There are many levels of food — Junk, exquisite, comfort. At times, they meet to form a phenomenal collaboration for a calorie party. I’m talking about Truffle Shoestring Fries & PS. Chicken In A Basket from PS. Cafe.We were in town getting shoved around by the Orchard crowd like a carom being flicked when we had the profoundest cravings for a good ol’ mountain of truffle fries. There was no need for a lengthy discussion about our destination, for there’s only one place we’d claw our way to get our much needed fix.Of the three times I’ve had the heap of truffle fries arrive at my table, there wasn’t once when my eyes didn’t twinkle on behalf of my nose. Some people reckon truffle oil smells like gasoline while tasting like garlic. I would agree on the latter and love it all the same and unless heaven smells like gasoline, I think I may be on a different page about that.Each time I order it, I forget how big the serving really is. You’d need four stomachs to clean the entire plate (Here’s where being a cow comes in handy.) so it’s a tremendously good portion for sharing.While I think the price tag on the Chicken In A Basket is quite hefty, it certainly does pack up a punch in flavour, armed with hypnotic powers to convince you that the $26 is incredibly worth it.

InteriorIt’s not difficult to fall in love with the interior of Five & Dime Eatery if its minimalistic exterior didn’t impress you even a slightest bit. I love how their chairs carry that pop of mint on the sides, breaking that almost synonymous hue of brown throughout the shop. Apart from their robustly chalked up black board menus hung up against the brick wall, my favourite spot has to be the white pegboard holding pairs of totes and frames.

Menu/ Food & Drinks
Five & Dime offers quite an exquisite array of cocktails, which seem to be quite the catch. But it was just past morning and we were looking more for a couple of perk me ups for that lazy Sunday morning — Coffee! But for the young at heart, there's nothing like a frothy Banana Milkshake complete with rainbow sprinkles on top, which tasted really good with the right amount of consistency!I’d only been to Five & Dime once before, for dinner, more than a year back but I distinctly remember how amazing their Mentaiko Pasta ($18) was. Definitely a must-try whilst you’re there. We were also recommended the Eggs Benny ($16), which didn’t disappoint one bit. The pair of poached eggs looked and tasted just about perfect, with a good and proportionate coat of hollandaise sauce going on.It might have been the eggs and warm brioche taking centre stage on the plate but the breakfast potatoes and fruit salad did put up a fair supporting act. I certainly appreciated the latter for the two mouthfuls of freshness to ease the heavy combination of egg yolk and hollandaise.

On the whole, I adore the food and decor at Five and Dime in addition to its homey and wholesome atmosphere. My only qualm is its slight lack of convenience. Whilst there is a bus stop just opposite the building, the restaurant/cafe is a fair bit of a walk from the nearest MRT station, Somerset. Drivers needn’t worry about parking because the eatery has their very own car park just past the bright red gates on its left. It’s free too!

It was my second time to Tiong Bahru Bakery at Eng Hoon Street and it was bustling as I would assume it to always be, so we settled for a table in the serenity of the empty corridor but later shifted in just so I could get pictures of the interior. Despite that, it wasn’t the best setting for me to point, focus and go clickity click because the tables were so cramped and it was always so crowded with customers queuing to make their orders.What we had: Chocolate Brioche, Plain Croissant, Kouign Amann & a Flat White. I believe the Croissant to be a must-try for anyone who hasn’t, but the Chocolate Brioche faded into the background for us, probably because of the star-studded Kouign Amann.I’d never heard of Kouign Amann prior to my visit to TBB. Yet, one bite was all it took for it to climb up my list of favourite pastries and is now hovering near the top where the lemon tart sits in its throne of glory. Do not belittle its seemingly plain exterior. Bite through the crusty layers and you’ll the discover happiness that is the whiff and taste of butter. Sugar is caramelised over the entire Breton cake and it gets a little messy when a thousand crumbs fall upon every bite. You will however, not have a care because you’re too busy savouring what seems to be one of the best things you’ve ever tasted.

It must either be a torture or a pleasure to be living in the Tiong Bahru neighbourhood with a bakery like this in the premises. Not forgetting other cafes in the area like The Orange Thimble, Drips, 40 Hands etc. We’ll be back, hopefully soon. And I will get another Kouign Amann.

My family had our first brunch out at Spruce over at Phoenix Park, Tanglin Road, a nice step out of our usual ensemble of locations. (Chinese restaurants mainly) Phoenix Park had a pinch of the Dempsey aura, with Spruce set slightly up slope with a backdrop of luxuriant foliage. If not for the humid weather, outdoor seats would've been Australian-April-weather-perfect.

Interior
The cafe was laden with a collection of paintings that were so jaw-dropping realistic with such vibrant colours. They made a whirlwind of a difference to the cafe’s interior which would otherwise be a bland (but seamlessly minimalistic) blend of white, brown and black. You know, "café colours".

Brunch MainsSpruce British Brekkie (S$19) - Of all the breakfast platters I have tried, the quality of ingredients in this one pleased me the most. The foccacia toast was thick and fluffy and the scrambled eggs were nicely smothered with butter. Tomatoes were roasted with the vines still attached and the bacon was soft the way I liked it. Cajun Prawn Benny (S$25)Crab Cake Benny (S$25)

The Cajun Prawn Benny & Crab Cake Benny were two less-than-usual takes on the usual Eggs Benedict and quite a divine spin too. The hefty price tag is justified with the sheer quality of their ingredients though we wish there were a bit more of it on the plate.

DessertsAmerican Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream (S$15) - A classic dessert stayed that classic and for good reason too. The warm apple pie was drizzled with chocolate sauce, which enhanced its sweetness whilst the vanilla ice cream balanced the flavours and cooled each bite down perfectly. Baked Ginger Date Pudding (S$12) - We weren't too impressed with the Date Pudding, though it looked pretty good. The Pudding lacked a perfect consistency and that left me focusing more on the vanilla ice cream that I happily doused in the sweet caramel sauce.Flat White (S$6) - While I fell head over heels with the coffee cup, my Flat White was decent but it didn't wow me to any point because it was a tad too acidic and not thick enough for my liking.Spruce Lemonade with mint (S$6)

Conclusion
The price of Spruce’s food was quite on the high end (for brunch) but that won’t stop me from returning ever again. The occasional splurge is worth it with good food in such a lovely atmosphere. They only serve brunch on weekends and public holidays, which I’m certain ensures a continuous peak period. Do make reservations if you’re planning on dining there.

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Its cheesy name raises eyebrows and gathers slaps of mockery but I had heard many good (pun intended) things about D’Good Café and finally got the chance to check it out over brunch on a Saturday.Don’t be fooled by what seems to be limited seating. There’s a reason why the tables aren’t all full at 11 on a Saturday — there are two storeys to this joint. D’good Cafe occupies level 2 and 3 of the shophouse that plies the same stretch as Starbucks and Hatched. For those unable to climb the stairs, fret not! You can take the elevator located through the glass doors of the clinic below. The cafe, ingested with rather adorable traces, is divided into four sections: The Bar, The Lawn (Level 2), The Attic & The Balcony (Level 3), which are all pretty self explanatory.Swing seats at The Lawn - possibly my favourite spot in the entire cafe.Their English Breakfast was huge and clearly included all the various elements one could want in the platter. While the scrambled eggs looked stunning, it was shy of great flavours. I prefer them a tad more moist and if possible, explosive with butter. The mushrooms scored a bitter vote and I wished the tomato was slightly more seasoned. All in all, it wasn’t the best English Breakfast I’ve tasted but the coffee sure made up for the lack thereof in that department.With limited food items on their menu and the sight of ginormous coffee equipment, it was clear that D’good Cafe spares no mercy in brewing up excellent cuppas to shake you awake from that morning daze.

I love cafes that boast accessibility. They’re perfect for lazy days where you just want to get places fast, without having to climb ruddy hills or suffer the merciless rays of the sun that wimps the life out of that hair you spent an hour on. It also puts you in a splendid mood so you take true sips of your latte without distracting thoughts that pound on you when you’re in a fluster. So there we have it — D’Good Cafe. Really good.

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