Japalang Boleh

Had my short getaway from work! JB was fun as usual. Tour…start~ Preferred the DTF’s one though~

Wanted to get the fried eel but my mum wasn’t ambitious enough so we got this cold dish instead.

The fried rice was comparable to DTF’s though ^^

And I finally knew what 汤包 is!

You eat it like that! It’s crab roe soup inside but my parents found it too fishy for their liking, so I finished the whole thing hehe.

Saw these 2 snowmen made of styrofoam in the hotel lobby. The hotel placed them everywhere and anywhere really HAHAH

This is like a must eat in JB. Penang laksa shiokkk~

Never liked tuna but it tasted great here. It is as unhealthy as it looks but cravings overpower health sometimes.

Went for dinner, once again this is a must eat ^^ The broths were really good and the chili is a must have too! No chili no life.

Prices go by the colour on each stick. The previous lok lok place was nicer though. Shall go back there next time. On the other hand, all cleared!

The best part of this trip is nua-ing at the hotel. Love my htc camera at times like these!

So we had supper after nua-ing. Dried scallop porridge here looks plain but looks can lie. This is superb. In my previous trip I had this twice a day, cos it is THAT good.

The Auntie Anne’s in JB is literally half price compared to SG’s. Same pricings, different value. TADA.

Some amazing durian puffs there. The last time I had such good durian puffs was the one in Katong ages ago. Yumz

Final meal before heading back the next day. I knew of these wonderful noodles through a korean food program. Has been proven that it is a good dish after eating heaty stuff. I can’t remember the reason but anyway presenting to you, buckwheat noodles!

It looks like soba at first sight but these noodles are more tangy than soba and the broth is drinkable. It’s in fact sweet yet sour at the same time and its combination with the noodles is nothing but satisfaction. Yup, I do feel like I’m eating from a basin though.

Bye JB I’ll be back for you again, when I have accumulated enough time off.

Eat/Drink/Art

Of course, there are people who did all of the above. Located just a few units from Penny University, Mad Nest had never caught my eye until its EatDrinkArt Exhibition which my cousin took part in.

But wait, food first.

photo credits: http://streething.com/news/lifestyle/5228/mad-nest-restaurant-bar-east-coast-road-singapore/
photo credits: http://streething.com/news/lifestyle/5228/mad-nest-restaurant-bar-east-coast-road-singapore/

Serving an eclectic array of cuisine, it was either a break or make for this place. While some dishes turned out better than the rest, the ambiance was crowned as the wow factor at the end of the day.

Mad Nest was previously known as Mad Thai and as the name suggested, it served mainly Thai food before fusion took its spot. Coincidentally, all our main dishes that day happened to be Thai.

The Tom Yum Chicken Soup felt a little too choppy for me. Though the broth was thick, the richness in spices did not quite hit the mark. For someone who preferred strong-flavored food, Nakhon Kitchen definitely did better with their much cheaper Tom Yum soup. 赞啦！

Tom Yum Seafood Rice on the other hand was a tad too salty for me despite its generous portion. However, it made an awesome combination to the taste buds with the Tom Yum chicken soup. If only it was spicier…

I was in the mood for some sliced fish that day hence my order- Rice set with Ginger Sliced Fish. While the portion of the sauce could barely suffice me, the thickness of it was cooked to the right degree. The downside was that it was a little too cold and too bland to eat with rice. Yes, picky eater is me. The sliced fish was nothing out of the ordinary but the egg totally made my day. The entire yolk was runny, just like how I like my eggs to be! Awesome possum ^^. Personally, I still preferred the Sliced Fish rice set I had at the zi char stall in Bedok Hawker Centre. Tastier sauce, fresher fish, generous portion, and most importantly CHEAP.

Despite a table full of Thai dishes, none could be compared to the Jap side dish, Oishii Maki. From the grilled eel to the homemade mayo, it was an addictive dish which left every one of us scraping the plate for more. With only 8 pieces for total of $16, pricey is the word but this had got to be one of the best sushi I ever had. Even an avocado anti-fan like me love it, what more can you say?

Similar to Artistry, Mad Nest provided an avenue for local artists in showcasing their talents. It created an ambiance similar to art galleries, if only one could ignore  whiff of food from the table beside yours. With the large space dedicated to the patrons, it never got too noisy or uncomfortable to catch up with friends.

If I will make a 2nd visit? Maybe, if I’m feeling rich enough to indulge in the Oishii Maki but I’ll probably spend as much time as the first in choosing my mains. Secluded location but if you’re down at Penny for a cup of coffee, why not?

378/380 EAST COAST ROAD SINGAPORE 428986

Mon — Fri: 4pm to 1am
Sat, Sun & Public Holiday: 11am to 1am

FB: https://www.facebook.com/MADNEST.sg

Not lavender latte

Lavender was out of my way all along but since I was there to run some errands, might as well relish the inner cafe hopper inside me yup? While there are still some cafes in the area under my radar, I shall explore them during my next visit.

1. The Tiramisu Hero

After countless tries of brunch, I’m finally up for some sweet treats. Fused with whipped mascarpone cheese for every flavor on the menu, this classic Italian dessert left me craving for a richer taste.

While I like the hit of caffeine upon my first mouth, I would better appreciate a dryer texture for the cake itself. A sweet tooth would probably choose cinnamon/chocolate flavor over my choice of Classic. The safe choice of packaging would probably be the MommaHero ( S$7.50) which happened to be their signature mascot. ( oh boy it’s really cute)

My cousin and I also gave the Truffle Eggs Bacon Roll(S$10.50) a shot. While it sure is a pricy dish, I gave a 9/10 for its uniqueness. I was almost fooled by the scrambled egg-liked texture, for the inside had the exact taste of steam eggs. Alongside the  bacon and a generous portion of mushrooms, it created a distinctive taste and name for itself. Unfortunately, not all the insides of the 3 pieces were cooked to the right degree; in fact they were slightly overcooked. One small step left to perfection though!

Similarly to many cafes out there, they sell accessories and even coffee beans at the entrance. Of course, what impressed me the most is the dedication in the interior despite the limited space. From covering the ‘frontyard’ with artifical grass to quirky images of Sir Antonio( yes that Roman cat) on the ceiling, the vintage light bulbs on the ladders gave off a cozy setting. While I am pretty sure they are busy during dinner, it is still a worthy cafe to drop by during a lazy weekday afternoon.

121 Tyrwhitt Road Singapore 207548

Mon-Tue, Thu-Sun: 11am-10pm

https://www.facebook.com/TheTiramisuHero/timeline

2. Chye Seng Huat Hardware

Despite it being a coffee bar, even a coffee addict like me craves for other beverages at times. While I had heard awesome reviews about the iced dip coffee, the insane weather made me crave for something else refreshing. As a result, I went for the home made iced lemonade(S$5) instead.

And it was my best choice of the day.

The almighty Mr Sun probably contributed to my love for this drink but I was truly overwhelmed by it. When the sourness kicked in upon the first sip, I was real thankful for the mint leaves, which gave a sweet after taste! I love chewing mint leaves so I was glad they added a few of it :>

I was tempted by the smoked salmon sandwich I saw online but I was just plain unlucky. They had changed the menu and apparently they took this supposed awesome dish away. Darn it.

My cousin and I ended up with The Huat Breakfast (S$17). The only highlight of the dish was probably the over-easy eggs which I thought was pretty well done!  It sure was a filling portion but just like many reviews had mentioned, coffee overrides food here. It wasn’t all that satisfying but I guess was satisfactory enough.

Being a popular cafe itself, the dimly-lit cafe and never-ending crowd apparently didn’t stop cafe hoppers from visiting. One thing that intrigued me the most was to the way to enter the cafe itself. Enter not by what you deem as the main door, but instead the metal gates!

Nice twist there.

150 Tyrwhitt Road Singapore 207563

Tue – Fri: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

Sat – Sun: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm

https://www.facebook.com/ChyeSengHuatHardware

On a side note, I’m into Lim Kim recently so here’s a song!

HAJI LANE X BALI LANE

Cafe hopping by region once again, this time to the better hidden cafes.

1. Shop Wonderland

Shop wonderland is an easily missed shops due to the generous lush of greenery at its front door. With a cafe on a ground floor and a unique retail store upstairs, shop wonderful sure is a heaven for detailed planners just like how its name suggested. Items on sale ranged from bouquets of baby breaths to teapots, where vintage furniture is at its best form.

Except for the fact that the cafe had limited seats, the interior gave off a an individualistic feel. The colourful hanging lights and vintage furniture sure set the mood right for a cafe visit to this shop :> Almost anything on display is for sale , a similar concept to Plain Vanilla Bakery.

While the shop sells a wide array of cakes and sweet stuff,  my friend and I settled for their  Quiche Lorraine ( S$7.50). I was skeptical about their salt and vinegar crisps (served alongside every savory) initially but the taste gave me a pleasant surprise. With the saltiness and sourness complementing each other seamlessly, I found myself craving for more. The quiche on the other hand was served hot and I thought it was a smart move. While it might be a little oily, I personally liked the crust- the sort of crust that crumble in your mouth! They were generous with the slices of bacon and thankfully they were baked to the right degree. As someone who prefers strong flavoured food, I thought the cafe had managed the taste really well. Due to the oil that was already present, adding too much a cheese would be displeasing and vice versa. It was an addictive taste and because the quiche was shared between my friend and I, we finished it up in no time. It definitely was worth the try!

My friend gave the babycino (S$3.50) a try and I had to say it looked pretty tempting! Topping off the frothy milk with cocoa, it was a warm drink which filled the stomach. More cafes are having such a drink on their menu so be sure to check them out when you aren’t in the mood for any coffee or tea.

37 Haji Lane Singapore 189230

10am-8pm

FB: https://www.facebook.com/wonderlandfordetailedplanners

cr: http://www.eatprayflying.com/tag/cad-cafe/

2. CAD cafe

It is almost impossible to miss CAD cafe. Located at a bent along haji lane, the wall of graffiti will capture your attention in a way or another. While it aims to be a gallery cafe, it decors did felt a little out of place to me. With street art and well elaborated graffiti painted outside the cafe, the inside wall held up neatly framed portraits which spelled a different form. The furniture and lighting felt vintage and it seemed as if the cafe could not decided on which art style to go towards.

Interior aside, I ordered a Smoked Salmon Bagel(S$12). While the wait was horrendously long, it was my first attempt chomping down a bagel. The appearance did not look any special but the best part was the generous amount of salmon. With the thinly sliced salmon stacking upon each other, it was a rather filling meal though the bagel was honestly a little too hard for me. Or maybe I am just not a bagel person. On the side note, I thought that having grapes as the sides was an awesome idea. The refreshing squirts of juices washed out the taste of caper cream cheese, a nice end to comfort food.

Though I did not go for any drinks, coffee seemed to be its specialty so I guess it would be a safe choice for all the cafe hoppers out there!

23 Haji Lane,  Singapore 189216

Mon: Closed

Tue – Wed: 08.00 – 22.00

Thurs – Fri: 08.00 – 12.00am

Sat: 10.00 – 12.00am

Sun & Public Holiday: 10.00 – 22.00

FB: https://www.facebook.com/coffeeartdesign

3. Stateland Cafe

You know it is opened by young entrepreneurs the moment you stepped in. Unexpectedly, it is indeed founded by 3 guys and this cafe aimed to bring out the industrial feel through its dark walls and black and white portraits.  Just when you thought this cafe was fresh enough with the concept they chose, wait till you taste the food. While the menu included the classic Eggs Benedict and French Toast, they had included their house special red velvet waffles ( which I had yet to try) and their honey thick toast.

My friend and I shared the Classic Honey Toast ( S$11.90) and i had say this was the best treasure of the day. Served with a plate full of contrasting flavours, I was on cloud nine. The toast was served fresh and hot but the ice cream cooled it right before its entry into your mouth. The berries were slightly sour but the honey supplemented some sweetness into it. Flavours on complete opposite ends blended well with each other and it sure was a work of art.

When the menu mentioned THICK toast, it was literally thick. With a slight crisp on the outside, the inside was surprisingly moist. As far as I’ve known, I had not found any similar dishes and it sure is a must try in the house. With sweetness added to a supposed savoury dish, it gave me a warm fuzzy feeling and I would definitely be back for more :>

For a newly opened cafe this year, the existing crowd had already made this cafe reputable. With Stateland steadily climbing its way up, do pay a visit for this unique cafe before it really gets too crowded!

30 Bali Lane Singapore 189866

Mon, Wed, Thu 12pm – 10pm

Sat 12pm – 12am

Sundays: 12pm – 10pm

FB: https://www.facebook.com/statelandcafe

” I’m almost always hungry.”

Payday means it’s time for some cafe hopping but I restrained myself to 2 cafes this time round, both in the upp thomson region. It was a weekend coupled with an insane weather so the crowd itself was a major turn off in hopping several cafes.

First up, I finally had my share of experience at Habitat Coffee. It is right smacked in the middle amongst the row of shophouses along the main road and can be easily spotted from the bus stop. As such, business is crazily good especially on weekends and I have to wait 45 mins for a seat.

Selling comfort food at an affordable price is the 1st milestone for a cafe. However fusion of food quality and its theme earned the title of a successful cafe in my opinion. While I was splendidly impressed by the brunch, some speculation aroused regarding the quality of coffee. But again, coffee itself is subjective and personally I thought 40 Hands did better.

Given the name of the cafe itself, I was prepared for some thick and smooth coffee. Besides the pretty coffee art, I felt like my flat white was too thin. Compared to the latte I ordered at 40 Hands previously, this cup of flat white didn’t quite hit the mark. With less foam and milk, coffee itself was supposed to stand out but no, fragrance and thickness of coffee at 40 Hands did a better job.

On the other hand, this cafe knew how to do brunch right. My friend ordered The Big Ben($14) in which I thought the portion was just right. A classic brunch but I felt that their scrambled eggs was much better than the one I had at Canopy Dining and Bar previously. It had a lighter taste but was also smoother and softer. And that means 1 thing- it was cooked to the right degree. Cudos to that!

I ordered Eggs Tomato Relish($15) and it definitely didn’t fall short of my expectations. From presentation to quality of food, it now holds the no. 1 spot on my favourite brunch list. Having a choice between scrambled and runny eggs, I chose the latter for I was worried my scrambled eggs would be overcooked on a pan. Using a wooden board as a base, toast was served alongside a pan of tomato sauce with eggs, baby spinach and bacon. Finally something different from the usual poached eggs on toast or smoked salmon. Because the sweet yet slightly sour paste was served in a pan, it was kept warm throughout my meal and together with runny eggs on toast, it is the best combination thus far.

The ambience was a little lacking probably because of the brunch crowd but the staff were friendly midst their business. It is a well-light cafe but I would recommend to visit it on weekdays instead.

233 Upp Thomson Road SINGAPORE 574355

http://www.habitatcoffee.com.sg/

 

Little Part 1 cafe was next on my list and it is pretty well hidden considering its location being in a small alley. It was nearly empty when I visited and this indie cafe gave me a passive feel right away under its dimly lit lights. I would say it is the perfect place to relax even on weekends afternoon.

We ordered Original Spicy Buffalo Wings($10.90) which came together with a dip. Though it wasn’t the best wings I had, it sure had a unique taste which left me craving for more. The splash of spiciness and tinge of sourness  together with the crisp of the skin was certainly inviting.

I really like the ambience here in Little Part 1 cafe from its wall of photos to its signature quote ” I’m almost always hungry”. Funny as it seems, it makes me want to keep this cafe as a hideout given the unique flavour of the restaurant.  However, with the relatively new branch of Carpenter and Cook next door, I can literally feel the crowd swarming the place soon. Before that happens, pay a visit before it’s too late!

15 Jasmine Road SINGAPORE 576584

http://www.littlepart1cafe.com.sg/  (reservation can be made)

 

Best thing about both restaurants: No service charge or GST ^^

Tiong Baru Adventure Round 1!

I’ve heard tiong baru is a neighbourhood of cafes and I’ve seen countless reviews on them. I knew I would set foot in that estate someday and it so happened to be yesterday. I merely hopped 3 cafes before the weather turned for the worst so chances are I’m going back there again for round 2. As for now, here’s the review for round 1!

(photo cr: http://danielfooddiary.com/)

Unlike previous cafe hopping sessions, in which our first or last stop had a main course, we went for small bites this time round. The first cafe we went to was partly accounted for the lack of main courses, because the sides actually made us half full. PoTeaTo as the name suggests, serves potato in different forms, a wide range of tea and brunch.

It is a shop located at a corner but isn’t easy to miss due to its well lit and eye-catching logo.

 

We tried the sweet potato fries (S$7.00) and the hand sliced potato chips (S$6.00). My advice is do not underestimate the portion of these small bites, they are filling, partly because they are deep-fried but the cooks had cleverly spiced things up. The thai chili which came alongside sweet potato fries served as a subtle appetizer, leaving one crave for more. The quality of those fries hit the mark as well as the flour did not override the taste of sweet potato. For someone who was never a fan of sweet potatoes, I would gladly come back again for this same basket of fries.

Several blogs mentioned that the potato chips are made from US Russet potatoes. While I know nuts about potatoes, one thing I am sure of is that these chips are definitely different from those in the supermarkets. In fact, they are way way different. With the fresh chips sliced to the right thinness coupled with the 2 dips available, they make the purrrrrrfect combination. I had been trying to make out the taste of the 2 dips throughout my meal but my taste buds just didn’t want to cooperate. The white sauce had a mixture of mustard and cheesy taste which results in a surprsingly light taste. In fact, it was thick and VERY creamy, something I really like. On the contrary, the red sauce was slightly watery but had a stronger taste. It has a taste similar to braised pork stew from lola’s cafe. ( full review here)

As I was feeling hot and sweaty from sourcing the cafe, I ordered a Iced Lemon Green Tea (S$5.00) while my friend ordered Iced Lemon Tea ($5.00). After taking a long sip from mine which was refreshing yet slightly sweet, the iced lemon tea was exceptionally sour for me. I stuck to mine right till the end. HEHE. However given its limited seats, it seems to me a cafe for small gatherings while big groups should just head over to places like Open Door Policy or Social Haus across the street.

I see myself coming back to this cafe again, given its quiet surroundings (for some reason it’s actually not packed) and I’ll make sure to try their pot of tea on my next visit. (:

Website here

(photo cr: http://sangsara.net/)

(photo cr: Forty Hands Facebook page)

We headed over to Forty Hands which was just 2 shops away from poTeaTo. Unlike the latter, the crowd in Forty Hands was similar to that of Penny University. However, as it was a 2-storey cafe, seats were not an issue.

 

Feeling full from potatoes, we decided to just have a cup of coffee since it is their specialty.  I had a latte (S$5.00) and my verdict is- 40 Hands does coffee right. It was served with the right temperature ( starbucks had it too hot, Orlio had it too cold), coated with the right fragrance (yet not too strong) and topped with a pretty latte art. Now I know why not everyone can be a barista.

I heard that Forty Hands serve really good breakfast as well so I guess my menu planned had already been planned on my next visit! 😛

Website here

(photo cr: http://www.manilafashionobserver.com/)

The next cafe in the line was Plain Vanilla Bakery and I really applaud the owner for putting in such much effort in the interior. From the entrance till the end of the shop, I was entranced and above all, impressed. It was modern yet vintage and well to put it simply, you just have to see it with your own eyes.

I tried the Dark Chocolate Ganache (S$3.50) and together with cute cutlery, it is of no doubt I’ll give this bakery a 10/10. The dark chocolate bits were crunchy but the cupcake tasted fluffy on the inside. It had a surprisingly light taste despite the supposed strong flavour of dark chocolate.  I was really tempted to give the salted caramel tart a shot but well, I shall leave that to next time. To top it off, I ordered a Sparkling Rosemary Lemonade( S$5.00), a perfect drink for the humid weather.

website here

There are countless of cafes and bistros in Tiong Baru, especially along Yong Siak Street. The most amazing discovery of all is that none of the cafes are fighting for the same pie, a plus point for us cafe hoppers due to the myriad range of food available in just 1 single street. It may look like an ordinary alley with shop houses along the road but with unique cafes and vintage books stores, it sure is a street that will make your day fulfilling!

On the side note, I should really start bringing a camera the next time I go cafe hopping.

session 2!

lesson learnt from cafe hopping session 1: never visit cafes on mondays or tuesdays since they are most likely closed

sharon and i did learn our lesson indeed! cafe hopping once again with this big eater friend of mine and we managed to visit the cafes we missed out on the previous session.

stop 1: Penny University

An artisanal coffee cafe near East Coast Road which is a brunch avenue. It is pretty easy to find since its location is along the main road. personally the ambience is really good, given that it went for the vintage feel. its furniture are usually dark-coloured and the table number is presented with a stand and an inverted cup. (lamp!) quite cute of them to do that actually!

i wasn’t expecting anything from the cinnamon hot chocolate so my first taste of it was really good. as i only took a sip or 2, i am not sure if one will actually get sick of the whole cup. right, the chocolate is thick but the cinnamon gave off its distinctive taste as well. to be honest, i will share this with a friend and not drink it alone though.

pardon the shitty photo, i was too excited to try it. i ordered the turkish eggs and it came with such a gigantic bowl, it was a bit of an exaggeration. the sauce is spicy yet sour due to the whipped yougurt present. however, i think that it tastes best when i mix the yolk of the poached eggs with the sauce. it turned more creamy and less sour than before. the toast provided was really good i wished i had more ): honestly, i would say that it is an innovative dish but a little too fancy for me with a price of $8.

the eggs on toast is above average, and i had to say that the quality of the scrambled eggs is better than canopy dining and bar. it is less soggy and saltiness is just nice, coupled with the toast beneath it. relatively small portion but comes with a decent price of $4.50!

stop 2: Wimbly Lu Chocolates

we wanted to visit this cafe in session 1 but it’s a pity it was closed on that day ( closed every Mondays). finally managed to try this cafe though i’ve heard many reviews that it is over-rated. i would say that it is relatively well hidden among the terrace houses in jalan riang, but the food quality is definitely a pleasant reward.

there is a total of 6 pieces of chicken nuggets in here initially but my friend ate one before i had the chance to take a full shot. nevertheless, the presentation is quite cute, considering they served it on a dim sum container. however, i would say that this dish is kinda pricey though the chicken is truly succulent. 6 chicken nuggets for $5 is something i will only try once.

so i saw ladyironchef commenting on how awesome this root beer cake is, i decided to try it myself. guess what, the taste really took me by surprise! though the sauce and cake itself is chocolaty, there is a slight root beer taste in it, something which is really refreshing. it is also equally thoughtful of them to add the vanilla ice cream alongside. the icy taste of the ice cream is just enough to prevent one from feeling too chocolaty and did not sacrifice any of the root beer taste. seriously this left me craving for more. $6 for this, definitely worth a try!

after tasting the waffles here at wimbly lu, i have no doubt that this place sells one of the best waffles in singapore. firstly, the waffles are thick, but it is crisp on the outside but soft on the inside. second, the salted caramel ice cream, coupled with the chocolate sauce gave the perfect combination on waffles. thirdly, one can’t smell the fragrance of waffles when it is first presented on the table. however, the aroma when i had my first bite is HEAVENLY. it was so good, my friend and i cleared the whole dish within minutes. $8.50 for this dish sounds a bit pricey but trust me, good things come with a price and this is the perfect example.

and so final verdict: wimbly lu is not an over-rated place if you are looking for desserts, especially WAFFLES.

3rd stop: Lola’s Cafe

our third and final stop is a cafe within the vicinity of Kovan. by the time we got here it is already evening so we had to go for the dinner menu. it is one of the easier cafes to be found for it is located near the main road. though the wall colours and furniture gives off a light vintage feel, the lighting is honestly kinda bad, especially for evening customers ):

my friend ordered the braised pork and when it was first presented the first thought that came to my mind was 18 chefs as they presented one of their dish on a chopping board as well. however, the cute pot is actually a plus point for lola’s cafe 😛 the sauce has quite a strong herbal taste but the spices undoubtedly gave off a distinctive fragrance. upon taking more sips, i realised that it resembled the seafood stew in table manners, just that this sauce is more bitter, thicker and has a stronger herbal taste. $13 for this dish but i would stick to table manners’ seafood stew.

blury picture again but this dish was surprisingly average. i had expected the seafood mariana to have a stronger white wine taste ( was stated in the menu that white wine is added) but all i can taste is tomato sauce. if you’re particular about the sauces, i would recommend Ambush’s white wine pasta since it has a bolder taste. on the other hand, the seafood is really fresh and i guess that’s the only good thing of the dish. 14 bucks for this? i thought lola’s cafe can do better.

we had lemonade tart for dessert which is also our final dish for the day. nope, it is not marshmallows on the top, it is actually roasted whipped cream. i felt that this dessert is exceptionally good for the lemon taste is strong and is a good distraction from the saltiness and bitterness of the previous dishes. its light flavour surprisingly made me crave for more of it! the only bad thing is that its crust is exceptionally hard so you really do need 2 hands to eat this. $5 for this and i would be more than willing to pay for it again.

there are many more cafes my friend and i would love to go but shall leave those till session 3! cafe hopping really burnt a big hole in my pocket and i’m really desperate for income now. le sigh, good food sure comes with a price.

4.

soooooo i went on another food expedition! had previously wanted to go penny university and wimbly lu but they are all closed on mondays. what a pity ): what’s more, it was raining on Monday and M1 network just had to crash. but well, sharon and i still went ahead ^^

first stop was canopy dining and bar(bishan park) it’s a brunch place as you can see and the food is really good coupled with a decent price! the soup of the day, which i suspected is pumpkin soup, is relatively thick and not as sweet as i thought it might be. perfect for breakfast yummmm. as for main course, i ordered the smoked salmon with scrambled eggs. though i was pretty tempted to try out the poached ones, i decided to leave it to Hatched the next time i visit holland v. while the scrambled eggs is rather smooth and cooked to the right degree, the smoked salmon is really fresh (as seen from the colour of the flesh). however, i thought that the taste of salmon was rather raw instead of smoked. but either way its taste together with the eggs is YUMMY. will be back for 2nd visit again!

our next stop was a dessert shop, though it sell snacks like sandwiches. there’s a promotion on weekdays from 3-6pm where a slice of cake and a choice of coffee/ tea costs S$6.95. honestly, it’s one of the hardest cafe to locate. with its awkward corner location at the back of ngee ann city, it’s truly one of the best hidden cafes in singapore. nevertheless, the dessert didn’t disappoint us! we ordered the carrot cake and was actually surprised by the taste! the insides are actually moist and with chunks of walnuts as well as strips of carrots, it gave off a distinctive taste. i’m not really sure what the outer layer is, because it looks like cheese but doesn’t really taste like one. unlike other cakes which their insides are kinda dry, marmalade toast definitely has one of the better cakes in town at a decent price.

oh yay done with another food post! ^^

1,2,3

long bus rides cause nonsensical topics of conversations to surface, but this time the 40min-1hr bus ride to val’s house with rachel brought an idea up. rachel suggested creating a blog about post As activities so as to not waste this one and probably only break before we advance to being young adults. honestly i was intrigued by her idea and thought that it might be a good idea for me to start posting about my gap year.

1.

day one of my post As was spent with two amazing girls, rachel and val as well as 1 furry boy called frisky (val’s dog). been ages since val and i went acoustic jamming together so we decided to have a session, this time with rachel! for i have not touched my guitar for a month, my fingers were burning in no time. we played on and the only song we arranged properly was story of my life. too bad we only recorded it once and honestly it sucks so i’m not posting it here. nevertheless it was so much funnnnnnn. would have been better if we could use the piano but since circumstances doesn’t allow, we made do with just guitar. funny how the sense of satisfaction after every jamming session never changes, for it felt like i’ve just satisfied my craving but i know i’ll be craving for more soon 😉

2,3.

days 2 and 3 were spent out of singapore with tons of good food which has unfortunately caused me to gain a few rings round my stomach. they say you never go out of jb feeling hungry and yup it sure is true again this time. though my fam and i went to the usual shopping malls, we tried eateries this time and was glad to say we weren’t disappointed ^^ the view from the top floor of the hotel (26th storey) was amazing especially at time. it looked as it was a view from a plane. doing this food post in the morning makes me look like a pig, but well let’s just get on with it

we kicked off our journey with dessert at 11am in this famous Hong Kong dessert restaurant in city square mall (just beside M’sia custom) the right is something similar to mango sago, just that they replaced the pomelo with tang yuan (汤圆) mango icecream stands in the middle part and the dessert is overall a little sticky but not exceptionally sweet.  the left is chocolate crisp with chocolate chip. i thought it was small cubes of cake at first but it’s actually ice cream! it’s slighty sweeter than the mango sago but it’s not extremely chocolaty, which actually makes it addictive! definitely worth a shot but due to the limited seats, a long queue is uncommon >:

our next meal was at jusco, a shopping centre cum hypermart which was located at suburban areas and the journey from city square to jusco was about 20 min via cab. since our last visit to jb, dining at this restaurant again upon our next visit is a must. above were what we ordered for a total of less than S$40.  not only is the price decent, the quality of food is pretty awesome as well. the soft shell crab is crispy on the outside but the one can truly taste the meat on the inside.  it’s not really oily, which is what makes one crave more for it. however, one plate only serve 3 crabs and it costs about RM 15 bucks. on our previous visit, we tried the steamboat which was filling and the ingredients were really fresh. this time, we decided to give the ginseng chicken a shot and walahhhhhh it’s so so good. while the meat is still tender, the chicken bones were soft to the extend that it’s edible. the glutinous rice stuffed in the chicken made the meal even more fulfilling coupled with the concentrated ginseng soup. funny how it’s not as bitter as other ginseng soup and with no msg added, it makes the soup even more impressive. the soup alone costs RM32 but with the side dishes it sum up to a total of RM48. one thing for sure, i’m coming back again for more ^^

i heard that this is known as “lok lok” and it’s a eatery beside a small road. while some of the sticks were bbq-ed, others were fried or steamed. the highlight was the chili actually, which unfortunately i did not take. with the choice of 4 different kinds of chili, the spiciest was the reddest followed by the green one. the spices added was no joke but it sure made the food tastier. my camera doesn’t do justice to the food but honestly it actually tastes better than it looks. this place also sell fuck blood, something no longer sold in singapore. though i was initially hesitant to try it, i was glad i finally did. the texture was unique and there was actually no blood taste. so yup, it’s not as yucky as i thought it was. this is located at quite a remote place which my family and i walked to. however, it should take about 10-15 min if traveled by cab. 

this is located in KSL shopping centre, and is both our supper and breakfast. while the you tiao is nothing special, the porridge is perfect. it’s not the watery porridge but the grains of rice are barely visible. its gooiness is probably what made it so good such that we had this for 2 meals consecutively. it’s fairly cheap, though i can’t remember the price exactly and once again my camera sucks.

this was our final meal meal leaving jb and the pictures depicted tom yum and mango salad. the tom yum is no joke in which my family and i were exhaling fire. to give it a comparison, it’s twice as spicy as nakhon kitchen’s thick base tom yum soup. but the feeling when i ate this was ” even though it’s spicy i still want to eat it” because it’s really good. though not all the ingredients are really fresh, the soup made up for it ^^. the highlight of the meal was the mango salad. though my mum’s mango salad has always been pretty good, i have to admit that this is better. it’s amazing how the ingredients absorb the sauce and the taste of the sauce is the finishing taste of every mouth. the spices added made the sauce sweet, sour and spicy, all of which with different degree. it’s my first time seeing a mango salad this watery but i never thought it would be this good. this stall is a makeshift stall located in ksl shopping centre. once again, the price is pretty decent given the quality of food!

a dish i didn’t manage to take a picture of was penang laksa, which was located around the same area as the tomyum stall above. the portion is large considering the price and the taste is superb. i was anticipating so much for it i started eating without thinking when the food arrived. the soup base is more of sour than spicy and together with pieces of sardine, the dish is made to impress. it’s not difficult to locate its stall since the smell is pretty strong in its level.

there, i’m done with the food post, and that sums up my first 3 days of gap year. i guess it’s time i need to start working out.