ladyironchef » + Good Food in Joo Chiat

22 Joo Chiat Restaurants, Cafes & Eateries To Dine At – Brunch, Desserts, Local Food & More

ladyironchef — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 09:49:52 +0000

Joo Chiat is undeniably the most charming neighbourhood in Singapore. With an eclectic mix of new and old, it exudes a charm like no other.

Take a walk down those lines of heritage buildings and shophouses in Joo Chiat and you’ll be greeted by a juxtapose of old-school merchants and new-age cafes. It’s like a mystery and a discovery with every step you take.

Needless to say, this is every food lover’s haven. The sheer number of options is exhilarating, and if you don’t know where to start, here’s our Joo Chiat food guide featuring 22 restaurants, cafes & eateries in the neighbourhood.

AWFULLY CHOCOLATE BAKERY & CAFE

Formerly known as Ninethirty by Awfully Chocolate, this is the famous local chocolate brand’s flagship store which offers a decadent selection of well-loved comfort food and of course, the famed chocolatier’s desserts.

131 East Coast Road
Singapore 428816
Tel: +65 6345 2190

BRITISH HAINAN

British Hainan is a quaint family-run restaurant tucked away along Carpmael Road in the estates of Joo Chiat. They serve a myriad of classic British dishes with a Hainanese twist, but the dishes to die for include their signature oxtail stew and their braised lamb shank.

75 Carpmael Road
Tel: +65 6336 8122

BURGER FRITES

It’s not like we would complain about having another burger joint. Burger Frites may look like your typical American burger house, but its burgers are pretty awesome. We love the flame-grilled burger patties and how you can customize your burgers with the numerous add-ons.

340 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427592
Tel: +65 8894 7709

CAFÉ NATSU

Opened by Ebb & Flow Group which is the same group behind other popular dining concepts such as Sommer, Tigerlily Patisserie, & Chin Mee Chin, Café Natsu is the braindchild of Chef Lewis Barker of One Michelin Star-restaurant Sommer and it serves Western brunch classics with a Japanese twist. Highlights include Wagyu Hamburg, as well as their signature Sandos.

283 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427537
Tel: +65 8886 4497

COMMON MAN COFFEE ROASTERS

Established in 2013 by the Spa Esprit Group (the same folks behind other popular concepts such as Tiong Bahru Bakery & Open Farm Community), Common Man Coffee Roasters has long known to be one of the best places to have a cup of aromatic coffee and brunch. There are currently four Common Man Coffee Roasters outlets, including the one along Joo Chiat Road.

185 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427456
Tel: +65 6877 4863

DA DONG PRAWN NOODLES

Da Dong Prawn Noodles is quite arguably one of the most popular Prawn Noodles Stalls in Singapore. Located at Joo Chiat, a heritage-rich part of Singapore, Da Dong Prawn Noodles may seem like any other stall in a coffee shop, but it sees long queues daily.

Its popularity has seen people from all over Singapore flocking over for a comforting bowl of prawn noodles, and even though parking is scarce in the area, it does not deter diners.

354 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427600

DICKSON NASI LEMAK

Opened by the same people behind the extremely popular Champion Bolo Buns, Dickson Nasi Lemak specialises in Malaysian-style Nasi Lemak and long queues are often formed here. Do note that this is just a takeaway kiosk; there is no dine-in area!

320 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427571

GUAN HOE SOON RESTAURANT

Quite possibly Singapore’s oldest Nyonya restaurant, Guan Hoe Soon has been serving authentic Peranakan fare to its loyal customers since 1953.

Now run by the founder’s granddaughter and her husband, you can count on Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant to bring you a scrumptious Peranakan feast as they pride themselves in using only the freshest ingredients and a selective choice of spices without skimping on the quality of their food.

40 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427764
Tel: +65 6344 2761

HELLO ARRIGATO

Hello Arigato is a lifestyle cafe which is known for its Japanese-style Sando, and it first gained popularity with its first outlet at Upper Thomson. We prefer the one at Joo Chiat, because Joo Chiat.

Step into Hello Arigato Joo Chiat and be greeted by a minimalistic white space. The cafe isn’t big – probably 30-seater – and you can see from front to end. Whilst it can get a tad cramped, it is still a cosy space for a meal and a drink.

314 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427565
Tel: +65 8889 5657

JINJI TEOCHEW TRADITIONAL STEAMBOAT RESTAURANT

Jinji Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant is a no-frills and utterly unpretentious steamboat restaurant along Joo Chiat Road which local stars have been frequenting this traditional restaurant over the past decade.

The star and centrepiece of this restaurant is definitely their steamboat. Every table should order a steamboat for sharing, on top of all the a la carte dishes that you may wish to add on.

From their fragrant steamboat broth to the fish paste noodles and bouncy fish balls, the folks behind the restaurant pride themselves on having almost everything handmade, bringing you only the freshest and nothing less.

176-178 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427447
Tel: +65 6348 8924

JOO CHIAT CAPHE

Craving for Vietnamese Bánh Mì? Joo Chiat Caphe is a Muslim-friendly eatery which offers Vietnamese Bánh Mì, Vietnamese coffee as well as Mackerel Otah and Kuning Nasi Lemak. Prices start from S$5.80 for a classic Chicken Bánh Mì.

263 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427517
Tel: +65 6988 1900

KOHI ROASTERY & COFFEE BAR

Speciality coffee shop from Bangkok, Kohi Roastery & Coffee Bar has opened a coffee takeaway kiosk in Joo Chiat. It shares the space with Crane Joo Chiat and you can grab a cup of coffee while exploring the beautiful Joo Chiat neighbourhood.

283 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427535

KINGS CART COFFEE FACTORY

Opened by local wholesaler Kings Cart Coffee, this is a popular coffee shop in Joo Chiat which serves solid coffee using beans that are roasted by their own coffee roaster. They have a small and concise food menu offering brunch, pasta and salad items. End off your meal with their beautiful soufflé pancakes.

328 Joo Chiat Rd, #01-05
Singapore 427585
Tel: +65 8814 8445

LONG PHUNG

Located just across the street from Jinji Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant and Enjoué Bakery, Long Phung is a restaurant whose menu focuses primarily on Vietnamese cuisine.

Once a hidden gem in Joo Chiat, Long Phung is now a place where many flock to for authentic Vietnamese fare in Singapore without breaking the bank.

159 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427436
Tel: +65 6440 6959

LUNA PATISSERIE

Popular local patisserie, LUNA Patisserie has opened a second outlet in the Joo Chiat Enclave in end 2022. Highlights include Oolong Almond Florentine, Lychee Rose as well as their signature Orh Nee Cake.

121 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427410

MR & MRS MOHGAN’S SUPER CRISPY ROTI PRATA

Remarked as one of the best roti prata stalls in Singapore, Mr & Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata has relocated to another old-school coffee shop at 300 Joo Chiat Road.

Here, they serve real-deal, crispy prata flipped to perfection to give the right amount of crispiness on the edges and a fairly fluffy interior. Their curries—not that you need it—are extremely fragrant and pair well with their doughy goodness.

300 Joo Chiat Rd
Tin Yeang restaurant, Singapore 427551

OLSEN BAKE HOUSE

Probably one of the prettiest bakeries in Joo Chiat, Olsen Bake House first gained popularity on Instagram with their rustic, wholesome bakes in an array of interesting flavours – from the classics to the ones with a local twist, nothing is mainstream here. Be it cakes or loaves or kombucha, Olsen Bake House got you covered for your home parties.

301 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427552
Tel: +65 8891 5819

PETIT PAIN

Established in August 2019, Petit Pain specialises in bread and pastries such as croissants, danishes and escargot rolls. Stepping into the space, the immediate smell of butter and bread tantalized our tastebuds, enticing us toward the golden-brown goodies.

There is a long queue outside the shop every day and it is, without a doubt, one of the most popular bakeries for croissants in Singapore.

Petit Pain
315 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427566

TIGERLILY PATISSERIE

Helmed by Executive Pastry Chef Maxine Ngooi who used to work at Les Amis Restaurant, Joël Robuchon Restaurant and the now-defunct Vianney Massot Restaurant. Tigerlily Patisserie has pretty intricate bakes in exciting flavours and it has amassed quite a following with their pretty desserts. Do pop by and give it a try!

350 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427598

Photo credit: TBB

TIONG BAHRU BAKERY

Established in May 2012 on Eng Hoon Street in the Tiong Bahru neighbourhood, Tiong Bahru Bakery has just opened a new outlet in the charming Joo Chiat enclave along Crane Road.

The new cafe has a seating capacity of 58 seats and it will surely be a welcome addition to the Joo Chiat neighbourhood. It is located at 7 Crane Road, just around the corner from British Hainan.

Tiong Bahru Bakery Crane Road
7 Crane Road, Singapore 429356
Daily from 7.30am to 8pm

WINDOWSILL PIE

Popular pie shop, Windowsill Pie needs no introduction. From bright fruity delights to intense chocolatey decadence, they have a selection of pies that will impress all pie lovers. Windowsill Pie currently has three takeaway outlets in Singapore including Great World City, Jem and Joo Chiat.

290d Joo Chiat Rd
Tel: +65 9772 5629
Singapore 427542

WUNDERFOLKS

We always love a good tart and Wunderfolks nailed it with their menu. We were wowed by their tarts for its solid tart base and stellar fillings. You’d be spoilt for choice with the different flavours and we particularly loved the Lemon Meringue Tart and Dark Chocolate Tart.

201 Joo Chiat Rd, #01-03
Singapore 427472
Tel: +65 9749 7940

Hello Arigato – Popular Lifestyle Cafe In Upper Thomson & Joo Chiat With Japanese-Style Sando

Editorial — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 08:52:29 +0000

Hello Arigato has become one of those top-of-mind cafes at Joo Chiat, and it is not difficult to understand why. We fell in love with the cosy small space even though there was nothing much to speak about, rest for a feature shelf with a display of Japanese and minimalistic knickknacks.

Hello Arigato is a lifestyle cafe with a Japanese-inspired menu, and it first gained popularity with its first outlet at Upper Thomson. We prefer the one at Joo Chiat, because Joo Chiat.

You must try their Japanese-inspired sandos (sandwich, in case you didn’t get it). That was what got people’s attention when Hello Arigato first opened; people flocked to the first outlet at Upper Thomson for sandos.

There are quite a few variations, with the Gyu Sando (S$26) being their house specialty. While we thought it was very reasonably-priced for the generous portion, the wagyu didn’t hit the spot for us.

The Spam & Egg Sando (S$18), on the other hand, may sound simple but was way better. A thick slab of luncheon meat, lots of scrambled egg and American cheddar are enveloped in Japanese brioche, complete with spiced tomato jam. Gratifying with every bite, we’d say.

For all the sandos, you have the option of topping up with a side of curly fries at S$5, but we would say skip this and go for the a la carte Hello Twister Fries (S$13). A full portion of everyone’s favourite sinful fries is generously coated with a housemade Japanese curry and cheese sauce and topped with scallions – so damn shiok.

There is a Pasta and Brunch menu too, and while it is interesting to see they used Udon to whip up Japanese-styled pastas, we weren’t fans of it.

Oh, but we really loved the Iced Dirty Matcha (S$8) on the drinks menu and it is our must-order every time we dine at Hello Arigato. They also bake their own cookies which we have yet to try, but we will, soon!

Hello Arigato
227 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574359
Tel: +65 8772 3778

314 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427565
Tel: +65 8889 5657

Da Dong Prawn Noodles – Famous Prawn Noodles Stall In Joo Chiat With Big Prawns Noodles

ladyironchef — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 11:51:45 +0000

Its popularity has seen people from all over Singapore flocking over for a comforting bowl of prawn noodles, and even though parking is scarce in the area, it does not deter diners.

Is it that great, you’d wonder?

Be early or be disappointed. Da Dong Prawn Noodles typically sells out by lunch time, sometimes closing as early as 1pm. We were disappointed a few times because we aren’t early birds, so we’d say go earlier – shortly before the lunch crowd hits at 12pm.

Their famous big prawn noodles are available three sizes: S$13, S$15 and S$20. All three sizes come in either dry or soup.

Alternatively, you can also go for the regular Prawn Noodles, Pork Rib Prawn Noodles, or Pork Tail Soup. Prices range from S$5 to S$10 for the regular bowls.

The main difference lies in the prawn size and amount of pork ribs, so if it’s within your comfort zone, just go for the middle or the most expensive, because the prawns for the smallest size are really very small and not ‘shiok’.

We ordered both dry and soup versions. Well, both were pretty good, but we thought the dry version was slightly better. The big prawns for both versions were super fresh and juicy; totally worth the splurge!

The dry version was flavourful, with a well-mixed sauce that coated every strand of noodle well, making every mouthful gratifying.

The soup version, on the other hand, lacked something. The broth wasn’t as full-bodied as we had hoped it would be, and after a few sips, came across as bland in fact.

One gripe we had was the amount of soup. The portion was pretty little, and there was not enough soup to last us until the last bite of noodle. While we acknowledge the rising food costs and challenges faced by hawkers, we understand the lessened portions (everywhere, for the matter) but wish there was an option for diners to top up for more soup. We would be more than happy to pay for another bowl or two, to make our meal more gratifying.

That said, Da Dong Prawn Noodles is still worth trying for sure. It is definitely one of the better prawn noodles in Singapore, and a comforting bowl that we’d gladly have any time of the day.

Da Dong Prawn Noodles
354 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427600
Wed to Mon: 7.30am – 2pm

Tiong Bahru Bakery Has Opened A New Outlet In Joo Chiat Along Crane Road

Xinyi Tan — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 04:23:58 +0000

Established in May 2012 on Eng Hoon Street in the Tiong Bahru neighbourhood, Tiong Bahru Bakery has just opened a new outlet in the charming Joo Chiat enclave along Crane Road.

Opened by the Spa Esprit Group which is behind other F&B concepts including Forty Hands, Common Man Coffee Roasters, boCHINche, and Noka, Tiong Bahru Bakery is one of the most popular bakeries in Singapore which is known for its croissants, kouign amann, and coffee.

Known for their authentic artisanal French pastries and desserts, Tiong Bahru Bakery will be offering not only its signature viennoiseries and freshly-brewed coffees at the newest outlet but you can also look forward to the Croffles—in both sweet and savoury forms—that first launched at Tiong Bahru Waterway Point.

Photo credit: TBB

The new cafe has a seating capacity of 58 seats and it will surely be a welcome addition to the Joo Chiat neighbourhood.

It is located at 7 Crane Road, just around the corner from British Hainan.

Tiong Bahru Bakery Crane Road
7 Crane Road, Singapore 429356
Daily from 7.30am to 8pm

Bangkok’s Kohi Coffee Bar Has A Hole-In-The-Wall Coffee Takeaway Kiosk In Joo Chiat

Xinyi Tan — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 09:10:10 +0000

Kohi Roastery & Coffee Bar had its soft launch on 18 Dec 2021 and it is officially opened to the public.

On the menu, Kohi Roastery & Coffee Bar has a small and concise selection of drinks including:

White (dairy/skinny/oat) S$6
Black S$5
Espresso S$4
Espresso Tonic S$7
Coco(nut) Espresso S$7

Kohi Roastery & Coffee Bar Singapore uses a Red Dot Blend which has subtle hints of tropical fruit, citrus, and black tea.

Their signature Kohito (S$7) features ice black coffee with fresh milk and it comes with a subtle hint of mint flavour.

Drop by Kohi Roastery & Coffee Bar Singapore to get a drink after taking photos at Joo Chiat’s colourful shophouses. You can also enjoy your drink and use their wifi in the shared space with Crane on level two.

Kohi Roastery & Coffee Bar Singapore
283/285 Joo Chiat Road
Daily: 11am – 5pm
Crane Joo Chiat

The Brewing Ground – Garden-Themed Cafe In Joo Chiat With All-Day Brunch

ladyironchef — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 08:24:49 +0000

Located at The Yards (the former site of the old Telok Kurau Primary School) in Joo Chiat Place, The Brewing Ground is a pet-friendly cafe that offers all-day brunch and drinks.

Playing on the various definitions of the word ‘brew’, The Brewing Ground offers not only good coffee and beer, but it is also a space for the community to gather.

What we like about The Brewing Ground:

A hidden gem in Joo Chiat
Delicious brunch fare
Ample parking lots at The Yards, Joo Chiat Place
Pretty garden-themed interior
Pet-friendly alfresco area
All-day brunch from 11am – 4pm

The Brewing Ground is a pet-friendly cafe in the east of Singapore that allows dogs in the outdoor area.

On the menu, you can find a selection of all-day brunch and mains from 11am to 4pm and the more popular dishes include the Breakfast Burger (S$20), Crab & Signature Scrambled Eggs on Toast (S$25), and The Brewers Breakfast (S$26)—the full breakfast works with eggs, bacon, cheese sausage, hash brown, sauteed mushrooms and toast.

The Brewing Ground uses single-origin Bespresso beans from Brazil roasted by 2º North Coffee Co.

The Crab & Signature Scrambled Eggs on Toast (S$25) features The Brewing Ground’s signature scrambled eggs, sautéed crabmeat, ikura, and roasted cherry tomatoes on a sourdough toast. The combination of flavours can be a bit too exotic for those who have a lighter palate.

We also had the Avocado & Ricotta Tartine (S$17)—a beautiful assembly of avocado, roasted cherry tomatoes and ricotta on sourdough which came with a side of Mesclun salad. Classic, and will always make us happy. You can also choose to add scrambled eggs (S$5) or maple bacon (S$5) to the toast.

The Brewing Ground
406 Joo Chiat Place, #01-24 The Yards
Tel: +65 8313 6092

20 Food Places In Joo Chiat That Will Make You Wish You Stayed There

Rainer — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 01:00:58 +0000

Preserved to reflect the Peranakan culture in Singapore, the gorgeous shophouses and bungalows that line the streets of Joo Chiat are only one of the many reasons to visit this underrated area in Singapore.

Instagrammable pastel-coloured shophouses aside, Joo Chiat Road is home to many cafés, restaurants and eateries that offer a wide variety of scrumptious grub ranging from traditional Teochew steamboat to artisanal bakery and reinvented nasi lemak.

Here are 20 food places in Joo Chiat that will make you wish you stayed there.

BERGS GOURMET BURGERS

For those who value good quality burgers, BERGS is the place to go. Conveniently nestled just across the street from 112 Katong Mall, BERGS remains as one of the most popular spots amongst those who reside in the area for any burger craving fix.

The burger patties, sauces, and marinades are handcrafted from secret recipes designed to deliver the freshest, most intense mix of sensations and flavours.

45 East Coast Road
Singapore 428765
Tel: +65 6348 8466
Mon to Thu: 11am – 9.30pm
Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 10pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dakota

ENJOUÉ BAKERY

When it comes to artisanal bread and pastries baked fresh, very few do it better than the good folks over at Enjoué Bakery. Specialising in a vast array of quality European-style artisanal bread, pastries and cakes, each and every one of this humble Joo Chiat bakery’s authentic bakes come with sturdy crusts imbued with the natural flavours of fermentation and a robust mouthfeel that is quite unlike any other.

All their products are hand-made, freshly-baked daily and free from any preservatives and other unnatural ingredients. In essence, what you are likely to get is real-deal, healthy loaves that boast spectacular flavour profiles and textures—something you probably will not be able to find at commercial bread shops

174 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427445
Tel: +65 6440 3028
(Closed on Mondays)
Tue to Sat: 8.30am – 5pm
Sun: 8.30am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar

GUAN HOE SOON RESTAURANT

Guan Hoe Soon is possibly Singapore’s oldest Nyonya restaurant that has been dishing out authentic Peranakan fare since 1953.

40 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427764
Tel: +65 6344 2761
Daily: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar

JINJI TEOCHEW TRADITIONAL STEAMBOAT RESTAURANT

The owner has travelled to various countries to pick up the skills needed to execute each dish to an utmost perfection, so you can definitely count on Jinji to indulge in an authentic Teochew meal.

From now until 31 Oct 2018, quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy these promotions (for customers who dine in only) upon making reservations:

- 30% off all steamboat orders (excluding seafood and beef) during lunch daily (not available on Mondays and public holidays).
- Free-flow live drunken prawns for every steamboat order during dinner from Mondays to Fridays (not available during weekends and public holidays). Do note that this is available while stocks last for the day.

176-178 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427447
Tel: +65 6348 8924
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 5pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar

LONG PHUNG

Located just across the street from Jinji Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant and Enjoué Bakery, Long Phung is a restaurant whose menu focuses primarily on Vietnamese cuisine.

Once a hidden gem in Joo Chiat, Long Phung is now a place where many flock to for authentic Vietnamese fare without breaking the bank.

159 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427436
Tel: +65 6440 6959
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar

MR & MRS MOHGAN’S SUPER CRISPY ROTI PRATA

Remarked as one of the best roti prata stalls in Singapore, Mr & Mrs Mohgan’s Super Crispy Roti Prata is located within a shabby, old-world-looking coffee shop named ‘Poh Ho Restaurant’ along Crane Road.

Here they serve real-deal, crispy prata flipped to perfection to give the right amount of crispiness on the edges and a fairly fluffy interior. Their curries—not that you need it—are extremely fragrant and pair well with their doughy goodness.

7 Crane Road
Singapore 429356
Tel: +65 9794 3124
(Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays)
Thu to Sun: 6.30am – 1pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar

NINETHIRTY BY AWFULLY CHOCOLATE

Joo Chiat is where you can find Awfully Chocolate’s flagship store, Ninethirty, which offers a decadent selection of well-loved comfort food and of course, the famed chocolatier’s desserts.

Besides their toothsome chocolate-centric confectionery and desserts, you can expect a tantalising array of hearty mains in the likes of pasta dishes and palatable brunch fare.

131 East Coast Road
Singapore 428816
Tel: +65 6345 2190
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri: 12pm – 1am
Sat: 9.30am – 1am
Sun: 9.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Paya Lebar

SINPOPO BRAND

Sinpopo Brand is an extremely charming retro café that sits amongst the many shophouses in Joo Chiat. Boasting an extensive menu of traditional local favourites that have been reinvented to form creative dishes, what you can expect is a unique dining experience unlike any other.

From quirky mains that bring out nostalgia, an interior decked with minimalist furnishings and an innovative drink and dessert menu, what’s there to not love about Sinpopo Brand?

458 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Mon to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Dakota

WALAKU

Whipping up traditional Malay fare with modern interpretations is Walaku, a humble bistro nestled along the streets of Joo Chiat. Some of their innovative dishes include the Seafood Mee Goreng (S$8) and the Lemak Chilli Api Soft Shell Crab Pasta (S$15.90).

For a more comforting and traditional meal that will nonetheless leave your tummy satisfied, opt for the Ayam Goreng Rempah Nasi Lemak (S$7.80).

110 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427402
Tel: +65 6284 2420
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Eunos

WERNER’S OVEN

Werner’s Oven is a traditional German restaurant and bakery that prides itself in serving authentic and handmade bread and wursts.

Over the years, they have up kept the conventions of the Germanic culinary and baking methods while introducing innovative alterations to suit the taste buds of both Asian and Western guests.

49 Joo Chiat Place
Singapore 427773
Tel: +65 6442 3897
Tue to Sun: 8.30am – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Eunos

Jinji Teochew Steamboat – Traditional Teochew Steamboat Restaurant With Amazing Teochew Dishes

ladyironchef — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 05:45:08 +0000

Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant is a no-frills and utterly unpretentious steamboat restaurant along Joo Chiat Road that stands out against all other places not just for the affordability of its food, but also the authenticity and marvellous quality of the Teochew fare. They stick to the tried-and-proven methods of keeping things simple, with a myriad of dishes suitable for casual dining and gatherings

You know that this is the real deal you step into the restaurant and see countless photos of celebrities who have dined at the restaurant plastering the wall. The owner has travelled to and worked in various countries to pick up the skills needed to execute each dish perfectly, so as to ensure that only the most authentic and best-grade dishes are brought to the table.

Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant is a clear hit amongst the older generations and it is definitely one that young adults alike should hit up for a wholesome, communal meal.

And you’d love to know that at Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant, the owner promises you something: if the food is not good and fresh, they will refund you. Money back guaranteed is the best guarantee for a good meal, right?

EVERYTHING IS MADE FROM SCRATCH

Even the chilli is a star in its own rights. You have to try every single dip for your steamboat; they are made fresh in-house daily!

STEAMBOAT IS THE WAY TO GO

The star and centrepiece of this restaurant is definitely their steamboat. Every table should order a steamboat for sharing, on top of all the a la carte dishes that you may wish to add on.

Their signature soup base is a best described as a labour of love—the chefs prepare and wash the necessary bones and carcasses before adding them into a giant pot with their speciality ingredient—shark cartillage—then have them all boiled for over 5 hours daily.

The result is a creamy collagen-rich broth that is both savoury and sweet, and highly addictive. Even though we were stuffed by the end of the meal, we couldn’t help but have one last bowl of soup before leaving.

Prices start from just S$10 for 2 to 4 people, with a plethora of ingredients to choose and help yourself to.

FRESH SILVER POMFRET

You can look forward to a variety of seafood dishes to elevate your steamboat experience. The Silver Pomfret (seasonal price), in particular, is set to impress with its freshness. Afterall, what is Teochew cuisine without a good pomfret, right?

Wild-caught from Surabaya—which is known to have the best quality and sweetest Chinese Pomfret around—you can tell how fresh it is right from the moment your teeth sink into the white flesh that is soft yet firm at the same time.

We are telling you that quantities are limited so if you’re in luck, you have to go for it because it is worthy of the splurge.

DRUNKEN PRAWNS

The Drunken Prawns (S$8/100g) is something you cannot miss out on. Fresh prawns are intoxicated with Chinese wine and herbs, allowing the wine’s flavour to permeate throughout the body, intensifying the natural sweetness of every single prawn.

As mentioned, do not forget to flash this advertorial upon sitting down for steamboat during dinner hours. From Mondays to Fridays, every table with a steamboat order will enjoy free-flow drunken prawns. You are in for a real treat, guys.

HOME-MADE FISH PASTE AND FISH BALLS

Handmade from scratch, the fish balls are a must to order—everything from the mixing of ingredients to the shaping of the fish balls are prepared by hand without taking the easy way out.

You can literally taste the difference when you bite into these bouncy delights and it is amazing how they managed to conceal the fishy odour without compromising on the taste.

Another dish you must make sure to order up would be Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant’s signature squid paste fillet—made using 99% fish paste and 1% vegetables and chestnuts without the use of flour at all, you know that what you get here is undoubtedly the real deal.

VARIETY OF PREMIUM MEATS

No steamboat is ever complete without meats. Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant offers an array of high-quality meats that are imported from USA and Brazil—while it did not particularly blow our minds, these meats are definitely not something that we would decline.

Here you can choose from meat including USA Prime Beef (S$12 per portion), Pork Belly (S$9 per portion) and Fresh Chicken (S$8 per portion).

CLASSIC A LA CARTE TEOCHEW DISHES

Steamboat just ain’t enough when dining at Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant. We suggest you save some space for some of Jinji’s equally delectable array of Teochew a la carte dishes.

The a la carte items do not come packaged with fancy accessories nor over-the-top creations but the simplicity of it is precisely why we love their Teochew fare. Here are some of the sumptuous dishes you can expect at Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant.

PORK KNUCKLE

Should you be looking for something more indulgent, the Pork Knuckle (S$30) will go highly recommended. Boy, this dish checks all the boxes for what a good pork knuckle should taste like.

Upon your first bite, be prepared to be impressed by the crisp texture of the crackling skin before digging into tender and succulent pork meat.

TRADITIONAL SALTED CHICKEN

The Traditional Salted Chicken (S$18) may be light in seasoning but that itself is enough to leave us satisfied. There is nothing fancy going on in this dish but every piece of chicken is extremely flavourful, making this a simple but hearty dish that we’d return for.

GOLDEN PRAWNS

Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant isn’t afraid to boast the variety of cooking methods that they have which can transform a seemingly simple seafood into a myriad of dishes.

The Golden Prawns (S$30) is one of the many prawn dishes that they offer. Despite being heavily coated in a crisp and golden layer of flour, it was surprisingly light in flavour and that only served to accentuate the flavour of the prawns.

JADE KAI LAN

Who would have thought that a vegetable dish would excite the entire table of diners? Well, the Jade Kai Lan (S$12) was one that we wiped out within minutes.

We thought that kai lan is best enjoyed when stir-fried, but this dish proved us wrong. Stir-fried kai lan is hidden below a stack of deep-fried pieces of the same vegetable, bringing you a textural variety that is nothing short of impressive. The latter reminds us of crispy kale!

BRINJAL WITH PORK FLOSS

The Brinjal with Pork Floss (S$12) may be a fairly straightforward item on the menu but it is still a remarkable one at that.

Deep-fried brinjal pieces are covered with a generous amount of pork floss, curry leaves and chilli; this dish is a winner. The different textures made it a delightful side dish to munch on and it will forever change your impression of brinjal.

GOLDEN PUMPKIN

The Golden Pumpkin is essentially deep-fried pumpkin slices doused in a rich and piquant salted egg sauce that will have salted egg yolk fans swooning in no time.

Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant
176-178 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427447
Tel: +65 6348 8924
Tue to Sun: 12pm – 2.30pm
Mon to Sun: 5pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

This post is brought to you by Teochew Traditional Steamboat Restaurant.

The 1925 Brewing Co. – Local Microbrewery In Joo Chiat With The Best Tiramisu

Julee Ooi — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 01:00:30 +0000

The 1925 Brewing Co. is a local microbrewery and restaurant that is a passion project from three members of the Yeo family who run the business and food direction of this dining establishment.

Joining the enclave of established cafes and bars along Joo Chiat Road, the establishment’s second outlet may initially strike you as a simple drinking place where you can get affordable beers but really, it is more than just that.

Their forward-looking philosophy is a major plus point as diners can always expect something creative when it comes to their food offerings; their signature craft beers are brewed in-house and the beer-inspired grub they have been dishing out since they first began operations in 2014 is impeccable, to say the least.

At the beating heart of operations is a selective range of craft beers on tap brewed by them—each with its own story to tell. For those who are curious about the stories behind those beers, have a chat with the friendly bartenders who are more than willing to share!

Most of the craft beers are priced at S$7++ for half a pint and S$14++ if you opt for the full pint.

Yellow Van—their signature craft beer—is a pale ale that’s crisp, sweet and refreshing on the taste buds, which we can imagine to be very popular among the ladies. For those who prefer something stronger, the Jewel Of Africa Smoky Porter is closer to a stout and it comes with a hint of coffee flavour.

The 1925 Brewing Co.’s food menu is designed to be paired with the beers so there is nothing pretentious—just small plates with wholesome flavours that hit the right spot.

Their Pork Belly (S$10++) is easily one of the better renditions we have tried. In a mouthful, there was a textural variety that came from the crispy skin that held on to tender and succulent meat. The accompanying garlic aioli and sour plum powder heightened the overall flavour of the dish.

A more substantial option is the Shacha Rice (S$8++), an Asian dish peppered with garlic, dried shrimps and given a dash of chilli oil. While it is certainly on the pricier side for its small portion, the dish is nonetheless addictive and will fill you up fast if you are feeling hungry.

Chicken Skewers (S$6++) is a simpler side whereby the meats are dusted with Sze Chuan peppers, coriander powder and cumin. We enjoyed the intensely-rich chicken skewers with light pale ale but there wasn’t anything, in particular, we were impressed with.

There are two options on the dessert menu and it is the Tiramisu (S$15++) you have to get. Its simple aesthetics may fool you but take it from us that this is the real deal. Comprising Patron Cafe XO, a tequila-based coffee liqueur, and espresso, this is one dessert we will definitely find ourselves travelling back to the east of Singapore for.

The 1925 Brewing Co.
261 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427515
Tel: +65 6909 1425
Tue to Sun: 4pm – 1am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Dakota/Eunos

Read: The ultimate guide to cafes in the east of Singapore.

British Hainan – Charming Old-School Restaurant In Joo Chiat

Dick Tan — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 02:46:08 +0000

British Hainan is a quaint family-run restaurant tucked away along Carpmael Road in the estates of Joo Chiat. They serve a myriad of classic British dishes with a Hainanese twist, but the dishes to die for include their signature oxtail stew and their braised lamb shank.

The owner, Mr. Frederick Puah, considers himself an aficionado of antiques and all things vintage, so dining here will no doubt give you a feel of the good old days. Expect to find age-old vinyl records, old gramophones, and even a public pay phone.

Combining great food, old-school vibes, and exceptional service standards, British Hainan is a place that deserves a visit by generations old and new.

British Hainan exudes a homely feel with no regards whatsoever to organisation—antiques can be seen strewn all over the place. Nonetheless, this organised chaos is precisely why we find this humble establishment so charming.

They cater more to dinner crowds, and only open for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays.

British Hainan’s Sambal Wings (S$8) arrived piping hot and they were well fried without being oily. The sambal sauce was incredibly fragrant and we liked that just the right amount of sambal sauce was used, ensuring that the chicken wings still retained its crispiness.

The Traditional Hainanese Oxtail Stew (S$27.90) is no doubt our favourite item on the menu—this is a stew that is hard to beat. The oxtail itself is melt-off-the-bone tender and the sauce is incredibly luscious without being too heavy, unlike many other stews we have tried.

An interesting point to note is that their stew base is sweetened using root vegetables and fruits such as sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and carrots, not regular cane sugar. The restaurant also prides themselves with not using MSG in any of their dishes.

When the Hainanese Pork Chop (S$14.90) arrived, we were a little taken aback because it did not look like anything special—but how wrong we were. Upon taking the first bite, we were transported to textural and flavour heaven.

The pork chop was incredibly crunchy and the sauce that accompanied it was immensely flavourful. The sauce is sweetened the same way as their stews with no MSG.

British Hainan is undoubtedly one of our favourite restaurants in the East Coast neighbourhood for the very simple reason that it is a place brimming with great food and humble hosts who will do their utmost to ensure you feel at home every time.

British Hainan
75 Carpmael Road
Tel: +65 6336 8122
Sun to Thu: 6pm - 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

Sinpopo Brand – Hipster Retro Cafe In The East You Legit Must Visit

ladyironchef — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 02:15:09 +0000

The aesthetic appeal of Sinpopo Brand will first catch your eyes then lure you into the cafe. Then, it is the vintage-retro and laidback vibes that will charm you and entice you to take a seat.

With a menu of traditional local favourites with modern interpretations, Sinpopo Brand is an extremely charming retro café that sits amongst the many shophouses in Joo Chiat. It is one that never ceases to impress, both with its vibe and food.

Based on feedback from its regulars, Sinpopo Brand has introduced several new dishes and drinks which are more familiar with the locals. Now, let us discuss the dishes that are worth your calories and will make you want to visit the cafe.

OUR FAVOURITE KOPITIAM DRINKS SERVED IN THE FORM OF COCKTAILS

Fancy your morning glass of Teh-O Peng in a cocktail glass? Sinpopo Brand’s Special Teh-O Peng (S$5) doesn’t steer too far from what the classic “kopitiam drink” should taste like—sweet and dense in every sip. Sinpopo Brand has also added a subtle hint of pandan to give it a fragrant and stronger taste.

And when served in a cocktail glass? Yes, Instagram time.

If you enjoy grandma’s traditional brew of red dates and longan, you will come to love Sinpopo Brand’s Red Date & Longan Tea (S$5). Revitalising and packed with Vitamin C, this traditional speciality is served to you in a beautiful martini glas. Same same but different.

One word came to mind when our Gula Melaka Shake (S$8) was served to us: Chendol. The colour of the drink itself topped with chendol jelly and drizzled with Gula Melaka somehow screamed ‘local’s favourite’. We totally love the blend of sweet, fragrant gula melaka in coconut ice-cream.

We would expect the Gula Melaka Shake to be thicker in coconut flavour, but the Pandan Shake (S$8) came along with an even thicker coconut base. Just like a creamy pandan cake, the drink is rich in coconut and definitely a drink fit for all of you with a sweet tooth.

TWO NEW MAINS TO TRY

One of Sinpopo Brand’s tweaked recipes, Baked Cod with Dao Jio Crust (S$18), was originally termed ‘Baked Salmon’.

Now, instead of salmon, it is a thick slice of straight-from-the-oven cod sitting atop a bed of glass noodles. We were undeniably mesmerised by this gorgeous main dish that emerged from the kitchen.

The blend of glass noodles with the cod was well executed and the seasoning in the noodles gave the cod so much more flavour.

Curry Pai Kwuat (pork rib)—once a local favourite dish—is a delicacy you can hardly find in Singapore nowadays. Sinpopo Brand has brought back this famous Hainanese curry dish and tweaked it slightly to elevate it to the next level.

There is still the rich and robust curry that everyone is familiar with but what makes it better than the traditional dish is the use of premium pork ribs. Served with a side of steamed rice, egg and crispy potatoes which are first cooked in curry before being fried, the Curry Pai Kwuat (S$18) is one dish that you should not miss at Sinpopo Brand. Do note that it is available for a limited time only.

NEW BAKES WITH CALORIES WORTH GAINING

The Pandan Kaya Tart (S$7) is a soft and richly flavoured dessert that comes with a delectable crumbly crust. The curd is smooth and every bite screams nostalgia. You know, you really shouldn’t be too bothered about that new pair of skinny jeans you bought when you have something this good.

AND NOT FORGETTING SINPOPO BRAND’S SIGNATURE DISHES

The Nasi Lemak Set and Sliced Wagyu Horfan are some honourable mentions and you may want to try them if it is your first ever visit to Sinpopo Brand.

SINPOPO BRAND’S NASI LEMAK (FOR 2)

This is basically our local favourite with six side dishes. Steamed coconut rice is free flow and served with the house special har jeong kai wings (so damn good!), lam yu-marinated pork belly, luncheon meat crisps, rojak slaw and sambal fishballs.

At S$28 for this massive spread, your taste buds will be spoilt with an explosion of familiar flavours that will linger in your mouth (and mind) for a long, long time.

SINPOPO BRAND SLICED WAGYU HORFUN

Have you tried fried horfun? One of the cafe’s bestsellers is the Sliced Wagyu Horfun (S$18). It is tossed with tender wagyu slices, crispy garlic, sliced onions, spices and you can squeeze a little lime if you enjoy a bit of a sour finish.

Sinpopo Brand
458 Joo Chiat Rd Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Tue to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Closed on Mon
Nearest Station: Dakota

This post is brought to you by Sinpopo Brand.

Sinpopo Brand: New Afternoon Tea Set At S$30+ For 2 Pax & Complimentary Bottle Of Cookies

ladyironchef — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 10:30:29 +0000

Sinpopo Brand along Joo Chiat Road is one very outstanding retro cafe that we absolutely love visiting for they always have new ideas to surprise us on every visit.

Apart from its local-style menu, you will be filled with nostalgia with songs from the 60s and its old-school interior; Sinpopo Brand is truly a local gem that reflects Singapore’s past.

Gather some friends and have a lovely time chit-chatting over Sinpopo Brand’s new Weekday (Tue to Fri) Afternoon Tea Set at S$30+ for 2 pax, from 2.30pm to 5.30pm.

For our readers, quote “Ladyironchef” along with this post to receive a complimentary bottle of Sugee Biscuits (U.P. S$12+) OR Salted Egg Yolk Cookies (U.P. S$12+).

SINPOPO BRAND’S AFTERNOON TEA SET FOR 2 PAX

For S$30+, you and your afternoon tea companion get to enjoy a slice of Sugee Loaf Cake, a slice of Durian Pengat or Gula Melaka Cake, 1 Roasted Marshmallow with Salted Kachang & Gula Melaka Ice Cream, a serving of Gula Melaka Jelly, 4 pieces of Sugee Biscuits or Salted Egg Yolk Cookies, and choice of any 2 drinks (any coffee or tea).

That’s only S$15+ per person for a whole lot of treats if you think about it!

ROASTED MARSHMALLOW WITH SALTED KACHANG & GULA MELAKA ICE CREAM

You may know how gula melaka ice cream tastes like, but have you tried Gula Melaka Ice Cream encased in a roasted marshmallow and topped off with salted peanuts? With the sweetness from the fluffy marshmallow and saltiness from the peanuts, it felt like a wild party of flavours in our mouths.

This newly curated chilled dessert is definitely one to look out for!

DURIAN PENGAT

If you are a regular reader, you would know that the Durian Pengat at Sinpopo Brand is our weakness (or we have a soft spot for it). Now these guys have come up with a Durian Pengat Cake using that sinful homemade pengat, and it’s just so luscious. When we dug into its rich creamy pengat and pandan cake layers, we fell in love all over again.

Usually only available online, you can now try it with the limited tea set promotion!

GULA MELAKA CAKE

Do not despair if durian is not your calling because you can choose to have Sinpopo’s signature Gula Melaka Cake instead! You can see the distinct layers of gula melaka fudge in between thick slices of moist cake topped off with gula melaka glaze. Sinfully rich, this is one for the sweet tooth.

SUGEE LOAF CAKE AND GULA MELAKA JELLY

Reintroduced in a loaf cake version this Chinese New Year, the delightfully light, moist and fragrant Sugee Loaf Cake, made of Sugee, almond and browned butter, is best eaten with the generous portion of vanilla bean cream.

Just when we thought that the Gula Melaka Jelly might be overshadowed by everything else, it was surprisingly light and refreshing addition to the tea set. We liked having the jelly in between bites to alternate with the strong flavours.

TWO AROMATIC DRINKS OF YOUR CHOICE

Choose any coffee or tea from Sinpopo Brand’s menu with every order of the weekday Afternoon Tea Set.

Of course, we would pick the signature Sinpopo Teh Tarik Special and Kopi Peng because not only are these perennial favourites on the drinks menu, they are ever comforting. Nothing beats a good cup of Singapore-style teh and kopi, yes?

Other coffee selections on their drinks menu are Kopi Macchiato, Cappucino, Long Black and Flat White; while tea choices include Earl Grey, Turkish Apple, Roman Chamomile and so on.

SUGEE BISCUITS OR SALTED EGG YOLK COOKIES

Cookies at Sinpopo Brand are not to be overlooked. Trust us on this; we’ve had several bottles ourselves. These amazing bite-sized crumbly cookies are so addictive!

The Sugee biscuits bring along such a nostalgic taste with strong buttery notes, while the salted egg yolk cookies with curry leaves are a heavier option bearing the distinct saltiness that all of us love.

Do come down to enjoy Sinpopo Brand’s new Weekday (Tue to Fri) Afternoon Tea Set at S$30+ for 2 pax (U.P. S$46.50+) from 17 Jan 2017 to 28 Feb 2017, 2.30pm to 5.30pm, and remember to quote’ ladyironchef’ along with this post to receive a complimentary bottle of Sugee Biscuits (U.P. S$12+) or Salted Egg Yolk Cookies (U.P. S$12+).

Sinpopo Brand’s operational hours during Chinese New Year 2017:
27 Jan: 12pm – 5pm (only for CNY Hamper collection)
28 to 30 Jan: closed
31 Jan: 12pm – 10pm

Sinpopo Brand
458 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Tue to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Dakota

This post is brought to you by Sinpopo Brand.

Sinpopo Brand – Retro Cafe With Local Food Reinvented

ladyironchef — Mon, 26 Sep 2016 01:00:22 +0000

Nestled in between the shophouses on Joo Chiat Road is Sinpopo Brand, one of our favourite cafes with a strong touch of nostalgia. The cafe boasts a retro rustic ambience – think wooden tables, checkered floor tiles, antique light bulbs, Bruce Lee posters and songs from the 60′s.

Nothing spells comfort to a Singaporean more than Nasi Lemak and Hor Fun – which is exactly what Sinpopo Brand is known for. However, what distinguishes Sinpopo Brand from the usual hawker centre food besides the vintage interiors of the cafe, is how they deliver local food that comes with a twist.

On our previous visit, we shared several of our favourite bites from Sinpopo Brand. Since then, the concept cafe has introduced new additions. There is a Salted Vegetable Duck Soup that totally reminded us of grandma’s cooking, a Muah Chee Salad and an extremely photogenic Gula Melaka Chendol Parfait!

Readers of Ladyironchef can enjoy any dessert for just S$5 with any 2 main dishes or Nasi Lemak for Two ordered.

Here are our favourite Mod-Sin Dishes from Sinpopo Brand That Are Worth The Calories.

YUMMY APPETIZERS

Move aside, boring salads.

We initially mistook the Muah Chee Salad’s (S$12++) golden-brown chunks as croutons, but they are actually fried Muah Chees. Can you believe that these traditional glutinous rice balls are now incorporated in salads?

Instead of tossing them in ground peanut, these chewy delights are rolled in a batter and fried till its exteriors are crisp. The Muah Chees surprisingly go well with the myriad of fresh greens, parmesan cheese and sesame seeds. Kudos to Sinpopo Brand for such an ingenious invention!

Now you may find this rather odd, but the Wedges & Curry (S$6++) was another dish that won us all over. This humble-looking dish to be so damn addictive! There was a sense of familiarity, like the curry Mom makes at home. It’s true – sometimes the simplest of things brings the most gratification.

NONYA KIAM CHYE ARG!

Many locals enjoy salted vegetable duck soup and the hot peppery broth is said to dispel internal body heat. This Chinese delicacy is known for its strong salty and sour taste that is good for whetting one’s appetite before a meal.

What constitutes a good bowl of salted vegetable duck soup for us is the right blend of saltiness from the salted vegetables, sweetness from the duck meat and a tangy sourness that is not overbearing.

Happy to declare that Sinpopo Brand’s Nonya Kiam Chye Arg! (S$16++) ticks all the above boxes. The cherry on top? Or should we say the duck on top, my friends, is a whole duck leg confit that is wonderfully crisp and even better when eaten with the belachan chilli served on the side.

SLICED WAGYU HOR FUN

The Sinpopo Sliced Wagyu Hor Fun (S$18++) is one of the cafe’s bestsellers. The uniqueness lies in its drastically different texture. These hor fun noodles have been painstakingly soaked in a semi-salty beef broth before being cooked till it becomes fish maw-like.

Complemented with fork-tender wagyu slices, ground peanut, sliced onions, red chilli, coriander leaves and a lime wedge, this mind-blowing dish is indeed worthy of being one of Sinpopo Brand’s signatures.

SINPOPO CRAB BEE HOON

The Sinpopo Crab Bee Hoon (S$16++) is another hearty soup dish. Ultra-thin vermicelli dunked in a savoury broth, and completed with a huge dollop of delectable crabmeat. Everyone at the table was nodding their head in unison and singing praises about this stellar bowl.

LOCAL FLAVOURED DESSERTS

As Awfully Chocolate’s sister company, Sinpopo Brand places much pride in their desserts. We always love a good serving of sweets when at Sinpopo Brand, for they are really good at crafting delectable desserts with a local touch.

New desserts that are going up on the menu are Sinpopo’s Super Chendol Parfait, Durian Puff and Marshmallow Cheesecake.

The Sinpopo’s Super Chendol Parfait (S$10++) is an impressive elaborate dessert served in a martini glass. A scoop of gula melaka ice cream is placed atop a bed of chendol and finished with a jiggly konnyaku palm sugar jelly. Dig further in and you will find attap chees and red bean paste. Yum! What calories?

The Durian Puffs are going at S$5.90++ for one and S$20++ for four. Upon digging into it with a spoon, the crisp biscuity exterior broke apart to reveal rich creamy durian pengat encased inside.

The Marshmallow Cheesecake (S$7++) is a new dessert addition that deserves to be raved about. The sweet treat has successfully combined the contrasting textures of stickiness, softness and crumbliness into a divine creation. You can expect a dense New York-style Cheesecake – with a crumbly base – covered with torched marshmallow fluff. Sinful yet delicious.

From now till 31 October 2016, readers of Ladyironchef can enjoy an exclusive deal when dining at Sinpopo Brand! With any 2 main dishes or Nasi Lemak for Two ordered, enjoy any dessert for just S$5!

For the latest updates, go to www.sinpopo.com and like them on Facebook and Instagram.

Sinpopo Brand
458 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Tue to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Dakota

This post is brought to you by Sinpopo Brand.

Ninethirty by awfullychocolate – Comforting Western Dishes With Asian Touches

ladyironchef — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 08:23:16 +0000

Stepping into Ninethirty by awfullychocolate in East Coast Road is like visiting a long lost friend at his/her home. An immediate sense of comfort welcomes you, and your senses will be drawn to the aromatic smells wafting from the kitchen.

Ninethirty also doubles up as the flagship Awfully Chocolate store, and it is the only concept of its kind in Singapore.

It is a casual bistro that is suitable for a night out with a group of friends, or a date with your partner. It is nothing too fancy, just a simple and unpretentious space that serves a reasonably-priced menu of comforting Western food with Asian touches, chocolate cocktails as well as the most amazing chocolate desserts.

ONE EGG SOUP

This should be no stranger to those who frequent Everything With Fries at Holland Village, as it was one of the most popular starters there. The One Egg Soup (S$11) is a comforting bowl of soup that is, well you guessed it, prepared with one egg. Topped with a delicious egg white soufflé, it is so simple a dish, but so so good.

Flavourful when served warm, with the addition of truffle oil, the One Egg Soup is what we’d like to think of as unadulterated joy. The warmth and taste of this soup really reflects humble comfort food, elevated with the use of truffle oil.

BRAISED BEEF KARUBI

The Braised Beef Karubi (S$23) was extremely tender and well seasoned. And even though the beef was the star of the show, we couldn’t stop munching on the roasted garlic fries served on the side. This rustic dish is certainly calling out to all you beef lovers out there!

CHARGRILLED PORK CHOP

Look at that glistening beauty! We were blown away just looking at Ninethirty’s stunning Chargrilled Pork Chop (S$21). You see, pork chops can easily be overcooked, but thankfully, when we cut through our piece, the meat inside was still moist and tender.

The browned butter and garlic sauce, generally drizzled on top with more on the side, was what sealed it for us. Oh, we sure enjoyed the caramelised onion relish on the side too. And yes, more fries, please!

LAKSA TAGLIATELLE

With the famous Katong Laksa stalls in the vicinity, we were close to writing this out. We can be skeptical at times, but we were speechless when we sunk our teeth into the al dente tagliatelle with the laksa sauce. Damn, the Laksa Tagliatelle (S$20) is the perfect marriage of European and Asian styles and flavours, and boy was it amazing!

The mussels were fresh and generously offered with the pasta. The addition of crisp okra really delighted us as it added a nice bite when eaten all together. Now, we should have known better than to be too quick to judge and write things off. This Laksa Tagliatelle, you have to try.

MAC & CHEESE

We can’t be the only ones who get all excited when we see Mac & Cheese on the menu, yes?

This Mac & Cheese (S$18) here at Ninethirty sure had us jumping in joy; we are not even kidding. Rigatoni pasta is used for a more substantial texture, and the chunky pasta does its job in absorbing the cheeses. You would want to eat this warm to enjoy its best flavours.

MUSSELS & FRIES

Yup, you heard us right. Mussels & Fries (S$20) are a thing and they are here to stay. But this is not your usual Western mussels, guys. The distinct taste of lemongrass and spices used for the mussel broth had us reminded of Thai green curry. Comforting like that.

We were delighted to find a generous serving of mussels used and also a mountain of fries on the side. And you know what is the best way to enjoy the fries? Dunk them into the mussel broth, guys!

PINK SALMON

Nothing screams comfort food like a tomato-based spaghetti dish. The Pink Salmon (S$20) is a sophisticated take on the traditional Bolognese. The seared salmon perched on top of the pasta features a massive portion cooked to perfection – still slightly dark pink on the side and extremely moist on the inside.

The tomato-based spaghetti really felt like something an Italian grandmother would dish out – rustic, hearty and oh-so-addictive. It is something that we wouldn’t mind coming back again for more and more. Some things stay gold like that.

BRIOCHE FRENCH TOAST

This dish is so delicious, we wish it wasn’t only served on weekends and public holidays (from 10am to 10pm). A creamy peanut butter spread (yes!!!) is slathered generously in between in-house baked brioche toast. The bun itself is soft on the inside and lightly toasted outside.

Look out for the almond streusel tossed all around for the crisp texture really complimented the intense flavours well. It is official – we are addicted to Ninethirty’s Brioche French Toast (S$16).

MARTINIS & DRINKS

If you are a huge fan of awfullychocolate’s decadent Rum & Cherry whole cake, you will be happy to know that they now have a Chocolate Rum & Cherry (S$8) drink that is out to satisfy you just as much. Can’t finish the whole cake yourself? No biggie because this drink is a great alternative to curb your cravings.

And yes to local spin on milkshakes. The Gula Melaka Jackfruit Shake (S$8) is a sweet milk shake with rich gula melaka notes. You can taste the perfect weave of coconut ice cream, jackfruit, gula melaka and coconut milk altogether in one unassuming cup. Extremely refreshing!

Now, if you can’t decide between having a cocktail or a dessert, the Dark Chocolate Martini (S$15) is a perfect after-dinner drink. Have the best of both worlds this way, we say! Rich chocolatey goodness and alcohol sounds like a match made in heaven.

AWFULLY CHOCOLATE SIGNATURE DESSERTS

Any meal at Ninethirty wouldn’t be complete without a single scoop of the iconic Hei Ice Cream, traditionally served in an adorable takeaway box. However, here at Ninethirty, you can have it on a tall metal glass when you dine in. Rich and extremely concentrated in chocolate flavours, we dare say you can’t find a decent dupe of this ice cream anywhere else.

Apart from Hei ice cream, don’t forget to try the cake that started it all – the Awfully Chocolate All Chocolate Cake (6” at $34). Also available in 2 other flavours – Chocolate Banana Cake ($36) and Chocolate Rum & Cherry Cake ($38).

Ninethirty by awfullychocolate
131 East Coast Rd
Singapore 428816
Tel: +65 6345 2190
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri: 12pm – 1am
Sat: 9.30am – 1am
Sun: 9.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Dakota

This post is brought to you by Ninethirty by awfullychocolate.

13 Cafes In Tanjong Katong And Joo Chiat For The East Siders

Editorial — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 03:00:20 +0000

The Katong district used to be home to countless of prestigious residential estates up to the mid 20th century. It was later taken over by the government and rebuilt to what we see today – donned with Peranakan-inspired shophouses, and in them lies many hidden gems and secrets. The famed Katong Laksa is located in the vicinity too.

And in the recent years, the number of cafes we can find at Tanjong Katong or Joo Chat is increasing. It is undoubtedly a prime spot in the eyes of cafe owners, and we can see new themed establishments emerging in the area. We are often jealous of the dining choices that residents living there can get; well, it is almost impossible to run out of food options if you live in that district. But anything for food; we are always dining out at Tanjong Katong and Joo Chiat!

For those who need some help, here is a Guide To The 13 Cafes In Tanjong Katong And Joo Chiat. It might take some time to conquer them all, but it will be fun.

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best cafes in the East of Singapore.

#1 AVENUE CAFE

Opened by a group of interior designers, Avenue Cafe at Joo Chiat Road grants you a chance to experiment with some of their furnitures sold in the cafe, with in-store consultants stationed to attend to your queries. The cafe specialises in hot dogs. With five flavours for you to choose from, they are inspirations from five countries – China, Singapore, Germany, Korea and Mexico.

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454 / 456 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427667
Tel: +65 6779 7153
Thu to Sun: 10am – 10pm
Fri to Sat: 10am – 12am
Nearest Station: Dakota

#2 BAKER’S WELL

This bakery cafe churns out humble homemade goods, packed with love and precision down to the very last ingredient. Fulfil your breakfast needs with some of their bakes; their muffins are made with no butter and less sugar!

35 East Coast Road
Singapore 428754
Tel: +65 6348 6864
Daily: 8am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

#3 CARVERS & CO

Located in the heartlands, Carvers & Co gets you enjoying their hearty roasted meats. The interior boasts a cosy setting, well-loved by many heartlanders who visit the cafe for its simplicity and comfort. They have various menu choices available on weekdays and weekends, so expect to be spoilt for choice.

43 East Coast Road
Singapore 473500
Tel: +65 6348 0448
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

#4 DO MAIN BAKERY

This French Bakery cafe believes in adopting the most authentic hand-pressed techniques to produce their bread and pastries, using ingredients of the best quality. Choose from an abundance of items from their menu, such as their all-day breakfasts, mains to some of the freshest baked goods.

226 Tanjong Katong Road
Singapore 437015
Tel: +65 6348 1406
Tue to Thu, Sun: 8am – 9pm
Fri to Sat: 8am – 10:30pm
Closed on Mon
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

#5 GROUP THERAPY CAFE

Group Therapy Cafe brings about another quiet enclave for some me-time. Sitting in the compounds of Katong V, there are all-day breakfast options, as well as signature pies. Try the Chilli Crab Pie (S$11) for a change from the ubiquitous brunch foods. Sometimes, all we need is a good meal away from the hustle and bustle, yes?

Katong V
30 East Coast Road, #01-11
Singapore 428751
Daily: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

#6 GOBI DESSERT

If you are a big fan of Soufflés, it is time to visit Gobi Desserts. Be set to go on a gastronomical journey with their lovingly-made bite sized desserts which would only leave you yearning for mores. The cafe is also very pretty, yes?

350 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427598
Tel: +65 6345 2127
Mon to Thu: 7am – 9pm
Fri to Sun: 7am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dakota

#7 HOLQA CAFE

Holqa Cafe strives to bring people together and to encourage people to cherish their time with one another – their clause evidently seen with the clocks, cameras and photo frames decked out in the cafe. It is not the most spacious, nor does it have the most striking decor, but it does captivate the patron’s hearts with their selection of locally-infused Western dishes.

37 East Coast Road
Singapore 428755
Tel: +65 6635 7010
Mon to Tue: 12pm – 9pm
Thu to Fri: 12pm – 9pm
Sat to Sun: 9am – 9pm
Closed on Wed
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

#8 LITTLE ICE CREAM KAFE

At Little Ice Cream Kafe, fondly known as LICK, you can find premium homemade ice cream flavours catered to the vast crowd. There are more than 30 flavours for you to choose from! Add on a waffle if you need something more substantial. Ice cream for supper? Yes please!

258 Tanjong Katong Road
Singapore 437046
Tel: +65 6440 8526
Mon to Thu: 1pm – 11pm
Fri to Sat: 11am – 12am
Sun: 1pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

#9 STRICTLY PASTRY

Another cafe at Joo Chiat, Strictly Pastry is not only strictly about pastries. From meringues, cakes, tarts and pastries, pamper your sensory glands with baked goodies fresh from the ovens, painstakingly made with love and a truckload of dedication.

267 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427521
Tel: +65 6348 8837
Mon, Wed: 3pm – 9pm
Thu to Fri: 1pm – 9pm
Sat to Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Closed on Tue
Nearest Station: Dakota

#10 SINPOPO BRAND

By the people behind Awfully Chocolate, Sinpopo Brand transports you back in time with their retro vibes that are bound to invoke nostalgia, not forgetting rustic furnitures and oldies music playing in the background. The menu is locally inspired, and some of the notable finds include the Babi Toast (S$7), house special Nasi Lemak for Two (S$25), and Orange Kaya Pisang Creme Brûlée (S$7).

458 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Tue to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri to Sat: 12pm – 12am
Closed on Mon
Nearest Station: Dakota

#11 THE LANEWAY MARKET

Another pretty place in Tanjong Katong Road is The Laneway Market, whose menu is inspired by various cuisines all around the world. This welcoming cafe is nothing but a delight for us to spend our afternoons in, and the portions of the food are really generous. And, it is probably one of the most photogenic cafes in the area.

266 Tanjong Katong Road
Singapore 437053
Tel: +65 6719 8832
Tue: 4pm – 930pm
Wed to Fri: 11am – 9:30pm
Sat to Sun: 10am – 9:30pm
Closed on Mon
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

#12 TOOTHSOME CAFE

Toothsome Cafe steps out of the norm and offers a different take on cafe food that is closer to home, on top of a plethora of cake selections. The spacious cafe first opened its doors this year, and there is faux lawn at their shopfront for some photo-taking too!

368 Tanjong Katong Road
Singapore 437125
Tel: +65 9823 5048
Mon to Tue, Thu: 9am – 10pm
Fri to Sat: 9am – 11pm
Sun: 9am – 8pm
Closed on Wed
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

#13 WITH A PINCH OF SALT

Located opposite Punggol Nasi Lemak, this bright and jolly cafe is quite a crowd pleaser with its colours and happy vibes. With A Pinch Of Salt dishes out quite an extensive menu of Western and Italian mains, and nothing is overly expensive here.

297 Tanjong Katong Road
Singapore 437080
Tel: +65 6348 2297
Tue to Sun: 11am – 11pm
Closed on Mon
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

Sinpopo Brand – Retro & Nostalgic Cafe Serving Quirky Local Food With A Twist

ladyironchef — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 04:46:21 +0000

Run by the folks behind Awfully Chocolate, Sinpopo Brand is a nostalgic café along Joo Chiat Road and it encompasses everything a good cafe should be – welcoming and cosy, comforting local food with a twist, and exceptionally interesting desserts and drinks. And what Sinpopo impressed us with the most is the attention to details and all its subtle nostalgic touches – evident from the interior and dishes.

Stepping into Sinpopo, their love for all things retro is evident from the design, and it will surely invoke a sense of nostalgia. We were particularly drawn to the menu design too! You will see why when it is your turn to dine there.

Of special name-cards and customised menus modelled after old school attendance books, an old television, songs from the 80′s and 90′s, vintage chairs and tiles, and a kitchen that whets your appetite with comfort fare that we grew up loving, here are some of the things we love so much about Sinpopo Brand.

GREAT APPETIZERS

If you must have your salads, a great choice would be the Frisée Salad with Crispy Muah Chee (S$10). Unlike your usual salads of just greens, Sinpopo has added homemade crispy battered muah chee into a mix for a more badass touch (oops). Well, this can also be thought of as a great choice for vegetarians.

The Crab Wantons (S$8) were filled evenly with creamy crabmeat and served with a side of house dip, reminiscent of our local chilli crab sauce.

For pork lovers, a must-try is the Babi Toast (S$7) which comes with the Thai-style green chilli dip. It will make you forget about staying skinny temporarily.

MAIN COURSES WITH LOCAL TOUCHES

Although Sinpopo offers mains such as Baked Salmon and Char-grilled Pork Chop, they never fail to jazz the dish up with a local element. But when at Sinpopo, we would like to think that the local-style mains should still be in the limelight. We could not sing enough praises of the Bakwan Kepiting (S$16) and Sinpopo Beef Shortrib Horfun (S$16) – comfort food at its finest.

The former is a warm bowl of tasty clear soup broth that comes with three very large meatballs (talk about generous!) and flat rice noodles. A nice little extra gem that comes along with this bowl is an onsen egg, and a side of classic red cut chillies, of course.

The meatballs are springy and packed with pork, crab meat and bamboo shoots. It sounds oddly plain, but having a bowl of the Bakwan Kepiting gives us almost as much gratification as eating Grandma’s cooking.

The Sinpopo Beef Shortrib Horfun is one of their signature dishes and we loved how the execution of this dish is one of a kind. The horfun is first prepared to a crisp texture, before being soaked in a rich and slightly salty beefy broth.

The bowl is topped off with fork-tender short ribs that have been braised for hours, and some fresh cut red chilli, onions and lime.

NASI LEMAK SET FOR 2

If you are visiting Sinpopo with the love of your life, you have to try the house special Nasi Lemak for Two (S$25). Because sharing is caring, and what better way to spend quality time together than enjoying some great local food, right?

For S$25, you get more than your money’s worth with a big variety of ingredients for your nasi. The coconut rice is fragrant and comes with a side of halved onsen egg and caramelised onions; and the rice is free-flow so you can eat to your heart’s content!

The accompanying dishes are, behold – Prawn Paste Chicken (WE LOVE THIS SO DAMN MUCH), Crispy Pork Belly, Ma Ling luncheon chips (a hot seller here and available as an appetizer itself), Rojak Slaw, Sambal Fish Balls, Roasted Potatoes & Curry and Sambal Chilli. So good, you are even encouraged to take a bottle of Sinpopo’s Sambal Chilli home!

DESSERTS WITH A LOCAL TOUCH

Desserts are Sinpopo’s specialty and some of the creations are inspired by their sister company, Awfully Chocolate. All of the sweet treats here at Sinpopo bear very distinct local elements, and there has never been another time when we are so fond of modern desserts with a local twist.

Gula Melaka is a special taste and not many can master the art of preparing it to the right consistency and sweetness. Thankfully, Sinpopo has aced the preparation of Gula Melaka, producing at least 3 different desserts featuring this delightful ingredient.

We leave it to you to decide which to order, but let’s just say the Gula Melaka sells like hotcakes.

Fans of Awfully Chocolate may find the presentation of this cake familiar as the style of layering is similar to the ever-popular Super Stacked Cake from Awfully Chocolate. If you are worried that the Gula Melaka Cake (S$7) might be overwhelmingly sweet, you will be happy to know that this cake sports just the right amount of gula melaka and is fragrant as it can be.

Yes, more gula melaka because we simply cannot get enough of it! Crunchy doughnuts are slathered with gula melaka with a side of kopi affogato. Sinpopo’s Doughtnuts & Gula (S$8) might look like a novelty but it is assuredly enjoyable. If we may, this will get many likes on Instagram.

Where do we even begin? The Orange Kaya Pisang Crème Brûlée (S$7) sounds more than complicated, but it is really a simple twist of the usual rich custard dessert. Using orange kaya as the base flavour, Sinpopo’s take on the classic French dessert comes with a pleasant Singapore twist, and the top note of pisang (banana) married the orange kaya really well.

The Durian Pengat (S$9) is served all year round and you need not wait till it is the durian season to enjoy this dessert! We were stoked when we were first presented this dessert, because the amount of durian used is pretty generous. It is topped off with a refreshing scoop of coconut ice cream and some crisp browned butter croutons.

The Chilled Pandan Soufflé (S$9) was such a stunner and all of us couldn’t contain our excitement. Pandan is infused into the chilled cottony soufflé and served with almond streusel and a sesame dentelle. As the soufflé is chilled, you have to eat it quickly before it “melts”.

Quote ‘Ladyironchef” or flash this post on your mobile for a complimentary Sng Muay Pop (u.p. $5) with every Gorgeous Mains purchased. This promotion is valid until 31 August 2015.

For the latest updates, go to www.sinpopo.com and like them on Facebook and Instagram.

Sinpopo Brand
458 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Tue to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Dakota

This post is brought to you by Sinpopo Brand.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice Singapore

ladyironchef — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 01:00:12 +0000

Hainanese chicken rice is Singapore’s national dish, it is a must-eat food when you are here. When you ask locals for recommendations, it is impossible to agree on which is the best chicken rice in Singapore as everyone has their own favourites.

However, no one will deny that Tian Tian Chicken Rice is one of the most famous chicken rice stalls. It even gained the approval of Anthony Bourdain when he was in Singapore.

Tian Tian has expanded from a humble hawker stall in Maxwell Road into a restaurant at Joo Chiat Road. Instead of eating at the hawker centre, you can now choose to dine in comfort, and it also offers a relatively big menu that includes zi char dishes such as Sambal Kangkong ($6), Hainanese Pork Chop ($8), and Assam Fish Slices ($10).

We all have our favourite joints and the truth about which one reigns supreme varies. For me, Tian Tian is one of my favourite chicken rice in Singapore, and I always bring my overseas guests here to try this famous local dish.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
443 Joo Chiat Road
Tel: +65 6345 9443
Daily: 10.30am – 10.30pm

Maxwell Road
#01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre
Tel: +65 9691 4852
Tue to Sun: 11am – 8pm

Xu Jun Sheng Teochew Porridge Joo Chiat

ladyironchef — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 04:13:09 +0000

Unlike the typical Teochew Muay (Porridge) places which are somewhat similar to economical mixed vegetable rice stalls, Xu Jun Sheng Teochew Porridge at Joo Chiat is more like a no-frills restaurant serving teochew porridge, zi-char style.

Instead of ordering at the stall, you get to sit down and look at a menu that has quite a few items. I very much prefer Teochew Porridge places in coffee shops, where you get to stand by the stall and look at the dishes available.

In any case, Xu Jun Sheng – known to my friends as the famous Joo Chiat Teochew Muay – has been around for a long time and they have many regular customers, so they must have been doing something right.

Teochew porridge is a meal where you have Teochew style porridge (which is more watery), accompanied with small plates of side dishes like braised pork, steamed pomfret, salted duck egg, omelette, minced meat and preserved vegetables.

I was quite excited to make the order. My dining companion has not tried Teochew Porridge before, so I was determined to show her the best of everything. Steamed Traditional Fish Cake ($1/pc) or Steamed Otah? Pork Trotters ($6) or Braised platter ($8) which consists of Braised Meat, Preserved Vegetables, Tau Kwa/Tau Pok, and Braised Egg? Omelette ($5-7), Prawn Roll ($6) or Stir-fried Sesame Chicken ($8)? Sambal Kangkong ($7), or Stir-fried Nai Bai ($7)? If I were with a larger group of people, I would have ordered everything, but no, it was just the two of us, so we only had a few dishes to share.

There’s nothing more gratifying than a bowl of watery Teochew Porridge with Prawn Roll, Stir-fried Sweet Potato Leaves with Sambal, Braised Platter and the very delicious Fu Yong Omelette. The best things in life are often very simple.

Prices at Xu Jun Sheng Teochew Porridge Restaurant are slightly higher than the typical Teochew Muay stalls, but comparable to most zi-char places. It is a nice place to satisfy your Teochew muay craving if you like to dine in a comfortable setting. As for me, I’ll probably check out some of the Teochew Porridge buffet restaurants next time.

I need recommendations of good Teochew Porridge in Singapore! Please leave me a comment and let me know where you go for Teochew muay.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Xu Jun Sheng Chao Zhou Mei Shi
121 Joo Chiat Place

Mon to Sat: 11am – 3.30pm, 5.30pm – 9pm
Sun: 10.30am – 3.30pm

A day with Bob Blumer, the Surreal Gourmet

ladyironchef — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:06:04 +0000

I met Bob Blumer, the Surreal Gourmet.

Calm down people, calm down! I know you are excited at the sight of your favourite chef!

I’m going to be frank, I didn’t have any idea who Bob is when I received the invitation from Discovery Travel & Living, well the name sounds familiar and I know he’s a celebrity chef. It was only when my friends went gushing over, “his toaster van.. “, then I remember seeing his show before. I didn’t really notice the chef’s name back then, but I definitely do now.

And I’m not about to go, “oh Bob you know I love the episode where you ran a marathon and drank twenty one wine in France..” The idea is simple enough, Bob’s in town, and he wants food, the local Singapore food! So the group of us (media and bloggers) had the pleasure to bring Bob exploring some of the places in the East.

Our first stop was at Kway Guan Huat, for Popiahs! I’m really excited about this because I’ve been craving for popiahs, and here, they do all their popiah skins by hand. It sure wasn’t easy to do so, Bob had some fun trying to do the popiah skin, and learning to wrap a perfect popiah from Zita, the owner. Benjamin (Mr. Miyagi) took a cool video of the whole popiah-making process too!

Bob eating his very delicious popiah, which he would gladly pay ten bucks per roll!

We had the premium roll which had more ingredients; lots of vegetables, and of course our orders were “special” so we had extra shrimps too! The popiah at Kway Guan Huat is Nonya style, I couldn’t exactly remember all the ingredients; but there’s omelette, garlic, turnip, and lots of greens.

But I actually preferred the kueh pie tee to the popiah! It was awesome; using about the same ingredients, they were placed within the crunchy shells instead of the soft popiah skins. And I finished it, in a bite, or at least I tried to!

There was some time while waiting for the food to be served at our second stop, Old Mother Hen, so we hopped across the street and look at the local fruit stalls.

The folks at Old Mother Hen were indeed good hosts, the big table was filled up with so many dishes! We tried a bit of everything, but my favourite was definitely their claypot rice! And despite knowing there’s more food after this, I couldn’t stop myself from having more helpings of the rice.

This was the stir fried fallopian tubes that got everybody attention. We also had KL style black Hokkien mee, the very good home-made beancurd, claypot frog legs, herbal kampong chicken, and steamed shark’s head.

Our last stop was supposed to be trying out three katong laksa and let Bob determine which is his “favourite authetic” one, but due to some unforeseen reasons, we ended up at Seng Kee for bak chor mee (minced pork noodles) instead.

We wished there was more time for us to try out more places, but Bob had a busy schedule during his short stay here so our tour ended here. It was really cool to chat with Bob and hang out with the other bloggers for the day. We had fun chatting on the mini-bus (no toaster van) while moving from point to point, busy snapping photographs of food, and of course enjoying the food with great company! My appreciation to Priya and Rita of Weber Shandwick, and to Discovery Travel and Living for the invitation.

Kway Guan Huat
95 Joo Chiat road
Tel: 6344 2875

Old Mother Hen
136 Sims avenue
Tel: 6841 8789

Seng Kee
316 Changi road
Tel: 6345 7561

Glutton for Punishment 3 premieres Thursday at 2230hrs starting July 23. Encores air on Sunday at 0200hrs and Tuesday at 0800hrs on Discovery Travel & Living (Starhub Channel 16).

Obolo Patisserie: LIC dessert outing

ladyironchef — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:33:44 +0000

While co-owner and partner Mac excel in decorating the desserts, June enjoyed researching the use of new flavours instead. Perhaps it is the unique combination and strength in the partnership that gave Obolo Patisserie its success. ladyironchef decided to organise a dessert outing there and it went on smoothly with the support that the partners provided.

The interior of Obolo is very small, and could only fit in 15 people. Mac and his team rearranged the tables and did the settings for us, with the print of our dessert degustation menu, Obolo’s christmas catalogue, and a small gift in the form of cookies.

Our dessert degustation menu consisted of 12 desserts platter, namely 7 petite cheesecakes & entremets, 2 petite tartlets, 1 dessert shooter, and 2 les macarons. As always, i requested sampling portions for the menu as it’ll allowed us to try a variety of the desserts available at Obolo. Therefore, the pictures that you’ll be looking at are all mini-size, and does not reflect the actual size of the desserts.

Tartlet filled with milk chocolate & passion fruit ganache. The chocolate-passion was a sourish petite tart, mainly from the passion fruit used. Most of us found it too sour for our liking, and the sourness from the passion fruit completely overwhelmed the milk chocolate. I preferred it sweet.

Dark Chocolate ganache mousse, cassis ivoire mousse, praline feulletine base and moist dark chocolate-almond biscuit layers. Having tried Le Cassis before, i still enjoyed the contrasting taste between the slightly sour blackcurrent and the sweet of the chocolate ganache. I’m a big fan of the crunchy praline feulletine, but i thought that the layer was too thin, and not enough! Nonetheless, Le Cassis is definitely a hit with most of us.

Baked cheesecake infused with mango and passion fruit. While i didn’t really fancy passion fruit as i found it too sour, but in this instance the mango actually provided a better balance in the overall taste. The layer of biscuit crumb base would be nicer if it was thicker. The Mango-passion cheesecake had mixed reactions, with some finding it too sour, and some giving a thumbs up for the creative use of flavours.

67% caramel chocolate mousse, dark chocolate ganache, pecan chocolate fudge cake base. We were debating whether the nuts at the base were walnuts, but it’s actually pecan. The caraibe was one of my favourite of the night with the velvety chocolate mousse, dark chocolate ganache and chocolate fudge base. It was all about contrast and layering, really.

Tartlet filled with dark chocolate ganache. One of the few real chocolate of the night, the Chocolat Noir was better than the one that i had at Cova. One of the main feedback from the rest was, there was more sour than sweet dessert for the night. Mac explained that for decoration purposes, they liked to add in berries. But it ain’t the season for berries, and those that looked nice actually taste sour.

Some would prefer her to be drenched with liqueur, but the purist certainly say no! If you asked me, I’m on the purist side. The light mascarpone creme, dark chocolate ganache & chocolate genoise infused with coffee. Pull-me-up, of sugar and espresso. The tiramisu au chocolat.

Remember Pineapple tarts? You reminded me of Chinese New year, even though its only two months away. Pinada cheesecake, despite given a make-over, I still missed my pineapple tarts. The rum-soaked raisins didn’t help also.

Looking at the pistachio ivoire mousse, your eyes must be green with envy. Not to mention there’s still the cherry-raspberry gelee to deal with. I never like jam, definitely not the gelee in between the way of the dark chocolate ganache mousse, and the chocolate almond biscuit with kirsch. Almost prefect, the Nikta.

All the way from the states, there’s the New York cheesecake. Smooth, creamy, with a hint of lemon. At the pinnacle, seats the stunning strawberry. She’s the one that teased me all right, during our precious encounter. And now that I’ve conquered you, what do you have to say?

Appearance is secondary, they say inner beauty is more important. Nonetheless, the outer beauty sure makes a good impression. Sprinkle with gold dust, the ginormous strawberry garnished the top. There was tangy mascarpone mousse, and there was red berry gelee. Add in some kirsch-mixed berry compote, and i give you Summer Berries.

Miss macha was a last minute substitution, simply we got sick of Mr passion fruit. By common consensus, the shell was very thick, chewy, and a tad sweet. It’ll be better if she was lighter. But you couldn’t deny the fact that the macha macaron’s filling was prettily done.

Always a safe choice, the pairing of hazelnut and chocolate. Certainly a crowd teaser with that fulsome filling. Once my favourite, always my favourite. I don’t care what they say, i’m in love with you.

I’ll like to thank everyone who attended the dessert outing last night, and hope you all had a great time. There were old friends, and new faces, but everybody’s welcome! Also my thanks to Mac and June who supported and hosted us, for without them, this outing wouldn’t be possible.

For the rest of you folks who missed out on this dessert outing, not to worry. Details for my next food outing will be out tomorrow! So do let me know ASAP if you can make it for the lunch.

ps: read fen’s detailed review at sgcake.com
evan’s beautiful photos at bossacafez.com
jia xin at foodies queen

Cheers,
Brad