Full Cook & Brew review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2014/07/cook-brew-tasting-session.html

The Westin Hotel makes a return to Singapore after a 10 year hiatus, bringing along with it new dining concepts developed in-house, such as Cook & Brew. Making its global debut on the 33rd floor of Westin Hotel Singapore, Cook & Brew exudes an old-world elegance with a touch of modern chill, offering an extensive range of rustic, classic bar food with Western, Asian, and Fusion influences.Ambience at Cook & Brew is a mesh of posh sophisticated elegance and rustic homely comfort. The dimly lit but spacious interior boasts plush suede leather booths, rustic cowhide armchairs, tufted leather benches, the longest marble-topped bar counter in Singapore, 90-inch flat screen televisions, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Seats are laid out in communal style dining, which is very much encouraged at Cook & Brew, as dish portions are designed for sharing. The best part is the fantastic view of the Marina Bay and Marina South area!Service at Cook & Brew is outstanding even during peak periods. Staff are friendly and polite, efficient in seating guests, taking orders, and clearing empty plates. The food takes awhile to prepare from scratch, but served quickly. Staff are able to offer recommendations on the extensive wine and beer list, and relatively knowledgable when questioned on the food menu and dish preparation. They are also able to state what sporting events the in-house televisions will be screening for the day.
Food at Cook & Brew is generally delicious and tasty. The menu at Cook & Brew is quite extensive, featuring classic, rustic Western style comfort food, as well as local Asian dishes, served with a modern twist. Several dishes even come with recommended beer pairings! Portions are designed for sharing, not so much individual dining, and prices per portion are reasonable and quite affordable. Budget about SGD $20 - $50 per person for both food and drinks.

The Chili Con Carne Volcano Topped With Cheddar Cheese (SGD $13) is like a Western style Char Siew Bao. The minced beef within is well marinated in a savoury, slightly spicy sauce, while the actual bun itself is fried, with a crisp, smooth exterior and a soft interior. Topped with bell peppers / capsicum, cheddar cheese, and a fresh jalapeno slice, it's a great tasting if slightly heavy appetizer.The Honey BBQ Ribs (SGD $28) features a slab of perfectly grilled baby pork ribs, sweet and savoury with the taste of the honey marinade and Asian spices like the Rendang rempah. Served with a side of freshly made in-house coleslaw and crisp potato wedges, the pork rib meat comes off the bone easily, and is tender and flavourful. The pairing with Beer Blue Moon accentuates the sweetness of the dish, and works very well together.The signature German Butcher Platter (SGD $34) contains a huge serving of pork kassler, pork sausage, chicken sausage, chicken schnitzel, sauerkraut, dill pickles, mashed potato, and mustard. Every individual component in this dish was well cooked and tasty, and we were very satisfied with this! I loved the Almond Nougat Ice Cream (SGD $15) with its praline-like structure, and tasty, flavourful almond nougat ice cream within. Served with fresh raspberries, shaved caramelised almonds, and a condensed milk base, it's so satisfiying to crack open the chocolate shell and watch the ice cream ooze out.Take On The Spicy Challenge (SGD $20)! Eat 6 hot and spicy wings / drumlets within 4 minutes, and get 1 hour of free beer! There's a reason this is a challenge, a combination of chilis and peppers are used in the making of this diabolical dish, including the world's 3rd hottest chili. The heat and tangy sourness of the aroma hits you up close, and the burn starts the minute you bite into it, building to a mouth numbing fiery crescendo.Overall, I had a great time at Cook & Brew, and will definitely come back for more! The delicious food, relaxing ambience, and engaging service, together with the view from the area, makes for an unforgettable experience. No surprise that Cook & Brew attracts so many diners night after night, and advance reservations for a seat is highly recommended!

Brunetti Cafe is known for their vast array of pretty looking, absolutely delicious desserts of French, Italian and American origin, as well as their use of high quality, premium ingredients in their preparation.
Brunetti Cafe brings together a luscious array of everything Italian in an enticing café space - a Gelateria, Cioccolateria, and Pasticceria. This all-in-one concept features a brightly lit, casual seating cafe, with both indoor and outdoor ambience. I especially love their huge dessert display case, with their colourful, mouth watering gelatos, macarons, cakes and pastries!
Service at Brunetti Cafe is semi self-service, with ordering and payment done at the counter, though staff will serve orders to your table. I find staff to be friendly and professional, knowledgable in recommendations and the vast array of items on offer, as well as alert and quick to respond.
Because Brunetti Cafe is an Italian style cafe, the majority of dishes and desserts are primarily Italian, though there is also a small selection of French and American style dishes / desserts. Generally, I find food / desserts here to be of very high quality, using fresh ingredients, and prepared with good skill from the chef. Prices naturally, are slightly high as compared to other cafes, but I'm willing to pay a little more for the quality!
With over 25 different flavours of Gelato freshly made daily, ice cream lovers are spoilt for choice. Ranging from traditional flavours, to quirky creations like the Hello Kitty Ice Cream (SGD $6.50 Small), all the gelato here is made with premium high quality ingredients.I absolutely adore the Italian Hot Chocolate (SGD $6.50) here! Very thick and dense, yet smooth texture, the drink is rich and deep with the intense flavour of chocolate. I got mine without whipped cream for the pure chocolate flavour, and I daresay this is among the best Hot Chocolate in Singapore!The Butternut Pumpkin Soup (SGD $8.90) has a velvety smooth texture, and the fresh, creamy taste of butternut pumpkin. Love the aromatic flavour, and the crisp dipping bread paired well with the hot broth. Utterly satisfying.Despite the name, Chicken Scaloppini (SGD $19.90) actually refers to the Italian cooking method of thinly sliced meat that is sauteed, then served in a sauce, not the seafood / shellfish scallops. The meat is tender but still juicy, and the chicken and lemon jus sauce lends a nice tangy, savoury taste without being overpowering. The linguine aglio olio is done to perfect al-dente, with lots of fragrant garlic, and the cherry tomatoes are fresh, bursting with flavour when bitten. Excellent pasta dish!I loved the Tiramisu Cup (SGD $8.50), done almost in the traditional Italian style. This version is alcoholic, made with coffee liqueur, and has less ladyfinger biscuits than an authentic Tiramisu, with more cream. Still, this is an good rendition, and worth a try.
Full Brunetti Cafe review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2014/06/brunetti-cafe.html

Full Roosevelt's Diner & Bar here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2014/03/roosevelts-diner-bar.html

Located in Dorsett Residences just next to Outram Park MRT Station Exit H, the less than 1 month old Roosevelt's Diner & Bar is already developing a loyal following, especially amongst the residents of nearby Duxton and Outram. Offering gourmet fare at wallet-friendly prices admist a quirky, modern decor, Roosevelt's Diner & Bar looks sets to do well.
Ambience at Roosevelt's Diner & Bar is best described as modern with elements of industrial chic. Star highlights include th 'Engine Table', a glass panel table supported by a race car engine, a vintage orange vespa, and expressive photo canvasas adorning the walls. Furniture is functional, but not all are comfortable. Lighting is a mix of natural sunlight and in-house lights on the high ceiling, with several lightbulbs doubling as decor. Roosevelt's Diner & Bar also offers magazines for browsing.Service at Roosevelt's Diner & Bar makes an effort to impress. Being new, I'm surprised that service here is efficient, and staff are friendly and quite knowledgable on the menu. Food is prepared relatively quickly as well.
Roosevelt's Diner & Bar serves artisinal all day breakfast / brunch, along with gourmet coffee. At night, they bring out the extensive wine / beer menu, and serve restaurant quality fare. I love the food here so far, haven't had any bad experiences yet! It also helps that prices are affordable, comparable to other cafes. The signature Eggs Roosevelt (SGD $17) features a bed of turmeric spiced smashed potatoes and spicy chorizo sausage, topped with 2 softly poached eggs. The yolk when cut just runs down and coats the potatoes and sausages, making it visually messy but so good to eat. The turmeric spice on the potatoes is just right without being too overpowering.

Full Common Man Coffee Roasters review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2013/12/common-man-coffee-roasters.html

A unique partnership between Harry Grover, Five Senses Coffee (Australia), and the Spa Esprit Group, Common Man Coffee Roasters strives to make top-notch coffee accessible to the general public, in a comfortable, casual bistro setting, along with delicious food and friendly service. Pushing the boundaries and experimenting with various coffee flavour profiles, Common Man Coffee Roasters looks set to forge new paths in the coffee arena.

Ambience at Common Man Coffee Roasters is casual, with bright lights and wooden furniture lending a casual, laid-back vibe to the place. Outdoor dining is available, as is bar counter dining, and Common Man Coffee Roasters generally is buzzing with activity. Coffee is used as the decor theme, and I like that the laboratory apparatus gives the counter a 'science lab' feel.Service at Common Man Coffee Roasters is friendly, though staff are generally rushing about because of the busy place. But they do give you their full attention when speaking, and don't look distracted. Food is prepared to order, but the wait time is also relatively short. I like that staff seem friendly and chatty.

The speciality at Common Man Coffee Roasters is of course, coffee. Carefully sourced coffee beans are used to make each flavourful cup. But the food available is also decently priced, tasty, and portions are generous. Common Man Coffee Roasters does a rather healthy all day-brunch menu, as most dishes come with loads of salad. The Green Pea Fritters, 2 Poached Organic Eggs, Crispy Pancetta, Rocket & Balsamic Syrup has 2 green pea fritters topped with softly poached eggs, covered in a salad. Looks really healthy and garden-like, and I loved the unique flavour of the green pea fritters! The eggs were perfectly executed, and I had fun using the fritters to mop up the runny yolk.

Full Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2013/12/pasta-fresca-da-salvatore-tasting.html

To celebrate the festive season, Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore is offering a limited time, 5-course Christmas menu till the end of December 2013. Inspired by dishes prepared in South Italy, Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore imports only the freshest ingredients for this special menu.

Ambience at Pasta Fresca is designed to be rustic, comfortable and homely, making you feel as if you've just stepped into an Italian friend's home. Space is carefully laid out and the menu is planned to allow guests to socialise and linger over conversation.

Service at Pasta Fresca flows well with the homely theme, as staff are friendly and welcoming. Attentive and observant in their service, I especially liked that Pasta Fresca staff are unobstrusive, making sure that your dining experience is comfortable. I liked that they check, by feel of your water glass, whether you were drinking warm or cold water. This attention to details was evident throughout the meal.

The Tagliere Misto, from the regular menu, is a platter of cold cuts, including high quality pork salami and spek, with cheddar, goat cheese and whole olives. I loved the authentic taste of the cold cuts, the flavour of the meat really shines through. The Zuppa Di Zucca E Crema Di Latte is the soup starter on the Christmas menu. A rich and creamy pumpkin soup is served in a cute mug, with cream and herbed croutons. I liked that the soup was well balanced, not too overpowering or underwhelming, and that you can taste the pumpkin flavour.The Linguine Al Nero In Salsa Gamberi E Peperoni from the Christmas menu has home made squid ink linguine with fresh cherry tomates in a red pepper sauce, which was excellent! Probably my favourite dish of the evening! The prawns were big and meaty, but slightly lacking in the crustacean taste.The Al Funghi E Salsiccia, or penne pasta in a cream sauce with sauteed mushrooms and home made Italian sausage, is from the regular menu. Loved the taste of the home made sausage, and overall this dish is quite filling! The other main on the Christmas menu, the Pesce Spada In Panura Su Salsa Alla Mediterranea E Verdure Saltate Al Burro E Prezzemolo features pan fried breaded swordfish fillets, with buttered broccoli and carrots in a pomodoro tomato sauce. I liked that you can taste the tomato is the sauce, a sign of freshness and made by hand, rather than from the canned variety. I also like the texture of the pan fried breaded swordfish fillets, semi-firm but yields to the bite.Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore Christmas menu is only available till the end of December 2013, and this 5-course set meal costs SGD $39.90 per person. They also offer wine to pair with the dishes. The items from the regular menu are available at all their outlets.