Nickeldime Drafthouse: Heavy on the Beer

New to the neighbourhood, Nickeldime has caused quite a stir with it's ominous 'B E E R' burlesque like signboard tempting the weak (like me) from across the road; the stark contrast between the religious ceremonies held at Novena church and the boisterous alcohol induced laughter at Nickeldime being somewhat of an ironic matter.. The owners are daring, let's give them that.

The latest venture by the hidden door concepts group, it is clear as day that the people responsible are not new to this business, flaunting credentials of a good line up of similar lifestyle and food concepts such as mu parlour, spathe public house, pigs fly kitchen + bar, lowereast side and Boathouse restaurant just to name a few. Like Spathe Public House, Nickeldime has a similar flair, the graffiti splashed across the brick walls a testimonial of its rebellion and its strive to be different. And, to be honest, they do a good job of it, bringing in craft beers that aren't your mainstream crowd and offering them, not in bottles but on tap! 

After wishing, waiting, hoping for the menu to be finalised and manifest itself in front of us after numerous rounds of drinks that spanned 2 weeks. We finally got served.

Needless to say, I pulled a fast one on the burgers. Considering that many of them drew references to BEER, beer bread, beer braised pork, etc... it was love at first glance.

The 510 Burger ($18, +4 for pulled pork) was a vision that evoked food lust with immediate effect. Here, the burger touches familiar grounds with expertly seared beef patty's, perfectly seasoned to match up to the bold flavors contributed by the trio of IPA, Gouda and mozzarella cheese. But then the restaurant adds on, elaborates on and deviates from the norm with beer candied bacon, and fluffy soft handmade buns, crinkly and golden brown at its sloping edges that seals the deal for me. The additional pulled pork detonates in the stomach with its glorious burnt ends. Served with garlic fries that were a little limp but not entirely weightless; this burger scores high on the list of best burgers in town.

A little on the simpler side, the Jalapeno Burger ($15) was no less extravagant in flavor. Proving again with the patty, its absolutely consistency in its ability. The slightly vinegary jalapenos adding a fiery kick to the package. 

I left Nickeldime Drafthouse not only feeling full but sated to say the least.

Will be back to work through the menu and more BEER for sure!

Nickeldime Drafthouse

273 Thomson Road #01-06

t: 8288 5568

w: www.nickeldimedrafthouse.com.sg/

Opening Hours:

Mon-Sun: 11am - 11pm

Coco Ichibanya @ Westgate: Japanese Curry Rice Cafe

Are you hungry right now for Japanese Curry Rice?

I am. 

My first fall-out with Coco Ichibanya occurred at the Star Vista outlet a year ago where I was left to grapple with a pathetic sized pork cutlet and curry that was too watered down. Fast forward a year, to after this tasting, tables have turned, and now I can't stop thinking about it. Imagine a plate full of soft fragrant rice, a generous slab of golden brown and tender pork cutlet,  grazed by lapping waves of a curry bobbing between sweet and slightly spicy, and dribbles of creamy cheese disguising its tenacious flavor profile within. That, my friends, is a potential source of addiction.

The Pork Cutlet Curry with Cheese ($14) may look bare but it's precise formula makes for one banging dish that satisfies all aspects of flavor cravings, the various textures appealing to the work worn me. 

Across the table, the Creamed Mushroom Omelet Rice ($13) looked equally enticing with a barely cooked omelet topped with a gooey mushroom cream sauce and then the Japanese curry, filling in the gaps. Doubt anybody can say no to that.

Another stellar dish would be the Omelet Hashed Beef ($14) which my companion raved about. the generic curry given a twist here with a more fruit based and hence sweeter version that complimented the more pronounced flavors of the beef slices.

Coco Ichibanya located at Westgate Mall has done a major rebranding in this individual branch, positioning themselves to grasp the attention of the hipper cafe-hopping crowds in the vicinity. With that, pancakes have emerged as their signature items, and I was eager to try them out. We had the Banana Choco Pancake ($8.90) which turned out a bit drab, the pancakes noticeably dense and cakey, while the ice cream a tad icy in texture, not doing the dish any favours. 

 

This slump may soften my recommendations but they weren't enough to knock any part of meal seriously off-track. The bad impression that concluded our dining experience, wiped out by the half dozen good ones that founded the meal, especially the one that didn't threaten to rip a large hole in our wallets. I devoured my meal with gusto and left the restaurant with an agreeable belly.

Coco Ichibanya Curry House

3 Gateway Drive #01-02, 

Singapore 608532

t: 6710 7062

w: http://www.facebook.com/CoCoICHIBANYAsingapore

Opening Hours:

Sunday-Thurs: 10am - 9.30pm

Fri - Sat: 10am- 10.30pm

Curbside Cafe & Wine: No Great Shakes

If you ask me what form of cuisine captures the best on camera. I would have to say hands down, brunch fare for sure!

On a recent media event held at Curbside Cafe & Wine Bar, we had the privilege of tasting a variety of items from the ala carte menu and I dug in with reckless abandon as I've never actually tasted most of the menu despite the couple of coffee runs I've made previously. FYI, curbside does one of the best coffees in the west in my opinion, guarded by a faithful dedication of bringing out the best in the 'already-superior' Yahava coffee beans.

The first to meet the panel of stringent judges at our table was the Buffalo Wings ($12), chicken wings tossed in homemade BBQ sauce. These were a little bit of a let-down as the wings which should have been deep fried to a golden brown prior to being tossed in the sauce was anaemic underneath its glossy brown sheath. The BBQ sauce was slightly off balanced, tipping the pyramid over with a generous amount of sweetness that succeeded in a resemblance to Sweet and Sour pork being drawn. 

The Corned beef hash ($12) did not receive much positive feedback from the crew as well given it's over-salty complexion. Here's salt cured minced beef is fried with ham and chopped onions, this is then topped with two poached eggs and a side of sourdough toast. Honestly speaking, the hash could have used a little longer in the pan, a development of crisp browned crust around the edges crucial to elevating the dish beyond what it already is.

If you liked the Corned Beef Hash, you would also be okay with the Cheeseburger ($16) which is designed to satisfy and fill the peckish most likely to be nursing their weekend afternoon seats with a lukewarm coffee by their side. There is nothing that pops from its imagery, at least nothing compelling enough to make you want to devour the entire portion. Skip this.

A Cheesy Fried Chicken is the best possible thing you might score if only it were on the menu. A sizeable piece of deep fried chicken fillet is enhanced with a bubbly enrobing of melted cheese, accompanied by freshly made coleslaw, paprika dusted fries and a slice of garlic bread. This, being the only dish that the chef didn't go crazy with the salt, was the best received amongst others. Irregardless of that, still, an uninspired dish that is not befitting of the strong showing contributed by the excellent coffee standards here.

Curbside Cafe & Wine Bar

21 Biopolis Drive

Nucleous #01-21

S (138567)

w: http://www.facebook.com/CurbsideCafeSG

t: 8181 1805

Saha Signature Indian Restaurant & Bar: Did someone say Currytini?

Modern Indian restaurant, Saha cuts somewhat of a posh figure among it's equally spiffy neighbours of Duxton Hill residents. The concept of regional Indian cuisine presented with global contemporary aesthetics pulls back on the usual ghee-rich dishes and gives diners a feel of traditional Indian flavors without the usual sickening feel of extreme gluttony at the end of the meal. Behind Saha's innovative menu is award-winning Chef Abhijit Saha who has fastidiously spread his modern Indian influenced notions across the board, from opulent dishes such as Kerala Vegetable Stew Espuma and Kasoor Methi Seared Foie Gras to his avant garde Indian inspired mixology; the 22 seater al fresco Terrace bar rolling out signature cocktails such as the Cryo Pomegranate Margarita; the man has got it all covered.

We kicked off the night of tastings at the classy and cool Terrace bar, cocktails leading to way, served to us by the fun and flamboyant staff who proudly stood behind the restaurant's offerings. For me, nothing speaks louder about a restaurant's quality than the vote of confidence from its staff. Period.

The Indian Mojito, a blend of Old Monk supreme rum, mint, lime, demerara sugar and soda, was quaffable but not exceptional; the insertion of the word 'Indian' raising expectations but the drink failed to authenticate its' ethnicity. The Cryo Pomegranate Margarita, on the other hand was a cocktail that I happily scoffed down, to the horror of my diminishing memory and friendly neighbours, who subsequently shyed away due to the exponential growth of my conversational volumes as the night rolled on. Here, Don Fulano bianco tequila meets cointreau, pomegranate juice and liquer; then fresh lime juice goes the extra mile in refreshing the mix while liquid nitrogen contributes to the theatrics. This stole my heart and cobbled my stomach the very next day.

Assorted nibbled such as assorted Papad, baked samosa triangles and Khasta Roti Tacos paraded the room whilst we were nursing our drinks; much to the delight of our alcohol induced munchies. The Baked Samosa Triangles ($14) were an excellent representation of vegetarian food in Indian cuisine. Here, thin flaky filo pastry holds a mound of boiled potatoes, cashew and green pea filling, seasoned to the T and the triangular parcels dangling precariously over a shallow pool of chutney foam. Extremely addictive and I probably indulged in one too many.

Other vegeterian options include the Khasta Roti Tacos ($16) a masterful canape showcasing some unique techniques. Here, Amritsari chickpeas tops a crisp toasted roti base, the avocado salsa adding color and creaminess to its entirety while the sour cream provides tart and tangy flavors to complement the heat of the one-bite snack. Equally note-worthy is the Pashmina Chicken Supreme Kebab ($28), perfectly succulent morsels of chicken teeming of the strong flavors of mace and cardamon, a dollop of pistachio saffron sauce further enhancing it's masculine flavors. We continued to pad our stomachs at the bar with Prawn Milagu Roast ($30), this dish comes highly recommended. it's traditional base notes of crushed black pepper, onion, tomato and curry leaves heightened by the meatiness of the cooked prawns. By far, the star player of the line-up that night.                     

Saha Signature Indian Restaurant & Bar is definitely on top of its' game with sultry Indian ethnic foods served up in non-traditional ways. With the success of it's speciality cocktail menu pulling its weight, Saha has the potential to become a drinking hole for fashionistas and office workers seeking to chow down on something a little different.

A major thanks to the lovely folks from the Entertainer for the invite.

Do note that for a limited time only (till the end of September!), The Entertainer members are entitled to 2-for-2 tapas deals when the voucher for Saha Bar is used. If you don't already have the Entertainer app, I implore you to please explore the wallet friendly option of first getting the Entertainer Singapore One Month Mobile product priced at just SGD $19 with my unique promo code @fundamentallyflawed . Visit https://www.theentertainerme.com/trysgfor19/ to download the application and start your savings now! 

Saha Signature Indian Restaurant & Bar

9A Duxton Hill (2nd floor)

 Singapore 089593

w: www.saha.sg

t: +65 6223 7321

Opening Hours:

Mon-Sat 12pm-3pm; 6pm-11pm

Sunday: Closed

The Dispensary: Medication for an arduously long Friday.

Located on the peripherals of Tiong Bahru estate is the Dispensary cafe, sharing a  portion of the already saturated cafe culture pie-chart in the vicinity. And it does so humbly. With its old-school shop front and ostentatious traditional Chinese medicine cabinets as centre piece, the rest of the cafe decor is kept simple and understated with raw finishing and a touch of nostalgia provided by shelves of memorabilia and  time honoured crockery. 

we settled down quickly with our buzzers at hand after placing our orders; however, I wish the more personal type, long-established form of  service can be rendered here. With a simple menu to boot, boosted by a sizable amount of cakes and sweets baked in-house, we were quick to settle on our wants . Ham & Cheese toastie ($7.50) for me and Smoked Salmon toastie ($8.50) for him.

The former resulting in sighs of disappointment with a cold nappy limp lettuce neatly folded up into a quarter and haphazardly placed over the stack of ham. As much as the bread was an outstanding piece of carbohydrate, that all fell to pieces with the lack luster filling. The latter was an insignificant event that warranted no reviews from my companion. Enough said.

Will return for the,' much raved about' cakes the next time. #tgif peeps.

The Dispensary

69 Tiong Bahru Road

S( 168723)

t: 6536 0225

w: http://www.thedispensary.com.sg

Opening Hours:

Sunday-Thurs 9am - 9pm

Saboten: Still haven't found what I'm looking for

One of the several reasons to like Saboten is the bona-fide promise to get some deep-fried food into your system without the whole cloying oil-laden regrets that come an hour later.

In Tune with the opening of its new outlet in 313 Somerset, Saboten has released some new menu speciality items such as the Iberico Loin Katsu Set ($28) and the Fried Jumbo Prawns Set ($28.50) to create a stir amongst its diners. To be fair, Saboten has never quite stolen the residency of 'Singapore's King of Tonkatsu' throne in my heart, and I broached the repeated challenge with indifference.

The promise of more glamorous waves unfortunately was met with a barrage of quizzical looks round the table as diners found themselves tucking into a chewier cut of meat masquerading as Iberico pork, this pedigreed species which supposedly delivers more succulence and delicacy of flavor from it's excellent marbling had no such luck here. 

The Fried Jumbo Prawn Set is an immaculate gathering of gold treasures in various shapes and sizes. It's entourage including a wild-catch tiger prawn, creamy crab croquette and a hunk of original loin katsu. Indecisive ones will feel a strong tug to check out this 'surf & turf' set and hope for the best for at least one of the lot. For those who venture into this terrain, you'll be rewarded with an even showing from all aspects of the meal, the jumbo prawn grown to such large proportions that a quick trip to the deep fryer still render its deep innards unimaginably creamy. The crab croquette which tasted more of potato than crab meat had a melted cream cheese like texture when pried apart. Last but not least, the piece of original loin katsu peculiarly nudged the Iberico katsu off its pedestal and had a better luscious quality to it.

Now filled up on free-flow cabbage and fried food, we wrapped up the ingloriously diet-betraying affair with the Fried Hotate ($12 for 2 pieces) which are only available till the end of October in line with the seasonal Hotate Feast. These beauties were pulled from the heat precisely at the moment their flesh turns from translucent to a crystal white, before they had a chance to seize up into a rubbery puck that would chase away their sweet oceanic juices. Definitely a dish worth splashing the extra couple of bucks for.

Surrounded by a deluge of similar concept restaurants with identical menu, Saboten misses the mark pertaining to specific issues such as the quality of its cuts (as explained before), however, some of it's less common offerings ups the ante for those craving a little bit more variety.

Saboten 

Orchard 313

#B2-02/03

w: https://www.facebook.com/saboten.sg

Opening Hours:

Daily 11:30am to 10:00pm

{Wordless Wednesday} @ Paulaner Brauhaus: Beer Buddies

We're more than halfway through the work week and steaming on!

What's better than a Giant sausage snail ($17.80) served with Bavarian potato salad and bacon bits as midweek motivation?

What a feast....

Paulaner Brauhaus

9 Raffles Boulevard #01-01 Milennia Walk

t: 6883 2572

w: http://www.paulaner-brauhaus.com/singapore

Opening Hours

Mon-Thurs: 12pm - 1am

Fri - Sat: 12pm - 2am

Sun: 12pm - 1am

Oriole cafe: Down the Slippery Slope

I used to say good things about the simple cafe fare at Oriole Cafe. But apparently with the passing of time, standards have slipped so far beyond rescue that I probably would not recommend nor be going back there anytime soon for a meal. The picturesque Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Waffles ($26) was a real disappointment. Gracefully composed, yet so lacking in substance, with deep fried chicken pieces that resemble Japanese kaarage out from a frozen bag and Bourbon syrup which tasted more like cheap honey than its declared maple origins. The coleslaw was half decent albeit for a lack of seasoning. Definitely a dish you wouldn't be able to work through despite a ravenous appetite (tested and proven by the partner who nudged away his plate after consuming less than half the dish). Ouch.

My Oriole Burger ($25) was a slightly more peachy affair featuring a 100% US Angus beef patty. cheddar cheese, lettuce , tomato and onion. A hearty meal with mainstream appeal but will one that disappoints the hardcore burger fans. The beef patty had a queer stringiness to its texture and the sesame bun could have used a little tender loving care with a spot of butter to crisp up its edges. Not a burger I'll return to if the cravings arise.

It is obvious that Oriole's priorities have deviated off tangent from its glorious days where quality food was the pride and joy of the cafe along with its star-studded cast of baristas with their fancy coffee art work. It's weakness made clearly evident by the barrage of menu specials put in place. 

Oriole Cafe

96 Somerset Road

 S(238163)

t: 6238 8348

w: https://www.facebook.com/OrioleCoffee

Jing Hua: Dumplings galore

Having been a loyal fan of the original outlet at Neil Road, I turned to the newer branch at BugisVillage to get a quick dumpling fix. 

So to be honest, with regards to ambiance, Jing Hua doesn't quite cut it with it's blank white walls and cheap furniture meant to withstand the anticipated rowdiness of the Chinese dominated crowds. The unfussed decor as if serving to accentuate and highlight the authenticity of the food.

The  first dish we had at Jing Hua was a piping hot bowl of  Zha Jiang Mian. A saucy mess of meat sauce sprawled over springy noodles and laced by cool shreds of cucumber. This was a yummy dish, best savoured with a spoonful of chili sauce, tossed high till the potent sauce drapes every strand with it's streaks of umami. It was a gentle start. One that eased our stomachs into the barrage of heavier dishes that the Northern Chinese were better known for. 

The Xiao Long Bao arrives as delicate parcels of hot soup enrobing sweet morsels of pork mince. In my opinion, these came out a little flat, literally, each dumpling could have benefited from a boost in the volume of soup. However, the delicate pleats received technical bonus points from the hungry diners.

The Pan-fried Dumplings gets nods all around the table. It's crisp base in contrast to it's juicy innards propped up by a well balanced mix of spices, incorporated fats and succulent mince. These were pulled away from the heat all in precise moment that rendered all conditions perfect for these golden pillows.

One cannot set foot out the door of Jing Hua without having their Red Bean Pancake. A classic dish unlike the usual overly crisp renditions that you find so commonly here, these had a queer sort of custardy spongy innards beyond the flecks of toasted white sesame and golden brown crunchy skin. A generous amount of sweet red bean paste smothers the dough before being wrapped up in a tight rectangle package and pan fried till an inch of its life. What emerges is a alluring goddess that punishes the greedy with a tongue scorching forfeiture from it's piping hot innards. Still,..  utterly delicious.

Jing Hua

159 Rochor Road

S(188434)

w: http://www.jinghua.sg

Opening Hours:

Daily 11 30pm - 3 30pm

5 30pm - 10pm

Nassim Hill: Where I go to for my Reubens

I shall expound the truth. 

The story I tell people is that the only place where I've had a decent reuben sandwich here in Singapore is at Nassim Hill. Truth is, I've only had one locally, this one, and my heart was sold on the subject matter. Period.

My partner relished in the Nassim Hill Double Decker burger ($21), one that sought special attention with a gargantuan poster beckoning from the walls but mellowed in size in reality. With a swish of house made special sauce, 2 beef patties with grilled balsamic onions, lettuce and tomatoes squished between two  lightly toasted buns; this was a lukewarm attempt at a burger. Save for the bread, the entire affair was at best, homely - pedestrian.

My Hot Reuben ($18) on the other hand, satisfied all of my wildest dreams. Corned beef made even sexier with a draping of melted emmental cheese, sauerkraut galore, onions and creamy Russian dressing on the signature Asahi Kuronama beef bread. I attacked the sandwich with a vengeance so hard, unhindered by lingering negative thoughts of carbohydrate control. We'll leave that to some other day, the beer bread is just too hard to pass up. *cheeky grin* 

On a side note, check out their happy hour deal which run from 8am-8pm daily. Don't say I didn't let you in on this!

Nassim Hill Bakery.Bistro.Bar

56 Tanglin Road

Tanglin Post Office #01-03

t: 6835 1128

w: http://www.nassimhill.com.sg/

Opening Hours:

Tues-Sun: 8am - 11pm

Hakata Ikkousha Ramen: where the broth and boiled eggs runs freely

Hakata Ikkousha basically takes the heritage of Tonkotsu Ramen and combines it with the happiness that its' ramen is to bestow onto people. Chef Kousuke, after holding the reigns for Singapore's Ultimate Ramen Champion for two years has gone on to open his second Singapore-based restaurant in CHIJMES.

It's menu is easy to comprehend with range of variations that allows for a bit of personal flair. Feeling a bit flat-lined from work, I opted for the straightforward Ajitama Tonkotsu ($14) which is composed of ramen steeped in boiling water and served in a collagen rich pork bone broth and then some razzle dazzle injected in with the lava-centered Ajitama (seasoned egg). It was an undeniably intense dish, that showed the energy and skillfulness of the chef with a great respect of tradition along the lines of Japanese cuisine. The spoonfuls of creamy soup catapulted themselves into my mouth at the slightest encouragement and I appreciated the Chef's easier touch on salt as compared to many other local versions. I did not fancy the noodles however , finding that it's anorexic proportioning did not work well with the full-bodied flavors of the broth. 

As much as I fancy the soup, the noodles for me was the weakest player in the team that would probably hinder me from a return visit. That's just me, I'll let you be the judge.

Hakata Ikkousha @ CHIJMES

30 Victoria Street

#01-07 CHIJMES

Operating Hours:

Mon-Sat: 11 30am - 10pm

Sunday: 11 30am - 9pm

Wordless Wednesdays: Burgers @ The Beast

The Farm Boy Burger ($22) at The Beast. 8oz patty, lettuce, tomato, pickle, pimento cheese, 

tomato relish, candied bacon and side of paprika dusted fries. Imagine that. 

The Pimento cheese, a relish of sorts made from sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnise, pimentos and seasoning was a delight to eat on its own, and better still when slathered onto toasted sesame buns. The patty, however , cried out for a bit more love and attention. Not the best but definitely not the worse. Order their #OutofThisWorld Fried Chicken and Waffles instead and you're guaranteed many future craving-led meetings with your new drug dealer. The Beast. 

The Beast

17 Jalan Klapa

S(199329)

t: 6295 0017

w: www.thebeast.sg/

Opening Hours:

Mon-Thurs 5pm-midnight

Fri - Sat: 5pm-1am

Sun: 10am - 5pm

Opening H

FIX cafe: with a Halal Food Certificate to boot

Resting poolside, FIX cafe exudes an atmosphere that is breezy and relaxed, splicing beachy miami vice casual with inner city city cool. Hidden away in the peaceful enclaves of HomeTeamNS clubhouse is the newest cafe at the tip of the tongues of many Singapore foodies. Beside rousing the interest of the cafe hungry hipster crowds, Fix cafe ups the ante by attaining a halal food certification, increasing it's prospective audience massively. 

Here the menu is kept snugly familiar with cafe favourites such as homemade quiche and fish & chips; then things are swayed a little with the novel introduction of naanwiches. To lay it all out, naan is baked in-house and used as a bread replacement in a typical sandwich. Before you decide that such a combination is bit too outlandish for you, hear me out; this works - the fluffy innards of the naan absorbing the defiant runaway juices from the fillings and the charred edges perfect to poke and prod at the runny yoke perched on top. The Beef and Kimchi Naanwich ($10) lends an explosion of flavors from the fillings, the slow cooked beef rendered down a fork tender consistency. Just be mindful to steer clear if you've an aversion towards fatty meats. The Chicken Tikka Naanwich ($10) in my opinion fared better with a the tender chicken slices being the perfect canvas for the melange of Indian spices. The side serving of achar imparting a sour note, helping to neutralise any greasiness. Note that a cup of nachos are served on the side with each naanwich, slightly 'lao-hong' tortilla chips drizzled lightly with melted cheese and chunky salsa. Great for the 'itchy-mouthed' companions or a single famished diner.

Putting that aside, a must try at FIX cafe is definitely its wide array of expertly executed desserts. The Strawberry Pistachio Rose Tart ($7) was my least favourite. A layer of pistachio financier sits above a uniform pate sucre base and all that topped with fresh strawberries, raspberry compote and a quenelle of rose chantilly cream . A tad too dry for my liking, the pistachio financier could have used a boost of flavor (soon to be fixed =) ) and the sable base, in disagreement with the overall parched conditions. 

Moving on, we had the Passionfruit, Mango and Coconut chiffon cake ($7) , an addictive amalgamation of light tangy spring flavors with an interesting juxtaposition of Asian tradition flavors contrasted with a sparse artistic modernity. The coconut mousse pulling the weight of the other more acidic flavors in the entremet. Definitely well suited for the al-fresco dining conditions. 

The piece de resistance came in the form of a hollow choux pastry capped with crunchy craquelin filled with coffee chantilly, salted caramel and a secret chocolate truffle center. The Butterscotch Arabica Choux ($6) stole my breathe and my heart. 

Another heavyweight is the Chocolate Truffle Cake ($7) made using only Cacao Barry's OCOA chocolate taken from the 'Purity from Nature' range that has been created with pure cocoa beans using the Q-Fermentation method. This method basically involves extracting specific ferments on plant leaves and soil to hasten the fermentation process on the cocoa beans thus deriving the most intense and pure flavors. The Cocoa Barry Chocolate truffle cake comprises of sacher cake, OCOA chocolate cremeux, OCOA chocolate mousse and glacage and finally topped with a few shards of salted chocolate sable; a feast for the senses, the rich flavors and textural contrasts cumulating in a smackdown. This may pose a challenge to finish, even with the most serious of chocolate aficionados. Be a doll and share... 

Fix cafe is a casual joint that is not to be missed despite it's rather non-descript location. In the grand scheme of things, the variety of dishes here and their near perfect execution makes it a diamond in the rough. 

FIX cafe

Balestier

31 Ah Hood Road, HomeTeamNS-JOM Clubhouse

#01-06

S( 329979)

t: 6256 1484

w: http://fix-cafe.com.sg/

Opening Hours:

Daily 9 30am - 9 pm

Concetto by Saveur: Wallet Friendly Italian fare

Following my rather good first-time experience in Saveur at Far East Plaza. I decided to push the envelope with a second visit to the Italian version of the former. Or rather, an impromptu plan to head down to the movies at Grand Cathay sent us scuttling for nearby food options that would be easy on the wallet. Owned and operated by the same entrepreneurs in the Saveur group, Dylan Ong and Jason Khoo have decided to spill their culinary love into the art of Italian cooking. Hence, coming up with a derivant of Saveur, which is better known for it's affordable French fare.

I gamely ordered the Carbonara Fettucine ($12.90), after fine-tuning my options to the belly full of cravings. Fresh pasta is coated in 'flavored sauce',  then pieces of crispy bacon showered down upon it's white pristine, this then bestowed with a sous vide egg. A shameless concubine of confit pork trails closely beside. Under an immense amount of food stress, I must confess that I indulged in a bit of mindless eating with this one. The sinful creaminess of the dish  soaking up my miseries and disgruntles. Despite the sauce being on the verge of breaking and the pork confit being a little irrelevant; I kept mum and slurped up every drop. Hey.. my wallet didn't complain either.

His Cod ($22.90) was a tad of a let down with pan-seared cod in a clam stew of sorts, an assortment of roughly chopped vegetables attempts to lifts the mix whilst the absence of salt in the broth made the dish seem uninspired. It's saving grace was the golden brown top-hat of puff pastry that was beautifully crisp and cooked thoroughly. 

We washed that down with 2 glasses of house Sauvignon Blanc ($8/glass), yet again a worthy investment for a rather dreary day at work.

Concetto by Saveur

2 Handy Rd, Singapore 229233

t: 6735 1141

w: http://www.concetto.sg/

Opening Hours

Daily 12pm - 9 30pm

Relish by Wild Rocket: Not your average joe of a Burger

We tip-toed every so carefully around the ticking time bomb, but as predicted earlier, his 'child-unfriendly' presence had become known in the room and the flood gates of persistent wailing from the infant opened wide, reigning painful cries between gurgles down upon us and the other diners. All this unfolded much to his annoyance, of course, so we requested a change of tables that the staff were very much happy to attend to.

A quick run thru the menu revealed a tight selection of burgers and other comfort foods. Never mind the background jargon, pass the lady a burger please!

Reflecting the simplicity of of its environment, the fare was quick and concise. My billboard special of b3 Mushroom Cheese Burger ($18.40) was all the works, sauteed and well seasoned mushrooms, greasy smoked bacon (+$3), melted emmental cheese, medium-rare juicy beef patty all lewdly forced between two sesame buns. The buns could have used a good lashing of butter and a good toasting; put that out of the picture and you've got results that show more finesse than your regular burger. What stole the limelight was the patty alone, deliciously scorched and still juicy on the inside.

The boy was silent as he chowed down on his Blue Cheese and Pear Burger ($21.90). Take a classic combination, transcribe that into burger formula and you've got a sure winner. The walnut peanut butter providing firm nutty notes for the singed sweetness of the poached pears and that grounding the outlandish flavors of the Auvergne bleu cheese. To be frank, I was grateful to even get one tiny bite of this baby.

Definitely one of more impressive burgers I've had in Singapore so far. The search continues...

Relish by Wild Rocket

501 Bukit Timah Road

#02-01, Cluny Court

S( 259760)

t: 6763 1547

w: http://www.wildrocket.com.sg/

Opening Hours: 

Tues-Sun 9am-10pm