Showing posts with label tiong bahru. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tiong bahru. Show all posts
Upper Place hosts a clever menu, perfect for those looking to escape the noise
Labels:
asian inspired,
date night,
european,
fusion,
hidden finds,
hotel,
tiong bahru
·
Set on the highest floor of WANGZ hotel is Upper Place, a humble dining place that dishes out ambitious plates congealing Asian influences with European techniques.
Here's what our writer, Belinda has to say after a delectable multi-course meal at the Upper Place.
[NEW] Merci Marcel: Tiong Bahru gem touting bejewelled tipples
Labels:
cheese,
family friendly,
french,
must go,
romantic,
sharing,
small plates,
tiong bahru,
winebar
·
Just what the neighbourhood needs is another wine bar. Note, the lack of sarcasm in my voice. No, it's not a double innuendo. I persevere in proving my point, the bereft of chill-out joints in the creative enclave of Tiong Bahru a mystery to me seeing alcohol's ability to 'inspire'. Merci Marcel, the latest lifestyle concept doled out by the same folks behind O' Comptoir and O' Batignolles brings the same winning formula of wine and cheese dressed up in a more articulate vibrant manner.
Open Door Policy: 100% Gluten and Dairy-free joint is a treasure trove of surprises
Labels:
allergies,
dairy free,
desserts,
gluten free,
hidden finds,
must go,
pasta,
special occasion,
tiong bahru
·
From the get go, Open Door Policy's (or more fondly known as ODP) new 100% gluten free and dairy free menu offerings were a bit of a turn-off. If it hadn't been for the promise of uncompromised quality in comfort dishes such as pasta draped in bechamel (Wait.. what? How?) and sustainable dining by means of vertical farming, I wouldn't have been caught dead wondering in a hipster yogi joint.
Chef Ryan Clift pulls of the new menu with the same razzle dazzle of a magician. Building climaxes of expectations with words such as grilled bread, and maccheroni pasta and finally being greeted by thunderous applause when the rabbit is pulled out of the hat. Yes, executing the new concept at ODP does require a whole bag of tricks, back-breaking work and definitely can be described as a magical experience in most ways.
Sin Lee Foods: Soulful nosh
Labels:
all-day-breakfast,
big groups,
brunch,
cafe,
fried chicken,
hidden finds,
must go,
tiong bahru,
waffles,
will return
·
Some days when the cravings for Chicken and Waffles get a little too overbearing to handle, I slip on some decent shoes and head out the house in search for instant gratification at Sin Lee Foods (though I am now considering standing in line for 30mins under the hot sun for a taste of the forbidden fruit from Clinton Street Baking Company...that can wait). However, confessions first, this plan always fizzles midway, at this very juncture, hunger takes precedence and a toss up between a nearer cafe and this one, often ends up with the former emerging victorious. A tragic outcome, evident from my last visit being in July last year. You can read about it here.
8 Affordable Date Night Dinner Places (Part II)
Labels:
affordable,
china square central,
clarke quay,
dinner,
fusion,
hidden finds,
japanese,
lists,
orchard,
quick picks,
raffles place,
romantic,
takashimaya,
tiong bahru,
will return
·
5. Harry's
For the girl looking for a fun night out
At a chilled-out bar in Clarke Quay, the Fish Cracklings ($13) makes everything okay. Arriving at the table deliciously crisp in short order, this would make the perfect accompaniment to a cold pint of beer.
The party doesn't stop here. Bar Snacks incorporating the burn and tingle of local spices have migrated to the new restaurant menu. There's the Harry's Signature Wings (6 pieces/$13) which are so acutely spiced that a dip in the accompanying homemade chilli jam (aka sambal) may seem unnecessary (we still do it anyway).
Cafe Brio's: Christmas Festivities
Labels:
barbeque,
buffet dinner,
buffets,
cakes,
clarke quay,
desserts,
grand copthorne waterfront,
havelock road,
laksa,
meatballs,
must go,
outram,
sashimi,
tiong bahru,
will return
·
I'm not usually one to take to buffets, but if I have to recommend one for dining with the family during this holiday season, it would have to be Cafe Brio's at Grand Copthorne Waterfront.
First things first, let's talk prices, the Festive Buffet Dinner (ongoing from the 1st to the 30th Dec) is priced at just $62/adult and $31/child on weekdays (mon-thurs) and $72/adult, $36/child on weekends (fri-sun). If you're looking for something a little more extravagant to rake in the new year with a bang, there's the Christmas eve buffet dinner and Christmas day buffet brunch priced at $136/adult; and here's the catch, free flow red/white wine, chilled juices and soft drinks. Perfect for some merry making.
Amidst all the price jargon, here's why I think these mentioned figures are a steal.
Good Chance Popiah: tracing back my roots
Labels:
chinese food,
family friendly,
local food,
outram,
popiah,
tiong bahru
·
Mastering languages has never been my forte. My existing problems with spoken Mandarin, a tell tale sign of my skills, or lack thereof. That being said, I've always held deep regrets for not picking up dialect when I was younger, seeing that it serves as a potential tool to bridge gaps in working relationships; especially so in the kitchen environment; I am always ashamed to say that I am Hokkien but sadly I do not speak the language.
The language of food, on the other hand. That, I can comprehend.
In fact, the language like 5-dimensional travel in the Interstellar; transcends all boundaries, a simple dish evoking memories, transporting you thousands of miles away in a seconds, bonding strangers, it seems that possibilities are endless when it comes to the all important grub.
At Good Chance Popiah, an air-conditioned zi char store set in the outskirts of sleepy Tiong Bahru, traditions are kept alive with the communal practise of rolling Hokkien Popiah together at the table.
Shabu Shabu Ramen by Ramen Champion: Swish Swish
Labels:
beer,
dinner,
family friendly,
great world city,
healthy eating,
hotpot,
japanese,
lunch,
shabu shabu,
soup,
steamboat,
tiong bahru
·
Under the same roof of Ramen Champion Dining comes Shabu Shabu Ramen, targeted at ramen lovers whose cravings can't be satisfied with just one bowl of ramen. Think about it, what's better than indulging in an ambrosial spread of shabu shabu ingredients with bowlfuls of aromatic flavoursome soup on a rainy day (which happen more often than I like it in December)? To top off the experience, a tray of tantalising home-made ramen noodles accompanies the feast instead of the conventional white rice.
The Dispensary: Medication for an arduously long Friday.
Labels:
cafe,
coffee,
hidden finds,
may not return,
overrated,
sandwich,
tiong bahru
·
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
Sin Lee Foods: these are my obsessions
Labels:
all-day-breakfast,
brunch,
bukit ho swee,
cafe,
coffee,
fried chicken,
tiong bahru,
waffles
·
Lately, I've got chicken and waffles on my mind.
Hence the debauchery as recently seen from my instagram feed (@fundamentally_flawed). It's disgusting, I know.
Sin Lee foods is one of the many cafes opened up in the past month or less that has inherited the name and nostalgic flavor of its original shop occupant. Converting the famous lor mee and prawn noodle shop in Jalan Bukit Ho Swee into a cafe space; I scouted around for traces or details in the fabric worth reminiscing over, but there were none. The purposefully stark innards leaving little impression in a sea of mimics spotting the island.
Leaving that aside, I reached out for Latte ($5.50). Papa Palheta's full bodied and popular Throwback blend is the main brew here, slightly nutty with just the right amount of acidity, the shot sat well amidst the mildly sweet frothy milk. Then, my brain begins percolating with pleas for a double shot... next time maybe.
For a pint sized cafe, Sin Lee's food menu is rather extensive. Descriptions and the inspired food imagery it paints are one thing, how the real deal measures in the flavor department is ultimately the more important of the two, especially given the somewhat heftier cafe prices.
I surprised myself with a retreat back to the Croissant Royale ($16.90); a play on the classic eggs benedict which I swore never to order in a cafe ever again. What sets Sin Lee's version apart from the usual are firstly it's generous portion sizes and that excellent hollandaise sauce. The croissant, toasted till golden brown provided that bit of crunch, whilst the other half left to wilt and take it all the goodness of the blanket of velvety hollandaise sauce and soft centered egg. Punctuated by the refreshing acidity of lemon, the sauce was a wonderful accompaniment to the heavy combination of smoked salmon and runny yolks; this dish further enjoyed with the contrast of the bitter arugula leaves showered with a light dancing of parmesan cheese.
An honest dish with good intentions.
The A.B.C grilled cheese sandwich ($14.90) sounded much more inspired on the menu then it did in person. Grilled apple, bacon and soft cheddar sits between slices of toasted bread with a side of spam fries. The dish literally providing the ingredients listed on the menu with minimal creativity in execution. Word of advice to the kitchen staff, lower the heat on that fryer please; the spam fries were overcooked to an inch of its life. I would also have put a little of that grilled apple sauce or perhaps maple syrup over the gooey cheddar for that contrast and definitely look into a more matured cheddar for a tinge of saltiness. But that's just me... oh yes, a little less rendering of fats on the bacon too please...
Equally lackluster is the Shashuka ($17.90), Moroccan baked eggs, house spicy tomato sauce, thick sausage, white cheddar cheese and french country toast; the dish screams against it's proclaimed nationality, the absence of related spices in this homey dish betraying its identity. The tomato sauce could have used a bit of blitzing as well, the clumsy chunks of stewed tomatoes in there together with the unsliced thick sausage (that looked like it was just thrown in some hot water to blanch) missing the mark on the hospitality and unique heartiness of Middle Eastern cuisine. Skip this dish.
One of the most adventurous dishes is the one and only Sin Lee's Fried Chicken and Waffles ($21.90). The juicy boneless chicken leg working well on its own, but sings when bestowed with a drizzle of that melted maple butter... dayum. I'm lost for words. The cheddar iron waffles are slightly on the heavier side, with a crisp edge and moist innards (some parts of it drawing references to min jiang kui) but makes a redonkulous party in the mouth with the sinful maple butter sauce. I relished in the coleslaw as well, the overall creaminess enlivened with a tinge of citrus in there. Definitely a dish worth visiting Sin Lee for.
For a new kid on the block, Sin Lee Foods has a lot of pressure to keep up with the current food trends. A slight detour off the Tiong Bahru stretch, there is a lot of room for improvement before it's capable of getting the crowds moving over. Despite it's many hits and misses, I believe in a couple of weeks with its issues smoothened out, a dining experience at Sin Lee will be as deeply gratifying as that stellar chicken & waffles dish that I would have happily spooned with on a languid Sunday afternoon. Kudos to the team.
Sin Lee Foods
Blk 4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee #01-164
Singapore 162004
T: 6377 3170
Tues-Sunday 10am-9pm
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