Inspired by their Melbourne travels, owners Januver and Chomel started Scissors Paper Stove to celebrate the diversity of Asian culinary techniques and our communal dining culture.

Their menu focuses on a neat range of tapas that are great for sharing among friends and family, as well as other homemade recipes and a small selection of desserts. The cheerful space is perfect for any occasion—whether you are in the mood for a morning pick-me-up or some booze to unwind after a long day.

While some may say that Asian fusion tapas served in colourful tingkats and Asian-inspired cocktails—think vodka with amaretto, milo and condensed milk—sound too much like a marketing gimmick, we applaud the team’s creativity in using familiar Asian flavours to create something new.

Scissors Paper Stove impresses at first sight with its funky outlook; the cafe has pastel chairs, a rainbow zig zag wall and neon lights that spell out the cafe’s name.

Since tapas (2 for S$20, 4 for S$36, 6 for S$48) is what the cafe is known for, we decided to pick two that caught our immediate attention—the Pork Belly and Beef Burger.

The cafe’s Pork Belly tapas dish is indeed unusual; what you get is chilled slow roasted pork belly that is paired with coriander, ginger sauce and caramelised shallots.

The Beef Burger is made up of a savoury beef patty, melted cheddar cheese and fresh vegetables which are sandwiched in between two hot buttered buns. The mini beef burgers came in perfect tapas sizes that make it easy for consumption and the patties had a great bite to them.

Other Asian fusion tapas include Beef Skewers, Chorizo Sausage, Pineapple Chicken, Baby Portobello Mushroom and Bruschetta.

If you happen to drop by in the afternoon, their affordable lunch sets are worth every penny. For S$12, you get the soup of the day, a main of your choice and a hot drink. We opted for the Baby Pork Rib which came with sweet and sticky barbecue sauce and coriander on the top for that umami explosion in your mouth.

Scissors Paper Stove is more selective when it comes to their array of desserts, with only four options on the menu. The Pandan Churros (S$5) had a crispy exterior that is coated with a thin layer of sugar for a nice crunch. The only downside was that the insides of the pandan-infused pastry was too soft for our liking. Dip it into gula melaka syrup for added sweetness and flavour.

Scissors Paper Stove
9 Teck Chye Terrace
Singapore 545720
Tel: +65 6242 0021
Daily: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Serangoon

Sitting in the heartlands of Singapore, in the bustling neighbourhood of Toa Payoh is Krazy Salad Bar, a nondescript eatery that is more than just salad. It is a semi-buffet place that has a full menu of Western main courses and we love them for their value-for-money main course + salad bar concept.

Of course, it is up to you whether you want to go for the full works, and you can always just opt for just the main course or the salad buffet. But if we are telling you that for under S$20, you get free flow of main courses, salad and desserts, would you not be tempted?

Now, this offer right in the heart of Toa Payoh Central is a gem—yes you need to check out Krazy Salad Bar.

From now until 30 November 2016 (Mon – Thu), readers of ladyironchef can simply quote “ladyironchef” or flash this post to enjoy the free top-up of a salad buffet, or to enjoy a discounted top-up of S$5 for free flow main courses from the special promotional menu.

ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT SALAD BAR

While you may frown upon salads, let’s just say Krazy’s salad bar is more than just vegetables and healthy whatnots.

There is a selection of soups on a weekly rotation. Soup choices range from the highly popular Mushroom Soup to comforting Clam Chowder Soup and Country Pumpkin Soup. The Mushroom Soup is a mainstay because it is the most well-loved for its chunky, creamy goodness.

The salad and toppings are also on rotation. Enjoy free-flow Smoked Duck Salad on the first week; Pumpkin and Cashew on the second; and Hawaiian Chicken on the third… you get the drift.

At Krazy Salad Bar, some vegetables such as Tangy Romaine, Green Caesar and Lollo Red are actually local produce from Singapore’s very own vegetable farm. And the best news is that they are pesticide-free! Indeed, the vegetables are a lot more crisp, fresh and sweet.

And did we mention that there is free-flow soft serve, too?

The all-you-can-eat salad bar is available as an a la carte at S16.90 (lunch) & $19.90 (dinner) and S$9 as an add-on to your main. But you know what is the good news?

Simply flash this post upon ordering and the add-on fee of S$9 will be waived entirely. In other words, with every order of a main course, you are entitled to a buffet at the salad bar too!

KRAZY PEPPERY RIBS

Oh, just look at that glorious rack of ribs. Baked slowly in the oven, the Krazy Peppery Ribs (S$28.90) are glazed with homemade peppery BBQ sauce. We enjoyed pulling the ribs apart and have it fall into a beautiful mess of tender meat and sticky peppery BBQ sauce.

TENDERLOIN STEAK

You might sceptical about a steak at a salad bar. We shared the exact sentiments too before taking a bite into the tenderloin. Our medium rare steak (S$29.9) was juicy and flavourful, to say the least.

Red wine infused gravy poured over the steak gave it an extra oomph, and it was the kind of comforting Western food goodness that reminded us of good old childhood days when our parents would reward us with a good Western meal if we did well in school.

HOT LAVA CHICKEN

This one is for those who want something spicier and more kickass. The Hot Lava Chicken (S$13.90++) is served with Chef David’s homemade hot and spicy lava sauce, and was strongly recommended to us as one of the best sellers in the house.

We could see why it is a favourite among regulars for the marinated chicken thigh was so tender, with hints of BBQ sauce and chilli, and complete with a smoky aftertaste.

TYSON PORK CUTLET

It is not just the Japanese who serve up good pork cutlets. The pork cutlet (S$13.90++) we had at Krazy Salad Bar was extremely crispy. Every piece is double crumbed and deep fried till golden brown, and Chef Tyson’s recipe carries a mild charred taste which balances well with the accompanying sweet sauce.

OTHER MAINS AT KRAZY SALAD BAR

Besides the dishes that we’ve mentioned, Krazy Salad Bar has an extensive menu which has other main courses such as Battered Fish & Chips, Surf & Turf, Pan-seared Salmon Steak, Lemongrass Pacific Dory, Pan-seared Duck Breast and Oriental Pork Chop.

EXCLUSIVE PROMOTION FOR READERS OF LADYIRONCHEF

There are various top-up options, but our readers are exclusively entitled to a complimentary salad bar top-up when you quote “ladyironchef” or flash this post upon placing your order. This means you are only paying for your main course but your meal will come complete with salads, pasta, soups and more at the all-you-can-eat salad bar.

The next option, which is the one we prefer, is a top-up of S$9 (Option B) on top of your mains from Krazy’s special promotional menu—which includes mains such as Hot Lava Chicken, Salmon Steak, Pork Cutlet, Sirloin Steak and American Sticky Ribs—to enjoy the salad bar buffet and endless mains!

That means paying only S$9 for your second or even third plate of Sirloin Steak. How awesome is that? And for Ladyironchef readers, the add-on fee for Option B will be only S$5 when you flash this post upon ordering. Yes, S$5 for a complete buffet. You know this is one deal you must not pass up on!

This exclusive promotion is valid on Mondays to Thursdays (not applicable on eve of and Public Holiday) from 13 October to 30 November 2016.

By the way, you don’t have to pay for GST when you dine at Krazy Salad Bar. This is really one wallet friendly semi-buffet place – for students, for those who are tight on their budgets, for those who are after a casual yet satisfying meal, for everyone who loves both their greens and meats!

Krazy Salad Bar
Toa Payoh Central (Above KFC)
#02-516, Block 190 Toa Payoh Lorong 6
Singapore 310190
Tel: +65 6254 7872
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm (last order 9.30pm)
Nearest Station: Toa Payoh

This post is brought to you by Krazy Salad Bar.

Updated on 12 Feb 2016

Naughty Nuri’s - famous for its wicked pork ribs and cocktails – is opening its first restaurant in Singapore at Capitol Piazza in January 2016.

For so many years now, we have been hooked to their smokey ribs, and now, we need not travel to Bali for it.

Opened by lifestyle group Massive Collective, Naughty Nuri’s Singapore will sit along the same stretch as Dazzling Cafe and Angelina in Capitol Piazza. It will boast a 120-seater space and fans can dine in comfort in the air-conditioned outlet as opposed to their alfresco-style in Bali.

Other than the original outlet in Ubud, Bali, Naughty Nuri’s has gone from strength to strength to grow into a franchise with eight outlets now in Indonesia, Malaysia and Macau.

From what we understand, the tentative opening date will be 04 January 2016, and Naughty Nuri’s Singapore will be offering a similar menu – with a mix of Western and Indonesian dishes - as the original restaurant in Bali.

The prices will unfortunately not be as attractive. The dishes offered in Singapore will be more “refined and sophisticated” in terms of the quality of ingredients and plating of food, and the average spending is expected to be $40 to $60 per person.

We are just keeping our fingers crossed that the ribs that are to be done by the guys here in Singapore will be no less smokey and tender.

Other than the signature pork ribs (S$18.80 for half rack, S$35.80 for full rack), there are other dishes such as Beef Rendang (S$9.80), Iberico Pork Chop (S$20.50), Wagyu Steak (S$23.80), Nasi Goreng (S$11.80) and Sambal Prawns Petai (S$11.80).

Naughty Nuri’s in Bali is also known for its alcoholic beverages – especially the martinis and that certainly made the brand a lot more fun and sexier.

Will the Singapore outpost boast the same vibe and spot a daily long queue as with the Bali outlets? We are counting down to them opening their doors to the public.

Naughty Nuri’s Singapore
Capitol Galleria
15 Stamford Road
Singapore 178884
Nearest Station: City Hall

Singapore F&B scene has been very exciting over the past few years. There is always a new place opening almost every week. There are so many new and cool restaurants that I find it hard to keep up. While I love checking out the latest hip place in town – it is, after all, my job to do that – sometimes, I just like to go somewhere familiar. One of my favourite restaurants in Singapore is House at Dempsey Hill.

House may already be very popular, but it is a shame that it remains as one of the most under-rated restaurants around. It is not easy to create a cosy ambience with vibes so chic. Yet, House managed to do it so effortlessly. Mismatched furnitures, spacious layout with low ceilings and sporadic partitions, dim lights complementing the sun rays that stream in from the ceiling-to-floor glass panels, soft jazz and lounge music looping while the coffee machine brews and the wine glasses clink intermittently; there is this unassuming comfort that makes sitting here all too indulging.

The folks at House have recently launched a new menu – its first major overhaul in six years. The food is still very much the same – simple comfort fare that you can eat on a regular basis. And now, we are in for more new additions.

We started with the Asparagus, Serrano Ham and Crumbed Egg $22. This classic combination never fails to please.

In addition to the legendary truffle fries ($11), Barracks Café has also introduced some new variations in the form of Pumpkin hazelnut fries ($12) – shoestring pumpkin fries with crunchy hazelnut, paprika and chilli powder; Truffle Taro Fries ($7) – straw cut yam fries with aromatic truffle oil; Curry Mustard Fries ($9) – shoestring fries topped with paprika, curry and a sprinkle of sea-salt; and Carrot Fennel Fries ($9) – straw cut sweet carrot fries with a sprinkle of fennel.

An old favourite that has its place standing firm on the menu is the Asian Sliders, also known as Kong Ba Bao. House’s rendition is easily one of the best around. Braised lean pork belly tucked in steaming hot buns, and complimented with crispy taro fries. In a word: perfection.

The Hanger Steak ($27) with croquettes and wild mushrooms was also a crowd-pleaser that afternoon. A perfectly seared steak so affordable, I would go back to House just for this.

If you are like me, a fan of risotto, you have to try the new Pumpkin Risotto with brown butter reduction and toasted pumpkin seeds.

The Roasted Chilean Cod Fish, with a refreshing apple and celery salad, was extremely fresh, but we did not fancy the sweet date sauce that came along with it. If you still have room, you should go for the Pork Ribs with Caramelised Pineapple ($27). While the meat was not off-the-fork-tender, it was still very flavourful and delicious.

House did not make any changes to the desserts menu, so you can still find the popular favourites such as their Warm Strawberry Shortcake ($9.50), Carrot Cake ($7), and Warm Chocolate Toffee Cake ($9.50).

The Bitter Chocolate Tart ($7.50) was amazing. Now, I hardly use the word ‘amazing’ to describe desserts, but House’s version completely won me over. It was bitter, sweet and done just right.

The Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake ($7.80) impressed, too, with its creamy and cheesy flavour, and the addictive biscuit base. The only dessert that I did not enjoy was the Warm Banana Salted Caramel Cake ($7). While the use of popcorn in a dessert was interesting, the cake was somewhat lacking in flavour and depth.

House
8D Dempsey Road
Tel: +65 6475 7787
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 6pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 4pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Note: Parco Caffe is no longer in operation.

Located within the tranquil Raeburn Park, Parco Caffe – by the folks behind Spruce and Alkaff Mansion Ristorante – is where you would find solace from the hustle and bustle of city life. What is compromised for accessibility is more than made up for ambience. It was apparent that much of Parco’s emphasis is on atmosphere; from the creeping vines along its granite walls and lush carpet grass, to the floor-to-ceiling windows that bathed the café in natural sunshine, this place is stunning in every sense of the word.

Parco Caffe has a separate menu for lunch and dinner. Brunch on weekends starts at 9am, which is when the café dishes up egg-centered offerings in addition to their dinner menu.

We were disappointed to be told that the eggs roulade and risotto we had our eyes set on were no available, but went ahead with our orders for two other dishes from their brunch menu.

We picked the Tartufo Nero Scrambled Eggs ($29), a chef’s recommendation described as scrambled eggs in a Parmesan basket with shaved black truffle, sautéed porcini mushrooms, bacon, cherry tomatoes and toast. On hindsight we did get what was stated (though curiously missing the cherry tomatoes), but for the price, were sorely disappointed to be offered a miniscule portion which was unfortunately, not redeemed by the taste. The eggs were overly curdled, and the parmesan basket soaked through and soggy. The porcini mushrooms and bacon seemed to be an afterthought, and did nothing to salvage the dish.

The Portobello ($23) fared better; 2 eggs on grilled Portobello mushroom, smoked salmon, poached asparagus, baked sweet potato with crème fraiche, cherry tomato bruschetta and toasted black olive bread was literally quite a mouthful. We enjoyed ploughing through the variety, but none of it was exceedingly spectacular.

We shared a serving of the Lemon Honey Kurobuta Ribs ($28) from the dinner menu, which turned out to be the best dish of the day. We loved how the tender meat gave way under the slightest nudge of our forks. The sweet, sticky glaze made for a decadent candied pork dish that left us with a lasting impression.

With so many other places offering better brunches at more reasonable prices, we’d be hard pressed to find a reason to return. That said, Parco Caffe is definitely still a destination for those looking for an ambience like no other.

Parco Caffe
10 Raeburn Park #01-28
Tel: +65 6223 6338
Daily: 11.30am – 11pm

Words and photographs by Sarah Lim

It was supposed to be January, but it is almost April soon! Well, like they say, better late than never! Forty-four was the magical number this time, and I’m glad to see many of my regulars, and of course our new friends.

Salt & Pepper Calamari

We started with the simple appetiser, but I was too busy running from table to table that the calamari turned cold by the time I returned!

Chicken & Cheese Quesadillas

Dallas signature Quesadillas was one of the dish which I remembered from my previous visit. Tasting almost like a Mexican taco, there was chicken bits soaked with tomato in chicken broth.

Shredded Pork Tacos

Baby Back Pork ribs

There was some confusion when the ribs were served. The three different flavours of Fiery, Alabama & Smoked Hickory BBQ were too alike! Because we did everything in tasting portions, the pork ribs had to be cut and served this way, otherwise we were be there until four.

Dallas Wings

There was some feedback that the wings were too dry and lacked marination.

Tempura Barramundi

Corn & crab fritters

Beef Fajitas with Guacamole & sour cream

Breaded mushrooms

The “twin” brother which looked almost identical to the Corn & Crab Fritters.

***

A total number of 44 people turned up for this LIC food outing, thank you everyone! Like I’ve mentioned, there will be no date announced yet for the next lic food outing, I will try to organise it soon, so see you next time! I’ll also like to thank Jason, the owner for Dallas for hosting us.

I will be adding the group photos to my Facebook page later. Do add me there to see the photos!

Read about my previous visit to Dallas here.
And Catherine @ Camemberu
Julia @ AromaCookery
Fen @ Sgdessert
Keropok man @ Singapuradailymakanphoto

Dallas Restaurant & Bar
31 Boat Quay
Boat Quay Conservation area
Tel: 6532 2131
Website: http://www.dallas.sg/

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There are a few things in life which you can never forget. Your first love, the first time flying on a plane, the wonderful taste of food, and of course, my first visit to the prestigious 6 Star St Regis Hotel, and not to mention, the most expensive and excellent dim sum that I’ve there.

I can never forget the taste of Peking duck after trying it for the first time a couple of years back. The perfectly crispy skin with a thin layer of fats beneath. Yan Ting’s Crispy Peking duck ($60 whole duck) served with traditional condiments arrived within minutes after making our order. Instead of wrapping in the typical pancake, the chef decided to use flour skin instead.

Like the usual practice for Peking duck, the remainder of the meat was done in other methods. The one that we had was diced duck meat, which came across as salty. It would be a great compliment with a bowl of white rice, but other than that, there wasn’t much hint of the duck meat. I wondered where the rest of the duck meat actually went. And the second serving ($27) came at a cost of 3 bucks per head.

While I didn’t try any “San Bei Ji”, or claypot chicken with basil & golden garlic ($20 for medium serves 4) before, the rendition here was satisfying. The fragrance of the meat announced the arrival of the dish, the chicken was tender, with some fatty meat and the tasty sauce was the icing on the cake, or rather chicken.

The question mark on my face was evident when I couldn’t figure out what the vegetable on the table was. I was told, the Dou Bei ($26 for medium serves 4) was the superior cousin of the more common Dou Miao. An expensive plate of greens this was, for the seemingly average taste of the vegetables.

We also tried the Crispy garlic pork ($28 for medium serves 4). The pork ribs were crispy, and had a strong garlic taste. The dish also came across as a tad salty. Nonetheless, we dutifully whipped clear the plate of the ribs.

I can never forget my penchant for cod fish. Taking a bite of the Deep Fried Cod Fillet coated with Crispy Cereal ($28), the fish immediately melt-in-the-mouth, with the cereal giving an added crunch. There’s barely enough for all of us a piece each.

I ain’t a big fan of scallop, so this line could be pretty bias. The Pan Seared Scallop filled with Shrimp Mousse ($32 for medium serves 4) was big in size indeed. However, the scallop was overwhelmed by the strong shrimp mousse taste.

I can never forget my mother’s rendition of French bean. I’m of the belief that simplicity is beauty. Using garlic to stir fried the vegetables can always bring out the fragrance of the garlic without covering the freshness of the greens. So I was rather sceptical initially when i saw the Wok Fried French Bean with Minced Pork and Chilli ($20 for medium serves 4). But it did proved me wrong with the wok hei of the beans. And the minced pork didn’t complicate the taste.

Instead of the typical deep fried prawn with mango, the Deep Fried Prawn filled with Fresh Mango ($36 for medium serves 4) came with a twist. Prawns and mangos were wrapped in beancurd skin, and deep fried. To be frank, I dislike beancurd skins, especially those served during dim sum. But this one was decent, the mango could be sweeter though.

With the name Chef Chan Signature Baked Spring Onion Chicken ($28 for medium serves 4), the dish certainly was bundled with expectations. You can’t go wrong ordering the signature dishes, or so it seems. The chicken was plain ordinary, and definitely didn’t warrent the hefty price tag.

I can never forget the best char siew sou ($1.8 per piece) I had before, from Yan Ting of course. Dim sum is not served during dinner, but we made a request to the manager, who to our delight, agreed to ask the chef to make it for us specially. Maybe we were saddled by the huge expectation that we had, but we are guessing it’s most probably because of the shorter baking time, that the char siew sou didn’t turn out to be as good as before. Nonetheless, it was good of the restaurant to do it specially for us, and I’ll be back again for it.

Total bill was $362.85 for 9 person, after a 25% discount using the Astor card. This came up to about $40 per person, which was totally cheaper than what we expected. And if we didn’t drink tea ($40), and no desserts ($48), the add up will probably be around $283 or $30 per head. With the ambience of the place, the prestige of the restaurant, and the decent quality of the food, the price was definitely reasonable. I’ll definitely be coming back for their dim sum, Yan Ting IV. There are a few things in life, which you can never forget after all.

Read about my dim sum visit to Yan Ting here
& Yan Ting snowskin mooncake here

Yan Ting
29 Tanglin Road
The St Regis
Tel: 6506 6888

Yan Ting is listed as one of ladyironchef’s favorite restaurants in Singapore