Cafe Brio's is one of the main restaurants for Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel. Located on the first floor of the hotel, it boasted a range of distinctive cuisine with International and Asian flair. This is actually the first visit by The Little Devil and Chubby Botak Koala to Cafe Brio's. Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel actually hold a special meaning to us, because this is the hotel where we had our wedding reception. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming activities, alcohol during the reception and entertaining the guests, we did not manage to spend any valuable time here 8 years ago. (Darn, have we been married for so long???)

So enough of my rumblings and fumblings, let's get to the food. The first thing that you notice when you enter into Cafe Brio's is actually the spread of the desserts (international and local), followed by fresh shellfish, then sushi and sashimi. The shellfish here consist of oyster, prawns and mussels. The size of the shellfish are quite big and fresh. Next come to the sashimi section, with selection of salmon, tuna, yellow tail and cuttlefish. The sashimi are as fresh as they get, with a good portions of the cuts. The minus side are the selections are quite limited. During the night, the roast station churn out roast beef. It is tender and roasted to medium, where you can still see the pink meat in the centre. It is tender however the gravy is lack of flavour. The Indian food section is something that you can't miss, especially the briyani and beef rendang. The basmanti rice is full of flavour and the rendang is succulent to the point of melting in your mouth. To complete our selections of main dishes, we have finished it with their famous crayfish laksa. We personally find the laksa quite average. The gravy lack of presence and not as robust as it suppose to be. There is nothing pretty special about it, except it is serve with half potion of a crayfish. So finally come to the desserts, where the selection from hot to cold desserts are so extensive, they can actually just do a buffet for their desserts. I like their Pineapple upside down cake, where it is moist and light; Manggo Pudding, Rose Syrup Aloe Vera, Apple Jelly Panna Cotta shots are light and refreshing. For chocolate lovers like me, the Chocolate Pudding with custard sauce or ice cream is just heavenly if you like something heavy, while chocolate fondue with fruits is the alternative for something light. There are also some Peranakan desserts if it is to your liking.Service here is actually good. The service staff clean the plate regularly and top up your drinks. We actually went using the Deal.com promotion, so it is actually value for money for us. However, if you are paying a full price, it will be slightly overpriced.

Overall, Cafe Brio's presents an quality spread of buffet to the patrons. The food quality are of high standard, we do hope they can expand the buffet spread, especially on their sashimi and shellfish to the extend of their desserts range. Cheers!!!

For the complete review and photos, copy and paste the following link to your browser.
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2013/07/cafe-brios-buffet-at-waterfront.html

We actually found this place by coincidence as we were looking for a place to catch up with group of friends and kids. As it is located opposite Canadian International School, parking was a breeze during the public holiday.

As you enter the shop, you will see their display of cupcakes and menu. Whatever you see there, it is all they have. You basically have to place your order on the counter, pay and they will deliver to you. Most of the seating is actually located at the back after the counter. Very comfortable, with short table and chairs. Unfortunately the lighting is quite dark, feels that not much effort was put in decorating the place.From the name of the store, you know already what is their specialty. We ordered Red Velvet ($3.50) and Blueberry summer ($3.50). Both cupcakes are moist, full of flavour and moist. The frosting only cover half of the cupcakes and it is not too sweet so don't need to worry that you kids will go hyper after too many cupcakes. At the bottom of my blueberry summer cupcake, I was surprised to find some fresh blueberries in it. While the cupcake is nice, we find that it is lacking of the OMPHHHH factor. For their coffee, they use the coffee beans roasted by Nylon at Everton park. Their latte ($4.50) is smooth, creamy and without much bitter taste afterwards. Good balance between the coffee and milk. A good latte indeed. For the tea, they use Gryphon tea @ $5.50 per pot. As for the other cold drinks, we are told that they have run out of it. Unlike their cupcakes, we find the service slow, unfriendly and 'lack of love'. When our group walk in, it seems they are not keen on serving their customers and prefer to have their shop empty. The cupcakes came at first, but our drink come a good 10 to 15 minutes later after we finish the cupcakes. Hopefully the management can address this matter.

Overall, we find the cupcake and drinks here are good. With the combination of less sugar and more flavour, it is a plus point for this shop. The price is quite steep, however comparable to those in the market. Cheers!!

For the full review with photos, click the link below:
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2013/07/cupcakes-with-love-unillustrated-love.html

1 Market is Malaysia Number 1 Celebrity Chef, Chef Wan first foray in Singapore restaurant scene. Located in Plaza Singapura, this place opened with much fan fare and publicity in Singapore and across the Causeway. This buffet restaurant is filled to the brim everyday, so if you never make a reservation, your chance of getting a table is very slim. Reviews on this establishment on food review websites has not been positive, however it did not stop me from suggesting this place for a catch up session with our friends. Let me start describing our experience from reservation. It actually took me two days to get through to get a reservation. First, I make a few calls during the break time in hope that the staff will be lessen their work stress in taking reservation during their busy period. Unfortunately, it went unanswered. Later I found out from their FB page, they only take reservation during their operation hours. So I tried the next day and by luck, managed to get through and place my reservation for our big group. The person on the other line was courteous and give me the details on pricing, especially for kids under a certain age.

Come to the D Day, we arrived on time and was shown to our table. Luckily they already allocated the table, so as long as someone come on time, they will allow you to be seated and the rest can come a bit late. Normally you need to pay before you enter, however as we are in a big group, they actually do the final count at the end and we can pay the bill before the end of our meal. Kudos to them for allowing this flexibility.

So once you enter the restaurant, can see their food selection starting with cold seafood, Japanese section, Rotisserie section, Asian Home cooking and deserts. So how is the food.We start with the cold dish section. The prawn and blue swimmer crab are quite reasonable in size, but not fantastically fresh. The cockles, clams and mussels are over cooked, and the meat actually shrinks. To accompany the seafood, you can choose their Thai Chili Sauce mix, but according to the Little Devil, it is not spicy enough. Got no KICK!!For the Japanese section, the selection is quite limited. For sashimi you will have the Salmon, Tuna, Octopus. It is not the best cut, but it is all right. The same can be said on the sushi and maki selection.

Come to the rotisserie section. Two options of meat, roast chicken and beef rump. The service staff tried her best, however it is difficult to de-boned and sliced chicken on the spot where you got a long queue of hungry customers. Both the meats are very dry and it was not well-seasoned. Disappointing. Come to the Asian section, Laksa Lemak, Kueh Pie Tee, and Rojak. The lemak gravy is quite thick and you can feel the lemak (coconut fat). Rojak. The rojak here is DIY (Do It Yourself), so you can mix and match the ingredients. The dressing is quite well balance, where you can taste the ingredients of belacan, tamarind and black bean paste. Can't comment on the Kueh Pie Tee, it seems we miss out on this. On the home cooked Asian section such as Chicken Belado, Lamb Stew, Thai Prawn and Tumeric Crab. All the dishes are quite flavourful, however nothing really pop up to be highlighted.

The grills section. Probably the best part of section of the restaurant other than the desserts section. The Satay, you can choose chicken and beef complete with the condiments, ketupat and satay sauce. This is fresh from the charcoal grill, you can taste the charcoal burnt part with the thick satay sauce. The meat was well marinated but slightly chewy. The ketupat is all right but not fragrant. Their grilled sotong / calamari is a must-try. It is nicely grilled and tender and you have to be quick as both dishes flying off the serving place at an extreme pace.

Last but not least, the desserts section. They have a numerous selection of deserts, however the most popular is the waffle with ice cream. It is so good, if you leave this till the end, you can expect long queue until you want to give up. The sago, pandan pudding, peach pudding, jelly are average. So don't miss the waffle. The drinks are free flow.
1 Market has a modern decoration, bright and well space in between tables. Service is average, but our table got cleared before any noticeable stack of plates.

Overall we find 1 Market provide another choice for Halal buffet. The food is average but I was really amazed by the popularity of Chef Wan as the number 1 celebrity Chef in Malaysia. This place continue to be packed, packed and packed. I personally feel that if you never been to this place, you should try at least once. Just keep your expectation in check and have a good time with your friends. So Selamat Makan!

For the full review and photos (including the satay!!!!), follow the below link.
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2013/07/1-market-by-chef-wan-average-food-with.html

Please note that during this Ramadan period, 1 Market has a different pricing compare to the normal rate.

[MEDIA INVITE] For the complete review, click / copy the link below to your browser:
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2017/08/provisions-asia.html
Drawing inspirations from the founders' childhood, Singapore's first skewers & claypot rice cocktail bar called itself Provisions. Executive Chef / Co-Owner Justin Foo is in charge of the cuisine which revolves around the comfort food that he enjoyed; while Head Bartender / Co-Owner KC Rahmat curated the bespoke cocktails and mocktails.

Provisions is set in a charming industrial-chic space of metal and wooden fixtures that brought back the nostalgic feel of the yesteryears. The experience is enhanced further with the availability of the old school snacks and toys for the patrons to enjoy while waiting for the food to come.

It is best to describe the food here as small bites/tapas. While you can definitely savour it individually, it just seems to taste better when you share it with someone else.
Pig Ear Fritters ($12). Deep fried sliced pig ears marinated with five spice, chilli and pepper. Can easily be mistaken for fried calamari, but the difference will be obvious when you bite into it. It has a crispy exterior followed with crunchy and gelatinous texture internally. The flavouring almost similar to the Taiwan jumbo fried chicken and it is a good nibble to go with any drinks.
KFC ($10), Korean Fried Cauliflower. Something for the herbivore. The deep fried Cauliflower almost like the stack of Korean Fried Chicken. It is then tossed with sweet sauce together with dried chilli and spring onion. A pleasant combination of sweet and spice in this dish.
The skewers are the Provisions version of Yakitori. They offer good selections between sweet and savoury. The beef sirloin ($10) is one of the closest flavour to yakitori. The meaty and succulent sirloin cubes are glazed with kecap manis, while the flavours of oolong and burnt leek intensify the smoky aroma of it. Served with fried shallots and spring onions, it is just YUM!!
Pork Liver ($5). I am a big fan of pork liver, and personally think that this ingredient is a test of the chef's skill. The result is crisp external liver and juicy internally. Don't expect those bloody version like in your Bak Chor Mee or Bak Kut Teh as it is grilled on charcoal. The glaze of ginger, scallion and hua tiao wine helps to remove any gaminess in the liver.

Chicken Heart ($4). One of those chicken parts that I like. Springy, crunchy and addictive. The simple seasoning of chilli, cumin and garlic, reminiscence the flavour of BBQ cumin lamb in China.
From the charcoal to the deep fryer. Sotong ($8). Deep fried calamari, topped with salted egg, five spice and chilli. Crispy with a bit of heat plus a jolt of familiar salty and creamy taste from the salted egg.
While the small bites are good, I will also prefer something fulfilling. In Provisions, it comes in Claypot Rice. I sample the Mixed Pork Rice ($15) and Oyster Omelette Rice ($18). Sticking to the traditional claypot rice recipe, the rice is cooked from the grain form. The rice is slightly crisp, with a good smokey aroma and some nice crust on the below.
For the mixed pork rice, the pork is tender and well seasoned and the intestines are springy. The liver is juicy, cooked just right. The fried garlic, fried shallots and cucumber added more sweet and aromatic flavour to this dish. Do not expect a burnt rice crust like the traditional claypot rice, instead expect a more refined version of it.
The oyster omelette claypot rice is a combination between claypot rice and Or Luah (Oyster Omelette). The rice taste is the same as the pork version, while the Or Luah feels distant in this dish. More like eating claypot rice with Or Luah as a side dish.
I always find that combination of hot and cold elements in a dessert is winning formula. Milo Pisang Dinosaur ($7) is Provision's fusion between Pisang Goreng (Banana Fritter) with Milo Dinosaur named. It has banana fritter, vanilla ice cream plus the toppings of solid dose of milo powder, crush peanuts and chocolate syrup. Who can say no to this.
For my drink, I give KC a taste profile similar to Lemon Lime and Bitters, but not too sweet and non-alcoholic. He curated a mocktail with blueberry and vanilla. It was light, fruity and refreshing. Two thumbs up for the effort!
Overall, it was definitely an exciting experience. I like the concept of skewers and claypot rice cocktail bar. It has all the ingredients for a place that you want to hang out and enjoy food and drinks. So if you are looking for a place to chill or looking for a good grub in Dempsey area, check out Provisions. Cheers!!

Thank you very much to Womcomm and Provisions team for the tasting invitation.  

For the complete review, click / copy the link below to your browser:
http://www.chubbybotakkoala.com/2017/07/cafe-de-hong-kong-singapore.html
Cafe De Hong Kong ('CDHK') is a hidden restaurant along Balestier Road in Singapore that served Hong Kong style Ci Zhar. The cuisine here represent the items that you can find in any typical restaurants in Hong Kong. In case you are thinking of Xin Wang or other HongKong cafe, they served different types of food. 

LD and I have patronised CDHK regularly and it has become our must go-to restaurant if we are looking for comfort food. It is those dishes that we had in Melbourne during our uni days. 

Soup is basically a must have for Cantonese and Hong Kong cuisine. In CDHK you should not miss out on their double-boiled soup of the day. Our last visit here, we had their Winter Melon Soup ($35). A good portion good for 6 to 8 pax. The soup is double boiled inside the winter melon. The broth is sweet and robust, good to warm up your stomach. They also have a smaller portion, just check with the service staff. 


Roasted Chicken ($34) is one of the signature dishes here. It is tender, succulent and the best part is the skin. It is paper thin and crisp. Absolutely delicious. To save on cooking time, you might want to order this during reservation. 

If you prefer something more traditional, order the Claypot Chicken with Salted Fish and Tofu ($18 for Large). This dish is not on the menu however you can place the order with the boss, Francis. The combination of salted fish and au jus of the chicken will whet your appetite, while the tofu just absorbs the flavour nicely. A good dish to go with rice. 

Lamb Brisket in Claypot ($26) is a dish that Hongkongers normally consume during winter time. We were surprised when we saw it on the menu here. We have been coming back for this ever since.   The lamb briskets are stewed over long period with ginger, star anise, cinnamons stick, fermented beancurd and beancurd stick. The seasoning not only infused flavour to the lamb brisket, it also helps to neutralise any gamy flavour. After a few hours of stewing, the meat just falls off the bone. The beancurd stick absorbs the robust gravy, while the water chestnuts will add a crunchy texture to the dish. Yum Yum. 


Their shells dishes such as clams and lala can be found on their black board menu. We had La La Beehoon ($10.50) this time around. The bee hoon did well to absorb the sweetness and freshness from the La La. More of a subtle dish. 

For something spicier, try their Stir Fried La La ($12 for small). This version packs more punch as it is cooked with chilli. Not only the flesh is fresh, the gravy will make you suck the shell clean. 

Recently we tried their Typhoon Shelter Crab ($130, $65 per kg). For crab dishes, you will need to book in advanced. It is a dish that you will normally find in most of the restaurants in Hong Kong. This dish is very aromatic as the crabs are deep fried with garlic, scallion, red chilli and black bean. Showcasing the skill of the chef, the deep fried crab has a crisp exterior while the flesh retains their juiciness. As they use female crabs for this dish, the crab roe absorbs the aromatic flavour more than the meat of the crab. It was an appetising dish and a must try. Please note you must order this dish during reservation, as CDHK must order the crab in advanced. 


Not to be missed here is CDHK Fish Roe Fried Rice ($20 for Large). It has a nice wok hei, topped with evenly mixed fish roe that gives this fried rice the umami flavours and the crunchy texture in each bite. Our friend's kids love it so much we ever order 2 large portions to go with their Deep Fried Luncheon Meat Chip ($8) and Seasoned Porkchop ($16.50).

For dessert, save some space for their French Toast ($6.30). A deep fried thick toast with peanut butter spread. Finished off with maple syrup and a slab of butter. The combination of crisp exterior and soft pillowy interior made it a perfect dessert after a heavy meal. Or you can have it for high tea as well. Each order of the French Toast comes with a drink, we recommend their HK Milk tea which tasted like the one you find in HK. I have to admit, it is one of the best Hong Kong French Toast you can find in Singapore. 

The décor of the CDHK is simple and no fuss. It is an air conditioned restaurant. Although there are seats outside, I hardly see people seating outdoor for their meal. Service efficient like a family restaurant. 

Overall, Cafe De Hong Kong is here to bring your traditional Hong Kong cuisine. The food is delicious and comforting, but don't expect five-star restaurant standard. Definitely, a must try place if you are looking for Authentic Hong Kong Cuisine. Cheers!!