I love fast-food.. I'm the FASTFOOD Generation.....
I used to remember during my schooling days... That my best excuse to have a fast food lunch is to tell mum and dad that i'll be studying with my friends at Burger Kings... but now.. i am so pissed... with kids studying at restaurants, taking up space and making so much noise....
Well we all grow... however... till today I am still intrigued with the whopper.... I love the thick beef patty with plenty of veg and sauces.. Though messy to eat.. it is always enjoyable to finish one whopper... Yes... I do have a Big Mouth and a HUGE Appetite...
The outlet at the Amara is quiet during in between meal hours.. but to be avoided during lunch hours.... Its a nice setting, with plentiful seats and very friendly staffs. It’s not noisy and the best thing is that you don't see much students studying there... Who knows... we might meet some cute white collars here :)
With their juicy burgers and low salt fries... I guess burger king is much healthier to eat then other fast food...
A MUST TRY..... is the croissant wich... I love this... It’s Soft, Juicy and Buttery.... Now they serve this all day..... So I don't have to rush for the breakfast set anymore.. How wonderful.....
Leisurely lunches have, for most working class people, always been the exception rather then the norm. I attest to that norm personally so it was with much delight that I embraced a rare opportunity to engage in one at Marmalade Pantry - home to the tai tai crowd.
Marmalade's Orchard outlet is aptly located at the upscale Palais Renaissance, boasting an open concept sitting area smack in the middle of the mall. Wrap leather sofa seats coupled with heavy wooden tables and chairs complete the somewhat "cafeish" look. The clientele here consists mainly of reasonably well heeled executives and of course the tais tais, who spend hours on end sipping their tea/coffee over a slice of cake or dessert. So there I was, like a fish out of water.
Pan-Roasted Red Snapper - I didn't think too much of this dish as it didn't exactly strike me as good. The almond/breadcrumb crust gave it a nice crunchy texture and the fish overall had a zesty tinge to it. But it just wasn't sweet. I'm pretty sure the chickpeas didn't help matters.
The Ultimate Beef Burger - For something to be termed "The Ultimate", it must possess a certain level of quality, something that was sorely lacking in this dish. The beef patty was hard and dry even though there were evident traces of juices within and not to mention, salty. So salty that it overwhelmed any beefy taste that I would have appreciated in any beef burger. It didn't help that the patty was dwarfed by the huge buns that made the whole burger look like the letter 'I' as well. And before I forget, the fries were probably factory cut frozen fries.
Homemade Lemon Tart - I'm not usually a fan of sourish stuff so I reserve my comments on this one save for the fact that I didn't cringe when I took a mouthful of it.
Sticky Date Toffee Pudding - Words elude me as I attempt to describe the sticky date pudding. Would words like amazing fit the bill? Absolutely not. Moist yet compact and spongy, it brought back distinct childhood memories of eating MacDonald's hotcakes with honey syrup, very much like what the serving of ratatouille did to Anton Ego in the movie. The vanilla bean ice cream alongside proved a nice complement.
The burger aside, I think food quality is generally decent for the price ($83 for 2 mains and 2 desserts) but the piece de resistance would have to be the desserts. Service seems a little inexperienced but still generally decent.
I was craving for ice-cream the other day and after looking around many other ice-cream cafes.. I have decided on Anderson's of denmark... Matter of fact.. I was a great fan of anderson's Ice-Cream Shakes... I used to buy them as a walk-around dessert in a cup while my mum shops.....
The creamy and rich flavoured ice-cream with thick milk.. though its not very slimming.. but is smooth on the throat and very fulfilling....
I love chocolate chips shakes... as you will have bits of chocolate chips to munch on... If not get the one with bits of brownies... It sure makes you a happie girl....
Quote ME: NO Woman can refuse a good tub of ICE-CREAM....
I mean.. Me and My GAGA Girlie Pals go for ice-cream when we are in mourning or when we have something to celebrate about..... What more.. if we have nothing to do but to laze the afternoon away.....
Back to the ice-cream.... When I was there.. i ordered 4 naked scoops in a waffle bowl.. Just NAKED..... I the fact that it came along with a mini jug of chocolate sauce for me to drizzle on top... Very Heart Warming.. and theres this piece of chocolate in the shape of their mascot......
I ordered.....
1) Rum and Raisin - My favourite.. Very rich and have just the right amount of raisin...
2) Fruits of the Forest - Slightly sour but very fruity, with bits of frozen berries in a lovely hue of purple.... Exotic...
3) Double Chocolate - Very CHOCOLATELY.. But i like it because it not too sweet and feels a little bitter to taste... Its real DARK CHOCOLATE... NICEY...
4) Blueberry - My childhood favourite... creamy with streaks of blue excitement.... Exotic
The couches are comfy and you can really laze there watching people walk by... Its also a good meeting place for friends or perhaps a good place to wait for your girlfriend when she shops....
Nice, spacy and Easy to hangout place with value for money and yummy ice-cream :)
The simple pleasure of life. People always chase after complicated stuff all their life, but if you would just slow down your steps, you will notice some of the simple things are the nicest things around. What I’m going to introduce to you for this post, is anything but simple. The location is inaccessible, there are practically no nice decorations, the seats are merely a few tables, but the service are so friendly, and the desserts are amazing!
This cake, they called it the Strawberry Souffle ($5.0). Patisserie Glace’s rendition of the Japanese cheesecake. The texture of the cake was so smooth that it was quite unlike of what I’ve eaten before. My friend and I took our first bite, and there was silence till we finished the cake. It was so good that we didn’t know why they were able to make the cake in this way, that we kept on eating it. And the puff pastry layer at the side of the cake brought back nostalgic memories for me. Well, cliché as it sounds, you got to try out for yourself to find out. Amazing stuff.
It was my third shortcake only after trying the ones from Canelé and Bakerzin. I was determined to find something better, so we picked the Strawberry shortcake ($4.80). The cream wasn’t fluffy enough and did not hold its shape after a while. But what I liked was the fact that it was sweeter than the ones that I’ve tasted before. Not the best yet.
Two layer of mango cheese mousse with two layer of sponge. The rare cheese mango ($4.20) was an offer for this month only. Dense yet not heavy. It may seem easy to use this four words, but it is definitely not simple at all to create the taste. The mango taste was very subtle, with the focus on the cheesecake.
Total bill was $14 for three cakes. Patisserie Glace has remarkable cakes at very reasonable pricing due to their lower rental which allows them to pass on the savings to customers. Even at the ulu Chinatown plaza, customers be it Japanese expats or locals, just keep coming in. I went back twice in the short span of four days, for that they already merited “See you there!“
My simple pleasure. Life’s sweet.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Ah ma! Ah ma! I want another slice of that. The brownish-orange cake with the smooth cream frosting on top. What is that name again? Yes, carrot cake. Another slice please, before kor-kor comes back from school. Time passed, and ages caught up with us eventually. Ah ma is no longer as young as she was before. And the energy, effort put into making the kuehs, also diminished with every passing day.
***
Coffee Bean’s carrot cake isn’t the best carrot cake that I’ve. But then again, I didn’t have that many before to compare it with. And yes, I know I haven’t try the legendary one from Cedele yet. Anyway, even though the cream frosting was generous, but the raisins were too much for my personal liking. And the No-study sign is a joke.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Pasta Brava has long been acknowledged as one of the top Italian restaurants in Singapore and few would dispute its authenticity and quality. As fate would have it, I dropped by one evening armed with tons of recommendations sourced from friends and a powerful tool called the internet.
Tucked amongst the row of shophouses along Craig Road, which also houses the famous Xi Yan, Pasta Brava is located in a quaint rustic looking unit just opposite a multi story carpark and a community centre. The interior exudes warmth and familiarity with its simplicity and choice of colours, making for a comfortable and homely atmostphere.
Complimentary Bread - Just your normal baguette with a touch of maize. Crisp on the outside but could have been softer and chewier on the inside.
Capesante Alla Cardinale Gratinato - As much as I'm a fan of scallops, this dish didn't really wow me. There was a consistency issue with the scallops. Some were done just right while others were undercooked or overcooked. And I didn't find them particularly sweet. I simply loved the béchamel sauce though. Creamy with a mildly burnt taste and just great as a dip for the complimentary bread.
Stracci Ai Gamberie Capesante - The pasta was rolled into nice flat strips that weren't too thick nor flimsy (reminded me of hor fun, just much firmer in texture) while the saffron cream sauce was rich yet didn't threaten to overwhelm. Portions of fresh scallops and prawns were generous which made this dish an excellent order.
Tagliolini Con Aragosta - The tagliolini was probably a little overcooked, coming across as a tad too soft. However, I appreciated its fragrance and the plentiful crunchy lobster cubes. The base was predominantly olive oil with squashed tomatoes so though oily, it wasn't heavy on the palate.
Torta Di Mele Al Mascarpone E Ricotta Con Gelato - I thought that the apple pie was a very interesting piece of dessert, with the top layer tasting like light and cheesy lemon cheesecake. The middle layer comprised of apple cubes that were almost tasteless when eaten on its own. Wrapping up the bottom was a nice baked crust. There were raisins in the apple pie to give it a sweetness boost and a scoop of ice cream completed the dish.
Panna Cotta All'Amaretto - Pasta Brava's pride and joy and the most interesting take on this ubiquitous Italian dessert that I've ever tried. On the outside it looked quivery yet firm but stick a spoonful into your mouth and feel it literally disintegrate (very little gelatin), very much like soya beancurd (豆花). Paired with the mildly sweet amaretto, it made for a nice soothing dessert.
1 appetiser, 2 mains and 2 desserts cost us to the tune of $104 which isn't anything near what I would classify as cheap but I would say its money reasonably well spent. Food quality is comforting and so is the excellent service rendered by the friendly owner. Doodling on the table with crayons is encouraged and that adds to the fun factor. Remember to make your reservations!
I, Willy Wonky, have decided to allow three children, to visit my Research facility this year. These lucky three will be allowed to see all the secrets and the magic of my facility. Then at the end of the tour, as a special present, one of them will be given enough chocolates and sweets to last him/her for the rest of the life! So watch out for the Choc Tickets!
The Chocolate room. An important room, this! This is the heart of the whole research facility. And so beautiful yes! Below the melting chocolate wall, are bars and bars of chocolate, 100 different flavours! There, it’s all chocolate!
The inventing room. All the most secret new inventions are cooking and simmering in here. The connoisseur, exotic, double fruit series are some of the ones which will make your saliva-gland start working. Not to mention there’s the classic, nut, coffee and tea series.
Only Brad Brat left. The winner, with enough chocolate & sweets to last him for the lifetime! The dark chocolate 70% from Saint domingue in the spotlight.
***
Chocolate Research Facility (CRF) is a chocolate boutique, which comprises of a retail store and a cafe. The interesting layout of the shop, the unique packaging of the chocolate bars, the intriguing combination of flavours available, meant that you need to grab a bar here! The chocolate are priced at $8, 10, & 12 for different flavours. I brought one bar, guess the flavour!
This post is inspired base on the story, Charlie & the chocolate factory by Roald Dahl. I have made some changes to parts of it, no intention of misusing the author’s right.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Confession of a non-Japanese food lover. Right, I admit. I’m not the biggest fan of Jap food, while others rave about the freshness of the sashimi, I stared at them and wondered why they like to eat raw seafood. When others sipped and finished their bowl of ramen, I’m quietly thinking of my wanton mee. But, I can’t stop myself eating Tonkatsu, whenever I enter a Japanese restaurant.
The inevitable thing happened when I stepped into Tonkichi, thoughts of the excellent Kurobuta pork cutlet that I had at Tampopo, flowed into my mind. And of course, the visit here was because friends have always recommended Tonkichi for their famous tonkatsu. The interior is very simple, smaller than what I expected from the outside, with a comprehensive menu to showcase their speciality.
And this is where the main difference between Tonkichi and Tampopo lies. The latter offers a wide range of Japanese food, with Katsu and ramen as their signatures, the former does what they’re best in, Tonkatsu. They have the hire and rosu katsu of course, but there are also other set combinations to try their prawn, oyster, crab with their katsu.
Eggs are my favourite, and fried eggs with white rice can satisfied me. I’m a simple person with a simple taste bud, really. But somehow I do not fancy the Chawanmushi ($3.50). I guess the problem is steamed eggs and I simply do not get along. Nonetheless, my friend enjoyed the starter, and finished it fast enough.
Somebody once told me that Japanese potato salad ($3.50) is very good. It surely represented what an appetiser was about, light and simple, something to get your engines, or rather stomach going.
We were expecting the tonkatsu to be the star since Tonkichi is famous for it. But instead, we found ourselves falling in love with this instead. Man, the simmered pork belly was just so, so good! Well it tasted akin to our Chinese braised pork belly, everything was perfect. My friend was contemplating to order another serving, but we decided to come back to Tonkichi again, just for the divine Buta Kakuni ($6.50).
I was somewhat disappointed by the supposedly signature dish, Rosu Katsu ($20). There was the option of going for the premium tonkatsu set, but since I tried the normal grade pork loin at Tampopo last time, I wanted to give them a equal footing for the comparison. Sadly to say, I felt that the rosu katsu here didn’t quite match up to the one I had before. While there was a layer of fats underneath the crispy exterior, but the katsu somehow just lacked the oomph factor.
Adding a few more bucks, gets you the Oyster & Rosu Katsu set ($24.50). The same goes for the rosu katsu, while my friend who is a big fan of oyster dutifully chomped down both oysters while leaving the katsu unfinished.
Total bill was $68.25 for two person. The conclusion was quite clear-cut, I’ll like to think that Tampopo serves a meaner and better Tonkatsu, well the best I ever tried so far. But I’ll certainly come back to Tonkichi, just for their Buta Kakuni.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Finally I've decided to give Cafe Cartel a try and since this is my first time going to Cafe Cartel for dinner, I expected to be overwhelmed by what they have, judging from the food posters displayed outside their shop entrance. I'd say the choices in their menu wasn't that spectacular as I had expected more choices inside though.
My mother and I chose the Sirloin Steak with Texas Ranch Mushroom Sauce, though the serving doesn't seem like what my mother had described to me (she had went there before with her friends and mentioned that the portions were quite a lot), the Texas Ranch Mushroom Sauce was quite a fresh taste compared to Delifrance.
Then we each ordered an Oreo Espresso and a Cartel Special (coffee drink) respectively and I would dare say the Oreo Espresso was a nice touch, compared to the regular espressos you can find elsewhere although the Cartel Special is just really plain latte with whipped cream and it just seems a little lacklustre since this drink is called the "Cartel Special".
We ended off the meal with a slice of Bitter Chocolate Fudge Cake (I wanted the Jamaican Banana Rum but they were sold out), though I find it weird that they serve the cake on a plate with some weird yellow stain on it. And as expected, the chocolate is bitter, but the bitterness is still within control and tastes quite good. The only grouse here is that the fudge seems a tad too much, but then less fudge means you won't taste the "bitterness" in the chocolate cake.
The only one main complaint I have? That they presumed every customer wanted a complimentary ice cold water. I'd prefer to have a cup of warm water and I would have preferred it if they would ask if I would want ice cold or warm water. But still, service is prompt in a sense that they serve water and bread as soon as you sat down.
I'd still go back to Cafe Cartel again for a good meal, but I figured I have to request for warm water instead.
Three. It is the natural number following two, and preceding four. It also represents the three of us, the memories; of the fun, joy and laughter that we shared throughout the years. No, although we didn’t meet frequently, but somehow our conservation always continue smoothly from the previous meeting which was a few months ago, as though we just met yesterday.
Friends, are like the macarons you see. They come in all shapes and flavours, just like friends who has different characters and personality. And how long have we all known each other; with each finger representing a year, I count almost nine out of the ten fingers I could afford on both of my hands.
Friends. There isn’t a need to contact with each other all the time. A simple greeting, uncomplicated chit-chats, and a sincere well-wishes, are the ingredients needed, just like how a good macaron is defined by having chewy shells, with flavourful fillings.
Friends, we automatically updated and filled in on each others life, the gossips and chit-chats that make a whole afternoon passed by in a blink of the eye. A place to sit, some desserts to go along with a cup of tea, are all we need.
She giggled, you chuckled, and we smiled. Much as we used to complain about dragging ourselves out of bed on a Saturday morning just for the practice, thinking of the silly times we had, those were the days.
All of us had moved on, to new pasture, and a different world. But we still managed to meet up even though the rest often had excuses to miss our gatherings. Yes, always the three of us.
Bakerzin is currently having their Macarons promotions, selling at a dollar for each macaron (usual price $1.60 ). And since it is a promotion, their usual flavours will not available, instead there’s ten different flavours to choose from. We had seven out of the ten, namely; lemon, coffee, Peach, Pistachio, Sakura, Blueberry, and Chocolate.
In short, not all the macarons impressed. We like the coffee, with the strong after-taste lingering on our tongue. The pistachio was chewy and sticky. The first bite of the chocolate was overwhelming bitter, but the taste became sweeter for the second bite. The different macarons have different texture, the lemon and the blueberry’s shell crumbled easily, while pistachio and chocolate have slightly crispy ones. But still, a dollar a macaron is cheap, and you can’t complain.
I was sceptical about choosing the Mango mousse ($6.20) initially. But since I’ve try most of the other cakes available at Bakerzin, we decided to take a risk and go ahead with it. And I must say the mango cake, or rather mousse was better than what we thought. Two layers of thin sponge with thick layer of mango mousse in between. The mango mousse, was naturally fulsome with mango.
With a name like Lavande ($6.90), we were perhaps expecting something more of the lavender flower, but it never came. Instead, the cake was very rich, with the goodness of dark chocolate fudge, and the velvety lavender-infused chocolate mousse. The very subtle lavender flavour in the cake meant that it was simply a chocolate cake, with a slight hint of flower.
As with most tastings, we always leave the strongest for the last. Sweet Pleasure ($6.90) is what my friend call it, my-kind-of-cake. How very true. A top layer of chocolate, jivara milk chocolate ganache, a layer of chocolate mousse, and hazelnut praline dacquoise. All in all, it did seem like a ferrero rocher cake. And having tried about thirteen of Bakerzin’s cake so far, sweet pleasure together with the chocolate amer are two of my favourites.
Friends are one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. One year technically isn’t very long, and with the advancement in technology, there’s always msn and email to bridge the gap of the two countries. Have fun in the coming months, my friend, my senior, my big sister. The three of us, yes as always, three, will meet once you got back.
***
Total Bill was $37.25 for 3 cakes, 7 macarons, and 3 drinks. With the promotion of getting a drink at $1.90 each with the purchase of each slice of cake during tea time. As you will know by now, I don’t like to repeat visits, but the one-dollar a macaron was too tempting for me to resist. Having tried thirteen cakes on two visits, it is unlikely that i will visit Bakerzin in the near future, but yeah, you shouldn’t missed their current promotion until end of Feburary.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
1=SGD 0.0587
I love fast-food.. I'm the FASTFOOD Generation.....
I used to remember during my schooling days... That my best excuse to have a fast food lunch is to tell mum and dad that i'll be studying with my friends at Burger Kings... but now.. i am so pissed... with kids studying at restaurants, taking up space and making so much noise....
Well we all grow... however... till today I am still intrigued with the whopper.... I love the thick beef patty with plenty of veg and sauces.. Though messy to eat.. it is always enjoyable to finish one whopper... Yes... I do have a Big Mouth and a HUGE Appetite...
The outlet at the Amara is quiet during in between meal hours.. but to be avoided during lunch hours.... Its a nice setting, with plentiful seats and very friendly staffs. It’s not noisy and the best thing is that you don't see much students studying there... Who knows... we might meet some cute white collars here :)
With their juicy burgers and low salt fries... I guess burger king is much healthier to eat then other fast food...
A MUST TRY..... is the croissant wich... I love this... It’s Soft, Juicy and Buttery.... Now they serve this all day..... So I don't have to rush for the breakfast set anymore.. How wonderful.....
Rating given:
Leisurely lunches have, for most working class people, always been the exception rather then the norm. I attest to that norm personally so it was with much delight that I embraced a rare opportunity to engage in one at Marmalade Pantry - home to the tai tai crowd.
Marmalade's Orchard outlet is aptly located at the upscale Palais Renaissance, boasting an open concept sitting area smack in the middle of the mall. Wrap leather sofa seats coupled with heavy wooden tables and chairs complete the somewhat "cafeish" look. The clientele here consists mainly of reasonably well heeled executives and of course the tais tais, who spend hours on end sipping their tea/coffee over a slice of cake or dessert. So there I was, like a fish out of water.
Pan-Roasted Red Snapper - I didn't think too much of this dish as it didn't exactly strike me as good. The almond/breadcrumb crust gave it a nice crunchy texture and the fish overall had a zesty tinge to it. But it just wasn't sweet. I'm pretty sure the chickpeas didn't help matters.
The Ultimate Beef Burger - For something to be termed "The Ultimate", it must possess a certain level of quality, something that was sorely lacking in this dish. The beef patty was hard and dry even though there were evident traces of juices within and not to mention, salty. So salty that it overwhelmed any beefy taste that I would have appreciated in any beef burger. It didn't help that the patty was dwarfed by the huge buns that made the whole burger look like the letter 'I' as well. And before I forget, the fries were probably factory cut frozen fries.
Homemade Lemon Tart - I'm not usually a fan of sourish stuff so I reserve my comments on this one save for the fact that I didn't cringe when I took a mouthful of it.
Sticky Date Toffee Pudding - Words elude me as I attempt to describe the sticky date pudding. Would words like amazing fit the bill? Absolutely not. Moist yet compact and spongy, it brought back distinct childhood memories of eating MacDonald's hotcakes with honey syrup, very much like what the serving of ratatouille did to Anton Ego in the movie. The vanilla bean ice cream alongside proved a nice complement.
The burger aside, I think food quality is generally decent for the price ($83 for 2 mains and 2 desserts) but the piece de resistance would have to be the desserts. Service seems a little inexperienced but still generally decent.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
I was craving for ice-cream the other day and after looking around many other ice-cream cafes.. I have decided on Anderson's of denmark... Matter of fact.. I was a great fan of anderson's Ice-Cream Shakes... I used to buy them as a walk-around dessert in a cup while my mum shops.....
The creamy and rich flavoured ice-cream with thick milk.. though its not very slimming.. but is smooth on the throat and very fulfilling....
I love chocolate chips shakes... as you will have bits of chocolate chips to munch on... If not get the one with bits of brownies... It sure makes you a happie girl....
Quote ME: NO Woman can refuse a good tub of ICE-CREAM....
I mean.. Me and My GAGA Girlie Pals go for ice-cream when we are in mourning or when we have something to celebrate about..... What more.. if we have nothing to do but to laze the afternoon away.....
Back to the ice-cream.... When I was there.. i ordered 4 naked scoops in a waffle bowl.. Just NAKED..... I the fact that it came along with a mini jug of chocolate sauce for me to drizzle on top... Very Heart Warming.. and theres this piece of chocolate in the shape of their mascot......
I ordered.....
1) Rum and Raisin - My favourite.. Very rich and have just the right amount of raisin...
2) Fruits of the Forest - Slightly sour but very fruity, with bits of frozen berries in a lovely hue of purple.... Exotic...
3) Double Chocolate - Very CHOCOLATELY.. But i like it because it not too sweet and feels a little bitter to taste... Its real DARK CHOCOLATE... NICEY...
4) Blueberry - My childhood favourite... creamy with streaks of blue excitement.... Exotic
The couches are comfy and you can really laze there watching people walk by... Its also a good meeting place for friends or perhaps a good place to wait for your girlfriend when she shops....
Nice, spacy and Easy to hangout place with value for money and yummy ice-cream :)
Rating given:
The simple pleasure of life. People always chase after complicated stuff all their life, but if you would just slow down your steps, you will notice some of the simple things are the nicest things around. What I’m going to introduce to you for this post, is anything but simple. The location is inaccessible, there are practically no nice decorations, the seats are merely a few tables, but the service are so friendly, and the desserts are amazing!
This cake, they called it the Strawberry Souffle ($5.0). Patisserie Glace’s rendition of the Japanese cheesecake. The texture of the cake was so smooth that it was quite unlike of what I’ve eaten before. My friend and I took our first bite, and there was silence till we finished the cake. It was so good that we didn’t know why they were able to make the cake in this way, that we kept on eating it. And the puff pastry layer at the side of the cake brought back nostalgic memories for me. Well, cliché as it sounds, you got to try out for yourself to find out. Amazing stuff.
It was my third shortcake only after trying the ones from Canelé and Bakerzin. I was determined to find something better, so we picked the Strawberry shortcake ($4.80). The cream wasn’t fluffy enough and did not hold its shape after a while. But what I liked was the fact that it was sweeter than the ones that I’ve tasted before. Not the best yet.
Two layer of mango cheese mousse with two layer of sponge. The rare cheese mango ($4.20) was an offer for this month only. Dense yet not heavy. It may seem easy to use this four words, but it is definitely not simple at all to create the taste. The mango taste was very subtle, with the focus on the cheesecake.
Total bill was $14 for three cakes. Patisserie Glace has remarkable cakes at very reasonable pricing due to their lower rental which allows them to pass on the savings to customers. Even at the ulu Chinatown plaza, customers be it Japanese expats or locals, just keep coming in. I went back twice in the short span of four days, for that they already merited “See you there!“
My simple pleasure. Life’s sweet.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Rating given:
Ah ma! Ah ma! I want another slice of that. The brownish-orange cake with the smooth cream frosting on top. What is that name again? Yes, carrot cake. Another slice please, before kor-kor comes back from school. Time passed, and ages caught up with us eventually. Ah ma is no longer as young as she was before. And the energy, effort put into making the kuehs, also diminished with every passing day.
***
Coffee Bean’s carrot cake isn’t the best carrot cake that I’ve. But then again, I didn’t have that many before to compare it with. And yes, I know I haven’t try the legendary one from Cedele yet. Anyway, even though the cream frosting was generous, but the raisins were too much for my personal liking. And the No-study sign is a joke.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Rating given:
Pasta Brava has long been acknowledged as one of the top Italian restaurants in Singapore and few would dispute its authenticity and quality. As fate would have it, I dropped by one evening armed with tons of recommendations sourced from friends and a powerful tool called the internet.
Tucked amongst the row of shophouses along Craig Road, which also houses the famous Xi Yan, Pasta Brava is located in a quaint rustic looking unit just opposite a multi story carpark and a community centre. The interior exudes warmth and familiarity with its simplicity and choice of colours, making for a comfortable and homely atmostphere.
Complimentary Bread - Just your normal baguette with a touch of maize. Crisp on the outside but could have been softer and chewier on the inside.
Capesante Alla Cardinale Gratinato - As much as I'm a fan of scallops, this dish didn't really wow me. There was a consistency issue with the scallops. Some were done just right while others were undercooked or overcooked. And I didn't find them particularly sweet. I simply loved the béchamel sauce though. Creamy with a mildly burnt taste and just great as a dip for the complimentary bread.
Stracci Ai Gamberie Capesante - The pasta was rolled into nice flat strips that weren't too thick nor flimsy (reminded me of hor fun, just much firmer in texture) while the saffron cream sauce was rich yet didn't threaten to overwhelm. Portions of fresh scallops and prawns were generous which made this dish an excellent order.
Tagliolini Con Aragosta - The tagliolini was probably a little overcooked, coming across as a tad too soft. However, I appreciated its fragrance and the plentiful crunchy lobster cubes. The base was predominantly olive oil with squashed tomatoes so though oily, it wasn't heavy on the palate.
Torta Di Mele Al Mascarpone E Ricotta Con Gelato - I thought that the apple pie was a very interesting piece of dessert, with the top layer tasting like light and cheesy lemon cheesecake. The middle layer comprised of apple cubes that were almost tasteless when eaten on its own. Wrapping up the bottom was a nice baked crust. There were raisins in the apple pie to give it a sweetness boost and a scoop of ice cream completed the dish.
Panna Cotta All'Amaretto - Pasta Brava's pride and joy and the most interesting take on this ubiquitous Italian dessert that I've ever tried. On the outside it looked quivery yet firm but stick a spoonful into your mouth and feel it literally disintegrate (very little gelatin), very much like soya beancurd (豆花). Paired with the mildly sweet amaretto, it made for a nice soothing dessert.
1 appetiser, 2 mains and 2 desserts cost us to the tune of $104 which isn't anything near what I would classify as cheap but I would say its money reasonably well spent. Food quality is comforting and so is the excellent service rendered by the friendly owner. Doodling on the table with crayons is encouraged and that adds to the fun factor. Remember to make your reservations!
See all my pictures here.
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I, Willy Wonky, have decided to allow three children, to visit my Research facility this year. These lucky three will be allowed to see all the secrets and the magic of my facility. Then at the end of the tour, as a special present, one of them will be given enough chocolates and sweets to last him/her for the rest of the life! So watch out for the Choc Tickets!
The Chocolate room. An important room, this! This is the heart of the whole research facility. And so beautiful yes! Below the melting chocolate wall, are bars and bars of chocolate, 100 different flavours! There, it’s all chocolate!
The inventing room. All the most secret new inventions are cooking and simmering in here. The connoisseur, exotic, double fruit series are some of the ones which will make your saliva-gland start working. Not to mention there’s the classic, nut, coffee and tea series.
Only Brad Brat left. The winner, with enough chocolate & sweets to last him for the lifetime! The dark chocolate 70% from Saint domingue in the spotlight.
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Chocolate Research Facility (CRF) is a chocolate boutique, which comprises of a retail store and a cafe. The interesting layout of the shop, the unique packaging of the chocolate bars, the intriguing combination of flavours available, meant that you need to grab a bar here! The chocolate are priced at $8, 10, & 12 for different flavours. I brought one bar, guess the flavour!
This post is inspired base on the story, Charlie & the chocolate factory by Roald Dahl. I have made some changes to parts of it, no intention of misusing the author’s right.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
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Confession of a non-Japanese food lover. Right, I admit. I’m not the biggest fan of Jap food, while others rave about the freshness of the sashimi, I stared at them and wondered why they like to eat raw seafood. When others sipped and finished their bowl of ramen, I’m quietly thinking of my wanton mee. But, I can’t stop myself eating Tonkatsu, whenever I enter a Japanese restaurant.
The inevitable thing happened when I stepped into Tonkichi, thoughts of the excellent Kurobuta pork cutlet that I had at Tampopo, flowed into my mind. And of course, the visit here was because friends have always recommended Tonkichi for their famous tonkatsu. The interior is very simple, smaller than what I expected from the outside, with a comprehensive menu to showcase their speciality.
And this is where the main difference between Tonkichi and Tampopo lies. The latter offers a wide range of Japanese food, with Katsu and ramen as their signatures, the former does what they’re best in, Tonkatsu. They have the hire and rosu katsu of course, but there are also other set combinations to try their prawn, oyster, crab with their katsu.
Eggs are my favourite, and fried eggs with white rice can satisfied me. I’m a simple person with a simple taste bud, really. But somehow I do not fancy the Chawanmushi ($3.50). I guess the problem is steamed eggs and I simply do not get along. Nonetheless, my friend enjoyed the starter, and finished it fast enough.
Somebody once told me that Japanese potato salad ($3.50) is very good. It surely represented what an appetiser was about, light and simple, something to get your engines, or rather stomach going.
We were expecting the tonkatsu to be the star since Tonkichi is famous for it. But instead, we found ourselves falling in love with this instead. Man, the simmered pork belly was just so, so good! Well it tasted akin to our Chinese braised pork belly, everything was perfect. My friend was contemplating to order another serving, but we decided to come back to Tonkichi again, just for the divine Buta Kakuni ($6.50).
I was somewhat disappointed by the supposedly signature dish, Rosu Katsu ($20). There was the option of going for the premium tonkatsu set, but since I tried the normal grade pork loin at Tampopo last time, I wanted to give them a equal footing for the comparison. Sadly to say, I felt that the rosu katsu here didn’t quite match up to the one I had before. While there was a layer of fats underneath the crispy exterior, but the katsu somehow just lacked the oomph factor.
Adding a few more bucks, gets you the Oyster & Rosu Katsu set ($24.50). The same goes for the rosu katsu, while my friend who is a big fan of oyster dutifully chomped down both oysters while leaving the katsu unfinished.
Total bill was $68.25 for two person. The conclusion was quite clear-cut, I’ll like to think that Tampopo serves a meaner and better Tonkatsu, well the best I ever tried so far. But I’ll certainly come back to Tonkichi, just for their Buta Kakuni.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
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Finally I've decided to give Cafe Cartel a try and since this is my first time going to Cafe Cartel for dinner, I expected to be overwhelmed by what they have, judging from the food posters displayed outside their shop entrance. I'd say the choices in their menu wasn't that spectacular as I had expected more choices inside though.
My mother and I chose the Sirloin Steak with Texas Ranch Mushroom Sauce, though the serving doesn't seem like what my mother had described to me (she had went there before with her friends and mentioned that the portions were quite a lot), the Texas Ranch Mushroom Sauce was quite a fresh taste compared to Delifrance.
Then we each ordered an Oreo Espresso and a Cartel Special (coffee drink) respectively and I would dare say the Oreo Espresso was a nice touch, compared to the regular espressos you can find elsewhere although the Cartel Special is just really plain latte with whipped cream and it just seems a little lacklustre since this drink is called the "Cartel Special".
We ended off the meal with a slice of Bitter Chocolate Fudge Cake (I wanted the Jamaican Banana Rum but they were sold out), though I find it weird that they serve the cake on a plate with some weird yellow stain on it. And as expected, the chocolate is bitter, but the bitterness is still within control and tastes quite good. The only grouse here is that the fudge seems a tad too much, but then less fudge means you won't taste the "bitterness" in the chocolate cake.
The only one main complaint I have? That they presumed every customer wanted a complimentary ice cold water. I'd prefer to have a cup of warm water and I would have preferred it if they would ask if I would want ice cold or warm water. But still, service is prompt in a sense that they serve water and bread as soon as you sat down.
I'd still go back to Cafe Cartel again for a good meal, but I figured I have to request for warm water instead.
We ordered:
1) Bread: Freeflow
2) Sirloin Steak with Texas Ranch Mushroom Sauce @ SGD17.80
3) Oreo Espresso @ SGD3.80
4) Cartel Special @ SGD4.20
5) Bitter Chocolate Fudge Cake @ SGD5.20
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Three. It is the natural number following two, and preceding four. It also represents the three of us, the memories; of the fun, joy and laughter that we shared throughout the years. No, although we didn’t meet frequently, but somehow our conservation always continue smoothly from the previous meeting which was a few months ago, as though we just met yesterday.
Friends, are like the macarons you see. They come in all shapes and flavours, just like friends who has different characters and personality. And how long have we all known each other; with each finger representing a year, I count almost nine out of the ten fingers I could afford on both of my hands.
Friends. There isn’t a need to contact with each other all the time. A simple greeting, uncomplicated chit-chats, and a sincere well-wishes, are the ingredients needed, just like how a good macaron is defined by having chewy shells, with flavourful fillings.
Friends, we automatically updated and filled in on each others life, the gossips and chit-chats that make a whole afternoon passed by in a blink of the eye. A place to sit, some desserts to go along with a cup of tea, are all we need.
She giggled, you chuckled, and we smiled. Much as we used to complain about dragging ourselves out of bed on a Saturday morning just for the practice, thinking of the silly times we had, those were the days.
All of us had moved on, to new pasture, and a different world. But we still managed to meet up even though the rest often had excuses to miss our gatherings. Yes, always the three of us.
Bakerzin is currently having their Macarons promotions, selling at a dollar for each macaron (usual price $1.60 ). And since it is a promotion, their usual flavours will not available, instead there’s ten different flavours to choose from. We had seven out of the ten, namely; lemon, coffee, Peach, Pistachio, Sakura, Blueberry, and Chocolate.
In short, not all the macarons impressed. We like the coffee, with the strong after-taste lingering on our tongue. The pistachio was chewy and sticky. The first bite of the chocolate was overwhelming bitter, but the taste became sweeter for the second bite. The different macarons have different texture, the lemon and the blueberry’s shell crumbled easily, while pistachio and chocolate have slightly crispy ones. But still, a dollar a macaron is cheap, and you can’t complain.
I was sceptical about choosing the Mango mousse ($6.20) initially. But since I’ve try most of the other cakes available at Bakerzin, we decided to take a risk and go ahead with it. And I must say the mango cake, or rather mousse was better than what we thought. Two layers of thin sponge with thick layer of mango mousse in between. The mango mousse, was naturally fulsome with mango.
With a name like Lavande ($6.90), we were perhaps expecting something more of the lavender flower, but it never came. Instead, the cake was very rich, with the goodness of dark chocolate fudge, and the velvety lavender-infused chocolate mousse. The very subtle lavender flavour in the cake meant that it was simply a chocolate cake, with a slight hint of flower.
As with most tastings, we always leave the strongest for the last. Sweet Pleasure ($6.90) is what my friend call it, my-kind-of-cake. How very true. A top layer of chocolate, jivara milk chocolate ganache, a layer of chocolate mousse, and hazelnut praline dacquoise. All in all, it did seem like a ferrero rocher cake. And having tried about thirteen of Bakerzin’s cake so far, sweet pleasure together with the chocolate amer are two of my favourites.
Friends are one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be. One year technically isn’t very long, and with the advancement in technology, there’s always msn and email to bridge the gap of the two countries. Have fun in the coming months, my friend, my senior, my big sister. The three of us, yes as always, three, will meet once you got back.
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Total Bill was $37.25 for 3 cakes, 7 macarons, and 3 drinks. With the promotion of getting a drink at $1.90 each with the purchase of each slice of cake during tea time. As you will know by now, I don’t like to repeat visits, but the one-dollar a macaron was too tempting for me to resist. Having tried thirteen cakes on two visits, it is unlikely that i will visit Bakerzin in the near future, but yeah, you shouldn’t missed their current promotion until end of Feburary.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
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