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.

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."

Arteastiq Boutique Tea Lounge @ Mandarin Gallery, Singapore

A month has passed since I last posted about bringing my girlfriend to Tablescape at Movenpick Heritage Hotel (Sentosa) for her birthday, and now this post, well, will be talking about an afternoon we had at Arteastiq on my birthday. Again, I would like to address the lack of updates again, and it's because this month has been filled with assignments and examinations, as one could expect in an undergraduate's life. Following that, I will be making a trip down to Taiwan again next week, and hopefully, could explore some new places and recommend nothing but the best to you guys!

Nevertheless. Arteastiq is located at the fourth level of Mandarin Gallery Orchard, and has a good overview of the buzzling street. Arteastiq (meaning "art of teasing") embodies the essence of luxurious living, completed with modernistic furniture and bar-lounge, offering a great city-getaway for people from all walks of life. Besides encompassing a cafe, diners could go for "art-jamming" to release their artistic juices on the canvas provided (of course, for a fee). Unlimited acrylic paint, sponge and brushes will be provided.

Nadaman @ Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore

With a history since 1830s, the Nadaman group of restaurants has gained renowned reputation on their exceptional culinary arts, transforming the blessings of nature into food. It was a Sunday afternoon when we figured out that we really need to unwind from our busy schedules and what we needed was nothing less than to indulge in a good Japanese meal amidst the serenity. Well, it's high-time to pamper Mum also, so why not.

At Nadaman, signature dishes are meticulously crafted by their Japan-trained chef and like any other Japanese cuisine, presentation are of the highest regards. For value, have a go at their lunch set menus (S$45-75), which includes choices like tempura, wafu steak, unajyu and sashimi. For myself, the wafu steak set lunch (S$55) proved to be extremely satisfying, completed by a good combination of seasonal appetiser, steamed egg custard, salad, pickles, rice and miso soup.

Lei Garden @ Orchard Shopping Centre, Singapore

Hailing from the great land of dim sum, Lei Garden is a chain of high-end Cantonese restaurant that serves fine Chinese dishes and exquisitely crafted dim sum, amidst a classy and contemporary interior. Up to date, Lei Garden has two branches in Singapore - Orchard and Chjimes, both are conveniently located near the train stations. Constantly on the lookout for great dim sum, Lei Garden was a recommendation by both family and friends. Our visit on a Sunday afternoon was welcomed by long waiting lists and dozens of reservations. Fortunately, we were offered al fresco dining (just a nicer word for "outdoors") within 20-minute of waiting.

Their myriad selection of dim sums is quite standard, with the classic range of siew mai, har gau, cheong fun and a variety of steamed buns. Don't worry, picture references are provided if you read on. But for a start, their Custard Buns (S$4.30 for 3) are gastronomically AWESOME. A flowing, good combination of egg yolk custard and salted-egg enveloped in soft, fluffy buns are standard benchmarks for a good custard bun. Well, tick and tick. Custard buns are a must order here.

Jones the Grocer @ ION Orchard, Singapore

Lauching its first outlet in 1996, Jones the Grocer not only set the benchmark for premium Australia gourmet food, the iconic store also hosted Sydney's first and largest walk-in cheese room, serving a wide array of breakfast and brunch items, as well as atas gourmet food and desserts. Unlike other cafe or restaurants, Jones the Grocer serves breakfast daily (8.30am -12pm) with additional brunch hours (12pm - 3pm) on weekends. I am a brunch person, but getting to Orchard before 3pm seems like a tall order for either myself and my partner, as we both love to sleep-in late on weekends. Hence, dinner, it shall be.

The outlet that we patronised for our third year anniversary was nestled at the high floors of ION Orchard. As expected of a gourmet food store, Jones the Grocer has a lovely, elegant ambience with lighted candles and lovely wood furnitures, completed by a cold shelf of assorted drinks, such as fruit juice and wine, and dozens of cheese varieties. 

Marmalade Pantry @ ION Orchard, Singapore

Nestled within the premises of downtown Orchard, TheBigIdea Group's Marmalade Pantry integrates well into Ion's concept with its beautiful open-dining atrium - an enticing haven for diners, filled with chic furnitures and luxury comfort food, such as their legendary cupcakes, weekend brunches and dinner mains such as favourites Truffle Field Mushroom Risotto and Oriental Grilled King Salmon (S$26).

Imperial Treasure Noodle & Congee House @ Orchard Ion, Singapore

"Sorry, we are closed" are the four words that hit me hard when the service staff at Taste Paradise told us. To be honest, we did went all the way to town to try their highly acclaimed Custard Bun and Baked BBQ Pork Pastry. My insatiable craving for good dim sum was growing gradually, I whipped out my iPhone immediately, punched in "best dim sum in Orchard Road", and  lo-and-behold! Imperial Treasure came out next.

Establishing their first restaurants of Imperial Treasure in 2004, it has since garnered numerous ravings and media interviews, and has opened more than 10 eateries and bakeries under Imperial Treasure's trademark, serving authentic Chinese cuisine with great passion.

Looking at their extensive lists of Shanghai/Hong Kong dim sum, Xiao Long Bao (S$4.80 for 4) struck my eyes like a pretty girl across the street (okay, this makes no sense). I mean, who wouldn't love these delicately crafted steamed pork dumplings? Their version has a smooth bouncy texture to the dumpling skin, which is thin, yet strong enough to hold the succulent fillings in. And as with all the good food - One is never enough.

Beanstro by Coffee Bean @ Ngee Ann City, Singapore

Following the huge success of its first American casual dining outlet at Marina Bay Sands, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has recently opened another Beanstro amidst the bustling streets of Orchard. I used to drop by Cedele (which was later replaced by Beanstro) quite a bit for its aromatic coffee and lovely red velvet cakes, hence I was torn down in tears (exaggerating a far bit here) when news of Cedele will be replaced by this weird-sounding cafe reached me. But since what done has been done, I decided to visit Beanstro for a light brunch to see whether it lives up to Cedele's standards.

 

Nam Nam Noodle Bar @ Wheelock Place, Singapore

Opened by well-known Les Amis Group of restaurants, Nam Nam Noodle Bar (probably derived from Vietnam)  features iconic, tantalising Vietnamese favourites, including signature Banh Mi (baguette sandwiches) and delicious rice flour pho, paired with traditional beef/chicken broth or more sophisticated options, such as Flower Crab Noodle Soup or Dry Yellow Curry Duck Noodles.

Similar to Pho Stop's concept of bringing authentic Vietnamese cuisine to our doorsteps, it is not difficult to see why Nam Nam attracts snaking long queues, especially when their weekday lunch set meals (includes fresh southern rolls, a bowl of pho chicken/beef and a cuppa classic Vietnamese iced coffee or lotus tea - S$9.90) is up. Singaporeans, like me would be glad to know that  is absolutely no service charge and that GST is already included in prices listed.

Quang Style Egg Noodle (S$10.90, left) is an interesting combination of pork rib, prawn, fish cake and rice crackers. It has an acquired taste of Chinese mee-pok (yellow flat noodle) mixed with herby leaves among other greens. The crackers look interesting with lots of sesame seeds, but tasted too bland for my liking. On the other hand, Dry Stewed Beef Noodles (S$8.90, right) resembles Cantonese Beef Hor Fun with savoury beef chunks.

Toasted baguettes stuffed with assorted ingredients, are recommended if you prefer a ligher meal or snack. We had the Fish cake and Tofu version (S$5.90), and it tastes surprisingly refreshing. Definitely for the health-conscious as well. Oh, and did I mention that they do not add MSG in their food?

Not particularly "wow-inducing", however if you adore Vietnamese cuisine, drop by Nam Nam Noodle Bar and enjoy a delicious bowl of pho.

Nam Nam Noodle Bar

Tel: 67351488

Opening Hours

Mon - Sun: 08:00 - 21:30

501 Orchard Road

#B2-02

Wheelock Place

Wild Honey @ Scotts Square, Singapore

My foodie friends have been raving about this particular restaurant - "Wild Honey", for quite some time. As always opened to suggestions for good food, I decided to do brunch with girlfriend on a Saturday afternoon. It was approximately 3pm - the both of us have some troubles waking up from our comfortable nest, but who cares, as brunch in Wild Honey is an all-day affair.

 

It turned out that skipping the peak hours was a good choice, as we were being ushered to our table within minutes. A salt-and-pepper haired caucasian in his mid 40s, who seems to be one of the managing staff, was brimming with enthusiasm and all smiles when handing us the menus and explaining bits and pieces of it that we couldn't comprehend - a plus point for service. Ambience-wise, Wild Honey does not lose out as well. It is cozy and intimate, equipped with trendy wooden furnitures lined with cute cushion covers, all placed across a floor of beautiful kaleidoscopic tiles. Lovely.

 

Serving time usually takes more than a while, so it is ideal to enjoy a cup of your favourite brew while waiting for the main courses to arrive, which for my case - it is definitely gonna be good ol Cuppucinno (S$6.00) with a dash of cocoa powder. The froth was thick enough for my liking and just able to leave a foamy moustache every time I sipped it. Opposite from yours truly, Girlfriend doesn't drink coffee, but is a lover of good tea. A pot of Lemon Verbena (S$6.00) served with honey was her choice. But again, maybe that what makes us attract - opposites.

 

 

Soon enough, our sides arrived. The lightly salted Breakfast Potatoes (S$3.50) was a delight to our empty stomach, while the imported Smoked Sturgeon (S$10.00) was probably one of the best seafood dishes I had. Despite the sheer serving size, every single bit of meat presented was well-seasoned, fresh and tasteful.

For the main course, we shared the English Breakfast (S$24.00). Big portions, a good mix of flavours and, playful colours that would brighten anyone's day up - that is how breakfast should be. What more can I ask for with a breakfast like this, which includes slices of brioche, (more) potatoes, streaky bacons, chunky pork sausage, juicy sauteed mushrooms, baked beans, grilled tomato and not to even mention, the basis of breakfast - eggs. No breakfast should be called breakfast without eggs. They are like a compulsary item for breakfast, and for Wild Honey's case, they did it so damn well with their signature fluffy scrambled eggs, that were so full of flavour and eggy goodness.

The total bill comes close to $60, but this is money well-spent. Wild Honey is definitely a place that I see myself coming back again. For your information, they do have another branch located at Madarin Gallery (Orchard) as well.




Wild Honey

Tel: 6636 1816

Operating Hours
Mon - Fri: 09:00 - 22:30
Sat - Sun: 08:00 - 22:30

6 Scotts Rd
#03-01
Scotts Square

Light Up Your Christmas with O'Coffee Club

With this year's theme of "Light Up Your Christmas", O'Coffee Club presents an impressive array of festive ala carte menu and goodies, ranging from home-baked artisanal cookies and yule logcakes to festive drinks, such as the X'mas edition mango vodka juice- Blue Santa Tini (S$12.00). One would be spoilt for choice.

 

Double Berry Rock (S$7.20/slice or S$45/whole) is their newest addition of seasonal logcakes, with "a sensational twist of blissful chocolate with cherry compote and berry Bavarian cream."

 

 

Let It Snow (S$8.00) - "a Christmas edition macaroon mocha ice-blended drink, filled with crushed cookie bits." The Christmas tree cookie looks absolutely adorable at the summit of whipped cream. Hazelnut Caramel Crawing (S$6.50) is not one of the promotions, but I thought it has a festive ring to its brilliant design.

 

Besides pastries and seasonal drinks, O'Coffee Club serves a variety of tantalizing festive treats as well, such as the mouth-watering main courses "Christmas Beef Brisket" and "Chicken and Turkey Mince Roll". For more information about this festive promotion and other in-house menus, please do not hesitate to visit their main site at http://www.ocoffeeclub.com/

 

Do take note that there is a "Longest Whimsical Log Cake Decorating Contest", which will be held at Marina Square on 23 December 2012 with exciting prizes to be given away. For more information: http://www.marinasquare.com.sg/happenings/promotions/view/689

 

Have a Christmas treat like no other - Happy festive dining!

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar @ Wisma Atria, Singapore

Most diners would think twice about good Japanese food being served in a Food Republic restaurant. Girlfriend and yours truly felt pretty skeptical as well, but were eased by the snaking queue forming outside Koh Grill & Sushi Bar. As Singaporeans, our kiasu mindset immediately made an assumption that this sushi bar is definitely a glutton's favourite hunt and thus allow our love for food consume us as we joined the queue.

If there is only one food item you could have, it must be their signature Shiok Maki (S$16.80) and it is called "SHIOK" for a reason - grilled unagi (eel) and soft avocado strips wrapped in a lightly roasted salmon maki, topped with melted cheese, mayonaise and an abundance of flying fish roes. The sinful burst of flavours were incredibly amazing and has since, found a spot in my favourite maki list.

The lightly-salted Salmon Skin (S$4.00) has a delectable crisp to every single bite, which make this dish a good side kick. Come to think of it, salmon skin is a pretty awesome beer snack.

I felt cheated when the Asparagus Buta Maki (S$3.00) arrived on my table, as it was puny in comparison to the usual. However, this delightful wrap of slightly crisped bacon and juicy asparagus was a surprise to the palate.

Gindara Yaki (S$16.00, additional S$2 for rice and miso soup) - cod fillet baked with cheese and flying fish roes, completed with fresh cabbage salad and garlic miso sauce. It was a tad salty for my liking but the sinful, yet addictive combination was too alluring to resist.

If you are looking for good, and yet affordable Japanese cuisine, do look no furthur than Koh Grill and Sushi Bar.

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar

Tel: 6836 0609

Opening Hours
Daily: 11:30 - 22:30

435 Orchard Road
#04-21
Wisma Atria

Pique Nique @ Ngee Ann City, Singapore

God is good. Thousands of centuries ago, he gave homo-sapiens the wisdom, as well as the ability to make the most satisfying desserts for royal events, ceremonies or festive seasons. Nowadays, due to increasing demands and the gastronomic needs for humans, desserts have become the staple for most of us after meals.

 

It's no different for another human like me. Once upon a time, after lunch at newly-opened Japanese Restaurant at Liang Court - Ryoshi Sushi Ikeikemaru, we decided to head down to Ngee Ann City (also known as Takashimaya) for some desserts. With consideration of atas bakery and patisserie "Paul" in mind as well, we decided to go for Pique Nique (pronouced "picnic") as it provides adequate space for the two children to move about.

 

Opened by the former renowned pastry chef of Les Amis Group's Canele, Chef Pang Kok Keong currently helms two restaurants - Antoinette and Pique Nique, under his newly-formed Sugar Daddy Group. With the latter specializing in American cuisine, such as hotdogs, burgers and bacons, this Western bistro also serves freshly-made desserts and an impressive array of pastries, and which we are obviously here for.

 

Eliza had the Hot Iron Waffle (S$11.80) served with whipped cream and a scoop of home-made vanilla ice cream, and finally drizzled with either maple syrup or salty caramel. We had the former, and it was absolutely delicious. The waffle was crispy on the edges and it had a fine balance between eggy and floury texture. It was amazing, and the best thing is the serving size of the waffle. I didn't expected it to be this huge, but yes, here it is.

 

Sticky Dates Pudding (S$12.00) with butterscotch and vanilla ice cream was good also. However, the pudding was warm, but not warm enough to give that "shiok" (ecstatic) feeling when eaten in one mouthful with the cold counterpart. It was a tad too sweet as well, but other than, I finished this whole plate in less than a few minutes.

Chococheese Cupcake (S$5.15) was a nice combination of rich chocolate and creamy cheese filling. It is topped with frosted cheese cream and dark chocolate shavings, and it had just the right sweetness.

Mark has a small appetite with a picky mouth for good food. I could easily tell that this Blueberry Cheesecake (S$8.35) is good when he wolfed down this slice. But again, I do expect no less for that pricing though.

The only disappointment was the Chamomile Tea (S$6.80 for 1 regular-sized pot). It was the least warm and tasteless. Period.

Like stated in the introduction, Pique Nique serves decent American meals at affordable pricing as well. I will definitely visit again when nature calls for a light snack in between meals, not to even mention I have not tried their Whoopie Pies!

Pique Nique

Tel: 62386705

Opening Hours
Daily: 10:00 - 22:00

391A Orchard Road

#B1-01/02

Ngee Ann City

Paradise Dynasty @ Ion Orchard, Singapore

Comfortably nestled in a corner of ION Orchard, Paradise Dynasty’s layout was chic – a fusion between a traditional Chinese theme and contemporary styles. Their outdoor seating area also gives those willing to brave the Singapore weather a pleasant view of orchard road.

During our meal there, I tried the Braised Pork La Mian in Signature Pork Bone Soup and it was delightable. The La Mian, vegetables, pork and other ingredients came in adequate proportions and the broth complemented the dish well. The pork, especially, was delectable and was a fine balance between fat and meat.

On the other hand, Thomas had the Sliced Pork La Mian while Douglas ordered the La Mian with Deep Fried Chicken Cutlet. The noodles we had were basically the same La Mian, made fresh on ordering, which were silky and finely cut.

Douglas’ chicken cutlet came on a separate plate which ensured that the crispy pieces were not soaked in the broth and did not lose its texture. The chicken, though a little oily for my taste, stood out because of its flavour. Though I’m not too sure what sauces or marinades they used, the flavour evoked a sort of home-cooked feeling which I rarely experienced at restaurants.

Last but not least, we also tried Paradise Dynasty’s famous “multi-coloured” Signature Dynasty Xiao Long Baos (S$13.80). Apparently, there was an order we were supposed to follow while eating the Xiao Long Baos but since it was our first time trying their signature dish, our inexperience caused us to overlook the order and our zeal in trying out the different coloured Baos resulted in us simply randomly eating those whose colours looked most appealing. Needless to say, the Xiao Long Baos’ special flavours were not apparent to our palates and resulted in a huge anti-climax. Hence, as a warning to future diners, please be reminded to follow the order.

 Great food with better company Jin Kiat (left) and Douglas

Ultimately, what makes Paradise Dynasty a recommendable place to eat is not just their sumptuous food, but also their prices. Located on the top floor of ION Orchard, one would easily mistake the prices in Paradise Dynasty to rival those of the other posh restaurants in its vicinity. However, our meal this time cost us no more than $20 each - a reasonable price for the quality of food and ambience provided. So if you are looking for good food at a more conservative price in Orchard, why not give Paradise Dynasty a try?

Paradise Dynasty

Tel: +65 6509 9118

Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 11:00 - 22:00
Sat, Sun & PH: 10:00 - 22:00

#04-12

2 Orchard Turn

Ion Orchard

Written and edited by Jin Kiat
Photographs by Thomas Chan

Häagen Dazs @ Wisma Atria, Singapore

Anyone who knows me should have noticed that I have a sweet tooth. Nothing else tempts me more than looking through the glass of a wide array of beautifully coloured ice cream, chocolate, strawberry, vanilla,  cookies & cream, caramel, green tea, tiramisu, strawberry cheesecake, mango, rum & raisin, you name it. Even feasting with your eyes is a blessing.

Looking at their menu to find that perfect dessert to satisfy your quench, one does not simply miss one of their greatest creation, "Brownie Celebration" -  two scoops of melting Chocolate and Belgian ice cream on a chunk of warm brownie, complemented by fresh strawberry slices on a bed of whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce.

Truly a celebration indeed.

Next up, we had another of their creations - "Paradise", it consists of Dark Chocolate Orange, Belgian Chocolate, Tiramisu and Macadamia Nut ice cream, Raspberry Sorbet and Mango Sorbet between crispy waffle slices, topped with chocolate strips and nuts. I expected no less from their signature ice cream, however their Mango and Strawberry sorbet were mediocre, it tasted like a standard supermaket product.





Luckily the classic "Banana Split" saves the day. This is indeed another timeless creation of Vanilla, Strawberry and Chocolate ice cream served with caramel banana, strawberries and crispy waffle.



Häagen Dazs truly lives up to its name as a world of indulgence.

Häagen Dazs

Tel: +65 6836 5418

Opening Hours

Sun – Thu: 10am – 10pm
Fri – Sat & PH Eve: 10am – 12am

435 Orchard Road

#03-12/12A

Wisma Atria