Previously known as the two-starred Damenlou Hotel (大門樓旅店) until 2007, the 5-storeyed historical building on Ann Siang Hill was taken over the following year and transformed into a film and foodie haven called The Screening Room, with dining, wine, and theatrical experiences all under one roof.

I have been recommending this place to friends without having been there. At last, I got my chance early this month.Our delightful appetizers raised the bar for the dishes to come.Can't decide what to order? Their platters are good to start with.

Feeling adventurous, we chose the less common Greek Platter ($18) that comprised selected bites with alien-sounding names.

Tastebud was particular impressed with the kakavia greek fisherman stew that came in a cup. Intense in flavours and complex in taste, it warmed the heart in a unique way that left me lost for words for the next couple of minutes.Next, juicy Grilled Potobello Mushroom ($10), drizzled with sea salt and olive oil.Danish hake fish ($28) enveloped in a potato crust fried to crispy brown, garnished with trout roe and citrus fruit salsa.It was decided which dessert we wanted, to end this grand dinner.

Mahalabia ($14) it was called, the yogurt crème was livened up by the pomegranate and peppermint bits. Refreshing bites of crushed peppermint provided a lovely balance to the tangy yogurt.

I don't usually eat yogurt, but here I devoured it.

No one leaves The Screening Room without visiting its star attraction for the night - La Terraza. It was Time Out’s best alfresco bar for 2008.Take comfort from the casual yet stylish settings of rooftop bar as you take a sip of icy cool beer and soak in the spectacular view of CDB skyline.

Started in June 2009 as a social enterprise by a couple who named the café after their daughter with special needs, the café aims to empower youths and children with special needs by providing them with employment and training, so that they can integrate well into the society where they contribute as an active member of the local community.

The café's serves a simple <a href="http://www.joanbowen.com/menu_starters.html">European menu</a> which seems to offer everything. The service staff are warm and friendly and you might just need a little bit of patience while your orders are being taken.

My companion ordered their <strong>Aubergine Salad ($8.90)</strong> which came with the grilled eggplant she wanted to try. Its portion was generous, making it a perfect alternative to a main course.

Our ovenbaked <strong>Garlic Mussels ($8.90)</strong> were perfumed with fragrant garlic béchamel sauce, topped with a touch of cheddar cheese.

I love sea bream on my sashimi platter, but this pan grilled version here didn't disappoint.

Besides the fish which was grilled to a skillful crisp on the inside, in particular I liked the pumpkin mash that not just brought vibracy to the plate, but also comfort to the palate.

As night falls upon this sleepy estate, with lights dimmed to intimate brightness and soothing music playing in the air, you find a growing affiliation to this place. The next thing you know, you are going to return for more.

Casa Verde, literally means 'Green House' in Italian, is one of the pizzeria arms belong to the Les Amis Group of restaurants. Nestled amidst the lush greenery of Singapore Botanic Gardens, it's a popular spot to hit for park visitors and morning joggers alike.

Breakfast here is served as early as 0730 a.m. on weekends.

Not sure what to order? You won't go wrong with their Gourmet Breakfast ($14.00), which promises a well-balanced spread including scramble eggs, hash brown, back bacons, sausage, mushrooms and a basket of French toast. Wash it down with a cuppa potent coffee.

Available only on weekends, Egg Benedictine ($11.00) is a must-have for any die-hard brunch fan. I however would have loved it even more if there was a little more dressings to my greens which carried a raw taste.

Besides being budget-friendly as all prices here are net, Casa Verde is also one of the few establishments which are pet-friendly on this island, so you don't have to worry about your beloved 'son' or 'daughter' might go hungry at home while you are away enjoying your breakfast.

As the old saying goes, "the early bird gets the worm", breakfast menu is served until 1130 a.m., so set your alarm clock to the right time this weekend.

Opened by a group of friends who shares the same passion for design and good living, the Scandinavian-inspired furniture shop on Haji Lane radiates an unspeakable homely charm.

Its walk-up gastrobar Café Fables occupies a significant portion of the three-storey pre-war shophouse.


The bitter green tea flavour of the sponge of our Matcha Red Bean balanced out the layers of butter cream which would otherwise seem too heavy. The azuki layer on the other hand, lent a savoury sweet note to this pairing.

Both of us were taken aback by this samsui-hat-looking object (called Banana Surprise) when it first showed up on our table. For a moment, I thought someone had left a plasticine sculpture on my plate. This banana really surprised us by being a crêpe of some sort, but it was not something I would expect a banana-sounding item to be.


Made from white chocolate and other unknown sweet ingredients, the spongy outer layer of the cake itself resembled a yoga mat that had rolled gracefully out of the oven. Filled to plumpness was banana in heavy cream. Finally, the banana had made its appearance. A pleasant surprise.

As the name of the shop implies, everything here tells a story, whether be it the vintage handmade furniture or the one-of-a-kind art piece by Japanese sculptor Sumio Suzuki. Nothing short of stylish.

With its bar serving cakes and tailored cocktails with character, it's clearly café-type goodness for the sweet-toothed with not a single savoury item on the menu. I figure that they may need to include some light bites soon.

The next time you are at Haji Lane to check out your favourtie shop-stops, why not pop by level two of A Thousand Tales to see what it has to offer.

For the full write-up, feel free to drop by http://amasou-umasou.blogspot.com/2010/10/thousand-tales.html.

From plant to cup, it requires on average the work of forty hands, that is how the name of this three-month-old café came about. Tucked away in the sleepy Tiong Bahru estate, coffee connoisseurs now have one more hot spot to pick up their cup of gourmet coffee.

Forty Hands was a joint set up by a group of visionary individuals who share the same desire to improve the life of millions of coffee growers in developing countries through the coffee they make here.

Its coffee menu features a selection of freshly brewed in-housed blends priced from as low as $2.50 (no ++). The cup of Mocha ($6.50) I had was made smooth and robust in flavours. The melted chocolate in it warmed me from bottom up that rainy afternoon.

On any regular weekdays only a small selection of sandwiches are served. Their weekend brunch menu looked really tempting.

With their brunch dishes (like Eggs Benedict) we missed out this time, as well as the tapas menu in the making, there is definitely a need for another visit.

Get 10% off with your HSBC credit card.

For more photos, you may find them at http://amasou-umasou.blogspot.com/2010/12/forty-hands.html.