The Book Cafe

this is one hidden find which has been around for the longest time, and i'm sharing this secret with you all now. gosh, this is the perfect place for dates! haha i was kinda torn about whether to write this post or not :P but good things should be shared to double the joy :)) yes, i'm trying very hard this year to stick to my new year resolution. always really bad at following through with them, yikes! but this year's one is pretty meaningful to me, and i'd like to do a good job of fulfilling it (: 

what i love about this place is how cosy it is. i didn't take a picture of the ambience, but you can see the sofas in the background. there is a whole section of the cafe dedicated to the sofa area, and it's really perfect for weekday afternoons with the boy when we have the luxury to just chill ~ well, this was before the school semester started haha. 

we ordered a pot of the Honey Yuzu tea ($8) and it was really interesting! can't resist anything with yuzu in it ;) it's a green tea, with citrusy notes from the sweet-tart yuzu. somehow the combination made it taste somewhat like chai tea to me. but i liked how it was very light on the palate and quite refreshing.

if you're choosing from the brunch menu (they have all-day breakfast!), the eggs Blackstone ($16.95) is a MUST. doesn't it look soooo good?! in sam's words, "the egg was perfectly poached"! and it flowed out beautifully when broken. the maple-bacon was absolutely divine as well! i'm really not a fan of bacon, but i couldn't help but like the sweet flavour of this one. 

unfortunately that wasn't my dish, and i was a tad disappointed with mine :( as you can see, it looks much less outstanding than the other one. though it wasn't bad really. but it was just a lil sad. i ordered the smoked turkey, avocado and egg white sandwich ($14.95). it was quite a let down to find out that the "smoked turkey breast" was actually ham -.- i had no clue! i guess the fact that it was smoked might have warned me but still..... -.- i just have a phobia of cold cuts after eating them for 5months in italy (they barely had any real meat!!!) together, the sandwich was still pretty yummy though. plus points for the ciabatta which was perfectly toasted and had a lovely crusty flavour.

probably i would try the other dishes the next time i'm back. and yes i would come back, even if only for the cosy sofa area (: 

The Book Cafe 

20 Martin Road

Tel.: +65 6887 5430

Sun-Thu 8.30am-10.30pm

Fri & Sat 8.30am-12.30am

Chikuwa Tei

behold! thick slabs of sashimi that are so deliciously fresh and supple ^^^ yummmms. haha now doesn't this look drool-worthy? :P hee.

i've been hearing lots about chikuwa tei's sashimi, and i just could't wait to try it!! and it definitely didn't disappoint ;) (btw sorry for the bad photo quality for this set of photos :( i didn't bring my camera so had to rely on my phone >.<).

chikuwa tei has quite a number of value-for-money bento sets, making decadent dishes like this good for a (more than) occasional treat ;) it's not cheap, but this chirashi sushi ($25) is definitely worth your buck. and it's already the most pricey on the list of available sets. think (okay you don't need to imagine since i've already got this charming visual representation here :P), a generous portion of 1cm thick pieces of assorted sashimi (tuna, salmon, swordfish), with a (big) handful of bouncy, juicy roe atop a bed of rice. sounds amazing doesn't it? this portion of sashimi is definitely sufficient to satisfy any sashimi cravings!!! i was simply mind-blown and was happily chomping on my food throughout the whole meal ;) it was really tasty, and even though i still feel that Aoki's version is unbeatable, this is a more affordable alternative that comes a close second :)

we even ordered more sashimi on top of that! the moriwase ($36) is meant for two people, but i really think it's enough for four! haha. there are already 16 huge slabs of sashimi on this plate!!!! how awesome is that?! :D and there is salmon belly ~~~ the best of the best ^^ one thing i realised though, is that their sashimi seems to be a little chewier (hard to bite through) than normal. not sure why that is the case, but it didn't really diminish our experience ;)

zhen ordered the beef teriyaki set ($18) that was fried so fragrantly, the aroma spread across the entire table the moment they served it. talk about working up an appetite ;) and this flavour was infused into every slice of beef, which was also very tender in texture! 

the Ten Cha Soba ($12) was such a wonderfully healthy dish!! i've fallen head over heels in love with soba since i was on exchange. it's so easy to cook, and i love the green tea essence infused in the green noodles! :))) well the fact that it came with tempura kinda negates the "healthy" factor :p but it's yummy anyway. i felt kinda cheated that the pile of soba looked so huge, but there was actually a block of ice underneath it though -.- haha but i guess that was necessary to keep it cold, plus give the dish its appearance :p

and the Sukiyaki Teishoku ($22)! (: a piping hot, rich broth with beef, vegetables and tofu inside! i always love sukiyaki for its savoury-sweet taste :)

we actually also ordered the Salmon Teriyaki set ($15), which was cooked delightfully as well! but my phone camera decided to die on me as well that day, so... :/ hehe anyway, love their food here, and now you know where to go for sashimi indulgence! :D 

Chikuwa Tei

9 Mohamed Sultan Road

Tel.: +65 6738 9395

Daily 11.30am-3pm

6pm-10pm

Toby's Estate & Swirls Bake Shop

this place has been around for quite some time and i keep hearing of people going there for brunch! but it took awhile before i finally set foot in this place, because of its location at robertson quay, which is really quite inaccessible by public transport. i realised though, that this is exactly the charm of this place! (: being relatively hard-to-get-to, it is a quieter part of our bustling Singapore where there are less people, more space to chillax, and a higher possibility of spotting some eyecandy (read: cute angmohs :p). i used to think of robertson quay as a night-life kind of place, with a more laid-back bar/pub feel compared to its neighbour across the river, clarke quay. but i've come to realise that it's a lovely place to be at in the daytime as well! i really enjoyed the peace and quiet in this area, and the out-of-singapore vibe i get when i'm here. 

toby's estate is a lovely warehouse-inspired cafe that is spacious (there is an outdoor dining area as well) with a huge common table in the middle and also smaller tables along the sides. the brunch menu had dishes other than the common breakfast items found everywhere, which i really appreciated! time to eat things other than eggs benny :p haha. 

 as expected, sam went in for the kill when he saw the toby's breakfast ($18). and it didn't disappoint! look at that pile of food!!!! i have to say that this full breakfast is one of the best i've seen so far! there was a generous portion of everything - eggs (scrambled/poached), espresso maple bacon, cherry tomato confit, sauteed mixed mushrooms and brioche toast. i loved how they put effort into the little touches that made items on this dish stand out! for example, the bacon had a lovely tinge of sweetness thanks to the maple syrup, and the mushrooms were simply orgasmic!!!!!! :O:O:O they were the BEST mushrooms i've ever eaten, not kidding at all. they had a delicious perfume of truffles that bathed our senses. it was so good, better than most truffle fries that you can find in other places. a.m.a.z.i.n.g!! the cherry tomatoes were delicious too! surprisingly sweet for singapore standards, and they were roasted to perfection.

i really enjoyed my breakfast taco ($12) for its unique-ness. although the portion looked so much sadder when placed next to sam's big breakfast, it definitely made up in terms of taste! and this is one dish that you wouldn't typically find in brunch places, so thumbs up for that! ^^ the taco shell was lightly toasted such that it was nice and crisp, and it was filled with a generous portion of chili con carne (beef) and scrambled eggs that went wonderfully together! this sat atop a bed of greens drizzled with balsamic, and it was a very nicely balanced dish (:

Toby's Estate

8 Rodyk Street #01-03/04

Tel.: +65 6636 7629

Mon-Wed, Sun 7.30am-6pm

Thu-Sat 7.30am-10pm

and special mention for this adorable cupcake shop just around the corner from toby's estate! ^^ it is soooo adorable! i was so excited to see it, and their flavours sound so interesting (: besides their typical flavours available daily, they also have specials that change on a daily basis i think. and i absolutely love how they have super-mini cupcake sizes!!!! they are little bite sized ones, which just seem much less sinful hehe :P i tried the lavendar mini cupcake ($2.80) and i loooved the light floral aroma that it had. the icing was light and fluffy, which was nice.

Swirls Bake Shop
8 Rodyk Street #01-08
Tel.: +65 6634 4765
Daily 11am-7pm

Common Man Coffee Roasters

why, hello there! (: 

Common Man Coffee Roasters has got to be one of the hottest brunch spots since it opened a couple of months back, and i'm glad to have snagged a seat here. perks of being an early bird - this cafe opens its doors from 8am daily, so there's a good reason for you to get up early for a hearty breakfast! the prices, as you may have heard, are probably beyond what you'd think a "common man" should pay, but being a collaboration between 40 hands' owner/barista, Australia's Five Senses Coffee and under the Spa Esprit Group's management, you can be sure of the quality of food, and of course, top-notch coffee. okay, i have to concede that i'm not a coffee drinker (i do feel it's a pity sometimes, with all these fantastic coffee joints popping up all over the place, but i still prefer my sleep more :p), but i can guarantee that i felt the food was awesome. and it's not everywhere that you can get a Middle-Eastern brunch (the other would be Artichoke, and i apologise that this post will only be posted in a couple of months time! :X but good things are worth waiting for right?), so i would say the premium you pay is well worth your buck.

there are several must-tries at CMCR, and the Turkish Common Man Breakfast ($25) is one of them. a hearty serving of goodness on a plate, and i hardly know where to start! the pyllo-wrapped soft boiled organic egg was the pièce de résistance with its crisp bird's nest structured art encasing a delectable egg, which spilled a gorgeous runny yolk. the fresh cucumber and tomatoes lived up to their claim perfectly, with the tomatoes absolutely reminding me of those i had in italy! mind you, i've hadn't had such wonderful tomatoes since i got back to singapore (i wonder where they bought these tomatoes from!! i want them too!!). the crispy feta had a sharp savoury flavour, and it came perched atop a lovely bed of hummus. with fluffy pita bread to seal the deal, this was a dish to-die-for. 

now, i'd come here not wanting to eat eggs benedict initially, because i'd been having consecutively for quite a few sundays (i'm a big fan). but when i saw the description "tender braised ox cheeks", i just had to order it. *shrugs* i'm just greedy like that :p haha. and i was rewarded with this delicious goodness of Organic Eggs Benedict, which is no doubt more pricey than many other places at a whopping $24, but so absolutely worth it :D look at that flowy yolk!!! i have a thing for flowy yolks. in eggs benedict, in ramen, in custard buns (kinda). you name it, i love it ;) the chive hollandaise was an interesting twist on the sauce, and i liked how it lent an extra herb-y aroma to this dish. i sank my teeth into the incredibly tender ox cheeks that sat on artisanal sourdough toast and...my life is complete :) haha. you must order this too!!

the Common Man Full Veggie Breakfast ($24) in no way pales in comparison to the rest. despite the lack of meat, this is a suitably substantial dish that will satisfy you immensely. two free-range eggs in any style you like, halloumi, spinach (beautifully done, i was so amazed at how they made it so tasty!), mushrooms sauteed with garlic that were super fragrant, avocados and artisanal sourdough bread. 

the Common Man Full Breakfast ($26) is for any greedy soul who wants everything on the menu! or for someone who can't make up their mind. basically it's everything on the previous dish, with chorizo hash browns (i found this to be a very interesting update of the hashbrowns one might be accustomed to), pork canneillini beans (also very tasty with the various spices infused in it), crisp bacon and sausage.

so..i don't drink coffee, but i felt their hot chocolate ($6) was very well done! with its full body and rich aroma, this is definitely one of the better chocolates i've had! (:

in conclusion, other than the prices that are slightly steeper than normal, this place is awesome for brunch!

Common Man Coffee Roasters
22 Martin Road
 Tel.: +65 6836 4695
Daily 8am-7pm

Xin Cuisine Mid-Autumn Festival 2013

it's just about a month away from the mooncake festival, and i'm all in the mood for mooncakes already! ^^ especially since i've been seeing photos of mooncakes appearing all over instagram since one month ago already :O can you believe it?! the celebratory mood is starting earlier every year! not that i'm complaining ;) i love my mooncakes, both the traditional and snow skin versions :D and i feel super lucky to have the opportunity to indulge in the widest variety of mooncakes i've ever had, at the OpenRice Mooncake Tasting at Xin Cuisine! (:

to prep our tastebuds for the sweets ahead, we were served delicious bite-sized entrees that are actually the signature dishes of Xin Cuisine! I was delighted, first by their intricate presentation, and of course, by the flavours that exploded in my mouth from these miniature versions of the original dishes. 

i loved the deep-fried whitebait fish with salt and pepper which is the dish in the top picture in the kueh pie ti container! the taste was completely unexpected, with the crisp textures of the deep-fried fish enhanced by the savoury-peppery notes from the seasoning. 

the baked scallop with Japanese Miso Sauce and eggplant was a hit amongst all the guests at the event! the rate at which it was snapped up was evidence of its popularity ;) the scallop was succulent and tasted naturally juicy, and was complemented by the appetizing eggplant soaked in miso sauce. the homestyle roast duck with tea leaves was very simply presented, and yet, perfect in its simplicity. the skin of the duck held such a wonderful aroma that seeped into the meat as well. finally, Xin's crispy roast pork is a favourite as well, with just the right amount of fat and crisp skin. 

the entrees could have been enough to satisfy my appetite, but next came the highlight of the night! and i was completely unprepared (but very pleasantly surprised) by the onslaught of mooncakes that followed. i've never tried such a wide variety of mooncakes before, and never imagined the sort of flavours that were concocted by Xin Cuisine's chef.

i started off on a safe note with the most traditional of all mooncakes - the Single Yolk White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake ($52) was delicious in an understated manner - the sweetness of the lotus paste has been reduced, and this definitely makes health-conscious mooncake lovers (like myself) feel a little better about our indulgence :) those who aren't fans of egg yolks, or who are extra big fans of egg yolks will be pleased to know that there are the White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake ($48) and Double Yolk White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake ($56) respectively.

Xin Cuisine's Special Egg Custard with Egg Yolk Mooncake ($52) is one of its specialties, and celebrates its Silver Jubilee this year. this was definitely one of my favourites with its soft custard interior that that was rich and creamy, but not cloying.

the last mooncake in the tiered stand was the X.O. Sauce with Assorted Nuts Mooncake ($56). i'm honestly not a big fan of mooncake with nuts but this was quite interesting with a mild X.O. flavour in it!

I would think of mooncakes to be paired with chinese tea, but Xin Cuisine came up with a creative twist on this! they came together with two wine suppliers to pair their 2013 mid autumn festival mooncakes with both red wine and prosecco (sparkling white wine)! it was sooo fascinating, and i was especially interested since prosecco comes from italy! ^^ we were encouraged to try out each of the mooncakes with both the red and white wines to see what we preferred. it was recommended that red wines go better with the traditional lotus paste mooncakes, while white wines are better paired with snowskin mooncakes. but really, it's up to your personal preference! my favourite was the extra dry prosecco which was very crisp, without being too bubbly (i decided from italy that i don't like very effervescent wines) and it helped to cleanse my palate in between the various mooncakes, so that i had a fresh start with every slice ^^

 for the red wines, we had a Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. the Shiraz was slightly spicy, while the Cabernet Sauvignon was wonderfully full-bodied and was a great accompaniment to the mooncakes, by enhancing their flavour. so what i learnt from talking to the experts was that the type of wine you prefer to pair with the mooncakes is really a very personal decision! putting it simply, whether you prefer the wine or mooncake more ;) if you prefer the wine, choose something like the prosecco which freshens and refreshes; whereas if you like the lingering taste of mooncakes in your mouth, pick the Cabernet Sauvignon to preserve that lovely flavour.

then we had the snowskin mooncakes to try! :D on the far left was the Green Tea Lotus Paste with Chivas Chocolate ($50). i've always heard of the green tea-chivas combination as a drink, and since Xin Cuisine is located in such a close proximity to Zouk, it's no secret where they got their inspiration from! ;) i'm just kidding. but this was one of my favourite mooncakes! gotta admit, this combination cannot go wrong ;)

the pretty pink mooncake was the Soursop and Chocolate Crunch ($50), which was one of the most interesting flavours! what was especially fascinating was that the texture of the mooncake's interior was exactly like that of the soursop pulp! and the chocolate bits within it helped to balance our the acetic taste of the soursop.

the Passion Fruit Paste Snowskin Mooncake ($50) was very refreshing and was complemented with fresh mango! 

for fans of Reeses Peanut Butter chocolate cups, you would LOVE the Black Sesame Paste with Peanut and Chocolate Snowskin Mooncake ($50)!!! that ball inside the mooncake tastes exactly like peanut butter cups!! ^^ i'm definitely a fan ;) and the black sesame had a robust flavour that was absolutely delicious.

the Champagne Chocolate and Pandan Lotus Paste ($50) subtly lures you in with its gentle aroma, while having a burst of alcohol when you bite into the centre. yummy! :)

Xin Cuisine really has mooncake flavours for everyone!!! Durian-lovers, you cannot miss Xin's Mini Snowskin Peranakan Mooncake with Durian Paste ($50). i stayed far away from this :p but according to my sister who is a durian-lover, this tasted really authentic! ;)

finally, the star of the night - the Teochew Yam Paste with Single Egg Yolk ($52) was specially prepared by the chef on demand! apparently this mooncake is only made-to-order and is quite tedious to create, making it really special! this is one of my FAVOURITE types of mooncakes and i was super honoured to be able to try it! :)) tbh, i like peony jade's version much better though. there is just something lacking in this, which i can't identify. but it was definitely good nevertheless! :) 

always excited to meet the chef!!! (: and hence the unglam fringe problem :p Chef Cheung Kin Nam is the man behind all the lovely mooncakes we ate that day! ^^ 

brought yi along for the tasting and took a pic with one of the openricers! :) thanks for the invitation Openrice! 

**Xin Cuisine is having an exclusive 30% off their mooncakes when you quote “OpenRice Mooncake Promotion” (valid for the first 100 boxes until 30 Aug only). Just one week to go! Get your mooncakes now ^^

Baker & Cook

i chanced upon Baker & Cook when i was attending an event at the Robertson Quay area ^^ i think i've heard about it before, but honestly i've been so blur since i came back that i can't be sure haha. i heard that their cakes are pretty good!! wish i could have tried them, but i was there alone and of course i wouldn't eat so much by myself! went there for lunch :) and my appetite has really gone down tremendously since i got back from Europe! really strange! and seems like everyone i know who came back from exchange experienced the same thing? maybe it's the heat in singapore shrinking our appetite haha. anyway, good for helping my plan to lose weight :P (haha okay i think i'm mentioning that in every post, but sadly not much progress boohoo).

anyways!! i tried their beef and cheese pie! (: baker & cook has a daily selection of pies, sandwiches, quiches and pizzas, which keeps things interesting at their cafe (: the pies go for $9, and i absolutely adored their light crumbly pastry! and also the fact that it comes with a salad on the side (: so healthy! i suppose it's a little pricey for just a pie though...maybe you could check out the cakes instead, which are more reasonably priced.

the ambience of this place is what attracted me though! situated in the very cosy and quiet martin38 area, it felt like i was transported overseas, and i could sit there for hours (if i had the time), watching the world go by. they have tonnes of cookbooks there, which i happily perused while i sat there eating my lunch, and it was just a nice respite from work (: 

Baker & Cook

38A Martin Road #01-01

Tel.: +65 6636 5865

Daily 8am-6pm

Brussels Sprouts

it's so great that i've now learnt to eat seafood so that i can try out awesome places like this!!! :D

MUSSELS MADNESS

it goes on every day, but the time changes depending on which day of the week :) and it's super!!

choose from either 2 pots of starter sized mussels ($30) or 2 pots of main size ($60). erm, dont look at the quantity on the website -.- it's not accurate. but anyway, sam & i got the starter sized pot with 12pcs in each, to share between the two of us and it was just nice :)

there are so many sauces to choose from! and i think i'll be back someday to try out more ^^ we got the Meridionale which was a flavourful blend of onion, parsley, butter, saffron, tomato, garlic, herb de provence and olive oil. it reminded me so much of pasta sauce!!! uber delicious. and the tom yam sauce too packed a delicious punch with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, lobster consomme and prawns (yup there were prawns in it too! extra seafooooooood!).

you can totally scoop up the sauce with the ladle to drink. *slurpssss* :D the mussels madness also comes with a free flow of thick-cut, crispy chunky chips. loveeee :D

i'm a happy girl :)

Brussels Sprouts

80 Mohamed Sultan Road

#01-12 The Pier @ Robertson

Tel.: +65 6887 4344

Mon-Thu 5pm-12mn

Fri 5pm-1am

Sat 12pm-1am

Sun 12pm-12am

Satsuma Sochu Dining Bar

this is a japanese restaurant that stands out from others in terms of its specialties! - it's famous for its grilled meats and sochu.

so of course we had to try their alcohol when we went to this restaurant! i wouldnt recommend the one we tried though :P the drinks are pretty expensive by the glass, so we decided it would be better to get a bottle to share among the 5 of us. well, it was a little too much after awhile, especially since we didnt really like the flavour we ordered :P the one we got was the Fusa No Tsuyu ($75 for 720ml bottle) - described as having a mild fruity nose of pears, showing harmonious balanced between fruits and grain. perhaps because the texture was rather dry, so we didnt like it much xP

instead of ordering the usual salmon sashimi, the waitress recommended that we try the horse mackeral instead! sounded so exotic :O haha. it's seasonal apparently, so since it was in stock, we decided to order it. pretty expensive though! alright, actually this entire meal was really quite expensive -.- the waitress kept recommending dishes that were pretty pricey. the horse mackeral sashimi was a whopping $55, but considering it was a whole fish, i suppose it was pretty worth it. i liked the taste and slightly crunchy texture! :) kinda reminds me of tuna.

in addition, to make your purchase worth the money, they even deep-fried the bones for us! deliciously crispy and surprisingly with a relatively generous amount of meat, this was quite a yummy dish!

we really loved the stir fry pork belly with kimchi ($18)! :) it was really flavourful, drenched in the kimchi sauce - absolutely wonderful ^^

the japanese yam tea rice ($12) was a really interesting dish! we completely did not expect it to be so soupy :P i thought it was fried rice!!! -.- but it was pretty interesting. felt like a wholesome healthy dish :) the tea soup had a mild flavour, kind of like soup for the soul :)

for grills we had the chicken thigh with leek ($6)

the savoury pancake ($6) was another surprising dish! erm, we didnt really expect the pancake to look like this :P hahaha. it was quite yummy anyway :)

we also liked the mushroom stuffed with minced chicken ($6) which had a good balance of flavours between the meat and mushroom.

Satsuma Sochu Dining Bar

1 Nanson Road

The Gallery Hotel #01-10/#02-10

Tel: +65 6235 3565

Weekdays: 12pm – 2.30pm

Sun to Thu: 6pm – 10.30pm

Fri to Sat: 6pm – 1am

Kuriya Dining

Kuriya Dining serves up Japanese food with a dash of fusion. There is something different in every dish. Expect surprises, in the little bursts of unexpected flavours or the arrangement on the plate. While Kuriya is distinctly Japanese in the precision of its execution, it steps out of the traditional boundaries to bring out a unique element in each dish. With a 10-seater sushi counter where you can observe the chef deftly putting together your next dish, 3 private rooms, and an abundance of comfortable cubicles, Kuriya offers a variety of options that caters to the needs of various clientele.

You would expect to find raw fish in a Japanese restaurant, but what about raw beef? Kuriya’s beef tataki is beautifully done – thin slices seared around the edges and left rare inside, the meat exuded a lovely smoky aroma from the grill. The marbled interior is tender and yields easily to your bite, while presenting some resistance with a bit of chewiness. Ask for the ponzu sauce, which is a sweet Japanese vinegar that lends a tangy sourness to open up your taste buds.

Instead of going for the ubiquitous sashimi, why don’t you try the sashimi salad version? It gives a wider variety of fish to sample, all in bite-sized pieces which even makes it suitable for those who are resistant to the taste of rawness. The salad packs a punch with the riot of flavours, textures and colours, which makes for such an exciting dish! Crispy silverfish scattered inside add an interesting crunch, while avocado pieces provide a neutral balance. Topped with a sesame sauces that livens the dish up, this is definitely a great choice to kick-off your meal at Kuriya.

The steamed asari clam with garlic butter is so fragrant that you can smell the perfume of the garlic wafting from the dish the moment it is placed on the table. The dish is characterised by its rich fortifying broth, made from an appetizing soup base. The clams, bathed in the broth, are very fresh, and detach from their shells easily, before sliding into your mouth. Oishi!

We highly recommend the grilled beef with miso on hoba. Savouring this dish is sure to give you one of the most blissful feelings ever. Take a nibble of the beef, and immediately, the intense flavours explode in your mouth – the juice, tinged with the essence of the fat, is so delicious; the texture, a perfect medium doneness; the meat is still reddish, succulent, and retains its juices which deftly draws out its core. It is served on a crisp magnolia leaf, with an interesting miso paste enhanced with mirin and other ingredients.

Cleanse your palate at the end of the meal with a light dessert – the yuzu sorbet is super refreshing, and flirts with sweet and sour notes in each bite. A simple dessert, and perfectly satisfying.

*This is an article i wrote for reserveit.sg (: Try out their online reservation service, and you can check out more articles there!

Kuriya Dining

Great World City #01-28

Tel.: +65 6736 0888

Lunch: 11.30am – 2.30pm (Last order: 2.15pm)

Dinner: 6.00pm – 10.30pm (Last order: 10.00pm)

The Fabulous Baker Boy

you have no idea how excited i was to come here!! actually i was meant to schedule this post for 2013, but i just can't resist sharing it with you! so i reshuffled them so i could post this earlier ^^ it's only been open a couple of months, but everyone is already buzzing about it. and i love all these places with such cosy ambience :)

we were so excited that we started with the desserts immediately. hehe. greedy max! the red velvet cake is definitely one popular dessert here that you HAVE TO ORDER! we heard the table next to us enquiring with the waitress whether it was available and just to make sure, they asked, "It's not going to run out anytime soon right?" and it was just half an hour after they opened :P got an idea of how popular it is already? ^^ stacked high with layers of moist cake and light buttermilk icing in between and slathered with a thick layer of chocolate on top. it is absolutely decadent and it's almost addictive as you shovel it into your mouth again and again :P

the salted caramel cake was a delight as well! there is a subtle flavour of the salted caramel that hits you as you take the first mouthful and then it disappears, melting into a dense chocolate-y goodness.

i really enjoyed the spiced apple cider pancakes ($8.50)! there are quite a number of varieties of pancakes for you to chose from and it was not an easy task deciding ;) but these were a delight! papa said that he found it a tad too wet, but i actually liked how moist it was on the inside! it contrasted nicely with the crispy, slightly burnt exterior which lent a smokey aroma to it. it truly tastes like homemade pancakes which is something i appreciated :) i loved how there were slices of boiled apple within as well!

since the festive season is nearing, we decided to order the Xmas special sandwich ($10). it consisted of cured turkey breast with caramelized onions, a bed of mesclun salad, a slice of Edam cheese and cranberry jelly (which i found really interesting!) in a crusty Foccacia. i felt that the bread was a little too tough for my liking, and it was slightly cold.

on the other hand, i absolutely LOVED the tuna melt sandwich ($11). you have got to order it!!!! a baguette topped with dolphin-free tuna (i have no idea what that means), caramelized onions, aioli, sweet relish and mustard sauce and oozy melty cheese. ohhhhh so good. im in love with this ♥.♥ it was served warm and the tuna was so flavourful, whilst the cheese pulled all the aromas together and sealed the deal for me.

i was initially really excited for the beef guinness pie ($16), and i'd say that it looked pretty good, but i felt that the flavour was rather lacking! it didnt smell as good as expected, and the beef didnt seem to absorb the juices of the sauce sufficiently, resulting in it being rather detached in terms of flavour and slightly tough. i heard the house cottage pie was not too bad though, maybe you wanna try that!

i'm so coming back here for more cakes (there were a lot more i wanted to try!!!) and the tuna melt ^^

The Fabulous Baker Boy

The Foothills, 70 River Valley Road, #01-15

Tel.: +65 6694 8336

Tues-Sat: 11.45am-9pm

Sun: 10am-5pm