Foodography: A Singapore Food Blog

A while back, I had the opportunity to discover Origin Grill and their new seasonal menu. Located in the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel at Orchard Road, the restaurant shares the same premises and name as the popular Origin Bar which comes alive in the evening. The vast expanses of the hotel lobby were bustling on a Sunday afternoon with both locals and foreigners alike and I was soaking in the vibes.  

At the restaurant, I received very attentive and warm service from the service crew who knew the menu well and provided true recommendations. For a start, we had the Mushroom Soup ($14) topped with toasted hazelnuts, BBQ mushrooms and chives. It was a smooth emulsion that could be easily slurped up at a go.

The appetisers which arrived next, were as huge as main courses that I panicked a little. Wrapped in layers of pancetta, the Hudson Valley Duck Terrine ($34) was made with slow cooked duck leg and terrine from the Hudson Valley duck and was served with pickled onions, apricots, pear and apple chutney, warm brioche. I recommend stacking the terrine atop a layer of brioche and chutney and have it in a bite. Wished there were more slices of brioche!

Yet another appetiser we had was the Charred Octopus ($30), which featured the Abrolhos octopus caught off the coast of Western Australia. We were surprised how the octopus leg was plump and thick yet remained very tender. Swipe it with the aubergine caviar and tomato jam along the plate for an extra tasty finish.

Then came the main course which I was highly anticipating, as Origin Grill is known for offering notable bespoke beef cuts. I went for the recommended Yukimuro Striploin ($175) which is the most popular steak on the menu. This was my first time learning about the technique of yukimuro, where the beef is snow-aged for 30 days in a snow-covered room in Niigata. One of the richest and fattiest cuts of steak I’ve had, this is not for the faint-hearted.

The other main course that was recommended to us was the Lumina Lamb Rack ($62), served with honey glazed carrots, salsa verde, pistachio crumbs, rosemary jus. There was no gaminess.

We had 2 beautifully plated desserts to end. An Asian take on the Ile Flotante, the Floating Island ($18) featured mangoes from Thailand and a meringue with passion fruit crème anglaise and compote. The Milky Origin ($18), as its name suggests, is a vanilla milk pudding dessert with crispy milk foam, fromage blanc mousse, almond paper and manuka honey. We preferred the Floating Island!

Be it for date nights or a relaxing family meal, the food and experience at Origin Grill was suitable for any occasion and I personally have been recommending it to friends as well.

12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm (Closed on Mon)

Lobby Level, Tower Wing, Shangri-la Singapore, 22 Orange Grove Rd, 258350

Situated at the top of National Gallery, Art di Daniele Sperindio (previously Art Restaurant) helmed by newly minted chef-owner Daniele Sperindio is an Italian fine dining restaurant with 1 Michelin star under its belt. The panoramic view of Marina Bay Sands from the spacious restaurant is just the cherry on the cake. Recently, I was there to experience Art 4.0, the fourth iteration of the chef’s menu of conversation cuisine.

Before getting into the 7 course degustation menu proper, we started with 2 cocktails recommended by the team – a rum cocktail, and the Beeswax which are available on a separate drinks menu. Both were sweet cocktails which suited my palate.

Our first course, the Aperitivo, 4 Amici al Bar, was a series of 3 apetizers – swordfish ham, stracchino cheese tart, and chutoro – which whet our appetites. The chutoro made a lasting impression.

The next course, Cappon Magro, was topped with Siberian sturgeon caviar and easily made the most prized dish of the tasting menu.

For the bread course, Pane e Poesia, we were served two types of bread, pagnotta rustica sourdough and toasted malt ciabatta. We also got to pick from 3 types of EVOO originating from different regions.

Then it was Tea Time, featuring glazed hen-of-the-wood, an edible wild mushroom, with cardo tea poured into the dish. Surprisingly, it was tender and delicate, almost as though we were tucking into a hearty meat dish. On the side, we had a giarratana onion tart for pairing.

The pasta course, La Superba, was my favorite – taglierini made with 32 yolks for every kilogram of flour served in an infusion of clams and stock fish. The sauce was very savory but not overbearing, while the texture of the pasta was chewy and firm.

As an accompaniment, we had a spoon of colorful pasta topped with a slice of winter truffle, and artisanal focaccia to be dipped in a Genoa meat sauce – the focaccia was so fluffy like a brioche!

We had two mains, the first being Estate ad Albenga, featuring sardinian seabass, mozambique scampi, baby artichoke and royal oscietra caviar (yet another prized item).

The second main, Winter is Coming, was a honey-ed quail dish. We found the quail wing to be slightly gamey while the quail breast had a cleaner taste.

For dessert, we had the Tourists on Mount Vesuvio, featuring buffalo milk gelato topped with a deconstructed classic Napolitan biscotto all’amarena made from glazed amarena cherries and chocolate. As a finishing touch, 3 drops of 40 years old aged balsamic vinegar was added – this had a really thick and deep flavour. Yet another one of my favorite courses!

Lastly, the petit fours, Piccola Pasticceria, was served. It was a galore of traditional Italian pastries – the baci di dama (Northern Italian sandwich cookie), amaretti morbidi (soft amaretti cookie), occhi di bue (Italian shortbread cookie filled with apricot jam), mini cavolino espresso tarts, gianduiotto chocolate, grape tart, sfogliatelle (Italian pastry) and almond cake. Not the easiest to finish since it was full of dough and butter.

The 7-course degustation menu is served during dinner at $298++/pax, while the lunch degustation menu (choice of 4 or 5 courses) is priced at $138++ and $158++/pax respectively.

1 St Andrew’s Road, #06-02, National Gallery Singapore 178957

Tues to Sun 12pm – 2pm, 6pm – 10pm (closed on Mon)

Knowing that a new café had opened at Oasis Terraces which was close to my hood, and one that features sourdough no less, I was patiently waiting till that sunkissed Sunday morning where I headed down as early as possible.

Streaming in at 9am to secure a good spot in the alfresco area, I was surprised to see the café about 70% occupied. In fact, a queue started to form outside shortly after I was seated, and it only got longer when I left. 

The staff at the counter were kind to offer a few pieces of their Chocolate Rye Sourdough ($24) for me to try – it was a loaf made with a rye base, lusciously rich with chocolate and cold retarded for a minimum of 16 hours. I would have bought it on the spot if not for the pretty hefty price tag.

We then started our brunch proper with the Flat White ($5 for reg, $6 for large) and Mocha ($6, +$1 for oat). I had the latter and thoroughly enjoyed it thanks to the smoothness and distinct notes of Callebaut chocolate. Non-coffee drinkers might want to try the variety of Fizzes and Smoothies made with sourdough starter.

All of the choices in the food menu features sourdough as a key ingredient and for the sourdough lover in me, it was hard picking what I can stomach. Eventually, I went for the the Grilled Kimcheese Toastie ($17), which was a hearty dish but unfortunately the kimchi-cheddar & parmesan cheese combination turned out to be very salty. The saltiness was even enhanced with the accompaniment of the tomato bisque. I felt like I had maxed out the RDA of 2000mg of sodium that day with it. Skip this and go for the other toasties. 

The Anna’s Steak and Eggs ($28) was the other dish I tried – essentially a ribeye steak cooked medium with sunny side eggs and sourdough toast. Though I wished I could get the steak medium rare to my preference, it was still decent with smokey flavours and the chimichurri made a good pairing. The chili and black garlic butter served on the side weren’t so much as complementing. 

Out of the desserts on the stand, I picked the Carrot Walnut Sourdough ($8) which unlike what I was expecting, the cake was on the denser side and lacking a sweetness. It felt like an overly healthy cake baked by the health-conscious aunt I never had. 

Though there were some hit and misses with the food, the sourdough here is undoubtedly the highlight and still worth a try. Just be prepared to come early or queue. There is also the option to takeaway the loaves. 

681 Punggol Drive, Oasis Terraces #01-06, Singapore 820681

Mon – Thu 8.30am to 5pm, Fri – Sun 8.30am – 6pm

Despite the long trip, I decided to make the 1.5hour journey to Anagram Coffee last week when it was just a few days’ old, determined not to hustle with other cafe hoppers when the cafe gets more widely recognised overtime.

Located in an outdoor wing of Anchorpoint Shopping Centre (opposite IKEA Alexandra), the cafe is a small nook between other tenants yet to set up store. It features a minimal interior with a coffee bar and a bench fitting a few patrons, and an outdoor patio with 2 tables and tree stump stools.

The menu was lean and dedicated mainly to coffee from Tad Coffee Company, so I ordered just the White ($6 for hot, +$1 for oat milk) for dine in. There were also other espresso based drinks like Mocha ($6 for hot), a Guest Filter Brew ($8 for hot), and Chai Tea ($7 for hot) for tea drinkers. My White had a smooth mouthfeel with notes of acidity. I heard that pastries will be rolling in at a later stage, so I will keep a look out for that!

I believe this is the most interesting addition to Anchorpoint so far.

370 Alexandra Rd, #01-13A Anchorpoint Shopping Centre, Singapore 159953

8am – 6pm daily

One of my favorite coffee haunts in Singapore, Apartment Coffee, has moved to a new and bigger space along Selegie Road. 

While I missed the odd shape of the old premises, I do love that the new location is more central and accessible and has more floor space and seats to accommodate a larger crowd. Much to my delight, the theme of the interiors is still minimalistic with the same white coffee bar dominating the aesthetics.

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On both occasions, I had the Coffee with Milk ($5.50, Oat Milk + $0.50) with origins from the Costa Rica Aquiares Estate. I am a huge fan of the light roast, with a smooth and creamy texture and a clean aftertaste. 

The Hand Brews are the signature, among which I believe the Myanmar Amayar Black Honey is a popular choice and which I may get on my next visit. 

For the non-coffee drinkers, there is always the option for a Hot Chocolate ($7.50, Oat Milk + $0.50) or tea (there are options for green tea, oolong tea or kombucha) – though I highly recommend coffee here.

Apartment Coffee remains one of my top spots for coffee, ambience, conversations and me time.

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139 Selegie Road, #01-01, Singapore 188309

10am – 6pm daily

Having resided in the north east area all my life, I have visited first Lola’s café in Kovan on a few occasions. I even have a post here dating back to 2013 (!) when it was newly opened. Since then, the café has been serving crowds (mostly living nearby) eager to have affordable brunch options without traveling out.

This time round, I was at the 2 months’ old 2^nd outpost of Lola’s at Holland Village, where the structure and interior were vastly different from the Kovan outlet. While the 1^st outlet had darker, simple furnishings reminiscent of a neighborhood hangout, the new outpost appealed with the clean and bright space, natural lighting and an emphasis on smooth and rounded edges. 

Thankfully we made reservations in advance, as the place started to get buzzing with families and groups of friends shortly after 9am.

I mentioned I was not a big fan of their coffee in my first Lola’s post, and sadly I had the same sentiments here. Pictured is the Oat White ($5.5 + $1.2 for oat) with the house blend which tasted flat, and then there was my Soy White ($5.5 + $1.2 for soy) that was not featured here because it looked like a botched job. 

From the brunch menu, which was largely similar to the Kovan outlet’s, I opted for the Pulled Pork & Avocado Eggs Benedict ($18). This was a saucy dish with a heavy taste from the generous serving of hollandaise sauce and the 6-hr smoked chipotle pulled pork. The 2 eggs were poached well with oozing yolks. 

On the other hand, the Grilled Cheese Sandwich ($16), featuring sourdough, cheddar, mozzarella, halloumi, honey mustard, and housemade smoked ketchup, was simple enough, like a dish that can be easily put together at home. Perhaps other cheeses like comté or even a blue cheese could be used for a more complex flavour.

We did not get desserts as we were café-hopping, though I was happy to see that my favorite ones from Lola’s @ Kovan were on the menu (ie the Seasalt Chocolate Tart ($7) and Black Sesame Tart ($7)). One thing to note though (I only realized this much later) – some of the dishes here are pricier than the same ones you get at Kovan, so I would recommend to get the outlet exclusive items such as the pastas.

48 Lorong Mambong, Singapore 277699

Open 9am – 10pm daily (except Mon, closed)

On an extreme end of South Beach Avenue sits an achromatic glasshouse-like structure with an outdoor seating area adjacent to it. Upon opening the huge doors, I was welcomed by the sight of a sleek coffee bar adorned with marble and wooden details and similar achromatic tones to match the exterior. 

As the outdoor seating area was not sheltered and it was a typical day in Singapore with hot, equatorial weather, I grabbed one of the few limited seats indoor.   

I opted for the Cloud ($8), one of Waga Waga Den’s signature drinks that I had set my eyes on prior visiting the café. A take on the iced cappuccino, this Instagram-worthy (or tiktok worthy) beverage is an espresso with milk, topped with frothy cold milk, and further garnished with chocolate powder. To create the “cloud” effect, air was incorporated, and so take your pictures quickly as the “cloud” deflates over time. The frothed milk layer and chocolate powder enhances the creaminess and gives a bittersweet punch to the cappuccino. 

Since the café is Japanese-inspired, I just also had to savour the Dirty Matcha Latte ($8), made with matcha okumidori – a single-origin, single-estate and single-cultivar matcha cultivated in Uji, Kyoto. Though the umami flavour was distinct, I would like to pick the pure matcha option on my next visit for more distinction.

On the menu are also several light bites, both sweet and savoury. I had the Charcoal Brioche ($5) stuffed with Hokkaido red bean paste and échiré salted butter (artisanal French butter from the small village of Échiré in western France), which would be more satisfying if the bun could be bigger with more red bean filling. 

Meanwhile, the Warabi Mochi ($8), made fresh daily with kuromitsu (Japanese dark sugar syrup) and kinako powder was on par with those I’ve tried and loved from other classic Japanese snack stalls in Singapore. 

Stay for the coffee and tea, and enjoy the brewing and whisking action before you.

38 Beach Road, #01-14 South Beach Tower, Singapore 189767

Tues to Fri, 8.30am – 3.30pm

Sat 9.30am, – 4.30pm 

Tucked along a street in the middle of nowhere somewhere in the west, Glass Roasters was established in the midst of the pandemic, now having 2 outlets. Having wanting to visit the original outlet, I finally overcame the inertia and took the long journey to the secluded Faber Drive.

With a small floor area, the café interior seats just a few parties along communal benches, while others may bask under the shade outdoors or dine-in under Gelatolabo’s premises, which are connected to the café. The main aesthetic of the café was no doubt the white, square-tiled coffee counter, juxtaposed with the raw concrete ceiling and herringbone flooring. The glass windows permit shafts of sunlight to penetrate into the interiors, casting shadows across the counter. 

Being there on a weekday morning, we had the café to ourselves, and indulged in our coffee in the absence of loud, echoed conversations. 

From the friendly barista, I opted for my go-to, a White ($5.50, +$1 for oat/soy milk), which came in a double-walled glass cup. The coffee smooth, not acidic and did not leave an unwanted aftertaste.

We also had a tiny slice of Banana Cake ($4.50), the only food option available. It was a tad dry. Sadly, its next door neighbour Gelatolabo only opens in the afternoon, otherwise I could have waffles and ice cream to pair with coffee.

My long journey in exchange for a respite from hustle was worthwhile. 

108 Faber Dr, Singapore 129418

9am – 6pm daily, closed on Tues