Yoshimaru Ramen Bar is located down that steep slope in Holland Village, next to 363 Katong Laksa and had a healthy crowd on a Thursday night. I always try to start from the basics whenever I try some place new, so I got the Traditional Hakata Ramen. The bowl of aromatic ramen arrived not too long later and at a glance, the amount of ingredients did not amaze me, especially since the ramen egg yolk looked a tad overcooked. But the taste. The taste was pretty good, more than satisfactory even. Though I did wish for a more generous amount of meat, the broth was indeed tasteful and the ramen -- comforting. We also ordered the Gyoza Platter to share. Quite a give and take here. While it wasn't oily - yay! - it was just a little dry on the outside - nay. On the bright side, the meats inside were moist enough for me.

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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Located along the shop houses of East Coast Road are quite a number of food outlets but what the stretch severely lacked: A good cosy coffee joint that people can hide out in with friends or their mountain of assignments. Penny University made all the dreams of east-side cafe hoppers come true and 2 things you might like to know - They've got free wifi and halal cupcakes!

CoffeeUpon seeing the words ‘Monmouth’ on the chalkboard, instant flashbacks to London hit me like a freight train, in a good way. Borough Market. Monmouth Coffee. Queuing for Monmouth Coffee. Sipping on one of the best cuppas to date.That up there, was definitely a good cup of coffee. Comforting in the damp weather, frothy and smooth to slither down my throat.

CakesTheir cupcake flavours vary from day to day. While I absolutely have no recollection of the actual name of the one I had up there, I do know one thing — their cupcakes are halal! In fact, I believe halal ingredients are utilized for baking in Penny University though I can’t be certain that it goes the same for everything else on the menu.Simply said, the Cupcake I tried was an amazing chocolate story. The kind that consumes you. A perfect chocolate frosting atop a base that had just the right level of fluffiness. But while I do admit their cupcakes are good, it did pain me a little to fork out $4.20 for such a small portion.

For the full review, read: http://aquaintsense.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/penny-university

With a well preserved splash of heritage in its shop, the original branch of Ya Kun Kaya Toast at China Street was surprisingly empty at noon on a weekday. Or so I thought. Soon after we had our orders taken, a huge Japanese tour group arrived with their floppy hats, along with many people from offices nearby.As always, the kaya toast never fails to satisfy. You might agree that the traditional toast has amazing contrast ability. It is first warm, rough and crisp, standing somewhere between a biscuit and soft wondrous bread. Then somewhere between that airy texture, you’re greeted by a cool buttery surprise and nanoseconds later, the sweet and creamy entrance of the legendary coconut jam.

On the whole, I do particularly prefer this Ya Kun outlet to the many others around Singapore, just for that air of tradition flowing through the entire shop.

For a full review, read: http://aquaintsense.wordpress.com/2013/09/01/ya-kun-kaya-toast-original-branch/