Showing posts with label little india. Show all posts
Showing posts with label little india. Show all posts
25 Degrees Singapore wishes to cast a spell with their Black Magic Burger
Labels:
affordable,
beer,
burgers,
casual,
comfortfoods,
diner,
family friendly,
fries,
large groups,
late night eats,
little india,
middle road,
rocher,
set lunch,
supper,
will return
·
As much as I was put off by the tag-line of 'endorsed by A-List celebrities as their go-to burger joint', I could understand what was the fuss about. Rich burgundy hued wallpaper, black leather booth seats and just enough natural light streaming in. If the Los Angeles branch emulates the same feel, it would probably be the perfect spot to be captured devouring a heavy stack while still sporting a cropped top revealing chiseled abs underneath - cue the headlines "How __ Stays Fit - While Modelling and Eating Burgers". oh pls...
Big Lazy Chop 大懒排: Where size really does matter.
Labels:
chinese food,
downtown line,
hidden finds,
large groups,
little india,
must go,
rocher,
will return
·
I love it when restaurants make the ordering process a breeze.
At Big Lazy Chop, a speciality zi-char stall just a stone's throw away from Rocher MRT; it's exactly like that. First there's the pictorial spread of the menu followed by a clear and concise referral to the specialities of the kitchen via the full page visual on the left side of the fold-out menu. Decisions are usually made fast and furious with a little unease displayed during the choice of sizes for their signature Indo Curry Crayfish Beehoon. $13 gets you a small portion whilst $19 gets you a medium. Here's a quick tip, for two, if the intention is to order ribs and other dishes, make do with the former. However, if you're feeding the alcohol munchies with no other sides as distraction, make a beeline for the medium.
Apolo Bistro: an offshoot of the instituition Banana Leaf Apolo - except, Mexican?
Labels:
beer,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
Indian food,
large groups,
little india
·
We made the same mistake. Twice. First, we found ourselves at the food of Indian chaos and a riot of flavors and aromas adrift at Banana Leaf Apolo on race course road; and then once again, with beads of sweat trickling down our backs at The Banana Leaf Apolo (Little India Arcade), quizzical as to where the rest of the tasting gang were. Apparently, we weren't let in on a little secret - walk up a tiny flight of starts residing on the outer caverns of the banana leaf apolo and you'll be lead through ornate swings doors to the Apolo Bistro.
Seoul Jjimdak: Hearty Korean Stews in the heart of Little India
Labels:
family friendly,
farrer park,
korean,
large groups,
little india,
must go,
will return
·
Korean stews in the heart of Little India. No, we ain't kidding.
City Square Mall may be a bit of a stretch for a west-sider like me. However, if drastically erratic weather patterns beckons for indoor dining action; I would definitely pitch the idea of venturing to the mall situated conveniently above Farrer Park Mrt Station for food and perhaps a little 'after-dinner' activities either at Golden Village theatres of the mega sporting shop Decathlon hawking all sports apparel and accessories you'll ever need.
Creature S: Twisted creatures that are best not to disturb
Labels:
expensive,
farrer park,
fusion,
hidden finds,
little india,
overrated,
will not return
·
Here's a little Thursday jeremiad.
Creature S....All that initial excitement, pumped up by deliciously spun tales and sights of its artfully decorated interior; plummeted to the ground after a very lackluster dinner crippled by horrendously amatuerish service. The only thing keeping us calm at the table whilst we received one glass of wine as opposed to the two that we ordered, was the therapeutic lemongrass aromas wafting through the air, reminiscent of a spa experience. Except that in place of amiable ladies in waiting, sophomoric adolescent boys took their place, typing on their phones furiously while our backs were turned.
Copper Chimney: Redefining Chindian
Labels:
affordable,
butter chicken,
curry,
Indian food,
little india,
must go,
naan bread
·
I got lost.
The assault to my five senses as I stepped off the train into the heart of Little India coupled with the the deadly humidity clouding the region; and to make matters worse; a deadly flu virus residing in my body, left me completely disoriented. Thanks babe for coming to my rescue.
After settling in the cool spacious innards of Copper Chimney and chugging down a Cooling Mint Drink; it wasn't long before my nerves had settled and my appetite restored.
A dainty plate of Chicken Malai Tikka ($12) first greets the eye, pieces of chicken grilled and cooked in cream and sharpened with ginger and garlic tantalises the taste buds with a rush of poignant heat. Our other starter of Salt and Pepper Corn ($9) was top drawer - crunchy baby corn stir fried with a healthy dose of garlic, peppers and soya sauce; an absolutely addictive new addition to the menu that focuses more on the Chindian staples.
Density Frozen Custard: All-natural Super-premium Ice-Cream
Labels:
affordable,
cafe,
coffee,
desserts,
dhoby ghaut,
hidden finds,
ice-cream,
little india,
may return
·
Earlier this month, the first ever frozen custard shop was launched in Singapore. Density Frozen Custard, flaunting explicit photos of velvety ice cream tongues and promises of Pumpkin Pie on their instagram feed aroused all curious bones in my body. A trip down to the joint was inevitable.
Okay, so what sets frozen custard apart from the traditional gelato?
Montana Brew Bar: Waffles Gone Rogue
Labels:
affordable,
ala carte,
bras basah,
cafe,
coffee,
dhoby ghaut,
family friendly,
fried chicken,
little india,
mac&cheese,
may return,
selegie,
student friendly,
waffles,
x
·
Montana Brew Bar is one of the newest kids on the block to amp up the waffle game in town. Yes, it is evident that these honeycombed imprinted crisp vessels do have a soft spot in our hearts and stomachs; and with these validation, MBB takes it to level with their ingenious savoury adaptations.
I'm here at brunch hour on a Saturday; a modest trade is coming and going in that lazy weekend kind of way. Tables are packed with languid diners hoping to score a waffle or two with friends; most of them young and vivacious, in the mid twenties; a crowd seemingly drawn from its location advantage , right smack in the middle of several schools and learning institutes in the vicinity. On a weekend, this isn't the kind of place you want to sit and linger for too long if you're a party of one; the glaring lights (plus odd stares from other people) and bustling foot traffic traversing through the malls, not exactly conducive for 'me-time'; perhaps the odd hours of the weekdays would be a better choice.
Shi Fu Korean BBQ: Meat Lovers Rejoice
Labels:
affordable,
barbeque,
big groups,
bras basah,
dhoby ghaut,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
korean,
korean bbq,
little india,
no frills,
will return
·
Shi Fu sited below the bright florescent lights of the many KTVs located near peace centre, may not be the most attractive sight to wander into. The thick fumes of garlic laden smoke streaming out of the open doors, yet again another dampening factor. But Shi Fu Korean BBQ is the common's best Korean BBQ in a joggers mile. So karoke party revellers seeking something to chew on after a madhouse session, this would be your best bet!
Cocotte: Snail-paced Rustic French in Little India
Labels:
ala carte,
dinner,
family friendly,
farrer park,
hidden finds,
little india,
lunch,
must go,
roast,
setlunch,
the entertainer app
·
I was greeted with the puffy-faced, glossy eyed stare of a man who had just spent the last 5 minutes of his time trapped in a bathroom, the tussle for life taking a toil on his ruptured oesophagus. The culprit to his misery, a measly fish bone that had somehow weaselled its way into his food and lodged itself deep in there. I looked on helplessly and dragged my fork through the mustard sauce, pausing to pass a comment in a bid to shed some calming effect. (Don't judge, I eat when I'm stressed *sheepish grin*).
After chewing on a slippery banana (offered so kindly by the worrisome staff) and several gulps of water later, the worse had come to pass and my partner resumed eating at a frenetic pace, an action spurred on by the tardiness of the food. Our orders of seabass and roast pork collar taking a solid 45 minutes after ordering to arrive at the table. Was it worth the wait you might ask?
Flee Away Cafe: Fly me to the Moon
Labels:
affordable,
cafe,
dinner,
dunlop street,
hidden finds,
little india,
lunch,
sandwich
·
Flee Away Cafe has long been on my to-do list. Unfortunately it was a mission I've never came to succeed till a recent event organised by the good folks at Openrice and Nikon.
After a rather heart pulsating play session with some of the Nikon cameras brought in for us, invitees, to fiddle with; we settled down to a feast of rather strange proportions.
Here, customers are fazed with a menu filled with Willy-Wonker versions of the usual sandwiches. A tad sceptical first at the outcome, I was completely taken by this understated concept at the end of dinner. Vowing to head back to satiate the anticipated craving for Le Char Kueys that I could see shuffling its way into my heart.
The Le Char Kuey with Chicken Bak Kwa ($15.50) that hit every flavor on the grid at once was sensational with chewy oddments of honey chicken bak kwa stuffed in crusty you tiao over crushed cream crackers tossed in wasabi mayo. The usage of the word 'Le' making reference to the employment of the French baguette normally in a sandwich, except that here, a custom made super-sized you tiao is used as a carb substitute. As strange as it sounds, this combination was everything I could ask for after a devastating day at work.
The Le Char Kuey with Dry Laksa ($15.50) is another popular option with diners. Filled with fish cake, boiled egg, noodles and laksa sauce, this didn't quite float my boat as the one-noted textures did nothing to liven up the mix.
Another successfully innovative dish in Flee Away Cafe's repertoire is the Tau Kwa Salad with Grilled Chicken Sausages ($12.50). Spices are spread onto the slices of tau kwa before grilling hence each acquiring a smoky sweet layer of caramelization on its surface that sang beautifully with the lightly seasoned greens.
Other dishes to watch our for are the Chicken Luncheon Meat Chips and the Beef Hash Pie tee ($12.50 for 6); the latter reinventing the classic kui pie tee with heaping amounts of American chow down, corned beef hash. Love at first taste.
Such is our love for the nostalgic factor in the food items here that we continued with the Waffle with Gula Melaka Pudding ($8.50), a wrong move considering it's disappointing delivery on the grounds of an overly eggy waffle with slightly dense innards and an oddly gummy and tasteless sago pudding perched on the top of the griddled square. The thin gula melaka sauce doing nothing for the fading flavors,
Oh, but the Irish Cream Mud Pie ($8.50) raised the bar slightly with its creamy dark and opposing vanilla-ry tones in contention with each other. The shaved chocolate overhead providing a bit of crunch.
Out of all the fine tastiness that came our way, it is the Le Char Kuey with Bak Kwa that keeps this cafe front and centre in my heart and mind. I will definitely be making a beeline for Flee Away for a repeated iridescent experience soon.
Flee Away Cafe
70 Dunlop Street
opening times:
Mon-Thu: 11 00 - 21 00
Fri - Sat: 11 00 - 22 00
Sunday: 10 00 - 17 00
[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
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