On the savoury front, we got the Warung Pork Ribs ($27) which brought us right back to Bali. The glaze was a Balinese bbq inspiration, served with a side of pickled cauliflower & lime. Although simple-looking, the execution was great, with fall off the bone meat & you licking your fingers after each rib is done.
Taking over the space that used to be Kilo, this first floor outdoor space at Kampong Bahru is tucked in an old building along the Kallang River & Kallang Park.
On the menu, a weekend brunch menu is curated to serve up comforting, hearty dishes that are full of flavour, ranging from classics to all time brunch favourites.
We got a brunch staple of Banana French Toast ($19)-fluffy thick toast coated with cinnamon sugar, paired with raspberry, coconut crumble, caramelised bananas & maple syrup. Top up $4 for a generous scoop of coconut sorbet to complete the dish & you've got yourself a sweet, refreshing dish that you won't say no to.
If you're a fan of bucatini pasta, this is for you! If you're unfamiliar with the pasta type, it's like a sloppy straw that's the perfect vessel for anything saucy.
The smoked bucatini came with pork ragu bianco, soffrito & bone marrow. The extremely flavourful sauce was all you needed for the vessel to make it a great meal. A definite must order!
It's not everyday that you'd order a decaf, but when you're heavily pregnant & really want coffee, this has got to do.
The Brazil Mogiana Decaf is washed naturally, and comes with a medium body & low acidity. Flavour wise, as with all Brazilian beans; it was a balance between nutty & chocolatey notes, making it really easy to drink & enjoyable. Be it iced or hot, both option tastes really good!
Changing the scene of Mee Hoon Kway, aka freshly pulled dough slices, Jiak Song has popped up all over our tiny island and bringing in a fresh perspective of this simple dish.
Easily one of my go-to dishes when I'm not sure what to get, these hand pulled slices are perfectly cooked, with that slight chew which makes it extremely enjoyable. Pair it with minced pork, handmade juicy pork balls, crispy ikan bilis & dark soy sauce-this dish is simple yet extremely satisfying.
Also to add, their soup is on a whole other level. The first scoop sends you to wok hei heaven with that charcoal-ed taste tingling every corner of your tastebud. They also crack an egg into your soup, giving you that silky egg texture with every spoonful.
When we first saw this menu, we were taken aback! Jackfruit Pork...interesting 🤔🤔
We were then introduced to the dish by the staff. They shared that it was to mimic pork & what they did was to use jackfruit which was minced to create the same consistency as a minced pork patty. On the outside, it does look like a regular good ol' pork patty, except that it was slightly pale & doesn't char as well. Once you cut into it, you'd notice the tiny specs of yellow, which gave away that it's definitely not 100% meat. Similar to the Luncheon Burger, this Jackfruit Pork burger is also vegan friendly, Non-GMO, halal & Buddhist Vegetarian.
The buns too were the same, made with flour & olive oil instead of butter. The patty unfortunately, wasn't as juicy as a pork patty would usually be, but still a good alternative to those who enjoys something that mimics pork & a healthier option.
If you served me this burger without telling me it's a vegan, meat-free option, I would not have realised.
Pacto by Parchmen have recently expanded their mains menu to include vegan-friendly products which are non-GMO, Buddhist Vegetarian, Halal & Soy-based--catering to the health conscious & those seeking alternatives. Working with local companies to bring in such alternatives, they wish to spread the concept of these products & show that there's still options of it being really tasty! Catering to the crowd that frequents the area, such options are definitely a plus!
The Luncheon Burger was juicy, like any luncheon meat, but after knowing, you'd realised the subtle taste of soy (although not much) when you bite into it. The buns are made from flour, but with olive oil instead of butter, allowing it to be crispy when toasted. Paired with a side of fresh greens & almonds, this option is a great refreshing alternative to the usual.
Easily one of my favourite ice cream & waffles parlour around, Creamier has maintained its consistency since day one with its classic yet creamy ice cream flavours & perfectly crisp waffles.
The Mango Passionfruit Sorbet is perfect for the sweltering Singapore weather-sour, tangy and icy cold, this combination will definitely perk you up! Pair it with their nutty creamy roasted pistachio which is so well-balanced with that hint of saltiness. Add them to a cube of freshly baked waffles for that additional crunch & you've got the perfect dessert!
The outlet at Gillman Barracks serves them on corn ware due to the high influx of customers, which allows them to turnover the space & cutleries quicker. So don't be surprised when you visit the next time round & wonder why you aren't served the usual ceramic white plates & metal cutlery.
A comforting cuppa of hot white coffee to wash down the cold scoops of ice cream is the perfect way to end off the meal.
Using coffee beans from PPP Coffee, the Neighbourhood Blend is a blend between Pacum Estate Bourbon and Ethiopian Suki Quoto--giving you that chocolatey & fruity finish. With milk, the cacao stands out a lil' more, making it a balanced cuppa that's easily accepted by everyone.
Finally visited Habitat Coffee's latest location after it moved out of the neighbourhood along Upper Thomson Road.
The new interior at Lavender with its curved rims & high ceiling brought about a different look to the venue.
On the menu, they had expanded it quite a fair bit, catering to the all-day dining folks & those popping by just got tea & snacks.
We decided to order their Poutine Fries as I was feeling a lil' peckish & it's something that most places would not offer. The generous portion of brown sauce is ladled over crispy shoestring fries and topped with grated parmesan. While it was slightly salty (really slight), having a couple of plain fries without the gravy does help to balance out the saltiness a little.
On the side, wash it down with your coffee of choice, or with the variety of sweets!
Newly opened Birds of Paradise (Beach) is conveniently located along Beach Road, a couple doors down from the new The Coconut Club flagship!
The minimalistic interior is a gorgeous sight paired with the aromatics of freshly baked thyme cones as you enter the store.
Serving up 18 unique flavours consisting of favourites like the White Chrysanthemum, Strawberry Basil to simple flavours like their Mango Sorbet and Pistachio, I went for their Lychee Raspberry in a thyme cone!
The sweetness of the lychee, layered with the tartness of the raspberry was comforting and de lightly amidst the sweltering heat. Adding on flavour & crunch is their thyme cone which is not to be missed!
With the whole squid grilled over apple-wood & oak-wood charcoal fire, not only does your food smell good, the extra smokiness can be tasted as well through each piece, or in this case, slice of the squid.
The charcoal-grilled squid's natural sweetness is being enhanced through the grilling process, allowing each slice to be perfectly cooked, slightly springy in bite without being overly chewy.
The gorgeous topped with passionfruit dressing and chives. The unique combination of passionfruit dressing brings tartness to the dish between each bite, and helps you to wipe it clean almost instantly!
Pro-tip: order a side of sourdough to help wipe up the remaining dressing, cause it's just that tasty.
