Singapore – DanielFoodDiary.com

2017 can be a challenging year for new café owners, when many realise that a menu of predictable pastas, waffles and cakes (from the same few suppliers in Singapore) may not work that well with consumers anymore.

We still find bright sparks and hidden gems occasionally.

I was introduced to THUS Coffee by another friend. Hearty Chicken Stew? That is interesting.

Its location is not the most accessible, at 4 Jalan Kuras at Upper Thomson, of walking distance from Sembawang Hills Food Centre.

There are a few elements that would draw people to this humble establishment.

They micro-roast their own coffee, and the owners and staff sound very sincere and down-to-earth (hope they can remain that way!) I cannot vouch for its entire menu as it changes regularly, but online feedback has been positive.

Its main offerings currently include Hearty Chicken Stew ($16), Baked Eggs & Toast ($14), THUS Breakfast ($19), Salmon & Kale Toast ($17), Salmon Grain Bowl ($18), and Wagyu Beef Grain Bowl ($20).

The creamy chicken leg stew with herbed potatoes, carrots and zesty lime, served with toasted multigrain bread has been a crowd favourite.

As I was in a Korean mood, I tried their Chicken Cutlet Jjolmyeon ($18) – crispy chicken cutlet with Korean chewy noodles in mixed Gochujang sauce, served with sunny-side up.

I think anything with crispy chicken cutlet (said to be almost the size of an A5 paper) and egg should be attract kids. But be careful of the level of spiciness.

All in all, I thought the dish tasted rather ‘home-cooked’, and I don’t exactly mean this in a negative way. It lacked the characteristic quality of how a Korean restaurant would have cooked their noodles, and balance of spicy to sweet ratio seemed off.

But I could imagine diners liking this dish it was still comforting.

For desserts, you can go for the Berry Matcha Lava Cake ($15) of warm matcha lava, berry compote, fresh berries and almond flakes.

The coffee was decent. The Latte ($5 for hot, $5.50 for iced) brewed with a blend of Guatemala and Blue Java was smooth and earthy. Not overly acidic or strong which was why I liked it.

For something more instagrammable, you can order a Green Shot ($6.50) of matcha latte with coffee.

Let me direct you to the mosaic tiles near the back, which had a Chinese idiom “脚踏实地” which means to stay grounded and be down-to-earth.

It reflects the owner’s attitude towards life, and there is also a pun within…

脚THUS地. Got it?

Thus Coffee
4 Jalan Kuras Singapore 577723
Tel: +65 8411 7565
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm (Tues – Sun). Closed Mon

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Truth be told, I would have liked the NEW SBCD Korean Tofu House at Millenia Walk a lot better IF I haven’t tried BCD Tofu House just recently.

The similarities are uncanny, from the signature dish of Korean Soontofu, the banchan including the special fried fish item, and the name.

BCD Tofu House originated at Los Angeles, named after the restaurant of the owner’s mother-in-law which is “Bukchang Dong”. I last tried it at New York’s 32nd Street and was impressed by the taste and experience.

However, I do not think that BCD and SBCD in Singapore are related, or at least they did not state any form of connection.

Soontofu is a type of jjigae (Korean stew), consisting of freshly curdled tofu, ingredients of meat or seafood, egg and gochujang served in a hot stone pot with white rice on the side.

Similar to the first outlet at Tanjong Pagar Centre, the menu of SBCD Korean Tofu House is divided into Combo Meal, Soontofu, Mains, Appetizer, Rice, and Beverages.

It can get slightly confusing at first glance.

Every Soontofu dish consisted of hand-made tofu made fresh daily, with 4 different levels of spiciness. The recommended Soontofu include Original with beef or pork ($18.90), Assorted ($19.80), Abalone ($29.90)

Other favourite Korean meat dishes include L.A. Galbi ($38.90 for combo), Spicy Grilled Chicken ($28.90 for combo), and Bulgogi Combo ($28.90).

Prices are slightly to the expensive dish, but at least it should be a filling meal.

Customers would be served a selection of banchan, including the favourite Deep Fried Yellow Croaker fish. That to me, was the highlight of the entire meal.

I ordered a medium spicy Assorted, which I remember tasted better at the original Tanjong Pagar branch. Somehow the soup base was rather one-dimensional, taste masked by abundant chilli oil.

Comparison to BCD was inevitable, where the tofu was softer, broth a lot hotter, egg only added in at the table so that it would not be overcooked, and soup base more robust in flavours.

I was glad diners were given complimentary probiotic fermented milk which was quite tasty, and helped ease that feeling of greasiness.

SBCD Korean Tofu House 북창동 순두부
Millenia Walk 9 Raffles Boulevard, #01-114, Singapore 039586
Tel: +65 6873 6441
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm

7 Walich Street #B1-01,02 Tanjong Pagar Centre Singapore 078884
Tel: 6386 6441
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Do you have a “Fear Of Missing Out”?

Then you should know about FOMO, a hip food court situated in the heart of Kampong Glam area at Sultan Gate (opposite A.R.C Coffee).

This food court was probably built for Instagram.

It has a tropical-paradise themed ambience with Instagrammable facades, garden courtyard with a swing, and to my delight – not the usual, predictable stalls.

Well, such food spaces are getting traction in Singapore. Take a look at Platform M, Timbre+, Pasar Bella and Picnic Singapore.

My first remark when one of the co-owners introduced himself was, “Oh, you are so young!”

The boss of the food court is not the uncle type, but this young chap (All right, I am sounding like an uncle already.) FOMO is set up by a group of young food entrepreneurs with an average age of 31 years old who left their corporate jobs to pursue this interest.

Some of the stalls are new comers, while the others are still relatively new to the local F&B scene.

Accordingly, vendors were carefully picked for their presence in social media. The owners were thankful to these vendors for believing in them, because many others didn’t initially.

As it turns out, they were approached for units ONLY after the place was done up, but then they were completely leased out already. The usual story.

There are a collective of 7 food stalls and 1 drink stall. They are:

Chops! Grill and Sides (Western grill)
Selection of meat and a wide variety of hot and cold sides. If you come in the group, it is recommended to get the XXL Platter ($59.90) meant for 4-8 pax.

The Don Pasta and Pizza (Pasta and Pizza)
A selection of pasta and pizzas such as The Drive By ($7.90) which sounds like Aglio Olio to me, Mr Corleone ($11.90) which is a duck rigatoni, and popular choice of Al Capone ($13.90) – Laksa pasta.

All the dishes are named after some mafia, mobster, gangster song, or Italian town, but I think customers could appreciate a more straight forward description below. ”Oh, beef pasta say so lah!”

Kakak Kentang (Potato ball)
Likely to be the most popular stall. It serves up these two items called Bombastik ($6.90, $9.90) which is stuffed beef potato ball with tomato based soup; and Chikabom ($6.90, $9.90) which is the chicken version.

Reminded me of bergedil dunked in mee soto ayam soup. Must take the special chilli at the side.

Kanemochi (Mochi and Ice-cream, desserts)
Imported Mochi with a huge variety of flavours from Matcha, Thai Iced Tea, Taro, Cookies & Cream and Mocha Chip. The seasonal flavour includes durian.

The special item here is the Mochi Platter ($7.80) with 3 Mochis served with mixed fruits.

Zamza (Ramen and Donburi)
A no-pork, no lard ramen stall, featuring Chicken Based Ramen ($10) with either clear or creamy broth.

This is said to be opened by the owner of Jimoto Ya, but I thought Jimoto Ya had more robust broth and springy noodles. Just saying. The chicken slices were tender anyway.

Poke Doke (Poke bowls and healthy food)
Signature Poke Bowl ($14) which includes mixed rice, salad, salmon, pineapple, edamame, almonds, and onsen egg.

Mr Wholly (Nasi Lemak, Laksa, Seafood in a Bucket)
Louisiana style seafood with a local twist (Previous owner Felicia Chin has left the business already – just in case you were wondering.

It serves up Combo Seafood Buckets such as the Love Bucket ($79.00) for 2 to 3 pax, or Wholly Bucket ($139.00) for 4 to 5 pax. The Wholly includes 2 crabs, 15 prawns, 500grams of mussels and 500 grams of clams with sides.

Brew Counter
The local kopi and teh stall, along with drinks like Lychee Freeze, Peach Fizz and Avocado Milkshake.

Just a note: FOMO Singapore is not Halal certified. The Brew Counter serves alcohol.

Kakak Kentang is 100% Muslim Owned, Mr Wholly is awaiting certification (they were previously Halal certified at Satay by the Bay), Kanemochi’s Mochi are Halal certified products, while the rest are “no pork no lard” stalls.

FOMO Singapore
38 Sultan Gate #01-01, Singapore 198486 (Bugis and Nicoll Highway Station)
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm Mon – Sun (For Food), Drinks till 12mn Daily

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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The very first product that made April’s Bakery popular in Bangkok Thailand was the Roasted Honey Pork Pie.

After successes with the introduction of Cantonese-style sweet pies with soft fillings of Thai Milk Tea, Tokyo Banana and Taro at Tampines (outside the MRT train station) and One Raffles Place basement, April’s Bakery has finally launched its signature savoury pies in Singapore.

The brand has also opened a NEW outlet at Chinatown Point basement.

Here are 10 things about April’s Bakery:

1. April’s Bakery was founded by Ms. Nathanaporn Euawanthanakhun, an avid baker who used to be a flight attendant. She was named “April” during her airline days as she was born in that month.

2. She chanced upon the Cantonese pork pie during a holiday trip to Hong Kong, fell in love with it, and decided to develop her own version back home.

The rest is history as the bakery expanded to 60 branches in Thailand, and 3 in Singapore.

3. April’s Roasted BBQ Pork Char Siu Pie is made using quality pork loin meat that is not as fatty, added with a secret sauce. This particular pie is now available in Singapore.

4. Accordingly, April’s Bakery keeps to a 20% crust, 80% fillings ratio so the outer layer would be thin and fluffy, while the inside is filled with quality ingredients.

5. All the pies contain no butter, milk, or added preservatives.

6. The pies are hand-made, shipped directly from Thailand, and freshly baked in Singapore daily.

7. Singapore is the first international outpost for the brand.

8. There are now more than 20 fillings available, and the popular flavours in Singapore include Thai Milk Tea, Green Tea, Taro with Gingko Nut, and Durian Custard.

9. Exclusive to Singapore is the Tokyo Banana Pie, inspired by the famous snack from Japan. You can also look out for the Taro with Salted Egg Yolk in which the fillings feels similar to our Teochew-style of mooncakes.

10. Also newly introduced are the Fruitiest brand with freeze-dried durian, mango, and mangosteen available in convenient airtight snack packages.

The NEW savoury pies launched in Singapore include Roasted BBQ Pork Char Siu, Thai Curry Chicken, Honey Roasted Chicken, Shiitake Mushroom and Mock Char Siu.

These are priced a $3, a dollar more than the sweet versions. The good news is, there is a promotional offer of Buy-4-Get-1 Free.

Of all the savoury pies, my favourite was the Honey Roasted Chicken. The outer layer was indeed thin with light layers of pasty. Yet, it wasn’t so flaky that it would fall over.

So while the price is more premium that say the usual Char Siu Sou or Baked Roasted Pork Buns, you don’t get that dry and occasionally hard skin.

Both the Honey Roasted Chicken and Pork flavours seemed juicier, say compared to the Thai Curry Pie. So I preferred those better.

April’s Bakery has also catered to the vegetarians with the introduction of Shiitake Mushroom and Mock Char Siu pies.

Those available in-store come brushed with a layer of egg. If you don’t take eggs, you can make a call to them to pre-order vegetarian versions.

Oh yes, they have Thai Milk Tea too!

April’s Bakery – Chinatown Point
Chinatown Point #B1-35, 133 New Bridge Road Singapore 059413 (Chinatown Town MRT)
Tel: +65 8122 7604
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm
http://www.facebook.com/aprilsbakerysg

April’s Bakery – Raffles Place
One Raffles Place, 1 Raffles Place #B1-38, Singapore 048616 (Raffles Place MRT)
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 8:00pm (Mon – Fri), 9:00am – 3:00pm (Sat), Closed Sun

April’s Bakery – Tampines
Tampines MRT Station, #01-31, Singapore 529538
Tel: +65 8122 7604
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 10:00pm, or till sold out (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with April’s Bakery

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Marina One jointly owned by Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Temasek Holdings looks set to house a number of restaurants and cafes, and two of the first to open are NUDE Grill and NUDE Chill.

The pair of concepts come a few years after the launch of NUDE Seafood – hot off the win of “Best Seafood Restaurant” in the Epicurean Awards 2017.

The former specialises in contemporary grill, while the other is all about drinks, finger food, and burgers (which are coming soon).

NUDE Grill is a contemporary grill, using meat imported from Japan and New Zealand, and vegetables from the Chiang Mai Highlands.

Food is said to be “Western-trained but unmistakably Asian”, cooked with “binchotan, hardwoods and the hearts”.

For lunch, expect the menu to lean towards one-dish meals, such as Japanese A4 Wagyu Don ($38, limited portions) and Chicken & Truffle ($25), perfect for a single serving.

As for dinner, the menu is more inclined towards sharing, so the portions are overall more generous.

It consists of Starters ($14 – $19 each) for sharing; Mains such as Oyster-blade Steak ($34), Pumpkin ($24); Secreto of Iberico Prk ($35); and Desserts ($15 – $17).

One of the popular starters is the Foie Gras Parfait ($22), which had sweet longan glaze wrapping around the foie gras, and puffed rice to add some crunch.

My recommendation would be the Cuttlefish Risotto ($18), which paired up black barley risotto together with cuttlefish and ikura.

Something warm and homely, comforting especially with the recent rainy season.

For mains, consider the highlight – Friendship ($68), which places the A4 Kagoshima Kuroge Wagyu at the centerstage, while accompanied by a symphony of rojak flower jus, housemade buah keluak ‘kway chap’, potato dashi, sweet potato leaf, pancetta and yuzu-kosho.

The wagyu is sourced directly from the dealers in Kagoshima, and NUDE Grill’s chefs were specially flown over to be trained in Japanese butchery.

Unfortunately, it was sold out before I got a chance to savour the red meat.

I opted for some of the other Mains such as the Poussin ($29) which consists of glutinous rice, married with house-cured pork belly, and onion tempura, and the Baby Skate ($26) with crispy tobiko and cuttlefish broth.

If I need to choose a favourite dish, it would have to be the roast chicken.

Some of the ingredients used sounded interesting on paper, but I wondered how many of them really worked well when put together. Perhaps the proportion and balance for some dishes could have been further tweaked.

For example, the Beef Tartare ($19) was presented with a myriad of eyebrow-raising ingredients from ‘chye poh’ preserved radish, green mango, ponzu, to bird’s eye chilli.

A spoonful into the mouth and it reminded me of the Somtam I had in Bangkok, until I realised green mango and chillies were in the mix. Then you realised there was also ‘chye poh’ which was completely swamped out by the rest.

For desserts, I chose the classic Cherry Jubilee ($15), Dark Chocolate ($17) and the Eight Fingers ($16).

Surprisingly, while I didn’t enjoy the desserts over at NUDE Seafood THAT much, and thought were their weakness links, it happened to be quite the opposite for this particular meal.

I fell in love with the Cherry Jubilee ($15) which was simple yet elegant, with soft Tahitian Vanilla Ice Cream, punctuated by sourish-sweet macerated cherries.

On the whole it was a pleasant experience to be able to visit the brain children (twins) of the NUtricious DElicious (NUDE) brand. NUDE Seafood did taste more polished, while NUDE Grill is probably still finding its footing and focus.

However, do remember to book your food early to avoid disappointment, especially if you really want the wagyu.

Note: For those driving, a quick heads up to actually either run a GPS search specifically for NUDE Grill, or Marina One Show Gallery. “The establishment is more IT savvy compared to the building itself,” quipped Founder Junchen.

I found it to be true, where searching for Marina One might actually lead you to the Marina Bay Financial Centre side, which is across the road from where the actual location is.

NUDE Grill
5 Straits View #01-22, Marina One, S018935. (Marina Bay and Downtown MRT Stations)
Tel: +65 6581 9306
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am – 2:00pm Last Order, Dinner 6:30pm-9:00pm Last Order (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun, PH

* Written by guest writer Kenny Soon @soonnverysoon, with further input from Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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What? Another character theme pop-up cafe?

Not just a single character but a few characters from the same company – The Cartoon Network.

Frankly speaking, I only know Powerpuff Girls among all the characters (did I just reveal my age?)

This was my weekend routine at 10am, sitting down in front of the television, tuning in to Kids Central and munching on my bowl of cereal.

Those were the days and fast forward to the present, I wouldn’t have imagined myself ‘eating’ my childhood heroines – Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup.

Collaborating with Cartoon Network for a year, the 93-seaters Soup Spoon Union at Punggol Waterway Point has undergone a revamp with Cartoon Network wallpaper, toys, plushies and a dedicated corner for cartoon sketching.

Other cartoon network characters will take turn to make its appearance throughout the year, perhaps characters such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Tom & Jerry?

While this is not the first time for Soup Spoon to venture into character-theme cafe, their first attempt with Gudetama Café at Suntec City was a success with both cute and better-than-expected food.

Each of the cartoon characters will be available in the Appetisers ($8.90 – $10.90), Mains ($14.90 – $23.80), Desserts ($12.90 – $16.80) and Drinks ($4.50 – $10.90) section of the menu.

Even though I felt excited when I thought of meeting my childhood heroes initially, I don’t feel as much for the taste and the presentation, as compared to Gudetama Cafe.

Without the piece of cartoon paper in each dish, I actually had a hard time trying to differentiate and identify them.

Appetisers include Adventure Time BBQ Drumlets (6pcs for $8.90), Powerpuff Potpie ($10.90), Ben 10 Baked Fries & Meatballs (6pcs for $8.90), Pan-pan Carlzone ($10.90).

My favourite was the Powerpuff Potpie ($10.90) that came with a choice of Velvety Mushroom or Clam Chowder.

I preferred the former, with a stronger and distinct flavour, topped with a crispy, buttery and flaky (Power)puff pastry.

A total of 9 mains are available, and my favourite happened to be the Grizzly Beef Burger ($18.80) shaped like Grizzly who is the leader of We Bare Bears.

Ok, I googled on who are these “We Bare Bears” because the only 3 bears I know comes from “Goldilocks and the three bears”. They are supposedly 3 awkward brother bears.

Served with beef patty, onion rings, sunny side up, mushroom and cheese that are sandwiched between the brioche buns, hotdogs were used to create the ears for this cute Grizzly.

The combination of ingredients were moist and flavourful, which could easily be one of the favourites (including the 3 cute We Bare Bears) there.

Wow! A total of 10 desserts are available and come in the form of a plated dessert of a milkshake.

While candy floss, fruits, candies and macarons are used as toppings, remove those characters imprinted macarons and we will be left with a normal looking milkshake and cheesecake.

Ooops.

The Finn & Jake Peanut Butter & Banana Freakshake ($16.80) was the more photogenic one among the lot.

The banana milkshake was not too heavy with nutty flavour.

Unfortunately, the toppings were not as impressive as other Over-The-Top Freakshakes in the market and the waffle sticks were a tad soggy.

Craving for some Rootbeer Float that was once available in A&W stores?

The Ben10 Rootbeer Float ($8.90) did bring back some good old memories.

Fizzy, creamy root beer float made using a scoop of vanilla ice cream, except that it came with some jelly at the bottom which was really weird.

A thirst quencher.

I might not be able to fully relate to Cartoon Network characters but kids and young parents staying in the area (that’s probably why this pop-up is in Punggol) may find enjoyment in them.

Cartoon Network Cafe By The Soup Spoon Union
83 Punggol Central, #B1-12, Waterway Point Mall, Singapore 828761
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/CNCafeByTSS/

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. This meal was from a media preview.

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Muslim owned Lina’s Café calls itself a “Friends of Autism” Café with the hope to create a safe haven for families with ASD kids to dine in a judgement free zone.

The café provides free 1st drinks for every family of 4 that dines in with their ASD or spectrum kid – all year round. It also sells books about Autism to promote its awareness.

“It’s actually hard for families with ASA kids to dine outside without judgement. People judge them, and scold them…”, as owner Lina shared.

The humble place is located at Jalan Pisang, diagonally across Sultan Mosque and a few steps away from the popular Hjh Maimunah Restaurant.

In the kitchen are Lina who prepares breakfast items and traditional Malay dishes, and while her BFF Zima makes cakes, pies and pasta dishes.

Zima is behind LapisZima which creates soft and moist lapis cakes, using family recipes handed down since the 1960s.

They have been friends for more than 20 years, and decided to do this together.

Food offered include Mee Rebus ($4), Avocado Chicken & Egg Pasta Salad ($8.80), Mee Siam ($4, only available on Thursday), Nasi Lemak Chicken Set ($3.60, only on Fridays), various Lapis Cakes ($4.20 – $4.80), Shephard’s Pie ($3.40) and Bubble Tea drinks ($2.50).

I would say both the Mee Rebus ($4) and Mee Siam ($4) are must-tries, cooked using the “Special Fatimah Ahmah original recipe since the 1970s” (which is from Lina’s mother), priced very affordably for a café setting.

Though it seemed like a simple fare, the Mee Rebus was hearty and tasty, with a mildly sweet and thick potato-based gravy, garnished with a hard-boiled egg, spring onions, bean sprouts, and fried shallots.

Not too spicy at all.

The Mee Siam reminded me of what my grandmother used to cook, more to the sweet and less on the Assam-sour side. Though I wished the gravy to be overall hotter.

Their Ondeh Ondeh Cake with a chiffon-like texture sprinkled with Gula Melaka bits, and Pandan Mille Crepe are worthy desserts to try as well.

They look like they sell out easily, as I got the last pieces both times I visited.

Lina shared that since the café has opened, she has met with many special kids and families, and have become friends with some as they share stories and challenges together.

Meeting amazing parents and individuals who are walking proof that there is so much life beyond ASD, continues to keep her inspired.

Lina’s Cafe
7 Jalan Pisang Singapore 199074 (Bugis MRT station)
Tel: +65 9456 0992
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 7:00pm (Mon), 11:00am – 8:00pm (Tue – Sat). Close Sun, PH and 1st Mon of every month

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Bello, Bello. Just in time for the school holidays, a Minions Café will be opening up in Singapore at Orchard Central Level 3.

Similar to its Japanese counterparts, this is a pop-up concept under “THE GUEST cafe&diner” that will operate from 23 November 2017 (Thurs) to 31st January 2018 (Wed).

For those of you living in another part of the world, the Minions are small, yellow fictional creatures which gained much fame after their appearance in the movie Despicable Me.

Fun fact: They serve the most terrible of villains, and enjoy eating bananas.

“THE GUEST cafe&diner” is a concept cafe managed by PARCO Co., Ltd, and its first outlet was opened in March 2014 at Shibuya PARCO.

The cafe routinely changes its concepts every two to three months through a pop-up model, and the theme is based on popular characters, artistes, movies and culture.

For the Singapore pop-up, the 14 food and beverage items are inspired by characters from the hit animation movie Despicable Me 3.

The popular Minion themed food and drinks when launched in Japan a few months back included Minion’s Great Escape Cream Stew ($20.90), Minions Vacation Plate ($23.90), S’more & Minion’s Ice Cream ($16.90), Minion Riceball Party ($21.90), and Pizza Box ($13.90).

Drinks wise, other than the Be Bad Cafe Latte ($8.90, $9.50 for iced version), there are colourful choices of Upside-down Minion Jelly Soda Drink ($12.90), Gru&Lucy Soda ($8.90), and a weird looking Balthazar’s Bubble Gum?! Milk Tea ($10.90) – which looks like Thai red ruby on top.

Slightly on the expensive side.

Local café hoppers should remember the previous runs of Pokemon Café at Bugis Junction, which attracted long queues.

However, there were much criticisms of long waiting times and cold food as well. Will Minions Café face the same fate?

Anyway, get ready for the queue, with screaming kids (and adults)!

Minion Café – THE GUEST cafe&diner
181 Orchard Road, Orchard Central #03-23/24/25, Singapore 238896 (Somerset MRT)
(Opening 23 November)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Photo credits: Nicholas Tan @stormscape

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Does The Bettership reminds you of The Betterfield at The Treasury?

While they might be owned by the same parent company with the same objective to provide “better” food (and hence its name), The Bettership offers an entirely different menu, focusing on Japanese don instead.

Will their next shop be called BetterGround, BetterFront, BetterWagon?

I liked the interior with a total of 20 seating capacity, a bar table designed in the shape of a ship.

Diners can actually sit at the circumference and witness the chefs in action as they prepare the food “on board”.

3 main categories are available on the menu, namely Sashimi ($8 – $21), Sashimi Don (top up $3.90 for the Sashimi to get a Basic Don/ $5.90 for a Premium Don) or Special Don ($17.90 – $40).

The Basic Don (additional $3.90) comes with rice, cucumber, furikake (dry Japanese seasoning), seaweed, ginger and wasabi.

On the other hand, the Premium Don (additional $5.90) comes with Ebiko (shrimp roe), Inari (beancurd), Tamago (egg) and Jelly Fish, an option to torch it on top of the ingredients present in the Basic Don.

Not all the rice bowls comes with the ‘ship’, with exception such as the Truffle Beef Don ($21), Aburi Wagyu Don ($40) and the Executive Set Lunch ($9.90 – $19.90) available on weekdays, 12pm to 6pm.

For the Executive Set Lunch, it comes with complimentary miso soup and a choice of hot/cold green tea. Choices include Bara Chirashi Don ($15.90), Truffle Beef Bowl ($19.90) Flamed Terriyaki Chicken ($9.90) and Burnt Mentaiko Salmon Don ($13.90).

Don’t Say Bojio, students get to enjoy $1 off when they flash their student card upon making payment.

SMU, SOTA, Kaplan, Lasalle, and NAFA students, are you reading this?

I ordered the Bara Chirashi Don ($15.90), exclusive to the Executive Set Lunch.

The bowl came with diced Salmon, Yellowfin Tuna, Swordfish, Yellowtail, Tamago, Nori (seaweed) on top of Akita Japanese rice.

Each diced sashimi was marinated with shoyu, with slices that was a tad too thin. I preferred my diced sashimi to be thicker with more texture to it.

Not too shabby or tasted too fishy, it could do with a lighter marination to bring out the natural freshness of the sashimi.

I preferred the Kaisen Don ($17.90) from the Special Don menu, which was similarly priced as the Chirashi Don ($17.90) but with a thicker slices.

More worth it right?

Coming with thicker slices of Salmon, Tuna, Yellowtail, Swordfish, Scallop and accompanied by jellyfish, inari (beancurd) skin, tamago, radish, and ginger slices, this Kaisen Don ($17.90) was presented in the “ship”.

The scallops were my personal favourite – soft and sweet in each bite.

I only wished that the rice was less clumpy and each grain was firmer, eliminating the weakest link in the entire combination.

The Bettership will probably face stiff competition from its competitors in the vicinity.

These includeTeppei Syokudo at Plaza Singapura and Barashi Tei next to Rochor Original Beancurd, whereby the latter provides cheaper, affordable and tastier options.

The BetterShip
The Cathay, 2 Handy Road, #01-03, Singapore 229233
Opening Hours: 12:00pm – 10:00pm (Mon-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/thebettershipsg/

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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If you remember the Orchard Emerald Beef Noodles, you must be of a certain age. My era one – when going to Orchard Road was considered HIP.

The beef noodles stall was founded in 1997 by Mr George Cheok, located in the basement food court of Orchard Emerald Building. The building is like many old Singapore buildings, gone (Orchard Gateway now sits on this location.)

The stalls I remembered back then included this, Hock Lam, and from Scott Picnic Food Court.

The stall has moved to many places, from Margaret Drive Food Centre, then Holland Village, and now a full-fledged eatery at The Venue Residences and Shoppes at Tai Thong (near MacPherson).

Sometimes called the “Uncle George’s Beef Noodles”, the humble eatery sells up Beef Noodles in Dry or Soup versions ($7.00), Mixed Beef Dry/ Soup ($8.00), Beef Brisket Hor Fun ($8.50), and Oxtail with Rice or Garlic Bread ($12.50).

I had the Beef Noodles Dry ($8.00), with choice of Kway Teow or Chor Bee Hoon (thick vermicelli) to go along with freshly sliced meat covered in a thick gravy.

Oh… I can safely say this is one of the most LEGIT Hainanese Beef Noodles I had in a while.

The dark brown gravy was thick and flavourful and didn’t dilute easily. The beef cooked just right in texture – tender and soft.

Well, this bowl stands up because many Hainanese Beef Noodle stalls have become more commercialised and generic, all tasting more or less the same.

This was a few notches better.

I also had the Beef Balls Soup ($6) in which the balls were soft and bouncy, and didn’t taste like the typical factory-made ones which could have a slightly harder surface.

In an era where many of the old school favourites have been replaced or just disappeared, I think having a bowl of this Beef Noodles would bring back many fond memories of the good old days of Singapore.

Uncle George still cooks at this eatery, though he would be handing the ranks over to his son Gabriel.

Interesting fact: His other son Jonathan is the Youtuber behind cheokboardstudios. He should just do a video on the Beef Kway Teow. Challenge accepted?

Original Orchard Emerald Beef Noodles
2 Tai Thong Crescent #01-05 The Venue Residences and Shoppes, Singapore 347836
Tel: +65 6384 9149
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 9:00pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Tiong Bahru continues to evolve with the addition of Merci Marcel, a French café-restaurant located right beside Tiong Bahru Bakery. (It took over The Orange Thimble.)

There are different faces to it – a French breakfast and brunch café spot in the day, chic restaurant and wine bar at night.

In terms of decor, the 1,450 square feet restaurant has 3 spaces of the Lounge, Café Chic, and the Garden Patio. A fairly photogenic place.

I miss the good-old Tiong Bahru, but with the changing demographics, it is expected that we see more lifestyle concepts like this appearing in the neighbourhood.

During the evening, Merci Marcel introduces a French social dining concept with a dinner ‘tapas’ menu, created for sharing in good company.

It was recommended that diners start with 2 to 3 plates, then continue “depending on desire”.

Some of its starters included Cheese Croquette ($14), Chickpea Crème ($10), Duck Rillettes ($18), Good Cheese Tartar ($12), and aged cured 18th Bayonne Ham ($16).

For something more filling, the mains offered were Tarte Flambee ($24), Grilled Chicken with crispy Bayonne Ham ($22), Australian Angus Beef 400g ($39), Black Pepper Tuna ($25), and Ceviche of Red Snapper ($22).

Slightly on the expensive side for a rather casual bistro-like setting, but this is the price point many new restaurants in Singapore are moving towards. Sigh.

The Duck Rillettes ($18) is recommended, where the silky paste is served up with delicate melted camembert cheese and marinated pear.

I had the Crab Rillettes ($18) mixed with avocados, and enjoyed the delightful sweetness of the pale pink flesh, best spread on the sourdough bread.

The Pork Tenderloin ($24) with caramelised onions and ginger turned out to be a great choice as well, grilled till tender and moist, and was full of flavour.

I paired this up with a side of creamy Seasonal Mushrooms ($10), which was equally tasty.

Merci Marcel is slightly off the radar for now, but with its lovely ambience and promising food, it should get some attention fairly soon.

Merci Marcel
56 Eng Hoon Street, #01-68 Singapore 160056 (Tiong Bahru MRT)
Tel: +65 6224 0113
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 11.30pm (Tues – Fri), 8:00am – 11:30pm (Sat), 8:00am – 10:00pm (Sun)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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il Cielo may be that hidden dining gem that you are looking for, perched on Level 24 of Hilton Singapore, complete with a semi-alfresco dining experience with a panoramic view of Orchard Road.

So, what have you been missing?

The restaurant has recently appointed Chef Yohhei Sasaki as Chef de Cuisine, who has introduced a NEW menu featuring Italian flavours with unique Japanese flair.

I have a thing about Italian cuisine cooked by Japanese chefs (oh, Uni Pasta!), which is either full of pleasant surprises or elegantly intricate.

This happens to be both.

The dishes here are created with three key elements – using locally sourced natural ingredients, seasonal Italian and Japanese gourmet produce, and handcrafted with Chef Sasaki’s refined techniques.

Chef Sasaki took a bold step by travelling to Italy to be trained in top Michelin-starred Italian restaurants in Tuscany and Lombardia, and came to Singapore a few years back.

When I had the Amuse Bouche which was part of the Degustation Menu, I was already impressed especially with the Foie Gras Macaron – an indication the menu is on another level all together.

Diners can order the il Cielo signature dishes (some featured below) available in the ala carte menu, or degustation menus – available as set lunches or 5-course dinner menu.

The Degustation Tasting Menu is offered in 2 themes – Italian at $88 per person ($118 with wine pairing), and Japanese at $118 per person ($148 with wine pairing). (Quote ‘DFDilCielo’ to enjoy a complimentary wine flight, including 3 glasses of wines worth $30++.)

Here are some of the signature dishes in il Cielo’s revamped menu by Chef Sasaki:

Carpaccio di Kinmedai
Kinmedai Carpaccio, Seaweed Tuile, Madeira Wine Dressing, Pink Grapefruit Snow

A starter that provides that expectation of what is to come, and you realise you cannot quite pigeon-hole the food here.

The Kinmedai “Golden Eye Fish” Carpaccio resembles a sashimi dish, except that this has a lot more going on.

With the theatrical presentation, it was sprinkled with pink grapefruit snow, created by nitro-freezing the fruit mix into powder. The tuile wafer made with seaweed and rice was a well-intentioned addition, providing both crisp texture and savoury umami taste. Loved it.

Calamaro Ripieno alla Viareggina
Stuffed Squid, Squid ink Bagna Cauda Sauce, Italian Parsley Puree, Squid ink Powder, Sea Water Foam

Stuffed squids are common in the Mediterranean which inspired this dish. The sea water foam resembled the bubbles in the ocean.

I enjoyed the beautiful texture and flavours. The squid was tender and didn’t have that rubbery texture. The portion was great too.

Cappellini Burro e Timo
Homemade Capellini Maine Lobster, Thyme Butter Sauce, Porcini Crumble, Black Truffle

While there were pricier ingredients of black truffle and Maine lobster, the homemade pasta was clearly the star of this dish.

That soft yellow hue, rich eggy flavour, cooked al dente with a good bite.

Spaghetti ai Ricci di Mare
Homemade Spaghetti, Hokkaido Sea Urchin, Sardinia Bottarga, Yuzu

Rich, moderately creamy, and elegantly delicious Uni Pasta.

I generally liked the lightness of the dish. You could taste the delicate blend of flavours from the saltiness of the fish roe, acquired ocean briny taste of the sea urchin, with hints of tangy yuzu for that brought that subtle zest at the end.

Costina di Manzo ‘Toriyama Wagyu A4’
Caramelized Toriyama Wagyu A4 Short Ribs, Sautéed Saffron Risotto, Lemon Gel, Italian Parsley Sauce

The Toriyama Wagyu came expectedly with great marbling for that melt-in-mouth sensation. I only wondered about the risotto which came creatively like a piece of patty beneath, if it could work better with more creaminess within.

Duo di Maiale
Herb Roasted Pork Collar and Slow Braised Belly of Mangalica Pork

Between the two pieces, I enjoyed the braised mangalica pork a lot better. Known for its stronger taste and fuller fat content, the meat was ideal for slow cooking to savour that juiciness after.

Il Nostro Tiramisu
Mascarpone Cream, Coffee ladyfingers, Espresso Espuma, Crushed Chocolate

My dining partner called this the “tamed down Tiramisu”. I guess she was right.

Without the intense alcoholic flavour, this dessert came across as a lighter, fluffier version of the traditional tiramisu. Makes a suitable end to a satisfying meal.

La Sfera
Yuzu Sphere, Ricotta Cheese Espuma, Lemon Sorbet, Acacia Honey Gel

Looking like a yellow balloon on a plate, you cannot imagine the amount of work that goes into making one of these. But it was worth the effort.

Beneath the yuzu sphere was a ‘treasure’ of lemon sorbet (not easy to keep it not melting), with its tanginess balanced with the addition of mildly sweet ricotta cheese and acacia honey gel – known to be one of the best types of honey in the world.

Literally a refreshing ball of pleasure.

I certainly think that the creativity and the quality of ingredients used make this restaurant Michelin-star worthy.

With its intimate setting with 48-seater capacity, the name “il Cielo” which translates to “the sky” can be that dining place for corporate lunches, to romantic dinners and celebrations.

Pricing for Degustation Menu
Lunch: 2-course ($25++), 3-course ($35++)

The set lunches come at a great price, with 3-course at $35++, and 2-course at $25++. They are also weekly rotational depending on the freshest ingredients available. Enquire with the restaurant on the menu for the week.

Dinner: 5-course ($88++ for Italy menu, $118++ for Japanese menu)

Exclusive DFD Promotion
Quote ‘DFDilCielo’ to enjoy a complimentary wine flight (including 3 glasses of wines worth $30++) when you order the 5-course degustation menu during dinner. First 50 reservations / limited offer allocations daily.

*Only valid during dinner and 5-course Italian/Japanese degustation menus.

il Cielo Restaurant
Level 24, Hilton Singapore 581 Orchard Road Singapore 238883
Tel: +65 6730 3395
Email: ilcielo@hilton.com
Website: https://singapore.hilton.com/ilCielo
Opening Hours: Lunch 12:30pm – 2.30pm (Mon – Fri)
Dinner 7:00pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Sat)

il Cielo Festive Specials, December 1 to 31 2017
You can look forward to exquisite dishes including roasted Maine Lobster and Agnolotti with Lobster Bisque Sauce, Béchamel Espuma and Saffron Potatoes; homemade Cold Pesto Capellini with Shogoin Kabura (turnip), Smoked Salmon and Ikura; and Herb-Roasted Premium Hokkaido Snow Beef Chuck Short Ribs with Black Garlic Cream, Celeriac Purée and Seasonal Japanese Radish.

Pricing
• 6-course Festive Menu, December 1 to 30 | $138 per person*. (Not valid from December 23 to 25.)
• 5-course Christmas Menu, December 23 to 25 | $138 per person**
• 6-course New Year’s Eve Menu, December 31 | $138 per person**

Exclusive DFD Festive Promotion
*Limited to first 50 reservations, quote ‘DFDilCieloXmas’ to enjoy a complimentary wine flight (including 3 glasses of wines worth $30++) when you order the 6-course Festive Menu from 1 to 30 December.
** On top of Citibank 20% off early-bird promo, quote ‘DFDilCieloXmas’ to get additional 5% off (must have Citibank card) for bookings made before 10 Dec. Subject to availability.

*This entry is brought to you in partnership with Hilton Singapore.

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Carrotsticks and Cravings is a café that some people I know are looking exactly for – serving healthy AND tasty food, full for greens and superfoods, and decorated in pretty pink and white.

With several GF, NF, DF, V options – gluten free, nut free, dairy free, vegetarian.

A healthy food haven. It is located at the further end of Dempsey on 75E Loewen Road, run by Terri-Anne who is an expat mum from Melbourne living in Singapore.

The jovial looking Terri-Anne also runs a food blog posting recipes, and a cooking studio right next to the café.

The space itself was open and bright, carefully decked with pink accents of utensils, ornaments and placemats.

Customers were mainly expats when I visited, and vibes cheery and positive.

Terri Anne’s food philosophy is all about keeping things in moderation – 80% good, 20% indulgence.

Breakfast offerings included Acai Berry Bowl ($14), Breakfast Berry Parfait ($14), Smashed Avocados ($18), and Meredith Goats Cheese with Thyme Roasted Mushrooms on Sourdough ($18).

If you come during lunch, there are Quinoa and Pomegranate Superfood Salad ($18), Green Falafel Bowl ($20), Dukkah Roasted Pumpkin and Lentil Salad ($18), with rotational salad and sourdough specials.

Coffee is from a Brother Basil & Co. blend from Melbourne.

I had the Acai Berry Bowl ($14) which was spot on, one of the best Acai Bowls I had in Singapore.

Included with homemade peanut butter granola (with option of berry coconut granola), the acai berry smoothie was of a good consistency and remained relatively thick.
It was topped with coconut flakes, chia seeds, blueberries and raspberries for added colours and freshness.

I also enjoyed the Breakfast Berry Parfait ($14), and suddenly thought that having all these healthy foods might not be that bad or boring after all.

The fresh granola made a whole lot of difference.

I only thought that that Kale, Avocado and Orange Salad ($24, added with Dukkah Roasted Chicken) was on the plain side – but this is coming from someone who regularly eats a lot of rich food.

A little more dressing (or juice), and added juiciness of the chicken pieces (as it was quite dry) would have helped.

Such a lovely place really, nutritious food made with love, with positive vibes and happy people.

Will make my way back again. #needtoloseweighttoo

Carrotsticks & Cravings
75E Loewen Road Singapore 248845
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 4:00pm

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Those who frequent Tokyo should be familiar with LUMINE, the leading developer of full service shopping centers in Tokyo with 16 centers around.

LUMINE has opened its first retail space in Singapore on the 2nd level of Clarke Quay Central, which you can access both via within the mall or outside from the escalator.

The 10,000 square feet space is a women-focused lifestyle store, offering clothes and accessories from Tomorrowland, Iéna, Fray ID, Lily Brown, Mila Owen, Moussy, roomsSHOP and eyewear brand Zoff.

So, guys have nothing really nothing to buy there except visit the café.

Anyway, this is the first time the retailer is launching a LUMINE Café. The café is operated under Create Restaurants Asia, which runs Japanese restaurants and cafes such as Pompompurin (now closed), Hifumi, Shabu Sai and Maccha House in Singapore.

If you like any of the food outlets above, there is a higher chance of you liking LUMINE Café. The reverse applies.

I happened to find the café very photogenic, stylish in a feminine way, pretty in pink.

The café is supposed to resemble a beauty salon” for chic women who want to fully enjoy every day”.

The seats were comfortable, and some by the window could have a view of outside Eu Tong Sen Street.

Offerings appear limited for now, with 4 different types of Fruit Parfaits – Melon Medley ($18.90), Berry Blush ($12.90), Tropical Blast ($12.90), Mango Crazy ($12.90); along with Fruit Punch ($7.90) and selection of drinks such as Honey Latte ($6.90), Matcha Latte ($4.90), and Blood Orange Juice ($4.90).

I had the Mango Crazy ($12.90), a simple though refreshing smoothie parfait of alternating fresh honey mango cubes and yogurt cream, with mango jelly at the bottom.

So it was mango fruits with yoghurt in a cup lah. A healthier form of dessert (I suppose) for chillax-ing during the noon.

The Matcha Latte ($4.90) was smooth with that subtle bitterness; while the Latte ($6.40) arrived super hot and tasted ‘burnt’.

LUMINE took over the space previously occupied by Hong Kong lifestyle store Goods Of Desire, and subsequently Naiise.

I won’t comment on the fashion part, but the café probably could do with slightly more diverse offerings, say Matcha Croissant, Tonkatsu Sandwiches or something.

LUMINE Café
Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street 02-20, Singapore 059817 (Clarke Quay MRT)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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A Mango King Thai Dessert kiosk has opened at basement 4 of ION Orchard, taking over First Love Patisserie.

I had to do a double-take, because the stall looked excessively similar to the trending mango dessert brand in Indonesia.

Ask a foodie in Indonesia what was the most instagrammable and fashionable dessert a few months back, and the answer should be “King Mango Thai”.

King Mango Thai serves up dessert cups made from sweet Thai mangoes, recognised with its bright coloured bendy straw and spoon, dark green coloured branding tag shaped like a mango poked in like a stick, and a cardboard base-holder.

It is priced from 50,000IDR (SGD$5) per cup.

The stall at ION is called “Mango King”.

It serves up a layered mango dessert cup, priced at $8.90 for a regular, and $11.90 for a large version. The large is humongous – get it only if you are sharing.

The cup was filled with layers of mango juice, fresh cream, mango sorbet and cubes of fresh mangoes from Thailand.

In terms of packaging, it was alike King Mango Thai, except that this had a red coloured base and luminous green ‘llao llao’ spoon.

I was hit by slight sourness from the first bite of the mangoes, but this was understandable – a heng sway thing.

However, if you mix the fruits in with the other sweet components, it should balance out.

I enjoyed the freshness of the ingredients used, but found the entire cup too rich and filling – even though I didn’t have lunch.

Mango King should get some attention for a while, but I suspect it may not reach Indonesia’s level of popularity due to a combination of factors, part branding and market, part taste profile. (In the meantime, Lumine Café and Café de Paris have also introduced their versions of mango cups.)

Mango King Thai Dessert
2 Orchard Turn #B4-63 ION Orchard Singapore 238801 (Orchard MRT)
Tel: +65 6238 8006
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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The viral videos of Kyoto’s Kichi Kichi instilled a new-found interest in Japanese Omu Rice, so much so that the dish has become instagrammable. Or boomerang-able. (You can also try Taimeiken if you are in Tokyo.)

OMU which specialises in Japanese Omurice has opened at the West Wing of Suntec City, near the H&M side, a short walk from Esplanade MRT exit.

I believe this restaurant would get Singaporeans slightly excited during the opening days.

Slice, flip apart, flow.

Interesting, OMU the restaurant did not originate from Japan, but Thailand instead. It was established in 2010, with 6 branches across Bangkok (Parklane Mall Ekkamai, Central World, Silom Complex).

“Omu” refers to “omuretsu” which is omelette in Japanese.

Each Omurice comes with with tomato fried rice with sautéed chicken and mushroom or butter fried rice (depending on what sauce you order) wrapped within.

There are 5 different sauces to choose from – Tomato, Demiglace, Curry, Cream or Japanese, with choice of accompanying ingredients such as chicken cutlet, cream croquette, sausages and seafood.

First things first, the wait can be very long. It took me 35 – 40 minutes to get a table even though I was 3rd in line, and the restaurant wasn’t THAT crowded.

Food took long to come as well, with some online reviews stating the wait was about an hour.

When my friend asked the service staff, he shared that there was only one chef who could cook the lava omelette as it required a level of skills Sodesu-ne. (Does not mean this chef cannot take MC, or even go for too long a toilet break?)

The same friend quipped, “How to turn around fast enough to earn money?”

The price point of the Omelette items was quite comfortable, from about $9.80 for a basic Tomato Sauce Omelette to $14.80 for a Demiglace Sauce Omurice with Pork Cutlet.

However, you have to add $2 for a “Lava Style Omelette”. In Bangkok, it was 20 baht.

When the plates of Omurice arrived, the manager came with a knife and sliced all of them quite beautiful.

One stroke down, and half of the egg flipped opened to reveal the creamy inside, the other half stuck as it was blocked by the meat pieces.

The egg part was like what I imagined – creamy, almost scrambled like, runny and fluffy.

However, the other parts were more lacklustre. The pork cutlet pieces were dry and tough, and the rice wasn’t exactly hot or fragrant considered it was tomato fried.

Without the gimmicky lava part, some of the omu curry rice elsewhere would have fared better in the taste factor.

OMU is likely to attract much social media attention as it is the first in Singapore to offer such lava Omurice.

However, do be prepared to bear with the wait and hopefully they will get the kitchen operations all settled out soon.

OMU Singapore
3 Temasek Boulevard #01-301A/301B West Wing, Suntec City Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 98340079
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Christmas festive goodies with local flavours?

This is something different. The Roasted Turkeys, NEW log cake flavours and Christmas bundles from Pacific Marketplace can be the next talking point for your celebration meals.

Pacific Marketplace at Pan Pacific Singapore has introduced 3 NEW Log Cake flavours – Chendol Log Cake, Chocolate Matcha Cherry Morello Log Cake and Araguani Frambosie Crunchy Log Cake.

There are also other cakes and pastries handcrafted by Pastry Chef Eddy Yau and team, who have introduced an East-meets-West collection the last quarter of this year.

Among the new collection, look out for the fragrant Pandan Gula Melaka Chiffon Cake.

I love my Nyonya food, but still didn’t quite expect this. Also making a debut is the NEW Peranakan Roasted Turkey. And can I add it is at a mega 4-5 kg, that will be THE centerpiece for the dining table.

That is not all, the roasted turkey will be served with Nasi Kunyit (turmeric rice) and pickled vegetables.

These are some of the highlights of the Festive Goodies and Cakes Galore at Pacific Marketplace:

Chendol Log Cake ($68, 1 kg)
If you are looking at a log cake that is unconventional, yet pleases the crowd – look no further.

This newly introduced Chendol Log Cake when cut through, will reveal beautiful layers of gula melaka mousse, red beans, coconut panna cotta and pandan sponge.

After trying, I thought that it reminded me of a cross between my favourite nyonya kueh-kueh and the actual chendol dessert with the addition of ample red beans.

Chocolate Matcha Morello Cherry Log Cake ($68, 1kg)
This is the log cake to bring to your office or family meals because it is both attractive and tasty.

All right, because there is MATCHA too.

The cake is not too sweet, has a firm yet smooth mousse texture, with a good balance between the chocolate and matcha. I shared this and everyone liked it.

Araguani Framboise Crunchy Log Cake ($68, 1kg)
Pastry Chef Eddy has a keen interest in chocolate, and has designed this Araguani Framboise Crunchy Log Cake, with a strikingly bittersweet essence of 72% dark chocolate.

Additionally, it has a delightful crunchy base.

Peranakan Roasted Turkey, served with Nasi Kunyit and vegetable pickles ($168 for 4 – 5 kg turkey)
The Peranakan food items are created by the in-house Peranakan Chef (who also whips up amazing dishes and home-made sauces at the Nyonya counter at Edge).

The NEW Peranakan Roasted Turkey is served with Nasi Kunyit (turmeric rice) and Achar (pickled vegetables), great for those who enjoy Asian spices.

Heritage Christmas Bundle ($268)
If you are thinking of getting all the food as a bundle, you can order the fuss-free Heritage Bundle Set which includes Peranakan Roasted Turkey with Nasi Kunyit (turmeric rice) and vegetable pickles, Nyonya Popiah of fresh spring rolls with braised turnips and minced turkey, complete with the sweet treat of Chendol Log Cake.

Traditional Christmas Bundle ($168 for 4-5kg turkey, $298 for bundle)
For a juicy and flavourful turkey treat, also available is the Traditional Roasted Turkey with chorizo-cornbread stuffing (contains pork) (4-5kg), winter vegetables, giblet gravy, and cranberry sauce.

The convenient Traditional Christmas Bundle also includes a Honey Glazed Ham with spiced pineapple marmalade (2kg), and Araguani Framboise Crunchy Log Cake.

Good to know: All the Christmas hams are handmade by the Master Butcher and team, and all hams, sausages and cold cuts sold contain no preservatives or fillers.

Pandan Gula Melaka Chiffon Cake ($15)
Other than the Christmas log cakes, there is a NEW selection of cakes, tarts and other pastries handcrafted by the pastry team.

What I will recommend is the fragrant and so-fluffy Pandan Gula Melaka Chiffon Cake. If you are a tourist, or intend to get a representative cake from Singapore to friends overseas, this Pandan Cake will make a great choice.

The chiffon cake is made by using fresh juice extracted from pandan leaves, added with authentic Gula Melaka (palm sugar) from Malacca.

What I also liked were the additional mini gula melaka droppers, which you could drip for added caramel-like sweetness.

Matcha Yuzu Lychee Entremet ($58 per cake of 1kg, $7 per slice)
Apart from the Pandan Gula Melaka Chiffon Cake, the 3 NEW whole cake flavours are the Matcha Yuzu Lychee Entremet, Strawberry Pistachio Shortcake and Araguani Hazelnut Royaltine Entremet, alongside the signature Blueberry Cheesecake.

The Matcha Yuzu Lychee Entremet has a light Japanese slant, incorporating quality matcha powder in the mousse, balanced with tangy and fruity flavours of the yuzu crème and lychee curd.

Strawberry Pistachio Shortcake ($58, 1kg)
The classic strawberry shortcake is given a spin with fluffy pistachio sponge, complemented by smooth whipped cream and a ring of fresh strawberries.

A lower sugar option is also available upon special request.

Black Forest Gâteau ($8 per slice), Lime Tart ($7 per slice)
Sliced cakes are available for dining in or takeaways. Highlights include the gorgeously glazed Black Forest Gâteau, a dome-shaped cake with dark chocolate mousse, kirsch panna cotta and Morello cherry compote.

Other favourites include the Lime Tart of zesty lime cream in a buttery shortcrust pastry, Gula Melaka Caramel Banana Gâteau, and the Banana Cheesecake.

Pacific Marketplace
Level 1, Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard Marina Square Singapore 039595
Tel: +65 6826 8240
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)
Email: celebrate.sin@panpacific.com
Website: http://pacificmarketplace.sg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pacific.Marketplace.Singapore/

Exclusively for DFD readers (For Festive Goodies)
Don’t forget about this special festive deal. DFD readers stand a chance to win one lucky draw prize of a “One-night stay in Deluxe room with breakfast for two at Edge” when they purchase festive goodies or hampers via DFD’s promo codes on pacificmarketplace.sg.

One winner would be selected randomly after 26 December.

– 15% OFF festive goodies and hampers from now till 30 November 2017 with promo code “DFD15”
– 10% OFF festive goodies and hampers from 1 to 26 December 2017 with promo code “DFD10”

Please place orders at least 3 working days in advance for gourmet roasts and Special Christmas Bundles and 24 hours in advance for all other festive goodies.

Last day for orders of traditional roasts and bundles are on 23 December 2017 and for all other festive goodies on 26 December 2017.

Festive items can be collected until 26 December 2017, 11:30am to 9:00pm daily at Pacific Marketplace.

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Pan Pacific Singapore.

The post Pacific Marketplace – Festive Goodies & Log Cakes With Local Flavours At Pan Pacific Singapore. 15% OFF, Plus Stand A Chance To Win A Staycation appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Fifty50 is a new café at Tanjong Pagar Kee Seng Street serving healthy café meals catered to “meat lover, vegetarian or flexitarian”. (A flexitarian diet is one which is normally meatless but occasionally includes meat or fish.)

Located at the ground floor of Onze – a mixed development building, I found it by going behind Tanjong Pagar Plaza.

While the seating area is limited, it still provides some space for quick chats and takeaway options for office worker who come to this part of TP.

Offerings include pasta items of Truffle Chicken Lasagne, Linguine Chilli Crab ($13.50), and Curry Chicken Wrap ($11.50), Beef Meatball Ciabatta ($12.50) and Steak Panini ($13.50).

For vegetarians, you get choices of Spaghetti Prima Vera ($10.50), Penne Pumpkin Pasta ($11.50), Zucchini Hummus Wrap ($10.50), Buffalo Mozzarella & Pesto Panini ($11.50) and affordably priced salads such as Mango Avocado Mesclun ($6.50) and Quinoa Spinach and Rocket ($6.50).

I had the Curry Chicken Wrap ($11.50) which was surprisingly quite tasty, since I expected it to taste ‘healthier’.

Added with Japanese cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes and raisins… (wait raisins? Could be British or Indian influenced), the wrap was prepared fresh so the fillings were warm and moist.

Fifty50 also serves up crafted herbal teas alongside a selection of espresso based beverage.

Fifty50
11 Kee Seng Street #01-04, Onze@Tanjong Pagar Singapore 089218
Tel: +65 81265271
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 5.30pm (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat – Sun

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Fifty50 – Healthy Cafe Meals With Asian Flavours, At Onze Tanjong Pagar appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Known to house several luxurious brands, Capitol Piazza is also home to several restaurants and cafes for a comfortable dining experience.

NEW to the mall is Monkey Warung, which serves up Balinese inspired pork ribs accompanied with modern Indonesian cuisine.

Other familiar names such as Angelina, Equilibrium and Hoshino Coffee have also introduced NEW menus with many more exciting dishes to keep regulars coming back.

Don’t want to know what you are missing out? Here are NEW Eats from 8 Restaurants & Cafes at Capitol Piazza:

Angelina
Unit No: 01-82 | Galleria
Tel: +65 6384 0481

Beef Fillet, Mash Potato with Sauté Asparagus, Veal Jus Reduction ($52)
Angelina is known for its classic French elegance, and delicate pastries such as the Mont Blanc, Éclair Chocolat, Choc African, Tarte Citron and Macarons.

The menu also features quite an extensive range of breakfast items of Eggs Benedict and Angelina Croissant with scrambled eggs and ham (till 2:30pm), brunch items and main courses of Roasted Chicken Supreme, Truffle Ravioli, Seasonal Vegetable Risotto, and Pan Seared Barramundi Fillet.

NEW on the menu is the Beef Fillet imported from Australia which had superb melt-in-your-mouth superb tenderness.

The sauce chosen to accompany the flavoursome piece was the chef’s special creation of veal jus reduction, served with mash potato infused with salted butter imported from France.

Monkey Warung
Unit No: 01-84 | Galleria

Balinese Ribs (Half Rack $20, Full Rack $36)
NEW-to-market Monkey Warung serves up inexpensive Pork Ribs and modern Indonesian style dishes with recipes from Bali.

The dishes here are created using a traditional charcoal grill which delivers a selection of grilled seafood and meat.

Indonesian delicacies you can expect include Cumi Bakar Jimbaran (grilled squid), Pepes Cumi (Chilli Squid), Satay Lilit Bali (pork satay), and dishes of Sop Buntut (oxtail soup), Ayam Penyet Rice, Nasi Goreng Seafood wigh Egg, Crispy Pork Belly.

Their fork-tender signature ribs are quite affordably priced, with a sizable half-rack portion at $20. If you come in a bigger group, then get the full rack at $36.

The ribs were marinated with a special recipe and spices, glazed with sweet sauce then grilled over charcoal flames. Suitable for communal dining with friends and family as portions can be huge.

Equilibrium Modern Italian Bacaro & Ristorante
Unit No: 01-86 | Galleria
Tel: +65 6384 4069

Dutch Street ‘Fries’ – Crocchette Patatje Oorlog ($12.90)
Keep an eye for Equilibrium’s NEW “Cicchetti” menu featuring beloved street food classics from around the world reworked with a little Italian touch.

“Cicchetti” means savoury snacks or small side dishes.

One of the highlights is the Crocchette Patatje Oorlog, inspired by the popular Dutch street fries. But you don’t get fries here. What you have is a rethought version of potato croquettes with mozzarella cheese.

That is not all. The potato balls are popped with the essential chopped onions drizzled with mayonnaise and Indonesian sate sauce. Just like what they do in Amsterdam. Weird but true.

You can also look out for their Tunnbrödsrulle, Equilibrium’s interpretation of the Swedish hot dog with Mangalica pork sausages in homemade flatbreads filled with creamy shrimp salad.

Ryu’s Japanese Restaurant & Sake Bar
Unit No: 01-87 | Galleria
Tel: +65 6384 9087

Japanese Style Stewed Iberian Pork Ribs ($23 Ala Carte, $25 Set Lunch)
Backed by 33 years of operating experience, Ryu’s specialises in traditional Japanese cuisine, with fresh ingredients imported directly from Japan including the renowned Tsukiji market.

The Japanese Style Stewed Iberian Pork Ribs that reminded me of a braised Bak Kut Teh is said to be one of their most popular lunchtime sets.

When put to the ‘test’, the meat tore apart (check out the video above) easily and simply with chopsticks.

The spare ribs simmered in sweetened soy sauce were intensely flavourful, served with boiled daikon brushed with black miso paste.

Oriole Coffee + Bar
Unit No: 02-20/21 | Neue
Tel: +65 6384 6495

Oriole Truffle Burger ($18 Ala Carte, $19 for Set Lunch with Beverage)
Specialty coffee house Oriole Coffee + Bar features their classic brunch fare matched with desserts and gourmet coffee.

Some of their recommendations include Fish & Chips, Capellini Crabmeat, Fish Tacos, Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, Avocado & Toast, and Espresso Hotcakes.

I would recommend the Oriole Truffle Burger ($18) though slightly greasy, was a mouth-watering treat. It comes with a juicy piece of grilled beef patty with sautéed mushroom, caramelised onions, melted cheese and truffle aioli sandwiched in a fluffy brioche bun. Of course with Oriole-spiced fries.

Best to be paired with an in-house Taisho cold-brewed coffee.

Ramen & Tonkatsu Ma Maison
Unit No: B2-51 | Neue
Tel: +65 6384 6211

Tonkatsu Ramen ($17.80)
The soup base for Ma Maison’s ramen is specially cooked from Japanese domestic pork bones, heated for 10 hours to create that creamy white coloured broth.

Yet, it is lighter than the usual ramen soup bases so that it could be paired up with deep fried pork cutlet. You can choose to have it in shio, shoyu or miso soup combinations.

Good to know: The pork used for the tonkatsu went through an aging process to enhance the flavour from the pork. Also, the rosu cut or pork loin was used for juicier texture with a strip of fat along the side.

Hoshino Coffee
Unit No: B2-55 | Neue
Tel: +65 6384 5131

Chicken and Mozzarella Cutlet Plate ($17.80)
The Japanese French Cafe popular for its “hand-dripped” coffee and dessert soufflés has introduced a “Hoshino Coffee Special Selection”.

The items include Teriyaki Chicken Steak Plate with Onsen Egg, Angus Beef Steak Plate, Lasagna with Mini Soufflé Pancake Plate, Mini Soufflé Omelette & Mini Soufflé Pancake with Sausage & Bacon, and a very enticing Matcha Pancake Soufflé Style served with kuromame (sweet black soy beans).

I had the Chicken & Mozzarella Cutlet Plate, served with choice of rice or toast. While this looked like ordinary chicken cutlet from is appearance, as you pick up a piece, be surprised with its oozy centre and stretchy cheese pull.

Matched with its crisp panko exterior, the meal was superbly juicy as well. Drizzle with tonkatsu sauce to add that special sweet-sour flavour.

Nalan Restaurant
Unit No: B2-54 | Neue

Gobi Manchurian ($12.00)
Established in 2009, Nalan is one of Singapore’s most famous contemporary Indian vegetarian restaurants.

It features a delectable array of North and South Indian cuisine, Every dish is made to order, with home-cooked experience at every siting.

Featured dishes include the Gobi Manchurian ($12.00) of deep fried cauliflower sautéed in interesting Szechuan spicy sauce, and Paneer Fried Rice which included grated cottage cheese tossed with basmati rice and soya sauce.

Capitol Piazza can be easily accessed via multiple modes of transport, including the new link from Exit D of City Hall MRT station.

So do come by and chill out with your family and friends to indulge in a wide variety of cuisines at the mall.

Capitol Piazza
13 Stamford Road Singapore 178905
(Underground pedestrian link from City Hall MRT Station Exit D to Basement 2)
http://www.capitolpiazza.com

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Capitol Piazza.

The post Capitol Piazza – 8 NEW Eats To Embark On Your Epicurean Voyage appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

The very first thing I noticed about The Wired Monkey at 5 Dunlop Street was the irregular seating arrangement. “Oh, why like that? How like that?”

It was unconventional, think stadium-like seats with stepped platform. You face a hand-drawn mural throughout while you sip your coffee.

Or you can look down to see the top of someone’s head.

This was done to utilise space in the café with a narrow width.

It could be a different yet comfortable café experience with its colour-coordinated beanbags and cushions in between, plus you could shift the sliding tables.

The only major question I had was, how should I step down to head to the toilet if there is a group below me?

The current menu is quite compact, serving Beef Burger ($12), Fala-Falafel Burger ($12) and Chix Belado on Toast ($12).

Other items to expect included Soba Salad ($9), Sweet Potato Fries ($5) and a selection of pastries.

Many cafes in Singapore serve burgers as well. After trying quite a couple of mediocre ones, I think The Wired Monkey’s version ranks high.

I was recommended the Beef Burger ($12) which came with 180g pure beef, house slaw, swiss cheese, tomato and a side of sweet potato fries.

The best thing about it was the bun. Lightly grilled, there was a layer of crisp and light fragrance that most other average burgers in Singapore won’t have. The bun was fluffy as well – they found a good supplier.

I thought that the beef patty was adequately juicy, though was slightly lacking in flavours. Probably needed a sauce or more thorough marination.

Coffee is a specialty blend from Tiong Hoe.

Some cafes which were previously on Dunlop Street come and go, such as Rouse, and Oh My Bacon. The Wired Monkey will probably need to work on getting a strong differentiating factor and expanded menu (quickly) to get enough attention from fickle-minded café hoppers.

The Wired Monkey
5 Dunlop Street Singapore 209335 (Jalan Besar MRT Station)
Tel: +65 90220194
Opening Hours: 9:00am – 7:00pm (Mon – Fri) soft launch

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post The Wired Monkey – Burgers & Specialty Coffee Shop With Unconventional Seating Space, At Dunlop Street appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.