PinkyPiggu

The address reads: 5 Tan Quee Lan Street, but I can't find it! Blur me actually walked right passed the understated entrance of Joo Bar which is located along the same stretch as Sawadee Thai and GastroSmiths (right across Bugis Junction). Glad I did managed to get myself there eventually, because this modern Korean makgeolli bar and restaurant is one of the more promising establishments to open recently. I love the place!

Created by a pair of Singaporeans who are aficionados of Korean culture and food, Joo Bar is housed in a heritage 3-storey shophouse that has been stylishly furbished within.

The space could barely contain its sexy edginess which threatens to spill from every corner, looking modernistic yet exuding a sense of laidback cosiness with white-washed walls, dark wooden furniture and black accents.

Check out the eye-catching hand-painted wall mural of Korean drinking etiquette!

If you're wondering what 'Joo' means, it is 'alcohol' in Korean. The name itself strongly defines Joo Bar's identity as a bar first, with food taking a supporting role to complement their funky drinks menu.

It is said that while the rest of the world have a drink with their meal, Koreans prefer to have a meal with their drink!

And the star beverage at Joo bar is undoubtedly the signature Makgeolli. Joo Bar is the first in Singapore to proudly brew the Korean rice wine in-house and serve it on tap.

Did you know that Makgeolli is the oldest alcoholic beverage native to Korea and Koreans believe that the combination of nutrients in it helps to aid digestion, lower cholesterol and slow down ageing process? I'm sold!

My virgin experience of this cloudy-looking drink wasn't too bad, the best bet would be to get the Makgeolli Sampler ($35 for 5) if you're also a newbie to it. The 5 flavors ranges from original to fruity blends such as lychee (my favorite!), mango, strawberry and a very pleasing yucha (Korean citron) which is most well-received by our table.

Served chilled, the makgeolli's light body and mild taste was easy to accept, but pace yourself well as its alcohol (ABV) content of 6-8% is considered quite high when compared to beer (at least for a teetotaler like me).

A range of cocktails using soju such as the Soju Mojito ($14/$24/$40) in lime or grape flavor provides a fresh take on traditional drinks. The bubbly Yucha Sojurita ($28) featuring a 330ml of Hite beer dunked in a big glass of frozen soju-yucha-Cointreau-lemon juice mix is perfect for group of 2 to 4 friends to share. So fun and delightful to drink!

A trio of Banchan may be offered as a complimentary starter reflecting Joo Bar's roots in Korean culture, but this watering hole is definitely not your typical traditional Korean joint. Their take on Korean cuisine is contemporary with western influences, shown apparently from the preparation method, to the final presentation and taste.

I thought Korean's Anju (typically food that goes well with alcohol) is somewhat an Asian version of Spanish tapas, with selections such as crispy Baby Eel Paper ($14), Tofu Chips ($14) accompanied by a duo dip of guacamole and kimchi salsa, as well as the "DIY sandwich" of Warm Kimchi with Tofu and Spam ($16) kick-starting the evening.

Of course I also have to order the Joo Wings ($18), fried chicken wings coated in a lip-smacking spicy and sweet soy glaze. These were way too addictive!

But carnivore me like to have a more substantial bite even when the focus is on drinks, that's when those platters of prime pork pickings seemed to be created just for this PinkyPiggu lol! Only the best Hungarian Mangalisa pork is used, it can be hard to decide which way I like it better, for both boiled and slow-roasted renditions have its own delicious merits.

The Joo Bossam ($28) was a showcase of luscious fatty meat that is boiled with doenjang (fermented bean paste) and served with sides of invigorating white cabbage that is pickled in yucha-vinegar, and spicy radish salad. Slow-roasted Mangalitsa Belly ($32) steal our hearts too with meat that is brined in a mixture of salt, pepper, soju and makgeolli, before it is steam-roasted to tender loveliness and served with shredded chives and mustard dip.

What I would highly recommend too is the Hand-chopped Korean Minced Rib Steak ($20). It may not look much at initial glance, but the thin patty of flame-grilled tender US prime beef burst with such succulence and loadful of flavors that to give it a miss would be sorely regretful!

Other highlights from the food menu includes Korean favorites such as Army Stew ($24) and Seafood Soft Tofu Stew ($24). Fusion creations take an interesting noteworthy spot with offerings like the Kimchi Chicken Potpie ($14), Kimchi Shrimp Pasta ($24) and Seafood Gochujang Risotto ($24).

Ooh ooh ooh that plate of creamy, appetite whetting Seafood Gochujang Risotto ($24) with notes of subtle spiciness!!! So yummilicious and generously brimming with prawns, mussels, clams & squids sautéed in hot pepper paste, finished with sprinklings of parmesan cheese. Though more risotto-inspired rather than a risotto dish in strictest sense as it used Korean short-grain rice instead of the typical arborio rice, it was nevertheless gratifying.

All in all, Joo Bar is a great place to chillax, have some drinks, have some food. But do manage your expectations and come with an open mind that not everything adheres to what would be ideally authentic. Just grab some great company along and make it an awesome evening to enjoy!

Joo Bar
Address: 5 Tan Quee Lan Street, Singapore 188094
Contact: +65 81381628
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joobarsg
Opening Hours: Daily 5.30pm to 12am

What's brewing at Rochester Mall? It's Doi Chaang Coffee! I was at Star Vista and very much in need of an afternoon perk-me-up when I remembered that this renowned specialty coffee joint from Thailand had opened its flagship Singapore outlet in January 2015. Just 5 minutes across the road from where I am, I can still drag my feet over lah. Besides the organic arabica coffee it serves would be a nice change from the usual coffee chain offerings in this area.

The café itself is functional and small in size, but the coffee beans which they use from Doi Chaang Village in Northern Thailand is big on accolades and various certifications. Let me attempt a summary here: Ranked among the top 1% in the world, single estate 100% Arabica, member of Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCAE), USDA certified organic, fair trade certified.

Non-coffee connoisseur like me would probably have to ask Mr Google or check Doi Chang's website to better understand what all these means, but no doubt it is an assurance of superior quality compared to usual.

Impressive! But most importantly, my layman question is: The coffee taste good or not?

I had a few sips of my friend's Flat White ($5.50) which fared better than my glass of Iced Latte ($6.50). It was not as full-bodied as I hope it would be, tasting like a diluted version of our local kopi-peng.

On hindsight, I should have ask the barista to recommend a stronger brew, or go for their signature Ice Doi Chaang ($6.50) which was well-received by a fellow blogger during his earlier visit.

There are also interesting concoctions such as Banana Toffee Nut Latte ($5.90), Caramel Latte Macchiato ($5.90) and Ice Lemongrass Americano ($5.50).

Though the main draw at Doi Chaang is their coffee, they also serve light bites such as sandwiches, and a range of mille crepe cakes. The slice of Matcha & Azuki Crepe Cake ($6.90) was decent and made nice accompaniment to the coffee, but it's not something which I would crave for anytime soon.

Likewise, I wouldn't rush to specially make my way to Doi Chaang, but wouldn't mind popping over for a visit again if I'm in the area and need a caffeine fix.

Doi Chaang Coffee
Address: 35 Rochester Drive, Rochester Mall #01-08, Singapore 138639
Contact: +65 8200 8215
Website: http://www.doichaangcoffee.com.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoiChaangSG
Opening Hours: Daily 7.30am to 10.30pm

We can never get enough of hotpot, especially when it's collagen hotpot! Another restaurant to offer this beauty enhancing deliciousness is Torikin 鶏金, a Mizutaki ~ Japanese chicken and collagen hotpot ~ specialist that has its origins in Hakata, Japan. I was told that the boss himself is from Japan, and Torikin is his very first Singapore venture. Must thank him and his team for bringing us such a wonderful dining experience. ありがとう!!!

Haha we had actually "gatecrashed" the dinner service without making any reservation, and was glad that they are still able to accommodate us at the last available table! Though the restaurant area is pretty small, it is cleverly divided into several sections: alfresco, sushi counter, booth tables and also a semi-private room with horigotatsu, those traditional Japanese-style seating where the dining table is placed over a sunken platform.

The use of mainly clean-lined wood elements accented with Kanji (Chinese characters) calligraphy on the walls gave the intimate space a sense of peace and homeyness. I like.

Since its opening in October last year, Torikin's pool of regulars has been steadily growing, many of which are Japanese. In fact, most diners on my evening of visit were Japanese, which is like a nod of acceptance to the Japanese cuisine served here.

Besides the signature collagen hotpot, on the menu are Sashimi ($17.90 to $59.80 per platter), interesting starters such as Salted Squid with Cheese ($7) and Chicken Skin with Ponzu ($5), and also donburi choices including Oyako Don ($15.80) and Salmon & Salmon Roe Rice Bowl ($15.80) which makes great one-dish meal.

From the Toubannyaki (food cooked and served on earthenware) selection, I thought Avocado Okonomiyaki ($16.80) sounds rather exotic, so we kept to the familiar favorite, Hakata Tonpei Yaki ($17.80). The rendition here was the best I had so far, a piping hot medley of soft cabbages and tender pork belly slices beneath a blanket of fluffy omelette topped with savory sweet okonomi sauce and mayonnaise. Very nice! Very delightful! This is a must-order!

As Torikin is foremost a chicken-centric place, there are also quite a number of chicken items such as Oita Chicken Tempura ($12) featuring crisp tempura batter enveloping tender moist fillet meat, as well as Grilled Chicken Wing ($10.80). I thought my tolerance for spiciness is considered high, but these chilli-pepper coated chicken wings had me waving the white ~~flag~~ tissue in embarrassing defeat.

Finally, the star of our meal arrived, a whole pot of Hakata Mizutaki! Available in 3 serving sizes (S-2pax $70 / M-3pax $100 / L-4pax $135), each set of collagen hotpot comes completed with chicken pieces, minced chicken and assorted vegetables.

The chicken stock is boiled over 6 hours daily using Sakura chicken which is free of antibiotics and growth hormones. Collagen from the chicken is already well-infused into the slightly sticky, milky-white broth by the time it reached our table, pampering us with its rich flavors, yet gentle enough without the surfeit afterfeel.

If you are not already in the know, collagen is an essential protein to hold our skin together, giving us that coveted firmness and elasticity. I super like! Give me more! Lol!

The best way to enjoy the chicken collagen hotpot to its fullest is:-

First thing first, taste the broth! We used the small cups provided for each satisfying sip.
Eat the cooked chicken pieces with their homemade ponzu sauce.
Next, enjoy the minced chicken balls which the staff will assist to cook as we're eating the chicken pieces.
Vegetables, mushrooms and tofu are then added into the soup for further sweetness.
Lastly, rice and egg are added into the soup to make porridge.

Though the ingredients might not seemed like a lot, it added up adequately to a fairly substantial meal. But it also could be the fact that we already had a few ala-carte items before commencing on the hotpot set.

We wondered about the comparative higher price to other places offering collagen hotpot as well, and questioned our wallet if it's worth it. To think that green tea is charged at $3 for a small cup and not refillable (a practice which differs from the typical Japanese restaurants), irked me a little too.

In the end, tummy replied okay lah since the food was yummy, and brain said yes because service was excellent!

The service at Torikin certainly left a deep impression on me. For instance, the waitress actually knelt by our tableside and spent a few minutes patiently explaining the menu to us, and she knelt down each time I asked her a question that I felt so paiseh about it. Every time a dish came, she will neatly re-arranged the existing plates on the table, before setting the new one down. You might say it's typical of Japanese culture, but I say, what we experienced is not the usual standard of service in Singapore, especially in a casual dining establishment such as this.

Overall, I love the food, I love the service, I love this place which has none of that commercialized restaurant feel. Torikin is a great place if you're looking to have a good meal away from the city. A gem in most senses, go before it gets too crowded and difficult to get a reservation. いただきます!

Torikin 鶏金
Address: 557 Bukit Timah Road #01-14/16 Serene Centre, Singapore 269694
Contact: +65 64655908
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/torikinsg
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 6pm-11pm / Sat-Sun 12pm-3pm, 6pm-11pm

Prices stated are subject to 10% service charge and 7% GST

You might wonder, what's the fuss about? Afterall, Marina Bay Sands already has a stellar line-up of celebrity chef restaurants such as CUT by Wolfgang Puck and Waku Ghin by Tetsuya Wakuda, mostly expensive indulgences which many can't afford to splurge on regularly. Well, with the opening of Long Chim, your perception might just change.

Long Chim, meaning “come and taste”, is an invitation to sample a modern yet delicious take on affordable Thai street fare. Yes, delicious and still affordable even in a upscale setting. We each forked out only $36 after splitting the bill among our dinner group of three.

Unbelievable! How rare is that? Even a typical meal in a casual café can amount to (or sometimes even go beyond) that easily. #notkidding #notexaggerating

The restaurant's illuminated entrance depicting streets of Bangkok in pop-art graffiti style itself is a visual stunner, leading us into a sprawling space which incorporates the bar area, main dining hall, private dining rooms, and open kitchen into one gorgeous interior. Just look at the photos to have a glimpse.

Your next question might be, "can an angmoh guy really cook Thai food?". For the uninitiated, chef David Thompson is well-known for his culinary skill and expertise in Thai cuisine.

In 2001, he launched Nahm in London and it became the first Thai restaurant to obtain a coveted Michelin star, while Nahm in Bangkok is consistently on San Pellegrino's annual Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list and ranked 13th on World's 100 Best Restaurants 2014.

Chef David is also the author of two cookery books, Thai Food and Thai Street Food.

As the waitress took down our orders, I enthusiastically asked, "will chef David be cooking for us?" Disappointingly, he didn't. If he did, perhaps it would make a huge difference to our plate of Stir-fried Rice Noodle with Siracha, Pork & Prawns ($19).

Not to say that it was no good, the chewy texture of rice noodles and overall moisture of the dish was spot on, pork was lusciously fat, prawns were fresh and delivered a crunchy bite. Intensely sweet at initial mouthful, it morphed into an addictive spiciness which lingered on. The problem was - no wok hei! We saw the lady chef attacking the wok real hard over high flaming fire, but to quote William: "got clang, got fire, but doesn't mean got wok hei." Ouch.

I love the Aromatic Beef with Cumin, Coriander and Turmeric ($11) which came in form of satay skewers, superbly marinated and cooked to tenderness with a pinkish centre. Usually I do not eat much squid because my face is prone to pimples whenever I have it, but the Grilled Squid Gorlae ($10) coated in a coconutty dry curry was so delightful yummy, it made me threw all caution to the wind.

All mains are served with white rice, which is the perfect accompaniment for dishes like Sour Orange Curry of Snakehead Fish with Water Mimosa ($20). Interesting sounding, decent tasting, but not exactly memorable.

Tom Yum Chicken Wings and Feet with Holy Basil ($16) had Nat (Rubbish Eat Rubbish Grow), William and myself debating for quite awhile and it epitomize the fact that taste is subjective. The soup reminded me (in a good way) of the Quickie Tom Yum Chicken Wings Soup I had cooked sometime back using instant tom yum paste. Flavors are well-balanced but not as robust as some of the renditions I had before.

I thought the broth could be more sourish, the guys felt that it was already very sourish. The spiciness level could also be leveled up, but Nat felt that being overly spicy will overpower all other flavors. We wondered if the heat has been purposely muted down to suit the wider palate, but that being said, William was already breaking out in sweat over some of the dishes.

What we agreed on: The wings were wonderfully tender but chicken feet were still hard, and that the combination was exotic. Why not the usual seafood huh? It is not that big an issue for me as I love these two ingredients, but we wondered about the acceptance level of Caucasians who made up the majority of diners on evening of our visit.

Another thing we agreed on: The Mango Sticky Rice ($10) was terrible. In fact, it was one of the worst I've ever eaten, with sourish mango and cold hard undercooked rice, topped with fried mung beans that was hard instead of crunchy. What could have gone wrong, went horribly wrong, except for the delish fragrant coconut cream. This item was waived off from our bill after we provided our honest feedback.

The dessert that got our praise was the Black Sticky Rice with Pandanus Noodles ($10). Looking like a distant cousin of Chendol with those green jelly-like noodle in coconut milk, it was made unique with the use of Candle's Tear or Tien-Ob in Thai, which imparted a smokey scent that was most pleasing.

Service was attentive, the staff were adequately knowledgeable and what they didn't know, they bothered to find out. Overall, we were happy with our meal. Affordable and accessible, I wouldn't hesitate to return to Long Chim again.

Long Chim
Address: #02-02, Atrium 2, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018955
Contact: +65 6688 7299
Website: http://longchim.com.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Long-Chim-Singapore/802850209809200
Opening Hours: Daily Dinner 6-10pm , Bar 6pm-Midnight

Directions
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands via lifts at:

L1, next to Hermès Watch Boutique and GUCCI
L1, opposite Mikimoto
B1, next to Prada (through the casino entrance)

Our Sunday was made more beautiful with a drive into the tranquil surroundings of Phoenix Park. A Historic Site which used to house several important government agencies, the beautifully preserved buildings are now leased for commercial use and one of its occupants, Boufé, is the reason for our visit.

Boufé = (Bou)tique + Ca(fé). Yay can shop, can eat! Happy!

The name says it all, though it really sounds like 'buffet' haha.

Guess many OOTD-ers will be happy here too, as the charming black and white facade of Boufé looks impossibly photogenic and backdrop perfect. I saw quite a few of them striking their ootd and emo poses for the camera, we also did ours haha. A shot by the swing seems almost de rigueur judging by the postings I see on Instagram.

But the scorching sun soon drove us into Boufé's equally lovely interior, which is minimalistic with washes of white all over and abundance of natural light bathing the entire space. My liking for it was instantaneous!

I took no instant liking to the food menu though, as it hardly holds any surprises beyond the typical café fare.

Brunch items includes the usual Eggs Benedict ($16) and Classic Croque Madame ($19), while dinner service features mains such as Prawn Aglio Olio ($20), Fisherman's Dory with Chips ($18) and the chef's recommendation of Boufé's Old Fashioned Beef Stew ($26).

We enjoyed the light bites of Truffles Fries ($13) and Crispy Wings ($10). Not earth shattering, but certainly well-executed and great as nibbles (especially for my perpetually "itchy" mouth lol).

Triple B ($21), Boufé Big Breakfast of freshly baked buttery croissant served with scrambled eggs, assorted sausages, streaky bacon (we changed it to ham), sautéed mushroom and fresh greens sounds promising and proved to be enticing-looking, but some things cannot be covered up with prettiness. A bite into the sausage revealed its limp texture and eggs can do with more moisture.

The Brioche French Toast ($14), presented with fresh berries, chantilly cream and maple syrup, was a comparatively better choice in all senses. Thickly sliced and ooh so soft with a buttery fragrance, it was a delightful offering from the kitchen team which bakes all their breads and pastries on site.

I would probably come back again to try more of their housemade creations such as Strawberry Shortcake ($8) and Citron Tart ($5.50), as well as to have a cup of Latte ($4.80) again.

The relaxing ambience and generally okay food would be the main draw for me to return to Boufé. Though they do not take reservations and the crowd can be a tad heavy during the weekends, ladies can always shop at Ohvola boutique while waiting. Oops, the men don't get it :p

Boufé
Address: 308 Tanglin Road, Phoenix Park #01-01, Singapore 247974
Contact: +65 6734 7656
Website: http://www.boufesg.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Boufesg
Opening Hours: Tue-Fri 8am-10pm / Sat & Sun 10am-10pm / Closed on Mon

Prices states are nett.

Westies, rejoice! Miam Miam has launched a Lunch Exécutif Menu, and that is exclusively available at the Jurong East's Westgate outlet only (sorry, those at the Bugis Junction branch don't get it). For just $17.90++ per person, we get to enjoy a Soup of the Day, Choice of Main Course, before finishing the meal with Coffee or Tea.

Wait, better grab a colleague or friend along (unless you have a voracious appetite to eat double portion) because an order of 2 set lunches comes with a complimentary Matcha Red Bean Cream Pancake (worth $12.80)! Ahh... ending any meal with dessert is a must (at least for me :p).

Miam Miam prides itself on bringing the best of French techniques and Japanese ingredients together, serving cuisine that uses sustainable produce and is prepared ala minute for freshness. Being a casual establishment, prices are kept gentle to the wallet.

With the launch of the lunch exécutif menu, a meal here certainly looks more value for money than ever.

Admittedly, every time I visit Miam Miam, it was to satisfy my sweet tooth craving for their popular desserts or refreshing green tea beverages, rather than a proper meal. For a café whose name means "yum yum", I had no idea if their food lives up to the expectation of being yummy.

After trying a couple of their dishes, I found my favourite! The signature Miam Miam Spaghetti! Very yummy indeed!

Comprising of spaghetti sautéed with frankfurters, bacon, tomatoes, baby spinach, it was a hearty party in every mouthful. The pasta was well-cooked to an al-dente texture, and I especially like the light yet flavorful taste from the secret broth, shoyo and French butter which it was tossed in. A runny soft-boiled egg aced it with a touch of creaminess.

What more can I say? The Miam Miam Spaghetti was simply lovely, and I'm happy that this is one of the main courses which I can choose for the set lunch.

If pasta is not your thing, fret not as sandwiches and rice dishes will also be offered as part of the main course choices. The Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich looked kind of pathetic at initial glance, but surprise, surprise! It was altogether lovely with chicken thigh pan-seared to moist tenderness, hugged by toasted buns which was soft and warm to bite.

The rice dishes could be the weakest mains, as I felt both the Riz Au Curry and Riz Noir Squid Ink Seafood Rice can do with more gravy. It was a tad dry.

Miam Miam has always been rather strong with their desserts, and the Matcha Red Bean Cream Pancake served with coffee and matcha jelly did not disappoint.

If just one complimentary dessert is not enough, I would strongly recommend that you order the Valrhona Chocolate Soufflé ($13.80) from the ala-carte selection as well. Superbly light and airy with melted chocolate, it was a decadent treat not to be missed. Still not enough? Get the Berries Cheese Cake ($11.80) too!

Miam Miam's Lunch Exécutif Menu is exclusively available at the Westgate outlet.

Available on weekdays from Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 2.30pm.
$17.90++ per person.
Soup of the Day + Main Course (choice of Sandwich, Pasta or Rice) + Coffee or Tea.
The main courses will be rotated on a weekly basis.
Complimentary Matcha Red Bean Cream Pancake with every two set lunches ordered.

Miam Miam
Website: http://miam.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miam.sg

Outlets
Westgate
Address: #01-21/22 Westgate, 3 Gateway Drive, Singapore 608532
Contact: +65 6369 9065
Opening Hours: 11.30pm-10pm Daily

Bugis Junction
Address: #02-14 Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street, Singapore 188021
Contact: +65 6837 0301
Opening Hours: 11.30am-10pm Daily

Opening Soon: Tampines One

From the name "Pizza Fabbrica", it sounds pretty straightforward that the restaurant takes a focus on pizza, but there's nothing cookie-cutter about it even though "fabbrica" means "factory" in Italian.

Instead, the kitchen team approaches the well-loved Italian cuisine with an artisanal and creative flair, cooking up an array of dishes that marry tradition and innovation. The man leading them all is executive chef Matteo Boifava who has honed his culinary skills in kitchens around the world, including Heston Blumenthal's 3-Michelin-starred The Fat Duck in London.

It can be quite hard to suspect that Pizza Fabbrica is foremost an Italian restaurant if I just mindlessly walk pass its shophouse facade along Bussorah Street at the edge of Kampong Glam enclave.

The sleek industrial chic decor suggested that it might be a bar, which is not too far from the truth too as Pizza Fabbrica does offer an impressive line-up of Italian craft beers such as Fabbrica della Birra Perugia and even Hitachino Nest on tap.

However, upon stepping in, one thing that certainly caught our attention is the copper wood-fired oven from behind the glass walls of the open kitchen, declaring to us that this is predominately a dining establishment and they take their pizzas seriously. The dough is made from quality Caputo flour from Italy and proofed for 48 hours to achieve a desirous light and airy structure.

From the list of over 15 pizza choices, we selected the signature Pizza Fabbrica ($28). It was nothing like we had before, and I meant it in a good way.

Instead of the typical tomato base, the thin and slightly soft dough was lined with sweet pumpkin cream. The savoriness and tanginess from the fresh mozzarella, broccolini and sundried tomato provided balance to the overall flavors. This was such a delightful vegetarian creation!

It would have been delightful too if the traditional pairing of Parma ham with rockmelon is retained, though the Parma Ham and Fresh Mango Salad ($18) was refreshing as an antipasti. I missed the sweet crunchiness which the rockmelon would have provided.

While there are classic pasta offerings such as Linguine ai Frutti di Mare ($24) with seafood and white wine sauce, it was the Garganelli con Ragù di Agnello ($24) that caught our attention. Pasta with chocolate lamb ragout? Chocolate??

Fortunately, the taste wasn't as funky as I imagined. It was mostly savory tasting, with just a subtle hint of chocolate and lifted with smoked ricotta. The texture of the tubular-shaped garganelli pasta was wonderfully al dente! Fantastic!

My favourite dish of the evening was the Risotto al Tartufo ($32). What made it outstanding was the Acquerello, dubbed the "Rolls Royce of rice" which is considered to be the best rice in the world and the preferred choice among chefs and discerning gourmands. The grains were aged for 1.5 years to 7 years, a process which is said to allow the grains to absorb more liquid and flavors during the cooking process.

I can believe this is true, for my plate of risotto was utterly orgasmic in each mouthful! The consistency was perfect, its luscious taste was enhanced with the delicate scent of freshly shaved truffles. Love it!

Compared to the pizza and pastas, main courses such as Tagliata di Manzo con Rucoia e Grana ($32) of grilled beef ribeye did not leave that much of an impression on me.

My dining companion said the Branzino in Crosta di Zucchine ($28) gave him a feeling of bliss. Not that the baked seabass fillet wasn't good. It was nicely tender and moist, but I felt that the coat of zucchini was overly excessive and distracting.

Strange that I will say this, but I can ditch the meat and load myself happier on the carbs. Pizzas! Pastas! bring it on!

We saved space for desserts, both of which we ordered was worth the sugary calories. Saffron Panna Cotta ($12) served with Sambuca red berries came wobbling to our table, getting us all excited even before we send each velvety smooth spoonful to our mouth. The Chocolate Cake ($12) with strong notes of orange was rather enjoyable too.

Overall, the food at Pizza Fabbrica is of good standards and reasonably priced. I would recommend this place for casual dates and social gatherings.

Pizza Fabbrica
Address: 70 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199483
Contact: +65 6291 0434
Website: http://pizzafabbrica.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PizzaFabbrica
Opening Hours: Tue-Thu 11.30am-11pm / Fri & Sat 11.30am-12am / Sun 11.30am-11pm / Closed on Mon

If there is only one patisserie which you have to spend your precious calories on, make it the best. Make it Mad About Sucre!

I thought my friends were exaggerating when they started raving about how good this European-inspired cakery at Teo Hong Road (2 minutes walk from Outram mrt) is. But guess what, I went a little crazy too, from the moment I stepped into its chic minimalist space, to the moment of truth when I lifted a spoonful of artisanal creation into my mouth and felt bursts of orgasmic delight. This place is a must-visit!

The pair of hands that meticulously craft every cake and confection from scratch belongs to Lena, an alumni of the famed Le Cordon Bleu. Specializing in bespoke wedding and celebratory tiered cakes, she is the undisputed patisserie talent, while her brother Eric takes on the role of manning the store front which he does with much vigor. His enthusiasm was infectious.

You can sense the pride they have in their offerings. Bake with love, bake for love, no cake premixes nor artificial flavorings are used. Eric put in efforts to explain the inspiration behind each cake flavor when he brought our orders to us (as he does to all customers). I thought the foreplay of words built up the anticipation in a way, and set the tone that a cake is not simply just a cake. It is to be appreciated and slowly savored.

Slowly indeed. As the 5 cakes (currently all that is available) we had were served one by one (akin a 5-course meal), from the lightest to the heaviest tasting. Focus on one, enjoy it to the max, before moving on to the next.

Did the deliberately paced gratification played a part in heightening the entire experience? Because for a moment the famous smokey cabaret of Moulin Rouge ($10.80) was felt coming alive in that little rectangular slice.

The interplay of slightly-charred caramel mousse, walnut parfait, savore sponge and sweet short pastry was gorgeous. It was surprisingly not cloying at all, even with the caramel element in it. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that Lena has reduced between 20% to 60% of sugar required in all the recipes. Mad About Sucre (meaning 'sugar') isn't that mad on sugar afterall.

Next up was my favourite of the afternoon, the Coco Citron ($9.80)! True to what its name implies, the sablée tart was filled with smooth lemon curd, and paired with light coconut mousse enveloped in dessicated coconut. I love the well-balanced flavors of this lemon tart which is much superior to all the overly sour mediocre versions out there. I love the lingering fragrance which the coconut gave. I love the "crystal drops" made from sugar which added a delightful crunch to the overall texture. I love everything about it!

Passionné ($10.80), a light cheese cake with passion fruit sponge, sweet short pastry and coco nip crunch was altogether enjoyable too. Served in a martini glass was the Carpentras ($11.80), an elegant beauty of vanilla cream, strawberry vodka cream, strawberry coulis, raspberry glaze and white chocolate coated almond crisps. Let your spoon give a deep penetration right into bottom, before bringing up the mutiple layers together, and enjoy the alluring blend. It was more of a dessert than cake, and there was a slight bitter aftertaste to it, probably due to the addition of lychee liquor and gin too.

Lastly we had the San Domingue ($12.80), a bomb-shaped conception which was da bomb! The feel of rum jewel box erupting into lusciousness coupled with mousse made from 70% single origin chocolate, caramelized plantain, vanilla cream and Brittany crunch was wave after wave of decadent happiness. I fondly named it the "chocolate bomb".

The cakes at Mad About Sucre were certainly delectable treats, distinctive in style and I like them all (albeit to varying degree). Eric shared that they have many more up in their repertoire, and are looking at refreshing the present line-up soon. While a breath of fresh air is good, I do hope my favourites such as Coco Citron and chocolate bomb will be retained. Prices wise, the cakes are not exactly inexpensive, but the quality justifies it all. Yes, quality would be what I would look for in my cakes. Yes, I would return for more! Definitely!

Mad About Sucre
Address: 27 Teo Hong Road, Singapore 088334
Contact: +65 6221 3969
Website: http://www.madaboutsucre.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mad-About-Sucre/1515959831984590?fref=ts
Opening Hours: Tue-Sat 12.30pm-10.30pm / Sun 12.30pm-5pm / Closed on Mon

Recently I read an online rant about how ulu (remotely located) the Punggol residential area is, boring without much dining options, and the famously yummy Ponggol Nasi Lemak is not even situated in Punggol!? Well, for the last point, it's both right and wrong.

Right, because Ponggol Nasi Lemak's 3 outlets are located at Upper Serangoon Road, Tanjong Katong Road and most recently, Jalan Besar (opposite Hoa Nam Building).

Wrong, because the family-owned business did started out 35 years ago at what was known as "Ponggol" back then, until the area was re-designated into different zones and renamed.

Wherever it's located, Ponggol Nasi Lemak still remains the same old Ponggol Nasi Lemak as I fondly enjoyed throughout all these years. Ooh that fragrant coconut rice!... Ooh the moreish savory-sweet-spicy sambal chilli!... Ooh those hot and crispy chicken wings!.... Oh no, the queue!!! -_-;

If there is one thing that holds me back from digging in the rice dish more often, the perpetual queue at its Upper Serangoon and Tanjong Katong outlets could possibly be it. The heat of coffeeshop-style setting comes a close second. But strangely, therein lays a certain laid-back charm which endeared the strong following of regulars to it, besides the delicious food. No denying about that.

The branch at Jalan Besar which is comfortably air-conditioned and opens at a much earlier hour at lunch would probably appeal to the younger generation of customers, or office workers in the vicinity, or those who simply can't wait till dinner or supper time to indulge in the carbs-worthy goodness.

Stepping into the eatery, its bright and contemporary look in a theme of red and white was easy to like. The ordering counter with an open kitchen right behind reminds me of a fast-food restaurant, which is actually not too far from the concept that Edmund Ang, the 3rd generation owner of Ponggol Nasi Lemak wants for this outlet.

Instead of pointing at the food directly to indicate what we want, we now point at food pictures on the menu. Orders are then punched into an automated system linked to the kitchen where the staff then prepares our customized nasi lemak. Hmm... same same but different?

For an even faster food experience, just choose from the four Set Menu ($4 to $5) offerings.

I started with Set Menu 2 which comprises of a Chicken Wing ($1.70), Crispy Anchovies with Peanuts ($1.10) and fried Egg ($0.80) with a serving of Coconut Rice ($1.70). Then I added crunchy Homemade Achar ($1.10) to my order, then Fried Fish ($1.30), then Spicy Otah ($1.50) haha.

But I did managed to quickly stop myself before I lose my waistline to further orders of Luncheon Meat ($0.80) or Long Beans ($1.10) or Curry Vegetables ($1.10). Oops all these are my long time favourites, and it's easy to get overly excited and too carried away when happily "pointing".

Admittedly, I wasn't too excited when I saw the fried egg. Too perfectly round and executed to characterless boringness, it was a soulless victim cloned by the automated machine, much like those you find in fast-food chains. Please give me a rugged, messy "da bomb" egg with crispy edges anytime.

Thankfully that was the only thing which I don't like. The automated fryer did good to the chicken wings though, giving it a delightful crispiness on the outer with a most tender and juicy inner. Several items on the menu, such as vegetables, are still cooked by experienced cooks.

Edmund personally undertakes the task of preparing the secret recipe sambal chilli and oversees the cooking of the coconut rice which uses only the best Thai Hom Mali grain.

Not to be missed are premium house specialties which are available only at the Jalan Besar outlet, such as Signature Ngoh Hiang ($1.50), a delectable roll of minced pork, water chestnuts and chives wrapped in beancurd skin, as well as Crispy Battered Whole Prawns ($3.80, 2pcs) and Crispy Battered Fish Fillet ($3.80, 2pcs). The housemade minty aioli dip which accompanied the prawn and fish provided a refreshing note, cutting through any greasiness that is typically associated with deep-fried food.

I guess my dining companion would not be surprised if I highly recommend the Grilled Japanese Squid ($7.50) as a must-try item, for I was practically loading pieces after pieces of it unabashedly into my mouth. There was nothing to fault of the squid's succulent texture, and the kicap manis (Indonesian sweet sauce) dip only served to elevate its flavorsome taste to another level.

Another item which I would unreservedly spend my calories on is the Crispy Chicken Skin ($1.50 per serving) tossed in a piquant mix of curry leaves, kicap manis, black pepper and local spices. Sounds rather sinful, but as the fat was carefully removed from under the skin before it's triple-fried, it kind of lessen the guilt. This was way way way too addictive. My advice: Get the "upsized version" ($4.70 per tub), be selfish, don't share!

Haha, you know I'm just kidding, because food taste even better when shared. It would be a good idea to order several cups of the Homemade Ice Cream and Sorbet ($2.50 per cup) to share too, as the variety of interesting flavors including Milo, Peanut Butter Milk, Raspberry Mango, Lemongrass Lime and Pink Guava could make it a tad difficult to decide if you are to settle on just one.

It would be unfair to compare the ice cream's texture to those of premium gelatos, but all were splendid as aftermeal palate cleanser, and so was the Homemade Hibiscus Ice Tea ($1.90). Brewed fresh daily with carefully selected dried hibiscus flowers, the drink is high in anti-oxidants and is attributed to helping with digestion and improving blood circulation. I think my TCM practitioner friend will approve of this healthier beverage too?

Well, one thing is for sure: Ponggol Nasi Lemak certainly got my stamp of approval as one of the better nasi lemak places in Singapore.

Ponggol Nasi Lemak @ Jalan Besar
Address: 371 Jalan Besar, #01-01, Singapore 208998
Contact: +65 6293 0020
Website: http://www.ponggolnasilemak.com.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ponggolnasilemak?fref=ts
Opening Hours: 12pm-11pm Daily / Closed on Thu

Other Outlets
Upper Serangoon Road
Address: 965 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534721
Contact: +65 6281 0020
Opening Hours: 5.30pm-3.30am

Tanjong Katong Road
Address: 238 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437026
Contact: +65 6287 0020
Opening Hours: 5.30pm-2.30am

For a joint that calls itself Momo Café, I had imagined it to be all of pastel, girlish cuteness, as "momo" means "peach" in Japanese. But reality is very different. Dark, sombre, the most uplifting sunshine element in the café could possibly be the helpful and friendly service that was rendered to us.

Adjacent to Group Therapy Coffee at Duxton Road, the quiet Momo could be the alternative chillax place should its neighbour gets too crowded or noisy.

Momo's menu is not too unlike what most cafés are serving, with typical offerings of light bites such as Truffle Fries ($10) and Crispy Chicken Bites ($10), to more substantial items like Mushroom/Ham & Spinach Quiche ($13) and Chicken/Beef Lasagna ($15), as well as... you guessed it... Waffles ($8, additional $2 for a scoop of ice cream)!

Price of the waffles is friendly enough to our wallets, but its texture was too airy to satisfy our mouths, though the crispy outer did give it a somewhat redeeming bite.

We thought the recommended Fish & Chips ($15) sounded a tad boring, and instead went for the Garbage Omelette ($15) which is quite a hearty combination of ham, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, peppers and cheddar cheese.

If you ask me, "why would I pay to eat something which I can easily ensemble in our home kitchen?", my answer would be, "for convenience lah, no washing up required". Haha.

The most enjoyable (or should I say only?) item we had was the Farmer's Harvest ($10), an addictive crispy mix of deep-fried potato, sweet potato and lotus roots.

My friend's Molten Chocolate Lava ($9) did not flow during his previous visit, so we decided to skip that and ordered the Apple Crumble Pie ($10) for dessert. Let's just say it can be better. Not that I'm in lack of words, but there are some vocabularies which I do not wish to use.

With the onslaught of new openings every other day, Momo probably needs more fine tuning in terms of food, and a stronger identity to stand out in this competitive café scene.

Momo Café
Address: 47 Duxton Road, Singapore 089511
Contact: +65 62215775
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/momocafesg
Opening Hours: Mon-Thu 12pm-9pm / Fri & Sat 12pm-11pm / Closed on Sun

The meal at Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Restaurant was one of my more memorable ones recently. Ooh luscious slices of prime Kuroge Wagyu Beef, how would I ever forget you?!

Gyu-Kaku, meaning "horn of the bull" in Japanese, has undoubtedly strike the bull's eyes with their concept of offering good food at reasonable prices with excellent service and atmosphere. Okay, you might say, isn't there a whole load of restaurants holding similar promises yet falls short on delivery? Well, not Gyu-Kaku. Their popularity could be the best attestation to that.

Since the opening of their first restaurant in Japan in year 1996, to the expansion of 1000 outlets within the country alone, and not counting the numerous franchise in Asean, Canada as well as USA, Gyu-Kaku is undeniably a success. There's certainly no stopping this BBQ restaurant chain from charging forward.

In Singapore, you can find Gyu-Kaku at Anchorpoint, OneKM, UE Square, Velocity@Novena and Chijmes, the outlet which I went to.

I was lured over with the bait of their new menu which features Kuroge Wagyu beef.

Kuroge what again? Most of us might more familiar with Kobe, Matsusaka or Omi beef, but the thing that Kuroge have with them in common: They are all premium Wagyu, albeit from different areas of Japan.

Kuroge Wagyu, from the 100% pure Japanese Black Hair Wagyu breed, is famed for its intense marbling. The cows are barn-raised in Kagoshima prefecture in Kyushu, Japan and is said to be sweeter and tenderer than its field-bred Australian Wagyu counterpart.

The Prime Kagoshima Kuroge Wagyu which Gyu-Kaku serves is directly imported from its birthplace in Japan. I thought the pricing will be correlatively high, but the damage wasn't that bad at all. A 80 grams portion is at $35, while 210 grams is at $41.

My fail-proof way to enjoy these premium meat is to grill it over the hot charcoal heat, give it a quick flip once the fat starts melting and sizzling to ensure it doesn't overcook, and send each slice of succulent deliciousness into my mouth. It was so bliss-inducing!

Even though Gyu-Kaku provide a variety of sauces to complement their beef, I thought just a bit of salt was sufficient to enhance its natural flavours. Still, I would recommend you to try the garlic chilli dip which paired exceedingly well with the Fire Karubi ($7). The spiciness level of the chilli dip was just about right, and the bits of aromatic crisp garlic made it irresistibly addictive, perfecting the short rib in this delightful union.

The thicker-cut King Harami ($10) was good enough on its own, but equally enjoyable when eaten with Vegetable Wrap Set ($5) comprising of fresh lettuce, mayonnaise, spicy miso, chilli padi and garlic.

Fans of sushi wouldn't want to miss the Aburi Wagyu Sushi ($8) too, and there are also a host of other dishes such as fresh, crunchy Shrimps in Garlic Butter ($5), Assorted Mushrooms with Butter ($8) cooked within a foil over the charcoal grill, and Seafood Chige Soup ($12) brimming with prawns, scallops and silky tofu in spicy broth. I whacked everything! Lol!

Dessert-wise, we were recommended the Sweet Potato with Vanilla Ice Cream ($3.90), which I overheard someone describing it as "soggy fries with ice cream". It wasn't that bad but it's not exactly something which I would crave for again.

The Gyu-Kaku Signature Milk Pudding ($3.90) was another story altogether. Velvety smooth pudding with brown sugar syrup and a sprinkling of soya bean powder, it was a subtle beauty which doesn't scream immediate attention at once, but soon won me over gradually with each spoonful of its delicate loveliness. Its level of sweetness suited me just fine, but that was a sweetest ending to the wondrous yakiniku dinner.

The only grouse I had was that the place felt a tad warm as I progressed further into the meal, and the burning fire from the charcoal grill didn't help, but foodwise, there wasn't anything I want to complain about. I would definitely return to Gyu-Kaku for those Wagyu beefy goodness again.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Restaurant
Website: http://www.gyu-kaku.com.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GyuKakuJapaneseBBQ

Outlets
Anchorpoint
Address: 368 Alexandra Road, Anchorpoint, Singapore 159952
Contact: +65 6479 4001
Opening Hours: Daily Lunch 12pm-2.30pm / Dinner 5.30pm-10.30pm

Chijmes
Address: 30 Victoria Street, #01-01/02, Singapore 187996
Contact: +65 6333 4001
Opening Hours: Daily Lunch 12pm-2.30pm / Dinner 5.30pm-11pm

OneKM
Address: 11 Tanjong Katong Road, #01-16 OneKM, Singapore 437157
Contact: +65 6362 4001
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm-11pm

UE Square
Address: 81A Clemenceau Avenue, #01-18/19 UE Square, Singapore 239918
Contact: +65 6733 4001
Opening Hours:Daily Lunch 12pm-2.30pm / Dinner 6pm-11.30pm

Velocity@Novena
Address: 238 Thomson Road, #02-46 Novena Square, Singapore 307683
Contact: +65 6252 4001
Opening Hours: Daily 11.30am-10pm

Banana Tree!!! Scared? No worries, there's no pontianak lurking anywhere in this newly-opened café along Keong Siak Road, but what you'd find are prettier than pretty Bingsu (Korean ice dessert), and a very gorgeous Singapore-based Korean lady boss.

The only thing that's scary was the patience-testing 90 minutes wait when we visited Banana Tree Singapore during their first week of opening, mostly due to the crowd that was eager to check out one of the latest talk in town, and the time-consuming effort the staff took to meticulously handcraft each dessert a la minute.

But guess we were okay to wait (having good company while waiting helped!) as humans can be in most parts visual beings naturally drawn to esthetically pleasing things. Desserts at Banana Tree Singapore are beautifully presented in flower pots, not too dissimilar to its popular counterpart in Korea where there are already three branches.

I was told that the menu offerings are more or less the same too, such as the Flower Paap ($6.50) which features their signature flower pot pudding in Banana as well as Espresso flavor, completed with a top layer of oreo "soil". Oh, the flower is fake, don't accidentally nibble on it lol. Just enjoy the pleasant smoothness of the pudding that is prepared with freshly homemade cream.

The Pot Bing Soo ($12.50) was another Instagram-worthy stunner resembling a potted plant. Topped with red beans and vanilla ice cream over shaved ice, it brought to mind our well-loved local ice kachang dessert. Sad to say the price is a few times over, but the satisfaction felt is less than half. The shaved ice could definitely do with a smoother texture.

Oreo Bomb ($12) did pleased the oreo lovers in us, but I reckon it need not take a great culinary talent to assemble this in our home kitchen.

Beverages like the non-alcoholic Lime Mojito ($7.50) and Som Som Latte (hot $6.50, iced $7) are indisputably photogenic, especially the latter. Look at that cloud of pink fluffiness! The freshly-spun candy floss over glass of café latte, milk caramel, matcha or chai tea was such an adorable sight to behold.

The price point at Banana Tree is kept reasonable, and remains affordable for the younger crowd it seems to attract. There are probably better options elsewhere when craving for shaved ice desserts strikes, but if I'm in the area and especially after a hot and heavy zhi char meal at nearby Kok Seng, Banana Tree is where I'd dash to and chillax in its spacious, welcoming space.

Hope the queue will not be another 90 minutes then.

Banana Tree Singapore
Address: 26 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089133
Contact: +65 6221 5020
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bananatreesg
Opening Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-8pm / Sun 11am-8pm / Mon closed

Truth to be told, I was rather skeptical when I learned that Straits Express restaurant serves Peranakan, Penang Street Food and Anglo-Hainanese cuisine all under one roof. Well, more often than not, places that try to offer a multi-cuisine experience ended up executing mediocre "half-here half-there" food which lose in terms of taste, though winning in variety.

But since I've yet to visit the newly-opened Kallang Wave Mall at Singapore Sports Hub (next to mrt station: CC6 Stadium) and need dinner anyway, I thought might as well just go over to take a look and get the tummy filled. Happy to say that some of the dishes at Straits Express turned out to be highly enjoyable! :D

If you've already been to the mall, but somehow Straits Express escaped your attention, it might be that its entrance is located on outside of the building (facing the scenic Kallang river). Design-wise, it takes on the railway theme of an imaginary luxury train that journey us back in time to savour food from the Straits Settlement era when Singapore was part of British colony, hence the name "Straits Express".

"一山不容二虎, one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers" so goes the Chinese idiom, but one kitchen can certainly accommodate a few master chefs haha. At Straits Express, each cuisine served has its own dedicated chef.

Anglo-Hainanese cuisine throws me back to my Hainanese roots. My grandpa was one of the many Hainanese who served as cooks in the kitchens of many British households in old Singapore, and created a unique style of western food with a Hainanese touch.

We tried the Mulligatawny Soup ($4.50) which was not too unlike minestrone, but with hints of curry flavor. Toad In A Hole ($10.50) got its name from the way the pork sausages peeped out from its baked batter, but other than the tongue-in-cheek name, the dish was forgettable in most parts.

While the Oxtail Stew ($18.50) was not perfect, it was one of the better dishes from the Anglo-Hainanese menu with meat that was cooked to lovely tenderness. Though the oxtail itself can do with a tad more flavor, the shortfall was mitigated by the rich and lip-smacking gravy which it was smothered in.

The Penang Street Food menu throws up quintessential favorites such as the pleasing Lor Bak ($8), rolls of chopped pork collar wrapped and deep-fried in beancurd sheet, as well as Assam Laksa ($8), thick rice vermicelli in hot and sour fish gravy. The latter was adequately spicy and sour, but somehow lack the robustness similar to what I've tasted before in Penang town itself.

My vote of recommendation went to the Penang Fried Seafood Kway Teow ($9)! The skinny flat rice noodles stir-fried with generous amount of prawns and squid in a spicy, savory sauce was a hit with everyone at our table! One element that catapulted it from decent to delightful was the coveted wok hei (breath of wok) which held our attention till the very end. This was easily one of the better renditions we can find in Singapore.

Of all the three cuisines, the one which left the most impression was the Peranakan. While the Nyonya Mee Siam ($8) was exceedingly sourish for me, the rest of the items we tried was really good, and beckoned for plates of white rice to make the ambrosial experience complete.

I was hoping to eat my favorite Babi Pongteh ($14), braised pork belly cooked with mushrooms, bamboo shoots and potatoes, but tried something even better, the Babi Tohay ($18)! It seems that Babi Tohay is kind of a "forgotten" Peranakan dish, as we seldom see it served in most restaurants nowadays.

Requiring meticulous preparation work, the mixture of red rice yeast, brandy and a host of ingredients has to be fermented for 7 days before it is used to cook together with the meat. Oh my goodness! The resulting dish was richly deep in flavors, yet well-balanced and delicate without any surfeit afterfeel. Those slices of pork belly retained an enjoyable slight bite and its fats were simply melting in the mouth. The first time experience of trying Babi Tohay was certainly delightful and I can see myself returning to Straits Express just to relish in this pork belly goodness again.

The Nyonya Chap Chye ($9.50) was another homely classic not to be missed, and Prawn Belimbing ($18) will appeal to you who love the firm bite of the crustacean and its appetite whetting tangy taste.

Desserts could be the weakest link, as both the English Apple Pie ($4.50) and Assorted Nyonya Kuay ($3) was passable at best. Perhaps an order of icy Nyonya Chendol ($5) to cleanse the palate after this heavy meal would be a better idea.

Straits Express is opened daily from lunch onwards, and come evening time, the adjoining bar comes alive with live band performances. This is quite a suitable place for group gatherings, considering the food, bar drinks, music, soccer screenings and even a pool table to keep the entertainment going.

For me, just the Penang Fried Kway Teow and Babi Tohay are sufficient to lure this PinkyPiggu back.

Straits Express
Address: Kallang Wave Mall, 1 Stadium Place, #01-24/28, Singapore 397628
Contact: +65 6702 2964
Website: http://straitsexpress.com.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/straitsexpress
Opening Hours: Daily 11am-10pm

One of the most exciting aspect about food, is anticipating and experiencing the sensation that each different combination of ingredients, seasonings and cooking techniques could possibly bring. Just when I thought my taste bud is jaded by endless egg benedicts and waffles, it was awakened most unexpectedly.

A recent visit to The Snack Culture Company revived the faith that food offered by a café can be inspiring, appealing and gratifying too, all at once.

The small outfit at CT Hub is helmed by a husband and wife team. Dr Chan runs the kitchen while Janice bakes and assists with the operations. Yes, the man himself is a doctor by training but no longer in medical practice. He now practices his culinary chops instead, and hopes to encourage the sharing of good food through his creations.

I wonder if it would be apt to describe The Snack Culture Company as Dr Chan's "playground", for this is where interesting buns like Nonya Chicken Buah Keluak Bun are freshly baked in-store daily, various snacks as well as cookies in flavors such as Yuzu and Laksa can be selected and customized into personalized gifts.

Local favorites including Healthy Harvest Rice (inspired by Hakka's Thunder Tea Rice) and Singapore Bak Kut Teh (with Korean Mandu) takes on a different profile as they are being re-interpreted for their lunch menu.

But what sealed the deal for The Snack Culture Company as a promising establishment to look out for has to be their "Around The World In 9 Small Plates" Omakase Degustation Menu. It is offered at a mere price of $49 (+10% service charge, minimum 2 person to dine), available only from Thursday to Saturdays (strictly by reservations) for dinner.

Some labelled the cuisine served as "Mod-Sin", Dr Chan calls it "Fun-Dining", I thought it to be a wondrous transcendence of cultures. How else would you describe the marriage of Japanese Edamame with Thai Tom Yum Espuma or Chilled Korean Mandu in Singapore Bak Kut Teh Consomme? These two dishes that started off our evening delighted us with familiarity in flavors, yet originality in pairing of tastes.

Taking its inspiration from the well-loved Nonya chap chye is the Chilled Black Fungus & Mushroom Salad. Its soft and crunchy contrasting textures were attractive in every chomp, tied harmoniously together by a mildly spicy Nonya belachan mayo dressing. We were all raving about it.

I was greedy for more, but glad the portion was kept manageable and paced us well in coming dishes such as the Ter Kar Chor Scotch, a Chinese vinegared pork knuckle dish with egg and ginger elements masquerading as a British scotch egg..... or is it the other way round? Haha in any case, it was a welcomed "confusion" of deliciousness.

Good stuff comes in trio and parcel lol! Asian Trio features beef bulgogi wrapped in Vietnamese rice paper roll, deep-fried wanton filled with piquant ayam buah keluak, and laksa crostini ~ laksa prawn on haebe hiam cookie! The Pen Cai Parcel did not lose out in terms of bounties too, luxuriating with mini abalone, shiitake mushroom and scallop encased in sweetness of cabbage and steamed in a full-bodied broth enhanced with marmite!

The one dish which failed to impress was the Kaffir Tomato Capellini & Cantonese Har Jeong Soft Shell Crab, as the pasta was a tad overcooked and the shrimp paste flavor for the soft shell crab could be bolder. It is suggested to have the dish with some chilli padi for added oomph, but still it could not redeem the lacklustre execution.

But all was well again as the Seafood En Papillote opened up to whiffs of Cajun spices and buttery garlic aroma, satisfying our senses and filled whatever that's left of our tummy space with delectable servings of succulent prawns and plump clams. The around the world adventure then finally ended on a high note with silky creaminess of Chendol Panna Cotta.

Overall, the dishes were not the most sophisticated in gastronomic sense, nor most exquisite when it comes to plating, but I was certainly most impressed that all of it were conjured up by a home chef who had no formal training in cooking. The pairings were straightforward yet brilliant, you'd probably also go, "why didn't I think of this before?" Amazing!

What I feel is, the locational disadvantage could be the main drawback of The Snack Culture Company (being situated within a non-exciting commercial building that serves mainly offices, but with reasonable rental costs). The nearest mrt station or bus stop is quite a walking distance away (for "wearing-high-heels" me), and there was not much dining ambience to speak of. "Who would come here specially to have dinner?", I thought to myself as I made my way over. Perhaps I answered my own question as the evening closed. Those who appreciate a well-thought meal will concur the endeavor is worth it.

The Snack Culture Company
Address: 2 Kallang Avenue, #02-17 CT Hub, Singapore 339407
Contact: +65 6442 2006
Website: http://snackculture.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSnackCultureCompany
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-7pm / Thu-Sat 7pm-10pm (by reservations only) / Closed on Sun

KFC!!! Whether it's the endearing finger-licking classic which I've grown up with or the current wave of Korean Fried Chicken, chicken pieces deep-fried to sinful indulgence of crispy goodness reigns as one of the ultimate comfort food of all times, in both real life and reel life.

Don't believe? Well, it did cheer me up this evening, and just watch how Cheon Song-Yi (You Who Came From The Stars来自星星的你 ) gorges herself with fried chicken and beer whenever she's feeling down (diet? what diet? who cares??? haha!). One of the best places in Singapore to experience this uplifting combination could very well be Chir Chir, the wildly popular fried chicken restaurant with over 100 outlets in South Korea (where it originated), China and Taiwan!

The pairing of chicken and beer is so well-received that it has its own term "chimaek" which represents the combination of chi from chicken, and maek for maekju for beer. Chir Chir is an embodiment of this chimaek culture.

Pronounced as chi-ruh chi-ruh, Chir Chir gets its name from the bubbling sound that oil makes when the chicken hits the deep-fryer. Oh no I don't want to imagine what the poor chickens has to go through to become food for us. I just want to enjoy the deliciousness of its meat, as we dine in the fun and casual eatery designed to resemble a chicken run with mesh wires, eggshell displays, cute cartoonish illustrations and K-pop music playing in the background.

I'm willingly happy to be cooped in here anytime, and be slapped left right with those deep-fried goodness of Whole Chicken Parts, Boneless Tenders and Wings prepared in Original Crispy, Spicy and Garlicky flavors.

While at it, you can also drown me with their signature Chir Cream Beer ($13.90/350ml, $18.90/650ml) crowned with freshly whipped cream or Blue Marine Tok Tok ($14.90/$18.90 per jug), a sweet blue lemonade drink that turned fizzy with an iSi soda charger (get ready for InstaVideo moment!), and can be turned into a cocktail with the addition of soju.

Haha okay let's be serious. It is important to have a more balanced meal, so we started off with some fruity salads. Both the Mango Salad ($11.90) and Honey Grape Salad ($18.90) came nicely chilled. I especially enjoyed the latter, a delightful medley of seedless green grapes, walnuts, pine nuts, almond and raisins dressed with ricotta and whipped cream. The accompanying honey and garlic baked tortillas reminded me of sugared cream crackers: Thinly crisp, simple and nice.

It was worth the short wait for our Crispy Fried Chicken ($26.90) to arrive, as each order is cooked ala minute. The fresh chicken which Chir Chir uses does make a whole load of difference (compared to frozen ones)! Its flesh was all of soft, juicy awesomeness, utterly tasty after being marinated for 6 hours in Chir Chir's house seasoning before being battered and deep-fried in soy bean oil that is changed regularly to remove any impurities and prevent rancid smell. Crunchy, succulent and flavorsome, Chir Chir has all that I want in a perfect piece of fried chicken.

Fried chicken is generally considered best enjoyed using our bare hands, but the thoughtful folks at Chir Chir provided specially designed mini tongs brought in from Korea so that we wouldn't need to dirty our fingers if we don't want to. Also imported from Seoul are the proprietary sauces and marinades to ensure consistency in flavor across Chir Chir's outlets worldwide.

So I trust what our Garlicky Wings ($28.90/7 drumlets + 7 wings) gave us was as close to the Korean experience we can get locally. Its sweet-savory sauce with subtle hint of spiciness was utterly moreish, I sucked each drip off the bones! Chunks of roasted sweet potatoes, fried toppoki (Korean rice cakes) complete this dish, I even polished off the very last clove of garlic. So so so yummilicious.

The Spicy Wings ($28.90/7 drumlets + 7 wings) level of spiciness is not for the faint-hearted, but we jumped right into this pleasurable torture of fiery shiokness. We all love challenges don't we? Haha

Call me weird, but I love sucking bones so the Nest Snow ($32.90) with boneless Cajun chicken tenders did not gave me as much gratification. It was pleasant enough, but a tad overwhelming with the cream sauce and shavings of parmesan, mozzarella and cheddar on top of the sweet potato purée. I felt jerlat (surfeit) after the first piece to move on to the second.

That's one of the creative offerings, if you're wondering where the fusion part of Chir Chir Fusion Chicken Factory comes in. Taking a twist on chimaek too would be the Spicy Roasted Chicken ($32.90) that is oven-roasted then pan-fried with a spicy BBQ sauce.

Prices may seem intimidating at initial glance, but you'd realized each portion is hearty enough for 2 to 3 persons to share. So would you come and join me at Chir Chir too? Friends who join in the queue together, share the calories together, stay together. Haha!

Chir Chir
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chir-Chir-Singapore/1551584908411319?fref=ts

Outlets
313@Somerset
Address: 313 Orchard Road, #B3-04/05/06 313@Somerset, Singapore 238895
Contact: +65 6509 8364
Opening Hours: Sun-Thu 10am-10pm / Fri & Sat 10am-11pm

Bedok Point
Address: 799 New Upper Changi Road, #02-05/06 Bedok Point, Singapore 467351
Contact: +65 6481 2098
Opening Hours: Sun-Thu 10am-10pm / Fri & Sat 10am-11pm

Dazzling Café left us in a daze. I wish I could say it was in a good way, but I couldn't.

Recently-opened in Singapore's newly-renovated Capitol Piazza amid much anticipation, Dazzling is the renowned café chain which originated in Taiwan, with currently 9 local outlets as well as branches in China and Hong Kong. The reason for its popularity is easily fathomable: Aesthetically drool-worthy signature Honey Toast, chic interior settings and well-reputed excellent service.

Will Singapore's Dazzling mirror this winning formula successfully? Well for a start, the initial response seemed to be positive judging by the queues that formed at times. People are keen to check this café out, so were we.

I must say the café is gorgeous! The predominant shades of aqua blue and white highlighted with touches of gold, whimsical rabbit-ears chairs, even waitress decked in French-maid style uniforms, all these screams cutesy girlishness. But taking photos under that blue-lighted ceiling proved to be a challenge, and the one or two houseflies that visited threatened to be photobombs (and more).

As the café is still in its soft-launch phase, only a partial menu is served. Already limited, it doesn't helped that we visited at evening time on a Sunday, and quite a few items including the Truffle Mushroom Risotto ($24.90) which we wanted were not available anymore.

So the four of us ended up ordering a plate of pasta each. Yawn..... It came one plate at a time, 10 to 15 minutes apart. Yawn again..... "Maybe there's only one chef doing the cooking?", or so we wondered.

The waiting time would be of secondary concern, if superiority in taste can distract us from it. "IF".

Our pastas came in varied texture. Scallop & Crabmeat Spaghetti Aglio Olio ($18.90) was too soft, Black Truffle & Wild Mushroom Spaghetti ($24.90) was perfectly al dente, Mentaiko Spaghetti in Cream Sauce ($18.90) and Spicy Seafood Tomyam Tomato Spaghetti ($22.90) could both do with a firmer bite.

The last of it was my order, a creation exclusive to the Singapore branch, but our question was: Why tomyam and not something more distinctively local like maybe, laksa? Any tomyam flavour was barely discernible, but the dish brought back memories of my younger days when I would cook spaghetti meals out of bottled tomato pasta sauces instead -_-;

Our kind server asked if he should pack the leftovers for us to takeaway, I don't have the heart to tell it to his face that my pasta was terrible and I couldn't really bear another bite. So I told him I'm saving space for desserts (which was the truth too).

There were good reviews on the Mango and Coconut Gelato Honey Toast ($18.90) and Matcha with Azuki Beans Honey Toast ($19.90), but both were not available so we got a Strawberry Lover Honey Toast ($18.90) to share. The huge cube was cut opened to reveal pieces of crispy bread hidden within. Boring on its own, but the custard and fresh fruits breathed some life into it.

The Vanilla Ice Cream Waffle ($13.90) blossomed like a beautiful flower, but its dry texture failed to ~~stun us like vegetable~~ impress.

It was not difficult to conclude that this visit to Dazzling was less than stellar. A friend once said that all things are more forgivable when new establishments are in their soft-launch phase.

But I beg to differ. Rather than leaving leeway to find your footing, why not begin operations only when you are ready, impress us from the very start and stand out from the rest?

It will be a real dazzling experience then.

Dazzling Café Singapore 蜜糖吐司專賣店
Address: 15 Stamford Road, #01-85 Capitol Piazza, Singapore 178906
Contact: +65 63843310
Website: http://www.dazzlingdazzling.com/eng/#home.php
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dazzlingcafesg
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 12pm-8pm

We eat too much! But never enough haha! So the group of us (Daniel's Food Diary, Gninethree, Rubbish Eat Rubbish Grow and SG Food On Foot) went to check out the fairly new Tang's Steamboat Restaurant sometime back.

Pitching itself as "offering the most authentic Szechuan Steamboat in Singapore with a wide variety of high quality ingredients and specialties", it would not be too far off to say the restaurant promises on high, but fell a tad short on delivery after our visit.

Tang's Steamboat is located at Chinatown's Keong Saik Street, right across the evergreen old-school zhi char restaurant Kok Sen, with numerous eateries such as popular Thai mookata place, MooJaa and trendy Potato Head Folk, dotting the entire street.

Wahhh, F&B competition in this area alone is fierce, not to mention we already have the more established steamboat favorites such as Hai Di Lao Hotpot and Imperial Treasure Steamboat in our hearts. It's hard not to compare.

But in all fairness, Tang's is decent enough, better than the run-of-mill steamboat buffet joints. For a start, its dining environment is exceeding pleasant, especially the upper level which exudes a zen aura completed with clean-lined wooden furniture and Chinese calligraphy on the wall.

We went for the Premier Set ($89++, 11 courses for 2pax) and Economic Set ($69++, 8 courses for 2pax), both with choices of broth base such as Authentic Szechuan Spicy Soup, House Special Fish Soup, Beauty Tomato Soup, and includes a well-rounded combination of meat, vegetables and chef's specialties homemade meatball.

But what I was really looking out for are the meats. Meat always get my attention at any steamboat meals. The selection offered at Tang's sounds enticing: Australian Wagyu, Australian Beef Striploin, Japanese Pork Belly Momoiro, US Kurobuta Pork.

Unfortunately, they were etched in my memory in an unflattering way. I like to be thin, but I do not like my meat to be thin. Especially the pork belly which were sliced so thinly till translucent, we could even see the plate beneath. Though quality was of reasonable standards, the mouthfeel it gave was less than satisfactory.

The portion of Mixed Vegetables given was paltry, Assorted Mushrooms were okay, what worked well were the perfectly textured Pastes in variant of Fish, Shrimp and Spinach Cuttlefish, springy Spinach Noodles and the freshness of the Sliced Fish.

Our choice of a twin-flavored pot with Authentic Szechuan Spicy Soup and House Special Fish Soup, was well-chosen too. The former was adequately tasty and the latter tingled our tongues with a lingering spicy numbness.

When the owner asked for feedback and we provided her our honest thoughts, it was met with defensive responses. Haiz... why like that?

Overall, Tang's Steamboat is still a promising place, and suitable for groups of families and friends looking to gather around a hotpot meal. But only if they improve.

Tang's Steamboat Restaurant
Address: 41 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089146
Contact: +65 6221 1760 / +65 8727 5881
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tangs-Steamboat-Restaurant/799957466755331?fref=ts
Opening Hours: Tue-Sun 11am-12am / Closed on Monday

The potato lover in us had we both seeking out Rösti Farm, which specializes in what else but... rosti!

However, it was quite a "merry-go-round" walk within the newly-renovated Capitol Piazza. We passed by the prominent shopfront of Teuscher Chocolate (located beside Four Seasons Chinese Restaurant) 2 or 3 times, before realizing that Rösti Farm is actually sharing premises with the "#1 Best Chocolatier of the World" (as ranked by National Geographic) and Once Upon a Milkshake.

So if you are looking for a 3-in-1 dining experience of rosti + chocolate + milkshake, this would be the place to visit. We were not so ambitious to conquer it all. We were only here for the potato. Jiak kan tang :p

Just as well because food portions were hearty, even more so when we opted for "double rosti" for our order of Angus Beef & Maple Bacon Bombs ($18 w/single rosti, $21 w/double rosti) and The Happy Weekender ($20 w/single rosti, $23 w/double rosti) with cheddar cheese, German bratwurst, bacon, grilled pineapple and egg.

As if that wasn't enough, we even chose the add-on sides of Curly Fries ($3) and Tater Tots ($3)!

Fancy toppings aside, how did the quintessential rosti fare? Said to be made from fresh and imported potatoes, the patty of pan-fried grated carb was tasty on its own, but could do with more golden brown crispiness on its outer layer.

The rosti soon proved to be a tad heavy with the layer of cheese over it, and the entire combination, being on the greasy side, rested uncomfortably on the tummy after awhile. Not that it tasted bad, but too much of an overkill.

What I liked was the sausage which was firm and delightful to bite. If only there is a serving of salad by the side for some refreshing respite too.

We made a subsequent visit (while on a 40 minutes wait for our queue number at Dazzling Café to be called), and the single rosti with Cervelat Swiss Beef & Pork Sausage ($11 w/single rosti, $14 w/double rosti) which we shared was much more manageable.

Rösti Farm might appeal greater to the younger crowd who still possess higher metabolism rate to burn off the calories damage. I shuddered to think about the sodium and fats present on each plate, but is willing to indulge when craving for rosti strikes again :)

Rösti Farm
Address: Capitol Piazza, 13 Stamford Road #02-31, Singapore 178905
Contact: +65 9823 3779
Website: http://www.therostifarm.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therostifarm
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm-8pm

Truth to be told, In ITALY Bar Ristorante was not my first choice when it came to deciding on a dining place for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. It happened on a Sunday this year, a day when quite a few restaurants that I'm eyeing are closed, including the one which I really really want to bring him to. Well, I shall keep quiet about the identity of that place until his next birthday..... ssssshhh..... :p

In ITALY is not the latest ultra-hip new kid on the block, nor those super-pricey or award-winning fine-dining establishments where you can earn post-meal bragging rights. However, it is not without good reason that it's recommended by my trusted foodie friends.

And the good reason is simply: The food is good.

Located on Craig Road which is pretty close to the Duxton Hill and Tanjong Pagar precinct, the facade of the conserved shophouse where In ITALY is nestled within already scored a first win for its charming appeal. It would not be too far off to say vibes are rustic, comfortable and homey all at once. I love restaurants like this which doesn't have the overly commercial feel.

It is in this lovely place that In ITALY serves up its repertoire of Italian gastronomic delights, helmed by Chef Mario Caramella from Milan who has an impressive 30-year culinary career spanning various countries.

Though a glance at the menu did not induced much surprises, it still pleases much with the likes of quintessential favorites such as Burrata Cheese - Creamy Buffalo Milk Burrata Cheese with Parma Ham & Heirloom Tomatoes ($28/$45), Prosciutto e Melone - Parma Ham with Cantaloupe Melon ($28), Risoni al Nero - Squid Ink Pasta ($28) and Tagliatelle with Authentic Bolognese Ragu Sauce ($22).

What's puzzling was: I didn't see any pizza among the selection. Why huh?

We indulged in Ficato Di Sette Cannola ($28), a beautifully seared piece of luscious foie gras paired with pumpkin cream for starters, but not without giving in to the allure of the bread basket first. If you're wondering what that piece of puffed-up "zig zag edges" thing is, it's actually Beer Bread. Ahh, bread infused with beer and deep-fried to a golden hue. Nice! But felt a tad greasy after a while.

The Risotto with Smoked Eel ($32) came in a vibrant shade of red, all natural from the beetroot and red berries, but its overall flavor doesn't quite resonate with our tastebuds.

For the main course, Deboned Roasted Quail Breasts ($38) was quite an unexpected choice for us, as we don't usually fancy breast meat but was attracted to the black truffle sauce which made the dish sounded so promising. The breast meat turned out to be a wondrous piece of tender goodness wrapped in saltish crisp pancetta and rolled with creamy foie gras in the centre. The interplay of savory flavors and contrasting textures was gorgeous!

We would gladly return for this, as well as the Trenette alle Vongole ($25) which I would boldly declare to be one of the very best rendition I've ever tasted. The freshness of the plump clams were indisputable, imparting a natural sweetness to the glistening linguine (birthday must eat noodles for longevity :p) that was perfectly al-dente. I suspect the monté au beurre method is applied here, with butter added as a finishing touch to emulsify that extra richness taste and mouthfeel into the dish. This is an epitome of an ordinary pasta dish executed to extra-ordinariness!

If we had known earlier that food portions are generally quite hearty, we wouldn't have ordered the sides of Patate Schiacciate - Crushed Potatoes with extra virgin olive oil & Maldon Salt ($6) and Porcini Mushrooms ($10). Again, servings were generous. We over-ordered for 2 persons!

Thanks to In ITALY's kind gesture of a complimentary Chocolate & Hazelnut Fondant ($16) upon knowing that I'm reserving the table for a birthday dinner. Service was superbly attentive and considerate that I didn't even have to signal when to bring out cake lol!

Blessed Birthday, My Dear!

In ITALY Bar Ristorante
Address: 38 Craig Road, Singapore 089676
Contact: +65 6423 0918
Website: http://www.initaly.asia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/initaly.bar.restaurant?fref=ts&ref=br_tf
Opening Hours: Lunch Sun-Fri 12pm-2.30pm (Closed for Sat lunch) / Dinner Sun-Thu 6pm-10.30pm, Fri & Sat 6pm-12am

As the multitude of footsteps hurried towards Raffles Place mrt station to leave the CBD area during the happy after-6 office hour, I braved mine in the opposite direction and headed for The Ascott Singapore. I was just as happy, because that's where The Royal Mail (TRM) Restaurant & Bar is located and dinner is waiting for me.

In celebration of its 3rd anniversary, TRM is giving a 20% discount off its dinner ala-carte menu everyday from now till 30th May 2015! Woohoo must hurry!

The tranquility within TRM was quite in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city that's right outside. On the ground level is a bar for that much-needed after-work drink, a walk up the stairs leads to the restaurant on level 2 where modern interpretations of classic British cuisine awaits. I heard they're well known for their Roast Prime Ribs ($58, 200g / $72, 280g / $82, 340g). Yes, we are going to come for you!!!

I was pretty much excited about the signature beefy delights, but guess it will have to wait till my next visit upon knowing that TRM has just revamped its menu recently and our dinner will be focused on the new dishes.

But this is not to say that I was disappointed. On the contrary, some of the refreshed offerings delighted me so much that I feel it deserved to be mainstays as well.

Take for instance the Seafood Bouillabaisse ($28) featuring a whole langoustine, red Malabar snapper and Blue Mussel. Though I thought it needed just a little more heat of black pepper to elevate the taste further, the stew itself was undeniably lip-smacking enjoyable in all its loadful of crustacean flavors. The freshness of the seafood medley was also indisputable. It was altogether hearty and wonderful as a warm starter to line the tummy and fire up the appetite.

But if you prefer to start on a lighter note, Trio Of Tomatoes ($18) with Bocconcini (egg-sized Mozzarella cheese), and Hokkaido Scallop Carpaccio & Tuna ($26) would make good choices. The former could be deemed a tad pricey for its portion and simplicity, but quality of the latter was worth every single penny.

Oh, and if the waiter comes around with a basket of complimentary Gruyere Cheese Bread, do not resist, do not reject. You will be thankful for its warm and soft fluffiness and will hanker for it before the next round comes (we all did :p).

Porcini & Bacon Risotto ($32) was the one dish which I did not enjoy that evening, it being excessively creamy and leaving me with a dreaded surfeit feel even with just a few spoonfuls. But for the rest of the main courses which I tried, each has its own merits.

I especially liked the Honey Glazed Kurobuta Pork ($56), a generous slab of premium meaty goodness which was cooked to just the ideal juicy texture and bite. Those parts where luscious fats abounded were even better, filling my mouth with a savory richness which was tamed by delicate sweetness of the accompanying apple butter sauce. The carnivore in me would unhesitatingly recommend this for the carnivore in you.

Another addition to the new menu which had the whole table swooning over was the Miso Black Cod ($42). With beautifully snow-white meat and subtle flavors, cod is an easy-to-like fish to begin with. When executed to moist, melt-in-the-mouth tenderness and paired with Japanese miso, seaweed butter and leek fondue with a sprinkling of bonito flakes, it was like a match made in heaven and to say the entire union is sublime would be an understatement.

The Whole Roasted Japanese Yellow Sea Bream ($78) will appeal to you who prefer a greater intensity of flavors from herbs and spices.

Desserts definitely did not take a backseat at TRM, but are scene-stealers in their own right. Just look at the Peanut Butter Jelly ($18) with toasted brioche, cranberry jelly, chocolate ganache and caramelised banana, it even came with an edible "dessert spoon"! So pretty!

Sticky Date Pudding ($18) with vanilla Brandy sauce, Eton Mess ($18) a traditional English dessert consisting of strawberries, meringue, hazelnut crunch, salted caramel with Devon cream made a sweet end to our meal too, but my favorite among all has to be the Bergamot Earl Grey Jelly ($15). Refreshing frozen yoghurt, tangy passionfruit coulis and macerated berries uplifted with a hint of bergamot and the lingering tea fragrance of earl grey jelly, this is one dessert to live for.

Given the more than satisfying dining experience at The Royal Mail, a return visit is almost warranted. Whether it's for the Weekday Set Lunch ($35/$38), or Ala-carte Dinner Menu (20% off from now till 30th May 2015), I would say it's indeed good value for our money considering the food quality rendered. Brave through the CBD crowd again? No problem at all :p

The Royal Mail Restaurant & Bar
Address: The Ascott Raffles Place Singapore, 2 Finlayson Green, Singapore 049247
Contact: +65 6509 3589
Website: http://www.theroyalmail.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRoyalMailSG?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

Opening Hours
Mon-Fri Breakfast 6.30am-10.30am / Lunch 12pm-3pm / Dinner 6.30pm-11pm
Sat Breakfast 7am-11am / Lunch closed / Dinner 6.30pm-11pm
Sun & Public Holidays Breakfast 7am-11am / Lunch closed / Dinner closed

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Long Chim @ MBS ~ Acclaimed Chef David Thompson Of Best Restaurant Nahm Ventures Into Singapore!

Boufé @ Phoenix Park ~ The Beautiful Boutique Café Is Worth A Visit

Miam Miam @ Westgate ~ Newly Launched Lunch Exécutif Menu At Only $17.90++

Pizza Fabbrica @ Bussorah Street ~ Italian With A Difference!

Mad About Sucre @ Teo Hong Road, Outram ~ One Of The Best Cake Places In Singapore!

Ponggol Nasi Lemak @ Jalan Besar ~ New Air-Conditioned Outlet With Exclusive Food Items!

Momo Café @ Duxton Road

Prime Gyu-Kaku @ Chijmes ~ Japanese BBQ Restaurant For Delicious 100% Purebred Kagoshima Wagyu

Banana Tree @ Keong Saik Road ~ Popular Korean Café Is Now In Singapore!

Straits Express @ Kallang Wave Mall ~ Peranakan, Penang Street Food & Anglo-Hainanese Cuisine All Under One Roof!

The Snack Culture Company @ CT Hub, Kallang ~ Around The World In 9 Small Plates! Amazing Adventure!

Chir Chir Fusion Chicken Factory, 313@Somerset ~ Popular Korean Fried Chicken Is Now In Singapore!

Dazzling Café Singapore 蜜糖吐司專賣店 @ Capitol Piazza ~ Leaving Us Dazed and not Dazzled

Tang's Steamboat Restaurant @ Keong Saik Road

Rösti Farm @ Capitol Piazza ~ For The Potato Lovers

In ITALY Bar Ristorante @ Craig Road ~ An Italian Restaurant For The Most Delicious Vongole!

The Royal Mail (TRM) Restaurant & Bar @ Ascott Singapore, Raffles Place ~ Where Delectable Modern British Cuisine Awaits!