Start your day right with a breakfast at Jie Traditional Bread Cafe, immersed in the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and a strong scent of brewed coffee.

THE FOOD:

Unlike the recent sprout of air-conditioned traditional bread cafes in Singapore like Toast Box and Ya Kun, Jie Traditional Bread Cafe is relatively less known but it sure serves up good old loaves of slightly charred bread. More importantly, the bread is baked and served in the same shop; diners could be assured of the freshness of their bread.

The little cafe, situated along Serangoon road and just a stone's throw away from Kovan MRT station, offers three variants – bread (soft or toast), bun (soft or toast) and french toast. While we much preferred the bread version at Ya Kun, the soft bun version here trumps any other elsewhere. We ordered a soft bun with kaya as well as one with margarine, and both were generously spread with creamy goodness. We especially loved the way the auntie leisurely smothered the bread with kaya – to each of the four corners. Other spreads include peanut butter and strawberry jam.

Not only the food's cheaper (capped at $1.40 for bread or bun with a spread), so are the drinks. The most expensive on the menu would be the iced Horlicks or Milo at $1.60. Plus, they have the brewed Hong Kong-styled Hot Lemon Tea, a treat rarely found at the other coffee joints.

Other more filling breakfast items such as Curry Chicken ($4.50), which is great for dipping freshly baked bread in, Chwee Kueh ($1.50), Chee Cheong Fan ($2), and half-boiled egg ($1.20) are available too.

THE MOOD:

Simple. Orange-brown decor with plastic stools and swirling fans. Non-airconditioned but well-ventilated... Just like the good old days.

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Get high on food – literally – with Stellar @1-Altitude, perched right on top of the OUB Centre – the restaurant, at the height of 282 metres, is officially the highest in Singapore. Helmed by the executive chef for 1-Altitude, Christopher Millar, the latest venture by the group is equipped with the full works including an impressive sushi bar, an oyster bar, and a wood-fired grill and rotisserie.

THE FOOD:

We went for the communal dinner set, which goes at $120++ per pax, for a minimum of 10 persons. The set includes an appetiser to share, a pantry taster, a selection of contemporary sushi, a charcuterie taster, your own main course and a variety of desserts – made specially for Stellar from its sweet sister restaurant 1-Caramel just a stone's throw away.

There are just too many dishes for me to review them all, so here are some highlights of my evening there. The first few dishes of foie gras croustades, which was silky and smooth, and the sashimi selection with freshly-grinded wasabi sure met my expectations but it was the sushi selection – unagi roll with avocado and unagi sauce, spicy tuna roll with katsuo furikake and spring onion, and swordfish roll with fresh crab meat, prawns, aka miso and aonori – which took my companions and my breath away. The ingredients were fresh and succulent, and the rice moist with the perfect tinge of vinegar; this definitely supports the restaurant's claim of making it a la minute. And judging by how fast the spicy tuna roll went, you could tell that it was definitely one of the most popular dishes of the night.


Now for the mains, the truffle risotto with Maine lobster was my favourite out of the main courses. The risotto is cooked in shellfish stock, doused in generous amounts of truffle judging from its sweet potent smell, and served with poached Maine lobster imported from the States. Observe the silence as you savour the dish all the way to the last spoonful. The wood-fired Wagyu rib eye with deliciously creamy Paris mashed potatoes and Porcini pear sauce came a close second.

And finally, to complete the perfect meal on a sweet note, we had the patisserie platter – pistachio fraise, velvety lemon pecan mousseline, azure, muscovado macadamia creme brulee and sticky date pudding. My favourite? Definitely Azure made up of layers of crisp, crunchy hazelnut biscuit, peach sanguine jelly and griotte cherries. The cherries make a surprisingly nice twist to the dessert.

THE MOOD:

Stellar at 1-Altitude eludes a relaxed yet sophisticated ambience but what makes it a must-go is really the view at the rooftop, where the world's tallest alfresco bar may be found. Chill out up at the roof bar for the breath-taking paranomic views of MBS, Suntec City, Esplanade, Marina Bay float, and the Singapore Flyer. Perfect for a romantic date or as an impressive business dinner.

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What comes to mind when you hear Belgium waffles?

You are most likely to conjure an image of a nice restaurant with fancy desserts or a classy cafe in your mind. But quality Belgium waffles - a great breakfast food as well as for dessert - can now be found at Sweet Stone Para'Ice, which also brings a wide range of hand-made gelato and authentic Belgium chocolate to Golden Mile Food Centre along Beach Road.

THE FOOD:

The Sweet Stone Parad'Ice, a cross-cultural establishment owned by a Belgian and a Singaporean, has a simple menu for success - Belgian Liège waffles, Belgian chocolate and hand-made gelato.

Unlike the traditional soft and (strangely) greenish-yellow waffles you can typically get from Prima Deli or any heartland bakery, these are thick Belgian waffles that go very well with the rich, pure and gooey chocolate that Belgian boss Sebastian imports from home. The waffles here are made from dough instead of the usual batter and hence, has a bread-like texture. This, however, also means that it does not fit our reasonable expectation for a crispy-on-the-outside and soft-on-the-inside texture. A wide range of gelato, including traditional flavours such as vanilla to more exotic ones like corn gelato, compensates for this disappointment though. Just like the waffles and chocolate dip offerings at The Sweet Stone Parad'Ice, the gelato here screams quality; a good way to cool down from the almost unbearable afternoon heat.

The humble waffle place offers several sets in various combinations of its three offerings and more. Set A ($2.50) comes with one waffle and a bowl of chocolate dip, Set B ($4.20) comes with 2 waffles and a chocolate dip, and Set C ($6) is essentially set B with an additional scoop of gelato. Feeling rich? Try the Royal set ($14.50) - chocolate fondue that comes in a claypot, assortment of fruits including strawberries, bananas, grapes and honeydew - for three.

The price of the desserts may turn some hawker goers away but for their offerings all fresh and handmade with high quality ingredients, it is reasonable.

THE MOOD:

At first glance, the little European dessert stall does not stand out from its neighbours. But take a closer look, you will find a clean, simple wood paneled wall decor and European offerings.

Seats are as other hawker stalls - free for all. So, be prepared to feel a little confused and even get a few stares. After all, desserts usually mean Ching Tng or Ice Kachang in hawker centres and foodcourts.

A loyalty rewards programme allows The Sweet Stone Parad'Ice customers to earn and redeem free waffles and gelato as they frequent the stall.

For images, go to [a href="http://www.freshgrads.sg/index.php/articles/lifestyle/dine/658-the-sweet-stone-paradice"]FreshGrads[/a]!

Pork knuckles topped with sauerkraut, an array of grilled sausages, salads, cheese, ham and cakes… I can almost wax lyrical about it. And have I already mentioned the beers? FreshGrads brings you the wonderful Sunday brunch at the Paulaner Brauhaus – a great reason to get out of bed on a sleepy weekend.

The Food:

Paulaner Brauhaus and Restaurant offers a healthy range of original Bavarian dining that compliments the Paulaner’s masterly brewed beer excellently. For $50, enjoy the Fruhschoppen (which happily means morning pint) Sunday German brunch with free flow Paulaner beers. It is worth ditching the healthy lifestyle for!

For lovers of red meat, be bowled over by the delicious pork knuckles paired with the traditional sauerkraut. The combination of firm red meat and crunchy skin with finely shredded fermented cabbage is a delight for the taste buds, especially with a swig of Paulaner.

Another hit was the juicy pork leg, served by an attentive chef stationed by the wooden chopping board. Show an interest and he will whip out his carving knife to serve you a generous portion. Yum!

Compliment the abundance of meat with greens to curb the guilt; Paulaner has a good range of green offerings. Try the Farmer’s Salad with feta cheese and olives, tomato salad with herb vinaigrette or the cucumber salad topped with dill.

I, however, zeroed in on the warm potato salad with chives – a creamy mix of carbohydrate goodness – and the seafood salad, which was a refreshing mix of squid, shelled mussels and crab.

Of course, drink plenty of beer! Paulaner Lager is medium bodied, with a slight malt sweetness and fruity, wheaty flavour; the Dark shares the sweetness but has a toasted malt flavour that finishes dry. Both are, of course, great with the Bavarian menu.

Finish up the delicious meal with sweet offerings – chocolate fondue with skewered fruits, Movenpick ice cream, cake and fruits. Being a cake lover, I picked the blackforest, which put all other blackforest cakes I have tried to shame with its quality chocolate and cream, and a delightfully tangy passion fruit cake.

Another hit was the tiramisu-in-a-cup, a good version of the Italian with its rich cream and coffee flavour – with the hint of rum.

Give the chocolate fondue a miss though. The lack of choice in the items – there is only one choice of grape, honeydew and strawberry on a single skewer to be contended with – to be dipped is not helped by the wooden taste the fruits seem to have gotten from the skewers.

On hindsight, I realized I should have paced myself through the meal. My eager, hungry approach towards the brunch buffet got me through the meal too quickly; I missed the tasty looking tomato cream soup and the chocolate mousse cake, among others.

But, I will be back again!

The Mood:

Do not let the empty bar fool you like it did me; the action is hidden from public’s view by a lift – probably the only bar with their own to serve all their three floors – tucked in the corner.

The restaurant level, where the brunch is held, is a homey place, with its wooden furnishing and red tiles reminiscent of warm kitchens.

I was told that the setting was of a unique Bavarian atmosphere. The focal point of the restaurant was a huge Maibaum (Maypole), a 16th century Bavarian architectural feature. The spacious interior was also adorned with hangings of traditional Bavarian costumers and individual pendant lamps.

Unfortunately for my dining companions and myself, the uncomfortable stuffy air marred our visit – and our meal. I was assured that almost never happened; their air-conditioning was just faulty that day.

In all, it was a delightful experience that I would not mind getting out of bed for. The buffet goes for $50 (with free flow Paulaner beer) or $40 (with free flow soft drinks) from 11.30am to 2.30pm.

It is recommended to reserve your seats. For light eaters or late sleepers, you can opt for the ala-carte menu.

Visit [a href="http://www.freshgrads.sg/index.php/articles/lifestyle/dine/761-paulaner-brauhaus"]FreshGrads[/a] for pictures and comments!

Always dreamt of helping yourself to the soft serve ice cream machine at MacDonald's? You can now do that: DIY your own frozen yogurt at self-serve froyo boutique, Swirl Art, and be prepared to eat your art out!

FOOD:

At each time, Swirl Art offers eight to 10 flavours such as blueberry, mango, green apple and even slightly more unusual ones like taro. The yogurt's smooth and stays frozen for sufficient time while we snap away. Though taro was surprisingly good, we particularly liked the green apple and mango-flavoured ones. Smoothies and freshly baked Belgian waffles are, too, available if just your froyo's not filling enough for you.

You will also find common toppings like chocolate rice, nata de coco and freshly cut fruit to dress your yogurt with. But do beware of getting carried away with adding this and that – you pay for your masterpiece according to its weight. Every 10 grams cost you a nifty 30 cents.

MOOD:

This froyo shop has its machines decked out like ATMs and customers are to mix and match the various flavours then sprinkle all the toppings they want to their heart's desire. But while the interactivity's great fun, it is the quality of the froyo that would keep us returning.

Visit <a href="http://www.freshgrads.sg/index.php/articles/lifestyle/food/896-swirl-art.html">here</a> for more pictures!