photos and more here: http://andmorefood.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/awfully-chocolate-town/

just to share the love a little – this is one of my greatest discoveries since coming back. I have been spoilt by ungodly-cheap haagen dazs belgian chocolate while in london – and even discounting the darkest chocolate ice cream at scoopz and the creamy chocolate gelato at oddono’s – that’s rather marred my appreciation for the options here in singapore. stores are plentiful, but ice cream is usually an icy, paltry substitute for the lingering creaminess of gelato.

but this place might just be my new go-to. it’s a generous – really unexpectedly so – large scoop of creamy chocolate ice cream in this cute american-chinese-take-out-style box; the flavour is deep – it stands out because it isn’t too sweet – and it gets all creamy and velvety in eating, with a slow melt. and the price is really rather reasonably for the amount you get. and I like those bright green spoons.

I didn’t really know what to expect, actually – I tried to come with tempered expectations in case it didn’t actually live up to the hype – but came away liking it quite a bit. it’s a small space (so be prepared to wait), but gorgeously furnished in kitschy retrovintage furnishings and what I feel is rather old-school american.

and the food? pretty good, really. we had two waffles – one plain with butter for the dad and a chocolate-ice-creamed one for mum – both of which came warm, crisp outside with soft insides. I think this ought to be a sure-order; it’s a rather large portion as well. we also had a bread pudding – served with crème anglaise – topped with flaked almonds and well-heated; as well as a still molten chocolate lava cake. I think the latter was more impressive – the chocolate was sufficiently dark so it wasn’t too sweet.

well-worth a return, and especially so after dinner at the fat cat.

photos and more: http://andmorefood.wordpress.com/2013/04/18/ito-kacho-town/

for all you fans of marbled, fatty beef, this is your place. the prices here are on the steep side: you pay for the quality of the meat – it comes appetizingly dark, sliced just precisely so – for the great service and the quiet ambience for the restaurant, but it’s easily justifiable – just create find an occasion to come.

at the heart of it – it’s a simple concept beautifully done. you choose your cuts of meat – they have a wide range, with different types of marbling determining how exorbitant your meal – decide between the marinated or au naturel, and then cook it to a tender slab on the gas grill.

I mentioned that prices are high, but I think also that these would be considered competitive (and dare I say, below expectation) for such skill and quality. service is both sincere and enthusiastic: they were always on hand to change the grills, and offered recommendations and took feedback. I feel it’s more an occasion restaurant – it’s a little heavy-going in flavor for too-regular visits – but the cosy atmosphere, its rarefied quietness and flavours keep us fabricating reasons to return.

photos and more here: http://andmorefood.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/big-eater-restaurant-changi/

fantastic seafood and zi char at this casual chinese restaurant nearish the singapore expo – really, it’s rather out of the way (for us), but it’s now become my family’s go-to place for crabs and the like, and well-worth travelling to. the place has been packed to the rafters even by early evening (we popped here on two consecutive sundays because it was so good) – but the prices are reasonable, the food is absolutely commendably executed, and service is both sincere and quick.

having spent a few years away, I’ve gained newfound appreciation for places like this one – where you can viably decide not to cook and pay a little more for a balanced meal: this isn’t really an option you often get in london – not such variety at equivalent prices, anyway.

the food here is great – and it draws large crowds despite occupying two shop spaces in an obscure location, so I recommend reservations, and also that you head down for a spot of great seafood no matter where you are. it beats those too-crowded options at the east coast – you know which ones I mean – in price, service and quality.

photos and more here: http://andmorefood.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/mels-drive-in-sentosa/

this place is just adorable beyond words – the decoration of the place, the little stage outside for apron-donning waitress-pretending performers to dance, the whole thing reminded me of a scene out of my childhood hanna-barbera cartoons.

you gotta eat at these places with a pinch of salt (not literally) – be aware that theme park food is often expensive and measly, and more akin to standard american fair food than high dining, and so adjusting your expectations will help you enjoy it.

serviceably crisp leaves and a large – truly generous by any regard – mound of heated chicken in my salad, as well as well as chicken and beef burgers “like macdonalds or better”, upsized chips and drinks that provided respite from the sweltering afternoon.

I didn’t get the chance to try the other eating places – we tried to get in at the KT’s grill but it was full, with a long waiting list – and I don’t want to say it’s much better than I expected (though it was) since that’s rather putting it down, but this was a good option in itself.