Opened a month or so back at Millenia Walk, tart blanc is a local patisserie that serves up creative dessert tarts.The Rum and Eve Tart ($7.50) is an alcoholic tart that involves rum and raisins with pineapples. The taste of rum was pretty evident and made a nice bittersweet yet tart flavour with the pineapple. The tart base had a layer of pineapple paste to further enhance the flavour, though the tart batter was somewhat dry and hard.We had high expectations of the Espresso Caramel Tart ($7.50), but it felt pretty much like a Tiramisu on top of a tart base. We loved the deep aromatic flavour of Espresso in the mousse on the top, but there was a lack of caramel flavour overall. It might be a personal preference but the cake layering just did not seem to blend with the tart base as well.

For more photos and the full review, please visit: http://jiaksimipng.wordpress.com/2013/12/29/tart-blanc-millennia-walk/

Thomson has no lack of foodie spots, and it just got better. Located in the same building as OZ Specialty Coffee, Thomson V Two now welcomes its newest cafe under the roof, November 8 Coffee & Company.All-day breakfast is served here much like most cafes these days, however there are a few unconventional dishes such as the Potato Rosti ($16.00) that I had ordered. It comes with scrambled eggs, bratwurst and bacon sides as well. The scrambled eggs were well-cooked without being too runny nor solid, though I would have preferred it to be served beside rather than on top of the rosti to prevent the rosti from getting soggy. Rosti was flavourful with a crisp exterior, and a dollop of sour cream at the side is also added for those who love the combination of the two. The garden salad by the side was fresh and the dressing had an interesting taste, where a hint of mustard seemed to be involved.Waffles had been getting into the menus of cafes lately, and November 8 is no exception. I got the Waffles with Ice-Cream ($8.00) and got mine paired up with a coconut flavoured ice-cream. Nothing much to say on the ice-cream, but the batter of the waffles were impressive with its eggy flavour and crispy edges with fluffy insides. It was even good enough to have it just alone. For those who prefer other sorts of waffles, there are also choices such as one which topped with berries, strawberry chocolate fondue or just plain with butter and maple syrup, which is definitely something I would order again for my subsequent visits!November 8 uses blends from Dutch Colony Coffee, and the blend they use are a mix of three origins, namely El Salvador for a fruity touch, Sumatran for the punch and Brazil for the body. All these could be felt from the Flat White ($5.00) that I had.

November 8 is a well hidden spot, given its location within the building, suiting the image of being a hipster cafe for most of them do take a little effort to find as well. The food is definitely well worth the trip, and is a reward for those who found them. A cozy spot to chill, this is a cafe with a unique character that we sincerely hope to see standing strong in years to come.

For more photos and the full review, please visit: http://jiaksimipng.wordpress.com/2013/12/28/november-8-thomson-v-two/

Ah Chew Desserts is one of the dessert houses operating at Liang Seah Street, a street located in Bugis littered with budget steamboat buffets and traditional dessert houses like Ah Chew Desserts itself. While the outlook of the dessert house remains rather traditional, one can also find more "modern" desserts such as Durian flavoured desserts, ice-creams, Sago desserts and Mochi in the menu too.My dining partner ordered the Mango Sago with Pomelo ($4.00). It was a tad sour for me, hence did not really appeal to me. He said that the Pomelo was also a little bitter, but he really loved the generous amount of Mango that came along with it.There were many variations offered for the Steamed Milk Custard ($2.80) such as a Coffee-flavoured one to a version that even contains chocolate cookies in it. After much hesitation I went for the Original Cold Steamed Milk Custard. It is smooth and custardy, with a texture similar to Lao Ban Beancurd but with an eggy taste. It was pretty near the taste of a Creme Brulee, without the layer of sugar coated on top and with a custard that is less sweet and lighter in taste. For those who prefer to have it warm, a hot version is also available too.

For more photos and the full review, please visit: http://jiaksimipng.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/ah-chew-desserts-liang-seah-street/

OZ Specialty Coffee is the latest of the few cafes that are opening in the recent months. Situated at Sin Ming, the cafe is just a stone’s throw away from the busy eateries of Upper Thomson Road, which provides for a great environment to stay away from the crowds for some quiet. We visited on the opening day, where they were offering cakes and coffee on the house.The cakes here are supplied from Berry Gerry Bakes which is located at the other end of the same building. There were only two cakes available that day; a Banana Cake and a Pandan Sugee Cake. The Pandan Sugee Cake was somehow a bit too moist inside, though was of the right density. We would also have loved it more if the pandan taste could be stronger.The Banana Cake was better; it was easy to cut through and was just moist enough that it does not stick in the throat. It was also decently sweet, thus complimenting perfectly with the coffee.We also ordered a Seasonal Waffle ($7.00) so as to try out offerings from their own kitchen. The waffles here are somewhat different than the ones served in cafes usually. The waffles here are rather thin which also makes it seem more biscuit-like. Nonetheless, the batter still tastes buttery and carries much sweetness of maple syrup, which is also mixed into the batter. The taste and the texture reminds me of Stroopwafels (or the waffles cookies with maple syrup sold in supermarkets), which can be a tad hard to eat for those with weaker teeth. Apart from that, it was something I totally enjoyed less the mixed berries, which I found too sour for my liking.According to one of the staff, the blends used for their coffee are sourced from Thailand to suit the local palate. The Flat White (Usual Price: $4.50) was something which impressed me totally. The blend was slightly mild yet aromatic with a medium body. Right to the last sip, it did not feel overwhelming. One of the better cups of coffee I had so far.

For the full review, please visit: http://jiaksimipng.wordpress.com/2013/11/17/oz-specialty-coffee-thomson-v-two/

There is a lot to love about this cafe; the owners are a friendly couple who takes time to interact with each customer that passes through the door, and are passionate coffee lovers who know their stuff as well. What’s more exciting is that much of the cafe’s interior are designed by the owner, who is also in the sheet metal industry and most of the furnishings are built from scratch to suit their requirements.There are two types of blends served here; a Sumatran blend which is a sharper and more intensive blend and the Organic Fair Trade Honduras Blend, which is more buttery and nutty. For those who loves a slightly stronger taste for their Flat White ($3.50), it would be recommended for them to go for the Sumatran blend which has a stronger aftertaste.Due to the small size of the kitchen, the items sold here are mainly sandwiches as only roast, grill and baking can be done. The Tuna Mayo Sarnie ($4.90) was pretty impressive. There was just enough tuna to the mayo used, which creates the flavour just right without having the cloying taste of sauces or the slightly fishy taste that tuna spreads may have. The cheese also had a light taste that compliments the ingredients well, and there was a healthy amount of vegetables added for the health-conscious. This could probably be one of the best options for those who are looking to eat clean; served with a side of chips.The Earl Grey Cake ($3.50) was also pretty light and had a nice crispy crust on the top. The taste of tea was evident yet not overpowering, giving a very well balanced, aromatic flavour.The Blueberry Lemon Slice ($4.00) looks similar to the Earl Grey Cake, but differs a lot in taste. It was zingy, but the Blueberry though fresh, can be a tad sour for some who have low tolerance for sourness.

Brawn & Brains is not your typical cafe. What you are looking here is a cafe that has a lot of potential with a strong character and soul, which is something often forgotten in most cafes that have opened of the late. It's uniqueness shines through, which is definitely one of the factors that will bring me back again.