Singapore – DanielFoodDiary.com

”Isn’t this the coffee version of TWG?”, my friend quipped.

With its wide selection (over 200) of coffee, luxurious boutique-like concept, décor of marble floors and brass chandeliers, and serving staff in classic European-style uniforms and ties, people may just see that association.

Plus, Bacha Coffee is located at Level 1 of ION Orchard (right opposite Nespresso), just a storey below TWG.

Anyway, this is the Moroccan brand’s first international outpost, specialising in coffee from single origins, coffee blends as well as flavoured coffee.

There are over 200 to choose from, and so you can come almost every day in a year if variety is what you crave.

The décor itself is striking, designed to reflect the Moroccan Dar el Bacha palace in Marrakech. Some customers take the opportunity to strike a pose, some repeatedly and too many.

Totally the tai-tai or try to be tai-tai place to chill-away during the afternoon after shopping.

This is a 30-seater; with the ambience and amount people pay, customers may just linger and chat a while longer. Be expected to wait 30 minutes or even more during peak hour weekends.

While the coffee selection may look overwhelming at first, they do include the taste profile and strength, and the serving staff can guide you along to make a preferred selection.

The coffee starting at $9 may seem pricey at first, but it comes in a golden gooseneck pot, good for two to share.

Plus, there is accompanying raw sugar, cracked vanilla bean and signature Chantilly whipped cream you can add to enhance the taste profile.

The coffee I had (was a “Chocolate Hill”) was delicate and smooth, with an almost tea-like feel to it. I loved it.

You may do a double take of the pricing of the mains, with a Savoury Croissant priced at $18, and most the above $20 range.

While a set menu of a main coffee with coffee is priced at $29, it was not indicated clearly which items are considered “main courses” of the day and would lead to some confusion.

I had a Scrambled Eggs with Black Truffle ($24), which I would say was a decent rendition with moderate creaminess and distinct aroma of truffle.

But it won’t be something I would rave about and come back for, considering its price and portion.

Perhaps the more unique and Moroccan style dishes left a better impression, such as the Morrocan Chicken Pastilla infused with Rosenheim Coffee ($24), and Moroccan Kefta Meatballs accompanied with straw potato fries ($28).

Then again, they are not the strongest motivations why I would return to this place.

The Croissants ($8 for 2 pieces) come in varieties of Butter, 1910 Coffee & Chocolate, Lemon Croissant, Raspberry & Cinnamon, Pistachio and Orange Almond, though again its price could deter some.

During my first visit, I thought that the Raspberry & Cinnamon Croissant were delightfully crisp and fluffy, though those I had in another meal were more lacklustre.

Bacha Coffee can get quite crowded (thus noisy) due to its location and therefore takes away some of the peace you would like for an easy-going afternoon.

Its music selection, a mixture of anything from jazz, French to Moroccan, can be disjointing in terms of volume – sometimes soothing, other times loud.

Otherwise, I would so come back here again to indulge in coffee, some pastries, and enjoy a seemingly high SES lifestyle.

Bacha Coffee
2 Orchard Turn, #01-15/16 ION Orchard Mall, Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Friends would know that I am a fan of Michelin-starred Chef Kang’s at Mackenzie Road, especially for the Soon Hock Fish Soup and Simmered Rice Noodles in Superior Stock.

Late last year when I learnt that Chef Ang Song Kang opened Chef Kang’s Noodle House serving up Wanton Noodles at Toa Payoh, I headed down immediately. I enjoyed the springy noodles and char siew, though there were reviews that commented it was ”over-rated”.

It won a Michelin Bib Gourmand any way.

He has set up another noodle-specialty eatery at Toa Payoh, located at Lorong 4 – a short walk away from the wanton noodle house. It is run by his proteges.

Would he be third time lucky?

This is Prawn Noodles aka hae mee focused, serving up just two items on the menu – King Prawn Noodle Soup With Prawn Paste Spare Ribs ($10), and Hot Stone Prawn Paste Spare Ribs Rice ($10).

Having a prawn noodle shop at the bottom of a HDB flat with a “Michelin-star chef” backing would attract some curious onlookers.

But would it be enough, especially when Toa Payoh is full of affordable and good hawker food?

I ordered a noodles and bee hoon combination, and the bowl arrived piping hot with a king prawn divided in two, and deep-fried prawn paste pork chop placed on a metal holder to keep the piece crisp (tonkatsu ramen style).

Of course I headed for the soup first. It was mildly sweet, rather flavourful, but not as strong and robust as how I would like it to be.

A reason could be because chicken rather than pork is used as base in cooking up the stock.

A not-bad prawn soup, but not impressive enough.

The prawn was fresh, pork chop succulent, but the true star of the bowl was in fact the fragrant and crunchy pork lard.

Unfortunately, the Hot Stone Prawn Paste Spare Ribs Rice ($10) was a let-down and fairly disappointing.

The rice though heated to 300°C and came in a sizzling hot stone with rice crisps at the bottom, fell short of flavours and aroma.

Despite adding more of the dark soy sauce, it did little to elevate the overall taste.

Perhaps because all it had was egg and crispy pork lard, and needed more ingredients for some savouriness. The prawn paste pork chop didn’t gel much with the rest.

Despite being a fan, I think that both dishes would need some form of tweaking, especially for the Hot Stone Rice.

Chef Kang Prawn Noodle House
85 Lor 4 Toa Payoh, #01-328, Singapore 310085
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm or till sold out (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Let’s just say that Merci Marcel has done it again. After successful outlets at Tiong Bahru and Club Street, the French- restaurant-café has gone on to open a lifestyle concept at Orchard Road.

This sits right next to the entrance of the Palais Renaissance, where many tai-tai hang out for hair treatments, shop for luxury furniture, have Michelin-starred sushi, and yeah, hang out at P.S Café and the likes.

The newest Merci Marcel completes that picture – coffee, desserts, wine, food, place to Instagram and shop, and kids would probably feel comfortable here as well.

People come in their active wear, dress-down floral dresses or executive wear, and they all look they are just happy to be there.

I liked the whole ambience as well. It has this tropical-meets-bohemian chic.

An outdoor seating that is actually quite cooling awaits for those who loves some natural daylight and occasional people-watching; or more boutique-bar like interior with rows of French Rosé as a backdrop.

The all-day dining destination has quite a number of highlight dishes on its menu, including Ravioles de Royans ($18, $28)– French dumpling pasta filled with cheese & spinach, foie gras emulsion, Atlantic Wild Cod ($34), Barramundi Tartare ($23), Smoked Haddock Salad ($18), and of course the trending Impossible Marcel Burger ($28).

For desserts, there is the Crepe Mercel with tiramisu emulsion ($12), and Pineapple Carpaccio ($11) which my friend described as the best sweet thing she had in a while.

As I was there for brunch, I decided to go for the safer choices of Scrambled Eggs with truffle paste and aged parmesan ($20).

It was almost how I would imagine it to be… a safe choice. The organic eggs could have a creamier consistency, more distinctive truffle aroma, and I would been happier with one more egg within (a hungry person would finish this within three mouthfuls.)

The Croissant ($3.50) made from 100% French butter certainly got to be one of the best you can find in Singapore – crispy and radiated with buttery fragrance. Délicieux!

As for the Chocolate Cake ($10), it was in short, rich and good.

Intense and dense, some customers could find this on the dry side, but there was that light Chantilly cream to balance it all off.

Other than its pricing which I find slightly on the high side, Merci Marcel at Orchard presents a tranquil escape from the hustle of town, THE place for relaxed social dining.

Merci Marcel – Orchard
390 Orchard Road, #01-03/04, Palais Renaissance Singapore 238871
Opening Hours: 8am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Is Singapore ready for another bubble tea brand? Of course.

The Whale Tea 琉璃鯨, one of the largest beverages and dessert stores in China, has arrived in Singapore and promises make a difference with its innovative signature drinks, soft serve with freshly-made cones, and fluffy soufflé desserts.

It has opened at Lot One Shoppers’ Mall, and next make its arrival at City Square Mall (24th October) and flagship at China Square Central (11th November). (A fourth outlet at Rivervale Mall in Sengkang is in the pipeline to open this December.)

Originally from Nanjing, the brand was founded by Huang Ke Ning in June 2018 while focusing on uncommon ingredients to create its beverages. The chain is well-loved by many in more than 500 outlets across mainland China.

Curious why it’s called The Whale Tea?

In Chinese, whales are ‘jing’ (鯨), which phonetically sounds like Nan-jing, its place of origin. And like the protected whales of the wild, this bubble tea brand embodies boldness and purity.

Here are The Whale Tea’s recommended drinks and desserts to start off your discovery stage of mostly Insta-worthy cups for its visually striking looks and eclectic colour combinations.

Taste-wise, you’ll find an array of unique, healthy ingredients such as peach gum, spirulina, and Wuliangye, a Chinese baijiu made with a variety of grains.

Volcanic Sapphire Whale (from $4.50) Under the Volcanic Collagen Series
The Volcanic Collagen Series includes cups of Volcanic Sapphire Whale, Milk Tea Lava, Passion Fruit Lava and Grapefruit Lava, all featuring peach gum as key ingredient.

Peach gum? This is your alternative to the typical boba pearls. They are softer to the bite, somewhat like smaller pieces of jelly.

The natural resin, harvested from wild Chinese peach trees, is soaked overnight and impurities are removed by hand. Once soft, the collagen and amino acid rich resin is boiled in rock sugar ‘til it becomes translucent jelly bits of sweetness.

The most striking choice would be the Volcanic Sapphire Whale with its bright blue top, coconut milk and amber jelly at the bottom.

The blue comes from spirulina (a blue-green algae superfood) for an extra boost of nutrients and that celestial tint of sapphire.

It doesn’t add much taste though, so the main flavour comes from the coconut milk which is on the light and delicate side – which is different from the usual rich and milkier choices.

The choice if you want something #forthegram and a refreshing treat that is not too heavy.

Flaming Brown Sugar ($6.80, available at Lot One and China Square Central)
An ‘upgrade’ from the usual brown sugar milk drinks.

Combining the creamy texture of fresh milk and the addictive chewiness of brown sugar boba pearls, this beverage is topped with a cheese milk cap and torched caramelised brown sugar.

The best part to me was the slow-cooked brown sugar boba, which were nicely-chewy with obvious caramelised sweetness. Probably one of the best boba pearls around Singapore.

The streaks of caramelised brown sugar inside the tall cup is also an artwork depicting a blaze of sweetness.

You will catch a whiff of its smoky aroma before your lips sink into the velvety cheese milk tap.

Brown Sugar Boba Milk ($4.80, $5.80, available at Lot One and China Square Central)
This is a version without the torched caramelisation.

The Brown Sugar Boba Milk leads the pack with its classic fresh milk and brown sugar boba combination.

Topped with a cheese milk cap, this beverage is one of the more standard to-go-for ones in the line-up. If you’re one of those looking for something familiar and still hooked on the brown sugar craze, this drink is for you.

Other drinks in the “Glass Whale Series” include Brown Sugar Boba Crush, Brown Sugar Cocoa Milk, and Brown Sugar Shizuoka Matcha.

Blue Crystal Coconut Milk ($3.80)
Whale Tea also features a series of drinks featuring crystal toppings, which is called the “Glass Crystal Series”.

These soft and chewy coloured pieces are created naturally with aiyu jelly, and comes either in blue or black.

The difference, is that the blue crystal tastes fruitty, and black crystal has a distinct-caramel sweetness.

The Blue Crystal Coconut Milk, topped with a cheese milk cap, includes the blue version swimming in creaminess of coconut milk.

Fresh milk (with or without tea) options are available for those who find coconut milk too rich.

Black Crystal Matcha ($5.00)
You may not have quite imagine matcha, fresh milk and caramel jelly coming together, but this actually works.

Add a touch of tranquil green to your day with the Black Crystal Matcha.

The use of this finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea leaves make this a high-grade, nutritious tea.

While I would have personally preferred the green tea flavour to be stronger, the blend between the lingering bitter tea flavour and lightly-sweet caramel jelly made this one of my favourites at The Whale Tea.

Strawberry Milk ($6.50, available at Lot One Shoppers’ Mall only)
Revitalise your day with a cup of antioxidant-rich strawberry juice mixed with fresh milk.

This Strawberry Milk, served with a topping of cheese milk cap, is also part of the Glass Whale Series.

Its pretty pinkish-red colour may evoke feelings of love and comfort, while taste wise it may remind some of strawberry yogurt with its milky goodness and bright citrus undertones.

Perfect Orange Tea ($4.80, available at Lot One and China Square Central)
Need to skip the dairy? Don’t worry, The Whale Tea goes beyond milk teas and lays out fruit tea options for you.

Highly recommended is the Perfect Orange Tea, made with four seasons spring tea (四季春茶), fresh orange juice, and orange slices and strawberry halves floating around in your drink.

The light golden coloured four seasons spring tea has a floral aroma, without the usual bitterness or dryness.

Aftertaste is rich and sweetish. The perfect drink for a hot weather, and the perfect prop for a summer-themed Insta-photo.

Passion Fruit Lava ($5.30, available at Lot One and China Square Central)
If you’re still in fruity mode, try this drink that combines fresh passion fruit juice and kumquat juice.

The sweet and exotic passion fruit imparts that delicious, slightly tart flavour to the drink, while the kumquat adds its distinctive sour, citrus tang.

The “lava” in its name tells you it is part of the Volcanic Collagen Series, complete with peach gum jellies and slices of watermelon and citrusy lime.

Wuliangye Soft Serve or Golden Cocktail Cocoa Ice Cream ($4.80)
Ready for dessert? The Whale Tea offers sweet tooths a different kind of treat.

The Wuliangye-infused soft serve ice cream, developed by the founder of The Whale Tea himself, features a proprietary blend of cocoa, activated charcoal and Wuliangye, a Chinese grain-based liquor.

The real appeal of this dessert is how velvety smooth it is, seducing your mouth for unstoppable licking.

Served in a chocolate charcoal cone (made fresh on the spot daily!), the dark-coloured spiked cream is sprinkled with gold powder with finesse.

Electric Sea Salt Soft Serve ($4.20)
An equally exciting alternative to the boozed soft serve, the Electric Sea Salt Soft Serve will please you with its fun topping.

Imaging crackling popping candy all over your pastel blue-coloured ice cream, served in the same chocolate charcoal cone.

The addition of sea salt provides a wonderful contrast of saltiness to the sweet cream.

Also enjoy two additional flavours only at the City Square outlet – Durian and Strawberry.

Whale Island Soufflé ($7.80, available at City Square Mall and China Square Central)
When hunger beckons, try the signature Whale Island Soufflé made with two fluffy light-as-air soufflé pancakes.

Under the “whale island” is a sea of blue aiyu crystal jelly, coconut jelly, and brown sugar boba.

Topping the island is a dainty blue coating of spirulina milk cream, blue and yellow coloured chocolate pearls, and an intricately crafted whale tail made of white chocolate.

This dessert creation which comes in a take-away ‘globe’, is just as Pinterest-pretty as the rest of the bubble milk teas, and falls under the too-cute-to-eat menu items.

Cocoa Island Soufflé ($7.80, available at City Square Mall and China Square Central)
Like the Whale Island Soufflé, the Cocoa Island Soufflé comes with a couple of light and fluffy pancakes as the “island” on a sea of blue aiyu crystal jelly, coconut jelly, and brown sugar boba.

But instead of a whale tale, you will find toppings of classic milk cream, fragrant cocoa powder and fresh mint leaves, depicting a semblance of island and foliage.

The Whale Tea Opening Promotions
Lot One Promo: Lucky draw (Grand prize Apple Watch Series 5): Drink & Win from 18 Oct to 18 Nov
Follow FB or IG, and post a photo of The Whale Tea product with #thewhaleteasg, #thewhaletealotone

City Square Mall Promo 1: First 3000 customers will receive a complimentary limited edition phone screen wipe (until 31 Oct, or while stocks last)
City Square Mall Promo 2: Like The Whale Tea City Square Mall’s Facebook Page to purchase Strawberry Soft Serve at only $1.50. (Until 15 Nov, or while stocks last).

China Square Central Promo: First 100 customers to purchase two drinks will receive a complimentary ice cream (while stocks last)

The Whale Tea – Lot One
Lot One Shoppers’ Mall, 21 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4, #B1-25 Singapore 689812
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/thewhaleteasingapore

The Whale Tea – City Square Mall
City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road, #B2-K7, Singapore 208539
https://www.facebook.com/thewhaleteaatcitysquaremall
(Opening date: 24 October 2019)

The Whale Tea – China Square Central
18 Cross Street, China Square Central, #01-118 Singapore 048423
https://www.facebook.com/thewhaleteasg
(Opening date: 11 November 2019)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with The Whale Tea.

Looking for some of the best ribs in Singapore?

Famous for its signature dish the Sticky Bones Spare Ribs, Morganfield’s has been a magnet for barbecue fans who enjoy that rustic, good ol’ fashioned American-style BBQ.

It has been the “Home of Sticky Bones”, delighting rib lovers in Singapore at their 4 outlets: The Star Vista, Suntec City, ViVoCity, and Orchard Central.

Their Sticky Bones Spare Ribs are rooted and prepared in the spirit of Southern hospitality – slow cooked, smoked, and slathered with an authentic hickory-flavoured BBQ sauce.

The prime U.S. pork ribs are literally fall off the bones. (Great if you are already planning for year-end and Christmas get-togethers.)

For their 7th year anniversary in Singapore (time flies, because I remembered I wrote about their first restaurant at The Star Vista), Morganfield’s has introduced Baby Back Combo Platters – perfect for sharing between 2 to 3 people.

Each platter features combinations of ribs, meat and seafood together with a sumptuous spread of sides, quite value-for-its menu. Here’s more:

Morganfield’s Baby Back Ribs ($34.90, full slab)
As the name implies, these baby back ribs (aka loin ribs) are smaller and leaner compared to their signature Sticky Bones Spare Ribs.

Cut from the loin nearer to the back, they are prepared with a special dry rub – made from a Morganfield’s secret spice rub recipe.

What makes these ribs ultra-tender is slow cooking them at low temperature, then finished on the grills for some smoky notes. This process breaks down all the connective tissues, melting the collagen, giving you that fall-off-the-bone tender ribs.

Compared to spare ribs, baby back ribs even have less connective tissues. So that racks up the tenderness score.

Also, the collagen melts into liquid gelatine that coats the meat. That creates a juicy, silky mouthfeel as you sink your teeth into it.

Like the Sticky Bones Spare Ribs, the Baby Back Ribs are available with 5 flavours: Hickory BBQ, Smoked Peppercorn, Garlic BBQ, Kansas Sweet BBQ, and Spicy Asian BBQ.

I would recommend going for the signature Hickory BBQ which is said to be “Oinkingly Good”, especially if you are a first timer to Morganfield’s.

The other good thing is, portions are HUGE. Order a full slab and you get more than one pound of rib goodness. Perfectly sized for any meat-lover’s appetite.

Check out these new Combo Platters, big enough to be shared between 2-3 people. (They take about 20 – 25 mins to serve, so it is best to order some starters to keep yourself occupied while waiting.)

Half & Half ($56.90)
The first combo platter is Half & Half, which gives you half slab of the signature Sticky Bones and half slab of Baby Back Ribs. A great choice if you can’t decide between the signature spare ribs and baby back ribs.

You can pick the flavours for both of the rib slabs to give your taste buds more variety. Whichever you choose, you’re bound to lick them off your fall-off-the bone ribs, and your fingers.

This platter comes with a couple of grilled sausages, a small bowl of coleslaw, some fresh garden salad, and hot-crisp French fries to munch along.

I have to say I still prefer the signature spare ribs so tender you can just use your fingers to ~~rip~~ tear them part. Then lick the sauces away from the tips of your fingers.

The Steakout ($68.90)
Next up is The Steakout, which covers the sweet spot for both rib lovers and steak lovers.

A pure indulgence for culinary carnivores, this platter features half slab of Baby Back Ribs side-by-side with a hefty 300g chunk of Rib-eye steak.

Choose from any of the 5 flavours for your ribs, but the Spicy Asian BBQ would light up your meal with just the right amount of heat.

Savour the succulence of the steak, hot off the grill, and pair them with the accompanying French fries, grilled corn-on-a-cob and fresh garden salad.

Want more meat? You also get grilled sausages.

Surf & Turf ($50.90)
Torn between the lip-smacking ribs and the crunchy battered fish? Surf & Turf is created to give you the best of both worlds.

This combo meal features a half slab of Baby Back Ribs (with your choice of any of the 5 flavours) and beer-battered deep-fried Hoki fish fillets.

The golden-fried medium-flake Hoki fish was delicate and slightly sweet. You would find that it is relatively more flavourful than some other white fish due to its higher fat content.

The platter also satisfies with grilled sausages, garden salad, French fries, and (to me the highlight…) mac & cheese.

Buffalo Wings ($13.90)
With all their mouth-watering racks of ribs, who needs an appetizer? But if you still do, get your hands messy with these deep fried chicken wings drenched in a house-made spicy-sweet sauce.

To contrast that spicy flavour, dip your wingettes in the accompanying tangy, sweet and creamy Ranch Sauce.

Other Morganfield’s Promotions (Other T&C apply)
Weekend Ribs Buffet
Free flow Sticky Bones, sides and soups at $40++. Available from 11am to 4pm on weekends and public holidays.

Kids Eat for Free
Kids below 8 years or 120cm in height will get to enjoy a free meal for every adult’s main meal. A maximum of two kids’ meals can be redeemed per table. Available on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays.

Top Value Set Lunch from $14.90++
14 different mains to choose from, which comes with free Soup of the Day and a soft drink or hot coffee/ tea. Available for dine-in from Mondays to Fridays (excluding Public Holidays), 11am to 3pm.

Morganfield’s
Suntec City, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Tower 4, #01-645, Singapore 038983 (Promenade MRT)
Tel: +65 6736 1136

The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green, Unit #02-23, Singapore 138617 (Buona Vista MRT)
Tel: +65 6694 3635

VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, Unit #01-51A, Singapore 098585 (Next to Sentosa Boardwalk Exit) Tel: +65 6225 0501

Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, Unit #11-03/04 Singapore 238896 (Somerset MRT)
Tel: +65 6634 1828

Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 12am (Fri – Sat, PH Eve)
https://www.facebook.com/MorganfieldsSingapore/

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Morganfield’s.

Are you ready for a maze-soba extravaganza in global proportions?

Menya Kokoro, Japan’s largest maze-soba chain is hosting “Top of the World”, Singapore’s biggest maze-soba party.

Now you have the chance to meet the brand’s 6 best-sellers curated from its international menus – Tokyo, Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Vancouver, and Singapore. All under one roof.

You can choose to have them from any Menya Kokoro’s 3 outlets at Suntec City (Eat At Seven), 100AM Mall, and its newest outlet at Plaza Singapura.

Menya Kokoro began when a Japanese Chef named Takuma Ishikawa created Kokoro Maze-Soba in Tokyo, Japan. His maze-soba, unparalleled in taste and quality, has spread its popularity all over Japan.

It even won the Best Maze-Soba Award in 2014.

Within 5 years, Menya Kokoro has opened a total of 29 outlets around the world. As it continues to expand, more foodies will have access to its award-winning signature dish.

Visit its latest outlet in Singapore at Basement 2 of Plaza Singapura and discover the 6 global top-sellers from 6 countries. Here they are:

Furious Mala Ramen – Top-seller in Singapore ($14.80, $16.80)
Singapore’s very own bestseller is the Furious Mala Ramen, not surprisingly a spicy choice since mala is still trending.

Like a traditional ramen, this bowl is filled with rich and slightly creamy tonkotsu-based soup.

But what differentiates it from the usual, is that the bowl is packed with intense flavors from the trio of Szechuan peppers, dried chili strings and chili oil.

The al dente cooked ramen is doused in the fiery mala soup, then topped with seaweed, chopped spring onions, and an onsen egg cooked to precision.

Up for a tongue numbing challenge? This is the dish to pick. If you are up for a bigger challenge, inform the staff to increase the “mala level”.

(Also available is a dry-version of the Furious Mala Maze-Soba, with the same type of ‘heat’.)

Tokyo Maze-soba – Top-seller in Bangkok ($10.80, $12.80)
In the heart of this winning dish is Menya Kokoro’s signature secret-recipe minced meat sauce.

Prepared using Japanese techniques through a 4-hour slow cooking process, it has deep flavours that well complement the maze-soba ingredients.

Once tossed, these ingredients – ramen, ground Saba fish, nori, poached egg, green onion, garlic, and chives – deliver a fusion of flavours enhanced by the minced meat sauce.

If you are a first-timer to Menya Kokoro, I would say go for this classic bowl or the Zenbu Maze-soba (more below on the Zenbu).

Double Cheese Maze-soba – Top-seller in Jakarta ($13.80, $15.80)
Attention, cheese lovers. This maze-soba boasts of double cheese for twice the fun, making it impossible to resist.

A top-seller among Jakarta-based foodies, this dish is a variant of the Tokyo Maze-soba, upgraded with a blanket of melted cheese.

Do give the noodles a good toss when the bowl freshly arrives and cheese is melty. Then savour the rich flavour and creaminess when the cheesy sauce coats the strands all over.

Kokoro Tantanmen – Top-seller in Tokyo ($13.80, $15.80)
This particular ramen racks up in popularity in Tokyo, where it prepares the noodles deliciously swimming in an aromatic tonkotsu-based broth.

Featuring Menya Kokoro’s signature secret recipe minced meat, this tantanmen also includes tender char shu slices and chopped fresh spring onion.

Of all the new additions, I like this best. There is more going on with mild spiciness from the chilli oil along with mellow nutty sweetness.

Mentai Ebi Maze-soba – Top-seller in Vancouver ($13.80, $15.80)
Have a taste of this Canadian bestseller from Vancouver, the Mentai Ebi Maze-soba.

This dish features a combination of prawns, ebiko, seaweed, onsen egg, and a couple of greens – the herbaceous and pungent shiso leaf and the crisp and peppery rocket or arugula.

What’s especially delectable is the savoury mentai butter coating the entire dish with its creaminess.

This sauce is on the rich and thick side, almost feel like you are having carbonara.

Zenbu Maze-soba – Top-seller in Manila ($14.80, $16.80)
This maze-soba is not called “Zenbu” for nothing. Living up to its name (‘Zenbu’ means ‘everything in’), this dish brims with ingredients, showcasing its signature Japanese-style slow-braised minced meat sauce.

This Manila bestseller also includes char shu along with ground Saba fish, two eggs (one poached, one onsen), nori seaweed, chopped green onions, minced garlic, chives, and bamboo shoot.

Quite value-for-its money as you get a bit of everything in a bowl, especially when you get two types of pork (minced meat and char shu) and two types of eggs.

In addition, you get a free mushroom kombu-based soup and high-quality oimeshi rice (upon request) for every order of maze-soba.

Need to add more sides? Menya Kokoro offers new additions to your maze-soba party, including Aji Fry (Fried Horse Mackerel) ($3.80 per piece) and Pumpkin Croquette ($2.80 per piece)

Aji Fry (Fried Horse Mackerel) ($3.80 per piece)
Typically eaten during summer in Japan, the horse mackerel provides stamina to the body. Menya Kokoro has prepared it deep-fried as side dish to your maze-soba.

It is coated in crispy breadcrumbs for a delightful crunch, then served with an accompanying in-house sauce.

Pumpkin Croquette ($2.80 per piece)
Made with Japanese kabocha squash, these croquettes are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. You will love how the filling is naturally sweet and savoury, a blend of flavours your taste buds will easily love.

Menya Kokoro – Plaza Singapura
Plaza Singapura #B2-53 68 Orchard Road, Singapore 238839
Opening Hours: 11am – 3:30pm, 5pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Thurs, Sun), 11am – 10pm (Fri – Sat)
Last order half hour before closing
https://www.facebook.com/menyakokorosg

Menya Kokoro – 100AM
100 Tras Street #02-10 Singapore 079027
Tel: +65 6443 1727
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 10pm (Fri – Sat)
Last order half hour before closing

Menya Kokoro – Suntec City
Eat At Seven Suntec City, 3 Temasek Boulevard #03-313 Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6235 3386
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 9:30pm (Mon – Thurs), 11am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm (Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat), 11am – 9:30pm (Sun)
Last order half hour before closing

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Menya Kokoro.

It was only a matter a time. The first purple-rice yogurt drink specialty shop has finally arrived in Singapore.

You can get your hands on this trendy drink at Yanmi Yogurt, with its first-ever outlet in Singapore nested at Funan Level 2.

“Yan” (颜) represents “beauty” while “Mi” (米) means “rice”.

If you love to both drink and chew on your beverage, and are in search for a healthier alternative, then this is the answer.

When I was in Sydney earlier this year, I asked my foodie friends to bring me to the “most trending café” in the city. Little did I expect them to bring me to a purple-rice yogurt shop.

And they emphasized, this is not bubble tea (even though it is easy to see why there could be an association).

There were no less than 10 shops in the city selling this popular drink, with long queues and wait for creamy drinks made with yogurt, included with purple rice, and fruit toppings from strawberry to mangoes.

You can already kind of imagine how it would taste like – creamy, slightly sweet-and-tart yogurt, with grains of soft purple-rice to be slurped up the straw.

Reasons why the drinks were so well-received: they were fresh-tasting and refreshing; a healthier alternative to much sweet beverages; and helped in digestion after meals (all that probiotics in the yogurt).

Yanmi Yogurt uses purple rice specially imported from Mojiang – located south of Yunnan Province and known for producing purple rice rich in protein, calcium and other trace elements.

The grains are larger and longer than usual, coloured purple-black, and tastes sweet with an agreeable stickiness.

The rice is prepared through ten industrial steps, from soaking, boiling, filtering to steaming for hours to create the perfect chewy texture.

Fresh yogurt made with Australian milk is then included, with options of including fresh fruits (look out for not common ones such as dragon fruit and jujube) and other nutritious ingredients such as oats, hawthorn, avocado and taro.

Yanmi Yogurt’s Top 10 offerings include:
– Yanmi’s Purple Rice Yogurt ($4.30)
– Chewy Oats Yogurt ($4.30)
– Haw Purple Rice Yogurt ($4.70)
– Pure Pure! Avocado Yogurt ($5.30)
– Jolly Jujubes Yogurt ($4.30)
– Dirty Dragon Fruit Yogurt ($5.30)
– Man-mango Yogurt ($4.90)
– D24 Durian Yogurt ($5.50)
– Taro N Taro Milk ($5.30)
– Cheese Yogurt ($4.50)

Here’s more:

Yanmi’s Purple Rice Yogurt ($4.30)
For first timers and want something adulterated, go for the classic Yanmi’s Purple Rice Yogurt.

Before drink, share the cup 10 times (remember not to poke the straw in first) to better blend the purple rice and yogurt.

Recommended instructions is that if you let the drink sit for 5 minutes, it will allow the “taste to become enhanced”.

First impressions: it wasn’t as thick and carb-heavy as I initially imagined, with consistency that was almost like a smoothie.

For someone who is trying to refrain from too many sugary stuff, the sweetness level was pleasantly low and mellow. The tart from the yogurt was not too strong as well.

While slurping, you get these QQ bits of purple-rice that is soft which you can slowly chew on.

This can actually be quite filling, so I would recommend taking sips and slowly enjoy it.

Chewy Oats Yogurt ($4.30)
Remember days when overnight oats was all trending?

This is actually quite a close alternative, with fibrous nutritious-dense oats in a light and refreshing yogurt drink.

Dirty Dragon Fruit Yogurt ($5.30)
The recommended drink to have. The base is filled with purple-squashed dragon fruit, with a tropical-sweet taste with slight sourness that goes well with the entire drink.

Give the cup a good shake and watch it turn beautifully vibrant-purple.

Pure Pure! Avocado Yogurt ($5.30)
For avo-lovers, this drink would be simple, delicious, creamy and almost dream-like.

Just a note: because many of us are so used to having versions included with gula melaka, this version would come across a lot more tame and mellow.

Man-mango Yogurt ($4.90)
If you love your Mango Lassi, this would be a real treat for the summer weather. There is the fruity, intense flavours of the mango, and real bits for you to slurp up and chew on.

Other top offerings from Yanmi Yogurt include Jolly Jujubes Yogurt ($4.30), Cheese Yogurt ($4.50), and Taro N Taro Milk Yogurt ($5.30).

The Singapore outlet will also offer an exclusive Durian Yogurt ($5.50), made with D24 durians imported from Malaysia.

The Yanmi Yogurt café in Singapore allows for both takeaways and a sit-down concept, in a pretty-pink and white interior for a drink during a lazy afternoon.

Yanmi Yogurt Opening Promotions
Buy 1 Get 1 Free* from 26 to 28 October 2019 (*2nd drink of equal or lower value for free)

First 50 customers with minimum purchase of 2 cups of Yanmi Yogurt Milk will receive a free limited-edition Yanmi Yogurt tote bag from 26 October to 6 November 2019, or while stocks last.

Yanmi Yogurt
Funan, #02-03, 107 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 179105
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/yanmiyogurt

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Yanmi Yogurt.

Situated right beside Curious Palette along Prinsep Street, the new Communal Coffee is a café that operates during the day.

It occupies the same space as Stage Music Bar, which operates as a bar at night.

You would have probably visited this area in the past for either Minds Café for board game nights or Strictly Pancakes, which unfortunately closed down for good.

There may be slight confusion as there are several cafes with similar names, from Community Coffee (Far East Plaza), The Communal Place (Joo Chiat), and The Communal (Jalan Besar).

Communal Coffee was inspired by the concept of communal living in the city. They boast coffee certified by the Specialty Coffee Association and alcohol infused desserts.

The place has both indoor and outdoor seating, suitable for casual brunches and small group get-togethers.

Since Communal Coffee shares a space with Stage Music Bar, the interior is relatively dark and you definitely get bar vibes from this place.

I would highly recommend sitting outside. Despite Singapore’s hot weather, the outdoor seating was really comfortable (that’s if you’re able to get a sheltered seat).

The Flat White ($5.50) was made using a blend of beans, which explained why it tasted slightly different from cafes that use a single blend. I thoroughly enjoyed the coffee.

They also serve Coffee Cocktails such as Black Whisky ($18.80) which is essentially a Long Black with Whisky, Espresso Martini ($18.80) and a Coffee Stout Affogato ($16.80).

The All-Day Brunch Menu offered here is similar to most of the cafes in Singapore, such as a Big Breakfast ($22.80) and Classic Egg Benedict ($18.80).

Some of the other recommended food include B&B Waffles, Classic Carbonara, Sunny Egg Croque Madame, and Yummie Sarnie.

I had the Happy Days Sandwich ($18.80) which was essentially an open-faced sandwich served with breaded chicken and cranberry sauce.

The chicken could have been slightly thicker and better marinated. The cranberry sauce combination was interesting, but it didn’t have that “wow” factor.

The Lychee Martini Waffles ($15.80) which I expected to be served with Lychee Martini ice-cream was actually served with vanilla ice-cream.

What I really liked was how they chopped fresh lychee and served it together with the waffles.

At least they managed to make the waffles crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, which I appreciated.

So where’s the alcohol? It was drizzled on top of the waffles together with some caramel sauce. Slightly lacking on the martini-factor but overall a great rendition of waffles from Communal Coffee.

They have other alcohol infused waffles such as Banana Rum ($14.80) and Bailey’s & Cream ($15.80)

Communal Coffee
60 Prinsep Street Singapore 188664
Tel: 9664 1141
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/communalcoffeesg/

* Written by DFD’s Café Correspondent @__sy_g. Songyu is a food and travel blogger whose hobby is uncovering hidden hipster cafes. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Good stuff seems to name after TWO – in Singapore we have Two Bakers, Two Men Bagel House, Two Chefs, Two Blur Guys, Two Wings, and now Two Cranes.

Inspired by Korean Café Scene, Two Cranes is a neighbourhood café found in Kovan which serves a focused selection of Korean-themed food, bingsu dessert and hand-crafted beverages.

Apparently in Korean culture, cranes are viewed as iconic creatures which symbolizes good fortune and longevity.

So much so that there is even a crane portrait embedded on the back of the 500 Korean won coin.

What makes them “Korean”?

Their hand-crafted beverages were what first caught my attention.

Apart from the usual latte and cappuccino suspects, there were a range of coffee and tea mocktails served in sleek beverage glasswares, which improves the visual aesthetics and Korean-ish vibes.

Reminded me of the times when I was at back at Bunkasha in Seoul.

Their signature coffee mocktail, Wonda-fu Drink ($6) was a potent mix concocted from espresso shot, coffee jelly and mint leaves served in a cocktail glass.

It was rather sweet with coffee aroma and had a lingering scent of mint. I liked this drink, but my dining companions had mixed opinions about it.

The other two more acceptable options to them were the Sunset Cold Brew Tonic ($6) & Yuzu Cold Brew Cream ($6) which were fruitier in flavour.

While my perception of ade is usually associated to sweet carbonated water, the Chamomile Lime Ade ($6) took me by pleasant surprise.

At first sip, it was rather just citrusy lime and at subsequent sips, the Chamomile tea flavour came as an aftertaste.

Their food menu revolves around Korean food, with noodles and rice offerings such as Jjajangmyeon ($10), Naengmyeon (Cold Noodles) and Bibimbap.

I went for the 8 Treasures Rice Bibimbap ($12) which came with an assortment of ingredients such as spicy chicken carrots, spinach, mushrooms topped with gochujang dressing and sesame oil.

Generally, I find bibimbap can hardly ever goes wrong. My only qualm is that it is too ordinary and can be easily replicated at home.

The serving staff then recommended me their Naengmyeon (Cold Noodles) ($10) which came with a generous serving of chewy buckwheat noodles served in chilled pear broth, which I found slightly underwhelming due to lack of flavour.

There were also some Korean-inspired brunch dishes such as Spicy Dakgalbi with Scrambled Eggs ($13.50), Poached Eggs with Flambé Champignons ($13.50) and Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wings ($12).

While Korean bingsu may be considered passé (to some), their flavours such as Tea Bingsu ($12) and Caramel Macchiato Bingsu ($13.50) are made using tea and coffee syrup concocted using their in-house blend.

What caught my attention was the locally inspired Pulut Hitam Bingsu ($12) which came with snow-like ice shavings topped with black glutinous rice, condensed milk, oreo and crushed almond bits.

I think it is a great idea, but execution could probably be improved by doing away with oreo bits and perhaps addition of coconut milk to add more depth to its flavour.

Overall, I liked the cosy ambience at Two Cranes and they have managed to leave an impression on their hand-crafted beverages, but some work needs to go into fine-tuning of their food menu to stay true to the “Korean” branding.

Two Cranes
Blk 211 Hougang Street 21 #01-291, Singapore 530211
Opening Hours: 8.30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun), Closed Tues
https://www.facebook.com/twocranes.sg/

* Written by Lewis Tan @juicyfingers, a self-proclaimed coffee addict. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

While I was walking towards River South (Hoe Nam) Prawn Noodle (Lao Zhong Zhong Eating House is also just opposite), I spotted a gelato café a few shops away.

Gelato cafes seem to be making a small comeback, with many new café concepts opening up in the heartlands such as One Stone Three Birds at Clementi, Wishes Café at Macpherson, Denzy at Bishan and OCD Café at Ang Mo Kio.

Started by 3 fresh graduates from SMU and with an Italy-trained chef handcrafting fresh gelato flavours daily, I think Sweet Cheeks Gelato does have some differentiating factors.

If you need coffee, there is a selection of the usual such as Latte ($5), Cappuccino ($5), Mocha ($6) as well as Cold Brews.

Sweet Cheeks Gelato offer a number of classic favourites such as Hazelnut with Nutella Swirl and Honeycomb, Sweet Cheeks, and also stocks less conventional options like Cinnamon Brown Bread, Coconut Mango Sorbet, Ricotta with Pistachio as well as Honey Chrysanthemum with Cacao Nibs.

Well, Chrysanthemum with Cacao Nibs may just remind you of … Birds Of Paradise?

The standard flavours such as Honeycomb, Cereal Milk and Banana Hot Fudge goes for $3.70 per scoop; while premium flavours of Coconut Mango, Cinnamon Brown Bread, Fleur De Cao Dark Chocolate, and Lemon Curd with Speculoos are sold at $4.70 per scoop.

For people who love some added textures and crunch in your ice cream (well Ben & Jerry’s style), then you could enjoy ingredients such as honeycomb biscuits, fresh coconut milk, house-made toasted brown bread, and roasted pistachio bits added within varied flavours.

To be honest, waffles seem to be trending a few years back but not quite so anymore, and I am kind of ‘waffle-jadded’ after having a number of so-so ones.

So Sweet Cheeks Gelato’s Waffle ($5.80) was surprisingly delicious and fairly different. There was a pleasant sweet crisp exterior (crispier than usual), and the inside was quite fluffy.

My only qualm was that with a honey drizzle base and ice cream on the sweeter side, the overall combination could work better with some reduction on sugar levels.

The ice cream I had which was the Honey Chrysanthemum with Cacao Nibs was creamy and sticky, rich in flavours compared to the other known brand. Not too bad at all.

Sweet Cheeks Gelato
37 Tai Thong Crescent Singapore 347862 (Potong Pasir MRT)
Opening Hours: 12pm – 11pm (Sun – Thurs), 12pm – 1am (Fri – Sat)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Founded in Hong Kong, Social Place is a retro-chic contemporary tea house imbued with nostalgic touches from olden Hong Kong days, which serves an innovative spread of Chinese fares and Dim Sum offerings.

Located at Forum The Shopping Mall, Singapore is their first overseas outpost since their first establishment in 2014.

Upon stepping into the restaurant, you will be greeted with sleek modern interior accompanied with fun vibrant elements such as, using ping pong table for dining and a whole mural wall made up of mah-jong tiles.

I secretly hope that by touching the mural wall, the mah-jong aura would bless me with some “huat”.

Couple of years back, I remembered patronizing their store at Central and was pretty much sold by their creative food offerings and table cutleries embedded with houseflies and ants design.

They were probably the OG innovators for the now already available dishes in Singapore such as Flaming Pineapple, Fried Chicken Pieces with Chillies served in Nest, and Truffle Mushroom Buns.

A quick scan of their menu and I spotted a few familiar dishes from Hong Kong such as Rose Floret Bun ($1.80 per pc), Pig Buns filled with Yam ($2.80 per pc), Century Eggs in Silken Tofu ($9.80) and Flaming Pineapple with Beef ($28).

Unfortunately, some of my personal favourites such as the Jar of Ginger Chicken and Aged Balsamic Chicken Wings were not available on Singapore menu.

I went for their signature Roasted Quail ($9.90) and was served with two petite-sized quail glazed with honey coating. The meat itself was flavourful with spices, but the texture was slightly tough for my liking.

The Sweet & Sour Pork on Ice ($24.80) was an eye-catching dish served with fuming dry ice smoke. I think it was a relatively decent plate of sweet and sour pork with each piece of fried pork pieces lavishly coated with tangy dressing, and yet I could still taste some slight crispiness embedded within.

My dining companions then commented, “Isn’t it the same as Gu Lou Yok just that it is cold.”

Not too sure if the chilling process was supposed to alter the taste profile, but apparently it didn’t make much difference to us.

What left an impression was their Pork Sliders ($14.80) aka Chinese Kong Bak Pao which came with a slice of tender braised fatty pork meat sandwiched in between soft fluffy buns which literally melts in your mouth.

I also liked how they added sourish pickled vegetables in the bun to ease some greasy feeling from after consuming fatty food.

Also worth a mention was their Beetroot Fried Rice ($16.80) that came in bright shades of pink and topped with almond slices and diced prawns. While it wasn’t mind-blowing, I enjoyed its subtle balanced flavour which may appeal to older generation.

For desserts, the adorable Small Pig Pudding ($6.80 per pc) which jiggle with every shake would probably captivate your heart. Would you bear to eat it?

Mah-jong fanatics like me would go for the Mah-jong Jelly ($6.80) which came with a set of 6 coconut jelly. Since they originate from Hong Kong, I felt that the tiles combination should at least be meaningful with proper combinations rather than just randomized tiles.

Since my expectations were benchmarked from Social Place Hong Kong, I was slightly disappointed with some of the food taste and execution.

But for first timers, Social Place Singapore would probably satisfy those who are looking for fun and innovative food creations.

Social Place Singapore
Forum The Shopping Mall, #01-22, 583 Orchard Road, Singapore 238884
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

* Written by Lewis Tan @juicyfingers, a self-proclaimed coffee addict. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

From Chengdu Restaurant comes a concept that will please hotpot lovers seeking authentic Sichuan and Cantonese flavours.

That means, your tongue and lips got to get ready for some numbing sensation. Nope, not just mala, but Chengdu Green Pepper Broth as well.

Introducing the brand-new Taikoo Lane Hotpot 太古里火锅, a hotpot restaurant nestled right in Chinatown Point (basement 1 next to Uniqlo).

Famed for its deliciously numbing Sichuan cuisine, Chengdu Restaurant has tapped its culinary team to craft a menu of broths in different flavours, and a bevy of unique ingredients – not quite the usual stuff you would find in a typical hotpot restaurant.

At Taikoo Lane Hotpot, diners can have a choice of either individual pots for a more customized experience, or share a large pot among family and friends.

Whether you prefer to dine solo or as a group, you can find the best arrangement here.

Don’t have time to linger over a steaming hotpot meal? You can also find quicker lunch specials here from $9.90 onwards.

Ready for their line-up of Sichuan and Cantonese broths? Here they are:

Sichuan Spicy Broth ($5)
Start off with Taikoo Lane’s version of the spicy Sichuan broth. While other hotpots use oil, Taikoo Lane Hotpot’s version uses the more traditional beef tallow.

What you will encounter is a mala broth that is much more flavourful than oil-based broths.

Aside from the essential beef tallow, 20 different spices plus an array of aromatics come together to create a flavour powerhouse. Tangerine peel, bay leaves, thyme, luo han guo (monk fruit), and high-grade peppers are just some of them.

If you don’t normally take mala food, then this may prove to be quite a challenge in terms of the spice level.

Chengdu Green Pepper Broth ($5)
Another premium mala broth for spice fans is the brand-new Chengdu Green Pepper Broth. If you are bored of the usual mala and want to try something different, this would be a refreshing change.

Inspired by the Fish with Green Peppercorn Soup, a best-seller from Chengdu Restaurant, the broth takes two Sichuan-specialty ingredients (peppercorn oil and green peppercorns) and makes them the soup’s bedrock of flavour.

The peppercorns imported from the Sichuan province, are fried over low heat with small chilies, minced garlic and fermented soy bean sauce.

The potent mixture is added to superior soup stock which is boiled for hours.

Collagen Nourishing Pork Bone Soup ($5)
Superbly tasty and nourishing, the collagen-rich Pork Bone Soup is a popular choice especially of those who want a Hong Kong-style hotpot.

This broth, typically offered by traditional charcoal furnace HK hotpots, combines pork bones, whole chicken, pig skin and lots of other ingredients.

Together, they are poached to extract essential flavours, then cooked for more than 7 hours. This method yields that rich, gelatinous, and delightfully milky consistency.

So if you want to pick a ‘safe’, delicious choice of hotpot base, this would be it.

Other broths you can look forward to here include the Low-Calorie Tomato Soup, Fish Soup Broth with Fresh Milk, Golden Treasures Broth, Umami Mushroom Broth and Pumpkin Millet Soup.

Taikoo Lane Hotpot’s unique ingredients and dishes:
Moving on to the unique ingredients with pricing starting from $3.80 per item, recommended dishes here include the Lobster Noodles, Magical Growing Mushrooms, Spicy Marinated Beef and Spanish Iberico Black Pork Collar.

1. Lobster Noodles ($39.80)
A tribute to the popular Hong Kong dish, the Lobster Noodles is but one of the smorgasbord of unique hotpot ingredients here.

As a DIY dish, it allows you to cook the lobster and noodles together in one broth for a unified flavour.

Or dunk them in two separate soups to create your own pairing of flavours.

Once cooked, toss them together in the provided special sauce and condiments (ie add some sesame sauce and spring onions) and enjoy. Really quite delicious.

2. Magical Growing Mushrooms ($9.80)
A sight to behold, these mushrooms do magically ‘grow’ before your very eyes.

Beautifully arranged garden-like with lettuce, tomatoes and eggs, these Magical Growing Mushrooms are delicate, long-stemmed snowy enoki mushrooms. Just water them and wait for magic to happen.

Make your meal memorable with this mildly flavoured fungus, a culinary spectacle in tasteful proportions.

3. Shrimp Skewer ($12.80)
If you’re a shrimp lover, the Shrimp Skewer is a must. Along with the skewered deshelled prawns comes the flexibility in flavour – half are marinated in Cajun spices and steamed, half are unseasoned and raw.

This way, you can treat your palate to different flavours. Savour that natural shrimp sweetness as you cook them in plainer hotpot soup, say the Pork Bone or Fish Soup.

4. Seafood Balls Lollipop ($9.00)
This tri-coloured lollipop combines a spectrum of seafood flavours in a fun, little seafood ball-like paste.

Begin with the Prawn-Flavoured Ball with Fish Roe, before trying out the Seafood Ball enhanced with savoury Squid Ink.

Finally, sink your teeth in the bouncy Sea Urchin Flavoured Ball with that delicate sweet sea flavour.

5. Spicy Marinated Beef ($18.80)
Meat lovers will be spoilt for choice of all the meats you desire for a satisfying hotpot. Your Sichuan hotpot experience won’t be complete without the Spicy Marinated Beef.

Its deep flavours come from the rich marinade, prepared with sugar, pepper and starch.

For that brazen heat, they dust the meat with fiery red pepper flakes, chili powder, pepper, and other aromatic spices. NOT for the faint-hearted.

6. Meatballs Platter ($8.40 for half portion, $16.80 for full portion)
I think that no hotpot meal is complete without some meatballs. Other than handmade Fish Balls, Fish Balls with roe, and handmade Beef balls, go for the Meatballs and Prawnball Platter.

This includes a combination of succulent-sweet Prawnballs, meaty Beefballs, and Porkballs added with chives.

7. Spanish Iberico Black Pork Collar ($17.80)
Both a visual and gustatory treat, the rose-shaped slices of Iberico black pork are another recommended hotpot ingredient to order.

Imagine the transformation of that well marbled pork collar as soon as it sinks into your aromatic soup of choice.

You get not only the succulence it promises but also its complex, intense flavour that is good on its own without any sauces.

8. Braised Beef Short Ribs ($6.80)
Try their Braised Beef Short Ribs generously marinated with over 10 spices and condiments. The fresh slices of beef are soaked in a blend cooking wine, soya sauce, salt, sugar and other aromatics.

Feel free to sprinkle some red pepper flakes to increase the spice-o-meter.

Recommended to dunk in the Sichuan Spicy Broth or Chengdu Green Pepper Broth for a short while to absorb some of that essence.

9. Fried Spiced Beef ($16.80)
Another meat option is the famous street food-style dish Fried Spiced Beef. Customarily served in Sichuan during summer, the beef’s flavour is anchored to the popular Chinese five-spice as a foundation of its marinade.

Once all the spices have seeped into the meat, it is deep-fried until golden brown.

You can even mix things up, adding a layer of flavour to your broth by dropping in pieces of these fried spiced beef.

10. Ice Jelly with Milk Tea ($6.80)
After bowlfuls of hotpot, cleanse your palate with a refreshing Ice Jelly with Milk Tea. The milk tea component is an upgrade of the traditional ice jelly dessert, often served in Sichuan hotpot restaurants as a fitting, cold conclusion to a fiery feast.

Taste how the rich and aromatic tea infusion has elevated the overall flavour.

For families with children, there is a kids’ play area so that you can enjoy your meal while the little ones get themselves occupied.

Another plus point is that the sauces and condiments (and fruits) provided at the bar-counter is complimentary with every hotpot order – no additional charge!

Taikoo Lane Hotpot 太古里火锅 X DanielFoodDiary.com (DFD) Exclusive Promotions
Promo 1: Enjoy 30% OFF all ala carte food items.
Promo 2: Get one FREE soup base per diner, up to a maximum of 4 complimentary soup bases per table.

T&C:
– Valid for dine-in only.
– Valid from 1 to 30 November 2019.
– Prior reservations recommended (+65 6970 0966). Please quote “DFD” promo during reservation.
– Not valid in conjunction with other discounts, promotion, vouchers, and other offers.
– The management reserves the right to amend the terms & conditions as necessary.

Taikoo Lane Hotpot 太古里火锅
Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Rd, B1-16, Singapore 059413
Tel: +65 6970 0966
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/Taikoolane

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Taikoo Lane Hotpot.

Admittedly, I have yet to travel to Yunnan in China, but heard much about its beautiful landscape, snow-capped mountains, and of course Yunnan cuisine. Yunnan food is vastly varied and colourful in flavours, as it is known to be the province with the largest number of ethnic minority groups.

It is not every day you will find a premier Yunnan specialty restaurant in Singapore. If you are curious enough and keen to explore this type of cuisine, then the place to go to is YUN NANS.

YUN NANS with its flagship outlet located at the Jewel Changi Airport, has expanded to its second outlet at Westgate Singapore. Good for the Westies who may find it far to travel all the way to Changi.

Here, you can access their popular and best-selling menu mainstays as well as new, exclusive additions.

A bit on the restaurant’s origin: YUN NANS is the first overseas presence of “Yun Hai Yao” (云南肴), the largest Yunnan casual F&B chain in the world.

Originally from China, Yun Hai Yao now has more than 150 outlets spanning across the country. It began in Beijing in 2009 and since then has captured the hearts of local gourmands.

The brand specialises in Yunnan ethnic highland cuisines (高原料理 gao yuan liao li). This type of cooking sources and uses fresh mountain ingredients from the Yunnan Province of China, where you can discover regional cooking nuances in China.

And I heard so much about their chicken soup, and wanted to taste if it lives up to its reputation.

Of course, there are other specialties such Braised Wild Porcini Mushrooms, Beef Stew in Copper Pot, Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles, Spicy and Sour Egg Salad, Charcoal Grilled meats and seafood to embark on a gustatory journey. Here’s more:

Crispy Hor Fun with Yunnan Truffle Prawn Broth ($15.90++)
Taste this dish exclusively at the new Westgate outlet, with horfun (rice noodles) cooked two ways for double the goodness.

A portion of the hor fun deep-fried while the other is stir-fried, thus you will feel the different textures intermingling in your palate – some parts crisp, others smooth and slippery.

While most horfun dishes already come with the base sauce within, the comforting dish is served accompanied with hot saucy broth separate.

It is a fragrant and eggy Yunnan prawn broth topped with Yunnan truffle shavings. Rich in umami-goodness, the flavour may just remind you of a robust bowl of Singaporean prawn noodles.

And if you would prefer something more soupy, go for the Truffle Rice Noodles in Prawn Broth ($13.90++).

Steam Pot Chicken Soup ($23.90++)
Can you imagine preparing a pot of soup without even adding a drop of water? I was very curious about this soup.

So apparently that’s how uniquely brewed this steam pot is, using a pressure-steaming technique for three hours on a special breed of black-feet chicken. The water found in the soup comes from the condensation of the steam alone.

Prepared in a special hand-made Jianshui claypot, this dish rewards you with a clear, delicate soup with a robust and nourishing flavour.

This is probably one of the best chicken soups I had in Singapore – light, flavourful, yet not greasy.

You know how the chicken chunks in soup often turn out to be quite bland? The restaurant serves the soup with an additional plate of beansprouts, peppercorns and a mildly-spicy sauce. Pick out the chicken pieces and mix it with the sauce, almost like you are having a dish of mala chicken.

One soup dish – two ways of eating.

New Mystery Steam Pot ($33.90++)
Available only at the Westgate outlet, this signature iconic dish takes the Steam Pot Chicken, YUN NANS’s best-selling dish, and revs it up with an added “secret ingredient”.

Clue: this ingredient is Japan’s answer to the black truffle.

Charcoal Grilled Pork Belly ($9.90++)
Yunnan barbecue is said to have different styles, from Jianshui, Gejiu, Dai, to Zhaotong – varied seasonings but the same good taste. Therefore, it is a must to experience the deep, aromatic flavours of charcoal-grilled dishes here.

A popular char-grilled dish is the Charcoal Grilled Pork Belly, prepared by marinating fresh slices of pork belly with 6 types of spices, including lemongrass, chives, Yunnan wild coriander, and chilli padi.

The well-seasoned meat is then grilled over charcoal up to the right degree of doneness and that smoky finish. Served with a generous dash of their in-house chilli seasoning mix that adds some tanginess to the mix.

You can go for the other popular choices of Grilled Pork Trotters with spices ($13.90++) and Charcoal Grilled Chicken Wings ($3.50++ each).

Or if you prefer non-pork options, try the Charcoal Grilled Tiger Prawns ($5.90++ each), or Charcoal Grilled Seabass with Lemongrass ($23.90++).

Steamed Red Grouper with Green Peppercorns ($48.80++)
While I am personally not the sort that would always order a steamed fish in an outing, I would say order this if you come in a family or group. (Price tag and slight spiciness aside, this is the kind of this mummies and ah-mas will like.)

The sizable red grouper (which is about 600 grams or so) is steamed with fresh green peppercorns that results in a lightly-spicy and numbing sauce.

A wok-fry soy-mixture and hot oil are also poured over the fish just before serving, so you get that additional fragrance and the sauce is very, very addictive. The type you would just pour over a plain bowl of white rice.

As for the fish, it has that delicately tender yet firm white flesh. Very fresh.

However, take note that as the dish is available in limited quantities, reservations are highly recommended.

Stir Fried Wild Porcini Mushroom with Dried Chillies ($25.90++)
Those with penchant for umami flavours will gravitate towards this dish made with quick-fried Porcini mushrooms.

These mushrooms are wild and grow along the pollution-free tropical belts in Yunnan. To harvest them, YUN NANS works with local Yunnan farmers who also pick black truffle, wheat/green pumpkin, and edible flowers.

Order this savoury dish of slightly crunchy fungus made spicy with the addition of dried Yunnan chilies.

Bean Curd Pudding with Brown Sugar ($4.90++)
All right, this is so smooth. Besides, this protein rich tofu-based dessert is a healthy choice to cap off your meal.

Sweetened with brown sugar, this pudding has a texture that is wobbly and just melts in the mouth (much softer than the typical tau hway). My main complaint is: I wished there was more in that bowl.

If you would like to order some other desserts for sharing, get the Milk Pudding with Rose Jam ($4.90) and Double Boiled Pear with Golden Fungus & Snow Lotus ($5.90).

Ladies, you would want to know that the Double Boiled Pear dessert that is steamed for two hours can ‘nourish the lungs’ and has beautifying properties.

Raspberry Juice with Tamarind ($4.90++)
For a refreshing accompaniment to the meal, this signature drink is so famous in China that each restaurant sells more than 300 glasses per day.

The base is a tangy yet sweet tamarind-flavoured water combined with blended raspberries, creating a beverage that is cooling and fruity.

YUN NANS Westgate Outlet Opening Special
To celebrate the grand opening of its Westgate outlet on 1 November 2019, YUN NANS will offer the following promotions:

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Hot Dish (from 2 to 15 November 2019)
• No Splitting of bill
• Limited to 1 redemption per transaction
• Lower or equal value item is free

Free specially imported Yunnan Tea Nugget for every diner at Westgate (while stocks last)

YUN NANS – Westgate
3 Gateway Drive #03-07 Westgate Singapore 608532
Tel: +65 6970 9891
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/yunnanssg

YUN NANS – Jewel
Jewel Changi Airport, #02-217 Singapore 819666
Tel: +65 6908 3677
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with YUN NANS.

Question: So why would people pay for something they can easily cook up at home?

While we take some time to ponder over that, the first Indomie-focused eatery IndoBowl has opened in Singapore, located at Sultan Gate near Arab Street.

IndoBowl originated from Kuala Lumpur Malaysia though, not from Indonesia and is not officially Indomie-endorsed. The brand is brought in by halal cafe Royz et Vous (I happen to quite enjoy their pasta.)

Just in case you have never had Indomie before, this is Indonesia’s most popular instant noodles, best known for its Mi Goreng, Soto Mie and Kari Ayam flavours.

It beats me why nobody in Singapore has ever thought of doing this earlier, when Indomie-centric cafes have sprouted at many places.

I was half-hoping it would be like the popular Ropang Plus Plus at Jakarta or serve up the insta-famous Indomie-Sandwich made popular by Dutch Smuggler in Sydney. Yeah, Sydney.

(Photo credit: IndoBowl Facebook)

IndoBowl has made some waves online due to the offering of a mega IndoMie Mumbo Jumbo, priced at $49.90 meant for 3 to 4 pax. In true Insider-video style, the bigger, the better, the more viral.

Smaller dishes such as Indomie Ayam Bakar ($9.90), Indomie Sate Ayam ($9.90), Indomie Ayam Goreng Jawa ($9.90), Indomie Seafood Goren ($10.90), and Indomie Dendeng ($10.90) are available.

Each is available in two styles – Sambal Balado (indicated by a red “B” on the menu) and Sambal Ijo (indicated by a green “H”). The Balado refers to the hot and spicy sauce, while Ijo refers to Indonesian-style green chilli paste.

I was recommended the Indomie Ayam Bakar ($9.90), and truth be told… this was exactly like Indomie with grilled chicken chop and fried egg.

The special element about it was the sambal which was spread generously across the chicken, thankfully it existed or the chicken would have tasted quite bland on its own.

A little suggestion would be to provide options with higher level of spiciness for more shiokness.

Other than Indomie, also available are various permutations of Nasi Goreng topped with ribeye steak, seafood, seafood petai, and grilled chicken.

My Nasi Goreng with Dendeng – thinly sliced beef ($13.90) was quite flavourful, but otherwise marred by keropok that were not-longer crispy (aka lao hong) and was a tad greasy.

With all that said, I think IndoBowl will be able to attract a crowd due to its friendly service, curiosity of diners, and branding. It is always hip checking out a Indomie cafe, yeah?

IndoBowl
39 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198487
Tel: +65 6291 7152
Opening Hours: 11am – 4pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 12pm – 4pm, 5pm – 10pm (Sat – Sun)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The Red House is an iconic fixture along East Coast Building, known for its fire-engine-red painted façade and housing the relict Katong Bakery & Confectionery in the good-old-days.

You probably won’t miss it if you have driven or walked past before.

Ah, history. During the 1960s, this bakery used to popular among the Easties for its swiss rolls and puffs; the building was conserved and reoccupied by Wangs Café from 2016 onwards.

Not many would have noticed that its occupants have recently changed, and is now housed by Micro Bakery & Kitchen.

Funny how that the hipster and instagrammability factor has upped a few notches.

With a bit of décor and greens, this place would easily be packed with residents and expats in the East, or even café hoppers who would come purely for this. (Helps that Birds Of Paradise is just a few steps away.)

The bakery which previously took over the business from Woodlands Sourdough, maintains the same philosophy of making small batch, hand-made breads.

Their breads are naturally leavened using organic and sustainable flour, using natural ingredients and no additives.

Compared to the Bukit Timah outlet, this has a bigger space and larger variety of bakes and cakes.

Its brunch menu includes Big Breakfast ($18), Granola ($8), Smoked Salmon on Sourdough English Muffin ($18), Micro Club Sandwich ($14), Grilled 3 Cheese Sandwich ($12), Ricotta Tartine ($12), Smashed Avocado Tartine ($14) and Scrambled Free Range Egg Tartine ($14).

The Brownies ($5, $6 each) here are not to be missed – chocolatey, dense and moist, sometimes coming with interesting flavours such as cookies and cream, Bischof, and even miso with coconut flakes suitable for vegans.

The one added bonus here (compared to Serene Centre outlet) is that it has a chiller which can stored chilled desserts.

I ordered a Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Tart ($7). How season appropriate!

The combination of chocolate and pumpkin worked well together, was beautifully creamy, though I wished that the spice element could have been upped a bit.

Coffee beans are currently sourced from Common Man Coffee Roasters; but if you opt for filter, the coffee would be brewed using Artisan Roastery beans roasted in Malaysia.

The space is quite tight here though, and get quite echoey (Two screaming children and that’s it.)

Find a slightly off peak timing to come, and you would be awarded with delicious bakes and the alluring smells from the oven.

Micro Bakery & Kitchen – Red House
63 East Coast Road #01-06 Singapore 428776
Opening Hours: 8:30pm – 5pm Last Order 3pm (Wed – Fri), 8:30pm – 5pm, Last Order 4:30pm (Sat – Sun)

Micro Bakery & Kitchen – Bukit Timah
Serene Centre 10 Jalan Serene #01-05 Singapore 258748
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon – Tues

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Let’s talk about Ang Gu Kueh aka “Red Tortoise Cake”, the oval-shaped glutinous rice flour cake with a sweet filling in the centre.

Shaped like a tortoise shell and rested on banana leaf, it has a Chinese word imprinted on top which usually means “longevity”, “blessings” or “prosperity”.

“Ang” literally means “red”; “gu” stands for “tortoise” (symbolises long life); while “kueh” represents “cake”. The Chinese in Singapore usually have them during a new-born first month or birthdays of the elderly.

Nothing is really stopping us from eating this any time of the year, since they are commercially available and represent good luck.

However, with modernisation and changing eating habits, it is really hard to find more ‘indie’ shops hand-making and selling them.

Just a handful, and the better known ones are Ji Xiang Confectionery, Lina’s Confectionery, Lek Lim to Poh Cheu.

A new entry in the Michelin Guide earning The Michelin Plate, Poh Cheu specialises in handmade colourful kueh in a variety of sweet and salty flavours.

If you want some traditional Ang Ku Kueh and Soon Kueh, check out this food stall which has been in operation since 1985.

My friends and I were initially thinking going to (yet) another hipster café for some cakes and coffee, but hey… the idea of Ang Ku Kueh with kopi o (the coffee stall here serves up not bad kopi is also quite hip and instagrammable what.

And a fraction of the price we would have otherwise paid.

The stall is located next to Keng Eng Kee Seafood, and of short walking distance from Alexandra Village Food Centre.

There is always a long queue of people here though. Be patient.

Founder couple Neo Poh Cheu and Lim Kim Noi began with only 6 flavours for the Ang Ku Kueh: Peanut, Green Bean, Salted Bean, Yam, Durian and Coconut.

Today, they have 12 flavours, including modern ones that appeal to the younger generation, such as Red Bean, Black Sesame, Green Tea, Mango, Pineapple, and Coffee.

Except for the Salted Bean, all flavours are vegetarian. All products at Poh Cheu are made using vegetable oil.

Each Ang Ku Kueh is priced at $1.10 or you can get a box of 10 pieces at $11 with your choice of 2 flavours.

I would say go for the Peanut and Mung Beans to savour the more traditional flavours. While the skin was slightly greasy (just a tad), it was thin and had such a soft consistency that doesn’t stick to the teeth.

The peanut fillings were aromatic, delicious, and not too sweet. But some of the rest could be on the sweeter side.

I also went for the more fanciful choice of pineapple, which totally reminded me of the CNY pineapple tart filling. Interesting, though not my favourite due to the combination.

To maintain their quality, keep the kuehs in the fridge on the day of purchase and steam for 3-5 minutes before consumption. Best consumed within 1-2 days.

Similarly, the Soon Kueh comes in a box of 10 pieces ($10.00), inclusive of 3 packets of Chili and Black sauce. Good stuff too.

Other products include Bamboo Shoot, Ku Cai Kueh, Peng Kueh, Yam Cake, Hong Yuan, Hong Qian (online available in Green Bean flavour), and Big Ku Kueh.

Poh Cheu offers both pick-up (Mon – Sat, 11am – 4:30pm) and delivery services (Mon – Sat, 11:30am -4:30pm).

Poh Cheu
127 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-222, Singapore 150127
Tel: +65 6276 2287
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

With Christmas just a couple of weeks away, it is time to start preparing your list of holiday parties and festivities.

The award-winning Edge at Pan Pacific Singapore offers extravagant festive buffet spreads for the holiday season starting from 11 November 2019 all the way till the New Year.

Be really prepared as you will get to enjoy from 7 live food theatres, 16 stations of signature premium delights, more than 150 dishes and over 40 different types of desserts, including specially-curated festive items.

Of course, no Christmas buffet is complete without turkey, ham and roasts.

For meat lovers, highlights of this jovial feast are succulent roasted and cured meats including Pineapple and Honey-glazed Bone-in Gammon Ham, Eight Spices Roasted Whole Turkey, and Oven-roasted Tomahawk Steak with Herb and Butter.

Complementing the celebratory highlights, guests can expect an immersive smorgasbord of fresh seafood items including Boston Lobster, Alaskan King Crab, Giant Barbecued Squid, Citrus Marinated Whole Salmon Fillet, Dry Curry Crab with Deep-fried Golden Buns and Whisky Glazed Seafood Bisque.

All unlimited.

You know the saying that we have a separate tummy for desserts. Hopefully that is true because sweet holiday treats to look forward include Christmas Bread Pudding with Stuffed Pistachios and Dried Fruits, Roasted Butternut Squash Pumpkin Velouté with Honey Chestnuts, Minced Fruit Pie; Christmas Stollen, Black Forest Log Cake, and Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce.

Just to name a few. Here’s more from Edge’s Epic Festive Celebration buffet:

Eight Spices Roasted Whole Turkey
Celebrate with gratitude and share an entire Cajun-roasted whole turkey with family and friends. This classic favourite is loaded with eight spices, including paprika, cayenne pepper and other Cajun spices to make it even more flavourful.

Don’t forget to pair this up with some of the winter vegetables, giblet gravy and of course cranberry sauce.

Pineapple and Honey Glazed Bone–in Gammon Ham
Make your Christmas truly merry and memorable with this traditional ham, prepared using pork hind leg. The meat is first cured by brining before it is cooked until tender and ready for glazing.

The acidity of pineapples and sweet floral notes of honey combine to create a wonderful finish to this stellar holiday centrepiece.

Oven Roasted Garlic Mustard and Rosemary Angus Prime Beef
Highly recommended for steak aficionados, this Angus Prime Rib is seasoned and rubbed before roasting fat-up in the oven.

That rub combines the aromatic pungency of garlic, the sweet-spicy taste of mustard, the peppery lemon-pine flavour rosemary, and olive oil to bring them all together.

Seafood on Ice
Who can resist a picturesque bed of seafood served on ice? The freshness of fish, shellfish and crustaceans and the medley of colours they create is a sight to behold.

Indulge in the variety of options from Alaskan King Crab claws, Boston Lobsters, Black Mussels, Flower Crab, Prawns, Crayfish, Poached Clams, and freshly-shucked Oysters.

Sashimi and Sushi
Glorious thick-cut fresh sashimi and a wide selection of sushi from California rolls to unagi maki.

Charcoal Crust Roasted Gammon Ham Pizza
Pizza has always been a fun item to nibble along as an appetiser or conversation-starter. The pizzas are all freshly made here, complete with thin crispy and slight doughy crust.

Try this version topped with slices of charcoal-crusted roasted ham. The salty taste from the cured pork hind leg makes this a wonderful savoury side dish, especially when eaten hot off the oven for that extra crunch.

Freshly-Made Pasta Cooked à La Minute
While it is tomato base, cream sauce or aglio olio, there is something about fresh pasta with your favourite toppings cooked right in front of you.

Singapore Black Pepper Crab
Moving on to the Asian and local delights, make your Christmas celebration crab-centric with the wildly popular Singapore Black Pepper Crab.

These large mud crabs are wok-fried in high heat, then stir-fried with black pepper to create that tantalising, peppery sauce.

Once you start cracking, you’ll be rewarded with chunks of crab meat that’s succulent and sweet, ready for dabbing in the tasty, blackened sauce.

Wok Fried Kway Teow with Pacific Clams and Eggs
Reserve a spot for this iconic hawker dish Char Kway Teow, prepared with eggs and Pacific razor clams. Each bouncy bite of these juicy clams reveals their clean, slightly saline taste.

Have it fresh so that you can better appreciate the wok-hei.

“Zha Jiang Noodles” with Shredded Cucumber and Chili
Zha Jiang Mian aka fried sauce noodles is popular in Northern China, particularly a signature noodle in Beijing.

It starts with rendering some diced pork, then simmering them in a rich, dark, salty sauce, assorted veggies, and fresh-cooked noodles. Refresh your palate with the accompanying shredded cucumber, or spice it up with the chili served on the side.

Udang Masak Lemak Nenas
Complement your holiday spread with more layers of Asian flavours and include the pineapple prawn curry.

You’ll taste how the fresh-cut pineapples’ (nenas) fruity and tart flavours cut through the rich, robust sauce.

This Nyonya-style light curry is prepared with a blend of Belacan (shrimp paste), coconut milk, chilli peppers, and other aromatics. Perfectly paired with a bowl of plain rice or Laksa noodles.

Saffron Turkey Tikka
Add an Indian flair to your festive meal with skewered saffron-flavoured turkey breast cutlets.

This lean poultry meat is marinated in saffron soaked in water, yogurt, cream and oil, then combined with a fragrant garlic paste, ginger, and some green chili paste for that mild heat.

Christmas Bread Pudding with Pistachios and Dried Fruits
Moving on to the sweets, Edge’s Dessert theatre is a BIG highlight.

An outstanding display of over 40 sweet treats at Edge’s dessert theatre from Red Velvet Cake, Mango Coconut Cake, Lychee Rose Raspberry St Honore, Strawberry Madeleines, Matcha Mango Passion Gateau, Lychee Rose, Yam Soft Cake to Matcha Yuzu.

Relive memories of Christmas mornings with the Christmas Bread Pudding. This colourful, festive bread elevates the humble pudding by stuffing it with soft crunchy pistachio nuts and sweet dried fruits.

Enjoy a slice of this moist bread with your favourite Teh Tarik (yes, it’s also available), or munch it towards the end of your meal as a dessert.

Jivara Milk Chocolate Pear William and Caramel Nut Log Cake
One of the three new Christmas Log Cakes in Pacific Marketplace’s 2019 Festive Goodies Menu, this chocolate Log Cake (also available for takeaways at $70 for 1 kg) features the genuine cocoa taste yet distinctively mild flavour of Valrhona Jivara Milk Chocolate.

The cake is made with Williams’ bon Chrétien pear, as pear cubes and pear curd, classically combined with caramelised hazelnuts.

Ye Olde English Fruitcake
A traditional holiday favourite, this old-fashioned English-style fruitcake is well-spiced with ground cinnamon, mace, ground cloves and flavoured with molasses and brown sugar to make it dark and moist.

True to its name, this fruitcake is chockful of assorted dried prunes, chopped dates, dark and golden raisins, currents, pineapple, candied cherries, candied citrus peel, and toasted pecans.

Festive Lunch
11 to 30 November 2019 (Excluding Sundays), 12pm – 2:30pm
$62 per adult, $31 per child

1 to 24 December and 26 to 31 December 2019 (Excluding Sundays), 12pm – 2:30pm
$75 per adult, $37.50 per child

Festive Dinner
11 to 30 November 2019, 6:30pm – 10:30pm
$98 per adult, $49 per child

1 to 23 December 2019 and 26 to 30 December 2019, 6:30pm – 10:30pm
$108 per adult, $54 per child

Festive Brunch
17 and 24 November 2019, 12pm – 3:30pm
$208 per adult (Alcoholic with Rosé Champagne), $188 per adult (Alcoholic), $128 per adult (Non-alcoholic), $64 per child

1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 December 2019, 12pm – 3:30pm
$228 per adult (Alcoholic with Rosé Champagne), $208 per adult (Alcoholic), $158 per adult (Non-alcoholic), $79 per child

Thanksgiving Dinner
28 November 2019, 6:30pm – 10:30pm
$98 per adult, $49 per child

Christmas Dinner
24 December 2019, 6:30pm – 10:30pm
$208 (Alcoholic), $158 per adult (Non-alcoholic), $79 per child

25 December 2019, 6:30pm – 10:30pm
$168 per adult (Alcoholic), $128 per adult (Non-alcoholic), $64 per child

Christmas Day Brunch
25 December 2019, 12pm – 2pm
$238 per adult (Alcoholic with Rosé Champagne), $218 (Alcoholic), $168 per adult (Non-alcoholic), $84 per child

25 December 2019, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
$258 per adult (Alcoholic with Rosé Champagne), $238 (Alcoholic), $178 per adult (Non-alcoholic), $89 per child

New Year’s Eve Dinner
31 December 2019, 6:30pm – 10:30pm
$238 per adult (Alcoholic), $188 per adult (Non-alcoholic), $94 per child

New Year’s Day Brunch
1 January 2020, 12:00pm – 4:00pm
$188 per adult (Alcoholic), $128 per adult (Non-alcoholic), $64 per child

New Year’s Day Dinner
1 January 2020, 6:30pm – 10:30pm
$98 per adult, $49 per child

All highlighted buffet menu items are on rotation basis and subject to change. Prices listed are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing Goods & Services tax, unless otherwise stated.

Edge X DanielFoodDiary.com Promotion
Enjoy 20% OFF the festive lunch and dinner buffet from now until 30 December 2019.

T&C:
– Please quote “DFD20” at the time of booking. Promotion is valid with advance reservations only.
– Promotion valid from now until 30 December 2019.
– Not valid on the eve of and on Public Holidays.
– Not valid for Sunday Brunch.
– Offer is not valid in conjunction with other discounts, offers, promotions, privileges and vouchers.

Edge
Level 3, Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039595
Tel: +65 6826 8240
Reservation Email: dining.ppsin@panpacific.com
Make a Reservation: https://www.panpacific.com/en/hotels-and-resorts/pp-marina/dining/edge.html

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

Everton Park is perhaps one of the OG hipster café areas in Singapore. However, we have seen many cafes come and go in this area over the past few years.

Despite the location’s slight drop in popularity, there have been new café openings this year such as Little Oasis.

Recently opened in Everton Park after running their online bakery for a year and a half is The Better Half.

Established by two passionate individuals who also happens to be each other’s better half, the café aims to serve honest and real fare to everyone who visits.

Unsure if intentional or not, but the way the bakes are placed in the shop exudes a certain Korean bakery vibe – kind of what you see in Layered 레이어드 or Cafe Highwaist.

Along with the sort-of hidden location and small space, it almost feels like you stumbled onto a hidden gem in Seoul.

All the bakes you see in The Better Half all made from scratch in-house. Even if you order a toast, the bread is made within the store and not from a supplier.

While I was thinking of what to get, the owners kindly suggested a slice of Rose Raspberry Cake ($8) which they were just about to display.

Essentially a rose sponge cake with raspberry cream cheese, the cake was fluffy in texture and not dry at all.

The cream cheese was more on the intense side, but paired really well with the light and mild rose sponge cake with the flavours balancing out.

One of their Christmas bakes is the Spiced Pumpkin ($7) which was bursting with pumpkin flavour. The light fragrance of the pumpkin would linger in your mouth after each bite.

The cream cheese frosting and butterscotch drizzle was not too overpowering, just the right amount of sweetness for me.

Overheard that other Christmas bakes such as the Gingerbread Roasted Pear cake and Chai Caramel Apple cake may make an appearance as early as next week.

The highlight of the day came to me in the form of a Pear Crumble ($6, add $3 for a scoop of ice cream).

As plain looking as this was, the Pear Crumble was simply put – delicious.

Despite the ice-cream sitting on top of it for quite some time, I feared that it would have turned soft and mushy. But no, the crumble was still crispy on the outside.

The pear crumble by itself is good, but I highly recommend pairing it with the vanilla ice cream because they go so well together.

I also tried a Iced Coffee Chai ($7.50), which I don’t see often in café menus.

At first, you can taste the coffee and slowly the chai leaves an overwhelming after taste in your mouth. Lovers of chai and coffee would love this drink.

As you know, Genmaicha is a mix of green tea and roasted brown rice. The Iced Genmaicha Latte ($7.50) here at The Better Half is more on the brown rice side, almost like drinking a rice snack biscuit.

I would have preferred if there was slightly more green tea, but the creaminess of this drink may appeal to some.

The entire space is not huge, with an indoor seating space that house up to 6 people max.

The outdoor seats can seat exactly 4 people but may be uncomfortable to some because it can be quite squeezy.

I really enjoyed my experience there but finding seats may be difficult even on a weekday. Also, do check their IG stories, as they may be closed from time to time.

Guess it depends on your luck. If not, simply takeaway and enjoy the bakes in the comfort of your own home.

The Better Half
1 Everton Park, #01-43, Singapore 081001
Tel: 9248 7088
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5:30pm (Tues – Fri), 9:30am – 5:30pm (Sat – Sun), Closed on Mon
https://www.facebook.com/thebetterhalfsg/

* Written by DFD’s Café Correspondent @__sy_g. Songyu is a food and travel blogger whose hobby is uncovering hidden hipster cafes. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Fans of Japanese-style cakes and pastries should be familiar with FLOR Patisserie Café which has two branches at Duxton Hill and Siglap Drive.

It has recently opened its 3rd outlet with a slightly different concept, FLOR Capitol at Capitol Singapore (formally known as “Capitol Piazza”).

For those who hasn’t been to the mall in a while, it is currently undergoing a major revamp and it will be quite interesting to see what shops will take space here.

As “Flor” is a Portuguese word for “flower”, you would see traces of flowers whether in their cake presentation or in the décor of this new café.

I must say it is quite inviting with its open space and natural daylight, somewhere you can enjoy some serenity near the busy City Hall. (No free wifi yet, though.)

Good to mention that this is a locally-grown brand, and cakes are made without artificial colourings or chemical agents.

Their confections feature largely fresh fruits, and are lighter in flavour than conventional French pastries.

Besides their perennial favourites Berry Berries (FLOR’s signature strawberry shortcake), Waguri Millefeuile and Napoleon, they also serve up seasonal cakes which change every two months or so.

Something to note: This is the first FLOR Patisserie Café to feature freshly made desserts, and some of the recommended include the Signature Roll ($6 for slice, $22.45 for whole), Tiramisu in a Glass ($12), Warm Blueberry Pie with ice cream ($12), and Gula Melaka Crème Caramel ($10).

The one thing to get is the Gula Melaka Brown Sugar Roll Cake ($6) in which you can enjoy the interplay of play of two complex sugars in a single cake. And thankfully light and not too sweet as well.

In terms of texture, the sponge layer was fluffy and soft, while the cream inside was smooth and not too heavy. All in all, a delicious soft roll cake.

The new item here are called “CUPS” ($12 each), made-to-order and are named Red, Green and Chocolate (could have a more fanciful name, I thought).

The Red contained a mixture of watermelon, blueberry, almond granola, milk pudding and fresh cream.

Generally cup desserts somehow don’t appeal to me (as much as cakes), but I appreciated the different types of texture in a single mouthful, where you can get wobbly pudding, some crunch from the granola, and parts of refreshing cubed watermelon.

Another good-looker to get would be the Matcha Chiffon ($12) with homemade azuki bean paste and fresh cream. It is light enough, though I generally found the cakes here to lean towards the expensive side.

Coffee wise, FLOR Capitol is using OKADA Coffee from Kobe, Japan.

OKADA Coffee is a small, boutique Japanese roaster that specialises in coffee blends that pairs with food. A recommendation would be to choose the cake first, after which the staff can adcise which coffee blend would best complement the cake.

FLOR Capitol
13 Stamford Road, #01-11, Capitol Singapore, Singapore 178905 (City Hall MRT Station)
Tel: +65 6977 7202
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 9.30pm (Mon – Sun)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Having some lobster dreams lately? Ellenborough Market Café at Swissôtel Merchant Court, Singapore will make those dreams come to life with its much-anticipated Lobster Nights Buffet.

From 15 to 30 November 2019, you can feast here on a myriad of succulent lobsters executed in innovative techniques.

(Also look out for the 25% OFF Lobster Nights DFD Exclusive Promo.)

Executive Chef Martin Tan and his team has prepared a selection from sweet to savoury all the way to spicy, and these include Rock Lobsters with Golden Salted Egg, Black Pepper Rock Lobsters, Singapore Laksa with Rock Lobster, Lobster Roll and Lobster Tartlet.

All these lobster dishes are designed to satisfy your curious palate in different ways.

Supporting the star lobsters are all-time Peranakan classics and an array of local favourites, along with Seafood on Ice specials. The freshest Boston Lobsters, crabs, tiger prawns, yabby (an Australian crustacean species of crayfish), black mussels, and whelk are over here.

You can also get unlimited servings of Lobster Salad on Brioche and Lobster Tartlets.

Ready to go bonkers over lobsters? Here’s what you can expect from the Ellenborough’s Lobster Nights Buffet: (Items above are available on a rotational basis, but there will be at least 6 special Lobster dishes per buffet night.)

Rock Lobster with Golden Salted Egg
The delightful sweet-salty flavour combination is featured in this dish, where the natural sweetness of fresh Rock Lobster meets the savoury salted egg.

Cooked till the salted egg sauce is rich, creamy and coats the crustaceans with grainy bits, the lobster meat remains succulent. Finger-licking good as the sauce can be very addictive.

Singapore Laksa with Rock Lobster
Probably my table’s favourite dish as we all decided to get an individual bowl (and finish it), this is a genuine taste-of-Singapore encounter when you try this fragrant Laksa made special as it is topped with fresh, tender poached Rock Lobster.

Slurp away that creamy curry and coconut-milk based broth as you munch bite-sized rice noodles and tender pieces of lobster meat. A must-try dish that will warm you up just right.

This is available on rotational basis with other types of noodle dishes such as fresh hand-pulled La Mian with dumplings in chicken broth.

Nyonya Curry Lobster
If Peranakan flavour is music to your ears, this Nyonya Curry Lobster is the hit single, especially when Ellenborough Market Café is known for its Nyonya dishes.

Expect classic Peranakan spices to grace the rich curry gravy and give it a wonderful depth of taste – not that spicy, and slight tanginess.

Recommended for lobster aficionados ready to explore a blend of traditional Chinese and Malay cuisines.

Lobster Rolls and Lobster Tartlets
A New England delight in a luxe sandwich form, these lobster rolls cradle a creamy blend of succulent cooked meat in warm toasted brioche buns.

Certainly a favourite as it was quite packed with the naturally sweet lobster meat accented with celery, onion and yuzu within buttery breads.

The Lobster Tartlets hit the right notes as well as the crunchy crust provides a lovely contrast to the sweet succulence of the lobster.

Lobsters on Teppanyaki Station
At the Teppanyaki station, feast your senses as the culinary team cooks the lobster “live”. Dress up your lobster with a variety of sauces at the station.

Go for the Tangy Coconut Sauce for that tropical vibe, or veer towards the sweet-spicy side with the Sweet Sambal Onion. Cheese lovers can go straight to the Cheese Sauce.

The sambal was my favourite, but nothing is stopping you for adding some cheese on top of that.

Szechuan Mala “Xiao Long Xia”
Next up, something spicy. Pay attention to this Szechuan-style “Xiao Long Xia”, aka mini lobsters, a type of crayfish.

Sporting a darker shade of crimson, these mini lobsters are packed with tongue-tingly (and for some, even tongue-numbing) spices and peppercorn for the signature Mala flavour.

Other than the rotating Lobster dishes, the buffet continues to offer other tempting Peranakan classics and local creations such as the signature Ayam Buah Keluak (chicken braised in a thick, spicy tamarind gravy with Indonesian black nuts), Babi Pongteh (Nyonya style braised pork with fermented soy bean sauce), Nyonya Chap Chye (mixed vegetable stew), Braised Beef Brisket, Fish Head Curry, Popiah, Kueh Pie Tee and more.

Always remember to leave some space for the colourful variety of Nyonya Kueh (some hard-to-find choices here) and signature Durian Pengat.

Lobster Nights at Ellenborough Market Café – 15 Nov 2019 to 30 Nov 2019
Monday to Sunday Buffet Dinner (6.30pm to 10pm):
$98++ (Adult), $49++ (Children aged 6 – 12)
Items above are available on a rotational basis

DanielFoodDiary.com (DFD) Exclusive Promotion:
DFD readers get 25% OFF Lobster Nights Buffet Dinner.

T&C:
– Quote “DFD” during reservation to enjoy promo.
– Valid for Lobster Nights Buffet from 15 Nov – 30 Nov 2019.
– Valid for food only, and not valid for alcohol.
– Minimum 2 to dine. Valid up to a maximum of 8 diners.
– Advance reservation is required at least one day in advance. Call +65 6239 1847 or email dining.merchantcourt@swissotel.com

Peranakan-Inspired Festive Buffet at Ellenborough Market Café (6 Dec 2019 – 1 Jan 2020)
After the Lobster Nights, you can treat your taste buds to a smorgasbord of international flavours and indulge in diverse ways of preparing Christmas ham and other holiday celebratory dishes.

Go ahead and complement your revelry with hearty servings of Honey Baked Ham with Pineapple, Honey Glazed Bone – in Champagne Ham with Port Wine Sauce, and Roasted Tom Turkey with Cranberry Sauce and Turkey Jus.

Don’t forget to have your fill of sweet treats of Christmas Fruit Cake, or other classic additions like Stollen, Mince Pie, and the quintessential Yule Log Cakes.

Mala Style Roasted Turkey Breast
Make it a spicy Christmas with Ellenborough’s Szechuan-style Roasted Turkey with a traditional accompaniment of cranberry sauce. Baste those tender slices of lean turkey breast with a savoury turkey jus, and pair them with winter veggies and pickled tomatoes on the side.

Complete your mala experience with a rich peanut sauce, packed with slight heat.

Honey Baked Ham with Pineapple
The Honey Baked Ham is glazed with caramelised pineapples. Prepared semi-bone in, you’ll enjoy carving out slices of the sweet, smoky flavoured gammon meat, then moistening it with the Caramelised Pineapples.

This dish is served accompanied with Seasonal Vegetables and a sweet-spiced Cinnamon Apple Sauce.

Purple Velvet Lychee Yule Log
Add a splash of colour and tropical fruity flavour to your dessert spread and bring in the Purple Velvet Lychee Yule Log.

If you’re a sweet tooth, you will love the delicate sweet flavour lychee and its slightly musky aroma blended in into this purple-tinged cake roll.

Acai Banana Chocolate Log
Combine the power of nutrient dense-acai berries and unique, sweet taste of bananas in this Christmas log, set in a base of chocolate flavour.

A different way to enjoy a good ole chocolate cake this time of the year.

This Peranakan-inspired festive buffet is the venue to reunite with your friends and family over sumptuous meals and a cheerful spirit.

Peranakan-Inspired Festive Buffet at Ellenborough Market Café – 6 Dec 2019 to 1 Jan 2020
Lunch (Mon – Sun) $58++ (Adult) $29++ (Child)
Dinner (Mon to Sun) $78++ (Adult) $39++ (Child)
Items above are on a rotational basis.

Ellenborough Market Café
Swissôtel Merchant Court, Singapore
Level 1, 20 Merchant Road, Singapore 058281
Reservations: +65 6239 1847, +65 6239 1848
Email: dining.merchantcourt@swissotel.com

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Swissôtel Merchant Court, Singapore.

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