melvyn_caffeine's Profile

Many ramen joints have been sprouting around the island. Most of them being in town, I was especially happy that a reputable ramen joint opened near my place of residence. Opened by the Breadtalk Group, which opened the Ramenplay chain of ramen restaurants, I was quite confident that Sanpoutei wouldn't disappoint. Bouyed by the fact that a queue is often seen at Sanpoutei, I knew I had to give this ramen joint a try! I was lucky on a weekday and didn't have to wait for a table. After much deliberation, I decided to go for the Rich Tori Miso Ramen. I had rather high expectations for the ramen here and I certainly wasn't disappointed!! The broth was rich and flavorful. So good that I finished it to the last drop! The noodles were nice and springy, while the egg was decent. The star of the show was without a doubt, the Aburi Cha Shu. The flame seared Cha Shu was so tender that it melted in my mouth with a tinge of smokiness. I was sold right away!! I'm definitely coming back for more ramen goodness @ Sanpoutei! …Read More

With the recent trend of artisan bread bakeries sprouting out around the island, it's only a matter of time that the 'hip and happening' side of Chinatown have one. Bread & Hearth is the latest to join the fray @ Keong Sailk street! A lovely and cosy interior greets you as you enter the bakery/cafe. While not as extensive as some of the larger artisan bakery establishments, it does have quite a decent variety of bread and tart choices. The comfortable interior decor was complimented with good music played in the background through their Bose sound system. I'm a music buff, so that's a major plus point to me! Makes a good 'hideout' on a sweltering hot afternoon as well. As it was my first time there, I had difficulty deciding on what to order. So I went by my rule of thumb: When in doubt, go for the croissant. In my humble opinion, if a bakery's acid test is the classic croissant. If the plain butter croissant is well made, it means that the baker knows his/her stuff. So I went for a butter croissant with my usual beverage of choice; a cappuccino. The coffee was decent enough. Could be a tad smoother though. As for the croissant, I was thoroughly impressed! Crisp on the outside, while soft inside. The light tinge of buttery fragrance and flavor was evident. Definitely going back to try their other bakes!! …Read More