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hushpuppy
This is hushpuppy living in Sengkang. I am a enthusiast in the land of foodies..., work in Orchard. I like to hang out in Orchard, Punggol. Japanese, Thai, homecook are my favorite cuisines. I also love Hawker Centre, Restaurant, food and Seafood, Steaks and Grills, Chicken Rice, junk food.
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mycc
217 Review(s)
Level 4
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Categories : Japanese | Bakery | Café

We were privileged enough to be invited to the Grand Opening of Flor Patisserie at their latest outlet on Siglap Drive. Quietly tucked away in the residential estate, it surely required quite a fair bit of travelling for those craving for a sweet-tooth fix!

I always like to explore why a specific name was chosen for the eatery or business. 'Flor' is a Portugese word for flower and pronounced in Japanese as 'fu-ro-ru'. It symbolizes love, passion, beauty while the flower embodies the delicate balance of nature and beauty.

It was not our first try of Flor Patisserie's cakes though the last time we tried was a takeaway order. (Review may be found here) Flor Patisserie is essentially a Japanese-styled patisserie that serves authentic Japanese inspired French pastries. Chef Yamashita hails from Japan and brings with him over 20 years of experience in Japanese baking techniques and has spent a year and a half tailoring Flor's cakes to suit the climate and taste of Singaporeans. He draws his inspiration for cakes from flowers and translates the symbolic elements into dessert creations. It is then presented like the flower, a gift from Mother Nature, through the chef's selection of delectable and colourful offerings which resembles the life of a flourishing life garden.

With a clear understanding of the philosophy that goes into the making of these desserts, we were pleasantly welcomed by the hosts and some of the other invited attendees when we eventually find the hideout. It was surely a pleasure to meet up with some other foodies and invited guests and while it was a shame that we did not manage to speak to them much, I am sure there would be a next time to do so!

 

 
Once inside the simply yet clean and chicly decorated eatery, we were captivated by the cakes and pastries on display. Personally, elaborate furnishings somehow just came across as having the customers to pay a premium for the food served so this appealed to me just fine.

Avocado mousse with lemon jelly (Complimentary)

 
This certainly caught my attention as the name itself was pretty exotic to begin with. While we understood a little more from Heidi, the humble chef from Le Cordon Bleu who is responsible for these beautiful creations, we later learnt that this was a new offering yet to be introduced to the public.

We loved the rich flavours of the avocado but perhaps owed to the petite serving, the lemon jelly failed to shine as I could barely taste the zest of it. It was surely an interesting teaser but would require some further tweaking to the presentation before being launched as a dessert standalone.

Strawberry Shortcake (Complimentary)

 
There are too many versions of Strawberry Shortcake out there in the patisserie scene that we become spoilt for choice. If there was one thing to takeaway from this was that impeccable layer of sponge. It was light and fluffy yet maintained slightly moist which gave perfect foundation to build upon this cake. The cream was fresh and light and overall it was a classic cake done elegantly.

Coco Royale (Complimentary)

 
This did not quite live up to my expectation though admittedly I have a very high demand for chocolate cakes. It was an 'okay' chocolate cake in my opinion with the right amount of moisture within the layer of sponge and while we could taste the quality of the dark cocoa, it was somehow pedestrian as it lacked a breakthrough element to make it outstanding on its own. It lacked some texture or variety to give it a notch above and impress our palate.

Napoleon (Complimentary)

 
Personally, I find that there are three main elements to the Napoleon, being the puff pastry, sponge and the sandwiched cream. The one takeaway from Flor Patisserie's cakes and pastries was that you could not quite go wrong with their base bakes such as puff pastry and sponge for they ensure that the quality was top-notch before being served to customers.

With that, the Napoleon won us over, easily. The crispiness of the puff pastry left flakes all over the white table. Apart from the mess, it complemented the soft layer of sponge neatly with the cream. That divine combination of textures was good enough to make me fetch for a second round!

Marron Pie (Complimentary)

 
This was my first try of a marron pie but being made from Japanese chestnut, this pie was surely worthy of our calories! It consists of almond butter cream then baked in a crispy fragrant pastry bottom. This was like a hybrid of muffin and financier but we enjoyed that it was not overly sweet and yet flavourful enough. Could not get enough of those extra crispy pastry bits with a beautiful fragrance.

Despite being an invited food tasting session, I could not resist the other desserts on offer and started ordering away!

Mango Pie (S$6.95/-)

 

 
The name sounded too innocent for this was surely not your usual mango pie. Beautifully encased with a puff pastry base, the middle layer comprised cream and an almond-flavoured pastry similar to that of the marron pie tried. It was finally topped with some fresh mango fruit cubes and mango puree. It was a powerful punch of rich flavours in each mouthful and I especially enjoyed the variance in texture with the puff pastry, cream and the fresh fruit. The toasted bread crumbs was the icing which added just about another layer of texture to this awfully sinful dessert.

It might just be too much for one to finish this, which I imagine would satiate your appetite. I would recommend for this to be shared between two or three.

Exercise caution if you are a weight-watcher for this is a calories-laden dessert, no doubt.

Earl Grey Chocolate (S$6.95/-)

 
At first glance, I readily assumed that this was the classic Mont Blanc but it was when I asked for cake recommendations from Heidi did I cast a second look at this. Earl Grey Chocolate - now I was pretty sceptical about it but since the chef championed it, there was no way to resist giving it a shot.

 
If there was one word to describe, it was sublime. The flavours worked harmoniously with each other, starting from the rich earl grey taste that lingered, chocolate chips, layered sponge cake and the fresh banana fruit nestled in the centre of the cake. What surprised our palate was the addition of crunchy chocolate biscuit bits hidden between the layers of cream and chocolate sponge cake. There was a lot going on with each mouthful and the flavours were rich and bold to say the least but this was really a winner.

Yuzu Green Tea Cheese Tart (S$3.40/-)

 
It actually came across more of a cheesecake than a cheese tart but that was beside the point. Served frozen, it was a well-received treat on this hot afternoon! You could just taste the premium matcha used in the making but the slight let-down was that the yuzu taste was barely evident. The takeaway was rather more of a good matcha cheese tart.

It was mentioned to us that Flor Patisserie are working on bringing in some really good coffee to complement their current offering of cakes. They also have a good range of tea but being a coffee person, that unfortunately did not quite entice.

On the whole, we enjoyed the high quality cakes which were made of natural and fresh ingredients. Flor Patisserie does not use baking powder, artificial rising and softening agents, stabilizers or preservatives. The soft and moist sponge cakes especially were owed to the natural aeration of eggs being whipped to their full peak.

We thank Flor Patisserie for the invite and the sharing session by Heidi on their pastries and future developments. I firmly believe in their tagline which is 'If we won't eat it, we won't serve it'. Certainly looking forward to this outlet being their R&D branch where we should expect more creations underway!

For those who live and work in the Central like us, you could always drop by the branch at Duxton, Funan or Taka to pick-up a few calories-worthy cakes!

For full review and more photos, please visit http://www.makeyourcaloriescount.com/2013/09/sg-flor-patisserie-cakes-worth-travel.html
 
Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 4  |  
Service
 5  |  
Clean
 4  |  
Price
 4

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Recommend
eschee
9 Review(s)
Level 2
Food with a French twist Smile Aug 22, 2013   
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Categories : French | Restaurant | Seafood | Steaks and Grills | Burgers and Sandwiches

 

 

 
Mushroom cappuccino ($4.90) Rich, earthy soup made with mushrooms and topped with a salty foam. I would have enjoyed this hearty soup more if not for the tinge of sourness.

 
Saveur’s pasta ($4.90 for entree, $6.90 for main): Saveur’s take on our local bak chor mee (minced meat noodles). Capellini pasta tossed with chili oil, fine-chopped konbu and sakura ebi with minced pork sauce. The pasta was cooked al dente and coated with just the right amount of sauce. For some strange reasons, the mushy meat sauce was reminiscent of a chicken mayo spread. That aside, the dried shrimps added a nice bite to the dish without overpowering it like how the usual hei bi (dried shrimps) can be.

 
Rib eye steak ($22.90 for 180g): Rib eye steak served on truffle mash. Well seasoned and flavourful, the steak was a decent considering the price. Unfortunately, it was a little too rare for medium rare doneness. Though it was a steak dish, the truffle mash stole the limelight. Creamy and fragrant, it certainly was a delight just eating it on its own.

 
Beef tenderloin ($24.90): Beef tenderloin with potato au gratin (pronounced grah-tan), carrot puree, button mushrooms, red radish, baby carrot and beef jus. The steak was well seasoned and sufficiently rested, evident in the juices that was retained despite being cooked to medium doneness (as requested by my friend).

 
Strawberries and cream ($9.90): Basil ice cream, macerated strawberries, meringues and strawberry leather. The basil ice cream paired surprisingly well with the sweet strawberries and doubled up as a palate cleanser too. The meringues were a nice play on the textures, and I particularly liked it with the strawberry leather.

Overall, this is the place to go for decent food with a French twist in a relaxed and casual setting. Not forgetting warm service and affordable prices too. That said, do go to the restaurant with reasonable expectations and bear in mind the amount you are paying.

Read the full review on: http://asperchee.wordpress.com/
 
Recommended Dish(es):  Strawberries and cream
 
Spending per head: Approximately $25(Dinner)

Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 4  |  
Service
 4  |  
Clean
 4  |  
Price
 5

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shibunu
1 Review(s)
Level 1
Surprisingly tasty Smile Jan 02, 2013   
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Categories : Fast Food | Restaurant | Burgers and Sandwiches

After not visiting Turf City for years, I decided one day to head to Giant to purchase some baking needs. Behold! The compound was under renovation and there were a few new eateries. Most of these are not the typical chains or franchise you commonly find around the island.

I walked pass VeganBurg a few times and love the brightly lit and oh-so environmentally green setting. As shallow and superficial as I was, I was apprehensive of trying vegeburger as I have watched lots of American TV and heard how horrible they taste.

After multiple visits to the area and trying the other restaurants, I decided that I shall listen to the angel hovering over my right shoulder and give it a try. The restaurant was pretty empty except 2 tables (1 family of 5 and a couple). Gathering the courage, I asked the waitress what is good? I was expecting the typical, everything is good kind of answer. But she politely recommended the creamy pepper mushroom burger and the smokey BBQ burger.

In my attempt to eat healthier, I decided to go with the creamy pepper mushroom burger, with a side of seaweed fries and a drink. The choice in this case was Apple blackcurrant juice. It cost $11.85 for the set, which is actually quite expensive compared to the regular M..... Anyway, I was issued one of those pager device which vibrates when you order is ready, and headed to take a seat.

Less than 5 mins later, my food was ready. It was served in a mess tin, very much like those we use in army (refer to photos). I was expecting to see such a large burger (refer to picture with my finger as a comparison). Taking a bite, I was bracing myself for that fake-meat-wannabe-moldy taste to overwhelm my palate. But alas, it wasn't the case.

There was no weird after taste. Was it like beef or chicken? I don't think it does but it reminded me of crab otah. The texture, and taste was kind of like that, crab meat freshly removed from the shell and mashed together to form a patty. Was it good? I decided to take a second bite to re-affirm my suspicion. And boy... was it tasty. The patty was crispy on the outside and tender, juicy inside, which was really quite something and I found myself taking bite after bite of the burger to find something negative to say.

What I found was more positive things to write of. The ciabatta bun was very fresh and easy to eat. There no rubbery resistance like certain burger buns. It kind of just melt in your mouth. The mushrooms were fresh button mushrooms, topped with a peppery cream sauce. As much as I like button mushrooms, I am not a fan of very raw mushrooms. Unfortunately for this burger, some parts of the mushroom had that raw taste. However, if it was immersed in the sauce, it actually soften the mushroom and created a wonderful combination. The sauce was not overpowering and had a good balance of salt and acid to it.

The fries were alright, lightly salted with barely any taste of seaweed to be called seaweed fries. The one thing that really didn't do too well was the drink. The apple blackcurrant juice was basically very very diluted cordial and it really failed to be called juice. Don't order the juices unless you like coloured water that much.

Overall, my adventure to Veganburg has been largely positive and I highly recommend others to try. Oh by the way, I realize they have been around for a while now with outlets in other parts of the island.

 

 

 

 

 
 
Date of Visit: Jan 02, 2013 

Spending per head: Approximately $11(Dinner)

Other Ratings:
Taste
 5  |  
Environment
 3  |  
Service
 3  |  
Clean
 4  |  
Price
 3

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Recommend
mycc
217 Review(s)
Level 4
Good food with great service! Smile Aug 08, 2014   
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Categories : Multi-Cuisine | Café | Restaurant | Steaks and Grills | Burgers and Sandwiches | Brunch

Please visit us at http://www.makeyourcaloriescount.com/2014/07/sg-lokal-good-food-with-great-service.html for full review.

With raving reviews of Sarnies and having their head barista over at the still-pretty-new Lokal, we thought we had to give it a shot. Typically with disappointing food at cafes, this promised otherwise with one of their partners who was the founding chef of Tetsuya's in Sydney.

 
Despite being the new kid on the block, the people behind it have gotten themselves pretty popular with the snaking queues even as we reached at close to 2pm. I was personally impressed that despite the crowd, service hadn't been compromised and the dishes came up pretty quick.

 
A cheery start to any breakfast, we chose the fruits salad over poached pear for the variety in it. We loved the toasted granola that came with a solid crunch, perfectly paired with light yoghurt drizzled over and the mix of fruits for that slightly sweet touch.

Chunky Chips ($8)
(photo at the background)
While I'm a super fries fan, this was quite a disappointing one for me. I found it a tad too bland, and the accompanying dip didn't quite go with it.

 
This was a simple one done right. Perfectly toasted sandwiches with a good combination of smooth scrambled egg and light parmesan, with distinct mushroom taste that didn't overpower. Each ingredient played a good complement, simple comfort food great to go with any meal!

 
Well-marinated for a tender touch, it was a combination with caramelised onions for that pairing of savoury and sweet in one mouthful. The rye bread slice was a tad too dense that it got slightly messy trying to cut it up.

 
This was supposed to be served on panini but they'd ran out of it hence served on sourdough for ours. Refreshing with its lighter flavours and tender soft chicken shreds, a simple sandwich paired with the right crunchiness of the pancetta and sweet juicy tomatoes. We loved how it was simple looking, yet packed on textures and well-marinated. Great if you're looking for a light refreshing sandwich!

 
This was a winner with tender pork belly and evenly distributed omelette for that strong egg-y taste throughout. There was just a very subtle hint of chilli jam but overall taste was a hit with well-balanced flavours.

 
A pretty ordinary dish in my opinion, it was presented as what was described. Nothing spectacular but all nicely done, it was a simple dish for smoked fish lovers.

 
Desserts are the favourite course of our meal, and this was a promising one served with hokey pokey ice cream - vanilla ice cream with honeycomb toffee bits. I was expecting crunchy bits within for that added level of texture, though it turned out to be sticky bits. The ice cream was well-balanced in its sweetness, paired perfectly with the caramelized banana slices on top and a soft moist cake. It would have been even better if the cake was served slightly warmer for that contrast and softness.

 
This was a clear winner and we almost couldn't get enough of it! Okay, this isn't meant for sharing. Light and fluffy warm pudding with generous sauce drizzled on top, it was sheer indulgence yet balanced in sweetness so that you don't feel jelat (or overwhelmed). Paired with the good old vanilla ice cream, this was classic at its very best!

 
Coffee has always been a subjective one and this was a hit with me. I like how it was smooth and velvety with a robust flavour. There's also a choice of beans while you place orders and my friend, a serious coffee drinker liked the medium roast that was slightly heavier.

 
You know how some cafes simply do self-service or are lacking severely in service given how packed and understaffed they are? I was impressed by how they were still a full service cafe given the crowd, without any part of it being compromised. We had our tables cleaned up prior to our desserts served, and having their staff checking in on us from time to time on how we found the food. It made us feel that they actually do care about their customers' feedback despite how busy/popular they were, and added a nice touch to a satisfying meal.
 
Recommended Dish(es):  Sticky Date Pudding (S$12)
 
Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 4  |  
Service
 4  |  
Clean
 4  |  
Price
 4

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spherepiece
422 Review(s)
Level 4
Prawn Aglio Olio Smile Feb 24, 2014   
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Categories : Middle Eastern/Mediterranean | Café | Ice Cream and Gelato

 

 

 
For the westies in Singapore, all the dining hype that marries convenience, variety and quality is congregated at Jurong East. There are plenty of restaurants to try with JCube, JEM, IMM and Westgate! This time, MADO Cafe caught my eye and J & I decided to go in and give it a try. While it is famous for desserts, we needed to settle dinner as well. So - this review will be on their mains. Might come back for their desserts next time though! smile MADO Cafe's Cream of mushroom soup tastes extremely similar to Pizza Hut's campbell soup. It is not diluted, but definitely far from the thick velvety sort of mushroom soup. I was craving for something spicy, so why not Prawn Aglio Olio since their pastas look pretty popular? It turned out to be quite good on an overall. The garlic-oil base is very fragrant and the chilli flakes made it quite spicy but still within an enjoyable range. The pasta is cooked al dente but a little less salty than I think it should be. J ordered the Roasted Beef Set which she found quite tough to cut! Taste-wise it's okay but not impressive... not recommended if you're trying this. The service is quite good here smile

For more food adventures, follow me at http://spherepiece.blogspot.sg/
 
Recommended Dish(es):  Prawn Aglio Olio
 
Date of Visit: Feb 21, 2014 

Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 4  |  
Service
 4  |  
Clean
 4  |  
Price
 4

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