Located in the heart of Kovan—just a stone’s throw away from Kovan MRT Station—is Ice Edge Cafe.

The cafe-cum-restaurant has been around for a decade and has gained a huge following over the past years with its hearty savouries and stellar sweets. Dishes served here are very affordable and generously portioned; there is even a perpetual one-for-one lunch promotion* on weekdays!

You might have heard of their legendary Mao Shan Wang Lava Cake, Waffles and Homemade Brownies, but Ice Edge Cafe is more than that. It offers a menu of wallet-friendly dishes (most mains are priced under S$20). If you haven’t been, you are missing out, dude.

From now until 15 December 2016, quote “ladyironchef” to get a FREE Waffle with a scoop of gelato when you spend S$20 per table. This offer is valid during dinner daily.

#1 BUFFALO WINGS

Ice Edge Cafe’s Buffalo Wings (S$9.80+) come in a platter of six.

Each deep-fried chicken wing is coated in a hot peppery buffalo sauce that is infused with vinegar and butter, and garnished with herbs and spices. If you can’t handle spices well, steer clear of this.

The Buffalo Wings are part of Ice Edge Cafe’s 1-for-1 menu.

#2 CALAMARI WITH THAI MAYO

We absolutely love the Calamari with Thai Mayo (S$12.80++) that is on the starters menu. Green salad and Thai mayonnaise dip are served alongside succulent, deep-fried battered squid rings.

#3 JAPANESE BONITO PRAWN SALAD

If calories matter, then the Japanese Bonito Prawn Salad (S$12.80++) is for you. This is a salad of assorted leafy greens, Japanese seasoning, fresh prawns and crispy wakame. Pretty simple, but no less fresh and healthy.

The Japanese Bonito Prawn Salad is part of Ice Edge Cafe’s 1-for-1 menu.

#4 SEAFOOD AGLIO OLIO SPAGHETTI

The Seafood Aglio Olio Spaghetti (S$16.80+) is an Ice Edge classic. Served with clams, juicy prawns and squid, the pasta is served al dente and tossed with chilli padi and garlic. It comes in a very generous portion too!

The Seafood Aglio Olio Spgahetti is part of Ice Edge Cafe’s 1-for-1 menu. Each pasta works out to be just S$8.4+ during lunch!

#5 TOM YAM SEAFOOD LINGUINE

Tom Yam Seafood Linguine (S$17.80+) is an interesting East-meets-West pasta invention which has successfully incorporated the traditional Thai soup into an Italian classic. The pasta is cooked firm to the bite and enhanced with the garlic’s aroma. It is then complemented with clam, squid and prawn.

And it is very spicy. But that is precisely how we like it to be. Definitely our favourite pasta in the entire menu!

#6 BUTTER CREAM SALMON

Over at Ice Edge Cafe, salmon fillets are cooked to perfection—think crispy skin and runny flesh. The fish flakes easily when pierced through with a fork, and topped with a slap of buttery herbs cream and pink peppercorn. The Butter Cream Salmon (S$19.80+) is also served with grilled asparagus and a house salad.

It honestly looks like nothing, but it is the kind of comfort lunch you’d wish for on a boring workday.

#7 PESTO CREAM CHICKEN

The chef-recommended main course Pesto Cream Chicken (S$17.80+) looked pretty messy but this plate packs a punch. It comprises a juicy chicken thigh pan-fried till golden brown, then topped with fresh pesto, and accompanied with carrots, cream, herbs, potatoes and spices.

The Pesto Cream Chicken is part of Ice Edge Cafe’s 1-for-1 menu. S$8.90 for a main course? Lunch doesn’t get any better than this.

#8 CORDON BLEU

By now, you would have noticed that the menu is comprehensive; from American, Italian to Swiss, you can expect a myriad of cuisines.

Ice Edge Cafe’s take on the Cordon Bleu (S$18.80+) is a beautiful one. Slice into the deep-fried breaded chicken and you will see the intersection of bacon and bursting nacho cheese. This is actually our favourite main, for it was satisfaction in every bite.

#9 PIZZA PRAWN MENTAIKO

The Pizza Prawn Mentaiko (S$16.80+) is a work of art and damn, ain’t it photogenic?! The pizza comes with a thin crust. Herbs, prawns and mozzarella cheese are scattered all over the flat dough, before Japanese mayonnaise and mentaiko cream are drizzled in circular motions.

#10 MAO SHAN WANG LAVA CAKE

The divine Mao Shan Wang Lava Cake (S$14.80+) is a must-order when at Ice Edge Cafe. And we’ve heard many stories of how people from all over Singapore travel to Kovan for this legendary dessert. It is safe to say the folks at Ice Edge Cafe pioneered the durian lava cake trend.

The King of Fruits has been integrated into a dense lava cake and warm molten durian will ooze out upon forking it. No efforts have been spared in the making of this signature dessert, and the end result is a robust, divine dessert that bursts with aroma. The lava cake comes with a scoop of gelato of your choice.

#11 WAFFLE

Super crisp on the outside and featherlight on the inside, the Waffles here are superb. Choose to top your waffle with one, two, three or four gelato scoop(s). Prices are S$10+, S$14.50+, S$19+ and S$23.50+ respectively.

There are many flavours to choose from for your gelato (which is also what Ice Edge Cafe is well-loved for), and unique flavours include Salted Egg, Japanese Yuzu and Cotton Candy.

#12 BROWNIE WITH GELATO

Like the idea of death by chocolate? Well, then you have to get the warm double chocolate brownie with chocolate sauce. This decadent dessert comes with either one or two scoop(s) of gelato; the former is priced at S$9.80+ whilst the latter would set you back S$14.30+.

And it is important to know that Ice Edge Cafe takes pride in their desserts, and this brownie is baked fresh in-house daily.

#13 CHEESECAKE

We can always do with a good cheesecake, yes? There are three flavours of cheesecakes available on a rotational basis, i.e. Blue Berry, New York and Oreo. Each rich cheesecake costs S$6.80+.

Of course, you need to top it off with a scoop or two of gelato.

From now until 15 December 2016, quote “ladyironchef” to get a FREE Waffle with a scoop of gelato (worth S$10+) when you spend S$20 per table. This offer is valid during dinner daily.

*The 1-for-1 Lunch Promotion is available every day on weekdays (excluding eves of and Public Holiday), and it is redeemable from 11.30am to 3pm. The higher-priced item will be charged. 1-for-1 items can be mixed and matched, and no splitting of bills is allowed.

Ice Edge Cafe
2 Kovan Rise
Simon Plaza, #01-10
Singapore 548008
Tel: +65 6858 5729
Daily: 11.30am – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Kovan

This post is brought to you by Ice Edge Cafe.

Pietro Ristorante Italiano is tucked in a corner of Jalan Kelulut—a private residential area in Yio Chu Kang—and it has been dishing out authentic Italian dishes to its regulars since 2012.

The restaurant is segregated into two areas—al fresco dining and indoor seating. Deep shades of red on the wall, wooden furniture and a hanging chandelier; the restaurant gives off a homely and cosy ambience.

Helmed by Chef Aaron Png, Pietro Ristorante Italiano offers a wide variety on their menu. Go for the complete Italian experience by having a taste of the antipasti, salads, pasta, pizzas, mains and desserts.

From now until 15 December 2016, our readers can quote “ladyironchef” to enjoy 1-for-1 antipasti, pasta, pizza and mains from Mondays to Thursdays (lunch and dinner), as well as Saturdays (lunch) at Pietro Ristorante Italiano.

ANTIPASTI (APPETISERS)

The Antipasti menu features a selection of classic Italian starters such as Calamari Fritti (S$18++), Carpaccio di Manzo (S$22++) and the excellent Calamari e Gamberoni (S$28++)—an entire squid, grilled to perfection with King prawn stuffing, garlic, butter, a few drops of lemon and a dash of white wine.

PRIMI PIATTI (PASTA)

Italians actually have their pasta as a starting course before proceeding to their mains, so the term “Primi Piatti” refers to first dishes. Although it is unlike our culture to have it as a starter, do not shy away from doing so; after all, it is only right we do the Italian way when in an Italian restaurant.

People often comment that it is a mistake to order a squid ink pasta on your first date, but we would do so anyway with the Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia (S$28++) because it is one of the best things on the menu. It comes fashionably with prawns, squid, scallop, clams and garnished with chilli.

Other pasta that you can find on the menu include Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Fungi (S$18++), Linguine Alfredo al Frutti di Mare (S$26++) and Spaghetti alla Carbonara (S$18++).

RISOTTO

We Asians can never back away from our staple, even at an Italian restaurant. That is especially true at Pietro Ristorante Italiano, because the Risotto di Mare e Zafferano (S$28++) looks extremely fine.

The risotto rice comes in a bright shade of yellow due to its buttery saffron cream sauce and has toppings such as prawns, clams, squid and scallop.

DAL FORNO O (TRADITIONAL BRICK PIZZA OVEN)

There is a counter right at the end of the restaurant where you can watch the chef assemble your pizza before putting them into a traditional brick pizza oven.

The Pizza Carnivora (S$26++) was served with edges slightly charred, but that’s how we love our pizzas. Generous chunks of mushrooms, ham, minced beef, homemade sausage, cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese were placed on top of the thin crust which was lavishly smeared with tomato sauce.

The purists will enjoy the Pizza Margherita (S$16++) and Pizza Funghi (S$20++). For something more extravagant, go for the Pizza Prosciutto di Parma (S$32++).

There are seven pizzas—including Pizza Margherita, Pizza Hawaiian, Pizza Romana—that you can get with the 1-for-1 promotion.

CARNE & PESCE (MEAT & SEAFOOD)

The Pancetta Arrosto (S$24++) blew our minds. This is a roasted pork belly dish with the best crackling skin we can ever ask for; it was extremely crispy and falls into crumbs in our mouths.

You will also find porcini mushrooms and kidney beans on the side, with apple sauce for dips. Now, listen up—no one steps out of Pietro Ristorante Italiano without trying this.

That’s not all. You can also have the sublime Merluzzo (S$34++)—a perfectly cooked Cod fish with white wine, purple grapes and cherry tomato sauce; and the ever-popular Filetto di Manzo—grilled Australian beef tenderloin with red wine porcini sauce.

From the Meat & Seafood menu, you can enjoy 1-for-1 promotion on the Pan-fried Salmon Fillet (S$26++), Rosemary Chicken (S$22++) and Crispy John Dory Fish (S$22++) with white wine sauce.

DESSERTS

Forget about your usual chocolate lava cake. At Pietro, there is a Tortino di Cioccolato al Pistachio (S$15++)—pistachio flavoured lava cake so well done that all it takes is just one cut on the cake to unleash the warm pistachio flood. It is paired with a scoop of vanilla gelato, and when eaten together, everything is just a creamy goodness that is unbelivable.

Another popular dessert item is the Tiramisu al Pistachio (S$14++). Yes, the tiramisu is filled with layers of Mascarpone cream for the sweet tooth! This one has strong espresso coffee flavours with a subtle hint of pistachio taste.

From now until 15 December 2016, our readers can quote “ladyironchef” to enjoy 1-for-1 antipasti, pasta and pizza (on selected dishes) at Pietro Ristorante Italiano. The promotion is valid from Mondays to Thursdays (lunch and dinner), as well as Saturdays (lunch).

Pietro Ristorante Italiano
12 Jln Kelulut
Singapore 809030
Tel: +65 6484 5528
Daily: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Buangkok/ Fernvale

This post was brought to you by Pietro Ristorante Italiano.

The East of Singapore is where one will find plenty of hidden treasures. While there are many concept cafes out there, To-gather Cafe in Bedok (next to Fengshan Market) is one gem where you can unwind from work.

Walk into the cafe and you will notice that cursive writings of inspirational quotes and song lyrics fill up the walls in the most elegant manner. There is also a wall featuring post-it notes with messages and compliments penned down personally by customers.

Inspired by an all-time favourite childhood song “The More We Get Together”, the owners of To-gather cafe aims to create a homey ambience concept where people gather together over a good meal and artisan coffees. The cafe offers delectable signature dishes and the most flavourful desserts to end your meal with.

The best part? Most of the main courses are affordably priced under S$12. To-gather Cafe is one place where you can have a good meal without breaking the bank.

GRILLED TENDERLOIN OF BEEF

We are mentioning this dish first because everyone agreed unanimously that this was the best.

Everything about the Grilled Tenderloin of Beef (S$24.90) just clicked together—the soft tenderloin steak grilled to pinkish medium rare doneness, with an addictive black pepper sauce and fragrant truffle oil, complete with mash potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

BRAISED BEEF PASTA

If having a beef steak is too much for you, go for the Braised Beef Pasta (S$11.90). We enjoyed the warm creamy spaghetti jazzed up with colourful bell peppers, button mushrooms and caramelised onions. The star ingredient of this pasta dish is the slow braised beef brisket. We always appreciate the flavours of a long simmered sauce; rich, aromatic and very tender.

The star ingredient of this pasta dish is the slow braised beef brisket. We always appreciate the flavours of a long simmered sauce; rich, aromatic and very tender.

PORK CORDON BLEU

The Pork Cordon Bleu (S$11.90) at To-gather Cafe is coated with a crispy crust of bread crumbs and we were greeted by a generous portion of ham and cheese stuffing when we pulled the pork loin apart.

It is important that the chef has the skills to ensure that the top layer has been deep fried to form a crispy casing, while the meat inside remains juicy. We are glad to say that the one at To-gather Cafe is worth trying. The Pork Cordon Bleu comes with fries and fresh salad drizzled over with light mustard sauce.

GRILLED PANDAN CHICKEN CHOP

Chicken chop may be a common item on most menus but Pandan Chicken Chop? Now that’s something we have to mention. The folks at To-gather Cafe have reinvented what used to be a run-of-the-mill food item into an interesting dish you cannot help but notice.

The marinated grilled chicken chop (S$9.90) is marinated with, of course, pandan and doused in a light coconut sauce. To spice things up a little more, a spoonful of pineapple salsa—made from scratch within the premises—is placed atop the chicken chop.

This is something the older folks can try if you are planning to visit with your family!

ARTISANAL COFFEE AND DESSERTS

The baristas at To-gather cafe have the usuals to serve you—Caffe Latte (S$4.20) and Cappuccino (S$4.20); and if you are more inclined towards tea, try the Matcha Latte (S$5.20). If you do not know, yes, Matcha Latte has no coffee in it.

You know what is the one dessert that got all of us swooning? The Homemade Hojicha Swiss Roll with Thick Hojicha Shot (S$5.90), a new item that is launched earlier this month. The idea of serving the dessert with a shot of Hojicha Latte is so that you can take sips in between bites because Swiss rolls tend to be dry; yes, we were so incredibly impressed by this “little touch”.

By the way, the Hojicha used for this dessert is made of premium Hojicha powder imported directly from Japan!

To-gather Cafe’s Matcha Lava Cake with Vanilla Gelato (S$7.20) has been making its rounds on Instagram in the last two years. It comes with a distinctively rich matcha flavour and a single scoop of vanilla gelato,

Come November 2016, To-gather Cafe will be celebrating its third birthday! And in conjunction with their birthday celebrations, they will be returning to society by donating a part of their proceeds to a social enterprise that provides clean water for rural communities.

Bring your family and friends over to this nostalgic cafe for a meal in the heartlands. After all, this is what To-gather Cafe is all about—the more we get together, the happier we’ll be!

And while you are at it, don’t forget to check out all the murals on the wall! They are done by local artists and it does not hurt to have a photo or two of it on your Instagram account!

To-gather Cafe
#01-25/27
84 Bedok North Street 4
Singapore 460084
Tel: +65 6445 1011
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bedok

This post is brought to you by To-gather Cafe.

That moment when the lava oozes out of a Molten Lava Cake is almost unbeatable. We are all familiar with a chocolate lava cake, served warm with a center that gushes out once you cut it open.

What most do not know is that there are so many more flavours of lava cakes out there just waiting for you to try. We picked out the bests of many to share with you the best unique lava cakes in Singapore.

From Matcha to Peanut Butter, Misugaru (Korean grain) and Mao Shan Wang - here is a list of the 10 most unique lava cakes in Singapore. Now, it is time to explore!

#1 ARTISAN BOULANGERIE CO. – RASPBERRY CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

This might look like the most boring or mild of the lot, but we can assure you that the cake itself is top notch. The cake did not taste overpowering with either chocolate or raspberry, and ABC managed to balance out all the flavours nicely in their Raspberry Chocolate Lava Cake (S$9). The warm cake will go perfectly alongside an iced cuppa.

118 Killiney Road
#01-01
Singapore 239555
Tel: +65 6444 8130
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

#2 EAST 8 – MOLTEN LAVA PEANUT BUTTER DARK CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

It was exciting digging into this beauty. While the cake (S$15) looked simple on the outside, molten warm peanut butter flows out magnificently upon digging in. The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is not new, but we loved how East 8 took the road less travelled and grabbed the opportunity to create this stunning lava cake.

10 Coleman Street
#01/21-22
Singapore 179809
Tel: +65 6338 8289
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri: 12pm – 12am
Sat: 6pm- 12am
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: City Hall

#3 FYR CYCENE OND DRINC – PISTACHIO LAVA CAKE

Served with pandan ice cream, this dish has all the goodness of a perfect molten lava cake, minus the richness of chocolate. Good news for those who do not like decadent cakes! The distinct flavours of cinnamon added a nice touch to the dessert and the subtle hint of pistachio was weaved in together nicely. FYR’s Pistachio Lava Cake (S$10) has kept us longing for more.

19 Boon Tat Street
01-01
Singapore 069619
Tel: +65 +65 6221 3703
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 11pm
Sat: 9am – 11pm
Sun: 9am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

#4 FIVE & DIME – GOLDEN CUSTARD LAVA CAKE

Five & Dime were one of the first to hop onto the salted egg yolk bandwagon by introducing their Golden Custard Lava Cake (S$12). Anything that oozes out with salted egg yolk goodness gets our heart, and Five & Dime totally aced this dessert dish.

Five & Dime’s Golden Custard Lava Cake is listed in our guide to 18 to-die-for salted egg yolk dishes in Singapore.

297 River Valley Road
Singapore 238338
Tel: +65 9236 5002
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10am
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

#5 HAHA THAI – RED VELVET LAVA CAKE

We were surprised to see a Thai restaurant serving lava cake, let alone Red Velvet Lava Cake (S$10.80) with a side of coconut ice cream! The cake looked unnervingly red when it first reached the table, but just like any good red velvet cake, the Red Velvet was subtly sweet with a distinct chocolatey taste. The refreshing coconut ice cream cuts the richness of the cake to make it more palatable.

Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Rd, #05-29
Singapore 238873
Tel: +65 9437 0443
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#6 ICE EDGE CAFE – MAO SHAN WANG LAVA CAKE

The Mao Shan Wang Lava Cake (S$14.80) at Ice Edge Cafe shall be the Archilles’ heel for all durian lovers. The cake itself was surprisingly light and far from overwhelming. We made it even more badass with a scoop of Mao Shan Wang ice cream to be served with the lava cake. Best decision ever.

2 Kovan Road
Singapore 548008
Tel: +65 6858 5729
Daily: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Kovan

#7 OSIA – VALRHONA HOT CHOCOLATE SOUP

This simple molten lava cake is served alongside black pepper ice cream. Yes, you heard us right. Black pepper. Somehow the marriage of black pepper ice cream with a classic chocolate cake worked perfectly well. Don’t worry, it is still safe for the kids.

Resorts World Sentosa
26 Sentosa Gateway #02-140/141
Singapore 098139
Tel: +65 6577 6688
Daily: 12pm – 10.30pm
(Closed on Wednesdays)
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

#8 SYNC KOREAN TAPAS BAR – MISUGARU LAVA CAKE

The Misugaru Lava Cake (S$8.90) is made up of 10 different Korean grain that bears a taste primarily made up of barley and lotus. This is probably the ‘healthiest’ tasting of the lot – significantly lighter on the palate, and nothing overly “heaty”. We love that it is topped with fruits for a kick of acidity!

12 Maju Avenue
Serangoon Garden
Singapore 556690
Tel: +65 62820612
Daily: 3pm -12am
Nearest Station: Serangoon

#9 TO-GATHER CAFE – MATCHA LAVA CAKE

Matcha has always been a popular flavour and To-gather Cafe has gained some popularity with their take on a Matcha Lava Cake (S$7.20). The matcha flavour was distinct, and it makes such a pocket-friendly option!

Blk 84 Bedok North St 4
#01-27
Singapore 460084
Tel: +65 6445 1011
Mon to Thu, Sun: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bedok

#10 VIOLET HERBS – VALRHONA CHOCOLATE FONDANT WITH TRUFFLE OIL

When you are dining at Violet Herbs, make sure to get the Valrhona Chocolate Fondant (S$16). The surprise of this dessert lies in the fact that it comes with truffle oil – an unexpected ingredient that actually makes the dessert even more fragrant.

81 Tras Street
Tanjong Pagar Conservation Area
Singapore 079020
Tel: +65 6221 3988
Mon to Sat: 11:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

About the writer:
Cheryl is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She loves a good steak and an even better cuppa. She eats just about anything and everything. In her free time, she regularly starts on sci-fi or fantasy movie marathons.