Togi Korean Restaurant is located at Tripleone@Somerset and this is its second branch in Singapore, with the first one located at 11 Mosque Street, around Chinatown. I was in town and googled for affordable korean food, and this showed up on my list, so my mum and I decided to give it a try.

The restaurant has a comfortable dining atmosphere, and coupled with the decor, it really feels like dining in korea. I loved the somewhat casual and warm atmosphere of small-medium eateries that I visited while I was in Korea, and Togi offered that vibe here.

The restaurant was filled on the Saturday evening we visited, and there were a few big groups enjoying the korean bbq. The menu was sufficient in variety, comprising of the usual korean fare- Korean Bbq meats ala carte, pancakes, soups and rice (think bibimbap and bulgogi with rice). 반찬: Bean sprouts Kimchi, Fishcake slices, potato salad, tuna with peas with mixed vegetables, marinated anchovies and kimchi.

The 반찬 (banchan - small portions of side dishes commonly served with korean food) was served to us after we placed our order. Especially memorable was the flavourful porridge(seafood with carrot bits), potato salad and bean sprouts kimchi. The porridge, with the seafood flavor, was sweet and refreshing to the palate, and tasted really wholesome with nutritious goodness. The kimchi wasn't that much to my liking though. It tasted a little too mild. I like my kimchi with the sour tang and crunchy bite. The refill of the banchan was gladly given- all you have to do is ask. Just the banchan alone, especially the porridge, is enough reason for another visit. Banchan - Seafood porridge. As you can see, I already took a mouthful of it because it looked enticing and tasted superb.

Service-wise, it was hard at times to get the attention of the servers, perhaps because we were sitting right at the corner of the restaurant.

The Kimchi pancake with seafood ($12) was crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside with a generous serving of squid. My only gripe is that it seemed a little too oily, and the taste of kimchi was not that obvious. The waitress did apologise for serving it slightly imperfect in presentation, as pictured below. As for the kimchi soup with pork ($13), it came bubbling hot and hearty with ingredients such as mushrooms, a few flat rice cake pieces (tteobbokki), beancurd and of course kimchi. It was slightly more on the spicier side. A pretty good version of the kimchi jjigae among all those I have tasted thus far.The cappuccino is also affordably priced at $3 and came with a green tea biscuit. Decent coffee they have here, if the cappuccino is anything to go by.

I will likely return to try the dolsot bibimbap(korean mixed rice in a hot stone pot), and also the ala carte bbq meat which we saw so many other tables ordering. It is definitely reasonably priced and very much authentic. A good choice to go for when you are craving for korean food in town without a wish to jostle at foodcourts nor pay exorbitant prices.

For the full review, go to herpenandfork.blogspot.sg

Located at a central location yet still remaining pretty much hidden, this bakery bistro bar serves quite a variety of items on its menu. It has brunch items such as Eggs Benedict and mains that include sandwiches and pizzas. I came to this place as part of a restaurant-hunting activity that my school organised. First up was the bread-tasting platter. Artisan Bread Basket with marmalade, jam and butter.

The breads here are provided by head baker Audrey Tan from Freshly Baked at Killiney Road (which I have yet to but will visit one day). You can never go wrong with the simple bread and butter, but the marmalade and jam here provides an alternative if you want a different taste. Me being the carbs-lover me, I tried the bread with a bit of each. The rustic quality of the breads also appealed to me. For those with a smaller appetite though, it is best to share with a friend so that you have space for the entrees and dessert.

The restaurant's Hot Reuben is one of the highly-recommended items on the menu from my research. For the uninitiated, Hot Reuben is apparently a sandwich consisting of the 'standard' make-up of corned beef, swiss cheese, Russian dressing and sauerkraut (fermented cabbage). The saltiness of the corned beef coupled with the melted cheese makes it a very savory dish and very filling as the portion size was big. The bread used here is the Asahi Kuronama beer bread.Hot Reuben - $18

My friend ordered their Spicy Huevos Benedict. What differentiated this from your usual Eggs Benedict is the inclusion of spanish jalapenos peppers and Spanish chorizo (pork sausage smoked with red peppers), which added a zing of spicy to the dish. The eggs were poached rightly, with the yolks flowing out smoothly when cut. The flavor of the chorizo added a different dimension to the dish, though I must say the taste of the chorizo may need to be acquired for some people who haven't tried it before. The texture of the chorizo came across as rubbery and took us a little more effort chewing.Spicy Huevos Benedict - $20

Our choices for dessert were the Pear Cheddar Crumble and Brownie Parfait. The Pear Cheddar crumble is a good blend of sweet (pear) and salty (cheddar crumble) that was made all the better by the warmth of the crumble contrasted with the cold of the ice-cream.The dessert could do with a little less pear though. This is my preferred out of the 2 desserts.Pear Cheddar Crumble - $9

The Brownie Parfait came with a salted caramel sauce, caramelised cornflakes and peanuts. A choice that would go with chocolate and salted caramel lovers.Brownie Parfait - $10

Nestled along Prinsep Street, a little walk further down from Selegie Center is artsy cafe Cups n Canvas. The place is located within walking distance of SMU/SOTA/NAFA, which makes it a good place for students to relax for the afternoon. The cafe also has wifi and there are power points available, though limited. Prices here for the food are in the 10s range, while drinks are in the standard cafe range ($4-$7+).The menu also offers a good variety of coffees and there are the western mains alongside an all-day breakfast menu (not available 12-2pm on weekdays).Sweet Potato Latte ($4.80)

The purple sweet potato latte is one of the cafe's signatures. Milky, with sweet potato bits and a pretty purple colour, the drink is just the right sweetness. The sweet potato flavour is evident in a subtle manner, but personally, I found it a bit too milky. Full of sweet potato flavour, but also subdued because of the mild nature of the flavour. It is definitely worth a try though, especially for goguma lovers.Latte and Mocha

The coffees here are on par with most other cafes' standards too.Eggs Ben-Addict

We went with the Eggs Ben-Addict on Bagel for all-day breakfast. 1 yolk was done right, while the other was slightly overcooked. Nevertheless, this was up to par in flavour and the bagel had a sufficiently soft interior to mop up the yolk.Grilled Fish with wedges and sauteed mushrooms

From the mains, the grilled fish served with crisp wedges and sauteed mushrooms was not bad. The accompanying sauce made it slightly more interesting. Though why there is that straight orange thing sticking out, I am not sure nor know what it is.

The staff are also friendly too. They greeted warmly on both occasions that I visited. This is one more of those cafes that is more than its hipster facade, with food that can match up to its hip factor. The same can hardly be said for a good lot of the newer joints that have sprouted up recently. Despite the competitive cafe scene, Cups n Canvas has withstood the test so far and rightly so.

For the full review, read http://herpenandfork.blogspot.sg/2014/11/cups-n-canvas-brunch-and-coffee-in.html

FIX is by the people same people behind GRUB cafe in Bishan park. Located in HometeamNS Toa Payoh, you have to walk for a good 10 minutes from Toa Payoh MRT. But, if you make the trip, the place does reward.The non-air-conditioned cafe has spacious tables and the best seats are the long wood tables overlooking the pool. I was curious and somewhat excited to see what they could bring this time, largely because my visit to GRUB a year ago wasn't particularly memorable.The menu is different, including quirky 'naanwiches', some very interesting appetisers, and a good range of desserts. Great for catching up as you won't overhear the conversation of others and vice versa.At any time of the day, you can also get a set. ($2 to add a drink to any main etc).Donuts with Salted Egg Dip ($7)

My main aim for coming here was actually the Liu Sha Donuts. Deconstructed custard lava buns, these little balls come with a salted egg custard dip. Alas, it was underwhelming because neither the saltiness nor buttery egginess that is usual of Liu Sha Baos was there. Still, there was something satisfying about this and the idea is brilliant. Pity about the dip.The mocha we ordered had a nice body and was smooth. One of the better mochas around.Turkey, ham and cheese naanwich ($10)

The turkey, ham and cheese naanwich came with a poached egg. It really looked like a pizza (and tasted somewhat like one). In terms of taste, this was quite delicious. The naanwiches come with a side of tortillas, topped with some nacho cheese and tomato salsa.Passionfruit, Mango and Coconut Chiffon cake ($7)

We had a hard time deciding between the spinach and butternut squash quiche or one of the cakes. In the end, we settled for the passionfruit, mango and coconut cake. The thin layer of sponge cake in between was moist, while the cream was smooth and light and tasted refreshing. The bits of passionfruit and mango on the top layer also lent a tangy fruity flavour. The entire piece is beautifully constructed. This is the best cake I have had in a while. It makes me wonder how their other desserts fare.Going by the cake we had and the looks of the other desserts on display, FIX will be worth returning for their desserts especially. The ambience is laidback and the food and drinks are above average by local cafe standards. I reckon it will be very good for a quiet weekday afternoon coffee or weeknight date (if the place doesn't get too crowded). Prices displayed are nett as well. This is a good place to get your fix of cafe food and spending your time without breaking the bank.

For the full review, http://herpenandfork.blogspot.sg/

Laffio, or Laugh-It-Out combined in a word, is run by 2 enterprising ladies who are finance professionals by day. The bar-cafe's concept is simple - a place where people can have good food and knock back a couple among laughs.The menu is extensive, with all-day breakfast, western mains, sandwiches and finger food aplenty. 3-course lunch sets are available as well during weekdays.Tonight though, we were here for their first-ever Pop Dining Event, featuring 6 courses created by 4 chefs, 1 of them being Laffio's own chef de cuisine.Coconut Shell Clams in Marinara Sauce, served with toasted bread.

The Coconut Shell Clams in Marinara Sauce featured a smattering of clams housed in a coconut shell. The accompanying toasted bread was very plain on its own, but it is evidently deliberately left so after you dip it into the marinara clam sauce at the bottom of the coconut bowl. The seafood sweetness stands out in the sauce, but the clams were just a little bit tiny within. This was paired with a refreshing frozen lime margherita.Homemade You Char Kway (Dough Fritter Pieces) with Mozarella Cheese and Tomatoes, accompanied by a Lemongrass Ginger Mocktail.

The Homemade You Char Kway with Mozzarella Cheese and Tomatoes cooked in duck fat may look simple, but it was so delicious. The dough fritters were fried to a crunchy crisp. Combined with the sweet tomatoes and fragrant melted mozzarella, the entire combination is a hit. It would be even better if the dough fritters could be fluffy inside, to soak up the delicious sauce it was coated in, but no complaints. This was a strong contender for the best dish of the night. The mocktail pairing of Lemongrass and Ginger complemented the dish to a T and added that extra lift to it overall. Its street-food presentation made it fun to eat too.Spanish Iberico Pork with Bonito Flakes and Pumpkin Puree

The Spanish Iberico Pork with Bonito Flakes and Pumpkin Puree came paired with a red wine. The pork was bouncy, juicy and flavourful with every bite. Along with the subtle sweetness from a dash of apple sauce, this was one of my favourites for the night. We even had someone asking if he could have seconds.Red Snapper with Foie Gras Mousse and Bacon, served on Banana Leaf

Created by Laffio's Chef De Cuisine, this Red Snapper with Foie Gras Mousse and Bacon had a grilled smokiness to it. The fish itself was firm to the bite and supple but the Foie Gras Mousse had a bitter aftertaste. Not sure if it should be there. The bacon was also just a little over-fried, such that it was a little hard to bite. However, the orange marmalade lent a fruitiness which contrasted nicely with the sharpness of the fish meat. Popcorn Ice Cream

This Popcorn Ice Cream is actually vanilla ice cream topped with popping candy and a few popcorn bits. The popping candy created a racket "popping" in the mouth, making it pure fun to eat. The vanilla ice cream was rich with vanilla flavour and creamy to a right. This is hands down my favourite. Makes me wonder why no one has ever thought of it till now. I would gladly come back again for this repeatedly if this is permanently on the menu! Chocolate Liquer Ball with Strawberry Mousse

The last item for the night, this Chocolate Liquer Ball took a little bit more effort to break into even using our metal spoon. Once broken, the liquer within flowed out gloriously. It was also presented creatively, making it convenient to drink from the edges of the diamond tip. One of the diners commented that it resembled drinking in ancient times, when goblets were shaped like this.

Good food aside, we were also entertained with short games during the event. Laffio delivers their motto with this pop up dining event that is pure good fun in food form. From what the owners say, there will be other themed events coming up as well within these few months. I will return to try the mainstays on their regular menu. Meanwhile though, could we have more of that Popcorn Ice Cream?

For the full review, go to http://herpenandfork.blogspot.sg/2014/10/laffio-review-pop-dining-fun-in.html