Tanglin Cookhouse - Local Fare at a British Colonial Setting

We are always on a hunt to bring our children to somewhere new, so recently I was scrolling my phone when an IG-story of another nearby cafe popped by. It was screaming kids activities, such as face-painting and balloon sculpturing. So with the intention of going there, we headed to Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ), but found out that the activities have already ended. We took a nearby scroll to see what's around that area when we spotted Tanglin Cookhouse. It wasn't exactly crowded when we reached there at lunchtime, so we had the privilege to choose our seats. And thank God for that, because within 30 minutes, the restaurant is really packed. Guessed everyone slept in on a Sunday morning.

The interior of Tanglin Cookhouse was small but beautiful, it has a nice British colonial style touch to some Peranakan furnishing. Menu-wise, it has a pretty extensive selection of all-day breakfast paired with Asian-inspired dishes, pastas, soups and many others. 

Buttercake n Cream @ Sunset Way, Singapore

A few days ago on Labour Day, I was searching for a nice cafe to treat my mother, as a thanks for bearing labour pains. The true meaning of this day is definitely not as such, but I don't think we need a reason to treat our mummies to a meal. To be honest, I have been to Buttercake n Cream quite a few times, and I still constantly mispronounce it as "buttercream and cake". This cafe is located in one of the ulu (rural) places in West Singapore, Sunset Way, and serves affordable food and pretty desserts.

The Coffee Academics @ Scotts Square, Singapore

Hailed from the land of dim-sums since 2012, The Coffee Academics has just arrived at the shores of Singapore recently. Featured on Buzzfeed as the "25 coffee shops around the world you have to see before you die", it is a no-brainer that limbeh has to partake in this hipster trend as well. Stepping into their 3000sq feet of space at the second floor of Scotts Square is like entering a fairyland - one with glorious, marbled furniture paired against a simple, yet classic backdrop, oh not forgetting the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. First impression? "No wonder it made it to the list."

Pies & Coffee (II) @ Rochester Mall, Singapore

Before I start this post, I want to wish my readers GONG HEI FATT CHOY, may you huat a lot in this new year.

I've been to Pies & Coffee more times than the number of fingers I have, well, mostly to mug before my examinations with a couple of friends. If you still have no god-damn idea where is this cafe located at Rochester Mall, which is just literally a stone throw away from The Star Vista. Okay, since this is not my first post on Pies & Coffee, I won't bore you with more descriptions of the place. Recently I was there again, with my love of trying new things (including girls, just kidding), here are two more food items that you should try out.

Wo Peng Cuisine @ Furama Hotel, Singapore

Helmed by Platinum award-winning Hong Kong chef, Julian Tam, Wo Peng Cuisine aims to deliver authentic flavours of Cantonese cuisine in Singapore. Moreover, Chef Julian Tam is the pioneer of introducing traditional poon choy as a festival new year delicacy. Wo Peng opened its doors in Furama Hotel in the year 2010, albeit slightly run-down, the place reminded me of the typical Chinese restaurants (such as Red Star), with dull carpets and tinted lights. But.. it's usually these places that serve the most authentic food.

Bon Cafe @ Pattaya-Naklua Road, Thailand

Pad thai, green curry, tom yum goong..? If you're bored of eating these local food in Pattaya, why not head to Bon Cafe for some American-styled breakfast? Opened as a franchise by a Swiss businessman, Bon Cafe, which features al-fresco dining, has a large, lovely space decorated with glass table-tops and rattan chairs, and could seat more than 50 people. From our recent trip, customers are evidently Caucasian men in their late 50s, accompanied by their browner counterparts (aka Pattaya girlfriends). Oh ya, the location to this cafe is not a hassle as it is located at the main roads of North Pattaya, otherwise, ask the ang-mohs. I'm pretty sure Bon Cafe is their hot-spot for bringing their one-night dates for breakfast after a night of excitement. Do what? Watch movies la, you dirty-minded sia.

Buta God @ Bugis+, Singapore

Ramen Champion first opened its doors at Bugis+ in 2011, and has since garnered the attention of many ramen lovers as well as ramen chefs, who competing for the annual title of "Iron Chef". Amongst the six stalls which are currently helmed by professional chefs from different regions of Japan, is Buta God, or in English terms - God of Pork. Hence, it is not surprising that tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen is their speciality and comes in all types of variants, such as their Tonkotsu Truffle Ramen, Fuwa-Fuwa (Cloud) Ramen, and even, Tom Yum Cheese Ramen (I wonder how this would taste). Here's my virgin experience at Buta God. ITADAKIMASUUUUUUUUU.

Roast Coffee and Eatery Part II @ Thong Lor, Bangkok

And.. we are back to Roast! During our recent trip to Thailand, we decided to bring two new friends from Hong Kong to try out what they have to offer. Nothing much had changed since two years ago (probably their menu) on my last visit, Roast is still a gastronomical haven for both coffee and brunch lovers, serving a selection of tantalising international dishes and caffeine crafted by the hands of their seasoned barristas. Amidst their decorations of mostly rustic wood furniture, small pots of greenery, and artistic art pieces hanging from their high ceilings, lies the pride of Roast - a full fledged roast machine glistering in the colours of golden black.

Food Tasting: Full of Crab @ East Coast Road, Singapore

I don't usually travel to the East all the way from the West, and when I do, it better be worthwhile, and Full of Crab is definitely one reason to head down. Located along the stretch of East Coast Road (opposite Holy Family Church), Full of Crab is a American-styled restaurant that whips up seafood in their signature sauces, such as the cajun and fully loaded sauce. Even idiots know that crabs are obviously the emphasis at Full of Crab, that's why they have Sri Lankan, Snow and King crabs served right here.

Merry Men Kitchen and Bar @ River Valley, Singapore

Opened by four unlikely friends, who came from different career backgrounds (lawyer and physiotherapist? Wow.), the concept of their brainchild - Merry Men Kitchen and Bar is fairly simple, and that is to provide a platform for friends to gather, relax and unwind after a long day of work. Of course, the act of unwinding is not unwinding without good and affordable food, accompanied by a few jugs of good imported beer at the river-side. Sounds like a perfect place to hang out on a Friday night? It sure is. If you're there on a weekend morning or afternoon, do expect leng lui's jogging with their dogs, but obviously that is not the main focus. If you know what I mean.

Ricciotti Pizza Pasta Grill @ The Star Vista, Singapore

Nestled at a lovely corner at The Star Vista, Ricciotti Pizza Pasta Grill is a casual, home-style Italian restaurant that serves more-than-decent Italian cuisine  (duh). On top of their branches at China Square and Riverwalk, the outlet at Buona Vista features a contemporary setting with sleek wooden furniture and an Italian-inspired wall mural. There is also a nice alfresco dining place - a relaxing ambience for chilling out at night.

Supreme Pork Chop Rice (一品排骨饭) @ Beach Road, Singapore

Despite being constantly on the move, loyal customers never fail to track its location down within a short while. The reason is simple - reasonably-priced and good food. Moreover, it's location near the Bugis and City Hall area makes it a popular dining place for office workers. Recommendations from one of my dear friends led us here one weekday afternoon. Fortunately, it was not at all crowded at around 4pm. Besides the popular pork chop, this eatery specialises in fish fillets and other Taiwan-inspired dishes as well.

Griddy Gourmet Waffles @ Westgate, Singapore

Since Westgate opened its doors a few years ago, I have been frequenting Griddy Gourmet Waffles, a hidden gem specialising in waffles. Did you really think waffles are for desserts only? At Griddy, it's your standard Western cuisine. With a slight twist - just imagine having your burgers, with the burger buns replaced with savoury-sweet waffles. Ingenious.

Oh! For the wallet-conscious, their items are very, and really affordable. Most of their mains are priced around S$10 on average, plus you could add a few bucks to size up your meal with a drink and dessert waffle/chicken drumlets!

Brotzeit @ Vivocity, Singapore

Happy new year, readers! It's been almost three weeks into the brand new year, yet I am still found myself half buried in my examinations. Nevertheless, here's one for any pork knuckle lover!

Brotzeit has been in Singapore for awhile, but only recently found myself having my virgin experience at this German bar and restaurant - which never fails to boast a snaking, long queue during dinner times. Now, I haven't been to the other outlets, but the Vivocity branch has a good combination of service and ambience amidst its "chillaxing" (if there's such a word) al-fresco dining.

Do you know that the expression "Brotzeit" translated to English is actually "bread-time"? What's a typical German meal without authentic Germany-imported alcohol? Choose among a wide range of alcoholic beverages, such as lager and weissbier, to accompany the traditional Bavarian cuisine, infused with a touch of modern Germany.

Food tasting at Grand Mandarina @ New Bridge Road, Singapore

Strategically located straight outside Outram Park MRT, Grand Mandarina (previously known as Grand Mandarin) is an up-and-rising restaurant that specialises in Chinese fine dining. It incorporates traditional Cantonese cuisine alongside a fine balance of contemporary fusions, merging art and food in unison.

The interiors of the double-storey Grand Mandarina are decked with classic furniture and chandeliers, set aside walls of glossy black - pretty much one would expect from a high-end Chinese restaurant. The 160-seater restaurant also features two VIP rooms at the upper floor with minimal purchases. Perhaps, the most intriguing art-piece was the Empurau fish (also known as 忘不了), a sea-creature so elegant and prized. In fact, it is one of the most expensive freshwater fish in the world. Oh, and the reason I used the word "was", because it is for sale, with a hefty prize tag of approximately S$800/kg. Definitely not for a poor undergraduate like yours truly.

Teadot Cafe @ Westgate, Singapore [CLOSED]

With a whole lot of cafes poppin' out in the West recently, it would be a high order to catch up with this proliferation. You know what, we actually have this whole, long list of cafes to try out and strike it off the list, but it looks like we are adding more than subtracting it. Nevertheless, we got to try out Teadot cafe after deliberating for quite a while, but still decided to head on with it. 

This modern, yet dainty cafe located at Westgate attempts to reinvent the art of tea-tasting, bringing in gourmet tea drinks to people from all walks of life. Tea is the main thing there, and quite obviously, as its name suggested. It was within lunch hour, so we chose to have their lunch special - roasted chicken sandwich and tea, and a salmon rosti to go along with it.

Pies & Coffee @ Rochester Mall, Singapore

Having been to Pies & Coffee a couple of times, I thought, why not do a damn review about this place already. Located at the vicinity of Rochester Mall, Pies & Coffee is a modern, stylish cafe which seats up to 80-persons, offering diners a choice of indoor and al-fresco style dining amidst the greenery and water features. Given the luxury of space, it is no wonder why it is a favourite spot for students, who sipped on their frappe while mugging for assignments and examinations. That is, including myself.

At Pies & Coffee, there are two obvious highlights - pies and coffees, which one could simply admire in full-view at their counter display. It is not easy though, as anyone would be spoilt for choices. Besides that, they do serve all-day breakfast as well, such as Smoked Salmon Stack - a glorious combination of toasted bagel, stacked with truffle mashed potatoes, velvety scrambled eggs, peas, mushroom, and finally topped with smoked salmon. This dish is completed with a side salad. Who would mind waking up to this beautiful breakfast everyday? Well, definitely not me.

Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant @ Vivocity, Singapore

Serenity is the first of its kind in Singapore serving authentic Spanish cuisine at the heartlands of Singapore. Up to date, Serenity has two branches locally, one located at Vivocity, and the newer branch at Ngee Ann City. Dear and I have passed by their former branch practically every single time we head to Vivocity, but hesitated because Spanish dishes might not be our cup of tea. Nevertheless, we decided to give Serenity a try as our fourth year anniversary dinner.

I have absolutely zero complaints for their ambience and services. In fact, service was polite and efficient, and I always appreciate it when either the service staff or the manager asks us for feedback (like "how is everything so far?"), which they did. We chose to dine al-fresco, set amidst the soft instrumentals and voices of the live band, with the occasional sea-breeze.

Blisshouse @ Clarke Quay, Singapore

Enter the whimsical world of Blisshouse, a fairytale-themed restaurant which serves Western cuisine amongst beautifully crafted gardens and fountains (and even a carriage!) that you might only discover in Disney movies. Photo opportunities are aplenty, making this place a well-desired venue for events such as solemnisation ceremonies, birthday parties and product launches, etc. In fact, the day we were there, there was some ongoing filming where there were parlour chairs and a grand piano set.

Ambience definitely scored high for Blisshouse, and service was pretty good as I would have expected. The service staff were attentive and dishes did not take long to arrive. Food-wise, there were some negative reviews from friends' experience and through my prior research, hence to be utterly honest, my expectations were not high for their offerings.

Food Tasting at Charly T’s @ 112 Katong, Singapore

We dropped by Charly T’s to check out their “Best Chicken in the City”!

The name always reminded me of a cartoon character. Well, it turned out that Charly T (not a real name) is a persona of the restaurant, who put together different experiences and interesting recipes he collected and learnt throughout his travel adventures around the globe. On the menu, you can find food orginating from different parts of the world, from Germany to Honolulu to Japan. Most of the food originated from Germany though.

We ordered the Rotisserie Chicken in original flavour.