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The Chosen Glutton
This is The Chosen Glutton . French, European are my favorite cuisines. I also love Café, Restaurant, Hotel and Steaks and Grills, Seafood.
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Nothing Outstanding. OK Oct 01, 2013   
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Categories : Ice Cream and Gelato

With the increasing trend of diners frequenting ice cream parlours after their main meals, ice cream parlours themselves have surged too. Or at least, they’ve appeared more apparent to the general public. Well, Economics students would tell you, with demand comes supply.

The most recent set-up that has come into the limelight is Salted Caramel. Its secluded locality is solely to be blamed for me to take so long to patronise this frozen dessert joint. Established at the Upper Thomson Road neighbourhood, it is asking too much of me to reach there. Unless well, for this instance, a car is involved.

 
We tried quite a handful of flavours, ranging from Nutella, to Stout and Chocolate, to Earl Grey Ice Cream. Of course, we had its, we supposed, signature flavour – Salted Caramel. I must say, I am a fan of how individual flavours taste. I can imagine one enjoying the ice cream with relish.

 
But, because we’ve all had so many different ice creams from different parlours, from Andersen’s to Haagen Dazs, from The Daily Scoop to Ice Cream Chef – it is easy to relate and compare which has a better taste. For me, Salted Caramel is on the losing end. Not only is their location not ideal, the ice cream isn’t too.

There are two parts to ice cream.
First – its flavour.
Second – how heavy and how long it lingers in your mouth.
Salted Caramel’s ice cream doesn’t have this density to them, making the taste of the ice cream easily forgettable. To know exactly what I mean, try a scoop of Andersen’s and a scoop of Salted Caramel’s.

Its price is reasonable though.
1 scoop – $3
2 scoops – $5
3 sccops – $7
Service is also on the no-complains side.

Would I go back again? Probably not, unless my dining partners want to try it. Moreover, Udders is just housed beside them.
 
Spending per head: Approximately $4(Other)

Other Ratings:
Taste
 3  |  
Environment
 2  |  
Service
 3  |  
Clean
 2  |  
Price
 4

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Categories : European | Café

Far far away in Serangoon, a cafe’s hidden somewhere above ground level across Chomp Chomp. It is indeed far for me, because Serangoon is directly diagonally away from where I reside. But well, it’s Singapore after all, no where is too far. I was on my way to a friend’s house when we decided to drop by Arbite for brunch. It has been on my list for the longest time, and I’ve heard only raving reviews about it. This time round, I concur with them screaming good reviews.

 
Seemingly surreptitiously located, you might miss it if you’re not focused. It’s housed somewhere a storey above Guardian, amongst the row of shophouses. Arbite serves a range of coffee and tea, around the price of $4 and $5.50 respectively. Contrary to most brunch cafes, it is actually commendable that they serve tea besides the hot beverage made from beans of a tree.

Hot Mocha ($4+) :: I just noticed that they mis-entered the bill – having keyed Iced Mocha ($5) instead of the Hot Mocha that I had. Well, thankfully it’s only a buck. Back to the Mocha, well, I was a little disappointed with it. I could barely taste the chocolate in the drink. Well unless it’s meant to be served without the European’s influence of the coffee-chocolate infusion, though I highly doubt so.

 
Arbite Breakfast ($15.90+) :: This English Breakfast is by far, the best I’ve had in Singapore. It looks promising on the menu already, and that was why I decided to have this instead of my usual Eggs Benedict (which they do serve too). Save for the nicely done creamy Scrambled Eggs, they actually have some pretty reasonable meaty veal bratwurst and sautéed mushrooms. They also have bacon (but not to any surprise, it’s done hard and dry like in almost everywhere else in Singapore), and sides like grilled tomato, pommes noisettes (fried potato balls) and baked beans. What makes me really happy, full and satisfied is that you can actually change your sides to any other (no top up needed if they are priced the same). Sides include grilled tomato ($2) plain ciabatta, eggs, baked beans (each at $3), sautéed mushrooms ($3.50), pommes noisettes, mash potato, garlic bread, honey baked ham, veal bratwurst, bacon (each at $4), smoked salmon ($5). So technically, you can build your own breakfast. What a wonderful morning it’d be, I can imagine.

Service is relatively acceptable. Iced Water is served.
The cafe can probably only sit about 30 – 40 people. So you might want to take note of the time you head there.

Arbite also serves lunch and dinner. They have a pretty extensive and elaborate menu I’d say. A must visit even if you stay at the other end of Singapore.

—> Note #1: They only charge 10% service charge. GST is waived.
 
Spending per head: Approximately $19(Breakfast)

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

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Wild Mushroom Soup, please! Smile Oct 01, 2013   
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Categories : French | European | Café | Desserts and Cakes

 
If the budget for your meal is not of a concern, Au Chocolat at The Shoppes @ Marina Bay Sands might just be the place for you and your friends for a good catch up over a meal. Well especially in this festive season – one would be greeted by a playback of burning fire in a fireplace. Even though you don’t feel the heat (we were seated right in front of the ‘fireplace), we had fun imagining it to be warm and cozy anyway.

 
It is not the poshest or a restaurant with the best ambience, but there’s just this feeling of superiority when you dine in here. Casual yet class. Maybe it comes naturally with that touch of French in the restaurant. Service was prompt and responsive. We were greeted by the host at the entrance and constantly reassured that a seat is about to come – patrons’ level of patience kept checked at all time.

 
Moccacino ($10++) :: After finishing a meal here, you would realize for sure, that coffee is not their forte, especially having been to a whole range of cafes out there in Singapore. I don’t blame them for that. This hot beverage was mediocre, don’t even bother – go for this instead:

 
Frozen Hot Chocolate Cup ($12++) :: Frozen and hot. Contradicting, right? I know what’s going through your head – it is indeed, an iced beverage. Please, if you don’t want to end up feeling like you’ve just finished a buffet, share it with a friend, or even two. Regardless, this is a must try – the thick and seemingly never-ending supply of chocolate is a blessing by itself. Cut some cost, share this, maybe?

 
Wild Mushroom Soup ($11++) :: Just by looking at the photo, it goes without saying how thick and flavorful this bowl of treasure is. The relatively generous path of truffle oil on the soup tells you that there is going to be a party in your mouth as soon as you put them in. Love the taste (not too grainy and rough), love the smell (infused with truffle oil).

 
Ultimate Benedict ($22++) :: Don’t be tricked – this dwarf-like portion can fill a giant. Reason? Simple. Behold what it contains – strips of bacon, chunks of chicken and beef, poached eggs and 2 thick layers of pancakes as base. I’m guessing its ultimate means ultimately filling. Save for the hard and crispy bacon, I like how the rest of the course is done. In spite of having multiple items in the course and thus being hard to complement each other, I can still taste each of them quite distinctly.

 
Duck Confit ($27++) :: This Duck Confit – crispy skin, somewhere in between tough and tender meat, interesting dark chocolate infused grapefruit sauce, with pear compote and mashed potato. All of which makes up a pretty competitive Duck Confit.

 
Go Nuts with Salted Caramel ($18++) :: If there is any flavor that might stand a chance against a face-off match with Chocolate, it is Salted Caramel, my comparably new love. From a crepe of appropriate thickness, to almonds and walnuts, to a huge scoop of vanilla ice cream (that almost doesn’t melt, with our experience), every inch of it is screaming yes! Have this savory crepe as your main course for all I care – because yes it is worth it. And well, nuts have a history of good nutritional value!

 
Espresso Pick Me Up ($16++) :: Another way of calling it Tiramisu, this item on the menu is the biggest disappointment of the evening. Not the least ‘addictive’, it has a weird texture and taste. Definitely not your everyday Tiramisu. Give it a miss and try their huge-ass Chocolate Cake instead.

Some hits, some misses. Notwithstanding that, I would still recommend and bring my friends to Au Chocolat. Simply because their hits much outweigh their misses.
 
Recommended Dish(es):  Wild Mushroom Soup,Frozen Hot Chocolate Cup
 
Spending per head: Approximately $30(Dinner)

Other Ratings:
Taste
 4  |  
Environment
 4  |  
Service
 3  |  
Clean
 4  |  
Price
 2

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Categories : Restaurant | Steaks and Grills

 
Still hanging on to a little bit of the Christmas season late into the month of December, Chums was relatively quiet at around dusk on a Friday night. I guess the location is majorly to be held accountable for it. Nevertheless, a reservation at the restaurant (or any restaurant) is the safest, the Singapore style – the kiasu style.

 
Only recently launched in June this year, Chums @ Bukit Timah is quite the homely dining place. Though a small and cozy restaurant, it is presented with amiable waitstaff and generous service. I must admit – without a private transport, visiting this secluded part of Singapore would be a chore and doubtful.

 
Chocolate Shake ($7++) :: Possibly the best Chocolate Shake I’ve ever had, even better than the Cookies & Cream Shake I always have at Billy Bombers. This heavenly indulgence is full of win. Thick enough. Authentic flavor of chocolate enough. Portion huge enough. Nothing’s wrong with this drink at all. I’m glad I had it.

 
Iced Coffee ($6++) :: It was unanimous when we felt that the Iced Coffee paled in comparison to the drink before. Notwithstanding that, I still adore it. I like that there’s the distinct coffee bitterness aftertaste to it – not plainly just an overpowering of sweetness.

 
Ocean Feast ($36.90++) :: Noticing the price only now, I thought it is pretty pretty steep, for the mere pieces of seafood on the plate. Granted that the fries were especially addictive and adequately salted, and that the mussels and a couple of ocean catches were well-marinated, it is not quite worth the price paid. Only perk for this, otherwise, is its ease for sharing.

 
Beer Chicken ($40++) :: Again, it costs somewhere around an arm and a leg, for a dish like that. I have to admit though, this is something like a you-have-to-try-it-at-least-once kind. I have no prior Beer Chicken experience, so I have nothing to based it on. The commendable part comes when the waitperson approached to start us off by slicing up the chicken when he saw that we were struggling and lost. Also, the chicken was moist enough for me. A fun experience, though a chore to rip the chicken clean.

 
Hazelnut Crunch :: This makes it full marks for their service – I have not realized until now (apparently I’m not a trustworthy receipt-checker) that this piece of Hazelnut Crunch Cake was on the house. I think it was their kind act to gift it as a ‘birthday present’ to the birthday girl (on top of that, when told that we would be here to celebrate a birthday, the person on the receiving end immediately offered to reserve a slice of cake + candle for after the dinner). Remarkable. Service is key, especially for a just-started-out eatery. It’s an effective way to get the word out. They do not have a Dessert Menu, but has a couple of choices of cakes at the counter every day. So, make your pick when you are there.

In a nutshell, again, impeccable service. Above average food, though prices are on the high side. Location might be their biggest nemesis for the first few months. Worth trying though.
 
Recommended Dish(es):  Chocolate Shake
 
Spending per head: Approximately $35(Dinner)

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

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Good Mousse! Smile Oct 01, 2013   
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Categories : Japanese | Bakery

 
If you keep your attention to your right while walking down Ann Siang Hill leading up to Club Street (it proves to be a challenge, what with some many interesting cafes, restaurants and shops alongside the narrow roads), you will spot Kki Sweets (which means cakes in Japanese), peacefully tucked away in this aesthetically pleasing location. At some angles, you would feel like you’re abroad, carefreely strolling. That’s why this makes Ann Siang Hill, in the Tanjong Pagar precinct one of the best places to chill out.

 
Not only does Kki Sweets sell cakes (& mousse), they sell knick-knacks too. Classic items, pretty cute objects and sometimes oddities. So while shopping for cakes, feel free to look around for intricate yet simple souvenirs for yourself. One thing to take note though, is that getting seats can be a chore. Only able to sit around 15 in the shop (and about 8 outside of it), you must be in luck to tuck yourself in the shop comfortably. Furthermore, when patrons come here, they have the intention of taking their time to sip tea and complete their tai-tai high tea routine. Thankfully, my dining partners and I were in luck this very Saturday afternoon.

 
Though the staff can appear stern at the first look, she was surprisingly helpful. We were at the counter browsing at the sleekly decorated cakes when the staff offered to go through the cakes and mousse they offer. She went through each and single one, displaying top knowledge on the products. She rejected our order on a Chocolate Cake, saying that if it was our first time there, try the mousse, which is their specialties. Of course, we followed accordingly and ordered 3 mousse.

 
Little Red Riding Hood (Dark Chocolate with Raspberry Mousse) ($9+) :: Best dessert of the day. The mousse you get here at Kki Sweets is not the usual. If you’re a mousse hater, you should try one here, because that will potentially change your take on them. It is the smoothest and softest, most delicate mousse I’ve had, not forgetting flavorful. This sparkling gem had our umpteen approval. The raspberry can turn some off, but its sour touch to the very thick dark chocolate package makes it easy to finish. A must try.

 
Coconut with Passion Fruit ($8.50+) :: Again, don’t be fooled by it standing tall, I nearly melted together with its softness. Like its Dark Chocolate Mousse, its filling (this time, passion fruit) is slotted in the middle section of the cake. As compared to its above counterpart, this pale in comparison.

 
White Chocolate with Mango Mousse ($8.50+) :: Similar, this piece of mousse doesn’t hold a finger to the winning dish of the day. But oh well, its texture was enough to make us go cloud nine and happy, for whatever reason.

Despite not having a clean sheet of good food, it’s still a definite go-back for me, thanks to its serenity and ambience it offers. I’ll be sure to head back and try their other selections. They offer Gryphon Tea to go along with the cakes and mousses too.

—> Note #1: 10% service charge will be charged. GST is waived.

—> Note #2: Orders for whole cakes are welcomed too (allow them 5 working days of notice).

 

 
 
Recommended Dish(es):  Little Red Riding Hood
 
Spending per head: Approximately $10(Tea)

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

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