Hathaway - Modern Southeast Asia Fare @ Dempsey

Dempsey Hill is no stranger to us, it's a great, secluded place in the city, perfect for celebrations, dinner dates, or weekend brunches with the children. When the lovely Lady M told me we are going to Dempsey Hill for my birthday breakfast, I was thinking about the many place we been there (but usually we don't do repeats). Nearing the destination, I was asking for the restaurant's name so I can find a parking spot near there, and especially since it was drizzling. 

"Hathaway". To be fair, Anne Hathaway came to mind straight, so I was pretty sure it was a Western restaurant serving the usual egg benedicts, waffles and usual ang-moh (Western) brunch. In fact, the whole place exudes Western vibes, with marble counters and long wooden benches and lush sofa seating. When I looked at the menu, "EH? Apa ini? Kuih Pie Tee? Bergadil? Chap Chye? Kiam Chye Duck??" Yup, so you know.

Just a heads up, they do not serve their brunch menu on weekends, and since it's too early for heavy mains (like their beef cheeks, fried quail and yes, Kiam Chye Duck), we treated ourselves to some of their other signatures. The waiter recommended the Mussels (SGD$24, Galician mussels cooked in a mohinga broth). Aside from my lack of understanding of what the heck is "Galician" and "mohinga", these dish is MHMM SEDAP. Mussels, soft and plump. The broth is another level. It tasted like the whole ocean being condensed into a bowl of broth. Something like lobster bisque on spicy steroids. Needless to say, I finished it to the very last bit.

OUMI Modern Japanese Kappo @ CapitaSpring

In yet another blink of an eye, Lady M and I were celebrating out 6th year wedding anniversary. Here' s a fun fact! The traditional gift for six years of marriage is actually iron - a symbol of hardiness and strength. Marriage is a huge topic to be covered for another day, but for starters, don't belittle celebrating the little milestones of your marriage! So for this year, I decided on OUMI - a modern Japanese Kappo restaurant with a western twist. Located at 51st level of CapitaSpring, it is probably (if not) the highest omakase restaurant in Singapore. We later noticed that we came to Artemis two years ago, also located within CapitaSpring.

For starters, we had the Kabocha Uni Tofu (S$30), a perfect rendition of pumpkin, homemade tofu, and a generous portion of uni. The staff was meticulous in describing the ingredients and steps involved into preparing this dish. We had doubts on combining soy, pumpkin, and a strong tasting seafood, but this was a perfect, melt-in-the-mouth combination.

Besides the tofu, my favourite was the Foie Gras Monaka (S$15), crispy wafer filled with a heck load of goodness - a culinary masterpiece boasted a luxurious foie gras ganache, complemented by the briny pop of salmon roe and delicate seasonal flowers. It's a whole explosion of flavours and it looks like art. I mean, would you just look at this.

Tanglin Cookhouse - Local Fare at a British Colonial Setting

We are always on a hunt to bring our children to somewhere new, so recently I was scrolling my phone when an IG-story of another nearby cafe popped by. It was screaming kids activities, such as face-painting and balloon sculpturing. So with the intention of going there, we headed to Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ), but found out that the activities have already ended. We took a nearby scroll to see what's around that area when we spotted Tanglin Cookhouse. It wasn't exactly crowded when we reached there at lunchtime, so we had the privilege to choose our seats. And thank God for that, because within 30 minutes, the restaurant is really packed. Guessed everyone slept in on a Sunday morning.

The interior of Tanglin Cookhouse was small but beautiful, it has a nice British colonial style touch to some Peranakan furnishing. Menu-wise, it has a pretty extensive selection of all-day breakfast paired with Asian-inspired dishes, pastas, soups and many others. 

5 Breakfast Ideas Any Beginners Can DO! (Recipes included)

Most of us have fantasize your partner serving you breakfast in bed, as the aroma of toast and freshly grounded coffee filled up the room. There are only two scenarios. You are the one lying in bed, OR you are the one waking up earlier to make the breakfast. Morons can infer you're the latter (like yours truly) since you're looking at this post.

During the weekends, when I get to work from home, I tend to wake up earlier to whip up a simple breakfast for my family. No breakfast in bed after you have kids by the way, so we had everything proper on the dining table. To save any hassle, most of my recipes here will need less than 20 to 30 minutes of cooking and prep time. Combined. So you can get your beauty sleep as well.

Without further ado, I present to you my easy breakfast ideas that even any noob chefs can make. All this have a pretty high success rate since, you're either using the oven or waffle/pancake machine. If you do not have these equipment, not to worry, most of them can be cooked over the stove as well. If you're one of the noob chefs,  please make sure you have fire insurance beforehand.

Notes:

1. I got to emphasize that all ingredients are flexible. You just pop open your fridge and see what's there to use. As with every recipe, this serves only as a guideline. Like tomatoes? Add more. Don't like you food too sweet? Minus the sugar. Don't have fruits lying around? Sub with raisins. You get it.

2. If you're cooking for more people, apply your primary school multiplication on the recipe.

3. Unless otherwise stated, all ingredients are to be of room temperature. This helps for easy mixing and acquiring the desired texture.

Walking on Sunshine @ Orchard Central, Singapore

Cafes don with dried flowers and greeneries are all the rage. Like any flower-struck girl, this cafe made it to my wife's to-visit list, and like any self-proclaimed great husband, I had to bring her there. Located at Orchard Central, this cafe isn't difficult to find at all. But first timers would be surprise that Walking on Sunshine is actually a... hair salon (as well)! Surprise surprise! Imagine having a nice tea break right after your hair appointment. Both of your hair and tummy will be in for a treat!

Fun fact - it prides itself as Singapore's BEST, MOST INSTAGRAM-WORTHY CAFE.

Duck and Waffle @ Bishopsgate, London

Widely known as one of the best restaurants in London, Duck & Waffle is a high-end restaurant situated at the heart of the city. Duck & Waffle was the first few restaurants that Lady M and I placed on our makan (eating) list. Despite booking a month ahead, we did not manage to get any slots for dinner so we settled for lunch instead. Yeah, that’s how popular it is, so if you are planning for a romantic dinner, plan ahead.

Besides being a 24/7 establishment (yes, you can still get your fix at 4am), it brings your dining experience to a whopping 40-storey experience. After going through a brief security check on the ground floor, we took the lift all the way up – which was really, really fast – but I mean, who needs to fork out extra for a breathtaking view of London?

Aubaine Selfridges @ Oxford Street, London

One of the first few things that we plan for any overseas trip is cafes, and London was no exception. Lady M and I (well, mostly her) were searching for noticeable cafes when Aubaine appeared on her screen. "Wahhh, let's go this one! The lavenders are so beautiful!" Yeah, that was before we found out that the flowers were wisteria. Fake wisteria. Our hopes were dashed but we still went.

Nestled on the second floor of London's favourite mall, Selfridges, this adorable cafe sits in the midst of luxury brands. Don't worry if you can't afford those shoes, there's always a place for you in Aubaine. 

Buttercake n Cream @ Sunset Way, Singapore

A few days ago on Labour Day, I was searching for a nice cafe to treat my mother, as a thanks for bearing labour pains. The true meaning of this day is definitely not as such, but I don't think we need a reason to treat our mummies to a meal. To be honest, I have been to Buttercake n Cream quite a few times, and I still constantly mispronounce it as "buttercream and cake". This cafe is located in one of the ulu (rural) places in West Singapore, Sunset Way, and serves affordable food and pretty desserts.

The Coffee Academics @ Scotts Square, Singapore

Hailed from the land of dim-sums since 2012, The Coffee Academics has just arrived at the shores of Singapore recently. Featured on Buzzfeed as the "25 coffee shops around the world you have to see before you die", it is a no-brainer that limbeh has to partake in this hipster trend as well. Stepping into their 3000sq feet of space at the second floor of Scotts Square is like entering a fairyland - one with glorious, marbled furniture paired against a simple, yet classic backdrop, oh not forgetting the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. First impression? "No wonder it made it to the list."

Recipe: Egg Benedict + Literally Pay Lesser with Paylesser!

What's up my beautiful readers, because today, you are in for a treat. Ever thought of making cafe-grade brunch but you're not confident of your cooking skills? Or perhaps you are afraid to mess up your kitchen? I feel you, because that's what I used to be like this. Cooking is supposed to be fun, delicious, and seeing the smiles (hopefully) of people eating your creations is just worth it.

Okay, I am saving my saliva, or rather my finger strength for something else (if you know what I mean - to make more food la. Don't think dirty hor). Presenting to you limbeh's version of Egg Benedict, completed by toasted English bread, fresh Arugula salad, crispy prosciutto ham, and a beautifully poached egg slathered with homemade hollandaise sauce. Sounds complicated? (Actually it's just putting stuff together. lololol)

Kyushu Pancake Cafe @ Thomson Road, Singapore

Good news pancake fanatics! Kyushu Pancakes (from Japan, duh!) has recently arrived in Singapore's Novena Regency, after expanding their franchise to Taiwan. What's up with the craze, that you have to reserve your seats days or even weeks before (or risk being turned down)? Or, what's so special about their pancakes? For one, their batter is made of a mix of Kyushu's finest grains and wheat, and contains no artificial fragrance, additives or processed starch. Two, their food is seriously #instaworthy. 

The Usual Place @ Jurong East Street, Singapore

Great news to all my fellow Westies, because there exists another neighbourhood gem at Jurong East. - actually it's located about a 10-minute walk from Chinese Garden MRT. Still near la hor? Since its opening in July 2015, I've been eyeing to strike this cafe off my to-try list, and I finally did so. We went to The Usual Place on a Saturday afternoon, and it was almost packed. Wah, heng sia (lucky) got seats. Their concept reminded me of another cafe in the West (Coffee: Nowhere) and the best thing? No service and GST charge! I believe they didn't sneakily add them into the prices though.

Pies & Coffee (II) @ Rochester Mall, Singapore

Before I start this post, I want to wish my readers GONG HEI FATT CHOY, may you huat a lot in this new year.

I've been to Pies & Coffee more times than the number of fingers I have, well, mostly to mug before my examinations with a couple of friends. If you still have no god-damn idea where is this cafe located at Rochester Mall, which is just literally a stone throw away from The Star Vista. Okay, since this is not my first post on Pies & Coffee, I won't bore you with more descriptions of the place. Recently I was there again, with my love of trying new things (including girls, just kidding), here are two more food items that you should try out.

Coffee: NOWHERE @ West Coast Plaza, Singapore

When Coffee: Nowhere came to occupy the huge, empty space left by Fish & Co during mid-2014, I was like "Hallelujah,  praise the good Lord, now we have more cafes in my vicinity". However, it was not until recently that we decided to have our lazy Saturday brunch at this Malaysia-based cafe. Their interior was spacious, with their kitchen and counter right in the middle. Unlike many cafes which discourage diners to chill and study there, Coffee: Nowhere have more than enough seats due to their spacious concept. But when all the seats are packed and you're the only one mugging on your lecture notes, be automatic a bit lah. By the way it is Coffee "Now Here", not Coffee "No where" hor. 

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.

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!

Bon Cafe @ Pattaya-Naklua Road, Thailand

Pad thai, green curry, tom yum goong..? If you're bored of eating these local food in Pattaya, why not head to Bon Cafe for some American-styled breakfast? Opened as a franchise by a Swiss businessman, Bon Cafe, which features al-fresco dining, has a large, lovely space decorated with glass table-tops and rattan chairs, and could seat more than 50 people. From our recent trip, customers are evidently Caucasian men in their late 50s, accompanied by their browner counterparts (aka Pattaya girlfriends). Oh ya, the location to this cafe is not a hassle as it is located at the main roads of North Pattaya, otherwise, ask the ang-mohs. I'm pretty sure Bon Cafe is their hot-spot for bringing their one-night dates for breakfast after a night of excitement. Do what? Watch movies la, you dirty-minded sia.

Roast Coffee and Eatery Part II @ Thong Lor, Bangkok

And.. we are back to Roast! During our recent trip to Thailand, we decided to bring two new friends from Hong Kong to try out what they have to offer. Nothing much had changed since two years ago (probably their menu) on my last visit, Roast is still a gastronomical haven for both coffee and brunch lovers, serving a selection of tantalising international dishes and caffeine crafted by the hands of their seasoned barristas. Amidst their decorations of mostly rustic wood furniture, small pots of greenery, and artistic art pieces hanging from their high ceilings, lies the pride of Roast - a full fledged roast machine glistering in the colours of golden black.

La Baguette @ Naklua-Pattaya, Thailand

Situated along Naklua road in Northern Pattaya, La Baguette is obviously a French-style (because they "la" almost everything) patisserie and cafe that serves top-notch brunch and desserts. We were there during one god-darn hot Saturday and was relieved to sink our asses down on the cushioned seats in the air-conditioned area. If you enjoy the heat of Pattaya or happened to be there when it's cooler, you could sit outside in their al-fresco dining area. With its delectable specialities they have to offer, it is not difficult to comprehend the crowd-size that mostly includes tourists and locals (from Bangkok).

La Baguette is opened in 1998 by Woodlands Group, which owns a number of restaurants and hotels, including La Ferme and Woodlands Hotel and Resort (located just beside La Baguette). I swear I wouldn't mind eating here everyday during my stay, it would probably take weeks to try out everything given their wide array of breads, crepes and other pastries. Oh, they sell some really cutesy sweets and cookies, which are really perfect for gifts. 

Food Tasting: Full of Crab @ East Coast Road, Singapore

I don't usually travel to the East all the way from the West, and when I do, it better be worthwhile, and Full of Crab is definitely one reason to head down. Located along the stretch of East Coast Road (opposite Holy Family Church), Full of Crab is a American-styled restaurant that whips up seafood in their signature sauces, such as the cajun and fully loaded sauce. Even idiots know that crabs are obviously the emphasis at Full of Crab, that's why they have Sri Lankan, Snow and King crabs served right here.