Carrot cakes and char kway teow are a dime a dozen in hawker centres. But, hidden from the spotlight are a few hawker foods that are slowly losing recognition among Singaporeans today.

Some of these hawker foods used to be thriving in our grandparents’ or parents’ generation but have gradually become endangered as more stalls give up passing on their legacies. But, we’re not going to just let them pass us by.

From rare Teochew kuehs to traditional Malay pancakes, we’ve dug up 8 vanishing hawker foods in Singapore you have to try before they’re gone forever and where to find them. Get a taste of your grandparents’ favourite dessert or your parent’s after-school snack!

Photo Credit:www.instagram.com/chianghongkeat/

#1 BUBUR TERIGU

Resembling a paler-looking bubur hitam, the bubur terigu is a sweet wheat porridge. Boiled for at least an hour, the white wheat transforms into a sticky, gooey stew. It is usually sweetened with fragrant gula melaka and coconut milk to give it that extra oomph.

This traditional treat can be found stewing at a small handful of stalls such as Gong He Guan and Hua Jie Traditional Desserts.

Gong He Guan
28 Upper Cross St
Singapore 058337
Tel +65 6223 0562
Daily: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Hua Jie Traditional Desserts
17 Upper Boon Keng Rd, #01-70
Singapore 380017
Nearest Station: Boon Keng

Photo Credit:www.instagram.com/pohcheukitchen/

#2 CHI KAK KUEH

Black sesame? Charcoal? Nope, it’s mugwort. Known as “chi kak kueh” or “shu ke kueh”, this Teochew snack features mugwort-infused skin stuffed with sweetened green bean paste. Similar to the more familiar ang ku kueh, it’s delightfully chewy on the outside.

Only a few stalls in Singapore make this rare type of kueh, such as Yan Seng Cooked Food and Poh Cheu Soon Kueh & Ang Ku Kueh.

Yan Seng Cooked Food
#01-313, Tekka Centre, 665 Buffalo Road
Singapore 210665
Tel +65 6314 0630
Daily: 6am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Little India

Poh Cheu Soon Kueh & Ang Ku Kueh
127 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-222
Singapore 150127
Tel +65 6276 2287
Mon – Sat: 8am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown

Photo Credit:www.instagram.com/tonguedynasty/

#3 FUZHOU OYSTER CAKE

Resembling golden-brown UFOs, these Fuzhou oyster cakes are the perfect snack for when you’re craving a deep-fried indulgence. These flat discs are usually stuffed with oysters, minced pork, coriander and roasted peanuts. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, these babies are super addictive.

You can find them at Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake and Fuzhou Poh Hwa Oyster Cake.

Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake
1 Kadayanallur St, #01-05, Maxwell Food Centre
Singapore 069184
Mon – Sat: 9am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

Fuzhou Poh Hwa Oyster Cake
166 Jln Besar, #02-34
Singapore 208877
Tel +65 8112 5286
Daily: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

Photo Credit:www.instagram.com/lee.belinda.98/

#4 NOI JI SUAN

The lotus seed version of tau suan, this traditional dessert is basically a sweet lotus seed porridge. The lotus seeds are cooked till soft and crumbly, but with slightly more bite as compared to that of mung beans. Cooking this dish involves a pretty laborious process of removing the pith of each seed, which is probably why it’s getting harder to find.

Thankfully, House of Dessert in Tampines Round Market and Food Centre are still dedicating themselves to whipping up a solid bowl of noi ji suan.

House of Dessert
137A Tampines Street 11, Tampines Round Market and Food Centre, #01-02
Singapore 522137
Tues – Wed: 7am – 3pm
Fri – Sun: 7am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Tampines West

Photo Credit:www.instagram.com/chianghongkeat/

#5 PIG TROTTER JELLY

Maybe the name of this dish alone is enough to make some of you gag. We’re not gonna lie, pig trotter jelly definitely has an acquired taste. For those of you who have never tried it, expect chilled gelatinous pork trotter stew cut into bite-sized strips. It is usually dipped in vinegary chili sauce to balance out the heavy, meaty flavour.

This Teochew delicacy can be found at Lao Liang Pig Trotter Jelly & Shark Meat in Jalan Berseh Food Centre.

Lao Liang Pig Trotter Jelly & Shark Meat
166 Jalan Besar, Jalan Berseh Food Centre, #02-37
Singapore 208877
Tues – Sun: 11am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Jalan Besar

Photo Credit:www.instagram.com/theburpcouple/

#6 ROTI KIRAI

Roti kirai translates into “net bread”, which is pretty self-explanatory when you look at the snack. It is traditionally served on special occasions such as birthdays and weddings.

Shaped like a tightly-woven lattice, this Malay dessert is made from flour, eggs, water and turmeric powder. It pairs wonderfully with curry but is delicious on its own too.

Get a taste of this delicacy at Roti Kirai Delights or Alimah’s Kitchen!

Roti Kirai Delights
851 Jurong West Street 81, #06-291
Singapore 640851
Tel +65 8498 5459
Mon – Fri: 12pm – 8pm
Sat – Sun: 12pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Pioneer

Alimah’s Kitchen
Block 2A Commonwealth Drive, Tanglin Halt Food Centre, #01-23
Singapore 141003
Nearest Station: Queenstown

#7 SWEET AND SALTY GLUTINOUS RICE

Most of us are probably familiar with lor mai kai and lotus leaf glutinous rice. But how about sweet and savoury glutinous rice? This type of glutinous rice was a breakfast staple in Singapore during the 1950s and 1960s, but has gradually lost its prominence in the hawker scene.

Loaded with stewed peanuts and fried shallots, the dish is irresistibly fragrant. The rice itself is chewy and sticky, with a good bite to it.

Millennium Glutinous Rice at Chinatown Complex Food Centre is the only one hawker stall which is known to be churning out this dish in Singapore.

Millennium Glutinous Rice
335 Smith St, #02-092, Chinatown Complex Food Centre
Singapore 050335
Mon – Sat: 7am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Photo Credit:www.instagram.com/goawaylobster/

#8 TAU KWA PAU

Char siew paus and tau sar paus have got nothing on the tau kwa pau. This rare gem sees deep fried tau kwa stuffed to the brim with a variety of ingredients — chopped fish cake, fried yam bits, hard-boiled egg and cucumber. Finished off with some thick savoury gravy, it makes for a really hearty meal.

Say Seng Tau Kwa Pau is the only stall left in Singapore that makes this delicious combo. Hurry down now to try this traditional delicacy before it goes extinct!

Say Seng Tau Kwa Pau
271 Onan Rd, Dunman Food Centre, #01-05
Singapore 424768
Tel +65 9488 7736
Tues – Sun: 8am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Eunos

This year’s Singapore Food Festival comes back bigger and better, focusing on local flavours, as well as celebrating our country’s best dishes unique to our own. Titled “A Fresh Taste of Tradition”, Singapore Food Festival (SFF 2015) hopes to bring foodies together to revisit some of Singapore’s most iconic dishes and to remember our very special food heritage.

A variety of festivities and events have been lined up over the course of two weeks – 17 July to 2 August – where you will get a more hands-on and close up experience of Singapore’s amazing local fare.

Here are some events to note, and the highlights of Singapore Food Festival 2015 that you must not miss the world for:

STREAT BY SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD

The first of the festivities lined up would be STREAT (Reinventing Local Street Food), an initiative created by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). Each year, one local chef will create his/her own pop-up restaurant together with his/her choice of notable Singapore food establishments. The 2015 edition would be the inaugural edition of STREAT.

This year’s featured chef is none other than our very own Chef Justin Quek of Sky on 57, who is undisputedly one of Singapore’s top chefs. He will be bringing together Singapore’s best hawkers & chefs, and working with some of them to put a modern spin on classic local fare.

You can taste Mod-Sin dishes such as fresh Pacific Oysters in Ginger Flower Dressing and Gula Java Creme Brûlée. Using contrasting flavours and marrying them together perfectly, Chef Justin Quek’s dishes are a treat for both the young and old.

Some hawker favourites to look out for include Nasi Kerabu and Suckling Pig Sandwich with Salted Vegetable Relish from 16 different stalls at the event. STREAT will take place from 24 to 25 July 2015 (Fri – Sat), 6pm – 10pm at Clifford Square, 80 Collyer Quay.

Chef Justin’s pop-up restaurant will include a 3-course set menu at S$35, and seats are very limited. Sign up for a cooking workshop with the chef himself or visit his 2-day only pop-up restaurant at STREAT. More details are available at www.singaporefoodfestival.com.

REVISITING LOCAL HAWKER FOOD

There will be three dedicated hawker spots during SFF 2015, and they are:

• “A Wok Down Memory Lane at Ellenborough Market”

During the 1800s to 1960s, the Ellenborough Market (aka Teochew Market) was home to some of the best local hawker and street food before it was burned down in 1968. To relive the good old memories of this very special market, it will be recreated as part of this year’s Singapore Food Festival at Read Bridge, Clarke Quay from 24 July to 2 August 2015, 5pm – 11pm.

Authentic Teochew favourites will be served here and they are sure to take you on a trip down memory lane. Prices range from only S$2-S$5 for a drink and S$2-S$14 for food.

• Mod-Local Fest at Chinatown Food Street

Kick off SFF with Chinatown Food Street’s special gala dinner of modern local dishes that takes place on 17 & 18 July only. Expect to catch celebrities such as radio personality Fen Ying, and renowned local chef Jimmy Chok. Be entertained by performances on stage as you enjoy your dinner and engage in fun on-stage activities too.

To find out more on how you can attend this dinner, visit www.chinatownfoodstreet.sg/mod-local-fest

• 51 Old Airport Road Food Centre

This iconic food centre is the appointed featured hawker centre for SFF 2015. First built way back in 1973, this is one of Singapore’s oldest hawker centres. Old Airport Road Food Centre has always been known as a food haven, offering mouth-watering local hawker fare at pocket-friendly prices.

Mark your calendars and make a trip down from 17 July to 2 August 2015, where hawker stalls will be having special deals for their respective food.

HIGHLIGHTING SINGAPORE’S HERITAGE IN OUR FOOD

• Cooking Workshops with Violet Oon

Violet Oon is one of Singapore’s most renowned chefs that focuses on preserving local flavours and passing on to future generations. Learn a trick or two with “Living Culinary Treasures” – eight cooking workshops where you get to learn traditional cooking techniques in an intimate setting.

The workshops will take place on 21 & 28 July, 23 to 25 July, and 30 July to 1 August from 9.30am – 1pm. Prices are at S$129 and you can make a reservation at info@violetoon.com or call +65 8533 1122

• Celebrating Traditional Malay Cuisine

Get your hands working and create delicious and hearty Malay dishes at AKAR-Social Heritage Kitchen. Learn more about this exciting event at www.culinaryart.sg

• Kueh Appreciation Day

Kuehs play such a big part in our life, and we all grew up with our respective favourites. Come enjoy all the delicious local kuehs you love on this special day, 26 July 2015, and take part in festivities such as kueh-making demonstrations. To find out more, visit www.slowfood.sg/programs/kueh-appreciation-day-2015/

SETTING THE GUINNESS WORLD RECORD FOR THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF CURRY

Join in for an iconic event by the Indian Chefs & Culinary Association as they attempt to break two records – Largest Amount of Curry Cooked at a Single Time and Largest Cooking Vessel. They will be attempting to cook the most amount of curry in a vessel that is said to be 11 meters wide!

The event will take place at Tan Quee Lan Street at the open field opposite Bugis Junction from 30 July – 2 August 2015, 12pm – 11pm. Get a taste of local Indian fare from S$5 – S$15 only.

STORIES – A THEATRICAL DINNER SERIES BY MY PRIVATE CHEF

My Private Chef and the Sentosa Leisure Group collaborated to create STORIES, a pop-up theatrical dinner series that features two chapters. The first chapter will be held during SFF 2015 at Fort Siloso.

The 5-Course dinner menu is lovingly curated by top local chefs such as Chef Malcolm Lee from Candlenut. This unique dining experience will take place on 25 July 2015 at 6.30pm – 9pm. Prices start from S$138 per pax.

For more information on this event, visit www.myprivatechef.com.sg

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

• Singapore Hawker Feast at Ngee Ann City, 18 – 19 July 2015 from 12pm – 10pm
• Singapore Restaurant Month at various venues from 1 July – 10 August 2015 (more information on www.ras.org.sg/srm.html)
• The Line at Shangri-La “SG50 + 50″, featuring an exclusive range of local dishes from 24 – 31 July 2015. Make your reservations at www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/dining/restaurants/the-line/
• Carousel at Royal Plaza on Scotts presents 50 local dishes in conjunction with SFF 2015 and SG50 from 17 July – 10 August 2015. Make your reservations at www.carouselbuffet.com.sg

In lieu of Singapore Food Festival 2015?s theme – ‘A Fresh Taste of Tradition’, share your Family’s signature dish and stand a chance to win weekly prizes including exclusive event passes to SFF 2015 and F&B dining Vouchers!

For more information on Singapore Food Festival 2015, visit www.singaporefoodfestival.com

This post is brought to you by the Singapore Tourism Board.

Wooloomooloo steakhouse, a popular steakhouse chain in Hong Kong, has started their first restaurant at Swissotel the Stamford. When we talk about F&B outlets in a shopping mall, they are always predictable, mainstream or boring. Wooloomooloo, on the other hand, has a sleek and sexy interior, and most importantly, it offers top-quality Aussie beef. Moreover, it has a fantastic view of the F1 racetrack from the third level of Raffles City.

If you are looking for a nice restaurant to celebrate a special occasion, and your partner likes steak, this is the place to go.

On the menu, there are the classic starters such as tuna & spanner crab tartare ($29), lobster bisque ($20), beef carpaccio ($24) and colossal crab lumps ($30).

We started our meal with the steak tartare ($28). Wooloomooloo does an Australian inspired steak tartare – with a hard boiled egg, cavier, sourcream – so it’s not your typical French version. It looked very appealing, but the taste did not really pack a punch; it somewhat lacked a certain flavour.

Following that, we had a pan seared foie gras and jumbo crabcake. Paired with apple chutney, the pan seared foie gras is very well executed. If you like foie gras, you must order it here.

Next, we had the jumbo crabcake. The use of simple everyday ingredients such as parsley, egg, bread crumb, garlic, shallot brings out the natural taste of the crabcake. After tasting it, I could feel the flavours mingling in my mouth: the tanginess of the tartar sauce, the bite of the crab cake, and the crunch of the coleslaw.

For main courses, we shared two steaks. The 12 ounce USDA Ribeye ($74) was good, but we preferred the Australian cut, which Wooloomooloo steakhouse is known for.

There are so many adjectives that one can use to describe steak: tender, succulent, juicy and flavourful – all of which can be used to describe Wooloomooloo’s 12 ounce Australian Ribeye ($62). This is a very fine piece of meat, and at the price, I think it is excellent value.

If you are in a big group, I’d suggest getting the monster 1.3kg tomahawk ($125) with a few sides – like the hash brown ($12), creamy spinach ($12), and sauteed onions ($12) – to share.

There are no lack of options when it comes to desserts. We were torn between the bread and butter pudding ($16), lemon & lime pie ($16) and creme brulee ($16). But there was no way I could resist my favourite hot chocolate cake ($25) and souffle ($20).

For the souffle, Wooloomooloo does four different flavours – chocolate, raspberry, passionfruit and Grand Marnier – and since we were having the hot chocolate cake, we decided to go for something different.

The Grand Marnier souffle that we had was very good – in fact, one of the better ones that I’ve had lately – but it did not get as much attention as the chocolate lava cake.

I call this the sore throat inducing dessert. Definitely one of the top five chocolate lava cakes in Singapore.

Wooloomooloo, for me, is one of the top mid-range steak houses in Singapore. I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes one of your favourite places too.

Wooloomooloo Steakhouse
2 Stamford Road
Level 3 Swissotel the Stamford
Tel: +65 6338 0261
Daily: 12:00 – 15:00
Daily: 15:00 – 23:00
Nearest Station: City Hall
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Occasionally I like to indulge in a sinful supper, and even though I have my trusty list of late night dining places to turn to, there are times when I would run out of places to go to, too.

Some restaurants are great spots for late night dining, but they often close by midnight, and of course, it is impossible to dine at expensive restaurants all the time. Some eateries, on the other hand, have good supper food, but they are not places where you would want to linger for long.

My ideal supper place should be somewhere that a) opens across wee hours, b) serves hearty supper food at affordable prices, c) offers a nice environment to hang out and d) is located conveniently. And Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe fits the bill perfectly.

I was thrilled when I learned that 13 of the 16 Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafes have extended their opening hours till 4am daily. Whoopie! What a great news for supper lovers.

The good people from Thai Express Group (parent company of Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe) hosted us for a late night party, and all of us had so much fun playing games while pigging out.

Also, to celebrate the newly revised operation timings, Xin Wang Hong Kong Café is launching a new Facebook ‘Spot the Wee Owls’ contest. Read more to find out more about Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe and the contest.

I am sure Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe is a familiar name for most people. But not everyone knows that it has 200 items on the menu. Diners can choose from not only the typical Hong Kong cafe dishes – like Bo Lo buns (pineapple buns), congees and noodles – but also local Singapore favourites, tim sum and tea-time snacks.

Some of the items that you cannot miss out at Xin Wang include their Hong Kong style western food, uber-thick French toast with maple syrup, cheese baked dishes, and of course, the signature mango shaved ice.

Besides the food, I love that Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe has a cosy ambience, with nice cushioned seats and seating booths for us to lounge around chit-chatting to the background music.

Anyway back to the ‘Spot the Wee Owls’ contest. It will commence in mid-October for four days throughout the month – 14th (Sunday), 20th (Saturday), 26th (Friday) and 1st November (Thursday). All you have to do is to visit any of the five selected Xin Wang Hong Kong Café outlets on every contest day from 12am to 4am and spot Xin Wang Wee Owls cosying up in the restaurant. Snap a photo together with the Wee Owls and post it on Xin Wang’s Facebook Page.

There will be a total of 12 Lucky winners with three chosen per contest day. Each winner will receive an Exclusive Limited Edition Xin Wang Wee Owls Membership Card. So, be sure to stay tune to Xin Wang’s Facebook Page for the five selected outlets set to be announced a day before every contest day!

Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe is definitely the place to visit when you have food cravings late into the night. And remember to follow them on facebook to get the latest updates.

Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant at Sheraton Towers Singapore is renowned for its exquisite Cantonese cuisine. I have tried most of the dim sum places in town, but for some reason, I have never been to Li Bai. When my friends asked me to suggest a place for brunch, I immediately replied: let’s go to Li Bai.

For appetisers, you might want to consider the deep-fried crispy cuttlefish ($8), roast pork and roast duck ($10), and drunken chicken with jellyfish ($8). We couldn’t resist, so we got all of them to start.

I was disappointed that they did not have my favourite salted egg yolk custard bun on the menu, but the presence of baked barbecued pork pastry ($4.80 for 3 pieces) helped to soften the blow.

We also had steamed shrimp dumplings with bamboo shoot ($7.20 for 4 pieces), xiaolongbao with pork and crabmeat ($5.40 for 3 pieces). stir-fried radish cake ($6.80), deep-fried crispy prawn with mango ($6.90 for 3 pieces), baked mini egg tarts ($3.60 for 3 pieces), steamed crystal dumplings ($4.80 for 3 pieces), and deep-fried scallop rolls ($6.60). Everything was well-executed.

All in all, Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant has competent dim sum. Don’t come here expecting life-changing siew mai and har gau, but come here if you want consistent good Chinese food.

Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant
39 Scotts Road
GF Sheraton Towers
Tel: +65 6839 5623
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm

For more recommendations, read my list of Best Dim Sum Restaurants in Singapore

There are many restaurants serving brunch, but most of them are only mediocre. Club Street Social – located at Gemmil Lane, a quiet corner off Club Street where you can also find Luke’s Oyster Bar – is definitely not one of them. I am not afraid to say that it is one of the best, if not the best brunch place in town. Trust me, that is no small praise.

Since going there, I’ve been recommending it to all my friends. If this is your first time hearing  about it, I’d suggest going there soon before they get too popular.

On my first visit, we were there for drinks (they have very good cocktails which are priced from $16-20, but that’s a story for another day), and I loved the vibe of the place. I remember telling my companion that I felt like I was transported to Manhattan. I made a mental note to come back to try the food. A week later, I was back for brunch, and I absolutely fell in love with the place.

Besides serving all day breakfast (note: they serve it daily), they also have salad, soups, crostini (toppings on small slices of toasted bread, somewhat like a bruschetta), tramezzini (sandwich made from soft white bread), panini (toasted sandwich made with ciabatta), and desserts on the menu. Being gluttons, we were tempted to order everything.

The truffled egg toast ($14) was very appealing, while the pan-seared lobster panini ($28) also called out to us. We eventually went for the scrambled eggs ($12), and prosciutto panini ($16).

The scrambled eggs with fontina and chives was creamy and very well prepared; it had the right consistency and flavour. My dining partner and I agreed that this was one of the best scrambled eggs we’ve had in Singapore. It will have me returning over and over again.

The panini – with prosciutto, tomato, mozzarella, and truffle mayo – was equally outstanding. It was simple, but very delicious. Easily one of the best tasting paninis. A few of my friends who are regulars at Club Street Social also told me good things about their bacon & egg panini ($14) and duck confit panini ($19).

The perfect bread pudding should have the texture of steamed eggs. It needs to have nicely soaked bread, where you can get a bready (pun intended) texture, and when you dig in, it should be moist and soft – like a pudding.

Unfortunately, Club Street Social’s rendition came nowhere close. The middle of the nutella bread pudding was okay, but it was mostly too dry. The lemon tart ($7) was also run-of-the-mill. Desserts are probably not their strength. I’d spend the money to get a cocktail, or go somewhere else for desserts.

With great, affordable food and cocktails served in a classy environment, I have no doubt that Club Street Social is the new “IT” restaurant in Singapore. It already has plenty of fans, so plan a trip this weekend.

Club Street Social
5 Gemmill Lane, off Club Street
Tel: +65 6225 5043
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10.30pm
Sat: 9am – 10.30pm
Sun: 9am – 9pm

For more recommendations, please read my list of best brunch places in Singapore

Whenever my friends meet for gatherings, one of our favourite places is Raffles City Shopping Centre as City Hall is convenient for everyone.

Other than the location, another reason why I love Raffles City is because of the dining options – there are more than 50 restaurants in the mall. From restaurants like Salt Tapas & Bar, Skinny Pizza, Sushi Tei, and Canele; to eateries like Thai Express, The Soup Spoon, and Cedele – it offers a diverse range of food offerings.

Raffles City is organising a Mastercard mall-wide F&B promotion (6th to 29th July) in conjunction with Singapore Food Festival 2012. There will be lucky draw with exclusive $5,000 worth of hotel stay by Fairmont and Swissotel, and dining deals to be won during this period. You can visit Raffles City Epicurean Society for more details.

I met up with the folks from Raffles City to find out more about the promotion, and they brought me on a food trail to try three restaurants at Raffles City – Salt Tapas & Bar, Menya Musashi, and Soup Broth Asia.

If you always have problem trying to choose a place for dinner in the City Hall area, here’s a quick guide on where you can go.

Food trail, here we go!

Our first stop was at Salt Tapas & Bar by Australian celebrity chef Luke Mangan.

We started with the roasted garlic flat bread with romesco ($6). Then, we had the baked bone marrow ($16) with shiitake, Parmesan, & air-dried olive.

I was really excited when I saw it on the menu. I tasted a good bone marrow in New York, but so far, I haven’t been able to find a good rendition in Singapore. I thought Salt’s bone marrow was fantastic; it will have me returning over and over again.

Peter, the restaurant manager, recommended the tagine of snapper and octopus ($32), which was created by Luke Mangan himself. The dish was prepared with chickpeas, silverbeet, date and lemon; it tasted slightly sourish-sweet – somewhat like an Assam fish head.

Equally good was the charcoal grilled baby chicken ($26) with rosemary & lemon. I was tempted to order more food; the charcoal grilled beef rib ($31) and iberico pork loin ($27) were calling out to me – but I figured that I shouldn’t be too greedy since this was only the first stop, so we proceeded with desserts.

Looking at the choices on the dessert menu, we were not sure where to even begin. In the end, we decided to go with something rich – gooey hot chocolate tart ($14) and churros with chocolate ($11), which after dipping our spoon into, we agreed was one of the best ways one could end the meal with.

The food at Salt Tapas & Bar is not exactly cheap; the nibbles are priced around $6 to $19, while the meat and seafood tapas range from $15 to $32. But this is a meal worth saving up for. For a more affordable alternative, I’d suggest going there for lunch. Salt Tapas & Bar has a lunch set at $33.50++; you get flat bread to share, and three tapas per person – which in my opinion, is a fantastic deal as the items on the lunch menu can be found on the ala carte menu.

Salt Tapas & Bar
252 North Bridge Road
#01-22A Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6837 0995
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm

Following our Aussie tapas adventure, we went to Menya Musashi, one of Japan’s most famous ramen shops. I think it’s great that they have chosen to open the first store at Raffles City, as it is very accessible. The opening of the Japanese ramen restaurant definitely adds to the wide variety of food available at the mall.

From what I’ve heard, the current queue during lunch and dinner is at least an hour long. Not too bad for a new restaurant that is barely a few months old.

After trying all the ramen on the menu, I can understand why people queue up for it. I would venture to say that it is one of the better tonkatsu-based ramens in Singapore.

Besides Tsukemen ($14.90) – where you dip dry noodles in a richer soup sauce; Menya Musashi serves three different types of ramen: white (original tonkatsu broth), red (spicy tonkatsu broth), and black (tonkatsu broth with fermented garlic and onion).

One of the reasons why Menya Musashi is so special is because of the broth. It is boiled for more than nine hours, and the chef has to stir it every half an hour to prevent the bottom from being burned. The result? An extremely thick and rich tonkatsu broth that is out-of-this-world good. I am not exaggerating when I use the word ‘extremely’; Menya Musashi’s broth is much thicker than the usual ramen places.

While the black and red Musashi are delicious, my favourite is the white Musashi, as I love the original taste of tonkatsu broth. Each ramen comes with the option of chashu ($12.90), or Kakuni ($14.90). The chashu is quite good, but the kakuni (braised pork belly) is even better.

Go during off-peak hours, or be prepared to queue up.

Menya Musashi
252 North Bridge Road
#01-16 Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6336 6500

Our third, and final stop of the day was Soup Broth Asia – located at the basement of Raffles City Shopping Centre where you can find many restaurants and eateries.

Soup Broth Asia is an Asian soup concept by everyone’s favourite The Soup Spoon, a leading soup chain in Singapore. For those who don’t cook at home, Soup Broth Asia gives them the chance to savour homemade Asian soups.

There are nine different types of comforting and hearty soups such as tori daikon nabe, Hainanese beef and tripe hotpot, as well as canton lotus root with pork rib.

We sampled three signature soups, and I loved the Hainanese festive fish maw ($10.40) – with fresh fish slices, fish maw, and cabbage – as it reminds me of my mom’s soups.

The sumo wrestle – a miso based soup which consist of chicken, beancurd, lotus root, poached eggs, and soya milk – is quite fascinating as it substitutes cream with soya milk for people who are allergic to dairy products.

If you are a beef stew lover, you will love the Hainanese beef and tripe hotpot ($7.90). It is an oriental version of beef stew, and comes with nicely marinated beef and beef tripe.

Soup Broth Asia also has side dishes like appetisers ($2.80 to $4.80), vegetables ($5.90 to $7.40) and meats ($6.50 to $10.50). In particular, the sweet & sour pork ($8.80) and garlic baby dou miao ($7.40) were very decent.

Soup Broth Asia
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-62 Rafffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: +65 6338 6909
Sun–Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri–Sat: 11am – 10.30pm

That’s all folks. I hope you enjoy reading my food trail at Raffles City. I will be going on another adventure to try three other restaurants; I will definitely share it with you soon!

To find out more about Raffles City’s food festival, please visit Raffles City Epicurean Society where you can read about the F&B tenants, promotions and food reviews.

Words and photographs by Alexa Michelle.

Many would know or have heard of the health benefits to drinking tea as compared to drinking coffee. For those whose body system rejects caffeine, it is quite common you would order yourselves a cup of tea when having dessert or perhaps a drink over a short meeting.

Perhaps the other reason to tea drinking could be for those who enjoy the aromatic fragrance of the tealeaves before taking a sip of warm indulgence. The action is a little similar to how we drink wine.

Below we have included three tea recommendations and their health benefits.

The first tea on this list would be the chamoile tea – one that is found in most restaurants or cafes. Chamomile tea is known for its medicinal benefits such as remedy for migraines, stomach cramps and also to help improve sleep. Apart from placing a hot towel or facial mask over your face before heading to bed, try making yourself a small cup of chamomile tea the next time!

The second tea is the rose bud tea. It is said that the rose bud tea helps in the wellness of women, for good complexion and also to ease stomach bloatedness. Simply infuse the rose buds in hot water for about 3 minutes in the first and second brewing before serving.

Last but not least, for the ones with a sweet tooth, the third tea would be the Strawberry Cream fruit infusion tea. After infusing it in hot water for 6 – 8 minutes, the scent of strawberries will be filled in the air. This tea would make a great party choice for your guests.

And since it’s still the summer season, let the tea cool to room temperature, freeze it up with ice cubes and serve it chilled to compliment the hot weather! Though strawberries and cream might not be diabetic-friendly due to its natural sugar content, simply remember to drink in moderation or make it for special occasions to spice up a party!

About the writer:
In her free time, Alexa likes to visit museum exhibitions, reading or lying on the beach. Apart from having a sweet tooth, on selective food items of course, she also enjoys lounging to the beat of good tunes. Tempt her with tea and cakes if you could, weak spots do it right all the time. To read more of Alexa’s writings, please visit Pixiekrane.

“I think I am in love,” I told my dining companion when I saw the amazing éclairs from Chihuly Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.

Chihuly Lounge is currently having a Summer Weekend Afternoon Tea (2 June to 26 August 2012), and in addition to the assortment of canapes, finger sandwiches, and scones; executive pastry chef Terence Pang has specially created 12 different éclairs for this occasion.

From the popular chocolate éclair, to the cute gummy bear éclair, to the irresistible passion fruit & mango éclair – I love them all!

Starting clockwise from 12 o’clock: caramel éclair, chocolate éclair, vanilla éclair, cookies & cream éclair, cassis violet éclair, black sesame éclair, passion fruit & mango éclair, café éclair, gula melaka éclair, mac-lair (macadamia & chocolate), yam éclair, and cotton candy éclair.

Here’s a quick sum-up of the wonderful creations. Out of the twelve éclairs, my favourites were the passion fruit & mango, and chocolate éclair.

The passion fruit & mango éclair was like a burst of summer; I loved how the two flavours mingled in the mouth. The chocolate éclair also won our hearts. It had the right intensity, and was easily one of the best éclairs that I’ve had.

The vanilla éclair (pictured above), on the other hand, was a let-down. With the shiny gold leave surface, it was one of the prettiest éclairs, but we felt that the vanilla cream was a little over-burned.

For someone who is not a fan of yam, I thought that Chihuly Lounge’s rendition is pretty decent. But my dining companion felt that the use of yam in an éclair was rather weird. We also enjoyed the caramel, cookies & cream, cassis violet eclairs. The only ones that we didn’t really fancy were black sesame (the coating was too sweet), and café éclair (which had a rather weak coffee flavour).

Available from 2:30 to 5 p.m., Chihuly Lounge’s Summer Weekend Afternoon Tea is priced at $48 per adult (inclusive of freshly brewed and decaffeinated coffee and a selection of teas).

Chihuly Lounge
7 Raffles Avenue
Lobby Ritz-Carlton Millenia
Tel: +65 6434 5283
Daily: 8am – 1am

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Jumbo Seafood is a household name when it comes to having seafood in Singapore. With numerous branches and a strong brand-name, it is safe to say that they are one of the most famous Chinese seafood restaurants in town.

The food is generally good – from the famous chilli crab with deep fried mantou, to salted egg yolk prawns, the crispy baby squids, and mee goreng.

There are people like my pals Fred and Velda, who are regulars as they have been going there for years with their family. There are also many others who frequent Jumbo because it is a relative safe place (somewhere you can’t really go wrong) to bring overseas visitors.

I am not a fan of Jumbo Seafood, though. I find it a little too commercialise and touristy. I don’t mind going there if my friends want a quick fix in town, but I probably will not suggest it on my own.

If you are planning for a seafood feast, go to their East Coast outlet. Otherwise, the branch at Riverside Point is also very popular and enjoys a regular stream of customers.

Jumbo Seafood
1206 East Coast Parkway
#01-07/08 East Coast Seafood Centre
Tel: +65 6442 3435
Daily: 5pm – 12mn

30 Merchant Road
#01-01/02 Riverside Point
Tel: +65 6532 3435
Lunch: 12noon – 2.30pm
Dinner: 6pm – midnight

Roadhouse Restaurant (formerly Cafe Hacienda) at Dempsey Road is a modern American Diner — opened by the Prive Group — that serves hearty food in a rustic yet contemporary setting. It is one of the few restaurants in Singapore that uses Josper Grill to char-grill their meats and burger patties.

While I’d been meaning to try the food for some time now, because of a busy schedule, I only managed to visit it recently. After eating there, I have to say Roadhouse is a place where you can go for weekend brunch with your family; or a nice dinner with a group of friends.

On the menu, it has a variety of burgers: from the signature bacon marinated burger ($23); to the cajun chicken burger ($20); and the miso cod burger ($27) – there is a choice for everyone. They also have quesadillas ($13), tacos ($12), salads ($13), and main courses ($16-48).

During the weekends, roadhouse has a brunch menu (available from 9am to 4pm) with selections like pancakes, eggs benedict ($16), ultimate breakfast ($22), fluffy pancakes ($14), and cheese omelette ($16).

When asked to recommend the best burger on the menu, the staff pointed us to the bacon marinated burger ($23).

It was indeed, a fantastic burger – homemade bun, streaky bacons, caramelised onions, sauteed mushrooms, and 170g Josper-grilled wagyu patty. Utterly delicious.

They also do very good milkshakes ($12) – chocolate, vanilla, and coffee. I probably would not pay so much for a milkshake, but there’s no denying that it is one of the better milkshakes in town.

We also ordered a side of mac & cheese ($18) to share. I think it is good enough to get a spot on my upcoming best mac & cheese post.

Then, we had pancakes. It was rather different from the usual ones. If you are a fan of light and fluffy pancakes, Roadhouse’s version is probably not your type. The pancakes ($14) here are thick, dense, and cake-y.

And what’s brunch without eggs benedict? Fans of Prive Bakery Cafe will be happy to know that Roadhouse has the same good and reliable eggs benedict ($16).

You are probably thinking that we had a big group to share the food, but no, there was only two of us. Even though we had already ordered a lot of food, I couldn’t stop myself when I saw the BBQ U.S spare ribs ($26 for half rack, $40 for whole rack) on the menu.

They turned out to be pretty awesome. Fork-tender, lick-your-fingers good ribs. YUM.

We were very full after finishing all the dishes, but I must have desserts. Out of the eight items on the dessert menu, the S’more ice cream cake ($12) caught my eyes. It was not fantastic, but decent enough to end the brunch on a sweet note.

Overall, a satisfying meal though I think the brunch items could have been a little more wow. That being said, Roadhouse has one of the best burgers in town; you must make a trip down if you love burgers. The meats, cooked using Josper grill, are also very good.

Roadhouse American Diner
13 Dempsey Road #01-07
Tel: +65 6476 2922
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 4pm, 6.30pm – 10pm

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

For more recommendations, read my Guide to Restaurants in Dempsey Road

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How many people can say that they are happy at what they are doing? Not many. But I am quite sure the folks at Nylon Coffee Roasters can do that, as they are truly passionate about their coffee.

They have taken over a small shophouse and created a lovely coffee paradise in the sleepy Everton Park Estate. Who would have thought that cafes could survive in a heartland residential area?

They roast their own beans, they talk about coffee as if reciting poetry, and they serve your cuppa with lots of love. One of the best coffees in Singapore? Yes, I think so.

In case you are going to gather a group of friends to go there and chill-out after reading this post, Nylon Coffee Roasters is more of a take-away place than a dine-in cafe. It has only three seats, and the small space can probably accommodate less than ten people at any time.

We need to support people who are brave enough to chase after their dreams, so make a trip to Nylon Coffee Roasters at Everton Park (near Tanjong Pagar/Outram) and get a cup of coffee.

Nylon Coffee Roasters
4 Everton Park
#01-40 Singapore
Tel: +65 6220 2330
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 6pm
(Closed on Tue)

For more recommendations, please read my list of best cafes in Singapore

Men are different from women in many ways. One of the most prominent differences is the things we eat; studies have shown that guys love their meat, while women like sweet stuff.

Burgers, steaks, pizzas, chicken wings are some of the favourite foods for men. Throw in beer and chips – you will make them the happiest lad in the world. Below, I have recommended some places for Father’s Day Dinner 2012.

Bella Pizza

Bella Pizza is my all-time favourite pizza restaurant. If you have been there before, it’s time to go back again for a good pizza. If this is your first time hearing about them, you must make a trip there soon.

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

Enoteca L’Operetta

Another great place to satisfy your dad’s pizza cravings is Enoteca L’Operetta at Boat Quay. I went there recently, and I have to say they serve one of the best pizzas in Singapore. Prices range from $16 to $28 for a pizza.

78 Boat Quay
Tel: +65 6438 2482

Ku De Ta

With a view overlooking the beautiful Marina Bay area, Ku De Ta is one of the hottest restaurants in town. Unlike fine dining establishments which are too formal, Ku De Ta has a cool and funky chill-out vibe. This is definitely a great location to celebrate Father’s day.

10 Bayfront Avenue Sands SkyPark Tower 3
Marina Bay Sands Hotel
Tel: +65 6688 7688

L’Entrecote

Whenever people ask me to recommend a reasonably-priced steakhouse, I would think of L’Entrecote at Duxton Hill. I like the fact that they only serve steak frites ($29) on the main course menu; it tells a lot about the confidence of the restaurant. You know where to go if your father wants to have steak for dinner.

36 Duxton Hil
Tel: +65 6238 5700

Nandos

Everyone loves Nando’s peri peri chicken. nd delicious grilled chicken – that’s all we need for a simple Father’s day dinner. Check out their new branch at JCube.

2 Jurong East Central 1
#03-07/19 JCube
Tel: +65 6684 5387

Roadhouse

For dads who love their burgers, Roadhouse at Dempsey Road is the place to go. They have some of the best tasting burgers in Singapore. The other main courses like BBQ ribs and steaks are also very good.

Go to Roadhouse for Father’s day brunch and have burgers, eggs benedict, BBQ ribs, and milkshake. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this special occasion.

13 Dempsey Road #01-07
Tel: +65 6476 2922

Relish

It is impossible to go wrong with burgers and beer for a nice Father’s day treat. A meal at Relish is perfect as the guys there have mastered the art of pairing burgers with beers from all over the world.

501 Bukit Timah Road
#02-01 Cluny Court
Tel: +65 6763 1547

Le Chasseur has been widely raved about in numerous reviews by newspapers, magazines and food blogs. A few of my friends are also huge fans of the food there. They are always talking about this hidden gem of a restaurant that serves good zi char. So when a friend was in town visiting, I decided to bring her there for dinner. And from the first dish, we could not stop singing its praises.

The menu is extensive, and you will find that you want to order everything. Perennial favourites include coffee pork ribs ($16), salted fish eggplant ($8.5), fish bee hoon with bittergourd ($7), pork knuckle ($32) and claypot chicken rice ($11)

We started off with the oyster omelette ($9) and stir-fried kailan ($5.3).

Next, we had butter oatmeal prawns ($6/100g). They were very good, but I was told that their BBQ live prawns ($9.6) are even better. Apparently, you need to make an advance reservation for it as they only sell a limited quantity of it everyday.

Everyone was also won over by the claypot rice ($20 for L/$11 for S) – one of the signature items on the menu. You know it is something special when the girls asked for second helpings of carbs during dinner. Definitely a must-order if you are eating at Le Chasseur.

The herbal chicken ($16), on the other hand, was only decent. It is something that I will order once, but not again.

The pièce de résistance was the pork knuckle ($32). Deep-fried three times to ensure the crispiness, it was blow-my-socks-off good. It came with a special sauce made of cucumber, onion, starfruit, and light soya sauce. While the pork knuckle was good enough on its own, the sauce added a slightly different dimension to it.

All in all, Le Chasseur is an air-conditioned zi char restaurant that serves excellent food at very affordable prices. I will definitely bring my friends back to try the other signature dishes.

Le Chasseur
Blk 27 Eunos Road 2
Tel: +65 6337 7677
Nearest Station: Eunos

“Tonkatsu by Ma Maison at Mandarin Gallery has the BEST tonkatsu in Singapore,” my pal Fred would tell me every time when we meet up for our glutton outings with Beatrice and Velda. After hearing this, how do you expect me to pretend that nothing had happened?

The few of us finally arranged a date to go there for dinner. And after trying it, I have to agree with Fred. Tonkatsu by Ma Maison has one of the best, if not the best tonkatsu in Singapore.

From rosu katsu ($29.8), to hire katsu ($29.8), to katsu curry ($21.8), to katsudon ($21.8) – Tonkatsu by Ma Maison offers options for everyone. We ordered in our usual manner (which means too much food) and after a short wait, the table was filled with plates and plates of gorgeous tonkatsu.

If you have a big group of friends to share the calories, try the deep fried jumbo prawns ($38.8 for 2 pieces) — it is a great starter while waiting for the tonkatsu to come.

The hire katsu ($29.8), on the other hand, was a little too dry and lean for my taste. But it was a hit among the girls because the fillet cut has less fat than pork loin.

The kurobuta rosu katsu ($31.8) was up next. It was very good; in fact, much better than most tonkatsu restaurants. I was about to declare it as the best tonkatsu in Singapore, until Fred told me to try the Hungarian mangalica rosu katsu ($31.8).

I took a bite, and for that few seconds, words failed me. It was, hands down, one of the best tonkatsu I’ve ever had. My life will never be the same again.

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison at Mandarin Gallery is very popular. Go before 7pm, otherwise, be prepared to queue for at least 45 minutes. Good luck!

Tonkatsu by Ma Maison
333A Orchard Road
#02-35/36 Mandarin Gallery
Tel: +65 6733 4541
Mon to Fri: 11am–3pm, 5pm–10pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11am–10pm

It’s really nice to see so many new cafes sprouting up around Singapore. I’ve been going on a cafe-hopping adventure, and one of the places that I went to is L’etoile Cafe at Owen Road.

The French-themed Japanese cafe is a real hidden gem, so if you are looking for a place to hangout with your friends this weekend, you can consider coming here.

Getting to L’etoile is not that difficult. Take the North-East line, alight at Farrer Park and find exit D which leads to Owen Road.

The ground floor is pretty much like a regular cafe with simple furnishings. It is the second floor (the first picture of this post) that makes the cafe stand out.

They did a good job mixing and matching old furniture. The result: a quirky and whimsical look that you can’t find elsewhere. I particularly loved the birdcage painting on the wall.

The current brunch menu is simple and affordable. They have several items like big breakfast ($9.5), eggs benedict ($5.9), banana nutella toast ($5.9), French toast ($5.9), and French crepes ($5).

From what I understand, they will be introducing a new all day brunch menu in the coming weeks. For now, their food menu is available till 3-4pm.

L’etoile cafe is a place where you can have a cup of coffee, read a book, and watch the world goes by. It’s also a place where you can hangout with a group of friends and play card games all day long. I like that it is not too crowded, and the off-the-track location makes it feel as though you are going on a quest to find a hidden treasure.

L’etoile Cafe
160 Owen Road
Tel: +65 6298 2872
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

For more recommendations, please read my list of best cafes in Singapore

Back in March, the good people at Kitchen Language and Fulford PR invited me to join them on a press trip to visit Dean & Deluca in New York. During that few days, I had an amazing time learning about the brand, and it was a privilege to get a behind-the-scene sneak peek.

Dean & Deluca is a multi-channel retailer of gourmet and speciality foods, premium wines and high-end kitchenware with operations throughout the United States and abroad.

Like what I’ve mentioned in my earlier interview with Justin Seamonds (the president of Dean & Deluca), its international presence is expanding rapidly. Today, you can find the gourmet grocer in many cities including Tokyo, Bangkok, Korea, Turkey, and of course, Singapore (opening on 22nd June).

If you have always heard about but never had the chance to visit Dean & Deluca in New York, let me take you on a store visit!

After learning more about Dean & Deluca, I have to say that it is a great concept. Think of it as a food curator whereby it brings in different things from around the world. It is a place where people can get top-quality products. For food lovers, it is definitely one of the must-visit places in New York City.

We started our Dean & Deluca visit at its flagship store in SoHo (560 Broadway, at Prince Street Tel: 212 226 6800 Mon to Fri 7am – 8pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 8pm).

There was an interesting mix of people in the store: New Yorkers queuing up for breakfast and coffee; tourists filling up their basket with their favourite Dean & Deluca’s private labels; and others who are looking for specific brands carried by the gourmet grocer.

We were very lucky to have Diane Stopford (assistant general manager), Maria Roemer (merchandising manager), and Vicent Kirsch (director of visual merchandising) to show us around.

Even though they had many interesting stories to share, I had a hard time focusing as I could not stop gawking at all the yummy-looking food. I felt like a kid in Disneyland.

One of the things that I noticed is the subtle store displays; it is pretty, but not too fanciful. Vincent told me the rationale behind it is because they want people to focus on food.

Dean & Deluca is like a food heaven; there is so much to see, hear, and eat. It took us more than an hour just to walk from the entrance where you see the beautiful fruit and vegetable section; past the bakery and cheese area where they tempt us with samples; to the food counter that displays platters of delicious cooked food; and finally to the back where you can find the seafood and sushi counter.

An interesting thing that I learned during this trip – Dean & Deluca actually has concierges (not pictured) who are on hand to answer any queries, and the best part is – they also provide store tours. The next time you visit Dean & Deluca, feel free to approach them.

160 different types of cheese from six countries. Enough said.

Next, we went to Dean & Deluca cafe at New York Times Building (620 8th Ave Retail Space B Tel: 212 221 0308 Mon to Fri 7am – 7pm, Sat & Sun 10am – 6pm).

The cafe is simple, yet stylish. Offering a good range of sandwiches, soups, salads, and pastries, it is the place for busy New Yorkers to grab a quick lunch. We did a sampling of their signature items, and I almost couldn’t move after the meal.

For those who watch US shows, I am sure Dean & Deluca is a familiar name. In Gossip Girl, Blair Waldorf is often seen carrying a cup of coffee from Dean and DeLuca while sitting at The Met steps. Coffee for you?

After lunch, we headed to Dean & Deluca at Madison (1150 Madison Ave, at 85th Street Tel: 212 717 0800 Monday to Sunday: 8am-8pm).

Whereas the flagship outlet at SoHo has more tourists and local crowd, the store at Madison caters to a more sophisticated group.

It has a very different vibe, and while the store is much smaller, it still has everything you need. We were told that celebrity sightings happen occasionally, so now you know where to go if you want to see the famous Fifth Avenue residents.

Some of the bread are baked in-house, while others are procured from the best bakeries in the city like Royal Crown, Ceci Cela, Sullivan street bakery, and Pain D’ Avignon. Again, it highlights Dean & Deluca’s role as a food curator, where you can find the best under one roof.

We ended the insightful tour, and went on a shopping spree. If you are visiting The Big Apple, one of the things that you must buy is ‘TWG Tea Dean & Deluca.’ They have created a special brew exclusively for the New York store.

There are critics who would argue that the gourmet grocer is overrated, pretentious, and expensive. But I beg to differ. I think Dean & Deluca is doing a great job as it offers you the best products from around the world.

It is, not exaggerating, to say that Dean & Deluca is a leader in discovering new food trends. It has introduced plenty of new food products to its customers, and it’s nice to see that the folks behind the brand are staying true to its course.

Dean & Deluca will be opening in Singapore at Orchard Central on 22nd June. See you there!

Full Disclosure & Fine Print: I travelled to New York City as a guest of Dean & Deluca and Kitchen Language. No monetary benefits were received, only air tickets and hotel accommodations were sponsored.

Dining out is getting more and more expensive. Since the opening of many celebrity chef restaurants, a meal at one of the top tables in Singapore can easily go up to $300-400 nowadays.

A few of my friends were just telling me that several reputable Japanese restaurants have been slowly upping the price of their omakase menu. I am sure everyone is feeling the sting of dining inflation. So today, I will like to share with you one of the best kept secrets in town.

Kumo Kaiseki Restaurant at Icon Village offers an extremely value-for-money Omakase. I’d recommend it if you are looking for a place to go for your first omakase experience.

Omakase, simply put, is to leave the selection of dishes to the chef. He will then proceed to serve the dinner with the freshest ingredients, and there’s an element of surprise since one has no idea what is coming next.

The menu that we had at Kumo that night was specially created, so you won’t find it on their ala-carte menu. If you want to enjoy a nice meal, you can trust Chef Nobu and go with Omakase ($138/168), which in my opinion, is a steal. For a more affordable alternative, there’s the 6 course kaiseki menu at $78++.

For the price, I feel that this is one of the best omakase in Singapore. I am definitely going back again when I feel like indulging in a good meal.

Kumo Kaiseki
12 Gopeng Street
#01-58 ICON Village
Tel: +65 6225 8433
Lunch : 12:00pm – 2:30 pm
Dinner : 6:00pm – 10:30pm

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

For more recommendations, please read my list of best Japanese restaurants in Singapore

Located at 297 River Valley Road, Five & Dime Eatery is easily one of the prettiest restaurants in town.

Even though Five & Dime has only been around since the start of the year, it has already garnered a strong following, which is no mean feat considering the number of new restaurants and cafes.

Several of my friends were turned away when they went there without any reservations during the weekdays. And for weekend brunch, they offer three different seating at 10am, 12noon, and 2pm – a testimony of their popularity.

After going there for brunch recently, I can understand why they are so popular. While the food is not out-of-this-world good, I love the dining concept, and I had an enjoyable experience there. I am going to go out on a limb and say that Five & Dime Eatery is one of the best new restaurants in 2012.

I love that Five & Dime has a New York vibe; I love that they have put in a lot of attention to detail in the design of the place; I love that it is a standalone building on a quiet stretch along River Valley Road.

I also love that the restaurant is versatile; bright and airy for a nice Sunday brunch, and when night falls, I can imagine it transforming into a classy and elegant place for a romantic dinner.

The restaurant has a simple menu, with a few choices under each category. The buttermilk pancakes ($15), corn beef hash ($18), and French toast ($15) caught my attention. I was also tempted by the churros ($8) and pandan creme brulee ($12) under the dessert menu.

In the end, we decided to share eggs benny ($16), big brekkie ($22), and mentaiko pasta ($22). The eggs benny is slightly different from the usual ones; the beautifully poached eggs come with seared beef, and a healthy serving of fresh greens. I think it is good enough to be in my list of best Eggs Benedict in Singapore. Do try it and let me know.

The big brekkie  — which you see in the first picture of the post — was reliable. It came with the usual scrambled eggs, sausages, beans, and toast. Not life changing good, but good enough for a lazy brunch.

There are not many places that serve mentaiko pasta, so when I saw it on the menu, I knew that I had to order it. Five & Dime’s rendition was creamy, but not too heavy. The yakitori, on the other hand, was only passable.

In general, I liked it enough for me to order it again on my next visit.

For dinner, Five & Dime has comfort food like mac & cheese, burger, fish & chips, and pasta; most of the items are priced in the acceptable range between $20-30. If you are working in the area, you will be happy to know that they have a pretty decent lunch menu (price ranges from $6 for a soup, to $14 for a sandwich, and $18 for pasta).

Five and Dime Eatery
297 River Valley Road
Tel: +65 9236 5002
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10am
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12 midnight
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

For more recommendations, please read my list of best brunch places in Singapore

It’s always nice to visit new restaurants run by young and talented chefs who are truly passionate about their food.

I first learned about Keystone Restaurant at Stanley Street a few months ago through my journalist friends. They told me about the excellent work Chef Mark Richards is doing at the restaurant, and it is one of the few places that use sous-vide cooking for most of the dishes on the menu.

I went there a while back, and ever since my visit, I’ve been recommending it to my friends. I’ll cut to the chase. If you like hearty meals with big portions, Keystone Restaurant is probably not suitable for you. But if you enjoy dining in a classy restaurant that serves refined and sophisticated food, this is the place to go.

Keystone has a small menu with just several items under each category. Prices range from $29-34 for appetisers, $40-125 for main courses, and $20-23 for desserts.

We started with the Georges bank sea scallop ($31) which came with confit of cherry tomato and Hummus puree. It was good, but not life-changing. This was followed by the delightful Les Landes foie gras ($34) – a combination of ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ goose liver. I particularly loved the yuzu concentrate which gave the dish a good balance.

I was eyeing the confit of duck ($30) under the appetisers menu, but I decided not to be greedy, so we proceeded with the main courses.

The highlight of the meal was the Snake River Farms pork belly ($58). It came highly recommended, and it was indeed very good. The sous-vide pork belly was perfectly cooked. Easily one of the best I’ve ever tasted. My only complain is that the chef could have given more of the delicious yukon chips.

Next up, the Chilean seabass confit ($46). While good, I liked the pork belly a lot more. We also tried the beautiful 58 degrees rangers tournedos ($61) which you see in the first photo of this post. It was well-executed; good but nothing to write home about.

Desserts at Keystone, were equally impressive. I almost wanted to order all five desserts on the menu, but my dining companion managed to convince me to stick with three. We had the nutella bar ($20), acquerello pudding ($21), and Valrhona genoise ($23). My favourite was the nutella Bar – it managed to hit all the sweet notes when it came to taste.

Then, we had the Valrhona genoise, which was nicely paired with a yuzu sorbet.

While I wasn’t a fan of the corn used in the acquerello pudding, the tarragon meringue caught me totally off guard. The foam literally vanished into thin air the moment it came into contact with my tongue. It was like magic.

A meal at Keystone Restaurant is not cheap (Palate card with its 50% discount will come in very handy here). But for the quality of the food, and the wonderful dining experience, I dare say it is worth saving up for that special occasion. The talented Chef Mark Richards and the restaurant definitely deserve your support.

Keystone Restaurant
11 Stanley Street
Tel: +65 6221 0046
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
(Closed on Sun)

Note: This was an invited media tasting, arranged by the good people at Palate. Visit their website to find out more about the membership where you can enjoy up to 50% discount.