What is so special about this hidden find along Cecil Street is that they concentrate a lot on healthy food items – it is easy to spot quinoa, kale and chia seeds etc on the menu even during a cursory glance. Health food items and products are also being retailed on the shelves.Setting is rustic, relaxing and comfortable – wooden stools and simple tables with potted plants on nearly every table. What really touched us was the heartfelt service of the young service crew who would smile when making suggestions or taking our orders (place order at the front with payment upfront); they even took care to clean up coffee accidentally sloshed onto the saucer upon serving.The Mediterranean Quinoa Salad (SGD$11.00) made up of chickpeas, quinoa, kale, cucumber, cherry tomato, capsicum, carrot slivers, Spanish onion, parsley, mesclun and haloumi. When it arrived I was stunned by the seemingly-huge portion but thankfully when I dug through it, I realised the kale canopy made up most of the top layer and the quinoa at the bottom was not too much. It was a tasty and utterly healthy salad filled with superfood and I loved the “clean” taste of the entire dish, enhanced by the slightly stronger pierce of Spanish onion bits.The Oven-baked Seabass with Mushroom Risotto (SGD$14.00) consisted of fresh seabass, aborio rice, garlic, shitake mushroom, shimeiji mushroom and coriander. The entire dish looked so pretty in white. He enjoyed the healthy portion and taste, citing it as “unique but good”. Needless to say, the plate was polished clean.Moroccan Souk Kebabs (SGD$14.00) comprising NZ lamb, quinoa, pumpkin, chickpeas, sultanas, onion, almonds and ras el hanout 10 spices. This was no doubt the most flavourful and tasty of the lot, especially lovely when the teeth sank into the tender, well-marinated lamb, basking in the aroma of the spices.

For full review and more detailed information, please feel free to visit:
http://thearcticstar.blogspot.sg/2016/04/lunch-at-elements-co-cafe-raffles-place.html

Badoque Cafe is primarily an American cafe with a heavy fusion twist incorporating Malay, Indonesian and Mediterranean cusine into the menu. Ambience was casual, relaxed yet intimate with the tiny bulbs, dimly-lit concept and brick walls. Menu consists mainly of meat items - very reasonable prices for massive portions, and the service was personable and polite.Iced Salted Caramel Milkshake (SGD$8.50) was thick, creamy and delicious in its sweet-savoury blend.Kepak Bing Bing (SGD$12.50) - juicy and crispy chicken wings in a blend of chilli padi and spices. Juicy, yes; crispy, yes, and spicy, yes that, too - and a very heavy-handed dose of it too. I loved it though, being a lover of spicy food, and I loved the tenderness of the meat. I was on fire after eating a number of these appetite-whetting wings. It had a very familiar rojak flavour which I spotted immediately, and upon checking with the staff, confirmed that there were also shrimp paset and ground peanut tosssed into the mix indeed.Next, Badoque Ribs (SGD$36.00) - tender beef ribs glazed in homemade BBQ sauce. Tender was almost an understatement as the flesh was so succulent, it slid off the racks easily, basked in nectarous and smokey BBQ sauce that made it very enjoyable.Then Iga Bakar (SGD$36.00) - Indonesian-style beef ribs glazed in sweet and spicy soy sauce; served with fragrant basmati rice. Don't be fooled by the darkness of this dish - you'll brighten up the moment these ribs touch your palate - tasty. tender amd moistened, with great flavour to boost. The aroma of the rice added a nice control to the heavier flavour.

For full review and more detailed information, please feel free to refer: http://thearcticstar.blogspot.sg/2016/04/lunch-at-badoque-cafe-bedok.html

Visited Milk and Honey at Jem, Jurong East. This is more of a takeaway concept. Besides signature yogurt parfaits, one may also choose to create their own or purchase jars of pretty cookies.I tried the Chocolate Divine Yogurt Parfait (SGD$6.80) , made up of chocolate macarons, brownies, Stracciatella sauce, Valrhona noir pearls and chocolate ganache. It was really delicious at first few bites, thoroughly enjoying the rich chocolate sweetness against lightly sour yogurt flavour; and the Valrhona pearls added crunch. However it got a little cloying for me halfway through. Nonetheless, it still made for a tantalising dessert.

For full review and more detailed information, please visit:
http://www.thearcticstar.blogspot.sg/2016/04/honey-and-milk-yogurt-dessert-bar.html

Nice to note that there's a cozy little cafe instead of just a buy-and-go stall. I could sit and do my work stuff while enjoying a cooling yogurt parfait in this hot weather!I decided to try the Liliac Dream (SGD$6.80) first. A sweet, dreamy looking dessert delight made up of yogurt with lavender seeds at bottom, lavender sauce, lavender meringue, jello and blueberries.The soft-served, natural yogurt was silky smooth and light on the palate, flavour enhanced dramatically by the aromatic lavender items used, especially the tiny lavender seeds at the bottom. I loved the soft fragrance of the 1macaron as well as the very crunchy mini meringue. I am happy to give this darling yogurt parfait full scores for its lovely taste and burst of textured all within a cup of goodness.

For full review and more detailed information, please feel free to visit:
http://www.thearcticstar.blogspot.sg/2016/04/honey-and-milk-yogurt-dessert-bar.html

I shall not go into details about the concept - authentic Spanish fare in a serene, Mediterranean setting and polite staff. Lots of artifacts line the inside of the restaurant, and there is a huge alfresco area for those who prefer Sentosa's sea view.The Paella Valenciana (SGD$53.00), serves 3-4 pax, and requires cooking time of about 30 - 45 minutes - is made up of saffron, chicken, chorizo, tiger prawns, squids, mussels and bomba rice. It was aromatic with saffon's distinctive spicy pierce, and rather tasty of crustacean goodness - I would've preferred it more crispy and dry in texture.Next, the star of the night, which we had to order at least a day in advance with 50% paid deposit - the Chonchinillo Asado (SGD$338.00) aka Suckling Pig - we ordered the whole pig and it could be shared between 6-8 persons. The crispy suckling pig came with roast potatoes on the side, as well as 3 types of sauces.  Having been marinated with sherry wine, white wine, herbs and vinegar and slowly roasted for 6 hours, the suckling pig was tender on the inside and fragrant with infusion of wine and herbs into its flesh. The skin was so crackling good that it was being sliced through using merely a plateFinally, homemade Spanish Churros (SGD$10.80) served with hot chocolate. Instead of being light and crispy, this one was doughy and somewhat too solid for our liking.

For full review and more detailed information, please feel free to visit: http://thearcticstar.blogspot.sg/2016/04/dinner-at-serenity-spanish-restaurant.html