Full review on http://herpenandfork.blogspot.sg/2016/02/brownice-italian-bistro-katong-review.html 
[This review is for the Katong outlet.]
Brownice Italian Bistro is a vegan Italian bistro concept with 2 outlets located at Katong and Sin Ming respectively. While the Sin Ming outlet serves only waffles and ice cream, the Katong one serves up a full-fledged menu. Food Menu

We would think vegan food to be bland and unappealing, but backed by the rising eat-healthy trend in recent years and the increase in vegans, the vegan/vegetarian industry has seen businesses such as taiwanese-vegetarian Sufood (read the review here) by the Putien Group, striving to improve food quality and taste to even appeal to mainstream diners. Brownice however, sets itself distinctly apart from the competition by serving a fully Italian menu of pizzas and pastas.

A differentiating point about Brownice is that they make their own vegan cheese, and it tastes very similar to cheese, but without the stringiness that some may miss. Apparently, to do a vegan cheese that tastes decent isn't easy and this definitely made the mark.

AranciniArancini ($12)

Arancini are fried, crumbed rice balls filled with vegan cheese and tomato. The marinara was a very well-seasoned blend of flavours that wasn't too sour or heavy on the tomato taste. My dining partner and I, who are not usually marinara fans, lapped this up, though it could use just a little less salt. A bonus for the health-conscious is that Brownice uses brown rice for this dish, consistent with the bistro's healthy slant. This dish was our favourite, all thanks to the superb marinara.

Four Seasons PizzaFour Seasons Pizza ($18)

This thin-crust pizza came in four variations, each with two slices. There were the toppings of artichokes with soy ham; taggiasche olives; sundried tomatoes and capsicum; truffle mushroom. The imported olives were juicy but too salty, though that has more to do with the preserved nature of olives. Our favourite slices were the truffle mushroom and artichokes with soy ham.

Brownice definitely served up flavours that are very close to the Italian taste in Italy. We did not miss the meat in this meal. The waffles and ice cream are touted as a must-try, so we will be headed there for it next time.

Full review on http://herpenandfork.blogspot.sg/2016/02/boruto-bar-review-fusion-mod-japanese.html 

Located in the CBD, Boruto is a Japanese bar that serves up fusion Jap-mod dishes, tapas style. The place has a good collection of sakes, and they pride themselves on their collection of it in a 'vault' that has a cute set of old security boxes, left behind by the previous bank occupant serving as decor. This made sense then, because 'Boruto' means vault in Japanese.On the menu is a mix of hot and cold tapas, as well as a good selection of sakes.

Saga Gyu Tataki with Saffron Saga Beef Tataki ($28.8)

The beef slices is seared on the outside while remaining rare on the inside. The end-result is tender and savoury with the right touches of umami. Some may find it a little conventional out of all the fusion mod dishes, but this worked well for me.

Ahi Tataki The Ahi Tataki is a dish of seared ahi tuna. The spicy kick brought by the sauce gave this dish something different. It can be an option if you like your fish tatakis and the wasabi Yuzu dressing elevated the dish to make it refreshing.

Crispy Rice Cracker Tacos Crispy Rice Cracker Tacos

I liked the mushiness of the pulled pork against the creamy background of the guacamole. The crispy rice cracker added a contrasting crunch and the chilli salsa gave a good kick to the end. Altogether, this has to be my favourite dish in the tasting

Tori Take Roll
The Tori Take Roll is a chicken roulade stuffed with shiitake jam. It is drizzled with a Chinese-style vinaigrette which comprises of sesame, chilli, soy sauce and black vinegar. The shiitake jam is really delicious, but the flavouring of this dish is more suitable for the chinese palate. Uni Pasta v1.1 Uni Truffle Pasta ($35.8)

It is version 1.1 as the chef has reinterpreted the signature from the previous chef by adding his own touch of uni to it. The fishiness of the uni was a little too overpowering for us. Not for everyone. Dessert - Warabi Mochi, Souffle cake, Truffle Creme BruleeFrom Top Clockwise: Warabi Mochi ($6.80), Chocolate Souffle Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream ($8.80) and Truffle Creme Brulee ($12.80)

For the souffle cake, it came as promised with a richly oozy molten chocolate centre. The whole combination of soft cake with the melted chocolate was a delight. My favourite dessert of the three, this was a crowd-pleaser.

It is a good place for knocking back a few glasses, especially if you are into sakes and the food here doesn't lack in quality, though some unconventional flavours may not appeal to everyone. You will need deeper pockets though.

Located at The Bedok Marketplace, a place anchored on a concept not unsimilar to Salute Kopitiam at Alexandra is Ballistic Meatballs.

This must be the first stall I have seen in Singapore, specialising solely in meatballs. Just looking at the menu got me excited.Ballistic Meatballs Menu

We were there to try the meatballs, but the wraps seemed equally tantalising, partly because of the good variety of interesting sauces.Crispy Wild Mushrooms ($3), Crispy Crab Balls ($10.50)

The Crispy Wild Mushrooms wowed surprisingly, for something that I admit I dismissed as too common to have anything worth noting initially. Ballistic's version however, has a thin crispy batter that is just the right balance of salty peppery. I couldn't stop. At just $2 with any meatball order, this is a must-order. Crispy Crab Balls ($10.50)

This was the shop's special when we popped by, in celebration of SG50. The Crispy Crab Balls, served with two mantou buns and chilli crab sauce, are made from crab meat and clams rolled together and coated in a crispy panko batter. One side was soaked in chilli crab sauce, which made it mushy moist, but at the same time, you can still get the crispiness on the other side. The chilli crab sauce complemented the meatball very well. This was our group favourite.Ballistic Signature Beef Meatballs ($5.90), Plain Jane Meatballs ($4)

The Ballistic Signature Meatballs did deliver, with the flavourful beef meatballs crispy on the outside, revealing an inner melted cheese filling. This came in closely to the Chilli Crab Meatball for me, so if the special is out, this is good. The Plain Jane chicken meatball however, was a tad too salty and its slightly flat shape caused it to be a little flat in the mouth in terms of texture, compared to the other completely rounded meatballs.

Judging by the meatballs we had, this stall well gives IKEA a run for their money.

Remember Kampung@Simpang Bedok, the ill-fated social enterprise hawker centre that closed down end 2013? They have now renamed it as The Bedok Marketplace, and the place is now anchored on a concept not unsimilar to Salute Kopitiam at Alexandra. This will be the East's equivalent of the hip Kopitiam.


It is all about the chops here, with a display that boasts of premium looking meat cuts. Luckily for meat-lovers, a plate here ranges from the high single digits and mid tens, which is reasonable if you are paying for quality cuts. Steak ($18.50)

The steak, done rare here, was chewy and soft. However, it could do more on the smoky grilled flavour and the flavour of the meat itself, especially for the price. The sides did better. The potato cubes, according to my foodie companions, were just the right crunchiness without being mushy.Baby Back BBQ Ribs ($15.90)

Apparently another signature of the stall, other than the steak, is the Baby Back BBQ Ribs. The sauce coating the ribs were great, but the meat itself was a little dry though.London Fish and Chips ($9.90)

Of the 3 dishes we ordered, the London Fish and Chips would be my pick. For the value-for-money price point, the fish used is a quality fish with flaky white flesh. The batter wasn't too thick nor greasy either.

The prices may be high considering the setting, but it offers a compromise between bistro quality and hawker centre prices with generous portions.

Full review on http://herpenandfork.blogspot.sg/2015/07/the-bedok-marketplace-review-ballistic.html

The most distinct feature of Brunches, however, is the vintage decor that it is decked out in. The place also has plenty of quirky, vintage items that are for sale, albeit at slightly premium prices.The cafe also does its own bakes, displayed in the glass case near the cashier. Cupcakes in flavours like Earl Grey start from $3.50 onwards, while a piece of cream cake such as the raspberry cream cake and buttery apple crumble goes at $5.50. Pretty standard cafe prices.Prices shown on the menu do not include 10% plus 7%, unlike most other cafes in Singapore, where prices either already include the charges inside already or are waived. So I got a little shocked when my Flat White escalated from $4.50 to $5.7.Flat White ($5.70)

Their coffee is on the acidic side, so it isn't for those who like a balanced cup. Otherwise, a pretty decent cup.

Baked Eggs and BaconBaked Eggs and Bacon ($13.90)

The baked eggs and bacon set ($13.90) featured a piece of sourdough toast (your choice of white/wholemeal/sourdough) with 2 baked eggs wrapped in bacon, accompanied by sauteed mushrooms and a salad. We hardly find cafes who do their own breads nowadays, so the effort should be commended. However, it was a pity as the sourdough was a little too chewy for my liking and lacking in any aroma. The rest on the plate were not bad, my favourite being the sauteed mushrooms.The semi-cooked runny yolks in the baked eggs flowed nicely too.

This is one cafe worth a visit for the fun retro-themed interiors, especially in groups, though the food isn't top notch. The laidback setting in somewhat sleepy Rangoon Road also makes it pretty ideal to settle down with a book and just watch the afternoon go by.

Full review on http://herpenandfork.blogspot.sg/2015/07/brunches-cafe-review-rangoon-road.html