Most Singaporeans will have probably heard of Tung Lok group of restaurants, which serve a range of food from vegetarian to seafood. From upmarket Chinese restaurant My Humble House, to the family-friendly Tung Lok Seafood restaurant, Lingzhi Vegetarian restaurant, or the causal dining Zhou’s Kitchen – there are options available for everyone.

For a long time, I was confused by Tung Lok Signatures and Tung Lok Classics. The former is about gathering the signature dishes and putting them together in a menu – it’s like the best of Tung Lok under one roof. On the other hand, Tung Lok Classics offers timeless classic Chinese dishes from Shanghainese, Sichuan, Hubei and Cantonese dishes.

It seems like my memory is starting to fail me. I can’t recall if this is fish, prawn or crab, but I remember that the deep fried cheesy coating was absolutely delicious with the meat beneath retaining its juicy and moist texture.

I was secretly hoping that there’s roasted pork, but we had the Char Siew in the end. Slightly charred on the edges, the char siew was soft, and chewy and sweetly succulent. It was decent, but definitely not the best char siew I had before.

Even though I have been to Tung Lok Seafood restaurant for their dim sum buffet, I never knew that Tung Lok Classics served dim sum too. I was pleasantly surprised when the waitress presented a basket of har gau and siew mai to our table. Evern though the shrimp was fresh and juicy, the steamed prawn dumpling’s translucent skin torn easily. I preferred the steamed pork dumpling which had a good balance of pork-and-shrimp.

Tung Lok Classics is all about the visual impact and the dessert that we had was the best testimonial to that. See that red test tube in the picture? It’s a shot of extremely potent beetroot juice — the perfect ending to the end of a good meal.

Which Tung Lok Restaurants have you been to before, and which is your favorite?

Restaurant Review
Tung Lok Classics
1 Tanglin Road #02-18
Orchard Parade Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6834 0660

21 Amber Road #03-01
Chinese Swimming Club Singapore
Tel: +65 6345 0111

Even though Singapore does not have four seasons, I’m perfectly sure that everyone will welcome a bowl of ramen during a  cold rainy day.

I first knew Nantsuttei through several mentions on Twitter, but all I knew was that a) they are a Japanese restaurant, and b) they are very popular. The funny thing was I only knew that they served ramen after walking into the restaurant.

The new Parco Marina Bay at Millenia Walk is almost like a mini Japanese foodie town. Majority of the Parco Marina Bay restaurants on level 3 are very skewed towards the eating cultures and influences of The Land of the Rising Sun. When you are there, go to Saboten for their tonkatsu, Ma Maison for a twist of Japanese-French cuisine, or Keisuke ramen for the shrimp-broth ramen.

In comparison with the other Ramen that I tried in Singapore, Nantsuttei ramen was much greasier as it came with a layer of black ma-yu (roasted garlic oil). It was a shame that the bowl of original Nantsuttei Ramen ($12) came with a single slice of chashu. Immediately, I regretted not going for the Chashu-men ($16) which promises a more generous topping of the specialty simmered pork.

There are other variations that had additional toppings of green onion (Negi Ramen $15), or red pepper (Dragon Ramen $15). I’m not sure if it’s just me, but it seemed a little folly to pay for additional garnishing – I’d rather have more of the delicious chashu!

For a long time, I didn’t get what’s the big fuss about ramen — I think it’s either you love or hate it. Honestly, I don’t feel  that Nantsuttei Ramen is worth queuing up for. My personal favorite is still the tonkatsu ramen from Tampopo. Having tried Santouka ramen at Central recently, I think I am finally ready to take on the ramen world!

Which ramen restaurant in Singapore should I go next?

Restaurant Review
Nantsuttei Ramen Singapore
9 Raffles Boulevard #P3-06
Parco Marina Bay, Millenia Walk Singapore
Tel: +65 6337 7166

“Where’s the best dim sum in Singapore?”

Even though this is the 12469th time that I’m blogging about Yan Ting Restaurant at St Regis Hotel, I get this question from my readers all the time. If you have not heard of Yan Ting before, I’m sorry to say that you are missing out on some of the best things in life.

Most people has the misconception that Yan Ting is expensive since it is located within St Regis Singapore. I usually spend around $20ish per person for a good dim sum lunch, and the prices are similar to other reputable dim sum restaurants like Cherry Garden, Royal China, and Taste Paradise.

Both the Steamed Shrimp Dumpling ($3.80) and the Pork Dumpling ($3.80) were top-notched. I enjoyed the former for its crunchy and fresh shrimp in the semi-translucent skin, and the latter for its right proportion of shrimp and pork.

There simply are not enough superlatives in this world to properly describe Yan Ting’s Char Siew Sou ($4.20). Good? Superb? Fantastic? My dear, go down to Yan Ting and take a bite of the char siew pastry, and you will know what I mean.

Sweet and succulent bits of char siew were carefully hidden within the soft and warm Char Siew Buns ($3.80). They were like fluffy white clouds in the sky, screaming at us: GRAB ME!

From Yan Ting’s dim sum menu, we also ordered the mushy-but-delicious Yam Croquette ($4.20), the fluffy Radish Pastry ($4.20) that was deep-fried but not too oily, and the popular Radish Cake ($3.80) that I had every time.

Accompanied by the mayo sauce, the Deep-Fried Shrimp Dumplings ($4.20 for 3 pcs) were fried to a gorgeous golden brown, with the surrounding crust of the dumpling being incredibly crispy. Beneath, the shrimp filling was fresh and sweet. It’s really difficult not to like this, unless you do not eat prawns.

I will definitely be going back to Yan Ting Restaurant whenever I’m craving for dim sum, but this is probably the last time I will blog about them unless there’s new addition to their dim sum menu. At $98++ per person, Yan Ting’s weekend dim sum brunch buffet is priced out of my league, but do let us know if you have tried it before.

Restaurant Review
Yan Ting Restaurant
29 Tanglin Road
The St Regis Singapore
Tel: +65 6506 6888

Once Upon A Milkshake (OUAM) is now open at Scape Singapore!

I know many of you would have heard of this by now since they have been there for a while already. But for those of you who have not been to Once Upon A Milkshake because of the location – maybe it’s time to check out their milkshake now that they have a new location in town!

My partner and I didn’t have any desserts at Raindrops cafe as we were saving some room for the milkshake. Stepping into an ice cream place is considered the most dangerous thing to me. I’m not sure if it’s dangerous to me or the ice-cream shop, but I  always want to try every single flavor in the shop. Strawberry, vanilla, chocolate – hand over the ice cream and nobody gets hurt.

Having tried their vanilla, peanut butter, chocolate truffle and cookie & cream milkshake flavor before, we went for the Spooky Mocha and the Cerious Maple milkshake ($3.60 for mini). According to the coffee-lover, the former lacked the caffeine flavor while I felt that the taste was actually pretty strong.

The Cerious Maple milkshake is definitely one of my favorite ice cream flavors at Once Upon A Milkshake. Tell me, who doesn’t like maple syrup? It’s awesome! I’m not sure about you, but everything is an excuse for me to have maple syrup. Now, maple syrup milkshake anyone?

Where do you usually go for milkshake? Having tried the Billy Bombers milkshake recently, I have to admit that my impression of them improved. Prive Bakery is also popular for their huge milkshake, and has anyone been to Steeple Deli at Tanglin Shopping centre? I have been wanting to go there since my friend told me that they have the best milkshake in Singapore!

Ice Cream Milkshake
Mini $3.60, Regular $5.70

Ice Cream Scoop/s
Single $2.90, Double $5.10, Triple $7.20, Pint $10.50

Restaurant Review
Once Upon A Milkshake
2 Orchard Link #02-03/04
*Scape Singapore
Tel: +65 9233 1624

All of us need a short getaway. Especially if it’s escaping to a beautiful place like Phuket.

Before you come up with excuses like: a) there is no time b) a holiday is too expensive or c) we have no time to plan for it — please continue to read this post.

The beautiful thing about budget airlines is that they make traveling so affordable. A two-way ticket to Phuket only costs S$140 (if you book early, it’s probably much cheaper), and in this modern world, booking an air-ticket online is really as simple as getting a movie ticket.

I’ve taken cruises to Phuket before, but these were usually one day trips and I never got to see much of the place. But I’m sure that most people who have been to Phuket would have heard of Patong Beach and Phuket town.

If you are telling me that you have no time to plan for a proper holiday, listen up. The choice of accommodation for this trip was only decided when we were at the airport waiting to check-in, and we just randomly chose a hotel while surfing on the ipad. How cool is that?

The one room apartment at Laguna Holiday Club Resort (3000 THB/S$140 per night) has a living room, kitchen and bedroom.

Laguna Holiday Club Phuket Resort is great! There’s free WIFI connection in the lobby, the staff are friendly, the place is spacious and it comes with a very beautiful and relaxing pool, but the only downside is that there’s only one restaurant in the hotel.

Fortunately, Laguna Phuket is a holiday paradise of deluxe hotels and villas which includes: Banyan Tree Phuket, Sheraton Grande Laguna, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, Laguna Beach Resort, Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort And Villas, Best Western Allamanda Laguna Phuket and Laguna Holiday Club Resort. There are free shutter services that transport guests to the other hotels, and with 30 restaurants in the area, dining really isn’t a problem.

We hopped over to Sheraton Grande Laguna, which was just opposite of Laguna Holiday Club. Entering the resort, we were greeted by an elongated walkway to the main lobby area. Big is an understatement to describe the Sheraton Grande – the resort is massive! We literally got lost while searching for the Beach restaurant Gekko and ended up at the Poolside restaurant as we were too hungry!

I thought it’s rather weird to order Italian pasta since we should be having Thai food in Phuket. But my partner was craving for it and we decided to get the Spaghetti Bolognese (340THB/S$16). The portion was huge with lots of minced meat, but it tasted pretty ordinary. On the other hand, we thoroughly enjoyed the deep-fried spring roll (190THB/S$9) with the tangy sweet sauce.

This was the only plate of Phad Thai (340THB/$16) that we had throughout the trip, and it was a shame that it wasn’t up to the mark. To be fair, I preferred the dry and light version of the Phad Thai that I had by the street-side. You know what – this is the perfect excuse for me to come back soon!

Poolside Restaurant
Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket
Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket
All day dining: 10.30am – 9pm.
Wood-fired pizzas, light meals, snacks and refreshments.

Visiting Phuket without going to Patong Beach and Phuket Town

I know, you are sitting over at your side thinking: “Is he mad? How can anyone go to Phuket without visiting Patong Beach and Phuket town?” When the resort had so many facilities and there were 7 resorts under Laguna Phuket, we didn’t want to leave the Bang Tao area.

Cafe Loma is an all day dining cafe in Laguna Beach Resort which was the perfect place for us since we were looking for lunch at 3pm. Having pizza with coke and margarita by the poolside – this was simplicity at it’s best.

Cafe Loma
Laguna Beach Resort
323 Moo 2 Srisoonthorn road
Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket

Sadly, the trip was really much too short. But I’m already planning for the next trip since it’s so affordable to fly to the nearby countries. Our last meal on Phuket was a simple Thai dinner at Rim Talay restaurant. With a magnificent view overlooking the lagoon, we had Red Curry and Tom Yum Goong as we bid farewell to Phuket.

Rim Talay
Laguna Beach Resort
323 Moo 2 Srisoonthorn road
Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket

You know you want a short getaway, and I’m telling you that everyone deserves a holiday. Book the tickets and escape somewhere with your loved one, now!

Laguna Holiday Club Resort Phuket
61 Moo 4 Srisoontorn Road, Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket

Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket
10 Lagoona Phuket Choeng Thale, Tha Lang, Phuket

Laguna Beach Resort Phuket
323 Moo2 Srisoontorn Road, Cherngtalay, Talang, Phuket

I am aware of the articles that have been circulating in my absence, regarding an accusation that I visited a restaurant and asked for a waiver on their meals. I would like to make certain clarifications here.

1. The Basis of Food tasting events

Food tastings in the Singapore food scene are regularly organized and non-obligatory events. Any food blogger who has been invited to one to sample delicacies of the particular restaurant will agree that it is akin to inviting someone into their house. According to the dictionary, an invitation is, “The act of inviting; solicitation; the requesting of a person’s company”.

2. Invitation to the restaurant

Story: The articles seemed to suggest that I paid the restaurant a visit on my own accord, that I walked into the restaurant and announced myself as a food blogger.

Fact: This is not true. I was invited to a food tasting session by Melanie, PR Manager for the Restaurant. The first invite came June 2nd. I was unable to make it then and it was not until Friday, August 20th that I scheduled the Sunday brunch. In the invite, i was told to bring a guest.

Story: I had informed the restaurant that as food blogger, I assumed that the bill for all 4 of us would be waived

Fact: Following up on the food tasting email, I had duly informed that there would be 3 accompanying guests on that very day. There were no claims or requests made for “free food” since it was a direct invitation to sample the items on the new menu. It was an oversight to assume to that no acknowledgement from Melanie about my 3 accompanying guests would mean that their meals would be on the house too.

4. Asking for waiver for myself and my dining partner

Story: It was reported that the restaurant had decided to “waive the fee” for me and my dining partner out of goodwill

Fact: This was an invitation to a food-tasting session. There is no hard and fast rule stating a plus one for a food tasting. However having attended previous food tastings before, I assumed that the meal would be, at the very least, on the house for myself and one dining partner. I was not expected to be billed for and then “waived” off from what was disguised as a “food tasting session”. When questioned, Melanie then cited this to be in-line with ‘industry standards’ of food tasting sessions: that the restaurant would only pay for my +1.

5. Asking for waiver for myself and my other guests

Story: I had informed the restaurant that I was a food blogger, therefore assuming that the bill for all 4 of us would be waived.

Fact: In truth, I had asked for no waiver. I paid for my other two companions. The bill for 2, inclusive of sparkling wine, came to $260. Out of goodwill, they did decide to waive the wine and I eventually paid $160 for 2.

6. My attitude towards the staff

Story: It was reported that I had said: “I always get free food wherever I go“.

Fact: This was never said. Nevertheless, I must admit the hostility while paying (I had tossed my credit card on the table) was uncalled for and I sincerely apologise.

***

An eye for an eye makes the world go blind. I would like to not point fingers at anyone – it was simply a case of miscommunication. When I dine out, I pay for my food like any regular consumer. When I am invited for food tasting sessions, it is a mutual understanding between the inviter and myself, that I would be attending as the identity of media for a possible food review.

I would like to urge all parties to view this situation objectively. I hope this post clarifies any misunderstanding that this might have caused.

The Line Buffet at Shangri La Hotel has always been one of the buffet restaurants in Singapore that I wanted to check out. Even though the buffet isn’t exactly affordable, I know there are many folks who swear that The Line is one of the best buffets in Singapore.

The crowd at The Line was crazy when I went there two weeks back. Now, crazy is probably an understatement when the 400 seater buffet restaurant is almost filled with people on a weekday lunch. Just for your information, most of them are not even hotel guests – with the majority being buffet-loving Singaporeans.

“Can you recommend me a cheap and good buffet in Singapore?”

This is one of the common questions that I get from my readers. Like what I’ve mentioned before: the thing about buffet – if it’s good, it’s not cheap. I know many people are always on the hunt for cheap and good buffet, but lets face it – there isn’t any cheap and good buffet in Singapore. You get what you pay for.

The Line Dessert Buffet

My dear reader, if you have been reading my blog for a while, you will definitely know that I always start a buffet with desserts. I must say The Line Buffet has a pretty impressive array of desserts lined up for sweet-tooth people like me. Besides Western pastries and cakes, they also have some local kuehs available. Not to mention that there’s also the seducing chocolate fondue, and a truckload of ice cream to get you into a sugar-high.

Reason #1: why I shouldn’t go for an international buffet

I hardly looked at the other sections like the local food/western dishes/Indian spread. They just didn’t appeal to me if you get what I mean. It’s probably a shame to pay so much money for a buffet and not try everything. But hey, I’m choosing my battles and concentrating on the key areas.

At The Line buffet, there are also chefs preparing local favorite dishes like Chinese noodles and roti prata ala minute. Given that most of the food in a buffet is prepared beforehand, it’s always refreshing to see the chef preparing some of the items on the spot.

The Line Japanese Buffet

Besides the Seafood buffet spread, the Japanese buffet counter is the next most popular counter in The Line Shangri La. Sushi and sashimi, come on – you know you want it.

The Line Buffet at Shangri La Hotel is an international buffet which has a very wide selection for their buffet lines. From the popular Japanese food, to Chinese dim sum, local favorite dishes, standard western dishes, exotic Indian cuisine, and delicate petite desserts – there’s definitely plenty of options for everyone.

Now it’s your turn, where’s the best buffet in Singapore you have been to?

Restaurant Review
The Line Buffet Shangri La
22 Orange Grove Road
Basement Shangri-la Hotel
Tel: +65 6213 4275

The Line Buffet Prices
// Weekday International Buffet Lunch $47++
Sat International Buffet Lunch $50++
Sun Brunch $78++ (non alochol)
Fri – Mon International Buffet Dinner $68++
Tue Buffet Dinner Oyster Night special $88++
Wed Buffet Dinner BBQ Night Special $78++
Thu Buffet DInner Seafood Night Special $88++

Hidden at the back of the new *Scape Mall beside Cineleisure Orchard, is a small cutesy place called the Raindrops Cafe. The other Scape Mall cafes are Once Upon a Milkshake, Marble Slab Creamery, Red Mango, and Music Cafe.

I like Raindrops Cafe because the place is small and cozy, plus they serve simple comfort food at affordable prices. The interior can probably seat around twenty, with a few additional tables in the al fresco area.

I have been craving for Carbonara since the dinner at Barpazza, and I was elated to see it on the Raindrops Cafe menu. I feel that it’s always a risk when ordering the Carbonara. In the hands of less-skillful chefs, the pasta would taste heavy and overwhelming. There were many instances previously where I couldn’t finish the pasta. Raindrops Cafe’s Mushroom Carbonara ($12) was excellent – it was creamy yet not overpowering. I like it and that’s all I really know.

I was hoping that my partner would get the beef burger, but she went for the Open Face Beef Sandwich ($12) instead. Served on an elongated white plate, the Beef sandwich was mightily delicious: melted cheese with chunks of beef, hearty and satisfying. I just wished there was more of it!

Raindrops Cafe serves simple comfort food. Even though the food may not be fantastic or outstanding in terms of taste, the prices are very reasonable and it’s a good place to chill out. Note that the portions may be a little small, so you probably need to order more items to share. If you are looking for a nice cafe for dinner in Orchard, Raindrops Cafe may just be the right place.

Restaurant Review
Raindrops Cafe
2 Orchard Link #02-38
*Scape Singapore
Tel: +65 6834 4977

Here’s the ultimate question that all bubble tea lovers want to know: is KOI Cafe really the best bubble tea in Singapore, or is Gong Cha Bubble Tea better?

After much persuasion from many of you, I finally made my way down to City Square Mall just for the Gong Cha Bubble Tea.

“Who the hell comes to City Square Mall?” That was the first question on my mind. There are actually quite a few City Square Mall restaurants like Pu Tien, Nanxiang steamed restaurant, Pasta Stylo, Paradise Inn and Sushi Tei.

Since I only tried Koi cafe’s Original pearl milk tea before, it’s only fair to order the same thing from Gong Cha for comparison. I heard that Gong Cha at City Square Mall has very long queues during lunch time. Fortunately, there wasn’t any queue when I was there at 3pm.

To be honest, I couldn’t really taste the difference between Gong Cha and KOI. I’m not sure if it’s just me, but Gong Cha’s black pearls seem to be slightly smaller than KOI bubble tea’s. But if it comes down to the best bubble tea in Singapore, I’d probably choose KOI cafe over Gong Cha Bubble tea.

KOI cafe currently has 6 outlets at Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Iluma, Chinatown, Marine Parade, and Toa Payoh, while Gong Cha is only located at Novena square and City square mall. Even though KOI has long queues, they have a better queuing system which is more systematic.

What do you think? Is KOI or Gong Cha the best bubble tea in Singapore?

“How do you stay so slim when you eat so much?”

This is one of the questions that I always get as people are surprised that I actually manage to stay quite slim even though I have a rather exciting food adventure. There’s only one answer for it — I exercise regularly.

When I was in Secondary school, one of the lessons that I really dreaded was Physical Education (often abbreviated P.E.). I was quite awkward when it came to playing sports, especially ball games. But ever since I started my food blog, there’s a need for me to exercise more due to the increased amount of calories I consumed.

Initially, I started running because it’s a really effective way to lose weight. But after a while, I really enjoyed running as it allows me to clear my mind and helps to destress after a long day of work. Still, it takes a lot of commitment and self-motivation to run 4-5 times a week. That’s why I can really understand how much dedication and hard work our Team Singapore athletes put in to get to where they are today. As the Chinese saying goes, the competition may be just one day, but it takes them months and months of training to prepare for it.

Team Singapore athletes represent our country in various major sport games and identified international sports competitions. Hey folks, if the athletes are putting their heart and soul into their training to achieve glory for our country, the least we can do for them is follow their news and show them our support!

If my memory does not fail me, I remember the first time that I heard of the name ‘Isabelle Li‘ was after her exploits at the 2008 Taoyuan International  (ITTF Junior Circuit) – where she clinched the Gold medal for the U15 Girls’ Singles category.

I had the opportunity to interview Isabelle, and I asked her was the most memorable competition/game. Surprisingly, she  chose to mention her Singles quarter-final defeat in the Asian youth games.

“I didn’t choose a competition in which I was crowned champion because I think in sports, victory doesn’t define sporting moments. It is the emotions that you experience and the hard fight which helps you grow, as a person.”

What exactly do athletes eat?

This question has always been on my mind especially since I’m a food blogger. I’m pretty sure that they have to stick with a special diet. Naturally, it was the first question I asked Isabelle – what do you eat everyday?

“There is no particular diet which I have to adhere to. We are allowed to eat anything, but I will try to maintain a healthy diet. Most of the time I will eat the food provided by the Sports School or home-cooked food prepared by my mom.” Isabelle replied.

So there is no particular diet athletes need to follow? That finally clear things up, but I guess it’s highly unlikely to see them binge on junk food as maintaining a healthy diet is of utmost importance for them to stay in good shape for the games.

I’m sure you will know by now, that Singapore is currently organizing the first ever Youth Olympic Games (YOG) which will be held during 14 – 26th August. I was in the National University of Singapore (NUS) to give a talk on food photography that day, and I was very lucky to witness the arrival of the sacred flame passing through the campus. It’s one thing to see the flame on television, and another to see it right before your eyes. Wow! The very fact that the YOG is held on our home ground gives us even more reason to support and root for our Team Singapore athletes!

For updates on the performance of Team Singapore, subscribe to free SMS alerts for the latest competition results at teamsingapore.com.sg. If you are keen to learn more about the athlete, check out Team Singapore website.

All of us should do our part to support our Team Singapore athletes, so visit SingaporeSports.Sg/wish to cheer the athletes and stand a chance to win a pair of air tickets Greece!

]]> http://www.ladyironchef.com/2010/08/17/singapore-sports-council-isabelle-li-hope-singapore/feed/ 0 http://www.ladyironchef.com/2010/08/16/singapore-afternoon-high-tea-buffet/ http://www.ladyironchef.com/2010/08/16/singapore-afternoon-high-tea-buffet/#comments Mon, 16 Aug 2010 03:57:44 +0000 ladyironchef http://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=8925

I have mentioned my love-hate relationship with buffets before, but if there’s one thing I really like, it’s definitely the Afternoon High Tea buffet.

There’s always the misconception that afternoon high tea is only for tai-tai, or ladies. Lets get this clear, high tea is meant for everyone to enjoy their afternoon and indulge in some desserts and tea – it’s not necessarily just for the tai-tai, guys can enjoy afternoon tea too!

There are many Afternoon Tea places in Singapore, and not all of them are very expensive. Be it international high tea buffet, or the traditional English High Tea that comes in 3 tier dessert stand, here’s a list of the best Singapore Afternoon High tea places.

Cafe L’Espresso

When it comes to English High Tea, one of the places that is frequently mentioned will be the English High Tea Buffet at Cafe L’Espresso, Goodwood Park Hotel. The spread typically include scones, sandwiches, some sweets and savories.

22 Scotts Road GF
Goodwood Park Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6730 1743
// Mon – Thu English High Tea Buffet $34++ 2pm – 5.30pm
Fri – Sun English High Tea Buffet $36++ 12 noon – 230pm, 3pm – 5.30pm

Cova Pasticceria

Paragon used to be the only chi-chi place in town, before the opening of Ion Orchard. Whether you are sipping a latte or nibbling a cake in Cova, it doesn’t really matter. The most important thing is – be seen in Cova Pasticceria. They have 3 different high tea sets which are available from 3pm – 5pm daily.

The classic tea set ($18++) which has 5 items of finger and open sandwiches. The Imperial tea set ($20++) consists of 7 items of pastries and cakes, and lastly the Royal tea set ($22++) which has 9 items of finger sandwiches, pastries and cakes.

290 Orchard Road #01-20A
Paragon Shopping Centre Singapore
Tel: +65 6733 0777

Halia

Nested within the greens of the Singapore Botanic Garden, Halia is the perfect place if you want to escape from the busy city. For just $19++ per person for their traditional English High Tea set, enjoy buttery scone with ginger-perfumed fresh cream and home-style apricot and ginger jam, miniature cakes, open-faced sandwiches and flaky puff pastry.

1 Cluny Road Singapore
Botanic Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6476 6711
// Monday to Saturday (except public holidays), 3pm to 5pm.

House Dempsey

Barracks Cafe under House, Dempsey has recently launched a new Summer High Tea Buffet. It is only available on Thursday and Friday from 3pm – 5.30pm. The afternoon high tea buffet includes  a pot of premium tea and high tea items for $25 nett per person. This is the perfect Dempsey restaurant to spend a leisure afternoon with a group of friends.

8D Dempsey Road #01-01 to 06
Tanglin Village (Dempsey Road) Singapore
Tel: +65 6475 7787

Jewels Artisan Chocolate

I have been wanting to go to Jewels Artisan Chocolate at Orchard Central since I heard about their Teatime indulgence set. Their try-a-little-bit menu sounds good, and at just $14.80++, it’s one of the cheapest afternoon high tea sets around. It includes 1 pc of truffle/praline, 1 pc of macaron, 1 slice of 85% Dark Chocolate Gateau, 1 dollop of ice cream/sorbet and 1 pot of gourmet tea.

181 Orchard Road #02-31/32
Orchard Central Singapore
Tel: +65 6509 8998
// Available from 11am – 6pm daily

Marmalade Pantry

Marmalade Pantry has an Afternoon High Tea set at $20++ each which is available from 3pm to 5pm daily with a minimum of 2 sets per order. The afternoon tea indulgence includes Gryphon tea, a selection of egg and cress, beef & horseradish and green land shrimp finger sandwiches, buttermilk scones, and a cupcake.

2 Orchard Turn #03-22
ION Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6734 2700

PS Cafe

Even though there isn’t any high tea set available, PS Cafe is still one of the best place to relax and chill over some desserts and tea. Oh boy, I can’t believe I haven’t been to PS Cafe yet. Will somebody please bring me there?

390 Orchard Road #02-09A
Palais Renaissance Singapore
Tel: +65 6887 2207

Rose Veranda

Depending on whether you prefer the international afternoon tea buffet or the English high tea, Rose Veranda offers both choices daily. Personally, I’d go for their English high tea set which comes in the 3 tier dessert stand.

22 Orange Grove Road Mezzanine Level,
Tower Wing Shangri-la Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6213 4486
// English High Tea 34++ (Weekdays), 36++ (Weekends) from 3pm – 6pm
International High Tea Buffet 38++ (Weekdays), 40++ (Weekends) from 11.30pm – 6pm

Tea Lounge @ Regent Hotel

Many friends who have been to the Tea Lounge @ Regent Hotel mentioned that they serve the best high tea in Singapore. On weekdays, they have the traditional English afternoon tea which comes in a 3 tier dessert stand. I always have this fascination with 3 tier dessert stand, they just make every dessert looks so good! For a wider spread, go on weekends for their international highi tea buffet.

1 Cuscaden Road GF
The Regent Singapore Singapore
Tel: +65 6725 3246
// Weekday English Afternoon High Tea $36++ 12 noon – 5pm
Weekend International High Tea Buffet $42++ 1.30pm – 5.30pm

TWG Tea Salon

Located in Republic Plaza and Ion Orchard, TWG Tea Salon offers more than 800 different types of tea – it’s definitely the place to go if you are a tea lover. They have three different high tea sets priced accordingly to different appetite. The 1837 tea set ($17++) includes two scones/muffin, 1 pastries/macaron and a pot of tea.

The Chic Tea Set ($25++) has 3 fingers sandwich, 2 scone/muffin, pastries, and a pot of tea. But if you want to try their famous macarons, go for the Celebration Tea Time Set ($29++) which consists of the same items as the chic tea set, plus another extra 3 macarons.

2 Orchard Turn #02-21
ION Orchard Singapore
Tel: +65 6735 1837
// TWG high tea is available 3pm – 6pm daily

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5 reasons why I love desserts: 1) It’s sweet 2) It makes me happy because it’s sweet 3) I like the stunned look on others when they see how much desserts I can eat 4) You don’t need a reason to eat desserts 5) See all of the above.

Now tell me, where are some of the best Singapore afternoon high tea places?

I’m sure many of you know that I have been on a yogurt craze recently. Somebody convinced me of the benefits of having yogurt, and up till now, I still couldn’t believe that I actually came up with a list of yogurt places in Singapore.

Even though I am currently addicted to yogurt, it doesn’t hurt to have ice cream occasionally. When I walked by Galta Gelato Italiano Artigianale – a new gelato/ice cream place at Parco Marina Bay; any resistance was fruitless and I immediately surrendered to two scoops of gelato.

It was a shame that my friend didn’t like vanilla gelato as Galta Gelato had very good vanilla flavor. I went for the Hazelnut ($4.5 for double scoop) and was rewarded with a scoop of smooth and immensely rich hazelnut gelato. If I didn’t remember wrongly, the Imperial Dark was made up of 95% dark chocolate and surprisingly, it wasn’t as bitter as I thought. While it was extremely dark, there’s a subtle hint of the pure chocolate finesse and I actually like it.

I could just stand in front of the ice cream kiosk all day long and try out the different samples. Give me vanilla, give me the pistachio please, and I wouldn’t say no to the unique Stracciatella flavor too!

If you are shopping at the new Parco Marina Bay, why not have a scoop of gelato from Galta Gelato Italiano Artigianale?

Restaurant Review
Galta Gelato Italiano Artigianale
9 Raffles Boulevard #P1-08 Parco Marina Bay
Millenia Walk Singapore

There are times when I am green with envy for those who work in the CBD. Not so for their jobs, of course, but for all the food choices at their vicinity that they are spoilt for. I had blogged about the 1-for-1 dining promotion at Riciotti China Square, and recently, I stumbled upon Barpazza, which is in the same area as the Italian restaurant.

Barpazza is located at Capital Square 3 (diagonally beside China Square and Far East Square). If you are still unsure about the location, I’m sure some of you will know about one of the Capital Square restaurants, Ooster Belgian Brasserie – Barpazza is just a stone’s throw away.

It’s kind of difficult to classify Barpazza. They are not exactly a restaurant, yet they have an impressive selections of pasta and pizza on the menu. Here’s the good news: Barpazza has 1-for-1 pasta/pizza promotion during lunch and dinner for weekdays, and dinner on Saturday. In addition to that, they also have 1-for-1 promotion for selected beers.

Considering that I’ve shared three skinny pizzas for a late lunch before this, it was quite a miracle that I could still wolf down two slices of the Black Pepper Beef ($21.5 for L before 1-for-1 promotion) and The Morning After ($19.5 for L before 1-for-1 promotion).

I’m not a big fan of the black pepper beef, but The Morning After pizza was fine-tuned exactly to my liking. Tomato sauce, mozzarella, and bacon with an soft set egg in the center.

For extra flavor, I added some of the creamy carbonara sauce onto the dough. But there’s really no need for that. The pizza was good on its own, the raw egg swirled around the surface of the thin-crusted pizza – every bite was crisp, moist and delicious! It was such a shame that I only have room for one slice!

The Carbonara ($16.90 before 1-for-1 promotion) was fantastic!

Okay fine, maybe I exaggerated. It wasn’t the mind-boggling, out-of-this-world fantastic, but it was pretty close. Maybe it’s because of the fact that I wasn’t expecting Barpazza to deliver a good pasta. After all, it was more like a watering hole than a proper restaurant, but good Italian pasta in a restaurant bar? I know, I’m such a snob!

Here’s the truth you should know: their carbonara is worth a try, and the 1-for-1 dining promotion just makes it even better!

In contrast with the Carbonara, the Crabmeat Marinara ($17.90 before 1-for-1 promotion) was quite an disappointment. It was subtle, bordering on bland, and the lack of the tomato flavor was a killjoy.

This, my dear reader, is one of the most exotic and ‘unique’ ice cream I’ve ever tried. Well, I had special flavors like teh tarik, gela melaka, ginseng before. But a savory-sweet flavor like the Spicy Bak Kwa ice cream ($6.90) just made all of them pale in comparison. While I love bak kwa during Chinese new year, I don’t really fancy mixing them inside my ice cream. Give me vanilla and chocolate ice cream please!

* * *

With the 1-for-1 dining promotion, each pasta/pizza is probably just around $10. I know it’s not possible to eat at restaurants or cafes everyday, but my reasoning is simple. If you are going to spend around $5-6 in food court anyway, why not just topped up a few dollars and give yourself a treat occasionally? I wouldn’t call this the best lunch in Singapore, but it’s definitely a good deal with the one-for-one promotion.

Bring your colleagues to Barpazza and enjoy the 1-for-1 Dining Promotions! If you are working in the Central Business District, do share with us some of the good lunch places to check out!

Restaurant Review
Barpazza
25 Church Street #01-02
Capital Square
Tel: +65 6536 0572

Did I get your attention with the title – “Best Pizza in Singapore?”

Good. Now that you know what we are dealing with, please grab a chair and some snacks before we continue. Here’s the story: for the longest time, I have been wanting to check out Bella Pizza at Robertson Quay.

“You must go to Bella Pizza, they have really good Italian food — but DO NOT BLOG about it!”

A couple of friends gave me the same warning. Well, Bella Pizza is already an open secret for good Italian food in Singapore, and I want to share about this with everyone. If you can give me a minute, I will like to defend myself why I took so long for this overdue post. You see, the problem with Bella Pizza is the location. It’s at Robertson Quay along the Singapore River, and there are simply too many restaurants at Robertson Quay! Epicurious cafe, Red House Seafood Restaurant, Boomarang bistro and the list goes on and on. Trust me, I’m not kidding when I say there are too many Robertson Quay Restaurants.

Since there wasn’t any salmon pasta on Bella Pizza’s menu, my salmon-crazy friend chose the Pizza Salmone ($21) and was rewards with a very good pizza.

I am not a big fan of thin crust pizzas, but Bella Pizza’s one was thin yet filling, moist but not overly wet. Rolled up like a taco with all the fillings, or simply wolfed it down directly on the thin dough – the Pizza Salmon’s a winner! This is a very good option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Yay for all salmon lovers!

After checking out a few Italian restaurants in Singapore for Squid Ink Pasta, I preferred to have the tomato-based pasta that is infused with squid ink, rather than one that comes with the slimy black squid ink sauce. For one, there isn’t as much stain on the teeth and the lips after dinner, and it is also because I have yet to find a squid ink pasta that’s truly memorable.

The Spaghetti Al Nero Di Seppia ($22) at Bella Pizza was very well-executed. Every slurp of the pasta blended effortlessly with the charcoal black squid ink sauce. Needless to say, we enjoyed the squid ink pasta very much! Bella Pizza’s rendition of the squid ink pasta is definitely one of the best I’ve tried so far.

Tossed with clams, squids, scallops, and a king prawn, the Linguine Al Frutti Di Mare ($22) caught our eyes immediately as we scanned through Bella Pizza’s menu. We wiped the plate clean and the pasta would be perfect if there’s a heavier dose of tomato!

My middle name is sweet.

If you have been reading my food blog for a while now, you’d have noticed that I have an incredible sweet tooth for a guy. Bella Pizza’s dessert menu has some interesting choices like the Panna cotta, Warm Chocolate Lava cake, and the tiramisu. For a minute, I was sorely tempted to order all three!

Since there’s only room for one, the obvious choice was the Tiramisu ($7) which was very reasonably priced. We took up the dessert fork and crowded around the tiramisu; literally like ravening vultures circling around the prey. We gobbled the tiramisu as though there wasn’t a second to spare, as though it would run away if we didn’t eat it fast enough.

* * *

It wouldn’t be fair to say that Bella Pizza has the best pizza in Singapore when we only ordered one pizza from their menu. But I really like the pizza there, and I will definitely come back to try the other pizzas. Bella Pizza is surely among my favorite Robertson Quay Restaurants now.

Have you been to Bella Pizza before? Do you agree that they have one of the best pizza in Singapore?

Restaurant Review
Bella Pizza
30 Robertson Quay #01-14
Riverside View Singapore
Tel: +65 6734 0139

I’m sure many of you are familiar with the Holland Village restaurants, but do you know that there are a stretch of restaurants opposite Holland Village?

Chip Bee Garden on Jalan Merah Saga is located directly opposite of Holland Village. Hidden from the public eyes, it is a quaint and charming place that houses different restaurants, gourmet food stores, and baking supply shops.

Here’s a complete guide to the Chip Bee Garden Restaurants:

Bistro Petit Salut

The bistro is the sister restaurant of Au Petit Salut at Dempsey road. Prices are relatively more affordable compared to the restaurant, with the 3-course set lunch at just $25++.

44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-54
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6474 9788

Bunalun
43 Jalan Merah Saga #01-70
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6479 2598

Da Paolo Dolci

If Greenwood Avenue is home to the Les Amis group of restaurants, then Chip Bee Garden is the equivalent for the Da Paolo group. There are four different Da Paolo dining concepts here: Da Paolo Dolci is a bakery to showcase fine Italian sweets – many people told me that they serve the best tiramisu in Singapore.

43 Jalan Merah Saga #01-68
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6479 0336

Da Paolo Gastronomia

With four centrally located  Gastronomia outlets in Paragon, Great World City, Bukit Timah and Holland Village, I’m sure many of you would have seen Da Paolo Gastronomia before. It’s a deli that carries gourmet products, freshly-made pasta, bread, pizza and also a good selection of desserts for take-aways.

43 Jalan Merah Saga #01-74
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore

Da Paolo La Terrazza

There are three different restaurant concepts under the Da Paolo group; La Terrazza, Il Giardino, and Il Ristorante. They have an impressive lineup of homemade pasta with the prices in the $20 – $30 range.

44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-56
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6476 1332

Da Paolo Pizza Bar

With twenty pizzas to choose from, the Da Paolo Pizza Bar focuses on perfecting their pizza, leaving the pasta, seafood and meat to La Terrazza. The different dining concepts cater to different cravings and occasions, with the restaurant being a good choice for a romantic dinner, and the pizza bar the ideal place for friends gathering.

44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-46
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6479 6059

La Fromagerie
43 Jalan Merah Saga #01-64
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6732 6269

Mai Thai Restaurant
Blk 44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-58
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6474 3108

Michelangelo’s Restaurant

I’m sure many of you will know about Citibank’s credit card 1-for-1 dining promotion and that was the main reason why I am using their card. I have always wanted to check out Michelangelo’s as they are one of the restaurants that has the 1-for-1 lunch promotion, and also because they have been one of the most popular Italian restaurants in Singapore. Just in case you missed my previous post, the upcoming Singapore Food Blogger dinner will be held at the Italian restaurant.

Block 44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-60
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6475 9069

Nagomiya Japanese BBQ Restaurant

44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-52 Holland Village Singapore
Tel: +65 6285 0368

Original Sins

I always get a headache whenever my vegetarian friends asked me for recommendation of vegetarian food in Singapore. As much as I love vegetables, I can never imagine myself giving up kurobuta pork, wagyu beef, or lobster for potato, broccoli or tofu. Needless to say, I hardly eat vegetarian food when I’m out. Original Sins is a Mediterranean vegetarian restaurant in Singapore and a sister restaurant of the Michelangelo’s Group of Restaurants.

Block 43 Jalan Merah Saga #01-62
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6475 5605

Pantry Magic

I know this is supposed to be a guide to Chip Bee Garden Restaurants Singapore and technically speaking, Pantry Magic isn’t a restaurant. Since this is a food blog, and Pantry magic is related to food, I decided to add it in the list anyway. For those of you who are not aware of the presence of Pantry Magic, they carry a variety of top-quality cookware to satisfy the needs of every cook.

Block 43 Jalan Merah Saga #01-80
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6471 0566

Phoon Huat

If you are a baker, and you have not heard of Phoon Huat, I really do not know what to say. Phoon Huat is Singapore’s leading supplier of bakery, beverage and confectionery ingredients.

Block 44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-48
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Telephone: +65 6471 5250

Shermay’s Cooking School

“Do you cook?” and “are you really a chef?” are some of the questions that I always get.

While I can find my way around the kitchen without getting hurt, and fried an egg or two, but at some point of my life, I came to the realization that I’m simply more talented in eating than cooking. Lets just leave the cooking and baking to the more talented folks. Drop by Shermay’s Cooking School at Chip Bee Garden or check out their website for information on the classes.

Block 43 Jalan Merah Saga #03-64
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6479 8442

The Butcher
Block 44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-50
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 64720073

The Daily Scoop

The Daily Scoop is one of the first few ice cream places that kick-started the local homemade ice cream trend in Singapore. If frozen yogurt is never your cup of ice, go to The Daily Scoop at Chips Bee Garden which has more than 40 flavors in store.

Blk 43 Jalan Merah Saga #01-78
Chip Bee Gardens Singapore
Tel: +65 6475 3128

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If you have explored almost all the Holland Village restaurants, maybe it’s time to check out some of the Chip Bee Garden restaurants for dinner! For those of you who have been there before, tell me: Which is your favorite restaurant at Chip Bee Garden, and which one are you going to try next?

I was pretty excited when The Handburger launched last year. They were among some of the new burger places in Singapore that claimed to serve gourmet burgers. With creations like tandoor chicken, and duck confit burgers – you can’t blame me for being enthusiastic.

Their original location at Raffles City was closed for renovation, and when I walked by their branch at 313 @ Somerset, the huge promotional signboard for their set lunch was screaming at me: “come in and grab a burger – you know you want one!”

The lunch special (available till 4.30pm) of a burger + side + drink is just $8.80. I’m not sure if you are aware, but The Handburger restaurant belongs under the same management as the popular Soup Spoon franchise.

If my memory did not fail me, the burgers used to be priced much higher. But apparently, they have re-adjusted the prices – making it more affordable for the mass market.

The name of “the handburger” was an irony as everyone in the restaurant was using utensils instead of hand to consume their burger. It’s so wrong to eat a burger with fork and knife. The best way to eat a burger is to grab it with both hand and wolf down the sexy devil. Now there, you don’t really need me to write a guide on ‘How to eat a burger‘ do you?

Burger, is meant to be a messy affair.

For the sides, there’s salad or fries to choose from. The former was earthly and clean, nothing sophisticated — just simple fresh greens with crispy bacon streaks and mini tomatoes. On the other hand, the fries were passable and came with a garlic sauce to dip in. Give me my tomato and chili sauce!

There’s the Handburger Original with a grilled 120g of N.Z ribeye beef patty; the Chicken Caesar burger which has a single baked chicken thigh; the fascinating Pulled Pork Burger with slow-cooked fork tender pulled pork filling; and the Battered dory burger that is made up of a single battered pacific dory fish.

We had the Handburger Original and the Pulled Pork Burger. Resting on a seabed of lettuce, the Handburger Original’s beef patty was grilled and topped with a layer of cheddar cheese. I love that they were really generous with the lettuce in the burger – so much so that I’d advise to choose the fries over the salad for your side.

I didn’t really enjoy the beef patty though, it was somewhat flavorless and had a rubbery taste. Go for the Pulled Pork Burger instead. Strips and strips of pork came with handmade barbecue sauce and it was really delicious!  On a side note, The Handburger’s menu stated that the buns were toasted, but it was a little too oily for my liking and tasted more like deep-fried.

* * *

For just $8.8, I felt that The Handburger set lunch is pretty value for money considering that a meal at MacDonald probably costs around $6-7 nowadays. Has anyone tried their duck confit burger? I’m a huge fan of duck confit, and if you ever see me back in The Handburger, I will probably have a duck confit burger in hand!

Restaurant Review
The Handburger
313 Orchard Road #B2-17/18/19
313 @ Somerset Singapore
Tel: +65 6509 6214

252 North Bridge Road #B1-77/78
Raffles City Shopping Centre Singapore
Tel: +65 6334 4577

Last year, I had the pleasure of co-organizing the annual Singapore Food Bloggers Dinner at Gunther’s Restaurant. Fast forward one year, many new food blogs have joined us with the common passion of exploring all the best restaurants in the Singapore food scene. Ivan from food.recentrunes has taken up the responsibility to feed all the hungry Singapore food bloggers this year.

Food bloggers can be really nice people — if you do not mind waiting for us to take photographs, and having your food cold.

Details of the Singapore Food Bloggers Dinner:

When: Wednesday, 25th August 2010, 7.30pm-11pm

Where: Michelangelo’s, Block44/1- Jalan Merah Saga, Singapore 278116.

Price: $50 nett.

Starter
Crabmeat Cake with Avocado top with Mesclun Salad, Beetroot Paint & Balsamic Reduction

Pasta
Short Tube Pasta with chunks of Tuna in Homemade Tomato Sauce with Capers, Olives, Chili, Garlic, Basil, White Wine & rich Fish Broth

Main Course
Breaded Veal Scallopine pan fried in Butter glace with Veal Jus, Cherry Tomato Salsa & Lemon Wedge

OR

Sea bream blanket with crispy Brick Phyllo on Butternut Pumpkin Puree top with Tomato Salsa

Dessert
Pistachio Financier with Strawberry Salsa & Mint

Coffee / Tea

* * *

To quote Ivan word for word: “Seating is limited, so this invite is for food bloggers only. Someday, there may be a Annual Bloggers Dinner but we’ll leave that to other people. If you wish to bring a non-food-blogger partner, he will be put on a wait-list.”

All the Singapore Food Blogs, please RSVP for the Singapore Food Blogger dinner here by the 15th August.

Food For Thought has always been one of the cafes that I wanted to check out. It’s small, cozy and from what I heard, they also contributes back to the society by donating a certain amount of their profits to various social causes.

I’m not sure if you remember, but I’ve mentioned Food For Thought in my list of 10 Best Singapore Restaurants Website. Besides their original branch at North Bridge road near Purvis Street, Food for Thought has recently opened another new outlet at 8 Queen Street (8Q @ Singapore Art Museum).

Arissa and I customized our own pasta as the existing selections on Food For Thought’s menu didn’t quite appeal to our taste buds. I added chicken to the basic roasted tomato pasta, and the result was a simple and comfortable meal. It would be better if the portion was bigger, but I guess that left plenty of room for desserts.

Having heard about the famous Hummingbird Bakery’s Red Velvet Cupcake, I have always been curious about how it taste like. The thick cream cheese frosting reminded me of Cedele’s Carrot cake, and it immediately won my approval. Then, I realized that there was simply too much frosting and it was unbelievably sweet. The Old Southern Red Velvet Cake ($5.50) is meant to be shared.

You have been warned.

I ate my first Bread and butter pudding a couple of years back. It was horrible. The texture was way too soggy, and it lacked the milky consistency. Since then, I told myself not to touch any bread and butter pudding anymore, until I came across the one served at Hairloom & Caramel Cafe.

Some of my friends mentioned that Food For Thought doesn’t prepare their desserts and most of them are outsourced from suppliers and bakers. I’m not sure how true this is, but I don’t really care after trying their Bread and Butter Pudding ($7.90). It had a generous scoop of ice cream, and the best part was the caramelized sugar around the edges of the pudding.

* * *

Food For Thought cafe is a homely place which serves affordable comfort food, but they really need to work on their air ventilation system at the North Bridge road branch. Our clothes smelt of dinner after stepping out of the cafe, and obviously it wasn’t pleasant. I’d probably head to their new outlet at Queen Street the next time round.

Restaurant Review
Food For Thought
420 North Bridge Road #01-06
North Bridge Centre Singapore
Tel: +65 6338 8724

8 Queen Street Singapore
Tel: +65 6338 9887

Cravings are very intriguing, they can make even the most rational person do something against his or her wishes. The dictionary described it as an intense, urgent, or abnormal desire for something.

How far will you go to satisfy your cravings? Sembawang. To be exact, I went all the way up north for Chong Pang Nasi Lemak. Crazy? Yes. Satisfied? Maybe.

“Where’s the best nasi lemak in Singapore?” My friend asked casually. I was caught off guard for a moment. Okay lets see, there are a few nasi lemak stalls that have been mentioned frequently: like the famous Changi Village Nasi Lemak, the two rivaling Adam road Nasi Lemak stalls, Fong Seng Nasi Lemak, or the popular Boon Lay Power Nasi Lemak.

I wasn’t prepared to go to the extreme end of Singapore for Changi Village Nasi Lemak, and I wasn’t sure if Adam road Nasi Lemak was opened at night. Many people mentioned that the standard of Fong Seng Nasi Lemak has dropped over the years, while I’ve tried Boon Lay Nasi Lemak before. So you see, it had nothing to do with my cravings when my friend suggested Chong Pang Nasi Lemak in Sembawang – there wasn’t any other alternatives.

Nasi Lemak is quintessentially a Malay dish, so naturally some people will think it’s impossible for Chinese to prepare good Nasi Lemak. It’s somewhat like asking an Italian to cook French cuisine, or an American trying to prepare Japanese sushi. But over time and time again, many chefs have proved that it’s possible to master a different cuisine.

My friend mentioned that the main reason why she always come back to Chong Pang Nasi Lemak is because of the fragrant and soft, firm and not-sticky rice. The dark red chili looked like any other normal chili, but it was fiery hot with a vengeance.

Remember I have been on the hunt for the best sweet and sour pork? I haven’t found it yet, but I thought that Chong Pang Nasi Lemak’s rendition was pretty good. Coated with the sweet and sour sauce, the pork had a shattering crisp – oh damn, I wish I’ve ordered two portions of the sweet and sour pork.

Is Chong Pang Nasi Lemak the best Nasi Lemak in Singapore? Judging from the long queue for their fried chicken wings, many people seem to think so. But I probably will not go all the way up north just for nasi lemak. Oh cravings, look what you have done!

* * *

I hardly go up North just for food, it’s just more convenient to meet in town, or even to travel to the other end of Singapore for the best food places in the East. So please let me know if there is any good food that I must try in the North.

Hawker Food Review
Chong Pang Nasi Lemak
447 Sembawang Road
Tel: +65 6756 0048
Open: 5pm – 7 am

It’s quite a shame that the Cafe Culture has not quite caught up with the Singapore food scene yet. While I was in Sydney for holiday, I was fascinated by the Surry Hills area which has all the little chic cafes around each corner. I know many people say that Melbourne has an even stronger Cafe culture, and it will be really great if I can get an air ticket and fly over right now!

Hairloom & Caramel is a Salon and Cafe housed under one roof that adores whimsical furniture and decorations. Oh boy, I have a soft spot for places like this.

Caramel cafe serves very simple and comfort food like pastas, sandwiches, salad and deserts. In addition to that, they also have a Vegetarian menu available.

Ham and cheese are possibly the best combination ever, and the Baked Penne with ham & Cheese in cream sauce ($11.50) was all about that. It was creamy, but not heavy, and the perfect combination of ham and cheese blended in effortlessly.

Honey Shaved ham and cheese sandwich with honey mustard ($8.50)

By and large, I am not a salad guy. Don’t get me wrong, I love vegetables, but having them alone doesn’t appeal to me, and remember about my first date dinner tips? Never just order salad for first dates.

I raised my eyebrows when I saw the heading “Salad as main” on Caramel Cafe’s menu. Well, it’s fine to have salad as an appetizer, but salad as main course? I don’t think so.

Anyway, there’s only two salad to choose from; Smoked salmon salad in pesto sauce or the Chicken breast salad in Japanese yuzu dressing ($8.50). I personally felt that it’s a lot of money considering it’s just a salad – give me a dessert anyday! But if you must have a salad before you start your dinner, the chicken breast salad is a pretty good choice considering it comes with lots of greens and the chicken drenched in Japanese yuzu dressing really helps to cleanse the palate.

Tossed with garlic, tomatoes, fiery red chili, and sliced sausages, Caramel Cafe’s Spaghetti with Bratwurst sausage ($13.50) was exceptionally hot. I’m not sure if it’s because of my low tolerance to spicy food, but the pasta was really spicy and it was somewhat lacking in the tomato flavor.

Among the cupcakes that we tried, the Lemon cupcake was the clear winner with the tangy and moist texture. On the other hand, the Oreo cupcake was too dry and we left half of it untouched.

I’m not sure if my memories are playing a trick on me. But somehow or rather, I felt that the original Bread & Butter Pudding ($5.90) that I’ve at Caramel Cafe a year ago, was much better than their Chocolate rendition. It’s not that Caramel’s Chocolate bread and butter pudding wasn’t good, but all I wanted: an original bread and butter pudding, which wasn’t available that day.

* * *

Caramel Cafe is a great place for all occasions; girlfriends outing, a cute date, birthday parties, or just simply hanging out with a bunch of friends. If you are going there, remember to also drop by Tom’s Palette (for some ice cream), which is also located at Shaw Towers.

Restaurant Review
Hairloom & Caramel Cafe
100 Beach Road #01-50/52
Shaw Towers Singapore
Tel: +65 6295 2188