thefoodchapter's Profile

Pies, has become a staple in my dessert diet - thanks to Windowsill Pies. My visits have been so regular, I am still not tired of their limited range of pies. I wonder what it took for someone to realise that our island is in dire need of a good pie. Windowsill has to be godsent. At the rate I am consuming their pies, I should be made ambassador soon enough - even more gregariously than my love for red velvet or carrot cake. I shall not hide my infatuation with the vodka lime - the best of sweet and sour all in one and an alcoholic punch to end it off.Smores, I've yet to try the real dessert but I am in love with the homemade graham crackers. Best eaten with the sour pies. Similarly goes for blueberry pie that always gets me all excited - maybe they choose to experiment countlessly with either sugar crystals or pearl sugar entrusted tart cover, sweet tooth me prefers the former. Bring that back please!Morello cherry is usually a by the way for me, takes a whole new level of sour to love this so I'm still heart and soul with their blueberry pies.I have to be a stalker of Windowsill's instagram account to even stumble upon their latest offering - a collaboration with #symmetrycamp (There is also a collaboration with Symmetry cafe so do not get confused between the cafe and the project!) It is a showcase at garden's by the bay come 2 November, Singapore's very own indie music festival brought to you by Symmetry Entertainment. So anyhow and anyway, the limited edition pie was launched on 21 August and is available till mid November before the christmas flavours take over. The pre-launch one I managed to get a slice of (the last one infact!) is a beautiful concoction of chocolate fudge, candied thyme, meringue mushroom and chocolate crumble infused with truffle. Herb gardens are all the rage now and this completely resembled one - I can have my garden and eat it! I adore truffle quite shamelessly, even if its just truffle oil - cheap as can be, but a wonderful ingredient to have around the kitchen. This has to be a first white truffle dessert eaten and yes I am sold on the intricacies of the dessert - luxuriously smooth chocolate pudding with savoury cookie crumble, raisins and candied thyme. I could just nibble on candied thyme as a candy for-ever. Arguably their best chocolate attempt to date - unabashedly not a fan of either the caramel chocolate tart (retired flavour!), smores nor grasshopper. $8 per slice and it sits in the premium range, their official tart will come sloshed in white chocolate - apparently more wicked and better than the one sampled - so yes, I will be camping out and making a return soon!Full review and photos up at: http://www.thefoodchapter.blogspot.sg/2013/09/windowsill-pies-revisited-horne-road.html…Read More

Five and Dime popped up one evening as I was nursing a dessert craving - I suppose having one perpetually does not make it a "craving" anymore. Located along River Valley Road, this black white shophouse is hard to miss, not when it is always packed regardless when.Lemon White Chocolate Cheesecake ($8)Recommended over carrot cake, this thick slice sported a simple baked lemon slice on top. Fluffy like a Japanese cheesecake and citrusy like a lemon drop. It is incredible how lemon and cheese go so well together. Hardly any of the cloyingness that a rich cheesecake has, this was as delightful a tea item as a dessert. Truffs Earl Grey Chocolate Tart ($13)Attempt this only if the dessert compartment is empty or if you are an absolute chocolate fan. I have been dying to try Truffs for the longest time now so it is a surprise find to have them stocked here! Buttery smooth chocolate summed this tart up, no sign of pastry except for the equally delish crumble on top. It does get too much at some point but no chocolate is enough for a diehard.Iced Coffee ($5)Not so much a coffee place, for the caffeine fix yes but not to silence any cravings.Five and Dime is cosy and quaint. While I would recommend it for a first date, perhaps just a dessert date.Full review and photos up: http://www.thefoodchapter.blogspot.sg/2013/09/five-and-dime-river-valley-road.html…Read More

Once known as Compass Rose, Equinox is no stranger to the dining scene having been touted as the city's tallest dining sky scraper before the likes of 1-Altitude appearing.Perched on 70 floors, it still has the best view of the city and is still highly sought after for buffet lunch and sunday brunch.The original intent was to head to Mikuni that was unsurprisingly full for the night and then we headed to Equinox. Why not, since none of us had been there before. City view seats we missed out but we had adequate time to enjoy the views before the patrons arrived.Two rounds of bread were served before mains decided to make their grand appearance. A mighty long time to wait for food and truth be told, the bread filled us up considerably. Sour dough, mini baguette, onion olive and cheese bun all smelt heavenly. Personal favourite went to the onion olive roll for being fluffy and fragrant.Salted french butter to top it off.Amuse bouche of tomato and cucumber, a savoury yet refreshing starter.Baked Scallop in Shell, White Wine, Fennel, Broad Bean Ragout, Warm Leek Vinaigrette ($30)Theatrics aside of unearthing the overfed scallop, it looked hardly marinated.The bouncy texture was a gastronomical delight, the doneness was executed precisely and well, the broth was good enough to drink up on its own.Yuzu Glazed Pork Belly, Butternut Squash, Sage, Crackling, Peas and Shimeiji Mushroom Broth ($68)I should have been more wary with "roasted" nowhere mentioned in the description, neither did "slightly crispy" in the waiter's words not cause some alarm when I expected it to be done roast pork style with a cackling so addictive, I would give up my allegiance to roast pork.Yet it was none to be. Jellied fats and meat in perfect layers, and though it melted into a greasy delicious, the over marinated meat was nothing more than ham. A great pity for a promising chunk.Australian Pink Snapper, Bravas Potatoes, Broad Beans, Chorizo, Charred Squid, Black Ink Vinaigrette ($75)The worst stoke of luck with a terribly fishy slab and all the waiter could manage was "anything else for you?", by then we were all too stuffed to bother with a replacement.Poached Salmon Fillet, Star Anise Oil, Braised Lettuce, Beetroot Gnocchi, Razor Clam Sauce ($68)Beautifully poached with some degree of rawness, I loved the razor clam inclusion.Loin of Welsh Lamb, Slow-Cooked Shoulder, Tomato, White Bean Ragout, Confit Baby Shallots, Verde Sauce ($70)Lamb done three ways and kudos to the white been ragout that was simple but yet so delicious with the crumbled topping.Hazelnut Praline ($24)Hazelnut creme, Espuma, Mandarin Orange, Lemon CoulisMeant for one but good enough for four with a mouthful eat. I do not suppose I want more than a mouthful of this, however. Hazelnut cream and mandarin orange was an odd bittersweet then sour flavour. Crunchy bits of torched candy and the rest is all a mismatch.Disappointing to say the least, we expected way much more out of Equinox apart from the unbeatable view. No wonder it is usually full during Restaurant Week - prices are more justifiable that way.Full review and photos up on: http://www.thefoodchapter.blogspot.sg/2013/09/equinox-restaurant-swissotel-stamford.html…Read More

Old school confectioneries have a soft spot and I would pay for a slice of history even if it did not have a ridiculously long history - the work of excessive marketing and answering to that side of me. CMC played and still plays a huge part in my life, somehow the lingering memories of luncheon meat buns, egg tarts and cream puffs never got wiped off from the memory bank.And they are fiercely proud of this steady following. Hardly without a crowd, find a table or share one or well, just do a humble takeaway for a taste of their bakes.Takeways head straight to the counter, else take a plate and bring the selection to the table. They probably have a secret device tracking what you have picked and I wonder how but nothing escapes the bill. Kaya Bun with ButterSeared over a charcoal grill, the charred crusty edges and slice of butter over a randomly smeared layer of kaya was a delicious treat for the morning. I love my kaya toasts but this take the toast for hearty and delicious all at once. The bread had enough bite for a start, who cares about greasy fingers or butter dripping all over.Their custard filling is made without milk, tinted daffodil yellow with a gummy texture and collapsible puff pastry. I can wolf down 5-6 scrummylicious pieces for tea alone just to satiate the appetite.Egg Tart ($0.90)The same custard is used for the tart and still as delicious.Luncheon Meat BunI remember the luncheon meat portions being larger than these but they bring glory to luncheon meat. I love my spam and having this always makes me one happy lark. Luncheon meat PuffBun over puff for this, the sweetness of the puff got in the way of enjoyment. Curry PuffTheir attempt at answering the peranakan influence in the area was met with a flat rejection, curry puff this is barely just a puff stuffed with curried potatoes.If there's any takeaway, they do all the above better than their teacakes.Grumpy old ladies make this place so endearing, I would feel as out of place as that visit to Lin Heung, if they suddenly turned cupcake-candyfloss-cheery and smiley. Let's just leave that for the fad-ilicious cupcake makers so that being said, prices are on the roll. A dollar for what would be cleaned out in two munches, I wonder if my mini mes will have a bite of this in their childhood - will I still want to fork out for history when I could very well be having something heartier?Full review and photos up on: http://www.thefoodchapter.blogspot.sg/2013/09/chin-mee-chin-confectionery-east-coast.html…Read More

We finally made a trip to Drips Bakery after getting over the top obsessed with Windowsill Pies. Well, a tart for a change.I missed the fruit tart by a couple of minutes and was left to decide between macadamia, plum and cherry.USA Blackforest Ham Sandwich ($15.80)It did not quite dawn on us how exorbitantly priced and tragically portioned this was till we had a face off. No bigger than my palm, this sandwich looked as simple to put together as any other sandwich I have made for myself. Saving grace was perhaps their chilled eggplant and japanese cucumbers that gave this a crunch yet otherwise, the nagging thought was I could exchange this for 3 tummy bursting and mind-body-soul satisfying Bahn Mis from Namnam or even 2 gourmet sandwiches from Cedele would have been a better bang of the buck.Cherry Brandy Tart ($8)The brandy soaked cherries were bursting with alcohol - at least it made the 8 buckeroos somewhat worthwhile though the rest of it appeared pretty much as an almond cake with a crumble biscuit tart base.One mentioned that Delifrance could have given a better deal, mmm..maybe? Iced Long Black ($5.50)Overcooked beans, the coffee ended up on a sour note.Service was aloof and detached for most part of the short visit - not quite a place I would return just for service. Maybe it was the end of the day but hey, smile at least! Not hurrying back for a visit so soon, maybe just to try my luck at their fresh fruit tart. Full photos and review up at; http://www.thefoodchapter.blogspot.sg/2013/09/drips-bakery-tiong-poh-road.html…Read More

When Lady M's shop space was still under renovation, I passed by one time too many and was tempted by the checker's cake - too beautiful to ignore in fact. They are poised to introduce what crepe cake is all about, I never had one that made me renounce my allegiance to red velvet nor carrot cake.I suppose the hype created by1) It is from New York. Anything from the US of A seems to create some buzz. Case in point: Garrett's popcorn that made us relook at the sinful snack and take it seriously - price included. Carl's Junior too made us sit up and look at burgers priced more than $10.2) Crepe cake mania - fact is, the crepe cakes never quite took off like cupcakes.3) Lady M, sounds like some regal high and mighty highness of cakes. Maybe the moniker, maybe the whole fuss about trying to effeminate a cake shop - it worked for me. A name like Master Bruce for pancakes would not work, since mainly females partake of the heavenly and whine till the cows come home about the calories.First day I popped by, they had a decent selection and people were frantically taking away most of those out on display and I was not in the mood for dessert #horrorofhorrors.Second visit, I had to wait for a table and all they had was crepe cake on display - 3 whole ones and the rest were slowly peeking out. Man, this sounds like an eternal wait for a Birkin. The moment the baker appeared with cakes, the queues started and a mini rush was created.Crepe Cake ($7.50)Do not attempt to leave the premises without trying a crepe cake - it is signature, afterall. Layers of crepe and cream made this a delectable dessert. Nothing fancy about crepe and cream but they nailed it brilliantly. A word of caution that one too many may cause an overdose of cream.Checker's Cake ($8)This only appeared there after and I had to have it since it was a love at first glance back in its reno days. Beautifully put together like kueh lapis, the vanilla and chocolate sponge were rather complementary with adequate amount of whipped cream to hold the cake together.Iced Americano ($5)The caffeine addict deemed this good for a cake shop and I suppose this is a signal for one too many visits to come.Service is casual, pretty hit and miss. Queues for takeaway and ordering can get confusing - if all things fail, just raise your hand for a waiter. There is repetition of the same whipped cream in their cakes but one thing's for sure, I am enamoured.Full review and photos on : http://www.thefoodchapter.blogspot.sg/2013/09/lady-m-marina-square.html…Read More

Two Face, like Alibabar has gone down the path of nostalgia. Kopitiam by day and a bar by night. They recently opened another outlet at Tanjong Katong to bring rivalry to a completely new level. Yet for diners - we always welcome competition and truly, may the best prevail. With tunes from the 70s-80s playing on the background, part of me wishes there were a gramophone somewhere to complete the experience. Everything screams old school from tiles to tables to signages and well, I really just needed an old ah pek to hobble over to take my orders. Blast from the past I must say.The perils of being housed in a matured estate - uncles who insist on communal dining. Cai png from the template and a really hungry old man. Truffle Fries ($10)It was a tragic case of foie gras with fries versus truffle and the latter was highly recommended yet it was just a basket of fries with cheese. Wherein smells the truffle? Beats me, I actually questioned the smell buds of the order taker who claimed it signature. Anatra Pasta ($18)Reads pasta with duck ragout - an absolutely tasty dish with a generous portion of duck ragout, it could pass off as mee pok even and earn brownie points for marrying East and West. \Meat Lovers Pizza ($18)The molten cheese made this beyond delicious - well just the cheese since everything else was forgettable and pizza base was not the best eaten. Two Face Signature Drink ($4)Pineapple, Cai Xin, Sour PlumYes, chye sim or cai xin was blended into a wheatgrass lookalike and neutralised with the tropical flavours of pineapple and infused with sour plum which effectively turns the whole drink one flavour - like fairy godmother's wand would. Sour plum fans, only.Average food with an ambience that speaks so much louder - in short, a pity. I would be back to check out their morning offerings - Jalan Tua Kong's famous Bak chor mee anyone?Wait, I did not even know of its existence. Full review and photos up on: http://www.thefoodchapter.blogspot.sg/2013/09/two-face-pizza-taproom-eng-hoon-street.html…Read More

My late grandfather owned a dispensary and as a little girl the only recollections of it were his specially concocted bottles of calamine lotion and cold tar that would calm any raging bout of rashes. Medicinal smelling premises and toddlers or even kids does not reconcile and I regret never once stepping foot into it. The Dispensary is a refurbished cafe retaining most of its previous charm - a dispensary complete with lovely touches like wooden chests and even the signboard.Riding on the whole nostalgic theme that most of these cafes and nook and cranny shops have popped up along Tiong Bahru have adopted, I can only welcome them with open arms.Red Velvet Cupcake ($3)I was eyeing the red velvet cake but it was sold out so I made do with the cupcake version. Texture is amazingly moist and a tad sweet but the cream cheese frosting had a queer shortening texture. Not the red velvet to have in my last meal but I do look forward to its other cakes. Iced Americano Caffeine addict did not mention much here, mediocre at best. Out we snuck from the backdoor and down the dark alleys of this beautiful gem of a neighbourhood. How I wish my grandfather had some foresight to save us some history but at least I have step foot on a dispensary before!Full review and photos up at: http://www.thefoodchapter.blogspot.sg/2013/09/the-dispensary-tiong-bahru.html…Read More

This visit was planned ahead of time, even before the last random visit. No different from the last, there were ready queues to go in before the stipulated 630pm (why am I not surprised) but what was surprising was the number of people eating ala carte that night. I presumptuously thought that everyone was there for omakase.I get placed next to some dude celebrating the birthday of his babe and the whole meal, he was inching into my territory of comfort much to the chagrin of the companion. Talked loud, emptied half a bottle sake, indulged in the $80 sets and the bill came up to a beautiful tune of 400 odd.Impressive or not, I leave that judgement to you.The prices remained the same since the last visit but they seemed to have changed the selection a fairbit. $60 options no longer come with wagyu, instead that gets placed in the $80 bracket. Also in the $80 set is sushi instead of sashimi rice.A strange revelation about this meal - I was hardly as stuffed as before and the companion even had space for a takeaway for chirashi don ($15). They may have shrunk their portions alongside with the value and if returns are necessary, it will be for ala carte and takeaway.Chirashi don was a killer - fresh cubes of tuna, salmon and roe made it oooh-lala delicious. No wonder people return specially for alacarte. I am sure the Japanese get bigger portions but the value of Teppei is finally found once again.Second visit completed, no more visits planned for 2013. Maybe 2014?'Pictures and complete review up on: http://www.thefoodchapter.blogspot.sg/2013/10/teppei-restaurant-revisited-orchid-hotel.html…Read More

The Black Swan has emerged in Raffles Place, giving diners and drinkers more options.Rising fast and furious above the waters and becoming the place to dine at made us all quite curious.The newest under the Lo and Behold Group, I am sure interest was piqued further because of their illustrious alumni that I could have raved nonstop before.Enter into a world of tall ceilings, women in chic black (cocktail dresses and suits) and a bar counter that is as welcoming as the seats. Mondays bring about a host of blues and even as the day draws to an end, nothing quite beats swiveling a glass of bubbly and slurping Canadian Rock Oysters and wishing this luxury would never end. 18 buckeroos for a decent swig and creamy aphrodisiacs, #mondaybluesaway indeed. May I add then that, that only applies during happy hours from 530-730pmWhen can I return for these again? I could have the happiest hour around just sitting around slurping oysters and guzzling champagne all night long. Fries ($9)truffleCrispy fries doused in truffle oil - as overpriced as it is, we all enjoyed it. Crab Salad ($21)handpicked crab, avocado, mango, orange, grapefruit, toasted sunflower seeds, citrus vinaigretteIf I could, I would have this over Caesar salad. Citrus vinaigrette worked for me without being too acidic for the tastebuds, infact, a light and delightful dressing over the fresh bed of greens and crabmeat. Seafood Linguini ($32)prawns, calamari, clams, tomato, garlic, chilliClams were not good so ours came with more prawns. Tastes quite like black bean sauce tossed with linguine, the strong flavours made this outstanding and worth seconds. Duck Leg Confit ($34)36 hour sous-vide, bacon potatoes, fresh thyme, mustard sauce I find duck hard to ignore at a French restaurant and this was a really decent effort with crisp skin and succulent meat. Bacon potatoes were a huge distraction, speckled with bacon and panfried - no better way to have it. Stockyard Australia Wagyu Ribeye Steak (for two persons) ($96)16-18oz, 400 days grain fed beef, béarnaise, friesWagyu certainly did not shine through with parts that were not as marbled as desired but they do good steaks. Date and Toffee Pudding ($14)caramelised banana, medjool dates, rum, vanilla ice creamA tad sweet and dense which resulted in a slightly disappointing dessert, definitely expected better. Dark Chocolate Dome ($16)70% varlhona chocolate, vanilla crème, seasonal berriesSomehow, this looks like any other dessert that the patisseries can produce. Coated with chocolate, the vanilla creme was a nice contrast. This is not quite a dessert I would order again.We could have been spoilt rotten by the other restaurants to expect bread baskets and were met with none. Yet this gave us more reason to try the dishes on the menu. The meal was fulfilling and somewhat riveting at some points, desserts could have been dealt in a better manner but there is room for improvement for sure. Dying to be back to attempt more oysters, burger and lobster! …Read More

Hai Di Lao, the latest name to takeover the hotpot scene in Singapore and dominate it with super service and food. The list of freebies given away was alarming from the moment we stepped in. Located in the same block as Satchi and Satchi, these folks are lucky to have the most coveted hotpot just downstairs!Snacks on the house for those who have the wait since reservations are not accepted after 5pm on weekends and 6pm on weekdays. Think popcorn, peanuts and crackers to accompany games of chess. For the vainpots, there is free manicures available but the waiting line is long for this.Crowds like these last through the night, from the moment they open their doors through dinner hour. Plastic satchets are handed out to store our prized mobiles to avoid accidental deaths in hotpots.Bibs tossed in to ensure our clothes are kept spotless and cloths for the arm candies too.Did I mention the hospitality hardly stops there - attentive service throughout the experience and nobody ever rushes you through your meal despite the burgeoning queues outside.Napkins to clean your hands before the meal starts - the last time I experienced such thoughtfulness was actually in Japan. The only and possibly main grouse is the touch screen menu. The system does not work that well, keying in orders and locking them in is a hit and miss - to solve all problems just submit them through the waiter to avoid orders being missed or systems cranking up on you.Table full of condiments and snacks. Condiments are chargeable at $4 per pax but a friend who went claims it is free. Tomato Soup ($14)Chicken Soup ($20)We opted for two broth types to get the best of both worlds - one for their signature tomato soup and the other for chicken. The former was robust, tangy and the ideal minestrone.So good, I helped myself to several bowls even before the meals started. Chicken soup on the other hand, was milky and less hearty even with black chicken chunks strewn in. Even with mushrooms and fishballs tossed in, it still failed to outshine the tomato soup.Beef Platter ($22)Well marbled curls served in a platter that made us all belly happy.Vegetable Platter ($18)Pricey vegetable platter though it may seem more worthwhile since ala carte vegetable pots were going for $6 onwards each.Bamboo Shoots ($6) Adored these! Each bite was fragrant and had a lovely juicy bite.Pork Balls ($5)Just be careful of their longer than necessary cooking time, mine were barely a third cooked when I sunk my pearlies into them, otherwise really awesome meat balls.Black Pork Belly ($6)So good, I had them fats and meat all.Handmade Noodle ($3)The theatrics that goes behind the noodle display is worth the 3 bucks - the dude comes around with dough, flips and flaps and swings it all over, pray hard his grasp of distance is accurate else end up with a powdered face. Fried Rice ($3)Well just egg and rice fried in the wok, not for the picky.Following the Fish and Co experience with complimentary mints. Loved these touches!So long, my return will not take long! A completely new dining experience with fresh ingredients and delicious food, worth a visit for sure. …Read More