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}} WONDERS
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THE SALT & PEPPER OF EVERYDAY LIFE
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thm!
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Gastro 1/6 @RMA Institute
8.14.2012
  the poached eggs w truffle oil topped w sautéed mushroom and asparagus was served on the wooden plate. despite the egg white looking a little flaky, the egg yolk was oozing out nicely as i gently sliced into it. the cheese flakes which were generously drizzled saw no need for other condiments. accompanying the eggs were two sticks of very well toasted bread (because there were some chao ta parts which made it look really good). the only downside was that the salad was served warm, partly also because of the humid temperature. tasting like raw greens, it was not to my liking.  the second dish we had was the Tortilla w jamon which came looking like a thick Rosti. it definitely did not fit my impression of a tortilla (something crispy like chips?). with a golden-brown pan fried skin, the tortilla was topped with rocket leaves and a generous portion of Parma Ham. it was definitely a very filling portion to speak off. the natural sweetness of the potato together w the saltiness of the parma ham and fragrance of the organic egg definitely left a deep impression on me.  
Gastro 1/6 (RMA Institute),
RMA Institute, Soi Sai Namthip 2, 238 Sukhumvit Soi 22, Bangkok, Thailand
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 8:30am-3:30pm
♥3:25:00 PM Confused Cooks
2.17.2012
Headed over to Confused Cooks one weekday afternoon to use up this voucher that I've gotten sometime back. It wasn't that difficult to find as it was located on the street parallel to the once very popular Haji Lane. The interior of the small and cozy cafe was adorned with many Polaroids, framed pictures, and not forgetting the line of empty beer bottles. The only service staff stood with a blank face while waiting for my friend and I to get seated. She then handed us the menu and without saying a word, and went back to sweeping the floor. Wow!, that left me really confused and made me wonder if she was the waitress or perhaps, just a cleaner. Having placed our orders, she took off for the kitchen and did not ask us whether we wanted any drinks. I had the Gnocchi with Prawn that was pan-fried with olives. It had a distinct buttery fragrance but was lacking in taste. It was quite a bit of challenge to finish up this flour-based dish as there was not a lot of texture to it. My friend had the Cheeky Chili Chicky Pasta - linguine with homemade dried chili paste chicken. It bore a strong taste of the green capsicum which complemented the dried chili sauce. It was a pleasant surprise - this style of oriental stir-fried pasta with chicken chunks which resembled that of the Kung Bao chicken. The dessert - Smurky's Souffle came about 10 minutes after the waitress cleared our table. It rose beautifully to an appropriate level, retaining its moisture on the inside. I really enjoyed the souffle, with the little blueberry bits that went very nicely with the traditional egg taste. However, there seemed to be a tad too much sugar crystals that were brushed onto the bowl to aid in the raising process. This resulted in quite a bit of those crunchy sugar grains leftover at the side. The accompanying vanilla ice cream (supposedly homemade) was also not to my liking. I have always enjoyed going to small independent cafes, for we can usually find enthusiastic and friendly servers. But this was obviously not that case for Confused Cooks. If you were to ask, I would say no to returning to this cafe unless if you are caught in the rain along Arab Street and would love to seek shelter in a quiet cafe with no one interrupting you. (i apologise for the lack of photos accompanying this post as it would probably deter you further from visiting this cafe. i believe that the presentation of the food (as well as service standard) is definitely not something they place emphasis on) Labels: Cafes ♥10:17:00 PM FLOR - Matcha Swiss Roll
11.26.2011
 I was very pleased to find a rolled up piece of cardboard in the little takeaway box that helped my slice of cake stay upright the 30 minutes journey home. Why did I even mention this seemingly redundant piece of information? Oh, that is because for me, the statistics of cakes staying in place (& shape) is really really low. After snapping a few pictures, I dug into the cake very excitedly with high expectations as this is not the first time I am having Flor's creations.  The light Japanese sponge did not disappoint. It was the sort that had very even air holes, creating the perfect texture in a sponge that springs back up even when pressed down. This is what makes the sponge so light and desirable in the mouth.  Well, a quality sponge was what I have expected. What was UNexpected was the discovery of something which I have NEVER EVER encountered in the countless number of cakes I have eaten. This is none other than their sugar coated red beans. Now, this is not your typical sweetened red bean. This very creative idea of coating the red bean with a crispy layer of sugar gives it a very nice texture - crisp on the outside while retaining the original fragrant taste of the red bean on the inside.  However, I thought that the Matcha cream seems to lack a bit of a kick. Instead, it was slightly heavy on the cream.  Duxton Hill #01-01, 2 Duxton Hill Singapore 089588 Takashimaya Basement 2, Food Hall Phone: +65 6737 1789 Business hours: 10am - 9pm daily Labels: Cakes ♥3:34:00 AM With a Pinch of Salt
11.05.2011
I have recently bought an online deal for a 4 course set meal at With a Pinch of Salt. This is a cafe located at Tanjong Katong, away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city area. Well I got to admit, I was drawn towards this place by the pretty frames on their website and the cutesy doll-like figurine mascot that they employ.  After being seated, the set menu for this deal was only brought over 10 minutes later. Despite having 3 waitresses, it was always a challenge trying to get their attention.  Ironically, the first 'course' was a drink. Both my friend and I went for the Fruit Punch, which turned out to be one made from the syrup you can get from any supermarket.   For the Starters, We decided to share a corn soup as well as the Potato Egg Salad. Both were very average.  The Pan Fried Miso Dory was just, sad. This had a stronger sweetness resembling that of a Teriyaki sauce rather than Miso. Honestly, my mum cooks better dory than this. Despite being so super starved, I could not bring myself to finish this.  VS  The Bacon Aglio Olio was definitely (& thankfully) better than my dory. However, I think it will suit the name of a stir-fried chinese noodle better for it was nothing like any pasta/ aglio olio you get anywhere. It is also nowhere close to what we saw on the website - with lots of tomato puree & mushroom, though I am not sure what is the tomato doing in an aglio olio.  The dessert also fared below the passing grade. It was in a really small portion, which was certainly not an issue since it is of no quality anyway. This cafe serves very 'homely' food (literally something which you can cook for yourself at the comfort of your own home, and probably better) at very reasonable prices. In my opinion., with such mediocre food AND poor service, it is not worth a second visit. With A Pinch Of Salt 297 Tanjong Katong Road Singapore http://www.withapinchofsalt.com.sg/ Labels: Cafes ♥2:32:00 PM LAURENT BERNARD CHOCOLATIER
10.24.2011
okay, some catching up blogging to do here after completing the most challenging essay in my 21 years of living.  so, I visited Laurent Bernard Chocolatier at its Portsdown branch one early evening, craving for their very well known souffle. To my disappointment, the not-so-friendly waitress informed me that the kitchen is closed at 5pm daily "because the chef starts work very early at 8am for the breakfast crowd". wow to the details! to clarify, i actually called before heading down to make sure they are still open, however, the waitress just asked if i am having cakes, but did not make herself clear that the kitchen will be closed by then. :(  Well, since I was already there, I decided to give their limited selection of cakes (at that hour) a try. As the name suggests, most of the desserts here are chocolate based. I ended up getting the Pure for myself and this milk-chocolate-cake-with-creme-brulee-on-the-inside whose name i cannot remember for my friend.  Despite the Pure being a little dry, the chocolate ganache was really rich yet not overwhelmingly sweet. This is really catered for hardcore chocolate lovers, but not really for someone like me that would prefer a little bit of a texture in my chocolate cakes.  The other cake that my friend ended up finishing was good (as he claimed), provided that you actually like milk chocolate.  We also shared a little jug of their signature lemonade while enjoying the ambiance and serenity of the neighbourhood. Although im not a huge fan of their cakes, I really like that place & I can foresee myself returning to just sit and stare while sipping on some drink, and not mentioning, to try the souffle.  Come to think of it, it has been a while since i last tried a chocolate cake that was really to my liking. Any recommendations of places i should try? Portsdown Branch 5B Portsdown Road #01-02 Singapore 139311 Telephone: +65 6475 4182 Labels: Cafes, Cakes, Chill Out, Chocolate ♥3:46:00 AM Ramen!
10.19.2011
While many Japanese ramen restaurants are springing up, my vote goes ultimately to Ippudo. However, Tampopo deserves credit for offering a very good variety from Tonkatsu (breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet) to black pork, and not forgetting the conventional charsiew ramen.   Tonkatsu Ramen  Black Pig Shabu Ramen While Ippudo offers the flexibility of determining the 'doneness', ie. hard/medium/soft, Tampopo allows one to indicate their preference of the yellow or thinner noodle for their ramen.  Akamaru Kasaneaji original recipe with a special blend of miso paste Basically, i like my ramen with hard noodles in a bowl of rich and flavourful soup base that complements each other in the mouth, preferably topped with quality ingrendients even when taken out of the soup. This is probably why Akamaru Kasaneaji won my heart - hard noodles in a distinct soup base with a subtle taste and fragrance of mushroom, yet rich in flavour - absolutely heavenly! Ps. You should definitely give their chiffon cakes (esp the Matcha flavoured one) a try when you are at Tampopo as well! :) Ippudo 333A Orchard Road 238897 6235 2797 http://www.ippudo.com.sg/ Tampopo Restaurant 391 Orchard Road, B2-33 Takashimaya Shopping Centre Labels: Ramen ♥12:58:00 AM KICHN
9.17.2011
i finally got to give kichn a try after 2 previously failed attempts - one was when they were closed due to the short of staff on a weekend; and the other when the place was fully reserved. it is located at albert court, somewhere in between dhoby ghaut and little india mrt, so it is especially convenient for people like me on the north east line.  kichn seats approximately 20 pax (only outdoor seating) with about 5/6 tables. once seated, the waiter came over promptly and introduced their menu to us first timers. food and drinks can be ordered in whatever creative methods you can think of with the coloured pencils they provide you with. this place is especially good for people who like to personalize their orders, for you can mix your choice or carbohydrates with the sauce and topping/main ingredient of your choice. eventually, my friend settled for a cream sauce seafood pasta ($8.90) and a nice peachy drink while i decided on achili crab pasta with the beef patty ($9.90) as well as a green tea + passion fruit blend.  my friend's single blend of peach ($3.90) tasty very average while mine was quite a disaster. my drink was a blend of green MILK tea and passion fruit ($4.90), so the milky taste totally overpowered the passion fruit syrup and it was just, sad.   however, i was very pleased with my choice of pasta. the chili crab sauce was of the right thickness and the beef was not too crumbly or dry. it would be perfect if the pasta was done al dente though. my friend's seafood cream pasta was generous with fresh mussels, prawns and calamari, but according to her, the sauce tasted a little like those ready made ones off the supermarket shelves. halfway through our mains, we decided to give the highly recommended calamari rings ($8.90) a try. this was definitely a good choice and is comparable to those i have tried at Italian restaurants at twice the price.  the mains are very affordable - priced at below $10, and the flexibility to allow such personalizing makes me want to return to give the other combinations a try. also, it is definitely a good place for catching up with friends at this small & relaxing cafe. Kichn 180 Albert Street Albert Court Hotel, Singapore 189971 6333 0015 www.kichn.com/ Labels: Chill Out ♥3:33:00 AM BONHEUR PATISSERIE
9.02.2011
It took me a while to do up this review on this cafe i have visited 4-5 months back. I had chanced upon it when i was on my way to FLOR Patisserie previously. Located at one end of duxton road, it was really quite hidden but provided the peaceful atmosphere that we needed.  Before making this trip down, I have done my research and decided to give their Chocolate Earl Grey & Green Tea Mousse a try. However, I was disappointed but the limited variety that they had in their showcase. My friend and I settled for the Light Peach Sakura and Rhubard Cheese Mousse (out of the 4 cakes that were available, excluding the pound cakes). The Light Peach Sakura was pretty decent, with peach mousse oozing out of the Sakura infused white chocolate, sitting on a digestive biscuit base. The downside about it was that the peach mousse was too perfumed and got a bit too heavy at the end. Also, the base was soggy probably because it has been displayed for too many days.   The Rhubard Cheese Mousse was just disturbing and stale. When we asked for the bill, a man who seemed to be the chef leaned over the small counter, bending over awkwardly as he stretches to place the folder on the table. Not once did he step out of his counter - he did the same as he retrieved the folder and even when he passed us the change. I was taken aback by the service provided.  Recently, I have decided to give this place a second chance after realising that the sliced cakes are changed weekly and that coincidentally, they were offering BOTH Chocolate Earl Grey & Green Tea Mousse that very day.  The Green Tea Mousse, despite the coarse sponge, had a fragrant matcha taste. The amount of red bean was just right as well.  The Chocolate Earl Grey on the other hand, was very average. The earl grey infused white chocolate had an overpowering chocolate taste and the earl grey was undetectable.  All in all, I do not foresee myself revisiting this place especially when there are so many cake places around tanjong pagar/ duxton area. Bonheur Patisserie 70 Duxton Road Singapore 089529 Mon - Thurs: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Fri - Sat: 10:00 am -10:00 pm Labels: Cakes ♥3:15:00 AM eM by the River
8.27.2011
A group of 7 of us visited eM by the River at Gallery Hotel on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Overlooking the Singapore River, it has a very relaxing atmosphere and could comfortably accommodate large groups indoors as well as outdoors.  We had the Eggs Benedict ($15), the Eggs Royale ($17), as well as the Sausage with mash ($19). The poached eggs were however, not beautifully done across the orders.  Some were more runny but there was one with a totally cooked yolk on the inside. I did enjoy the combination of the hollandaise sauce over the egg, as well as the very nicely toasted bun with a buttery taste and crisp on the outside.   The sausage and mash was probably the most average dish among the three.  EM by the River does not charge additional taxes so you pay just for the price stated on the menu. This place is worth revisiting for the food is reasonably priced considering its location as well as its ambiance. It is definitely a very good alternative to Epicurious that was relatively a lot more crowded. One thing that can be improved on is probably to ensure that glasses are washed thoroughly especially when breakfast food (for instance, eggs) are served. Most of the glasses actually reeked of a strong fishy smell left over by the previous guests. eM By the River 1 Nanson Road #01-05 of Gallery Hotel Singapore 238909 6836 9691 ♥3:51:00 AM 15 MINUTES
8.11.2011
Met up with Xinyu & Guomin for lunch before school started, and we wanted to try the food over at Kichn located at Albert Court. To our horror, we realised that they were not open for lunch when we were greeted by chained up chairs and a 'closed' sign. Reason being: they have got no part timers to work the afternoon shift. Boy does it remind me of Gobi hahaha. Anyway, we chanced upon 15 minutes right next door at La Salle College of the Arts and decided to give it a try. We were definitely glad we did so. This self service cafe requires you to queue up to order at their counter, and to return to collect your food when the beeper with your order number rings and starts vibrating.  GM & XY so engrossed in their little gadgets.  The Ham & Mozzarella ($9.50) was my favourite among the 3 items that we shared. It definitely reminded me of the pizza served at Timbre (not to mention it is less than half the price at Timbre), and they were really quite generous with their toppings too!  Thai Pesto Chicken Pizza ($9.50) would be much better without my hated capsicum! There are about 8-10 pizza flavours for you to choose from!  I personally love aglio olio, but it's probably one of the toughest dish to master. This Prawn Aglio Olio ($8.50) contained a number of succulent prawns with an average pasta quality BUT WITHOUT A HINT OF GARLIC? ): Now you must be wondering why there are more than the 3 dishes than what i have mentioned. This is because i re-visited this place the next day with a different group of people. At about 8pm on a Saturday, we waited for about 30 minutes for a table for 12. To my surprise, although the dinner menu did not change much, the price went up by $3-$4 for the mains, and about $2 for the drinks. The other difference is that service staff are around at dinner time to serve you - so no more long queues at the counter.  Chicken Guacamole Cream Pasta ($10.90) was really unique. The sauce was thick and creamy, but yet the taste of the avocado was not being overpowered.  Wasabi Prawn Pizza ($12.90) that the waitress recommended was a refreshing twist. Being one who cannot appreciate wasabi, I found it really good as it was quite mild and went really well with the tomato base and the cuttlefish flakes.  15 minutes has a little flight of stairs to another space with canteen-style long benches on slightly elevated ground. The glass panels surrounding it made the entire place feel more spacious, and at the same time, allow you to people watch in the relaxing environment. I would recommend this place to chill and watch the world go by, or even to enjoy the life band performing at night with a group of friends. However, the difference in the price from the lunch to dinner menu may be a little bit hard to digest. 15 MINUTES 1 McNally Street 187940 6333 5915 Labels: Chill Out ♥12:52:00 AM |
