The Bravery Cafe @ Horne Road, Singapore

The Bravery Cafe - it has been a while since I been on a cafe-hopping trip, and my recent expedition has brought me to this dainty cafe located at Horne Road. If you have no idea where is that, it is totally walkable (3-4 minute) from Lavender MRT station. When you're strolling along Horne Road, do keep a lookout for an exterior of red and yellow acrylic wall - not really glamourous just like its industrial worn-out interior - but it provides a good environment for a weekend chill out. 

Bourbon Baby Back Ribs Promo at Morganfield's + GIVEAWAY

Happy Belated National Day from Morganfield's, the land of quality BBQ pork ribs. Although it was about four years since I first tried their signature Sticky Bones at their first branch (The Star Vista), I still remembered the taste. Back then, I wrote: "And the most brainless thing to do in Morganfield's is not to order their Sticky Bones." And yes, I am saying this again because these signature prime spareribs have a sweet and tangy barbeque taste infused in their soft, succulent meat which were slow cooked over hickory wood with a hint of cider. Oh damn, and yes, it is as yummy as it sounds (and definitely comparable to Tony Roma's).

Non-Entree Desserts @ Rangoon Road, Singapore

Located at Rangoon Road (right next to Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh), Non-Entree Desserts is a newly established hipster cafe which serves non-traditional European desserts (non-entree ma). Opened by three army buddies, one who was the pasty chef of Regent Singapore Hotel, do expect nothing less, because Non-Entree Desserts is gonna wow you. No, like seriously. Insta-worthy-looking food with fine-dining quality at affordable prices. 

Wo Peng Cuisine @ Furama Hotel, Singapore

Helmed by Platinum award-winning Hong Kong chef, Julian Tam, Wo Peng Cuisine aims to deliver authentic flavours of Cantonese cuisine in Singapore. Moreover, Chef Julian Tam is the pioneer of introducing traditional poon choy as a festival new year delicacy. Wo Peng opened its doors in Furama Hotel in the year 2010, albeit slightly run-down, the place reminded me of the typical Chinese restaurants (such as Red Star), with dull carpets and tinted lights. But.. it's usually these places that serve the most authentic food.

Platypus Kitchen @ Bugis, Singapore

Platypus Kitchen has been on my to-visit list since their opening in 2012, but for unknown reasons (perhaps due to being a broke uni student) I didn't visit them. While eateries selling western cuisine is aplenty, Platypus Kitchen distinguishes itself with its array of handmade pastas (apparently the largest selection in Singapore) and creative gourmet creations at reasonable prices. Besides Platypus Kitchen, the Platypus restaurant group owns several other eateries, which also focuses on modern cuisine with Mediterranean and Italian influences.

Loacker's 90th Anniversary: NEW Raspberry Yoghurt Flavour

Loacker needs no additional introduction. Their iconic Italian wafers packed inside familiar packaging designs have lined the shelves of local supermarkets for as long as limbeh could remember. Recently, my best bud, Fernando (with the silent "o") and I were honoured to be invited for the launch of Loacker's new flavour, and to savour Loacker-inspired desserts at Two Bakers, a quaint bakery-cafe located at Horne road. Check out our experience here:

Old Habits @ Telok Blangah Rise, Singapore

They said "old habits die hard". Indeed, this quaint cafe - located in the sleepy neighbourhood of Telok Blangah Rise - may possess just the habit of collecting treasures from the past. If you are a 90s (like limbeh) or 80s babies, or even earlier, get ready to be mesmerise by a deep sense of nostalgia. The first non-coloured gameboy, the legendary 好公民 textbook that everyone hates, SEGA saturn, old film rolls, and even the table are actually made from old sewing machines! Nostalgia game sibei strong sia. The cafe is the brainchild of Donovan and Selena, an extremely friendly couple who greeted and introduced us to the menu with great enthusiasm. Together with the retro decor, it seems like a winning combination, let's check out the food!

Buta God @ Bugis+, Singapore

Ramen Champion first opened its doors at Bugis+ in 2011, and has since garnered the attention of many ramen lovers as well as ramen chefs, who competing for the annual title of "Iron Chef". Amongst the six stalls which are currently helmed by professional chefs from different regions of Japan, is Buta God, or in English terms - God of Pork. Hence, it is not surprising that tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen is their speciality and comes in all types of variants, such as their Tonkotsu Truffle Ramen, Fuwa-Fuwa (Cloud) Ramen, and even, Tom Yum Cheese Ramen (I wonder how this would taste). Here's my virgin experience at Buta God. ITADAKIMASUUUUUUUUU.

Food Tasting: IPPIN Cafe bar @ Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore

Nestled along the stretch of Mohamed Sultan Road, IPPIN cafe bar serves unpretentious home-cooked Japanese meals along with imported teas and alcoholic drinks. The interior is cozy and home-styled with a touch of industrial design and simplicity, and even house a beautiful sake bar and kitchen. Besides meals, IPPIN is also a small, atas Japanese mama-shop, which you can get your Japanese essentials at one place. 

This cafe bar was first introduced to Singapore by Ayumi Fujishiro with the intentions of helping her father set up IPPIN in October 2014. We had a short chat with the lady herself, and was astonished to find that she actually speaks Singlish despite the short exposure. Uh uh siol, not bad sia.

Merry Men Kitchen and Bar @ River Valley, Singapore

Opened by four unlikely friends, who came from different career backgrounds (lawyer and physiotherapist? Wow.), the concept of their brainchild - Merry Men Kitchen and Bar is fairly simple, and that is to provide a platform for friends to gather, relax and unwind after a long day of work. Of course, the act of unwinding is not unwinding without good and affordable food, accompanied by a few jugs of good imported beer at the river-side. Sounds like a perfect place to hang out on a Friday night? It sure is. If you're there on a weekend morning or afternoon, do expect leng lui's jogging with their dogs, but obviously that is not the main focus. If you know what I mean.

Grin Affair @ Everton Park, Singapore

Tuck away under a HDB at Everton Park since 2011, Grin Affair serves their offerings in beautiful glass jars wrapped with recycling paper. It doesn't take a genius to guess that they are into the recycling initiative. This petite cafe is opened by Jody Ang, a self-taught baker whose love for handicraft blossomed into a profession. 

At Grin Affair, they encourage you to return the used jars, in return of freebies, like dried fruits or even more cakes! It's definitely a marketing strategy, but one that promotes the well-being of Mother Nature. Moreover, their creations are all made of natural ingredients and no artificial colouring and flavouring. For starters, go for their best sellers of mousse cake selection with various flavours, such as Hazelnut ($6.50) - gorgeous layers of soft sponge cake layered with crunchy crumbs and fresh cream. It doesn't look fancy, but does pack a bite full of textures and flavours.

+39 Gelato Bar @ Circular Road, Singapore

Nestled within the vibrant Circular Road, the newly opened +39 Gelato uses state-of-the-art gelato machines to craft up the most delicate desserts in their rustic and industrial-inspired bar. Of course, machines are one thing, these highly-skilled gelato chefs make their prized babies in-store on a daily basis, so you won't need to worry about stale, overnight gelato. Moreover, the natural and high-quality ingredients are sourced only from the best. It all sounded really exaggerated. Until you try them.

Supreme Pork Chop Rice (一品排骨饭) @ Beach Road, Singapore

Despite being constantly on the move, loyal customers never fail to track its location down within a short while. The reason is simple - reasonably-priced and good food. Moreover, it's location near the Bugis and City Hall area makes it a popular dining place for office workers. Recommendations from one of my dear friends led us here one weekday afternoon. Fortunately, it was not at all crowded at around 4pm. Besides the popular pork chop, this eatery specialises in fish fillets and other Taiwan-inspired dishes as well.

Provision Shop @ Everton Road, Singapore

We were on a cafe-hopping trip at Everton Park, where dozens of hidden gems reside, when we dropped by Provision Shop, a charming and humble cafe, furnished with trendy wooden furniture amidst a tinge of nostalgia - even the name of the cafe struck me with sentiments from my childhood days. They even used the milo tin for tips!

Brotzeit @ Vivocity, Singapore

Happy new year, readers! It's been almost three weeks into the brand new year, yet I am still found myself half buried in my examinations. Nevertheless, here's one for any pork knuckle lover!

Brotzeit has been in Singapore for awhile, but only recently found myself having my virgin experience at this German bar and restaurant - which never fails to boast a snaking, long queue during dinner times. Now, I haven't been to the other outlets, but the Vivocity branch has a good combination of service and ambience amidst its "chillaxing" (if there's such a word) al-fresco dining.

Do you know that the expression "Brotzeit" translated to English is actually "bread-time"? What's a typical German meal without authentic Germany-imported alcohol? Choose among a wide range of alcoholic beverages, such as lager and weissbier, to accompany the traditional Bavarian cuisine, infused with a touch of modern Germany.

Artistry @ Jalan Pinang, Singapore

Hello hungry people! Sorry for the lack of updates these few weeks as university and work are really time-consuming, and I had to set my priorities right. So, anyway Christmas is once again around the corner, and I will most probably do up a Christmasy post soon. Please look forward to it!

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Nestled along Jalan Pinang, a quiet lane tucked away in the midst of Kampong Glam, Artistry is a cafe, which specialises in art and food. As one could have expected, the decor was cozy, with a great creativity amidst the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Artistry serves as a platform for art-lovers, featuring live bands and an art gallery with paintings which are up for sale.

Food tasting at Grand Mandarina @ New Bridge Road, Singapore

Strategically located straight outside Outram Park MRT, Grand Mandarina (previously known as Grand Mandarin) is an up-and-rising restaurant that specialises in Chinese fine dining. It incorporates traditional Cantonese cuisine alongside a fine balance of contemporary fusions, merging art and food in unison.

The interiors of the double-storey Grand Mandarina are decked with classic furniture and chandeliers, set aside walls of glossy black - pretty much one would expect from a high-end Chinese restaurant. The 160-seater restaurant also features two VIP rooms at the upper floor with minimal purchases. Perhaps, the most intriguing art-piece was the Empurau fish (also known as 忘不了), a sea-creature so elegant and prized. In fact, it is one of the most expensive freshwater fish in the world. Oh, and the reason I used the word "was", because it is for sale, with a hefty prize tag of approximately S$800/kg. Definitely not for a poor undergraduate like yours truly.

Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant @ Vivocity, Singapore

Serenity is the first of its kind in Singapore serving authentic Spanish cuisine at the heartlands of Singapore. Up to date, Serenity has two branches locally, one located at Vivocity, and the newer branch at Ngee Ann City. Dear and I have passed by their former branch practically every single time we head to Vivocity, but hesitated because Spanish dishes might not be our cup of tea. Nevertheless, we decided to give Serenity a try as our fourth year anniversary dinner.

I have absolutely zero complaints for their ambience and services. In fact, service was polite and efficient, and I always appreciate it when either the service staff or the manager asks us for feedback (like "how is everything so far?"), which they did. We chose to dine al-fresco, set amidst the soft instrumentals and voices of the live band, with the occasional sea-breeze.

Blisshouse @ Clarke Quay, Singapore

Enter the whimsical world of Blisshouse, a fairytale-themed restaurant which serves Western cuisine amongst beautifully crafted gardens and fountains (and even a carriage!) that you might only discover in Disney movies. Photo opportunities are aplenty, making this place a well-desired venue for events such as solemnisation ceremonies, birthday parties and product launches, etc. In fact, the day we were there, there was some ongoing filming where there were parlour chairs and a grand piano set.

Ambience definitely scored high for Blisshouse, and service was pretty good as I would have expected. The service staff were attentive and dishes did not take long to arrive. Food-wise, there were some negative reviews from friends' experience and through my prior research, hence to be utterly honest, my expectations were not high for their offerings.

Kith Cafe @ Park Mall, Singapore

This was not our first visit to this quaint cafe. The previous one left us with much disappointment. No, not because of their service nor their food, but because we did not have a reservation early for a weekend brunch. Foolish us - better should we know that Kith Cafe is overwhelmingly crowded, even on a normal weekday afternoon.

We tried their offerings, and were pleasantly surprised. Firstly, they have an incredible breakfast and brunch menu. Secondly, this menu lasts until 5pm daily. This is good news for people who still have breakfast cravings even in the late afternoon. Dear had Salmon and Eggs (S$16.50) - a brilliant combination of multi-grain toast spread with avocado mayo, two poached eggs, smoked salmon topped with black caviar, served alongside a heap of baby spinach and spicy baked beans. 

Yup, all of these for that price - highly recommended for both quality and price.