I learnt the definition of cosmopolitanism when I visited the Tawandang Microbrewery with my hubby last week. Hubby was eating a very authetic german pork knuckle while I was having a typical thai dish of basil leaf minched meat with rice while we were drinking a pints of handcrafted beer brewed on the spot and looking at the thai waitresses danced to the spanish songs being played at the restaurant! WOW! That is truly global and we enjoyed every minute of it!Despite it being a "Modern Thai Cuisine" restaurant, the must-try at Tawandang is actually the pork knuckle! It was truly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. We enjoyed every bit of it. My basil leaf minched meat rice was authentic as well. But nothing was more authentic than our server's thai! The beer on the other hand was slightly disappointing as they only served lager, wheat beer and a dunkel (dark beer). While the lager was a tad sweet and didn't quite meet the hubby's expectation, the dunkel suited me just nice. Nonetheless, we were tempted to order the mini keg of their brew for our next party!

I must confess that I am a hardcore regular of the Pigeonhole. But that aside, an objective introduction of this wonderful haven is necessary. Most importantly, what is so special about this place that makes me come back again and again?

Truth be told, the first time I visited the Pigeonhole, I was being a typical Singaporean, totally appalled by the lack of uniformity in the furnitures. Where was I going to sit? There were tiny chairs and desk right out of the PAP kindergarten and a stone bench from somebody's garden! There were bean bags on the floor and luxurious L-lounge that beckons one to laze on it.

But soon I realise, the unique thing about Pigeonhole is that you can do all that and more! You can be yourself. You can kick off your shoes, put your feet up and laze on the couch and read a book - whether your own or one strewn around all corners of the 2 unit shophouse ground floor. You can even bring your own work, like I do, to pound away furiously at the laptop with the multiple power points around the cafe. Did I fail to also mention that the toilets here are straight out of a spa? There is always no shortage of hospitable service from the staff and owners as well as the most eclectic mix of music played in the cafe. If you're in for some 'live' music, do check out their facebook page for the listing of events where they have indie and amateur bands playing gigs at the pigeonhole. They even have an open mic night so if you're looking for a place to display your vocals, here's the place for you. And that's just the ambience!I must admit that I'm not really a big coffee drinker which Pigeonhole does rather pride itself on. They serve only highland beans, for those who familiar with the variety. But if you're a drinker like me, Pigeonhole serves an amazing array of alcohol. Apart from the swiss beer on tap, they also have an amazing variety of ciders and ales. But for the whiskey connoisseurs amongst us, you may be interested to know that Pigeonhole serves a range of single-malt whiskey, including 12 years Yamazakis for a reasonable price.But please be warned: The Pigeonhole does not serve any food. So if you're coming here on an empty stomach during dinner time, the owners are more than happy for you to packet food from the nearby variety of eateries along tanjong pagar and duxton road to line your stomach before you hit the alcohol! Or coffee of course!

Having said that, the best kept secret of Pigeonhole is really its chocolate bread and butter pudding. It is so delicious that it sells out very frequently. It is a definite MUST TRY here at the Pigeonhole. So if you're looking for a cozy comfortable hangout place with your friends or alone with a book, here is the place for you.

If you detest synthetic tasting hard piece of malay rice cakes (lontong) as much as me, then you'll love the handmade lontong at this coffee shop on Pulau Ubin.

Lontong, in case you are not familiar, is an "Asian dish made of compressed rice that is then cut into small cakes". The lontong found at this coffeeshop is only available on Sundays and if you are late, there will be none left by 10am! Yes, people travel all the way to this offshore island just to eat this highly delectable dish!

The lontong is lovingly made by the proprietors of the coffeeshop. Unfortunately, the macik (auntie) at the stall is very old and her husband who is the proprietor of the stall just passed away in 2010. Their children now run the stall but hopefully the quality has not changed since the cooks have now changed. Lontong that melts in your mouth drenched with light but delicious lemak gravy that has tiny shrimps swimming in it complete with cabbage, hard boiled egg and tofu. If lontong is not your thing, you would also want to try their mee siam, mee rebus or nasi lemak. The kampung taste is not one you can find easily today in urban Singapore. This is definitely one of those rarity in Singapore, to cherish before it's gone! Make sure you check it out soon!

It was quite by accident that the hubby and I stumbled in Nabins one late week night at about 10pm. Looking for somewhere to drink and eat a late dinner along Bali Lane, we decided to try Nabins out as the hubby is a huge fan of middle eastern cuisine. And despite us being so late, there were still food served which is a definite plus!

We were showed to our own divan on a dais with curtains surrounding us like a four-poster bed on the first floor. As we lounged on the divan, it really made me feel like I've stepped into a lucid version of an Arabian tent straight out of the Arabian Nights. Bring on the not-too-expensive alcohols and food served on giant platters, it's just about the most romantic and exotic experience one can have right in a little corner in Arab Street. Each table also comes with its little bell so you can call for service without having to yell for waiters or wave desperately in the darkened room. We order a meat platter complete with pita breads, shish kebab and other different types of meat. The humous dip was also fantastic. It was simply too much for 2 persons but it was worth it! The food was very authentic and delicious. Definitely recommend experiencing once. A great place to bring a date for a drink to chill out.

Do you love mooncake? Well I do too. When we talk about mooncakes, we always think of what we usually find on the market, cyclinder like baked-skin or snow-skin pastry with lotus filling. But have you ever had Teochew Mooncake?Even though I am half teochew, I was surprised when my hubby who is teochew to the core, asked me that question. Indeed, I have not! I was even more surprised when he told me that teochew mooncake is BIG, FLAT and looks like a hard pancake! The best place to find this rarely seen Teochew Mooncake is at one of the oldest traditional teochew bakery in Singapore! Chop Mui Lee is nestled in an old commonwealth estate that brings flavour to its old school goodness. The bakery is run by old people making teochew pastry fresh from its kitchen every day! They also do the usual green bean paste cake (dou sa bing) and salty green bean paste pastry. If you want something different, try their durian pastry! Even sticky peanut candy are freshly made here at their kitchen. I've only ever had stale ones that you find in stalls but here they are made fresh and taste different when it's freshly made! This is their central kitchen and you can find the freshest pastry here! If you are looking for Guo Da Li cakes (engagement cakes) for your wedding, they also do traditional pastry that your older Teochew elders would love!

This disappearing art, together with its aging proponents, are a rare treasure of Singapore. Try it before it vanishes!