company strives to source all its beans directly from the origins. Depending on the season and availability, you can find coffees from Japan, Guatemala, Brazil, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Panama.

The Caffe Latte is priced at $7 for short, $8 for tall, while the iced version is priced at $8. Not considered cheap.

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

Grain Alley
Orchard Central #01-10, 181 Orchard Road, Singapore 238896
Opening Hours: 9am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

Brunch Place With Instagrammable Interior At Orchard Central
Grain Alley falls into a strange situation where you would expect to find rice bowls in a place called “GRAIN Alley”, but it sells anything but that.

The menu features an all-day brunch with items such as Chorizo Shakshuka ($21), Duck Tagine with Truffle Mash ($25), Bratwurst Brunch Platter ($29), Great Greek Salad ($19), Smoked Salmon Croissant ($9, and Vegan Avocado Toast ($11).

Some of the cakes such as the Sea Salt Caramel Cake ($9) is worth a mention for is smooth texture, though one may hesitate to order due to its price.

Location is central, interior is welcoming, staff members are friendly. Grain Alley (Orchard Central)

Walking On Sunshine Cafe
Orchard Central #03-07, 181 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 8877 0088
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)

Garden-themed Cafe At Orchard Central
Walking On Sunshine or WOS, the newest beauty and dining hub in the block, is located at the 3rd floor of Orchard Central. It is one of the biggest you can find in Singapore, juxtaposing a salon and a café in one location.

If you could just pick one item from the food menu, make it the Instagram-popular Soufflé Pancake ($20.50).

Imagine a stack of three light and fluffy pancakes topped with a special cream, nuts, and fresh fruits like berries, grapes and strawberries. Good for sharing (or save all for yourself), this dish is loved by kids and adults alike.

Or have a savoury pancake for a change. The Crab and Kimchi Pancake ($20.50) is definitely on the other side of the flavour spectrum, but its spicy-sour taste is just as inviting.

Sip famous teas from Korea as you delight in the sight of beautiful flowers and plants around you, while enjoying time with your family and friends.

Glyph Supply Co
111 Somerset Road, #01-06, Singapore 238164
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 10:30am – 5pm (Sat – Sun)

Minimalist White Café Found At Somerset
Glyph Supply Co. has been attracting quite a fair bit of customers, because it is an artisanal café with quite an “instagrammable” interior.

Coffee is priced at $4.50 for the black, $5.50 for the white, Coldbrew at $6.00, while iced versions cost $1 extra. For non-coffee drinkers, there is also offering of Matcha ($6.00) and Chocolate ($6.00).

This is slightly pricier than what you find in other hipster cafes in the neighbourhoods, but I suppose they have high rentals to pay.

Bakes are from Carpenter & Cook, and you get a rotational selection from Lemon Tart, Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Tart, Passionfruit Meringue Tart, Almond Croissant, Pain Au Chocolat, to savoury bites of Mushroom Quiche, and Ham and Cheese Croissant.

Quality coffee you can find at this part of town, plus it is considered slightly hidden. Glyph Supply Co. (TripleOne Somerset)

Hvala – TripleOne Somerset
111 Somerset Road, Singapore 238164
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)

Minimalist Japanese Cafe At Somerset
Hvala’s Japanese teahouse is what I would describe as a little oasis in busy downtown.

The space located at TripleOne Somerset (do check out Coney Donut while you are there) has got almost full-white look with minimalist touch, natural daylight, and Japanese zen-like vibes.

The teahouse is designed such that there are steps in which customers can sit on and sip on matcha latte.

What I appreciated was there are different sections with varying seating arrangements, so those who come alone can enjoy some ‘me’ time, while friends can sit around a table in a group.

I think Hvala has managed to carve out a niche for themselves, in finding that sweet spot between offering quality Japanese tea with some modern interpretation. Hvala (TripleOne Somerset)

Tsui Wah – The Heeren
260 Orchard Road, The Heeren #02-02 Singapore 238855
Tel: +65 6366 9270
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 10:30am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

2 Storey Outlet At Orchard Road, NEW Items Of Mala Prawns And Bottled Milk Tea
This Tsui Wah at The Heeren is a two-storey 192-seater establishment which features a quick service concept on Level 1 and a contemporary-styled restaurant on Level 2.

That means customers can choose to drop by for takeaways or dine-in alfresco without any service charge at Level 1; or they can also head upstairs to the full-fledged restaurant.

Tsui Wah The Heeren has included two new dishes, such as the Mala Prawns ($11) – mala soup of prawns in a broth laden with enoki mushrooms and stewed radish; and the Assorted Vegetables and Prawns Curry with Steamed Rice ($16).

Launched exclusively at Tsui Wah The Heeren is the Tsui Wah Bottled Milk Tea. Freshly brewed daily and served chilled, customers can choose to grab-and-go at Level 1 ($5.50) or enjoy it cold from an iced bucket at Level 2 ($5). Tsui Wah Singapore (Heeren)

Other Related Entries
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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.ghlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some of the food highlights at Peppermint:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Seeds is another undiscovered café that is full of heart.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Will Slickshots impress diners with their menu?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Probably one of the first of its kind.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other Related Entries
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Necessary Provisions (Tanglin Road)
Elemen (Millenia Walk)
Sufood (Raffles City)
Grove (Waterway Point)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In terms of pricing, not THAT expensive as well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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10 Must-Visit TIONG BAHRU Cafes
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10 Best Holland Village Cafes
10 Cafes And Brunch Places At River Valley

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The tofu did have a warm, satin soft interior.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Monga (ION Orchard)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some of Rockon Tokyo’s highlight dishes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I ordered it with 0% sugar and loved it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A dollop of chilli sauce is provided at the side.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other Related Entries
Restoran Tuck Kee 怡保德记 (Ipoh)
Quan Ji (Amoy Street Food Centre)
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Kam Jia Zhuang (Ang Mo Kio)
Two Chefs Eating Place (Commonwealth Crescent)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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LR Boulangerie (River Valley Road)
Grace Espresso (River Valley Road

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other Related Entries
Hup and Spoke Café (Changi Airport T2)
C Café (Joo Chiat)
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Cafe De Nicole’s Flower (Telok Kurau Road)

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

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

Answer is four.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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