Spanish Doughnut = Churro

Now that's the kind of equation I like and understand. Personally, I had never had a churro until my trip to Australia a couple of years back, and then once more at Grubs at Bishan Park. There hasn't been any looking back since.

After all, who can say no to the delectable fried dough pastry dipped in your choice of chocolate sauces?

Spanish Doughnuts at Orchard Central caters specifically towards that niche craving with a menu featuring all kinds of churros you can think of! The open-concept layout of Spanish Doughnuts is liberating and welcoming. And while there are the standard wooden tables and chairs, plusher sitting is available along the sides of the cafe. First come first serve is law there. I was early  

Menu wise, Spanish Doughnut really kicks up the humble churro a notch. You'll have your standard plain churro fried and sprinkled in sugar icing and served with your choice of chocolate dip (White, Milk and Dark Chocolate).!Tip: Order the Choco Churritos - it's a great platter to share with bite-sized churros and all 3 chocolate dips available instead of just having to choose one!Other than the standard churro, there are those with flavoured custard fillings, and then you have the Premium Churros, each of which are painstakingly handmade. Besides having chocolate or vanilla custard filling piped into the centre, each premium churro is glazed lavishly in different coatings of flavour and texture.  Creme Brulee, Dark Chocolate Bonbon and Hazelnut are but 3 of the many premium flavours available. Unlike their "under-dressed" counterparts, some of the premium churros are served chilled to keep the external glazing in place. So the taste is pretty new.

I think Spanish Doughnuts is one of the place to hang out in the revammped area of Somerset, and heck I ca't wait for my next churro outing!

Porridge Paradise is one of the newest offerings at Bugis, along Tan Quee Lan street. At the time of my visit, the restaurant is barely 2 weeks old. And to debunk any preconceptions derived from the moniker, Porridge Paradise is so very much more than just porridge.
Star of the menu would definitely have to be the original healthy porridge creations by the chef/owner. Using only all natural and fresh ingredients, there are 3 very unique flavours to choose from:
1. Pandan and Basil (Green) with pork
2. Pumpkin (Yellow) with prawn
3. Red Yeast Rice and Ginger (Red) with chicken

Each of the key ingredients were carefully handpicked for their health properties, strengthening our body's immunity system, lowering cholesterol levels and increasing antioxidant levels in our bodies. The restaurant's signature 3C Porridge offers an opportunity to test all 3 flavours at a go, reap all 3 health benefits, at a ridiculously low price of $6.90.
This HAS to be what I call value-for-money.

I'm not really a porridge person myself, preferring to stick with the staple of Century Egg and Minced Pork Porridge usually. But the presentation and smells really won me over. I am stuck choosing between the Pumpkin and the Red Yeast Rice & Ginger for a favourite - the former for the sweet taste of the pumpkin in the broth and the inherent sweetness of the shrimp; the latter for that combination that plays out so well in the mouth, and I love how the juiciness of the shredded chicken shines through in the aftertaste.And as I was saying, it's not just porridge. Porridge Paradise offers a menu of local delights as well. Assam Fish, Curry Chicken and Prawn Paste Chicken seem to be crowd favourites, with the Curry Chicken selling out by mid-day. I was lucky enough to get the last bowl Assam Fish (small): $10
I liked the crispiness of the fried fish, but i felt the assam could have been better to complement the dish further.

 

Curry Chicken: $7
A tad pricey at $7, the curry chicken is still pretty awesome taste wise. I liked the viscosity of the curry, not to watery, and the spiciness as the curry goes down the chute gives quite the kick.Prawn Paste Chicken: $8
Fried Chicken in delectable prawn paste batter. 'Nuff said.
Lunch for our group of 3 only worked out to be $10 each for such a spread. I'd say Porridge Paradise would be worth a visit for a potential lunch option for those working around Bugis.

For a city rat like myself, Expo is really one heck of a journey away. One that I would hardly consider if not for the quarterly IT shows that are being hosted at the exhibition halls.

Be that as it may, I count it a happy coincidence this time round that my visit for Sitex 2013 allowed me to try out Table Manners at Changi City Point.

The restaurant is a splendid affair - an indoor dining area which looked a cross between a retail outlet selling novelty home accessories and a restaurant/cafe, plus a charming gazebo where diners can choose to eat, drink and be merry to their hearts' content. 

I preferred the quiet of the indoor dining, with the wooden furnishings crossed with low hanging black lamps and black leather seats. Especially when I get fancy collateral before my meal as well!
Imagine having a designated spot on the table for any and everything u own, and humourous jabs at stereotypes of poor table manners.

"Thicker tissue packs reserve your seat for a longer period of time." -- Table Manners


Service was slightly on the tardy side; I'd be understanding due to the dinner-time crowds and maybe the staff having to grapple with mobile ordering CMS, but surely it shouldn't take me 3-5 minutes of waving to get some attention should it?

The menu is predominantly Western, with a touch here and there of Asian influences. I had the one of the restaurant signatures - Norwegian Baked Salmon - which was really on the money.
A generous slab of salmon baked with garlic miso mayo for flavour and served on top of mash potato and a creamy mushroom ragout.

The cook on the salmon was perfect, beautifully pink throughout and the flavour went magnificently with the mushrooms and mash below. 

Norwegian Baked Salmon - $22
Rating: **** [4/5]

I also got to try the Beer Batter Fish n Chips. 2 fillets fried a crispy golden brown in a beer batter, served with truffle fries and house salad on the side.
In terms of Fish n Chips, I would definitely have tasted better. Though the fish tasted fresh, no other flavours leapt at me, not the goodness of quality seafood nor scented beer batter. Likewise, the truffle fries though smelling faintly of truffle when served, didnt really impress.

Fish n Chips -- $18
Ratings: ** [2.5/5]

Summing up, I really liked the look and feel of Table Manners. Thoughtfulness really went beyond the menu to fill out a concept restaurant/cafe that all might relate to and enjoy. The prices are acceptable as well and I'm definitely not gonna pass up a 2nd visit to try desserts like their Sea Salt Chocolate Caramel Tart and Chocolate Mousse Dome Cake!

One of the latest entrants to the F&B spread at ION Orchard, Becasse Bakery adds an additional notch of posh extravagance with it's array of French-inspired pastries and dishes.

Located on the 4th floor of ION, Becasse Bakery's design just came off as contemporary chic - I remember feeling 'wow-ed' seeing how the monogrammed black white floor contrasted and yet fit with the white cubic design of the ION ceiling.

The wow-factor reasserted itself again upon seeing the menu, albeit not in a very nice way. $18 for a quiche and $30 for a burger just sets off the warning alarms. A speculation which can only be confirmed by jumping right down into the food.

Our meal featured 2 of the bakery's signature dishes:

Becasse's namesake burger aims for the stars with a star-studded cast of exquisite ingredients. 2 100% Wagyu Beef patties sandwiching foie gras atop half melted Gruyere cheese simply makes for a very luxurious mouthful. And to
plump up the meal for bigger eaters, some kipfler potatoes baked in their skins with duck-fat for additional flavour.

Becasse Wagyu Burger - $27
Verdict: I wish I could say that I was bowled over by the taste as much as I was reading the description off the menu, but the star of the burger just did not quite deliver - the Wagyu Beef patties were just too processed to let the quality beef shine. Redeeming qualities came in the form of the rich foie gras and the Gruyere, which have the burger both flavour and taste.

I get pretty excited over something as sinful as duck fat but the kipflers just came across as pretty bland. Personally I'd still prefer the US potatoes for their taste. At the very least, they helped fill me a bit more!


Assorted seafood (mainly crab and prawn) baked together with macaroni and cheeses, the Seafood & Macaroni Bake at Becasse Bakery was another dish off the menu we thought we had to try. 

Seafood & Macaroni Bake - $27
Verdict: Fans of cheesy meals would probably snap this right up. The dish is best rates hot when each forkful brings up macaroni and seafood in equal proportions, trailing yummy, sticky threads of molten cheese. At $27 though, still a tad pricey for me.

It's been a couple of days since my visit to Becasse, and my wallet's still stinging. Given how hungry I still felt after settling the bill, I'd probably steer clear of the main courses and maybe head back there for a Parisian tea over macarons and iced chocolate.

Anyone looking for dim sum, especially as a midnight snack, would be familiar with Wen Dou Sek. Located along Geylang Road, the rustic shophouse has made a name for itself for authentic HK dim sum all night long. 

So popular is this eating place that every square inch of space has to be utilized, with additional tables and seats made available outside the restaurant, out of the aircon. For more comfortable seats, I would strongly recommend heading down to Wen Dou Sek avoiding the peak periods: Before the dinner crowds - 8pm if you want some of the dishes available only before that time, or just the supper hordes who show up from 12-1 at midnight.

The interior of Wen Dou Sek is pretty much a no-frill concept. Plastic tables and chairs cramped as much as they can and in a way, really adding on to the look of feel of any traditional yum cha outlets you might find in HK.

But wait till u get down to the dim sum spread. They might not all wow your pants off you, but there are dishes that I would certainly be going back for a round 2, 3, 4 and more.

Top on my list would be the Chee Cheong Fun. Regardless of filling, be it Prawn or Char Siew, Wen Dou Sek has made a fan of me. Freshly made on order, and piping hot when served, the wrap is silky smooth and both conceal savoury, succulent ingredients that just go so well with the slightly heavier sweet sauce. 

I rank this a MUST TRY.


The Fried Char Siew Buns also struck a chord with me, making a deeper impression that their steamed counterparts.

Think fried 'man tou's that you'd go with chilli crab, only crustier, yet retaining that perfectly white and soft bun just beneath the fried skin. This wonderful contrast in texture encases a treasure of savoury char siew in a dark sauce.

In comparison, the other dim sum staples didnt quite make the cut - with the Har Gow, Siew Mai and Liu Sha Bao coming across as prosaic if not quite making the mark.

One of the dishes available only before 8, would be the Crab Meat Fried Rice. Making up what passes for the zi char menu at Wen Dou Sek, they could really add towards a more substantial dinner, but didn't quite do anything for me taste wise.

It's definitely a must to re-visit for me, even if it's just for the chee cheong fun and fried char side buns. You've just really got to try them for yourselves.