By definition, Cocotte refers to 'a small fireproof dish in which individual portions of food are cooked and served'. It is in Singapore however, a quaint little French restaurant situated at the lobby of Wanderlust Hotel along Dickson Road. While it is certainly not one of the easiest locations to reach by public transport and even by foot, I can assure you that the trip is definitely worth every step.

No stranger to the French cuisine scene in Singapore and known for serving up authentic, unfussy and traditional French food, Cocotte- Communal | Restaurant | Bar is committed to quality and taste. With Head Chef Anthony Yeoh at the helm, you know you are in for a gastronomical French treat when you dine here.I loved the layout of the place, which was rustic and charming with little touches of purple coloured Baby's Breath in our cutlery containers and vases at the window panes. Checkered or striped napkins dressed the plates with a minimal touch and colourful stainless steel chairs gave a burst of sunshine to the overall scheme. It was certainly a delight just being here and sitting by the windows with the morning rays shining through. The people here at Cocotte definitely got the brunch mood set right even before the food is served.

A quintessential item to the French in the mornings is their bread. And so we paid tribute to their tradition by starting with a Mixed Basket $12 that came with a choice of one artisanal jam (request for any extra and it is $3 each). The brown woven serving basket had three miniature Pain Au Chocolat and Croissants. After taking a bite of these fluffy viennoiseries, I have to say that they were by far one of the best I have had and commensurable with the much applauded croissants at Tiong Bahru Bakery. This is a must order here at Cocotte if you love French bread and even if you dont.The Croque Madame $18 was simply scrumptious with that half cooked yolk of the sunny-side egg sitting atop the two layers of brioche served on a wooden board.

Cut through the layers and it's certainly a sight. Oozing egg yolk spilling into the insides of the brioche with its alternating layers of ham and gruyère, the richness of the béchamel sauce blending so beautifully with the tangyness of the djion mustard. The taste? Pretty darn awesome. But go easy with it, it's no health food.And I simply could not resist ordering the Pain Perdu $16 after reading its description on the menu. And when it arrived, I was certainly not disappointed at all.

The two thick fluffy brioche slices were cooked in a lovely batter which gave it a crisp and almost custard like coating that kept it from turning soggy even though it was dressed with an overflowing homemade cherry glaze and freshly whipped chantilly cream. This last dish definitely filled up every last space we had left in our tummies.Cocotte is indeed a lovely place to enjoy some good French cuisine. While prices are not exactly cheap, the food is not overrated at all and makes it worth a visit. I might actually return for their set lunches in time to come. I hear they make a pretty mean Duck Confit and I am a huge fan.

Artisan bakery and vintage furniture shop, the little less than 2 month old Carpenter & Cook has already earned itself quite a fan base in the scene despite its not-so-central location. The shop is relatively big and almost every corner is adorned with vintage paraphernalia, from typewriters to cake stands and even an old grandmother's trunk that is used as a 'bench' at the communal dining tables.

Yes, almost everything you see in the shop can be brought at a price. Definitely a unique concept going for them and with freshly baked pastries and breads everyday by Chef Shenn Sim who graduated from Le Cordon Bleu (London), you can be assured of a fine tea party at this place, with the matching decor and quirky furniture to boot.We arrived at 1pm and were pleased to find many seats available. There is no food menu at this place as the daily offerings are what is on display on the pretty vintage flowery cake stands and matching rustic looking platters. And since they had only opened at 12pm, there was unfortunately not much out of the kitchen yet. The nice server informed us that more would be coming out later in the day.

So we settled on a few delectable looking items available first and waited patiently for more pastries or tarts to come out from the kitchen.

The first we tried was the Fruit Scone $4, served with clotted cream and jam. Very pretty looking and the perfect scone shape. Spreading a large dollop of cream and jam onto a half of the scone, we each took a large bite with much anticipation. To our dismay, the scone was a tad too hard and not as fluffy as we had hoped.The Vegetarian Quiche $7 came highly recommended by the ladies at the counter and it did not disappoint. For one, I had already fallen in love with the beautiful flower-patterned china plate the quiche and side salad was plated on. The open-faced pastry crust of the quiche was nicely crisp and buttery, while the filling of cheese, onions, mushrooms and roasted tomatoes made a very tasty savory baked custard that complimented the crust very well.We chose the Meat Brioche $6.50 because it caught our eye with the strips of bacon intertwined with the sliced mushrooms and melted cheese atop what looked to be a fluffy brioche bed. Alas, this did not taste as good as it looked. It was bland and flat and overall not very impressionable at all.

While our intention was to come in for brunch, my advice would be to come in for afternoon tea instead as the pastries and servings were small and has quite a price tag attached to it. It was definitely a fun afternoon hanging out in the shop, being surrounded by all the old school clocks, antique china and whimsical decor, sipping tea out of floral teacups. It's almost like stepping into a different world here at C&C and first visits are certainly recommended for the experience though I would not be too sure about a second...

At 240 metres above ground, perched at the top floor of the Ocean Financial Centre in Collyer Quay, Zafferano joins the likes of Ku Te Da and Jaan with its gorgeous bird's eye view of our beautiful city skyline that is absolutely captivating in the night. With nature as its asset and a glowing circular bar lit by a thousand saffron tendrils which takes centre stage in the lounge, Zafferano is primed with great potential.

Debuting Executive Chef Fabio Cucchelli last month, who brings with him more than two decades of culinary experience across Europe, along with a spanking new menu of traditional Italian signatures, contemporary Italian restaurant- Zafferano (Italian for Saffron) is set to impress with its emphasis on natural flavours as it pays tribute to the authentic origins of produce that come from both North and South Italy.The first Insalata Zafferano $18 was a colorful affair brimming with nutritional and vitamin-rich fresh produce. Tossing up romaine hearts, Roma tomatoes, brioche croutons and finished with squirts of shallot cheese dressing, this was a charming piece of artwork which whetted our appetites effortlessly.Pastas are always a highlight at any Italian establishment and Chef Fabio did not disappoint with his vegetarian option of Mezzelune con ricotta e spinaci $18 that had an elegant touch. These pasta crescents were snugly packed with a blend of ricotta cheese, spinach and sage butter and when eaten hot, it was perfecto!The highlight of my evening was this Astice alla busara $86- a stunning Boston Lobster gratinated with crème fresche that created a dimension of body and richness to the sweet meat. And even though we were all stuffed after everything we ate, the raisin pilaf rice was simply irresistible with that homemade chili tomato sauce.Fast becoming my Italian staple, this Risotto al nero di seppia $24 is no stranger with its characteristic jet-black appearance. No prizes for guessing but yes it is squid ink! Accentuated by the red wine reduction, I thoroughly enjoyed the saltiness and briny nature of the ristotto broth. Throw in a clash of red with baby calamari and chopped tomatoes, this was a clear winner.The Cremoso al formaggio fresco $10 tops the charts with its pretty presentation and great attention to detail. Surprisingly light, the cheese crème with toffee filled our tummies with contentment and satisfaction without weighing us down.

If you love Nutella, then order this Nocciole di canelli $19 which is essentially Canneli hazelnuts done four ways- crumble, ice-cream, caramel and sauce. Definitely not an overload for the fanatics.Story short, while the initial lure of Zafferano is its panoramic view of the Marina waterfront and welcoming alfresco terrace which offers wonderful respite after a long day of work alongside a cocktail or two, it is the food that ultimately charms us right till the end.

Saveur has long been synonymous with affordable French cuisine since the successful start-up of their flagship eatery along Purvis Street. With their no reservation policy, the waiting time before one gets a table has been at least half an hour and even up to an hour during peak hours. The full house which is bustling every single night speaks volumes about their popularity and appeal to the masses.

This year, to meet the high demand for Saveur's recipe of quality French fare at inexpensive prices, owners Joshua Khoo and Dylan Ong opened a second branch right in the heart of town, at level 1 of Far East Plaza. I personally never got down to the Purvis outlet as the queues have been a large deterring factor so I was extremely psyched to hear about a second outlet opening.Moving onto the food itself...

Saveur's Pasta $4.90

This highly raved about appetizer, also a Saveur signature, won me over instantly with its elegant presentation and how every single strand of pasta was twirled neatly in its characteristic roll. The key to thoroughly enjoying this exquisite dish is to first 'untangle' the pasta before mixing it all up so that every part is covered with the concoction of chilli oil, minced pork sauce and finely-chopped sakura ebi. An extremely refreshing and oriental take on regular pasta and this was sure memorable.Duck Leg Confit $10.90

My choice of main was a slightly flattened duck leg confit sitting on a bed of homemade potato mash and sauteed shitake mushrooms on the side. A superbly crisp browned skin with succulent salty meat which was also fork tender and delectably delicious. Mmmmm.. I am getting hungry just thinking about it right now! And for just $10.90, this was an absolute steal and a must try! The mashed potatoes too were creamy and smooth, complimenting the French classic perfectly.Pistachio Panna Cotta $6.90

My first time trying a Pistachio-flavoured panna cotta and I loved that distinct green colour and nutty flavour. Topped with ground and caramelised pistachio nuts, I had a great time spooning through the glass and enjoying the lush and creamy textures of this cooked cream dessert that did not have a overly sweet note. And even my sister who does not have a sweet tooth, finished every last bit of it.

Chocolate and Hazelnut $7.90

And being the chocoholic I am, I had to order the Chocolate and Hazelnut which reminded me of Nutella and Kinder Bueno with its description. True enough, the silken smooth chocolate mousse brought me back to memories of eating straight out of a Nutella jar but even better. With the crunch of crushed hazelnuts, sourness of the broken raspberries and crackling of roasted rice puffs, this delightful chocolate dessert was a colourful medley for the eyes and in the mouth. I would order this again in a heartbeat.Overall, I had an extremely enjoyable time at Saveur and thankfully I did not even have to queue to get in! And while the restaurant does get crowded during lunch time, there isnt much of a waiting time for patrons. Service too is quick, with the food served efficiently and fast. I will definitely be back for more pocket-friendly French fare at Saveur soon to try more items on their menu!

The Halia Group who first started the award-winning Halia restaurant at the Botanic Gardens 11 years ago is back again with its second outlet- The Halia at Raffles Hotel. Located at the now defunct space of Seah Street Deli, against the historic colonial settings of Singapore most iconic hotel, The Halia at Raffles Hotel serves up a contemporary European menu with a touch of Asian influence. Working with the concept of 'small plates' and 'big plates' instead of the usual 'appetizers' and 'mains', dining here at The Halia is all about casual and flexible fun as you create your own degustation menu and enjoy it with friends.

The 100-seater restaurant is airy, spacious and adorned with natural foliage, paying tribute to its flagship. An ancient old tree takes centre stage with a wooden carved table which will make excellent conversation fodder for whoever is dining there. Others can relish in the lush flora and black/white motif tiled floors of this cosy space as you sit in your cushioned chairs, waiting for the food to arrive.The perfect marriage of the East and West, this MUST TRY small plate of Oriental Pulled Duck $18 is most riveting. The duck confit (classically French), had been marinated overnight, allowing all those duck meat to bask in the juices while the very Japanese Soba noodles gently tossed in sesame oil proved to be an elegant compliment. Overall, a simple yet dynamic dish that had much love from me.Not the healthiest of salads but certainly one of the most indulgent, this Foie Gras Salad $23 was a beautiful medley of textures and flavours. From the infusion of sickly sweet apricot chutney and blueberries to that buttery texture of the foie gras and a nice crunch from the candied ginger pecans, everything was pulled together quite harmoniously and effortlessly.The Javanese Spice Maori Lakes Rack of Lamb $47 served with eggplant puree and red pepper relish was a crowd pleaser with its sweet tender meat and charcoal- roasted till crisp exterior.Prepared Sous Vide, this Baharat Chicken Leg $28 was quite the charmer with its Middle-Eastern Baharat spice marinate, enlivened by the butternut squash puree and coriander red pepper salsa surrounding it. The plus factor was probably the deboning of the chicken leg, serving it fillet style and making it extremely convenient to eat.The Donald Russell Angus Tenderloin 200g for $60 features a grass fed 21 days dry aged beef from Ireland prepared impeccably and served Medium Rare. It was almost impossible to fault the pink toned and incredibly tender meat that had succulence and an authentic charred flavour.The ultimate pairing in dessert, this Chocolate and Orange Custard $10 brings an uncomplicated end to a meal. I simply could not get enough of the top layer of chopped almonds and shortbread crumbs that was so addictive to munch on while the velvety smooth chocolate mousse laced with Grand Marnier was simply brimming with exuberance. Here's one dessert I would not mind drinking to.

My favourite dessert of all was the delightfully refreshing Ginger Nougat Parfait $10. This Halia signature won me over with its ingenious use of spices in a homemade nutty nougat and pairing of caramelized pineapples which drew a positively unique and pleasantly sweet outcome.The working crowd will be pleased to know that the al fresco bar here at Halia Raffles Hotel features a bevy of hand-crafted, artisanal beverage products from all around the world and a cocktail menu with a wide array of special concoctions, making it a charming and laid back watering hole to drop by for Happy Hour.

Do note that Halia at Raffles Hotel also has pocket-friendly pre-theatre menus at $25++ for 2 courses and $33++ for 3 courses from 5.30pm to 7pm daily so dont miss out on those!