Tag Archives: food

PAR RIS, Bangkok – One of the Hottest New Café Openings in Sukhumvit with Korean-style Bagels

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Last month, I visited one of the hottest café openings in Bangkok amongst the Thai café hoppers and influencers. It wasn’t hard to understand why. Even before entering, the all-white façade of the entrance tempted me to stop and snap several pictures.

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Stepping in, I immediately grew to the rustic French vibes of the interior, and I would have felt like I was transported out of Southeast Asia for a moment, if not for the crowd of Asian influencers. The owners paid close attention to the details – from the exposed ceiling to the cream washed walls, to the wooden furniture, and to the vintage trinkets cleverly placed at several spots. I particularly loved the arched wall framing the coffee counter.

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I tried a few drinks, and my recommendation is to skip the Caffe Latte (THB160) and Matcha Latte (THB195) and go for their signature Pistachio Cream Coffee (THB180). It comprised an espresso shot with pistachio milk and pistachio syrup, topped with pistachio cream and roasted pistachio bits. The sweet, nutty flavours were subtle and well balanced with the natural acidity of the coffee.

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The food menu showcases bagels in different flavours, and you can have it plain, with cream cheese toppings, or as part of bigger plates. I noticed that the bagels here seemed to have taken inspiration from Korean-style bagels (vs. classic American style bagels), especially for the Sweet Corn Hokkaido Milk Bagel (THB240). Seasonal sweet corn desserts can be typically found in Korea’s cafes during the summer, and I was surprised to find one in Bangkok. The bagel was crafted from a base of Hokkaido milk, filled with sweet corn cream, and finished with caramelized corns on top. The cream was neither too heavy nor sweet.

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For something more substantial, there is the Breakfast Plate (THB380) which came with a sesame bagel, fluffy cloud eggs, Italian grilled pork sausage, wild rocket, sweet maple ponzu yuzu dressing and mixed berries. Despite the visually pleasing use of colours, somehow the different components didn’t complement one another well, and the sausage was not warm enough.

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For those feeling less peckish, you can also opt for one of the plain bagels (choice of plain, chocolate, Hokkaido milk, sesame) with different cream cheese toppings. I had a hard time choosing between the available cream cheese toppings, with interesting flavours like butterfly pea & honeycomb, fig, lemon zest, parmigiano & bacon, earl grey milk, pistachio. Eventually I went for the Plain Bagel (THB75) with a side of Fig and Honey Cream Cheese (THB155) since it was fig season. The consistency of the cream cheese was on the richer and thicker side, and I liked the mix of sweet and savoury.

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My tip: Come as early as possible to avoid the afternoon crowd, which can upset the vibes.

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16, 3 Soi Ekamai 21, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

8am – 5pm (closed on Tues)

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Someday in Copenhagen – Scandinavian themed café in Bangkok serving innovative coffee

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I would have never expected a café to be located right at the entrance of a carpark, in an area away from the bustling streets of Bangkok. That was where I found Someday in Copenhagen, a Scandinavian, minimalistic themed café.

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With the huge letters of “HEJ DENNIS :)” being plastered on one of the facades, I couldn’t help but wonder who Dennis was. I later found out that Dennis is the owner, who used to be a barista at the famous Fuglen in Oslo.

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Despite a focus on the grab and go concept, the coffee stand offers some tables and chairs for dine in – there was an air-conditioned area to escape the heat and the more hipster outdoor area where vehicles could be driving right into the parking lot anytime.

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The menu has a series of classic and innovative coffee/non-coffee options, together with some pastries. Out of the items I had, my favourite one was their Signature Iced Honeycomb Latte (THB150/SGD5.9, +THB20/SGD0.8 for oat milk). As the honeycomb melted, there was a subtle sweetness released into the latte gradually which I liked. The iced latte itself was also very smooth and drinkable. I also tried the Hot Latte (THB130, SGD5.1) which was dull in comparison to the honeycomb latte.

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From the range of pastries, I had the Caramel Roll (THB130, SGD5.1) and the Pain Suisse (THB155, SGD6.1). I preferred the former, with flaky and crunchy layers on the outside which when cut, revealed a gooey and melty caramel core. The Pain Suisse had a filling of orange chocolate within, but I wished they could be more generous with the filling.

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The no-frills concept of the café was interesting, and it stands out with its unpretentiousness amongst the other heavily decorated cafes in the city. If you’re willing to go a little out of the way (definitely a Grab is needed), not minding the dingy surroundings of the café, you will be in for a treat.

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41/19-20 Soi Sriaksorn, Chuea Phloeng, Sathorn Thung Mahamek Bangkok 10120

Mon – Fri 8am to 4pm

Sat – Sun 8am to 5pm

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Vernacular Coffee – Spacious Café in Guillemard Specialising in Single Origin Coffee

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Taking over the premises of the now relocated Brawns and Brains is Vernacular Coffee which opened its doors last December. I’ve visited the café twice – once when it was opened and again recently after it launched a brunch menu with main courses.

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Still preserving the original slant high ceiling structure and conical light fixtures, the café paints a moody ambiance with its painted dark green walls and ceiling, a mixture of brown and black tables and stools, and cement floor.

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The café prides itself on its selection of 8 unique single origin options sourced from various countries that are on display at the ordering counter. On my first visit, I had the Espresso Flight ($9.50) which comprises a cup of espresso and a cup of 4oz white coffee. I chose the Hta Ngo Shan from Myanmar which has notes of muscat grape and green apple. I took alternating sips from each cup since the espresso shot was too bitter on its own for me, and it was interesting noting that both are made from the same beans.

I also had the White 7oz ($6) with Kiaragana AA Kenya which was the lightest roast available. For non-caffeine drinkers, there are also single origin options for hot chocolate and tea to explore.

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From the Croissanterie menu, which is also displayed in a glass case at the café front, I had the Scrambled Eggs & Spam ($10) and the White Grape, Camembert & Parma Ham ($12). Both pastries had crisp and flaky layers which I enjoyed. However, I wished that the portion of the fillings could be more substantial considering the price point.

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Recently, a brunch menu was launched and I got to try the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict ($28), which came with spiral croissant as the base. The different textures and layers of the pastry, avocado, poached eggs, smoked salmon, sour cream, salmon roe and hollandaise sauce complemented one another and the dish was overall well executed.

The ice cream sandwiches looked tempting, but I would have to save it for another day.

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100 Guillemard Rd, #01-02, Singapore 399718

8.30am – 5.30pm daily

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Anonymous Coffee, Bangkok – Outstanding Coffee in an Industrial Geometrical Building

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Anonymous Coffee was one of my best finds for coffee from my recent Bangkok trip. As it was not located near any BTS subway station, I hitched a Grab bike which conveniently brought me to this relatively quieter area where the café was situated.

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I couldn’t help but mesmerize at the geometrical, industrial structure of the café as I crossed the outdoor yard, where a few patrons were enjoying their coffees peacefully despite the blazing heat. Adorned with camping chairs and hanging light bulbs, it also made for a good photo spot.

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I grabbed a seat indoors where I could catch the baristas in action and still bask in some natural light while taking advantage of the aircon. The café specializes in single origin roasts with beans imported from various regions.

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I had the Flat White – single origin espresso with milk (THB140, SGD5.13), which tasted so much like a light roast that I was surprised when I found out it was a medium roast. The coffee had a creamy texture and was very easy to drink with no bitter or sour aftertaste. There were also some signature drinks on the menu which caught my eye, such as the Yuzu Garden (THB6.60) which seemed to be a yuzu and elderflower drink with single origin espresso, and Sally O’ Brien (THB150, SGD5.50), a single origin cold brew with house espresso syrup and fresh cream.

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The only available pastry/dessert when I went was the Banana Bread (THB85, SGD3.12), so I had one together with my coffee. Thankfully, it was not as dry as I expected it to be.

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I had a great time as a solo patron – the baristas were friendly and amiable, the patrons seemed to be serious coffee drinkers, and the ambiance made me forget about the busyness of life for a moment.

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149 Rimtangrodfai Sai Peat-Riu Road, Huai Khwang, Bangkok 10310, Thailand

8.30am -5.30pm daily

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Blu Kouzina @ The Palawan – The OG Greek Restaurant in Singapore Opens New Branch at Sentosa

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Blu Kouzina has always been my favorite Greek/Mediterranean restaurant in Singapore, hands down. I first got to experience their food at their first outlet at Dempsey Hill, which has a lovely, warm atmosphere in the indoor dining area and a cool, Greek vibe at their patio.

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Since then, they have expanded to a second outlet at Siglap and recently, a third outlet at Sentosa. The Sentosa outlet is situated in a new enclave called The Palawan, which is a sprawling lifestyle and entertainment complex for activities (outdoor mini golf course, electric go-kart circuit, etc.), beach clubs and food. It was a 10mins walk away from Beach Station and mostly sheltered.

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Befitting of a beach side restaurant, the alfresco dining area was decked in wooden tables and rattan chairs, complemented with white sofas, hanging rattan lamps and other adornments. It directly overlooks the Palawan Beach where HydroDash is. Though it might get slightly warm without the breeze (no fans or air con in this area), I would still gladly laze in the charming alfresco area.

Otherwise, there was also a cooler indoor dining area which was furnished in the classic blue and white Greek theme.

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To my surprise, there was a wide range of coffees on the menu and to spare myself the tough decision, I got the staff to prepare whichever coffee variation they would like. I was served a glass of the Blue Sea Latte ($10.80) which was essentially espresso coffee with milk and butterfly pea. The colours were pretty, of course. Since I switched to oat milk, the milk foam was less pompous than expected.

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As a healthy start to the dishes, I had the Fresh Vegetable Salad ($28.50) that came as a heap of thinly grated crunchy cabbage topped with walnuts.

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Moving on to something more sinful, I had the Spanakopita ($22.50). Encased in the crispy Greek phyllo pastry were warm, generous fillings of spinach and feta cheese which was a comforting snack.

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Served on a large rectangular tray, the Feta Special Honey Walnut came with a huge chunk of feta cheese topped with walnuts and doused with honey. The sweet savoury combination with the crunchy texture of nuts kept me reaching out for more. This was good for sharing between 2-3 pax.

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Since the emphasis at this seaside restaurant is on seafood, we had the Prawn Manestra ($30.50) as the first main course. This was a Greek orzo dish cooked in a prawn broth, enriched with garlic, onions, EVOO, and topped with a sauteed jumbo prawn. I liked the clean seafood flavour of the dish that was not overwhelming but wished that there could be more prawns to balance out the portion of the orzo.  

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We also had the Salmon Fillet grilled with Mediterranean herbs and served with Horta salad (boiled spinach and EVOO).

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I love baklava, and I love ice cream – and so I was very satisfied that our dessert, the Baklava Ice Cream, turned out as good as I imagined the collaboration between the two to be. The ice cream was rich, creamy and smooth while generously infused with bits of phyllo pastry and nuts. Service-wise, I thought that the waiters could be more attentive as it took multiple attempts to reach out to them.

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With the unobstructed beach front view, beachhouse vibes and authentic Mediterranean food, Blu Kouzina’s addition to Sentosa elevates the quality of limited dining options by the beaches.  

58 Palawan Beach Walk Singapore 098235

The Palawan @ Sentosa

11.30am to 9.30pm, Tues to Sun (Closed on Mon)

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Moonchild – New Brunch Cafe at Jalan Besar from the team behind Atlas Coffee

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Moonchild is the newest child of the team behind Atlas Coffeehouse, Columbus Coffee Co, Supernova, Neptune, Apollo Coffee Bar and the defunct Lunar Coffee Brewers – all of which I’ve been with the exception of Columbus. With this context, it was hard not to come with a certain level of expectation.

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Given that the café opened recently with much attraction to crowds, I recommend avoiding the weekend if possible or to come as early as opening hour to snag a table without queueing. On a positive note, the café had both indoor and outdoor dining areas with plenty of seats, just that they seemed to limit the number of patrons during busy periods.  

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With a range of Filters, Espresso Coffees, Teas, Natural Wines and other drinks to choose from, the drinks menu was extensive to suit all palates. From my 3 occasions here, I got to try both espresso blends for my Flat White and Latte ($5.3 for regular 7oz, +$1.1 for oat) – Mr Cuddles (Bold & Strong) and Mr Brightside (Juicy & Bright). Both blends suited my preference and my coffees had a creamy, nutty aftertaste like peanut butter.

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The food menu was divided into The Morning Situation (9am – 3pm) which offers breakfast/brunch options and Midday to Close (11am onwards) which features lunch options like pastas, rice bowls and burgers.

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I had the Potato Stack Smoked Salmon Poached Eggs ($21.9) which is their version of the eggs royale. Instead of the usual English muffin or toast, fried potato stack was used and I liked biting into the layers of potato. The eggs were also of good quality, with flowy orange golden yolks.

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The Banana Bread with Espresso Mascarpone ($12.6) was huge, I couldn’t finish it on my own for breakfast. The brown creamy layer of espresso mascarpone was addictive and paired well with the fluffy bread. Salt was also sprinkled on top and created a sweet savoury combination, like salted caramel.

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If I had to pick a favourite, it would be the Butterscotch Rum Bananas French Toast ($22). The brioche was sufficiently but not overly moist and fluffy and came well together with the other elements of butterscotch rum bananas, vanilla ice cream and candied hazelnuts.

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If you are into thin pancakes (like McDonalds’ hot cakes), I would recommend the Hotcakes with Fresh Blueberry Compote and Raspberry Butter ($19.9), which were fluffy and light.

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From the lunch menu, I tried the Unagi Don ($20.9) and it was surprisingly good. The grilled unagi was tender and optimally sweet, and was served with ikura, burnt buttered corn, furikake, nori, and Japanese rice.

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I had read reviews recommending the Really Nice Mushrooms on Toast ($19.5) which comes with grilled mushrooms, spinach, pickled shallots, creamy mushroom sauce, sourdough crumb, and 2 poached eggs. However, my friend and I found the mushrooms too salty and I thought the dish could have more depth.

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Apart from the slight disappointment with the mushrooms and toast, the other dishes left me well-fed and satisfied. With other promising and raved-about items on their menu, Moonchild could be that weekend brunch spot that is perpetually packed, just like its sister cafes.

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351 Jalan Besar, #01-01, Singapore 208988

Tues to Sat 9am – 10pm

Sun 9am – 7pm

Closed on Mon

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Moxie – Mod Mediterranean Restaurant with Beach House Vibes

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Brought to you by the folks behind Siri House is Moxie, a new modern Mediterranean restaurant and lifestyle concept. I was already impressed by the private entrance leading up to the restaurant, and the walkway from the door leading to the main dining area. The restaurant goes by the concept of a modern beach house, with the wood rattan ceiling lamps creating the vibes. I did feel like I was transported out of Singapore for a while.

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Out of the different menus available (Lunch, Dinner, Weekend Brunch, Happy Hour), we had a medley of items from the dinner menu which features communal sharing plates and platters.

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To start, we had the Moxie Dip Platter with Pita ($22 with 3 dips) comes with choice of dips and we were recommended the Spinach Yogurt, Smashed Kabocha and Whipped Ricotta. The Spinach Yogurt and Kabocha were the more interesting options, the former having a generous ratio of spinach to Greek while the latter has a light, natural sweetness of roasted Japanese pumpkin.

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Directly air flown from Puglia is their Burrata ($19), with a creamy and flowy core that was easily torn apart. The salad was completed with red beets and grapes.

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I don’t consume raw fish regularly but the Yellowtail Carpaccio ($32) was memorable. It had a slightly firm and chewy texture and was well-paired with chilli lime dressing and minced ginger flower.

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Unlike its namesake, I was thankful that the Spanish Salt Cod Croquettes ($19) were not overly salty.

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Our catch of the day was a 200g Seabass Fillet ($42) served chargrilled with salsa and charred spring onion puree. The skin had a nice, smoky taste while the meat was tender with a clean flavour.

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The Arugula Pesto Orecchiette ($38) was a seafood feast, with crab meat, prawns and scallops. The fresh prawns were my highlight – sauteed with garlic confit in oil, dried red chili, white wine, arugula pesto and butter, they reminded me of a delicious gambas al ajillo without the spice. Though we found some parts of the orecchiette overly firm, the toasted pine nuts added a layer of texture and nuttiness that kept us going for more.

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The list of cocktails at Moxie was interesting. I had a taste of the Amber Lit ($22), an Evan Williams Bourbon Infused Earl Grey Old Fashioned that was smartly paired with a small bark of rosemary and sea salt dark chocolate (70%) on top. The earl grey came as a smooth aftertaste. And well, the chocolate? I could have it as a snack all day.

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We had 3 desserts and the Dark Chocolate Mousse ($16) was my favourite, hands down. The bittersweet mousse was topped with an addictive scoop of hazelnut ice cream which was distinctly nutty and not sugary.

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The Tiramisu ($16) (note: only available for brunch) had a light, fluffy texture with a good amount of rum. The ratio of ladyfinger to custard was also in a range I preferred, i.e. not overly creamy.

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The Moxie Mille Feuille ($19) reminded us of the kunefe, with a layer of whipped cream cheese sandwiched between 2 layers of filo pastry and finished with a crown of kataifi. This was quite heavy for me and I didn’t manage to finish it.

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Overall, I thought the modern interpretation of Mediterranean food was quite well done and together with the ambience and vibes, Moxie is one dining spot I would recommend especially for large gatherings to feast on their extensive menu. The price point, I felt, was better than restaurants of similar standards in the CBD.

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This was an invited media tasting.

2 College Road, Medical Alumni Association Level 1 Singapore 169850

Tue – Thur & Sun 11.30am – 10pm

Fri & Sat 11.30am – 11.30pm

Closed on Mon

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Little Bao – Best Brunch in Hong Kong?

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Fusion food is in in Hong Kong, and Little Bao still remains as hip as ever since its opening in 2013. This swanky diner gives western food an Asian spin, with the focus centered on the Chinese bao. They’ve also started to open for weekend brunch.

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No coffee here at Little Bao unfortunately, but they do have a rather good cocktail selection. For something more pleasant and less strong, opt for the Chris Lemonade (HKD$85, SGD$15.5) – 42 Below vodka, chrysanthemum, honey, rhubarb bitters or Yakult Fizz (HKD$85, SGD$15.5) – Broken Shed vodka, absinthe, Yakult, egg white.

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I’ve always thought that only truffle fries which are heavily laden with truffle oil and truffle salt make a good plate of truffle fries, but Little Bao’s take on Truffle Fries (HKD$98, SGD$17.9) has opened a new dimension of what a good plate of truffle fries can actually be. Their version involves shitake tempeh and truffle mayo paired with shoestring fries and resulted in an addictive side dish. And I usually do not eat mushrooms, mind you. The fries are also served with pickled daikon on the side.

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We also had another side to share – the Roasted Pork Cheek (HKD$128, SGD$23.4) which was cumin-spiced and came with fennel and burnt apple puree. The pork was sufficiently tender and moist and not fatty at all.

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Pork Belly Bao (HKD$78, SGD$14.3) – slow-braised pork belly, leek and shiso red onion salad, sesame dressing, hoisin ketchup

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For myself, I had the Szechuan Fried Chicken Bao (HKD$78, SGD$14.3). The Szechuan fried chicken may be a tad oily, but was slathered in a delightful combination of sweet Chinese black vinegar glaze and slightly spicy Szechuan mayo.

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Beef Bao (HKD$88, SGD$16.1) – grass-fed organic beef, tomato jam, roasted onion sesame mayo, shiso, cheddar cheese

Just as we were finishing our baos, a family with children sat on the bench outside the restaurant, ordered the ice cream baos, and devoured them without complaint in the light drizzle (restaurant was running full house at that time). A reminder that dessert here should never be skipped.

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The LB Ice Cream Bao (HKD$48, SGD$8.8) comes in two flavours – green tea ice cream with condensed milk and salt ice cream with caramel. Personally, I preferred the green tea bao for its distinctive green tea flavour. The salt ice cream felt more like vanilla ice cream with a muted vanilla taste. Nonetheless, the warm, crispy fried mini buns, together with the ice cream, ended the meal on a high note.

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Generally the baos are pretty small so it’s highly recommended to get some sides to share, followed by the savoury and the dessert baos for the full experience. Best brunch in 2015? Yes, I conclude.

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G/F, 66 Staunton St

Mon to Fri 6pm – 11pm

Sat 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 11pm

Sun 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 10pm

Sheung Wan MTR Exit A2

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The Lokal

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So, so so many new cafes in Singapore. (too many?) There came to a point in time where I was coming to know about a new cafe each day without fail,  be it through Instagram, blogger friends or the world wide web in general. Pretty sure this influx of new cafes started in June or so, leaving us bloggers in a frenzy where we scurry off to as many of those hideouts as possible.

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Brought to you by Sarnies, The Lokal is Australian-inspired and has so far gotten the nod from food bloggers and cafe hoppers alike. The space is dim, with some light filtering in through a few windows by some tables. Indie vibes checked. Good thing’s that the layout is well-suited to pack people in groups of 4-5 without compromising much on spatial assets. We checked this place out just this Friday for lunch when the lunch menu was served from 11am onwards. Served from 8am to 11am is the breakfast menu which looked promising and fulfilling as well.

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Coffee here was such a delight. I had the cappuccino ($5.50) – smooth, aromatic, right acidity, no bitter aftertaste. Even the latte art’s on point! On the drinks menu there are also smoothies, freshly squeezed juices, teas and sodas so fret not, non-caffeine takers.

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My dish consists of smashed avocado, homemade ricotta cheese, pomelo and toasted almonds on sourdough ($18). A tad pricey though considering the small portion. It’s plain but it makes for something light and healthy on the palate. I’m especially recommending this to all the avocado lovers out there. And P.S. they do place some emphasis on the fact that they make the ricotta from scratch.

Another refreshing and light choice would be the Pita sabich sandwich filled with grilled aubergine, tomato, cucumber, boiled egg and hummus ($16). My friend thinks that the hummus makes this colorful dish tastes less simple as a vegetarian option.

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We also tried the Roast chicken panini with crispy pancetta, tomato, avocado cos and aioli ($15) – coming in a surprisingly bigger portion than the avocado dish. Those with larger stomachs should therefore opt for their sandwiches/burger. The Roast beef on rye, caramelized onions, watercress & grain mustard creme fraiche ($17) and Schnitzel burger, red slaw, grilled pineapple, Emmenthal cheese, lettuce, anchovy mayo on a sesame seed bun served with chunky chips ($28) are yet two other tantalizing alternatives.

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Do not leave without satisfying your sweet tooth. Both the Sticky date pudding with caramelized sauce & vanilla ice cream ($12) and Banana cake with caramelized bananas & hokey pokey ice cream ($12) called out to us so we had both. Between the two, our favorite was the banana cake which felt somewhat like a french toast. The cake was soft but substantial enough to be soaked in syrup that didn’t make it too soggy. I loved how it’s not too cloyingly sweet. Meanwhile, the sticky date pudding, though decent, was pretty average. I would prefer a spongier pudding which would soak up some butterscotch sauce instead of their version which was too dense for my liking.

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Overall verdict? I’m giving the nod too. This is one promising establishment amongst the whole new lot of them – friendly service, quality grub. They so deserve another trip down.

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136 Neil Road

Singapore 088865

Mon – Fri 8am to 6pm

Sat & Sun 9am to 4pm

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Peels – Breakfast in NYC

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New York City is not a food heaven, but THE food heaven. It’s hard not to find a single restaurant on any street at all and this is backed up by statistics, which says that if you hop to a different eatery in NYC for every meal it would take you 52 years to finish trying every one of them. For the past 2 months prior to my trip I’ve been looking up cafes, bakeries, ice cream shops and restaurants on the net so I pretty much have a long list of places that can’t even be fulfilled on a single trip alone.

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Among these places, Peels is one of the top casual brunch spots in Manhattan ($$$$) where both tourists and locals patron often. It made for a perfect stopover en route to the Brooklyn Bridge (our main attraction of the day), being only a short 5 minute walk away from the nearest subway station. Reaching at 8.45am, we found ourselves stepping into the warmth of an empty, 2-storey restaurant. The brunch crowd comes a few hours later. PS I heard that on busy summer weekends queuing for brunch takes hours. I was amazed at how NYC restaurants take their decor seriously. Not a single piece of furniture is mismatched and the interior is rustic charm at its best. I can imagine how vibey it must be in summer when all the colors come to play. 

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The Cinnamon Sugar Donut (3 USD) comes with a price tag heftier than our local Krispy Kreme outlet but at least the Americans are serious about their donuts.  

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Farmers Breakfast (13.5 USD) was a King’s breakfast – fried eggs, smoked bacon, hash browns and toast.  The best big breakfast yet. If you think you’ve had the best bacon in Singapore, the bacon here puts it to shame. It’s thick, juicy and what a good bacon should be – oozing with goodness. Also – look at that perfectly fried sunny side up. Even the toast was adequately fluffy.

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I ordered Biscuits & Gravy (12.5 USD) for myself because online reviews rave about the biscuits here. This particular dish may not look the most appealing and delectable but based on taste, it says otherwise. Poached eggs here have egg whites which are a lot firmer but still producing a runny yolk which spills out. Instead of the usual English muffin or toast, the North American version of the biscuit, a soft quick bread or aka the biscuit from Popeyes, lies below the 2 poached eggs. And on top of it all is not the usual hollandaise but a much more sinful, flavorful sausage gravy. Filled with bacon bits, it complemented the main dish so well that each bite was as pleasant as eating into warm lava cake. Kudos to the just-right portion which saves the entire dish from being overbearing. For something more flexible there is also the option to Build A Biscuit where you choose from a list of items to be sandwiched between 2 biscuits. 

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I wished we had the opportunity to order from their brunch menu.. It’s one of the reasons why people keep going back. Nonetheless I had one of my best breakfasts on that wintry Saturday morning. There were mixed reviews about the service at Peels but I received warm, attentive service from a male server. A pretty good morning for me indeed. Oh bring me back to NYC.. who cares about the Statue of Liberty or Empire State Building when you can have fabulous brunches in the Big Apple?

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325 Bowery

New York, NY 10003

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