Showing posts with label pancakes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pancakes. Show all posts
Fat Lulu's: For a Good Time
Labels:
brunch,
cafe,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
must go,
pancakes,
river valley,
sunday brunch,
will return
·
Had Chef Sam Chabalani become a dysfunctional alcoholic after a fruitless stint at Raven, we wouldn't have the fortune of reaping the sweet burnt fruits of his labor at the new Fat Lulu's located at the now defunct Five and Dime. If you, like me are addicted to @Sammeernoog's eccentric Instagram persona, you'll be glad to know that his outlandish character spills over into his dishes. The portrayal of friendships cemented in the kitchens evident in the nosh put up and the amicable yet spontaneous service.
Brunch threads on familiar territory with a few stand out dishes that speak in a stronger tone of the kitchen's #noburnnotaste rule. But hold up, we'll get there eventually...
[NEW] Olivia and Co: Modern bistro in the heart of the CBD
Labels:
affordable,
burgers,
cafe,
cityhall,
desserts,
large groups,
pancakes,
promenade,
sunteccity
·
Just opened in March of this year, Olivia and Co. is a modern bistro at the heart of Suntec City, serving up fare fit for anyone from busy executives to families on a day out. Named after Olivia Cassivelaun Fancourt, the first wife of Sir Stamford Raffles, the menu is centred around the theme of an intrepid traveler bringing home experiences from cuisines all around the globe. Tales are told and memories can be relieved straight from the plate!
D'Good Cafe: Deutsch Skillet Pancakes and Birthday Wishes
Labels:
all-day-breakfast,
brunch,
cafe,
circle line,
coffee,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
holland village,
large groups,
must go,
pancakes,
will return
·
D'Good Cafe celebrates its 3rd birthday today, and to spread the joyous mood, everybody will enjoy a whopping 30% off the total bill only today, the 15th Oct' 15. Now, that's worth a trip down. You know what else warrants a visit? The new menu headlining D'good's foray into the Dutch Skillet Pancakes, that's what is.
The Alshaya Food Tour: iHop + P.F.Chang's
Labels:
affordable,
all-day-breakfast,
big groups,
dubai,
family friendly,
pancakes,
will return
·
I willed my stomach into ordering something from the dinner menu, 'it's just for tasting purposes', I convinced myself despite the gut's relentless protest; something about being over fed. I ignored it - then my mind wondered to the additional paragraphs I had to add to the growing review. *Groans*
If you think there's such thing as a free lunch? There isn't.
As part of The Alshaya Food Tour that has journeyed across half the globe to taste test 4 American-based brands, iHop, Shake Shack, Texas Road House and P.F. Chang's, who coincidentally have set their sights on stepping foot into the South East Asian market; we had to do our due diligence.
Reports before 11pm every night? I'm on it!
Read on for the low down on what to expect should you be lucky enough to have these giants embrace our shores.
Shelter in the woods: Be still my heart
Shelter in the woods is every bit a restaurant I would choose for any occasion. It's straight up heart-warming classics highlighted by the culinary dexterity of Chef Masashi. Finally, a press release that tells it as it is, "The result is a cuisine of rare depth and purity. Ingredients and seasoning achieve a distinct presence and discreetness... The food literally blooms" ~ and truly, dining here is a treat for the senses. Not only is the service flawless, but so is the food. Stepping into Shelter in the woods is akin to walking into a time portal where time literally stands still as you tuck into your fare, wide eyed stares and all.
The Fabulous Baker Boy: Fundamentally Fabulous
Labels:
affordable,
big groups,
bistro,
brunch,
cafe,
cakes,
cakes. affordable,
clarke quay,
coffee,
grilled cheese,
hidden finds,
pancakes,
sandwich
·
Have your cake at breakfast and eat it too! Together with the onslaught of flying pancakes and cheesy sandwiches washed down with a comforting cup of coffee for those much needed morning perks.
Walking into the grounds of The Fabulous Baker Boy situated at the foothills of Fort Canning Hill, just a stones' throw across the road from Liang Court; for the first time, assimilation was instant. Its obscure location is a surefire asset in drawing in the crowds; the soothing waves of greenery present in the surroundings making me feel at ease.
Then, there is that cake display. (inserts jaw-dropped emoticon). A true nightmare for the indecisive and a pure dessert playground for the voyeurs. Right from the moment we stepped into the cafe, our eyes were fixated on the range of 12 cakes on the stand; ahhh..it wouldn't be so hard to make a choice, or so we thought, till we realise there were another 8 cakes in the chiller. Gosh, now that looks real intimidating.
Coco Ichibanya @ Westgate: Japanese Curry Rice Cafe
Labels:
affordable,
dinner,
family,
family friendly,
japanese,
japanese curry,
jurong east,
lunch,
pancakes,
westgate
·
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.
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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.
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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
Opening Hours:
Sunday-Thurs: 10am - 9.30pm
Fri - Sat: 10am- 10.30pm
Jing Hua: Dumplings galore
Labels:
affordable,
bugis,
chinese food,
dim sum,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
noodle,
pancakes,
will return,
xiao long bao
·
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)
Opening Hours:
Daily 11 30pm - 3 30pm
5 30pm - 10pm
Revolution Coffee: Single Origin Coffee Roasters
Labels:
all-day-breakfast,
brunch,
cafe,
coffee,
hidden finds,
pancakes
·
Fans of the widely popular Single Origin Coffee Roasters in Sydney, hold on to your horses, now you can get your fix at Revolution Coffee at the coveted location along Media Circle! Having just came back from Sydney not long ago, I was more than thrilled to see the Reservoir blend being lugged back to our local shores. Thank goodness for the tenacity of owner Ajie Pramana, who saw his love for the humble roast to the end with the manifestation of this precious cafe.
With a menu conceptualised by Shen Tan; of the now defunct Wok and Barrel and new kid on the block Ujong, I prepared myself for a treat after a successful trip down coffee alley. My skim latte, full bodied with a good touch of bitterness on the finishing notes were a perfect late morning pick-me-up.
It doesn't take much convincing to be sold on the idea of the Pancakes with Gula Melaka Butterscotch and Bananas ($13), sounding completely like a dream team to begin with, this dish delivers on every level. The fluffy pancakes receiving a standing ovation welcome at the table. Every swipe of that rich palm sugar butterscotch inciting obscene moans from my family members.
And then you have the Corned beef hash ($13), a play on the local favorite Malay dish, bergedel. . It's an attractive duo of golden crispy patties filled with a spicy corned beef hash. As much as I do agree with a little bit of spiciness with the referencing to Malay food, however, the dish tripped up majorly with a over gregarious overloading of chili padi throughout the filling that rendered the rest of the spices invisible. Perhaps a pinch of sweetness would have helped to soothened out the overbearing heat.
Big Brunch Breakfast ($16.90) is a good option for the ravenous versus the peckish; whilst my dish of
Baked Eggs ($12) failed to impress with an overall lack of seasoning in the mix of capsicum, mushrooms, herbed potatoes and beef sausage hidden underneath the smouldering crust of cheddar cheese melt. Did I mention the door stopper sourdough toast I got on the side? I almost cracked my teeth biting down on that one.
Despite it's hits and misses, Revolution Coffee does seem capable of stealing the hearts of a regular clientele base, raking in the folks with its genuineness and respect for coffee. I, for one, might just head down for another cuppa soon!
Revolution Coffee
21 Media Circle
#01-03A
[City Square Mall Food Festival 2014]: Paddington House of Pancakes
Labels:
all-day-breakfast,
buffets,
cafe,
citysquare mall,
desserts,
dinner,
family,
family friendly,
farrer park,
food tasting,
japanese,
little india,
lunch,
media event,
pancakes
·
For those of you who have read the title with a blank stare, City Square Mall is a shopping complex straddling the junction of Serangoon and Kitchener Roads, with direct access to Farrer Park MRT station, this mall hopes to attract both local and tourist shoppers alike.
With over 700,000 sq ft of gross retail space, spread over five retail levels, it is home to about 200 tenants that cater to the lifestyle needs of today's discerning mid-income families. From 4 July to 3 Aug, City Square Mall has lined up a selection of great snacks and meal offerings for friends and families and I had the fortune of following a food trail that lead me from one such food haven to another.
Spacious and airy on the second level of City Square Mall is Paddington House of Pancakes. To say that Paddington House only does pancakes in a derogatory tone is to undermine the highlights of this establishment. Yes, so its true that they only do pancakes.. but with 100 different sorts from around the globe to fill out the pages of its menu; I can assure you that there would be lack of boredom even with a continuous daily dining ritual at this outlet.
To help you navigate the super extensive menu, let's break it down. Firstly dishes are separated into starters, savoury pancakes and desserts. The savouries are then sub-divided into the different countries of origins; flapjacks from America, pannekoek from Holland, crepes and galettes from France and Blintzes and blinis from Russia.
We kicked off with drinks, the array of tall glasses dressed in bright colors bowling us over with a residing fear of sugar overdose. Yet, some of these drinks boast some really healthy qualities that would help to balance out the heaviness of the meal ahead. Take for example the Perky Lemon and Mint Sparkler ($5/gls & $17/jug), this spritzer edges further into fresh ground using lemon, mint and soda to cleanse the palate and eliminate perspiration threats; the Immune Zone ( $7) is a refreshing mix of peach, apple, honeydew and cranberry that suffers a bit of unflattering browning from the oxidation of it's natural contents, no complaints there since what you get is essentially a fresh squeezed tumbler of fruits. My favourite however would have to be the Kiwi and Melon Yogurt ripple ($7) which may appear a bit off-putting at first with its neon green spirals rounded off with coagulated bits of white rings, but slurp it all in one solid 'pulling-up' manoeuvre with your straw and you get a collision of sweet and sour creamy sensation all at once.
Cheesy Wedges & Fries ($8), Belgium style with grilled cheddar, crispy turkey bacon bits, basil and tangy mayonnaise. This was a simple snack done right, the bowl arrives with a heaping pile of piping hot fries and wedges; good for the indecisive or table of party-goers with varying taste. The rich pool of cheese sauce on the side, a welcome addition for some cheeky dipping.
One of the more memorable (midst the food comatose) main dishes we got to sample that night include the Classic Buckleberry, blueberry pancakes served with a good measure of soft cream cheese in the center. Scrambled eggs with a healthy dose of diced greens add color the plate. We weren't bowled over by the turkey bacon and mushrooms on the side and opted instead to fill up on the fluffy pancakes that were humbly exquisite with a slathering of maple syrup.
Tuscany ($13) crepes with eggplant, grilled zucchini, olives, peppers, mixed mushrooms, mozzarella and homemade tomato sauce. Reads like a winner but the raw eggplant slices within threw it off its game a little. A good option for the vegetarians.
Paddington House of Pancakes thrive on their endearing selection of desserts, each representing an exclamation point in the entirety of the food trail. The Strawberry New York Cheesecake ($8) pulls out all the stops with its drool-worthy trifle like presentation. Each layer a hidden secret of contrasting textures, the fresh whipped cream, vivacious strawberries, tangy cream cheese mousse, digestive crumb and dollar pancakes making for a familiar yet unique combination that keeps you going back for more.
Dollar Pancakes ($12) was yet again another novel concept for those who can't seem to get enough of their pancakes. A bowl chock full of mini sized pancakes, topped off with ice cream and a myriad of wildly coloured fondue sauces for dipping. Imagine that...
Note: Paddington House of Pancakes has also recently introduced new fondue flavors, chocolate, butterscotch, salted butter caramel, red velvet and white chocolate; all of which I found strangely commendable despite their alarmingly shocking colours.
Frankly though, my favourite dish of the night appeared the last belly-bursting moment, the Apple Fritters ($13) served with strawberries, raisins and banana sorbet. This was truly expressive cooking, exploring shades of flavor more watercolour than acrylic. Judicious with sugar, the crisp apple fritters, were a delight to eat with the contrasting frigidity of the accompanying ice cream. My kryptonite.
The food trail at City Square Mall also brought us to Momiji Japanese Buffet Restaurant on the 5th level of the complex. The 'eat all you can' concept at this restaurant makes it a popular choice among-st the ravenous, the young and restless and the plain greedy. Since I was neither, I spent most of my time wandering the aisles and admiring the extensive selection on offer.
Good news for the drinkers is the Happy hour from 6 30pm to 7 30pm daily that sees a free flow of Sapporo beer. So drink your fill!
Some of the highlights for me would have to be the Sushi and sashimi that seemed highly popular hence the continuous stash of fresh goodies greeting the counters more frequently than some other items. Give the cooked items a miss as most of them appear a little dehydrated from the long periods of exposure under the heat lamps. And don't forget the haagen daaz ice cream for sweet endings!
Lunch buffet prices are set at $24.80++ on weekdays and $29.80++ on weekends and Public holidays whilst dinner ranges from $37.80++ to $39.80++.
For the month of July, various outlets in City Square Mall have organised special foodie deals for their patrons; for example the 1-for-1 Signature Beef noodles at Lai Lai Taiwan Casual Dining or the Song Fish head for only $9 at Paradise Inn! Terms and conditions do apply though so click on the banner to find out more!
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Fundamentally Flawed dined as a guest of Paddington House of Pancakes & Momiji Japanese Buffet Restaurant, opinions are however strictly her own. A major thanks to Deborah of SPRG for the warm invite and intimate hosting session.
Paddington House of Pancakes
#02-35/36 City Square Mall
180 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208529
Momiji Japanese Buffet Restaurant
#05-05/06 City Square Mall
180 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208529
Season for Chocolate
Third time in a row. I surprise myself with my dedication to the whole chocolate therapy idea. People who think they know me very well would deny my abilities to stick to a plan or ambition for very long. Well, I guess we've an exception here since chocolate being full of phenylethylamines convinces the brain that its happy doing all the extra work.
This time my shifty chocolate cravings manifested in the shape of... chocolate pancakes! And I was sent on a wild goose chase for a perfect recipe constrained by my meagre pantry stock and blurry eyed hunger pangs in the morning. Throwing in a tblspoon or two of rolled oats into the mixture, it gave me reason to believe that this morning indulgence was a tad healthier.
I couldn't be happier.
Chocolate Pancakes for one lonely girl
makes 3 pancakes
7 tblspoon all purpose flour
1 tblspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tblspoon sugar
1/4 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1 tblspoon rolled oats (optional)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/4 egg lightly beaten
2/3 tblspoon cooking oil
- Whisk all the dry ingredients in one bowl
- Pour the buttermilk, egg and cooking oil into the dry ingredients and stir till dry ingredients are no longer visible.
- Leave mixture for 5mins on the counter to thicken.
- Heat up the well-oiled griddle. Cook 1/4 cup batter. Cooking 2-3 mins on one side before flipping and cooking for another 2 mins.
- Enjoy your pancakes any style you like. Think BIG!!! whipped cream, strawberry preserves, chocolate syrup, maple syrup, fresh berries and clotted cream or just a simple knob of butter.
Short order
Labels:
dubai,
pancakes,
travelling
·
100 entrements to be ready in a night. Personally I found the bout of sudden confidence in our strange deliverance truly a bit peculiar, but I held on to my tongue as I whisked, stirred, piped and filled.
Obviously I survived the night to tell the tale.
Not without paying a price evidently. Feeling slightly under the weather now, my body experiencing a tender tug to succumb to a deep slumber. If only I could sleep all day...
well, as to the pictures of the fluffy pancakes. Just thought this blog needed a bit of personal touch after all the dining out posts in the run. Hot pancakes from our own kitchen, sloshed with honey and topped with fresh bananas. Comfort food for the exhausted soul.
On a seperate note, I'll be back in Singapore for a good 4 days from sunday onwards. And seriously, I can't contain my excitement at the notion of seeing you again. *you, you and you!*
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