Crispy Original Xiao Long Bao ($7.80)
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New product from @paradisegrpsg to up their xlb game by panfrying the very delicate dumplings carrying a mouthful of umami superior stock. I loved the combination of a slightly crispy base with the very juicy meat filling. Also deserving mention is the Shanghai style Sweet and Sour Crispy Fish ($11.80) for its tangy flavour and crispy bite.

Collective Platter ($26)
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@6lettercoffee ‘s signature platter for 2 comprises the 6nature wings, honey wings, crisscut sweet potato fries and salad with housemade sauce. The serving was definitely generous and my first time trying criss-cut sweet potato fries which was superb with its light crispy exterior. Both flavour of wings had a crusty crispy skin but in terms of flavour, i preferred the signature version which is mainly soy flavoured. Best part about the wings for me is that they are all midjoints! Side note is that the space here is very pretty with greens placed everywhere in the cafe. Definitely a good spot for chilling on weekends.

Daizu’s Bara Chirashi ($18). This dish didn’t sit so well with us as we found the rice a little dry and hard and the fish were not seasoned enough imo. The quantity of fish though was generous so that’s a plus.

Chilli Softshell Crab with Brioche Sticks ($14)
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House speciality at newly opened @daizu.cafe , this is a must order. Chilli crab sauce is tangy and mildly spicy and the toasted brioches sticks are light and crispy, the perfect pairing to mop up all the sauce!

Spicy Mindy’s Chicken ($19.50)
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Pasta perfectly cooked @gardenslug seasoned with chilli, lots of lime leaves and a generous amount of chicken chunks. I have never been disappointed every visit here. Also super in love with the Frothy Nutella Shake ($8.50). So sinful but wickedly delicious.

J ($13.50)
Koide ($10.50)
Teh ($9.50)
Fromage ($13.50)
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Newly reopened @kkisweets located at Raffles Hotel is yet another level up from their previous spaces at An Siang and SOTA. Be greeted with a minimalist space of japanese accents and lots of green with relaxing soft music in the background. The available cakes are more like art pieces, each painstakingly assembled only upon your arrival. My favourite art piece is the J resembling a flowerpot and carrying flavours of black sesame, yuzu and matcha. My favourite in terms of taste is definitely Teh which is an earl grey and hazelnut cake and pear compote. All the cakes weren’t overly sweet and paired well with sencha tea. Reservations for seats and the cake selection is required prior to visiting.

Afternoon High Tea ($46/pax)
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Probably one of the best ones I’ve been to at L’expresso located @goodwoodparkhotelsg . This ala carte buffet’s notables include the sea shrimp open sandwich, tuna salad croissant, scones served warm@with clotted cream and jam and the beef wellington. The beef wellington was probably my ultimate favourite with its very tender beef drizzled with red wine sauce. The selection of TWG teas is equally extensive and the Goodwood exclusive Legacy Blend 120 is a must try. They are always packed so early reservations is a must. Expect outdoor seating to be quite warm when the sun is out even with multiple ceiling fans. We got lucky and were offered indoor seats soon after our first orders arrived.

Sideways Omelette ($25)
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Probably shocking at first instance that this omelette @slate.singapore is so steep but the ingredients make up for it. 110g of blue swimmer crab meat and smoked crab fat amps this omelette up. With its oozy umami filling, this omelette is nothing short of pure decadence. Also enjoyed the the tangy salad on the side. Another must order here is their fries. Think long john silvers but even better served with their housemade sambal mayo. We requested for additional servings of the mayo just because this was such a perfect pair.

Elijah Pies ($23/box)
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For peeps wanting pretty and delicious pies, @elijahpies is a great choice. Each bitesize pie may be petite in appearance but delivers an impressive flavour burst. I also really loved the designs of the pies. My personal favourite has to be the wildberry lavender pie. It is not too sweet with traces of berry swirls and floral scent. Their pies also come in large sizes so you can try out the flavours from this sampling box first before deciding.

Bunon Kara-age ($15)
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A collab between Bunon from Japan and @winervlt , this was a must order recommendation by the staff which has been commended by japanese diners as the best kara-age in Singapore. With a light and crispy exterior and tender juicy chicken thigh chunks, I would say one of the best fried chicken I’ve had. Also in picture is the homemade sourdough served with whipped seaweed butter ($9) which while pricey is also so heavenly. We slathered our bread with an excessive amount of the butter just to mop up the serving so this was maximum shiokness.

Sakura Smoke Artichoke & Pear Compote
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Awesome new gelato kid in the hood serving up very unique flavours @gelatolabo . Think this sakura smoked artichoke & pear compote. The smokiness really hits the tastebuds and the savouriness of this flavour is balanced by that sweetness from the pear. I would say this is one of the few places I actually have a keen interest to try all the flavours. We also had the Columbian cold brew with cookie butter bits and the bitterness of the coffee complemented the sweetness of the bits perfectly. Definitely have a go at the lavender cone too ($1.40). The floral aroma is very distinct. So whilst the flavours are great, I do feel that the texture of the gelato can be worked on as it falls on the crumbly end of the spectrum. The cone may also be a bit too thin so while it is definitely freshly made and crispy, it loses its crunch quickly with 2 scoops of ice cream sitting in it.

Special Tea ($5)
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Cold brewed hojicha that’s perfumed with orange zest and an orange peel. A very unique take on hojicha that works.